V] 


w 


•^? 


°fi   -^ 


/A 


%' 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


2.5 
2.2 


I.I 


1.25 


"  1^  IIIII12 


1.8 


U    III  1.6 


o 


Photographi! 

Sciences 

Corporation 


7 


^ 


/. 


{./ 


<F 


\ 


^-<\ 


;V 


V 


^9) 


V 


-^^ 


^< 


?3  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


^^^       ^ 

# 


Lo^    I 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


:<> 


Tschnical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantiy  change 
the  usual  mevihod  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagie 

□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pellicui^e 

□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


n 


Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleua  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


G 


D 


D 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  ether  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  de  la  marne  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  adJed  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmuntaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  it4  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
fie  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  fiimage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


D 
D 
D 


D 

0 
n 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restauries  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolordes,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdas 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc..  ont  6ti  filmdes  i  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  !a  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


y 

WWX   -  «■ 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

The  copy  filmed  here  hat  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Seminary  of  Quebec 
Library 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grSce  A  la 
ginArositi  de: 

Siminaire  de  Quebec 
Bibliothique 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specificatiuns. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  4t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  netteti  de  I'exemplaire  film^,  ot  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  or^ginaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimie  sont  fiLTiAs  en  commen^ant 
per  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  fiSni6s  en  commenpant  par  lu 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »•  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — •>  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  arQ  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
raproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  ii  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  i  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicesaaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

S 

6 

(Sff  pujjc  ii.) 


rn.j. 


■n, "  /  .  1 


i  V i  Liz KD 


HlESOF 


^  T    l.^ 


'    *  -         i-d         i..  > 


^ff^I^^'^A:^ 


il 


.i\ 


\i^' 


'■K^} 


.>*,. 


f  .  vv/ 


m'- 


•ifr 


THE 

.   UNCIVILIZED 

RACES     OF     MEJSr 


nr 


M. 


ALL  C0UNTEIE8  OF  THE  W 


BEINO 


A   COMPliEIIEmiVE  ACCOUNT  OF    TlIETn    ^..^  V.-^. 

AND  OF  TUFT  J?  j^jT^fr  TlIEin    MANNEBS  M 

UELioiOUS  CHARACTERISTICS      '•'' 


BY 


Lt 


AUrnOB    OP     "ILLUSTHATED     ^ 


Bev.  J.  e.  WOOJ),  I.A.,  F.L.S. 


NATIRAL    HISTORY    OP 


AWIMAIH,"    "ANECDOTES 


'"""""""■ ""  ""-"■:  "-•"»"--;;;=r:„'rL;-:j"--. 


WITH  NKW  DESIOXS 

BY  AKCAS.  DANBT,  WOLF.  ZVVJ,CKEI,,  ^..., 


^ 


TWO  VOLUMES  IN  ONE. 


J-    B.    BURR    AKD 


HARTFORD  : 

COMPANY,    PUBLISHERS.'. 

1870. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  J8T0,  by        ' 
J.  B.  BURR  &  COMPANY 


PREFACE. 


rapher  Imve  been  transZLJ  *    A  ""^"^  'nstances  whole  eronn«  ?„t  ^^^  *"  .'"*^''  *'<'<"» 

onerous  task  of  itif«r,.V  i-         ™-^  thanks  to  Mr.  J   R    yZZ.,        ^  aiaries  and  port- 

^lescribed  in  tSe  worT  ancfw'l""*?''''^"^  *'^«  ^''"•'^»«  «cenes'oJ'L'"''^  V-".^^-^^"^  the 
knowletlgeofthelubW?  -Tk'**  ^''""ght  to  that  task  a  hLrl/  T  ife  which  are 
The  drawings  of  tho  1'  '*''"!'*  '''^'^^  t^e  work  would  hZ^^  gfo^'-wHl  and  a  wide 
specimens,  most  of  wSS  ""P''"»«"t«.  «"ci  «Sr:,;'  i?f  ^/"'h  of  its  spirit, 
years,  for  the  expresl nnrnn«!  ^  ^^  *'^"  collection,  made  throSh  ^^°.  '^'■°™  «^t»«l 
^     That  all  uncfvSfzed  Se?i     .'^*r**"^  *'•'«  ^^"-^  ^    "  ''''''  °'''"^*'''«' 

been  the  case  wfth^AfS'^cr^"  ^  ^'''''^'  -rn^LTTs^Z''' 1"''''?'"^^  P««'"«' 
customs  which  in-Avnii   •    'i    ^^seqnence  of  the  ovfrn^L-  Especially  has  this 

orariver.a^^S^wy'^J^irSr":'' 


ment,  manners  or  m  .-."  the  other  side  we  flndn;''' ""^  '•'^t«'ni«g  but  few  of 
miseries  ofS^^rt^/"^*  ^"""^  ««  ^erpijt '^^S' Jn'^''^^'^^''^^'  g«^--rn 
continual  ehange"to  wiiclH  'ff '  f^'  «'»ef  charae'LSstic  o?  rci^./Vl »»!«  «1"-lid 
«^orkmg  their  ^ay  seawar  1  ft-om  "/k-"  •*•  ^''°™''  bribes  are  warlTke  aS  ^"''"^  '^  ^he 
forming  settlements  on  fLfr  **'*'  '"t^""'''  earryfn..  tlieh-  nw„  "^/*'^*'<'««'  ^''^•''ys 
superstitions  those  of  the  trh  ''"^''  *"^  ""'ariably  add  „'   tr^^K  *:"'*«'»«  ^'th  them, 

they  become  careless  of  t,,XnL"'"''"^'^''«™thej^hX^^^^  """  ''"^''^  «»d 

try,  and  are  i„  their  turn  m.S  f^  *'■*'  ^^  '^bich  theygaTned  nn«   "  ^'''''^''  "^  t'^e 
with  them.     It  will  be  seen  th?   /  °*''"'"«'  ^'^o  bringS  hahft?'T"  °^  *»»«  «■>""-  ' 
stronghold  of  barbarism  am  i^^*^'^'  '^^^  ''»"  of '-ncident  is  nS  *?  ""^^  !"°^««  ^f  life 
considerable  portionTf'JheTirr  """^'^^  '*  «  *<>  ^-le  ^'^Uit^^^^^^^^^^ 


AMERICAN  PUBLISHERS'  PREFACE. 


Tins  work,  which  has  boon  nearly  threo  yours  goiii^'  throii-rli  the  press  In  Lon.lnn 

Dr  \V,o!uvi''Tnvo;  r\'''T''"l  ■'"*^''^  ''  ''"''  «"l'erior  to  the  Kn^linh  edition. 
,n  ,  m  •<  v^  A  *  "  hv>i'[mu\  unporfeot  an  aeeount  of  the  oharaeter,  onstonis 
As  f  u  '  •'■''*'  ^"r^"'"'  I"'"'"'«'  «»<»  the  .ava.ir„  tribes  of  the  Aretio  •  '  S 
Ah  tl  .  wo  k  n-a.  ,,sHne,l  .n  monthly  parts  of  a  Hti,,ulatod  number,  he  nnvy  I  avM  ,Zi 
s  spaec  Inn.t..,!,  and  acrordinoly  on.itted  a  chapter  re.pectinK  the  l.uli  ,^1)  U  . 
had  pronusec  npon  a  preeo.linc;  p.tjje.  This  <leJlciency  bus  been  h  '  i"  d'  v  t  o 
A.nencan  chtor,  n.aidnK  the  ac.count  of  the  Red  mI  more  "o  n  S.    n!^^  ^ 

r  "f  7."  *"\V:"^"""\t'"'  ^"  '""^^f'-"*^  "'"*'•  "I'P^'m'iMce  and  social  life.  ,v    ^ 

n   :  1    .  V^'!  '  '^'  ^''"^■""^''''•'«  l«l'""l,  the  author  cro.sHes  Hehri„K  Stra     a  d 

tl      V  ,    A  ?;>  7''''''''  ^'"'  ^''"-'""  ""^*  '""'^^  •''"^'  "■"'•''  "  «^.>.nplete  "Tour  round 

1         w     .  '..         ?',"'!"''  '^'"•^•"•V  of  the  races  "in  all  countries"  which  repres,.,    h  uKe 
Ai'.       '''i^^'>;i'l'led    an  account  of  the  Maleniutes,  InLn-letes  and  C o-V  iko  ,s  ..^• 
Alaska       An    mtoresting   chapter  respecting   the   Tungnsi,   .lak    s     (stiaks     u 
S„dos  of  Siberia  con.piled  from  Dv.  Il^rtwig's  Milar\v.S    "^h    d   ,    ^    ' 
iMo  u.-iefulness  and  va  lie  of  sue  .  a  work  as  (liiM  niA  ,r..,...n.,       i  i     '"""  f^.'^*-"- 

\VoUu;  '"""■''  '"'*^'"'''   ""^    '"■"    "*'    t''«    IJNCiVILIZEU    lUCKS    OK    TIlL 


JiXPLANATION  OF  THE  FRONTISPIECE. 


ILLfJSTRATIONS. 


Paob. 


1.  Piotoriftlropresontation  of  African  races. 

2.  K„.n,-fn,r„,.,iMh„o,ltoago...     """''''''>'''^'- 

3.  <)l(lr(.iiii(illi,riiiul  wivi's  ._ 


"'Ill  wives n 

18 


'».   Kalllr  iKiHtiii 

7.   iriMiiarrird  Kaffir  girls 

«•  Old  |{„(|ir  woim-ii. . 


«.  8„l,l|„rs  lapping  water ^''^'^ 

*'■  A  Kaflir  harp f        "' 

^7.   Kx(..ri„r  „|-  „  Kaftlr  "li'ut ]^ 

•**♦•  *'l'""".  I' .Nkimnicrs..     ?^ 

ISfl 


rarmod:;;;:;;; ,!!'*'-v^""''-^^^"'--i.iiN^.. ...■.'.■.■; t^^ 

an....     -      -'•'•«■  A  KaOirlWllx.uMO.         '*' 

.-..<«_  _,". 21    r,i.  N<'.ki:i,..  ......1., ...-..._  ■"■: IM 


a  Kamr  ..rna.„..Mts  -ul^ll^  Mt[ ot^',  [ 


10.  Kalllr  i„H.dlt..s  and  Hl.oatlis 

11.  Arliclii.^of  oo.sliiino 

12.  DolLs  n.pn..sonMnK  tho"  If  afflrdrrss 

13.  ""•••"•<'l,.tsn,ad,.ofthol„)ofoftliol,l 


33 
33 

;n 

33 


•^l.  N,.,.kla,„  „.„do  „{  |„„„a„  fi„^,„,  ^„^.^ 


•>■>.  I'lior  Mian's  pij,,,  '"' 

•;«•  Kaftir  K..ntlom..n  snioki.'.g  '.'. ]'JL 

•W.  Ti.e  pioplu.fs  srlmol. ....  ^''^ 

.'Mi.  Til,.  pnijiliofH  roturn . .         ^^* 

.'>7.  Old  Kamr  pn.iiliPts        "■* 

j4.  Apro„..n,,,f,,i^::::;:';---oK..  ^j^. a^i.Kafl,rr!rJJ:;;;;;;,::::: m 

18.  Ivory  arnili'ts •«>  j  .W.  Unfavorabl..  proidiecy  

m  N,.rItla,.,.>,_|„,a,|.sand"tooth 


17.  VoiniK  Kaffir  in  full  dress 

18.  (Jirl  in  danciiiK  dress 

10.   Kaffir  ornaiiieiits 

20.  I>n'.s.s.i,„|„r„a„i,,nts.. 

21.  The  Kaffirs  at  lioiiie. . . . 
23.   Interior  of  a  Kaffir  lint 
23.  A  Kaffir  kraal 


3!) 

3!) 

43 

43 

4!) 

4!) 

57 

03 


prophecy ,„„ 

Irpsorvcd  head 

j*";'f';'';^^;'"'iiirnca  chief";;;;;;;;;;;;-;  ^ 

„  ,,  ,„  203 

<    Kaffir  monarch,  at  home....  209 
i>'"n  nuarrelliii.r  _„ 


24.  A  Kaffir  niiiki.iKhowi;;;;;; "i? 


23.  A  Kaffir  Iwer  howl 
20.  A  Katllr  l.eer  straine 

27.  A  Kaffir  water  pipe.. 

28.  Woman's  h.asket 

29.  Kaffir  eattlo- training  the  horns...  T. 

30.  letnrn  of  a  Kaffir  war  party...         !:^ 

31.  I'roee.M.sioiiofthohrido  ''' 

32.  K,vffir  passing  his  mothor;i.i.,a;;;;; fj 

33.  nrid(.groom  on  approval  ^ 

W.  K.-ifflr  at  his  forge! '^ 


m. 
in. 

|;2.  llnrialofKingTehaka'smothe 
'>.>.  Dingan,  th     " 

W.  Kaffir  woin. 
O.'i.   Hoftent<it  girl.; 

'i<>.  Hottentot  Woman 

'i7.  Hottentot  young  man... 

<W.  Hottentot  in  full  dress       "^^ 

oa  Hottentot  kraal  ^^ 

229 

237 


1'"'"''»i"K 209 

219 
219 


70.  Card  playing  by  Hottentots; 
''•  "'^.iesnian  shooting  cattlo 

72.  (JrippI,.   piaut ';; 

73.  IJo,<ijo,s 


•>">"  woman  and  child 

4.   Hottentots  asleep 

7,'>.  no.<jesmaii   quiver 


237 
a47 
247 
247 


„^    „  „      .        ^- ,„,'■*  ^'oi-'wit  '<»■  Koranna  chief 

3^.  «~j- -ting  p„„idgo.. .,;;;;;;;;••  ,^  j«-  f  ran,,  shooting  at  the  sto;.;;;;;;;- 

*.  ( .r.mp  of  assagais ^^O^]^-  Kn.te  and  assairai  he<i,l- 

37.  Kaffir  warriors  skirmishing 


38.  Muscular  advocacy 

".  I'anda'I  rev'e  " ""' '""' '"'" '^""''cinors. 

42.  Hunting  .scene  inKaffiVland; ;; ; „„ 

*3.  C,«kinK  elephant's  foot. .  J'^ 

44.  A  Kaffir  dinner  pariy        ^^^ 

'  145 


1()3 
lU 
111 
117 
117 
121 


_<!.  Frontlet  of  Hottonl^igi,.",;;;; ; ; ;;; ; ^. 

il.  l'oi.sou  grub  '^' 

259 

271 
271 
281 
281 
281 


81. 


assagai  heads 
"cchuana  knives.. 

82.  Anechnanaapron, 

83.  Ornament  niailo  of  monkeys'  teeth ^I 

84.  Reehuana  p.arliament. . . 
m   J';''":"^^."'-'"'''^'^  among  thViiechn 
««■  Magic  dice  of  the  Bechuanas. . . . 

^8   ?r^"r  ""^'T  ■'""""«  "'«  Bechu"anas 

w.  i-ian  of  Bcchuana  house c^ 

(ill)  


lianas.. 


287 
287' 
292 
394 


299 


It 


ILLU8TUATION8. 


90.  rktrhimnn  fiinrral. 
1)1. 

Da 

IH. 

m. 


T»tt, 


Onivr  mill  iiiiiiiiimi'nt  of  DaiDura  chief. , ,  aij 

Ditiiiiira  wnrrlor  mid  wlf« jqh 

I>iitiiiirii  (jirl  riMtiiijj gojj 

Portniit  ol'Uviinilto  ulrl ;(17 

Oviimlx)  wdiiittii  iiiMiiiiliiiK  corn .117 

Ovainliu  lioiixt'M ;).j() 

W.  Mukoliilo  liiiiMii  liiiililinK 320 

1»H.  Clilldmi'H  Kiiiiic'H  aiiiiiiiK  the  Mukciliilu XU 

WJ.  M'Hopo,  11  Mitki>liilii  ciiii'f,  ot  hdiiiu .'i;i;i 

IW).   HpciiririK  thn  lii|i|)u|ii>tiuiitiii ;m,t 

101.  Till"  fliml  attm'k '  .-y;) 

102.  lloaliiiK  i'<'i'ii<'  on  tlio  Bii-tlct-lo  UiviT :«1 

103.  Iliitnkii  Hiiliitiitioii .-jfji 

104.  Kiitiika  iiKMi ;j,-,7 

103.   r.-lcli.,  or  li|i  ring,  of  tli«  MuiiBunJns.     , . .  ;W7 
10(1.    IlipiiopotaiiiiH  trap ;ig-^ 

107.  Axc.i  of  tho  Haiiyai  3a;) 

108.  Th(i  iiiaiiinl)a,  or  Afritaii  piano 371 

ion.  ShiKiilar  hcadi'ndM  of  thullaloiulu  women.  371 

110.  WiiKogo  groodliiciH 337 

111.  Arol.ltci'tiiro  of  tlid  \V  m'zcp ;j{j7 

11'2.  A  husliaiid's  we Ic  nmc  ainon^  thn'NV'ot'zec.  .TOl 

113.  Hultaii  rkuliiiia  (IriiiklnKf  poiiibd  .  ,'«)1 

IM.  llarvi'sl»ocii(<  among  tlio  Wnnyamiipzl. . .  307 

115.  Salutalldii  by  tho  W'atUHl 3S7 

110  liiiMianika'M  priv,ito  band 40.1 

117.  Arrest  of  t)i<>  i]iivcn 41;. 

118.  Itcopption  of  n  visitor  by  tho  Wajfanda. . .  417 

119.  The  manii'laii  of  Unyoro  nt  work 417 

120.  Wanyoro  culprit  In  thp  shoe 4i;3 

121.  Group  of  Hani  and  Mudi 4:ti 

122.  Ilcmoval  of  a  villaKo  by  Mad! 4;i| 

123.  Oroupof  the  Kytih  trlbo 4.(7 

124.  Noam-Xam  flgbtint; ^.j; 

125.  Wooden  cliiefs  of  the  Dor 440 


Ifl'J.  I)uhi>iuAa  war  druta qm 

I.VI.  Wai  kuiveH  of  tlie  Fanti mm 

lfl4.  l<Vtisli  trumpet  and  <lruin 808 

IH,\  AHJiaatl  catHieeer  and  Holdiern {MM 

latt.  runiithinent  of  u  Huaki' killer OOi 

107.  "  Tl>«  Ih'II  eonie*  " oog 

108,  Dahonian  nmazonil niju 

I.W.  Anmzoii    reviow 5711 

l(K).  The  Dabomau  kiuK**  ilannu  070 

1(11.  The  basket  Haorilli'O  iu  Dalionio nH3 

102.   Head  worNbip  In  Dahomi- 6113 

KKl.  Tbo  attack  on  Atieokuta fliH 

104.  The  Alake's  (kinn  of  the  K|;baH)  court flOfl 

lOfl.  MiimlH)  ,lumlH> 0(is 

ItKl.   A  UmIk*  nmrriaK" 013 

107.   K.iiienilKio  man  and  wonmn 012 

1('>8.  WafdiiiiK  day  In  AliysMinlu 017 

16!).   A  ('(vnRo  coronation  017 

OKI 


170.  .Iu-,iii  execution. 


126.  Soalp-lock.s  of  tho  I)jihba,<i 441, 

127.  Bracelets  of  tho  I)jil)bas 449 

128.  Ornauient.f  of  the  DJour 449 

129.  Women's  kniveu 441^ 

130.  A  Nuehr  helmet 4 jo 

131.  Tho  Latooka  victory 457 

132.  Gorilla  huntinj;  by  tho  Fans 457 

133.  A  Dari  homestead 4^),-, 

134.  Funeral  dauco  of  tho  Latookas 4(1'; 

135.  Tho  ceremony  of  M'paza 473 

136.  Oliongo  market 4^3 

137.  The  Kiant  danco  of  the  Aponos tm; 

138.  Fishing  soeno  amonj,'  the  Hakal.l 4sr! 

1.T9.  Ashira  farewell 

140.  Olonda's  salutation  to  an  Ishogo  chief. . . 

141.  A  Camma  dance 

142.  QuenRuoza's  (chief  of  the  Camma)  walk. . 

143.  The  Camma  fetish  man  ejoettiig  a  demon 
144   Olansa  driukinR  mboundon 517 

145.  Fate  of  the  ShekianI  wizard 'r,2i; 

146.  The  Mpongw(<  coronation r.of, 

147.  Attack  on  a  Mpcmgwc'  village n:r7 

148.  Bargaining  for  a  wife  by  tho  Fanti s;{7 

149.  The  primeval  child  in  Dahome .WJ 

150.  Petishes,  male  and  fimiale,  of  the  Krumen  552 

151.  Dalioman  ivory  trurai^ts jgg 


171.  Hbooa  women gji 

172.  Tuaricks  and  Tibbooa (131 

173    Hegharmi  lancers (jag* 

174.  Mu.sgu  chief fljoj 

nri.  DinucT  party  In  Abyssinia 043 

170.  Abyssinian  beail.'< 043 

177.  King  Theodore  and  the  lions (Wi 

178.  rieaders  in  tho  courts (3,ij2 

170.  A  baltle  betweim  Aby.ssinian.<  and  Oallas.  002 

Interior  of  an  Abyssinian  house (J(i2 

Buflalo  dance  in  Abyssinia 070 

Bedouin  camp ff^^ 

Hunting  the  liippop<itamns (579 

Travellers  and  the  mirage (579 

Travelling  in  Madagascar (J92 


180. 
181. 
182. 
183. 
184. 
18.-1. 


4m 

499 
508 

rm 
r.i7 


180.  Australian  man  and  woman flog 

187.  Women  and  ohl  man  of  Lower  Murray.. .  O'W 

188.  Hunter  and  his  ilny's  iirovision 707 

189.  The  sea-grass  cloak 797 

190.  Bee  bunting jjg 

191.  Australian  cooking  a  snako 710 

192.  Australian   tomahawks 722 

193.  Australian   clubs 722 

194.  Australian  saw 722 

l'X>.  Tattooing  chisels tiki 

Mail  of  Torres  Strait 723 

Basket  —  .South  Australia 722 

Heads  of  Australian   si«'ars 73^ 

Throw-sticks  of  the  Australians 731 

Boomerangs  of  the  A  ustraliana 731 

201.  Spooring  the  k.ingaroo 739 

."02    Catching  the  cormorant 739 

Australian  shields 742 

The  kuri  dance 749 

T'alti  daiicM',  or  corrobborce 749 

An  .A ustralian  feast 759 

Australian  mothers 759 

Mintalto,  a  Nauo  man 7^55 

209.  Voiing  man  and  boy  of  South  Australia..  765 

210.  Hut  for  cure  of  di.seaso 703 

211.  Tomb  of  skulls  .''  7(5,-, 

212.  Tree  tomb  of  Australia 775 

21.3.  Smoking  bodies  of  slain  warriors 77c 


190. 
197. 
198. 
199. 
200. 


.>03. 
204. 
205. 
200. 
207. 
208. 


,  II'LUSTRATIONS. 

214.  Carved  foiul.cr  box **•' n  \ -rra  n 

215.  AuHtruli;.Mwi,|„w«,ui.lthHr...n. ll.lZ.    H""*"'""«  »  P^eU 


T 


'  cap*. 


781 


ai«.  Cuve  with  rmtlvt!  (Iniwiinfi. ,... ygj 

ai7.   Winter  hcUij  In  Aimtriiliii !!!!!'.  787 

'JIB.   A  HiiiiiMii'r  HiicaiiipiiKiiit .'.'."      737 

-m.  N..W  Zviiliiml,!-  from  .l.il.lho.Kf  ti)  oRe.!      71M 

U'-f).   Woiniiti  uiitl  l.»y  of  Now  Zeulaiid 8()t 

.  '/Jl.  A  tattoo«.<l  liiJi'fuiKlhiH  wifo ,,][[  Hoi 

222.  Muorl  woiiioii  iiiukiiiK  iimt». .    .    tUMi 

223.  TlioTiioKl ."' ^ 

224.  I'arAt.Mo  Mui„|m  in  hl»  Htiito  wnr  cloak " " 
J2n.  Thocliii-rmliioKlitor 


S'JO 


277.  TattuoioB  tiay  In  8«no» ,'^ 

SS:::;:r; ':','—"  •"••■'■■••■".•:!SJ 

2H0.  Armor  of  Ha,„„„„  „„„lor! '.'. J^ 

^2.  ()rnu„..nt..,l  u.U„  „.aKnifl«d Jlf 

_^.  Hprofm.rv«y,Hl„„„„„ "ml 

f*-  Shark  tooth  ({»untlct» ^''" 


2Hfl.  Hanioan  warrlo 


M  <'X(lianBln([  donanco. 


.1028 


■•Ml    i>i..     .       .,,    '■"•"«'"«  noiianco 1027 


m  nonKi-l,on„l.  ..l.l,.f  o,  Walpa.. ..:•■•  J^    ^  vm'     ?";!;,'"  "^"^"y '-"'"'J-  .l  im 

227.  M,u.ri..H,,r..parln„f„raf..Jt....:..  ^;?   .'^-  ^^^  "TJ"  .'^"'«'""'"  '-'""J- 1      .1^ 


"•^"•M--" '•"•"'-■'-"-«.....  wCr^^^^  21 

229.  Caunil.al..ookl.ou«o R^    ;,T  m"!  ""'""' IMl 

^^-  Maori  pah ^  I  f '•  »«';"<'''  "f  KinRMnill  iHlandcr, J^J 

231.  ar....nia,l«ornamont« oT?   .'o.'  Z^,""""*''' ••'''< '''•<'fM"rim,.n» 

2.12.  Maori  woapon.^ " ' ^:  I ."  .    l"'"'.'!""^"""  'I'ii'f 's  hand 

2.0.  WixMl.Mi  1,11,1  1k,„o  ,„pr„|g 


2;M.  Maori  war  daiico 

2;«.  To  Ohii,  a  nativo  prit-Ht. 

23(1.  A  tiki  at   Karoorapah., 

2;i7.  Tiki  from  Wliakapokoko 

238.  Mourning  over  a. lead  chief".. 


.Mt 
841 
847 

mo] 

8(iOj 
8<W| 


21«.  Ni.(k  ornament..... 

2(W.  Mar<iii...saii<;hi.flM  war  dreig' 
-m  Tlio  war  danc(>of  ;,„.  NhtuuK. '. 


Taliit 


ati.s  prei^ntinK  "10  cloth. 


•Jin. 

m  Ur,..s.ln«  the  idol,  by  8.K.i,.ty  iHland;;.;; 

2W.   ri,.,  h„m,,„  «.„,ri»l,H,  by  Ta'.itun« 


1041 
1046 
1046 
1046 
1046 
lOM 

io.h 

1061 


..-..  —"..... INK  over  a  .lead  chief....  ht..    'uni    n  --•-—"""  "j  1  a-iitann k^j 

239.  Tomb  of  K'  Toki  '"    "^^  ^"'''""' '""' '''''''' mourner.  1^, 

240.  ituMKibaeta-H  warhouHo:;;:;:;;:::: S\Z-  w""'  '""''^""'""k"".  returning  home:;  osl 

241.  rnt*,rior  of  a  pah  or  village JrU^^.'  ^}  """."  "'"   ""' '"'«  "^  8""-lwich  l«l„nd«    X 


...  -  illairc 

242.  Maori  paddle.s 

243.  Green  jucje  a<lzo  ami  ehisei 

244.  Common  stone  adzo 
24a.  A  Maori  toko-toko . 

2?  S,''''''''""''""-' ''*''''''"'"»f '•'«'■■  <=on.t. 
^ii.  AndamanerH  (        ' 

248.  A  scene 

249.  Tl,oOut«nata.s  and  their  weapons 
-;a0    The  monkey  men  of  Uou 


*»^'' '-•""'" -•'-pi.-it^i;^';;;;;;:'""'":  js; 


877 
881 
881 
881  I  oou.  lu.imet  ofSandwioh  Islanders 

^.il'fi-  .^r'"- '''-•' <'f«""«iwiehisii:;ders;:::::  S 


:MH.  Ma.sked  rowers 
.305. 
1300. 


Snrf  swimmiuK  by  Sandwieh  Islander 
Helmet  ofSandwioh  Islan.lnr- 


1089 
1093 


..;;*,,,;  7.    "•"■■  r  r  i-^-r ■""""">•  •^■^■■'r  Z 


I»yak  warrior  and  diisum . 
311.  Investiture  of  the  rui)ack. 


l'^  Them <eymenofi;^:;:i:;::, sill-  l;;^"^?'rr' *""""-"■■•••••■•■;::■■ 

2«.  CanoosofNow(J„inoa.....   .        ' Zl^lt  J^!'"""  «/'""«""""««  IVlew  IslandcV; 

232.  Huts  of  Now  Oninoa. ...       TMlf  ,    T"  P'""«  "'"^  S«8'"'i  %"k.  ,, 

233.  DancelytorehliLrbti,.  V      v.". Olfi    'U4.   Dyak  women "*      " 

2«.  Thoam.i:::,!:;;:;':;.itr  ^'""'^- <««;!!!!•  ^""«->»t«konhe-i,;ak;;::::::;::--  ?!, 


1101 

1106 
1103 
13 
1113 
1122 


2.W.  The  eanoo  in  a  breeze  *"*    ^!"-  f  ""'I'i'an''  "f  the  Dyaks. . ! !  ] ttZi 

2m.  I'resentation  of  the  can.U: ." ."t*  I  f!.!"  i'^^'K-il'lung  of  the  Dyak,. . ! ! ." ! !!S 

237.   A  Fijian  feast 


937 


318.   The  kr.H   or  dagger,  of  the  DyakH 


238.  The  fate  of  the  boaster ^^1^^'  ^'"'^^'*'«  "f  J^i«k  Holdi 

259.  Fijian  idol. .  913    .120.  A  i>arang  with  charm 

»».  The  orator's  |lap,H,r.' .■;.';;;■■ W9    321.  A  Dyak  gpoar 


lera. 
cbarms... 


2fil 
2ftJ, 

263.  A  F(jian  wedding. .. . 

264.  ir,m.,e  thatching  by  FiiJJu 
2(w.  A  Rure,  or  temple,  in  Pi 

»».  View  in  .Makira  lu,rlK.r.'. 

207.  Man  and  woman  of  Vattf      " " " 

2fi8.  Wo„,ai.  and  ehil.l  of  Vanik;;o: 

2t>i».  Daughter  of  To 


1123 
1129 
1129 
1129 


i.iian  .spear ..'.' W9    322.  Canoe  flght  of  the  r)yaks'. '. "^ 

Fi.jianclul)s  .  W9    321  A  Dyak  wedding  "® 

— im  ADyak feast...  ..■.;;;;; "» 

323.  A  Borncaii  adze  axe. ^^^' 


949 
957 


265.  AnunSortemiVh.  pir "'M  ^  A  Dyak  village i . ■;;:.■.• ; "«3 

•     -  *•' 963   327.  A  Dyak  house...   .  "*» 


>'iKan  chief... 


9G3 
973 
973 


Dyak  House 
*»•  J'uegian  man  and  woman... 
329.  Patag.miau  man  and  woman 
.«.».  A  Fuegian  settlement 

331.  Fuegians  shifting  quarters.'.' ^f^ 

•«2.  Ar.,ucania„  stirrups  and  spur ;;  "„ 

■133.  Araueanian  la.s8os.  '" 


1153 
1163 
I1C3 
1169 


270.  Burial  of  a  living  kin./    "" 

g,|.n;teriorofaTonganho'use:.':.-::;:: z 

^.i.  The  kava  party  iu  T»n,>n  ^1  --.i/o  ^ 

273,  Tongan  planta'tion  ^^\^^-  I''-'='Ko»ian  bolas. . .' "^55 

274.  Ceremo„y„f  ;„„,,.;•••••••••••••• ^    ^^.  Spani,,h  bit  and  Patagonian"  fittings'.  ■.■.•.■     "J 

273.  The  tow-tow 991    .^16.  Patagonians  huntins  same 

999   337.  Patagonian  village  "®° 

1187. 


vi 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


U 


338.  PataRoninn  burial  (»rf  nnd 1187 

330.  A  Maimdifc  family 1201 

340.  Arauoaiiian  marriage 1201 

311.  Mai>uelie  medicine 1207 

342.  Mapuclie  funeral 1207 

343.  Tho  macana  club 1212 

344.  Guianaii  aii()"-.s  and  tube 1214 

34.5.  Gran  Cliaco    ndians  on  tho  move 1218 

346.  The  ordeal  of  the  "  gloves  " 1218 

347.  Guianan  blow  i;uiia 1225 

348.  Guianan  '>li'W-j;un  arrow 1225 

349.  Guianan  « ingcd  arrows '.225 

350.  Guianan  cotton  basket 1225 

3,51.  Onianaii  (|niver 1225 

352.  Gnianan  arrows  rolled  around  stick 1225 

353.  Guianan  arrow.?  strung 1225 

354.  Foathere('  arrows  of  tliu  Macoushics. . . .  1231 

355.  Oass.iva  di.sh  of  tho  Macoudhies 1231 

350.  Guianan  (juako 1231 

357.  Arrow  lieiuls  of  tiio  Macoushies 1231 

3ot<.  Guianii'i  turtle  anow 1231 

339.  Guianan  quiver  for  arrow  hfcn  js fJ'M 

360.  Feathcv  noron  of  the  Mumiurucus 1231 

3".  ITeatl-di.',s.sos  of  the  Macou8hi"8 12.38 

362.  (luianau  clnl)S 12,'58 

363.  Guianan  cradle 1238 

364.  A  Warau  house 1244 

365.  Lake  dwellers  of  ihe  Orinoco 1244 

366.  Guianan  tipiti  and  bowl 1249 

?67.  Guianan  twin  bottles 1249 

368.  Feather  apron  of  the  Caribs 1249 

3()9.  Bend  ajiron  of  th''  Guianans 1249 

379.  The  spatlie  of  tho  Waraus 1249 

.371.  The  Ma;juarri  dance ]260 

372.  Slii<dd  v.  re.stlini;  of  tho  Waraus 12(iO 

.37.3.  Jaguar  Ixnu!  Huto  of  tho  Caribs 12(k> 

374.  Battle  of  tb(  Guianans 12(B 

.375.  JU'-xieai'  stirrups vitW 

376.  Iron  and  stone  tomahawks 1265 

.377.  Indian  shield  and  clubs ]2(a 

378.  JIaudan  chief  Mali-t.o-toii-pa  and  wife 1277 

.379.  A  Crow  chief 12^4 

380.  American  Indians  .loalpiug 1284 

W.  flint-hoade<l  arrow 12<M) 

382.  C!an)anchees  ridinir 1291 

.383.  "Smoking"  ho. ses io<ii 

384.  Snow  shoe i^hj^ 

;58.5.  Bison  bunting  scene joit!) 

38(i.  Bufl'ald  ilance j2<)<) 

.387.  The  Mandan  ordeal ,_,,, 

.388.  The  la.st  race 1305 

.'{89.  The  medioiue  man  at  ivork 7311 

390,  The  l  ill  play  of  the  Chocta^s 1311 


Pago 

391.  Indian  pipes , 1316 

392.  Eo-e-chin-ohe-a  in  war  costume 1318 

;393..  Grandson  o*'  a  Blackfoot  chief 1318 

394.  I'shan-sbaw,  i-.  gi. .  of  the  Kiccarees 1318 

395.  Flat-head  woman  and  child 1319 

3a»i.  Indian  cafioe 1322 

397.  Snow  shoe  dance 1322 

31*8.  Dance  to  the  medicine  of  the  brave 1322 

399   Tho  canoe  race 1327  ' 

400.  Esquimaux  dwellings 1327 

401.  Esquimaux  harpoon  hea<l 1337 

402.  Burial  of  Blackbird,  an  Oinaiia  chief 1341 

40;<.  Esipiimaux  spearing  tho  walrus 1341 

404.  Tho  k.ijak  and  iti*  management 1347 

40.5.  Esquimaux  sledge  driving 1347 

406.  Wrirtt-guardof  the  Esquimaux 1353 

407.  Esquimaux  lish-hot.ks .  1353 

408.  Feathered  arrows  of  Aht  tribe 1356 

409.  Ingenious  lisb-book  of  the  Ahts 1367 

410.  Ilemarkable  carved  pipes  of  the  Ahti;. . .  1;H67 

411.  Bow  of  tho  Ah;  i  of  Vancouver's  Island. .  1357 

412.  Beaver  mask  of  the  Aht  tribe ia5/ 

413.  Shigularhead-dressof  the  Aht  chiefs.,..  1357 

414.  Decorated  paddles  of  the  Ahts 1.3,';7 

415.  Canoe  of  the  Ahts  IsCil 

416.  Aht  dance I3(i7 

417.  Initiation  of  a  dog  e.ater 1367 

418.  A  Sowrah  m.arriage 1387 

419.  A  Meriah  sacrifice 1387 

420.  Bows  and  quiver  of  Hindoos 1394 

421.  Ingenious  ruse  of  Bheid  robbers 1397 

422.  A  Gh(      .ia  attacked  by  a  tiger 1397 

423.  A  Ghoiirka  necklace 138I 

424.  A  kooki  ry  of  tho  Ghoorka  tribe 1403 

42,5.  Tho  chakra  or  quoit  weapon 1403 

426.  Indian  arms  and  armor 1403 

427.  Suit  of  armor  inlaid  with  gold 1381 

428.  Chinese  reiienting  crossbow 1425 

4'W.  Mutual  assistance , 1427 

4.30.  Chinese  woman's  foot  and  shoo 1428 

431.  JIandarin  and  wife 14,37 

4,32.  Various  nn)des  or  torture 143V 

4;i3.  Moutii  organ 1445 

4.34.  Specimens  of  Chine.se  art 1446 

4.35.  Decapitatiim  of  Chinese  criminal 14.51 

4.36.  The  "tr.-rt  ballad-singer 1461 

4.37.  .liiiiane.so  lady  in  a  storm 1464 

4,'W.  Jai)anese  hidy  on  liorseback 1455 

4.39.  Captureof  the  truiviit  husbands 1464 

5  I  440.  (kindles! irk  ai.d  cen.sers 14<)6 

441    Suit  of  .lapanese  armor 1469 

442.  Kill);  8.  S.  I'.  M.  Mongkut  of  Siam 14<i9 

443.  Portrait  of  celeljrated  Siamese  actress. . .  14«i9 


CONTENTS 


0» 


VOLUME  I. 


Chap.  Page, 

KAFFIRS  OF  SOUTH  AFRICA. 

I.    INTELLECTITAL   Cll/UIACTEB 11 

II.  CouKSE  OK  Life 17 


III. 
IV. 


CouHSE  OF  1,WE— Concluded..    20 

MA.SCULINE    UllESS    AND    OKNA- 
MENT.S 28 

v.  Masculinf,  Uhess  and  Obna- 

MK.NTs— C'ono/«(/ed 36 

VI.  Femi.nixe    Dkess    and    Obna- 

mests 48 

VII.   AkCHITECTUK"^ 5Cy 

VIII.  Cattle  K  eepino 66 

IX.  Mauhiaoe 75 

X.  ilAHiiiAiik— Concluded 82 

XI.  War  — (Offensive  Weapons..    92 
XII.  War  — Defensive  Wfvpons..  108 

XLII.  Hunting jo^ 

XIV.  AoRicuLri'RE  138 

XV.  Food 143 

XVI.  Social  Ciiaractkbi.stios 159 

XVII.  Religion  AND  SrpBR.sTiTi()N...  Ifiy 
XVIII.  Religion  and  Superstition 

Continued 

SoPEii.iTiTioN  —  Concluded 

Funeral  Kites 

Domestic  Life 


XIX. 

XX. 

XXI. 


180 
192 
200 
206 


HOTTENTOTS. 


XXII.  The  Hottentot  Races 217 

XXIII.  Marriage,  Lancjuage,  Amuse- 

ments   232 

THE  ROSJESMAN,   OR  BUSHMAN. 

XXIV.  Appearance  — Social  Life...  242 
XXV.  ARcinTKinuifj- Weapons a'll 

XXVI.  Amusements 262 

VARIOUS  AFRICAN  RACES. 

XXVII.  Korannas  and  Namaquab 269 

XXVIII.  The  Hecihtanas 280 

XXIX.  The    Bechuanas  — Concluded. .  291 

XXX.  The  Da.maisa  Trire 304 

XXXI.  The  O  ambo,  or  OvAjuro 315 


Chap.                                                                      p^g_ 
XXXII.  The  Makololo  Tribe 324 

XXXIII.  The  Uayeye  and  Makoba 3.i7 

XXXIV.  The  Batoka  and  Manoanja..  318 
XXXV.  The  Banvai  and  Bai)Em-\ 361 

XXXVI.  The    Balondo,    or    Balonda, 

AND    Angolese 369 

XXX Vri.  Wagooo  AND  Wanyamubzi.  ...  384 

XXXVIII.  Karagub 39<) 

XXXIX.  The  Watusi  and  Waoanda...  408 
XL.  The  Wanvoro 422 

XLI.   (rANI,  MaDI,  ObBO,   AND  Kytch  429 

XLU.  The    Neam-Nam,     Dor,    and 

DjOUll    TRIBES 440 

XLIIL  The    Latooka   tribe 453 

XLIV.  The      Shir,      Rari,      D.iibua, 

NUEITR,     DiNKA,     AND     SllIL- 
I.OOK    TIIIBES 461 

XLV.  The    Ishogo,    Ashango,    and 

Obongo  tribes 47,15 

XLVI.  The  Apono  and  Api.vgi 484 

XLVl I.  TriE  Bakalai [[  491 

XLVI  1 1.  The  Ashika 490 

XLIX.  The  ("amma  or  Cf)MMi 504 

L.  The  Shekian-i  and  Mpongw*.  ,521 

LT   The  Fans 529 

LII.  The  Vash  — Concluded 535 

LIII.  The  Khumen  and  Fanti ,544 

LIV.  The  Ashanti 5,54 

LV.  Daho.me 5(51 

LVI.  Daiiomk  —  Continued 573 

LVn.  Dahome  — Co»(/Hdfd fM 

LVIII.  The  Egbas fl<)o 

LIX.  Bonny cm 

LX.  The  Man-dingoes 607 

LXr.  Tub  Bcues  and  Congoese  ...  610 

LXII.  BoRNir (■20 

LXIII.  TheShooas.Tibboos.Tuauicks, 

Begharmis,  and  Musouese.  .  628 

LXIV.  Abysslnians 641 

LXV.  Abvssinians  — ronHm(C(? (H9 

LXVI.  Ahyrsinians  — C'»ir;«(/f(f CtTiH 

LXVIL  NuBiA.vs  and  Hamran  Arabs,  67.T 
LXVIII.  Bedouins,    Hassaniyeiis,   and 

Malaoast 681 


CONTENTS 

or 
VOLUME  II. 


;l! 


Obap. 


Page. 


AITSTRALIA. 

LXIX.  Appkabanck  and  Chabacteb 

OF  Natives 

IiXX.  Dbess — Food 

LXXI.  Weapons 

liXXII.  Wisapons  —  Concluded  '. '. . .  * ...' 

liXXIII.  Wah— Amusements 

LXXIV.  Domestic  Life 

r^^Jr   «"""  Childhood  to  Manhood  7«1 
i^XXVI.  Medicine  — Surgebv  — Dispo- 
sal of  Dead 

LXX VII.  Dwellings  —  Oanoes. 


C94 
703 
719 

727 
744 
75.'! 


769 

784 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


liXXVin.  Genebal  Eemarks 793 

LXXIX.  DitEss '"  „;," 

LXXX.  Dbess  —  Concluded ...... 

LXXXI.  Domestic  Life ..,, 

LXXXIL  Food  and  Ccokeby 

LXXXIII.  W'R 

LXXXIV.  Canoes..  *!!.'." '.■.'.'■.■■■"■■ 

LXXXV.  Relioion  . . 

LXXXVL  The  Tapit.  ...'.'"'.' [.^ ' 

LXXXVH,  Funebal  Cehemonies-Akchi- 

tectube  

NEW  CALEDONIA. 
LXXXVm.  Appeabance  -  Dbess  -  Wab- 


800 
807 
810 
820 
838 
852 
850 
803 

809 


FABE. 


883 


ANDAMAN  AND  NICOBAR  ISLANDS 
LXXXIX.  OiHoiN  of  Natives  -  Appeab- 
ance— Chabacteb-  Educ  \- 

""" :.888 

NEW  GUINEA. 

V^n     ^^"'f   ^-^^   0"TANATAS RDH 

XCI.  The  Alkoeks  or  IIabaforas.  'm 


PHILIPPINE  ISLALOS. 
XCn.  The  Ajitas  or  Ahitas..  . 


919 


922 
929 


FIJL 
^p}^^-  Appeabance  —  Dbes.s 

XCIV.    MANl-FAOTrKES  .  . 

^rJj  ^"?^'""'"«^'r-s<"->ALLiFE:;;  Im 

XCVIL  HELUiioN- Funebal   Rites...  900 

SOLOMON  ISLANDS  AND  NEW  HEBRIDES  I 

XCVIII.  Chabacteb-Dbess-Customs.  968  I 


Chap. 


Pago. 


TONGA, 
XCIX.  Government- Gbadations  op 

KaNK jjyg 

C.  War  and  Ceremonies  . .  934 

CL  Sickness -BcBiAL- Games."!  997 
SAMOA,  OK  NAVIGATOR'S  ISLAND. 

Cn.  Appeabance  -  Chabacteb  - 

Dbess 

cm.  War "" 

CIV.  Amusements  -  '  Ju^iAGB  - 

Architecture 1028 

HERVEY  AND   KIN<5SMILL  ISLANDS. 
CV.  Appeabance-AVeapons-Gov- 

ERNMENT 


1008 
1016 


.1032 


MARQUESAS  ISLANDS. 
CVI.  Dbess  -  Amusements  -  Wab 


—  Burial. 
NIUE,  OR  SAVAGE  ISLANDS. 
CVII.  Origin  -  Costume 

BUBIAL 


.1014 


•  Laws 


1032 

SOCIETY  ISLANDS. 

C  VIIL  Appearance  -  Dbess  -  Social 

Customs m— 

CIX.  Religion .' JJf 

ex.  History -Wab- FuNEB.;.!s- 

^""knds jj^2 

SANDWICH  ISLANDS. 

CXI.  Climate-Dbess-Obnammints 
—Women , 

cxn.  wab-spobt-relioion:::;;S 

CAROLINE  ARCHIPELAGO. 
CXIIL  Dbe8s,-A  «ch.tectube,-Amuse- 
ments-War ^,00 

BORNEO. 
CXIV.  The  Dvaks,  Appearance  and 

fXV.  War J 

CXVL  WAR-Co»o/mfcrf VtI 

CX VII.  Social  Life , J^ 

--i-A.  Iveligion-Omens-Funerals.  1157 


fi 


CONTENTS. 


Ch«p.  p,g„. 

TIERRA  DEL  FUEGO. 

CXX.   API'BABANCK  —  AkcHITECTURB 

—  MANUPACTDRE8    1161 

PATAGONIANS. 
CXXI.  Appeabanx'b   —   Weapons   — 

Horsemanship 1170 

CXXII,  Domestic  Life 1183 

ARAUCANIANS. 
CXXIIL  DiiKss  —  Etiquette  —  Govern- 
ment  lino 

CXXIV.  Domestic  Life llSMi 

CXXV.  Games— Social  Customs 1204 

THE  GRAN  CHACO. 
CXXVL  Appearance   —   "Weapons   — 

Character 1211 

THE  MUNDURUOUS. 
CXXVII,  Manlfactubes  —  Social   Cus- 
toms  JO],') 

THE  TRIBES  OF  GUIANA. 

CXX  VI 1 1.  Weapons joo] 

CXXIX.  Weapons  — Conc7«rfcd 1228 

CXXX.  Waii  —  Superstition 1239 

CXXXI.  Architecture  —  Social    Cus- 
toms   J04g 

CXXXII.  Dress  — Amusements VJ.W 

CXXXIII.  Eelioion  — Burial I2(i3 

MEXICO. 

CXXXI V.  History  — Eelioion— Art 1271 

NORTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 

CXXXV.  Government  — Customs...        i'>73 

CXXX VL  War [  [josi 

CXXXVII,  Hunting- Amusements 1293 

CXXX VIII.  Relkjion  — Superstition 1301 

CXXXIX.  SociAL^iPE 131(5 

ESQUIMAUX. 
CXL.  Appearance  —  Dress  —  Man- 

"Kns 1333 


Chap.  p,^ 

CXLI.    HuNTma  —  Relioion  —  Buri- 

Ai- 1338 

VANCOUVER'S  ISLAND. 
CXLIL  The  Aiits,  and  Neighrorino 

Tribes 1354 

CXLIIL  Canoes  —  Feasts  —  Dances.  ...  1362 
CXLIV.  Architecture  —  Religion  — 

Disposal  of  Dead 1309 

ALASKA. 
CXLV.  Malemutes  —  Inoeletes  —  Co- 

yukons 1374 

SIBERIA. 
CXLVI.  The  Tciiuktchi— Jakuts— TtfN- 

ousL.... 1377 

CXLVH.  The  Samoibdes- Ostiaks 1381 

INDIA. 
CXLVIIL  The  Sowrahs  and  Kiionus....138S 

CXLIX.  Weapons 1395 

CL.  Sacrificial  Religion 1407 

CLL  The   Indians,   with   relation 

TO  Animals i4ig 

TARTARY. 
CLIL  The  Mantciiu  Tartars 1422 

CHINA. 

CLIII.  Appearance  — Dress  — Food,  1420 

CIjI V.  AVarfare i43;( 

CLV.  Social  Characteristics 1441 

JAPAN. 
CLVI.  Dress  —  Art  —  Amuse.ments.  .1440 
CLVn.  Miscellaneous  Customs 1458 

SIAM. 

CLVIII.  Government  —  Dress  —  Eeli- 
oion  1467 

ANCIENT  EUROPE. 
CLIX,  Tub  Swiss  Lake-Dwellers.  .  .1473 


' 


CHAPITER  I. 


■>?' 


THE  KAFFIR,  OB  ZINOIAIf  TRIBES,  AND  TIIEIB  PHV9I0AI,  PECnUABITIRS-ORIOIK  OF  THE  NAMK- 
T..EOUIES  ASTOT„K„.  LnEHENCE  ,X  HOUT.IER.V  AFniCA-THE  CHEF  T.UUE3  A-ND  THEmTo^I,. 
ITIES-TIIE  Z.I.US  A.VO  T.IK.B  A.-PEAUAXCE-TIIEIK  COMPLEXION  A.ND  IDEAS  OF  ^EA^xvi 
POINTS  OF  SIMILITUDE  AND  CONTnAST  I.ETWEEN  THE  KAFK,«  AND  THE  NEOUO-MENTAL  CHAR- 
ACTEUISTICa  OF  THE  KAFF,U-,US  WANT  OF  CARE  FOIl  T„K  F.Tl-KE,  AND  UEASONS  FOR  ^ 
CONTUOVEHSIAL  POWEI-.S  OF  THE  KAFFIU-TIIH  SOCUATIO  M„D„  OF  AUOUMENT-THE  .HuIns  OF 
A  DILEMMA -LOVE  OF  A  KAFFIU  KOH  AUCUMENT-HIS  MENTAL  TR.4ININ0  AND  ITS  COVSEOUEVCES 
-PAUTHIAN  MODE  OF  AUOLING-rLVCADLB  NATURE  OF  THE  KAFFIK-IUS  SI  S ToF  SEI F^ 
KKSI.KCT-,.-OM,.v.sS  FOR  A  PKAcn.AL  OOKE-TUE  ^VOMAN  AND  THE  MELON-^.'sWTALITV  OF 
raOLI^UDr"""''""'"^"^"''    KAX.KEAND    FONDNESS  FOR    CHILDREN -THE,™be: 


OV£u  the  whole  of  the   Southern  nortiun 
of  th(!  great  Coutiueiit  of  Africa  is  spread  a 
remarkable  ami  interesting  race  of  niankiiul. 
ihougii  (hvulod  into  numerous  tribes,  and 
dUleriii''  in  appearance,  manners,  and  cus- 
toms, tiiey  are  evidently  east  in  the  same 
inould,  and  belong  (o  the  same  groui)  of  the 
luinan  race.     They  are  dark,   but  not  mo 
Wack  as  the  true  negro  of  the  West.     Their 
hair  IS  cnsp,  short,  and  curled,  but  not  so 
woolly  as   that  of   the    negro;    their   lin.s, 
thougli  large  when  c()mi)ared  with  those  of 
J^uropeans,   are    small   when    eoiniiared   to 
those    of   the  negro.      The    form   is   liiielv 
modelled,  the  stature  tall,  the  limbs  strai.'lit 
the  forehead  high,   the  expression    intelli- 
gent; and.  altogetlier,  this  grou])  of  mankind 
affords  as  lim.  examples  of  the  human  form 
as  can  be  found  anywhere  on  the  earth 

To  give  a  name  to  this  largo  grou.)  is  not 
very  easy  Popularly,  tlie  tribes  which 
comptj'^e  It  are  kiievvn  a.s  Kallirs;  but  that 
term  has  now  been  restricted  to  the  tribes 
on  the  south-east  of  the  continent,  between 
the  se.a  and  the  range  of  the  Draakensber-' 
Mountains.  Moreover,  the  nann,  Kaffir  is  a 
very  inappropriate  one,  being  simply  the 
term  wlncti  the  Moslem  races  ai.plv  f,.  all 
who  do  not  believe  with  themschV^.antl  by 
which  they  designate  black  and  white  ,nen 
abke.  .Some  ethnologists  have  des!<  u  ud 
them  l)y  the  general  name  of  C:huaiuc 
word  being  (bo  root  of  the  well-kno'v  n 
JJecbuaiia,  Sechuana,  and  similar  nauK-s- 
while  others  have  preferred  the  word  Uantu 
and  others  /imrian.  whieli  last  wnd  1^  ner- 


liiips  the  best. 


A7hatever  may  be  the  title,  it  is  evident 
that  they  are  not  abori<;ines,  but  that  they 
have  descended  upon  Southern  Africa  froiii 
some  other  locality —  probal)ly  from  more 
northern  parts  of  the  same  continent.  Some 
writers  claim  for  the  Kaffir  or  Zingian  tribes 
an  Asiatic  origin,  and  have  a  theory  that  in 
the  course  of  their  migration  they  mixed 
with  the  negroes,  and  so  became  possessed 
ol  the  frizzled  hair,  the  tlii.'k  lips,  the  dark 
skill,  and  other  peculiarities  of  the  ueirro 
rai'e.  ° 

V/ho  might  have  been  the  true  abori<rines 
of  Southern  Africa  cannot  be  delinitelv 
stated,  inasmuch  as  even  within  verv  recent 
tunes  great  changes  have  taken  place.  At 
the  present  lime  South  Africa  is  practicallv 
European,  the  white  man,  whether  Dutch  or 
iMighsh,  having  dispossessed  the  owners  of 
tile  soil,  and  either  .-settled  ujion  the  land  or 
reduced  the  dark-skinned  inhabitants  to  the 
nuik  ot  mere  dependants.  Those  whom 
they  displaced  were  themselves  interlopers 
having  overcome  and  ejected  the  Hottentot 
tribes,  wiio  in  their  turn  seem  but  to  have 
suffered  the  same  fate  which  in  the  time  of 
tlieir  greatness  they  hr.ii  brought  upon 
others.  ' 

At  the  present  day  the  great  Zingian  group 
an..rds  the  best  type  of  the  inhabitants  of 
.Southern  .\trica,  and  we  will  therefore  begin 
with  the  Kaffir  tribes.  " 


Ik  ihe  readei'  will  refer  to  a  niiip  of  Afric-a 

H'  will  see  that  upon  the  south-east  co^ust  a 

Imiii  ranyc  ul'  • 


(11) 


lei  with  tl 


loimtains  runs  nearly  paral- 
h;  sea-line,  and  extends  from  lat. 


13 


THE  KAFFIR. 


27"  to  33°.    It  is  the  line  of  the  Dniakens- ,  mention,  as  one  of  his  ovppllpnnoa   fi,„*  u 

berg  Mountains,  and  along  the  strip  of  la.ul    chooses   o  be "Lk  tlouL^rpin.l  .''''*  ^"^ 

^vlnch  .ntervenes  betweer.  these  n.'oun.u..  I  fu,  ,  nunuvS.,  t  riujht  tv  "bef  .rSelf 


wnich  intervenes  between  these  n>oiintiiins 
and   the   sea  are  fonnd  tlu!  genuine  Kutlir 
tribes.    Tliere  are  other  tribes  belonging  to 
the  same  gioup  of  mankind  which  are  found 
on   the  western  side  of  the  Draakensben', 
and  are  spread  over  the  entire  country,  froni 
Delagoa  Bay  on  the  cast  to  the  (,)raiigo  Itiver 
on  the  west.   These  tribes  are  familiar  to  read- 
ers of  African   travel  under  the  names  of 
BechuaniU!,  Bayeye,  Nannujua,  ()vami)o,  &c. 
But,  by  common  consent,  ihe  name  of  Kaf- 
fir is  now  restricted  to  (hose  tribes  wliich 
inhabit  the  strij)  of  country  above  men- 
tioned. 

Formerly,  a  considerable  number  of  tribes 
inhabited  this  district,  and  were  sufliciently 
distinct  to  bo  almost  reckoned  as  different 


nations.  Xow,  however,  these  tribes  are 
practically  reduced  to  live ;  namely,  the  Ama- 
tonga  on  the  north,  followed  southward  bv 
the  A7na.swazi,  the  Amozulu,  the  Ama- 
])ondi>.,  ami  the  Amakosa.  Here  it  must  be 
rem.irked  that  the  prefix  of  ■'  Ama  "  at- 
tached to  all  the  words,  is  one  of  the  forms 
by  which  (he  plural  of  oerfain  names  is  des- 
ignated. Thus,  we  might  speak  of  a  sin"-ie 
longa,  Swazi,  Zulu,  or  Ponda  Kaflir;  but 
It  wo  wish  to  speak  of  more  than  one,  we 
lorin  tlic  plural  by  prefixing  "Ama"  to  the 
Word. 

The  other  tribes,  although  they  for  the 
most  part  still  exist  and  retain  the  ancient 
names,  are  practically  merged  into  those 
whose  names  have  been  mentioned. 

Of  all  the  true  Kaflir  tribes,  the  Zulu  is 
the  chief  type,  and  that  tribe  will  be  first 
described.  Although  spread  over  a  consid- 
erable range  of  countrv,  the  Zulu  tribe  has 
Its  headquarters  rather  to  the  north  of  Xatal 
and  there  may  be  found  the  best  specimens 
of  this  siileudid  race  of  men.  Belonging  as 
do  the  Zulu  tribes,  to  the  dark-skinned  por- 


^tT^t:j£t^i^^^'-^^^ 


that  dead,, letly  black  which  is  characteristje 
ot  the  Western  negro.  It  is  a  more  trans- 
parent skin,  the  layer  of  coloring  matter 
does  not  seem  to  be  so  thick,  and  the  ruddv 
hue  of  the  blood  is  perceiitible  through  the 
black.  It  is  held  by  the  Kaflirs  to  be  the 
perfection  of  hiimiin  coloring;  and  a  Zulu  if 
asked  what  he  considers  to  be  the  finest 
complexion,  will  say  that  it  is,  like  his  own, 
black,  with  a  little  red. 

Some  dark-skinned  nations  approve  of  a 
fair  comi)lexi<)n.  and  in  some  parts  of  the 
world  the  chiefs  are  so  much  fairer  than 
the  commonalty,  that  they  seem  almost  to 
belong  to  diflerent  rapes.  The  Kr.llir.  how- 
ever, holds  precisely  the  opposite  oijiiiion. 
According  to  his  views  of  human  beaiitv  the 
bljicker  a  man  is  the  handsomer  !•.(>  is"  con- 
sidered, provided  that  .some  tinge  of  red  be 
perceptible.  They  carry  this  notion  so  far 
that  in  sounding  the  praises  of  their  kin-' 
an  act  at  which  they  arc  very  expert,  they 


he  had  liked.    Europeans  who  have  resided 

or  any  length  of  time  among   the   Kaflir 

ribes  seem  to  imbibe  similar'ideas  about 

the  superior  beauty  of  the  black  and  red 

complexion     They  become  used  to  i    and 

Eh".    ''"''•    ''"■''^?'''*'    '»     i"Jivi(fu«l" 
Uioiigh  to  an  inexjierienced  eye  the  color 
would  appear  exactly  similar  in  every  per- 
son.   Wlien  they  return  to  civilized  society 
they  fee!  a  great  contempt  for  the  pal.,  life- 
less-looking complexion  of  EuropJans  and 
some  time  elapses  before  they  learn  to  view 
.1  lair  skin  and  light  hair  with  any  degree  of 
admiration.    Examples  of  albinos  arc?  occa- 
sionally seen  among  the  Kattirs,  but  they 
•ire   not   pleiusant-looking   individuals,   and 
arc  n(,t  admired  by  their  blacker  and  more 
tortmiate  fellow-countrymen.    A  dark  olive 
"'    ''owever    tolerably    c(mimon,   but    the 
real  hue  of  the  skin  is  that  of  rather  blackish 
chocolate.    As  is  the  case  with  the  negro 
race    the  newly  bom  infant  of  a  Kaflir  is 

.WvL''"',^"'''    ••'  "?'  "*■''  European,  the 
dark  hue  becoming  developed  by  clegrees. 

Though  dark  of  hue,  the  KafHrs'are  as 
lastidions  about  their  dusky  comiilexion  as 
any  Eurojiean  belle  could  be  of  her  own 
fairer  skin;  and  the  nri<le  with  which  a 
Kaflir,  even  though  he  be  a  man  and  a  tried 

hiilfl""),  •'"•?'•'''  ,"'^«l'i''i»S,  transparent 
l)la(k  of  his  skin,  has  m  it  s(miething  ludi- 
crous to  an  inhabitant  of  Europe. 

The  hair  of  the  Kaffir,  whetlur  it  belon" 
to  male  or  female,  never  becomes  long,  biit 
envelopes  the  head  in  a  close  coveriiK^  of 
crisp,  woolly  curls,  very  similar  to  the  fiair 
ot  the  true  iie-ro.  The  lips  are  always 
large,  the  mouth  wide,  and  the  nose  has 
very  wide  nostrils.  These  peculiarities  tin. 
Kafhr  has  in  common  with  the  negro,  an<l 
It  now  and  then  happens  that  an  individual 


that  he  might  be  mistaken  for  a  ncro  at 
first  sight.     A  more  careful  view,  however, 
W()iild  at  once  detect  the  lofty  and  intellect- 
ual forehead,  the  prominence  of  the  nose 
and  the  high  check-bones,  together  with  a' 
nameless  but  decided  ca.st  of  comKenance 
which  marks  them  out  from  all  othergroups 
ot  the  dark-skinned  natives  of  Africju    The 
high  cheek-bones  form   a  verv  iimminent 
feature  in  the  countenances  of' the  Hotten- 
tots and  Uosjesmans,  but  the  Kaflir  cannot 
for  a  moment  be  mistaken  for  either  one  or 
the  other,  any  more  than  a  lion  could  be 
mistaken  for  a  juiina. 

The  exiircssion  of  the  Kaffir  face,  espec- 
ially when  young,  is  rather  pleasing;  and. 
a.s  a  general  rule,  is  notable  when  in  retiose 
for  a  slight  iilaintiveness,  this  expression 
being  marked  most  strongly  in  the  young, 
of  both  sexes.  The  dark  eyes  are  lively  and 
nil  of  intellect,  and  a  kind  of  cheerful  good 
humor  pervades  the  features.    As  a  peSple 


U,.n-i   ,  ./""■'    '^-'^"^'"'    ''•''"   Cim.I)!U).)I)  TO   AGK.        rn„u  /7,„/.,,„ „;,;,„■  /■„,„■„ 
'""".'/  '"'.'/•  /  iniiiirrmi  Man  or  -  H  iii." 


(l:!,) 


Ol'l  irom.iii. 
}oiiU!/  .V(inie<t  ll\iiniiii  iiiiil  Chiltl 


WANT  OF  CARE  FOU  THE  FUTURE. 


18 


thoy  are  devoid  of  care.  Tlio  throe  great 
cauaris  of  euro  ill  more  civilized  limds  nave 
but  little  iiilliionue  on  a  Kallir.  The  clothes 
which  he  iiijsolutely  needs  are  of  the  most 
trilling  descn[ition,  and  in  onr  hcuho  of  the 
word  cannot  l)e  recognized  as  clothing  at 
all.  The  slight  hut  which  enacts  the  part  of 
a  house  is  construcled  of  materials  that  can 
be  bought  tor  about  a  shilling,  and  to  the 
native  cost  nothing  but  the  labor  of  cutting 
and  carrying'.  His  food,  which  constitutes 
his  only  real  anxiety,  is  obUiined  far  more 
easily  than  among  civilized  nations,  for 
game-preserving  is  unknown  in  Houthcrn 
Africa,  and  any  bird  or  beiist  becomes  the 
property  of  any  one  wlio  chooses  to  take  the 
trouble  of  capturing  it.  One  of  the  mission- 
ary clergy  wiis  nuitn  struck  by  this  utter 
want  of  care,  when  he  Wiis  explaining  the 
Scriptures  to  some  dusky  hearers.  The  ad- 
vice "to  take  no  thought  for  the  morrow" 
had  not  the  least  ell'ect  on  them.  They 
never  had  t«ken  any  thought  for  the  mor- 
row, and  never  would  do  so,  and  rather 
wondered  that  any  one  could  have  been 
foolish  enough  to  give  them  such  needless 
advice. 

There  is  another  cause  for  this  heedless 
enjoyment  of  the  pre  iciit  moment;  namely, 
an    instinctive    fatalism,  arising  from    the 
peculiar  nature  of  th(;ir  government.    The 
power  of  life  and    death  with   which    the 
Kafllr  rulers  are  invested  is  exercised  in  so 
arbitrary  and  reckless  a  manner,  that  no 
Kallir  feels  the  le.ist  security  for  his  life. 
He  knows  perfectly  well  that  the  king  may 
require  his  life  at    anv  moment,  and    he 
therefore  never  troubles  himself  about  a  fu- 
ture which  may  have  no  existence  for  him. 
Of  course  these  traits  of  character  belon" 
only  to  the  Kallir  in  their  normal  conditioir; 
for,  when  these  splendid  savages  have  placed 
themselves  under  the  protection  of  Euro- 
peans, the  newly-felt  security  of  life  produces 
Its  natural   results,  ami  thev   will  display 
forethought  which  would  do 'no  discredit  to 
a  white  man.    A  lad,  for  example,  will  give 
faithful  service  for  a  year,  in  order  to  obtain 
a  cow  lit  the  end  of  that  time.    Had  he  been 
engaged  while  under  the  rule  of  !\is  own 
king,  he  would  have  insisted  on  prepayment 
and  wouM  have  honorably  fullillecf  his  task 
provided  that  the  king  (fid  not  have  him 
executed.   Their  fatalism  is,  in  fact,  owing  to 
the  peculiiM-ly  logicil  turn  of  a  KafHr'smmd, 
and  his  determination  to  follow  an  argu- 
ment to  its  conclusion,     lie  accepts  theac- 
knowleilged  fact  that  his  life  is  at  the  mercy 
of  the  kinj^'s  caprice,  and  dra\*3  therefrom 
the  inevitable  conclusion  that  he  can  calcu- 
late on  nothing  beyond  the  present  moment. 
Ihe  lofty  and  thoughtful  forehead  of  the 
Kaffir  docs  not  belie  his  character^or,  of  all 
savage  races,  the  KaHlr  is  perhaps  the  most 
Intellectual.     In  .acts  he  is  hononible  and 
straightforward,  and,  with  one   whom  he 
can  trust,  his  words  will  agree  with  his! 


actio.  8.  But  he  delights  in  controversy, 
and  !i:!.".  a  special  faculty  for  the  Hocratic 
mode  of  argument;  namely,  by  asking  a 
series  of  apparently  unimportant  questions. 
gra<lually  hemming  in  his  adversary,  and 
forcing  him  to  pronounce  his  own  sentonco 
of  condemnation.  If  ho  suspects  another 
of  having  committed  a  crime,  and  examines 
the  supposed  culprit  before  a  council,  he 
will  not  accuse  him  directly  of  the  crime, 
but  will  cross-examine  hiin  with  a  skill 
worthy  of  any  European  lawyer,  ciich  ques- 
tion being  only  capable  of  being  answered 
in  one  manner,  and  so  eliciting  successive 
fulmissious,  each  of  which  forms  a  step  iu 
the  argument. 

An  amusing  example  of  this  stylo  of  ar- 
i^ument  is  given  by  Fleming.  Some  Kaffirs 
had  been  detected  in  eating  an  ox,  and 
the  owner  brought  the.a  before  a  council, 
demanding  paynient  for  the  ox.  Their  de- 
fence was  that  they  had  not  killed  the  ani- 
mal, but  had  found  it  dying  from  a  wound 
intlictcd  by  another  ox,  and  so  had  consid- 
ered it  as  fair  spoil.  When  their  defence 
hiul  been  completedj  an  old  Kaffir  began  to 
examine  the  previous  speaker,  and,  as 
usual,  commenced  by  a  question  apparently 
wide  of  the  subject. 

Q.  "Does  an"  ox  tail  grow  up,  down,  or 
sideways  ?  " 

A.  "Downward." 

Q.  "  Do  its  horns  grow  up,  down,  or  side- 
ways ?  " 

A." 


Up." 
Q.  "  If  an  ox  gores  another,  does  ho  not 
lower  his  head  and  gore  upward  ?  " 
A.  "  Yes." 

Q.  "  Could  he  gore  downward  ?  " 
A.  "  No." 

The  wily  interrogator  then  forced  tlio 
unwilling  witness  to  examine  the  wound 
which  he  asserted  to  have  oeen  miule  by  the 
horn  of  another  ox,  and  to  admit  that  the 
slain  beast  hail  been  stabbed  and  not  gored. 
Mr.  (Jrout,  the  missionary,  mentions  an 
instance  of  the  subtle  turn  of  mind  wliich 
distinguishes  an  intelligent  Kallir.  One  of 
the  converts  came  to  ask  what  he  was  to  do 
if  he  went  on  .i  journey  with  his  people. 
It  must  first  be  understood  that  a  Kaffir 
takes  no  provisions  when  travelling,  know- 
ing that  he  will  receive  hospitality  on  the 
way. 

"  What  shall  I  do,  when  I  am  out  on  a 
journey  among  the  people,  and  they  ofler 
such  food  as  they  have,  iierh.ajis  the  llcsh  of 
an  animal  which  has  been  slaughtered  in 
honor  of  the  ghosts  of  the  departed?  If  I 
cat  it,  they  will  say,  'See  there!  ho  is  a 
believer  in  our  religion  — he  partakes  with 
US  ot  the  meat  offered  to  our  gods.'  And 
if  I  do  not  eat,  they  will  say,  'See  there! 
he  is  a  believer  in  the  existence  and  power 
of  our  gods,  else  why  does  he  hesitate  to 
eat  of  the  meat  which  wc  have  slaughtered 
to  till  m?  ■ "  ° 


10 


THE  KAFFin. 


(■.m(n,v.,;.sy  Iw.  i.  H,.ru|.nlc.,.Hlv  |...lit..   cv  r 

wh...,    lu;  ,.a.so  l.a..  I,...„  fully    ..iuc.d    a 
u  cncl.,.,,,.,  aniv<.,l  at,  h,.  ahvav.  I,  V^ 

IH'niiltv  IS  inlli.t,.,!  „)„,'],  iiiniicir 

nuential  cln.l  wl„)  has  owed  his  no.sitio.i 
n«  mnc.  1.  t„  his  inl,.||,.c.t  as  f„  hin  "  ' 

n;|.u  ..,  I,c.,-.,nes  a,  nK.st  fbrn.i.Ial.l..  "     ,".  ;! 

nst  in  a.-mn,.nt,  fspcdally  wIum,  (I     ,  us. 

ion  r..<i:ar.ls  tho  possession'  of  laiul  m  ,, 
LmMKlancs  (o  he  ohs.Tvod.  lie  in  I  •  ...^ 
"n/..s   flH.  cvk.hrato,!  axiom  that  I  nin  .•  7.: 

•as  Kiv-n  for  the-  purpose  of  eoneea  n^"  h  . 
tl.'>  1,1,'hts.  and  has  reeonrse  to  evry  evas  v  > 

caiynvliflt'lr"''''!,''''-''"''"^^"^''-'''-^''' 
can  in\(nt.     lie  will  mix  linlh  and  false- 

I"K..I  with  snch  in-ennitv  that  it  is 

possihle  to  srparatf.  tlicin.     Jfe  will 

■he^'    the  qiieslion,"  and  then 


hardly 


true 
)out 

no 
oin- 

to 
)ro- 
ant 
ro- 

^.■.■ms,oe,yoyu„.,,.e,h;;;;;::;;:|;;',;;""""" 

<  no  resnient  in  Katliiland  jnen  i    ""  sev 
•ral  instances  of  (he  l^ideney  of    I      Kaf  r«" 
toward  praeliealjokim,'.     A  la.         h™ 

t  mtot  anveonrl  in  Kun.pe/unli.^sii;  tj   „  " 

'.'I'CKd,  wl.ile  the  la,l  stood  hy,  s     e ri S^ 

"S  tl.e  operation,  ai.,1  .u.ea.fy\.n  oyi    /     „ 

joke      A  ter  a  whil..,  the  (riek  was     iC" 

n  i'n''  "h"""  "I'l"-'""''!  ll.e  ho  '      . 
"""^    "'■""  "■'- '■■   ''a.l  fallen  into  the 


<;nmp.^e,lly  as  il"  hi.  ai-nment  w.re  a  per- 
'-•••tlvh.irone.     He  will  attack  or  defen.l,  as 


1      i'      •,     ,.  "^   " '"  "ii.ieiv  or  cielelKI   as 

l-s(  suits   US  own  ease,  and  oftrn,  win  n  1,^ 

makes  a  stid,)en  onslau-hl,  heeoines  in  h  s 
tnm    he  assailant,  and'^marehes  t o  y  etory 

of 


more  than  those  who 
snare. 

Another   aneedole.    related   hy  Iho   snn.n 

'"l'«"-,;^<:f".sasif  it  h„d  he.-n  1  ni     plamed 

•on.  a  First  of  April  .eene  in  Ki,.r  affi     A 

I"-'-.l  -Ihiinjensln  A.riea.'was'hi:^!  CT"? 
'oad.    A   inisehieyous    hoy  ran    has  i|y    ,, 

on    iiei     head,    ami    ran 


the  well-known  Katlir  ehi^^  :^  wh;,m' wl 
shall  le.arn  more  presently.  And  s"  lyl  . 
n  face  the  man  has-lu.w  his  Iroad       o 

Jiallih    his   hiack   eyes  -leam  from  nn.Ier 
«r  deep  hrows.   Half-naked  saya,^.  tl       ,d 

vers     wi  I,".' •■'  "•''.•>"■  """f'''-  ixtl.  .onlm- 
^ii.s}   with  him  will  find  no  mean  anla-o 
nist,  and,   whether  the   ohjeet   he    •  |     C 
or  po  ities,  he   nuM   heware   lest   he  1 
lumself  suddenly  defeated  exacSy'in     e 

ALU  /ea  and  ,s  „o  ,uean  ade,,t  at  ar-Mi- 
ment  ami  ,„  „,any  points  hears  a  «  roi  / 
rosomhlanee  to  (he  KalHr  eharaoter  15  t" 
.nacmUestofwitshetweenaMm:!..  J 
and  a  /nhi  eonneillor,  the  latter  wonid  he 
nearly  eertain  to  ,r,me  otf  the  yietor 

As  a  rnle,  (he  Kallir  is  not  of 
inl  eharaeter,  nor 


a  reyenije- 


Tho  Kallir  is  essentially  hosi)i(ahlc  On 
a  MHU-ney,  any  on,,  may  Jl>  („  (  .  !  kra;i  „ '  a 
«tran-er  and  will  e,.r,ain|y  he  .,T  and 
'0(lK.;f1,  hoth  ae,„r,lii,i;  („  "his  r,  k  mH 
1'ositu.n.  Whit,,  men  are  r  viye'l  in  tht 
,^an.eh,.pi,ahl,.  manner,  ami'  niiM 
heir  .dnte  skin  ai,,l,lu.irp,vs\,n;..,]'L^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

£t^:/^;Si;^?^'•'''''^'■'^-'^'-^«.-«i 

llm  Katlirs  aiv  sinir„larly  domestic  peo- 

I     ''  ?"••'.  •'^'■nn-noina,|  as  (h,.    ar,..  elin-  wiHi 

S 'eat  alleetmn  to  their  sin.fde  hnls.     ('hi  15 

n<  warrmrsof  ki...wi,  nj/nt,.  may  hesflen 
■n  leir  kraals,  nuisin.an.l  ron.llfn-  tl  oYr 
.In  dren  with  no  less  alU'clion  than  is  ex   ,7, 

ted  hy  the  niotlurs.  Alloj^elher.  (h..  Ka  Jh- 
IS  a  social  h^.inJ,^     II..  eani7o(  en  lure  UxZ 

;;';;,  eam,.alon,..sniokin.  alone.  ,;.m 
alon,..  or  ..y,.,,   ..ookin-   alone,  hnt  alwayl 

f  some  assemblaj'e 


exeeedin.    te,:hin.:, "    ,  j?";;'  ^^"^  'i'^t   eontriyei  t;;).;.,;;     ,, 
Home   raJ^s  "•    ma-ddm  "  Xo  '';;;!:[';:r  i:   !  ^rll'' i!'  *'""   ^''■'■'^"   ""H-os.-.      Day  i. 
:'   """.i'.r"^"'  "'■  ''i^'"»v.     On  tL^.n^  Sk    !i;T'''n''''^''''''''  '""'  '""verse   witli 
trarv.a  Kallir  .an  he  anion'-  the  n  ist  ,         .;//•"■'"":;"  "' •"i".^' "'•l"'iiti..al  affairs 
n  ie.(    of   m,,nkind   when  Tu>    wi^.s    •£  i        n.i ''"'""  ^'"■"'^>'^'>^  i»  that  schoo  lo 
when  there  ,s  some  olycct  in  heiigsa'  ij^  '      X3^"'"^"'  ^^'"^'^  ''"«  ^'''^^"y  be™ 


ifit,  like  a  true 
*  liimsulf  iiliout 
»i>  mmt  (hilt  no 
II'  wiliully  (•„„,. 
lorn  lu'Hitute  to 
K.llicr  — a  pro- 
■iiiiNc  ot'iiiMiant 
)>*■  And,  j>ro- 
i  r  Olio,  no  one 
111'  viciim. 

JIK  iKiolln  sov- 

■  of  I  he  Knfllrs 
l:i'l  in  liiH  ser- 
"■-(•ountrynien 
1'  oil  llio  Eu>f- 
"ifllf  (o  kneel 
!  ii  tt'i'lain  dis- 

nalivcs,  liocn 
iic'((('  equal  to 
inlicsiiatingly 
,  Kiilicrintincr. 

I'lijoyiny  the 
^  ^va8  (liscov- 
lllf  boy's  wit 
lien  into  the 

'i.v  (ho  same 
li'iiii.sj)Iantc'(l 
J'^ii^'land.    A 
nnij)kin,  and, 
of  c-arryintr 
iii.U  it  on  her 
n    liiistily  to 
1'.  <'xclaimed, 
"•ad!"    The 
II  annonnce- 
lakc  lau!  f?ot 
s(r('aniin<,'. 
Iio.v  picked  it 
n  recovered 

i(al)le.  On 
le  kraal  of  a 
'c  fed  and 
lank  and 
ivcd  in  the 
II  virtue  of 
iK'd  kiiowl- 
chiefs,  and 

iicstic  pco- 
,  cling  with 
lis.     Chiefs 
lay  lie  seen 
lling  their 
II  iscxhih- 
.  tlic  KaHIr 
lure  living 
•',  .«nullini,' 
Mi(  always 
sseniblage 
Day  by 
(Tse  with 
cal  affairs, 
school  of 
ady  been 


CHAPTER   II. 


HIS  DITTIES -KAFFIR  VACCWATION -BIXOULAH  TUKATMENT  Or  A  CIIILn-A  CHILD'S  FIIWT 
0«.N^VMK.VT-CUUI0tr8  S....K>U,TmON-MOTHF,U  A.ND  C.ULD-THB  HKKV^UADLB-  KSCUi™ 
OF  A  CUAD.B  „KLO.V..,.Va  TO  A  CHIEF'.  W.KB  _  K..VDNK..  Or  rABK.VTS  TO  CuJJ^ZZZ 
flKXKS-THK    rtrrcUKOFA    KAKF.H    FAMILY.    AND   TUB    AnsE.VCB    OF    AN.XIKTV  -  .Tfavt."^™ 

m  :;:i„Tt™^:™"^'^  "'^  ^^r^'-^^^'^  "ovhood-d.ff.bk.tt.i.o,hks  i^;™"" 

ITSCllAUA(TKllA>OOmoi.V— iCHAKA'S  ATTF.M.-TKD  AI.OLITION  OF  TUB  UITB -C.  UIOCS  IDPA 
OF    T„B    KAFFIUS,   AND    UKSUMPT.OK    OF  TUB  .KUKMONV-A    KAFKIU's  DI.KAD  OF    a     V    ..AIUS 

YALUH  TO  THK  KINO— THK  CEBEMONV  INCUMUKNT  ON  HOTU  8BXK8. 


J^J^N?Sl'\nce(l  rapidly  over  the  principal 
traits  of  Katlir  character,  we  will  proceed  to 
trace  his  life  with  somewhat  more  detail. 

When  an  infant  is  born,  it  is,  as  lias  been 
already  mentioned,  of  a  light  hue,  and  does 
not  gain  the  red-black  of  its  parents  until 
a  ter  some  little  time  has  elapsed.    The  same 


most  grotesque-looking  object  it  was  ever 
niy  fortune  to  beholtC  \Vbat  remained, 
being  too  precious  to  waste,  was  transferred 
to  her  own  face."  Not  until  all  these  ab- 
surd preliminaries  arc  completiul,  is  the 
child  allowed  to  take  its  natural  food;  and  it 
sometimes  happens  that  when  the  "nu'di- 


own  country.  He  does  not  trouble  himself 
in  the  east  about  the  mother,  but  devotes 
his  whole  care  to  the  child,  on  whom  he  ner- 
torms  an  operation  something  like  that  of 
^ccination,  though  not  for  the  same  obicct. 
He  makes  small  incisions  on  various  parts 
ot  tlie  body,  rubs  medicine  into  them,  and 
goeslus  way.  Next  day  he  returns,  takes 
the  unlmpi)y  mfiint,  deepens  the  cuts,  and 
puts  more  medicine  into  them.  The  iiiuch- 
hr  h!l'/i"  ""'^  '?  "i.''"  '^'^'^«''  "^"d  is  dried 
wL^  fl*''  "''T'^  ■"'?°"'  '"  t»^«  "moke  of  a 
^moi'''\  ^l"-^'^".?  tl»58  treatment  by 
some  singular  tenacitv  of  life,  the  little  crea- 

Snt'Vn'?';.''''""^'"^  ''^^'^"''•"J  ^'th  r^d 
of  fh,:  o  1  "'''  proud  mother  takes  her  share 
of  the  adornment  This  paint  is  renewed  as 
fast  as  It  wears  off  and  is  not  discontinued 
until  after  a  lapse  of  several  months. 

;  Once,"  writes  Mr.  Shooter, "  when  T  saw 
tins  paint  put  on,  the  mother  had  carefully 
7^r-  t^^'^'^^y  V^y'  •'^"'^  ™ade  him  clean 
nFl,^""''  u  ^'>°  ^^''''  ^^""^  »P  the  fragment 
rLa  .^'■themyare  pot,  which  contamed  a 
rea  nuid,and,  dipping herfinffnrs  intn  !t  nr"- 
ceeded  to  daub  her  son  until  he  became  the 


(17) 


makes  little,  if  any,  difference  in  the  amount 
ot  her  daily  tasks.    And,  considering  that 
all  the  severe  work  falls  upon  the  women  it 
IS  wonderful  that  they  should  contrive  to  do 
any  work  at  all  under  the  circumstances. 
The  two  principal  tasks  of  the  w(mien  are, 
breaking  up  the  ground  with  a  heavy  and 
clumsy  tool,  something  between  a  pickaxe 
and  a  mattock,  and  grinding  the  daily  sup- 
ply of  corn  between  two  stones,  and  either 
ot  these  tasks  would  prove  quite  enough  for 
any   ordinary    laborer,    though    the    poor 
v.'oman  has  to  perform  both,  and  i)lentv  of 
minor  ta.-,ks  besides.    That  they  should  liavo 
to  do  all  this  work,  while  laboring  under  the 
incumbrance  of  a  he.vvy  and  groVing  child 
hung  on  the  back,  does  really  seem  very 
hard  upon  the  women.    Hut  they,  havin^ 
never  known  any  other  state  of  tilings,  ac" 
cept  their  laborious  married  life  as  a  matter 
of  course. 

.v.^^}*?}  *,'*''  mother  carries  her  infant  to 
the  field,^8he  mostly  slings  it  to  her  back  by 
mrrtns  ,-).  a  wide  strip  of  some  soil  skin, 
which  she  passes  round  her  waist  so  as  to 


M 


TIIK   KAFFIR. 


loftvo  a  (tort  of  pocket  licliliul  1m  wliicli  tltc 
child  limy  li('.     In  iIiIh  iiiiinitivi<  cnulU'  tin- 


little  crciituro  npontM  in  pttrt'cct  ooiitciit, 
nnd  not  even  tju!  ultrupt  niovenieiilH  to 
which  it  U  lU'ecHMiii-iiy  Htihjected  will  diH- 
tiirli  Hh  HlunilxrH. 

The  wife  of  ii  chief  or  Wenllhy  man  will 
not,  however,  rest  HiitiHiled  with  the  mere 
Htrip  of  Hkin  hy  way  of  a  cradle,  hut  hiw 
one  of  an  elaliorale  and  onianienlal  chara<- 
ter.  The  illuHtiatioii  repicxentH  a  remark- 
ably lino  examplt!  of  tlui  South  African 
cradle,  ami  i«  drawn  from  u  Bpecimeu  in 
my  cuUuctiuu. 


row   toward  thu  hottom,  graihiaily  widen- 


II,  Ki-n 
liche.i 


I 


CRADLE. 


illf,'  until  within  a  few  iliclie.i  of  the  oiH'ii- 
iiiK,  when  it  axain  contiuctM.  Thin  form 
very  ell'ectually  prevenlH  an  active  or  rewt- 
leiix  child  iVom  falling  out  of  its  cradle.  The 
hairy  Hide  of  the  Mkin  Im  turned  Inward,  ho 
that  the  little  one  lum  a  Holt  and  plcanant 
crmlli!  ill  which  to  repone.  In  order  to 
uive  it  thin  nhape,  two  "j;ore»"  have  hi  en 
let  into  the  hack  of  the  cradle,  and  are 
Hewed  with  that  inarvello.iH  iicalncHH  which 
chariusterizcH  the  workmaiiiiliip  of  the  Kalllr 
trilicH.  Four  loiij(  ntripH  of  the  mime  nkin 
are  attached  to  the  openiiii;  of  tin-  cra- 
dle, and  by  nieaim  of  them  the  mother  can 
bind  her  little  one  Hccurely  on  her  hack. 

Ah  far  a«  iiMcfulncHsgocM,  the  cradle  in  now 
complete,  hut  tlie  woman  in  iiotHalislled  un- 
IcHH  ornament  be  addt d.  'i'hou;,'li  her  rank 
—  the  wile  of  a  chief — <loe.s  not  exonerate 
her  from  labor,  .ilie  can  nlill  have  the  Hatin- 
faction  of  hIiowIiii;  her  jioHition  by  lier  jlrcHS, 
and  excitiiiK  envy  amonjj  her  lew  fortunate 
companioiiH  in  tlie  Held.  The  entire  front 
of  the  cradle  In  covered  with  beads,  arnin^'ed 
in  n>j?ular  rows.  In  tluH  Hpe<imeu,  two  col- 
ors only  are  used;  nainely.  black  and  white. 
The  black  IkiuIh  are  polished  >>;'"«».  wliilo 
the  others  are  of  the  color  which  are  known 
as  "chalk-white,"'  and  which  is  in  ^reat 
favor  with  the  Katlir-i,  on  account  of  the 
contrast  which  it  allbrds  to  their  dusky  Hkin. 
The  two  central  iowh  are  black.  The  cradle 
weighs  rather  more  than  two  pounds,  half 
of  whicli  is  certainly  due  to  the  prolusion  of 
beads  with   which   it   is  covered. 

ExiTjit  under  jieculiar  circumstances,  the 
KalHr  mother  is  a  kind,  and  even  indulgent 
parent  to  lii'r  childn'H.  There  are,  however, 
excei)tional  instances,  but,  in  these  caseu, 
superstition  is  generally,  the  iiiovinj;  power. 
As  with  many  nations  in  diH'eient  parts  of 
the  earth,  alfhouKli  abundance  of  children 
is  desired,  twins  are  not  in  favor;  and  when 
they  make  their  aj)pearaiice  one  of  them  is 
sacrificed,  in  consecpjeiice  of  a  .superstitious 
notion  that,  if  both  twins  are  allowed  to  live, 
something  unlucky  would  hajipen  to  the 
parents. 

As  the  children  grow,  a  certain  dilTercnco 
in  their  treatment  is  ])erieptil)le.    in  most 
savage  nations,  the  female  childri^n  are  com- 
paratively neglected,  and  very  ill  treatment 
falls  on  them,  while. the  male*  are  consid- 
ered as  privileged  to  do  i)retty  well  w'.at 
they  like  without  rebuke.    This,  however, 
is  not  the  case  with  the  Katlirs.      The   pa- 
rents have  jileiity  of  respi  ct  for  their  .sons 
as  the  warriors  of  the  next  genenition,  but 
they  have  also  respect  for  tlieir  daughters 
as  a   source  of  wealth.      Every  father  is 
therefore  glad  to  see  a  iniw-born  child,  and 
welcomes  it  whatever  may  be  its  sex  — the 
It  18  nearly  two  feet  in  len  ;«;-  tv  one  n  >  boys  to  increase!  tlu^  power  of  his  house,  tlia 
width,  and  IS  made  of  anu-!  .j  ,     .'u,  .■    a   girls  to  increa.se  the  number  of  his  cattle, 
the  hair  still  remaining.    Tiv    ft.  t  .are  of    lie  knows  perfectly  well  that,  when  his  lit- 
the  maker  lias  been  to  construct  a  bag,  nar-   tie  girl  is  urown  un.  he  can  obtain  at  lenxt 


CEIIRMONV   IXCUMHENT  OX   IIOTII  HEXES. 


10 


C'iuhtOdWH  for  h.r,  iind  flnvt,  if  n\u>  hiippiMist 
U>  tiiki!  (lit!  liiiicy  "111  rich  or  powi'ifui  iiiiiii, 
li(!   miiv   1)1'   I'ortun.itd   ciiou).-!!    to   prociiiv 

•V.   (111!  Illlllllu'l-.         '  ■    '  ■'  •   ■    ■ 


twi(!i!  (111!  mimluT.  And,  ii«  (lu!  price  whicli 
iH  piuil  to  the  t'utlicr  of  iif,'irl  dcpriidM  very 
iniicli  on  her  lookH  and  condidon,  hIio  ix  not 
ullowi'd  to  1)1!  dctiiriorutcd  hy  Imrd  work  or 
lll-tn!iUniinl,  Tliiso  i,'cni'riilly  comu  alU'r 
in;uriii;?c,  iind,  ii.t  (lio  wilo  doi-M  not  expect 
iinyliiiii;:  hut  mucIi  treatnuMit,  mIio  doe«  not 
(IreiiMi  of  <'(inipl;iinin>{. 

The  Kiilllr  is  free  from  the  chief  niixietiei* 
that  attend  a  lar;.'e  family  in  civilized  coua- 
tries.     He  knows  iK.lliiiijr  of  tlie   thousand 
nrlilicial  wants  whic!    cliMter  round  ii  civil- 
ized life,  and  need  not  fear  |"st  his  olfsprinK 
Hliould  no   '.()  uMe   to  Iind   a  snhsiHlence. 
Neither  is  lii>  tr.)nl)led  lest  tliey  shouhl  sink 
helow  that  rank  iM  vliich  (hey  were  horn.  Not 
that  there  are  no  tlistinetions  of  rank   in 
Kn(!irl.in(|.    On  the  contrary,  there  are  few 
paii.  of  the  worhl  where  the  distinctioiiH  of 
rank  are  hetter  appreciated,  or  more  clearly 
(lelliicd.     Hut,  any  one  may  attain  the  rank 
of  chief,  provided  that  he  jmHsesses  the  men- 
tal or  i)hysical  characteristics  that  can  raise 
him  ahovi'  the  level  of  tliost-  who  surround 
liim,  and,  as  is  well  known,  some  of  the  most 
liowerful  monarchs  who  have  exercised  des- 
potic, sway  in  Southern  Africa  have  earned 
H  rank  which  tliey  could  not  have  inherit(!(l, 
and    have    created   nionarchieH   where   tiie 
country  had  forinerlv  been  ruled  hy  a  nuni- 
)ter  of  iiidepeiKleiit  chieftains.    These  points 
may  have  some  inll-ience  upon  the  KaHlr's 
conduct  a.s  a  parent,  hut,  whatever  may  be 
the  motives,  the  fact  remains,  that   amoii" 
this  line  race  of  suvajjes  there  is  no  trace  o? 
tlu!  wholesale  infanticide  which  is  so  terri- 
blv   m-evalent  amonj,'  other    nations,    and 
which   iH  accepted  as  a   social   institution 
amonj'    some    that    consider     th(!n»8elve8 
amon;;^'  the  most  hi,i,'hly  civilized  of  nmnkind. 
As  18  the  case  in  many  parts  of  the  world 
till!  natives  of  South  Africa  underjro  a  cere- 
mony of  some  sort,  which  marks  their  tran- 
Bi tion  from  childhood  to  a  more  mature  a"e 
Ihere  has  been  rather  a  sharp  controversy 
respectinK  tlic!  peculiar  ceiemonv  which  the 
KalHrs  enjoin,  some  sayins;  that  it  is  identi- 
cal with  the  rito  of  circumcision  as  prac- 
tised by  the  Jews,  and  others  that  such  a 
cui^tom  does  iiot  exist.    The  fm-t  is,  that  it 
uaul  to  bo  universal  throughout  Southern 


Africa,   until  that  strftiige  dniipot,  Tchaka 
chose  arbitrarily   to   forbid    It  amony   the 
iiiany  tribes  over  which  he  rulr-rl.     Since  hiN 
death,  however,  the  ciistoin  has  l(e(!n  Kiadu- 
iilly  re-introduced,  as  the  men  of  the  tribes 
bell'  yed  (hat  those  who  had  not  undergone 
thi     lie  were  weaker  than  would  otherwiwe 
have  lieen  the  <'as(!,  and  were  more  liable  to 
}?ray  haiiM.     Now  with  a  Kallir  a  lioaiy  head 
IS  by  no  means  a  crown  of  jjlory,  hut  in 
looked  upon  as  a  sign  of  debility.  '  A  chief 
dreads  nothing  s«  much  iw  the  iipiiroai  h  of 
gray  hairs,  knowing  that  the  various  sub- 
chiefs,  and   other  ambitious  men  who  are 
risinj^  about    him,  are   only   too   ready   to 
detect  any  si«u  of  weakness,  and   to  eject 
hini  Iroiii  his  post      Eiiro|)eans  who  visit 
elderly  chiefs  are  aluumt  invariably  asked  if 
they    have    any   nreparatioii  that  will   dye 
their  Kiay  linirH  black.   So,  the  dread  of  such 
a  Calamity  occurrinj{  at  an  early  aj^'i!  would 
b(!  (juite  snllUient  to  make  a  Kafllr"rcsort  to 
any  custom  which  he  fancied  niiL'ht  pre- 
vent it. 

After  the  cere  -ony,  whicli  is  practised  in 
secret,  and  its  details  eon<!ealed  with  iiivio- 
Ifible  fidelity,  the  youths  are  permitted  three 
months  of  unlimited  indulgence;  doiii;,'  no 
work,  and   eating,   sleepiii},',  8in^Mii<r.  ^and 
danciii},',  just  aH  they  like.    They  are  llien 
permitted  to  bear  arms,  and,  altl'iouKh  s(ill 
called  "boys,"  are   trained  as  soldiers  and 
drafted  into  ditfereut   regiments.      Indeed, 
it  is  luosily  from  these  regiments  that  the 
chief  selects^ the  warriors  whom  he  sends  on 
the   most  daring  expeditions.     They  have 
nothing  to  lose  and  everything  to  gain,  and, 
it  they  distinguish  themselves,  may  be  al- 
lowed to  assume  the  "liead-ring,"  the  proud 
badge  of  manhood,  and  to  marrv  as  many 
wives  as  th(!y  can  manage  to  pay  for.     A 
'■'"W"  — nonmtter  what  his  age  might  be  — 
would  not   dare    (>  assume   the    head-ring 
without  the  permission  of  his  chief,  and 
there  is  no  gur(!r  mode  of  gaining  i)crniis- 
moii  than  by  distinguished  conduct  in  the 
field  whether  in  open  fight,  or  in  stealing' 
cattle  from  the  enemy. 

The  necessity  for  undergoing  some  rite 
when  emerging  from  childhood  is  not  re- 
stricted to  the  men,  but  is  ineumbent  on 
the  girls,  who  are  carried  off  into  seclusion 
hy  their  initiators,  and  within  a  vear  from 
tlieir  initiation  are  allowed  to  marry. 


\-.  • 


CHAPTER  III. 


A  KAFFIRS    LIFE,  CONTDTOED  —  ADOLESCKNCR  —  BE AUTV    OF    FORM    IN    THE    KAFFIRS,   AND    REASONS 
FOR  IT  —  LIVING    BTATCE3  —  BENJAMUT  WEST  AND  TUB    APOLLO  —  SHOULDERS  OF  THE  KAKFIKS 

—  SPEED  OF  FOOT  CONSIDERED  HONORABLE  —  A  KAFFIH  MESSENGER  AND  HIS  MODE  OF  CAilRY- 
INO  A  LETTER  —  HIS  EQUIPMENT  FOR  X'lB  JOURNEY  —  LIGHT  MARCHING-ORDER— HOW  THE 
ADDRESS  IS    GIVEN  TO  HIM  —  C'KLERITy  OF    HIS  TASK,   AND   SMALLNESS  OF  HIS  PAY  —  HIS  FEET 

VND  THEIR  NATURE  —  THICKNESS  OF  THE  :'OLE,  AND  ITS  SUPERIORITY  OVER  THE  SHOE  — 
ANECDOTE  OF  A  SU^K  BOY  ANO  HIS  PHYSICIAN  —  FORM  OF  THE  FOOT  — HEALTHY  STATE  OF  A 
KAFFIR'S  BODY  — ANECDOTE  OF  WOUNDED  GIRL —RAPIDITY  WITH  WHICH  INJURIES  ARE  HEALED 

—  YOUNG  WOMEN,  AN  J  THEIR  BEAUTY  OF  FORM — PHOTOGRAPHIC  PORTRAITS — DIFFICULTY  OF 
PHOTOGKAPHINO  A  KAFFIR  — THE  LOCALITY,  GREASE,  NERVOUSNESS  —  SHORT  TENURE  OF 
BEAUTY  —  FEATURES  OF  KAFFIR  GIRLS — OLD  KAFFIH  WOMEN   AND  THEIR  LOOKS. 


When  the  youths  and  maidens  are  in  the 
full  bloom  ot  youtli,  they  afford  as  tine  spec- 
imens of  liumanity  as  can  be  seen  any- 
where. Their  limbs  have  never  been  sub- 
ject to  the  distorting  intinences  of  clothing, 
nor  their  forms  to  tlie  absurd  compression 
wliich  was,  until  recently,  destructive  of  all 
real  beauty  in  this  and  neighboring  coun- 
tries. Each  musc'.e  and  sinew  has  liad  fair 
play,  the  lungs  have  breatherl  fresli  air,  and 
the  active  liabits  have  given  to  tlie  form 
that  rounded  perfection  which  is  never  seen 
except  in  those  wlio  have  enjoyed  simihir 
advantages.  Wo  all  admire  the  almost 
superhuman  majesty  of  the  human  form  as 
seen  in  ancient  sculpture,  and  v/e  need  only 
to  travel  to  8outhern  Africa  to  see  similar 
forms,  yet  breathing  and  moving,  not  mo- 
tionless images  of  marble,  but  living  statues 
of  bronze.  This  classic  beauty  of  form  is  not 
peculiar  to  Southern  Africa,  but  is  found  in 
many  parts  of  the  world  where  the  inhabit- 
ants lead  a  free,  active,  and  temperate  life. 

My  readers  will  probably  remember  the 
well-known  anecdote  of  West  the  painter 
surprising  the  critical  Italians  with  his  re- 
'marks.  Bred  in  a  Quaker  family,  ha  had  no 
acquaintance  with  ancient  art;  and  when  he 
first  vi8it(!d  Rome,  he  was  taken  by  a  large 
assembly  of  art-critics  to  see  the  Apollo  Bel- 
vedere. As  soon  as  the  doors  were;  thrown 
open,  he  exclaimed  that  the  statue  repre- 
sented a  young  Mohawk  warrior,  much  to 
the  indignation  of  the  critics,  who  foolishly 
took  his  exclamation  as  derogatory  to  the 
sliitu<!,  rather  than  the  highest  and  most 
genuine  praise.     The   fact  was,  tha 


(20) 


models  fVom  whom  the  sculptor  had  com- 
posed his  statue,  and  the  young  Mohawk 
warriors  so  familiar  to  West,  had" received  a 
similar  physical  education,  and  had  attained 
a  similar  physical  beauty.  "I  have  seen 
them  often,"  said  West,  "standing  in  the 
very  attitude  of  this  Apollo,  and  pursuing 
with  an  intent  eye  the  arrow  which  they 
had  just  discharged  from  the  bow." 

There  is,  indeed,  but  one  fault  that  the 
most  captious  critic  can  find  with  the  form 
of  the  Kallir,  and  that  is,  a  slight  deficiency 
in  the  fall  of  the  shoulder.  As  a  race,  the 
Kaffirs  are  slightly  high-shouldered,  though 
there  are  many  instances  where  the  slojie 
from  the  neck  to  the  arm  is  exactly  in 
accordance  with  the  canons  of  classic  art. 

These  young  fellows  are  marvellously 
swift  of  foot,  speed  reckoning  as  one  of  the 
chief  characteristics  of  a  distinguished  sol- 
dier. They  arc  also  possessed  of  enormous 
endurance.  You  may  send  a  Kaffir  for  sixty 
or  seventy  miles  with  a  letter,  and  he  will 
prepare  for  the  start  as  quietly  as  if  he  had 
only  a  journey  of  some  three  or  four  miles 
to  jk'rform.  1  irst,  he  cuts  a  stick  some  three 
feet  in  length,  splits  the  end,  and  fixes  the 
letter  in  tlie  cleft,  so  that  he  may  carry  the 
missive  without  damaging  it  by  the  grease 
with  which  his  whole  i)erson'is  liberally 
anointed.  He  then  looks  to  his  sup])ly  of 
snuff",  and,  should  he  hai)])(!n  to  run  short  of 
thixt  needful  luxury,  it  will  a<ld  wings  to  his 
feet  if  a  little  tobacco  be  presented  to  him, 
which  he  can  make  into  snuff' at  his  first  halt 

Taking  an  assagai  or  two  with  him,  and 
perhaps  a  short  stick  with  a  knob  at  the 


-  r-'m-i.f 


a,  AMD  REASONS 
OF  THE  KAKFIKS 
MODE  OF  CAilRV- 
DER— HOW  THE 
PAY  —  HIS  FEET 
ER  THE  SHOE  — 
THY  STATE  OF  A 
I£8  ARE  HEALED 
—  DIFFICULTY  OF 
RT     TENUIUS     OF 

<ia. 


ptoT  had  com- 
oiing  Mohawk 
had  received  a 
id  had  attained 
"I  have  seen 
landing  in  tlic 
,  and  pursuing 
w  which  they 
bow." 

fault  that  tlio 
with  tlie  form 
ght  deficiency 
As  a  race,  tlio 
Idered,  tliougli 
lere  tlie  slope 

is  exactly  in 
f  classic  art. 

marvellously 
;  as  one  of  the 
inguished  sol- 
[1  of  enormous 
Kattir  for  sixty 
r,  and  he  will 
ly  as  if  he  had 
I  or  four  miles 
icl«  some  three 
,  and  fixes  the 
may  carry  the 

by  the  grease 
)n"is  liberally 

his  8up])ly  of 
o  run  short  of 
d  wings  to  his 
lentcd  to  him, 
it  his  first  halt 
with  him,  and 
.  knob  at  the 


(21) 


i 


iti 


i  II 


A  KAFFIR  MESSENGER. 


98 


end,  called  a  "  kerry,"  he  will  start  off  at  a 
slingiug  sort  of  mixture  between  a  run  and 
a  trot,  and  will  hold  this  pace  almost  with- 
out cessation.  As  to  provision  for  the 
journey,  he  need  not  trouble  himself  about 
it,  for  he  is  sure  to  fall  in  with  some  hut 
or  perhaps  a  village,  and  is  equally  sure  of 
obtaining  both  food  and  shelter.  He  steers 
his  course  almost  as  if  by  intuition,  regard- 
less of  beaten  tracks,  and  arrives  at  his 
destination  with  the  same  mysterious  cer- 
tainty that  characterizes  the  migration  of 
the  swallow. 

It  is  not  so  easy  to  address  a  letter  in 
Africa  as  in  England,  and  it  is  equally  diffi- 
cult to  give  directions  for  finding  any  par- 
ticular house  or  village.  If  a  chief  should 
be  on  a  visit,  and  ask  his  host  to  return 
the  call,  he  simply  tells  him  to  go  so  many 
days  in  such  a  direction,  and  then  turn  for 
halt  a  day  in  another  direction,  and  so  on. 
However,  the  KalHr  is  quite  satisfied  with 
such  indicaitions,  and  is  sure  to  attain  his 
point. 

1  -.y^","  *'*°  messenger  has  delivered  his 
letter,  he  will  squat  down  on  the  ground, 
take  snuff,  or  smoke— probably  both  — and 
wait  patiently  for  the  answer.    As  a  mat- 
ter of  course,  refreshments  will  be  supplied 
to  him,  and,  when  the  answer  is  handed  to 
lum,  he  will  return  at  the  same  pace.  Euro- 
peans are  always  surprised  when  thoy  first 
SCO  a  young  Kaffir  undertake  the  delivery 
of  a  letter  at  so  great  a  distance,  and  still 
more    at    tlio    wonderfully  short   time    in 
wluch  he  will  perform  the  journey.    Nor 
are    they    less    surprised    when    they  find 
that  Im  thinks  himself  very  well  paifl  with 
a  shilling  for  his  trouble.     In  point  of  fact, 
the  .journey  is  scarcely  troublesome  at  all. 
lie   lias  everything  his  own  way.     There 
18  plenty  of  snuff  in  his  box,  tobacco  where- 
with to  make  more,  the  prospect  of  seeing 
a  number  of  fellow-countrymen  on  the  way 
and  enjoying  a  conversation  with  them,  the 
dignity  of  being  a  messenger  from  one  white 
chief  to  another,  an<l  the  certainty  of  ob- 
taining a  sum  of  money  which  will  enable 
hini  to  adorn  himself  witli  a  splendid  set  of 
beads  at  the  next  dance. 

barefoot  though  he  be,  he  seldom  com- 
plains of  any  hurt  From  constant  usage 
the  soles  of  his  feet  are  defended  by  a 
thickened  skin  as  insensible  as  the  sole  of 
any  boot,  and  combining  equal  toughness 
with  perfect  elasticity.  He  will  walk  with 
unconcern  over  sharp  stones  and  thorns 
wlmli  would  lame  a  European  in  the  first 
step,  and  hius  the  great  advantage  of  pos- 
sessing a  pair  of  soles  which  never  wear 
out,  hut  actually  become  stronger  by  use. 
Mr.  Haines,  the  African  hunter,  narrates  a 
rather  ludicrous  instance  of  the   insonsi 


bilitv  of  the  Kaffir's  foot   Passing  by  some 
Kaffir  houses,  he  heard  dolefnl  outories.  and 


iouiid  that  a  young  boy  was  undergoing  "a 
medical  or  surgical    operation,  whichever 


may  be  the  proper  name.  The  boy  was 
euffering  from  some  ailment  for  which  the 
medicine-man  prescribed  a  thorough  knead- 
ing with  a  hot  substance.  The  plan  by 
which  the  process  was  carried  out  was  sim- 
ple and  ingenious.  A  Kaffir  man  held  his 
own  foot  over  the  fire  until  the  sole  became 
quite  hot  The  boy  was  then  held  firmly 
on  the  ground,  while  the  man  trampled  on 
him  with  the  heated  foot,  and  kneaJed  him 
well  with  this  curious  implement  of  medi- 
*^pe.  When  that  foot  was  cold,  he  heated 
the  other,  and  so  proceeded  till  the  opera- 
tion was  concluded.  The  heat  of  his  sole  waa 
so  great  that  the  poor  boy  could  scarcely  en- 
dure the  pain,  and  struggled  hard  t«)  get 
free,  but  the  operator  felt  no  inconvenience 
whatever  ft-om  subjecting  his  foot  to  such 
an  ordeal.  The  dreaded  "stick"  of  the 
Orientals  would  lose  its  terrors  to  a  Kaffir 
who  would  endure  the  baatinado  with  com- 
parative impunity. 

Among  these  people,  the  foot  assumes  its 
proper  form  and  dimensions.  The  toes  are 
not  pinched  together  by  shoes  or  boots, 
and  reduced  to  the  helpless  state  too  com- 
mon in  this  country.  The  foot  is,  like  that 
of  an  ancient  statue,  wide  and  full  across 
the  toes,  each  of  which  has  its  separate 
function  just  as  have  the  fingers  of  the 
hand,  and  each  of  which  is  equally  capable 
of  performing  that  function.  Therefore 
the  gait  of  a  Kaffir  is  perfection  itself. 
He  has  not  had  his  foot  lifted  behind  and 
depressed  in  front  by  high-heeled  boots 
nor  the  play  of  the  instep  cl)ecked  by  leath- 
ern bonds.  The  wonderful  arch  of  the  foot 
—  one  of  the  most  astonishing  pieces  of 
mechanism  that  the  world  aiffords  — can 
perform  its  office  unrestrained,  and  every 
little  bone,  muscle  and  tendon  plays  it's 
own  part,  and  none  other. 

The  constant  activity  of  the  Kaffirs,  con- 
joined to  their  temperate  mode  of  life,  keeps 
them  in  perfect  health,  and  guards  them 
against  many  evils  which  befall  the  civilized 
man.  They  aro  free  from  many  of  the  mi- 
nor ailments  incident  to  high  civilization 
and  whicli,  trifling  as  they  may  be  singly, 
detract  greatly  in  the  aggregate  from  tlie 
happiness  of  life.  Moreover,  their  state  of 
hea,lth  enables  them  to  survive  injuries 
which  would  be  almost  instantly  fatal  to  any 
ordinary  civilized  European.  That  this 
comparative  immunity  is  owing  to  the  mode 
of  hie  and  not  to  the  color  of  the  skin  is  a  well- 
known  fact,  Europeans  being,  when  in  thor- 
ough good  health,  even  more  enduring  than 
their  dark-skinned  companions.  A  remark- 
able instance  of  this  fact  occurred  during 
the  blootly  struggle  between  the  Dutch  col- 
onists and  Dingan's  forces  in  1837.  The  Kaf- 
firs treacherously  assaulted  the  unsuspecting 
Dutchmen,  and  then  invaded  their  villajres. 

•■]• '"K  "!'  t"^-  iiihiiuiiams  ana  dostir.ving 

the   habitations.      Near  the  Blue  Kninta 
River  was  a  heap  of  dead,  among  whom  wero 


T 


THE  KAFFIR. 


found  two  young  girls,  who  still  showed  signs 
of  life.  One  had  received  nineteen  stabs 
with  the  assagai,  and  the  other  twenty-one. 
Tliey  were  removed  from  the  corpses,  and 
survived  their  dreadful  wounds  reaching 
womanhood,  though  both  crippled  lor  life. 

On  one  occa-sion,  while  I  was  conversing 
with  Captain  Jiurton,  and  alluding  to  the 
numerous  wounds  which  he  hat!  received, 
and  the  little  ettect  which  they  had  upon 
him,  he  said  that  when  the  human  frame 
Wiis  brought,  by  constant  exercise  and  sim- 
ple diet,  into  a  state  of  perfect  health,  mere 
llcsh  wounds  were  scarcely  noticed,  the  cut 
closing  almost  as  easily  as  if  it  had  been  made 
in  India-rubber.  It  maj  also  be  familial-  to 
my  readers,  that  when  m  this  country  men 
are  carefully  trained  for  any  physical  exer- 
tion, whether  it  be  pedestrianism,  gymnas- 
tics, rowing,  or  the  prize-ring,  they  receive 
with  indifference  injuries  which  would  have 
prostrated  them  a  few  months  previously, 
and  recover  from  them  with  wonderful 
rapidity. 

The  young  Kaffir  women  are  quite  as  re- 
markable for  the  beauty  of  their  form  as  are 
the  men,  and  the  very  trifling  dress  which  they 
Avcar  serves  to  show  off  their  ligures  to  the 
best  advantage.  Some  of  the  young  Kaffir 
girls  are,  in  point  of  ft.rm,  so  perfect  that 
they  woidd  have  satisfied  even  the  fastidious 
taste  of  the  classical  sculptor.  There  is, 
however,  in  them  the  same  tendency  to  high 
shoulders  which  has  already  been  men- 
tioned, anu  in  some  cases  the  shoulders  are 
set  almost  squarely  across  the  body.  In 
most  instances,  however,  the  shoulders  have 
the  proper  droop,  while  the  whole  of  the 
bust  is  an  absolute  model  of  i)erfection  — 
rounded,  firm,  and  yet  hthe  as  the  body  of  a 
panther. 

There  is  now  before  me  a  large  collection 
of  photographs,  representing  Kaffir  girls  of 
various  ages,  and,  in  spite  cV  the  invariable 
stiffness  of  photographic  portraits,  they  ex- 
hi])it  forms  which  might  servo  as  models  for 
any  sculptor.  If  they  could  only  have  been 
l)hotographed  while  engaged  in  their  ordi- 
nary pursuits,  the  result  would  have  been 
most  artistic,  but  the  very  knowledge  that 
they  were  not  to  move  liand  or  foot  has 
occasioned  them  to  assume  attitudes  quite 
at  variance  with  the  graceful  unconscious- 
ness of  their  ordinary  gestures. 

Besides  the  stiffness  which  has  already 
been  mentioned,  there  are  several  points 
which  make  a  really  good  photograpliic 
portrait  almost  an  impossibility.  In  the 
llrst  idace,  the  sunlight  is  so  brilliant  that 
tli(!  siiadows  become  developed  into  black 
patches,  and  the  high  liijchts  into  spla-shes  of 
wliit(i  without  the  lenst  secondary  shading. 
Tho  photographer  of  Kaffir  life  cannot  piit 
his  models  into  a  glass  room  cunningly 
fiiruislied  with  cnrtnins  and  tinted  "Lw.. 
lie  must  take  the  camera  into  the  villages, 
photograph  the  inhabitants  as  they  stand 


or  sit  in  the  open  air,  and  make  a  darkcneil 
hut  act  as  a  developing-tent. 

Taking   the  portrait  properly  is  a  mat- 
ter of  extreme  difficulty.    The  Kaffirs  will 
rub  themselves  with  grease,  and  the  more 
they   shine   the    better   they   are    dressed. 
NoWj  as  every  photofjrapher  knows,  noth- 
ing 18  more    peijilexing   than   a   rounded 
and  polish.ed  surface  in  the  full  ray-  oi  tho 
sunbeams;  and  if  it  were  only  possible  to  rub 
the  grease  from  the  dark  bodies,  and  deprive 
them  of  their  gloss,  the  photographer  would 
have  a  better  chance  of  success.  But  the  Kaf- 
fir ladies,  old  and  young  alike,  think  it  a  point 
of  honor  to  he  dressed  in  their  very  best 
when  their  portraits  are  taken,  and  will  in- 
sist upon  bedizening  themselves  exactly  in 
the  way  which  is  most  destructive  to  jjIio- 
tography.    They  take  fresh  grease,  and  rub 
their  bodies  until  they  shine  like  a  well-pol- 
ished boot;  they  indue  every  necklace,  girdle, 
bracelet,  or  other  ornament  that  they  can 
muster,  and  not  until  they  are  satisfied  v  it ; 
their  personal  ai)pearance  will  they  presei; ', 
themselves  to  the  artist.    Even  when  they 
have  done  so,  they  are  restles.",  inquisitive, 
and  rather  nervous,  and  in  all  probability  will 
inove  their  heads  just  as  the  cap  of  the  lens 
is  removed,  or  will  take  fright  and  run  away 
altogether.    In  the  case  of  the  two  girls  rep- 
resented in  the  illustration,  on  page  25,  tho 
photographer  has  been  singularly  fortunate. 
Both   the  girls  belonged  to  the  tribe  com- 
manded   by    the    well-known    chief  Goza, 
whose  portrait  will  be  given  on  a  subsequent 
page.  The  girls  are  clad  in  their  ordinary  cos- 
tume of  everj-day  life,  and  in  fact,  when  (heir 
portraits  were  taken,  were  acting  as  liouse- 
maids  in  the  house  of  an  European  settler. 
Unfortunately,  this    singular    beauty    of 
form  is  very  transient;  and  when  a  girl  has 
attained  to  the  age  at  which  an  English  girl 
is  in  her  full  perfection,  the  Kaffir  girl  lias 
))egun  to  age,  and  her  firm,  lithe,  and  grace- 
ful form  has  become  flabby  and  shapeless. 
In  the  scries  of  portraits  which  has  been 
mentioned,  this  gradual  deterioration  of  form 
is  curiously  evident ;  and  in  one  exani])lo, 
which  represents  a  row  of  girls  sitting  un- 
der the  sh.ade  of  a  hut,  young  girls  just  twenty 
years  of  ago  look  like"  women  of  foi-ty. 

The  chief  drawback  to  a  Kaffir  girl's  beauty 
lies  in  her  face,  which  is  never  a  beauti- 
ful one,  according  to  European  ideas  on 
this  subject.  It  is  mostly  a  pleasant,  good- 
huinor(id  tunc,  but  the  cheek-bones  arc  too 
high,  the  nose  too  wide,  and  the  lips  very 
much  too  large.  The  two  which  have  bcctn 
already  represented  are  by  far  the;  most  fa- 
vorable specimens  of  the  collection,  and  no 
one  can  say  that  their  faces  are  in  any  way 
equal  to  their  forms.  It  may  be  that  their 
sliort,  crisp,  harsh,  woolly  hair,  so  different 
from  the  silken  tresses  of'  Kuropean  women, 


1!"  fo.'^liiig  of  dislike  ;  hut,  ev 


en 


if  they  were  furnished  with  the  finest  and 
most  massive  head  of  hair,  they  could  never 


[e  a  darkened 

rly  is  a  mat- 
i  Kaflirs  will 
lud  the  more 
are  dressed, 
knows,  noth- 

I  a   rounded 

II  raj-'  oi  the 
lossible  to  rub 
s,  and  deprive 
raplicr  would 

ButtheKaf- 
linkitapoint 
eir  very  best 
I,  and  will  in- 
es  exactly  in 
tive  to  pho- 
ease,  and  rub 
ke  a  well-pol- 
;klace,  girdle, 
liat  they  can 
satisfied  V  it; 
they  preset: ', 
n  when  they 
,  inquisitive, 
•obability  will 
p  of  the  lens 
md  run  away 
wo  girls  rep- 

pa^e  25,  the 
■ly  lorlunate. 
c  tribe  coni- 

chief  Goza, 
a  subsequent 
ordinary  cos- 
t,  when  (heir 
ngas  house- 
pean  settler. 
•  beauty  of 
Bu  a  girl  hivs 

English  girl 
\tl\r  girl  lias 
e,  and  grace- 
id  shapilcss. 
uh  has  been 
tttion  of  form 
ne  exani])le, 
8  sitting  un- 
H  just  twenty 
r  forty, 
girl's  beauty 
er  a  beauti- 
m  ideas  on 
iisant,  good- 
ones  are  loo 
lie  lips  very 
h  have  bei'n 
th(>  most  fa- 
ction, and  no 

in  any  way 
e  that  their 

so  different 
ean  women, 

:  ;   but,  evoii 

;  finest  and 
could  ucvor 


(I.)    rNMAlilill.l)    KAFFIR  (!IKr,S.     (So.' pairo '.'4.) 


^~ 


(2.)    Ol.D   KAFFIU    ffOMF.N.     ^-See  p«(j«  j;.) 
(•25) 


1 


fmimm 


il 


OLD  KAFFIR  WOMEK. 


27 


be  called  Imndaomc.  People  certainly  do 
get  used  to  their  peculiar  style,  and  some- 
times prefer  the  wild  heauty  of  a  Kattir 
girl  to  the  more  rellued,  though  more  in- 
sipid, stylo  of  the  Eurojiean.  Still,  few  Eng- 
lishmen would  think  themaelves  flattered 
if  their  faces  were  thought  to  resemble  the 
features  of  a  KafBr  of  the  same  age,  and  the 
same  rule  will  apply  to  the  women  as  well 
as  to  the  men. 

Unfortimately,  the  rapidity  with  which 
the  Katlir  women  deteriorate  renders  them 
very  unsightly  objects  at  an  age  in  which 
an  Eurojjean  woman  is  in  her  prime. 
Among  civilized  nations,  age  often  carries 


with  it  a  charming  mixture  of  majesty  and 
simplicity,  which  equally  command  our  rev- 
erence and  our  love.  Among  this  people 
however,  we  find  nothing  in  their  old  ago 
to  compensate  for  the  lost  l)eauty  of  youth 
They  do  not  possess  that  indefinable  charm 
which  is  so  characteristic  of  the  old  ago  of 
civilized  woman,  nor  is  there  any  vestige  of 
that  spiritual  beauty  which  seems  to  under- 
lie the  outward  form,  and  to  be  even  more 
youthful  than  youth  itself.  Perhaps  one 
reason  for  this  distinction  may  be  the  un- 
cultivated state  of  the  mind;  but,  whatever 
may  be  the  cause,  in  youth  the  Kafllr 
woman  is  a  sylph,  in  old  age  a  hag. 


CHAPTER  TV. 


JOKEBS  ASO  ORHAMENTS  —  DREBS  OP  THE  MEX  —  PRESS  DEPEJfDENT  ON  COT'NTRY  TOR  MATERIAI,  — SKIN 
THE  CIIIKK  AUTll'LK  OK  DUESS  IN  SOUTHERN,  AFRICA  — KUU-PltOOrciNd  AMM'I.S  — A  KAKOHS 
OB  CLOAK  OP  MEKRKAT  SKIN  — ANOTHER  OF  JACKAL  SKINS  — NATIVE  TASTE  IN  DKK.SS  —  rHO- 
FE9SI0NAL  KAUOSS  MAKERS  —  NEEDLE  USED  IIV  THE  KAPFIKS— ITS  CLI'MSY  SHAPE  AM)  DIMEN- 
SIONS-ITS LEATHER  SHEATH  — A  FASHIONAllLB  NEEDLE  AND  ITS  UELT  OF  HEADS —  TASTKIIL 
ARllANOEME.NT  OF  COLOR- THREAD  USED  IIY  KAFFIRS  — SINOULAll  MATERIAL  AND  MODE  OP 
I'REPARLNO  IT  —  HOW  A  KAFFIR  SEWS  —  A  MAN'S  ORDINARY  DRESS — THE  APRON  OR  "TAlLs"  — 
SPECIMEN  IN  MY  COLLECTION  —  IIRASS  UUTTONS — THE  "iSINENE"  AND  "  UMCCHA  "  —  I'OIITRAIT 
OF  OOZ-V  — OBESITY  OP  THE  CUIEPS- PULL  DRE8S  AND  UNDRESS- A   K.UFIB  .UDE-DE-CAMP. 


IlAVixa  now  described  tiic  general  appear- 
ance of  the  Kiillirs  from  chilliood  to  age, 
we  will  proceed  to  the  costume  which  they 
wear,  and  the  ornaments  with  which  they 
decorate  their  dark  i)un-ions.  The  material 
of  which  dross  is  made  depends  mnch  on 
the  characteristics  of  tlie  country.  In  some 
parts  of  the  world  linen  is  used,  in  another 
silk,  and  in  another  cotton.  In  Southern 
Africa,  however,  and  indeed  throughout  a 
very  large  ))ortion  of  the  continent,  the 
dress,  whether  of  men  or  women,  is  com- 
posed of  the  .skins  and  furs  of  animals. 
The  country  abounds  in  game,  especially  of 
the  antelope  tribe  ;  and  the  antelopes,  the 
zebras  and  their  kin,  tiie  beasts  of  prey,  the 
monkey-  tribes  and  the  oxen,  allbrd  a  va.st 
store  fi-om  which  the  Kallir  can  take  his 
clothing,  and  vary  it  almost  without 
bounds. 

The  KatBr  is  an  admirable  dresser  of  furs. 
He  bestows  very  great  pains  on  the  process, 
and  arrives  at  a' result  wJiich  cannot  be  sur- 
pa.ssed  by  the  best  of  European  furriers, 
with  all  his  means  and  api)liances.  Katlir 
furs,  even  those  made  from  the  stilf  and  stub- 
born hide  of  the  o.x,  areas  soft  and  pliable  as 
silk;  and  if  they  be  wetted,  tliey  will  dry 
without  becoming  harsh  and  .stifl".  For 
large  and  thick  skins  a  peculi.ar  process  is 
required.  The  skin  of  tiie  cow,  for  example, 
will  become  as  hard  as  a  board  wlien  dry, 
and  even  that  of  the  lion  is  apt  to  be  very 
stiff  indeed  when  dried.  The  process  of 
preparing  such  skins  is  almost  absurdly 
simph  and  expeditious,  while  its  efHcacy  is 
such  that  our  best  fur-dressers  cannot  pro- 
duce such  articles  its  tlie  Kailirs  do. 

Supposing  that  a  cow-skin  is  to  be  mad.. 


into  a  robe,  the  KatTir  will  ask  two  or  throe 
of  his  comrades  to  help  him.  Tlicy  ail  sit 
round  the  skin,  and  scrape;  it  very  <;uflul!y, 
until  they  have  removed  cveiy  pailicle  <if 
fat,  and  have  also  reduced  llic  tliickm  ss. 
They  then  stretch  it  in.  every  direction, 
pulling  against  each  other  wilii  all  tlicir 
might,  working  it  over  their  kiiiis,  and 
taking  care  that  not  an  ijicli  of  it  shall 
escape  without  thorougli  niiiiiiiiulation.  Of 
course  they  talk,  and  ^in.i,'.  and  Muoke,  and 
take  snuff  while  performiiiL,'  liic  (ask,  which 
is  to  them  a  labor  of  love.  If.  iiuleed,  it 
were  not,  they  would  not  ix'if'inin  it,  l)ut 
hand  it  over  to  their  wives.  Wlicii  they 
have  kneaded  it  as  ninch  »s  they  ihink 
necessary,  thev  proceed  to  aiiotlu'rojM  ration. 
They  talie  eight  or  ten  of  their  .skcwcr-like 
needli'S,  and  tie  them  together  in  a  Imndle, 
each  man  being  furnished  with  one  (■Itlicso 
bundles.  The  j)oiiits  are  lluii  jiliucd  per- 
pendicularly upon  the  skin.  Mild  the  Imndle 
made  to  resolve  backward  and  forward  be- 
tween the  hands.  This  process  (c;iis  up 
the  filiri'S  of  the  .«kin,:ind  adds  to  its  ])linncv, 
besides  raising  a  sort  ol  iinii,  which  in  some 
of  their  (lre.«ses  is  so  thick  and  line  as  to 
resemble  plush. 

.Sometimes,  when  needles  are  seaice,  the 
long  straight  thoins  of  the  iieacia  are  tied 
together,  and  used  in  a  simihir  iiianiu  r. 
Although  not  so  strong,  their  nadniil  points 
are  quite  as  sharp  as  the  inliticial  points 
m.'ide  of  iron,  and  do  their  wmk  us  ellectu- 
ally.  Some  of  my  readers  may  remember 
that  the  nap  on  cloth  is  raised  by  a  inethud 
exactly  similar  in  )irincijile,  the  thorny  seed- 
vessels  of  the  leasle  liii.-ile  heiiig  liistened 
on  cylinders  and  made  to  revolve  (piickly 


{".») 


THE  KAHOSS, 


90 


over  the  aurfaee  of  the  doth,  so  as  to  raise 
a  "nap"  which  conceals  tlio  conrse  of  the 
threiiilH.  Tliesu  acacia  tliorius  are  used  for 
a  wondei'liil  variety  of  purposes,  and  are 
even  pressed  into  the  service  of  personal 
vanity,  bi-inj;  used  as  decorations  for  the 
hair  on  li'stiv(>  occasions. 

The  skin  is  now  n  ady  for  the  ingredient 
that  forms  a  succedaiicuni  for  the  tanpit, 
and  that  docs  its  work  in  a  vcjry  short  time. 
As  till!  reader  is  periiaps  aware,  tlu)  aciveia 
is  one  of  the  conunouiist  trees  in  Southern 
AtVica.  TIk!  sap  of  tlie  tree  is  of  a  very  as- 
tringent chara(!ter,  and  coininunicates  its 
properties  to  tlie  bark  llirougii  which  it  per- 
colates. In  couscipnuce,  the  white  inhabi- 
tants of  Soiilheru  Africa  are  in  the  habit  of 
using  the  bark  of  the  acacia  just  as  in  Eng- 
land we  use  tlie  bark  of  tlu;  oak,  and  llnd 
that  it  i)roduces  a  similar  elfect  upon  skins 
that  are  soaked  in  a  strong  solution  of 
acacia  bark  in  wati'r.  The  native,  however, 
does  not  use  the  bark  for  this  purpose, 
neither  docs  he  praiMise  the  long  and  tedious 
process  of  tanning  which  is  in  use  amonf 
ourselves.  The  acacia  tree  supplies  for  him 
a  material  which  answers  all  the  purposes  of 
a  tanpil,  and  does  leit  reiiuire  above  a  frac- 
tion of  tin;  time  that  is  employed  in  ordinary 
tanning. 

The  acacia  treses  are  constantly  felled  for 
all  sorts  of  purposes.  The  hard  wood  is 
used  in  native  architecture,  in  making  the 
fence  rouiul  a  kraal,  in  making  wagon  poles, 
and  ill  many  similar  modes.  The  root 
and  stump  are  left  to  rot  in  the  ground,  and, 
thanks  to  the  peculiar  climate  and  the  at- 
tacks of  insects,  iliev  soon  rut  away,  and  can 
be  crumbU'd  with  tin-  lingers  into  a  reddish 
yellow  powder.  This  powthsr  is  highlv 
a-stringeiit,  and  i-;  used  by  the  Kalllrs  for 
dressing  their  ''..rs,  and  isapplied  by  assid- 
uous rubbing  in  with  the  hand.     Afterwartl 


large  stono,  and  awaited  his  coming.  As  he 
was  Hearing  the  Hre,  the  Kallir  Hung  the 
stone  with  such  a  good  aim  that  tin;  animal 
was  knocked  over  and  stunned.  The  wa>'on 
started  in  an  hour  and  a  half  from  that  liTne 
and  the  KalHr  who  killed  the  jiu;kal  was 
seen  wearing  the  animars  dressed  skin. 
The  skin  of  this  creature  is  very  much  prized 
for  robes  and  similar  jmrposes",  as  it  is  thick 
and  soft,  and  the  rich  black  mottlings  alon<» 
the  back  give  to  the  robe  a  very  handsomo 
aiiiiearanee. 
•^Ih 


•s  added,  but  not  much,  and 
»  very  carefully  with 


waj's  \/orn  with  the 

here  is  a  modi?  of 

is  considered   highly 

robe   is  comiiosed   of 


a  little 
this  i,s 
the  naiid. 

A  lai'ge  KV  ■ 
furry  side  in., 
putting  it  on 

fashionable.     If  iii.j   „   ^ ,^^^ 

.several  skins,  — say,  for  example,  'tlioVe  of 
thejackil  or  leopard.  — the  heads  are  placed 
111  a  row  alon^'  the  upper  margin.  When 
the  Kallir  indues  his  kaross,  lie  folds  this 
edge  over  so  as  to  form  a  kind  of  cape,  an<l 
puts  It  on  in  such  a  wav  that  the  fur-chwl 
heads  tall  in  :.  row  over  his  slionlder.s. 

Tli((  rapidity  with  which  a  KalHr  will  pre- 
liiire  a  smill  skin  is  reallv  surjirising.  C)ne 
of  iny  friends  was  travelling  in  .Southern 
Alrica,  and  saw  a  jackal  cantering  along, 
looking  out  f<.>r  food.  Presently,  he  came 
across  the  sc(>nt  of  some  steaks'  that  were 
being  cooked,  and  came  straight  toward  the 
wagon,  thinkinii  onlv  of  food,  and  be..<lloa« 
of  danger.  Uiie  ot  the  Kallirs  iu  attendance  . 
on  tlie  wagon  saw  the  aninxal,  picked  up  a  j 


have  before  me  a  beautiful  example  of  a 
kaross  or  cloak,  made  from  the  skins  of  the 
meerkat,  one  of  the  South  Al'rican  ichneu- 
mons.     It  is  a  iiretty   creature,   the  coat 
being  soft  and  full,  and  the  general  color  a 
reddish  tawny,  variegated   in   some  speci- 
mens by  dark  mottlings  along  the  back,  and 
fading  olV  into  gray  along  the  Hanks.     The 
karo.ss  consists  of  thirty-si.x  skins,  which  are 
sewed    together    as   neatly   as  any  linrier 
could  sew  them.     The  meerkat,  bein<'  very 
teiweious  of  life,  does  not  succumb  "asilv, 
aiul  accordingly   there    is   scarcely  a  skfn 
which  ha-s  not  been  pierced  in  one  or  more 
places  by  the  spear,  in  some  instances  leav- 
ing holes  through    which   a  man's   fuller 
could  easily  be  pa.ssed.     In  one  skin  there 
are  five  holes,  two  of  them  of  considerablo 
size.     Yet,  when  the  kaross  is  viewed  upon 
the  liairy  side,  not  a  sign  of  a  bole  is  visible 
With  singular  skill,  the   Kallir  fur-dresser 
has  "let  in"'  circular  pieces  of  skin  cut  from 
another  animal,  and  done  it  so  well  that  no 
one  wouhl  suspect  that  there  had  been  anv 
injury   to   Ihe    skin.      The    eare    taken  in 
choosing  the  color  is  verv  remarkable,  be- 
cause the  fur  of  the  meerkat  is  extreiuidv 
variable  in  color,  and  it   must  have   ])een 
necessary  to  compare  a  considerable  niiml)er 
of  skins,  in  order   to  Hud  one  that  was  of 
exactly  the  right  shade. 

The  mantle  in  question  is  wonderfully 
light,  so  light,  indeed,  that  no  one  woulil 
think  it  callable  of  imparting  much  warmth 
until  he  lia.s  tried  it.  I  always  use  it  in 
.journeys  in  cold  weather,  liiidiui:  that  it  can 
be  packed  in  much  less  space  than  an  ordi- 
nary railway  rug,  that  it  is  lighter  to  carry 
and  is  warmer  and  more  comfortable. 

Although  every  KalHr  has  some  knowl- 
edge of  skin-dressing  and  tailoriui.'.  there 
iu-e  .SOUK!  who  greatly  surpass  their  C(vini)an- 
lons,  and  are  popularly  known  .as  ••  kaross 
makers.''  It  is  easy  "to  tell  at  a  I'lauee 
whether  a  garment  is  the  work  of  an  ordi- 
nary KatHr,  or  of  a  retrular  k.iross  maker 
The  kaross  which  h.as  been  noticed  alfords 
a  good  example  of  both  styles,  which  can 
be  di.stinguished  as  easily  by  tlu-  touch  as  by 
the  sight.  ■  •' 

Wlu'u  a  kaross  maker  sets  to  work,  he 
takes  the  two  nieces  of  the  fur  which  he  h.as 
to  join,  and  piaees  them  rng.thov  Nulh  the 
Hairy  side  inward,  and  the  edi^'es  exactly 
matching  each  othei.    He  then  repeatedly 


t( 


30 


THE  KAFFin. 


1 

{ 

J 

rr 

L 

|l 

passnH  his  loiiif  noddlo  between  tlie  two 
l)ii'C('s,  MO  iiM  to  pre.is  llio  hair  ilowiiwiird, 
iiiul  i)r(;vciil,  it  IVoin  iti'ing  <Mii«lit  in  tiie 
thniiid.  lie  I. .en  Itoii's  u  lew  liole.i  in  II  line 
wit!)  I'licii  othiT,  and  pits.ie.i  tlu'  Minmv  libru 
tiiroiii,'ii  llii'iii,  ca.stini;  a  .single  iiilch  over 
each  hole,  hut  luavini(  the  thread  loose. 
When  111'  has  niad(\  two  or  throe  sueh  ludes, 
iind  |i:»s.se(l  the  thread  through  them,  he 
draWM  theiu  ti,i{ht  in  re,!,'ular  .sncei'ssion,  »o 
that  he  produces  a  sort  oiloek-.stiteh,  and  IiIh 
work  will  not  hcconu^  loose,  even  thou^jh  it 
may  he  cut  rc|ieatedly.  Finally,  he  ruhs  dowrt 
the  seam,  and,  wheli  properly  done,  the  two 
ed^es  lie  as  Hat  as  il'  they  wero  one  single 
piece  of  skin. 

In  the  kaross  before  mentioned,  the  orig- 
inal maker  was  not  one  of  the  ijrol'essed 
t4iilors,  but  tho'ight  that  he  uould  do  aU  the 
plain  sewin;*  himsidl'.  Aeeordinijlv,  the 
seams  which  connect  Ihe  various  skins  are 
rather  rudely  done,  being  merely  sewed  over 
nnd  over,  and  are  in  conseijuence  raised 
iibove  the  level  of  the  skins.  JJut  the  vari- 
ous patches  that  were  recpnred  in  order  to 
complete  the  garment  in  its  inlegritv  needed 
much  more  carel'ul  work,  and  this"  portion 
of  the  work  has  been  therefore  intrusted  to 
one  of  the  protesscd  kaross  makers.  The 
ditferenci^  of  thi^  seams  is  at  once  a])parent, 
those  made  by  the  unskilled  workman  being 
raised,  harsh," and  still';  while  those  made  by 
tlie  i)role.ssional  are  (juile  tlat,  and  look  ex- 
actly like  the  well-known  lock-stitch  of  our 
sewing  macliines. 

A  singularly  handsome  apeeimen  of  a 
kaross  is  now  before  mi-.  It  is  made  of  the 
skins  of  the  gray  Jackal,  and,  although  not  so 
attractive  to  European  eves  as  if  it  had  been 
made  from  the  skin  of  the  black-backed 
Jackal,  is,  in  a  KalHr's  estimation,  a  far  more 
valuable  article,  inasmuch  as  the  grav 
8])ecies  is  mucli  rarer  than  the  black- 
backed. 

The  man  who  designed  this  kaross  may 
fairly  be  entitled  to  the  uami;  of  artist,  ft 
is  live  leet  three  inches  in  depth,  and  very 
nearly  six  feet  in  width,  and  therefore  'a 
consideralde  number  of  skins  have  been  used 
in  making  it.  Ihit  the  skins  have  not 
merely  been  sfpiared  and  then  sewed  to- 
gether, the  manufacturer  havi/ig  in  his  mind 
a  very  bold  design.  Most  persons  are  aware, 
that  in  the  majority  of  animals,  the  jackal 
included,  the  skin  is  darkest  along  the'  back, 
a  very  dark  slrijie  runs  along  the  spine,  and 
that  the  fur  fad<'s  into  whitish  tiray  upon 
the  (lanks  a.id  nnder  the  belly.  The"  }-  iross 
maker  has  slurted  with  the  idea  of  fonninij 
the  cdoak  on  the  same  i)rinciple,and  makinu' 
it  look  as  if  it  were  composed  of  one  lan;e 
skin.  Accordiuijly,  he  has  selected  the 
darkest  skins  for  the  centri>  of  the  kaross,  and 
arranged  them  so  that  they  fade  away  into 
gray  at  the  edges.  This  "is  done,  not  by 
merely  j)utlini;  (he  darker  skins  in  the 
middle,  and  the  lighter  toward  the  edges. 


hut  by  cutting  the  skins  Info  oblong  pieepd 
of  nearly  the  same  si/e,  and  sewing  them 
together  so  neatly  that  tin-  lines  of  juncliim 
are  ipiite  invisible.  Ail  the  heads  are  set  in 
II  row  al(mg  the  np|)er  edges,  and,  lieing 
worked  very  Hat,  can  be  turned  over,  and 
form  a  kind  of  cape,  as  has  already  been 
mentioned.  The  lower  edge  of  Ihe"  kuross 
hius  a  very  liandsomi^  appearance,  (he  gray 
color  of  thi!  fur  rapidly  (leepeiiing  into  black, 
wliieli  makes  a  broad  "stripe  some  four  inches 
in  depth.  This  is  obtain'  H  liy  taking  the 
skin  of  (he  jiaws,  which  a,  very  black,  ami 
sewing  them  to  (he  cape  o(  (he  I'nande. 

Of  course,  a  fiadir  has  no  knowlrdgo   of 
gh)ve«,  but  there  are  seasons  when  he  really 
wants  sonu)  covering  for  his  hands.    A  crea- 
ture of  till!  sun,  he  cannot  endure  cold;  and 
in  weather  when  the  while  men  are  walking 
in  their  lightest  clothing  and   exulting  in 
the    nnaccustoined    coolness,  (he    Kallir  is 
wrapjied   in  his  thickesi    kaross,    cowering 
over  the  (ire,  and  absolulely  i)aralv/ed,  both 
bodily  and   menially,  wilh"   (he    "cold.     Ho 
(herefore    makes    c'erlain    addidons   to  Ins 
kaross,  and  ,so  forms  a  kind  of  sheKer  for  the 
hands.    About  (wo  feet  from   tl;e  (op  of  the 
kaross,  and  on  (he  ou(er  edges,  iu'e  a  jiair  of 
small  wings  or  proJcc( ions,  about  a  foot  in 
lengdi,  and  eight   inches  in  widdi.     Wlien 
the  Katlir  ])uts  on  (he  kaross,  he  doubles  die 
upper  jiart  to  form  (be  cape,  (urns  (he  furry 
side  wi(hin,  grasps   oue    of  (lu  se  winglels 
with   each   hand,  and  then    wraps  it   round 
his    shoulders.     The    hands  are  (bus    pro- 
tected from  the  cold,  and  the  upper  ))art  of 
(he  body  is  compledly  covered.     The  kaross 
descends  as  far  as  the  knees  in  froiil,  and  is 
about  a  foot  longer  ii(  the  sides  and   at  the 
back.     The    whole    edg<>   of    the    kaross   is 
bound  on  die  inside  wi(h  a  narrow  band  of 
(hill,  but  very  strong  membrane,  and  is  thus 
rendered  less  liable  to  be  lorn.     The   mem- 
brane  is  obtained   as  follows.     A    skin    of 
some  animal,  usually  one  of  (he  anleloiies,  is 
ndledupaiid  buriell  in  (be  ground   until  a 
cert^iin  amount  of  puirel'acdon  dikes   place. 
It  is  dien  removed,  and  (be  Kadir  splits  it 
by  iii(roducing  his  knife,  and   (hen.  wi(h  a 
(juick  Jerk,  s(ri])s  o(r  the  membranous  skin. 
If  it  docs  not  separate  easily,  the  skin  is  re- 
l)hiced   in  the  ground,  and  left  for  a  day  or 
two  longer. 

This  line  siieoimen  was  brontrbt  from 
SiKidiern  Africa  by  Mr.  Chrislie.  whohashad 
it  in  constant  use  as  a  railway  ruijand  for  sim- 
ilar purpo.ses  for  some  foiirlceii  years,  and  it  is 
still  as  serviceable  as  ever.  I  ought  to  men- 
lion  that  both  this  and  my  own  kaross  were 
made  by  neehuanas,  and  "no(  by  Zulus,  the 
latter  tribe  always  usim;  (or  tlieir  kaross  a 
single  hide  of  an  ox  dressed  sof(.  The 
peculiar  mode  of  manipnladm,'  a  hide  when 
dressing  it  is  called  "  brayini;."  jierhjips  lie- 
cause  it  bears  some  reseml>!r\!!ce  to  (he 
"braying"  or  ruliliiiiLr  of  a  sulps(ance  in  a 
mortar,  as  distinguished'  from  pounding  it. 


NEEDLES  AND  SHEATHS. 


81 


A  handful  oftlu;  liiiU;  in  tnkiMi  in  eiicli  Imiid 

uml  ^mIUlm'imI  u|),  ni)  ii^  Id  loi'iii  two  or  tlircu 
^v^•illkl^^■^  oil  tliu  lli'.sliy  nidi!.  'J'Iid  wrinkles 
me  Ihi'n  nil>bud  ou  each  oiliur,  with  ii  iiicn- 
liiii'  Iwisiiii'^  niovi'nuMit,  which  i.i  ulniott 
idiiulicd  wilh  thai  ol'  tint  },'i/./,ard  in  graiu- 
uatiu^'  I)ird4. 

Ol'  similar  .skins  thu  KufUi'  makes  a  kind 
of  lia;,'  ill  which  he  puts  his  \n[n:,  tol)ac('<), 
and  various  other  little  eoinl'orls.     'I'liis  ha;,', 
which  is  |)oj)ularly   called  a   knansac^k,  de- 
Serves  more  rightly  the  name  of  haversack, 
(IS  it  is  not  carried  on  the  hack,  hut  sliin;^  to 
tin;  side.     It  is  ina  le  of  the   nkin  of  .sonii; 
8m:dl  animal,  such  as  a  haro  or  a  hyrax,  and 
is  form, 'd  in  a  viii'y  simple  luanncr.     NVheii 
tlie  Ivallir  h;us  killed  the  animal,  he  .strips  olf 
the   skin    by  making'  a  cut,  not   aloni,'    the 
belly,  as  i.s  the  usual  fashion,  hut  from  one 
hinil  leu;  to  tlu!  other.     IJy  diut  of  pushinj,' 
anil   pullini,',   he   contrives  to  strip   olf  the 
.skin,  and  of  course   turns  it  inside  out  in  so 
(h>iii,t,'.  much  as  is  the  ca.se  when  a  taxider- 
mist ski  us  a  snake  or  froj,'.    The  skin  is  tln^n 
-brayed"  in  the  ordinary  Ikshion,  while  the 
furry  side  is  iinvanl;   and  when  this  opera- 
tion is  completed,  the  mouth,  cars  and  eye- 
lids are  sewed  up,  and  it  is  thiui  I'eversed  .so 
as   to  brim,'   thc!  fur  outward.    .Straps  are 
attached   to  the  two  hind  le,!,rs,  so  that  the 
Wearer  can  .sling  the  bag  over  his  shoulder. 
The   natives  put  these  bags  to  all  kinds  of 
u.SL's,  SOU!.;  of  them  being  rather  oild  acconl- 
ing  to  our  idea.s.    It  has  been  mentioned  that 
the   |)ipe,  tobacco,  and   other   little   articles 
which  a  KalUr  has,  are  kejU  in  the  bag.  If,  jier- 
chance,  the  weanu'  should  discover  a  l)ecs' 
nest,  he  empties  his  ••  knapsack,"  turns  it  in- 
side out, shakes  it  well  in  order  to  get  rid  of 
the  scrajts  of  tobacco  and  other  debris  of  a 
Kallir's  pouch,  ami  then  proceeds  to  attack 
the    bees.       When    he    has    .succeeded    in 
reaching  ihe  honeycombs,  he  removes  them 
from  the   nest,  puts  them   into  the  bag,  and 
goes  olf  with  his  ju'lze,  regar.Uess  of  the  stale 
in  which  the  interior  of  the  bag  will  be  letl. 
The  skill  of  tlu!  Ivallir  in  sewing  fur  is  the 
more  notable  when  we  taki;  into  considera- 
tion the  i)(!culiar  necille  and  thread  which 
he  uses.    The  needle  is  not  in  the  lea.st  like 
the   delicate,  sliuider  articles   employed   by 
Eur()|)eaii  seamstresses.     In  the.  lirst  jilace, 
it  lia,s  no  eye;  and  in  the  .second,  it  is  more 
like  a  skewer  than  a  needh!.     If  any  of  mv 
classical   readers  will   recall  to  their  minds 
the  ••  stylus  "  which  the  ancients  used  instead 
ot  a  pen,  hi!  will  have  a  very  good  idea  of  a 
Kalhrs  iieeiUe. 

As  tlu>  Kallir  likes  to  carry  hi.s  needle 
al>out  with  him,  he  makes  a  sheath  or  ca.se 
ot  leather.  There  is  great  variety  in  these 
case.s.  Iho  snni)lest  are  merely  made  of 
.slrip.s  of  hide  rolled  round  the  uoedle,  and 
s*ewed  together  at  the  edges. 

The  most  ornamenlal  needle  that  I  have 
seen  was  brought  to  England  by  "the  late 
Ii.  Jackson,  Esij.,  who  kindly  placed  it  and 


the  rest  of  luH  vaUialdo  collection  at  my  (li.H- 
jioital.  This  needle  is  reprcsentiHl  at  tig,  I, 
in  thu  illustration  "KalUr  needles,"  page  ;i;{. 
It  is  of  llu!  ordinary  shape,  though  iiiucli 
larger  than  most  that  are  u.sed;  but  it  in 
upon  the  sheuth  and  its  ornaments  Ihat  the 
proud  owii'.-r  Ium  hivished  his  powers.  The 
sheath  is  made  of  leather,  but  is  modelled 
into  a  curious  pattern,  which  may  be  easily 
imitated.  Roll  uj)  a  tube  of  jiapi'i-,  about 
the  third  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  At  an 
inch  from  the  end,  pinch  it  tightly  between 
the  right  thumb  and  linger,  until  it  is 
siiucezed  liat.  .Still  retaining  the  grasp, 
l)lnch  it  with  the  left  band  just  below  thu 
linger  and  thumb  of  the  right,  and  at  right 
angles  to  them.  Proceed  in  this  manner 
until  the  whole  of  it  has  been  i)inched. 
Then,  if  we  sujjpo.se  that  tlii;  tube  is  maih^  of 
raw  hide  thoroughly  wetted,  that  a  well  oiled 
needle  is  placc^d  in  it,  and  that  the;  leather  in 
worked  carefully  upon  the  needle  so  as  to 
make  a  sheath,  ornamented  with  llatlencil 
lirojections  at  right  angles  to  each  other,  wo 
shall  set;  how  the  wheath  is  made. 

The  .siring  of  beads  by  which  it  is  hung 
around  the  neck  is  put  togethor  with  great 
ta.ite.  Tlu;  pale-tinted  beads  are  white  with 
rings  of  scarlet,  and  the  others  an;  blue  with 
large  .spots  of  white,  the  whole  forming  a  very 
artistic  contrast  with  the  skin  of  the  wearer. 
The  best  point  of  this  needle  case  is,  how- 
ever, the  ornament  which  hangs  to  it  just 
by  llm  head  of  the  needle.  This  is  a  p'ieco 
of  rhinoceros  horn,  cut  into  the  shajie  of  a 
bultalo  head  and  part  of  the  neik  —  very 
much,  indeed,  as  if  It  had  been  intended  for 
Ihe  handle  of  a  seal.  The  skill  with  which 
the  artist —for  he  really  deserves  the  name 
--has  manipulated  this"  stubborn  subslanco 
is  really  .ndmirable.  The  sweep  of  the  ani- 
nwl's  liiniw  is  hit  olf  with  a  bohlness  of  line 
and  a  freedom  of  execution  tliat  would 
.-scarcely  ]h)  exi)cctcd  from  a  savage.  That 
he  should  make  an  accurate  re|)reseutati()n 
of  the  animal  was  likely  enough,  conshler- 
ing  his  familiarity  with  the  suhject,  but  that 
he  should  be;  able  to  carve  with  his  a.s.'^agai- 
blade  so  artistic  a  design  could  hardly  liavo 
been  (jxpected  from  him. 

i$y  the  sid(M)fthis  needle  hangs  another, 
which  I  have  introduced  l)ecaiise  the  sheath, 
instead  of  being  made  of  leather,  is  a  wooden 
tube,  clo.sed  at  one  end,  and  guarded  at 
both  ends  by  a. thong  of  raw  Iiide  rolled 
round  it. 

As  .It'  Kallir.s  employ  needles  of  this 
de.scri|)lion,  it  is  evident  that  they  cannot 
use  the  same  kind  of  thread  as  o'urselve.s, 
since  a  cotton  thread  would  not  make  il.s 
way  through  the  leather,  a'nd  therefore  thu 
Kallir  has  recourse  to  Ihe  animal  kiiv- 
dom  for  his  thread  as  well  as  for  his  gar- 
ments. The  thread  is  made  of  the  sinews 
of  variau-..  aiiimals,  the  best  being  lu.ule  of 
the  sinews  taken  from  the  neck  of  a  giratfe. 
One  of  these  bundles  of  tliread  is  now  bo. 


THE  KAFFIR. 


fore  mo,  aiifl  n  rurions  article  it  lit  —  nt!ir, 
aiijfuhu',  ('IitMtic,  iinil  witli  an  iiivinciblo  tuii- 
di'iicy  to  bcL'omi'  ciituiiKlcd  iiniong  llio  otiicr 
obJuctN  of  thu  colU'ction.  Few  ihthohs  to 
whom  it  is  sliown  lor  tlio  (Irst  time  will 
iM'lii'Vc  (Imt  it  in  tliri'iul,  iiiid  nioMtly  ihiu-v 
timt  1  am  ti'ylti<{  to  lulcu  lulvitntngu  of  tliuir 
igiioraucf. 

Wlitu  tliis  strange  thread  is  wanted  fctr 
use,  it  i.t  Htecpi'd  in  liot  water  until  it  i.s 
quite  soft,  and  it)  then  beaten  bet\ve(  n  two 
smootli  stones.  Tliis  jjrocess  eauses  it  to 
sooarate  into  lllanu'ntH,  wliieh  ran  be  ol^- 
taincd  of  alnioHt  any  dejrree  of  slnnigtli  or 
flneni'SM.  'J'lie  sinew  thus  furnislics  a  tliread 
of  astonisliing  strenf^tli  wlioii  eoinparcd  willi 
its  diameter,  surjjjissing  even  the  sillc  {^rass 
of  (luiana  in  tliat  resjject. 

Wlien  a  KalHr  wishes  to  sew,  ho  prepares 
some  of  this  tlircad,  squats  on  tlio  f^round. 
tiilvcs  his  needle,  and  bores  two  little  holes 
in  tlie  edges  of  the  garment  on  which  he  is 
worl.ing.  He  then  nnshes  the  thread  tlirough 
the  holes  thus  made,  and  makes  two  more 
holes  opj)osite  each  other.  He  continues 
to  draw  the  slitelies  tight  as  ho  jjroceeds, 
and  tlu.s  gets  on  with  liis  work  at  a  rate 
which  would  certainly  not  pay  a  seamstress 
in  this  country,  but  which  is  very  well  suited 
to  Africa,  wlier(;  time  is  not  of  the  least  value. 
As  he  works  with  wet  sinew  iinon  wet  hide, 
it  naturally  follows  that,  in  the  process  of 
drying,  the  seams  become  enormously 
strengthened,  the  sHtehes  being  (Irawii 
tightly  by  the  contraction  of  sinew,  and  the 
contraction  of  the  liide  forcing  the  stitches 
deeply  into  its  own  sulnstancc,  and  almost 
blending  them  together.  So,  although  the 
Avork  is  done  very  slowly,  one  of  our  sewing 
nwcliines  being  equal  to  a  hundred  Katlirs, 
or  thereabouts,  in  point  of  speed,  it  is  done 
with  a  degree  of  eflicacy  that  no  machine 
can  ever  approach.  I  have  in  my  collection 
very  many  examples  of  Kallir  sewing,  and 
in  every  instiuicc  the  firmness  and  solidity 
of  the  workmanship  are  admirable.  Their 
fur-sewing  is  really  wonderful,  for  they  use 
very  close  stitches,  very  line  thread,  and 
join  the  pieces  so  pcrfcelly  that  the  set  of 
the  hairs  is  not  disturbed,  and  a  number  of 
pieces  will  look  and  feel  exactly  as  if  they 
were  one  single  skiiu 

We  will  begin  an  account  of  KafBr  dress 
with  the  ordinary  costume  of  a  man.  Until 
.  he  approaches  nianhooil,  the  Kaflir  does  not 
trouble  him.selfal)out  so  superlluous  a  lux- 
ury as  dress.  He  may  wear  be.ids  and  orna- 
ments, but  he  is  not  troubled  with  dress  in 
our  acceptation  of  the  word.  When  lie 
becomes  a  man,  however,  bo  assumes  the 
peculiar  apron  which  may  be  seen  by  refer- 
ence to  any  of  the  illustrations  of  Kaffir 
men.  This  garment  is  intended  to  represent 
the  tails  of  animals,  and  by  Euroi)eans  is 
geueralh'  called  by  that  name.  Thus,  instead 
of  saying  that  a  man  has  put  on  his  dress  or 
bii>  a-^ron,  he  is  said  to  have  put  on  his 


"  talk"  It  is  notable,  by  the  way,  that  this 
form  of  dress  ext4'nds  over  a  considerable 
part  of  Africii,  and  is  common  tobothsexeA, 
though  the  <letails  are  carried  out  in  a  dif- 
ferent manner.  The  prineinal  is  a  belt 
round  the  waist,  with  a  number  of  thongs 
depending  from  it,  and  we  llnd  this  eharae- 
teristic  dress  iw  far  northward  as  Kgypt. 
Indeed,  strings  or  thongs  form  a  considera- 
ble portion,  not  only  of  a  Kafllr's  dress,  hut 
of  his  orriaments,  as  will  be  seen  presently. 

The  apron  of  the  men  is  called  "isineiie." 
and  is  conventionally  supposed  to  be  nuulo 
of  the  tails  of  slain  leoi)ards,  lions,  or  buffa- 
loes, and  to  be  a  tro])hy  of  the  wearer's  cour- 
age as  well  as  a  mark  of  his  taste  in  dress. 
Such  a  costume  is  sometimes,  though  very 
rarely,  seen;  there  being  but  few  KatUrs 
who  have  killed  enough  of  these  feroeiou.s 
beasts  to  make  the  "isin.Mie"  of  their  tails. 
I  have  one  which  was  jiresented  to  mo 
by  C'ai)tain  Drayson,  R.A.,  who  bought  it, 
together  with  many  other  objccti*,  alter  the 
late  Kalllr  war.  It  is  rej)resenteil  i)y  lig.  1  in 
the  illustration  of  "Costume"  on  i)age  .'l."t.  It 
is  made  of  strips  o,"  monkev  skin,  each  about 
an  inch  and  a  half  in  width.  These  strips 
have  been  snipped  half  through  on  either 
side  alternately,  and  then  twisted  so  ns  to 
make  furry  cylinders,  having  tlie  hair  on  the 
outside. and  being  tixed  in  that  position  until 
dry  and  tolerably  stitf.  There  are  fourteen 
of  these  strips,  each  being  about  fourteen 
inches  long,  but  those  in  the  middle  exceed- 
ing (he  others  by  an  inch  or  two. 

The  strips  or  "  tails  "  are  gathered  together 
above,  and  sewed  (irmly  to  a  broad  belt  of 
the  .same  material,  which  is  so  covered  wKh 
red  and  white  beads  (hat  the  leather  caiu.ot 
be  seen.  Across  the  belt  are  two  rows  of 
conical  brass  buttons,  exactly  identical  witli 
(hose  that  decorate  the  jacket  of  the  modern 
"■  page."  These  brass  buttons  seem  to  charm 
a  Kallir's  heart.  lie  cannot  have  too  many 
of  (hem,  audit  is  his  deliglit  and  jiiide  (o 
kcc|)  them  burnished  to  the  highest  amount 
of  polish  which  brass  will  take.  I  have 
various  sjtecimens  of  dress  or  ornanunt 
formerly  belonging  (o  Katlirs  of  bodi  sexes, 
and,  in  almost  every  instance  where  the  ar- 
ticle has  been  very  carefully  made,  at  least 
one  brass  bulton  is  attachecl  to  it. 

As  long  as  the  KafHr  stands  or  sits,  the 
"isinene"  hangs  rather  gracefully,  and  re- 
minds (he  spectator  of  (he  sporran  or  skin 
pouch,  which  forms  jinrtof  the  Ilighlander's 
dress.  But  when  he  runs,  especially  when 
he  is  rushing  at  full  speed,  the  tails  tly 
about  in  all  directions,  and  have  a  most 
ludicrous  efTect,  almost  as  if  a  bundle  of 
living  eels  or  snakes  h.ad  liecn  tied  round 
th(!  man's  waist.  If  a  Kaffir  should  be  too 
lazy  to  take  the  trouble  of  making  so  elabo- 
rate a  set  of  "  tails,"  hcs  merely  cuts  his  "isi- 
nene" nntof  a  piece  of  Kkin.  An  rvample  of 
this  kind  of  apron  is  seen  in  the  illustration, 
"  Dolls,"  33d  page,  which  represents  a  pair 


wny,  that  (his 
coiiNidia-iihlu 
to  both  ncxt'S, 
out  in  a  (lif- 
iiil  Ih  a  holt 
)('r  oC  tlioiij^'is 
I  tills  charuo 
rd  as  Kjjypt. 
I  a  coiiNiiU'ra- 

Ir'H   (llH'HH,  hut 

I'll  iircHontl)'. 
IimI  "iHineiie." 
il  tu  1)0  lumlo 
Diis,  or  huflii- 
veariT'st'our- 
wtc  In  dnt*n. 

thoufjh  Very 
;  few  KiitUrs 
t'Ht!  fiTocious 
of  their  tiiils. 
cutt'd  to  mo 
lio  bought  it, 
icL"",  alter  the 
eil  l)y  IJi;.  1  in 
M  ])a<{u .'(.'{.  It 
II,  oaeh  about 

Those  strips 
gh  on  either 
Kted  so  nn  to 
ic  hair  on  Iho 
position  until 
are  fourteen 
lout  fourteen 
liddle  exceud- 

iO. 

ered  together 
iroad  belt  of 
covered  with 
atlier  eaiu.ot 
two  rows  of 
lentieal  with 
f  the  modern 
•em  toeharm 
A'c  too  many 
and  ])ri(le  to 
fhest  amount 
ke.  I  have 
ir  oriianunt 
fboth  sexes, 
vhere  the  ar- 
ade,  at  least 
it. 

<  or  sits,  the 
ully,  and  re- 
rraii  or  skin 
Highlander's 
leiallv  when 
the  tails  tly 
lave  a  most 
a  bundle  of 
1  tied  round 
lould  be  too 
ing  so  elabo- 
cutshis  "isi- 
t\  rvamplo  "f 
I  illustration, 
;8ent8  a  pair 


t 


J*! 


■3 


GOZA,  THE  ZULU  CHIEF. 


35 


:*i 


of  figures,  a  Kaffir  and  his  wife,  made  by  the 
natives  out  of  leather.  Here  the  male  fig- 
ure, on  the  right,  is  shown  as  wearing  the 
isincne,  and  h.aving  besides  a  short  kaross, 
or  cloak,  over  his  shoulders.  These  figures 
are  in  my  own  collection,  and  will  be  more 
particularly  described  when  we  come  to  the 
dress  of  Kaffir  females. 

Most  of  the  men  wear  a  similar  duplicate 
of  this  apron,  which  falls  behind,  and  cor- 
responds with  the  isiuene;  this  second  apron 
is  called  the  "  umucha,"  and  is  mostly  made 
of  one  piece  of  skin.  Its  use  is  not,  how- 
ever, universal,  and  indeed,  when  in  his 
own  kraal  or  village,  the  Kaffir  does  not 
trouble  himself  about  either  isinene  or 
umucha,  and  considers  himself  quite  suffi- 
ciently clothed  with  a  necklace  and  a  snuff 
box. 

An  illustration  on  pagell7,gives  a  good 
idea  of  the  appearance  presented  by  a  Kaffir 
of  rank  in  Ins  ordinary  dress.    It  is  a  por- 
trait of  Goza,  the  well-known  Zulu  chief, 
whose    name   came    prominently    forward 
during  the  visit  of  Prince  Albert  to  the 
Cape.      He  is  one  of  the    most   powerful 
chiefs  of  the  Zulu  tribe,  and  can  at  any 
moment  summon  into  the  field  his  five  or 
six  thousand  trained  and  armed  warriors. 
Yet  in  ordinary  life  he  is  not  to  be  distin- 
guished from  the  meanest  of  his  subjects 
by  any  distinction  of   dress.    An   experi- 
enced eye  would,  however,  detect  his  rank 
at  a  single  glance,  even  though  he  were  not 
even  clad  in  his  "tails."     He  is  fat,  and 
none  but  chiefs  are  fat   in  Kafflrland.     In 
fact,  none  but  chiefs  have  the  opportunity, 
because  the  inferior  men  are  forced  to  such 
constantly  active  employment,  and  live  on 
suc'.i  irregular  nourishment,  that  tliey  have 
no  opportunity  of  accumulating  fat 
But  a  chief  has  nothing  whatever  to  do, 


except  to  give  his  orders,  and  if  those  orders 
are  within  human  capacity  they  will  bo 
executed.  Tchaka  once  ordered  his  war- 
riors to  catch  a  lion  with  their  unarmed 
hands,  and  they  did  it,  losing,  of  course, 
many  of  their  number  in  the  exploit.  The 
chief  can  eat  beef  and  porridge  all  day  long 
if  he  MkeSj  and  he  mostly  does  like.  Also 
he  can  drmk  as  much  beer  as  he  chooses' 
and  always  has  a  large  vessel  at  hand  full 
of  that  beverage.  Panda,  the  king  of  the 
Zulu  tribes,  was  notable  for  being  so  fat 
that  he  could  hardly  waddle  ;  but,  as  the 
reader  will  soon  be  presented  with  a  por- 
trait of  this  doubly  great  monarch,  nothing 
more  need  be  said  about  him. 

As  to  Goza,  he  is  a  wealthy  man,  pos- 
sessing vast  herds  of  cattle,  besides  a  great 
number  of  wives,  who,  as  far  as  can  be 
judged  by  their  portraits,  are  not  beautiful 
according  to  European  ideas  of  beauty,  but 
are  each  representatives  of  a  considerable 
number  of  cows.  lie  wields  undisputed 
sway  over  many  thousands  of  subjects,  and 
takes  tribute  from  them.  Yet  he  dresses 
on  ordinary  occasions  like  one  of  his  own 
subjects,  and  his  house  is  just  one  of  the 
ordinary  huts  of  which  a  village  is  com- 
posed. When  he  wishes  to  appear  offi- 
cially, he  alters  his  style  of  dress,  and 
makes  really  a  splendid  appearance  in  all 
the  pomp  of  barbaric  magnificence.  Also, 
when  he  mixes  with  civilization,  he  likes 
to  be  civilized  in  dress,  and  makes  his 
appearance  dressed  as  an  Englishman,  in  a 
silk  hat,  a  scarlet  coat,  and  jackboots,  and 
attended  in  his  rides  by  an  aide-de-camp, 
dressed  in  a  white-plumed  cocked  hat,  and 
nothing  else. 

A  portrait  of  Goza  in  his  full  war-dress  is 
given  in  the  chapter  that  treats  of  Kafllr 
warfare. 


CHAPTER  V. 


0BNAMENT8  WORN  BY  KAI-'FIB  MEN  —  HEADS,  UUTTONS,  AND  STRINGS  —  FASIIIONAIiLE  COLORS  OF  BEADS 

—  (!()0D  TASTE  OF  THE  KAFI-IU.S  —  CAPHKES  OF  FASHION  —  (IOZA'h  YOlNd  WAlllUOKS  —  ITUIOfS 
BEAD  OUNAMKNT  —  A  SEMl-NKCKLACE  —  A  BEAD  BUACELBT,  AND  MODE  OF  CONSTRICTION  —  A 
CHEAP    NECKLACE  —  TWO    UEMAUKABLE    NECKLACES  —  ORNASIENTS    MADE   OF  LEATHERN  TIIONOS 

—  OX-TAILS  USED  AS  ORNAMENTS,  AND  INI)I(;ATIONS  OF  THE  WEALTH  OF  THEIR  OWNER  —  THE 
SKULL  USED  FOR  A  SIMILAR  PURPOSE  —  A  YOUNCl  KAFFIR  IN  FULL  DRESS  —  CVHIOU8  DECORA- 
TIONS OF  THE  HEAD  —  THE  ISSIKOKO,  OR  HEAD-IUNO— KAFFIR  CHIVALRY  —  PU'TURKSQUK  ASPECT 
or  THE  KAFFIR  — THE  EYE  AND  THE  NOSTRIL  —  THE  KAFFIR  PERFUME,  AND  US  TENACITY  — 
CLEANLY  IIAllITS  OF  THE  KAFFIU  —  CONDITIONS  ALTER  CIRCUMSTANCES  —  ANOTHER  METHOD  OP 
DRESSINC.  SKINS  —  THE  BLANKET  AND  THE  KAROSS  —  ARMLETS,  ANKLETS,  AND  BRACELETS  —  A 
SIMPLE  (iRASS  BRACELET  —  IVORY  ARMLETS,  AND  METHOD  OF  CONSTBl'CTION  —  BEAD  AHMI  •  IS  — 
METALLIC    ARMLETS  —  AN  ANCIENT  'hOYAL    ARMLET  OF  BRASS  —  IKON   ARMLETS — A   NEW   IHKTAL 

—  ITS  ADOPTION   BY  THE  CHIEFS  — SINGULAR    SUPERSTITION,    AND  ABANDON.MENT  OF    THE  METAL 

—  DEATH  OF  THE   DISCOVERER. 


As  to  the  ornaments  which  a  Kalfir  man 
wears,  Ihcy  niay  be  summed  up  in  three 
words  —  beads,  buttons,  and  strings,  all  three 
being  ol'ton  employed  in  the  manul'acture  of 
one  ornament.  All  the  beads  come  from 
Europe,  and  there  is  a.s  much  fashion  in 
them  as  in  jewi'lry  among  civilized  nations. 
The  Kallii's  will  have  nothing  to  do  with 
beads  that  do  not  form  a  good  contrast  with 
the  dark  skin  of  the  wearer,  so  that  beads 
which  would  be  thought  valuable,  even  in 
England,  would  be  utterly  contemned  by 
the  poorest  Katlir.  Dark  blue,  for  example, 
are  extremely  unlashionable,  while  light 
azure  blue  are  in  great  favor.  Those 
beads  which  contain  white  and  red  are  tiic 
most  valued;  and  if  it  were  possible  to 
make  be.ids  which  would  have  tlie  dazzling 
whiteness  of  s!H)\v,  or  the  fiery  hue  of  tiie 
scarlet  \  rbona,  almost  any  price  might  be 
obtained  for  them  in  Kaffirland. 

The  c.apriciousness  of  ftishion  is  quite  as 
great  among  the  Kiflirs  as  among  Euro- 
peans, and  the  bead  trade  is,  therefore,  very 
precarious,  beails  which  would  have  beeii 
mirciiased  at  a  very  high  price  one  year 
oeing  scarcely  worth  their  freight  in"  the 
next.  Still,  "there  is  one  ruh;  which  may 
always  guide  those  who  take  beads  as  a 
mcHlium  of  barter  among  savages.  The 
beads  should  always  contrast  lioldly  with  tlie 
color  of  the  skin.  Now,  the  average  color 
ofaKailir  is  a  very  dark  chocolate;  and  if 
the   intended    trader    among    these    tribes 


{3G) 


wishes  to  make  a  suecessfid  speculation,  he 
cannot  do  better  than  have  a  lay  figure 
liaiuted  of  a  Kallir"s  c(dor,  and  try  tlie  eifect 
of  the  beads  upon  the  image.  IJeads  cannot 
be  too  brilliant  for  a  savage,  and  almost  any 
small  articles  which  will  take  a  high  polish 
and  Hash  well  in  the  sunshine  will  find  a 
market. 

Having  procured  his  beads,  either  by  ex- 
change of  goods  or  by  labor,  the  Kaftir  pro- 
ceeds to  adorn  himself  with  them.  In  a 
photograph  before  me,  representing  a  group 
of  young  warriors  belonging  to  fJoza  s 
army,  three  of  the  nun  have  round  their 
necks  strings  of  beads  which  must  weigh 
several  pounds,  \vhdc  another  has  a  bro.id 
belt  of  lieads  passi-.ig  over  the  shoulder  just 
like  the  sash  '-f  a  light  infantry  ollieer. 
The  ordinary  mode  of  wearing  tiiem  is  in 
strings  roun'd  the  luck,  but  a  Katlir  of  inge- 
nuity devises  various  other  fiishions.  If  he 
h.as  some  very  large  and  very  white  beads, 
he  will  tie  them  round  his  firehead,  just 
over  his  eyebrows,  allowing  some  of  them  to 
dangle  over  his  nose,  and  others  on  either 
side  of  the  eyes.  In  "  Katlir  ornaments  "  on 
page  3.1,  tig."  1,  is  shown  a  sash  somewhat 
similar  to  that  which  has  just  l)een  men- 
tioned, thougli  it  is  not  made  wholly  of 
beads.  Its  groiniilwork  is  a  vast  number  of 
small  strings  laid  side  by  side,  and  bound  at 
intervals  by  bands  of  diti'erent  colored  beads, 
those  toward  the  ends  bcin>^  white,  and  the 
others  scarlet,  pink,  or  green.    Its  length  is 


NECKLACES. 


87 


about  ei<i;ht  foot.  A  small  portion  is  given  on 
an  cnl:iri,'c'(l  sfiilu,  to  show  tlio  mode  of  struc- 
ture. I'lic  other  arti<'le.s  l)elong  to  female 
costume,  iiikI  will  l)e  deserihcd  presently. 

The  group  of  ornaments  illustrated  upon 
page  .■):$  is  very  interc^sting,  and  is  taken 
from  specimens  kindly  hmt  me  by  tlie 
late  II.  Jackson,  Es(i.  The  round  article 
with  dark  centre  ((i;,'.  ■{)  is  the  lirst  which 
we  will  notice.  In  form  it  resembles  a  hol- 
low cone,  or  rather  a  Malay's  hat,  and  is 
made  of  leather,  iiig(^niously  moulded  and 
sewed  while  wet,  aiid  then  kept  in  its  shape 
until  dry.  The  whole  of  tlie  interior  is  so 
thickly  covered  with  lieads  that  the  leather 
is  quite  concealed.  The  beads  in  the  centre 
are  red,  and  the  otiiers  arc  white;.  This 
ornament  is  worn  on  the  breast,  and  to  all 
appearance  nnist  be  a  very  awkward  article 
of  decoration,  [f  Ihc  uuiside  had  been  cov- 
ered with  beads,  it  is  easy  to  understand 
that  it  would  have  icsted  very  comfortably 
on  the  breast  with  its  bead-covered  apex 
projecting  like  a  huge  sugar-lo.af  button. 
Hut,  as  the,  ])eak  bus  to  rest  on  the  breast, 
the  ornament  must  sway  about  in  a  most 
uncomfortal)le  maimer. 

The  ornament  at  the  bottom  of  the  illus- 
tration is  a  semi-necklace,  much  in  request 
among  the  Katlirs.  A  string  is  fastene<l  to 
each  upper  corner  an<l  then  tied  behind  the 
neck,  so  that  none  of  the  beads  are  wasted 
ui)on  a  back  view  of  the  person.  The 
groundwork  of  this  semi-ncckl.iee  is  white, 
and  the  marks  upon  it  are  ditrerently  col- 
ored. Some  of  them  are  red  in  the  interior 
and  edged  with  yellow,  while  in  others  these 
colors  itre  reversed.  A  narrow  line  )f  scar- 
let beads  runs  along  the  lower  edge.  The 
neckl.ace  is  formed  of  a  sort  of  network,  of 
which  the  meslu's  are  bead<,  so  tliat  as  it  is 
moved  by  the  action  of  the  bodv,  the  light 
shines  through  the  intn slices, and  hasa  verv 
prettv  etfect.  "^ 

A  braccdet,  aN-)  made  of  beads,  is  shown 
in  the  same  iHaslralion  at  (ig.  2.  The  beads 
are  strung  on  threa  Is,  and  then  twisted  to- 
gfethcr  so  as  to  form  a  loose  rope,  very  sim- 
ilar in  construction  to  tlu-  rope  ring  u.sed 
so  much  by  sailors,  and  known  technieallv 
as  a  "  grunnnct."  The  strings  of  beads  are 
variously  colore<l,  and  are  arranged  with 
considei-abl.'  (aste,  so  that  when  they  arc 
twisted  togeiher  the  general  eflTect  is  verv 
good.  ■' 

There  is  a  more  common  kind  of  beads 
which  are  called  "  chalk-white."  Their  only 
value  is  that  they  contrast  well  with  the 
dark  skin  of  the  wearer.  Still,  there  are 
niany  young  men  who  would  be  only  too 
glad  to  have  even  so  sim|)le  a  set  of  beads, 
.tor  beads  are  money  in  Kamrlaml,  and  arc 
not  to  be  obtained  without  labor.  How- 
ever, ornament  of  some  kind  the  youn^ 
men  will  have,  and  if  they  cannot  obtain 
beads  tlicy  -.vill  w<-;ir  some  other  ornament 
as  a  succedaucum  for  theui.  i 


One  of  these  very  simple  necklaces  is  in 
my  collection.  It  consists  merely  of  nuts, 
which  the  wearer  could  have  for  the  pick- 
ing. A  hole  is  bored  ihrough  each  nut,  just 
above  the  smaller  end,  so  that  they  tit  closely 
together,  and  stand  boldly  out,  without 
showing  the  string  on  whicli  thev  arc 
threaded.  So  closely  do  they  lie  that,  al- 
though the  necklac(!  is  only  just  large  enougli 
to  be  passed  over  the  heail,"  it  contains  more 
than  a  hundred  nuts.  The  two  necklaces 
which  are  represented  at  the  foot  of  the 
'liith  i)age,  have  been  selected  because  they 
show  how  the  native  artist  has  lirst  made  a 


leeklace  of  Iteads  and  teeth,  and  has  then 
imitated  it  in  metal.  No.  1  represents  a 
bracelet  that  is  entirely  made  of  beads  and 
teeth.  First,  the  maker  h.as  prepared  six  or 
seven  very  fine  leathern  thongs,  and  has 
strung  upon  them  black  glass  beads  of  rather 
a  small  size.  When  he  has  formed  rows  of 
about  an  inch  and  a  h.alf  ii'  length,  he  has 
placed  in  each  string  asingle  bead  of  a  much 
larger  size,  and  being  white  in  color,  spotted 
with  bright  blue.  Another  inch  and  a  half  of 
black  beads  follow,  and  then  come  th(!  teeth. 
Th(!se  are  the  canine  teeth  of  the  leopard 
and  other  felida',and  are  arranged  in  groups 
varying  from  three  to  five  in  number.  A 
tolerably  large  hole  is  bored  through  the 
b.ase  of  each,  and  all  the  strings  an^  i)asscd 
through  them.  The  maker  then  goes  on 
with  the  black  beads,  then  with  the  white, 
then  with  the  teeth,  and  so  on,  until  bis  ma- 
terials are  exhausted,  and  the  necklace 
finished. 

The  neckl.ace  No.  2  is  of  a  far  more  ambi- 
tious character,  and,  whether  or  not  it  has 
been  made  by  the  same  artificer,  it  shows 
that  the  same  principle  has  been  carried  out. 
The  former  ornament  belonged  to  a  man 
who  had  been  skilful  as  a  hunter,  and  who 
wore  the  teeth  of  the  slaughtered  leopards 
as  trophies  of  his  v.alor  and  success.  He 
would  also  wear  the  skins,  and  lose  no 
opportnnitv  of  showing  what  be  h.ul  done. 
Hut  we  will  suppose  that  a  Kalllr,  who  has 
some  notion  of  working  in  metal,  saw  the 
bracelet,  and  that  he  was  fired  with  a  disire 
to  po.ssess  one  of  a  similar  character.  liCop- 
ards'  teeth  he  could  not,  of  course,  possess 
without  killing  the  animal  for  himself,  be- 
cause no  one  who  has  achieved  such  a  feat 
would  sell  to  another  the  trophies  of  his 
own  prowess.  So  he  has  tried  to  imitate 
the  coveted  ornament  as  well  as  he  could; 
and  though  he  might  not  possess  either  the 
skill  or  the  courage  of  the  hunter,  he  could, 
at  .all  events,  make  a  necklace  which  would 
resemble  in  sh.ape  th.at  of  his  companion, 
ho  very  much  more  showv,  and  possess  a 
consi     rable  intrinsic  value. 

S.i  lie  set  up  his  forge,  and,  in  a  manner 
w)  ii  will  be  described  in  a  future  page, 
maUe  his  own  bronze,  brass,  or  bell-nietal, 
and  cast  a  number  of  little  cylinders. 
These  he  beat  into  shape  with  his  primitive 


38 


THE  KAFFIR. 


m 


Ji      I 


hammer,  and  formed  them  into  very  tolera- 
ble Imitations  of  leopards'  teeth.  Being 
now  furnished  witli  ihe  material  for  his 
necklace,  he  bcjgan  to  put  it  together.  First, 
he  struu"  rows  of  elialk-white  beads,  and 
then  a  brass  tooth.  Next  to  the  tooth 
nomes  a  large  transparent  glass  bead,  of 
ruby-red,  decorated  with  white  spots.  Then 
comes  a  tooth,  then  more  beads,  and  so  on, 
until  the  ornament  has  been  completed.  In 
order  to  give  the  necklace  an  air  of  reality, 
he  cut  a  i)iece  of  bone  so  as  to  look  like  a 
very  large  tooth,  and  strung  it  in  t!ie  centre 
of  tne  ornanjent,  so  as  to  fall  on  his  chest. 

This  is  really  a  handsome  piece  of  work- 
manship, and  when  in  use  must  have  a  very 
excellent  elfect.  The  colors  are  selected 
with  remarkable  taste,  as  nothing  can  look 
better  on  a  dar".  skin  than  white  and  ruby. 
Moreover,  the  metal  teeth  are  burnished  so 
&a  to  glisten  brilliantly  in  the  sun,  and  will 
dazzle  the  eye  at  the  distance  of  some 
feet.  Both  these  necklaces  are  drawn  from 
specimens  in  the  collection  of  Colonel  Lane 
Fox. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  good  taste  in 
color,  if  not  in  material,  seems  to  be  inher- 
ent in  the  race,  despite  the  very  small 
amount  of  clothes  which  either  sex  wears. 
When  they  become  partially  civilized, 
especially  if  they  owe  any  allegiance  to  mis- 
sionaries, they  ilssume  some  portion  of  ordi- 
nary Eurojiean  costume.  Tlie  men,  whose 
wardrobe  is  generally  limited  to  a  shirt  and 
trousers,  have  little  scope  for  taste  in  dress; 
but  the  women  always  contrive  to  develop 
this  faculty.  AVhethcr  in  the  gay  colors  of 
the  gowns'  which  they  wear,  or  whether  in 
the  more  sober  hue  of  the  handkerchief 
which  they  inva.irbly  tie  round  their  heads, 
they  always  manage  to  hit  ujwn  a  coml)ina- 
tion  of  colors  which  harmonize  with  their 
complexions. 

Perhaps  it  is  fortunate  that  such  should 
be  the  case,  for  the  assumption  of  European 
costume  is,  artistically  speaking,  anytliing 
but  an  imi)rovement  in  the  appearance  of  a 
Kaflir,  or,  indeed,  of  any  wearer  of  a  dark 
skin  ;  and  it  is  a  curious  fact,  that  the  bet- 
ter the  clothes,  the  worse  do  they  look.  A 
young  Katlir,  wearing  nothing  but  his  few 
tufts  of  fur,  moves  with  a  free  and  upright 
gait,  and  looks  like  one  of  nature's  noble- 
men. But  the  moment  that  he  ])uts  on  the 
costume  adopted  in  civilized  Europe,  he 
'.OSes  every  vestige  of  dignity,  and  even  his 
very  gait  is  altered  for  the  worse. 

The  metro])olitan  reader  can  easily  wit- 
ness such  a  metamornljosis  by  visiting  the 
Hammam,  or  any  smiilar  establishnunt. 
Where  dark-skinned  attendants  are  em- 
ployed. While  engaged  in  their  ordinary 
vocation,  clad  with  nothing  but  a  cloth 
round  their  loins,  they  look  just  like  ancient 
statues  endued  with  life,  and  it  is  impossi- 
ble to  avoid  admiring  the  gniceful  dignity 
of   their  gestures,  as   they   uiovc    silentiy 


about  the  room.  But  when  any  of  them 
leave  the  room,  and  put  on  the  ordinary 
dress,  the  change  is  complete  and  disap- 
pointing, and  it  is  hardly  possible  to  believe 
the  identity  of  such  apparently  different 
individuals.  In  the  time  long  passed  away, 
when  Scotland  was  still  contesting  with 
England,  the  statesmen  of  the  latter  coun- 
try showed  no  small  knowledge  of  human 
nature  when  they  forbade  the  >  se  of  the 
Highland  dress,  and  forced  the  Iligldanders 
to  abandon  the  picturesque  costume  which 
seems  to  harmonize  so  well  with  the  wild 
hills  of  their  native  land.  A  Highlander 
in  his  kilt  and  tartan  was  not  the  same  man 
when  in  the  costume  of  the  Lowlaiuler,  and 
it  was  impossible  for  him  to  feel  the  same 
pride  in  himself  as  when  he  wore  the  garb 
of  the  mountaineer  and  the  colors  ot  his 
clan. 

Many  of  the  young  men  who  cannot  af- 
ford beads  make  bracelets,  necklaces,  arm- 
lets, and  anklets  from  (he  skins  of  animals. 
After  cutting  the  skin  into  strips,  they  twist 
the  strips  spirally,  so  as  to  eonvjrt  them 
into  liollow  ropes,  having  all  the  hair  on  the 
outside.  When  nifide  of  prettily  colored 
skins,  these  curious  ornameiil?  have  a  very 
good,  though  barbaric  ettect.  (.See  i)age  4'J.) 
By  cutting  the  strips  spirally,  almost  any 
length  an  be  obtainecl ;  and  the  conse- 
quence is,  that  the  young  men  sometimes 
appear  with  their  bodies,  legs,  and  arms 
covered  with  these  furry  ropes. 

Another  kind  of  ornament  of  which  the 
Kallir  is  very  fond  is  the  tufted  tiiil  of  an 
ox.  A  man  of  consequence  will  sometimes 
wear  a  considerable  number  of  tins.  Uiils. 
Some  he  will  form  into  an  apron,  and  thers 
will  be  disposed  about  his  i)eison  in  the 
quaintest  possible  style.  He  will  tie  one 
under  each  knoe,  so  as  to  bring  it  on  the 
shin  bone.  Others  he  will  lix  to  leathern 
loops,  and  hang  them  loosel}'  on  his  arms, 
like  the  curious  bracelet  worn  by  Jung 
Bahadoor  when  in  England.  Some  he  wiU 
divide  into  a  multitude  of  strips,  and  sew 
them  together  so  as  to  make  fringed  belts, 
which  he  will  tie  round  his  waist,  or  with 
which  he  will  encircle  the  u])per  arms. 
Others,  again,  will  be  attached  to  his  ankles, 
and  a  man  thus  decorated  h  contemplated 
enviously  by  those  not  so  fortunate. 

The  ve"y  fact  of  possessing  such  orna- 
ments shoA's  that  the  wearer  must  be  a  rich 
man,  and  have  sl.aughteivd  his  own  cattle. 
It  is  hardly  possible  to  obtain  cow  tails  in 
any  other  method  ;  for  the  owner  of  a  slain 
cow  is  sure  to  keep  the  tail  for  himself,  and 
will  not  give  so  valuable  an  ornament  to 
another.  For  the  same  reason,  when  the 
cow  has  been  eaten  u|),  its  owner  fastens 
the  skull  on  the  outside  of  his  hut.  Every 
one  who  jiasses  within  sight  can  then  see 
that  a  rich  man  lives  in  that  ilwelling. 
Even  when  the  tiiils  are  sold  to  Europeans, 
ail  aijsuntly  iiigh  price  is  asked  ibr  tiiuiu. 


any  of  tlicra 
lh(3  ordinary 
ip  luul  (lisiip- 
ble  to  believe 
ntly  (liflerent 
pussed  away, 
iitesling  with 
e  latter  couu- 
Ige  of  human 
10  I  sc  of  the 
I  Highlanders 
ostume  which 
vith  the  wild 
t  llif^hlander 
he  same  man 
)wlander,  and 
I'eel  the  same 
rore  the  carb 
colors  ot  his 

lio  cannot  af- 
ickluces,  arm- 
is  of  animals, 
ps,  they  twist 
:;onv'jrt  them 
le  hair  on  the 
ittily  colored 
■  have  a  very 
See  page  4'J.) 
•,  almost  any 
1  the  conse- 
!n  sometimes 
;s,  and  arms 

'8. 

of  which  the 
led  tiiil  of  an 
ill  sometimes 
jf  tlu'S'  tiiils. 
)n,  and  thcrs 
lerson  in  the 
will  tie  one 
ing  it  on  the 
c  to  leathern 
on  his  arms, 
irn  by  Jung 
Some  he  wiU 
ijis,  and  sew 
1  ringed  belts, 
I  aist,  or  with 
u])per  arms. 
to  his  ankles, 
eontemplated 
nate. 

g  such  orna- 
ni!<t  be  a  rich 
s  own  cattle. 
1  cow  tails  In 
ner  of  a  slain 
r  himself,  and 
ornament  to 
)n,  when  tJic 
iwner  iastens 
hut.  Every 
can  then  see 
lat  dwelling. 
I)  European.^, 
.ed  iur  them. 


BRACELETS.    (See  page  62.) 


IVOIiV   AKMI.ETS 


AI'KON   OF  CliIKl".S  WIFE. 
fSce  paffp  ."il.) 


NECKLACES -UEAUS    AM)    1  EE 


TIL    (Set'  page  37.) 


0 


til 


l;i 


th 


CO 

Ki 

lui 
ini 

Cll 


taj 
ibi 
its 
Irii 
of 
(li-c 
bri 
l)lc 
tin: 
scv 


1111 


I  .'a 


Ka! 


"^ 


cua 

I'lo,::; 

ni-ii' 

..  rich 

cure 

he! 

O 

miic 

(ion 

triv( 

so  ir 

1k)  r 

will 

with 

ons  i 

then 

a  ail 

weaf 

woiil 

AV 

chief 

class 

iniicf 

wiiicl 


1 


DECOllATIOXS  OF  THE  HEAD. 


41 


One  of  these  arm-tufts  is  now  before  me. 
T))e  skin  lia.s  been  stripped  from  the  tail, 
leaving  athonj,'  of  ei,;,'liteea  inches  in  leni^tii 
above  tlie  tuft  of  liair.  This  thong  has 
then  l)een  ent  into  tliree  strips  of  half  an 
ineh  in  width,  and  the  strips  have  been 
rolled  up  spirall_>',  as  already  described.  As 
(he  slit  is  carrn-d  to  the  very  end  of  the 
tail,  the  tuft  is  spread  open,  and  therefore 
looks  twice  as  large  as  would  have  l)een  the 
case  had  it  been  left  untouched.  Each  of 
these  tufts  representing  a  cow,  it  is  evident 
that  the  possession  of  them  shows  that  the 
owner  must  be  wealthy  enough,  not  only  to 
possess  eows,  but  to  h'ave  .so  many  that  he 
eould  afford  to  slaughter  them. 

An    illustration  on  page  43  represents  a 
Kallir  who  is  both  young  and  rich,  and  who 
bus  put  on  his  dress  of  ceremony  for  the 
purpose  of  paying  a  visit.     Under  such  cir- 
euinstanees,  a  Katiir  will  exercise  the  great- 
est care  in  selecting  ornaments,  and  oceupv 
hours  in  putting  them  on  to  the  best  advan- 
tage.    Among  the  furs  used  by  the  Katlh- 
tor  this  purpose  is  that  of  the  Angora  goat, 
Its  long  soft  hair  working  up  admirably  into 
Iringes  and  similar  ornaments.     Feathers 
of  dilferent  birds  are  worked  into  the  head 
dress,  and  the  rarer  the  bird  and  the  more 
brilliant  the  color  the  better  is  the  wearer 
pleased.     One   decoration   which  is  some- 
times worn  on  the  head  is  a  globular  tuft 
several  inrdies  in  diameter,  formed  from  the 
featliers  of  a  si)ecies  of  roller.     The  lovely 
plum.ige  of   the   bird,  with    its  changeful 
hues  of  green  and  blue,  is  exactly  adapted 
lor  the  purpose  :  and  hi  some  cases  two  of 
these  tiilts  will    be  worn,  one  on  the  fore- 
lu'ad  and  the  other  on  the  back  of  the  head. 
Ivigles'  feathers  are  much  used  among  the  ' 
Kallirs,  a«,  in  .snite  of  their  comparat?vely  ' 
plain  coloring,  their  firm  and  graceful  shape 
enables  the  wearer  to  form  them  into  very 
elegant    head    dresses.       Ostrich    feathers 
me  also  used  for  the  purpose,  as  are  the 
richly  colored  plumes  of  the  lory  ;  but  the 


gr.>at  ambition  of  a  Katiir  beau  is  to  pro- 
cure some  feathers  of  the  peacock,  of  which 
he  is  amazingly  vain. 

On   such  occasions  the  Kaffir  will  wear 
much  more  dress  than  usual ;  and,  in  addi- 
fio!'  to  the  quantity  of  beads  which  he  con- 
trives to  dispose  upon  his  person,  he  ties 
so  many  tufts  and  tails  round  Ms  waist  that 
iie  may  almost  be  said  to  wear  a  kilt.     lie 
wi     carry  his  shield  and  bundle  of  .spears 
with  hiin,  but  will  not  take  the  latter  weap- 
ons into  the  host's  house,  either  cxchani-iiU 
them  tor  nnitative  .spears  of  wood,  or  ta'kin-"? 
a  simple  knobbed  stick.     Some  sort  of  a 
weapon  he  nmst  have  in  his  liand,  or  he 
would  feel  himself  quite  out  of  his  element. 
When  the  "boy  "  ha.s  at  last  obtained  the 
c  net  8   permission    to    enter  the    lionored 
class  of  "  men,"  lie  prepares  liimself  witli 
miieh  ceremony  for  tlio  change  of  eo.stumc  ! 
which  indicates  his  rank.    The  change  does 


not  consist  so  much  in  addition  as  in  sub- 
traction, and  is  contlned  to  the  head.  All 
unmarried  men  wear  the  whole  of  their 
hair,  and  sometimes  indulge  their  vanity  in 
dressing  it  in  various  modes  ;  such  as  draw- 
ing It  out  to  its  fullest  extent,  and  stitfenino- 
It  with  grease  and  shining  powders,  so  thai 
It  looks  something  like  the  wigs  which  bish- 
ops used  to  wear,  but  which  have  been  judi- 
ciously abandoned.  If  particular  pain.s  are 
taken  with  the  hair,  and  it  happens  to  be 
rather  longer  than  usual,  the  etlect  is  very 
remarl.able.  I  have  a  photographic  iior- 
trait  of  a  young  Zulu  warrior,  whose  hair  is 
so  bushy  and  frizzled  that  it  mi<;ht  be  taken 
for  that  of  a  Figian  ;  and  as  in" his  endeav- 
ors to  preserve  himself  in  a  perfectly  mo- 
tionless attitude,  he  has  clenched  his  teeth 
lightly  and  opened  his  'ves  very  wide,  he 
lootcs  exactly  as  if  all  his  hair  were  stand- 
urn  on  end  with  astonishment. 

Proud,  however,  as  he  may  be,  as  a"bov  " 
of  his  hair,  he  is  still  prouder  when  he  lias 
tlie  permission  of  his  chief  to  cut  it  olf,  and 
at  once  re))airs  to  a  friend  who  will  act  a.g 
hairdresser.    The  friend  in  question  takes 
his  best  assagai,  puts  a  fine  edge  upon  it 
furnishes  himself  with   a  supply  of   "uin 
sinews,    charcoal    powder,    and    oil,  "ami 
.addresses  himself  to  his  task.    Ilis  first  earo 
IS  to  make  an  oval  ring  of  the  sinews,  about 
halfaninchin  thickness,  and  then  to  fit  it 
on  the  head.    The  hair  is  then  firmly  woven 
into  it,  and  fixed  with  the  gum  and  charcoal 
until  the  hair  and  ring  seem  as  if  they  were' 
one  substance.     Oil  or  grease  is  next  liber- 
ally applied,  until  the  circlet  shines  like  a 
patent  leather  boot,  and  the  rin-''  is  then 
complete.    The  ofiiciating  friend  next  takes 
lis  assagai,  and  shaves   the   Avhole   of  the 
head,  outside  and  inside  the  ring,  so  as   to 
leave  it  the  sole  decoration  of  liis  bald  head 
The  ring,  or  "issikoko,"  is  useful  for  sev- 
eral ])urposes.  It  answers  admirably  to  hold 
feathers  firmly,  when  the  courtier  decorates 
his  head  for  ceremonv,  or  the  soldier  for 
w.ar.      It  serves   also  more  peaceful   uses 
being  the  usual  place  where  the  smiflf.spoon 
IS  worn.    This  mode  of  dressing  the  hair 
has  Its  inconvenience,  for  the  ring  eontinii- 
ally  needs  to  1)0  repaired  and  kept  in  order. 
As  to  the  "issikoko"  itself,  it  is  too  hard  b» 
be  easily  damaged;  but  as  the  hair  grows 
It  IS  raised  above  the  head,  and,  when  ne<'- 
lected  for  .some  time,  will  rise  to  a  hei"ht  of 
two  inches  or  so.      Moreovin-,  the  shaven 
parts  of  the  head  soon  regain  their  ooverin-^ 
and  need  again  to  be  submitted  to  the  i.riin- 
itive  razor.     No  man  would    venture    to 
appear  before  his  chief  with   the  head  un- 
shaven or  with  the  ring  standing  above  it ; 
for  if  he  did  so,   his  life   would  probably 
answer  for  his  want  of  respect. 

M  '^u  •'  ''r/7*'"''^'  ^^'itli  wliieli  a  Kaffir  reg.ards 
the  "issikoko"  is  equal  to  that  whieli  an  Ori- 
eiitiU  eiil.ntains  for  his  heard.  Mr.  Moffatt 
mentions  a  curious  illustration  of  this  fact 


4a 


TIIK   KAFFIU, 


A  wfirHor  of  rank,  an  "luduna,"  or  iirttv  | 

cliif)',  WHS  l)n)uj,'lit  iK'I'orf  tlic  kin;,',  tlic ! 
(Irciuli'd  MoHcli'kiitiM'hiii'^i'd  witli  an  utrciuc  j 
lilt"  iiunislnnciilol' which  was  death,  lie  was 
I'DiKJiictcd  It)  till'  kinj:,  deprived  of  his  speiir 
niid  sliield.  "He  l)()Wed  Ids  line  eiaslic 
lij,'iii'e,  and  kneeled  hel'ore  liie  Jialj,'e.  Tht^ 
(Mse  was  iiives(ij;at(Ml  silently,  whieli  .i;ave 
Koleuinity  to  the  scene.  Not  a  whisper  was 
heard  anions  the  listeidnu  audience,  and  the 
voices  of  the  council  were  oidy  iiudihie  to 
each  other  and  to  the  nearest  spectators. 
The  prisoner.  thoUf;h  on  his  knees,  had 
Homethin;^  di,i,'nili(Kl  and  nohle  in  his  mien. 
>ii)|,  u  nniscle  'f  liis  countenance  moved, 
l)ul  a  l)riu;ht  bliu'k  eye  indicated  a  feelin;{ 
ol'i'.iiense  interest,  which  the  swervinj,'  lial- 
iince  between  life  and  death  oidy  could  j)ro- 
(luce.  Theciuse  required  little  iiivestiijation; 
the  cluirsjes  were  clearly  substantiated,  anil 
the  culprit  pleaded  fjuilty.  Hut,  alas!  he 
knew  that  it  was  at  a  bar  where  none  ever 
lieard  the  heart  revivin<{  sound  of  ^)ardon, 
i^ven  for  olleuces  small  compared  with  his. 
A  pause  ensued,  durinj;  which  tho  silonco  of 
ih'alh  i)ervailcd  the  assembly. 

'•  At  leiiijth  the  monarch  sjioke,  and,  ad- 
dressiiiji;  the  nrisuner,  said:  '  Von  arc  a  dead 
man;  lint  1  shall  do  lo-day  what  1  never  did 
before.  1  sjiare  your  life,  for  the  sake  of  mv 
friend  and  father,'  nointin^'to  whi're  I  stooil. 
'  1  know  that  his  heart  weejis  at  the  shcd- 
diui;  of  blood;  for  his  sake  I  spare  your  life. 
lie  has  travi'Ued  tVoni  a  far  country  to  see 
me.  and  he  has  made  my  heart  white;  but  he 
<rlls  me  that  to  take  uwaylife  is  an  awfid 
(hiui;,  and  never  can  be  undone  ajjain.  lie 
h  i-i  |)le:uled  with  me  not  to  ,y;o  to  war,  nor  to 
destroy  life.  I  wish  him.  when  he  returns  to 
his  iiwn  home  ai^ain.  to  return  with  a  heart  as 
whileas  he  has  made  mine.  I  spare  you  for 
his  sake;  for  I  lo\  e  him  and  he  has  saved  the 
lives  of  njy  people,  lint,'  continued  the 
kiiiij,  'you'must  be  <li'!j;ra'!.'d  for  life;  you 
iniisl  no  more  associate  with  the  nobles  of 
tlie  land,  nor  enter  the  towns  of  the  princes 
of  the  ]ieople,  nor  ever  a!,'aiu  inini.rlc  in  the 
dance  of  the  mitrlity.  (io  to  the  poor  of  the 
lield.and  let  vonrcompanionsbo  tlic  inhabit- 
ants of  thed("'sert.' 

'•  The  senteupe  i)asscd.  tho  pardoned  man 
\yas  expected  to  bow  in  <;;ratefnl  adoration 
to  him  whom  he  was  wont  to  look  uiion  and 
exalt  in  sonu;s  :(pplical)le  only  to  One.  to 
whom  beloniifs  universal  sway  and  the  des- 
tinies of  num.  Hut  no!  lloidinj' his  hands 
clasped  on  his  bosom,  be  replied:  'Oking, 
atllict  not  my  hearti  1  have  incited  thy  dis- 
pleasure: let  lue  be  slain  like  the  warrior. 
1  cannot  live  with  the  poor.'  And.  raising 
his  hand  to  the  ring  he  wore  on  his  brow, 
he  continiu>d:  '  How  can  1  live  among  tho 
dogs  of  the  king,  and  disgrace  these  badges 
of  honor  which  1  won  among  the  spears  and 
.sliields  of  the  miirbty':'  No;  I  cannot  livel 
Let  me  die,  I)  l*e/.oolul  His  request  was 
granted,  and  his  liaud.s  tied  urcct  over  his 


head.  Now  my  exertions  to  save  his  lifi! 
were  vain,  lie"  disdained  the  boon  on  the 
conditions  otfered,  [ireferring  Iodic  with  tho 
honors  he  hail  won  at  the  [joint  of  the  sjic.ar 
— honors  which  even  the  act  which  con- 
demned him  did  not  tarnish  -  to  exile  and 
poverty  among  the  i-hildren  of  the  desert, 
lie  was  led  forth,  a  man  walking  on  cadi  side. 
My  eye  followed  him  until  he  reached  (hu  ■ 
toj)  of  a  high  j)recii>ice,  over  which  he  wa.s 
iirecipilatcil  into  the  deep  part  of  the  river 
neiieath,  whero  the  crocodiles,  accuslDined 
to  sucli  meals,  were  yawning  to  devour  him 
ero  ho  could  reach  the  bottom." 

The  word  '•  issikoko,"  by  which  the  Katlir 
denominates  the  head-ring,  is  scarcely  to  bo 
pronounced,  not  by  Kuroneau  lips,  but  by 
Kurimean  jialales;  for  each  letter  A'  is  pro- 
ccdeil,  or  rather  accompanied,  by  a  curiotus 
clucking  sound,  produced  by  lint  back  of  thu 
tongue  and  the  roof  of  the  mouth.  There 
are  three  of  these,  "  clicks,"  as  they  are 
called,  and  they  will  be  nu)ro  particularly 
described  when  we  come  to  tiic  subject  of 
Kalllr  language. 

Under  nearly  all  circumatances  n  Katlir 
presents  a  singularly  iiicturesquo  llguie  — 
except,  ])erha|)s,  when  squatting  im  tho 
ground  with  his  knees  up  to  his  cliin  —  and 
nothing  can  be  more  grateful  to  an  artistic 
oyothan  the  aspect  of  a  numbcrof  these  splen- 
did B.ivages  ill  the  full  panoply  of  all  their 
barbaric  niaguiliecnce.  Their  piouil  and 
noble  jiort,  their  dusky  bodies  set  otV  with 
beads  and  other  brilliant  ornaments,  and  the 
uncommon  grace  and  agility  that  they  di.s- 
play  when  going  through  the  tierce  mimicry 
of  a  light  which  constitutes  their  war  dances, 
are  a  deli'dil  to  tho  eye  of  an  artist.  I'nlor- 
tunately,  Ills  nose  is  all'ccted  in  a  dilfereiit 
^nanner.  The  Kallirs  of  all  aujes  and  both 
sexes  will  persist  in  copiously  anointing 
themselves  with  grease.  Almost  any  sort 
of  grease  would  soon  become  rancid  in  that 
coiinlry;  but,  as  the  Katlirs  are  not  at  all 
particular  about  tho  sort  of  gre.ase  which 
they  \iso,  nrovided  that  it  /.s  grease,  Ihoy 
exhale  a  very  powerful  and  very  disagreea- 
ble odor.  KatVir.s  are  clnirniiiig  savages, 
but  it  is  alwiiys  as  well  to  keep  to  the  wind- 
ward of  them,  at  all  events  until  tho  nostrils 
have  become  accustomed  to  their  odor. 
This  ])eculiar  scent  is  as  adhesive  ns  it  is 
])owerful,  and,  even  after  a  Katlir  has  laid 
aside  his  dress,  any  article  of  it  will  bo 
nearly  as  strongl}'  scented  a.s  the  owner. 
Some  time  ago,  while  I  was  looking  over 
a  very  lino  collection  of  savage  implements 
.and  dress,  .some  articles  of  apparel  weio 
I  oxhibitcil  labelled  witli  tickets  that  could 
i  not  possibly  have  belougod  to  them.  Tho 
owner  said"  that  ho  snsiiccted  them  to  be 
'■  .M'rican,  and  asked  my  o|iinion,  which  was 
unhesitalingly  given,  the  odor  having  be- 
trayed their  real  country  a.s  soon  as  they 
I  were  brought  within  range  of  scent. 
j     A  few  years  ago,  I  ii.s.sisted  in  opening  a 


HilVc   llin   liPo 
'  llDllll    on    lll(! 

10  (111'  with  llio 
it  of  (lie  sjnuir 
•I  wliitli  cdii- 
-  to  exile  1111(1 
lit'  llie  (leseii. 
I,' (111  eiieli  Hide, 
e  reiiclied  Ilie 
wliicli  lie  WiiH 
•t  ol'  llii^  river 
s,  aeeiiKldiiied 
Lo  devour  liiiii 

iicli  the  Kiillir 
seareely  to  iio 

11  lips,  liiit  liy 
etler  A'  is  jiro 
I,  by  u  eurioiirt 
\\i\  liiiek  of  tin* 
iioutli.  There 
"  iis  they  ar(! 
re  purtieiiliirly 
tlie  suhjeel  of 

iiiices  n  Kallir 
Nijiie  li<i;iire  — 
illiiig  oil  the 
lis  diiii  —  and 

to  an  artistic 
rot'tliese  siileil- 
ly  of  all  their 
'ir  iii'oiid  and 
es  set  (itV  with 
nu'iils.  and  (lie 

that  they  dis- 
tieree  iiiiniieiy 
eir  wardanees, 
artist.    I'lilor- 

iii  a  ditVerent 

ajfes  and  liotli 
iisTy  aiioinliii^ 
most    any   sort 

raneid  in  that 

are  not  at  all 

firease  which 
is  <j;rease,  they 
Very  disajj;reea- 
niiiiu;  savaj;es, 
'ji  to  tlu^  wiiul- 
itil  the  nostrils 
to  their  odor. 
Ihesivc  as  it  is 
Karth-  has  laid 

of  it  will  he 
n.s  the  owner. 
s  lookiiijj;  over 
ge  iiniileiiieiits 

ainiarcl  weie 
et.s  that  conld 
to  them.  The 
'd  them  to  he, 
ion,  which  was 
lor  having  he- 
H  soon   as  they 

of  seeiil. 
d  iu  opening  a 


fjuJ,.>iU.itll.-''   ji' 


(48) 


( 
i 
I 

1 

e 
d 
tl 
1) 
<i: 
nl 
b< 

cl 

p.- 

en 

m 

so 

sii 

oil 

nc 

A( 

wl 

bei 

of 

linl 

of 

iiiij 

nat 

eon 

mo 


series  of  hoxpH  and  barroU  fuU  of  ol.jecU 
from  Kulllrhuul.     VVe  u,ok  th«  inx-mS 


THE  KAFFrn  PEKPUME. 


43 


o»  opening  tl,,,  ..isos  in  tlu,  «arden  an.i,  ove 
in  tno  oDi'ii  iiir  til,,  f.,„i,  .,»• i' .      '.. 


f.        "    -...., ""^  KniuL-ii.iiud  oven 

-ho  open  iiir,  tl.u  Uxsk  of  cn»|,tyin«  tlum. 

senses.    All  tiie  ol)jectH  were  i/enuinc  sneci- 

o  ten  the  awe,  l)ut  linreliiwed  ft-om  tiie 
wearers,  and  earefnlly  pnt  awav  T  ,. 
owner  of  the  eolIeetion^wL  ratlTer^iuun,  r- 
ous  on  I.e  sul.jeet,  conKratulatinK  ns  o  .r 
)re,,aration  for  a  viKit  to  KalHrland  and 
tell.n-  us  lluvt,  if  ,ather  of  us  w is  ed  t 
Sevan  r-'"'  '"t^''  «»'  "'"  "fnos  .here  V  lie 

J..V,  .         T     . '"  '"  <•"  was  to  get  into  the 
emp  y  cask,  sit  at  the  bottom  oFit  and  nut 
the  hd  on.    Several  of  (ho  articles  of  rl.wh 
»"g  were  transfc.rred  to  mreotuon    bSt 
[nto  T"  *''"''  'H  '^"»'''  "ot  be  iSrduee 

t  orough  washing,  then  drying.,  then  exno? 
crSi'  dnu^'^^.lf  P"7''''»l  «'!«••  is  «  consid- 

s-arr=SASisF- 

fuHv  ^ivi'-''/'  "'■■},' ^^'"^''  themselve  so power^ 
fidly  exhale.    Hut  the  wild  animals  are  even 
more  sensitive  to  o<lors   than   their  dulk 
pursuers,   and   it  is  popularly  .S  thitt, 
e  epimnt  to  leewar.l  can  smell  a  Kafir  at  th 
dstanceof  ami  e.  All  are  alike  in  this  "aspect 

m   t(    with   the  same   unctuous  substance- 
Xr  ?  "'"^  <>i"«-ence  is,  that  the  kin^  ca,; 

of  AfiMoo   .f"  '"  "'^^  ">«••«  northern  parts 
-     1 !  u  J^UKmnd.  for  ex.amnio  nothiro- 


urge  I.,mp  of  butter,  but  in  Abvsiinla  no 

nil  I  '^V'""!!""  "''"'^'^  '""^Hcir  fX,  ressed 
ntil  he  has  thus  ,,ut  the  Mnishin.-  |, ,,  .j,  to 

UeUsof   the  sun  upon  a  black  skin  and  a 
white  one,  as  long  m  Kuroj.ean  r,^side   ts  in 
.Southern  Africa  are  abb,  to  w,.ar    Ih- r  '  „ 
and  light  garments,  so  lo„g  .i ,.,  ,  ,!'  ^,^"' 
Ijenso  with  gre.«e.    JJ.it,  if  Ih.  y  w er.f  sud 
•lenly  deprived  of  their  linen  or  <•  tt    ,  Z." 
mcnts    and    oblige.l   to   ,.|othe     he       ,C 
after  the  huihion  of  the  Kalllrs,  it  is  Tikclv 
tliat  before   many  weeks  had   .'lapsed  tl,v 
would  bo  only  too  ghul  to  resort  t    a  cusS 
which  ha8  been  taught  to  the  natives  by  tZ 
experience  of  centuries.     Had  not    1...  L? 
tice  of  greasing  the  body  iH-en     'od    I^ti'^  "o? 
good  their  strong  common  sense  w    ,1  nonJ 
a^o^Kave  induced  the  Kallirs  to  alsplZl 

In  this,  as  in  all  other  matters  w„  m,,.* 
not  jud^e  others  by  su,.poM„'  ti.^f,  Tl* 
under   similar    conditions  wiili     n^oWos 
Our  only  hope  of  arriving  at  a  true  and 
unbia-ssed  judgment  is  bv"„,n(  II      Lch^ 
ourselves  m  the  same  .ondi.ions  as  those  of 
whom  wo  are  treating,  and  lormin"    our 
conclusions  accordinglf.     The  knVm  lo?lm?^^ 
this  simple  princi,,lels^the  key  ,         "  fcf 
Lar  success  enjoyed  by  some  LhotS 
while  others,  who  may  far  surpass    1,  m  in 
mere  scholarship,  have  failed' to   earn' fi? 
themselves  either  the  respect  or  thXe*^? 

called   karosses.     Ahn?.;:' n^- "S^'  ^ 

«f,;:;:«/'^'-">e  purpose  of  the  ia  os"  ',  Ue 

,  who  has  a  method  of  '•(«n(lerin.rn,'.r^„,7' 


be  seen  by  referen(!e  to  the 

AalHrhut,  on  paffe  1.5.5    TUp  nrt;^t\ ""  " 

has  .committecf /sli^t  erroVT^^;  "Tern? 

thc^gi^d  andptlrL:;:;;^;',:?-;^,;^ 

or  Australia,  thoXst  pm^^s  „  ■' l.V.     f "'"' 
ing  is  almost  exactly  t^o  same    Th  ?  l^T' 
quent  processes  vary  gn'aiw' in      «•'''''': 
T^rSTf  ?L''°  «>°'-' "-'  clXn'ln      t"n 
rnsXV'e°tT^^,r""''-^'"^  -  «^"^»  -« 

peans,  have  leiu-ned  the  viUuo  of^biaSoii 


40 


THE  KAFFIR. 


I 


mill  will  inoHlly  wear  a  Rood  blanket  in  pn-f- 
cronce  U,  llio  (i.sl  karosH.    Hut  to  the  older 
warriorH,  or  in  "losc  plucuo  to  whicli  huro- 
Dcaii  tradi  iM  ilo  not  pcmitruto,  the  Hkin  karosH 
Mtill  nluins  its  valiu!.    Tlio  ox  is  the  annual 
liial    most    Kcneraily  HUp|)iioM    tiio    karonH 
maker  with  «kiu,  because  it  is  ho  large  tliat 
the  native  need  not  Uike  much  troulilo  in 
Bcwing.    Still,  even  the  smaller  animals  arc 
iu  LMiat  reiiuest  for  the  purpose,  an<l  Uie 
karosst's  iiuule  IVom  tlunn  arc,  to  huropean 
eves  I'ar  handsomer  than  those  matle  Iroiu 
siii'd'e  skins.    Ul' course,  the  most  valued  by 
the"  natives  are  those  which  are  inmle  Iroin 
the  skins  of  the  iiredaeeous  animals,  a  kar(jHS 
made  of  lion-skin  being  scarcely  ever  seen 
except  on  the  pi^rson  of  sable  royalty.     Ihe 
leopard  skin  is  highly  valued,  and  the  lortu- 
nate  and  valiant  slayer  of  several  leopards  is 
sure  to  make  their  skins  into  a  kaross  and 
their  tails  into  an  apron,  both  garments  being 
too  precious  to  be  worn  except  on  occwions 
of  ceremony. 

As  to  the  various  ridornmentp  of  featlicrs, 
strange  head  dresses,  and  other  decorations 
with  which  the  KalWr  soldier  loves  to  bedeck 
himself,  we  shall  lin<l  them  <lcscribed  in  (he 
chapter  relating  to  Kallir  warlaie.  There 
is  however,  one  class  of  ornaments  that 
must  be  briefly  mentioned;  namely,  the 
riii"s  of  dilliicut  material  which  the  Kafhrs 
place  on  their  wrists,  arms,  and  ankles. 
These  are  soimtimes  made  of  ivory,  olten  ol 
nu'tal,  sometimes  of  hide,  someMmes  ol 
beatls,  and  sometimes  of  grass.  This  litst 
mentioned  bracelet  is  perhaps  the  simplest 
of  them  all. 

Men  who  have  been  fortunate  enough  to 
kill  an  elei)haut,  and  rich  enough  to  be  able 
to  use  part  of  the  tusks  for  their  o\yn  jiiir- 

Eoses,  generally  cut  oil" a  foot  o-  so  Iroin  the 
asc  ol  each  tusk  for  the  purpose  of  making 
armlets,  at  once  Ironliies  of  their  valor  and 
proofs  of  their  wealth.    The  reader  is  per- 
haps aware  that  the   tusk  of  an  elephant, 
though  hard  and  solid  at  the  point,  is  sol t  at 
the  ba.se,  and  has  only  a  mere  shell  ol   hard 
ivory,  the  interior  being  filled  with  the  sott 
vascular  substance  by  which  the  tusk  is  con- 
tinually lengthened  and  enlarged.    Indeed, 
the  true  ivory  is  only  found  in  that  portion 
of  the  tusk  which  projects  from  the   head; 
the  remainder,  which  is  deeply  imbetlded  in 
the  skull,  being  made  of  soft  substance  in- 
closed in  a  shell  of  ivory.  ,     ,-  .« 
It  is  easy  enough,  therefore,  for  the  Katlir 
hunter  to  cut  off  a  portion  of  the  base  ot 
the  tusk,  and  to  remove  the  soft  viwcular 
substance  which  fills  it,  leaving  a  tube  oi 
ivory,  very  thin  and  irregular  at  the  extreme 
base,   and   becoming    thicker   toward   the 
point.    His  next  business  is,  to  cut  this  tube 
into  scver.al  pieces,  so  as  to  make  rings  of 
ivory,  some   two  or  three  inches  in  width, 

aud  uiilciiiig  iiiuvii  nt  ii'' ~ ■-  — 

terial.    Those  which  are  made  from  the  base 
of  the   tusk,  aud  which  have  therefore  a 


large  diameter  and  no  great  thickness,  arc 
carefully  polished,  ami  phu^ed  on  the  arm 
above  tnc  elbow,  while  those  of  smaller  di- 
ameter and  thicker  substanco  are  merely 
slipped  over  the  hand  and  worn  as  braceleti). 
There  is  now  before  me  a  photographic  por- 
trait of  a  son  of  the  celebrated  chief  Maco- 
nio,  who  is  wearing  two  of  these  ivory  rings, 
one  on  the  left  arm  and  the  other  on  the 
wrist.  A  necklat;e,  composed  of  leopard's 
teeth  and  claws,  aids  in  a  .  sting  his  skill  as 
a  hunter,  and  for  the  rcsl  '  his  apixirei  the 
less  said  the  better. 
A  pair  of  these  armlets  is  shown  in  the 

■      ..  it.t.  rwM. „    „!...«  ..1.  ..<1 


illustration  on  pa«e  'M    They  are  sketched 
from  specimens  in  the  collection  of  Colonel 
Lane  Fox.    The  first  of  them  is  very  simple. 
It  consists  merelv   of   a  i)iece,  some   two 
inches  in  width,  cut  from  the  base  of  an 
elephant's   tusk,  and  moderately  polished. 
There  is  no  attempt  at  ornament  about  it 
The   second   specimen   is  an  example  of 
much   more  elaborate  construction.      It  is 
cut  from  the  more  solid  portion  of  the  tusk, 
and  weighs  very  much  more  than  its  com- 
panion armlet.     Instead  of  being  of  uniform 
thickness  throughout,  it  is  shaped  something 
like  a  <iuoit,  or  rather  like  a  pair  of  (pioils, 
with  tlieir  flat  sides  placed  together.     The 
hole  through  which  the  arm  passes  is  nicely 
rounded,  and   very  smoothly  polished,  the 
latter  circumstivnce  being  probably  due  to 
the  friction  of  the  wearer's  arm.     It  is  orna- 
mented  by  a  double  row   of   holes    miule 
around  the  aperture.    The  ivory  is  jjolished 
by  means  of  a  wet  cord  held  at  both  ends, 
and  drawn  brisklv  backward  and  forward. 

If  the  reader  will   refer   to  page   !!:i.  ho 
will   sec   that  by   the   side  of   the   conical 
breast  ornament  which   has   already  been 
described  there  is  a  bracelet  of  beads.    'I  his 
is  made  of  several  strings  of  beads,  white 
l)redoininating,  and    red   taking   the    next 
place.     The  bead  strings  are  first  laid  side 
by   side,  and  then   twisted  spirally   into  a 
loose   kind  of  rope,  a  plan   which   brings 
out  their  colors  very  eflectively.     ileta    is 
sometimes  used  for  tlu^  same  purpose,  but 
not  so   frequently  as   the   materials  which 
have  been  mentioned.    Mr.  tirout  menlions 
a  curious    specimen  of  one  of  these  orna- 
ments, which  was  made  of  brass.    ''  I  have 
a  rare  antique  of  this  kind  before  me,  a  royal 
armlet  of  early  days,  of  the  Zulu  country. 
It  is  said  to  have  been  made  in  the  time  ot 
Senzangakona,  and  to  have  descended  from 
him  to  Tchaka,  thence  to  Dingan,  thence  t() 
Umpande  (Panda),  who  gave  it  to  one  ot 
his  chief  captains,  who,  obliged    to  leave 
Zululand  by  Kechwayo's  uprising,  brought 
it  with  hira'and  sold  it  to  me.    It  is  made  ot 
brass,  weighs  about  two  pounds,  and  bears 
a  good  many  marks  of  the  smith's  attempt  at 
the  curious  and  the  clever." 

IliviBs  luid  iron  wire  is  frequently  used  lor 
the  manufacture  of  armlets,  and  tolerably 
heavy  ornaments  arc  sometimes  found  ol 


SINGULAR  SUl'EHSTITION. 


iknf  as,  arc 
1  lilt!  unit 
4iniilli;r  ili- 
rti  iiuMvly 
I  briiceleti). 
■ii|iliic  j)or- 
lii'C  Miu'O- 
vory  riii);H, 
liiT  on  the 
f  leopard'H 
his  Hkill  iiH 
ipijiuel  tlio 

iwn  in  tl)0 
•((  Hkntched 
of  Colonel 
cry  Kiinj)lo. 
Hoino   two 
l)ii«c  of  nn 
y  iioHhIhuI, 
lit  about  it 
i'xainiile  of 
lion.     It  is 
)f  tlie  tuslc, 
in  its  com- 
;  of  uiiiforin 
I  Homi'tliin^ 
r  of  <iuoiln, 
I'thor.    Tlio 
at'H  is  nicely 
:)lislu'<l,   tho 
iiilily  due  to 
It  i«  ornn- 
lioles    iiiiule 
y  is  jjolislu'd 
t  both  ends, 
d  forward. 
\miiv:  i!:i,  ho 
tlie   conical 
Ircady  been 
)eads.    This 
)ea(ls,  white 
ff   the    next 
h'Kt  laid  niilo 


rally 
hich 


brinj;8 
y.     Metal  is 
purpose,  but 
erials  which 
)ut  mentions 
these  orna- 
ss.    "  I  have 
•e  me,  a  royal 
ulu  country. 
I  the  time  of 
^ccnded  from 
an,  thence  to 
it  to  one  of 
;cd    to  leave 
\mg,  brought 
It  is  made  of 
Is,  and  bears 
h's  attempt  at 

mtly  used  for 
md  tolerably 
aes  found  of 


the  latter  njetal.  Home  years  ago,  a  curious 
circuinstaiico  occurred  with  regard  to  theso 
metallic  arinletf.  A  shining  metallic  pow- 
der was  one  day  discovered,  and  was  found 
capable  of  being  smelted  like  Iron,  and 
made  into  oriiiuneiits.  The  chiefs  were  so 
pleased  with  this  metal,  which  was  more 
glittering  than  iron,  that  they  reserved  It 
tor  Mieniselves,  and  gave  away  their  iron 
ornaments  to  their  followers.  Some  little 
time  afterward,  a  contagious  disease  spread 
through  the  country,  and  several  chiefs 
died.  Of  course  the  calamity  was  attri- 
buted to  witchcraft,  as  is  every  death  or 
lUness  among  Uio  KatUr  chiefs,  and   the 


47 

business  of  discovering  tho  ofTeiidcr  was 
Intrusted,  on  usual,  to  the  witch  doctors  a 
straniro  class  of  men,  who  will  be  fuilv 
•lescribod  In  n  future  page.  Alter  inakin« 
a  number  of  in.dV.ctunl  guesses,  they  camo 
to  the  conclusiou  that  the  cause  of  the  dis- 
ease lay  in  the  now-faiigled  m.tal,  which 
had  sunerseded  tho  good  old  lioii  of  tlio 
past.  In  consetiucnco  of  this  venlict  tho 
untortunate  man  who  discovered  the  iiietal 
was  put  U)  death  as  nn  accessory,  the  chiefs 
resinned  their  iron  ornaments,  and  the  kiniz 
issued  ari  edict  forbidding  tlu;  use  of  tho 
metal  which  had  done  so  luugh  iiurm. 


CHAPl'ER  VI. 


FEMININE  DRESS  AND  ORNAMENTS. 


WHEN  DRESS  IS  FIHST  WORN  — PAINT  AND  OIL  — THE  FIRST  OARMENT,  AND  ITS  ISH-ORT  —  APRONS  OF 
KAFKIU  (ilULS  —  VARIOUS  MATERIALS  OF  WHICH  THE  APRONS  ARE  MADE  — HEADS  AND  LEATHER 
—  CH/VNOE  OF  DUESS  ON  BETROTHAL  —  DRESS  OF  A  MARRIED  WOMAN  — THE  RED  TOP-KNOT,  AND 
ESTIMATION  IN  WHICH  IT  IS  HELD  — JEALOUSY  AND  ITS  RESULTS  —  AN  ELAllORATE  DUESS  — 
OIUHNARV  APRON  OP  A  MARRIED  WOMAN  — BEAD  APRON  OF  A  CHIEF'S  WIFE  — CURIOUS  IIRACE- 
LET3  OF  METAL  —  THEIR  APPARENT  INCONVENIENCE  —  BRACELETS  MADE  OF  ANTEIX)PE'S  HOOP  — 
COSTUMES  USED  IN  DANCES  —  QUANTITY  OF  BEADS  USED  IN  THE  DRESS  — A  STRANGE  Ul'.XD 
DUESS— BELTS  AND  SEMI-BELTS  OP  KAFFIR  WOMEN  — NECKLACES  — OOOD  INTEREST  AND  HAD 
SECURITY  — IMITATION  OF  EUROPEAN  FASHION  — SUBSTirUTE  FOR  HANDKERCHIEFS  — ANECDOTE 
OF  A  WKDDINO  DANCE  — KAFFIR  Q^VLLANTRY- A  SINOULAB^DECOKATION  —  KAFFUl  CAST.VNETS  — 
EAIUUNOS  OF  VA1U0U8  KINDS. 


As  in  the  last  cliaptcr  the  dress  and  orna- 
ments of  tliu  Kiillir  men  were  described, 
the  subject  of  this  chapter  will  bo  the  cos- 
tume aiul  decoration  of  the  women. 

Both  in  material  and  "eneral  shape,  there 
is  considerable  resemblance  between  the 
garments  of  the  two  sexes,  but  those  of  the 
females  have  a  certain  character  about  them 
which  cannot  be  misunderstood.  We  will 
begin  with  the  dress,  and  then  proceed  to 
the  ornaments. 

As  is  the  case  with  the  boys,  the  KafBr 
girls  <lo  not  trouble  themselves  about  any 
clothes  at  all  durinj;  the  lirst  few  years  of 
their  life,  but  run  al)out  without  any  gar- 
ments except  a  coat  of  oil,  a  patch  of  paint, 
and  perhaps  a  neckl.oce,  if  the  parents  be 
rich  enough  to  alford  such  a  luxury.  Even 
the  paint  is  l)eyond  the  means  of  many 
parents,  but  the  oil  is  a  necessity,  and  a 
child  of  cither  sex  is  considered  to  be  re- 
spectably dressed  and  to  do  credit  to  its 
parents  "when  its  body  shines  with  a  polish 
like  that  of  patent  leather. 

When  a  girl  is  approaching  the  age  when 
she  is  expected  to  be  exchangeable  for  cows, 
she  indues  her  lirst  and  only  garment, 
which  she  retains  in  its  primitive  shape 
and  nearly  its  primitive  dimensions  until 
she  haa  found  a  suitor  who  can  pay  the 
price  required  by  her  parents.  This  g;ar- 
ment  is  -an  apmni  and  is  niiulo  of  various 
materials,  according  to  the  means  of  the 
wearer. 


The  simplest  and  most  common  type  of 
apron  is  a  fringe  of  narrow  leathein  strijjs, 
each  strip  being  about  the  sixth  of  an  inch 
wide,  and  live  or  six  inches  in  length.  A 
great  number  of  these  strips  are  fastened  to 
a  leathern  thong,  so  that  they  form  a  kind 
of  flexible  ajjrou,  some  ten  or  twelve  inches 
in  width.  (Jenerally,  eight  or  ten  of  the 
strips  at  each  side  are  double  the  length  of 
the  others.  Examples  of  these  aprons  may 
be  seen  by  refiirring  to  tlie  tigures  of  the 
two  Katlir  girls  on  i^age  i.'.'),  and,  as  their 
general  make  is  sullicieutly  indicated,  noth- 
ing more  need  l)e  said  about  them.  1  have, 
luiwever,  several  specimens  of  aprons  which 
were  worn  by  the  daughters  of  wealthy 
men,  and  others  were  lent  to  me  by  Mr.  II. 
.lackson.  From  thcin  1  have  made  a  selec- 
tion, which  will  illustrate  well  the  modes  of 
forming  this  dress  which  were  in  fashion 
some  few  years  ago. 

The  apron  represented  by  flg.  4  in  the 
illustration  of  "  dress  and  ornaments,''  page 
4'J,  is  that  which  is  most  generally  used.  It 
is  mmle  of  very  delicate  thongs  twisted  to- 
gether in  rope  fashion,  and  having  the  ends 
unravelled  so  as  to  make  a  thick  fringe,  and, 
as  has  already  been  observed,  the  thongs  at 
each  end  arc  twice  as  long  as  those  which 
occupy  the  centre.  A  broad  belt  of  beads  ia 
placed  along  the  upper  edge  of  the  apron, 
and  festoons  of  beads  hang  below  the  belt. 
The  colors  are  rather  luiliiant,  being  red, 
yellow,  and  white,  and  nearly  all  the  thongs 


(48) 


o 
o 

> 

V. 

H 


X 

IS 


(49) 


CHANGE  OF  DRESS  ON  BETROTHAL. 


01 


have  one  largo  white  bead  just  above  the 
knob,  which  prevents  tliein  Vrom  uuravel- 
hng  too  much.  The  baud  by  which  it  is  sus- 
pended is  also  covered  with  beads,  and  it  is 
lasteiied  by  means  of  a  loop  at  one  end, 
and  a  large  brass  button  at  the  other, 
lliese  aprons  are  fixed  in  their  position  by 
two  strings,  one  of  which  passes  round  the 
waist,  and  the  other  below  the  Iiips. 

Another  apron  is  seen  at  the  Hide  of  the 
illustration  entitled  "Dress  .and  ornaments," 
on  }iage  4!J,  fig.  1.  This  is  a  very  elaborate 
allair,and  is  made  ...i  a  totally  different 
principle.  It  is  wiiouy  made  of  beads,  the 
threads  which  hold  them  together  beiu" 
scarcely  visible.  In  order  to  show  the  in° 
genious  manner  in  which  the  beads  are 
strung  together,  a  portion  of  the  iipron  is 
gi  veil  separately,  the  colors  of  these  bcids 
are  black  and  white,  in  alternate  stripes,  and 
the  two  ends  are  a  trifle  larger  than  the 
middle  of  the  dress.  The  belt  T)y  which  it  is 
suspended  is  made  from  large  round  beads 
arrjin-'cd  m  rows  of  white,  blue,  and  red' 
and  the  two  ends  are  fastened  to  the  apron 
by  the  inevitable  brass  button  which  has 
been  so  frequently  mentioned, 
lu  the  sivme  collection  is  a  still  smaller 

nv!',i'?'  Iv  ^'"Jl''^*^  ^"''  ^  yeun'i'i'-  gii-1.  This  is 
m.iilo  .vtter  the  siime  principle,  but  the  beads 
arc  arranged  in  a  bold  zigzag  pattern  of 
back,  scarlet,  .and  white,  relTeved  by  the 
gi  tter  ot  highlv  polished  brass  buttons, 
lliis  apron  is  illustrated  in  fig.  4  of  "KatHr 
ornaments,"  page  4!),  and  a  small  portion 
01  It  IS  given  on  an  enlarged  scale,  so  as  to 
«how  the  arrangement  of  the  beads. 

When  the  Kaffir  girl  is  form.allv  betrothed 
sue  alters  her  dress,  and,  besides  the  small 
ajiron,  indues  a  piece  of  soft  hide,  which 
reaches  to  her  knees,  or  a  little  below  them 
and    this    she  wears  until   she  is  married 
wlien  she  assumes  the  singularlv  uncr.acofiil 
attire  of   the    matron.    Imonrtire  ^ulu 
tribes,  she  shaves  nearly  the  whole  of  her 
head  on  the  crown,  leaving  only  a  little  tuft 
of   hair.    This  is  gathered    together    with 
grease,  red  paint,  and  similar  substances 
and  stands  erect  from  the  crown  of  her  head' 
1  he  young  wife  is  then  quite  in  the  fashion" 
It  IS  evu  ently  the  feminine  substitute   for 
the    '  issikoko '    worn  by  the  men.    So  fond 
are  the,  married  women  of  this  rather  absurd 
deconation,  that  it  formed  the  subject  of  a 
ciinous  trial  that  took  place  some  years  a-o 
Noie,  the  youngest  wife  of  a  native  nanfed 
-Nongue,  became  suddenly  disfigured;  and 
ainon.'  other  misfortunes,  lost  tKe  little  tuft 
ot  reddened  hair.    Poison  was  immediately 
suspected,  and  one  of  the  elder  wives  wa"s 
sus  lected  as  the  culprit.    She  was  accord- 
S&J'*  "P  before  the  council,  and  a 
U   h,T  «f«^«.l'«»«-s  duration  was  accorded 

Eh.ahhe  bad%T''^4'°"-  •^''^•■^'•'^  J"-°^«'' 
-1.  i.a.i  .nil,,    ptraseasiuii  certain  iioi- 

sons  and  that  she  had  administered  s,^    o 

deleterious  substance  to  the  young  wife,  of 


whom  she  had  become  jealous.  The  force 
of  evidence  was  so  great  that  she  confessed 
her  crime,  and  sUted  that  she  intended  to 
make  Noie's  hair  tuft  fall  oft"  in  order  that 
the  husband  might  be  disgusted  with  the 
appearance  of  his  new  wife,  and  return  to 
his  old  allegiance  to  herself.  She  was  con- 
demned to  death,  that  being  the  punishment 
lor  all  poisoners,  and  was  led  away  to  instant 
execution  — a  fate  for  which  she  seemed 
perfectly  prepared,  and  which  she  met  with 
remarkable  unconcern,  bidding  fai-ewcll  to 
the  spectators  as  she  passed  them. 

The  curious  respect  paid  by  the  natives 
to  this  ornament  is  the  more  remarkable, 
because  its  size  is  so  very  small.  Even  be- 
fore shaving  the  head,  the  short,  crisp  hair 
forms  a  very  scanty  covering;  and  when  it 
IS  all  removed  except  this  little  tuft,  the 
remainder  would  hardly  cover  the  head  of 
a  child's  sixpenny  doll. 

Among  the  illustrations  given  on  p.  30,  is 
shown  a  remarkably  elaborate  apron  beloncr. 
ing  to  a  chief's  wife,  drawn  from  a  specimeii 
in  Mr.  J.ackson's  collection.  It  is  made  of 
leather,  dressed  and  soflcnod  in  the  usual 
manner,  but  is  furnished  with  a  pocket  and 
a  needle.  In  order  to  show  this  pocket,  I 
have  brought  it  round  to  the  front  of  the 
apron,  though  in  .'wtual  wear  it  fiills  behind 
It.  In  the  pocket  were  still  a  few  beads  and 
a  brass  button.  Thread  is  also  kept  in  it. 
On  the  inside  of  the  apron  is  suspended  one 
of  the  skewer-like  needles  which  has  been 
alreadv  described,  so  that  the  wearer  is 
furnished  with  all  appliances  needful  for  a 
Kalnr  seamstress. 

But  the  chief  glory  of  the  apron  is  it-s 
ornament  of  be.ads,  which  has  a  very  bold 
effect  against  the  dark  mahogany  hair  of 
the  apron  itself.  This  ornament  is  made  in 
the  form  of  a  triangular  flap,  quite  distinct 
trom  the  apron  itself,  and  fastened  to  it  only 
by  the  lower  edge  and  the  pointed  tin.  Tiie 
beads  are  arranged  in  a  series  of  diamond 
patterns,  the  outer  edge  of  each  di.aniond 
being  made  of  white  beads,  and  the  others 
ot  diflerent  colors,  red  predominating. 

Figs.  2  and.'!  in  the  "articles  of  costume," 
p. .!.'?,  and  next  to  the  men's  "  tails,"  already 
described,   present  two  good  examples  of 
the  women's  aprons,  both  drawn  from  speci- 
mens in  my  collection.    Fig.  a  is  the  thong 
.apron   of   the   women.    It  is   made  of  an 
infinity    of    leather    thongs,    fastened    to- 
gether in  a  w.ay  rather  ditferent  from  that 
which   has    been    mentioned.     Instead    of 
having  the  upper  ends  fixed  along  the  belt 
so  .OS  to  form  a  fringe,  they  are  woven  to- 
gether into  a  tolerably  thick  bunch,  some 
tour  inches  in  width,  and  wider  below  than 
above.     In  many  oases  these  thongs  are 
ornamented  by  little  scraps  of  iron,  brass 
tin,  or  other  metal,  wranpnrl  rnnnd  tu^m  •' 
and  in  some  instances  beads  are  threacicfi 
on   the    thongs.      This   apron   would    not 
belong  to  a  woman  of  any  high  rank,  for  it 


£2 


THE   KAFFIR. 


Las  no  ornament  of  any  kind  (except  a 
thorough  saturation  witli  higlily  perl'umed 
grouse),  anil  is  nuide  of  nuilurials  witliin 
tile  reacli  of  every  oiu-.  Any  odd  slips  of 
hide  tlirown  away  in  Ihii  process  of  KatHr 
tailoring  can  be  cut  into  the  narrow  thongs 
nsed  for  the  purpose,  and  no  very  great  skill 
is  needed  in  its  construction  ;  for,  though 
strongly  made,  it  is  the  work  of  a  rather 
clumsy-'hand. 

Such  is  not  the  case  with  the  remarkable 
apron  shown  at  Hg.  2  of  the  same  illustra- 
tion. This  specimen  is  made  in  a  rather 
unusual  manner.  The  basis  of  the  ajjron  is 
a  piece  of  the  same  leather  which  is  usually 
employed  for  such  purposes;  but,  instcacl  of 
being  soft  and  tlcxible,  it  is  quite  hard  and 
still",  and  cannot  be  bent  without  danger  of 
cracking.  The  beads  are  sewed  lirnily  on 
the  leather,  and  are  arranj^ed  in  parallel 
lines,  alternately  white  and  lilac,  a  few 
black  beads  being  pressed  into  the  service 
by  the  maker,  apparently  for  want  of  those 
of  a  proper  color.  Even  the  belt  by  which 
it  is  supported  is  covered  profusely  with 
beads  ;  so  that,  altogether,  this  is  a  remark- 
ably good  specimen  of  the  apron  belonging 
to  a  KalTlr  woman  of  rank. 

The  object  rcj. resented  at  fig.  4  is  a  head- 
dress, which  will  be  described  when  we 
come  to  Kalfir  warfare. 

A  general  idea  of  a  KafTlr  woman's  dress 
may  be  gained  by  re'l'erence  to  the  illustra- 
tion "Dolls,"  page  :V.\,  re])resenting  a  Katlir 
an<l  his  wife.  lie  is  shown  as  wearing  the 
apron  and  a  short  kaross  ;  while  she  wears 
a  larger  mantle,  and  the  thong-a])ron  which 
has  just  been  described.  She  is  also  carry- 
ing the  sleeping  mat ;  he,  of  course,  not 
condescending  to  carry  anything.  Her 
ankles  are  bound  with  tlie  skin  ropes  which 
have  been  already  described  ;  and  a  chain 
or  two  of  beads  completes  her  costume. 

Young  wives  have  usually  another  orna- 
ment Ml  which  the}'  iiride  themselves.  Tiiis 
is  a  piece  of  skin,  generally  that  of  an  ante- 
lof  e,  about  eighteen  inches  wide,  and  a  yard 
or  even  more  in  length.  This  is  tied  a(;ross 
the  upper  jiart  of  the  chest,  so  as  to  allow 
the  end  to  fall  as  low  as  the  knees,  and  is 
often  verv  gaily  decorated.  Down  th(>  cen- 
tre of  this  skin  a  slrij)  about  six  inches  in 
width  is  deprived  of  hair,  and  on  this 
denuded  portion  tlii^  wearer  fastens  all  the 
beads  and  buttons  that  can  be  sjjared  from 
other  jjaits  of  her  own  costume.  In  one 
costume  of  a  young  Zulu  wife,  the  bottom 
of  this  strip  is  covered  with  several  rows  of 
brass  buttons,  polished  very  highly,  and 
glittering  in  the  sunbeams.  This  article  ot 
dress,  however,  is  disappearing  among  the 
frontier  Kallirs,  who  substitute  European 
slull's  for  the  skin  garments  which  they  for- 
merly wore,  and  which  are  ci  rtaiidy  more 
becoming  to  them.  The  same  may  be  said 
of  iJi-iny  ntlirr  arti."Ies  of  cli^thii)g.  whirh, 
as  well  as  the  manners  and  customs,  liave 


undergone  so  complete  a  modification  by 
intercourse  with  Europeans,  that  the  Katlir 
of  the  i)re8ent  day  is  scarcely  to  be  recog- 
nized as  the  same  beinc;  as  the  Katlir  of  fifty 
years  a-'o.  As  to  tl  'lotteutots,  of  whom 
we  shall  soon  treat,  iney  are  now  a  dill'cr- 
(!nt  people  IVom  the  race  described  by  Lo 
Vaillant  and  earlier  travellers. 

Married  women  are  also  fond  of  wearing 
bracelets,  or  rather  gauntlets,  of  polished 
metal  ;  sometimes  made  of  a  single  i)iece, 
sometimes  of  successive  rings,  and  some- 
thncs  of  metal  wound  sjiirally  from  the 
wrist  U])ward.  Some  of  these  ornaments 
are  so  lieavy  and  cumbrous,  that  they  nuist 
greatly  interfere  with  the  movements  of  the 
wrist ;  but  in  this  country,  as  in  others, 
personal  inconvenience  is  little  regarded 
when  decorations  are  in  the  case. 

In  the  illustration  at  the  head  of  30th  ]>. 
are  shown  some  bracelets  of  a  very  peculiar 
fashion,  drawn  from  Bpeeiniens  in  my  own 
collection.  They  belonged  to  one  of  the 
wives  of  Goza,  and  were  taken  from  her 
wrists  by  the  purchaser.  They  are  made  in 
a  very  ingenious  manner  from  the  hoofs  of 
the  tiny  African  antelope,  the  Bluebok,  and 
arc  formed  in  the  following  maniKu- :  —  The 
leg  of  the  antelope  having  been  cut  off,  the 
skin  was  cut  longitudinally  on  either  si(le  as 
far  as  the  hoof,  which  was  then  separated 
from  the  bone,  leaving  the  sharp,  horny 
hoofs  adhering  to  the  skin.  As  the  skin 
was  cut  so  as  to  leave  a  flat  thong  attached 
lo  each  siile  of  the  hoof,  it  was  easy  enough 
to  form  the  bracelet  into  the  shajie"  which  is 
seen  in  the  illustration. 

One  reni.arkable  jioint  about  these  brace- 
lets is  their  very  small  size,  which  slutws 
the  diniinutiveness  of  the  Katlir  hand  ; 
although  the  owner  of  these  bracelets  was 
a  married  woman,  and  therefore  accus- 
tomed to  tasks  which  would  not  be  very 
light  even  for  an  English  laborer.  Both 
the  bracelets  are  .shown,  and  by  the  side  of 
them  is  another  made  from  ordiiuiry  string, 
such  as  is  used  for  tying  j)arcels  in  Kngland. 
AV  hat  could  have  induced  a  wife  of  so  pow- 
erful a  chief  as  tJoza  to  wear  so  paltry  an 
ornament  1  cannot  conceive,  except  that 
l)erhai)s  she  may  have  luu'chasetl  it  from 
one  of  the  witch  doctors,  who  has  j)er- 
formed  some  ceremony  over  it,  and  sold  it 
as  a  charm.  Kaflirs  have  the  most  pro- 
found faith  in  charms,  and  will  wear  aiiy- 
thiiv:,',  no  matter  how  commonplace  it  may 
he,  if  they  even  fancy  that  it  may  possess 
magic  i)owers. 

If  the  reader  will  refer  to  the  "Kaflir  orna- 
nu  nts"  on  page  :(.'{,  fig,  1,  he  will  see  a  cir- 
cular one,  made  of  beads.  This  is  one  of 
the  most  cherished  <lecorations  of  a  Kaflir 
girl,  and  it  is  such  as  cannot  he  afforded  by 
any  person  who  is  not  in  aniuenl  circum- 
stances. It  is  made  in  a  very  ingenious 
manner,  ?i>  as  to  jJicNcrvc  its  shaiic.  al- 
though it  has  to  be  worn  round  the  naiat, 


COSTUMES  USED  IN  DANCES. 


lificalion  by 
nt  the  Katlir 
to  bi',  recog- 
Kiirtir  of  lilty 
ts,  of  whom 
ow  a  (lilHi- 
libed  by  Lo 

of  wearing 
of  polislu'd 
iiiiijlu  jiiuce, 

and  soiiie- 
y  from    tlio 

ornanieiils 
t  they  must 
iiciits  of  the 
I  in  otliers, 
le    regarded 

id  of  30tli  p. 
(M-y  pecuHar 
in  my  oAvn 
one  of  the 
n  from  lier 
are  made  in 
tiiu  hoof's  of 
IliU'bok,  and 
ner  :  —  Tlic 
1  cut  off,  tlie 
itlier  side  as 
n  separated 
larji,  liorny 
\s  tlie  skin 
iif;  attached 
•asy  euoujih 
ijie  wliich  is 

bese  l)raee- 
hich  slutwa 
allir  hand  ; 
iuilets  was 
fore  aecus- 
lot  be  Very 
Drer.     Both 

tlu'  side  of 
nary  strin;;, 
in  Kn;,'Iaii'd. 

of  so  pow- 

0  paltr,  an 
;xcept  "lliat 
ied  it  fiom 
I)  has  per- 
aud  sold  it 

most  ))i'o- 

wear  any- 

ace  it  may 

lay  possi^ss 

KalVir  oriia- 

1  see  a  eir- 
,s  is  one  (if 
of  a  Kaflir 
afforded  liy 
■nl  circum- 
■  inj^eiiious 

shajje,  al- 
1  the  ^raitlt, 


and  conseqiKjntly  to  bo  forced  over  the 
shoulders.  The  centre  of  tliis  handsome 
belt  is  made  of  leather,  sewed  firmly  to- 
gether so  sm  to  form  a  cylindrical  circle, 
and  plentifully  imbrued  with  grease  to  ren- 
der it  clastic.  Upon  this  structure  the 
beads  are  livstened,  in  regular  spiral  rows 
80  that;  the  belt  may  be  pulled  about  uiui 
altered  in  shape  without  disturbin"-  the 
arrangement  ot  the  beads.  The  priyector 
ol  this  belt  has  contrived  to  arrange  the 
beads  in  such  a  manner  as  to  present  alter- 
nate zigzags  of  blue  and  yellow,  the  eflect  of 
wlucU  on  the  dark  cJiocolato  skiu  would  be 
very  telling. 

'f  his  belt  may  be  seen  round  the  waist  of 
tlie  young  girl,  whose  Ukeness  is  given  on 
page  4.}.  The  damsel  in  question  is  sup- 
posed to  be  arrayed  for  a  dance,  and.  In 
such  a  case,  she  would  put  on  every  article  of 
finery  that  siie  possessed.  Her  woolly  hair 
IS  ornaineuted  oy  a  quantity  of  porcupine 
quills,  the  alternate  black  and  white  of  which 
have  a  very  good  effect.  Porcupine  quills 
are,  however,  not  very  easily  obtained, 
limiting  the  porcupine  is  a  task  that  belon'^s 
to  the  other  sex,  and  is  quite  out  of  the  wfiv 
01  tlie  women.  "^ 

The  animal  is  not  a  pleasant  antagonist; 
and  if  his  burrow  be  stopped,  and  he   be 
inally  driven  to  bay,  he  gfves  his  pursuer 
no  .small  trouble,   having  a  nasty  habit  of 
ereeting  all    us  quilLs,  and  then  suddenly 
backing  in  the  direction  where  he  is  least 
expected.    A   K  dlir's  naked  legs  have  no 
chance  agam.i  the  porcupine's  (juills,  and 
w  1011  several  porcupines  are  simultaneously 
attacked  by  a  grouj)  of  Kafhrs,  the  scene  is 
exceeilmgly  ludicrous,    the  Kaflirs  leapiii- 
about  a.s  if  bewitched,  but,  in  reality,  sprin.- 
ing  into  the  air  to  avoid  the  sudden  rushes 
01   the  porcupines.     Unless,  therefore,  the 
parent  or  admirer  of  a  young  woman  should 
hapiieu   to  present    her  with   quills,  she   is 
torced   0  put  up  with  son.e  other  ornament 
UneraHiorcommondeeoration  is  byfasteiiin.r 
into  the  hair  a  number  of  the  long,  strai-^hl 
thorns  of  the  mimosa,  and  so  defending  Her 
head  from  imaginary  assaults  as  eirectually 

.vM^  >,  r""'"  8"-l^'"«Pl'»y  ia  the  dance  ^ 
ev  aonhnary,and  it  need  bo  so,  when  some 
of  thein  Will  wear  nearly  fifty  p„u,„Is'  woi  "ht 
.miunSs'''''^{'r"'^'  '">^' •'?■  l^elts,  amrothe J 
heir  ,n  •r"'"'''''^*''"'  ">«  knowledge  of 
ten  1.7";  :''"'■„•*'  •''"'1*''''^"^  ^»  «^'"tain 
Snt  ;.v,..  /^  '^'  '  S'ythvow^h  the  most 
\  loleut  exertions  when  displayin-r  their  -le- 
tivity  in  the  dance.  ''     "        ^  ''^ 

tiotllVw^'' *'•'""''  '•^^  •'■"«'  l>«^n  nien- 
tionul,  I  w;is  anxious  to  know  whether  it 


There  is  another  remarkable  ornament  of 

semi-belt.    It    is    flat,    generally    made  of 
stnn.^sand  thongs,  and%rnamented  at  in- 
tervals  with  beads  arranged  in  cross- bands. 
At  each  end  is  a  loop,  through  whici,  a  string 
IS  pas.sed,  so  that  the  wearer  can  fasten  it 
round  her  body.    Now,  the  belt  is  only  Ion- 
enough  to  go  half  round  the  body,  am)  the 
mode  of  wearing  it  is  rather  remarkable? 
Instead  of  placing  the  whole  of  the  belt  in 
front,  as  naturally  might  be  supposed,  tho 
wearer   pa-sses    it  round   one  side  of  the 
body,  so  that  one  end  is  in  front,  and  tho 
other  behind.    Str.ange  as  is  this  mode  of 
wearing  it,  the  custom  is  universal,  and  in 
every  group  of  girls  or  young  women  sev- 
eriU    are    sure  to  be  wearing  a  semi-belt 
round  the  body.     Another  of  these  belts  is 
sliown  in  the  illustration  of  "Kaffir  orna- 
ments" on  page  49,  tig.  3.     This  is  not  so 
elaborate   an   article,  and   has  only  a  few 
bands  of  beads,  instead  of  being  nearly  cov- 
ered Avith  them.  •"  ■ 

As  for  the  necklaces  worn  by  the  Kaffir 
women,  they  arc    generally  nothing  more 
than  strings  of  beads,  and  require  no  par- 
ticular   notice.      There    is    one,   however 
winch  IS  so  different  from  the  ordinary  neck- 
aces,  that  I  have  had  it  engraved.    It  niav 
be  seen  in  the  illustration  at  page  49    firr   g 
next  to  the  handsome  bead  apr6a  wliich^iuis' 
already  been  described.     As  may  be  seen 
by  reference  to  the  illustration,  it  is  formed 
e.it.rely  of  beads,  and  is  ornamented  with  six 
triangular  .appendages,  also  made  of  beads 
The  general  c-olor  of  the  beads  is  white,  but 
the  interior  of  the  triangular  appenda-'cs  is 
cobalt  blue;  while  the  la"rger  beads  that  are 
p  accd  singly  upon  the  necklace  are  of  ruby 
glass.     When   this   remarkable   necklace  is 
placed  round  the  neck,  the  triangular  daps     ■ 
fall  regularly  on  the  breast  and  shoulders 
and,  when  contrasted  with  the  dark  skin  of 
the  ^vearer,  have  an  admirable  effect. 

Irately  two  articles  of  dress,  or  rather  of 
ornament,  have  been  imported  from  Europe 
into  Africa,  and  have  met  with  great  sue- 
cess  among  tlie  chocolatc-colorecr  I... lies  of 
Kaffir  land.  Enterprising  traders  in  South- 
ern Africa  do  not  set  uj)  permanent  shops 
as  we  do  in  England,  but  stock  a  wa "on 
with  al  sorts  of  miscellaneous  goods,  mid 
undertake  journeys  into  the  inteiTor,  wiS 
they  barter  their  stock  for  elephants'  tusks 
ancf  teeth,  horns,  skins,  ost^h  Lt hers 
and  similar  commodities.    They  have  a  niost 

'  ,  and  act 

those 

vlio  are 

chief 


I 


i     iiij 
m 


S4 


THE  KAFFIR. 


cent  profit  on  the  original  outlay.  This 
seems  rather  an  exceseive  percentoge;  but  it 
must  be  remembered  that  tlie  old  adage  ot 
high  interest  and  bad  security  holds  good  in 
this  as  in  other  speculations.  War  may 
break  out,  the  trader  be  speared,  his  wagon 
robbed,  and  his  oxen  contiscated.  Ihe 
dreaded  murrain  may  carry  otT  his  cattle,  or 
they  may  be  starved  for  want  of  food,  slowly 
killed  by  tliirst,  or  drowned  by  a  sudden 
rush  of  water,  which  may  almost  instanta- 
ucously  convert  a  dry  gully  into  a  raging 
torrent  that  sweeps  everything  before  it 
Fasliions  may  change,  and  his  whole  stock 
be  valueless;  or  some  "prophet"  may  take  it 
into  his  head  to  proclaim  that  the  sound 
of  his  wagon  wheels  prevents  the  rain 
from  falling.  Moreover,  he  is  unmercifully 
fleeced  by  the  different  chiefs  through 
whose  territories  he  passes,  and  who  exact 
an  extortionate  toll  before  they  will  allow 
him  to  pass  to  the  next  chief,  who  will 
serve  him  in  much  the  same  manner.  Al- 
together, if  the  journey  be  a  successful  one, 
the  trader  will '  make  about  fifty  or  sixty 
per  cent  clear  profit;  but,  as  the  journey  is 
often  an  utter  failure,  this  is  really  no  very 
exorbitant  rate  of  interest  on  his  outlay. 

The  trader  will,  above  all  things,   take 
plenty  of  tobacco  — this  being  the  key  to  the 
heart  of  a  Kaffir,  old  or  young,  man  or 
woman.  He  will  take  guns  and  ammunition 
for  the  men;    also  spirits  of  the  roughest 
and  coarsest  kind,  a  better  and  purer  article 
being  quite  wa.sted  on  his  sable  customers. 
Beads,  of  course,  he  carries,  as  well  as  but- 
tons, blankets,  and  other  luxuries;  also  he 
will  have  the  great  iron  hoc  blades   with 
which  the  women  till  the  ground,  that  he 
can  sell  for  one-sixth  of  the  price  and  which 
are  twice  the  quality  of   the  native-made 
hoe.      One    of  these    bold    wagon-owners 
bethought  himself  of  buying  a  few  pross  of 
bniss  curtain  rings  of  the  largest  size,  and 
was  gratified    by  finding  that    they  were 
eagerly  bought  up  wherever  he  went.    The 
natives  saw  at  once  that  the  bra.«s  rings  were 
better  bracelets   than    could  be  made    by 
themselves,  and  they  accordingly  lavished 
their  savage  trea.sures  in  order  to  buy  them. 
One  of  the  oddest  examples  of  the  vicissi- 
tude of  African  trade  occurred  some  few 
vears  ago.    An  English  vessel  arrived  at 
the  port,  a  large  part  of  her  cargo  consisting 
of  stout  iron  wire,  nearly  the  whole  of  which 
was  bought  by  the  natives,  and  straightway 
vanished,  no  one  knowing  what  had  become 
of  it.    The  mystery  wius  soon  solved.    Sud- 
denly the  Kaffir  belles  appeared  in  new  and 
fashionable  costume.     Some  of  them  had 
been  to  the  towns  inhabited  by  Europeans, 
and  had  seen  certain  "  cages  "  hung  outside 
the  drapers'  shops.    They  inquired  the  use 
of  these  singular  objects,  and  were  told  that 
they  were  the  fashionable  attire  of  European 
ladies.    They  straightway  burned  to  possess 
similar   costumes,   and   when   the    vessel 


arrived  with  its  catgo  of  wire  they  bought 
it  up,  and  took  it  home  for  the  purpose  of 
imitating  the  white  ladies.  Of  course  they 
had  not  the  least  idea  that  any  other  article 
of  apparel  was  necessary,  and  so  they  wore 
none,  but  walked  about  the  streets  quite 
proud  of  their  fashionable  appearance. 

As  the  dancers  are  encumbered  with  such 
an  amount  of  decoration,  and  as  they  exert 
themselves  most  violently,  a  very  natural 
result  follows.  The  climate  is  very  hot,  and 
the  exercise  makes  the  dancer  hotter,  so 
that  the  abundant  grease  trickles  over  the 
face  and  body,  and  inconveniences  the  per- 
former, who  is  certainly  not  fastidious  in  her 
notions.  As  to  handkerchiefs,  or  anything 
approaching  to  the  idea  of  such  articles,  she 
is  in  perfect  ignorance,  her  whole  outfit  con- 
sisting of  the  little  apron  above  mentioned, 
and  an  unlimited  supply  of  beads.  But  she 
is  not  improvided  for  emergencies,  and  car- 
lies  with  her  an  instrument  very  like  the 
"  strigil "  of  the  ancients,  and  used  for  much 
the  same  purpose.  Sometimes  it  is  made  of 
bone,  sometimes  of  wood,  sometimes  of  ivory, 
and  sometimes  of  metal.  It  varies  much  in 
shape,  but  is  generally  hollowed  slightly, 
like  a  carpenter's  gouge,  and  has  its  edges 
made  about  as  sharp  as  those  of  an  ordi- 
nary paper  knife.  In  fact,  it  very  much 
resembles  a  magnified  marrow  spoon. 

A  specimen  of  the  commoner  sort  is  given 
at  fig.  (),  in  ''Kaffir  ornaments,"  on  page  49. 
The  material  of  this  strigil  is  iron,  and  it  is 
attached  to  a  plain  leather  strap. 

Sometimes  a  rather  unexpected  article  is 
substituted  for  the  strigil,  as  m.ay  be  seen 
from  the  following  anecdote  related  by  Mr. 
a.  H.  M.ison.  He  went  to  see  the  wedding 
of  a  Kaffir  chief,  who  was  about  to  marry  his 
fourteenth  wife,  and  found  the  bridegroom 
seated  in  the  midst  of  the  village,  encircled 
l)y  a  row  of  armed  warriors,  and  lieyond 
them  by  a  row  of  wome.i  with  children. 

"  Scarcelv  had  wo  taken  our  station  near 
the  Umdodie  (husband),  when  a  low  shrill 
chant  came  floating  on  the  breeze  from  the 
bottom  of  a  lovely  vale  hard  by,  where  I 
descried  a  long  train  of  damsels  slowly 
wending  their  way  among  bright  green 
patches  of  Indian  corn  and  masses  of  flow- 
eriu"  shrubs,  studded  with  giant  cactus,  and 
the  huge  flowering  aloe.  As  the  procession 
neared  the  huts,  they  quickened  their  pace 


and  raised  their  voices  to  the  highest  pitch, 
until  they  arrived  at  the  said  cattle-kraal, 
where  they  stood  motionless  and  silent 

"A  messenger  from  the  X'mdodie  then 
bade  them  enter  the  kraal,  an  order  that 
thev  insUntly  obeved,  by  twos,  the  younge-st 
leading  the  way,  closely  fofiowed  -v  the  rest, 
and  terminated  by  a  host  of  muinageal)Ie 
young  ladies  (Intombies),  clustering  thick 
around  the  bride  — a  fat,  good-natured  girl, 
wrapped  round  and  round  with  black  glaz.ejj 
calico,  and  deckel  from  head  to  foot  nith 
flowers,  beads,  and  feathers.     Once  withm 


DANCING. 


the  kraal,  tlie  ladies  formed  two  lines,  with 
the  bride  m   the  centre,  and  struck  up  a 
lively  air;    whereupon    the  whole  body  of 
armed  KaHira  rushed  from  all  parts  of  the 
kraal,  beating   their  shields,  and   uttcrinff 
demon  yells  as  they  charged  headlong  at  the 
smiling  girls,  wlio  joined  with  the  stalwart 
warriors  in  cutting  cajiers  and  singing  lus- 
tily, until  the  whofe  kraal  was  one  confused 
mass  ol  demons,  roaring  out  hoarse  war- 
songs  and  shrill  love-ditties.    After  an  hour 
dancing  ceased,  and  joila  (Kaffir  beer)  was 
served  round,  while  the  lovely  bride  stood 
in  the  midst  of  the  ring  alone,  stared  at  bv 
all,  and  staring  in  turn  at  nil,  until  she 
brought  her  eyes  to  bear  on  her  admiring 
lord.     1  hen,  advancing  leisurely,  she  danced 
before  him,  amid  shouts  of  the  bystanders 
singing  at  the  top  of  her  voice,  and  bran- 
tUshinjr  a  huge  carvimj-knife,  with  which  she 
scraped  big  drops  of  perspiration  from  her 
iieated  head,  produced  by  the  unusually  vio- 
lent exercise  she  was  performing." 

It  appears,  from  the  same  observant  writer 
that  wiiatevM-  the  amount  of  finery  may  be 
which  a  Kalhr  girl  wears,  it  is  considered 
oalv  consistent  with  ordinary  gallantry  that 
11  should  be  admired.  While  Tie  was  Lild- 
iDg  a  house  assisted  by  a  number  of  KalHrs, 
tie  found  that  his  men  never  allowed  the 
cnif.y  "'*"*«"■''  t«  Pa«8  within  sight  without 

Salutmff  them,  nr  «ifnn,l!.,r,  «.,:»„ <•    ... 


BS 


with  them.  The  material  with  wiiich  the 
wounds  are  filled  is  supposed  to  be  the  ashes 
of  a  snake. 

During  their  dances,  the  Kaffirs  of  both 
sexes  like  to  make  as  much  noise  as  possi- 
ble, and  aid  their  voices  by  certain  mechani- 
cal contrivances.    One  ol"^  the  most  simple 
IS  made  of  a  number  of  dry  seeds.    In  shape 
these  seeds  are  angular,  and  much  resemble 
the  common  Brazil  nut  in  form.    The  shell 
of  the  seed  is  very  thin  and  hard,  and  the 
kernel    shrinks  within  it  so  as  to   rattle 
about  with  every  movement    In  some  cases 
the    kernel  is  removed,  and    the    rattlins 
sound  is  produced  entirely  by  the  hard  shells 
striking  against  each  other.    When  a  num- 
ber ol  these  seeds  are  strung  together,  and 
upon  the  legs  or  arms,  they  make  quite  a 
loud  rattling  sound,  in  accordance  with  the 
movements  of  the  dancers,  and  are,  in  fact 
the  Kafhr  substitutes  for  castanets.    In  some 
parts  of  Central  Africa,  a  curious  imitation 
ot  these  natural  castanets  is  made.    It  con- 
sists of  a  thin  shell  of  iron,  exactly  resem- 
bling m  form  that  of  the  nut,  and  having  a 
httle  iron  ball  within,  which  takes  the  place 
ot  the  shrivelled  kernel. 

Earrings  are  worn  in  KafHrland  as  well  as 
in  other  parts  of  the  world,  and  are  equally 
fashionable  in  both  sexes.    The  ears   are 


lull  in  their  path,  so  that  eaTh  ™iX'T  ^J  ^?^,^!:«^'l^?..'>ri»l!^8.'^'^"«t«d  serie   of  bits 


full   J.,    ?U     --—,-,- ^..^.ug  ijuiic  lUUUOUieSS, 

full  m  their  path,  so  that  each  might  mutu- 
ally inspect  the  other. 

"  Tims  it  frequently  happened  that  troops 
of  girls  came  in  from  the  Kaffir  kraals  with 
maize,  thatch,  milk,  eggs,  wild  fruit,  sugar- 
cane, potatoes,  &c.,  Scc^  for  sale;  knd  „o 
sooner  did  their  shrill  song  reach  the  ears 
of  our  servants,  than  they  rushed  from  their 
work,  just  as  they  were,  some  besmeared 
with  mud,  others  spattered  with  whitewash 
and  the  rest  armed  with  spades,  pickaxes' 

Kf'i'  .b"«'^-'P°"\<l«:  orNvhate'ver    else 
chanced  to  bo  m  their  hands  at  the  mo- 

.  There  is  a  curious  kind  of  ornament  much 
in  vogue  among  the  Kaffir  women,  namely  a 
series  of  raised  scars  upon  the  wrists,and  ex- 
tendingpartia  lyui,  the  arms.  These  scarsare 
matle  in  childhooct,  and  the  wounds  are  filled 
with  some  substance  that  causes  them  t< 
be  raised  above  the  level  of  the  skin.  They 
fancy  that  these  scars  are  useful  as  well  ^ 
ornamental,  aa.d  consider  them  in  the  ligh? 
of  amulets.  Other  portions  of  the  limbs  are 
sometimes  decorated  with  these  scare-  and 
m  one  or  two  cases,  not  only  the  limbs  but 
the  whole  body,  has  been  neai-ly  covered; 


o-~  .  •'  — ■"■o  "'fo'"""«"'cu  ocues  Ol  oils 

Of  wood  thrust  through  them,  until  they  are 
arge  enough  to  hold  a  snuff  box,  an  ivory 
Knob,  or  similar  ornament  "^ 

One  of  these  earring  snuff  boxes  may  be 
seen  in  the  illustration  "Dress  "  p.  49  fffr  0 
It  is  made  of  a  piece  of  reed,  three  inclies 
in  length,  closed  at  one  end;  and  havins  a 
stopper  thrust  into  the  other.    The  ori.rinal 

Sr^^f  "'^  '■',?*i'?  bright  yellow,  wfth  a 
r=ff  i"''^''^  J"?^'*''''  ''"t  "»e  Kaffir  is  not  sat- 

nrnn  JIJ.  '  -'/"'''vr  **  '"?  "«  "''*»™1  ^^te,  and 
ornaments  it  with  various  patterns  in  black. 
Ihese  are  produced  by  charring  the  wood 
with  a  hot  iron,  and  the  neatness  and  truth 
ot  the  work  is  very  astonishing,  when  the 
nuleness  of  the  toofs  is  taken  i,rto  consider! 
ation.    In  the  present  specimen,  the  pattern 
JB  alternate  diamonds  of  black  'and  yello™ 
This  mode  of  decorating  their  ornaments 
aiid  utensils  is  very  common   among  the 
KafTirs  and  we  shall  see  more  of  it  as  we 
proceed.    Snjiff  boxes  are  not,  however  the 
only  ornaments  which  a  Kafllr  will  wear  in 
the  ears,  for  there  is  scarcely  anything  which 
18     tolerably    showy   and    whfch    can    be 

£e°  ^"^  *^*  ""^  °"'  he\oTn 


CHAPTER  Vn. 


ARCHITECTURE. 


i1 


CHUF   ORABACTBRUnCfl    Or   KAnriB    ABCIITTECTUIW  — PBKVALENCB    OW   TCT    CIBCXJhAB   VOMX — IITA- 

BILITY  or  TUB  KAFFUt  TO  DBAW  A  8TKAIOUT    UNK  —  OKMERAl.    VORM  Or   TIIB    KArTIB'S  HUT 

Till  tNCBBDUUTY  OF  lOMORANCK  —  METHOD  or  IIOU»X-BVIU>INO  —  PRSCAUTION  AOAIMBT  INUN- 
DATION —  FBM  ALU  ABCIIITBCTS  —  MODS  OF  PIAKNINO  A  HUT  — KAFFIB  08TBNIATI0N  —  FRAOILITY 
or  THE  HUT  — ANECDOTE  Or  WARrAHE  —  THE  ENRAQED    EI4EPHANT,   AND  A    DOMESTIC    TRAQEDT 

—  HOW  THE  BOOr  IS  8UPP0BTEO  —  BMOKE    AND  SOOT  —  THE    UUBDLE  DOOR  —  HOW  IT  IS  MADE 

SCREENS  FOR  KEEPING  OrF  THE  WIND  —  DECORATIONS  OF  DINOAN'S  BOUSE  —  AVEBAOE  rUBNI- 
TUHB  OF  THE  KAFFUt  HUT  — THE  KRAAL,  ITS  PLAN  AND  FBINOrPLKS  OF  CONSTRUCTION  —  KNOWL- 
EDGE or  FORTIFICATION— CHIEr  OBJECT  OF  THE  KBAAL  — TWO  MODES  OF  MAKING  THE  FENCE  — 
THE  ARATTIS  AND  TIVB  CHEVAUX  DE  FRISE  — SIZE  OF  THE  KRAAI.  — THE  KINO'S  lOUTARY  KRAAL 
OR  OARBIBON  TOWN  — TMIT  TO  ONE  OF  PANOA'B  ^KBAAUI  — THE  HAREM,  ITS  INMATES  AND  OT 
OUARDLAHS. 


The   architecture  of  these  tribes  is  very 
Biniple,  and,  although  slightly  variable   in 
ditlerent  localities,  is  marked  throughout  by 
similar  chi^racteristics.    Ou  looking  at  any 
Bpecimen  of  Kaffir  architecture,  the  specta- 
tor is  at  once  struck  with  one  peculiarity, 
namely,  that  all  his  buildings  arc  circular. 
It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  the  Kaffir  docs 
not  seem  to  be  capable  of  marking  out  a 
straight  line,  and  wnethcr  he  builds  a  hut, 
or  erects  a  fence,  he  takes  the  circle  aa  his 
guide.    A  Kaffir's  attempts  to  erect  a  square 
enclosure,  or  even  to    build  a  fence  in  a 
straight  line,  are  ludicrous  failures.    With 
Euroneans  the  case  is  dilTcront.    A  settler 
who  (lesires  to  build  a  fence  wherein  to  en- 
close his  garden,  or  a  stockade  within  which 
his  houMC  and  property  can  remain  in  safety, 
invariably  builds  on  the  rectilinear  princi- 
ple, and  makes  the  fence  in  the  form  of  a 
8(juare.    He  would  feel  himself  quite  fettered 
it  he  were  forced  to  build  a  circular  enclos- 
ure, whereas  the  Kaffir  would  bo  as  much  at 
a  loss  if  he  were  obliged  to  build  a  square 
edi&ce.    Indeed,  though  the  European  could, 
at  the  cost  of  some  trouble,  build  a  circular 
house,  and  would  make  his  circle  true,  the 
Kaffir  would  utterly  fail  in  attempting   to 
make  a  building  of  a  square  or  an  oblong 
form. 

One  of  my  friends,  who  has  travelled  much 
among  the  Kaffir  tribes,  and  gone  among 
villages  whose  inhabitants  had  never  seen 
an  Europnan  building,  told  me  that  it  was 
hardly  poFi;ble  to  make  th«  natives  comprc- 
tructsjro  of  an  Euroi>can  house. 


.1  ty,0 


(06) 


The  very  shape  of  it  puzzled  them,  and  the 
gable  ends  and  the  ridged  roof  seemed  so 
strange  to  them  as  to  be  scarcely  credible. 
As  to  the  various  stories  in  a  house,  several 
rooms  on  a  story,  and  staircases  which  lead 
from  one  to  the  otlier,  they  tlatly  declined 
to  believe  that  anything  ot  the  kind  could 
exist,  and  thought  that  their  guest  was  try- 
ing to  amuse  himself  at  the  expense  of  their 
credulity.    They  did  beUevo  in  the  possibil- 
ity of  St  Paul's  cathedral,  on  account  of  its 
domed  roof,  but  they  could  not  be  induced 
to  believe  in  its  size.    They  defended  their 
position  by  argument,  not  merely  content- 
ing themselves  with  assertions.    Their  chief 
argument  was  derived  i^m  the  impossibil- 
ity of  such  a  buildiuK  sustaining  its  own 
weight     The  only    building  materials  of 
which  they  had  any  experience  were  the 
posta  and  sticks  of  which  their  own  houses 
were  made,  and  the  reeds  whcrewitli  they 
were  thatched.    Sometimes  a  very  luxuri- 
ous house-owner  would  plaster  the  interior 
with    mud,  producing    that  peculiar  stylo 
of  architecture   whitTi  is    popularly  called 
"  wattle-and-daub."     They  could  not  com- 
prehend in  the  least  that  stone  could  be  used 
m  building  dwelling-houses;  and  the  whole 
system  of  cutting  stone    into  rectangular 

Eieces,  and  the  use  of  bricks,  was  e(iua)ly 
eyond  their  comprehension.  Mortar  also 
was  an  inexplicable  mystery,  so  that  on 
the  whole  they  decided  on  discrediting  the 
tales  told  them  by  the  white  man. 

A  Kaffir  house  (see  page  155)  looks  just 
like  an  exaggerated  beculvc.     It  is  of  pre- 


•  4,^li'<!V,< 


XAB   rORM  — OTA- 

kaftib's  Hirr— 

>N  AOAIM8T  INVK- 
XION  —  ntAOlLITT 
>IUUTIO  TRAOEDT 
OW  IT  18  MADE  — 
-AVEBAOB  FUKNI- 
;0CI1ON  —  KMOWL- 
rsa  TBS  FBNCK  — 
aOUTARY  KRAAL 
IMMATBS   AND  ITS 


1  them,  and  tho 
roof  seemed  so 
arcely  credible. 
1  house,  several 
ist's  which  lead 

tlatly  declined 
tho  kind  could 
guest  was  try- 
xpenso  of  their 
in  the  possibil- 

account  of  its 
lot  bo  induced 
defended  their 
Qcrelv  content- 
is.  Their  chief 
the  impossibil- 
kining  its  own 
;  mutcriiils  of 
ence  were  tho 
ir  own  houses 
herewith  they 
a  very  luxuri- 
er  the  interior 
peculiar  stylo 
jpularly  called 
Duld  not  com- 
e  could  be  used 
aud  the  whole 
to  rectaiifjiilar 
i,  was  e(iually 
,  Mortar  also 
y,  so  that  on 
screditing  the 
nan. 

155)  looks  just 
it  is  of  pro- 


KAFKIUS     AT    lltlMlv 
vSoo  pngc  ro.) 


(57) 


^^ 


KAFFIR  HUTS. 


cist'ly  the  samo  Hhano,  la  inmlo  of  tienrly  the 
Bumc  iiiuterialH,  and  lian  a  little  arched  door, 
just  like  the  eiilrnucc  of  a  beehive,  through 
wliicli  a  mail  can  barely  creep  ou  his  hands 
and  knees.  The  structure  or  these  huts  is 
very  simple.  A  circle  is  drawn  of  souio  four- 
teen feet  in  diameter,  and  around  it  are  stuck 
a  number  of  long,  llexiblo  sticks.  These 
slicks  are  then  beut  over  at  the  top  and  tied 
together,  so  as  to  form  a  framework  very  like 
a  common  wire  mousetrap.  A  r  ed  thatch- 
ing is  then  laid  over  the  sticks, ,  ,id  secured 
in  its  place  by  iiarallol  lash'  .gs.  These 
lashings  are  made  of  "  mor.sey-ropes,"  or 
the  creeijcrs  that  extend  their  mterminable 
,  length  from  tree  to  tree,  and  are  found  of 
every  size,  from  a  cable  to  a  packthread. 
They  twist  themselves  into  so  rope-like  a 
shape,  that  many  persons  have  refusal  to 
believe  that  they  have  not  been  artiticially 
made.  The  rows  of  lashing  are  about  eigh- 
teen inches  apart.  In  shape,  the  hut  is  ex- 
.  actly  like  the  well-known  snow  house  of  the 
Esquimadx. 

As,  during  the  wet  season,  the  rain  pours 
down  in  torrents,  the  huts  would  bo 
swamped  for  several  months  but  for  the  pre- 
caulir)n  which  the  natives  take  of  di  wing 
round  each  hut  a  trench  of  some  eigfiteen 
inches  or  two  feet  in  depth,  and  the  same  in 
breadth.  This  trench  is  about  six  inches 
trom  the  wall  of  the  hut,  and  serves  to  keep 

■fu\"?,"r,''''y-  '^'»"  ^^•''^'^'T  '"''y  remember 
that  all  Luropean  soldiers  are  taught  to  di-i' 
a  trench  round  each  hut  while  they  are 
under  canvas,  the  neglect  of  this  precaution 
being  sure  to  cause  both  great  inconven- 
ience and  unhcalthiness. 

The  woman  generally  marks  the  outline 
of  her  hut  in  a  very  simple  manner.  She 
takes  a  number  of  (hxiblo  sticks,  and  ties 
them  together  (Irmly  with  leathern  thon-'s 
or  the  rough  and  reatly  string  which  tTie 
Kaffirs  make  from  rushes  by  tearing  them 
into  strips  and  rolling  them  on  the  Ic"  wilh 


iiiiu  snips  alio  roiling  inem  on  tnc  leg  will 
the  palm  of  the  liaml.  Three  or  cveii  foui 
slicks  are  usually  joined  together,  in  order 
to  attain  sulHcient  len<rth.  She  then  pushes 
one  end  deeply  into  the  ground,  lionds  the 
other  end  over  so  as  to  make  an  uich,  and 
pushes  that  into  the  ground  also.  This  arch 
becomes  the  key  to  the  whole  building,  set- 
tling  Its  height  and  width.  Another  arch 
IS  set  in  the  ground  at  right  angles  to  the 
tormer,  and  the  two  are  lashed  together  at 
the  top  where  they  cross,  so  that  a  rongh 
kind  ot  skeleton  of  the  hut  is  made  in  a  verv 
short  time.  •' 

Ontheroofof  the  hut  may  sometimes  be 
seen  the  skulls  of  oxen.  This  ornament  is 
highly  characteristic  of  the  Kaffir.  The 
high  value  which  ho  sets  on  his  cows  is  not 
surpa-ssod  by  the  love  of  the  most  confirmed 

I!!vr  ^p\u'^^'']^-  ^"^  "^'^'■^  •»  '-another 
trait  of  the  Kaffir  mind,  which  is  even  i 
stronger  than  avarice,  and  that  is  ostenta- 1 
iioa,  to  whicn  his  cattle  become  of  secondary  j 


consideration.  Unwilling  as  he  U  to  kill 
any  of  the  cattle  which  constitute  his  wealth, 
and  which  he  values  scarcely  less  than  hU 
own  life,  ho  will,  on  certain  occasions, 
slaughter  one,  and  give  a  feast  to  his  neigh- 
bors, who  are  sure  to  praise  him  in  terms 
suitable  to  the  niagnitlcence  — t.e.  the  quan- 
tity—of  the  banquet.  He  is  nearly  certain 
to  b(!  addressed  as  Father,  and  perhaps  some 
of  the  more  enthusiastic,  when  excited  by 
beef,  beer,  and  snutf,  may  actually  hail  him 
as  Chief  The  slaughter  of  an  ox  is  there- 
fore a  great  evjut  in  the  life  of  a  Kaffir,  and 
is  sure  to  act  as  a  step  toward  higher  rank. 
Lest  the  memory  of  such  an  event  should 
fade  away  as  soon  as  the  banquet  has  been 
eniled,  the  proud  donor  takes  the  skull  of 
the  slaughtered  ox  and  places  it  on  the  roof 
of  his  hut,  where  it  remains  as  a  sign  that 
the  owner  of  the  dwelling  is  a  man  of  jirop- 
erty,  and  has  been  able  to  snare  one  of  his 
oxen  to  serve  as  a  feast  for  his  friends. 

The    building    being    now   Hnished,   the 
opening  which  serves  as  a  door  is  cut  ou 
one  side,   its  edges  guarded   with   plaited 
twigs,  and    the    Kaffir    desires    no    better 
house.     Though    it    has    no    window,    no 
chimney,  and  no  door  that  deserves  the 
name,  l»e  would    not   exchange    it    for  a 
palace,    and    many    instances    hav(;    been 
known  where  Katlirs  who  have  been  taken 
to  European   cities,  have   travelli'd  much, 
and    been    tolerably  educated,  have   flung 
oil    their    civilized    garments,    re-assumed 
the  skin-dress  of   their   nation,  and  gone 
otr  to  live  in  huts  instead  of  houses.     The 
whole  structure  is  necessarily  very  fragile, 
and  the  walls  cannot  endure  much  violence. 
A  curious  example   of  their   fragility  oc- 
curreil    some    time    ago,  when    one   chief 
made  a  raid  upon  the  vill.igc  of  another 
A  number  of  men  had  taken   refuge  in  a 
hut,  from  which  it  was  not  e.xsy  to  drive 
them.    Assagais  were   hurled   through  the 
sides  of  the  hut,  and  did  much  damage  to  the 
inmates.    The  survivors  tried  to  save  them- 
selves by  climbing  up  the  fmmework  of  the 
hut  and  clinging  to  the  roof,  but  the  slight 
stniclure    could    not  support  their  bodies, 
and    by  yielding   to  their  weight  betraved 
II,?  to  tl'c  watchful  encmieswithout.  " 
The  upper  illustration  on  page  («  repre- 
sents the  interior  of  an  exceptionally  largo 
hut  being,  in  fact,  the  priiK-ipal  residence  of 
!\  chief.     Very  few  huts   have   more   than 
tour  supporting  posts.    On  (he  left  may  be 
seen  two  of  the  largo  store  baskets,  in  which 
milk  IS  kept  and  made  into  "  amasi,"  while 
just  beyond  the  first  basket  is  a  sleeping 
mat  rolled  up  and  resting  against  the  wall 
^omo  large  earthenware  pots,  such  aa  arc 
used  in  cookery,  are  seen  at  the  farther  end  of 
the  hut,  and  a  calab.vsh  rests  acrainst  one  of 
the  post.s.    To  the  roof  are  hung  bunches 
of  maize,  according  to  the  curious  Kaffir  cus-    * 

tom.   which    sooinii    ii\   i'...^»..,     fi...    ^-.f    .1     t 

every  thing  on  the  roof  of  a  hut  is  soon 


«0 


THE  KAFFIR. 


blackiMicd  with  Root,  owiiitf  to  tho  Hmoko 
from  I  III!  llro.  Whethor  hivifu  or  Hiiiall, 
all  till!  liouHi'H  are  iiimto  on  exactly  tlio  Haiiur 
l)riiui])K",  and  exitpt  lor  tliilr  snpcrior 
bIz*!,  and  tlio  ox  HkulU  which  dciiorate 
tlu-ni,  tb')  lioii.scH  oi'Cui)l«!(l  by  cliiel'ji  have 
notbiii^  to  (liNtiu^tiiMli  tlitMU  from  tlume 
wliich  arc  inliabili'd  by  Ihiir  dcpeudants. 

A-^ainst  l)ruto  foes  tlie  hut  is  Hoini'tinicH 
bul  a  frail  protfction.  On  one  occiksion  an 
ili'j)liant  waMatU-acU'd  by  a(iuantitv  of  millet, 
which  wa.HHtonMl  within  a  fence,  llepusheif 
his  way  thri>ugh  the  uselesH  barrier,  and 
bej,'an  fee<lini,'  on  the  millet.  There  was  a 
tire  in  one  of  the  hutH,  and  tho  elephant,  in- 
stead of  beinjj;  Hcared  by  it,  becamu  anj'ry, 
knocked  th(!  Iiouse  to  pieces,  and  walked 
over  (ho  ruins,  tramplinj;  to  death  u  woman 
who  was  lyinn  aslcej).  Jler  hiisl)and  ni'arly 
shared  llw  same  fate,  but  niD.nagud  to  roll 
out  of  th(^  way,  and  then  to  escape  by 
creeping  between  tho  legs  of  the  angry 
ck>])liant. 

The  roof  of  the  hut  is  not  wholly  de- 
pendent for  sni)iiort  on  the  lle.x.'hle  sticks 
which  form  its  walls,  but  is  held  up  by  a 
post  or  two,  on  the  top  of  which  is  laid  a 
cross-b<'am.  This  arraiii^cment  also  j)er- 
niits  1\h'  owner  of  the  hut  to  hang  to  (lie 
beam  and  posts  sundry  articles  wTiieh  he 
does  not  wish  to  he  injured .  by  being 
thrown  on  the  ground,  such  as  gourds, 
baskets,  assagai-shalls,  spoons,  and  other 
inii)lements. 

Kaiiged  carelessly  round  tin  hut  are  the- 
rude  earthenware  pots,  in  which  the  Katlir 
keeps  his  beer,  his  milk,  and  present  stores 
of  grain.  The  lloor  of  the  hut  is  always 
kept  scrupulously  dean,  and  is  generally 
a.s  liard  as  stone,  being  made  of  weli- 
kueadcd  clay  laid  very  smoothly,  ami 
beaten  until  it  is  (juite  hard.  Tin;  best 
clay  for  this  purpose  is  olitaiiied  from  the 
nests  of  the  white  ant,  which  are  beiiten 
to  pieces,  then  poun<lc(l,  and  then  mixed 
very  canl'ully  with  water.  In  a  well-regu- 
lated hut,  the  womer  arc  very  earel\il  of 
their  lloor,  and  rub  it  daily  willi  (lat  stones, 
until  it  is  not  only  smooth,  but  even  pol- 
ished. 

Just  within  the  entrance  is  the  primitive 
fireplace.  This,  like  almost  everything 
which  (he  Katlir  makes,  is  circular  in 
form,  and  is  made  usually  of  mud;  its 
onl^y  object  is  to  conlint!  the  embers  within 
a  limited  space. 

(booking  is  not  always  carried  on  in  the 
ordinary  house,  nor  is  the  fin;  kept  con- 
stantly. In  a  permanent  kraal  there  are 
cooking  huts  erected  for  that  one  special 
purpose,  and  not  used  for  any  othf-.  They 
may  be  called  demi-huts,  as  "their  only  ob- 
ject is  to  guard  the  (ire  from  (h<;  etlect  of 
wind.  They  arc  circidar,  like  all  ordinary 
huts,  but  tlieir  walls  are  only  four  feet  or 
so  in  height,  and  are  carefully  daubed  with 


form  a  mo«t  efflelent  protection  nuninst  tlie 
wind.  The  smoke  from  tlu!  tire  is  allowed 
to  escape  as  it  can.  Home  of  it  eonlrives 
to  force  i(s  way  between  th(>  interstices 
of  the  thatch,  as  may  be  seen  by  refer- 
ence to  the  illustration  on  |)ngi!  — .  Soma 
of  it  circles  around  tho  walls  and  pours 
through  the  door-way,  but  (he  greater 
part  of  it  settles,  in  the  form  of  soot, 
ujion  the  interior  of  the  hut,  blackening 
everything  within  it.  When  (he  Kal- 
(Irs  wish  to  season  the  wood  uf  their 
ivssagai-shafts  or  knobkerrics,  they  stick 
it  into  the  roof  of  the  house,  just  above 
llu!  llrejdace,  exactly  as  bacon  is  cured  in 
the  smoke. 

A  curious  reference  to  this  custom  is 
made  ill  a  song  composed  in  honor  of 
ran<l».  King  of  (he  Zulu  tribes.  When 
Din^'an  munlered  his  predecessor  Tehaka, 
he  killed  other  chiefs  at  the  same  time,  but 
was  persuadeil  to  leave  I'unda  alive  — 

"(H  UiH  steok  i>{  Niliiliitzn,  ranirtid  of  brnM, 
.Survivor  iiloim  of  ;ill  otlicr  roilji; 
Otlicrs  tliey  broke,  but  left  this  in  the  $ool. 
Thinkiiit;  tu  buru  it  lomu  ruliiy  cukl  Uiiy." 

Heferonce  is  here  made  to   the  custom  of 
leaving  sticks  and  shafts  in  (he  sooty  roof 

At  night,  tho  entrance  of  the  hut  is  closed 
by  a  simple  door  made  of  wicker  work,  and 
looking  much  like  the  closely-woven  sheep 
hurdles  which  are  used  in  some  parts  of 
Kiigland.  With  the  exception  that  the 
Katlir  always  sits  down  at  his  work,  the 
mode  of  making  these  doors  is  almost  ideii- 
(ical  with  (hat  which  is  employed  by  the 
shc)ilier(ls  in  this  country. 

The  Kadlr  begins  by  choosing  some 
straight  and  tolerably  stout  sticks,  and  driv- 
ing (hem  in(o  (he  ground  at  regular  dis(an- 
ces  from  each  odier.  Thesi-  are  intended 
as  the  supports  or  framework  of  (he  door. 
lie  then  takes  a  quantity  of  iiiiant  sticks, 
like  the  osiers  of  our  biu*ke(  nmkers,  and 
Weaves  them  in  and  out  of  the  upright 
stakes,  beating  (hem  down  condnually  to 
make  them  lie  closely  togedier.  AVhentho 
door  is  completed,  the  ui)right  s(icks  art-  cut 
off  to  the  proper  length,  and  it  can  (hen  bt 
li((ed  (o  (he  hut.  If  the  reader  has  any 
acquaintance  with  milKary  ad'airs,  he  may 
remember  (hat  gabions  are  made  in  precisely 
(he  same  •manner,  except  (hat  the  upright 
stakes  are  place<l  in  a  circle,  and  not  in  a 
straight  line.  In  order  to  keep  the  wiiul 
from  blowing  too  freely  into  (heir  huts,  (he 
Kafllrs  make  screens,  which  are  placed  so  as 
to  shelter  the  entrance.  These  screens  are 
made  of  sticks  and  rushes  such  as  (he  door 
is  made  of,  only  of  lighler  materials,  and 
their  posiiion  can  be  shifted  with  every 
change  of  wind. 

Some  of  the  permanent  houses  arc  built 
with  a  great  amount  of  care,  and  occupy  at 
least  a  month  in  (heir  construction.    In  most 


a  mixture  of  clay  and  cowdung,  so  as  to  |  of  them  the  interior  view  is  much  the  same. 


KttAAL. 


01 


I  nii^ninHt  the 
ii'u  if*  iillowuil 

'  It   COlltrlVL'8 

i>  iiitcrNlicoH 
•II  l)y  rofiT- 
[D  — .  Homo 
t  uiid  poUTH 
lilt-  f»ruiit('r 
nil  ol'  soot, 
,  bliu'kciiiiig 

II  Ihc  Kal- 
)(l  (iC  llu'ir 
,  they  slick 
,  jiiNt  aljove 

is  curL'd  ill 

4  custom  is 
II  honor  of 
lies.  Wlien 
<Hor  Ttlmkft, 
11!  time,  bul 
ilivu  — 

1  of  Iirnit*, 


old  duy. 


\, 


n  custom  of 

H 

jool^-  roof 
Hit  IS  closed 

■h 

■r  work,  and 

* 

vovcn  slieci) 

nic  iiarls  of 
n   that    the 

<   work,  tile 

iliiiost  idcn- 

)ycd  hy   tlic 

(ising    some 

ks,  and  driv- 

iilar  distan- 

^' 

rc  intciulL'd 

>r  llic  door. 

iiant  sticks, 
linkers,  and 

tlie   niiiiji,'ht 

ntiniialiy  to 

AVlieii  the 

ieks  ari!  cut 

can  tin  11  bt 

cr  lias  any 

irs,  he  may 

ill  iireciscly 

the   iiprij,'ht 

id  not  in  a 

p  llie  wind 

uir  liuts,  the 

jilaced  so  ns 

screens  arc 

as  the  door 

terials,  and 

■.s3 

with    every 

''^1 

'8  are  built 

^W 

1  occupy  at 

■  - 

>n.    In  liiost 

h  tlie  finino, 

'^m 

namely,  tho  domed  roof,  supported  Iiy  four 
posts  placed  in  tlie  form  of  a  «(iiiait),  with 
tho  lireplaeo  exaitly  in  ti»e  centre.  The 
natives  will  oik'ii  expend  much  time  and 
trouitle  ill  deeorutln>{  their  permanent  man- 
sions, and  Air.  Christie  tells  m«  that  he 
has  seen  tho  very  posts  thickly  encrusted 
with  heads.  Of  coiirso  they  soon  biieome 
blackened  by  tho  smoke,  biit  u  ipiick  rub  of 
the  palm  of  the  hand  brings  out  the  colors 
nnew.  Olio  of  Din^jan's  huts,  which  was 
visited  by  Ildtief,  the    Dulcli  colonist,    was 


most  beautifully   built,   and    supported   by 
twenty-two  pillars,  each  of  which  w 


vas  en- 


tirelv  covered  with  beads, 

The  huts  are,  from  the  nature  of  tho  ma- 
terial of  which  they  are  made,  cxceedin-'ly 
inflammable,  and  it  sometimes  happens  that 
if  one  of  tho  hou.sosofavilla,!,'u  take  lire,  the 
whole  of  them  are  consumed  in  a  very  short 
tiiiii;.  Fortunately,  they  aro  so  easily  built 
that  tho  inconvenience  is  not  nearly  so  great 
jis  is  tho  case  when  Eur.ipean  houses  are 
burned.  Moreover,  tho  furnituro  which 
they  contain  is  so  limited  in  quantity  and  so 
simple  in  material,  that  it  can  bo  replaced 
withoiii,  much  (imieulty.  A  mat  or  two,  a 
1(!W  baskets,  a  pillow,  a  milking  pail,  one  or 
two  riido  eartheinvaro  pots,  and  a  bundle  of' 
assagais,  constitute  an  amount  of  property 
which  IS  not  to  bo  found  in  every  hut. 

The  hutsof  theKadhs  aro  general!  v  ffath- 
••red  to-ether  into  little  ^r.-oups,  whfcli  are 
poi.ulaily  calle<l   "kraals."    'I'his   is   not  a 
/.ulii  or  a  riottontot  word,  and  is  iirobably  a 
corruption  of  the   word  "corral."'     There 
are  two  modes  of  forming  a  kraal,  and  tho 
particular  mode  is  determined  by  the  local- 
ity-.     The   Kalllr    tribes  generallv    like   to 
place  their  kraal  on  the  side  of  a 'hill  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  bush,  in  order  that  they  may 
obtain  plenty  of  building  material.  "They 
«re,  however,   sufflcienlly  acquainted  with 
tl'.e  jiriiiciples  of  fortilication  to  clear  u  larsre 
space  around   their  dwellings,  so    that,  in 
case  tln.y  should   be  attacked,   the   enemy 
cannot   conceal    liis   movements   from   the 
(let(Miders. 

Th(-  lirst  care  of  a  Kalllr  is  to  protect  his 
beloved  cows,  and  for  that  purpose  a  circu- 
lar sjiace  13  enclosed  with  a  liifrh  fonce 
">:ide  very  strongly.  Tho  f..nce  is  about 
•SIX  or  seven  feet  in  height,  and  is  mmlc  n 
simple  and  very  elRictivc  manner.  The 
cnce  which  surrounds  tho  cattle  and  the 
huts  ,s  mostly  made  in  one  of  two  modes  - 
at  .111  events,  in  the  more  soutlu.rn  part  of 
""'  '•""■'try,   where  timber  is   e.vceedi^^- 


thoir  tninkn  dovorofl  a  few  feet  below  the 
spot  whenco  the  branches  sprini/.  A  ureat 
numUir  of  those  troo  tops  mo  then  arranged 
lau  circle,  the  severed  ends  of  tho  stems 
I'e  ng  inward,  and  tlui  branches  polutiii« 
outward.  In  fait,  tho  fenco  is  exactly  that 
species  ot  riu.id  and  ellectivo  fortilication 
called,  la  military  langiiago,  an  "abatlis." 
it  the  braiiches  of  a  tree  aro  very  lar«e,  thev 
can  bo  laid  singly  on  the  ground.  Just  a«  If 
they  were  tho  entire  Iioiuls  of  trees. 

In  somo  cases  wliero  tho  kraal  is  more 
carelully  built,  the  fence  is  formed  of  stout 
po  OS  which  are  driven  into  the  Riound,  in 
a  double  row,  some  throe  feet  apart,  and  uro 
then  lashed  together  in  such  a  way  that 
their  tops  cross  each  other.  In  consequence 
ot  this  arrangemiiiit,  the  fenco  stands  very 
llrnily  on  its  broad  basis,  while  the  crossing 
and  projecting  tops  of  the  poles  form  a  vhe- 
mux  dcfrisc  as  elfectual  as  any  tliat  is  mado 
by  tho  European  s.ddier.  If  tho  enemy  try 
to  chmb  th(!  fence,  they  can  be  wounded  by 
.snears  thrust  at  them  from  tho  interior;  and 
It  they  succeed  in  reaching  the  top,  tho 
sharp  tips  of  the  poles  arc  ready  to  embarrass 
I  thcni. 

Tho  entrance  to  tliis  enclosuro  is  (ust  wido 
enough  to  allow  a  cow  to  jiass;  and  in  somo 
places,  where  the  neighborhood  is  insecure 
It  is  so  narrow  that  there  hardly  seems  to  l)o 
space  enough  for  tho  cattle  to  iiass  in  and 
out.  Each  night  it  is  carefully  closed  with 
poles  and  sticks,  which  are  kept  just  within 
tlio  entrance,  so  as  to  be  ready  to  baud  when 


wanted.    Opposite  to  tho  entrance,  and  at 
the  further  extremity,  a  small   enclosure 
also  with  circular  walls,  is  built.    In   this 
turn  the  larger  calves  arc  kept,  the  youiiKcr 
being  inmates  of  tho  lints,  together  will,  tho 
human  inhabitants.     By  the  side  of  this  en- 
closure a  httlegapis  left  in  the  fence,  just 
argo  enough  lor  a  man  to  squeeze  himself 
through,  and  not  largo  enough  to  allow  even 
acalf  to  pass.    This  little  aperture   is   the 
chiefs  private  door,  and  intended   for  tho 
purpose  of  saving  time,  as  otherwise,  if  tho 
cluet  were  insiiecting  his  cattle,  and  wished 
to  go  to  his  own  hut,  lie  would  bo  oblifred  to 
walk  all  round  the  fence.    The  Zulu  name 
lor  the  space  within  this  fence  is  "isi-bava  " 
Around   the    isi-baya    aro  sot    the    I'luts 
which  constitute  tho  kraal.    Their  number 
IS  exceedingly  variable,  but  the  general  av- 
erage is  from  ton  to  fourteen.    Tiioso  which 
arc  placed  at  either  side  of  the  entrance  to 

.^J  .1  .?A..!^J"'^lV'.*'  ^^!'?^h  opposite  to  it  is 


<>r  even  mud,  to  till  up  the  interstiLf   Th':ISS^^^       nlTf'  ''"■?  ""  *f"""»^"l  ''>•  »'« 

.viA    "If.  Z**^  one  family  and  their  depend 


southern  tribes  use  nothing  but  wood    and   -ints     Vom      "    i Y    —."  ""-•"  "«l'en(i- 

form  the  walls  by  two  drflerent  Zth.tk  k./n:'.,  *"f„''.^'''"^P'«' ^vf>e»  "'e  son  of  achief 
That  which  is  cominonly  employe,r,^  v^^^^^  omi  Wv  ""'"'7''  ;'""rq"e»'-«  to  possess  sev- 
siinple.    A  number  of  trees   u-e:V.  ,.  i  ''?,    thfr^fV  ^"1  "  ''f'.'^  ''^  '-'•'^t""- ''«  «"''«  that 

'  -^""Ithe  patctuai  kraal  i»  uot  large  enough  to 


THE   KAFFIR. 


afford  to  each  wife  the  separate  Imt  to  which 
she  is  entitled;  so  ho  migrates  with  his  fam- 
ily to  a  short  distance,  and  there  builds  a 
kraal  for  himself,  sometimes  so  close  to  that 
of  his  father  that  he  connects  them  by  means 
of  a  short  fenced  passage.  The  chief  hut 
may  easily  be  knojvn,  not  only  by  its  posi- 
tion but  by  Ha  larger  dimensions.  Some  of 
the  other  huts  are  occupied  by  married  men, 
some  by  his  wives,  some  by  his  servants; 
while  at  least  one  hut  is  reserved  for  the  use 
of  the  unmarried  men,  or  "  boys,"  as  they  are 
called. 

This  is  all  that  is  needed  to  complete  a 
kraal,  i.  c.  the  circular  isi-baya,  and  the  huts 
round  it.  But,  in  situations  where  plenty 
of  wood  can  be  found,  the  Kaffir  archi- 
tect erects  a  second  fence,  which  encloses 
all  the  huts,  as  well  as  the  isi-baya,  and  has 
its  entrance  in  exactly  the  same  position, 
i.  e.  opposite  to  the  chiefs  hut.  The  dis- 
tant view  of  one  of  these  doubly-fenced 
kraals,  when  it  happens  to  be  situated  on 
the  slope  of  a  hill,  is  extremely  curious, 
and  would  scarcely  give  a  stranger  an  idea 
of  a  village. 

It  will  be  seen  in  an  engraving  oppo- 
site, that  the  central  portion  of  the  kraal  is 
given  to  the  isa-baya,  and  that  the  Kaffirs 
devote  all  their  enei'gics  toward  preserv- 
ing their  cows,  while  they  seem  to  look 
with  comparative  indifference  on  the  risk 
of  exposing  themselves  or  their  fragile  hut'* 
to  the  inroads  of  the  enemy.  As  has  al- 
ready been  stated,  the  size  of  the  kraal 
v.aries  w^h  the  wealth  and  rank  of  its  chief 
man,  and,  owin,!"  to  its  mode  of  construc- 
tion, can  be  gradually  enlarged  as  he  rises 
to  higher  dignities  and  the  possession  of 
more  cattle.  In  shape,  however,  and  the 
principle  of  construction,  kraals  are  alike, 
that  of  the  king  himself  and  the  newly- 
made  kraal  of  a  younger  son  being  exactly 
the  same  in  these  respects. 

The  king's  kraals,  however,  are  of  enor- 
mous dimensions,  and  are  several  in  num- 
ber. Panda,  for  example,  has  one  kraal, 
the  central  enclosure  of  which  is  nearly 
a  milo  in  diameter.  This  enclosure  is  sup- 
posed to  be  filled  with  the  monarch's  cows, 
and  is  consequently  called  by  the  name  of 
isi-ba^ii.  Practical!  v,  however,  the  cattle  are 
kept  m  smaller  enclosures,  arranged  along 
the  sides  of  the  isi-bava,  where  they  can 
be  w.itched  by  those  \v\\o  have  the  charge 
of  Ihem,  and  whose  huts  are  phxced  conven- 
itntly  for  that  purpose.     The  va.st  central 


enclosure  is  used  almost  exclusively  as  a  pa^ 
rade  ground,  where  tlie  king  can  review  his 
troops,  and  where  they  are  taught  to  go 
through  the  simple  manwuvres  of  Kaffir 
warfare.  Here,  also,  he  may  be  seen  in 
council,  the  isi-baya  being  able  to  aticom- 
modate  an  unlimited  numner  of  suitors. 

Around  the  isi-baya  are  arranged  the 
huts  of  the  warriors  and  their  frimillps, 
and  are  placed  in  four  or  even  five-fold 


ranks;  so  that  the  kraal  almost  rises  to  the 
dignity  of  a  town,  having  several  thousand 
inhabitants,  and  presenting  a  singularly 
Imposing  appearance  when  viewed  at  a  dis- 
tance. At  the  upper  portion  jof  the  kraal, 
and  at  the  further  end  from  the  principal 
er^ance,  are  the  huts  specially  erected  for 
the  king,  surrounded  by  the  other  huts 
containing  his  liarem.  The  whole  of  this 
part  of  the  kraal  is  separated  from  the  re- 
mainder by  lofty  and  strong  fences,  and  its 
doors  are  kept  by  sentinels  especially  set 
aside  for  this  purpose.  In  some  cases,  the 
wamoi-8  to  whom  this  important  duty  is 
confided  are  not  permitted  to  wear  clothes 
of  any  kind,  and  are  compelled  to  pass  the 
whole  of  the  time,  day  and  night,  when 
on  guard,  without  even  a  kaross  to  cover 
them.  This  rule  lies  rather  heavily  upon 
them  in  the  winter  nights,  when  the  cold  is 
often  severe,  and  the  wind  sweeps  chillily 
around  the  fence  of  the  isi-baya. 

However,  the  young   ladles  will  some- 
times  contrive  to  evade  the  vigilance  of 
the  sentries,  when  their  attention  is  other- 
wise engaged,  as  is  amusingly  shown  in 
a  few  remarks   by  Mr.  Angas.     He  had 
gone  by  Panda's  invitation  to  see  him  at 
one  of  his  great  kraals:  — "Last  night  we 
slept  at  the  new  military  kraal,  or  garrison 
town,  of  Indabakaumbi,  whither  the  king 
had  sent  word  by  mesrage  that  he  would 
be  M-aiting  to  receive  us.    The  Inkosika.«i, 
or  queen,  of  the  kraal    sent    us    a  small 
quantity  of  thick  milk  and  a  jar  of  millet, 
and  soon  afterward  made  her  appearance, 
holding  two  of  the  king's  children  by  the 
hand,  for  whom  she  requested  a  present 
of  beads.    The  children  were  remarkably 
pretty,  nicely  oiled,  and  tastefully  decorated 
with  girdles  of  blue  and  scarlet  beads.    The 
old  lady,  on  the  contrary,  was  so  alarmingly 
stout,   that    it    seemed'  almost    impossible* 
for  her  to  walk;  and  that  it  required  some 
considerable   time  for   her   to  regain  the 
harem  at  the  upper  end  of  the  kraal  was 
made  manifest  by  some  fifty  of  the  king's 
girls  effecting  their  escape  from   the  rear 
of  the    eraglio,  and  sallying  down  the  sloi)e 
to  sta..  i  at  us  as  we  rode  away  from  the 
kraal.     The  agility  of  the  young  ladies, 
aa  they  sprang  from  rock  to  rock,  convinced 
us  that  they  would  be  all   quietly  sitting 
in  the  h.irem,  as  though  nothing  had  liap° 
pened,  long  before  the  Inkosikasi  gained 
her  dwelling." 

At  that  time  Panda  liad  thirteen  of  these 
great  miiitary  kraals,  each  serving  as  the 
military  capital  of  a  district,  and  he  had 
just  completed  a  fourteenth.  He  takes  up 
his  residence  in  these  kraals  successively, 
and  finds  in  each  everything  that  he  can 
possibly  want  — each  being,  indeed,  almost 
identical  in  every  respect  with  all  the 
others.    As  a  general  rule,  e.ich  of  these 

militflrv    Irrnnia    fnrma    fl>/^    «.Aaw].^H-«     ^p    ^ 
-.^ .     ._    *„ ......    ..^....-t,^^    ,^j     ^ 

Single  regiment;  while  the  king  has  many 


t  rises  to  the 
'.ral  thousand 
a  singularly 
wed  at  a  dis- 
jof  tlic  kraal, 
he  principal 

Y  erected  for 
other   huts 

'hole  of  this 
From  the  re- 
nces,  and  its 
specially  set 
ae  cases,  the 
tant  duty  is 
ivear  clothes 
to  pass  the 
light,  when 
)ss  to  cover 
eavily  upon 
1  the  cold  is 
eeps  chillily 

will  Bome- 
vigilance  of 
on  is  other- 
'  shown  in 
I.  He  had 
see  him  at 
3t  night  we 

or  garrison 
er  the  king 
t  he  would 

Inkosikasi, 
us  n  small 
ir  of  millet, 
appearance, 
Ircn  by  the 
a  present 
remarkably 
y  decorated 
)eads.    The 

alarmingly 

impossible^ 
uired  stmio 
regain  the 

kraal  was 

the  king's 
n  the  rear 
n  the  slope 

Y  from  the 
img  ladies. 
,  convincea 
Dtly  sitting 
g  had  hap- 
:asi  gained 

en  of  these 
ing  as  the 
nd  he  had 
e  takes  up 
icccssively, 
lat  he  can 
^ed,  almost 
h  all  the 
h  of  these 

has  many 


^:mm 


,B'^t' 


(l.J   INTKIMOl!   UF   KAlIll!    HIT.    (S.^.' ijii-c .,!(.) 


0 

I 


HAEEM  AND  ITS  GUAEDIAlfS. 


others,  which  arc  devoted  to  more  peaceful 
objects. 

It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  the 
women  live  in  a  portion  separated  from  the 
rest  of  the  kraal,  and  it  may  almost  be  said 
that  they  reside  in  a  small  supplementary 
kraal,  which  communicates  by  gates  with 
the  chief  edifice.  As  the  gates  are  strongly 
barred  at  night,  it  is  necessary  that  the  sen- 
tinel should  enter  the  sacred  precincts  of 
the  harem,  for  the  purpose  of  closing  them 
at  night,  and  opening  them  in  the  morning. 
For  this  purpose,  certain  individuals  of  the 
sentmels  are  told  off,  and  to  them  alone 
18  the  delicate  duty  confided.  The  Kaffir 
despot  does  not  employ  for  this  purpose 
the  unfortunate  individuals  who  guard  the 
harems  in   Turkey,  Persia,  and   even  in 


68 

Western  Africa.  But  the  king  takes  care 
to  select  men  who  arc  particularly  ill-fa- 
vored; and  if  any  of  them  should  happen 
to  be  deformed,  he  is  sure  to  be  chosen  aa  a 
^amtor.  Mr.  Shooter's  servant,  when  talk- 
ing with  his  master  on  the  subject,  men- 
tioned several  individuals  who  would  make 
excellent  janitors.  One  of  them  had  a 
club-foot,  another  had  a  very  protuberant 
chest,  while  a  third  had  bad  eyes,  and  was 
altogether  so  ugly  that  he  would  never  suc- 
ceed m  procuring  a  wife.  The  matrimonial 
adventures  of  this  man  will  be  narrated  in 
a  future  page.  His  uniform  failures  in  pro- 
curing a  legitimate  wife  were  exceedinwly 
ludicrous  and  mortifying,  and  quite  justiffed 
the  opinion  expressed  by  his  companion. 


CHAPTER  Vm. 


CATTLE  KEEPING. 


THB  ISI-BAYA  AKD  ITS  PRITILEaES  —  HILKINO  COWS— THE  ClnMOtTS  HICK  PAIL  —  MODE  OF  MAKINO  IT 
—  A  MILKINa  SCENE,  AND  THE  VARIOUS  PERSONAGES  EMPLOYED  IN  IT  —  I'UECAUTIONS  TAKEN 
WITH  A  RESTIVE  COW  — KAFFIR  COW  WHISTLES  —  CHIEFS  AND  THEIR  CATTF.E  — JIANAOEMENT 
OF  THE  HERDS,  AND  CATTLE  "iJPTINO"— A  COW  THE  UNIT  OP  KAFFm  CUKUENCV  — A  KAFFIR'S 
WEALTH,  AND  THE  USES  TO  WHICH  IT  IS  PUT- A  K  VFFIR  ROB  ROY  — ADVENTURES  OF  DUTULU, 
HIS  EXPLOITS,  HIS  ESCAPES,  AND  HIS  DEATH— [ODD  METHOD  OF  ORNAMENTINr.  COWS  —  LE  VAIL- 
LANT'S  account  of  the  METHODS  EMPLOYED  IN  DECORATING  THE  CATTLE  — HOW  OI19TINATE 
COWS  ARE  FORCED  TO  GIVB  THEIR  MILK— A  KAFFIR  HOMESTEAD  — VARIOirs  USES  OF  CATTLE- 
HOW  MILKI8PREPARED—"AMAS1,"  OR  THICKENED  MILK  — OTHER  USES  FOR  CATTLE  — THU  SAD- 
DLE AND  PACK  OXEN  — aOW  THKY  ARK  LADEN  AND  GIRTHED. 


The  isi-baya  is  quite  a  sacred  spot  to  a 
Kaffir,  and  in  many  tribes  the  wonitn  are  so 
strictly  prohibited  from  entering  it,  that  if 
even  the  favorite  wife  were  discovered  within 
its  precincts  she  would  have  but  a  very  poor 
chance  of  her  life. 

During  the  day-time  the  herd  are  out  at 
pasture,  watched  by  "  boys  "  appointed  to  this 
important  office,  but  when  night  approaches, 
or  if  there  is  any  indication  of  danger  from 
enemies,  the  cows  are  driven  into  the  isi- 
biiya,  and  the  entrances  fii  iily  barred.  It  is 
mostly  in  this  enclosure  that  the  cattle  are 
milked,  this  operation  being  always  intrusted 
to  the  men.  Indeed,  as  is  well  observed  by 
Mr.  Shooter,  milking  his  cows  is  the  only 
work  that  a  Kaffir  really  likes.  About  ten 
in  the  morning  the  cattle  are  taken  into  the 
isi-baya,  and  the  Kaffir  proceeds  to  milk 
them.  He  takes  with  him  his  milk  pail, 
an  article  very  unlike  that  which  is  in 
use  in  Europe.  It  is  carved  out  of  a  solid 
piece  of  wood,  and  has  a  comparative//  small 
opening.  The  specimen  from  which  the 
figure  on  page  67  is  drawn  was  brought  to 
England  by  Mr.  Shooter,  and  is  now  before 
me.  It  is  rather  more  than  seventeen 
inches  in  length,  and  is  four  inches  wide  at 
the  top,  and  six  inches  near  the  bottom.  In 
interior  measurement  it  is  only  fourteen 
inches  deep,  so  that  three  inches  of  solid 
wood  are  left  at  the  bottom.  Its  capacity 
is  not  very  great,  as  the  Kaffii  cow  does  not 
give  nearly  as  much  milk  as  the  cows  of  an 
English  farmyard.  Toward  the  top  are  two 
projecting  ears,  which  enable  the  milker  to 
Hold  it  &rmj  betweea  the  kaces. 

(66) 


In  hollowing  out  the  interior  of  the  pail, 
the  Kaffir  employs  a  r.ithcr  ingenious  de- 
vice. Instead  of  hol<ling  it  between  his 
knees,  as  he  does  when  shaping  and  orna- 
menting the  exterior,  he  digs  a  hole  in  the 
ground,  and  buries  the  pail  as  far  as  the  two 
projecting  ears.  He  then  has  both  his 
hands  at  liberty,  and  can  une  more  force  than 
''^  he  were  obliged  to  trust  to  the  compara- 
ti .  ely  slight  hold  afforded  by  the  knees.  Of 
course  he  sits  down  while  at  work,  for  a  Kaffir, 
like  all  other  savages,  has  the  very  strongest 
objection  to  needless  labor,  and' will  never 
stand  when  he  has  any  opportunity  of  sit- 
ting. It  will  be  seen  that  the  \nu\  is  not 
capable  of  holding  much  more  than  the 
quantity  which  a  good  cow  ought  to  yield, 
and  when  the  Kaffir  has  done  with  one  cow, 
he  pours  the  milk  into  a'large  receptacle,  and 
then  goes  off  with  his  empty  pail  to  another 
cow  for  a  fresh  supply. 

The  scene  that  presents  itself  in  the  isi- 
baya  is  a  very  singular  one,  and  strikes 
oddlv  upon  European  ears,  as  well  as  eyes. 
In  the  first  place,  the  figure  of  the  milker 
is  calculated  to  present  an  aspect  equally 
strange  and  ludicrous.  Perfectly  naked,  with 
the  exception  of  the  smallest  iniMginable 
apology  for  a  garment,  adorned  with  strings 
of  beads  that  contrast  boldly  with  his  red- 
black  skin,  and  with  his  heaif  devoid  of  hair, 
except  the  oval  ring  which  denotes  his  jiosi- 
tion  aa  a  married  "man,"  the  Kaffir  sits  on 
the  ground,  his  knees  on  a  level  with  his 
chin,  and  the  queer-looking  milk  pail  grasped 
between  them. 
Tlien  we  have  the  Bpectaclc  of  the  calf  try- 


A  MILKIXG  SCENE. 


in"'  to  eject  the  milker,  and  being  contin- 
ually kept  away  from  her  moth(!r  by  a  voun'' 
boy    armed  with  a  stick.    And,    iu    cases 
Where  the  cow  is  vicious,  a  third  individual 
IS  employed,  who  holds  the  cow  by  her  horns 
With  one  hand,  and  grasps  her  nostrils  flrmlv 
with  the  other.    As  soon  as  the  supply  of 
mi.k  ceases,  the  calf  is  allowed  to  approach 
Its  mother  and  suck  for  a  short  time,  after 
Which  It  IS  driven  away,  and  the  man  re- 
sumes his  place.    Cattle  are  milked  twice  in 
tiie  day,  the  second  time  being  at  sunset 
when  they  are  brought  home  for  the  night.' 
t^euerally,  however,  a  cow  will  stand  still  to 


67 

of  universal  cow  language,  In  which  every 
dairy-maid  and  farmyurtf  laborer  is  versed 
and  which  is  not  easily  learned  by  an  uni,"' 
•tiate     But  the  KatHr,  who  is  naturally  an 
adept  at  shouting  and  yelling,  encourages 
the  cow  by  all  the  varied  screams  at  his  com-  • 
mand,  mixed  with  loud  whistles  and  tender 
words  of  admiration.    One  consequence  of 
this  curious    proceeding  is,  that  the  cows 
have  always  been  so  accustomed  to  associate 
these    sounds  with  the    process  of   bein- 
milked,    that  when  an    Englishman  bim 
cows  he  IS  obliged  to  have  a  Kaffir  to  mi'  k 
them,  no  white  man  being  able  to  produce 


1.  MILKKTO  PAIL, 


''^''5'!-?ffiN'8  Sil^|?.«^"^^«-    *•  WATER.HPB. 


be  milked,  as  is  the  case  with  our  own  cat 
ev^r/'/."  J^%*  '^''^^'^  ""precaution  is  needed" 

pain,  and  so  they  nrefer  tn  L?,t  ■      ^  ■ 


hev  l,^v    ''l  '"'■''■'",""'  """^  ^^'"^"tlos   to  Which 

they  lave  always  hocu  accustome.l. 
rJ"  ''•■','■'""  "'^'  '"^^"t'-  •'^"'1  '»  "^alling  th.m 
of  \ir-'l'r"'"'''"^^'  Kaffir  makes  g4t„sv 
WH   i"'",'."-'  an   art  in  which    he    oxc    s 
W  th  his  hps  alone  he  can  produce  the  mst 
oxtraordinavy  sounds,  and  by  the  ad  of     N 
'ngers  he  can  whistle  so  loudly  ^^  to  hi  f 
eaten  any  one  who  may  be  near     Sn    ! 
times,  however,  he  has  rLiLo  lo  a.^  a   d 
makes  whistles  of  great  efficaev    «lim.„K    !• 
simple  construction.'^  Tty^TZ'J^Z-uLj 
or.y„ry,andare  used  b/bein"  b.ldVoT: 
|"'.crl,p,  auu  sounded  exactly  as  we  "blow  n 
k.^  wheu-wo  wish  to  ascertai-^  whether"  is 


IF- 


^1 


08 


THE  KAFFIR. 


Tho  chiefs  who  possess  many  oxen  are 
very  nistidious  iibont  them,  and  have  an  ()tl(l 
fancy  of  a-ssemhlintf  them  in  herds,  in  wiiieh 
every  animal  is  of  the  same  color.  The 
oxeii  also  undergo  a  sort  of  trainin<>;,  as  was 
remarked  by  Itetief,  who  was  killed  in  l)attle 
with  Dinijan,  tlie  Znln  kinj,'.  lie  paid  a 
visit  to  tli'at  treaeherons  despot,  and  w.as  en- 
tertained bv  dances  in  which  the  cattle  had 
been  trained  to  assist.  '•  In  one  dance,''  he 
says,  "  the  people  were  intermixed  with  one 
hiindred  and  seventy-six  oxen,  nil  without 
hoi-ns,  and  of  one  color.  They  have  long 
fitrijjs  of  skin  hangin.i;f  pendent  from  the 
forehead,  cheeks,  shoulders,  and  under  the 
throat;  these  strips  being  (;ut  from  the  hide 
when  the  animals  are  calves.  Tliese  oxen 
ai-e  divided  into  two  and  three  among  the 
whole  annv,  which  then  dance  in  companies, 
each  with  its  iittendanl  oxen.  In  this  way 
they  all  in  turn  ajjproach  the  king,  the  oxen 
turiiing  olf  into  a  kraal,  and  then  manreu- 
vring  inallne  from  the  king.  It  is  surj  ri'-ing 
tliat  the  oxen  should  bo  .so  well  trained,  for, 
notwithstanding  all  the  startling  and  yelling 
which  accompany  the  dance,  they  never 
move  faster  than  a  slow  walking  pace. 
Dingan  showed  me,  as  he  said,  his  smallest 
herd  'it' oxen,  all  alike,  .and  with  white  baek.s. 
He  a'luwed  two  of  my  people  to  count  them, 
and  tlieenai.ieration  amounted  to  twothou- 
s:ind  four  hundred  and  twenty-four.  lam 
informed  that  his  herds  of  red  and  black 
oxen  consist  of  three  to  four  thousand  each.'" 
I  may  here  mention  casually,  that  the  same 
lashiiin  of  keeping  animals  of  similar  colors 
in  separate  herds  is  in  force  in  South  Amer- 
ica, among  the  owners  of  tho  Vivst  herds 
of  horses"  which  thrive  so  well  in  that 
countrv. 

The  KalTirs  manage  their  cattle  with  won- 
derful skill,  and  the  animals  perfectly  un- 
derstanil  the  meaninj'  of  the  cries  with 
which  they  are  assailed.  Consequently,  it 
is  almost  as  ditlicult  for  an  Englishman  to 
drive  his  cows  as  to  milk  them,  and  assist- 
ance has  to  be  sought  from  the  natives. 
This  noisv  method  of  cattle  driving  is  the 
source  of  much  dilliculty  to  the  soldiers, 
when  thoy  have  been  sent'  to  recover  cattle 
stolen  bv  those  inveterate  thieves,  the  KatVir 
tribes,  who  look  ujion  the  cattle  of  the  white 
man  as  their  legitimate  itrize,  and  .are  con- 
stantly on  the  look-out  for  them.  Indeed, 
thev  enact  at  the  present  day  that  extinct 
phase  of  Scottish  life  when  tlie  inhabitants 
of  the  Highlands  stole  the  cattle  of  the  Low- 
landers,  and  euiihemistically  deseril)ed  the 
oper!ili(mas  "lifting;"  themselves  not  being 
l>'v  any  means  thieves,  hut  "  gentleman 
di'overs,"  very  punctilious  in  ]iointof  honor, 
and  tliinkingtheniselvcs  as  good  gentlemen 
as  any  in  the  land. 

The  cow  constitutes  now,  in  fact,  the 
wealtli  of  tho  Kn(Hr,  just  :is  was  the  ease  in 
the  earlv  ));itriarehal  days.  Among  those 
tribes  which  are  not  brought  into  connection 


with  the  white  man,  money  is  of  no  v.olue, 
and  all  wealth  is  measured'by  cows.  One  of 
the  great  inland  chiefs,  when  asking  about 
the  (^ueen  of  England,  was  natm-ally  desir- 
ous of  hearing  how  many  cattle  she  po8-  • 
sessed,and  on  hearing  that  many  of  lier  .sub- 
jects had  more  cows  than  herself,  conceived 
a  very  mean  opinion  of  her  power.  Ife 
counted  his  cattle  by  the  thou.sand,  and  if 
any  inferior  chief  h:i(l  dared  to  rival  him  in 
his  wealth,  that  chief  wouhl  very  soon  be  in- 
capacitated from  possessing  anything  at  all, 
while  his  cattle  would  swell  the  number  of 
the  royal  herds.  His  idea  was,  that  even  if 
her  i)fedecessor  had  beque.'ithed  so  poor  a 
throne  to  her,  she  ought  to  assert  her  dig- 
nity by  seizing  that  wealth  which  she  had 
noi  bta'U  fortunate  enough  to  inherit. 

The  cow  is  the  unit  of  money.  The 
cost  of  anything  that  is  iieculiarly  valuable 
is  reckoneJl  by  tho  number  of  cows  that  it 
^vould  fetch  if  sold,  an<l  I'Ven  the  Avoinen 
are  r(-ekoned  by  this  standard,  eight  cows 
equalling  one  woman,  just  as  twelvi^  pence 
equal  one  shilling.  Ml)st  of  the  wars  which 
devastate  Southern  Africa  are  caused  en- 
tirely by  tnc  desire  of  our  num  to  sei/.e  the 
a  rd's  that  belong  to  another,  and  when  the 
white  man  is  engaged  in  African  warlarc, 
he  is  perforce  ol)liged  to  wage  it  on  the 
same  itrinciple.  During  the  late  Kallir  war, 
tlie  reports  of  the  newsjiapers  had  a  singu- 
larly uniniposing  appearance.  The  liurden 
of  their  song  wiis  invariably  cows.  (Jeneral 
Hlank  had  advanced  so  far  into  the  eiuiny's 
country,  ami  driven  off  five  tlunisand  head 
of  cattle.  Or  perhajis  the  casi-  was  re- 
versed; the  position  of  the  Euroiiean  troops 
had  been  suddenly  surprised,  and  several 
thousand  cattle  stolen.  In  fad,  it  seemed 
to  be  a  war  solely  about  cattle,  and.  to  a  cer- 
tain extent,  that  was  necessarily  the  case. 
The  cattle  formed  not  only  the  wealth  of 
the  enemy,  but  bis  resouici^s,  so  that  there 
was  no  better  way  of  bringing  him  to  terms 
than  by  cutting  Off  his  commissariat,  and 
preventing  the  rebellious  chiefs  from  main- 
taining their  armed  forces.  We  had  no 
wish  to  kill  the  KafTirs  themselves,  but 
merely  that  tliey  should  be  taught  not  lu 
meildle  with  us',  and  there  was  no  belter 
way  of  doing  so  than  by  touching  them  on 
their  tenderest  point. 

The  greatest  ambition  of  a  Kaffir  is  to 
possess  cattle,  inasmuch  as  their  owner  can 
eouimand  e\  cry  luxury  which  a  savage  niil- 
lionnaire  desires.  He  can  eat  l)eef  and 
drink  sour  milk  every  day;  he  can  buy  as 
many  wives  .as  he  likes,  at  the  current  itrice 
of  eight  to  fourteen  cows  each,  ■■.reordiug  to 
the  fluetuation  of  the  market;  he  can  make 
all  kinils  of  useful  .irticles  out  of  the  hidt  ^; 
he  ean  lubricate  himself  with  fet  to  his 
heart's  content,  and  he  can  decorule  bis 
sable  person  with  the  flowing  tails-  Vv  ilh 
plenty  of  cattle,  he  can  set  himself  .ip  as  a 
i  great  man;  and,  the  more  cattle  he  has,  Uio 


A   KAFFIll  ROH  ]10Y. 


09 


a.  Kaffir  is  to 


groatcr  man  he  hocoino?.  Instead  of  bninpf 
a  more  "  boy,"  living  with  u  mimbcr  of 
otlior  "boys"  in  one  hut,  ho  lifeoiiios  a 
"  iiiiiii,"  shivvos  Iiis  head,  assumes  (ho  iiroiid 
badi^c  of  manhood,  and  has  a  luit  to  liim- 
self.  As  liis  cattle  introase,  he  adds  more 
wives  to  his  stoek,  builds  separate  huts  for 
them,  has  a  kraal  of  his  own,  heeomos  the 
"umnumzana,"  or  great  man  —  a  term 
about  equivalent  to  the  familiar  "Burra 
Sahib  "  of  Indian  life  —  and  may  expect  to 
he  addressed  by  strange  boys  as  "  iiikosi," 
or  chief.  Shouhl  his  cattle  prosper,  lie  gath- 
ers round  him  the  young  men  who  are  still 
poor,  and  who  aro  attracted  by  his  wealth, 
and  the  hope  of  eating  beef  at  his  cost. 
He  assigns  huts  to  them  within  his  kraal, 
hnd  tliu-,  possesses  an  armed  guard  who  will 
take  care  of  his  cherished  cattle.  Indeed, 
such  a  precaution  is  absolutely  necessary. 
In  Africa,  as  well  as  in  Europe,  wealth 
creates  envy,  and  a  man  who  has  succeeded 
in  gathering  it  knows  full  well  that  there 
are  jilcnty  who  will  do  their  best  to  take  it 
away.  Sonietimes  a  more  jiowia-ful  man 
will  openly  assault  his  kraal,  but  stratagem 
is  moi'c  frequently  cmploy(!d  than  open  vio- 
lence, and  tiiere  are  in  every  tribe  certain 
old  and  crafty  cattle-stealers,  "who  have  sur- 
vived the  varied  dangers  of  such  a  life,  and 
who  know  every  ruse  that  can  be  em- 
ployed. 

There  is  a  story  of  one  of  these  men, 
named  Dutulu,  who  seems  to  have  been  a 
kind  of  Kallir  Rob   Koy.      IFe  ahv.ays  em- 
ployed a  mixture  of  arti'lice  and  force.    He 
used  to  set  off  for  the  kraal  which  lie  in- 
tended to  rob,  and,  in  the  dead  of  night, 
contrived  to  place  somi^  of  his  assistants^ bv 
the  entrance  of  tho  huts.   Aiiotln'r  assistan't 
then  quietly  removed  llie  cattle   from  the 
isi-b.av.i.  while  ho  directed  tho  operations. 
Dutulu  then  caused  an  alarm  to  be  made, 
and  as  the  imnates  crept  out  (u  see  what 
was  the  matter,  they  were  sj)e,ared  by  the 
sentinels  at  (he   entrance.      Not  one'  was 
spared.     The   men   wen;    killed    lest  they 
should    resist,   and    the   women    lest   Ihev 
should  give  the  alarm.     Even  wlien  lie  hail 
carried  olf  the  cadle,  his  anxieties  wen;  not 
at  an  end,  for  cattle  cannot  l)e  moved  very 
fast,  and  they  are  not  easily  concealed.    But 
Dutulu  was  a  man  not  to  bo  balded,  and  ho 
almost    invai'iably   succeeded    in    reachin-' 
homo  with  his  spoil.     lie  never,  in  the  (irs"t 
instance,  allowed  (ho  cattle  to  bo  driven  in 
the  direction  which  he  intended  to  take.   He 
used  to  have  them  driven  rep(>atedlv  over 
the  same  spot,  so  as  to  mix  tho  tracks  and 
bewilder  the  men  who  ^v^•ro  sure  to  follow 
More  than  once  he  battled  imrsuit  by  takiu" 
hisstoien  herd  hack  again,  and  keVpiu'^  il 
111  tile  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  des- 
olated kraal,    e.aleulating  rightly  that    tho 
pursuers  would  follow  him  in  tlie  direction 
ot  Ins  own  homo. 
The  man's  cunning  and  audacity  were 


boundless.  On  one  occasion,  his  own  kraal 
wius  attacked,  but  Dutulu  was  fcr  too  clever 
to  fall  into  tho  traj)  which  he  had  so  often 
set  for  others.  Instead  of  crawling  out  of 
his  hut  and  getting  himself  speared,  lie 
rolled  up  his  leather  mantle,  and  pushed  it 
through  the  door.  As  he  had  anticipated 
it  was  mistaken  in  the  semi-darkness  for  a 
man,  and  was  instantly  ])iercod  with  a  spear. 
While  the  weapon  was  still  entangled  in  the 
kaross,  Dutulu  darted  from  his  hut,  siiraii" 
to  the  entrance  of  liis  isi-baya  fully  armed, 
and  drove  olf  the  outwitted  assailants! 
Even  in  bis  old  age  his  audacity  did  not 
desert  him,  and  ho  actually  determined  on 
stealing  a  herd  of  cattle  i'n  tho  day-time. 
No  onc!  dared  to  join  him,  but  ho  determined 
on  carrying  out  his  desperate  intention  sin- 
gle-handed, lie  succeeded  in  driving  tho 
herd  to  some  distance,  but  was  diseo\erod, 
pursued,  and  surrounded  by  the  enemy. 
Although  one  against  many,' he  fought  li'is 
:  cs  bravely,  and,  although  severely  wounded, 
■lecceded  in  escaping  into  the  b'ush,  where 
tiiey  dared  not  follow  liiin. 

Undeterred  by  this  adventure,  he  had  no 
sooner  recovered  than  he  jdanned  another 
cattle-stealing  expoditi(m.     His  .diief  dissua- 
ded him  from  (he  underlaking.  urging  Uv.'.t 
he  had  quite  enough  cattle,  (hat  he  had  been 
.seriously  wounded,  and  that  he  was  bocoin- 
ing  too  old.     The  ruling  p.assioii  was,  how- 
ever, too  strong  to  li('  resisted,  and  Diidihi 
attiR'ked  a  kraal  on  bis  old  plan,  Ictling  (ho 
cattle  be  driven  in  one  direction,  killiirg  as 
many  enemies  as  he  could,  and  (hoii  running 
oifon  (he  opposite  side  (o  (hat  which    bad 
been  taken  by  the  cattle,  so  as  to  decoy  his 
pursuers  in  a  wrong  direction.     However, 
his  iwlvaiiced  years,  and  perhaps  his  recent 
woiind-s,   had   impaired    his   s[)eed.   and   a.s 
there  was  no  bush  at  hand,  he  dashed  into 
a  morass,  and  crouched  beneath  the  water. 
His  enemies  dared  not  follow  him,  but  sur- 
rounded tho  spot,  and  liurled  their  assagais 
at  him.    They  did  him  no  luirm,  because  he 
protected  his  head  with  his  .shield,  but  ho 
could  not  endure  tho  long  immersion.    So, 
fuKdng  (h:it  hisstrcngth  wasfailinix,  ho  sud- 
denly IcH  (ho  morass,  and  dashed  al  his  ene- 
mies, hoping  that  lie  mitjht  force   his   way 
through  (hem.     He  did  .succeed  in  killin"" 
several  of  (hem,  and  in  passing  (heir  line' 
but  he  could  not  run  fast  enough  to  escape' 
and  was  overtaken  and  killed.  ' 

So,  knowing  that  men  of  n  simil.ar charac- 
ter are  hankering  aHer  his  herd,  their  du.skv 
owner  is  only  too  glad  (o  have  a  number  of 
young  men  who  will  guard  his  cattle  from 
such  cunning  enemies. 

Tho  love  'that  a  KafTir  lias  for  his  cattle 
induces  him  to  ornament  them  in  various 
ways,  some  of  which  must  entail  no  little 
sufTenng  upon  them.  To  (his,  however  ho 
is  qui(e  inniireren(,  often  causing  fiigluful 
torture=  to  the  animals  which  hc'"'lovJs,  m>t 
Irom  the  least  desire  of  hurting  them,  but 


THE  KAFFIR. 


j 


K      '• 


from  tho  utter  unconcern  as  to  inflicting 
pain  which  is  characteristic  of  the  savage, 
in  wliatover  part  of  the  eartli  ho  may  be. 
He  trims  tho  ears  of  tlie  cows  into  all  kinds 
of  odd  shapes,  one  of  the  favorite  patterns 
being  that  of  a  leaf  with  deeply  serrated 
edges.  He  gathers  up  bunches  of  the  skin, 
generally  upon  the  head,  ties  string  tightly 
round  them,  auu  so  forms  a  series  of  pro- 
jecting knots  of  various  sizes  and  shapes. 
Jle  cuts  strips  of  hide  from  various  parts  of 
the  body,  e8i)ecii,lly  the  he.id  and  face,  and 
lets  them  hang  down  as  lappets.  Ho  cuts 
the  dewlap  ana  makes  fringes  of  it,  and  all 
without  the  lea^st  notion  that  he  is  causing 
the  poor  animal  to  suffer  tortures. 

But,  in  some  parts  of  the  country,  ne  lav- 
ishes his  powers  on  the  horns.  Among  us 
the  horn  does  not  seem  capnble  of  much 
modification,  but  a  KafHr,  skilful  in  his  art, 
can  never  be  content  io  leave  the  horns  as 
they  are.  H  t  will  cause  one  horn  to  pro- 
ject forward  and  another  backward,  ami  he 
will  train  one  to  grow  upright,  and  the 
oth..' pointing  to  the  ground.  Sometimes 
r  observes  a  kind  of  symmetry,  and  has 
.  ;:l.  horns  bent  with  their  points  nearly 
touchinjj  the  shoulders,  or  trains  them  so 
'hat  their  tips  meet  above,  and  they  form 
an  arch  over  their  head.  Now  and  then  an 
ox  is  seen  in  which  a  most  singular  effect 
has  been  produced.  As  the  horns  of  the 
young  ox  sprout  they  are  trained  over  the 
forehead  until  the  points  meet.  They  are 
then  manipulated  so  as  to  make  them  coa- 
lesce, and  so  shoot  upward  from  the  middle 
of  the  forehead,  like  the  horn  of  the  fabled 
unicorn. 

Le  Vaillant  mentions  this  curious  mode 
of  decorating  the  cattle,  and  carefully  de- 
scribes the  process  by  which  it  is  performed. 
"  I  hiid  not  yet  taken  a  near  view  of  the 
horned  cattle  which  they  brought  with  them, 
bec.iuse  at  break  of  day  they  strayed  to  the 
thickets  and  pstures,  and  were  not  brouglit 
back  by  their  keepers  until  the  evenin". 
One  day,  however,  having  repaired  to  thcTr 
kriuil  very  earl  v,  I  was  much  surprised  when 
I  first  beheld  one  of  these  animals.  I 
scarcely  knew  them  to  be  oxen  and  cows, 
not  only  on  account  of  their  being  much 
smaller  than  ours,  since  I  observed  in  them 
the  same  form  and  the  same  fundamental 
character,  in  which  I  could  not  bo  deceived, 
but  on  account  of  tho  multiplicity  of  their 
horns,  and  the  yariety  of  their  different 
twistings.  They  had  a  great  resemblance 
to  those  marine  productions  known  by  nat- 
uralists under  the  name  of  stag's  horns. 
Being  at  this  time  pei-suaded  that  these  con- 
cretions, of  which  I  had  no  idea,  were  a 
peculiar  present  of  nature,  I  considered  the 
Kaflir  oxen  as  a  variety  of  the  .specicis,  but 
I  was  undeceived  by  my  guide,  who  informed 
nie  that  this  singularity  was  only  the  effect 
of  their  jnvention  and  ta.ste;  and  that,  by 
means  uf  a  process  with  which  they  were 


well  acquainted,  they  c  uld  not  only  multi- 
ply these  horns,  but  also  give  them  any 
form  that  their  imaginations  might  suggest. 
Having  offered  to  exhibit  their  skill  in  my 
presence,  if  I  had  any  desire  of  learning 
their  method,  it  appeared  to  me  bo  new  and 
uncommon,  that  I  was  willing  to  secure  an 
opportunity,  and  for  several  days  I  attended 
a  regular  course  of  lessons  on  this  subject. 

"  riiey  take  the  animal  at  as  tender  an 
age  as  possible,  and  when  the  horns  begin 
to  appear  they  make  a  small  vertical  incision 
in  them  with  a  saw,  or  any  other  instrument 
that  may  bo  substituted  for  it,  and  divide 
them  into  two  parts.    This  division  makes 
the  horns,  yet  tender,  separate  of  them- 
selves, so  that  in  time  the  animal  has  four 
very  distinct  ones.     If  they  wish  to  have 
six,  or  even  more,  similar  notches  made  with 
the  saw  produce  as  many  as  may  be  re- 
quired.   But  if  they  are  desirous  of  forcing 
one  of  these  divisions  in  the  whole  horn  to 
form,  for  examjjle,  a  comi)lete  circle,  they 
cut  away  from  the  point,  which  must  not  be 
hurt,  a  small  part  of  its  thickness,  and  this 
amputation,  often  renewed,  and  with  much 
jmtience,  makes  the  horn  bend  in  a  con- 
trary direction,  and,  the  point  meeting  tho 
root,  it  exhibits  the  appearance  of  a  perfect 
circle.    As  it  is  certain  that  incision  always 
causes  a  greater  or  less  degree  of  bending, 
it  may  be  readily  conceived  that  every  vari- 
ation that  caprice  can  imagine  may  be  pro- 
duced by  this  simple  method.    In  short,  ono 
must  be  born  a  Kaffir,  and  have  his  taste 
and  patience,  to  submit  to  that  minute  caro 
and  unwearied  attention  required  for  this 
operation,  which  in  Kafflrland  can  only  be 
useless,  but  in  other  climates  would  be  hurt- 
ful.   For  the  horn,  thus  disfigured,  would 
become    weak,    Avhereas,    when    preserved 
strong  and  entire,  it  keeps  at  a  distance  tho 
famished    bears    and    wolves  of   Europe." 
Tho  reader  must  remember  that  the  words 
refer  to  France,  and  th.it  the  date  of  Le 
Vaillant's  travels  was  ITHO-M. 

Tho  same  traveller  mentions  an  ingenious 
niethod  employed  by  the  Kaffirs  when  a  cow 
is  bad-tempered,  and  will  not  give  lier  milk 
freely.  A  rope  is  tied  to  one  of  the  liind 
feet,  and  a  man  hauls  the  footofT  tho  ground 
by  means  of  the  rope.  TK-,3  cow  cannot  run 
away  on  account  of  tho  .jian  who  is  hohling 
her  nose,  and  the  pain  caused  by  tho  violent 
dragging  of  her  foot  backward,  together 
with  the  constrained  attitude  of  standing 
on  three  legs,  soon  subdues  the  most  refrac- 
tory animal. 

Before  proceeding  to  another  chapter,  it 
will  be  well  to  explain  tho  illustration  ou 
page  57,  called  "  The  Kaffirs  at  Home." 

Tho  spectator  is  supposed  to  be  just  inside 
the  outer  enclosure,  and  nearly  opposite  to 
tho  isi-baya,  in  which  some  cattle  are  seen. 
In  the  centre  of  the  plate  a  milking  scene 
is  shown.  The  cow.  being  a  restive  one.  is 
being  held  by  tho  "  man,''  by  means  of  a 


RIDING  OXEN. 


stick  passed  through  its  nostrils,  and  by 
means  of  the  contrast  between   the   man 
and  tlic  animal  (he  small  size  of  the  latter 
is  well  shown.    A  Kattlr  ox  averages  only 
four  hundred  pounds  in  weight.    Beneath 
the  cow  IS  seen  the  milker,  holding  between 
ms  knees  the  curiously   shaped  milkpail. 
On  the  right  hand  is  seen  another  Kaffir 
emntymg  a  pailful  of  milk  into  one  of  the 
baskets  which  are  used  as  stores  for  this 
article.    The  reader  will  notice  that  the  ori- 
fice of  the  basket  is  very  small,  and  so  would 
cause  a  considerable  amount  of  milk  to  be 
spilt,  if  it  were  poured  from  the  wide  mouth 
ol  the  pail.    The  Kaffir  has  no  funnel,  so  he 
extemporizes  one  by  holding  his  hands  over 
the   mouth  of    the  pail,  and   placing  his 
thumbs  so  as  to  cause  the  milk  to  flow  in  a 
narrow  stream  between  them. 

A  woman  is  seen  in  the  foreground,  goinu 
out  to  abor  in  the  fields,  with  her  child  slung 
at  her  back,  and  her  heavy  hoe  on  her  shouP 

Tif'u  .  "'■'''"■  *"  ^''"^^  'he  ordinary  size  of 
the  huts  a  young  Kaffir  is  shown  standino- 
near  one  of  them,  while  a  "man"  is  seateS 
against  it,  and  eiijjaged  alternately  in  his 
pipe  and  conversation.  Three  shield  sticks 
«fHn",?f'  V-  "'*'  ^^"'-■e.of  the  isi-baya.  and  the 
^l^'f  ,f  ^^,''}  ^^^s^cnded  to  the  pole  shows 
,-inni  "  t'"'/  •"'■'"  °^  the  kraaf  is  in  res- 

ftii.w^-i  «heep,  with   their  long  legs 
and  thick  tiuls,  in  which  the  whole  fat  of 
the  body  seems  to  concentrate  itself.    Two 
«r«  «L     ''*™''''''l'"*'  "■''^^  «f  the  courtry 
withS  fh"'*-""'""'^' f "  euphorbia  standing, 
within  the  fence,  and  an  acacia  in  the  back"  ' 
grourd.    This  last  mentioned  tree  is  some- 
times called  Kameel-dorn,  or  Camel-thom 
because  the  giraffe,  which'  the  Dutch  colo-' 
nists  ,««  call  a  camel,  feeds  upon  its  leaves. 
In  the   distance  are  two  of  those   tible- 

;«=Sn"^AT.s ---''--- 

poS^^LrrtTa'i'^a&t^-e 
ury  which  is  very  seldom,  he  feasts  upon  its 
flesh,  and  contrives  to  consume  a  qu^vnti^ty 
that   seems  almost  too  much  for   human 

fsS'milk  "f"\7'^'^«-  «"'  *he  chief  die" 
is  tne  milk  of  the  cows,  generally  mixed 

Jiffi^^  fi,-"  l'9^'''S^ten  in  its  fresh  state,  tfe 
¥^^  A  Ih'nkmg  it  to  be  very  indigest  1 1 . 

X'lVSer  tor " '^''^'^  "^'''^  ^^^^^^^^ 
a  oeei-arinker  looks  upon  sweet-Wort    inA 

have  an  equal  objection  to  drinkiS  'the 

liquid  in  its  cru<le  'state.     When  a  cow  hll 

been  milked,  the  Kaffir  empties  UienaiTimo 

riShand"  f^t*' ""'^  ^  i«  «een^l'tt 
Home"  na^fr.7''%,'."«r\'"S  "Kaffirs  at 
"?""''  .,.P^"e  .)7.    This  basket  already  con 


71 


semi-solid  mass,  and  a  watery  fluid  some- 
thing  hko  whey.  The  lattei-  is  drawn  off 
dren"an2  A?  "  ''""k- ^  given  to  the  eh  J 
aren  and  the  remainder  is  a  Uiick,  clotted 
substance,  about  the  consistency  ol'  Devon- 
shire cream.  ■'       ■^"*"" 

li  Jtil'^r'offl '^  "amasl,"  and  is  the  staff  of 
nV^ffl  J^"?'"-  ^'"-opoans  who  have  lived 
h,.,^  ?/«'"•/  generally  dislike  amasi  exceed- 
ingly at  first,  but  soon  come  to  prefer  it  to 
milk  m  any  other  form.  Some  persons  have 
compared  the  amasi  to  curds  after  the  whey 
has  been  drawn  off;  but  this  is  not  a  lair 
comparison.    The  amasi  is  not  in  lumps  or 

onr  ?.w't  V*  "■  '^'^i'.'  ^'■^'''"y  ""'»'«'  •""••0  like 
our  clotted  cream  than  any  other  substance. 
It  has  a  slightly  acid  flavor.  Cluldren 
whether  black  or  white,  are  always  very  fonci 
of  amasi  and  there  can  be  no  better  food  for 
Uiem.  Should  the  Kaffir  bo  obliged  to  use 
a  new  vessel  for  the  purpose  of  making  this 
clotted  milk,  10  always  takes  some  amasi 
ready  prepared  and  places  it  in  the  vessel 
together  with  the  fresh  milk,  where  it  acts 
Uke  yeast  m  liquid  fornientotion,  and  soon 
reduces  the  entire  mass  to  ita  own  consist- 
ency.  ^lov 

The  oxen  are  also  used  for  ridinjr  pur- 
poses, and  as  beasts  of  burden.  Europeans 
employ  them  largely  as  draught  oxen,  and 
use  a  great  number  to  draw  a  single  wajion- 
but  the  wagon  is  an  Europcun  invenUon 
and  therefoi^  without  Uie  scope  of  the  pres- 
ent work.  The  native  contrivers  to  ride  the 
oxen  without  the  use  of  a  saddle,  balancing 
himself  ingeniously  on  the  sharply  rid-'cd 

S'a  'sH"t?,""''"T  ^''  ''''"^'"l  stood  ^y  means 
lftn«  k'™T^'*^  nostrils,  with  a  cord 
tied  to  each  encTof  it    He  is  not  at  all  a 

fx?en5ed"Si  ^u'  ^T  '''""K  ^-i"'  hi«  arms 
txtended   and  his  elbows  jerking  up  and 

Since  the  introduction  of  horses,  the  Kaf- 
firs have  taken  a  great  liking  to  them,  and 
have  proved  themselves  capable  of  beh"^ 
good  liorsomen,  after  their  fa.shion.    This 
ashion  IS,  always  to  ride  at  full  gallop-   for 
they  can  see  no  object  in  mounting  a  swift 
animal  if  ,ts  speed  is  not  to  be  broiPght  iX 
operation    It  is  a  very  picturesque  sight  when 
a  party  of  mounted  Kaffirs  come  dashing 
along,  their  horses  at  full  speed,  their  shields 
and  spears   m  their  hanas,  and   their  ka- 
rosses   flying    behind    them'  as   they   ride 
When  they  have  occasion  to  stop,  thl-y  null 
moment'"^"'"'''  '*'■''  ""^  their 'horses  In  a 
However  the  Kaffir  may  be  satisfied  with 
he  bare  back  of  the  ox,  tL  Europ  4    Tan 


tains  milk  in  the  second  sTio-e  3  i  ^  ™""  ^'^^  '^'■»''«  '""''^  "^  the  ox, 

completely  emnti^d'totK'  h'e "S  place T^'' l'  ^"^^'^  '^'^  «"»'•     I""  the  first 

^Jl^l',f'^'^'^'^.'^'^^'^k<^t,^Zn^^^^  of  the. ox  does  not 


the 


n  the  next 


-oio„n.;'ii;3SUS^S'ulKlt;i;'l^'iiaSn€l!iEiii 


TT 


111 


ta 


THE  ILVFFIR. 


, 


i  J  t 


graflp  of  tlio  legs.  A  few  clotlifl  or  hides  are 
therefore  placed  oa  the  aulmarN  hack,  and 
a  long  "  reim,"  or  leatiicrn  rope,  is  parsed 
Bcvoral  times  round  its  hody,  hcing  drawn 
tightly  by  a  couple  of  men,  one  at  each  side. 
liy  this  operation  tlie  skin  is  braced  up 
tight,  and  a  saddle  can  be  fixed  nearly  us 
firmly  as  on  a  horse.  Even  under  these  cir- 
cumstances, the  movements  of  the  ox  art- 
very  unpleasant  to  nn  Euit)pean  equestrian, 
and,  although  not  so  fatiguing  w  tnose  ol"  a 
camel,  require  a  tolerable  course  of  practice 
before  they  become  agreeable. 

This  custom  of  tightly  girthing  is  not  con- 
fined to  those  animals  which  are  used  for 
the  saddle,  but  is  also  practised  on  those 
that  are  used  as  pack -oxen;  the  loose  skin 
rendering  the  packages  liable  to  slip  off  the 
animal's  back.  Tlie  whole  process  of  girth- 
ing the  ox  is  a  very  curious  one.  A  sturdy 
KalBr  stixnds  at  each  side,  while  another 
holds  the  ox  firmly  by  a  stick  passed  through 
its  nostrils.  The  skins  or  cloths  are  tlu-n 
laid  on  the  back  of  the  ox,  and  the  long  rop(> 
thrown  over  them.  One  man  retains  his 
hold  of  one  end,  while  the  other  passes  the 
rope  round  the  animal's  body.  Each  man 
takes  firm  hold  of  the  rope,  puts  one  foot 
against  the  ox's  side,  by  way  of  a  fulcrum, 
and  then  hauls  away  with  the  full  force  of 
his  body.  Holding  his  own  part  of  the  rope 
tightly  with  one  hand,  the  second  Kaffir  dex- 
terously throws  the  end  under  the  animal  to 
his  comrade,  who  catches  it.  and  passes  it 
over  the  back,  when  it  is  seized  oa  before. 


Another  hauling-match  now  takes  place, 
and  the  process  ^oes  on  until  the  cord  is 
exhausted,  and  l\w  diameter  of  tlie  ox  notably 
diminished.  In  spite  ol  the  enormous  pres- 
sure to  which  it  is  subject,  the  iioiist  seems  to 
ca"?  "  1  i,  •  it,  aiul  walks  away  as  if  un- 
00  uclT'  1.  U  0  Journey  is  a  long  one,  the 
r.'pfH  arc  gent  rally  tightened  once  or  twice, 
(lie  I  iii,c  drivers  seeming  to  take  astrango 
pleasure  in  the  operation. 

The  illustration  No.  1,  on  jiago  73,  shows 
the  manner  in  which  the  Kailir  employs  the 
ox  for  riding  and  pack  purposes.  A  chief  is 
returning  with  his  triumpliaut  soldiers  from 
a  successful  expedition  against  an  enemy's 


kraal,  which  they  hii 


n  \,[t"  as  their 


Iftying  is.  In  tlu  iorcground  is  seen  tho 
chief,  fat  and  pursy,  dressed  in  the  full  para- 
phernalia of  war,  and  seated  on  an  ox.  A 
hornless  ox  is  generallv  chosen  for  tho  sad- 
dle, in  order  to  avoid  the  danger  of  the  rtder 
falling  forward  and  woundiii;.'  himself;  but 
sometimes  the  Kaffir  qualifle.'*  an  ox  for  Siul- 
dlo  purposes  by  forcing  the  horns  to  grow 
downward,  and  in  many  instances  contrives 
to  make  the  horns  flap  al)out  quite  loosely, 
as  if  they  were  only  suspended  by  thongs 
from  the  animal's  head.  The  soldiers  are 
seen  in  charge  of  other  oxen,  laden  with  tho 
spoils  of  the  captured  krajil,  to  which  they 
have  set  Are;  and  in  the  middle  distance,  a 
couple  of  men  are  reloading  a  refractory  ox, 
and  drawing  tlie  ropa  tightly  round  it,  to 
prevent  it  from  sliaking  oil' its  load  a  second 
tim«. 


imgo  73,  shows 
Wv  cniplovstho 
'(OS.  A  chief  is 
it  boIiHlts  from 
ist  an  enemy's 
n  ,;>,"  as  tlieir 
11(1  \H  seen  tho 
(1  the  full  para- 

on  an  ox.  A 
i;n  for  tho  sad- 
der of  the  rider 
_'  himself;  hut 
i  an  ox  for  siwl- 
horns  to  grow 
nces  contrives 
;  quite  loosely, 
lied  hy  tlionj^s 
10  soldiers  arc 
laden  with  tho 
to  whieh  they 
klle  distance,  a 

refractory  ox, 
y  round  it,  to 
3  load  a  second 


0.)  KAnii:  f  ATri,i;-Ti!Ai.M.\u  iiu:  uok.ns. 


(7;!) 


CHAPTER  IX. 


MARRIAGE. 


POLYGAMY  PRACTISED  AMOKO  TOR  KAFFIM-OOZA  AND  HIS  WlVEH-NnMnRH  OP  A  KtVo's  HARrM- 
i^n^^^'v^,'"  "'"^'"='""«  >^'>'"-">K  K,X,.  AND  ...H  HUCCRSSOIW  -  A  HAUnAilOVS  CUMT.^M - 
THK  ™D''';?r  "*■  ''°''"''"'  *''"""  "^"^  «'^"»«-'>«MKHT.O  LIKE  AN,.  .T8  CUHT^.MB- 
u,  ,-,l  ""    *    WirK-ANKXDOTE    Or    A    KAPK.U     IIV.l.AND- JKA,.,C9V    AND    ITH 

or     VMK,  """''    '''"■"    ^'•■"    '""    '''"^•"■«"««-MlNUTK    CODE   .T  ..A^V.LtHE   LW 

Ora.MVn,     '""'"'   "«»"'««''"'^««— -"^  MASTE«S,„rOKT„E   KHAA,.- ..UorK.r.ON  TO  T^.B 
0UP..AN-01TAUDUNH,  THEln  DUTIES  AND  J-K.V.LEOEH- ,.HK...MINAU,KH  TO   MAUU.AOE  -  KAFK  U 

TALB-UZINTO  AND  HEU  ADVENTURES- IlEWAllD  OF  PEKaEVKHANCE.! 


CoNTRAnv   to  general  opinion,  marrin<»fi 
IS  quite  as  iniportunt  a  matter  anionf,'  tfie 
Kathra  as  witli  ourselves,  and  even  tliougli 
10  men  wlio  can  aflbnl  it  do  not  coiitejit 
tliemselves  with  one  wile,  there  is  as  much 
ooremony  in  tlic   last  marriapo  as   in   the 
first.    As  to  the  number  of  wives,  no  law 
on  that  subject  is  found    in  tlie  minute, 
tliough    necessarily    traditiomd,    code    of 
law»,  by  wliieh   the  Kallirs  regulate   their 
domestic    polity.    A    man    may  take   just 
as  many  wives  as  he  can  afford,  and  the 
richer  a  man  is,  the  more  wives  ho  has 
as  a  general  rule.    An  ordinary  man  has 
generalhr  to  bo  content  with   one,   while 
those  of  higher  rank  have  the  number  of 
wives  dependent  on  their  wealth  and  posi- 
tion.    Goza,  for  example,   whoso   portrait 
IS  given  on  page  117  and  who  is  a  nowerlul 
cluet,  has  a  dozen  or  two  of  wives     There 
18  now  b(;fore  mo  a  photograph  represent- 
ing a  whole_  row  of  hTs  wives,^all  sitting  on 
their  heels,  in  the  attitude  adopted  bv  K?ifflr 


him,  and  offer  their  daughters  to  him  only 
too  i)roiid  if  he  Will  accept  them,  aiui  ask- 
nig  no  jiayment  for  them.    The  revereneo 
("J''  .^"""»■•ty  m"st   be  very  strong   in  a 
Kalhrs  breast,  if  it   can    induce    him  to 
lorego  any  kind  of  payment  whatever,  es- 
necially  as  that  payment  is  in  cattle.    The 
king   has  jierhaps  twenty  or  thirty  large 
kraals  in  different    jiarts  of   the   conntrv 
and  in  each  of  them  he  has  a  considerable' 
number  of  wives,  so  that  he  is  always  at 
homo  whenever  ho  changes  his  residence 
from  one  kraal    to  anotlier.     In  fact    ho 
never  knows,  within  fifty  or  so,  how  many 
wives  he  has,  nor  would  he  know  all  his 
wives  by  sight,  and  in  consequence  he  is 
obliged  to  keej)  a  most  jealous  watch  over 
his  household,  lest  a  neglected  wife  should 
escape  and  take  a  husband,  who,  although 
a  iilcbeian,  would  he  her  own  choice,   la 
consemienco  of  this  feeling,   none   of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  royal  harem  ever  leave 
their   house    without   a  strong    guard   at 


women,  and  all   looking    rather  surnrised   bnnri     i,non-,a     iT   ;."*    '^"'""   "•' 

at  the  photographer's   operations   TS  con^nlH          ."    "'?'"'""'    "'^   «1''''«'    '^'>« 

sense  of  the  word,  none.of  ZT'havo  Z  w  wL                    '"  ""SH-^Pected  places, 
least  pretence    to'  be.auty    S^ver   miv  LZhfel   I'T"''  ^-'P*""*    ^Z  ""^   '^'»«    the 

have  been  the  case  when^  hey  Sre  yo^^  ^  hS  ^v/v  -'%f  • "  "*".  ^^'^  P*^""*   "^  ""y 

girls,  but  it  is.evi,h,nt  that  their  ioiiitlus^  Kaffir    til      JK'^  '"'*'  7°"  »afo  for  a 

band  was  satisfied  with  the  r  e)  n^, ..    ' ."  ^,?^L}Z  ^^1'}^   *"  «»«    «f  these  closely 


s'      ,'  - »'"■'  ""■"K  iiiuir  loini  nils- 

band  was  satished  with  their  charms,  or 

hoifsehold.     ""'  '■'*'*^"  "  P°''"°'^  *°  ^^'^ 

As  to  the  king,  the  number  of  his  wives 

18  Illimitable.    Parents  come  humbly  ))efore 


(75) 


guarded  beauties,  for,  even  if  no  guards  are 
openly  ,n  sight,  a  spy  is  sure  to  be  eon- 
ccaica  at  no  great  distance,  and  the  conse- 
miencc^  of  such  an  indiscretion  would  be 
that  the  woman  wonld  certainly  lose  her 


78 


THE  KAFFIR. 


life,  and  the  man  probably  bo  a  fellow  suf- 
feror. 

That  able  and  sanguinary  chief  Tchaka 
fornii"!  an  exception  to  the  ordinary  rule. 
Ke  Would  accept  as  many  dark  maidens  as 
might  be  oll'ered  to  him,  but  he  would  not 
raise  one  of  them  to  tlie  rank  of  wife.  The 
reason  for  this  line  of  conduct  was  his  hor- 
ror of  seeing  a  successor  to  his  throne.  A 
Kaflir  of  rank  always  seems  to  think  that 
he  himself  is  exempt  from  the  ordinan'  lot 
of  humanity,  and  will  never  speak  of  the 
possibility  of  his  own  death,  nor  allow  any 
one  else  to  do  so.  In  a  dependent,  such  a 
•  piece  of  bad  breeding  would  be  looked  upon 
as  an  overt  act  of  treachery,  and  the  thought- 
less delinquent  would  instantly  lose  the 
power  of  repeating  the  offence  by  forfeiting 
hiS  life.  Even  in  an  European,  the  oftence 
would  be  a  very  grave  one,  and  would  jar 
gratingly  on  the  feelings  of  all  who  heard 
the  ill-omened  words.  This  disinclination 
to  speak  of  deat'.;  sometimes  shows  itself  very 
curiously.  On  one  occasion,  an  Englishman 
wont  to  pay  a  visit  to  Panda,  after  the  contra- 
diction of  a  report  of  that  monarch's  death. 
After  the  preliminary  greetings,  he  exjiressed 
his  pleasure  r.t  yeeing  the  chief  so  well,  es- 
pecially after  the  report  of  his  death.  The 
word  "  death  "  seemed  to  strike  the  king  and 
all  the  court  like  an  electric  shock,  and  an 
ominous  silence  reigned  around.  At  la.st 
Panda  recovered  himself,  and.  Avith  a  voice 
that  l)ctrayed  his  emotion,  said  that  such 
subjects  were  never  spoken  of,  and  <hon 
adroitly  changed  the  conversation. 

Now.  the  idea  of  a  successor  impl'es  the 
death  ot  the  present  occupant  of  the  throne, 
and  therefore!  Tchaka  refused  to  marrv  any 
Mives,  from  whom  his  successor  might  be 
born.  More  than  that,  if  any  of  the  inmates 
of  his  hnrcni  showed  signs  that  the  popula- 
tion was  likely  to  be  increased,  they  were 
sure  to  be  arrested  on  some  trivial  pretence, 
dragged  out  of  tlu'ir  homes,  and  summarily 
executed.  Wo  may  feel  disposed  to  wonder 
that  sue!)  a  heartless  monster  could  by  any 
means  have  found  any  inmates  of  his 
harem.  Ihir  we  must  remember  that  of  all 
men  a  Kaflir  chief  is  the  most  despotic, 
having  al)solute  power  over  any  of  his  sub- 
jects, and  his  orders  l)eing  obeyed  with  an 
instantaneous  obedience,  no  inattr-r  how 
revolting  tlicy  might  be.  Parents  would 
kill  their  children  and  children  their  pa- 
rents at  his  command;  and  so  stnmge  a 
hold  has  obedience  to  the  king  upon  the 
mind  of  a  Kaflir,  that  men  liave  been 
known  to  thank  him  and  utter  his  praises 
while  being  beaten  to  death  by  his  orders. 

Therefore  the  parents  of  these  ill-fated 
girls  had  no  option  in  the  matter.  If  he 
wanted  them  he  would  take  them,  probably 
murdering  their  parents,  and  adding  their 
cattle  to  his  own  vast  herds.  Hy  volnn- 
t.^-rily  offering  them  they  might  possibly 
gain  his  good  graces,  and  there  might  bo  n 


chance  that  they  would  escape  the  fate  that 
had  befallen  so  many  of  their  predecessors 
in  the  royal  favor.  These  strange  effects 
of  despotism  are  by  no  means  confined  to 
Southern  Africa,  biit  are  fo'iiul  among  more 
civilized  people  than  the  Kaffirs.  AVe  all 
remember  the  opening  story  of  the  "Ara- 
bian Nij'hts,"  which  furnishes  the  thread  on 
which  all  the  stories  are  strung.  How  a 
king  found  that  his  wife  was  unworthy  of 
her  position,  and  how  he  immediately 
rushed  to  the  conclusion  that  such  unwor- 
thiness  was  not  the  fault  of  an  individual, 
but  a  quality  inherent  in  the  sex.  How  he 
reduced  his  principle  to  practice  by  marry- 
ing a  new  wife  eveiy  evening,  arid  cutting 
off  her  head  next  morning,  until  his  pur- 
rose  was  arrested  !jJ'  the  ingenious  narrator 
of  the  tales,  who  originated  the  practice 
now  prevalent  in  periodicals,  namely,  al- 
ways leaving  off  unexpectedly  in  an  inter- 
esting part  of  the  story. 

This  extraordinary  proceeding  on  the  part 
of  an  Oriental  monarch  is  tohl  with  a  per- 
fect absence  of  comment,  and  neither  the 
narrator  nor  the  hearer  disjilays  any  signs 
that  such  a  line  of  conduct  was  strange, 
or  even  culpable.  The  subjects  who  were 
called  upon  to  supply  such  a  succession 
of  wives  certainly  grumbled,  but  they  con- 
tinued to  sujij.ly  them,  and  evidently  had 
no  idea  that  tluir  monarcirs  orders  could 
be  disobeyed. 

The  effect  of  polygamy  among  the  •wives 
themselves  is  rather  curious.  In  the  first 
place,  they  are  accustomed  to  the  idea,  and 
nave  »iever  been  led  to  exjieet  that  they 
would  bear  sole  rub  in  the  house.  Indeed, 
none  of  them  would  entertain  such  iin  idea, 
l)(>eause  the  very  fact  that  a  man  possessed 
only  one  wife  would  derogate  from  his 
dignity,  and  eonsecniently  from  lii  r  own. 
1'herc  is  another  reason  for  the  institution 
of  polygamy,  namely,  the  division  of  labfir. 
Like  all  savages,  the  Kathr  man  never  con- 
descends to  perform  manual  inl>.  r,  all  real 
work  falling  to  the  lot  of  the  women.  As 
to  any  work  that  requires  bodily  exertion, 
the  Kaffir  never  dreams  of  undertaking  it. 
He  would  not  even  lilt  a  basket  of  rice  on 
the  head  of  his  favorite  wife,  but  would 
sit  on  the  ground  and  allow  some  woman 
to  do  it.  One  of  my  friends,  when  rather 
new  to  Kaflirland,  ha])peni'd  to  look  into 
a  hut,  and  there  saw  n  stalwart  Kaffir  sit- 
ting and  smoking  his  pipe,  while  the  women 
were  hard  at  work  in  the  sun,  buihiing 
huts,  carrying  timber,  and  i)erforniing  all 
kinds  of  severe  labor.  Struck  with  a  natural 
indignation  at  such  behavior,  he  told  the 
smoker  to  get  U])  and  woi'k  like  e.  man. 
This  idea  was  too  much  even  for  the  native 
politeness  of  the  Kafti'-,  whf)  burst  into  a 
laugh  at  so  absurd  a  notion.  "  Wfrmen 
work,"  said  he, "  men  sit  in  the  house  and 
smoke." 

The  whole  cares  of  domestic  life  fall  upon 


JEALOUSY  AMONG  WIVES. 


le  the  fatn  that 
'ir  prL'deccssors 
strango  cftuots 
Ills  cdiiCmed  to 
ii<l  ainoiiK  more 
:airirs.  AV(!  all 
V  ol'  the  "  Ara- 
'9  Iho  thread  on 
triiiig.  How  a 
IS  mnvorthy  of 
I!  immediately 
it  such  unwor- 
r  an  individual, 
!  sex.  How  he 
dice  by  marry- 
ijj;,  arid  cutting 
until  his  pur- 
enious  narrator 
d  the  practice 
lis,  namely,  al- 
lly  in  an  inter- 
line; on  the  part 
i)]0  with  a  per- 
11(1  neither  tho 
ilays  nny  signs 
t  was  strange, 
jeets  who  were 
1  a  succession 
,  but  they  con- 
evidently  had 
s  orders  could 

long  the  wives 
a.    In  the  first 

0  the  idea,  and 
peet  that  they 
louse.  Indeed, 
n  such  an  idea, 
man  possessed 
gate  tVoin  his 
rom  her  own. 
the  inslilution 

lisioii  of  lahfir. 
nan  never  eoii- 

1  iaii.  r,  all  real 
le  women.  As 
lodilv  exertion, 
undertaking  iti 
skct  of  rice  on 
iCe,  but  would 
.V  some  woman 
Is,  when  rather 
1  to  look  into 
vart  Kaffir  sit- 
liile  the  women 

sun,  liuihiing 
liertorniing  all 
]i  with  a  natural 
(ir,  he  told  the 
■k  like  p.  man. 
1  for  the  native 
o  burst  into  a 
on.  "  ]Voni(n 
the  house  and 

ic  life  fail  upon 


tho  married  woman.    licsidc  doini^  all  the 
ordinary  work  of  the  house,  inckicling  the 
building  of  it,  she  has   to  i)reparc  all   tho 
tood  and  keep  tho  hungry  men  supplied, 
b  le  cannot  go  to  a  shop  and  buy   bread, 
one  liiis  to  till  the  ground,  to  sow  the  grain 
to  watch  it,  to  reap  it,  to  thrash  it,  to  grin<: 
it,  and  to  bake  it.    llor  husband  may  per- 
haps eondesoend  to  bring  homo  game  that 
ho  hn.s  killed,  though  he  will  not  burden 
himself  longer  than  he  can  help.    But  the 
cooking  falls  to  the  woman's  share,  and  slie 
lias  not  only  to  stew  the  meat,  but  to  make 
tlie  pots  in  which  it  is  prepared.    After  a 
lanl  day  s  labor  out  of  doors,  she  cannot  -^o 
homo  and  rest,  but  is  obliged  to  grind  the 
maizo  or  millet,  a  work  of  very  great  labor 
on    .account    of    the    primitive    niixchincrv 
which  IS  employed— simply  one  stone  upon 
another,  tlie  upper  stone  being  rocked  b.ick- 
ward  .ami  foi  ivard  witli  a  motion  like  that 
,     of  a  chemist  i  pestle.     The  Katlirs  never 
keep  Hour  re.^dy  ground,  so  that  this  heavy 
task  has  to  bt  performed  regularly  every 
,   day.     AVhen  she  has  ground   the  corn  she 
l.cii  either  to  bake  it  into  cakes,  or  boil  it 
into  porrid-e,  and  theu  has  the  gratification 
of  seeing  the  men  cat  it.    She  also  has  to 
make  the  beer  which  is  so  popular  among 

.1,1,  I-  !'f'  '^"'  '^'■i^  "^^^y  little  clunco  ol' 
diinkin-r  the  product  of  her  own  industry. 

nf  n  r  L  '  '"r""'  ^'\«'''^'''>r«.  that  the  work 
of  .a  Kathr  wife  is  about  twice  as  hard  as 
that  ot   an  English  farm  laborer,  and  that 

when  her  husband  takes  another  wife,  who 
ni:iy  du'ido  lier  labors.    Moreover,  the  first 
wite  has  always  a  ,sort  of  preeminence  over 
the  others,  and  retains  it  unless  she  forfeits 
the  tavor  of  her  husband  by  some  pecu  - 
arly  iLagrant  .act,  in  which  case  she  is  de- 
osed  and  another  wife  raise.l  to  the  vacant 
ouoi.     A\  hen  such  an  event  takes  pLace, 
tlie  hu:.baiKl  selects  any  of  liis  wives  that  he 
happens  to  like  best,  without  any  re-ard  for 
fie.uonty,  .and,  as  a  natural  consilience,  the 
youngest  h.as  the  be.=t  chance  of  beconii  .; 
the  chief  wde,  tl.us  causing  much  jealousy 
anion,^  them     Did  all  the  wives  live  in  the 
sauK,  house  with  their  husband,  the  bicker- 
ings would  be  constant ;  but,  .accordinn^  to 
Ivatm-  law,  each  wife  h.as  her  own  hut  tluat 
belonging  to  the  principal  wife  boinr  on  the 
right  hand  of  the  chief's  house         " 

hoiuetnnes,  however,  jealousy  will  prev.ail 
in  spite  ot  these  pi'oventiyes,  and  h.as  been 
known   to  lead   to  fatal  resu  ts.    (no  case 

(I  .'""l^^alfd  oth  '■^"'""'>'  ^""'»  ">"""<>'"i 
(pag.,  ol),  and  others  occur  more  frenuentlv 

than  IS  known.    One  such  case  was  a  rat h.^ 

remarkable    one.      There    h.a<l    been    two 

The  other  two  wives  fti^  themselves  ii  jurt  i 
by  her  jiresence,  an.l  fo.-  a  year  su    ecte 
her  to  continual    persocuf'on.      O    >''  day 

found    h"'"abs'\V'^'"r'^  '"  '-  '«'»««'- 
lonnd    h^r   absent,  and    aaked    from    the 


77 

rhev''di,7n'?l,'''°  '^"'•,      '^'"'y   '^l''''"l    «'"t 
i  1     «    '  ^"T'"'  '""'  *'>■*'  when  they  went 

ley  h  <1  left  her  n,  the  kraal.  DLatisfied 
witli  tile  answer,  he  pressed  them  m..rc 
ch,sely  and  was  then  told  that  she  hud  gono 
off  to  her  father's  house.     At  the  first  dawn 

that  nothing  had  been  heard  of  hc-r  His 
next  step  was  to  go  to  one  of  the  witch 
doctors,  or  prophets,  and  ask  him  what  Jiiid 
become  ot  his  favorite  wife.  The  n.an  an- 
swered that  the  two  elder  wives  liad  mur- 
dered her.  lie  set  off  huinc ward,  but  beforo 
ho  reached  his  kra.al.  the  dead  body  of  the 
murdered  Wife  had  been  diseoverdd  by  a 
herd  boy.  The  fact  w.os,  that  she  had  gone 
put  with  the  oth  r  two  wives  in  the  morn- 
ing to  fetch  firewood,  a  quarrel  had  arisen, 
and  they  had  hanged  her  to  a  tree  with  tho 
bush-rope  used  in  tying  up  tlie  bundles  of 

As  to  minor  assaults  on  a  favorite  wife 
they  are    common   enough.      She   will   bo 
beaten,  or  have  her  face  scratched  so  as  to 
spoil  her  beauty,  or  the  holes  in  her  ears 
will  be  torn  violently  open.    The  assailants 
are  sure  to  suli'er  in  their  own  turn  lor  their 
conduct,  their  husband  beating  them  most 
cruelly  with  the  h  St  weapon  that  hapi.ens 
to  come  to  hand.    But,  in  the  mean  time, 
the  work  which  they  have  done  has  been 
elFccted,  and  they  h.ave  at  .all  c      its  enjoyed 
some  moments  of  savage  vengeance.  FLHus 
otten  take  placo  among  the  wives,  but  if'tho 
husband  hears  the  noise  of  the   scuflle  ho 
soon  puts  a  stop  to  it,  by  seizing  a  stick 


-  , —  ..  „i,v.j,  lu  11,    „y  Hoiziiiir  a  stick 

and  impartially  belaboring  each  ccnnbata.it: 

Iho  position  of  a  first  wife  is  really  ono 

of  some  consequence.     Although  she   has 

sUf  13  not  looKed  upon  as  so  utter  an  article 
ot  merchandise  as  her  successors.  '•  When 
a  man  takes  his  first  wife,"  says  Mr 
Shooter    '-all   the  cows   he   possesses    aio 

m  Ik  tor  the  support  of  her  family  and 
after  the  birth  of  her  first  so.riu'y  "  e 
called  his  cattle.  Theoretically  1  e^his- 
W  'fo,^?']  ."''"  >^':  «^^11  nor  dispose  of  t  em 
VK  out  his  wiles  consent    If  he  wish   to 

catUo  fifrT    '""'"'  •''"^  i:^'1"''""  •-"'>•  «*'  tl'^«« 

coISrrenee.    ^'''"^''''^  ^'^  '""^'  "^''^'"  ^''' 

"  When  I  asked  a  native  how  this  was  to 

or  rf'thaf?.! '.  ^'  f '^'  '•>■  "?"«^y  ■-»"'>  -'^^i'i^ 
or  1    tlatd  d  not  succeed,  by  botherin"  her 

until  she  yielded,  an.i  teld  him  not  t^^io  so 

to-morrow,  ..  c.  for  the  fnlure.    Somet  ines 

she  becomes  angry,  and  tells  him  to  take  a  1 

for  they  are  not  hers,  but  hi.s.    If  she  comn W 

furni  rcilt^!'^"''^  '"J-^«''''"°"-^^^^ 
urnish  catt  e  to  purchase  and  indue  a  new 

wife,  she  will  be  entitled  to  her  services  and 

„Vi"~~"i  V  '  ',  '  ""'^  ieccivcd  lor  i  new  wife'i 
eldest  daughter.    The  cattle  assigned  to  Iho 


78 


THE   KAFFIR. 


second  wife  are  Ruljjecb  to  the  same  rulos, 
and  so  on,  while  I'resh  wives  afo  taken.  Any 
wife  may  f-irnisli  the  (lattle  necessary  to  add 
a  now  nienibcr  to  ihe  liarein,  and  with  the 
same  cousequenees  as  resulted  to  the  first 
wife;  but  it  seems  that  the  queen,  as  the  first 
is  called,  can  claim  the  right  of  refusal."  It 
will  be  seen  from  this  account  of  the  rela- 
tive stations  of  the  dilferent  wives,  that  the 
position  of  chief  wife  is  one  that  would  be 
much  jirized,  and  we  can  therefore  under- 
stand (hat  the  elevation  of  a  new  comer  to 
that  rank  would  necessarily  create  a  strong 
feeling  of  jealousy  in  the  hearts  of  the 
others. 

In  consequence  of  the  plurahty  of  wives, 
the  law  of  inheritance  is  most  complicated. 
Some  persons  niay  wonder  that  a  law  which 
seems  to  belong  especially  to  civilization 
should  be  found  among  savage  tril^es  like 
the  Kaliirs.  15  it  it  nuist  be  remembered 
that  the  KalHr  is  essentially  a  man  living 
under  authority,  and  that  his  logical  turn  of 
inlellect  has  caused  him  to  frame  a  legal 
code  which  is  singularly  minute  in  all  its 
details,  ami  which  enters  not  only  into  the 
affairs  of  the  nation,  but  into  those  of  private 
life.  The  law  respecting  the  rank  held  by 
the  wives,  and  the  control  which  they  exer- 
cise over  i)rope)-ty,  is  suliicieutly  minute  to 
give  ])romise  that  there  would  iilso  bo  a  law 
which  regulated  the  shai'c  held  in  the  prop- 
erty of  their  respective  children. 

In  order  to  understan.l  the  working  of  this 
l,iw,  the  reader  nuist   lemember   two  fads 
which   have  been  menti'med:  the  one,  that 
the  wives  do  not  live  in  common,  but  that 
each  has  her  own  house;  and  moreover,  that 
to  each  hous^' a  certain  amount  of  cattle  is 
attached,    in    theory,   if    not    in    j)ractice. 
When  the  iuadman"  of  a  kra;ddies,his  prop- 
erty is  divided  among  his  children  by  vir- 
tue of  a  la\i-,  which,  though  unwritten,  is 
well  known,  and  is  as  precise  as  any  similar 
law  in  England.     If   there    should  be   an 
eld(!St  son,  born  in  the  house  of  the  chie!' 
wife,  he    succeeds  at   once  to   his    fatherV 
property  and  inherits  his  rank.     There  is  a 
very  coi'nmon  Kailir  song,  which,  though  not 
at  iUl  filial,  is  characteristic.     It   begins  bv 
saying.  ••  My  father  has  died,  and  I  liave  all 
his  cattle.''' and  then  proc.cds  to  expatiate 
on  the  joys  of  wealth.     lie  does  not  neces- 
sarily iiih'erit  all  the   cattle  ni  the  kraal,  be- 
cause there  may  b<^  sons  belonging  to  other 
houses;  ui  such  cast's,  the  eldest  son  of  each 
house  woidd  be  en'itled  to  the  cattle  whicli 
are  reco<_'ui/.((i  as  the  jjroiierty  of  that  house. 
Still,  he  exercis(-s  .-t  sort  of  paternal  author- 
ity over  the  whol(%  and  will  often  succeed  in 
keeping  all   the  family  together  instead  of 
giving  (o  each  son  his  share  of  the  cattle. 
and  letting  them  separate  in  dilVerent  direc- 
tions.    Such  n  course  of  ])roceeding  is  the 
best  for  all  parties,  as  they  po'^scss  a  strength 
when  united,  which  they  could  not  hope  to 
atttuii  wheli  scpiinited. 


It  soinetimcs  happens  that  the  owner  ot 
the  kraal  has  no  son,  and  in  that  cascthe 
property  is  claimed  by  his  father,  brother,  or 
nearest  living  relative,  —  always,  if  possible, 
by  a  mendjer  of  the  same  house  as  himself. 
It  sometimes  happens  that  no  male  relation 
can  be  found,  and  when  such  a  failure  takes 
place,  the  property  goes  to  the  chief,  as  the 
acknowledged  father  of  the  tribe.    As  to  the 
women,  they  very  seldom   inherit  anything, 
but  go  with  the  cattle  to  the  di(ferent_  heirs, 
and  form  ])art  of  their  property.    To  this 
general  rule  there  are  exceptional  cases,  but 
they  are  very  rare.    It  will  be  seen,  there- 
fore, that  every  woman  has  some  one  who 
acts  as  her  father,  whether  her  father  be  liv- 
ing or  not,  and  although  the  compulsory  de- 
l)endcnt  state  of  women  is  not  conducive  to 
their  dignity,  it  ceriainly  protects  lliem  from 
many  evils.     If,  for  exanqde,  a  girl  were  left 
an  orphan,  an  event  which  is  of  very  fre- 
(piont  occurriMice  in  countries  whore  little 
value  is  placed  on  lunnan  life,  she  would  be 
placed   in  a  very    uni)leasant    jiosition,  for 
eitlur  she  would  fnid  no  husband  at  all,  or 
she  would  be  fought  over  by  jioor  ainl  lin-- 
bulent   men  who   Avanted  ti)  obtain  a  wile 
without   paying  for  her.     Kaffir   law.  liow- 
evei',  ]n-ovi(ies  lor  this  difiicully  by  making 
the  male  relations  heirs  of  the  i)roiierty,and, 
conse<iuenily.  jn-otectors  of  th.e  wonun;  so 
thaliis  long  as  there  is  a  single  male  relation 
living,  an  or]ihan  girl  has  a  guardian,    'i'lie 
law  I'ven   goes  lurther,  and  conli  niplates  a 
case  which   sometimes  exists,  namely,  that 
all  the  male  relatives  are  dead,  or  that  liny 
cannot  be  identified.      Such  a  case  as  this 
may  well   occur  in  Ihe  course  of  a  war,  for 
the\iuinv  will  sometimes  swooj)  down  on  a 
kraal,  and  it  their  i>laiis  be  well  laid,  will  kill 
ev(  ry  male  inliabilant.      Even  if  all  are  not 
killed,  tlie  siu-vivors  may  be  obliged  to  flee 
for  their  lives,  and  thus  it  may  often  liaj  pen 
that  a  yinuig  girl  finds  herself  comiiaratively 
aloiu^    in    tiie  world.     In    such  a  case,  she 
would  goto  another  chief  of  her  tube,  or 
even  to  the  king  himself,  and  ask   ])ernfis- 
sion  to  become  one  of  his  (lei)endanls,  and 
many    instances   have   been   known   where 
sucliritiige( s  li.ave  been  received  into  tribi s 
not  their  own. 

When  a  girl  is  received  as  a  dependant, 
she  is  treated  as  a  daughter,  and  if  she 
should  I'appen  to  fall  ill.  her  guardian  would 
offer  sacrifices  foi-  her  exactly  as  if  slie  were 
one  of  Ills  own  daughters.  "Should  a  suiliu- 
present  himself,  he  will  have  to  treat  with 
the  guardian  exactly  as  if  he  were  Ihe  father, 
and  to  him  will  be"jiaid  the  cattle  that  are 
<leman(led  at  the  wedding.  Mr.  Fynn  men- 
tions that  the  women  are  very  tenacious 
about  their  relatives,  and  that  in  manycasis 
when  they  could  not  identify  their  real  rela- 
tions, they  liav(^  made  .arrangements  with 
strangers  to  declare  relationship  witli  tin  in. 
It  ispossibh^  that  this  feeling  arises  from  Ihe 
notion    tii.it  a  husb.-ind   would   have   nn-re 


\t  the  owner  of 
u  that  casivlhe 
thor,  brotluT,  or 
k'iijs,  if  iio.ssibl(>, 
oiise  as  luiusclf. 
K)  male  rulalioii 
1  a  failure  takes 
the  chief,  as  Iho 
ribe.  As  lo  the 
iiherit  aujtliing, 

ilifl'erent  heirs, 
jjierty.  To  this 
itional  cases,  but 

be  seen,  there- 
;  some  one  wlio 
icr  father  ))e  liv- 
>  oomjiulsory  de- 
lot  conducive  to 
)tects  lliem  from 
>,  a  s'l'l  were  left 
1  is  of  \'ery  fr(>- 
ries  where  Utile 
ife,  slui  would  be 
nt  jiosition,  for 
usband  at  all,  or 
ly  jioor  ainl  Uir- 
t()  obtain  a  wife 
ICaflh-  law.  Imw- 
cully  by  nuikinj; 
he  i)ro]ierly,nn(l, 

ll'.o  women;  so 
tjleniatc  relation 
I  triuirdian.  'I'lie 
I  conli  nijilates  ;i 
sts,  numely.  Iliac 
}a(l,  or  that  lliey 
h  a  case  as  this 
irse  of  a  war.  fur 
«\vooj)  down  on  a 
uell  laid,  will  kill 
ven  if  all  are  not 
)e  obliged  to  the 
nay  often  liaj  pen 
L'lf Coniparatively 
such  a  case,  she 

of  her  t!  ilu',  or 
and  ask   ])erniis- 

(lejiendaiils.  and 
n  known  \vliere 
coivcd  into  tribes 

1  as  a  dependant, 
liter,  and  if  slu' 
!r  ftuardian  woiilil 
■tly  as  if  she  were 

"should  a  siiiliir 
live  to  treat  willi 
ic  were  the  father, 
lie  cattle  lliat  are 

Mr.  Fynn  nua- 
e  Very  tenatioas 
hat  in  manyeasis 
(y  their  rial  rela- 
r'an},'ement»  with 
Miship  witli  them. 
\'^  arises  from  the 
ouiu   aavt:   more 


BllIDEGROOM  OJS"-  APPROVAL. 


79 


respect  for  a  wife  who  had  relations  than  for 
one  who  liad  none. 

As  an  example  of  the  curious  minutenoss 
with  wl>ich  the  Kalllr  law  '^wa  into  the  de- 
tails of  domestic  i)olit,T,  it  maybe  nuaitioiied 
that  if  a  female  dependant  bo  married,  and 
should   afterward    be  fortunate   enou,i!;h   to 
discover  her  real  relatives,  they  may  claim 
the  cattle  i)aid  for  her  by  the  husband.     J5nt 
thev  must  r^ive  one  of  the  cows  to  her  pro- 
tector as  payment  for  her  maintenance,  and 
the  trouble  taken  in  marryintf  \n;r.    More- 
over, if  any  cattle  have  been   saeriliced  on 
her  behalf,  these  must  be  restored,  together 
with  any  others  that  may  have  been  slaugh- 
tered at  the  marriage-feast.    The  fact  that 
she  is  i)aid  for  by  her  husband  conveys  no 
idea,  of  degradation  to  a  Katlir  woman.    On 
the  contrary,  she  looks  upon  the  fact  as  a 
proof  of  her  own  worth,  and  the  more  cattle 
are  jiaid  for  her,  the  prouder  she  becomes. 
Xeither  would  the  husband  like  to  take  a 
wife  without  paying  the  proper  sum  for  her 
because  in  the  first  olace  it  would  be  a  facit 
assertion  that  the  wife  was  worthless,  and 
111   the  second,  it  would   be    an  admission 
thut  ho  could  not  allbrd  to  i)ay  the  usi^al 
price.    Moreover,  the  deliverv  of  the  cattle 
on  the   one  side,  and  the  delivery  of   the 
girl   on  the  other,  are  considered  as  cou- 
stUutuig  the  validity  of  the  marriage  coii- 
tr;ict,  and  arc   looolied  upon   in  mt7eh  the 
same    light    as   the    giving    of   a  rwcr    ),y 
the  lii'sband and  the  giving  away  of  the  Tiride 
iiy  lier  father  in  our  own  marria<''e   cere- 
monies. " 

Whiit  that  i)rieo  may  he  is  exceedin'Wy 
vanablo,  and  depends  much  v.-  the  beauty 
and  qii:iliiie:itions  of  the  iiride,  and  the  rank 
ot  her  father.  Tlie  ordinary  prii^e  of  an 
nniiiarned  girl  is  eight  or  ten  cows,  while 
twHve  or  lilieen  are  not  nnlre(|uently  i);iid 
and  ill  .«ome  cases  the  Imsbmid  has  been' 
obliged  to  give  as  many  as  (ilty  before  the 
lulher  would  part  with  his  dan'rh|,.r  Pn,- 
inent    ought   to    be    made    beli.reliand  'f.y 

nutiiihe  catUo  have  been  transferred.  This 
rule  IS.  howover,  frequently  relax.MJ.au.l  the 
H:>mageHallowe,lwben-a.H,.tain  uM 
uei  lia.s  been  (.aid,  logotber  with  a  guaran- 
tee that  the  reinauid..r  shall  be  fordu.oniii  >■ 

^h?iSrf;;s^s;iiithS'T;^:if 

not  follow  that    :,e  exerci^r,  oclSvJ  .£ 
••^•"'   •»  ^".cepling  or  re.jecting  a  s  litor  t 
nay  IH,  seen  tVoin  the  fbll.nWng   ,"   "aJ,^ 

Shllnd^i^'--  "•''''•'^'- ™'-'^'-vork^n 

vvil'iT,'"'"  '■'  '"!^'«'"J  ''as  been  selected  for  a 
Sul,  she  mav  be  delivered  lo  hi„,  J/^H 


any  iirevioii.s  notice,  and  Afr  ! 


e.iges  that  in  «o.ne  u.ses'thiJia'duill;^":]]^^  j 


usually,  he  says,  she  is  informed  of  her 
parent  s  intention  a  month  or  .some  lon"-er 
time   beforehand,  in  order,  1  imagine,  that 
she  may,  if  possible,  be  persuaded  lo  think 
tavorably  of  the  man.    IJarbarians  as  they 
an;,  the  Kaliirs  arc  aware  that  it  is  better  to 
reason  with  a  woman  than  to  beat  her;  and 
I  am  inclined  to  think  that  moral  means  are 
usually  employed  to  induce  a  girl  to  adoi)t 
her   parent's  choice,  before  j^Uiysical   ar'Hi- 
ments  are   resorted   to.      Sometimes    vCry 
elaborate  efforts  are  made,  as   1  liave  beeu 
told,  to  produce  this  result.    The  first  step 
is  to  speak  well  of  the  man  in  her  preseuce- 
the  kraal  conspire  to  praise  him  — Jier  sis- 
ters   praise  him  — all   the  admirers  of  his 
cattle  praise  him  — he  was  never  so  jiraised 
before.     Unless  she  is  very  resolute,  the  >Mrl 
may  now  perhaps  bc^  prevailed    on  to  see 
him,  and  a    nii'ssenger    is    despatched   to 
communicate    the   hopeful    fact,  and  sum- 
mon  him   to  the  kraal.      Without  loss   of 
time  he  prepares   to  show  himself  to   the 
best  advantage;  he  goes  down  to  the  river 
and  having  carefully  washed  his  dark  per- 
son, comes  up  again  dripping  and  shinin.r 
like  a  dusky  Triton;   but  the  sun  soon  dries 
his  skin,  and    now  ho  shines    again   with 
grease. 

"  Ills  dancing  attire  is  put  on.  a  vessel  of 
water  serving  for  a  mirror;  and  thus  clothed 
in  Ills  best,  and  carrying  shield  and  assa<'ai 
he  Si'ts  forth,   with  beating  heart  and  "al- 
lantstep,  to  do  battle  with  the  .•^cornfid  btdle 
Having   reached  the   kraal    he   is   recei\u(i 
with  a  hearty  welcome,  and  scpiatting  down 
in  the  family 'circle' (which  is  here  .^ioine- 
thing   more   than   a   fiirure   of  .speech)    ho 
awaits   the   lady's    aiijiearance.      Presently 
she  comes,  and  sitting  down  near  tlu;  door 
stares  at  him  in  silence.     Then  haviii"  sur- 
veyed him  suilicieiitly  in  hisi)resentaliltu(le 
she  desires  him  through  her  brother  (for  she' 
will  not  speak  to  him)  to  stand  up  and  ex- 
liilMt  Ins  proportions.     The  modest  man  is 
("inbarrassed:    but  the   mother  encoura'^es 
him,  and  while  the   young  ones  lauch  a'nd 
.leer,  he  ris<>s  before  the  damsel.     Slfe   now 
scrutinies  him  in  this  position,  and  haviu'^ 
balanced  the  merits  and  defects  of  a  fro'it 
view,  desires  him  ff lirough  the  same  medium 
as  before)  to  turn  round  and  fliv(»r  her  with 
a  diflerent  aspect.  (See  jiagc;  !»7.)     At  lenrrfh 
lie    receives    permission    to    sfpiat     a^ain 
when   she    retires   as   mute    as   .she    came! 
Iho  family  troop  rush  after  her  impatient; 
to  learn  her  decision;   but  she  declines  to 
bo  hasty  — she  has  not  seen  him  walk,  and 
perhaps  lie  limps.     So,- next  morning,  fho 
unfortimato  man  api>ears  in  the  cattle  fold, 
to  (.xhihit  his  paces  before  a  larger  .a.sseniblv 
A  vell,>y  of  praisi<s  is  showered  ui)on  hiiii 
by  (he  interested   flpeetab)rs;    and  perhaps 
(lie  girl  has  come  to  think  i;s  they  think, 
and  signifies   her  apnrova!.     In  iIiU  (.,..-.' 
ai  miigctuents  are  made  Jbr  the  betrothal  "  ' 
llus  amusing  ceremony  has  two  nieau- 


i  ''i 

A 

■i.! 


80 


THE  KAFFIR, 


ings  — the  first,  that  the  contract  of  niar« 
ria<»e  is  a  vohintaiy  act  on  both  sides;  und 
the  second,  tiiat  the  intending  bridegroom 
has  as  yet  no  authority  over  lier.  Tliis  last 
point  seems  to  be  thought  of  some  impor- 
tance, as  it  is  again  brought  forward  v/hcn 
tlie  marriage  ceremony  takes  ])Iace.  Tliat 
the  girl  has  no  choice  in  a  husband  is  evi- 
dently not  true.  There  are,  of  course,  in- 
stances in  Kaflirland,  as  well  as  in  more 
civilized  countries,  where  the  parents  have 
set  their  hearts  on  a  particular  alliance,  and 
have  disregarded  tlie  aversion  of  their 
daughters,  forcing  her  by  hartl  words  and 
other  cruelties  to  consent  to  the  match. 
JJut,  as  a  general  rule,  although  a  girl  nmst 
be  bought  with  a  certain  number  of  cows,  it 
does  not  at  all  follow  tiiat  every  one  with  the 
requisite  means  may  buy  her. 

A  rather  amusing  proof  to  th(>  contrarv  is 

related  by  one  of  our  clergv  who  rosided'for 

a  long  time  among  the  Kat'lir  tribes.    There 

was  one  "  hoy,"  long  jiast  the  prime  of  life 

who  had  distmguishi>d  iiimsel*'  in  war,  and 

pi-ocured  a  fair  number  of  cows,  and   yet 

could  not  be  ranked  as  a''  man,''  ))ecause  lie 

was  not  man-ied.    The  fad  was,  he  was  so 

very  ugly  that  he  could  not  find  anv  of  the 

dusky  beauties  who  would  accept  liim,  and 

so  he  had  to  remain  a  bachelor  in  spite  of 

himself.    At  last  the  king  took  compassion 

on  him.  and  authorized  him  to  assume  the 

head-ring,  and  take  brevet  rank  amon^'  the 

men,  or  "  ama-doda,"  just  as  am<)ng"'our- 

selves  an  elderly  maiden  ladv  is  addressed 

by  courtesy  as   if  she  had  "been   m.n.rried. 

Sometimes  a  suitor's  heart  misgives   bini, 

an<l  he  fears  that,  in  spite  of  bis  v.eiiKh  anci 

the  costly  ornaments  with  which  he  adorns 

his  dark  ])erson,  the  ladv  mav  not  be  pro- 

liitious.     In  this  case  he  cenernlly  goes  t.t  a 

witch  doctor  and  purchases  a  charm,  \vhi(h 

li(!   ho])es   will  cause   her   to   relent.      The 

charm    is  sometimes  a  root,  or  a  piece  of 

Avood,  l)one,  metal,  or  lioni,  worn  about  the 

Jierscm,  but  it  most  usuallv  takes  the  form  of 

a  powder.    Tins  mairic  powder  is  cIncu  to 

some  trusty  friend,  who  mixes  it  surreiifj- 

liously  m  the  girl's  food,  sprinkles  it  on  lier 

dress,  or  deposits  it  in  her  snulf  box,  luid 

shakes  it  up  with  the  legitimate  contents. 

Kot  nnfreouentlv,  when  a  suitor  is  very 
much  disliked,  aud  has  not  the  gf>od  sense 
to  withdraw  his  claims,  the  girl  takes  (he 
matter  into  her  own  hands  l)v  runniu" 
away,  oil-.-n  to  another  tribe.  *  Tliere  is 
alw.iys  a  great  excitement  in  these  cases 
and  the  truant  is  hunted  l)v  all  her  relations. 
On(!  of  these  flights  look  place  when  a  "irl 
had  lieen  promised  to  th(.>  ill-favored  ba"'h- 
elor  who  has  just  heen  uientioned.  II,» 
offered  a  chief  a  considerable  number  of 
cattle  for  one;  of  his  wards,  and  paid  the 
sum  in  .advance,  lioping  so  to  clench  tlie 
bargain.  But  when  the  <lamsel  found  wao 
her  luisband  was  to  be,  she  flatlv  rei.ised  to 


threats,  nor  actual  violence  had  any  effect 
and  at  last  slie  was  tied  up  with  ropes  nvd 
hamU-a  over  to  her  purchaser.  He  took  her 
to  his  home,  but  in  a  few  hours  she  con- 
trived to  make  lier  escape,  and  fled  for  ref- 
uj'e  to  the  kraal  of  a  neighboriii"  chief 
where  it  is  to  be  hoped  she  found  a  lnisban(i 
more  to  her  taste.  Her  former  i)ossessor 
declined  to  demand  her  back  p<rain,  inas- 
much as  she  had  been  paid  for  and  .'-Hvered 
lionorably,  and  on  the  same  grounds  i.-  de- 
clined to  return  the  price  jiaid  for  her.  So 
the  unfortunate  suitor  lost  not  only  'lis 
cattle  but  his  wife. 

This  man  was  heartily  ashamed  of  his 
baclielor  condition,  and  always  concealed  it 
as  much  as  lie  could.  One  dav.  an  Eu'dish- 
nian  who  did  not  know  his  "history  asked 
um  how  many  wives  he  had;  and,  a"ltliou"h 
lie  knew  that  the  falsehood  of  his  aiisw"'r 
must  soon  be  detected,  he  had  not  moral 
courage  to  say  that  he  was  a  bachelor,  and 
named  a  considerable  number  of  iiii:i"iiiary 
wivi>s.  ■' 

Now  that  the  English  have  established 
themselves  in  Southern  Africa,  it  is  not  at 
all  an  unusual  circumstance  for  a  iiersecu- 
ted  girl  to  take  refuge  among  them,  tlnnigh 
in  many  i'-  .!anc<':!  .she  has  to  be  given  up  to 
her  relations  when  they  come  to  search  for 
her. 

Sometimes  the  young  damsel  not  only 
exerci.scs  the  rigiit  of  iil'usal,  but  contrives 
to  choose  a  husband  for  herself  In  one 
such  inslaiiee  a  man  had  fallen  into  pov- 
erty, and  been  forced  to  become  a  depend- 
ant, lie  had  two  uiimanied  daughters, 
and  his  {•hief  jiroiHised  to  buy  them'.  The 
sum  wliieh  be  oll'ered  wa."  so  "small  that  the 
father  would  not  accept  it,  and  there  was  in 
coiisefpieiiee  a  violent  <piarrel  between  the 
chief  and  himself.  IMcn-eover,  the  girls 
themselves  had  not  the  least  inclination  to 
Iiecome  wives  of  the  ehiel'.  who  ahe;ulv  had 
l>leiily,  and  they  refused  (o  be  pnicliased, 
iust  as  their  father  refus  d  to  accept  .so  nig- 


xanlly  a  smii  for  them. 


ve-y 


Giarr*.'  so 


jiglyiinian. 


Neither  cajoicmcnts, 


The  cliief  wa.    ,,    , 
angry,  went  olf  to  Panda,  and  contrived  to 
extort  an  order  from  the  king  that  the  ^rirls 
should  become  the  projiertv  of  the  chief  at 
the  price  which  he   had    ti'xed.      The   girls 
were  therefore  taken  to  the  kraal,  but  Uiev 
would  not  go  into  any  of  the  huts,  and  sat 
on  the  groi'nd,  miich"'to  tlie  aniiovanee  of 
their  new  owner,  who  at  last  had  them  car- 
ried into  a  hut  1)v  main  force.    One  of  the 
gir  s,  named  Uzinto,  contrived  imrenionslv 
t<)  Slip  unnerceiv;  I  from  the  hut  at  dead  df 
night,  and  esr/.Tp^.d  from  the  kraal  bv  creep- 
ing through  the  fence,  lest  the  dogs  should 
he  alarmed  if  she  tried  to  open  the  door. 
n  spite  (*f  the  dangers  of  night-travelling, 
she  inished  on  toward  Xatal  as  fast  as  she 
could,   having    nothint;    with    her   but   tlui 
sleeping  m.'it  whidi  a  Katiir  uses  instead  of 
a  bed,  and  whicli  can  l)e  nulled  up  info  a  cvl- 
iudor  uad  slung  over  the  shoulders.    On  tier 


T" 


m 


had  any  eflect, 
with  ropes  aii(l 
;;r.  He  took  her 
hours  she  con- 
iuid  fled  lor  rel- 
ighborins  fliief' 
found  a  husband 
irnier  i)ossessor 
ick  {xrain,  inas- 
or  and  v'-Hvered 
grounds  i.".  dc- 
aid  for  lier.  So 
t   not  only    'lis 

ashamed  of  his 
lys  concealed  it 
lay.  an  Enylish- 
s  history  asked 
I;  and,  u"Uh()U{;h 
of  his  answt'r 
had  not  moral 
a  bachelor,  and 
lT  of  imaginary 

ivo  established 
ica,  it  is  not  at 

for  a  jierseeu- 
<i  them,  tluHigh 

be  given  up  to 
ic  to  search  for 

msel   not  only 
I,  but  contrives 
crself.    In   one 
illen  inlo   \w\- 
(>n)e  a  (lci)cnd- 
iid   daiiglilers, 
uy  tlicm.     The 
'  small  that  (lie 
1(1  there  was  in 
el  between  the 
ver,    the    girls 
1  inclination  to 
bo  already  had 
be  purdiascd, 
accept  so  nig- 
chief  was  ve'y 
d  contrived  to 
;  that  the  girls 
of  the  chief  at 
■d.      The   girls 
kraal,  but  tlicy 
L'  huts,  anil  sat 
annoyance  of 
had  them  c:ir- 
■.    One  of  the 
■d  ingeniously 
iiut  at  dead  (if 
;raal  by  creep- 
lie  dogs  should 
pen    tlie    door, 
ght-travelliiig, 
as  fast  as  she 
her   but   the 
s(>s  instead  of 
up  into  a  cyl- 
Iders.    On  lier 


way  she  met  with  two  adventures,  both  of 
which  nearly  frustrated  her  plan.  At  the 
dawn  ot  the  day  ou  which  siie  escaped,  she 
met  a  party  ot  men,  who  saw  tears  in  her 
lace,  and  taxed  her  with  being  a  fu-ritive 
However  she  was  so  ready  with  the  answer 
tiiat  8h()  had  been  taking  snuff  (the  Kaflir 
snull    a  ways    makes   the   eyes  water  j.r,^- 

t -ourne  ''""'^"'^ '''"'  *"  ^'™''''''''  "" 

The  n(^'ct  was  a  more  serious  adventure 
Hijvnig  come  to  the  territories  of  the  Ama- 
koba  tribe,  she  went  into  a  kraal  for  shelter 
■  night,  and  the  inhabitants,  who  knew 
the  quarrel  between  her  father  and  the 
h  rl/n  :?'  ^rl^";''  ''"^P'tably,  and  tlK."!  t  ed 

t^n  the  e  net   Inim  whom   she  had  escaped 
8he  contrived,  however,  to  get  out  of   ih 
kraal,  but  was  captun.l  agaTn  by  tlie  w„' 
men.    hhe  was  so  violent  with  them   ni  ,1 
her  conduct  altogether  so  stran-e    h-  t'ti. 
were  afraid  of  iu..-,  and  let  l.er"%  her  o  vn 
way.    From  that  time  she  avoided  .all  ,hve 
iug.s,and  only  travelled  through  the     us  ' 
succee,  in:^  iu  fordi,,.  Uic  Tugela  rivei   at 

Smdvl!^.''r'''''^^-''-'-'»^-tof 
x^.iiH.is  pouei.    Her  reason  tor  utidertak- 
i"S   his  l(,ng  and  perilous  .iourn.3yws  two- 
fold ;    first,  that  she  might  escape  from  n 
husband  whom  she  did  not  lik      nn-i 
ondly,   f^lut  she  might   cZai^^   h u  ^J 
Whom  she  did.    For  in   tlie  2s'atal  dis  r    t 
was  living  a  young  man  with  w!  o  „  .>^ie  had 
carried   on  some   love-]iassa-es,  a  1 1    who 
h^hersof.vasafi,g^tivefrom"^:^ 
J.»ii,|.      After  some   diflieulty,  she   wis   r." 
ceive,    a.,  a  dependant  of  a  chief  ami  ^vT. 

"XV'!;: '""^^0  I- narrated  hfiK^"' 
toward  h        ^'T'"  .'"""   ^^'^^  '-"tl'-^^r  cool 

w<M-king.    'riio,     e  V(>l    in      ''f  .'"'^'■"'  «<" 
»oehinebutw"„!;^.;t',     ,^-'^-w«-ttc 

y-Uoinsistin^rS'^S-Vl'yi 
young  man  objected  that  lieTd  not  kJol^ 


UZINTO  AKD  HER  ADVENTURES. 


81 


how  many  cows  the  chief  would  want  for 
hi-r,a„dt1mthehad  not  enough  to„av  for 

ever  'fiv  ^''?  '''"^  *'*'l"'^'  ^°  ">«  oeca.io  ,  Lw- 
ever,  hxed  btir  own  value  at  ten  cows  and 
ordered  him  to  work  h,.d  unit  ho' S 
earned  them.  Meanwhile  her  protector 
had  made  up  his  mind  to  take  her  for  Ida 
own  wife,  thinking  it  a  good  onnortunUv  f^ 
gam  another  wifl  witlifut  ],ay  "g'tbr  1^ 
Lzinto  however,  had  not  g<^ne  throuUi  so 

et'ti  1^^"''  'rt'^"'^ '"'  whom  sfen^d 
set  .ici   heart,  and  she  went  to  the  voun^ 

mans  kraal  appeared  before  the  headman^ 

and   demandec^   to  be   instantly   betroU icd' 

He  naturally  feared  the  anger  of  the  cldef 

aijd  sent  her  ba^k  again  to  his  kraal  wheij 

with    tears,   sulking    fits,    an^er    fits     nmf 

threats    of    suicide!,  she'  wonVed    all    the 

iS  fm-'th."":''^''''''^>  '''^^  "'^y  J-'^W*^"  "  0 

StSfSrt^^^^-^nir^r:^ 

St^^ifSSr^^^^'-'-^-"- 

fi.iT'f  ?  M  """"1^'"  in-'^tencc,  whore  a  girl 
ftdl  ardently  in  love  with  a  young  Kafir 
chief,  as  he  was  displaying  his  a-ribtv  in  a 
dance.    He  did  not  even  k!iow  h^-  S  was 

seS'Tt  his' V r^l  '''r  '''''  presented  her! 
scif  at  Ins  kraal,  and  avowed  the  state  of 
her  affections.  He,  however,  did  m/t  return 
hem,  and  as  the  girl  refust^d  to  leave  lis 
kraal,  he  was  obliged  to  send  for  £ 
l)rotlier,  who  removed  her  by  force  She 
soon  made  her  way  back  ag^ain  a,  d  S  is 
tnne  w.-us  severely  beaten  for  L.r  mrt'i  ac! 

and  in  less  th.an  a  week  she  a^.ain  nresen^L' 
horself    Finding  that  l^^s  si^st^was  1  je 
ennined,  the   ifrother  suggo.  ed   tluiT  the" 
too-fase.nating  chief  had  "better  marry   lo 

the  noe.if?;!     ^  '•'*'  ^'''h' mined  horiK-int, 

?|^'Sr^Sg2to^1ii-« 

IniXs't^^rJ'^'^  il^apl^en^"^^ 
possess  an  intellect  far  superior  \,'       .a    S 
er  husband,  and  where  si,e  has  gain^l  i 
horoiigh    iiscendancy    over    him  ,im^ 

I'lm  in  all  his  transactions,  hetl  er  of 
H'T.ce  or  war.  And  it  is  only  ju^t  to  sav 
that  in  these  rare  instai.ces  of  feminine 
supremacy,  the  Imsband  has  s  ib.n  t  d  to 
"H  wife's  guidance  through  a  coS  ion 
hat  ,t  was  exercised  jtuiici.n.slv!  a  u    not 

:  ;"'"«i'''lV\r;"'^""^^  «f  HiaracVe.   oL  his 
t        .  ■  t,  or  lU-teinper  on  hers. 


-.^ 


^i 


CHAPTER  X. 


MAimiAGE  —  Conclmled. 


■WEDPIIfO  CEREMONIES  —  rBOCKSSIOS  OF  TUB  BRIDE  —  THE  WEDDINO  DUESS  —  THE  OXEN  —  THE  'WED- 
BINd  DANCE  —  Ml-TUAL  DEPBEUIATIOX  AND  ENCOV  HAdKMENT  —  ADVICE  TO  THE  ItBIDEOROOM  — 
MUTUAL  KELATIONS  OF  HUMDANDS  AND  WIVES  — A  IC.IFFIB  rETRUCIUO  — THE  OX  OF  THE  OIRL  — 
UZINTO  AGAIN  — THE  OX  OF  TUE  M-RPLU3  — ITS  ISH'OKT  — VARIETIES  OF  MARRIAGK  CEUUM0NIE3 
—  tOWER  OF  DIVOHCE  — COMr  r.ISON  OF  THE  KAFFIR  AND  MOSAIC  LAWS  —  IltHESPONSIIILE 
AirTHORITY  OF  THE  HUSBAND— CUItlOiTS  CODE  OF  ETIQUETTE — KAFFIR  NAMES,  AND  MODES  OF 
CHOOSINO  THEM — THE  miiTH-NAMK  AND  THE  SURNAMES  —  SUPERSTITIONS  BESPKCTINO  THK 
BIRTH-NAME  —  AN  A>nT8I.\a  STHAT  ;EM— THE  SURNAMES,  OR  PRAISE-NAMBS  — HOW  EAHNKD 
A.(i)  "ONFERRED  — VARIOUS  PRAISE-NASIES  '^  PANDA  —  A  KAFFIR  BOASTER  —  SONO  IN  PRAISE  OF 
PANDA— THE  ALLUSIONS  EXPLAINED  — A  rtT.  \NGB  REfJTRICTlON,  AND  MODE  OF  EVADINd  IT  — 
INFKRIOH  POSITION  OF  WOMEN— WOMEN  WITH  FIREWOOD  —  DIFFERENCE  BETWEEN  GIRLS  OP 
VARIOUS  RANKS. 


"When  the  marriaD;e-<lay  is  fixed,  a  cere- 
monial takes  place,  diUcring  iu  detail  uecord- 
iug  to  the  wealth  of  the  parties,  l)Ut  similar 
iu  all  the  priiici])al  points.  The  hriile, 
decked  iu  all  tlie  heads  and  other  linery  that 
she  can  muster,  proceeds  in  a  grand  proees- 
.sion  to  the  knuil  of  her  future  husband. 
Her  head  is  shaved  with  an  a.ssagai  before 
she  starts,  the  little  tuft  of  hair  on  the 
to])  of  her  bare  pate  i.-  rubbed  with  red 
])aint.  and  drcs.^ed  witli  various  aiiplianees, 
imtil  it  stands  on  end,  and  the  odd  little  liilt 
looks  as  much  iw  possilile  like  a  red  shaviug 
brush,  with  very  short,  diverging  bristles. 
She  is  escorted  by  all  lier  young  friends,  and 
is  accompanied  liy  her  mother  and  many 
other  married  women  of  the  tril)e,  all  bediz- 
ened to  tlie  utmost.  Her  male  relatives 
and  friends  make  a  point  of  joining  the  pro- 
cession, also  dressed  in  their  best,  but  each 
bearing  his  shield  and  a  liundle  of  assagais. 
so  its  to  guard  the  bride  against  enemies. 
She  then  scats  herself,  surrounded  b}'  her 
com]iaiiioiis.  outsi(li>  the  kraal. 

About  this  jieiiod  of  the  ceremony  (licri 


thongs  wliich  arc  hung  about  the  bodies  of 
chihlren  by  way  of  charms,  and  the  present 
of  the  ox  to  the  mother  is  made  iu  order  to 
reimburse  her  for  the  expenditure  in  thongs 
during  her  daughter's  childhood.  The 
molliir  does  not  keep  the  ox,  but  slaughters 
it  and  dresses  it  for  the  marriage  least,  and 
by  the  time  that  the  wedding  lias  be(  u  liiirly 
begun,  the  Ukutu  ox  is  ready  tor  the  guests. 
Another  ox,  called  by  the  cm  ions  luune  of 
"  Umipioliswa,"  is  given  l)y  the  I'lidegroi'in 
to  the  girl's  father,  uid  about  ibis  there 
is  much  ceremony,  as  is  nariatcd  by  !Mr, 
Shooli-r.  '•  The  (hiy  having  considerably  ad- 
\ anced,  the  male  friends  of  the  bii<k'  go  to 
the  bridegroom's  kraal  loclTiim  the  ox  called 
Uniquoiiswa.  In  a  case  tvhieh  I  witnessed, 
they  proceeded  la  a  long  tile,  'vith  a  stej)  dil- 
ficidt  to  describe,  beiiig  a  sort  of  slow  and 
measured  stamping,  an  imitation  of  their 
dancing  movement.  W  earing  the  dress  and 
ornaments  previmmly  mentioned  as  a|)pro- 
priatcd  to  <M  casions  of  festivity,  they  bran- 
dished shields  and  sticks,  the  u.sual  accom- 
paniment of  a  wed<ling  danc(';  while  lluir 
tongues  were  nccupieij  witli  a  luoaolonoua 


is  genernl'y  a  consi  lejable  amount  of  by 

p'.ay  resi)eeting  certain  oxen,  which  iir.ee  to  |  and'unsentimentivl  chant  — 

he  given  by  the  bridegroom  and  the  father 

of   the    l)ride.      The    former  is  called    the 

'■  Ukutu"  o.\-.  which  is  kIvcu  to  the  mother 

of  the  bride  by  the  l)ridegrooni.     The  word 

"Ukutu"    literally    siguitie.'s    'ho    leathern 


liive  IIS  t!i('  TTr 
AVe  <ie.tii('  the  ^ 


oliswa, 

|||IIC'11.S\M».' 


im 


''  In  this  way  they  entered  the  knini,  and, 
turning  to  the  right,  roacUed  the  princiiwl 


id- 


I': 


TK  OXEN  —  THB  'WED- 

THK  BRIBEOROOM  — 

IE  OX  OF  TlIK  OIBL  — 

\imiAGK  CEUKM0N1E3 

uvs  — innESPONsinm 

kJIES,  ANI)  MODES  OP 
N8  BESPKCTINU  THE 
V.MES  —  now  EAUNED 
—  SONO  IN  I'RAISE  OP 
DE  OK  KVADIXd  IT  — 
liETWEEX    GIRLS    OP 


bout  tlie  bodies  of 
8,  and  the  present 
s  made  iu  order  to 
eiiditiiro  in  tlioni,'s 

cliildhood.  Tlie 
ox,  but  Klaun;hters 
narriairo  least,  and 
iiij;  lias  been  (airly 
lady  tor  tlu'  jjuests. 
>(■  curious  nanu'  of 
)y  llio  l>iidi'{,'ro(im 

about  ibis  there 
•  uariatfd  by  2Ir. 
iLT  considcrnbly  ad- 
it the  bride  i,'o  to 
clTiini  tlu- ox  railed 
tvhieb  I  witnessed, 
ile,  'vilh  a  stc'i)  dit- 
a  sort  of  slow  and 
imitation  of  their 
iriiii;  the  dross  and 
utioned  as  ajipro- 
stivity.  tbey  bran- 

tlie  'u>ual"aeeom- 
lauec;  while  their 
itii  u  luouolououa 


ilii^wa, 

incliswa.' 

•ed  the  kninl,  and, 
;Ued  the  iirineiiwl 


i'Korts.sio.v  ,,|..  1,1,,    ,„.,ijj^ 


I 


(88) 


» 


ii 

II; 

^ 
3 


hut.  Tlio  father  of  the  (jirl  now  called  upon 
Uio  bri(io;,'i;ooin,  who  wiw  in.sidcs  to  como 
Ortli  ail  J  «,v(!  them  Iho  UnuiuoliHwa.    The 

atter  repluul  that  ho  had  no  ox  to  present 
to  them.  Jle  was  then  assured  that  the 
I)n(l«!  would  ho  tiiken  home;  but  he  re- 
maiued  invisihlo  until  other  members  of 
the  party  IkvI  required  him  to  appear 
Il^ivn,:,.  left  the  honso,  he  hurri..!  to  the 
^'atouav,  and  attemi)ted  to  pans  it.  His 
exit,  however  was  barred  bv  a  company  of 
women  aroa-ly   in   ,,088e8.s!,.n   of   the   e  - 

.nil     ml    .^'""'.'^  "''"='1"^  '^''"^  merely  for- 
mal, and   tliat  ho   was  goinij   throu-ri  an 

nmShX'""");    T'^  lJmqnolis.;;;\v^ 

bride  a  party,  who  were  bivouacking  undi-r 

itt^  t,  d  '"i'"^l'./'f  »»•«''■  ner%ister 
aiJcete,!  to  dcspisu  it  as  a  ])altry  thin.'   and 

fl? .n  H '  :'!!"•"■  P''°'l»«'' '-»  ''«tter.  lie  to" 
till  1,."'*",^'  ""^  largest  and  the  attel 
that  he  could  procure  ;  but  they  were  not 

?h  ,''r'H'~""^y  *V""1<1  not  eat  it.-^Wn  ly 
the  lather  put  an  end  to  their  noisy  bv-nl  v' 

£"sciJ.^ma.''"^'  '''''  ^  ^^■'"'^   "- 

in,?^'"'  ''.'"*?"'  ■'''■"  ''"^^riwl  an  with  the  vio- 

ent  aad  almost  furious  energy  tl  a    .seems 

to  take  possessiou  „f  a  Kiinivi  soul   wh "n 

^|^l|»f''«<'fnce,thean.HnZi£; 

» !nf  r;'^!:r  l3^^^ 
ssi;s-x.-;t^^r5r 

The  process  is  then  reversed,  the  b  -i  le  i  /' 
tm^  .lown,  and  her  husband-8\  aiW  hnei,  .' 

beS;iir.^.;r'tEJoi^■^trx 

cowsforta-^J^-«;v-to,^Hu^^^ 

do  a  ,„an-io,l  womairs  work     h'f    ol   •" ' 

rather  plain   than  otherwise  'ami    l.ni  " 

marria^-e  to  Hi»  i>..;  i      '""^;  ami  that  her 

instance  of  condescen^nn"'"  'f  •''^  ^vo.ulerful 
cheerful  adS  'is  ^^S,"!'  "'^  ^'^''-    This 

^-od  to  ^:^i=r-rra- 

wlfenl^e  bi^dit'pa^rr':'    T'^^^  '    '^"•^ 
«ing,  theymaketrri^''^f°tb°- *'■■"''•'  "»'> 
"ity.    Addressing   LTarens^n'"'  "!'''"'•''' 
ulate   them    on   7i,'    .'''"'?' thoyconsrrat 

ji-ghte.bu^^ath^^-S";:^^;:';/'"^'-^ 

the  verv  inadenuitn  n„r,  i        ^^'-h  them  on 

tho  hridegmorims  ai^'''T'^,''''"'^  ^^'"^'^ 
hride  that  she  is  thn'  ^  .  ?'"'>'  ^oH  the 
tiie  tribe,  that  ]. 'r  coLC  '''7'-^  ^''^  '" 
lute  pcrf^ction/^^a"    ..i"'    '-^'  'r*"."  «''«"- 


THE  WEDDING  DANCE. 


88 

vitl       A;'Vat"i  '"'  o?^'  nucha  hard  bargain 

.;cih..'a'it/th,;;\sZ:;!U"^  ::;yffi 

(Iw^'iIh    '""'''  .''.'""=''•   "10    leader -usually 
he  father -addresses  a  speech  to  the  con 
nxcte.l  couple  ;  ami,   if  the  bdd  ■  .r  ,U  bo" 

taking  a  wife  for  the'  llrst  time,      cm  lantitv 
''luo,™  "  ^'''■•'  H  ''"'H-l  upon     im  bj 


thfmoreexrKiriel.Jd'S^S^^':^;;-^^ 

I  "wIoi;i  1  ^;'\  *•'  ""^"">'  «"cnti.^n    0 
k  1,  V      w  V     '  •'"""  '^  '-'"-'iclor,  he  canno 

not  to  make  too  irequent  use  of  the  stick 
•y  way  of  gaining  of.ediencc.    Men    he  is 
old,  can   manage   any    number    of''  wive" 
without  using  per-sonal  violence;  but  bovs 
arc  apt    o  be  too  h,vsty  with  th'eir    ia2s! 
1  he  husband  of  U;iinto,  whoso  a.lventum 
have  a  iva.ly  been  related,  mmle  a  curioim 
stipu  atioi,  when  thus  addressed,  and  pron! 
se    not  to  heat  her  if  she  did  mt  heat  him. 
'ic        of 'It'"' •  'V^'^^^^y  energetic  cluJ: 
condithmtnS  ^"'^   ""'^  ^""'^  «  ^viso 
All  (iiese  preliminaries  being  settled  i\m 
hridegrooni   seats    himself  on°the     r,' ;„,„t 
while  the  bride  .lances  before  hi  n.  -^w     ' 
.so  doing  she  takes  the  opportun  tv  <.f  c"l 
^^^l  "IlI"-l>>-ious  .!,;ithets,'£:i<^  S 
in  nis   lace,   disarranges  li  s   elegant  heid 
jr.-.ss,and  tak.'s  similar  liberties^  y  w  ^  f 
letting  h,m  know  that  he  is  not  her  ml^t  ^ 

su'h  ^!^iSr  ''  """■'^'^  «'>"  ^^'"  '■'^'^  no 

iasj'':i^d';s:ri:^,;^--^e--Mho 

-::;.^;;^;ie£d£"-^"---^ 

(i>„  <„■   •  l'"Mlegooi  possessin<'  a  wiCo 

the  tax  IS  more  apparent  tl  an  real"  In  fh' 
ihrst  i.lace,  he  considers  that  aU    hese  ovJn 
form  part  of  the  price  which  1^  pa ys  f  ,r Tie 
wfe  in  question,  and  looks  upon  Vhen   much 

;w&asl;tl^^trS'S.i^T^,t 

When    a   missionarv    w.-w  trvinrr    in    r.^ 
jnonstrate  with  a  Katflr  for   lS"f.  M  .he" 

noting  Zr^'or^rtinn^hh'"*'.  '1"  ""? 
I  -Sen  ?|^  IS  St  -SS 


:iif 


;mS 


86 


THE  KAFFIR. 


Himiile  enough,  and  perfectly  iinanswemlile. 
"  White  men  do  not  btiy  th(>ir  wives,  and 
llie  two  eiusew  are  not  parullel."  In  fact, 
II  Kiilllr  husliand'M  idea  of  a  wife  doe»  nctt 
dilfcr  very  far  from  that  of  Petrnehio, 
nltliouf,di  the  latter  did  liappon  to  be  an 
European  — 

^"I  will  bo  iiiaHtor  of  what  is  iiiliio  own; 

81i<'  is  my  ;;im>i1m,  iii^-  cliatti'ls,  nliii  is  my  hoiiac, 
My  IkiiiscIiiiIiI  Ntull,  my  tU'Ul,  my  liiini, 
My  liorso,  my  ox,  my  ivss,  my  iiiiyt'iiiii;." 

And  the  Kaffir  wife's  idea  of  a  husband  is 
practically  that  of  the  tamt^d  Katheriiu;  — 

"Thy  luisliaiid  is  tliy  lord,  thy  kecpi^r, 
Tliy  IkskI,  thy  HovcrtMun" — 

thoutfli  she  could  by  no  niiiinier  of  n»eans 
linisii  the  speech  with  truth,  and  say  that 
he  lidiors  for  b(!r  whili^  she  al)ide8  at  "home 
at  ease,  and  asks  no  other  tribute  but  obe- 
dience and  love.  The  former  portion  of 
that  tribute  is  exacted;  the  latter  is  not 
so  rare  as  the  eircumstanees  seem  to  de- 
note. 

Tbe  sums  which  a  Kalhr  pays  for  his 
wil(^  he  considers  as  property  invested  by 
himself,  and  expected  to  return  a  <^ood 
inlerc)*!  in  the  lonj?  run,  and,  as  has  already 
been  mentioned,  there  are  often  circum- 
stances under  which  he  t.ikes  credit  for  the 
amount,  and  ex])eets  to  hi;  re]iaid.  So, 
allh(iviL,'h  a  bri(le;,'room  is  obliged  to  part 
with  certain  cattle  on  the  occasion  of  his 
wedding,  he  keeps  a  very  accurate  mental 
account  of  them,  and  is  sure  to  repay  him- 
self in  one  way  or  another. 

After  the  ()\  of  the  (iirl  has  l)een  fur- 
nished, it  is  solemnly  slaughtered,  and  this 
constitutes  the  binding  portion  of  tlic  mar- 
riiige.  Up  to  tliat  time  tlu!  father  or  fiwner 
of  the  girl  might  take  her  back  a-ain,  of 
course  returning  the  cattle  that  had  been 
naid  for  lier,  as  well  as  those  which  h.td 
neenjiresented  and  slaughtered.  Our  hero- 
ine, IJzinto,  aflbrded  an  examjilc  of  this 
kind.  The  bridegroom  had  a  natural  anti- 
])athy  to  the  chief,  who  had  tried  to  marry 
tin;  iadv  by  force,  and  sliowed  his  feelings 
by  Sending  the  very  smallest  and  thinnest 
ox  that  could  be  found.  The  chief  remon- 
strated at  this  insult,  and  wanted  to  anmd 
the  whole  transaction.  In  this  he  might 
have  succeeded,  but  for  a  curious  coin- 
cidence. The  father  of  tlie  bride  had 
finally  quarrelled  with  his  chief,  and  had 
been  forced  to  follow  the  examiile  of  his 
daughter  and  her  intended  husb.tnd,  and 
to  take  refuge  in  Nat.tl.  Just  at  the  wed- 
ding he  unexpectedly  made  his  appearance, 
and  found  himself  suddenly  on  the  w.ty  to 
wealth.  His  daughter  was  actually  being 
married  to  a  man  who  liad  engagedi  to  jiny 
t«n  cows  for  her.  So  he  did  not  trouble 
himself  in  the  least  about  the  size  of  the 
ox  that  wa,s  to  be  slaughtered,  })ut  accepted 
the  animal,  and  accordingly  became  owner 


of  the  cows  in  question,  miniiH  those  which 
h  v\  to  hv  i)aid  as  honorary  gifts  to  the  dis- 
•ip|)ointed  chief  and  the  .-tuccescful  lover, 

After  the  ceremonies  are  i>ver,  the  hus- 
band takes  his  wife  liomc,  tlie  character 
of  that  homo  l)eing  dependent  on  Ins  rank 
nnd  weallli.  Hut  when  the  couple  have 
fairly  takru  up  llieir  alxxle,  tbe  iatluT  or 
previous  owner  of  tlni  wife  always  sends 
one  ox  to  her  husband.  'J'liis  ox  is  called 
the  Ox  of  tile  Hurjilus,  and  represents  sev- 
eral ideas.  In  the  first  i)laee  it  is  Kuppo»( d 
to  imply  that  the  girl's  value  vi  ry  far  ex- 
c(!eds  that  of  any  number  of  oxen  wbicli 
can  1)0  given  for  hei',  and  is  intended  to 
let  tlie  bridegroom  know  that  he  is  not 
to  think  too  much  of  iiimself  Next,  i( 
is  an  a<lmission  on  the  father's  side  that  he 
is  satisfied  with  the  transaction,  and  that 
when  he  dies  lie  will  not  avenge  himself 
by  haunting  his  daughter's  .  oiisehold,  and 
so  eaiKing  the  husband  to  >  ■  disappoint- 
ed in  his  wishes  for  a  large  fainily  of 
boys  and  girls,  tbe  first  to  be  warriors 
anil  extend  the  jiower  of  his  house,  and 
the  second  to  be  sold  for  many  cows 
and  increa.se  his  wealth.  So  curiously 
elaborate  are  tlie  customs  of  the  Kaflirs. 
that  when  this  Ox  of  the  Surplus  enters 
the  kraal  of  the  husband  it  is  called  by 
another  name,  and  is  then  entitled  "  ThV 
Ox  that  ojiens  the  Cattle-fold."  'J'he  theory 
of  this  name  is,  that  flic  husband  hits  jiiiiil 
for  his  wife  all  his  oxen,  and  that  in  couhc- 
(juence  the  cattle-fold  is  empty.  Ihit  flii' 
ox  that  she  brings  with  her  reojiens  tin' 
gate  of  tlie  fold.  aii<l  is  looked  iijion  as  an 
earnest  of  the  herds  that  aic  to  Ix!  jiiir- 
eh.ised  with  the  daughters  whieli  she  may 
have  in  the  course  of  her  married  lite. 
These  curious  customs  strongly  remind  w 
of  the  old  adage  respecting  the  counting  of 
chickens  before  they  arc  lialehed,  but  the 
Katlir  seei'is  to  ]ierform  that  preniaturn 
calculation  in  more  ways  than  one. 

The  reader  will  understand  that  flies« 
minute  and  com])licated  ceremonies  are  not 
always  observed  in  precisely  the  same 
manner.  In  many  cases,  especially  when 
the  Kaffirs  have  lived  for  any  length  of 
time  under  the  protection  of  white  nicii, 
there  is  very  little,  if  any  ceremony;  the 
chief  rites  'l)eing  the  arrangement  with 
the  girl's  owner  or  fatiier,  tbe  delivery  of 
the  cat  lie,  and  the  transfer  of  tbe  iiureba.si'd 
girl  to  the  kraal  of  her  husban<l.  ^lore- 
over,  it  is  very  <lifHcult  for  white  men  to  If 
present  at  Katlir  ceremonies,  and  in  many 
cases  th(>  Knflirs  will  pretend  that  there  is 
no  ceremony  at  all,  in  order  to  put  their 
interrogators  off  the  track.  T\w  foregoing' 
account  is,  however,  a  tfderably  hdl  descrip- 
tion of  the  ceremonies  that  "are,  or  have 
been,  jinactised  by  the  ^reat  Zulu  tribe. 

A  marriage  thiis  made  is  considered  quit* 
as  liinding  a«  any  ceremony  among  our- 
.selvtis,  and  the  KafUr  may  not  put  away  lii« 


minuH  tlioHO  which 
ry  jjitts  to  th«!  dis- 
uccesclul  loviT, 
lire  iiviT,  thi-  hii«- 
inc,  lh(!  I'liiiraftcr 
iidi'iil  on  liiH  rank 

the  I'onplt^  have 
ode,  till!  iiithcr  or 
\vit(!  ulwaytt  hciuIh 

'J'hiH  ox  is  calkMl 
nd  rcpri'sciits  hcv- 
aee  it  is  siniiiOHcd 
value  VI  ry  lar  I'x- 
ir  of  oxen  ■Nvliich 
nd  is  intended  to 
w  that  he  is  not 
hiniHeir.  Next,  it 
ther'H  Hide  that  he 
iisaetion,  and  that 
lit  :ivenKe  hininelf 
r'w      iiisehold,  and 

to  I  ■  disapjioint- 
i  larjre  I'anidy  of 
t  to  he  warriors 
)f  liiH  lio\ise,  and 
for  many  cows 
Ih.  So  ciirionsly 
lis  of  the  Kallirx, 
lie  Surplus  enlern 
id  it  is  called  liy 
en  entitled  "  ThV 
fold."     The  theory 

husliand  has  ])iii(l 
and  that  in  eonne- 

einpty.      I'ut  the 

her  reo]iens  the 
iioked  upon  as  an 
it  ai'e  to  h(!  pur- 
's which  she  may 
her    married   lite. 

ronfjly  remind  ii^ 
ii;  the  eountinjr  nf 

liatelied.  hut  the 
I)  that  pi'iinaturv 
I  than  one. 
'stand  that  thef>« 
ereinonies  arc  nut 
I'cisely  the  saiiic 
,  especially  wlieii 
iir  any  length  (if 
111  of  wliile  mill, 
ly  ceremony;  the 
rranKemeiU  with 
r,  the  delivery  uf 
r  of  the  ])urehii.si'ii 

husliand.  ^lore- 
r  white  men  to  hi' 
lies,  and  in  many 
lend  that  there  is 
rder  to  put  their 
k.  The  forciroinn 
rahly  full  descriji- 
hat  are,  or  have 
xt  Zulu  triljc. 
s  considered  quit* 
lony   amonjj  oar- 

not  put  away  hi' 


POWER  OF  DIVORCE. 


wife  except  for  cauHi     that  are  considered 
valid  hy  the  coiinfillors  of  the  trihe.     In- 
fidelity i.s,  of        urn     punished   hy  instant 
(lisinis.sal  of  tl,       mI    thful  wife,  if  not  hy 
her  death,  the  hu,    i      ,te  invariably  hefall- 
111^'  the  erriiiir  wi(^    ot  a  chief.     As  for  the 
o[\u'v  enlprit,  the    ,i^?Krieved    hushand   lias 
nun  at  his  mercy,  and  soimiinies  puts  him 
to   death,   but   Hoifietinies   eoinmntes    thai 
liunislnneiii  torahc    -  v  tine.    Constant  and 
Bysteinatie      soheihiiice  in  also  accepted  as 
ft  valid  eaii  ,.  of  divurce,  and  ho  is  ineor- 
riKiltle  idlenes.s.    The  process  of  -■    soninL' 
IS,  that  the  husband  has  bought  I       >vmnan 
in  order  to  perforin  certain  tasks  i,.r  Jiim. 
If    she   refiisi's   to   perforin    them    tliroii"!, 
(Iisobei  lenee,  or    iiinits    to   perform    tlii^n 
throiiirh  idleness,      is  clear  that  ho  has  paid 
us  money  for  a  worthless  article,  and  is 
th.r.  fore  entitled    to    return    her    on   the 
liiii        ot  the  vendor,  and  to   receive  hack 
a  I;,.     proportion  of  the  sum  which  ho  has 
pant,     bometimes    she    thinks    herself    ill 
treated    and  betakes  herself   to   the  kraal 
pt  her  father.    In  this  case,  the  father  l^an 
keel)  her  by  jiayins  •)ack  the  cattle  wliich 
he  hiw  received  for  her;  and  if  there  Hhould 
be  any  children  the  husband  retains  them 
aa  hostages  until  the  cattle  have  been  de- 
livered.   Ho   then    transfers   thein    to   the 
niotlier,  to  whom  they  rightly  belong 

Another   valid    cause  of  "divorce  is   (he 
mis Ortuno  of  a  wife  biding  childless.     The 
uisband  expects  that  she  shall  be  a  fruit- 
lul  wiie,  and  that  his  children  will  add  to 
Ins  power  and  wealth;  and  if  she  does  not 
lulhl  this  expectation,  he  is  entitled  to  a 
divorce.     Generally    ho   sends  the   wife   to 
the  kraal  of  her  lather,  who  propitiates  the 
siurits  of  her  ancestors  by  the  sacrilicc  of 
an  ox,  and  bea;s  them  to  remove  the  cause 
of  divorce.    She  then  goes  back  to  her  hus- 
band, but  if  .she  should  still  continue  child- 
ess,  she  IS  sent  back  to  her  father,  who  is 
bound  to  return  the  cattle   which  he  has 
received  for  her.    Sometimes,   howwer,  a 
modi  ieation  ot    this    system   is   erajiloyed, 
and   the  father  gives,  m    addition   to 'the 
wile,  one  of    her  unmarried  sisters,  who 
IS  hoped  may  better  fulfil  the  wishes  of 
the  husband,    the  father  would  rather  fol- 
«.w  this  plan   than  consent  to  a  d  vorcc 
because  he  then  retains  the  cattle,  an  1  to 
give  up  a  single  ox  causes  pangs  of  sorrow 
...  a  Kafllr's  brea.st.    Should  tlu    s  st^r  ^ 
«•<....«  a  fruitful  wife,  one  or  two  of  the  cWl- 
dren  are   transferred   to   the   former  wm 
and  ever  afk^rward  considered  a:j  belon^-' 
ing  to  her  hou.se.  "eion., 

All  those  dctfiils  remind  the  ohserver  of 
smular  details  in  the   Mosaic  law  of  mar 
r.age,and,  in  point  of  fact,^the  social  con- 
dition of  the^  Kaffir  of  the' present     ay    s" 
not  very  different   (Vom    that  of  the   Is 


87 


gated  through  ;i,/:  It T^^V^f^L   ,, 
of  the  customs  are  IdenticaT,  and  in  others 


there  is  a  similitude  that  is  almost  startlinL' 
Hut,  as  far  as  the  facility  of  divorce  go,., 
the  K.iHIr  certiimly  seems  to  looK  upon 
niarn..  ■,  even  though  he  may  have  an 
unhmii  i  number  of  wives.  With  more 
reverence  than  did  the.  am  i  nt  Israelite 
Miel  he  would  not  think  of  divorcing  a  wifj 
•  'b   I,    iner.-  caprice   of   the   moment 

'  saneiioiied  by  the   traditions  of  the 
•Jews,  tliough  not  by  their  divinely  given 

Htill,  though  ho  does   not,  as  a   general 
rule,   think  himself  Jusliflod  in  sui^li   arbi- 
trary divorces,  he  eon.siders  himself  •'ifteil 
with   an    irresponsible    niiiliority   ove"-   his 
uives,  ,.ven  to  the  power  of  ||f,.  und  doatli. 
II,  for  example,  a  husband  in  a  fit  of  passion 
were^to  kill  his  wife  — a  circumstance  that 
lius  freipiently  occurred  —  no  one  has  any 
business  to  interfere  in  the  matter,  for  a.'- 
cordiii;,'  to  his  view  of  tiie  case,  she  is  bis 
prope.     .  bought,  and  pahl  for,  and  he  b.is 
.piat  a.s  iiuich  right  to  kill  her  as  if  she  were 
(me  of  his  goats  or  oxen.     Her  fivther  can- 
not proceed  against  the  murdrr.'r,  fo,-  be 
has  no  further  right  in  his  .JMugbler,  hav- 
..19  Hol'l   her  auif  received   the  stiinilatcd 
price     The    man    has,   in    fact,  destroyed 
valuable    property   of   his    „wn -p,  oporty 
which  might  be  soM  for  ,  ows,  and  which 
wfw  expected  to  wo,;    for  iiini,  and  produce 
offspring    oxchangealile     for    cous       It    is 
thought,   therefore,   that   if   he   chooses  to 
inflict   upon   himself   so   severe   a  loss    no 
one  ha.s  an v  more  right  to  interfere  ^vitli 
h.rn  than  if  he  were  to  kill  a  number  of 
oxen  m  a  fit  of  passion.     Sometimes,  how- 
ever,  the   chief   lias   been   known   to   take 
such  a  matter  in  hand,  and  to  fine  the  de- 
linipient  m  a  cow  or  two  for  dostroviii"  a 

sown,  formed  a  unit  in  the  strength  of 
1.0  tribe,  and  over  which  he,  as  tlTe  ac- 
knowledged father  of  the  tribe  had  aTuWs- 
hction.  Ihit,  even  in  such  rare  instances 
1.18  interference,  although  it  would  be  made 
ostensibly  for  the  sake'of  justice,  wouK 
icality  be  an  ea-sy  mode  of  adding  to  his 
own  wealth  by  confiscating  the  cattle  which 
lie  demanded  as  a  fhie  from  the  culprit. 

iJotween  married  jiorsons  and  their  rela- 
tives a  very  singular  code  of  etiquette  pre- 

allowed  to  marry  any  one  to  whom  he  is 
related  by  bloorl.  He  may  marry  two  or 
more  sisters,  provided  that  they  come  from 
ad.tferent  family  from  his  own,  but  he  may 
.i<>t  t4ikea  wife  who  descended  from  his  own 
..nmediate  ancestors.  Hut,  like  the  ancient 
tiebrews,  a  man  may  not  only  marry  the 
wife  of  a  decoa.sed  brother,  hut  considers 
himself  bound  to  do  so  in  justice  to  the 
wh:;''t^Vn"h''""'  ^'"''''••^"  °*"  •»«  brother! 
iTotst'own"'"'  *^  ^"  '"^^'^^^  «»^  P- 

mei!t'i;„.^.?r'r'"'  ^"^"f^^  whicJi  has  been 
mentioned    lies   in    the   social  conduct  of 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


2.5 
2.2 

i.8 


1.25 

1.4    III  1.6 

^ 

6"     

.. 

V] 


/>^ 


■/# 


Photographic 

Sderices 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  873-4503 


v 


■1>' 


\\ 


'<h 


6^ 


5^^ 


% 


^>' 


:^ 


>» 


''<i.^ 


&^ 


88 


THE  KAFFIR. 


:« 


'      i 


those  who  are  related  to  each  other  by  mar- 
riage and   not  by  blood.    After  a  liiaii  is 
married,  he  may  not  speak  familiarly  to  his 
wife's  mother,  nor  even  look  upon  her  face, 
and   tiiis  curious  custom  is  called  "beint^ 
ashamed   of    the    mother-iu-law."     If   he 
wislies   to  speak  to  her,  he  must  retire  to 
Home  distance,  and  carry  on  his   connnuni- 
cation  by  shouting;  which,  as  has  been  truly 
said,  is  certainly   no   hardship   to   a  Kaflir. 
Or,  if  the  communication  be  of  a  nature  tiiat 
others  ou,i;ht   not  to  hear,  the   etiquette  is 
thought  to  be  siilliciently  observed  provided 
that  the  two  parties  stand  at  either  side  of  a 
fence  over  which  they  cannot  see. 
If,  as  is  often  the  case,  the  man 
and  his  mother-in-law  happen  to 
meet  in  one  of  the  narrow  jjaths 
tiiat  lead  from   the  kraal  to  the 
gardens  and  cultivated  lields,  they 
inust  always  jjretend   rot  to  see 
each  olher.     The  woman  gener- 
ally looks  out  for  a  convenient 
bush,   and    crouches    behind    it, 
while  the  man  carefully  holds  his 
shield  to  his  face.    So  fiir  is  this 
peculiar    etiquette     carried    that 
neither  the  man  nor  liis  mother- 
in-law  is  allowed  to  mention  the 
name  of  the  other.     This  prohi- 
bition nui:^t  in  all  places  be  ex- 
ceeilingly  awkward,  but  it  is  more 
iiO  in  Kaflirlfind,  where  the  name 
which  is  given  to  each  individual 
is  sure  to  denote  some  mental  or 
pliysical  attribute,  or   to  be   the 
name    of    some    natural    object 
wliich  is  accepted  as  tlie  embodi- 
ment of  that  attribute. 

Supposing,  then,  that  the  name 
of  the  man  signitied  a  house,  and  that  the 
iiaine  of  his  mother-in-law  signified  a  cow, 
it  is  evident  that  each  must  be  rather  em- 
barrassed ill  ordinary  conversation.  Pei- 
soiis  thus  situated  alwavs  substitute  some 
otlier  word  for  that  which  they  are  forbid- 
den to  pronounce,  and  that  substitution  is 
always  accepted  by  the  friends.  Curiously 
circundocutory  terms  are  thus  invented,  anil 
very  much  resemble  the  eui)hemisms  which 
prevail  both  in  Northern  America  and 
Northern  Eurojie.  In  such  a  case  as  has 
been  mentioned,  the  man  might  always 
speak  of  a  cow  as  the  "horned  one,"  and 
the  woman  would  use  thti  word  "  dwelling  " 
or  "  habitation  "  instead  of  "  house." 

As,  moreover,  a  man  has  generally  a  con- 
sidiTable  numl)er  of  mothers-in-law,  it  is 
evident  that  this  rule  must  sometimes  be 
productive  of  much  inconvenience,  and 
cause  the  memory  to  be  always  on  the 
stretch.  How  such  a  man  as  f'anda,  who 
has  at  least  a  thousand  mothers-in-law,  con- 
trives to  carry  on  conversation  at  all,  is 
rather  perplexing.  Perhaps  bo  is  consid- 
ered to  he  above  the  'aw,  and  that  his  words 
are    aa  irresponsible  aa  his  actions.    The 


reader  may  perhaps  remember  that  a  simi- 
lar custom  i)revail8  throughout  the  greater 
part  of  Polynesia. 

The  wit';',  again,  ia  interdicted  from  i)ro- 
nouncing-  the  name  of  her  husband,  or  that 
of  any  of  his  brothers.  This  seems  as  if  she 
would  be  prevented  from  speaking  to  him 
in  familiar  terms,  but  such  is  not  really  the 
ca.se.  The  fact  is,  that  every  Kallir  has 
more  than  one  name;  and  the  higher  the 
rank,  the  greater  the  number  of  names. 
At  birth,  or  soon  afterward,  a  name  is 
given  to  the  child,  and  this  name  has  al- 
ways reference  to  some  attribute  which  the 


KAFFIR  PASSING  HIS  MOTHEK-IN-LAW. 


child  Is  desired  to  possess,  or  to  some  cir- 
cumstance which  has  occurred  at  the  time. 

For  example,  a  child  is  sometimes  called 
by  the  name  of  the  day  on  which  it  is  born, 
just  as  Kobinson  Crusoe  called  his  servant 
Friday.  If  a  wild  beast,  such  as  a  lion  or  a 
jackal,  were  heard  to  roar  at  the  time  when 
the  child  was  born,  the  circumstance  w.iuhl 
be  accepted  as  an  omen,  and  the  child  calleit 
by  the  name  of  the  beast,  or  by  n  word 
whicli  represents  its  ory.  Mr.  Shooter 
mentions  some  rather  curious  cxamnles  of 
these  names.  If  the  animal  whieli  was 
heard  at  the  time  of  the  child's  Idrlh  were 
the  hymna,  which  is  called  inqiini  by  the 
natives,  the  name  of  the  cliild  niigfit  be 
either  U'mpisi,  or  U-huhu,  the  second  being 
an  imitative  sound  rei)resenting  the  luugh- 
like  cry  of  the  liya'iia.  A  boy  whose  fa- 
ther pi'ided  lumse'lf  on  the  number  of  his 
stud,  which  of  course  would  be  very  much 
increased  when  his  son  inlieritcd  th.'u, 
called  the  child  "  irso-mahashe,"  i.  c.  the 
tiither  of  iiorses.  This  child  became  after- 
ward a  well-known  chief  in  the  Natal  dis- 
trict. A  girl,  again,  whoso  mother  had 
been  presented  with  a  now  hoe  just  before 


BIRTII-NAMES  AND  PRAISE-NAMES. 


L'lnber  that  a  simi- 
gliouL  the  greater 

rdieted  from  i)ro- 
•  husband,  or  tluit 
liis  seeiiiH  as  if  she 

siieuking  to  him 
h  is  not  really  the 

every  Kallir  lias 
d  (he  liigher  the 
umber  of  names, 
ward,  a  name  is 
his  name  Iins  al- 
Ltribute  which  the 


K-IN-LAW. 

I,  or  to  some  cir- 
rred  at  the  time. 

sometimes  called 

whieh  it  is  born, 
■ailed  his  servant 
iieh  as  a  lion  or  a 
at  the  time  wlien 
■eumstancc,  w.iuld 
id  the  ehild  (lalled 
st,  or  by  r  word 
V.  Mr.  Shooter 
ioHs  cxamnles  of 
inial  whieli  was 
hild's  Idrlh  were 
ed  iiiqiitti  hv  the 

child  might  he 
,  the  second  being 
i!nting  the  luugh- 
A  buy  whose;  i'a- 
10  inimber  of  his 
Id  be  very  mucli 

inlierited  th^'u, 
ihashe,"  i.  c.  the 
ild  l)ecame  aftcr- 
n  the  Natal  dis- 
)8e  mother  had 
f  hoe  just  before 


her  daughter  was  born,  c.iUed  the  girl 
"  Uno-nlsimbi,"  i.  e.  the  daughter  of  iron. 
The  name  of  Panda,  the  kuig  of  the  Zulu 
tribes,  is  in  reality  "  U-mi)andc,"  a  name 
derived  from  "•  imj)ande,"  a  kind  of  root. 

These  birth-names  iire  Known  l)y  the  title 
"  igama,"  and  it  if,  only  to  them  tliat  the 
pvohil>itlve  custom  extends.  In  the  case  of 
a  chief,  his  igama  may  not  be  spoken  by 
any  belonging  to  his  kraal;  and  in  the  case 
of  a  king,  the  law  extends  to  all  his  sub- 
jects. Thus,  a  Kalflr  will  not  only  refuse  to 
speak  of  Panda  by  his  name,  l)ut  when  he 
has  occasion  to  speak  of  the  root  impande, 
he  sul)stitutes  another  word,  and  calls  it 
"  ingxabo." 

A  Kaffir  does  not  like   that  a  stranger 
should  even  hoar,  his  igama,  for  he  has  a 
hazy  sort  of  idea  that  the  knowledge  might 
be  used  for  some  evil  purpose.    One  of  my 
friends,  who  lived   in  KalHrland   for   some 
years,  and  employed  a  considerable  number 
of  the  men,  never  could  induce  anv  of  them 
to  tell  him  their  igama,  and  found  that  they 
W(,ul(l  always  prefer  to  be  called  by  some 
English  name,  such  as  Tom,  or  Billy.     At 
last,  when  ho  had  attained  a  tolerable  idea 
of  the   langu.ige,  he   could   listen  to  their 
conversation,  and  so  find  out  the  real  names 
by  which  they  addressed  each  other.    "When 
he  had  mastered  these  names,  he  took  an 
oi)portunity  of  addressing  each  man  by  his 
igama,  and  frightened   them    exceedingly. 
On  hearing  the  word  spoken,  thjy  started 
as  if  they  had  been  struck,  nnd  laid  their 
hands  on  their  mouths  in  horrified  silence. 
The  very  fact  that  <he  white  man  had  been 
able   to  gain   the    forbidden  knowledge  af- 
fected them  with  so  strong  an  idea  of  liis 
superiority  that  they  became  very  obedient 
servants. 

In  addition  to  the  igama,  the  Kaffir  takes 
other    names,  always    in    praise    of   some 
action   that   he    h.as   performed,  and    it   is 
thought  good  manners  to  adelress  him  bv 
one  or  more  of  these  titles.     This  second 
name  is  called  the  "isi-bonga,"  a  word  which 
is   derived    from   ■'uku-bonga,"   to    praise. 
In  AVestern  Africa,  a  chief' takes,  in  addi- 
tion to  his  ordinarv  name,  a  whole  series  of 
"strong-names,"  all  allusive   to  some  por- 
tion of  his    history.     Sometimes,   the    isi- 
bonga    is    given   to   him    by    others.    F()r 
pxam[)le,  .as  soon  as  a  boy  is  enrollinl  amoni' 
the    youths,  his  parents  give   him  an  isi" 
Donga;  and  when  he  assumes  the  head-rin" 
of   manhood,   he   alwavs   assinnes    another 
praise-namc.     If  a  man  distinguishes  him- 
self in  battle,  his  comrades  greet  him  by  an 
isi-bonga,  by  whieh  ho  is   ofHelally  known 
until  he   earns  another.    On   occasions   of 
ceremony  he  is  always  addressed  by  one  or 
niore  of  these  praise-namcis;  and  i'f  lie  be 
visited  by  an  inferior,  the  latter  stands  out- 
side his  hut,  and  proclaims  aloud  as  manv 
of  his  titles  as  he  thinks  suitable  for  the 


to  send  a  present  of  snuiT,  food,  and  drink  to 
the  visitor,  who  again  visits  the  hut,  and 
recommences  his  proclamation,  adding  more 
titles  iis  an  acknowledgment  of  the  chief's 
liberality. 

A  king  has,  of  course,  an  almost  illimit- 
able number  of  isi-bong.as,  and  really  to 
learn  them  all  in  order  requires  a  meinory 
of  no  mean  order.  Two  or  three  of  them 
are  thiirelbre  selected  for  ordinary  use,  the 
remainder  being  reserved  for  the  heralds 
whose  peculiar  office  it  is  to  recite  the 
])raises  of  their  monarch.  Panda,  for  exam- 
ple, is  usually  addressed  as  "  O  Elephant."' 
This  is  merely  a  .symbolical  isi-bonga,  and 
IS  given'  to  the  king  as  admitting  him  to 
be  greatest  among  men  a.s  the  elejiliant  is 
greatest  among  beasts.  In  one  sense  it  is 
true  enough,  the  elephantine  pi-oportions  of 
Panda  quite  justifying  such  an  allusion. 
This  title  might  be  given  to  any  very  great 
man,  I)ut  it  is  a  convenient  name  by  which 
the  king  may  be  called,  and  therefore  by 
this  name  ho  is  i:sually  addressed  in  council 
and  on  jjarade. 

For  example,  Mr.  Shooter  recalls  a  little 
incident  which  occurred  during  a  review  by 
Pandit.      The   king   turned   to  one  of   the 
"  ))oys,"  and  asked  how  ho  would  behave  if 
be  met  a  white  man  in  battle?    Never  was 
there    a    more    arrant    coward    than    this 
"boy,"  but  boasting  was  safe,  and  springing 
to  his  feet  he  spoke  like  a  brave  :  "  Yes,  O 
Elephant !    You  see  mo  I     I'll  go  against 
the  white  man.    His  gun  is  nothing,     I'll 
rush  upon  him  qjickly  before  he  luis  time 
to  shoot,  or  I'll  stoop  down  to  avoid  the  ball. 
See  bow  I'll  kill  him!"   and  forthwith  his 
stick  did  the  work  .)f  iin  .assagai  on  the  body 
of  an   im.aginary  European.      Ducking    to 
avoid  a  bullet,  and  then  rushing  in  before 
the  enemy  had  time  to  reload,  was  a  very 
favorite   device   with  the    Kaffir    w.arriors, 
and  answered  very  well  at  first.    But  tlieir 
white  foes  soon  learned  to  aim  so  low  that 
ah  the  ducking  in  the  world  could  not  elude 
the  bullet,  while  the  more  recent  invention 
of  revolvers  and  breech-loaders  hi>.s  entirely 
discomfited  this  sort  of  tactics. 

In  a  song  in  honor  of  Panda,  a  part  of 
which  has  already  been  quoted,  a  great 
number  of  isi-bongas  are  introduced.  It 
will  be  therefore  better  to  give  the  song 
entire,  and  to  explain  the  various  allusions 
in  their  order.  It  must  bo  remembered 
that  in  his  earlier  days  Panda,  whose  life 
wa-s  originally  spared  by  Dingan,  when  ho 
murdered  Tchaka  and  the  rest  of  the  fam- 
il,V,  was  aft(;rward  obliged  to  flee  before 
hiin,  and  very  ingeniously  contrived  to  get 
off  safely  across  the  river  bv  watchiu'T  his 
opportunity  while  the  army  of  Ding.an  was 
eng.aged  in  another  direction,  ife  then 
made    an    alli.ance 


an    alli.ance    with    the    white    men, 
brought  a  large  force  against  Dingan,  and 

occasion      If  ;a  tu  ..,  i- r'"'. >-   c^^^'iuercd  him,  driving  him  far  beyond  the 

occasion.    It  is  then  according  to  etiquette  I  bouudarica,  and  euding  by  having^  hhnself 


null 


90 


THE  KAFFIR. 


E  flS.  "I  ^?°^^    *^^   "»«  Zulu   tribes, 
llus  hght  took  pliito  at  the  Makonko  ami 

of- Pamli  or  u.    ^"i  '""""^  praise-names 


"1. 


2. 
3. 
4. 
6. 
«. 
7. 

8. 

a 

:;o. 
;i. 

12. 
IS. 
14. 
15. 
Ki. 
17. 
IH. 
19. 

20. 

21. 
22. 
23. 


^'"/o,.rf:;f  °^  '•''  ^'-■''"'''*'  'considerate 
A  stmdlow  which  fled  in  the  ski,  ■ 
A  Hwallow  with  a  .vl.i.skerf.l  Weasf 
Whose  ciitt  ((  was  ever  ui  h»  h ii,irii.ti  . 

TheyHt,nnb.edtor;oomrho  rS^ar'"''' 
r  10  I  la.se  adoHT  of  the  valor  of  a^.f.t  „ 

77i'.'//t  oj  the  bulluck  of  Inhikcwini  ^' 

Always  jlelioious  if  only  'tis  roast,',! 
.1    will  always  be  ta.steless  if  |„^h.,i   ' 
r  .0  woman  front  Mankebo  i,s  de  iL'hto.I  ■ 
She  lia.s  .see.,  the  leopards  of  Ja.  ^l         ' 
1  >Klit...g  toRother  bet«-een  the  Makonko 

"'^v,"K■„£u^'=' ■"»'•'■*"-.. I.. 

black!"  '        "  '"o«acc/*  who  art 


lis  nsscption  that  ivli.-n  they  canio  to  2  .M 
1  ..mla  coiiqucroil  Dinga,,.  tin,",  s",W,' 
«  relate  to  .l,„  „„„„„t  „f  ,„^J^  J  'j  " 
by    langiiis   lliem    over  the   lireiS.S   I,? 

which  Paiitla  reigned  ;  "the  word   -zZ'" 
nioan.ns  cele.stial,  and  having  n.uejfthn 

f..n4"';fva?.\i°£,irhir„"r,h°r 


i£,:a/l:rrtzrs'izi;;a';*;- 

\:  "'.»  '  itncr,  with  the  word  "  son  "  Dri'tivn,! 

prai.se-name    is  .onti.!Sily  \'ha  ;?nf ''  ""' 

Fortunately,  the  Zulu  {-.nsua^e  fs  con, 
I'lex  in  Its  structure,  and  its  purity Ts  tX 

which  arc  held,  and  the  displays  of  ora  o rv 
which  a  ways  accompany  th im."^  O  her  v^s/ 
this  curious  custom  of  .substitutiro-  Spn' 
ril.v  one  wo-d  for  an.)ther  St"have  nn 

PHHiy  that  the  natives  who  had  left  tl,,.!.. 
own  country,  and  returned  Xfal-iLnf 

mvv  be  ' Vh"''  ^\'''"  "^  ^'«  ««"'«  ^Vive's 
notice,  and  she  retires.     But,  when  he  is  h? 

(iisatJvantaM,  and    cannot    enter  her  own 
house  until  he  has  left  it.    This  rule  hou 
ever,  is  seldom  kept  in  all  its  sT^  c^nes's  ami 
1  (Iced  such  literal  obedience  is  hardly' nos 
j'oble,  because   the   eldest  son  very  sel.G" 
leaves  his  father's  kraal  iinti"  he  Ls  iir 
•  ed  at  least  two  wives.    1„  coiseom  nr     nf 

"e  IhT kKT'  '— n'ncTorthrJ 
I   hm,,,i,  n       u    ''''^■"  «-ontrived  to  evade  it 

The  Serh^ ,'''''''"  ""*  "''^"'^  abandoned  t.' 
tit:.  *f 'Y'r-in-law  presents  an  ox  to  his  son's 
«  fe  an<l  in  consi<lerati..n  of  this  libera   tv 
she  trees  him  from  the  obligation  of  this    e' 
eihar  and  troublesome  courtesy     Tuf    f 

Fr  rL"y  f'  "'^t""' '«  "iu-hloni,u'' 
J^ioni  M  hat  has   been  said,  it  is  evident 

quite    as  if  they   were  cattle;    liable     jke 
cattle,  to  be   bought  and  sold.      A  Ka  f.r 

te  ms'  orr'.  *"/  '''  T^  '"«  wiff  a^e 
teims  of  the  least  equality,  or  that  he  does 
not  deserve  praise  at  her  hand  foi- Ids  con 
.lescensionin  marrying  her  at  all     A  man 
men  of  h?,'^  -'"ndescend  to  notice  the  w^" 
men  of  his  own  household.     If  they  so  out 

wavs'^Sumr-  ""'T'^  '^"'^  ««  thei/sfver" 
were  to  affik^'V*"'"/^"'"!'''''  ^^^^  «  i"*'" 
support  ot  a  new  house;  Ids  wives,  in  going 


it  p.  12,  when  trcat- 
tho  Kiifflr  tribes. 
y  countriea,  when  a 
III  presented  to  him 
ga  the  name  of  (ho 
lt"  prefixed  to  it; 
ind,  if  his    faiiier 
man    of  peculiar 
praisc-nanie   (hat 
rd  "  son  "  jirefixod. 
that  while  (heorii'- 
lernianent,  though 
his   isi-I)onga,  or 
Iv  changing, 
language  is  com- 
its  purity  is  jeal- 
:ontinual  couiicils 
isplays  of  oratory 
hem.    Otherwise, 
!)stitutirg  arbitra- 
r  min;ht  have  an 
on  the  language, 
3  in  the  countrTes 
prevails,  and  in 
-hanged  so  com- 
ho  had  \vi\  their 
1  after  a  lajjse  of 
■arcely  be  a))le  to 
<«1,  oven  tliough 
Ihe  language  as  it 
n  their  own  land, 
ation  among  the 
allowed  to  enter 
'  his  son's  wives 
enter  he  gives 
it,  when  he  is  in 
3  placed  at  equal 
enter  lier  own 
This  rule,  how- 
s  strictness,  and 

0  is  hardly  pos- 
)n  very  seldom 
lil  he  has  nuir- 
consequence  of 
nience  of  (Iiis 
ved  to  evade  it, 
y  abandoned  it. 
»  ox  to  his  son's 

this  liberality 
tion  of  this  ])e- 
tesv.  The  na- 
■'  iiku-lilonij)a." 

1  it  is  evident 
iferior  ])osili()n 
i  looked  Tipf)n 
[■;  liable,  like 
Ifl.  A  Kallir 
is  wife  are  on 
r  that  he  does 
lid  for  his  con- 
t  all.  A  man 
lotice  the  wo- 
[f  they  go  out 

>  their  several 
3,  that  a  man 
poles  for  the 
ives,  in  going 


to  the  Ham3  Spot,  would  be  careful  to  choose 
a  di  lerent  pith.  AVhen  he  has  cut  the 
wood  he  walks  olF,  leaving  his  wives  to  per- 
Orm  the  really  heavy  labor  of  bringing  it 
iDine,  and  no  man  would  ever  *^^hink  of 
iwmstmg  a  woman  in  so  menial  a  labor. 

-I  here  are  now  before  me  several  photo- 
graphs representing  women  eairying  bun- 
dles of  sticks,  and  it  is  wonderful  what  huce 
burdens  these  hard  worked  women  wTll 
carry.  A  man  will  not  even  lift  the  wood 
.on  the  head  of  his  wife,  but  expects  tha 
one  of  her  own  sex  will  "Assist  her.  Some- 
times, when  a  numlier  of  women  are  re- 
turning (rom  wood  cutting,  walking  in  sin-de 

le'  he.id  "'A'';/"^''^'»'  ■''  "boy  ""will  take 
me  head   of   the  procession.    But  he  will 

a  stick,  and  bears  nothing  but  his  weanons 

and  perhaiis  a  small  shield.  weapons. 

The    unceremonious    manner    in    which 

httle  less  singular  than  the  cheerful  acnui- 
esceuce   with   wliicli   they  obevX    en 
"aands  of  their  sable  masiis  ^^Once  w  In 

niMU  m  a  most  peremptorv  tone  It 
turned  out  that  Din^un  had  suddenly  taken 
into  h.s  iiead  to  buiTd  a  new  kraal  and  Ind 
ordered  all  the  women  into  thf  bush  to  ,  ro 

pons.    In  a  few  minutes  a  vast    nTinil  r  r 
o    female  voices  were   heard  i  nitih-  Tn  ^ 
FoudT^  '»f,>°"^^' ^^Weh  becam  "  oudfr  an 
ou.ier  as  the   numbers   of  the  sin-ers^n- 
m-ased    on    their  mustering  ground    a 

o  bushes  on  her  head,  they  werf  siuS 
'ong  .a  Uistance  and  so  heavily  laden  Tlw> 
'•  \  t.  •;'■.,  .".'^'"'^"y  consisted  of  one  lin.. 

-nWS'asr^--t 

belong  to  the  s  no  race  Th''''^  ^^^"^  *" 
rule,  are  excei,  n-illl  «„"'  "'•'"'  "^  a 
humanity;  and  iS  ^T-  T'^'l™^"^  "*" 
bones,  woolly  lla'rS  thick ^'^''  ''''^?«'^- 
aerveasmoditoril^;!;;,t^!^i.^-«;^ 


IXFERIOR  P0SITI02^  OF  'WOMEN". 


91 


I  is  tall,  their  forms  are  elastic  and  muscular 
.;ind  their  .step  is  free  and  noble,  as  bWies' 
he  gait  of  warriors.    In  all  these  respects 
luvy  arc  certainly  not  inferior  to  Europeans 
n<f  in  many  are  decidedly  superior    t"'o' 
women,  however,  are  ratller  stunted  thm 
otherwise:  their  figures  are  bowed  by  rJa" 
•son  of  the  heavy  wei-hts  which  they'^have 
.carry,  and  they  rapTdly  lose  that  wm  leu-! 
ul  symmetry  of  form  which  distino-  islVi  d 
them  while  still  in  the  bloom  cf  youth    The 
men  preserve  their  grandeur  ot  demean  i 
and  their  bold,  intelligent  aspect,  eve"   u 
hm  hair  is  gr.ay  from  age,  v/hile'the  e  .  er  y 
Katt  r  woman  is  at  b.;st  awkward  and  u  i^ 
•sigh  ly     and    the    old    woman    irres^sti    v 

cr;'diii;:j"^^^"-"^-'^««'i-iwiS^ 

example,  would  take  a  pride  in  freein-  lis 
•laughters  and  chief  wife  from  Ihe  excei)tio 

bcx  in  Kattirland.    In  the  case  of  the  dau-h- 

n  o'..  f.  ''  'T'"''^   '1""'^   ««  much   by  sdf- 
nterest    as    by  parental  affection,    i  gid 
fetches    a    pri.e    commensurate    with    her 
appearance     ,  >„    the    very  best    price    is 
always  to  be  obtained  for  ^he  bes/ article 
int  la,  .  l,,erofapoor  man,  or  dependant 
s  oblig,.,'.  to  work  hard  and' live  ban     a    i 
the   n.atuial   consequence   is,  that  she   has 
scarce  y  anv  real  youth,  and  that  her  form 
m  sjjoiled  by  the  heavy  labors  which   n^ 
nnposed  upon  her  at  an  age  whe     all  U  o 
bodily  powers  ought  to  be  employe    in  aid! 
mg  to   the  jjhysical  energy  of  her     ■■mo 
Therefore,  when  such  a  gi^l  is  old  e  S 
to  be  married,  she  is  thin,  careworn    and 
coarse  and  no  one  will  give  very  much  fbr 
her.    Indeed,  if  she  should  be  married  she 

knuil  of  hex  husband  is  little  more  than  that 
of  a  purchased  drudge. 

The  daughter  of  a  wealthy  man  on  the 
con  rary  undertakes  but  little  of  the  "call v 
hard  work  which  fidls  to  the  lot  of  her  sei^ 

TLx%^^'\'\r'  ""''^y  """^^'^'1'  but  e^cour-' 
•iged  to  eat  the  most  fattening  food  with "ls 

rudi  nf  ''''"  ''O'^I'ared  with  the  ordfnary 
ludge  of  every-c.a>   life,  she  is  by  far  tlib 

S'.'"'"''"'''"-.^'^'!  ^"^^  f^''^"'- '«  sure  to 
btain  a  very  much  liigher  price  for  her 

than  would  Imve  been  tin  case  if  she  hid 

been  forced  to  do  hard  labor      Thus  ti  o 

.ree  great  requisites  of  a  Kaffir  gid  are 

tliat  she  should  be  fat,  strong,  and  have 

a  tolerably  good-looking  face.      This  hast 

q.iahfication  is,  however,''subordinate  to  the 

other  two.    That  she  is  fat,  shows  that  sho 

has  not  been  prematurely  worn  out  b    hard 

tTnt'\.etn"he''HV^"''4^^'«'^««  V^S 
cnat  she  will  be  able  to  do  plenty  of  work 

wnf.  'f  .'"'''■'■'''«^''  "»^  tl»at  the  purchaser 

:.i'ted  hisTouel:"'^  '^  ^'^^'^  ^'  ^^  ^ 


CHAPTER   XI. 


"WAR— OFFENSIVE  WEi\J?ONS. 


THE  KAFPIB  Mn.ITABr  SPIRIT,  HOW  GENERATED,  AND  HOW  FOSTERED -DREAD  OF  TITE  rJfKNOWN- 
ABTILLEUV-IT3  MORAI,  EFFECT  ON  THE  KAFFIIi-NATIVB  NAJIE  FOR  CANNON  -  OR.iANMZATlON 
OF  THE  ARMY-WEAI.ON8  USED  BY  THE  ZULU  TUIBES-miMlTIVB  FORMATION  OF  THE  SITAul 
MATERIAL  USED  FOR  SFEAR-HEADS  -  ZULU  Hl-EAHS,  OB  "  A88AOAIS  " -THE  ZULU  A8  A  1.1  VCK" 
BMITH-SHAPE  OF  THE  ASSAOAI  HEAD-THE  KAFFHt's  PREFERENCE  FOR  SOFT  HTFFI  -THE 
KAFFIR  KNIFE  AND  AXE-IUST-RESISTINO  PROPBRTY-THB  KAFFIR  FOHOE  AND  l.FIK.WS- 
SMELTINO  IRON-A  KAFFIR  CHIEF  ASTONISHED -LE  VAILLANT  INSTRUCTING  niE  NATIVFS  IN 
THE  USE  OF  THE  FORGE  -  WIRE-DRAWING  AND  WORKING  IN  BRASS -HOW  THE  KAFFIR  CA'.TS 
AND  MODELS  BRASS  -  DIFFICULTIES  IN  IRON  WOBKIN(i -HOW  A  KAFFIR  OUTAINS  FIRE -TEMPER 
OF  ASSAGAI  HEADS- ASSA<iAI  SHAFTS  -  CURIOUS  METHOD  OF  FASTENING  THE  HEAD  TO  HIE  SIIAIT 
-A  REMARKABLE  SPECIMEN  OF  THE  ASSAGAI-HOW  THE  ASSAGAI  IS  THROWN-  \  K  \FFIU 
CHIEF'S  STRATAGEM,  AND  A  CLASSICAL  PARALLEL- THE  TWO  KINDS  OF  ASSAG.U-THE  KNOB- 
KEIUIY,    AND  MODE  OF   USING   IT. 


If  there  is  any  one  trail  which  dislinguishes 
the  true  Kallir  race,  it  is  tliu  innate  frenius 
for  warfare.    Tlic  Kaflir  lives  from  his  child- 
hood to  his  death  in  an  atniosijhero  of  war. 
Until  he  is  old  and  wealthy,  and   naturally 
desires  to  keep  his  possessions  in  tranquillity, 
a  time  of  peace  is  to  him  a  time  of  trouljle. 
lie  has  no  opportunity  of  woikinu:  olf  his 
superabundant   eneixv;    he  has   plenty   of 
spears  which  lie  cann()t  use  against  aii  in- 
emy,  and  a  shield  which  he  caii  only  employ 
in   the  dance.    lie  has  no  chance  of   dis- 
tinguishing himself,  and   so  gaining  both 
rank  and  wealth;   and  if   ho  bo  a   young 
bachelor,  he  cannot  hope  to  be  promo'ted  to 
the  rank  of  "  man,"  and  allowed  to  marry, 
for  many  a  long  year.    It  is  true,  that  in  a 
time  of  war  he  may  be  killed;  but  that  is  a 
reflection  which  does  not  in  the  least  trouble 
a  Kaflir.    For  all  he  knows,  he  stands  in  just 
as  great  danger  of  his  life  in  a  time  of  peace. 
He  may  unintentionally  offend  the  king;  he 
may  commit  a  breach  of  discijiline  whu:h 
would  be  overlooked  in  war  time;  he  may 
be   accused  as  a  wizard,   and   tortured  to 
death ;  he  may  at'cumulate  a  few  cows,  aiid 
so  excite  the  cupidity  of  the  chief,  who  will 
fine  him  heavily  for  so-nething  which  either 
he  did  not  do,  or  which  was  not  of  the  slight- 
est importance.  " 
Knowing,  therefore,  that  a  violent  deatli 


{'J'A 


is  quite  as  likely  to  befall  him  in  peace  as  in 
war,  and  as  in  peace  he  has  no  chance  of 
gratifying  his  ambitious  feelings,  the  yoini" 
Kafiir  is  all  for  war.  Indeed,  bad  it  not  been 
for  the  Judicious  cou-  ils  of  the  old  men, 
the  English  (Jovernnu'iit  would  have  had' 
much  more  trouble  wilh  these  trii)es  (hau 
has  been  the  case.  Even  under  I'anda's 
rule,  there  have  been  great  dissensions 
among  the  army.  All  agreed  in  dislikimr 
the  rule  of  the  English  ip  thi-  Natal  district" 
because  Natiil  formed  a  re'  e  fur  tiiousands 
of  Kafiirs,  most  of  then,  .longing  to  the 
Zulu  tribe,  and  having  fled  from  the  tyr- 
anny of  Panda;  while  others  helon<j(d  to 
tribes  against  which  J'anda  liad  miuU'.  war, 
and  had  fled  for  protection  to  the  English 
flag. 

The  younger  warriors,  fierce,  arrogant, 
d(!spising  the  white  man  because  they  do 
not  know  him,  liave  re])eatedlv  begged  to 
be  allowed  to  invade  Natal.  They  iiige,  in 
imrsuance  of  their  request,  that  'the>"  will 
con(|uer  the  country,  restore  to  their  king 
all  the  fugitives  wlio  have  run  awav  froin 
him,  iind  inflame  their  own  minds,  and  those 
of  the  young  ami  ignorant,  bv  glowing  dc- 
scriptioas  of  the  rich  spoil  which  would  iiill 
to  the  conquerors,  of  the  herds  of  cattle,  the 
tons  of  beiwls,  the  quantities  of  fire-arnis  and 
ammunition,  and,  in  fact,  the  unlimited  sup- 


ORGANIZATION^  OF  THE  ARMY. 


OF  THE  rJfKNOWN  — 
•iNON  —  OKI  1 A  N I ZATION 
no.V  OF  TIIK  SI'KAU — 
IK  ZULU  AH  A  m,ACK- 
K  SOKT  STinci,  —  THK 
{OK  AND  IlKI.I.Owa  — 
IN<J  niK  NATIVKS  IN 
V  THE  KAFFIU  CASTS 
PAIXS  KIRK  — TKMPEn 
S  HEAD  TO  IIIE  SHAFT 
THROWN  — A  KAFFIR 
1SSA(3.U  —  THE  KNOB- 


liim  ill  peace  as  in 
1ms  no  cliaiico  of 
L'cliiijj;.s,  llii!  youii;; 
I'd,  had  il,  nol  hucn 
^  of  flic  old  men, 

would  liave  had 
these  (ril)es  (han 
n  under  I'anda's 
ij;reiU  (ILssensions 
,n-eed  in  disliking 
the  Natal  district, 
elbr  liiousands 

.•lon>;in<r  to  tiie 
(^d  from  the  tyr- 
hers  helon.v'id  to 
la  liad  nia(i('  war, 
)u  to  the  llnsjlish 

fierce,   arnij,'ant, 

I)ecauMo  tiiey  do 
atedly  hcfised  to 
d.  Thev  urge,  in 
!t,  that  'they  will 
!)re  to  their  kiiij; 
)  run  away  frein 

minds,  and  those 
t,  by  plowiiiii;  dc- 

wh'icli  would  iiiU 
■rds  of  cattle,  tlie 
■i  of  Hrc-arnis  and 
le.  unlimited  sup- 


ply of  everything  which  a  Kaffir's  heart  can 
possibly  desire.  The  older  men,  however 
wlio  liave  moro  .acquaintance  witli  the  white 
men  and  .1  tolerably  good  experi,.ncu  of  the 
tact  that  when  a  white  man  fires  Ids  gun  he 
genendly  luts  Ids  mark,  have  alw.ays  dis- 
suaded  their  younger  and  more  impetuous 
comrades  trom  so  rash  an  attempt. 

fetrangelv  enough,  the  argument  whicli 
lias  proved  most  powerful  is  really  a  verv 
weak  one.  The  Kaffir,  like  otlier  nien,  is 
b litve  enough  when  he  can  comprehend  his 
d.  ngei ;  but  he  does  not  .it  all  like  to  face  a 
peiu  wluch  he  wmnot  understand.  Like  all 
unknown  things,  such  a  peril  is  indeed  ter- 
rible to  a  Kaffir's  min.l,  and  this  unknown 
peul  is  summed  up  in  the  word  cannon,  or 
Hy-and-by"_to  use  the  native  t.,.nn. 
Wliy  eaiinon  are  so  called  will  presentlv  be 

dre.ultul   Hy-and-by  eats  up  everything  - 
trees,   houses,  stones,  grass;  and,^ns  tliey 

solclieis.  Ot  course,  in  defending  a  fort 
ag.a..ist  Kaffirs,  cannon,  loaded  wiTh  c.-ape 
and  canister,  would  be  of  terrible  ertreacv 
and  they  would  be  .justified  in  decl  ,ST„' 
assaul  any  place  that  w.as  defen,  e  with 
such  dre,a,llul  we.apons.     But  they    lo  10 

guns   in  the   bush  are   two  very  different 
tlimn;s,  .and  that,  if  they  could   (k-c'  v  the 

wou  d  be  of  scarcely  more  use  than  if  thev 

Ka  Ir  n^v.!''  "'""''•.    .'^''"^  ^listinetion  S 
Jvaffi   never  seems  to  have  drawn  jiiid  tl  , 

mue:";:;'^-n''''^'"'i"*"^''''"»"»  '^^^  ^i;,  v ';; 

much  to  insure  tranquillity  anions  the  in? 
petuous  and  self-conlident  soldiei/ot"  Kal™. 

atSed'to'^l.'""  of  "%-nnd-by"  became 
mm."  V  ';'»»•"».  i»  file  following 
maniiei  —  AVhen  the  nat  ves  first  saw  somo 

Er  what'  ""7  "/  "'"  ""■'''-''  'li«S  th? 
asKcd  wliat  such  strange  objects  could  h,. 

t.i?ii^ingifai^SysrK'2::i'° 

the  win-     ''ti  e  ^   '" '":.,.f  "^•"P^'^'i  «e„so  of 

on     hn\eft,re"r-'-""^^^'^'-^«'  '^"d S  J 

of  wa.nn.r  ba  He  nn  •'  "**'"■  <'"'-V  mode 

case  in  sue    Shre  nmrf  i"''^^^^ "'"y  «>« 


Tliolr  men  are  organized  into  re-TJmenta 
cacli  subdivided  into  eomj.anies,  an  I  each' 

while  the  king,  .as  commanding  g,>n.-ral  leads 
his  forces  to  war,  disposes  tliem  i ,  'batt  0 
arr.ay,  ami  personally  directs  lluii  m  vo- 
meiits.  They  give  an  enemv  notice  that 
they  are  .al)out  to  march  against  hini  and 
bold ly  meet  him  in  the  open  ti,.l,|.  Tlu-vX 
a  military  etiquette  about  them  which  some 

°lZ  "'n  ''""'•'"  ^'''^'''  '""■»  •'^'•'^v  t"  '""K-r- 
stan  I.  They  once  sent  a  mess.ago  to  the 
English  commander  that  they  woidd  "eome 
and  brcakliist  with  him."  lie  Ihou-I  it 
w.a8  only  a  .joke,  and  was  verv  I'h  sur- 
prised when  the  Kaffirs,  true  to' their  prZ- 
"o.  came  pouring  like  a  torrent  ovc'r  the 
hills,   leaving  him  barely  time   to  get  his 

.arnV.^"  ''""'  ^"^'""^  ''"'  '^'''^  ^'^'^'"""' 
As,  in  Kaffir  w.arfare,  much  stress  is  laid 
upon  the  weapons,  offensive  and  defensive 
with  which  the  troops  are  armed,  it  w  be 
ecessary  to  give  a  des<  lipti.m'  of  t lu^r 
we.apons  before  wo  pro.-...,!  anv  further 
They  .are  but  few  and  simple,  and'  con  ist  of 

'?r/i:!^T'''-''-;5''«i'''T''"'^"'^'''-^^ 
m!Lfl^r "''''' '"'''^'''^ '''■'^^'^  ^^' '^^^ 

Almost  every  n.ation  has  its  distinguish- 
n-  weapmis  or,  at  all  events,  one  weapon 
which  IS  held  in  greater  estimation  thai  C 
other  .and  which  is  never  used  m  skiKi  1  v 
a.s  by  itself.  The  Australian  savage  Is  ^ 
boomerang,  a  weapon  which  cannot  be  used 
nghtly  except  by  an  Australian.  M  m y 
Jiuropeans  can  throw  it  so  as  to  make  it  ner- 
orm  some  triffin.r  evolution  in  the  a  r  but 
there  are  none  wlio  can  re.ally  use  it  as  an 

IheDvak  has  his  sumpitan,  and  th"  Maeou- 
.  ue  Indian  his  analogous  wenp,.n,  t     Tar- 
il)atai  a  through  which  are  blown    1  e  flnv 
P"isone<    arrows,  a  hundred  of  wh    h  can 
e  held  in  the  han.l,  and  ea,.],  one  o f     1  ieh 
as  de.at^i  upon  its  point.    The  (ihoorka  has 
his  kookery,  the  heavv  curved  kiiifl>    uifK 
which  he  will  killatijer  In'.i.'^Siu^Vnd 
boldly  attack  civili;,ed  sol,li,.rs  in  s    t^  of 
their  more  elaborate  arms.    Then  the  Sikh 
has    he  strange  quoit  weap.,n      r  chSra 
which  skims  through  the  .air  o,    ri c  eS 
from  the  ground,  and  does  frightful    "xecu 
tion  o„  nie  toe     The  Esquimaux  1    vMhelr 
harpoons,  which  will  serve  eitlu-r  for  eateh- 
mg  seals  or  .assaulting   the  euemv.      Tho 
Polynesians  have  their  t(>rrible  swords  and 
gauntlets  .armed  with  the  tcelh  of  shirks 
each  of  which  cuts  like  a  lancet  and  in  li  tfo 
wound  which,  t^iough  not  dan4o    '  "/   self 
becomes  so  when  multiplied  bv  the  seor„ 
Sjyf  ^''^  "'^  "'-^  -"^^  sensi^ive'ir^c^- 
Some  of  these  we.apons  .ar(.  neculiar  in 
shape,  and  are  not  usJ.l  in  o  her  cm  Srie? 

men'tw'"^  ""''  n^-'HHc.ati.I  ..fof    mpl^' 
ments  of  warfare  spread  over  a  great  part  of 


f 


94 


THE  KAFFIR. 


■  i 


the  globe,  and  nltorcd  in  shape  and  size  to 
Hint  tli((  lociilily.  Of  such  a  nature  is  tlio 
K^ji't'iiil  \vt':i|i<)n  of  (in-  ICiidlrs  inliiihiliii^  tlie 
>iaUil  (listnct,  tho  sll>;ht-l(Hil\in^  but  nioi^l 
t'ormidtiblo  s]wtir  or  u.ssiigai.  Thu  tt|)i'ur  in 
oni)  of  tb(!  «iniiiii'Mt  of  all  wt'upons,  the 
HiiupicHl  of  all  fxci^plln.q;  ll\i)  club.  In  its 
priinitivi'  slato  the;  spear  in  nothinj»  but  a 
stick  of  Lfvcatcr  or  lender  lcn;^th,  8har])cnc(l 
at  one  cud.  The  Ix^st  example  of  tiiis  prim- 
itive spear  may  Ik^  found  in  Borneo,  wIuto 
till!  \v(!apon  is  made  in  a  few  niintilcs  by 
takimj;  a  piece  of  baml)oo  of  convenient 
len;j;tli,  and  ctittiiiL;  oH"  one  end  diagonally. 
The  next  improvement  in  spear  makin<; 
wa.s  to  put  the  poitited  end  in  the  lire  for  a 
few  moments,  'fhis  ])rocess  enabled  lh(! 
s])ear  maker  to  scrape  the  point  more  easily, 
while  the  charred  wood  was  rendered  hard, 
and  capable  of  resisliuj^  damp  better  than  if 
it  had  bet\n  simply  scraped  to  a  [)oint. 
SjX'ars  of  thi.s  kind  are  to  be  found  in 
almost  (^'cry  primitive  savaj^o  tribe. 

A  further  improvement  now  takes  jilace. 
The  point  is  ariiu^d  with  some  material 
harder  than  wood,  which  material  may  be 
bone,  horn,  stone,  metal,  or  other  similar 
substance.  Some  iial ions  arm  the  heads  of 
their  spears  with  sharp  flakes  of  Hint  or 
obsidian.  Some  tiji  Ihein  with  the  end  of 
a  sharp  horn,  or  even  with  the  claws  of  a 
mammal  or  a  bird  —  the  kangaroo,  emu,  and 
cassowary  beinj;;  used  for  this  singular  jmr- 
pose.  Ill  many  parts  of  the  earth,  the 
iiivorite  s|)ears  arc  armed  with  the  teeth  of 
sharks,  while  others  are  headed  with  the 
tail  spine  of  the  sting-ray,  which  not  only 
pcnetratis  deejily,  but  breaks  into  the 
wound,  and  always  causes  death.  These 
additions  to  the  spears,  together  with  oth- 
ers formed  of  certain  inarine  shells,  arc 
neees.sarily  the  ])roducti()ns  of  tribes  tliat 
inhabit  certain  islands  in  the  warmer  seas. 
The  last  and  grenlest  improvement  that  is 
made  in  the  manufacture  of  speara  is  the 
abolition  of  all  additions  to  the  head,  and 
making  the  head  itself  of  metal.  For  this 
purpose  iron  is  generally  used,  partly  bo- 
cause  it  takes  a  sliarp  edge,  and  partly 
because  it  can  be  easily  forged  into  any 
required  shajie.  The  natives  of  Southern 
Africa  are  wonderful  proticient*  in  forging 
iron,  and  indeed  a  decided  capability  for  the 
blacksmith's  art  seems  to  be  inherent  in  the 
natives  of  Africa,  from  north  to  south  and 
from  east  to  wi'st.  None  of  the  tribes  can 
do  very  much  witii  the  iron,  but  the  little 
which  they  require  is  worked  in  perfection. 
As  is  the  case  with  all  uncivilized  beings, 
the  whole  treasures  of  the  art  are  lavished 
on  their  weapons  ;  and  so  if  wo  wish  to  see 
what  an  African  savage  can  do  with  iron, 
wc  must  look  at  his  .spears,  knives,  and 
arrows  ~  the  latter  indeed  being  but  speara 
in   miniature. 

The    heads    of  the    Kaffir's    speara    are 
extremely  variable  in  form,  some  being  a 


morn  spiko,  but  tho  gcneralltv  being  Idado 
shaped.  Very  few  are  bartieil,  and  the 
ordinary  shape  is  that  whi(di  is  seen  several 
times  in  the  illustration  on  page  lO.'J.  Still, 
wherever  the  blade  is  adoi>ted,"it  has  always 
one  peculLvrity  of  structure,  whether  it  be 
plain  or  barbed.  A  raised  ridge  passes 
along  the  centre,  and  the  blade  is  convex 
on  one  side  of  the  ridge,  and  concave  on  the 
other.  The  reason  of  this  ciiriruis  structure 
seems  to  be  twofold.  In  the  lirst  place,  it 
is  iiossible  that  this  structure  of  the  blade 
acts  niiich  as  the  feathers  of  an  arrow,  or 
the  spiral  groove  on  the  rifle  balls  invented 
by  Dr.  Croft,  and  which  can  be  used  in 
smooth  bore  barrels.  (!olonel  IjUUv  Fox 
llnds  that  if  a  thread  be  tied  to  the  point  of 
an  assagai,  and  the  weapon  be  thrown  with 
great  care,  so  tliat  no  revolving  force  is 
given  by  the  thrower,  the  thread  is  found 
spirally  twisted  round  the  head  and  shatt 
by  the  time  that  the  weajum  has  touched 
the  ground.  That  certainly  seems  to  bo 
one  reason  for  the  tbrm.  Another  reason' 
is,  that  a  blade  thus  slhajied  can  be  sharp- 
ened very  easily,  when  it  becomes  bhiiit. 
Nothing  is  needed  but  to  take  a  flint,  or 
even  the  back  of  a  common  knife,  and 
scr  .pe  it  along  the  edge,  and,  if  properly 
d(me,  a  single  such  scrape  will  sharpen  the 
weapon  afresh.  The  head  is  always  inado 
of  soft  iron,  and  so  vields  easily  to  the 
shariieiiing  process.  The  reader 'may  re- 
member that  tho  harpoons  which  we  use 
for  whale  hunting  nvo.  always  made  of  the 
softest  inm;  were  they  made  of  steel,  the 
lirst  furious  tug  of  the  Avhale  might  snap 
them,  while,  if  they  were  to  become  blunt, 
they  could  not  be  sharpened  without  much 
trouble  and  hard  work  at  the  grindstone. 

Setting  aside  tlio  two  questions  of  rota- 
tory moti(m  and  convenienct!  of  nbarj)cning, 
it  is  ])ossiblo  that  the  jieciiliar  structure  of 
the  blade  may  bo  owing  to  the  fact  that 
such  a  structure  would  jiroduci?  the  greatest 
amount  of  strength  with  the  least  amount 
of  material.  The  sword  bayonet  of  the 
Chassejiot  rifle  is  made;  on  a  similar  juin- 
eiple.  AVhether  the  Kaflir  is  aware  of  fliis 
princiide  and  forges  his  spear  head  in 
acconlance  with  it,  is  aiiothi'r  point.  The 
reader,  better  informed  than  the  Kallir,  may 
I)erha])s  remember  that  the  identical  prin- 
ciple is  carried  out  in  the  "  corrugaled  ' 
iron,  now  in  audi  general  use  for  buildings, 
roofs,  and  similar  purposes. 

Kaffirs  have  a  great  fbndncaa  for  imple- 
menta  made  of  soft  iron,  and  prefer  a  knife 
made  of  that  material  to  the  l)est  blade  that 
Sheffield  can  produce.  They  admit  that  for 
some  purposes  the  steel  blade  is  superior 
to  their  own,  but  that  for  ordinary  woik 
nothing  can  compare  with  the  soft  iron. 
The  ateel  blade  breaks,  and  is  useless,  while 
the  soft  iron  only  bends.  Moreover,  when 
they  want  to  scoop  out  a  hollow  in  a  piece 
of  wood,  such  OB  the  bowl  of  a  spoon,  the 


i 


m 


•iilltv  hi'inrt  Mudo 
l)iirl)(!(l,  jiiiil  llio 
:h  Ih  Hccn  HCivcnil 
1  i);ig(!  1(W.  Still, 
iti'd,  it  Itns  alwavH 
Pf,  whether  it  ho 
sed  ridife  passcH 
l)la(l(^  iM  cdnvex 
1(1  concaves  on  (he 
curious  .s|rn<'lur(i 
the  lirst  place,  it 
tun;  of  tlu'  Made 

*  of  an  arrow,  or 
lie  hallH  invented 

can  he  used  in 
iloiud  Lan(^  Fox 
ed  to  the  point  of 
1  be  thrown  with 
'Volving   force  is 

threail  is  found 
!  head  and  nhatt 
pon  has  touched 
ily   siM'Uis    to   ho 

Another  reason' 
;(1  can  he  sharp- 
;  becomes  blunt. 
)  take  a  Hint,  or 
nnon  knil'c,  and 
and,  if  properly 
will  sharpen  thu 

is  always  made 
[Is   easily   to   the 

reader  may  re- 
i  which  we  uso 
ays  made  of  the 
a<le  of  sleel,  the 
hale  might  snap 
()  I)eeoine  Idtmt, 
(I  wilhont  much 
le  grindstone, 
nest  ions  of  rotfi- 
i'(>  of  (sharjiening, 
iliar  structure  of 
to  the  fact  that 
luc((  the  greatest 
he  least  amount 

bayonet  of    the 

I  a  similar  jirin- 
is  aware  of  tliis 

spear  head  in 
her  point.     The 

II  the  Kallir,  may 
e  identical  prin- 
le  "  corrugated  '' 
ISC  for  buildings, 

tlnesa  for  Implo- 
ul  prefer  a  knife 
e  l)est  blade  that 
■y  admit  that  for 
(fade  is  superior 

•  ordinary  woik 
1    the  soft  iron. 

is  useless,  while 
Moreover,  when 
jllow  in  a  piece 

of  a  spoou,  the 


tl    '  'c  n    n.L  .      /  "  '''''''"'*'^"  ^"'-V'''  '"»'J 
muM  i.in   ni.ike,   at  a  niouhuil's   notice    a 

«m,go  NWlh  any  degree  ,,r,urvuture       Vile 
las    n.she,fln.work,luHu.lsthe^b^^^^^^ 
on  .1  ii.u  stoiio,  and  beats    t  straii-iil    il^iIm 
...  a  ew  seconds.     The  Kaillr  kun^i      ,*:," 
all  Ike  our  own,  but.  is  shaped  just  like  tl 

'■ad  of  an  assa-ti.     1,,  using  it,  lu'g,'s 
^..;  hand  e, just  as  artists  reprcl^ent    s^.s 
hol.hng  daggers,  and  not  J  we  hold  k niv "s 
II.!  always  euls  away  from   himself,    s  is 
•s  own  on  pag,  7;i,  }io.  1;   aud,  chnn,  v  ,  s 

.  H  ...ode  of  UHin.  ;,  knife  may  a.,.. 'a  ■'  |^..^ 
h     ..  en  have  often  learned  to  appr  "iale  f, 

q7'iiu"Sii,r^--'-'-rd;: 

Iv'.m!-"  wi'  "'""'''  !'"  ^''°  ^°"'«  "Wde  by  a 

;mTr-  '^"'"P^i    and    used    in    Southern 

^Atnea  are  still   less   useful.    Bi'ln^       ,    ' 
i^qi.an.led  with  this  fact,  both  tiSers    nd 
Be     ers  are  apt  to  sp'end  .nu.'K.ne; 

W. u.    tiud  to  be  without  the  le.-wt  Va    e 
.^various  countries,  the  axe  may  bowmen 

'Country.    EuiJ.Mnlus    tl.,V^..,r  ,  "*  ''"'" 

used  so  universally  in  Kontl.,.,..,    w- ■       • 

liPfsl 

iropeau  make     rr;a  '  "^""^  ^  that  of  Eu- 

the    pro Sy    of  i^shirn^^T'^'^'^'-^,  ''"-^ 
rustiiKT.    If  •^,,  p„;.^f' -^""S  damp    without 

%  thelinest  qlSyKfl  h  ';r^'  '''''  '''' 
'II  night,  and  bv  t^ie  svii  / 1"  «P''n  air 
a-'^ag.-ei,  the  forifiei  wil  be°  ''  ""  f-^'»'"« 
g...st  wfiile  tJie  latter!  "a^br^^r'J.'  ''''^ 
loach  is  the  case  win.  n        "">?nt  its  over. 

Vc  brought  ^^EiT-^anrTt  T'^'"'-'.  ^'^''^^ 
this  freedom  from  rS  mav  be  ^'T^^^^^^^ 
,a  process  similar  to  hat  XS  :"^^'»r'  '^-^ 
ii.i  the  manufacture  of  leoliill  ,''™l''»ye'l 
namely,  that  wlii ..  tl  S<^"'os  cal  liammers, 
plunged  iXoln,!  <h  "]'^'  '"  '"^t,  it  is' 
excofienee  of"  he  b^rli'?"  ''^"""orcd.'  Tho 

the  fact  that  till'uStXS'ffiSS^ 


TIIR  ZULU   A.S  A  BLACKSMITH. 


05 


;-1 


i "  mS;  of''  r'^*^'-^r''  h««»tcd  f"r  tho  forgo, 

IS  ni.ide  of  charcoal,  so  as   to  convi.i-(    il,,. 

'.•"..  '.it.,  a  kind  of'st,,el.     The  .  T.  br. 

wool^     Bteel  of  India  is  made  by  placiiii/ 

'  'o..  ...  small  crucibles  t..geli  r    vi  g 

».it  ing  th.)  erueibh,  to  a  very  intense  heat 

I    .s  evi.lent  that,  in   or.ir   u,  pr     nco 
such  weapons,  the  Kallir  must   be       1  1 

;  acksm.tl.,  an.i  it  is  certain  that,  wl  .,^  vo 
lake  nit.)  consideration  the  kind  of  work 
which  has  to  be  done,  h..  can  lu iVli;   ,,  «  ^ 

)  'MS...1  ,11  Ins  art.  Certainly,  if  any  Ed  'h 
i'acksm.tli  were  given  a  .pmntity      " Tm 

.V    1     .         '^"'"'    I'lat'k.sni  tl   eiuDlovs    h,> 

^Slei^f 'ihllS;'""^^'^"^''  "^  ^^^^^^^ 

Among  ih.,  Kallirs,  a  blacks.nid,  is  a  m-m 

«  to  prepare  the  bellows.  The  tbr  i  w M ,  h 
1.0  uses  prevails  over  a  very  la r  n  , ,  .|h m 
A(ri,,.a,  an.l  is  seen,  with  son.  f" w'  d  . 
^,  eve.,  among  the  many  islamlT  ''fc  I 
>.iOH.a.  It  eonsisU  of  two  leather.,  su'ks  ,^ 
1.0  uj.per  e..d  .,f  which  is  a  ha.  d  e  To  Jl  n 
')W."r  end  of  each  sack  is  atta.'iie  I  the  ho 

',.,   w).:,  "'""  '""•'''  commonlv   used- 

(he  bellows  blower  is  ob.i.rmiV      "'•>'.,  "O 
harder  than  woT.U    ?n  n  "    '  ^"  V''"k  ".tich 

JrecisHv"  •*  .?^^'VP««"«  u-se!  la  1  V    owfof 

a  If '  h  ""ffi'^ter'",""""  *• 


m 


THE   KAFFIR. 


onrthanward  tiibo,  and  tho  hollows  aro  then 
tiiMti.ni'd  in  thoir  placiiH,  ho  that  llui  nackH 
aro  conv(>ni<>ntly  (nHpoHi^d  for  tho  hands  oC 
tiio  operator,  who  hIih  botwoen  thoni.  A 
ohariitMl  llio  is  thim  laid  in  tho  holo,  and  is 
Hoon  liron<,'tit  to  a  poworftd  heat  by  moans 
of  tho  ItoilowM.  A  liir<{or  Htono  Morvon  tho 
purpoHc  of  iiu  anvil,  and  a  smallor  Btonc 
(loot*  duly  f<""  ft  hainnicr.  Homotlmos  the 
hanimirlH  inado  of  a  conical  plcco  of  iron, 
i)nt  in  inoul  ciihch  a  wlono  Is  connhhirod  snf- 
ilcU'nt.  Tlic  rouKh  woik  of  hanunorinfi;  the 
iron  into  nliiipo  in  gonorally  dono  by  the 
chief  blacksniitli's  anHiHtiuits,  of  whom  he 
has  several,  nil  of  whom  will  ponnd  away 
at  the  iron  in  re^nlar  Huecession.  The 
Hhniiinjj;  and  linisliing  tho  article  ts  reserved 
by  llie  Niiiilli  for  liiniself.  Tho  other  tools 
are  Hn  and  simple,  and  consist  of  jnmehes 
and  rude  pincers  made  of  two  rods  of  iron. 

With  lliesi^  inHtniinents  tho  KatJlr  smith 
can  cast  brass  into  varions  ornaments. 
Sometimes  he  jjonrs  it  into  a  cylindricoi 
moidd,  so  as  to  mal<o  a  bar  from  which 
bracelets  ami  similar  ornaments  can  be 
hannnered,  and  sometimes  he  makes  stud" 
and  itnobs  by  forming  their  shapes  in  cla^ 
moulds.   ' 

In  the  illustration  No.  2,  on  papo  97,  a 
n.itive  f(irt;(^  is  seen  in  full  operation.  Tli(> 
chief  smith  is  at  the  left  of  the  enj;ravin<jr, 
seated  at  tlu^  bellows  and  blowin<j;  the  lire, 
in  wliieli  is  plac«d  an  iron  rod  which  is  goiii^ 
to  be  forced  into  an  assa'^ai  head.  Tlie 
manner  in  which  tho  horn  tubes  of  the 
bellows  arc  fastened  to  the  ground  —  a  stick 
bein;;  laid  across  ewh  horn,  and  a  heavy 
stone  upon  each  stick  —  is  well  shown.  At 
the  ri^'lit  hand  of  tho  smith  is  a  basket  con- 
tivininj;  charcoal,  and  another  is  seen  near 
tiie  assistant.  On  tho  opposite  side  sits  th(> 
n.ssistant  or  apprentice  blacksmith,  busily 
iiannnerinj?  witli  a  conical  stone  at  tho  spear 
head  which  is  being  forged,  and  at  his  sicie 
lie  one  or  two  finished  head.s.  Behind  tljcm. 
nnollur  smith  is  hard  at  work  with  a  huge 
stone  with  which  ho  is  crushing  the  ore. 
On  the  right  hand  of  the  illustration  is  seen 
tlie  ree<l  fence  which  is  erected  in  order  to 
keen  otV  the  wind,  and  in  tho  middle  distance 
is  tlie  kraal  to  which  tho  smiths  belong. 
Tho  re(>d  iVncc  is  supported  by  being  lashed 
to  a  mimosiu  Somo  jars  of  beer  stijnd 
witliin  the  shadow  of  tho  fence  for  tho  occa- 
sional refreshment  of  the  blacksmiths. 

How  the  blacksmith  contrives  to  work 
without  burning  Ids  right  hand  is  rather 
unintelligible.  I  have  handled  tho  conical 
hammer,  and  find  that  the  hiind  is  brought 
80  close  to  tho  iron  that,  when  it  is  'heated 
to  a  glowing  redness,  tho  eflbct  upon  the 
fingers  must  be  singularly  unpleasant,  not 
to  mention  tlie  sparks  that  fly  about  so  lib- 
erally when  heated  iron  is  struck.  Some- 
times, when  a  native  is  making  small 
objects,  he  takes  a  tolerably  large  hammer, 
reverses  it,  and  drives  tlie  small  end  deeply 


into  the  ground.  The  face  of  the  hanuner  is 
then  unpermost,  and  answers  us  an  anvil,  on 
whi(di  no  works  with  a  hammer  of  smaller 
size. 

Although  th"  IwUows  which  a  KafTlr  makes 
ar(>  sutllciently  powerAd  to  enable  him  to  melt 
brass,  and  to  for^c!  iron  into  various  shapes, 
they  do  not  s(>em  to  give  a  siilllciently 
strong  and  continuous  blast,  to  enal>le  him 
to  weld  Iron  together.  Mr.  Moflhtt  men- 
tions a  curious  anecdote,  which  illustrates 
this  point,  lie  was  visiting  AIoselckatHc, 
tlu)  king  of  the  northern  division  of  tlic^ 
Zulu  tribes,  and  very  much  frightened  tho 
savage  monnndi  by  the  sight  of' the  wagon, 
tlio  wheels  of  which  stH'med  to  his  ignorant 
mind  to  be  endowt^d  with  motion  by  some 
magic  power.  His  greatist  wonder  was, 
however,  excited  by  the  tire  of  the  wheel, 
as  ho  could  not  comprehend  how  such  a 
piece  of  iron  could  be  made  without  the 
jiuiction  of  tho  ends  being  visible.  A 
native  who  had  accompaiued  Mr.  Moll'att 
explained  to  the  king  how  tlie  mystery  was 
solved.  He  took  the  mis.sionary's  right 
hand  in  his  own,  held  it  up  before  the  king, 
and  said,  "  My  eyes  saw  that  very  hand  cut 
those  bars  ofiroii,  take  a  i)iece  oif  one  end, 
and  then  join  them  as  you  see  now."  Alter 
a  careful  inspection,  tlie  spot  where  the  iron 
had  been  welded  was  pointed  out.  Tlie  ' 
king  then  wanted  to  know  wlictlier  medi- 
cine were  given  to  the  iron  in  order  to 
endow  it  with  such  wonderful  ])owers,  but 
was  t(dd  that  nothing  was  used  cxcc)it  lire, 
a  chisel,  and  a  hammer.  Yet  MoseUkatse 
was  king  of  the  essentially  warlike  Zulus,  a 
nation  which  possessed  "plenty  of  black- 
smiths who  were  well  versed  in  their  art, 
and  could  forgo  tho  leaf  shaped  blades  of 
tho  assagais  with  such  skill  that  the  be.it 
Euroi)ean  smiths  could  not  jiroduce  weap- 
ons more  perfectly  suited  lor  too  object 
which  thev  were  intended  to  fulfil. 

Ia'  Vaillant  narrates  an  amusing  instance 
of  tho  astonishment  caused  to  some  KalBr 
blacksmiths  by  a  rude  kind  of  bellows 
which  he  made  nller  tho  European  fashion. 
After  paying  a  just  tribute  of  admiration  to 
the  admnable  work  jiroduced  by  the  dusky 
blacksmiths  in  spite  of  their  extremely  ri/d'e 
and  imperfect  tools,  he  proieeds  to  describe 
tho  form  of  bellows  that  they  used,  which 
is  just  tliat  which  has  been  already  men- 
tioiied, 

"I  had  great  difficulty  in  making  tliera 
comprehend  how  much  superior  the  bellows 
of  our  forges  in  Europe  were  to  their  inven- 
tion; and  being  persuaded  that  the  little 
they  might  catch  of  my  explanation  would 
soon  escape  from  tHeir  memories,  and 
would  consequeutly  be  of  no  real  advan- 
tage to  them,  I  resolved  to  add  example  to 
precept,  and  to  operate  myself  in  their 
presence. 

"  Having  despatched  one  of  my  people  to 
our  camp  with  orders  to  bring  tiic  bottoms 


m, 


0  of  thti  hiuiuucr  Is 
rt'i'H  us  nil  iiiivil,  (111 
lainiiiur  of  hiuuIIlt 

hich  11  Kiifllv  makes 
ii'iiiililt'  liiiii  loinclt 
ito  various  shapes, 
;ivu  a  Hiidleieiitly 
lasl,  to  eiialili!  Iiim 
Mv.  Miiflhlt  iiu'n- 
,  wliicli  illustmU'8 
itiiiK  Aloselekatse, 
I'll  (livision  of  tlio 
iieJi  friKliteiied  tho 
i.^lit  of' till-  \va<j;oii, 
lied  to  his  iijnorant 
li  motion  liy  somo 
(test  womier  was, 
(ire  of  the  wheel, 
eheiid  how  wiieli  a 
niadn  willioiit  tho 
l)eint;  visii)le.  A 
anii'll  Mr.  Moll'att 
iw  llio  mystery  was 
missionary's  rit;lit 
:in  Itefore  iiie  kilijf, 
that  very  hand  cut 

piece  oif  out!  end, 
11  se(!  lio\\."     After 
ipot  where  tlio  iron 
pointed   out.     Tlie ' 
low  wlietlier  medi- 

iron  in  order  to 
idevl'ul  ])owei's,  Imt 
as  used  exce)it  lire. 

Yet  MoseU'katse 
lly  warlike  Zulus,  a 

"plenty  of  black- 
orsed  in  their  art, 
f  shaped  blades  of 
skill  that  the  best 
not  produce  wea])- 
;ed  for  tiio  object 
ed  to  fulfil. 
n  amusinjj  instance 
sed  to  some  KafHr 

1  kind  of  bellows 
1  European  fashion, 
te  of  admiration  to 
lured  by  the  dusky 
icir  extremely  ri/de 
roceeda  to  describe 
it  they  used,  which 
becu  'already  men- 

V  in  mnkiup;  them 
uperior  the  bellows 
vere  to  their  invcn- 
dcd  that  the  little 
explanation  would 
sir  memories,  and 
of  no  real  advan- 
I  to  add  example  to 
a    myself  in    their 

no  of  my  people  to 
brinsi  tlie  bottoms 


■i 


(!•;  i>iiii>i:<iifo().u  o.\  Ai'iMiovn    ^«.,„       V^ 


0>7) 


I 


1 


I  M 


Ml 


iihi 


LB  VAILLANT  INSTIIUCTINO  THE  NATIVES. 


of  two  boxcd,  11  pioco  of  a  sunv     r  knroM,  a 
hoop,  »  t'uw  Miiiitil  riuilM,  a  h        ler,  a  miw, 
uiid  otliur  Ntnsdl   tool.i   that   I   titiKht  have 
<)(!ciiMi()n    ft)!-,    iiH    Hooa    liM    li(s   ruturiu-d   1 
liiniii-il  ill  nn-iil  liiint(%  and  in  a  very  rii(i« 
iiiunniT,  a  |iiiir  of  bollowB,  wliiiJi  w«ro  not 
nioio  pt)wciriil  than  thoMo  Keiitirally  iwcd  in 
our  kitclimiM.    Two  piflceH  of  hoop  wliich  I 
placc'd  in  tlin  insido  ser/jBd  to  kwtp  tlii!  iikin 
alway«  iit  an  oqiial  distance;  and  1  did  not 
I  forgot  to  niako  a  liolo  in  the  Inferior  part, 
;  to  Kivo  a  roadier  adniittttnuo  to  tho  air  —  a 
j  einipio  mt'tiiod  of  wliich  thoy  liad  no  con- 
ception, and  for  want  of  which  tliey  were 
obliged  to  waste  a  groat  dual  of  time  in  UU- 
|iuf<  tile  Hheepskin. 

"  I  liad  no  iron  iiipe,  but,  as  I  only  meant 
B  make  a  model,  1  flixed  to  the  extremity  of 
nine  a  toothpick  case,  after  sawing  off  one 
f  its  ondH.    I  then  placed  my  instrument 
^n   tliu  ground   near  the  fire,"  and,  having 
xed  a  forked  stisk  in  the  ground,  I  laid 
c-oas  it  a  kind  of  lever,  which  was  fastened 
1  a  bit  of  packthread  proceeding  from  tl»e 
ellows,  aiKl  to  which  was  fixed  a  jjieco  of 
tad  w  sighing  seven  or  eight  pounds.    To 
bnn  a  Just  idea  of  the  surprise  of  these 
Blllis    oil    tills  occasion,  one  must  have 
en  with  what  attention  they  beheld  aii 
-y  operations:  the  uncertainty  in   which 
My  were,  and  their  anxiety  to  discover 
rhat  would  bo  the  event    They  could  not 
iMist    their  exclamations  when   they  saw 
He,  Ity  a  few  easy  motions  and  with  one 
and,  give  their  flro  the  greatest  activity  by 
be  velocity  with  which  1  made  my  machine 
Braw  in  and  again  force  out  the  air.    Put- 
ung  some  pieces  of  iron  into  their  Are,  I 
aado  thorn  reef  hot  in  a  fow  minutes,  which 
hey  undouiitcdly  could  not  have  done  in 
alf  an  hour. 

"This  specimen  of  my  skill  raised  their 
•tonishment  to  the  highest  pitch.  I  may 
Bnture  to  say  that  they  were  almost  con- 
Wised  and  thrown  into  a  delirium.  Thoy 
^nccd  and  capered  round  tho  bellows- 
ch  tried  them  in  turn,  and  they  clapped 
jieir  hands  the  better  to  testify  their  joy 
*ev  begged  me  "to  make  "them  a  present 
this  wonderflil  machine,  and  seemed  to 
•wait  for  ray  answer  with  impatience,  not 
taaglning,  as  I  judged,  that  1  would  readily 
live  up  so  valuable  a  piece  of  fbrnlture.  It 
frould  afford  mo  groat  pleasure  to  hoar,  at 
•Ome  future  period,  that  they  have  brought 
hem  to  perfection,  and  that,  above  all,  thov 
preserve  a  remembrance  of  that  stranger 
"vho  first  supplied  them  with  tho  most  esson- 
Aal  instrument  lu  metallurgy  " 

Mate  of  ty.o  blacksmith's  art  In  Kafflrland 
r  ^r'.T"^  l'*^®  ^°^  derived  the  profit  from' 
Ue  Vail  ant's  instructions  which  he  so  in- 
genuously predicted.  In  all  probability,  the 
bellows  m  quesUon  would  be  confiscated  bv 
Itho  chief  of  the  tribe,  who  would  destroy 
ttUeir  working  powers  in  endeavoring   to 


make  out  thtilr  action.  Moreover,  the  Kafllr 
is  eminently  conservative  in  his  notions, 
and  ho  would  raiher  orefur  ilie  old  shoetH 
skin,  which  only  required  to  be  tied  at  tho 
legs  and  neck  with  thongs,  fo  the  coinpara- 
llvtily  elaborate  instrumint  of  the  white 
traveller,  which  needed  the  use  of  woinlen 
hoops,  nails,  saw,  hammer,  and  the  othor 
tt)ols  of  the  civiilz;cd  workmiin. 

Tho  KalHr  Bmltlis  have  long  known  tho 
art  of  wire  drawing,  though  their  plates  are 
very  rude,  the  metal  comparatively  soft,  and 
the  wire  in  consequence  irregularly  drawn. 
Moreover,  they  cannot  make  wire  of  iron, 
but  are  obliged  to  content  thcinselvoH  with 
tho  softer  metals,  such  an  briiss  and  copper. 
Mr.  Moffat,  the  AlVlcan  missionary,  relates 
an  amusing  anecdote  of  au  intervle<v  with  a 
native  metal  worker.  As  a  missionary 
ought  to  do,  ho  had  a  priwitical  knowledge 
of  the  blacksmith's  art,  and  so  betiamo  on 
friendly  terms  with  his  dark  brother  of  tho 
forge;  and  after  winning  his  lu-art  by  mak- 
ing hlin  a  new  wire  drawing  plate,  n.ade  of 
st'jel,  and  nierced  for  wires  of  twenty  varia- 
tions In  thicknesi..  Induced  him  to  exliibit 
the  whole  of  his  mystic  process. 

Ills  first  proceeding  was  to  prepare  four 
moulds,  very  simply  made  by  building  a 
tittle  heap  ot  dry  sand,  and  pushing  Into  it 
a  little  stick  about  a  (piarter  of  an  Inch  in 
diameter.    He  then  built  and  lighted  a  char- 
coal flro.BUch  as  has  already  been  described, 
and  he  next  placed  in  a  kind  of  rudis  clay  cru- 
el hie  some  copper  and  a  little  tin.    A  vigorous 
manipulation  of  the  bellows  fused  tho  cop- 
per and  tin  together,  and  lie  then  took  oirt 
the  crucible  with  a  rude  kind  of  tongs  made 
of  bark,  and  poured  the  contents  into  tho 
holes,  thus  making  a  number  of  short  brass 
rods  about  a  quarter  of  an  Incli  in  diameter 
and  three  or  four  inches  in  length.    Those 
rods  were  next  removed  from  the  moulds 
and  hammered  with  a  stone  until  they  were 
reduced  to  half  tlieir  diameter.    During  this 
operation,  the  rods  were  frequently  heated 
in  the  flame  of  burning  grass. 

Next  came  the  important  operation  of 
drawing  the  rods  through  tho  holes,  so  as  to 
convert  them  into  wire.  The  end  of  a  rod 
was  sharpened  and  forced  through  the 
largest  hole,  a  split  stick  being  used  by  way 
of  pincers,  and  the  rod  continually  greasedf. 
By  repeating  this  process  the  wire  is  passed 
through  holes  that  become  regularly  smaller 
in  diameter,  until  at  last  it  is  scarcely  thicker 
than  sewing  thread.  The  wire  plate  is 
about  half  an  inch  in  thickness.  The  brass 
tous  made  is  not  equal  in  color  to  that  in 
which  zinc  is  used  instead  of  tin,  but  as  it  is 
capable  of  taking  a  high  pollch,  the  native 
cares  for  nothing  more.  The  n  ader  may 
perhaps  remember  that  Mr.  Williams,  the 
well-known  missionary,  established  his  repu- 
tation among  the  savages  to  whom  he  was 
sent  by  making  an  extemporized  set  of  bel- 
lows out  of  boxes  and   boards,  the   rata 


100 


THE  KAFFIR. 


alwayi  eallng  every  scrap  of  leather  that  was 
exposed. 

The  know  ledge  of  forge  work  which  Mr. 
Mofialt  possessed  was  gained  by  him  under 
very  adverse  circiiinstances.  A  broken- 
down  wa<!;on  had  to  be  mended,  and  there 
was  no  alternative  but  to  turn  bhcVsmith 
and  mend  the  wagon,  or  to  abandon  the 
exp»!dition.  Finding  that  the  chief  draw- 
baciv  to  the  powers  of  the  forge  was  the 
inefficient  construction  of  the  native  bel- 
lows, lie  set  to  work,  and  contrived  to  make 
a  pair  of  Ijellows  very  similar  to  those  of 
which  Le  Vaillant  gave  go  glowing  a 
description.  And,  if  any  proof  were  needed 
that  the  French  traveller's  aspirations  had 
not  been  realized,  it  may  be  found  in  the 
fact  that  the  rude  bel'bws  made  by  the 
English  niisi'ionary  were  as  much  a  matter 
of  astonishment  to  the  natives  as  those  which 
had  been  made  by  J^e  Vaillant  some  sixty 
years  before. 

Mucli  of  the  iroii  used  in  Southern  Africa 
seems  to  be  of  meteoric  origin,  and  is  found 
in  several  localities  in  a  wonderfully  pure 
state,  so  tLat  very  little  labor  is  needed  in 
or.'ler  to  make  it  r.t  for  the  forge. 

The  Kaffir  blacksmHh  never  need  trouble 
himself  about  the  means  of  obtainii'g  a  fire. 
Shou! '  he  set  up  his  forge  in  the  vicinity 
of  a  kraal,  tlic  simplest  plan  is  to  send  his 
assistaDt  for  a  firebrand  from  one  of  the 
huts.  But,  if  ho  should  prefer,  as  is  often 
the  case,  to  work  at  some  distance  from 
the  hut's,  he  can  procure  fire  with  perfec* 
certainty,  though  not  without  some  labor. 

He  first  procures  two  sticks,  one  of  them 
taken  trom  a  soft  wood  tree,  and  the  other 
from  an  acaci.a,  or  some  other  tree  that 
fu'iiishcs  a  ha.d  wood.  Of  course  both 
the  sticks  mu  *t  be  thoroughly  dry,  a  con- 
dition about  which  there  is  little  difficulty 
in  so  hot  a  climate.  His  next  ;;are  is  to 
shape  onj  end  of  the  hard  stick  into  a 
point,  and  to  bore  a  small  hole  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  soft  stick.  He  now  squats  down, 
places  the  pointed  tip  o^  the  hard  stick 
m  the  holo  of  the  soft  stick,  and,  taking 
the  firmer  between  his  hands,  twirls  it 
backward  and  forward  with  extreme  ra- 
pidity.  As  he  goes  <  i,  the  hole  btcomes 
enlarr;ed,  aiu'  a  small  quantity  of  very 
fine  dust  falls  into  it,  being  ruhbed  away 
by  the  friction.  Presently,  the  dust  is 
seen  to  darken  in  "^olor,  then  to  become 
nearly  black;  and  pre'.ntlv  a  very  slight 
smoke  is  seen  to  rise.  The  Kaffir  now 
redc'.'bles  his  otlorts;  he  aids  the  effect  of 
the  revolvir  J  stick  by  his.  breath,  and  In 
a  few  more  seconds  tl:e  dust  burst*-  into 
a  flame.  The  exertion  required  in  this 
operation  is  very  severe,  and  by  the  time 
that  the  fire  manifests  itself  the  p/oducer 
is  bathed  in  perspiration. 

Usually,  two  men,  at  leapt,  take  part  in 
fire  making,  and,  by  dividing  the  labf-r,  very 
much  shorten  the  process.     It  is  evident 


that,  if  the  pei^pendicular  stick  be  thus 
worked,  the  hands  mus*;  gradually  slide 
down  it  until  they  reach  the  point.  The 
solitary  Ktfflr  would  then  be  obliged  to  stop 
the  bick.  ihift  his  hands  to  the  top,  and  be- 
gin again,  thus  losing  much  valuable  time. 
But  when  two  Kaffirs  unite  in  fife  mak- 
inj;,  one  sits  opposite  the  other,  and  as  soon 
as  he  sees  that  his  comrade's  hands  have 
nearly  worked  themselves  down  to  the  bot- 
tom of  the  stick,  he  places  his  own  hands 
on  the  top,  continues  the  movement,  and 
relieves  his  IViend.  Thus,  the  movement 
of  the  stick  is  never  checked  for  a  moment, 
and  the  operation  is  consequently  hastened. 
Moreover,  considerable  assistance  is  given 
by  the  second  Kaffir  keeping  the  dust 
properly  arranged  round  the  point  of  the 
stick,  and  by  taking  the  part  of  the  bellows, 
so  as  to  allow  his  comriuJe  to  expend  all  his 
strength  in  twirling  the  stick. 

I  liavc  now  before  me  one  of  the  soft 
sticks  in  which  fire  has  beci  made.  There 
is  a  hdle  very  much  resembling  in  shape 
and  size  the  depressions  in  a  solitaire 
board,  except  that  its  sides  are  black  and 
deeply  charred  by  the  five,  and  in  places 
highly  polished  by  the  friction.  Some  of 
my  readers  may  perhaps  remember  that 
English  blacksmiths  ai'e  equally  indepen- 
dent of  lucifer  matches,  flint  and  steel,  and 
other  recognized  modes  of  fire  raising. 
Thty  place  a  small  piece  of  soft  iron  on 
the  anvil,  together  v,'ith  so.ne  charcoal 
lust,  and  hammer  it  furiouslj'.  The  re- 
sult is  that  enough  heat  is  evolved  to  light 
the  charcoal,  and  so  to  enable  the  black- 
smith to  set  to  work. 

We  will  now  see  how  the  native  makns 
his  assagai.- 

With  their  simple  tool",  the  native  smiths 
contrive  to  make  their  spear  heads  of  such 
an  excellent  temper  that  they  take  a  very 
sharp  edge:  so  sharp,  indeed,  that  the  assa. 
gai  IS  used,  not  only  for  cutting  up  meat 
and  siirilar  offices,  but  for  shaving  the  head. 
Also,  it  is  so  pliable,  that  a  ^uod  specirien 
can  be  bent  nearly  double  and  ueaten  straight 
again,  without  being  heated. 

When  the  Kaf.ir  smith  lias  finished  the 
head  of  the  assagai,  it  looks  something  like 
the  blade  of  a  table  knife  bt'fore  it  is  in- 
serted into  the  handle,  and  has  a  straight 
projiicting  peg,  by  which  it  is  fa.stf  'cd  into 
the' wooden  shaft.  Thin  peg,  or  tang  as  cut- 
lers call  it,  is  always  notched,  so  as  to  make 
it  retain  its  hold  the  better. 

Now  comes  the  next  process.  The  spear 
maker  has  already  by  him  a  number  ot 
shafts.  These  ar(>  cut  from  a  tree  which 
is  popularly  called  "  assagai-wood,"  and  on 
iJ-.e  average  are  nearly  five  feet  in  length. 
In  diamete'-  they  are  very  small,  selaom 
exceeding  that  of  u  man's  little  linger  at 
.he  thick  end,  while  the  other  end  tapers 
t;!  the  diameter  of  av-  '^rdin.iry  black-lead 
i  pencil.     The  assagai-tree   is  called  scion- 


ASSAGAIS. 


101 


lar  stick  be  thus 
IS*;  gradufilly  slide 
;li  the  point.  The 
a  be  obhged  to  stop 
to  tlie  top,  and  be- 
lucli  vahiable  time, 
unite  in  fife  mak- 
3  other,  and  as  soon 
iirade's  hands  have 
es  down  to  tlie  bot- 
Pes  his  own  hands 
he  movement,  and 
Ills,  the  movement 
eked  for  a  moment, 
sequently  hastened, 
assistance  is  given 
keeping  Ihe  dust 
d  the  point  of  the 
part  of  the  bellows, 
le  to  expend  all  his 
stick. 

lie  one  of  the  soft 
bee' I  made.  There 
jsembling  iu  sl.ape 
jns  in  a  solitaire 
i(ios  are  black  and 
fire,  and  in  places 
friction.  Some  of 
ps  remember  that 
e  equally  indepen- 
flint  ana  steel,  and 
!S  of  fire  i-alsing. 
ce  of  soft  iron  on 
ith  so.ne  charcoal 
uriouslj'.  The  re- 
is  evolved  to  light 
enable  the  black- 

T  the  native  makes 

't  the  native  smiths 
ipoar  heads  of  such 
it  they  take  a  very 
deed,  that  the  assa* 
>r  cutting  up  meat 
)r  shavaig  the  head, 
at  a  ^iiod  .specimen 
!  and  ueaten  straight 
itcd. 

th  lias  finished  the 
[)ok8  something  like 
ife  l)(!forc  it  is  iti- 
and  has  a  straight 
1  it  is  fasti  ?aI  into 
peg,  or  tang  as  cut- 
tched,  so  as  to  make 
ter. 

process.  The  spear 
him  a  number  ot 
from  a  tree  which 
agnl-wood,"  and  on 
five  feet  in  length, 
very  small,  selaom 
in's'  little  fmger  at 
e  other  end  tapci» 
'irdiri.'irv  b!a<'.k-!ea(i 
ee   is  called  scien- 


tifically Curtisia  Jaginea.  and  is  something 
like  the  mahogany.  The  shaft  of  the  assa- 
gai is  seldom,  if  ever,  sufHciently  straight 
to  permit  the  weapon  to  be  used  at  once. 
It  IS  strai<jhtened  by  means  of  heating  it 
over  the  hre,  and  then  scraping,  beating, 
aiid  bending  it  until  the  maker  is  plea.sed 
with  the  result  Even  after  the  weapon 
has  been  made  and  iu  use,  the  shaft  is 
very  ant  co  warp,  and  in  this  case  iue 
Kaffir  always  rapidly  straightens  the  as- 
sagai before  ho  throws  it.  In  spite  of  its 
brittle  nature,  it  will  endure  a  considerable 
amount  of  bending,  provided  that  the  curve 
be  not  too  sharp,  and  that  the  operator 
dof  not  jerk  the  shaft  as  he  bonds  ft.  In- 
deta,  if  It  were  not  for  the  elasticity  of 
the  shaft,  the  native  would  not  be  able  to 
produce  the  peculiar  quivering  or  vibrating 
movement,  to  which  the  weapon  owes  so 
much  of  its  efficiency. 

liv  means  cf  heating  the  "tang"  of  the 
head  red  hot,  a  hole  is  bored  into  the  thick 
end  of  t)ie  shaft,  and  the  tang  passed  into 
it    "Were  it  left  without  further  work,  the 
spear  would  be  incomplete,  for  the  head 
would  fall  away  from  the  shaft  whenever 
the  point  was  held  downward.    In  order 
to  fasten  it.  in  its  place,  the  Kaffir  always 
makes  use  of  one  material,  namely,  raw 
hide.    lie    cuts    a    narrow   strip  of  hide 
Bometimcs    retaining  the  hair,  a.id  binds 
It  while  still  wet  upon   the  spear.    As  it 
dries,  the  hide  contracts,  and  forms  a  band 
iK'nriy  as  strong  as  if  made  of  iron.    'I'here 
H  no  particular  art  displayed  in  tyiag  this 
baud;   we  never  see  in  that  portion  of  an 
assagai  the  least  trace  of  the  elaborate  and 
elegant  p-.tterns  used  by  the  New  Zealand- 
crs  :n   the  manufacture  of  their  weapons 
Tlie  strip  of  hide  is  merely  rolled  round 
the  spear  and  the  loose  end  tucked  beneath 
a  fold.    3tet  the  Kaffir  is  not  without  the 
power  of  producing  such  patterns,  and  will 
(Cominoiily  weave  very  elaborate  and  elegant 
^-rn,.incnts,  from  the  hair  of  the  elephant's 
ail  and  similar  materials.    These  ornamen- 
!  liishings  are,  however,  always  placed  on 
,    le  siiai*,  of  the  weapon,  and  are  never  em- 
sployeu  in  fastening  the  head  of  the  assagai 
m  its  place.  ° 

In  the  illustration  on  page  103  is  drawn 
a  group  of  assagais,  in  order  to  show  the 
chief  varieties  of  this  weapon.  The  whole 
of  them  have  been  i.rawn  from  specimens 
in  my  own  possession.  The  word  "a-ssa- 
gai"  is  not  a  Kaffir  term,  but,  like  the 
ioi)ular  name  of  the  tribe,  like  the  words 
.aross,  kraal,  &c.,  has  been  borrowed  from 
another  langua-e.  The  Zulu  word  for  tlie 
a.ssagai  is  um-kontn,  a  word  which  has  a 
cun.uis  though  ace-dental  resemblance  to 
the  Latin  contus 


manner^  ihe  head  being  nothing  but  a  sharp- 
ened spike  of  iron,  without  anv  pretensions 
of  bein^  formed  into  a  blade.  'Phis  weapon 
is  five  feet  seven  inches  in  total  length,  and 
the  blade  measures  a  foot  in  length  from  its 
Junction  with  the  shaft.  Sometimes  tlie 
blade  is  much  longer  and  wider,  as  seen  at 
fig.  4,  which  represents  the  ordinary  "  stab- 
ing  assagai."  This  weapon  can  be  used  as 
a  missile,  but  is  very  seldom  employed 
except  as  a  manual  weapon.  Its  long, 
straight  blade  is  much  used  in  the  more 
peaceful  vocations  of  daily  life,  and  a  Kaffir 
in  time  of  peace  seldom  uses  it  for  any  worse 
purpose  than  slaughtering  cattle,  and  cut- 
ting them  up  afterward.  This  is  the  assagai 
that  is  usually  employed  as  a  knife,  and  mth 
which  the  ingenious  native  contrives  to 
shave  his  head. 

At  fig.  7  is  shown  a  very  remarkable  speci- 
men of  the  barbed  assagai.     Intending  to 
produce  an  extremely  elegant  weapon,  the 
artificer  has  lavished  much  pains  on  his 
work.    In  the  first  place,  he  has  forged  a 
deeply  barbed  head,  a  form  which  is  but 
rarely  seen.    He  has  then  fastened  it  to  the 
shaft  in  a  rather  sin<»ular  way.  Instead  of  cut- 
ting a  strip  of  raw  hide  and  binding  it  round 
the  weapon,  he  has  taken  the  tail  of  a  calf, 
cut  off  a  piece  about  four  inches  in  length, 
drawn  the  skin  from  it  so  as  to  form  a  tube 
and  slipped  this  tube  over  the  spear.    As  is' 
the  case  with  the  hide  lashing,  the  tube  con- 
tracts as  it  dries,  and  forms  a  singulai-Iy 
effective  mode  of   attaching  the    head    to 
the  shaft.    T'le  hair  has  been  retained,  and, 
in   the  maker's  opinion,  a  very  liandsome 
weapon  has  been  produced. 

The  assagai,  in  its  original  form,  is  essen- 
tially  a  miisile,  and  is  made  expressly  for 
that  purpose,  although  it  serves  several 
others.  And,  insignificant  as  it  looks  when 
compared  with  the  larger  and  more  elabo- 
rate spears  of  other  nations,  there  is  no 
spear  or  lancet  that  can  surpass  it  in  effi- 
cacy. 

Tha  Kaffir,  when  going  on  a  warlike  or 
hunting  expedition,  or  even  when  travelling 
to  any  distance,  takes  with  him  a  bundle,  or 
-sheaf,  of  as.sagais,  at  least  five  in  number, 
and  sometimes  eight  or  nine.  When  he 
assails  an  enemy,  He  rushes  forward,  spring- 
ing from  side  to  side  in  order  to  disconcert 
the  aim  of  his  adversary,  and  hurling  spear 
after  spear  with  such  rapidity  that  two  or 
three  are  in  the  air  at  once,  each  havinir 


poi)ular  name  of  the  tHh.r'iii;;:";i"T   ^T  ml*^"    thrown    from    a   different   direction"! 
kaross.  kr...al  .J.    ll  ."„!!'  }}^1 3.^:1"''^'   There  is  little  difficulty  in  avoiding  a  singl": 

spear  wlum  thrown   from  the  front:    but 
when  the  point  of  one  is  close  to  the  heart 
and  another  is  coming  to  the  right  side,  ami 

.„„.,.,  '"^  en^my  is  ,mt  hurling  aiuHher  on  the 

The  ordinary  form  or  «  throwing  n.<,9n„r,5 "  '  "  **  "^'.i®""  ***"  ""  «'"'^"  difficulty  to 
is  shown  at  fi'^  5  It  is  used  a«^/^"-  ?«W"ne  or  other  of  them.  If  the  assailed 
and  not  as  h^,^  '  In  1^^'  !J„™i%t' I '- '^l''""^^ ''i?'?''^  ■«""'  ^'^  '«  ^"''^  ^  be  hit 
Uirowing  assagai  is  Shaped  i„  a  monT^impl^j  ;;;jiilf'^j^^:,re^a^ts;^ 


103 


THE  KAFFIR. 


11  il 


hit  by 


from  the  left,  he  will  probably  be 
another  coming  from  the  right. 

Moreover,  tlic  mode  in  wliich  the  weapon 
is  thrown  serves  to  disconcert  the  enemy, 
and   bewilder   his   gaze.     Just  before   he 
throws  the  spear,  the  Kaffir  makes  it  quiver 
in  a  very  peculiar  manner.    lie  grasps  it 
with  the  thumb  and  forefinger  of  thtj  right 
,  hand,  liolding  it  just  above  the  snot  where 
it  balances  itself,  and  with  the  beau  pointing 
up  lii;4  arm.     The   other  lingers  arc  laid 
along  the  shaft,  and  are  suddenly  and  firmly 
closed,  so  as  to  bring  the  balance  spot  of  the 
spear  against  the  root  of  the  hand.    This 
movement    causes    the   spear    to   vibrato 
strongly  and  is  rapidly  repeated,  until  the 
weapon  gives  out  a  peculiar  humming  or 
Bhivenug  noise,  impossible  to  be  described, 
and  equally  impossible  to  be  forgotten  when 
once  hoard.    It  is  sis  menacing  a  sound  as 
the  whirr  of  the  rattlesnake,  and  is  used  by 
the  Kaffirs  when  they  wish  to  strike  terror 
into  tlieir  ojjponents.     When  thrown,  the 
assagai  does  not  lose  this  vibrating  move- 
ment, but  seems  even  to  vibrate  stronger 
than  before,  the  head  describing  a  large  arc 
of  a  circle,  of  which  the  balance  point  forms 
the  centre.    Tills  vibration  puzzles  the  eye 
of  the  adversary,  because  it  is  almost  impos- 
sible to  tell  the  precise  direction  which  the 
weapon  is  taking.    Any  one  can  calculate 
the  flight  of  a  rigid  missile,  such  as  a  thick 
spear  or  arrow,  but  when  the  weapon  is 
vibrating  the  eye  is  greatly  bewildered. 

The  whole  look  of  an  nssagai  in  the  air  is 
very  remarkable,  and  has  never  been  prop- 
erly represented.  All  illustrations  have 
represented  it  as  quite  straight  and  stiff  in 
its  fliglit,  whereas  it  looks  just  like  a  very 
slender  serpent  undulating  itself  grav;efully 
through  the  air.  It  seems  instinct  with  life, 
and  ai)pears  rather  to  be  seeking  its  own 
course  than  to  be  a  simple  weapon  thrown 
by  the  haml  of  a  man.  As  it  flies  along  it 
continually  gives  out  the  peculiar  shivering 
sound  which  has  been  mentioned,  and  tliis 
adds  to  the  delusion  of  its  aspect. 

An  illustration  on  page  111  represents  a 
group  of  Kaffir  warriors  engaged  in  a  skir- 
mish. In  the  present  instance  they  are 
exhibiting  their  prowess  in  a  mock  fight, 
the  heads  of  the  assagais  being  of  wood 
instea<l  of  iron,  and  blunted,  but  still  hai-d 
and  sharp  enough  to  give  a  very  severe 
hlovr  —  experto  -rede.  In  the  background 
are  seen  a  number  of  soldiers  standing 
behind  their  shields  so  as  to  exemplify  the 
aptness  of  their  title,  the  Matabele,  or  Dis- 
appearers.  In  the  immediate  foreground  is 
a  soldier  in  the  fbll  uniform  of  his  regiment. 
He  has  just  hurled  one  assagai,  and,  as 
may  be  seen  by  the  manner  in  which  his 
dress  is  flying,  has  leaped  to  his  present 
position  with  another  assagai  ready  in  his 
hand.  Two  soldiers  are  plucking  out  of 
the  ground  the  assagais  thrown  by  their  an- 
tagoniats,  eovc-riug  thcmscives  with  Uiuii- 


shields  while  so  doing.  All  these  soldiers 
belong  to  the  same  regiment,  as  may  bo 
seen  by  the  headdress,  which  constitutes 
their  distinctive  uniform. 

The  skill  displayed  by  the  Kaffirs  in  the 
use  of  this  weapon  is    really    surprising. 
The  rapidity  with  which  the  assagais  are 
snatched  from  the  sheaf,  poised,  quivered, 
and  hurled  is  'almost  incredible.    We  are 
told  that  the  great  mastery  of  the  old  Eng- 
lish archers  over  the  powerful  bows  which 
tliey  used,  was  not  so  much  owing  to  the 
personal  strength  of  the  archer,  as  to  the 
manner  in  which  ho  was  taught  to  "  lay  his 
body  in  his  bow,"  and  thus  to  manage  with 
et-e  a  weapon  that   much  stronger  men 
could  not  draw.    In  a  similar  manner,  the 
skill  of  the  Kaffir  in  hurling  the  assagai  is 
attributable  not  to  his  bodily  strengtli,  but 
to  the  constant  habit  of  using  the  weapon. 
As  soon  as  a  boy  can  fairly  walk  alone,  he 
plays  at  spear  throwing — throwing  with 
sticks;  and  as  he  grows  up,  his  father  makes 
sham  assagais  for  him,  witli  wooden  instead 
of  iron  heads.    Two  of  these  mock  weapons 
ai*e  shown  at  fig  8  in  the  illustration  on  p. 
103.     They  exactly  resemble  the  ordinary 
fussagai,  excqit  that  their  heads  are  of  wood; 
and  if  one  of^  them  happened  to  hit  a  man, 
it  would  ihflict  rather  an  unpleasant  wound. 
When  the  Kaffir  gruspj  his  assagai,  he 
and  the  weapon  seem  to  become  one  being, 
the  quivering  spear  seeming  instinct  with 
life  imparted  to  it  by  its  wielder.    In  hurl- 
ing it,    ho   assumes   intuitively    the  most 
graceful    of  attitudes,  reminding   the  ob- 
server of  some  of  the  ancient  statues,  and 
the  weapon  is  thrown  with  such  seemiu" 
ease  that,  as  a  sojourner  among  them  told 
me,  "  the  man  looks  as  if  be  were  made  of 
oil."    As  he  hurls  the  weapon,  he  presses 
on  his  foe,  trying  to  drive  him  back,  and  at 
the  same  time  to  recover  the  spent  missiles. 
Sometimes,  when  he  has  not  space  to 
raise  his  arm,  or  when  he  wants  to  take  his 
foe  by  surprise,  he  throws  the  assagai  with 
a  kind  of  underhand  jerk,  his  arm  nangm" 
at  full  length.     An  assagai  thus  delivereu 
cannot  be  thrown  so  far  as  by  the  ordinary 
method,  but  it  can  be  propelled  with  con- 
siderable force,  and  frntpiontly  achieves  the 
object  for  which  it  was  intended.    He  never 
throws  the  last  of  the  sheaf,  but  if  he  cannot 
succeed  in  picking  up  those  that  are  already 
thrown,  either  by  himself  or  his  enemy, 
ho  dashes  forward,  and,  as  he  closes  witli 
the  foe,  snaps  the  shaft  of  the  assagai  in 
the  middle,  throws  away  the  tiii,  and  uses  tho 
remaining  portion  as  a  dagger. 

The  wood  of  which  the  shaft  is  made, 
though  vorv  elastic,  is  vary  brittle,  and  a 
novice  in  the  art  is  sure  ;,o  break  several 
of  his  spears  before  he  loams  to  throw 
them  properly.  Unless  they  are  rightly 
cast,  as  soon  as  tho  blade  roaches  the 
ground  the  shaft  gives  a  kir'^  f  "  whip " 
rorvrurd,  and  suaps  abort  ji-      aoove   *be 


All  these  soldiern 
iment,  as  may  bo 
which  coustituttis 

the  KaflSid  in  the 

really  surprising. 
1  the  assagais  arc 
',  poised,  quivered, 
icredible.  Wo  are 
ry  of  the  old  Eng- 
(verful  bows  whieh 
luch  owing  to  the 

archer,  as  to  tlic 
taught  to  "  lay  his 
18  to  manage  with 
ich  stronger  men 
milar  manner,  the 
ing  the  assagai  is 
dily  strength,  but 
using  the  weapon, 
rly  walk  alone,  he 

—  throwing  with 
|i,  his  father  makes 
til  wooden  instead 
cse  mock  weapons 

illustration  on  p. 
iible  the  ordinary 
lieads  are  of  wood; 
ned  to  hit  a  man, 
unpleasant  wound. 
)3  his  assagai,  he 
lecome  one  being, 
ling  instinct  willi 
wielder.  In  hurl- 
litively  the  most 
minding  the  ob- 
:ient  statues,  and 
ith  such  seemiu" 
among  them  told 

he  were  made  of 
capon,  he  presses 
:  him  back,  and  at 
the  spent  missiles, 
lias  not  space  to 

wants  to  take  his 
I  the  assagai  with 
,  his  arm  naugin" 
ai  thus  delivered 
3  by  the  ordinary 
opelled  with  con- 
intly  achieves  the 
ended.  He  never 
,f,  but  if  he  cannot 
le  that  are  already 
If  or  his  enemy, 
w  he  closes  wifli 
of  the  assagai  in 
e  tip,  and  uses  the 
rger. 

e  shaft  is  made, 
iry  brittle,  and  a 

;,o  break  several 

loams    to  throw 

they  are  rightly 
ade    ro.oches   the 

kir.'^  f"whip" 
t  ji-      ttoove  'he 


I'ORUIDGE. 

(See  page  148.) 


GROLP  OK  A,S.SA(iAI.S.    (Soc 

(loa) 


pages  101, 106.) 


c 

Pat 

con 

:  ieci 


A  KAFFIR  CHIEF'S  STRATAGEM. 


blade.  One  of  the  great  warrior  chiefs 
made  a  singular  use  of  this  property.  Just 
botore  going  into  action,  he  made  his  men 
cut  the  shatls  of  their  assagais  nearly  across. 
Just  beyond  the  junction  of  the  shaft  and 
the  head.  The  consequence  of  this  ingen- 
ious ruse  became  evident  enough  when 
the  action  commenced.  If  the  weapon 
went  true  to  its  mark,  it  pierced  the  body 
ot  the  foe  just  as  effectually  as  if  nothing 
had  been  done  to  it;  while  if  it  missed,  and 
struck  the  ground  or  a  shield,  the  shaft 
instantly  snapped,  and  the  weapon  was 
thereby  rendered  useless  to  the  fi  e. 

Unknowingly,  the  barbaric  chief  copied 
the  example  that  was  set  by  a  Roman  gen- 
eral nearly  two  thousand  years  ago.  men 
Manus  made  war  against  the  Cimbri.  his 
troops  carried  the  si.,.rt  heavy  javelin, 
called  the  pilam.  This  weapon  had  a  thick 
handle,  to  the  end  of  which  the  long  blade 
I  was  attached  by  two  iron  rivets,  one  in 
Ka'^lf  ''i^  ""^e"--,  ,.I^efore  going  to  battle, 
Wie  ordered  the  soldiers  (o  remove  the  rivet 
-arthest  from  the  point,  and  to  supply  its 
place  with  a  slight  wooden  peg,  just  stron^ 
enough  to  hold  the  head  in  its  proper  pos^ 
tion  as  long  as  no  force  was  useclT  When 
the  javelin  was  hurled,  the  enemy  tried  to 
receive  it  on  their  shields-  and  if  they  suc- 
ceeded in  doing  so,  they  drew  out  the  wea- 
pon and  lung  It  back  at  the  foe.  But  j!^ 
Boon  as  the  action  began,  the  Cimbri  found 
t  leniselves  in  a  sore  strait.  No  sooner  had 
|tey  caught  the  javelin  in  their  shields,  than 

rth«  K  r"?'"  P?.«»'iPl'e'l,  and  allowed 
rthe  shaft  to  dangle  from  the  blade.  Not 
ronly  was  the  wea,pon  useless,  but  it  became 
I  a  serious  incumbrance.     It  could  not  be 

tern"'  °"*i  ?f  H'"  «'"^>*^'  "^  i<^  afforded  no 

Igrasp,  and  the  heavy  shaft  dragged  on  the 

ground  so  as  to  force  the  soldi^?  to  throw 

Sway  his  sliield,  and  to  fight  without  it. 

^  A  very  singular  modification  of  the  assa- 

|hief  who  lived  but  for  war,  and  was  a  man 

&n".hfo'"'    ?"-''^"^^*'  daun«e;Xurage" 

|oid  of  compassion.    Retaining  the  as8a<-ai 

le  .a  tered  Its  shape,  and  maJe  it  a  mSch 

iliorter  and  heavier  weapon,  unfit  for  throw- 

Infir'^iV';  ""''^  '">.  '>and-to'hand 
fthi^  m<  ,1m»  1  ^"^  *''"'\"f''  ^"«  troops  with 
pLTmTde'of w3r'  ''^  -"-'y  altered 

|hev  went  into  action,  th^ey  rfn hf  acolac^ 

Ed  toS/r"'  ^'"^  thenSnTin  ^    : 
nand-to-hand    encounter.     Their    cor -,.. 

SS^:f'\!'^ii!-^d'>;Fo^ai 


10^ 

killed  by  ihe  chief,  and  the  8amu  punish- 
mei  t  awiuted  any  one  who  return^^  Zm 
battle  without  his.spear  and  shield.  Owing 
to  these  tactics,  he  raised  the  tribe  of  the 
Ama^ulu  to  be  th.e  most  powerftil  in  the 
country.  He  absorbed  newly  sixty  othe? 
tribes  into  his  own,  and  extended  liisdo- 
aK*  "'"'^  ^  '^'■°*''  ^^'^  continent  of 
He  at  last  fonned  the  bold  conception  of 
sweeping  the  whole  South  Africai  coast 
with  his  armies,  and  extirpating  the  white 
inhabitants.  But,  while  at  the  zfnith  of  Ids 
power,  he  was  treacherously  killed  by  two 
^hl'Ln'*'*^'  ^'iPS''"  "^^  Umlan^gane 

Z  thrlir'^'"^  ''y-  ^nd  Dingan  ascended 
the  throne  over  the  bodies  of  both  his 
brothers.  The  sanguinary  mode  of  govern- 
ment which  Tchaka  had  created  was  not 
?n  n^n^«  ^^/r^'"'^*"*' '"  ^"'^h  hauds,  and 
^IV      °.w-'^!."#.'''\^'«  <lreaded  nearly  as 

Zl    ,^t ^''*  "i^  ^'5  ^""'^^^'-    His  successor 
and  brother,  Panda,  continued  to  rule  in 

S°?rnT""T-'  *^°"8l»  ^»"^out  possess- 
ing the  extraordmaiT  genius  of  the  mi<rhtv 

obliged  to  form  an  alliance  with  the  Eng- 

ht"'Tf  f  ,^«".t""ng  to  make  war  upon 
them.    Tchaka  s    invention  of  the    8in<rie 


reward,  and  by  the  certainf7tVoV  f.  weapons  which  a  Kaf 
conquer  was  to  d."  JP  »  l*^,,.^!*.**  »"*  *«  giiette  forbids  him  to 
lected  in  running  "awav  "hp"  wn!\-^l't!_.f "■'?''' l''1'"t't'4iar  spear  i 


lS"^,?:'"'^''/  answered  very  well  as  long 
o^  ^l  E  '  °°'y/o"ght  again.st  other  trib  J 
of  the  same  country.    But,  when  they  came 

that°?bri."i  • "  ^"'*^'^  ^«^"'  "  was^bund 
that  the  stabbing  assagai  was  almost  use- 
less against  mounted  enemies,  and  they 
were  obliged  to  return  to  the  original  form 
01  the  weapon. 

whLh^t  '■^*''$^'"*  will  refer  to  the  illustration 
which  has  already  been  mentioned,  he  will 
see  two  specimens  of  the  short  stabbing 

nl  ?;?\h'*''  '•''  ^^'S^.  ^''-"l^-  ^  fine  exam? 
pie  ot  tins  weapon  is  seen  at  fig.  1     The 

S'Uh  i''f  T*  ^^^  *^''«1«  '«  extreme  y 
Tnd  or  h„<-  5fl''*^"''''  **".**  *'»'-'*  the  other 
n^nK  .  A  •  "^^'J®  ^P'^'"''  ^«  decorated  with 
.a  tuft  of  hairs  taken  from  the  tail  of  a  cow 
Another  example  is  seen  at  fig.  3.  The 
maker  has  bestowed  great  pains  on  this 
p.uticular  weapon.  Just  at  the  nart  where 
fn  nfP?^""  ,^''^'^n«es,  a  piece  of  soA  leather  is 
off.fjT  ^  '"r*  of  tiandle,  and  is  finished 
off  at  either  end  with  a  ring  made  of  the 
wjrc-like  hair  of  the  elephant's  taih    SovenU 

l'^\''P/%^'  ^*»«  ^^""-^  '"Pterin]  .lecorate 
the  shaft  of  the  weapon,  and  all  of  them  are 
ke  the  well-known  "  Turk's-hcad  "  knot  of 
^if-  f  k'"'"^    ^'?-  ^  ^'^ows  anothor  assagai 

ng.  7,  but  which  has  been  so  repeatedlv 
ground  that  the  original  shape  is  scarcely 
perceptible.  The  spear  wliic^  is  drawn  2 
ng.  13  18  one  of  the  ornamental  wooden 
weapons  wh  ch  a  Kaflir  will  use  wh^Ht" 


106 


THE  KAJTFIB. 


•x 


notions  of  beauty,  by  contrasts  of  black  and 
white  gained  by  charring  the  wood.  The 
ornamental  work  on  the  shaft  is  thus  bla«!k- 
ened,  and  so  is  one  side  of  the  broad  wooden 
blade.  The  spear  shown  at  fig.  9  is  used  in 
elephant  hunting,  and  will  be  described  in  a 
future  chapter. 

To  a  Kaffir  the  assagai  is  a  necessary 
of  life.    He  never  stirs  without  takin<T  a 
weapon  of  some  kind  in  his  hand,  and  that 
weapon  is  generally  the  assagai.    With  it 
he  kdls  his  gami,  with  it  he  cuts  up  the 
carcass,  with  it  he  strips  off  the  hide,  and 
with  it  he  fashions   the  dresses  worn  by 
the  women  as  well  as  the  men.    The  case 
and  rapidity  with  which  he  pei  forms  these 
acts  are  really  astonishing.    "When  cutting 
up  slaughtered  cattle,  he  displays  as  mucG 
knowledge  of  the  various  cut«  as  the  most  ex- 
perienced butcher,  and  certainly  no  butcher 
could  operate  more  rapidly  v/ith  his  knife 
saw,  and  cleaver,  than  does  the  Kaffir  with 
his   simple    assagai.     For   every   purpo'3e 
wherein   an   European  uses  a   knife,  the 
Kaffir  uses  his  assagai.    With  it  he  cuts  the 
shafts  for  his  weapons,  and  with  its  sharp 
bMe  he  carves  the  wooden  clubs,  spoons, 
dishes,  and  pillows,  and  the  various  utensils 
required  in  his  daily  life. 

When  hurling  his  assagai,  whether  at  an 
animal  which  he  is  hunting  or  at  a  foe  or 
even  when  exhibiting  his  skill  to  a  spec- 
tator, the  Kaffir  becomes  strongly  excited 
and  seems  almost  beside  himself.  The 
sweetest  sound  that  can  greet  a  Kaffir's 
ears  is  the  sound  of  his  weapon  entering 
the  object  at  which  it  was  aimed,  and  in 
order  to  enjoy  this  strange  gratification,  he 
wiU  stab  a  slam  animal  over  and  over  again 
forgetful  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment 
that  every  needless  stab  injures  the  hide 
which  r.iight  be  so  useful  to  him.  When 
the  chief  summons  his  army,  and  the  war- 
riors go  through  their  extraordinary  per- 
lormances  m  his  presence,  they  never  fail 
to  expatiate  on  the  gratification  which  they 
shaH  derive  from  hearing  their  assagais 
strike  into  the  bodies  of  their  opponente. 

It  is  rather  a  curious  fact  that  the  true 
Kaffir  never  uses  the  bow  and  arrow 
1  hough  nearly  surrounded  by  tribes  which 
use  this  weapon,  and  though  often  suffering 
in  skirmishes  from  the  poisoned  arrows  o1 
the  Bosjesmans,  he  rejects  the  bow  in  war- 
fare, considering  it  to  be  a  weapon  incon- 
sistent with  the  dignity  of  a  warrior.  He 
has  but  two  weapons,  the  assagai  and  the 
club,  and  he  wields  the  second  as  skilfully  as 
the  first.  The  clubs  used  by  the  Kaffir  tribes 
are  extremely  variable  in  size,  and  rather  so 
In  torm.  Some  of  tliem  are  more  than  six 
feet  in  length,  while  some  are  only  fourteen 
or  fifteen  inches.  But  they  all  agree  in  one 
point,  namely,  that  they  are  straight,  or,  at 
aU  events,  are  intended  to  be  80;''and  tkt 
one  end  is  terminated  by  a  knob.  They  are 
popularly  known  aa  "  knob-kerriea." 


In  order  to  show  the  extreme  difference 
of  size  that  is  found  among  them,  several 
specimens  are  figured  in  the  illustration  on 
page  lO.'J.  Three  specimens  are  seen  at  fig 
10.  That  on  the  right  hand  is  used  as  a 
weapon,  and  is  wielded  in  a  very  curious 
manner.  Not  only  can  it  be  enipfoyed  as  a 
weapon  with  which  an  opponent  can  be 
struck,  but  It  is  also  used  as  a  missile,  some- 
times being  flung  straight  at  the  antagonist 
and  sometimes  thrown  on  tlie  ground  in 
such  a  manner  that  its  elasticity  causes  it  to 
rebound  and  strike  the  enemy  from  below 
instead  of  from  above.  Tlie  Australian 
savages  possess  clubs  of  a  similar  shape 
and  also  employ  the  ricochet.  The  other 
two  kerries  are  not  meant  aa  weapons. 

It  is  contrary  to  etiquette  for  a  Kaffir  to 
carry  an  assagai  when  he  enters  the  hut  of 
a  superior,  and  he  therefore  exchanges  the 
weapon  for  the  innocent  kerrie.  And  it  is 
also  contrary  to  etiquette  to  use  the  real 
Msagai  in  dances.  But,  as  in  their  dances 
the  various  operations  of  warfare  and  hunt- 
ing arc  imitated,  it  is  necessary  for  the  per- 
formers to  have  something  that  will  take 
the  place  of  an  assagai,  and  they  accord- 
ingly provide  themselves  with  knob-kerriea 
about  the  same  length  aa  the  weapons 
whose  place  they  supply. 

One  very  common  form  of  the  short  knob- 
kerne,  is  shown  at  fig.  14.  This  weapon  is 
only  twenty  inches  in  length,  and  can  be 
conveniently  carried  in  the  belt.  At  close 
quarters  it  can  be  used  as  a  club,  but  it  ia 
mwe  frequently  employed  as  a  missile. 

The  Kaffir  is  so  trained  from  infancy  to 
hurl  his  weapons  that  he  always  prefers 
those  which  can  be  thrown.  The  force  and 
precision  with  which  the  natives  will  flin<» 
these  short  kerries  is  i  jally  astonishinf .  f( 
Europeans  were  to  go  after  birds,  an^  pro- 
vide themselves  with  knobbed  sticks  instead 
of  guns,  they  would  bring  home  but  very 
little  game.  Yet  a  Kaffir  takes  his  knob- 
kernes  as  a  matter  of  course,  when  he  goes 
after  the  bustard,  the  quail,  or  other  birds 
and  seldom  returns  without  success.  ' 

The  general  plan  is  for  two  men  to  hunt 
m  concert.     They  walk  some  fifty  yards 
apart,  and  when  they  come  to  any  spot 
which  seems  a  likely  place  for  game,  they 
rest  their  kerries  on  their  right  shoulders, 
so  as  to  lose  no  time  in  drawing  back  the 
hand  when  they  wish  to  fling  the  weapon. 
As  soon  aa  a  bird  rises,  they  simultaneously 
hurl  their  kerries  at  it,  one  always  aimin<»  a 
little  above  the  bird,  and  the  other  a  little 
below.    If,  then,  the  bird  catches  sight  of  the 
upper  club,  and  dives  down  to  avoid  it,  the 
lower  club  takes  effect,  while,  if  it  rises  ^rom 
the  lower  kerrie,  it  falls  a  victim  to  the 
upper.    This  plan  ia  wonderfully  efficacious, 
aa  I  have  proved  by  personal  experience. 
One  of  my  friends  and  myself  determined  to 
try  whether  we  could  kill  gamt  in  the  Kaffir 
ashion.    So  we  cut  some  knobbed  sticks, 


THE  KNOB-KERRIE. 


and  started  off  in  search  of  snipe.  As  soon 
na  a  siupo  rose,  we  rtuug  the  stick  at  it,  and 
naturally  missed,  as  it  was  quite  beyond  tlie 
range  of  any  missile  propelled  by  liand. 
However,  marking  the  spot  where  it  alight- 
ed^ we  started  it  afresh,  and  by  repeating 
this  process,  we  got  sulHcicntly  near  to  bring 
it  within  the  compass  of  our  powers,  and  sue" 
ceeded  in  knocking  it  down. 

Gtenorally  the  short,  thick,  heavily  knobbed 
kerne  belongs  rather  to  the  Hottentot  and 
the  Bosjesman  than  to  the  Zulu,  who  pre- 
fers the  longer  weapon,  even  as  a  missile. 
But  It  IS  evident  that  the  former  shape  of 
the  weapon  is  the  original  one,  and  that 
the  Kaffir,  who  derived   it  from  its  ori-ri- 
^nal  inventor,  the  Hottentot,  has  graduaTly 
llengthened  the  shaft  and  diminished  the 
^mze  of  the  head. 

The  material  of  which  the  kerrie  is  made 
iis  mostlv  wood,  that  of  the  acacia  being 
ficquently  used  for  this  purpose.  The  long 
kuob-kerr  es  of  the  Zulus  ak  generally  cu^ 
from  the  tree  that  is  emphatically,  though 
not  euphoniously  namecf  Stink-wood,  on 
account  of  the  unpleasant  odor  which  it  gives 
out  while  being  worked.  As  soon  aslt  is 
dry,  this  odor  goes  off,  and  not  even  the 


Ifff 


most  sensitive  nostril  can  be  annoyed  by  it 
Iho  stink-wood  is  a  snccies  of  laurel,  and  its 
scientitic    name    is   Laurua   bullata.     The 
most  valuable,  as  well  as  the  most  durable 
knob-kerries  are  those  which  are  cut  out  of 
rhinoceros  horn,  and  a  native  can  hardly  be 
induced  to  part  with  a  fine  specimen  for  any 
bribe.    In  the  first  place   the  very  fact  of 
possessing  such  an  article  shows  that  ho 
must  be  a  mighty  hunter,  and  have  slain  a 
rhinoceros;  and  in  the  second  place,  its  great 
efficacy,  and  the  enormous  amount  of  labor 
expended  in  carving  out  of  the  solid  horn 
endear  it  so  much  to  him,  that  he  will  not 
part  with  it  except  for  something  which  will 
tend  to  raise  him  in  the  eyes  of  his  com- 
rades.   In   England,    a   fine    specimen    of 
knob-kerrie,  made  from  the  horn  of  the 
white  rhinoceros,  has  been  known  to  fetch 
even  ten  pounds. 

Thus  much  for  the  offensive  weapons  of 
the  Zulu  KalHr.  Toward  the  north  as  well 
as  to  the  west  of  the  Draakensberg  Moun- 
tains^ a  peculiar  battle-axe  is  used ,  which  is 
evidently  a  modification  of  the  barbed  spear 
which  has  already  been  described;  but  the 

d^^"  k  "*^^  ^*^  weapon  except  the  assagai 


CHAPTER  XII. 


WAR— CoJicMed. 


DEFENSIVE  WEAPONS,  AND  MODE  OF  FIGIITINO. 


BODY  AUMOn  NOT  ■WORN  — THE  KAFFIB'8  SHIELD  — ITS  SHAPE,  MATKRIAt,  AND  COLOR— THE  BHIEtn 
A8  A  UNIFORM— CUmOUS  RUSE  —  HOW  THE  SHIELD  IS  HELD  AND  USED  — THE  SHIELD  STICK  AND 
ITS  ORNAMENTS  — VALUE  OK  THE  SHIELD  AGAINST  8PRAUH  AND  AUROWS  — THE  BLACK  AND  MHITE 
SHIELD  REGIMENTS  — DISTRIBUTION  OP  SHIELDS -MILITARY  AMHITION  AND  ITS  INCENTIVES — 
CHIEF  OBJECTS  OF  WAKKA KB— DISCIPLINE  OF  KAFFIR  ARMY  — CRUELTY  OF  TCIIAKA  AND  OTHER 
ZULU  MONARCHS — OBSERVANCES  BEFORE  A  CAMPAIGN  —  SUPERSTITIOUS  CEREMONIES  —  HOW  THE 
ARMY  IS  MAINTAINED  IN  THE  FIELD  — TRACK  OF  AN  ARMY  THROUGH  AN  ENEMV's  LAND  — JEAL- 
OUSY BETWEEN  THE  DIFFERENT  REOIMBNTS- ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  ARMY- NlMIlKR  OF 
REGIMENTS  AND  GARRISON  TOWNS  —  NAMES  OF  THE  DIFFERENT  REGIMENTS  — OOZA  AND  8AN- 
DILLl  — DISTINGUISHING  UNIFORMS  OF  THE  REGIMENTS' — THE  REVIEW  AFTER  A  BATTLE,  AND  ITS 
CONSEQUENCES— THE  SHIELD  BEARER  AND  HIS  PERILOUS  TASK- THE  ROYAL  ATTENDANTS  — 
REWARD  AND  PUNISHMENT  — KAFFIR  HERALllS  — VARIOUS  TITLES  OF  THE  KINO  — PANDA's 
REVIEW  COSTUME  — THE  KING'S  PROGRESS  THROUGH  HI8  COITNTUV  — INVENTION  AND  COMPLE- 
TION OF  A  MILITARY  SYSTEM— TCHAKA'S  POLICY  COMPARED  WITH  THAT  OF  THIS  FIRST  NAPO- 
LEON—TCHAKA'S  RISE  AND  FALL- AN  UNSUCCESSFUL  EXPEDITION  —  FAMILY  QUARRELS  — A 
TREACHEROUS    CONSPIRACY -- MURDER    OF    TCIIAKA,    AND    ACCESSION    OF  DING  AN. 


The  Zulu  tribe  have  but  one  piece  of 
defensive  armor,  namely,  the  shield.  The 
Kaflira  either  are  ignorant  of,  or  despise 
bodily  armor  of  any  k'nd,  not  even  pro- 
tecting their  heads  by  caps  and  lielmets,  but 
exposing  their  naked  bodies  nd  limbs  to 
the  weapons  of  the  foe.  The  shields  are 
always  made  of  ox-hide,  and  their  color 
denotes  the  department  of  the  army  to  which 
the  owner  belongs.  None  bi.t  "  men,"  who 
are  entitled  to  wear  the  hwul-ring,  are  priv- 
ileged to  carrj^  white  shields,  while  the 
"boys"  on  their  promotion  are  furnished 
with  black  sliields.  Some  of  them  have  their 
black  and  white  shields  spotted  with  red  or 
brown,  this  coloring  denoting  the  particular 
regiment  to  which  they  belong.  It  will  be 
seen,  therefore,  that  the  shield  constitutes  a 
kind  of  uniform,  and  it  has  more  than  once 
happened,  that  when  the  Zulu  warriors  have 
got  the  better  of  their  enemies,  some  of  the 
more  crafty  among  the  vanquislied  have 
contrived  to  exchange  their  own  shields  for 
those  belonging  to  slain  Zulu  warriors,  and 
have  thus  contrived  to  pass  themselv(!s  oft" 
as  victorious  Amazulu  until  they  could  find 
an  opportunity  of  making  their  escape. 

The  double  row  of  black  marks  down  the 
centre  of  the  shield  (see  Goza's,  psige  117,) 


is  an  addition  which  is  invariably  found  in 
these  weapons  of  war,  and  serves  partly  as 
an  ornament,  and  partly  as  a  conveincnt 
mode  for  fastening  the  handle.  In  orna- 
menting the  shield  with  tliese  marks,  the 
Kaflir  cuts  a  double  row  of  slits  along  the 
shield  while  it  is  still  wet  and  pliant,  and 
then  passes  strips  of  black  hide  in  and  out 
through  the  slits,  so  as  to  make  the  black  of 
the  strip  contrast  itself  boldly  with  the  m  liite 
of  the  shield. 

The  handle  of  the  Kaffir's  shield  is  quite 
unique.  Instead  of  being  a  mere  loop  or 
projection  in  the  centre  ■  of  the  shield,  it  is 
combined  with  a  stick  which  runs  alon  j  the 
centre  of  the  shield,  and  is  hmg  enough  to 
project  at  both  ends.  This  stick  serves 
several  purposes,  its  chief  use  being  to 
strengthen  the  shield  and  keep  it  stift",  and 
its  second  object  being  to  assist  the  soldier 
in  swinging  it  about  in  the  rapid  manner 
which  is  required  in  the  Kattir's  mode  of 
fighting  and  dancing.  The  projection  at 
the  lower  end  is  used  an  a  rest,  on  wliich 
the  shield  can  stand  whenever  the  warrior 
is  tired  of  carrying  it  in  his  arms,  and  the 
shield  ought  to  be  just  so  tall  that,  when 
the  owner  stands  erect,  his  eyes  can  just 
look  over  the  top  of  the  shield,  while  the 


(108) 


WAR  SHIELD. 


109 


D  COLOR — THR  Bnretn 

•THE  BllIP.LD  HTICK   AND 

-THE  lU.ACK  AND  M'niTE 

AND    ITS   INCENTIVES—' 

OP  TCIIAKA   AND  OTHER 

::eiiemonieh  —  now  the 

enemy's  LAND  —  JEAL- 
E  AllMY  —  Nl  MIIKK  OF 
MENT8  — OOZA  AND  8AN- 
•TEIl  A  BATTLE,  AND  ITS 
;  llOVAL  ATTENDANTS  — 
f  THE  KINO  —  panda's 
JVENTION  AND  COMI'LE- 
T  OF  THE  FIKST  NAPO- 
FAMTLY  QUAUUELS  — A 
DINQAN. 


invariably  found  in 
and  serves  partly  as 
tly  as  a  convemont 
a  handle.  In  orna- 
,h  tliese  marks,  the 
w  of  slits  along  the 
wet  and  pliant,  and 
ick  hide  in  and  out 
;o  make  the  black  of 
)oldly  with  the  m  Into 

iflir's  shield  is  quite 
ing  a  mere  loop  or 
2  ■  of  the  shield,  it  is 
rliieh  runs  alonj  the 
d  is  long  enough  to 
This  stick  serves 
jhief  use  being  to 
ind  keep  it  stitl",  and 
to  assist  the  soldier 
1  tlie  rapid  manner 
ic  Katflr's  mode  of 
The  projection  at 
an  a  rest,  on  which 
lenever  the  warrior 
n  his  arms,  and  the 
,  so  tall  that,  when 
t,  his  eyes  can  just 
le  shield,  while  the 


end  of  the  stick  reaches  to  tho  crown  of 
his  head.  It  will  be  seen  that  tho  upper 
end  of  tho  stick  has  an  ornament  upon  It. 
This  is  made  of  the  furry  skin  ot  some 
animal,  which  is  cut  into  strips  just  like 
those  which  are  used  for  the  "tails,"  and 
tho  strips  wound  upon  the  stick  in  a  drum- 
like  shape. 

If  tho  reader  will  refer  to  the  illustration 
on  p.  57,  entitled  "  Kaffirs  at  Homo,"  he  will 
see  three  of  these  shield-sticks  placed  in  the 
fence  of  the  cattle-fold,  ready  to  be  inserted 
in  the  shield  whenever  they  are  wanted. 

At  each  side  of  the  shield  there  is  a  slight 
Indentation,  tho  object  of  which  is  not  very 
dear,  unless  it  bo  simple  fashion.    It  pre- 
vails t;^  u,  large  extent  throughout  many 
parts  of  Africa,  in  some  places  being  com- 
parativelv  sliglit,  and  in  others  so  deep  that 
the  shield  looks    like  a  great  hour-glass. 
Although  the  shield  is  simply  made  of  the 
hide  of  an   ox,  and  without   that  elabo- 
rate preparation  with  glue  and  size  which 
strengthens  the  American  Indian's  shield, 
the  native  finds  it  quite  sufficient  to  guard 
him  ngainsl;  either   spear  or   club,  while 
those   tribes  whioh  employ   tho  bow  find 
that  their  weapons  can  make  but  little  im- 
pression on  troops  which  are  furnished  with 
*"ch  potent  defences.    The  Bosjesmans,  and 
all  the  tribes  which  use  poisoned  arrows, 
depend  entirely  on   the   virulence  of   the 
poison,  and  not  on  the  force   with  which 
the  arrow  is  driven,  so   that   their  puny 
bow  and  slender  arrows  are  almost  useless 
against  foes  whose  whole  bodies  are  covered 
by  shields,  from  which  the  arrows  recoil  as 
liannlessly  as  if  they  were  bucklers  of  iron. 
As  is  the  case  in  more  civilized  communi- 
ties, the  shields,  which  constitute  the  uni- 
|orms,  are  not  the  private  property  of  the 
individual  soldier,  but  are  given  out  by  the 
'i.-^  ^'^'^^ovev,  it  seems  that  tho  warlike 
iniet  Dingan  would  not  grant  shields  to 
my  youn^  soldier  until  he  had  shown  him- 
ell  worthy  of  wearing  tho  uniform  of  his 
savereign.    The  skins  of  all  tho  cattle  in 
the  garrison  towns  belong  of  right  to  the 
tang,  and  are  retained  by  him  for  the  pur- 
pose of  being  made  into  shields,  each  skin 
being  supposed  to  furnish  two  shields  — 
a  large  one,  and  a  small,  or  hunting  shield. 
Men  are  constantly  employed  in  cr avert- 
ing hides  into  shields,  wliich  are  stored  in 
houses  devoted  to  the  purpose. 
pniVn?**?"  ^'^''ioer  gives  an  interesting  ac- 
count of  an  application  for  shields  mado>  a 
Ull  °C^«»"g  soldiers,  and  their  reccptfon 
by  the  king.     It  must  be  first  understood 
that  Dingan  was  at  the  time  in  his  chief  gar- 
rison town   and  that  he  was  accompaffe'l 
nL'"'/^^''™".*^  Indoonas,  or  petty  chiefe 
one  of  whom,  by  name  TamboozZ  was  a 
.JUff'^'f^  cross-grained  individual  Xse 
chief  delight  was  in  fault  finding.     After 
mentioning   that  a   chief,  name/  Gefrgo 
had  Lravcilca  lo  the  king's  palace,  at  the 


head  of  a  large  detachment,  for  tho  pur- 
pose of  asking  for  shields,  ho  proceeded  as 
follows:  — 

"Their  arrival  at  the  principal  gate  of 
the  town  having  been  notified  to  the  king, 
an  order  was  soon  after  sent  for  their  ad- 
mission, when  they  all  rushed  up  with  a 
shout,  brandishing  their  sticks  in  a  most 
violent  manner,  until  within  a  respectable 
distance  of  the  Isslgordlo,  when  they  halt- 
ed.   Dini^an  soon  mounted  his  pedestal  and 
showed  himself  over  the  fence,  on  which  a 
simultaneous    greeting    of    '  Byate  I  '   ran 
through    the    line    Into  which    they  were 
now  formed.     Ho    soon   disappeared,  and 
tho  whole  party  then    seated    themselves 
on    the   ground    they    occupied.     Dingan 
shortly  after  came  out,  the  two  Indoonaa 
and  a  numtar  of  his  great  men  having  al- 
ready arrived,  and    seated    themselves  in 
semi-circular   order  on    each    side  of  his 
chair,  from  whom    ho    was,  however,  re- 
moved to  a  dignified  distance.    Tambooza, 
who  Is  the  great  speaker  on  all  these  occa- 
sions, and  tho  professed  scolder  whenever 
necessity  requires,  was  now  on  his  legs;  to 
speak  publicly  in  any  other  posture  would, 
I  am  convinced,  be  painful  to  a  Zulu;  nor 
IS  he  content  with  mere  gesticulation  —  ac- 
tud  space  is  necessary;  1  had  almost  said 
sufficient  for  a  cricket  ball  to  bound  in,  but 
this  would  be  hyperbole  — a  run,  however, 
he  must  have,  and  I  have  been  surprised 
at  the  grace  and  effect  which  this  novel  ac- 
companiment to  the  art  of  elocution  has 
often  given  to  tlie  point  and  matter  of  the 
discourse. 

"  In  this  character  Tambooza  is  inimitable 
and  shone  especially  on  the  present  occa-' 
sion,  having  d<mbtles8  been  instructed  by 
the    kmg,   in    whose    name  he  addressed 
Georgo  and  hi.  party,  to  interlard  his  ora- 
tion with  as  many  pungent  reproofs  and 
cutting  invectives  as  Ills  fertile  imagination 
could  invent,  or  his  natural  disposition  sug- 
gest.    On  a  late  expedition.  It  appears  that 
the  troops  now  harangued   had  not  per- 
tormed   the    service   expected— thev  had 
enteved  the  territory  of  Umselekai,  and, 
instead  of  surrounding  and  capturing  the 
he/ds  within  their  reach,  had  attended  to 
come  pretended    instructions  to  halt  and 
return:  some  palliating  circumstances  had 
no  doubt  screened  them  from  the  customary 
rigor  on  such  oc^casions,  and  this  untoward 
occurrence  was  now  turned  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage.   After   a   long   tirade,  in  which 
Tambooza  ironically  described  their  feeble 
onset  and  fruitless  eflbrt,  advancing  like  a 
Mercury  to  fix  his  part,  and  gracefully  re- 
tiring as  though  to  point  a  fresh  barb  for 
the  attack;    now  slaking  his  wrath  by  a 
journey  to  the  right,  and  then  as  abruptly 
recoiling  to  the  left,  by  each  detour  increa^ 
ing  in  vehemence,  the  storm  was  at  length 

.  ,  _. —  „  iiimnt  oi  inc  (cm- 

pest  ho  had  stirred  he  retired  to  the  feet 


110 


THE  KAFPIB. 


iH  i 


Tr 


i  I 


of  his  sovereign,  who,  T  remarked,  could 
scarcely  retrain  from  nmiling  at  mnuy  of 
tho  Uiunting  expressions  tliat  wore  useu. 

"  Georzo's  cotmtenance  can  better  bo  im- 
agined tlian  described  at  this  moment. 
Impatient  to  reply,  he  now  rose  from  the 
centre  of  tho  line,  im  person  decorated  with 
strings  of  i)ink  beiulH  worn  over  his  shoul 


dors  like  a  cross  belt,  and  large  brass  tw^h 

mi      K I u      n xni u      n  >i/l      I'll l*/\ri  t  ^    A  m Otilrri'      /'if     lu 


on  his  arms  and  throat.    'Amanka'  (it  is 


falro),  was  tho  first  word  ho  uttered.  The 
various  chivalrous  deeds  of  himself  and  his 
men  were  then  sot  forth  in  tho  most  glow- 
ing colors,  and  a  scono  ensued  which  I 
scarcely  know  how  to  describe.  Indepen- 
dent ot  his  own  energetic  gesticulations,  liis 
violent  leaping  and  sententious  running; 
on  the  lirst  announcement  of  any  exculpa- 
tory fact  indicating  their  prowess  in  arms, 
one  or  more  of  tho  principal  warriors  woulcl 
rush  from  the  ranks  to  corroborate  the  state- 
ment by  a  display  of  muscular  power  in 
leaping,  charging,  and  pantomimic  conflict, 
winch  quite  made  the  ground  to  resound 
under  their  feet;  alternately  leaping  and 
galloping  (for  it  is  not  running)  until,  fren- 
zied by  the  tortuous  motion,  their  nerves 
were  sufficiently  strong  for  the  acme  pos- 
ture —  vaulting  several  feet  in  the  air,  draw- 
ing the  knees  toward  the  chin,  and  at  the 
same  time  passing  the  hands  between  the 
ankles.  (See  illustration  No.  2  on  page 
opposite.) 

"  In  this  singular  manner  wore  the  charges 
advanced  and  rebutted  for  a  considerable 
time ;  Dingan  acting  behind  tho  scenes  as  a 
moderator,  and  occasionally  calling  ofl"  Tam- 
booza  as  an  unruly  bull-tlog  from  the  bait. 
At  length,  as  though  imperceptibly  drawn 
into  the  argument,  ho  concluded  tlie  busi- 
ness in  these  words: — ^'When  have  we 
heard  anything  good  of  Georgo?  What  has 
Georgo  done?  It  is  a  name  that  is  unknown 
to  us.  I  shall  give  j'ou  no  shields  until  you 
have  jjroved  yourself  worthy  of  them;  go 
and  bring  me  some  cattle  from  Umselekaz, 
and  then  shields  shall  be  given  you.'  A 
burst  of  applause  rang  from  all  sides  on  this 
unexpected  announci-ment;  under  which, 
in  good  taste,  the  despot  made  his  exit, 
retiring  into  the  Issogordio,  while  bowls  jf 
beer  were  served  out  to  the  soldiers,  who 
with  their  Indoon  were  soon  after  observed 
marching  over  tho  hills,  on  their  way  to  col- 
lect the  remainder  of  their  regiment,  for  the 
promised  expedition. 

"  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  there  was 
much  of  state  policy  in  the  whole  of  these 
proceedings,  particularly  as  the  order  for  the 
attack  on  Umselekaz'  was  shortly  after 
countermanded,  and  not  more  than  ten  or 
twelve  days  elapsed  before  the  same  party 
returned,  and  received  their  shields.  At  this 
time  I  was  quietly  writing  in  my  hut;  one 
of  the  shield  houses  adjomed;  and  I  shall 
never  forget  the  unceremonious  rush  they 
made.    Not  contented  with  turning  them 


all  out,  and  each  selecting  one,  but,  in  order 
to  prove  thom  and  shake  of  tho  dust,  they 
conimonccd  boating  tltem  im  the  spot  with 
sticks,  which,  in  connection  with  this  sud- 
den incursion,  occasioned  such  an  unusual 
tumult  that  I  thought  a  civil  war  had  com- 
me  need. 


Having  now  seen 
the  Katlir 


wage  war. 
When  tho 


tho  weapons  used  by 
warriors,  wo  will  see  how  tlioy 


chief  arranges  his  troops  in 
order  of  battle,  he  places  the  "  boys  "  in  the 
van.  and  gives  them  the  post  of  honor,  us 
woll  OS  of  danger.  In  this  position  tlicy 
Imvo  tho  opportunity  of  distinguisiiing  them- 
selves for  which  they  so  earnestly  long,  and, 
as  a  general  rule,  display  such  valor  that  it 
is  not  very  easy  to  pick  out  those  who  have 
earned  especial  glory.  Behind  them  are 
arranired  the  "  men "  with  their  white 
shields.  These  have  already  established 
their  reputation,  and  do  not  require  further 
distinction.  They  serve  a  double  purpose. 
Firstly,  they  act  as  a  reserve  in  case  the 
front  ranks  of  the  "  black-shields "  should 
be  repulsed,  and,  being  men  of  more  mature 
age,  oppose  an  almost  impregnable  front  to 
the  enemy,  while  the  "black-shields"  can 
re-form  their  ranks  under  cover,  and  then 
renew  the  charge.  The  second  object  is, 
that  they  serve  os  a  very  effectual"  incite- 
ment to  the  young  men  to  do  their  duty. 
They  know  that  behind  them  is  a  bodv  of 
skilled  warriors,  who  are  carefully  noting  nil 
their  deeds,  and  they  are  equally  aware  that 
if  they  attempt  to  run  away  they  will  be 
instantly  killed  by  the  "  white-sllields "  in 
their  rear.  As  has  already  been  mentioned, 
the  dearest  wish  of  a  young  Kaffir's  heart  is 
to  become  a  "white-shield"  himself,  and 
there  is  no  prouder  day  of  his  life  than  that 
in  which  he  bears  for  tho  first  time  the 
white  war  shield  on  his  arm,  the  "  isikoko  " 
on  his  head,  and  falls  into  tho  ranks  with 
those  to  whom  ho  has  so  long  looked  up 
with  admiration  and  envy. 

In  order  to  incite  the  "  bluck-shields  "  to 
the  most  strenuous  exertions,  their  reward 
is  promised  to  them  beforehand.    Just  be- 
fore they  set  out  on  their  expedition,  the 
young  unmarried  girls  of  the  tribe  are  pa- 
rwled  before  them,  and  they  arc  told  that 
each  who  succeeds  in  distinguishing  himself 
before  the  enemy  shall  be  presented  with 
one  of  those  damsels  for  a  wife  when  he  re- 
turns.   So  he  does  not  only  receive  the  bar- 
ren permission  to  take  a  wife,  and  thus  to 
enrol  himself  among  tho  men,  but  the  wife 
is  presented  to  him  without  pay,  his  warlike 
deeds  being  considered  as  more  than  an 
eouivalent  for  the  cows  which  he  would 
otherwise  have  been  obliged  to  pay  for  her. 
A  curious  custom  prevails  in  the  house- 
holds of  the  white-shield  warriors.     When 
one  of  them  goes  out  to  war,  his  wife  takes 
his  sleeping  mat,  his  pillow,  and  his  spoon, 


f?  ono,  but,  in  order 
I  oJ"  tho  dust,  they 
u  i>n  tho  Bnot  with 
tion  with  this  and- 
(1  Buch  an  unusual 
civil  war  hud  com. 


weapons  used  by 
will  see  how  tlioy 

iRcs  his  troops  In 
tho  "  boys  "  in  the 
post  of  honor,  us 
this  position  tlicy 
stinguisiiing  thcm- 
Jarnestly  long,  and, 
such  Viilor  tiiat  it 
ut  those  who  have 
Behind  them  are 
with  their  white 
drcady  established 
lot  remiire  further 
a  double  purpose, 
sierve  in  case  the 
^k-shields"  should 
en  of  more  mature 
|)recnable  front  to 
:)lack-shield8  "  can 
ir  cover,  and  then 
second  object  is, 
y  eft'ectual  incite- 
to  do  their  duty, 
^hem  is  a  body  of 
;arelully  noting  nil 
equally  aware  that 
Avay  they  will  be 
white-sllields  "  in 
y  been  mentioned, 
ig  Kaffir's  heart  is 
ild"  himself,  and 
'  his  life  than  that 
ho  first  time  the 
rm,  the  "  isikoko  " 
;o  the  ranks  with 
}  lung  looked  up 

y- 

bluck-shields  "  to 
ons,  their  reward 
rchand.  Just  be- 
r  expedition,  the 
the  tribe  are  pa- 
fiey  are  told  that 
nguishing  himself 
e  presented  with 
wife  when  he  rc- 
y  receive  the  bar- 
wife,  and  thus  to 
nen,  but  the  wife 
it  pay,  his  warlike 
18  more  than  nn 
which  he  would 
cd  to  pay  for  her. 
ils  in  the  house- 
tvarriors.  When 
ar,  his  wife  takes 
f,  and  his  spoon, 


(I.)    KAI'KIU    \VAI!ICI()li.S    SKIKMISIIINC;.    (S...  ,,iihc  Id.',; 


(111) 


MILITARY  DISCIPLINE. 


US 


iw'l  han;»«  thorn  npon  the  wall  of  t)io  hut 
Evory  iu»ruiii>{  ut  early  dawn  hUo  gocH  ami 
in.i|)oi!t«  Ihuiu  with  loving  iinxiety,uiwl  lookR 
ti)  MOO  whuthur  thuy  ciutt  »  nhiuiow  or  not. 
As  lonx  iM  thoy  do  so,  Mho  kno>vM  thut  hi>r 
hiHliiiuil  iM  alivo;  hut  it'  no  Hhiuhnv  Nhtuhl 
h:i|i|)''ii  »^)  ho  thrown  hy  thoin,  shi  els  ciT- 
tiiin  thiU  hur  huMhand  ih  (U:m\,  and  lanumtii 
hiM  Ions  aH  if  sho  hml  actually  hocii  hJH  doml 
hody.  Tills  curious  custom  irresiMlibly  re- 
minds tho  roador  of  certain  tjtlos  in  tho 
"  Araliiau  Nights,"  whoro  tho  life  or  death 
of  an  absont  person  is  known  by  soma  ob- 
ject that  bolongi'd  to  him— a  knife,  for 
pxamplo  — which  drippcMl  blood  as  soon  as 
Its  forinoi  owner  was  dead. 

J'ufoio  7'chuka's  invention  of  tho  heavy 
Btiibbing  -  assagai,  there  was  rather  more 
H'  ,se  than  execution  in  a  Kaffir  battle,  tho 
ashagiiis  being  received  harmlessly  on  the 
Hliiolds,  and  no  one  much  tho  worse  for 
thoin.  Dut  his  trained  troops  inade  fright- 
tul  havon  among  (ho  enemy,  ami  tho  de- 
struction was  so  groat,  that  tho  Zulus  wore 
said  to  bo  not  nu!n,  hut  eaters  of  men.  Tho 
king's  pliico  was  in  tho  centre  of  tho  line, 
and  in  tho  roar,  so  that  ho  could  seo  all  tho 
proceedings  witli  his  own  eyes,  and  could 
give  directions,  from  time  to  time,  to  tho  fa- 
vored councillors  who  were  around  him,  and 
who  acted  as  aides-de-cam|),  executing  their 
commissions  nt  their  swiflest  pace,  and  then 
returning  to  take  their  post  by  the  sacred 
person  of  their  monarch. 

The  commander  of  ciuh  regiment  and 
section  of  a  rrgiment  was  8up|)osed  to  bo  its 
embodiment,  and  on  him  hung  all  the  blame 
It  It  sulfercd  a  repulse.    Tcdiaka  made  no 
allowance  whatever  for  superior  numbers 
OH  the  part  of  the  enemy,  and  his  warriors 
knew  well  that,  whatever  might  be  the  force 
opposed  to  them,  they  had  either  to  conquer 
or  to  die;  and,  as  it  was  better  to  die  tlght- 
iiig  than  to  perish  ignominiously  as  cowards 
alter  the  battle,  thoy  fought  with  a  frantic 
valor  that  was  partly  inherent  in  their  na- 
ture, and  was  partly  the  result  of  the  strict 
and  sanguinary  discipline  under  which  thoy 
fought.    Afler  the  battle,  the  various  ofBccrs 
are  called  out,  and  questioned  respecting  tho 
conduct  of  the  men  under  their  command. 
Reward  and  retribution  are  equally  swift  in 
operation,  an  immediate   advance  in  rank 
taliiu"  to  the  lot  of  those  who  had  shown 
notable  courage,  while  those  who  have  been 
even  suspected  of  cowardice  are  immedi- 
ately slam. 

Sometimes  the  slaughter  after  an  expedi- 
tion is  terrible,  even  under  the  reign  of 
1  anda,  a  very  much  milder  man  than  his 
great  predecessor.  Tchaka  him  been  known 
to  order  a  whole  regiment  for  execution: 
and  on  one  occasion  he  killed  all  the 
white-shields,"  ordering  the  "  boys"  to  as- 
sume the  head-ring,  and  take  the  positions 
and  shields  of  the  slain.  Panda,  however, 
IS  not  such  a  despot  as  Tchaka,  and,  Suueeu, 


does  not  posscis  tho  irro«poni*nd«  power  of 
that  fcing.  No  one  ever  dared  to  Interfere 
with  Tchaka,  knowing  that  to  contradict 
him  was  certain  »ieatli.  Hut  when  I'anda 
has  been  dlNposed  to  kill  a  number  of  his 
subjectii  his  councillors  have  interfered,  and 
hy  their  remonstninres  liave  succeeded  in 
sloppi^ig  the  miMHocre. 

Homelimes  these  wars  are  carried  on  in 
tho  most  bl(KMlthlrsty  manner,  and  not  only 
the  soldiers  in  arms,  hut  the  women,  the  old 
aiid  the  young,  fall  victims  to  tho  iwsagais 
and  clulw  of  the  victorious  enemy.  Having 
vanquished  tho  fo«,  they  press  on  toward 
the  kraals,  spearing  all  the  inhabitants,  and 
carryiii{{  off  all  the  cattle.  Indeed,  the  "litl- 
iiig  "  ot  cattle  on  a  large  scale  often  consti- 
tutes tho  chief  end  of  a  Katilr  war. 

Refore  stiirting  on  an  expedition  the  sol- 
diers  undergo  a  serieK  of  ceremonies  which 
are  siipnosed  to  strengthen  tliolr  bodies,  im- 
prove their  courage,  and  propitiate  the  spir- 
its of  their  forefathers  in  their  favor.  The 
ceremony  begins  with  the  king,  who  tries  to 
obtain  some  article  belonging  to  the  person 
of  the  adverse  chief,  such  us  a  scrap  of  any 
garment  that  he  has  worn,  a  snuff  box,  tho 


shaft  of  an  assagai,  or,  indeed,  anything  that 
has  belonged  to  him.    A  portion  of  this  sub- 
shinco  is  scraped  into   certain    medicines 
prepared  by  the  witch  doctor,  and  tho  king 
either  swallows  the  medicine,  or  cuts  little 
gashes  on  different  parts  of  his  body,  an<l 
rubs  the   medicine   into  them.    This   pro- 
ceeding is  supposed  to  give  dominion  over 
the  enemy,  and  is  a  sign   that  he  will  bo 
"  eaten  up"  in  tho  ensuing  battle.    So  fear- 
ful are  the  chiefs  that  the  enemy  may  thus 
overcome  them,  that  they  use  the  most  mi- 
nute precautions  to  prevent  any  articles  be- 
longing to  themselves  from  falling  into  the 
hands  of  those  who  might  make  a  bad  use 
of  them.    When  a  chief  moves  his  quarters, 
ever  the  floor  of  his  hut  is  caroftally  scraped; 
and  Dingan  was  so  very  particular  on  this 
point  that  he  has  been  known  to  burn  down 
on  entire  kraal,  aft«r  he  left  it,  in  order  that 
no  vestige  of  anything  that  belonged  to 
himself  should  fall  into  evil  hands. 

After  the  king,  the  men  take  their  turn  of 
duty,  and  a  very  unpleasant  duty  it  is.  An 
ox  18  always  slain,  and  one  of  its  legs  cut 
off;  and  this  extraordinary  ceremony  is 
thoiwht  to  be  absolutely  needful  for  a  suc- 
cessful warfare.  Sometimes  tho  limb  is 
severed  from  the  unfortunate  animal  while 
it  is  still  alive.  On  one  occasion  the  witch 
doctor  conceived  tho  brilliant  idea  of  cut- 
ting off  the  leg  of  a  living  bull,  and  then 
making  the  warriors  eat  it  raw,  tearing  the 
flesh  from  the  bono  with  their  teeth.  They 
won  tho  battle,  but  the  witch  doctor  got 
more  credit  for  his  powerful  charms  than 
did  the  troops  for  their  courage. 

Of  course  the  animal  cannot  survive  very 
long  ofler  such  treatment:  nnd  wb.en  it  is 
dead,  the  flesh  is  cut  away  witli  assagais, 


114 


THE  KAFFIR. 


aiul  a  part  of  it  chopped  into  small  mor- 
sels, in  each  of  which  is  a  portion  of  some 
chiU'mcd  powder.  The  uncleared  boucs  are 
thrown  among  the  warriors,  scrambled  foV, 
and  eaten;  and  when  this  part  of  the  cere- 
mony has  been  concluded,  the  remainder  of 
the  tlesh  is  cooked  and  eaten.  A  cut  ions 
process  then  takes  place,  a  kind  of  purifica- 
tion by  lire,  tl'.c  yparks  thni  a  burning 
brnnd  being  blown  o\'>r  them  by  the  witch 
dijctor.  Next  day  they  are  treated  to  a  dose 
which  acts  as  a  violent  emeti(';  and  the  cer- 
emonies conclude  with  a  purification  by 
water,  which  is  sprinkled  over  them  by  the 
cliicf  himself.  These  wild  and  sa.'age  cere- 
monies have  undoubtedly  a  great  iiirtueiie(> 
over  the  minds  of  the  warriors,  who  fancy 
themselves  to  be  under  the  protection  of 
their  ancestors,  the  only  deities  which  a 
Kaflir  seems  to  care  much  about. 

As  to  the  department  of  the  commissa- 
riat, it  varies  much  with  the  caprice  of  the 
chief  Tihaka  always  used  to  send  plenty 
of  cattle  with  liis  armies,  so  that  they  never 
need  fear  the  weakening  of  their  forces  bj' 
hunger.  He  also  sent  very  large  supplies 
of  grain  and  other  food.  His  successors, 
liowcver,  have  not  been  so  generous,  ami 
force  tl-.eir  troops  to  provide  tor  themselves 
by  foraging  among  the  enemy. 

Cattle  are  certainly  taken  with  them,  but 
not  to  be  eaten.  In  case  they  may  be  able 
to  seize  the  cattle  of  the  enemy,  "they  find 
that  the  animals  can  be  driven  away  "much 
more  easily  if  they  are  led  by  others  "of  their 
own  kind.  The  cattle  that  accompany  an 
expedition  are  therefore  em])loyed  as  guides. 
They  sometimes  serve  a  still  more  impor- 
tant puri)ose.  Clever  as  is  a  KalHr  in  find- 
ing his  way  under  ordinary  circumstances, 
there  are  occasions  .ihere  even  his  wonder- 
ful topographical  powers  desert  him.  If,  for 
ex.ami)le,  he  is  in  an  enemy's  district,  and  is 
obliged  to  travel  by  night,  he  may  well  lose 
his  way,  if  the  niglits  should  happi'n  to  be 
cloudy,  and  neither  moon  nor  stars  be  visi- 
ble; and,  if  he  has  a  herd  of  the  enemy's  oxen 
under  his  charge,  he  feels  himself  in  a  very 
awkward  predicament.  He  dares  not  pre- 
sent himself  at  his  kraal  without  the  oxen, 
or  his  life  would  be  instantly  forfeited;  and 
to  drive  a  herd  of  oxen  to  "a  place  whose 
jiosition  he  does  not  know  would  be  impos- 
sible. He  therefore  allows  the  oxen  that  lie 
has  brought  with  him  to  go  tlieir  own  way, 
and  merely  follows  in  their  track,  knowing 
that  their  instinct  will  surely  guide  them  to 
their  home. 

When  the  Kaffir  soldiery  succeed  in  cap- 
turing a  kra.al,  their  first  care  is  to  secure 
the  oxen;  and  if  the  inhabitants  should  h.ave 
been  prudent  enough  to  remove  their  much 
loved  cattle,  their  next  search  is  for  maize, 
millet,  and  other  kinds  of  corn.  It  is  not  a 
very  easy  matter  to  find  the  grain  stores, 
bticause  they  are  du^  in  the  ground,  and! 
al\er  being  filled,  are  covered  over  so  ueatly 


with  earth,  that  onlv  the  depositors  know  the 
exact  spot.  The  '■'isi-baya"  is  a  favorito 
place  for  these  subterranean  fttorcs,  because 
the  trampUnjj  of  the  cattle  soon  obliterates 
all  marks  of  digging.  The  isi-baya  is,  there- 
fore, the  first  place  to  be  searched;  and  in 
some  eases  the  iuliabitants  have  concealed 
their  stores  so  cleverly  that  the  invaders 
could  not  discover  them  by  any  other  means 
except  digging  up  the  wliole  of  the  enclos- 
ure to  a  considerable  dej)th.  Js  ow  and  then, 
when  the  inhabitants  of  a  kraal  have  re- 
ceived notice  that  the  enemy  is  exjiecled, 
they  remove  th-  grain  from  the  storehouses, 
and  hide  it  in  tlie  bush,  closi'ig  the  grana- 
ries again,  so  as  to  give  the  enemy  all  the 
trouble  of  digging,  to  no  purpose. 

Panda,  who   refuses  to  send    provisi(»n8 
witfi  his  forces,  has  sometimes  caused  them 
to  sutler  great  hardshijjs  by  Iiis  jjcnurious 
conduct.     On  one  occasl(m  they  discovered 
a  granary  with   plenty  of   corn  in  it,  and 
M  ere  so  hungry  that  tliey  could  not  wait  to 
cook  it  properly,  but  ate  it  almost  raw,  at 
the  same  time  drinking  large  quantities  of 
water.    The  consequence  was,  that  many  of 
them  were  so  ill  that  they  had  to  be  left 
behind  when  the  march  was  resumed,  and 
were  detected  and  killi'd  by  the  inhabitants 
of  the  kraal,  who  came  back  fnmi  their  hid- 
ing i)laces  in  the  bush  as  soon  as  tliey  saw 
the  enemy  move  away.     In  one  case,  Panda's 
army  was  so  badly  supplied  with  provisions 
that  the  soldiers  were  obliged  to  levy  con- 
Irihutions   even   on   his   own   villages.      In 
some  of  these  kr.aals  the  women,  who  ex- 
jiected   what  might  hajjpen.   had    emptied 
their  storehouses,  and  hidden  all  their  food 
in   the   bush,  so  that   the  htmgry  soldiers 
could  not  even  find  some  corn  to  grind  into 
meal,  nor  clotted  milk  to  mix  with  it.    Thev 
were  so  angry  at  their  disapjiointment  that 
they  ransacked   the   cattle-fold,  discovered 
an(l  robbed  the  subterranean  granaries,  and, 
after  cooking  as  much  food  as  thev  wanted, 
carried  oft'  a  quantity  of  corn   for  future 
rations,  and  broke  to  pieces  all  the  cooking 
vessels  which  they  had  used.    If  they  could 
act  thus  in  their  own  country,  their  conduct 
in  an  enemy's  land  may  be  easily  conjec- 
tured. 

One  reason  for  the  withholding  of  supplies 
may  probably  be  due  to  the  mode  of  fighting 
of  the  Zulu  armies.  They  are  entirely  com- 
posed of  light  infantry,  and  can  be  sent  to 
great  distances  with  a'  rapidity  that  an  ordi- 
n.-ry  European  sohlier  can  scarcely  coniprcv- 
hend.  The  fact  is,  thev  carry  nothing 
except  their  weapons,  and  hav(^  no  heavy 
knapsack  nor  tight  clothing  to  impede  their 
movements.  In  fact,  the  clothing  which 
they  wear  on  a  campaign  is  more  for  orna- 
ment than  for  covering,  and  consists  chierly 
of  feathers  stack  in  the  hair.  So  careful  are 
the  chiefs  that  their  soldiers  should  not  bo 
impeded  by  h<is"p"o.  of  anv  kiss.'l  th^t  ihfv 
are  not  cv'en  allowed  to  take  a  icaross  with 


JEALOUSY  BETWEEN  DIFFERENT  REGIMENTS. 


lC  a  kaross  wi 


them,  but  must  sleep  in  the  open  air  with- 
out any  covering,  iust  aa  is  the  case  with  the 
guardians  of  the  harem,  wiio  are  supposed, 
by  vi»tue  of  tliuir  olUce,  to  be  soldiers  en- 
gaged in  a  campaign. 

As  to  pay,  as  we  understand  the  word, 
neither  chief  nor  soldiers  have  much  idea  of 
It.  If  the  men  distinguish  themselves,  the 
chiet  mostly  presents  them  with  beads  and 
blankets,  not  as  pay  to  which  they  have  a 
right,  but  as  a  gratuity  for  which  they  are 
indebted  to  his  generosity.  As  to  the 
ooys,  they  seldom  have  anything,  beiu" 
only  on  their  promotion,  and  not  con8idere3 
as  enjoying  the  privileges  of  manhood, 
ihis  custom  is  very  irritating  to  the  "  boys  " 
some  of  ivhom  are  more  than  thirty  years  of 
af'e,  and  v-o  (consider  themselvc..  quite  as 
ellective  members  of  the  army  iis  those  who 
Have  been  permitted  to  wcii-  the  head-rin"' 
and  bear  the  white  shield.  Their  dissatis" 
taction  with  their  rank  has,  however,  the 
good  effect  of  making  tliein  desiroils  of 
becoming  "ama-doda,"  and  thus  increasing 
Uip.u-  value  in  time  of  action. 

Sometimes  this  distinction  of  t-ank  breaks 
out  in  open  quarrel,  and  on  cue  occasion 
the  "men "and  the  "boys"  came  to  blows 
wi  h  each  other,  and  would  have  taken  to 
their  spears  if  Panda  and  his  councillors  had 

wn.  ^/if'^'p  "^i^''^'^''^  "»•  ^"'"'ilt-  The  fact 
was,  hat  Panda  hiid  organized  an  invasion, 
and  lis  soon  as  they  heard  of  it,  the  black- 
8  lied  regiment  begged  to  be  sent  off  at 
once  to  the  scene  of  battle.  The  white- 
shields,  however,  suspected  what  was  really 
'^  "'^' f ««;  "'iniely,  that  the  true  destination 

^  hLi  I  'TP^^''*^  r*  '^t  wf"«J'  the  king 
i  r      "^^nt'-^'ied,  and  accordingly  sat  silent 

'  Sreuno'J.T"'./,"  ">?  g«««ral  Enthusiasm.' 
^  1  hereupon  the  "  boys  "  taunted  the  "men " 
ft  with  cowardice,  and  said  that  they  preferred 

?' Ware'"K!'  '"r^**^  *?  Iwdships  of 

'  IT     )      , .       "men"  retorted  that.as  thev 

^ti  *^""^n'  ''^'^''^  ^^'''^ka  aud  Dingan   as 

fwell  as  Panda,  and  had  earned  tlieir  ad- 

''    Vaucement    under  the  eye  of  chefs   who 

killed  all  who  did  not  llgfit  bra/ely  no  one 

foiuP    "  '"^''  Ignorant  of  warfare,  and  were 
talking  nonsense.    These  remarks  werrtoo 

8^mueh^fe°'•  "'^^  '^"•""•^^'l  '^e'^C" 

€a.e,  undoubted  right™  nd  11^"  h^  ^'^'^ 
undoubtedly  wronn-     TpI  Po„  i  ^/^^^^ 


118 

as  the  use  of  their  names  implied  a  slieht 
upon  himself.  They  night  have  priSed 
themselves  as  much  as  they  liked,  in  the 
victories  which  they  had  gained  under  him, 
but  they  had  no  business  to  mention  the 
warlike  deeds  of  his  predecessors.  Perhaps 
he  remeiiiDereu  Uiat  those  predecessors  had 
been  murdered  by  their  own  people,  and 
might  have  an  uneasy  fear  that  iiis  own 
turn  would  come  suine  day.  So  he  showed 
his   displeasure    by  sending   oxen  to   the 

boys  as  a  least,  and  leaving  the  "  men  " 
without  any  food.  Of  course,  in  the  end 
the  men  had  to  yield,  and  against  their 
judgment  went  on  the  campaign.  Durin« 
that  expedition  the  smouldering  llame  broke 
out  several  times,  the  "  boys ''  refusin<'  to 
yield  the  post  of  honor  to  the  "  men,"  wFiom 
they  taunted  with  being  owards  and  afraid 
to  light.  However,  the  more  prudent  coun- 
sels of  the  "men"  prevailed,  a"d  harmony 
was  at  last  restored,  the  "men"  and  the 

boys"  dividing  into  two  brigad -s,  and 
each  succeeding  m  the  object  for  which  they 
set  out,  \;ithout  needlessly  exposing  them- 

ll^}^  "anger  by  attacking  nearly  impreg- 


Wk  will  now  procned  to  the  soldiers  them- 
selves, and  see  how  the  wonderful  discipline 
ot  a  KafUr  army  is  carried  out  in  detail, 
^irst  we  will  examine  the  dress  of  the  sol- 
dier. Of  course,  the  chief,  who  is  the  gen- 
eral m  command,  will  have  the  place  of 
^,??f""'^"d^»'«„wi"  therefore  take  tlie  por- 
trait of  a  well-known  Zulu  chief  as  he 
appears  when  fully  equipped  for  Avar.  If 
the  reader  will  refer  to  page  117,  No.  1  he 

whlht  ""  'T'"".','  ^^  ^°^^  •»  the  costume 
which  he  ordinarily  wears.    The  illustration 

nn^'fx  '  '''■"'^*^,  ^^P^X  representa  him  in  full 
unifoiin  and  aftords  a  favorable  example  of 
the  war  dress  of  a  powerful  Kaffir  chief    He 

sh,VM  7^  ^"-  ^"^  •'*'■'"  '"«  g'-^'-it  ^hite  war 
Shield,  the  size  denotu,^  its  object,  and  the 
color  pointing  out  the  llict  that  ho  is  a  mar- 

Snnfh   r?*^  "'  ^"'  head-ring  is  that  of  the 

svm  ii^"'^'t"  "■•'*"•''  •'*"''  '«  «  conventional 
symbol  denoting  war.    There  is  in  my  col- 

ha/ w.f  """'^  remarkable  war  headclress, 
Wimf  ^''"'  ''^'  the  celebrated  Zulu  chief 
frnnhi  '/'•"  S^i^'^  the  English  so  much 
trouble  during  the  Kaffir  w.fr,  and  proved 
himself  worthy  of  his  rank  as  a  warrior,  and 

was  further  remarkable  because  he  had  tri- 
umphed over  physical  disadvantages,  which 
are  all-important  in  a  Kaffir's  eves.    ' 
-It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  a  de- 

the XUfr"  '•'  ''^•''^.'^'''^  '''''  seen  among 
the  Kaffirs,  because  infants  that  show  sians  of 
deformity  of  any  kind  are  almost  iimu-iably 
fvf5 .'!;'''«"  ««  horn,  Sandilh  was  one  tif 
r.»-v.,  unmfiunaco  chilUreu,  one  of  his  less 
being  withered  as  high  as  the  knee  so  that 
ho  was  aepriyed  of  a!l  that  physical  ^ilUy 


-i 


lie: 


THE  KAFFIB. 


ii  %'^ 


I 


that  is  80  greatly  valued  by  Kaffirs,  and 
which  has  ao  great  a  share  in  gaining  pro- 
motion. By  some  strange  chance  tlie  lll'e 
of  this  deformed  infant  was  [.reserved,  and, 
under  the  now  familiar  name  of  Sandilli, 
the  child  grew  to  be  a  man,  rose  to  emi- 
nence among  his  own  people,  took  rank  as 
a  great  chief,  and  became  a  very  thorn  in 
the  sides  of  the  English  colonists.  After 
many  years  of  struggle,  he  at  last  gave  in 
his  submission  to  English  rule,  and.  might 
be  often  seen  on  horseback,  dashing  about 
in  the  headlong  style  which  a  Kaffir  loves. 

The  headdress  which  he  was  accustomed  to 
wear  in  time  of  war  is  represen  d  in  "arti- 
ticlcs  of  costume,"  page  33,  at  fig.  4.  Instead 
of  wearing  a  single  feather  of  the  crane,  San- 
dilli took  the  whole  breast  of  the  bird,  from 
which  the  long,  slender  feathers  droop.  The 
skin  has  been  removed  from  the  breast, 
bent  and  worked  so  as  to  form  a  kind  of 
cap,  and  the  feathers  arranged  so  that 
they  shall  all  point  upward^  leaning  rather 
backward.  This  curious  and  valuable  head- 
dress was  presented  to  me  by  G.  Ellis,  Esq., 
who  brought  it  from  the  Cape  in  1865.  San- 
dilli belongs  to  the  sub-tribe  Amagaika,  and 
is  remarkable  for  his  very  light  color  and 
commanding  stature. 

It  will  be  seen  that  both  Goza  and  his 
councillors  wear  plenty  of  feathers  on  their 
heads,  and  that  the  cap  of  the  left-hand 
warrior  bears  some   resemblance    to  that 
which  has  just  been  described.    Tlie  whole 
person  of  the  chief  is  nearly  covered  with 
barbaric  ornaments.    His  apron  is  made  of 
leopards'  tails,  and  his  knees  and  ankles  are 
decorated  with  tufts  made  of  the  long  flow- 
ing hair    of   the  Angora    goat.     Twisted 
strips  of  rare  furs  hang  from  his  neck  and 
chest,  while  his  ri^lit  hand  holds  the  long 
knob-kerrie  which  is  so  much  in  use  among 
the  Zulu  warriors.    The  portrait  of  Goza  is 
taken  from  a  photograph.    The  councillors 
who  stand  behind  him  are  apparelled  with 
nearly  as  much  gorgeousness  as  their  chief, 
and  the  odd-shaped  headdresses  which  they 
wear  denote  the  regiments  to  which  they 
happen  t3  belong.    Those  men,  like  their 
chief,  were  photographed  in  their  Ibll  dress. 
It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  the 
soldiers  are  divided  into  two  great  groups; 
namely,  the  married  men  and  the  bachelors, 
or,  as  Ihcy  are  popularly  called,  the  "  men  " 
and  the  "boys."    But  each  of  these  great 
groups,  or  divisions,  if  we  may  use  that 
word  in  its  military  sense,  is  composed  of 
seversl  regiments,  varying  from  six  hundred 
to  a  thousand  or  more  in  strength.    Each  of 
these  regiments  inhabits  a  single  military 
kraal,  or  garrison  town,  and  is  commanded 
by  the  headman  of  that  knial.    Moreover, 
the  regiments    are    subdivided    into  com- 
panies, each  of  which   is  under  the  com- 
mand of  an  officer  of  lower  srrnde;  pnd  so 
thoroughly  is  this  system  carried  out,  that 
European  soldiers  feel  almost  startled  when 


they  find  that  these  savages  have  organized 
a  System  of  army  management  nearly  iden- 
tical with  their  own.  The  regiments  are 
almost  invariably  called  by  the  naiAe  of 
some  animal,  and  the  soldiers  are  placed  in 
them  according  to  their  physical  charac- 
teristics. Thus,  the  Elephant  regiment 
consists  of  the  largest  ana  strongest  war- 
riors, and  holds  a  position  like  that  of  our 
Grenadiers.  Then  the  Lion  rejjiment  is 
composed  of  men  who  have  distinguished 
themselves  by  special  acts  of  daring;  while 
the  Springbok  regiment  would  be  formed 
of  men  noted  for  their  activitv,  for  the 
quickness  with  which  they  can  leap  about 
when  encumbered  with  their  weappns,  and 
for  their  speed  of  foot,  and  ability  to  run 
great  distances.  They  correspond  with  our 
light  cavalry,  and  are  used  for  the  same 
purpose. 

There  are  twenty-six  of  these  regiments 
in  the  Zulu  army,  and  they  can  be  as  easily 
distinguished  by  their  uniform  as  those  of 
our  own  army.  The  twenty-sixth  regi- 
ment is  the  equivalent  of  our  household 
troops,  being  the  body-guard  of  the  king, 
and  furnishing  all  the  sentinels  for  the 
harem.  Their  uniform  is  easily  distinguish- 
able, arid  is  very  simple,  being,  in  fact,  an 
utter  absence  of  all  clothing.  Only  the 
picked  men  among  the  warriors  are  placed 
in  this  distinguished  regiment,  and  neither 
by  day  nor  night  do  they  wear  a  scrap  of 
clothing.  This  seems  rather  a  strange 
method  of  conferring  an  honorable  distinc- 
tion; but  entire  nudity  is  quite  as  much 
valued  by  a  Kafllr  soldier  as  the  decoratiou 
of  the  Bath  or  Victoria  Cross  among  our- 
selves 

The*  first  regiment  is  called  Omobapan- 
kue,  a  word  that  signifies  "Leopard-catch- 
ers.'' Some  years  ago,  when  Tchaka  was 
king  of  the  Zulus,  a  leopard  killed  one  of 
his  attendants.  He  sent  a  detachment  of 
the  first  regiment  after  the  animal,  and  the 
brave  fellows  succeeded  in  catching  it  alive, 
and  bearing  their  struggling  prize  to  the 
kinw.  In  order  to  reward  them  for  their 
courage,  he  gave  the  first  regiment  the  hon- 
Qrarv  title  of  "  Leopard-catchers,"  which  title 
has  been  cA'cr  since  borne  by  the'.a. 

There  are  three  commissioned  ofHcers-- 
if  such  a  term  mav  be  used  — in  each  regi- 
ment:  namely  the  colonel,  or  "Indoona- 
e'nkolu  "  i.e.  the  Great  Officer;  the  cantiiin, 
"N'genana,"  and  the  lieutenant,  "K'ge- 
na-obzana."  The  headman  of  any  kraal 
goes  by  the  name  of  Indoona,  and  he  who 
rules  over  one  of  the  great  carrison  towns 
is  necessarily  a  man  of  considerable  aullior- 
itv  and  high  rank.  The  king's  councillors 
are  mostly  selected  from  the  various  In- 
doonas.  Below  the  lieutenant,  there  are 
subordinate  officers  wiio  correspond  almost 
exactly  to  the  sergeants  and  corporals  ol 
our  own  armios.  .  ,      ,  „  ,^„ 

In  order  to  distinguish  the  men  ot  tnc 


«  » 


Hi 


b 

X 


ages  have  organized 
gcment  nearly  iden- 

The  regiments  are 
id  by  tlie  naiAe  of 
Dldiers  are  placed  in 
sir  physical  charac- 
Elephant    regiment 

ana  strongest  war- 
tion  like  that  of  our 
i   Lion  regiment  is 

have  distinguished 
ictfl  of  daring;  while 
nt  would  be  iornied 
nr  activitv,  for  the 
they  can  leap  about 
1  their  weappns,  and 
t,  and  ability  to  run 

correspond  with  our 
!  used  for  the  same 

X  of  these  regiments 
they  can  be  as  easily 
inuform  as  those  of 
i  twenty-sixth  regi- 
it  of  our  household 
y-guard  of  the  king, 
[\e  sentinels  for  the 
is  easily  distinguish- 
le,  being,  in  fact,  an 
clothing.  Only  the 
J  warriors  are  placed 
egiment,  and  neither 
they  wear  a  scrap  of 
8  rather  a  strange 
an  honorable  distinc- 
ity  is  quite  as  much 
lier  as  the  decoration 
•ia  Cross  among  our- 

is  called  Omobapan- 
ifies  "  Leopard-eatch- 
o,  when  Tchaka  was 
leopard  killed  one  of 
lent  a  detachment  of 
r  the  animal,  and  the 
id  in  catching  it  alive, 
puggling  prize  to  the 
ward  them  for  their 
irst  regiment  the  hon- 
l-catchers,"  which  title 
)rne  by  them, 
iimissioned  offlcers  — 
s  used — in  each  regi- 
olonel,  or  "Indoona- 
t  Officer;  the  cantaiii, 
le  lieutenant,  "N'ge- 
adman  of  any  kraal 
Indoona,  and  he  who 
great  garrison  towns 
f  considerable  author- 
'he  king's  councillors 
Tom  the  various  In- 
lieutenant,  there  are 
iio  correspond  almost 
ints  and  corporals  of 

'uish  the  men  of  the 


I 


Hi, .J 


fc 
ai 
ni 
di 


al 
di 

01 

bi 
fo 
of 


St: 
of 
do 
hi 
izi 
ch 
m 
th 


THE  REVIEW  AFTER  A  BATTLE. 


different  reRiments,  a  peculiar  headdress  w 
assigned  to  each  regiment.  On  these  head- 
dresses  the  natives  seem  to  have  exercised 
all  their  ingenuity.  The  wildest  fancy 
would  hardly  conceive  the  strange  shapes 
that  a  KatBr  soldier  can  make  with  leathers, 
and  fur,  and  raw  hide.  Any  kind  of  feather 
18  seized  upon  to  do  duty  in  a  Kaffir  soldier's 
headdress,  but  the  most  valued  plumage  is 
that  of  a  roller,  whose  glittering  dress  of 
blue  green  is  worked  up  into  large  globular 
tufts,  which  are  worn  upon  the  back  of  the 
head,  and  on  the  upper  part  of  the  forehead. 
Such  an  ornament  as  this  is  seldom  if  ever 
seen  upon  the  head  of  a  simple  warrior,  as 
It  18  too  valuable  to  be  possessed  by  any  but 
a  chief  of  consideration.  Panda  is  very  fond 
of  wearing  this  beautiful  ornament  on  occa- 
sions of  state,  and  sometimes  wears  two  at 
once,  the  one  on  the  front  of  his  head-rin'T 
and  the  other  attached  to  the  crown  of  the 
head. 

The  raw  hide  is  stripped  of  its  fur  by 

being  rolled  up  and  buried  for  a  day  or  two, 

and  IS  then  cut  and  moulded  into  the  most 

fantastic  forms,  reminding  the  observer  of 

the  strange  devices  with  which  the  heroes 

ot  the  Niebelungen  decorated  their  helmets. 

^deed,  some  of  these  headdresses  of  the 

Kaffir  warriors  mig'.it  easily  be  mistaken  at 

a  little  distance  for  the  more  classical  though 

not  more  elaborate  helmet  of  the  ancient 

German  knights.     The  soldiers  which  are 

here  represented  belong  to   two  different 

regiments  of  the  Zulu  army,  and  have  been 

selected  as  affording  good  examples  of  the 

wild   and    picturesque    uniform    which   is 

adopted  by  these  dusky  troops.    In  some 

ncaddresses  the  fur  is  retained  on  the  skin 

and  thus  another  effect  is  obtained.  ' 

•  y'^e  object  of  all  this  savage  decoration 

i'l*!T°^«¥i  firstly,  to  distinguish  the  soldiers 

ot  the  different  regiments,  and,  secondly  to 

strike  terror  into  the  enemy.     Both  their 

objects  are  very  thoroughly  accomplished, 

lor  the  uniforms  of  the  twenty-aix  regiments 

are  very  dissimilar  to  each  other,  and  all  the 

neighboring  tribes  stand  in   the   greatest 

dread  of  the  Amazulu,  who,  they  sav   are 

not  men,  but  eaters  of  men. 

Beside  the  regular  regiments,  there  is 
always  a  body-guard  of  armed  men  whose 
duty  It  18  to  attend  the  chief  and  obey  his 
orders.  Each  chief  has  his  own  ody-guard 
but  that  of  the  king  is  not  only  remarkable' 
for  Its  numerical  strength,  but  for  the  rank 
of  Its  members.  Dingan,  for  example,  had 
a  body-guard  that  mustered  several  hundred 
strong  and  every  member  of  it  was  a  man 
ot  rank.  It  was  entirely  composed  of  In- 
doonas  from  all  parts  of  the  country  under 
his  command.  Vith  the  admirable  orsan- 
izing  power  which  distinguishes  the  Kaffir 

mifi'i-  ^,'''^,.'"■'■''*"l?°'^  '"8  Indoonae  so 
methodically,  that  each  man  had  to  serve  in 
the  body-guard  for  a  certain  time,  until  ho 


1%9 


plan  allowed  the  king  to  exorcise  a  peraonal 
supervision  over  the  ruling  men  of  his  do- 
minions, and,  on  the  other  side,  the  subor- 
(liuate  chiefs  were  able  to  maintain  a  per- 
sonal communication  with  their  monarch, 
and  to  receive  their  orders  directly  from 
himself. 

It  has  already  been  mentioned  that,  afler 
a  battle,  the  kin'|  calls  his  soldiers  together, 
and  holds  a  review.  One  of  these  assem- 
blages is  a  most  astonishing  sight,  and  very 
few  Europeans  have  been  privileged  to  see 
it.  1  .lis  review  is  looked  upon  by  the  troops 
with  the  greatest  reverence,  for  few  of  them 
know  whether  at  the  close  of  it  they  may  be 
raised  to  a  higher  rank  or  be  lying  dead  in 
the  bush.  As  to  the  "boys,"  especially 
those  who  are  conscious  that  they  have 
behaved  well  in  the  flght,  they  look  to  it 
with  hope,  as  it  presents  a  chance  of  their 
elev.  ion  to  the  rarks  of  the  "men,"  and 
their  possession  of  the  covetted  white  shield. 
Those  who  are  not  so  sure  of  themselves  are 
very  nervous  about  the  review,  and  think 
themselves  extremely  fortunate  if  they  are 
not  pointed  out  to  the  king  as  bad  soldiers, 
and  executed  on  the  spot. 

The  review  takes  place  in  the  great  enclo- 
sure of  one  of  the  garrison  towns,  and  the 
troops  form  themselves  into  a  large  circle. 
It  is  a  curious  fact  that  not  even  in  military 
matters  has  the  Kaffir  an  idea  of  forinin'<T 


m  line,  and  that  the  evolutions,  such  as  they 
are,  are  all  carried  out  in  curved  lines,  which 
are  the  abhorrence  of  European  tacticians. 
The  white  and  black  shield  divisions  are 
separated  fVom  each  other  in  each  regiment 
and  the  whole  army  "  stands  at  ease,"  with 
the  shield  resting  on  the  ground,  and  the 
whole  body  covered  by  it  as  high  as  the  lips. 
They  stand  motionless  as  statues,  and  in 
death-like  silence  await  the  coming  of  their 
king. 

After  the  customary  lapse  of  one  hour 
or  so,  the  king,  with  his  councillors,  chief 
officers,  and  particular  friends,  comes  into 
tn?  circle,  attended  by  lus  chair  bearer,  his 
shield  bearer,  his  page,  and  a  servant  or 
two.  The  shield  bearer  has  an  honorable, 
though  perilous,  service  to  perform.  He  has 
to  hold  the  shield  so  as  to  shade  the  royal 
person  from  the  sun,  and  should  he  happen, 
through  any  inadvertence,  to  allow  the  king 
to  feel  a  single  sunbeam,  he  may  think  him- 
self fortunate  if  he  escape  with  his  life,  while 
a  severe  punishment  is  the  certain  result. 

The  chair  is  placed  in  the  centre  of  the 
circle,  in  order  for  his  sable  majesty  to 
repose  himself  after  the  exertion  of  walking 
nearly  two  hundred  yards.  Large  basket 
full  of  beer  are  placed  near  the  royal  chair, 
and  before  he  can  proceed  to  busmess  the 
king  IS  obliged  to  recruit  his  energies  with 
beer  and  snuff,  both  of  which  are  handed  to 
him  by  his  pages. 

I     He  next  orders  a  number  of  caHlo  *«  b« 
i  driven  past  him,  and  points  to  cert^n  ani- 


120 


THE  KAFFIR. 


''  m 


mala  which  he  Intends  to  ho  killed  in  honor 
of  his  ffucHts.  As  each  ox  is  jiointed  out,  a 
warrior  leaps  forward  with  his  stobbinff- 
Rssatfai,  and  kills  the  animal  with  a  single 
blow,  iticreing  it  to  the  heart  with  the  skill 
of  a  practised  hand.  Much  as  a  Kaffir  loves 
his  oxen,  tho  sight  of  the  dying  animal 
always  seems  to  excite  him  to  a  strange 
pitch  of  enthusiasm,  and  the  king  contem- 
plates witli  great  satisfaction  the  dying  oxen 
8tru'"^liu"  in  the  last  panics  of  death,  and 
the  "evolutions  of  the  survivors,  who  snuff 
and  snort  at  the  blood  of  their  comrades, 
and  then  dash  wildly  away  in  all  directions, 
pursued  by  their  keepers,  and  with  difBculty 
guided  to  their  own  enclosures.  The  king 
Uien  rises,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  his 
attendants,  walks,  or  rather  waddles,  round 
the  inner  ring  of  warriors  as  fast  as  his 
obesity  will  permit  him,  resting  every  now 
and  then  on  his  cliair,  which  is  carried  after 
him  by  his  page,  and  refreshing  himself  at 
rather  short  intervals  with  beer. 

Next  coined  the  most  important  part  of 
the  proceedings.    The  chief  officers  of  the 
various  regiments  that  have  been  engaged 
give  in  their  reports  to  the  king,  who  imme- 
diately acts  upon  them.     When  a  warrior 
has  particularly  di8tingui8he<l  himself,  the 
king  points  to  him,  and  calls  him  by  name. 
Every  man  in  the  army  echoes  the  name  at 
the  full  pitch  of  his  voice,  and  every  arm  is 
pointed  at  the  happy  soldier,  who  sees  his 
ambition  as  fully  gratified  as  it  is  possible  to 
be.    Almost  beside  himself  with  exultation 
at  his  good  fortune,  he  leaps  from  the  ranks, 
"  and  commences  runnin",  leaping,  spring- 
in-^  high  into  the  air,  kicking,  and  flourish- 
in"  his  shield,  and  going  through  the  most 
surprising  and    agile    manoeuvres    imagin- 
able; now  brandishing  his  weapons,  stab- 
bing, parrying,  and  retreating;  and  again 
vaulting  into  the  ranks,  light  of  foot  and 
rigid  of  muscle,  so  rapidly  that  the  eye  can 
scarcely  follow  his  evolutions."    Sometimes 
six  or  seven  of  these  distinguished  warriors 
will  be  dancing  simultaneously  in  different 
parts  of  the  nng,  while  their  companions 
encourage  them  with  shouts  and  yells  of 
applause.     Many    of  the   "boys"    are    at 
these  reviews  permitted  to  rank  among  the 
"  men,"  and  sometimes,  when  a  whole  regi- 
ment of  the  black-shields  has  behaved  espe- 
cially well,  the  king  has  ordered  them  all  to 
exchange  their  black  for  the  white  shield, 
and  to  assume  the  head-ring  which  marks 
their  rank  as  ama-doda,  or  "men." 

Next  come  the  terrible  scenes  when  the 
officers  point  out  those  who  have  disgraced 
themselves  in  action.  The  unfortunate  sol- 
diers are  instantly  dragged  out  of  the  ranks, 
their  shields  and  spears  taken  from  them, 
and,  at  the  king's  nod,  they  are  at  once 
killed  and  their  bodies  thrown  into  the 
bush.  Sometimes  they  are  beaten  to  death 
with  knob-kerries,  and  sometimes  their 
necks  arc  twisted  by  the  executioner  laying 


one  hand  on  the  crown  of  the  head  and  the 
other  under  the  chin.  The  wretched  sufter- 
ors  never  think  of  resisting,  nor  even  of 
appealing  for  mercy;  and  to  such  a  pilch  of 
obedience  did  Tchaka  bring  this  hcrce  and 
warlike  nation,  that  men  guiltless  of  any 
offence  have  been  known  to  thank  lum  tor 
their  punishment  while  actually  dying  un- 
der the  strokes  of  the  executioners. 

When  the  double  business  of  rewarding 
the  brave  soldiers  and  punishing  the  cow- 
ards has  been  completed,  the  iirofessiona 
minstrels  or  praisers  come  forward,  and 
recite  the  various  honorary  titles  of  the 
kin"  in  a  sort  of  recitative,  without  the  least 
pause  between  the  words,  and  in  most  sten- 
torian voices.  Perhaps  the  term  Heralds 
would  not  be  very  inappropriate  to  these 
men.  The  soldiers  take  up  the  chorus  of 
praise,  and  repeat  the  titles  of  their  ruler  in 
shouts  that  are  quite  deafening  to  an  unac- 
customed ear.  Each  title  is  assunied  or 
given  to  the  king  in  commemoration  of 
some  notable  deed,  or  on  account  of  some 
fancy  that  may  happen  to  flit  through  the 
roval  brain  in  a  dream;  and,  as  he  is  con- 
tinually adding  to  his  titles,  the  professional 
reciters  had  need  possess  good  memories,  as 
the  omission  of  any  of  them  would  be  con- 
sidered as  an  insult. 

Some  of  Panda's  titles  have  already  been 
mentioned,  but  some  of  the  others  arc  so 
curious  that  they  ought  not  to  be  (mnttcc . 
For  example,  he  is  called  "Father  of  men, 
i.  c.  the  ama-doda,  or  married  warriors ;  He 
who  lives  forever"  — a  compliment  on  his 
surviving  the  danger  of  being  killed  by 
Din^an;  "He  who  is  high  as  the  moun- 
♦oir.?'' "Hft  who  is  hich  aj 


tains  "  — " Ho  who  is  high  as  the  heavens" 
—  this  being  evidently  the  invention  of  a 
clever  courtier  who  wished  to  "  cap  tlie 
nrevious  compliment;  "Elephant's  calf; 
"Great  black  one;"  "Bird  that  eats  other 
birds"  — in  allusion  to  his  conquests  in  bat- 
tle: "Son  of  a  cow;"  "Noble  elephant, 
and  a  hundred  other  titles,  equally  absurd 
in  the  mind  of  a  European,  but  inspiring 
great  respect  in  that  of  a  Kaffir. 

When  all  this  tumultuous  scene  is  over, 
the  review  closes,  Jiist  as  our  reyievys  do, 
with  a  "  march  past."  The  king  sits  in  his 
chair  as  a  general  on  his  horse,  wliile  the 
whole  army  defiles  in  front  of  him,  each  sol- 
dier as  he  passes  bowing  to  the  ground,  and 
lowering  his  shield  and  assagais,  as  we 
droop  our  colors  in  the  presence  of  the  sov- 
ereign. In  order  to  appear  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage on  these  occasions,  and  to  impress 
the  spectators  with  the  solemnity  of  the  cer- 
emony, the  king  dresses  himself  with  pecul- 
iar care,  and  generally  wears  a  ditSerent  cos- 
tume at  each  review.  The  dress  which  ho 
usually  wears  at  his  evening  receptions, 
when  his  officers  como  to  report  thenriselves 
and  to  accompany  him  in  his  daily  inspec- 
tion of  his  herds,  is  the  usual  apron  or  kilt, 
made  either  of  leopard's  tails  or  monkey  8 


the  head  nnd  the 
1  wretcliL'd  sufler- 
ns,  nor  even  of 
()  such  a  jjilch  of 
ig  this  fierce  nnd 

guilllesH  of  any 
to  thiink  him  for 
;tually  dying  un- 
icutioners. 
ess  of  rewarding 
nishing  tlie  cow- 

the  jirofossional 
me  forward,  and 
iry  tilk'8  of   the 

without  thi!  least 
and  in  most  sten- 
he  term  Heralds 
ropriatc   to   these 
lip  the  chorus  of 
8  of  their  ruler  in 
ening  to  nn  unac- 
Ic   is   assumed  or 
snimemoration  of 
.  account  of  some 
[)  flit  through  the 
[vnd,  as  he  is  con- 
s,  the  professional 
wood  memories,  as 
em  would  be  con- 
have  already  been 
the   others  are  so 
lot  to  he  omitted. 
"  Father  of  men," 
ied  warriors;  "He 
ompliment  on  his 
i    being  killed  by 
igh  as  the  moun- 
1  as  the  heavens  " 
le  invention  of  a 
led  to  "cap"  the 
Elephant's  calf;" 
rd  tiiat  eats  other 
s  conquests  in  bat- 
'  Noble  elephant," 
les,  equally  absurd 
)ean,  but  inspiring 
a  Kaflir, 

10U8  scene  is  over, 
(IS  our  reviews  do, 
lie  king  sits  in  his 
is  horse,  while  the 
nt  of  him,  each  sol- 

to  the  ground,  and 
id  assagais,  as  we 
rescnce Of  the  sov- 
jear  to  the  best  ad- 
ons,  and  to  impreas 
oloninitv  of  the  cer- 
himself  with  pecul- 
ears  a  ditSerent  cos- 
rhe  dress  which  ho 
vcning  receptions, 
)  report  themselves 
in  his  daily  insnec- 
usual  apron  or  Kilt, 
8  tails  or  monkey'B 


(1.)    I'ANDA'H  Ki:VlKW.    (Sue  puge  120.) 


;•-•.)    HUNTIN(;   St'KNK.     (are  pajju  iM.) 
(12\) 


^ 


aj 


INVENTION  OF  A  MILITARY  SYSTEM. 


123 


skin,  a  headdress  composod  of  various  feath- 
ers and  a  rouud  ball  ol'  clipped  worsted, 
while  his  arms  are  decorated  with  rings  of 
brass  and  Ivor}'. 

It  is  easy  to  see  how  this  custom  of  hold- 
ing a  review  almost  immediately  alter  the 
battle,  and  causing  either  reward  or  punish- 
ment to  come  swiftly  upon  the  soldiers, 
must  have  added  to  the  eftlciency  of  the 
armies,  especially  when  the  system  was  car- 
ried out  by  a  man  like  its  originator  Tchaka, 
an  astute,  sanguinary,  determined,  and  piti- 
less despot.  Under  the  two  successive 
reigns  of  Dingan  and  Panda,  and  especially 
under  the  latter,  the  efficiency  of  the  Zulu 
army  —  the  eaters  of  men  —  has  notably  di- 
minished, this  result  being  probably  owing 
to  the  neighborhood  of  the  English  colony 
at  Natal,  in  which  the  Zulu  warriors  can  flml 
a  refuge  when  they  fear  that  their  lives  arc 
endangered.  Formerly,  the  men  had  no 
possible  refuge,  so  that  a  Kaffir  was  utterly 
in  the  power  of  his  chief,  and  the  army  was 
therefore  more  of  a  machine  than  it  is  at 
present. 

Reviews  such  as  have  been  described  are 
not  only  held  in  war  time,  but  frequently 
take  place  In  times  of  peace.  If  has  been 
mentioned  that  the  king  of  the  Zulu  tribe 
haa  twenty -six  war- kraals,  or  garrison 
towns,  and  he  generally  contrives  to  visit 
each  of  them  in  the  course  of  the  year. 
Each  time  that  he  honors  the  kraal  by  his 
presence  the  troops  are  turned  out,  and  a 
review  is  held,  though  not  always  accompa- 
nied by  the  lavish  distribution  of  rewards 
and  punishment  which  distinguishes  those 
which  are  held  after  battle. 

The   vicissitudes  of  Kaffir   warfare   are 

really  remarkable  from  a  military  point  of 

view.    Originally,  the  only  idea  which  the 

Katti'-"  had  of  warfare  was  a  desultory  kind 

of  skiimiaiiing,  in  which  each  man  fought 

■  for  his  own  hand,"  and  did  not  reckon  on 

ireceiving  any  support  from  his  comrades, 

'lach  oi  whom  was  engaged  in  fght  on  his 

■'•couut.    In  fact,  war  was  little  more 

%  succession  of  duels,  and,  if  a  warrior 

■'ed  in  killing  the  particular  enemy 

he  was  opposed,  he  immediately 

.   another.     But   the    idea   of  large 

fc;>uij3  of  men  acting  in  concert,  and  being 

directed  by  one  mind,  was  one  that  hjid  not 

Tdi™  ^  *'***  ^"®''®  """"^  ^^^  *'"°®  °^ 
When  th.it  monarch  introduced  a  system 
and  a  discipline  into  warfare,  the  result  was 
at  once  apparent.  Individual  skirmishers 
had  no  chance  against  large  bodies  of  men. 
mutually  supporting  each  other,  moviif  as 
it  iwtuated  by  one  mind,  and,  under  the 
guiaanee  ot  a  single  leader,  advancing  with 
a  switt  but  steady  impetuosity  that  the 
undisciplined  soldiers  of  the  enemy  could 
not  resist.  Discipline  could  not  be  turned 
against  the  Zulus,  for  Tchaka  left  the  con- 
quered tribes  no  time  to  organize  them. 


selves  into  armies,  even  if  they  had  pos- 
sessed loaders  who  were  capable  of  that 
task.  His  troops  swept  over  the  country 
like  an  army  of  locusts,  consuming  every- 
thing on  their  way,  and  either  extermi- 
nating the  various  tribes,  or  incorjiorating 
them  in  some  capacity  or  other  among  the 
Zulus. 

In  truth,  his  great  policy  was  to  extend 
the  Zulu  tribe,  and  from  a  mere  tribe  to 
raise  them  into  a  nation.  His  object  was, 
therefore,  not  so  much  to  destroy  as  to 
absorb,  and,  although  he  did  occasionally 
extirpate  a  tribe  that  would  not  accei)t  his 
conditions,  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  striking 
terror  into  others,  and  proving  to  them  the 
futility  of  resistance.  Those  that  had  ac- 
cepted his  oifers  ho  incorporated  with  his 
own  army,  and  subjected  to  the  same  disci- 
pline, but  took  care  to  draught  them  of!"  into 
different  regiments,  so  that  they  could  not 
combine  in  n  successful  revolt  The  result 
of  this  simple  but  far-seeing  policy  was,  that 
in  a  few  years  the  Zala  tribe,  originally 
small,  had,  beside  its  regular  regiments  on 
duty,  some  twelve  or  fifteen  thousand  men 
always  ready  for  any  sudden  expedition, 
and  at  the  end  of  five  or  six  years  the  Zulu 
king  was  paramount  over  the  whole  of 
Southern  Africa,  the  only  check  Jipon  him 
being  the  European  colonies.  Tliesc  he 
evidently  intended  to  sweep  away,  but  was 
murdered  before  he  could  bring  his  scheme 
to  maturity.  Tchaka's  system  was  followed 
by  Mosele'katze  in  the  north  of  Kafflrland, 
who  contrived  to  manage  so  well  that  the 
bulk  of  his  army  belonged  to  Bechuanan 
and  other  tribes,  some  of  whose  customs  he 
adopted. 

The  military  system  of  Tchaka  prevailed, 
as  must  be  the  case  when  there  is  no  very 
great  inefjuality  between  the  opposing  foi*- 
ces,  and  discipline  is  all  on  one  sMe.  But. 
when  discipline  is  opposed  to  discipline,  and 
the  advantage  of  weapons  lies  on  the  side  of 
the  latter,  the  consequences  are  disastrous 
to  the  former.  Thus  it  has  been  with  the 
Kaffir  tribes.  The  close  ranks  of  warriors, 
armed  with  shield  and  spear,  were  irresist- 
ible vvhen  opposed  to  men  similarly  armed, 
but  without  any  regular  discipline,  but,  when 
they  came  to  match  themselves  against  fire- 
arms, they  found  that  their  system  was  of 
little  value. 

The  shield  could  resist  the  assag.ii  well 
enough,  but  against  the  bullet  it  Wiw  power- 
less, and  though  the  stabbing-ass.igai  was  a 
terrible  weapon  when  the  foe  was  at  close 
quarters,  it  was  of  no  use  against  an  enemy 
who  could  deal  destruction  at  the  distance 
of  several  hundred  yards.  Moreover,  the 
close  and  comp.ict  ranks,  which  were  so  effi- 
cacious aguinst  the  irregular  warriors  of  the 
country,  became  an  absolute  element  of 
I  weakness  when  the  soldiers  were  exposed 
j  to  heavy  voney.s  Ji-om  the  distant  enemy. 


me  TTuule  course  of  battle  wi«ii 


IM 


THE  KAFFIR. 


(•hnn;?o(l  whon  the  Zulus  foup;ht  nffninst  Urn 
white  iimii  iMiil  hJM  liri'-iiimn,  and  tiicy  Ibimd 
UiciiiMclvt'N  ()l)liir,.,|  to  n-vort  to  tho  old  nyH- 
tfin  of  »kiiini.s|iiii^r,  thoii^'li  tho  HkiiiniMherH 
|')Uf,'lit  iiiid<i'  lliii  coinmiuidH  of  tlin  chief 
iimtiiKl  of  cmh  iimii  mlitiK  iiidi'iHJiuli'utlv' 
as  hml  Ibrincily  hcon  ihii  nwi!. 

VV(^  riiiicmlM'i-  li()w  snnilar  (•lmiii,'fM  hiivti 
bikcii  placi'  ill  our  Kuropoim  nriiiics,  when 
the  hnivy  coluinim  tliat  used  to  be  «o  reHist- 
le.xM  were  .shiitt.n.Ml  hy  tli(.  (In,  of  „i„j,i,. 
i-niil<N,  and  liow  llio  very  inii.s,siv('m'HH  of  flic 
coluiiiii  niidered  it  ti  better  marlt  lor  the 
ciiiiiiy'H  (ire,  and  ciiuscd  lUmost  every  shot 
to  (nive  ellec't. 

'JVliiil<a  WiiM  not  always  succesHful,  for  he 
joiKot    (hat  eiinninj,'   in  often   superior   to 
orce,  and  (hat  (he  eneinv'H  speai-H  are  not 
tlie  nioMt  danjierous  weapons  in  IiIh  armory 
lhela.st  exiieditiim  that  Tchaiva  or-'anized 
was  a  siii,i,'ularly  iinsueeessful  one.     I£e  had 
irst  sent  an  army  against  a  tribe  wliicli 
had  lonj<  held  out  against  him,  and  which 
had  (lie  adyan(a^'e  of  a  inilKary  iiosition  so 
s(roiijr  (liat  even  the  trained  Zulu  warriors 
who    knew   that  failure   wa-s    death,  could' 
not  succeed  m  takiiiu;   it.    F(u-tiinately  for 
Ichiika,  sonie  Europeans  were  at  the  time 
in  his  kraal,  and  he  obliju'ed  them  to  flirht 
ou  his  behalf.    The  enemy  had,  up  to  that 
time,  never  seen  nor  lieard  of  (ire-arms;  and 
wiieii  (hey  saw  their  comrmles  falling  widi- 
out  being  visibly  struck,  they  immediately 
vielded,  thinking  that  the  spirits  of  their 
torelalhers  wcrc!  angry  with  tliem,  and  spat 
fire  out  o    their  mouths.    This,  indeed,  was 
the  result  which  had  been  anticipated  by 
the  bearers  of  the  lire-arms  in  question,  for 
they  thought  that,  if  the  enemy  were  intim- 
mated  by  the  strange  weajHins,  great  loss  of 
ite   would   be  saved   on   both   sides.    The 
battle     being    over,    the    conquered    tribe 
were  subsidized  as  tributaries,  according  to 
Iclwkas  custom,  and  all  their  cattle  given 

The  success   of  this  expedition  incited 

trnnnu  1  1  ?''"n'  "*"  «'''^l'^"''inient,  and  his 
troops  Iiad  hardly  returned  when  he  sent 
them  01  against  a  chief  named  Sotshan- 
KJina  Thi.s  chief  hml  a  spy  in  the  camp  of 
Itliaka,  and  no  sooner  ha([  tho  army  set  off 
than  the  spy  contrived  to  detm-h  himself 
liom  the  troops,  and  went  off"  at  full  speed 
to  his  master.  So(,-hangana  at  once  sent 
out  messengers  to  see  whether  tlie  spy  had 
told  the  truth,  and  when  he  learned  that  the 
iSulu  army  was  really  coming  upon  him  he 

enonw  '??,  T  ^'"^''^  "'"  '»"  "  «"«J^"^t 
trrf.  -^Z''"  u-  f"*^**-  "«  Withdrew  his 
roops  tro;n  his  kraals,  but  left  everything 
in  it,s  ordinary  position,  so  as  to  look  as  if 
no  a  arm  lia.l  been  taken.  The  Zulu  regi- 
ments, seeing  no  signs  that  their  presence 
wa«  expected,  took  possession  of  tl  e  krmll 
feasted  on  its  provisions,  and  slept  in  fan- 
cied security.  IJut,  at  the  deadof  night 
botshangana,    accompanied    by    the    spy 


':  whom  ho  had  rewarded  with  tho  rommnnd 
"J  ."  '"'.-.'.""'"^  i''"»e  on  the  iinsuspectin.r 
Zulus,  (ell  upon  them  while  .slccpiiiir  nnd 
cut  one  regiment  nearly  to  pieces.  The 
others  rallied,  and  drove  o(f  (heir  (,,,.«■  but 
they  were  in  an  enemy's  country,  Where 
every  hand  was  against  them. 

Their  woi.dcr(\il  discipline  avaih.l   (hem 
little.     They  got  no  rest  by  day  or  by  iii.'ht 
1  hey  were  coiKinually  harassed  by'adarks' 
^..metimes    of   outlying    skirmishers,    who 
kept   tbein  always  on  (ho  alert,  somedmes 
ot   large   (oices   of  soldiers  who  h.id  to  bu 
nu^t  in  batlJo  array     They  could  obtain  no 
ood,   lor    the    whole   couiKiy   wi\s   against 
(lu'in    an,,    iho  weaker   tribes,   whom    (hey 
ii((a<-ked    111    order  to   procure  provisicms. 
.Iroyo  their  cattle  into  the  bush,  and  set  (ire 
to  their  own  corn-delds.    It  is  said  also,  and 
with  some  likelihood  of  tru(h.(hat  tlu;  water 
was  jioisoned  as  well  as  the  food  dcsd-oved- 
and  the  consetjuence  was,  (hat  the  oiice"vic- 
torious  army  was  obligc-d  (o   retreat  as   it 
best  could,  and  the  sh,i((ered  frngmciKs  at 
liist  reached  their  own  coiinlrv,  allcr  siider- 
ing  almost  incredible  hardships.    Jt  was  in 
this  campaign  that  the  soldiers  were  obiic^ed 
to  eat  their  shields.    At  Iciist  twenty  thou- 
sand ot  the  Zulu  warriors  perished  in  this 
ex;)edi(ioii,  (hree-four(hs  having  died  from 
privation,  and    the    others    liillen    by   the 
spears  of  the  enemy.  '' 

What  would  have  been  Tchaka's  fury  nt 
so  terrible  a  defeat  may  well  be  imagined; 
but   ho  never   lived   to   see   his   coiuiuereci 
warriors.     It  is  sui)posed,  and   with   some 
show  ot  truth,  that  he  had  been  iiistrumen- 
tal  in  causing  the  death  of  his  own  mother 
Mnande.    This  word  signi/les  •  amiable  "  or 
•plcivsant,"  in  the  Zulu  tongue,  and  never 
was  a  name  more  misaiiplied.    She  was  vio- 
ent,  obstinate,  and  wilful  to  a  degree   and 
her  son  cerlainly  inheriled   these   trai'ts  of 
his  mother's  character,  besides  suiieraildin" 
a  few  of  his  own.     She  was  the  wife  of  thS 
chiet   ot   the  Amazulii,   then   a  small   and 
msigniiicant  tribe,  who  lived  on  the  banks 
of  tho  White  Folosi  river,  and  behaved  in 
such  a  manner  that  she  could  not  be  kept 
in  her  husband's  kraal.    It  may  be   iini''- 
ine<l  that  such  a  mother  and  son  were  not 
likely   to    agree    very  well    together;    and 
when  the  latter  camt!  to  be  a  man,  he  was 
known  to  beat  his  mother  oi)enlv,  without 
attempting  to  conceal  the   fact,  but  rather 
taking  credit  to  himself  for  it 

Therefore,  when  she  died,  her  family  had 
some  good  grounds  for  believing  that 
lehaka  had  caused  her  to  be  killed,  and 
determined  on  nsvenge.  Hardly  ha<l  that 
Ill-fated  expedition  set  out.  when  two  of 
her  sisters  came  to  Dingan  and  Umhlan- 
gam.  the  brothers  of  Tchaka.  and  openly 
accused  him  of  having  murdered  Mnande, 
urging  the  two  brothers  to  kill  him  and 
avenge  their  mother's  blood.  They  adroitly 
menUoued  the  absence  of  the  army,  and  tho 


MUUDKU  OF  TCHAKA. 


terror  in  which  every  Holdier  held  hi.i  hlood- 
thir«ly  kiiii,',  and  mi'ul  Uml.  ii;  on  tlie  return 
of  the  iirniy,  Tchiika  wan  dead,  tlm  NoldierM 
would  1)1!  rejoiced  iit  tlie  dculli  of  the  tyrant, 


120 


and  would  be  Hure  to  eounidcr  iw' llie*r 
leiulerH  the  two  men  who  iiad  IVeed  thetn 
from  Miieh  11  yoke.  The  two  i)rollieM  hrielly 
answered,  ••  Ve  have  Hiiokeiil  "  imi  the 
women  MeeniiMl  to  know  that  i)v  thime  words 
tlie  doom  (if  Tehaka  wa.s  wettled,  and  with- 
drew tlu'mMelves,  leaving,'  Iheir  neohew.s  to 
(luviau  tlieir  own  pliiiw  for  thu  murder  of  the 
kinof. 

llii.s  WHS  no  easy  husiness.    They  wo\ild 

have  tried  poison,  hut  Tehaka  was  nuieh  too 

wury  to  (li('  sueh  a  death,  and,  as  force  was 

clearly  useless,  they  had  recourse  to  trcach- 

"i^^rl,  P^''y  '■"'■'•>"l>t'''l   llie   favorite  Hervant 

ot   lehaka.  a  man  luimed  Hopa,  and  having 

nrnuil  themselves  with  unshafied  heads  of 

assiigais,  which  could  Ix-  easily  concealed 

they  proceeded  to  the  kind's  Imuse,  where 

lie  was  Hittin;,'  in  conference  with  several  of 

las  councillors,  who  were  unarmed,  aecord- 

iii«   to   Kalllr   eti(iuette.    The   treacherous 

JJopa  hcKaii  his  tiLsk  by  rudely  intcrruptiu.. 

the  eouiicillors,  accusing    them  of  telling 

talsehoods  to  the  kin^,  and  behavinir  with 

au  amount  of  iusoieucu  to  which  liu  well 


knnw  they  would  not  sulnnit.  An  fhcy  roao 
111  unxer,  and  endiuvurcd  to  seize  the  man 
who  had  insulteil  them,  J)in«aii  and  Umh- 
laiiKiuu  st(de  behind  Tehaka,  whose  at  ten- 
tion  wiw  occupied  by  the  extraordiimry 
Hceiie,  and  Htabbe.l  him  in  the  bjuk.  IIo 
atlempte.l  to  escape,  but  was  aKaiii  slabbed 
by    Uopa,  and   fell    dying   '       ' 


where    he    was    instantly 

IriKhled  councillors  tried  to  (ly,  but  wero 


to    the 
slain. 


Kfouiid, 
'J'he    af- 


killed  by  the  mmiu  weiipous  that  iiud  s'lalu 
their   master. 

This  dread  H(;eno  was  terminated  by  an 
act  partly  resultiii),'  from  native  ferocity 
and  partly  from  superstition.  The  t\vo 
murderers  opened  the  still  warm  body  of 
their  victim,  and  drank  the  ^all.  Tlieir 
subsc(iuent  (luarrel,  and  the  lucessi.ui  of 
l)lll^'an  to  the  throne,  has  already  been 
mentioned.  The  ik'w  king  would  jiiolmMy 
have  been  murdered  by  the  soldiers  on  Unit 
return,  hmi  he  not  conciliated  them  by  re- 
la.xin«  the  strict  laws  of  eelibaey  whicji 
lehaka  had  enforced,  and  by  grantiiK'  in- 
dulgences of  various  kinds  to  the  troops. 
As  to  the  dead  Miiaiide,  the  proximate 
cause  o  Tchaka's  death,  more  wiU  be  said 
ou  u  future  page. 


I  i  I 


I 


CIIAFTER   Xm. 


n  UN  TING. 


tllE  KAI-Klll'H  UIVE  roit  TIIK  CIIASK-TIIH  (IAMB  AND  CLIMATB  OK  AKHICA -TlIK  ANTKU>PES  OF 
AKIlICA-III.NTim.  TIIK  K()()IHK)  -  IMKH  OK  THE  I10KN8  -  A  SCENK  ..N  TIIK  UMOKNIK  mv»H- 
TIIK  DUIKKH-IIOIt  ANII  ITH  |-K.UUAUITIK,H  —  ITS  MOI)K  OK  Km^VI'K  AND  TKNACHY  OKIIKK- 
8IN(H'I.AU  MOI.B  OK  CONCKAI.MKNT  -  TllE  KI.ANI),  ITH  VU'.m  ANI.  LAT  -  crlllotrH  HIIPEHMTITK.N 
OK  TIIK  ZVl.V  WAIlltlollH  — TIIKai-TONdHKH  — MODK  OK  III'NTINO  TIIK  KI,ANI>  — THE  OKMUMOK- 
ITH  INDIKKEIIKNCB  TO  DllINK  -  LIKKI.  II.TY  OK  IIIINTINO  IT-IIOWTMK  (lEMSIIOK  WIKLniH  IH 
IIOUNS-TllKIll  I'HEH  TO  MAN-MODEM  OK  TUAmNO  AND  DKHTIlOVlN<l  ANTKI.OI-KH  WIIOI.KSAI  K 
—  TIIK     IIOPO,   Oil     r.AHliE   I'lTKAI.r,,    ITS    (•ONHTIIUCTION     AND    MODE    OK   KMIM.OVMENT  —  EX<|TIN<1 

SCENE     AT    TllE     1 )  -  PITKAI.I.H    KOIl     HINdLE    AMMAI.M -TIIK    HTAKE    AND    TIIK     lllIXiE  -  TIIR 

(illlAKKE  IMTKALI,  — HlNTINd  THE  KI.KIMIANT  —  USE  OK  TIIK  DOOM  — HKST  I'AIITM  OK  TIIK  KI.K- 
rilANT— now  THE  KOOT  IM  TOOKKD— von  \<  ITY  ok  the  NATIVEM  — HAME  in  a  "HKlll"  CONIli- 
TION  — KXTIlACTINd  THE  TI'MKM  AM)  TKETH  —  Ci;  I TINO  I'l-  AN  EI.KI'IIANT— KI.KMH,  KAT,  AM. 
BKIN  OK  THE  IJIIINOCEIIOM  — HOI'TH  AKUICAN  "  llAddIM  "  —  AHHAII.INd  A  IIKIID  OK  dAMK  —  HI.AIIJII- 
TKIl  IN  THE  IIAVINK— A  HUNTING  MIENK  IN  KAKKIIII.AND- TllE  "KI.OOK"  AND  TIIK  "  III  Mil  "— 
KALI,H  OK  TllE  IMZIMVIIIU  llIVEIl— III'NTINd  DANCE  —  <:!IAME  OK  THE  MON  AND  ITM  MANdl'INAItY 
HEaULTU  — DINOAN'h  DKSroTIC  MANDATE  — lllNTlNd  THE  IllKKALO. 


ExfJCPTixn  wnr.  thoro  U  no  nnrsiiit  wliicli 
is  so  cimrossiiijr  to  (I  Kiillir  us  tlic  cimsc;  iiiid 
whctlicr  111'  iinilcs   with   a  mmibcr  of  Ins 
coniriidcs  in  ii  c;mi]mi^'n  n>>;;tinst  his  ffainc, 
whether  he  ])ursiieH  It  siiiijlv,  or  wlieliier  lie 
entices  it  into  traps,  he  is  "wholly  ahsorhed 
in  tile  occupation,  mid  pursues  'it  with  an 
ontliiisiasin     (o    wliich    a    European    is    a 
stranjjer.     Fiideed,  in  many  cases,  and  cer- 
tainly in  most  instances,  where  a  Kallir  is 
tlie  hunter,  the  chase  hecoines  a  mimic  war- 
fare, which  is  wa>j;ed  sometimes  auainst  the 
strong,  and  sometimes  atrains'    tjie   weak  ; 
which  opposes  ilsell'  eqiially    to    the    tierce 
activity  of  the  lion,  the  resi;<iless  Ibrce  of  the 
t'lejihant,  the  speed  of  the  antelope,  and  the 
wanness  of  the  zebra.     The  love  of  hnnt- 
inj,'  is  a  necessity  in  such  a  country,  which 
lullv  deserves   the   well-known    title  of  the 
"  llappy  llnntiiii;  (irounds.''    'I'hciv  is,  pec- 
haps,  no  counti-y  on   earth   where    may  be 
found  such  a  wonderful  variety  of  >,'am"e  in 
80  small  a  C(vm])ass,  and  wliich  will  'serve  to 
exercise,  to  the  very  utmost,  every  capacity 
for  the  chase  that  mankind  can  possess. 

iSonthern  Africa  possesses  the  swiftest 
the  largest,  the  heaviest,  the  fiercest,  tiie" 
mightiest,  and  the  tallest  bea-sts  in  the 
world.    The  lofty  mountain,  ihe  reed-clad 


(iM) 


dell,  the  thorny  l)ush,  the  open  iilain.  the 
liver   bank,  and  the   very  water  ilsell',  are 
tilled  with  their  iiroper  inhabitants,  simply 
on   account   of   the    variety  of  soil,   wliiih 
always  ])i'dduces  a  coriespondini;  variety  el' 
iiihai>itaiits.     The  dilleient  kinds  ol'herbMf,'e 
attract   and    sustain    the   animals    (hat    a?e 
suited  to  them;  and  were  they  to  be  extinct 
the  animals  must  follow  in  their  wiike.     Tlie 
larger  liirnivora  are  in  (heir  turn  attracted 
by  the  herbiyoroiis  inhabitants  of  the  conn- 
tiT,   and   thus   it    happens  that  even  a  very 
s|ii,dit    inodilicalion    in    the    vei;elation    has 
altered   the    wlmh^   character   of  a   disliiit. 
Air.  MoH'att  has  mentioned  a  curious  instaiKc! 
of  this  fact. 

He  and  his  companions  Were  in  gre.'it 
.jeopardy  on  account  of  a  (lisa]ipoiiiti'(l 
"rain-n'iaker."  The  country  had  orlirinallv 
been  even  remarkable  tor  "the  (piaiitity  of 
rain  which  fell  in  it,  and  for  its  coiiseipieut 
terlility.  The  old  men  said  that  their  Ibre- 
fathers  had  tol<l  them  "of  the  Hoods  of  an- 
cient times,  the  incessant  showers  which 
elotheil  the  very  n^'ks  with  verdure,  ami 
the  ^'iaut  trees  and  forests  which  once  stud- 
ded the  brows  of  the  Ilamhana  hills  and 
noi^diborinfi;  ])lains.  They  boasted  of  the 
Kuruinaii  and  other  rivers,  with  tiieir  iiii- 


TIIK   KOODOO. 


A— TIIR  ANTRU>l>Ef)  OF 
TIIK  UMIIKNIK  UIVKK  — 
I)  TKNACITY  of  I.I^-IC  — 
-CI'IIKItlH  NIII'KIIHTITKIN 
ANI>  — TIIK  (IKMHIHIK  — 
B  OKMHIKIK  Wim.lllH  IH 
ANTKI.dl'KH  WIIOI.KSAI.r. 
(IIM.OVMKNT—  KXriTINd 
ANI>  TIIK  IlllXilC  — TIIR 
IT  I'AIJTH  OK  TIIK  KI.K- 
R  IN  A  "  111(111 "  CONDI- 
kNT— KI.KMII,  KAT,  AMi 
III*  OK  (lAMK  — HI.AriJII- 
•"  AM)  TIIK  "  IIIMII  "— 
N  AND  ITU  HANdl'INAItY 


tho  opon  jiliiin,  tin.' 
rv  wilier  ilstir,  are 
iitliiiliiliiiils,  .simply 
icly  of  soil,  whiih 
spolKliiij;  variety  of 
•111  kinds  ol'herliajie 
■  aiiiiiiais  lliat  are 
I'  (liey  Id  lie  extinct, 
ill  their  wake.  The 
heir  turn  attracted 
)itants  of  the  eoiiii- 
IH  tliat  even  a  very 
llie  Vei;elation  lm"» 
iteter  of  u  dislrict. 
(1  a  curious  instance 


ins  Were  in  great 
>t'  IX  (lisa]ipointc(l 
iitry  liad  oriLrinaliy 
for  the  (piantity  ef 
for  its  conseip'iciit 
<ai(l  that  their  forc- 
>f  the  floods  of  aii- 
illt  sliowers  whidi 
with  verdure,  niid 
s  wliieh  once  .stuil- 
Tanihana  hills  and 
ley  boasted  of  the 
Drs,  with  tliuir  iiii- 


Pjwaahlo  forrents,  in  wlilch  tlic  hippopotiinii 

plll>ed,  whll(.  the  lowill!^  llerilMWiilked  up  to 

their  necks  in  khiss,  llllin«  their  m'lhiika.-^ 
(lailk-sacks)  with  milk,  nuking  evei  v  lieart 
to  Miii>{  lor  joy." 

Thiit  siicli  tiilcH  wcro  true  was  proved  hy 
the  iniineroiis  stumps  of  Im^rc  m  iicia-||.,.,,.s 
thatshowed  where  the  forest  hiul  stood,  and' 


127 


r '"  "  "oiie  iiie  ioresi  iiaii  siooii,  anil 

by  the  dry  and  iiarehi'd  ravines,  wliieh  had 
CVldenlly  hecnlfi(.  beds  of  rivers,  ami  clothed 
With  veKelatioii.  For  the  (lroii«ht  the  mis- 
Bionaries  were  held  responsible,  a.rordiii.' 
to  till!  mvariahli'  cnsloin  of  tlie  rain-makers" 
Who  are  only  too  >{|,id  to  find  sonietliini^ 
on  which  to  shift  thi^  blame  when  no  ram 
ollmvs  their  iiieaiilations.  It  was  in  vain 
that  Mr.  Mollait  reminded  tliein  that  the 
«lroii«ht  had  been  known  Ioiil'  before  a 
wiute  man  set  |,js  foot  on  thi!  soil  A 
Hav.'w,  African  is,  as  a  general  rule,  im- 
nervious  to  dates,  not  even  haviiii,'  the  least 

Utterly.     '  "'"'  """'  ""  ^''''  '"'y'""^'"^  '''"''''I 

Ml.  Mojlatt  d.'teeted,  and  which  lie  tried  in 
ii,".l'i' '" ''"1"'T  "1""«  tl'i!  inhabiUinIs  of  the 
in  1(1.     J  hey  tlieins(d  ves,  or  rather  their  Ibre- 
latlicM,  were  r,.si.ousiblo  for  thu  cessation 
ot  ram  and  th(^  consequent  change  fnmi  a 
lerlil,,  land  into  a  dissert.    For  the  sake  of 
buildiii.  their  kraals  and  houses  th.Tl.a 
CU    ilown  every  five  that  their  axes  co,, 
e      and  those  that  defied  their  rude  tools 
tliey  destroyed   by   fire.      Now   it    is   well 
known  that  trees,  especially  wh.-n  in  fn 
f  la-e,  are  very  powerful  a-'onts  in  causin 

tmc  (loatm..  ,„  the  air,  and  ciuisc  it  to  fiill 
to  tho  earth,  instead  of  imssin-  bv  in  s  is 
pension.    Every  tree  that  is  felfed   .as  some 
CI  e(.t  in  rcdueii..;  the  .piantity  of  rain-       d 
hen  a  forest  is  levelled  witf.  the  gnu 

n^rkoJ'^rlr"""*  "^"  ^•""'^^"  ^~ 
These  tribes  are  invot(!rate  destroyers  of 
timber.  VVhen  they  wish  to  establ  Kern 
se  ves  in  afresh  spot,  and  build  a  ne w  krmU 
they  always  station  themselves  close  to  Ue 
forest,  or  at  all  events  to  a  laA  e  thick ef 
which  in  the  course  of  time  is  Teve  ed  to 
the  ffrojind,  the  wood  having  been  a  iLd 
or  T.u.lding  and  culinary  purposer  Th 

their  way  into  more  favored  re-ions     I'li 
IS  special  y  the  case   with    fi^.?      I'  ,       '" 

telopes,  some  tliirty  specL  of  ^hieh  are 


known  to  Inhab  t  thin  won.leriUl  country. 
1  hey  .ire  ol  all  »lzes,  from  tlie  great  elands 
an.  koo,loos,  which  rival  onr  llncMt  catll e  i„ 
weight  and  stature,  to  the  tiny  .-iierieM  which 

nimbit  the  bush,. Hid  lum  Jollies' SC.S 
arge.   than  II  they  were  rabbit«.    .Some    '{ 
them  are  solitary,  otl„.|s  may  he  found  ia 
Hinall  parth.s,  otr.ers  unite  in  herd,-*  of  i,,. 
cah'iilable  nii.nbers;  while  lliere  a.'c  several 
species    that    form    associations,    iioi   „„ly 
with  other  species  of  their  own  groni),  but 
will,   giratles,   zebius,  ostriches,  and  other 
strange  companions.     lOadi   kind  must  ho 
hunted    n  some   special   manner;   .md,  as 
Ihe^  antelopes  are  generally  the  wariest  iw 
well  as  the  most  active  of  gain.-,  the  hunter 
must   he    thoroughly   acipiaintc'd    with   his 
business  b.fore  he  (nin  hope  for  success. 

One  of  the  antelopes  which  livi'  in  small 
parlies  is  the  koodoo,  so  well  known  for  its 
magiiilleent  spiral  horns.  To  Kiiroi.cans 
111.'  koodoo  is  only  interesting  as  being  oiio 
o»  the  most  splendid  of  the  anteloi.e  tribe. 
I>ut  to  the  Katllr  it  is  almost  as  valuable  aii 
animal  as  the  cow.  The  lle:ih  of  the  koo- 
doo  IS  well-davored  and  tender,  two  (fuali- 
lies  wluch  urn  exceedingly  ran,  among  .South 
Alrieai.  antelopes.    The,  marrow  lakrn  from 

K.!ml'^    ."'"'■'  ""  **.  ^'■'^^"^  '"^'"•y  will'  ll'o 

k,  lliis  whoare  sofoiid  of  it  that  when  they 

k  11  a  koodoo  they  remove   tlio  le;:  bone.s, 

bleak    hem  and  eat  th.,  marrow,  n„t  only 

vith.jnt  cooking,  but  while  it  is  still  vvar.m 

Ilevoltingas  su.d.  a  practice  may  s..em    o 

"«,  it  has  hem  a.loi,ted   even  by  English 

hunters,  who  have  been  sensible  ImoiM   to 

accom,no,kt.,  themselves  to  circumst^mces? 

JI.en,   Its  hjd,.    although  comparatively 

i      ' .      "'"S'"."-'y   t""«l',  an.l,  when  cut 

latui    IS    used   for  a  var  ety   of   nurnoses 

which  a  thicker  hide  could  not  fuliil.  '  Tho 


ou.rhne.ss  lu.d  strength  of  these  th,  ngs  arc 

a  ;?'"•'"'■""'  ""''  "'"  tapi.litj^'with 
vhicli  they  are  made  Kcarcely  less  so  I 
have  seen  an  e.xperience.l  skin.ln.sser'cut 

I  Kin  lialt  a  minute  pro.  uce  a  Ion-'  delicate 
tlion^,  about  as  thiclc  as  ordinary  whii.cor  1 
as  pliant  as  silk,  an.l  beaiUifulVSrd' 
I  have  often  thought  that  the  inuch  vexed ' 
question  of  the  best  leather  for  hoot^kcS 

Kde"  'i^^'^r'^'-"^  ">'  ^''0  "-of  koo! 
(100  Iliac.     Such  thongs  woul.l  be  exnensive 

rem  er  them  cheap  in  the  long  run. 

Ihe  horns  ol  the  koodoo  .v^e  creatlv  v-il- 
ue.  in  this  country,  an.l  comm^ mfrhS 
pi  ce    on  account  of  their  great   bcautv 

?han  we  do''  ''^'''''ir'^r'-^  "'^"^  ^'^*^»  ""'re 

elan.I   *1   . ••      T^"^  '"" "  """*^  ''"^'  '»orns  of  thO 

elan.l  to  he  about  and  perish,  but  those  of 
the  koodoo  they  carefully  preserve  C  two 
special  purposes,-  namefv  the  for-^e  ami  the 

mTth"^in;^\,^\"'""«'>  ^  Ka«v  k- 
ox  or  of  tho  n/'^'^i  '»»'•"«  of  the  domestic 
ox,  or  01  the  eland,  as  tubes  whereb"  the 


128 


THE  KAFFIR. 


it 


wind  is  conveyed  from  the  bellows  to  the 
lire,  he  vei'y  ii;ucli  prefers  those  of  the  koo- 
doo, and,  if  he  sliould  be  fortunate  enough 
to  oi)taiu  a  pair,  ho  « ill  lavish  much  pains 
on  making  a  handsome  pair  of  bellows.    He 
also  uses  the  koodoo  horn  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  the  remarkable  water-pipe  in  which 
he  smokes  dakka,  or  hemji.    On  page  lf>7 
may  be  seen  a  ligure  of  a  Kaffir  engaged  in 
smoking  a  pipe  made  from  the  koodoo  horn. 
Like  many  other  antelopes,  the  koodoo  is 
a  wary   animal,  and   no    small   amount  of 
pains  must  be  takei;  before  the  hunter  can 
succeed  in  his  object    The  koodoo  is  one 
of  the  antelopes  that  require  water,  and  is 
not  like  its  relative,  the  eland,  which  never 
cares  to  drink,  and  which  contrives,  in  some 
mysterious  manner,  to'  be  the  largest,  the 
fattest,  and  the  plumpest  of  all  the  antelope 
tribe,  though  it  lives  far  from  water,  and  its 
principal-food  is  herbage  so  dry  that  it  can 
be  rubbed  to  powder  between  the  hands. 

Each  of  the  antelopes  has  its  separate 
wiles,  and  puts  in  practice  a  dilferent  me- 
thod of  escape  from  an  enemy.  The  pretty 
little  Dniker-bok,  for  example,  jumps  about 
here  and  there  with  an  erratic  series  of 
movements,  reminding  the  sportsman  of 
the  behavior  of  a  liushed  snipe.  Sud- 
denly it  will  stop,  as  if  tired,  and  lie  down 
in  the  grass;  but  when  the  hunter  comes 
to  the  .spot,  the  animal  has  vanished.  All 
the  previous  movements  were  merely  for 
the  purpose  of  distracting  the  attention 
of  the  hunter,  and  as  soon  as  the  little  an- 
telope crouched  down,  it  lowered  its  head 
and  crawled  away  on  its  knees  under  cover 
of  the  herbage.  It  is  owing  to  this  habit 
that  the  Dutch  colonists  called  it  the  Duiker, 
or  Diver.  This  littio  antelope  is  found  in 
long  grass,  or  among  stunted  bushes,  and 
the  wary  Kaffir  is  sure  to  have  his  weapons 
ready  whenever  he  passes  by  a  spot  where 
he  may  expect  to  find  the  Duyker,  or  Im- 
poon,  aa  he  calls  it.  The  creature  is  won- 
derfully tenacious  of  lite,  and,  even  when 
mortally  wounded,  it  will  make  its  escape 
from  a  hunter  who  does  not  know  its  pecul- 
iarities. 

Other  antelopes  hat  inhabit  grass  and 
bush  land  have  v(  ry  ingenious  modes  of 
concealing  themselves.  Even  on  the  bare 
plain  they  will  crouch  down  in  such  odd 
attitudes  that  all  trace  of  their  ordinary 
outli!ie  is  gone,  and  they  contrive  to  ar- 
range themselves  in  such  a  manner  that  at 
a  little  distance  they  much  resemble  a  heap 
of  withered  grass  .irid  dead  sticks,  the  former 
being  represented  by  their  fur,  and  the  lat- 
ter by  their  horns  and  limbs.  An  untrained 
eye  would  never  discover  one  of  these  ani- 
mals, and  novices  in  African  hunting  can 
seldom  distinguish  Jie  antelope  even  when 
it  is  pointed  out  to  them. 

Whenever  a  practised  hunter  (aoe!;  an 
untelope  crouching  on  the  ground,  he  may 


be  sure  tliat  the  animal  is  perfectly  aware  of 
his  presence,  and  is  only  watching  for  an 
opportunity  to  escape.  If  he  were  to  go 
directly  toward  it,  or  even  to  sto])  and  look 
at  it,  the  antelope  would  know  that  it  is 
detected,  and  would  dart  olV  while  still  out 
ot  range.  Ikit  an  experience,!  hunter  al- 
ways pretends  not  to  have  seen  the  animal, 
and  instead  of  approaching  it  in  a  direct 
line,  walks  round  and  round  the  sjjot  where 
It  is  lying,  always  coming  nearer  to  his 
object,  but  never  taking  any  aiiparent  notice 
of  It.  The  animal  is  quite  bewildered  'jy 
this  mode  of  action,  and  cannot  make  up  its 
nnnd  what  to  do.  It  is  r.ot  sure  that  it  has 
been  detected;  and  therefore  does  not  tike 
to  run  the  risk  of  jumping  up  and  ojjcnly 
betraying  itself,  and  so  it  only  crouches 
closer  to  the  ground  until  its  enemy  is  within 
range.  The  pretty  antelope  called  tlie  Ou- 
rebi  is  often  taken  in  this  manner. 

Some  antelopes  cannot  be  taken  in  this 
maimer.    They  are  very  wary  aninials,  and, 
when  they  perceive  an  enemv,  they  imme- 
diately  gallop  off,   and  will  'go  wonderful 
distances  in  an  almost  straight  line.    One  of 
these  animals  is  the  well-known  eland,  an 
antelope  which,  in  spite  of  its  enormous  size 
and  great  weight,  is  wondcrfullv  .swift  and 
active;  and,  although  a  large  eliind  will  Le 
nearly  six  feet  higli  at  the  shoulders,  and  as 
largely  built  as  our  oxen,  it  will  dash  over 
rough  hilly  jjlaces  at  a  pace  that  no  horse 
can  for  a  time  equal.    Eut  it  cannot  keep  up 
this  pace  for  a  very  long  time,  as  it  bocomts 
extremelv  fat  and  heavy;  and  if  it  be  con- 
tinually hard  pressed,  and  not    allowed  to 
slacken  its  pace  or  to  halt,  it  becomes  so 
exhausted  that  it  can  be  easily  overtaken. 
The    usual  plan  in  such  cases  is  to  get  in 
front  of  the  tired  eland,  make  it  turn  round, 
and  thus  drive  it  into  the    eamiiing  spot, 
where  it  can  be  killed,  so  that  the  hunters 
.save  themselves  the  trouble  of  carrying  the 
inc¥it  to  camp. 

Eland  hunting  is  always  a  favorite  sport 
both  with  natives  and  white  men,  partly 
because  its  flesh  is  singulai'ly  excellent,  aiui 
partly  because  a  persevering  chase  is  almost 
always  rewarded  with  (success.  To  the 
native,  the  eland  is  of  i)eculiar  value,  be- 
cause it  furnishes  an  amount  of  meat  which 
will  feed  them  plentil'ullv  for  several  days. 
Moreover,  the  flesh  is  always  tender,  a  qual- 
ity wdiieh  does  not  generally  belong  Id  fSoiuh 
African  venison.  The  Zulu  warriors,  how- 
ever, do  not  eat  the  flesh  of  the  eland,  being 
restrained  by  superstitious  motives. 

Usually,  when  an  antelope  is  killed,  its 
flesh  must  either  be  eaten  at  once,  before 
the  animal  heat  has  left  the  b.idv,  or  it  must 
b(!  kept  for  a  day  or  two,  in  order  to  free  it 
from  its  toughness.  But  the  flesh  of  the 
eland  can  be  eaten  even  within  a  few  hours 
after  the  animal  has  been  killed.  The  hunt- 
ers make  a  rather  curious  prepaiatiou  from 
the  flesh  of  the  eland.    They  take  out  sep- 


is  perfectly  aware  of 
ily  watching  for  an 
If  lie  Were  to  go 
en  to  isto])  and  look 
ild  know  that  it  is 
t  oil"  while  still  out 
cricncijii  hunter  al- 
ive ween  the  animal, 
■hing  it  in  a  direct 
)und  the  sjjot  where 
ning  nearer  to  liis 
any  a])parent  notice 
[uite  bewildered  Sy 
:  cannot  make  up  its 
not  sure  that  it  has 
rclbre  does  not  like 
ijing  up  and  openly 

0  it  only  crouches 

1  its  enemy  is  within 
■lope  called  the  Ou- 
is  manner, 

ot  bo  taken  in  this 
•  wary  aninials,  and, 
enemy,  they  inime- 

will  'go  wonderful 
raight  line.  One  of 
.'ll-known  eland,  an 
of  its  enormous  size 
)n(lerfully  .swift  and 
large  eland  will  Le 
le  shoulders,  and  as 
n,  it  will  dash  over 
pace  that  no  horse 
it  it  cannot  keep  up 

time,  as  it  boconies 
•;  and  if  it  he  con- 
nd  not  allowed  to 
!ialt,  it  becomes  so 
e  easily  overtaken. 
1  cases  is  to  get  in 
make  it  turn  roun(l. 
the  camjiing  spot, 
■o  that  the  hunters 
ble  of  carrying  the 

lys  a  favorite  sjiort 
white  men,  partly 
lai'ly  excellent,  aiiii 
ing  chase  is  almost 
success.  To  the 
|)i'culiar  value,  be- 
lunt  of  meat  which 
y  for  several  days, 
ays  tinder,  a  qiial- 
lUy  belong  to  South 
lulu  warriors,  how- 
iif  the  eland,  btin;; 
IS  motives, 
elope  is  killed,  lis 
■n  at  once,  befuro 
he  body,  or  it  nuist 
in  order  to  free  it 
t  the  (lesh  of  the 
wilhin  a  few  hours 
killed.  The  hunt- 
i  prepiuatiou  fl'Dlil 
^hey  take  out  sep- 


THE  IIOPO, 


129 


arately  the  muscles  of  the  thighs,  and  cure 
them  just  as  if  they  were  tongues.  These 
articles  are  called  •'  thigh-tongues,"  and  are 
useful  on  a  journey  when  provisions  are 
hkely  to  be  scarce.  Perhaps  one  of  the 
greatest  merits  of  the  eland  in  a  KafHr's 
eyes  is  the  enormous  quantity  of  fat  which 
It  will  produce  when  in  good  condition. 
As  has  already  been  mentioned,  fat  is  one 
of  the  necessaries  of  life  to  a  KatHr,  as  well 
as  one  of  the  greatest  luxuries,  and  a  bull 
eland  in  good  condition  furnishes  a  suiwly 
that  will  make  a  Kaffir  happy  for  a  month. 

There  is  another  South  African  antelope, 
whicli,  like  the  eland,  runs  in  a  strai^'ht 
cour.se  when  alarmed,  but  which,  unlike  the 
eland,  is  capable  of  great  endurance.  This 
IS  the  splendid  gemsbok,  an  antelope  which 
18  nearly  as  lar^e  as  the  eland,  though  not 
so  massively  built.  This  beautiful  antelope 
i.s  an  inhabitant  of  the  dry  and  parched 


plains  of  Southern  Africa  and  1  ke  thnw       •  "n    /   '^  Hopo   is,  in  tact,  a  very  large 
^res  nothing  fi^lS.'diSni'an'"  S       "'5  ^"^,"^  -ths-at  labor,  anlca,;^- 


cares  nothing  for  water,  deriving  all  the 
moisture  which  it  needs  from  certain  succu- 
Jeut  roots  of  a  bulbous  nature,  which  lie 
ludden  in  the  soil,  and  which  its  instinct 
teaches  it  to  unearth.  This  ability  to  sus- 
tain life  without  the  aid  of  water  renders  its 
chase  a  very  difficult  matter,  and  the  hunters 
both  native  and  European,  are  often  bafHed' 
not  so  much  by  the  speed  and  endurance  of 


with  only  a  few  minutes  of  life  in  its  bodv  it 
hfis  been  known  to  sweep  its  armed  liead  so 
fiercely  from  side  to  side  that  it  killed  sev- 
eral  of  the  dogs  as  they  rushed  in  to  seize 
the  fallen  enemy,  wounded  others  severely 
and  kept  a  clear  space  within  range  of  its' 
horns.  E.xcept  at  certain  seasons  of  flie 
year,  when  the  gemsbok  becomes  very  fiit 
and  is  in  consequence  in  bad  condition  for 
a  long  chase,  the  natives  seldom  try  to  nur- 
sue  It,  knowing  that  they  are  certain  to 
have  a  very  long  run,  and  that  the  final  cap- 
ture ot  the  animal  is  very  uncertain. 

As  to  those  antelopes  which  gather  them- 
selves together  in  vast  herds,  the  South 
African  hunter  acts  on  very  different  prin- 
ciples, and  uses  stratagem  rdther  than  .speed 
or  force.  One  of  their  most  succes.sful  meth- 
ods of  destroying  the  game  wholesale  is  bv 
means  of  the  remarkable  trap  called  the 
^y'P"_-    /"«  liopo   is,  in  fact,  a  very  lar^^e 


ble  of  holding  a  vast  number  of  animals, 
Irunks  of  trees  arc  laid  over  it  at  each  end 
and  a  similar  arrangement  is  made  at  the 
sides,,  so  that  a  kind  of  overlapiiiii"  ed-'e  is 
given  to  it,  and  a  beast  that  has  fldloirinto 
It  cannot  possil)Iy  escape.  From  this  nit 
two  fences  diverge,  in  a  V-like  form,  the  nit 
being  the  ajiex.  These  fences  are  about  a 
mile  in  length,  and  their  extremities  are  a 


gemsbok  are  therefore  much  v.alue     and    ts   fb.  I  .A'"f'"''''  '"•""/"y^  *^  ''*"^"y  «'"  ''^'ve 
splendid  horns  will  always  comiSl  a    i.^^^^^^  '"*°i^  treacherous  space 

IH-ice,  even  in  its  own' con.  t^^^^^^  They  then  form  tliem- 

Europe  they  are  sure  of  a  sale,  thi  v  nnV    '"'''""  ■'\"'°f'  ^'''^  °P°"  «"''  of 

„  The  horn.sof  this  antelope  are  abont^  tbr.o    "'?„Li'"f  "l™"^"^  slowly,. so  as  to  urge  the 


Ihe  fiorns  of  this  antelope  are  about  three 

^  head    is    rather    curious.     They  are  very 

I.wliln^.r  '"'  ?'"',  ^''"»  ^^'^  fo'-el'ead,  so  that 
^  Sch'^^riil'  '^i^_!:-^f'^-'- «P«  nearly 


^touch   the  back.    li^irnr'th;;^  se '^^i^' b^ 
,-thouglit  to  be  deprived  of  much  of  thdr 
.capabilities,  but  the  gemsbok  has  a  rather 

fllnnU«n  •       "'  '"  '^V'^'-^'  °^  to  receive  the 
assaults  of  an  enemy,  it  stoops  its  head  nearly 

loic-teet.  The  horns  are  then  directed 
toward  the  foe,  their  tips  being  son  e  c2 
teen  or  twenty  inches  fVom  tlurgroiind  "As 
>^oon  as  the  enemy  comes  within  reach  the 
pemsbok  turns  its  head  stron-rly  unwoiv. 
and  impales  the  antagonist  on  fts  horns 
which  are  so  sharp  that  they  setValnoT^; 
have^been  pointed  and  poli^hedli/TtSial 

brir^ing    l";:r';;|j;  i^^    ,  h,^  ^^a  in 

Even  whr-n  the  animal  has  received  a  mor'  I  fnll  vw-h,"  V  V,'  ""  "  '■""™vors,  out  others 
*al  wound,  and  been  lying  on  t^ ^r:Zi\Ti^::;!:':^^ ^^^^^^^ -^^^^  ^<^  Innl.a 


animals  onward.    A  miscellaneous  company 
of  elands,   hartcbeests,  gnoos,  zebras    a.;! 
other  animals,  is   thu^  ^-ivei'i  neaiel:  an 
nea.Tr  to  destruction.    Toward  the  angle  of 
the  V,  the  fence  .is  narrowed  into  a  kind  of 
lane  or  passage,  some  fifty  yards  in  length, 
and  is   made   very  strongly,  so  as  to  pro 
vent  the  afiViglited  animals  from  break! njr 
through.     When  a  number  of  them   have 
fairly  entered  the  passage,  the  lumters  dash 
forward  yelling  at  the  full  stretch  of  their 
powerful   voices,  brandishing  their  .shields 
and  assagais,  and  so  terrifyirTg  the  to  d 
animals  that  they  dash  blindlf  forwan^  "n 
fall  into  the  pit.     It  is  usele.ss  for  those 
fi^nt  to  recoil  when  they  see  their  (""1^^ 
as  they  are  pusln.l  onward  by  their  co  , 
races,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  pit  is  full  "f 
dead  and  dying  animals.    Many  of  the  hen 
escape  when  (he  pit  is  quite  full,  by  pa.ss  n 
o  er  the  bodies  of  their  fi.llen  conmani  ,">? 
but  enough  are  taken   to  feast   the   wh."e 
tribe  for  a  considerable  time.    Those  on  to 
outskirts  of   the   herd   often  break  w  1 1  v 
aw^y  and  try  to  make  their  escapfthroS 
the   cordon   of    nmied    hunters,     M-.-v   ,  f 
(hem  succeed  in  their  endeavors,  but'oiiei-s 


130 


THE  KAFFIR. 


Even  such  largo  game  as  the  giraflfe,  the 
buffalo,  and  the  rhinoceros  have  been  taken 
iu  this  ingenious  and  most  etl'cctivc  trap. 
Dr.  J.ivingstonc  mentions  that  the  small 
sub-tribe  called  the  Bakawas  took  from 
sixty  to  scvent}'  head  of  cattle  per  week  in 
the  various  hopos  which  they  constructed. 

The  animated  scene  which  takes  place  at 
one  of  these  hunts  is  well  described  by  Mr. 
II.  II.  Methuen,  in  liis  "  Life  in  the  Wilder- 
ness." After  mentioning  the  pitfall  and 
the  two  diverging  fences,  between  which  a 
herd  of  quaggas  had  been  enclosed,  lie  i)ro- 
ceeds  as  follows:  "  Noises  thickened  round 
me,  and  men  rushed  past,  their  skin  cloaks 
streaming  in  the  wind,  till,  from  their  black 
naked  figures  and  wild  gestures,  it  wanted 
no  Martin  to  imagine  a  Pandemonium.  I 
pressed  hard  ujion  the  flying  animals,  and 
galloping  down  the  lane,  saw  the  pits  choke- 
full  ;  while  several  of  the  quajj;gas,  noticing 
liieir  danger,  turned  upon  me,  ears  back, 
and  teeth  showing,  compelling  me  to  retreat 
with  equal  celerity  from  them.  Some  na- 
tives standing  in  the  lane  made  the  fugi- 
tives run  the  gauntlet  with  tlioir  assagais. 
As  each  quagga  made  a  dash  at  them,  they 
pressed  theirVacks  into  the  hedge,  and  held 
their  hard  ox-hide  shields  in  his  face,  hurl- 
ing their  S])ears  into  his  side  as  ho  passed 
onward.  One  managed  to  burst  through 
ti'.e  hedge  and  escape  ;  the  rest  fell  i)ierce(l 
with  assagais,  like  so  many  jiorcupines. 
Men  are  often  killed  in  these  hunts,  when 
buffaloes  turn  back  in  a  similar  way. 

'•  It  was  some  little  time  before  IJari  and 
I  could  liud  a  gap  in  the  hedge  and  get 
round  to  the  pits,  but  at  length  we  found 
one,  and  then  a  scene  exhibited  itself  which 
battles  description.  So  full  were  the  pits 
that  many  animals  had  run  over  the  bodies 
of  their  comrades,  and  got  free.  Never  can 
I  forget  that  bloody,  murderous  spectacle;  a 
moaning,  wriggling  mass  of  quaggas,  hud- 
dled anil  jammed  together  iu  the  most  inex- 
tricable confusion ;  some  were  on  their 
backs,  Avith  their  heels  up,  and  others  lying 
across  them  ;  some  had  taken  a  dive  and 
only  displayed  their  tails;  all  lay  interlocked 
like  a  bucketful  of  eels.  The  savages,  fran- 
tic with  excitement,  yelled  round  them, 
thrusting  their  assagais  with  smiles  of  P".t- 
isf\\ction  into  the  upper  ones,  and  ''"iving 
them  to  suffocate  those  beneath,  evidently 
rejoicing  in  the  agony  of  their  victims. 
Moseleii,  the  chief,  was  there  in  person,  and 
after  the  lapse  of  half  an  hour,  the  poles  at 
tlie  entrance  of  the  pits  being  removed,  the 
dead  bodies,  in  all  the  contortions  and  stiff- 
ness of  death,  were  drawn  out  by  hooked 
stakes  secured  through  the  main  sinew  of 
tlie  nock,  a  rude  song,  with  extemporary 
words,  being  chanted  the  wliile." 

The  narrator  mentions  that  out  of  one  pit, 
only   twelve  feet  square  and  six  deep,  he 
saw  twciity  '■'■  quaggu.'i "  extracted. 
Sometimes  pitfalls  are  constructed  for  tlic 


reception  of  single  animals,  such  as  the  ele- 
l^liant,  the  hippopotamus,  and  the  rhinoceros. 
Those  are  made  chiefly  in  two  modes.  The 
pitfalls  which  .are  intemled  for  catching  the 
three  last  mentioned  animals  are  tolerably 
large,  but  not  very  deep,  because  the  size 
and  weight  of  the  prisoners  prevent  them 
from  making  their  escape.  Moreover,  a 
stout  stake,  some  Ave  feet  or  more  in  length, 
and  sharpened  at  the  top,  is  placed  in  the 
middle  of  the  pit,  so  that  the  animal  falls 
upon  it  and  is  impaled.  The  pits  are  neatly 
covered  with  sticks,  leaves,  and  earth,  so 
ingeniously  disposed  that  they  look  exactly 
like  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  arc  dan- 
gerous, not  only  to  the  beasts  which  they 
are  iritended  to  catch,  but  to  men  and 
horses.  So  many  accidents  have  happened 
by  means  of  these  pits,  that  when  a  trav- 
eiler  goes  from  one  district  to  another  he 
sends  notice  of  his  coming,  so  that  all  the 
pitfalls  that  lie  in  his  way  may  be  opened. 

Elej)hants  are,  of  course,  tlie  most  valu- 
able game  that  can  be  taken  in  these  traps, 
because  their  tusks  can  be  sold  at  a  high 
price,  and  their  flesh  supplies  a  vast  quan- 
tity of  nie.at.  As  the  elephant  is  a  terrible 
enemy  to  their  cornflelds  and  storehouses, 
the  natives  -wo  in  the  habit  of  guarding  the 
approaches  by  in  ans  of  these  pitfalls,  and  at 
first  find  their  stratagem  totally  successful. 
But  the  elephants  are  so  craity  that  they 
soon  learn  cauti<m  from  the  fate  of  their 
comrades,  and  it  is  as  difficult  to  catch  an 
elephant  in  a  pitfaU  as  it  is  *o  catch  an  old 
rat  in  a  trap.  Having  been  accustomed  to 
such  succulent  repasts,  the  elephants  do  not 
like  to  give  up  their  feasts  altogether,  and 
proceed  on  their  nocturnal  expeditions  much 
as  usual.  But  some  of  the  oldest  and  wari- 
est of  the  herd  go  in  front,  and  when  they 
come  near  the.  cultivated  ground,  they  beat 
the  earth  with  their  trunks,  not  venturing  a 
step  until  they  have  ascertained  that  their 
footing  is  safe.  As  soon  as  they  come  to  a 
pitfall,  tlie  hollow  sound  warns  them  of  dan- 
ger. They  instantly  stop,  tear  the  covering 
of  the  pitfall  to  pieces,  and,  having  thus 
unmasked  it,  proceed  on  their  way. 

The  pitfall  which  is  made  for  the  giraffe 
is  constructed  on  a  diffi^rcnt  principle.  Ow- 
ing to  the  exceedingly  long  limbs  of  the 
animal,  it  is  dug  at  least  ten  feet  in  depth. 
But,  instead  of  being  a  more  pit,  a  wall  or 
bank  of  earth  is  left  in  the  middle,  about 
seven  feet  in  height,  and  shaped  much  like 
the  letter  A.  As  soon  as  the  giraft'e  tum- 
bles into  the  pit,  its  fore  and  hind  legs  fall 
on  opposite  sides  of  the  wall,  so  that  the 
animal  is  balanced  on  its  belly,  and  wastes 
its  strength  in  plunging  about  in  hopes  of 
finding  a  foothold. 

Sometimes  a  number  of  Kaffirs  turn  out 
for  the  purpose  of  elephant  hunting.  By 
dint  of  the  wary  caution  which  they  can 
alway.".  exercise  when  m  pur^!',!.  nt  game, 
they  find  out  the  animal  which  possesses 


IIUNTINl.   THE  ELEniANT. 


131 


the  finest  tusks,  and  mark  all  his  peculiari- 
ties; they  then  watch  tlic  spot  where  ho 
treads,  and,  by  means  of  a  lump  of  soft  clay, 
they  take  an  impression  of  his  footmarks. 
The  reason  for  doing  so  is  simple  enough, 
viz.  that  if  tiicy  should  have  to  chase  him, 
they  may  not  run  the  risk  of  confounding 
his  footmarks  with  those  of  other  elephants. 
The  sole  of  every  elej)hant's  foot  is  traversed 
by  a  number  of  indented  lines,  and  in  no  two 
specimens  are  these  lines  alike.  The  clay 
model  of  the  footprints  serves  them  as  a 
guide  whereby  they  may  assure  themselves 
that  they  are  on  the  right  track  whenever 
they  come  to  the  neighborhood  of  water, 
where  the  ground  is  soft,  and  where  the 
footprints  of  many  elephants  are  sure  to  be 
found.  Their  next  endeavor  is  to  creep 
near  enough  to  the  elephant  to  inflict  a 
severe  wound  upon  it,  an  object  which  is 
generally  attained  by  a  number  of  the  dark 
hunters  gliding  among  the  trees,  and  simul- 
taneously hurling  their  spears  at  the  unsus- 
pecting animal.  The  wounded  elephant  is 
nearly  certain  to  charge  directly  at  the  sijot 
from  which  he  fancies  that  the  assault  lias 
been  made,  and  his  shriek  of  mingled  rage 
and  alarm  is  sure  to  cause  the  rest  of  the 
lierd  to  rush  off  in  terror.  The  hunters 
then  try  by  various  stratagems  to  isolate  the 
wounded  animal  from  its  comrades,  and  to 
prevent  him  from  rejoining  them,  while  at 
every  opportunity  fresh  assagais  are  thrown, 
and  the  elephant  is  never  i)ermitted  to  rest. 

As  a  wounded  elephant  always  makes  for 
the  bush,  it  would  be  quite  safe  from  white 
hunters,  though  not  so  from  the  lithe  and 
naked  Kaffirs,  v.ho  glide  through  the  under- 
wood and  between  the  trees  faster  than  the 
elephant  can  push  its  way  through  them. 
Every  now  and  then  it  will  turn  and  charge 
madly  at  its  foes,  but  it  expends  its  sti-ength 
in  vain,  <as  they  escape  by  nimbly  jumping 
behind  trees,  or,  In  critical  cases,  by  climb- 
ing up  them,  knowing  tliat  an  elephant 
never  seems  to  comjjrehend  that  a  foe  can 
bo  anywhere  but  on  the  ground. 

In  this  kind  of  chase  they  arc  much  as- 
sisted by  their  dogs,  which  bark  incessantly 
at  the  animal,  and  serve  to  distract  its  atten- 
tion from  the  hunters.  It  may  seem  strange 
that  so  hu.ge  an  animal  as  the  elephant 
should  be  ui  the  least  impeded  by  such 
small  creatures  as  dogs,  which,  even  if  he 
stood  still  and  allowed  them  to  bite  his  legs 
to  their  hearts'  content,  could  make  no  im- 
pression on  the  thick  and  tough  skin  which 
defends  them.  But  the  elephant  has  a 
strange  terror  of  small  animals,  and  espe- 
cially dreads  the  dog,  so«,that,  when  it  is 
making  up  its  mind  to  charge  in  one  direc- 
tion, the  barking  of  a  contemptible  little  cur 
will  divert  it  from  its  purpose,  and  enable 
its  intended  victim  either  to  seeiin?  himself 
behind  a  tree,  or  to  become  the  as-  ilnnt,  and 
a<ld  another  spear  to  the  nun  '  r  that  are 
already  quivering  in  the  anini.    -.  vast  body. 


The  slaughter  of  an  elephant  by  this  mode 
of  hunting  is  always  a  long  and  a  cruel  pro- 
cess. Even  when  the  hunters  are  furnished 
with  the  best  lire-arms,  a  number  of  wounds 
are  generally  inflicted  before  it  dies,  the  ex- 
ceptional case,  when  it  falls  dead  at  the  first 
shot,  being  very  rare  indeed.  Now,  how- 
ever ]30werful  may  be  the  practised  aim  of 
a  Kaffir,  and  sharp  as  may  be  his  wcajion, 
he  cannot  drive  it  through  the  inch-thick 
hide  into  a  vital  part,  ancl  the  consequence 
is  that  the  poor  animal  is  literally  worried 
to  death  by  a  multitude  of  wounds,  singly 
insiguiflcnnf,  but  collectively  fatal.  At  last 
the  huge  victim  falls  under  the  loss  of  blood, 
and  great  are  the  rejoicings  if  it  should 
happen  to  sink  down  in  its  ordinary  kneeling 
posture,  as  the  tusks  can  then  be  extracted 
with  comparative  case,  and  the  grove  of 
spears  planted  in  its  body  can  be  drawn  out 
entire;  whereas,  when  tlie  elephant  falls  on 
one  side,  all  the  spears  upon  that  side  are 
shattered  to  pieces,  and  every  one  must  be 
furnished  with  a  new  shaft. 

The  first  proceeding  is  to  cnt  off  the  tail, 
which  is  valued  as  a  trophy,  and  the  next  is 
to  carve  upon  the  tusks  'the  mark  of  the 
hunter  to  whom  they  belong,  and  who  is 
always  the  man  who  iriflieted  the  first  wound. 
The  iiext  proceeding  is  to  cut  a  large  hole  in 
one  side,  into  which  a  number  of  Kaffirs 
enter,  and  busy  themselves  by  taking  out 
the  most  valuable  parts  of  the  animal.  The 
inner  membrane  of  the  skin  is  saved  for 
water-sacks,  which  are  made  in  a  very  prim- 
itive manner,  a  large  sheet  of  the  membrane 
being  gathered  together,  and  a  sharp  stick 
thrust  through  the  corners.  The  heart  is 
then  tiiken  out,  cut  into  convenient  pieces, 
and  each  portion  wrapped  in  a  piece  of  the 
ear.  If  the  party  can  encamp  for  the  night 
on  the  spot,  they  prepare  a  royal  feast,  hy 
baking  one  or  two  of  the  feet  in  the  primi- 
tive but  most  effective  oven  which  is  in  use, 
not  only  in  Southern  Africa,  but  in  many 
other  parts  of  the  world. 

A  separate  oven  is  made  for  e.ach  foot, 
and  formed  as  follows:  —  A  hole  is  dug  in 
the  ground,  considerably  larger  than  the 
foot  which  is  to  be  cooked,  and  a  fire  is  built 
in  it.  As  soon  as  it  burns  up,  a  large  heap 
of  dry  wood  is  piled  upon  it.  and  suffered  to 
burn  down.  When  the  heap  is  reduced  fo 
a  mass  of  glowing  ashes,  the  Kaffirs  scrape 
out  the  embers  by  means  of  a  long  pole, 
each  man  taking  his  turn  to  run  to  the  hole, 
scrape  aw.ay  until  he  can  endure  the  heat 
no  longer,  and  then  run  away  again,  leav- 
ing the  pole  for  his  successor.  The  hole 
being  freed  from  embers,  the  foot  is  rolled 
into  it,  ami  covered  with  green  leaves  and 
twigs.  The  hot  earth  and  embers  are  then 
piled  over  the  hole,  and  another  great  bon- 
fire lighted.  As  soon  as  the  wood  has  en- 
tirely burned  itself  out,  the  operation  of 
bakinii  is  considered  as  complete,  .and  the 
foot  is  lifted  out  by  several  men  furnished 


182 


THE  KAFFIR. 


with  long  sharpened  poles.  By  means  of 
this  remarkable  oven  the  meat  is  cooked 
more  thoroughly  than  could  be  achieved  in 
any  oven  of  more  elaborate  construction, 
the  whole  of  the  tendons,  the  fat,  the  imma- 
ture bone,  and  similar  substances  being  con- 
verted into  a  gelatinous  mass,  wiiich  the 
African  hunter  seems  to  jirefer  to  all  other 
dishes,  excepting,  perhaps,  the  marrow  taken 
from  the  leg  bones  of  the  giraffe  or  eland. 

Sometimes  the  trunk  is  cut  into  thick 
slices,  and  baked  at  the  same  time  with  the 
feei  Although  this  part  of  the  elephant 
may  not  be  remarkable  for  the  excellence  of 
its  flavor,  it  has,  at  all  events,  the  capability 
of  being  made  tender  by  cooking,  which  is 
by  no  means  the  case  with  the  meat  that  is 
usually  obtained  from  the  animals  wliich 
inhabit  Southern  Africa.  Even  the  skull 
itself  is  broken  up  for  the  sake  of  the  oilvfat 
which  fills  the  honeycomb-like  cells  which 
intervene  between  the  plates  of  the  skull. 
Tlie  rest  of  the  meat  is  converted  into  "  l)il- 
tongue,"  by  cutting  it  into  strips  and  drying 
it  in  the  sun,  as  has  already  been  described. 
As  a  general  rule,  the  Kaffirs  do  not  like  to 
leave  an  animal  until  they  have  dried  or 
consumed  the  whole  of  the  nieat.  Under  the 
ready  spears  and  powerful  jaws  of  the  na- 
tives, even  an  elephant  is  soon  reduced  to  a 
skeleton,  as  may  be  imagined  from  the  fact 
that  five  Kaffirs  can  eat  a  buffa!  in  a  day 
and  a  lialf. 

The  skull  and  tusks  can  generally  be  left 
on  the  spot  for  some  time,  as  the  hunters 
respect  each  other's  marks,  and  will  not,  as 
a  rule,  take  the  tusks  from  an  elephant  that 
has  been  killed  and  marked  by  another. 
The  object  in  allowing  the  head  to  remain 
untouched  is,  that  putrefaction  may  take 
place,  and  render  the  task  of  extracting  the 
tusks  easier  tlian  is  the  case  when  they  are 
taken  out  at  once.  It  must  be  rememliercd 
that  the  tusks  of  an  elephant  arc  imliedded 
in  the  skull  for  a  considerable  portion  of 
their  length,  and  that  the  only  mode  of 
extracting  them  is  by  chopping  away  their 
thick,  bony  sockets,  which  is  a  work  of  mueii 
time  and  labor.  However,  in  that  hot  climate 
putrefaction  takes  place  very  readily,  and  by 
'the  time  that  the  hunters  have  finished  the 
elephant  the  tusks  can  be  removed.  Some- 
times the  flesh  becomes  more  than  "  high," 
but  the  Kaffirs,  and  indeed  all  African  sav- 
ages, seem  rather  to  prefer  certain  meats 
when  in  the  incipient  stage  of  putrefac- 
tion. 

Careless  of  the  future  as  are  the  natives  of 
Southern  Africa,  they  are  never  wastefld  of 
food,  and,  unlike  the  aborigines  of  North 
America,  they  seldom,  if  ever,  allow  the 
body  of  a  slain  animal  to  become  the  jirey  of 
birds  and  beasts.  They  will  eat  in  two  days 
the  food  that  ought  to  serve  them  for  ten, 
and  will  nearly  starve  thems(>lves  to  death 
durinsT  the  roniainiug  eisjrht  diivs  of  {amine, 
but  they  will  uever  throw  away  anything  i 


that  can  by  any  possibility  be  eaten.  Even 
the  very  blood  is  not  wasted.  If  a  largo 
animal,  such  as  a  rhinoceros,  be  itilled,  the 
black  liunters  separate  the  ribs  from  the 
spine,  OS  the  dead  animal  lies  on  its  side, 
and  by  dint  of  axe  blades,  assagai  heads,  and 
strong  arms,  soon  cu^  a  large  hole  in  the 
side.  Into  this  hole  the  .unters  straight- 
way lower  themselves,  ar  ^  remove  tlie  intes- 
tines of  the  animal,  passing  them  to  their 
comrades  out-  de,  who  invert  them,  tie  up 
the  end,  and  return  them.  By  this  time  a 
great  quantity  of  blood  has  collected,  often 
reaching  above  the  ankles  of  the  hunters. 
This  blood  they  ladle  with  their  joined  hands 
into  the  intestines,  and  so  contrive  to  make 
black  puddings  on  a  gigantic  scale. 

The  flesli  of  the  rhinoceros  is  not  very 
tempting.  That  of  an  old  animal  is  so  very 
tough  and  dry  that  scarcely  any  one  except 
a  native  can  eat  it;  and  even  that  of  the 
young  animal  is  only  partly  eatable  by  a 
white  man.  When  a  European  hunter  kills 
a  young  rhinoceros,  he  takea  a  comparatively 
small  portion  of  it,  —  namely,  the  hump,  and 
a  layer  of  fat  and  flesh  which  li^  between 
the  skin  and  the  ribs.  The  rn  aindcr  he 
abandons  to  his  native  assistants,  who  do 
not  seem  to  care  very  much  whether  meat 
be  tough  or  tender,  so  long  as  it  is  meat. 
Tlie  layer  of  fat  and  lean  on  the  ribs  is  only 
some  two  inches  in  thickness,  so  that  the 
attendants  have  the  lion's  share,  as  far  as 
quantity  is  concerned.  Quality  they  leave 
to  the  more  fastidious  taste  of  the  white 
man. 

The  intestines  of  animals  are  gi'eatly  val- 
ued by  the  native;  hunters,  who  lau^h  at 
white  men  for  th'  .wing  them  away.  They 
state  that,  even  food,  the  intestines  are 
the  best  parts  ol  the  animal,  and  those 
Europeans  who  have  had  the  moral  courage 
to  follow  the  example  of  the  natives  have 
always  corroborated  their  assertion.  Tlic 
reatler  may  perhaps  remember  that  the  back- 
woodsmen of  America  never  think  of  reject- 
ing these  dainty  morsels,  but  have  an  odd 
method  of  drawing  them  slowly  through  the 
fire,  and  thus  eating  them  as  fast  as  they  are 
cooked.  Moreover,  the  intestines,  as  well 
as  the  paunch,  are  always  useful  as  water- 
vessels.  This  latter  article,  when  it  is  taken 
from  a  small  animal,  is  always  reserved  for 
cooking  purposes,  being  filled  with  scraps  of 
meat,  fat,  blood,  and  other  ingredients,  and 
tlien  cooked.  Scotch  travellers  have  com- 
pared this  dish  to  the  "  haggis "  of  their 
native  land. 

The  illustration  opposite  represents  the 
wild  and  .  animated  scene  which  accompa- 
nies the  deatli  of  an  elephant.  Some  two 
or  three  hours  are  supposeil  to  have  ela]/sed 
since  the  elephant  was  killed,  and  the  chief 
has  jnst  arrived  at  the  spot.  He  is  shown 
seated  in  the  foreground,  his  sldeld  and 
nssaijais  stacked  behind  him.  while  his  'laije 
is  holding  a  cup  of  beer,  aud  two  of  his 


;y  be  eaten.  Even 
aated.  If  a  largo 
Bros,  be  killed,  the 
Ihe  ribs  from  the 
il  lies  on  its  side, 
assagai  heads,  and 
large  hole  in  the 
-unters  straight- 
.  remove  the  intes- 
ing  them  to  their 
ivert  them,  tie  up 
1.  By  this  time  a 
las  collected,  often 
es  of  the  hunters, 
their  joined  hands 
)  contrive  to  make 
itic  scale. 

)cero8  is  not  very 
1  animal  is  so  very 
ily  any  one  except 
even  that  of  the 
iTtly  eatable  by  a 
opean  hunter  kills 
■.ez  a  comparatively 
.ely,the  hump,  and 
hich  li  between 
rhe  re  I  aindcr  he 
j-ssistants,  who  do 
uch  whether  meat 
ong  as  it  is  meat, 
on  the  ribs  is  only 
kness,  so  that  the 
's  share,  as  far  as 
Quality  they  leave 
asle  of  the  white 

lis  are  greatly  val- 
ors, who  laugh  at 
them  away.  They 
the  intestines  are 
mimal,  and  those 
the  moral  courage 
the  natives  have 
ir  assertion.  The 
liber  that  the  back- 
k^er  think  of  reject- 
but  have  an  odd 
slowly  through  the 
1  as  fast  as  they  are 
intestines,  as  well 
's  useful  ns  water- 
le,  when  it  is  taken 
Iwavs  reserved  for 
illed  with  scraps  of 
'T  ingredients,  and 
vellers  have  coni- 
'  haggis  "  of  tlicir 

Ite  represents  the 
e  which  accompa- 
phant.  Some  two 
eil  to  have  ela]>Hcd 
Hod,  and  the  cliief 
lot.  lie  is  shown 
d,  his  sliield  and 
ini.  while  his  'laire 
)r,  and  two  ol  his 


LOOKJNG   ELKPHANT'S  FOOT. 

(See  page  IK.) 


(133) 


i 


SLAUGHTER  IN  THE  RAVINE. 


185 


chief  men  arc  offering;  him  tlic  tusks  of  the 
elephant.  In  tho  middle  distauce  are  seen 
the  Kafllrs  preparinj,'  tiie  oven  for  the  recep- 
tion of  the  elephant's  foot.  Several  men  are 
seen  engaged  in  rakim?  out  the  emhers  from 
tlie  hole,  shieldiii'T  themselves  from  the  heat 
by  leafy  branches  of  trees,  while  one  of  the 
rakers  has  ,just  left  his  post,  being  scorched 
to  the  utmost  limit  of  endurance,  and  is  in 
the  act  of  handing  over  his  pole  to  a  com- 
rade  who  is  about  to  take  liis  place  at  the 

Two  more  Kaffirs  are  shown  in  tlic  act 

;  •'■'^"' r".,  *'^*^  '"'"«  '■oo'  to  the  oven,  and 
strips  of  tlie  elephant's  flesh  aro  seen  sus- 
pended from  the  boughs  in  order  to  be  con- 
verted into  "biltongue."  It  is  a  rather 
remarkable  fact  that  this  simj.le  process  of 
cutting  the  meat  into  strips  and  drying  it 
m  the  air  has  the  effect  of  rendering  sev- 
eral unsavory  moats  quite  palatable,  takln.r 
mvny  the  powerful  odors  w^iieh  deter  even 
a  Kaffir  and  much  more  a  white  man,  from 
eating  them  in  a  Iresh  state. 

niri,/'?"  ^v'^^Tu  '''Stance  is  seen  the 
nearly  demolished  body  of  the  elepliant,  at 
which  a  couple  of  Kaffirs  are  still  at  work. 
It  m.ay  hero  bo  mentioned  that  after  an  ele- 
phant 13  killed,  the  Kafflrs  take  very  great 
pains  about  making  the  first  incision  into 
the  body.  The  carcass  of  the  slain  animal 
generally  remains  on  the  ground  for  an 
hour  or  two  until  the  orders  of  the  chief 
can  be  received;  and  even  in  that  brief 
space  of  time  the  hot  African  sun  produ- 
ces a  partial  decomposition,  and  causes  the 
body  of  the  animal  to  swell  by  reason  of  the 
miajitity  of  gas  which   is  generated.    Tlie 

fnuv"".-  ^k'''''^"^'°"  himself  the  onerous 
Usk  of  making  the  ftrst  incision  chooses  his 
sharpest  and  weightiest  assa"-.ai,  marks  thp 
direction  of  the  wind,  selects"tli'e  best  spot 
tor  the  operation,  and  looks  carefully  round 
to  see  that  the  coast  is  clear.  Having  made 
all  his  preparations,  he  hurls  his  weapon 
deeply  into  the  body  of  the  elephant,  and 
'""  ^'"^':!"'''y   H'-'^P'^    ««*'!«    to    avoid    the 


result  of  the  strokiTtheenclo^d^'^scr 
";;?,;^'t'*  a  loud  report,  and  pouring  ouffn 
volumes  of  such  singularly  \,rtensi"ve  odor 

X^:S£ir''''  ''  ^  ^'^^^  -  -t 
I  have  more  than  once  witnessed  a  some- 
what similar  scene  when  engaged  in  the 
pursu.  o  comparative  anatomy"  the  wo,"  t 
examp  0  be'ng  that  of  a  lion  wWch  had 
been  dead  some  three  or  four  weeks  and 
Sst^'"''^^'  consequence,  swoHen  o'u  of 
all  shape.  We  fastened  tightlv  all  the  win 
dows  which  lookc.,1  upon  tlfe  "Ird  in  wW  i 
the  body  of  the  animal  was  !yin"  amrhel 

iotict^Thr'^'"  "^f  '''''''  at"a"CieS 
hhi  self  wi  it   "'^^'.^turous  operator  armed 
nimseit  with  a  knife  and  a  li<'hted  nioA 
leaned  well  to  the  opposite  side''of  tJe^ani: 
mal,  dehvorod  his  stab,  and  darted  hack  to  ! 
the  door,  ,vliich  wivs  instantly  clpsod.    The  | 


result  of  the  operation  was  very  much  like 
that  which  has  l)een  mentioned  when  per- 
formed on  the  elephant,  though  on  a  smaller 
scale,  and  in  a  minute  or  so  the  lion  was  re- 
duced to  its  ordinary  size. 

Sometimes  a  great  number  of  hunters 
unite  for  the  purpose  of  assailing  one  of  the 
vast  herds  of  animals  which  have  already 
been  mentioned.  In  this  instance,  they  do 
not  resort  to  the  pitfall,  but  attack  the  ani- 
n^ls  with  their  spear.s.  In  order  to  do  so 
effl'ctually,  they  divide  themselves  into  two 
parties,  one  of  which,  consisting  chiefly  of 
the  younger  men,  and  led  by  one  or  two 
of  the  old  and  experienced  hunters,  sets  off 
toward  the  herd,  while  the  others,  anned 
with  a  large  supply  of  assagais  and  kerries, 
proceed  to  one  of  the  narrow  and  steep- 
sided  ravines  which  are  so  common  lu 
Southern  Africa.    (See  engraving  No.  2,  p. 

The  former  party  proceed  very  cautiously, 
availing  themselves  of  every  cover,  and  bein" 
very  careful  to  manwuvro  so  as  to  keep  on 
the  leeward  side  of   the  herd,  until   they 
have    fairly  placed    the    animals    between 
themselves    and    the    ravine.     Meanwhile 
sentries  are  detached  at  intervals,  whose 
duty  It  IS  to  form  a  kind  of  lane  toward  the 
ravine,  and  to  prevent  the  herd  from  takin" 
a  wrong  course.     When  all  the  arran^e^ 
ments  are  completed,   the  hunters  boldly 
show  themselves  in  the  rear  of  the  animals 
who  immediately  move  forward  in  a  liody  — 
not  very  fast  at  first,  because  they  are  not 
quite  sure  whether  they  are  going  to  be 
attacked.    As  they  move  along,  the  senti- 
nels show  themselves  at  either  side,  so  as  to 
Uirect  them  toward  the  ravine;  and  when 
the  van  of  the  herd  has  entered,  the  remain- 
der are  sure  to  follow. 

Then  comes  a  most  animated  and  stirrin^ 
scene.  Knowing  tliat  when  the  leaders  o'f 
the  herd  have  entered  the  ravine,  the  rest 
are  sure  to  follow,  the  driving  jjarty  rushes 
forward  with  loud  yells,  beating  their  shields, 
and  terrifying  the  animals  to  such  a  degree 
that  they  da.sh  madly  forward  in  a  mfxed 

ZfnTf  "*"  '"^"^-lopes.  qoaggas,  giraffes,  and 
often  a  stray  ostnch  or  two.  Thick  and  fast 
the  assagais  rain  upon  the  aff-rightcd  animals 
as  they  try  to  rush  out  of  the  rav^ine,  but  when 
they  roach  the  end  they  find  their  exit  barred 

Scllw?,"'^.''*'"'.*^  °*"  !'""**''■«'  ^^'>«  'l"ve  them 
back  with  shouts  and  si)ea-<..    Some  of  them 

charge  boldly  ac  the  hunters,  and  make  their 

^!etl!:T^'''  "*''"!:'  "■"■*  ^^^  •'«•»»  through 
the  kloof,  hoping  to  escape  by  the  same  way 

^they had  entered.    This  entrance  U.how^ 

wrnV  ?"^"^*'-^  ^'y,^^^  '^"^•""  P^'ty,  and  so  the 
wretchjjd  aniinals  are  sent  backward  and  for- 

n^^tir"  ^'^'^'''^a'lly  P'-ith  until  the  weap- 
ons of  their  assailants  are  exhausted,  and  the 
survivors  are  allowed  to  escape. 
,„.^''''«*l"J«'»".''8"  foi-m  as  characteristic  fr... 
tuies  of  .-souuieia  Africa  as  do  the  table 
mouutmns.    They  have  been  well  defined 


m 


THE  XAFFIR. 


as  tlie  re-enterin;?  elbows  or  fissures  in  a 
ningii  ot  lulls;  iind  it  is  a  rciimrkiil)lo  fact 
that  the  kloof  is  mostly  clotlicd  with  thick 
bush,  whatever  may  be  "the  character  of  the 
surrouiidiuj,'  country.  In  (,'olonel  E.  Na- 
pier's "Excursions  in  .Southern  Africa," 
there  is  so  lulmirablo  a  description  of  the 
kloof  and  the  bush  that  it  must  bo  sivcn  in 
the  languauje  of  the  writer,  who  liius  drawn  a 
most  perfect  word-picture  of  South  African 
scenery: — 

"The  character  of  the  South  African 
'bush' has  features  quite  peculiar  in  itself, 
and  sometimes  unites  —  while  stron^jly  con- 
trastinj,' —  the  grand  and  sublime  wiih  the 
grotesque  and  ridiculous.  When  seen  alar 
from  a  commanding  elevation  —  the  undula- 
ting sea  of  verdure  extending  for  miles  and 
miles,  with  a  bright  sun  shining  on  a  green, 
compact,  unbroken  surface  — it  conveys  to 
the  mind  of  a  spectator  nauiiht  save  in"ia<'es 
of  repose,  peace,  and  tninqiiillity.  lie  lor- 
gets  that,  like  the  hectic  bloom  of  a  fatal 
malady,  these  smiling  seas  of  verdure  often 
in  their  entangled  depths  conceal  treacher- 
ous, death-dealing  re]itiles,  ferocious  beasts 
of  prey,  and  the  still  more  dangerous, 
though  no  less  crafty,  and  more  cruel 
Kaffir. 

"  On  a  nearer  approach,  dark  glens  and 
gloomy  kloofs  are  found  to  fence  the  moun- 
tain sides.    These  often  merge  downward 


just  described  —  a  sort  of  high,  thorny  under- 
wood, comi)o.sed  chiefly  of  the  miniosa  and 
portujacacia  tribe;  taller,  thicker,  more  im- 
l)euetrablc,  and  of  more  rigid  texture  than 
even  the  tiger's  accustomed  lair  in  the  far 
depths  of  ah  Indian  Jungle;  but,  withal,  so 
mixed  and  mingled  with  luxuriant,  turgid, 
succulent  plants  and  parasites,  m  —  even 
during  the  dryest  weather— to  be  totally 
impervious  to  the  destroying  iuHiience  of 
fire. 

"The  bush  is,  therefore,  from  its  impas- 
sable character,  the  Katlir's  never-failing 
place  of  refuge,  both  in  j)eace  and  war.  In 
his  naked  hardihood,  he  either,  snake-like, 
twines  through  and  creeps  beneath  its 
densest  masses,  or,  shiehled  with  the  kaross, 
securely  defies  their  must  thorny  and  abrad- 
ing opposition.  Under  cover  of' the  bush,  in 
war,  ho,  panther-like,  steals  ujion  bis  foe; 
in  pence,  upon  the  farmer's  flock.  Secure,  in 
both  instances,  from  jjursuit,  he  can  in  the 
bush  set  European  power,  Eurojiean  skill, 
and  European  discii)linc  at  naught;  and 
hitherto,  vain  ha.s  been  every  effort  to 
destroy  by  fire  this,  his  imi)regnablo  — for  it 
is  impregnable  to  all  save  himself— strong- 
hold.'' ^ 


into   deep  ravines,  forming  at  their   base 
sometimes  the  bed  of  a  clear,  gurgling  brook, 
or  that  of  a  turbid,  raging  torrent,  generally 
shadowed  and  overhung  by  abundant  vegi'- 
tation,    in  all    the    luxuriance  of   trojjical 
growth  and  profusion.    Noble  forest  trees, 
entwined  with  creepers,  encircled  by  parasi- 
tical plants  and  with  long  gray  mantles  of 
lichen,  loosely  and  boardlike  floating  from 
their  spreatling  limbs,   throw  the  'brown 
horrors '  of  a  shadowy  gloom  o\»r  the  dark 
secluded,  Druidical-looking  dells.    But  jab- 
bering apes,  or   large,   satvr-like   baboons, 
performing  grotesque  antics  and   uttering 
unearthly  yells,  grate  strangely  on  the  ear, 
and  sadly  mar  the  solemnitv  of  the  .scene  • 
whilst  lofty,  leafless,  and  fantastic  euphorbia' 
like  huge  candelabra,  shoot  up  in  bare  pro- 
fusion from  the  gray,  rocky  cliffs,  pointin" 
as  it  were  in  mockery  their  skeleton  arms 
at  the  dark  and  luxuriant  foliage  around. 
Other  plantJi  of  the  cactus  and  milky  tribes 
-;-of  thorny,  rugged,  or  smooth  anil  fleshy 
kinds  —  stretch  forth   in  every  way   theiV 
bizarre,  mi.sshapen  forms;  waving  them  to 
the  breeze,  ft-om  yon  high,  beetling  crags,  so 
thickly  clothed  to  their  very  base  with  grace- 
ful nqjebooms,  and  drooping,  jialm-likc  aloes ; 
.whose  tall,  slender,  and  naked  stems  spring 
up  from  amidst  the  dense  verdure  of  gay  and 
flowering  mimosas. 

"  Emerging  from  such  darksome  glens  to 
the  more  sunny  side  of  the  mountain's  brow 
there  we  still  find  an  impenetrable  bush,  but 
diftering  in  character  from  what  we  have 


After  a  successful  hunt,  such  as  has  just 
been  described,  there  are  great  rejoicings, 
the  chief  of  the  tribe  having  all  the  slaugh- 
tered game  laid  before  him,  and  giving  or- 
ders for  a  grand  hunting  dance.     The  chief, 
who   is    generally    too   liit    to    care    about 
accompanying  the  hunters,  takes  his  seat  in 
some  open  sjiace,  mostly  the  central  enclos- 
ure of  a  kraal,  and  there,  in  com])anv  with  a 
huge  bowl  of  beer  and  a  few  distinguished 
guests,  awaits  the  arrival  of  the^ame.    The 
animals  have  hardly  falhui  befm-e  they  aro 
carried   in  triumph   to  the  chief,  and  laid 
before  him.    As  each  animal  is  ])laced  on 
the  ground,  a  little  Kaflir  boy  comes  and 
liiys  himself  over  his  body,  remaining  in  this 
position  until  the  dance  "is  over.    This  curi- 
ous custom  is  mlopted  from  an  idea  that  it 
prevents    sorcerers    from     throwing    their 
spells  upon  the  game.    The  boys  who  are 
employed  for  this  purjiose  become  greatly 
disfigured   by  the   blood   of  the  slain  ani- 
mals, but  they  seem  to  think  that  the  gory 
stains  arc  ornamental   rather  than  the  re- 
verse. 

At  intervals,  the  hunting  dance  takes 
plafe,  the  hunters  arranging  themselves  in 
regular  lines,  advancing  ami  retreating  with 
the  precision  of  trained  soldiers,  shouting, 
leaping,  beating  their  shields,  brandishiiig 
their  weapons,  and  working  themselves  up 
to  a  wonderful  pitch  of  (excitement.  The 
leader  of  the  dance,  who  facets  them,  is,  if 
possible,  even  more  excited  than  the  men, 
and  leaps,  stamps,  and  shouts  with  an  energy 
that  seems  to  be  almost  maniacal.  Mean- 
while, the  chief  sits  still,  and  drinks  his  beer, 
and  signifies  occasionally  his  approval  of  the 
dancers. 


C't 


LION  HUNTING. 


IJohkIps  tlioso  animals  which  :hi',  Kaffir 
kills  lor  Jod,  there  arc  otli^rs  which  h((  only 
attacks  i  ,r  thi*  sake  of  tliuir  trophies,  such 
aa  the  skin,  daws,  and  teeth.  The  mode 
adopt(id  lu  aHsailing  the  tierce  and  active 
beasts,  such  a.s  tlie  lion,  is  very  r,^marl<al)lo. 
Jiach  man  lunn.slies  himself,  in  addition  to 
JUS  usual  \vc:ipona,  with  an  assaL'iii,  to  the 
but-oiK'  ot  which  is  att,iched  a  laiW  hunch 

uJTi'  '''."^''"P'  '°"'''"^'  ^■^^••3'  "'"ch  like 
the  feather  brushes  with  which  ladies  du.st 
clehcato  furniture.  Tliey  then  proceed  to 
the  spot  where  the  lion  is  to  be  found,  and 
spread  theinso  yes  so  as  to  make  a  circle 
round  h.m.  The  lion  is  at  first  rather  dis- 
quieted at  this  proceedinj,',  and,  accordin-r 


137 


f*    1  •„   .       , '  r'">— ^>""„,  'iiui,  accorainr 

to  h;s  usual  custom,  tries  to  slii,  olf  unseen. 

so,  and  tiiat  the  circle  of  enemies  is  closint,' 
on  hnn,  he  becomes  angry,  turns  to  bay,  and 
with  mcnacuicr  growls  announces  his  in- 
tenticm  of  punishing  the  intruders  on  his 
dom.ain.  One  of  them  then  comes  forwar  L 
and  incites  the  lion  to  charge  him  and  as 
soon  as  the  .animal's  attention  is  occi^d  by 
one  ob,ect,the  hunters  behind  him  ac  yanco^ 


With  rage,  and  without  a  wound.  Of  course 
several  soldiers  lost  their  lives  in  the  assault' 
but  n.-ither  their  king  nor  their  comriidps 
seemed  to  think  that  anything  out  of  the 
ordinary  course  of  things  liad  been  done 
On  one  occasion,  Dingaii  condescended  to 
play  a  practical  joke  upon  his  soldiers 

A  traveller  had  gone  to  see  him,  and  had 
turned   loose  his  horse,  whi(;h  was  fiuietlv 
grazing  at  a  distance.    At  that  time  horst^ 
had  not  been  introduced  among  the  Kaffirs 
and   many  of  tlio   natives  had  never  oven 
seen  such  an  animal  as  a  liorse.     It  so 
happened    that    among    the    soldic-rs    that 
surrounded   Dingan   were   somt!   who    had 
come  from  a  distant  part  of  th(>  country  and 
who  were  totally  unacquainted  with  li"o'rses 
Dingiin  called  them  to  liim,  and  pointing  to 
the  dislant  horse,  told  thcin  to  brinn-  Rim 
that  hon  alive.    They  instantly  started  off 
and,  as  u.sual,  one  stood  in  advance  to  temnt 
the  animal  to  ch.-irgc,  while  the  others  closed 
in  unon  the  supposed  lion,  in  order  to  seize 
it  when  It  had  made  its   lean.    Tl 


-    .. ..  ...„.  ...,„„,  H5,    jciij,,     i'hoy  .soon 

discovered   their  mistake,   and   came   back 
he?r  cfiief'^   "*''"'''  ""  "^'  ^''""^  '"^''^ht  of 


ami  hurl  a  shower  of  assagais  at  hilrwiS   S'^^il^ 

nao  the  gnnind.  leaping  at  tile  ^nJ  uS^   Se  S^^':;''^::.iS,;l^!^;^  "  --%  take 

one  side.     In  lus  r.oge  and  pain,  the  lion 

does  not  at  the  moment  comprehend     he 

deception,  and  strikes  with  hisSnighty  n    y 

at  the  bunch  of  ostrich  plumes,  which  he 

takes  for  tlie   feather-decke.l   head  of  I^s 

assailant.    Finding  himself  baffled,  he    ur  s 

Zo"^  '  •';!''  '"•■'P-'  ""  "'«  ""■'^'-''^t  hunter  who 
reneats  (lie  snmn  i^..,..,..„„.  i  ^       .   ' 


..„«„„;    ;;    •"—i"  ""  ""^  ue.uesi,  nuntcr,  wli 
f,1?n./'"' /■'!""  l»''>c«««;  and  a.  at  every 
>irn    the    furious    animal    receives    fresh 
wounds,  he  succumbs  at  last  to  his  foes 

L„if  '^  ^^  ^•'""  i'''"*'  '»  «»cii  an  affray  the 

I  hunters  come  off  scathless.    The  least  hes- 

litation  m  ,)  anting  the  i.lnmed  spear  ami 

leaping    aside    entails    tf.e   certainty  of   a 

BuT'asThe'K\ffl'^  the  probabMity  o/death 
jjut,  as  the  Katflrs  seldom  engage  in  such  n 
liunt  w.lhout  the  orders  of  tTicTr  clh^'  and 
are  perfectly  aware  that  failure  to  execute 
his  commands  is  a  c.apit.al  offence  ^ts 
better  for  them   to  run  the  ri«W  ,.?  i!  • 

order  much  in    H  extraordinary 


:,     :.::  "■"-  ""•' "•^i",  an  n  wm  mostly  take 

the  initi.ative,  and  attack  before  its  presence 

IS  suspected.     Its   habit  of   livi,,,;  in   tho 

densest  and   darkest  thicket   remTers   i    a 

peculiarly  dangerous  animal,  as  it  will  dash 

from  18  concealment  upon  any  unfortunate 

man  wlio  h.appens  to  pass  near  if.s  lair    and 

as  Its  great  weight  and  enormously 'soHd 

horns  enable  it  to  rush  through  the  bush 

much  filter  than  even  a  Kafhr  can  gl  do 

among  the  matted  growths,  there  is  H 

sma     chance  of  esc.i'^e.    AVeapoit    are  b  t 

of  httle  use  when  a  buffalo  is  ik  question  as 

ball,  and  perfectly  impregnaI>lo  against  such 
weapons  as  the  fefiir's  spear,  aiul  the  sud- 

if/ff  ^l!°  .^"'"'■f  'h  ""*  P'-irtieularly  caro  for 
its  flesh,  though  of  course  they  will  eat  it 
when  they  can  get^nothing  betti,r,  they  will 
hunt  the  animal  for  tho  sake  of^  its  hide 

icathei.  The  hide  is  so  tough  that  excent 
at  close  quarters,  a  ))ullet  which  1.1^,10? 
been  hardened  by  the  admixture  of  some 

limes  the  Kaffir  engages  very  unwillin<Tlv 

m  war  with  this  dangerous^e."st,  befn^ 
attacked  nn.iwnroa  ^oU^r. •  .      '   "'-'ng 


MM 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


AGRICULTURE. 


DrviaioN  OP  i.AnoB— now  land  is  ruKPAUKn  kor  seed  — cLEAnmo  the  land  and  nnRAKiNo  up 

THE  (JltOUNll  — KXIIAIISTIVB  SYSTEM  OF  AdHICULTltllE  —  CKOl'S  CULTIVATED  HV  KAKFIIIS — THE 
STAFF  OF  LIKK  — WATC'H-TOWKIIS  AND  THEUl  USES  —  KKKl'INU  OFF  THE  IIIIIDS  —  ENFMIES  OP 
THH  COltN-FIULD  — THE  CHAC'MA  AND  ITS  DKI'UEDATIONS— THE  IIAIIIANA  HOOT  — USES  OF  THE 
CHAOMA  — THE  Hin'OI'OTAMUS  AND  ITS  DESTUUCTIVK  POWKKH  — THE  ELEI'HANT  — SINOUI.AIl  I-LAN 
OF  TEUKIFVINd  IT— ANTELOl'KS,  HUFFALOEH,  AND  WILD  SWINE— EI.AIIOHATE  FOHTIFICATION — 
Hir.D  KIl.I.INd— THE  I,OCfST  —  OUKIOUS  KAFFIH  LEGEND  —  FUUIT8  CULTIVATED  IIY  THE  KAFFIB 
—  FOIIAOE   Foil  CATTLE  —  UUIININO  THE  Bl'SII   AND  ITS  UESULTS. 


As  by  (he  chase  the  Knfflrs  obtain  the 
greater  i)art  of  tlieir  animal  food,  so  by  aj;ri- 
culture  thi'y  procure  tlu-  cliief  part  of  their 
vegelal)le  lioiirislnnent,  Tiie  taslc  of  |)rovi- 
ding  ibod  is  divided  between  the  two  sexes, 
the  women  not  l)eini;  permitted  to  take  part 
in  tlie  luint,  nor  to  meddle  with  the  cows, 
while  tl\e  men  will  not  contaminate  their 
warrior  hands  with  the  touch  of  an  agricul- 
tui-al  im))lemeiit.  They  have  no  objection 
to  use  edge-tools,  such" as  the  axe,  and  will 
cut  down  Iho  trees  and  brushwood  which 
may  be  in  the  way  of  cultivation;  but  they 
will  not  curry  a  single  stick  oil'  the  ground, 
nor  help  tlie  women  to  dig  or  clear  tlie  soil. 
AVhen  a  new  kraal  is  huilt,  the  inhid)- 
itants  look  out  for  a  convenient  spot  in  the 
immediate  neighborhood,  wheie  they  may 
cultivatt^  tlie  various  plants  that  form  the 
staple  of  South  African  produce.  As  a  gen- 
eral rule,  ground  is  of  two  kinds,  namely, 
bush  and  oi)en  ground,  the  former  being 
the  more  fertile,  and  tlie  latter  requiring 
less  trouble  in  clearing.  The  experienced 
agriculturist  invariably  prefers  the  former, 
although  it  costs  liim  a  little  more  labor  at 
first,  and  although  the  latter  is  ratlutr  more 
inviting  at  (list  sight.  This  favorable  im- 
pression soon  vanishes  upon  a  closer  in- 
spection, for.  .-xs  a  general  rule,  where  it  is 
not  sandy,  it  is  bakiul  so  hard  by  the  sun 
that  a  plough  would  have  no  chance  against 
it,  and  even  the  heavy  i)ieks  with  which  the 
women  work  cannot  make  an  impression 
without  much  labor.  Moreover,  it  requires 
much  more  water  than  is  supplietl  ft-oni 
aaturai  sources,  and,  evcQ  wheu  well  moist- 


(138) 


oncd,  is  not  very  remarkable  for  its  fertility. 
IJush  land  is  oi"  a  far  better  (piality,  and  is 
prepared  Cor  agriculture  as  follows:  — 

The  men  set  to  work  with  (lieir  li((lo 
axes,  and  cliop  down  all  (he  underwood  and 
small  trees,  leaving  the  women  to  drag  (he 
fallen  branches  out  of  the  space  intended 
for  th(!  field  or  garden.  Large  trees  they 
cannot  fell  wi(li  (heir  im|)erfcct  instru- 
ments, and  so  tliey  are  obliged  to  content 
themselves  with  cutting  off  as  many 
branches  as  possible,  and  then  bringing  the 
tree  down  by  means  of  (ire.  The  smalltrecs 
and  branches  that  are  felled  are  generally 
arrangecl  round  the  garden,  so  as  to  forth 
a  defence  against  the  numerous  e;iemies 
which  assail  the  crojis.  The  task  of  build- 
ing this  fence  l)elougs  to  (he  men,  and  when 
they  have  completed  it  their  part  of  the 
work  is  done,  and  they  leave  the  rest  to  the 
women. 

Furnished  with  the  heavy  and  clumsy 
hoe,  the  woman  breaks  uj)  the  ground  by 
sheer  manual  labor,  and  manages,  in  her 
curious  fashion,  to  combine  digging  and 
sowing  in  one  operation.  Besides  her  pick, 
laid  over  her  shoulder,  and  j)ossibly  a  baby 
.slung  on  her  back,  she  carries  to  the  Held  a 
large  b.asket  of  seed  balanced  on  her  head. 
When  she  arrives  at  the  scene  of  her 
labors,  she  begins  by  scattering  the  seed 
broadcast  over  the  ground,  and  then  pocks 
up  the  earth  with  nor  hoe  to  a  depth  of 
some  three  or  four  inches.  The  larger 
roots  and  grass  tufts  arc  then  picked  out  by 
hand  and  removed,  but  (he  smaller  are 
not  considered  worthy  of  special  attention. 


-  1 


WATCH-TOWERS  AND  TIIEIH  USES. 


Ilus  constltiitc.H  Ihn  oporatioii  of  Nowinjr 
iind  111  u  won.lcrliilly  «lioit  limi,  i,  nuKvd 
|!i-<)|)  ot  corn  iiiid  woedH  nIiooIs  iih.  WIk.h 
l)<>tli  arc  about  a  iiioiilli  old,  tin.  i;n,uii(i  N 
itKiuii  io,.,l,  and  llu)  wiu^ds  aio  then  nulled 
uj.  ai.d  doHtroyod.  (Jwin«  to  tlu,  very  !„,- 
porJuct  iiuKJu  ot  c'ullivadon,  tli.;  soil  prodii- 

1 1  ckly  <i„d  nmkly  in  m.nio  snot-  whiR.  in 
"ll'tT.  not  a  blado  of  corn  Us '  ma  do  it" 
u|.l.eai-an.:o.     Whon  the  Kadlr  choo,  oi  t   " 

nhvays  trouble  liimself  to  build  a  fence  but 

[;:?^''':;'l""7"''vithn.arkin^  out  audi' 

:,»'/''  «'■"""'''  ''•"••^li"!,'  to^ood  for- 

tu no  that  It  n,ay  not  bo  devastate.l  by  tl u, 

"srr.;:'in.!i^£r'-'-^'^'»-«-.e.. 

of'^irUtiS' 'i  'f  "'V^  ^"  '"^™  ^'^T  little  idea 
rn>.-       ,""''"""'  '""'  »"»«   fit   ail   of 
.■    ) vutij.i?  tlio  ground  by  manure.     Irr  -a- 
o.    1.0  leaves  to  the  nal.n-al  .showrs,  am 
beyond  pay.n^'  a  professional  "rain-m-  k    •" 
;,>  charm  the  clouds  for  him,  he     l'  es  ft  e 
any,  trouble  about  this  impurtant  b,  a,  'h 
01    i  ,M-,cuUuro.    As    to   manuriui.   s,  i     he 
in    '"'  '^   '«'>i>''fvnt  of  such  a  pn.ceed  n  ' 
i>ltliou,i,^h  the  henls  of  cattle  which  are  k,^t 
■«  every  kraal  would  enable  him  t,, 'end'. r 
tL  T'^'f'^'f    ''V"l    'narvellouslv    le    i le 

o.e",;t;h";.f''ir-''  ''',  "'^"^1'"'   ^'''^t  whin 
one  pateli  of   it  is  exlnuisted  he   leaves  il 

and  .roes  to  another;   and   for  this  reaso  ' 

nbamloned  gardens  are  very  c..i  unon  S 

the   lenee   which   encircled    them,  and    by 
wl?i,.h"l"""""    '"l"'"   "'•   I"""l'ki  1    I-lans 

roJ;u^a^sS°^^;^:}'^r.;«'j^„, 

«ome   particular  plant.      Various  kinds 

cn)^  are  cultivated  by  the  KaiEt^etin^ 
tipal  bemjr  maue,  millet,  pumpkins  a  I 
a  kind  of  spunous  su.'ar-cn  ..        .rV-    f 

liie  class  of  luxiipi<..j     ti,      ^  .  "  '<ii"<.r  to 


180 

A  wutch-towcr  l«  Konorally  constructed 
n  these  Karden«,  esj.e.ially   i'f  lh,  y  are    of 
considerable    sue.      The    tower    is    usef 
.>r   two   reas...is:    it    enables   the   uat.hc" 
to    see    to    a    considerable    distanc..,    mid 
acts  a.s  a  protection  .jKainst  the  wild 'boars 
u  .1  other  enemies  which  are  apt  t..  deviw- 
late    the    -aniens,    especially    if   ihev  are 
not  Kuanle,     by  a  fence,  or   if  the  ince 
■should   bo  dama«c<l.     If  the   spot   be   nn- 
fnced,  a  KUard  is  kept  .)n  it  day  and  nijrlit 
l-ut  a  i)ropcrly  .Icfended  Karden   needs      ,' 
niKht  watchers  except  in  one  or  two  ,yeeks 
of  the  year.    The  wat^'li-tower  is  very  sim- 
|)ly  made.    I'  our  stout  poles  are  lixcd  liriulv 
ui   the  ground,  and  ii  number  of  smaller 
po  e«  are   ashed  to  tlu'lr  tops,  so  as  to  niako 
a  Hat  platlorm.    A  small  hut  is  built  on  part 
ot  the  platform  as  a  ])rotection  a-rainst  tho 
weather  so  that  the  inm.ite  can  watch  tl,„ 
Held  whde  ensconced  in  the  hut,  and,  if  any 
furred  or  leathered  robbers  come  within  its 
precincts  can  run  out  on  the  pladbrn,  and 
t  ;«hten  them  away  by  shouts  and  ,vaviiiL' 
arms.     The  space  between  the  plaiforin 
1  >,n-o„,ui  ,,  .vattled  on  three  sidVs,  |,.av. 
in»    ho  fourth  open.    The  object   of  this 
watllinj.  .s  twofold.     In  the  first  pla<'e,  to 
structure  is  rendered  more  se.uir,  ;  and  in 
(he  second,  the  inmate  of  the    'o.vcr  can 
>ake  a   lire  and  cook  food  without  bein-' 
UKonvenienced  by  the  wind. 

won  ".  "'•''',"'"  "'"  "^■'•'^  '«  eominitt.Ml  to  the 
u  h     „h""    >■"""",«'•■'?'  l''«  »"■»  thinking 
su(,.h  duties   beneath   them.      In    order   to 
keep  otr  the  birds  from  the  newly  s  ro  iti 
com  blades,  or  from  the  just  ripe,-,ii,irV„"Vn 
•a   very  in-emous  device   is  emplofea    A 

S  'V""'r'"  "/  *^"'  slender 'pdsts  aro 
H  ck  at  intervals  all  over  the  piece  of 
ai  d,  anl  strin-s  made  of  bark  are  led  fro  u 
pole  to  p,>e  all  the  ends  nein<r  broie'l      " 

innlv'';i''  '\  "■'^^'•'-'""■^'r.  »'l''"o  tluT  a  c 
in  I.y  tied  \  so„n  a.s  a  flock  of  (,irds 
vh-ht  on  the  Ii.    „  the  -iri  in  cliar-e  of  tlm 

the  in  all  yihiatHis  up  and  dow„,  and  so  tlio 

spot.    A  system  almost  identical  with  this 
Ks  employed  both  in  the  Chinese  and  Ja  a, 

eso  empires,  and  the  complicated  arrange- 
ment  of  poles  and  strin.-y,  and  the  centi-al 
watch-tower,  is  a  favorite  subject  for  i  hs: 

ra  ion  in  the  rude  but  Krai.hiJ  p,  ntsw  lid. 
both  nations  produce  with  such  ferlility 
meribl';"'^!^^''  "'"  "'?  ''["•»fi'>l.l  are  fnnu- 
meiable.  There  arc,  in  the  first  place,  hosts 
of  .win^rod  foes,  little  birds  a  id  i  sects 
which  cannot  be  prohibited  from  ei  terin  "' 
an<l  can  only  bo  driven  away   wl  e      thcV 

be.;"  7T^-  '^^T  """"?  "ro-'cerfain  n  e,n^ 
beis  of  the  monkey  tribes,  notably  the 
baboons,  or  chacmas  which  ua.'e  very  lit  o 
.noro  for  ft  feneo  than   <Io  the   birds    ad 

;S'-AV'''^  '■'"''  •="'""'""  ""^  ^"-  too 
trouwesouie,  cin  fteueraiiy  insinuate  Hmm 

selves  througli  ita  intoratices.    TlUs  cua-" 


liO 


THE  KAFFIR. 


■V 


nlnR  niul  nclivo  njiimal  \n  nt  timon  tiw)  clever 
eviMi  lor  I  III'  Kjillir,  ami  will  hiu'ccimI  in 
Htoiillii);  iinoliMcrvt'ii  iiitii  \uh  uiuilcn,  itiiil  cnr- 
ryliiy;  "IV  llif  ilioiccst  of  llm  ciiijih.  Wliiit- 
iivcr  II  iiiun  will  fut  ii  t'lmciiiii  will  cat,  and 
the  crcaliirc  kiiowH  iw*  well  hm  the  man  when 
tlic  ('iiipH  are  in  Ihe  lieHl  oriler.  Whether 
tlie  );ai'(leii  eiiiitain  iiiaixi',  niillel,  puinpkinN, 
Bweel,  reed,  ur  IViiitH,  tlu^  eliaeinii  Ih  Hiire  to 
seleel  the  UvM;  and  even  wlu'H  the  aniiniilH 
nro  lieleeted.  and  elmHi'd  oiil  of  thv  i;urden, 
it  \H  very  iimio\iii>{  to  the  proprietor  to  m>.v 
tlieni  ^o  oil' with  a  iiiiantily  of  Hpoil,  hcHidoH 
tiie  ainoiint  which  lliey  have  eaten. 

The  ordinary  food  ol'the  chacina  Ih  n  plant 
railed  llaliiiiiia.  front  tli(^  uho  which  the 
hiihodiiH  make  of  it.  It  is  a  Miihtcrranean 
root,  wliii'h  has  Hut  propcrtv  t)f  lieing  ahvayH 
full  of  watery  |uic(^  in  tlie  drve.st  weather,  no 
that  it  in  of'  iiicalculahle  value  to  travdh'rs 
who  have  not  a  larjje  supply  of  water  with 
thcin,  or  who  llnd  that  the  rcKular  foiiiitainN 
art)  dried  up.  Many  KalllrH  kccj)  tjiinc 
chacnias  which  they  have  captured  when 
very  youn.'j,  and  which  have  ncarctdy  Hccn 
any  of  their  own  kind.  The.se  aniinalH  are 
very  useful  to  the  KatHrs,  for,  if  they  come 
Upon  a  iiliiit  or  a  'Vuit  which  they  do  not 
know,  tliey  olfer  it  to  the  bahoon;  and  if  he 
cntM  it,  tliey  know  that  it  is  8uit4iblo  for 
human  ciuisuiiiption. 

On  their  Journeys  the  same  animal  i.s  very 
useful  in  discoveri'nfi  water,  or,  at  all  events, 
the  hahiana  roots,  which  HUp])ly  a  modicum 
of  moisture  to  the  system,  and  servo  to  sup- 
port life  until  water  is  reaehcd.  I'udcr 
theso  circumstances,  the  hnhoon  takes  the 
lead  of  the  party,  licin<;  attached  to  a  loni; 
rope,  and  allowed  to  run  nhont  as  it  likes. 
When  it  comes  to  a  root  of  lialiiana,  it  is 
held  hack  iiniil  the  precious  vefjclahle  can 
he  taken  cut  ire  out  of  the  ground,  hut.  in 
order  to  stimulate  the  animal  to  further 
oxcrtii)ns.  ii  is  allowed  to  eat.  a  root  now  and 
then.  Til  search  for  water  is  ccmductcd  in 
a  similar  mauncr.  The  wretched  hahoon  is 
inti'ntionally  kept  without  drink  until  it  is 
half  mad  wiih  thirst,  and  is  then  led  by  a 
cord  as  before  mentioned.  It  iirocecds  with 
great  caution,  standing  occasionally  on  its 
hind  legs  to  siiilf  the  breeze,  and  looking  at 
and  smelling  every  tuft  of  grass.  By  what 
signs  the  animal  is  guided  no  one  can  even 
conjecture;  but  if  water  is  in  the  neighbor- 
hood the  liaboon  is  sure  to  tind  it.  So,  al- 
though this  animal  is  an  inveterate  foe  of 
the  Held  and  garden,  it  is  not  without  its 
uses  to  man  when  its  energies  arc  rightly 
directed. 

If  the  gardens  or  fields  should  happen  to 
be  near  the  river  side,  there  is  no  worse  foe 
for  them  than  the  hippopotamus,  which  is 
only  too  glad  to  exchange  its  ordinary  food 
fo?'  the  rich  banquet  which  it  finds  in  culti- 
vated grounds.  If  a  single  hi|)popotamus 
should  once  succeed  in  getting  into  a  gar- 
den, a  terrible  destruction  to  tlie  crop  take" 


place.     In   the   llrst  place,  (be   nniinal  can 

cOlinUIIU!    ah    iiImiiimI    iltillllliilile    iililoUlit  of 

green  food  ;  and  when  it  gi'ls  iiinong  such 
tlantien  as  cornllelilH  and  pumpkin  patclieR, 
it  liKlulges  its  iippelile  inordiniitely.  Morn- 
over,  it  damages  mure  than  it  cuts,  as  itn 
broad  feet •  and  short,  thick  legs  triimple 
their  way  through  the  crons.  The  track  of 
any  largi'  animal  would  be  injurioiiH  to  a 
standing  crop,  but  that  of  the  lii|ipo|iotiiiniiH 
is  doubly  so,  be<;aUHe  the  legs  ol  either  side 
an^  so  wide  apart  that  the  aniiiiiil  makcH  a 
double  track,  one  being  made  with  the  feet 
of  i>  n  right  Hide,  and  the  other  with  thoRe 
of  1 1. 'left 

A  ■.linst  theso  heavy  and  voracious  foes,  a 
fence  would  be  of  little  avail,  as  the  hippo- 
iiotamiis  could  fiu'ce  its  wav  through  the 
liarrier  without  injury,  thniiKs  b>  its  thick 
hide.  The  owner  o'f  the  Held  (h 'reforo 
encloses  it  within  a  tolerably  decn  ditch, 
and  fnrtherinor((  defends  Ibe  ditch  by 
pointed  stakes  ;  so  that,  if  a  hipixi^iotainiiH 
did  happen  to  fall  into  the  tiiiich,  it  would 
never  come  out  again  alive.  A  similar 
dcf(>nce  is  sometimes  inadi'  against  the  in- 
roads of  the  (>lephants.  'I'hose  animals  do 
not  otlen  tike  it  into  their  heads  to  attack  a 
garden  in  the  vicinity  of  human  habitations; 
but  when  they  do  so,  it  is  hardly  possible  to 
stop  them,  cxcejit  by  such  an  obstiicle  as  a 
•liteh.  Even  tlu'  ordinary  iirotcction  of  a 
fence  and  the  vicinity  of  bumau  habitalioiiR 
is  worthless,  when  a  number  of  clciibants 
I'boose  to  make  an  inroad  upon  some  Held; 
and,  unless  the  whole  )ioi)ulalion  turns  out 
of  the  kiiuil  and  uses  all  nieaiis  iit  their  eoiii- 
miuul,  the  animals  will  carry  out  their  jdaus. 
The  elephant  always  cbooses  the  night  for 
bis  niarauding  expeditions,  so  that  the 
defenders  of  the  crojis  have  double  disad- 
vimtages  to  contend  against.  One  weapon 
which  thcv  use  against  the  elephant  is  a 
very  singular  one.  They  have  an  idea  that 
the'animal  is  terrillcd  at  the  shrill  cry  of  an 
infant,  and  as  soon  as  elephants  ap])roach  a 
krail,  all  the  ( liildren  are  whipped,  in  hopcH 
that  the  elephants  may  be  dismayed  at  tho 
universal  clamor,  and  leave  the  spot. 

Antelojies  of  variiuis  kinds  are  exceod- 
inv'ly  fond  of  the  young  corn  blades,  an<l,  if 
the  ticld  be  withiuit  a  fence,  arc  sure  to 
come  in  numbers,  and  nibble  everv  green 
shoot  down  to  the  very  ground.  N'ear  the 
bush  the  bnlTalo  is  scarcely  less  iiiJurioii.M, 
and  more  dangerous  to  meddle  with:  and 
even  the  porcupine  is  ca|ial)lc  of  working 
much  damage.  The  wild  swine,  however, 
are  perhaps  the  worst,  becan.se  the  most  con- 
stant in\  aders,  of  the  garden.  Even  a  fence 
is  useless  against  them,  unless  \l  be  perfect 
throughout  its  length,  for  the  pigs  can  force 
themselves  through  a  wonderfully  small  ap- 
erture, owing  to  their  wedge-shaped  hoail, 
while  their  thick  and  tough  skins  enable 
them  to  push  their  way  through  thorns  and 
spikes  without  sulfering  any  damage. 


!'(>.  I)i»  miiiniil  cnn 

lllitillilf     llllloilill   lit' 

it.  ^i'Ih  iiinoiiK  Niicli 
I  |iiiiii|ikiii  |inti'lu'H, 
nriliiiMU'ly.  Mori!- 
tliiiii  it  rii(M,  iiH  i(H 
hick  IcvTM  triinipio 
■(•Its.  The  Iriuk  of 
l)(>  iniiiriiiiiH  to  n 
t'  till'  iii|i|iiiiMitiunuH 

Icu's  of  citlicr  Hide 
lin>  iiiiiiiiMl  iM!ik<!N  n 

niDili'  witli  the  Ict'l 
lu  otliur  with  thoRo 

lul  vonicidiis  fnos,  n 
ivail,  MS  the  liipiio- 

*  wiiv  (liroiiKh  tlic 
tliiiiil<M  ti>  its  (hick 
the  liclil  Ih-rolon! 
iTiihly  ilocn  ditch, 
ids  (he  dildi  liy 
it'  II  hi|ii)()p<itiiinuH 
lie  tniicli.  It  would 
(dive.  A  siinihir 
mdi'  ajiiiiiiHt  th(\  iii- 

'i'hiiso  iininiidH  <lo 
ir  lu'iids  t"  iittiick  n 
huiiiiiii  iiiihitiilions; 
is  hardly  poHNiblc  to 
■h  nil  olistiicle  a«  a 
ry  iJiMitcction  of  a 
human  liabitali(Uis 
iiiilx'i-  of  clcphaiils 
id  upon  some  (leld; 
>|inlali(in  turns  out 
iicaus  at  their  coiu- 
irry  out  their  jilaiis. 
)osps  tlie  iiii^ht  for 
ions,  81)  that  the 
have  (loul)li^  disad- 
inst.     One  weapon 

the  eh'phaul  is  a 
,'  have  ail  idea  that 
the  shrill  cry  of  an 
^phants  apjiroacli  a 

•  whipped,  ill  hopes 
JO  dismayed  at  the 
ive  the  spot. 

kinds  are  i>xct'0(l- 
corii  blades,  and,  if 
fence,  are  sure  to 
iiibblo  everv  (ivevn 
jirouud.  >fcar  the 
cely  less  iiijiirioui*, 

meddle  with:  and 
•apable  of  workin;^ 
1(1  swiiie,  however, 
cauHe  the  most  cou- 
■den.  Even  a  fence 
unless  \'.  be  perfect 
r  the  pij;s  can  force 
mdi'rfully  small  aji- 
kcdjje-shaped  head, 
touiih  skins  enable 
tliroii;;h  thorns  and 
niiy  dmna^o. 


wild  Hwine  are  nopij- 1 
the  hush; 


The  "  piKs,"  as  tlie 
lurly  eiillod,  ulways  coiiio  from 
and  when  several  kraals  are  hmit  near  a 
hUHli  the  .hielM  o(  each  kraal  axiee  to  make 
ft  eiue  ln;m  one  to  the  other,  m,  us  to  shut 
out  the  pijrs  Irom  all  the  eultivaled  laud, 
il lis  (eiice  IS  a  viTy  imeful  edill(M.,  hut,  at 

e  sanie  time,  has  a  very  lu.li.Tous  iwpeel 

h eeu  lol,  that  the  Kalllr  cannot  .Iraw  u 
B  ru.^ht  hue  much  less  build  a  straiKht 
}"n:e;  ami  the  cori.se(|m'Hce  is,  thai  the 
builders  continually  llnd  that  tiie  feiuu,  Im 
ftMs iiminif  the  form  of  a  se^fnient  of  a  .Mrele 
111    lie  dir.uMioii,  and  thi^n  try  to  (•orreet  the 

a,u.J7  "■'•''""^  "  ""«'n<^»t<>f  ucirclo  in  the 
op  ...site  dirciion,  thu.s  makiutf  the  fenee 
very  much  ar«er  than  is  necessary,  an.  «  y 

Ah  to  the  winded  enemies  of  the  «arden 
many  mo,i  of  killing  then,  or  driving  ten 
nway  .ire  employed.  One  metho  J  (KJ  " 
•<i  n«  birds  Inus  already  b.,en  describe  I  an  I 
s  tolerably  useful  wh.m  the  e,,rn  is  1  1 1 
""1  Ki-een;  but  when  it  is  rino  the  birds  u'. 

H  it .  or    I,      "";t'""«  to   eat  the   ,.orn   ii. 
f'lte  of  the  shaking  strinKs.     Under  sue 
•umstanees,  war  is  .ieclared  ij.  nst  th 
b  '•(  s,  and  a  number  of  KaUirs  m  rrrnd 

■  "  "1  tvciy  NKie.    As  everv  m  s.sile  ia  unr.. 

s;^.","",'"", "'"■'<■ "»'' '" «."  i ;  ™ 

bm  appeared  inrp'LSb  e.'  *fe  riv- 
Is  tha^oV'Cnl'  a^;^  the  ,east\^.cce.s^ 
sticks,  and  leaves  fv.ii  ?*''•'• ''f'^P  of  gra.ss, 

«elds,'as  soon^L  thriocSstrare?''"  ^''  *^« 
distance.  These  in,a^f/  f  °  '"'<'"  "» *'>« 
tho  wind  an>l  when  H  ^  l''*'*''^'''  "X  with 
try  cover:u^wTtl^si^^"K'''*™^'"'•«°»n- 
rallypa.s^onun  lS''f!*''7  '^""'''  "«t»- 
was^i^ol  defiled  witfs^nnr*^  ^''P"'  ^^ich 
theymighrsettle^'^It^rHaidlr;^'"';'" 
were  not  know„  iu    tlL"^„"SSs 


CIJUIOU8  KAFFIK  LKOKXI). 


IA 


until  iH'iU^  n„,l  that  thoy  were  sent  bv  thn 
supernatural  power  of  ^^;,tMha,^amV  iKlief 

n  the  DelaKou  district,  whoi.i   Tc  aka  a 
Uu-ked    and   by  whom 'the   Zih     warrior, 
were  defeated,  as   hiu,   alrea.ly  I  e.m  m«n! 

...ned  on  pa^.,  1^4.  The  whole  st  ry  w^ 
told  to  Mr.  MhjM.i,,.,  who  narrates  it  1^,1,^ 
lollowiii){  words:—  "" 

"When  they  had  reached  Sotshanjiana's 
oountry,  the  ;Culus  were  in  Kreat  wanU.f 
»"<;<l,  ^tu.l  a  detachment  of  them  eo    ii   „ 
n<l-H..rted  kraal,  began,  as  usual,  to  se^ 
Or  It.     In  HO  doing,  they  discovered  mmie 
ar^'e  baskets,  use.l   for  Storing  e„    1,  %  ,1 
heir  hungry  stomachs  rejoice.l  at  the  nros 
p.^ct  ol  a  meal.     iJut  wh,.n  a  famishcl  war- 
rior impatiently  remove,!   the   c-ov  r  ,h?m 
oneol  tliein,  out  rushed  a  multitiuje  of 
sec  s,  an.1  the  anticipate.!  feast  t1,.w  abo  t 
l"'>r  "ars.    Ast.misl(m..nt  s..i.,.d  the  ho "t 
or,  tlH.y  never  behel.l  su.li  an  ap,  ar  t  on 
iH-b.re;  every  man  ask<>d  his  lud-J.  ,or  I,  ,^ 
"'•"I'oouhl  'tell  its,p,a!ity  ornanie.'    '(   "„' 
ot  their  number  at  last  thn-w  s.,me  light  on 
the  mystery.     II„  had  .se...   tl,,,  inS ' 
Makazana's  country,  an.l   perhaps  he  to 
MS  wan.  ..ring  companions   that  tl"y 
wen   <;ollecte,l    for    tb.xl.     U„t    th ev^sZ 
loarned  this  from  the  people  of  Vh^kr^l 
who  had  only  retire,!  f'.  escape  tl  e  enS' 
and  whose  voi<.es  were  hear.l  fro     a  nei2-' 
mring  rock.    In  no  case  woul.l  t  .'  f^S. 
t.yes  have  been  likely  to  spare  1 1.^^  r  lu  S 
siji.'e  they  coul.l  rail  an,!  boast  an.l  threS 
yith   unpunity;    but  when   th..y  saw  tS 
tieir  to..d  was  in  danger,   they  lilk-,!    m 
their  voices  with  d.-sperate  .n.-nrv  „,,,    „J 
tere,!  the  t.-rrible  ^lri^at  tha,'ifVh*^^i,^ad  i" 
ate  their  lo,.u«ts,  others  sluuil,!  f..Il,  w  t liom 
home,  and  carry  famine  in  th.ir  tr  i  „     Tim 
Zulus  were  too  hungry  to  heo.l  the  woe  o? 

vu.tunis,  an     the    l.icusts   wer,!   d.vouretl 

But  when   the  army  returned   1. , me    the 

^uEl."^'""'""^'  """  ''''  "'-'^ten'irg  its 

How  locusts,  tho  destroyers  of  food  nrn 

i"£txt^?:;;n^er*"'"^"''^"'''^^''"''-- 

to^ti/t^^iu^^i^'^z'S^rzus 

Sva  'Zir.'  ^t'J"  «°-^>«mes'"n;ied  hf 
S  to  niVt  ^^'■""''  T"'"*'"' ''  having  laid 
t^  In       1     ''""'"'•■'».  "nd  forced  his  subiecta 

touche,  the  fruit  themselves.    In  some  fn^ 
^  orcd  districts  the  banana  grows  t.)  a  ^reat 

fo"a'^„r ^'"'^  '""'^'^  ^'^•"^'  ^  '--/s 

J^ext  in  importance  to  food  for  mnn  :<. 


THE  KAFFIR. 


iHxuriiinpo  that  IcmlR  to  mnko  It  too  mnk 
for  oii(ll(>  to  i-ii(.  When  it  Hist  »priiiu;s  up, 
it  iH  green,  «wi'C't,  and  tender;  but  when  It 
lias  reaelied  u  tolenil>l(!  lenj-th  it  beeonioH  so 
\i  irwli  till!)  the  i'atll(!  can  liurdly  eat  it,  T\w 
Kallir,  (lu-relore,  adopts  ii  plan  liy  wliieli 
Le  obtains  a.s  mueh  IVesli  ji;r;v8S  iis  ho  lilcos 
tJirouiiiiout  llie  season. 

Wllen  !i  jmleli  of  «nis8  has  bnen  fed  upon 
n«  lon<i  as  it  can  furnish  nourisiiinent  to  the 
cattle,  the  KatJir  marks  out  another  feedin^j;- 
plnce.  At  night,  when  the  eattle  are  safely 
jiemu'd  within  the  kraal,  the  KalHr  goes  out 
with  a  llrelnand,  and,  when  he  has  gone 
well  to  windward  of  the  spot  whieh  he 
means  to  clear,  he  sets  tire  to  the  dry  grass. 
At  first,  the  tlanio  creeps  but  slowly  on,  but 
it  grnduallv  increases  both  in  sjieed  and 
extent,  and  sweeps  over  the  plain  in  obedi- 
tMico  to  the  wiiiil.  On  level  ground,  the  lire 
marches  in  a  tolerably  straight  line,  and  is 
of  nearly  uniform  height,  except  when  it 
liappens"  to  seize  uiion  a  clump  of  bushes, 
when  it  sends  bright  spires  of  tlame  far 
info  the  skv.  Ihit  wlu'U  it  reaches  the 
hu.'ih-clad  hills,  the  spectacle  becomes  im- 
posing. Onrushes  themassof  tlame, climb- 
ing the  hill  with  fearf\il  strides,  roaring 
like  myriads  of  Hags  rutlled  in  the  breeze, 
and  devouring  in  its  progress  every  jiartiole 
of  vegetation.  Not  an  inhabitnnt  of  the 
bush  or  jilain  can  withstjuid  its  progress, 
and  the  lire  confers   this  bcnelit  on  the 


natives,  that  it  destroys  the  snakes  and 
the  slow-moving  reptiles,  while  the  swifter 
anteU)pes  are  able  to  escape. 

Wlun  the  lire  hiis  done  its  work,  the 
tract  over  which  it  hiis  passed  presents  a 
most  dismal  »peetacle,  the  whole  soil  being 
bare  and  black,  and  the  onlj;  sign  of  former 
vegetation  being  an  occaaioiial  stinnp  of  a 
tree  which  the  tiames  had  not  entirely  con- 
sumed. Hut,  in  a  verj'  short  time,  the  won- 
derfully vigorous  life  of  the  lu'rhage  begins 
to  assert  itself,  especially  if  a  shower  of 
rain  should  happen  to  fall.  J)elicate  green 
blades  show  their  slender  points  through 
the  blackened  covering,  and  in  a  short  time 
the  whole  tra(!t  is  covered  with  a  mantle  of 
uniforn»  tender  green.  Kothing  can  ho 
more  beautiful  than  the  fVesli  gri'cn  of  the 
young  blades,  as  they  are  boldly  contrasted 
"with  the  deep  black  hue  of  the  gniiind.  The 
nearest  apjiroach  to  it  is  the  singularly  beau- 
tiful tint  of  our  hedgerows  in  early  spring 
—  a  tint  as  fleeting  as  it  is  lovely.  The 
charred  ashes  of  the  burned  grass  form  au 
admirable  fop-dressing  to  the  new  gratis, 
which  springs  up  with  marvellous  rapidity, 
and  in  a  very  short  time  alfords  jiastifre  to 
the  cattle.  1'he  Kallir  is,  of  course,  careful 
not  to  burn  too  much  at  once;  but  by  select- 
ing different  spots,  and  burning  tbcin  in  reg- 
ular 8u'c(H>s8ion,  he  is  able  to  give  his  be- 
loved cows  fresh  pasturage  throughout  the 
year. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


FOOD. 

C0Mn,NAr,„j,  or  «rooN  am,  hn,,kk.  ^x-t  70,,.  Z  «,^^^^^^  '"""'"   "^"^'^'^'^-^  »'«>'''t>L 

AOK,.-,.„,;i,L.AHAN,.,.K  OK  T.,„   ....W.   AN.,      K.s,  vl   „. ,    "'"'"'- '"^'^  ^"«  '•»■•'>"""•   •«    MAN- 
.NNAT.=   r.,V.,  or  aUST,,:K-,„„;vT         SPOON        Kvjr,  '''-''■^'""«  "IXitinTK   .N   «,N,NO_ 

T...,   INSKCT  .N   ITS  l-IKKKUKNT  BTAOK.        Tnl"",  '''"...KH  -  UXUSTH   KATKN   ,.V   KAKnUH- 

TMK  M„AT  onTAIXK,,  ,.N  r^^VV^Z^J^Z^'^''"'  ^"^  ''™««''- "■^-N'^HA..  ..t.XUTV  OK 
«V  T„K  KAKKm_„ow  HK  ,.,.,NK8  WATK.  K.ZU  m  v^^  «««"- VAU.OCH  ,,mNKH  ,;«eu 
-KKHMKNTAT,OV,    «K,MM.XO,     AN,,    Sr,U,«,N<r-rAr,TV  C''^  "*'*'''''"  ''"''^^^ 

..ONKV.„ATR._PO,.<,ONOUS     HONKV-POULULuKOor''' "''"'''     '"""'^■'""•"'      AN,,    T„K. 
AND  THE  CWCODILE.  'OULTBy    AND     E008  -  FOnillDDEN     MEAT8-T„E     KAmB 


,;„'.."'  "  ""«■  aiuinal  food  bv  the  cattlc- 

;»".'"•    '""""S-<ield,  and   l.o^V      ey  pro 

A^u  ifn^^v  '  *""''  ''-V  cultivating,  th^     ,  . 

;^.PiX;^s.r^-^i-"y«'--Si:! 


So.'  ''"^  ''"'-''"''"«  •*  thorongbly  with 
roadv""  Ss  rf  r''"^  '■•',  *"  '^•■t  ''^'-  "lill 
pioduoc  11  eonipui-iitivclv  small    <■(!  .-7     A 

e'^ari^n.if  .!"!!!!:'-?!>' V->^'l  and 


and  maize  are  now  put      to    ,.o  no\   h''  M^""'-""'?  '""fion  rlnJos't'T;*::,"" '}',''' 
cover  is  lut.d  d..wn.\s  £  at|f j.  ""' lF"!!«'«t<'"t  pa.s,..    As  f!,''  n'J  ; " 'JV^'tr'.'''^ 


144 


THE  KAFFIB. 


This  fi)rin  of  mill  Is  perhapH  tho  earliest 
with  which  wo  are  acquainted,  and  it  may  be 
found  in  many  parts  of  tlic  world.  In  Mex- 
ico, for  examjili),  the  ordinary  mill  is  made 
on  precisely  the  same  princijple,  though  the 
lower  stoiio  is  rudely  carved  so  as  to  stand 
on  tiiree  legs. 

It  is  more  than  probable  that  tho  opera- 
tion of  grinding  corn,  which  is  so  often 
mentioned  in  tiie  earlier  Scriptures,  was 
performed  in  just  such  a  mill  as  the  Katllr 
woman  uses.  Tlio  labor  of  grinding  the 
corn  is  very  severe,  tho  whole  wciglit  of 
the  body  being  thrown  on  tho  stone,  and  the 
hands  being  fully  occupied  in  rolling  and 
rocking  the  upper  stone  upon  tho  lower. 
Moreover,  the  labor  has  to  bo  repeated 
daily,  and  oftentimes  the  poor  hard-worked 
woman  is  obli";ed  to  resume  it  several  times 
in  the  day.  Only  suHicient  corn  is  ground 
for  tlu)  consumption  of  a  single  meal;  and 
therefore,  so  often  as  tho  men  are  hungry, 
so  often  hiw  she  to  grind  corn  for  them. 

The  boiled  and  ground  corn  takes  a  new 
name,  and  is  now  termed  "  isicaba ; "  and 
when  a  suflicient  quantity  has  been  ground, 
the  woman  takes  it  iVom  the  mat,  puts  it 
into  a  basket,  and  brings  it  to  her  luisband. 
who  is  probably  asleep  or  smoking  his  pipe. 
She  then  brings  him  a  bowl,  some  clot- 
ted milk,  and  his  fiivorite  spoon,  and  leaves 
him  to  mix  it  for  himself  and  titko  his  meel, 
she  not  expecting  («  partake  with  bin),  any 
more  than  she  would  expect  him  to  help  her 
in  grindiufj  the  corn. 

As  the  Katlir  is  eminently  a  social  being, 
he  likes  to  lakes  hif  meals  m  company,  anil 
does  so  in  a  very  orderly  fashion. 

When  a  number  of  Kafllrs  meet  for  a 
social  meal,  thoy  seat  themselves  round  the 
tire,  squatted  in  their  usual  manner,  and 
always  forming  themselves  into  a  circle, 
Krtflir  fiishion.  If  they  should  be  very 
lunnerouB.  they  will  form  two  or  more  con- 
centric circles,  all  close  to  each  other,  and  all 
facing  inward.  Tho  pot  is  then  put  on  to 
boil,  and  while  the  "  mealies,"  or  heads  of 
maize,  are  being  cooked,  they  all  strike  np 
songs,  and  sing  them  until  tho  feast  is  ready. 
Sometimes  tliey  prefer  lovo  songs,  and  are 
always  fond  of  songs  that  celebrate  tho  pos- 
session of  cattle.  These  melodies  have  a 
chorus  that  is  perfectly  meaningless,  like 
the  choruses  of  many  of  our  own  popular 
songs,  but  the  singers  become  quite  infat- 
uated with  them.  In  a  well  known  cattle 
song,  the  burden  of  which  is  E-e-e-yu-yu-yu, 
they  all  a<H'ompany  the  words  with  gestures. 
Their  hands  are  clenched,  with  the  palms 
turned  upward;  their  arms  bent,  and  ateat^h 
E-e-o  they  drive  their  arms  out  to  their  ftill 
extent;  and  at  each  repetition  of  the  sylla- 
ble "yu,"  they  bring  their  elbows  against 
their  sides,  so  as  to  give  additional  emphasis 
to  the  song.  An  dlustration  on  page  146, 
renrpsnnts  aiich  a  scene,  and  is  drawn  from 
a  sketch  by  Captitiu  Drayson,  U.  A.,  who  has 


frequently  been  present  in  sucji  scones,  and 
learned  to  ttvko  his  part  in  the  wild  chorus. 
As  to  the  smoke  of  the  Arc,  the  Kaffirs  care 
nothing  for  it,  although  no  European  siftKcr 
would  1)0  able  to  utter  two  notes  in  such  a 
choking  atmosphere,  or  to  see  what  ho 
was  doing  in  a  small  hut  without  window 
or  chimney,  and  llllod  with  wood  smoke. 
Some  snull  gourds  are  seen  on  the  ground, 
and  on  the  left  hand,  just  behind  u  ])illar,  is 
tho  Induna,  or  heivd  of  the  krivul,  who  is  the 
founder  of  the  feast. 

The  number  of  Kaffirs  that  will  crowd 
themselves  into  a  single  small  hut  is  almost 
incredible.  Even  in  tho  illustration  they 
seem  to  bo  tolerably  close  together,  but  tho 
fact  is,  that  the  artist  was  obliged  to  omit  a 
considerable  number  of  individuals  in  order 
to  give  a  partial  view  of  the  fireplace  and 
tho  various  utensils. 

One  African  traveller  gives  a  very  amus- 
ing account  of  a  scene  similar  to  that  which 
is  depicted  in  tho  engraving.  In  the  even- 
hig  ne  heard  a  most  sinrjular  noiso  of 
many  voices  rising  and  falling  in  regular 
rhythm,  and  found  it  to  proceed  from  an 
edifice  which  lie  had  taken  for  a  haycock, 
but  which  proved  to  be  a  Kaffir  hut.  lie 
put  his  head  into  tho  door,  but  the  atmes- 
nhere  WP«  almost  too  mucli  for  jiim,  and 
no  could  only  see  a  few  dying  embers, 
throwing  a  ruddy  glow  over  a  number  of 
Kaffirs  squattinjj  round  the  lireplace,  and 
singing  with  their  usual  gesticulations.  Ho 
estimated  their  number  at  ten,  thinkinc 
that  the  hut  could  not  possibly  hold,  inucli 
less  accommodate,  more  than  that  number. 
However,  from  that  verv  hut  issued  thirty- 
live  tall  and  nowerful  liaffirs,  and  they  did 
not  look  in  the  least  hot  or  uncomtbrtablo. 
The  song  which  they  were  singing  with 
sueli  energy  was  upon  one  of  the  only  two 
subjects  which  seem  to  inspire  a  Kaffir's 
muse,  namely,  war  and  cattle.  This  partic- 
ular composition  treated  of  the  latter  sub- 
ject, and  began  with  "All  the  calves  me 
drinking  water." 

A  vciy  graphic  account  of  the  method  in 
which  tlie  Kaffirs  sing  in  concert  is  given 
by  Mr.  Mason,  who  seems  to  have  written 
Ins  description  immediately  after  witnessini; 
the  scene,  and  while  the  impression  Wiis 
still  strong  on  his  mind:  — 

'•  By  tho  light  of  a  small  oil  lamp  I  was 
completing  my  English  journal,  ready  for 
the  mail  which  saile*!  next  day;  and,  while 
thus  busily  employed,  time  stole  away  so 
softly  that  it  was  late  ere  I  closed  and  sealol 
it  ujp.  A  fearftil  shout  now  burst  from 
the  recesses  of  the  surrounding  jungle,  ap- 
parently within  a  hundred  yards  of  our 
tent;  in  a  moment  all  was  still  again.  «<id 
then  the  yell  broke  out  with  increasod 
vigor,  till  it  dinned  in  our  ears,  and  m«ie 
the  very  air  shako  and  vibrate  with  the 
clnmor.  At  lirst  we  were  alnrmed,  and 
looked  to  the  priming  of  our  pistols;  but,u 


it  in  siicji  acoiics,  and 
■t  in  tliu  wild  clioriiB. 
e  Are,  the  Kaflirs  caro 
h  no  European  Hiftscr 
r  two  notos  in  such  a 

or  to  see  wluit  l»o 
liut  without  window 
d  with  woo«i  smoke. 
i  HCen  on  tlu;  ground, 
just  beliind  u  ])illar,  is 

the  knial,  wlio  is  tlic 

ifflra  that  will  crowd 
Ic  small  hut  is  almoKt 

the  illustration  thi^ 
lose  together,  but  the 
was  obliged  to  omit  a 
)f  individuals  in  order 

of  the  iireplace  and 

Icr  gives  a  very  amuH- 
i  similar  to  that  which 
raving.  In  the  ovcn- 
ist  sinn^ular  noiso  of 
nd  falhng  in  regular 
;  to  proceed  from  nn 

taken  for  a  haycock, 
bo  ft  Kaffir  hut.    He 

door,  but  the  atmcs- 

10  much  for  jiim,  and 
i  few  dying  embers, 
iw  over  ft  number  of 
nd  the  tireplace,  and 
lal  gesticulations.  Ho 
kbcr  at  ten,  thinking 
)t  possibly  hold,  nuicu 
)re  than  that  number, 
cry  hut  issued  thirtv- 

,  liaffirs,  and  they  did 
hot  or  uncomfortable, 
y  were  singing  with 

11  one  of  the  only  two 
to  inspire  a  Kaflir's 

il  cattle.    This  partic- 

itcd  of  the  latter  sub- 

"AU  the  calves  aie 

aunt  of  the  method  in 
g  in  concert  is  given 
eems  to  have  written 
liat(>ly  after  witncssin;; 

I  the  impression  Wiu 
ind:  — 

small  oil  lamp  I  wns 
ish  journal,  ready  for 
next  day;  and,  while 
I,  time  stole  away  so 
»rc  I  closed  and  8ealo<l 
out  now  burst  fVoni 
irrounding  jungle,  ap- 
undred   yards  of  our 

II  was  still  again,  «nd 
1  out  with  increasod 
n  our  ears,  and  made 
and  vibrato  with  the 
«  wnre  alarmed,  and 
;  of  our  pistols;  but,u 


"■' "  '*^'""'«  "'^^^^5^ISS 


(.145J 


'•*'* 


iWl 


WAR-SOIfG. 


Svln!?*??''?  .?PI»'"'»«lie.l  no  nearer,  I  con- 
Sv  I  tV  '""^M'^Partof  some  Kaffir 
lostival,  iiiul  iletcrmined  on  ascertaiiiinff  its 

Cl   m.f  1 "'  '"'"'""*  V"*"*''  '»'**'  "r  waistcoat 
wEo   [,     ?  ''""■'^''"'  '"T^"'  t'l'^  "P-Jt  from 


147 


warlike  exj)lo Us.    To  a  Kafflr  wl,n  ,.T^ 
stands  all  [he  allusions  n™ 'by  \h  "  poet" 
It  IS  a  niarve  oiislv  i,^,.:n :'-."'  .Py*^h 


"ii,,.     wrnm.'o  sounds  proceeded.  stniVlJ  nii  M.r   ..     •     '*  ^'^"'•■'  ^iio  under- 

"By  tins  time  the  storm  hadnuite  ibated-    ftl.n        ^'>«,?""?'»ns  made  by  the  poet 

below;  thousands  of  insects  wore  chirnn'    in      nnif      f-      P«i:»l!'»r  musical   rlwthm 

merny;  and  therejouder  than  artlerc^^^^  ''" - 

S t^l'h^^r^^;  ''"^'  '■'^"  «*•  «<"ne  score' 
huml ro  ;..-i  "''"'^^  penetrated  three 
numiica  yards  or  more  into  the  bush  when 

kffl""'rr''- '.'  '"'•««  '^'"I  newly  erected 
Kaffir  hut  with  a  huge  fire  bhwin-  in  iti 

tint  no(!re  .t"^'^-''''S''  "^«  ''"«"^  «moke 
hr  a  em  ,"'■'?   '■""'  "^°  ""'0  semieircu- 
^r  ape  turo   whioh   served  for  a  doorw-iv 
These   h„s  of  the   Kaffirs  are  formed^ ^f I 
trclhs-work,  and    thatched;    in  anneTran,?P ' 
f^hey    resemble    a    well    ro'nndecreycock 
being,  generally,  eight  or  ten  feet  hhh^t 
he  vertex  circular  Cj  form,  and  from   wen tv 

fore  ;fescHfi"'''"^*^^«'--'««'-^v-^'«  be"- 

<^nl^"fi'  f  ''  '^'^''.  "^'*'"  'nidnight.  it  seemed 

l-^^n     .'f  '"•'^/""^  '»'sl»t  not^^be  alto-eSer 

Sn  l''"„e,?Tr'''^i '«  '"^-^  turnecf 'back 
IrL      w     "•'■^^    *'"'    doorway  mi.»ht    hivn 

Irn  tin°  of  H,"V  T"'^  '^■■^^°  attributed  a 
irr  i>tling  of  the  bushes,  at  that  late  hour  to 

]je  presence  of  a  thief  or  wild   beast '  I 

t  ei-efore  coughed  aloud,  stooped  down  lind 
liH-ust  my  head  into  the  <.pen  "rwav 
Ihere  a  most  interesting  silht^p'Sea 
•      '"Fancy  three  rows  of  iet-bl'iek-  K-iffi^o 

»••   i.i  circles  around  tile  int  Hoi  of^the' 

hut,  sitting  knees  and  nose  altogether  wav 

Ipg  their  ^vcll  oiled.  stron^Av  Wilt  fi-nm!:   i  "-  -T.^"  """  ^"  "»t' 

back,vard  and   forward    to"  kcc     Hf^^™"'   ''*'""'*  °*  Alexander,  tl 

IJeir  favorite  'Dingan'sNvt-S,',   . ' '  hrowT""'' ^""'"'''■^  ^  ''""l^^^- 

unt,  iiiif-I  an  old  gray-headed  K.alHr  f 

looking  group     A  S^^^^^        'lemoniac-  expends  more  tron?,Ie  nnnn  •?  T""'  •'^"*^ 
|ionof'M,,]o;.a'  M,  omr?p7l-';-^''''''»^-^a^^  ot'ier  artkle  which  C        ""*"  "^'°" 


"Thou  needy  offsprinR  of  Umiiikazi 
Kyer  of  t ,«  oattio  ofmen.     ^     "^*' 
S  ''i"*^  Maube,  fl,,,..t  UH  a  bullet, 
TW  .'  ?ri'"'  !,"^  >>«•'"»"'"'  I«"-ts. ' 

A  nionHtor  III  size,  of  mighty  nowor 
IJfivourorof  Uugwuti  of  ,i,i4"nt  race- 

Like  heaven  above,  rafning  an'd  8l,i„ing." 

hoiot'o'f  Sd^tiic'^'Ts  l°- ""  «°"«  ^"^ 
90,  he  will  see  tt  2  oS.'ref  mblance^H«? 
exists  between  the  tw^oTles  each  „-"  .f-'** 
some  events  of  the  herS'early  Ufo  Jef 
diverging  into  a  boast  of  his  grLt  wealth 
aml^endingwithalistofhlswaxSlTh^^^^^^^^^ 

w£  SlL°tlde'^^tr'^of''Sk;-"" 
mc^eerl  he  was  told  l.y'^iZ  rlowtefcCf 
nmiselt.    it  was  composed  after  thit  wn!^ 

will  you  go  out  to  battle  now?''  and  tho 
V\  liere  are  you  goiuR  t,.  battle  now?" 


148 


THE  KAFFIR. 


mistakable,  and  which  points  out  the  coun- 
try of  the  maker  as  clearly  as  if  his  name 
were  written  on  it.  The  bowl,  for  example, 
instead  of  being  almost  in  the  same  line 
with  the  stem,  is  bent  forward  at  a  slight 
an-le,  and,  instead  of  being  rather  deep,  is 
nufte  shallow.  It  is  almost  incapable  of 
containing  liquids,  and  is  only  adapted  for 
conveying  to  the  mouth  the  thick  porridge 
which  has  already  been  described.  Several 
of  those  spoons  are  represented  on  p.age  lUJ, 
drawn  from  specimens  in  my  collection. 

Ti"  1  is  a  spoon  rather  more  than  two 
feet  ui  length,  cut  from  a  stout  branch  of  a 
tree,  as  is  shown  bv  the  radiating  circles, 
denoting  the  successive  annual  deposits  ol 
woodv  Sbre.    The  little  dark  mark  in  the 
bowl  sliows  the  pithy  centre  of  the  branch. 
The  end  of  the  handle  is  made  to  represent 
the  head  of  an  assagai,  and  the  peculiar 
convexity  and  concavity  of  that  weapon  is 
represented   by  staining  one   side   of   the 
blade  black,    this  staining  process  is  very 
simply  managed  by  heating  a  piece  ot  iron 
or  a  stone,  and  charring  the  wood  with  it,  so 
as  to  make  an  indelible  black  mark.    1  art 
of  the  under  side  of  the   bowl  is  stained 
black  in  a  similar  manner,  and  so  is  a  por- 
tion of   the   handle,  this   expeditious   and 
ea'JV   mode   of   decoration   being  in   great 
favor  among  th(<.   Kaffirs,   when   they  are 
making  any  article  of  wood.    The  heads  ol 
the  wo°  den  assagais  shown  on  page  lOa  are 
stained  in  the  same  fashion.    According  to 
En'Tlish  ideas,  the  bowl  is  of  unpleasantly 
larf'c  dimensions,  being  three  inches  and  a 
quarter  in  width.    But  a  Kaffir  mouth  is  a 
capacious  one,  and  he  can  use  this  gigantic 
instrument  without  inconvenience. 

Fi".  2  represents  a  singularly  elaborate 
example  of  a  spoon,  purchased  from  a  na- 
tive by  the  late  II.  Jackson,  Esq.  It  is 
more  than  three  feet  in  length  and  is 
slightly  curved,  whereas  the  preceding  ex- 
ample is  straight.  The  wood  of  which  it  is 
made  is  much  harder  than  that  of  the  othor 
spoon,  and  is  therefore  capable  of  taking  a 
tol(>rably  high  polish.  The  maker  of  Uus 
spoon  has  ornamented  it  in  a  very  curious 
manner.  Five  rings  are  placed  round  the 
st'-m,  and  these  rings  are  made  of  the  wire- 
like hairs  from  the  elephant's  tail.  They  , 
are  plaited  in  the  miinner  that  is  known  to 
sailors  as  the  "Turk's-head"  knot,  and  are 
similar  to  those  that  have  been  mentioned 
on  pa'-'e  101  as  being  placed  on  the  handle  ot 
the  assaaai.  In  order  to  show  the  mode  in 
which  tiTcsc  rings  are  made,  one  of  them  is 
given  on  an  enlarged  scale. 

At  the  end  of  the  handle  of  the  spoon 
may  be  seen  a  globular  knob.  This  is 
carved  from  the  same  piece  of  wood  as  the 
spoon,  and  is  intended  for  a  snutf  box,  so 
that  the  owner  is  doubly  supplied  with  luxu- 
ries. It  is  cut  in  order  to  imitate  a  gourd. 
and,  considering  the  very  rude  tools  which 
a  Kaffir  possesses,  the  skill  displayed  in  liol- 


lowin"  it  is  very  groat.  Round  the  neck  of 
the  opening  is  one  of  the  elephant's  hair 
rin"s,  and  at  the  bottom  there  is  some 
rather  deep  carving.  This  odd  snuff  box 
is  ornamented  by  being  charred,  as  is  the 
bowl  and  the  greater  part  of  the  stem. 

Sometimes  the  Kaffirs  exert  great  ingenu- 
ity in  carving  the  handles  of  their  sjTOons 
into  rude  semblances  of  various  animals. 
On  account  of  its  long  neck  and  legs  and 
sloping  back,  tlic  giraffe    is  the  favorite. 
Fi".  1  on     page    103       shows  one  of  these 
spoons.    It  is  rather  more  than  a  foot  in 
lenffth,  and  represents  the  form  of  the  ani- 
maf  better  than  might  be  supposed  from 
tlie   illustration,  which   is  taken  from  the 
front,  and  therefore  causes  its  form  to  be 
foreshortened  and  the  characteristic  slope 
of  the  back  to  be  unseen.    It   is  made  of 
the  acacia  wood,   that  being  the  tree  on 
which  the  giratfe  loves  to  feed,  and  which 
is  called  by  the  Dutch  settlers  "  Kameel- 
dorn,"  or  camel-thorn,  in  consequence.   The 
peculiar  attitude  of  the  head  is  a  faithful 
representation  of  the  action  of  the  girafte 
when  raising  its  head  to  browse  among  the 
fohage,  and  the   spotted  skin  is  well  imi- 
tated by  application  of  a  red-hot  iron. 

In  some  examples  of  the  giratfe  spoon, 
the  form  of  the  animal  i>  much  better 
•^hown.  even  the  joints  of  the  legs  being 


carefully  marked,  and  their  action  indi- 
cated. Sometimes  the  ^lafflr  docs  not 
make  the  whole  handle  into  the  form  of 
an  animal,  but  cuts  the  handle  of  the 
usual  sliape,  and  leaves, at  the  end  a  large 
block  of  solid  wood,  which  he  can  carve, 
into  the  required  shape.  The  hippopot.i- 
mus  is  frequently  chosen  for  this  purpose, 
and  so  is  the  rlunoceros,  while  the  hyseiia 
is  always  a  favorite,  apparently  because  its 
peculiar  outline  can  easily  be  imitated  in 

wood.  .     ,  ., 

The  reader  will  probably  have  noticed  the 
nn"-le  at  which  the  shallow  bowl  is  set,  and 
it  .appears  to  make  the  spoon  a  most  incon- 
venient instrument.  If  held  after  the  Eu- 
ropean fashion,  the  user  would  scarcely  Ije 
able  to  m.anage  it  at  all.  but  the  Kaffir  has 
his  own  w.ay  of  holding  it,  which  is  perfectly 
etfectivc.  Instead  of  taking  it  between  the 
thumb  and  the  forefinger,  he  grasps  the  stem 
with  the  whole  hand,  having  the  l)owl  to  the 
left  and  the  handle  to  the  right.  He  then 
dins  the  shallow  bowl  into  the  tenacious 
porridge,  takes  up  as  nui  is  it  will  possibly 
bold,  and  inserts  the  wli.  .r  of  Ihr  bowl  intn 
his  mouth,  the  convex  side  being  upnermiwt 
In  this  position  the  tongue  can  lick  the  spoon 
quite  clean,  so  as  to  be  ready  for  the  next 
visit  to  the  jiorridge. 

If  i,  -lumber  of  Kaffirs  am>  about  to  par- 
take of  a  comnum  meal,  they  always  .use  a 
common  spoon.  "Were  each  man  to  bring 
his  own  with  him.  and  all  to  dip  in  the  p<'t 
at  once,  it  is  evident  tli.at  he  who  luul  m 
largest  spoon,  would  get  the  largest  share, 


Round  the  neck  of 
the  elephant's  hair 
;oni  there  is  some 
riiis  odd  snuff  box 
;  charred,  as  is  the 
,rt  of  the  stem. 

exert  great  ingenu- 
aies  of  their  sjJt)on8 
of  various  animals. 

ncek  and  legs  and 
iffe    is  the  favorite. 

shows  one  of  these 
nore  than  a  foot  in 
the  form  of  the  ani- 
,  be  supposed  from 

is  taken  from  the 
uises  its  form  to  be 

characteristic  slope 
;cen.    It   is  made  of 

being  the  tree  on 
s  to  feed,  and  which 
h  settlers  "  Kameel- 
in  consequence.  The 
le  hiad  is  a  faithfid 
action  of  the  girafte 
to  browse  among  the 
ed  skin  is  well  imi- 

a  red-hot  iron, 
of  tin  'giraffe  spoon, 
nial  i>  much  better 
ts  of  the  legs  being 
1  their  action  indi- 
he  ilafflr  does  not 
ile  into   the  form  of 

the  handle  of  the 
;s,al  the  end  a  large 
which  he  can  carve, 
ape.  The  hippopota- 
isen  for  this  purpose, 
ros,  while  the  hyiena 
ipparently  because  its 
easily  be  imitated  in 

aably  have  noticed  the 
allow  bowl  is  set,  and 
e  spoon  a  most  incon- 
If  held  alter  the  Eu- 
ser  would  senrcolv  he. 
all.  btit  the  Knftir  has 
g  it,  which  is  perfectly 
tnkiug  it  between  the 
ger.  he  grasps  the  stem 
having  the  bowl  to  the 
o  the  right,  lie  then 
\y\  into 'the  tenacious 
nu  IS  it  will  posfihly 
\vli"if  of  thi'  bowl  in'ii 
:  side  being  uppenmwt. 
ngue  ran  lick  liu'  spoon 
be  ready  for  the  next 

affirs  aiK'  about  to  r"''- 
e.il,  tbev  always  .use  a 
re  each  man  to  bring 
id  all  to  dip  in  the  pot 
t  tli.at  he  who  hud  l''^ 
get  the  largest  share. 


than  which  nothing  would  be  more  distaste- 
M  to  ti,e  justice  loving  Kaffir,  besides  ^^irf. 
rise  to  a  scene  of  hm-rv  n,„i  .,,.,.k..i,i"  _  "" 


Lovi:  or  JUSTICE. 


149 


rkV  fn     •'  r  ,  "^  '^'^'"'■'  "'->sides  givin-' 

rise  to  a  scene  of  hurry,  aiul  probably  con° 
tention,  which  would  ho  a  breach  of  .^ood 
manners.    So  the  chief  man  present  tikes 

nncL^r '  ^'"'  '"'"^'^'f  ^^  ^  mouthfilt  d 
Thntfl  '"'''■^''  'J''"''' '"  '"**  n^^-^t  neighbor 
riius  thosnoon  goes  rou.ul  in  regular  order 

none  havmg  more  than  another.  ' 

went  twice  or  thnco  round  the  eirdn  o,i,i   i 
ing  to  one  portion  and  taki  I  aw'iv  fVo m 

M  ve»  by  iiMking  spoons  of  (I ,,  most  no, 
file  name  of  ladlc^  a^s  U s  k  /'?'""  !^''''"''^^« 

©■■^liS  E■TV-:!i-^^;; 
•nrnod  rooml  on  its  Jv  '  ,„  I,,  ,  S  """"" ''" 

^a 'e  TiT    Thi  ,"■  '■■''""■'^  '"■'^  iliustrateu  on 

J.^°^:to„ftosx"sieYirs 


pattern  h.xs  no  pretence  to  elaborate  detail  • 

«^orough,y,  and^r^^'^Si?-  h-  ^^^^^ 

made  hTn^u  ?'•  "^'^  ''?''  ^^'^  file  are 
inaae  b^  a  hr)t  iron,  and  the  under  surf  i.-.. 
of  the  bowl  i.s  <leeorated  with  two  tiiaXl^r 
marks  nmde  in  the  .same  mannel^  tu.uigul.u 

shmvnf  voff  "*'  ""^  •"'""''  "lustration  is 
sJiown  a  rather  remarkable  ladle  It  < 
eighteen  inches  in  length,  an(     1  e  bowl  L 

wood  o? thi"' '''^'^J'-    "^"'^'^efromtlie    L 
wooa  ot  the  acacia,  and  must  have  cost  (ho 

I  Jfiiyig  tbe  ladle,  the  maker  has  set  Iiini«.  If 

iii-inious  .utihcer  had  contrived  to  mil,-.,  i 

eft  of  Its  natural  color.    Fi-.s   3  n       i  ,.»• 
the^^ame    illustration    .Ul'^V  XA^ 


Tliis  is   thniK  '1, -t-iii-oijcan  in  its  favor, 
w  Ll.  Lv         •'■"'''  ^'''^  well-known  insect 

-row  wit r^ven?  ^'"'.'\.r^''-y  «'»all,  but  they 

n  "hv   '  F  U   -'"tr-""'"'    '^"cause  they  can- 

eat.  ,  °  -^    °    '"  """S^   "'•It  tliey  can 

short  of  death,  ,^nd     n  account^  fn'"'^"'"'''' 
myriads,  the   nunlbo,"  "  h    "can'  brkin'1 

Sale's -:^':ft;.;--i-Sti^c!^^^^ 

w^l  stop  then    ^f.e^"};"S  «'^«i-'  ^'f  .1  river 
with  th'eir    "odie?   ^  37C:f  «?on  filled  up 

nnrclwi-   -    II  '         "    tllose    in    t.h<>    ro-^v 

filled  wi  h  K  ^^; /''1*'"^'"'^'^««  have  been 
13  -on  in.t'^.;n?/^KrX tI^«J0 


180 


THE  KAFFIR. 


crowding  upon  it.  As  for  wnlls,  the  insects 
care  nothing  lor  tlieni,  but  Hurmount  them, 
and  even  the  very  liouses,  witliout  suHuring 
a  fliet'lf. 

Wlien  they  become  perfect  insects  and 
g.'iiu  tlieir  wings,  tliey  jjrocecd,  as  l)et'ore,  in 
vast  myriads;  but  this  time,  tiiey  direct  tlieir 
course  through  the  air,  and  not  mei'ely  on 
laud,  so  tliat  not  even  tl»e  broadest  river  can 
stop  them.  They  generally  start  as  soon  as 
the  sun  has  dispelled  the  dews  and  warmed 
the  air,  which,  in  its  nightly  chill,  paralyzes 
them,  and  renders  them  in"cai)able  of  Hlght 
and  almost  unable  even  to  walk.  Toward 
evening  they  always  descend,  and  perhaps 
in  tile  (lay tune  also;  and  wherever  they 
aliglit,  every  green  thing  vanishes.  The 
sound  of  their  jaws  cutting  down  the  leaves 
and  eating  them  can  be  heard  at  a  great  dis- 
stance.  They  eat  everything  of  a  vegetable 
nature.  Mr.  Moftiitt  saw  a  whole  tield  of 
maize  consumed  in  two  hours,  and  has  seen 
them  eat  linen,  flannel,  and  even  tobacco. 
When  they  rise  for  another  (light,  the  8j)ot 
which  they  have  left  is  as  bare  as  if  it  were 
desert  land,  and  not  a  vestige  of  any  kind  of 
verdure  is  to  be  seen  upon  it. 

A  very  excellent  description  of  a  flight  of 
locusts  is  given  by  Mr.  Cole,  in  hia  work  on 
South  Africa:  — 

"Next  day  was  warm  enough,  but  the 
wind  was  desperately  high,  and,  nuuih  to 
my  disgust,  right  in  my  face  as  1  rode  away 
on  my  journey.  After  travelling  some  ten 
miles,  having  swallowed  several  ounces  of 
sand  mcanwliile,  and  been  comi)elled  occa- 
sionally to  remove  the  sand-hills  that  were 
collecting  in  my  eyes,  I  began  to  fall  in  with 
some  locusts.  At  first  they  came  on  gradu- 
ally and  in  small  quantities,  si)eckling  the 
caith  here  and  there,  and  voraciously  de- 
vouring the  herbage. 

"They  were  not  altogether  pleasant,  as 
they  are  weak  on  the  wing,  and  quite  at  the 
mercy  of  the  wind,  which  uncivilly  dashed 
many  a  one  into  my  face  with  a  force  that 
made  my  cheeks  tingle.  Hy  degrees  they 
grew  thicker  and  more  frequent.  My  prog- 
ress was  now  most  unpleasant,  for  they  flew 
into  my  face  every  instant.  Flung  against 
me  and  my  horse  by  the  breeze,  they  clung 
to  us  with  the  tightness  of  desperation,  till 
we  were  literally  speckled  with  locusts. 
Each  moment  the  clouds  of  them  became 
denser,  till  at  length  —  I  am  guilty  of  no 
exaggeration  in  saying  —  they  were  as  thick 
in  the  air  as  the  flakes  of  snow  during  a 
heavy  fall  of  it;  they  covered  the  grass  and 
tlie  road,  so  that  at  everj'  step  mv  horse 
crushed  dozens;  they  were  whirled  into  my 
eyes  and  those  of  my  poor  nag,  till  at  last 
the  latter  refused  to  face  them,  luid  turned 
tail  in  spite  of  whip  and  spur.  They  crawled 
about  my  face  and  neck,  got  down  my  «1)irt 
collar  and  up  my  sleeves  —  in  a  word  they 
drove  rae  to  despair  as  completely  as  they 
diove  uiy  horse  to  stubbornness,  and  I  was 


obliged  to  ride  back  a  mile  or  two,  and 
claim  shelter  from  them  at  a  house  I  had 
passed  on  my  route;  l\illy  convinced  that  a 
shower  of  locusts  is  more  unbearable  than 
hail,  rain,  snow,  and  sleet  combined.  I 
found  the  poor  farnua*  in  desi)air  at  the 
<lrcadful  visitation  which  had  come  upon 
him — and  well  he  might  be  so.  To-drty  he 
had  standing  crops,  a  garden,  and  wide  pas- 
ture lands  in  full  verdure;  the  next  day  the 
earth  was  as  bare  all  round  as  a  macadam- 
ized road. 

"  I  afterwards  saw  millions  of  these  in- 
sects driven  by  the  wind  into  the  sea  at 
Algoa  I5ay,  and  washe<l  on  shore  again  in 
such  heaps,  that  the  prisoners  and  coolies 
in  the  town  wei'(!  busily  employed  for  a  day 
or  two  in  burying  the  bodies,  to  i)r(tvent  the 
evil  consequence  that  would  arise  from  the 
l)utrefying  of  them  close  to  the  town.  No 
de8crii)tion  of  these  little  ]ilagues,  or  of  the 
destruction  they  cause,  can  well  be  an  exag- 
geration. FortuiuUely,  their  visitations  are 
not  frc(iuent,  as  1  only  remianber  three  dur- 
ing my  five  years'  residence  in  South  Af- 
rica. Huge  fires  are  sometimes  lighted 
round  corn-lands  and  gardens  to  jjrevent 
their  approach;  and  this  is  an  etllctive 
preventive  when  they  can  steer  their  own 
course;  but  when  carried  away  by  such  a 
wind  as  I  have  described,  they  can  only  go 
where  it  drives  them,  ami  all  the  bonfires 
in  the  world  would  be  useless  to  stuy  their 
progress.  The  famier  thus  eaten  out  of 
house  and  home  (most  literally)  liivi  noth- 
ing to  do  but  to  move  his  stock" forthwith  to 
some  other  spot  which  has  e.«caped  them  — 
hapjiy  if  he  can  find  a  route  free  from  their 
devastation,  so  that  his  herds  and  flocks  may 
not  jierish  by  i\u',  way.'' 

Fortunately,  their  bodies  l)eing  heavy  in 
proportion  to  their  wings,  they  Vannot  fly 
against  the  wind,  and  it  often  happens  that, 
iis  in  tlie  old  Scripture  narrative,  a  country 
is  relieved  by  a  change  of  wind,  which 
drives  the  insects  into  the  sea,  where  they 
are  drowned;  and,  as  Mr,  Cole  observes, 
they  were  driven  by  the  wind  into  his  face 
or  upon  his  clothes,  as  helplessly  as  the 
cockchafers  on  a  windy  summer  evening. 
Still,  terrible  as  are  the  locusts,  they  have 
their  uses.  In  the  first  place,  they  afford 
food  to  innumerable  animals.  As  they  fly, 
large  flocks  of  birds  wait  on  them,  sweep 
among  them  and  devour  them  on  the  wing. 
While  they  are  on  the  ground,  whether  in 
their  winged  or  imperfect  state,  they  are 
eaten  by  various  animals ;  even  the  lieu 
and  other  formidal)le  carnivora  not  dis- 
daining so  easily  gained  a  repast.  As  the 
cool  air  of  the  night  renders  the  locusts 
incapable  of  moving,  they  can  be  captured 
without  difldculty.  Even  to  mankind  the 
locusts  are  serviceable,  being  a  favorite 
article  of  food.  It  is  true  that  these  in- 
sects devour  whole  crops,  but  it  may  be 
doubted  whether  they  do  not  confer  a  oen- 


THE  IIUNOER-HELT. 


151 


iltivators  ratlier  than 
if  evening  reiidor 


fflt  on  tho  flnsky 
inrtict  nn  injury. 

Ah  soon  ivs  the  shaih 
the  lopuHts  hclpU'ss,  tlii>  1,  itivea  tiirli  out  in 
a  body,  with  saoks,  skins,  and  cvorythinff 
that  can  hold  tho  oxpoctcd  pniy,  those  who 
poHsuss  such  animals  hrinjflng  pack  oxen  in 
order  to  boar  tho  loads  homo.  Tho  locusts 
arc  swept  by  niillious  into  tho  sacks,  with- 
out any  particular  exertion  on  tho  part 
ot  the  natives,  though  not  without  some 
flanrjei-,  as  venomous  serpents  are  apt  to 
come  for  the  purpose  ot*  f(>cding  „„  the 
insects  and  arc  sometimes  roughly  handled 
in  the  darkness. 

When    the    locusts    have   boon  brought 


home,  they  are  put  into  a  large  covered 


pot,  such  as  has  already  been  described  and 
a  htt  c  water  added  to  them.  The  tire  is 
then  ighted  under  tho  pot,  and  tho  locusts 
arc  then  boiled,  or  rather  steamed,  until 
they  are  sulHciently  cooked.  They  are  then 
taken  out  of  tho  pot,  and  spread  out  in  the 
sunbeams  until  they  are  quite  dry;  and 
when  this  part  of  the  process  is  completed 
they  are  shaken  about  in  the  wind  until  the 
legs  and  wings  fall  off,  and  are  carried  away 
just  as  the  chatf  is  carried  away  by  the 
breeze  when  corn  is  winnowed.  When 
they  are  perfectly  dry,  they  are  stored  awav 
in  baskets,  or  placed  in  the  granaries  just  iw 
It  they  were  corn.  | 

_   Sometimes  the   natives  eat  them  whole 
just  as  wo  eat  shrimps,  and,   if  they  can 
aflord  such  .-i  luxury,  add  a  little  salt   to 
them..   Usually,  however,  the   locusts    are 
tre.ited  much  in  tho  s.anic  msinner  as  corn 
or  maize.    They  are  ground  to  powder  by 
the  mill   iintil   tliey  are  reduced  to  meal 
which  18  then  mixed  with  water,  so  as  to 
lorm  a  kind  of  porridge.    A  good  locust  sea- 
son IS  always  acceptable  to  th(;  natives,  who 
can    indulge    their   enormous  appetites   to 
an  almost  unlimited  extent,  and  in  conse- 
quence become  quite  fat  in  comparison  with 
tlieir  ordinary    appearance.      So    valuable 
indeed,  are  the  locusts,  that  if  a  native  con- 
jurer can  make  his  companions  believe  that 
his  incantations  have  brought  the  locusts 
he  IS  sure  to  bo  richly  rewarded  by  them' 
Aleat,  when  it  can  be  obtained,  is  tho  -M-eat 
luxury  of  a  Kaffir.      J3eef  is  his  fawrite 
meat;  but  ho  will  eat  that  of  many  of  the 
native  animals,  though  thi^re  are  some  in- 
cluding all  kinds  of  tish,  which  he  will' not 
touch.    With   a  very  few  exceptions,  such 
as  the  eland,  tho  wild  animals  of  Southern 
Africa  do  not  furnish  very  succulent  food. 
Venison  Avhon  taken  from  a  semi-domesti- 
c<ated  red  deer,  or  a  thrce-i)arts  domestic'ated 
fal  ow  doer,  is  a  very  ditferent  meat  when 
obtained  from  a  wild  deer  or  antelope.     As 
a  generp'  -ile,  such  animals  have  very  little 
lat  about  them,  and  their  flesh,  by  reason  of 
constant  exercise  and  small  supply  of  food 
IS  exceedingly  touirh,  and  v.-oidd  baffle  the 
jawa  of  any  but  a  very  hungry  man. 


Fortunately  for  the  Kaffirs,  their  teeth 
and  Jaws  are  equal  to  any  task  that  can  bo 
imposed  upon  them  in  the  way  of  mastica- 
tion, and  meat  which  an  European  can 
hanlly  manage  to  cat  is  a  <lainty  to  his  dark 
comiianions.  Tho  lato  (Jordon  Cumming, 
who  had  as  much  experienct.  in  hunter  life  as 
most  men,  used  to  s.iy  that  a  very  good  idea 
of  the  meat  which  is  usually  obtained  by  the 
gun  in  Kallirland  may  be  gained  by  ta'king 
the  very  worst  part  of  the  toughest  possible 
beef,  multiplying  the  toughness  by  ton,  and 
subtracting  all  the  gravy. 

Tlie  usual  plan  that  is  adopted  is,  to  cat  at 
once  the  best  parts  of  an  animal,  and  to  euro 
the  rest  by  drying  it  in  the  sun.  This  pro- 
cess is  a  very  simple  one.  The  meat  is  cut 
into  thin,  long  strips,  and  hung  on  branches 
in  tho  open  air.  The  burning  sunbeams 
soon  have  their  eftect,  and  convert  the.  scar- 
let strips  of  raw  meat  into  a  substance  that 
looks  like  old  shoe-leather,  and  is  nearly  as 
tough.  The  mode  of  dressing  it  is,  to  jnit  it 
under  the  ashes  of  the  (ire,  next  to  pound 
it  between  two  stones,  and  then  to  stew  it 
slowly  in  a  pot.  Just  as  is  done  with  fresh 
beef.  Of  course,  this  mode  of  cooking  meat 
IS  only  employed  on  the  march,  when  the 
soldiers  are  unable  to  take  with  them  the 
cooking-pots  of  domestic  life. 

Sometimes,  especially  when  returning  from 
an  unsuccessful  war,  the  Kaflirs  are  put  to 
great  straits  for  want  of  food,  and  have 
recourse  to  the  strangest  expedients  for 
allaying  hunger.  They  begin  by  wearin-' 
a  "hunger-belt,"?,  e.  a  belt  passed  several 
times  round  the  body,  and  arran<Ted  so  as 
to  press  upon  the  stomach,  and  take  off 
for  a  time  tiie  feeling  of  faint  sickness  that 
accompanies  hunger  before  it  develoiis  into 
starvation.  As  the  hours  pass  on,  and  tho 
taintness  again  appears,  the  hunger-belt  is 
drawn  tighter  and  tighter.  This  curious 
remedy  for  hunger  is  to  ho  found  in  many 
parts  ot  the  world,  and  luis  long  been  prac- 
tised by  the  native  tribes  of  North  America. 

ihohungry  soldiers,  when  reduced  to  tho 
ast  straits,  have  been  known  to  cat  their 
hide-shields,  and,  when  these  wore  finished 
to  consume  even  the  thongs  which  bind  the 
head  of  the  assagai  to  the  shaft.  The  .same 
process  of  cooking  is  employed  in  makin" 
the  tough  skin  eatable;  namely,  partial  broiP 
iiig  umler  ashes,  then  pounding  between 
stones,  and  then  stewing,  or  boiling,  if  any 
siibstitiito  for  a  cooking-pot  can  be  found. 
()ne  of  the  missionaries  relates,  in  a  manner 
that  show.s  the  elastic  spirit  which  animated 
him,  how  he  and  his  comjianions  were  once 
driven  to  eat  a  box  which  he  had  ma<le  of 
rhinoceros  hide,  and  seems  rather  to  regret 
tho  loss  .^f  so  excellent  a  box  than  to  dcmiTand 


any  syn.pathy  for  the  hai-'dships  which*  he 
had  sustained. 


Wk    now  come   to   the   question   of   the 
hqmds  which  a  Kaffir  generally  consumes. 


109 


THE  KAFFIU. 


Ordinary  men  aro  forco<l  to  content  tlioin- 
sulvcs  with  watiT,  .iiid  tliocc  aro  oociisioiw 
wIkmi  tlu!y  would  only  be  too  gliid  to  obtain 
cvon  water.  Certain  curenionien  denuind 
that  tlio  warriors  Hliiill  bn  led  plenteouMly 
witli  beef  durin)^  the  ni;,'ht,  l)ut  that  they 
hhall  not  lie  allowed  lo  drink  until  the  dawn 
of  the  tbllowin}^  day.  At  the  bei^innin^'  ol' 
the  least  they  ate  merry  enoujjh;  lor  heel' 
is  always  welcome  to  a.  Kulllr,  and  to  be 
allowed  to  eat  a8  jnucli  a^  he  can  posNibly 
nianuL'u  to  accommodate  in  a  luxury  whicii 
but  seldom  occurs. 

However,  the  time  comes,  e  'en  to  a  hun- 
gry Katllr,  wlien  he  cannot  pos'  ibly  eat  any 
more,  and  ho  craves  for  sometln-ij?  to  drink. 
This  relief  is  strictly  prohibits',  no  one 
being  allowed  to  leave  the  circle  in  which 
th(!y  are  sitting.  It  generally  happens  that 
801UC  of  the  younger  "  bo_\*s,"  who  have  been 
but  recently  admitted  iiito  the  company  of 
soldiers,  lind  themselves  unable  to  endure 
Biich  a  privation,  and  endeavor  l<»  slip  away 
unobserved.  But  a  numljcr  of  old  and  tried 
■warriors,  who  have  inured  themselves  to 
thirst  as  well  as  hunger,  and  who  look  with 
contemj)!  on  all  who  are  less  hardy  than 
themselves,  are  stationed  at  every  point  of 
exit,  and,  as  soon  as  they  see  the  (fusky  form 
of  a  deserter  approiveh  the  si)ot  whicli  they 
are  guarding,  they  unceremoniously  attack 
him  with  their  sticks,  and  beat  him  back  to 
his  place  in  the  circle. 

On  the  march,  if  a  Kallir  is  hurried,  and 
comes  to  a  spot  where  there  is  water,  he 
stoops  down,  and  with  his  curved  hand  tlings 
the  water  into  his  month  with  movements 
almost  as  rapid  as  tlu)se  of  a  cat's  tongue 
when  .she  laps  milk.  Sometimes,  if  he  comes 
to  a  river,  which  he  has  to  ford,  he  will  con- 
trive lo  slake  his  thirst  as  lie  proceeds,  with- 
out once  cheeking  his  sjjccd.  This  precau- 
tion is  necessary  if  he  should  I)c  imrsued,  or 
if  the  river  should  happen  to  be  jjartially  in- 
fested with  crocodiles  and  other  dangerous 
reptiles.    (See  engraving  Xo.  2  on  p.  Tlo.) 

Kaffirs  are  also  very  fond  of  a  kind  of 
whey,  which  is  poured  otf  from  the  milk 
when  it  is  converted  into  "amasi,"  and  which 
is  something  like  our  buttermilk  to  the 
taste.  Still,  although  the  Kallirs  can  put  up 
with  water,  and  like  their  buttermilk,  they 
liavc  a  craving  for  some  fermented  liquor. 
"Water  and  buttermilk  are  very  well  in  their 
way;  but  they  only  serve  for  quenching 
thirst,  and  have  nothing  sociable  about  them. 
Now  the  Katllr  is  essentially  a  .sociable 
Iveing,  as  has  already  been  mentioned,  and 
he  likes  nothing  better  than  sitting  in  a 
circle  of  friends,  talking,  grinding  snuif  or 
taking  it,  smoking,  and  drinking.  And, 
when  he  Joins  in  sucli  indulgences,  he  prefers 
that  h>B  drink  should  be  of  an  intoxicating 
nature,  therein  following  the  usual  instincts 
of  mankind  all  over  the  world. 

There  are  few  nations  who  do  not  know 
how  to  make  iatoxicatimr  drinks,  and  tlic 


Kallir  is  not  likely  to  be  nmch  bchindiiand 
in  Oiis  respect.  The  only  fi-.rmented  <li  ink 
which  the  genuine  Kidliis  use  is  a  kind  of 
beer,  called  in  he  native  tongue  "outchu- 
alla."  liike  all  other  savages,  the  Kallirs 
very  nmch  prefer  the  stronger  potations 
that  are  nnide  by  Euroiicans;  and  their  love 
for  whisky,  rum,  and  brandy  lias  been  the 
means  of  ruining,  and  almost  extiuguisliing, 
many  a  tribe— Just  as  has  been  tlie  case  in 
Northern  America.  The  (|uaiitily  of  sj.irit- 
uous  liquid  that  a  Kallir  can  drink  is  really 
astonishing;  and  the  strangest  thing  is,  thiit 
lie  will  consume  nearly  a  bottle  of  the  (com- 
monest and  coar.Si'st  spii  it,  and  rise  at  day- 
break on  the  next  morning  without  even  a 
headache. 

The  beer  which  the  Kafllis  make  is  by  no 
means  a  heady  liquid,  and  seems  to  liave 
rather  a  fattening  than  an  intoxicaling 
(quality.  All  men  of  note  drink  large  quan- 
tities of  beer,  and  the  chief  of  a  tribe  rarely 
stirs  without  having  a  great  vessel  of  beer  at 
hand,  together  with  his  gourd  cuj)  and  ladle. 
The  operations  of  brewing  are  coiulucted 
entirely  by  the  women,  and  are  tolerably 
simple,  much  rcsemliling  the  jjlan  which  is 
used  in  England.  JJarley  is  not  employed 
for  this  purpose,  the  grain  of  maize  or  millet 
being  substituted  for  it. 

The  grain  is  lirst  encouraged  to  a  piu-tial 
sprouting  by  being  wiajiped  in  wet  mats, 
and  is  then  killed  by  heal,  so  as  to  make  it 
into  malt,  resomblin*'  that  which  is  used  in 
our  own  country.  'iU<-  next  process  is  to 
put  it  into  a  vessel,  and  let  it  boil  for  some 
time,  and  afterward  lo  set  it  aside  for  fer- 
mentation. The  K;illir  has  no  yeast,  but 
employs  a  rather  curious  substitute  for  it, 
being  the  stem  of  a  spi'cies  of  ice-plant, 
dried  and  kept  ready  for  use.  As  the  liquid 
ferments,  a  .scum  arises  to  the  top,  which  is 
carefully  lemoved  by  means  of  an  ingenious 
skimmer,  shown  at  tigs.  3  and  4,  on  page 
15").  This  skimmer  is  very  niiieh  like  those 
wire  implements  used  by  our  cooks  for  tak- 
ing vegetables  out  of  hot  water,  and  is  made 
of  grass  stems  very  neatly  woven  together; 
a  number  of  them  forming  the  handle,  and 
others  spreading  out  like  the  bowl  of  a  sjioon. 
The  bowls  of  these  skimmers  are  set  at  dif- 
ferent angles,  so  as  to  suit  the  vessel  in 
which  fermeiital    in  is  carried  on. 

"When  the  beer  is  poured  into  tlie  vessel 
in  \vhich  it  is  kept  for  use,  it  is  passed 
through  a  strainer,  so  as  to  prevent  any  of 
the  malt  from  mixing  with  it.  One  of  tliese 
strainers  is  shown  at  lig.  .3,  on  page  07. 
The  specimen  from  which  the  drawing  was 
taken  is  in  my  own  collection,  and  is  a  good 
sample  of  the  Kaffir's  workmanship.  It  is 
made  of  reeds,  split  and  Uatteni-d;  each  reed 
being  rather  more  than  the  fifth  of  an  inch 
wide  at  the  opening  and  the  twelfth  of  an 
inch  at  the  smaller  end,  and  being  carefully 
graduated  in  width.  In  shape  it  resembles 
a  jelly-b,ag,  and,  iudeed,  haa  much  the  same 


KAFFIU'H   HAHKET-AVOIIK. 


108 


ofllee  t<)  iierfoim.  Tlio  rooils  (ire  wovoji  in 
tli(!  "  uiidcf  tlinu!  litid  ovisr  throo  "  t'ii»liioii. 
Bonn  to  nroiluci!  ii  /,i;,'/,u?  pattern;  mid  the 
coiiiciil  Mliiipii  of  lliii  Mti'iiiiior  is  obtuiiUMJ,  not 
by  any  ultt^'iilion  in  tlm  inodo  of  wtniving, 
l)iit  by  tilt!  t,'i';i(luiil  diniiniifion  of  tlie  reeds. 
ThoHo  HtniinriH  urn  of  viirious  sizoi*;  Itut  my 
own  spocinien,  wliiili  is  of  tlio  aveniKi' 
<lini()tisi()tis,  ni(!iWiir(!S  lifteen  inclien  in 
lengtli,  iind  nine  in  widtli  across  tlio  opeii- 
ini?. 

]Jeor.  lik  ,  niillc,  is  kept  in  l)asl{et8,  which 
the  Kiidli  are  c'ai)al)le  of  making  ho  elalior- 
fttely,  till' ,  tJKiy  can  liold  almost  any  li<iuid 
as  wei;  ,18  if  tliey  were  casks  niadi?  by  the 
best  European  coopern.  Indeed,  tlu!  line- 
ness  and  beauty  of  tlio  Kalllr  basket-work 
may  excite  the  iiilmiration.  if  not  the  envy, 
of  civilized  basket-mak(;rs,  who,  however 
artistic  may  l)e  tlio  forms  whi<'li  they  jiro- 
duco,  would  be  sadly  pux./.led  if  rc(iuired  to 
make  a  basket  that  would  hold  beer,  wine, 
or  oven  milk. 

Ono  of  till!  ordiiiarv  ftirm.s  of  beer  basket 
may  be  seen  in  (he  ilhistration  on  pa!,'e  (17, 
tlic  small  Tuouth  biun,!;  for  the  jjrealcr  con- 
venience of  pouriiijj  it  out.  OtTiers  can  be 
seen  in  tlui  illustration  on  pai^'o  (i;t,  reiire- 
sentiiii,'  the  interior  of  a  Kallir  hut.  ]Je(U- 
baskets  of  various  sizes  are  to  be  found  in 
every  kraal,  and  are  alwavH  k(!pt  in  shady 
places,  to  prevent  the  H'r,uid  from  bein,-' 
iiijurod  by  heat.  A  Kallir  chief  hardly 
seems  to  be  able  to  support  existence  with- 
out his  lieer.  Within  his  own  house,  or  in 
the  shadow  of  a  friendly  screen,  he  will  sit 
by  the  hour  t<)),'cther,  smokin;,'  his  enormous 
pipe  continually,  and  driukini,'  his  beer  at 
tolerably  constant  intervals,  thus  contrivin<' 
to  consume  a  considerable  (unount  both  of 
tobacco  !ind  beer.  Even  if  he  <?oes  out  to 
inspect  his  cattle,  or  to  review  his  soldiers 
a  servant  is  sure  to  be  with  him,  bearin<' 
his  beer  basket,  stool,  and  other  luxurious 
appenda'.fes  of  state. 

He  Ki'uerally  drinks  out  of  a  cup,  which 

ho  makes  from  a  Rounl,  and  which,  in  shape 

and  size,  much  resembles  an  emu's  e<'i'  with 

the  top  cut  oil".    For  tlie  purpose  of"t'akiii<' 

.the  beer  out  of  the  basket,  and  pouring  it 

into  the  cuj).  he  uses  a  ladle  of  some  sort. 

The  form  which  is  most  sonerally  in  use  is 

that  whu'h  is  made  from  a  kind  of  gourd- 

not  e;,'!,'-sliapcd,  like   tliat  from  which  the 

cup  18  i<i;ide.  but  formed  very  much  like  an 

ouion  with  the  stalk  attached   to  it.    The 

bulb  ot  the  oiuon  represents  the  end  of  the 

gourd,  and  it  will  be  seen  that  when  a  slice 

IS  cut  oii  this  globular  end,  and  the  interior 

ot  the  gourd  removed,  a  very  neat  ladle  can 

be  produc(!d.      As   the   outer  skin   of  the 

gourd  IS  of  a  dw.  yellow  color,  and  has  a 

high  natural  jiolish,  the  cup  and  ladle  have 

a  very  pr(«tty  aiiiiearanco. 

Sometimes  the  Kaffir  carves  his  ladleft 
out  of  wood,  and  dis|)lav8  much  skill  and 
taatu  m  tlieir  coustruclioii,  as  may  bo  seen 


by  tlio  Hpeciniens.  Occasionally  the  beer 
bowl  is  carved  from  wood  as  well  us  the 
Imllo;  but,  on  account  of  its  weight  when 
empty,  and  the  time  employed  in  nmking  it, 
none  but  a  chief  is  likely  to  make  use  of 
such  ft  bowl.  One  of  these  wooden  bowls  is 
shown  at  llg.  2,  in  the  iJlnatration  on  page 
07,  and  is  drawn  from  u  specimen  brought 
from  H(mthern  Africa  by  Mr.  II.  Jackson. 
It  is  of  large  dimensions,  us  nuiy  I  e  seen  by 
comparing  it  with  the  milkpail  at  Ug.  1. 
Tile  color  of  tlie  bowl  is  black. 

It  is  rather  remarkable  that  the  KafTir  who 
carviHl  this  bowl  has  been  so  used  to  baskets 
118  beer  vessels  that  he  hius  not  been  able 
to  get  the  idea  out  of  his  mind.  The  bowl 
is  iiainfully  wrought  out  of  a  single  block 
of  wood,  and  mu.st  have  cost  an  enormous 
amount  of  labor,  considering  the  rudcnsss  ot 
the  tools  nsi'd  by  the  carver.  According  to 
our  iileas,  the  bowl  ought  liereforc  to  show 
that  it  really  is  something  more  valuablo 
than  usual,  and  iis  unlike  the  ordinary 
basket  as  jiossible.  But  so  wedded  has 
been  the  maker  to  the  notion  that  a  basket, 
and  nothing  but  a  basket,  is  tlie  proper  ves- 
sel for  beer,  that  he  has  takiiU  great  pains  to 
carve  the  whole  exterior  in  imitation  of  a 
basket.  So  well  and  regularly  is  this  (h!co- 
ratioii  done,  that  when  the  bowl  is  set  some 
little  distance  or  placed  in  the  sh.ade,  many 
persons  mistake  it  for  a  basket  set  on  three 
wooden  legs,  aii<l  stained  black. 

At  (ig.  5  of  the  same  illustration  is  an 
example  of  tb(!  Kalllr's  basket-work.  This 
is  one  of  the  baskets  used  by  the  women 
when  they  have  been  to  the  flelds,  and  have 
to  carry  home  the  ears  of  maize  or  other 
produce.  This  basket  is  very  stout  and 
strong,  and  will  accommodate  a  qinuitity  of 
corn  which  would  form  a  good  load  for  an 
average  English  laborer.  But  she  con- 
siders tins  hard  work  as  part  of  woman's 
mission,  asks  one  of  her  companions  to 
assist  in  placing  it  on  her  head,  and  goes  olT 
with  her  burden,  often  lightening  the  heavy 
t.ask  Ijy  Joining  in  a  chorus  with  her  simi- 
larly-laden friends.  Indeed,  as  has  been 
well  said  by  an  experienced  missionary,  in 
the  normal  state  of  the  Kallir  tribes'  the 
woman  serves  every  ofHce  in  husbandry, 
and  herself  fulfils  the  duties  of  field  laborer, 
plough,  cart,  ox,  and  liorse. 

Basket-work  is  used  for  an  infinity  of 
purposes.  It  is  of  basket-work,  for  ex- 
amnle,  that  the  Kallir  makes  his  curious 
and  picturesque  storehouses,  in  whii-h  he 
keejis  the  corn  that  he  is  likely  to  n  quire 
for  household  use.  These  storehouses  are 
always  raL-ed  some  height  from  the  ground, 
for  the  double  purpose  of  keening  vermin 
from  devastating  them,  and  of  allowing  a 
free  passage  to  the  air  round  them,  and  so 
■keeping  their  contents  dry  and  in  good  con- 
dition. [  udeed,  the  very  houses  are  formed 
of  a  sort  of  Iisiskct-work.  9Ji  may  be  .°,een  liv 
reference  to  Chapter  VIJ  ;  ancl  even  ^cir 


104 


THE   KAFFIR. 


'' 


kranik,  or    vlllagon,  nro    liltlo    more    than 
baski't'Work  on  ii  vc^ry  hruo  wale. 

Almost  any  kind  of  fUixlhltj  material 
Booms  to  anHwtT  for  liiiskctH,  and  tin-  Kalllr 
workniiin  improHMoM  into  IiIh  Hcrvicn  not 
only  tin)  twij,'8  of  pliimt  himlii'M,  lik»!   the 


oslor  and  willow,  but  n.siH  umnn  Ntcnis, grann 
Icavt'H,  ruslicM,  lla««,  rcods,  l)iirk,  and  similar 
matorialM.     When  ho  makcH  tlioso  that  aro 
uswl  for  holding,'  li(|iii(l.s,  ho  idways  uhv»  (Ino 
niatorialH,  and   cloMi't   tho   spaoos   bctwocn 
tlii'ni  by  boatin;j;  down  oach  huooi-shIvo  row 
with  an  inntrumont  thai  Homcwhiit  rcMcm- 
blos  a  very  Htoiit  papor-knifo,  and    that   is 
mado  oithcr  of  wood,   bono,  or  ivory      As 
is   tho  caso  with  casks,  nails,  ((uai^dis,  and 
all   vesHols  that  aro  niailo  with  slaves,  the 
haskots   niUHt  bo  woll   soakod   boforo   they 
lx>como  thoroughly  water-tight. 
_  (jne  of  thcHo  baskets  is  in  niy  own  oolU"'- 
tio'.i.     It  is  most  beautifully  made,  ami  ci.'r- 
tninly  .surpasses  vessels  of  woo<l  or  clay  in 
oao  respect;  namely,  that  it  will  bear  very 
rough   treatment   witliout  breaking.      The 
ii.'ulo   of  weaving  it  is  peculiarly  intricate. 
A  va.>t  amount  of  grass  is  employed  in  its 
construction,   the  work   is   very  close,  and 
tho  ends  of  the  innumerable  grass  blades 
nro  so    n<!atly   woven   into    tho    fabric    as 
Bcarcoly  to  be  distinguishable.    Soon   after 
It  came  into  my  possession,  I  sent  it  to  a 
conver-sazione,  together  with  a  largo  num- 
ber of  ethnological  curiosities,  and,  know- 
ing  that    very  few   would    believe    in    its 
powers  without  actual  t)roof,  I  tilled  it  with 
mil'    and  placed  it  on  the  taldo.    Although 
it  had  been  in  England  for  some  time,  and 
had  evidently  undergone  rather  rough  treat- 
mcut,  it  hel(l  tho  milk  very  well.    Tliere  was 
a  very  slight  leakage,  caused  by  n  mistake 
of  tho  former  proprietor,  who  liad  sowed  a 
label  upon   it  with   a  very  coarse    noedl(\ 
leaving   little   holes,  through   which  a  few 
drops  of  milk  gradually  oozed.     With  this 
exception,  however,  the  basket  was  as  ser- 
viceable as  when  it  was  in  use  amona  the 
Kaffir  huts.  ° 

Honey  is  a  very  favorite  food  with  tho 
Kaffirs,  who  are  expert  at  attacking  the 
nests,  and  removing  the  combs  in  spite  of 
the  attacks  of  the  bees.  They  detect  a  bees' 
nest  in  many  ways,  and,  among  other  plans 
for  finding  the  nest,  they  set  great  value  on 
the  bird  called  the  honey-guide.  There 
are  several  species  of  honey-guide,  two  of 
which  are  tolerably  common  in  Southern 
Africa,  and  all  of  which  belong  to  the 
cuckoo  family.  These  birds  are  remarkable 
for  the  trust  which  they  instinctively  repose 
in  mankind,  and  the  manner  in  which  they 
act  as  guides  to  the  nest.  Whenever  a 
Kaffir  hears  a  bird  utter  a  peculiar  cry, 
Avhich  has  been  represented  by  tho  word 
"Cherr!  chcrr! "  he  looks  out  for  tho 
singer,  and  goes  in  the  direction  of  the 
voice.  The  bird,  seeing  that  the  man  is 
following,  begins  to  approach  tho  bees'  no"* 


still  uttering  its  encouraging  cry,  anil  not 
ccashi^f  until  the  nest  is  found. 


Tho  Kallirs  place  gre;it   reliance  on  tho 
bin!,  and  never  eat  all  llu^  hoiey,  but  make 
a  point  of  leaving  some  for  the  guide  that 
conducted  them  to    the   sweet  sloreliDUse. 
They  say  that  the  honey-guide  voluntarily 
seeks  th(!  help   of  man,  because   )t  woulll 
otherwise   be    unable    to   get   at   the   beo- 
eombs,  which   an^   mado   in   hollow   trees, 
thus  being  ])rotccted   in  secure  fortresses,' 
which  tho  bird  could  not  oenetrate  without 
the  assistance  of  some  beinu'  stronger  than 
itself.     And  as  the  bird  eliielty  wants  the 
combs  which  contain    the   bee-grnlis,   and 
tho  man  only  wants   lhos(^  which  contain 
honey,  tho  kalllr  haves  all  the  grub-combs 
for  the  bird,  and  lakes  nil  the  honev-combs 
himself;   so  that   both   ])artieH  are'eipially 
pleased.     Whether  this  Ik^  the  case  or  not, 
it  is  certain  that  the  bird  does  perform  this 
service  to  mankind,  and  that  both  the  Kaffir 
and  tho  bird  seem  to  understand  each  other. 
Tho  honey-ratel,  one  of  the  largest  species 
of  tho  weasel  (ribo,  and  an  animal  which 
is  extremely  fond  of  bee-comlis,  is  said  to 
share  with  mankind  the  privilege  of  alli- 
ance with  the  honey-guid<'.  and  to  requite 
the  aid  of  the  bird  with  IIm^  comb  which  it 
tears  out  of  the  hollow  tree,     It  is  remark- 
able that  both  the  ralel  and  lh(!  boney-guido 
are  so  thickly  defended,  the  one  with  Hir, 
and  the  other  with  feathers,  thai  the  slings 
of  the  bees  cannot  penetrate  through  their 
natural  armor. 

It  is  rather  curious,  however,  that  the 
honey-guid(!  does  not  invariably  lead  to  tho 
nests  of  bees.  It  hiis  an  odd  habit  of  guid- 
ing the  attention  of  mankind  to  any  animal 
which  may  bo  hiding  in  the  biili,  and  the 
wary  tr.aveller  is  always  careful  (o  have  his 
weaijons  reaily  when  lu'  follows  the  honey- 
guide,  knowing  that,  although  the  bird  gen- 
erally leads  tho  way  to  honey,  it  has  an 
un])leasant  custom  of  h  adiiig  to  a  concealed 
buffalo,  or  lion,  or  panther,  or  even  to  a  spot 
where  a  cobra  or  other  poisonous  snake  is 
reposing.  * 

Although  honey  is  much  prized  by  Kaf- 
firs, they  exercise  much  caution  in  eating 
it;  and  before  thi^  will  trust  themselves  to 
ta.ste  it,  they  inspect  the  neighborhood,  with 
the  purpose  of  seeing  whether  certain  poi- 
sonous plants  grow  in  tho  vicinity,  jis  in 
thatc'use  thi!  honey  is  sun;  to  !)(■  deleterious. 
The  euphorbia  is  one  of  these  iioisonous 
plants,  and  belongs  to  a  large  onler,  which 
IS  represented  in  England  by  certain  small 
plants  known  by  the  common  denomination 
of  sjiurge.  One  of  them,  commonly  called 
inilky-weod,  sun-spurge,  or  wort-sp'urge,  is 
well  known  for  the  white  juice  which  pours 
plentifully  from  tho  wounded  stem,  and 
which  is  used  in  some  places  as  a  means 
of  destroying  wari  h.  In  our  own  country 
the  juice  is  only  remarkable  for  its  milky 
appearance  and  it?,  hot  acrid  taste,  which 


■nfjiiiff  pry,  nnd  not 

IN  round. 

•;it.  ri'liaiK^n  on  tho 

li(^  lioi.iy,  lull  mnko 
Ibr  the  >;ni(lc  Hint 
Hwcct  mIoi'i'Iidiino, 


y-Kuidi 


vol 


iiiitnrily 


ln'i'iuiNc  It  would 

0  p't,  at   (ho   beo- 
(1   i)i   liollow   tri'cH, 

1  HCCliri!    l'(irlll'H8('8, 

n'lu'tnilc  without 


.,..1 

•iiii; 


ciiii;  Hlroii<,'('r  thnn 
(liiclty  wiiiiU  the 
lie  licc-jrruliH,  an<i 
(INC  wliich  coiiliuii 
all  the  j?nil)-c()ml)« 
II  tho  honcy-foniha 
liirlioH  nri!  fijunlly 
1)0  tho  caMo  or  not, 
(loos  iioironn  (his 
hat  hodi  (hoKalHr 
or.H(and  oach  other, 
(he  lar<;o8t  upecios 
iin  aiiiiniil  wliicli 
'-(•onilis,  in  HiM  to 
■  privili'Kd  of  idli- 
(1<',  and  lo  roqinto 
llu^  coml)  whifh  it 
ro,  It  is  roniork- 
id  (h(!  honoy-ijuido 
tho  Olio  with  f\ir, 
'I's,  dial  (ho  filiiijifl 
lato  tluough  llielr 

liowovor,  (hat  tho 
ariahly  load  lo  tho 
odd  lialiit  of  ^iiid- 
Liiid  (o  any  animal 

(ho  Inili^  and  the 
•ai'i'ful  (o  have  his 
ollowH  (ho  honoy- 
)ii,i;h  (lie  hird  (^n\. 

hoiioy.  it  has  nn 
in;,'  (o  a  concoalod 
,  or  oven  to  a  spot 
oisonouH  snake  is 

ch  prized  by  Kaf- 
caution  in  eating 
iiNt  themselves  to 
oijihliorhood,  with 
olhor  oortain  poi- 
he  vicinity,  as  in 
!  to  1)1!  dclotorious. 
r  those  iioisonous 
arijo  onler,  which 
1  hy  certain  small 
lion  doiiomi nation 
conunonly  called 
)r  wort-spurjje,  is 
juice  which  pours 
inded  stem,  and 
ilaees  as  a  means 
f)iir  own  country 
ible  for  its  milky 
crid  taste,  which 


C^.)  KxrKKn.K  (IK  KAniK  iirr.   ,s,..,,„„,„j„., 


^^      I  mAi 


(I.)  HARP. 

(StapaceUll.) 


(a.)   1,  81'OO.N.    J,   LAbl.l.;     .■,,  ^,  SKIMMEUS. 
(Sec  pB(fo  149.) 


(4.)  WATER  PIPE.    (See  pape  164.) 


(155) 


(5.)   FOWL  UOLSK.    iSeeputfelsr.) 


abides  in  the  month  for  a  wonderfully  lon-r 
t  me    but  n,  Atru-a  the  euphorbias  grow  to 
the  dimensions  of  trees,  knd  the  ?uice    s 
Z1^  '"  """'y  parts  of  that  continenT^s  a 
poison  lor  arrows.    Some  of  them  look  so 
like  the  cactus  group  that  they  miglit  be 
mistaken  f„r  those  plants;    but   they  are 
fto.?'tSr"i''^  '^''  milky  nice  that^mSrs 
t  .It  their  thorns,  when  they  have  any,  .r,.ow 
c  cS'  '"'i^hT' ',». ,«l»?t9'-«-  like  tho  JlyfZ 
eva  oi'-atrvl  n  T'"/?  •'"'?''  furni.shes,   when 
eupS^^       '"SWy  Poi^on""^  drug,  called 

,JlT^'^'^ J"  "^'''"  ^"»»d  in  very  sin-nlar 
places.    A  swarm  has  been  known  uHikl 

rp«=  fh  V     ,  "'"  *'^°  IJargaining  i.s  in  ,),.,„r. 
cut  by  the  cords  '        '  ""^''"  '^'SS 

iiiiipi 

dl.^e'^.ei^^:rt??.;'^^"?l'^■"^^--n- 

being  share  lb  ^,  It  '^•■'''  ""^  J're.iudice 
deriv^ea:..  tl  t  7m?'-'""!' ^^'"'«  "thors 
the  sea  a7,  U' hJ  "^  their  .subsistence  from 
mueh  disgu.  a  Ih;  ,Jh5'-'1P"^  '»  f'^d  as 
aswedoat  tliof  ifl  "f  '"'"""  «"'» 
lars,  earth wiJ^^.t^  am 'on"'""-f'"- 
tures,  which  are  consi.lprLi  "."''''  ^''^■■'^- 
some  parts  of  the  w  iT  '"^''  "^  ''''^in«es  in 


FORBIDDEJ^-  MEATS. 


1«7 


somenartsoftheworlcL 

food\4icir;hr;iei^'hSLT{'  ■'*"'*'•'"«  "f 

out  scruple,  unci  whin  ."  ','"'*  •^'''*  ^^'ifi- 
.settlers  ,  o  not  refuse  ZT  "'?  ^"'•"P*^-'',, 
mentioned,  (i.,h  of  'n  k^f.i  '■'  "''.■*^'"'>" '"'«" 
«o  are  reptiles.  Th  "  true  7„T, /■••'!';;'''•''  '-^"'1 
any  species  of  monkev  °r^  '^^  h-'-'lr'^^'l 
^n  tins  parueular  we^can  synUtS'with 


,arti;irt<?w's--^'^-^'^'^«auar;- 

Keither  will  the  Zulus  eat  the  zebra  tb» 
overran  the  country,  an  1  Vwent  off  ^     n  '' 

a^aiSti^f  r  i-iMfK 

stiHn  !  /"nndwl.upon  some  of  the  super- 
stitious uleas  which  take  the  nlacn  nf  o 
iH3ligion  in  the  KalHr's  mind  llitcertain 
ha  superstition  prohibits  fowls,  dickriui 
tards,  porcupines,  and  eggs,  toal    mt X 

U.,/,,rt„„at..)y  for'hl,',,,  ,|,„  „,"  fi""'?!  nt 

biJ^'^Kn'^'"''''"^'^  '?*'.^"  mentioned  that  non^ 
mit  a  Kattircan  either  drive  or  milk  t)>n  J!.' 
t.ve  cattle,  and  the  nnfortunn?;  co  m   't  ,"? ,' 

-wsit^Sr:i;;fi^';;i;si;:;.S!^;f« 
i^e^Sie-S'-^Sf^^isi 


106 


THE  KA.rriR. 


thought  was  beyond  the  reach  of  rumor. 
The  chief  man  received  him  hoHpitably, 
promised  to  send  one  of  his  "boys"  as 
a  servant,  and  volunteered  permission  to 
beat  the  "boy"  if  h.  were  disoliedierit. 
He  finished  by  saying  tliat  he  only  made 
one    stipulation,  and    that   was,  that    the 


"boy"  in  question  should  not  be  obliged 
to  eat  crocodile. 

It  will  be  understood  that  these  peculiar- 
ities regarding  food  apply  only  to  the  Zulu 
tribe,  and  that,  even  m  that  tribe,  great 
modifications  have  taken  place  in  later 
yeai'8. 


uld  not  be  obliged 


CPIAPTER  XVI. 


SOCIAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 


QUETTK    OF    SNUFF    TAKING  -  n.-rfv„  '        ^    ™"''"^'   ''''°    ""^"^    "*•  "»'^(-    IT-ETl- 

THE    EAUIiOX— THE    SINOIlrAn    n,„„,  *'''""^    NEU\  fcs— VAHIOU8    FOKMS    OF  SNIKF    liOX  — 

S.WF  HOX-THE  KlFrrN^^n^pTF  "^  ~1oTK>rTL'''"""    "'"    ~-'— ™" 
THE    SV.STE,,-THE    POOR    MAN's    rn.F-C.uZrT'        '    "''""-'■   ^""    "-^    ""^"AT.ON  ON 

these  luxuries,  namely,  beer  is  sc^urelv  U  nr  r  ^'V^  P"«-pose,  and  by  conuoisscurs 
coasidored  as  such  b/\hem  but  is  m-i/  ll]'''''^''!!'''^  I''  '^^Y  ^th^^  mktmal  Wheii 
oneda.son,>„ffl„>.,..,.£„..^"M^^'  '=LV'^lv-    the  snufr  maker  judges  that  the  toba.co  is 

suthciently  ground,  she   spreads  the  „asto 
uimaafiut  stone,  and  plaels  it  in    he'nS 

until  tn"^'"'''"'  '"'""''^   ''^    ^I"'"   '-"'^"^ea 
ot    wood-ash    is   ti„.ii 


consi.lered.;r;u;;h'brtl^n',^t1s'a 
oned  .^  one  of  the  nece/saries  of  life.  T  lure 
Ifi  n/,'V  °""  «'-atiacation  in  «-hieh    I  o 

|2^thS^PSEauiri;;^.-)£ 

ully  developed  in  the  Kaffir,  .xs  i,   ?,.'.'    "//^l"    Pr'P<»-t  "n 


f„u„  I  I  •  /  .  ""'^^"''  "*^'^i'  tne  world  is 
fully  deyelope([  in  the  Kaffir,  a.s  in  a  the 
savage  tnhes  of  Afri.'u.  For  tolnec o  o 
native  undergoes  exertions  which  no  of    r 

s' n?nr"n^  '"'^l'-"^'  ''""  to  undertake  lie 
IS  not  at  all  particular  about  the  miiUi\- 

K1ih'ff^™»-andi!isi;i;S: 

uie   10  pioduce   tobacco  that   can    bo   tn,^ 
coarse,  rough,  or  powcrf.d  for  his   tas 

iLe  na  eo   c  "'"'  ''"  '^''^'^  "''^  f"»  A'^vor  of 

His  snuli  is  made  in  a  very  simnlo  man     If'  '"""'!r  ""'■■^'^^'^'''s.    Snulf  (aking  almost 
uer,  and  is  mostly   manufhditired  bv  M      r"'"'"^'*' *^'^' ^■''■'"■''''^f'''- of  a  .solcmn"ito  .am 
wonien.     The  lirst" process  is    ogriSl    le     ev-.TT  n'^'""'''^   ^"tl»   'li«>    thou,   tb' s 
tobacco  to  powder  between  two  stones  ad  '  '^""  ^'■"'■•"'—'  " '''  ' 

^'Xr^'ifS-:!!-!.f-aiittR£ 


.,111       i-'"i""i"^"    oi     woo(l-as  1     jf(    tlien 

Se'"T;;^''t"T  f:^""^  -T'  *■'''  -'"« 

IS  made,     ihe  etleet  of  the  ashes  is  to  -nvi. 

oljt.iined  from   tlie   pure  tobacco.    Of  this 
snutl    the    Kaffirs   are   immoderately  fouf 
and  even  European  snulf  takers  ..I  en  pre- 
fer it  to  any  snufl- that  can   1...  purcl  aied 
I  know  one  African  traveller,  wlio  a..,,ui.v 
the  habit  of  snuff  taking  among  the  K,t    -s 
.Olid  who,  h.aving  learned  to  make  sm,, '  in 
K.afflr  fashion,  continues  to  manufiiclure  his 
own  snuff,  thinking  it  superior  to  a  ly  tl    t 
can  be  obtained  at  th,.  tobaoc.uiists'  shops 

Kim"  "?'■"""''■  "*■  '■'*^"'"-  ^'"'"''n  among  the 
IvafHivs,  by  no  miyins  the  simple  process  in 

^'r'Ji;.."^::  !-«»"'»• '''kiligaiinost 


v-'>  acU  Ociiisr  one  or  iho  ,.i.;„f  ; i-    ". 


erv  Tsh  h^V  *"'^'  ^  P"'"''  white  fenMi:   t,.i....o),i,. ;...;!  -«•  i     "V,  "'''l'^  "•* '"  '">  a  man 

OO  a.h  b.n,  one  or  the  chief  ingredients.^  .aa;:^.;^Kt^;^^\^il  SS 


evify  of  an  European  simlf  taker.     A  KalHr 
ever  thinks  of  taking  snuff  while  stMn.Hn" 
but  miLst  needs  sit  down  ft.r  the  purpose  hi' 
some  place  and  at  some  time  w Ln    e  w 


100 


THE  KAFFIR. 


These  snuff  spoons  are  very  similar  in  form, 
althoujih  tlioy  sliglitly  ditlbr  in  detail.  They 
are  made  of  hone  or  ivory,  and  consist  of  a 
small  bo^\  1  set  on  a  deeply  pronged  handle. 
Some  spoons  have  two^ron^s,  but  the  gen- 
erality have  three.  The  bowl  is  mostly 
hemispherical,  but  in  some  specimens  it  is 
oblong.  I  possess  specimens  of  both  forms, 
and  also  a  snulf  spoon  from  Madagascar, 
■which  is  very  similar  both  in  shape  and  size 
to  that  wliich  is  used  by  the  Kallir. 

Supi)osing  him  to  have  a  spoon,  he  takes 
his  snulf  box  out  of  his  ear,  or  from  his  belt, 
and  solemnly  lills  the  bowl  of  the  spoon. 
lie  then  rejilaces  the  box,  inserts  the  bowl 
of  the  spoon  into  his  capacious  nostrils,  and 
with  a  powerful  inhalation  exhausts  the  con- 
tents. The  i)uugeut  snuff  causes  tears  to 
pour  down  his  cheeks;  and  as  if  to  make 
sui'e  that  thoy  shall  follow  their  proper 
course,  the  taker  draws  the  edges  of  his 
thumbs  down  his  face,  so  as  to  make  a  kind 
of  groove  in  which  the  tears  can  run  from 
the'^inner  angle  of  the  eyes  to  the  corner  of 
tiie  mouth.  This  Hood  of  tears  constitutes 
the  Katlir's  great  enjoyment  in  snuff  taking, 
and  it  is  contrary  to  all  etiquette  to  speak  to 
a  Kaflir,  or  to  disturb  him  in  any  way,  while 
he  is  taking  his  snuff. 

If,  as  is  often  the  case,  he  is  not  rich 
enough  to  jiossess  a  spoon,  he  manages  it  in 
another  i...iliion.  Taking  care  to  seat  him- 
self in  a  sjiot  which  is  sheltered  from  the 
wind,  he  pours  the  snuff  on  the  back  of  his 
hand,  making  a  little  conical  heap  that  ex- 
actly coincides  with  his  wide  nostrils.  Uy 
putting  the  left  side  of  liis  nose  on  the  snuil 
neap,  and  closing  the  other  nostril  with  his 
forefinger,  he  contri  -  s  to  absorb  it  all  with- 
out losing  a  grain  of  the  precious  sul)stance 
—  an  act  wliich  he  would  consider  as  the 
\ery  acme  of  folly. 

The  rules  of  etiquette  are  especially  mi- 
nute as  regards  siniff  taking. 

It  is  considered  liad  manners  to  offer  snuff 
to  another,  because  to  oiler  a  gift  implies 
superiority;  the  principal  man  in  each  as- 
sembly being  always  called  upon  to  give 
snuff  to  the  others.  There  is  an  etiquette 
even  in  asking  lor  snuff.  If  one  Kallir  sees 
another  taking  snuff,  he  does  not  ask  directly 
for  it,  but  puts  a  sidelong  question,  saying, 
"  What  are  you  eating  ? '"  The  first  answer 
to  this  question  is  always  to  the  effect  that 
he  is  not  eatinu  anything,  which  is  th(>  polite 
mode  of  refusing  the  request  — a  refusal  to 
the  first  a))|ilieiition  being  part  of  the  same 
singular  code  of  laws.  When  a  second  re- 
quest is  niaile  in  the  same  indirect  manner 
as  the  tovnier,  he  pours  a  (luantity  of  snuff 
into  the  pahn  of  his  left  hand,  and  holds  it 
out  for  (he  iitiier  to  help  himself,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  looks  carefully  in  apother  direc- 
tion, so  tliat  lie  may  not  seem  to  watch  the 
quantity  which  is  taken,  and  to  apjiear  to 
grudge  the  gilt.  Or,  if  several  be  present, 
and  lie  it)  a  rich  man,  he  helps  himself  lirst 


and  then  throws  the  box  to  his  guests, 
abstaining,  as  before,  from  looking  at  them 
as  they  help  themselves.  Wiien  a  chief  has 
sunnnoned  his  dependants,  he  calls  a  ser- 
vant, who  holds  his  two  open  hands  to<jether, 
so  as  to  form  a  cup.  The  chief  then  fills  his 
hands  with  siuiff,  and  the  servant  carries  the 
valued  gift  to  the  guests  as  they  sit  around. 

It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  when 
a  Kallir  takes  snuff,  he  sits  on  tlu:  ground. 
This  is  one  of  tlie  many  small  points  of  eti- 
quette which  the  natives  observe  Avith  the 
minutest  care.  Its  infringement  is  looked 
upon  not  only  as  an  instance  of  bad  man- 
ners, but  as  a'tacit  acknowledgment  that  the 
man  who  stands  up  while  he  is  engaged  with 
his  snuff  with  another  is  trying  to  take 
advantage  of  him.  Mr.  Shooter  remarks 
that  many  a  man  has  I)een  nnudered  by 
being  entrapped  into  snuff  faking,  and  then 
stabbed  while  in  a  defenceless  position. 
Tlie  verv  act  of  holding  out  one  hand  filled 
with  snuff,  while  the  other  is  occiqned  with 
the  snuffbox,  prevents  tlie  donor  from  using 
Ins  weapons,  so  that  he  might  be  easily  over- 
powered by  any  one  who  was  inclined  to  be 
treacherous. 

The  r(^ader  will  probably  have  observed 
the  analogv  between  this  ci"  tom  and  an 
ancient  etiquette  of  En^laiui,  a  relic  of 
which  still  survives  in  the  "  grace  cup " 
handed  round  at  municipal  baiKiiiets.  There 
are  few  ])oiiifs  in  Kaflir  life  more  remarkable 
than  the  minute  code  of  eti(iuetle  concern- 
ing the  use  of  tob.icco,  It  must  have  been 
of  verv  recent  growth,  beeausc  foliacco, 
although  much  cultivate<l  in  AlVica,  is  not 
iiidigeiious  to  that  country,  and  has  l)een 
introduced  from  America.  "  Tt  almost  seems 
as  if  some  sjiirit  of  courte^^y  wer(-  jiiherent 
in  the  plant,  and  thus  the  AiViean  black  man 
and  the  American  red  man  are  perforce 
obliged  to  observe  careful  ceri'inonial  in  its 
consumption. 

It  might  naturally  he  thought  that  the 
constant,  inludations  of  such  quantities  of 
snuff,  and  that  of  so  pungent  a  character, 
would  injure  the  olfactory  nerves  to  such  an 
extent  that  they  would  be  scareniy  able 
to  perform  their  office.  8ueli,  however,  is 
not  the  case.  The  KaHir's  nos(>  is  a  w:)ndpr- 
ful  organ.  It  is  entirely  unalVeeted  by  the 
abominal)le  scent  proceeding  from  the  ran- 
cid grease  witli  which  *lie  natives  jih'nte- 
oiisly  !)esmear  themselves,  jind  sulfers  no 
inconvenience  from  the  sfilling  atinos]ihrre 
of  the  hut  where  manv  inmates  ar(>  assem- 
bled. Hut,  notwithstaiKliiig  all  tliese  as- 
s.'uilts  u]M)n  it,  conjoined  with  the  continual 
snulf  takiiiii,  it  can  detect  odors  which  are 
(piite  imperceptible  to  European  nostrils, 
and  apjiears  to  be  nearly  as  sensitive  as  that 
of  tlie  bloodhound. 

Heing  so  fond  of  their  snuff,  the  KaflRrs 
lavish  all  their  artistic  power-  on  tin-  boxes 
in  which  they  carry  so  valual)le  a  subsfanre. 
They  make  their  snuff  boxes  of  various  tua- 


ox  to  his  guests, 
II  looking  tii  them 

WliL'u  ii  clnuf  liaa 
ts,  he  ciills  a  ser- 
icii  himds  fogetlicr, 
chief  then  fills  his 
servant  carries  the 
IS  they  sit  around, 
utioned  that  when 
<its  on  tin:  ground. 
;mall  points  of  eti- 
.  ohserve  with  the 
ingenient  is  looked 
tauce  of  bad  nian- 
vledgnient  that  the 
he  is  engaged  with 
is  trying  to   take 

Shooter  remarks 
icen  murdered  by 
tf  taking,  and  then 
fenceless  position, 
out  one  hand  tilled 
T  is  oecupied  with 
le  donor  from  using 
ight  be  easily  over- 
was  iucliuecl  to  be 

bly  have  observed 
is  ei'' torn  and  an 
nulan.i,  a  relic  of 

tlie  "  grace  cup  '' 
dbanciuets.  There 
fe  more  reinarka1)le 

eti{|uetle  concern- 
It  must  have  been 
,  because  tobacco, 
d  in  Africa,  is  not 
itry,  and  has  been 
I.  It  almost  seems 
te^^y  wer(>  inherent 

African  black  man 

man  are  perforce 
il  ceremonial  in  its 

'  thought  that  the 
such  (piantities  of 
ngent  a  character, 
y  nerves  to  such  an 
I  be  scar(H'ly  able 
8iuh.  however,  is 
's  nose  is  a  wondcr- 
•  unalVeeted  by  the 
ling  from  the  ran- 
he  natives  jilentc- 
es,  and  sutl'ers  no 
stilling  atmos|)hero 
muatcs  ar(>  asseni- 
ling  all  these  as- 
witli  the  conlinual 
ct  odors  which  are 
European  nostrils, 
as  sensitive  as  that 

V  snutr,  the  Kaffirs 
ower  •  on  th(-  boxes 
doable  a  substance. 
oxcs  of  various  tua- 


SNurr  BOXES. 


terials,  such  as  wood,  bone,  ivory,  horn:  and 
just  as  Europeans  employ  gems  and  the 
precious  metals  in  the  manufacture  of  their 
snuir  boxes,  so  do  the  KafHrs  use  for  the 
same  purpose  the  materials  they  most  value, 
and  exhaust  upon  them  the  utmost  resources 
of  their  simple  arts. 

One  of  the  commonest  forms  of  snuff  box 
is  a  small  tube,  about  three  inches  in  length, 
and  halt  an  inch  in  diameter.  This  is  merely 
a  jouU  of  reed,  with  its  open  end  secured  bv 
a  plug.  The  natural  color  of  the  reed  is 
slimuig  yellow;  but  the  Kaffir  mostly  deco- 
rates It  with  various  patterns,  made  by  par- 
tially charring  the  surface.  These  patterns 
are  dillerently  disposed;  but  in  general  form 
thev  are  very  similar,  consisting  of  diamonds 
and  triangles  of  alternate  blai^  and  yellow. 

fh.f  n^-''L*?r''''T  ''""'^'"^''  P»''P°«e  besides 
that  ot  holding  tlic  snult  and  is  used  as  an 
ornament  The  correct  method  of  wearin" 
It  IS  to  make  a  hole  in  the  loboof  tlie  ear  and 
push  he  snutr  box  into  it.  In  that  posit  " 
1 1  s  always  at  hand,  and  the  bohl  blkck  and 
yellow  pa  tern  has  a  good  etreet  against  the 

at  tig.  b  of  "dress  and  ornaments,"  on  page 

Another  form  of  snuff  box  is  shown  at 
fig.  o  on  he  same  pa^e.  This  is  a  small 
ai  t  cle,  and  is  cut  out  of  solid  ivory.  Much 
Bki  1  IS  shown  in  the  external  shapin"-  of 

and   verv   nrp,■n^    .,ot; ,     t'      "  "' 


161 


which  is  preferred  is  that  just  above  the 
fore  foot.  The  foot  bein^' removed,  ho 
KafBr  measures  a  piece  o?  the  leg  some 
four  mclies  m  length,  and  cuts  it  off.  From 
the  upper  part  he  strip  the  skin,  but  takes 
care  to  leave  a  tolerably  broad  belt  of  hide 
at  the  wider  end.  The  bone  is  then  pol- 
ishe( ,  and  is  generally  dec(n-ated  with  a 
rudely  engraved  but  moderatelv  regular 
pattern,  somewhat  similar  to  that  w"hich 
has  been  alreiidy  described  as  placed  upon 
the  gourd.  The  natural  hollow  is  much 
enlarged,  and  the  opening  being  closed  with 
a  stopper,  the  snutt  box  is  complete 

Sometimes  the  Kaffir  makes  his  snuffbox 
out  ot  the  horn  of  a  young  ox;  but  ho  will 
occasionally  go  to  the  trouble  of  cuttin<r  ft 
out  of  the  horn  of  a  rliinoceros.    Suefi  a 
box  IS  a  valuable  one,  for  the  bone  of  the 
rhinoceros  is  solid,  and  therefore  the  hollow 
nuist  be  made  by  sheer  labor,  whereas  that 
ot  the  ox  IS  already  hollow,  and  only  needs 
to  be  polished.    Moreover,  it  is  not  so  e.asv 
to  procure  the  horn  of  a  rhinoceros  as  that 
ot  an  ox,  in.xsniuch  as  the  former  is  a  power- 
till  and  dangerous  animal,  and  can  onlv  be 
obtained  at  the  risk  of  life,  or  by  the  labo- 
rious plan  of  digging  a  pitfall. 

There  is  one  lorm  of  snuff  box  which  is 
Sn^J!!.\&^^P!^"?''^^t"  *•'«  tribes  ot 


M,    c„  Vi ,A.       '  l'i^""i"   lo  lue  triDes  01 

ch  Southern  Africa,  both  in  shape  and  mate- 

and  veiy  grearpItlerce'rusT'h'','^^  he^*'  '''''''i  ^^y  ^''^'  ''««'"«  ^Y  "'aking  a  clay 

shown  iLiapinfflpolishit  It^slrt?  ""V,  l^'"^"'!''"-^''  and'putting  Tt  in 'tS 


,  ,j    o i«.i..v...v,u    iHUBu    nave    DCOl 

shown  in  scraping  and  polishing  its  surface 
33ut  this  IS  mere  child's  play  contrasted  with 
the  enormous  labors  ot  hollowing  it  with 
the  very  imperfect  tools  possessed  l)y  a  Kaf- 
fir workman     The  common  bottle  gourd  is 
largely  used  in  the  manutacture  of  snuff 
boxes.    Sometimes  it  is   merely  hollowed 
a.  d  furnishe.1  with  a  plaited  leatfiern  thong 
whereby  it  inav  be  secured  to  the  person  of 
the  owner     The  hollowing  process  is  verv 
simple,  and  consists  of  bor?ng  a  hole  in  the 
end  as  the  gourd  hangs  on"the   t  ee    and 
leaving  it  to  itself.    In  process  of  time  t  e 

s'l^Jifis'KT^'T^P^'^-^'  =^'"1  «>™  »t  r 
Skin  IS  baked  by  the   sun   to  a  decree  of 

™"'%birf^  «1"'1J  to  that  of  ea;.then 
waie.  This  form  of  snuff  box  is  much 
used.    As  the  bottle  gourd  attains  a  "arge 

m  which  snutt  is  kept  in  stock,  or  by  a  chief 
of  liberal  ideas,  who  likes  to  iiand  round  a 
largo  supply  among  his  followers.  In  the 
i?':f''LZ[''''^'  '' !?  •"•namented  in  some 


sun  to  dry.  He  is  very  expert  a?  this  art 
an(i,  as  a  general  rule,  can  imitate  the  va- 
rious animals  with  such  truth  that  they  can 
be  immediately  recognized.  Of  course  he 
has  bu  little  delicacy,  and  does  not  am  at 
any  artistic  effect;  but  he  is  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  the  salient  points  of  The  ani- 
ina)  which  he  is  modelling,  and  renders 
hem  with  a  force  th.at  tr?nue,  tly  paS 
into  rather  ludicrous  exaggeratio.u    ' 

Ihenext  process  is  a  very  singular  one 
When  a  cow  is  killed,  the  Ivaffir^•emove3 
the  hide,  and  lays  it  on  the  ground  with  the 
hair  downward.  With  the'sharp  blade  of 
his  assag.ai  he  then  scrapes  the  interior  of 
the  hide  so  as  to  clean  off  the  coagulated 
blood  which  adheres  to  it,  and  collects  it  all 
m  one  place.  With  this  blood  he  nixes 
some  powdered  earth,  and  works  the  blool 
and  the  powder  into  a  paste.    Of  course  a 

from  ,?"*'?  •'^'  «f  «»il»'-»l  fibre   is  scraped 
fiom  the  hide  and  mixed  with  the  naste 
and  aids  to  bind  it  more  closely  tlSr! 


way  or  other.    Sometimes  theKaffir  Ho<^rv  I  t^'".;, \  "',  "■""'  "'  """"*^  cioseiy  together 

«»  .,,0  „,,„,„  „,,eH„r  „u,;  ^^^^^i^^^^^o^l;,^  S]?',lt  u' 

tes 


rFtsroffSasr"'"'"-'"^"--- 


-.  .e ...  or»co„.n.ri»;sisrLrLrorst£0sE2 


The  Kaffir  repeats  this  process  until  he  has 
pbt^ained  a  coating  about  the  twelfth  of  an 
inch  m  thickness.  Just  before  it  lias  be- 
come  quite  h.^rd..  he  takes  his  Tieed le  or\ 
Uhl^ .»  P"'"*«'^  ^^^.''g"'.  «nd  rises  a 


162 


THE  IC^VFFm. 


bear  n  rnli^  rcsomblanco  to  hair.  When 
it  is  quite  drv,  tin-  Kaffir  cuts  a  round  hole 
in  the  top  or  the  head,  and  with  his  needle 
aided  by  sundrv  implements  made  of  tliorns, 
picks  oiit  llu!  wliole  of  the  clay  model,  leav- 
ing only  the  drv  coating  of  paste.  By  this 
time  the  plaslic  paste  has  hardened  into  a 
peculiar  consistency.  It  is  very  heavy  in 
proi)ortion  to  its  bulk,  partly  on  account  of 
the  earthy  matter  incorporated  with  it,  and 
partly  on' account  of  its  extremely  compact 
nature.  It  is  wonderfully  strong,  resisting 
considerable  violence  without  sulfering  any 
damage.  It  is  so  hard  that  contact  with 
shaip  stones,  sjjear  heads,  or  a  knife  I)lade 
is  perfectly  innocuous,  and  so  elastic,  that 
if  it  were  ilrojjped  from  the  cloud;i  upon  the 
earth,  it  would  scarcely  sustain  any  injiny. 

My  own  specimen  represents  an  elephant, 
the  leathern  thong  by  which  the  plug  is  re- 
trained being  ingeniously  contrived  to  play 
the  i)art  of  the  proboscis.  Ibit  tlie  Kaffirs 
are  singularlv  ingenious  in  their  manufac- 
ture of  tlicse  ■  ';rious  snulf  boxes,  and  imi- 
tate the  form  of  almost  every  animal  in 
their  own  country.  The  ox  and  the  ele- 
phant are  their  favorite  niodcds:  but  they 
will  sometimes  mi  It  a  snud'  box  in  the 
form  of  a  rhinocero.!,  anil  the  very  best 
specimen  that  I  have  as  yet  seen  was  in 
the  shape  of  a  hartebeest,"  the  peculiar  re- 
curved horns,  and  shape  of  the  liead,  being 
rendered  with  wonderful  truth. 

Modelling  must  naturally  imply  a  mind 
with  some  artistic  powers;  and  it  is  evident 
that  anv  one  who  can  form  in  clay  a  recog- 
nizable'modil  of  any  object,  no  niatter  how 
rude  it  may  lie.  has  within  him  some  modi- 
cum of  the  sculptor's  art.  Tiiis  implies  a 
portion  of  the  (Iraugbtsman's  art  also,  be- 
cause in  the  mind  of  the  modeller  there 
must  exist  a  tolerably  accurate  conception 
of  the  various  outline.s  that  bound  the  ob- 
ject which  he  models.  He  can  also  carve 
very  respectably  in  wood;  and,  as  we  have 
seen  —  when  we  came  to  the  question  of  a 
Kaffir's  food  and  how  he  eats  it  — he  can 
carve  his  spoons  into  very  artistic  forms, 
and  sometimes  to  the  sh;>pe  of  certain  ob- 
jects, whether  artificial  or  natural.  There 
"is  now  before  me  an  admiralil}'  executed 
model  of  the  head  of  a  butfalo,  carved  by  a 
Kaffir  out  of  a  rhinoceros  horn,  the  peculiar 
sweep  and  curve  of  the  buffalo's  enormous 
born  being  given  with  a  truth  and  freedom 
that  arc  really  wonderful. 

Yet  it  is  a  most  remarkable  fact  that  a 
Kaffir,  as  a  general  rule,  is  wholly  incapable 
uf  understanding  a  drawing  that  includes 
perspective.  An  ordinary  outline  he  can 
understand  well  enough,  and  will  recognize 
a  sketcli  of  an  animal,  a  house,  or  a  man, 
and  will  sometimes  succeed  in  identifying 
the  individual  who  is  represented.  Yet 
even  this  amount  of  artis'ic  recognition  is 
by  no  means  universal;  and  a  Kaflir,  on 
being  shown  a  well-executed  portrait  of  a 


man,  has  been  known  to  assert  that  it  was  a 
lion. 

But  when  pcrspoetivo  is  included,  the 
Kaffir  is  wholly  at  a  loss  to  conqirehend  it. 
One  of  my  friends,  who  was  travelling  in 
South  Africa,  halted  at  a  well-known  snot, 
and  while  there  received  a  cojjy  of  an  illus- 
trated new.spapcr,  in  which  was  an  engrav- 
ing of  the  iaentieal  spot.  lie  was  delighted 
at  the  opportunity,  and  called  the  Kaffirs  to 
cmne  and  look  at  the  print.  Not  one  of 
them  could  form  the  slightest  conception  of 
its  meaning,  although,  by  a  curious  coinci- 
dence, a  wagon  had  been  represented  in 
exactly  the  situation  which  was  occupied  by 
that  ill  which  they  were  travelling.  In  vain 
did  he  explain  the  nrint.  Here  was  the 
wagon  —  there  was  fliat  clumj)  of  trees  — 
there  was  that  flat-topped  hill — down  in 
that  direction  ran  that  ravine  —  and  so 
forth.  They  listened  very  attentively,  and 
then  began  to  laugh,  thinking  that  Tie  was 
joking  with  them.  The  wagon,  which 
happened  to  be  in  the  foreground,  they 
recognized,  but  the  landscape  they  ignored. 
"That  clump  of  trees,"  said  they,  "is  more 
than  a  mile  distant;  how  can  it  be  on  this 
l!at  jjiece  of  paper?"  To  their  minds  the 
argument  was  ended,  and  there  was  no 
room  for  further  diseussicm. 

I  liavo  another  snuff  box,  which  is  re- 
markable as  being  a  combination  of  two 
arts;  namelj',  modelling  and  bead  Avork, 
The  author  of  this  composition  dors  not 
seem  to  have  been  a  man  of  original  gen- 
ius, or  to  have  possessed  any  confidence  in 
his  power  of  modelling.  Instead  of  mak- 
ing a  day  model  of  somi;  animal,  he  has 
contented  himself  with  imitating  a  gourd, 
one  of  the  easiest  tasks  that  a  child  of  four 
years  old  could  perform.  There  is  rothing 
"to  do  but  to  make  a  ball  of  clay,  for  the  body 
of  the  box,  and  fix  to  it  a  small  cylinder  of 
clay  for  the  neck.  The  makir  of  this  snuff 
box  has  been  scarcely  more  successful  in 
(he  ornamental  cover  "than  in  the  box  itself. 
With  great  labor  he  has  woven  an  envelope 
m.adc  of  beads,  and  up  to  a  certain  point 
has  been  successful.  He  has  evidently 
])ossessed  beads  of  several  sizes,  and  lias 
disposed  them  witli  some  ingenuity.  The 
largi-r  are  made  into  the  eovi'r  for  (he  neck 
of  the  box,  a  number  of  the  very  largest 
heads  being  reserved  to  mark  the  line 
where  the  neck  is  wa^'ked  into  the  liody  of 
the  bottle.  All  the  beads  are  strung  iqion 
threads  made  of  sinews,  and  are  managed 
so  ingeniously  that  a  kind  of  clos(>  network 
is  formed,  which  tits  almost  tightly  to  the 
box.  But  the  maker  has  committed  a  slight 
error  in  liis  measareu'cnts,  .and  the  conse- 
quence is  that,  aliixaigli  the  cover  fits 
closely  over  the  g  ati'r  jjart  of  the  box,  it 
forms  several  niiga'nly  wrinkles  hero  and 
there;  the  jnakt.  r  having  forgotten  tlint, 
owing  to  \h.  ;-1i:!iu!ar  sbajie  of  the  box,  tl'.e 
diameter  of  the   bead  envelope  ought  to 


THE  KAFFIR  AND  HIS  PIPE. 


sert  that  it  was  a 


contracted  with  eacli  row  of 


have    been 
bearls. 

The  colors  of  the  beads  are  only  three  — 
namely,  chalk- white,  {jarnet,  and  blue;  the 
two  latter  beins  tranMliieeut.  The  ground- 
work IS  toruie.I  of  the  opariue  white  beads, 
while  tlu.se  (.(  tli(!  other  two  colors  are  dis- 
lipse(  111  bauds  running  in  a  slightly  spiral 
direction.  ' 

There  is  now  before  me  a  most  reniark- 
able  smitr  box,  or  '-iquaka,"  as  the  KalHrs 
ca  I  It,  which  peri)Iexed  inc  excecdin-rly. 
The  form  ,s  that  of*  a  South  African  gouril, 
and  It  IS  furnish(>d  with  a  leathern  tliong 
alter  the  jnire  African  fashion,  lint  tlu' 
carvinj.  with   which   it  is  almost   entirely 

artist.    1  he   upper  portion  is  cut  so  as  to 
resemb  0    h.,  well-kn,.«n  concentric  i^',r  ■ 
balls  Av-liich  the  (;hines..  cut  with  such  i    i- 
mte  labor,  and  a  similar  patt.u-n  decora  "s 
the   b,a.so.    But  the   bod-  of  the  gounl   is 
covered  with  outline  car^  .iigs,  one  of  w  lich 
repr..sents  a  peacock,  a  I.n-d  which  does  not 
belong  to  Kalfirland.  and  the  rest  of  which 
are   very  fair  reiircsentations  of  th(^   rose 
this  le,    aiKl    shamrock.      The    peacock     s 
really  well  .Irawn,  the  contrast  between  the 
close  i>Iuinivge  of  the   body  and  the   loos  ■ 
discomposed   feathers    of  'the    tra  i    iS 
very  bodly  marked;  while  the  attitude  oT 
the   bird,  as   it  stands  on  a  branch    wilb 
reverted  head,  is  very  natural     (Sec  m-^e 
10/.)    Mnorltoss  King,   to  who^e  p,E 
tion  1    belongs,  tells  me  that  if  he  had    ot 
seen  it  taken  from  the  boriy  „f  a  slain  w^". 
rior,  lie  could  hardly  have  believed    hat    t 
came   from    Southern   Afri.'a.      He   tldnks 
tha   It  inust  have  been  carved  by  a  pa  'tuTllv 
c.y.l.xed  Hottentot,  or  KalHr  of '  eLSS 
ntclhgence  and  that  the  .lesii^n  mus       "ve 
been  copie,    from  some  En.^li^h       dels  or 

the  gour'i:  ■'^""••^^•■^"1  transferred  it  to 

The  same  gentleman  has  also  forwarded 
to  me  aiu,  her  gourd  of  the  same  shanfH, 


1G3 


naniely,  by  cutting  off  a  amall  portion  of  the 
neek,  80  as  to  allow  tlie  air  to  ent..r  and 
hu8  to  cause  the  whole  of  the  s  ft' sub- 
stance  of  the  interior  to  decay.  The  severed 
portion  of  the  ne-'k  is  carei\.]ly  preserved 
and  tu  stopper  is  li^ced  to  it  in  sul.l.  a  ma  : 
ner  that  when  the  gourd  is  closed  it  seems 
at  first  sight  to  be  entire.  These  goi  rds 
are  never  washed,  but  fivsh  milk  is  "ontii - 
ualy  ad.Ied,  in  ord.T  tliat   it  may  be  cd  - 

tile  vess  d     "'"''^"   ^^  ^'"^*  whicli  is  Mt  in 

Next  to  his  .snufj-  box,  the  Kafflr  vahtes  his 

pipe.     There  is  quite  as  much  variety  in 

pipes  in  Kaffirland  as  there  is  in  Europe,  an  " 

possible,  he  material  is  cvn  more  varie  ' 

Heed,  wood,  stone,  Jiorn,  and  b„i„.  are  the 

principal  materials,  and  th,"  rea.ler  will  see 

that  from  them  a  coiisideial)le  variety  can 

be  formed.    The  eommon.st  pip^s  ar..made 

out  of  wood,  and  are  forme.l  l,n  the  same 

principle  as  the  well-known  wooden  pipes  of 

Europe      But  the   Kaflir  has   no   lathe   in 

which  he  can  turn  the  bowl  smooth  o-i  the 

ext(!rior,  and  gouge  out  the  wood  to  make 

whinrt'^'-T.^'"''"''"  •'^''^  '"'  tl'o  drills  with 
which  the  Eurojiean  m.akcr  i.ierces  the  stem, 
.or  he  .lehcate  tools  which  si  ve  it  so  neat  a 
Imish.  He  has  scarcidy  an v  tools  but  his 
assagiti  and  his  n.-edle,  an.l  >-et  with  these 
rude  imidements  he  succeeds  in  making  a 
very  serviceable,  though  not  a  very  artistic 


foi  holdmg  amasi,  or  eh)ttMl  milk  This 
s  ..x'.me.i  is  ..hietly  remarkahle  Vom  l  ' 
foct  (hat  an  acchlent  has  befiillen  i mi V, 

™i,-  1     1     "    ■^'"'■'*    '""''h    r(-sembles    tint 

has  been  fastened  over  the  ho  '    ¥  ,£0 

^1  the  goiU      '*  ''  "''""^*  incorporated 

The  gourd  is  prepared  in  M.p  verv  s!m-i 
manner  that  is  In  Le  among  the  K-afC^l^  | 


pipe. 

.  One  of  the  principal  poinls  iv.  pipe  mak- 
ng,  among  the  KafHrs,  is.  to  be  il .  r™  as 
regards  the  size  of  the  howl.  Tie  sn  a  k  st 
Kathr  pipe  is  nearly  three  times  as  1  ' e  as 
the  ordinary  ,,ipe  of  Europe,  aiul  is  „Tther 
larger  than    the  great  porcelain   pipes  .so 

'  sed  by  the  Germans  is  very  mil.l.  and  is 
mplo.vcd  more  for  its  deli-'ale  flavor    1  an 
ts  potency;  whereas  the  tobac<.o  which 
Kaffir  uses  is  rough,  coarse,  rank,  and  ex- 
tremely strong.     Some  of  the  pip,.,s  u  e  1  by 
hese  tnlH.sare  so  largo  tliat  a  casual  oZ 
^erver  might  easily  take   them  for   1^11° 
and  they  are  so  heavy  and  un«  ieldy  esnc^ 
c.ally  toward  the  howl!  that  on  an  .m  ler'-emT 
a  smoker  might  very  efHrtuallv  use  h  sS 
as  a  dub,  and  beat  r.lf  either  a  wild  I    is      r 
a  human  foe  with  the  improvised  wea  on. 

trenerally,  the  bowl  is  merely  hoi  nv^d 

and  then  used  as  soon  as  the  wood    s     rr 

ut  1.1  some  cases  the  <hisky  manufacturer 

mpn^       his  p  po,  or  at  le.ast  thinks  ?lm   ho 

f  ri;.;fT  ''"'"^J'  "■'."'  -^  very  thin  plate 
t  sheet  iron  Sometimes,  thouirh  rather 
larely,  a  peculiar  kind  of  stone  is'use  fhr 
the  manuf.acture  of  pipes.  This  sto  ,e  s  of 
a  green  color,  with  a  waw.kind  of  u  ern 
not  unlike  that  of  malachite.  Man^  'ti"; 
natives  sot  great  store   by  this     t  ne    a 

.'"d^^r^rticT""^""""^  ''^'^  ^'  ^^«  -'»« 

l.io^!!''  ^^'^'"''  i'l'T'^''''''''  ^"  "'e  full  tlie  love  of 
Ins  own  especial  pipe,  which  seems  to  dis- 


IM 


THK  KAl'KlIl. 


Ilntfiiinh  (<vorv  Mmokor,  no  muttor  wliiil  hit* 
CDinilrv  iiKiv  111'.  TliK  Tuik  Iiiim  u  pluiii 
(vulluMi  lioNvl.  lull  inrniuls  flii'  Mtcm  with 
ji'WcU,  imd  ronii^<  llit<  iiiiiu(l»iiii>c«i  ol'  lln> 
pm'i'Nl  iimlici'.  'riii'OiTiiiiin  I'dniis  tlic  liowl 
of  III!'  tiiii'Nl  iiovci'ImIii,  Mini  mIoriiM  it  wllli 
iiix  own  roiil  ol'  uniiH,  or  willi  llio  poilniil  of 
Hoiiic  liDHiiin  IViciiil,  wliilo  llii-  Nli'in  in  diuo- 
r;ili'(l  « iili  ''ilkcn  runlHiind  IuhscIm  of  lii-illliinl 
iinil  .HVinliolit';il  cnlorH.  Kvi'ii  the  Knjjiish- 
nmn,  jiliiiii  mill  fiiiiplc  iin  an*  Hit'  tiu><li'M  on 
wliiili  111'  viiliu's  liiiiiMilf,  liiki's  a  Hpccliil 
jiritli'  in  II  1,'iMnl  mi'i'i'scliaiiin,  and  di'corulcH 
Ills  favoiilc  pi)n'  Willi  «;old  inonntiiijj  and 
ninliiT  inoiiliipii'i'i'.  Some  pcrMoiiM  of  niinplt' 
taslo  pi't'l'iT  till'  )>lain  woodrn  or  clav  pipo  to 
llii' ci'sllii'sl  spt'i'inii'n  (ha(  uil  cun  fniniHli; 
hnl  oihiTH  priili'  llii'insi'lvi's  oiliu'i'  njion  Uic 
I'oili)  inad'iialH  \vill\  wllii'il  lln'pip(>  is  made, 
or  nil'  iinanlilv  of  iroid  and  silver  \vln'i'«'\vitli 
i(  isdci'oiali'd.  Ollicrs,  a,i;ain,  sitiii  Io  prc- 
CiT  forms  an  irroli'sinu'  and  I'anlaslic  as  nnv 
(hat  aro  di"<i^iii'd  liy  llio  Wcslcrn  Afri- 
can lu'iit'o.  as  is  shown  b.v  Iht*  variety  of 
Hlvan!,'i'\v-slia|ied  pipes  exiiiliiled  in  tlie  lo- 
baecoiiists'  w  indows,  which  wonld  not  he  so 
aliiiiidanlly  produced  if  tlicy  did  not  meet 
Willi  a  correN|>oiidin!ily  lari;e  sale. 

Tlic  Norlli  Ainericaii  Imnaii  lavishes  all 
Ills  artistic  powers  upon  his  pipe.  As  a 
warrior,  upon  a  caiiipaii;ii  he  conleiits  hini- 
Hclf  Willi  a  pipe  "contrived  ii  doiihle  dt'hl  to 
pay,"  his  toniahawk  heiiii;  so  fashioned  thai 
the  pipe  howl  is  sunk  in  the  head,  while 
the  handle  of  the  weapon  is  hollowed,  and 
becomes  the  slem.  Uiil,  as  a  man  of  iteace. 
he  expends  his  wealth,  his  artistic  powers, 
anil  his  lime  upon  his  pip(>.  lie  takes  a 
journey  to  the  far  distant  spot  in  whicli  the 
"i^acrcil  rcdslone  is  tpKiriied.  He  ntler«  in- 
vocations to  the  (ircat  Spirit ;  uives  olVer- 
iiii;s,  and  hninhly  asks  permission  to  lake 
Hoino  of  the  veiierati'd  stone.  lie  returns 
home  Willi  his  treasure,  carves  the  howl 
wilh  iiitlnile  jiaiiis,  makes  a  most  eluhorale 
stem,  and  decorates  it  willi  the  wampnin 
and  feathers  which  are  tlui  jewelry  of  a 
.savajje  Indian.  The  inhahitant  of  Vancou- 
ver's Island  shapes  an  entire  liipe,  howl 
and  slem  inchided.  out  of  .solid  stone,  cov- 
ci'in'.j  it  with  an  intlnily  of  ;;rotes(jne  iinaj;es 
that  must  lake  nearlv  a  lifetime  of  lahi  r 
The  native  o['  India  t^irms  the  water-pip-.  , 
or  "hiililile-lmlihle."  out  of  a  coooa-mit  shell 
niul  a  ]iicce  of  hainln>o  and  a  clay  howl;  and 
ivs  lontr  .'IS  he  is  a  mere  laborer,  livina;  on 
nothiiiir  but  rice,  he  contents  himself  with 
this  simnle  arranuemeut.  Hut,  in  propor- 
tion a-s  lie  becomes  rich,  he  indicates  his 
incrca-siiiir  wealth  by  the  appearance  of  his 
pipe;  so  that  when  he  has  attair.ed  atttii- 
cnce,  the  cocoa-nut  shell  is  incased  in  gold 
and  silver  lilajrree,  while  tht>  stem  and 
mouthpiece  are  covered  with  j^ems  and  the 
jirecious  imMals. 

It  is  likely,  therefore,  th.it  the  Knfllr  will 
CXpuud  bulii  time  uiul  lubur  upuu  lliu  diiuu- 


ralloii  of  bin  pipe.  Of  artistic  beauty  he  him 
very  lltll(>  idea,  and  is  unalile  to  ^;lVl'  Io  IiIn 
pipi>  the  llowiliK  curves  wliieh  are  loiilld  111 
the  handiwork  of  llie  Amerieaii  Indian,  ol- 
io produce  the  rude  yet  vil^oioic-  dcsijjns 
winch  oriiameiil  Hie  iiipeof  New  ( 'iiledoiiiii. 
The  form  of  the  Kalllr's  pipe  seldom  \iirles, 
and  the  whole  energies  ol'  the  owinr  seem 
Io  be  concelilraled  on  iiilavinv  the  lunvl 
with  lead.  The  palleriis  whicli  he  piodiiccs 
are  not  rcnmrkable  either  for  beauty  or 
varietv,  and,  indeed,  are  lillle  more  than 
repel  ii  ions  of  llie  /i;,'-/.ay;  en^'iavin>,'M  npoii 
the  siiiilV  boxes. 

Then'  is  now  before  me  a  pipe  wl>  'h  liaH 
evidently  beloii;,'cd  to  a  Kiillir  who  was  ii 
skilful  Ninitli,  and  on  which  Hie  owner  lias 
expended  all  his  metalliirjiie  know  l.'dj;e. 
The  entire  stem  and  the  base  of  the  bowl 
all'  made  of  lead,  and  the  edge  of  the  bowl 
is  furnislii'd  with  a  rim  of  the  same  iiietiil. 
Till'  pallcrn  whiili  is  eiijjiaved  upon  it  is 
composed  of  lead,  iiiid  it  is  a  remarkable 
fact  that  the  lead  is  not  merely  let  into  the 
wood,  but  that  the  bowl  of  the  pipe  is  cut 
compli'lcly  llirough,  so  that  the  paltcni  is 
seen  in  llie  inside  as  well  as  on  the  exterior. 
The  pipe  has  never  been  smoked,  ami  tlni 
|iallerii  seems  to  be  imtiiiished.  The  skill 
which  has  been  employed  in  making  this 
pipe  is  very  great,  for  it  iiiiist  reipiire  no 
small  amount  of  protleieiicy  luilb  in  wood 
carving  and  metal  working,  to  combine  the 
two  materials  together  so  perfectly  an  to  bo 
air-light. 

The  hookah,  or  at  least  a  modillcalion  or 
this  curious  pip<',  is  in  great  use  among  Ihu 
Kallir  tribes,  and  is  (piite  as  ingenious  a  piece 
of  art  as  the  '•  hubble-bubble"  of  Hie  llidiiir 
peasant.  It  is  made  of  tlnee  distinct  p.irts, 
Virst,  there  is  the  bowl,  which  is  generally 
carved  out  of  stone,  anil  is  oltcn  orna- 
mented with  a  deejily  engraved  pattern. 
The  commonest  bowls,  however,  are  made 
from  cartlieiiware,  and  'I'vcry  similar  in 
shape  to  that  of  the  hidiaii  jiipe.  Their 
form  very  much  resembles  that  of  a  barrel, 
one  end  liaving  a  large  luid  the  other  a  small 
aperture. 

'I'hc  next  nrlicle  is  a  reed  some  four  or 
live  inches  in  length,  which  is  titled  tightly 
into  the  smaller  aperture  of  the  bowl;  th(> 
last,  and  most  important  jiarl,  is  the  body 
of  ilu>  pijie,  which  is  always  made  of  the 
horn  of  some  iinimal,  that  of  the  ox  being 
most  usual! v  found.  The  favorite  horn, 
however,  aiii"l  Hint  which  is  most  costly,  is 
that  of  the  koodoo,  the  inagnitlcciit  spiral- 
honied  antelope  of  .SoiiHiern  .\fricu.  A 
hole  is  bored  into  the  horn  at  some  little 
distance  from  the  jioint,  and  the  reed,  which 
has  been  already  attjichcd  to  the  bowl,  is 
thrust  info  it,  the  Junction  of  Hie  reed  ami 
horn,  being  made  ivir-tight.  (.''^ee  illustration 
No.  4,  page  l.").").) 

The  bowl  is  now  filled  with  tobacco,  or 
wilh  ttUythci'  mixuiro  that  will  bo  dcscribeil, 


Till';    I-()()U   MAN'S    IMPK. 


Irttic  lii'iiiily  lilt  liiiH 

llllll'  III  f^lVl'    li>  \\\h 

liicli  nil'  liiiinil  ill 
ni'i'ii'iiii   liiiliiiti,  III' 

Vil^iillill-  lli'MimiM 
lit'  Nrw  ( 'iili'ildlllll. 
ipC  MI'IdnIM  Mirll'M, 
I'    till'    OVMHI'  NCCIM 

iilavini;  I  111'   liinvl 

wliii'li  111'  iniiilnri'H 

Id'   I'm'   licMiily   or 

llllll'   niiii'i'    lliiiii 

ciij^raviiif^M   iipon 

'  II  |ii|ii'  \\\'    \\  liiiH 
Kiillii'   wliii  \vu«  11 

I'll     till'  llWIIlT    llllM 

Inrjjii'  kiiiiwli'djtc. 
liiiM'  of  I  111'  IhiwI 
'  (i(l^;f  III'  till'  ImiwI 
if  llii-  unww  iiicliil. 
ij;riiV('(l  ii|i(ui  it.  is 
I  Is  11  I'ciiiiii'kiilild 
lli'l'i'l\  Irl  illl'i  (lid 
til'  (111'  |ii|n'  is  I'lil; 
lint  till'  pntli'i'ii  is 
lis  (III  till'  I'slt'iiiiri 

r«niiik('il,  mill  tliii 
liiislii'il.  Tlic  nkill 
I'll  ill  milking  IIiIm 

luiiNt   I'i'iiiiiri"   no 

lU'V  lii'tli  III  Wtmil 
ij;,  Id  I'lniiliiiK^  till' 
)  lu-rt'i'i'tly  iw  to  bo 

t,  n  iiuiililli'iilioii  of 
'ont  use  iiniiiii;;  (lio 
IS  in^jcniiiiis  n  [licct' 
ilijf"  III' (lie  IiKliiii 
liii'c  (lisliiii't  p.irtH. 
wliicli  is  >;i'iii'rnli_v 
ml  is  nlti'ii  onia- 
I'li^'invi'il  pnKcni. 
howcvi'i-,  iirc  iiindii 
I'  very  similar  in 
iiliaii  jiipi".  Tlu'ir 
IS  that  of  a  luuTi'l, 
1(1  tlicotluT  a  small 

ri'c'd  some  four  or 
lii'li  is  tittcil  ti.i,'liliy 
i>  (if  till'  liiiwl;  llio 
t  jinrt,  is  till'  liiitly 
ways  made  of  tlu' 
a(  of  (lie  OS  lu'iiis 
riu'  favorilo  liuni, 
1  is  most  I'dstly,  is 
ina,tiiiitl('i'iit.  spiral- 
itlicrn  Africa.  A 
oni  at  somi'  little 
md  till'  I'l'i'd,  wliii'h 
icd  to  (he  bowl,  is 
DU  of  (lie  ri'i'd  and 
it.   (.'^oc  illustration 

il  with  tobacco,  or 
kt  will  bo  dcsciibt'il, 


mid  till'  liitni  iicarlv  (lllcd  willi  wal.i 
"'.■'l<''-  (o  sinokn  li.is  pip..,  thi'nntivi'pl.K'i.s 
"■^  '" I'  <"  Ibo    I'lii.id.  i.p,.,,  ,.,,,1   ,\f  III,, 

lioni    prcssi'S   lllii.'d-.'oflh,.  i,prl|i„;r(„|,|H 

•  iH'cks,  SI.  MH  III  ,'xi'liiili.  ||„,  air,  and   then 

111  IMll'H     Vl«l.l'IMIs|y.       Tl,,.     „, „,     i,     ,1,,,^ 

;'';'7'';    '",,  l"'^,'^  !'" .'-d'  Hic  wmcr,  .md  is 

p:in  ally    ||',.,.,|    iniin    impuritii's    licriir,.    j| 


im 


III  ri'.'ii'si',  Il 


I'l'Mcllcy'  III 


lips  III    Ihi'  sllli.ki'l'.       Dui'llljr  IN 

Sl'f;;'''' f  'l';';vali'r,il.'a„s..sai:i„i| 

""""'"-  ^' 'I.  Wlllrl,  is  (l|,>||^;|ll.  III  aid    III,' 

i;''''''^' "I  ';ni"' siii-.k...'.     I'l.n.  lohacci.  is, 

oniyi'i-,  scldiim  smnNcd  in  Uds  pip,.,  and 
<'^l'"n:.llv    aninii^r    II,.,    |,„„,„,,   ',,i,,;,/„ 

.•NC.'('(lll.«IV     piKl'Ml      liiixl,,,,,      I,     ,,„,,|„\,.,|. 

"I''"'-'"  '^  n.si'd  (ur  III..  piirpoM,.   ..rV'ivii..- 
I."'«(ri,s(iin,,.,|  llavi.r,  bill,  ||,„  ..|ii,.r  inT,-.;: 


I'  I'"  '  ;  II"    Dniiianis,  ii,.ii|,„,.  ,|„  ,|,  ' 

|.-;y     1..^     inloxi..aliM«     h.'mp    ,„   .a^,'     , 
(xlciMiiiMis..  (,,|,„.,,,    rii.'ir  w.'il.'r    Ip," 

Moni.jlini.'s  lasi,..„  i|,„  |„„v|  n„i'ni,'.n..,ii  y   n 
l'^pl.i.;.'l.ym..nns„ra|,,,„.,i„,  ,.  ,'V    I 

'opo  lllilc,  on.'  pair  (if   wllicji 


,'lia,' 


',''!'';  '"'  "■  l<iiiil   of  Ii..||,p,  ,.,,||,,|| 
Smc'    'J:'':;''^^''^    illloxicMtin;^     ....WTM    like 

■"^niokin;,'  lliis  lii'inp  is  cxalli'.!  inl.i 
piii'laiil  I'.'i'ciii.niv  aiiiiiii"  I 
ciiliducl.'il  ill  ||i,.'| 


I.OWI,  n,..iiii...;,ii,., ;.,-,,,- :,'';; 

;••'"■'•     ,';•".  (Irmly  l,.;r..||„.,.  i,,.  n.  V.  n  n  .. 
I"m.     Tl...  I,air..f||,..  nnl..|.,p;.  i,  ,,||.,^v..;i,„ 


ai'lJHt 
n 


III    Mil 
liM  p. 'I. pi,',  ail.i  i: 
,  ,  •  'Wlll'f  lilaillii'i';     - 

A  iiiiiiil.,.r„r  iiil.'iidiiiLCsni,.k,'i'Mn 
l(i,!j;i'lli,.|'  aii<l  Nil,  ill  ,1  ,1,., 
li'iW'^U'  wnh-r  pip,.,  l,ij,',.(||,., 

tile  nc'dl'iij  I, ilia,',., I  'mrl  M, 
.   M     1  .   ',      ,     .,  I        '"'"  "l<'  |ii  i'|i:ir,'.i  iii'iiiii 
<'all,.il  "ilaLTlia"  l.v  il„.  i,.,i;,.;,.   '  -i-i.  .  ,'"'/' 

lank  nils  1 1 

as 

coiilaiil, 


iHscnil.li. 

iiviii'.;  milv  a 

I'l'  Willi  a  siippiv  (if 

ic  jiii  •  •    ' 

I'y  III!'  naliv.'s.     III,.  iii-Mi  il, 

„„„..      ,      I"'  I'M"'..  liN'liU  il,  aii.l   Inl.ali.s 
nincli  siii,.ki.  as  bis  liin.^rs  ,■:,,, 


jii'rmilliiiif  any  ol'  it 
liands  III,. 


1. 1 


ii.it 


■  .,,,,,,,,-,  ,,,,,,(1,1  1,1  |ir,'y(i||       i|.  u,,,,,|,,,  ,., ,    V   I  ■••..■"   "■■I. III. ■!  Ill  wn  (.  I      IIS  I,,. 

not  Ion-  II,  i,i,,ii(',.stii|,^r  i,„.|,;  ' ,  ■„„..„  "ir,,  s  ,               '       '''."''^"''1  Miisi,.ian."     JI,,  u,m 

;i^.la(..Mli..|i.,dy,lr..|lii;su..s|i. Z^^     ^  ;^^„;'l'    "7f"'    ';''   ;-    kiiob-kiTri,,    „n      |^ 

..■..'ycHsc'iii  l„  s.arl  li„,i,  I,,.,  |,.,;„|  "         ;  r     '";•„"":  '^"";"'^,""•  '""•'  "v.r  111.'  end  „  ■ 

lii'ir   bi'illlaiii.y  ,h.s  away    .m,!   U  ,„„ i.      i  •'    ,    "'  "   ^"  "^   '"   ''"''ii    ii    rid"..  s,.iii,.   (i.,v 


(.si.ap...     II,.   II,,,, 
'  jiip,'  1,1  lb,,  iiiaii  ii,.ai',.s|  liiiii,  an, 
<losi'sIiisni,,„(b  III  pr,.y,.|||  ||„,  s,„„      " 
'"<c;i|iinyr.     Tl.,.  rcsnii  ,,('  ihj^  , 

M'   •"ii:^    1.1    I,,-,,"'  ■     *  — - 
.'IL 
(I 
till 
II 

ii'i'  conliii'i 
"'illl  ('|iil,.psv 
Tlii^-  .sl.iir.'  ,.f  ..N-..il..in,.„|,  i,  „,  p,„^,.,,.„, 

'"'Il        lb,.       I llll       ||:||,,,.      ,..;  .' 

any  b.n.^il,  ..r  ij,,,,,,  .|,„|  j, 

till' sniiikf.r  is  hin:,'  liis,.||sil) 

As  il  woiil,"  ■  ' 

■'•'main   in 

roused    liy 

employ  111 

lii 


'•""""•;"  '"•  ■"l<m,aii,|,as  III,.  ,|,.,.|<  „ 

'""* '^  "•"'"■'I  ;•>■;•  lor  cobii'.  Ill' always  .li.HiH,; 
Homi.  pan    „r  III,.   Hkin    wlii.,','   u    |,d,.mb 
N(n)i|i<  cinlrasl   „f  |,i„.  ,.^|h|^,  """J 

Tlliivisay,.,'ysi,i;r|,|,„.|,j,„|„,.    I  ,,   , 

si'.'iMs  I,,  Im.  in  „.,.  ,.v..,.  ,  ,.„„si,|,',.,|.|„  ,   „! 

"""';'^:'" '"  'M'i.'a,     Thcnaliycof    |,s 

'■"""•'■y  IS  m.y..,'  at  a  I.ims  Ii.,.  a  pip,.,  an.  if 
"':''Io.;h  not  happrn  |„  |...s..,.ms ',„'„,'„(•  n,,! 
l,'i|"'Miiior,|i,iary  us,.,  |,..,.,,„,„„|,,,„„„i„'^ 
;•^v  n.iii„l,.s  wli,.,',.y,.,.  |,„  ,„;,y  ,„..  ',!,;; 
biH  Piin.,.^,.  |„.  ,i,.,.,|.  „.,  I     ,, 'i',,!  ,.,.,,„i,,,,!, 

IOWOO,f,Hll.,.,.,    „|..,||,„,.    ,„,,„,,i,,|    „,',.|,i,., 

l"|'''x  arc  Ki.|,..,'ally  mad,'.    Tb,..,.  is  hc  ..' 
aiiiKi'andi'i.i'.ibi.iK  bis  ii„(i„„  „|',i  , ,;,;,,   ,;  I 
"^••"•iv.'l' Mil.,', .aril,  inl,.  tbal  art  .' ,.  a , 

"';:„«''"'''i'i'^-'ifi .,iii..Hi,is  idiia,.,.,',;,;  ' 

"•  m.'liod  of  making;  tJiis  pip,,  is  p.',.. 

••'•^1  ly  Miupi...  Fi,.si,  h,.  ,„,„,,  .,;„,„,  „,  ; 

<•!'  tli<;  !^r„nii,|,  ,i„,|  „|„|„',,,  ,,,  ,„•„,, 
pic.  I  lie  pni'isc  iiiaiiMir  in  wliicj, 
N  nia.l,.  is,|,.pi,.|,„|  i„  |i,,o-,.„.(|,-.,  ,^,,, 


r 
of  inn. I 
(bis  pi,( 

lOWII 


liki.  Ibos,.  ofap,.rs,)iiatl,i,.k,..l 


of  iiind  al  lb,. 


I  ....    '''"'•      '"''''<  mnil  riib',.  is  il.n 

''''••>"'"f"l  ll'ofulnn-  pip...     Tl.,' 
<'<:c,lll,;,'  is  I,,  pu.sl,  ||„,   ,|„,„,,. 

ol  iiind  III, lii 


ii(.xt  pro- 

.,  ,        ..  ••  iitio  (li(.  Iiiini) 

1        .  "  ''''acbi.s  (h,.  siM'ar  sbifi    ■mil 

'//'."'''"•"'•'^'■''^''''''''"•'ilal.ayily         '        ' 


"  "  mimilc  or  two  wl.icb   .,.VJ;."  .V  '7,'""  "'""'' ''avily  is  mad,., 

•■•""Mllic«r,H„  tt     .s's     .      u     .      '""■'"''"    "'■""•    '-"^vl 

.       "i.^'i Mloall,.w  a  nia.it  'i.       (' i,    n         •    '"'"   ''"•"'""v   wilb.lmwn, 

ix  xt:^U'  of  ins.'iisiliilliy,      ,    "  ;      ,  .     J'' '':   '^  ''ompb.l,..   Ill,,   ,„,,.(•„,.,„,„ 

"■^   ''^liil    si.licr   ni,.,|.a,l,'l ,';,,  ;,     -;  t/'^  Ibc  st,..',..     A  f.'w 

..  1 1"',""!'.'*  '"  •'!'■.  iHiniin.^  smib,.amM  s..ill,',.s  .,, 


;y'i-is,.ai',|,osay,and.£\.^!'';!:;7t:; 
"":;■"  sboni.l  beany  uralili.'ati.i,  a  •,  ! 
M'nt.'  ni,'x,,li,':il,|,.  t„  ,„  K,„.„p.,',;'V  „: 
•bisky  snidkci's.  bowv-r.  .'c^.anl  lb.'  „i„.  ,. 
M.p,^y,n^,.ii,...r,|.,..,,,,,,,,r,,,,,,,;j:!i/^ 
•mil  "ill  sacrifice  almost  eyerytbi 
scss  it.  • 

Althol|;rI,     (|„ 

vi''tinis  t,)  this 
is 


iiij;  to  ]ios- 

namara  (rib,,  ai'o  special 
pc.Miliar  mo.le  of  smokiii"  i 


!.s.-o,.p..d  i.i, I,,, .,.,,,,,, I,  ,.,,,^.,''\;^^^ 

"•x'ndia,„e(c,',aml  two  „,•  ,l„.„„'\V,.;.p^ 


in. 


'q'Ia<'...linlli,.b.il,.,,,,,,is,,.,i..,',  |',^,;,X 

no  a  co,„p,n,.f  „„„,.     ^      ,,,  i!,*^  ^^  ^'^^^^^^^ 

'ilccn.  li,.n(  i„  ||„.  |;„.„     p      |,.,|,'  'r.'  I 

'.-"id.ib',.fi,,,....j,,1,;:..';';|;.  -I'jnn^ 


;.■"  '•""  I'oiiiiar  mo.le  of  smokiii"  it    ii.,r  ii,  , '  Vi .■■••■'^I'o  iiuoin..  bol,',   ,.av- 


I 


160 


THE  KAFFIR. 


18  carpfiilly  witlidnnvn.nnd  nt  the  same  time 

(he  Ixnvl  is  in:iilc  liv  imsliiiii;;  llic  ^miil■r  iii'tcr 
(lie  (wij;  mill  widciiiiii;  I  lie  lioli'.  1"  such 
case  tlie  iiipc  is  "I'  siuli  -^  "iiturc  liiiil  an 
J-Jiiropi'iin  I'diilil  not  smoke  it,  even  it  lii' 
(■oiil<l  overconic  tlic  UMliiifiofrcpiiduanw  u 
iisin"  it.  lliM  projcctin  '  t'"  '  >V"i.'l  'h;  in 
ihf  wiiv.  ami  his  small  il.li'  :ii»s  i'"iiil  not 
Uikc  ii'propiM-  hol.i.  I'.i;l  the  ^<ro:n\  nost;, 
anil  lai'iio,  pn>ii'i-lin<;  iips  1'  llic  .Siuilh  Aln- 
can  native  arc  nihnir.ihly  ailniited  for  the 
pin-posc,  and  cniiMi  hin'i  to  pcrtbrni  wilh 
case  a  task  which  would  he  physically  ini- 
tiraelieahlc  lo  the  Kmopcan.  (Sec  eugrav- 
in-'  No.  ;t.  on  oppo-itc  pa^'c.) 

It  is  a  rcniaikalile  liicl  liiat  in  some  jjai'ts 
of  Asia  Ihe  natives  c.iiislrncl  a  pipe  on  llie 
same  iirinciplc.  This  pipe  will  he  descnbcd 
in  its  proper  place. 

When  the  Kallirs  can  assciulilc  for  a  i|Uicl 
smoke,  thcv  li:ive  another  curions  custom. 
The  strong',  rank  loliaceo  cNcilcs  u  co|)ioiis 
How  of  .saliva,  and  this  is  disposed  ot  in  a 
rather  straiif.'e  m  inner.  The  smokers  are 
furnished  with  a  luhe  al>out  a  yard  in  lcn;,'tti. 
anil  ;,'enerallv  a  mil,  or  (<traii.'hl  hranch. 
from  which  the  pith  has  been  exirac  ted.  A 
l)cculiarly  handsome  siiccimen  is  usually 
covered  "with  the  skin  of  a  hulloek's  tail. 
Throui,d>  this  tuhc  tlu'  smokers  in  turn  dis- 
chariji'  the  suiierabiindanl  moisture,  and  it 
i.s  thoi:uht  to  be  a  delicate  compliment  to 
select  the  same  spot  that  has  been  previously 
used  bv  another.  Sometimes,  instead  of  a 
h(de.  acircular  trench  is  employed,  but  the 
mode  olnsim;  it  is  exactly  the  same. 

The  ilhislration  No.  4,  same  paj^'c,  rci)rc- 
.sonts  a  couple  of  well-bred  fientlemi'ii — a 
married  man  and  a  ••  boy "— indwlv'inn  in  a 
l)ipe  in  the  cool  of  the  evening;-.  'l"he  man 
has  taken  hi-  turn  at  Ihe  jiipe.  and  handed 
it  to  his  conu'ade.  who  inhales  the  smoke 
while  he  himself  is  eni;ai;eil  with  the  Itilie 
above-mentioneil.  Wishiii'j;  to  !,'ive  some 
little  variety  to  the  occupation,  he  has 
drawn  an  outlined  lii,'nre  of  a  kraal,  and  is 
just  K<'i"Ji  bi  form  one  of  the  huts.  J'res- 
"ently,  the  boy  will  hand  the  pipe  back 
aijaiii,  exchan'jj;e  it  for  the  tube,  and  take  his 
tiirn  at  the  manul'aclm-e  of  the  kraal,  which 
will  be  comi)leted  by  the  time  that  the  piiie 
is  linished. 

Major  Ross  Kin?  describes  this  eurion.is 
procc'edinfj  in  a  very  amusin;;  manner. 
'•  Relainim,'  the  last  draii_'lit  of  smoke  in  bi- 
moulh.  which  he  fills  with  a  decoction  ol 
1)ark  and  watir  from  a  calabash,  he  squirts 
it  on  the  s,'round  by  his  side,  thronuh  a  lon.u: 
ornamented   tube,'  perlbrmiii},'   thereon,   by 


tho  aid  of  a  roHcrvod  portion  of  the  liquid, 

a  sort  of  boalswainV  whistle,  complacently 
rejrardins;  the  soap-like  liubbles,  I'le  joint 
prodiiciion  of  himself  and  neinhlmr. 

•■On  this  occasion,  lindinu'  a  blanketed 
^;ronp  silliu;,'  apart  in  ii  circle,  smokin;,' the 
dat,'ha  before  described,  at  iheir  invilation  I 
scpialted  down  eross-lci,'i,'cd  in  the  rim,',  and 
rcccisini;  the  riidc  cow-horn  pipi!  in  my 
turn,  took  a  pull  at  its  eapacenis  month, 
coiiudiinu'  violently  at  the  snllbcalini,'  fumes, 
as  indeed  they  all'did  more  or  less,  and  alter 
tastinu'  tile  nasty  dccoition  of  bark  which 
Ibllowed  round"  in  a  calabash,  took  the 
)tolitelv  oll'ered  spi'tinir-lidic  of  my  next 
neii,'hbor,  siunallv  failinI.^  In 'Vevcr.  in  the 
n.i.,|i  :  whistle,' to  the  nnboiinded  delight 
Ihe     rini'iies-    wliosi.     In 


rinirinii 


ol     the    rinfjoes,    wliosi.     hearty, 
luu;;hter  was  most  contaj;ious." 

Tobicco  is  <ultivated    by  several    of  the 

I  tribes   inhabitiii;:    Southern    .\l'i  ica,  and    is 

I  prepared  in  nearly  the  same  method  as   is 

!emp|iived  in  olhe'r  jiarls  of  the  world,  the 
leaves     beim;     i,'alhered,   "  su    atcd,"    and 

'  llnally   dried.      Still,    they    apin'cciate    tlie 

j  tobacco  wbiidi  (hev  obtain'  from   Km'opeans. 

I  and  prefer  it  to  thai  uliieb  Is  maiuifactnrcd 

i  bv  themselves. 

I  ■  Some  of  the  Kalllrs  are  very  sueees.sful  in 
their  cultivation  of  tobacco,  and  lind  that  a 
>;i)iid  crop  is  a  very  valuable  propertv._  A 
Katlir  uithont  tol)aico  is  .i  miseiable  beiuL'. 

I  and.  if  it  were  only  for  his   own  sake.  If 

!  ])iisser  >ion  of  a  snpplv  which  \mI1  last  him 

I  throui,diollt  the  vear  is  a  subjeei  of  conftr.at- 

i  Illation.  15nt  an'y  tobacco  ihal  is  not  needed 
for  the  use  of  hi'mself  or  his  household  is  as 
fjood  as  moncv  to  ihe  owner,  as  ther(^  an 

<  few  thint;s  which  a  Kallii  loves  lliat  lobaccn 
eaiinoi  buv.  If  he  sees  a  set  of  beads  thai 
parlii  iilariv  jjleases  him.  and  the  owner 
>biinlil  happen  to  be  jioorcr  than  hiinsidf.  he 
can  purchase  the  linery  by  the  saerilice  of 
a  little  of  his  frajiiant 'stoi-e.  Also,  he  can 
LMin  the  respeii  of  the  '-boys,"  who  .seldom 
pii>sess  properly  of  any    kind  except  theii- 

I  shield  and  spears,  and,  by  jnilieions  irifts  . 

■  tobacco,  call  often  make  them  his  followi  i -. 
this  heili;,'  the  lirst  step  !ie\;ird  (diicftaiu- 
ship.      (ieiierally,   a    Kallir    makes   u])   the 

[crop  of  each  ;s,'a"rden   into  a    siiiLrle    bundh'. 

!. sometimes  weiLdiiiiL;   liily  or  sixty  pounds. 

'and  earefullv  incases  it' with  reeds,  nnuli 
after  the  fashion  thai  naval  tobacco  i> 
sewed  u))  ill  canvas.  He  is  sure  to  jilarc 
these   rolls   in    a    conspicuous   ]Sart  of   the 

I  house,  in  order  to  extort  the  envy  ami 
admiration  of  his  companious. 


•lion  of  till'  Ihin'Hl, 
-111',  coinithicciilly 
hiiMili's,  l!iL>  Joiiil 
I  iicinlilior. 
diiij.'    II    liliiiikctcd 

irclc,  slliokill),'  tile 

I  ilu'ii'  iiiviiiilion  I 
•tl  ill  ilic  liiii;,  1111(1 
liorii  |ii|i(!  in  my 
(':i|ia('ioiis   inoiiUi, 

MllloCMlillLT  riliiu's, 
('  or  l('>s.  iiiid  al'Icr 
1)11  of  JKiik  wliicli 
iliiliMsli,  look  llic 
liilic  ol'  my  iK'Xl 
,  liMWcvcr,  ill  tile 
lillmoiKlcd  dtdi^iit 


uarlv.    riiigiiiji 


LTioiis. 


Iiy  Hi-vcral  of  the 
rii  Afiica.  luid  i> 
ami'  iiH'iliod  its  iv 
of  llir  world,  llic 
"  h<\\  ati'd,"  and 
jy  njiprcciatf  flu' 
I  from  Kuro|H'ans. 
di  is  inaiudactiircd 

very  sui'ccssfiil  in 
•CO.  and  lind  that  a 
iiddi'  projicrtv.  A 
a  nii.-cialiic  (iciiiLr. 
Ills  own  saki'.  !!■ 
liicli  v.  ill  last  liini 
suiiiiTi  of  conftrat- 

ihiil  is  not  needed 
Ids  liou-eludd  is  a^ 


wner. 


as  tliirt^  arc 
ives  lliat  tohaeco 


I  set  ol   lieails 


thai 


1.   and    the    owner 
er  than  luin-(df.  he 


til 


ore. 


e  saeriliee  ol 
Also,  he  can 


lloy^.     will)  seldom 
kintl  exeept   their 


y  jiidiiion> 


rifts 


)    llic 


I  hem  Ins  follow  (  i 
lo'.\:ird  ciiieftai 
lllr  makes  n] 
I)  a  siiiLTle  himi' 
y  or  si.My  poll 
with    ree(" 


Is,  iinieli 


naval     tohaceo    i> 


a 
V  is  sure 


to   jilacc 
irt  of   llic 


rl     tl 


le    elivv 


and 


CIIAFrER  XVII. 


V 


nELIGION  AND  SUPERSTITION. 


ANf.   nm    «■■,  «tIW..«KI.    lNKUKV,K-r.lIAKA'«   VIHION-A   KAFKIll    NKKH 

oKr„,o   .M^.,Mn.:^s-s^^v,.■,V,     ;^        J^^  •'■•^"hx  to  n.s  KAMn.v-s..,,..,,,. 

™. ........V ...  W.O..H..-JL  WA.:.;:":;-^;:::  "ii^^ri'-r;^"  '"^^'^'•^•"''  -™ 


It  is  not  very  easy  to  say  whotlior  ii  Knffli- 
posMfsscs  ai.v  ivlii-i.m  at  all.  in  our  s.-iis,.  of 
the  woni.  AVith  siipiTstitioii  hi'  is  (Ifcpiv 
imbued,  and  |,:iss,.s  |,is  lif.-tini..  in  considrr- 
ahl.'diTailot  uiichcraft  and  of  evil  .spirils 
iJut  rcliiiion  Willi  h  conv.'VM  any  senso  of 
mora  iTsponsibJiKy.  seems  to  he  inconiprc- 
heiisil.  ,.  lo  thi-  ordin:iry  Ivatlir,  and  even  Ins 
naturally  loc. leal  mind  inclines  hini  lo  pra.'- 
tieal  atheism.  As  far  as  is  known,  the  Katlir 
tribes  hav..  a  sort  <.f  tradition  coneernin.'  a 

wo,".  7.''  r      '"  ,"'">■   '  ■^"    ''y   "  '•"•"l-nud 
Woid  that  may  he  trans|ate,l  as  the  Great- 
l^reat,  and  to  whom  ihev  altrihule  the   first 
oriKin  of  all   (liin^s.     Hut  it  is  eertain  thev 
oiler  h.m  no  worship,  ,.,„d  make  no  prayers 
to  him,  and  have  no  i,lea  that  they  are  por- 
fionally  responsihie   (o   him   for   their  nets 
Moreover  inaiiy  of  the  tribes  do  not  even 
possess  tins  imperfeet  knowled-e;  and  even 
HI  those  eases  when-  it  does  ."xist,  its  ori.ri,, 
IS   very  uncertain,  and    it   is  impossibIe"to 
aseertam  w  lether  the  tradition  may  not  be 
a  corrupted  recollection   of  instruction  r..^ 
ued  from  some  European.     Siu-h,  in.leod, 
las  been  known  to  be  the  case  amon-the  Kaf- 
lirs.and  it  is  prol.able  th.-U  the  knowled.r,.  of 
a  Creator  is  really  derived   from  Euronean 
onrees.     At  all  events,  such  kno^leZ  i 
«m„T  '•"*;{"''  ""'Vi'i-S'-'I-  and  exercises  such 

>  (l(i9) 


stories  conperninj?  the  Great-Great,  relatln" 
to  the  creation  of  man,  and  to  the  duration 
of  human  life.  The  man  is  supposed  to  have 
been  created  bv  .spliitinn-  a  reed,  from  wliieh 
Ibe  (irst  parents  of  Hk-  human  race  i)ro- 
eeei  ed.  1  his  lejrend  is  probably  due  lo  a 
double  meanini,'  of  the  word  "  siirnifviiiff 
"ori,i.'in  and  "create,"  which  also  si^Miify 
'reed  and  "  splittins,'."  Another  form  (if 
the  tradition  deprives  tlu-  ({reat-Great  of  ail 
erealorship,  and  makes  him  to  ho  one  of  the 
tW()  who  issued  from  the  split  reed,  so  tliat 
lie  IS  rather  the  ^'l•eat  ancestor  of  the  huiiiaa 
race  than  its  creator. 

The  tradition  coneerninfr  the  affliction  of 
ileatli  u|)on  the  human  race  is  a  very  curious 
one,  and  was  ndated  to  the  missionaries  by 
a  native  who  had  been  converted  to  Chris- 
tianity. 

When  mankind  ha<l  increased  upon  the 
earth,  the  Great-tin.at  took  counsel  with 
liimselt,  and  sent  two  mossenirers  to  them 
one  the  J-'iyer  of  life,  the  other  the  herald  of 
Meath.  the  first  messenger  was  the  chame- 
leon who  was  ordered  to  ^o  and  utter  the 
proclamation,  "Let  not  the  people  die'" 
ri.o  chameleon  set  off  on  its  mission,  but 
hnprered  "n  the  road,  stoppin-  occasionally 
to  eat  by  the  way,  and  walking  leisurely 
instead  of  runnina:.     The  second  messenger 


170 


THE   KAFFIR. 


whole  of  the  journev,  until  he  reached 
the  habitation  of  meni  when  he  procliiimed 
his  message  of  death.  Shortly  atterwanl,  the 
chameleon  arrived  and  delivered  his  mes- 
sage, when  the  salamander  beat  him  and 
drove  him  away,  as  having  failed  ia  his  duty 
to  his  Master.  Then  the  people  lamented 
because  they  had  received  the  message  of 
death  before  that  of  life,  and  from  that  time 
men  luive  been  subject  to  the  power  of 
death.  The  consequence  is,  that  both  ani- 
mals are  detested  bv  the  Kaffirs,  who  kill 
the  chameleon  when"^  they  lind  it,  because  it 
lin'^ered  on  the  wav,  and  lost  them  the  gift 
of  Tmmortality.  And  they  are  equally  sure 
to  kill  the  salamander,  because,  when  ;t  was 
charged  with  such  a  dread  message,  it  has- 
tened on  its  journey,  and  antieijiated  the 
chameleon  in  'its  message  o*"  life.  There  are 
many  variations  of  this  story,  but  in  its 
main  points  it  is  current  throughout  many 
parts  of  Southern  Africa. 

Ahhough  the  Kaffir's  ideas  of  the  Creator 
are  so  vague  and  undelined,  he  has  at  all 
events  a  verv  firm  belief  in  the  existence  of 
the  soul  and  its  immortality  after  death. 
Tchaka  once  made  use  of  this  belief  in  a 
very  ingenious  manner.  The  ])eople  bad 
become  rather  tired  of  war,  and  required 
some  inducenient  to  make  them  welcome 
the  order  for  battle  as  heretofore.  AVhere- 
upon,  Tchaka  had  a  vision  of  Umbia,  a  «\'l- 
known  chief,  who  had  served  under  hs 
father,  and  who  ajipeared  to  Tchaka  to  t'  11 
liim  that  his  father  was  becoming  angry  with 
the  Zulu  tril)e  beeLiiise  they  had  become 
lazy,  and  had  not  gone  to  war  agiiiiist  the 
remaining  uuconcuercd  tribes.  This  lar.i- 
ness  on  the  part  of  the  Zulus  who  still 
inhabited  tin;  earth  was  disjileasing  to  the 
s]iirits  of  the  dead,  who  would  i)e  very  coin- 
Ihrtable  below  ground  with  a  jdenty  of  wives 
and  cattle,  as  soon  as  they  saw  Iheir  tribe  in 
supreme  authority  «over  th(>  whole  land, 
from   file   Draakeiisberg  to   the   sea. 

In  honor  of  this  messenger  from  the 
shiides.  Tchaka  ordered  numbers  of  cattle 
tip  be  slaughtered  in  all  his  military  kraals, 
!.'Mve  sumptuous  feasts,  and  raiseil  the  de- 
seeudants  of  Umbi.i  to  the  rank  of  Indunas. 
()['  course,  the  nam"  of  Umbia  was  in  all 
inouths.  and,  while  the  excitement  was  at  its 
height,  an  old  man  siiddenlv  disniiiieared 
froiu  his  hut.  haviuir  been  dragged  aw.ay, 
aecordiu'j;  to  his  wife's  account,  by  a  lion. 
Tl;e  affair  was  rejioited  to  I'chaka  in  coun- 
cil, but  he  atl'ected  to  fnke  no  notice  of  it. 
After  the  hqise  of  three  moiiliis,  when  the 
immediate  excitement  had  die(l  ;i\vay,  the 
old  man  ren]i])eiin'd  before  Tchaka  with 
Ills  bcad-rin;:  torn  off,  aia'  clothed  in  a  wild 
an<l  fanlaslie  manner. 

lie  said  that  the  lion  had  dragged  him 
awav  to  its  den.  when  llii>  earth  suildenly 
opened  and  swallowed  them  both  U]).  The 
lion  aecomiianied  him  without  doing  him 
any  harm,  and  brought  him  to  a  place  where 


there  was  some  red  earth.  This  also  gave 
w.ay,  and  he  fell  into  another  abyss,  where 
ho  lay  stunned  by  the  fall.  On  recovering, 
he  found  himself  in  a  pleasant  country,  and 
discovered  that  it  was  inhabited  by  the  spir- 
its of  Zulus  who  h.'vd  died,  and  whom  lie  had 
known  in  life.  There  was  Senzangiikona, 
the  father  of  Tchaka,  with  his  councillors,  his 
chiefs,  his  soldiers,  his  wives,  and  his  cattle. 
Umbia  was  also  fliere,  and  enjoyed  himself 
very  much.  Since  his  departure  info  the 
sha'des,  he  had  become  a  great  doctor,  and 
was  accustomed  to  stroll  about  at  night, 
instead  of  staying  at  home  quietly  with  his 
family.  No  one  seemed  to  know  where  ho 
had  gone,  hut  he  told  the  narrator  that  he 
used  to  revi.sit  earth  in  order  to  see.  his 
friends  and  relatives.  For  three  months 
the  narrator  \\4as  kept  in  the  shades  lielow, 
and  was  then  told  to  go  back  to  his  tribe 
an(l  narrate  what  he  had  seen. 

Tchaka  pretended  to  disbelieve  the  nar- 
rative, and  publicly  treated  with  contempt 
the  man, denouncing  him  as  a  liar,  and  send- 
ing for  prophets  who  should  '-smell  "him, 
aiul  discover  whether  he  had  told  the  truth. 
The  seeis  arrived,  performed  their  conjura- 
tions, "  smelt"  the  imin.  and  stated  that  he 
had  told  the  truth,  that  he  had  really  visited 
the  spirits  of  the  dead,  and  that  he  had  iieen 
fetched  bv  the  lion  because  the  peoi)le  did 
not  believe  the  vision  that  had  ajipeared  to 
Tchaka.  It  is  needless  to  oliserve  that  the 
wl-.ole  business  had  been  previously  arranged 
liy  that  wily  chief,  in  order  to  carry  out  his 
ambitious  purposes. 

Unbounded  as  is  in  one  respect  their  rev- 
erence for  the  sjiirits  of  tbeii  ancestors,  they 
atlr-buti'  to  those  same  sjiirits  a  very  limited 
range  of  power.  \  Kaflir  has  the  very  high- 
est respect  for  the  spirits  of  his  own  ances- 
tors, or  those  of  his  chief,  but  pays  not  the 
least  i-'gard  to  those  which  belong  to  other 
families.  The  spirit  of  a  departed  Kaffir  is 
supposed  to  have  no  sympatli''  except  with 
relations  and  iniiiie<liate  descend;iiits. 

It  has  been  alreailv  meiilioned  that,  after 
the  death  ui'  a  Kalll'r,  Ills  spirit  is  siipjiosed 
|((  dwell  in  the  ~hade  beliw,  and  to  have  the 
power  of  iulluencing  the  survivors  (ilhis  own 
lliniilv,  whether  for  good  or  evil.  He  likes 
cattle  to  lie  sacrificed  to  his  name,  because, 
ill  that  case,  be  adds  the  spirits  of  the  dead 
cattle  to  his  herd  below,  while  his  friends 
above  eat  flu;  llesli,  so  that  both  jiarties  are 
well  pleased.  Sometiiiies,  if  he  thinks  that 
he  has  lieeii  neu'leeted  by  them,  he  visits  his 
(Hspleasure  liy  atllicting'  them  with  various 
diseases,  from  which  they  seldom  exiiect  to 
recover  without  the  sacritiee  of  cattle.  If 
the  ailment  is  comparalively  trilling,  the 
sacritiee  of  a  goat  is  deemed  sufficient ;  bill 
if  the  iiialiidy  be  serious,  iiolhiiig  but  an  ox. 
or  in  some  cases  several  oxen,  are  reiiuired 
liefore  the  •Ifended  spirits  will  relent. 
Sheep  seem  :!ever  to  bo  used  for  this  pur- 
pose. 


LEGENDS  AND  TRADITIONS. 


If  the  reader  will  refer  to  pajre  78,  he  wih 
.see  Uiivt  the  saerifice  of  cattle  in  case  of 
wchness  tonus  part  of  a  f,Miar(liau'3  duty 
townr.I  a  young  girl,  and  that,  ff  her  teni- 
ponn-v  guardian  should  have  comi)lied 
with  this  custom,  her  relatives,  should  thev 

catilr'''        '  ''"''"    """""^^  ^"  '■'''""^    '"^^' 

That  the  spirits  of  the  dead  are  allowed 

rpv Uil  1.    -""f  H»'"l"w.V  l'<»«c  holow  and  to 
icvihit  their  friends  has  already  been  men- 

S!     .1  "  ''°'""  '"^'"»'-'«S  a«  in  the  case  of 
Umbia,  they  are  supjjosed  to  present  thein- 

nvf'.'r.    .T''  7" /'>■••"•     «ut  the   usual 
plan  .s,  (.  r  thoni  to  adopt  (he  shape  of  some 
animal  ^ylu.•h  is  not  in  the  habit  of  entering 
umiijn  dwellings,  and  so  to  ai)pear  under  a 
boriovyediorm.     The  serpent  or  the  11.  r 
shape  IS  supposed  to  be  the  favorite  mark 
under  which  the  spirit  conceals  its  id-Uitv  ' 
and  (he  man  whose  house  it  enters  is  letL  to 
exercise  Ins  iiigenuKy  in  guessing  (1,-.  par- 
ticular sp.ni  that  maybe  enshrined  in  the 
s  range  amm.il.     In  order  to  ascertain  pr- 
eset the  character  of  the  visi(„r,  lu,  lavs  a 
stick  gcnlly  on  its  back;  and  if  it  shows  n 
sign   o    auger,  hois  ,pii,,.  sure  (bathe  is 
iavoied  wilh    he  presence  of  one  othis  dead 
a.M  estors      Th,.re  are  k^^v  Kallirs  lha(   will 
make  such  a  discovery,  and  will  not  ..ir,.,- a 


171 


sacriliceal_  once_,  lor  (he  pivvalent  idea  in 

«;■;•  '''"Hi  .S  that  an  .uVestor  would  n! 
luue  taken  (he  (rouble   (o  come  on   (  irlh 

'y^rTl%"l'''.!\  ^^''"'"'"^  tl.at,  unless  he 
ncie  tieated  with  more  res])ect,  some  -vil 
eon^cquence  would  follow.  In  c.msequence 
01  this  be  lei;  most  of  the  Kaliirs  I'.ve  a 
great  dislike  to  killing  serpenls  and  Uy.mU 
not  knmying  whedier  (hev  may  not  lie  act- 
111^'  ru.lely  toward  soin..  dead  mices(or  who 
AMll  avenge  himself  upon  them  for  theii 
w;iii(  ot  respect.     . 

KhI!;.'"'''    m7T  "'■■■'  Mif  enter  a  lint,  the 
Aiillir  woiihl  (ake  no  noii,.,.  of  K,  as  (hese 

nnimalsareii,  (behabKofeiKerinu-  Immnn 

dwclings:  but  it  a  sheep  were  (o  do  so      ! 

oddnnnu.dialelylhney  thai  it  was  inspired 

uill<ilies,a,leo(oneofhisanees(ors.     Tb,. 

!'l  .inv  kin.l,  unless  it  were  a  bcasi  of  nrev 
jti  which  case  it  migbtpossil.lv  have  mad,: 
'•x  ;yay  iiuo  the  but  in  s.-arcll  of  foo.l  V 
similar  exception  would  be  made  widi  re- 
j:nnl  to  antelopes  and  other  animals  which 
l.d  been  liunted,  and  had  rushed  into  the 
k.,..l.n-n.eptum.thehutasarenigelrom 

Sacriliees  are   often    made,   not  only   to 
'  niove  .■Nisdng  evils,  but  to  av..rt  i-npVnd- 

f    ■;•""."''•„  '"  '"^"''•-  •'"■  example,  a  sold  cr 
'o  duds  (hat  (be  enemvan.'gedn.r    le 

pper  Kind  will  make  a  vow  (,rhis  mnit 
le  wi  I  n  l"'  '•"""■^\';'»f''I.V  ou(  of  (be  (igh(, 
'"'  «  II  make  a  sacr.liceto  (hem.  an.l  This 

M    iii,i  be  a  "boy,"  who  has  no  caltle.  his 
wuiei  or  nearest  relation  would  (bink  him- 


self bound  to  fulfil  the  vow.  Now  and  then 
J^^  he  should  find  that  the  danger  wrnS 
n,  m^^f''''''.*'""'.r^'*''  '^"^  ^'"  compromise 
^'ZT  %  ^y  "'  '^""-  '"^  8°'''t-  Unless  a 
sacrifice  o  some  kind  were  made,  the  veu- 
gence  of  the  offended  spirits  would  be  terr- 
i  risk"    "''  '^°"^''  '""'"Sly  run  such 

Sacrifices  are  also  oftered  for  the  purpose 
of  obtaining  certain  favors.  F<.r  e.xan  pie! 
as  has  been  alrea<ly  mentioned,  wb.a.  an 
army  .starts  on  an  exi)edition.  sacrifice's  are 
niade  to  the  spirits,  and  a  similar  rite  is  ner- 
ormed  when  a  new  kraal  is  built,  or  a  new 
held  laid  out.  Relatives  .at  home  will  offer 
|sacrihces  in  behalf  of  their  absent  friends- 
and  when  a  chief  is  away  from   home   in 

Ifi'.r'hu"''  'ir  •''  ''"''''  ^'-^I'".''!'!"",  the  sacrifices 
l<)i  his  weHare  occur  almost  daily  Sacri- 
fices or  thank-oderings  might  also  to  be 
made  when  the  sjurits  have  been  propKious; 
and  i(  tlie  army  is  victorious,  or  the  chief 
redirned  in  health,  it  is  (bought  ri<'ht  to  add 
another  sacrifice  to  the  former,  in  token  of 
acknowledgment  tlu.t  the  previous  oderin-T 
has  not  been  in  vain. 

Tlie  Kartir  generally  reserves  (he  lar<Test 
and  Imest  ok  in  bis  herd  for  sacrifice  under 
very  imporfant  circums(ances.  and  this  ani- 
mal, winch  is  distinguished  by  the  name  of 
nx  (.1  (he  .Spiriis,"  is  never  sold  except  on 
pressing  emergency.     Mr.  Shooler,  who  has 

iff'n'!  "T^l  ''"!■'!,"""  t"  "'^'  "H.ral  culture 
of  (be  'sathr  (ribes,  remarks  with  much 
t';i'<li.  (I...  the  Kafiir-s  idea  of  a  sacrifice  is 
simply  a  present  of  food  to  the  spiril      For 

■NKiificed,  the  i.rophet  in  attendance  call's 
'ipoo  the  si.irits  (o  come  and  eat.  and  a.hU 
to  (he  inducement  by  pl.icing  baskets  of  beer 
and  vessels  of  sniitf  by  the  side  of  the  slau'^h- 
tered  am.nal.  Imleed,  wh.m  a  man  is  v?ry 
P""'-.  ••I'd  has  no  cattle  to  sacrifice,  he  con- 
(enls  luinself  with  these  la((er  o(rci;n-s 
1  he  aceeiint  of  one  of  (hese  sacriliees  has 
"'•n  (ninslaled  by  Mr.  (irou(.  from  (he 
"onls  of  a  nadve.  Alter  mentioning  a  -r  'at 
variety  ot  prelimimiry  rifs,  he  iiroTeeds  to 

uh',.'i    7  '"'"''  '""'  '"''■"•^"  ff'"'«  "lit.  and 

Men  he  has  ,o,m.  abroad,  witbont  the  kraal 

11  who  are  within  their  houses  keep  silence 

lie  he  goes  round    (he    kraal,  (be   ou(er 

'  lelosure  of  the  kraal,  and  says  '  Honor  to 

"•>',    lord!'    (inkosi.)     Olfering   ,„    vers   to 

I'e  shades,  he  .•onlin.u.s,  •  A  blessing,  let  a 

Messing  come  (hen,  since  you  have'  ivally 

dc  naiide.    your   ,,,w;    let  sickness    depart 

"tleily      Thus  we  offer  your  animal.' 

•And  on  our  part  we  say,  'Let  the  sick 
man  conic  out,  ••ome  forth,  be  no  longer  sick 
aiKl  slaughter  your  animal  then,  .since  we 
have  now  consenf..d  that  he  may  have  it  for 
ii.s  own  use  (;iory  to  thee,  lonl;  goo, 
1  -ws  c.mie  (hen,  let  ns  see  him  goin- about 
like  otlu.r  people.  Now  then,  we  have  -Mven 
you  what  you  want;  let  ns  therefore  see 
whedier  or  not  it  was  enjoined  in  onlcr  that 


172 


THE   KAFFIR, 


he  might  recover,  and  that  the  sickness 
might  pass  by.' 

"  And  then,  coming  out,  sjjear  in  hand,  lie 
enters  tlie  cattle  fold,  comes  up  and  stabs  it. 
The  cow  cries,  savs  yehl  to  which  he  replies, 
'  An  animal  for  the  gods  ought  to  show  signs 
of  distress';  it  is  all  right  then,  just  what  you 
required.  Then  they  skin  it,  eat  it,  finish 
it."  Sometimes  the  gall  is  eaten  by  the  sac- 
rilicer,  and  sometimes  it  is  rubbed  over  the 
body. 

Another  kind  of  sacrifice  is  that  which  is 
made  by  the  principal  man  of  a  kraal,  or 
even  by  the  king  himself,  about  the  first  of 
January,  the  time  when  the  pods  of  the 
maize  are  green,  and  are  in  a  fit  state  for 
food.  No  Kallir  will  venture  to  eat  the  pro- 
duce of  the  new  year  until  after  the  festival, 
v.'hic'h  may  be  called  the  Feast  of  First- 
fruits.  The  feast  lasts  for  several  days,  and 
in  order  to  celebrate  it,  the  whole  army 
assembles,  together  with  the  young  recruits 
who  have  not  yet  been  entrusted  with  shields. 
The  ])rophets  also  assemble  in  great  force, 
their  business  being  to  invent  certain  modes 
of  preparing  food,  which  will  j-euder  the 
body  of  the  consumer  strong  throughout  the 
year.  At  this  festival,  also,  the  veteran  sol- 
diers who  have  earned  their  discharge  are 
formally  released  fnmi  service,  while  the 
recruits  are  drafted  into  the   ranks. 

Tlie  first  business  is,  the  sacrilice  of  the 
I'Ull.  For  this  purpose  a  bull  is  given  to 
tiK'  warriors,  who  are  obliged  to  catch  it  and 
strangle  it  with  their  naked  hands.  They 
ar"  not  even  allowed  a  rope  with  which  to 
l)ind  the  animal,  and  the  natur.al  conse- 
([ucuoe  is.  that  no  small  amount  of  torture 
is  inllieted  upon  th(>  poor  animal,  while  the 
warriors  are  placed  in  considerable  Ji'opardy 
of  their  lives.  When  the  bull  is  dead,  the 
chief  prophet  opens  it,  and  removes  the 
gall,  which  he  mixr^  with  other  medicines 
and  gives  to  the  king  and  his  councillors. 
The  dose  thus  projiared  i^J  ••'Iways  as  unsa- 
vory a  mixt)u-e  as  can  well  be  conceived, 
but  the  Kaflir  palate  is  not  very  delicate, 
and  sutlers  little  under  the  iullietion.  The 
body  of  the  hull  is  next  handed  over  to  the 
'■  boys,"  who  eat  as  much  as  they  can,  and 
are  obliged  to  burn  the  reniiiiiider.  As  a 
general  rule,  there  is  very  little  to  lie 
burned.  The  men  do  not  eat  the  desh  of 
this  animal,  but  they  feast  to  their  lieart's 
content  on  other  cattle,  which  are  slau^'b- 
tered  in  the  usual  manner.  Dancing. dritik- 
ing,  and  taking  snutf  now  set  in,  and  eoii- 
tinu(>  in  full  force  for  several  days,  initil 
not  even  Katllr  energy  can  endure  more 
exertion. 

Then  comes  the  part  of  the  kins.  The 
subjects  form  themsclv;>s  into  a  vast  ring, 
into  wliich  the  kin^;,  dressed  in  all  tiie 
bravery  of  his  dancing  apparel,  entei's  with 
a  bound,  amid  shoiifs  of  welcome  from  the 
peoj)le.  lie  ])roceeds  to  indulge"  in  oni^  of 
the  furious  dances  which  the  KatUrs  love, 


springing  high  into  the  air,  flourishing  his 
stick  of  office,  and  singing  songs  in  his  own 
praises,  until  he  can  dance  and  sing  no 
longer.  Generally,  this  dance  is  not  of  very 
long  duration,  as  the  king  is  almost  invari- 
ably a  fat  and  unwieldy  man,  and  cannot 
endure  a  prolonged  exertion.  The  crowning 
incident  of  the  ffeiust  now  takes  place.  The 
king  stands  in  the  midst  of  his  people  — 
Dingan  always  stood  on  a  small  mound  of 
earth  —  takes  a  young  and  green  calabash 
in  his  hands,  and  dashes  it  upon  the  ground, 
so  as  to  break  it  in  pieces;  by  this  act  de- 
claring the  hax'vest  begun,  and  the  peopk?  at 
liberty  to  eat  of  the  fruits  of  the  new  year. 
A  very  similar  ceremony  taktjs  place  among 
the  tribes  of  American  Indians,  the  conse- 
quence of  which  is  frequently  that  the  peo- 
ple abuse  the  newly  granted  permission, 
and  in  a  few  days  consume  all  the  maize 
that  ought  to  have  served  them  for  the 
cold  months  of  winter. 

The  Katlir  has  a  strong  belief  in  omens; 
though  j)erha]is  not  stronger  than  similar 
credulity  in  some  i)arts  of  <mr  own  land. 
He  is  always  on  the  look-out  for  omens, 
and  li:is  as  keen  an  eye  for  them  and  their 
meaning  as  an  ancient  augur.  Anything 
that  hajipens  out  of  the  ordinary  course  of 
events  is  an  omen,  either  for  .good  or  evil, 
and  the  natural  constitution  of  a  Kaffir's 
mind  always  inclines  him  to  the  latter  feel- 
ing. As  in  the  ancient  days,  the  modern 
Katlir  finds  most  of  his  omens  in  the  ac- 
tions of  animals.  One  of  the  worst  of 
omens  is  the  bleating  of  a  sheej)  as  it  is 
being  slaughtered.  Some  years  ago  this 
omen  occurred  in  the  kraal  belonging  to 
one  of  Panda's  "  indiinas,"  or  councillors. 
A  piop!i(!t  was  immediately  summoned,  and 
a  mimlier  of  sacrilices  offered  to  avert  !li(! 
evil  omen.  I'anda  himself  was  so  uneasy 
that  he  added  an  '>x  to  tlie  sacrifices,  and 
afterward  came  to  the  conclusion  that  n 
man  wlio^e  kraal  could  be  visited  bv  such 
an  iiilliclion  could  not  be  tit  to  live.  He 
accordingly  sent  a  juirly  of  soldiers  to  kill 
the  induiiii,  but  tin;  man,  knowini;  the  chin- 
iicter  o''  his  chief,  took  the  alarm  in  lime, 
and  escap"d  into  ]?ritish  territory  in  Natal. 

If  a  goat  were  to  leap  on  a  hut,  nothing 
would  be  thought  of  it;  Init  if  a  dog  or  a 
slice])  wer((  to  do  so.  it  would  be  an  onicii. 
ft  is  rather  remarkable  that  ninong  the 
North  .American  tribes  the  roots  of  houses 
form  the  usual  resting-place  of  the  doijH 
which  swarm  in  c'.iuy  village.  If  a  cow 
wiu'c  to  eat  ^'rain  that  had  been  spilled  on 
the  giouiid,  it  woulcl  be  no  omen;  but  if  she 
were  to  push  oil'  the  co\-er  of  a  vessel  con- 
taining grain,  and  eat  the  contents,  the  act 
would  be  considered  ominous. 

MENTroN'  has  been  made  onee  or  twice 
of  the  prophets,  sometimes.  I)ut  errone- 
ously, called  witch  doctors.  These  person- 
ages play   a   most   important  part   in    tlio 


,  flourishing  his 
onga  in  his  own 
e  and  sing  no 
Be  is  not  of  very 
,s  almost  invari- 
an,  and  cfinnot 
.  The  crowning 
kea  place.  The 
of  his  people  — 
small  mound  of 
green  calabash 
pon  the  ground, 
;  by  this  act  de- 
nd  the  people  at 
)f  the  new  year, 
vcs  place  among 
lians,  the  consc- 
tly  that  the  peo- 
icd  permission, 

0  all  the  maize 

1  them  for    the 

belief  in  omens; 
;er  than  similar 

our  own  land, 
-out  for  omens, 
•  them  and  their 
gur.  Anything 
dinary  course  of 
or  .good  or  evil, 
>n   of  a  lvii(lir"f> 

the  latter  feel- 
lys,  the  modern 
uens  in  the  ac- 
f  the  worst  of 
a  sheej)  as  it  is 

years  ngo  this 
li  l)elonging  to 
'  or  couneiiloris. 

suiimioned,  and 

red  to  avert  tlu; 

was  so  uneasy 

;■  sacritices,  and 

iiclusioii   Ihac   a 

visited  l)v  such 

tit  to  live.  Tie 
r  soldiers  to  kill 
lowini;  the  chin'- 
!  aliirni  in  lime, 
ritory  in  Xat.il. 
1  a  luit,  niirhin;,' 
it  if  a  dog  or  a 
dd  be  MH  onicii. 
liHt    ninong    ihc 

roots  of  houses 
ce  of  the  doi;s 
age.     If  a  cow 

been  s|>illi'd  on 
nneu;  I  nit  if  she 

of  a  vessel  coii- 
I'ontents,  the  act 

lU.>*. 


B  once  or  twice 

es,  but    errone- 

These  pcrson- 

nt  part   in    tliu 


1   '. 


(1.)  THK  PROPHET'S  SCHOOL. 
(ScepaffCB  175,176.) 


(2.)  THK   I'HOl'UKT'S   KKTUUN. 

(«(.■•  page  175.) 


(174) 


r.'ligioiia  systein  of  the  Kaffir  tribes  ;  and 
altliouj,'!!  their  office  varies  slightly  in  de- 
tail, accordinir  to  the  locality  to  which  they 
belong  their  general  characteristics  are  the 
same  throughout  the  country.  Their  chief 
offices  are,  communicating  with  the  spi-Hsof 
Uie  departed,  and  ascertaining  their  wishes- 
discovering  the  perpetrators  of  crimes;  re- 
versing spells  thrown  by  witchcraft;  and 
wstly,  anil  most  important,  rain-makin-A 

ihe  othce  of  prophet  cannot  be  assumed 

'V  iyny  one  who  may  be  ambitious  of  such  a 

distinclion,  but  is  hedged  about  with  many 

ntes  and  ceremonies.    In  the  first  place.  It 

LTJ:  '''"'''^'  V-",'^  '^•>"  '*  cnfMcd  even  to 
ar  V  1,  ''  '^i^'/'l'-l'ite  for  the  office,  which  is 
£^  ,  W  "r  '"'"■^■'  ^^  Pi'oplict  must  b,,  de- 
.sconded  troin  a  prophet,  though  he  need  not 
be  a  prophet  s  son.      IndeedT  as  a  genera 

u  1  nmi  n  "-'"'  *\\"^°^'«l'olJ-  the  supernat- 
m.il  alllatus  gcMUTally  passing  over  one  "cn- 

,.hce"";  v"''  r""^'"'"^*'  '''''■    I"  t'-'«  »''"t 

•laec,  a  \oiy  long  and.  arduous  preparation 

U  lie  passes  successfully  through  it  is  sol- 
emnly adm  Ite.l  into  11,4  order'by  a'co„nc  1 
of  seers,  who  meet  for  the  purpose.  '^ 

JVuself'h  ?rf''V'';l''•'•l'''«^'>•'"^»•- 
Itsls  Itself  to  a  Ivalhr,  he  begins  by  losin- 

al    h.    ,n  erest  ui  the  events' of  everv-d  y 
life,    lie  becomes  depressed  in  mind'  nre- 
J-sso^,UH,.aocoinp,uiy;ofUMihaslhi;j;^ 
Its,  an/I.  what  IS  most  o.xtraordinarv  of  alf 
loses  his  api,eliie.     He  is  visited  by- ,!•*., ins 
of  an  extraordinary  character,  ina  ,      n  i  . 
tii'.^'   to  serj.ents,   lions,   hnena"     l"  ■nank 
and    other   wild   beasts.'        ay'by     •  v  t' 
becomes   more   and   more  possessed    until 
le    perturbatio„.s    of   the  ^pirV    ,  iu  S  < 
themselves   oj.enly.     In    this   sta-e      f   his 
ovu.aie.  the  future  prophet  nttens  te  ri lie 
.^ell^  leiii.s  here  and  there  with  astonishing 
vigor,  and  runs  about  at  full  sp^^od  le ,,     5 
aiul   shrieking  all    the    lime.     \\ni;Mr  E 
e.xeited   he  will   dart   into   the  I  u'l,    eat.  h 
snakes    which   an  ordinarv  Kaffir  wil    ,t 
';ueh      ,e  them  round  his  neck,  bohUv  ti       ' 

Mgm,  es  tile  change  of  the  oi;^r.;lS 
-^  ..ud  the  change  of  wime,-  to  sprin.r  in 

spected  seer,  gives  hun  a.  goat  as       tW    .,  'j 

^e';i.;•aJ:;;;i:;^u;^^;r;;,:f..;;'^;:r^v 

M-'plietandifhesueee.:      :      !:^i    ,;;! 
^v'llnseto   unbo«nde.l   power  among  hi^l 


PEEPAUATIONS  FOR  PROPHETSHIP. 


176 


I  whf    '.u    *"  .""'vei-sally  contemned  as  one 
whom  the  spirits  of  the  departed  think  to 
\^°  u?"""'^  «*  "''^'i-  t'onficfence. 
Mr.  bhooter  gives  a  very  graphic  account 

i4her   IT^Z^'Tu^'  ''  l-^"H't,  who's 
^^i:^ll^^lSnXSrma^^ 

"  Soine  of  the  particulars  may  be  neculiir 
n°f    r    "¥'./"«!  «"'"e  due   to^theSce 
of  the  individual.    A  married  man  fwhose 
mother  >yas   the    daughter  of  a    m-ophet) 
ad  manifested  the   symptoms  of'"ns'    ra- 
tion when  a   youth;    but    his   father    not 
•.vilhng   to  slaughter  his   cattle  as  custom 
u'ould   have  required,  emploved  a  .seer  "f 
iHJputatton  to  check  the  growing  'change  ' 
The  dispossession  w.^s  not^  nowever  n    'mn 
nent;  and  when  the  youth  became  a  ni;   hj 
inspiration  returne.l.     He  professed   o  Lave 
cx)nstantly   recurring    dreams    about   Ins 
leopards,  elephants,  boa-constrictors,  ai       11 

anner  of  wild  beasts;  he  dreamed  a  o 
i      .MM, "5™/'"''''   ?"''  («"''">Sc«t  thing     f 
lo  it.  "  •''  ''^''^''"^'"t  desire  to  reUu-n 

"After  awhile  he  became  verv  sick-  his 

™'*^^;k^r'---'iyi";^,i.our"ii 

watei  over  his  prostrate  person;  and  the 
chief,  whose  induna  he  was,  sent  k  n  e.  s  „- 
ger  to  a  prophet.    The  latter  declared    hat 

1  e  ";j'V?«^««>'ni»y  in.si>ired,and  directs 
tJio  chief  to  supply  ai!  ox  for  sacrifice.    This 
\\as  disagrceaf)fe,  but   that  persona-e  did 
not  dare  to  refuse,  aiul  the  an  mal  was  sent 
he  contrived  however  to  delay  ties  eriice' 

in  the  mean  tmie,  the  o.x  should  be  returned 
Having  begun  to  recover  liis  strenUl  ou v 
growing  prophet  cried    and    nu^d'  like   a 

u  teZS'Tf  l/^S"-^^     "'^  ""°  '«  ente.  hi' 
'i"h-l  nmf  .  I      ""^IV^  younger  children - 

lo  see   nun,   t,ut  Ijo  did   not   nermit  thom 

rw?f  ;.|.'U    *  '•■^'^I'Pi-'"-''''  "1  the   busli.     The 
tuo  ch  Idren  went  after  him;  ami  the  bov 
(lis  .sister  having  tired)  evei  tual  ly    Lo"^ 
cred  him  on  the  sea-shore.     B.dbre  the  Si 
;;»»  -1  approac-h,  the  real  or  alfected  nmd n  a 
I'sappeared  again,  and  ^yns  seen  no    nor 
or  two  or  three  dav..     Ife  then  mu     el 
home,  a  strange    and    frightful   spectaS 
sadvness  and  fjstii,,.  had   mluced'h  rn  aU 
i'lost   to   a,   skeleton;    his   eyes   "lared  an  I 
stood  out  from  his  shrunken  the?    the  r"   ^ 

■•<>"H.lete  the  hide^nis  pi^^.n!;?!!^    ^e^ 
pent  was  twi.t.Ml  round  his  n Vek     Tr-ivi'; 

[;:::^i.:i\i^™ii:,^^ve,'- .Wives  s-ji 

•'^"   "'•    I'iiuutes  ui  Sorrow,  ho 


176 


THE  KAFFIR. 


saluted  lliom  with  fi  wild  nowl  to  this  effect: 
ToDpld  call  1110  iiiiiil,  1  liiiow  Uiey  Siiy  I  am 
mad;  that  is  iiotliiii;,';  tlu-  spirit^  arc  inttu- 
cuciiig  1110  —  llic  sjiiriis  ol'  Majolo,  of  Un- 
hUivii,  anil  of  my  lather.'  (See  tho  illustra- 
tions on  \r,\<Hi  17.'5.) 

"  Ariel-  this  i;  .sort  of  dance  took  place,  In 
which  he  siiiiji;  or  chiintcd,  '  I  thouj^jht  I  was 
dreaiiiiii,;j;  while  I  was  asleep,  hut,  to  my 
snrjjrise,  I  was  not  asU'ej).'  The  womeii 
(previously  instructed)  hroke  forth  into  a 
shrill  chorus,  rel'erriuj?  to  his  departui-c  from 
home,  his  visit  to  the  sea,  and  his  wander- 
ini;  from  river  to  river;  while  the  men  did 
their  jiail  by  sinking  two  or  three  unmean- 
ing syllables.  The  daiici  and  the  accompii- 
nyinjj  chants  were  sev(^ral  limes  repeated, 
tlie  chief  actor  conductinf^  himself  consist- 
ently with  his  previous  behavior. 

"ilis  dreams  continued,  and  tho  pcoph^ 
were  told  that  he  had  se(;n  a  luia-constrictor 
in  a  vision,  and  could  jioint  out  the  spot 
where  it  was  to  be  found.  Tliey  accom- 
panied him;  and,  when  he  iiad  indicated 
the  place,  tlicy  duj^,  iyid  discovered  two  of 
the  I'ep.lil.' ..  He  (-iideavored  to  seize  one, 
but  the  peo|>le  held  liiiii  back,  and  Ids  son 
struck  ill'  aniiiKil  wi'li  sutlicieut  force  to 
disable  but  no  to  kill  it.  IL;  was  then 
allowed  (()  take  the  se,  i  cnt,  which  he  i)l,i,ced 
round  his  lu'ck,  anJ  'le  party  returned 
home.  Stibseiiueutly  havinjj;  (as  he  ailei»ed) 
dreamed  about  a  leopard,  the  people  accom- 
panied him,  and  found  it.  The  beast  was 
slain,  and  carried  in  triumph  to  the  kraal. 

"  When  our  growioij  projihet  returned 
home  al'ler  his  absence  at  the  sea,  he  began 
to  slaughter  his  cattle,  accordirg  to  cirioni 
and  continued  doing  .so  at  intervals  until  the 
wholes  Were  consumed.  Some  of  thein  were 
olfered  in  sacrilice.  As  the  general  rule, 
■when  there  is  beef  at  a  kraal  the  neiglibors 
assemble  to  eat  it;  hut,  when  an  embryo- 
seer  slays  his  cattle,  those  who  wish  to  eat 
must  previouslv  give  him  something.  If 
however  the  chief  were  to  give  him  a  cow, 
the  peojile  of  the  tribe  would  be  free  to  go. 
In  tliis  case  the  chiei'  had  not  done  so,  and 
the  visitors  were  oblii;ed  to  buy  their  entw- 
tainmeiit,  one  man  giving  a  knife,  another  a 
shilling.  An  individual  who  was  unable  or 
unwilling  to  p.ay,  liavinii:  xentured  to  present 
himself  with  empty  hands,  our  neophyti;  was 
exceedingly  wroth,  and.  siizing  a  stick,  gave 
the  intruder  a  signilieaui  bint,  which  the 
latter  was  not  slow  to  compri  h<  iid.  During 
the  consuniplion  of  his  cattle,  the  neophyte 
disappeared  again  for  two  days.  When  it 
was  tiiiished  he  went  to  a  prophet,  wiili  whom 
he  resided  two  moons  his  children  taking 
him  food;  and  afterw:i»l,  to  leeeive  further 
instruction,  visited  another  seer.  lie  was 
then  considered  qualilied  to  i)riictise." 

The  reader  may  remember  that  the  novi- 
tiate proplu  t  occasionally  llings  iiimself  into 
water.  lie  chooses  the  clearest  and  dee])est 
pool  that  'le  can  liiul,  and  the  object  of  doing 


so  is  to  try  whether  any  of  the  spirits  will 
reveal  themselves  to  him  at  the  bottom  of 
the  water,  though  tliey  would  not  do  so  <ui 
dry  land.  In  tlus  foregoing  story  of  a  pro])h- 
el's  |)renaralion,  the  narrator  does  not  touch 
upon  ilie  S|)a(!e  that  intervenes  between 
the  novitiate  and  the  admission  into  the 
prophetic  order.  This  omission  can  be  sii))- 
plied  by  an  account  given  to  Mr.  (Jrout,  by 
a  native  who  was  a  lirm  believer  in  the 
supernatural  powers  of  the  projihets. 

Tho  state  of  "  change  "  lasts  for  a  lonw 
time,  and  is  generally  terminated  at  the 
beginning  of  the  new  year.  He  then  rulis 
himself  all  over  with  white  day,  bedcekshim- 
self  with  living  snakes,  and  goes  to  a  council 
of  seers.  They  take  him  to  the  water 
—  the  sea,  if  tliey  should  be  within  reach 
of  the  coast  —  throw  him  into  the  water,  and 
there  leave  him.  He  again  goes  olf  into 
solitude,  and,  win  n  \u',  returns,  he  is  accom- 
panied bv  the  people  of  bis  kraal,  bringing 
oxen  and  goats  liir  sacrilice.  lie  does  not, 
sacrilice  slu-e]),  because  they  are  silent  when 
killed,  whereas  an  ox  low  s,  and  a  goat  bleats, 
and  it  is  needful  that  any  animal  which  is 
slaughtered  as  a  sacrilice  must  cry  out. 

As  they  are  stieeessively  sacrillec^d,  he 
takes  out  the  bladders  and  gall-bags,  inllates 
them  with  air,  and  hangs  them  about  his 
liody,  as  co!i:])aiiions  to  the  snakes  which  he 
is  jilready  wearing,  *•  He  enters  ])ools  of 
water,  abounding  in  serpents  and  alligators. 
And  n(nv,  if  he  catches  a  .snake,  he  has 
power  ovi'r  th.at;  or  if  he  catches  irii'opard, 
lie  has  jiower  over  the  leopard;  or  if  lu' 
catches  a  deadly-poisoiniis  serjieiit,  he  has 
])ower  over"  the  most  poisonous  serpent. 
And  thus  he  lakes  his  degrees,  the  degree  of 
lcoi>ard,  that  he  may  catch  leopards,  and 
of  serpent,  that  lie"iii:is  catch  siM-jients.'' 
Not  until  he  has  comph'ted  these  jirepara- 
tions  does  he  begin  to  jiraclise  his  [irofes- 
siou,  and  to  exact  ]iaynient  from  those  who 
come  to  ask  his  advice. 

I  have  in  my  jiosvession  a  photograidi 
which  represents  a  Zulu  prophet  and  his 
wife.  It  is  particularly  valual)le,  as  show- 
ing the  singtdar  contrast  in  stature  between 
the  two  sexes,  tlie  husband  and  wife  —  so 
small  is  the  latter  —  scarcely  seeming  to 
beh'.i.g  to  till'  same  race  of  mankind.  This, 
indeed,  is  generally  the  case  tbrougbout  the 
Kaffir  trilics.  The  Katlir  projibel  alwa\s 
carries  a  wand  of  otlice  —  generally  a  cow's 
tail,  iiistened  to  a  wooden  handle — and  in 
his  other  hand  he  bears  a  miniature  shield 
and  an  assagai. 

The  engraving  opposite  represents  two 
piophets,  in  the  full  costume  of  their  jini- 
fe.ssion.  These  were  both  celebrated  men, 
and  had  attained  old  age  when  their  pia- 
traits  were  taken.  One  of  them  was 
peculiarly  noted  for  liis  skill  as  a  rain- 
niak'  r,  an.l  the  other  was  famous  for  his 
kiiowiedge  of  medicin(>  and  the  jiroperties 
ol  iieii.'s.     Each  is  arraved  in  the  gal■nlenl^^ 


f  thf)  uniritH  will 
at  Iho  boUom  of 
iild  not  do  NO  on 
;  story  of  a  pro])!!- 
•or  (loCH  not  touch 
LM'vcnt's  between 
mission  into  tluj 
ission  can  i)c  mi))- 
■lo  Mr.  (irout,  by 

believer  in  the 
e  i»ro])hets. 

lasts  for  a  Ions 
irniinated  at  the 
r.  lie  then  rulis 
clay,  bedcekshim- 

I  y;oes  to  a  council 

II  to    the    water 
be  within  reach 

ito  the  water,  and 
iiin  j;oes  olf  into 
irns,  he  is  accom- 
is  kvaal.  bringing; 
re.  lie  does  nol 
W  are  silent  when 
and  a  ifoat  bleats, 
animal  which  is 
iiiiisl  cry  out. 
'ly  saciilieed,  lie 
fj;all-ba,i;s,  inllates 

■  them  about  his 
snakes  which  he 

1  enters  ])ools  of 
its  and  aliii;ators. 
a  snake,  lie  has 
atches  h  ii'opard, 
■opard;  or  if  he 
<  seriient,  he  has 
isonoiis  serpent. 
ces,  (he  degree  of 
eh  leopards,  and 
catch  serpents.'' 
(1  these  jircpara- 
iclist^  his  |)rofes- 
,  from  (hose  who 

in  a  photograjih 
propliet  and  liis 
iluable,  as  show- 
I  stature  between 
1(1  and  wife.  —  so 
eely  seeming  to 
mankind.  This, 
e  tliroughtuit  till' 

■  projibel  alwii\s 
,'elierally  a  cow's 

handle — and  iu 
miniature  shield 

:  represents  two 
me  of  their  jini- 
celebrated  men, 
when  their  i)or- 
!  of  them  was 
skill  as  a  rain- 
famous  for  his 
d  the  jiropertii's 
in  the  garmeni^ 


¥ 


u 


OLD    PKuniKTs. 

(Si'i>  patfi-  iro.) 


(177) 


M 


V 

f] 
ll 

s 
h 
h 
h 
ft 
1g 
ol 

P< 
m 


DRESS  OF  A  PROPHET. 


suitable  to    the  luiNineHs  in  which    ho  is 
cnafaj^cd.     Althou^'h  the  Himie  man  is  gen- 
eiiilly  a  raiu-iuiilier,  a  witeh-liiider,  a  necro- 
mancer, and  a  |)ii.VHi(ian,  lie  does  not  wear 
the    same    costume    on  all   occasions,  but 
indues  the  ollicial  dress   which  belongs  to 
the    dej)artment,  and    in    many  cases  the 
change    is    so    great    that    the    man    can 
scarcely  be   recognized,      in  one  ciiso,  lie 
will  be  dress(.(l  njcrely  in  the  ordinary  Kaf- 
fir kilt,  with  a  few  iiitlated  gall-bladders  in 
Ins  hair,  and  a  snake-skin  wound  over  his 
shoulders.     In  aiiotlic-r,  be  will  have  rubbed 
nis  lace  and  body  with  white  earth,  covered 
Ills  head  with  such  (iiiantlties  of  charms  that 
nis  tace  can  hardly  be  seen  under  them,  and 
ringe^d  his  limbs  with  the  tails  of  cows,  the 
long  hair-tufts  of  goats,  skins  of  birds,  and 

nernf.tn  .  '""' «'^^''i^'"  adornments;  while  a 
perpetual  clanking  sound  is  made  at  every 
movement  by  numbers  of  small  tortoise- 


179 

shells    strung   on    leathern    thongs.     His 
movements  are   equally  changed  with   his 
clothing;  and  a  man  who  will,  when  invok- 
mg  rain,  invest  every  gesture  with  solemn 
T,   ''^''-f  •■»';k  pmcfi,  will,  when  mating  n« 
w  tch-hnder,  lash   himself  into  furious  ex- 
citement, leap  high  in  the  air,  flourish  his 
egs  and  arms  about  as   if    Ua.y  did   not 
belon-  to  him,  fill  the  air  with  his  shrieks, 
and  foam  at  the  mouth  as  if  he  had  been 
taken   with  an   enih-ptic   fit.     It  is  rathe?, 
curious  that,  whife  in  some  KafHr  tribes  u 
man  who  is  liable   to  fit*   is   avoided  and 
repelled,  among  others  he  is  thought  to  be 
directly  inspired  by  the  souls  of  departed 
chiefs,  and  is  tp»o  Jav.to  entitled  to  become  a 
Jtrophet,  even  though  he  bo  not  of  prophet- 
ical   descent.     He   is    one  who  has  been 
specially   chosen   by   the  spirits,  and  may 
transmit  the  prophetical  office  to  his  do- 
scendaiits. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 


RELIGION  AND  SUPEUSTITION— CoHtiiiua?. 


DUTIES  OF  TITP,  rnOPIIKT—  A  I'llOPIIET  AND  HIS  CMRNTS  —  mOHAIlLE  ItlCSI-I.T  OF  TIIK  INQnnY  — A 
KAiriU's  m;i.l|-.l'  I.V  lllAlt.MS  —  CIIAKM-STICKS  and  TIII  U  VAItlOl  S  IMlor'llUriKS  — ( DlltAdE  AND 
TIH-.NPKU  ClIAliMS— A   SlllTir    AFHKAN    TIlirNDKIlSTOIOl    -  LOVK,    I.lllN,  AND   rATKil'K    IIIAHMH  — 

Tino   KAi'i'iu    lArn.K    mx  rou  — ii.i,nf..-ih    of  a  ciiikf  — tiiI';    wi/.ahii   simmonki)  — kmf.i.mni 

TIIK  \V1/.AIII>  — A  rMlliailM-;  srUNK  —  KDN-a's  IM.N'INS  AVI)  ITS  l!F.-ilM.rS  —  a  FKMAI.K  rilOI'lll  1 
AVO  llUlt  I'Uni'KKDlN'lH—  I  VliKNlDirS  MDDF.  l)F  KXTOIM'IOX  —  I'lli;  IMI'i  isl'fUV;  DKI'KC'rF.Il  —  IIKIlKIl- 
ITAItY   CllAltAlTFlt  OF   I'liol'IIKCV  —  A  IMtoI-IIKTKHH   AT    IKIMK  —  llI;Ml:A.Sdlt  OF   Fl  .MAI.K    PHOI'IIKTH 

—  SVUdKUV  ANI>  MEDlrlNF.  —  A    I'lil.MmVi:    MODE   OF  ('CI'I'INli  —  A  F AI.SK   I'ltol'IIFT   AM>   IMS   FATE 

—  A  8IN0ULAU  SUl'EUSTITION  —  IvAFFIU   VAMI'IIIES— rili;   NKilir   (  1!V  —  I'llOClUINO    FVlDKNfE. 


to  cull  the  visitors  into  liis 
1  tlu'y  iiuuu'fliiitt'ly  join  liini. 

)lu't  asks  for  his  'assiigai' — a 
nri'ssioii  for  his  too  —  wlicn  the 
[liy  ilial  llicv  have  notliini;  to 
III-  atlir  a  wliilo,  lli'  y  will  sook 
io '  answers 


|iay  lull)  Willi. 


not    (lisposi'i 


credit 


(■lie 


It     llic 


•  cvt'l 


i(Iy  tr 


tW( 


Why  don't  you  <x'ivv 
'hey  ollir  liitii  a  small  assajiai; 
^alislil■(l  with  llic  weapon,  and, 
a  larger  one,  says,  '  Tliol  is 
man  who  had  lii-on!.'ht  this 
■ir  hv  savinsi;  that   it  docs  not 


hut    lln'   ])ii 


•t    p 


■^ists 


Ilaviiiu'  no  ho])e  of  extort- 

■e.  the  |ii(>plnt  says,  •  IJeat  anil 

Kacli  ot'  (lie  applicants 


I  h 

ill 


The 
ips    more 


mcclitiite 


ipl 

■i.  and  rejiliei 
aiietimes,  and 
lioinied  by  in  atini;  llie 

The   iHophet    now  ]ireten(ls 

III.    indisiiiict    at    lirst.  hut 

'lituailv  clearer,  until  he    sees 

inu'  wliieh  has  oeeurred,     'J'liis 

I'esses  lo  dcserihe  as  it  ajipcars 

may  iniaijine  him  sayiii!.;,  for 

•ow  is  sick  —  no.  I  see  a  man; 

•11  hurt,'     While  he  runs  on  in 

il)l)lic.ants  reply  to  evciy  asser- 

i'4,  as  at  lirst,  and  sayinir,  'I 

carefully  alislaiu  from  sayiiifr 

ri'dit  or  wroii'';  hut  when  he 


THK  PIIOPIIET  AND  HTH   rLIRNTS. 


F  TIIK  INOriRV  — A 
IKS  — (  lIlllAliH  AMI) 
lATKar,  CIIAIIMM  — 
IM(iM;|)  — SMKI.MNl; 

\  iK.MAi.r.  ritopiii  1 
iii:ii;('ri;i>  —  iiRitKii- 

■  I'l  .MAl.K  riKIPriETH 
I'lll  I'  AN1>  ins  I'ATK 
HINd    i;Vll)K>X'E. 


i  visitDi's  iiUii  Ills 
L'llhitt'ly  join  liiin, 

his  '  assiit;i\i '  —  a 
is  ti'( —  when  llic 
liavi'  imliiiiii,'  1(1 
lilo,  llii  y  will  si'ck 
li.  '^i>,'  answers 
1  to  frivo  credit; 
-cvervliody  tries 
you  L'ive  mo  two 
n  a  small  assaj;ai; 
,  the  weapon,  and, 
',  savs,  '  'J'liKl  is 
lad  firouu'ht  this 
;  that  it  does  not 
])roiiliet  persists, 
o  lio])e  of  extort- 
et  says,  •  JJeat  and 
of  the  applicants 
i.'s. 'I  hear.'  The 
id  ])erhaps  morc^ 
atinj;  llie  ijround 
et  now  ])retenils 
net  at  lirst,  hut 
rer,  until  he  sees 
s  occurred,  'J'his 
•rihe  as  it  aj)pears 
,e  him  sayiii!.;,  t'er 
■  no,  I  see  a  man; 
hile  he  runs  on  in 
)ly  li>  cveiy  asscr- 
't,  and  sayinir,  'I 
<tain  from  sayinir 
)ng;  hut  when  he 


truth,  the  siinplo  cn-aturcs 
•    hy  l)eating  und  ivjdyiiig 


npproftcli.s  the 

testit'j^   their  |. 

with  ioereiuieil  vi;,'»r. 

The  prophet's  sinudntcl  vision  Is  not,  n 
series  of  j,'uesse,s  in  which  ho  may  i.ossihly 
hit  upon  (h.,  tniih,  hut  a  .'iysteniatic  enum..- 
mt.on  01  particuhuM,  in  wliid   hecanHcareelv 

niM«  It.     I  hus  he  may  hegii,  l.y  wivinj?  tliat 
ilK'  thnig  which  I  he  ap,)lit.nntsWish  (.."know 

cl,.,t,.«  to  some  animal  «ith  hair  ami,  .">iujr 

h  ou.l,  each  d  vision  ■       'lat  class,  ml^nvM. 
wliatever  may  he  liki !, 
lali;  a  ^h!!.    'If  he   (ind 


181 

littlH  on  tho  md...    The  snirlt  want-  »i..» 
'•"w;  kill  11.  and  the  hov  wln,.;,.,Yv,"  ".,"'"* 

the  m'!lle"if;h;''r'   '"^'   "'"  •^I'-fHon,  of 
mt  Mvixi',  It  th(^  necromancer   makes  such 

"»   mnmuucement,  and   any   om    of   theVn 

won  .1  he  onl>   too  glad  to  ciM    pound  (or  t|m 

sacn/lce  of  u  ,...w,  if  he  co„    I    he   s     ,.  ,^' 

oHcapim?  accusation   as  a   w./anl.    1,,    tl 

case  oi    a  "hoy,"  or   even   of  a  m  rr  e, 

nianol  no  jrreat  rank  or  weaKh.  sue     wl 

.ocnr.oacow.aiK;i:  ^;; :!:;;  ri!.;';;"''  '••■'■"^-"S 
u.'n.att.7r.-^.;::^v-;:.::;';il;rs;'£  ::;H^^i^^ 

>^  .olerahly  clever  pracn.io„:.   ^'iaii:^?  .iL.lt  5'!;.;;;|;|;;!^  ^"^'' "» 

In  (heeye  <,ra  Kalllr,  any  one  "may  ho  a 
wi.ch  or  a  w  xard-  l.o,h  sexVs  hein^^  ,';,„  dl? 

';:'';'^''''''''''M'''^'''l'"V''''-'''''l''"^lmisulX 

c(  t  no  man  can  trusi  his  nei-hhor.     A  hus- 

.•'•"•llms  n„  ,i,i,i,  i„  hisow,.  wi(i.,an,lthe 

l.ithcr  nnstrusis  liis  children.     As  a  natura? 

taith  in  charms  is  coex- 

.,        .  -ic    l>(dief  in  wilrhcruft,  and 

M.ere  IS  scarcely  a  Kalllr  who  does  n.,t    arrv 

w.(h  hnn  a  .vhole  series   of   char  ns         '.^ 

'•«•'";,'   l-Mne,l(oaver(  s,,nn.  particular  evi 
1  he  charms  are  lurnlshed   |„   (|„.,„  i,v  .j,,, 

["•oj-hots,  and  as  they  never  are  of  a  L  t 
"":".sn.  valine,  and  ar..  highly  paid  ,r  h, 
.us,nessofa  prophet  is  rallu.r'a  .,'  live 
'  '■•     Anyllun-  will  serve   as  ,t  ,  ha  •  n  _ 

cih  r;;'M"  "■'7'T-;""'*'^'"- •'-"''•'-•"  "^ 

[tun,     lOOlS,     illld     |„(S     of     wood  V      k'llll. 

7"    '>"7'   I'^u-..    ,a    whole    .strin-   of   s     1 
'•li.inus   hun,^-    ronnd    his    neck    an       to 

"v^riudha";''''"''''"''^ '^='''''- '■''- 

'    >tiy    iiKueroi  s    asneci      (in,,    ,,,..,.        ■ 
'■--toiuvehecn^.c^'di^Hri^';:;;;^!!^ 


I'eeds  thron 

ohvioim  (I 

'iiii.V,  in  till-,  way,  discover  from  (he  •mnli 

and':ir';i:^;:.'"^'>'-'i';''i'p-'''o'^^^^ 
;;;'-:nli:'p::pS\:S!;,-';:.;j-^^^ 

e  have  any  nrevions  kn..wledv  of  tV.ei    1 1  • 
cumstances.    The  following'  skv(  •        I   .ri  Z 

^'•;JJeatand  h.'ar,  my  people,' 
ll"'y   snap  their    lingers,  m.d    sav.  'I 


hear. 
'•'Altend,   my  pcoiile.' 
.     ;;/»i;'.v  i.eat,  an.l  say,  '  I  hear. 
Idonl  know  what  yo,,  w;,„|. 
to  km)iv  sonu'lliin-  ahoni  ,in      ' 
n:iii'.     A   cow   is   sii 
wilh  her  y     I 


««iy, 


yon  w.Tit 

fuiimal  Willi 

whal's   the    miiiu.,. 

F-  -.*"''"  """I'llil  I'll  her  side  —  , „>■ 

J  ui  wroiM',     Acowislo^.!-   ,""■"''<'<'  — no, 

.Nay,  Ihats  not    t,     |  ..s,.,.  „„,...  ,, 
»'oronsly;    tl,,'    thin  ' 


lii.i  *    V       ,1      ."'  "  ""■-   "•"<  iiscended  ,■.    ■,    v...*v    i,  .i i'-'-'-'-mis  ivainr  lias  often 

•■•  Ii,..>i  .,,,.1  I .     •  .a  siol.-,.  II,,. I.     ..  ""Ui    iiie   head  of 


'  Jieat  ami  Hear,  my  jieople,     f  see  now: 

^ni;e' ;!.":;:  k^'^y'T'^-  ""  '^-'■^' 
o'l-n.  hi^i\^ .,;;:::  ^::;;r.;fTr 

S-:;-riee  '.^r 's,  ;^;^;  r;''-  --^ 
-'^n;:w''h;::'t^::!:rh:i;;vv^''''' 

'"'"   .-"in-   to   the  l.iish       l„     1  '     *"''' 

"    'I,   lie  cannot   walk,     I   see  wile,  • 
''-'•ithetSj!'''^'''-''-'-''^"^'' 

v^'w  i^:.'^ir-:;j-1,  ''■"• 

£<<>;    1  see  white,     Whe: 


■••snake,  the  I,.,, (I,  „|' 


he  is 
whal's 


s  lather 

'oy  received 

was  a  hiack  cow. 

■I!  is  the  white?  a 


omi^!^^M^'!!tf^^;^^'^'^^^^~i^^^^l^^ 


'III, I    .,    ;        ■_••-".  •■' yoiiiii;  liippi,p,iiamiis 

:M.nsaivs,n,„.,,,,u.,.saine,hon^^vS; 
'      H>ads.  m.edles,  kiiivs,  snutf  I,o.n,.;   ;,! 

en  ^-,1  v'lli:.?"'"^  '"'  "  -'r'"''-"^   "•■''•f    f^» 

i      lint  the  Generality  of  eharms   aiv  made 
•'.    various  roots  and    hits  „,•  „.oo,l    wj.i  .k 
arelnin^r..imdthen,.,dc.aml,   lilV; 
he  w,-arer  l,.,ds  a  iiecl  „f  (l„.i,.  imhi, ,,, , 

:'x..;.l;:;ni'';Ln-^L^;ri/:!„f-,i;r 

an.l  ,s  afi-ad  of  nnvtin^^  irhosts  h,    |,"  ^Je' 

,,' H  .'    I        '•>''»  ><:'!lies  out  iui,oi,|  ,|i,(iance 
lol  the  shades  belo^y.     When  he  ha.s  come 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


^^  i^ 


V/ 


1.0 


I.I 


2.0 


u: 


1.8 


1.25      1.4      1.6 

< 

6"     

— ► 

\ 


'/ 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


m; 


S 


V 


% 


W^ 


.V 


•sj 


:\ 


\ 


6^" 


^> 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  372-45C3 


'<*. 


>> 


182 


THE  KAFFIR. 


to  his  jcnrnoy's  end,  he  finds  that  ho  has 
met  no  ghosts,  and,  consequently,  he  has 
unlimited  fhilli  in  his  charm.  If  he  should 
go  into  action  as  a  soldier,  he  takes  care  to 
liavc  his  enemy-cliarm  ready  for  use,  and 
just  before  he  etUors  the  battle  bites  ott' a 
portion  of  the  wood,  masticates  it  thor 
ourifhly,  and  then  blows   the   fragments  to 


turesque :  never-ending  plains  of  burnt  gratis 

reeless,  riverless,  ho.isVless-such  wLl  the 
attrac  ions  (hat  greeted  my  eyes.  How  any? 
thinjj  in  the  vegetable  or  animal  kiimlom 
milcl  exist  there  seemed  a  perfect  n  ystery 
Yet  the  mys  ery  is  soon  explained.  I  was 
there  when  there  had  been  a  long-c  nitinued 
&^r_?"^  "*■  tl'ose  visitations  to  whic 


w>{^d  the  loe,  conlident  tliaihe  i^'Vhu    t^I   S^cH^^ll^la  are  n"'*'  '^'f'^T  *°  ^^^"^h 
ing  away  from  the  courage  of  the  enemy    day  the   cU,,  fu   h   ^"''''"''^"y  f"'>.i««t.     One 
and  adding  the  sulitracted   amount  to  hh   fell //,»  .fi^      ^'-'"  '"  pathcr,  the  wind 
own..  The  cmly  misgiving  which  diturbs  S'sa^L   notice" oni:'''"'''^ 
hismmdis,  that  the  enemy  is  diin<T  exactly   MvhmL^i  '^"  .iPPr'"i*;Iiing  storm, 

the  same  thing,  and  he  cannot  he  „T,i'o^"l  Sr  J^vJwr^TuT-  1'*^'''^  ""''  ""'^"''^y,  and 

^1  mvsell  I  ielt  faint  and  weary  to  excess. 
My  after-ruler  looked  alarmed,  for  truly  the 
heavens  bore  a  fearful  aspect.     I  ca„\-on^ 


the  same  thing,  and  he  cannot  be  quite  sure 

that  the  ojjposing  charm  may  not  be  more 

potent  than  his  own.     The  prophet  rather 

tostcrs  than  discourages  this  feeliii"  because 

the  soldier  — knowing  that,  if  he°  retreats 

he   will   be   executed   as  a  coward  — is  so 

anxious  t(>  possess  a  ,|ouble  share  of  courage    inc  ontranc 

^c^ll.rS^^^i.''"^'^'^'"""^^^  *— -    ^^^^^  «tood  before  us 


that  surrounded 


the  entrance  to  the 


lis. 


Ireciuently,  when  a  soldier  has  been  thus 
disgraced  his  fnciuls  abuse  the  .prophet 
for  furnishing  so  impotent  a  charm.  His 
reply,  however,  is  alwavs  easy:  "Hi.  only 
gave  me  a  goat,  and  could"  only  exnect 
goa  -charms;  if  he  wanted  ox-chV.rms  lie 
ought  to  have  given  me  a  cow,  or  at  kv,( 
a  calf  Even  if  an  ad.'quate  fee  has  been 
paid,  the  answer  is  equally  ready -the  man 
was  a  wizard,  and  llie  sj.irits  of  his  ances- 
tors wei-e  angry  will,  him  for  troubling  thi-m 
60  much  with  his  conjurations 

Very  few  Kaffirs  will  venture  out  durin'r 
the  stormy  season  without  a  thunder-charm 
as  a  preservative  against  lightning.     This 
object  looks  just  lik<-  any  otiier  charm  and 
IS,  in  fact,  nothing  more  than  a  small  piece 
of  wood  or  root.    T\w  Kaffir's  failh  in  it  is 
unbounded,  and,  in  consequence  of  the  awful 
severity  of  thunderstorms,  the  sale  of  such 
charm.s  isa  very  hicrative  part  of  the  pronh- 
et  s  btisine.ss.     We  can  scarcely  wonder  that 
the  Kaffir  has   recourse    (o  such   preser\a- 
tives.  lor  he  well  knows  that  no  art  of  man 
can  .avail  against  the  terrific  slorms  of  that 
country,    hyen  m  our  own  country  we  often 


It  migiit  have   been 

nfernal  regions  them- 

-  us.     Suddenly  we 

pnW!\'  ""^\"V«"t'l>  '"iniense  height  (appar- 

Winded,  while  our  horses  snorted  and  turned 
sharp  round  from  the  glare.  Almost  at  the 
same  iiLstant  burst  forth  a  peal  of  thunder, 
I  ke  the  arlillery  of  all  the  universe  dis- 
toarged  at  once  in  our  ears. 

"There  was  no  time  to  be  lost:  w,>  struck 
spurs  to  our  horses'  flanks,  and  galloped  to 
ii  mountain   side,  a   liUle   way  'behind    us 
where  the  quick  eye  of  my  Ho.teiUot  had 
observed  a  cave.    In  a  few  minutes  — mo- 
ments  rather -we  were  within  it,  but  not 
before  the  storm  had  burst  forth   in  all   its 
fury      One  moment  the  country  round  us 
w-as  black  as  ink-the  next  it  Was  a  sheet 
of  livMig  tlame,  whiter  than   the  white  heat 
of  the  turnaee.    One  long-ce.itinued,  never- 
ceasing  roar  of  thunder  (not  seiiarate  claps 
as  we  hear  (hem  in  this  country)  deafened 
our  ears. and  lach  moment  we  feaied destruc- 
tion; for,  more  than  once,  huge  ina.sses  of 
rock,  detached  by  (he  lightning  blast  from 
the  mountain  above  us,  rolled  down  p.ast  our 
cavern  witlullie  roar  of  an  avalanche.     The 
llottenlot  lay  on  his  fiue,  shutting  out  the 


witness  thunderslonns  that  (iiriiw/'lmVZ.V  I  cr.'/M"  Vi'"''  '■'■*,'"""■•; '•'^■'^■- ■'"'I'tlmg  out  the 
with  awe,  while  the  veakrT  n  L  ,  •  i  Ti  a7  '  "'";-;''  '"■.^■""'''  ""t  <''^<'"|H'  the  sound, 
sexes  eower  in  aKfvar  "/''"*  '!'"'  f  ^ '"!!"",'  ^^''  •••'i"-^l'""f«  I'urst  forth,  and  to 
thund.T  an.l    th^'viVi,     |  ^         'J  fl'^T  the  wat.r  .leluged   the  earth 

But  (he  worst  ston  (  at  Tm  L 1-  o>^  "■"•!''''"'  '>"|i«f'<  Ne;  suffice  it,  (hat  thouirh 
in  England  or  (he  r,,  t'd  SHfes  i  "  s  "V''''^  '■""''"'  ^''^^"^•i' »'••">"  >'"■  >"a<l  wi(h- 

ing compared  (o  ,1.;  .       ^^  t^^;  1"  ±   '^  l^'!^'"^  '1"^  «''--^"''  Z""  "PPa-eutly  any 


ing compared  (o  (he  or,|iu,,ry  thunderstorms 
of  Southern  Afnea- storms  in  whicdi  (he 
an  his'.il  '"'?  '"•<'n  a.rustome.l  to  them 
all  his  life,  can  do  nothm-  but  crouch  to  (he 

silence.  What  an  African  storm  can  he 
ITylfrO^r''^'''  ^'■""'  "'*'  '''"owing  account 
"Emerging  after  a  few  days  fVom  these 
freezing  nuarfers,  I  found  niyself  in  the 
pains  of  (lie  (Jraaf-Ueinet  district^  K  wa.s 
pleasant  to  feel  warm  again,  but  whaT  I 
gained  in  caloric  I  decidedly  lost  in  the  pic- 


bed  of  one.  when  we  again  ventured 'fonii 
from  our  pla.'c  of  sheKer,  (hree  hours  later 
a  broad  and  impassable  torrent  (lowed  be- 
tween ourselves  and  (he  road,  and  \sv,  had 
to  crawl  along  the  mountai^i  sides  on  foot 
with  great  diffi(ail(v,  and  in  the  momen- 
tary danger  of  losing  our  footing  on  its 
slipf)ery  surface,  and  being  daubed  into  the 
roaring  torrent,  for  about  two  miles  ere  we 
could  find  a  fordable  spot.  Two  days  later 
these  plains  were  covered  with  a  lovely  ver- 
dure." •' 

Other  charms  are  intended  for  soflening 


lor  solleuin'' 


him  to  be  mo.k'mtri  ,u  '"''''"■.  "'  ""'"^'^ 
"»•  of  the  chief  iFhc  s h  .  ?  r"'""'  *'"•  '^o^^S 
i-equest.  All  these  el  n'  '''''"  '"  l"'"*"''  a 
to  the  look    nnV/if  V'a'-m.s  are  exactly  alike 

way  or  another  '  ^'-^''  "'^"^'^y  in  one 

H'hich  ou4  th^l^C"'    i;r^:'-'  •'*'."'   "tilers 
<l»e  user.    Th<.    ,mnv   V  "^ ''"'''-'"■'f'''"  "»' 
possess  a-ai„"  vaS  ,'^''*y''".  ^hicli   they 
to  this  cl.^.s/  For  evl':;r'lJ*^  f^''""  '^^'1""? 
'V'on  or  a  leomnl  all  1,   m\,"  "'^  'IV'"  '"^ets 
0/  wood,  it  is  ,,7ain      ,/'■'' H''^'''«cra,, 
tlit'^o  charms  is Kljvi^^,/!'"   ^''Bcioncv  of 
"»tanees  this  is  u   J  L'      f'if^-   ^»  '"'^"V 
mm,  moetin-  i  Ji, ,     '  •  ^Z  j''^'  '^e  ease.     Jf  fi 
lion-chann  an,]  A    '  ""'''''-^  ^  "ttle  niece  of 

^  %^1  by  the  ,^?:^'  i    ^;:;^;t<-  certainly 

a-^lnott.nheS^;V^e''f""'-'^"^ 
"•jttle,  too,  a  man  wl,,^  n  •   ■      '""  '''I'lrm.     In 

Will  ren.lc'r  the  "n'    Vi'r"'^^  '^f'  ^i,  eharms 

"lore  likely  to  ti'"  tf;;  f' ']"';'   'l""  '^  ^Zi 

««  'o  '^rin.^about  the  .    u  t^n'/;'*?,''  ^■■"•"•'  ■■»"<1 

w^,.;s^-ni^s?;s;:;.^;;; 

)';>'-'^'c(ly  aware.  '  T.er,  ''',  ""^'  P'-<.,,het  is 
'■''•'.'•"1  a-.,i,Ht  U'ear  ,,,''/.'■ ''•^■'''"i'''''  «ne 
which  clearly  .1,.,  ,.!,)'  ^'"'  <"'ficacv  of 
ofthem.terbl''Cti;rr"'".'»'"I"^"2 
q"'lc  w-earv  affr  a  1-  •"(  *?'."''^'  ^^''o  was 
l'er.s„a,l.Hi  Uy  „„^ '  ,  .'■  V'*  ^^d  hun.in,.,  was 

'•It  a  liUie  ofhisfi.tine'lw       ■  V''''''^^  to 

IP'ycry  bit,...,  (Lot, V  ;*,::"»"  "•'-.  aii.l 
He  tne.l  it,  .,i,„,,|  ,•"  ,  '"t  ">|)  casantlv  so. 
"^'•eeably  surp,  ,,,"";  ';-"'f't>.  an,]' u.^, 
minutes  he  fell   i,  ""'  ">at    ri  a  few 

'•csuin,.  his  fe,.i.  .  ,„      .;  .  "  w-1-^  <;nal,l,.,l  to 
wani,  the  e.xtre  „  !  !^'      ',^   •'  'I'-'^klv  l.ome- 

f-'  •'".  W'tli  the  success     f  ,'",'""'  """""g 
■  f-'viNlcnt  that  the  ,.m  1   "   'i''''""'"-  '""'  't 

"«^:"''' »™  »•-■'»!• 'l".ia' , ;;,,- 

""I«  an.  il    ,lS'', S,,";  ;«■;.  M,a,\.,;.',;" 

r-v^'"' ''"Si  r --- ;" 

^tivno-th  of  the  knialo,,,';;-\/^' ■'''''    '-i"'! 
-''»-e,orosacriacedt/;ile.;;'SS-;;| 


KAFFlirs  BELIEF  IX  ciIAltMS. 


183 


•''Stress;  remove  it,  since  m'l  "  ■^'"'  ^^'» 
an  animal.  We  know  nn? ''/'''''' °'^<^°  you 
want,  whether  you  still  im''"^  '""'••'  ^^^ 
more  or  not.  Grant  ns",..f •'?."'•'  ""Jthing 
■■">""clant,  that  n4  nn/  "  "'?' ''  '"''^y  l^^ 
wantofanythin/sinc.^,;^'],;^"''  "''t  be  in 
what  you  want;  Tl  s  kron  '  "',''•'"  J'"" 
yourself,  lather,  an.lX  STv  ""^  •"  ^^ 
«h  .your  own  kraal?     H  ,ii,i  ^       •^''"  ''"»'n- 

still  hereabout  mTv  ';  '^^  •^''""'  ««sprin- 
knowledge  of  Vou-wl  '■'■•"''■'*'-''  '"^'reasing 
powe.-.""  ^""'  whence  cometh  greal 

^'^'^into'^h!;t"ll;e^;&^«-;'"xisthe„ 

one  is  allowe.  to  e„  i  ■  '  "'"""''  ''"'l  "« 
tnne,  during  wll-h' t ri  J  tr'''"'1"!'->™ble 
«';Pposed  to  be  eatinV  J  >,t!'%?"''J«  «•;« 
tlicn  opened,  the  bc."f     -J  i     .   ^"^  'looris 

are  present  pal'tak  'L "rlf'  h'"'"  *'^"  ?^.'^° 
.tory  sacrilice  tails,  a  ,,ro  i.of  L'    ^  !»"opitia- 
s. summoned,  un.l   I,    I      i      n  ""■""'"^  «'^ill 
im-baya,  or  central   en  '^^""V'^^ted  in  the 

fgainsthisa.rS  Ils'nl^'^  '"  ''^'H'less 
,"  l',>?''t  a  lire  i„  £  i-.^.r.l'n '■'"'"""  '« 
eine  upon  it,  fakin..-  ..  ,!  •  *i  ""^'"■» '''efli- 
fhall  Passover  thecal,  r  '"'  *''«  ■'*'»"'^-° 
f?iri.rhten  ,he  evi  •,    "'' "'l^t  proceeds 

■'"niplo  thou..h  rem.r  ■  1  ""^  "'  *'""'"  ''V  a 
t-^kv^  a  lircirra,  1  „"}";:  I"-;"'e"'ling.  lie 
"'  'at  in  his  m  u         '  i  l."''"  '""'^  ••'  '""'P 

tirmly  held  while  he  t  ,  '"^  animal  is 
j^'^'Kandth^lrto^  :^';;';;J.<^>">-ticato 
P9  "M^-''"'  'iit  and  water  ,.?k,  '  "rebrand. 
^■r'n.i?  in  the  liice  i.f Vi,  , '  •'\"''''''f ''''"t- 
^^■'•r"ied,  and  bursts  .-V'"'''  '^^''^'aCy 
mentors.  ""'sts    away   irom   its    tor- 

"-''uff^;;;^;;:;r-|-i  upon  the  entire 

.reaehed  that  s  ;,;",,•„;':,  """'T  "'<\v  ''avc 
'f  t  irown  „,„.„  :,;,i  ,„"•.'!■  V'  ""'  enclosure 
'lash  out  of 'it.  'a  r''V;""'  animals 

iv-raal  rush  aHer  (b.Vm  '"''al'itants  of  the 
■^'"-"i'ls  with  ,,,.\^;  ,",•"".»  '"'at.'",?  their 
'•attling  <•  dabashcs  w       i)'  ■'""•  ""'  "■'""•'» 

voices.  The  ca  (  wij  ' ,""'  ^"'"""'eir 
treated  will,  pe c,  ar  V  '  =""''  ^-''erally 
!''>.?i'le  tliemsci'vcs  'l',,,  ''"""''^-  T  Vnto. 
"  '«  a  <'onsiderable  /','•;"'■'''''' ",i,',an,I 

•ecover  (heir  equ,„i,i  '  t  .'i''''  "'""y  ^^n 
'o  l)e  ralher  a  curio  s,;.  ,  'V'  '""y  •'*e<.m 
calde  disease,  b   t    ,s  r  'rcatin- the 

'«  torleited  if  he  n.'im  k      ''  "'   "'"  P'-"Plu>t 

'V ''^I•'•'>•''"".e   ,  r^^ 

'"*  ''^  '■■^"'^  'lappens  to  be  ill, 


184 


THE  KAFFIR. 


and  especially  if  *,he  king  himself  should  be 
ailing,  no  one  hai  the  least  doubt  that  sor- 
cery was  tile  cause  of  the  evil.  And,  as  (he 
chiefs  are  given  to  eating  and  drinking,  and 
smoking  and  sleeping,  until  they  are  so  fat 
that  they  can  hardly  walk,  it  is  no  wonder 
that  they  aiv  v<u-y  Crequently  ill.  It  thus 
becomes  the  business  of  the  prophet  to  llnd 
out  the  wizard,  or  "evil-doer,'  as  he  is 
called,  by  whom  the  charm  was  wrought. 
To  (loul)t  that  the  illness  was  caused  by 
witchcraft  would  he  a  sort  of  high  treason, 
and  afford  good  grounds  for  believing  that 
the  doubter  is  himself  the  wiziird.  For  a 
Katlir  chief  always  chooses  to  think  himself 
above  the  counnon  lot  of  humanity  —  that 
he  is  superior  to  others,  and  that  he  cannot 
die  like  inferior  men.  It  is  evident,  therefore, 
that  any  ailment  which  may  attack  him 
must  be  caused  by  witohcratl,  and  (hat,  if 
the  evil-doer  can  bo  detected,  the  spell  will 
lose  its  potency,  and  the  sufferer  be  restored 
to  heaUh. 

Charms  which  cause  ill-health  are  usually 
roots,  tufts  of  hair,  feathers,  bits  of  bone,  or 
similar  objects,  which  have  (jcen  in  the  1)oh- 
session  of  (he  victim,  or  at  least  have  been 
touched  by  him.  These  are  buried  in  some 
secret  spot  by  the  wizard,  who  mutiers  si)ells 
over  them,  by  means  of  which  the  vicfim 
droops  in  health  in  projiorfion  as  the  buried 
charm  decays  in  the  ground.  The  object  of 
the  i)ropliet,  therefore,  is  twofold;  first,  to 
point  out  the  wizard,  and,  secondly,  to  dis- 
cover the  buried  charms,  dig  thcni  up.  and 
reverse  the  sjiell. 

T!ie  ^'  evil-doer  "  is  discovered  by  a  process 
which  is  technically  named  "  smelling."    A 
large  circle  is  formed  of  spectators,  all  of 
whom  squat  on  the  ground,  after  the  usual 
manner  of  Kallirs.    AVben  all  is  readv,  the 
proi)het  clothes  himself  iu  his  full  ollleial  cos- 
tume and  proceeils  into  the  circle,  where  he 
is  received  with  a  great  shout  of  welcome. 
Though   every  one   knows   that   before  an 
hour  has  elai)sed  one  at  least  of  (heir  ninnlter 
will  be  accused  of  wilchcraft,  and  thougli  no 
one  knows  whether  he  himself  mav  not  be 
the  vicdm.  no  one  dares  (o  omit  (lie  shouf 
of  welcome,  lest  he  should  be  suspected  as 
the  wizard.     The   jirophct   then   begins   to 
l)ace  slowly  in  the  .iicle,  gradually  inerea.s- 
ing  his  speed,  until  a(  last  be  hreaks  iii(o  a 
dance,  aecomiianying  his  st(^i)s  wi(h  a  meas- 
ured chant.     Lolider  and  louder   iieals  (he 
chant,  quicker  and  wilder  become  the  steps 
of  the  magic  dancer,  until  at  la.st  the  man 
lashes  himself  into  a  slate  of  insane  fury,  his 
eyes  rolling,  tears  sireaming  down  his  cheeks 
and  his  cliaut  interrupted   by  shrii'ks  and' 
sobs,  so  that  the  spectators  ma'v  well  believe. 
a.s  they  most  linnlv  do,  that  he  is  pos.sessed 
by  the  spirils  ofdejiarled  chiefs. 

Then  comes  the  anxious  i)art  of  the  cere- 
mony. The  prophet  leaps  in  great  bounds 
over  the  arena,  fu-st  rushing  to  one  part  and 


lently,  like  a  dog  trying  to  discover  a  lost 
scent,  and  seeming  to  be  attracted  to  or 
repelled  from  certain  individuals  l)y  a  power 
not  his  own.  Each  Katlir  sits  in  trembling 
awe,  his  heart  sinking  when  he  sees  the  ler- 
rible  projjhet  coming  toward  him,  and  his 
courage  returning  as  the  seer  turns  off  in 
another  direction.  At  last  the  choice  is 
made.  The  jjrophet  stops  suddenly  opposite 
one  portion  of  llic  circle,  and  begins  to  sniff 
violently,  as  if  trying  to  discover  by  the 
sense  of  smell  who  the  od'cnder  may  be. 
The  vast  assembly  look  on  in  awe-struck 
silence,  while  the  projjhet  draws  nearer  and 
nearer,  as  if  he  were  supernaturally  attracted 
to  (he  object  of  which  lie  is  in  seaVch.  Sud- 
deidy  he  makes  a  dash  forward,  snatches  his 
wand  of  otlice  out  of  his  belt,  (ouches  the 
doonuHl  man  with  it  and  runs  off.  The  hap- 
less victim  is  instantly  seized  by  the  execu- 
(ioners,  and  hurried  olf  before  the  chief  in 
order  'o  be  examined. 

la  the  mean  while,  the  prophet  is  followed 
by  a  numher  of  j)eoi)le  who  wish  to  see  him 
discover  (he  buried  charm.  This  part  of  the 
proceeding  is  vi'ry  similar  to  that  which  has 
l)een  mendoned.  He  dances  through  the 
kraal,  entering  hut  after  hut,  and  prefcuding 
to  be  satisfied  by  the  sense  of  smell  that  the 
charm  is  not  to  be  found  in  each  jilace.  By 
degrees  he  approaches  nearer  (he  right  .spot, 
(Ui  which  he  throws  his  assagai,  and  (ells  the 
people  to  dig  and  find  the  charm,  which,  of 
course,  he  has  previously  taken  care  (o  ])lace 
(here.  How  this  part  of  the  pertormance  is 
sometimes  managed  will  be  presenfly  nar- 
ra(ed. 

The  wretched  man  who  is  once  accused 
openly  as  being  accessory  (o  the  illness  of 
his  king  has  no  hope  ofinercv,  and  vields 
(o  the  dreadful  fate  that  awaifs  him."  The 
noni'iial   examination   to  which  be  is  sub- 
,jec(ed  is  no  e.xaminalion  at  all,  but  merely 
a  succession  of  (he  severest   tordues   (hat 
human  ingenuilv  can  suggest,  prolonged  as 
long  as  life  is  left  in  him.     He  is  asked  to 
c'.ufess  (ha(  he  has  used  wi(chcraf(  against 
.lis   king,   but   invariably   denies   his   guilt, 
thougli    he   well   knows'  (he    rcsidt   of    his 
answer.     Toriure   alter   torfurc  is  in(!ic(ed 
upon  him.  fire  applied  in  various  wavs  being 
the    jaancijial    instrument    employed.     Tlie 
concluding    torlure   is  generally  "(he  same, 
naiuelv.   breaking  a  hole   in  an  anCs  iies(, 
lying  luiii  hand  and  foot  and  (liriisliii<;  him 
into    (he    iiKerior,  or  ftisteiiiii;-  him  hi  the 
gr;>uii(l,  iiiid   breaking  uiioii  h.m  a  nes(  of 
large  aii(s,  iio(ed  for  (he  fierceness  of  (heir 
tempers,  and  the  agonizing  venom  of  (heir 
s(iiigs.     How  ruthlessly  cruel  a  Kallir  can 
be  when  he  is  excited  by  (he  fear  of  witch- 
craft can    be  imagined'  from  (he  following 
account  of  (he  trial  and  execution  of  a  suji- 
posed  wizard.     The  resider  must,  moreover, 
lie  told  (hat  the  whole  of  the  defails  are  not 
mentioned.    The   narrative   is   taken    from 


tV>on    f^   „„„<!         .- :-;---n  ---•■•  1".  """""""""'"  "•     "le    iiarraiive    is    laKcn    iron 
then  to  another,  inlialing  his  breath   vio- 1  Major  W.  Koss  King's  interesting   '•  Cam 


KAFFIR  CRUELTY, 


Swv  i.;  h!'''' •^'  "'•""■"  '^"'^  Ma,.onu,7km 
o?  (L    •    '■  """■""'.^'  '<>  ««''<'n.  the  recoverv 

tim;  lio"  '      -.fl.i     L,     i    "»';<".«cious  vic- 

tere'd  one  of  .is  Vit  T  '..n'V  •'"*'  "'''"«''- 
<:ontem,.l,ilin..  1?.  '''''"';' .'\"  was  morrilv 
i'cfor"     „ \"^,  \"/.''r,'^'-'i''<H^«  of  the  da> 

than  a.s  to  ^l.^p^f  ,•;,''.""  '"  •  "^T'"  *^""*-^'-n 

I'is  ehiof.    ii  '  ,!  ,,S    Y"^''''"''l  tin.  son  of 
'■"^'  '"Utter;     uVl        ;','"''  "?  •"-■wiich- 

<;ution('i-.s  .sai.l  (hov  n,,.      .     ,  His  oxo- 

of  nu-no.dIpJ.'^!:.,;' -:;;-•  -".Is.  and 
was  for  his  r,ir(      ,.     "V      •  '^'■'"'?'  '"">  i( 

""^cMitiu'l,..;  H  „/;  ;::l"y'-'"'I.^.- 
•"clvos  tin.  trouhlo-  as  ,  ■  i,;  ,' '^7  •^■""'•- 
can  bear  them  i'n-  i  ,  ■  '"'*  '""»<'■''•  ' 
prav  to  he  St  .;,     ,,  """";->.t:  I  wo„ld 

would  sav  r    ;  ,         ,  ^'''':'''- ''."'  "'•■'t  von 

i:^S;?hS;;-s--::;r'|--^;"^^ 

also  heated  and  pn.Heda.aU.stS'boSyl'"^ 


185 

it  nnpossiblo  to  describe  the  awful  effect  of 

"TIn-ou-h  all  (his  tlio  heroic  fellow  still 

from  h  s  body!   and   composed";  asked  his 

,n  V     ,      V^  '-epeated    their  demand    but 
c   reso  utely  assert.'d   his   innoce  "e    and 

smmmss 

m.;nceaatton..M.and"o'^,rended"^tTun: 


w.'Il-known    kniir  chief   vvl.o  !"'•?",'  .*!?« 
English  fi,rces  £  ^;'i:,!;;^i"Ji,  :f' ''^^'^  ^'^^ 

stra,  ,,,!,;   ''•    'I"''    1/    seems    rather 
too  terrible   to  |„,  d  .scril.  ,       Ti      .^"""'.^y 

!!?^i"Sil- ;:;::;:er'::  s 
"-"PonMi  ma!";  •!;  f;  i"'!::^i -'S  i:::;^ 

""'1  >"mct  nameless  (or(,  res  o  ,,i  f  .  ' 
shows  the  ahiect  i„;,-  J.,'  ■.  ,  '"'^  ^''How, 
Alls  a  KamS  mi,|;i"    "'  ^"'^'h^i-aft  which' 

a  Sa^'r '.!''■ '''•''''''^/ '^  ""'--'''o  to  hide 
<'I.Ii''ed  to  '  n'e  !  '"^"""'"^    I''u<v,  an.I     s 

^Im«-  that  the  '^n-ilo.   •'     J'^''•'^'•'^''* 


180 


THE  KAFFIR. 


try  to  convey  surreptitiously  some  pieces  of 
root  or  bone  into  tlic  hole.  Mr.  Isivacs  once 
detected  a  notable  prophetess  in  this  pro- 
ceeding:, and  exposed  the  trick  before  the 
assembled  people. 

Some  of  hLs  immediate  followers  were  ill, 
and  they  sent  for  a  prophetess  who  knew 
that  the  white  man  did  not  believe  in  her 
powers.  So  she  sent  him  a  messajre,  sayinj; 
that,  if  he  would  give  her  a  cow,  she  would 
detect  the  charms  that  were  destroyinfr  his 
people,  and  'vould  allow  him  to  be  present 
when  she  (\»^  up  the  enchanted  roots.  So 
he  sent  a  cow,  and  two  days  afterward  had 
another  message,  stating  that  the  cow  was 
too  small,  and  she  must  have  a  larger  one, 
or  that  the  difterence  must  be  made  up  in 
calico.  At  the  same  time  she  asked  for  the 
services  of  one  of  his  men,  named  Mas- 
lamfu.  He  sent  the  calico,  but  declined  the 
latter  portion  of  the  request,  knowing 
(Jiat  the  man  was  only  wanted  as  a  means 
of  gaining  informaLion.  The  expected  day 
arrived,  and,  on  account  of  the  celebrity 
of  the  i)rophetess,  vast  numbers  of  men 
belonging  to  various  tribes  came  in  bodies, 
each  headed  by  a  chief  of  a  kraal.  Messen- 
ger after  messenger  came  to  announce  her 
advance,  but  she  did  not  make  her  ai)pear- 
ance,  and  at  last  a  courier  came  to  say  thut 
the  spirit  would  not  allow  her  to  proceed 
any  further  until  some  beads  were  sent  to 
her.  The  chiefs,  of  whose  arnval  she  had 
heard,  and  on  whose  liberality  she  doubt- 
lessly depended,  made  a  collection  straight- 
way, got  together  a  parcel  of  beads,  and 
sent  the  present  by  the  messenger. 

The  beads  having  softened  her  heart,  she 
made  her  solemn  entry  into  the  kraal,  fol- 
lowed by  a  guard  f)f  firty  warriors,  all  in  full 
panoply  of  war.  The  procession  moved  in 
solemn  man  '  to  the.  centre  of  the  isi-biiya, 
and  then  the  warriors  formed  themselves 
in  a  line,  their  large  shields  resting  on  the 
ground  and  covering  the  bcwly  as  high  as 
the  chin,  and  their  jissagais  grasped  in  their 
right  hands.  She  wa.s  also  accompanied  by 
Maslamfii,  the  very  man  whom  she  liad 
asked  for,  and  who  was  evidently  an  old 
attendant  of  her  own.  The  projdi'eti'ss  was 
decorated  in  the  usual  wild  and  extravagant 
manner,  and  she  had  improved  her  com- 
plexion by  painting  her  nose  and  one  eyelid 
with  charcoal,  and  the  other  eyeli.'.  with  red 
earth.  She  had  also  allowed  all  her  hair  to 
grow,  and  had  plastered  it  together  with  a 
mixture  of  charcoal  and  fat^  The  usual 
tufted  wand  of  office  was  in  her  hand. 

Having  now  m;ule  her  appearance,  she 
demanded  more  l)eads,  which  were  given 
to  her,  in  order  that  she  should  have  no 
excuse  for  declining  to  proceed  any  further 
in  her  incantations.  She  then  began  her 
work  in  earnest,  leaping  and  bounding 
from  one  side  of  the  enclosure  to  the  other, 
and  displaying  the  most  wonderful  agility. 
During  this  part  of  the  proceedings  slie  i 


sang  a  song  as  an  accompaniment  to  her 
dance,  the  words  of  the  song  itself  either 
having  no  'neauing,  or  being  quite  incom- 
prehensible to  the  hearers.  The  burden  of 
each  stAn/A  was,  howi^ver,  simple  enough, 
and  all  the  assembled  host  of  KatHrs  joined 
in  it  at  the  tbll  stretch  of  their  lungs.  After 
rushing  to  several  huts,  and  pretending  to 
smell  them,  she  suddenly  stopped  before 
the  white  men,  who  ^\'el•e  carefully  watch- 
ing her,  and  demanded  another  cow,  on  the 
plea  that  if  the  noxious  charm  were  dug  up 
without  the  sacrifice  of  a  second  cow,  the 
spirits  would  be  offended.  At  last  she 
received  the  promise  of  a  cow,  under  the 
proviso  that  the  rest  of  the  performance 
was  to  be  satisfactory. 

After  a  variety  ofstrange  nerformances, 
she  suddenly  tin-ned  to  her  audience,  and 
appointed  one  of  them  to  dig  up  the  fatal 
soil.  The  man  was  a  great  muscular  Kaffir, 
but  he  trembled  Hkc  a  child  as  he  ap- 
proached the  sorceress,  and  was  evidently 
so  terrified  that  she  was  obliged  to  lay  a 
spell  upon  him  which  would  counteract  the 
evil  influence  of  the  buried  charm.  She 
gave  him  an  assagai  by  way  of  a  spade,  a 
pot  for  the  roots,  and  directed  him  succes- 
sively to  three  huts,  making  him  dig  in 
each,  but  Was  ballled  by  the  vigilant  watch 
winch  was  kept  ui)on  all  her  movements. 
Having  vainly  searclied  the  three  huts,  she 
suddenly  turned  and  walked  quickly  out  of 
the  kraal,  followed  by  tlii'  still  terrified  ex- 
cavator, her  husband,  and  Maslan»fn,  and 
proceeded  to  a  garden,  into  which  she  tlung 
an  assagai,  and  told  her  man  to  dig  up  the 
spot  on  which  the  s\wi\v  fell.  "  JJeing  now 
outdone,  and  <'l<)sely  followed  by  us,  and 
finding  all  her  ellbrts  to  elude  our  vigilance 
were  vain,  I'or  we  examined  into  all  her 
tricks  with  the  most  persevering  scrutiny, 
she  suddenly  turned  round,  and  at  a  quick 
pace  proceeded  to  the  knuil,  where  she  very 
sagaciously  called  for  her  simlf  box.  Her 
kiishuvd  ran  to  her,  and  presented  one. 
This  attracted  my  notice,  as  Maslamfu  had 
hitherto  performed  the  office  of  snuff  box 
bearer,  and  I  conjectui-ed  that,  instead  of 
snuff  in  the  box,  her  hnsltand  had  presented 
her  with  roots.  I  did  not  fail  in  my  predic- 
tion; for,  as  she  proci-eded  to  the  upper  part 
of  the  kraal,  she  took  tli(!  sjiear  from  the 
man  appointed  to  dig,  and  dug  herself  in 
frrmt  of  the  hut  where  the  peoi)le  had  been 
sick,  took  some  earth,  and  added  it  to  that  in 
the  pot;  then  ])rocee(li'<l  as  rapidly  as  jjossi- 
ble  to  the  calf  Kvaal,  where  she  dug  abfiut 
two  inches  dee]),  and  applied  two  fingers  of 
the  left  hand  to  scoop  a  little  earth  out,  at 
the  same  time,  holding  the  roots  with  her 
other  two  fingers;  then,  in  a  second,  closed 
her  hand,  mixing  tlie  roots  with  the  earth, 
and  putting  them  into  the  pot,  s.aying  to  the 
man, 'These  are  the  things  you' have  been 
looking  for.'" 

The  natural  end  of  this  exposure  was, 


I 


ent  to  her 
self  either 
lite  iiiconi- 

burden  of 
lie  enough, 
tHrs  joined 
iigs.  After 
itenflinjc  to 
ped  before 
illy  watch- 
ow,  on  tlie 
ere  dug  up 
il  cow,  the 
t   Inst   slie 

under  the 
Brformance 

•formances, 
lienee,  and 
p  the  fatal 
ular  Kalllr, 

as  he  ap- 
s  evidently 
d  to  lay  a 
iileract  the 
larni.  She 
a  spade,  a 
lim  succcs- 
liin  dig  in 
ilant  watch 
novements. 
■e  huts,  she 
L'kly  out  of 
Trifled  ex- 
lainfu,  iiud 
1  she  thing 

dig  up  the 
JJeing  now 
l>y  us,  and 
r  vigilance 
ito  all  her 
g  scrutiny, 
at  a  quick 
ro  she  very 

box.  Her 
t'uted  one. 
slamfu  had 

siniir  box 
instead  of 
1  presented 
my  predic- 
upper  part 
•   I'roni   the 

herself  in 
e  had  been 
it  to  that  in 
ly  as  i)ossi- 

dug  about 
I)  fingers  of 
arth  out,  at 
8  with  her 
ond,  closed 
.  the  earth, 
ying  to  the 
"  have  been 


osure  was, 


11 


(2.)   UNFAVOKAHI.K    PKOl'HKCY.     (See  pnge  IW.) 
U88) 


DEMEANOR  OF  FEMALE   PROPHETS. 


turmoil  whicli  Avas  caused  hy  her  manif  it 
impoHture;  and  it  is  needless  to  Z      a 
8lio  did  not  ask  for  the  cows.  ^ 

craft ''rro";hl^P'^'■'''"'■''  ^'"  "'«  •^'•t  of  witch- 
craft go  through  a   series   of  cercmonicM 
cxn<;t y  similar  to  thoso  which  havTbco, 
a  ready  described,  and  are  capable  of  timsl] 

iv  r  *"/"y.  "f  ""•!«•  'loscendants  he 
nvilcge  of  b,M-ng  admitted  to  the  sa    e 

lank  as  themselves.  As  may  be  ffathcr  d 
•om  the  preceding  accountf  thevSorn 

wom';'^  "w!7/l""^"  •"■  !"■?  •»'"^''  "«  «lo  ot     r 


--,  ...... I. iiTi   iiiiiirica  or  8in"lp-  nnd  if 

.^^^t'^Ti  remarkable  that,  "otilr  from 
cehhacy  telng  considered  a  neccssarv  nua 
men  «^  '^^"/''?  «'«'''':  "either  mc'i^oTvo-" 

t-nlle^o    nf  •.   ^^.'"'"  ""'■«  «l'nitt<^'l  into  the 
nnblic  bvnf        to  msnire  awo  into  the 

mdered  at  i&'^?";r5  I"'*  t''<".V .■'vc  con- 
sumptuary  KU  i^!'7  ^'■"'»  t  '^  "«'«! 
forced  amon- The  K-nrt^^  '".  '"  '''"'^tly  en- 
according  t^'their^.uHvM '''?''  •'"'.'  t»  •'••''^^ 
of  the  felnale  ,, ran  u  '"■'*'  ^'''^i"'"'"-  ""« 
tain  GiXlin  ...  l"*'!^'"  '«  was  visited  by  Can- 


of  tprri[)le  fVonzv     \Vltuli~      ^  '"  **  V'^<='» 
..of„,i  ,..!*!.  i-l'f"-     V't"  lier  person  dcco 


powerftUimpVe  „,"'"'  .  •  ''r''  '"^^''^  « 
dress  .and  l.rd^meanr"  '"'"'  '^""^  '^^  '^-■ 

witX"'  airher";ni;on?  "'^''^I^  ^  'l"^""  «f 
craft,  i,  .„,,  cons  n  •■''."'■?;  '^'-^Peaks  her 
fat  were  s  isnonSl  1,'''!T'''  '^'"'^''^  ^^'"1' 

Ju>rthick.-!,  't  Xrin"r  h.'.J"'''^''  ■^^''"" 
directions  with  /b7>  "!/m  ,'  ?  "^"^  "Z""  'i  aH 

re.-ison,  she  th(>n.rbt  if  ,!„  """''.  f"""  ■'^"mn 
Finding  that      %,,..•  '^'''■''•''''■^  ^"  oppo-""". 

^etuai:^i;j:iwrie.^';;JK';'r  rr  '"t 

accompanied  only  by "  it  le  '  J^^'^^'Vl^^ 
concealed  lu-rself^  ob  'e  tat^  '  ll"S' 
expiration  of  three  or  four  rlnvJ  ?  '  ^^^ 

teriously  returned-  ami  I.  ?V'  ''u  "'  '"^'s- 
apparerillv  bleedil^  ft  L  J"'',  i',';^  ¥'  «!''<;■ 
in-etende/  to  have'     ee^rocc  v^^'IT","''' 

tlie  mod  „„,„|'o"k  ui^','«  »'■,'■,,'"  <■■■-<"; 
immpdatelv  hpaip-I!    pL'        '    ,    wound 

her  hiad  to  cr,;!  E',;'"'  T"  ''  '"'" 


prn,,,,e  „„1<>  in  one  Imnd,  °,  d  hcT  ^1 S 
could  scarcely  f()llow  b,  r  ,.,5  ^'  P"^  '■>" 
from  w    1.     1  r  "'^^'^y^s  seemed  startinc 

nnd,„^o„mi„i,..,Eiv;;?.a;™:^^^^^ 

Ihe  Illustration  No.  1,  on  pa-e  18f   ren 

£t.t.rsst':!d'i^i^s:i|^ 

tioiuTs.  °  ""'  to  the  cxecu- 

".o"''k,uv';;j,,zS;'  -Si"!™  n"»" 
abourwiiTa  bold  f,.^r"  t^p'tiS  r'  ^v-"^:« 

■something  .-.l.nost  ,"4i       ' '  '^  ""  '' 

'"  "'"  '::'^t' l^;'l'!;:^-^.-9  "like  when 


|l.ey  are  eleA.u;.r,;-p;:?i^,i^-;!^^  when 
l.m.me  absolutely  rlithLs  In  Ihell^pJJSj 


10 


and  character  Will  avail  ,Zr,tu.;:ti2a 


100 


THE  KAFFIR. 


Ii(»  willbp  nr^/.Ofl  nnd  torturod  to  dcatli  as 
iiicrcilcHsly  as  it'  hu  ucr»!  out'  of  the  lowest 

of  tlU)    ]ll'l)|lltt. 

Mixed  uj)  witli  tlioso  aupeiHtitloua  doccp- 
lioiiH,  tluTu  is  uihoiil;  tho  |)n)|iin'ts  ii  f<)u»id- 
erabli'  aiiiouiil  ol'  skill  I)ii(li  iit  sui,i(('rv  ami 
inodiciiio.  Partly  IVom  the  (•(nistaiil  sliuij;ii- 
tcr  and  cuttiii>?-up  of  cattle,  and  partly  IVoni 
experience  in  warfare  and  uxeentions,  every 
Katllr  has  a  t()leral)le  notion  ol'  anatomy  — 
far  greater,  indeed,  tlmn  is  possesxed  by  tlio 
fienerality  of  cdneated  persona  in  our  own 
eonntry,  (."onseiiuently,  lie  can  undertake 
various  surgical  operations  with  conlidence, 
nnd  in  some  branches  of  tlie  art  he  is  quite 
a  proficient.  For  example,  a  Kallir  i)rophet 
J'.is  been  known  to  operate  successfully  in  a 
case  of  dropsy,  so  tluit  tlie  jiatient  recovered; 
while  in  tlie  rediieina;  of  dislocated  joints, 
the  setting  of  fractured  bones,  and  the  treat- 
ment of  wounds,  he  is  an  adept. 

A  kind  of  cupjjing  is  much  practised  by 
the  Kalllrs,  and  is'maiiagiHl  in  much  th'c; 
fiamo  way  as  amon^  ourselves,  tliough  with 
diO'erent  and  ruder  instruments.  Instead  of 
cujiping  glasses,  tlicy  use  the  horn  of  an  ox 
witli  a  liole  bored  through  tlio  smaller  end. 
The  operator  begins  liis  work  by  jiressing 
the  larjjo  end  of  the  horn  against  the  jiart 
whieli  IS  to  be  relieved,  and,  apjilying  lii.s 
mouth  to  the  other  end,  he  sucks  vigorously 
until  he  ha.s  produced  the  recpiire'd  ell'ect. 
A  t't'W  leashes  are  then  made  with  the  sharp 
blade  ot  an  assagai,  the  horn  is  again  applied, 
.and  suction  employed  until  "a  sutlicieiit 
amount  of  blood  has  been  extracted. 

As  the  Katlirs  are  acquainted  with  poi- 
sons, so  arc  they  aware  of  the  medicinal 
properties  possessed  by  many  vegetable 
i)roductions.  Their  chief  medicines  are 
obtained  from  the  castor-oil  plant  and  the 
male  fern,  and  arc  administered  for  the 
same  complaints  as  are  treatcil  by  the  same 
medicines  in  Europe  and  America.  Some- 
times a  curious  mixture  of  surgery  and  med- 
icine is  mad(!  by  scarifying  the"  skin,  and 
rubbing  medicine  into  it.  It  is  probable  the 
"witch  doctors"  have  a  verv  much  wider 
acquaintance  with  herbi?  and  tlieir  properties 
than  they  choose  to  make  public;  and  this 
conjecture  is  partly  carried  out  by  the  etll- 
cacy  which  certain  8o-<!alled  charms  have 
on  those  who  use  them,  even  when  imagi- 
nation does  not  lend  her  iiotent  aid.  Pos- 
sessing such  terrible  powers,  it  is  not  to  be 
wondered  at  that  the  |)rophets  will  some- 
times use  them  for  the  gratification  of 
personal  revenge,  or  for  the  sake  of  gain. 
In  the  former  case  of  action,  they  are  only 
impelled  by  their  own  feelings;  tut  to  the 
latter  they  are  frequently  t^-mpted  by  others, 
and  an  unprincijiled  prophet  will  sometimes 
accumulate  much  wealth  by  taking  bribes 
to  accuse  certain  persons  of  witchcraft. 

How  Tchaka  contrived  to  work  upon  the 
feelings  of  the  people  by  means  of  the 
prophets  has  already  been  mentioned.    Mr. 


Shooter  narrates  a  curious  instance  where 
a  liilse  accusation  was  made  by  u  corrupt 
prophet.  (Jne  man  clierished  a  violent  Jeal- 
ousy against  another  named  IJmpisi  '(».  c. 
The  Ilyiena),  and,  after  many  utf  uipts, 
succeeded  in  bribing  a  iirophel  io  accuse  his 
enemy  of  witchcraft.  This  he  did  in  a  very 
(  urioi'is  manner,  namely,  by  pretending  to 
have  u  vision  in  w  hich  he  had  seen  a  wizard 
scattering  poison  near  the  hut.  The  wi'/- 
ard's  name,  he  said,  was  Nukwa.  Now, 
Nukwa  is  a  word  used  by  women  wlieii  they 
speak  of  the  liyiena,  niKl  therefore  signilied 
the  same  as  Uiupisi.  Panda,  however,  de- 
clined to  believe  the  ac(^usation,  and  no 
direct  indictment  was  made.  A  second 
accusation  was,  however,  more  successful, 
and  the  uufortuuate  man  was  put  to  death. 
Afterward,  Panda  discovered  the  plot,  and 
in  a  rude  kind  of  way  did  Justice,  by  depiiv- 
in^  the  false  iiroiihet  of'  all  his  cattle,  for- 
bidding him  to  practise  his  art  again,  and 
consignini'  the  accuser  to  the  same  fate 
which  he  had  caused  to  be  InHicted  on  his 
victim. 

The  Kafllrs  very  "rinly  believe  in  one 
sort  of  witchcraft,  w...ch  is  singularly  like 
some  of  the  superstitions  of  the  Middle 
Ages.  They  fancy  that  the  wizards  have 
the  [lower  of  transforming  the  dead  body  of 
a  human  being  into  a  familiar  of  their  own, 
which  will  do  all  their  work,  and  need  nei- 
tli(!r  j)ay  nor  keep. 

The  ""  evil-doer  "  looks  out  for  funerals, 
and  when  he  finds  that  a  body  has  been 
interred  njion  which  he  can  work  his 
spell  without  fear  of  discovery,  he  jirepares 
his  charms,  and  waits  until  after  sunset. 
Shielded  by  the  darkness  of  midnight,  he 
digs  up  tlie  body,  and,  by  means  of  his 
incantations,  breathes  a  sort  of  life  into  it, 
which  enables  the  corpse  to  move  and  to 
speak;  the  spirit  of  .some  dead  wizard  being 
supposed  to  have  entered  into  it.  He  then 
heats  stones  or  iron  in  the  fire,  burns  a  hole 
in  the  head,  and  through  this  aperture  he 
extrficts  the  tongue.  Further  spells  are  then 
citst  around  the  revivified  body,  which  have 
the  effect  of  changing  it  into  the  form  of 
some  animal,  such  as  a  hya'iia,  an  owl,  or  a 
wild-cat;  the  latter  being  the  form  niost 
in  favor  with  such  sjiirits.  Tins  mystic  ani- 
mal then  becomes  his  servant,  and  obeys  all 
his  behests,  whatever  they  be.  IJy  day,  it 
hides  in  darkness;  but  at  night  it  comes 
forth  to  do  its  master's  biildlng.  It  cuts 
wood,  digs  and  iilants  the  garden,  builds 
houses,  makes  basket^*,  jioLs,  spears,  and 
clubs,  catclu!s  game,  and  runs  errands. 

IJut  tho  chief  use  to  which  it  is  put  is  to 
inflict  sickness,  or  even  death,  upon  persons 
who  are  disliked  by  its  niiister.  In  the  dead 
of  night,  when  the  Katlirs  are  all  at  home, 
the  goblin  servant  glides  toward  a  doomed 
house,  ami,  stiiiiding  outside,  it  cries  out, 
''Woe!  woo!  wool  to  this  house!"  The 
trembling  inmates  hear  the  dread  voice;  but 


THE  NIGIIT-CIIV. 


101 


none  of  tlicni  dnro.s  to  p[o  out  or  to  answnr,  for 
lliisy  hclievt!  (Iiatif  tlii'v  ho  much  iin  utter  a 
Hoiiiid,  or  iiiovu  hand  or  foot,  tlitiy  will  dio.aH 
well  lu  tii(>,  iMTson  to  whom  the  ine>tsa<'e  in 
Siiiit.  Wliniild  till!  wizard  l»e  (liHtiirlied  in 
his  iiieantatioiiH,  Imfcm!  lie  has  had  time  to 
translbrin  the  reHu.scitated  l)ody,  it  wanders 
tlirouj^h  till!  coiintrv,  powerl'iil/a  m(>H8en>,'er 
i)t  evil,  hilt  an  idiot,  utterin-r  cries  and 
menacc.i,  hut  not  knowinj,'  tlnur  import. 

In  conseijuence  of  this'  hollef,  no   Kadlr 
ilares  to  be  seen  in  eoiniiuinication  with  any 
creature    ((xeept    the    reco^jnized  donmstic 
animals,   such    as    cattle  and    fowls.     Any 
attempt  to  tame  a  wild  animal  would  assur- 
edly cause  the  presumptuous  Kafflr  to  ho 
put  to  death  as  an  "  evil-doer."    A  rather 
curious  case  of  this  kind  occurred  in  Natal. 
A  woman  who  was  pa.ssin;r  into  the  bush 
in  order  to  cut  wood,  saw  a  man  feeding  a 
Mild-cat --the  animal  which   is  thoufflit  to 
bo  specially  devoted  to  the  evil  spirit.    Ter- 


r  n.Hl  at  the  sight,  she  tried  to  cscftpo  uni-oon ; 
but  the  inan  pcTceived  her,  pushed  the  anl- 
nal  aside,  and  bribed  her  to 'be  silent  about 
what  she  had   mum.      However,  she   wei 


home,  and  straiKhtway  told  the  chiera  iie^l 
her  husband,  and  from  that 


wife,  who  told 

moment  the  man's  doom  was  fixed     Evi 
dmict;  against  a  supposed  wizard  is  always 
plentiful,  and  on  this  occasion  it  was  fur- 
nished hhorally.     One  person  had  overheard 
a  domestic  quarrel,  in  which  the  man  had 
beatiui  his  eldest  wife,  and  she  throutened 
to  accuse  him  of  witchcran;  but  he  replied 
that  she  was  as  bad  as  himself,  and  that  if 
10  was  executed,  she  would  suder  the  same 
ate.     Another  person   liad  heard  him  sav 
to  the  same  wife,  that  they  had  not  been 
loiindout,and  that  the  accusers  only  wanted 
their  corn.     IJnih  man  and  wife  were  sum- 
inoned  Ijclbre  the  council,  examined  after 
the  usual  method,  and,  as  a  necessary  con- 
sequence, executed  on  the  spot. 


CIIAP1T.R  XTX. 


SUPERSTITION— CoMP^wlcd. 


m 


I, 


RADT-MAKINO-KFFKCTH  op  A  I.HOI'OIIT-TnK  IIKIURST  omOK  OF  A  KAmn  rltOI-Iirr,  ITM  IlKWAnns 
AND  ITH  rK.llII.M-H..W  TIIK  IMKIIMIKT  "MAKKM  KAIN  "  —  INOKNIOl  H  ^:V  AHIONH- Mil.  MoKKATT'iI 
ACCOl'NT  OK  A  UAIN-MAKKIl,  A.M>  IIIH  nilXKKPIN.W  -  Mt.|.p,WKI.  l-dWIIW  -IK  KIIIOPKANH  —  KAF- 
FIll  m.PIIKTS  ly  lai7-l-U().:UltH.H  ok  THK  WAU,  am.  <IUA1>I'AI,  llWMM^l:  or  TIM!  lUKKin8- 
KllKI.I,  THK  KAKKIU  .ITIKK,  AM.  l.H  ALVISKIIH -HTUAN.IK  MtoniKl  Y  AM.  ITM  111  SII.TS- TUB 
rilOIIIKTH'  IJKI.IKK  IN  TllKlll  OWN  I-OWKIIS  -  JIOIIAI,  INPUTKNCK  t^F  TIIK  IHOPIIl:  TH  — THK,  .  Kl  K- 
BllATKI.  nioniKT  MAKANNA  ANI.  Ills  lAUKKll-IIW  IllMK,  «l  I.MINATION,  AM.  K  \M,- MAKANNA's 
aATIIKUINd  SON.I-TAMSMANIC  NKCKLACK -THK  CHAUM-HTICK  OK  TlIK  KAH-II18  -  WHV  TUB 
PatU'llETS  AllE   ADVOCATKH  OF  WAU  — A   I'llOI'lllCT  WHO  TtKlH   AI.V1CK. 


TnK  hijjlicst  and  most  important  (liity 
which  fiilU  to  tho  lot  of  tho  i.idplict.s  is 
tliiit  of  riiin-maliinp;.  In  SoiUlurn  Africa, 
rain  is  tlic  very  life  of  the  country  ;  aiul, 
should  it  1h'  delayed  beyond  the  nsiial  time, 
the  dread  of  famine  runs  tlirouf,'li  the  laiiil. 
The  KatHi'H  certainly  possess  storehouses, 
but  not  of  sullieient  «izc  to  hold  enoii^di 
grain  for  the  subsistence  of  a  tribe  thron;,di- 
out  the  year  — nor,  indecid,  could  the  Kaf- 
llrs  be  able  to  grow  enough  food  for  sucli  a 
])Hrposo. 

During  a  drought,  the  pastun-  fails,  and 
the  cattle  die  ;  thus  cutting  otf  the  snj.ply 
of  milk,  which  is  almost  tlie  staff  of  life  to 
a  Kartlr — certainly  so  to  his  children.  The 
very  idea  of  such  a  calamity 'makes  every 
mother  in  Kallirland  tremble  with  alfright, 
and  there  is  nothing  which  they  W(jnld  "not 
do  to  avert  it,  even  to  the  sacri'lice  of  their 
own  lives.  Soon  the  water-pools  dry  np. 
then  the  wells,  and  lastly  the  iiprings  l.egiu 
to  fail  ;  and  consequently  disease  and  death 
soon  make  dire  liavoc  among  the  tribes.  In 
this  country,  we  can  form  no  concei)tion  of 
such  a  state  of  things,  and  are  ratluu-  apt  to 
suffer  from  excess  of  rain  than  its  absence  ; 
but  the  miseries  which  even  a  few  weeks' 
<h-ought  in  the  height  of  summer  can  indict 
.upon  this  well-watered  lan<l  mav  enable  us 
to  appreciate  some  of  the  liorrors  which 
accompany  a  drought  in  Southern  Africa. 

Among  the  iiroj.hets,  or  witch  doctors, 
there  are  some  who  claim  the  power  of 
forcing  rain  to  fall  by  their  imaiitalions. 
Eam-making  is  the  very  highest  ollice  which 


a  Kalllr  proj.liet  can  i.erform,  and  there  arc 

comparatively  few  who  will  veiilun^  to  at- 

tempt   it,  because,   in    ciise   of  liiijme,   the 

\yralh  of  the  disappoiiiled  i.eoplc  js  some- 

liiiHs  known  to  cxbibit  ii.^cir  in  perlorating 

the    uiisucci'sslul   prophet  with   an  assagai^ 

knocking  out  his  brains  with  a  kiiob-kerrie,' 

or  the  more  simple  pineess  of  learim;  him 

to  pie<es.     Those,  however,  who  (h.  succeed, 

are  at  once  raised  t(.  the   verv  summit  of 

their  iirofession.     They  exercise  almost  iin- 

limiled  sway  over  tlieii-  own  tribe,  and  (.ver 

any  other  in  which  there  is  not  a  rain-maker 

of  ecpial  celebrity.      The  king   is  the  only 

man  who  pretends  lo  exercise  aiiv  aulliorit'v 
41 11  .'.I   1    •  *        .         .' 


(1U2) 


over  these  all-powerliil  beings  ;"  and  even 
the  king,  irres|)onsible  despot  though  ho 
be,  is  oliliged  to  be  submissive  to  the"  rain- 
maker while  he  is  wdiking  his  incanta- 
tions. 

It  is,  perhaps,  not  at  all  strange  that  the 
Kalllrs  should  jilace  implicit  faith  in  the 
power  of  the  rain-makers  ;  but  it  is  a 
strange  fact  that  the  oiieralors  themselves 
believe  in  their  own  powers.  Of  course 
there  are  many  iiistaincs  where  a  rain- 
maker knowingly  practi  -.s  imposture  ;  but 
in  those  ca.ses  hi;  is  nio.-llv  driven  to  such  a 
course  by  the  menaces  of  tliose  who  are 
employing  him  ;  and,  as  a  general  fact,  the 
wizard  believes  in  the,  ellicacy  of  his  own 
chiirms  quite  as  (irmly  as  any  of  his  fol- 
lowers. 

A  proi)het  who  has  distiu<,'uislu'd  himself 
as  a  rain-maker  is  soon  known  far  and  wide, 
and  does  not  restrict  his  i.ractice  to  his  own 


now   TIIK   I'UOIMIKT  MAKKS   UALV. 


ItriirT,  ITM  IIKWARPS 
l>NM—  Mil.  MoKKAIT'iI 
K  KrlioPKANM  —  KAF- 
t    OK  TIIK   KAKKinH  — 

ITS    lil:sri,r»t  — TUB 

OI'IIICTH  — TIIK,  t'KI.K- 
II  KAI.I,— MAKAN.NA'h 
KAl'l'lllS  — WHV    TUB 


nn,  iind  tliore  nrc 
ill  \('iitiin!  to  at- 
'f   III'  liiilmv,    tliu 

1    IMllpIt'    in    NOIIIC- 

'I'lr  ill  |icili)intiiii; 
Willi  nil  iis.H;i<;iii, 
illi  :i  kiiiili-kcrric, 
ss  of  Icaiiiiij  him 
r.  «  liii  (Id  succeed, 
very  smiimit  of 
aTcisc  iiliiio.st  mi- 
ll (rilic,  mill  over 
t  iiol  a  iiiiii-iiiakcr 
kiiii;  is  tlu)  only 
•isf  any  iiulliorily 
■illi.'-* ;  anil  even 
•  spot  lliouirh  lie 
wive  III  ijie  raiii- 
inj;    lii.s    iiicanta- 

Htrnnjri'  that  the 
licit  faith  ill  tho 
•s ;  liiit  it  in  a 
alois  tiieiiixelves 
vers.  Of  coiirsu 
s  where  a  raiii- 
<  iiiijiosliire  ;  liut 
■  driven  to  Huch  a 
r  tlio.se  who  nru 
frcneral  fact,  the 
iciiey  of  his  own 
any  of  liis  fol- 

nfjfiiisJied  himself 
>wn  liir  and  wide, 
aclice  to  his  own 


district.  Pot<\ntaU^«  (Vom  all  partu  of  tho 
country  Mend  for  hju,  when  llie  drought  con- 
tlniUiM,  and  Ih.ir  own  prophelH  fail  to  pro- 
•luco  rain.  In  Hhh,  a.s  in  other  counliies, 
the  prophet  lian  more  honor  in  another  land 
tlian  111  hiH  own,  and  the  eonlldence  placed 
ill  luiil  i.s  houndlcMi.  This  .■olilideliee  i,. 
Kioundiid  on  ih,.  (net  that  a  rain-maker  from 
n  dLslaiit  laud  will  ol1..n  produce  rain  when 
olhei-N  at  home  have  failed.    'I'he  reason  is 


^t  'irt  ;^!L^t,^±:'':}^i=BP:^^ 


IN 

.lri...i  '?,»1'"''''"'""  ''T"'"^  ^y  *'''"  "^'"'■y'^r  wa« 
w.  .1  V  I'l'*'  "  ?'■"'.■'•""«  """j  und  many  lon« 
week«  ollowed  without  a  Mi'm?U,  ,.l„u,1,  ana 
when  thcMn  did  appear  they^nlKl,t  ho, 
imcH  he  «een,  to  the  «reat  n.orlilllcatio  of 
lu,  cmjnror,  to  .lis,1.ar«e  their  watery 
Iri'iiHurcH  at  an  lmiuen«e  distance  Thi^ 
disappointment  wa«  in.;reased  when  a  heavy 
'•"ud  wojild  pa.s.  over  with  tiemendoiM 
tliunder,  hut  not  ono  drop  of  rain.     Theru 


Uy  the  time  that  tho  whole  »..n.',s 

ot  native  prophets  have  ^one  thronuh  their 

Jiieanlalioiis,  the  tiino   of  dioii^ht  is  coin- 

ara  ively    near    to    a    I'lose;    and,    if   the 

i,  '"?  '".''>'  '"•">"":"  <■'>  Htivve  olf  the 

actual   prodncMon  of  rain   for  a  few  dav.f 

overhour'r"''''''''' •*•''''"•'"  "'■  «"«■'-«,'»' 
every  hour  IS  a  posihve  «ai„  to  him. 

w,til  ,  ''"I  """^''l  with  the  HiKiiM  „f  tl... 
V  ather,  as  is  alwayi  the  ea.se  with  tho.se 
who  hvo  much  in  tho  open  air  The 
l.n>phets,eviden,lv,  are  mor'e  'vea  her-wise 
thi-.i  the  KcneralKy  „f  iho^r  race,  and  how- 
ever m.Kh  a  rain-maker  may  heli .';  H  i^^. 
sef,  he  iKiVer  williii;r|y  undertakes  a  . 
.nission  when  the  si.;s\,f  the  skvi  ortJ,  1  a 

lut\lv'iv'''V-*;'''''''^1''-    «''''"l'll«^'ei- 

iitely  forced  mlo  iinderlakin-  the  l.ii.siueMs 
his  only  hope  of  escape  fromlhe  dilem     i  j,' 

o  procntstiiiate  as  much  as  p....sil,le,  while  at 
t  e  .,ame  tini..  he  keeps  the'  people  a      we 
lie  most  common  n.ode  ..f  pr,,'raHti  mtl„ 
m  hy  reques  in;,  oerlain   artil-le.s,  wl.i  h      ! 
kn()WH  are  almost  iinattainahle,  and  savin.' 

|l»;it  nulii  he  has  them  his  incantations  will  (l)r  l><.  i.  .-■,-«  "■•  ,■'""■'  "'  'ay  mo  d 
have  no  elfeet.  Mr.  Motfatt  narr  tes  vorv  m  II  n?'"""*',"'  '"'^  '''^"'-  <>"«  ' 
Hiniisin-  instance  .,f  the  shiffs  to  whid  a  f  lllin  '  l^'""'"''  T'''  ""*'  '»>«  »"»>• 
in-ophet  is  sometimes  put,  when  the  riii  iwi  ,.n  I    "  ""'  /■■"'"   '^'"'^^''  «  '»<'''vy  PCL 

«otfiill,nndwheiiheiUoVmno    w^^^^^^^  «t'"^k  «  tree  in  (he-  town". 

"■"•"--        ....    -  'v<>K(,  It.     1^  X    <ly,  the  ™„-makerandanuml)crot' 


duriiiK  which  water  hail  not  heen  Heoi,  to 
ow  upon  the  Kronnd;  and  in  that  climate, 
II  am  docs  not  tall  c(mtiniioii.sly  and  in  con- 
mderahle  fpiaiititie-s,  it  is  all  exhaled  in  ,» 
eoiiph,  of  hours.  In  diK«inL'  L'raveH  wo 
have  fouii.l  the  earth  iw  dry  as  diwt  at  four 
or  Hvo  cet  depth,  when  tho  surfiiuo  was 
Haturated  with  rain. 

Tlie  women  had  cultivated  cxtcn8ivo 
leld.s  hut  the  seed  was  lyin«  in  the  noil  a.i 
It  had  heen  thrown  from  tho  hand;  tho 
cattio  were  dyiiiK  for  want  of  piwtuns  and 
umdredH  of  livin-  skeletons  were  Heen  (ioiii« 
to  tho  fleliLs  in  (piest  of  uiiwholo-somo  roots 
and  reptiles,  while  many  were  dyiiiL'  wltU 
hunger  Our  shoen,  a.s  tieforo  statcfc  wcro 
soonl.kelytohealldevc.ired,andth,di.J 

Halt,  which  of  course  wiw  far  from   boiiitf 

vegetables  wore  so  scarce. 

"All  these  circnmstanee.s  irritated  the  rain- 
mak.-r  very  much;  but  ho  wius  olton  ,.,JzTd 
J.  /  nd  soineth  n«  on  which  to  lay  tho'  iSo, 
loi  he  had  exhausted  his  nkill.     One  night, 

B  only  Hash 
avy  peal  of 


to  congratulate  him,  h,  to  L^  „  1^,^^^ 
mont  foiiml  him  totally  insJn^il  if  to"Xt 
ZT  ^••;Vi:i"'!",i?-     'ilc^laka  rare!'     (Flallo 


only  a  «trinc  or  groove  along  the  bark  to 
the  groun./.  When  these  bandages  were 
nade  he  depo.sitod  some  of  hi.s  nostrnS 
and  got  quantities  of  water  handed  u,, 
which  he  poured  with  great  solen  U^  ou 
he  wounded  tree  while  tho  assembled  niul" 
roe  wnl'","'"'' '','"'"  '"''«•'  This  done  lo 
tr>wn,  and  burnt  to  ashes.  Soon  after  thU 
nnmeaning  ceremonv,  he  got  lar-'o  bowls  ot* 

oybi^ibf'Vll";;"  ^^"'^-^  ""V^''  anSsioi 
01   bulbs.     All  the  men  of  the  town  then 

before  him,  when  he  sprinkled  each  with  a 

''"  As  an  H  •'""^"'S'^'^  'lipped  in  the  waS    * 

A.S  all  this  and  much  more  did  not  sue- 

coed,  he  had  recourse  to  another  stratagem. 


194 


THE  KAFFIR. 


He  knew  well  that  baboons  were  not  very 
easily  .  ^ught  among  the  rockj;  gliins  and 
shelvin  precipices,  theielbre,  in  order  to 
gain  tiiae,  he  informed  the  men  that,  to 
make  rain,  lie  must  have  a  baboon  ;  that 
the  animal  must  be  without  a  blsmish,  not 
a  hair  was  to  be  wanting  on  its  body. 
One  would  have  though*;  any  simpleton 
might  have  seen  throug'>  his  tricks,  as 
their  being  able  to  present  him  with  a 
baboon  in  that  state  was  imjiossible,  even 
though  they  caught  him  asleep.  Forth  sal- 
lied a  band  of  chosen  runners,  who  as- 
cended the  neighboring  moimtain.  The 
b.iboons  from  their  lofty  domiciles  had  been 
in  the  habit  of  looking  down  on  the  plain 
iienfiiith  at  the  natives  encircling  and  pur- 
suing the  quaggas  and  antelopes,  little 
dreaming  that  one  day  they  would  them- 
selves be  objects  of  pursuit.  They  hobbled 
off  in  consternation,  grunting,  and  scream- 
ing and  leaping  from  rock  to  rock,  occasion- 
ally looking  down  on  tbc;ir  pursuers,  grinning 
and  gnivshing  their  teeth.  After  a  long  pur- 
suit, with  v/'Hinded  l;ml)S,  scratched  bodies, 
and  broken  toc^,  a  jou'ig  one  was  secured, 
ant:  brought  to  the  town,  the  captors  exult- 
ii\g  as  if  they  had  obtained  a  great  spoil. 
The  wily  rogue,  on  seeing  the  animal,  put 
on  a  counteuiince  exhibiting  the  most  in- 
tense sorrow,  exclainiug, '  My  heart  is  rent 
in  pieces;  1  am  dumb  with  grief';  and 
pointing  to  the  eai"  of  the  baboon,  whicli 
was  scratched,  and  the  tail,  which  hiul  losi 
some  hairs,  added,  'Bid  I  nov  tell  you  1 
could  not  make  rain  if  there  was  one  h^iir 
wanting? ' 

"After some  days  another  was  obtained; 
but  there  was  still  some  imperfection,  real 
or  alleged.  He  had  often  said  that,  if  ihcy 
would  procure  him  the  heart  of  a  lion,  he 
would  show  them  that  he  could  make  ra-n 
BO  abundant  that  a  man  might  think  himself 
well  off  to  be  under  shelter,  as  whsiu  it  fed 
it  might  sweep  whole  towns  awiiy.  He  had 
discovered  that  the  clouds  required  strong 
medicine,  'md  th.it  a  lion's  heart  would  do 
the  business.  To  obtiiin  this  the  rain-maker 
veil  knew  was  no  Joke.  One  day  it  was 
announced  that  a  lion  had  attacked  one  of 
the  cattle  out-posts,  not  far  from  'i"  town, 
and  a  party  set  oft' for  the  twofold  purj  ose  of 
getting  a  key  to  the  clouds  and  disposii.g  of 
adange^us  enemy.  The  orders  were  ini- 
perativ.,  whatever  the  consequences  might 
be,  which,  in  thii  instcnce,  might  have  been 
very  serious,  had  '''>'■  one  of  our  men  rho^ 
the  terrific  animal  dea«l  with  .•<  gun  This 
was  no  sooner  done  than  it  was  (-ui.  up  for 
roasting  and  boiling:  no  matter  if  it  had  pre- 
viously eaten  some  of  their  relations,  tney 
at«  it  in  ics  turn.  Nothing  could  exceed 
their  enthusiasm  when  they  returned  to  the 
town,  bearing  the  lion's  heart,  and  singing 
the  conqueror's  song  in  full  chorus;  the  rain- 
maker prepared  his  medicines,  kindled  his 
tires,  und  might  be  seen  upon  the  top  of  the 


hill,  stretching  forth  his  puny  hands,  and 
beckoning  the  clouds  to  draw  near,  or  <.  /en 
shaking  his  spear,  And  threatening  that,  if 
they  disobeyed,  they  should  feed  his  ire. 
The  deluded  populace  belie  ,'<",!  "  U  this,  and 
wondered  the  rains  would  not  fall. 

"Asking  aa  experienced  and  judicious 
man,  the  king's  uncle,  how  it  was  that  so 
great  an  operator  on  the  clouds  could  not 
succeed,  'Ah,'  I'e  replied,  with  apparent 
feeling, '  there  is  a  cause  for  the  hardheart- 
edness  of  the  clouds  if  the  rain-maker  could 
only  find  it  out.'  A  scrutini?i<ig  watch  was 
kept  upon  everything  done  by  the  mission- 
aries. Some  weeks  after  my  return  from  a 
visit  to  Qriqua  Town,  a  gr.aiii!  discovery  was 
made,  that  the  rain  had  been  prevented  by 
my  bringing  a  bag  of  salt  from  that  place  in 
my  wagon.  The  charge  was  ma<le  by  the 
king  and  his  attendants,  with  great  gravity 
and  form.  As  giving  the  least  oft'encc  by 
laughing  at  their  puerile  actions  ought 
always  to  be  avoided  when  dealing  with  a 
people  who  are  sincere  thougii  deluded,  the 
case  was  on  my  part  investigated  with  more 
than  usual  solemnity,  Mothibi  and  his  aid- 
de-camp  accompanied  me  to  the  storehouse, 
where  the  identical  bag  stood.  It  was  open, 
with  the  white  contents  full  in  view.  '  There 
it  is,'  he  exclaimed,  with  an  uir  of  satisfac- 
tion. But  finding,  on  examination,  that  the 
reported  salt  was  onlv  white  clay  or  clialk, 
they  could  not  help  laughing  at  their  own 
incredulity" 

An  unsuccessful  F  lir  prophet  is  never 
very  soiTy  to  have  wince  men  in  the  country, 
because  he  caii  always  lay  the  blame  of  fail- 
ure upon  them.  Should'  they  be  missiona- 
ries, the  sound  of  the  hymns  is  quite  enough 
to  drive  away  the  clouds;  and  should  they 
be  laymen,  any  habit  in  .which  iliey  indulg  id 
would  be  considered  a  sntlicient  reason  for 
the  continuance  of  drought  The  Kaftir 
ahvays  acknowledges  the  superior  powers 
of  the  white  man,  and,  though  he  thinks  his 
o.vn  race  far  superior  to  any  ihat  inhabit 
the  ( iirth,  he  fancies  that  the  spirits  wliicii 
help  him  are  not  so  powerful  as  those  wlio 
aid  the  white  man,  and  that  it  is  from  their 
r  tronage,  and  not  fvo.fi  anv  mentiil  or  (.hys- 
ital  superiority,  tliat  he  has  obtained  liis 
pro-eminence.  Fully  bePcving  in  his  own 
rain-making  powers,  he  fancies  that  tlie 
white  men  are  as  superior  in  this  art  as  in 
others,  and  invents  the  most  extraordinary 
theories  in  onler  to  account  for  the  fact. 
After  their  own  iirophets  iiavo  failed  to  pro- 
duce :ain,  the  Kafiirs  are  tolerably  sure  to 
wait  upon  a  missionary,  and  ask  him  to  per- 
form tlie  office.  The  process  of  reasoning' 
by  which  tlioy  have  ci>rr>o  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  mi.ssionaries  civn  make  rain  is  r  .tlier 
a  curious  one.  As  soon  as  tlio  raw,  cold 
winds  begin  to  blow  nf-d  to  threat'in  rain, 
the  missionaries  were  naturuily  accustomed 
to  put  on  their  overcoatH  when  th(!y  left  their 
houses.    These  coats  were  usually  of  a  dark 


fli 


KAFFIR  PROrnETS  IN  1857. 


195 


color,  and  nothing  could  persuade  the  na- 
tives but  that  the  assumption  of  darlc  cloth- 
ing was  a  spell  by  which  rain  was  compelled 
to  fall. 

It  has  ju!<t  been  mentioned  that  the  proph- 
ets fully  believe  in  thoir  own  supernatural 
powers.    Considering  the  many  examples  of 
manifest  imposture  wMch  continually  take 
place,  some  of  which   have   already  been 
described,  most  Europeans  would  fancy  that 
the  prophets  were  intentional  and  consistent 
deceivers,  and  their  opinion  of  themselves 
was  something  like  that  of  the  old  Roman 
augurs,  who  could  not  even  look  in  each 
other's  faces  without   miling.  This, however, 
IS  not  the  case.  Decti  vers  they  undoubtedly 
are,  and  in  manv  instances  wilfully  so,  but  it 
18  equally  certam  that  they  do  believe  that 
they  are  the  means  of  communication  be- 
tween  the  spirits  of  the  dead  and    their 
Jiving  relatives.    No  better  proof  of  this 
lact  can  be  adduced  than  the  extraordiuarv 
scries  of  events  which  took  place  in  1857,  in 
which  not  only  one  prophet,  but  a  consider- 
able numlier  of  them  took  prat,  and  in  which 
their  action  w.-vs  unanimous.    In  that  year, 
the  Kathr  tribes  awoke  to  the   conclu^^ion 
that  they  had   been  gradually  but  surclv 
yielding  before  the  European  settlers,  and 
they  organized  a  vast  conspiracy  by  which 
they  hoped  to  drive  every  white  man  out  of 
Southern  Africa,  and  to  re-establish  their 
own  supremacy.    The  very  existence  of  the 
colony  of  Natal  was  a  thorn  in  their  sides 
as   (hat  country  was  almost  daily  receiv- 
ing reinforcements  from  Europe,  and  was 
becoming  gradually  stronger  and  less  likeK- 
to  be  conquered.    Moreover,,there  ware  con- 
tinual defections  of  Uieir  own  race;  whole 
families,  and  even  the  population  of  entire 
villages,  wore  escr.ping  from   the  despotic 
sway  of  the  native  monarch,  and  takinrr  ref- 
uge in  the  country  protected  by  the  white 
mans    .ifle.     Several    attempts  had   been 
previously  made  unuer  the  celebrated  chief' 
oandilh,  and  the  equally  famous  prophet- 
warnor  Makanna,  to  dispossess   the  colo- 
nists, and  in  every  case  the  Kaffir  tribes  had 
been  repulsed  with  groat  loss,  and  were  at 
lasv  forced  to  offer  their  submission. 

In  1857  however,  a  vast  meeting  was 
convened  by  Kreli,  in  onler  to  or-anize 
regularly  planned  campaign,  and  "at  this 
to'bo'n?e«^  celebrated  pii^pKet  was  expected 
to  be  present.  He  did  not  make  his  appear- 
ance, but  sent  a  messenger,  sayiu'^'  that  the 
8mrit  niu^  ordered  the '^Kaffirs  to  k  iu 
their   cattle.     This  strange  mandate  \v^ 

r„fT/,  V  "T^  f  ^''°  J'«oi''"'  l^ut  others 
««vJ'l/°  obey  th,  prophefs'  order,  and 
saved  their  cattle  liive.  Angry  f.iat  his 
orders  had  been  disobeyed,  the  prophet 
ca  led  another  meeting,  and  had  a  riv  te 
interview  with  Kreli,  in' which  he  Lid  that 
the  di8ob<>(henco  of  the  people  was  tiie  rea- 
son why  tl...  xvhite  mo"  \\'  -iV-^  u  \  .'^"' 
nn*  ~f  fk„  1  V  „  ^^".i  -  ''""^  "<-■<-•"  driven 
ou.  .f  the  land.    But,  iff  ey  would  bo  obe- 


dient, and  slay  every  head  of  cattle  in  the 
country,  except  one  cow  and  one  goat,  the 
spirits  of  the  dea<l  would  be  propitiated  by 
their  munificence,  and  would  give  their  aid. 
Eight  days  were  to  be  allowed  for  doing  the 
murderous  work,  and  on  the  eighth— at 
most  on  the  ninth  day —  by  means  of  sdcIIs 
thrown  upon  the  surviving  cow  and  goat, 
the  cattle  would  all  rise  again,  and  they 
would  repossess  the  wealth  which  they  had 
freely  offered.  They  were  also  ordered  to 
throw  away  all  the  corn  in  their  granaries 
and  storehouses.  As  a  sign  that  the  proph- 
ecy would  be  fulfilled,  the  sun  would  not 
rise  antil  half-past  eight,  it  would  then  turn 
red  and  go  back  on  its  course,  and  darkness, 
rain,  thunder,  and  lightning  would  warn  the 
people  of  the  events  that  were  to  follow. 

The  work  of  slaughter  then  began  in 
earnest;  the  goats  and  cattle  were  extermi- 
nated throughout  the  country,  and,  except 
the  two  which  were  to  be  the  reserve,  not  a 
cow  or  a  goiit  was  left  alive.    With  curious 
inconsistency,  the  Kaffirs  took  the  hides  to 
the  trading  stations  and  sold  them,  and  so 
fiist  did  they  pour  in  that  they  were  pur- 
chased for  the  merest  trifle,  and  m.any  thou- 
sands could  not  be  sold  at  all,  and  were  left 
in  the  interior  of  the  country.    The  eighth 
day  arrived,  and  no  signs  were  visible  in  the 
heavens.    This  did  not  disturb  the  Kaffirs 
very  much,  as  they  relied  on  the  promised 
ninth  day.     On  that  morning  not  a  Kaffir 
moved  frym  his  dwelling,  but  sat  in  the 
kraal,  anxiously  watching  the   sun.    From 
SIX  m  the  morniii"  until  ten  they  watched 
Its  course,  but  it  did  not  change  color  or 
alter  its  course,  and  neither  the   thunder, 
lightning,  nor  rain  came  on  in  token  that 
the  prophecy  was  to  be  fulfilled. 

The  deluded  Kaffirs  then  repented  them- 
sc.yes,  but  too  late,  of  their  credulity.  They 
had  killed  all  their  cattle  and  destroyed  all 
their  corn,  and  without  these  necessaries  of 
life  they  knew  that  they  must  starve.  And 
they  did  indeed  starve.  Famine  in  its  worst 
form  set  in  throughout  the  country;  the 
children  died  by  hundreds;  none  but  those 
ot  the  strongest  constitutions  survived,  and 
even  these  were  mere  skeletons,  worn  away 
by  privations,  and  equally  unable  to  work 
OT  to  fight.  By  this  self-inflicted  blow  the 
Kaffirs  suffered  far  more  than  they  would 
have  done  in  the  most  prolonged  war,  and  " 
rendered  themselves  incapable  of  resistance 
lor  mapy  years. 

That  the  prophets  who  uttered  such 
strange  mandates  must  have  been  believers 
in  the  truth  of  their  art  is  evident  enou<'h 
for  they  s.aci;ificed  not  only  the  propertv"  )f 
others,  but  their  own,  and  we  have  already 
seen  how  teiwcioiisly  a  Kaffir  clings  to  his 
flocks  and  herds.  Moreover,  in  thus  de- 
stroying all  the  food  in  the  country,  they 
k.iew  that  they  were  condemnimr  tr>  «f,ir,o. 
tion  m,i  only  the  country  in  general",  biit 
themselves  and  iheir  families,  and  a  man  ia 


J  no 


THE  KAFFIR. 


li 


not  likiily  l,()  lit  (or  propluxuus  which,  if  fulso, 
would  redtici"  him  tVoiu  woiillh  to  jjovorty. 
ntul  coiuiciiin  hiiimoH',  hin  lamily,  mid  lill 
tho  cotmtrv  to  th(!  iiiiHorios  oC  riiininc,  di<l 
ho  not  bolU'Vi!  IhoHO  i)r(>i)ho('loM  to  bi;  tnio. 
Althougli  tho  iiilhioiUM!  exorcisod  hy  tho 
projiiiol.s  is,  in  many  casos,  wioldod  in  an 
ii^niious  manner,  it  i«  not  onlfroly  an  un- 
mixiid  evil.  Imporfoct  as  tlioir  roli^ious 
.systom  is,  and  <h«astrouH  as  aro  too  otHon 
tlio  oon«o<uu'ncos,  it  is  I)ottor  tlian  no  roli- 
Hlion  at  all,  and  at  all  ovonts  it  lias  two 
advanljig08,  the  one  holnjj  the  assertion  of 
tho  innn»)rtiility  of  tlie  soul,  and  tho  aeeond 
the  aoknowlodgmont  tiiat  there  aro  lioinjjs 
in  tho  spiritual  world  jiossossod  of  far 
greater  powers  than  tlieir  own,  whether  for 
}»ood  or  evil. 

One  of  tlio  most  extraordinary  of  thoso 
l)rop'u'ts  was  tho  eelebrated  Malianna,  who 
united  in  his  own  person  tho  otlices  of 
prophet  and  jj;'''>'''''»'>  '"xl  who  ventured  to 
oppose  the  p}nj;Iish  forces,  and  in  person 
to  lead  an  attiick  on  (Jrahamstown.  This 
remarkable  nuin  laid  his  plans  with  great 
euro  and  deliberation,  and  did  not  strike  a 
Mow  until  all  his  plots  were  fully  dovelopocl. 
In  the  tlrst  placo  ho  contrived  to  obtain 
considorabhi  military  information  by  con- 
versation with  tho  soldiers,  and  especially 
tl>  ■  oHicors  of  the  rej;inu!nts  who  were  (piar- 
tered  at  (iraliamstown,  and  in  this  maniu'r 
contrived  to  loarn  much  of  the  Kn5j;lish  mil- 
itary system,  as  well  as  of  numy  nu'chanital 
arts. 

Tlic  object  which  lio  jiroposed  to  himself 
is  not  i>re'cisely  known,  but' as  far  as  can  Ix^ 
gathered  IVonl  his  actions,  ho  seoms  to  have 
inU^ulod  to  i)ursuo  a  similar  course  to  that 
which  was  inkvw  by  Tchaka  nmons  the 
more  nuidorn  Zulus,"  and  to  jjathor  to;!;i»ther 
tho  scattered  Amakosa  tribes  and  to  unite 
them  in  one  <;reat  nation,  of  which  he 
slionld  bo  sole  kinp  antJ  priest,  IJut  his 
ambition  was  a  nobler  one  than   that  of 


Tchaka,  whoso  only  object  was  personal  >\a- 
grandizenu'ut,  and  who*  shod  rivers  ol' blood, 
oven  among  his  own  subjects,  in  order  to 
render  himself  su])romo.  Makanna  wjis  a 
man  of  ditforent  nuudd,  and  although  jier- 
soual  ambition  had  mucli  to  do  with  his 
comhict,  ho  was  clearly  inspired  with  a  wish 
to  raise  his  i)i-oplo  into  n  southern  nation 
that  should  rival  the  groat  Zulu  monarchy 
of  the  north,  and  also,  by  the  importation  of 
European  ideas,  to  elevate  the  character 
ot  his  subjects,  and  to  as.-imilato  thom  ns  far 
as  possible  with  tho  white  men,  their  ac- 
knowledi;ed  superiors  in  every  art. 

That  no  ultimately  failed  is  no  woiulor, 
because  he  was  one  of  those  enthusiasts 
wlu)  do  not  recognize  their  epoch.  Most 
noople  fail  in  being  behind  their  dav,  Ma- 
kanna failed  in  bemg  before  it.  Enjoying 
constant  int*'rcourse  with  Europeans, "and 
iuvariahly  choosing  for  his  companions  men 
of  ominenco   amumr   tbeiii.  his  own   minrl 


liad  boconui  sulTlciontly  enlarged  to  pcrcelvo 
the  inllnlte  superiority  of  Enropoun  <  iyili- 
zation,  and  to  know  that  if  ho  coul.l  only 
succeed  in  infn.Mng  their  ideas  into  tho 
njinds  of  his  subjects,  tho  Kosa  nation 
would  not  only  be  tho  equal  of,  but  bu  far 
superior  to  the  Zulu  empire,  which  wafj 
erected  by  violeiict"  and  preserved  by  blood- 
shed. Conscious  of  the  snperstiti(Hia  char- 
acter of  his  conntrymon,  and  knowing  that 
ho  would  not  bo  able  to  gain  sutllcicnt  in- 
lluence  over  them  unless  he  laid  claim  to 
supornatunvl  powers,  Makanna  announced 
himself  to  be  a  nrophet  of  a  new  kind.  In 
this  i)art  of  his  lino  of  conduct  he  showed 
the  same  deep  wisdom  thi.t  had  chaructcr- 
i/ed  his  former  iiroceedings,  and  gained 
much  religions  as  well  ns  practical  knowl- 
edge from  the  white  men,  whom  ho  ulti- 
mately intended  to  destroy.  He  made  a 
point  of  conversing  as  much  as  jiossiblo 
with  tho  dorjiy,  and,  with  all  a  Kalllr's 
inborn  love  oi  nrgunu'at,  delighted  in  get- 
ting into  controversies  respecting  the  bvlief 
of  the  Christians,  and  tho  inspiration  of  tho 
Scriptures. 

Keen  jind  subtle  of  intellect,  and  possessed 
of  wonderful  oratorical  powers,  he  would  at 
one  time  ask  (juestion  after  question  for  tho 
pmpose  of  clitangling  his  instructor  in  a 
sophism,  and  nt  another  would  l)urst  into 
a  torrent  of  eloquence  in  which  lu;  would 
adroitly  make  use  of  any  unguarded  expres- 
sion, and  carry  away  his  audience  by  thosi)irit 
and  lire  of  his  oratory.  In  the  mean  while 
he  was  quietly  working  upon  the  minds  of 
his  countrynn  n  so  as  to  prepare  them  for 
his  llnal  .stop;  and  at  last,  when  be  had 
thoroughly  matured  his  plans,  he  boldly 
announced  himself  as  a  jn-ophet  to  whom 
bad  been  given  a  special  commit^sion  from 
Uhlanga,  tlic  Great  Sjiirit. 

Unlike  tho  ordinary  nrophots,  whose  utter- 
ances wore  all  of  blood  and  sacrillco,  either 
of  men  or  animals,  he  imported  into  his 
new  system  of  religion  many  ideas  that  ho 
had  obtained  from  tho  Christian  dcrgj-, 
and  had  the  honor  of  being  the  fust  Kallir 
nrophet  who  ever  dciKUincod  vice  and  en- 
rorced  morality  on  his  followers.  Not  only 
did  ho  preach  against  vice  in  the  abstract, 
but  ho  had  the  courage  to  denounce  all 
those  wh<»  led  vicious  lives,  and  was  as 
unsparing  toward  (ho  most  powci1\il  chiefs 
as  t<)ward  tho  humblest  servant. 

One  chief,  tho  renowned  Caika,  was  dlro- 
»\illy  oflonded  at  the  proi)het's  boldne.«a, 
whereupon  Makanna,  finding  that  spiritual 
wo.ipons  were  wasted  (ui  such  a  man,  took 
to  the  spoar  aiul  shield  instead.  lo<l  an  ox- 
temporizod  force  against  Gaika,  and  defeated 
him. 

Having  now  cleared  away  one  of  tho  ob- 
stacles to  the  course  of  liis  ambition,  he 
thought  that  the  time  had  come  when  ho 
niidit  strike  a  still  greater  blow.  Tho  Eng- 
.i„ii  ...„i  „..., .,  ....in..  Uihitr  itivii  ^jfutcutiuU 


1 

1 

r 
]| 

1' 
1< 
b 

V 
n 

R] 

w 

se 
cli 

CO 

th 
th< 


after  h  s  dofout,  and  Miikanna  thought  that 
he  could  ooimuiir  the  JJrilislj  Ibm.n  as  lio 
had  those  ot   us  countryman.    Accordingly, 
ho  rcdouble<l   his  efforts  to  make   ImnsJlf 
revered  by  the  Kafllr  tribes.    He  «ddom 
showed  hinis('ll,  passing  the  greater  part  of 
his  time  in  seclusion;    and  when  ho   did 
roirj  i"  ''."'''"''  ''"  ,'''^''>"  'nni'itfiined  a 
iMhImJ'i^n'''T'  ■*"''  »'^«"''vcte<l  air,  such 
Zu.Jt"'^  "'"  '''j'»''''-'t«r  which  he  a«smned, 
nanely    a  prophet   insi)ircd,    not    by  the 
8 nrnts  of  the  dead,  but  l5y  the  Uhlanga,  the 
Orreat  Si)irit  himself.     :f^ow  and   then  he 

imIri.ff"."""'"V"'?..P''"I''«  "^^"'t  him,  and 
whi  .1.  """'"  "*  VVP*^'""""  eloquence,  in 
an     A      '"'"•»"»^'<1  l'i«  mmUm  from  above, 

flff  t  fc.    h^  "i^'  '.15"'"'  "'■.""'^'-  *'''''«^s  would 

and''iS^J'°,  "•■'""^  ^"S^'^*^'-  »»«  foops, 
the  w  lo  >  n?.  .'^^' K  "'  """"  «nihamstown 
the  h  ul  .,?,l  ■''^  ''"'"»  ""  »»«xpectcd  tha  I 
ino  I  ttle  garrison  were  takcin  by  surprise- 
n  Id  Jio  commander  was  nearly  taken  ,ri«: 
oner  as  he  was  riding  with  soine  f  liVoffl 
cers.  More  than  10,000  Kafllr  warr  ors  were 
engaged  m  tl,o  assault,  while  the  defenders 

Unfr'Vj'r'^^O  Europeans  and  a tw 
hscip lined  Hottentots.  Tlic  place  was  vorv 
jmnerfectly  fortified,  and,  alfcgh  "al^ 

o  if  nn  V™  '»«rahamstowu,  tl.ev  we.^ 
aelil.  '""""'  "'''  ^'*^''''  ""^y  "'^'^y  forj 

coSli''!??''''"''',^" '""'■^  8'illant  than  the 
nH.fi  n8«a'l"uts  and  defenders.  The 
b^ave  'rS^J  r':"^«'''»'l  constitutionally 
Dnive,  lushed  to  the  attack  with  wild  war 
cries,  hurling  their  assagais  as  tliev  a  - 
vanco.1;  and  when  they  cr^ne  to  close  quar- 
ters, breaking  their  la.st  weapon,  and  S 
hnnV  '''■'7*''"^  ^'^''^  dcfendei^  on  the  otl.^ 

^^^Stfsf  S^^^^^^ 

the^mselt"^':!^r..™d  "   T"  Z'^^^^'^^-l 

ti-Engiis.rha;rl!;^-,;J^^'^;:.i- 


ATTACK  ON  GEllMANSTOWN. 


i: 


197 

brief  rcapito,  and  brought  their  field-guns 
to  bear.    Volley  after  volley  of  grape-shot 
was  poured  into  the  ttdckest  columns  of   he 
enemy  and  the  front  ranks  fell  like  irass 
heh.re  the  mower's  scythe.    Still,  the  couS 
"the   Kafllrs,  stimulated  by  the  niystic 
utti-rances  of  their  prophet-general  w^is  iio? 
quelled  an.1  the  un.laulued  wardl.rsV^^S 
up  to  the  very  mouths  of  the  guns,  stabbinc 
with  their  last  spears  at  the^irti  leryme  f 
Ihit  brave  as  thc^  miglit  be,  they  could  not 
contend  against  the  deadly  hail  (/grape-shot 
and  musketry  t  .at  ceaselessly  poured  in"o 
their  ranks,  while  as  soon  as  a  header  made 
lumsell  consjucuous.  he  was  shot  by  Boezak 
and  Ins  little  body  ot  marksmen.    Lkmna 
allied  his  forces  several  times,  hut  at  l.isfc 
they  were  put  to  fhght,  and  he  was  obliged 
to  accompany  his  discomlited  soldiers. 

hliort  as  was  this  battle,  it  was  a  terri- 
bio  one  for  the  Kafllrs.  Fourteen  hundred 
bodies  were  found  dead  on  the  field,  whilo 
at  least  as  many  more  died  of  their  wounds. 
After  this  decisive  repulse,  Makanna  aur- 
rendered  himself  to  tlie  English,  and  was 
sent  as  a  prisoner  to  Itobbc^n  Island.  Here 
lie  remained  for  a  year,  with  a  few  followers 
and  slaves  whom  he  was  permitted  to  retain. 
One  day  he  disarmed  the  guard,  and  tried 
to  escape  in  a  boat,  but  was  drowned  in  the 
attempt 

The  subjoined  spirited  renderinir  of  Ma- 
kanna's  gathering  song  is  by  Mr.  Prlnclo 
the  poet-traveller  iu  Southern  Africa.   ^' 

MAKANNA's  GATnERINO. 
"^^akk!  Aninkosn,  wake! 
Ami  lirni  yoiirwlves  for  war 
As  oomiiiK  wiiuls  the  forcso  sli'uke 

I  lit'iir  a  sduiKl  from  far: 
it  fs  not  thundor  in  the  sky 

Nor  lion's  lo.ir  npon  thcshill, 
But  the  voice  of  hi„,  who  Hits  in  higb. 
Ana  bills  mo  speak  his  will!         ^  ' 

"He  bids  mo  call  von  forth, 

Hold  Hons  of  KalittlH'o, 
To  sworn,  the  White  Man  from  the  earth, 

And  drive  them  to  the  twa:  ' 

J-ho  sPft,  which  liPrtvcd  thoni  np  at  first, 

t  c.r  Amakosa's  curse  and  bane, 
Howls  for  tho  l.roBony  «ho  nursed, 

To  swallow  them  again. 

'  '^"  i""""'  y  PJ'iBftains  Iwld, 

With  wai-|ilnni('s  waving  hiRh; 

wH.'/'T7  wnrrior  young  and  old, 

With  club  and  iwHagai. 
«*!m..mlK.r  how  tho  spoiler's  host 

Hid  through  the  land  like  locusts  ranee* 
Your  bonis,  your  wives,  your  comrades  lost, - 

Ifeinomber,  and  revenge!  ' 

"  ^'Jnff  your  broad  shiolds  away, 
B(>.)tl  iss  against  such  foes; 
But  IiaiKl  to  hand  we'll  fight  to-dav. 

And  with  tho  bayonets  close.      " 
Gra«p  each  man  short  his  stabblnir  siwar. 
n«"ti    •  "Ik  ?  ^'  "=y""'»  e'lKo  wo  come, 
KuHl,  on  their  ranks  in  full  oarwr, 
And  to  their  hearts  strike  liomo! 


198 


THE  KAFPIR. 


"Woke!  AmakMft,  wnko! 

Ami  III  lister  for  tlm  wiir: 
Xiw  wiziird-wolvus  tVoiii  KcUi's  broke, 

Tlio  vulturoM  fi-Din  afar, 
Art'  niillit'riiiK  «*  Uiii.anoa'h  rail, 

Ami  follow  fiiHtoiir  westwiinl  way  — 
¥vr  well  thi!.y  know,  ere  oviuiiiiK  full, 

Thoy  Hliali  huvo  gluriuu^j  prey ! " 


There  is  now  before  me  n  remarkable 
necklnee,  whiili  wan  tiikou  I'rom  the  neck  of 
a  Kaflir  who  was  killed  in  the  attack  of  the 
74th  Ilisjlilanflers  on  the  Iron  M.ant  (See 
illuatralioti  No.  1,  on  p.  107.)  This  stronz- 
hold  of  tlic  (lark  enemies  was  peeuliarly 
well  n(lai)ti'il  for  defence,  rind  the  natives 
had  therefore  used  it  as  a  place  wherein 
thoy  could  deposit  their  stores;  but,  l)y  a 
false  uun'b  on  their  part,  they  i)ut  themselves 
between  two  fires,  and  after  severe  loss  had 
to  abandon  the  post.  The  necklace  belon}.?s 
to  the  collection  of  Major  Hoss  Kinjr,  who 
led  the  74(h  in  the  attack.  It  has  evidently 
been  used  for  superstitions  purposes,  and  has 
belonged  to  a  KatHr  who  was  either  one  of 
the  prophets,  or  who  intcmled  to  join  that 
order.  It  is  composed  of  human  tinger- 
bones,  twenty-seven  in  number,  and  as 
only  the  last' joint  of  the  tinker  is  used, 
it  is  evident  tliat  at  least  three  men  must 
have  supplied  the  bones  in  question.  From 
the  nature  of  the  ornament,  it  is  likelv  that 
it  once  belonged  to  that  class  of  whicn  doc- 
tors make  a  living,  by  pretending  to  detect 
the  evil-doers  who  liave  caused  the  death  of 
chiefs  and  persons  of  rank. 

As  another  example  of  the  superstitious 
ideas  of  the  Katlirs,  I  may  hero  describe  one 
of  the  small  bags  which  are  sometimes  called 
knapsacks,  and  sometimes  ''daghasaes,"  the 
latter  name  being  given  to  them  because 
their  chief  use  is  to  hold  the  "  d.agha,"  or 
preparation  of  hemp  which  is  so  extensively 
used  for  smoking,  and  which  was  i)robably 
the  only  herb  tliat  was  used  before  the 
introduction  of  nihacco  from  America. 

Sometimes  the  daghasac  is  made  of  the 
skin  of  some  small  animal,  taken  oft'  entire; 
but  in  this  inst^mce  it  is  made  of  small 
pieces  of  antelope  skin  neatly  joined  to- 
{^ethcr,  and  havinn;  some  of  fhe'h.air  still  left 
m  the  interior.  The  line  of  junction  be- 
tween the  upper  and  lower  pieces  of  skin  is 
ingeniously  concealed  by  the  strings  of  black 
and  white  beads  which  are  attac-lied  to  it; 
and  the  same  beads  serve  also  to  conceal  a 
patch,  which  is  let  in  in  one  side.  The  bag  is 
suspended  over  the  shoulders  of  the  wearer 
by  means  of  a  long  chain  formed  of  iron 
wire,  the  links  of  which  are  nuide  so  neatly 
that,  but  for  a  few  irregularities,  they  would 
be  ta.kcn  for  the  handiwork  of  un  European 
wire-workor. 

From  the  end  of  the  bag  hang  two  thongs, 
each  of  which  bears  at  the  extremity  a  val- 
ued charm.  One  of  these  articles  is  a  piece 
of  stick,  about  three  inches  iu  length,  and 


about  as  thick  as  an  artist's  pencil;  and  the 
other  is  a  Hmoll  scu-shcU.  The  bone  neck- 
lace, which  hat)  just  been  desoribed,  dues 
really  look  like  a  charm  or  an  amulet;  but 
these  two  objects  are  so  perfoetlv  luirraless 
in  ajujearance  that  no  one  would  detect  their 
character  without  a  previous  acquaintance 
with  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  natives. 
Tlie  stick  in  question  is  formed  of  a  sort  of 
creeper,  which  soenis  to  lie  invariably  used 
in  the  manufacture  of  certain  charms.  It 
has  snuvU  dark  leaves  and  pale-blue  flowers, 
and  is  found  nlentifully  at  the  Capo,  grow- 
ing among  tlie  "  Boerbohni;,"  and  other 
bushes,  and  twining  its  flexible  shoots  among 
thoir  branches. 

Major  King,  to  whoso  collection  tho  djv- 
ghasac  belongs,  possesses  a  large  specimen 
of  the  same  stick,  five  feet  in  length  and 
perfectly  straight  It  was  taken  from  the 
centre  <)f  a  bundle  of  jvssag.ais  that  had  fallen 
from  the  grasp  of  a  Kaflir,  who  was  killed  in 
a  skirmi.'sh  by  the  Highlanders.  This  stick 
was  employed  as  a  war  charm,  and  probably 
was  supposed  to  have  tho  double  effect  of 
making  certain  the  aim  of  the  assagais  and 
of  guarding  the  owner  froni  harm.  Vast 
numbers  of  those  wooden  charms  were 
issued  to  the  soldiers  by  the  celebrated 
prophet  Umlangeni,  who  prophesied  that  by 
his  meantations  the  bullets  of  the  white  man 
would  turn  to  water  as  soon  as  they  were 
fired.  As  the  charm  cost  nothing  except  the 
trouble  of  cutting  the  stick  to  the  proper 
length,  and  as  he  never  issued  one  without 
a  fee  of  some  kind,  it  is  evident  that  the 
sacred  olflce  became  in  his  hands  a  very 
profitable  one. 

As  war  occupies  so  much  of  tho  Kaffir's 
mind,  it  is  to  be  expected  that  the  pi'ophets 
encourage  rather  than  sujipress  the  warlike 
spirit  of  the  nation.  During  times  of  peace, 
the  objects  for  which  the  jirophet  will  be 
consulted  are  comparatively  few.  Anxious 
parents  may  come  to  the  prophet  for  the 
inirjiose  of  performing  some  cerentony  over 
a  sick  child ;  or,  with  much  ai)parent  anxiety, 
a  deputation  from  the  tribe  may  call  him  to 
attend  upon  the  chief,  who  has  made  him- 
self ill  by  eating  too  much  beef  and  drinking 
too  much  beer;  or  he  may  be  sunuuoned  in 
case  of  sickness,  which  is  jvlways  a  tolerably 
profitable  business,  and  in  which  his  course 
of  treatment  is  sure  to  be  successful;  or  if  he 
should  enjoy  the  high  but  i)erilous  reputa- 
tion of  being  a  rain-maker,  he  may  be  called 
upon  to  perforin  his  incantations,  and  will 
consequently  receive  a  goodly  number  of 
presents. 

These,  liowever,  are  the  sum  of  the  proph- 
et's duties  in  times  of  peace,  and  he  is  natu- 
rally inclined  to  foster  a  warlike  disposition 
among  the  pe(>])le.  The  reader  will  remem- 
ber that  when  Tchaka  found  that  his  subjects 
were  in  danger  of  settling  down  to  a  quiet 
agricultural  life,  he  induced  one  of  the 
propheitt  to  stir  up  a  renewal  of  the  old 


UNFAVORABLE  PROPHECY. 


mart  al  apfrit.  And  wo  may  be  sure  tliat  he 
touml  no  linwillim?  agents  in  the  i)rophct8, 
at  least  three  of  wliom  must  have  been 
enpged  in  the  deception. 

In  war,  howev(!r,  the  prophet's  services 

are  m  constant  demand,  and  liis  influence 

and  his  weaitli  are  equally  increased.    He 

retains  all  the  privilenfes  which  he  enjoyed 

m  time  of  pciieo,  in  addition  to  thope  wliicli 

belong  to  him  as  general  adviser  iu  time  of 

war.    From  the  bcKiniiinj?  to  the  end  of  the 

war  every  one  consults  the  prophet.    When 

the  king  forms  the  conception  of  makintr 

war  he  is  sure  to  send  for  the  prophet,  and 

ask  him  to  divme  the  result  of  the  comin" 

contest  and  wliatcver  his  advice  may  be  U. 

18  implicitly  followed.    Then,  after  war  ha.s 

been  announced,  another  ceremony  is  neccs- 

^ncLlnrf^''';  ^^  l"'"l''"'*te    the    spirits   of 

ancestors,  and  cause  them  to  fiirht  for  their 

descendants,  who  sacrifice  so  li  oxen  to 

shades  below.    Next  comes  the  grand  series 

mal4  oil:    '  '"'"■'"''^  '"''  ^'■""^'  ^''«"  they 
In  the  mean  time  almost  every  soldier  will 

will  pay  for  it  Moreover,  he  will  Keneially 
owe  the  sacrilice  of  a  cow,'or  at  least  a  goat 
If  he  return  home  safely  at  the  end  of  a  5vm- 
paign,  and  of  all  sacrifices  the  prophet  Re™ 
las  share.  The  old  men  and'wfves  who 
remaan  at  home,  and  arc  sure  to  feel  anxious 
about  their  husbands  and  children  who  are 
with  the  army,  are  equally  sure  to  offer  sac- 
riflces  as  propitiations  to  the  spirits.    When 

tL^'T^  ,'■'' u"""**  ""■  prophet  is  still  in 
request,  as  he  has  to  superintend  the  various 
sacrifices  hat  have  been  vowed  by  the  sur- 
vivors and  their  friends.    As  to  tliose  who 


199 

fell  they  have  already  paid  their  fees,  and 
for  tlie  failure  of  the  char  n  there  is  afwavs 
some  excuse,  which  the  simple  people  arc 
quite  ready  to  believe.  i  °  »'« 

Mr.  Baines  has  kindly  sent  me  an  account 
of  one  of  these  prophets,  and  the  manner  in 
wlHch  he  performed  his  office.  Besides  the 
snakes,  skins,  featluirs,  and  other  stran-'c 
ornaments  with  which  a  Kaffir  prophetls 
wont  to  bedeck  himself  he  had  huni?  round 
fiis  neck  a  striiijj  of  bones  and  skulls,  an 
amulet  of  which  he  evidently  was  exceed- 
ingly i)roud.  He  was  consulted  by  some  of 
the  soldiers  about  the  result  of  the  expedi- 
tioiij  and  straightway  proceeded  to  work, 
lakm^off  the  necklace  be  Hung  it  on  the 
ground,  and  then  squatted  down  beside  it 
scanning  carefully  the  attitude  assumed  by 
(!very  bone,  and  drawing  therefrom  his  coii- 

lao^x*""  A .  S^':'\ "'''  ^''gr'iving  No.  2,  on  page 
IH'J.)    At  last  he  rose,  and  stated  to  his  awe- 
struck clients  that  before  the  war  was  over 
many  of  them  would  eat  dust,  i.  e.  be  killed, 
llns   announcement  had  a  great  efl'ect 
U|K>n  the  dark  soldiers,  and  their  spirits 
were    sadly   depi-essed    by  it.     The    com- 
mander, however,  was  a  man  who  was  inde- 
pendent of  such  actions,  and  did  not  intend 
to    liavo    Ins    men    disheartened    by   anv 
prophet.    So  he  sent  for  the  seer  in  ques- 
tion, and  very  plainly  told  him  that  his 
business  was  to  foretell  success,  and  not 
failure;  and  that,  if  ho  did  not  alter  his  line 
of  prophecy,  fie  must  bo  prepared  to  take 
the  consequences.    Both  tlie  seer  and  the 
spirits  ol^  departed  chiefs  took  this  rather 
strong  hint,  and  after  that  intimation  the 

m^l^L'"''*?r "'''^  P'"'''"^  ^  ^^  favorable, 
and  the  soldiei-s  recovered  their  lost  equa^ 


CHAPTER  XX. 


FUNERAL  RUES. 


BUTtlAL  OF  THE  DEAD  —  LOCALITIBB  OF  THli  TOMBS— THE  CHIEF'S  lAST  RESTINO-PLACE  —  SAOWFICEB 
A:;D  LnSTHATION  —  BODIES  OF  CRIMINALS  —  KEPUQNANCB  TOWARD  DEAD  BODIES  —  OBDINAUV 
•  RITES — FUNERAL,  OF  A  CHILD  —  THE  DEATH  AND  BURIAL  OF  MNANDE  —  HER  OENERAL  CHARAC- 
TER, AND  SUSPICIOUS  NATURE  OF  HER  ILLNESS  —  TCIIAKA's  BEHAVIOR  —  ABSEMULAOB  OF  THK 
PEOPLE  AND  TERRIBLE  MASSACRE  —  MKANDE'S  COMPANIONS  IN  THE  GRAVE  — THE  YEAR  OF 
WAICHINQ— A  STRANGE  ORDINANCB  —  HOW  TCHAKA  WENT  OUT  OF  MOURNING — A  SUMMARY 
MODE  OF  SEPULTURE- ABANDONMENT  OF  THE  AGED  SICK  — MR.   OALTON's  STORY. 


Closely  connected  with  the  religion  of 
any  country  is  the  mode  in  which  the 
bodies  of  the  deatl  are  di-sposed  of. 

Burial  in  the  earth  is  the  simplest  and 
most  natural  mode  of  disposing  of  a  dead 
body,  and  this  mode  is  adopted  by  the  Kaf- 
firs. There  are  slight  variations  in  the 
method  of  interment  and  the  choice  of  a 
grave,  but  the  general  system  prevails 
tliroughout  Kaffirland.  The  bo<ly  is  nevei' 
laid  prostratCj  as  anions  ourselves;  but  a 
circular  hole  is  duw  in  uie  ground,  and  the 
body  is  placed  in  it  in  a  sitting  position, 
the  knees  being  brought  to  the  chin,  and 
the  head  bent  over  them.  Sometimes,  and 
especially  if  there  should  be  cause  for  haste, 
the  Katflrs  select  for  a  grave  an  ant-hill, 
which  has  been  ransacked  by  the  great  ant- 
bear  or  aiird  vark,  and  out  of  which  the 
animal  has  torn  the  whole  interior  with  its 
powerful  claAVB,  leaving  a  mere  oven-shaped 
shell  as  hard  as  a  brick.  Generally,  how- 
ever, a  circular  hole  is  dug,  and  the  l)ody  is 
placed  in  it,  as  has  been  already  mentioned. 
As  to  the  place  of  burial,  that  dei)ends  upon 
the  rank  of  the  dead  person.  Ii  he  be  the 
head  man  of  a  kraal  he  is  always  buried  in 
the  isi-baya,  or  cattle  enclosure,  and  the 
funeral  is  conducted  with  much  ceremony. 
During  the  last  few  days  of  illness,  when  it 
is  evident  that  recovery  is  impossible,  the 
people  belonging  to  the  kraal  omit  the 
usual  care  of  the  toilet,  allowing  their  hair 
to  grow  as  it  likes,  and  abstaining  from  the 
use  of  grease  or  from  washing.  The  worst 
clothes  are  worn^  and  all  ornaments  are 
removed.    They  also  are  bound  to  fast  until 


(200} 


the  funeral,  and  there  is  a  humane  custom 
that  tlie  children  are  first  supplied  with  an 
abundant  meal,  and  not  until  they  have 
eaten  are  they  told  of  their  father's  death. 

The  actual  burial  is  performed  bjr  the 
nearest  relatives,  and  on  such  an  occasion  it 
is  not  thought  below  the  dignity  of  a  man 
to  assist  in  digging  the  grave.  The  body  is 
then  placed  in  the  grave;  his  spoon,  mat, 
pillow,  and  spears  are  laid  beside  him:  the 
shafta  of  the  latter  are  always  broken,  and 
the  iron  heads  bent,  perhaps  from  some 
vague  idea  that  the  spirit  of  the  deceased 
will  come  out  of  the  earth  and  do  mischief 
with  them.  Should  he  be  a  rich  man,  oxen 
are  also  killed  and  placed  near  him,  so  that 
he  may  go  into  the  land  of  spirits  well  fur- 
nished with  cattle,  implements,  and  weap- 
ons. If  the  pjrson  interred  should  not  be 
of  sufticient  rank  to  be  entitled  to  a  grave  in 
the  isi-baya,  he  is  buried  outside  the  kraal, 
and  over  the  grave  is  made  a  strong  fence 
of  stones  or  thorn-bushes,  to  prevent  the 
corpse  from  being  disturbed  by  wild  beasts 
or  wizards.  As  soon  as  the  funeral  party 
returns,  the  prophet  sends  the  inhabitants 
of  the  kraal  to  tlie  nearest  stream,  and  after 
they  have  washed  therein  he  administers 
some  medicine  to  them,  and  then  they  arc 
at  liberty  to  eat  and  drinK,  to  milk  their 
cattle,  and  to  dross  their  hair.  Those,  how- 
ever, who  dug  the  grave  and  handled  the 
body  of  the  dead  man  are  obliged  to 
undergo  a  double  course  of  medicine  and 
lustration  before  they  are  permitted  to 
break  their  fiiHt. 

It  is  not  every  Kaffir  who  receives  the 


DEATH  AND  BURIAL  OF  MlfANDE. 


t<L  ^f  r  ^  *•'"'  b'"S  "'■°  considered  unwor- 
tliy  of  receiving  honorable  sepulture,  and  no 
matter  what  may  be  the  crime  of  wh  ch  they 
are  accused  or  whether  indeed  they  have 
r^nr,v'""rH'"°/'  ^'''■''H?''  «»'ne  momentary 

and  allowed  to  become  the  prey  of  the  vu! 
conflict  the  Kaffir  ha.s  an  invincible  rcpu-/- 


can  show  p-oatei^^^ecribrihrde^'u;!;^ 
mat  the  immediate  relatives  con- 


nnn/'l?*^-  "'"'  '"""eciiate  relatives  con- 

office  n%niio"frT*^-'  *''"''  P'^'-'"^^"^  "'«  •'■>«* 
such  n  ,b,f,?  ?^  '',*"r  "^t""""'  aversion  to 
such  a  duty,  and  with  full  knowled-re  of  iC 
longhand  painful  fast  which  thI>yYust  J^! 


201 
watched  every  movement,  but  dared  not 

"When'Ln"'^'"''  "^  "'0  >»ournful  spot 
f,.,„^      •.^"..  ■*^'**'  Pi-epured   Kolelwa   re 

ior  ine  oody  —  If ombuna,  the  mother  stil? 

Fv^rlll"^  ^"-^^  concealed' among  the  tVees 
Everything  waa  conducted  so  sHently  tha; 
I  did  not  perceive  their  return  untfl  s  rf 
(lenly  turning  to  the  spot  I  obseSed  the" 
woman  support  ng  the  bodv  sn  n^t.Jv 
upon  her  liin*^  as  slTe  sat  on  tt  ground  ffi 
Chi  d     ^rii"    •^'"PPP^''*'  '*  J^"''  been  a  livK 

Shed  bvTiV''fh'''''^'''''  /'^?  ''«'^/^^"«  fct 
washed  by  the  father  and  then  laid  by  him 


anything  but  =,a^--'^- ^~ 
Addressing  the  efdest  son.^who  has  now 

mothers  il  he  can  keep  them  in  o  "ler  wi 

iucel^'iaS;  "^"'^  ^^  ^"-  ^^  P- 

dren  are  co,  ducto  1 1;  n  ^  funerals  of  chil- 
simpler  ina uner   ,    mav  T"''  "^T^'l'  ""'1 
lowing  extract  fn.iT^nr''*'''?  ''^  "''^  f"!"  I 
Southern    Afrca      Ho    i}'"^''^  .^^'''-k    on  ' 
funeral  of  a  chHd"  bol^m^i  '.  o ''k ',«"    *-'\*^ 
Whom  he  was  acquainteS'li'"  '^  ^^'''^''  ''''^ 

win^Jfrait^itfeme  n?S?'l^^  J^''^''»'  -•^'^ 
stopped   Innuir L?f  H    ,        distance,  they 

imi'^hosorToS;!"  :,Ei  ""r  ^"^  "^"^^ 

show  us.'  On  bpino^  r™  P  f  'Z^*'"  n»ust 
left  entirely  for  Cint'?'"'?''  "'^^  '' ^as 
»  few  pac  ^  tlr  l^er  a  7';i,"^*'>'  proceeded  I 
one  of  the  most  ,ififr„  •  ""^^  commenced 
witnessed,  a  fa"hi  V  fhhi^^  ""'r^  '  «^cr 
in«  the  ff  (und  wUh     •  ^',f  ""^^  ''■'in'l  opon- 


.  .  ,  ^^,  ..iiiuu  X  reau  a  sclpctinn 
from  the  Burial  Service  (such  portions  onlv 
fsW  «'™"y  applicable);  co^cluSS 
^ 'J*°lf  ^'"""t'lt'on  to  those  who  were'pTes- 

wui.   T'"*  '"i"'°  °P*^"'nS  ^^••'i«  then  fiU^d  in 
with    large  fagots,  ove?  whicli  cartl    w.^ 

1  rown,  and  above  all  a  considerable  ^1^^ 

thorny  boughs    and   branches    heaped    in 

T^^SZ  '^^  ^•^^"'^  ^^•''-  "-  ^PP-ach 

peSr^orSli!?S!;Srte^ 

^^''"cb  Tchaka  celel)rated  the  funeral  of  hi{ 
rnoblier  Mnan.le.  It  has  already"  e;i  men! 
tioned  on  page  124,  that  Tchaka  Avas  sus 
pected,  anci  not  without  reason  of  ha^^'; 
been  accessory,  either  actively  or  passrveh? 
to  his  motlier''s  death;  and  it'^N-as  o  secret 
that  she  was  a  turbulent,  quanvlsomo  bad 

ri'TfT}  ^"^rv""''  tbat^'clux'ka  was've  y 
glad  to  be  rid  of  lior     ivr-nvr    ..ui        I   y 

&amr  is   much  despTsed^Jr  ;c'airfhis 

m  When  f 'r''*^  "^'^  ^^--^^t  authori^  over 

worthy  a^t  than  otfese'  fb  l";,?,.^"; 

more  a  chih}"'  f ''  ''  ''  l'™"^^  that  hl?is  no 
^^1    J       '""''  *^''c  murder  of  a  parent  U 

sorry  lor  his  mother's  illness     In  £  Vi'I 
te'  at  whicil°J*  ^  ^'""'  cK'phantilthig 

kraal  in  which  bis  mother  w."s,^sklnl  « 
[set  off  at  once,  and  arrived  at  homo  kfV  o 
middle  of  the  following  day.  At  Tc  ,w2 
request,  Mr.  Fynn  weni  to  see  Tl  e  niionV 

Of  h  r  re^cove;;'"^!'!^-^  ^'"^^^^  w-  J^V^'S 
vLwLrfi,    ^'i  ^^'^  account  of  the  inter- 

fonows:-       ^"^^^l"^'^'  ceremonies  ."as 
r,ylL'r^^\^^^f':^  .by  an  old  chief,  .nd 

aoS^ttsr£=?:^:^a 


M 


THE  KAFFIR. 


to  bi(l  them  retire,  to  enable  mo  to  breathe 
within  it.   Her  complaint  was  dysentery,  and 
1  reported  at  once  to  Tcliaka  tlhat  lier  case 
was  lioj)erics8,  and  (liat  I  did  not  expect  tliat 
Hhe  would  live  through  the  day.    The  regi- 
ments wliich  were  then  sitting  in  a  senu- 
circlo  around  liim  were  ordered  to  tlieir 
barraelcs:  wliilc  Tcliaica  himself  sat  for  about 
two  hours,  in  a  contemplative  mood,  with- 
put  a  word  esc.iping  his  lips;  several  of  the 
elder  chiefs  sittin-j  also  before  him.    "When 
the  tidings  were  brought  that  she  had  ex- 
pired, Tchaka  inmiediately  arose  and  entered 
his  dwelling;  and  having  ordered  the  princi- 
pal chiefs  to  put  on  their  war  dresses,  he  in 
a  few  minutes  appeared  in  his.    As  soon  as 
the    death    was    publicly   announced,    the 
Vomen  and  all  the  men  who  were  present 
tore  instantly  from  their  persons  every  de- 
scription of  ornament. 

"  Tchuka  now  appeared  before  the  hut  in 
which  the  body  lay,  surrounded  by  his  prin- 
cipal chiefs,  in  their  war  attire.  For  about 
twenty  minutes  ho  stood  in  a  silent,  mourn- 
ful attitude,  with  his  head  bowed  upon  his 
shield,  on  which  I  saw  a  few  large  tears  fall. 
After  two  or  three  deep  sighs,  his  feelings 
becoming  ungovernable,  he  broke  out  into 
frantic  yells,  which  fearfully  contrasted  with 
the  silence  that  had  hitherto  prevailed. 
This  signal  was  enough:  the  chief  and 
people,  to  the  number  of  about  fifteen 
thousand,  commenced  the  most  dismal  and 
horrid  lamentations, 


The  people  from  the  neighboring  kraals, 
male  and  female,  came  pouring  in;  each 
body,  as  thev  appeared  in  sight,  at  the  dis- 
tance of  half  a  mile,  joining  to  swell  the 
terrible  cry.  Through  the  whole  night  it 
contmued,  none  danng  to  take  rest  or 
refresh  themselves  witli  water;  while,  at 
short  intervals,  fresh  bursts  were  heard  as 
more  distant  regiments  jipproached.  The 
morning  dawned  without  any  relaxation, 
and  before  noon  the  number  had  increased 
to  about  sixty  thousand.  The  cries  became 
now  indescribably  horrid.  Hundreds  were 
mng  faint  from  excessive  fatigue  and  want 
of  nourishm.nt;  while  the  carcasses  of 
forty  oxen  lay  in  a  heap,  which  had  been 
slaughtered  as  an  offering  to  the  guardian 
spirits  of  the  tribe. 

"  At  noon  the  whole  force  formed  a  circle 
with  Tchaka  in  their  centre,  and  sang  a  war 
song,  which  afforded  them  some  relaxation 
during  its  continuance.  At  the  close  of  it 
Tchaka  ordered  several  men  to  be  executed' 
on  the  spot,  and  the  cries  became,  if  possi- 
ble, more  violent  than  ever.  No  further 
orders  were  needed;  but,  as  if  bent  on  con- 
ymcing  thci<-  chief  of  their  extreme  grief 
the  multituue  commenced  a  general  massa- 
cre—many of  them  received  the  blow  of 
death  while  inflicting  it  on  others,  each 
taking  the  opportunity  of  revenging  his 
injuries,  real  or  imaginary.  Those  who 
could  no  more  force  tears  from  their  eyes  — 


those  who  wore  found  near  the  river,  pant- 
ing for  water— were  beaten  to  death  by 
others  mad  with  excitement.  Toward  tho 
afternoon  I  calculated  that  not  ft'wer  than 
seven  thousand  people  had  fallen  in  this 
frightf\il,  indiscriminate  massacre.  The  ad- 
jacent stream,  to  which  many  had  fled 
exhausted  to  wet  their  parched  tongues, 
became  impassable  fVom  the  number  of 
dead  bodies  which  lay  on  each  side  of  it; 
while  the  kraal  in  which  the  scene  took 
place  was  flowing  with  blood." 

On  tho  second  day  after  Mnande's  death 
her  body  was  placed  in  a  large  grave,  near 
the  spot  whore  she  had  died,  and  tun  of  tho 
best-looking  girls  in  the  kraal  were  enclosed 
alive  in  the  same  grave.    (See  the  illustra- 
tion  opposite.)     Twelve  thousand  men,  all 
fuUv  armed,  attended  this  dread  ceremony, 
and   were  stationed  as  a  guard   over  the 
grave  for  a  wlrole  year.    They  were  main- 
tained by  voluntary  contributions  of  cattle 
from  every  Zulu  who  possessed  a  herd,  how- 
ever   small    it    might   be.     Of  course,    if 
Tchaka  could  celebrate  the  last  illness  and 
death  of  his  mother  with  such  magnificent 
ceremonies,  no  one  would  be  likely  to  think 
that  he  had  any  hand  in  her  death.    Ex- 
travagant a*  were  these  rites,  they  did  not 
(luite  satisfy  the  people,  and  the  chiefs  unan- 
imously   proposed    that   further   sacrifices 
should  be  made.    They  proposed  that  every 
one    should  be  killed  who  had  not  been 
present  at  Mnande's  funeral;  and  this  hor- 
rible suggestion  was  actually  carried  out, 
several  regiments  of  soldiers    being   sent 
through  the  country  for  the  purpose  of  exe- 
cuting it. 

Their  next  proposal  was  that  tho  very 
earth  should  unite  in  the  general  mourn- 
ing, and  should  not  be  cultivated    for   a 
whole    year;    and  that  no  one  should  bo 
allowed  either  to  make  or  eat  amasi,  but 
that  the  milk  should  be  at  once  poured  out 
on    the    earth.      These    suggestions    were 
accepted;  but,  after  a  lapse  of  three  months, 
a  composition  was  made  by  large  numbers 
of  oxen  offered  to  Tchaka  by  the  chiefs. 
The  last,  and  most  astounding,  suggestion 
was,  that  if  during  the  ensuing  year  any 
child  should  be  born,  or  even  if  such  an 
event  were  likely  to  occur,  both  the  parents 
and  the  child  should  be  summarily  exe- 
cuted.   As  this  suggestion  was,  in  fivct,  only 
a  carrjring  out,  on  a  laige  scale,  of  the  prin- 
ciple followed  by  Tchaka  in  his  own  house- 
holds, he  readily  gave  his    consent;   and 
during  the  whole  of  the  year  there  was 
much  innocent  blood  shed. 

After  the  year  had  expired,  Tchaka  deter- 
mmed  upon  another  expiirtory  sacrifice,  as 
a  preliminary  to  the  ceremony  by  which  he 
went  out  of  mourning.  This,  however,  did 
not  take  place,  owing  to  the  remonstrances 
of  Mr.  Fynn,  who  succeeded  in  persuading 
the  despot  to  spare  the  lives  of  his  subjects. 
One   reason  why  Tchaka  acceded  to  the 


■k. 


the  river,  pant- 
in  to  doatn  by 
t.  Toward  tho 
not  fi'wer  thna 
I  fullou  in  tliia 
sftcre.  The  od- 
iiany  liad  fled 
rched  tongues, 
lie  number  or 
■nch  aide  of  it; 
;ho  scene  took 
d." 

Vfnando's  death 
rge  grave,  near 
and  ten  of  tho 
1  were  enclosed 
i'e  the  ilhistra- 
usand  men,  all 
ead  eert^mony, 
Liard  over  tl»o 
ey  wore  niain- 
itions  of  cattle 
!d  a  herd,  how- 
Of  course,    if 
[1st  illness  and 
[h  magnificent 
likely  to  think 
sr  death.    Ex- 
?,  they  did  not 
le  cliiefs  unan- 
her    sacrifices 
sed  that  every 
had  not  been 
;  and  this  hor- 
f  carried  out, 
s    being   sent 
urpose  of  exe- 

hat  tho  very 
neral  mourn- 
tivated  for  a 
ue  should  be 
at  amasi,  but 
ce  poured  out 
estions  were 
three  months, 
irge  numbers 
y  the  chiefs, 
g,  suggestion 
ug  year  any 
1  if  such  an 
h  the  parents 
nmarily  exe- 
1,  in  fivet,  only 
!,  of  the  priu- 
s  own  house- 
consent;  and 
ir  there  was 


I'UKSKKVKD   I.KAD.  (See  p»i;u  lUIO.)  hK 


AD  OF  BIlJNUlKCCt'T  rHIKK. 


IIUKJAL  OK  i'CUAKA'S  MOTliki*     ,c 

^^mt.1%  !,  muiiihK.    (bee  jjujje  au;:.; 

(203) 


ii 

fOii 

rerjiiest  wns  l,i«  nnui«..n.ont  nt  the  notion 
''.l.L!"  '"""  »''"'"""«  '■"••  tl'"  lilV'  «>»• 
The  %yl.()lo  of  the  nhle-bodi,.,!  part  of  tlu 


AMANDOXMENT  OF  THE  AGED. 


205 


'  ,    """'^■<'«  me  fti)ie-DO(llc(    part  of  the 

tli.'ins.'lvvs  111,   till)  cTcinony.    Tlu-v   were 
nn:i".'K«;'l  >M  r..^inu.nt«,  an.I,  «..  «oo„-  as  tho 

liiiiwir.wi   .1  1         l""i^i'.     Upwan Of  a 

iXr  to  rT'?;'  •""■"  "■^■■■''  '•'•"""'•'t  ">- 

Mil  (,r  to  MTiico  tlio  (UTi'inonv,  their  hcllow- 

t    sTv.n       ^'"  '•''''."•    «l"'"lia^r  .„„i,lst 
T  hal .     r"   '*''i'<"'i|wniint.nt   to   h?«    voic,., 

(hitv  li.in,,  I      •    I        ""^    "'"  •toiini  ,   as    n 
"oon,  a       V  Z^  n\      ^''*"'   '!'   ^''"   "*''''■'- 

which  Tclfil.  .J  ^  ^  ?'""  /''^'  t'croniony  by 

"'>tbepa^l:!uhlriittt''irrrr"' 


a  "liort  cut,  ami  wore  a  day  and  a  half  from 
;""•  wa«..ns  when  I  ohservd  sonu?  „u?ko 
i"  'n'lU,  an.I  nxh^  to  see  what  it  w  is      A„ 

i;;;;..;;nso  .,.aci.ti...r„  t...  :J  :ZJ^ 

■m.  .  T  ""'  •'^I'P'^^^'-aucc  of  its  havin  j 

I'lnt  lor  a  lonj,'  tini...     Uy  it  wcro  tracks 

!    .at  u..  could  nmke  nothin;,  of'-uo  (bot! 

V  ,  .,       I  '"ll'»vcd  th.  in,  anil  found  a 

wi,(,h..,l  woman,  ni..st  hornlily  cma.ial, d- 
both  her  fe..t  were  burnt  .luite  o/t;  ,  i  „' 
wounds  were_  o,,en  an.I  ui 'l...ale,l.  '       !r      " 

otC  r,. """'  '"""^  ""■^•'^  ''•"•'^-  «''"""» 
she  v>M  T  '""•'>»1""«,  tlure;  an.I  when 
SI  e  was  asleep,  a  dry   but  shindin.r   t,.,.,, 

s ,.    u."    '    '"'"■  ;""""«  "«  '"•'".•lies:   thero 
ers,T.  ;:','■",'   '^'•'"'•",-'1"  ••'""<l   extricate 

ere      .s^    '!"  'i'?"  "'V'"'''  "^  ^^'"''^   "'«" 
«eie   vast  quantities  about:  it  oones  down 

fruin  the  trees,  and  forms  lar^e  cakes  in  f^" 

aaml.    Ihero  was  water  close    by,  for  sh. 

was  on  the  cJ-e  of  a  river-bed      I  Ihl  mt 

kruMv  what  to  jK,  with  her;  I  had  no      L  h 

POOS'*  "D'"'»'"as  kill  useless  and  worn-out 
lood  I  nroniiaixl      wi         •:      "  '"r   tlio 

ra8^'rut"r?,y-°V"^?  amonjrtho  Dama- 
and  women  oFlorcomlitimr'''^  ''"'„"^«» 


CUAPTER  XXI. 


DOMESTIC  LIFE. 


mjfUA.VAT    H..M«-l,„MK*n,)    ..IS,„.U.VK-,CAKKnt    M.-H..>-,,yK,,.,KTIO    PKUKOUMAN,  r -;o„K 

..\'vIvVT';'""''''"'"''  ""  -"—«-■-   -ru,MH.v.H-n.K.  ••ua.V'In  :  Mo.r,K 

T  K  KAKKIUH_«„MKN  TirK  ONLV  r..TTK,W_  „„W  TUB  IM.TH  AUK  MAI.K  -  ..KNK.KAI.  KOl.M  O, 
T  K..OT.  AN,,T.,.:,UrsK.-RAHT„K.V  OUAIN-STOUKS -,  ..HKSM.NO  ..IT  OHA..  ,.KK.,„„  HTOW- 
TH.  w.  I  "'""'"  "'  ^''"'••^-^"«  ^""«>-  '^^"  Tin,...  ..UO,.KHr,KK-T..F.  ..UArn.K-I.LA^T- 
THE   WAIT-A-I.it,   and  HOOK-ASD-Hl-IKE   TIIOUNS  -  MO.VKKV-IlOl-BS- VAIUOIK  TIMl.KKS. 


f..| 


The  sleeping  nocommodation  of  a  Kulllr  is 
of  the  .simplest  kind,  and  to  Knropi.au  minds 
forms  about  as  uncomfortable  a  Net,  of  arti- 
cles as  can  be  ima;,'incd.  Indeed,  with 
many  of  the  youni;  iinmarried  men,  (lie 
only  perni;nien(  aecimimodation  for  sleeiiinir 
IM  that  which  is  furnished  by  the  lloor  of  the 
hut,  or  the  <rronnd  itself  if  they  should  be 
forced  to  sleep  in  the  open  air.  Soldiirs  on 
n  campaij:n  nhvays  sleep  on  the  <iround,  and 
ns  thev  are  forced  to  leave  all  their  clothes 
behind  them,  they  seek  repose  in  thi'  most 
pnmitivc  manner  imauinable.  It  has  al- 
rea<ly  been  mentioned  that,  in  order  to 
secure  celerity  of  movement,  a  Kafllr  soldier 
carries  nothing  l)nt  his  weapon,  and  is  not 
even  enenm))ered  bv  dress.  Hence  lie  has 
a  not.able  advnnta<je  over  Kuro])ean  soldiers 
who  would  soon  perish  by  disease  were  they 
obliged  to  -o  throusli  !i  campaign  without 
oeds,  tents,  kit,  or  commissariat. 

Our  Highland  soldiers  are  less  dependent 
on  accessory  comforts  than  most  European 
regiments,  and  will  contentedly  wrap  them- 
selves in  their  iilaids.  use  their'knarisacks  as 
pillows,  and  betake  themselves  to  sleep  in 
the  open  air.  Hut  thev  have  at  all  events 
their  plaid,  while  the  Kafllr  war-ior  has 
nothing  but  his  shield,  which  he  may  use 
as  a  bed  if  he  likes,  and  it  is,  perh  iv.s  for- 


tunate for  him  that  lono;  trainin-'  i 
marches  renders  him  totally  indilf 
to  the  spot  on  which  he  is  to"  lie.  ''; 
care  is  that  the  place  which  hr 
should  not  be  wet,  or  be  in  the  close 


b- 


n.;igh 


borhood  of  ant.s'  nests  or  snakes'  haunts 
and  bis  next  care  is  to  arraiiu'e  bis  body  ami 
limbs  .so  as  to  fit  the  iiUMjualilies  of  the 
ground.  As  to  the  hardness  of  his  extem- 
porized couch,  he  thinks  little  or  nothinir 
of  it.  * 

Hut  when  our  Kafflr  lad  is  admitted  into 
the  ranks  of  men,  and  takes  to  himself  his 
first  wife,  he  indulges  in  the  double  luxury 
of   a  bed  and  a  pillow — the  former  bein<» 
ni.'ide  of  grass  stems  and  the  latter  of  tvoo^r. 
This  article  of  furniture  is  almost  the  s.amo 
throughout    Southern    AtYica,  and,  amoii" 
the  true   KatTlr  tribes,  the  bed  of  the  king 
himself  and  that  of  his  meanest  subject  are 
identical  in  material  and  shape.     It  is  ni.ido 
of  the  stems  of  grasses,  some  three  feet  in 
length,  and   about  as  thick   as  crow(|uills. 
These  are  laid  side  by  side,  and  are  fastened 
together  by  means  (if  double  strings  wliiih 
pass  round' the  grass  steins,  and  are  eontimi- 
ally  crossed  backward  and  forward  .so  as  to 
form  them  into  a  mat  about  three  feet  in 
wirltb  and  six  in    length.    This  method  of 
tying   the   grass  .stems    together   is  almost 
identical  with  that  which  is   employed  by 
the  native  tribes  that  inhabit  the  banks  of 
the  Rsseqnibo  River,  in  tying  together  the 
slender  arrows  which  they  project  through 
their   blow-guns.     The   ends  of    the  grass 
stems  are  all  turned  oyer  and  firmly  bound 
down  with  string,  so  as  to  form  a  kind  of 
■       age,  which  protects  the  mat  from  being 
unravelled. 
On  looking  at  one  of  these  slecping-mats, 
{■Mi} 


KAFFin   riKI)  FUliNITlTHE. 


thn  ohm-ryor  in   npt  In  hwy  that  a  viwt 

Hill    It  --  (hut  (|„.  uiAkrV  W.Mll.l  luVi-  >\n,U'  hii 

Uh,|IUv„uI.I  l,„v;..  l,M,k...h,u...h  „,onM.|..Ka„f 
ml  he  woNYii  tl„,  uuiU'vhiU  instead  ..f  Tush-' 
«..,..  with  Mtr|,,«l,,t  ,1,0  KulJlr  l.a« 
->t  tl  .>    „  ..(..Hi  l,|,,i  of  w...-iviii«,  ui„I  ,,v,.„ 

cnt  ill  .iiilrivnt  |,a,.,M  „(■  t|„,  „.,„-l,|  V.  ,i,t 
to  IM,  I  .u.>,ii„  Sou.iu.n,  AtVi.-a.       ''*""' 

wo  k  wliitli   1,..  prolmiioiial   ba.sk.'t-mak.T 
cai  ovcM  unilal..,  nuich  los«  rival.     I      ,,, 
mSl.r'";";  '''"'•■"'  "■"'  "^'"^  "-hid,  ar'    „     l 

"m  no     l.M    '"'';'""   !"""".'"'""•'••    iJut  l.J 
"as  not  till!  Ir.Mt  w,  ion  of  (|i,!  vcrv  ulini.l.. 
5JH;raM,.n   of   w..avi„.   (hn-all.   inrdS 

fact  it  is.  '  "  '^  ^"^'i  cm-JouN 

t^  .     .ii  111  (,U('H(ion  JK.in,  tlio  orclinurv  thin 
n    ttiVHs  ,n  ns.,  in  tl„.  Kast,  whid,  i.s  .,,rea 
fliit  on  th.>  -rounii  wh,.„  i„\„,.  and  is  rolin 
l'|.  and  ,,„t  a^vay  as  .soon  as   h  ;;i"  !„,t  !    l' 


207 


sleeping-mats, 


5^j .,.,.«» ;s™i;;;'';r,,:r£S£' 
Slylll;u;:';:;;:l,;^*'^,;;'""!|-••.«| 

iio'ui  IV     I        T        )'"  ""  '"••liiiai'v  Euro- 
cini.'n,  wiiidi  is  ■    v.r,  "•  •      ^'y<'"'»  sp'' 

.....v.,,£;ri;;;;;l^:,r„^s,,",?''S' 


l..'.l  h.-adlon^/  tfirond,  fho  do(,r  „f  tlu,  huL 
"v  nlercnro  to  th.-lnuHtrnthMi .", ,,  u; ,  Zi 

are  ...xtr..niH.v  variaide.     The  «,  edTne    "  hit 

sdid   d    1:    r.i'"''  "■\t'"y"''>  «H.t  out  0^ 
cunside^Me: '  '''"  "'^'"-■"'  '"'''  '''"  ^^-"^l"  »• 
Upon  the  pillow  the  nmker  has  l)oslown,l 
«reat  pains,  and  has  earved  the  d«lt  leuTi 

a  very  ..laborate  nianner,  ..,ittin«Tl  en ''h.to 
P,V  -anil,  al  patt..rns,  and  charri.tr  '.  'lu'  " 
"■•ite  sides  of  ea.d.  little  pyrai  Td  s  i ',  «  ,^ 

I' I  IIS,  aiKi  tli.it  a  curiouH  contrast  eKistii 
lH'hv.vn   Ins  and.iteetnro  an.l  his    1.^? 

lliij  m:  wcli  ,.„„„B  I  „',ii,.,|  ,„  11 ,,  k-mS 

^W 

t..  tlie  Kamr,  or  .ovn'to'tho'    va^e^No 

1  liave  known  .several  siifh  fm,.  ,,  "^'^^''"'"- 
;|^;o.n  not  only  exte^ih^rllil':;;^     ;-;;>-» 
ish   sleejunjjT  accoininodalion.s   („  th„TV.?i 

The  illustration,  "Dinc.in   at  l.n.,,    « 
l«^?o  200,  reprcson'ts  tlll^nH.de M'Thi  l°a 

feS5~;SrS5g 

nuilt  at  his  jjarr  son  town  Trknnr,;.,   i 
-upp^^irtcd  oy  tHcuty  pillars.    The  lirVa^o 


'.'  '  \ 


208 


THE  KAFFIR. 


of  this  hut  waa  remarkable  for  its  shape, 
w'lic'-.,  instead  of  being  the  simple  circle  iu 
general  use  among  the  Kaffirs,  resembled  in 
form  that  ornament  which  is  known  to  archi- 
tects by  the  name  of  quatrefoil.  A  few  of 
hih  wives  are  seen  seated  round  the  apart- 
ment, and,  as  Dingan  was  «o  great  a  man, 
they  were  not  penhitted  to  stand  uprisyht,  or 
even  to  use  their  feet  in  anj  way,  so  that,  if 
they  wished  to  move  Trom  one  part  of  the 
hut  to  another,  they  were  obliged  to  shuffle 
about  on  their  knees.  The  illustration  is 
taken  from  a  p^ketch  by  Captain  Gardiner, 
who  was  invited  by  Dingan  to  an  interview 
in  the  house,  and  during  which  interview 
he  rather  astonished  his  guest  by  retiring 
for  a  short  time,  and  then  presenting  him- 
self with  his  face,  limbs,  and  body  entirely 
covered  with  red  and  white  spots,  llie  those 
Oii  toy  horses. 

The  reader  can  form,  from  the  contem- 
plation of  this  drawing,  a  tolerably  accurate 
idea  of  th(  luxuries  attbrded  by  the  wild, 
savage  life  which  some  authors  are  so  fond 
of  praising. 

A3  to  music,  the  Kaffir  has  lather  curious 
ideas  on  the  subject.    His  notion  of  melody 


ing  their  polished  bodies  backward  and  for- 
ward as  if  they  were  one  man,  and  aiding 
the  time  by  thumping  the  ground  with  their 
knob-kerries,  and  bringing  their  elbows  vio- 
lently against  their  ribs  so  as  to  expel  tlie 
notes  ft-om  their  lungs  with  double  e'ri/Lisis. 
Some  of  the  tunes  whicli  are  sung  by 
the  Knfflrs  at  their  dances  are  here  given, 
the  music  being  taken  from  the  Rev.  J. 
Shooter's  work.  The  reader  will  at  once 
sec  hov  boldly  the  Lime  is  marked  in  them, 
and  how  well  they  arc  adapted  for  their 
purpose.  Neither  are  they  entirely  desti- 
tute of  tune,  the  last  esiiecially  having  a 
wild  and  quaint  sort  of  melody,  which  is 
calculated  to  take  a  strong  hold  of  the  ear, 
and  to  haunt  the  memories  r,f  tliose  who 
have  heard  it  sung  as  only  KatBrs  can  sing 
it.  Among  some  of  the  Roisjesman  tribes 
a  sort  of  harmony  —  or  rather  sustained 
discord  —  is  employed,  as  will  be  seen  in  a 
succeeding  page,  l)ut  the  Zulus  seem  to 
excel  in  unison  songs,  the  force  of  \\iiich 
can  be  imagined  by  those  who  are  familiar 
with  the  grand  old  hymns  and  Gregorian 
tunes  that  have  been  sufl'cred  to  lie  so  long 
in  obscurity. 


:*S::^^E^^. 


Andanttno. 
-0-0-0. 


\  Slow,  f 


nf. 


:^: 


is  but  very  slight,  while  his  timing  is  perfec- 
tion itself.  The  songs  of  the  Kaffir  tribes 
have  already  been  mentioned,  and  the  very 
fact  that  several  hundred  men  will  sing  the 
various  war  son^^s  as  if  they  were  animated 
with  a  single  spirit  shows  that  tliey  must 
all  keep  the  most  exact  time.  In  this  point 
they  aid  themselves  by  the  violent  gestures 
in  which  they  indulge.  A  Kaffir  diflers 
from  an  European  vocilist  in  this  point, 
namely,  that  he  always,  if  possible,  sits 
down  when  he  sings.  He  and  his  compan- 
ions will  squat  in  a  circle,  sometimes  thrru 
or  four  rows  deep,  and  will  shout  some  well- 
kno\?r.  song  at  the  top  of  their  voices,  sway- 


Of  course,  the  quality  of  a  Kalfir's  voice  Is 
not  that  which  would  iiicasc  iin  European 
vocalist.  Like  all  uncultivated  songsters, 
the  Kaffir  delights  in  .strong  contrasts,  now 
using  a  high  falsetto,  and  now  dropping  sud- 
denly into  a  grulV  bass.  It  is  a  very  remark- 
able fact  that  this  method  of  managing  the 
voice  is  tolerably  universal  throughout  the 
world,  and  that  the  accomplished  voeaUst 
of  Kaffirland,  of  China,  of  Japan,  of  Persia, 
and  of  Arabia,  sings  with  exactly  that  fal- 
setto voice,  that  nasal  twang,  and  that  .abrupt 
transition  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest 
notes,  which  characterize  oiiV  uneducated 
singers  in  rural  districts.    Put  a  VVillshlro 


ivard  and  fcr- 
ti,  and  aiding 
nd  with  their 
;r  elbows  vio- 
to  expel  tlie 
ble  e'ri/liisis. 
are  sunn;  by 
!  here  given, 
the  Rev.  J. 
will  at  onco 
ked  in  them, 
ted  for  their 
iitirely  desti- 
lly  liaving  a 
dy,  which  is 
d  of  tl)c  ear, 
f  those  who 
,fflrs  can  sing 
esman  tribes 
or  sustained 
be  seen  in  a 
lus  seem  to 
•CO  of  \\iiich 
are  familiar 
(1  Gregorian 
;o  lie  so  long 


m 


^^.h 


m 


'-^^ia' 


^M 


■:t 


im 


wm 


fn-'s  voice  is 
n  European 
1  s<)ngsler8, 
iitrasls,  now 
•opping  sud- 
erv  rcmark- 
inaging  tiie 
)ugliout  the 
icd  vocalist 
1,  of  Persia, 
tly  that  fal- 
that  abrupt 
the  lowest 
uneducated 
a  VVillshlro 


(2.)   WOMEN  gUAKUKM, 

(209) 


'J«0.   (Scepaffox'iy.) 


tl 
li 

1)1 

la 
(1. 

1)1 

b( 

e^ 

1)1 

ev 

ev 

ar 

of 

th 

fir 

fin 

fai 

Til 

inn 

tifr] 

toil 
nro 
holl 
rati 


laborer  and  a  Chinese-  gentleman  into  dif- 
ferent rooms,  Rl,„t  ti.e  d.fors  so  as  to  exclu  1p 
the  pronuneiation  of  the  words  Lk  tlSo 
smg  one  of  their  ordinary  son.4  annh° 
I'oarer  will  seareely  be  able  to  Iceidewh  c  h 
room  holds    the    English  and  wl  cl      he 

wiiicu    have    been    given,   the  reader   will 

Srof"  '°r?'  ^"^'^  *'^e  .udden    •  se  o 
•hop  of  a  whole  oetave,  and  also  the  cur 
o"--ly  jerking  effect  of  inany  ,  assa  "'s   botn 
eminent  y  characteristic  of^niis  c"as'  ner 
formed  in  country  villages  where  mocfem  I 
art  has  not  modified  the  voice.  ' 

^IT'l^.}!}!^^'^'''  "f  tl>«  Kaflir  arc 


MUSICAL  INSTRUMENTS. 


211 


-|y^;v,a;;dtho;eoFH:em;s':;;,^ni;;^ 


its  nori    i1      h.  ",'"  "'^'f'-tod  from 

us  noiinai  duty  as  a  mere  wh  stlc,  to  be<-oni(. 

n "  'S  of 'n"r "'' ^^''^'■^''' a'thmigKtha 
aeeoinnan  mn,  V     '"i     ?"-''  ''"""""^  "^  ^ocal 

tones  and  vot  ui  f    ■  -^    "'^ ''"'' '"«' '»  '<« 

'•irc    H.  Jackson,   Esn.    to  ulwn,,  t     '     • 
bow  IS  about  live  twl  in  Ion,//,        i  • '     ^'"' ' 

Thc'eonl  is  indc   of    wl       ,"'."'    •''^'•«'"5:'»'- 

Lll,.w  g„uvd  i/  finr.  v'  Ih  T  ''""'  '^  ™""'' 
rather  comphcat2;/;;L;£iii;;^S;i^ 


thongs.  When  the  gourd  is  in  its  nlaco 
and  the  string  is  tightened  to  it.f  nS 
Wh,?;*  r  '"^*':a'"ent  is  complete  ^  '  '' 
When  the  Kaffir  musician  (lesir.is  to  use 
It,  he  holds  It  with  the  gourd  unon  his  bro^wf 
and  strikes  the  cord  wfth  a  small    tkk  nro ' 

liT„lv^.'?t.''''"''''  "•''  ?"»"■"  which  are  I-  rl 
Sr  ''"""■  nii'-^'ral  than  otherwise  but 
which  are  so  Jhint  as  to  be  scarcely  audible 
at  the  distance  of  a  few  yards.    AltlZi/h 

^nfl^..         '  ^""^  i'"^*'  '■•'^t''er  than  tone  the 

Kv  tbo'l''"''^  ^r'\?^'  •''  •'^"''  will  pla^  on 

t  by  the   hour  together,  their  enthusinsin 

being  quite  unintdligible  to  an  Ellroiea" 

thn^f//,*""""^,  •  V  ^'''-former  is  content  with 
the  (oms  which  he  obtains  by  strin-in-r Vj/p 
bow  to  a  certain  note,  but  a.fexpert  phjir 
IS  not  content  with  such  an  arranc,e„  ent 
Te  attaches  a  short  thong  to  the  stri1.  "  an  1 
iTho  fi^r  "^  "^'^V  thong  he  fastens  a^ wTc^ 
Ihc  1(  refinger  of  the  left  hand  is  passt" 
through  the  ring,  and  the  performer  s  able 

ZhV'^"^?  /,°  '"'''y  "»«  t«"«  l>y  alterin..  t  le 
tension  ot   the  strimr     The  obion^  mK  I 

ealabash  is  to  .ive  deptl,  a.ad  S  onance"to 

the  sound,  and?t  is  remarkable  that  a  similar 

con  iivanee  is  m  us,,  in  manv  parts  of  to 

world,   hollow  bamboo   tubes,'  eartl'e   ware 

inThP  mtTll"'  '"''"'  P'^I'^^P-^  remember  that 
rie  s  in    n  J"'''''  "'"*  '•"'l^ed  in  some  dil 

trv     Tt  w  ?    ■       '"  '''"'^'*  "■"'^'1  •"  the  conn- 
sto/r/rh  •  '"  •'"■'""  to  pass  over  it.    In- 

»  used  liot ,    ,}.  „„.„   ,„„    ,,„  ^1     I' 

S  1  '    ?  "  "'■  "''"'I'  "  «"••>  l)V  till'  Knm.-. 

™  ."..mT:.''!!';'',''  '"•  ''°"v"-  ">»"  »"i 


212 


THE  KA-FFIR. 


seem  to  cease,  and  the  pattern  is  as  inferior 
as  the  material.  Perhai)s  thiw  inferiority 
may  be  the  result  of  tlie  faet  that  basket- 
making  l)eIongs  to  the  men,  who  are  aeeus- 
tomed  to  cut  ])atterns  of  various  kinds  upon 
their  spoons  and  gourds,  when^as  the  art  of 
])ott('ry,  which  inijjlies  really  liard  work,  such 
as  digging  and  kneading  elay,  is  handed 
ov(!r  to  the  women,  who  are  accustomed  to 
doing  drudgery. 

The    Katlir    has    no    knowledge  of  ma- 
chinery, and,  just  as  he  is  ignorant  of  the 
rudest  form  of  a  loom  for  weaving  thread 
into  I'nbrics,  so  is  he   incapable   of  making 
the  simplest  kind  of  a  wheel  by  which  he 
m:iy  aid  tiie  hand  in  the  shaping  of  pottery. 
This  is  perhaps   the   more  rei'narkable,  as 
the  love  of  the  circular  form  is  so  strong  in 
the  Katiir   mind  that  we   miglit   naturally 
imagine   him   to  invent  a  simple   kind  of 
whe(;l  like  that  which  is  employed   by  the 
l)easants  of  India.     But,  as  mav  be  conjec- 
tured from  the  only  attempts  at  machinery 
which  a  Kaffir  makes,   namely,  a  bellowa 
whereby  he   saves  his  breath,  and  the   ex- 
tremely rude   mill   whereby   he  .saves    his 
teeth,  the  construction  of  a  revolving  wheel 
is  far  beyond  him.     In  making  their  pots 
the  women  break  to  pieces  the  nests  of  the 
white  ant,  and,  after  pounding  the  material 
to   a  line   i)owder,  mix  it  with  water,  and 
then  knead  it  until  it  is  of  a  proper  consist- 
ency.   They  then  form  the  clay  into  rings, 
and   build  "up  the  pots  by  degrees,  laying 
one  ring  regularly  u\wn  another  until  the 
rcfjiiisite  shape  i.,"  obtained.    It  is  evident 
tlierefore,  that  the  manufacture  of  a  toler- 
ably large  pot  is  a  process  which  occupies  a 
considerable  time,  because  it  has  to  be  built 
up  very  slowly,  lest  it  should  sink  under  its 
own  weight. 

The  only  tool  which  is  used  in  the  manu- 
facture of 'Kallir  pottery  is  a  piece  of  wood, 
with  which  tlie  operator  scrapes  the  clay 
rings  as  she  applies  them,  so  as  t'>  give  a 
tolerably  smootli  surface,  and  with  which 
she  can  apply  little  pieces  of  clav  where 
there  is  a  deficiency.  The  shapes'of  these 
pots  and  jjans  are  e.\ceedinglv  clumsy,  and 
th.'ir  ungainly  look  is  incre.-i.sed  by  the  fre- 
quency with  which  they  become  lop-sided 
in  cDMseiiuenee  of  imperfect  drying.  Ex- 
amples of  these  articles  may  be  .seen  in 
seviTal  Darts  of  this  work.  At  the  farther 
end  of  the  illustration  Xo.  I,  on  j)age  (i.'J, 
m:iy  be  seen  several  of  the  larger  pots, 
which  arc  used  for  holding  grain  after  it 
has  been  husked. 

The  oiieration  of  husking,  by  the  wav,  is 
rather  a  i)eculiar  one, and  not  at  all  pleasant 
for  the  spectators  who  care  for  their  eyes 
—    faces.      The    dry    lieads    of   maize 


are 


thrown  in  a  heap  ui)on  the  hard  and  pol 
ished  floor  of  the  hut,  and  a  number  of 
Kaffirs  sit  in  a  circle  round  the  heap,  each 
being  furnished  with  the  ever-useful  knoh- 
kerrie.    One  of  them  strikes  uji  a  song,  and 


the  others  join  in  full  chorua,  heating  time 
with  their  clubs  upon  the  heads  of  maize. 
This  is  a  very  exciting  amusement  for  the 
performers,  who  shout  the  noisy  chorus  at 
the  highest  pitch  of  their  lungs,  and  bent 
time  by  strikinff  their  knob-k'erries  upon 
the  grain.  With  every  blow  of  the  heavy 
club,  the  maize  grains  are  striiek  from  their 
Imsks,  and  tljr  aliout  the  hut  in  all  directions, 
threatening  injury,  if  not  absolute  dcstnv- 
tion,  to  the  eyes  of  all  who  are  present  in 
the  hut.  Yet  the  threshers  appear  to  enjoy 
an  immunity  which  seems  to  be  restricted 
to  themselves  and  blacksmiths;  and  while  a 
stranger  is  anxiously  shading  his  eves  from 
the  shower  of  hard  niaize  grains,  the  thresh- 
ers themselves  do  not  give  a  thought  to  the 
safety  of  their  eyes,  but  sing  at  the  top  of 
their  voice,  pound  away  at' the  corn  cobs, 
.nnd  make  the  grains  tlj"  in  al!  directions,  as 
if  the  chorus  of  the  song  were  the  chief 
object  in  life,  and  the  preservation  of  their 
eyesight  were  unworthy  of  a  thought. 

After  the  maize  has  been  thus  separated 
from  the  luisk,  a  large  portion  is  hidden 
away  in  the  sul)lerranean  granaries,  which 
have  already  been  mentioned,  while  a  con- 
siderable quantity  is  jilaced  in  their  large 
earthen  jars  for  home  consumption.  In 
boiling  meat,  two  pots  are  emi)loyed,  one 
being  used  as  a  cover  inverted  over  tlie 
other,  and  the  two  are  luted  tightly  to- 
gether so  as  to  preserve  the  flavor  of  the 
meat.  Except  for  the  three  purposes  of 
preserving  grain,  cooking  food,  and  boiling 
beer,  the  Kaflir  seldom  uses  earthenware 
vessids,  his  light  baskets  answering  every 
purjiose,  and  b(!ing  very  much  more  con- 
venient for  handling. 

From    the   preceding  pages,   (he  reader 
may   form   a  tolerable  idea   of   the   habits 
and  customs  of  the  tribes  which  inhabit  this 
portion  of  the  world,  and  of  whom  one  race 
has   been    selected    as    the    tvpical    exam- 
I)le.    Of  the  many  other  tribes  but  sliglit 
notice    will  he   taken,   and   onlv   the   niost 
salient   points    of   their  character   will   ho 
mentidned.     On  tlie  whole  it  will  be  ^(een 
that  the  life  of  a  South  African  savage  is 
not  so  repulsive  as  is  often  thought  to  be 
the  case,  and  that,  bating  a  tl^w  iiarticulars, 
a  Katlir  liv<'s  a  toleraldy  liapjjy  and  jjeaccfui 
life.     lie  is  of  course  called  ii))on  to  serve 
in   the   army  for  a   certain    time,   but    lie 
.shares  this  liability  with  inhabitants  of  most 
civilized  nations,  and  when  he  returns  alter 
the  campaign  he  is  rewardi'd  for  good  con- 
duct by  a  step  in  social  rank,  and  the  means 
whereby  to  maintain  it. 

Donu'stic  life  has,  of  course,  its  draw- 
backs among  savages  as  .among  civilized 
nations;  and  there  .are,  perhaps,  times  when 
the  gallant  soldier,  who  lias  been  rewarded 
with  a  wife  or  two  for  his  courage  in  the 
field,  wishes  himself  oiu  e  more  engaged  on 
a  war  march.  'The  natural  c.msequence  of 
the  low  estee!)!   in  whicl',  tlic  women  are 


orufl,  bcntiniT  lime 
c  heads  of  nuiize. 
imisomcnt  for  tlie 
e  noisy  chorus  at 
r  lungs,  and  bent 
nob-kerri(!8  upon 
ilow  of  the  heavy 

struck  from  (huir 
It  in  all  directions, 

absolute  destnv- 
lio  are  present  in 
I's  appear  to  enjoy 
s  to  be  reslrie'tod 
liths;  and  whih^  a 
ing  his  eyes  from 
ifrains,  the  thresh- 
!  a  thought  to  tlu! 
ing  at  the  top  of 
[\t  the  corn  cnbs, 
I  al!  directions,  as 
g  were  th(!  cliief 
icrvation  of  their 
'  a  thought, 
jn  thus  separated 
ortion   is  hidden 

granaries,  which 
lied,  while  a  con- 
id  in  tlieir  large 
ansumption.  In 
e  emi)loyed,  one 
ivcrted  over  the 
luted  tightly  to- 
the  flavor  of  the 
n't;e  purposes  of 
food,  and  boiling 
ises  earthenware 
unswering  every 
much  more  con- 

iges,  the  reader 
a  of  the  habits 
hich  inlia))it  this 
f  whom  one  race 
'  tyi)ical  exam- 
tribes  but  sliglit 
only  the  niost 
laracter   will   bo 

I  it  will  ))e  ^seen 
frican  savage  is 

II  thought  to  be 
K-w  ])iirticuliirs, 

PI)y  and  jjeaccful 
d  iipon  to  serve 
I  tinn\  i)ut  he 
labitants  of  most 
he  returns  alter 
I'd  for  good  eou- 
:,  and  tlie  means 

)ursc,  its  draw- 
imiong  civilized 
ajis,  times  when 
<  been  rewarded 
courage  in  the 
.ore  engaged  on 
consequence  of 
Hic  women  are 


viewed,  and  the  state  of  slavery  in  which 
rel  tierce  y  among  themselves,  and  to  venf 
tllTtlun-'n-'^I-"''"  "N  ^"-""o-  of  irriUtio 

Even  among  ourselves  we  see  how  this 
querulous  spa-it  is  developed  in  proportion 
to  waut  of  "uuivation,  and  how,  i    U  rmos 

Sir  =Ff '=£'£ 

irK=Sd^t^"i-;i-;S 

^|.;^uKE.^fe;5 

maKe  an  i^ughshman  miserable. 


TIIOKNS  OF  SOUTH  AFRICA. 


213 


ilSiiili 

Wh  ch   Southern    \  ',;-.'  -^    ^^  Acacias,  in 

mmmm 

grazes  ui)on  its  delicite"  hi ,!  '  ^^1"".'^'' 
native  name  is  Moki.  ^'^^cs;  but  its 
i«  known     1 1     £  ;/';/'"''  ''-^  ^'''i'  I't'e  it 

dorn  varies  i     color  "*'  "f  ^'''^  '^'^^'"^cl- 

i'lf?  towa 7,    the  ;.  Irl   l"'»k.  a"<l  deepen- 
»'rown.    Se  very  St  of  H  ''T'^  '■"*>'^'«''- 


is  used  in  the  maniifacturo  nP  i,„„u  i.      . 
and  similar  articles    he  chipf  ,^r  °^r^'','"'''°«' 
the  handles  of  the  f^nfi      .  "^  ,''''"''''  a™ 
which  have  alreadvl.i^n  ''''■■'' •'''''^''  ""^^^s, 
chapter  upon  S.'^f 'Vre" Sis  V"  "' 

extremely  pleMUifuI;b:;t"he;'are.fSr;m\-l 
a  8i;4C  that  the  tree  alf-ds  but  verv  1? 

icffy:^'''''''^^y.  ^I'e  wood-devour  !;     e^ 
lies,  ai"e  supposed  to  Iio  fim  ,     "'"-r.  "u- 

where   1 ,     hv   ;,,;,/'  '"'°  ''  thorn-busli, 

Hpikes,andSat;mX"i^,eS^  t^-P 
'"any  wounds.  If  the  bush  I,- ,  )  ' '  '"'' 
posed  of  such  tl.orns  as  ih  ,^e  V hi'i''  l'"'"- 
been  descrihed   it  wnnlVt  i  ■     '"' ''  ''-i^" 

■nore  won.i..rV  i  1  r*'  .^T,L''r:".  '  "'"^'^ 
«MH.d  than  to  have'l^nishei""  ''  '''''''  ^'«- 

i«  eaLST'tf^-"' ti,:^,;"'";;^''";''"'  -•-" 

ined  rrnii.  ..,.         -1    '^"oiii->    niav  be    in:iir- 

the  thor^s'penelr:  . M^^J^^^r*!,;--  "^ 
^"tseveraloft,^^U;:i'Kl:    SZ 


-.  -'jiiLa>'j.).uwujBii.ei. 


214 


THE  KAFFIR. 


ii. 


skin,  anil  could  not  be  touohed.  These 
ciuised  so  violent  an  intliimiimtion  that,  iiJ'tcr 
Wiutinj;  for  twenty-lour  hourH  in  liopey  of 
»avin^  its  lite,  it  was  found  ueceasary  to  put 
it  to  (Ti'iitli. 

Tlu.s  thorn  is  very  usi'ful  for  varinus  rea- 
sons. In  the  lirst  ])hu'e,  its  bark  i.s  employed 
in  llie  niunufiieture  of  the  Hlrinj,'»  with  wliieh 
tlu^  natives  weave  their  nnit.s  togetlier,  and 
wliieh  thev  often  use  in  tyinjji  toj^ether  the 
llexihle  stiek.s  whieh  form  the  framework  of 
their  huts.  From  the  thorns  of  the  tree  the 
youn;;  maidens  form  various  ornaments,  and 
Avith  these  thorns  they  deeorate  tlieir  head.i, 
if  they  should  not  be  fortunate  enouj;h  to 
j)roeure  the  quills  of  the  poreiipino  for  that 
jHirpose.  Moreover,  the  dried  wood  makes 
Ml  exeellent  lire,  burninjj  easily  and  rajjidly, 
and  throwiun  out  a  brisk  and  glowing, 
thoui{h  rather  transient  lieat. 

Several  of  the  aeacias  are  useful  as  food- 
providers,  the  ijfum  whieh  exudes  from  tluMU 
bi'ln;^  eaten  as  a  re]L;ular  art iele  of  iliet.  The 
reader  may  remember  that  tlie  poor  Damara 
woman,  who  was  left  to  die  in  the  wiider- 
iii'ss,  was  sup])lied  with  i^um  as  an  artiele  of 
food.  Several  of  the  trees  supply  th  >  j;;um 
in  very  large  quantities.  Mr.  Biirehell,  the 
Well-known  traveller,  thinks  that  the  gum 
whieh  exudes  from  these  trees  is  so  elear 
and  good  that  it  might  largely  take  the  i)laee 
of  tlu^  guui-arabie  t)f  eoniiiu'ree,  and  fi>rm  as 
regular  artiele  of  merehaudise  as  the  ivory, 
hides,  and  feathers,  whieh  Ibrui  the  stjiple  of 
South  African  trade.  "On  the  branches  of 
these  a(-aeias,  which  have  so  great  a  rcsem- 
blanee  to  the  true  aeaeia  of  the  ancients,  or 
the  tree  whieh  yields  the  gum-arabic,  an  to 
have  li'cn  once  considered  the  same  species, 
I  I'rcqui  iitly  saw  large  lumps  of  very  goo(l 
and  clear  gum. 

'•  Wherever  they  had  been  wounded  by 
the  hatchets  of  the  natives,  there  most  eoui- 
moidy  the  gum  exuded;  and  by  some  sim- 
ilar operations  it  is  prol)able  that  the  trt'cs 
might,  without  destroying  theni,  be  made 
to  produce  annually  a  large  eroj).  Aiul  if  a 
co!ni)ulation  eould"  be  made  of  the  (luantity 
that  might  be  obtaini'd  from  those  trees 
only  whieh  line  (be  banks  of  the  (iariej)  and 
its  branches,  amounting  to  a  line  of  wood 
(reckoning  both  sides)  of  more  (ban  two 
thousand  miles,  on(i  would  feel  inclined  to 
suppose  (hat  it  might  be  worth  while  to 
teach  and  encourage,  the  natives  to  coiU'ct 
it.  This  they  eer(aiuly  would  be  ready  to 
do,  if  they  heard  that  "tobacco  could  always 
be  obtainCd  in  exchange. 

"Jbit  if  to  the  acacias  of  the  river  are 
.addled  the  myriads  which  crowd  .almost 
every  river  in  extra-tropical  Southern  Al- 
riea,  or  even  between  the  (ape  and  the 
(iiiriep  only,  we  may  feel  satislled  (hat  there 
are  trees  enough  to  supply  a  <iuantity  of  (his 
(hug  more  than  equal  i'>  the  wluile  eou- 
sumption  of  (ireat  Uri(aii  Of  the  jirodue- 
tiveness  of  the  Acacia  L'u^jcnuiis  aseouipared 


with  thatof  tho^ctt^'ja  vera,  I  hnve  no  Infor- 
mation that  enables  nn;  to  j^ive  an  opinion; 
but  with  respect  to  the  quality,  I  think  wo 
may  venture  to  pvonouneo  it  to  be  in  no 
wav  inferior." 

These  are  fair  representatives  of  the 
straight-thorne<l  plant  of  Southern  Africa. 
The  best  exami)le  of  the  hook-thorned  vege- 
tation is  that  which  is  described  l)y  Uur- 
chell  as  the  (irapplc-plant;  but  it  i.s"  jiettcr 
known  by  (he  exi)ressive  name  of  Ilook- 
thorn.  The  H(;ienlitie  title  of  this  plant  is 
Uncaria  itrovumbaix,  the  Ibrmer  name  being 
given  to  it  on  account  of  the  hooks  with 
whieh  it  is  armed,  and  the  latter  to  the  mode 
in  whieh  it  grows  along  the  grouiul. 

When  in  blossom,  this  is  a  singularly 
beautiful  i)lant,  the  large  (lowers  being  of  a 
rich  (jurple  hue,  and  iiroducing  a  most  lovely 
etVeet  as  they  spread  themselves  over  the 
ground,  or  iiang  in  masses  from  the  trees 
and  shrubs.  Tlie  long,  trailing  branches 
are  furnished  throughout  their  lengdi  with 
sharj)  barbed  thorns,  .set  in  pairs.  Unj)leaH- 
ant  as  are  the  branches,  they  become  worse 
when  the  jiurple  jietals  fall  and  the  seed- 
vessels  are  developi'd.  Then  the  experi- 
enced traveller  dreads  its  presence,  and,  if 
he  can  do  so,  keeps  clear  of  the  ground 
which  is  tenanted  by  such  a  toe.  The  largo 
sei'd-vessels  are  coveriMl  with  a  midtitude  of 
sliar[)  and  very  strong  hooked  thorns.  W  hen 
(he  seed  is  ripe,  (he  vessel  splits  along  the 
middle,  and  the  two  sides  se|)arate  widely 
from  each  other,  so  that  they  form  an  array 
of  hooks  whieh  remiiuls  the  observer  of  the 
conqilieated  devices  used  bv  anglers  in  pike- 
tishiug.  Tlu!  illustration  >lo.  \.  on  page  ^47, 
represents  a  still  closed  seetl-vessel,  and, 
tbrnudable  as  it  looks,  its  powers  are  more 
than  doul'led  when  it  is  open  and  dry,  each 
half  being  covered  with  llun-ns  pointing  in 
op))osite  directions.  The  thorns  are  as  sharp 
as  needles,  and  nearly  as  strong  jis  if  they 
were  ma<U^  of  the  same  material. 

The  reader  may  easily  ima^iiie  the  hor- 
rors of  a  bush  which  is  beset  with  such 
weai)ons.  Xo  one  who  wears  clothes  has 
a  chaiu'c  of  t'scaju'  from  (hem.  If  only  one 
hooked  (horn  catches  but  his  coat-sleeve,  he 
is  a  prisoner  at  once.  The  lirst  movenu'Ht 
bends  (he  long,  slender  branches,  and  book 
after  hook  lixcs  its  point  ujwn  him.  Slrug- 
glingouly  trebh's  the  number  of  histhorned 
eni'mies,  and  the  only  nu)de  by  which  lie 
can  frei^  himself  is  to  "  wai(-a-bi(,''  cut  olf 
the  clinging  seed-vesstds,  and,  when  he  is 
clear  of  the  liush,  remove  them  one  by  one. 
This  terril)l('  plant  was  most  liital  to  the 
English  soldiers  in  thi'  last  Kallir  wars,  (he 
unwieldy  accoutrements  and  loose  clotliiiig 
of  the  soldier  being  seized  by  tin;  thorns, 
and  holiling  the  unfortunate  man  fast,  while, 
(he  nakiid  Kadir  could  glide  among  (ho 
(horns  unharmed,  and  deliver  his  assagai 
Willi  imi)unity.  If  (he  reader  would  like  to 
form  uu  idea  of  Uic  power  of  these  thorns, 


«hrub    vl  icb  ;'.  l"''^  «"''''  "^•'^"""t  "f  this 

thorn  "Tin-  'iSrtl'-'';  °^'  ^^'"t-a-)>ft 
five  fo.t  hl'h-fi  ':'■-/'"'"  *^°"' 
to  me  but  11^  I    L-^    '     ""^   1"''"    unknown 

011(3  .sloevo:    WhilVt    i'l-i.^'f  f."^  ''"'•>  •»' 
quietly  with  t,V,H, .",",'"  «lison.:r)iK.>  it 

eiitansloailiLm  S.ui^i:M  "^"'l^'"'' 
l>ataI.so,  an,I  convi  /co,*,.''  1  Sf '"•'''  '"> 
noim.ssibilitvfoi- ..,,.  fr.  f       fli.it  (here  was 

main  force  ,^„',"u,o  J?"  '"•^■'''"'  ''»'  ''y 
all  niv  cl„  I  c"     f  thZ  r'^''""""'  "^   f*'"'-''"? 

mo  by  r.uttin,/oK'L:"^~  ■■»»''  '-''l™ 
wasliel.i.     In  rev,    .r,.f''. ",?''. ,,''3'  ^vhioli   I 

I  /let...rn,inoc  o\',  "^  to  t  '"  ;"-'''^''»'"'"»f- 
^vhich  should  s,M-v^.  \«  :■  '  ^"'c  a  "anu" 
oilers  Hi?  ; '  1 ,"  i  ?„  "I"""^- , *'"'•>'•«  trav- 
^'•'•0  ^vithin  iff  t^,  ",?"'-^';  r-"*  '"  von- 
•nanii.  to  which  •illii,;  ^  ,  i'       /''"  "'""itorv 

tliatof^C'^;     'nZ        Ir''  '"•-"'«   i'^ 
species  ofacaCh     "       '  '"  "'''''  particular 

'ieS:''rb;:-^.£?i!!"'-'^  ^ ""« ^^hich 

thorn,  a  si)..ci,.s  V('  /i      '•  -"^'"'^ '.'  tlioTl.ree- 
co.nnion  i  ,  ,,,'(..»•  i'''T'''"'  "''"'■■'»  *«  very 

icct  in  lu'i^d  t        1   f;  '..'l^!"^  "»•«"  "1-  four 

'•if'iawyinton;;:,^,!  :Sir'''^''?«^^'T 

alto-ether  singular  a  nee  Tl  "  '^!''''"'^  "»'' 
i-einarkal)le  species  .n,  i"*^  is  another 
«'<"■!<,  or  the  llo  ok-  ;,H*i:'"  ;,-  '"  "'-i^k-een- 
■"I'o.^ies  the  thorns  v'^JJ^  """'')•  I"  tin's 
'■allied.  I-^rst  c  ,,.;  , '  /'"'V  curiously  ar- 
aiul  if  the  trav  Z  •' n,;t  • '■''  ''""'^''''  tl">i-n; 
I)V  (his  hook   m,      .■  '""^'■'^■''■''  to  bo  cau-1 


PARASITIC  TREES. 


ai0 


&.m;VlS^'»f™«'7«"vide«  thorn 
those  w  liS  Tear  bo      *"^,';."{"'  /-•'?">««,  and 

%sfh\k-w'ooli'''' . '"''•''    •••"."''mbor   that    the 

le  Va  l'l-);/?""r  '•'"  '"''^"""t  wriSn  by 
Jji-  vaiiiant  near  y  a  centnrv  -iryn      tr       •' 

When   a    traveller   first  (Miters  a  SnnM. 

"'•'>i'""T  En^ish   c^^i  ^V\K'/|:T""" 
cases  they  aA   fir  i.,c  .;  ,  '^.   '"  '"""/ 

ss„i^%F£rF  Pf^-'- 
of  them  to  tleX'^f, ''";."  :'''''?y'»^<''ns 
"'her,>  the  fr    (  ^roSs     T.   "*^   '"'    V-»n^>'cs 
for  (he    Diant   fs    r»:     ^"^  "^"^"("ic  name 


ai6 


THE  KAFFIR. 


young  filaments  shoot  out.  When  rii)o  it  is 
sometliing  like  ft  clierrv,  und  is  of  a  bright 
crimson  color.  It  goes  by  the  popular  name 
of  "wild  grapo."  and  is  much  liked  by  mon- 
keys, birds,  and  men.  From  the  fruit  a  kind 
of  spirit  is  distilled,  and  a  very  good  pre- 
serve ci>n  be  made  from  it. 

These  baboon-ropes  are  not  the  only  par.i- 
sitie  growths  upon  trees.  In  many  parts  of 
the  country  there  is  a  kind  of  long,  llbrous 
moss  which  grows  ujjon  the  trees,  and  is 
often  in  such  profusion  that  it  comi)letely 
covers  them,  hiding  not  only  the  trunk  and 
branches,  but  even  the  twigs  and  leafage. 
This  mossy  growth  extends  to  a  considerable 
length,  in  some  cases  attainin;^  as  much  iis 
ten  or  twelve  feet.  It  is  yellow  in  color, 
and  when  short  is  very  soft  and  fine,  so  that 
it  can  be  used  for  most  of  the  purijosos  to 
which  cotton  or  tow  are  applied.  But, 
when  it  reaches  the  length  of  six  or  seven 
feet,  it  becomes  hard  and  wirj',  and  is  com- 
paratively useless.    I  have  now  before  rac  a 


quantity  of  this  tow-like  lichen,  which  had 
been  usetl  in  jjacking  a  large  box  lull  of 
Katllr  weapons  and  implements.  There  is  a 
tree  which  furnishes  a  very  useful  timber, 
called  from  its  color,  "Geele-houl,"  a  yellow 
wood.  This  tree  is  a  species  of  Tcnm,  but 
there  are  at  least  two  species  which  produce 
the  wood.  The  timber  is  much  used  for 
beams,  planks,  and  building  purposes  gen- 
erally. 

Many  tr.ivellcrs  have  tluuight  thai  (hose 
and  sever.al  other  trees  would  lorm  valuaMo 
articles  of  merchandise,  and  that  they  might 
bo  profitably  imported  to  Kuropc.  1'liat 
they  afford  really  valuable  woods,  and  that 
some  of  them  would  be  extremely  useful  in 
delicate  and  fancy  work,  is  indisputable.  The 
oidy  difficulty  is,  that  to  cut  and  transjuirt 
them  at  present  involves  so  nuich  expi'uso 
that  the  arrangement  would  hardly  be  sulli- 
ciently  profitable  for  the  iuvcstnieut  of  so 
much  capital. 


,  which  had 
bi>x  lull  of 

There  is  a 
iful  tiinl)er, 
t,"  a  yellow 

Texun,  but 
i(;h  prodiieo 
•li  used  for 
rposL'S  gcu- 

;  that  those 
III  Viilualilo 
the}-  inijiht 
)|)e.  1'iiat 
H,  and  that 
Iv  ii.set'ul  in 
tahle.  Tlio 
1  traiis))(irt 
eh  exijonse 
11,V  be  sulli- 
nieut  of  so 


CHAPl'ER  XXII. 

THE  HOTTENTOT  RACES. 

OF  THE    "OrrKN-roTS-nu,,,  ,,,  ^,,,;^j;;^      "    °«7''    «"    ^''^    "A.B-aENE.UL    CAnACTTEB 
8HKLL.S   USKD  AS  A.V  OBXAMKNT-  V  ,^„,7n,  ''""''''  '^'"'  ORNAMENTS -OSTRICH   Ero 

THEIUMANU.KA,,Tim,-r„E,,0TTENTOTSP0or.v  "'"'"''    ^"^    '''"'«-"'"«    HOl-ES    AND 

TOT  AU<,.,„.nx.T.,„C-s,,„.LE  MODE  orAV^^O  tK«M,v  '    "•'-^■''"^'- »''^-MA.UN« -„o„Kx" 
-THE  DIGOLNa-sriCK.  AVOIPUJO  VERMIN  -  NOiUD  HAUIT8  OP  THE  HOTTENTOTS 

I?EFORE  proccodinn:  ,vi(h  the  .rennnl  vim^i^rf       ., 

uiinT"n"'"'^'"''^"^  "•'"'''' '"^^^^^^^^^^  '''''''  t«  h'-vvc  grown 

ntot  ].s_  an  invaluable  ,.ow.)..>r,?' :..  „  ,'^°*: 


the  whole  : 
by  varini;,  in 
powerful  niitid.,. 
collectively  uiidr-,- 
was  at  Unit  time  t 
the  land,  of  whieli 

lor  a  considerable  period     Wi,";>"./ 

the  Hottentots  Avr  e     ,  "    /^  '  <"i'^''"  or  not 

M;  but  the  I  'li  '?'  Vf:?'  ''""'^t- 
ft-oni  a  .listant'  so  S^^  " Lr^h  t  f,,*'''^V'^''^'"'^ 
sessed  the  abo.-i..i„,.V  .v  '  I  V'^  '•'fP"^- 
selves  woi'e  aftenvard  ei^.'.^  I,'''  '^'^  '''«'''"- 
and  the  Kat«,;s":;^i^2«'^«H'K.ffl.-s, 
pcans.  ^ '  '.wucu  oy  the  Euro 


!ca  was  iniiabiTelMtenfoMr^';'^''""'-"?  *V  ^'"«  f^'^^H'is' 
•^  to  a  lar.o  mid    ;  S     y  ,:7^^^^  eow-hercfin  aland 

'"-n,  n„w  known    He  seems      '  l,ff  1'  T*^"'''""'''  cow-stealers. 

of  HottentotJahnls      y  "„1     7„V  1']''''^'"''''  "^  '-^  ^''"«r 
fi-  and  master  of  ni.Thf  Ji,,,.,  ,1      ?"',  ""''  ^^'^"1  "'»  a  dark 

" ^^S'^S^^'^^^SHA: 

It  IS  rather  a  remarkable   fact   that    in 
■cryeountrv   nfn  wi,i,.i.  *i. .  ^'\."''^P'   »« 


Itants  of  a  land  in  wli  • ,  II,  '"'''■^'^''''  "iliab-   their  footin.^     kI\^,         «;»re(-!y  have  kept 
the  masters     Tl"  V,  'v   17  T'""  f'*'"'""-'^ '  tnre  the  A  .^-(r-,^,,' f •"'''"  ^'^^  ""  '-^"'l  ^'»^- 


218 


THE   HOTTENTOT. 


h 


all  events  inlmbittlio  same  land,  thou>;h  they 
may  not  lininnn  to  helonj?  to  tlic  Hunio  raci'. 
The  niitivt!M  of  China  ijavo  tlicni  jj;r('at  as- 
Bislanco  in  tlio  latu  Cliineso  war,  and  the 
servicca  wliicli  W'>re  rendered  ilieni  l>y 
native  forces  (iurin<^'  tlio  great  Indian  mutiny 
can  liardly  hv.  oV(M-rated. 

However  nuieli  tiui  Hottentot  may  dislike 
tlie  KatHr,  liit^  feeiiiii;  of  anta<;(>nisni  in 
reeinroeal,  and  liie  vindielive  liatreil  liorne 
by  Ine  liefeated  raee  toward  their  eonquerorn 
in  neareely  less  intense  than  tiie  eonteniptu- 
ons  rei)Ufj;nan<'e  felt  liy  the  victors  toward 
the  vaiKinislu'd. 

Neitlier  in  eolor  nor  general  nspeet  do  the 
Hottentots  resemble  the  dijrk  raees  around 
them.  Their  eomplexion  is  wallow,  and 
much  like  tliat  of  a  very  dark  person  suffer- 
in!^  from  jaundiee.  Indeed,  thi!  <'oniplexion 
of  the  Hottentots  nuieh  resembles  that  of  the 
Chinese,  and  the  f;;eaeral  similitude-  between 
the  two  nations  is  very  remarkalile.  (See 
j)aj,'e  2'24.)  One  of  my  friends  who  lived  lon<:f 
in  South  Afriea  had  a'driver  who  dressed  like 
a  Hottentot,  and  who,  to  all  appearance,  was  a 
Hottentot.  One  day,  however,  he  astonished 
his  master  hv  deelarini;  himself  a  Chinese, 
and  proving  (he  assertion  l)y  removinf^  his  liat 
and  showing  the  long  pig-tail  twisted  round 
his  head.  II(>  was,  in  fact,  a  Chinese  Coolie, 
wholiad  been  imported  into  Southern  Afriea, 
and  who,  alter  tlu^  fashion  of  his  pc()))li',  h;id 
acconnnodated  himself  to  the  manners  and 
customs  cf  those  among  whom  he  lived. 
Mr.  Mollhtl,  the  missionary  author,  mentions 
that  he  saw  two  Chinese  ehildren.  whom  he 
would  have  taken  for  Hottentots  liad  he  not 
been  informed  of  their  true  eharaeter. 

The  existence  of  tliis  ligbt-eolored  race  in 
such  a  locality  atlbrd.s  a  good  proof  that 
complexion  is  not  entirely  laused  by  the 
sun.  There  is  a  very  popular  idea  that  the 
liot  sun  of  troiiieal  countries  produces  the 
black  color  of  the  negro  and  other  races,  and 
that  a  low  temperature  bleaches  the  skin. 
Yet  we  have  the  Hottentots  and  their  kin- 
dred tril)es  exhibiting  jiale  skins  in  a  coun- 
try close  to  the  tropics,  wiiile  the  Esquimaux, 
who  live  amid  eternal  ice,  arc  often  so  dark 
that  they  might  ;,lmost  be  mistaken  for 
negroes,  but  for  the?  conformation  of  their 
faces  and  the  length  of  their  hair. 

The  shape  of  the  Hottentot  face  is  very 
peculiar,  as  may  be  seen  by  reference  to  any 
engra'-ings  which  illustrate  scenes  in  Hot- 
tentot life.  The  cheek-lwnes  ])roje(d  sharply 
from  th(>  fiiee,  iind  the  long  chin  is  narrow 
and  ])ointed.  These  characteristics  are  not 
so  visil)l(!  in  youth,  but  seem  to  grow 
stronger  with  age.  Indeed,  an  old  Hotteu 
tot,  whether  man  or  woman,  seems  to  have 
scarcely  any  real  face,  l)ut  to  bo  furnished 
with  a  mere  skin  drawn  tightly  over  the 
^kull.  ■ 

What  wen-  the  manners  and  customs  of 
the  Hottentots  before  they  were  dispossessed 
by  the  Kaflir.s,  or  dclenorated  l.iy  contact 


with  bad  specimens  of  European  civilization, 
is  extremely  dillleidt  to  say,  as  no  trust- 
worthy historian  of  their  doiiicslic  economy 
has  lived  among  them.  Kolhen.  whose 
book  of  travels  has  long  been  accepted  as 
giving  a  true  accoimt  of  (he  noltentot.  is 
now  known  to  be  utterly  nuworlliy  of  belief, 
insonuieh  us  his  information  is  sci'ond-hand, 
and  those  from  whom  he  obtained  it  have 
evidently  amused  them.selves  by  imposing 
upon  his  credulitj-. 

Ah  this  work  treats  only  of  the  nonnal 
habits  and  customs  of  the' various  imrts  of 
the  world,  and  has  nothing  to  '■  with  the 
modifications  of  eiviji/ation,  th,  account  of 
the  Hottentot  will  be  necessarily  brief. 

In  8hai)e  the  Hottentots  alter  strangely 
according  to  their  age.  When  chihircn,  tliey 
are  not  at  all  agreeable  ol)jects  —  iit  least,  to 
an  unaccustomed  eye,  being  thin  in  the 
limbs,  with  an  odd\y  ijrojecting  stomach, 
and  a  corresnondiug  I'all  in'llie  back.  If  tol- 
erably well  ted,  they  lose  this  strange  shape 
when  they  ajiproach  the  period  of  youth, 
and  as  young  men  (nid  girls  are  almost 
models  of  perfection  in  foiin.  though  their 
faces  are  not  entitled  to  as  imich  praise. 
Hut  they  do  not  retain  this  beauty  of  form 
for  any  long  i)eriod,  some  few  years  gener- 
ally comi)rehending  its  bi  ginning  and  its 
end.  "In  live  or  six  years  alter  their  ar- 
rival at  womanhood,''  writes  liinchell,  "  the 
fresh  i)lumpness  of  youth  has  already  given 
way  to  the  wrinkles  of  age;  and,  unless  we 
viewe<l  them  with  the  eye  of  cnnimiseration 
and  i)hilanlhro]iy,  wv.  shOnld  be  inclined  to 
]ironoimce  them  the  most  disgusting  of 
human  lnin;,'s."  Their  early,  and,  it  may 
be  said,  prcniatui'e  symjiloms  of  nge,  may 
perhaps,  with  much  lirobaliility,  be  ascrihe'd 
to  a  bard  life,  an  uueeilain  and  irregular 
supply  of  food,  exposure  to  every  inelemc'iicy 
of  weather,  and  a  want  ofeleanlimss,  which 
increases  with  years.  These,  rather  than 
the  nature  of  the  climate,  ari^  the  causes  of 
this  quick  fading  and  decay  of  the  bloom 
and  grace  of  youth. 

The  appearance  of  an  ordinary  Hottentot 
woman  can  be  seen  by  relereiiee  to  the 
illustration  No.  2,  ojipdsite,  taken  from  a 
sketch  by  the  author  \^l^ose  words  have  just 
been  quoted.  Tla?  subject  of  (he  diawing 
looks  as  if  she  were  sixty  years  old  at  the 
very  least,  though,  on  account  of  the  early  de- 
terioration of  form,  she  might  be  of  any  age 
from  twenty-seven  upward.  It  is  hardly 
possible;  to  conceive  that  so  -shoi't  a  ]ieriod 
would  change  the  gi-aceful  form  of  the 
Hottentot  girl,  as  shown  on  the  same  jiage, 
into  the  withered  and  wrinkled  hag  who  is 
here  depicted,  but  such  is  really  the  case, 
and  the  strang(!st  iiart  is,  thai  it  is  scarcely 
possible  to  tell  whether  a  woman  is  thirty 
or  sixty  years  of  age  by  her  Irjoks  alone. 

Not  tin!  least  remarkable  point  in  the 
Hottentot  women  is  tlu;  singidar  modifica- 
tiou  of  form  to  which  they  arc  ofieu,  tliough 


■■■A 


f  ^ 


o 


% 


i'J13> 


oj 


SCIENTIFIC  POBTHAITURE. 


not  univprHnlly,  xuhjcrt  — a  devclDpniont  of 
which  thd  rt'luhiiilud  "  IlotUiiliit  Vomw" 
ad'onlod  III!  (!.\(i'llint  <'Xuiiijih'.  A  very 
ninu.sin<r  licNiriplidii  of  oni^  ot  tiufli-  uonicii 
Is  ^!\\■vn  \iy  Mr.  (iilluii,  in  liiii  well-known 
unrk  on  Southcnk  Al'rioa:  — 

"  Mr.  Iliihn'rt  lioii.>ji!liolil  washirnc  Tlioro 
wjn  an  intcrnntor  uml  ii  Huh-intornrctcr, 
and  a<i,\\n  ollicrs,  hul  all  most  cxci'llcntlv 
wcll-licliavcd,  and  .sliowinj^  to  jjrnat  advan- 
taj,"'  Ihi!  inllucncu  of  Ihcir  niastor.  Thcso 
«(!rvanU  worn  chli-llv  IIottcnIolH,  who  had 
niijrralcd  with  Mr.  Ilulm  I'roni  IloHontot- 
lanl,  ami,  liki^  him,  had  j>ii'k('(l  up  tho  lan- 
gna.;,'.' of  llii!  Daniani.s.  Thii  suh-iiitcrprctiT 
Wan  niarrird  to  ii  cliarMiin^f  person,  not  onl}' 
n  Hottentot  in  llj,'urc,  l)iit  in  that  rrs|)i'ct  .a 
Venus  anion;,'  IfotlenlotH.  I  was  purCeelly 
a^iha.xt  at  her  development,  and  made  in"- 
fiuirie.s  upon  that  delicate  point  as  far  as  I 
dared  ainonj,'  my  niissionarv  fri(>nd,s.  The 
result  is,  that  rhelieve  Mrs.  I'etrus  to  he 
tho  lady  who  ranks  second  anions  nil  the 
Iloltenlols  for  the  heaulil'id  oullino  that 
hor  hack  allords,  Jonker's  wil'o  rankiu"  as 
tho  (irst;  the  latter,  however,  was  sli'ditlv 
2)(insc'c,  whilu  Mrs.  I'utru.s  was  in  full  ctuboii- 
poiiit, 

"  I  profess  to  1)0  n  seluntiflp  man,  and  was 
oxceedin;,'ly  anxious  to  ohtain  accurate  niea- 
mirement  of   her  sliaj).";    hut  tlu're  was  a 
dillicultv  in  doiiii,'  this.     I  did  not  know  a 
word  ot  Hottentot,  and  could  never,  there- 
lore,  explain  to  the  lady  what  the  ol.jeet  of 
my  foot-rule  could  he;  and   I  reallv'dared 
not  ask  my  worliiy  missionary  host  to  inter- 
pret for  me.     I  Ihereforc  felt  in  a  dilemma 
a.s  I  "jazed  at  her  form,  that  i,'ift  of  houn- 
toous  nature  to  this  favored  race,  which  no 
manlua-maker,  with  all   her  crinoline  and 
titullln;Lr,  I'an  do  otherwise  than  hnmhly  imi- 
tate.    The  oliject  of  my  admiration  stood 
under  a  tree,  and  was  turning  herself  ahout 
to  all  i)onUs  of  tho  compass,  as  ladies  who 
wish  to  he  admired  usually  do.     Of  a  sudden 
niy  eve  fell  upon   my  sextant;   the  hri'dit 
thou^jiit  struck  me,  and   I  took  a  .seriei^of 
observations  ujion  her  li.,'uro  in  every  direc- 
tion, up  and   down,  crossways,  dia^onallv 
and  so  forth,  ami   I   rejristered  theiu  carc- 
lully  upon   an   outline  drawing  for  fear  of 
any   m.slak,-.     This  hein-  done,   I   holdly 
pulled  out   my  measuring   tape,  and  mea- 
sured the  distance  from  where  I  was  to  the 
pace   where   she   stood,   an.l.  havin-   thus 
ohained   hot.    base   and  aiigles,  I  worked 
rhhmi."     '■'        ^^'  '•■'«"""'»^''r>-  "»'l  lo^'a- 

This  remarkable  protuberance,  which 
shakes  like  jelh-  at  every  movement  of  he 
<)<ly,  IS  not  .soft  as  mi-ht  be  ima-ined  but 
";•'"  and  hard  Mr.  Christie,  wh.r  is  rathe,- 
above  the  middl,.  si/e.  tells  us  that  he  has 
t^onietinies  stood  upon  it  without  bein.'  sud'- 
porled  by  any  other  part  of  the  per.so  . 
Ihe  .sciontihc  name  for  this  curious  devel- 
opment 13  Sleatopyga.    It  does  not  cauVc 


an 

tho  lonst  Inconvonlonco,  and  tlin  women  (hul 

'',''"""''•  « venlcnt  aH  allonlinK  a  support 

whenever  they  wish  to  carry  an  infant. 

Another  peculiarity  in  this  curiouH  rnco  ia 
the  manner  in  whic  h  thi!  hair  grows  on  the 
head.     Like  that  of  the  negroen  it  is  short 
nisp,  and  woolly,  hut  it pssesHON  the  mvull 
larity  o(  not  covering  the  entiro  head,  hut 
j^rowing   lu   litllo    patehe.s,  eacdi  ahout   aa 
large  as  n  pea.    These  pat.hen  are  qui  to 
disunct,  and  in  many  instttneesaieseatten  d 
so  simringlyover  the  head,  that  the  skin  can 
be   plainly   seen   between   them.      I'erhans 
this  odd  growth  of  tho  hair  affords  a  rea- 
son  lor  the  universal  custom  of  weariii"  ii 
cap,  and  of  covering  tliu  head  thickly  with 
grease  and  mineral  i)owder.    The  oriKimU 
manners   and    customs   of   tho   Hottentots 
lave    entirely    vani.shed,    and,   unlike    tho 
llercer  and  nobler  Kalllr  tribes,  they  havo 
merged  their  own  indiviilualily  in  that  of 
the  while   scttl.'rs.     They  always   dress   iu 
European  aoparel,  but  it  ha.s  been  noticed 
by   those  who   have   lived  in   the  country, 
that  the    Hottentot,  though   fully  clothnl 
is  far  less  modest  in  ap|)earance  than  tho 
Kalllr,  who  wears  scarc^dy  any  clothing  at 
all.     In  this  pint  seoins  to  be  one  of  tha 
^'l■cat  distinctions  between    the   Hottentot 
ami  other  races.     It  is  quite  true  that  Lo 
\  aillant  .and  trav.llcrs  antecedent  to  hiiu 
have  written  of  the  Hottentots  in  the  most 
glowing  terms,  attributing  to  them  almost 
every  virtue  that  uncivilized   man  is  likely 
lo  possess,  and  praising  them   for   tho   ab- 
sence ot  many  vices  that  disgraco  civilized 
humanity. 

Xow,  the  fact  is,  that  Lo  Vaillant  was  cvl- 
(Icntly  a  man  of  exceptional  abilities  in  tho 
maiia.'cmeut  of  inferiors,  and  that  he  pos- 
.sesse.l  an  intuitive  knowledge  of  character 
that  IS  very  seldom  to  he  found.  Conse- 
quently the  men  who  were  submissive,  docile, 
and  aflectioiiate  under  his  (inn,  yet  deter- 
mined sway,  might  havo  been  captious,  idle, 
and  insubordinat(,  under  a  less  judicious 
leader.  1  hey  looked  upon  him  as  a  bein-^ 
inliiiitely  superior  to  themselves,  untoucheJl 
by  the  impulsive  and  unreasoning  motives 
by  which  these  children  of  nature  arc  led 
and  in  conseouenco  yielded  to  the  subtle 
and  all-powerful  inlhienco  whicli  a  liigher 
naUire  exorcises  over  a  lower. 

The  Hottentots  with  whom  our  author 
camo  in  contact  wore  free  from  the  many 
vices  whi.'h  degrade  the  Hottentot  of  tho 
present  day,  but  it  is  clear  that  thoy  were 
innocent  simply  because  thoy  were  ignorant. 
Ihose  oi  the  present  lime  have  lost  all  their 
.ancient  simi>licity,  and  have  contrived  to 
iinbuo  themsidves  with  the  vices  in  which 
the  a(  vent  of  the  white  men  enabled  thcni 
lo  intliilgo,  wiihmit  at  the  .same  time  im- 
proving their  intellectual  or  social  condi- 
tion. 

AVe  will  now  ondoavor  to  see  the  Hotten- 
tot as  he  used  to  be  before  he  was  conquered 


THE  HOTTENTOT. 


[<4 


Ml 


by  the  Kaffirs,  and  reduced  to  servitude  by 
the  European  eolonists. 

The  general  ai)peanuice  of  the  Hottentot 
may  be  seen  by  roferenee  to  the  illustration 
No.  ii,  opposite,  whieh  represents  a,  young 
man  named  Klaas,  who  was  the  favorite 
attendant  of  Le  Vaillant,  and  of  whom  the 
traveller  speaks  in  the  highest  terms.  He 
has,  therefore,  been  selected  as  a  favorable 
specimen  of  his  nation.  The  reader  will 
understand  that  in  the  following  account  of 
the  Hottentot  tribes,  they  are  described  as 
they  used  to  be,  and  not  as  they  are  at  the 
present  day. 

The  ordinary  dress  of  a  Hottentot  man 
can  be  tolerably  imagined  from  the  })ortrait 
of  Klaus.  Over  his  shoulder  is  thrown  a 
large  mantle,  or  kaross,  made  of  cow-hide 
tonned  and  softened,  and  worn  with  the  fur 
inward.  This  mantle  is  most  in  fashion, 
and  when  eng.iged  in  his  ordinary  occupa- 
tions the  Hottentot  throws  it  olV,  so  as  to  be 
unencumbered.  Around  his  wai^t  are  a 
number  of  leathern  thongs,  mingled  with 
strings  of  I'^ads  and  oiher  oruiuncnts,  and 
to  one  of  tuese  thongs  arc  fiistened  two 
aprons,  one  in  front  and  the  other  behind 
That  one  in  I'ront  is  called  the  "jackal,"  be- 
cause it  is  generally  made  of  a  piece  of  Jackal 
skin  or  siinilar  fur.  The  second  apron,  if  it 
may  be  so  named,  is  not  universally  W(U'n, 
though  a  Hottentot  of  taste  does  not  consiiler 
hims'elf  dressed  without  it.  It  is  sim]>ly  a 
triangular  Hap  of  leather,  barely  a  foot  in 
k'ngth,  two  inches  in  width  at  the  top,  where 
it  joins  the  girdh',  and  widening  to  four 
inches  at  the  bottom.  This  curious  append- 
age is  ornamented  with  bits  of  metal,  sic<'l. 
beads,  and  other  decorations,  and  the  owner 
seems  to  take  a  great  pride  in  this  odd  arti- 
cle of  dress.  Of  course  it  is  not  of  the  least 
use,  and  may  be  comjiared  to  tlie  tails  of  a 
modern  dress-coat,  or  the  bag  attached  to 
the  collar  of  a  court  suit. 

Some  families  auKmg  the  Hottentots  vary 
the  phajie  of  the  "staart-rheim,"  as  the 
Dutch  Colonists  call  it,  and  make  it  of  dif- 
ferent forms.  Some  have  it  square,  and 
others  circular  or  oblong,  while  sonu-,  who 
are  possA'ssed  of  more  than  ordinary  in- 
genuity, make  it  into  the  form  of  a  crescent 
or  a  cross.  This  article  of  dress  still  sur- 
vives .among  some  of  the  African  ^ribe.'?,  as 
will  be  seen  on  a  future  page. 

Hound  the  ankles  are  fastened  thongs  of 
hide.  These  articles  gave  rise  to  the  .absurd 
statement  that  Hottentots  wore  the  intcK- 
tines  of  animals  until  they  became  softened 
J)y  putridity,  and  then  ate  them,  carefully 
keei)ing  up  the  supply  by  adding  fresh 
thongs  in  the  place  of  those  which  were 
eati'U.  The  real  fact  is,  that  these  leathern 
bands  act  as  .a  dcif'enee  against  the  thorns 
among  which  the  Hottentots  have  to  walk, 
and  for  that  purjiose  they  are  u.sed  by  both 
sexes.  It  is  true  that,  in  some  cases,  tlie 
wearers  have  been  reduced  to  sueli  a  state 


of  starvation  that  they  have  been  ol)liged  to 
eat  the  hide  circlets  Yrom  their  limbs,  and 
eat  them  with  the  aid  of  wliat  rude  cooking 
could  be  extemporized.  l!ut  it  will  be 
remarked  that  the  KiilHr  soldiers  have  been 
reduced  to  eat  their  shields  and  the  leathern 
thongs  which  bound  the  assagai-heads  to 
the  shaft,  and  no  one  would  therefrom  infer 
that  the  Kaffirs  made  their  shields  an  ordi- 
nary article  of  diet. 

The  feet  are  protected  from  sharp  stones 
and  thorns  by  a  simple  kind  of  shoe,  or  san- 
dal, which  islittle  more  than  apiece  of  stout 
leather,  larger  than  the  sole  of  the  foot,  and 
tied  on  by  thongs.  The  feet  of  the  card- 
players,  on  page  237,  show  this  sandal.  It  is 
not  worn,  however,  wdien  the  Hottentot 
is  engaged  in'  his  ordinary  vocations,  and  is 
o)dy  employed  when  he  is  on  a  journey,  and 
the  ground  which  he  has  to  traverse  is 
exceptionally  rough  and  thorny.  These  san- 
d.als  are  in  "use  throughout  a  large  portion 
of  Southern  Africa,  aiid  the  best  are  made 
by  the  liachapins,  a  sub-tribe  of  the  Bechu- 
anas. 

The  dress  of  the  women  is  essentially  the 
.same  as  tliat  of  the  men,  although  it  is  more 
complicated,  and  there  is  more  of  it.  As  is 
the  ease  with  (he  Kallir,  the  children  of  both 
sexes  wear  no  clothing  at  all  until  they  are 
eight  or  nine  years  old.  and  then  the^girls 
assunui  the  little  leathern  apron  called  the 
••  makkabi."  This  ])ortion  of  dress  is  some- 
what similar  to  that  whieh  is  worn  by  the 
Kallir  girls,  and  is  simply  a  Hat  piece  of 
leather  cut  into  thin  strips.  The  thongs 
are  generally  longer  than  those  worn  by  the 
Kallir,  and  sometimes  reach  nearly  to  the 
kuee.  Over  this  is  ^(.nu■tinu■s.  l)ut  not  uni- 
versally, worn  a  second  apron  of  skin,  orna- 
mented with  l)eads,  bits  of  shining  metal, 
anil  similar  <lecoralions.  The  beads  are 
arranged  in  patterns,  'an  idea  of  which 
can  be  gained  from  the  illustration  Xo.  1, 
page  21!).  w  liieh  represents  a  Gonaqua  Hot- 
tentot girl,  about  sixteen  years  of  age.  This 
girl  was  a  sjiecial  favtuite  of  Le  Vaillaufs, 
ami  certainly  seems  from  his  account  to  have 
been  a  singularly  favorable  instance  of  un- 
so])histieate(l  human  nature.  The  altitude 
in  which  she  is  depicted  is  ,\  very  character- 
istic one,  being  that  whieh  the  Hottentot 
girls  are  in  the  habit  of  assuming.  It  is 
remarkable,  by  the  way,  tliat  the  pleasing 
liveliness  for  which  the  Hottentot  youth 
are  notabh-  departs  together  with  youth, 
the  denu'anor  of  the  men  and  women  being 
sedate  and  almost  gloomy. 

Around  the  loins  is  fastened  a  much 
larger  apron  without  any  decoration.  This 
is  of  varial)le  size  and  shape,  but  the  usual 
form  is  that  whieh  is  shown  in  the  illustra- 
tion. Its  name  is  "  iuusesi,"  and,  like  the 
"staart-rbeim"  of  the  men,  is  not  thouglit 
to  be  a  necessary  article  of  elothing,  lieing 
|uit  on  more  for  eercmony  tiuin  ior  use. 
This  aprou  is  also  variable  in  size,  some- 


ol)ligc(l  to 
limbs,  and 
(le  fooking 
it  will  1)0 
have  bci'U 
le  k'iitheru 
li-heads  to 
'fVoni  iiit'ur 
ds  an  oidi- 

larji  stones 
loe,  or  san- 
ecc  of  stout 
le  foot,  and 
r  the  card- 
ndal.  It  is 
llottonlot 
ions,  and  is 
)urncy,  and 
traverse  is 
These  san- 
•gc  jiortion 
t  are  made 
the  Bechu- 

jntially  the 
1  it  is  more 
f  it.  As  is 
Iren  of  both 
;il  they  are 
n  the'irirls 

I  calkd  the 
'ss  is  sonie- 
orn  by  the 
it  i)iece  of 
I'he  thonps 
vorii  by  (he 
;irly  to  the 
)iit  not  uiii- 

skin,  orna- 
ling  metal, 

beads  arc 
,  of  whieh 
tion  Xo.  1. 
naqiia  llot- 
fage.    This 

^'ailIant■s, 
unt  to  have 

II  nee  of  un- 
"he  altitude 
,•  charaeter- 
;  Hottentot 
uing.  Jt  is 
lie  pleasing 
ntiit  youth 
vith  youth, 
omeniieing 

?(\  a  much 
ition.  This 
t  tlie  usual 
Ihe  illustra- 
id,  like  the 
lof  thought 
hing,  lieing 
ill!  lor  use. 
size,  soiue- 


*'''''*??'^.!?»E»HFMf«'Bl  (C;J 


9  vew  v  ■■!:« '  ":!:i'!riM''iii*i»if i«ir 


(223) 


DRESS  AND  ORNAMENT. 


225 


times  being  so  long  as.nearly  to  touch  the 
ground,  and  sometimes  barely  rcacliin"  to 
tli(!  knee.  Tlie  Dutch  sotllcrs  called  tlicse 
nju-ons  tlie  "  Ibre-kaross,"  and  "hind-kaross," 
words  which  wulticieiitly  explain  themselves. 
The  leather  thongs  which  encircle  the  leg 
are  mostly  ornamented  with  wire  twisted 
round  them,  and  sometimes  a  woman  v/ill 
wear  on  her  legs  one  or  two  rings  entirely 
comi.osed  of  wu-e.  Sometimes  there  are  so 
many  of  these  rings  that  the  leg  is  covered 
with  them  as  high  as  the  knee,  while  in  a 
few  instances  four  or  five  rings  are  even 
worn  al)ove  the  knee,  and  must  be  ex- 
tremely inconvenient  to  the  wearer.  Beads 
of  various  colors  are  also  worn  profuselv 
sometimes  strung  together  on  wire,  aiid' 
liung  round  the  neck,  waist,  wrists,  and 
ankles,  and  sometimes  sewed  upon  dilVcrent 
articles  of  apparel. 

Before  beads  were  introduced  from  Eu- 
rope,  the    natives    had    a  very  ingenious 
iiicthod   of   making  ornaments,  and,  even 
alter  the  introduction  of  beads,  the  native 
ornament  was  much  prized.    It  was  made 
by  laboriously  cutting  ostrich  shells   into 
thin  cii-cular  disks,  varying  in  size  from  the 
sixth  of  an  inch  to  nearly  half  an  inch  in 
diameter,  and  pierced  through  the  middle. 
Many  hundreds  of  these  disks  are  closelv 
strung  together,  so  as  to  form  a  sort  o*"  cir- 
cular rope,  white  as  if  made  of  ivory.    .Some- 
times this  rope  is  long  enough  to  pas.s  sev- 
eral tiines  round  the  body;  against  which 
the  shining  white  disks  produced  a  verv 
good  effect.  •' 

Burchell  mentions  a  curious  kind  of  orna- 
nient  which  was  ^vorn  by  a  young  Hottentot 
girl,  ana  which  seemed  to  be  greatly  prized 
ny  her.    It  consisted  of  throe  pieces  ot^ivorv 
about  the  size  and  shape  of  .sparrow's  e-^-rs 
each  tied  to  the  end  of  a  thong,  and  so'ar- 
ranged  that  one  of  them  hung  over  the  nose 
and  another  on  each  clieek.  ^Vs  she  moved 
lier  head  in  conversation  these  ivory  beads 
swung  about  from  side  to  side,  and  in  her 
estimation  produced  a  verv  telling  eflect    I 
Jiave  in  my  collection  a  good  specimen  of  a 
similar  froiUlet.    It  consists  of  a  leathern 
thon.if  three  feet  in  length,  at  each  end  of 
which  IS  a  cowrie  shell.    One  foot  in  len-nh 
of  Its  centre  is  composed  of  a  double  row  of 
the  ostrich  e-g-rojie  which  has   just  been 
described,  .so  that,  when  the  frontlet  is  tie 

the    oreheail.    From  the  exact  centre  fall 
MX  short  thongs,  at  the  end  of  each  of  vhic 

ud  "f.';:,"; '"r  n  I'^'-^'-'v-^hi'll  or  tortoise- 
si  ell.  tour  of  these  thongs  are  covered 
w.  h  native  beads,  made  fron.  the  bone  of 

w  H,",l!;'.  '  ""'  f"  *;'""^'"^''  "••"'•nente.l 
with  a  large  scarlet  see.l  in  the  middle  At 
each  end  of  the  egg-shell  ro,,e  are  two  shell- 
clad  choiigs,  exactly  like  those  which  hive 
been  described,  and,  when  the  fronll '  t  il  :,^ 


24/  shows  the  frontlet  as  it  appears  when 
bound  upon  the  head  of  a  Ilottontot  belle, 
llie  dress  of  the  married  woman  is,  of 
course,  more  elaborate  than  that  of  the 
young  girl.  Although  they  sometimes  ap- 
pear with  a  very  slight  costume,  they  usuallv 
prefer  to  be  tolerably  well  ;:lad.  With 
married  women  both  the  aprons  are  larger 
than  with  the  girls,  and  they  wear  beside  a 
shorter  apron  over  the  breast.  Their  kaross 
too,  is  of  comparatively  large  size.  The  Hot- 
tentot females  always  Wear  a  cap  of  some 
kind,  the  usual  muterial  being  leallier,  which 
is  dressed  in  the  same  manner  a.s  the  skin 
of  which  the  kaross  and  the  aprons  are 
made. 

The  hair  is  plentifully  imbued  with  gi-ease, 
in  which  has  been  mixed  a  quantity  of  the 
metallic  powder  of  which  the   Hottentots 
are  immoderately  fond,  and  which  is  called 
by.  the    Dutch    colonists  "  Black-klip,"  or 
Shining  Bock,  on  account  of  its  glittering 
appearance.    The  natives  call  it  by  the  name 
of  Sibih,  which  is  pronounced  as"  if  it  were 
written  Sibeelo.    The  sibilo  is   extremely 
•ocal,  being  only  known  to  exist  in  one  part 
of  Africa,  and  is  dug  from  a  rock  called 
Sensavan.    It  seems   to   be  a  very  friable 
kind  of  iron  ore,  plentifully  interspersed  with 
minute  particles  of  mica,  the  union  of  these 
two  substances   giving  it   the    appearance 
which  is  so  much  admired  by  the  natives. 
This  substance  is  a  "  shining,  powdery  iron 
ore,  of  a  steel-gray  or  bluish  lustre,  soft  and 
greasy  to  the  touch,  its  particles  .adhering  to 
the  hands  or  clothes,  and  stainin<»  them  of  a 
dark-red  or  ferruginous  lustre.    The  skin  is 
not  easily  freed  from  these  glossy  particles 
even  by  repeated  washings,  and  whenever 
this  substance  is  used  everythin"  becomes 
contaminated,  and  its  glittering  nature  be- 
trays It  on  every  article  whicli  the  wearer 
handles."     Burchell  goes  on  to  say  that 
oxidization  gives  to  the  iron  ore  that  pecul- 
iar rnst-red  of  which  the  Hottentots  are  so 
fond,  while  the  micaceous  i)articles  impart 
to  It  that  sparkling  glitter  which  is  scarcely 
less  prized.  •' 

To  the  Sensavan  rock  come  all  the  sur- 
rounding tribes  for  a  supply  of  this  precious 
su  .^;ance,  and  those  who  are  nearest  are  in 
tlij   habit  of  digging  it,  and  using  it  as  a 
means  of  barter  with  more  distant  tribes. 
15y  (legrees  the  rock  has  been  quarried  so 
deeply  that  a  series  of  caverns  have  been 
worked    into    it,  some    penetrating   for    a 
considerable  distance.     Burchell  relates  an 
anecdote  of  a  i)arty  of  Hottentots  who  were 
engaged  in  digging  the  sil)il,).  and  who  were 
overwhelmed   by  the  fall  of  the  cavern  in 
whieli   they  were   working.      The    various 
cavern"  are  never  without  inhabitants   for 
by  day    .ey  arg  full  of  bats,  and  by  night 
thev     I  111  the  resting-place  of  pigecnis. 

„  iV  1  u "  1  *^*^'  !^'"-'".    anotiicr    subslance 
called  Huchn  is  in  universal  use  amon"-  the 


Themu,.„«„„Ko.r„";o7pScisszri£.T:KU;*;s,i's 


226 


THE  HOTTENTOT. 


of  vegetable,  and  not  of  mineral  origin.  It 
is  not  nearly  as  valuable  as  the  sibilo, 
althoiigli  considered  to  be  nearly  as  neces- 
sary an  articlcp  of  adornment,  so  tliat  any 
one  who  is  not  bedaubed  with  sibilo,  anil 
perfumed  with  buchu,  is  consiidered  unwor- 
thy of  entrance  into  polite  society.  Sibilo, 
as  the  reader  may  remember,  is  to  be  ob- 
tained only  from  one  spot,  and  is  therefore 
a  peculiiirly  valuable  material,  whereas  the 
buchu  can  Ibe  obtained  from  several  sources, 
and  is  ,acc6rdin,i,'ly  held  in  lowe'^  esteem. 

Buchu  (pronounced  lioohm)  is  mostly 
obtained  from  a  species  of  Diosnia,  and  i's 
made  by  reducing  the  plant  to  a  powder. 
It  possesses  a  strong  odor,  which  to  the  nos- 
trils of  a  Hottentot  is  extremely  agreeable, 
but  which  h.os  exactly  the  opposite  effect 
upon  the  more  sensitive  organs  of  an  Euro- 
pean. Wlien  a  number  of  Hottentots  are 
assembled  in  one  of  their  rude  huts,  the 
odor  of  the  buchu,  with  which  the  karosses 
as  well  as  the  hair  of  the  natives  are  plenti- 
fully imlnied,  is  so  exceedingly  powerful, 
that  no  one  except  a  native  can  breathe  in 
such  an  atmosphere.  The  Hottentots  have 
a  wonderful  veneration  for  this  plant,  and 
use  it  for  various  purposes.  It  is  thought 
to  form  an  .admirable  a[iplicatlon  to  a  wound, 
and  for  this  purpose  the  leaves  of  the  plant 
are  infused  in  strong  vinegar,  and  are  gen- 
erally steeped  for  so  long  a  time  that  they 
form  a  kind  of  mucilage. 

There  arc  sever.al  s])ecles  of  plants  from 
which  the  indispensable  !>uchu  is  made,  and 
one  of  them  is  a  kind  of  fragrant  croton, 
named  by  Hurchell  froton  rimti^KiniKm.  from 
its  pleasant  aromatic  odor.  It  is  a  hand- 
some bushy  shrub,  from  four  to  seven  feet 
in  height.  Hoth  (lowers  and  leaves  possess 
an  asreeabl(^  scent,  and  the  buchu  is  madi' 
by  drying  and  pounding  the  latter,  whicli 
are  lance-sbaped,  green  above,  and  whitish 
below.  The  powder  is  used  as  a  jierfume. 
which  to  the  nostrils  of  the  Hottentot  is 
highly  .agreeable,  but  to  the  European  is 
simnly  abominable,  especially  when  mingled 
with  the  odor  of  ranciil  gre.ase  and  long- 
worn  skin  dresses. 

Skins  are  prepared  in  some  places  after  a 
did'erent  manner  to  that  which  has  been 
described  when  treating  of  the  Kaffirs,  and 
undergo  a  kind  of  tanning  inxx'ess.  When 
ii  Hottentot  wishes  t(.)  make  a  leathern  rolie. 
or  other  article  of  dress,  he  deprives  the  skin 
of  its  hair  by  roUint;  it  up  with  thc\  furry 
side  inward,  and  aIlowin<;  it  to  undergo  a 
partinl  putrefaction.  In  the  mean  while  he 
l)re]):n-es  his  tannin'4-vat,  by  fixing  four 
stakes  into  the  ground,  connecting  their 
toi)S  with  cross-bars,  ancl  lashing  a  toler.ably 
large  hide  loosely  to  them,  so  as  to  form  a 
rude  kind  of  basin  or  tub.  A  quantity  of 
the  astringent  bark  of  tin;  karroo  thorn  is 
placed  in  the  vat  together  with  the  skin, 
and  a  sufficient  qu.antity  of  ley  is  poured  j 
over  them  until  the  vessel  is  ftill.    The  bark  I 


of  this  acacia  not  cmly  possesses  a  por/erftil 
tanning  principle,  but  at  the  same  time  im- 
parts to  the  leather  that  reddish  hue  which 
is  so  nuich  admired  by  Hottentots,  and 
which  is  afterward  heightened  by  the  sibilo 
and  buchu  which  are  rubbed  upon  it. 

Mr.  Haines  is,  however,  of  opinion  that 
this  mode  of  preparing  skins,  primitive  as 
it  m.ay  appear,  is  not  the  invention  of  the 
Hottentot  race,  but  is  due  to  the  superior! I y 
of  the  white  settlers.  The  tanning-vat  of 
hide  .appears  simple  enough  to  have  been 
invented  by  a  savage  race,  but,  as  it  is  only 
used  near  Europcim  settlements,  the  idea 
has  probably  been  borrowed  by  the  Hotten- 
tots. In  places  remote  from  the  white  set- 
tlers, and  where  their  influence  is  not  felt, 
the  Hottentots  do  not  tan  the  hides  by  steep- 
ing tliem  in  ley.  but  jirepare  them  by  manual 
labor  in  a  luauner  somewhat  similar  to  that 
which  is  used  by  the  Kaffir.  AVhen  a  large 
cow-hide  is  to  be  prepared,  several  men  fake 
])art  in  the  proceeding,  and  make;  quite  a 
festival  of  it.  They  sit  in  a  circle,  with  the 
hide  in  their  midst,  and  work  it  with  their 
hands,  occasionally  rubl)ing  in  some  butter 
or  other  grease.  They  sing  songs  the  while, 
and  at  regular  intervals  they  grasp  the  hide 
with  both  bands,  and  i;ive  it  a  violent  pull 
outward,  so  as  to  stretch  it  eqn.ally  in  every 
direction. 

The  cord  or  firing  of  which  the  Hotten- 
tots make  so  much  use  is  twisted  in  a  very 
simjile  manner.  The  bark  of  the  ever-nse- 
ful  acacia  is  strip])ed  from  the  branches,  and 
divided  into  fibres  by  being  steeped  in  wa- 
ter, and  then  pounded  between  two  stones. 
Sometimes  the  ro)ie-ninAer  jircfers  to  sejni- 
rate  the  fibres  by  chewing  the  bark,  which  is 
thought  to  have  an  agreeable  flavor.  "When 
a  sufficient  (piantity  of  fibre  has  been  pre- 
pared, the  workwoman  seats  herself  on  the 
ground,  takes  two  yarns  of  fibre,  and  rolls 
them  with  the  i)alni  of  her  hand  upon  the 
thigh.  She  then  brings  them  together, 
gives  thi'in  a  quick  roll  in  the  ojiposite  direc- 
tion, and  thus  makes  a  two-stranded  ro])o 
with  a  rajiidity  that  could  hardly  l)e  con- 
ceived, seeing  that  no  tools  of  any  kind  are 
used.  If  any  of  my  readers  should  happen 
to  be  skilled  in  nautical  affairs,  fliey  will  see 
that  this  two-stranded  rope  made  by  the 
Hottentots  is  formed  on  exactly  the  same 
jirinciiile  as  the  "kniftles"  which  are  so 
important  in  mi;  y  of  the  nautical  knots 
and  splices. 

Kope-making  is  entirely  a  woman's  busi- 
ness, and  is  not  an  agreeable  one.  Probably 
it  is  remitted  to  tln^  women  for  that  very 
reason.  The  friction  of  the  rope  against 
the  skin  is  apt  to  abrade  it,  and  makes  it  so 
sore  that  the  women  are  obliged  to  relieve 
themselves  by  rolling  the  rope  upon  the  calf 
of  the  leg  instead  of  the  thigh,  and  by  the 
time  that  th(^  injured  portion  has  recovered 
the  fither  is  sore  ;  and  so  the  poor  women 
have  to  continue    their  work,  alternating 


NATIVE  FLY-TRAP. 


between  one  portion  and  another,  until  by 
Ions  practice  tlio  sicin  bocoinc,-,  qiiito  hard 
and  ciiii  cndiiro  tlie  IViction  witliout  beinn^ 
nijurcd  by  it.  ° 

Among  all  (lie  tribes  of  Southorn  Africa 
the  tiisto  for  hide  roi)o.s  is  universal.  Hones 
of  some  kind  are  ahsolutely  noeessarv  in  anv 


227 


cause  they  are  formed  from  that  noble  ani- 
mal the  ox  whereas  ropes  made  of  ignoble 
vegetable  fibre  are  handed  over  to  t  e 
women.  " 

„<,A  r"!^^^'^^^^  substitute  for  a  spoon  i» 
used  by  this  people.  It  consists  of  tlie  stem 
ol  a  fibrous  plant,  called  Umphombo,  and  is 


those  which  are  in  ,  "c   n  Eu,re  buTrono^     f,,w /■;.••"''"'"   "  "'"^  '"*'"'''•    'i'''*^  '»«"- 

^^^^  ^^^^^^^  «bre^:'i&.rreK.::!i  iii'^ai^src  S'Li^iiiiJ'r? 


unsuitable  to  the  climate,  and,  as  a  natural 
consequence,  they  have  been  abandoned 
oven  by  European  colonists. 

The  mode  of  preparing  the  hide  rones 
varies  but  little,  except  in  unimportantTe- 
tails,  and  is  briefly  as  follows: -The  first 
proces.s  ,s  to  prepare  a  vessel  full  of  lev 
Which  IS  made  by  steci)ing  the  ashes  of  sev- 


remember  tliat  in  Southern  Africa  as  well 
as  111  other  hot  parts  of  the  world,  the  flies 
are  so  numerous  as  to  become  a  veritable 
plague.  They  come  in  swarms  into  the 
bouses,  and  settle  upon  every  article  of 
food,  so  that  the  newly-arrived  traveller 
scarcely  knows  how  to  eat  his  meals.   Bcinir 

eral  plants,  k,u>^^Vumie;•'The'^^c;u^e  U^^^^ 

Salsola.    The  voun-  .shoo  s  o?      eso  .  n^,?I    r"      '  ""'^- '""  ''""-''  '"'«   ^''e  ^^^^P  whife 

are  collected  tbr  (hi,     Zas  '  l^Z-i'''^"'^    !!:??!"':': 'l.l»   "'«  '"^t  ctf  drinking    The 


nllV     ,  /     '"^  I'Mued  in  cue  tub  of  ley  and 

hor'  At^lJcSiSS'^S'Sf'^Ljl-r"^,^'"^  ^V«  ^--  of  the  hut,  and 
sufHcient  number  of  (ho  l(r  ns  are  i,^n'n,^  ""  •i'\'''  '^'"'^  "''«!'  "^ '>«y  in  milk,  and 
tpgether,  loo.sely  twisted,  ami  passciTer  I -"?^  ^^'^?'"-     -^"  ^'^«  '^''''  "'■«  "t- 


tiacted  to  It,  and  in  a  few  seconds  nothing 
can  be  seen  but  a  large,  seething  inass  of" 
iving    creatures.      A    bag  is   then  gently 
passed  over  them,  and  a  smart  shake  given 
to  tlie  trap,  which  causes  all  the  (lies  to  fall 
in  a  mass  to  (ho  bottom  of  the  ba^'.    The 
passed  between  tl.;^  .sl^ami;  wh^'le'bv  (l.e'nll     '''^  "  "'^''.!  JT'"«ved,  so  as  to  allow  a  fiS 
of  die  sticks  they  dr.nf  liVn    e    nek  tfrd  ^  ^n^  '"  ^""'^  »"  tl^«  hav  wisp, 

and  forward  over  the  bT.ugli,  [ever  all,.    1,  ^    u"l S   ''"  ^'T  "^''  "'«  "''^^  '>=^t«>»  »''  «i'-^ 
'^  tr,  rn.f  „„  *. "  ..'  "•'^' '  alio  „  ing    IS  kil  ed,  another  is  ready  for   immolation. 


thehon.ontalbranchofatrra  haw 
weight  being  suspended  from  4ch  end  lo 
as  to  keep  the  thongs  always  on  the  .stretch 
A  couple  of  natives  (hen  set  to  work  one 
s  ation.ng  himself  at  each  end  of  Uie  Ce 

^li;^;:^„i^  j'^--- "f- '-hort  s??;^ 


., "'  '  'i'>^   'Ji-ii)uu>s  very  i)  ant    and  i 

out  Us"le!;"H'  '■•:ri"'^"-^  ^trk'he,'  th.;^ug!i- 
out  Its  length,  the  regulari(y  of   the  twist 


use""^  ^^''^^'"  tl'^'y  had  been  laid  aside  after 

In  some  parts  of  the  country,  the  flies  are 
captured  by  means  of  the  branches  of  a 
bush  belonging  to  the  gentis  Koridula. 
Ihis  IS  covered  with  a  glutinous  secretion. 
anl^lJf  "':'"•■  ^'^'^  "'^'«  ^'-'ttle  upon  it,  (hey' 

,p', "^  u..„:r,.i.  o,  ..  K-mkin-  "    I  nf  h,-      ""^r'  f "'    ''■'""''^  •^^^'-'^P^-    branches 

setMor,"1,"' ,"'"  '■"I'''  '"»""«  the  E  Sean      art    of '?h       '"'"'  f  ^'^""'"^  '"  •"""^^'-^^t 

those  flies  are  ideiKical  with  the  coninion 
housc-lly  of  En-land,  but  there  are  Inan? 
other  snecies  indigenous  to  the  country.  ' 
llie  Hottentot  is  a  tolerablv  good  carver 
in  wood,  not  because  he  has  much  idea  of 


t,„!  J  -J.., '^J   '-"""i   noi  niaintn  n   their   ^l•^  K.>t  i  -~"—-^  "y  luvs  luueii  idea  or 

holu  of  cho  country.  ■  Tiio  reidi-r  «,    i\,„f-  !  ^"^  "ccuusc  he  has     Iiiiiii:ii)ie  natieneo 

that  the  hide  .-ones  J^.±'„k?'''' ""f,''^«  I '>n'l  not  the  least  idea  of  the  v^ilue  of  time! 

wood, 


THE  HOTTENTOT. 


mostly  that  of  the  willow  tree,  and  the  car- 
ver prefers  to  work  while  the  sap  is  still  in 
'  the  wood.  A  kind  of  willow  grows  by  the 
water-side,  as  is  the  case  in  this  country, 
and  this  is  cut  down  with  the  odd  little 
hatchets  which  are  used  in  this  part  of  tlie 
world.  These  hatchets  are  matle  on  exactly 
the  same  principle  as  the  hoes  which  have 
been  so  often  mentioned,  and  which  are 
represented  on  page  57.  The  head,  how- 
ever, is  very  much  smaller,  and  the  blade  is 
Bet  in  a  line  with  the  handle  instead  of 
transversely.  They  are  so  small  and  feeble, 
that  the  labor  of  several  men  is  required  to 
cut  down  a  tree  only  eighteen  inches  or  so 
in  diameter;  and  the  work  which  an  Amer- 
ican uxeman  would  complete  in  a  few  min- 
utes occupies  them  a  day  or  two.  When 
the  trunk  has  been  at  last  severed,  it  is  cut 
into  convenient  lengths  by  the  same  labori- 
ous process,  and  the  different  portions  arc 
mostly  shaped  by  the  same  axo.  If  a  bowl 
is  the  article  to  be  made,  it  is  partly  hol- 
lowed by  the  axe,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
work  is  done  with  a  knife  bent  into  a  hook- 
like shape.  These  bowls  are,  on  the  aver- 
ago,  a  foot  or  eighteen  inches  in  diameter. 

Making  bowls  is  a  comparatively  simple 
business,  but  the  carving  of  a  jar  is  a  most 
laborious  task.  In  making  jars,  the  carver 
is  forced  to  depend  almost  entirely  upon  the 
beut  knife,  and  from  the  shape  of  the  article 
it  is  evident  that,  when  it  is  hollowed,  the 
carver  must  work  in  a  very  constrained 
manner.  Still,  as  time  is  of'uo  value,  the 
jar  is  at  last  completed,  and,  like  the  bowl, 
is  well  rubbed  with  fi\t,  in  order  to  prevent 
it  from  splitting.  Generally-,  these  jars  hold 
about  a  gallon,  but  some  oi  them  rfre  barely 
a  quarter  of  that  size,  while  others  are  large 
enough  to  contain  five  gallons.  An  Euro- 
pean, with  similar  tools,  would  not  be  able 
to  make  the  smaller  sizes  of  these  jars,  as 
he  would  not  bo  able  to  pass  his  hand  into 
the  interior.  The  hand  of  the  Hottentot  is, 
however,  so  small  and  delicate,  that  he  finds 
no  difficulty  in  the  task.  The  jar  is  called 
Bambus  in  the  Hottentot  lansju'age. 

Unlike  the  Kaffirs,  the  Hottentots  are 
rather  a  nomad  race,  and  their  huts  are  so 
made  that  they  can  bo  taken  to  pieces  and 
packed  for  transportation  in  less  than  an 
hour,  while  ,a  couple  of  hours'  labor  is 
al!  that  is  required  for  putting  them  up 
afresh,  even  when  the  architect  works  as 
deliberately  as  is  always  the  case  among 
uncivilized  natives.  Consequently,  when  a 
horde  of  Hottentots  travels  from  one  place 
to  another,  a  village  seems  to  spring  up 
almost  as  if  by  magic,  and  travellers  who 
have  taken  many  Hottentots  in  their  train 
have  been  v- 1 y  nuuh  astonished  at  tlie  sud- 
den tranfTormation  of  the  scene. 

In  g.meral  construction,  the  huts  are 
made  on  the  same  principle  as  those  of  the 
liaP^ir,  being  formed  of  a  cage-like  frame- 
work, covered  wilU  iighter    luateriaL     A 


Hottentot  kraal  is  illustrated  opposite.  The 
KatUr,  however,  interweaves  the  withes  and 
reeds  of  which  the  hut  is  made  among  the 
framework,  and  binds  thc^m  together  with 
ropes,  when,  if  he  is  going  to  settle  dc- 
terminately  in  one  spot,  or  if  he  builds  a 
hut  in  a  well-established  kraal,  he  plasters 
the  interior  with  clay,  so  as  to  make  the 
structure  firm  and  impervious  to  weather. 
The  Hottentot,on  the  contrary,  covers  Ins 
hut  with  reed  mats,  which  look  very  much 
like  the  sleeping-ma(s  of  the  Kaffirs,  and 
can  bo  easily  lashed  to  the  framework,  and 
as  easily  removed.  These  mats  arc  made  of 
two  species  of  reed,  on"  cf  wliich  is  >'jft, 

and  can  be  easily  n  

other  is  hard,  and  giv 
maker.    But  the  fornix 
tage  of  being  very  liab. 
lasting  but  a  short  time, 


'^'^''.,  wnilc  the 
ouble  to  the 
..K!  disadvan- 
decay,  an^  of 
whereas  the  latter 


is  remarkable  for  its  powers  of  endurance. 
These  plants  are  called  respectively  the  Soft 
Reed  and  the  Hard  Reed,  and  their  scien- 
tific titles  arc  Cyperus  tcxtilis  and  Smptm 
teyctalis. 

The  method  of  making  the  mats  is  some- 
what similar  to  that  which  is  employed  by 
the  Kaffirs.  The  reeds  are  cut  so  as  to 
measure  six  feet  in  length,  and  are  placed 
in  a  heap  by  the  side  of  the  mat-maker, 
together  with  a  quantity  of  the  bark  string 
which  has  already  been  mentioned.  Ho 
pierces  them  with  a  bone  or  metal  needle, 
or  with  a  mimosa  thorn  if  he  does  not  pos- 
sess a  needle,  and  pnsses  the  string  through 
the  holes,  so  as  to  fasten  the  reeds  together. 
Even  considering  the  very  slow  and  delib- 
erate manner  in  which  the  Hottentot  works, 
the  mats  can  be  made  with  cmsiderablo 
rapidity,  and  it  is  needless  to  observe  that 
three  tlottentots  do  not  get  through  nearly 
as  much  work  as  an  average  Englishman. 

In  some  cxses,  the  Hottentot  substitutes 
the  skins  of  sheep  or  oxen  for  mats,  but  the 
latter  arc  most  generally  in  use  —  probably 
because  the  skins  are  too  vnlnable  as  arti- 
cles of  apparel  to  be  ii)U)yed  for  the 
mere  exterior  of  a  hou>c.  Owing  to  the 
manner  in  which  these  huts  are  nuule,  they 
are  more  impervious  to  weather  than  those 
of  the  Kaffir,  and,  as  a  necessary  conse- 
quence, are  less  c.ajjable  of  letting  out  the 
smoke.  An  European  can,  on  a  pinch, 
exist  in  a  Kaffir  hut,  but  to  do  so  in  a  skiu- 
covered  Hottentot  house  is  almost  impossi- 
ble. To  a  restless  and  ever-moving  people 
like  the  Hottentots,  these  mats  are  absolute 
necessaries.  A  hut  of  ordinary  size  can  be 
packed  on  the  back  of  an  ox,  w'hilo  another 
ox  can  carry  all  the  simple  furniiure  and 
utensils,  together  with  the  young  children; 
and  thus  a  whole  family  can  be  moved  at  a 
few  minutes'  notic(>,  without  much  incon- 
venience. The  huts  are,  in  fact,  nothing 
but  tents  made  of  mats,  and  resemble,  in 
many  particulars,  the  camel-hair  tents  of 
the  equally  nomad  Arabs. 


loaito.  Tho 
withes  and 
among  tho 
;;other  with 
•  sottlo  de- 
hc  builds  a, 
ho  plasters 
^  make  tiio 
to  weather. 
,  covers  his 
very  much 
KatHrs,  and 
lework,  and 
avQ  made  of 
ich  is  s-jft, 
,  wnilc  the 
nible  to  tho 
I!  disadvan- 
cay,  an'  of 
3  tho  latter 
endurance. 
ely  the  Soft 
their  scien- 
nd  Smptua 

[its  is  some- 
mployed  by 
it  so  as  to 
are  placed 
mat-maker, 
bark  string 
oiied.  lie 
2tal  needle, 
es  not  po8- 
ng  through 
Is  together, 
and  delib- 
intot  works, 
'■nsiderablo 
l)serve  that 
)ugh  nearly 
;lishman. 
substitutes 
ats,  but  tho 
—  probably 
ble  as  arti- 
ed  for  the 
ing  to  tho 
nuule,  they 
than  those 
>ary  consc- 
ng  out  tho 
n  a  pinch, 
in  a  skin- 
)st  impossi- 
iing  people 
ro  absolute 
size  can  be 
ilo  another 
■niiure  and 
g  children; 
noved  at  a 
uch  incon- 
ct,  nothing 
esemble,  in 
ir  tents  of 


HOTTENTOT  KUAAL. 

(See  page  ajs.) 


(229) 


8l 

ir 

si 
b( 
re 


ill 
sa 
th 
sq 


NOMAD  HABITS  OF  THE  HOTTENTOT. 


281 


No  one — not  even  the  ov  .cr  —  knows, 
on  seeing  a  Hottentot  hut,  w  .ether  ho  will 
ttnd  it  in  the  same  place  alter  a  few  hours 
have  elapsed.  Sometimes,  a  Hottentot  wife 
will  set  to  work,  iniU  tlie  hut  to  pieces,  but, 
instead  of  packing  it  on  the;  hack  of  an  ox, 
rebuild  her  house  within  twenty  or  thirty 
yards  of  its  original  loi'alily.  The  object  of 
this  Ntninge  conduct  is  to  rid  herself  and 
family  from  the  lleas,  which,  together  with 
other  vermin,  .swarm  exceedingly  in  a  Hot- 
tentot's house,  and  drive  the  Inmates  to 
escape  in  the  manner  related.  These  un- 
.  pleasant  parasites  are  generally  attacked  in 
the  early  morning,  the  mantles,  sheepskins, 
mats,  and  other  articles,  being  taken  out- 
side the  hut,  and  beaten  soundly  with  a 
stick.  SutHcieiil,  however,  remain  to  per- 
petuate the  breed,  and  at  last,  as  has  been 
seen,  they  force  the  Hottentot  fairly  to  re- 
move the  house  altogether. 

As  to  the   Hottentots   themselves,   they 
suffer  but  comparatively  little  inconvenience 
from  the  bites  of  these  creatures,  against 
which   the    successive   coatings  of  grease 
buchu,  and  sibllo  act  as  a  piirtial  defence! 
But,  whenever  -the   insects    are  fortunate 
enough    to    attack  a  clean-skinned    Euro- 
pean, they  take  full  advantage  of  ihe  oppor- 
tunity, and  drive  him  half  m.id.    Gordon 
Cumming  relates  an  amusing  account  of  a 
small  adventure  which  happened  to  him- 
self in  connection  with  these  insects.    He 
was  extremely  tired,  and  fell  asleep  among 
his  followers,  one  of  whom  compassionately 
took  off  the  kaross  which  he  was  wearin" 
and  spread   it    over    him.      Presently  tire 
sleepei-  started  up  in  a  state  of  unbearable 
irritation  from  the  bites  of  the  numerous 
parasites  with  which  the  kaross  was  stocked. 
He  was  obliged  instantly  to  remove  every 
single  article  of  ai)parel,  and  have  them  all 
beaten  and  searched  before  ho  could  again 
resume  them. 

As  may  be  seen  by  inspection  of  the 
Illustration,  the  huts  are  not  of  quite  the 
same  shape  as  those  belonging  to  the  Kaffirs 
the  ends  being  flattened,  and  the  apertures 
square  mstead  of  rounded,  the  door,  in  fact 


being  simply  made  by  the  omission  of  one 
mat.  The  nomad  life  of  the  Hottentots  is 
necessitated  by  their  indolent  habits,  and 
their  utter  want  of  forethought.  The  Kaffir 
is  not  remarkable  for  the  latter  quality,  as 
indeed  is  the  case  with  most  savage  nations. 
But  the  Kaffir  is,  at  all  events,  a  tolerable 
agriculturist,  and  raises  enough  grain  to 
supply  his  family  with  food,  besides,  in 
many  canes,  enclosing  {mtches  of  ground  in 
which  to  plant  certjun  vegetables  and  fruit 
The  Hottentot,  however,  never  had  much 
notion  of  agriculture,  and  what  littlo  he 
attempts  is  of  the  rudest  description. 

The  unwieldy  hoe  with  which  the  Kaffir 
women  broak  up  the  ground  is  a  sufficiently 
rude  and  clumsy  instrument,  but  it  is  per- 
fection itself  when  compared  with  the  dig- 
ging stick  of  the  Hottentot.  This  is  nothing 
more  than  a  stick  of  hard  wood  sharpened 
at  one  end,  and  weighted  by  means  of  a  per- 
forated stone  through  which  it  is  passed, 
and  which  is  held  in  its  place  by  a  v/edge. 
With  this  rude  instrument  the  Hottentot 
can  break  up  the  ground  faster  than  mi<.ht 
be  imagined,  but  he  oftener  uses  it  for  dig- 
ging up  wild  plants,  and  unearthing  sundry 
burrowing  animals,  than  for  any  agricul- 
tural purposes. 

The  life  of  a  Hottentot  does  not  tie  him 
to   any  particular    spot.      A    sub-tribe    or 
horde,  whicli  tolerably  corresponds  with  the 
kraal  of  the  Kaffir,  settles  down  in  some 
locality  which  they  think  will  supply  nour- 
ishment, and  which  is  near  water.     Here 
if  the  spot  be  fevorable,  they  will  sometimes' 
rest  lor  a  considerable  time,  occasionally  for 
a  space  of  several  years.    Facility  for  hunt- 
ing has  much  to  do  with  the  length  of  time 
that  a  horde  remains  in  one  spot,  inasmuch 
as  the  Hottentots  are  admirable  hunters 
and  quite  rival  the  Kaffirs  in  this  respect 
even  if  they  do  not  excel  them.    Thev  are 
especially  notable  for  the  persevering  obsti- 
nacy with  which    they  will   pursue   their 
game,  thinking  a  whole  day  well  bestowed 
it  they  succeed  at  last  in  bringing  down 
their  prey.  ° 


M 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


WEAPONS. 


I       I 


3 

■ 

=|ij 

A      ll 

1      i 

1      I- 

'      1' 

•1         :   ■ 

■          ^t 

_! 

WEAPONS  OF  TITE  HOTTKyTOT  AJfn  THEIR  rSE  —  mS  VOnACITY,  AND  CAPAmOTY  OP  IIKAIIIVO  HTmnElt 
—  MODB  OP  COO  ro — POWEH  OP  SLEKP — niHTfNCTION  IIF.TWKEN  HOTTKNTOT-l  AND  KAKHIIS  — 
CATTLE  AND  THKIU  I'SKS  — THE  HAKKLEYS  OH  PmilTINU  OXEN— A  HOTTENTot'm  MUMOKV  I'Olt  A 
COW  — MAni«A<lE  —  POLYOAMV  NOT  OI-TEN  PIIACTISEI)  —  WANT  OP  IIEI.KJION  —  l,AN(;l  Adi:  IIP  TUB 
HOTTENTOTS — THE  CIIAUA(TER7STIC  '•fLICKS"  —  AMIIHKMENTS  OP  THE  IKITTKN'IOTS  —  HINOI.NT 
AND  nANC'INQ- Sl'HJECT  OK  TIIEIll  K0N<1H  — TUP,  MAN's  DANCE  — AM.  AMUSEMENTS  HE.HTItlCTED 
TO  NIOIIT— THE  MELON  DANCE— "CAllD-PLAYINO  "  — LOVE  OP  A  PllACTlCAL  JOKE  —  INAIULITY 
TO  MEASUBB  TIME- WAIIFAKE- SICKNESS,  DEATH,  AND  BUllLVI.. 


The  weapons  which  tlic  Hottentots  use  are 
mostly  the  bow  and  arrow.  Tliese  weapons 
are  ahnost  identical  with  those  employed  by 
the  Bosjesniaus,  and  will  be  described  in  a 
future  page.  Tliey  also  employ  tlie  assagai, 
but  do  not  seem  to  bo  particularly  fond  of 
it,  lacking  the  muscular  strength  which  en- 
ables the  Kallir  to  make  such  terrible  use  of 
it.  Moreover,  the  Hottentot  does  not  carry 
a  sheaf  of  these  weapons,  but  contents  him- 
self with  a  single  one,  which  he  does  not 
throw  until  he  is  at  tolerably  close  quar- 
ters. 

Ho  is,  however,  remarkable  for  his  skill  in 
tlirowing  the  knob-kerric,  which  is  always  of 
the  short  form,  so  that  he  can  carry  several 
of  them  in  his  belt.  In  fact,  he  uses  the 
kerrie  much  a.s  the  Kattir  uses  the  a.ssagai, 
having  ahvays  a  quantity  of  them  to  his 
liand,  and  hurling  them  one  after  the  other 
with  deadly  accuracy  of  aim.  With  these 
weapons,  so  useless  in  the  hands  of  an  ordi- 
nary European,  he  can  match  himself  against 
most  of  the  ordinary  animals  of  Southern 
Africa,  excepting,  of  course,  the  larger  ele- 
phants, rhinoceros,  and  hi|)popotan)us,  and  i  .selves  afresh,  and  fall  asle( 
the  predaceous  fclid.^^  such  as  the  lion  or 
leopard.  These,  however,  he  can  destroy 
by  means  of  pitfalls  and  other  ingenious 
devices,  and  if  a  Hottentot  hunter  sets  him- 
self deterrainedly  to  kill  oi*  capture  any  given 
ai.imal,  that  creature's  chances  of  life  are 
but  smab. 

When  he  has  succeeded  in  killing  game, 
his  voiacity  is  seen  to  equal  his  patience. 
Hunger  he  can  endure  with  wonderful  indit- 
fereuce,  tightening  his  belt  day  by  day,  and 


contriving  to  sujiport  existence  on  an  almost 
inappreciable  quantity  of  timil.  liul,  when 
he  can  only  procure  meat,  he  eats  wiili  a  con- 
tinued and  sustained  voracity  that  is  .nlniost 
incredible.  For  (piality  be  cans  but  liltle, 
and  so  that  he  can  obtain  unlimited  supjilies 
of  meat,  be  does  not  trouble  biinsclf  whether 
it  be  tough  or  tender.  Wliii)c\  i>r  one  of  a 
horde  of  Hottentots  succecils  in  kiiling  a 
large  animal,  such  as  an  ehpbiiat  or  liipjio- 
])Otamus,  and  it  baiipens  lo  be  at  a  distiinco 
from  tne  kraal,  tlu;  inhabitants  prefer  lo 
strike  their  tent-like  houses  and  to  I'linovo 
them  (o  the  animal  ralber  than  trouble 
thenisr'lves  by  making  re)ieate(l  journeys  to 
and  fro.  The  cliief  reason  for  this  slr;inge 
conduct  is.  ibat.if  they  took  ibe  latter  alter- 
native, they  would  jleprive  tbtinselves  of 
one  of  the  gri  atesi  luxuries  which  a  IIol(<'n- 
tot  can  enjoy.  Seldom  tasting  meat,  tliey 
become  s( mi-intoxicated  under  its  iulhn  nee, 
and  will  g<n'ge  themselviK  to  (he  utmost 
limit  of  endurance,  sleeping  after  (he  fashion 
of  a  l)oa-coiistrictor  that  has  swallowed  a 
;oat,  and  then  awaking  only  to  goige  tliem- 

;;uain. 
There  is  an  excuse  lor  this  eNlraonlinnry 
exhibition  of  gluttony,  namely,  tluil  the  hot 
climate  causes  meat  to  putrily  so  lapiilly 
thatit  must  be  eaten  at  onee  if  it  is  eaten  at 
call.  Even  as  it  is,  the  Hottentots  are  ot1en 
obliged  to  eat  meal  that  is  more  than  tainted, 
and  from  which  even  the  great(  st  admirer 
of  high  game  would  recoil  with  burror. 
They  do  not.  however,  seem  to  trouble 
themselves  about  such  trilles,  and  <levour 
the  tainted  meat  sis  eacerly  as  if  it  wero 


(232) 


Ui 


A  HOTTENTOT'S  MEMORY   FOR  AN  OX. 


888 


KAiiivo  nrrnnrrt 

AM>  KAKHIIS  — 
I  ,MHM()IIV  I'dlt  A 
\N(11  Adi:  UK  TIIK 
NIOTS  —  HINOI.NO 
NTS  UK.HTItlCTKU 
)KE  — INAIIILITY 


e  on  an  almost 
I.  ))Ul,  when 
;its  will)  a  cnii- 
thiit  is  aliiiiist 
ins  luit  liltic, 
milcd  .su|i))lies 
iiiscir  wlu'llicr 
cviT  0111'  of  n 
4  in  kiiliii;;  a 
liUit  or  liipiio- 
i^  at  ii  (listani'O 
nis  iirit'cr  to 
nil  to  I'linovo 
tiiau  tniuhlo 
'd  Journeys  to 
r  tills  slianije 
le  latter  alter- 
[lieniselves  of 
licli  a  IIol(<'n- 
11,'  meat,  tliey 
r  its  iiilhu  nee, 

0  the  ndiiost 
er  tlie  I'a^liion 

swallowed  ii 
11  -.rorge  theni- 
nain. 

estraonlinary 
\  tlijit  the  hot 
ly  so   raiiiilly 

it  is  ealiii  at 
tots  are  otlen 
'  titan  tainted, 
at(  st  ailmirer 

with  liorror. 

1  to  trouhle 
,  and  devour 
US  if  it  were 


pprfectly  ft-psh.  AVhatever  may  bo  tlin 
oriijiiial  <iualily  of  the  meat,  it  ow(«  nolhinj,' 
to  thii  modi!  ill  which  it  is  dressed,  for  the 
Ilolteiitots  are  jierliajis  the  very  worst  cooks 
ill  th«  world.  Tliey  take  an  earthen  pot, 
nearly  till  it  with  water,  jiiit  it  on  the  lire, 
and  allow  it  to  lioil.  They  tlmii  eut  up  their 
meat  into  lumps  as  larLJe  lus  ii  man's  list, 
throw  them  into  the  jiot,  and  iiermil  tlu^m 
to  remain  there  until  they  are  wanted. 
Hoinelimes,  when  the  fe.asters  are  a.sleep 
themselves,  they  allow  the  meat  to  remain 
in  tlie  pot  for  half  a  day  or  so,  durinj;  which 
time  tlu!  women  are  "olilii^eil  to  keep  the 
water  continually  hoilin.i;,  and  it  may  lie  iiii- 
a;,'iiie(l  the  ulliiiiate  resiilt  of  their  cooking 
is  not  particularly  palatable. 

It  has  already"  lieen  mentioned  that  the 
IlotteiUot  trilies  are  remarkable  for  their 
appetites.      They   arc   no   le.ss   notable   for 
their  power    of   sleep.      A   thorongh-bred 
Hottentot  can  sleep  at  any  time,  and  it  is 
almost  inijiossible  to  place  liiin  iiiuler  condi- 
tions in  which  ho  will  not  shn-p.     If  he  be 
pinched  with  hunger,  andean  see  no  means 
of  obtaining  food  either  by  hunting  or  from 
the  ground,  he  lies  down,  rolls  himself  u)i  in 
Ills  kaross,  and  in  a  few  moments  is  wrapjied 
in  slufiiher.     Sleej)  to  him  almost  answers 
(he  pir.-j)osn  of  food,  and  he  can  olYcn  s;iv 
with    truth    flmt  "he   who  sleeps  dines." 
When  he  sleeps  his  shiinber  is  truly  remark- 
able, as  it  appears  more  like  a  lethariiv  than 
sleep,  as  we  understand  (be  word.     A  gun 
may  be  (ired  close  to  the  ear  of  a  sleei)in<' 
irotteiitot  and  he  will  not  notice  it,  or,  ut  all 
oveiits,  will  merely  turn  himself  and  sink 
again  to  repose,     liven  in  sleep  there  is  a 
distinction  between  the  Kalllr  and  the  Hot- 
tentot.    The  former  lies  at  full  length  on  his 
mat,  while  the  other  coils  himself  up  like  a 
human  hedgehog.      In    spiti>   of   the    evil 
atm(is]iherc  of  their  huts,  the  Hottentots  are 
compamoiiablo  even  in  their  sleep,  and  at 
night  the  lloor  of  a  hut  will  bo  covered  with 
a  number  of  Hottentots,  all  Ivim'  fast  asleep 
and  .'■o  mixed  uji  together  that  it  is  scarccdy 
possible  to  distinguish  the  various  bodies  to 
which  the  limbs  belong.    The  illustration 
-No. .!,  page  247,  gives  a  good  idea  of  this 
singular  custom. 

_  The  cattle  of  the  Hottentot.*  have  several 
times    been    mentioned.     These,   like   tlu' 
KaHlr  oxen,  arc  used  as  beasts  of  burden 
and  tor  riding,  and  are   accoutred   in   the 
same  manner,  /.  e.  by  a  leathern  rope  passed 
several  times  round   the  body,  and  hauled 
tiglit  by  men  at  each   end.    Perhaps   the 
reader  may   remember  that  in   days   loii" 
gone  by,  ■,vlien  the  Hottentots  were  a  now" 
erl\il  nation  and  held  the  commni!d  of  South- 
ern  Africa,   their  kraals  or  villages  were 
defended  by  a  iieculiar  breed  of  oxen,  which 
were   e.specia!Iy  trained   for  that  purpose, 
anr!  Which  ansuercd  the  same  purpose  as 
the  watch-dogs  which  now  beset  the  villages 
These  oxen  were  said  to  be  trained  to  guard 


the  entmnce  of  the  kraal,  and  to  know  every 
inhabitant  of  the  villuge,  from  the  oldest 
iiiliabitaiit  down  to  the  child  which  could 
only  Jiistcrawl  about.  Strangers  they  would 
iKit  permit  to  apiiroach  the  kraal  except 
when  escorted  by  one  of  the  inhabitants,  nor 
would  they  sullbr  him  to  go  out  again  except 
under  the  same  protection. 

This  story  is  generally  sunnosed  to  be  a 
mere  fabrication,  and  I'xi.ssilily  may  he  so. 
There  is,  however,  in  my  collection  an  ox- 
horn  wiiicli  was  brought  from  Southern 
Africa  by  the  Ilev.  Mr.  Shooter,  and  of  which 
no  one  could  give  an  accounl.  It  is  ( vi- 
dently  very  old,  and,  although  the  horn  of  a 
domesticated  variety  of  cattle,  is  (piite  unlike 
the  horns  of  the  oxen  whiirh  belong  to  tlie 
native  trilies  of  the  iirescnt  dav,  being  twice 
as  large,  and  having  allogetircr  a  diHerent 
a.spect.  It  is  just  such  a  horn  as  might  have 
belonged  to  the  oxen  aforesaid,  and,  although 
it  cannot  be  definitely  said  to  have  grown 
on  the  head  of  one  of  "these  animals,  there  is 
Just  a  possibility  that  such  may  have  been 
the  case. 

lake  the  KafTir,  the  Hottentot  lias  a  won- 
derful recollection  of  an  ox.  If  he  but  sees 
one  flir  a  minute  or  two  he  will  lenieiiiber 
that  ox  again,  wherever  it  may  be,  and 
even  afl(>r  tlut  lapsi;  of  several  years.  Ho 
will  recognize  it  in  the  midst  of  a'lierd,  even 
ill  a  strange  place,  where  he  could  have  no 
expe<'tation  of  meeting  it,  and  he  will  re- 
member its  "spoor,"  and  be  able  to  trace 
its  footsteps  among  the  tracks  of  the  wlioii 
herd.  He  has  even  been  known  to  discover 
a  stolen  cow  by  seeing  a  ealf  which  she  had 
produced  after  she  was  stolen,  and  which  ho 
recognized  from  its  likeiie<s  to  its  mother. 

The  marriages  of  the  Hottentots  are  very 
-iiiilile  affairs,  and  consist  merelv  in  pavin"" 
a  certain  price  and  taking  the  I  '<■  home! 
In  Kolben's  well-known  work  .,>ie  is  a 
ino.st  elaborate  and  circumstantial  descrip- 
tion of  a  Hottentot  marriage,  (l.tailing  with 
needless  precision  a  number  of  extraordi- 


nary rites  performed  by  the  priest  over  the 
newly-wedded  jiair.  Now,  inasmuch  as  the 
order  of  priests  is  not  known  toliave  exi.'ted 
among  the  Hottentots,  and  certainly  did 
not  exist  in  Kolben's  time,  (be  whole  narra- 
tuc  falls  to  the  ground.  The  fact  is,  that 
Kolben  found  it  easier  to  describe  second- 
hand than  to  investigate  for  himself  find 
the  consequence  was,  that  the  Dutch  colo- 
nists, from  whom  he  pined  his  information, 
amused  themselves  by  impo.-ing  upon  lii.s' 
credulity. 

Polygamy,  althongh  not  prohibited  amoii" 
(he  Hottentots,  is  but  rarely  practised.  Sonu' 
men  have  several  wives,  b'nt  this  is  the  cx- 
cejition,  and  not  the  rule. 

As  they  have  no  priests,  .so  they  have  no 
professional  doctors.     Tliev  are  alfadejit-j  in 
the  very  slight  amount  of"me(licaI  and  sur- 
gical knowledge  which  is  required  by  them 
and  have  no  idea  of  u  separate  order  of  men 


9M 


THE    IIOTTEXTOT. 


I      I 


5 


who  practise  tho  hoalitiK  art.  Unlike  tlio 
Kallirs.  wlio  iiic  tlic  most  MuptTHtilioim  of 
iiiniikiiiii.  liif  Ilottciitdtx  am  fiilircly  free 
iVitin  NujH'rHlitioii,  iiiaMimicli  hh  llicy  liavc 
not  tin-  loiisi  conception  of  any  roliKionn 
Hciitinii'nis  wliulHonviT.  Tin-  ini-Hcnt  worltl 
forms  lilt'  jimil  of  all  their  ideas,  iind  they 
Kcem,  HO  far  as  is  known,  to  lie  eijnally  i;;no- 
rnnt  of  a  Creator  anil  of  the  innnortality  of 
the  Honl. 

Tlu^  lan>;uago  of  the  Hottentot  races  in 
remiirkalile  for  a  iieeuliaritv  which  is,  I  he- 
licve,  restricti'd  to  themselv<'s  and  to  the 
snrroundin;^  trilicH,  who  have  evidently 
learned  it  from  them.  This  is  the  presence 
of  the  ••  click,"  which  is  fonnd  in  almost  all 
the  trihcs  that  inhabit  Southern  Africa, 
with  the  exception  of  the  Ama/nln,  who 
are  free  from  this  cm'ious  adjunct  to  their 
liuiiiuaj^e,  anil  speak  a  tonj^iU!  as  soft  as 
Italian.  Tliere  are  three  of  these  "  clicks," 
formed  liy  the  tonjjue,  the  teeth,  and  the 
palate,  and  each  ol'  them  alters  the  si'Miili- 
catioii  of  the  word  with  which  it  is  used. 
Till'  lirst,  which  is  in  f,'reatest  use,  is  made 
hy  pressing!  the  tij)  of  the  t(>n",nie  against 
the  upper  front  teeth,  and  then  smartly  dis- 
enjjn^inij;  it.  The  sound  is  exactly  like  that 
wliich  is  produced  l)y  some  persons  when 
■they  are  annoyed.  The  second  dick  is 
forined  hy  pressinj,'  the  tonjiue  against  the 
roof  of  the  namlh,  and  then  shari)ly  wilh- 
drawinii  it,  ho  as  to  produce  a  sound  like 
that  which  is  used  hy  jirooni.s  when  ur).;in^ 
a  horse.  It  has  to  be  done,  however,  with 
tlie  least  possible  force  that  will  nroduce  the 
etleet,  as  otherwist^  tlie  dick  and  the  sylla- 
ble to  wliich  it  is  joined  cannt)t  he  wounded 
simultaneously.  The  last  dick  is  nuich 
louder  than  the  others,  and  is  formed  l)y 
drawiuii  the  tongue  hack  as  far  as  iiossible, 
and  pressing  the  tip  against  the  back  of  the 
palate.  It  is  then  forced  rapid ;\  toward  the 
lips,  so  a.s  to  produce  a  much  deeper  and 
more  nonorous  sound  than  can  be  obtained 
by  the  two  former  modes. 

In  the  few  words  which  can  be  given  to 
this  l)ranch  of  the  sul)ject,  we  will  distinguish 
tliese  several  sounds  by  the  titles  of  "clack," 
"click,"  and  "cluck."  The  reader  will  find 
it  very  difticult  to  produce  either  of  these 
sounds  .simultaneously  with  a  part  of  a 
word,  but,  if  he  should  desire  to  make  him- 
self understood  in  the  Hottentot  dialect, 
it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  he  should  do 
HO.  How  needful  these  curious  adjunct.s  are 
has  been  well  shown  by  Le  Vailiant.  For 
instance,  the  word  Aap,  without  any  click 
at  all,  signifies  a  horse,  but  with  the  click 
it  signifies  an  arrow,  and  with  the  clack  it 
beconu's  the  name  of  a  river.  It  is,  of 
course,  impossible  to  reduce  this  language 
to  any  known  alphabet,  and  the  necessary 
consequence  is  that  hardly  any  two  travel- 
lers who  have  written  accounts  of  the  Hot^ 
tentot  tribes  have  succeeded  in  spelling 
worils  so  that  they  would  be  recognized, 


or  in  Hueh  a  manner  that  tiio  reader  would 
ho  able  to  pronounce  them.  The  geiierul 
mode  of  expressing  these  dicks  is  by  pre- 
(ixing  the  letters  in  or  ;/  to  the  word,  und 
the  reader  may  find  a  very  familiar  example 
in  the  word  (Jiioo.  which  ought  really  to  be 
spelt  without  the  f/,  and  with  somi^  prelix 
which  wiaild  denote  the  kind  of  click  which 
is  used  with  it. 

The  amusements  of  the  Hottentots  con- 
sist chietly  of  singing  and  dancing,  together 
with  jilaying  on  a  <'iuio!'  itislrument  (mlled 
tlie  Gmira.  This  insln  nl,  however,  be- 
longs rather  to  the  Hosji  ;uan  group  oi'  the 
Hottentot  race,  and  will  therefore  be  de- 
scribed in  a  future  page.  Their  songs  are 
also  evidently  di'rived  from  the  same  source, 
and  their  melodies  are  identical.  Kxamples 
of  nosjcsman  songs  will  be  ])resently  given, 
together  with  the  description  of  the  (ioiira. 
In  the  words  of  tlu^  songs,  however,  tho 
Hottentots  have  the  advantage,  as  they 
always  have  some  signification,  whereas 
those  of  till!  IJoMJesmans  have  not  even  tho 
semblance  of  meaning,  and  are  eiiuivalent 
to  the  ih>,  »T,  mi,  &e.,  of  niodern  music. 

Le  Vailiant  mentions  that  the  subject  of 
the  song-i  which  the  Hottentots  saiin;  was 
almost  always  some  adventure  which  had 
liaiipened  to  themselves,  so  that,  like  the, 
negroes,  they  can  sing  throughout  the  whole 
night,  by  the  simple  ex|iedieiit  of  reiieatiug 
the  words  of  their  song  over  and  over 
again.  They  prefer  the  night  to  the  day 
for  this  puriiose,  because  the  atmosphere 
is  cooler,  anil  the  tasks  of  the  day  are  over. 

"  When  they  are  desirous  of  indulging  in 
this  amusement,  they  Join  hands  and  form 
a  circle  of  greater  or  less  extent,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  number  of  iiiaii!  and  femalo 
dancers,  who  are  always  mixed  with  a  kind 
of  .symmetry.  .When"  the  chain  is  made, 
they' turn  niund  from  one  side  to  another, 
separating  at  certain  intervals  to  mark  the 
measure,  ami  from  time  to  lime  da))  their 
hands  without  interrupting  the  cadence, 
while  with  their  voices  they  aceomiiany 
the  sound  of  the  instrument,  and  eoniinu- 
allv  chant  *  Hoo!  Hoo! '  This  is  the  gen- 
eral burdi'n  of  their  song. 

".Sometimes  one  of  the  dancers  quits  the 
circle,  and,  going  to  the  centre,  perforins 
there  alone  a  few  steps  after  the  English 
manner,  all  the  merit  and  beauty  of  which 
consi.stin  performing  them  with  equal  (juick- 
nessand  precision,  without  stirring  from  the 
spot  where  lie  stands.  Albr  this  they  all 
quit  each  other's  hands,  follow  one  another 
carelessly  with  an  air  of  terror  aud  nidan- 
cholv,  their  heads  leaning  to  one  shoulder, 
and  "their  eyes  cast  down  toward  the  ground, 
which  they  look  at  with  attention;  aud  in  a 
moment  after  they  break  forth  in  the  live- 
liest demonstration  of  Joy,  and  tho  most 
ex'rav.ngnnt  merriment. 

"  They  are  highly  delighted  with  this  con- 
trast wlien  it  is  well  performed.    All  this  is 


THE  MELOX  DANCE. 


988 


roiulcr  would 

Tlie    KL'lUTul 

<H  JH  liy  pri'- 
lU  word,  uiiil 
iliiir  i>Miiii|ilo 
t  ri'iilly  Id  1)0 
)si)iu(^  prclix 
r  click  which 

ttputots  ron- 
h\)f,  toHotlier 

llUII'Ilt  (^llfll 
llOWl'VlT,  lic- 

;^roiip  of  lliu 
I'i'ore  \w  (lo- 
'ir  hoiij;h  iiro 
Manii!  MoiiiTi', 
I.  KxiiiiiplcH 
■sciitly  Kivcn, 
A'  the  (ioiira. 
lowcvcr,  tho 
\<iv,  (iH  tlu-y 
ion,  whiTcoa 
not  even  tho 
•0  e(|uivalunt 
II  inuHJc. 
Il(!  suhji'ct  of 
i>ts  Hiuiji;  was 

V  which  liiid 
hilt,  like  till) 
mil  the  whole 
,  of  ri'iii'iiting 
IT  niid  ovor 
t  to  the  iliiy 
)  atmosphiTo 
liiy  iiri'  ovrr. 

iiulul<;in<;  iu 
kIm  and  i'oriu 
;tL'ut,  ill  pi-o- 
e  and  il'iiialo 
d  with  a  kind 
ain  is  niudo, 
Ic  to  anolliiT, 
4  to  mark  thu 
me  ilaj)  their 
the  cadi'iui', 
y  acconijiany 
and  i-oniinu- 
is  is  the  geu- 

ccrs  quits  the 
lire,  performs 
•  the  En-ilish 
duty  of  which 
li  I'iiual  fpiiek- 
irinj5  from  the 
tills  they  all 

V  one  another 
ir  and  melan- 
one  Khoulder, 
rd  the  ground, 
tinn;  aud  in  a 
ii  in  the  live- 
iiid  tho  moat 


ftt  liotlom  hut  an  allernate  assemlilage  of 
Very  ilroll  and  ainusiu};  pantomimes,  it 
must  l)i(  observed  that  the  danecrs  make  ii 
hollow  nioniftonoiis  kind  of  humniini;,  which 
never  ceases,  e.vicept  when  they  join  the 
Hpectators  and  sin;,'  (he  wonderful  chorus, 
'IIoo!  IIoo!'  which  appears  to  he  the  life 
and  soul  of  this  ma^'nidceut  miisie,  Thi'v 
usually  conclude  willi  a  general  hall;  that 
is  to  say,  the  ring  is  broken  and  they  all 
dance  iu  eonl'usion  as  each  chooses, "and 
upon  this  occasion  they  display  all  their 
strength  ami  agility.  The  most  exjiert 
dancers  repeal,  hy  way  of  deliance  to  each 
other,  those  dau'^eroiis  leaps  and  musical 
<piivers  of  our  grand  academies,  which  ex- 
cite laughter  as  deservedly  a»  the  'JIool 
lloi)! '  of  Africa." 

Whether  for  siuLjing.  dancing,  or  other 
relaxation,  the  Ifotientots  never  asscmhle 
o.xcept  hy  night,  the  day  hei  -  far  too  pre- 
cious for  mere  ainusenn'nt.  Diiriii!,'  the  day 
the  men  are  engaged  in  thedillerent  pursuit's 
of  their  life,  sorii"  being  far  from  their  liome 
on  the  track  of  some  animal  which  tliey  are 
hunting,  and  whose  tlesb  is  devoted  to  the 
.support  of  themselves  and  their  tiiinilies. 
Olliers  are  laboriously  making  suiires,  dig- 
ging pitfalls,  or  going  the  rounds  of  those 
which  are  already  made,  so  that  animals 
which  have  been  captured  mav  be  removed, 
and  the  snares  reset.  They  have  also  to  make 
their  hows,  arrows,  sjiears,  and  dubs,  opera- 
tions which  absorb  much  time,  partly  because 
their  tools  are  few  and  im|)erfect,  and  partly 
because  all  their  work  is  undertaken  with 
a  degree  of  deliberation  wbicli  is  exceed- 
inglv  irritating  to  an  European  spectator. 

The  women,  too.  are  engaged  in  their 
own  occupations,  which  are  intinitelv  more 
laborious  than  those  of  the  men,  aiid  con- 
sist of  all  kinds  of  domestic  work,  including 
taking  down  and  puttim;  up  the  huts,  lol" 
lecting  wood  for  the  evening  fires,  and  i»re- 
paring  the  food  for  the  men  when  they 
return  home.  With  the  shades  of  evening 
all  attempts  at  industry  are  given  up,  and 
tho  Hottentots  amuse  "themselves  throu'di- 
ont  nearlv  the  entire  niizht.  The  sav.^i'e 
docs  not  by  any  means  j.'o  to  lied  with  tfie 
l)irds  and  arise  with  them,  as  is  popnlarlv 
supposed,  and  almost  invariablv  is  an  incor- 
ngd)le  sittcr-uj)  at  night,  smoking,  talkin" 
Ringing,  dancing,  and  otherwise  anuisim' 
liiinsell,  as  if  he  had  done  nothing  whatever 
all  day.  " 

Perh.ips  he  may  owe  the  capability  of 
enduring  such  constant  dissipation  to  the 
fact  that  he  can  command  sleep  at  will,  and 
tliat  his  slumber  is  so  deep  as  to  l)e  nndi.s- 
tnrbed  by  the  clamor  that  is  .roin-^  on 
around  him.  If.  for  example,  a  ?Iottentot 
ha.s  been  hunting  all  dav,  and  has  returned 
homo  weary  with  the  ch^se  and  with  carry- 
ing the  animals,  he  will  not  think  of  sleep- 
ing until  he  has  had  his  supper.  R,„nt(,^  }jj~ 
pipe,  and  enjoyed  an  iiour  or  two  of  iTaiicin" 


and  singing.  Unt,  as  soon  as  ho  feels  dis. 
posed  to  cease  from  his  amusements,  ho 
retires  tVom  the  circle,  rolls  himself  up  in 
his  karosH,  lies  down,  and  in  a  few  secoudH 
is  fast  asleep,  unheeding  the  noise  which  is 
made  close  to  his  cars  hy  his  companion* 
who  arc  still  pursuing  their  revels. 

There  is  a  singular  dance  which  is  much 
in  voirue  among  the  young  Hottentot  girls, 
and  wliii  h  is,  as  far  as  I  know,  peculiar  to 
them.     As  a  small  melon  is  the  chief  object 
of  the  sport,  it  goes   hy  the   name   of  (he 
.^^elon  Dance,  and  is  thus  performed: — In 
(he  evening,  when  the  air  is  cool,  the  girls 
assemble  and  choose  one  of  their  number 
as  a  leader.    (She  takes  a  small  round  melon 
in  her  hands,  and  begins  to  run  in  a  circle, 
waving   her  arms   and   dinging  about   her 
limbs  in  the  wildest  Imaginable  way.     The 
others   tbilow   her   and   imitate   her   move- 
ments,  anil,   as  they   are   not  impeded   by 
many  trammels  of  dress,  and  only  wear  the 
ordinary  cap  and  girdle  of  leathern  (hongs, 
their  movements  are  l\ill  of  wild  grace.     As 
tho  leader  runs  round  (lie  course,  she  (lings 
the   melon   in   the  air,  catches  it,  llings   it 
a;,'ain,aiid  at  last  stoops  suddenly,  leaps  into 
the  air,  and  throws  the  melon  heiiealh  her 
toward  the  girl  who  follows  her.   The  object 
of  this  dance  is  (woti)ld.     The   second   girl 
has    to    catch   the    melon    without  ceasing 
from  her  course,  and  the  first  lias  (o  (brow 
it  when  she  fancies  that  the  second    is  off 
her  guard.      (;onse(|Uen(ly,  she   makes   all 
kinds  of   feints,  jjretending   to   throw   the 
melon  several  times,  and  trying  to  deceive 
by  every   means    in    her    power.      If    tho 
second  girl  fails  in  catching  the  melV.n  the 
first  retains  her  leadership^  but  if  she  snc- 
<■'  I  ds  shetiecomes  leader,  and  goes  tJirough 
ibe    same    mano'iivres.      In   this   way    the 
inelon  goes  round  and  round,  and  the'sport 
IS    continued    until    the   daneera   are    too 
fatigued  to  continue  It. 

From  the  ahave  description  .some  persons 
might  fancy  that  this  dance  ofl"ends  the 
sense  of  decorum.  It  doe.Ji  not  so.  It  is 
true  that  the  style  of  clothing  which  is 
worn  by  the  dancers  is  not  awording  to 
huropean  notions,  bnt,  accoi-ding  to  their 
own  ideas,  it  is  conveniont  and  according  to 
usage.  Neither  is  there  anything  inlhe 
dance  itself  which  ought  to  shock  a  rightly 
constituted  mind.  It  is  simply  an  ebullition 
of  yoilthful  spirits,  and  has  nothing  in  com- 
mon with  dances  in  many  parts  of  the  world 
which  are  avowedly  and  intendedly  licen- 
tiou.s,  and  which,  whether  accompaiiied  hy 
more  or  less  clothing  than  is  worn  bv  tlies"e 
Hottentot  girls,  are  repulsive  rather  than 
attrt-ictive  to  any  one  who  possesses  any 
amount  of  self-respect. 

In  this  instance  the  dance  is  conducted  in 
perfect  innocence,  and  the  performers  have 
no  more  idea  of  impropriety  in  the  scanty 
though  grficxful  and  artistic  dress  they 
wear,  than  has  an  English  lady  at  ajipear- 


'2m 


THE  HOTTENTOT. 


lii^'  with  hiT  fiico  unveiled.  As  louj?  iw 
cldliiiiiK  is  not  iitlrinpUMi,  il  doen  not  Heein 
to  be  itMiiiiied,  bill,  when  any  portion  of 
Eiirojiean  elolliiiii;  i"  UMHUnitMi,  the  wliole 
e!is(>  iM  altered.  Mr.  i.iinuM  ii;irrate.s  u  little 
corroborative  ineideni.  He  was  travellin;^ 
in  n  wa^on,  aeeoinpanied.  aH  usual,  by  Hot- 
teutols  and  their  iUinilies.  The  latter, 
uicslly  Ceniales,  were  walking  1)y  (he  side  ol' 
the  wnjjon,  wearing  no  eonUuue  but  the 
Hlijjtht  leathern  )i;irdle.  It  so  happened  that 
some  old  fihoes  wore  thrown  out  of  (he 
wa;j;oii,  and  inuuediately  appropriated  by 
the  women,  who  have  an  absurd  hankerin;.' 
atU'r  Eui'opean  ajjparel.  No  sooner  had 
tlu'v  |)iil  on  shoes  than  they  looked  naked. 
They  had  not  done  so  before,  but  even  that 
sii^jht  amount  uf  civilized  elothinjj  seemed 
to  suitj^est  that  the  wholt^  body  had  to  be 
clothed  also,  and  so  slronjf  was  Ibis  feeliui,' 
that  Jlr.  IJaines  Hunul  means  of  removing 
the  obnoxious  articles  of  a|>parel. 

The  Hottentots  have  a  remarkable  game 
which  (hey  call  by  the  name  of  Card-play- 
inu\  a|i|)areully  because  no  cards  are  used 
in  it.  rids  triimo  Is  simiily  an  cxhibillou  of 
activity  and  quickness  nt  hand,  beinic  souie- 
wlcit  similar  in  prir.dpl*^  to  our  own  bov's 
game  of  Odil  and  Even.  It  is  illustrated 
on  the  op|>osito  page,  and  is  thus  iKiscriU'd 
by  IbncUcU:  — 

"  .Vt  oiu'  of  the  fires  an  au\uscment  of  a 
very  singular  and  nearly  miiulelligible  kind 
was  the  source  of  great  auuisement,  not 
only  to  (be  perfornu-rs  themselves  but  to 
ail  the  bystanders.  They  calle<l  it  ("ard- 
playing,  a  word  in  this  iiistance  strangely 
mi.-^applied.  Two  Hottentots,  seated  op|)t")- 
sitc  each  other  on  the  grouiul,  were  vocif- 
oniting.  as  if  in  a  rage,  si>nu'  particular 
expressions  in  (heir  own  lauijuage:  liuigh- 
iug  violently,  throwing  llieir  bodies  On 
ejilier  side,  tossing  thcii'  arms  m  .ill  direc- 
tions—  ttl  one  moment  with  their  hands 
(•lose  together,  at  another  stretched  out 
wide  .apart;  up  in  the  air  at  one  time,  or  in 
an  instant  down  to  the  ground;  sometimes 
wit'i  them  closed,  at  other  times  exbibilimr 
(hem  onen  (o  their  opponent.  Freipiently 
in  tho  heat  of  the  ganu'  they  si.irtcd  uiioii 
their  knees,  falling  back  imniediatelv  on 
(he  ground  again;  and  all  this  in  such  a 
quick,  wild,  extraordinary  manner,  that  it 
was  impossible,  after  w.'itchlng  their  inv- 
tions  for  a  long  tune  to  discover  the  -natiirw 
of  ilieir  game,  or  to  comprehend  t.he  princi- 
ple on  which  it  was  tbimded,  anv  more  tlian 
a  |)erson  entirely  ignorant  of  the  moves  ai 
chi'ss  could  learn  that  by  merely  looking 
on. 

"This  is  fv  genuine  Hottentot  game,  as 
every  one  would  certainly  siqjpose,  on  see- 
ing the  uncouth  manner  in  which  it  is 
played.  It  is,  they  say,  of  great  antiquitv. 
and  nt  present  practused  only  by  such  as 
have  preserve  1  some  |)ortion  of  tlieir  origi- 
aul  custum.s,  and  they  incteud  llmt  it  is  not 


every  Hottentot  who  j)o.sse.ise8   the   talent; 
aece.sMary  for  playing  it  in  perfeetion. 

"  I  found  sonu)  dilHeulty  in  obtaining  an 
intelligible  explanation,  but  learned  at  last 
(hat  the  i)rliiciple  consists  in  concc.iling  a 
ninall  pieou  uf  stick  in  oik^  hand  so  dexter- 
ously that  the  opnonent  shall  not  be  able, 
when  both  closed  hands  are  prescntiMl  to 
him,  U)  distingui.sli  in  which  it  is  held,  while 
ut  the  same  time  be  is  obliged  to  dc'cide  by 
sonu)  sign  or  modon  either  on  one  or  (be 
other.  As  soon  as  the  oppoiuait  has  gained 
II  ci^rtiin  number  of  guesses,  he  is  ('onHid- 
ered  to  have  won  a  game,  and  it  then 
becoiues  his  turn  to  taki?  (he  stick,  and  dis- 
play his  ingenuity  in  concealing  it  and  in 
(li!ceiving  the  oilier.  In  this  nianner  the 
games  are  coulinued  alternately,  often  the 
whole  night  long,  or  until  the  i)lay('rs  arc 
exhauslcd  with  fatigue,  in  (he  coiirsj  of 
(hem  various  little  incideids,  either  of  inge- 
nuity or  of  mistake,  occur  to  animate  their 
exiM'tions,  ami  excite  (he  rude,  harmless 
mirdi  of  (heir  surrounding  friends."  The 
reader  will  probablv  see  (he  close  resem- 
blance between  (Ills  game  played  by  tlu! 
Hottentots  of  Southern  .'vfrica  and  the  well- 
known  gami^  of  "  Mono,"  that  is  so  ]iopular 
in  several  parts  of  Southern  Europe. 

Tlu'  Hottentot  seems  to  be  as  fond  of  a 
practical  joke  as  tl:e  Kallir,  and  to  take  it  as 
good-huinoredly.  On  one  occasion,  when  a 
travidler  was  passing  through  .Vfrica  with  a 
large  ])arty,  several  of  (he  Hottentots,  who 
ought  io  liavi^  been  on  the  watch,  contriveil 
to  draw  near  the  (ire,  and  to  tiill  .'isleep. 
.Some  of  (heir  comiianions  tlelirmined  to 
give  (hem  a  thorough  fright,  and  to  recall 
to  their  minds  (hat  they  ought  to  have  been 
watching  and  not  sleeping.  Accordingly, 
they  went  otV  to  a  little  distance,  and  shl)t 
a  couple  of  Hosjesman  arr(pws  clo.se  to  the 
slee))ei's.  Deep  as  is  a  Hottentot's  slumber, 
he  can  shake  otV  sleep  In  ;i  monieiit  at  the 
approach  of  danger,  and,  although  the 
loudest  sound  will  iu>t  wake  him,  provided 
that  it  be  of  a  harmless  character,  an  almost 
inaudible  s(aind  will  reach  bis  c'.rs,  pro- 
vided (hat  it  presaiic  danger.  .\s  soon  as 
the  sleeping  Hottentots  heard  the  twang  of 
the  bow,  they  sprang  up  in  alarm,  which 
was  not  decreased  iiy  (he  sight  of  the 
arrows  fallini;  close  to  (lu'ui,  sprang  to  the 
waiTon  for  their  arms,  and  were  received 
with  a  shout  of  laufihter. 

However,  they  soon  had  their  revenge. 
One  dark  ev<'iuiig  the  voung  men  were 
amusing  themsrlves  wil)i  setting  lire  to 
some  dried  reeds  a  t\'w  hundred  yards  from 
the  camp.  While  they  were  enjoying  (he 
waves  ot  (ire  as  they  rolled  along,  driven  by 
the  wind,  the  Hottnitots  stole  behind  the 
reeds,  and  with  the  shell  of  an  ostrich  egg 
imitjited  the  roar  of  an  ap|iroachtng  lion  so 
accurately,  that  (he  young  men  began  (o 
shout  in  order  to  drive  the  lion  away,  and 
i  at  last  ran  to  the  camp  screaming  with  tor- 


OS  tlio   talo.iit 

^rl'cotioii. 
(>l>tiiiiiing  an 

tiirtiiMl  at  liiHt 
coiiccalinji;  ii 

iiul  HO  (lextiM- 

I  not  1)0  iilili', 
jn'i'scntod  to 
m  lu'l(l,\vhiIo 
to  (l('C'i(l(\  by 


n  OIK)  or  til 
ntl 


iiM  ii;siin(>il 
ho  is  consid- 

1111(1  it  tlion 
'tick,  iind  dis- 
iii^  it  and  in 

iiiaiiiicr  tlio 
I'ly,  ofloii  tlio 
0  lilaycfH  arc 
lio  oonrsj  of 
itiicr  of  in;;c- 
aiiiiiiutc  Hicir 
idc,   liiU'inlcss 


iciids 


Th 


close  rcscin- 
liiycd  hy  (lio 
mid  the  well- 
is  so  ]iopular 
iiropc. 
as  fond  of  a 
1  lo  take  it  as 
iisioii,  when  a 
Africa  willi  a 
Kcntols,  who 
ch,  contrived 


fall 


si. 


I'tcrininci 
ind   t 


1    ( 


o  recall 
to  have  hoeii 
Accordiii;;ly, 
ice,  and  shot 
close  to  tile 
ot's  shiinhcr, 
inicnt  at  the 
ltliouL,di  the 
iin,  |iroviiicd 
er,  an  almost 


iro- 


IS    C'.l'.S, 


As  soon  as 
the  twanjj  of 
ilariii,  which 
lijiht  of  the 
pranj;  to  th^ 
ere  reco" 


ivod 


lOir  reven^je. 
r    men   were 


liiii' 


tin 


lo 


I  vards  from 


I'lijoyiii^ 


the 


ij,'  (in 


veil  I 


)V 


I  behind  the 
ostricli  v'^if 
I'hiiij,'  lion  so 
'11  Ix'jran  to 
n  away,  and 
ng  Willi  tcr- 


(See  |)«go  aafl.) 


1^0    SiiOori.Nu  CAI'TLE. 
(Soc  pago  251.) 


as?) 


1 
] 
< 

I 

a 
h 
a 

Si 
SI 

a: 
tl 
di 

c< 
h. 

V,' 

gf 
Ba 
loi 
ar 

m. 


no 
tbi 
be 

»t 

noi 

wh 
the 

coll 

-  &U(i 

ent 
as  i 
nia! 

tho 
of  1 
niul 
of  1 
S)1)()I 

moi] 
-ii  moil 
.  divis 


INABILITY  TO  MEASURE  TIME. 


ror.  Of  course  the  songs  that  were  sung 
in  the  camp  that  night  were  full  of  refer- 
ence to  Bosjesinans  and  lions. 

The  Hottentot  has  a  constitutional  ina- 
bility to  compute  time.  A  traveller  can 
never  discover  the  ago  of  a  Hottentot, 
partly  because  the  man  himself  has  not  the 
least  notion  of  his  age,  or  indeed  of  annual 
computation  at  all,  and  partly  because  a 
Hottentot  looks  as  old  at  thirty-five  as  at 
sixty-five.  He  can  calculate  the  time  of 
day  by  the  position  of  the  sun  with  regard 
to  the  meridian,  but  his  memory  will  not 
serve  him  so  far  as  to  --able  him  to  com- 
pute annual  time  by  -3  height  of  the  sun 
above  the  horizon.  _  As  is  the  case  with 
most  savage  races,  his  unit  of  time  is  the 
new  moon,  and  he  makes  all  his  reckonings 
ot  tune  to  consist  of  so  many  moons.  An 
amusing  instance  of  this  deficiency  is  given 

«^.  fT'"\?'J*'''E''"'^'""'  "'   ^'8  "Travels  in 
houth  Africa" :  — 

„."'*\.I^"'tcnto(,  fh  particular,  engaged  our 
attention  by  the  simplicity  with  wldch  he 
to  d  his  story.    After  he  had  harangued  for 
a  long  time  in  broken  Dutch,  we  collected 
so  much  as  that  he  agreed  with  a  colonist  to 
serve  hini  for  a  certain  time,  at  fixed  wa^es 
as  herdsman,  but  before  the  time  expil-ed 
tliey  liad  parted  by  mutual  agreement.    The 
dispute  was  how  much  of  the  time  remained- 
consequently,  how  much  wages  the  master 
had  a  right  to  deduct  from  the  sum  which 
^■rn^"  1'!!^'°  ^''°"  I'''"''  *■"»•  ">e  «-liolo  time. 

„o„  '  "■'^/'?f"  ""-^  '"'■^"c'"'  "'c  Hottentot 
gave  us  the  following  accDunt :  — My  Baas  ' 
said  he  '  will  have  it  that  I  was  to  serve  so 
long  (.and  here  he  stretched  out  his  left 
arm  and  liand.  and  laid  the  little  finger  of 
;his  ri.rlit  hand  directly  under  the  arm)  • 

te>in/  J'tf'  ^J-'^"i'"«  '-'gilt  hand  upon 
'he  ,„,it  of  the  loft.  Apparently,  he  meant 
r  this  to  si-nify  that  the  proportion  of 
ae  tune  he  had  served  with  that  he  had 
;reed  to  serve  was  the  same  as  the  propor- 
on  ot  wh.at  he  pointed  out  of  the  arm  to 
'e  whole  length  of  it.    At  the  same  time 

it  every    ull  moon,  he  had  made  a  little 

f£^^'''.  "''"'••''  ''""'''«  ""«  ^t  the  full  moon 

**"hen  he  quitted  the  colonist's  service.    As 

10  lat  er  u  as  present,  and  several  of  the 

lolomsts  an,     Holteiitots,  who  attended  as 

auditors,  could  ascertain  exactly  the     ne  of 

internig  on  tlie  service,  the  conclusion  wis 

nns';;- ':^i,rr"""'^  "^?  '^'^  that  bothTe 
n  astoi  and  the  servant  were  somewhat  in 

Of  th.'"};;;  "'''  •'"',""?  '•''^'^""''^'l  t«°  >»"ch 
ami  fh.f  '''^;'-"''''''  *'•''  "'her  too  little  ; 

and  that,  according  to  the  Hottentot's  mode 

m:f'of^;;;s;i"£t[;?i^£ 

months  nn/1  il.va  .  t""-  ••«--    .       •I''     '"".'" 
^".' J  "f^vi:  iio  idea  of  the 


asks  a  Hottentot  how  far  it  is  to  such  a 
place,  he  either  makes  no  answer,  or  points 
to  a  certain  spot  in  the  heavens,  and  says. 
'The  sun  will  be  there  when  you  get  to  it "' 
Warfare  among  the  Hottentots  scarcely 
deserves  the  name,  because  we  can  hardly 
use  such  a  term  as  "warfare"  where  there 
is  no  distinction  of  officer  or  private,  where 
there  is  no  commander,  and  no  plan  of  action 
The  men  who  are  able  to  wield  the  bow  and 
arrow  advance  in  a  body  upon  the  enemy 
and  are  led  by  any  one  who  thinks  himself 
brave  enough  to  take  the  command.    When 
they  come  to  close  quarters  with  the  enemy 
every  one  fights  in  the  way  that  suits  him- 
self best,  without  giving  support  to  those  of 
his  own  side,  or  expecting  it  from  his  com- 
rades.   Even  the  chief  man  of  a  horde  is 
not  necessarily  the  leader,  and  indeed  his 
authority  over  the  horde  is  more  nominal 
than  real.    A  mere  boy  may  assume  the 
leadershii)  of  the  expedition,  and,  if  he  is 
courageous  enough  to  take  the  lead,  he  may 
keep    it   until    some    still   braver  warrior 
comes  to  the  front.    It  evident  that  such 
warfare  is  merely  a  succession  of  skirmishes 
or  duels,  much  as  was  the  case  in  the  days 
of  Hector  and  Achilles,  each  soldier  select- 
ing his  own  particular  advers.ar3%  and  fight- 
ing him  until  one  of  the  two  is  killed,  runs 
away,  or  renders  himself  prisoner. 

As  far  as  is  known,  the  Hottentots  never 
made  war,  according  to  the  usual  accepta- 
tion of  the  word.    If  insulted  or  aggrieved 
by  having  their  cattle  stolen,  they  wbuld  go 
off  and  niake  reprisals,  but  they  had  no  idea 
of  carrying  on  war  for  any  political  object 
ihis  IS  probal)ly  the  reason  why  they  were 
so  completely  overcome  by  the  :feafHr  tribes 
who  had  some  knovvledge  of  warfare  as  an 
art,  and  who  drove  them  further  and  further 
away  from  their  own  domains,,  until  their 
nationality  was  destroyed,  and  they  were 
reduced  to  a  mere  aggregation  of  scattered 
tribes,  without  unity,  and  consequently  with- 
out power,  •' 

However  nationally  unwarlike  the  Hot- 
tentot m.y  be,  and  however  incapable  he 
may  be  of  military  organization,  he  can  be 
miide  into  a  soldier  who  is  not  only  useful 
but  unapproachable    in   liis  own  peculiar 
ime.    Impatient,  as  a  rule,  of  military  dis- 
cipline, he  hates  above  all  things  to  march 
in  step,  to  go  through  the  platfion  exercise, 
and    to  perform   those    mechanical    move- 
ments which  delight  the  heart  of  the  drill- 
serge.ant.     He  is,  .as  a  rule,  abhorrent  of 
■inyihing  like  steady  occupation,  and   this 
tendency  of  mind  incapacitates  him  "from 
being  .an  .agriculturist,  while  it  aids  in  ouali- 
tying  him  for  the  hunter's  lif(>.    Now  as  a 
rule,  a  good  hunter  makes  a  good  soldier 
especially  of  the   irregular   kind,  and  the 
training  which  is  afforded    by  the  pursuit 
of  the  rteet,  powerful,  niwl  danssroiin 


division  of  the  dky'into'houi;"  Ifa  mi',';   h!.'/-""'''  "'akfs  the  Hottentot  one  of  The 
i      w  iiouis.    II  a  man  I  best  irregular  soldiers  in  the  world. 


240 


THE  HOTTENTOT. 


t   f 


But  he  must  bo  allowed  to  fight  in  his 
own  way,  to  choose  his  own  time  for  attack, 
to  make  it  in  the  mode  that  suits  him  best, 
and  to  run  away  if  flight  hapiicns  to  suit 
him  better  than  hattie.  lie  has  not  the 
least  idea  of  getting  himself  killed  or 
wounded  on  mere  points  of  honor ;  and 
if  he  sees  that  the  chances  of  war  are  likely 
to  go  nuuii  against  him,  he  quietly  retreats, 
and  "  lives  to  fight  another  day."  To  this 
mode  of  action  he  is  not  prompted  by  any 
feeling  of  fear,  but  merely  by  the  common- 
sense  view  of  the  case.  His  business  is  to 
kill  the  enemy,  and  he  means  to  do  it.  But 
that  desirable  object  cannot  bo  attained  if 
he  allows  them  to  kill  him,  and  so  he 
guards  himself  against  the  latter  event  as 
much  as  possible.  Indeed,  if  he  is  wounded 
when  he  might  have  avoided  a  wound,  he 
feels  heartily  ashamed  of  himself  for  having 
committed  such  an  error;  and  if  he  succeeds 
in  killing  or  wounding  an  enemy  without 
suffering  damage  himself,  he  glories  in  his 
superior  ingenuity,  and  makes  merry  over 
the  stupidity  of  his  foe. 

Fear  —  as  we  understand  the  word  —  has 
very  little  influence  over  the  Hottentot  sol- 
dier, whether  he  be  trained  to  fl^ht  with  the 
white  man's  fire-arms,  or  whether  he  uses 
the  bow  and  arrow  of  his  primitive  life.  If 
he  must  fight,  he  will  do  so  with  a  quiet  and 
dogged  valor,  and  any  enemy  that  thinks  to 
conquer  him  will  find  that  no  easy  task  lies 
before  him. 

Mr.  Christie  has  narrated  to  me  several 
incidents  which  show  the  obstinate  courage 
with  which  a  Hottentot  can  fight  when 
pressed.    One  of  them  is  as  follows  ;  — 

"During  the  Kaffir  war  of  1847,  a  body 
of  Hottentots  were  surrounded  by  a  large 
party  of  Kaftirs,  and,  after  a  severe  strug- 
gle, succeeded  in  cutting  their  way  through 
their  dark  foes.  One  of  the  Ifottontots, 
however,  happened  to  be  wounded  near  the 
spine,  so  that  he  lost  the  use  of  his  legs,  and 
coul'i  not  stand.  Even  though  suffering 
unaer  this  severe  injury,  he  would  not  sur- 
render, but  dragged  himself  to  an  ant-hill, 
and  supported  nis  back  against  it,  so  that 
his  arms  were  at  liberty.  In  this  position 
he  continued  to  load  and  fire,  though  com- 
pletely exposed  to  the  bullets  and  assagais 
of  the  Kaffirs.  So  true  was  his  aim,  even 
under  these  circumstances,  that  he  killed 
and  wounded  a  considerable  number  of 
them  ;  and,  when  a  reinforcing  party  came 
to  their  help,  the  brave  fellow  was  at  the 
point  of  death,  but  still  breathing,  though 
nis  body  was  completely  riddled  with  bul- 
lets, and  cut  to  pieces  with  spears." 

This  anecdote  also  serves  to  show  the 
extraordinary  tenacity  of  life  possessed  by 
this  race  —  a  tenacity  which  seems  to  rival 
that  of  the  lower  reptiles.  On  one  occasion, 
Mr.  Christie  was  in  a  surgeon's  house  in 
Gr.ih.imstiwn,  whf'«  .".  Hottentot  walked  in, 
and  asked  the  surgeon  to  look  at  his  head, 


which  had  been  damaged  on  the  previous 
night  by  a  blow  from  a  knob-kerrie.  Ho 
took  off  his  hat  and  the  handkerchief  which, 
according  to  custom,  was  wrajiped  round  his 
head,  and  exhibited  m  injury  which  would 
have  killed   most  opeans  on   the  spot, 

and  .certainly  woulu  nave  prostrated  them 
utterly.  On  the  crown  of  his  head  there 
was  a  circular  wound,  about  an  inch  in 
diameter,  and  more  than  half  an  inch  deep, 
tho  bono  having  been  driven  down  on  the 
brain  by  a  blow  from  the  heavy  knob  of  the 
weapon.  The  depressed  part  of  the  skull 
was  raised  as  well  as  could  be  done,  and  the 
remainder  cut  away.  The  operation  being 
over,  the  man  replacctl  his  hat  and  hand- 
kerchief, and  walked  away,  apparently  little 
the  worse  for  his  accident,  or  the  operation 
which  succeeded  it. 

On  another  occasion,  the  same  gentleman 
saw  a  Hottentot  wagon-driver  fall  from  his 
seat  under  the  wheels.  .  One  of  the  fore- 
wheels  passed  over  his  neck,  and,  as  the 
wagon  was  loaded  with  some  two  tons  of 
firewood,  it  might  be  supposed  that  the  man 
was  killed  on  tho  spot.  To  the  surprise  of 
the  beholder,  he  was  not  only  alive  when 
free  of  the  wheel,  but  had  presence  of 
mind  to  roll  out  of  the  way  of  the  hind 
wheel,  which  otherwise  must  have  gone 
over  him.  Mr.  Christie  ran  to  him,  and 
helped  him  to  his  feet.  In  .inswer  to  anx- 
ious questions,  he  said  that  hs  was  not 
much  hurt,  except  by  some  small  stones 
which  had  been  forced  into  his  skin,  and 
which  he  asked  Mr.  Christie  to  remove. 
Indeed,  tliese  men  seem  not  only  to  be 
tenacious  of  life,  but  to  suffer  very  little 
pain  from  injuries  that  would  ""arly  kill  a 
white  man,  or  at  all  events  would  cause  liim 
to  be  nearly  dead  with  pain  alone.  Yet, 
callous  as  they  are  to  bodily  injuries,  they 
seem  to  be  peculiarly  suscei)libl('  to  poison 
that  mixes  with  tlie  blood,  and,  if  bitten  by 
a  snake,  or  wounded  bj-  a  poisoned  arrow, 
to  have  very  much  less  chance  of  life  than 
a  European  under  similar  conditions. 

We  will  conclude  this  history  of  the  Hot- 
tentots with  a  few  remarks  on  their  treat- 
ment of  sickness  and  their  burial  of  tho 
dead. 

When  Hottentots  are  ill  they  obey  the  in- 
stinct which  seems  to  be  implantecf  equally 
in  man  and  beast,  and  separate  themselves 
from  their  fellows.  Sometimes  tlxiv  take 
the  trouble  to  have  a  small  hut  erected  at  a 
distance  from  the  kraal,  but  in  all  cases  they 
keep  themselves  aloof  as  far  as  jjossible,  and 
do  not  mix  with  their  companions  until 
their  health  is  restored.  Of  professional 
physicians  they  know  nothing,  and  have  in 
this  respect  a  decided  advantage  over  the 
Kaffirs,  who  are  horribly  tormented  in  their 
hours  of  sickness  by  the  witch-doctor,  who 
tries,  by  all  kinds  of  noisy  incantations,  to 
drive  out  tho  evil  M)irit  which  is  tornienting 
the  sick  man.    There  are  certainly  some 


SICKNESS,  DEATH,  AND  BURIAL. 


241 


men  among  them  who  possess  a  kind  of 
knowledge  of  pharmacy,  and  these  men  are 
'.Iberal  enough  of  their  advice  and  prescrip- 
tions. But  they  do  not  form  a  distinct  order 
of  men,  nor  do  they  attenipt  to  work  cures 
by  superhuman  means.  Tliey  are  more  suc- 
cessful in  treating  wounds  and  bodily  inju- 
ries than  in  the  management  of  diseases, 
because  in  the  former  case  there  is  some- 
thing tangible  with  whicli  they  can  cope, 
whereas  they  cannot  see  a  disease,  nor  can 
they  produce  any  immediate  and  visible  ef- 
fect, as  is  the  casu  with  a  bodily  iiyury. 

Sometimes  a  curious  kind  of  ceremony 
seems  to  be  performed,  which  is  probably 
analogous  to  the  shampooing  that  is  in 
vogue  in  many  parts  of  the  earth.  The  pa- 
tient lies  prostrate  while  a  couple  of  women, 
one  on  either  side,  pound  and  knead  him 
with  their  closed  fists,  at  the  same  time 
uttering  loud  cries  close  to  his  ear.  This 
apparently  rough  treatment  seems  to  have 
some  amount  of  elHcacy  in  it,  as  Sparrman 
mentions  that  he  has  seen  it  practised  on 
the  apparently  lifeless  body  of  a  young  man 
who  eventually  recovered. 

Of  all  diseases  the  Hottentots  dread  noth- 
mg  so  much  as  tin;  small-po:; ;  and  if  a  single 
member  of  the  horde  be  taken  with  it  they 
leave  him  in  his  hut,  strike  all  their  habita- 
tions, and  move  ott"  into  the  desert,  where 
they  remain  until  they  think  that  the  dan- 
ger s  past.  All  ties  of  relationship  and 
affecLon  are  broken  through  by  this  dread 
malady,  for  which  they  know  no  cure,  and 
which  always  r;i:  .s  with  tenfold  violence 
among  savanjes.  Tlie  husband  will  abandon 
his  wife,  and  even  the  mother  her  children, 
in  the  hope  of  checking  the  spread  of  the 
disorder,  and  the  wretched  sufferers  are  left , 


to  perish  either  from  the  disease  itself  or 
from  privation. 

VV^hen  a  Hottentot  dies  the  funeral  is  con- 
ducted* without  anv  ceremony.  The  body  is 
disposed  in  as  small  a  compass  as  possible, — 
indeed,  into  the  attitude  that  is  assumed 
during  sleep,  and  the  limbs  and  head  are 
firmly  tied  together.  A  worn-out  kaross  is 
then  rolled  round  the  body,  and  carefully 
arranged  so  as  to  conceal  it  entirely.  The 
place  of  burial  is,  with  certjiin  exceptions, 
chosen  at  a  distance  from  the  kraal,  and  the 
corpse  is  then  placed  in  the  grave,  which  is 
never  of  any  great  depth.  Earth  is  then 
thrown  on  the  body  ;  and  if  there  are  any 
stones  near  the  spot,  they  are  mixed  with 
the  earth,  and  heaped  above  the  grave  in 
order  to  defend  it  from  the  hyamas  and 
jackals,  which  are  sure  to  discover  that  an 
interment  has  taken  place.  If  stones  can- 
not be  found,  thorn-bushes  are  used  for  the 
same  purpose.  Generally,  the  grave  is  so 
shallow,  and  the  aUmes  are  so  few,  that  the 
whole  process  of  burial  is  practically  ren- 
dered nugatory,  and  before  another  day  has 
dawned  the  hyoenas  and  jackals  have  scat- 
tered the  frail  defences,  dug  up  the  botly, 
and  devoured  it. 

Should  the  headman  of  the  kraal  die, 
there  are  great  wailings  throughout  the 
kraiil.  These  cries  are  begun  by  the  family, 
taken  up  Dy  the  Inhabitants  of  the  village, 
and  the  wholt,  night  is  spent  in  loud  bowl- 
ings apd  lamentation.  His  body  is  usually 
burled  in  the  middle  of  the  cattle-pen,  as  it 
is  a  safe  place  so  long  as  the  cattle  are  in  it, 
which  are  watched  throughout  the  night, 
and  over  his  remains  a  considerable  pile  of 
stones  is  raised. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


THE  BOSJESMAN  OR  BUSHMAK 


OBIODT  OF  THE  NAME  — THEORIES  11E8PECTIN0  THEIR  ORIGIN  —  THEIR  LANOUAOE  AND  IT8  PHCULIAB- 
ITIES  — THE  aESTL'IlE-LANOUAOB— SMALL  SIZE  OF  THE  B08JK8MANS  — THEIR  COMI'LEXION  AND 
tlKNEUAL  AI'PEAKANX'E  —  A  STKANOE  VISITOR  —  THE  I108JE8MAN's  PIPE  AND  MODI!  OF  S.MOKlSa 
—  SAID  TO  HAVE  NO  NAMES,  AND  NO  ni9TINCTION8  OK  HANK  — SOCIAL  LIFE  AMON(i  THE  1108JE8- 
MANS  —  MATRIMONY  AND  ITS  TROrULES  —  INDIVIDITALITV  OF  THE  IIOS.IESMA.N  —  HIS  INDIFFER- 
ENCE TO  PAIN  — A  CULPRIT  AND  HIS  PUNISHMENT  — DRESS  OF  llOTU  SEXES  — THE  DOSJESMAN  VROU 
1NF^U>'CY  TO  AOE. 


i        i 


We  now  come  to  a  singular  race  of  human 
beings,  inhabiting  various  jjarts  of  Southern 
Africa,  and  I).'iiig  evidently  allied  to  the 
Hottentots.  They  are  called  JJosjesmaus 
by  the  Dutch  settlers.  Tiiis  word'  is  pro- 
nounced Hushes-man,  and  is  popularly  con- 
tracted into  Bushman,  —  a  word  which  is, 
indeed,  an  exact  translation  of  the  Dutch 
title.  As,  however,  several  groups  of  sav- 
ages in  diU'eri'nt  parts  of  the  world  arc  called 
]3ushmen,  we  will  retain  the  original  Dutch 
name. 

Respecting  the  precise  relationship  there 
nre  three  distinct  theories.  Tlte  (irst  is,  that 
they  are  the  aboriginal  inhabitants  upon 
whom  the  Hottentots  have  improved;  the 
second  is,  that  they  are  degenerate  otl'shoots 
of  the  Hottentot  race;  and  the  third  is,  that 
they  form  a  totally  distinct  grouj)  of  man- 
kind. On  the  whole,  I  am  inclined  ratlier 
to  accept  the  theory  that  they  are  a  variety 
of  the  Hottentot  "race,  which  they  closely 
resemble  in  many  ))articulars.  The  peculiar 
form  of  the  countenance,  the  liigh  cheek- 
bones, the  little  contracted  eyes,  and  (he 
long  narrow  chin,  are  all  characteristics  of 
the  Hottentot  race.  The  color  of  the  skin, 
too,  is  not  black,  but  yellow,  and  even  jialer 
than  that  of  the  Hottentot,  and  tin-  women 
are  notable  for  that  peculiarity  of  Ibrm  whicli 
ha.s  already  been  noticed. 

Their  laugua^'e  miu'h  resembles  tihat  of 
the  Hottentots  in  sound,  the  characteristic 
"click  "  being  one  of  its  peculiarities.  IJut, 
whereas  the  Hottentots  generally  content 
themselves  with  one  click  in  a  word,  the 
Bosjcsman  tribes  employ  ii  with  uvery  ^yi- 

(24: 


lable,  and  have  besides  a  kind  of  croaking 
sound  produced  in  the  throat,  which  is  not 
used  by  the  Hottentots,  and  which  the  find 
the  greatest  dilliculty   in   imitating.      But 
though  their  tongue  resembles  the  language 
of  the  Hottentots  in  sound,  the  words  of  the 
two  languages  are  totally  diiVerent,  so  that  a 
Hottentot  is  quite   as   much   at  a  loss  to 
understand    a    Bosjcsman    as  would  be  a 
European.    Even  the  various  tribes  of  Bos- 
Jesmans  dilfer  much  in  their  language,  e.acli 
tribe  having  a  dialect  of  their  fi\vn,nnd  even 
changin"  their  dialect  in  the  course  of  a  few 
years.    This  is  accounted  for  by  the  fact 
that  the  hordes  or  i'amilies  of  ]5osjesmans 
have  but  little  intercourse  with  eacii  otlier, 
and  remain  as  widely  sejiarated  as  jjossible, 
so  that  they  siiall   not  interfere   with   the 
hunting-grounds  of  their  fellow-lribesmen. 
In  their  conversation  among  ciich  other 
also,   they  arc   continually   inventing   new 
words.     Intellectually,  tbiy  are  iiut  children, 
and,  like  children,  the  more  voluble  conde- 
scend to  the  weakness  of  those  who  cannot 
talk  as  Well  as  themselves,  and  accept  their 
imperfe(;t  words  as  integral  parls  of  their 
language.     So  imperfect,  in(le((l,  is  the  lan- 
guage of  the  Bosjesmans,  that  even  those 
of  the  same  hm'de  often  find  a  dilliculty  in 
understanding  each  other  without  the  use 
of  gesture;  and  at  night,  when  a  i)arty  of 
Bosjesmans  are  smoking,  dalieing,  tmd  talk- 
ing, they  are  obliged  to'keep  u])  a  liK   so  as 
to  be  able  by  its  light  to  see  the  explanatory 
gestures  of  tluar  compimions. 

Like  many  other  savag<!  nations,  they 
l)ossess  a  gesture-language  which  is  univer- 
i) 


GESTURE-LANGUAGE. 


243 


sally  understootl,  even  where  words  arc  quite 
uiiintelli<,'ible,  and  by  means  of  this  hinjj;ua<'e 
a  European  can  make  liimselfiniderstood  by 
Uiem,  even  tliou;^li  lie  does  not  know  a  word 
of  tiioir  si)oken  lan<,'uage.    When  a  Hosjes- 
nian   is  sijcakinj;,  lie   uses  a  jjrofusion   of 
gestures,  animated,  -graphic,  and  so  easily 
nitel!ii^i!)le  tliat  a  person  who  is  wholly  igno- 
rant C)f  the  langiuwe  can  readily  follow  his 
meaning.    I  have  heard  a  Uosjesnian  nar- 
rate tile  manner  in  which  he  hiuited  dilfer- 
ent  animals,  and,  although  the  precise  words 
which  he  emjiloyed  were  unknown  to  mo, 
the  whole  process  of  the  chase  was  rendered 
perfectly  intelligijjle.     Perhaiis  some  of  my 
readers  may  renioniber  that  the  late  Gordon 
Cumniing  was  acconi|)anied  by  a  Uosjesman 
named   Kuyter.    This  little   man  survived 
t  le  perils  of  the  desert,  he  escaped  fnmi  the 
claws  of  a  lion  which  dragged  his  companion 
from  the  blanket  in  which  the   two  were 
rolled,  and  lived  for  some  years  in  England. 
lie  was  an  admirable  actor,  and  would  some- 
times condescend  to  display  his  wonderful 
powers.    It  is  scarcely  possible  to  imagine 
anything  more  graphic  than  Ituyter's  acted 
description  of  a  lion  stealing  into  the  camp 
and  the  consternation  of  tl'ie  dilferent  ani- 
mals which  found  themselves  in  such  close 
proximity  to  their   dreaded   enemy.    The 
PiU-t  of  each  animal  was  enacted  in  turn  by 
Kuyter,  - 'hose  best  nilcs  were  those  of  the 
hoii  himself  and  a  tamo  baboon  — tlie  voices 
and  action  of  both  animals  being  imitated 
with  startling  accuracy. 

The  Bosjesmans  differ  from  the  true  Hot- 
tentots in  point  of  size,  being  so  si^iall  as  to 
deserve  the  name  of  a  nation  of  pio'mjos 
being,  on  the  avcrnge,  very  little  ahore  five 
leet  in  height,  while  some  of  the  women  are 
seven  or  eight  inches  shorter.  This  does 
not  ap))Iy  to  the  Kora  Bosjesmans,  who  are 
about  live  feet  four  or  live 'inches  in  height, 
btill,  small  as  they  are,  (here  is  no  ii'roof 
either  that  they  have  degenerated  from 
the  ancient  stock,  which  is  represented  by 
the  true  Hottentot,  or  that  they  repre- 
sent the  original  slock,  on  which  the  Hot- 
tentots have  improved,  and  it  is  moi«e  likely 

ifoUeS  ""?'"""'"'"  ^«'''^"I»'^f"'^ 
It  has  been  mentioned  that  their  color  is 

f.fi    ,    i" T  ^'"7'  ^'"^»  <''"-'^'-   1'"»«  ""-ions 
laiiness  of  complexion  in  a  South  African 
•ace  IS  even  more  strongly  marked  than  i^ 
the  case  among  the  Hottentots,  althou-h  in 
then-  native  state  it  is  scarcely  so  con 'nic 
uons.    The  fact  is,  the   BoSnLs       ink 
fresh  water  far  too  valuable  to  be  use     fori 
a.  u  ion.s   an. 1    by  ,vay   of  a  succedanc  m 
foi  a  bath  rub  themselves  with  grease,  not 
removing  the  original  layer,  but  addin" 

?h  s  n'wV'H  "'r?;  ""^>'  '"''"^'^  """'•  t""''t 

w     : .     7,     ™'^  ^}'''  '•""'*''  •>*■*»"'  fi>-e  over 
which     hey  love   to  crouch  at  niHit   and 
when  they  are  performing.  tI,o    ope^S 
wiiich  aiey  are  iileasad  to  consider  as  cook- 1 


ing,  the  smoke  settles  on  their  bodies  and 
covers  them  with  a  sooty-bhick  hue  that 
makes  them  ajipear  nearly  as  dark  as  the 
Kallirs.  There  is  generally,  however,  a  tol- 
erably clean  spot  under  each  eye,  which  is 
caused  by  tlie  flow  of  tears  consequent  on 
snulf  taking.  But  when  well  washed,  their 
skins  are  wonderfully  fair,  and  therefore  the 
Bosjesmans  who  visit  this  country,  and  who 
arc  obliged  to  wash  themselves,  give  very 
little  idea  of  the  appearance  of  these  curi- 
ous beings  in  their  native  state. 

Of  the  ordinary  appearance  of  the  Bos- 
jesman  in  his  normal  state,  a  good  descrip- 
tion is  given  by  Dr.  Lichtenstein,  in  his 
well-known  work  on  Southern  Africa:  — 
"After  some  hours  two  Bosjesmans  ap- 
peared, who  saluted  ns  with  tlieir  T'uheh 
asked  for  tobacco,  and,  having  received  it! 
seated  themselves  behind  a  bnsli,  by  a  little 
lire,  to  revel  at  their  ease  in  the  delights  of 
smoking.  I  devoted  a  considerable  time  to 
observing  these  men  very  accurately,  and 
cannot  lorbear  sayiii:,'  that  a  Bosjcsman, 
certainly  in  his  mien 'and  all  his  gestures, 
has  more  resemblance  to  an  ape  than  a 
man. 

"One  of  our  present  guests,  who  appeared 
about  flUy  years  of  age,  had  gray  hair  and  a 
bristly  beard;    his  forehead,  nose,  cheeks, 
and  chin  were  all  smeared  over  Avith  black 
grease,  having  only  a  white  circle  round  tho 
eye,  washed  clean  with  tears  occasioned  by 
smoking.    This  man  had  the  true  physio"- 
nomy  of  the  small   blue  ape  of  Kartraria. 
>V  hat  gave  the  more  verity  to  such  a  com- 
parison was  the  vivacity  of  his  eves,  and 
the   llexibility  of  his  eyebrows,   which  he 
worked  up  and  down  with   every  chan^o 
ot  countenance.    Even  his  nostrils  and  tfio 
corners  of  his  mouth,  even  his  very  e.irs 
moved  involuntarily,  expressing  his  ha.sty 
transitions  from  eager  desire   to  watchful 
distrust.    There  was  not,  on  the  contrary 
a  single  feature  in   his  counteiiiince   that 
evinced  a  consciousness  of  mental  powers 
or  anything  that  denoted  emotions  of  the' 
mind  of  a  milder  character  than  belon-s  to 
man  in  his  mere  animal  nature. 

"When  a  piece  of  meat  was  given  him. 
hall   rising,  he  stretched  out  a  distrustful 
arm,  snatched  it  hastily,  and  stuck  it  imme- 
diately into   the  fire,  peering  around  with 
ins  little  keen  eyes,  as  if  fearing  lest  some 
one   should   take   it  away  again.    All   this 
was  done  with  such  looks  and  g(>stnres,  that 
any  one  must  have   been   ready   to  swear 
that  he   had  taken   the   example   of  thera 
entirely  from  an  ape.      He  soon  took  tho 
meat    from    the   embers,   wiped   it   hastily 
npon  his  left  arm,  and   tore  out  with  his 
teeth  largo  half-raw  bits,  which  I  could  see 
goinj'  entire  down  his  meagre  throat.    At 
length,  when  he  came   to  the  liones  and 
sinew,  iis  he  could  not  manage  those  with 
ni«  reetli.  hf  aad  rrcourse  to  a  knife  which 
was  hanging  round  his  neck,  and  with  this 


244 


THE  BOSJESMAN  OR  BUSHMAN. 


he  out  off  tho  pince  whicli  he  hold  in  his 
toeth,  close  to  the  mouth,  without  touching 
his  nose  or  lips  —  n  feat  of  dexttsrity  which 
a  person  with  a  Celtic  countenance  could 
not  easily  have  performed.  When  the 
bone  was  picked  clean,  ho  stuck  it  again 
into  the  lire,  and,  after  beating  it  between 
two  stones,  sucked  out  the  marrow.  This 
done,  he  imnicdiatelv  filled  the  emptied 
bone  with  tobacco.  I  offered  him  a  clay 
pipe,  which  he  declined,  and  taking  the 
thick  bone  a  lonjj  way  into  hia  rnoutn,  he 
drew  in  the  smoke  by  long  draughts,  his 
eyes  si)arkling  like  those  of  a  person  wlio, 
with  more  than  usual  pleasure,  drinks  a 
glass  of  costly  wine.  After  throe  or  four 
draughts,  he  handed  the  bono  to  his  coun- 
tryman, who  inhaled  three  or  four  moutli- 
fu'ls  in  like  manner,  and  then  stuck  it,  still 
burning,  into  his  pouch,  to  be  reserved  for 
future  occasions." 

This  very  simple  pipe  is  preferred  by  the 
Bosjcsman  to  any  other,  prob.ably  because 
he  can  liikc  in  a  larger  quantity  of  smoke; 
at  a  single  iidialation  than  could  lic  the  case 
if  he  wore  to  use  the  small-bored  i)ipe  of 
civilization.  Keeds,  liollow  sticks,  and  sim- 
ilar objcc(s  are  used  for  the  same;  purpose. 
Someliuu's  the  Bosjcsman  inhales  the  whole 
of  the  smoke  into  his  lungs,  and  takes 
draught  after  draught  with  such  eagerness, 
that  ho  falls  down  in  a  state  of  insensibilitj', 
and  has  to  be  restored  to  consciousness  by 
being  rolled  on  the  ground,  and  having 
water  thrown  over  him.  This  is  certainly 
an  economical  mode  of  consuming  the  to- 
bacco, as,  in  this  manner,  a  single  pipeful 
will  serve  to  inU^xicate  several  smokers  in 
succession.  As  is  the  case  with  other  sav- 
ages, the  Bosjcsman  has  but  little  idea  of 
using  a  luxury  in  moderation.  The  chief 
value  of  tobacco  is,  in  a  Bosjesman's  eyes, 
its  intoxicating  power,  and  he  therefore 
smokes  with  the  avowed  intention  of  being 
into.xicnted  as  soon  as  possible,  and  with  the 
least  exiienditure  of  material. 

It  is  stated  by  old  travellers  who  have 
had  nnicli  inlcrcourso  with  the  Bosjesmans. 
that  tliey  have  no  names  by  which  different 
individuals  are  distinguished.  This  ma}' 
possibly  be  the  case,  and,  if  so,  it  denotes  a 
depth  of  degradation  which  can  scarcely  bo 
conceived.  But  as  the  Bosjesmans  are 
not  without  tho  average  .share  of  intellect 
which,  in  their  peculiar  conditions,  tlicy 
could  bo  expected  to  jjosscss,  it  is  possible 
that  tho  statement  may  be  rather  too 
swooping.  It  is  well  known  that  among 
many  savage  nations  in  different  parts  of 
the  earth,  there  is  a  "roat  disinclination  to 
allow  the  name  to  be  known. 

As  bas  already  been  mentioned,  the  Kaf- 
firs will  not  allow  a  stranger  to  hear  their 
true  names,  and,  if  asked  for  their  names, 
will  only  entrust  him  with  their  titles,  but 
never  with  their  true  names.  It  is  there- 
fore very  probable  that  the  Bosjesmans  may 


bo  actuated  by  similar  motives,  and  protend 
to  have  no  names  at  all;  rather  than  take 
the  trouble  of  inventing  false  ones.  They 
have  not  the  least  objection  to  take  Euro- 
pean names,  mostly  preferring  those  of 
I)utch  parentage,  such  as  Kuytcr,  Kleinboy, 
Andries'  Booy,  &c.;  and  as  they  dearly 
comprehend  that  those  names  are  used  in 
order  to  distinguish  them  fVom  their  fol- 
lows, it  seems  scarcely  possible  to  believe 
that  thoy  have  not  some  nomenclature 
among  themselves. 

Whatever  may  be  the  case  with  regard  to 
their  names,  it  is  cerlain  that  the  Bosjes- 
mans have  no  idea  of  distinctions  in  rank, 
differing,  liowever,  from  the  natives  which 
surround  them.  The  Kaffir  tribes  are  re- 
markable for  the  elaborate  code  of  etiquette 
which  they  possess,  and  which  could  not 
exist  unless  social  distinctions  were  deli- 
nitoly  marked.  The  Hottentots  have  Ihoir 
hoadinen,  who  possess  supreme  nower  in 
the  kraal,  though  thoy  do  not  exhibit  any 
external  mark  of  dignity.  But  the  Bosjes- 
man  has  not  the  least  notion  of  rank,  and 
affords  the  most  complete  example  of  an- 
archic life  that  can  be  conceived.  In  the 
small  hordes  of  Bosjesmans  who  wander 
about  the  country,  tlivro  is  no  chief,  and 
not  oven  a  headman.  Each  horde,  as  a 
general  rule,  consists  of  a  single  family, 
unless  members  of  other  hordes  may  choose 
to  leave  their  own  friends  and  join  it.  But 
the  father  of  the  fsmiily  is  not  recognized  as 
its  head,  nuicli  less  does  ho  exorcise  any 
power.  .The  leadership  of  the  kraal  belongs 
to  the  strongest,  and  he  only  holds  it  until 
some  one  stronger  than  himself  dispossesses 
him. 

It  is  the  same  with  tho  social  relations  of 
life.  Among  the  Kaffirs  and  Hottentots  — 
especially  among  the  former  —  the  women 
are  jealously  watched,  and  infidelity  to  tho 
marriage  compact  is  severely  punished. 
This,  however,  is  not  the  case  with  the  Bos- 
jesmans, who  scarcely  seem  to  recognize 
any  such  compact,  the  marriage  tie  being 
dissoluble  at  the  will  of  the  husband.  Al- 
though' Ihe  man  can  divorce  his  wil'o  when- 
ever he  chooses,  the  woman  does  not  pos- 
sess the  same  power  —  not  because  cither 
f)arty  has  any  regard  to  tho  marriage  tie, 
)ut  because  lie  is  the  stronger  of  the  two, 
and  would  beat  her  if  she  tried  to  go  away 
without  his  permission.  Even  if  a  couple 
should  be  pleased  with  each  other,  and  do 
not  wish  to  sepamte,  fhey  cannot  be  sure 
that  thoy  will  be  allowed  to  remain  to- 
gether; for  if  a  man  who  is  stronger  than 
the  husband  chooses  to  take  a  fancy  to  the 
wife,  he  will  take  her  away  by  force,  and 
keep  her,  unless  some  one  still  stronger 
than  himself  happens  to  think  that  she  will 
suit  his  taste.  As  to  the  woman  herself, 
she  is  not  consulted  on  the  subject,  and  is 
either  given  up  or  ret.nined  without  the 
least  reference  to  her  feelings.    It  is  a  curl- 


,  nnd  protond 
LT  tlitm  take 
oncR.    They 

0  take  Euro- 
a^  those  of 
cr,  Klfinljoy, 

thoy  clearly 
are  used  in 
111  their  tel- 
le to  believe 
lonienelature 

ith  regard  to 
the  Hosjes- 
ions  in  rank, 
atives  which 
rilies  are  re- 
i  of  etiquette 
•h  could  not 
s  were  defi- 
ts  have  their 
lie  nower  in 
.  exnibit  any 
it  the  ]5o.«jes- 
of  rank,  and 
mple  of  an- 
ved.  In  the 
who  wander 
10  chief,  and 
horde,  as  a 
in{;le  family, 
s  may  choose 
join  it.  But 
•ecoj;nized  as 
oxeicise  any 
krnal  belon^'s 
holds  it  until 
f  dispossesses 

1  relations  of 
[lottentots  — 
-the  women 
delity  to  the 
ly  punished, 
vith  the  Hos- 
to  rocotrnizc 
ge  tie  being 
iisband.  Al- 
s  wile  when- 
loes  not  pos- 
cause  either 
marriage  tie, 
r  of  the  two, 

I  to  go  away 
I  if  a  couple 
>ther,  and  do 
mot  be  sure 

remain  to- 
tronger  than 

fancy  to  the 
^y  force,  and 
it'ill  stronger 
that  she  will 
man  herself, 
dtjeet,  and  is 
without  the 

It  is  a  curi- 


WAGOX-DllIVING. 


840 


ous  fact,  that  in  the  various  dialects  of  the 
BoHJesmans,  there  are  no  words  that  express 
tho  distinction  between  an  unmarrieil  girl 
or  wife,  one  word  being  indiscriminately 
used. 

In  this  extraordinary  social  condition  the 
Bosjesnian  seems  to  have  lived  lor  <;entu- 
ries,  and  the  earliest  travellers  in  Houthern 
Africa,  who  wrote  accounts  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  that  strange  laud,  have  given  de- 
scriptions which  exactly  tally  with  narratives 
which  have  been  published  within  tlio  last 
lew  years. 

The   character  of    tho    true    Bo.sjesman 
/  seems   to  have   undergone   no   chan"e   for 
many  hundreds  of  years.    Civilizati(m  lias 
niado  no  impression  upon  him.    The  Kafllrs 
the  Dutch,  and  tho  English  liave  in  turn 
penetrated  into  his  country,  and  have  driven 
him  further  into  the  wilderness,  but  ho  has 
never  submitted  to  cither  of  these  powerful 
foes,  nor  has  he  condescended   to  borrow 
from  them  any  of  the  arts  of  civilization.. 
Both  K.'ifflrs  and  Hottentots  have  been  in  so 
tar  subjected  to  the  inroads  of  civilization 
tliat  they  have  placed  themselves  under  the 
protection  of  the  white  colonists,  and  have 
learned  from  them  to  substitute  the  blanket 
lor  the  karoHs,  and  the  gun  for  the  spear  or 
arrow.    They  have  also  iieted  as  domestic 
servants  to  the  white  men,  voluntarily  liiriu<' 
themselves  for  pay,  and  performing  their 
work  with  willinonoss.     Hut  tho  Bosiesman 
has  preserved  his  individuality,  and  while 
the  Ilottentots  have  betome  an  essentiallv 
subservient  race,  and  the  Katlirs  have  nre- 
terred  vassalage  to  independence,  he  is  still 
the  wild  man  of  the  desert,  as  free,  ii-s  un- 
tamable, as  he  was  a  thousand  years  a<>-o 
KafHrs,   Dutch,  and    English    have    taken 
young  Bosjesinaus  into  their  service.    The 
two  torinur  have  made  them  their  slaves- 
the  latter  have  tried  to  educate  them  into 
paid  servants.    But  they  have  been  cquallv 
unsuccessful,  and  the  "Bosjesiuan    servaiit 
cannot,  as  tho  saying  is,  be'  trusted  further 
tiian  he  can  be  seen,  and,  by  a  wise  master 
not  so  far.    His  wild  nature  is  strong  wi  thin 
him  and,  unless  closely  watched,  he  is  apt 
to  throw  oil  all  appearance  of  civilization 
and  return  to  the  privations  and  the  free- 
dom of  his  native  state. 

The  principal  use  to  which  a  Bosiesman 
servant  IS  put  is  to  serve  tho  office  of  "fore- 
louper,    t.  e.  the  guide  to  the  oxen.    When 
a  wagon  is  harnessed  with  its  twelve  or  four- 
teen oxen    the  driver  sits  on  the  box  — 
which  really  is  a  box -and  wields  a  most 
ft.rinidable  whip,  but  has  no  reins,  his  otHco 
being  to  urge,  and  not  to  guide.    His  own 
department  ho  fulfils  with  ,-  -est  all     is 
own     His  terrific  whip,  with  a  handle  like 
a  salmon-rod,  and  a  lash  nearly  as  Ion-  as 
Its  line  can  reach  the  foremost  ox.m  of  the 
longest    team,  .and.   wh.ui   ,vi,.lded    ?%  "a 
experienced  driver,  can  cut  a  deep  gash  'in 
tlic  anim.ars  hide,  as  if  a  knife,  in|  not  a 


■Mp,  had  been  used.  A  good  driver  can 
d.  -lycr  us  stroke  with  equal  certainty  upon 
the  furtliest  ox,  or  upon  those  that  are  Just 
heneath  lum,  and  .so  well  are  tho  oxen  awaro 
ot  tins,  that  tiie  mere  whistlo  of  the  plaited 
cord  through  tho  air,  or  the  sharp  crack  of 
Its  lash,  will  cause  every  ox  lu  the  team  to 
bend  Itself  to  its  work,  as  if  it  felt  the  sting- 
ing blow  across  its  back,  and  tho  hot  blood 
trickling  down  its  sides. 

But  tho  driver  will  not  condescend  to 
guide  the  animals,  that  task  being  consid- 
ered the  lowest  to  which  a  human  being  can 
be  put,  and  which  is  in  consequence  handed 
over  to  a  Hottentot  boy,  .or,  preferably,  to  a 
Hosjesman.  The  "  foro-louper's  "  business 
IS  to  walk  just  in  front  of  tho  leading  oxen, 
and  to  pick  out  the  track  which  is  iiuist  suit- 
able for  tho  wheels.  There  is  now  before 
me  a  beautiful  photograph  of  a  harnessed 
wagon,  with  the  driver  on  his  seat,  and  tho 
lore-louper  in  his  place  in  front  of  the  oxen. 
He  IS  a  very  little  man,  about  four  feet  six 
inches  111  height,  and,  to  judge  from  his  face. 
may  be  of  any  age  from  sixteen  to  sixty. 

How  the  fore-louper  will  sometimes  be- 
have, if  he  thinks  that  liis  master  is  not  an 
experienced  traveller,  may  be  seen  from  tho 
following  account  by  a  traveller  who  has 
iilrciidy  been  quoted :.    '•  My  '  leader '  (as  tho 
boy  IS  called  who  leads  the  two  front  oxen 
ot  the  8i)an),  on  my  first  wagon  journey,  was 
a  JJnshman;  lie  was  about  four  feet^hi-di 
and  decidedly  the  ugliest  specimen  of  tlie 
human  race  I  ever  behold,  without  beinsr 
deformed  in  body  or  limbs;  the  most  promi- 
nent feature  in  his  face  was  the  mouth,  with 
Its  hu"e,  thick,  sensual  lips.    The  uose  could 
scarcely  be  called  a  projection;  at  all  events. 
It  Wiis  far  less  distinguishable  in  the  outline 
ot  the  side  face  than  tho  mouth;  it  was  an 
inverted  (or  concave)  Roman,  — that  is  to 
say  tlie  bridge  formed  a  curve  inward;  tho 
nostrils  were  very  wide  and  open,  so  that 
yon  .seemed,  by  means  of  them,  to  look  a 
consider.ible  distance  into  his  head 

'•AVith  regard  to  the  eyes,  I  am  guilty  of 
no  exaggeration  when  1  assert  tfiat  you 
could  not  see  the  eyeballs  at  all  as  you 
looked  at  Ills  profile,  but  only  tho  hollows 
which  contained  them;  it  waslike  lookin^r  at 
a  mask  when  the  eyes  of  the  wearer  are  far 
removed  from  the  orifices  cut  for  them  in 
the  pasteboard.  The  cheek-bones  were  im- 
incnse,  the  cheeks  thin  and  hollow;  the  fore- 
head  was  low  and  shelving  — in  fact,  he 
could  .scarcely  be  said  to  have  a  forehci^l  at 
a  1.  He  was  two  or  three  shades  from  bcinir 
black,  and  he  Iiad  even  less  hair  on  his  head 
than  hhs  countrymen  generally;  it  was  com- 
posed of  little  tight  woolly  knots,  with  a  con- 
siderable space  of  bare  skin  betw.-en  each. 

ho  niuch  for  tho  young  gentleman's  fea- 
tures. The  expression  was  diabolic.iUv  bml 
.-inrt  his  disposition  corresponded  to  it.  f 
irmly  believe  that  the  little  wretch  would 
have  been  guilty  of  any  viUany,  or  any 


240 


THE  nOSJESMAN  0«  UUSIIMAN. 


M  i 


cruolty,  for  the  mere  love  of  either.  I  found 
tho  only  way  to  keep  him  h.  the  i  .inhtiHt 
control  was  to  inspire  him  with  bodily  ((-ar 
— 110  easy  tjwk,  seeing  that  liis  hide  was  so 
fejugh  thiit  your  arms  would  aelie  long  be- 
fore you  produced  any  keen  seninu  of  pain 
by  thnuilunj,'  him. 

"  On  one  occasion  the  wagon  came  to  the 
brow  of  a  hill,  when  it  was  the  duty  of  tlu! 
h!ad(!r  to  stop  the  oxen,  and  Mee  that   tlie 
wheel  wiw  well  locked.     It  may  readily  l)e 
imagined    that    n   wagou    vvhic^h    rcciiiircs 
twelve  oxen   to   draw   it   on   level   ground 
could  not  be  held  back  by  lico  oxen  in  its 
descent  down  a  sleep  hill,  unless  with  (he 
wheel   locked.      My   interesting   Ihislnnan, 
however,  whom  I  had  not  yet  offended  in 
any  manner,  no  sooner  found  himself  at  the 
top  of  the  hill,  than  he  let  go  tho  oxen  with 
a  yell  and  '  wliooj),'  which  .set  them  otf  at  a 
gallop  down    the   precipitous   steep.      The 
wagon  Hew  from  side  to  side  of  the  road, 
destined,  apparently,  to  be  smiished  to  iitoms 
every   moment,  together   with    mvs<lf,   its 
luckless  occupant.      I    was   dashed    about, 
almo.st  unconscious  of  what  could  be   tlie 
cause,  so  suddenly  had  we  started   on  our 
mad  career.     Iliaven  only  knows    how   I 
escaped     destruction,    but    wo     positively 
reaclied   the   bottom  of'  tho  hill  uninjured. 
"The  Bushman  was  by  the  wagon-side  in 
an  instant,  and  went  to   his  jrlacc  at  tlu; 
oxen's  he.ads  as  coolly  and  unconcerneilly  as 
if  he  had  just  performed  part  of  his  ordinary 
duties.    The  Hottentot  driver,  on  the  con- 
trarj',  canio  panting  up,  and  looking  aghast 
with  horror  at  the    fear  he    had   felt.      I 
jumped  out  of  the  wagon,  seized  my  young 
savage  by  the  collar  of  his  jacket,  an<l  with 
a  heavy  sen-cowhide  whip  I  belabin-ed  him 
with  all  iny  strength,  wiierein,  I  trust,  llu' 
reader  will  think  mo  justified,  as  the  little 
wretcli  had   made   the   most  barefaceil  at- 
tempt on  my  life.     I  almost  thought  mv 
strength  would  be  exhausted  before  I  coulll 
get  a  sign  from  the  young  gentleman  thai 
he  felt  my  blows,  but  at  length  he  uttered  a 
yell  of  j);iin,  and  I  knew  he  had  h.ad  enough. 
Next  (lay  I  dropped  him  at  a  village,  and 
declined  his  further  services." 

Missicmaries  have  tried  their  best  to  con- 
vert the  Bosjesmau  to  Christianity,  and 
have  met  with  as  little  success  as  those  who 
have  cndeixvored  to  convert  him  to  civiliza- 
tion. Indeed,  the  former  almost  presup- 
poses some  amount  of  the  latter,  ami,  what- 
ever may  be  done  by  training  up  a  series  of 
children,  nothing  can  be  done  with  those 
who  have  once  tasted  of  th".  wild  ways  of 
desert  life. 

The  dress  of  the  Bosfesman  bears  some 
resemblance  to  that  of  the  Hottentot,  but  is, 
if  possible,  even  more  sunple.  Like  the 
Hottentot,  the  Bosjesman  likes  to  cover  his 
head,  and  gener-ally  wears  a  bea<ldresa  niadt! 
of  skin.  Sometimes  he  pulls  out  the  scanty 
tufts  of  hair  to  their  ftillest  extent—an  inch 


at  tho  most — and  plasters  them  with  Toaao 
imtil  they  project  stitlly  from  the  u-ad. 
Sometimes  also  lu!  shaves  a  considerable 
l)ortion  of  tlii^  head,  and  rubs  red  clay  and 
grease  so  thickly  into  the  renuiiiiiiig"  hair 
that  it  becomes  a  sort  of  felt  cap.  To  tliis 
odd  heiuldress  he  suspends  all  kinds  of  small 
ornaments,  such  as  beads,  fragnunts  of  os- 
trich diells,  bright  bits  of  metal,  and  other 
objec  X 

When  a  Bosjesman  kills  i<  ))ird,  he  likes 
(o  cut  (T  tlie  I'lcad,  and  fasten  that  also  to 
his  hair-vaj)  in  such  a  manner  that  the  beak 
jirojeets  over  Ids  forehead.  ^Ir.  Baines  men- 
tions two  ]i>isje»mans,one  of  whom  wore  tho 
head  of  a  secretary  bird,  and  the  other  that 
of  a  crow.  One  of  these  little  men  seemed 
to  be  rather  a  dandy  in  his  costimie,  as  ho 
also  wore  a  mnuber  of  white  feathers,  cut 
short,  and  stuck  in  his  hair,  where  they  ra- 
diated like  so  many  curl-pajiers. 

As  for  dress,  as  "we  understand  the  word, 
all  that  the  Bosjesnuui  cares  for  is  a  kiml 
of  small  triangular  ajiron,  the  broad  end  of 
which  is  suspeiuled  to  tlu^  belt  in  front,  and 
(he  narrow  end  passed  between  the  legs  and 
tucked  into  the  belt  behind.  Besides  this 
apron,  if  it  may  be  so  called,  the  Bosjesman 
liiis  generally  "a  kaross,  or  mantle,  made 
from  the  skill  of  some  animal.  This  kaross 
is  generally  large  enough  to  hang  to  nearly 
the  feet  when  the  wearer  is  standing  uji- 
light,  and  its  chief  use  is  as  an  exteni- 
jiorized  bed.  Like  the  Hottentot,  the  Bos- 
jesman rolls  himself  up  in  his  kaross  when 
he  sleeps,  gathering  himself  together  into  ,i 
very  small  compass,  iiinl  thus  covering  hiiii- 
silt  completijy  with  a  mantle  which  would 
be  quite  inade(iuate  to  shelter  a  European 
of  e([ual  size. 

As  to  (he  women,  their  dress  very  mucli 
resembles  (hat  of  (he  Hottentot.'  They 
wear  a  piece  of  skin  wrapjied  roimd  (heir 
heads,  and  the  usual  apnin.  made  of  leather 
cut  into  narrow  thongs.  They  also  h.ave 
the  kaross,  which  is  almost  (  xacdy  like  th.'it 
of  the  men.  Tliet^e  are  the  necessities  of 
dress,  but  the  female  sex  among  this  curious 
race  are  etiually  fond  of  finery  with  their 
more  civilized  sisters.  Ilaviiig  but  I  Itlc 
sco])e  for  ornament  iu  the  apron  and  kaioss, 
they  ])lace  the  greater  part  of  their  decora- 
tion on  tho  head,  and  ornament  their  hair 
and  countenances  in  the  most  extraordinary 
way.  Water,  as  has  been  already  observed, 
never  touches  their  faces,  whicli  arc  highly 
polished  with  grease,  so  that  they  shine  iii 
the  sunbeaiiw  with  a  lustre  that  is  literaliv 
dazzling.  To  their  hair  they  suspend  vari- 
ous small  ornaments,  like  those  which  have 
been  mentioned  as  (oriTiing  part  of  theTucn's 
dress.  Among  these  ornaments,  the  money- 
cowrie  is  often  seen,  and  is  much  valued, 
because  (his  shell  does  not  belong  to  the 


u 


count.  l)ut  is    used 


oney,  and 


pa.ssed  over  a  very  great  j)ortion  of  Southern 
Africa  as  a  sort  of  currency. 


(>.)  GRAPPLE  PLANT.    (Sec  page  ai4, 
»-   »•    A. 


(2.    WOMAN  AND  rillM).     (800  p.fj^  m) 


(^M    HOTTKNTOTS   ASI.KK.-.    (Soo  p„ge  233.J 


f4.)   BOS'K^MAN^^QniVER  AND 
(See  pa^et  ;'o7,  afli.j 


(247; 


(i.J    fKO.NTLKI-.    (SefpaKfiilja8,i«4); 


^ 
1 

e 
s 
c 

t 

n 

II 
s 
(I 
fi 

Ml 
W 
111 
8f 
CC 


13 

fo 

til 

ill 
th 
wi 

IIK 

rej 
chi 
nm 
nai 
qui 
rat 

ply 

cloi 
rem 
sni: 
thu 
nnd 

fife'U 

T 
as  r 
in  a 
thi(v 
less! 


fhom  infancy  to  age. 


A  curious  and  very  Inconvonient  ornamont 
is  moiitioncd  l)y  Ifurclu'll,  uiid  thti  render 
will  Hfo  (liivt  ii  lieupH  Momo  rcNcinbianco  to 
Uio  Irontict  wliicli  is  dniwii  on  page  '247. 
riio  f?irl  will)  w.iM  woiiririf?  it  liad  I'vidciiMy 
(I  «roat  idi'ii  of  licr  own  attnictions,  and  in- 
deed, aceordiii;,'  («>  tlie  writer,  Hlie  liad  Home 
j,'roiinds  lor  vanity.  She  had  increased  the 
power  ol'  her  eliarni«i  l)y  rul)hin«  lier  whole 
droHs  ,111(1  per.M„„  thickly  witli  Krease,  while 
her  arms  and  legs  were  ho  loaded  with 
leatlu'rn  rin.'^s,  that  Mhe  evidently  had  an 
mlinn-er  who  wiw  a  sucecssful  himter,  aa 
in  no  otiier  way  could  hIic  ohtain  these 
coveted  deeoratioiiH.  II,.r  hair  was  clotted 
with  red  ochn-,  and  glittering  with  sihilo, 
Willie  her  whole  person  was  perfumed  with 
ouchu. 

Her  chief  ornament,  however,  was  a  ft-ont- 
iet  composed  of  three  oval  pieces  of  ivorv, 
about  as  large  a.s  .spi,i-row\s  cggH,  which 
were  .sii.speiid.Ml  from  her  head  in  such  a 
way  timt  one  fell  on  her  no.se,  and  the  otiier 
two  on  her  checks.  As  she  spoke,  she  eo- 
quettishly  moved  her  head  from  side  to  side, 

Rrkncii<'.*imi<-.,      1.1.....  I'll         •  * 


240 

nearlv  clo«o,l  i„  order  to  exclude  the  Band- 
lies  look  as  1  they  had  rctrent.-d  into  tho 
hciul,  so  completidy  are  they  hidden  hv  the 
pro,|..cting  cheek-bones,  and  the  fat  thalsur- 
rounds  l.em.  Their  heiuis  arc  pn-U^rnati.. 
rally  ugly,  the  skull  projecting  exceedingly 
behind,  and  the  short  woolly  hair  growing  so 
low  down  on  the  forehead  that  they  look  m 
If  they  were  atni.ted  with  hydnuTphalus. 
In  fact,  thev  warcely  seem  to  he  human  in- 
fants at  all,  and  are  absolutely  repulsive 
inst(-iul  of  being  winning  or  attractive! 
riiey  soon  quit  this  stage  of  formation 
and  become  thin-rimbed  and  pot-bellied' 
with  a  prodigious  fall  in  the  back,  which' 
i.s  in  Jact,  a  necessary  consequence  of  tho 
other  delormily. 

It  is  astonishing  how  soon  the  littlo  thincs 
learn  to  lead  an  independent  life.  At  a.  few 
months  ot  age  they  crawl  on  the  sand  like 
vellow  toads  of  a  larger  size  than  usual,  and 
by  the  tinu.  that  they  are  a  year  ol.l  they 
rnn  ab.mt  freelv,  witl.  full  us'e  of  arms  as 
veil  a.s    egs.    ivcii   before   they  have  at- 


so  as  t.,  ^make  thes,  glU  ,:  !  Xnam  "^i  T  wnt  M.;r'  "17/"}^  ,'^"r""^'  '"  «»'«'''^»' 
swing  about  i„  a  "iann..r  wliier,  .si  e  co  s  i     J  ,<ran,^  "  '"'''•""  "'"ler  tho 

ered  to  be  verv  liisciintin"  Trmvnv?.l  1  T  i  i  '"  V^P^  "»'">  "P  w  th  their 
the  writer  quaUlV  Xrves  "  «  vi^;i  v  '.'!  w'  "'"'  "  "l'"'!'  ''\''^-  ^"'""^  •'!«"''  to 
and    alleetatl.m,   L'lvat    a.       .'cv  '  -LI'"    :\    .'""  ^"  •'''^'''"^t«  ^'^  «••''  "ge  at  whicl? these 


.luce  any  alteration  in  the  tone  ot-Ti  t  v,  ke  11.7  r     ml  es,^^^^             "'"'  -^ ^'^  ""««"«-"' 

for  the  astoiiishiug  .juantity  of  meat  ;S,'  sm.k      /               '    T-'""''   '^"'>"»'    ''avinj 

sheswallowe.l.lowTi,  ui.lthe  4     .rsswih  A.  «ivV       "'"  '■''P"l«'^«  attributes  of  age 

which  she  callcl  ou't  to  her  a  tSu  t     S  mmks'o f  n?re":.'nT'r"  "'7 '''■?'■"  to  8hS« 

more,  showed  her  to   bo  resolve,         ,^n^  ."'^i'  „/.."?.''..""''   <'«ni   th'«t  time  to  the 


more,  .showed  her  to  bo  resolved  that  no 
cS"'  ''"  "'"*"'''  '"''-"'■'■^''•'^  on  tliis  oc 
As  is   the  case  with  the  Hottentots,  the 


foriiied  while  slie  ...  ,„„„„ 

y^ears  is  almo.st  n  model  ol>vminetry 


show 

end  ot  flicir  hfo  seem  to  become  moro 
and  more  repulsive.  At  the  age  when  oi? 
youths  begin  to  assume  tho  attributes  of 


Bosiesman  iemale  is  slightly  , mil  uSie;,teb^   an'i'wHJ-Jl.-veloi'ed'muSlJ'Srt"  i  ^''"'"' 


Hut 


ji,„        ""  "  '""nii  Ol  .sviiimetry.     jJut 

the    season  of   beauty  is   very  short,  an 

he  flSh,,.^''"'"'  ''"^■'"  "Gaining' womanhoo 
tlic  features  are  contracted,  sharpened  and 
Wnnk  ed,  while  the  limb.s   look  like  sticks 

pfii.i      •  ?  '•  J^o^Jt'-'^'iian  woman  with  her 
c  lid,  wi  I  give  a  good  idea  of  the  apnear- 

natura«v"H  "n^"    '"'"l""  P>-e><cnt.  'Even 
quKKiv,  out  the  decay  of'  youth  is  accelo 
rated  %  constant  hardships:^  uncertain  sun 
py  of  food,  and  a  total  wai^^t  of'    ,erso  '  f 
cleanliness.    The  onlv  rf.i;V  ^p  .     P^'^°"'il 

The  children  of  the  Bosiesmans  are  nnhn 


T.^      ••  "  "'"  ■■"inawuiis  oi  seniiiiv 

!•  arrows  appear  on  his  brow,  his  body    c^ 


comes  covered  with  wrinkles, 'and  his  abdo-" 
men  alls  loosely  in  successive  folds.  This 
singularly  repulsive  development  is  partly 
u  r;  f  n^  "'"  n«tureof  the  food  which  h  ,  eats^ 
..f  the. rregulanty  with  which  he  is  sup-' 

it  f  I  '  "'■''f/'  '^■'"'«''  '"'"S^-y^  or  gorged 
nith  food,  and  the  natural  con.sequence  of 
s  ch  a  mode  of  life  is  the  unsightly  fimation 
which  has  been  mentioned.  *As  the  Bosies" 
man  advances  in  years,  the  wrinkles  on-'hs 
hsK,  8  whole  !"  ""Pber  and  depth,  ami  at 
mw-  1    «■?     ''"•  -^^  '*  *'"  covered  witli  hang- 

sib  e  for  a  stranger  to  kiidw  whether  ho  is 
looking  at  a  man  or  n  woman. 

evJs  of'thl'"'«nL-^''"  mentioned  that  the 
sunken  I  hIi"""?""  ?'"*'  «"'all,  deeply 
cKd  tl  nV  ''""''  *"''  ^^''P*  so  tightly 

cl^osed  that  they  are  scarcely  perceDtibl/ 


250 


THE  BOSJESMAN  OR  BUSHMAN. 


to  decide  upon  the  precise  nature  of  objects 
which  a  European  could  not  identify,  even 
with  the  assistance  of  liis  glass. 

This  power  of  eyesight  is  equalled  by  the 
delicacy  of  two  other  senses,  those  of  hear- 
ing and  smell.  The  Bosjesman's  ear  catches 
the  "lightest  sound,  and  his  mind  is  in- 
stantly ready  to  take  cognizance  of  it.  He 
understands  the  sound  of  the  winds  as  they 
blow  over  the  land,  the  cry  of  birds,  the 
rustling  of  leaves,  the  hum  of  insects,  and 
draws  his  own  conclusions  from  them.  His 
wide,  flattened  nostrils  are  equally  sensitive 
to  odors,  and  in  some  cases  a  Bosjesnian 
trusts  as  much  to  his  nose  as  to  his  eyes. 

Yet  these  senses,  delicate  as  they  may  be, 
are  only  partially  developed.  The  sense  of 
smell,  lor  example,  which  is  so  sensitive  to 


odors  which  a  civilized  noso  could  not  per- 
ceive, is  callous  to  the  abominable  emana- 
tions from  his  own  body  and  those  of  his 
comrtides,  neither  are  the  olfactory  nerves 
blunted  by  any  amount  of  pungent  snuff. 
The  jcnse  of  taste  seems  almost  to  be  in 
abeyance,  for  the  Bosjesman  will  cat  with 
equal  relish  meat  which  luis  been  just 
killed,  and  which  is  tough,  stringy,  and 
Juiceless,  or  that  which  has  been  killed  for 
several  days,  and  is  in  a  tolerably  advanced 
state  of  putrefaction.  Weather  seems  to 
have  little  effect  on  him,  and  the  sense  of 
pain  seems  nearly  as  blunt  as  it  is  in  the 
lower  animals,  a  JBosjesinan  caring  nothing 
for  injuries  which  would  at  once  prostrate 
any  ordinary  European. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


THE  BOSJESMA^- Continued. 


ARROWS  AUB  CAUUIKD-rOISOV  Wl4  Wm^^t  '  ^"^  '"  CO.V.TRUCTION-HOW 

MAKIVO  ^.MS0^-m'LT°^TH^8KU,K^X       Jr  v-'"'"'"  '"  ^■OVKBEI.-VAH.OUS    METHODS  OK 


Havixo  now  glanced  at  the  general  ap- 
pearance of  the  Bosjesnian.  we  will  ranidlv 
review  the  course  of  his  ordinary  life 
Of  houses  or  homes  he   is  nearly  inde- 

with  the  Bosjesman,  who  finds  all  the  shel- 
ter he  needs,  without  being  obliged  to  exert 
any  labor  in  preparing  it.  ]}ut  there  are 
many  parts  of^  the  country  over  whidi  he 
roams,  in  which  there  are  no  rock"  and 
consequently  no  eaves.    In  such  case's,  the 

innT  <"r ''''"''''  ''"  conceals  himself.  He 
looks  out  for  a  suitable  bush,  creens  into  il 

tent-like  covering.    The  mimosa  trees  are 
favorite  resorts  with  the  Jk.sjesman  and  it 
has  been  well  remarked,  that  after  a  bus 
has  been  much  used,  and  the  Joung  twig 

bef  sa^n?/':^'  "''l?"''   'he   whofe   bu.^ 
oeais  a  gieat  resemblance  to  a  hu<'e  bird's- 

Sto?i;e',?:q:!;;;--y;^^-.ease^K^ 

i-t;.,„   u  "os,i<  Hin.ui  ot  lining  these  nrim 

itive   houses  with    i,...,    .i...-. .1  *?  """^"c  prim 


houses    that    the  name  of  Bosjesman,  or 
JJus  iman,  has  been  given  to  this  group  of 

the  Dutch  title;  their  name,  as  given  by 
themselves,  is  Saqua.  ^ 

nrf 'I  ''/''''r  '^V^'T  "^■'"»«'"  '■o^ks  nor  bushes 
nl  n'ti"n/"""i'^'  "'/'•'  ?«"y  contented  peo! 
ot  hv  '^h""*  .'"«^^»'-  '^I'abit.ition,  but  make 
Zt  I  H*"  «""Ple  Pi:«ccss  of  scratching  a 
hole  m  the  ground,  and  throwing  up  the 

tTev7  'oJ'''''^/"  windward.  Sometimes 
tl  ey  Lecome  rather  luxurious,  and  make  a 

n  OP.  ^V  •  1  *'^™V''''S  over  them  a  mat  or  a 
piece  of  ude,  which  will  answer  as  a  screen 

nEVof'.r""'-  ^"  *^'^  '"^'«  -^  ^^«»'le'M 
tl  omf  1  «*^^^"?'e'^'"»"s  will  contrive  to  stow 
themselves,  rolling  their  karosses  round  their 
ootiics  in  the  peculiar  manner  which  has 
already  been  mentioned.  The  slight  screen 
forms  their  only  protection  against  the  wind 
-the  kaross  their  sole  defence  against  the 
ram.     When  a  horde  of  Bosjesmans  has 


and  other  soft  materials.     TheS^iS'  ^n^^^^^^  ^Z-""  *™f  i"  a  spot  which  promises 
tluKs  forms  the  usual  reslin4lL  of  tl^o'  iT  1     ""''".'^'  i^^y  g^ncally  make   tent- 
vild  men,    ts  pliant  branches  bein^etiv  UrrumH  "If'  ''-^  "^i  "^  flexible  sticks  in  the 
ben    into  the  required  shape.         "  ^   ?„'"",  I'  ^'''"'''""  ,^'n?  ««  ^  *»  force  them 

i  hose  curious  dwellings  are  not  onlviise,!    ;,?.,  h         •loage-hke  form,  and  then  cover- 
as  houses,   but  are  cinployed  as  Sff   t,^"'?"'/"''''  T"P'«  "^^ts  made  o'' reeds, 
places,  where   the   Bosiesninn  o^,.  V-         ""   •  ."*^^'  ''"'^''  «''c  almost  exactly  like  the  nrim 
cealed,  and  whence  he  C  hes  Ws   Kut"   Invfr-T,'"  '1^^  ^^''-'"/'^^  ff.Vpsfes  of  e'^C 

13  fL  ®°  """"^  ^'^^  ^^  '^°"«««-     ^«  to  his  food, 


252 


THE  BOSJESMAN  OR  BUSHMAN". 


m 


I 


'i 


ill 


n 


!.!    ;ii 


the  Bosjesman  finds  no  ditttcuUy  in  supply- 
ing himself  with  all  that  he  needs.  His 
wants  are  indeed  lew,  tor  there  is  scarcely 
anything  which  a  human  heing  can  eat 
without  heinji  poisoned,  that  the  Bosjosman 
does  not  use  for  food.  He  ha-s  not  the  least 
prejudice  against  any  kind  of  edible  sub- 
stance, and,  provided  that  it  is  capable  of 
aftbrding  nourishment,  he  asks  nothing 
more.  His  luxuries  arc  comprised  in  two 
words  — tobacco  and  brandy;  but^food  is  a 
necessary  of  life,  and  is  not  looked  upon  in 
any  other  light.  -,  ^  ,    ,. 

There  is  not  a  beast,  and  I  believe  not  a 
bird  that  a  Bosji'sman  will  not  eat.  Snakes 
and 'other  re])tili's  are  common  articles  of 
diet,  and  insects  are  largely  used  as  food  by 
this  peojile.  Locusts  and  white  ants  are 
the  favorite  insects,  but  the  Bosjesman  is  in 
no  wise  fa.stidious,  and  will  cat  almost  any 
insect  that  he  can  catch.  Koots,  too,  form 
a  large  portion  of  the  Bosjesman's  diet,  and 
he  can  discover  the  water-root  without  the 
assistance  of  a  baboon.  Tims  it  happens 
that  the  Bosjei^man  can  live  where  other 
men  would  perish,  and  to  him  the  wild  des- 
ert is  a  congenial  home.  All  that  he  needs 
is  plenty  of  space,  because  he  never  cul- 
tivates the  ground,  nor  breeds  sheep  or 
cattle,  trusting  eulirelv  for  his  food  to  the 
casual  productions  of  the  earth,  whether  they 
be  animal  or  vegelaljle. 

It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  the 
Bosjesman  obtains  his  moat  by  hunting. 
Though  one  of  the  best  hunters  in  {hn 
worki!  the  Bosjesman,  like  the  Hottentot, 
to  whom  he  is'  nearly  related,  has  no  love 
of  the  chase,  or,  indeed,  lor  any  kind  of 
exertion,  and  would  not  take  the  trouble  to 
pursue  the  various  animals  on  which  he 
lives,  if  he  could  obtain  their  llesh  without 
the  trouble  of  hunting  them.  Yet,  when  he 
has  fairly  started  on  the  chase,  there  is  no 
man  more  doggedly  iiersevcring  ;  and  even 
the  Esquimaux  scal-huiiter,  who  will  sit  foi 
forty-eight  hours  with  harpoon  in  hand, 
cannot  surpass  him  in  endurance. 

Small  .as  he  is,  he  will  match  himself 
against  the  largest  and  the  liercest  animals 
o?  South  Africa,  and  proceeds  with  perfect 
equanimity  and  certainty  of  sitcc;>ss  to  tin; 
chase  of  the  eb'phant,  tie  rhinoceros,  tlie 
lion,  and  the  leopard.  Tl  e  former  animals 
whose  skins  are  loo  tough  to  be  ])ierc(d 
with  his  feeble  weapons,  he  entraps  by 
sundry  ingenious  devices,  while  the  latter 
fall  victims  to  the  deadly  poison  witli  which 
his  arrows  ai(!  imbued.  The  skill  of  the 
Bosjesman  is  severely  tested  in  the  chase 
of  the  ostrich,  a  ))ird  which  the  swiftest  horse 
can  barely  overtake,  and  is  so  v.ary  as  well 
08  swift,  that  a  well-mounted  hunter,  armed 
with  the  best  ritle,  thinks  himself  fortunate 
when  he  can  kill  one. 

The  little  Bosjesman  has  two  modcs(if 
killing  these  birds.  If  he  happens  in  iiiui 
one   of  their    enormous   nests    wliile   the 


parent  birds  arc  away,  ho  aiiproachcs  it 
very  cautiously,  lest  fiis  track  should  bo 
seen  by  the  ever-watchful  ostrich,  and 
buries  himself  in  the  sand  among  the  eggs. 
The  reader  will  doubtless  remember  that 
sever.al  ostriches  deposit  their  eggs  in  one 
nest,  and  that  the  nest  in  qiustioii  is  simply 
scraped  in  the  sand,  and  is  of  enoiinous 
dimensions.  Here  the  tiny  hunter  will  lie 
patiently  until  the  sun  has  gone  down,  when 
he  knows  that  the  jjarent  birds  will  ri^turn 
to  the  nest.  As  they  api>roiu'h  in  the  dis- 
tance, he  carefully  tit's  a  i)ois(jned  arrow  to 
his  bow,  and  directs  its  point  toward  the 
advancing  ostriches.  As  soon  as  they  come 
within  range,  he  picks  out  the  bird  which 
has  the  plumpest  form  and  the  most  lu.xu- 
riant  plumage,  and  with  a  single  arrow 
seals  its  fate. 

The  chief  drawback  to  this  mode  of  hunt- 
ing is,  that  the  very  .act  of  discharging  the 
.arrow  reveals  the  form  of  the  hunter,  and 
frightens  the  other  birds  so  much  that  a 
second  shot  is  scarcely  to  be  obtained,  and 
the  Bosjesman  is  force  i  to  content  himself 
with  Olio  dead  bird  and  the  whole  of  the 
eggs.  Fortunately,  he  is  quite  indifferent 
as  to  the  quality  of  the  eggs,  lie  does  not 
very  much  care  if  any  of  them  should  be 
addled,  and  will  eat  with  perfect  composure 
an  egg  which  would  alarm  an  European  at 
six  paces'  di.stance.  Xeither  d(jes  he  object 
to  the  eggs  if  they  should  be  considerably 
ailvanced  in  hatc'hing,  and,  if  anything, 
rather  fancies  himself  fortunate  in  procur- 
iii"  a  young  and  tender  bird  without  the 
trouble  of  chasing  and  catching  it.  Then 
tiie  egg-shells,  when  the  contents  are  re- 
movedrare  most  valuable  for  many  pur- 
jioses,  and  especially  for  the  conveyance  of 
water.  For  this  Tatter  iiurpti^c  they  are 
shnply  invaluable.  The  liosji  sniaiis  always 
contrive  to  have  a  su|ipiy  of  v.ater,  hue  v.o 
one  excei)t  themselves  has  the  least  notion 
where  it  is  stored.  If  a  Hosjesman  knwl  is 
att.acked.  and  the  ea|)tiyes  interrogated  ius  to 
the  spot  where  the  supply  of  water  has  been 
stored,  they  never  betray  the  jjiveious  secret, 
but  always  pretend  that  they  have  none, 
and  that  ihey  are  on  the  ixunl  nf  dying  with 
thirst.  Yet,  at  some  iiuiet  liour  ol  the  night, 
a  little  yellow  woman  is  tolerably  sure  to 
creep  to'  their  sides  and  give  tlieiii  a  plenti- 
ful draught  of  water,  v  bile  their  captors  .ire 
tryiiifi  to  lull  their  thirst  by  sl.'ip.  IIow 
they  utilize  their  egg-shells  of  water,  ilio 
reader  will  see  in  auolher  place. 

The  eyes  of  the  ostrich  are  keen  enough, 
but  those  of  the  Bosjesman  are  keener,  and 
if  the  small  hunter,'  perched  on  his  rocky 
observatory,  hapjiens  to  catch  a  glimpse  of 
a  number  of  ostriches  in  the  far  distantre,  he 
makes  up  his  mind  that  in  a  few  lioiir.'S 
several  of  those  liirds  will  have  fallen  be- 
fore the  tiny  bow  and  the  envenomed  arrow 
whicii  it  pfiiject.--.  \l:\  ini'.aedij'.lely  crcps 
back  to  his  "apology  for  a  hut,  and  there 


velloi 


apiiroachcs  it 
Lck  should  bo 
os^tridi,  and 
noiijj;  Uio  e^f^s. 
jiiiuinber  that 
ir  ('j,'gs  in  one 
i<li()ii  i!<  .simply 

I  of  I'lioiinouH 
iimtcv  Mill  lie 
110  down,  when 
•ds  will  i(!tui'u 
L'l)  in  the  dis- 
(lucd  arrow  to 
ut  toward  the 

II  as  they  come 
he  bird  which 
ho  moHt  luxu- 

single    arrow 

mode  of  hunt- 
ischarijing  the 
lu!  lumtor,  and 

>  much  that  a 
!  obtiiinod,  and 
luitont  himself 

>  whole  of  the 
lito  indifferent 

He  docs  not 
horn  .should  be 
foot  composure 
m  European  at 
•  does  he  olijoet 
)e  considerably 
I,  if  aiiylhiii!,', 
latc  in  j)roour- 
id  without  the 
liinj;  it.  Then 
)nlents  are  re- 
for  many  pur- 
conveyance  of 
rposc  they  aie 
;]( sniaiis  always 
i'  water,  buc  V.J 
the  least  notion 
jesman  kriwl  is 
ton'oy;nted  ius  to 
watoi'  has  bocD 
))reciouH  secret, 
ley  have  none, 
uV>f  dyiu!^  with 
lur  ol  the  nijrlit, 
)l(rabiy  sure  to 

>  them  a  plenti- 
heir  captors  are 
ly  sloi  p.  How 
s"  of  water,  iho 
[)lace. 

re  keen  enough, 
are  keener,  and 
d  on  his  rocky 
lb  a  glimpse  of 
far  distance,  he 
n  a  few  hours 
have  fallen  be- 
ivononu'd  arrow 
'.o'.!i:ile!v  crcps 
hut,  aiid  there 


OSTEICII-IIUNTING. 


finds  a  complete  hunter's  .suit  which  he  has 
prepared  in  readines.s  for  such  an  occasion 
It  consists  of  the  skin  of  an  ostrich,  without 
the  legs  and  having  a  stick  passed  up  the 
neck.  Tlie  skin  of  the  hodv  is  stretcJied 
over  a  kind  of  .saddle,  wliicirthe  maker  has 
adapted  to  his  own  shoulders. 

lie  first  rubs  his  yellow  legs  with  wliite 
cha  k,  and  then  fixes  the  decov  skin  on  his 
back,  taking  care  to  do  it  in  sudi  a  manner, 
that,  although  it  is  quite  firm  as  Ion"  a.s  it 
has  to  be  worn,  it  can  be  thrown  off  in  a 
inoment.  rbe  ivason  for  this  precaution  will 
be  seen  presently.  He  (hen  takes  his  l)ow 
and  arrows  and  sets  off  in  pui'snit  of  the 
ostriches  "using  all  possible  pains  to  ap- 
proach them  .11  such  a  dirocti.ui  that  the 
wind  may  blow  from  them  to  him  \V<'re 
he  to  neglect  this  precaution,  the  watchful 
Dirds  would  soon  detect  him  l,v  the  scent 

foTlInv'thoir^  "■""■'  ''"  '""'^'  not  possibly 

As  soon  as  the  ostriches  see  a  strano-,.  bird 

approaching,  they  cease  from  f  eedin<'  %ith,> 


253 


In  this  wav  are  procured  a  very  large  pro- 
porion  of  the  ostrich  feathers  which  i^ro 
sent  to  the  European  market,  and  the  lady 
wh(.  iidmires  tJic  exquisite  contour  and  lieau- 
tiful  proportions  of  a  good  ostrich  i)!nme  has 
seldom  any  idea  that  it  wn.s  procu.  rd  bv  a 
little  yellow  man  di.sguised  in  an  ostrich 
.-kin,  with  bow  and  arrows  in  his  hand,  and 
his  legs  rubbed  with  chalk.  ' 

After  he  h.as  plucked  the  feathers,  ho  has 
a  very  ingenious  mode  of  preserving  them 
mm  injury.  He  takes  hollow  reeds,  not 
tnicker  than  an  ordinary  drawing  oencil 
and  pushes  the  feathers  into  theni'a.s  far  -s 
they  will  go.  lie  then  taps  the  end  of  the 
reeds  a-'ainst  the  ground,  and,  by  decrees 
the  feather  works  its  own  way  into  the  nro- 
tecting  tube.  In  this  tube  the  featlu'is  are 
carried  about,  and  it  is  evident  tliat  a  con- 
siderable number  of  them  can  be  packed  .so 
a.s  to  make  an  easy  load  for  a  man. 

When  they  kill  an  ostrich,  they  lu-epare 
from  it  a  substance  of  a  rather  remarkable 
ch.aractcr.    Before  the  bird  is  dead,  they  cut 


togetber,  a,.!  gaze  su^pic^;;;;  v  at  f  .[^  j;  i;^^';K;i  Sf'lb^'^- "'  ''J-'"^"''  "'"^  "'' 
po,sed  companion.  AVore  the  dis<r„is,Hl  bi  ,  .IJti  '  ,  ^'"^"  *"^  "•  hgature  firmly 
ter  to  appro.ach  at  one,      .rbiX  vi      ifc^n/       '^  ^'^  l""''^'^"^  any  blooS 

take  the  alarm,  so  he  ni  s    ,bo     £r    nn        "".  ^''''■'»""r      ^'le   wretched  bird   thus 


„,  , ■■  '"    ""^    I'OiMM-SKlU    lO   tail 

tne  ground,  .snatches  up  an  arrow  siKH.,1^  iiUt,.oV."''''"   V'"'^"-     '■"^   iiaiives    vauie    this 


the  head  again. 

The  stricken  bird  da-hes  offip  a  frLdit  on 
receivnig  tho  woun.l,and  all  its  compa   ion" 
run  with  it.  followed  hv  the  <lis,r„i",',;,",'C! 
C7!\     l.'r''''»l'.y  ll'^^^^^veundoci  bird  begins 
to  slacken  its  speed,  staggers,  and  falls  to  the 
ground,  thus  allowing  th,  luinf.r  to  come  ip 
to  the  ostriches  as  they  are  gazinu'  on     ,1 
fallen  companion,  and  permiltiu-  him   to 
secure  another  victim,    (ieuerallv  a  sk  ifS 
.-.n  or  ,vill  secure  (our  out  of  live  ostri,'      ' 
>y  th,s  method  of  hunting.,  but  it  so meVi     ,s 
!>i'Ppon.s  (hat  (he  birds  ,ris.ov,.r  tl    t  i      -e 
IS  something  wromj,  and  make  an      tackVm 
< l>"  apparent  stranger.    A n  a«saul    fmm  s 
povverful  a  binl  is  no  trilie.  as  a    low  from 
IS   eg  ,.s  ,.„„„.,,  ,„  ,,,,,„^.  ^,,„  ,;^^       ,^v       m 

eiful  man,  much  more  of  so  smalland  fe      o 

.n  l><.rsnn(i.r,>  ,ir,  „     tj      ■  ■■■oil  ..111!  11  01)10 


'nu  --•••■■■■' ""^'"■■1  iioiiii,  ui   view. 

-The  Shell  of  the  ..strich  egg  is  nearly  as  va)- 
ii.ii'le  to  tho  Ho.sjesman  as  its  contents  and 
in  s.,„ie  cases  is  still  more  highly  valued.  I13 
••iMof  use  IS  as  a  water  vessel,  for  which  it  is 
admirabl.y  a(la,)tod.  The  women  have  tho  (ask 
of  1,  l.ng  these  shells;  a  task  which  is  .£,  S 
vc  y  laborious  one  when  the  water  is  scanty 

tri hesT',",""  "■'"'  ^''"•^'  '^''^ho  kindred" 
ti  ihes,  hey  have  .a  curious  method  of  obtain- 
g  watoT  when  tliere  is  apparently  notliiu- 
but  mud  o  be  found,  'riiey  take  a  lorn, 
reed,  and  do  rouiiil  one  end  of  it  a  quantity 
f  dried  gra.ss.  This  they  push  as  deeply  a^ 
tliey  convomontly  can  into  the  mud<ly  soi 
and  allow  it  to  remain  there  until  the  water 
has  ponetrated  through  tho  primitive  filter 
am  has  risen  in  tho  tube.  They  then  apply 
tl>'>'r  lips  to  (1,0  tube,  and  draw  intotEr 


a  per.sonage  as  a  IJo.sjosman  huntJr     Then  I  ,.,..■,(!.  '     "      T    '""■'  """"   '"»»  tneir 

comes  the  value  of  the  precmtio.V ,.  i,;  .1  V        '""  "'•«  as  much  water  as  they  can  contain 
just  been  meutione,l'v^':,'"i'"'i"l''^''\'''}H '',•''  /''•«  di.soharge  it  into  ar^ty  S 

shell  by  means  of  .another  reed;  or,  ff  (h;?v 

.no    possess  a  secomi  rood,  a 'slight  stick 

c  r;"'"  ^"'•^  r""-!'""'^  if  manage.1  oare- 

."■V     ^^  '•;:".  «ll'"l-  <ho  small  aperhirc    I  at 


j;.stbeenmeutio;;;r^v;s  r^;rnn:i: 

p;;;ran^'].;^n:;  fSr-^;!-^^^ 


venous  rapidity  a.ong  the  frightelljj'a:  |  iill^  j^  ^rt^tf  HlJS  ^''^^'^  ""^'-^^ 


md.       u  '  '^"■"•''•,  ''"'y  "«''^'.V  <'<>'-ced''i.,to  it" 
aiKl  the  women  have  to  undertake  the  labor 

hr.u\    hoiVioiVard. 


i  >  i 


ii! 

(li 


254 


THE  BOSJESMAN  OB  BUSHMAN. 


The  Bosjcsmana  are  singularly  ingenious 
in  acting  as  spies.  Tliey  will  travel  to  great 
di.stanees  in  order  to  find  out  if  there  is  any- 
thing to  be  stolen,  and  they  have  a  method 
of  CDHiinunicating  with  each  other  by  means 
of  the  smoke  of  a  fire  that  constitutes  a  very 
perfect  telcgrai)h.  The  Austridian  savage 
has  a  similar  system,  and  it  is  really  remark- 
able that  two  races  of  men,  who  are  certainly 
among  the  lowest  examples  of  humanity, 
sliould  possess  an  accomplishment  which 
implies  no  sm.-iU  amount  of  mental  capability. 
Property  to  be  worth  stealing  by  a  Bosjes- 
man  must  mean  something  which  can'  be 
eaten,  and  almost  invariably  takes  the  shape 
of  cattle.  Thus,  to  steal  cattle  is  perhaps 
not  so  difHcult  a  business,  but  to  transport 
them  over  a  wide  desert  is  anything  but 
easy,  and  could  not  be  accomplished,  even 
by  a  Bosjesnian,  without  the  exercise  of 
mudi   forethought. 

In  the  first  place,  the  Bosjesman  is  verv 
careful  of  the  direction  in  which  ho  makes 
liis  raids,  and  will  never  steal  cattle  in  places 
whence  he  is  likely  to  be  followed  by  the 
aggrieved  owners.  He  prefers  to  carrv  off 
aniuiiils  that  are  separated  from  his  own  dis- 
trict by  a  dry  and  thirsty  desert,  over  which 
horses  cannot  pass,  and  which  will  tire  out 
.any  pursuers  on  foot,  because  they  cannot 
carry  with  them  enough  water  for  the  jour- 
ney. AVhen  his  plans  are  laid,  and  his  line 
of  march  settled,  he  sends  the  women  along 
it,  with  orders  to  bury  ostrich  egg-shells  full 
of  watOT  at  stated  distances,  the  locality  of 
each  being  signified  by  certain  marks  wliich 
none  but  himself  can  read.  As  .soon  as  this 
precaution  is  t.aken,  he  starts  off  at  his  best 
p.ice,  and,  be-'ng  wonderfully  tolerant  oi 
thirst,  he  and  his  companions  reach  their 
destination  without  unking  any  very  great 
diminution  in  the  stock  of  water.  They 
then  conceal  themselves  until  nightfall,  their 
raids  never  taking  place  in  the  daytime. 

In  the  dead  of  night  they  sliiik  into  the 
cattle  pen,  silently  killing  the  watchman,  if 
one  should  he  on  guard,  and  select  the  best 
animals,  which  thev  drive  off.  The  whole 
of  the  remainder  they  either  kill  or  maim, 
the  latter  being  the  usual  plan,  as  it  saves 
their  arrows.  But,  if  thev  should  be  inter- 
rupted in  their  proceeding's,  their  r.aid  is  not 
the  less  fatal,  for,  even  in  the  hurry  of  flight, 
they  will  discharge  a  poisoned  arrow  into 
every  animal,  so  that  not  one  is  left.  (See 
the  engraving  Xo.  '2  on  p.age  237.) 

We  will  suppose,  however,  that  their 
plans  are  successful,  and  that  they  have  got 
lairly  off  with  their  plunder.  They  know 
that  they  cannot  conceal  the  tracks  of  the 
cattle,  and  do  not  attempt  to  do  so,  but  push 
on  as  liist  as  the  animals  can  be  urged,  so  a.s 
to  get  a  long  start  of  their  pursuers.  When 
they  are  fairly  on  the  track,  some  of  their 
number  go  in  advance  to  the  first  station, 
dig  up  the  water  vessels,  and  wait  the  arri- 


val 01  tile  reuuiiuder.    The  tattle 


are  sup- 


plied with  as  much  water  as  can  bo  spared 
for  them,  in  order  to  give  them  strength 
and  willingness  for  the  journey;  the  empty 
vessels  ai-e  then  tied  "on  their  backs,  and 
tliey  are  again  driven  forward.  In  this 
nianner  they  pass  on  from  station  to  sta- 
tion until  they  arrive  at  their  destination. 
Should,  however,  the  pursuers  come  up  with 
them,  they  abandon  the  cattle  at  once;  inva- 
riably leaving  a  poisoned  arrow  in  each  by 
way  of  a  parting  gift,  and  take  to  flight  with 
such  rapidity,  that  the  pursuers  know  that 
it  is  useless  to  follow  them. 

The  needless  destruction  which  they  work 
among  the  cattle,  which  to  a  Hottentot  or  a 
Katfir  are  almost  the  breath  of  life,  has 
exasperated  both  these  people  to  such  a 
degree  that  they  will  lay  aside  for  a  time 
their  difterences,  and  unite  in  attacking  the 
Bosjesman,  who  is  equally  hated  by  both. 
This,  however,  they  do  with  every  jirecau- 
tion,  knowing  full  well  the  dangerous  char- 
.octer  of  the  enemies  against  whom  they  are 
about  to  advance,  and  not  attempting  any 
expedition  unless  their  numbers  are  very 
strong  indeed. 

Of  .systematic  warfare  the  Bosjesmans 
know  nothing,  although  they  are  i)erliaps 
the  most  dangerous  enemies  that  a  man  c.in 
have,  his  first  knowledge  of  their  presence 
being  the  clang  of  the  bow,  and  the  .sharp 
whirring  sound  of  the  arrow.  Sometimes  a 
horde  of  Bosjesmans  will  take  oHence  at 
some  Hottentot  or  Katfir  tribe,  and  will 
keep  up  a  desultory  sort  of  skirmish  for 
years,  during  which  time  the  foe  knows  not 
what  a  miiet  night  means. 

The  Bosjesiuiuis  dare  not  attack  their 
enemies  in  open  day,  neither  will  they  ven- 
ture to  match  theihselves  in  fair  warl'are 
against  any  consideral>le  luimber  of  antago- 
nists. But  not  a  man  dares  to  str.ay  from 
the  protection  of  the  huts,  unless  accompa- 
nied by  armed  comrades,  knowing  that  the 
cunning  enemies  are  always  lurking  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  that  a"  stone,  or  bush, 
or  tree,  will  aflbid  cover  to  a  Bosjesman. 
These  tiny  but  fornii<lable  warriors  will  even 
conceal  themselves  in  the  siuid,  if  they 
foiR-y  that  stragglers  may  pass  in  that  direc- 
tion, and  the  pull-ad<ler  itself  is  not  more 
invisible,  nor  iUs  fangs  more  deadiv,  than 
the  lurking  Bosjesman.  On  the  bare  cliffs 
they  can  conceal  themselves  with  marvel- 
lous address,  their  yellow  skins  being  so  like 
the  color  of  the  rocks  tliat  they  are  scarcely 
visible,  even  when  there  is  no  cover.  More- 
over, they  have  a  strange  way  of  huddling 
themselves  up  in  a  bundle,  so  iis  to  look  like 
conical  heaps  of  leaves  and  sticks,  without 
a  semblance  of  humanity  about  them. 

Open  resistance  tliey  .seldom  ofi'er,  gener- 
ally scattering  .and  e.seaping  in  all  directions 
if  a  direct  charge  is  made  at  them,  even  if 
they  should  be  assailed  by  one  soliUry 
enemy  armed  only  with  a  sticks  But  th'^y 
will  haug  about  the  outskirts  of  the  hostile 


5- 


COURAGE  OF  THE  BOSJESMANS. 


.  Hi- 


tribe  for  montha  together,  never  gathcrin<T 
themstilves  into  a  single  band  which  can  be 
assaulted  and  conquered,  but  8eparatin« 
themselves  into  little  parties  of  two  or 
three,  against  whom  it  would  be  absurd  for 
the  enemy  to  advance  in  force,  which  can- 


255 


not  be   conquered    by  equal  numbers,  and 
yet  which  are   too   formidable   to   be    left 
unmolested.     The   trouble   and  annoyance 
which  a  few  Bosjesmans  can  indict  upon  a 
large  body  of  enemies  is  almost  incredible 
Xlio  warriors  are  forced  to  be  ahviiys  on  the 
watch,  and  never  venture   singly  without 
their  cainp,  while  the  womcm  and  children 
have  such  a  dread  of  the  Bosjesmans,  that 
the  very  mention  of  the  name'throws  them 
into  paroxysms  of  terror.    The  difflculty  of 
attacking    these    pertinacious    enemies    is 
very  much  increased  by  the  nomad  char- 
acter ot    the  Bosjesmans.    The   Hottentot 
tribes  can  move  a  village  in  half  a  day,  but 
the  Bosiesmans,  who  can  e.'cist  without  lixed 
habitations  ot  any  kind,  and   whose  most 
elaborate  houses  are  far  simpler   than   the 
worst  specimens  of  Hottentot  architecture 
can  remove   themselves  and   their  habita- 
tions whenever  thev  choose;  and,  if  neces- 
sary, can  abolish   their  rude  houses  aito- 
gether,  so  as  not  to  afford  the  least  si-m  of 
their  residence.  •  ° 

Sometimes,  but  very  rarely,  the   Kaffirs 
exasncra  ed  by  repeated  loss/s  at  tlie  hands 
ot    the    Bosjesmins,   have    determined    to 
trace  the  delinquents  to  their  home,  and  to 
e.xtirpate  the  entire  cominimity.    The  exne- 
•  ition  IS  one  which  is  fraught  with  special 
fl:mger,  as  there  is  no  weapon  which  a  Kaffir 
mv^ads  more  than  the  poisoned  arrow  of  the 
Bosjesman.     In  such  causes  the  overwhelm- 
ing numbers  of  the  assailants  and  the  ahv.- 
lute  necessity  of  the  tiusk  which  thev  hive 
set  themselves  are  sure  to  lead  to  ultimate 
success,  and  neither  men  nor  women  are 
spared.    The  ve.7  young  ..hildren  are    , me- 
times  earned  off  and  made  to  act  as  slaves 
but,  as  a  general  rule,  the  Kaffirs  look  upon' 
the  Bosjesmans  much  as  if  thev  were  a  set 

with  Tli'm  '"■'"'"^''  •''"'*  "^''l  "'™^  --111 
fr.l  in  1  ''"'^  f""'l'i'netion  a-s  they  would 

addeis.         "^'"'°  ''  ^^"""^  of  cobras  or  piIlV- 

mn,L'''^^^'"''?,™°""""'='J  that  the  Bosjes- 
mans will  seldom  offer  anv  resistant  in 
open  fight.     Sometimes,  lu.wev  u    K  vv 

iVllr^f  °"'^  '"  case'of  behigd    :-',rt 
bay.  preferring  usually  to  lie  in  wait  an  i  in 

send  a  V'*  "'■'^'•'  '"Steal  upon    heir  foe 
send  a  few  poisoned  arrows  among  them' 
and  steal  away  un.Ier  cover  of  the  dark  ess 
Ye    when   flight  is   us.>l,>ss,  an        lev  .re 

"tLomt  as  teuible  foes  as  can  be  met-  )n« 
ing  all  sense  of  fear,  an.l  fig  li,  J  "uh  ,  es 
p(Tnte  courage.    A  small  ban.l ,,?   he  ,  ,.'" 


such  occaaion,  all  had  been  killed  except 
one  man,  who  had  ensconced  himself  so 
closely  behind  a  stone  that  his  enemies 
could  not  manage  to  inflict  a  mortal  wound. 
With  his  bow  he  drew  toward  him  the 
spent  arrows  of  his  fallen  kinsmen,  and, 
though  exhausted  by  lo.ss  of  blood  from 
many  wounds  on  his  limbs,  he  continued 
to  hurl  the  arrows  at  his  foes,  accompanyinff 
each  with  some  abusive  epithet  It  was  not 
until  many  of  his  enemies  had  fallen  by  his 
haiid,  that  he  exposed  himself  to  a  mortal 

It  is  a  curious  custom  of  the  Bosjesman. 
who  likes  to  have  his  arrows  rea<ly  to  hand 
to  carry  them  in  his  headdress,  just  as  an 
old-fashioned  clerk  carries  his  pen  behind 
his  car.    Generally  he   keeps  them   in  his 
quiver  with  their  points  reversed,  but,  when 
he  IS  actively  engaged  in  fighting,  he  takes 
them  out   turns  the  points  with'  their  poi- 
soned ends  outward,  and  arranges  theni  at 
each  side  of  his  head,  so  that  they  project 
like  a  couple  of  skeleton  fans.    They  give  a 
most  peculiar  look  to  the  features,  and  are 
as  sure    an    indication    of  dan<'er  as   the 
sin-cad  hood  of  the  cobra,  or  the^nenacing 
"whirr"    of  the    rattlesnake.     lie    makc^ 
great  use  of  them   in  the   war  of  words 
which  in  Southern  Africa  seems  invariablv 
to    accompany   the   war    of   weapons,   anil 
moyesthemjustasa  horse  moves  his  ears. 

(iTem  "ifr"""^'","?.'?'  «f  tl'e  head  he  sends 
them  all  forward  like  two  horns,  and  with 
another  he  shakes  th.-m  open  in'a  fan-like 
form,  accompanying  each  gesture  with  r.apid 
frowns  like  those  of  an  angry  baboon  an 
with  a  oriv-nt  of  words  that  are  eonueS 
enough  to  those  who  umlerstand  them^ 
He  does  not  place  all  his  arrows  in  his 

ouiver'''-^!?"'  ^n''  '-'  ^"r"*  •'■'^'"l  i"  the 
quiver.     These  he  uses  when  he  has  time 

or  a  dehberate  aim.     But,  if  closely  pressed 

he  snatches  arrow  after  arrow  out  of  his 

'h^i  win;  f  1  '''•',".  ''\l^''  «''•'""' «»'!  «i'°"ts 

;.     n  1       r*,'"''"^'^-^  that  seems  almost  in- 

udible.     I  have   seen  a  Bosjesman   send 

hive  successive  arrows  into  a  mark,  and  do 

so  quickly  that  the  three  were  diseharWd 

HI  less  than  two  seconds.    Indeed  the    nw 

•sounds  followed  one  another  as  Vam.llv  as 

three^blows  could  liave  been  stru'ck  ivilh 

Traversing  the  country  unceasino'lv    the 
Bosjesman  wouKl  not  bo 'fit  for  his  ol-.hn.ary 
life  It  he  could  be  stopped  by  such  an  ohsta- 
Ijn  ""  '■''■^'•;  "»'l  it  is  aJcordingly  found 
that  they  can  all  swim.    As  the  r?vers  are 
often  swift  and    strong,  swimming  across 
Inm  in  a  straight  line  would  be  iinpossibi; 
ut  for  an  invention  which  is  calle<l  "  Ilouto- 
paard, '  or  wooden  horse.    This  is  notb  n<r 
.nore  than  a  piece  of  wood  six  or  seven    >ef 
wf  b..'"'''-  "  ''^-  '^"^•''»  '"to  one  end 
places  this  peg  against  his  right  shoidder  so 
that  the  wood  is  under  his  body,  and  helps 


I 


1 


.  18 


856 


THE  BOSJESMAN  OR  BUSHMAN. 


to  support  it.  How  this  machine  works 
liiny  be  seen  from  tlic  following  iinecdolo  by 
Dr.  l.iditenstuin,  which  not  only  illustriites 
the  point  in  question,  but  presents  the  IJos- 
jusnians  in  li  more  umiuble  lij^ht  thiin  we 
lire  geuenilly  necustonied  to  view  them. 

"  A  hippopotamus  hail  been  killed,  and  its 
body  hwhed  to  the  bank  with  leathern  ropes. 
TJie  stream,  however,  after  llie  fashion  of 
African  streams,  had  risen  suddenly,  and 
the  current  swept  downward  with  such 
force,  that  it  tore  asunder  the  ropes  in 
question,  and  carried  otl"  the  huge  car- 
ciss.  Son»e  Bosjesmaus  went  alonji  the 
bank  to  discover  the  lost  animal,  and  at 
last  found  it  on  the  other  bank,  and  liavm;,' 
crossed  the  river,  carrying  with  thenj  the 
ends  of  some  stout  ropes,  they  tried  unsuc- 
cessfiillv  to  tow  the  dead  animal  to  the 
otiier  side.  Some  other  means  of  accom- 
plishing the  proposed  end  were  now  to  be 
devised,  and  many  were  suggested,  but 
none  found  practicable.  The  hope  of  re- 
tiioving  the  prize, however, indu'  !  a  young 
colonist  to  atlemiit  swiinming  over;  but,  on 
account  of  the  vast  force  of  the  stream,  he 
Avas  constrained  to  return  ere  he  h.id  reached 
a  fourth  i)art  of  the  way.  In  the  iiieai)  iii>\o, 
the  two  Bosjesmans  who  had  attaineu  tJie 
other  side  of  the  water,  having  made  a 
laiU'c  fire,  cut  a  (luantity  i>f  fat  olf  the  mon- 
ster's back,  which  they  baked  and  ate  most 
voraciouslv. 

"This  sight  tempted  five  more  of  tlui 
Bosjesmans  to  make  a  new  essay.  Each 
tooiw  a  light  flat  piece  of  wood,  which  was 
fastened  to  the  right  shoulder,  and  under 
the  arm;  when  in  the  water  the  point  was 
placed  directly  across  the  stntam,  so  that 
tlie  great  force  of  water  must  come  upon 
that,  while  the  swimmer,  with  the  left  arm 
and  the  feet,  struggled  against  the  stream, 
in  the  same  manner  as  a  ship  with  spread 
sails,  when,  .nceonling  to  the  sailor's  lan- 
guage, it  sails  before  the  wind.  They  ar- 
rived quicker  than  the,  first,  and  almost 
without  any  eflbrt,  directly  to  the  opposite 
point,  and  immediately  aiiplied  all  their 
strength,  though  in  vain,  to  loosening  the 
monster  from  the  rock  on  which  ithun". 

••  In  the  mean  time,  a  fried  slave,  belong- 
ing to  the  Governor's  train,  an  eager,  spir- 
ited young  fellow,  and  a  very  expert  swim- 
mer, had  the  boldness  to  attem))t  following 
the  savages  without  any  artificial  aid,  and 
got,  thoimh  slowly,  very  successfully,  about 
half-way  over,  ifere,  however,  his  strength 
failed  him;  he  was  carried  away  and  sunk, 
but  appeared  again  above  the  water,  strug- 
gling with  his  little  remaining  powers  to 
reach  the  shore.  All  efl'orts  wn-e  in  vain; 
lie  was  forced  to  abandon  himself  to  the 
stream;  but  luckily,  at  a  turn  in  the  river, 
which  soon  presented  itself,  he  wiis  car;  i.;d 
to  the  land  half  dead. 

''The  Bosjesmans,  when  they  saw  hissitsi- 
ation,  quilted  their  lire,  aud,  hasteuiug  to  his 


assistnneo,  arrived  at  the  spot  just  a«  he 
crawled  on  shore,  exhausted  with  fatigue, 
and  stiffened  with  cold.  It  was  a  truly 
atfecting  sight  to  behold  the  exertions  made 
by  the  savages  to  recover  him.  They  threw 
their  skins  over  him,  dried  him,  aud  rubbed 
him  with  their  hands,  and,  when  he  be- 
gan somewhat  to  revive,  carried  him  to  the 
lire  and  laid  him  down  b);  it.  They  then 
made  him  a  bed  with  their  skins,  and  put 
more  wood  on  the  lire,  that  he  might  be 
thoroughly  warmed,  rubbing  liis  benumbed 
limbs  over  with  the  heated  fat  of  the  river- 
horse.  But  eveniuji  was  now  coining  on, 
and,  in  order  to  wait  for  the  entire  resto- 
ration of  the  unlbrtunate  .'ulventurer,  it  was 
necessary  for  the  whole  party  to  resolve  on 
passing  the  night  where  they  were.  Some 
of  the  Bosjesmans  on  this  side  exerted  them- 
selves to  carry  the  jjoor  man's  clothes  over 
to  him,  that  he  might  not  be  prevcutcd  by 
the  cold  from  sleeping,  and  recovering 
strength   for  his  return. 

"  Early  the  ncxi  morning  the  Bosjesmans 
were  seen  conducting  iheirjj/'otiyc;' along  the 
side  of  the  slre.im.  to  seek  out  some  more 
convenient  spot  for  attempting  to  cross  it. 
They  soon  arrived  at  one  where  there  was 
a  small  island  in  the  river,  which  would  of 
course  much  diminish  the  fatigue  of  cross- 
ing ;  a  quantity  of  wood  was  then  fastened 
together,  on  wliiih  he  was  laid,  and  thus 
the  voyage  commenced.  The  young  man, 
grown  timid  with  the  danger  from  which  he 
had  escaped,  could  not  encounter  the  water 
again  without  great  iii)prehensions;  he  with 
the  whole  parly,  however,  arrived  very 
safely  and  tolerably  quick  at  the  island, 
whence,  with  the  assistance  of  his  two 
friends,  he  commenced  the  second  and  most 
toilsome  part  of  the  undertaking.  Two  of 
the  ]5osjesmans  kept  on  each  side  of  the  bun- 
dle of  wood,  while  the  young  man  himself 
exerted  all  bis  remaining  powers  to  push  ou 
his  fioat.  Whiu  tluy  reached  a  bank  in 
the  river,  on  wliieh  they  were  partially 
aground,  ha\  ing  water  only  up  to  the  middle, 
he  was  obliged  to  stop  anil  rest  awhile  ;  but 
by  this  lime  he  was  so  completely  chilled, 
and  his  limbs  were  so  benumbed  with  the 
cold,  that  it  seemed  almost  inqjossible  for 
liim  to  jiroceed.  In  vain  did  bis  comrades, 
who  looked  anxiously  on  to  see  the  tcrmina- 
tiou  of  the  advimtiire,  call  to  him  to  lake 
courage,  to  make,  without  delay,  yet  one 
more  etlbrt ;  he,  as  well  as  an  old  Bo^jes- 
nian,  the  best  swimmer  of  the  set,  seemed 
totally  to  have  lost,  all  ])resence  of  mind. 

"  At  this  crilieal  moment,  two  of  the  Bos- 
jesmans who  had  remained  on  our  side  of 
the  water  were  induced,  alter  some  jn  r'^ua- 
siou,  to  undertaki'  the  rescue  of  th'.se  'iU- 
fortunate  adventurers.  A  large  boudle  ot 
wood  was  fastened  together  'vith  the  utmost 
despatch  ;  on  the  end  of  tins  tliev  laid  theui- 
;  selves,  and  to  the  middle  v  e  nisteiied  a 
1  cord  J  this  was  heid  by  those  uu  shore,  su 


whii 


4pot  Just  08  he 
;(!  with  lUtiguo, 
It  was  ft  truly 
exei'tioiui  nuide 
111.  They  threw 
liin,  nud  rul)bed 
il,  when  he  be- 
•ried  him  to  the 
it.     They  thou 

•  skins,  aiul  put 
at  he  mif^fht  bo 
T  liis  benumbed 
fat  of  the  river- 
iiow  coiiiiuf^  on, 
he  entire  resto- 
1  venturer,  it  was 
fty  to  resolve  on 
ley  were.  Some 
Je  exerted  tliem- 
,n's  clotheH  over 
be  proveulcd  by 
and    recovering 

the  Bosjcsmans 

jjcoiiyc;' along  the 
out  some  more 
iting  to  cross  it. 
vvliorc  there  was 
,  whieh  would  of 
fatigue  of  cro.ss- 
[is  then  fastened 
j  laid,  and  thus 
riie  young  man, 
;r  from  which  he 
iiunter  the  water 
elisions;  he  with 
r,  arrived  very 
:  at  the  island, 
nco  of  his  two 
second  and  most 
•taking.  Two  of 
h  side  of  tlu^  bun- 
uig  man  himsilf 
owcrs  to  jmsh  on 
died   a  bank  in 

•  were  partially 
up  to  Ihe  miilillo, 
rest  awhile  ;  but 
impletely  chilled, 
lumbed  with  the 
st  inii)(issil)le  for 
lid  his  coinradi'S, 

sec  the  lermina- 
1  to  him  to  take 
t  delay,  yet  one 
IS  an  old  IJohJes- 
■  the  set,  seemed 
I'uce  of  mind. 
„  two  of  the  Bos- 
d  on  our  side  of 
ter  some  pi  rsua- 
:(ue  of  th'.si'  ua- 

large  bmidle  of 
V  ivith  thr  utniost 
is  tiiev  i:u<l  them- 
.1  \'  lu'  listened  a 
wao  oii  shore,  su 


WEAPONS  OF  THE  B0SJE8MANS. 


that  it  might  not  /iill  into  tlio  water  and 
incommode  them  in  swiimiiiug.     It  was  as- 
tonishing to  see  with  what  |)ronintitu(Ie  they 
steered  dire(!tly  to  Ihe  riglit  spot,  and  came 
notwithstaiiding  the  rapidity  of  the  stream' 
to  the  unfortunate  objects  tliey  sought.    The 
latter  iiail  so  lar  lost  all  coolness  and  pres- 
ence of  mind,  that  they  liad  not  the  sense 
imnuMlialely  to   lay  hold  of   the  cord,  and 
tlieir  deliverers  were  in  the  utmost  dano'or 
ot  bemgcarriiMl  away  tlie  next  moment'liy 
the  stream.    At  this  (;ritical  point,  the  third 
who  was  standing  on  the  bank,  seized  the 
only  means  r('mainiiig  to  save  his  compan- 
ions.    He  puslied  them  before  him  into  the 
deep  Nvater,  and  compelhMl  them  once  more 
in  eoniinietion  witii  liim,  to  put  forth  all  their 
strength,  wlnle  thr  oiher  two  stru-'led  with 
their  utmost  miglit  against  the  sfrram.    In 
this  manner  he  at  length  succeeded  in  mak- 
ing   hem  catch  hold  of  the  rope,  bv  means 
of  whicii  all  li^-e  ^vere  ultimately  driicr.rp,!   „ 
safety  to  th.^  shore.''  ^  "'''oo'"  m 

.vi?-^f  '!!"  "','."'  I.'^""c«'<l  to  the  weapons  with 
which  the  IJos.iestnan  kills  his  prey  and 
lights  his  enemies.     The  small  but  terrible 

d!'n?l?v  "■  r''l  "'"  ^^"•^.'"^">^"»  "•'^'^■s  ^vith  such 
(leatily  (.(h-ct  are  constructed  with  V(M-v 
great  care,  and  the  neatness  with  whicli 
they  are  made  is  really  suri)rising,  when  w<- 


287 

which  is  llrst  redncc.!  to  the  consistency  of 
Slue,  IS  spread  thickly  ov.;r  the  entire  K 
ot    he  arrow,  including  the  base  of  the  heaA 
i  e  ore  it  has  dried,  a  short  spike  of  iron  or 
qui  1  IS  pushed  into  it,  the  point  being  di- 
1  ected  backward,  so  ns  to  form  a  barb     If 
the  arrow  strikes  a  human  bein-  and  l,o 
P"lls  1    out  of  the  wound,  the  imn  |^(  e° 
which  IS  but  loosely  attached  to  the  head  is 
nearly  sure  to  come  off  and  remain  in  the 
woun,I.      The   little   barb  is  added  C  llio 
same  purnose,  and,  even  if  the  arrow  itself 
bo  immediately  extracted,   enough   of  the 
poison  remains  in  the  wound  to  cause  death. 
But  It  IS  not  at  all  likelv  that  the  arrow  will 
l)e  (ixtracted.    The  head  is  not  fastened  per- 
manently to  the  shaft,  but  is  only  looifcly 
slipped   into  it.    Conseqnentlv  the  shaft  i^ 
pulled  away  easily  enough,  biit  the  head  i.s 
ictt  ill   the   wound,  and   alTbrds  no  Iiandlo 
whereby  it  can  be  extracted.     As  may  bo 
<een  from  the  illustration  Xo.4  on  the  247th 
■>age,  a  considerable  amount  of  the  poison  is 
Msed  upon  each  arrow. 

This  little  barb,  or  barblet,  if  the  word 
n  ay  ho.  used,  is  scarc-ly  as  large  as  one  nib 
of  an  ordinary  qml|  pon,  and  lies  so  close  to 
the  arrow  that  it  would  not  bo  seen  by  an 
inexperienced  eye.  In  form  it  is  trian-ular 
the  bro.ader  end  being  jiressed  into  the  poi- 
son. MIK     fllo  l.r.  r,f,>.l    „.,.l   .1-...      ^.    ,   ■         .        l'"i 


^ke  into  co„sid,.ration      e  sin^n^la   y   nef^'     ^^^li^d '"^f  ""•  ^r^"  ^'T"'^  into  the  poiJ 
ficiont  tools  which  are  used  ^  T^      ■       "S  '"""''"'  '^"''  ''''^'''tod  backward 


safootortliirleen  inches  long,  and  not  as 
thick  .as  .an  .•nlmary  black-lead  peii.Ml.    This 

s  formed  Iroin  the  common  Katiir  reed 
A 1  •';,"''"'"''''>■•'"  both  stron-  and  li-dit" 
At  either  end  it  is  boimd  tirmlv  with  "the 
Bpl.t  and  llattened  intestine  of  some  a  inal 
which  IS  put  on  when  wet,  an,l.  when  dry 
shrinks  elosely,  and  is  very  hard  and  stiif 


ji  >-.  , ..,...., I  1.^  ,,-,  J   iiaro  and  stilt 

^■-ttnn"'  "  '^"VV  ••'"^  ""■  •••"^•^versely,  and' 
now  stung.     Xext  comes  a  p  ceo  of  bono 
usually   that  of    the    ostrich^  Xut    fc 
•lies  in  |e„,.th      One  end  of  it  is  passed 
Into   he  open  en,l  of  the  shaft,  and  over  th 
other  IS  slipped  a  «hort  j.i.-ee  of  reed  over 

Sen^d■uS''^T;"•'H!'''''"'"*■'"^-*'"'^^- 
true  h    ;      .P  n  '"'"'"'  '''  ''''^''^  ^''^  the 

line  he.Kl  of  the  arrow  — the  piece  of  on 
trich  bone  h.iug  „ni,  intended  to  °ive  t hj 
nee(  tul  wei^d.t  to  the  weapon.  "  ' 

The  head  itself  is  made  of  ivory  and  is 

.hatHcanbe^i;;ilS.^j';^::!r^i;^' 

;  he  oth.'r  IS  (irst  bou„d  with  Intestine 

i  ell  J;"  ';""*'■"'  =■'''"."*  ^'"^  oighth  of    ' 
1  an  deep,  is  mad  — 


.,       ,■  ::-■•""■ '-"'"•111-,  .om  .so  allows 

the  barb,  which  is  very  slightly  inserted  to 
.•cmain  m  the  wound.- a  pwtion  of  Son 
of  course  adhering  to  its  base  l'"'»oQ 

iriw'  lly\'f  '"""•  "trnotnrc  of  a  good 
a  io«,  but  the  weapons  are  not  exactly 
•dike.    Some   of  them   have   only  a  sin-Io 


l.ioceot'bonebyw;,:of;',;;;a,;^-^,^^ 
are  not  armed  with   the   tri.angnlar  blade 

fbi  war  n,?    '""""^  ""■%'""'•"  '''''  '"'''"'l^ 
■     ,!,;    •  "    '  ?'■•'  ""'  employed  ii,  the  peace- 
pursuit  of  game.     Hunting  arrow,  have 
the    lead  shaped  .mu'h  like  a  sj.indle,  or  to 
spook  more  familiarly,  like  the'strcct  boy's 
<^|t'  being  tolerably  thiek  in  the  m  d,  lo 
and  tapering  (o  a  jioiiit  at  each  end.     WlJn 
not  in  actual  use,  the  Bosjesman  roveS 
the  head,  so  that  the  poisoned  end  is  re 
cc.yed  into   the  hollow  shaft,  an,     tlms   h 
debarred  from  doing  „sel..ss  i.arm.    Tlpso 
heads    are    n.t    ne.arly  as    thick  as  t lose 

noed'\."'''   "r"'  •'■'"•  ''^'^  neitherl    hey 
need  as  much  poison.  •' 

■n.rTni„^!"''ri"-''"  'I"'^''^''  ^"'1  nn'ows  which 
are  illustrated  on  i)ar'e  •>t7  «-err>  tii-^^  a 

the   dead   body  o/'  their  'o,nr,*t7  were 
kmdly  sent    to  me   by   H.   Dennett.   fZ. 


* 


258 


THE  BOSJESMAN  OR  BUSIIMAIT. 


ting.  Then  comes  a  rood  with  a  piece  of 
bone  inserted  in  one  end.  On  tlio  next 
specimen  a  small  socket  is  formed  nt  the 
end  of  the  bone,  in  order  to  receive  the 
ivory  liead;  and  so  the  arrows  proceed  until 
the  i)erfect  weapon  is  seen. 

As  to  the  poison  wliich  is  used  in  arming 
tlie  arrows,  if  is  of  two  kinds.    Tliut  wliich 
is  in  ordinary  use  is  nuule  chiefly  of  vcfjo- 
table  substances,  such  as  the  juice  of  cer- 
tain euphorbias,  together  with  the  matter 
extracted  from  the  i)oison-gland  of  the  putf- 
adder,  cobra,  and  other  venomous  serpents. 
In  procuring  this  latter  substance  they  are 
singularly  courageous.    AVhen  a  IJosjesman 
sees  a  serpent  which  can  bo  iised  fo'*  poison- 
ing arrows,  he  does  not  kill  it  at  once,  but 
steals  quietly  to  tl:o  spot  where  it  is  lyin,", 
and  sets  his  foot  on  its  neck.     The  siiake] 
disturbed  from  the  lethargic  condition  which' 
is  common  to  all  reptiles,  starts  into  furious 
energy,  aui.  twists  and  struggles  and  hisses, 
and  does  all  in  its  power  to  intlict  a  wound  on 
its  foe.     This  is  exactly  what  the  Bosjesman 
lin-ea,  and  he  excites  the  serpent  to  theutmost 
fitch  of  fury  before  he  kills  it.     The  reason 
v/f  this  conduct  is,  that  the  desire  to  bite  ex- 
cites the  jwison-gland,  and  causes  it  to  secrete 
the  venomous  substances  in  large  quantities. 
The  Bo.sjesmaus  say  that  not  oidy  is  the 
poison  increased   in   volume,  but  that    its 
venomous    properties    arc    rendered   mons 
deadly  by  excituig  the  anger  of  the  reptile 
before    it    is    killed.      The    materials    for 
making  this  jioisou  are   boiled  down   in  a 
prunitive  kind  of  jiot  made  of  a  hollowed 
sandstone,  and,  when   thoroughly  inspissa- 
ted, it  assumes  the  color  and  consistency  of 
pitch.    It  is  put  on  very  thicklv,  in  some 
parts  being  about  the   eighth  of  an   inch 
thick.    In  some  arrow.s,  the  little  triangular 
head  is  only  held  in  its  place  by  the  poison 
Itself,  being  merely  loosely  slipped  into  a 
notch  and  then  cemented  "to  the  shaft  with 
the  poison.    In  this  case  it  acts  as  a  barb, 
and  remains  in  the  wound  when  the  arrow 
18  withdrawn. 

In  our  climate  the  poison  becomes  hard 
and  IS  exceedingly  ))rittle,  cr.icking  in  vari- 
ous directions,  and  being  easily  pulverized 
by  being  rubbed  between  the  fingers.     But 
in  the  comparatively   hot  temperature    of 
bouthern  Africa  it  retains  its  soft  tenacity, 
and  even  in  this  country  it  can  be  softened" 
before    a    fire    and    tlu;    cracked    jxirtions 
mended.    It  is  very  bitter,  and  somewhat 
aromatic  in  taste,  and  in  this  respect  much 
resembles    the  dreaded  wourali   poison   of 
tropical  Guiana.    In  some  places  the  poison 
bulb  IS  common,  and  in  its  prime  it  is  very 
conspicuous,  being  recognized  at  a  consicl- 
erable  distance  by  the  blue  undulated  leaves 
which  rise,  as  it  were,  out  of  the  ground 
and  spread  like  a  fan.    Soon,  however  the 
leaves  fall  off  and  dry  up,  and  notliin<'  is 
seen  but  a  short,  dry  stalk,  which  gives  lit- 
tJe  promise  of  the  bulb  below. 


In  some  fiarts  of  the  Bosjesmans'  country 
the  juice  of  amaryllis  is  lised  for  poisoning 
arrows,  like  that  of  euphorbia,  and  is  then 
mixed  with   the   venom   extracted   from   a 
large  black  spider,  as  well  as  that  which  is 
obtained  IVom   serpents.    An   antidote   for 
this  mixed  poison  is  not  at  juesent  known 
to  white  men,  and  whether  the  Bosjesninns 
are  acquainted  with  one  is  at  iJiesent  un- 
known.   It  would  be  a  great  boon,  not  only 
to  science,  but  to  the  inhabit.uits  of  thiit 
part  of  Africa,  if  a  remedy  could  be  discov- 
ered, inasmuch  as  such  a  discovery  would 
at  once  deprive  the  Bosjesninn  of  the  only 
means  whereby  he  can  render  himself  ter- 
rible to  those  who  live  in  his  neighborhood 
Property  would  then  lie  rendered  compnra- 
tively  safe,  and  the  ju-esent  chronic  state  of 
irregular  warfare  would  be   exclinn"<'d   for 
peace  and  quiet.    The  twotiild  noture  of  the 
jioison,  however,  renders  such  a  discovci'y  a 
matter  of  exceeding  difli(  iilty,  as  the  jiiiii- 
dote  must  be  eipiallv  able  to'eounleriicl  the 
vegetable  poison    as  well    as    the    animal 
venom. 

Terrible  as  is  this  mixed  jKiison,  the  Bos- 
.jesnian  has  another  which  i^  I'lr  more  cruel 
in  its  eflects.    If  a  human  being  is  wounded 
with  an  arrow  armed  with  this  ])(iis<.n,  ho 
sull'ers  the  most  intolerable  agony,  and  kiou 
dies.    Even  if  a  .small  jiortion  ofihis  iioi^en 
should  touch  a  scratch  in  the  skin,  the  result 
IS  scarcely  less  dreadful,  and.   in    J.ivin"-- 
stone's   grai)hic   words,   the   sufferer  "  eu]s 
himself,  calls  for  his  mother's  I  reast,  ns  if 
he  were  returned  in    idea  to  his  childhood 
again,  or  flies  from   hiiin.'in   lialiitiitioiis  a 
raging  maniac."    The  lion  snlVers  in  imu  h 
the  same  way,  r.agins:  (lin.ui,di  the  wood-! 
and  biting  the  trees  and  tlu'  srrouud  in  the' 
extremity  of  his  pain.    The  poison  which 
produces  such  terrible  etl'ecls  is  simply  the 
juice   which   exudes   fidin   a   cert.iin   gnib 
called  the  N'gwa.  or  K'aa  — tin.  iormcrtitlj 
being  used  Iiy  Dr.  I.ivingstone,  and  the  hit- 
ter  by   Jlr.    liaines,  who   has 
attention  to  this  dread  insect, 
of  the  insect  is  as  follows:  — 

There  is  a  tree  called  th('Afrnvini  papcerie 
wliich  is  about  the  size  of  an  oidinary  elm,' 
but  which  has  its  .stems  and  biiuichcs  eoy- 
ered  Avlih  thorns.  Th"  -tood  of  this  trc(i  is 
of  very  soft  texliue.  I'pou  (he  JMarnru 
papeeric  are  found  the  poison  irrubs,  which 
are  of  a  p.'de  flesh-color,  something  like  (hat 
of  the  silkworm,  and  about  three  q'larlers 
of  an  inch  in  length.  One  cuiious  [loint  in 
its  habits  is  the  singular  covering  with 
whicbit  is  invested.  "  Wc  were  nun^h  jiuz- 
zled  by  a  covering  of  green  matter  similar 
in  color  to  the  lisaf  it  iov<U  on.  At  first  we 
thought  it  was  the  first  skin  peeliu!,'  oil',  as 
it  lay  in  loose  rolls  parallel  to  the  liuiscular 
rings  of  the  body;  it  seemed  gr.ndually 
driven  forw.ard  toward  the  head,  where  it 
fojmed  a  shield  or  hood,  ixirlions  breaking 
on  as  it  diied,  and  being  replaced  b3-  iresli! 


given    great 
His  account 


THE  N'GWA  OR  POISOJf  GRUB. 


259 

dor  that  people  who  wield  such  weapons  as 
these  should  be  e<iually  feared  and  l,at,"  1^ 

«hot  w.  h   arrows  whieh,  like  those  of  tho 

^rZ\onl.?T  '''''"'  •'«"'"'  ''"t  tho 
,ir^  I  *.<  .'""'"" '*'■''  iiffgravated  a  hun- 
dred-fold when  it  causes  tWirful  aRonv  and 

stn'erer?   '"■'"""  ^"^^"''^  '^'''^"^    '''^^^  ".o 

A  question  now  naturally  arises,  nanielv 

the  existence  of  any  antidote  to  thisdreadfM 

poison.    Probably  there  is  an  antidote  to 

juices,  are,  in  all  sta-es  of  its".^A'ibdmn  "of  I  ZZl  P?'""" ''  '^Y'cre  but  known,  and  it  is 

tiio  most  ;len,lly  natl.re,  and,  it"  bn^^"^^    n    NvS^^^'TlieT:.,  ''"'  '^T  '^«"«  ^'^^  ^ho 
contact,  with   a  cut,  or  sore   of  anv^ki,.  I    ,i  J7f:  J'^,  >'»'"'^^«  ^''^  ^h^t  t'u' only  nnti- 


At  length  we  were  enabled  to  decide  that  it 

Tnfiir   'i"  '.-^''';»'""^nt  "'th"  creature,  issu- 
ng  not  on  y  fn  (he  usual  manner,  but  from 
the  nores  that  are  scattered  over  nearly  the 
Whole  ot  Its  body.  *' 

"  When  the  u'nib  attains  a  length  of  three 
quarters  of  an  inch,  this  matter  is  more 
Bpanngly  distributed,  and  is  of  a  brownish 
color.  In  a  short  time  the  grub  drops  from 
the  tree,  and,  bnryin.n:  itse-if  jibout  two  feet 
below  the  surface,  forms  its  cocoon  of  a  thin 
Bhell  of  earth  agglutinated  round  its  body 
Its  entrails,  or  rather  tho  whole  intern'al 
Juices,  ar-  -  ■■  ■ 
tho  inosl 

contact  with   a  cut,  or  sore   of  any  kind 
cause  the  most  excruciating  a"onv.'' 

Ihroiigh  tlu!  kindness  of  Mr.' Haines,  who 
enncluM^  my  collection  with  some  specimens 
ot  thoNgwa,!  am  enabled  to  present  my 
leaders  with  some  ligures   of  this    dread 


rOISOX  GKUB. 


isect     Fig.  1  shows  the  N'gwa,  or  K'la  of 
js  natural  size.    The  specimen   was  dry 
invelled  and  hard,  but  K  enreful  adminis^ 

•ation    nf    mo  ttn>.,>    ,.,.,, „„.i    .-i   .       •"•"""in 


Insect, 
its 

sh  

tration  of  moisture  caused  it  to  reiax'Us 
stiffened  segments,  and  the  wrinkled  skin  to 
become  plump  as  in  iiCe.         '"»'^'^'»  sKm  to 

Fig.  1  shows  the  under  surface  of  the 
e rub,  (US  ,1  appears  when  lying  on  it,  back 
and  exh.l.its  its  six  little  legs,  the  d.ark  lead 
and    hornx,  and   the  row^of  spiracles    or 

entw  .  '   h'-.«arno  grub,  as  it  appears  when 
coiled  up  inside  its  cocoon,  and  icrycs  als 


dote  is  fat.:-Tlu:y -h.;;^  a'i^^ZrZ 

fin^fnf  "°""'1°<>  ''S"';,'«  in  its  attemi,ts  to 
Hud  fat.  Consequently,  when  a  person  i.s 
wounded  with  .a  poisoncul  arrow,  tiicy  satii- 

[hat  ffVZ'f  ""'/•  H"-"'''  <''t,  and  think 
that.  If  It  can  be  applied  in  time,  and  in  suf- 
ficient quantities.  It  satisfies  the  N'gwa  and 
saves  the  man's  life.  °     '      " 

The  Bosjesmans  themselves  deny  that 
there  is  any  antidote,  but  this  they  mfVd.t  bo 
expected  to  do,  from  their  natural  i„iwTllin.t? 
ness  to  part  with  .so  valuable  a  secret  It  ?s 
no  light  matter  to  possess  a  poison  which 
keeps  every  enemy  in  terror,  as  well  it  mav 
when  we  consider  its  eff'ects.  Dr.  Living- 
stone mentions  that  the  ellleiency  of  this 
poison  IS  so  great  that  it  is  used  against  tho 
ion  After  w.atching  the  lion  make  a  full 
meal,  two  Rosjesman  hunters  creep  up  to 
the  spot  where  the  animal  is  rej.osin-  n^ 
eording  to  his  custom,  and  apDroacti  so 
silently  that  not  even  a  cracked' stick  an- 
nounces the  presence  of  an  enemy.    One  of 

both   hands,   while   the  other  iirenares  his 
weapons.    When  all   is   ready,\a  Ssonel 


resented  of  their  natui"  1  sT,.  '"'^  '"'^P- 

Wfien  the    Rosjesman  wis'hn..  t^   ^^- 


that  his  skin  is  n^t^S^,'^.^  ^  f  Vf";" 
scratch.  He  then  fakes  a  mM^il^  V  "^ ''''?''' 
finL'ers..nnrl  «„„ '."„„  :1'^  "■  S'-nb  between  his 


agonies. 
When  the  N'gwa  is  used  for  poisoninn- 
arrows,  no  other  substance  is  used  .and^S 
consequence  the  head  of  the  weapo'  ,4^ 
sents  a  much  neater  appearance  than  wVen 
It  IS  armed  with  the  pitch-like  euphorbia  or 
serpent  poison.  This  substane..  bein^of  so 
terrible  a  character,  its  possessors  woVl^ 
naturally  be  anxious  to  disL^T^sono  2 
^!^,r;  1!!^^."!^  "\'^ht  use  in  ease  onS 


9M 


THE   BOSJESMAN  OR  BU8IIMAN. 


they  had  heart!  was  used  by  them  for  that 
imriioHc,  tlic  JJiisji-smau.s  yielded  tho  point 
""iu  *'»'**■  •■■*•;< » -"      -       ,1  .    ' 


li 


i  I 


silid  that  while  men  knew  overvthinj,',  and 
(iuit  it  was  useless 'to  conuoul  tlieir  knowl- 
edji{i'. 

The  antidote  is  called  by  tho  luuno  of  Kila 
haudwe.  and  is  (■liiclly  made  from  n  .small 
8ott-st(;mmcii  plant,    "^riic  (lower  i.s  yellow, 
Btar-nhaped,  and  has  llvo  petals.     T'lie  sta- 
men.s  arc  numerous,  ami  the  calyx  in  dividi d 
into   two  seiials.    Tlio  root  is  "  .somethinR 
between  a   I)ul))  and   a   tuber,  rouiih  ami 
brown  outside,  and  when  cut  is  seen  nr.irked 
with  coneenlrii!  lines  of  liy;ht  reddish  lirown 
and   ijurplf."     The   leaves  are   two   inches 
and  a  halt'  in  li'u.tfth,  and  only  a  quarter  of 
an  inch  wide.     The  mid-rib  of'  the  hial  jiro- 
jects  on   i\w   under   surfac(N  and   forms  a 
depression  on  the  upper.     There  are,  how- 
ever, two  other  plants  which  bear  the  same 
title,  and  are  usud   for   the   same   ]»urpo.se. 
One  ol'  them  luw  a  bro.ider  leafand  a  larj,'cr 
flower,  and   tastes    somethini;    like    sorrtd, 
while  the  third  has  a  waved  or  wrinkled  leaf. 
When  the  Kala  haetlwe  is  used,  the  root  or 
bulb  is  chewed  and  laid  on  tho  wound,  and 
is  followed  by  tho  applicaiion  of  jdenty  of 
fat.    J    may   hero   mention   that   the   word 
'•kiila"  si-nilies  '-friend,"'  and  is  thereforo 
very  approjiriate  to  the  i)lanl. 

This  is  not  the  only  use  which  they  make 
of  poisons.     If  they  are  retreatinn;  over  a 
district  which  th(  v  do  not  int(^nd  to  visit  for 
some   time,  they  h.iv.^  an  abominable  cus- 
tom of  poisoniili^  every  water-liolo  in  their 
track.    Sometimes  they  select  one  fountain, 
and  mix  its  waters  wiih  poijon  lor  the  i)ur- 
])ose_of  destroy iiijr  aanie.      The  substance 
that  is  useil  for  poi-onin;.;  water  is  generally 
of  a   ve<,'elable   nature.     The    bulb   of   the 
poi.son-root  (AmanjlUs  loxkaria)  is   much 
employed,  aucl  so  is  the  juice  of  the  euidior- 
bia.      Mr.  .Moflatt  nearly  fell  a  victim  to 
this  cusiom.    After  a  l(>n;4  and  tedious  ride 
under  the  hot  sunbeams,  he  approached  a 
JJo.sjesman   villaije,  near  which  his    horse 
discovered  a  small  pool  of  water  .surrounded 
with    busies.      Pushintf   his    way    throuijh 
them,  Mr.  :Mon;ia  lay  down  and  took  a  loo:,' 
drauifht  at  the  water,  not  havin^'  understood 
that  the  surrounding  buslics  were  in  fact  a 
fence  used  to  warn  human  bciiiijs  from  the 
water.    As  soon  as  ho  had  drunk,  he  per- 
ceived an  umisual  taste,  and  then  found  that 
the  water  had  been  jxiisoned.    The  clfects  of 
tho  jjoison  were  rather  irritable,  thoui^h  not 
so  painful  as  might   have   been   imauimHl. 
•  I  bej,'an  to  feel  a  violent  turmoil  within, 
and  a  fulness  of  the  system,  as  if  the  arteries 
would  burst,  while  tho  pulsation  was  exceed- 
ingly quick,  bcinj,'  accom](ani(  ,1  liy  a  sli'dit 
giddiness  in  the  head."'    Fortuiiatidy,  a  pro- 
fuse perspiration  came  on.  and  ho  recovered, 
though  the  .strange  scusationa  lasted  for  sev- 
eral days. 

To  the  lienor  of  the  Bosjosmans,  it  must 
be  said   that  they  displayed   the    greatest 


aolieitudo  on  tlii.s  occasion.  One  of  thom 
cftine  running  out  of  the  village,  just  after 
the  water  had  been  drunk,  aiid,  liot  know- 
ing that  the  mischief  bad  already  been  done, 
tried  to  show  by  gestures  thai  the  water 
iiuist  not  bo  driiiik.  Tiiey  then  ran  about 
i'>  ''"  "  ;.i  •.  seeking  for  a  n^mcdv:  and 
W!.«r=  (..  !  )■  tou.;.,  that  the  re.sull  would  not 
be,  tittal,  lb  ■>  showed  extravagant  joy.  Tho 
-e.-icji]!-  \,ud  ,1  very  narrow  one,  a«  a  /.ebra 
I  laid  died  on  the  previous  day  Irom  drinking 
at  tho  same  fountain. 

This  anecdote,  when  taken  in  conjunction 
with  Jpr.  J.iehtenstein's  narrative,  shows 
that  this  despised  race  of  peofde  are  not,  as 
sonu!  seem  to  think,  devoid  of  all  hiynan 
affections,  and  there!>',  I  •_  .,de,;  below  the 
level  of  tho  brul.  beasts.  Subjected,  as 
they  arc,  to  oj)i)ression  on  every". side,  and 
equally  persecuted  by  th«^  Ibiftentots,  the 
Kallirs,  and  llie  white  colonists,  it  is  not  to 
be  8Ui)i)osed  thai  they  could  be  remnrkablo 
for  the  benevolence  uf  their  disposilion,  or 
their  kindly  feelings  toward  the  hostile  peo- 
jde  with  whom  tley  are  surrounded;  and, 
I  whenever  they  (in<l  an  ojiporiunitv  for  re- 
taliation, it  is  l»ut  natural  that  they  .should 
take  advantage  of  it. 

Small,   few,  and  weak,  they  would  have 
been  long  ago  extermiiiidetl  biit  for  Iheirouc 
wea|)on,  tho  poisoned  arrow,  and,  through 
i;.s  i)o.ss('ssion,  they  have  exacted  from  their 
many  foes    tlu!  same   feeling  of  respectful 
abhorrence  ivhich   \vt!   entertain    lowanl   a 
hornet  or  a  viper.     All  h:ile  and  dread  the 
J5osjcsman.  but  no  om  dares  todcs|)i.se  liim. 
However  jiowerful  may  be  a  tribe  of  Kaliiis 
or  Hottentots,  or  however  carefully  an  Eu- 
ropean seltlement  may  be  protected",  a  single 
liosjesman  will  keep  t'liein  in  conslanl  alarm. 
Sentries  are  almost  useless  when  a  Hosjes- 
man  clmoses  to  make  a  nocturnal  .itlaek,'for 
h(!  can  crawl  uusei'ii  williin  a  lew  y.iids  of 
till?  seniincl,  lodge  a  poisoned  arrow  in  his 
body,  and   vanish   as    imp'  reeplibiy   as   ho 
arrived.     As  to  linding  iln-  i(  ircat  in  which 
he  hides  himself  by  day,  it  is  almost  imiios- 
sil)le,  even  to  a  Hottentot,  for  the    Hosjcs- 
nian  is  niarvellously  skilful  in  obliterating 
tracks,  and  making'  a  false  spoor,  and  has 
besides  tho  .art  of  packing   his   tiny  body 
into  .so  .-small  a  compas.s,  tliat  lu?  call  lie  at 
his  e.a.sc  in  a  hole  which  seems  hardly  largo 
enough  to  aceommodate  an  ordinary  "ralibit. 
Yet,  I  hough  ho  is  bunt,  d  and  pcVsecuted 
like   the   hornet  and    tie,    viper,   and,  like 
those  creatures,  can  use  his  veiiomed  weaj)- 
on  when  provoked,  it  is  evident  that  ho  is 
not  incajjable  of  gratitude,  and  that  he  can 
act  in  a  friendly  manner  toward  those  wlio 
treat   him   kindly,      \iiuliclive    he   can   bo 
when   ho  think.s"  hinis.lf  olfended,  and   he 
can  wreak  a  most  cruel  vengeance  on  tlioso 
who  have  incurred  his  wiaih.     Hut  that  he 
is  not  destitute  of  the  better  fi'elings  of  hu- 
manity is  (ivident  fi'im  tlie  above-nientioned 
accouuta,  and  wo  ou-hl  to  feel  gi-atc!'ii!  to 


1 
1 
J 

V 

I 
a 

f( 
b 

ir 
a! 


liOSJESMAN  WITHOUT  MECIIANICAL  SKILL. 


t...'!  wrltt!r  for  siviiix,  on  mi.lnul)t(<(l  nutlior- 
11^,11  belter cliunictor  to  ilio  Jio.sioMiaaii  than 
ho^  waH  tlioii;,'lit  to  liivvo  ilisiTVi.'ll. 

Tliu  sUupv  of  tlu!  arii.WH,  to.^cther  willi 
thu  jv.int  of  luatlicrs,  and  tl.,'  fucble  natmv 
ot   the  how,  ini|)li.'H   that   thov  ar.'   not  in- 
loiidt'd  for  Ion;.,'  ^■all;,',..^.    Tiiu  JioMJc.Mnian  is, 
UKh'cd,  a  viT.v  poor  niaik.xniiin,  anil  docs  not' 
caro  to  slioot  at  an  ohject  that  is  more  tliaji 
thii'ly  or  lui'ty  yards  'Voni  liini,  profcrrin"  a 
distance;  of  oij,ditor  i,  ,,  yards,  if  lui  can  nian- 
BKo  to  creep  so  near.     In  order  to  test  (he 
JJo.sjesnian  s    niarksm.iiiship,    Mr.    Uureh,'! 
Iiini,!,'  on  a  pole  an  anteiojie  skin  kaross,  nearly 
seven  leet  .S(piare.     One  of  the  men  look  his 
How   and  aricuvs,  crept  toward   it  until   he 
was  uitlun  twi^nty  yards,  an.l  missed  it  \nlh 
Ills  hr.st  arrow,  thou-li  he  struck  it  with  thu 

SCCOIUI. 

Thoquiyer,  whicli  seems  to  ho  aneee.«sarv 
accomp,an,,ne..t  to  the  how  and  arrow  in  all 
nations  winch  use  these  weai)ons,  is  some- 

m     -^r  {''^.«'',^'"i>l«  which  is  sh :.wa  on 
la-e  Jl     IS  „(    th,'    latter   material     and  is 

to    ron.  a  specimen  in  my  own  Se^ 
ti  Ml.    11  IS  made  very  stron-lv,  an.l  is  an 

siiip.     I  he  iudo  ot  which  it  is  made  is  tlid  of 
.so.ne    ar«e  animal,  such  as  th.    o4  or    l  i 
iland,  hut  as  llu,  hair  has  been  carcdonv  re 
"lovod  no  clue  is  Idl  as  to  the     v  •  Sud 
mal  which  furnished  the  skin,     the  woo  oi 

01  the   aloes   (Aloe   dtrhotowi),  which   Ic.s 

hr'lS^e'of^-rV'T"''".-'^"^'^'''''^''"'^^^ 
UH.  name  ot  "•  Ivokerhoom, '  or  oniver-iree 

J^.^.onal]y,howevM^theyarcladei    m 
the  karree  tree,  a  si)eeies   of  lUnis    ^^  hie 
grows  on  the  banks  of  river..,  an     h    1  ■  lit' 
a.jJiH;i..araneemuchi.esembies\iJi:!3:i: 

moi'hod^^of'''""''"    ''''*^  ^    '-^'y   in^'^^nious 

&c^^si'i""''^^"^''^^"'^"''''""-^vcr;i.sa 
Kiuu  01  skin  ease    in  w  iii>ii  i>,.  .i  v. 

wea,.ons.    Sometimes  iurn-XSeaU..:;: 


2«)1 

at  ol.JectH  at  mono  than  a  few  yards'  dli- 
ance.    It    s  mostly  madn  of  ./species  of 

"■■*  'OfitenuF,  HO  that  it  bo 


particular  about 

tolerably  ela.Hic.  Neither  is  he  ■ii;;udi„UH 
Hbout  us  mz..,  which  is  seldom  mo?e  ' 
hm-  leet  in  lenjjth,  and  ollen  less;  nor 
about  Us  shnp,,  ,oj.  t,,^  ^.^j.^,,,  .^  ■^'» 

ivmcly  urcKular,  the  thickest  iK.rtion  of 
An.\  httle  boy  can  make,  with  a  stick  and  a 

|H«<)  by  the  liosjcsnian.  In  usinjr  it,  tho 
Josjesman  does  not  hold  it  verticaTly,  after 
I'^manner  of  the  ordinary  |„n<.-bow,  hut 
.'"montally,  as. if  it  were  a  cro'ss-how_„ 
hict  w  iich  explains  the  cxtrein.  ly  iudiif,.rent 
aim  which  can  be  taken  Avilh  it  ' 

rrni  l!nMi^''''"""l  «<:."c>-:'lly  carries  nnai.fla- 
Kai,  hut  It  IS  not  «(  his  own  manufacture^ 
iw  he  is  (,uile  i-iiorant  of  Ibe  blacksmith's 
.lit.  iven  the  httle  tnan!,mlar  tips  which 
are  placed  on  the  arrow-heads  are  hammerer 
with  inlmilo  labor,  the  iron  hein-r  laid  cold 
on  one  slone,  and  beaten  perseverinHv  with 
another,  until  it  is  at  laM  llall,,';;  /f 
so rtenn,,.  ,t  by  heat  the  Uosjcsman  know.s 
)'"thin,-,  nor  does  he  possess  even  the  rudo 

,  jns.ruments  which  are  necessary  for  h..ati.  " 
the  iron  to  the  softenim;  point.    Tho  'issiC 

[gaiis  usually  the  work  ol' the    Hecluanas 
.;  u   IS  mnchosod  fr.m,  them  by  (he  liSs-' 

ass.ijrai    s  seen  in  the  Imnd  of  the  Hosies- 
inaii,  and  in  this  ease  it  is  generally  par   of 

been'kil  '  1  "■"■'  '  "'  "'"'r'"'''  "^vn..^Lvin^ 
1)1  en  KUhd  by  a  iioisoned  arrow.  From  thn 
same  source  also  is  derived  the  knife  which 
b  '  liosjesmaa  usually  wears  hnn.'in"  by  a 
>on^  round  hi.s  neck,  the  instrument"!.'?,." 
aim  St  iiivanably  of  IJeclmana  manufaclurc' 

u;,h,  ••"'","''"',  ""'^'^'<''  "lakes  nothin.^ 
ah  his  own  hands  which  is  not  absolutely 

Kiule  ai,.  rath,  r  luxuries  than  necess-iries 
au.  are  obtaincl  fr.mi  siran  rs.  The  l  o^  • 
au'l  l)»isoiu.,l  arrow,  howev.,  with  w  Idc  l.o 
hshts  human  enemies,  or  ,le.:  ,vs  th,.  la  .^er 
animals,  are  absolutely  nece.s.su-y  o  1  -fm 
and  so  is  the  knob-korrie,  with  wbicl  o 
obtains  the  smaller  animal.^  and  bi,'!.!^    I  e 

Mltis  It  a  necessary  artude  of  jiroperty  on 

'at   .score   also.      These,    there'ore,   everv 

1  osjesmrm  :•.■,.,  mak,.  for  liimself.  amlcon- 


f 


I 


CHAFIER  XXVL 


THE  BOS JESM AN  —  Concluded. 


'I    ' 


AHUSEMKlfTH  OP  THK  MOSJKSMAN  —  HOW  HR  HMOKK^  — niH  PANCK  —  CUHIOrS  ATTITrDKS  —  IlAIf- 
CINU-IIATTLKS  — TUB  WA TKU-miUM  —  HPKl'IMKNS  OK  I1()S.IK.'*MA.V  MCSU!—  lit)  MINCiri.AU  WCAI.E  AND 
I.NTKKVAI.S  — mOCKIlANK.llM  KOIl  A  IIANDKKIICIIIKK  —  A  TKAVKIJ.KIi'h  OPrNlOW  OK  TlIK  IIANCK 
AND  HONd  — TlIK  (lOlUlA  —  ITS  CONSTUUl.TION,  AMI  MOUK  OF  VMS<\  IT  — <JIIAI.ITY  OK  TlIK  TONKH 
Pll()I)lU'KI>  BV  IT  — A  ll()*IKHMA>(  MKLODY  AH  I'UKKOUMKI*  ON  THE  (lOIIUA  — TIIR  JOfM-.IOlM 
AND  TFIK   flCUKORMKR  —  HOoTIIINd    KKKKCT    OK  TlIK    INSTIU'MK.NT  —  AUT  AMONd  TUB  not.H.HMANU 

—  Mil.  L'niiisiTii:  .1  nKMciiii'TivK  hkktcii— Tun  iioh.i Roman's  unvBH  and  colohh  —  uih  ArriiE- 

C'lATION  OF  A   DKAWINO  —  A-NECDOTEU  OF  BODJESMANS. 


TriK  nmiispmeuts  of  tlio  Bosjcsnians  aro 
very  similar  to  tlioso  of  llic  Iloltiiitots,  luid 
can  1)0  genorally  coiiinriscd  in  two  words, 
nnnu'ly,  sin;,'int;"  and  (lancing.  Jlotli  tluso 
words  are  to  ln'  iindorstood  in  tlicir  Soiitii 
African  sense,  and  are  not  to  be  taken  in  an 
European  signilieation.  Perhaps  sniokin;? 
ought  to  he  included  in  the  cnteKiu-y  of 
nmusements.  How  a  IJosjeHinan  smokes 
«Rer  a  meal  has  already  heen  narrated. 
But  there  are  Hea.sons  when  he  does  not 
merely  take  a  few  whill's  as  a  eonehision  to 
a  meal,  hut  ('''liherately  sets  to  work  at  a 
smokiuK  festival.  He  t^ien  takes  the  .'^moke 
in  sueh  quantities,  swallowing  insdad  ol' 
ejceting  it,  that  he  is  seized  with  violent 
(•'oughing  fits,  Iteeornes  insensihle,  ami  falls 
down  in  convulsions.  Ilis  eonipanituiH  then 
take  upon  themselves  the  duty  of  restoring 
him,  and  do  so  in  a  rather  singular  manner. 

As  is  usual  in  smoking  i)arties,  a  supply 
of  fresh  water  is  kept  at  hand,  together  witli 
reeds,  through  whie'i  the  smokers  have  a 
way  of  discliarging  the  smoke  and  water 
after  a  fashriu  w'.iieh  no;»e  hut  ♦hemscdves 
can  perfectly  ac(  omplish.  TVhe.n  one  of 
their  num-ier  lads  down  in  a  vt  oi'  convul- 
sions, his  companions  fdl  their  inou':hs  with 
water,  and  then  sjiirt  it  through  'he  tube 
upon  the  hack  of  his  neck,  Mowing,  with  all 
their  force,  so  as  to  produce  as  great  a  shock 
as  possible.  This  rather  rougli  treatment  is 
efficacious  enough,  and  when  the  man  has 
fairly  recovered,  he  holds  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  perform  the  like  olliee  on  his  com- 
panions. 

The  dance  of  the  Bosjesman  is  of  a  very 
singular  character,  and  seems  rather  oddly 
calculated  for  producing  amusement  either 
in  pcribrracrs  or  spectators.    "One  foot," 


writes  Burehell,  "I'cmains  motionless,  while 
the  other  dances  in  a  (juiek,  wild,  irregular, 
manner, 'hanging  its  place  but  little, though 
the  knee  and  leg  are  turned  from  side  to 
side  as  much  as  the  attitude  will  allow.  The 
jirms  have  but  little  motion,  their  duty 
being  to  su])port  the  body. 

•■  The  dancer  continues  singing  all  the 
while,  and  keeps  tinu'  with  every  move- 
ment, sonu'linu  s  twisting  thi^  bo<ly  in  sud- 
den starts,  until  at  last,  as  if  fatigued  by  the 
extent  of  his  exertions,  he  drops  ujion  the 
ground  to  recover  breath,  still  luaintalning 
the  s])irit  of  the  dance,  and  continuing  to 
sing  and  keep  tiuu',  by  the  motion  of  Ids 
bod}-,  to  the  voices  and  acconipaniments  of 
the  spectators.  In  a  few  seconds  he  starts 
uj)  again,  and  i)roee((ls  wjih  increased  vigiu'. 
When  on(!  foot  is  tirid  out,  or  has  doiu'  its 
share  of  the  dance,  the  other  comes  forward 
and  performs  the  sanu^  jiart;  and  thus, 
changing  legs  from  time  to  time,  it  seemed 
as  though  h(!  meant  to  convince  his  friendii 
that  he  could  dance  forever." 

"When  the  Bosjesman  dances  in  a  house 
ho  is  not  able  to  stand  u])right.  and  couso 
(luently  is  t)bIigod  to  support  himself  lie- 
tween  two  sticks,  on  which  lie  leans  with 
his  body  bent  forw.ard.  Very  little  space  is 
required  fm-  such  a  dance,' and  in  conse- 
quence the  hut  is  nearly  filled  with  specta- 
tors, who  squat  in  a  circle,  leaving  Just 
S]>ace  enough  in  the  centre  for  the  danc.r 
to  move  in.  In  order  to  assist  him  in  mark- 
ing time,  he  has  a  set  of  rattles  which  he 
ties  round  his  ankles.  They  arc  made  of 
till'  ears  of  the  springbok,  the  edges  being 
sewed  togetlu!!-,  and  some  fragments  of  os- 
trich shell  placed  loosely  in  the  interior. 
They  are  lied  on  the  outside  of  the  aukle. 
(202) 


BOSJESMAX  MUSIC. 


I  V  '^'"''';^  ^*''"''>  I  l'iivi>  H(!(>n  pcrforrno'l 
I).V  tlio  U()s|<..Mi,m„M  r,..si.inl.li.,|  lli,m.>  d,- 
m;rll).M  l)y  liiirdi.H,  ||„,  ,|a,„-,.r  Hunnortin- 
•  imH..It  ..I.  a  Ion;,  stick,  il,„u-li  I,,'  ua.  in 
tlic  oi»'ii  iiir,  ftiKJ  (HTiiHionully  l),.utiri.r  time 

Wl    h    (ll(^    stick    llpoi)    tllO    grolllld    to    tll«!    |M'- 

ciiliar  no.HJcsiimi,  lucuMur..,    Tlio  spcctiUors 

wiicthcr    men    or   women,  iicconijjiinv   Hio 

•nincLT  m  lii.H  Honx  liy  u  sort  of  niddily  of 

h.Mi;  own    and  l,y  dappin-  tli..ir  hands,  or 

n.tin-  Mirk.s  on  (he  ground,  in  (in...  with 

1111  It  <all..d  tho  Water- Dn.ni.  This  is 
>';"l'i"^'  nioro  than  a  wo.Mlen  howl,  or 
'•'"i"'l;u^.'  A  littlo  water  i.s  previ.  ,h!v 
loured    .nto   the  bowl,  and   l.y  its  ai       he 

wVh,  m  \vi't  ;;"'"i"""iiy  wet.  rt  is  hia ', 

SS    n    ;"•'•""""'•  "'■  <•'•'  '-i.d.t  hand,  and  i 
kept  to  tho  proper  pitch  f)y  pressing  the 


963 

Illesk'in  "''  ''"'*"''"8"''  "f  'ho  loft  hand  upon 

Not  being  Hkiiled  in  the  HosJeHman'.  Ian- 

giiwe   I  was  nnal)le  to  distin«nish  ,i  ninulo 

but  Mr.  n,nch..ll  glvc.s  them  as  foilovvs 
I  he  daiuer  iises  tlio  word  '•  Wawa-koo 'i 
n-l)eat..(l   eontinually,  widle   tho   speetutors 

1.  t  syllable  ami  brin«inK  tl,..m  sharply 
toge  her  at  the  second.  The  ..|re,,.t  „f  j,^ 
eombined  voi.vs  and  dances  may  ;,.  seen 
by  he  b'll-.wiiuj  notation,  which  was  taken 
by  Hurchell  This  strau^^e  eon.bination  „f 
sounds  whicli  IS  so  opposed  to  our  system  of 
ninsic,  IS  gratefnl  to  ti.e  ear  of  most  Sontii 

,n  nTv"'r';l''''.''-','''''''7'''''  '**  l""VHl».'iU  among 
many  oj  the  tribes,  thouirh  tliere  are  ditrer- 
ences  in  their  modus  and  measures. 


SPBOTATOU. 


Danoeb. 


Aye  O  aye  O 


,,  _   _  »y»    O  »ye  eh        Bye  O  O     O 


WATEU-DnUM.l    ^i^jv  «- 


naiue,   the    dancer    seems  «„    com  detelv 
yrappe.1   up   in   his  part,   that   h  s   ,  o 

lon^ht  except  to  coiitiiuie  his  p^bSui^c 
i'  ^:  ""'^^  'M'l"-<H-e.l  style.    ( )n  the  oeca  hm 


ad  in/tnitum 

live  fnftT.  "'"'  *"?  E'^™l"^'»n  can  .scarcely 
live  in  It,  tho  perspiration  jjour.s  in  strcamq 
from  the  perl'ormer,  and  has,  at     II 1^ 
the  merit  of  acting  a.s  a  partial  ablntion 
nv  way  of  a  handkel-chief,  tL  dance  "' 


«  obhsed  to  assume  a  stoopin..      stuK  I 
in  Hiueii  tie  can  move      line  ii,„  t>    ."'"■^'^^ 

.  »i„ULs  himselt,  the  more  he  seems  to  enjoy 


habits."    ^^'^  ^^^^"^   to  treat' of  their" 

stand  the  Bosjesnmn  is  forced  to  yield  hia 
place  to  another,  and  to  become  one  of  tho 
Hpoetat.M-s.    Before  doin^  so,  he  takes  off  th« 

as>  lines  them  as  essential  to  the  dance  and 


e^^i;Si;;tSSt-£-rlH|^"- 


The  Compant. 


Daucmb, 


Wateh-Dhum. 


„        Aye  O        aye  O        av«   n         .t!^  '''  T~f— * ^^ 


■It,- 


aye  O        aye   O,        aye  eh 


aye   O      O      O 


^^  a     tay  Lolc     a     ( 


a    lay 


1 


=f^i-"t:=t=:t:z::t 


M 


:1 


11 : 


It 


284 


THE  BOS.TESMAN  OR  BUSHMAN. 


It  mny  seem  strange  that  such  odd  music 
could  li.ive  .iny  charms  for  an  European  who 
knew  anything  of  music.  Yet  that  such  can 
be  the  cjis-,  is  evident  from  tlie  words  of  the 
above  uHuitioned  traveller.  '"I  find  it  im- 
possible to  j^ivc,  by  any  means  of  mere 
description,  a  correct  idea  of  the  pleasing 
hnprcssions  received  while  viewing  this 
scene,  or  of  the  kind  of  effect  which  the  eve- 
ning's amusements  produced  upon  nij'  mind 
and  feelings.  It  must  be  seen,  it  must  be 
participated  in,  without  whidi  it  would  not 
be  easy  to  imagine  its  force,  or  justly  to 
conceive  its  natin-e.  There  was  in  this 
amusement  nothing  whicdi  can  make  me 
ashamed  to  confess  that  I  derived  as  much 
enjoyment  from  it  as  the  natives  themselves. 
Tliore  was  nothing  in  it  which  approached 
to  vulgarity,  .and,  in  this  point  of  view,  it 
ivuuld  bt^  an  injustice  to  these  poor  creatures 
not  to  phice  them  in  a  more  resjiectable 
rank  tlian  that  to  which  tlio  notions  of 
Europeans  have  g.nerally  admitted  them. 
It  was  not  rude  laughter  and  boisterous 
mirth,  nor  (hnmken  jokes,  nor  noisy  talk, 
which  passed  their  "hours  away,  but  the 
peaceful,  calm  emotion  of  hariiiless  pleas- 
ure. 

"  Had  I  never  seen  and  known  more  of 
these  savages  than  the  oecurreiu'es  of  this 
day,  and  the  jjastimes  of  the  evening,  I 
.should  not  have  hesitated  to  declare  them 
the  hap])iest  of  mortals.  Free  from  care, 
and  pleasi'd  with  a  little,  their  Hie  seemed 
Howiug  on,  like  a  smooth  stream  gliding 
througli  tlowery  meads.  Thdughtless  arid 
unrelleeting,  they  laughed  and  smiled  t'-.e 
hours  away,  heedless  of  futui'ity,  and  forget- 
ful of  the  past.  Their  musicf  softened  all 
their  passions,  and  thus  they  lulled  them- 
selves into  that  mild  and  tranquil  state  in 
which  no  evil  thoughts  api)roach  the  mind. 
The  soft  and  delicate  voices  of  the  girls, 
instinctively  accordant  to  those  of  the  wo- 
men and  the  men;  the  gentle  elajipiug  of  tlie 
haud-i;  the  rattles  of  the  danei'r;  and  the 
m"'low  sound  of  the  water  drum,  all  harmo- 
niously attuned,  and  keeping  time  together: 
the  peaceful,  h;ipi)y  countenances  of  the 
party,  and  the  cheerful  light  of  th(!  fire,  were 
circumstances  so  combined  and  lifted  to  pro- 
duce the  most  soothing  elVects  on  the  senses, 
that  T  sat  as  if  the  hut  had  been  my  hom(\ 
and  felt  in  the  midst  of  tliis  horde  as"  though 
I  had  been  (uie  of  thenr.  for  some  few  mo- 
ments ceasing  to  think  of  sciences  or  of 
Europe,  and  iorget ting  tliat  I  M-as  a  lonely 
strau'^er  in  !i  land  of  untutored  men." 

Nor  is  this  a  solitary  examiile  of  the  effect 
of  native  musii;  in  its  own  laud,  for  other  trav- 
ellers liave,  as  we  sliall  se(>.  writ  ten  in  equally 
glowing  t^-rms  of  fh(!  peculiar  charms  of  th'e 
sounds  prodn(!ed  by  the  rude  instruments  of 
Southern  Africa,  acconip-inied  by  the  'uunitn 
voice. 

Wo  now  con;e  to  the  instrument  wliich  is, 
par  excellaice,  the  characteristic  instrument 


of  Soutliern  Africa.  The  water-drum  is  a 
rather  curious  musical  instrument,  but  there 
is  one  even  more  remarka1)le  in  use  among 
the  Bosjesmans,  which  is  a  singular  combi- 
nation of  the  stringed  and  wind  principles. 
In  <jeneral  form  it  bears  a  gveat  resemblanco 
to  the  KalHr  harp,  but  it  has  no  gourd  by 
way  of  a  sounding-board,  and  the  tones  are 
pr<')d\iced  in  a  different  manner.  This  in- 
strument is  called  the  Goura,  and  is  thus 
described  by  Le  Vaillant:  — 

"  The  goura  is  shaped  like  the  bow  of  a 
savage  Hottentot.  It  is  of  the  .same  size, 
and  a  string  made  of  intestines,  fixed  to  one 
f)f  its  extremities,  is  retained  at  the  other  I)y 
a  knot  in  the  barrel  of  a  quill  which  is  lla<> 
tened  and  cleft.  This  quill  being  opened, 
form',  a  vei\v  long  isosceles  triangle,  about 
two  inches  in  length;  and  at  the  base  of  this 
triangle  the  hole  is  made  that  keeps  the 
string  fast,  the  end  of  which,  drawn  back, 
is  tied  at  the  other  end  of  the  bow  with  a 
very  thin  thong  of  leather.  This  cord  may 
be  stretched  so  as  to  have  a  g'"eatev  or  less 
degree  of  tension  according  to  flic  pleasure 
of  the  musician,  but  when  scM'ral  gouras 
play  together,  they  are  never  in  uriison. 

''Such  is  the  first  instrument  of  a  Hotten- 
tot, which  one  would  not  suppose  to  be  a 
wind  instrument,  though  it  is  undoubtedly 
of  that  kind.  It  is  held  almost  in  the  same 
manner  as  a  huntsman's  horn,  with  that  end 
where  the  quill  is  fixed  toward  the  per- 
former's mouth,  which  he  apjilies  to  it,  and 
either  by  as]  iration  or  inspiration  draws 
from  it  very  melodious  tones.  The  savages, 
however,  who  succeed  best  on  this  instru- 
in(>nt,  cannot  i)lay  any  rcLular  tune;  they 
only  emit  certain  twangs,  like  those  drawn 
in  a  particular  iniinner  fi'om  a  violin  t)r  vio- 
loiicellii.  I  took  great  i)le!isure  in  seeing 
oiu'  of  my  attendants  called  .b.ihn,  who  was 
accounted  an  adej)!,  regale  for  whole  hours 
his  companions,  wlio,  transjiorteil  and  rav- 
ished, inlerrui>ted  him  every  now  and  then 
by  exclaiming  'Ahl  how  channiug  it  i>; 
begin  that  .again.'  John  began  ag:;in,  but 
his  second  performance  had  no  resemlihuiec 
to  the  first;  for,  as  I  have  said,  these  peoole 
cannot  i)lay  any  regular  tune  uiton  tliis 
instrunumt,  the  tones  of  which  are  only  the 
effect  of  chance,  and  of  the  (jualitv  of  the 
quill.  The  best  (|uills  are  those  w"liich  arc 
taken  from  the  wings  of  a  certain  species  of 
bustard,  iiud  whenever  1  hajipened  tu  kill  one 
of  these  birds.  1  was  always  solicited  io  make 
a  small  .sacrifice  for  the  support  of  our 
orchestra. " 

In  jilaying  this  remarkable  instrument, 
the  jicrformer  seats  himself,  brings  the  (juill 
to  his  inoutli.  and  steadies  himself  by  re-t- 
ing his  elbows  on  his  knees,  and  jintting  the 
right  forefinger  into  the  K)>Tes])on(ling  imu', 
and  the  left  forefinger  into  liis  wide  iicstril. 
A  good  performer  uses  much  cxcilion  in 
order  to  bring  out  the  toxwH  properly,  and  it 
is  a  curious  fact,  tliat  an  aeeoinplished  playef 


THE  JOUM-JOUM. 


A 


contrives   to  producn    octavos   by  blowin-^ 

the  flulo,  a,i  instru.neiit  on  wliicii  tlie  sound 
of  the  goiiiM  can  be  tolerably  represented. 


205 

are  stretched  three  strintrg,  made  of  tlie 
twisted  intestines  of  anha-ds  Tl' c  strings 
are  attached  to  pegs,  by  which  tl  ey  ca"  ife 
tightened  or  loosened  so  ns  to  product  the 


.Li?£t: 


*   f:   :£   *■ 


:fef:!if^l^^|y^||g^^jj 


dou-l'^i'^™'    traveller    contrived  to  write 
St;:nnplayin,.\,;-!S^^>-,^- 

S;.l  %h?.^'  ?■"•/';:•'  •''/'  '"^'-i' '« '»«'fi  "• 


thS'urSu.rSu'^^^^^'^-^ription 
those  of  n,e  .Mvs  I  n,'^i'''-'  ^T  ""t  "nhkc 
in  volume  Mid  v^d'h  'i,  Jl"  ■'''  "?';''''^''  '>""! 

JJoth  the  ir,  a  m  n'^'  ^,  H?"''.  '"^f'.inent. 
loarn  to  man-,.-  i  .  ,•  '  ''''«.!>  ■•^'i»ms  soon 
count  of  its  s,  rill     ';'"■';''■"■'''  ■'""''  '^"  '"- 

t^>'iiit^,ith.;^':illi^';;;;i:;;rnj;-*p-- 

goura.  ""!•<- rstiied  the  native 

w.S'^i^r'hvT!:;'^!"^™'"''"'^  "'-'^  "-• 

native  guitar   o     J{  ..^,?"'''''-      ?!'"  '^  *'»« 
what  resen.bi;H^,JV  ;S'::,'^''"^'J,  ^"'»c- 

board,  furnished  u^,"  ^  K^!!^^'  '"'^';'5  f ' 
u.L.^t,  Over  which 


required  note.    As  Le  Vaillant  f,uniutly  ob- 

pioduce  some  music  from  it  ami  r  •»  IcHt 
='greeal,h.,  but  the   native  is  c.  i  t -A  \v  U 
'>"""Hug  „u  the  strings  with  his       '„  V 

aS:!^:;fS;::!5.'"~'^«-^'-i"iiy 

The  last  instrument  whicji  these  natives 
possess  ,sa  kin<l  af  drum,  made  of  a  l„       v^i 

'n-  the  name  of  Roinelpot.  ^'' 

a   iu^  a  ready  been  raenti.,ue<l  on  i.a-c  2(4 

IHniuharsealeonwhiehitislbrJnod.  ° 

tl,o  ;  "  ^7'""  ''y  •'•'J^'i'i'i's  «o  acrustomed  to 

m«mmou.u.tureoftherhv.h,n,mH,^^^ 
the  od<h  ess,  I  mny  say  wildness,  „f  (he  bar- 

to  i(s<.|t.     1  venture  to  make  us,,  of  (he  ter 
.'■"•'nonv,'  for  so  it  may  indeed  be  nlV 

as  OILS,  tli,.y  stami  m  a  pronorti(ui  n(.rti.,.Vi,r 

-.uiara..dinteiHgibie,uu,n::';:,:.;;^;ij 
octaS'ii;^^oLi;';:hr!?^[S,;;^^,j'-[^/^^ 


36a 


THE  BOSJESMAN  OR  BUSHMAN. 


at  least  somewhat  deeper  thaa  our  great 
third ;  the  second  lies  in  the  middle,  be- 
tween the  little  and  the  great  fifth  ;  and  the 
third  betwee.i  the  great  sixth  and  the  little 
seventh;  so  that  a  i)er8<)n  might  imagme  he 
hears  the  modulation  first  in  the  smallest 
seventh  accord.  Yet  every  one  lies  higher 
in  proportion  to  the  principal  tone  ;  the  ear 
feels  less  the  desire  of  breaking  off  in  the 
pure  triple  sound  ;  it  is  even  more  satisfied 
without  it.  Practised  players  continue  to 
draw  out  the  second,  sometimes  even  the 
third,  interval,  in  the  liigher  octave.  Still 
these  high  tones  are  somewhat  broken,  and 
seldom  pure  octaves  of  the  corresponding 
deep  tones.  Melodies,  properly  speaking, 
are  never  to  be  heard  ;  it  is  only  a  change 
of  the  same  tones  long  protracted,  the  prin- 
cipal tone  being  struck  before  every  one. 
It  deserves  to  be  remarked,  that  the  inter- 
vals in  <iuestion  do  not  properly  belong 
to  the  instrument;  they  are,  in  truth,  the 
psalmodial  music  of  the  African  savages." 

There  is  nothing  more  easy  than  to  theo- 
rize, and  nothing  more  difficult  than  to  make 
the  theory  '•  hold  water,"  as  the  saying  is. 
I  knew  a  learned  j)hilologist,  who  elabo- 
rated a  theory  on  the  structure  of  lan- 
guage, and  illustrated  it  by  careful  watching 
of  liis  successive  children,  and  noting  the 
mode  in  wiiich  they  struggled  llirough  their 
infantile  lispiugs  'into  expression.  First 
came  inarticuliite  sound:),  which  none  but 
the  mother  could  understand,  analogous  to 
the  cries  of  the  lower  aninuds,  and  employed 
because  the  yet  unilevelopi'd  mind  had  not 
advanced  beyond  the  auiii'rtl  stage  of  exist- 
ence. Then  came  onomatopceia,  or  imita- 
tive sounds,  and  so.  by  regular  degrees, 
through  sul)stantives,  verbs,  adjectives,  and 
pronouns,  the  powers  of  language;  were  sys- 
tematically developed.  This  tlieory  answerei! 
very  well"  witli  the  first  two  children,  but 
broke  down  utterly  v.uii  the  third,  whose 
first  uiteraiRH!  was,"  Don't  tease,  go  away." 

So  h:is  it  been  with  the  Bosjesman  race  ; 
and,  wliile  ttiev  havu  been  (leseril)ed  as  the 
most  degraded  of  the  great  human  family, 
signs  hav"  been  diseovercul  wliieh  show  that 
they  have  some  knowledge  of  the  rudiments 
of  art.  I  allude  here  to  the  celebrateil 
Bosjesman  paintings  wnich  arc  scattered 
through  the  country,  mostly  in  caves  and 
on  rocks  near  water  springs,  and  which  are 
often  as  w(>ll  drawn  as  those  i)roduced  so 
phmtifully  by  the  American  Indians.  They 
almost  invariably  represent  figures  of  men 
and  beasts,  and  in  many  cases  the  drawing 
is  sutHeieiitly  gooil  to  enable  the  sjiectator 
to  identify  thi^  particular  animals  which  the 
native  artist  has  intended  to  delineate. 

Tlie  following  account  of  some  of  these 
drawings  is  taken  from  the  notes  of  Mr. 
Christie,  whicli  he  has  liberally  placed  at 
my  disposal:  — 

"  I  cannot  add  inueh  to  what  is  written  of 
them,  except  to  allude  to  what  are  termed 


Bushman  paintings,  found  in  caverna  and 
on  flat  stone  surfaces  near  some  of  their 
permanent  water  sui)plies.  I  have  only 
met  with  two  instances  of  the  former  paint- 
ings, and  they  were  in  a  cave  in  the  side  of 
a  krantz,  in  the  north  part  of  the  Zwart 
lluggens.  I  came  upon  them  while  hunt- 
ing koodoos.  One  side  of  the  cavern  was 
covered  with  outlines  of  animals.  Onl^ 
the  upper  part  was  distinguishable,  and  evi- 
dently represented  the  wildebeest,  or  guoo, 
the  koodoo,  quagga,  &c.  The  figures  were 
very  rudely  drawn,  and  the  colors  used 
Avere  dull-red  and  black,  and  ])erhaps  white; 
the  latter  may  possibly  have  been  a  stalac- 
tite deposition  from  water. 

"  The  other  instance  was  near  an  outspan 
place  on  the  Karroo  road  to  Ciratf  Reinet, 
known  as  Pickle  Fountain,  where  there  is  a 
perin.anent  spring  of  fresh  water,  near  the 
course  of  an  ancient  stream  now  dry.  On 
a  flat  piece  of  siiiulstone  wliich  bad  once 
formed  part  of  the  bank  of  the  streuni  were 
the  remains  of  a  drawing,  wliidi  ni:iy  have 
been  the  outline  of  a  man  with  a  bow  and 
arrow,  and  a  dog,  but  it  was  so  weather- 
worn that  little  more  couhl  ))e  made  out 
than  the  fact  of  its  lieing  a  drawing.  The 
_'olors  used,  as  in  the  caAc,  were  red  and 
black.  At  the  time  of  iny  seeing  the  draw- 
ings, I  had  with  me  a  Busbniaii,  named 
Booy  (who  was  born  near  what  is  marked 
in  the  map  as  the  (Jonnuissioner's  Salt 
Fan),  but  he  could  give  nie  no  iiil'ormation 
on  the  sui))eet  of  the  paintings,  and  I  am 
r.ather  inelined  to  tliiiik  that  they  are  the 
work  of  one  of  the  Ilntteutot  tribes  now 
extinet. 

"My  Bushman  was  a  very  slivewd  fellow, 
but,  aUhough  I  had  been  at  that  time  for 
some  years  :imoiig  the  natives,  I  had  not 
become  aware  of  llie  jiovcrty  of  their  intel- 
lect. I  had  shown  tiicm  drawings  number- 
less tinus,  had  descriljccl  tiuMU,  and  listened 
to  iheir  remarks,  but  luul  not  tluii  discov- 
ered tliat  even  the  most  intelligent  had  no 
idea  of  a  jjicture  beyond  a  simple  outline. 
They  cannot  understand  the  oossibility  of 
perspective,  nor  how  a  curved  surface  can 
be  .shown  on  a  flat  .sheet  of  paper." 

Together  with  this  aecouiii,  Mr.  Christie 
transmitted  a  coiiy  of  a  siiuilar  drawing 
found  in  a  cavern  in  the  (ieorge  district. 
The  color  used  in  the  drawings  is  red,  upon 
a  yellow  ground  —  tl:e  lattir  tint  being  that 
of  the  stone  on  whieb  they  were  delineated. 
Tlie  subject  of  the  drawlni,'  is  latiier  ob- 
scure. Tlie  figures  are  evidently  intended 
to  represent  men,  l)ut  tliey  are  unarmed, 
and  present  the  peculiarity  of  wearing  head- 
dresses, such  as  are  not  used  i)y  any  of  the 
tribes  with  whom  the,  IScsje.snian.';  could 
have  come  in  coulact,  'I'luy  might  have 
often  se(m  the  Katlirs,  with  their  war  orna- 
ments of  feathers,  and  the  irottentots  with 
their  rude  skin  eai)s,  but  no  South  African 
tribe  wears  a  lieatldress  which  could  in  any 


way  be  iden  ifu'd  with  those.  Partly  on  this 
account,  an,!  partly  beau.,  the  tiguras  are 
not  arnicul  with  Ijowh  and  arrow.,  a"  is  usua^ 
•>  figures  that  are  intended  to  re preS 
JJo,s,esn,an.s,  Mr.  Christie  i.s  of  opin  m  that 

h>!!lL^'"''V^"'*   '''  ^"■'''''  c'•ew^na    lave 
anded  on  the  coa.st,  and  tliat  the  k.sies- 

iiHs  ioeK-])n;ture.  •' 

siiSo  '"n''  'i'"  """  P"S)<'8man  artist  are 
simple  enough,  eonsisting  of  a  feathor 
dipped  ,n  greiuse,  in  which  he  iL  mix^d 
colored  clays,  and,  as  Mr.  Haines  we     oh 

no  n  e  s     J  I  •   1'"  ^''^f'7  ^''^'"I'l'-'nient  of 

J;«. K.  the  least  Slu^otea;^;^";,! 

aL~S  if  .";::;,  "'""^    orhombehi,^ 

To'  ^™"''^  ai)i)ear  to  the  eve 

M.  an-?^,-'"-";''-^'""''V  ''allier  dillers^ fron, 
now,M.l  v.?  "»'"'■  '^'^t"»-'i'i">i  of  the  artistic 
^•""^'i-."*    '"-^     osjesman,  and  his  eapal    i^Ly 


ANECDOTES  OF  BU.SIIMEN. 


267 


ETpo^k  DnlJ.l.i'?"',' '.;'»'"/'.'''''' l<i"Sed 

^"  .  l>L,iK  i;uttn,  to  eat  with  a  knife  nnrl  fm.L- 

tune  tlio  Bhshhoy  disannearp.1     Tr;!, ,  1-..1 
wore  founrl.  in  thi,  stabV.^;  in  tiie  place  if\' 
horse  which  he  had  taken  w   h  £     The 

hJ"^J'l^}^^'fA^^  «io  youth 


^e^n.;;';;  t!i~^^  -    --    von    .erdaint 

thebit.,f  wl  .TaulV;      ',rfj^:f"''*'^^^  foot,   il  ,   ofher   wm/"'"  '    'V  '''"' 


^£Kn;:!,!^'S^r'^^''^-;-'pSi 

and  0x0    Cv  ,  ,  i   •"  'r"''  "^  "'"'V  '.•"'•■•^^'■^' 
tlicyliad   no  din    af^-i;;;'^"^''^  '!'':', ''''wers 

tiling  tiiev  fi  P       ,  •    "'"'•, '"111   tlio  only 

markwa?     i        vl    „'Im    "'^'   T^  «f  *''« 

}f;his,therc3'Si   Jo^^de'v!^'''^"' 
lyinn' on  fill.  uii,.f,  ■->.'"  'ne  desert,  Were 

ii^i.m.u;\t,N'  ;r'ki;o,v":^r™"-'>Eng^ 

a  little  disfan',    fl„\  ;]      \  '",'"  ''  'fo»c  ■'^t 


FoS  on  th  snoor'TM  •■'''^'^'  ""^^''-^  ''^'• 
liushmnn.  '  H,'^  I'  n  '.  ?  ''''''^'  "^  the 
ni„.  ..!'  "'-^  "ot  lonsr  ffone'  sairl 

cadyforwhaiy  li„q„ir„i/ 
^^^ieadytosh,..,ttheschelm.' 
\\onld  you  shoot  hiniy  Tasked 
'Just  so  as  I  would  a  snake.'       '• 


They  had  an  idea  „^- if'      ,   '""""'"''    S"oo-    liorso  was  stoir     1,  n     .     ^'"■'-■*''   "'•^p'^"   tJ>e 
sai<r  tln.y,  •  We    .'  n  I  .    '      '"''  "'""'^  '^"f>   Quiekl      nul      n     -  "",'>'»'■"•    "e  followed 

" '^'^  '^  ^=''^^»^'  ^^'^  I  think  «o  too;  but  iu^ 


14 


i' 


268 


THE  BOSJESMAN  OR  BUSHMAN. 


only  useful  in  its  place.  A  puff-iulder  is 
useful  where  there  are  too  many  toatls  or 
fro^s:  but  when  he  comes  into  my  liouse 
hots  out  of  place,  aud  I  kill  him.  A  Bush- 
man near  my  farm  is  out  ot  place,  and  1 
shoot  him;  for  if  I  let  him  alone  he  poi- 
sons my  horses  and  cattle,  and  very  likely 
me  too.'  ,     ,,    , 

"  Only  twice  did  I  ever  sec  the  Bushman 
at  home;  on  the  first  occasion  it  was  just 
after  a  fearful  storm,  and  they  had  sought 
shelter  in  a  kloof  near  our  quarters.  Thev 
emerged  about  three  hundred  yards  in  ad- 
vance of  us,  and  immediately  made  off  like 
the  wind.     Not  to  be  unconventional,  we 


sent  a  bullet  after  them,  but  high  over  their 
head;  they  stayed  not  l\)r  another.  On  a 
second  occasion  I  was  close  to  them,  and 
was  first  made  aware  of  their  presence  in 
consequence  of  an  arrow  strikhig  a  tree 
near;  not  aimed  at  me,  but  at  some  Daas, 
or  rock-rabbits,  which  were  on  the  rocks 
close  by.  "With  no  little  care  and  .some 
speed  I  retreated  from  the  neighborliood  ot 
such  implements  as  poisoned  -nTows,  and 
then  by  aid  of  a  glass  saw  the  Bushmen 
first  find  their  arrow  and  then  my  St  oor,  at 
which  latter  thev  took  friglit,  and  lisap- 
peared  in  a  ncigliboring  kloof." 


!> ' 


;h  over  their 
thor.  On  a 
o  them,  and 

presence  in 
khig  a  tree 

some  Daas!, 
n  the  rocks 
e  iind  SOUK) 
;hl)orh()0(l  ot 

•uTows,  aiul 
he  Bushmen 

my  sj  oor,  at 
,  and    hsap- 


CHAPl'ER  XXVII. 

THE  K0R.1NNAS  A2^D  NAMAQUAS. 

NOMAD    CHARACfEBOP    TITE    THmR-THKItt    OEVKRAT     .... 

LAX.    8VN«"_„=NAC.OUS    MBMOUV    OK    A    VOCV«    KOUAvr/""    "^""^'^^    ALPHALKT- -  AUU, 
FONDNESS    KOU    MED.CNK -TH,T     NAMAQUA     T,m  L  - CH^^^^^^^^  ""OTESQL'E    A.-PEARAXCE- 

VICSSITrDESOKTHECUMATE-EPEECXot-    Tr  INhV^tTv.  ""    """"^    ''AMAQUA-LAND- 

-DRESS  OF  THE  NAMAQUA8- THE.R  IDEAS  orLuorovrr^""'''^''"'   ^"^  ""  "■'^^""V- 
QUA  HUNTER    ANO  A  BOSJESMAN   WOMAN-R^XNHVK.r^.^r  "''"*' "'^^''^  "^  ^^   ^AMA- 

PANACEA -POLVOAMV  AKD    mvORCE-CATrtE-TRrLv  ^    "^         ''''    ""'^    «ICK-T„E    DOCTOPB 
AOBD- ADOPTION  OF  PARENTS.  THALNLVa  -  CRUBLT V    TOWARD    T«B    INrntJl  AND 

In  accordance  with  the  nlnn  of  (i>!e  ,„^  %.  ,  ■ 

we  will  now  .lance  slil'ht^y    t  a  SwofTe  rM,**'  f*^  '^'  n^^v  wonder.    At  the  si.ht 

more    conspicuous    tr?bes    whicl      inLV,  ?   °L        '''"•wing,   th.'v  behaved   much     f  i 


par.  cular  locality  iV.r'tC  Id' heS^es'ilt 


ne  n  V' '""'  "^t  to  the  toudi. 

ertobeenVf^Si    .   '''"'''l  '"'^  ""^  '"th- 

hannenp,!  t-.  JU^I^?.  to.to'fc  it  back,  lie  I  .ini.,hi,^..:    "^  "';.'^' '  ^*''o  "i-t'  their  nearest 


Wlion  Vi.  '^  ™'<'''e<j    (rawino-   „.'  ,>  h.ji         VjiV.  ""'    "'oi'e    ndus 

When  the  owner  came  to  take  it  h.Jt  ,"^-  M"  >es.     With  these,  who  n',. 

n  and  the  RnsiJL  L.^"^^"'*«  '>''tween 


:he  liteor 


.are 


270 


THE   KORANNAS. 


M    ' 


SI    I     -.  i 


crronooiisly  confoundiMl  with  tlio  IJosjos- 
maiiH,  hut  thpy  aro  ii  totally  distinct  ix'oph;, 
haviiii;'  their' in-incipal  resiilciifo  on  the 
banks  of  tho  Xarb  and  Vaal  rivi-rf,  north- 
cast  IVoni  whcro  we  now  were,  and  .soutli  of 
the  Ueclumnii  country.  They  are  divided 
nito  Hi'veral  tribes,  tlie  principal  of  which 
are  called  the  Khareniankis  and  the  Kliun^- 
mankis.  In  their  size  and  corporeal  struc- 
lun;  tluy  resemble  the  Hottentots  very 
nuicli.  but  the  cheek  and  chin  bones  arc  less 
jiromiiient,  and  the  whole  face  is  more  oval 
I  ban  some  o  her  of  the  Hottentot  tribes. 
They  have  all  a  kind  of  voluptuous  expres- 
sion'about  th(>  mouth,  which,  united  with  a 
))eculiar  wild  it>ll  of  the  eyi-,  and  a  rough, 
broken  manner  of  speakinii,  j^ive  them  alto- 
iiellur  the  ai>pearaiu'e  of  intoxication,  nor 
indeed  ari'  they  falsitied  by  it,  since  ihey  are 
truly  a  voluptuous  race,  dclicient  in  bodily 
strentjth,  and  destilule  of  martial  coura";'^. 

"Their  clothins;  consists  of  a  mantle  of 
prepared  skin,  made  either  from  the  hides  of 
their  cattle,  or  from  those  of  tho  ant-  !)|)es: 
i(  is  smader,  and  of  a  somewhat  ditl'erept 
form  from  that  worn  by  the  l$eclinauas.  and 
I-  never  made  of  se\eral  small  skins  s<n\ ed 
together.  A  favorite  moile  with  thein  i:;  lo 
scrape  tiijures  of  various  kinds  on  the  hairv 
side  of  these  mandes.  They  trade  wit^ 
tlu;  Bechuanas  for  ornaments  for  the  ears, 
neck,  aiid  arms. 

••The  cattle  are  held  in  high  estimation 
by  them;  they  take  much  more  care  of  these 
cieaturesthaii  the  other  tribes,  or  than  most 
of  the  colonists.  They  are  so  nuich  lele- 
bryted  for  training  the  oxen  as  riding  and 
draughi  animals,  that  the  IJechuanas  ac- 
knowledge them  to  be  in  this  instance  their 
masters,  and  pin^cha.se  of  them  (hose  that 
they  use  for  riding.  Thest-  aniuiais  go  an 
exceedingly  good  trot  or  gallo]),  and  clear  a 
great  deal  of  ground  in  a  very  short  time. 
There  is  no  occasion  ever  to  be  harsh  with 
them;  'tis  sutlicieut  lo  touch  them  wilh  a 
thin  osier.  The  rider  lU'Ver  neglects,  when 
he  dismounts,  to  have  the  animal  led  about 
slowly  tor  a  (jiiarter  of  an  hour,  that  he  may 
cool  by  degrees.  The  bridle  is  lastened  to  a 
woodeii  pin,  stuck  through  the  nose,  and  a 
sl'.eep's  or  a  goat'.s  skill  serves  as  a  saddle. 
On  this  the  rider  has  so  lirm  a  seat,  that  lu! 
is  in  no  danger  of  being  thrown  by  even  the 
wiMest  ox. 

•■  The  Korans  do  not  ai)i)ly  theiviselvos  at 
all  to  agricultm^e;  their  dwellings  are  spher- 
ical hilts,  very  much  like  those  of  the 
Koossas,  but  not  so  spacious.  Some  skins 
and  mats,  on  which  they  ,sleei),some  leather 
knajisiicks,  a"d  a  sort  (>f  vessel  somewhat  in 
the  form  of  cans,  which  are  cut  out  of  a  j)ie''(^ 
of  solid  wood,  with  some  caialiashes  and 
banilioo  canes,  compose  the  whole  of  their 
household  furniture.  ^losl  of  them  wear  a 
knife  of  (he  Heehuan.i  manuliictory,  in  a 
case  sang  round  their  necks,  with  ;i  small 
leather  bair.  or  the   .sliell  of  ii  tortoise,  in 


which  i.s  the  pipe,  the  tob;/r.o,  and  the  flint 
f(U^  striking  tire. 

"  They  have  no  fixed  h:tVyttation,  but  often 
move  I'rinn  one  place  to  another,  alway.''  car- 
rying wilh  them,  as  is  the  custom  among 
the  other  tribes,  the  >.tiisc.s  and  mats  of 
which  their  huts  are  built.  All  their  goods 
and  chattels  are  iiacked  togetiier  within  a 
verv  .small  eompiuss  on  the  back  of  the 
patient  ox;  and  thu.t  a  whole  Koran  village 
ts  struck  and  in  full  march  in  a  few  mo- 
ments. Their  Ibrm  of  go\trnment  is  tlie 
same  a.-,  "vith  the  other  Hottentot  tribes;  tho 
ricliest  person  in  the  kraal  is  the  c:ii)tain  or 
provost:  lu' is  the  leader  of  the  parly,  and 
the  siiokesman  on  all  occasions,  without 
deriving  from  this  ollice  any  judicial  right 
over  the  rest.  His  authority  is  exceedingly 
circumscribed,  and  no  one  considers  liimself 
as  wholly  bound  to  vield  obedience  to  him, 
neither  "does  he  him  -elf  ever  pretend  to 
eonimaral  ihem.  Only  in  case  of  being 
obliged  lo  defend  themselves  against  a  for- 
eign enemy  he  is  the  first,  because,  being 
tlie  richest,  he  siilfer.s  most  from  the  at- 
tack. 

■  Plur.'dity  of  wives  is  not  contrary  to 
their  institiitiona;  yet  I  never  heard  of  any- 
l;.  'iv  who  had  more  tiian  one  wife.  They 
aie  tiy  nature  good-tempered;  but  they  are 
indolent,  and  do  not  take  any  great  interest 
for  others;  less  cunning  than  tlie  Hottentot, 
therefore  easy  to  be  deceived  in  trallieking 
with  them;  and,  from  tlieir  simplicity,  I'asily 
won  to  any  purjiose  by  the  attraction  of 
strong  liquors,  Ujbaeco,  and  the  like  luxu- 
ries.'" 

On  the  next  page  is  an  illustration  of  a 
Koianna  chief  dressed  as  described  liy  I.icli- 
leiistein.  The  kaross  worn  by  the  individual 
from  whom  the  ])ortiail  was  taken  was  so 
plentifully  bedaubed  with  red  earth  and 
grease,  tliat  it  left  traces  of  his  presence 
wherever  he  went,  and,  if  the  wearer  ha])- 
[lened  to  Kan  against  anything,  he  caused  a 
slain  which  could  not  easily  be  removed. 
Suspended  lo  his  neck  is  seen  the  all-per- 
vading Ih  chuana  knife,  and  exactly  in  li'ont 
is  the  shell  of  a  small  tortoise,  in  whidi  ho 


li(  pt  Ills  > 
The  1. . 


ihern  ca)>  is  univi  r  al  among  tin m 


it  his  Muilf. 
leri 
as  among  other  Hottentots,  and  as  tlie  lur  is 
retained,  it  can  be  jnit  on  with  some  tU'gree 
of  ta.-te,  a.s  may  be  seen  by  reference  to 
the  portrait.  The  use  of  sil)ilo  is  common 
among  the  Korannas,  and,  like  other  Hot- 
tentot tribes,  tin  women  load  their  hair  so 
thickly  with  this  substance,  that  they  apiiear 
to  be  wearing  a  metal  cap.  Their  language 
i.-  full  of  clicks,  but  not  .so  thickly  studded 
with  them  as  that  of  the  Hottentots,  and  in 
a  short  time  any  person  who  undiirstaiids 
the  ordinary  Holte;itot  dial-et  will  be  able 
to  learn  that  of  the  Kor.innas. 

These  tribes  have  a  dance  which  is  very 
similar  to  that  of  Hosiesuians,  a  drum  being 
used,  niaile  of  u   joint  '.f  aloe  over  which 


iii     Ti 


|t     3 


i 


an  undrcRscfl  sheppskin  is  stretched.  The 
women  Hit  on  tlie  ground  in  a  circle,  with 
their  linns  stretclied  toward  the  dancer,  and 

«  a"'":.?,  ""i"*;  ^'■'■>'  '"'"''  reseinhling  the 
"Ayc-tJ"  of  tlio  Ho.sie.snmn.s.    The  dancer 
leans  n,u;ain.st  two  ,sticl<s,  a.s   if  they  were 
crutches,  twines  liis  arms  nronnd  iiis  body 
Jind  sways  liiinself  bacliWiird  and  forward' 
bendins,  (n-st  toward  one  of  tlie  women,  and' 
tlien   toward   anotlier,   until    he    loses    his 
balance,  anil  as  he  fulls  is  caught  in  the  out- 
stretched arms  of  the  woman  wlio  hannens 
to  be  ni'arest  to  him.     Of  course,  she  liills  on 
the  -,M-<.imd  with  the  shock,  and  as  soon  as 
they  can  rise  to   fh.Mr  feet  he  resumes  his 
P  ace  in  the  circli!.  rei.laces  the  sticks  under 
his  arms,  and  dances  with  renewed  viijor, 

catch  ..in  It  he  should  happen  to  fall  agaia 
HI  her  direction.  " 

thI''ovr'""'i"'   ''•^'  *'"'   '™>''  '"^''^  l'«'>'«   t» 
that  ext raordiniLy  conformation  which  has 

the  Hottentot,  and  ,o  Kuropeau  eyes  tlieir' 

beaii^Ms  n,,t  inerea^ed  by  it,'thouj^l^v  naf  ve 
sees  nothinn;  remarkable  in  it.  It  is  a  euri- 
m.s  act  that  this  development  should  oec  „• 
in  the  eoimtry  wliic  h  produces  an  analo.'ous 
f  .rmation  ,n  the  sheep,  whose  bodls^are 
thin  and  meagre,  but  whose  tails  are  of 
enormous  size,  and  little  but  masses  of  pure 

tained.  nicknames,  g.ven  to  them  on  account 
of  any  remarkable  inci.ient  that  may  Jiave 
ha)>p..ned  to  them,  and,  in  eonsehie  e,^ 
variable  from  day  to  day         "'""^'lU'-'itLS 

n  vor..^{'-"i'"'  speaking  a^s  a  missionary,  has 
a  very  high  opinion  of  the  Koranna  tribe 
He  found  them  docile.  go<.d-t,Mnpe  xhI  a,  d 

ganiing  knowledg...     After  i)reaehinrr  and 

tu.  began  to  teach  some  (jf  the  yoiin-rer  Ko 
rani.as  the  rudi.nents  of  iearnini  wd  ?  .  some 
of  the  j.rme.pal  men  heard  of  the  m-ocee 
irisr,  and  insisted  on  bein^-  taught  aL'Ti' 
whole  scene  which  followed  .^.s  very  anuls- 

"It  was  now  late,  and  both  mind  and 
body  were  jade.l,  but  nothing  would  sat"s"v 

e3^  I  ;"'"1  *-'■''   them^dso.    AWa 
se.aich  I  found  among  some  waste  inner  a 

com'se   1  IN";''"'  "  ''"■'■•'^  '•""»'•  iCand  of 
couiso  (he  letters  were  v cwed  by  some  iiist 
upside  down.    I  commence.l  pobt    "\i  S 
«lf  t  ^.V''"'','  ^^'^''"  I  in-onouneed  one  letter 
wi(h  ?- .       that  perhaps  we  mi-Iit  man-a-e 

i^tts ;'";::'' ;t'^'«^  "'•;-'""«  '••■pnod  ti^t 

would   h  s   .  '    '""''''■■  '"'  '•"■'^'•'^'l-tl'«  sooner 

'Te       'ashnn-n^'i^T'  ao'-ustomed   to  the 
bt(  fis,  ,ia  he  called  the  letters. 

n,v  ho  ''"■"«  F';owing  late,  I  rose  to  straighten 
my  back,  which  was  beginning  to  tii .,,  when 


MUSICAL  ALPHABET. 


273 

I  ohscrvecl  some  young  folks  comin^  dancimr 
and  skipping  toward  me,  wlio,  withou"  m  f 
ceremony  seized  hold  of  me.  '(],'  .'./.^ 
us  he  A  J3  C  with  music!'  every  one  cried 
giving  me  no  time  to  tell  them  i  w.^  too 
ate.  found  they  had  made  t  is  dircoverv 
ihrough  one  of  my  boys.  There  were  S 
cntly  a  dozen  or  more  surrounding  me'  and 
res  st^uice  was  outof  the  question.  ^l"ra^"  !  { 
and  pushed,  I  entered  one  of  the  m7est 
mtive  houses,  which  was  instantly  crSd 

I.VC  'r'"''  «"cceeding  round  was  joined 

by  s  iceetvl.ng  voices  until  every  ton-'ucMvi, 
voca    and  every  countenance  L  me     w  ih 
eartfelt  .satisfaction.    The  longer  t".esoiff 
the  more  frc'dom  was  felt,  and  'A        J  a n's 

village.     Ihe  strains  which  inspire  nleasi  • 
Hble  emotions  int..  the  sons  of  tL'  S 

rs.rh'''%r''"'S''''v'"T'''^''-'^'i^" 

til.  bou  h.  Ihose  wh.)  had  retire.l  t..  their 
evenings  slnmbei,  supposing  that  we  were 
'ol.i.ng  .a  night  service,  canre;  for  m  •  'c  it 
i.s  said,  charms  the  s.avage  ear.  It  c'riah.lv 
.Iocs,  part  .ailarly  the  ila.ives  of  S  ,  |  S 
Africa,  who,  h.,wevcr   .legrade.l   tl.ev  m ay 

"After  two  hours'  singing  and  jiufting,  I 

nine,    permission,  th.uigh  with  son...  d  f. 

I  111  >  o    c.nsent,  an.l  greater  of  egress,  to 

t  u-,«  ;■"'  "'?'  ^■"'"l"»-ativcly  pr..lieient. 
I  «a.s  etween  tw.,  and  three  In  th..  inoni- 
III'::  ,,)^  "'■»  «!'t  'u  inin.l  and  b.xly,  I  laid 

iinil  .all,  just  to  hav<>  a  few  hours'  sleen  niv 
paratory  to  .lep.arture  on  the  can li  .i  I,  • 
As  the     music-hall'  was  not  far  Iran     iV 

^  n:nv"f:;?  :r ""'"  ^"'"^-  o*- «;.':."  j 

=aHe.lran;Jl]^'lV'^-;^--^-.^ 

..Gloats  House.     The  company  at  len.'th 

att.'i  a  biiet  repose,  I  wiis  i:  ,t  a  little  sur" 
prised  t.>  hear  th.>  old  tune  in  ev.'r    n.n.er 

an.l  the  boys  ten.linir  the  calves,  were  h.im 
•mng  the   alphabet  ov..r  a-aii  •'    IV  •       J 

Ins  tine  old  tune  may  be  i  k'o  poratj,  i  o 
Konuina  ,nelo,lies,Just.xsthestoryof-.  ./^^ 

•D  rn,Mlf'"'"'  •""'■"  '•■"""sArabt.a^ 
Ml.  Moflatt  observed  a  singular  instance  of 
.•etentive  menu.ry.  He  had  just  fi,  i  e.I  a 
sermon,  an.1  was  explaining  port    iisfi'? 

w, IS  atti acted  by  a  young  man  who  w,« 
holding  forth  t.>  a  crmv.l  o>  attenth  h  u^ 
e  s  (Jn  approaching  the  spot,  he  was  more 
than  surpriscl  t<,  find  that  this  youm^  nn  n 
wa.s  preaching  the  sennon  second-hind  o 
his  au. hence,  and,  more  than  tls  w^  re" 
produang,    with   astonishing'  8^^!^):' no 


r 


n 


974 


THE  NAMAQUAS. 


only  the  words  of  n  discourse  which  ho  hnd 
lu!iii(l  l)iit  oiico,  l>ut  tsviru  tlie  gcHturus  of 
tlic  H|)cnl(('r.  Whuii  coinpliinoiUcd  on  liis 
Wonderful  powers  of  uit'iiuirv,  ho  did  not 
Hocni  at  ill!  Iliittt.'rt>d,  l>ut  only  touched  his 
foieluMMl  with  liis  finger,  saying,  tliiit  wlion 
he  licard  nnytliing  great,  there  it  remained. 
Tills  reniarliatjlc  yoiitli  died  soon  ntlerward, 
)i;iviug  bi'cn  previously  converted  to  C'ln-is- 
tianitv.  Wlien  preaeliing,  lie  presented  a 
singular,  not  to  say  grotesque  iii)pearftnce, 
Ixiing  dressed  in  part  of  one  le,"  of  n  (pion- 
dain  pair  of  trouserx,  a  enj)  nuide  of  tlie  sivin 
stripped  from  a  zebra's  liead,  witli  tlie  ears 
still  attached,  and  some  equally  fantastic 
ornament  about  his  iu'ck.  The  contrast  be- 
tween the  wild  (igure  and  the  solemnity  of 
the  subject,  which  he  was  teaching  with 
much  earnestness,  was  most  remarkal)le. 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  Mr.  Molliitt 
wa.s  engaged  in  attending  upon  the  sick. 
This  is  au  invariable  part  of  u  missionnry's 


duties,  as  the  natives  have  unhonnded  faith 
in  the  mediciiiul  powers  of  all  white  men, 
.".nil  iiiiiirally  think  that  tliose  who  come  to 
heal  their  wmls  must  know  how  to  heal 
their  bodies.  Fortunately,  their  faith  makes 
them  excellent  patients,  and  is  in  itself  the 
best  euro  for  atVeciions  of  a  nervous  char- 
acter, to  whiili  till  men  seem  liable,  no  mat- 
ter what  ni.iv  be  the  color  of  their  skin. 
They  are  passionately  desirous  of  medicim^, 
and  it  is  impo.saible  to  mix  a  draught  that 
can  be  too  nauseous  for  them;  in  fact,  the 
inore  distasteful  it  is,  the  greater  they  think 
itsellleacy.  On  one  occasion, a  woniiiii  canje 
for  some  nu'dicine  for  her  husband  who  was 
ill,  and  two  very  httle  doses  were  given  her, 
one  to  be  taken  at  sunset  and  the  otlii^r  at 
midnight.  However,  she  settled  that  point 
by  immediately  taking  both  draughts  herself, 
slating  that  it  would  equally  benelit  her 
husband  whether  bo  or  she  Imp2)euud  to 
ttiku  it. 


THE  NAMAQUAS. 


The  termination  of  the  word  Namaquas 
shows  that  it  is  a  Hottentot  term,  and  coii- 
seiiueiitly  that  the  people  who  hear  that 
name  belong  to  the  Hottentot  nation.  The 
sullix  Qua  is  analogous  among  the  Hotten- 
tots to  the  prefix  Ama  among  the  Katllr 
tribes,  and  signities  "  men."  Thus  the  terms 
Namaqua,  (iriqua,  Koraqua,  (Jonaiiua,  &e., 
signify  that  those  tribes  are  branches  of  the 
Hottentot  nation.  Namaquas  themselves, 
however,  prefer  to  be  called  by  the  name  of 
Oerlain,  a  word  of  uncertain  derivation. 

The  Namaquiis,  unlike  the  Korannas,  can 
be  referred  to  a  totally  distinct  locality, 
their  habitation  being  a  large  tr.iet  of  cjun- 
try  on  the  southwest  co.ist  of  Afrii'a,  lying 
north  of  the  Orange  River,  or  Gariep,  and 
being  e.-jlled  from  its  inh.ibitants  Grout  Nam- 
aqu.i-land.  It  is  a  wild  and  strange  country 
—  dry,  barren  and  rugged,  and  therefore 
with  a  very  thinly  scattered  population, 
.ilways  suffering  from  want  of  water,  and  at 
times  seeming  as  parched  as  their  own  land. 
For  several  consecutive!  years  it  oflen  hap- 
pens that  no  rain  falls  m  a  large  district, 
and  the  beds  of  the  streams  and  rivers  are 
as  dry  as  the  plains.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, the  natives  haunt  the  dried  water- 
courses, and,  by  sinking  deep  holes  in  their 
beds,  contrive  "to  procure  a  scanty  and  jire- 
carious  supply  of  water  at  the  cost  of  very- 
great  l.^bor.  Sometimes  these  wells  are  dug 
to  the  dejith  of  twenty  feet,  and  even  when 
the  water  is  obtained  at  the  expense  of  so 
much  labor,  it  is  in  comparatively  small 
quiintitiea,  iind  of  very  inferior  quality. 
Branches  of  trees  are  ))laced  in  these  pit* 
by  way  of  ladders,  and  by  their  means  the 
Namaquas  liaud  up  the  water  in  wooden 


pails,  first  flllinf»  their  own  water-vessels, 
and  then  supplying  their  cattle  by  pouring 
the  water  into  a  trough.  Tliis  scene  is 
always  an  animated  one,  the  cat  lie.  half 
mad  with  thirst,  bellowing  with  im|iationce, 
crowding  round  the  trough,  and  tinusting 
one  another  asidis  to  partake  of  its  con- 
tents. A  similar  scene  takes  place  if  a 
water-hole  is  discovered  on  the  march.  A 
strong  guard,  mostly  of  women,  is  jjlaced 
round  the  precious  spot,  or  the  cattle  would 
certainly  rush  into  it  in  their  eagerness  to 
drink  wliat  water  they  could  get.  and  tram- 
ple the  rest  into  undrinkable  mud. 

In  this  strange  country,  the  only  supplies 
of  rain  are  by  thundei'storms,  and,  much 
as  the  natives  dread  the  lightning,  tli(\v  wel- 
come the  distant  rumble  of  the  thunder,  and 
look  anxiously  for  its  increasing  loudness. 
These  thunderstorms  are  of  lerrillc  violence 
when  they  break  over  a  tract  of  country, 
and  in  a  few  hours  the  dry  watercourses 
arc  converted  into  rushing  torrents,  and  the 
whole  country  for  a  time  rejoices  in  abun- 
dant moisture.  The  efl'ect  on  vegetation  is 
wonderful.  Seed  that  have  been  lying  in 
the  parched  ground  waiting  in  vain  for  the 
vivifying  inoisture  spring  at  once  into  life, 
and,  aided  by  the  united  influence  of  a  burn- 
ing sun  and  moist  ground,  they  spring  up 
with  marvellous  r.ipidity.  These  storms  are 
almost  Invariably  very  partial,  fallinj;  only 
on  a  limited  strip  of"  country,  so  that  the 
traveller  passes  almost  at  astep  out  of  a 
barren  and  parched  country,  with  scarcely 
R  blade  of  grass  or  a  leaf  of  herliage,  into  a 
green  tract  as  luxuriant  as  an  English 
meadow. 

The  geological  formation  is  mostly  gran^ 


■*# 


il  A 


THE  CHIEF,  AFRICANER. 


I 


scuttero    ^o  pn.li,     \y  ov.-r  tho  gurftu'c,  thnt 
Journey  af.  "...n  can  saircelv  oi.Ja  I.Ih  ovoh 

,m  u  1.    "         .      '•"  "verym.lo.    1„  nmny 
•hi  I,    r"  *'"'""'"'  '  ,  ""'"•«>^'»»lt''  'vith  nitr.s 
M   Id    loniiH  .,   Mjiinik,,  iacniHtiitinu,  aiH 

\l^T    '>'J""^'*'''l''.  •'Vin  in  the  vidnitv  - 
an  H   .    lif"   ''""''"  '",^'"   '"^  inli'ibit.a, 
trav..         an.    ,vludi   oau.so   nu.iv  wondor 
tlmt  liuiuiin  beni-H  can  bo  fo.ni.l  who  can 
cmlnrc  (,„•  their  whole  liven      .  inanil  .1 
urS'in''n/''   ''''''^  W..'U.         luKIy 
ver;yr  lil<,.iy    i,;it  th^y  ,yj,  , ,  uot  exchange 
their  dry  an.    barren  land  for  thonSlT- 
tile  c.nntry  in  (he  world.  '"' 

vines  b.H'''r'''''-,'''''^''"''''''''^«  'n  U'"  m- 
V  lies   but,  lr..ni  Km  poiR.,„„nH  natnre  a.lds 

I  ttlo  to  th.i  conilurt  of  th.-  traveil..       T,C,» 
-  h,.m,y,  winch  tlu,wi\Vbes"^-p^^^^^^^^ 


270 

an  they  Hlcpj,  killed  numberH  of  them  and 
recovered!  al  his  own  cat.l,.,  (..«ethe^'wi?h 
th080  belonKinK  to  the  «H.«ailan(s'^   It  wi  I  I  o 

i,  ryJ  '  N-"n.upia  eharucl>  . ,  |„,t  that 
li  avvS  it!"'"''*^^"  *"'  ^■'""  "«'  «"'»«  «"«» 

beJil  'I'w'^rliS-^'n'!'"-^  ""'y  ''""""'"y  havo 
>etn   ,1   warlike   nation,  iniwinii.h  m  t\u>y 


■  ,"•    "■•••■"'■I,    iiiiiniiiii.'li    aH    tile 

.H8e8...l  ratln.r  peculiar  weap.n.s,  nanielv 

U!   bow  mill   ni-1-....r     .....1   '  '   '"".">  ly, 

eld 


nSu:ii';^;;Ze-.;fS£!iSSr 

tiou-sly  «waIlow..,l,  an,    the    bnrnhiV  h,  u 
IZ  ''^::n^''   '"'1"""^  aliS'iiit.ll  r- 

micl    «  "^  '"'^.'''y  '""''"li'rable,  but  in 

such  a  place   as  Naina.]iia-land    what  Vie 
torture  must  be  can  scarcely  be  cSved 

t  olf  until    r   ;. ;      . '''°  "V'lPto'''^  <Io  n.)t  go 

J^:rand';;^tt;,;;''ti;'rtt&':!^?Ki;"!;: 
^^p^ifSl/aJt^^ 

little^^'m  Z  u^  a'  ^^/^boTdfv  I'^rr''""^  "»'' 
at  the  run,  .hiv  n"  his  Si?,  '"f  '"*;"  "» 
"iHts  out  ohheir"l.S^y^^^^^^^^      Z'Zs' 

l«g  recourse  t„  Mr UaS'wI ..J'LT''  ''"/• 

s'resr  !;{r'  ■■-«>  E '.;? 


,,     , •••.w....  i":i;iiii.ii  weap.dis,  nann 

he  bow  and  arrow,  ai„l  an  enorinoui  « 
made  of  the  entire  Hkin  of  an  ox  f<  led 
.singly.  Thov  itlso  used  the  assagai;  I  ut  iu 
u,  pr,ss,.nt  .fay  civilisation  Ikus  «.,  r  pe„  ■ 
tra  cjl  a,„.,„^,  them  that  the  only  wJm  on 
which  h.y  use  i8  the  iruii,  an.l  it^is  m  nv 
years  Hince  a  Nan.a^jua  has  been  seen  S 
the  ancient  weapons  .,f  hi.s  nation 

fon^l  nf'u''''''"""/:"'"^'*'  ""'  Naniaquas  are 
tond  of  wear  ng  European  apparel,  and  as 

ill...    men    are    nua-oly    translbrmed    from 
'     "ctable  savages  into  disrcpiital.lc  vajra- 
'  and  to  them  it  is  not  so  v.ry  niiHuit- 

abl..,  but  to  the  wonu.n  it  is  peculiar  v  so 
owing  l„  the  0.1,1   ,„an.i,r  in  w  11  Ih? v' 
panit   their  fac-s.     A  girl,  ,lr..s,sel    i  i   1,.^ 
btt  e  sk.n  ai)r,)n  an,l  ornam,.nle,l  with  .•oiN 
o    leathern  thongs,  may  i.aint  her  f  ce     s 
nuch  as  she  pleasi's  wiilmui  app,  aring  gro- 
tes.iuc..    Hut  ....thing  ,    u  look'more  rfdfci". 
o IS  than  a  gii     in  a  stripd  cotto..      "s" 
with  a  re.l  hamik,  nhief  rou.i.l  her  he.  I  ai^a' 
the  on  hn,.s  of  her  checks,  .losc,  an,l  SS 
de/incd   with    broa,l  stripes   of  bl,,    ,a    ? 
r.e  costume  of  the  men'  resembles  th  t  of 
the  womc-n  „u-„».s  the  skin  ap.-on.  the     lace 

iiioigs.    Ihe   x\aina,pias  are  very  fond  of 

S^r  Th"v  ""'"'Y  ^°'"''  '^^''  '■'  "•'<^r 
n.'  ^a  Mss   1  "  -^  "'r  ""'  !;""'''»t^'<J  with  buy- 
ing glass   beads  h',.m    Europe,  but  nianii- 
fadure    hose  ornam,.nts  themselves     ThJ 
mod..   „1    manufacture    is    simple   enoS, 
A    r,s„,ous    gum    is   procure,!,  moistened 
.H'oroughly,  aii.l  kn..aded  with  chare,  f.       It 
H    lu.i.  rolleil  between  the  hamis  i ,  ,  long 
tjl  lulers,  which  are  cut  up  into  small  nieces 
ami   again   rolled  until  ■!  t.)lcrably  i  herN 
cal   shape  is  obtain,.,!.    They  alx.j  hive  L 

:  '    r"'  '^'''"'■''^^^    themselves   profi  .sc?v 

,ni,"""y''  J'''''''">''  '""«'''  ''f  polished  fron 
biass,  and  coppei-.  They  al.«o  tattoo  ll.ei; 
^^,  and  maLe  great  usLf  the  buchu'pc"!: 

««.^^H'^  ^amaquas  have  not  been  accus- 
ton  ed  to  exercise  their  minds  on  any  sub- 
joct  except  those  immediately  co.mccS 
with  thcmselvs,  it  is  found  veiy  ditJicult  to 
drive  any  new  hleas  into  their  heads  So.t,^ 
writers  say  that  n«»nv  of  hem  have  ^^^ 
names,  and  not  a  single  one  his  Hw.  i  „  * 

J  ears.    Iua..e»|,  ewunting  at  all  is  an  !  tT 
ectualexe»*i«tt  that  is  positively  pahiSt 


^/-" 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TE3T  TARGET  (MT-3) 


^ 


// 


^/ 


^^. 


^^-»/^    4'<^ 


^^5 


&^ 


^^^ 


7a 


1.0 


I.I 


2.5 
2.2 


■-  IIIIIM 

ill  1.8 


1 

1.25      1.4      1 A 

-^ 

6"     

— \ ^ 

c*l 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corpomtion 


4^ 


iV 


k 


'*':,♦.  "^"^i*  "^O^ 


s^ 


,,*,    W>s^    ^^ 


f^^ 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  145S0 

(716)  87J-4503 


.^r 


V^ 


/i 


270 


THE  NAMAQUA8. 


IM 


of  his  fingers  is  scarcely  to  be  found  nnion<» 
them.  Such  statements  are  often  the  result 
of  Ignorance,  not  of  the  savages,  hut  of  their 
visitors,  who  must  needs  live  among  them 
for  years,  and  be  thorouglily  acquainted  with 
their  language,  before  they  can  venture  to 
generalize  in  so  sweeping  a  fashion.  Mr. 
Motfatt,  who  did  live  ainop.g  tlie  Nama- 
quas,  and  knew  their  language  intimately 
.  says  that  he  never  know  a  m;ui  who  had  not 
a  name,  and  tliac  mere  children  are  able  to 
count  bej-ond  the  number  ten. 

Of  religion  they  appear  to  have  but  the 
faintest  glimmering,  and  it  is  more  than 
suspected  that  even  their  rude  and  imper- 
fect ideas  on  the  suljject  are  corruptions 
of  information  obtained  from  Europeans 
Superstitions  they  have  in  plentv  some  of 
them  resembling  those  which  are  held  bv 
the  tribes  which  have  already  been  men- 
tioned, 

Their  idea  of  the  coming  of  death  into  the 
world  is  one  of  these  odd  notions.  It  seems 
that  m  former  days,  when  men  were  first 
made,  the  hare  had  no  cleft  in  its  lip.  The 
moon   scut  a  hare    to   the   newly  createcl 


beings  with  this  message  :  "  As  I  die,  and 
■"  "gi*'"'  so  you  shall  die  and  be'born 


am  1)01 

again."  llie  hare'  however,  ddi'verccrthe 
message  wrongly,  ''As  I  die  and  am'  not 
born  a.'ain,  so  you  shall  die  and  not  bo  born 
a^ain."  The  moon,  angry  at  the  hare's  dis- 
obedience, threw  a  stick  at  it  as  it  tied  away 
from  his  wrath,  and  .si)lit  its  lip  open.  From 
that  time  the  hare  has  a  cleft  lij),  and  U 
always  running  away.  In  consequence  of 
this  legend,  the  Namaquas  will  not  eat  the 
hare.  They  have  such  a  horror  of  it,  that 
it  a  man  should  iKippen  even  to  touch  a 
fire  at  which  a  hare  has  been  cooked  he 
IS  banished  from  his  community,  and  not 
readmitted  until  he  lias  paid  a  fine. 

During  the  terrible  Ihiinderstoinis  which 
occasionally    pass    over    the    country,    the 
Jfamaquas  are  in  great  dread  of  the  light- 
ning, and  shoot  their  poisoned   arrows  at 
the  clouds  in  order  to  drive  it  away.    This 
IS  illustrated  on  page  271.    As  iiiav  be  im- 
agined, there  is  no  smnil  danger  in  "this  per- 
lormance,  and  a  mini  has  been  killed  bv  the 
lightning  flash,  wlii<'h  was  attracted  by  his 
poiBted  arroAV.     Other  tribes  have  a  similar 
custom,  being    in   the    habit  of   throwing 
stones  or  other  objects  at  the  doiuls.        '^ 
As  far  as  can  be  ascertiiined,  their  onlv 
notion  of  asu])reme  being  is  one  who  is  the 
author  of  death  and  iii(li('ter  of  pain    and 
one  consequently  wiioin  they  fear,  but  can- 
not love.    Still,  all  statements  of  this  nature 
made  by  savages  must  be  received  with  very 
great  caution,  owing  (o  the  invincible  renu"- 
nancc  which  they  feel  toward  reveal! n^aiu' 
portion  of  their  religious  system.    They  will 
rather  state  anything  than  the  truth,  and 
will  either  invent  a  series  of  imaginative 
stones  on  !he  siiur  of  the  mnnient,  or  sav 
w^atever  they  think  is  likely  to  please  their 


interrogator.  Even  if  they  arc  converted  to 
Christianity,  suiHcient  of  the  old  nature  re- 
rnains  to  render  them  averse  to  speaking  on 
tiieir  former  superstition,  and  they  will 
mostly  fence  with  the  question  or  evade  it 
rather  than  tell  the  whole  truth. 

Being  superstitious,  they  have,  of  course, 
sorcerers  in  plenty.  Besides  the  usual  pre- 
tensions of  such  personages,  they  claim  the 
power  of  voluntary  transmigration,  and  their 
followers  implicitly  believe  tb.at  they  can 
assume  the  lorm  of  any  beast  which  they 
choose  to  select.  They  fancy,  however,  that 
their  own  sorcerers  or  witch  doctors  share 
this  power  with  (he  Bosjesman  race.  Mr. 
Anderson  nuotcs  the  following  legend  in 
support  of  this  statement.  "  Once  on  a  lime 
a  certain  Naniaqua  was  travelling  in  com- 
pany with  a  Biishwomau  carrying  a  child 
on  her  back.  They  had  proceeded  some  dis- 
tance on  their  journey  when  a  troop  of  wild 
horses  (zebras)  appeared,  and  the  man  said 
to  the  woman,  'I  am  hungry,  and  as  I  know 
you  can  turn  yourself  into  a  lion,  do  so  now 
and  catch  us  a  wild  horse  that  we  may  eat ' 
The  woman  answered,  '  You  will  be  afraid  ' 
'"No,  no,'  said  the  man,  'I  am  afraid  of 
dying  ot  hunger,  but  not  of  you.' 

"Whilst  he  was  speaking,  hair  began  to 
apjiear  at  the  back  of  the  woman's  neck,  her 
nails  assumed  the  appearance  of  claws,  and 
her  features  altered.     Siie  set  down  the  child. 
J  he  man,  alarmed  at  the  change,  climbed 
up  a  tree  close  by,  while  the  \W)p.ian  glared 
at  him  fearfully;  and,  going  to  (uie  side,  she 
threw  oir  her  skin  petticoat,  wiieii  a  perfect 
lion  rushed  out  into  the  plain.     Il  bounded 
and  crept  among  the  bushes  toward  the  wild 
horses,  and,  springing  on  one  of  tlicin,  it  fell, 
and  the  lion  lajiped  its  blood.    The  lion  (hen 
came  back  to  the  place  wlicic  (he  child  was 
crying,  and  the  man  called' iVom  the   tree 
'Lnough!  enough:    J)o  not  hurt  me.    Put 
0(1  your  lion's  shape.     I  will  never  ask  to 
see  this  again."    The  lion  looked  al  him  and 
growled.    'I'll  remain  here  (ill    I  dl,.!' ex- 
claimed the  ninn,  Mf  you  do  nol   Income  a 
woman  again.'    The  liiain  and  Ijiil  hegan  to 
disappear,  the  lieu  went  toward    the   bush 
where  the  skin  i>etticoat  Iny;  it  was  slipped 
on,  riid  the  woman  in  her  proper  shape  took 
up  the  cliild.    The  man  descended,  jtartook 
of  the  horse's  Cesh,  but  never  again  asked 
the  woman  to  catch  game  for  him.'' 

Their  notions  about  the  two  chief  lumi- 
naries seem  rather  variable,  though  there  is 
certainly  a  connecling  link  between  them. 
One  account  was,  that  the  .■<tin  was  ma<le  of 
people  living  in  the  sea,  who  cut  it  in  pieces 
every  night,  fried  the  fragments,  put  them 
together  ag.ain,  and  sent  it  afresh  on  its 
journey  through  the  -ky.  Another  story,  m 
told  to  Mr.  Anderso..,  is  to  the  etl'ect  that 
the  sun  is  a  huge  lump  of  pure  fat,  and  that, 
when  It  sinks  below  the  waves,  it  is  seized 
by  the  chief  of  a  while  niau's  ship,  who  cuts 
off  a  piece  of  it,  and  then  gives  it  a  kick 


I 


THE  DOCTOR'S  PANACEA. 


which  throws  It  into  the  sky  again.    It  is 
evident  that   thi.s  story  has-'at'all  events 
received  some  niodilication  in  recent  times. 
hJt^  ivM  "'.T'"''j.  '■'''  ^--^'Uiiqiias  seem  to 

te  1  V"°  ."'^■''  •?'^.  '*•  '^^"^y  '•^'•e  very  much 
afraid  of  a  bad  spirit,  but  have  no  conception 
ot  a  good  one,  and  tlierefore  liave  no  wor- 
siup.  Of  praise  they  have  not  the  least  con- 
ception. So  far  arc  they  from  feeling  grati- 
tude to  a  supremo  being,  that  their  hmAian-e 

w  ich  they  can  exjn-ess  their  thanT<s  to  their 
le How  ereaturos.  Some  travellers  who  have 
lived  among  them  say  that  they  not  only  do 

r  ViF?'''  '"•'  *.'%"«'  f^^^l  Kratitude,  nor 
feel  ki udness   and  that,  although  they  will 

^"et^wil'MT'''"''  ^"/  "  I'-Pcriorln  or/er  to 
Kfm  1  =  "'^'  '^'',"  ''"'"  ''""'  "'ey  will  desert 

« tl  ov  IJ  "  *'*'■  '"'  "-''flulity.  In  short, 
they  possess  every  vice  of  savao'c^  and 
none  of  (boir  noble  qualities."  T^ris  ho  • 
ever,  seems  rather  too  sweepin-  au  asso  - 
Of' Srovl"'^'  ■'  '' ''  -»t-^"'ctcHl  bv  oth  s 
calcXti  .h  ;T,'"Tr' '"'''  ^^^  "'-''y  "lerefore 
his  w  1,1  «  <'''V^'■'"naqua  Hottentot  is,  in 
e  '':?:.  ":;!^'>"^  ^^"rse  nor  better  than 


277 


ticular  consequence,  a  goat  or  a  sheen  will 

t7Sf  V'f™V^'"J?''*"  '^^  «houW  happen 
to  be  a  chief,  not  a  disease  will  condescend 
to  assume  bodily  form  unless  instigated  by 
an  ox  or  a  cow.  "  -^ 

The  witch  doctors  have  anothc  theory  of 
disease,  namely,  that  a  great  snake  has  shot 
an  invisible  .irrow  int<.  the  suflbrer  Of 
course,  this  ailment  has  to  be  treated  in  a 
similar  manner.  The  reader  may  perhaps 
call  to  mind  the  very  similar  superstition 
H.nl  ,\m''''  P''«^«"e<l  in  England,  namely, 
tliat  cattle  were  sometimes  shot  wUh  fairv 
arrows  which  had  to  be  extracted  by  the 
torco  of  counter-charms.  The  great  pana. 
cea  for  diseases  is,  however,  a  sort  of  charm 

Hm.  i,'"';'^"!'"''^  ','■'''"■*?'  J'^"''*^  <'"•  't^  produc- 
tion, and  which  has  the  property  of  becom- 
ing more  powerful  every  year.  When  a 
man  is  mitiated  into  the  mysteries  of  the 

tinuallj.  In  the  course  of  time  it  becomes 
saturated  with  grease,  and  is  in  a  terribly 
ilthy  condition.  Not  until  then  is  it  thought 
to  possess  healing  properties;  but  uheifit 
IS  in  such  a  stato  that  no  one  with  ordinary 


the  generaiil}. ;!•;;-, ^^:^^\^-^»  ,  i;^^^^^ 

feeliiigs  cannot  be  expc-ted  rf  him   ui  ti      "oj  *»  ^e  d^yel- 

he  Kaflir  tribes,  a„,l  the^vl  lolfp 'Ss  itW^^  All;  "uT"  L"'"'  ^''  ^^''''''^   '^  ^'''P   o' 

M?y„.^::'""''.'-'  ! '''•i''i".^'  ii!l  il«  efHcLv'^m       r,^  ,!:.;/!  "^  infallible. 


amount  of^ingennil  r.  '  They  have  rthco'i^v     n,  J'l'i,^'""'"'!!''''  '''^'''^  "'■'^•'^'  ^''^^' '»  '-^'niilets 


tliat  the  disease   bas  insinuated  itself  into 

he  patient  in  tli,  guise  of  some  sma     re,, 

tde,^i,d  niu.st  be  exi.elled.     They  seen       , 

One  .sue),  performanee  w.as  witnessed  bv 


chief  dies,  cattle  are  saeritiee.l,  in  ,  r.  er  to 

to  deceased  succeeds  his  father  in  the 
chieftainship,  and,  in  recognition  of  his  new 

ank,  the  fat  .and  other  choice  porti  n^  are 
brough  to  him  as  they  had  been  to  Ws 
father  m  his    lifetime.      The   voun.r  cbief 

■aces  the  fat  on  his  head,  aiu  allows  it  to 

out  of  It  by  the  sun's  rays,  and  oiiK-  tho 
cnc  osing  membrane  roiiiains  di'v^  "d 
^hrivelled.  This  is  thought  t^' i,e  a  Lvc" 
h  charm,  and  is  held  in  great  estiiL  Ion 
The  reader  will  notice  th  "  fact  that  tlVor,.' 
«cenis  to  be  in  the  mind  of  he  X ainaq  ns 
r^:;/"I?"^""'!..'^^t^v-n  the  head'^d'll^ 


.ved  b,.(bre   the   eves  of  the   spectator  '  1.  ^"   "»Vt"ml's   of  chiefs   the  Namaqua' 

I  the  ivturn  of  the  doctor,  li^so 7  nut  en.'  '''"  '' ''''""  "'^  "'■"'^'".^'  ''f'^"''^  cac    tiZw 

ne  httle  h„les  i„  ,he  sto;naer  f  th^nl  ?  T, '^^?r  T""  '' whenever  he  pa  se' 

It,  from  whicli  lliere  issued   first  o  ...,'n  ^m,    ^^  hy  they  do  so,  thev  eillier  cam  ,  t  n 


'S 

or 
n 


on 
in 


'o» 


m 


THE  NAMAQUAS. 


whom  they  name  Heitjeebib.  or  Heitjeko- 
bib,  who,  they  tliink,  is  able  to  grant  or 
withhold  prosperit}'.  Spirit  though  ho  be, 
they  localize  him  in  the  tombs,  and  the 
casting  of  stones  has  probably  some  refcr- 
'  ence  to  him. 

Like  other  savage  nations,  they  have  cer- 
tain ceremonies  when  their  youth  attain 
manhood,  and  at  that  time  the  youth  is 
instructed  in  the  precepts  which  are  to  gov- 
ern his  life  for  the  future.  These  are  rather 
of  a  negative  than  a  positive  nature,  and 
two  very  important  enactments  are,  that  he 
must  never  cat  the  hare,  and  must  cease 
from  sucking  the  goats.  The  latter  injunc- 
tion requires  a  little  explanation.  As  long 
as  the  Namaquas  are  children,  they  are 
accustomed  to  visit  the  female  goats,  drive 
away  the  kids,  and  take  their  place.  This, 
however,  is  considered  to  be  essentially  a 
childish  occupation,  to  be  abandoned  for- 
ever when  the  boy  seeks  to  bo  admitted 
among  the  men. 

As  far  as  is  known,  there  are  few,  if  any, 
matrimonial  ceremonies  among  the  Nama- 
qua  Hottentots.  When  a  man  wishes  to 
marry  any  particular  woman,  he  goes  to  her 
parents  and  simply  demands  her.  If  the  de- 
mand is  acceded  to,  an  ox  is  killed  outside 
the  door  of  the  bride's  house,  and  she  then 
goes  home  to  her  new  husband.  Polygamy 
IS  permitted  among  this  people,  and,  as  is  the 
case  in  other  countries,  has  its  drawbacks 
as  well  as  its  advantages.  In  a  country 
where  the  whole  of  the  manual  labor  is  per- 
formed by  the  women,  such  a  state  is  neces- 
sary, each  woman  being  a  sort  of  domestic 
servant,  and  in  no  sense  the  equal  compan- 
ion of  the  man.  Its  drawbacks  may  be 
summed  up  in  the  word  "jealousy,"  that 
being  a  failing  to  which  the  Namaqua  wo- 
men arc  very  subject,  and  which  genei-ally 
finds  its  vent  in  blows.  If  a  man  becomes 
tired  of  his  wife,  he  needs  no  divorce  court, 
but  simply  cuts  the  conjugal  knot  by  sending 
the  won'iin  back  to  her  family.  She  has  no 
redre-;.,;  and,  however  much  she  and  her 
parents  may  object  to  the  proceeding,  the} 
cannot  prohibit  it. 

In  peaceful  arts  they  have  some  skill, 
especially  in  training  oxen.  This  is  a  diffi- 
cult process,  and  is  managed  with  great 
care.  The  young  animal  is  first  induced  to 
step  into  the  noose  of  a  rope  which  is  laid 
on  the  ground,  and,  as  soon  as  it  has  done 
so,  a  number  of  men  seize  the  other  end  of 
the  rope,  and,  in  spite  of  his  strugg  es,  hold 
the  animal  tijjhtly.  Sometimes  the  infuri- 
ated aniuial  charges  at  them,  and  in  that 
case  they  let  go  the  rope  and  scatter  in 
all  directions,  only  to  renew  their  hold 
when  the  fury  of  the  animal  is  exhausted. 
Another  rope  is  then  thrown  over  his 
horns,  and  by  sharply  pulling  this  and  his 
tail,  and  at  the  same  time  jerking  his  leg  off 
the  ground,  the  trainers  force  the  animal  to 
lall.    His  head  is  then  held  on  the  ground, 


and  a  sharp  stick  thrust  through  his  nos- 
trils, a  tough  leathern  thong  being  then 
attached  to  each  end  of  the  stick,  and  acting 
as  a  bridle. 

The  more  an  ox  struggles  and  fights,  the 
more  docile  he  becomes  afterward,  and  tlie 
more  is  he  valued,  while  an  ox  which  is 
sulky,  especiallyif  he  lies  down  and  declines 
to  rise,  is  never  of  much  use.  Loads,  care- 
fully graduated,  are  then  fastened  on  his 
back,  beginning  with  a  simple  skin  or 
empty  bag,  and  ending  with  the  full  bur- 
den which  an  ox  is  supposed  to  carry.  The 
hide  rope  witli  which  the  burden  is  lashed 
on  the  back  of  the  ox  is  often  one  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  in  length,  and  consequently 
passes  round  and  round  the  body  of  the 
animal. 

The  chief  difficulty  is,  to  train  an  ox  that 
will  act  as  Header.  The  ox  is  naturally  a 
gregarious  animal,  and  when  he  is  associ- 
ated with  his  fellows,  he  never  likes  to  walk 
for  any  distance  unless  there  is  a  leader 
whom  he  can  follow.  In  a  state  of  nature 
the  leader  would  be  the  strongest  bull,  but 
in  captivity  he  finds  "that  all  are  very 
much  alike  in  point  of  strength,  while  their 
combative  powers  have  been  too  much 
repressed  to  allow  any  one  animal  to  flglit 
his  wa-y  to  the  leadership.  Very  few  oxen 
have  the  qualities  which  enable  lliem  to  be 
trained  as  leaders,  but  the  Namaquas,  who 
have  excellent  eyes  for  the  chief  points  of 
an  ox,  always  select  for  this  purpose  the 
animals  of  lightest  build  and  most  sprightly 
look,  so  that  they  may  keep  their  followers 
at  a  brisk  pace  when  on  the  march.  Their 
activity  would  naturally  induce  them  to 
keep  ahead  of  their  companions,  so  that  the 
Namaquas  merely  assist  nature  v,-hen  they 
select  such  animals  to  serve  as  leaders. 

The  dreadful  practice  of  abandoning  the 
aged  prevails  in  Namaqua-land.  A  slight 
fence  is  built  round  the  unfortunate  victim 
of  so  cruel  a  custom,  who  is  then  aban- 
doned, h.ivinn;  been  furnished  with  a  little 
food,  fire,  and  water,  which  arc  destined  to 
play  the  part  of  the  bread  and  water  placed 
in  the  tomb  of  an  ofttnding  vestal.  Trav- 
ellers through  this  country  sometimes  come 
upon  the  remains  of  a  small  fence,  within 
which  are  a  heap  of  ashes,  the  remains  of  a 
water  vessel,  and  a  heap  of  whitened  bones, 
and  they  know  that  these  are  the  memorials 
of  an  old  Namaqua  who  has  been  left  to 
perish  with  hunger  and  thirst.  Such  per- 
sons must  be  very  old  when  they  succumb 
to  such  a  death,  for  some  have  been  known 
to  live  to  the  afjc  of  ninety,  and  now  and 
then  a  centenarian  is  founil. 

It  is  hardly  credible,  though  true,  that  the 
Namaquas  are  so  used  to  this  parricidal 
custom  that  they  look  at  it  with  indifference. 
They  expect  no  other  fate  if  they  themselves 
should  happen  to  live  until  they  are  so  old 
as  to  be  an  incumbrance  to  their  piople,  and 
th<-  strangest  tiling  is  the  acquiescence  with 


rou<jh  his  nos- 
iig  being  theu 
ick,  and  acting 

and  fights,  the 
irward,  and  the 
a  ox  which  is 
m  and  declines 
.  Loads,  carc- 
stcned  on  his 
mple  skin  or 
1  the  full  bur- 
to  carry.  The 
rdcn  is  lashed 
n  one  hundred 
I  consequently 
e  body  of  the 

rain  an  ox  that 
is  naturally  a 
1  he  is  associ- 
!r  likes  to  walk 
re  is  a  leader 
state  of  nature 
ingest  bull,  but 

all  are  very 
;th,  while  their 
en  too  much 
mimal  to  fight 
Very  few  oxen 
)le  Iheni  to  be 
i^amaquas,  who 
^hief  points  of 
s  purpose  the 
most  sprightly 
their  followers 
march.  Their 
luce  them  to 
■US,  so  that  the 
u'c  when  they 

as  leaders, 
bandoning  the 
md.  A  slight 
•tunate  victim 
is  then  aban- 
i  with  a  little 
re  destined  to 
1  water  placed 
vestal.  Trav- 
inetinies  come 

fence,  within 
3  remains  of  a 
liitened  bones, 
tlie  memorials 
i  been  left  to 
it.  Such  per- 
they  succumb 
!  been  known 

and  now  and 

true,  that  the 
his  parricidal 
h  indilference. 
ey  tlu;mselves 
ley  are  so  old 
iir  p>  i>ple,  and 
liescencc  with 


tions  an  instance  fco  an  S"  •"'^"■ 
whom  he  found  in  a  most  p  tiaffe  21!^,^^ 
^"7'Jg.  refused  to  be  takin  S.Vbyhim 

no;'\ii:;^^ii^'S."''^'^^''-'^'-^^^ 

Then-  amusements  are  so  similar  to  ih^.^ 


ADOPTION  OF  PARENS. 


279 


go  and  look  for  food  and  water     Th„,  i, 
an  odd  way  of  conin-irinVI,  ,  ^^  ^»vo 

with  tlie  Vornis  of  Vh  r  **  '"*'*»,^^J>«  works 
comparison  rs?^ou/ht^^  .!.T''-'k  "•"*'  ^^^^ 
son  w,y  ,  „,„"rould  not'^ork"*""*^"*  '''^ 

th  KaJ-ar'^Thor'T  P'-?^''*"«  "-"ong 
expected  to  adm,t  a  fvfj.or'''  T'^  "^'^"^  «»•« 
the  newlv-nvid .  r?.in  •  "  """"^  mother,  and 

l»ave  therpronerti    n"^  "'"  '"PP«««^1  '<> 


ciiAPi'ER  xxvni. 


THE  BECIIUANAS. 


liS 


THEIR  NAME  AND  LANOUWE  —  THEIR  DRESS  —  SKILL  IN  THE  ARTS  OP  PEACR  — THE  RECHCANA  KNIFE 
—  SKILL  IN  OAUVIN(!— THE  IlECHUANA  ASSA<1AI,  OH  "  KOVEH  "  —  INOENIOUS  IlELLOWS  — A  METAL 
APKON— DRESS  OP  THE  WOMEX,  AND  THKIlt  FONDNESS  FOR  METALLU;  OKNAMKNTS  — (:ilAItA(  TER 
OF  THE  ItEOIIttANAS  — TIIKIU  TENDKNCV  TOWARD  LYINO  AND  THIEVING  —  1>1SRE<1ARD  FOR  IllMAN 
LIFE  — REDEEHINO  QUALITIES  OF  THE  liEClir ANAS  — MODE  OF  (iOVERNMENT  — THE  NATIVE  I'AR- 
LIAMENT  — MR.  MOFFAT's  ACCOINT  OF  A  DERATE  — I  TSTOMS  AFTER  RATTLE  —  THE  ORDER  OP 
THE  SCAR,  AND  MODE  OP  CONFERRINO  IT  — A  DI8A1TOINTED  WAIUUOR  — AN  rNPLEASANT  CERE- 
MONV  — MODE  OF  MAKINO  WAR— THE  UECHUANA  BATTLE-AXE. 

i 


We  now  leave  the  Hottentot  race,  and  take 
a  passiiiij;  jrlance  at  the  appearance  of  a  few 
•  other  tribes.  Clnef  among  tliese  is  tlie  very 
lar<j:o  tril)e  called  by  the  nanui  of  IJeciuiaua, 
wlilch  includes  a  considerable  number  of 
sub-tribes.  Just  as  the  Kottentot  n;;mes 
are  reco<,'iiized  by  the  affix  (^la,  so  are  tlie 
IJechuanas  by  th(!  prefix  iJa.  Thus,  tlu; 
IJakwanis.  Earolonj^s,  Uatla|)is,  and  Balui- 
rotsi,  all  belong  to  the  great  liecluiana  tril)e. 
It  is  raUier  curious  that  in  this  language 
prefixes  are  used  where  suffixes,  or  even 
separate  words,  might  be  expected.     Tluis, 


Perhaps  the  Beclniana  knife  is  the  most 
common  of  ;dl  tlie  implements  made  by  this 
injjenious  tribe.  The  general  form  of  this 
knife  may  be  seen  from  the  two  figures 
in  the  engraving  No.  2,  opposite,  one  of 
which  was  taken  from  a  sptcinien  in  my 
own  collection.  It  is  ten  inches  in  length 
inclusive  of  the  liandie.  and  the  blade,  which 
is  doubie-edgcd,  is  nearly  flat,  being  a  little 
thicker  along  the  middle  than  at  the  edges. 
In  fact,  it  is  simply  a  sj)car-head  iiise)!e(l 
into  a  handle.  The  sheath  i.s  made  of  two 
pieces  of  wood,  hollowed  just  suHiciently  to 


a  man  will  speak  of  himself  a.s  Moehuana,  I  receive  the  blade  fightlv,"and  tiien  la.s'iied 
t.  c.  a  Chuana  man;  the  tribe  is  called  Be- 1  firmly  together  with  siiiews.  On  one  side 
chuana.  i.  c.  the   Chuana    men,    and    they  i  oi<'  ■  sheath  a  kind  of  loop  is  carved  out  of 


speak  Sichuana,  i.  e.  the  Chuana  laniruage. 
.Nearly  every  syllable  ends  with  a  vowel, 
which  gives  the  language  a  softness  of  pro- 
nunciation hardly  to  be  expected  in  .such  a 
country.  The  love  of  eupliony  among  the 
Bechuana  tribes  causes  them'  to  be  very 
indill'erent  about  substituting  one  letter  for 
another,  provided  tliat  by  so  doing  a  greater 
eoftness  of  pronunciation  can  be  obt.ained. 

In  appearance  they  are  a  fine  r.aceof  men. 
In  some  respects  .similar  to  the  Kaflirs.  witli 
whom  they  have  many  customs  in  common. 
Their  dress  is  not  very  remark.able,  except 
that  they  are  perhap.«  the  best  dressers  of 
skins  tliat  are  to  be- found  in  Africa,  the 
pliancy  of  the  .skin  .and  the  neatiies.s  of  the 
sewing  being  unrivalled.  T!iey  are  good 
workers  in  metal,  and  suiiply  inany  of  the 
euriounding  tribes  both  with  ornaments  and 
weapous. 


(280) 


tl  olid  wood,  through  which  the  wearer 
can  pas.s  the  string  by  which  he  hangs  it  to 
his  neck. 

The  ordinary  forms  arc  simply  a  liandle, 
sheath,  and  blade,  all  without  any  ornament, 
but  the  ingenious  smith  often  adds  a  consid- 
erable amount  of  decoration.  One  favorite 
mode  of  doing  so  i.«  to  make  the  liandle  of 
ivory,  and  carve  it  into  the  form  of  some 
animal.  My  own  specimen  represents  a 
hyiena;  and, "in  spite  of  the  rudeness  of  the 
sculpture,  no  naturalist  could  inissibly  mis- 
take the  animal  for  which  it  is  intended. 
The  handle  is  often  cut  into  the  form  of  the 
hippopotamus  or  the  giraffe,  and  in  all  ciises 
the  character  of  the  animal  is  hit  off  exactly 
by  the  native  carver.  Along  tlie  sheath  is 
generally  a  pattern  of  some;  nature,  and 
in  many  instances  it  is  really  of  an  artis- 
tic character,  worthy  to  be  transferred  to 


:<i^^^^/2ir 


•THE  HECnUANA  KNIFE 
US  IlELLOWS  — A  MKTAL 
NAMK.NTS  —  (UlAltACTEll 
L)ISItE<IAItD  Foil  Ill'MA.V 
NT  — THE  NATIVE  I'AK- 
TTLE — THE  OKUEK  OF 
AN  UNPLEASANT  CEKE- 


a  knifo  is  the  most 
nu'Uts  made  by  tliis 
;oni'ral  form  of  tliis 
nil  tlic  Uvo  (iji;uros 
2,  opposite,  one  of 
a  sp((.'iinen  in  my 
en  inclics  in  lunjiftii 
ind  the  Made,  wliich 
y  flat,  licing  a  little 
•  than  at  tlie  edsfes. 
■il)ear-lu'ad  inserted 
ath  is  made  of  two 
I  just  siidieientiy  to 
y,-  and  tiien  las'lied 
lews.  On  one  side 
ooj)  is  earved  out  of 
1  wliieh  tlie  wearer 
hich  he  hangs  it  to 

re  simply  a  handle, 
hout  any  ornament, 
often  adds  aconsid- 
ition.  One  favorite 
niiike  the  handle  of 

the  form  of  some 
imen  represents  a 
he  rudeness  of  the 
oould  jKissibly  niis- 
lieh  it  is  intended, 
nto  the  form  of  the 
iffe,  and  in  all  eases 
lal  is  hit  off  exaetly 
lonj;;  the  sheath  is 
some  nature,  and 
really  of  an  artis- 

he  transferred  to 


(«•)    BECHL-ANA   KNIVES, 
(See  pg^  280.) 


(1.)    K\'I|.'K   AND   ASSAGAI    IIKAUS 
(See  page  a83.) 


'rfiim 


(••JO   APRON. 
(Scopng'pjfj.'i.) 


(■»•)    01{NA.MENrs    MADt 
OF  MONKEYS'  TEETH. 

(Sec  page  284.J 


(281) 


aiKl  13  attauhud  by  tho  same  sinews  wliifh 

tl.      ,?n   I',  'r'v  ""•', »"ni.-.snmn  trilTcs  uso 
it.in  s  ol  hoiitliurn  Air  ca.     Tliov  iiiwiv*  «iw 
pcnd  it  to  th,.ir  n.ck.s. an.l  .r4  itV^ a  v^ari o'v" 

anil 'h., nil"'''  r"'"''  °^  *^«  '^'"'■i'.  «''ciith, 
ki  1  of  kn?r"i  ''r' •'."■'  "°'  ''"'"^  ^^'"1  tl'is 
8l     V  1,1.,  I     '•  '"   Y'"'  "'"'  "''"'■''  >»■'«  a  very 

cut  thr.   V.  •     ""■''  «"»l>lo    instrument  arc 
.       TWi.,       ^""""•'  P'l^orns   witii   wl.ich   t  e 

Somotlnies  the   bowls  nf  *i,« 

tern  so    i-i„  fi  "  ^'^  ^'^'^  incised  pat- 

fCec  i-crsr?     Tl, . ,  ,fr     "  "''  *^'"'  «"nictime,s 

ficatio7of  ^ic'S^M::?,-;;^"^  '»  ->'li- 

eu.vesare^.3Uh!^St^-.---^o 
arUs\°ii?H?  •';■''  specimens  of  Bechnanx 

on  ar^.iveni^^'\::V.uKl '>'?''';;'  "'^"^l' 
en^ravin-  The  i  ,1,^;,.  li  •^,'"  "'"  '"'^'"u 
tire  head'of  the  !^;'  "-"'•"  ^'''^"'s  the  en- 
shaft,  while  the  otliez-  rr  ron.'  "''"?  ."*'  ''"' 
the  barhs  on  a  larS  "  t  le  ^  of '"^'*^''^»''  "^ 
one  of  these  weanons  ; '^'.r  1?"  ''xamining 
tliatthe  nock  of  tie  a^^^-"'^'  'n  ''^  ■'^«'>» 
forced  square,  and  tho,fH  'j''''./"'''  ''''c" 
baAs  liave  been  nr  do  f,  '  'i^'  "^^-  '''^"I'le 
into  the, not.d';;ia"S.I'^""!»?:'''^?'>"?"y 


THE  BECHUANA  KNIFE, 


283 
cnmo  ITnm  „„„.«  ....nKlSb"     "  "°"l«"» 

I'ver,  the  tenijiorarv  10,^0.'  f i.       '^''  '"''^- 


lives  do  not  use  it  pvr-,.i,t  ,>..' '"•'  1'""  """ 

Ti.        .•       t'Xi-upt  on  special  occn- 
ll«e  native  name  for  it  Is  "kdveli  " 


sion.s. 


barbs  thus 


into  the  n.^Qa^dt^.l^'Sitlr 

obtained.    TJiis  is  vorvnr    ^    ■  V  '"""■^  "»"s 

Jar-ed  i.'uro  of  fl„  .        "'  *'^''''"  '»  the  en- 
oti;^risi;i:^£;5f^^;;^^Pon     13t,,, 

an  amo.nit  of  metallm-r.?o  'h,,'^"  ^  "i^'^l^'ts 
I'ai-dlv  be  cxpecto,   -^     ,?,?       "  "'''"'''  ^''X'''' 

These  nssaSt^r.f'^^^^^ 
to  some  arr,,ws  V  ie  ,  n  1    ""1  '■^'fcmblance 


;  ■  r  "^  '■■"i»u  name  lor  it  is  "  L-.lv,.!.  )> 
and  it  is  popularly  called  tli»  'L  ^"^^"'l 
torture."  It  is  .'enernllv  ,  io,i  f 'T'- "' 
tbrust  down   the °  throat ^o'T^  %i^^ 

=^  Soat,   hen  sew  up  the  skin,  so  as  to  n  ik- 
i;;;--nate,,  indating  1.i5'tiij;:,^-;/J;y 

i"|;S.l?t^';ie^;^.'^°  -»  in  tho 

"  J'a  dosed"n./"iSt '  'T'T'^  ^^^^  ""' 
"Pon  on  Zr.£";,^^''^f.  •'  <:on,plete.y 

fthotastens     'i^^t'Sk     y^*'"'^'^ 
<Ii'nt  that  l)v  sei)'ir-i    ,,/fi.  1-  .^"^   ''^  ^vi- 

admit  tlu>ai,i  '0/1   1  "'■'"•;?'''''''"  ''o  ^^a" 

tl'e   fire  in     t  lo   t    "    ^  ^'  7'   '""'  '''•^^^■'■"'J 

wants  to  e  cot  the     i  '"iw  f   "'"^  ^^'^"^'^  ''" 

the  sticks  io."t  1,  r     Tl       '  ■"  "'•''>'  *°  l»'««-^ 

'laneun.  f,  i"v   ,,;,/'  '  '"-f,"'""«  s"«;c- 

workthebelio;s'asf^'t"!;;\'««"^ 

move   them    -ux]    ;,V  '^  "■'^"''s  can 

P'oduco'a  n\uc  'V;   eerS''r'  '"  'V' 
'"stained  by  the  or.l'i^'rj^'*^!,,"'''^"  ''''  ^' 

Avhich  they  can  work  in  metals  tI  •  ' 
woman's  apron  about  n  f•^  '""^'^'s-  it  is  a 
of  a  piece  of  K-,t  e  ent  "  "'"•'•■'^^'  *""»«l 
I'cad,^  But  inst,-  1  „f .  •  '^  ''?•''*-' '"'''i  ^^''fh 
heads,  the  maE  i  xsl "r  ""  T^'^'^y  S'^^s 
ofme'tal.    lt"r  atJ™^^^^^  '"'"!« 

formed  of  iron  be-i  s  1,  ?^,       ""  '?I"'*">  '« 


284 


THE  nECIIUANAS. 


Thig  specimen  is  in  the  collection  of  Col. 
Lano  Fox. 

In  tlie  same  collection  is  nn  ornament 
Ingeniously  made  fVom  the  spoils  of  sla. 
nictnlteys.  A  part  of  tlio  upper  jaw,  con- 
taining tlie  incisive  and  canine  teeth,  lias 
been  cut  olf,  cleaned,  and  dried.  A  whole 
row  of  these  Jaws  has  then  l)een  Mewed  on 
a  strip  of  leatlier,  each  overlapping  its  pre- 
decessor, so  as  to  form  li  contniuous  Ijand 
of  glittering  white  teeth. 

As  to  dress,  the  Bechuanivs,  as  a  rule,  use 
more  covering  than  many  of  the  surround- 
ing tribes.  The  women  especially  wear 
several  aprons.  The  first  is  made  of  thon-'s, 
like  those  of  the  Kaflirs,  and  over  that^is 
generally  one  of  skin.  As  she  can  atlord  it 
slie  adds  others,  but  always  contrives  to 
have  the  outside  apron  'decorated  with 
bea*ls  or  other  adornments. 

This  series  of  aprons,  however,  is  all  tliat 
a  Hechuana  woman  considers  necessary  in 
the  w.iy  of  dress,  the  kaross  being  adoi)ted 
merely  as  a  defence  against  the  weather, 
and  not  ftom  any  idea  tli  covering  to  the 
body  is  needed  for  tlie  purpose  of  delicacy. 
In  figure  they  are  not  so  prepossessing  as 
many  of  the  surrounding  tribes,  being  usu- 
ally short,  stout,  and  clumsy,  wliich  latter 
defect  is  rendered  still  more  conspicuous  by 
the  quantities  of  beads  which  they  Ijang  in 
heavy  coils  round  their  waists  and  necks, 
and  the  multitude  of  metal  rings  with 
which  they  load  their  arms  and  "ankles. 
They  even  load  their  liair  as  much  as  possi- 
ble, drawing  it  out  into  a  series  of  little 
twists,  and  dressing  tliem  so  copiously  with 
grease  and  sibilo,  tliat  at  a  few  yard's  they 
look  as  if  their  heads  were  covered  with  a 
cap  composed  of  metallic  tags,  and  at  a 
greater  distance  as  if  they  were  wearing 
bands  of  polished  steel  on  their  heads. 

They  consider  a  jjlentiful  smearing  of 
grease  and  red  ochre  to  be  the  very  acme 
of  a  fashionable  toilet,  and  think  that  wash- 
ing the  body  is  a  disgusting  custom.  "Wo- 
men are  the  smokcrs'of  the  tribe,  the  men 
preferring  snuff,  and  rather  despising  the 
pipe  as  a  woman's  imnlcment. 

The  Beehuanas  can  hiirdly  be  selected  as 
exami;les  of  good  moral  cliaracter.  No 
one  who  knows  them  can  believe  a  word 
that  they  say,  and  they  will  steal  every- 
thing that  they  can  carry.  They  are  singu- 
larly accomplished  thieves,  and  the  habit" of 
stealing  is  so  ingrained  in  their  nature,  that 
if  a  man  is  detected  in  the  very  act  he  feels 
not  the  least  shame,  but  rather  takes  blame 
to  himself  for  being  so  inexpert  as  to  be 
found  out.  Small  articles  they  steal  in  the 
most  ingenious  manner.  Should  it  be 
hanging  up,  they  contrive  to  handle  it  care- 
lessly and  let  it  fall  on  the  ground,  and  then 
they  begin  active  operations.  Stimdin-r 
near  the  coveted  article,  and  trying  to  loolc 
as  if  they  were  not  aware  of  its  existence, 
they  quietly  scrape  a  hole  in  the  sand  with 


one  of  their  feet,  pvsh  the  object  of  their 
desire  into  the  hole,  cover  it  u'p  again  with 
sand,  and  smooth  the  surface  so  as  to  leave 
no  trace  that  the  ground  has  been  dis- 
turbed. 

They  steal  each  other's  goods,  whenever 
they  can  find  an  opportunity,  but  they  are 
only  too  glad  to  find  an  opportunity  of 
exercising  their  art  on  a  white  man,  whose 
Iiroperty  is  sure  to  be  worth  stealing.  A 
traveller  in  their  country  has  therefore  a 
hard  life,  for  he  knows  that  there  is  not  a 
single  article  in  his  possession  which  will 
not  vanish  if  he  leaves  it  unguarded  for  a 
lew  minutes.  Indeed,  as  Mr.  Haines  well 
observes,  there  is  not  an  honest  nerve  or 
fibre  in  a  Bechuana's  body;  from  the  root 
of  his  tongue  to  th .  tips  of  his  toes,  every 
nriusde  is  thoroughly  trained  in  the  art  of 
thicviii''.  If  they  merely  sit  near  an  article 
of  moderate  size,  when  they  move  oft"  it 
moves  with  them,  in  a  manner  that  no 
wearer  of  trousers  can  conceiye.  Even 
Mr.  Moilhtt,  who  had  a  singular  cajiacity  for 
discovering  good  qualities  which  liad  lain 
latent  and  unsuspected,  writes  in  very  for- 
cible terms  respecting  the  utter  dishonesty 
of  the  Beehuanas:  — 

"Some  nights,  or  rather  mornings,  we 
had  to  record  thefts  committed  in  the 
course  of  twenty-four  hoiirs,  in  our  houses, 
our  smith-shop,  our  garden,  and  among  our 
cattle  in  the  field.  These  they  have  more 
than  once  driven  into  a  hofj  or  mire,  at  a 
late  hour  informing  us  of  the  accident,  as 
they  termed  it;  and,  as  it  was  then  too  dark 
to  render  assistance,  one  or  more  would  fall 
a  prey  to  the  hyienas  or  hungry  natives. 
One  niglit  they  entered  our  cattle-fold, 
killed  one  of  our  best  draught  oxen,  and 
carried  the  whole  aw:iy,  except  one  shoul- 
der. "We  were  compelled  to  use  much 
meat,  from  the  great  scarcity  of  grain  and 
ycgetables;  our  sheep  we  had  to  iiurchase 
at  a  distance,  and  very  thankful  might  we 
be  if  out  of  twenty  we  secured  the  largest 
half  for  ourselves.  Tliey  would  break  tlieir 
legs,  cut  olf  their  tails,  and  more  frequently 
carry  off  the  whole  carcass. 

"Tools,  such  as  saw.s,  axes,  and  adzes, 
were  losses  severely  felt,  as  we  could  not  at 
that  time  replace  them,  when  there  was 
no  intercourse  whatever  with  the  colony. 
Some  of  our  tools  and  utensils  which  tliey 
stole,  on  finding  the  metal  not  what  tliey 
expected,  they  would  bring  back  beaten 
into  all  shapes,  and  ofler  them  in  exchange 
for  .some  other  article  of  value.  Knives 
were  always  eagerly  coveted;  our  metal 
spoons  they  mc-ltecl;  and  wlien  we  were 
supplied  with  plated  iron  ones,  which  they 
found  not  so  pliable,  tiiey  supposed  them 
bewitched.  "Very  often,  when  employed 
working  at  a  distance  from  the  house,  if 
there  was  no  one  in  whom  he  could  confide, 
the  missionary  would  l)e  compelled  to  carry 
them  all  to  the  place  where  he  went  to  seek 


Is,  wliencvor 
hut  Uicy  iiro 
portimity   of 

man,  wnose 
ik'aliiiK.     A 

tliLTcToro  a 
ere  JH  not  a 

I  which  will 
iiarded  lor  a 
Haines  well 
st  nerve  or 
oni  the  root 
s  toes,  every 

II  the  art  of 
ar  an  article 
move  oft"  it 
ler  that  no 
ive.  Even 
cajiacity  for 

L'h  had  lain 
in  very  i'or- 

•  dishonesty 

ornings,  avo 

ted    in    the 

our  houses, 

among  our 

•  have  more 
r  mire,  at  a 
accident,  as 
I  en  too  dark 
e  would  fall 
?ry  natives. 

cattle-fold, 
t  oxen,  aiKl 

one  shoul- 

use  much 
P  grain  and 
lo  imrchase 
\l  might  we 

the  largest 
break  llieir 
:  frequently 

and  adzes, 
•ould  not  at 

tliere  was 
Ihc  colony, 
which  they 

what  they 
ick  beaten 
I  exchange 
le.     Knives 

our  metal 
1  we  were 
which  they 
losed  them 
employed 
e  house,  if 
lid  confide, 
ed  to  carry 
ent  to  seek 


a  draught  of  water,  well  knowing  tliat  if 
they  were  left  they  would  Uike  wings  before 
he  could  nfturii. 

"The    following    hKJicrous  circumstance 
once    ha|i|)('U(.(l,   and   wiw    relatiul    to    the 
writer  by  a  native   in  graphi(;  Mtyle.     Two 
men  had  succeeded  in  .stealing  an  iron  pot. 
Hiivnig  just  taken  i:  In.ni  the  (ire,  it  was 
rather  warm  lor  hamjing  conveniently  over 
alence,  an.l  by  doing  .so  it  fell  on  a  stone, 
and  wa.s  cracked.    -It  is  iron,'  said  they 
and  oil  they  m-.nt  with  their  booty,  resolv- 1 
ing  to  make  the  best  of  it:  that  is,  if  it 
would   not  serve   for  cooking,  they  v.ould 
transform  it  into  knives  and  Himirs.     After 
uiu!,V!r'  '':"'. ''''W^'''!,  and  the  hue  and  cry 
about  the  missmg  pot  had  nearly  died  away, 
It  was  brought  forth  to  a  native  smith,  wlfo' 
hml  laid  HI  a  stork  of  charcoal  lor  the  occa- 
sion     Ibe  pot  was  further  bn,ken  to  make 
t  more  eouviiiiieiit  to  lay  hold  of  with  tiie 

te.f";''  ^'  '^'-^  «-'-^»y  '"ade'o?  !l  e 
uaik  ot  a  tree.  The  native  Vulcan  uu'ic- 
quain te,  with  cast  iron,  havii  g  "ith  his 
good  he"  "r-  "•"  '"  "■•^'^^'  •-"> 'produc-eJ  a 
IMS  utter  amiueineut,  it   (lew  into  pieces 

peep  into  the  rude  hut'ilat  w^S'^seTfi  r 
a  ehui-ch,  in  order  to  .see  who  wL  nro  J 
ng,  and  would  tiien  go  olF  to  the  nri^^.^      ' 
house,  and  n,l.  i^  ..t  ?i,..r..  .  „   """J  .'''^''lii'rs 


DISREGARD  FOR  HUMAN  LIFE. 


».  V/'    ^'i^'^'cnstcin,  who  certnlnlv  ha<l  a 
Ueseived,  was  once  cheated  by  ihem  " 


house,  and  rob  it  :it  their  ea,se.  tvhon'n.n 
missionaries,  at  tl...  expen.so  of  gri  L  . 
made  a  series  of  irri.'itin.-  r-nv.  7  <•  A  ' 
purpose  of  wateinng  tl  !'^ardc^n''t fcf  wo' 
men  would  slyly  c.u  the  baTiks  of  lli  chan-' 
neis,  and  divert  the  water  TiV/,., 
broke  don-n  the  (lam  h1  c    'led    luf  wat:er 

tioa  as  if  he  were  a  tbreUer.        compunc- 


verying^nio;.m;;;„:;:;r"']^Lh;LiS.ld 

wni.n  lie  left  the  phicc  he  bund  that  th« 
same  ring  hu.l  been  sol.l  to  him  thrc"e  sue" 
eessive  times,  the  natives  behind  him  ha v- 
•ng  picked  MS  pocket  with  the  dexteritv  of 
.t  J-ondon  thief,  and  then  passed  the  dZS 
Jale.  '"'"P''"'»»'»  to  bo  again  olfered  to? 
Altogether,  the  character  of  the  liuchu- 
and  even  the  missionaries  who  have  eono 

look'tm  't'lT'b"";'  T^'n  '"•«  i»«Hi>-l  to 
ook  on  the  best  side  of  the  r  wild  flocks 

have  very  l.ttlo  to  .ay  in  their  favor   aS 

nlenty  to  say  against  them.    They  seem  to 

.e  as  heartless  toward  the  infirm  and  ^™d  S 

le  Nama.,uas,an<lif  one  of  their  nuniler  ia 

lor  womu  ed,  so  that  he  cannot  wait  ujion 

theie  left  until  he  recovers  or  dies.  A  small 
and  frail  hut  is  built  for  him,  a  porUo,  of 
food  IS  given  to  him  daily,  and  in  the  even- 

the  son  ot  a  chief  was  wounded  by  a  buf- 

llbi',f"  '/"'i'T''""  'o  ''n«''i'»t  custom,  was 
aken  out  of  the  camp.    The  fire  happened 

tn,Pc.?ri '  i""  v"/,  '=»ns«q»^"'f«  a  lion  'came 
Z%t  T^  ""^  ""  r"n'l«''  'Man  in  the 
mght.    It  wa.s  once  thought  tnat  this  cruel 

ET  Tr  m"""  '^''  ^""^^  "«■  infection  bu 
tins  13  evidently  not  the  ease,  as  nersons 
afflicted  with  infectious  diseases  aic    oldis! 
turbed  as  long  as  they  can  help   lemselves 
superstition  may  prol^ably  be  'the  true  re^ 

They  have  but  little  regard  for  human 

fe,  especially  for  that  of  a  woman,  mul  a 

husband  may  kill  his  wife  if  he  likes  w   h" 

out  any  particular   notice    bein"  tK  of 

t.    One  traveller  mentions  that'a  lusband 

b'nnt'Je,??;"''','."''^  "'""^  about'some  tri- 

on  fhe  s  ot'    Ti"' '  "V^^^"-'"'  "»'«  killed  her 

on  tnt  spot.    Ihe  body  was  dra^^ed  out  bv 

devoured'.""' ,  "^™^^"  ^"^^  the-g:.  h    o  hi 

nar      n  occui-rence  was  a  very  good  joke 
Cboii'  r„  ''''T  ""l?  "'''  quarrelsome,  anS 

Sf^ofi^:;^r^ss^css^ 

and  industrious  in  the  arts  of  peace  ami  "f 
has  been  seen,  learn  to  work  in  iron  an  ( to 
carve  wood  with  a  skill  that  can  onlv  be 
attained  by  long  and  careful  pract"-e  l^hev 
are  more  attached  to  the  soiFthan  many  of 


280 


TIIK    HKCHUANAS. 


iii; 

•■i 


St 


i  • 


tlio  ncijjIilKtrins;  tribes,  ciilUvntlnv;  it  vixrv- 
t'liliy,  mill  ill  tills  ai'i  liir  .siii'paMMiiij^'  tln^  Kal- 
lirs.  'I'licir  iioiiscM,  loo,  ai'i)  ot'cialjonitu  I'oii- 
slruclioii,  ami  liiiiit  witli  ii  carr  and  .soiiility 
wiiii'ii  sliow  lliat  till!  iiilialiilaiilM  arc  not 
noinaiis,  litit  rcsidt'iits  on  oiir  Hpot. 

Till'  ;,'ov('iiiiiii'ii'  ol'  lilt'  lli'i'iiiiaiiaH  is  pri- 
niai'iiv  iiionai'ciiii'ui,  liiit  not  entirely  (irspotic. 
Tile  kiiii,'  iian  IiIm  own  way  in  nioiit  niaMciH, 
itiil  iiis  ilii.  Is  can  alwayH  oxcrcisc  u  dn'ck 
n|)on  iiiiii  liy  Ntininionini;  a  pariiaini'iil,  or 
*•  I'iciio,"  as  il  is  ralii'd.  Tiic  I'iclin  allord.s 
n  triiiy  wild  and  pi(lurtn(iue  .siici'tacli'.  'I'lic 
artisl'lias  illiistrali'd  tliis  on  iiai,'t' 'JH7.  Tlio 
warriors,  in  llicir  I'liil  jiaiioiily  of  war,  .seal 
tliciiisclvfs  ill  a  liicliMii  lln^  Inidst  of  wliicli 
is  till'  cliair  ol'  llio  tiiu,!,'.  Tlic  various  speak- 
ers lake  llicir  turns  at  addressiiiL;  llic  as- 
pcnilily.  and  speak  witli  llie  i,'rcalcst  I'rce- 
doni,  not  even  spariiii,'  llic  kin;;  liiinself,  Imt 
i)iil)iicly  arraiu'iiiii;,'  iiiin  tor  any  sliorlconi- 
iny-s,  real  or  lancied,  and  soinelinics  i;ainin^' 
their  point.  As  to  the  kini,'  liiinseH'.  lie  ^'cn- 
orally  opriis  llic  ]iarliaiiient  with  a  few  scn- 
tenecs,  and  llieii  rciuaiiis  silent  unlil  all  llie 
speeches  have  liccii  delivered.  lie  then 
nn.swcrs  those  that  have  liccn  made  a,i;aiiist 
liiniscll,  and  lu'cuiiics  L,'rcally  excited,  Icaii- 
ini;  aliouL  liic  rinu'.  hrandislijn;;  his  .spear 
and  sliield,  and  lasliiii;;  himself  into  an 
almost  fraiili.'  state.  This  is  the  Usual 
liroccdui'c  anioiiLj  savaifcs,  and  the  more 
excilcd  that  a  man  Iiccdiiics,  llie  liuttcr  lie 
is  sup|)oscd  to  speak  al'lerward. 

An  extract  from  Mr.  MolValTs  account  of 
a  Picho  will  ".'ive  a  nood  idea  of  the  in'o- 
ccedings:  —  '-Althouvli  the  wiiole  exliibils 
n  very  grolesfiuc  .scene,  hiisiiuss  is  carried 
on  with  tlu!  most  perfect  order.  There  is 
liiit  littio  cliecriiiE;,  ;iiid  still  less  hissiiiL;, 
while  every  speaker  fearlessly  stjitcs  his 
own  seiiiiments.  The  andience  is  scaled 
on  the  {ground  (as  rc|)rcseiited  in  the  en- 
graving), each  man  lia\  iiig  Ijefore  him  his 
shield,  to  which  is  allachcd  a  niimhcr  of 
sjiears.  A  ((uiver  cinilaiiiing  poisoiud  ar- 
rows is  hung  from  the  .slioiiider.  and  a  hal- 
tle-a.xc  is  Inld  in  the  right  hand.  Many 
wore  adorned  wiili  ligcr-skins  and  tails,  and 
had  pluiiics  of  feathers  waving  on  their 
heads.  In  the  ccnti'c  a  sutlicient  space  was 
left  for  tlic  jirlviiegcd  —  those  who  had 
kdled  an  cneniv  in  hattle  —  to  dance  and 
siag,  in  whicli  tiiey  exhihited  the  most  vio- 
lent and  fanlastlc  gestures  conccivahlc, 
wliicli  drew  .forth  from  the  spectators  the 
most  clamorous  applause. 

'•When  they  retire  to  their  seats,  the 
speaker  commences  hy  conimanding  silence. 
'IJe  silent,  ye  Hatlapis,  he  silent,  ye  Haro- 
longs,'  addressing  eacli  trihe  distiiicllv,  not 
excepting  the  white  people,  if  any  hajipento 
be  present, and  to  which  each  responds  with 
a  groan,     lie  then  takes  from  his  shield  a 


peat(Mlly  tlininting  Ills  ^prnr  In  that  dlroc- 
lion,  as  if  iilungiiig  it  into  an  enemy.  TIiIh 
receives  a  loud  whistling  sound  of  applause. 
He  next  directs  his  spear  toward  tlu!  |{usli- 
man  country,  soulli  and  southwest,  impre- 
cating also  a  curse  on  thos(!  'ox-eiiterH,' uh 
they  ai't^  called. 

"The  king,  on  Ibis,  as  on  all  similar  occa- 
sions, introduced  l!ie  luisiucss  of  iIk'  day  by 
'  Ve  sons  of  AlolchabaiKpie  ' — viewing  all 
the  inlluential  men  present  as  Ihc  friends  or 
allies  of  his  kingdom,  which  rose  to  more 
than  its  former  ciiiiiicnce  under  the  reign  of 
that  monarch,  his  father  —  •liu'  Maiitatee.s 
are  a  strong  and  viclorioiis  people;  they 
have  overwhelmed  many  nalions,  anil  they 
are  aiiproai'liiug  to  destroy  us.  We  have 
been  apprisi'd  of  their  maiiiieis,  their  deeds, 
their  weajions,  and  llicir  inleiiti<ins.  Wo 
cannotsland  against  the  Maiilali  es;  we  must 
now  <'oiicerl.  conclude,  and  lie  delerniined  to 
stand.  The  case  is  a  gri  at  one.  .  ,  ,  J  now 
wait  to  hear  what  the  general  opinion  is. 
Let  every  one  sjieak  his  mind,  and  then  I 
shall  speak  again.'  Mothilii  niaiKcuvred  his 
sjn'ar  as  at  the  coiiiii'  ui'enicnt,  and  then 
pointing  it  toward  heaven,  the  audience 
shoided,  'I'ula'  (rain).  <'ii  which  be  sat 
down  amidst  a  din  of  aiiplausc.  lietwcen 
each  speaker  a  ,iarl  or  vei>e  of  a  war-song 
is  sung,  the  same  amies  are  Ibeii  pertornied, 
and  again  universal  silence  is  commanded. . . . 

'•  When  several  speakers  had  delivered 
their  seiitimeuls,  chiellv  exhorting  to  una- 
nimity and  c<iurage,  Aiolhibi  resumeil  his 
central  posilion,aiid,  iflter  llie  usual  gesticu- 
lations, conimanded  silence.  Having  no- 
ticed some  remarks  of  the  ]irece(liiig  sjicak- 
ers,  he  adiled'  "It  is  cvideiil  that  the  best 
jilaii  is  to  pidci  I'd  against  the  em  my,  that 
they  come  no  nearer.  J,et  not  our  towns 
be  the  scat  of  war;  let  not  our  bouses  be 
the   scenes   of   lilood.^bed   and   (lest''uetion. 


Xol    let  the    blood    of   the    i  lieiiiv 


no 


spilt 


spear, anil  points 
the  eiieiiiv  is  adv: 


the  enemy  is  advancing,  iiniirecatingacurse 
Upon  theiii,  and  thus  declaring  war  by  re- 


al a  distance  from  our  wives  ami  children.' 
Turning  to  llu^  agi  il  chief,  he  said:  '1  luar 
yon,  my  fallu'r;  1  iindcrstiind  you.  niv  fiither; 
your  words  are  true,  they  arc  good  for  the 
ear;  it  is  good  that  we  be  instrucled  by  the 
.Makotiiw;  I  wish  those  evil  who  will  not 
obey;  I  wish  that  they  may  be  l,>rokeu  in 
|)ieccs.' 

"Then  aildressing  the  warriors,  'There 
are  many  of  you  who  do  not  deserve  to  cat 
out  of  a  bowl,  but  only  oul  of  a  broken  jiot; 
think  on  what  has  been  said,  and  obey  with- 
out murmuring.  1  cominand  you,  ye  chiefs 
of  the  IJallajiis,  Hatlarcs,  Ikimairis,  JJaro- 
longs,  and  Hakotus,  that  you  aciiuaint  all 
your  tribiis  of  the  pi'occcdings  of  Ibis  day; 
let  none  be  ignorant;  1  say  again,  y(t  war- 
riors, prepare  foi'  the  battle:  let  your  shields 
be  strong,  your  (luivi'is  full  of  arrows,  and 
your  batlle-ax(!S  as  sharp  as  hunger.  .  .  .  J{e 
sili'nt,  ye  kiiliiey-eaters  "  (addnssing  the  old 
men),  ye  are  of  no  l'artli(u-  use  but  lo  hang 
about  for  kidneys  when  an  ox  i.s  slaughtered. 


(1.)   lli:(Itr.\.\A    I'Altl.IAMKM. 
'"*!'{'  pn^c  'jMi.) 


ii'iiirs,  'Tliero 
(It'M'rvt!  to  t'.it 
:'  a  iMokcn  jiot; 
and  (il)iy«ith- 
I  yon,  ye  chiefs 
iauiairis,  JJaro- 
(I  a('(|uaiiil  all 
i;s  <il  tills  (lay; 
a^'aiii,  yc  war- 
let  your  shields 
of  andWH,  and 
IllDimT.  .  .  .  J{o 
ressliit;  the  old 
SI!  hilt  lo  hail); 
ia  sluiijihterud. 


iKM  M.I.  Ai:(imi;<  ;s. 


(287^ 


THE  ORDER  OF  THE  SCAR. 


If  your  oxen  arc  taken,  where  will  yon  i 
get  any  more?'  Turning  to  the  women, 
he  said,  '  Prevent  not  the  warrior  fron) 
going  out  to  battle  by  your  cunning  insin- 
uations. No,  rouse  the  ^va^ri  ,)r  to  glory,  and 
he  will  return  with  honorable  sears,  fresh 
marks  of  valor  will  cover  his  thighs,  and 
we  shall  then  renew  the  war  song  and  dance. 


fire.  Each  man  then  lays  the  trophv  on 
the  glowing  coal^  and,  when  it  is  thoroughly 
roasted  eats  It.  ^his  custom  arises  from  a 
notion  that  tlie  courage  of  th-.  slain  warrior 
then  passes  m to  the  body  of  the  man  whe 
killed  him,  and  aids  also  in  making  him  in- 
vulneraolo.  The  Bechuanas  do  not  like  this 
custom,  but,  on  the  contrary,  view  it  with 
nearly  as  much  abhorrence  as  Europeans 


11  equently  taking  the  weapons  from  the  hands 
ot  the  men  and  brandishing  them  in  thp 
most  violent  manner,  people  of  all  ages 
using  the  most  extravagant  and  frantic  ges- 
tures for  nearly  two  1-   urs." 

In  explanation  of  the  strange  word  "  kid- 
ney-eaters," the  reader  must  be  made  aware 
that  kidneys  are  oaton  only  by  the  old  of 
both  sexes,  loung  peopl«  will  not  taste 
iln  fh'ViV^  account,  from  the  superstitious 
lo  «n  'n  ^^  '-'''"',  ^'-V  ""  <^^^'Mren  if  they 
JO  so.  The  word  of  applause,  "  pula,"  or 
lain,  is  used  metaphorically  to  sio-nifv  that 
t;Iie  words  of  the  speaker  are  to  tUe  hearSs 
like  ram  on  a  tliirstv  soil.  neaicrs 

In  the  last  few  liries  of  the  king's  speech 

m,o"n  tb.'H  ^f%  V'''  "h'>norable'^.sca;' 
upon  the  thighs."    He  is  here  alludin<r  to 

Aftor'a'h  In''".?  '■''"""-   "'«  Ki^eluialias. 
After  a  battle,  those   who  have   killed  an 


It  may  well  be  imagined  that  this  cere- 
mony incites    the  v.'arriors,  both  old  and 
young,  to  distinguish  themselves  in  battle 
in  oraer  that  they  may  have  the  right  of 
enteriim  the  sacred  fence,  and  be  publiclv 
invested  with  the  honorable  scar  of  valor. 
On  one  such  occasion,  a  nnn  who  was  well 
known  for  his  courage  couhl  not  succeed  in 
killing  any  of  the  enemy,  because  their  num- 
bers were  so  comparatively  small  that  all 
had  been  killed  before  he  could  reach  them. 
At  night  he  was  almost  beside  himself  with 
anger  and  mortification,  and  positively  went 
with  rage  at  being  excluded  from  the  sacred 
enclosure.    At  last  he  sprang  away  from  the 
place,  ran  at  full  speed  to  his  house,  killed 
one  of  his  own  servants,  and  returned  to 
the  spot,  bringing  with  him   the   requisite 
passport  of  admittance.    In  this  act  he  was 
held  to  be  perfectly  justified,   because  the 


enemy  asaembi    bv  ni-ht  ai      after  nvhi'        i  ■  ^^  Pcrfoetly  justii  

itiug   the  trophic/ of  their     CLseac^^^  Y""^'"''?  ^--^I^''"  *»  ^'•»'-' «"'! 

goes  to  the  pophet  or  priesrwho  takTs  a      fi?  ?  i '^^ 

sharp  assagai'and  niukos  a  Ion'' cu   from  the  ^  to  his   master,  and  could  be 

hip  to  the  knee.  One  of  these  ciusi^  made  1W^,  ?.  *ir^^'.'*  ""«'>'  ^"^  '"«'•«  "s^ful  to 
for  each  enemy  that  has  been  shin  and  «m?.       t"  "'""  V,'°  '^'''""  «''"'''• 

distinguishedVarriorrStlie ir Vr^s  Zo!   mi!^'^^^^^ 

lutcly  striped  with  scars.  As  he  woundTs  ami  nv^n  "  ">e.  "'oiVhI'"'!  without  mercy, 
a  tolerably  deep  one,  and  as  L  es  are  in  .  ever,  butehering  the  Inoffensive  women 
tifullyruf,bed\-ntoit,the    ca    reS  ^'«   '^'^^'^^^^  P0«ses8  the 

life,  and  ,s  more  cons  .icuous  thaH  woul  1   cau  ?  of  it  ,sT  of  success  is  probably  the 
f,''\f»  European,  leaving  a  white  talck  I  ^1"  .?..°/.  i^"..'^".^''''^«^n*'««-    I"  «ome  di- 
upon  the  dark  skin.    In  spite  of  the  severity 

of  the  wouiKl,  all   the   successful  warriors 

join  1.1  adnnce,  which  is  kept  u    a     .  [.^ht 

ajid  o..y  terminates  at  s„..r  se.^No  one  i« 

allowed  to  make  the   cut  for  hi.nself  and 

f.:i:?."?J^l°  'l'<l.««  would  at  once  be  de 


tected  hy  the  jeal.;us  '^s  o    ^  comnan 

ducJ'&S?j^":r;.^,^'''^^tpp- 


ate 

ducei.is-tn;^v_:;;';-;^,-j-^;S^^p-; 

JJ^e  sk,n  attached,  cut  froiL  the  body  of  ,\is 

ith 
low 


bp  in  ..„!?,      "^  ^""-""-""iis  man  it  would 

liver  of  the  sla.n  man.    In  all  cases,  how- 

har'to^'e^'^^llten"*  '"""  '''''  °'  ''''  "^""^ 
The  weapons  used  in  war  are  not  at  all 

fi.^    ten '",'''  '''■''  employed  by  the  Kaf- 

M       J.  Bechuanan  shield  is  much  smaller 

than  that  of  the  Kaffirs,  and  on  eachrie  a 

sem.-c.rcular  piece   of  'leather  is  cut  out 

lie  reader  may  remember  that  in  the  Kaflir 

ntoo'i'^n"^"'^^'  '•«  V?  '7  *'"«  i'>"«tration' 

^do     k  «'■"  n**  .'"«'''  'leprt'ssion  on  each' 

8  de.     In  the   Bechuana.;   shield,  however, 

t  18  depressmn   is    scooped  out  so  dcepW 

that  the  shield  is  almost  like  an  hour-Xs 

in  Shane.    The  assagai,  whiil,   h.,«  already 

been  (fescr.bed,  is  „ot  intended  to  be  usej 

tothcpri;;t,;Lwthe''tr::?^;T;^'rrl!''^^^ 

I-rovcd,  ana  then  take  their  fee  roun<S  !L  |  ^^X^^^t^^  ^2  L^^^^Z^ 


.IK.  IS  in.uic,  and  a.ound    t  is  built  n  ]mx„ 
fi-'iice   iii<4  (In  ii'..i  .1,  I'uiii  a  low 

On  Ih,.  „„l,i,|„  „f  i|,c  |i,„^„  „r""  mils  Ji 

iphv 
plii 


800 


THE  BECIIUANAS. 


r 


avoid  the  blow,  and  then  seize  the  spear  and 
keep  it 

The  Bechuanas  have  one  weapon  which 
is  very  effective  at  close  quarters.  Tliis  is 
the  battle-axe.  Various  as  are  the  shapes  of 
the  lieacis,  tlii^  are  all  m.ide  on  one  principle, 
and,  in  fm^t,  an  a\o  is  nothing  nioie  than  an 
enlarged  spear-head  fixed  transversely  on 
the  handle.  The  ordinary  battle-axes  have 
their  heads  faatenej^  to  wooden  handles,  but 
the  best  examples  have  the  handles  made  of 
rhinoceros  horn. 

A  remarkably  fine  specimen  of  thisse  bat- 
tle-axes is  now  before  me.  It  is  simply 
a   knob-kerrie  made  of  rh'ioceros   horn, 


through  the  knob  of  whit^h  the  shank  of  the 
head  has  been  passed.  The  object  of  this  con- 
struction is  twofold.  In  the  lirst  place,  the 
increased  thickness  of  the  handle  prevents, 
in  a  great  measure,  the  liability  to  split  when 
a  severe  blow  is  struck;  iuki,  secondly,  the 
increased  weight  adds  Ibrce  to  the  stroke. 
In  some  of  these  axes  the  knob  at  the  end  of 
the  handle  seems  disproportionately  large. 
The  axe  is  carried,  together  with  the  shield, 
in  the  left  hand,  while  the  right  is  at  liberty 
♦o  hold  the  assagai.  IJut,  if  the  warrior  is 
driven  to  close  cpiarters,  or  if  his  spear 
should  bo  broken,  he  snatches  the  axe  from 
the  shield,  and  is  tl\cu  armed  anew. 


1  shank  of  tlie 
tictofthiscon- 
irst  place,  the 
lullc  prevents, 
to  split  when 
secondly,  the 
to  the  stroke. 
I)  at  the  end  of 
Dnately  larfro. 
ith  the  shield, 
it  is  at  liberty 
the  warrior  is 
if  his  spenr 
the  axe  from 
luew. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

BECIIUANAS  -  Concluded. 

X,EGE-FOOD  OK  THB  UKcrvJL-Z     mK^     f""'"    "'"'  '  ORDKAL-A  S.NOULAB  PK.VI- 

"uuiAl,  ur  THK  DKAD,  AND  ATTENDANT  CKHEMONIKS. 


Of  religion  the  I3echnana.s  know  nothin", 
though  they  have  plenty  of  superstition,  and 
are  as  utter  slaves  to  their  witch  doctors  as 
can  well  be  conceived.  The  life  of  one  of 
these  personages  is  full  of  danger.  He 
practises  his  arts  with  the  full  knowled-e 
hat  If  he  should  fail,  death  is  nearly  certjiTn 

h.fV°v''f "  *•  .^"'''''''''  '^  '«  ^^'•y  seldom 
1  mn.?,,  "''''',  *'""'"■'  <=«P«'=i--»"y  if  I'e  should 
Happen  m  be  also  a  rain-maker,  dies  a 
natural  death,  he  generally  fallin-r  a  v  ctim 
to  the  clubs  of  his^quondaiu  followers 


can  see  how  it  was  done,  it  is  not  a  little 
surprising  to  see  such  dexterity  pos8es«ed 
by  a  savage.    The  success  of  this  trick  was 
the  more  remarkable  because  the  holder  of 
the  bag  had  ratlier  unfairly  tried  to  balk  the 
perfoi-nier.    On  a  subsequent  occasion,  how- 
ever, the  conjurer  attempted  the  same  trick 
varying  it  by  requesting  that  the    beads' 
should  be  broken  instead  of  burned.    The 
holder  of  the  beads  took  the  precaution  of 
marking  them  with   ink   before    breakin'r 
them,  and  in  consequence  all  the  drumming 
01   the  coniiirop  r.niii,i  ..r.f  - i ,.     " 


These  men  evidently  practise  the  art  of  of  H '„""  '•"  ^«n««1VV"'''«  •"*"  ^he  drumming 
conjuring,  as  we  under^stLd  the  mml  .and  u  U  atW''d::;.'L'°^'^  ""^  'T'''^^'''  "^^'"^ 
they  can  perform  their  tricks  with  S   betk   n^^^^  «*"»§  of 

dexteritv.    f)no  ,.f'fiw>„ ..„..,.!.,"  F^^^  I  f;'^'^"^)  precisely  similar  in  appearance   waji 

found  under  the  wagon.  Being  iiresse'd  on 
the  subject,  the  confurer  admitte.i  that  the? 
were  not  the  same  l.eads,  but  said  that  thov 
had  been  sent  sujicrnaturally  to  replace 
those  which  had  been  broken.  ^ 

Ihe  same  ojierator  was  toleral)ly  clever 
at  tricks  with  cord,  but  had  to  cori'ss  that 
a  nautical  education  conferred  advantages 
in  that  respect  to  which  his  supernatuml 

FnvUed  Mr 'n  -^"n^'  *°  y^"'-  He  oS 
skill  in  the  evening.  "  A  circle  oLgirls  and 
women  now  surrounded  the  wCrd,  and 
char'ni'*''^-  ^  .l^'-'^T^   '"'*    monot,;noi,s 

--thii.  througi;^;-^--::rxnh^i;: '"?F^ 

;i^-.ulyshaken,out.^UhijSiSoZ^ 

any  "S  ^rS^'^Jiir^^^-'-  «-»«•.  I  -i^lS^lf '^ 'Kll'^^^ld  '&  <^ 
acquaintance  with  the  '^t^^S^l^^^^^^^^^^^^ 


oral  of  ^-    ^^"r  "^  "'"^'' '"«»  exhibited^ev- 
e  al  of  his  performances  to  Mr.  liaines,  and 

a  '  'in:.  T  rV'\"  "'««n"ity  in  (he  m.ag  e 
ait.  Ills  first  trick  was  to  empty,  or  to 
.il)pcar  to  empty,  a  skiu  bag  and  an  old  hat 
and  then  to  shake  the  bag  over  tl  c  nt 
when  apiece  of  meat  or  hirie  fel  from  he 
former  into  the  latter.  Another  peHbrm 
ance  was  to  tie  up  a  bea.1  necklace  i n  a  wim 
of  grass,  aiKl  hand  it  to  one  of  tl  cUit 

oThe  r.,'r  '"'■^\  ,"«  "»'»  P-^«"i  the  bag 
to  (he  most  incredulous  of  the  snectators 

h\ri7j  ^  ■      *"''  ^^^  ^vas  be  n<?  examined 
7  k;  ,""""?'  '"*"•• ''  '"«»'••    Cailinn;  01 1 1 

t^;;^i^';i'!::';'^«N'-iv-tendedfeK;.^ 


292 


THE  BECIIUANAS. 


it 


"A  few  preparatorj'  anointings  of  the 
joints  of  all  his  limbs,  his  breast  and  fore- 
nead,  as  well  as  those  of  his  choristers,  fol- 
lowed ;  shrill  whistlings  were  interchanged 
with  spasmodic  gestures,  and  now  I  found 
that  the  exhibition  of  the  evening  was  a 
bom  fide  medical  operation  on  the  person  of 
a  man  who  lay  covered  with  skins  outside 
of  the  circle.  The  posterior  portion  of  the 
thigh  was  chosen  for  scarification,  but,  as 
the  fire  gave  no  light  in  that  direction,  and 
the  doctor  and  the  relatives  seemed  not  to 
like  ny  touching  the  patient,  I  did  not 
ascertain  how  deep  the  incisions  were  made. 
Mas';  probably,  from  the  scars  I  h^ve  seen 
of  former  operations  of  the  kind,  they  were 
merely  deep  enough  to  draw  blood. 

••  The  singiu"  and  hand  -  clapping  now 
grew  more  veliemcnt,  the  doctor  threw 
himself  upon  the  patient,  perhaps  sucked 
the  wound,  at  all  events  pretended  to  inhale 
the  disease.  Strong  convulsions  seized  him, 
and,  as  he  was  a  man  of  powerful  frame,  it 
required  no  little  strength  to  liold  him. 
At  length,  with  upturned  eyes  and  face  ex- 
pressive of  suflbcation,  he  seized  his  knife, 
and,  thrusting  it  into  his  mouth,  took  out 
a  large  piece  aiijiarently  of  hide  or  flesli, 
which  his  admiring  audience  f;u])posed  him 
to  have  previously  drawn  from  the  body  of 
the  patient,  thus  removing  the  cause  of  the 
disease." 

Sometimes  the  Bechuana  doctor  uses  a 
sort  of  dii  e,  if  such  a  term  may  be  used 
when  speaking  of  objects  totally  unlike  the 
dice  which  are  used  in  this  country.  In 
form  they  are  pyramidal,  and  are  cut  from 
the  cloven  hoof  of  a  small  antelope.  These 
articles  do  not  look  very  valuable,  but  they 
are  held  in  the  highest  estimation,  inas- 
much as  very  few  know  how  to  prepare 
them,  and  they  are  handed  down  from 
father  to  son  "through  successive  genera- 
tions. The  older  they  are,  the  more  pow- 
erful are  they  supposed  to  be,  and  a  man 
who  is  fortunate  enough  to  possess  them 
can  scarcely  be  induced  to  part  with  them. 


MAOIC  DICE. 


Those  which  are  depicted  in  the  illustration 
are  taken  from  specimens  that  were,  after  a 
a  vast  amount  of  bargaining,  purchased  by 
Dr.  Lichtenstein,  at  the  price  of  an  ox  for 
each  die. 


These  magic  dice  are  used  when  the  pro- 
prietor wishes  to  know  the  result  of  some 
undertaking.  He  smooths  a  piece  of  ground 
with  his  hand,  holds  the  die  between  his 
fingers,  moves  his  hands  up  and  down  sev- 
eral times,  and  then  allows  them  to  fall.  lie 
then  scans  them  c.irefully,  and  judges  from 
their  position  what  they  foretell.  The 
reader  m.ay  remember  the  instance  where  a 
Kattir  prophet  used  the  magic  necklace  for 
the  same  purpose,  and  in  a  similar  manner. 
The  chaiacters  or  figures  described  on  the 
surface  have  evidently  some  meaning,  but 
what  their  signification  was  the  former  pos- 
sessor either  did  not  know,  or  did  not 
choose  to  communicate. 

The  children,  when  the^  first  begin  to 
troubltt  themselves  and  their  parents  by  the 
proeess  of  teething,  are  often  furnished 
with  a  kind  of  amulet.  It  is  made  of  a 
large  Af'ric.nn  beetle,  called  scientifically 
Bruchj/ccrus  apterus.  A  number  of  them 
are  killed,  dried,  and  then  strung  on  leath- 
ern thongs,  so  as  to  be  worn  round  the 
neck.  These  objects  have  been  mistaken 
for  whistles.  The  Bcchuanas  have  great 
faith  in  their  powers  when  used  for  teeth- 
ing, and  think  that  they  are  efficacious  in 
preventing  various  infantine  disorders. 

Like  the  Kaffirs,  the  Bechuanas  make 
use  of  certain  religious  ceremonies  before 
they  go  to  war.  One  of  these  rites  consists 
in  laying  a  charm  on  the  cattle,  so  that  they 
shall  not  be  seized  by  the  enemy.  The  oxen 
are  brought  singly  to  the  j)rie8t,  if  we  may 
so  call  him,  who  is  furnished  with  a  pot  of 
black  paint,  and  a  jackal's  tail  by  way  of  a 
brush.  With  this  primitive  brush  he  makes  ' 
a  certain  mark  upon  the  hind  leg  of  the  ani- 
mal, while  at  the  same  time  an  assistant, 
who  kneels  behind  him,  repeats  the  mark 
in  miniature  upon  his  back  or  arms.  To 
this  ceremony  they  attribute  great  value; 
and,  as  war  is  almost  invariably  made  for 
tlie  sake  of  cattle,  the  Bechuanas  may  well 
be  excused  for  employing  any  rite  wliich 
they  fancy  will  protect  such  valued  posses- 
sions. 

Among  one  branch  of  the  Bechuana 
tribe,  a  very  remarkable  ceremony  is  ob- 
served when  the  boys  seek  to  be  admitted 
into  the  rank  of  men.  The  details  are  kept 
very  secret,  but  a  few  of  the  particulars 
have  been  discovered.  Dr.  Livingstone, 
for  example,  happened  once  to  witness  the 
second  stage  of  the  ceremonies,  which  last 
for  a  considerable  time. 

A  number  of  boys,  about  fourteen  years 
of  age,  without  a  vestige  of  clothing,  stood 
in  a  row,  and  opposite  those  was  an  equal 
number  of  men,  each  having  in  his  hand  a 
long  switch  cut  from  a  bush  belonging  to 
the  genus  Grewia,  and  called  in  the  native 
language  moretloa.  The  twigs  of  this  bush 
are  very  strong^  tough,  and  supnle.  Both 
the  men  and  boys  were  engaged  in  an  od<l 


'M, 


len  tho  pro- 
ult  of  some 
!e  of  ground 
letween  his 
I  down  sev- 
to  fall.  lie 
udges  frona 
i3tell.  Tho 
ICO  •"vhere  a 
necklace  for 
lar  manner, 
bed  on  the 
eaning,  but 
former  pos- 
)r    did    not 

it  bo^in  to 
•ents  by  the 
1  furnished 

made  of  a 
ciontifically 
cr  of  them 
g  on  leath- 

round  the 
n  mistaken 
have  great 
1  for  teeth- 
licacious  in 
orders, 
lanas  make 
inies  before 
tes  consists 
so  that  they 
.  The  oxen 
,  if  we  may 
ith  a  pot  of 
jy  way  of  a 
h  he  makes ' 
T  of  the  ani- 
rt  assistant, 
s  the  mark 

arms.  To 
reat  value; 
y  made  for 
IS  may  well 

rite  which 
ued  posses- 

Bechuana 
lony  is  ob- 
•e  admitted 
lis  are  kept 
particulars- 
livingstone, 
witness  the 
,  which  last 


pteen  years 
hing,  "stood 
bs  an  equal 
his  hand  a 
^longing  to 

the  native 
>f  this  bush 
)ple.  Both 
d  in  an  odd 

Whicii    tile 


l7 


V    1  % 


SPARTAN  PRACTICES. 


men  evidently  enjovcd,  and  the  boys  had  to 
look  as  If  they  enjoyed  it  too.  Each  boy 
wn^  furnished  with  a  pair  of  the  ordinary 
hide  sandals,  which  lie  wore  on  his  hands 
instead  of  his  feet  At  stated  intervals,  the 
men  put  certain  questions  to  the  boys 
respecting  their  future  life  when  admitted 
into  the  society  of  men.    For  example* 

"  Will  you  herd  the  cattle  welll" "  'asks 
the  man. 

"I  will,"  answers  the  boy,  at  the  same 
time  lifting  his  sandalled  hands  over  his 

•!^u, .  ..^,  ^"■^  t'>"^"  l«aps  forward,  and 
with  his  full  force  strikes  at  the  boy's  head. 
I  fie  blow  is  received  on  the  uplifted  san- 
dals, but  the  elasticity  of  the  long  switch 
causes  it  to  curl  over  the  boy's  head  with 
such  force  that  a  deep  gash  is  made  in  his 

Si,^"*-'""  ^^^.^^^  ?""  eighteen  inches  in 
length,  from  which  the  blood  spirts  as  if  it 
were  made  with  a  knife.  Ever  aflerward, 
the  lesson  that  he  is  to  guard  the  cattle  is 
supposed  to  be  indelibly  Impressed  on  the 


2if5 


that  the  ceremony  h  rather  of  a  civil  than 
a  religious  character.  It  is  illustrater  o," 
the  previous  pa,ge.  The  other  stage  of  the 
rite,  which  18  called  by  the  generaf  nmne  of 
Boguera,  is  also  of  a  secular  character. 
It  takes  place  every  six  or  seven  years,  so 

T.f„<.«  n"'^^^-  '^T}'.^'  °^  '^oy*  «••«  collected. 
These  are  divided  into  bands,  each  of  which 
IS  under  the  command  of  one  of  the  sons  of 
the  chief,  and  each  member  is  supposed  to 
be  a  companion  of  lils  leader  for  life.  Thev 
are  taken  into  the  woods  by  the  old  men. 
where  they  reside  for  some  time,  and  where 
to  ludge  from  their  siSrred  and  seamed 
backs,  their  residence  does  not  appear  to  be 
of  the  most  agreeable  description.  When 
they  have  passed  through  the  different  siaces 
of  the  boguera,  each  band  becomes  a  reci- 
meut  or  "mopato,"  and  goes  by  iia  own 
name.  '' 

According  to  Dr.  Livingstone,  "  thev  rec- 
ognize a  sort  of  equality  and  partialcom- 
muiiion  afterward,  and  address  each  other 


bov'smind.  "       -  "  k"Ti'""  '"'^'=' ";","'  """  ^f'l'ess  each  other 

then  comes  another  question  "  Will  vn,,  oL  a    f'T*'  ""^  Molekane,  or  comrade.    In 

lard  the  chief  well? ''  *1"''^"*'°'     ^^'"  ^o"  ''f^es  of  ofTonce  against  their  rules,  as  eating 

II  T    ....11  .,  ,.        '  .  alone  whon  nnunf  flioiV  .i«™ 1 I ...  .*• 


guard  the  chief  well? 

fifrlL'"^'"'"  '■''P"^?  ">°  ^^y-  '^n'J  another 
stroke  impresses  that  lesson  on  the  bov's 

whole  series  of  questions  has  been  asked 
and  properly  answered.  The  worst  part  of 
the  proceeding  is,  that  the  boys  are  obliged 
under  penalty  of  rejection,  to  continue  theii' 
dance,  to  look  pleased  and  happy,  and  pot 
to  wince  at  the  terrible  strokes  which  co'-er 


v,„oc^  wi  uuuuui!  iigainsi;  ineir  rules,  as  eating 
alone  when  any  of  their  comrades  are  within 
call,  or  in  cases  of  dereliction  of  duty  thev 
may  strike  one  another,  or  any  member  of 
a  younger  mopato,  but  never  one  of  an  older 
band;  and,  when  three  or  four  companies 

IhTfl  m"  '"'?•'•''  ^^^  ""^^^^^  »o  longer  takes 
the  field  in  time  of  war,  but  remains  as  a 
guard  over  the  women  and  children.  When 
a  lugitive  comes  to  a  tribe,  he  is  directed  to 
their  bodies"  wUh'bloodra^d  seam  Their  ^Tt^^:!!' i^TlT'"'  '"^  "^'^^  *«  whicfiih  his 
hSr''V'-%%*'**  '•'^'  throuSa  their  member ''   ""'  ^^^°«S^' '^"^^  'l«es  duty  as  a 

the'r'ader'^^'us'tUT  tffi'„\  thS  h  nlX'  wlS^sf "'f  ""if  *"  ^^'  '^  -''-l  "^ «  -™- 
so  formidable  to  the  Beclu.aSs  .^  it  wm  id    Sd^^^^^^^^^^  before  they  are  a..l- 

be  to  Euronoans.    Tn  H,„  fi,.cf  „ii„„    !1."^   'n«e(l  among  the  women,  and  can  honfi  tn 


be  to  Europeans  In  the  first  place,  the 
nervous  system  of  an  European  is  far  more 
sensitive  than  that  of  Scith  African  na- 
tives and  injuries  which  would  lay  him 
prostrate  have  but  little  effect  upon  them[ 

suroTJ'f.i'"/'"  '^'?'  fpm  constant  expo- 
sure to  the  elements,  is  singularlv  insen- 
sible so  that  the  stripes  do  not  U  eta 
tenth  part  of  the  pain  that  they  would  i^ 
suffered  by  an  European.  ^ 

«„^."'^i'i''  °''l°^  ""'"  •"^'■e  allowed  to  take 
part  m  this  mode  of  instruction  of  the  bovs 
and  If  any  nian  should  attempt  it  who^<J 
not  qualified,  he  is  unpleasantly Vemindcd  of 
his  presumption  by  receiviiig^on  iL  olv  ' 
back  the  .tripes  which  he  intended  o  inflTc 
on  the  boys,  the  old  men  being  in  such  a 

No  e  evation  of  rank  will  allow  a  man  to 
thus  transgress  with  impunity:  and  on  one 
occasion,  Sekomi  himself,  the  chef  of  to 
onn  yf  ■ '"'•'^'  '^  ''''''"'  ^^'"^^  on  the  eg  from 

thrl  f  -1    ^®'^''"'  '^  <^'y  practised  amon^ 
Sr  .*?'&.e"S  .?f  ^.h--h'is  the  BamTng"- 


affni.,  fi  "  •""•::  women,  and  can  hope  to 
attain  the  summit  of  an  African  girl's  hopes 

shf-nL!  fff'nony  are  tept  even  more 
sictly  secret  than  is  the  case  with  the  boys, 
but  a  part  of  it  necessarily  takes  place  Yn 
pnb,c,and  is  therefore  well  knowA.  It  is 
hnely  Illustrated  iu  the  engraving  No.  2  on 
Jirevious  page.  ' 

The  girls  are  commanded  by  an  old  and 
experience^!   woman,  always  a^  stern    ami 
iLtermined  jiersonage,  who  carries  them  off 
into  the  wood?,  and  there  instructs  them  in 
all  the  many  arts  which  they  will  have  to 
practise  when  married.    Clal  in  a  stran-e 
costume,  composed  of  ropes  made  of  melon- 
seeds  and  bits  of  q„il/,  the  ropes   bdn. 
passed  over  both  shoulders  and  aclross  tliei? 
b(M lies  in  a  flgure-of-cight  position,  they  are 
drilled  into  walking  with  large  pot^  of  water 
tm  their  heads.     Wells  are  pr,rp'oselv  ehosen 
which   are  at  a  considerable    distance    in 
order  to  inure  the  girls  to  fatigue  and'tho 
monitrese  always  chT.oses  the  most  "nclem- 
ent  days  for  sending  them  to  the  greatest 
distance     They  have  to  carrr  he»vJTo-?: 


WatO,  of  Whioh   Sokomi  \vaa  i}^^  «H:„i»      rr><      i     ,.  _       .-    ^    ^^   ^-nnv    ut»»w    mo/i^. 


li 


800 


THE  BECHUANAS. 


marriage  those  tasks  which  are  sure  to  fall 
to  their  lot  afterward.  Cajmbilily  of  euilur- 
itig  paiu  is  also  iusistcd  upon,  auu  the  moni- 
tress  tests  their  powers  by  scorching  their 
arms  with  burning  charcoal.  Of  course,  all 
these  severe  labors  require  that  the  hands 
should  be  hard  and  horny,  and  accordingly, 
the  last  test  which  the  girls  have  to  endure 
is  holding  in  the  hand  for  a  certain  time  a 
piece  of  hot  iron. 

Rough  and  rude  as  this  school  of  in- 
struction may  be,  its  purport  is  judicious 
enough;  inasmuch  as  when  the  girls  are 
married,  and  enter  upon  their  new  duties, 
they  do  so  with  a  full  and  practical  knowl- 
edge of  them,  and  so  escape  the  punishment 
which  they  would  assuredly  receive  if  they 
were  to  fail  in  their  tasks.  The  name  of 
the  ceremony  is  called  "  Bogale."  During 
the  time  that  it  lasts,  the  girls  enjoy  sev- 
eral privileges,  one  of  which  is  highly  prized. 
If  a  boy  who  has  not  passed  tnrough  his 
ordeal  should  come  in  their  way,  he  is 
at  once  pounced  upon,  and  held  down 
by  some,  while  others  bring  a  supply  of 
thorn-br.anches,  and  beat  him  severely  with 
this  unpleasant  rod.  Should  they  be  m  suf- 
ficient numbers,  they  are  not  very  particular 
whether  the  trespasser  be  protected  by  the 
hoguera  or  not;  and  instances  have  been 
known  when  they  have  captured  adult  men, 
and  disciplined  them  so  severely  that  they 
bore  the  scars  ever  afterward. 

In  their  feeding  they  are  not  particularly 
cleanly,  turning  meat  about  on  the  fire  with 
their  fingers,  and  then  rubbing  their  hands 
on  their  bodies,  for  the  sake  of  the  fat 
which  adheres  to  them.  Boiling,  however, 
is  the  usual  mode  of  cooking;  and  when 
catin"  it,  they  place  a  lump  of  meat  in  the 
mouth,  seize  it  with  the  teeth,  hold  it  in  the 
left  hand  so  as  to  stretch  it  as  far  as  possi- 
ble, and  then,  with  a  neat  upwanl  stroke  of 
a  knife  or  spear  liead,  cut  off  tlie  required 
morsel.  This  odd  mode  of  eating  meat  may 
be  found  amon";  the  Abyssinians  and  the 
Esquimaux,  and  in  each  case  it  is  a  marvel 
how  the  men  avoid  cutting  off  their  noses. 

The  following  is  a  description  of  one  of 
the  milk  bags.  It  ia  made  flora  the  skin  of 
some  large  animal,  such  as  an  ox  or  a  zebra, 
and  is  rather  more  than  two  feet  in  length, 
and  one  in  width.  It  is  formed  from  a 
tough  piece  of  hide,  which  is  cut  to  the 
proper  shape,  and  then  turned  over  and 
sewed,  the  seams  being  particularly  firm 
and  strong.  The  hide  of  the  quagga  is  said 
to  be  the  best,  as  it  gives  to  the  milk  a 
peculiar  flavor,  which  is  admired  by  the 
natives.  The  skin  is  taken  from  the  back  of 
the  animal,  that  being  the  strongest  part 
It  is  first  stretched  on  the  ground  with 
w^ooden  pegSj  and  the  hair  scraped  off  with 
an  adze.  It  is  then  cut  to  the  proper  shape, 
and  soaked  in  water  until  soft  enough  to  be 
worked.  Even  with  care,  these  bags  are 
rather  perishable  articles;  and,  when  used 


for  water,  they  do  not  last  so  long  as  when 
they  are  employ I'd  for  milk.  A  rather  lai'ge 
opening  is  left  ut  the  top,  and  a  small  one 
at  the  bottom,  both  of  which  are  closed  by 
conical  plugs.  Through  the  upper  orifice 
the  milk  is  poured  into  the  bag  in  a  fresh 
statu,  and  removed  when  coagulated;  and 
through  the  lower  aperture  the  whey  is 
drawn  off  as  wanted.  As  is  the  case  with 
the  Kafilr  milk  baskets,  the  Bechuana  milk 
bags  are  never  cleaned,  a  sniiill  amount 
of  sour  milk  being  always  left  in  them,  so 
as  to  aid  in  coagulating  the  milk,  which  the 
natives  never  (liink  in  a  fresh  state. 

When  travelling,  the  Bechuanas  hang 
their  milk  Jbags  on  the  backs  of  oxen;  and 
it  sometimes  happens  that  the  jolting  of 
the  oxen,  and  consequent  slinking  of  the 
bag,  causes  the  milk  to  be  partially  churned, 
so  that  small  pieces  of  butter  are  found 
floating  in  it.  The  butter  is  very  highly 
valued;  but  it  is  not  eaten,  being  reserved 
for  the  more  important  office  of  greasing 
the  hair  or  skin. 

The  spoons  which  the  Bechuanas  use  are 
often  carved  in  tly;  most  elaborate  manner. 
In  general  shape  they  resemble  those  used 
by  the  Kaffirs  —  who,  by  the  way,  sometimes 
purchase  better  articles  from  the  Bechuanas 
—  but  the  under  surface  of  the  bowl  is  en- 
tirely covered  with  designs,  which  are  always 
effective,  and  in  many  cases  are  absolutely 
artistic  from  the  bolcfness  and  simplicity  of 
the  designs.  I  have  several  of  these  spoons, 
in  all  of  which  the  surface  has  first  been 
charred  and  polished,  and  then  the  pattern 
cut  rather  deeply,  so  as  to  leave  yellowish- 
white  lines  in  bold  contrast  with  the  jetty 
black  of  the  uncut  portion.  Sometimes  it 
happens  that,  when  they  are  travelling,  and 
have  no  spoons  with  them,  the  Bechuanas 
rapidly  scoop  up  their  broth  in  the  riglit 
hand,  throw  it  into  the  palm  of  the  left, 
and  then  fling  it  into  the  mouth,  taking  care 
to  lick  the  hands  clean  after  the  operation. 

Music  is  practised  by  the  Bechuana  tribes, 
who  do  not  use  the  goura,  but  merely  em- 
ploy a  kind  of  reed  pipe.  The  tunes  that 
are  played  upon  this  instrument  are  of  a 
severely  simple  character,  being  limited  to 
a  single  note,  repeated  as  often  as  the  per- 
former chooses  to  play  it.  A  very  good 
imitation  of  Bcchuanan  nistrumental  music 
may  be  obtained  by  taking  a  penny  whistle, 
and  blowing  it  at  intervals.  In  default  of 
a  whistle,  a  Key  will  do  quite  as  well.  Vocal 
music  is  known  better  among  the  Bechuanas 
than  among  the  preceding  tribes  —  or,  at  all 
events,  is  not  so  utterly  opposed  to  Euro- 
pean idea.s  of  the  art.  The  melody  is  simple 
enough,  consisting  chiefly  of  descending  and 
ascending  by  thirds;  and  they  have  a  sulfi- 
cient  appreciation  of  harmony  to  sing  in 
two  parts  without  producing  the  continuous 
discords  which  delight  the  soul  of  the  Hot- 
tentot tribes. 

TheSO  Iced  pipes,  Culled  "  lichoku,"  SfC  Of 


SUBSTITUTE  FOE  HANDKERCHIEF. 


long  ns  when 
!\.  rather  loi-ge 
I  a  small  ono 
are  closed  by 
upper  orifice 
)ag  in  a  fresh 
iguiated;  and 
the  whey  is 
the  case  with 
ecliuana  milk 
mull  amount 
ri  in  them,  so 
ilk,  which  the 
state. 

huanas  hang 
of  oxen;  and 
ihe  jolting  of 
laking  of  the 
ially  churned, 
ter  are  found 
3  very  highly 
eing  reserved 
)  of  greasing 

manns  use  are 
orate  manner. 
jIo  those  used 
ay,  sometimes 
he  Bechuanas 
le  bowl  is  cu- 
lich  are  always 
are  absolutely 
1  simplicity  of 
r  these  spoons, 
las  first  been 
n  the  pattern 
ive  yeilowish- 
rtith  the  jetty 

Sometimes  it 
ravelling,  and 
he  Bechuanas 

in  the  right 
n  of  the  left, 
;h,  taking  care 
le  operation, 
chuana  tribes, 
it  merely  em- 
lic  tunes  that 
lent  are  of  a 
ng  limited  to 
n  as  the  per- 
A  very  good 
nneiital  niusic 
)cnny  whistle, 

In  default  of 
s  well.  Vocal 
he  Bechuanas 
)es  —  or,  at  all 
osed  to  Euro- 
;lody  is  simple 
escending  and 
'  have  a  sulli- 
ly  to  sing  in 
he  continuous 
ul  of  the  Hot- 


various  leagths,  and  are  blown  exactly  like 
1  andean  nipcs,  i.  e.  transversely  across  the 
oritlce,  whi(^h  is  cut  wiUi  a  slight  slope. 
iMch  individual  has  one  pipe  only,  and,  as 
above  sU'ited,  can  only  play  one  note.  But 
the  Bechuanas  have  enough  musical  ear  to 
tune  thou-  pipes  to  any  required  note,  wJiich 
tliey  do  by  pushing  or  withdrawing  a  mov- 
able plii.r  which  closes  the  reed  at  the 
lov/er  end.  AVhen  a  number  of  men  assem- 
ble tor  the  purpose  of  singing  and  dancing, 


S;.s;'r  K.ifr=£HS  f^^trl^FP:^-^ 


great  puuw    in    getting    the    precise    note 
Which  they  want,  and  being  as  careful  about 
U  as  It  tlicy  belonged  to  a  European  or- 
chestra    The  general  effect  of  these  pipes, 
played  together,  and  with  certain  intervals 
IS  by  no  moans  iuliarnionious,  and  has  been 
rather  happily  compared  to  the  sound  of 
sledge  or  wagon  belfs.    The  correct  method 
ot  holding  the  pipe  is  to  place  the  thumb 
against  the  cheek,  and  the  forefinger  over 
the  upper  lip,  while  the  other  tlfree  fin- 
gers hold  the  instrument  firmly  in  its  place, 
ihese  little  instruments  run  through  a  scale 
ot  some  eleven  or  twelve  notes.    tTic  dances 
?L       /^,f 'i"''i»»»  are  somewhat  similar  to 
thoseof  the  Amakosaand  other  Kaffirs;  but 
they  have  the  peculiarity  of  using  a  rather 
remarkable  headdress  when  they  are  i    full 
ceremonial  costume.    This  is  mmfe  from  por- 
cupine qmlls  arranged  in  a  bold  and  artistic 
manner  so  as  to  form  a  kind  of  coronet. 
None  of  the  stiff  and  short  quills  of  the 


897 

and  others  dancing  for  hours  in  succession, 
merely  retiring  occasionally  to  rest  theii^ 
wearied  hmbs.  The  dancers  scarcely  speak 
at  all  when  engaged  in  this  absortinff 
amusement,  though  they  accompany  thei? 
reed  whistles  with  native  songs.  Round 
the  dancers  is  an  external  ring  of  women 
and  girls,  who  follow  them  as  tKoy  revolve 
and  keep  time  to  their  movements  by  clan-' 
ping  their  hands.  ^     ^ 

As  is  usual  in  this  country,  a  vast  amount 


&  t  ,"?."'"^  ^.'*^"^«'"  1"'"s  Which  julorn 
the  neck  of  the  animal,  and,  in  consequence 

ovpr  tl  f  ""f  proportionate  length,  bend 
over  the  back  m  graceful  curvel.  These 
headdresses  are  worn  by  the  men,  who 
nli^.n^  *'^<-:™««l^'e«  about  so  as  to  cause  the 
pliant  quills  to  wave  backward  and  forward, 
and  so  contrive  to  produce  a  really  grace- 
In 'if 'v  T''  I'^r'-'^''^  >«  notcoLiKd 
an  essential  part  of  the  dance,  but  is  used 
on  special  occasions. 

in  a  Wn/'tn"!'^',  t^ey.  arrange  themselves 
troifhHn<?'fi  looking  inwarci^  but  without 
troubling  themselves  about  their  number  or 

thJrfn^*'?"'''"  ,^'''""p«™«°*-  The  size  of 
the  ring  depends  entirely  upon  the  number 
of  dancers,  as  they  press  closely  to  "eUier 
Each  IS  at  liberty  to  use  any  stej  w&he 
may  think  proper  to  invent,iand  to  blow  Is 
reed  pipe  at  any  intervals 'that  mayTeem 
most  agreeable  to  him.  But  each  nan  con 
teives  to  move  verv  slowly  'ra  sfanthfc 
direction,  so  that  tfie  wl,ol^  ring  rSves 
on  the  same  spot,  makinff,  on  aS  average 
one  revolution  per  minute!  average, 

nerfectlS"iM';r  ^".^'"^h  it  moves  seems 
,S3..'"?'5T»f«^at  one  time  it  wiJ! 


a  iiecessary  consequence,  the  dancers  'are 
bathed  in  perspiration,  and  further  incon- 
wh1ir?v.  .by/be  melting  of  the  grease  with 
which  their  heads  and  bodies  are  th'cklv 
covered.  A  handkerchief  would  be  thi 
natural  resort  of  an  European  under  such 
circumstances ;  but  the  native  of  Southern 
Atrica  does  not  possess  such  an  article,  and 
therefore  is  obliged  to  make  use  of  an  imple- 
ment which  seems  rathcsr  ill  adapted  for  its 
purpose.  It  IS  made  from  the  bushy  tail  of 
jackals,  and  is  prepared  as  follows  :  The 
tails  are  removed  from  the  animals,  and 

fnTi  "icbones^  leaving  a  hollow  tube  of 
fur-clad  skm.    Three  or  four  of  these  tails 
are   thus  prepared,  and  through  them    is 
thrust  a  stick,  generally  about  four  feet  in 
length,  so  that  the  tail  forms  a  sort  of  lar^e 
and  very  soil  brush.     This  is  used  as  "a 
handkerchief,  not  only  by  the  Bechuanas 
but  by  many  of  the  neighboring  tribes,  and 
13  thought  a  necessary  part  of  a  Bechuina's 
wardrobe.     The  sticlc  on  which  they  are 
fixed  13  cut  from  the  very  heart  of  the  ka- 
meel-dorn  acacia,  where  tlie  wood  is  pecul- 
iarly hard   and    black,  and    a  very  ereat 
amount  of  labor  is  expended  on  U?mW 

Klt?U  ^-'^^  "-r^  «*■  *iH  impIemenTis 
Kaval-klusi    or  Kaval-pukoli,  according  to 

Sl,,".",',™^?  fr«m  «'hich  it  ,'s  made; "the 
inw  •  ?^'°^  apparently  the  common  yel- 
low  lackal,  and  the  "pukoli"  the  black- 
to'Iecf  jackal.  The  natiVes  fancy  that  Oie 
jackaf  possesses  some  quality  which  benefits 
the  6wk,  and  therefore  they  may  often  bo 
seen  arawing  the  kaval-klusi  across Thei? 
eyes.  A  chfef  will  sometimes  have  a  for 
more  valuable  implement,  which  he  uses  for 
the  same  purpose.  Instead  of  beino-  made  of 
feafhei^'"*'  tails,  it  is  formed  fVom  ostrich 

The  reinarkable  excellence  of  the  Bechu- 
anas  in  the  arts  of  peace  has  alrea<lv  been 
mentioned.  They  are  not  only  the  be^st  fur" 
dressers  and  metal-workers,  but  -thev  ara 
preeminent  among  all  the  tribes  of  that  por" 
tion  of  Africa  m  their  architecture.  Not 
being  a  nomad  neople;  and  being  attached 
^.l'J?:h    !fl%.^«  n«.«l«^  of  Contenting 


revolve-from  right  to  i:ft7a„d  then  withou    ^Jt  f°"'  '^7.  '>''r*^  "«  "^"^  "^  con  enting 
.  P-.  m  the  dance  fur  a  few  iuiautes,! display  an  ingenurt/in  thdr  ^"nSctioa 


led 


THE  BECHIJANAS. 


. 


I 


that  is  pprf«>ctly  nHtoninlilng.  "Wlioncc  thoy 
ilorivtui  thfirarchitcctiinil  kiiowln(lgi<,n(i  niio 
knowH.  Why  (lit^  KultlrH,  who  imt  iUho  incii 
ul'  lilt)  soil,  should  not  Imvo  loni'iiiMl  IVoiii 
tht'ir  iiciKhiioiM  how  to  huild  hotter  Iiouhcn, 
IK)  orio  nil)  tiill.  Tho  tact  rt'iniiiiiH,  timt  tlu> 
Jtci'hiiium  is  Hiin|)ly  Huiircino  In  lUThitrc- 
tiiiT,  iind  thoro  Ih  no  ni'ljjh boring  Iriliu  that 
Ih  tivt'U  worthy  to  bo  runki'd  itt  tlie  Bocond 
chiHH. 

\V'<'  luivo  iilrcadv  si-cn  that  the  houHn  of 
Pinjjati,  llu-  (iiTut  KalHr  di!«|iot,  was  (^xarlly 
like  that  ol"  any  ol'  his  snhjt'cts,  only  larj^cr, 
and  the  supportinj;  jio.s'ts  coviivd  witli 
beads.  Now  a  Hi-chuana  of  very  niodci- 
utit  rank  would  be  ithhanied  of  nucIi  an  edithc 
by  way  of  a  residenee  ;  and  even  the  j)oor 
—  if  we  may  use  the  word  —  ean  huild 
lionsi's  for  thi  inselves  »juite  as  j^ood  as  tliat 
of  Diiifjan.  Instead  of  lieiiifi;  ronnd-toppetl, 
like  so  many  wickorwork  luit-hills,  as  is 
the  ease  witli  the  Katllr  huts,  tim  houses 
of  tho  IJeehuanas  are  lonieal,  and  the  shape 
may  he  rou^^hly  delined  hv  saving  that  a 
lieehuanii's  hut  looks  something  like  a  huge 
whii)pin>{-toi>  with  its  jioint  upward.  The 
artist  1)114  represented  them  on  \miivt  287. 

A  man  of  moderate  rank  makes  liis  house 
in  the  following?  nianner  —  or,  nither,  orders 
Ins  wives  to  huild  it  for  him,  the  won)en 
heins  the  only  arehit(>ets.  Fii'st,  a  number 
of  posl«  are  eiit  tVom  the  kameel-dorn  aeaeia- 
troe,  their  len^'th  vaiyini;  aeeordinj;  to  the 
otHee  which  they  have  to  fultll.  iSupnosinjj, 
for  example,  that  the  house  had  to  he  six- 
teen or  twenty  feet  in  diamete)*,  some  ten 
or  twelve  posts  are  needed,  which  will  l)e 
about  nine  feet  in  heijjht  when  planted  in 
the  j;rom)d.  These  are  placed  in  a  circle 
and  tirn)ly  llxcd  at  toleraldy  equal  distances. 
Next  conies  a  smaller  circle  of  much  sn)aller 
posts,  which,  when  llxed  in  the  giound, 
n)eiu<uro  froni  (Ifteen  to  eif^hteen  feet  in 
height,  one  of  them  beinj,'  lonjjryr  than  the 
rest.  Both  the  eiicles  of  posts  are  con- 
nected with  beams  which  arc  Ihstcncd  to 
their  tops. 

The  next  jii'oeess  is  to  lay  a  sufficient 
quantity  of  rafters  on  Miese  posts,  so  that 
tliey  all  meet  at  one  point,  and  these  are 
ti!,ditlj'  lashed  tof:retl)er.  This  point  is  s(>l- 
dom  in  the  exact  centre,  so  that  the  hut 
always  looks  rather  lop-.sided.  A  roof  made 
of  reeds  is  then  placet!  upon  the  rafttsrs,  and 
the  skeleton  of  the  h(>use  is  complete.  The 
thatch  is  held  in  its  place  by  a  number  of 
louf?  and  thin  twigs,  which  ai'e  bent,  and  the 
end  thrust  into  the  thatch.  These  twigs  ai-e 
set  in  parallel  rows,  and  hold  the  Oiatch 
lirmly  together.  The  slope  of  the  roof  is 
rather  slight,  and  is  always  that  of  a  de- 
pressed cone,  as  n)ay  be  seen  by  reference 
to  the  illustration. 

Next  come  the  walls.  The  posts  which 
form  the  outer  circle  are  conuecttid  with  a 
wall  someti))ies  about  six  feet  high,  but  fre- 
quently only  two  feet  or  so.    But  the  wail 


whii^h  connect*)  tho  Inner  circle  is  eight  or 
ten  feet  in  height,  and  sometimes  reaches 
nearly  to  the  roof  of  the  house.  These  walls 
are  generally  made  of  the  mimosa  thorns, 
whh^li  are  so  ingeniously  woven  that  the 
garmentM  of  those  who  piuts  by  are  In  no 
danger,  while  they  etlectuully  prevent  oven 
the  Munillest  animal  from  creeping  through. 
The  inside  of  the  wall  is  Mtrengthened  as 
well  as  smootht!)!  by  a  thick  eoatmg  of  clay. 
The  fan)ily  live  in  the  central  coiiiiiarlniei)t 
of  thti  house,  whilt!  the  servantjt  inliabit  the 
outer  portion,  which  also  serves  as  a  veran- 
dah in  which  the  family  ean  sit  in  the  day- 
tinie,  and  enjoy  the  double  benelit  of  fresh 
air  and  shade. 

The  engraving  gives  an  idea  of  the  or- 
dinary construction  of  a  Biuhuana  hut. 
Aromxl  this  houstt  is  a  tolerably  high  pal- 
ing, mad(<  in  a  siniilar  fashion  of  posts  and 
thorns,  and  within  this  enclosure  the  cattle 
are  kept,  when  their  owner  is  rich  enough 
to  build  an  (^xlosui-e  for  their  especial  use. 
This  fence,  or  v.all,  as  it  nuiy  properly  be 
called,  is  always  very  (Irmly  built,  and  some- 
times is  of  very  strong  construction.  It  is 
on  an  average  six  fet-l  high,  and  is  about  two 
leet  and  a  half  wide  at  the  bottom,  and  a 
foot  or  less  at  the  top.  It  is  made  almost 
entirely  of  small  twigs  and  bi-iinehes,  placetl 
upright,  and  nearly  parallel  with  eachotlier, 
but  so  lirmly  interlaced  that  they  form  an 
admiiable  defenct!  against  the  assagai,  while 
near  the  bottom  the  wall  is  so  strong  as  to 
stop  an  ordinary  bullet.  A  few  inches  from 
the  lop,  the  wall  is  strengthened  by  a  double 
band  of  twigs,  one  band  being  oiitsidc,  and 
the  oilier  in  the  interior. 

Tho  doorways  of  a  Hechuana  hut  are 
rather  enriously  constructed.  An  aperture 
is  niMdo  in  the  wall,  larger  above  than  below, 
so  as  to  suit  the  shape  of  a  hmiian  being, 
whose  shoulders  are  wider  than  his  feet. 
This  formation  serves  two  puiiioses.  In  tlie 
first  place  it  lessens  the  size  of  tlu;  iiperture, 
and  so  tliiuinishes  the  amount  of  (Iraught, 
and,  in  the  next  place,  it  forms  a  better 
defence  against  an  adversary  than  if  it  were 
of  larger  size,  and  reaching  to  tli(>  ground. 

The  lireplaee  is  situated  outside  the  hut, 
though  within  the  fence,  the  Bechuanns 
having  a  very  wholesome  dread  of  tire,  and 
being  naturally  anxious  that  their  elabo- 
rately built  houses  should  not  be  burned 
dowii.  Outside  the  house,  but  williin  the 
enclosure,  is  the  corn-house,  'i'bis  is  a 
smaller  hut,  constructed  in  much  the  same 
manner  as  the  dwelling-house,  and  coniain- 
ing  the  supply  of  corn.  This  is  kept  in  jars, 
OIK!  of  whict)  is  of  jtrodigious  size,  and  wouhl 
quite  throw  into  the  shade  the  celebrated 
oil  jars  in  which  the  "Forty  Thieves"  hid 
themselves.  There  is  also  a  separate  house 
in  which  the  servants  sleeji. 

This  corn  jar  is  made  ot  twigs  plaited  and 
woven  into  form,  and  strengthened  by  sticks 
thrust  into  tlie  grouiKl,  so  tlint  it  is  irromov- 


CONCENTRIC  MODE  OF  BUILDfNa. 


290 


Rblo,  PVfin  If  Its  hiiR**  (lltnitiiHiiiiiH  Hii]  not 
nriHwcr  timt  i.iirpose.  Tli,^  )iir  Im  pl.wtiirdd 
l)Oth  on  tliii  oiitHJdo  mill  Mw  inti'iior  with 
diiy,  Nti  thiit  it  forms  an  ii(lnilnil)l«  protcrt- 
tion  fr)r  fhfi  corn.  'I'lioHd  jurH  me  minidlinu'H 
MX  ((M^t  in  hcluiht  mid  Ihn.ii  in  width,  and 
t  icn-  Mlmpo  itlnio.st  (ixm'tJv  rcscnililt.m  tlmi  of 
tlio  oil  jars  of  Kuropo.  'fhii  l>cst  Npi>('inini.s 
m-()  nilscd  Hix  or  hcvcii  inihoH  thmi  thn 
|?ronn(l,  tht^  NlukiH  wlilcli  lorm  their miillold- 
inp;  imHwcriiif?  tlu-  purpoHn  of  |,.jrH.  Kvcrv 
housi!  has  ono  Hiifih  jiir;  mid  in  the  iihodc  c'.f 
Woiiltliy  pci-Hoim  tlierti  in  ucniiriilly  (nii;  larL'c 
Jar  and  a  miinlu'r  ofHiuallor  ouch,  all  packed 
toK(!tlu«r  clow.dy,  and  soinytinies  ontlrdv 
nlhn^'  tli(.   Htoro-housn.  '' 

Ah  is  tho  case  witli  tho   KafflrMho  IJc- 
c  iiiaiias   l.uild  their  houses  mid  walls  in  a 
cimilar  („rin,  and  h.iv..  no  idea  of  niakinK  a 
wid   or  a  lence  in  a  strai-ht  line.     Mr.  Hnr- 
ci«ll  accounts  (ijr  it  liy  8nj;;.estiiifr  that  they 
have   discovered  the   greater  capacitv  of  a 
«urcle  coinpariMl   with   any  other  /i./ure  of 
fqiial   circumfereneo,   and  (hat   thev  make 
cifciilar  houses  and  catlle-peiis  in  order  to 
ncc-.Mnin.>date  the  greatest 'number  of  n.e 
or  cattle  in  tlw^  least  possible  space.    I  rather  ' 
«^onbt  the  truth  of  tilis  theorv  he.-anso  I  !  . 
people  cannot  build  a  HtraiRht   wal      r  a 
square  house,  even  if  th.-y  wish.Ml  to  do  so 

hint  ;;""•  ";''•'""  '•""'  *'""«" »""'   ' 

looked  lor  in  their  mental  conformation. 
Wo  will    now    exmnino  the  illustration 


rnpresontu  that  part  of  the  biiildiiiir  which 
covered  hy  thu  nwif.     'J'he  H.'rvantH'  hoi 


is  also  seiiarati 
riKht  of.tlie  plan. 


PLAN  OF  HOUSE, 


lilfSSSS 


:hitl 

Jkhiho 

and  may  be  seen   on    tJio 

by  he  small  eircle  Just  below  the  .rooH  wall 
"ii  the  riKht  hand  of  the  hiaii.  In  tlu,  mid- 
<llc  is  the  house  Itself,  with  its  Verandahs  mid 
passages  covured  by  a  common  roof,  in  tlio 
vc^ry  centre  is  the  Hleoiiinif-phue  of  th„  Imn- 
ll.y;  immediately  outside  it  is  the  piuwiuro 
where  tho  servants  sit,  and  outsldo  it  ai/Ja 
iH  the  yerandah.  Tho  littlo  circles  upon  tlio 
plan  repruHont  the  places  occupied  by  tlio 
posts.  J     «.  •" 

In  turther  explanation  of  tho  exi-oedinir 
care  that  a  Hechiiana  bestows  cm  his  houso 
I  here  ^riv,,  a  ,,o,.(i„„  of  a  letter  sent  to  mo' 
by    Mr.    1.   JJaines,   tlu^    eminent    AfVicaii 
traveller.     "About  1W(»,  while  that  which 
IS  now  the  Free  State  was  then  the  Oran.'o 
Kiver  Sovereignty,  my  frii'iid  ./oseph  Ma- 
eabe  and   I  were  lyin«  at  (.'..(lui's  Orift  oi, 
the  Vaal  (or  Yellow-Dun)  River, and,  need- 
|»K  coni  and  other  supplies,  we  spanm-d- 
the    cattle    mid   i)roc..eded   to   the   vil- 
lH«e.     J  his  we  found  very  prettily  situated 
.luumfi  bold  and  t.derably  well-wooded  hUlH 
against  wluise  dark  Hid.'s  tin,  conical  roofs,' 
thatched   with  liffht  yellowish  reed.s,  con' 
triiMled  a(lvant,'ij{i"oiisly.  ' 

"  As  usual,  the  triln-  was  beifinninjj  to  lav 
<lt;s(.late  tho  surroundinf;  country  by  reck- 
IcHsly  cuttiiifT  down  the  wo(k1  around  their 
dwellings,  a  process   by   wlii,;h    in    many 
IS  ances  they  have  so  deiuidcMl  tho   liilfs 
that  the  little  springs  that  foruierlv  llowed 
trom  them  are  no  lonK<.r  protected  by  the 
yerhanKiiiK  toliaff,;,  and  are  eyaj.orated  by 
the    ierce  heat  of  the  sun  upon  the  unshef- 
crejl  earth.    Of  this  proeess,  old  Lattakoo, 
the  tormer  resideiu'e  of  the  missionary  ilof' 
at,  IS  a  notable  example,  mid  it  is  provei- 
bi.    that  whenever  a  native  tribe  settles  by 
'  .  httle  rivulet,  tho  water  in  a  few  years 
diiimiishes  and  dries  up.  ^ 

"Tlie  wonum  and  childn'n,  as  usual  in 

s,  led  ha  f  in  ear  and  half  in  timidity  at 

m  n  proach.and  peepe.l  coyly  iron,  behind 

the  fe  ices  ot  inu.l  or  reeds  as  we  a.lvanced. 

a  rtL-  ,""  I'""cil»il  men  seried  b..neath 
a  mass.ve  bower  or  awning  of  r.uijjh  ti  i- 
l>er,  cu  with  the  most  reekk'ss  ^xlnZ 
«ance  of  material,  an.l  piled  in  lbrk..d  ti-unks 
stil  standing  in  the  earth,  a«  if  the  d.-sig,^ 
of  the  builders  had  been  to  give  the  leiwt 
possible  amount  of  shade  witTi  (he  great  ^t 
expenditure  of  material.  .  .  .  Mo.^t  of  (1,. 
nien   were  e.,i,,loyed   in   (he    niamifi^t  i  o 


800 


THE  DECIIUANAS. 


having  cut  tho  itkind  Into  Bhane  with  their 
knivcit  or  aHHiigivis,  wuro  slowly  nnd  care- 
fully Bowing  tlicm  togothiir.  One  nmn  wan 
tiulilinm;  with  a  nlcco  of  mick  on  tlw  Htring 
of  a  bow,  to  which  a  calubaHh  had  b«cn  tlc<l 
in  order  to  incrcivHO  the  rcnonanco,  and  all 
looked  busy  and  Imppv.  Our  prewmt  of 
Huulf  wim  received  with  Intense  gratinca- 
tion,  but  very  few  of  thcni  woi-o  extrav- 
agant enough  to  inhale  the  precious  stimu- 
lant in  its  i)uro  Htate,  and  generally  n  small 
portion  wiis  piiu'cd  upon  the  l)ack  of  the  left 
iiand,  and  then  a  quantity  of  <lust  was  lifted 
witli  a  smuU  horn  spoon,  carefully  mixed 
with  the  snutr,  and  inhaled  with  inllnite 
satisfaction. 

"  Their  habitations  were  arranged  in  con- 
centric circles,  tho  outermost  of  which  en- 
closes a  more  nr  less  spacious  court  or  vani, 
fenced  either  with  tall  straight  rco(ls,  or 
with  a  wall  of  fine  clay,  carefully  smoothed 
and  patted  up  by  the  hands  of  the  women. 
It  is  allerwartl  covered  with  transverse 
linos,  the  space  between  which  arc  vari- 
ously etched  with  parallel  linos,  either 
straight,  waved,  or  zigzag,  according  to 
fancy.  The  floor  of  this  court  is  also 
smoothed  with  clay,  and  elevations  of  the 
same  material  in  the  form  of  segments  of  a 
circle  serve  for  scats,  the  whole  being  kept 
so  clean  that  dry  food  might  bo  oaten  firora 
the  floor  without  scruple. 

"  Tho  walls  of  the  hut  arc  also  of  clay, 
plastered  upon  tho  poles  which  support  the 
conical  roof,  but  tho  eaves  i)roject  so  as  to 
form  a  low  verandah  all  around  it  Low 
poles  at  intervals  give  this  also  an  addi- 
tional support,  and  a  "  stoep  "  or  elevation, 
about  nine  inches  high  and  three  feet 
lnoa<l,  surrounds  the  house  beneath  it 

"  The  d»orway  is  an  arch  about  three  feet 
high.  The  inside  of  the  wall  is  scored  '.nd 
etched  into  compartments  by  lines  traced 
with  the  fingers  or  a  pointed  stick.  Some- 
times melon  or  pumpkin  seeds  are  stuck 
into  the  clay  in  fanciful  patterns,  and  after- 
ward removed,  leaving  the  hollows  lined 
with  their  slightly  lustrous  bark. 

"Within  this  again  is  another  wall,  en- 
closing a  still  smaller  room,  which,  in  the 
case  of  the  chiefs  hut,  was  well  stored  with 
soft  skin  mantles,  and,  as  he  said,  must  have 
heen  most  agreeably  warm  as  a  sleeping 
apartment  in  the  cold  weather,  more  espe- 
cially as  tho  doorway  might  be  wholly  or 
partially  closed  at  pleasure.  Pilasters  of 
clay  we're  wrought  over  the  doorway,  mould- 
ings were  run  round  it,  and  zigzag  orna- 
ments in  charcoal,  or  in  red  or  yellow  clay, 
were  plentifully  used.  The  circular  mould- 
iogs  seen  upon  what  may  bo  called  the  coil- 
.,ig  are  really  the  bands  of  reeds  upon  the 
unt'*";'  :jide  of  tho  roof,  by  which  those  that 
fc:      the  thatch  are  secured. 

"The  space  between  the  inner  chamber 
and  the  outer  wall  extended  all  round^the 
iiUl,  aud  iu  it,  but  rather  iu  the  rcur,  wcfc 


■ovcral  Jars  and  calabashes  of  outchuallA, 
or  native  lieer,  in  proceiw  of  fcrineiUtttioii. 
My  first  impression  of  tills  beverage  was, 
that  it  rosoml'led  a  mixture  of  bad  tahlo 
beer  and  spoiled  vinegar,  but  it  is  regarded 
both  as  food  and  drink  by  the  natives  and 
travellers  who  have  become  aeeustomed  to 
it.  A  host  considci-s  that  he  liiis  fiihllled 
tho  highest  duties  of  hospitality  when  ho 
has  set  before  his  guest  a  jar  of  beer.  It  it 
thought  an  insult  to  leave  any  in  the  vessel, 
hut  tlie  guest  may  give  to  his  attendants 
any  surplus  that  remains  after  he  has  satis- 
fied himself." 

The  burial  of  the  dead  is  conducted  after 
a  rather  curious  manner.  Tlio  l\ineral  cere- 
monies actually  begin  before  the  sick  |ier- 
son  is  dead,  and  must  have  the  elfeci  of 
hastening  dissolution.  As  soon  as  tho  rela- 
tions of  the  sick  man  see  that  his  end  is 
near,  they  thr.)w  over  him  a  mi '.  )r  some- 
times a  skin,  and  draw  it  togetlu  i  until  the 
enclosed  individual  is  forced  into  a  sitting, 
or  rather  a  crouching  posture,  with  the 
arms  bent,  tho  hcatl  bowed,  and  the  knees 
brought  into  contact  with  the  chin.  In  this 
uncomfortable  position  the  last  spark  of  life 
soon  expirt>s,  and  tho  actual  funeral  begins. 
Tho  relatives  dig  a  grave,  generally  within 
tho  cattle  fence,  not  snape<l  as  is  the  case  in 
Europe,  but  a  mere  round  hole,  about  three 
feet  in  diameter.  The  interior  of  this 
strangely  shaped  grave  is  then  rubbed  with 
a  bulbous  root.  An  opening  is  then  made 
in  tiie  fence  surrounding  the  house,  and  the 
body  is  carried  through  it,  still  enveloped  in 
tho  mat,  and  with  a  skin  thrown  over  the 
head.  It  is  then  lowered  into  tho  grave, 
and  great  pains  are  taken  to  place  it  exactly 
facing  the  north,  an  operation  which  con- 
sumes much  time,  but  which  is  achieved  at 
last  with  tolerable  accuracy. 

When  they  have  settled  this  point  to  their 
satisfaction,  they  bring  fragments  of  an  ant- 
hill, which,  as  the  reader  may  remember,  is 
the  best  and  finest  clay  that  can  be  procured, 
and  lay  it  carefully  about  tho  feet  of  the 
corpse,  over  which  It  is  pressed  by  two  men 
who  stand  in  the  grave  for  that  purpose. 
More  and  more  clay  is  handed  down  in 
wootlev-  ')owis,  and  stamped  firmly  down, 
tho  oijcrutors  r.ii'ing  the  mat  in  proportion 
as  th'"  eoi  'li  r;  s.  They  '  ikc  particular 
care  0  '  I  '•'<  the  smalk^L  pebble  shall 
mix  v^i.ii  c.ie  e&iih  that  surrounds  the  body, 
and,  ns  the  clay  is  quite  free  from  stones,  it 
is  the  fittest  material  for  their  purpose. 

As  soon  as  the  earth  reaches  the  mouth,  a 
branch  of  at^acia  is  placed  In  the  grave,  and 
some  roots  of  grass  laid  on  the  head,  so  that 
part  of  the  grass  projects  above  the  level  of 
the  ground.  The  excavated  soil  is  then 
scooped  up  so  as  to  make  a  small  mound, 
over  which  is  poured  several  bowlfuls  of 
water,  the  spectators  meanwhile  shouting 
out,  "Puhil  Tula!"  as  they  do  when  ap- 
plauding a  speaker  in  the  ijarliament    The 


C:ioi'; 


FUNERAL  RITES. 


weapons  and  implements  of  (he  deceased 

to  h  m  "butTvf '^^  "^  the  grave,  and  pJSel 
to  luni  but  they  are  not  left  there,  as  is  the 
case  wuh  some  tribes.  The  ceremony  ends 
by  the  whole  party  leaving  the  ground  amid 
the  lamentations  of  the  Ivomen,  who' S 
up  a  continual  wailing  cryino-      '  ^ 

These  are  the  full  ceremonials  thut  futp 
place  at  the  death  of  a  chief,  -at  a  1  evenfs 
muc.K"^?°'"f  importance,  but  they  vaty 
much  accordmg  to  the  rank  of  the  individual 
Sometnues  a  rain-maker  has  forbidden  all 
sepulchral  rites  whatever,  as  interfering  with 
the  production  of  rain,  and  during  the"  tTme 


bidden,  f,..d,  under  this  stran^re  tvrannv  n 
son  has  been  seen  to  fling  a  leatKn  ron^ 
round  the  leg  of  his  dead  mother,  £  her 
"Ody  into  the  bush,  and  there  leave  it  ?!  row' 


n|yESji::sL^:vS^«^- 

berfarri^d  '  *5f  E^'T  1 ''''  dTceas'^fc 

&iS'2-bo?;s  L'  g^aTe  r^'i  s 

I  bearing  m  her  hands  the  brfnch  of  aca^cS 
which  IS  to  be  placed  on  the  head  of  H,« 
corpse-evidently  a  relic  of  some  traditSn 
ong  ago  forgotten,  or,  at  all  events  of  wh  ch 
they  profess  to  be  i^noranf  aV  n,o  -i 
stands  the  old  womaif^r  beart*th?'weS! 
ons  of  the  deceased  chief- his  spears  axe 
^^*1  bo^v-and  in  the  foreground  are  the' 

wun    ,hich  the  grave  has  been  dug. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


THE  DAMARA  TRIBE. 


IiOCALITT  AND  ORIflnr   OF  THR   PAMABAS  — MVIStONS  OP  THE    TKinE  — TIIK  BICH  AND  rOOR  PAMARAS 

—  fUAHACTKU  OF  TIIR  COr.NTIlV— ArrEAHANCE  OF  TUB  I'KOri.K  —  TIIKIR  VHVHICAr,  rON«TITl> 
TION  —  MAN'h  IllIKSS  —  TIIK  PKrl'LIAIl  MANI>AI,S,  AND  M()I>K  OF  AlM)I{NINO  TIIK  IIAIIl — WOMEN'S 
Illtl'.SH — COSTl'ME  OF  rilK  OIlll.S  —  I'OllTUArl'  OF  A  DAMAUA  OIUL  IIKHTINO  IIKIttlKI.F  —  HINiill.All 
C.W  OF  TIIK  MAUUIKI)  WOMKN  —  FASTlDIOl  SNKSS  CON(KUNIN<l    DIIKSS  —  CATTI.K  OF  TIIK   I>AMAUAH 

—  "cUOWINd"  Foil  HOOTS  AM>  WATKll  —  AUClllTKCTrHK  AM)  Fl'llNITUllK  —  INTF.I.I.KCT  OF  TIIK 
DAMAUAS  —  AltlTlIMKTKAl,  DIFFICII.TIKS  —  WKATONS — TIIK  DA.MAIIA  ASA  SOI. DIKH  —  TIIR  DIF- 
FKUKNT  (  ASTKS  OK  KANDAS  —  FOOD,  AND  MODK  OF  COOUINll  —  DAMAUA  DANCKS  AND  MISIC  — 
MATItlMONIAI.  AFFAIHS  — VAKIOI'.-4  Sl'I'F.IWTITIONS  —  THE  HArUKD  FIIIE  AND  ITS  rillESTKSS  — 
Ari-AltlTIONS  — DEATH    AND    IH'RIAI.  OF  A   CHIEF  — CEIIEMONIAU    ON  THE   ACCRSBION  OF  III8  SON 

—  THE   DAMAUA  OATH. 


If  tlio  roador  will  rofcr  to  a  map  of  Afriod, 
and  look  at  the  wostorn  coast  Just  bolow  lat. 
20°  S.,  Ill-  will  st'c  that  a  larjicportion  of  tho 
coimtrv  is  occuiiifd  bv  a  lu'oplo  called  Da- 
maras,  this  word  hciiiL;  a  cuplioiiious  corrup- 
tion (>f  the  word  Daimip,  which  sij;nilics 
"Tho  People."  Who  tlu>  I)ainai-a.s  oriiji- 
iially  were,  liow  loiii;  they  have  occupied 
the  land,  and  the  place  where  lliey  oi-igi- 
nally  cnin<'  from,  arc  rather  diiliious,  and 
they  themselves  can  throw  no  light  on  the 
sulijoct. 

'[""he  trilie  is  a  very  interostiuj?  one.  Once 
of  {ircat  jiowcr  and  imixirtance,  it  spread 
over  a  vast  tract  of  country,  and  developed 
it.s  own  peculiar  manners  and  customs, 
some  of  which,  as  will  lie  seen,  are  most 
reinarkahle.  Its  day  of  jirosoerity  was, 
however,  hut  a  short  one,  as  is  the  case 
with  most  tribes  in  this  ]iart  of  the  world. 
It  has  rapidly  siuik  from  its  hi<,'Ii  estate,  has 
suffered  t'rom  the  attacks  of  powerfid  and 
relentless  enemies,  and  in  a  few  more  years 
will  probalily  perish  otf  the  livee  of  the 
earth.  So  rapid  havi-  been  the  cha'.j;es. 
that  one  traveller.  All.  Anderssen.  remarks 
that  williin  liis  own  time  it  has  lieen  liis 
fate  to  witness  the  complete  ruin  and  down- 
fall of  the  once  iireat  Daniara  nation. 

Such  beiuii  the  case,  it  is  my  intention  to 
{live  a  brief  account  of  the  trilic.  iiotieiiii;  I 
only  those  peculiariiies  which  serve  to  dis- ! 
tiiiKnish   it   from  other   tribes,  and  which 
nii^^ht  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  be  alto- 
gether forj^olteu.    The  account  Lriviin  in  il-.e 


following  pages  hn.s  been  partly  taken  from 
Mr.  Anderssen's  "  Lake;  ><^ami,"  partly 
from  Mr.  (ialtoirH  work  on  Southwestern 
Africa,  and  i)arlly  from  (be  well-knowu 
book  by  Mr.  J{ain(>s,  to  whom  I  am  .also 
indebted  for  many  sketches,  and  much 
verbal  and  written  infoniialion. 

As  far  as  can  be  asceitaiiu'd,  the  abo- 
rij;ines  were  a  race  called,  I'ven  by  them- 
selves, llie  (Jliou  Daiuup  —  a  naiiic  ((uite 
untranslatable  to  cars  ])oiite,  and  therelore 
euphonized  by  the  colonists  into  Hill  l)a- 
maras,  thoiiLjh  in  reality  there  is  no  connec- 
tion between  them.  The  (Jlioti  I>amup  say 
that  their  jj;reat  anc(  stor  was  a  ludmoii,  who 
married  a  native  lady,  and  haii  a  immerous 
projieny.  'J"he  union,  Iiowcmt.  like  most 
iiiUMpial  m.atehes,  was  not  r>  liappv  one.  the 
mother  jiriding  liers.df  on  her  family,  and 
twiltiii;r  her  sons  with  their  low  coiineetions 
on  the  paternal  side.  'Hie  end  of  the  mat- 
ter was,  that  a  sjilit  took  place  In  the  family, 
the  sons  li(diavinj;  so  badly  that  they  dared 
no  lonjicr  face  tlieir  biL,'li-born  Hottentot 
connections,  and  lU'd  to  the  hills,  where 
they  have  ever  since  dwelt. 

The  Dainaras  may  be  roiifihly  divided 
into  two  bodies,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  the 
former  Ihmii'j;  those  who  possess  cattle,  and 
live  chiedy  on  thi'  milk,  and  the  latiei-  those 
who  liavi'  either  no  cattle,  or  only  one  or 
two,  and  who.  in  conseiiueiice,  live  !iy  the 
chase  and  on  the  wild  root.s  which  Ihev  dii,'. 
For  the  Diunaras  are   not  an   a>;ricu1tural 


.ph 


'■■>j 


their 


net,  as 


(31)4) 


cr(f""°™'  »■"•".  adapted  for  the  raising  of 
mo   looki'il   (Iowa  u|)()ii  by  tliu  rich,  ■•  sort 

an.  n.ii^.tr.a..iL.ifil..,;:,;;;';,;,s 

V  if.     .'""■  ""V  l'"«'li'>»  '■«  tl>i»t  of  «,.r- 
«•  '"'■"■'  '■'!'"'  «'"-Vii..(.s,  punish  tlu,ni 

A  on     .  (,ik,.   tlu.ir  Iivos.     Ii  will   l,,,  „,.,,„ 

^•[;!;t;:.'="'V!M^''''i''-"''i''vo«in;,i"i; 

ot  111,,  .sava-o  li((.  ix  „„t  priMtlHi'ly  „f  an  Ar- 

n  1,(0,1  to  hiiropoiULS  for  all  tlu.ir  vic's 
Sor  soini,  un,l,.uht(.,lly  tli,.y  arc  and  Is 
'I.y  .-i  .sn.^n.lar  aptitu.lo  in  ao.n.ir  n  '  th,  ? 
f.ut  naost  of  the  ..-..atoHt  evils 'of  "lu,  i  •  ' 
8>>'h   as  -Irunkonnj.ss,  cnu.Uy,  innnorali  y' 


APPEARANCE  OF  THE  DAMARAS. 


808 

(W  in  Europe.  I„  the  month  of  Augnst 
when  onr  aunnner  niav  hi.  sii/l  <,  ,'^"''/  > 
;""«,  "ot  westerlv  wi.I^W  '  w  .1  .'  luSki;; 
!>,'»ch  up  an.l  ,fes,ro.y  th„   yV^.ta!!,;!!!"- a^ 


dishonoslv,  lyiri"  sluvi-n,-  .m,!'  n,     ri 
(,»   I.,.   I'  •'/ .'"',.  ^''^".Vi  an'l  tno    ik(\  an. 
to   he   (oun.l   in   full   vlj,,,,-  anion.'    siv  r . 
"at.ons     an,I    existed    mnon/   Ia.,„"'7,'i7 

mine,  ly  i.s  h„  bent  on  attainipg  thl  n.    ■  t" 

n.iiue  Atnoan  boor,   uh  eh  is  -w  il,i,.i, 
™l|iM.-.y  B„„.,,  „r  l,.,\vi|l ;,    ,  k  i VJI^S,    ' 

sr:'„'iii;;,r"  »■"'■'• '•""»'S'«"h'i::'." 

means  a  (h's.'rac,.  SM?.  •*'  '•  "'  "•>'  »o 
'"ife'htily  a  no  ,;,.v^''''  '''•>''  '^-if'"".  ' hri ves 
knS,vn^fa       ift'^.^i-r^  '^  i«  «  well- 

the  earth  ^''  ^''''^^  •^"  "^e  face  of 

of  very  la  -go  ev  ont     'Vv"'''  '''"',?"«''  ''  ''^ 
tion  is  mostly  of    1.^  I,"''''-    T"*  ^^'^'"ta- 

t-«oa3ousaro-uatun;i,J^"Il,^^^;!i;-^ 


the  san.o  ijne,  whirlwi;;;  s  ;;?^  :  'ZV  tb,^ 
oountry  with  trenxnulous  v,",  ei  y  Tl  .[vh, " 
';!""«  vast  oolumns  of  san.l,  „  S  tjllZ 
.I.an.e  er  an-l   seyeral   ln„.,lre,r  1  f  K^h 

.nlyf 's,S  ';.■  '"•''""   •''^'^■■^"   '^<''"'»'  « 

amurasd.;s,,MKactlHMn<)rukun,b-:nWH.;a 
oi,  Ran.-bnn.^,rs,  a  most  ai.nn.priate  nine' 

rains  Ll'.""'^'^  """"'"  ^"^^  '''^'•"••*'  "'""'•«' 

viviil''li!'blni.r"''"'"'""""^^  ^'^  """"''"•  «"d 
vn K    iij,'l  tnni,!,',  are   not   unusual    in    tliH 

"'""i'.sof«..pt..nberan,l()ctolH.r    I    t    lo 

W.Iar  ra.ns  ,lo  not  set  in  till  1).,.  ■  „1  !" 

.UKl  January,  when  (hey  e„„tinu(.  wit  II  nt 

u       .:         '   'V'""?   "•"*t<''-'y   winds   prevail 

feel,  I  V  ,  .•  .  "i  ''''^•••'■'^■k,  '""1  tlH.  kin 
h^.o      .-^  •        '"^'■'''-     <'>"-iW'onally  at   tliis 

tnne,  tropical  ranis  fall,  but  they  d.,  nioro 
■»•'".=».    good,  as  s'u,lden   <.^1.    \       ™ 

^^'Sii'a^^^^ 

,iHa.:i^i5 

«vory  »I,.MI,„  „r  ,l,i.  liaSra  „4/  'K  »■' 


806 


THE  DAMARAS. 


for  them  seems  almost  non-existent,  and  an 
iiyury  which  wouid  be  fatal  to  the  more 
nervously  constituted   European    has   but 
little  eflect  on  the  Damara.    The  reader 
may  remember   the    insensibility  to  pain 
manifested  by  the  Hottentots,  but  the  Da- 
maras  even  exceed  them  in  this  particular. 
Mr.  Baines    mentions,  in   his  MS.  notes, 
some  extraordinary  instances  of  this  pecul- 
iarity.   On  one  occasion  a  man  had  broken 
his  leg,  and  the  ft-actured  limb  had  been  put 
up  in  a  splint.    One  day,  while  the  leg  was 
being  dressed,  Mr.  Baines  heard  a  great 
shout  of  laughter,  and  found  that  a  clumsy 
assistant  had  let  the  leg  fall,  and  had  re- 
broken  the  partially  united  bones,  so  that 
the  log  was  hanging  with  the  foot  twisted 
inward.    Instead  of  being  horrified  at  such 
an  accident,  they  were  all  shouting  with 
laughter  at  the  abnormal  shape  of  the  limb 
and  no  one  seemed  to  think  it  a  better  joke' 
or  lau(jhed  more  heartily,  than  the  injured 
man  hnnself.    The  same  man,  when  his  in- 
juries had  nearly  healed,  and  nitrate  of  sil- 
ver had  to  be  applied  freely  to  the  parts, 
bore  the  excruciatui"  operation  so  well  that 
he  was  complimented  on  his  courage.    How- 
ever^ it  turned  out  that  he  did  not  feel  the 
application  at  all,  and  that  the  compliments 
were  quite  thrown  away. 

On  another  occasion,  a  very  remarkable 
incident  occurred.  There  hatl  been  a  mu- 
tiny, which  threatened  the  lives  of  the  whole 
party,  and  the  ringleader  was  accordingly 
condemnc<l  to  death,  and  solemnly  executed 
by  being  shot  through  the  head  with  a  pistol, 
the  body  being  allowed  to  lie  where  it  fell. 
Two  or  three  days  afterward,  the  executed 
criminal  made  his  appearance,  not  much  the 
worse  for  the  injury,  except  the  remains  of  a 
wound  in  his  head.  He  seemed  to  think 
that  he  had  been  rather  hardly  used,  and 
asked  for  a  stick  of  tobacco  as  compensa- 
tion. 

Yet,  although  so  indifferent  to  external 
injuries,  they  are  singularly  sensitive  to  ill- 
ness, and  are  at  once  prostrated  by  a  slight 
indisposition,  of  which  an  European  would 
think  nothing  at  all.  Their  peculiar  consti- 
tution always  shows  itself  in  travelling. 
Mr.  Baines  remarks  that  a  sa/age  is  ready 
to  travel  at  a  minute's  notice,  as  he  has 
nothing  to  do  but  to  pick  up  his  weapons  and 
start  Ho  looks  with  contempt  upon  the 
preparation  which  a  white  man  makes,  and 
for  two  or  tlirfe  days'  "  fatigue  "  work  will 
beat  almost  any  European.  Yet  in  a  lon^ 
steady  manth,  the  European  tires  out  tlie 
savage,  unless  the  latter  conforms  to  the 
usages  which  he  despised  at  starting. 

He  finds  that,  after  all,  he  will  require 
baggage  and  clothing  of  some  kind.  The 
heat  ol  the  mid-day  sun  gives  him  a  head- 
ache, and  ho  is  obliged  to  ask  for  a  cap  as  a 
protection.  Then  his  sandals,  which  were 
sufficient  for  hiin  on  a  sandy  soil,  are  no 
protection  agniast  thonis,  and  so  he  hatt  U) 


procure  shoes.  Then,  sleeping  at  ni"ht 
without  a  rug  or  large  kaross  cannot  "bo 
endured  for  many  nights,  and  so  he  has  to 
Bsk  for  H  blanket  His  food  again,  such  as 
the  ground-nuts  on  which  the  poorer  Da- 
maras  chiefly  live,  is  not  sufficiently  nutri- 
tious for  long-continued  exertion,  and  he  is 
obliged  to  ask  for  his  regular  rations.  His 
'•3ual  fashion  is  to  make  a  dash  at  work,  to 
continue  for  two  or  three  days,  and  then  to 
cease  altogether,  and  recruit  his  strength  by 
passing  several  days  in  inaction. 

The  dress  of  the  Damaras  is  rather  pecul- 
iar—that of  the  women  especially  so.  The 
principal  part  of  a  man's  dress  is  a  leathern 
rope  of  wonderful  length,  seldom  less  than 
a  hundred  feet,  and  sometimes  exceeding 
four  or  even  five  hundred.  This  is  wound 
in  loose  coils  round  the  waist,  so  that  it  falls 
m  folds  which  are  not  devoid  of  grace.  In 
it  the  Damara  thrusts  his  axes,  knob-kerries, 
and  other  implements,  so  tliat  it  serves  the 
purr;  -e  of  a  belt  a  pocket,  and  a  dress. 
Hu  ;t  are  defended  by  sandals,  made 
someiaing  like  those  of  the  Bechuanas,  and 
fastened  to  the  feet  in  a  similar  manner, 
but  remarkable  for  their  length,  projecting 
rather  behind  the  heel,  and  very  much  be- 
fore the  toes,  in  a  way  that  reminds  the 
observer  of  the  long-toed  boots  which  were 
so  fashionable  in  early  English  times.  Some- 
times ho  makes  a  very  bad  use  of  these  san- 
dals, surreptitiously  scraping  holes  in  the 
sand,  into  which  he  pushes  small  articles  of 
value  tliat  may  have  been  dropped,  and  then 
stealthily  covers  them  up  with  the  sand. 

They  are  very  fend  of  ornament,  and  place 
great  value  on  iron  for  this  purpose,  fashion- 
ing it  into  various  forms,  and  jjolishinir  it 
until  it  glitters  brightly  in  the  sunbeam.';. 
Beads,  of  course,  they  wear,  and  they  are 
fond  of  ivory  beac's,  some  of  which  may  be 
rathei  termed  balls,  so  large  are  they.  One 
man  had  a  string  of  these  beads  which  hung 
from  (he  back  of  his  head  nearly  to  his  heel.«. 
The  uppermost  beads  were  about  as  larf  e  as 
billiard  bi>ll8,and  they  graduated  regularly  in 
size  until  the  lowest  .'md  smallest  were  barely 
as  large  as  hazel-nuts.  He  was  very  proud 
of  this  ornament,  and  refused  to  sell  it, 
though  he  kindly  offered  to  lend  it  tor  a  day 
or  two.  "^ 

His  headdress  costs  him  much  trouble  in 
composing,  though  he  does  not  often  "o 
through  the  labor  of  adjusting  it.  He  di- 
vidcs  his  hair  into  a  great  mimber  of  strands, 
which  he  fixes  by  imbuing  ilieni  with  a  mix- 
ture of  grease  and  red  ochre,  and  then  allows 
them  to  hang  round  his  head  like  so  many 
short  red  cords.  A  wealthy  man  will  some- 
times adorn  himself  with  a  single  cockle- 
shell in  the  centre  of  the  forcheiid,  and  Mr. 
Baines  remarks,  that  if  any  of  his  friends  at 
home  would  only  have  made  a  supper  on  a 
few  pennyworth  of  cockles,  and  sent  him  the 
shells,  he  could  have  made  his  fortune.  Tlie 
men  have  no  particular  hat  or  cap;  but,  ai 


*ping  at  night 
rosa  cannot  bo 
lid  so  he  has  to 
I  again,  sucli  as 
tlie  poorer  Da- 
ifflciently  uutri- 
rtion,  and  he  is 
r  rations.  His 
asli  at  worlj,  to 
ys,  and  then  to 
his  strength  by 
ion. 

is  rather  pecul- 
!cially  so.    The 
8s  is  a  leathern 
Idom  less  than 
nies  exceeding 
This  is  wound 
,  80  that  it  falls 
1  of  grace.    In 
s,  knob-kerries, 
it  it  serves  the 
;,  and  a  dress, 
sandals,  made 
3echuanas,  and 
milar  manner, 
gth,  projecting 
very  much  bc- 
t  reminds   the 
its  which  were 
i  times.    Somc- 
e  of  these  san- 
;  holes  in  the 
mall  articles  of 
ppcd,  and  then 
1  the  .sand, 
iient,  and  place 
rpose,  fashion- 
d  polishing  it 
he  sunbeam.s. 
and  they  are 
which  may  be 
ire  they.    One 
lis  which  hung 
•ly  to  his  heeliJ. 
out  as  large  as 
ed  regularly  in 
ist  were  barely 
as  very  proud 
ed   to  sell   it, 
ud  it  for  a  day 

uch  trouble  in 
not  often  go 
ig  it.  IIe(Ti- 
i)cr  of  strands, 
m  with  a  mix- 
iid  then  allows 
like  so  many 
lan  will  some- 
single  cockle- 
head,  and  Mr. 
his  friends  at 
.  supper  on  a 
I  sent  liim  the 
fortune.  The 
'  cap;  but,  a« 


h 


(308) 


'/&,  t 

Vft   '^ 

1 

li'iy,    ^ 

in 

'/i/   H 

f: 

if  J:      '-« 

[ 

/i*'    w 

( 

S 

v? 

1 

3 
< 

M    -^ 

• 

m    ^ 

I  ^ 

^    < 

Q 

I  ^ 


1^   - 


ii 


J/i 


Iheyarc  very  fastidious  about  their  hair  and 

r'afl?v",.r'"''  "."''r'^  destroy  all  the  e labo- 
rate  v-(Ires,sw  locks,  they  use  in  rainy 
weather  a  p.ece  of  soft  hide,  which  they 
place  on  their  heads,  and  fold  or  twist  into 

■  t"luM,f "'tn  f  ;"''^3^,'"'«?'  •"««*  convenient  to 
tlieni.  Ihe  fat  and  red  ochre  with  which  he 
a/  orns  us  head  is  liberally  bestowed  on  tl  e 
Who  e  body,  and  affords-'an  ind(.x  to  to 

WlKM.  a  Daniara  is  well  and  in  good  spirits 
ho  IS  all  r,.,l  an.l  shining  like  a  mirror  and 

e?ther;ri^'  •''  T*^"  J"-*.'".-'""  ''uH  he  isC? 
either  to  be  in  low  spirits  or  bad  eircum- 
staices.    As  a  rule,  the  Damaras  do   n  t 
wash  themselves,  preferring  to  renew  the  r 
beauty  by  pa.ut  and  grease,'and  the  na  ura 
consequeuco  is,  that  they'dilfuse  a     odor 
wlueb  IS    ar  from  ag.eeablo   to  Eu",,  ean 
nostnls.  though  their  own  seem  to  be  h. 
sensible  to  it.    Indeed,  so  powerful  are  t  J 
£\"   /''«  African 'trib'es,  that  any  one 
wo  ventures  among    them    must    boldly 
abnegate  the  sense  of  smell,  and  make  un 
hismuul  to  endure  all  kinds  of      ,    odori 
just  a.s  he  nmkes  up  his  mind  to  endu  e  the 

tmvel  n  a  r  """'1  '\  "'"''""^  I^ardshi-ps  of 
%^         ^  lureign  land,  * 

abh^  noJ''fa'  "''  "'*^.^^'"'"cn  is  most  remark^ 

tours  spoiled  bj-  bar     wo I'k '   t      T  ''■'"■ 

ft  r^  .St'f^h^^''''^"^'*^  "^"''«  "^rS  ■  bu 
11  IS  a  point  of  honor  w  fh  tlm  t-»„      "»'  ^'"t 

and  women  not    opll   down  ?"*■";■"  S'""'^ 

lier  head,  she  has  raised  it  onhf.tK  V  ,''*''"'' 
and  thus  "  rests  "  hers  ■  f  v^  ^T  ''"»''«' 
her  walk  or  putting  down  her  bu./'''"^'"" 

back,  c,.Lsisti  .  of  "fo'fj"-''''  *'«'l  toiler 
Dam'ara  girls  ak,  very  ?oml  T'^P"'':  'T'"' 
make  great  pets  of  th^m  trLr  ''"1',^"'"'  """^ 
they  were  blxbies^a  I  c l/i^ni"?.  ""-''";'^''  '*" 
exactly  as  the  mvirioH  ^  ^  "'*''"  '"^bout 
children  "^'^  '*'"'»«"  carry  their 

it  in  any'aTt'o^'t'^o  7orl,r  T*^'"?  l'^^^ 
waist  the  woman  wi  "is  S  '  ,;f  """^^  '>«r 

laac  rope,  hke  that  w'or;"SSrai",!'d 


COSTUME  OF  DAMARA  GIRLS. 


809 


motals,  such  L  brass  o^  ev  n  "^  -C^ 
nngs  are  verv  simni..  V  r  "•  J^hcse 
thick  rods  cut  to  lu  '^"'  ''f"'"  '"'■'•'^'y 
rudely  into  form   ,n  ,  A""''",  '^'"r"''  ^^^nt 

the  li^ib  b^he  hammer  TI,'"''"''^'"'*  °^^'- 
have  cost  som«  r!f  IV  •         ^''*^*''  ornaments 

wc  Shan  presenUy  see •■  "'""'^  very  dear,  as 

ml  T,?n"  r*=,''  '''''^"•^"d  the  1 1!  'S 
flTtnii  '''^V"«l^  of  this  cap  is  attac  led  a 
iiat  tail,  sometimes  tln-..^    r..  V      "n<iLiieu  a 

apSI^Fil^fl^in^^^^^^ 

T..£|wS:'ot^;::"a?,4;if 
:>;^^ci;^.^4,5";;i;^d  rK^^ 

wearr-Vi;r;t"^of  tl'"  ^^'"^'^'^'^  " "^ 
tl'e  cars    is  r  n.I  :;^      •  ^  "^"J''  •'^  ^*''''i  «3 

ochre.  So  rauc  for  h'"'  ^'"">''^  '^"'^  "-^'^ 
I'owever  is^npnJ^^^  i"'*"  H«!>  "-^clf.  which, 
This  is  n'  \t  '"'Complete  without    the   veil 

leaherwte 'rr,"V'""  '""^  ^^^^^^ 
can.  m'd   if  ;!    ""f  ^1 1'^  *'"'  '■'•ont  of  tho 

'alVoveVthe  2^  once-u" it'^Tr'  ""'"* 
en,  however,  only  w^ T'^^^s  foV'^  Z"t 


810 


THE  DAMARAS. 


time,  and  then  roll  it  back  so  that  it  passes 
over  the  foroht'ad,  and  then  falls  on  either 
shoulder. 

Heavy  and  inconvenient  as  is  this  cap, 
the  Damnra  woman  never  poes  without  it, 
and  sutlers  all  the  inconvenience  for  the 
sake  of  beinjj;  fashiofiahle.  Indeed,  so  hic;lily 
is  this  adornment  prized  by  both  sexes  that 
the  husbands  would  visit  their  wives  willi 
their  heaviest  displeasure  (i'.  e.  beat  them 
within  an  inch  of  their  lives)  if  they  ven- 
tured to  appear  witliout  it.  (^ne  woman, 
whose  portrait  was  beint;  taken,  was  reeom- 
mendcd  to  leave  her  headdress  with  the 
artist,  so  that  she  might  be  sjiared  tlie 
trouble  of  standing  while  the  elaborate  dec- 
orations were  being  drawn.  She  was  liorri- 
fied  at  tlie  idea  of  laying  it  aside,  and  said 
that  her  husband  woidd  kill  her  if  she  was 
seen  without  her  proper  dress,  If  she  wishes 
to  carry  a  burden  on  her  head,  she  does  not 
remove  her  cap,  but  pushes  it  olf  her  fore- 
head, so  tliat  the  three  pointed  ears  come 
upon  the  crown  instead  of  the  top  of  the 
head,  and  are  out  of  the  way. 

However  scanty  may  be  the  apparel  which 
is  worn,  both  sexes  are  verv  particular 
about  wearing  something,  antf  look  ujion 
entire  nudity  nuich  in  the  same  light  that 
we  do.  So  careful  arc  they  in  this  respect 
that  an  unintentional  breach  of  etiquette 
gave  its  name  to  a  river.  Some  Baniara 
■women  came  to  it,  and,  seeing  that  some 
berries  wei-e  growing  on  the  opposite  side, 
and  that  the  water  was  not  nnicn  more  than 
waist-deep,  they  left  their  aprons  on  the 
bank  and  waded  across.  While  they  were 
engaged  in  gathering  the  berries,  a  torrent 
of  water  sud<lenly  swept  down  the  river, 
overflowed  its  banks,  and  carried  away  the 
dresses.  Ever  afterward  the  Damaras  gave 
that  stream  the  name  of  Okaroscheke,  or 
"Naked  Itiver." 

They  have  a  curious  custom  of  chipping 
the  two  upper  front  teeth,  so  as  to  leave  a 
V-shaped  space  between  them.  This  is 
done  with  a  flint,  and  the  custom  prevails, 
with  some  modifications,  among  many  other 
tribe.s. 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  the  Damaras 
have  many  cattle.  They  delight  in  Iiaving 
droves  of  one  single  color,  bright  brown 
being  the  favorite  hue,  and  cattle  of  that 
color  being  mostlv  remarkable  for  their  en- 
during i)owers.  iDamara  cattle  are  mucli 
prized  by  other  tribes,  and  even  by  the 
white  settlers,  on  account  of  their  quick 
step,  strong  hoofs,  and  lasting  powers. 
They  are,  however,  rather  apt  to  be  wild, 
and,  afl  their  horns  are  exceedingly  long 
and  sharp,  an  enraged  Damara  ox  becomes 
a  most  dangerous  animal.  Sometimes  the 
liorns  of  an  ox  will  be  so  long  that  the  tips 
are  seven  or  eight  feet  apart.  The  hair  of 
these  cattle  is  shining  and  smooth,  and  the 
tuft  at  the  end  of  the  tail  is  nearly  as  re- 
markable for  its  length  as  the  horns.   These 


tail-tufls  are  much  nsed  in  decorations,  and 
are  in  great  request  for  ornamenting  the 
shafts  of  the  assagais.  As  is  generally  the 
case  with  African  cattle,  the  cows  give  but 
little  milk  daily,  and,  if  the  calf  should  hap- 
pen to  die,  none  at  all.  In  such  cases,  the 
Damaras  stuff  the  skiu  of  the  dead  calf  with 
grass,  and  place  it  before  the  cow,  who  is 
quite  contented  with  it.  Sometinu's  a  rather 
ludicrous  incident  has  occurred.  Tlie  cow, 
Avliilc  licking  lier  imagined  oflspring,  lias 
come  upon  tlie  grass  which  protrudt^s  hero 
and  there  from  tlie  rudely  stulled  skin,  and, 
thrusting  her  nose  into  the  interior,  has 
dragged  out  and  eaten  the  whole  of  tho 
grass. 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  the  Damaras 
find  much  of  their  sulisistence  in  the  ground. 
They  are  trained  from  infancy  in  digging 
the  ground  for  food,  and  little  children  who 
cannot  fairly  walk  may  be  seen  crawling 
about,  digging  up  roots  and  eating  them. 
By  reason  of  this  diet,  the  figures  of  the 
children  are  anything  but  graceful,  their 
stomachs  jirotruding  in  a  most  absunl  man- 
ner, and  their  backs  taking  a  corresjionding 
curve.  Tlifir  mode  of  digging  holes  is 
called  "  crowing,"'  and  is  thus  managed  : 
they  take  npointcd  stick  in  their  right  hand, 
break  up  the  ground  with  it,  and  .M-rajie  out 
the  loose  earth  with  the  left.  They  are 
wonderfully  expeditious  at  this  work,  hav- 
ing to  <>niplov  it  for  many  purposes,  such  as 
digging  uj)  the  ground-nuts,  on  which  tliey 
feed  largely,  excavating  for  water,  and  the 
like.  Tliey  will  sometimes  "  crow  "  holes 
eighteen  inches  or  more  in  deiith,  and 
barely  six  inches  in  diameter.  The  word 
i'  crow  "  is  used  very  frequently  by  travellers 
in  this  part  of  Africa,  and  sadly  puzzles  tho 
novice,  who  does  not  in  the"  least  know 
what  can  be  meant  by  "crowing"  for  roots, 
"  crow-water,"  and  the  like.  Crow-watc.-, 
of  course,  is  that  which  is  obtained  '■  'I"- 
ging  holes,  and  is  never  so  good 
which  can  be  drawn  from  soun;  ojieu 
or  stream. 

"Crowing"  is  verj' useful  in  house-bullvf 
ing.  The  women  imicure  a  number  ot 
tolerably  stout  but  pliant  sticks,  some  eiglit 
or  nine  feet  long,  and  then  "  ci'ow  "  a  corre- 
sponding number  of  holes  in  a  circle  about 
eight  feet  in  diameter.  The  sticks  are 
planted  in  the  holes,  the  tops  bent  down 
and  lashed  together,  and  the  framework  of 
the  house  is  complete.  A  stout  iiole,  with 
a  forked  top,  is  then  set  in  tho  middle  of  the 
hut,  and  supports  the  roof,  just  as  a  tent- 
|)oIe  supports  the  canvas.  IJru.shwood  is 
then  woven  in  and  out  of  the  framework, 
and  mud  plastered  upon  the  brushwood. 
A  hole  is  left  at  one  side  by  way  of  a  door, 
and  another  at  the  top  to  answer  tho  pur- 
pose of  a  chimney.  When  the  (Ire  is  not 
burning,  an  old  bx-hide  is  laid  over  the 
aperture,  and  kept  in  its  place  by  heavy 
stones.    Sloreovef,  as  by  tne  heat  of  the 


outsi.lc  It  various  cra<;k.s  make  their  nr.near- 
ance  in  the  roof,  l,i,U-s  are   lai.l   h.'r  ■  and 

nearly  covered   with    hides.     Tlie.so  act   a« 

fnvar  ,1       Wr'^  '"  ''"^  "''^"'  ■'»'•,  alin...st 

u  ins  t  (.  m-hi,an<l  seeming  to  have  the 

vihout"'.::"'""''^  'r"  ^'-'^  "••"eight  hoi  s 
without  ..xvgeu.  Ah  f  to  increiuse  (lie 
c-hanee  ,>r  sullboation,  the  Dan    ras  ahv  ivs 

nTd?,e'lv"'  '";■■"  -i".'^'^'  '""■'?'""   ^•-•-^v- 

thctiso5ves'"  m!!i"'''  ,  "'1   ^^■•"."•''^•''^    ^™"W'^ 
itV     Tv.Vhin    H      i''^"'   ™'^''    ••*    8"|K!r(lu- 

seS\;t'of  ati^'hi^;^':;^^^ ''- "«t 

events,  it  has  m^t  I  e  rL\,l  S'  ?"•'  '^.V'" 
«oom  to  fail  most  complete  in  arUh.n^th^ 
and  cannot  even  eou  ,t  beyond  a  cm^^^^^^^^^^ 
number.  Mr.  Galt.-n  gives  i  ve  y  amusi  " 
description  of  a  Damani  in  di  Hculks  vvitK 
a  question  of  simple  arithmetic  ""' 

We  went  only  three  hours,  and  slent  it 
hSl'^'Somr'v  "^'-'''^^^     "^'^^  ilansTid  I 

;;.remostnrovoking?!iiiS;'te:i^^ 

i^^|^^Xt';o.r=r--£- 

f^triiziv-'bfJrvfdii^'-' 

:^hJ^li'^^'^^  l«  Ht.le;    tie  next!  islt 


IGNOUANCE  OF  ARITHMETIC. 


311 

mains  to  grasp  and  secure  the  flngerg  that 
are  required jor  'units.'  Yet  thev  seldom 
o«e  oxen:  the  way  i„  which  try^.lf™" 
the  088  ol  one  is  not  by  the  n.iml'er  of  The 

;^a^i::;:i,jTnr''''''''^"^'^^^''-''-'- 

two  sti..K^  of  lobar  io'^^e  tl  ^'nUeTcT 
CKUige  for  one  sh,...p,  it  woul.l  sorely  pu^ 
ze  a  l)am;.ra  to  take  two  sheen  and  p i vn 
""•  four  sticks.     I  have  done  ^,  ^^^ 

man  hrst  put  two  of  the  sticks   i.urt,  and 
t..ke  a  H..M.t  nv„..  them  at  one  of  tf.e  ^\iTp 


ShS:;/;^'^^-''i^^^"iani" 
p5,'^^'s?;rr^,rtt'^^^i^'^ 

have  a  very  poor  notion  of  tine  If  i.'i^ 
!^{,'  'S"PPo«o  ^ve  start  at  su  r  se  where 
will  the  sun  be  when  we  irriw.'"'  fi  '  ^"*^^^ 
the  wildest  points  in  M,e«k-vH  "^''-I'^Jike 
are  somethiV'  of  ns  m.l^'  "'""-■?  ^^''y 
names  to  se  4d  sta?s  TW  if^  ""''  ^"^' 
of  distinguishiiKT  c :?  ,!•  ,?^r3'  have  no  way 

m:;^SvS:jy:pg^,^-t  how 

Ignorance  of  all  num.-rical  ide"s?s  .^i-v  "^ 
"oyng..  In  practi.-e,  Xtever  th,^P  '?"" 
possess  in  their  langua-e  thev  eowi'^i  "■''>' 
no  numeral  "-reater  ( Im  Vi..  ^  '''^^t^Jnly  "«c 
wish  to  exprtslu  '^^ey' tX  tl't^^.-t'^ 
gers,  which  arc  to  the  u  w  form;,!.?..  ^  '  .''"" 
ments  of  calculation  al  a  siK 
an  English  sehool-boy.  £^,2  *"  '"  '" 
niuf'h  after  fivp  hr^^.  ^  puzzle  very 

i-i-n  alter  five,  because  no  spare  hand  rd- 


idf'^Srf'^*'''"'  "'^ving-saii^ii^iliiZ 
silt  that  Ihit  one  was  honestly  i,aid  for  and 
'n  <  ing   to   his    surprise    that    exac   v   tw 

count  iir"ti::r' ;,"  ""V  "^ «'-'"'"''-  - 
^}lS.f;;it  Ii;^^,^'aj::^,-S!n^ 

!^f.Siek;nL:rre:^;a^£ 
Sfzsest-rthS 

ai..!  he  broke  otf  the  transact!  n  nuiltu!,' 
sticks  were  put  into  his  hand,  an    oe  sheen 

It  out,  and  comi,lains  the  next  day     ^ 

"■'  s  e^S  ;r  -^  "°^  ^^'-'^ «""  '«^- 

'"n-    isne  Kept  puzzling  and  runniiKr  i.,.- 
eyes  over  them  l.ackwanl  and  f  rwa  d  h,  f 

Although  the  Damaras  managed  to  over- 


312 


THE  DAMARAS. 


fe  ^1      I 


run  tho  roiintry.  (lioy  rnnnot  l)o  considorcd 
11  wiirlikt-  iicoplt'.  neither  Imvc  tlicy  been 
nhU\  to  liDiil  tiir  any  l(Mip;tli  of  liino  tlio 
very  iniinvitini;  laml  llii'V  nuKiucM-cd.  Their 
Avi'iiponrt  are  lew  and  ttunplc,  l)itt,  nucIi  a.s 
tliry  arc,  nnicli  |iaiiis  are  taken  in  liieir 
niannraelurc,  and  tiie  Daniani  warrior  is  a.s 
earel'iil  to  keep  Ium  rude  arni!<  in  ^ood  order 
as  is  tlie  disciplined  soldier  of  lOnrope.  The 
chief  and  distinctive  u'ca)ion  of  the  Daniara 
is  tlu!  assagai,  which  has  little  in  eonnnon 
with  the  weapons  (hat  have  already  lieen 
deserilied  nuiU'V  that  name.  It  is  ''out  six 
feet  in  lenuflh,  and  has  an  enornmu-  lilade, 
leaf-shajad,  a  tool  or  nion^  in  lenjilh,  and  pro- 
))()rtionalely  wide.  It  is  made  of  soil  steel, 
and  can  lie  at.  mice  sharpened  Ity  scrapiuj^ 
with  a  knit'c  or  stone.  The  shall  is  corrc- 
sp<indin>jly  stout, and  to  tlieceutre  isattaehed 
(uie  of  the  llowinir  ox-tails  which  have  al- 
ready hei'U  mcniioncd.  Some  of  these  assa- 
/^ais  are  made  almost  wholly  of  iron,  and 
have  only  a  short  piece  of  wood  in  the  mid- 
tile,  which  answers  tor  a  handle,  as  well  as 
an  attachment  for  the  ox-tail,  which  seems 
to  ho  ail  essential  p.irt  uf  the  Duiuarn  ussa- 
fiai. 

The  weapon  is.  as  may  he  emiji'ctured,  an 
exceedingly  incllieient  one.  and  the  hiade  is 
oflener  used  as  a  knife  than  an  otfensive 
weapon.  It  is  certainly  useful  in  the  chase  of 
the  el(>pliant  and  other  larj;e  t;anie,  because 
the  wound  which  it  makes  is  very  larjie,  and 
causes  a  };real  tlow  of  blood;  l)ut  aj^ainst 
human  enemies  it  is  comparatively  useless. 
The  Dainara  also  carries  a  how  and  arrows, 
■which  are  wretchedly  inetfeetive  weapons, 
the  nuirksman  seldoin  hittin;^  his  object  at  n 
distance  greater  than  ten  or  twelve  yards. 
The  weapon  which  he  really  handles  well  is 
the  knob-kerrie  or  short  cKub,  and  this  he 
can  us(;  either  as  a  club  at  short  cpiarter.s, 
or  as  a  mis.sile,  in  the  latter  case  hurlinsj;  it 
■with  a  force  and  precision  that  renders  it 
really  formiilable.  Still,  the  Damara's  entire 
nrmiunent  i.s  a  very  ]ioor  one,  and  it  is  not 
matter  of  wonder  that  when  he  came  to 
match  himself  a;;ainst  the  jtossessors  of  lire- 
arms  he  should  be  hojielessly  defeated. 

In  their  contliets  with  the  Hottentots, 
the  unfortunate  Damaras  sulfered  dreadfully. 
They  were  literally  cut  to  pieces  by  far  in- 
ferior forces,  not  tlirou;;!!  any  particular  valor 
on  the  part  of  the  i-nemy,  nor  from  any 
esjiecial  cowardice  on  their  own,  but  simply 
because  they  did  not  know  their  own  jiowers. 
Stalwart  wari'iors,  well  .nrmed  with  their 
broad-bladed  assavrais.  miiiht  be  seen  par.i- 
1.  zed  with  fear  at  tlu'  sound  and  etfccts 
of  the  muskets  with  which  the  Ilrittcntots 
■were  armed,  and  it  was  no  nnconnnon  oe- 
curronce  for  a  Daniara  soldier  to  stand  still 
in  fear  and  trembling  while  a  little  Hotten- 
tot, at  twenty  jiaces'  distance,  deliberately 
loa<ied  his  weapon,  and  then  shot  him  down. 
Being  iijnorant  of  the  construction  and 
management  bi"  fire-arnis,  the  Damaras  had 


no  idea  that  they  wore  harmless  wheti  di«- 
chargiMl  (for  in  those  days  breech-loaders 
and  revolverd  were  alike  tndiiiown  to  tho 
Hottentots),  and  therid'ore  allowed  them- 
selves to  lui  didiberalely  shot,  while  the 
enemy  was  really  at  their  mercy. 

If  the  men  suli'ered  death  in  the  field,  tho 
fate  of  the  women  was  worse.  According 
to  the  custom  of  th(^  Damara  trilxt,  thi^y 
carried  all  their  wealth  on  their  iiersons,  in 
the  shape  of  beads,  ear-rin;j;s,  au(l  especially 
the  larj^e  ami  heavy  metal  rinjjs  with  which 
their  ankles  and  wrists  were  adorned.  When- 
ever the  Hottentot  soldiers  cauu!  upon  li 
Damara  womini,  they  always  robbed  her  of 
I'Very  oi'nanicnt,  tcariui;  otV  all  her  clothing 
to  search  for  tlien\,  and,  .-is  the  metal  ringH 
could  not  \h:  unclenched  without  some 
trouble,  they  deliberately  cut  otf  the  handn 
and  fi'ct  of  the  wretched  woman,  tore  olF 
the  rings,  and  left  her  to  live  (U'die  as  might 
happen.  Slrang(dy  enough  they  ofti  ii  liveil, 
even  after  inalergoing  such  treatment;  and, 
after  stanching  tin;  tlowiug  lilood  by  thrust- 
ing the  stumps  of  their  lindis  into  the  hut 
sand,  sonu'  of  them  contrived  to  crawl  for 
many  miles  tmtil  Ibcy  rejoined  their  I'riemls. 
For  some  tinu-  after  the  war,  maimed  Da- 
mara women  were  ol'ten  seen,  some  being 
without  K'et,  others  without  hands,  anil 
some  few  without  either — theso  having 
been  the  richest  when  assaulted  by  their 
cruel  enemies. 

The  Damaras  are  subdivided  into  a  ninn- 
ber  of  eaudas  —  a  word  which  has  some 
;nialogy  with  the  Hindoo  "caste,"  each 
ciuida  having  its  peculiar  liles,  supersti- 
tions, &c.  Oni^  Cauda  is  I'ailed  Ovakn- 
eynba,  or  the  Suu-ehildreii;  another  is 
()vakueiu)ndiura,  or  the  Uain-eliiidrcn;  and 
so  on.  The  eandas  have  special  emblems 
or  crests— if  such  a  word  may  be  used. 
Tlu!se  emidcms  are  always  certain  trees  or 
bushes,  which  represent  the  eandas  just  as 
the  red  and  white  roses  represented  llie  two 
great  ])olitical  parties  of  I',ngland.  liach  of 
these  castes  has  some  ])robibitcd  foixl,  and 
they  will  almost  starve  rather  than  break 
the  law.  One  eanda  will  not  eat  tin;  tlesh  of 
red  oxen  —  to  another,  the  draught  oxen  arc; 
prohibited;  and  so  fastidious  are  they,  that 
they  will  not  touch  the  vessels  in  whicli  such 
food  might  have  been  eooki d,  noi'  even  stand 
to  h'cward  of  the  tin',  lest  the  smoke  sliouhl 
touch  them.  These  itracticcs  I'ause  the  Da- 
maras to  be  very  troublesome  as  guides,  and 
it  is  not  uniil  the  leader  has  steaclily  refused 
to  humor  them  tlial  they  will  consent  !o 
forego  for  the  time  their  antipathies. 

This  eustom  is  thi'  iiicu-e  extraordinary,  as 
till'  Damaras  are  by  nature  and  education 
anything  but  fastiilious,  auil  tlu'v  will  eat  all 
kinds  of  food  wliich  an  Kurojiean  woid<l 
reject  with  disgust.  They  will  eat  the  tlesh  of 
cattle  or  horses  which  have  died  of  disease, 
ivs  Well  as  that  of  the  leopard,  liya'na,  and 
other  beasts  of  prey.    In  spite  oi'  their  un- 


THE  WIFE'S  nroirT  op  divorce. 


813 


:  ■ ':    ""  '".  'iiKi   iticrc  II   urn  corfjiiiilv 

.tnd  luol.      ,.„,(,  „,,.  ,,,      ji    ,.„.  „^  ,^^^_ 
""•  prohihit,.,!  unimulH,  (,,,(1 


(iini'  .'trid  luol. 

iiiP! 

i»in:.  h,".'!i  , ' ,  i,;:™:;:;;:,,'""  ■"," 

thorn   when  ((..•id  ■,  ii,.;..„     i     '"^  ''"'c  ("r 

1.0  always,  if  ,  ,«s  1  ,.,  '^  ";"''•""  ''"«  '■■'«'. 

not   only  i  iMtrum.    t  i  "•  , ''''''""'I''''   'f 

H(.rn,.k  with  a  i  K'k  in  f  l-""r''v''"''  ^'»'n 
'"nnn,.r.  Th>  Damn  ■",,'';".''  "I'-.^n-thmu 
/ho  diiof  Ohio'  "'"rhis     ;';;■■'"  """^"■'^  "'■■'^ 

animals.    Th^H  ho  ,k^,. m"  /'*  ""^  ^'•'^'•i""'' 

•"kill,  .ho  to-srof  4Si^^,;iish%"'''''  ^'T--^' 

''cinsr  the  inutatioi  of  M  .'  V      ''  ""i^'oian 
th«>  hahoon.  *  "'*"  ^''"•"•''3'  canter  of 

n,.^'';;!:^^;;^;'^,^^ rrjally  rnmarkahlo    ,,  j 


«tn.in;lv  (hrou.'h  iV    ^U'  .  V   '^  i"  "  '"''•''"' 

-«i„.r,.,|  ,..„.aJ.  „:,r  ; ,  ,  „  "  5;;';;'; 

""!k!"«  <l'oirHh..||ankl..(HsM,    I    i,  Ci 
'I'"."""-  '"'-xt  n„.|o,liuu,slv.      jC,.     iv      . 

S^k1ri';;''n.!'''''''r' ^^7"''"  •'"•''•''-: 

«"I(K     It       I,     111,,     rr,.,„|„|      „j,  ,.,.(i,.,,,l      ,,„_' 

'•••".".^Mi,,.  su,,  ,-o„i.,i  u„,i  otc.r  it  ,■;.,,; 

II.     <••■•  1    T  "'-^  I'liis  oi  the  wariioiw    uiii. 

,«*„-,,,|,„.  ,,,.,„„„.  ■n,„',„n.„,ii    '•,    " 


-    •     .      .  ..II-    HI, I 

only  plac-o  of  .v„ti.|v' 
«ho  -.row.s-'  1,.,,.  „w„  j^|.o,.n,!-,    '™"'lfr'' 

i-e.cookiLrLrunu:fis;i:!;fi: 


i 


U 


Hi      ' 


314 


THE  I)  AM  A  HAS. 


f foods  (Vom  pliico  to  pliico.  Kiicli  wifi"  ImH 
Kir  own  hut,  which  of  cour)*!'  hIk*  htiiliN 
tor  hcrMi'll';  and,  iillhoii^h  |)(dyKittny  in  in 
vo^iii',  lh<<  niinihrr  of  H'ivi'H  U  not  ko  ^ri<iit 
iiM  is  llic  ciiKi'  Willi  oilier  trilicM.     Thrrc  Ih 


.'ilwiiVM  ono   I'hicf  wild,   who   lakcM 


prcci 


dcncc  of  llu>  othcrn,  uiid  whoxc  tddest  hoii  i» 
(■oiisidorod  the  lu-ir  to  his  Ihlhor'H  poxxcH- 

MiOHM. 

Thoiij^h   tho  DiiiDiiriiH  hiivo  no  rcnl  rcli- 
jjion,  Ihi'V  hiivf  jilcnty  of  miprrslilioiis  pnic- 
ficcs,  oiH'  of  wliicli  l)('ars  a  slrikinj^  rt'scni- 
to  the   sacn'fl    (Ire   of  the   aiicitntx 


hia 


Till'  chicf'M  hut  is  (li!<(iiij,'iiislu'd  Ivy  a  lir(> 
which  \h  alwavM  kept  bnrniiiL;,  outMidc  the 
hut  ill  line  weather,  and  inside  <lniiiii{  rain. 

To  watch  lliis  lire  is  the  duty  of  his  daiiKh-    thai  liis  body  shall  he  left  in  his  own  I 

tor,  who  is  IV  kind  of  priestess,  and  is  called  i  in  which  case  it  is  laid  on  an  elevated  plat 


the  kneo«.  Ox-hides  arc  then  tird  over  It, 
and  it  is  hurled  with  its  facii  to  the  north, 
as  already  dcscrihed  when  treatinsj  of  lint 
liechuanas.  Cattle  are  (hen  slaui^hlcrcd  in 
honor  of  tint  deitd  (diicf.  and  over  the  iirrave 
a  nost  i.s  erected,  to  \vhich  the  skulls  and 
hair  are  attached  as  R  lro])hy.  The  how, 
arrows,  assagai,  and  clulm  of' the  deceased 
are  hnii)^'  on  thi'  same  post.  Lar<;(i  stones 
are  presHc<l  into  the  soil  aliov(t  and  around 
the  h'rave,  and  a  lar^e  pile  of  thorns  is  also 
heaped  over  it,  in  order  to  keep  olf  llii^ 
hya'uas,  who  would  he  surtf  lo  di).j  up  uml 
diwour  the  hodv  hefore  the  following  day. 
The  ;;rave  of  a  1>aniara  chiuf  is  reureseiiti'd 
n  paf.;e  •(112.     Now  and  then  a  chief  orders 


ottieially  ()nilauj;ere.  She  performs  vari- 
ous riles  ill  virtuo  of  her  olllc(! ;  such  as 
spriukliiij;  the  cows  with  water,  as  tlu'y  ;,'o 
out  to  feed;  tyiiui  it  sacred  knot  in  her 
leathern  apron,"  if  one  of  them   dius ;  and 


form,   and   u  siron;;   fence   uf    thorns  and 
slakes  liuilt  round  the  hiil. 

The  funeral  cereiiionies  beinsj  completed, 
the  new  chief  forsakes  llu^  place,  and  takes 
the  whole  of  the  penph^  under  his  oom- 
other  similar  duties.  .Should  the  position  I  luand.  lie  remains  at  a  distance  for  several 
of  the  villajje  he  rhan^'ed,  she  precedes  the  j  vears,  duriu<,'  which  lime  he  wears  the  sijiii 
oxen,  curryinur  ix  hurniiii;  hniud  from  Ihe  | 'of  mourniuj,',!.  c.  a  dark-cidored  conical  cap, 
consecrated  lire,  and  taking,'  care    that  she  j  and  round  tlii>  neck  a  thou;;,  to  tlu^  ends  of 


rcplivcos  it  from  time  to   time.     If  bv  any  I  which  are  liuuj' tw 


chance  it  should  he  extinguished,  jjreat  i 
the    lamentations.      The   whole    tribe    are 


xhell. 


o  sui.ill  jiieccB  of  ostrich 


When  the  season  of  mourniii<r  is  over,  tho 

Koes 


called  totcether,  cattle  arc  aacriticed  as  expi-  ]  tribe  return,  headed  bv  the  chief,  who 
atory  olVeriiisjs,  and  the  (ire  is  re-kindl.'d  hy  Mo  the  ^lavc  of  his  fiilher.  kneels  over  il, 
tVictiou,     If  one  of  the  sons,  or  a  chief  maii,  i  and  whispers  that  he  has  returned,  to^'ether 


should  remove  from  the  spot,  and  set  up  a 
villa<^e  of  his  own,  he  is  supjilii'd  with  some 
of  the  sacred  lire,  and  hands  it  over  to  hi 


with  the  cattle  and  wives  whi<h  his  liilher 
<.'ave  him.  He  then  asks  for  his  |mrenl's 
aid   ill  all  his  undertakiiii's.  and  from  that 


own  dau^'hter,  who  becomes  the  Uiidan^'ere  ,  moment  tak. ..  the  place   which  his  father 
of  the  new  villauje.  |  filled  before  him.     Caltle  are  then  slaugh- 

That  the  Dauiaras  have  sonip  hazy  notitm  '•  tered  and  a  feast  held  to  the  nieinory  of  the 
of  the  iminortalily  of  tlie  soul  is  evident  i  dead  chief,  and  in  honor  of  the  livin;L:  one; 
eiiou^'h,  though  they  profess  not  to  believe  and  each  iierson  preset  partakes  of  the 
in  such  a  doctrine:  for  they  will  .simietimes  meat,  which  is  distributed  by  the  chief  him- 
SO  to  the  pfrave  of  a  deceased  friend  or  ,'  self.  The  deceased  chief  svnibolically  par- 
chief,  lay  down  provisions,  ask  him  to  eat,  i  takes  of  the  baiKpiet.  A  "couple  of  twin's 
drink,  and  be  merry,  and  then  beg  him,  in  j  cut  troin  the  tree  of  the  particular  eantla  to 
return,  to  nu\  them,  and  '^ranl  them  herds  which  the  deceased  belon^'ed  are  considered 
of  cattle  and  plenty  of  wives.  Moreover, 
they  believe  that  tlie  dead  revisit  the  earth, 
though  not  in  the  huniaii  form:  they  gener- 
ally appear  in  the  .shape  of  .some "animal, 
but  are  alw.iys  distinguished  by  a  mixture 

of  some  ether  animal.      For  example,  if  a       

Damara  sees  a  dog  with  one  foot  like  that  [formed,  the   viilago 


of  iin  ostrich,  he  knows  that  ho  sees  an 
apjiarition,  ind  is  res])e(tful  accordingly. 
If  it  should  follow  him.  he  is  dreadfully 
frightened,  knowing  that  his  death  is  prog" 


IS  his  representative,  and  with  this  emblem 
each  piece  of  meat  is  touched  before  the 
guests  ccmsunie  it.  In  like  manner,  tlie 
first  iiail  of  milk  that  is  drawn  is  tjiken  to 
the  grave,  and  poured  over  it. 
These  ceremonies  being  rightly  per- 
" '"         '     built  anew,  and   is 


always  made  to  resemble  that  which  had 
been  deserted;  the  huts  being  built  on  tlie 
same  ground,  and  peculiar  care  being  taken 
that   the   lirej)laces   should  (Kcuiiy  exactly 


noslicated  thereby.    The  name  of  such  an  ;  the  same  jMisitions  that  thev  did  before  the 
apparition  is  OlJ-yuru.  j  tribe  went  into  volnntarv  exile.    The   hut 

«  hen  a  Damara  chief  dies,  he  is  buried  i  of  the  chief  is  always  upon  the  east  side  of 
J.'I.  •■•;''"i''"  .il  peculiar  fashion.    As  soon   as  j  the  village. 


life  is  extinct  — some  say,  even  before  the 
last  breath  is  drawn  —  th'e  bvstanders  break 
the  spine  by  a  blow  from'  a  large  stone. 
They  then  unwind  the  long  rope  that  encir- 
cles the  loins,  and  lash  the  body  together  in 
a  sitting  posture,  the  head  being  bent  over 


The  i)amar;us  have  a  singular  kind  of 
oath,  or  asseveration  —  "  Uv  the  tears  of  my 
mother!  "  —  a  form  of  words  so  poetical  and 
])athetic,  that  it  seems  to  imply  great  moral 
capabilities  among  a  people  that  could  in- 
vent and  use  it. 


lion  lio<1  over  It, 

IK'll    to  tll<«  IKirtll, 

Iri'iitiiisf  of  lliti 
11  r*liiii){liU'n-(l  ill 
il  over  till'  Kiiivn 

I  Iho  HkiillH  und 
l>liy.     Tlio    how, 

of    lllO    (IciM'IIMl'll 

t.  Liirfjo  Nto;i(>H 
l)ov<)  iiiul  uroimd 
if  lliorriN  JH  iiUo 
to  keep  oil"  tint 
I'  to  iWk  up  iiDil 
1'  lollowii)^  (lay. 
ufis  reitrcHiMilcd 

II  Ik  cliit't'  ordiM'H 

I   llJH  own    llOllMC, 

n  cicvidtMl  plut- 
ul'   Ihoi'iiH  and 

icins?  comnlptiMl, 
piiu't',  Mild  takes 
under  liiH  coin- 
tiiiicc  for  Hcvcral 
■  Wears  tlio  Hij;ii 
•red  conical  caji, 
:,  to  the  ends  of 
iicct'8  of  ostrich 

ninjj  is  over,  tho 
chief,  who  jjoc'H 

kneels  over  it, 
turned,  (ojjether 
b'hich  his  fnlher 
lor  his  |)arent's 
,  and  fron)  that 
liich  his  father 
re  then  slaugh- 

nieniorv  of  the 
'  the  livin;.';  one; 
partakes  of  the 
y  the  chief  hiin- 
kniholically  par- 
conjile  of  twijis 
ticniar  eantla  to 
1  are  considered 
til  this  einhlein 
Oied  lieforo  the 
e  manner,  the 
iiwn  is  t4ikcn  to 

it. 
;  rifjhtly  per- 
t  anew,  and  is 
hat  which  had 
iiff  built  on  the 
ire  beiiiff  taken 
cKcnjiy  exactly 
V  did  before  tlu? 
xile.  The  hut 
the  east  side  of 

iigular  kind  of 
the  tears  of  my 
so  poetical  and 
jly  great  moral 
that  could  in- 


CIIAPI'EU  XXXI. 

THE  OVAMBO  OR  OVAMPO  TlilBE. 


kVs  to'VLtliVe"  '°''"  '«  '•'''^"S'"-".  '"uch 

i)iar!irfc;:i't'r?''™""- 

keep  a  watcl  f^  i.T'         "'''"huaniw,   „uist 

he  posse  tsanc?t"rr'"^  "'■'''''''  ^'"^'' 
exposed  for '  a  moment  '?f ^'^«,"».V  olyect 
vanish  in  some  mv  '■  '  '^'"  l"-"l''»l'ly 
..ever  bo  se  7  J  J^^'*''^^'?'! '"''""V""-  ''"^ 

Ovainho  tribe  me  ti.wH"/'?;''''^^"  "*"  "'^' 
tlK.rougldy  1  .nest  tl' 7  m,  ''''  "',7  '^'-'''^  «« 
touch  W  ot- 1.^  ,,rol .  7  T;;"1'' not  even 
«'on,  mudi  less  sto^l' W^  ^  "l"'"'""'  '"■'•"»«- 
eion  when  1  is  serv !.!'.""''' °"  «"^  ««<^^'i- 
som,;  trilling  a,^ic^'f„^'';\f>l'7>«'l  to  leave 
Kround,  messen  r.  rs  1.^^  i  '"  '"".^  '"'mpinR 

^vith  the   nussi,TyiS,''^'T^''''^'l  '"'""' 
RPivna  n.„r»  :_'„''„i'^cii-ies.    Ainonjj  them- 


selves,  theft  is  fiilli- 1.,„>,.„.  •  —,■■■""«   mem-  uvanibos    iikI  o  *-    "  iT  —.*■'""•"""»  oi  mo 

and  they  have  Sved T'f '   "^  ".•"'•ime,   with    he' fact  till  lu\"'  ".  ''l^'""-  «"-"«I^ 
civilizn(!«n    .K.. "    'y.V'- **'  ®"^"h  a  pitch  of  Uxoentionn  fv  .;       ^'  ""though  this   tribe   is 

^Sr.!^!!!™  -e.  ap-  he;:dr7^ll^  "1  i!! -!!^  •'--">«  vast 


civilization    that    ooyiain    .' "  »"""  "i  I  exoentionnllv  r!,.i,  .J,  "T,";"*'"  """   ""'"e   is 

pointed  to  act  ft,  mnll?    l''''"^""«  '"^   ap-   herds  of  ]e,»o  /"  '^'^"•c,  ,.ossesslng  vast 

cognizance    of  ']?„.?,^''*'''ate8,  and  to  tal^e   tl  e  r  on  v  !  f,  .''  '^  ^"Y-  ""'"'''^  '»"'>  Soats  are 
cr/nos.//f /J;;t  -  -11  af  of  other  ¥K^^^^^^^^^^^ 


cognizance    of  th.^ef"'' \°^  """  ^o  ifiKo  I  tlieir  nni,- ,...,. '  ■"  -"••  ^""n  imii  goats  are 


»f  .iBali,,;.    ; m  ,  7;,'; •<"""?''  I"  lh«  «.l  10  a  ,lisH ,™  rL™  M     ,'''""°  »™  ""' »"S 


310 


THE  OVAMBO  OR  OVAMPO  TRIBE, 


T  10  licrrls  of  swine,  however,  are  never 
iiilowcd  to  come  near  tlic  houses,  partly  for 
tlie  rensoiis  ahvmly  siven-,  and  partly  on 
acronnt  ot  their  niischievou«  proju'iisities 

The  first  en^ravinj,'  on  i)a!>;e  ;W<J  repre- 
sents the  arehitecture  of  the  O'vainhos.    The 
houses,  wiih  their  flat,  conieal  roofs,  are  so 
ow  that  a  man  cannot  slant!   uprii,'ht  in 
them,     J{ut  the    Ovamhos   never   want  to 
stand  nprij,'ht  in  their  houses,  thinking  them 
to  be  merely  sleep! nj,'-plaees  into  whidi  thev 
can  erawl,  and  in  which  thev  can  he  shel- 
tered (lin-ing  the  ni^rht.     Two  grain-stores 
are  also  seen,  each  eonsistiui,'  of  a  hu>'e  iar 
standing  on  supports,  and  covered  witli  a 
tliateh  ot  rewls.    In   the   background   is  a 
owl-house.    Poultry  are  much  ?)red  among 
the  Ovambos,  and  are  of  a  small  (h-scription 
•.■arcely   larirer   than  an  English    bantam, 
ihey    are,  liowever,    prolillc;  and    lay  an 
abundance  ot  egg.s. 

The  dress  of  the  Ovambos,  tliough  scanty 
IS  rather  remarkable.    As  to  the  men,  they 
generally  shave  the  greater  part  of  tlie  head, 
but  always  leave  a  certain  amount  of  their 
short,  woolly  hair  upon  the  crown.    As  the 
skull  of  the  Ovambos  is  rather  oddly  formed 
projecting  considerably  behind,  this  fashion 
^ives  the  whole  Iiead  a  very  curious  ettcct. 
liic  rest  ot  the  man's  dress  consists  ohielly 
ot  l)eads  and  sandals,  the  former  bein-r  prin- 
cipally worn   us  necklaces,  and   the'"' latter 
almost  precisely  resembling  the  Bechuanan 
sandals,  which  have  already  been  described 
Ihev  generally  carry  a  knife   with   them, 
stuck  into  a  band  tied  round  the  upper  part 
p    the  arm.    The  knife  bears  soni.'  resem- 
blaiice  in  general  make  to  that  of  tiie  Be- 
cliuanas  and  is   made  by  themselves,  they 
being  considerable  adepts   in    metallurgv-. 
The  be  lows  employed  by  the  smiths  mirch 
resembles  that  which  is  in  use  ainono-  the 
Bechuanas,  and  thev  contrive  to  procure  a 
strong  and  steady  fclast  of  wind  by  fixin" 
two  sets  of  bellows  at  each  forge,  and  hav" 
nig  them  worked  by  two  a.ssi.stant.s,  while 
the  chief  smith  attends  to  the   metal  and 
wields  his  stone  hammer.    The  metjil,  such 
as  iron  and  copper,  which  tliey  use,  they  ob- 
tain by  barter  from  neighborin>r  tribes"  and 
worn  it  with  such  skill  that  thdr  ...r.pons 
^xes.  and  agricultural  tools  are  employed  by 
them  as  a  medium  of  exclKinge  to  the  very 
tribes  from  whom  the  ore   had   been  pur- 
chased. ' 

The  wonien  have  a  much  longer  dress 
than  that  of  the  other  .sex.  but  it  is  of  rather 
scanty  dimensions.  An  oddly-shaped  apron 
hangs  in  front,  and  another  behind,  the  ordi- 
nary l()rm  much  resembling  the  he.-ul  of  an 
axe,  with  the  edge  downward. 

The  portrait  on  the  next  page  was  taken 
f  om  a  sketch  by  Mr.  Baines,nnd  represents 
fl.e  only  true  Ovaniho  that  he  ever  saw. 
^>  hile  he  was  atOtjikango  Katiti.  or  "  Little 
Barman,"  a  Hottentot  chief,  name.l  Jan 
Aris,  brought  out  a  young  Ovambo  girl, 


saying  that  she  was  intrusted  to  him  for 
education.    Of  course,  the  real  fact  was,  t  hat 
she  had  been  captured  in  a  raid,  and  wh.s 
acting  as  servant  to  his  wife,  who  was  the 
daughter  of  the  celebrated  Jonker,  and  was 
pleased  to  entitle  liers.  f   the   Victoria  of 
[  Daniara-land.    The  girl  was  about  Iburleen, 
and  was  excetuliiigly  timid  at  the  sight  of 
the  .stranger,  turninj'  her  back  on  liiiii,  hid- 
iiig   her  face,  and    bursting   into    tears   of 
tright.    This  attitude  gave  an  opportunity 
ot    sketching  a    remark;'l)lc    dress  of   the 
Ovambo  girl,   the   roun.ied   piece  of   hide 
being  decorated   with  olue   beads.     When 
she  was  persuaded  that  no  harm  would  be 
done  to  her,  she  turned  round  and  entered 
into  conversation,  thereby  giviii"  ar  oi)por- 
tuiiity  tor  the  second  sketch.    Attaehl'd  to 
the  same  belt  which  sustains  the  cushion 
was  a  small  apron  «)f  skin,  and  besides  this 
no  other  dress  was  worn.    She  was  a  good- 
looking  girl,  and,  if  lier  face  had  not  been 
disligured  by  the  tribal  marks,  might  have 
even  been  considered  as  jjretty. 

The  headdress  of  the  women  consists 
chielly  of  their  own  hair,  but  they  con- 
tinually stitlen  it  with  grease,  whicli  they 
press  on  the  head  in  cakes,  adding  a  verinif- 
lon-colored  day,  and  using  Ijoth  substances 
in  such  profu.sion  that  the  top  of  the  bead 
looks  quite  tiat,  and  much  larger  than  it  is 
by  nature.  The  same  mixture  of  grease 
and  clay  is  abundantly  rubbed  over  the 
body,  so  that  a  woman  in  full  dress  im])arts 
a  portion  of  lier  decorations  to  every  object 
with  wliich  slie  comes  in  contact. 

Round  their  waists  they  wear  such  ma.sscs 
of  beads,  shells,  and  other  ornaments,  that  a 
.solid  kind  of  cuirnss  is  made  ^f  them,  and 
the  centre  of  tlie  l)ody  i.s  quite  covered  with 
these  decorations,    ilany  of  the  women  dis- 


play  mueli  taste  in  the  arrangement  of  the 
beat'-   — '     '    "     "       •         • 


[Is  and  shells,  forming  them  into  pat- 
terns, and  contrasting  their  various  hues  in 
quite  an  artistic  manner.    Besi<les  this  bead 
cuirass,  they  wear  a  vast  number  of  neck- 
laces and  armlets  made  of  the  same  mate- 
rials.    Their  wrists  and  ankles  are  loaded 
w-ith  a  profusion  of  liuge  co])])er  rings,  some 
ot  wJnch  weigh  as  much  as  tliree  pounds- 
and  as  a  woman  will  sometimes  hav.^  twd 
of  these  rings  on  each  ankle,   it  may  be 
imagmed  that  the  grace  of  lier  deportluent 
IS   not  at  all   increased  by  them.     Youu" 
girls,   before  they  arc   of  sulHeicnt  conse" 
mience  to  obtain  tlie.sc  ornaments,  and  while 
they  have  to  bo  content  with  the  sli-dit  aii- 
narel  of  their  sex,  are  as  graceful  as"  needs 
be,  but  no  woman  can  be  expected  to  look 
graceful  or  to  move  lightly  when  she  has  to 
carry  about  with  her  such  an  absurd  wei-dit 
of  ornaments.    Moreover,  the  daily  twelve 
hours'  work   of  the   women  tends  greatly 
toward   the   deterioration  of  their  tiinires. 
To  them  belongs,  as  to  all  other  South  Afri- 
can women,  the  hihor  of  building  the  houses. 
The  severity  of  this  labor  Is  iudoaU  great, 


itcd   to  him   for 
Dill  fact  was,  (hilt 
It  raid,  aiul  wa« 
ife,  wlu)  was  (ho 
Joiikur,  and  was 
the   ^''ietoria  of 
about  Ibiulocn, 
at  tho  sij^'ht  of 
ick  on  liini,  hid- 
?   into    toars   of 
an  opportunity 
3    dross  of   tho 
piece!  of   liido 
beads.     When 
liarni  would  be 
nd  and  cnten/d 
ivinjr  ai-  o])))or- 
1.    Attaciied  to 
ns  the  cusiiion 
nd  besides  tliis 
lie  was  a  jiood- 
i  had  not  been 
■ks,  niiglit  have 
•ctty. 

■omen  consists 
but  they  con- 
se,  wliieii  I  hey 
ddinij  a  vorinil- 
)0th  suljstanet's 
op  of  (he  liead 
irger  than  it  is 
tnre  of  grcaso 
)bed  over  the 
I  dress  im])arts 
to  every  object 
tact. 

ar  .such  ma.sscs 
laments,  (lia(  a 
;  i-f  (hem,  and 
e  covei'cd  wi(h 
lip  women  dis- 
iRement  of  the 
hem  in(o  pat- 
urioiis  hues  in 
sides  this  bead 
inber  of  ncck- 
le  same  nia(e- 
!cH  are  loaded 
er  rings,  some 
(hree  pounds; 
nes  have  (wo 
e,   it  may  be 
r  deportiiient 
Kill.     Yount,' 
Hcieiit  conse- 
nts, and  while 
the  slight  ap- 
eful  as  needs 
ected  to  look 
en  she  ha.s  (o 
tbsurd  weight 
daily  twelve 
;ends  greatly 
their  tlgures. 
r  Soudi  Afri- 
g  the  houses, 
iudead  great. 


' 


is  oT  tKn"  "'""^"'T*'""  ^^'^  dimen- 
Ss  (  o    nf  r'"-"'"'-''-    T'''^  '""'•^68  thcin- 

arthoe  "•  fD'ir,"''''''"'^''''''  ■™'=h  work 
f,      ""*®  "'   "le  Bechiianas,  for    alfhnnrri, 

fom  lourk-eu  to  twenty  feet  in  dLimet^r 
they  are    comparativol/  low  pitche,     ami 

A  ml";:"ofthr,""'"''"^  '-^"^  '-«  ^^^^^^^^^ 
eiiclosure  H. .  '?  ^H«««  •"•«  placed  in  each 
h  s  i?n  mp.lin  '  ^P^.'^'^^i^  tfie  master  and 
serv™  t"      Thf'"'-''-^'  '''"•^  .'^'^  others  for  the 

Ks  fbr rJ/i,  'f  '"T ,  ''"'"'''^  grain-stores, 
iiouses  101  cattle,  fowl-houses,  and  even  stioq 

^rSX  ?■■'"'"  ""/  tho'anhnXhen.' 
thoity  ^''''^'"  ^"'"-''i  homestead,  thou-h 
ai,r.i  ''',  •'*'■'''  '"'-""3'  oxclud...!.  W itl  n  tFie 
ber"'of  "olr'''  ■'"■'«"''^""  '"  '^''  «oen  a  urn! 
bclonJtn ""7  ^^"ni''S'nan  huts.  These 
mnnv'Cf  Jf '"'r'''*  "*"  t^'-^t  strange  tdbl 
deZl  with  ;h'!V  '"^"^  ^'^'^'''»  "P   t'"*^"-  res  .' 

as  vassals  nnlf  "'"'  I''^'"'lv  considered 

kinS''  P*''^">  "'^  servants,  and  partly  as 

amount  of  labor  ovno.,T'V'-''''  '^*^»■'*t  *h« 
palisade  ean'Si;rS^i,;:,,'"fe,t 

each  bdn^^  a  loa  1  C '''""'  •"«  ^^utness, 
These  are  fixed  ht?o„"  '"'/''"•'iry  laborer 
vals  from  each  otl.er  MiT'^  ''*,'  "''^''^  '»*«•- 
means  of  roiJlasl.hi.V""'^  '^'■'"'^-  ^'^'^"'•'^d  l^J 

department""  o'f"l:Kf7„;^'\«,  the  lighter 
herds  of  cattle  ai  ,1  L  ?  V  ,^?"*^  ^o  the 
tions  among  tile  J?,,?i^  J  "  *7"»^  "^Pedi- 
The  first  ot^l  !«e  1 ;  r  '  '''"?  «"'««•  tribes. 
-   the   land  is    wonSi^Vrtur'^T' 

a  tolcivai.le  load     Thi    to  use,  one  hoe  being 

i«  a  flinty  sS  soil  tf"'"/''"'^  f  "^^  ^'-"""i^ 
beneath  is        4"  i-'-^t  ^  «ho.rt  distance 

to  be  very  ric?  an  to  l^n  n  '  7'""'^  "i'^''''' 
plants  wfthou  '  u  a  S  "^  *°  "^""■'*'»  the 
small  hoe  is  u' e  1  fo,  nlf  '  f  »"re«.     A  very 

bos  merely  ,],.  iUfi^  "il:"/'^  ^'  t"«  Ovam- 
a  handful  of  "^,„i^.*'"^''  '"^t  intervals,  drop 
and  leave  the  "  Tliis  h'v'  ^"^?  "^"'^  "P, 
formed  at  the  end  f  tbo^  ''  '"'^^''^^^  ?«"- 
that  the  ground  s  ft  ,  'p°  "'^'"7  ««'-»«««,  so 
young  bhules  .  oon  '  hL""'''"''^'  '*"'!  the 
then  thinned  on  tuul  ,  "  ."?'  ^^"y  "re 
^Vhen  the  e.  '  is  ri,  e' 7.^'  "^P'^^-'-'tely. 
possession  „f  it  „,,,,  7/'?'  *""  ^^'om^n  take 
Cjvtch  elephants  .r  iff  LT"  ;r  ^'"^  to 
their  tusks,  an,  i  Jon  lo  '  "'°  '''"^^  o*" 
^vilh   the  iv-        (ms    ",r-^'''"^^-^Pf'ditions 

prain  is  bea  .  ,  ,. ,   of  fu^T'f   .^^'"'n  the 
in  the  storehouse  S'^i,',  ",^';:■;'^••^  it/s  plae 
jnade  of  pm,,,  i,,,;^^  7  ^ept  m  huge  jars 

blin,  those  Of  the  i.edaulnasfa^;t/u;^- 


WOMEN'S  WORK 


319 


with  stones,  but  by  nSof  a  rn  7  "*  '^?"^ 
A  tree  trunk  is  ho^lS  „u    sot'tTf*^'' 

The  illustration  No.  2  on  na^e  117  ;,  f. 
an  ong  na  sketch  l.v  t  Vi  ■ "  ..  trom 
exhibits  a  domestic  scene"  Jm?'''  "^^'I-'  ^"^ 
homestead.  Tn^  worn  n  T.  ""  •-»»  Pvambo 
in  one  of  tlfdr  mortar  *:^°""'^'-" ''°''" 
tlieir  children  On  the  ll'.''^""!'"'"^'''  ^Y 
may  be  seen  a  seWe/of  Zun^;:,''^^ 
are  scars  produced  by  cut?  n^  ''  T  ''f'* 
and  rubbin.r  dav  int ,  fi.n  ,  ^  V'^  ^lieeks 

thought  to-^bf  L\'i  rien  ^r'i'f tir'''i  "•" 

fruitofaClab     Se^vr,Mf', '"^''"  "^  the 
the  rind  and  tli'^  puh,  «te^z^\n[r  "'ll!" 

a  note  attached  to  his  skx-tcl.    Mr  rt^*-     " 
states  that  this  is  tie  nni      '  ^'•,"a'ne3 

lighting  one  lar-e  fZn,^fl^'     ^n^tead  of 

;s«.ej;uarcl;::{;:;,^Vi,e^SSsti''r 

loot  a  number  of  stones  n  -..,V       ,  to  col- 

I'Hcks,  and  Mith  thS  to  l"«  '"■"^"^  ''I 

circular  firenia^„=  J,;,„-  o  lanid  a  senesof 

tor.    These    firenI«PoL'  '■'"  '"'^^  '"  '''ame- 


THE  OVAMBO  OR  OVAMPO  TRII^E. 


lers  make  uj)  their  primitive  couches.  This 
is  a  really  ingenious  plan,  and  especially 
suited  to  the  country.  In  a  place  where 
large  timber  is  plentiftil,  the  custom  of  mak- 
ing huge  fires  is  well  enough,  though  on  a 
cold  wuidy  night  the  traveller  is  likely  to 
be  scorched  on  one  side  and  frozen  on  the 
other.  But  in  Ovambo-land,  as  a  rule, 
sticks  are  the  usual  fuel,  and  it  will  be  seen 
that,  by  the  employment  of  these  stones, 
the  heat  is  not  only  concei^trated  but  econ- 
omized, the  stones  radiating  the  heat  long 
after  the  fire  has  expired.  These  small 
fires  are  even  safer  than  a  .single  large  one, 
for,  when  a  large  log  is  lurned  through  and 
falls,  it  is  apt  to  scatter  burning  embers  to  a 
considerable  distance,  some  of  which  might 
lall  on  the  sleepers  and  set  tire  to  tlieir 
beds. 

The  Ovambos  are  snccossfid  cultivators, 
and  raise  vegetables  of  many  kinds.  The 
ordinary  Kallir  corn  and  a  kind  of  millet 
are  the  two  gr.iius  which  are  most  plentiful, 
and  they  possess  the  advantage  of  having 
stems  some  eight  feet  in  length,  juicy  and 
sweet.  When  the  corn  is  reaped,  the  ears 
are  merely  cut  otf,  and  the  cattle  then  turned 
into  the  lield  to  feed  on  the  sweet  stems, 
which  are  of  a  very  fattening  character. 
Beans,  peas,  and  ■  iiilar  vegetables  are  in 
great  favor  with  thr  Ovambos,  who  also  cul- 
tivate sueeessfidly  the  melon,  ))umpkins. 
calabashes,  and  otlier  kindred  fruits.  They 
also  grow  tobacco,  which,  however,  is  of  a 
very  poor  quality,  not  so  much  on  account 
of  the  inferior  character  of  the  plant,  as  of 
the  imperfect  mode  of  curing  ancl  storing 
it.  Taking  tlie  leaves  and  stalks,  and  mash- 
ing them  into  a  hollow  piece  of  wood,  is  not 
exactly  calculated  to  improve  the  flavor  of 
the  leaf,  and  the  consequence  is,  that  the 
tobacco  is  of  such  bad  quality  that  none  but 
an  Ovambo  will  use  it. 

There  is  a  small  tribe  of  the  Ovambos, 
called  the  Ovaquangari,  inhabiting  the 
banks  of  the  Okovango  river,  who  live 
much  on  fish,  and  have  a  singularly  ingen- 
ious mode  of  capturing  them.  Mr.  Anders- 
sen  gives  the  following  account  of  the  li.sh- 
traps  employed  by  the  Ovoquangari:  — 
"Tlie  river  Okovango  abounds,  a.s  I  have 
already  said,  in  fish,  and  that  in  great  vari- 
ety. During  my  very  limited  stay  on  its 
banks,  I  collected  i:  arly  twenty  distinct 
species,  and  might,  though  very  inadequately 
provided  with  the  means  of  preserving  theiri, 
unquestionably  have  doubled  them,  had  suf- 
ficient time  been  afforded  me.  All  I  dis- 
covered were  not  only  edible,  but  highly 
palatable,  some  of  theni  possessing  even  ah 
exquisite  flavor. 

"Many  of  the  natives  devote  a  consid- 
erable portion  of  their  time  to  fishing,  and 
employ  various  simple,  ingenious,  and  highly 
effective  contrivances  for  catching  the  finny 
tribe.  Few  fish,  however,  are  caught  in  the 
river  itsel£    It  is  in  tlie  numerous  shallows 


and  lagoons  immediately  on  its  borders,  and 
formed  by  its  annual  overflow,  that  the  great 
draughts  are  made.  The  fishing  season,  in- 
deed, only  commences  in  earnest  at  about  the 
time  that  the  Okovango  rciiches  its  highest 
water-marl'  that  is,  when  it  has  ceased  to 
ebb,  and  l.ie  temporary  lagoons  or  swamps 
alluded  to  begin  to  disapi)ear. 

"  To  the  best  of  my  belief,  the  Ovaquan- 
gari do  not  employ  nets,  but  Irajisof  various 
kinds,  and  what  may  not  inajitlv  be  called 
aquatic  yards,  for  the  capture  of  lish.  These 
fishing  yards  are  certain  sjjots  of  eligible 
water,  enclosed  or  fenced  off  in  the  follow- 
ing manner:  — A  quantity  of  reeds,  of  such 
length  as  to  suit  the  water  for  which  they 
are  intended,  are  collected,  put  into  bundles, 
and  cut  even  at  both  ends.  Tliese  reeds 
are  then  spread  in  single  layers  Hat  on  the 
ground,  and  sewed  together  very  much  in 
the  same  way  as  ordinary  mats,  biitby  a  less 
laborious  ])r(.cess.  It  does  not  nuicli  matter 
what  the  length  of  these  mats  may  be,  as 
they  can  be  easily  ngthened  or  shortened 
as  need  may  requiir. 

^  "  When  a'  locality  lias  been  decided  on  for 
fishing  operations,  a  certain  number  of  these 
mattings  are  introduced  into  the  water  on 
their  ends,  that  is,  in  a  vertical  position, 
and  are  placed  either  in  a  circle,  semi- 
circle, or  a  line,  according  to  the  shape  of 
the  lagoon  or  shallov.-  which  is  to  be  en- 
closed. Open  .sjiaci'S,  from  three  to  four 
feet  wide,  are,  however,  left  at  certiiin  inter- 
vahs,  and  into  these  apertures  the  (oils,  con- 
sisting of  beehive-shaped  masses  of  reeds, 
are  iitroduced.  The  dinmeti'r  of  these  at 
the  iioutli  varii  >  wilh  the  depth  to  which 
thi\  have  to  deyceiul,  the  lower  side  being 
firmly  fastened  to  the  bottom  of  the  water, 
whilst  the  ujjjier  is  usually  on  a  level  with 
its  surface,  or  slightly  rising  above  it.  In 
order  thoroughly  to  disguise  these  ingenious 
traps,  grasses  aiid  weeds  are  throwa  care- 
lessly over  and  around  tbeni." 

The  Ovambos  are  fond  of  amusing  them- 
selves with  a  dance,  wliioii  seems  to  be  ex- 
ceedingly agreeable  to  the  peitoriuers,  but 
which  could  not  be  engaged  in  by  those  who 
are  not  well  practi.se<r  in  its  odd  evolu- 
tions. The  dancers  are  all  men,  and  stand 
in  a  <louble  row,  back  to  back.  'J'lie  music, 
consisting  of  a  drum  and  a  kind  ol'  guitar, 
then  strikes  up,  and  the  performers  begin 
to  move  from  side  to  side,  so  as  to  pass  and 
lepass  each  other.  (Suddenly,  one  of  the 
performers  spins  round,  and 'delivers  a  tre- 
mendous kick  at  the  individual  who  happens 
then  to  be  in  front  of  him;  and  the  gist  of 
the  dance  consists  in  i)li,ii(ing  your  own 
kick  and  avoiding  that  of  others.  This 
dance  takes  jilaco  in  the  evening,  and  is 
lighted  by  torches  made  simply  of  dried 
palm  branches.  Nangoro  used  to  give  a 
dance  every  evening  in  his  palace  yard, 
which  wiis  a  most  intricate  buikling,  a  "hun- 
dred yardis  or  so  in  diameter,  and  a  very 


CHARACTER  OF  2f.iNG0R0; 


his 


dea  of  savage  life,  numelySt  witE"Sm 
there  ..s   „„  distinction  oY  rich  Ind  no?, 
master  and  servant.    But  in  L^   I  ^  ,°^' 
tinctlons  of  rank  ar'e  „o,?he   .    Se  shi" 
lohned  than  anion-  savages.    The  linJZ 

exacts  lionia-e    and   the    nfn  •      ^"P'-'""'- 
wr    HI   -        "^'  ""'i    tne   interior  inva   jf 

Kd;°,!l;;;,^;:^^-thatitisnot£t 

The  Ovambos  are  rnlcrl  i.tr  „  i  • 

arch/  to  a  w  ;  L;  (•  '*'  ''U*  I""'''"'-  »>"»- 
As  i^he  c  4  ;  t  ,n!!;'"  '!^  ^"vernnicnt. 
king  beeonu's  euonlu  "■lv'''''T-  ^'''^*''''  "'e 
the  only  obese  Zi'  *='f' ""'I '« generally 

wi^w:i^kin"";;:;:,'^,i'---5-^angor^ 

Katfii-  n?:.^,''^fr7».;^:;^f«l  Panda,  the 
was  re.hiced  toan i,  ,v  «    ,  n  ^^^  "''"  '''«  ^^ait 
was  so  sh„  -t    haTlie    v^l'^^'n'"'  '''^  ^''^^^'h 
at  every  fow     acesa       ."^ 'p" ''  *«  ''alt 
*^vo  eonseeutivfSenees  wUh '  I'"^  .^P^^""^' 
.reat  in,.,„venieiiersoHnH   '"''!* ''""^'•■i"? 
versalion  liis  part  ,nosn  r  n    '"."'"'.'"'^'•.v  f""- 
?.Vllabic  grunts      Co  Lw '''''''  °'' '»"»"- 
»  contrast  to  those  Sm'"",  •''''''  ''^^  """''l' 
»«   person.     He  'vas     "V"^'"'='"^  "«  "'as 
individual  —  soihVi.         ^-  ^^^>'  "npleasar.t 
Atler  wiSess^!^to«r^V'*;]'^  '^'^^^ 
used  by  his  wh7te  visi  ors    he " V'^*''-''"™'' 
to  prove  tlicir  weai)r.,Ti,v«r'    I-  '^''K''^  them 
Had  they  fidk^nl^  «  /be  ?"^"'°  ^  ''I'''ants. 
laid  for    hen.  he  wonl,    i    ^'''^\  '"'"«'»  was 
departure  by  a     k  „  s  l.f  ?'•,  f f'^^^*""!  "'«'!'• 
•    lie  work  of   e  ep  an(  sL  ^r''^''''^'  '^^'P'  "P 
'^.en  all  the  ivo^'TiliS   "^''  "'"'  ^«^« 

orders  (x.  kill  them  aU     tV«     '"  """"'  "■*"' 
«'.e  party,   liowevei    took  „    ''?"\'"ander  of 

inismon-probab  V  from  I."  •'"''''*^.  *"  I'l** 
the  effect  of  eonicafi.M  ".  '7'""  witnessed 
white  men  ~rn7tnT  '•  **  ''■'"'"  ^"^^^  l>v  the 
One  party,  how"  ^'t^'ir '/  'T'"  ^^^'^ 
a.tigJit  ensued.  Mr  Gr^.,  f'f,  fortunate,  and 
Vimted  Nangoro.  and  ^i'..^"!' l^f '  J'-l^'n-ls 
1^-P^tably.     But,  just    hefbi^^^'th^  ^^r^ 


OvaiJ,bo8,l„,e«ghundrpH^-  '^'■''^°*■  ^^e 
well  armed  w  th  thHr  nnT-  '"  ""mbor,  all 
bow,  the  knob-kcrrie  and /r  ^^^P?""-  the 

tha  armed  EurSns  w.t^  l'"?''?."^"'  ^''"o 
number.      ^"™P^^°s  were  only  thirteen  in 

-^^Stl^t^tm^  '-*  entirely 
liapi)eue<l  which  put  thY  t  nv  n  ^''""'^  ^"-^ 
guard.  The  conflict  '^.^ '''^^cllers  on  their 
in  the  end  the  ov*  bo'  T^  '''''^''^^  and 
defeated,  havin-  n^a^v  kiiuT'"''  ^'"P'etelv 
and  among  the  fo^m^er  '  '^  and  wounded, 
fons.  The"Europea,^  onT  ""^  ?^^^".?«ro'8 
lost  one  monn  !;„♦•'       "'°  contrary,  only 

trcachero  "sl^'stabbornfef""':',''''"^^'  ''^'^  S 
The  most  re;iiarlS,,e  mS  oV  if  ^llV''^'"'' 
tliat  it  caused  the  iat^i  of  fhe  hi'"'',*  '"^'' 
king,  who  was  orese  i  ./  ,  .^'Pacherous 
though  lu  had  seen  fi.     "'  *''^  '^'''^tle.    Al- 

poor  opiniJ^f^V  th    1  S^™ V'T;''  '1^  ^^^  ^ 
over,  only  secMi  np,LP      ?\'^'"'  ''ad.  niorei 

mark.    TLiTnea^e    fC'!''  '''"'■"  '»•«'  at  a 

ears,  .nndRwt  opT- 
d  and  dvin,l  .h,  f.'\'^.:."^   "'^  .'i»'l^  /ailing 


dead  ami  dying'^,^^^,;;^  Ji^  men   fhlli^ 

triS:^  wa7b"  .^^^If  "[  '"-  cowardly 
I'e  had  a  peS^  '",'  *?" '  ^  '''''V'  ""<"■  "nd 
any  fancied  id.f  On  „!"'""  ''.''"'^elf  for 
some  native  beer  was  o,;  ?";('/""'.''  ^'''^'» 
sen,  and   declined   f„   V.        *"  ^^'■- '^'"'lers- 

?ttackofi/£    'ii^^^  o;  an 

'»  front  of  the  true  i?.  '  7'«,was  sitting 
I'im  violently  wth  ';;"'';''"'>'  """«*  at 
^Mvat  pain.  ^W  e  nsse,?:^'  '''"^  ^="'«^<1 
,iokc,  though,  as  to  '«'  '"  "^  •''  i;''"<=tical 
pointed  stick.  lie  UeS:  was  s„„p,y  ^ 
agreeable  to  its  victim  Thn  '"'Jf'""?  l>ut 
tl'is  sudden  assault  *«  tb- 1  \r""' [''f ""  ^^^ 
had  refused  t.)  A"  „.  IkJ/L':''  ^^^•■-  '^"derssen 
which  he  had  i^f^Jie'  "'*-  ^'"S  ««»ne  request 

oomo.iS,;a;^^•;-^^^andtooka 

visitors  in  every  vav  t  ,"""'"-  '"''  white 
-lephants,  an  Mo  ul  de.d  "[,  'f''f  ''>  '^''"ot 
tl'e  hum.  while  he  wi  nl;  e  ,M  ;  ""'^''•'^^  "^ 
wa.s  a  never-failing  'op -''"f  *'"'  l"-«fit-% 

direct  then  ^„  ',    '  i"^,':'*'^''^*'  '«'•  ■'Jnidf  s  to 
■7inR  that  those  X.K 
Phantsforhim  sho„  i  i!  "  '  shoot  ele- 

I'ini.  In  ti  le  he  ke  t  ""  ?'"''"''  *"'-fm 
""til  he  ha  exacted  fnn:'",l'"  '""  '"""ntry 
Which  they  could'gl/rh  n  "^Z,  •7'"-.Vt'.inJ 
i^oyal  remuneratioir  :.  fi  "  '•  ''>'  "'"}'  of 
them  a  small  I  ask  4  '?  "'""  ^'  V'  ""«'^  ^^-nt 
Rlad  to  get  rid  of  ,1^  ""'"•-. ,'!'' was  then 
that  he  shoiXl  b^'ve  ';^^":/'Y";'"tlv  ^^'aring 
way  of  evir.w-  !i  ^'^  ''•^•'  "'oin,  and.  by 
thc^ir  departure  witlPa*;?r«:'"T-';/^P«'''t«l 

from  his  own  stores  h.Af  ''"'  f '*•""•  "ot 
Blares,  but  from  those  of  his 


882 


THE  OVAMBO  OR  OVAMPO  TRIBE. 


subjects,  and  which,  moreover,  arrived  too 
lixtc.  Jlis  trcachiTous  coiiihict  in  sending 
ftfter  tho  Kuropoiin  party,  and  the  faihiro  of 
his  plans,  iiiivi'  ah-cady  ficcn  mentioned. 

Tno  ()\4iunl>o  tribe  are  allowed  to  liave  as 
many  wives  as  (hey  please,  provided  that 
tli(\v  can  be  pni-chased  at  the  ordinary  price. 
This  price  diHers,  not  so  nmch  t'n'mx  tlie 
charms  or  accomplishments  of  the  bride,  as 
from  the  wealth  of  the  suitor.  The  price  of 
wives  is  much  lower  than  among  the  Kallirs, 
two  oxen  and  oni^  cow  beinj;  considerecl  tlie 
ordinary  sum  which  a  man  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances is  expected  to  p"-,  .'••v''^  ti '.nun 
of  aonu!  wealth  cannot  purchf.  ■  :  .  rader 
tlu'ee  oxen  and  two  cows,    ll  vcep- 

tion  to  this  rule  is  alforded  by  ti  ijj;  him- 
self, who  tiikes  as  many  wives  as  he  pleases 
without,  payiui,'  for  them,  the  honor  of  his 
alliance  beini,'  considered  a  sulJlcient  re- 
muneration. One  wife  always  takes  tho 
thief  ])lace,  and  the  successor"  to  the  rank 
and  projierty  of  his  father  is  alwavs  one  of 
•her  children".  The  law  of  roval  succession 
is  very  simjile.  When  the  kinj;  dies,  the 
eldest  son  of  his  chief  wife  succeeds  him.  but 
if  she  has  no  son,  then  the  daujjhter  assunu's 
the  scejjtre.     This  was  the  case  with  the  fat 


kiiig.  Nangoro,  whose  daughter  CliipauKa 
was  the  he 
ceeded  him 


ipansa 
was  the  heir-apparent,  and  afterward  sue- 

^  It  is,  however,  very  ditllcult  to  give  i)re- 
cise  information  on  ".so  delicate  a  subject. 
The  (.)vanilio  tril)e  cannot  endure  to  speak, 
or  even  to  think,  of  th(!  state  of  man  after 
death,  and  merely  to  allude  to  the  successor 
of  a  chief  jrives  dire  otl'ence,  as  the  mention 
of  an  heir  to  ]u-operty.  or  a  sucees.sor  to  rank. 
imi)lieslhe  death  of" the  present  chief.  Por 
the  same  reason,  it  is  most  ililHcult  to  ex- 
tract any  inl'onnation  from  them  respecting 
their  idests  of  religion,  and  any  questions 
upon  the  subject  are  instantly  checked. 
That  they  have  some  notions  of  religion  is 
evident  enough,  though  tliey  degr  '  ■  it  into 
mere  superstition.  Charms"^of  vai  ms  kinds 
they  value  exceedingly,  though  they  seem 
to  be  regarded  more  as  safeguards  against 
injury  trom  man  or  beast  than  as  possessing 
any  sanctity  of  their  own.  Still,  the  consti- 
tutional reticence  of  the  Ovambo  tribe  on 
such  subjects  may  cause  them  to  deny  such 
sanctity  to  other.s,  though  they  acknowledge 
it  among  themselves. 

As  is  the  case  with  many  of  the  South 
African  tribes,  the  C)vambos"make  great  use 
of  a  kind  of  coarse  porridge.  Thev  always 
eat  it  hot,  and  mix  with  it  a  quiintity  "of 
clotted  milk  or  .semi-liquid  butter.  Tfliey 
are  quite  independent  of  spoons  at  their 
meals,  and,  in  spite  of  the  nature  of  their 
food,  do  not  even  use  the  brusli-spoon  that 
is  employed  by  the  Hottentot'*. 

Mr.  Auder.ssen,  while   travelling   in  the 
land  of  the  Ovambos,  was   hospitably   re- 
ceived at  a  house,  and  invited   to  dinner,    nu  t  wmie   men   were   excepuonal   Demi 
£io  spooiw  were  provided,  and  he  did  not  |  not  subject  to  tJie  ordinary  laws  of  Natu 


see  how  ho  was  to  cat  porridge  and  milk 
without  such  aid.    "  On  seeing  "the  dilemma 
we  were  in,  our  lu)st  quickly  jjlunged   liia 
grea.sy  fingers  into  the  middle  of  tin;  sliiam- 
ing  mass,  and  brought  out  a  handful,  which 
he  dashed  into  tho  milk.    Having  stirred  it 
quickly  round  with  all  his  miglit,  he  next 
oper.ed  his  capaciou.s  mouth,  in  which  the 
agreeable  mixture  vanished  as  if  by  magic, 
lie  linally  licked  his  lingers,  and  siiuvcked 
his  lips  with  evident  satisfaction,  looking  at 
us  iLS  much  as  to  say,  'That's  the  trick,  my 
bo'-s  I '    llawever  unjjleasant  this  initiation 
i.iight  have  ajipeared  to  us,  it  would  have 
been  ungratetul,  if  not  ollensivc,  to  refu.»<e. 
Therefore  we  conunenccd  in  earnest,  accord- 
iu"   to  example,  cmi)tying    the   dish,  and 
occ:-.sionally   burning    our    lingers,   to    tho 
great  amusement  of  our  swarthy  friends." 
On  one  occasion,  the  same  traveller,  who 
was  accompanied  by  sonic  Damaras,  fell  in 
with  a  i)arty  of  Ovambos,  who  gave  them  a 
((uantity  of  porridge  nu-al  of  millet  in  ex- 
change for  meat.    Both  i)arties  were  equally 
j)leased,  the  one  having  had  no  animal  food 
for  a  long  time,  and  the'  other  having  lived 
on  llesh  diet  until   they  were   thoroughly 
tired  of  it.     A  great  feas't  was  the  innneJiate 
result,  tlte  Ovambos   revelling   in   the  un- 
wonted luxury  of  meat,  and  the  J'^uropeans 
and  Damaras  only  too  glad  to  obtain  some 
vegetable   food.     The    feast    resembled   all 
othens,  e.xcejjt  th.at  a  singular  ceremony  was 
insisted  upon  by  the   one   j)artv,  and  sub- 
mitted to  by  the  other.     The  liamaras  had 
a  fair  share  of  the  banquet,  but,  before  they 
were  allowed  to  begin  their  meal,  on(^  of  tho 
Ovambos  went  round   to  them,  and,  after 
tilling  his  mouth  with  water,  spirted  a  little 
of  the  li(]nid  into  their  faces. 

This  exlraordinary  ceremony  was  inven- 
ted by  the  king  Is'.-ingoro  when  he  wjis  a 
young  man.  Among  their  other  su])ersti- 
tions,  the  Ovambos  have  an  idea  that  a  man  is 
l)eeuliarly  susceptible  to  witchcraft  at  nu'al- 
times,  aiid  that  it  is  po.ssible  for  a  wizard  to 
charm  away  the  life  of  any  one  with  whom 
ln!  may  happen  to  eat.  "^(;onse(]uently,  all 
kinds  of  counter-charms  arc  emjiloved,"  and, 
as  the  one  in  question  was  invented  by  the 
king,  it  W!X8  soon  adopted  by  his  loyaf  .sub- 
jects, and  became  fiushiona'ble  throughout 
the  land.  So  wedded  to  this  cliarm  was 
Nangoro  himself,  that  when  Mr.  fralton  first 
visited  him  he  was  equally  alarmed  and  ' 
amased  at  the  refusal  of  the  white  man  to 
submit  to  the  aspersion.  At  last  he  agreed 
to  com])roniiso  the  matter  by  anointing  his 
visitor's  head  with  butter,  but,  as  soon  as 
beer  was  produced,  lie  again  becmne  sus- 
picious, .and  would  not  partake  of  it,  nor 
even  remain  in  the  house  while  it  was  being 
drunk. 

He  would  not  even  have  consented  to  tho 
partial  comjiromisc,  but  for  a  happy  idea 
thrt  white   men  were   exceptional   being.s. 


•idgo  and  milk 
ig  the  (lilomina 
ly  iiluiigcd  his 
n  of  till!  .sl(;am- 
liaiuirul,  wliicii 
iviiii;  HliiTud  it 
iiiglit,  lie  next 
,  in  wliicli  the 
!iw  if  hy  magic. 
,  and  umacitfd 
lion,  loolving  at 
'«  tliti  liick,  n>y 
t  tliis  initiation 
it  would  liave 
»ivv,  to  refuse, 
larni'st,  accord- 
tlio  dish,  and 
ngiTs,  to  th(3 
nlhy  friendH." 
traveller,  wlio 
>aniara,s,  fell  in 
o  gave  them  a 
millet  in  ex- 
js  were  equally 
no  animal  fooil 

V  liaving  livinl 
re  thorouiflily 
the  innnedialc 
ig  in  the  nn- 
llie  J'^uropeans 
I)  obtain  some 
resenililed  all 
ceremony  wivs 
irty,  and  suh- 

liamara.s  liad 
It,  before  they 
leal,  oxw  of  the 
ni,  and,  after 
sjjirted  a  little 

ly  was  invcn- 
len  ho  WiU)  a 
ther  sui)er8ti- 
a  tliat  anianiH 
eraft  at  nieal- 
iir  a  wizard  to 
e  with  whom 
iKe(|ueiitly,  all 
mjiloyed,'  and, 
rented  by  the 
his  loyal  sub- 
e  throughout 
s  charm  was 
r.  Gallon  first 
alarmed  and  • 
white  man  to 
1st  he  agreed 
anointing  his 
t,  as  soon  as 
beciimo  sus- 
kc  of  it,  nor 
a  it  was  being 

isentcd  to  the 

V  happy  idea 


PLEASANT  CUSTOMS. 


323 

p»rofThelir'i?\"'r,"«''  i'"'  ^-«'^'" 

'"t<.  tin,  pr.ii  ^      irktS?""'"  ""'"^ 
'-"  Hho,l|„   appear   hUl^!^^      '[J^;;:^^^ 


hehey.,,l,ul,asMr.(;altonrenLL^''liS 

oi-f f^idiiat^^,!—--"'^^ „.,,....  ,.,  ^ ,.  .^ 

^^Si.']^e.::,r^':vsSu'^:^'t;;^^s 


Mil  ■••"  ■■^.iiiui;. 

314    LrM/rV,"''-^  rememhor  that  on  pa^o 

sen  went  to  vim'    x^.      '  '  -^''-  ^"ders- 

Ovamb, . ,  a  me  ^n     f  u''  ''"^  '^"'n  "«'  ""^ 


ional   bei 


>f   "NT..*!! 


■iiiture. 


I 


CHAPTER  XXXn. 


THE  MAKOLOLO  TRIBE. 

MSB  AND  PALL  OF  AFRtCAV  TRinFS  -  OBtOIN  OF  THU  MAKOLOLO  TRIBE  -  OROAKIZATTON  BY  SEBITUANE 
-INCAPAflTY  OF  Hrs  8tICCK8S0H,  SEKELETU- MODE  OF  OOVEBNMENT- APPEARANCE  OF  THE 
MAKOLOLO- T.IEIR  GENERAL  CHARACTER  -  HONESTY -OUACEFUL  MODE  OF  MAKING  PRESKNTS- 
.  MODE  OF  SALUTATION -FOOD  AND  COOKING-A  MAKOLOLO  FEAST- ETIQI'ETTE  AT  MEALS- 
MANAGEMENT  OF  CANOES -THE  WOMEN,  THEIR  DRESS  AND  MANNERS-THEIR  COLOR-EASY 
LIFE  LED  1.Y  THEM  -  HOUSE-HUILDINO  -  CURIOUS  MODE  OF  RAISING  THE  ROOK-HOW  TO  HOUSE 
A  VISITOR- LAWSUITS  AND  SPECIAL  PLEADING-GAME  LAWS -CHILDREN'S  OAMES-A  MAKO- 
LOLO VILLAGE -M'llOPO  AT  HOME -TOBY  FILLPOT- MAKOLOLO  SONGS  AND  DANfES -HEMP- 
8M0KLNO,  AND  ITS  DBSIKUCTIVE  EFFECTS  -  TREATMENT  OF  TUB   SICK,  AND  BURIAL  OF  THE  DEAD 


In  the  wliolc  of  Africa  south  of  tho  equa- 
tor, we  find  the  great  eveiils  of  the;  civilized 
worhl  repeated  on  a  smaller  scale.  Civil- 
ized history  siieaks  of  tho  orisia  and  rise  of 
nations,  and  the  (K'cadenee  and  fall  of  em- 
pires. Diiriiis  a  course  of  manv  centuries, 
dynasties  have  arisen  and  held' their  sway 
for  generations,  fading  away  hy  d<'gr('es 
before  the  influx  of  mightier  races.  The 
kingdoms  of  Egypt,  Assyria,  ]5ahylon, 
Greece.  Home,  Persia,  and  the  like,  have 
Ja.sted  from  generation  after  generation, 
and  some  of  them  still  exist,  thougli  with 
diminish(>d  powers.  The  Pharaohs  have 
passed  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  their 
metropolis  is  a  desert;  but  Athens  and 
Rome  still  retain  some  traces  of  tlieir 
vanished  glories. 

lu  Southern  Africa,  however,  tlie  changes 
that  take  place,  though  precisely  similar''in 
principle,  are  on  a  much  smaller  scale,  lioth 
of  magnitude  and  duration,  and  a  traveller 
who  ])ass(!s  a  i'aw  years  in  the  country  may 
see  four  or  five  changes  oPdvnasty  in  tliiit 
brief  period.  Within  the  space  of 'an  ordi- 
n.ary  life-time,  for  example,  tho  fiery  genius 
of  Tchaka  gathered  a  number  of  scattered 
tribes  into  a  nation,  and  created  a  dynasty, 
which,  wlien  deprived  of  its  leading  spirit, 
fell  into  decline,  and  has  yearly  tended  to 
return  to  the  original  elements 'of  which  it 
was  composed.  Then  the  Hottentots  have 
come  from  some  unknown  country,  and  dis- 
possessed the  aborigines  of  the  Capo  so 
completely  that  uo  one  knows  what  those 
aborigines  were.    In  the  case  of  isliinds 


such  as  tlie  Polynesian  group,  or  even  tho 
vast  island  of  Australia,  we  know  what  the 
aborigines  must  have  been;  )tut  we  liave  no 
such  knowledge  with  regard  to  Southern 
Africa,  and  in  consequence  the  extent  of 
our  knowledge  is.  that  the  aborigines,  who- 
ever they  might  have  been,  were  certainly 
not  Hottentots.  Then  the  Kaffirs  swept 
down  and  ejected  the  Hotlentots,  and  the 
Dutch  and  other  white  coloni.sts  ejected  the 
Kaffirs. 

So  it  has  been  with  the  tribe  of  tho  Mako- 
lolo,  which,  though  thinly  scattered,  and 
by  no  means  condensed,  "has  contrived  to 
jiossess  a  large  portion  of  Southern  Africa. 
Deriving  their  primary  origin  from  a  branch 
of  the  great  IJechuana  tribe,  and  therefore 
retaining  many  of  the  customs  of  that  tribe 
together  with  its  skill  in  manufactures,  they 
were  able  to  extend  themselves  fiu-  from 
their  original  home,  and  by  degrees  con- 
trived to  gain  the  domii'iion  over  flic 
greater  part  of  tlie  country  as  far  as  lat. 
14°  S.  Yet,  in  IWil,  when  t)r.  Livingstone 
passed  through  the  country  of  the  Mako- 
lolo,  he  saw  symptoms  of  its  decadcMice. 

They  had  been  organized  by  a  great  and 
wise  chief  named  Sebituane,'  who  carried 
out  to  the  fullest  extent  the  old  J{oman 
princijile  of  mercy  to  the  sulmiissive,  and 
war  fo  the  proud.  Sebituane  owed  much 
of  his  success  to  liis  practice  of  leading  his 
trooiis  to  battle  in  person.  When  he  came 
within  sight  of  the  enemy,  he  sitrnificantly 
felt  the  edge  of  his  bat'tle-axe,  and  said, 
Aha!  it  is  .".harp,  and  whoever  turns  his 


^oa    '■iri'.'.n'^''''"  '"""-•'^'"^'ly  a.ss„n.h,j,,  ,     t 

children  of  the  i    iof  -,,     ?i.  "'7  '''''''  "» 

of  head  c  efs  a."  nnlfv"  rrSiJ'"''^''  system 
tln-oui^h  whom  Sp  .R?.  ^  '-■  '"•''^  "'"'  t'J'l'"-«, 
fairsof  I,  Vu  „,    ^''""»''  l^ne^^  -lU  the  af- 

held  to-roE  M  knnr  '^""^'  ^'^'^  '''-^n'!  tha 
Wd  fai?  o  Mve  Uv  "u7'"f,  '""^""'^•''  ''"'l 
and  successor-  Sekofetu.?""'^''-  "'"  «»» 
ft)llowinir  the  examni,   'nf  T-  '"'^'^J'^We  of 

allowedlhe  projudk-ei  of  J"'  ^''^ '"'••  «« 
•loveloped,  and'bsto«-d  H  ',"• ''"^  *¥"'" 
Btudioisly'exc  idh^„  nil  x."""  hinKsclf  by 
Makololo^S  SiKie.nT,;;!^^''''*^^^^."'" 
"one  but  Makoiolo  men  t^,  See '''"'"''"« 

«11  Makoiolo  lonth!  V  .!  TJ''  ^^'''^''^  •'•""S 
confldoncc  of  Hw  '  j  ^  '^""^'^  "»'  enjoy  the 
thus  tile  °han„o  ,  rZr '-^^  tnbisf  am 
was  broken  imwtho'r'""  "^^  Sebituane 
rulers,  a  pe,  e  Umnt  ?^/'^"^^ 
tion  as  a  3?  .V^?-  '  '■'"^'»'»  "leir  posi- 
foiftitiL  tRa  onnfi.'""'  ""'J  SekeletiLin 
own  haml  "the  °,^^*i7*;?'  ^''PpeJ  with  hs 

Discontent  bganSlSitli  ''i  /•'"•"»«• 
pie  drew  unfavoinhi?       .  '■^•''^'  ''*'"1  his  pco- 

rule  a,id  S  of  ,is  ^arr'':^'''  ^'"''^''^  ''^ 
•»g  whetlier  soweak  a  d  '.r"'"  ^^^  ''°»l^t- 
could  really  be  tff  Z  .^f  .r^'^f'' ^  »'«» 
chief,  the  "  Great  r  inn  »  "^i"eir  lamented 
"In  his  da;.?  said  th,^f  ^ey  called  him. 
chiefs,  and  iftt  e  Sfs  a7d  ou"  ^""'^  S""""* 
on  the  government  an!l  ?i?  *''*^*''"**'  ^  ^arry 
Jtuane,  know  tS'XftlTK'^r^^  ««^- 
f'y  was  wisely  ruled     n\.^     '"'''"''^  '^""n- 

..  Ihen  Sekek'tu  fell  iii  •'nf  „  .       .. , 
•f flgurin.  diseasershS  llf J.^I.^^P  --fl 


HIGH  CHARACTER  OF  THE  MAKOLOLO. 


325 
mitted  to  tlic  noonl(>     Ri.f  m 
tired  of  being  Vu  1.^    bv  de«.    '  ""  '°"  «°' 

organized,   which   never    c,  i      T""'    r'« 
done  under  the  all-nervnj/         '  '*^'^   ^e^n 
tuune,  and   sev.S'of   th    "  '""l"  "'"  «'-''^- 
'•"Idlyset  their  kil  at  ,le  ..n''"'"";  "'."'''■'* 
its  Nukclelu  lived    t^.  k inl       ''•    ^'''  'on« 
"""''"■■d,  though  ;„t  a  r   r     "■  r''""'"'  » 
"■'"'in  H  yeal^afW     i.s     1  "'t/''"';'  ''"^ 
curred   in    18(!4,   dvilva's    '':,"'"'-•''  ''''- 
every  side;  the  kin-  do  n  tb.ii    '  ^'>  "J'  '^^ 
weakened,  'and   ,„,al7le  to  re  U    V,"'"-'^  """^ 
sions  of  surrounding  tribes  an  iV'"  "??"- 
the  space  of  a  very  ?e w  v^nVl         ""'  "''"''" 
kololo  empire    fell    to  I'    .f,'  ''"^  J'-e'^t  Ma- 
to  Dr.  Livi'n.r,stone  (il  I  ."'''•     Recording 
bo   regrett."i:'    «  ;„tV  ^-'''^^^^^^^^^^  ^'^^  '« 
not  slave-dealers,  w  ere  's  the  h'!  "'"    Y?'"« 
everttually   took    possession   of      "'?  '"  "^''^ 
were  so /and,  as  tlu' ,  sw  I  "xt.  J^i'^  ''^"'^ 
so  largo  a  territoi-v  if  »,     -^  ^-^'endcd  over 

the  ab",minab  e  8  aio  Jnm  *''  ^''■''"  '^"°»  that 
led  to  exist  '"*"'=  "■"*'  not  permit- 

and'arfiiglSitir  ,f  '"^.™-  «f  -en, 
ing  tribes:  bdng  ot'     !|"  ^'  ^u'Tound-' 

rather  thai  black-  imlM-J.,         '"^T  ''''"^'n, 
iar  in  their  it  "tL  rather  pecul-' 

«ynaWe  slowlfSSe^ly  ""'■'"»  ^-''^ 

toS^iS^f^-Si;;if''-'''--nis 

bear  com,^ri°o"n\S  he'ov4r'"''n^  "'" 
they  have  proved  themseh-es  I  ? "  •  ^^'"''''■e 
victories,  thoueh  it  krVii/,^  ^  *  '^''r  niany 
they  do  ,\ot  Say  the  ^mo';""''''"'''^^  'r' 
opposed  to  the  ion -^sui^  ?  <'<>ura.'c  wlion 
fare  against  tU^rm^!^r^\r  ""''''■ 
not  without  coura.'-e  n.ui  r>^'  '  *'"'y  are 
in  the  hunting-S  tho  i  m'""?*^  "*  '"'»'' 
of  beasts  seems  tfVvS  ";5:^''-*'«^.kins 


jlisflgnrinrSJ^"  J     of  a  horrible 

'ouse,  anj  wouW  not  s Im  "*?"■       ."^  '"  *""« 

•ng  no  one  to  come  tar  S'J"r^^'  ?""^- 

»te,  through  whom  his  o  K^erT  ^aT 


of  beasV^'T;^;"^^;'' '''7'?^  the  dread  kin. 

ence  oyer  them  tha  the??  '"?''  '^'^  '"""^ 
inroads.  The  bufTik,  ifr/if''"''  *•"  '''^^^'^^t  his 
to  be  dreaded  al  the  ll'^*''''"r  1'"^''  "''  ni-.ch 
iolo  are  compantivelll^'rA-'^  ^''''  "'«  -Mako- 
«uing  it.   X  aniS/";''"*''-''nt  when  pur- 

'•abitof  doulL;  back  lTitT\  ""l"«asant 
•ng  in  the  bush  aJWh  I  m  ^'■?"' erouch- 
Pa^^s  its  hi,linl-p'lace  a  f  I'''  'l""*^'-^  to 
«"ddenlyatthc?n  wUlJs^cJ.nf"  ''^  *''""•?« 
that  it  scatters  the  bushes  if^r''^^""''  ^"rv 
lonff  rush   like    ',  f»         f  ''''**re  its  hefi'f- 

wind.    Yet  the  Mn-ni"','    '■"^'^*'  before  "ti.o 


M 


1  : 


'1 


896 


THE  MAKALOLO  TRIHE. 


mal,  but  lotip  behind  a  iToe  iw  it  phnr<»p»«, 
iiiul  thill  liiiri  Ihflr  spears  as*  it  tinssen  tliem. 

ll(is|iiliilily  i«  <>»*'  <>*"  tlieir  tliief  virtues, 
ami  it  is  exercised  with  a  ni.xh'sty  which  is 
riitlier  reiiiarlvuhle.  "Tlie  peojije  (if  every 
villajje,"  writes  Livin^'stone,  "treated  us 
most  lilieraliv,  preseutiuj;,  l)esides  oxen,  but- 
ter, iiiill<.  ai'id  meal,  more  than  we  could 
stow  away  iu  our  canoes.  Tl\e  cows  in  this 
valley  are  now  yieldinj^,  as  they  Ireciueutly 
do,  inore  uiilk  tlian  the  people  can  use,  and 
liotli  men  and  women  i)resenl  butler  in  such 
(piantities,  tliat  I  shall  be  able  to  refresh  my 
nieii  as  we  go  alons.  Anointinij  the  skin 
]irevents  tlie  excessive!  evajioration  of  the 
fluids  of  the  body,  and  aota  as  clothing  in 
both  sun  and  shade. 

'•  They  always  made  their  presents  f;raco- 
fully.  When  lui  ox  was  j^iven,  the  owjicr 
would  say,  '  Here  is  a  little  bit  of  bread  for 
voii.'  Tills  was  pleasini;,  for  I  had  been 
accustomed  to  the  Ucchuanas  presenting  a 
miseralile  goat,  with  the  pompous  exclama- 
tion, '  Heludd  an  ox!'  The  women  persis- 
ted in  giving  me  copious  supplies  ot  shrill 
praises,  or  •  lullilooing,'  but  although  T  fre- 
quently told  them  to  modify  their  '(ireat 
Lords.' and  MJreat  I^ioiis,' to  more  huml)le 
expressions,  they  so  evicleiilly  inteiideil  to 
do  me  honor,  that  I  could  not  hel))  being 
pleased  with  the  poor  creatures'  wishes  for 
our  success." 

One  remarkable  instance  of  the  honesty 
of  this  tribe  is  atlbrded  l>y  Dr.  Livingstone. 
In  185:),  he  had  left  at"  lanyanti,  a  jilace 
on  the  Zambesi  Hiver,  a  wagon  containing 
pajiers  and  stores.  He  had  been  away  from 
Linyanti,  to  which  place  he  found  that  let- 
ters and  jiackages  had  been  sent  tor  him. 
Accordingly,  in  18(')(»,  he  determined  on  re- 
visiting tile  spot,  and,  when  he  arrived  there, 
found  that  everything  in  the  wagon  was 
exactly  in  the  siline  state  as  when  he  left  it 
in  charge  of  flie  king  seven  years  before. 
The  head  men  of  the  place?  wen-  very  glad 
to  see  him  back  again,  and  only  laniented 
tliat  he  had  not  arrived  in  the  previous  year, 
which  happened  to  be  one  of  special  jileiity. 

This  honesty  is  the  mori-  remarkable,  be- 
cause they  had  good  reason  to  fear  the  attacks 
of  the  Mfitabele.  who.  if  they  lind  heard  that 
a  wagon  with  property  in  it  was  kept  in  the 
l>laee,  wenild  have  attiicked  Linyanti  at  once, 
in  spite  of  its  strong  position  amid  rivers 
and  marshes.  However,  the  Makololo  men 
agreed  that  in  that  case  they  were  to  light  in 
defence  of  the  wagon,  and  that  the  first  man 
who  wounded  a  Matabele  in  defence  of  the 
wagon  w.as  to  receive  cattle  as  a  reward.  It 
is  jirbbable,  however,  that  the  great  per- 
sonal intluonce  which  Dr.  Livingstone  exer- 
cised over  the  king  and  his  tribe  had  much 
to  do  with  the  behavior  of  thefic  Makololo, 
and  that  a  man  of  less  capacity  and  exjieri- 
ence  would  have  been  robbed  of  everything 
that  could  be  stolen. 

When  ualives  travel,  especially  if  they 


should  be  headed  by  a  rhipf,  similar  cere- 
monies take  jilace, 'the   women   being  In- 
trusted  with   the    task    of   welcoming   Iho 
visitors.    This  they  do  by  means  of  a  shrill, 
prolonged,  undulating  cry,  produced   by  a 
rapiil  agitation  of  tlu!  tongue,  and  expres- 
sively called  "  Itillilooing."     The  men  follow 
(heir  example,  anil  it   is   etiiiuetle   for   the 
chief  to   receive   all  these  salutations  with 
])erfect  inditfereiice.     As   soon   as  the  new 
coiners    are    seated,   a    conversation    takes 
place,  in  which  the   two  parties  exchaugo 
n<'ws,   and   then    the   head   man   rises   and 
brings  out  a  cpiantity  of  beer  in  large  pots. 
Calabash    goblets   are   handed   round,   and 
every   one   makes   it  a  jioint  of  honor  to 
drink  as  fast  as  he  can,  the  fragile  goblets 
being  often  broken  in  this  convivial  rivalry. 
Hesides  the  beer,  jars  of  clotted  milk  arc 
produce<l  in  plenty,  and  each  of  the  Jars  is 
given  to  one  of  the  jirincipal  men,  who  is  at 
liberty  to  divide  it  as  he  chooses.    Although 
(U'igiiially  sprung  from  the  IJecbiiaiias,  tlio 
Makololo  disdain  the  use  of  spoons,  prefer- 
ring to  scoop  up  the  milk  in  their   hands, 
and,   if   a   spoon   be   given    to   them,   they 
merely  ladle  out  some  milk   from   the  jar, 
jiut  it"  into  their  hands,  ami  so   eat   it.     A 
chief  is  expected  to  give  several  feasts  of 
meat  to  his  followers.     lie  chooses  an  ox, 
and  bands  it  over  b)  some  favored  individ- 
ual, who  proceeds  to  kill  it  bv  piercing  its 
heart  with  a  slender  spear.     *riie  wound  is 
carefully  closed,  so  that  the  animal  bleeds 
internailv,  the  whole  of  the  blood,  as  Avell 
as  the  viscera,  forming  the  perquisite  of  the 
butcher. 

Scarcely  is  the  ox  dead  than  it  is  cut  np, 
the  best  parts,  namely,  the  hump  and  ribs, 
belonging  to  the  chief,  who  also  apportions 
the  dillerent  parts  of  the  slain  animal 
among  his  guests,  just  as  Joseph  did  with 
bis  brethren.  iaeh"of  the  bon<ired  guests 
subdividing  bis  own  )u>rtion  among  his 
immediate  followers.  The  proccNS  of  cook- 
ing is  simple  enough,  the  meat  being  merely 
cut  into  strijis  and  thrown  on  the  tire,  OTOn 
in  such  quiliitities  that  it  is  nearly  extin- 
guished. Ibt'ore  it  is  half  cookeil,  it  is 
taken  from  the  embers,  and  eaten  while  fo 
hot  that  none  but  a  practised  meat-eater 
could  endure  it.  the  chief  oljcct  lu  ing  to 
introduce  as  much  meat  as  jiossilde  into  the 
stomach  in  a  given  time.  It  is  not  man- 
ners to  eat  after  a  man's  comiianions  have 
finished  their  meal,  and  so  each  "uest  i  als 
as  much  at\d  as  fast  as  he  can,  and  acts  as  if 
he  had  studied  in  the  school  of  (Sir  Dugald 
Dalgetty.  Neither  is  it  manners  for  iiiiy 
one  to  take  a  solitary  meal,  and,  knowing 
this  custom.  Dr.  Livingstone  alw.iys  con- 
trived to  have  a  second  cuj)  of  tea  or  coflVe 
by  his  side  whenever  he  took  his  meals,  i-o 
that  the  chief,  or  one  of  the  principal  men, 
might  jcin  in  the  rejiast. 

Among  the  Makobdo,  rank  has  its  draw- 
i  backs  as  well  as  its  privileges,  and  among 


TUE  ,™.«,.:^  SUPE„,o„  TO  MOST  OP  TUT.  T,.,„E,. 

Ilk..  ..       1.      .       ._  1 


-•^ '"; ■'•".•!'S  itti  n:'.j  :;:i'v  s 

on.  .  ,„..,.l  tl...  wh,,lo   ..f  the   ,,;   i 

«"<i  are  skilC,    in  '  ,«  .      ''"^  '"^  "'^'  '''"'"i', 
**»""o.s  an.   I    -1  wt  m.    '  n"'"/''''^-    '^'"■•'<" 

;i;::'zi;;j;:!:r::i;  F""''-^ 

^vh"  can  «wi„i  S;"il'''r'''''"^'<tl...so 
«"<!  <la„.e,.ou.  e. ffi^s  "''^  T^^^"  ^ocks 
"1  tho  olinse     '(•;,"      •     '''^l"''-'ali.V  n.-od,.,! 

ti'7  contwvt  ,  „ni|;jTr""""^'.  ^■''"•'' 

a'l'l  which  th.,.y  «e  don,     .ir-n"''"  '''••'•"^■"'• 

""^"■r,  and    (he    fori     .,|,l.    l/''"   ''"■'""'' 
ivnmrkal.lo  animal  J'^"'^    "^  ^^''^ 

^'S'thatwhidfiitr^-'^^lr'"'^''^'''^ 
'Africa  .south  of  th     T    1"  ''""'''  P-'^'"''^  "»' 

and  a  ruaM^ortS^Tl''^.'^''  '""'«• 
^^'ver  (ho  should.  the  "a  C;;T'''-'  '^''''''" 
worn  in  ,.„I,i  w.'ath.'r  Tl  '^  aV  ,'",'",'-  «»'>' 
c  fianlv  rir-n  ....•■  ,    ""  Mako  o  o  area 


327 

"..■....*;,  „rni:;;!:'-:.,a:  •:;»"'' """'  ■» 

I't'  a  load  f    •   «    crli         "'■  '"■"''""^'''f^  to 

io^^H,had..i.i;^..!;rls,:fs;;ii,,\;;'r'' 

tliu'k  as  a  niauN  fln-^er  •md    i,v         •    '  '''  "** 

iv'""  ixTieft.  sh.uui.i'  :;''■'''■ '""»'- 

••'"K  above   ,.a<li   ,.  ho       .,    i         "V'' '^'"'y 
l>oad.s  round      •    «.    ?  '    i  '"'"■"'   '"""'  w 

••'•^'iiar;<;.mhu:av^;  ;:''-i;'^  •'":■'•"»- 

"'"  rin^H  on  her  Z  Z^'o  .f,  'if";'.'"  '^"*■ 
waBoblisod   townn,   «oa^^"^""l'^!^*' 


ankles,     f  ",ldor   t  lis   u   •"r7"'i"  '■''■''■«  ^er 

t'ouid  walk  but   uvw  ;:  1^  "'  ""'"''  ■"ho 

proved  i  self  " LoH^r  '  '^^  M  'a^hion 
Makololo  worn  '  „  '  f,  *"  '?'»  "■'"'  this 
sisters.  ""'  "'^  '"»""o'  l>w  European 

MaaC'^^te-r";'.^;""-"'  "'"""'--  the 

thi'  tribes,  a^i"  ;,,"''":;■"": '"  "'-^^  of 

to  the  li.ht  warm     ^'"'Zr'''  ,""'' 

tl'oao  of  he  Al^^oloio ',"''?■  ^^'''•"■•■'''  tn''c", 
ra.s.V  life,  havin!;  c  ';'  ,'  '',  ■''•'■"'"Para'ively' 
''.V  their  husbwis  uL  ^'  '  '''''""'^  ■'*''''"-''l 
Kround,  .  I  oti;'!'"  "''','"  '''"ff.^'i'-jr  the 
the  doniesti '  work  i,  i  ""''  ''"''^-  '•'^'e" 
tl'an  by  he  „ltrl^  <lone  more  by  servants 
"'■••t  tlfe  MaKr-  '  household,  so 

that  ra„i/K£-;---;'  not  liable  to 
amon^.  other  tribes     "„  J  .'   !  "o, evident 
•nneh  time  to  (hemsplvL         1'"'^'  have  so 
"^'•npy  them,  tl  a Mhov^'!'  '■""    ""  "Klo  to 
mtherdissiiu'ihS      'V'"'^  ^"  '''"  '""to 
their  time  in  Vm  kin, ')?"''  '^"'"''  '"'"'h  "f 
heer,  the  former  Inbi  ",.''"''  ''""'  'hinkin^^ 
ous  one,  and  nnt  t    .      '""  "  '"""t  insWi? 
|ivo  (Iis,:a  e     S^Ldetn  w  '  ^  P^-'-'"h-ar  erup- 
henip-pine    and  1.1  /•      '""^  "^  ^""ta'T  of  tl ,. 

this  luLfc  ho ;,  L'';f ,r'T""'"'""^'"''<"  '■> 

he  afterward  died  ^^'^  ''"^'^««  of  wJu'eh 

!hJSa2^;i:i;!;:VS/^>';ftothe,otof 

'"ff,  whieh  is  left  e  1  iroi  '';  *  hous,.-b„ii,,. 
wrvauts.  The  mole  oJ-  '!"»  '^'"^  their 
.rather  remark',."""  T  1  T^T  '>  house  is 
Ouiid  a  eviindri...."  ;,.,.        .^  husim-ss  is  to 


328 


THE  M^KOLOLO  THinE. 


feet  In  height,  the  walls  niu\  floor  boliia 
HiniMitlily  |)liwti'rml,  ho  im  to  prevent  tlii'in 
trotn  liarl.oriii^'  iii.ifcts.  A  larj^ro  conical 
roof   is   tlicii   put   tojfctlu'r  on  tlni  ground 

'••"I  • ipii'tcly  IhatcluMl  willi  rocdN.     It  is 

then  lilted  by  niuny  lianiK  and  lodg.-d  on 
top  of  (hr  I  ircular  tower.     As  the  roof  iiro- 
Jects  liir  licyoud  tho  <'i>ntral  tower,  it  i.s  nup- 
porl<'d  by  .slakcN,  and,  jw  a  general  rule,  tlie 
Mpaees  between  (lieNc  stuke.s   are   lllled    nii 
with  a  wall  or  fence  of  reeds  iilaxtered  with 
mud.    This   root'  Ih  not  |)erni.'nentlv  ll.ved 
oither  to  tho  Hujtporting  stak      or  tlu' een- 
ViM   *""■'■'■'  ""''  •""'  ^>^  reniov, .,  ut  pleiiMure. 
VVhen  a  visitor  arriven  ninong  the  Mako- 
lolo,  he  IS  olKen  lodged  bv  the  .simple  pro- 
cess of  lillinnr  ji  finished  "niof  „(r  an  uillin- 
ished  house,  and  i)utting  it  on  the  ground. 
Although  It  IS  then  so  low  that  a  man  ean 
scarcely  sit,   nuKli    less    stand   ui)right,   it 
answers    very    well    for    Southern    Africa 
where  the  whole  of  a.tive  lifi;  is  spent,  as  a 
rule,  in  the  open  air.  anil  where  houses  are 
'-•nly   used   as  slecping-boxcs.      The   door- 
way (hat  gives  admission  into  the  circular 
chamber  is  always  sniall.    In  a  house  that 
was    assigned   to   Dr.    Livingstone,   it  was 
only  nineteen  inches  in  total  height,  twenty- 
two  in  width  at  the  floor,  and  twelve  at  tlie 
top.    A  native  Makololo,  with  no  iiarticular 
encumbrance  in  the  way  of  clothes,  makes 
Ins  way  through  the  doorwnv  easily  enough- 
bill  an  Kuropcau  with  all  t'he  impcdinieiils 
ot  dress  about  him  finds  himself  .sadly  ham- 
pered in  attemi)ting  to  gain  the  i)ene"tration 


l,,.i..  .1.  .nuiiipung  lo  gam  the  penetration 
ot  a  Makololo  house.  Kxeept  tlirou-'h  thi,- 
(loor,  tho  tower  has  neither  light  nor  venti- 
lation. Some  of  the  best  houses  have  two, 
nnd  even  three,  of  tliese  towers,  built  con- 
centrically within  each  other,  and  each  hav- 
ing its  entrance  about  as  large  as  the  d«)or 
of  an  ordinary  dog-kennel.  Of  course  tlie 
atmosphere  is  very  close  at  night,  but  the 
people  care  nothing  about  that. 

The  illustration  No.  2.  upon  the  next  page 
IS  from  a  sketch  furnished  by  Mr.  I3aine.s.' 
It  represents  a  nearlv  completed  Makololo 
house  on  the  banks  of  the  Zambesi  river,  just 
above  tho  great  Victoria  Falls.     The  women 
have  placed  the  roof  on  the  building,  and 
arc  engaged  in  the  final  process  of  fixin"  tlie 
thatch.    In  the  centre  i.s  seen  the  cylinffrical 
tower  which  forms  the  inner  chamber,  to- 
gether with  a  portion  of  the  absurdly  small 
door  by  which  it  is  entered.    Round  it  is 
the  inner  wall,  which  is  also  furni.shed  with 
Its  doorway.    These  are  made  of  stakes  and 
w-ithes,  upon  which  is  worked  a  quantity  of 
day,  well  jiatted  on  by  hand, so  as  to  foiin  a 
thick  and  strong  wall.    The  clay  is  obtained 
from  ant-hills,  and  is  generally  kneaded  up 
with   cow-dung,  tho    mixture   producing   a 
kmd  of  plaster  that  is  ver)  solid,  and  can  be 
made   beautifully  smooth.    Even  the  wall 
which  surrounds  the  building  and  the  whole 
ot  the  floor  are  made  of  the  .same  material 
It  wUl  be  seen  that  there  are  four  concen- 


tric walls  in  fhi".  building.  First  conies  the 
outer  wall,  which  encircles  the  whole  prem- 
ises. Next  is  a  low  wall  which  is  built  up 
against  the  posts  that  Mipporl  Ihe  (.nds  of 
the  rafters,  and  whiv'h  is  partly  .supported  bv 
tJiem.  Within  this  is  a  third  wall,  whi.h  eii- 
closes  what  may  be  called  Ihe  ordinary  living 
room  of  Ihe  house  ;  and  wilhin  all  Lslhe  in- 
ner ehainher,  or  tower,  which  is  in  liict  only 
anolher  circular  wall  of  much  less  diumeter 
and  much  greater  height.  Ii  will  bo  seen 
thai  the  walls  of  the  house  il.self  increase 
regularly  in  height,  and  decrease  r.gularly 
in  diameter,  so  as  to  correspond  with  the 
conical  roof. 

On  the  left  of  Ihe  illustration  is  part  of  a 
imllet-lleld,  beyond  which  are  some  com- 
pleted houses.  Among  them  arc  some  of 
the  fan-palm«  Avith  recurved  h  ave.s.  That 
on  the  left  is  a  young  tree,  and  retains  all  its 
leaves,  while  that  on  the  rigid  is  an  (lid  one, 
and  has  .shed  the  leaves  t(tward  the  base  of 
th(^  stem,  the  foliage  and  the  thickened  por- 
tion of  Ihe  trunk  liaviiig  worked  (heir  way 
5,'radually  unward.  More  palms  are  growl- 
ing on  the  Zambesi  Uiver,  and  in  the  back- 
ground are  seen  the  vast  siiray  clouds  arisini' 
trom  the  Falls.  '' 

llie   comparatively  easy  life    led  by  tho 
jVIaknlolo  women  makes  polvganiy  h  sh  of  a 
hanlshij)  to  them  tluiii   is  the  case  amoii<r 
neigboring  tribes,  and,  in  fact,  i  veii  if  the 
men   wen;  willing    to  abandon  the  system, 
(lie  women   would    not  consent   to  do   so. 
"  ilh  them  marriage,  fhoiigh  it  never  rises 
to  the  rank  which  it  holds  in  civilized  coun- 
tries, is  not  a  mere  matter  of  barter.     It  is 
true  that  the  husband  is  expected  to  pay  a 
certain  sum  to  the  parents  of  his  bride,  as  a 
recompense  for  her  services,  jnid  as  purcliase- 
money  lo  retain  in  his  own  family  the  chil- 
dren that  she  may  have,  and  which  would 
by  law  belong  to  her  father.     Then  again 
when  a  wife  dies  her  husband  is  obliged  to 
send  an  ox  to  her  family,  in  order  to  n-com- 
pen.se  them  for  their  lo.ss,she  being  still  reck- 
oned as  formiiifj  part  of  her  jiareiit's  fam- 
ily, and  her  individuality  not  being  totally 
merged  into  that  of  her  luKsband. 

Plurality  of  wives  is  in  vogue  amoii" 
the  ifakololo,  and  is,  indeed,  an  absolute 
necessity  under  the  present  conditions  ot 
the  race,  and  the  women  would  be  quite  as 
unwilling  as  the  men  to  have  a  system  of  mo- 
nogamy imposed  upon  them.  No  man  is 
rcsiiected  by  his  neighbors  who  does  not  pos- 
sess several  wives,  and  imleed  without  them 
he  could  not  be  wealthv,  each  wife  tilling  a 
certain  quantity  of  ground,  and  the  produce 
belonging  to  a  common  stock.  Of  course, 
there  are  cases  where  polvganiy  is  certainly 
a  hard.ship,  .xs,  for  examiile,  when  old  men 
choose  lo  many  very  young  wives.  Hut.oa 
the  whole,  and  under  existing  conditions, 
polvganiy  is  the  only  i>ossil)le  .system. 

Another  reason  for  the  jilurality  of  wives, 
as  given  by  themselves,  is  that  a  man  with 


i{.  First  cnmo.n  tho 
I'M  llir  wholf  jiri'iii- 

I  whirli  i.s  Iniilt  ii|) 
ii|'l""'l   lli( In  of 

illllly  MI|)|iltlTrd  by 

liiil  Willi,  wliii-licn- 
tlicordiimryliviiijr 
kviliiiii  all  i.H  thu  iii- 
liiili  i.s  In  liict  only 
nncli  liMM  (liiiiiu'tcr 

I.       1 1    will     lit)    MCCU 

iiMc  ilMcir  ilUTflWO 
ilc(rn!i,H('  njfularly 
iri'.siKiiiil  with  tlic 

ration  in  part  of  n 
h  arc  Honu!  coni- 
liciu    aro  Nonio  of 

\1'(1     IcilVCN.       Tllilt 

,  and  retains  all  it.s 
■i;,'lil  in  an  old  oiu«, 
loward  tlif  Imse  of 
Iho  thickened  jjor- 
worked  (heir  way 
l)ahns  ai'e  jjrow'- 
■,  and  in  llie  Imek- 
|iray  cIoiuIh  arising 

y  life  led  by  tho 
i()Iv/,Mniy  I(  cH  of  a 
i  the  ease  anion<r 

t'ael,  even  if  the 
ndon  the  nysteni, 
on.sent  to  do  so. 
igli  it  never  rises 

ill  civilized  coun- 
r  of  li.'irter.  It  is 
'Xi)ecte(l  to  pay  a 

of  his  hride,  as  a 
^,and  aspnrchase- 
n  family  (he  cliil- 
md  wh'ieli  wonld 
ler.  Then  a<,'(!in, 
and  is  obliged  to 

II  order  to  rt'coni- 
f  being  Htill  reck- 
licr  jiarent's  fani- 
not  being  totally 
Hband. 

n  vogue  among 
eed,  an  absolute 
nt  conditions  ot 
vm\U\  be  quite  as 
c  a  system  of  mo- 
■m.  No  man  is 
vho  does  not  pos- 
ed without  them 
leh  wife  tilling  a 
and  the  produce 
ock.     Of  course, 


amy  is  certainly 
,  when  old  men 
•  wives.  Unt.oa 
iting  conditions, 
le  system, 
urality  of  wives, 
hat  a  man  with 


**5*'  /^. 


I)  OVAMHO   IlftUSES. 
(Soi'imjc.lio.) 


(Sccpn;,'o.3;>ij,j 


(321)) 


LAW-SUITS. 


'881 


that  the  5lL',;te„  iL'  1h  rr^.r  in°!2,^db"''^""'-^  «V'"'-  -«iSTJ  Vlii 
hard  work     Ti.w  i.>,,,i  , ,   "^''  ""''re  in  tlie   bein"  ncedt-fl  Imf  Hw.  „' i  """'"*'' not 

'The  wt^esscsM:  V  Z  &"!:'. -^J'?!ng. 


fortablethau=tti  ..\Tri    'f  "'°""''  *^"'"- 
and  n,a,;a..e  Sir '"it  "ll'lJr;^"^'"^  r^ce 


Thowit;;^^to,vf;;:^.sr?:!feS';r- 


acrclc   w.,y  ho  c«„  nSMlT'.,!";:'""?.*  il'"?t« 


that,  on  one  ve  ^l  t...   VI '",''*  Proceeding  when  a  strfomnnl  '     '^*^"'.''"*  occasionally. 


sonStt^^^tS'^I^^J'-th,  while  his 
teen  and  b„t  rZylaiiTl^  T\f  '^'s''" 
nvalnanu.!  UmJ.X.uJ\^^2  throne,  a 


say  'Bv  n  v  fWMVl '  1"f  t'oned,  a  man  wfll 
so.-'  ffie"r\ruthf"  .r  ^^  "'"^  '^'»»'f'  ''t  » 
.-3  quite^'errffiiriir'J,-.^  -iothc. 
government  is  such  thi(TB'„Ii.i  8.\i>tcm  of 
m  a  position  to  realfze  it^re^"'  A "'  ""* 

nval'nanu;d'Mne;;/,';{;Xn.''''  *'^^"."''^'«  °"'"'"  '"  am*'ai[onSuS'?"''^H*'«'^"«^  «  '^h 
bySebituanecnef;,ra°l  iif^rV.CP"'"'^*'  U"^^^^^  asX  mk.  ill  °  ^'""'  ""  "'««  «o 
a-spired  to  the  thr,  nn      Jl      f""  "'^the  tribe,    the  offenee  of Ti^  k    ^^^'^  accusation,'  as  if 

pretensions  by  su  "ntitS  '  '''"•"''^?»'''J '""«  Ugains  he  soo  '  ^J°''i^r*'  ?''  '"  ^'e  one 
someyoarsaWoV  '     "v'!.'J'''"S'»eld  for  referred  to  h«T/h^  ^^'''^    '''«   individual 


.\t.. 


¥       i 


832 


THE  MAKOLOLO  TRIBE. 


alone  has  the  privilege  of  speaking  wliile 
seated. 

There  is  even  a  series  of  game-laws  in  the 
country,  all  ivory  belonging  of  right  to  the 
king,  and  every  tusk  being  brought  to  him. 
This  riglil  is,  however,  only  nominal,  as  the 
king  is  expeeted  to  share  the  ivory  among 
his  peoi)le,  and  if  he  did  not  do  so,  he  would 
not  bo  able  to  enforee  the  law.  In  fiu't,  the 
whole  law  praetieally  resolves  itself  into  this; 
that  the  King  gets  one  tusk  and  the  hunters 
get  the  other,  while  the  flesh  belongs  to 
those  who  kill  the  animal.  And,  as  the 
flesh  is  to  the  people  far  more  valuable  than 
the  ivory,  the  arrangement  is  nuieh  fairer 
than  appears  at  lirst  sight. 

PractiOAlly  it  is  a  system  of  make-believes. 
The  successful  liunters  kill  two  elephants 
taking  four  tusks  to  the  king,  and  make 
believe  to  ofler  them  for  his  aeeeiilance.  He 
makes  believe  to  take  them  as  his  right,  and 
then  makes  believe  to  present  them  with 
two  as  a  free  gift  from  himself  They  ac- 
knowledge the  roy.il  bounty  witli  abuiidant 
thanks  and  recapitulation  of  titles,  such  as 
Great  Lion,  &c.,  and  so  all  parties  are  eciually 
satisfied. 

On  page  319  I  have  described,  from  Mr. 
Baines'  notes,  a  child's  toy,  the  only  exam- 
ple of  a  genuine  toy  whicli  he  lbun(l  in  the 
whole  of  Southern  Africa.  Among  the  Ma- 
kololo,  however,  as  well  as  among  Euro- 
peans, the  spirit  of  play  is  strong  in  ciiildren. 
and  they  engage  in  various  games,  chifHv 
\  consisting  in  childish  imitation  of  the  more 
serious  pursuits  of  their  imrents.  The  fol- 
lowing account  of  thi'ir  jilav  is  given  bv  Dr. 
Livingstone:— "  The  children  have  n'urrv 
times,  especially  in  the  cool  of  the  evening. 
One  of  their  games  consists  of  a  little  giri 
being  carried  on  the  shoulders  of  two  others. 
She  sits  with  outstrelchcd  arms,  as  tliev 
walk  about  with  her,  and  all  tiie  rest  clap 
their  hands,  and  sio])ping  before  each  hut. 


snip  pretty  airs,  some  beating  time  on  their 
little  kilts  of  cow-skin,  and  others  making  a 
curious  huinniing  sound  between  the  songs. 
Excepting  this  and  tiie  skipping-rope,  the 
play  of  the  girls  consists  in  imitation  of  the 
serious  work  of  their  mothers,  buildinjr  littk- 
huts,  making  small  jiots,  imd  cooking, pound- 
ing corn  in  miniature  mortars,  or  lioeiu" 
tiny  gardens. 
"The    boys   jilay   with    spears    of   reeds 

Eointed  with  wood,  and  small  shields,  or 
ows  and  arrows;  or  aimisc!  themselves  in 
making  little  cattle-j)ens,  or  cattle  in  clav, 
—  they  show  <,'ifit;  m^'cnuitv  in  the  imita- 
tion of  v.'iriously  shaped  horns.  Some  too 
are  said  to  use  slings,  but,  as  soon  as  tliev 
can  watcli  the  goats  or  calves,  they  ari'  sent 
to  the  field.  We  saw  manv  bovs  ridiu"  op 
the  calves  they  had  in  charge,  but  this  fs  an 
innovation  since  the  arrival  of  tlu'  English 
with  their  horses.  Tselane,  one  of"  the 
hulies,  on  observing  Dr.  Livingstone  noting 
Observations  on  the  wt>t  and  d>v  ''ulb  thei- 


niometers,  thought  that  he  too  was  engaged 
in  play.  On  receiving  no  reply  to  her  ques- 
tion, whicli  was  rather  diflicillt  to  answer, 
as  their  native  tongue  has  no  scientilic 
terms,  she  said  with  roguish  glee,  Toor 
thing!  niaying  like  a  little  child! '" 

On  the  ojipositi^  ])ag(!  1  jireseiit  my  read- 
ers with  another  of  Mr.  Baines's  sketches. 
The  scene  is  taken  from  a  Makololo  village 
on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  the  time  is 
supposed  to  be  evening,  alter  (he  dav's  work 
is  over.  In  the  midst  are  the  young  girls 
playing  the  game  mentioned  by  jilr.  Anders- 
sen,  the  central  girl  beiusj:  ciii'ried  by  two 
others,  and  her  companions  singing  and 
clai)ping  their  hands.  The  dress  of  the 
young  girls  is,  as  may  be  seen,  very  siini)le, 
and  consists  of  leathern  thoniis,  varying 
greatly  in  length,  ))ut  alwavs  s(')  slight  and 
scanty  that  they  do  not  hide  (he  contour  of 
the  limbs.  Several  girls  are  walking  beliind 
them,  carrying  ]iots and  l)undles  on  the  head, 
another  is  breaking  u])  the  ground  with  a 
toy  hoe,  while  in  the  Ibreground  is  one  girl 
l)retending  to  grind  corn  between  (wo  stones, 
another  pounding  in  a  small  model  mortar, 
and  a  third  with  a  rude  doll  carried  as  a 
mother  carries  her  child.  Tlio  jiarents  are 
leaning  against  their  houses,  and  looking  at 
the  sports  of  the  children.  On  (he  left  are 
.seen  some  girls  building  a  miniature  hut, 
the  roof  of  which  they  are  just  lifting  upon 
the  posts. 

In  th(!  foreground  on  the  left  are  the  boys 
engaged  in   (heir   pardeular  games.     Some 
are  employed  in  making  nide  models  of  eat- 
tle  and  other  animals,  wlii'e  others  are  en- 
gaged in  mimic  warfare.     In  (lie  background 
i.sa  boy  who  has  g<iiie  ou(  (o  fe(eh  the  (lock 
of  goa(s  home,  and   is  walking  in  front  of 
them,  tbllowed  by  his  charge.     A  singular 
tree  often  overhangs  (he  houses  and  is  very 
characteristic  of  (hat  part  of  Aliiea.     In  the 
native  language  i(  is  callel  Mosuawe.  and  by 
(he  ror(uguese,  I'lioiisa.     1(  has  a  leaf  some- 
what like  that  of  the  acacia,  and  the  blos- 
soms and   fruit  ane   seen    hanging   side  by 
side.     The   la((er    very   niiuh    lesemliles  a 
wooden  cucumber,  and  is  about  as  catsdile. 
On  the  same   iiaire  is  another  sketch  by 
Mr.  Baines,  rejin  seiidng  a  domestic  scene 
in  a  Makidolo  (iunily.     The  liou^  .■  behings 
to   a  chief  named    AriJopo,  who   was  very 
friendly  to  Mr.  H.iines  and  his  companions, 
and  was  allogi  ther  a  line  specimen  of  a  sav- 
age gentleman.     He   was   exceedingly  hos- 
pitable to  his  guests,  not  only  feeding  thein 
well,  but  i)r(p(lneing  g|-ea(  Jar's  of  iioinbe,  or 
native  beer,  which  they  were  ohliircd  to  con- 
sume either  ])ersoiialiy  or  by  deputy.    lie 
even   aj)ologi/ed    for   liis   inaliility    to  oiler 
(hem  somejoung  l.idies  as  (ein)M>rarv  wives, 
according  to  (he  custom  of  the  coun'trv,  (he 
girls  being  at  the  time  all  aliseiil.  and  en- 
gaged in  ceremonies  verv  similar  to  those 
which   have  been   described  when  treating 
of  the  Becliuanas. 


(?!| 


a  too  was  engaged 
reply  to  her  qucs- 
illifiilt  to  answer, 
Iiiis  no  scicntilu; 
;uisli  glee,  Toor 

ehild!'" 

jiresent  my  roail- 
IJiiiius'.s  sketelies, 

Makololo  village 

and  tliu  time  in 
ler  du'  (lay's  work 
I'  tile  young  girls 
(1  by  Jilr.  Anders- 
,'  eai'ried  by  two 
ona  singing  and 
lie  dress  of  the 
seen,  very  simi)le, 

thongs,  varying 
iy>i  so  sliglit  and 
lie  the  contour  of 
e  walking  liehind 
idles  on  the  head, 
I'  ground  with  a 
round  is  one  girl 
tween  two  stones, 
ill  model  mortar, 
doll  carried  as  a 

The  jiarents  are 
s,  and  looking  at 

On  the  left  are 
I  niiniatui'e  hut, 
just  lifting  upon 

left  are  the  hoys 
r  games.  Some 
le  models  of  cat- 
e  others  are  en- 
1  the  background 
lo  fetcli  the  llock 
kiug  in  front  of 
■ge.  A  singular 
luscs  and  is  very 
fAliiea.  In  the 
Mdsaawe.  and  by 
1  has  a  leal'some- 
a.  and  the  hlos- 
langing  side  by 
ell    resembles   a 


liiiiit 


lis  ealaole. 


itlier  sketch  by 
diiiuestic  scene 
■  hou-"  hehings 
,  who  uas  very 
his  companions, 
'cinieii  of  a  sav- 
xceedingly  hos- 
ily  feeding  them 
rs  (if  ))ombe,  or 
•  (ibliged  to  con- 
l>y  deputy.    Ik 


hty    t( 


)ller 


•mi)oi'ary  wives, 
he  country,  the 
ibseiit.  and  en- 


imilai 


to    till 


when  treating 


U.)  ClllLUUKN'S  GAMKS.    (.Se7p„..  ,3, , 


i 


THE  MAKOLOLO  DAJfCE. 


form   ii  sIi.iHoV  cone.    Tliu  iusl,],.' nf  m.- 
stnnn  .,.;fi,  1         i"<-^tiue(i  Ur.  Jjivinj;;- 


seutod  oxou  milk    »' I    ,  '''^''"   ^"l"^'"  Pre- 
w.;;ry'SS'^^-  their  Joy  an. 


oppS.^S^,:-S-S;^o  cypress  her 
not  NO  u-'lv  s'liil  «l>n  .  I  ^"  -i"cy  wore 
AI..Iutl4'^f^^;;'i^,,J;^';ac   expected 


considered  them  ni  n,...i  "  '  "'"'  '-^'''I'luiv 
of  cattle.     It  viVLnTn''^"'''  '"  <'"'  '"-'f^ 

man  really  ha'it,"s.  "'  ''''"'^  "'e  white 

sit'tinl^m  the  f.ro',„,|"'''[i';;;  ^V.?'  'T  ■'''•''" 
«calp  entirely  sha"  I  a>  ,:  f  "jl''"  ','=••"  ^'^''• 
P™io..lydiversi,ie,|'j::!;M:-,"l]-,'-- 


and  thevle"  ve  o  .t, ,      '     "     ''"."'  •'»-'''^^'"''' 

vim,!'i;w;::;i;;\::r':.:^!^/"'-«'ii''ah.na.ic 


oil-  (lie  exee^  vA^   :r  •       ''  '"*'""*'  "*  '''""  g 
Hut     ..re    'nnv  he-^^l''  '"'"'""^^r  the  brain^ 


w 


396 


THE  MAKOLOLO  TBIBE. 


Ifotebe,  Sekeletii'8  father-in-law,  for  saying 
that  it  is  very  nice." 

Many  of  the  Makololo  are  inveterate 
smokers,  preferring  hemi)  even  to  tobacco, 
because  it  is  more  intoxicating.  They  de- 
lii^ht  in  smoking  themselves  into  a  positive 
frenzy, "  which  passes  away  in  a  rapid  stream 
of  unmeaning  words,  or  short  sentences,  as, 
'The  green  grass  grows,'  'The  fat  cattle 
thrive,"  The  fishes  swim.'  No  one  in  the 
group  pays  the  slightest  attention  to  the  ve- 
hement eloquence,  or  the  sage  or  silly  utter- 
ances of  the  oracle,  who  stops  abruptly,  and, 
the  instant  common  sense  returns,  looks 
foolish."  They  smoke  the  hemp  through 
water,  using  a  koodoo  horn  for  their  pipe, 
much  in  the  way  that  the  Damaras  and 
other  tribes  use  it 

Over  indulgence  in  this  luxury  has  a  very 
prejudicial  effect  on  the  health,  producing 
an  eruption  over  the  whole  body  that  is  quite 
unmistakable.  In  consequence  of  this  effect, 
the  men  prohibit  their  wives  from  using  the 
hemp,  but  the  result  of  the  prohibition  seems 
only  to  be  that  the  women  smoke  secretly 
instead  of  openly,  and  are  afterward  dis- 
covered by  the  appearance  of  the  skin.  It 
is  the  more  fascinating,  because  its  use  im 


parts  a  spurious  strength  to  the  body,  while 
It  enervates  the  mind  to  such  a  degree  that 
the  user  is  incapable  of  perceiving  the  state 
in  which  he  is  gradually  sinking,  or  of  exer- 
cising sufficient  self-control  to  abandon  or 
even  to  modify  the  destructive  habit.  Se- 
keletu  was  a  complete  victim  of  the  hemp- 
pipe,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  illness, 
something  like  the  dreaded  "craw-craw" 
of  Western  Africa,  was  aggravated,  if  not 
caused,  by  over-indulgence  in  smoking  hemp. 

The  Makololo  have  an  unbounded  faitli 
in  medicines,  and  believe  that  there  is  no  ill 
to  which  humanity  is  subject  which  cannot 
bo  removed  by  white  man's  medicine.  One 
woman  who  thought  herself  too  thin  to  suit 
the  African  ideas  of  beauty,  asked  for  the 
medicine  of  fatness,  and  a  chief,  whose  six 
wives  had  only  produced  one  boy  among  a 
number  of  girls,  was  equally  importunate  for 
some  medicine  that  would  change  the  sex 
of  the  future  offspring.  ,  ,   ,  , 

The  burial-places  of  the  Makololo  are 
seldom  conspicuous,  but  in  some  cases  the 
relics  of  a  deceased  chief  are  preserved,  and 
regarded  with  veneration,  so  that  the  guard- 
ians cannot  be  induced  to  sell  them  even  for 
the  most  temptiuj^  prices. 


.11 


e  body,  while 
a  degree  that 
ang  the  state 
ig,  or  of  oxer- 
a  ubaiulon  or 
re  hnbit.  Se- 
of  the  henip- 
at  the  ilhiess, 
"  craw-craw  " 
avated,  if  not 
mokiiig  hemp. 
bounded  faim 
tliere  is  no  ill 
which  cannot 
cdlcinc.  One 
00  thin  to  Buit 
asked  for  the 
lief,  whose  six 
boy  among  a 
iiportunato  for 
lange  the  sex 

Makololo  are 
)rac  cases  the 
areserved,  and 
hat  the  guard- 
them  even  for 


CHAPTER  xxxnr. 

THE  DAYEYE  AMD  MAKOBA  TRnJES. 

THE  BAYEYE  TRIBE. 

«.luoe,l  to  oomp,„,i;rA,m'Tr» ;."'''' 
querors  ea  le«l  them  Il..t„i     ■  '    "'«  *i«n- 


^■S  TSi  »'iJS'.  »^?!»l- »!i 


..„9"    «n«    notable    occns?onV,?i'' „„....      '^'^'^^^^  nientioni  that,  hv  ,  n„  '  *:.„  ^t'\^'' 


make  the  warrior     T  ,„•;    u-  'i^" ''o<^»  "ot 
the  troubirto  LnS     h*''''"^'''''''  taken 


?oin/i,l^  ^u=js^i!^ --  -5  'S  C^;,^!::r'7::»  -h_.pnra^;^ 


boasted  of' tlir ;;rrefrw,jici;'  th'  ^"""^ 
gonig  to  show.  UnfortLn/X  p  '"IT  '^*''"*= 
marauding?  partv  of  tl  n  a?  i  ^  f"'"  "'f"™,  a 
sight,  wheli  t  e  va  iant  Makololo  ca.no  in 
about  their  "hid  i  "  ..'^  "i^"''.  ^'''S^t  all 
canoei,_and   ££,'  ^' ™P?,'     '»*«    their 


canoei,  and  paddZi  o',™'''',  "'*«  their 
down  the  rivif  until  t^/^^  '''"''  "'gbt 
<b-ed  miles  or^o  "  et«'rjJ';^U'»' •\hun- 


and    n,,;  V;,    ^"'  iiuuKCd  eaeli  Pciiaratelv 
us,nl^    T  "'^'"."'^'''^^  •»   the  packa-esi^' 

complexion  annenn..?''T,^'' tribe,  the   char-^^^^^^^  *^*  "'^^  "'"^tive  who  was  in 

beiu^'ofasinXS^^'C"'''  "'' ^'^'^tnres  &i^^^i%7»j;Vn'l  V>"™^      to  blow 
retained  b„t  few  of  thcJot^n'"^'"  *"  h'-^^e   not  restored  *''"  '*"'"'"  I'^I'^'ty  was 


338 


THE  BAYEYE  TRIBE. 


iiili 


|i  i 


conduct  vms  not  mpntlonod  to  their  chief 
LcchoU'ti'ho.  T)ie  goods  tn'in^?  ri'Htored, 
purilon  \v;».s  (ji-iuitt'd,  with  the  ninark  thiit, 
if  iinythin};  were  stolen  lor  the  future,  Mr. 
Audersseu  would  Hhoot  the  lUHt  man  wlioni 
lie  saw.  This  threat  was  ail-HulHcient,  and 
ever  atlorward  the  Bayeyc  left  liis  goodw  in 
peace. 

In  former  days  the  Bsiyevo  used  t(»  Ih>  a 
bucolic  nation,  liaviuj;  larfie  "lierds  of  cattle. 
These,  however,  were  all  seized  hy  their 
conquerors,  who  only  i)erniittvd  tlicui  to 
rear  a  few  f^)ati<,  whieli,  however,  they  value 
less  for  the  tlesh  and  milk  than  ior  the 
skins,  which  are  converted  into  karosses. 
Fowls  arc  also  kept,  but  they  are  small,  and 
not  of  a  good  breed.  In  conscquenco  of 
the  deprivation  of  their  herds,  the  Hayeye 
are  forced  to  live  on  the  produce  of  the 
ground  and  the  llesh  of  wild  animals.  For- 
tunately for  them,  their  country  is  particu- 
larly fertile,  so  that  the  women,  who  are 
the  only  practical  agriculturists  have  little 
trouble" in  tilling  tlTe  soil.  A  light  hoe  is 
the  only  instrument  used,  and  willi  this  the 
ground"  is  scratched  r.ither  than  dug.  Just 
before  the  niiny  season;  the  swd  deptwited 
almost  at  random  imnUHliately  aller  tlie  lirst 
rains  have  fallen.  Pumpkins,  melons,  cala- 
bashes, and  earth  fruits  an;  also  cultivated, 
and  tobacco  is  grown  by  energetic  natives. 

Thei-e  are  also  several  iiictigenous  fruits, 
one  of  which,  called  the  "nioshoma,"  is 
largely  used.  Tli<>  tree  on  which  it  grows 
is  a  very  tall  one,  the  trunk  is  very  straight, 
and  tlie  lowermost  brnncbes  are  at  a  great 
height  from  the  gi-ound.  The  fruit  ctui 
therefore  only  he  gathered  when  it  falls  by 
its  own  ripc"ness.  It  is  first  dried  in  the 
sun,  and  then  prepared  for  storage  by  being 
poundeci  in  a  wooden  mortar.  When  usimI, 
it  is  mixed  vrith  water  until  it  assumes  a 
cream-like  consistency.  It  is  very  sweet, 
almost  as  s^veet  a.s  lione\%  which  it  much 
resembles  in  appearance.  Those  who  are 
accustomed  to  its  nse  find  it  very  nutritious, 
but  to  strangers  it  is  at  first  unwholesome, 
being  apt  to  derange  the  digestive  system. 
The  timber  of  the  inoshama-tree  is  "useful, 
being  mostly  employed  in  building  canoes. 

Tlio  Haveye  are  very  good  Inmtsmen,  and 
are  remarkable  for  their  skill  in  capturing 
tisb.  which  they  either  pierce  with  spears 
or  entangle  in  ilets  made  of  the  libres  of  a 
native  aloe.  These  fibres  are  enormously 
strung,  as  indeed  is  the  case  with  all  the 
varieties  of  the  .aloe  plant.  The  nets  are 
formed  very  ingeniously  from  other  plaiJ^'O 
besides  the  atiie,  such  for  example  as  the 
hibiscus,  which  grows  plentifully  on  river 
banks,  and  moist  j)laees  in  general.  The 
fioat-ropes,  (.  e.  those  that  carry  the  upper 
edge  ol  the  nets,  are  made  from  the''ifc" 
(Sunsen'rrc  Amjolcnuis).  a  i)lant  that  some- 
what resembles  the  common  water-flag  of 
England.  The  floats  themselves  an;  formed 
of  stems  of  a  water-plant,  which  has  the 


pccnliarlty  of  l)eing  hoUo^r,  and  dfrided 
into  cells,  about  an  inch  in  Icikgth,  by  traii»- 
verse  valves.  The  mode  lu  which  the  net 
is  made  is  almost  identical  with  that  which 
i»  in  u.se  in  KngLiud.  The  sluifl  of  tho 
spear  which  the  IJayeyo  use  in  catching  li.h 
M  niadt!  i>f  a  v«rv  light  wood,  so  that,  wht  a 
the  fish  Ls  struck,  the  sliaft  of  the  sjiear 
adcends  to  the  surface,  and  discharges  the 
double  duty  of  tiring  tiw.  wouivle<l  ush,  and 
giving  to  the  fisherniau  the  lueans  of  litliiig 
his  linuy  p^ey  out  of  the  water. 

The  IJayeye  are  not  vi'ry  particular  as  to 
their  food,  and  not  only  eat  the  ten  fishes 
which,  as  they  boast,  inhabit  their  rivers, 
but  also  kill  and  eat  a  certain  water-snake^ 
brown  in  color  and  sjiotted  with  yellow, 
which  is  often  seen  undulating  its  devious 
course  across  the  river.  It  is  rather  a  curi- 
ous circumstance  that,  although  the  Bayeyo 
live  so  much  on  fish,  and  are  even  proud  of 
the  variety  of  the  finny  tribe  which  their 
waters  afford  them,  the  more  southern  JJo- 
chuanas  not  onlv  refuse  themselves  to  eat 
lish,  but  h)ok  witli  horror  and  disgust  upoa 
all  who  do  80. 

The  canoes  of  tho  Bayeye  are  simply 
trunks  of  trees  hollowed  out.  As  they  are 
not  made  for  speed,  but  for  use,  elegance  of 
sha]>e  is  not  at  all  considered.  If  the  troo 
trunk  which  is  destined  to  be  hewn  into  a 
canoe  happens  to  be  straight,  well  and  goc-d. 
iiut  it  sometimes  has  a  bend,  and  in  uiat 
rase  the  canoe  hiis  a  bend  also.  The  BaycyR 
are  jjardonably  fond  of  their  canoo' ,  no';  to 
say  proud  of  them.  As  Dr.  li'  ingstono 
well  t>bserves,  they  regard  their  rude  '.ea- 
sels as  an  Arab  does  hia  cameL  "They 
have  always  fires  in  them,  atvd  prefer  sleep- 
ing in  them  when  on  ii  journey  to  spending 
the  night  on.  shore.  'On  land  you  hi  VQ 
lions,'  say  they,  '  seipf'iits,  hyrcnas,  as  your 
enemies  ;  but  in  you.,  canoe,  behinil  a  Sank 
of  reeds,  nothing  cau  hiirni  you.' " 

"Their  subm»s«.ive  dis])osition  leads  to 
their  villages  being  frequently  visited  by 
hungry  strangprs.  We  had  a  po'"  on  the 
fire  in  the  cauoo  by  the  w-ay,  and  when  wo 
drew  near  the  villages,  devoured  ihe  con- 
tents. When  fully  satisfied  ourselves,  I 
found  ihst  we  could  nil  look  up«m  any  in- 
truders 'With  much  comidaisance,  and  diow 
tho  pot  In  proof  of  iMiviug  devou'-ed  tho  iixat, 
morsel." 

They  are  also  expert  at  catchiAgthe  larger 
nvumals  in  jjitfalls,  which  tlicy  ingeniously 
dig  along  the  1)anks  of  the  risers,  so  is  to 
entrap  the  elei)hant  and  otb'r  animals  as 
they  come  to  drink  at  night.  They  piant 
their  pitfalls  so  closely  together  that  it  is 
scarcely  iwssible  for  a  herd  of  elepliauts  to 
escjipe  altogi^ther  unharmed,  as  man^  as 
thirty  or  forty  being  sometiintvi  dug  in  a 
row,  and  close  together.  Although  the  old 
and  experienced  elephaiivs  have  learned  to 
go  in  front  of  their  co..iiadcs,  and  sound 
the  earth  for    concealed  traps,  the   groai 


%  nnd  (Ifrided 
ik<;tli,  by  tranc- 
whidi  thu  net 
ith  tliat  which 
.;  sbiifl  of  tho 
ill  ciktchinK  ti.-  h 
,  »o  that,  wht  a 

of  the  spear 
<li»chai-ces  the 
iiim1c<1  tish,  iind 
iintis of  litling 
or. 
[),niticnlar  as  to 

th(!  ten  tisbej! 
it  their  liveris, 
in  water-snake, 
1  witli  yellow, 
iiif?  its  devious 
s  rather  a  turi- 
ijfh  the  Bajeyo 
even  proud  of 
l)c  which  their 
i  southern  JJe- 
mselves  to  eat 
I  disgust  upoa 

ye  arc  simply 
;.  As  they  are 
se,  elegance  of 
(1.  If  the  troo 
)c  hewn  into  a 
well  and  good. 
1(1,  and  in  iiiat 
a.    The  Baycye 

canoe ,  no*,  to 
'r.  li?  /ingstonQ 
heir  rude  vea- 
cameL  "  They 
id  prefer  slecp- 
ley  to  spending 
land  you  hi  m 
lyrcnas,  as  your 
"behind  a  Sank 
oil.'" 

sitioB  leads  to 
itly  visited  by 

a  po'-  on  tliQ 
\',  and  whec  wa 
oured  the  con- 
(l  oni-selves,  1 
k  up«m  any  in- 
ancoj  and  diow 
ivou'-ed  the  iast 

L'hirig  the  larger 
loy  ingeniously 
rivers,  so  m  to 
h'r  animals  as 
1*:.  Tliey  piaut 
:ther  that  it  is 
of  eleplKUits  to 
d,  as  manjy'  as 
times  dii"  in  a 
though  tlie  old 
>ave  learned  to 
[Ics,  and  sound 
aps,  the   groat 


K^s^ihl  l'!"^"    '■•-.^lu.rons   pits    often 
ni^.<8  tlicho    .i(;cau(,„„.s  useless. 

^" ho;r.^e'i, '';.::  ri;,  l^'""^^-  '="""-' 

tioiiu    ♦!...»  ii  '    '""■^" '""I  oiiKa   decora. 

tons  of  .ti,.ks    w,    .    u-  ti  ;  "''i  "";■■"  ?•"'''-' 
amusem.Mits  'm    ,1  .         »'«-<'<l 'nats.    Their 

^  aie  loiul  ot  dancing,  and  in 


CIIARACTEll  OF  THE  MAKOBA. 


839 


-t.sr-:;?t:;KtrL*!-njitatotho 

^VHlk,  their  nH,droffc  .,.?''?,""•'•' --"'«-''r 
'ind    tlieir  battles     Wf^^^'  ^'""r  sporU, 

-»oke,a„d  taillrs„„?X""ve;"t7  '."'"'' 
the  opportunitv     TI. .  V.,  .    "'*T 'mve 

luxury  lh,.v  .  ■•,1,,:,  ,"""""'  *<"•  I'"'  first 
a  sorted-  b^u'ou^  ::'*■?  '"/''.''-^'  "'"ki"« 
quantities,  they  "^uni^   ;.  ?'/'*"  ""^^'^  ^ast 

Jiract  ce,  while  hi..„T:i.    '^^^"""".V  »  many 

ther.i  are  few  ..J-^  "'«  women.  Htill, 
of  iH'n.p,a  J ,,;;'';;  "'"  '"'"**<'  ^  l>i|)e 
refuse  snu/f  i "  i  ,,  '"..r',"'''"  ^'^  '^'" 
whole,  setting  as  '  t|  .ir  ,.v  Z''  /^i'  "'« 
"f   Htealing  and     yi„lr  ,,    ."'i'^,!-"  «  ''"Wt« 

f"  (eel  aim. i'^ f  .      ,  .'■'""';?  "'.«  "•'^vellor 
though  he  "  ,  bli"  .^H         '■'  '."''  "'f'»'  even 


Toward  the  east  nc  t  .,i.„  v       .    . 
is  a  river  called  Ihc    H.? ^^  m"^""'  "»'^''° 

westward     ,    lu    .,  -  "     ',"   '^*'"  '"i'-eetions, 
ous  chan.r,    low,;    /,;;'''■':''  ^''i'^^'"  this  curi- 

district  are  call  d  I  ,L   i    "'"'  '"'"'Wt  this 
allied  to  the  By  V.     .^v'''  "'"  '  ^''•■»  '*"  "»' 
with   them     I,??oJtf '"'T'' "' «="'»"'"» 
pearanee  they  I  .,i  m        ,-  ■'""'   ?''""'-al  ap- 
Bechuauas.  ex  .        ',     '      '  '^'''"Waneo  to  tl.c 
blacker  com  ,'w  ,,     ti    'T  '""''  '"'■^f''''''  »*"  " 
sometimes"     si      of  .  '  '  ','"''?."*  "'«  """" 
or  seven  fi.!jf,,r""^'°?'^i''  «f"»o  six 
inches  in  ,vi  1  I,     t  > ,'  ''""'  "'"''  "''  «ix 
square    a,,ron    m,,!  'V;''j;|,V!  "'^''^  -"^  ^•"''H 

With  tha^i;^;;^^::™,'-:;;;-.^  par 

sive,  irrelleetive  kii  .iVv'"  ,.'  '""""'y.  ""Pul- 
re vengeful  wl  ■  ,'  ,,,•';.''''!' .""'  "'"^^cd, 
there  'is  no.V.i  ^  '^"^  and  honest  when' 
the  behavior  (.f  s,  ..f ,  f  ;,  ^"  •'}"'.'?<'  troai 
they  are  ,.,.,r ,'  •  .  ^  ''">  ^fako ba  men 
while,  if'-o,h;!^?:.,:'f'""^'^-f'  and  ehurHs^T;' 
are  siniple.  ^oo'  n^,*::''','''  a  sam,,le,  they' 
lavages,'  imim  "c  uu  f  le"!"  ,  '"f  P'tabl^ 
same  tests  as  W(  ul„    . '"',:'"  '«i'<l  by  the 

races,  having  ,eX''        ■'''^'''■''"' 
with  the  inorn   we  kS'o f''1  -I'f^  "*'  '»''^» 

-exactly  v;:;,:'ss-'t;:rin.d 


THE  MAKOBA  TRIBE. 


Jl"°tti;^t=!;^tl^^  "-yes.  The 
on  the  subiect  im  IT  ■  ,""■  "'"'""'  <'=i'Iing8 
a  <-rime  nm-  hone  y'"' v!r;i;''''" '''.V"  '"  '« 
are  honest  or  m  ,-^  icV,  ih^^^to"'"-  "'"^^ 
stances.  The  sul.i.,,,,  1  i  V  "  ,  '-'reum- 
^^«ami  are  oUen  ?.S  r  ^'■"'"'*  "'•""*^  J^«ke 
motive.  '"*"'■"'  i»'o»i  u  very  curious 

cam;::^,:^,r°.S'^';;'y  enslaved  "-^  »'ey 

i"^'  I>rop..rtv,ku,  .,'.;' ;'';'■••"  "'  i^'^^ess-: 
would  tiiko  bv  rcc  ^„  ...  'V"  ".''.I'l-es-sors 
bapiiencl  to  cove'  t  •  ":.  ^'^  "'"'ei',  tl'oy 
'■'•wed  that  lbo,l  s  the    nh  I-    T  ''omi'Ietely 

At  first,  tlu.J  are  InV  "f'^'''?,''  ''^''ered. 
above  n.V.nti,fn"di;, ""'.,,[''';,  "'^  '•ea«"n8 
tin.l  that  tlu.y  are  mi,  n."/,'"''^'  '"'-•»  '« 
and  allowed  lo  rcL.^,  ,  •  ''''"'  services, 
'>/  Pr'>porty  b egif.^^  ",,  '^''•..f  !"'es.  tbe  ide^ 
<hoy  desire  to  nr,....,-,.  n  ' "'  "'""'»'  and 

Tberefbre,  L^t^  t<Z:^Z^r' '''^^ 
thieves.  They  n a  .?.•.•  ."--^  become 
property  wit^^o\,t  tlo  ,  ^'  'V'''  '",  "btaiu 
tbat  8t,.,ling  U  or  fe"'  '  '"'l ''"'^  '""' 
steal  iiccor,Ih„Mv  not  a  H  •'""■''"'-  ""T 
ffuiltto  takinrf'  "  attaching  any  moral 

looking  o;^u^,  ''L3"  L'"2"i!-'  '->' 

liuntin-  or  lishin^      ^         ®''"**^  ''Sbt  as 
.^fc'dSiS,±,;!l!!!«'»-i«oftenac. 


describing  them  as  perfectly'  honesf''"'! ' '')  '''  "»'  ebeat"  a.    '  f""*  ''{JiV-''^*  '"'^'  '""'« 

y  honest,  and ,  do.cal  as  it  may  irti.'U'r'^  t^V^ilJ^ 


340 


TIIE  MAKOBA  TUIIIE. 


mnnt  of  roj?ut«r}'  Is  a  iiroof  tliat  Hio  sttviiRpd 
in  quo.slioii  Imvc  not  noon  donionili/^cil,  Cut 
liuvu  ut'iuriliy  bcoii  riiiticd  in  thi^  nofial  »a\U'. 
Mr.  ( Uiitpnian'H  cxporifnci^H  i>t'  tlu;  M.i- 
knba  tribi!  wcru  unytliin^  hut  iijjri'Ciiblc. 
Tlioy  sfdiii,  and  tlu'y  lii'd,  and  tluy  clicutud 
him.  iln  had  ii  lar^o  car^o  of  ivory,  and 
found  that  hiH  o.\cn  wiirc;  f^^\it'm<i  Wfiikcr, 
and  could  notdniw  Ihcir  cosily  load.  So  \ut 
nppliod  to  111'  Makolia  for  oanoi's,  and  found 
that  tlioy  \vt  I'l!  purfccfly  awaro  of  liin  dis- 
tro.ss,  and  wo.'!  roiwiy  ht  take  advantc^ii  of 
it,   by    <lrn>an('ini^    oxorbilant,    huuis,   and 


to  thfiir  widlh,  and  appear  to  Iki  «o  frail  that 
hey  I'ould  hardly  rudino  Ibo  wii^ibl  of  a 
►  uglo  iiunian  biini;.  Yet  tlu^v  aro  niuoh 
li'HH  iK>rilou«  than  lluw  look,  and  llicir  wifcty 
i.s  as  iiiucli  owinj;  to  their  eonstrurtion  an  to 
(he  Hkill  of  tlu ir  navii^ator.  It  is  HCiiriely 
poBHible,  without  having  Keen  the  Makobft 
at  work,  to  appreciato  the  wonderful  nkill 
with  which  they  nianai'tj  their  frail  barka 


roiiitnii;  nim  wl  'never  they  could,  knowiny; 
that  he  could  not  well  i)roeeed  widioul  their 
n.ssislanee.  .\t  last  lie  succeeded  in  liirin^j 
a  boat  irt  which  tho  main  part  of  his  v.w^t) 
could  be  carried  iilm;;^  the  river.  Hv  one 
oxeuac  and  another  the  Af  ikoba  chief  de- 
layed the  start  until  (he  liy:lit  wau;on  had 
Rone  on  past  imm-diate  recall,  and  then 
said  that  ho  really  could  not  convey  the 
ivory  by  boat,  but"  that  he  would  be"  very 
f•cnerou^,  and  tike  his  ivory  acii>at  the 
river  to  the  .same  .sidi^  as  the  \vut;on.  Pres- 
ently, the  traveller  (onnd  tbiit  tlie  chief  had 
contrived  to  o]ien  a  tin-box  in  which  hi^ 
ke|)t  the  beads  that  were  his  money,  and 
had  stolen  the  most  valuable  kinds.  ".Vs  all 
the  trade  de|)eudeil  on  tlu!  beads  \h\  saw 
that  delennined  nu'asures  were  needful, 
presented  his  rill(>  at  the  breast  of  tho 
(duet's  son,  who  wii-s  on  board  durinjj  the 
absence  of  his  father,  and  assumed  so  nien- 
lU'in;?  an  as|)ect  that  the  vonn;^  m;tn  kicked 
aside  a  lumn  of  mud,  which  is  always  j)las- 
tored  into  the  bottom  of  the  boats,  anil  dis- 
covered some  of  the  missiuj;  i)roperty.  Tlu; 
rest  wius  produced  from  another  spot  by 
means  of  the  mmc  indueenu'ut. 

Ah  soon  as  the  threatening  muTizles  wore 
removed,  ho  •j;ot  on  shore,  and  ran  oifwiili  a 
rapidity  that  convinced  Mr.  (Jhapinm  that 
some  ro<iruory  was  as  yi^t  undiscovered.  (Jn 
countiui^  the  tusks  it  wa.s  found  (hat  the 
thief  had  stolen  ivory  as  well  us  beads,  but 
ho  had  madi!  .such  <:food  use  of  his  Ir^'s  (hat 
lie  could  not  be  overtaken,  and  (he  traveller 
had  to  put  U|)  with  his  loss  as  be  best  could. 
Yet  it  would  be  untiiir  to  {,'ive  all  the 
Makoba  a  bad  character  on  account  of^  this 
condui^t.  They  can  be,  and  for  the  most 
part  are,  very  pleasant  men,  as  far  as  can  Ik- 
expected  from  savasjjes.  Mr.  Haines  had  no 
particular  reason  to  complain  of  them,  and 
8eem.s  to  have;  liked  them  well  cnoU!,'h. 

The  Makoba  are  esentially  a  boatman 
tribe, beinifiucustomed  to  tliei'r  canoes  from 
earliest  infancy,  and  beiu";  oblitjed  to  navi- 
gate them  through  the  pernetual  clian!:jes  of 
this  capricious  river,  whii-h  at  one  time  is 
tolerably  quiet,  and  at  anoHi(>r  is  chani^'cd 
into  a  series  of  whirlinij  eddies  and  danj;er- 
ous  rapids,  the  former  boini,'  ajjijravated" by 
occasional  back-tlow  of  the  waters.  Tlie 
canooR  are  like  the  raciiij;  river-l)o;its  of  our 
own  country,  enormously  long  in  proportion 


and  the  enormous  earj;oes  which  they  will 
take  safely  through  (he  rapids.  It  often  hup* 
pens  that  the  waves  bn^ak  over  the  side,  and 
'  rush  into  the  canoe,  .so  (hat,  unless  (h(!  watei- 
were  baled  out,  down  tlu;  ve».s<'l  must  go, 

Tli(!  Makoba,  however,  do  not  (ake  tho 
(rouble  to  s(o|i  whin  engaged  in  baling  out 
(heir  boa(s,  nor  do  (hey  usi-  any  tool  for  this 
purpose.  When  (be  canoe  gets  too  fidl  of 
water,  Ihn  boatman  goes  to  one  I'ud  of  it  so 
as  UxleprcHS  it,  and  cause  the  water  to  run 
toward  Iiim.  With  one  (imt  he  then  kicka 
out  the  water,  making  it  lly  from  his  instep 
as  if  from  a  rapidlywieMe"d  Moop.  In  fact, 
the  canoe  is  to  the  Mid<oba  what  I  be  camel 
is  to  tho  Arab,  and  the  horse  (o  (be  Conuin- 
chcH,  and,  however  (hey  may  feel  an  inl'cri- 
ori(y  on  shore,  (hey  are'  the  masters  m  hen  ou 
board  their  canoes.  Tlu'  various  warlike 
tribes  whidi  surround  them  have  proved 
(heir  superioi'ity  on  land,  but  when  once 
(hey  are  (airily  liumcbed  into  the  ra|)ids  of 
(he  river  or  (in;  wild  waves  of  the  lake,  (ho 
Makobasare  masters  oft  he  si(ua(ion,  and  tlio 
others  arc  obliged  to  be  very  ci\  il  lo  (hem. 

One  of  the  typical  men  of  this  tribe  wjw 
Makiita,  a  pet(y  chief,  or  headman  of  a  vil- 
lage.    He   was   considered   to   be    the   best 
boatman  and  hunter  on  the  river,  especially 
distinguisliing  himself  in  ibe  chase  of  tho 
hii)popotamus.     Tho   illustration   Xo.  1  on 
page  .'iol  is  from  a  skel(!h  by  Mi'.    Uaines, 
who  depicts  forcibly  (lie  bold  and  graceful 
manner  in  whi.  Ii  (hi'  Makoiias  nianagi!  their 
frail  crafX.    The  spot  on  wliieli  the  sketch 
was  taken  is  a  portion  of  (Ik*  |{o-tle(-le  nver, 
and  shows  (he  fragile  iiadiri!  of  the  canoes, 
as  well  as  (lie  sort  of  wah'r  tliroiigh  wliich 
tjie  daring  boatman  will  take  (hem.    Tho 
figure  in  the  front  of  (be  c;iiiiie  is  a  cele- 
brated boadnan  and  liiinti'i'  named  Z;ingiiel- 
lab      He  was  so  sueeesst'id  in  ibc  latter  pur- 
suit   that    his   house   and    court-yard   were 
tilled  with   the   skulls   of  the   hip/iopotami 
which  he  had  slain  with  his  own  hand.     IIo 
is  standing  in  the  place  of  bunor,  and  guid- 
ing his  lio;it  with  a   light  but  strong   pob-. 
The  other  (igure  is  that!  of  his  a>sistant.    He 
has  been  hunting  up  the  river,  and  has  killed 
two  .sable  anieloiics,  wliicli  he   is  bringing 
home.     The  canoe  is  only  lifltM'n  or  sixteen 
feet  long,  and  eighteen  inches  wide,  and  yet 
Zangneilah  ventured   to   load   it   witli   two 
laj'ge  iuid  heavy  anteloiies,  besides  the  weight 
of  iiimself  and' assistant.    So  small  are  some 
of  (he.se  canoes,  that  if  a  man  siLs  in  (hem, 
and  ]daces  his  hands  on  the  sides,  his  lingera 
arc  in  the  water. 


if 


>  lid  ao  frail  that 
III)  \vi'i){lil  of  a 
llicy  lilt)  imii-h 
and  tlu'ir  t*itl'cty 
itstnii'tidii  KM  to 
It  is  HCiirtely 
'II  tlio  Mal«ilin 
Wdiidcrtiil  xldll 
mil-  (Vail  IvirkH, 
viiich  llioy  will 
<.  IlorU'ii  lui|)> 
er  llh)  Hiili, iiiid 
mli'xs  (Ii(!  wiitci' 
•ttwl  must  go, 
I  not  lalvc  Dio 
I  ill  haling  out 

IIIV  tool  till'  tlliH 
,'l''tS  t()(l  full  of 
IIIC  VU<\  (if  it  HO 

0  wali'i'  to  run 
lie  then  liic'kH 

him  Ills  iiiHlrp 
I'liiili.     Ill  I'act, 

lilill  I  lie  cailUil 
to  tile  ('(imilll- 

(c'l'l  an  iiifcii- 
laNli'i'ti  w  lioii  on 
aiitius   \vai'liiv« 

1  liiivo  proviul 
iiit  ^hi'ii   oiu'o 

llio  laiiids  of 
r  till'  lakf,  tli.j 
iiatidit.nnd  tim 
i'i\  il  lo  llu'iii. 
tliis  tritu!  Wild 
Iman  of  iv  vil- 
li 1)1!   tilt!  best 
ivor,  o.s|)('cially 
'.  vhiisi'  of  the 
lion   No.  1  on 
y  ^Ir.   Haiiu's, 
I  and  ifraoeful 
s  iiiana]trt!  their 
rli  the  Kkeich 
{ii-tl('t-lti  I  ivcr, 
of  tho  canoL'.s, 
liroiiifh  wliii'li 
;o  (lic'in.    Tho 
HOC  is  a  cide- 
mii'd  Zaiijiucl- 
ilii'  lalti'i'  pur- 
iirl-yai'd   wcro 
•■   hipfiopotaiiu 
«ii  hand.     IIo 
nor,  and  i;uiil- 
t  si  roll!;   pole. 
a»iistan!.    IIo 
and  has  kiilod 
('   is  lirini,'iiij? 
M'n  or  sixtc(.-n 
wi<l(',  and  yi't 

it  with  two 
di'S  tho  weight 
iiial)  arc  hoiiio 
sits  in  them, 
Iu8,  his  liiigera 


iiiPropoTAMus  nuNTi^a. 


iifaiiiHf  thia  o..! 1  X.     ^.  V"'  '"'811. 


hun  With ,..,,.  ,ri::;,:;;fS^^^t 

Sm.',f!ir£;:!i^;'\Si,^/'"'^?"'^^ 
n"tna,i...usp..c^r;7^.^'IS'^^;;;  ;;•;:; 

■<il)iy  pro('ur(.  Ii,.n,ls  V, „7. .":  " 


» I't  (iKamst  this  nniiiml  th..  M  .i   i       "' . 

or.s  will    mufh    th.Zcvor  ,,uf  u" ''"'^^ 
even    nit^wir    f  i. ,    ,.■""*'"",   ami    tlicv  will 

A  stout  |)..i"h  cut  of  ..'!""  """'»w. 
wo»,l  Ho/iu,  t . ,  'or  t wX:  '!"; V'l"'^  '"-'''^ 
""•ooor  four  ii„.h;„    n    hLkm  s      f;  """^ 

The 

iwffo  ;i};).    It  con«iHt«'of  a 


It  has  l>.,M,  montiom-d  that  M..Vk<  ""'^"•.  "'"l    hoinnr    m  tt.      .  '''T'""'  '"  •'«'''h 

mk'htv  hiiiKi.r  .,a  ,    n        ^   ^•^'^'*^''i  ^V'os  a   Tho  oI.i,.,.f  ^-l  ?     '""''   loosely  arranged 

ma.u,e,mi;;^;;,;i:  v«;-;''^,,«j^H  m  the  il... ,:;;;s  wl^i.  Kff whh'il''"'"  r^^'S 

tifil  m  a  l.iinters  lif,.  iu'is     ,      ^i  n    ^■'?«»:  ''  ciiisol,  and  woiill  ,.„;  ?i      ''  !"""  "'"'H)  ai 
ga'no  is  tho  I.ipp.ip,V     us'rio^n^^  t  0™;^  any  single 

pa-OS  will  Ik.  „iV  ,„'  f,  ';,„/,''"  ""^t  f«w  sure  to  si.arno  t  h™^"^  "'     ^ ''"  '"'imalla 

•nanlike  mode . if  1  ,     ;  ,1 ,,      '• '""'  ''P°'''-^-   "'<>   wou    /   1, „  "^ "-""''  '^''  ""»»  '^  I'c  feels 

Ijocome  ento.ri-,1       '^   "i<'  laid,  they  only 

^''•■oh,er;\:e^:.lVhrhoh"Vri,'''^^T''' 
c"<l  of  tho  sh-ift    -  of*!    /"  ""'  other 

t'oiledun  in  sueh  mor,.'         ''^'^'^'   ^^''"•'«    8 
out  readilv    w  ,..  'f,''"' f.":  (^  ^I'^o  canied 


the  8i,ot,  llier  Inve  ,  f  '''''""  ^^^^^  on 

feet  aeeura  'v-\v  dl .  ,1  '  •  '"'^""tase  of  per- 
i"'i'n>.tes  (la^o  c  .livlT  '''"'  N'irit  wfuoh 
''.y  one  who  was  Zevo  Vil;!''"  ^''■''^''ttaUm} 
artist.  "-^ e-wjtno.ss  as  well  as  an 

Aecordiiinr  ♦«  r-ji.  t  :  • 

pie  are  str/m-vlv  fi'.i^f^l"";'^:',"'''.*''^''  P«"^ 
thovmeef.  «-i7i.  •:,.,!.'."!"'  "'  "'o  Hon,  wliilc 


843 


THE   MAKODA  TRIBE. 


fVont  is  soon  the  lioad  of  a  liipnoiMiluimiH  nn 
It  usimlly  iippciiiM  when  tho  luiimnl  is  wwiin- 
iniiij;,  till'  only  portion  Boon  above  tlii^  wiitur 
bi'liii;  tin-  iiirn,  tho  oyim.  and  tho  iioHtrils. 
It  in  II  rcinarkaiilti  fiu-t  tiiat  when  tlui  hip- 
potainiis  is  at  liltortv  in  its  nativo  ulrcani, 
not  only  tlic  viirn  ixiul  tlio  noMtriis,  hnt  I'von 
till!  iiil;,'o  over  the  eyes  arc  of  a  l)ii;,'lit  Krar- 
Ji't  color,  NO  hrilliaiit  inilocti  tliat  color  can 
scarcely  convey  an  idea  of  tlie  iiuc.  Tin- 
Hiu'cinicns  in  tliu  Zoolo;^ical  (Jardcns,  ai- 
tnoii;,'li  line  examples  of  llui  Hpccien,  never 
exhibit  this  brilliancy  of  color,  and,  indeed, 
are  no  njorc  liki?  the  Inn])()potanius  in  its 
own  river  than  a  prizo  hog  is  liico  a  wild 
boar. 

A  very  characteriatlc  nttitudo  is  fdioun  in 
tho  second  animal,  which  In  riipresented  as 
It  apijcars  when  liftin;^  its  head  ont  of  tho 
^vater  for  the  jiurpo-io  of  reconnoitrinjj;. 
The  horse-like  <'xpre,s.-,ion  is  easily  rccoj?- 
nizablc.  and  Mr.  IJaincs  telLs  nie  tliat  he 
never  understood  liow  ai)propriatc  wa.s  llie 
term  Hiver  llorso  (winch  fr;  tlie  literal 
translation  of  the  word  hippopotamus^  until 
he  .saw  the  animal.s  disportnig  themselves  at 
liberty  in  their  own  strt'ams. 

In   the   front  of  the   canoes   is  standing 


Miikiitii,  aliout  to  nhmgo  the  harpoon  into 
tho    buck   (if  the   hippoiiotamus,  wliile   his 
nssistants   are   looking  after  tho  rope,  and 
keei)ing  themselves  in  readiness  t(»  paddle 
out  of  the  wav  of  the  animal,  should  it  make 
an  attack.     iVrfeet  stillness  is  rcipiired  for 
plantini;    the    harpoon    i)roperly,    as,   if   a 
splash  were  made  in  tho  water,  or  a  sudden 
noise  heard  on  land,  the  animals  would  lake 
flight,  and  keep  out  of  the  w.iy  of  the  canoes. 
On  th(!  left  is  a  clump  of  the  i.iU  reeds  which 
have  already  been  mentioned,  accompanied 
by  some  ])apyrus.    The  huge  trees  seen  on 
the    bank    are    baobabs,   which   sometimes 
attain  the  enormous  girth  of  a  hundred  feet 
and  oven   more.    The  small  white  flowers  I 
that  are  floating  on  tin;  surface  of  the  water  ' 
are  the   white  lotus.     They  shine  out  verv  ' 
con.sj)ieuously  on  tho  i)os()m  of   tho  clear, 
doop-blue    water,  and  .sometimes  occur  in  j 
such  numbers  that  they  look  like  st.irs  in 
the  l)lue  lirm;uuent,  ratlier  than  mere  flow- 
ers on  the  water.     It  is  rather  curious,  bv  ' 
the  way,  that  the  Daniaras,  who  an;  much 
more  familiar  with  tlu;  land  than  the  water, 
call  tho  bippopotanuis  tho  Water  Uhinoco- 
ros.  M-hereas  the  Makol)a,  Ratoka,  and  other 
tribes,  who  are  more  at  homo  on  the  water, 
call  the  rhinoceros  the  Land  IIiii])opotamns. 
Now  comes  the  next  scene  in  this  sav.ago 
and  most   exciting  drama.    Stung   by   the 
sudden  and  unexpected  ]-,ang  of  tin!  wound, 
the  hippopotaunis  gives  a  convulsive  spring, 
which  shakes  fho  head  of  tho  harjioon  ont 
of  its  socket,  and  leaves  it  onlv  attached  to 
the  shaft   by  its  manv-strandod   rope.    At 
this  period,  the  animaf  .selihmi  shows  light, 
but    (l.T-shes    down    tho    stream  at  its  lull 
speed,  only  the  upper  part  of  its  head  and 


l)iuk  being  vlsllde  ahovo  tho  stnface,  and 
towing  tho  canoe  along  as  if  it  were  a  cork. 
Meanwhile,  tho  harpooner  and  his  com- 
rades hold  tightly  to  Ihc  rope,  imying  out  if 
necessary,  ami  hauling  in  wlienever  possi- 
ble—in fact,  playing  their  gigantic  prey 
just  as  an  angler  jdays  a  large  llsh.  'riioir 
object  is  twofold,  flrsf  to  tire  llio  uinmal,and 
then  to  get  it  into  shallow  water;  for  a  hip- 
popotamus in  all  its  strength,  and  with  tho 
advantage  of  deep  water,  would  be  too  much 
oven  for  thest!  courageous  hunter.s.  Tho 
pace  that  tho  ainmai  attains  is  something 
wonderful,  and,  on  looking'  at  its  apparently 
clumsy  moans  of  jiropidsion,  the  swiftnoss 
of  its  course  is  really  astonishing. 

Sometimes,  but  very  rarelv,  it  happens 
that  the  animal  is  so  active  aiid  fierce,  that 
tho  hunters  are  cddiged  to  cast  loose  tho 
rope,  and  make  off  as  thev  best  can.  They 
do  not,  however,  think  of  al'iandoning  so  valu- 
able a  prey  — not  to  mention  the  harpoon 
and  rope  —  an<l  nnuiiige  as  well  as  they  cai} 
to  keep  the  aidmal  in  sight.  At  the  ear- 
liest opportunity,  (hiy  piiddlo  toward  tho 
wounded,  and  by  this  time  weakened  ani- 
mal, and  renew  ihc  chase. 

The    hipi)0]iolanius    is    most    dangerous 

when  lie  feels  his  strength  failing,  and  with 

the  courage  of  desj)air  dashes  at  the  canoe. 

The  lumters  liavc  then  no  child's  play  lie- 

foro   them.     I{egardl<'ss   of  cvervlhing  but 

pain   and   fm-y,   the   iminiai   ru.slies   at   the 

canoe,  tries  to  knock  it    to  ]iieees  bv  blows 

j  from  his  enormous  head,  or  seizes  the  edge 

in  his  jaws,  and  tears  out  the  side.     Should 

I  he  succeed  in    cajisizing  or  destroving  tho 

I  canoe,  the  hunters  have  an  anxious  time  to 

i]ia.ss;  for  if  the   furious   animal   can   gripe 

jono  of  them  in  liis  huge  Jaws,  the  curved, 

I  chisel-like    teeth    iiilliel   certain   death,   fin(l 

I  have  been  known  to  cut  an  unlbrtuuate  man 

fairlv  in  two. 

A\  hcnever  the  aiumal  does  succeed  in  up- 
setting or  breaking  the  boiit,  the  men  have 
recourse  to  a  curious  expedient.     They  dive 
to   tho   bottom   of   the   river,   and   gra.sp  a 
stone,  a   root,   or  anything   that  will   keep 
them  below  the  surface,  and  liolil  on  as  Jong 
as  their  lungs  will  allow  them.     The  reason 
for    -is  m.'ino'uvre  is,  tliat  when  (he  animal 
has  sent  the  crow  into  the  river,  it  ndses  its 
liead,  as  seen  on  page  0(l(»,  and  looks  about 
on  tho  surface  for  its  enemies.    Jt  has  no 
idea  of  foes  beneath  the  surface,  and  if  it 
does  not  see  anything  that  looks  like  a  man, 
it  makes  off,  and  .so  allows  the  hunters  to 
emerge,   half   drowned,    into    the   air.    In 
order  to  keep  off   the   animal,   sjiears   are 
freely  u.sed;  some   being  thrust  at  him  by 
hand,  and  others  flung  like  Javelins.     They 
cannot,  liow(!ver,  do  nuich  harm,  uidcss  one 
should  Iiappcn  to  enter  tin'  eye,  which  is  so 
well  protect(!d  by  its  bonv   penthouse  that 
it  is  dmost  impregnable  to"  anything  except 
a  bullet.    Tho  head    is   one   hugt'   ma.ss  of 
solid  bone,  so  thick  and  liard  that  even  tire- 


the  Biirfnco,  nnd 

if  it  weld  II  oorlc. 
'I-  and  liiH  fom- 
>1>'';  I'il.VillK  out  If 

wliiiicvi'r  pOHNi- 
•ir  K'K""ti''  proy 
liUKf  (InIi.  'riieir 
re  tlu;  uiiiinal,niMl 

water;  lor  n  lijn- 
i<;tli,  ami  witli  tho 
■ould  he  (()()  much 
iiH  liiinlers.  Tho 
In.M  in  something 
;  at  ilH  fljiparently 
on,  llic  Hwil'tness 
:)iiiHliing. 

urelv,  it  happens 
f  aiiil  (ierec,  that 
lo  caHt  looso  tho 
V  liesl  can.  They 
landoiiin^'so  valu- 
tion  I  lie  harpoon 
H  Well  as  they  eai) 
;lit.  At  tho  ear- 
iddle  toward  tho 
le  Weakened  aui- 

niost  dant;croii8 
fluliii),'.  and  with 
lies  at  the  canoe. 
I)  child's  piny  hu- 
I'  evervlliin;^  ))ut 
III  riislie.s  at  tho 
])ie('(s  l)v  lilowH 
ir  seizes  the  edL'o 
the  side.  Shonid 
>r  destnninj^  tho 
1  anxious  time  to 
ninial  can  {j;rii)o 
laws,  the  curved, 
riain  death,  and 
unlbrtunate  man 

PS  Huceeed  in  np- 
it,  the  men  liavo 
ient.  They  divo 
er,  and  yrasp  a 
:  that  will  keep 
I  liolil  on  as  lonj^ 
I'ln.  The  reason 
lyheii  (he  animal 
■iver,  it  raises  its 
and  looks  ahout 
iiies.  Jt  has  no 
irt'aee,  and  il"  it 
uoks  like  a  man, 

the  hunters  lo 
to  the  air.  In 
inal,  spears  arc 
irust  at  him  by 
Javelins.  They 
larin,  unless  one 
eye,  which  is  so 

penthouse  that 
invthinf;  excejit 

luiijt!  mass  of 
1  that  oven  iiru- 


*     ■■■-^ 


(1.)  Sl'KAIUNO   Tin.;   HII'I'OfOTAMUS. 
(Sec  paifo  :H2.) 


(■••■■)    illE   KINAI.   ATT,\('k 
(Sec  piijre  345.) 


(im) 


DANGERS  OF  HIPPOPOTAMUS  HUNTING. 


arms  make  little  impression  on  it,  except  in 
one  or  two  small  spots.  The  hunters,  there- 
fore, cannot  expect  to  inflict  any  material 
damage  on  the  animal,  and  only  hope  to 
deter  it  from  charging  by  the  pain  which 
the  spears  can  cause. 

.  The  last  scone  is  now  approaching.  Hav- 
ing effectually  tired  the  animal,  which  is 
also  weakened  by  loss  of  blood  from  the 
found,  and  guided  it  into  shallow  water 
Jcveral  of  the  crew  jump  overboard,  carry 
the  end  of  the  rope  ashore,  and  pass  it  with  i 
a  double  turn"  round  a  tree.  The  fate  of 
the  animal  IS  then  sealed.  Finding  itself 
suddenly  checked  in  its  course,  it^makes 
new  ellorts,  and  fights  and  struggles  as  if  it 
were  quite  fresh.  Despite  the  f,Sin,  it  tries 
to  tea..  Itself  away  from  the  fatal  cord;  but 
tUe  rone  is  toostromr  hi  hn  i.,.-,i.„„ ,1  ^i.  _ 


345 


;i,o  ,.        •  V  '"^''yi'om  tne  fatal  cord;  but 

Wi>  ?f-''rlM'^''^"7  *"  ^«  '^™l^en,  and  the 

P  bnvi"^  '"«^'  f  ^h  l"PPopotani'u3  holds 

t  e  barb  so  hrmly  tliat  ev.Mi  the  enormous 

cause  It  to  give  way.    Finding  that  a  fierce 
pull  in  one  direction  is  useless,  it  rubles  h' 
another,  and  thus  slackens  the  ro,.e,  vhic 
^^  immediate  y  hauled  taut  by  tl,     1  u iS 
0    shore,  so  that  the  end  is  much  shoSe  1 
an      lie  animal  brouglit  nearer  to  the  bank 
Each  struggle  only  has  the  same  result  the 
unters  holding  the  rope   fa.t  as  To  ^  :^ 
there  is  a  strain  upon  it,  and  haulin-Tt  hi 
as  soon  as  it  is  slackened.    The  rea  leT-  ma 
easily  see  how  this  is  done  by  wa  cl  in 
sailor  make  fast  a  steamer  to  the      eV  ■' 

S;Zs"^^"«'''^^<^^°--^'''-s^ 
.  cii^rn^KKr^i^'^::;;!;:?^ 

incuts  liniited,  the  rone  is  m.Tl.  tl        ] 
the  luuiters  all  conibirfor  t  le      aH  ^J 

^^  S^  iffinn|-a^''^Lf  ffi 
to  tlieir  canoes,  and  are  able  to  att'ick  fh. 

TKn  „  '1  ■,,     ''"'*'i  never  to  rise  a^'iiii 

ihe  second  Illustration  on  in.ro  -ii-  , 

liold.    Some  of  tl      1>,  nf  '     ?  '  '"''""  ">^'''" 
...   .„  I-  pa....  11  lound  the  trunk  of  the  tree, 


aHailin*"^?  "*■  .*•'"'*  comrades  are  boldly 

It''  Tt"i"y'""  *'»"«  "f  cSi' 

lion,      ihe  shall  is  made  of  Ii<rht  wonrl 

socleTlilfcf  H,.^S  •?!  ''''''  ^^  J"to'^ 
socKct,  like   that  which  has  alreadv  hopn 

to  the  shaft,  by  a  number  of  small  cord"   U 
I »«  fi^tened  to  one  end  of  the  Ion-  rone  the 

o fth?K  ^^■^•j?  '«  ^^^^-h-J  to'tTebutt 
oi  ine  snait.  When  arranged  for  use  thA 
rope  ,s  wound  spirally  rotund  the  shift 
which  It  covers  completely.  As  soon  £^'& 
hippopotamus  is  struck,  tL  shaft  fssrakea 
from  he  head  by  the'  wounded  animal's 
strngg  es  the  rope  is  unwound,  and  h| 
hgh  shaft  acts  as  a  buoy,  whereby  the  rSe 
can  be  recovered,  in  case 'the  hippopotamus 
should  sever  it,  or  the  hunters  should  be 
obliged  to  cast  it  loose.  »"ouiu  oe 

Sometimes  these  tribes,  i.  e.  the  Makololo 
Bayeye  and  others,  use  a  singularly  ^1 
lous  raft  in  this  sport.  NothiiTg  can  be  shn- 
pier  than  the  construction  of  this  r  f t  A 
quantity  of  reeds  are  cut  down  just  above 
tie  surface,  and  arc  thrown  in  a  heap  unJn 
le  water.  More  reeds  are  then  cu  ,  and 
own  crosswise  upon  the  others,  ami  so 

No  o  r'b^'"''''"^  "''"'  ,"^«  ^•'^^^  '«  fanned" 
-.>o  poles   beams,  nor  other  supports    aro 

h  t'liidf  f 'tI"'  '^''  ''''^'  Jush^ftojether 
water  S10.T}?"?  '"fely  flung  o^-n  the 
form     7W .        '"^  entangle  themsorves  into      " 

mmm 


346 


THE  MAKOBA  TRIBE. 


Hi    ? 


and  docs  not  alarm  the  wary  animal  as  much 
aa  a  boat  would  be  likely  to  do.  When  the 
natives  use  the  rait  in  pursuit  of  the  hippo- 
potamuB,  they  always  haul  their  canoes  upon 
it,  so  that  they  are  ready  to  be  launched  in 
pursuit  of  the  buoy  aa  soon  as  the  animal  is 
struck. 

The  same  tribes  use  reeds  if  they  wish  to 
cross  the  river.  They  cut  a  quantity  of 
them,  and  throw  them  into  the  river  as  if 
they  were  going  to  m.ike  a  rail.  They  then 
twist  up  some  of  the  reeds  at  each  corner, 
so  as  to  look  like  small  posts,  and  connect 
these  posts  by  means  of  sticks  or  long  reeds, 
by  way  of  bulwarks.  In  this  primitive  fer- 
ry-boat the  man  seats  himsclt,  and  is  able 
to  carry  as  much  lugga§[e  as  he  likes,  the 
simple  bulwarks  prcveutuig  it  from  falling 
overboard. 

It  is  rather  a  strange  thing  that  a  Mako- 
lolo  cannot  be  induced  to  plant  the  mango 
tree,  the  men  having  imbibed  the  notion 
from  other  tribes  among  whom  they  had 
been  travelling.  They  are  exceedingly  fond 
of  its  fruit,  as  well  they  may  be,  it  being 
excellent,  and  supplying  the  natives  with 
food  for  sevei-al  weeks,  while  it  may  be 
plucked  in  tolemblc  abimdance  during  four 
months  of  the  year.  Yet  all  the  trees  are 
self-plantod,  the  natives  believing  that  any 
one  who  plants  one  of  these  trees  will  soon 
die.  This  superstition  is  prevalent  through- 
out the  whole  of  this  part  of  Africa,  the 
Batoka  being  almost  the  only  tribe  among 
whom  it  does  not  jivevail. 

The  Makololo  have  contrived  to  make 
themselves  victims  to  a  wonderful  number 
of  superstitions.  This  is  likely  enough, 
seeing  that  they  arc  essentially  usurpei-s, 
having  swept  through  a  vast  number  of 
tribes,  .ind  sotUed  themselves  in  the  country 
of  the  vanquished.  Now,  there  is  nothing 
more  contagious  than  superstition,  and,  in 
such  a  case,  the  superstitions  of  the  con- 
quered tribes  are  sure  to  be  added  to  those 
of  the  victors. 

The  i<lea  that  certain  persons  can  change 
themselves  into  the  forms  of  animals  pre- 
vails anuHig  them.  One  of  these  potent 
conjurers  came  to  Dr.  Livingstone's  jiarty, 
and  began  to  shake  and  tremble  in  every 
limb  as  he  ajiproaehed.  The  Makololo 
explained  that  the  I'ondoro,  .is  these  men 
are  called,  sinellcd  the  gunjiowder,  and,  on 
account  of  his  leonine  habits,  he  was  very 
much  afraid  of  '^  The  interpreter  was 
asked  to  offer  ^ae  l*o.^doro  a  bribe  of  a 
cloth  to  change  himself  into  a  lion  forth- 
with, but  the  man  declined  to  give  the  mes- 
sage, through  fjfcnuine  fear  that  the  trans- 
formation might  re.illy  take  place. 

The  Pondoro  in  tjuestion  w.as  really  a 
clever  man.  He  used  to  jro  oft"  into  the 
woods  for  a  month  .at  a  time,  during  which 
period  he  was  supposed  to  be  a  lion.  His 
wife  had  built  him  a  hut  un<ler  the  shade  of 
a  baobab  tree,  and  used  to  bring  him  regular 


supplies  of  food  and  beer,  his  leonine  appe- 
tito  being  supposed  to  be  subsidiary  to  that 
which  belonged  to  him  as  a  human  being. 
No  one  is  allowed  to  enter  this  hut  except 
the  Pondoro  and  his  wife,  and  not  even  the 
chief  will  venture  so  much  as  to  rest  his 
weapons  against  the  baobab  tree;  and  so 
strictly  is  tliis  rule  observed  tliat  the  chief 
of  the  village  wished  to  inflict  a  fine  on 
some  of  Dr.  Livingstone's  party,  because 
they  liad  placed  their  guns  against  the  sacred 
hut 

Sometimes  the  Pondoro  is  believed  to  bo 
hunting  for  the  benefit  of  the  village,  catch- 
ing and  killing  game  as  a  lion,  and  then 
resuming  his  human  form,  and  telling  the 
people  where  the  dead  animal  is  Ijing. 
There  is  also  among  these  tribes  a  belief 
that  the  spirits  of  departed  chiefs  enter  the 
bodies  of^  lions,  and  this  belief  may  prob- 
ably account  for  the  fear  which  they  feel 
when  opposed  to  a  Hon,  and  their  unwilling- 
ness to  att.ick  the  animal.  In  Livingstone  s 
"Zambesi  and  its  tributaries,"  there  is  a 
passage  which  well  illustrates  the  preva- 
lence of  this  feeling. 

"On  one  occasion,  when  we  had  shot  a 
buffalo  in  the  path  beyond  the  Kapie,  a 
hungry  lion,  attracted  probably  by  the  smell 
of  the  meat,  came  close  to  our  camp,  and 
roused  up  all  hands  bj'  liis  roaring.  Tuba 
Moroko  (the  'Canoe-smasher'),  imbued 
with  the  popular  belief  that  the  beast  was 
a  chief  in  disguise,  scolded  him  roundly 
during  his  brief  intervals  of  silence.  '  You 
a  chief!  Eh!  You  call  yourself  a  chief,  do 
you?  "What  kind  of  a  chief  are  you,  to 
come  sne.iking  about  in  the  dark,  trying 
to  steal  our  buftiilo-meat?  Are  you  not 
ashamed  of  yourself  i*  A  pretty  chief,  truly! 
You  are  iikc  the  scavenger-beetle,  and  think 
of  yourself  only.  You  have  not  the  heart 
of  a  chief,  why  don't  you  kill  your  own 
beef?  You  must  have  a  stone  in  your 
chest,  and  no  heart  at  all,  indeed.' " 

The  "  Canoe-smasher  "  producing  no  ef- 
fect by  his  impassioned  outcrj',  the  lion  was 
addressed  by  anoth.er  man  named  Malonga, 
the  most  Sl'date  and  taciturn  of  flu-  partj'. 
"In  his  slow,  quiet  way  he  exiioslulated 
with  him  on  the  imiiropriety  of  such  conduct 
to  strangers  who  li;id  never  injured  hiiu. 
'  We  were  triivelling  peaceably  through 'the 
country  back  to  our  own  chief  We  never 
killed  people,  nor  stole  anything.  The  buf- 
falo-meat was  ours,  not  his,  and  it  did  not 
become  a  great  chief  like  him  lobe  i)rowliiig 
.about  in  tlie  dark,  trying,  like  a  In  oiua,  to 
steal  the  meat  of  strangers.  He  might  go 
uid  hunt  for  himself,  as  (here  was  plenty  of 
game  in  the  forest.'  The  Pondoro  being 
deaf  to  reason,  and  only  nvariui;  the  louder, 
the  men  became  .angrj,  and  threatened  to 
send  a  ball  through  him  if  he  did  not  go 
away.  They  snatched  up  their  guns  to 
shoot  him  but  he  prudently  kept  in  the  dark, 
outside  of  the  luminous  circle  made  by  our 


clieved  to  be 
illage,  catch- 
n,  aud  then 
I  telling  the 
lal  is  Ij'ing. 
ibcs  a  belief 
iis  enter  the 
f  niaj-  prob- 
ich  they  feel 
if  iniwilling- 
jivingstone  s 
"  there  is  a 

I  the  preva- 

:  had  shot  a 
he  Kapie,  a 
by  the  smell 
r  camp,  and 
u'ing.  Tuba 
• ' ),  imbued 
le  beast  was 
him  roundly 
Icncc.  '  Yfiu 
If  a  chief,  do 
are  you,  to 
dark,  trying 
ire  you  not 
;' chief,  truly! 
[le,  and  thiiik 
ot  the  heart 

II  your  own 
)nc  in  your 
ecd.' " 

Licing  no  ef- 
the  lion  was 
I'd  Malouga, 
f  (he  party, 
exiioslulated 
such  conduct 
iijiu'ed  him. 
through  'tilt 

We  never 
;.  The  buf- 
l  it  did  not 
l)e  i)rowliiig 
a  In  oina,  to 
e  might  go 
as  plenty  of 
idoro  being 
the  louder, 
ircatened  to 
did  not  go 
'ir  guns  to 
in  the  dark, 
nade  by  our 


3re.''''  *"''  *''""°  ^''^y  ^'^  "''t  »ke  to 
Another  superstition   is  very  nreval^nf 
among  these  tribes.    It  is  to  the  effect  th«f 
every  animal  is  specially  affected  by  an  an- 
propnate  medicine.    Ordinary  medi/hics  X 
pn-pared  by  the  regular  wftch-doc™  rl  of 
whom  tliere  are  plenty;  but  special  medi- 
cines require    special   professionals.     One 
man,  for  example,  takes  as  his  specialty  the 
preparation  ot'  elephant  medicine,  and  no 
lumtcr  wi  1  go  after  the  elephant  w itLut 
providing  himself  with  some  of  the  potent 
medicine.    Another  makes  crocodile  med- 
eine,  the  use  of  which  is  to  protect  its  owner 
from  ho  crocodile     Oa  one  occasion,  when 
the  white  man  had  shot  a  crocodile  ak  it  lav 
basking  in  the  sun,  the  doctors  c^he  in 
wrath,  and  remonstrated  with  their  v^Uors 
for  shooting  an  animal  which  they  looked 


SPECIAL  MEDICINES. 


347 

upon  as  their  special  property.  On  another 
occaaion,  when  a  baited  hool  wa.s  laid  for 
the  crocodile,  the  doctors  removed  the  baU 
partly  because  it  was  a  dog,  and  thev  nre- 
lerred  to  eat  it  themselves,  and  pSy  be- 
cause  any  diminution  in  the  number  of 
crocodiles  would  cause  a  correspond"  nglosi 

Then  since  the  introduction  of  fire-arms 
there  are  gun-doctors,  who  make  mediSs 

^VadmLisTr^Ur^^^^^^^^^^^^ 


into  them.  Ma^irdiceTre-'afsoTedCd 
are  chiefly  empToyed  for  the  discove^  of 
th  eves.  Jfcven  the  white  men  havecoiS^  to 
beleve  in  the  efficacy  of  the  dice  aM  th^ 
native  conjurer  is  consulted  as  often  by  the 
Portuguese  as  by  his  own  countrymen.^ 


mm 


CHAPTER  XXXiy. 


THE  BATOKA  AND  MANGANJA  TRIBES. 


LOCALITY  OP  THE  BATOKA  — THEIR  GENERAL  APPEARANCE  AND  DRESS  — THEIR  SKILL  AS  ROATMEX  — 
THE  BAENDA-PEZI,  OR  liO-NAKEDS— AORICUI.TI  Itl!  —  MODE  OF  HUNTINC.  —  MUSICAL  INSTRl'MENTS 
—  WAR  CUSTOMS  —  THE  MAXOANJA  THIllE —  (iOVEUNMENT  —  INDUSTRY  OF  liOTH  SEXES —  SALUTA- 
TION —  DRESS —THE  I'ELELE,  OR  LU--RINO  —  TATTOOINO  —  WANT  OF  CLEANLINESS  —  IlEEH-BBEW- 
INO  AND  DRINKINO  —  EXCHANOINQ  NAMES -SUPERSTITIONS  — FUI      RAL  AND  MOURNINO. 


JO 


i''^ 


SoMEWHEKE  about  lat  17°  S.  and  long.  27° 
E.  is  a  tiil)e  callwl  the  Batoka,  or  JJatonga, 
of  which  tliere  are  two  distinct  varieties;  of 
whom  those  who  live  on  low-lying  lands, 
such  as  the  banks  of  the  Zambesi,  are  very 
dark,  and  somewhat  resemble  the  negro  in 
appearance,  while  those  of  the  higher  lands 
are  Jigh'  brown,  much  of  the  same  !uie  as 
mfp  ((It  luU.  Their  character  seems  to  differ 
with  their  com])lexions,  the  former  variety 
being  dull,  stupid,  and  intractable,  while  the 
latter  are  comparatively  intellectual. 

They  do  not  imi)rove  their  personal  ap- 
pearance by  an  odd  habit  of  depriving  them- 
selvffli  of  tlieir  two  upper  incisor  teeth.  The 
want  of  these  teeth  makes  the  corresponding 
incisors  of  the  lower  jaw  project  outward, 
and  to  forc(!  the  lip  with  them;  so  that  even 
in  youth  they  all  have  an  aged  expression  of 
countenance.     Knocking  out  th(!se  teeth  is 

Cart  of  a  ceremony  which  is  practised  on 
oth  sexes  when  they  are  admitted  into  the 
ranks  of  men  and  women,  and  is  probably 
the  reninins  of  some  religious  rite.  The 
reason  ubich  they  give  is  absurd  enough, 
namely,  that  they  like  to  resenibb;  oxen, 
which  have  no  iiiiper  incisors,  and  not  to 
liave  all  their  teeth  like  zebras.  It  is  proba- 
ble, however,  that  this  statement  may  bc' 
mer('ly  intended  as  an  evasion  of  questions 
which  they  think  themselves  bound  to  parry, 
but  which  may  also  have  reference  to  the 
extreme,  veneration  for  oxen  which  prevails 
in  an  African's  mind. 

In  .spite  of  its  disfiguring  effect,  the  cus- 
tom is  universal  among  the  various  sub- 
tribes  of  which  the  Batoka  are  composed. 


and  not  even  the  definite  commands  of  the 
chief  himself,  nor  the  threats  of  punishment, 
could  induce  the  people  to  forego  it.  Girls 
and  lads  would  suddenly  make  tlieir  appear- 
ance without  their  teeth,  and  no  amount  of 
questioning  could  induce  them  to  state  when, 
and  by  whom,  they  were  knocked  out. 
Fourteen  or  liftecn  is  the  usual  age  for  per- 
forming the  operation. 

Their  dress  is  not  a  little  remarkable, 
especially  the  mode  in  which  some  of  them 
arrange  their  hair.  The  hair  on  the  top  of 
the  head  is  drawn  and  ])lastcred  together  in 
a  circle  .some  six  or  seven  incheii  in  diame- 
ter. By  dint  of  careful  training,  and  plenty 
of  grease  and  other  appliances,  it  is  at  last 
formed  into  a  cone  some  eight  or  ten  inches 
in  height,  and  slightly  leaning  forward.  In 
some  ca.se8  the  cone  is  of  v.-onderful  height, 
the  head-man  of  a  Batoka  village  wearing 
one  which  was  trained  into  a  long  Rjiike 
that  projected  a  full  yard  from  his  head, 
and  which  naist  have  caused  him  consider- 
able inconvenience.  In  this  case  other  ma- 
terials were  evidently  mixed  with  the  hair; 
and  it  is  said  that  the  long  hair  of  various 
animals  is  often  added,  so  as  to  mingle  with 
the  real  growth,  and  aid  in  raising  the  edi- 
fice. Around  the  edges  of  this  cone  the 
hair  is  shaven  elosel}-,  so  that  the  ajipearance 
of  the  head  is  very  remarkable,  and  some- 
what ludicrous. 

The  figures  of  the  second  engraving  on 
page  ;{r)7  are  portraits  by  Mr.  Baines.  Man- 
tanyani,  the  man  who  is  sitting  on  the  edge 
of  the  boat,  wjus  a  rather  rcniarkablc  itiali. 
He  really  belongs    to    the    Batoka    tribe, 


(318) 


though  he  was  thought  at  first  to  be  one  of 
the  Makololo.    Periiaps  he  thought  it  better 
to  assume  tlie  membur.shii)  of  the  victorious 
than  tlio  conquered   tribe.    Tliis  was  cer- 
tainly (lie  case  witli  many  of  tlie  men  who 
Jike  Mantanyani,  accompanied  Dr.  Livins- 
stone.     lie  was  a  singularly  sJcilfui  boat- 
man, and    managed  an  ordinary  whalinrr 
boat  as  easily  as  one   of  liis  own  canoes 
The  ornament  wliich  he  wears  in  liis  hair  is 
a  comb  made  of  bamboo.    It  was  not  n  an 
u  actured  by  himself,   but  was  token  ?  om 
Shimbesi\s   tribe  on  the  Shire,  or  Sheereb 
Itiver.    lie  and  his  companions  forcedthe 
boat  up    lie  many  rapi.fs,  and,  on   being 
interrogated  as  to  (he  dai  Ucr  lie  sn.iflMv>? 
he  had  no  fears,  for  that  he  could  sS  liS 
a  fish   and  that,  if  by  any  mischance  he 
should  a  low  Mr.  Jiaiues  to  fall  overboard 
and  be  drowned    be  should  never  dare  to 
show  his  face  to  Dr.  Livingstone  again 

Mr.  Biiines  remarks  in  his  MS.  notes 
that  Mantanyani  ought  to  have  ma de  ^n 
good  saiior,  for  he  was  not  only  an  ade  t  at 
the  mniiawment  of  ImMt«  i.„f  ,.„..,    "-P"^  ** 


THEIK  SKILL  AS  BOATMEN. 


849 


the  mnnagem.-nt  of  boats,  but^-oul  1  a,?,  re 
ciate  run.  .■,«  well  as  any  liriUsh  tar  TL 
happened  thut  at  night,  after  the  day's  boat- 
ing was  over  grog  was  served  out  to  the 
men,  and  yet  for  two  or  three  ni..l,ts  Man 
tanyan  would  not  toucli  it.  AccordSv 
one^inght    the    following    colloq^^'a 

"i^onqiiero.""  (I  cannot.) 
r'orqiioi  iion  niiero  KroirV"      (Whv  nnn 
not  you  take  grogv)  "  (Wli>  can- 

1  'A?"^'''','-"*  ,'""'"•  Zambesi  munta."     fThe 
bottle  IS  l.tlle  and  (he  Zambesi  is  bi-r.)  ^         , 

The  Znmhes.  ami  its  Tribut^irios"  Th 
canoe  belonged  to  a  man  „ ,,  led  Tubi 
Mokoio,  or  11,0  "Canoe-.smasher  "  V  rVt  o, 
ominous  Inu_  npparen.ly  undes.u'ved  (  He 
ina.smuch  as  h,.  p,,,v,.d  to  be  a  most  skilfni 
and  steady  boadnan.  He  seemed  also  fob 
modest,  (or  he  took  no  credit  to  hi'mTelf  fo 
Sireiv';^T'''-,'r'-  •'".'■''^"^•-''^  I'i  "success 

t  rely  by  a  vast^a/'/i  i^H  !e,Tr  fy  in  r"""''  ''T 

"e 'KHl  of  tiu,  ZanilHisi      "    ''^  '"  ^""  "''^'^^- 

iiefore  entering  tiie  race  of  water,  we 


sense  in  the  reouest  of  t..i    -  ^^^^  ^*^"°^ 
reason  assignedl"^f  n'J  uifc  Ztff  tt 

to  the  steersmui      TnUo    i   ".''".'  *"  *-'•''"  «"* 
saveVis"vom  'LT"""^-  '^  '^  ""'J^ins  could 

l.«ir  fi,ll  of  «»"r  i,"  rm„,  ™  •  T  ,..""° 

'..  ,^'4"c;  the  accident  was  owin<r  tn 
luba  having  .s(ar(ed  widiout  his  3^ 
Ncedjt  be  said  that  we  never  let  Tubn^n 
without  that  meal  again."  ^° 

Among  them   there   is  i  hruU^  ^e 


■:i«a 


n      1 


■ 


:  .    J 


800 


THE  BATOKA  TRIBE. 


they  are  extremely  fond  of  ornaments  upon 
their  heads,  whieli  they  dress  in  various 
fantastic  ways.  The  conical  style  has  al- 
ready been  mentioned,  but  they  have  many 
other  fasliious.  One  of  their  favorite  modes 
is,  to  plait  a  fillet  of  bark,  some  two  inches 
wide,  and  tie  it  round  the  head  in  diadem 
fashion.  They  then  rub  grease  and  red 
ochre  plentifully  into  the  hair,  and  fasten 
it  to  the  lillet,  which  it  completely  covers. 
The  head  being  then  shaved  as  far  as  the 
edge  of  the  fillet,  the  native  looks  as  if  he 
were  wearing  a  red,  polished  forage-cap. 

Rings  of  iron  wire  and  beads  are  worn 
round  the  arms  ;  and  a  fashionable  member 
of  this  order  tliinks  himself  scarcely  fit  for 
society  unless  he  carries  a  pipe  and  a  small 
pair  of  iron  tongs,  with  which  to  lift  a  coal 
from  the  fire  imd  kindle  his  pipe,  the  stem 
of  which  is  often  ornamented  by  being 
bound  with  polished  iron  wire. 

The  Baenda-pezi  seem  to  Idc  as  devoid  of 
the  sense  of  sliamo  as  their  bodies  are  of 
covering.  They  could,  not  in  the  least  be 
made  to  see  that  they  ought  to  wear  cloth- 
ing, and  quite  laughed  at  the  absurdity  of 
such  an  idea ;  evidently  looking  on  a  pro- 
po-nl  to  wear  clothing  much  as  we  sliould 
eiit.i'  !un  a  request  to  dress  ourselves  in 
plate  armor. 

The  pipe  is  in  constant  requisition  among 
these  men,  who  are  seldom  .seen  without  a 
pipe  in  their  mouths,  and  never  without  it 
m  their  possession.  Yet,  whenever  they 
came  into  the  presence  of  their  white  vis- 
itors, they  always  asked  permission  before 
lighting  tlieir  pij)es,  an  innate  politeness 
being  strong  within  them.  Their  tobacco  is 
exceedingly  powerful,  and  on  that  account 
is  much  valued  by  other  tribes,  who  will 
travel  great  distances  to  purchase  it  from 
the  Batoka.  It  is  also  very  cheap,  a  few 
beads  purchasinij;  a  sufficient  quantity  to 
last  even  these  inveterate  smokers  for  six 
months.  Tlicir  mode  of  smoking  is  very 
peculiar.  They  first  take  a  whiff  after  the 
usual  manner,  and  puff  out  the  smoke.  But, 
when  they  have  expelled  nearly  the  whole 
of  the  smoke,  they  make  a  kin(l  of  catch  at 
the  last  tiny  wreath,  and  swallow  it.  This 
they  are  pleased  to  consi(ler  the  very  essence 
or  spirit  of  the  tobacco,  which  is  lost  if  the 
smoke  is  exhaled  in  the  usual  manner. 

The  Batoka  are  a  polite  people  in  their 
way,  though  tluy  have  rather  an  o<ld  method 
of  expressing  their  feelings.  The  ordinary 
mode  of  salutation  is  for  the  women  to  clap 
their  hands  and  produce  that  ululating  sound 
which  has  already  been  meiftioned,  and  for 
the  men  to  stoop  and  clap  their  hands  on 
their  hips.  But,  when  they  wish  to  bo  es- 
pecially respectful,  they  have  another  mode 
of  salutation.  They  throw  themselves  on 
their  bii'rs,  and  roll  from  side  to  side,  slap- 
ping tiio  outside  of  their  thighs  vigorously, 
and  calli>i.;  out "  Kina-bombaikina-bombii! " 


that  ho  never  could  accustom  his  eyes  to 
like  the  spectacle  of  great  naked  men  wal- 
lowing on  their  backs  and  slapping  them- 
selves, and  tried  to  stop  tiiem.  They,  how- 
ever, always  thought  that  he  was  not  satis- 
fled  with  the  heartiness  of  his  reception, 
and  so  rolled  about  and  slapped  themselves 
all  the  more  vigorously.  This  rolling  and 
slapping  seems  to  be  reserved  for  tlie  wel- 
coming of  great  men,  and,  of  course,  when- 
ever the  Batoka  present  themselves  before 
the  chief,  the  performance  is  doubly  vigor- 
ous. 

When  a  gift  is  presented,  it  is  etiquette  for 
the  donor  to  hold  tlie  ])resent  in  one  hand, 
and  to  slap  the  thigh  witli  the  other,  as  lie 
approaches  the  person  to  whom  he  is  about 
to  give  it.  He  then  delivers  the  gilt,  claps 
his  hands  tof^ether,  sits  down,  and  then 
strikes  his  tliighs  with  both  hands.  The 
same  formalities  are  observed  when  a  return 
gift  is  presented  ;  and  so  tenacious  are  they 
of  this  branch  of  eticpiette,  that  it  is  t'lught 
regularly  to  cliildren  l)y  their  parents, 

They  are  an  industrious  peojjle,  cultivat- 
ing wonderfully  large  tracts  of  land  with 
the  simple  but  effective  hoe  of  their  country. 
With  this  hoe,  which  looks  something  like 
a  large  adze,  they  not  only  break  up  the 
ground,  but  perform  other  tasks  of  less  im- 
portance, such  as  smoothing  the  earth  as  a 
foundation  for  their  Ijeds.  Some  of  these 
fields  are  so  large,  that  the  traveller  may 
walk  for  hours  through  the  native  corn,  and 
scarcely  come  upon  an  uncultivated  spot. 
The  quantity  of  corn  which  is  grown  is  very 
large,  and  tlie  natives  make  such  numbers 
of  granaries,  that  tlieir  villages,  seem  to  be 
far  more  populous  than  is  really  the  case. 
Plenty,  in  consequence,  reigns  .nmong  this 
people.  But  it  is  a  rather  remarkable  fact 
that,  in  spite  of  the  vast  quantities  of  grain, 
which  they  produce,  they  cannot  keep  it  in 
store. 

The  corn  has  too  many  enemies.  In  the 
first  place,  the  neighboring  tribes  are  apt  to 
send  out  maraudiii'j  parties,  who  prefer 
stealing  the  corn  which  their  industrious 
neighbors  have  grown  and  stored  to  culti- 
vating the  ground  for  themselves.  Mice, 
too,  are  very  injurious  to  the  corn.  But 
against  these  two  enemies  the  Batoka  can 
tolerably  guard,  by  tying  up  quantities  of 
corn  in  bundles  of  grass,  jilastering  them 
over  with  clay,  and  hiding  tlit-m  in  the  low 
sand  islands  left  by  the  subsiding  waters  of 
the  Zambesi.  But  the  worst  of  all  enemies  is 
the  native  weevil,  an  insect  so  small  that  no 
precautions  are  available  against  its  ravages, 
and  which,  an  we  too  often  find  in  this  coun- 
try, <U  stroys  an  enormous  am«int  of  corn 
in  a  \ry  short  time.  It  is  impossible  for 
tbi  Batoka  to  preserve  their  corn  more  than 
a  }  t&Tj  and  it  is  as  mu<;h  as  they  can  do  to 
nifike  it  last  until  the  next  crop  is  ready. 
As,  therefore,   the   whole   of  the  annual 


V 


with  great  energy.     Dr.  Liviugstoue  suys  i  crop  must  be  consumed  by  themselves  or 


h  ^ 


istom  his  eyes  to 
t  naked  men  wal- 
1(1  slapping  thcm- 
licni.  They,  how- 
lio  was  not  Hatis- 
of  his  reception, 
lapped  themselves 
Ihis  rolling  and 
irved  for  tlic  wel- 
,  ol"  course,  when- 
Jiemselves  before 
3  is  doubly  vigor- 

,  it  is  etiquette  for 
^ent  in  one  hand, 

the  other,  as  he 
.vhom  he  is  about 
ers  the  gilt,  claps 
down,  and  then 
loth  hands.  The 
^ed  wlien  a  return 
enacious  are  they 
,  that  it  is  t'lught 
eir  parents, 

peojjle,  ciiltivat- 
cts  of  land  with 
3  of  their  country. 
:s  something  like 
ily  break  up  the 

tasks  of  less  im- 

ig  tlie  earth  as  a 

Some  of  these 

le  traveller  may 

native  corn,  and 
ncultivated  spot, 
I  is  grown  is  very 
ie  such  numbers 
lages.  seem  to  be 
I  really  the  case, 
ligns  amon<»  this 
'  remarkable  fact 
antities  of  grain, 
lannot  keep  it  in 

enemies.    In  the 

tribes  are  apt  to 
ties,  who  prefer 
;heir  industrious 
1  st<ired  to  culti- 
emselves.  Mice, 
•  the  corn.    But 

the  Batoka  can 
np  quantities  of 

plastering  them 
them  in  the  low 
bsiding  waters  of 
t  of  all  enemies  is 

so  small  that  no 
;ainst  its  ravages, 
Und  in  this  coun- 

am«int  of  corn 
is  impossible  for 
r  corn  more  than 
IS  they  can  do  to 
rop  is  ready. 
1  of  the  annual 
y  theui^elve^j  or 


(..)  BOATING   «,  ,,M,;   oN  THE    BO-TLKT-U;   R.V,:.. 
(Sue  pngc  340.) 


(2.)   ItAIOKA    .SALUTATION. 
(See  page  3S0.) 


(8«; 


C( 


the  wocvil  they  pivfer  the  formor,  and  what 
thoy  cannot  cat  thoy  inivko  into  b^e?  vvhk" 
they   biojv   in   larj^e  cjuantltios,  and  drink 
nbundantly;  vet  they  sel.lom,  if 'over  i  tox- 
ica ot|,t.,n.sefves,  in  «,,it,,  of  the  qu  „Sh 
which  the.v  eonmnne.    Tliis  beer  in  "»lle,| 
by  the...  either  "  boiila  "  or  "I)Olnl^'    us 
as  we  Hi.eak  of  beer  or  ale  ;  and  it  is' Jeot 
jn  flavor  with  i„st  eno..,,h 'acidity  to  re.Tder 
t  agreeable     faven   Kuropeans  soon  co  ne 
to  like  It,  and  it.s  elfeet  on  the  natives  Is  to 
mako  them  plan.,,  and  well  nourished     t£ 
Batoka    do    not   content    themselves   with 
simply  ^r,„win^.  corn  and  vegetables  1u 
even  plant  fruit  and  oii-bearincr    rees      n 
prgee  which  is  not  found  among  the  01^0, 

Possibly  on  account  of  the  plenty  with 
which   heir  lanrl  i.s  blessed,  they  S  mS 
hospitable  race  of  men,  alwavs^rla      «  see 
gue.ts,  and  reeeivin,^^  them  in  t1      k  ^dest 
njanmu-     If   ..,  traveller  passes   throi  gl    a 
villij,'.',  lie  IS  eonliniial  V  hailed  from   fh„ 
vnnouH  huts  with    invit,!tions   ^    c^  '  a^l 
dnnk,  ^vlule  tlie  men  welcome  the  vis  tor 
by  dappMi,.  theii-  hands,  and  the  woim^n  b^ 
luililuoui;'.      They  even  feel  pained   f  tie 
straiiijoi-  piss;.s  the  villa>'o   w  (hnnf       • 
enterraiu4    When  l^'^l^,  Ua'SJ^'I^Jl. 
the  ni-iit,  the  inhabitants  turn  out  to  miko 
h.m  conifbi-iablc;  some  r.iiinin<.      fek-h  ire 
wood,  others  l„.i„.i„.  j,„,,  of^vater     vhih 
some  e,~  tlu.,ii.elves  in  pre,,arhi.i      e 
bed,^  and  erecting  a  fence  to'  ke^  of?  the 

They  are  skilful  and  fearless  hnii(,.r« 
and  are  not  afraid  even  of  the  elopS  "' 
anS'  *^'""r /!!1.''1"'"3IV  to  these  fo n  Sbb 


OBDEAL  OP  THE  MUAVE. 


888 


A  complete  svste.n  of  ffunedau^s  is  mEa 
tion  amonar  the  Ihtok"i  nnf  «•..„   '^ '""I'tra- 

ofl.rolubi^n.tl,eSt'remin::;^;Kt 
whcm'^kileHl '''".'•'  ^'"  '';-^l''-^'o"lheSame 

3^^i;^Lt^^p;i;-^^^^^^^ 
britin.;';:!vJ'S.ts"-^-^^^ 

flicts  the  fttid  womiVbo,     .!;'  ?^;„^^'!,°    »- 

"otice,e:^.l?nS    Sa^S,^;;:.^-'^ 

corsned  and  sSh  i^'iils  of  ?  r^'"" V"  ">^' 
of  EnglaiKi.  The  1-  V,  ;,f  u  1  ^  ''l^j'^ ''?«'« 
stron-  here  as    n     M?       '"''''iwaa  is  very 

Africa;  biu'amon/Xtltl'""*'''''-" 
has  the  opportnnitv  ^f  ^^-itoka  the  accused 

drinkinc;  ^  noi "  -on/  .'"■"''''  "'"*^'»'  '>y 
muave."  Some?  ni.^J"^L  '""•'■""•'''tio"  oallefl 
the  (hau-ht  .nT?n  ^h"  J"''-''»^<i  'lies  from 
clear;  bul  iA  o  ^ ."  the  ,.0?"  '"**  S""^  '« 
emetic,  which  Lssumoso,ir""  "^^  '"  "« 
eenee,  heprnK^';^;:;i'^l«i»''«!:l 
^^  the  body,  and  therefore  being^-Sd!'"! 
18 


•narke<l  thei,  d  ^A  e^.? "  ''Z7n  TT'""^ 
arrival  thev  ha  I  l.n. '.  „  ^^^^i'^^y  before  our 
conscious  !)fh,S,r';r' «'^''«''«--'-«ft: 
ordeal,  and  iin  Jrt^^oH:  F-^  accepted  the 
muave  I^.r  1  Zrni  I'l""*  "''^  poisoned 
ney  to  the  sa  r  ,f  y^f  "iJ'.V'^V"^"''- 
which  repose  the  bo, Ics  of  ^h  •'""''"'''•  °° 
and,  afle/-  a  soltmin  ap'ai  lo'Thn"""'*""' 

"rnoi'acco  ;!sthei'r7r'''r'  """'  ^'^''''^ 
evil.  His  a- :'i^  US' '^,  ?""''"'• 
of'a  largo  canoe  refused  to  '  ,1  it  °'''"*:'' 
he  onn'ed   to   fli,.  .  !:  •/    p  ?•  '  ''  because  it 

belpe\f  lliiX  ,  r  kil'jy 'll/l!!'^'-'  -''« 
"HIS.     Another    wli,.n  1    "^  '."PPopota- 

against  it  '"»  f^tbcr,  come  to  protest 

kind.    This  in", li,.  '»  «""ce  on  man- 

The  remaind  r  of  .hn     .'^''l^'r   "icnselves. 
"Ifny  into  «  Jhtrlct  I  SU\S    ;;,,"!'.", '" 

in*':,„?,r£tTr..;s',  trc-  -  ""■*?' 


8?;.^!3«M 


9M 


THE   HATOk'A   TRinE. 


I  2i 


or  keys,  of  our  instrument  aro  Htci'l,  and 
that  ilu!v  ni"t>  Honndt'd  l»y  littlu  \ni'jH,  uiid 
not  by  the  (InjjprH.  Kvoii  aiiioiij^  this  one 
tribe  tluTc  nrv  <;r«mt  ditl'croncuH  in  tlie  for- 
mation of  till!  HUUMII. 

Till'  tia«f  ind  m<M  cliilionitt'  form  in  that 
in  whi  U  'U'  --iiiiiiii'  .  '-i)oiird  of  thu  sansa  iH 
hollo. V  "n  onicr  lo  lacrease  tlui  ri'somincc; 
aii'i  'lu'  kt\  •  ;iic  made  of  iron  iuHtoiuJ  of 
wood,  HO  Ihiil  a  really  musical  sound  is  pro- 
duced. Moreover,  liuv  instrument  is  en- 
closed 111  a  liollow  calMliasii,  for  the  purpose 
of  iuteusityiu<;  the  sound;  and  l)ofh  tlie 
Hansa  and  the  i.dabasli  ari^  furnished  with 
bits  of  steel  and  tin,  whieli  nialtt!  a  jinHliny; 
aecompauiinent  to  the  music-  Tin, ,  \!abaHh 
is  (:;enerally  eoveriid  wi;  .  car\inns.  Wlieii 
tile  sansa  is  used,  it  is  held  with  the  hoIh)w 
or  ornamented  end  toward  tlie  iilayer,  and 
the  keys  ari!  struck  with  the  tliuinhs,  tlie 
rt'Hl  of  till)  hand  beiiig  occupied  in  liolding 
the  inslrunuint. 

Tills  curious  instrunu^nt  is  nscd  in  ncconi- 
panyiu}^  sonj;s.  Dr.  Jiivin;;stone  mentions 
that  a  j?enuine  native  poet  attjichcd  liimself 
to  the  i)arty,and  composed  a  jioem  in  lionor 
of  tlio  white  men,  siiiijinjj  it  whenever  they 
halted,  and  aceom))anyin,i;  himself  on  the 
sansa.  At  first,  as  lie'  did  not  know  much 
about  liis  subject,  he  modestly  curtailed  liis 
jioem,  l)ut  extended  it  day  1)V  dav,  until  at 
last  it  l>ecanie  (luile  a  lonij  ixle.  Tliere  was 
an  evident  rhvtlmi  in  il,eacli  line  cousistiui,' 
of  five  syllables.  Another  native  poet  was 
in  the  liabit  of  solaciu;;  himself  every  cve- 
nin^i;  witli  an  extempore  son;;,  in  wliiVh  lie 
enumerated  everytlnuf;  that  tlie  wliite  men 
had  done.  He  was  not  so  accomplished  a 
poet  m  liis  l)rotlier  ini|irovisatorc,  and  occa- 
sionally found  words  to  fail  him.  However, 
his  sansa  lulped  liiin  when  lie  w.as  at  a  loss 
for  a  word.  Just  as  llie  piano  lu-lps  out  an 
unskilful  siiiger  when  at  a  loss  for  a  note. 

They  liavu  several  mu.sic.al  instruments 
besides  the  sansa.  One  is  called  the  ma- 
rimlia,  and  is  in  fact  a  .simple  sort  of  liar- 
monicon,  the  place  of  the;  jjlass  or  metal  keys  j 
being  sui)jdied  by  strips  of  hard  wood  fixed 
on  a  frame.  Tliese  strips  are  large  at  one 
end  of  the  instrument,  an<l  diminish  regu- 
larly toward  the  other.  I'nder  eai  h  of  the 
wooden  keys  is  fixed  a  hollow  gourd,  or 
calabash,  tlie  object  of  whicli  is  to  increase 
the  resoii  ince. '  Two  sticks  of  liard  wood 
are  used  for  striking  the  kev-*.  and  a  skilful 
performer  really  handles  them  with  Won- 
derful agility.  Simple  as  is  tliis  instrument, 
pleasing  smiiids  can  be  produced  fVoni  it. 
It  has  even  been  introduicd  into  England, 
under  the  name  of  "  xylophone,''  and,  when 
played  by  a  dexterous  and  energetic  per- 
former, reallv  produce's  efl'ecls  that  could 
hardly  have  lieen  expected  from  it.  Tlie 
sounds  are,  of  course,  delicient  in  musical 
tone;  but  still  the  various  notes  can  lie  ob- 
tained with  tolerable  aicunu^y  by  trimming 
tlie  WOuduu  keys  iu  the  proper  ^imcnsionb, 


A  similar  inslrunient  is  inatl  with  strips  of 
stone,  th(!  s(nindM  of  which  aie  superior  to 
those  produced  l)y  iIk^  wooden  l)ars. 

The  liatokaure  remarkable  for  their  clan- 
nish feeling;  and,  winai  a  largi  parly  are 
travelling  in  company,  tlmse  of  one  tribe 
always  keep  together,  and  ii-isist  each  other 
in  every  dilliculty.  Also,  if  they  should 
happ(Mi  to  coiiit'  upon  a  villager  indwelling 
belonging  to  one  of  their  own  trilie.  they 
are  sure  of  a  welcome  and  plentiful  iiospi- 
tality. 

The  Batoka  npjiear  from  all  accounts  to 
be  nitlier  a  contentious  people,  (piarrelsome 
at  home,  ard  sometiines  extending  their 
strife  to  other  villages.  In  domestic  fights 
—  I.  ('.  in  combats  betwi'cu  iuhabitauts  of 
the  same  village-  Ihi!  antagonists  arc  care- 
ful not  to  inflict  fatal  injuries.  Hut  when 
village  (Ighls  against  village, as  is  some.times 
the  case,  the  loss  on  both  sides  may  be  con- 
siderable. The  result  of  such  a  luillle  woidd 
be  exceedingh  disagreeable,  as  (he  two  vil- 
lages Would  always  be  in  a  stale  of  deadly 
fend,  and  an  inhahitaul  of  one  would  not 
dare  to  go  near  the  othei'.  The  liatoka, 
however,  have  invented  ,i  plan  bv  which  the 
feud  is  stopjied.  When  the  victors  have 
drivi'ii  their  opponents  off  the  field,  they 
take  the  body  ot  one  of  the  dead  warri<u's, 
(juarter  it,  and  iicrlbrm  a  scries  of  ceremo- 
nies over  it.  Tills  appears  to  lie  a  kind  of 
challenge  that  lliey  are  masters  of  the  field. 
The  (i>iu|Ui're(l  parly  ackuow  ledge  their  de- 
feat by  sending  ii  dei)utatiou  to  ask  for  the 
body  of  their  comra<le,  and,  when  they 
receive  it,  they  go  through  the  same  cere- 
monies; alter  which  [jcace  is  sntiposcd  to  be 
restored,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  villages 
iiiiu'  visit  each  other  in  safety. 

Dr.  Livingstone's  iuforiiiaiit  further  said, 
that  when  a  warrior  had  slain  an  enemy,  he 
look  the  head,  and  jilaced  il  on  an  ant-hill, 
until  all  the  lb  -li  was  taken  Iroiii  the  liones. 
j  He  then  removed  the  lower  J:iw,  ami  wore 
it  as  a  trophy.  He  did  not  -ce  one  of  these 
trophies  worn,  and  evideii'ly  thinks  Miat  the 
above  account  maybe  inaccuriite  i  some 
places,  as  it  was  given  through  an  interpre- 
ter; and  it  is  very  oossible  llint  both  the 
interpri  ter  and  tlii^  Hatoka  in;iy  have  inven- 
ted a  tale  for  the  occasion.  Tlir  acciaint  of 
the  pacificatory  ceremonies  really  seems  lo 
be  too  consistent  with  itself  to  be  liilsehood  ; 
but  the  Wearing  of  tin?  eiiemv's  jaw,  uncor- 
roborated by  a  siugl(!  examiile,  seems  to  be 
rather  donfitful.  Indeeil.  Dr.  Livingstone 
expressly  warns  the  reader  against  receiv- 
ing with  implicit  beliid'  accounts  that  are 
givi'ii  by  a  native  African.  The  dark  inter- 
locutor amiably  desires  to  please,  and,  hav- 
ing no  conception  of  truth  as  a  principle, 
says  exactly  what  he  thinks  will  be  most 
acceptable  to  the  great  white  chief, on  whom 
he  Icoks  as  a  sort  of  erratic  sunernatural 
being.  Ask  a  native  whether  tlie  moun- 
tains ii-  iiis  own  liisUict  arc  lofty,  ur  whether 


IIOSI'ITALTTY  OF  THE  MANOANJAS. 


f((>\(\  \h  fouinl  tliorc,  (ind  li.;  will  nJimirrdly 
unswor  in  liio  iimriiiutivc.  80  Iw.  will  If 
lio  l»(!  luskcd  whctlu  r  iinicdriiN  llvo  in  IiIh 
coniidy,  (»i-  wliclluu-  lie  Known  of  11  rncc  of 
tiiilcd  un'ii,  hcitii;  only  nnxi.ms  to  jilcuHe,  and 
not  llilnkin«  tlml,  llu;  trulli  or  liils.liood  of 
tliii  answer  can  b<'  of  the  louHt  (■onMcqneniH!. 
If  the  vvliKe  Mportsniiiii  -iioots  ut  an  animal, , 
and  makes  iv  palpable  niiw,  his  dusky  alteud- 1 


800 

antj)  arc  jmro  to  wiy  that  tho  bullet  w.  nt 
tliroutfli  ti.e  milmars  heart,  and  that  it  ordv 
bounded  away  for  a  short  distan(c.  "  He  jg 
our  father,"  say  the  natives,  "and  he  would 
be  disnleased  if  we  l.)ld  him  that  lie  luul 
missed.  U  is  even  worse  with  (he  slaves 
Who  are  oIIcmi  iis.^d  as  interpreters  ;  and  it  ii 
hardly  possible  to  1,  hue  tliem  to  interorot 
with  any  modicum  oi  .ruth. 


THE  MANGANJA  TRIBE. 


On  the  river  Shire  (pronounced  Slieereh), 
a  norlhern  tributarv  of  the  Zaml)esi,  there 
is  a  rather  (uu-ioiiM  tribe  called  the  Manf,'auia. 
J  he  counir'  which  they  inhabit  is  well  and 
Jiilly  watere.l,  aboiiiidiiifr  in  elear  and  cool 
Streams,  wliii  h    do    not   dry    u])    even    in 
th(^  dry  season.     I'astura(,'e  "is  conse(nicntlv 
abiiiKlant,  and  yet  the  people  do  not  trouble 
themselves  about  catth',  allowing  lo  lie  un- 
used tracts  of  land  which  would  leed  vast 
lier(lsofoxen,nottomeiiti(msheepandKoats. 
1  heir  mode  of  Koveniinent  is  rather  curi- 
ous, and  yet  simnle.    The  coiinlrvis  divided 
into  a  mmiberof  (lisiricis,  (he  head  of  which 
Koes  by  the   title  of  Hundo.     A  great  niim- 
oer  o(   villa<,'es  are  under  the  coiivnand  of 
each  Hundo,  thounrh  each  of  the  di\'|sions  is 
indopen  lent  of  the  others,  and  they- do  not 
ajjknowlr,|n-e   ,„,,,  common   chief  or   kin-', 
ibe  clueltainsbip  is  not    restricted   to  tlPe 
male  sex  its  in  one  of  t(,o  districts  a  woman 
named  Nyango  was  the  l?iin(lo,and  exercised 
her  authority  Judiciously,  by  improvin.'  the 
social  status  of  the  women"  tlirou-'hout  her 
douHnioiis.   An  annual  tribute  is  iiaid  to  (he 
Kundo  by  each  villa-c,  mostly  consisting  of 
one  tusk  of  eaclj  elephant  killed,  and  he  in 

should  they  be  threatened  or  attacked. 

iiu!  Mangaiijas  are  an  industrious  race, 
being  orood  Workers  in  metal,  esp  dallv 
iron,  -rowinj,'  cotton,  makinj,'  bnskc  s    and 


cu    .vat.n;,Mhe^roun,l,inwhUoec,    /atjlm 
bh  sexes  eipially  slmre  ;  and  it  Is  a     leas- 

dl  at  work  to;re(her  in  the  fields,  with  ner- 

ot.i  bush  llu.y  clear  the  forest  Kround 
e.xac  ly  as  is  done  in  America,  cultinidow 
he  t ives  with  tlieir  axes,  pjljn.r  "»,,  ,1h> 
auches  .and  trunks  in  heaj.kL.ri.TiJ  ,em 
an.l  s,-|iltermg  the  ,asl,.  s  over  the  .rrorn  1  Iv 
w.ay  of  manure,  n.e  stumps  are  Yeft  to  rS 
mthe  ground  an<l  the  corn  is  sown  amo™ 

manner  '''■}.?'""'•  '^  'l''''^  '»  a  difT^eronl 
mannei.     1  he   gr.ass    in    that   country    is 

gathers  a  bundle  into  his  hands,  twists  th,. 
ends  together,  and  ties  them  in  a  knot  He 
then  cuts  the  roots  with  his  a.l'/e-like  hoe  so 
as  to  cave  the  hunch  of  grass  still  stand" 
injr.  l,ke  .a  sheaf  ,.f  wlicf,.  'v  hen  a  Lid  I^ 
been  entirely  cut,  it  looks  to  „  stranger  a^^H" 


It  wore  in  harvest,  tlie  hundlon  of  crass 
sending  at  intervals  like  the  grain  shmka. 
.lust  i)ei„re  the  rainy  season  comes  on,  (he 
bundles  are  (lred,the  ashes  are  roughly  dujr 
into  the  soil,  and  an  abundant  harvest  is  the 
result. 

The  cotton  is  prepared  after  a  very  sim- 
jdeand  slow  fashion,  the  fibre  beiu"  picked 
by  hand,  drawn  out  into  a  "roving,"  partially 
twisted,  and  then  rolled  uj)  into  c  l)all.     It  19 
the  opinion  of  tbos(!  who  have  had  practi- 
cal   experience   of  tliis  cotton,  that,  if  flie 
natives  could  be  induced  to  plant  and  dress 
It  111  large  qu.antities,  an  enormous  market 
miubl  be  found  for  it.     The  "staple,"  or  fibre, 
of  Ibis  cotton  is  not  so  long  as  that   which 
comes  from  America, and  has  a  harsh,  woolly 
f<!e  ing  in  file  hand.     Hut,  as  it  is  very  stron-r 
and  the  fabiKis  made  from  it  arc;  ve'ry  dura- 
ble, the  natives  juTfer  it  to  tlie  foreign  iilant 
Almo.st   every  Mauganja  family  of  imoor- 
tance  has  its  own  little  cotton  patch,  frr.m 
nalt  an  acre  to  an  acre  in  size,  which  is  kent 
carefully  tended,  and  free  from  ^^  eeds.'    The 
00m  in  which  they  weave  (heir  simple  cloth 
IS  very  rude,  and   is  one  of   the    primitive 
forms  of  a  weaver's  apparatus.     It  is  i,lnc(.d 
horizontally,    and   not   vertically,   an      the 

e  gaged  ,n  his  work.    The  shuttle  is  a  mere 
stick,  with  the  thread  u     ,nd  spirally  round 

:.  "'  •  "''^"m  ''  '•"  J'"^"''''  '■'■^^^'••''"  the  crossed 

isni    f      .   "'  TP^  t''«  "-"'P  is  beaten  into 
Its  plac(!  with  a  Hat  stick. 

They  are  a  hospitable  peoiile,  and  have  a 

well-understood   code  of '  eereinony  in    tlie 

reception  of  strangers.     In  each  village  there 

«s  a  spot  called    the    Hoala,  i.e.  a  .space    of 

about  thirtv  or  forty  yards  diameter,  which 

reel't"V\'-^''"."H  "'■  """'i'  «P>''^n<ling 
trecB,  and  which   is  always  kept   neat  an3 

fCl  Pr  'V'"*^"-^' "''«'•  "^  »  Pla^c  where 
the  basket  makers  and  others  who  are  en- 
gaged m  scdent.uy  occupations  can  work  in 
comiiany,  and  also  serves  as  a  meeting-place 
111  evenings,  where  they  sing,  dance  smoke 
and  drink  beer  after  thi  (oils 'of  (be  day 

As  .soon  .as  a  stranger  enters  a  villa-'c  he 
IS  conducted  to  the  Boala.  where  he  "takes 
his  seat  on  the- mats  that  are  spread  for  hh n' 
and  awaits  the  comiiirr  f,r  the  -i.:-,f  -jj.^  " 
the  village.  As  soon  as  he  makes  his  appear- 
ance, his  people  welcome  him  by  clajiping 


SM 


THE  MANGANJA  TlllUE, 


.^1 


their  hnndfl  In  unltion,  and  continuo  thU  mlu- 

tation  until  ho  \u\n  titkoti  hU  .seat,  a(!<^MU- 
pRniod  hy  hi«  councillors.  "Our  fftiUloH," 
writes  Iiivin>?st<)no,  "then  sit  ilown  in  tVont 
of  the  chief  nn<l  IiIh  councillor,  and  hoth 
pnrtien  leiin  forwiucl,  looking  curncMtly  at 
each  other.  The  chief  rcpedtn  a  word,  such 
an  '  Ainbuiatft' (our  father,  or  mantcr),  or 
'  Moio '  (life^.  and  all  clai)  their  handx.  An- 
other word  i«  followed  l>y  two  clnim,  a  third 
by  stiir  more  dappinj;,  when  each  touchcH 
the  ffround  with  hoth  hands  placed  together. 
Then  all  rise,  and  lean  forward  with  inean- 
ured  clap,  and  sit  down  again  with  clai),  clap, 
clap,  fainter  and  still  faintttr,  until  the  liMt 
dies  away,  or  is  hroupht  to  an  end,  liy  a  smart 
loud  clap  tVom  the  chief.  Thev  keep  perfect 
time  in  this  species  of  court  etiquette." 

This  curious  salutation  is  valued  very 
hi-<hly,  and  the  peojili'  are  carefully  in- 
structed in  it  from  childhood.  The  chief 
Buidc  of  the  stranj^'cr  party  then  addresses 
tlie  chief,  and  tells  him  about  his  visitors, — 
who  they  are,  why  Ihey  have  come,  ito. ;  and 
mostly  docs  so  in  a  kind  of  blank  verse  —  the 
power  of  improvisinf;  a  jioetical  narrative 
beiuK  valued  as  hijilily  as  the  court  salu- 
tations, and  sedulously"  cidlivated  by  all  of 
any  jirelensions  to  station.  It  is  rather 
aniusinj,'  ut  first  to  the  traveller  to  (iud 
that,  if  he  should  happen  to  inquire  his 
way  iit  a  hut,  his  own  guide  addresses  the 
owner  of  the  hut  in  blank  verse,  and  is  an- 
swered in  the  same  fashion. 

The  dress  of  this  tribe  is  rather  peculiar, 
t!ie  he.id  being  the  chief  part  of  the  person 
which  is  decorated.  Sonu!  of  the  men  save 
themselves  the  trouble  of  dressing  their  hair 
by  shaving  it  off  entirely,  but  a  greater  num- 
ber take  a  priile  in  decorating  it  in  various 
ways.  The  headdress  which  seems  to  be 
most  admired  is  that  in  which  the  hair  is 
trained  to  resemble  the  horns  of  the  buffalo. 
This  is  done  by  taking  two  pieces  of  hide 
while  they  are  wet  and  pliable,  and  bending 
them  into  the  required  shape.  When  the 
two  horns  are  dry  and  hard,  tliey  arc  fastened 
on  the  head,  and  the  liair  is  trained  over 
tliem,  and  fixed  in  its  place  by  grease  and 
cl.'iy.  Sometimes  only 'one;  liorn  is  used, 
which  i)rojects  immediately  over  the  fore- 
head ;  but  the  double  horn  is  the  form  which 
is  most  in  vogue. 

Others  divide  their  hair  into  numerous 
tufts,  and  separate  them  by  winding  round 
each  tuft  a  tliin  bandage,  made  of  the  inner 
baik  of  a  tree,  so  that  they  radiate  from  the 
heafl  in  all  directions,  and  produce  an  effect 
which  is  much  valued  by  tills  simple  race. 
8ome  draw  the  hair  together  toward  the 
back  of  the  head,  and  train  it  so  as  to  hang 
down  their  backs  in  a  shape  (closely  resem- 
bling the  pigtail  which  was  so  fashionable  an 
ornament  of  the  Uriti.sh  sailor  irt  Nelson's 
time.  Others,  again,  allow  the  hair  to  grow 
nnich  as  nature  formed  it,  but  train  it  to 
grow  in  heavy  nia-«?es  all  round  tiieir  he.afls. 


The  women  are  equally  flistidlous  with 
the  men,  but  have  in  adiliiioii  a  most  singu- 
lar ornament  called  the  "  pelele."  This  is  a 
ring  that  is  not  fixed  into  the  ear  or  nose, 
but  into  the  upper  lip,  and  giveg  to  the 
wearer  an  appearance  that  is  most  repulslvo 
to  an  Kiirom-au.  The  artist  has  illuKtrated 
its  form  and  effect,  in  an  engraving  on  i)age 
'.ITiJ.  The  pelclc  is  a  ring  made  of  ivorv, 
metal,  or  bamboo,  nearly  an  inch  in  thick- 
ness, and  variable  in  diameter,  sometimes 
measuring  two  inches  across.  When  the 
girl  is  very  young,  the  upper  lip  is  pierced 
close  to  the  nose,  anil  a  small  j)in  inserted 
to  prevent  the  orifice  from  dosinj;.  When 
the  wound  is  healed,  the  small  pin  is  with- 
drawn, and  a  larger  one  introuiiced;  and 
this  plan  is  carried  on  for  years,  until  at  last 
the  full-sized  "  pelele  "  caii  be  worn. 

The  conunonest  sort  of  pelele  is  made  of 
bamboo,  and  is  in  conserpicnce  ver\  light. 
When  a  wearer  of  this  ])elele  smiles,  or 
rafher  tries  to  smile,  the  contraclioii  of  the 
muscles  turns  tlitv  ring  upward,  so  (hut  its 
upper  edge  comes  in  front  of  the  eyes,  the 
nose  appearing  through  its  middle.  The 
whole  front  teeth  are  exposed  by  (his  mo- 
tion, so  as  to  exhibit  the  nshioii.ible  way  in 
which  the  teeth  have  lucn  chipped,  and, 
as  liivingstouc  says,  they  resemble  tht! 
fangs  of  a  cat  or  a  crocodile.  One  old  lady, 
named  (-'hikanda  Kadze,  had  a  pelele  so 
wide  and  heavy  that  it  hung  below  her  chin. 
But  then  she  was  a  chief,  a"nd  could  <'()nKe- 
quently  afford  to  possess  so  valuable  an 
ornament.  ' 

The  use  of  the  pelele  quite  alters  the  nat- 
ural shape  of  the  jaws.  In  the  natural  state 
the  teetli  of  the  upper  Jaw  are  set  in  an 
outward  curve,  but  in  a  wearer  of  the  pelclo 
the  <'onstant,  tliough  slight,  pressure  of  the 
ring  first  diminishes  the  curve,  tbeii  flattens 
it,  and,  lastly,  reverses  it.  Jiivingstone  sug- 
gests that  a  similar  a|>pli('ation  of  gradual 
pressure  should  be  apjilied  to  per.sons  wlio.se 
teeth  i)roJcct  forward,  not  knowing  that  such 
a  plan  has  lonitj  been  i)ractised  l)y  dentists. 

IIow  this  frightful  ornament  came  to  be 
first  introduced  is  unknown.  The  reasons 
which  they  give  for  wearing  it  ari'  rather  • 
amusing.  A  man,  say  tluy,  has  whiskers 
and  a  beard,  whereas  a  woman  has  none. 
"  What  kind  of  a  creature  would  a  woman 
be,  without  whiskers  and  without  the  pel- 
ele? She  would  have  a  mouth  like  a  man, 
and  no  beard!"  As  a  natural  result  of 
wearing  this  instrument,  the  language  has 
undergone  a  modification  as  well  as  the  lijis. 
The  labial  letters  cannot  Ive  ))ronounccd 
properly,  the  under  lip  having  the  whole 
duty  thrown  upon  them. 

In  different  parts  of  the  country  the  pel- 
ele takes  different  shapes.  The  mo.st  valued 
pelele  is  a  piece  of  pure  tin  hammered  into 
a  dish-like  shape.  Some  are  made  of  a  red 
kind  of  pipeclay,  and  others  of  a  white 
These  latter  ornaments  iire  gcner- 


"^ 


•  nnrt 


'imtidioiiH  with 
I II  iiioHl  Hingu- 
lU;."  Tlii8  ut  a 
liu  our  or  uonu, 
Kivei  to  till! 
iiumt  rt'puldivu 
has  illiiHtratvd 
'living  oil  ))a;;u 
iindc  of  ivory, 
inch  ill  tiiiek- 
tcr,  xdiiuUiinoH 

H.       WIll'II    tlu> 

r  lip  iH  i)i('rc('(l 
II  ))iii  iiiHortcil 
ioHinu.  When 
fill  1)111  Ih  willi- 
trouiicM'd;  and 
rs,  until  at  lastt 
I  Worn. 

Icle  is  niiido  of 
ici!  viM\  lij);lit. 
elo  Riiiiles,  or 
ractiiiii  of  tlio 
ml,  H(i  lliiit  its 
f  the  I'ves,  thu 
iniddi;-.  Th.) 
'd  hy  (liis  ino- 
ionahlc  way  in 
chipjii'd,  and, 
ri'»t'nii)lt^  thts 
One  old  lady, 
id  a  pflclu  so 
x'low  nor  chin. 
I  could  <'(inse- 
)   valuable    an 

alters  the  nat- 
c  natural  state 
lire  set  in  an 
■r  of  the  peU'lo 
rc'^sure  ol'  llio 
i\  then  tIattenH 
vingslone  sug- 
on  of  grsidnal 
persons  whose 
rtiiiH  that  such 
1  by  dentists. 
lit  came  to  be 
The  reasons 
it  ari'  rather  • 
has  whiskers 
lan  huH  none, 
oiild  a  woman 
tliout  the  ))el- 
h  like  a  iiuin, 
iiral  result  of 
language  has 
.■ell  as  the  \i\)». 
e  ])rononnce(l 
ing  the  whole 

mntry  the  pcl- 
le  ino.st  valued 
laniinered  into 
made  of  a  red 
s  of  a  white 
n<«  iire  geni^r- 


(1.)  I'KLKLU,  OU   LlP-aiJi(U. 

{Seo  pnifc  ajO.) 


^^ 


(X.)  BATOKa  iii;:,-. 
(8w  pa^  3M.} 


(«»7i 


• 


5 

n 

1 

1 

I 

i 

!'.    1 

p 


1 

M    "  ■ 

M 

!|  L 

■  i 

i  ll 

illl 


TATTOOING. 


ally  c.v  mdrrcal  in  form,  so  that,  ns  hm  been 
we  I  obsfirvcd,  the  wciirer  looks  uh  if  siio 
Iiail  an  incli  or  so  of  wax-aiiidlo  thrust 
tliroii^'h  tlio  lijis,  and  projcctiiiL'  beyond  tlic 
noso.  Some  of  llicm  arc  so  detennincd  to 
be  fasluonablo  that  they  do  not  content 
th(!nvselves  witli  a  nelelo  iu  the  upper  lip 
!.'ut  also  wear  one  tii  the  low(!r,  the  effect 


m 


upon  the  expression  of  couutenanco  beinj/ 
better  iina^jiiied  than  described.  The  pelele 
IS  seen  to  the  greatest  advantage  in  the  lake 
tlislrict,  where  evcuy  woman  wears  it,  and 
where  it  takes  the  greatest  variety  of  form 
Along  the  river  it  is  not  so  uiiiversaMv 
woin,  and  llie  form  is  almost  alwavs  that  of 
the  ring  or  disli. 

In  (Ills  i)art  of  the  country  the  sub-tribes 
are  diHtinguij,!,,.,!  I)y  certain  marks  where- 
witii   they  tuttoo   tli(.mselves,  and   therebv 
Bueceed  in  still  farther  diHrtgurini'  couiite- 
naiiees   which,   if  allowed    to    remain   un- 
touched, would  be  agreeable  enough.    Some 
ot  them  have  a  fashion  of  pricking  holes  all 
over  tlu'ir  faces,  and  treating  the  wounds  in 
such  a  way  that,  when  they  h.^a!,  Um  skin  is 
raised   in   little   knobs,  aiid  the  face  looks 
"^"  '^T'-'"o  foverevi  witli  warts.     Add  to 
this  liishion  the  i)elele,  and  the  readier  may 
tonn  an  opuuon  of  the  beauty  of  a  fashion- 
able woman.   .If  the  ol.jeet  of  fashion  be  to 
conceal  i!ge,  this  must  be  a  most  successful 
lush.on,  as  it,  entirely  destroys  the  lines  of 
lie  countenance,  and  hardens  and  distorts 
the  f(!atures  to  such  an  extent,  that  it  is  dif- 
icuit  to  jiulgc   by   the  flice  whether   the 
owner  be  si.xteen  or  sixty. 

One   of  the  women  hiul   her  body  most 
curiously  a<lorned  by  l,ittooing,  an.l,  TikIc  d 
was  a  remarkable  specimen"of  Ala iigin  i 
fashion.     Slie  had  shave.l  all  her  hea.l      u 
supp  l,..d  the  want  of  hair  by  a  feat  her     ,f 
over  her  forehead,  tied  on  by  a  ba         Fn 
a  point  on  the  top  of  her  foVeh..ad  i  in  lim" 
•mliauug  over  the  ..lieeks  as  far  ;is  the  e  r 
lookn.g  something  lik..  the  marks  on  a  r^ew 
Zeal.'ii,d,,r\s   lace.     This  radiating  iirincinle 
was  carried  out  all  over  her  bo.ly:  'a "sii   i- 
ar  point   was   marked   on    eiu:i    shou      'r 
;■!'';;'■-•»  "i''i^-li  the  lines  radiate     £, 
le  b.ack  an<l  over  the  shoulders,  and  o 

^hn\f         I"itterns  of  a  similar  nature 
She  01    course   wore   the  pelele-    bi  t  i ,,: 

was  a  tiavelled  woman,  and  had  r.cen  whit 

ne'Ik  To'n-  '^^  "''"«"  «l>o  wils'aimut'" 
peak  to  them,  she  retired  to  her  hut  r. 
m>ve.    he  pelele  and,  while  speaking  *hd 

/"i.  ^  •   'M'Hi'ire  111  her  lii). 
Cleanliness  seems  to  b.-  unsuitable  to  tlie 
M  ugan,,a  constitution.     Thev  could  m,t  in 

Ssh  llf  """''■'^''"•'  '''^'y  f-avelh.rs  s^, 
».  ^ish  themselv-s,  and  seemed  to  be  person 
a^Iy  Ignorant  of  the  process.    One  verv  n 
man,  hovvev..,-,  said  that  he  did  rememl^^ 
onco  to  l,ttv«  waslied  himself-   b.  t  "•>? 


could  drive  him  away.  Ho  insisted  nii 
aceojnpaiiyiug  them,  ^and  annoyed  ihem 
grea  ly  by  proclaiming  in  every  ^vUlage  to 

[..,'»  i7  ''"  "."  '^""^  ^^''erc  they  arc 
Koing.  If,,  was  driven  off  repeatedly  •  but 
as  soon  as  the  march  was  resumed  ti.'r.h: 
^'Svt'i.rV'^,  "'^^•;,'  '«  over'hi''shou'l,.^ 

and  never  nuule  his  appearance  ^l^ail,.'""'''' 

rnuss,  skin  diseases  are  r  fe  amoiiL'  the 
Manganjas  and  appear  to  bo  en  il ff'con- 
t.4'ious  and  durable;  many  j.ersm  s  4viZ 
white  blotches  over  their  lodies^a  'd  3 

wteT  i"'"*''  ''""'"^.^'^^  ^'"'  ■''  «<»-t  of  leprosy^ 
wh  h,  how,;ver,  does  not  seem  to  troubfc 
"■'»  i)ar  iciilarly.  Kven  the  fowls  are  lia! 
I  lo  to  a  .similar  disease,  and  liave  their  fe^t 
<lofo.'mcd  by  a  thickening  of  the  Pkin.  '* 
M)l)nety  seems  as  rare  with  the  Mon 
«.;tn,,as    as  cleanliness;    for   they  a  e   nT^ 

a  (.ipauiity  of   consuming   vast  .   iaiiliiir.« 
of  hquul  would  produce  tlie  .lesi m    e  fe  L 
rhe  >eer  is  tot,alf_y  unlike  the  Engl    1,  IrinK 
In  the  first  nlace.it  i«ni,it-.  «i.i,.i,  A  .  """'"»• 


i.Hi.o«rstp,ace,rtis,uiteiiuJi;';:;;doZ;i::- 


md  looks  nu„..  „„,.  „ 

It  is  miMle  by  ,,ounding  the  vegetatTnLrff^^in' 

old   ii  i,  1^  ''*'"  '^  '•''  »*'"'"'  two  days 

s  v.tisb  PflT^  ''"'","?'''  l>aving  a  slightly 
s  vtetisli-a cid  flavor,  which  lias  the  nronertV 
I  immediately  quenching  thim' '  d  is 
(  u.refore  most  valuable  to  the  (rave  lor 
f  r  whose  refreshment  the  hosjiifable  ,00: 
Plo  geiK'ially  jiroduce  it  ^ 

ror  tfie:i   intemperate  hab  ts.     They  do  not 

i\.JZ\    Iv  '>t'"-,aiid  in  cmisecHience 

Vi     i'.?'"'^^^^^    "•consume  the  whole  brew- 

ng  Mtl  in  a  ,]ay  or  two.     When,  therefore 

ass,  nible  and  by  d.iy  and  night  th'>v  con- 
..nue  drinking,  drumming,  danc  na  and 
^i«ting,ui,t  I  <ho  whole  of  U,e  beer  .f-Ce 

lalities  of  (he  beer-wliich  is.  in  fict 
It  e  mor..  ban  very  thin  i.orri-ge-  ,he 
I  xccssive  drinking  does  not'seem  to  have 
j  ny  injurious  effect  on  the  people  manv 
being  seen  vho  were  evidently  vi'.rfohf 
I '^nd  yet  who  had  been  nccustoZd'^^.'.^^.-S 
iJ'furmthe  usual  quautities.    The  women 


THE  MANGAN  JA  TRIBE. 


seem  to  appreciate  the  beer  as  well  as  the 
men,  though  they  do  not  appear  to  be  so 
liable  to  iiitosii-iition.  Perhaps  the  reason 
for  fhis  conipuratlvo  temperance  is,  that 
their  husbands  do  not  give  them  enough  of 
it.  In  their  dispositions  they  seem  to  be 
lively  and  agreeable,  and  have  a  peculiarly 
merry  laugh,  which  seems  to  i)roceed  from  the 
heart,  and  is  not  in  the  least  like  the  sense- 
less laugh  of  the  Western  negro. 

In  this  part  of  the  country,  not  only 
among  the  Manganjas,  but  in  other  tribes, 
the  custom  of  ehanj'ing  names  is  prevalent, 
and  sometimes  leads  to  odd  results.  One 
day  a  headman  named  Sininyane  -.vas  called 
as  usual,  but  made  no  answer;  nor  did  a 
third  and  fourth  call  produce  any  result.  At 
last  one  of  his  men  re])lied  that  he  was  no 
longer  Sininyane,  but  Moshoshama,  and  to 
that  name  he  at  once  resiionded.  It  then 
turned  out  that  he  had  exchanged  names 
with  a  Zulu.  The  object  of  the  exchange 
IS,  taat  the  two  persons  are  thenceforth 
bound  to  consider  each  other  as  commdes, 
and  to  give  assistance  in  evcrv  way.  If,  for 
example,  Sininyane  had  happened  to  (ravel 
into  the  country  where  Moshoshama  lived, 
the  latter  was  bound  (o  receive  him  into  his 
house,  and  treat  him  liki^  a  brother. 

They  seem  to  l)e  an  intelligent  race,  and 
to  appreciate  the  notion  of  a  (Creator,  and 
of  the  immortality  of  the  soul;  but,  like 
most  African  races,  they  cannot  believe  that 
the  white  and  the  black  races  have  anything 
in  connnon,  or  that  the  religion  of  the  former 
can  suit  the  latter.  They  are  very  ready 
to  admit  that  Cliristianity  is  an  admirable 
religion  for  white  men,  but  will  by  no  means 
be  persuaded  that  it  would  be  equally  good 
for  themselves. 
They  have  a  hazy  sort  of  idea  of  their 


Creator,  the  invisible  huart-chief  of  the  spirite, 
and  ground  their  belif*"  in  the  immortidity 
of  the  soul  on  the  fact  that  their  departed 
relatives  come  and  speak  to  them  in  their 
dreams.  They  have  the  same  idea  of  the 
muave  poison  that  has  already  been  men- 
tioned; and  so  strong  is  their  belief  in  its 
efficacy  that,  in  a  dispute,  one  man  will 
challenge  the  other  to  drink  muave;  and 
even  the  chiefs  themselves  will  often  offer 
to  test  its  discriminating  powers. 

When  a  Manganj  t  dies,  a  great  wailing  is 
kept  up  in  his  house  for  two  days;  his  tools 
and  weapons  are  broken,  together  with  the 
cooking  vessels.  All  food  in  the  house  is 
taken  out  and  destroyed;  and  even  the  beer 
is  poured  on  the  earth. 

The  burial  grounds  seem  to  be  carefully 
cherished— -as  carefully,  indeed,  as  many  of 
the  churchyards  in  England.  The  graves 
are  all  arranged  north  and  south,  and  the 
sexes  of  the  dead  are  marked  by  the  imple- 
ments laid  on  the  grave.  These  imi)lements 
are  always  broken;  partly,  perhaps,  to  signify 
that  they  can  be  used  no  more,  and  jiartly 
to  save  them  from  being  stolen.  Thus  a 
broken  mortar  and  pestle  for  pounding  corn, 
together  with  the  fragments  of  a  sieve,  tell 
that  there  lies  below  a  woman  who  once 
bad  used  them;  whilst  a  piece  of  a  net  and 
a  .shattered  paddle  are  end)lenjs  of  the  lish- 
erman's  trade,  and  tell  that  a  flshe-nv.in  is 
interred  below.  Uroken  calabashes,  gourds, 
and  other  vessels,  are  laid  on  almost  every 
grave;  and  in  some  instances  a  banana  is 
planted  at  the  head.  The  relatives  wear  a 
kind  of  mourning,  consisting  of  narrow 
strips  of  palm  leaf  wound  round  their  lieacLs, 
necks,  arms,  legs,  and  breasts,  and  allowed 
to  remain  there  until  tliey  drop  off  by  de- 
cay. 


f 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 


THE  BANYAI  AND  BADEMA  TRIBES. 

OENEnVL  APPEAHANCE  OP  Tin!    nAKVAi  n.»,n„ 

KAPAriTV    OK    THE    BANVAI    CUlV.r-BAsZ    IZ   ™^"^'^'''»'^-™'^'-'>IA.VO«OVE    SWAMP- 
-THE    ''■'■AnOO"-c.n«OU.-  ,,E;LvE«-rrr     ""  ""^   "ANVAr-.OEA   ABOUT  T,„rH™ 


On  the  south  bnnk  of  the  Zambesi  soitip 
whore  about  l.t.  1(J°  S.an.l  1«„^,.  •jo'e'  th^.t 
isaliibe  culled  the  JJanyai  wo    tulZ 
tract  of  counliy  enlle.I  Slii'i.;     '^^^ 
va.  are  a  HMuarkably  fh.e  race  of  me     bS 
tall  well  ,na,  e,  a.ul  a-nle,  an.l  are  more,,' ^ 


lation  into  their  own  tribe.    Traders  fmm 


Their  aiipearancc  is  rather  pleasing  and 
U^;  h:jvo  a,.„no„s  Lshion  of  ,L^  ^jg 
hair,  whuli  ,n.ul.  resembles  that  whieli  w^I^ 


Ttn        ..    ■■■"-'  "'"  living. 

Mmmm 

thedeputau:;;^ll>:^^^i,°;^-;:f™'«;vi.l. 
•so  nnwortbv  to  fill  .1,      7         ,.  '  ^  Prison 

and  .me  ,;f  th,:  1:^ 
''.  and  hang  •„„„„   ..xf."};^ JLI ,?!  J"»;  ?^^.n  .V'^"»t'-y,  wf.o  make 


■  (801)"'   ""       "  ^'"'^""''^"S' aa^  *viieu  theyoiiug 


THE  BANYAI  TRIBE. 


chieftain  has  built  his  village  and  fairly  set- 
tled down,  he  sends  a  body  of  his  own  sol- 
diery to  offer  his  congratulations.  If  the 
young  chieftain  receives  them  with  clapping 
of  hands  and  humble  obeisance,  all  is  well, 
as  the  supreme  authority  of  the  chief  is 
thereby  acknowledged.  If  not,  they  burn 
down  all  the  village,  and  so  teach  by  very 
intf'lligible  language  that  before  a  youth 
dares  to  be  achieftani  he  had  better  perform 
the  duties  which  a  vassal  owes  to  his  sovc-- 
eign. 

There  is  a  system  among  the  Banyni  which 
has  a  singular  resemblance  to  the  instruc- 
tion of  pages  in  the  days  of  chivalry.  When 
a  man  attains  to  eminence,  he  gathers  around 
him  a  band  of  young  hoys,  who  are  placed 
by  their  parents  under  his  charge,  and  who 
arc  taught  to  become  accomjjlished  gentle- 
men idler  Banyai  ideas.  While  they  nva  yet 
in  the  condition  of  pagehood,  they  arc  l«cpt 
under  strict  discipline,  and  obliged  to  be 
humble  and  punctilious  toward  their  superi- 
ors, whom  they  recognize  with  the  hand-clap- 
ping which  is  the  salute  common  through- 
out Central  Africa.  At  meal-times  they  arc 
not  allowed  to  help  themselves,  but  are 
obliged  to  wait  patiently  until  the  food  is 
divideil  for  tliem  by  one  of  the  men.  Tliey 
are  also  instruct.. i" in  the  Banyai  law;  anil 
when  they  return  to  their  parents,  a  case  is 
submitteil  to  them,  and  the  jirogress  which 
they  have  made  is  a.<certaiued  by  their 
answers.  To  their  teachers  tlu.y  are  exceed- 
ingly uselul.  They  arc  all  sons  of  free  men 
who  ai-o  tolerably  well  oft",  and  who  send  ser- 
vants to  accompany  their  sons,  and  to  till  the 
ground  for  their  "maintenance.  They  also 
send  ivory  to  the  teiicher,  with  which  he 
purchascs'clothing  for  the  young  scholars. 

This  custom  shows  that  a  certain  amount 
of  culture  has  been  attained  by  the  Banyai, 
and  the  social  condition  of  their  women  is  a 
still  stronger  proof.  In  most  jmrts  of  sav- 
age Africa  the  woman  is  little  more  than  a 
boost  of  burden,  and  has  no  more  to  do 
with  the  management  of  atUi'-s  or  with  her 
husband's  couiisels  than  the  cows  for  which 
he  has  bought  her.  In  Banyai-Iand,  how- 
ever, the  women  have  not  only  their  full 
share  of  power,  l)ul  rather  more  than  their 
share,  the  husbands  never  venturing  to 
undertake  any  business  or  to  conduct  any 
bargain  without  the  consent  )f  tlieir  wives. 
The  women  even  act  as  Uaders,  visiting 
other  towns  with  merchandise,  and  acting 
fairly  toward  both  the  purchaser  and  them- 
selves/ 

Their  marriages  are  conducted  lU  a  man- 
ner which  sliows  that  the  wife  is  quite  the 
equal  of  her  husband.  In  most  parts  of 
Southern  Africa  a  wife  is  bought  for  a  stip- 
ulated number  of  cows,  and,  as  soon  as  the 
bargain  is  concluded,  and  the  girl  handed 
over  to  the  purchaser,  she  becomes  his 
property,  and  in  treated  as  such.  But, 
among  the  Banyai,  the  young  bridegroom 


does  not  take  his  wife  to  his  hut;  he  goes 
to  the  house  of  her  parents.  Here  he  ia 
quite  the  inferior,  and  is  tiic  special  servant 
of  his  mother-in-law,  cutting  wood  lor  her 
use,  and  being  very  respectful  in  denicanor. 
Should  he  not  like  this  kind  of  life,  and  be 
desirous  of  leaving  it,  he  may  do  so  when- 
ever he  likes;  but  he  has  to  relinquish  wife 
and  children,  unless  he  cran  pay  the  parents 
of  the  wife  a  sufficient  sum  to  compensate 
them  for  their  loss.  Nevertheless,  this  is 
♦ho  principle  on  which  the  custom  of  buy- 
in.T  wives  is  founded:  but  there  are  few 
pla  !es  where  the  i.  jory  is  reduced  to  prac- 
tice. 

Among  tho  Banyai,  as  amon^  many  of 
the  tribes  along  the  river,  the  nesli  of  the 
hippopotamus  is  mu<:h  eaten,  and  the  cap- 
tui-e  of  the  aiiimal  is  consequently  a  matter 
of  importanci>.  They  do  not  care  for  boldly 
chasing  (he  hippoi)otaiuus,  as  do  the  tribes 
which  have  already  been  mentioned,  but 
they  prefer  to  resort  to  the  ])M'i\\\  and 
the  drop-trap.  The  pitfalls  are  always  dug 
in  places  where  the  animal  is  likely  to  tread; 
and  tiie  pits  arc  Tiot  only  numerous,  but 
generally  placed  in  pair.s  close  to  each 
other.  On  one  occasion  a  white  traveller 
happened  to  fall  into  one  of  these  i)its,  and 
after  he  had  recovered  from  the  slioek  ot 
findinji  himself  suddenly  (lei)rived  of  tho 
light  of  day  and  enclosed  in  a  deep  hole,  he 
set  to  work,  and  after  many  hours'  lal)or 
managed  to  free  himself  froin  bis  uni)leas- 
ant  position.  But  no  sooner  had  he  fairly 
got  out  of  the  pit  than  be  unlbrtunately 
stepped  upon  its  coiniiauion,  and  fell  into  it 
just  as  he  had  fallen  into  the  other. 

The  most  ingenious  nv de  of  capturing 
the  animal  is  liy  means  of  the  drop-trap. 
For  this  luirpose  the  native  cuts  a  rather 
long  and  heevy  log  of  wood,  and,  in  order  to 
make  it  still  heavier,  a  couple  of  large  stones 
are  tied  to  it  near  one  end,  or  a  (luantity  of 
cl.ay  is  kneaded  round  it.  At  tho  loaded  end 
a  h(dc  is  made,  into  which  is  set  a  spear- 
head, sometimes  that  of  :\  large  assjigai,  but 
mostly  a  sort  of  harpoon  like  that  which  has 
been  'described  on  i)ag('  :i41.  \  rope  loop  is 
then  fastened  to  the  other  end.  and  tho 
weapon  is  ready.  Tlie  hunter  now  W)es  to 
a  hippopotamus  track,  and  looks  out  for  a 
branch  that  overhangs  it.  (rciierally  he  can 
find  a  branch  that  will  suit  his  jxirpo.^ie;  but 
if  not,  he  rigs  up  a  sort  of  gallows  on  which 
lie  can  suspend  the  armed  loi;.  AV'lien  ho 
has  found  a  convenient  binncli,  ho  takes  a 
long  rope,  one  end  of  which  is  fasteiK'd  to  a 
stick,  places  the  stick  across  the  braiuh,  and 
hangs  the  loop  of  the  harpoon  upon  tho 
other  end.  He  next  passes  the  cord  round 
a  peg  at  the  foot  of  the  tree,  about  eighteen 
inches  or  so  from  the  ground,  draws  it  across 
the  path,  and  then  makes  it  Wvt. 

The  engraving  No.  1,  opjiosito,  will  ex- 
plain how  the  whole  business  is  m.inp.ged. 
The  tree  on  which  the  weapon  is  suspended 


hut;  lie  goes 
Iliire  he  Is 
pocial  servant 
wood  ibr  lior 
in  (lenieaiior. 
of  life,  and  be 
{  do  so  wlien- 
elinquiHli  wife 
,y  the  parents 

0  compensate 
!ieleBs,  this  is 
istoni  of  buy- 
here  are  few 
ueed  to  prac- 

long  many  of 
le  ilesli  of  the 
,  and  llie  cap- 
uutly  a  matter 
jare  i'or  Ijoldly 

do  the  tiMljes 
lentioned,  but 
e  i)iliall  and 
ire  fihvays  dug 
likely  to  tread; 
lumorous,  but 
•lose  to  each 
rhite  traveller 
liese  i)its,  and 

the  slioek  of 
prived   of  the 

1  deep  hole,  he 
,■  hours'  labor 
n  bis  niii)leas- 

bad  he  fairly 
nnlbrtiinately 
and  fell  into  it 
[>th('r. 

•,  of  capturing 
the  drop-trap, 
cuts  a  rather 
ind,  in  order  to 
of  large  stones 
!■  a  quantity  of 
the  loaded  end 
R  r«et  a  spear- 
ne  assjtgai,  but 
that  which  has 
\  rop(>  loop  is 
end.  and  tho 
ir  now  gpes  to 
loks  out  for  a 
■nerally  he  can 
s  i)urpose;  ))Ut 
lows  on  which 
loi;.  AV'ben  lie 
icb,  bo  takes  a 
s  !'asten<'d  to  a 
be  branch,  and 
loon  upon  the 
he  cord  round 
about  eighteen 
di-aws  it  across 

)osito,  will  ex- 
SH  is  m.iiip.ged. 
in  is  snsiitntled 


(,at») 


}8  the  mnriffrove,  a  tree  utterly  unlike  any  of 
those   vvluch  we  liave   in   this   land.    The 
extraoidinary  vitality  of  this   tree   is   well 
shown  by  the  sketch,  which  was  made  by 
Mr   Haines.    The  trunk  litw   been   broken 
o«  but  tho  up,>-  part  ha.s  fallen  against 
another  tree  a-.d  been  supi)orted  by  ft    It 
has  then  thrown  out  a  number  of  roots 
which  have  de.scended  to  tho  moist  ground' 
and  give  the  tree  a  new  8up,)ort  of  its  own' 
In  such  a  case,  tlie  branches  that  tend  down- 
ward wither  away  au<l  die,  tliose  that  tend 
up^y.'lr<l  iiiereasc  rapidly,  while  those   thnt 
proieet  sideways  take  a  turn,  and  then  curve 
tiicmselves    upward.      Examples  of    tluse 
briiuchcs  may  be  seen  in  the  sketch 

The  mangrove  is  a  self-sowing  tree,  and 
performs  lliis  act  in  a  very  curious  manner 
Ihe  seeds  arc  very  long,  and  furnished  at 
the  end  witli  a  hard,  i)ointed  tin.  As  soon 
as  It  IS  ripe,  the  seed  falls,  fcuryin-r  the 
pointed  tip  several  inches  into  'the  soft 
swami)y  «'>'!,  which  mangroves  love,  and 
there  remains.  Tli..  objcc.t  of  this  curious 
provision  ot  .Mature  is,  that  the  seed  shall 
not  be  washed  away  by  the  periodical  floods 
«     which  uuindate  the  country. 

_   111  s;ch  a  soil  there  is  no  difliculty  in  find- 

hei-v"\ri     ,"''  ""'  '»iPl>"potamu.s,  for  the 
heavy  an.l   chMnsy  animal   leaves  a  tr.ack 
which  could   he    Ibllowed    in   the    darkest 
night.     Owing  to  ihe  frrcat  width  of  its 
body,  the  f.etof  the  opi^.site  sides  ar    se 
rather  wider  apart  than  is  the  case   w  tl 
lighter  animals,  so  that  when  the  hippopot 
amiis  walks  through  grass  it  m.ake.s  a  dis 
tinct  double  path,  with  a  ri.Icro  of  ,rrl  ii^ 
the  Yiid.ne.     When   it  walk.?  on  th^    sol^ 
muddy  sod  of  the  river  bank,  the  anima 
makes  a  most  curious  tra.'k.the  feet  sinkin- 
(  eenly  into  ;iu.  earth,  and  fonninV  a  i"r  ""f 
.lonble  rut  stu.-ded  with  holes  at  the  diSce 
of  an  inch  or  two  lh„u  each  other  a  rid-o 

.some  two  inches  in  width  dividing  the  nts 

There  is  no  path  m  irynii:  to  a  trave    t 

as  a  hippopotamus  track,     fn  <hnt  ,nrt   .f 

«i .  al.  Jill  events,  lo  uw  nut  linc  mciri.  (I...1, 
till'  native  snn.lab.  ir  tl„.  i,  ,,7.||„,  ,",  """ 
<v.alk  on  ,l,e  eentral  ,1,1,;  I  ''ni:' ,     ■»  w 

deeply  into  the  hoi..,  pnnche    bv  ,,?;■'"' "^  I 
of  the  hippopotamus,  Ihe  tJes  a^e  fbr  ib Iv 
pressed   ujiward,   and   the  letr   ii    «     H  "'^  ' 

along  he  strikes  iils  foot  as.ainst  tlie  S 


TRAPPING  THE  HIPPOPOTAMUS. 


3C0> 


The  blow  releases  the  harpoon,  which  falls 

with  tremendous  violence,  Liry, 3  S 

ead  deep  into  the  animal's  back  ^Kow  and 

■ind  in  that  case  the  animal  fidls  helnless  on 
the  spot.     Usually,  however,  the  womKl  is 

rus  1  s  to  the  nvcr,  hoping  tlui.s  to  shake 

Wm  mi  Ian!f'   «''''''''"   ^''''^'>   """>  tort.,  ed 
,nl  r?       .,       *"oner  or  later,  he  is  sure  to 

who    T  HV'  ''T'.""''  ^'"J  thcA  the  na  ives 

.(iireo,  tnat  the  native  .nfrru'iiHii..!of„    "    ' 
the  habit  of  imitating  In    s    ;'.'^   n'mUn" 
mangrove   seeds,  bits  of  sticL^     !^'i     i.   " 
!">jects,  to  the  brandie.s'of1  H^Vre  ";'knor 
ng  that   the   wary  animal  will   kee'n  "e^v 
Jp'*;''"-/'f  ««    tlangerous-looking  a  1  ca^u/ 
rie  trap  has   to   be   set  with  "eons  iemble 
skill  and  much  care  must  be  tak.Mi  to  con 
ceal  the  rone  which  crosses  the  path  orTho 
animal  will  not  strike  it.     Large    .'inVvv 
and  apparently  clumsy,  as  he  s,  he  ca  S 

.LA  "'"  '"^  across  hs  iiath  he   will 

S/;s^;^:^t,;^^:;j^^^;j-f- 

compels  p..,ym,ml,  for  the  pas  e  ,-..,•  *   K  ^ow^ 
'ng  tlmt  tlu.ir  permis..io  ,,  amH    .„  n"i,T 

'"';.-;'%';""••*■"/"    f'"^^"'"    thro igh'',: 
0,1  ,»ry,  they  set  a   very  high   price   nnn 

their  scrvuvs,  and  will  hot  allo,^      o  t^y 

llor  topro,.eed  imtil  ho  has  compli  h1  with 

ur  demands.     Fc-ling  sure  of    heir  posN 

tion,  thevare  apt  to  be  violent  ns  u,.Vi  o. 

extortionate.  fli,V,ing  d.,.;.' tf  of f  r    1    un 

with   contcmptn.Kis  gestures,  and   alnuW 

their  yictmis  with  a  wonderful  flow  of  Xs? 

Iparaging  lan-ruage. 

lcoJlriii'''5"'r\'  knowing  their  customs, 
contrived  to  get  the  better  of  the  Hanvi 
in  a  iilace  where  they  were  accustomn?)^;!^ 

eanoe  men,  he   anchored  in  the   mid  ?,   of 
the  stream,  and  had  couches  madeon  I^ard 

iTl  ns  of 'the  T,'r'-''1^  d-co„cert<.d    the 
(M.-iiH  oi  tile  iJanv.ai-  wbo  "'■-nrc*"-!  *)~  ' 

-li^Ts  to  come  u.shoro,  and,  of  course,  Voiud 


THE  EANYAI  TRIBE. 


hayo  kept  thorn  prisonerH  until  they  had 
paid  a  lieavy  toll  un-  permission  to  embark 
again.  They  even  shouted  invitations  from 
the  river  bank  to  come  and  sleep  on  land, 
but  dared  not  attack  a  boat  tilled  witlj  armed 
men  commanded  by  Europeans.  The  odd- 
est part  of  I  he  whole  proceeding  was,  that 
the  Makololo  and  Batoka  boatmen,  who 
were  accomnanying  Dr.  Livingstone,  had 
never  thought  of  so  simple  a  device,  and 
roared  exultant  jeers  from  their  boat  to  the 
Banyai  ou  shore. 

The  country  in  which  the  Banyai  live 
furnishes  various  kinds  of  food  ot'  which 
au  European  would  be  ignorant,  and  there- 
fore would  run  a  great  risk  of  t«arving  in 
a  place  where  the  JJanyai  would  be  revel- 
ling in  plenty.  Ant-hills,  for  example, 
almost  always  furnish  huge  mushrooms, 
which  are  at  once  palatable  and  nutritious; 
aud  there  are  several  kinds  of  subterra- 
nean tubers  that  arc  only  to  be  found  by 
striking  the  ground  with  stones  and  lis- 
tening to  the  sound.  One  of  these  tubers 
is  rem.irkable  for  the  fact  that  in  winter 
time  it  ha«  a  slight  but  perceptible  quan- 
tity of  salt  in  it. 

The  Banyai,  like  other  African  tribes, 
have  their  peculiar  superstitions,  such  as 
pouring  out  the  contents  of  their  snufl'  box 
as  an  oll'uring  to  the  ppirits  of  the  dead 
when  they  arc  engaged  in  hunting,  hojiing 
thereby  to  iiropitiate  them  .nnd  procure 
their  aid.  One  man  who  had  performed 
this  act  of  devotion  was  quite  scandalized 
at  the  irreverence  of  hunters  who  belonged 
to  other  tribes,  and  who,  as  ho  said,  di(l  not 
know  how  to  j)ray.  The  same  nuui  took  to 
himself  the  credit  of  having  destroyed  an 
elephant  which  had  been  killed  by  "others, 
his  prayers  and  snufl",  and  not  tlurweapons 
of  the  hunters,  h.aving,  according  to  his 
idea,  been  the  real  instruments  by  which 
the  animal  fell. 

The  particular  animal,  by  the  way,  was 
killed  ill  a  manner  jieeuliar  to  some  of  the 
tribes  in  this  part  of  Africa.  These  native 
hunters  are  very  Ximrods  for  skill  and 
courage,  going  aYter  the  elephant  into  the 
de])ths  of  his  own  forest,  and  boldlv  coping 
with  him,  though  armed  with  weaiions 
which  an  Eurojiean  wf)uld  desjiise. 

The  chief  we{ii)ou  which  is  us(>d  by  these 
tribes  is  a  kind  of  axe.  It  is  made  inueh 
after  the  fashion  of  those  used  by  the 
Bechuauas  described  on  page  '200.  The 
'•  tang,"  howi'ver,  which  is  fiwtened  into  the 
handle,  is  at  least  three  feet  in  hmgth,  and 
the  haiull(!  is  sometimes  six  or  seven  feet 
long,  so  tliat  the  instrument  looks  more  like 
a  scythe  than  an  axe.  The  handle  is  made 
by  cutting  off  a  branch  of  convenient  thick- 
ness, and  iilso  a  foot  or  two  of  tlie  trunk  at 
its  Junction.  A  hole  is  then  bored  through 
the  piece  of  the  trunk,  the  tang  of  the  heatl 
inserted  into  it,  .and  the  rough  wood  then 
dressed    into    shape;    thus    the    necessary 


weight  is  gained  without  the  expenditure 
of  valuable  metal. 

The  illustration  Ko.  2  on  page  863  will 
make  this  ingenious  process  cUuir.  Fig.  2 
represents  part  of  the  trunk  of  a  tree, 
marked  A,  from  which  starts  a  couvonient 
branch.  Seeing  that  this  branch  will  an- 
swer for  the  handle  of  an  axe,  the  native 
cuts  across  the  trunk,  and  thus  has  a  very 
rude  kind. of  nuvllet,  jiossessed  of  consider- 
able weigl/t.  A  holi!  is  next  bored  through 
the  part  of  the  trunk,  and  the  iron  tang  of 
the  axehead  thrust  through  it.  The  sui)er- 
abundant  wood  is  then  trimmed  off,  as 
shown  in  the  cut,  the  branch  is  scraped  and 
smoothed,  and  the  simple  but  etl'ective  axe 
is  complete. 

Figs.  4  and  6  represent  a  convertible  axe 
which  is  much  used  by  this  people.  As  in 
their  work  they  sometimes  need  an  adze, 
and  sometimes  an  axi;,  they  have  ingen- 
iously made  a  tool  which  will  serve  either 
purpose.  The  handle  and  butt  are  made 
exactly  as  has  already  been  described,  but, 
inste.'id  of  piercing  a  single  hole  tor  the  iron 
head,  the  Bany.ii  cut  two  holes  at  right 
angles  to  each  other,  as  seen  in  the  dia- 
jjram,  fig.  4.  The  iron,  therefore,  can  bo 
tixed  in  either  of  these  sockets,  and,  aix-ord- 
ing  to  tl»e  mode  in  which  it  is  inserted,  the 
tool  becomes  either  an  axe.  or  an  adze.  At 
flg.  4  it  is  placed  in  the  horizontal  socket, 
.and  iiccordingly  the  tool  is  an  adze;  but  at 
fig.  5  it  is  transformed  into  an  axe,  merely 
by  sliilting  the  iron  luad  into  the  perpen- 
dicular socket. 

It  is  a  curious  fact  that  the  Water  Dynks 
of  Borneo  have  a  very  similar  tool,  which 
tlu^y  use  ill  boat-liuilding.  It  is  much 
smaller  than  the  Biinyai  nxe,  being  only 
used  in  one  hand,  .and  the  heiid  is  tixed  to 
the  handle  by  an  elaborate  binding  of  sjjlit 
rattan,  which  is  .so  contrived  that  the  head 
on  be  turned  at  pleasure  with  ii«  edge  par- 
allel to  or  across  the  han(IIi\ 

Fig.  .'{  represents  a  ratlier  curious  form  of 
axe,  which  is  sometimes  I'ound  among  the 
Banyai  and  other  tribes.  Tlie  head  is  nuulo 
very  lonjL,',  and  it  is  made  so  that,  wlien  the 
owner  wishes  to  cany  it  from  one  place  to 
another,  he  does  not  trouble  himself  to  hold 
it  in  his  hand,  but  merely  hangs  it  over  his 
shoulder. 

The  (elephant  axe  is  shown  at  fig,  1,  but  it 
is  hardly  long  enough  in  I  he  handle.  In 
one  part  of  Central  Africa  the  head  is 
fiustened  to  the  handle  l)y  means  of  a 
socket;  but  this  form  is  exceedingly  rare, 
and,  in  such  a  climate  as  is  aflbrded  by  trop- 
ical Africa,  is  far  inferior  to  that  which  haa 
been  described. 

The  hunters  who  use  this  curious  weapon 
go  in  i)airs,  one  having  the  axe,  whieli 
luis  been  most  eareliilly  sharpened,  ancl 
the  other  not  troubling  himself  about  any 
weapon,  except  ])erhai>s  a  spear  or  two. 
When  they  liavc  found  au  elephant  with 


good  tuskH,  thoy  sepamte,  and  work  their 
way  roinKl  a  wide  circuit,  ««  as   to  con  e 
upon  lum  from  different  quarters,  the  axe- 
man alvvays  apj.roaehing  from  Ixdu.ul,  and 
the  assistant  comin-  toward  the  Iront     Z 
soon  as  tiay  kno'.v,  l.y  well-understood  si^- 
nals,  that  tf.ey  are  near  the  anin.a     tK 
begin  the.r  work.    Tiie  assistant  be"  „8  to 
rustle  among  the  branches  at  some  dTs  aneo 
in  trout  not  in  such  a  manner  as  to  ah.rm 
the  elephant,  but  to  keep  his  attention  S 
and  make  him  wonder  what  the  sin-'ula ' 
movements  can   mean.    While    he    i«  "■ 
gaged  with  the  man  in  front,  the  axeman 
steals  gradually  on  liiin  ,Vom'  behind        J 
with  a  sweei)  nf  li  «  Iin.T,>  ,., '    "'" 


SUPEIiSTITIONS  OF  THE  BANYAI. 


mi 


wi  1  a  sweej)  of  his  hu-o  weapon  severs  the 
tendon  of  the  hoek,  wl.ieh  in  the  elephant 
IS  at  a  very  short  disUnce  from  the  «ro  in 
From  thU;  moment  the  animal  is  heln  "s 
Its  eiK,nm...s  weight  requiring  the     i|     fse 
of  all  Its  limbs;  and  the  himt/Ts  can    f  tl  ey 
choose,  leave  it  there  and  go  after    loth,/ 
being  quite  sure  that  they   w m  f li  d      , '' 
lamed  animal  in  the  same  place  w     re  it 
was  left.    Even  if  the  axe  b  ow^ho  Id  nof' 
quite  sever  the  tendon,  it  is  sure  to  iu    so 
ileeply  that  at  the  first  step  wh  eh    he    nT 
-nai^Uvkes  tlie  tendon  gives  W  with' a 'loud 

Bim-ii''''"Th  '°  "'°  '"f  "'""'^  notions  of  the 
hunters     hn  iL,/  /.      '""' '"  "">>"  i»  tbc 

The  iWnj„li    „^    vc  S'Tl'''  "r°- 


tlio/  hmnchtis  of-    i.  i       7''/'i'"   ''''''=«•''  '" 

would  be  at  onee  afflieted  wifl?  '  "',' 

soon  die.    The  reader  wil«  I  "''''  ""'* 

ogous  superstit  on  to     i^'    u,u'''''n;.''V'V.'"'- 
of  Polynesia.  ^'"'    "'  **^oo. 

The  hives  are  made  simply  cnou-rl,     Two 
rXunv:"f^'''"''''^'''^'-"'»'^^e 

-lii^^usHry.:, 'St  s-r' •''?"'"''"- 

(he  other     Th-.     '"t."oni  one  incision  to 


comes  from  Loanda  is  coUeetedUi'tieso 


THE  BADfiMA  TRIBE 

on?of  tL^^m^ii';  Si;?an"?!|  ^"^^"^  "^ 
i'api<lIV  exnir  /  T  '  ''"  ^'■'^'''''  ^^''ifh  are 
liA»i.<k,  i  d  fi:;;,„^£?«  P^^VU..  are  called 

;lm>rve  k  bettTfho™S"''^^*''^^'"t« 
busbandmen,  and  eu  th-nf,.  ^  „"''"  '""'''^"l 
"t  t"l)aeeo.  m  u  "«  n    i  ..fff  •^".'•''11 /fuantities 

ij'gors  to  si.  ;p,;;^^„S:;;;'"^!^"'«^"- 

clever  sportsmen  'uid  m  ,w  . -^'"'-V  are 

"en  as  well  on"  ti  e  1  nf  f  "/jf  ."■^^  "f  the 
Tor  fishimr  th..v  i>.,,.'       ?.  '?  "i"  '^'ater. 


Tor  fishing  thev"b.,v'""  T-  '?  "'"  '^'-'^t^'' 

wfien  ^^J^^.:^  1^-^  .Of  casUn,  ,         .    .„..„,,,...„„,,  ,„.. „._ 

■r-, -eal  their  stores  in  ■thrhiUs.aud^l^k^; 


"ot  and  wfien  tifey  ^'oil^  .ll.;:!;  !:^?^"^i  -rn. "  Con^e,;;:;;;,//';!;!;::^:!.  „.,._ ,  ^ 


tr  ?  lin^^  ""'"'^'^  thoy  do  so  by 

«>t' raving  nn.l  th   ""'^  •"''^   "'''"•"^^  """'^ts 

tbei^    Tb,  "  1"'''"  '''■'\'"S  tl»esame  into 

h>"'»""c.u'A-:;.t;r  made  of  baobab  bark, 

oflil^e^^^vhel  ;^,^i:?S"l'^'-'y  in? <^n,ous  mode 

u:'?;*^^^  rir"!:' "'-'":••« '■"!'«i«t- of 


a  small  portion  in  their  huts,  Ju 
for  tlio  <lny'a  coii.sumption.    Bi 


U8t  Bulllciont 
lit  the  mice 
and  iiiciikiys  arc  quite  as  fond  of  corn 
as  liiiir  human  enemies,  nnd  would  soon 
destroy  all  their  stores,  luul  not  the  men 
a  l)lnn  liy  which  they  can  be  preserved. 
The  iJadi'ina  have  found  out  a  tree,  the 
bark  of  which  in  hateful  both  to  the  mice 
and  the  monkc  s.  Accordinj,'ly  they  strip 
off  the  biirk,  which  is  of  a  very  bitter  char- 


TIIE  BADJJMA  tribe. 


actcr,  roll  it  up  into  <^ylindrf('al  veiMli,  Mid 
in  these  vessels  they  keep  then  corn  saft.'ly 
ineaves  niMi  '-reviecm  irnong  (iie  rockn. 

Of  courae,  » hen  then  enemies  conu  upou 
them,  they  ulways  deny  that  they  hin  !ir,y 
food  except  that  which  is  in  their  Ini  ind 
when  Dr.  Liviuj?«tonc  came  anions  tin  m 
for  the  tlrst  lime  they  made  the  stereotyixd 
denial,  stating  that  they  had  been  robi  d 
only  a  few  weeks  before. 


CHAPIER    XXXVI. 

THE  BALONDO  OR  BALONDA  AND  THE  ANG0LE8E. 


GENERAL   AI-PEARANCR-MOOB    OF    OOVEIiKMRNT- WOMAN'S    DTIESS -MANKNKO    AND     HFK    STHANn,. 

0A„  „,5  OK  SALUTATION -<n>.,.OH.TV-M.U>NKH8  OF  TKM..K..AMBNT- AN    ATTK.MPT   AT   KV 

^kZT'  """'■''    '■"""'^-"^'-•"'"A    M,-S,0-MANnNKO    .N    COMMAXO- KATKr  ,N,^« 

i.hAHKn-.„vn  OK  cArr,.P-roo..  ok  t„k  nA..0N.,A-F.s...,,AT<H.No-.,Ar.oNi.A  A,  "m  rrT..K 

-CKMENT-NO    F«,EN.,H„„. -„„L>,.ON    AND  „X„.H-A   W,U,  LKOEND- FrNKHAL\^^"V   MS-        F 
CUP...NO-8UrE,«TIT.0N«-MAUR,AUBS  AND  FUNEUALH-Da   LIV.NOSTONE'h  SUM M  mV 


Ue  now  come  to  a  mtl,  r  important  tribe 
Ihiit    ivcs  very  closo  to  tlie  equator.    This 
IS  called  tlie  Balondo  or  Balonda  tribe,  i.  c 
the  people  wlio  inhabit  Londa-land,  a  verv 
largo  district  on  the  western  side  of  Africi 
A  great  number  of  small  tribes  inhabit  this 
country  but,  as  thev  really  are  offshoots  of 
the  one  tribe,  we  will  treat  of  them  all  under 
the  common  name  of  Balondo 
•     The  chief  ruler,  or  king,  of  the  Balonda 
tubes  IS  Matiamvo,  a  name  which  is  hered- 
itary, like  that  of  the  Czar  or  Pharaoh.    He 
has  absolute  power  of  life  and  death,  and 
one  of  them  biul  a  way  of  proving  tliis  au- 

town  muf  "'=;"^'''""«lly  ™»»i"g  about  the 
town  and  beheading   every  one  wliom   he 

net  until  sometimes  quite  a  heap  of  human 

eads  was  collected.  He  said  that  his  peo- 
ple were  too  numerous  to  be  i)rosnerous 
an.l«o  he  took  this  simple  metliocl  of'^limh': 

no  doubt  that  he  was  insane,  and  his  neonle 
thought  so  too;  but  their  reverence  CTis 

ntZ^'T  '"  ^r-'^'  '''"*  '•«  ''■^'^  «"«^ved  to 
puisuc  his  mad  course  without  check,  and 

n  ..-;.'?  1  '^'"'^  Vf^^^^^h,  instead  of  being 
niuideied,  as  might  have  been  expected. 

condn^7n!i.®r"'  «'''jy«-'l?'»ler,  and  used  to 

nierchantcamo  to  h/s  town,  he  took  .Shh    lotko  iT  T''  "!il^°'-t''>"«>,  rind  ho  does 
visitor's  property,  and  kept' him  as VguS        n  al    fS^,/l/'"""r  A'^'"^*  ""«'>'  «^"^e 
foi  a  week  or  ten  days.    After  that  time    SSn"V  • '•'"**'.  "'"-^'^^^^ 
having  shown  his  hospitality,  he  sent  out  a     l.k  ,iL<j    r      *  ^'^'"gstone  remarks,  that 
party  of  armed-men  aWiust  some  no!,n1r  ,^ '  u     '''""'^.•^'''ence  is  the  more  rcmr.rKahl^  n, 

somepopulouajoecurs  ma  country  where  the  slave-irad; 


Village,  killed  the  headman,  and  gave  tho 
rest  of  the  inhabitants  to  the  slave  merchant 
in  pavment  for    his  goods.    Thus  ho  en- 
richcd-  his  treasury  and  thinned  his  popula- 
tion by  the  same  act.    Indeed,  he  seemed 
always  to    ook  upon  villages  as  property 
which  could  be  realized  at  any  time   and 
nad,  l)esides,  the  advantage  of  steadily  in- 
creasing in  value.    If  he  heard  of  or  saw 
anything    which    he    desired    exceedingly 
and  the  owner  declined  to  part  with  it  he' 
would  destroy  a  whole  village,  and  oiler  the 
plunder  to  the  owner  of  the  coveted  prop- 
Still,  under  this  regime,  the  people  lead, 
•w  a  general  rule,  toh^rably  happy  and  con- 
ented  lives     They  are  not  s.dje^ted  to7ho 
same  despotism  as  tho  tribes  of  the  Southern 
(U'  .ricts,  and.  indi'cil    oflon  ,.,.r.,=,„  *„  „i 


di' tricts,  and,  indeed"  oft"eir7efuso''to 'obey 
10  chief    Once,  wlien  Katema 


sent  [      h  ^1^"'?  V'"."'-    ^^»"'-  ^^"^'»  ^^'-^tema 
,tnL  f^''"  Balobale,a  sub-tribe  under  his 

to  can  v  Dr.  Livingstone's  goods,  they  flatly 
haTif  ft'^T,' '"  f ^^  of  Katema's^threS 
them  of  his  countenance,  and  send  them  back 
X.1  of  M,o"'!"''r  PWn-^^ovs.  The  fact  is, 
hLl"lf  nf  ""'^  "  "V^'""*  to  collect  rounci 
10  swell  Ins  own   >nii^<M.fr,.,,.„    .-I  I 


^1 


SMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


k:0 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


[flM  iilM 

2.0 


:f  1^ 


1.4 


1.6 


a 


^m 


w 


s. 


%  > 


^i 


^f  %/  -'>" 


>^^' 


^ 


x^ 


«v 


V 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14S80 

(716)  872-4S03 


870 


THE  BALONDO  OR  BALONDA  TRIBE. 


is  in  full  force,  and  where  people  may  be 
kidnapped  and  sold  under  any  pretext  that 
may  happen  to  occur  to  the  chief. 

As  is  frequently  the  case  with  African 
tribes,  there  is  considerable  variety  of  color 
among  the  Balondo,  some  being  of  a  no- 
tably pale  chocolate  hue,  while  others  are 
so  black  as  to  rival  the  negvo  in  darkness  of 
complexion.    They  appear  to  be  a  rather 
•    pleasing  set  of  men,  tamted,  as  must  be  the 
case,  with  the  ordinary  vices  of  savage  life, 
but  not  morose,  cruel,  or  treacherous,  as  is 
too  often  the  case.    The  women  appear  to 
bo  almost  exceptionally  lively,  being  full  of 
animal  spirits,  and  spending  all  their  leisure 
time,  which  seems  to  be  considerable,  in 
chattering,  weddings,  funerals,  and  simil.ar 
amusements.    Dr.  f'.ivingstonc  oft'ers  a  sug- 
gestion that  this  flow  of  spirits  may  be  one 
.reason  why   they  are  so  indestru'ctil)le    a 
race,  and   thinks  that  their  total  want  of 
care  is  caused  by  the  ftitalism  of  their  relig- 
ious theories,  such  as  they  are.    Indeed,  he 
draws  rather  a  curious  conclusion  fron  their 
happy  and  cheerful  mode  of  life,  considering 
that  It  would  be  a  difficulty  in  the  way  of  a 
missionary,  though  why  a  lively  disposition 
and  Christianity  should  be  opposed  to  each 
other  is  not  easy  to  see. 

One  woman,  named  Manenko,  afforded  a 
curious  cx.ample  of  mixed  energv.  liveli- 
ness, and  authority.  She  was  a  cliief,  and, 
though  married,  retained  the  command  in 
her  own  hands.  When  she  first  visited  Dr. 
LiA'ingstonc,  she  was  a  romarkablv  tall  and 
fine  woman  of  twenty  or  thereabouts,  and 
rather  aston'-hed  her  guest  by  appearinsx 
before  him  in  a  bright  coat  of  red  ochre" 
and  nothing  else,  except  some  charms  Inuitr 
round  her  neck.  This  absence  of  clothing 
w.as  entirelv  a  volunbiry  act  on  her  jiart,  as. 
being  a  chief,  she  migiit  have  had  any 
amount  of  clothing  that  she  liked;  but  she 
evidently  thought  that  her  dignity  required 
her  to  outdo  the  gcneralitv  of  Balondo 
ladies  in  the  scantiness  of  .apparel  which 
distinguishes  them. 

In  one  part  of  Londa-land  the  women  ai-e 
almost  wholly  without  clothes,  caring  noth- 
ing for  garments,  except  those  of  Eurojjean 
manufacture,  which  they  wear  with  much 
pride.  Even  in  this  latter  case  the  raiment 
is  not  worn  so  much.a.s  a  covering  to  the 
body  as  a  kind  of  ornament  which  shows 
the  wealth  of  the  wearer,  for  the  women  will 
purchase  calico  .and  other  stuffs  at  extrava- 
gant prices.  They  were  willing  to  giye 
twenty  pounds'  weight  of  meal  and  a  foul 
for  a  little  strip  of  calico  barely  two  feet  in 
length,  and.  having  put  it  on,  were  quite 
charmed  with  their  new  dress. 

The  fact  is.  they  have  never  been  accus- 
tomed to  dress,  and  "are  all  face,"  the 
weather  having  no  more  effect  on  their 
bodies  than  it  does  on  our  faces.  Even  the 
very  babies  are  deprived  of  the  warm  fur- 
clad  wrapper  in  which  the  generality  of| 


African  mothers  carry  them,  and  the  infant 
18  as  exposed  to  the  weather  as  its  mother. 
Ihe  Londa  mother  carries  her  child  in  a 
very  simple  manner.  She  plaits  a  bark  belt, 
some  four  inches  or  so  in  width,  and  hau-'s 
It  over  one  shoulder  and  under  the  otliei-, 
like  the  sash  of  a  light  infantry  officer.  The 
child  IP  partly  seated  on  its  mother's  hip, 
and  p.artly  supported  by  the  belt,  which,  as 
18  evident,  does  not  afford  the  least  protec- 
tion against  the  weather.  They  even  sleep 
in  the  same  state  of  nudity,  keeping  up  a 
fire  at  night,  which  they  say  is  their  cloth- 
ing. The  women  tried"  very  hard  to  move 
the  compassionate  feelings  of  their  white 
visitors  by  holding  up  their  little  naked 
babies,  and  begging  for  clothes;  but  it  was 
ciear  that  the  real  destination  of  such 
clothes  was  for  ornaments  for  themselves. 

As  is  the  case  with  several  other  tribes 
which  care  little  for  clothes,  they  decorate 
their  heads  with  the  greatest  care,  weaving 
their  hair  into  a  variety  of  patterns,  that 
must    cost    infinite   trouble   to  make,  and 
scarcely  less  to  preserve.    They  often  em- 
ploy the  "  buffalo-horn "  pattern,  whi<h  has 
already  been  mentioned,  sometimes  working 
their  hair  into  two  horns,  and  sometimes 
into  one,  which  iirojects  over  the  forehead. 
Some  of  them  divide  the  hair  into  a^umber 
of  cords  or  plaits,  and  allow  them  to  hang 
all    round    the    fiice.      The   most  singular 
method  of  dressing  the  hair  is  one  which  is 
positively  startling  at  first  sight,  on  account 
of  the  cur'ous  resemblance  which  it  bears 
to  the  "  nimbus  "  with  which  the  heads  of 
saints  are  conventionally  surrounded.    The 
hair  is  dressed  in  pl.aits,  as  has  already  been 
mentioni'd,  but,  instead  of  being  allowed  lo 
hang  down,  each  plait  or  strand  in  drawn 
out  in  a  radiating  fashion,  and  the  ends  are 
fastened  to  a  hoop  of  light  wood.     AVhen  " 
this  is  done,  the  hoop  itself  represents  the 
nimbus,  and   the  strands  of  hair  the  radi- 
ating beams  of  light.     (See  next  paire.) 

The  features  of  the  Balondo  women  are 
pleiising  enough,  and  in  some  cases  are 
even  toieiably  regi:lar.  The  teeth  are  al- 
lowed to  retain  their  original  form  and 
whit:  ness;  and  it  is  a  pity  that  so  many 
good  c.ountenaiit"s  are  disfigured  by  the 
custom  of  thrusting  pieces  of  reed  through 
the  sei)tum  of  the  nose. 

The  dretis  of  the  Balondo  men  is  more 
worthy  of  the  name  than  that  of  the  wom- 
en, as  it  consi.sts  of  a  girdle  round  the 
waist,  with  a  softly-dressed  skin  of  a  jack.-d 
in  front,  and  a  similar  skin  behind!  Dr. 
Livingstone  relates  an  anecdote  concernitit; 
this  dress,  which  shows  how  arbitrary  is  the 
feeling  of  decency  and  its  opp  )site.  lie  had 
with  hii,  a  number  of  Makohdo  men,  whos(! 
dress  is  similar  to  that  of  many  other  tribes, 
and  consists  merely  of  a  piece  of  soft  hide 
fastened  to  the  girdle  in  front,  broudlit 
under  the  legs,  and  tucked  into  the  gir<lle 
behind.      Now  this    dress    is   much  more 


I,  and  the  infant 
sr  as  its  mother. 

her  cliild  in  a 
laits  a  bark  belt, 
i'idth,  and  liaugs 
nder  the  otlier, 
try  officer.  The 
ts  mother's  hip, 
)  belt,  which,  as 
he  least  protec- 
rhey  even  sleep 
!,  keeping  up  a 
\'  is  their  cloth- 
y  liard  to  move 

of  their  white 
3ir  little  naked 
hes;  but  it  was 
idtion  of  nuch 
ir  thomselvps. 
•al  other  tribes 
S  they  decorate 
t  care,  weaving 
patterns,  that 

to  make,  and 
riiey  often  em- 
crn,  whi<'h  lias 
etinies  working 
and  sometimes 
r  the  forehead. 
:  into  iyiumber 

them  to  hang 

most  singular 
is  one  which  is 
;ht,  on  account 
which  it  l)ears 
h  the  heads  of 
rounded.  The 
\s  already  been 
'ing  allowed  to 
rand  is  drawn 
d  the  ends  are 

wood.     AVhen  ' 
represents  the 

hair  the  radi- 
iiext  page.) 
do  women  are 
nie  eases  are 
I  teeth  are  al- 
inal   form  and 

that  so  many 
gured  by  the 
f  reed  through 

1  men  is  more 
it  of  the  wom- 
lle  round  the 
;in  of  a  jack.-d 
behin<l!  Dr. 
ite  concerning 
rbitrarv  is  the 
)site.  "lie  had 
lo  men,  wbost^ 
y  other  tribes, 
e  of  soft  hide 
ront,  broujjbt 
it«  the  ginlle 
i   much  more 


(1.)  THK  MAIUMBA  OK  AFRICAN   PIANO.    (See  pnge  375 


75.) 


I-'.)  HKADDRE89ES.    (Sm  pug.  sro. 


13  •• 


MODE  OF  SALUTATION. 


m 


worthy  of  tho  name  than  the  double  skin  of 
the  Balondii.  Yet  the  Balonda  girls,  them- 
selves in  a  state  of  almost  complete  nudity, 
were  very  much  shocked  when  they  founu 
tliat  the  Makololo  men  wore  no  back-apron. 
Whenever  a  Makololo  man  happened  to 
turn  his  back  utjon  the  women  and  girls, 
they  laughed  and  jeered  at  him  to  such  an 
extent  that  he  was  made  quite  wretched  by 
their  scorn.  Had  they  been  even  moder- 
ately clad,  such  behavior  might  seem  ex- 
cusable, but,  when  it  is  remembered  that 
the  dress  of  the  despised  visitor  would  have 
furnished  costumes  to  four  or  five  of  the 
women  who  were  laughing  a*^  him.  we  can 
but  wonder  at  the  singular  hold  which  fash- 
ion takes  of  the  human  mind. 

The  Balondo  men  are  as  fond  of  orna- 
ments as  their  wives,  and,  as  with  them,  the 
decorations  chiefly  belong  to  the  head  and 
the  feet.  In  some'  places  they  have  a  fashion 
of  dressing  their  hair  into  a  conical  form, 
similar  to  that  which  has  been  alrcadv  men- 
tioned; while- a  man  who  is  fond  of  dress 
will  generally  show  hia  foppery  by  twisting 
Ins  beai-d  into  three  distinct  plaits.  Some 
ot  the  Balondo  men  have  a  considerable 
(luantity  of  thick  woo  .v  hair,  and  dress  it 
in  a  singular  fashion,  ^ney  begin  by  part- 
ing it  down  the  middle,  and  then  forming 
tlie  hair  of  eacli  Je  into  two  thick  rolls, 
Wliicli  pass  between  the  ears  and  fall  down 
as  tar  as  the  shoulders.    The  rest  of  the  hair 


IS  gathered  up  into  a  bundle,  and  hangs  on 
the  back  of  the  neck. 

Whenever  they  can  afford  it,  the  Balondo 
men  will  carry  one  of  the  large  knives  which 
are  so  prevalent  in  this  part  of  the  continent. 
Ihroughout  the  whole  of  Western  Africa 
t!>ere  is  one  type  of  knife,  which  undergoes 
various  modillcations  according  to  the  par- 
ticular district  in  which  it  is  made,  and  this 
type  is  as  cliaracte:istic  of  Western  Africa 
as  the  Bedniaua  knife  is  of  the  wuthern 
parts.  Their  curious  form  is  almost  identi- 
cal with  that  of  woa])ons  taken  from  tumuli 
in  Europe.  The  sheath  is  alwavs  very  wide, 
and  IS  made  with  groat  care,  being  mostly 
ornamental  as  well  aa  useful. 

Heavy  rinfjs  of  coijper  and  other  metals 
ire  as  much  in  vogue  as  among  the  Dama- 
•ras;  only  (he  men  prefer  to  wear  them  on 
their  own  limbs,  in-itead  of  handing  them 
over  to  their  wives.  As  wealth  is  mostly 
carried  on  the  person  in  this  country,  a  rich 
JJalondo  man  will  have  six  or  S(  ven  great 
copper  rings  encircling  his  ankles,  each  rin" 
weighing  two  pounds  or  so.  The  gait  of  a 
rich  man  is  therefore  singularly  ungraceful, 
the  feet  being  planted  widely  apart,  so  that 
the  massive  rings  should  not  come  in  con- 
tact. TJie  peculiar  gait  which  is  caused  by 
the  presence  of  the  treasured  rings  is  much 
admired  among  the  Balondo,  an^  is  studi- 
ously imitated  by  those  who  have  no  need 
to  use  it.  A  young  man,  for  example,  who 
18  only  worth  half  a  dozen  rings  weighin" 


half  an  ounce  or  so  each,  will  strut  about 
with  his  feet  wide  apart,  as  if  he  could  hardly 
walk  for  the  weight  of  his  anklets. 

The  ornament  which  id  most  prized  is 
made  from  a  large  species  of  shell  belonging 
to  the  genus  Conus.  The  greater  part  of 
the  shell  is  chipped  away,  and  only  the  flat 
and  spiral  base  is  left.  This  is  pierced  in 
the  middle,  and  a  string  h  passed  through 
the  middle,  so  that  it  can  be  hung  round  tno 
neck.  Dr.  Livingstone  tells  an  anecdote 
which  shows  the  estimation  in  which  this 
ornament  is  held.  Just  before  his  departure 
the  king,  Shinte,  came  into  his  tent,  and 
passed  a  considerable  time  in  examining  his 
books,  watch,  and  other  curiosities.  At  last 
he  carefully  closed  the  door  of  the  tent,  so 
that  none  of  his  people  might  see  the  ex- 
travagance of  which  he  was  about  to  be 
guilty,  and  drew  one  of  these  shells  from  his 
clothing,  huii^  it  round  his  host'a  neck,  with 
the  words,  "  There,  now  you  luive  a  proof  of 
my  friendship."  These  shells  are  used,  like 
stars  and  crosses  in  England,  as  emblems  of 
rank;  and  they  have  besides  a  heavy  intrin- 
sic value,  costing  the  king  at  the  rate  of  a 
slave  for  two,  or  a  large  elephant's  tusk  for 
Ave. 

The  very  fact  that  they  possess  insignia  of 
rank  shows  that  they  must  possess  some 
degree  of  civilization;  and  this  is  also  shown 
by  the  manner  in  which  inferiors  are  bound 
to  salute  those  above  them.  If  a  man  of  low 
rank  should  meet  a  superior,  the  former  im- 
mediately drops  on  his  knees,  picks  up  a 
little  dirt,  rubs  it  on  his  arms  and  chest,  and 
then  claps  his  hands  until  the  great  man  has 
passed.  So  punctilious  are  they  in  their 
manner,  that  when  Sambanza,  the  husband 
of  Manenko,  was  making  a  speech  to  the 
people  of  a  village,  he  interspersed  his  dis- 
course with  frequent  salutations,  although 
he  was  a  man  of  consequence  himself,  being 
the  husbandof  the  chief. 

There  are  many  gradations  in  tho  mwle 
of  saluting.  Great  chiefs  go  through  the 
movements  of  rubbing  the  sand,  but  they 
only  make  a  pretence  of  picking  up  sand. 
If  a  man  desires  to  be  very  polite  indeed,  he 
carries  with  him  some  white  ashes  or  pow- 
dered pipe-clay  in  apiece  of  skin,  and,  after 
kneeling  in  the  usual  manner,  rubs  It  on  his 
chest  and  arms,  the  white  powder  being  an 
ocular  proof  that  the  salutation  has  been 
nropcrly  conducted.  He  then  claps  his 
hands,  stooiis  forward,  lays  first  one  cheek 
and  then  the  other  on  the  ground,  and  con- 
tinues his  clapping  for  some  little  time. 
Sometimes,  instead  of  clapping  his  hands,  he 
drums  with  his  elbows  against  his  ribs. 

On  the  whole,  those  travellers  who  have 
passed  through  Londa  seem  to  be  pleased 
with  the  character  of  the  inhabitants.  Dr. 
Livingstone  appears  to  have  had  but  little 
trouble  with  them,  except  wlien  resisting 
the  extortionate  demands  which  they,  like 
other  tribes,  were  apt  to  make  for  leave 


li 


:| 


874 


THE  BALONDO  OR  BALONDA  TRIBE. 


of  passage    through    their   country.      He 
writes :  — 

''  t)ne  cDuld  detect,  in  passing,  the  variety 
of  cliaracter  found  among  the  owners  of 
gardens  and  villages.  Some  villagLS  were 
the  picture  of  neatness.  We  entered  others 
enveloped  in  a  wilderness  of  weeds,  so  high 
that,  when  sitting  on  art  ox-back  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  village,  we  could  only  see  the  tops 
of  the  huts.  If  we  entered  at  mid-day,  the 
owners  would  come  lazily  forth,  pijje  in 
hand,  and  leisurely  puff  away  in  dreamy 
indidorenco.  In  some  villages  weeds  were 
not  allowed  to  grow;  cotton,  tobacco,  and 
dilferent  plants  used  as  relishes,  are  planted 
round  the  huts;  fowls  are  kept  in  cages;  and 
the  gardens  present  the  pleasant  spectacle 
of  different  kinds  of  grain  and  pulse  at 
various  periods  of  then-  growth.  I  some- 
times admired  the  one  class,  and  at  time.i 
wished  1  could  have  taken  the  world  easy, 
like  the  other. 

"  Every  village  swarms  with  children,  who 
turn  out  to  see  the  white  man  pa.ss,  and  run 
along  with  strange  cries  and  antics;  some 
run  up  trees  to  get  a  gootl  view  —  all  are 
agile  climbers  through  Londa.  At  friendly 
villages  they  have  scampered  alongside  our 
parly  for  miles  at  a  time.  We  usually  made 
a  little  hedge  round  our  sheds:  crowds  of 
women  came  to  the  entrance  of  it,  with  chil- 
dren on  their  backs,  and  pipes  in  their 
mouths,  giizing  at  us  for  hours.  The  men, 
rather  than  disturb  them,  crawled  through 
a  hole  in  the  hedge;  and  it  w.is  common  to 
hear  a  niuu  in  running  oif  say  to  tlioin,  "  I 
am  going  to  tell  my  uinmma  to  come  and 
see  the  white  man's  oxen." 

According  to  the  same  authority,  the  Ba- 
londii  do  not  api)ear  to  be  a  very  (,-irrel- 
some  race,  generally  restricting  themselves 
to  the  tongue  as  a  weapon,  and  seldom  re- 
sorting to  anything  more  actively  otl'ensive. 
The  only  occasion  on  which  he  saw  a  real 
quarrel  tiike  plaiie  was  rather  a  curious  «ne. 
An  old  woman  had  been  steadily  abusing  a 
young  man  for  an  hour  or  two,  with  vl>"' 
singular  fluency  of   invective   with  wh 
those  women  seem  to  be  gifted.    He  endurvJ 
it  patiently  tor  some  time,  but  at  last  uttered 
an  exclamation  of  anger.    On  which  another 
man  sprang  forward,  and  angrily  demanded 
why  the  other  hixd  cursed  his  mother.    Thev 
immediately  closed  with  each  other,  and  a 
scuttle  connnenced,  in  the  course  of  which 
they  contrived  to  tear  off  the  whole  of  each 
other's  clothing.    The  man  who  began  tlie 
assault  th  m  picked  up  his  clothes  and  ran 
away,  threatening  to  bring  his  gun,  but  he 
did  not  return,  and  the  old  woman   pro- 
ceeded  with  her  abuse  of  tlie   remaining 
combatnnt.    In  their  quarrels  the  Balonda 
make  plenty  of  noise,  but  after  a  while  they 
suddenly  cease  from  their  mutual  invective, 
and  conclude  the    dispute  with  a  hearty 
laugh. 
Once  a  most  flagrant  attempt  at  extortion 


was  made  by  Kawawa,  a  Balonda  chief  who 
had  a  very  bad  character,  and  was  in  disfa- 
vor with  "Matin'nvo,  the  supreme  chief  of 
the  Balondp.    lie  sent  a  body  of  men  to  a 
ferry  which  they  had  to  cross,  in  order  to 
prevent  the  boatman  taking  llu'in  over  the 
river.    The  canoes  were  reinovccl;  and  as 
the  river  was  at  least  ii  hundred  yards  wide, 
and  very  deen,  Kawawa  thought  he  had  the 
strangers  at  his  mercy,  and  that  if  the  cart, 
the  ox,  the  gun,  the  powder,  and  the  slave, 
which  he  required,  were  not  forthcoming, 
he  could  keep  the  strangers  until  tliey  were 
forced  to  comply  with  his  diinnnds.    How- 
ever, during    the    night   Dr.    Livingstone 
swam  to  the  place  where  the  canoes  were 
hidden,  ferried  the  whole  jiarty  across,  re- 
placed the  canoe,  together  wit'i  some  beads 
as  payment  for  its  use,  and  q'intly  swam  to 
the  side  on  whicii   tlieir  party  "were  now 
safely  landed.    Kawawa  had  no  idea  that 
any  of  the  travellers  could  swim,  and  the 
whole  party  were  greatly  amused  at   tlio 
astonishment  which  tliey  knew  he  must  fi'cl 
when  he  found  the  travellers  vanished  and 
the  canoes  still  in  their  place  of  concealment. 
Some  of  the  B.ilonda  have  a  very  clever 
but  rather  mean  method  of  extorting  money 
from  travellers.     When  they  ferry  a  party 
over  the  river,  they  piiri)Oseiy  drop  or  leave 
in  a  canoe  a  knife  or  some  other  object  of 
value.    They  then  watch  to  see  if  any  one 
will  pick  it  nj),  and,  if  so,  seize  their  victim 
and  accuse  him  of  the  theft.     They  alwavs 
manage  to  do  so  Just  before  the  headman  of 
the    partj'    has    been    <'crri('d    across,    and 
threaten  to  retain  him  as  a  hostage  until 
their  demand  be  paid.     Dr.    Livingstone 
once  fell  a  victim  to  this  trick,  a  lad  belong- 
ing to  his  party  having  i)ickcd  up  a  knife 
which  was  thro\vn  down  as  a  bait  by  one  of 
the  rascally  boatmen.    As  (he  lad  hfii)i)ened 
to  possess  one  of  tliose  precious  shells  which 
have  been    mentioned,  he    was  forced   to 
surrender  it   to  secure  his  liberty.     Such 
conduct  was,   liowever,   unusual   with   the 
Balonda,  and  the  two  great  chiefs.  Shinte 
and  Katema,  behaved  with  the  greatest  kind- 
ness to   the   travellers.     The  former  chief 
gave  them  a  grand  reception,  which  exhib- 
ited many  of  the  manners  and  customs  of 
the  people. 

The  royal  throne  was  jilaced  under  the 
shade  of  a  spreading  banian  tree,  and  was 
covered  with  a  leopard  skin.  The  chief  had 
disfigured  himself  with  a  checked  jacket  and 
a  green  baize  kilt;  but.  besides  these  por- 
tions of  civilized  costume,  he  wore  a  multi- 
tude of  native  ornaments,  the  most  conspic- 
uous being  the  number  of  copper  and  iron 
rings  round  his  arms  and  ankles,  and  a  sort 
of  bead  helmet  adorned  with  a  Large  plume  of 
feathers.  His  three  pages  were  close  to 
him,  and  behind  him  sat  a  number  of 
women  headed  by  his  chief  wife,  who  was 
distinguished  from  the  others  by  a  cap  of 
scarlet  material. 


mummm 


LIVrNGSTONE'S  RECEPTION. 


In  many  other  parts  of  Africa  the  women 
would  hnvo  been  rigidly  excluded  from  a 
public  ceremony,  and  iit  the  best  might  have 
been  permitted  to  see  it  from  a  distance; 
but  amon^r  the  JJalonda  the  women  take 
thoir  own  part  in  such  meetings:  and  on 
tlie  present  occasion  Shinte  often  turned  and 
spoke  to  them,  as  if  asking  their  opinion. 

Manenkos    husband,    Sambanza,    intro- 
duced the  party,  and  did  so  in  the  usual 
manner,  by  saluting  with  ashes.    After  him 
the  various  subdivisions  of  the  tribe  came 
lorward  in  tiieir  order,  headed  by  its  chief 
man,  who  carried  ashes  with  him,  and  sa- 
inted the  king  on  behalf  of  his  company, 
ilien  came  tlK;  soldiers,  who  diished  for- 
ward at  the  wiiite  visitor  in  their  usually 
impetuous  manner,  shaking  their  spears  in 
ins  liice,  branilisliing  their  shields,  and  mak- 
ing all  kinds  ol  menacing  gestures,  which  in 
this  country  is  thoir  usual  way  of  doinc 

ealulod  the  king,  and  took  their  places. 

JN  ext  came  the  speeches,  Sambanza  march- 
ing about  before  Shinto,  and  announcing  in 
opn  !'\^'"""'.  ^,°'*;"  '""*  ^'"»  measured  ac- 
and  t.w  '"'°'"  '»,^tory  of  the  white  m.n 
ana  their  reasons  for  visiting  the  country 

to  Das'?ro.f  f^'o^'T^  •''"'  travellers^ 

he  h^^  ;„  ^-  '''IV'*' '"''"»  certainly  said  that 
conS.  ?'"'/'";  "'*'  P^H'o.^e  of  opening  the 

rel  Bi  n  tl^^  Vi'*"'^  '""^'''"?  '*»«•»  ^  better 
telliC  11  »/''•!'■  '''^"-  I'«riiaps  he  was 
telling  lies;  lor  it  was  not  easy  to  believe 
that  a  white  man  who  had  such  treasures  It 
tome  would  take  the  trouble  of  coSn  "out  of 
the  sea  where  ho  lived  for  the  mTe  nurnos. 

l^h&as^tiSLl^Suietej^te 

perhaps  more  consistent  with  Shin^e's  chT 
a«ter  as  a  wise  and  humane  S  that  he 

sVorr,*\r'""  ""■'  ''»*-' 

jBetween  the  sreeches  the  women  filled  un 
w^  ev  i?„    ?'^''''l^  ^*y*  •»  the  proceedings 

ancFwhen  the  drum-heads  be«)mo  slL-v  A?^  ' 
are   tightened  by  being   held  A, 'fe 


37ft 


]9 


The  most  curious  part  of  these  drums  in 
«io  use  of  a  small  square  hole  in  th  ™kle 
which  seems  to  serve  the  same  purpose  m 

SenfTnr",'*?'" '"  "•''  Europe^a.?in8trS! 
nient.  Instead,  however,  of  being  l«il  onen 
It  ;s  closed  with  a  piece  of  spK  web' 
winch  allows  the  neeclful  escape'ol'aiVwTit' 
U  seems  to  have  a  resonant  eflect.  The  5 
which  IS  used  for  this  purpose  is  taken  fmn 

IS  of  a  yellow  color,  rather  larger  than  a 
cro  vn  piece  in  diameter,  and  is  of  wonder- 
fu  t^JUghness  and  elasticity.  The  custom  of 
using  spiders  web  in  this^manier  prevails 
il  ."v.*?«  ?  ^"'7  '"■«^  ""'•"«»  «t-  Afrfea'  and 
Afw^"  f""!"^,  '"  "lose  parts  of  Western 
Africa  which  have  introduced  many  Euro" 

Ced"!""/."""'  ?'r"«  "»"««  wK  be- 
longed   to    them    before    they    had    made 

acquaintance  with  civilization.  ^^° 

f„„  .i"      '■"'"?   ""<^    marimba   are    played 
together;  and  on  this  occasion  the  peifom- 
ors  wa  ked  round  and  round  the  enc losu?^ 
producing    music    which    was    really    not 
unplea^an    even  to  European  earg      The 
marimba  is  found,  with  various  modifica- 
Afnl"' r-"«''''^f  "J«  ^rhole  of  this  par    of 
Africa.    Generally  he  framework  is  straight 
and  in  that  case  the  instrument  is  .3;' 
placed  on  Uio  ground,  and   the  niusSa  . 
ftr   «.7A'^'  in  a  sitting  or  kneeling  pos^ 
ture.    But  in  some  places,  especially  where 

^  '"  1°  t  P>>'^*^  '^3^  the  musician  on  the 
march,  the  framework  is  curved  like  the 
tire  of  a  cart-wheel,  so  that,  when  the  fnstru" 
ment  is  suspended  in  front  of  the  performer 
he  can  reach  the  highest  and  lowest  keva 
without  .lifBculty.  lie  illustration  on  S 
371  represents  one  of  the  straighf^framtd 
niarimU,  and  is  drawn  from  a  specime  ™in 
Colonel  Lane  Fox's  collection. 

Afler  this  interview  Shinte  always   be- 
haved  very  Wndly  to  the  wliole  pm-ty'and 

,o?,r?\      ^  "'    P'"e''«o"6  Shell  ornament 
oelore  hit.  Uepaiuire. 

As  to  Shinte's  niece,  Mancnko,  the  female 
chief,  she  was  a  womali  who  real  y  deserved 
her  rank,  from  her  bold  and  energeUc  ch^. 
actor.    She  insisted  on  conducting  the  parTy 

sb.  Ifo'^'r,"!'?""'''"'  '^"'^  '^^'"^  they  set^^S 
she  headed  the  expedition  in  person     It      ' 
happened  to  be  a  singularly  unpleSone 
the  rmn  falling  in  torrents,  and  yet  this  very 
enercetic  lady  marched  on  at  a  pace  thai^ 
coulcT  bo  equalled  by  few  of  the  Cn   and 
without  the  slightest  protectl^on  from  the 
weather  save  the  coat  of  rod  greasHnd  a 
charmeci  necklace.    When  asked  why  she 
did  not  wear  clothes,  she  said  that  a  chief 
ought  to  despise  such'luxuries,  and  ought  to 
set  an  examnle  of  fortitude    o  the  rS  S 
the  tribe,    ifearlv  all  tlie  memberl  of  the 
expedition  "complained   of  cold,  wet    and 
hunger  but  this  indefatigable  lady  pre*  M 
^o^'!!irf  Ty  "Shtest  mSrching  or/er!  and 
aot  until  they  were  aU  thorougluy  weiried 


9n 


THE  BALONDO  OR  DALONDA  TRIBE. 


would  she  consent  to  hnlt  for  the  ni)?ht. 
Her  liusliaud,  Hainbnnza,  had  to  mnrcli  in 
her  train,  accompanied  by  a  man  who  had 
instructions  to  beat  a  drum  incessantly,  which 
he  did  until  the  perpetual  rain  soaked  the 
skin-heads  so  corapfuLeh'  that  they  would 
not  produce  a  sound,  bambanza  had  then 
to  chant  all  kinds  of  invocation^  to  the  rain, 
which  he  did,  but  without  any  particular 
effect. 

She  knew  well  what  was  her  dignity,  and 
never  allowed  it  to  be  encroaciied  upon.  On 
one  occasion  Dr.  Livingstone  had  presented 
an  ox  to  Shinto.  Manento  heard  of  it,  and 
was  extremely  angry  that  such  a  gift  should 
have  been  made.  Sre  said  that,  as  Aw,  was 
the  chief  of  the  party  who  had  orought  the 
white  men,  the  ox  was  hers,  and  not  theirs, 
as  long  as  she  was  in  command.  So  she 
sent  for  the  ox  straightway,  had  it  slaugh- 
tered by  her  own  men,  and  then  sent  Shinte 
a  leg.  The  liitterciiief  seemed  to  think  that 
she  was  justified  in  what  she  had  done,  took 
the  leg,  and  said  nothing  about  it. 

Yet  she  did  not  forget  that,  although  she 
was  a  chief,  she  was  a  woman,  and  ought 
therefore  to  perform  a  woman's  duties. 
When  the  party  stopped  for  the  night  in 
some  village,  Manenko  was  accustomed  to 
go  to  the  huts  and  ask  for  some  maize, 
whicii  she  ground  and  prepared  with  her 
own  hands  and  brought  to  Dr.  Livingstone, 
as  he  could  not  eat  the  ordinary  country 
meal  without  being  ill  afterward.  She  was 
also  careful  to  inform  him  of  the  proper 
mode  of  approaching  a  Balonda  town  or 
village.  It  IS  bad  manners  to  pass  on  and 
enter  a  town  without  having  first  sent  no- 
tice to  the  headman.  As  soon  as  a  traveller 
comes  within  sight  of  the  houses,  he  ought 
to  halt,  and  scud  forward  a  messenger  to 
state  his  name,  and  ask  for  permission  to 
enter.  The  headman  or  chief  then  comes 
out,  meets  the  stran'jer  under  a  tree,  just  as 
Shinte  received  Dr.  Livingstone,  giving  him 
a  welcome,  and  appointmg  him  a  pla(;e 
where  he  may  sleep.  Before  he  learned 
this  piece  of  etiquette,  several  vill.iges  had 
been  much  alarmed  by  the  unannounced 
arrival  of  the  visitors,  who  were  in  conse- 
quence looked  upon  with  fear  and  suspi- 
cion. 

Afterward,  when  thej'  came  to  visit  the 
great  chief  K.atema,  they  found  him  quite  as 
friendly  as  Shinte  had  been.  He  received 
them  much  after  the  same  manner,  being 
seated,  and  having  around  him  a  number  of 
armed  men  or  guards,  and  about  thirty 
women  behind  him.  In  going  to  or  coming 
from  the  place  of  council,  he  rode;  on  the 
shoulders  of  a  man  appointed  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  who,  through  dint  of  long  prac- 
tice, performed  his  task  with  ajjparent  ease, 
though  he  was  slightly  made,  and  Katema 
was  a  tall  and  powerful  man.  He  hml  a 
great  idea  of  his  own  dignity,  and  made  a 
speech  in  which  he  compared  himself  with 


Matiamvo,  saying  that  he  was  t!io  great 
Mo(«ne,  or  lorij,  the  fellow  of  Matiamvo. 

He  was  very  proud  of  a  small  herd  of 
cattle,  about  thirty  in  number,  mostly  white 
in  color,  and  as  active  as  anttilones.  Ho 
had  bred  them  all  himself,  but  had  no  idea 
of  utilizing  thorn,  and  was  quite  delighted 
when  told  that  they  could  be  milked,  and 
the  milk  used  for  food.  It  is  stningo  that 
the  Balonda  are  not  a  more  pastoral  people, 
as  the  country  is  admirably  adapted  for  the 
nurture  of  cattle,  and  all  those  which  were 
possessed  by  Katcina,  or  c.vvn  by  Matiamvo 
himself,  were  in  splendid  condition.  So 
wild  were  Katema's  cattle,  that  when  Iho 
chief  had  presented  the  parly  with  a  cow, 
they  were  obliged  to  stalk  and  shoot  it,  as  if 
it  had  been  a  buftalo.  The  nativ(!  who  shot 
the  cow  being  a  bad  marksman,  the  cow 
was  only  wounded,  and  dashed  off  into  the 
forest,  together  with  the  rest  of  the  herd. 
Even  the  herdsman  Avas  afraid  to  go  among 
them,  and,  after  two  days'  hunting,  the 
wounded  cow  was  at  last  killed  by  another 
ball. 

The  Balonda  are  not  only  fond  of  cattle, 
but  they  do  their  best  to  improve  the  breed. 
When  a  number  of  them  went  with  Dr. 
Livingstone  "into  Angola,  they  expressed 
much  contemptuous  Avonder  at  the  neglect 
both  of  land  and  of  domesticatcil  animals. 
They  themselves  are  always  on  the  look-out 
for  better  specimens  than  their  own,  and 
even  took  the  trouble  of  carrying  some  large 
fowls  all  the  w.^y  f'nmi  Angola  to  Shiute's 
village.  When  they  saw  that  even  the 
Portuguese  settlers  slaughtered  little  cows 
and  heifer  calves,  and  made  no  use  of  the 
milk,  they  at  once  set  the  white  men  down 
as  an  inferior  race.  When  they  heard  that 
the  flour  used  by  these  same  settlers  was 
nearly  all  imported  from  a  foreign  country, 
they  were  astonished  at  the  neglect  of  a 
land  so  suited  for  agriculture  as  Angola. 
"  These  know  nothing  but  buying  and  sell- 
ing; they  are  not  mm,"  was  the  verdict 
given  by  the  so  called  savages. 

The  food  of  the  Balonda  is  mostly  of  a 
vegetable  character,  and  consists  in  a  great 
measure  of  the  manioc,  or  cassava,  which 
grows  in  great  abundance.  There  are  two 
varieties  of  this  plant,  namely,  the  sweet  and 
the  bitter,  t.  e.  the  poisonous.  The  latter, 
however,  is  the  quicker  of  growth,  and  con- 
sequently is  chietly  cultivated.  In  or<ler  to 
prepare  it  for  consumption,  it  is  steeped  iy 
water  for  four  days,  when  it  becomes  par- 
tially rotten,  the  skin  conies  off  easily,  ami 
tlie  poisonous  matter  is  e.isily  extracted.  It 
is  then  dried  in  the  sun,  and  can  be  pounded 
into  a  sort  of  meal. 

When  this  meal  is  eook<'d,  it  is  simply 
stirred  into  boiling  water,  one  man  holding 
the  vessel  and  putting  in  the  meal,  while 
the  other  stirs  it  with  all  his  might.  The 
natives  like  this  simple  diet  very  much,  but 
to  an  European  it  is  simply  detestable.    It 


ETIQUETTE   IN  EATING. 


W7 

Tliey  also  use  fl»h  traps  very  like  our 
own  I„b8tcr  pots,  and  place  a  l.uft  insi.io  in 
orcl.T  to  attract  the  tish.  Hooks  are  alio 
einploycl ;  an.l  In  wnne  places  they  descend 
to  the  practice  of  poisoning  the  water,  bv 
whiclj  means  t'ley  destroy  every  flsh,  Hmall 
and  peat  that  comes  within  range  of  the 
deadly  j.uce.  The  fish  when  taken  arc 
cleaned  split  open,  and  dried  in  the  smoke 
time  ''""  "'"  ^^^^^  ''"'  "■  <=»"'*''Jcfnl.]c 

Like  other  Africans,  the  Balonda  make 
great  quanfities  of  beer,  which  has  more  a 
stupefying  than  an  intoxicating  character, 
tliose  who  drink  it  habitually  1)eing  often 
seen  l^'ing  on  their  faces  fiust  a.sleep.  A 
more  into.xieating  drink  is  a  kind  of  mead 


has  no  flavor  except  that  which  arises  fVom 
partial  decomposilion,  and  it  looks  exactly 
like  ordinary  starch  when  ready  for  the 
laundress.  It  has  but  littln  nutritive  power, 
nnd,  however  much  a  man  may  contrive  to 
eat,  he  is  as  hungry  two  hours  afterward  as 
If  lie  hiul  fiisted.  Dr.  Livingstone  compares 
it  in  appearance,  taste,  and  odor,  to  potato 
staroli  made  from  diseased  tubers.  More- 
over, owing  to  the  mode  of  preparing  it, 
the  cooking  is  exceedingly  imperfect,  and, 
m  consequence,  its  effects  upon  ordinary 
iiuropean  digestions  may  be  imagined. 

ihe  manioc  plant  is  largely  cultivated 
and  requires  but  little  labor,  the  first  plant- 
ing involving  nearly  all  the  trouble,  in  the 
low-lyinjj  valleys  the  earth  is  dug  with  the 
curious  lialonda  hoe,  which  has  two  han 


loot  in  height,  much  resembling  those  in 
Which  asparagus  Is  planted  in  England. 
In  these  beds  pieces  of  the  manioc  stalk  are 
planted  at  four  feet  apart.  In  order  to  save 
Bpaee,  ground-nuts,  beans,  or  other  plants 
ar^  sown  Ijetween  the  beds,  and,  after  the 
3f  .?"'"r'''  t''«.g'-<>"n<»  '•«  cleared  of 


properties  of  tins  mead,  and  recommendetl 
It  to  Ur.  l,ivingHtoue  when  he  w.as  very  ill 
with  a  fever  :  "  Drink  plenty  of  mead,"  said 
he  "and  it  will  drive  the  fever  out."  Prob- 
ably on  account  of  its  value  as  a  febrifuge 
Shinte  took  plenty  of  his  own  prescription. ' 
Ihey  have  a  most  elaborate  code  of  eti- 


wee<ls,  and   the  in."  nioc    s  l^f    f^  n^;  *"       ^..  ^.  "'*''''.  ^  '"""*  elaborate  code  of  eti- 

itself.    It  is  fi    for  ea      „  fn  a  leS-  or  p  "h'   Hn'i""  ,"•  r,"""u  '^'^"^  ^^"'  "«^  I'^^ake  of 
teen  mn,..i,„  — „„,.:_ "''.'°."  ycaror  eigh-   food  which  has  been  cooked  by  strantrers 


the  sr"''-''.'^*"'^'.'"^  to  the  cl.araete?of 
the  soil ;  but  there  is  no  necessity  for  dig- 
ging It  at  once,  as  it  may  bo  left  in  the 
ground  for  three  years  before  it  become^ 
dry  and  bitter.  Wlien  a  root  is  dm,  "lie 
woman  cuts  off  two  or  three  nieces  of   le 


neither  will  tliey  eat  it  except  when  alone 
It  a  party  of  Balonda  are  travelling  with 
men  of  other  tribes,  they  always  go  aSidc  to 
cook  thoir  food,  and  then  come  back,  clan 
their  hands,  and  return  thanks  to  the  leader 


staiCput  n..ninti;rK;,^^i,::!"^:;  nj/trs  ^^Ji^^l^-^-^^o.^ 

made,  .ind  thus  a  new  eron  is  bp"un     <f^'*    S,^°'  "'"'', '"!*'^''  of  kindling  it  at  the  chief's 


madc^^md  thus  a"  n^w  e;:;;^is  "^.^"^C 

only  the  root  is  edible,  but  also  tTre   eaves 

wlneh  are  boiled  and  cooked  as  vegetables  ' 

Xhe  BaltuK  ;i  seldom  can  obtain  meat,  and 


file,  a.s  IS  the  custom  with  the  Damaras 
they  a  wavs  light  it  at  once  with  fire  pro-' 
duced  by  friction.  * 

So  careful  are  the  Balonda  in  this  respect, 
timt  when  Dr.  Livingstone  killed  an  ox  ami 


had  to  ask  for  an  ox,'sayi   c  tH      ?s   noTh'   nmVV^''  Dr.  Livingstone  killed  an  ox  and 
was  bitter  for  the  w.^nt  of  mea      Tl  e  rea  S   S  ».r'T'  "^"10  cooked  meat  to  his  pkrty, 

was  given,  ho  was  very  thankful  for  the 
single  leg  wiiich  Manenko  allowed  him  to 


infhlir'f  ^  •'''"'''''  ""''?  ""t  «o  fa^stidious 
,rp  „  ?"''  "'  '"/"'^'  «ther  tribes,  and  they 
are  noc  above  eating  mice  and  other  small 
animals  with  their  tasteless  porridge.    tTiov 

which  they  catch  in  r.  yery  ingenious  man^ 

.  When  the  floods  are  out,  many  fish  esno 


their  fondness  for  meat,  and  the  vorv  few 
chances  which  they  have  of  obtaining  it, 
Ihey  did  however,  accept  some  of  the  raw 

S'm"'^""''  *''7  ,*?"''  '^'^'•'^y  •'^"'l  looked 
alter  their  own  fT-ishion.    One  of  them  was 

which  he  followed  and  probably  invented. 
When  the    meat  was    offered  to  him,  he 

Hs"S„.""/  [''^'  '*  ""'"•^•'"''  "«  it  was  below 
his  dignity  to  carry  meat.    Accordingly  he 

marched  home  in  .state,  with  a  servant  be- 
call  "it,  «pread-tiiems7l7;royerThe"' hnd'  Zl  »'""^.'"';i7'"g  «  fi>w' ounces  of  melt  on  a 
Just  before  the  waters  retire   tL^lSa 'S-n^'"T-'^^^  ''^  «*'  «"  the  grass 

constriiPf  n  n„^i ^      ^^y^,  y^e  unioma.   beside  Dr.   Livingstone.     "He   had   iiever 


fbp  nn  n'f "  r™>'"  ""^  «*••""'"  »'anks  across 
the  outlets  leaving  only  small  apertures  for 

Sir/r  ^'« ''•'"■'  *''™"Sh-  '"these  aper- 
f Lf  th'"'^  i''^  '■'■•'i'''  "•■  ''"«kets,  so  n^ade 
that  the  fish  are  forced  to  enter  them    s 

S, '^""IJ^'^r  -f-^"^  ^Y'-^ters,  but,  once 


sat  on  tlie  ground  during  the  late  Mati- 
amvo  s  reign  and  was  not  going  to  degrade 
himself  at  his  time  of  life."  So  he  seated 
himself  on  r.  log  of  wood,  and  was  happy  at 
his  untarnished  dignity.  n>3  »^ 

One  of  the  little  sub-tribes,  an  offshoot  of 


in,  thoy  cannot  get  out  iv'ain     s'omptimnT  i  tu^/n  i"  V"'  """^  ^"o-trines,  an  offshoot  o 
insteacf  of  earthen  walls,  they  pla"  t  S  fn^  ^^'r'""' 7^'r"•'»'•'^•■^^  never  eat- 

of  mats    stretched   betweerstiS    wS    .I^p  h,l"" 'i''""'''^"  "-y  I'S  "'"^  cattle  are 
answer  the  same  purpose!  '  Cll  '*",t?"    "'""''  ""^^  '•^*'  «*  home  like 

^     '■  1™^"-    (There  are -^      J  tribes  who  will  not 


II 


378 


THE  BALONDO  OH  BALONDA  TRIBE. 


kiMip  cattle,  brcnuic,  ns  thoy  rightly  sny,  the 
oxen  brlii)^  oncmles  nnd  war  iiimii  tlu>ni. 
But  they  lire  uhvayH  ijlad  to  eat  oecf  when 
tliey  can  got  it.)  Thin  trihe  'eniH  to  be 
unique  in  its  abntinenco.  Altnough  they 
liave  thiH  idea  about  cattle,  tlu-y  will  eat 
without  compunction  the  tle.th  of  most  wild 
animals,  aiul  in  many  cases  dl»phiy  ureut 
injjenuity  in  hnntini;  ihem.  They  stnlk  the 
animals  through  the  lonjj  graas  and  brush- 
wood, disguising  themselves  by  wearing  a 
cap  made  of  the  skin  taken  from  the  head 
of  an  antelono,  to  which  the  horns  are  still 
attached.  When  the  animal  which  they 
are  pursuing  begins  to  be  alarmed  at  the 
rustling  of  the  boughs  or  shaking  of  the 
grass,  they  only  thrust  the  horned  mask 
nito  view,  and  move  it  about  as  if  it  wc't 
the  head  of  a  veritable  antelope.  This 
dovice  quiets  snspicion,  and  so  the  hunter 
proceeds  until  he  is  near  enough  to  deliver 
Ills  arrow.  8ome  of  those  hunters  prefer 
the  head  and  neck  of  the  jabiru,  or  gfout 
African  crane. 

As  far  as  is  ''nown,  the  Balonda  are  not 
a  warlike  peopi.j,  though  they  are  in  the 
habit  of  carrying  arms,  and  have  a  very 
formidable  look.  Tlioir  weapons  aro  short 
knife-like  swords,  shields,  and  bows  nnd  ar- 
rows, the  latter  being  iron  headed.  The 
shields  are  made  of  reed.s  plaited  firmly 
together.  They  are  square  or  rather  ob- 
long, in  form,  measuring  about  five  feet  in 
length  and  three  in  width. 

The  architecture  of  the  Balonda  is  simple, 
but  ingenious.  Every  house  is  surrounded 
with  a  palisade  which  to  all  ai)poarnnce  has 
no  door,  aiid  is  always  kei)t  closed,  so  that 
a  stranger  may  walk  round  and  nnind  it, 
and  never  find  the  entrance.  In  one  part 
of  the  palisade  the  stakes  arc  not  fast- 
ened to  ea(di  other,  but  two  or  three  are 
merely  stuck  into  their  holes  in  the  ground. 
When  the  inhabitants  of  the  huts  wish  to 
enter  or  leave  their  dwellings,  they  simply 
j)ull  up  two  or  three  stakes,  squeeze  them- 
selves through  the  aperture,  and  replace 
them,  so  that  no  sign  of  a  doorway  is  left. 
The  reader  may  perhaps  rememlier  that 
the  little  wooden  bird-cages  in  which  cana- 
ries are  brought  to  En>rland  are  opened 
nnd  closed  in  exactly  the  same  manner, 
some  movable  bars  supplying  the  place  of  a 
door. 

Sometimes  they  vary  the  material  of  their 
fences,  and  make  them  of  tall  and  compara- 
tively Blight  rods  fastened  tightly  together. 
Shinte's  palace  was  formed  after  this  man- 
ner, and  the  interior  space  was  decorated 
with  elumps  of  trees  which  had  been  planted 
for  the  sake  of  the  shade  which  they  af- 
forded. That  these  trees  had  really  been 
planted,  and  not  merely  left  standing,  was 
evident  from  the  fact  that  several  young 
trees  were  seen  recently  set,  with  a  quan- 
tity of  grass  twisted  round  their  stems  to 
protect  them  against  the  sun.    Even  the 


corneM  of  the  streets  were  planted  with 
HUgar-eanns  and  banaiiaa,  so  that  the  social 
Hysteni  of  the  lialoinhi  seems  to  be  of  rather 
a  high  onler.  One  jietty  chief,  callt^d  Mo- 
zinkwa,  had  nitide  the  hedge  of  his  encloHuru 
of  green  banian  braiieheM  which  hud  lukuii 
root,  and  so  formed  a  living  hc-dge. 

It  is  a  pity  that  so  much  cure  and  Hi.ill 
should  be  so  often  thrown'  away.  As  the 
traveller  pasties  through  the  Loiida  districU 
hu  often  sees  deserted  houses,  and  even  vil- 
lages. The  fact  is,  that  either  the  husband 
or  the  chief  wife  has  died,  and  the  invaria- 
ble custom  is  to  desert  the  locality,  and  never 
to  revisit  it  except  to  make  offerings  to  the 
dead.  Thus  it  happens  that  p«Tmanent 
localities  are  inipossihie,  because  the  death 
of  a  chill's  wife  would  cause  the  whole  vil- 
lage to  h'  deserted,  just  as  is  the  case  with 
a  house  when  an  ortlinary  man  dies.  This 
very  house  and  garden  underwent  the  usual 
lot,  for  Mozinkwa  lost  his  favorite  wife,  and 
in  a  few  months  house,  garden,  and  hedges 
had  all  gone  to  ruin. 

The  Jialondu  have  a  most  remarkable  cus- 
tom of  cementing  friendship.  When  two 
mini  agree  to  be  special  friends,  they  go 
through  a  singular  ceremony.  The  men 
sit  opposite  eat^'h  other  with  clasped  hands, 
and  by  the  side  of  each  is  a  vessel  of  beer. 
Slight  cuts  are  then  made  on  the  clasped 
hands,  on  the  pit  of  the  stomach,  on  the  right 
cheek,  and  on  tlie  forehead.  The  point  of 
a  gifws  blade  is  then  pressed  against  each  of 
these  cuts,  so  as  to  take  up  a  little  of  the 
blood,  and  each  man  washes  the  grass  blade 
in  his  own  beer-vessel.  The  vessels  aro  then 
exchanged  and  the  contents  drunk,  so  that 
each  imbibes  the  blood  of  the  other.  They 
are  then  consideriid  as  blood  relations,  and 
are  bound  to  assist  each  other  in  every  pos- 
sible manner.  While  the  beer  is  being 
drunk,  the  friends  of  each  of  tlie  men  beat  on 
the  ground  with  clubs,  nnd  bawl  out  certain 
sentences  as  ratification  of  the  treaty.  It  is 
thought  correct  for  all  the  friends  of  each 
party  to  the  contract  to  drink  a  little  of  the 
beer.  This  ceremony  is  called  "kiisendi." 
Alter  the  ceremony  has  been  completed,  gifts 
are  exchanged,  and  both  parties  always  give 
their  most  precious  posse.'sions. 

Dr.  Livingstone  once  became  related  to  a 
young  woman  in  rather  a  curious  manner. 
She  had  a  tumor  in  her  arm,  and  asked  him 
to  remove  it  As  he  was  doing  so,  a  little 
blood  spirted  from  one  of  the  small  arteries 
and  entered  his  eye.  As  he  was  wi|)ing  it 
out,  she  hailed  him  as  a  blood  relation,  and 
said  that  whenever  he  passed  through  the 
country  he  was  to  send  word  to  her,  tlnit  she 
might  wait  upon  him,  and  cook  for  him. 
Men  of  different  tribes  often  go  tliroui^h  this 
ceremony,  and  on  the  present  occasion  all 
Dr.  Livingstone's  men,  whether  they  were 
Batoka,  Makololo,  or  of  other  tribes,  became 
Molekanes,  or  iViends,  to  tlie  Balonda. 

As  to  tlieir  religious  belief,  it  is  but  con- 


RELIOION  AND  JDOLg. 


related  to  a 


i*Me(l  nml  hnzy  ntlll  It  oxnrclnpH  n  kind  of 
InriiifliiTO  over  thfim.  They  hiiv<^  a  tolerably 
rloar  iU'n  of  n  Hupiemn  Heinj,',  whom  they 
call  by  ditliirent  nntnes  Br(!or(linff  to  their 
dlalrct.  The  Hiilon.la  ti.ie  the  word  Ziiinl)!, 
I»iit  Moriino  ifl  one  name  which  in  underMtood' 
tliroujTJi  a  very  lar^n  tract  of  country,  'J'he 
Halonda  believe  tliat  '/^ambi  rnlcH  over  ail 
other  «i)irits  and  minor  deities  JuHt  as  their 
kini?  Matiamvo  rules  ovor  the  greater  and 
lenHiT  chiefs.  When  they  undergo  the  poi- 
Bon  or(l(-;il,  which  is  used  as  much  among 
them  Its  in  other  tribes,  they  hold  up  tlieir 
Imnds  to  heaven,  and  thus  appeal  to  the 
trrent  Hpirit  to  judge  according  to  right. 

Among  th(^  Hiilonda  we  come  for  the  first 
time  among  idols  or  fetishes,  wliichever  may 
be  the  correct  title.    One  form  of  idol  is  very 
common  in  Halondavillagen,  and  is  called  by 
Iho  name  of  a  lion,  though  a  stranger  uninitl- 
at(Hl  in  its  mysteries  would  cerlainly  take  it 
for  a  crocodile,  or  at  all  events  a  li/.ard  of 
some  kind.     It  is  a  long  cylindrical  roll  of 
grass  plastered  over  with  clay.    One  end 
rei)resents  the  head,  and  is  accordingly  fur- 
nished with  a  mouth,  and  a  couple  of  cow- 
rie shells  by  way  of  eyes.    The  other   end 
tapers  gradually  Into  a  tail,  and  the  whole  i.s 
supported  on  four  short  straight  legs.    The 
.native^modeller  seems  to  have  a  misgiving 
that  the  imitation  is  not  quite  so  close  as 
might  bo  wished,  end  so  sticks  in  the  neck 
a  number  of  liairs  fVom  an  elephant's  tail. 
Which  are  supposed  to  represent  the  mane. 
1  heso  singular  Idols  are  to  be  seen  in  most 

JenreS,t^lh''«T'u-'^''"'y.'*™  ""Pr"'"'  '" 
over  d1™  °  ''f  "T  ^''"  havo'(lominion 
oyer  disease  ;  and  wiien  any  inhabitant  of 
he  village  is  ill,  his  friends  go  to  the  Ii„„ 
do     and   pray  all  ni-rht   before  it,  beat    " 

noi  e  wS  ""'•  l"-";J"»;inS  that  amount  o7 
noise  which  secerns  to  be  an  essential  ac- 

S'"  SomlJ'n  r"«'"»«/ite«  among  A(H- 
cans.  Home  idols  may  be  perhaps  more 
properly  called  teraphii;.,  as  b^^  their  nu-a^s 
the    medicine    men   foretell   future    jvents 

bearfaS'  rr?"^"  ''''  «»  ^  »'ori.ont  i 
nea,n  fastened  to  two  upr  ghts  — a  custom 
which  IS  followed  in  Dahom^  whena  huiS 
acnl^ce  has  been  made.  The  me,  dno  men 
1  ev  rri- "°"^u**>'*'  ^y  *»»'»•  ministrations 
t liaf  t^ms'^h?/*'^  *"'"'''.'""  ^  ^P""^,  and 
ti  re     tL    '^^  are  acquainted  with  the  fu- 

8ition  in  war-time,  when  they  are  siinnosed 
to  give  notice  of  the  enemy's  appn3'^'' 

linf„-T  '''''''  ■^'^*'  ^*''»»«  8h,»pes.    Some- 
times they  are  intended  to  represent  certain 
animals  and  sometimes  are  fashioned  So 
the  rude  semblance  of  the  huma  nhS 
When  the  superstitious  native  does  not  c^e 

an  idol,  ho  takes  a  crooked  stick,  fixes  it  in 
the  ground,  rubs  it  with  some  st  anie  com" 
pmmd,  and  so  his  idol  is  completed.^  Trew 
aie  pressed  into  the  service  of  the  heathen 
worshipper.    OlFuringB  of  n««e  or  mnioc 


m 


root  arc  laid  on  the  branches,  and  IncislonB 
are  mmie  in  the  bark,  some  being  „,"„ 
knife-cu  s,  and  others  rudo  outlines  of  the 
human  face  Hiicks,  too,  are  thrown  <m  the 
ground  in  hea|)s,  and  each  traveller  tliat 
piisses  by  is  mqiposed  to  throw  at  least  one 
stick  on  the  heap. 

Hometimes  little  models  of  Imts  are  made 
and  n  them  are  placed  j.ots  of  medieiiu.  ■ 
and  in  one  instance  a  small  farmhouse  was 
«een,  and  in  it  was  the  skull  of  an  ox   bv 

ZZ.:t!"'  i''",'-,.  '^^'^''  °"""'"«''  «'hieh    ar^ 


made  are  generally  some  article  of  food  ;  and 
some  ot  the  Halonda  are  so  fearful  of  oflbnd- 
ing  the  denizens  of  the  unseen  world  that 
whenever  they  receive  a  present,  they  al- 

tZr'.'Rl  "r'rH"""  "*■'*  '"  *»'«  «PWt^  of 
tneir  dead  relations. 

One  curious  legend  was  told  to  Dr  Liv- 
ingstone,  and  is  worthy  of  mention,  be- 
cause It  bears  a  resemblance  to  the  old 
mythological  story  of  Latona.  There  is 
certain  lake  called  in  Londa-Iand  Dilolo 
resnecting  which  the  following  story  w.w 
told  to  the  white  visitorf^:—  ^ 

"A  female  chief,  called  Mo«<ne  (lord^ 
Moneiinra,  came  one  evening  to  the  villace 
of  Mosogo,  a  man  who  lived  in  the  vicinitv 
but  who  had  gone  to  hunt  with  Ids  do/s' 
Hhe  asked  lor  a  supply  of  food,  and  Mo.so- 
gos  wife  gave  her  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Iroceeding  to  another  village,  standing  ,m 
the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  watcT,  she 
preferred  the  same  demand,  and  was  not 
only  refused,  but,  when  she  uttered  a  threat 
or  their  niggardliness,  was  taunted  with 
the  question,  '  What  could  she  do  thouch 
she  were  thus  treatedi"  *" 

"  In  order  to  show  what  she  could  do,  she 
began  a  song  in  slow  time,  and  uttered  her 
own  name,  '  Monenga-wo-o.'  As  aho  pro- 
onj^ed  the  last  note,  the  village,  pooplo, 

,!Ji".'?J'/'*'8^  """^^  'nt"  the  space  noW 
called  Dilolo.  When  Kasimakkte,  the  head- 
man of  the  village,  came  home  and  found 
out  the  catastrophe,  he  cast  himself  into 
tlie  lake,  anfl  is  supposed  to  be  in  it  still. 
Ihe  name  is  taken  from  '  ilolo,'  despair 
because  this  man  gave  up  all  hope  when  his 
|«J»','y„WM  destroyed,    Monenga  was  put  to 

The  Balonda  are  certainly  possessed  of  a 
greater  sense  of  reUgion  than  is  the  case 
with    tribes  which    Have    been    described. 
They  occasionally  exhibit  a  feeling  of  rev^ 
erenco   whicli  implies  a  religimis  turn  of 
mind,  though  the  object  toward  which  it 
may  manifest  itself  be  an  unworthy  one 
During  Dr.  Livingstone's  march  through 
the  Londa  country  the  party  was  accomiik- 
nied  by  a  medicine  man  belonging  to  the 
tribe  which  was  ruled  by  Manenko.    The 
wizard  m  question  carried  his  sacred  imnl.- 
mente  in  a  basket,  and  was  very  reverential 
in  his  maimer  toward  them.    When  near 
these  sacred  objects,  ho  kept  silence  as  far 
as  possible,  and,  if  he  were  Ibrcod  to  speak 


m 


TIIK  ANUOLE6E  TRIBB. 


novi^r  rnlRtxl  his  voloe  nltovo  ii  wliiNpor. 
Oiicu,  whoa  u  liitloku  iiiitii  lut|>|iuiiv<l  lu 
Hix'ikk  ill  IiIh  iiitiiul  loiiil  U>iioH  whoii  cio.-m  to 
tiiii  l)iml(ut,  llit>  «lo('U>r  luliniiiiNlcri'd  ji  ttliiirp 
ivpnKtt',  lii»  iinxiouri  gluiKuti  ut  tlin  luwiiut 
sliowiiiu  tliut  ho  wiM  rt'iilly  in  t'liriii^xt.  II 
N4I  hiipni'iicd  llmt  uiiotUJr  t'ciiiulo  i.tiiof, 
lulicU  i*Jyaiii(Miiiii,  wuH  ol'  tlui  purty,  uiiil. 
wlieii  tliuy  liiMi  to  croHg  n  Mlitwiiii  Hint  piiMHiui 
l)y  lusr  own  villiiKt>,  ulio  wouiil  not  vunluiu 
to  do  HO  until  tliu  doctor  liud  wavod  lii.s 
(JiuriiiM  over  lior,  nnd  uhti  liiul  I'mllior  forti- 
liiul  lierHclf  l)y  taliinjj  some  iu  lu'r  humlM, 
and  huiiKinfr  otliist'H  round  liur  iietk. 

As  tilt)  Imlonda  lu'lievo  in  a  Suproniu 
i)oiii>;,  it  is  uvidcnt  tluit  llioy  aloo  I>uliuvu  in 
tilt!  iuiinortality  of  tin;  huiiian  sj^iirit.  Iluni 
tlii'ir  belief  Iiiih  a  Hort  of  I'on.iiMtuucy,  mid 
oppoh«8  a  furious  jhstaelo  to  thu  I'llorls  of 
niiHsioaarioa;  oven  Ur.  J.iviiijjstono  biiinK 
uiiahio  to  niaku  any  n-al  iniprcMnioii  on 
tliuni.  They  fancy  that  when  a  iialonila 
man  dies,  ho  may  perhaps  take  tho  form  of 
Houio  animal,  or  ho  may  aswunio  his  plaio 
aiiiDiij;  tho  liariiuo,  or  inferior  di'Itic*,  lhi.t 
word  hoiuK  int  rely  tho  plural  form  of  Alor- 
imo.  lu  either  ciwe  tins  eiifranelii.sed  spirit 
Htill  bolougM  to  earth,  ami  has  no  aspirations 
for  a  higher  state  of  existence. 

Nor  can  tho  missionary  make  any  lm- 
l)res8ion  on  thoir  minds  with  regard  to  tho 
ultimui.0  destiny  of  human  souls.  Tliny 
admit  tho  existence  of  the  Supreme  Ueing; 
they  see  no  objection  to  the  doclrino  that 
the  Maker  of  mankind  took  on  Himself  the 
humanity  wliieh  He  had  created;  they  say 
that  they  always  have  believed  that  man 
lives  after  tho  cfeatli  of  the  body;  and  appa- 
routly  allbrd  a  good  basis  for  instructitui  in 
tlio  Christian  religiou.  But,  altliou;;li  the 
teachers  can  advance  thus  far,  they  are  sud- 
denly checked  by  tho  old  objection  that 
white  and  black  men  are  totally  dillentnt, 
ttud  that,  although  the  spirits  of  deceased 


whito  mull  inay  go  Into  n  mystorlous  nnd 
iiicoinpreheiisihle  iieaveii,  the  docunMi^d  Ua- 
loiiua  prefur  to  reiiiaiii  mar  thoir  viilaguN 
which  were  familiar  to  thiiin  in  life,  aiidto 
assist  those  who  have  succeeded  tluin  iu 
their  iluties.  This  idea  may  probably  ac- 
count for  the  habit  of  deserting  their  hoUHCtt 
after  the  death  of  any  of  the  family. 

During  Hit!  funeral  ceremonies  a  perpet- 
ual and  deafening  clamor  is  kejit  up,  the 
pojiiilar  notion  seeming  to  be,  that  the  inoro 
noise  they  can  make,  the  g.eater  honor  in 
due  to  tho  deeeiMed.  Wailing  is  carried  on 
with  loud  piercing  cries,  drums  are  beaten, 
and,  if  llroarnis  have  been  introduced 
among  them,  guns  are  (Ired.  Those  drums 
are  not  beattii  at  random,  but  with  reguLir 
measured  beaU.  They  are  iilayed  all  night 
long,  and  their  sound  has  been  compared 
to  the  reuular  beating  of  a  paddle-wheel 
engine.  Oxen  are  slaughti^red  and  tlit^  flesh 
cooked  for  a  feast,  and  great  (|uaiitities  of 
beer  and  mead  are  drunk,  Tho  cost  of  a 
l\iiieral  in  these'  parts  is  therefore  very 
great,  and  it  is  thought  a  point  of  honor  to 
(ixpeiid  as  mi'  h  weallli  as  can  bo  got 
togi^lher  for  tl.^  purpose. 

The  religious  element  is  represented  by  a 
kind  of  idol  or  ligme  covered  with  feathers, 
which  is  carried  about  during  some  parts  of 
tho  ceremony;  and  in  some  places  a  niau,* 
in  a  strange  dress,  covered  with  feathers, 
dances  with  tho  mouriu'rs  all  night,  and 
retires  to  the  feast  iu  tho  early  morning. 
He  is  su^)po8cd  to  be  the  representativo  ol" 
the  Darimo,  or  .spirits. 

The  position  of  the  grave  is  usually  marked 
with  certain  objei'lL'.  One  of  these  graves 
was  covered  with  a  huge  cone  of  sticks  laid 
tof'ether  like  tho  roof  of  a  hut,  and  a  iiali- 
sade  was  treeted  round  tho  cone.  Tliero 
was  an  oi)eniii^  on  one  side,  in  which  was 
l)laced  an  ugly  idol,  and  a  number  of  bits  of 
cloth  and  striugs  of  beads  were  bung  uiouud. 


THE  ANGOLESE. 


Westwakd  of  the  counti-y  which  has  just 
been  described  is  a  large  district  that  em- 
braces a  considerable  portion  of  the  coast, 
and  extends  far  inward.  This  country  is 
well  known  under  the  name  of  Angola. 
As  this  counti'v  has  been  held  for  several 
centuries  by  the  Portuguese,  who  liave 
extended  their  settlements  for  six  or  seven 
hundred  miles  into  tlu;  interior,  but  few  of 
tlie  original  manners  and  customs  have  sur- 
vived, and  even  those  have  been  modified 
by  the  contact  with  white  settlers.  As, 
however,  Angola  is  a  very  imiwrtant,  as 
well  as  larije  country,  a  short  account  will 
be  given  ot  the  natives  before  wo  proceed 
more  northward. 

Tho  chiefs  of  the  Angolese  are  elected, 
aad  tho  choice  must  be  made  fi-om  certain 


families.  In  one  place  there  are  throe 
families  from  which  tho  chief  is  chosen  in 
rotation.  The  law  of  succcBsion  is  rather 
remarkable,  tho  oldest  brother  inheriting 
l)roperty  in  preference  to  tho  son;  and  if  a 
married  man  dies,  his  children  belong  to  his 
widow's  eldest  brother,  who  not  unlre- 
quently  converts  them  into  property  by 
selling  them  to  tho  slave  deiders.  It  is  ill 
this  manner,  as  has  been  well  remarked, 
tliat  tho  slave  trade  is  supplied,  rather  than 
by  war. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  land,  although 
dark,  are  seldom  if  ever  black,  their  color 
being  brownish  red,  with  a  tinge  of  yellow; 
and,  although  they  are  so  close  to  the  coun- 
try inhabited  by  tho  true  negroes,  they  have 
but  few  of  the  negro  traits.    Their  features 


Tin:   MANIOC  ROOT. 


*ro  not  thodn  of  iho  noaro,  tho  noun  holnir 
rnthcT  ftqiiilliic,  iukI  Itroml  itt  lmHo,th"ir  liuir 
woolly,  but  tf.lcmhiy  Ion*?  ami  vory  iilmn- 
(Iniit,  iin-t  their  llp^  inodcrntely  thick.  The 
hmiil«  nil.!  (Vet  me  fXinil.iitoly 'M,>aW,  a„,l,  „„ 
Mr.  Uoiulo  ohNcrv.'H,  An«ol(!M«  HJnvnn  iiltonl 
n  Imld  poritniMr,  with  thoHti  who  nro  broiiirht 
from  thi'  Oonj^o. 

Of  thi' women  tlie  wntno  Irnvnller  wrUoM 
ii\  lerms  of  coiiHiileraliht  prainH,  lut  fnr  m 
their  nersoiml  iipiienriuice  t^oeH.  There  nrn 
ffirln  In  thai  eountry  who  Imve  Mueh  noft 
(Inrk  (-yi'n,  niieh  nweet  umlleH,  nnd  Hiu-h 
prneefiil  wiiys,  timt  Ihey  Involuntivrlly  win  n 
kind  of  love,  only  It  Ih  that  sort  of  netnl- 
love  whieh  Is  extended  to  ft  doj;,  ft  horno,  or 
n  bird,  anil  ba.-t  in  it  nolhinjj  of  tho  intelli'.et. 
They  are  gentle,  and  faithfnl,  and  loving  in 
their  own  way;  bnt,  thon),'h  they  can  in- 
Bplre  a  passion,  they  eannot  retain  tho  love 
Of  an  Inlelloeluai  man. 

Am  Ih  the  ease  with  thn  Balonda,  the  An- 
gole.se  live  greatly  on  manioe   rootn,  chletly 
for  the  same  reason  as  the  Irish  peasantry 
live  80  mneli  on  the  ()ot.ito,  i.  f.  because  Us 
CJilture  and  eookinj,'  (,'ive  vory  little  trouble 
The  lireparali.in  of  the  soil  and  planting  of 
the  Hhrnl)  are  the  work  of  slaves,  tlio  true 
AnRoIes('   havini,'  a  very  horror    of   hard 
wyrk.      (1on.se(|n,.ntlv    the    labor    is    vory 
mpci-fectly  iterformed.  tho  (rronnd    bein^ 
barely  scratched  by  tlii)  donble-bandh.d  li„o 
which    Is    used   by   dragjrinj,'   It  alons;  the 
ground  rather  than  by  striking  It  into  tlio 
oarth.  ° 

The  manioc  is,  however,  a  far  more  nse- 


Ml 


fill  pla.it  than  the  potato,  especially  the 
"sweet"  variety,  wbia,  isfree  from  the  pois- 
onous principle.     It  can  1)0  eaten  raw,  just 

roasted  or  boiled.  Sometimes  it  is  partially 
tcrmenled  then  dried  and^rround  into  meat, 

s»wvr,and  nmde  into  a.sortof  eonfectionerv 
i  10  leaves  can  be  boiled  and  eaten  as  a  voTi'- 

fn  .  f'  ?i'  '*  ,"'"y  '."'  "'"''''  '<»  K'«t«i  tl»e  Iftt. 
„'  'V"'l'''  '"""it'Ji'l  supply  of  milk.  The 
wood  atTords  an  (>xcollunt  fuel,  and,  when 
burned  it  furnishes  a  lar,.e  quantity  of  ^ 
Rsh.  On  the  averajre,  it  takes  about  a  year 
rlZ.s  ?  'V''*'^^'"'?  ?  Angola,  „„d  ^^ 
tilne.  ^^Qdod  once  during    tliat 

The  me.al  or  roots  cftnnot  be  stored  as 
^<7  are  liable  to  the  attacks  of  ii  weevil 

moThe2"H '''''•'''";!T  ""^'"'""'l  'heTefore 
nnothcr    plan    w    followed.      The    root    is 

Sr  s'  .  r,  ''■^'■-"™'-".  and  laid  onTeSoth 

no  rid  o  "''T  V^'f.  ^^«*'-'^  '«  «'«" 
,..„ii  1?",'''**'"'  "'P  ^^'"to  ahavinss  are 
well  rul)b<.d  with  the  hands.  Ail  the  starch- 
globules  are  thus  washed  out  of  their  cells 
ami  pai<s  th,onj,d,  the  cloth  into  the  vessel' 
below  together  with  tlie  water.     When  thh 

tTmoTb  '"f  "V"  '^"'•"^"  *"  «tan)rfor  some 
ledirn  .  'f  '"'?'?.  '""'^^  *="""''^''  "'  a  sort  of 
seaiment,  and  the  water  is  poured  away. 


Tho  sediment  U  then  wrnpod  out,  nnd 
placed  ru  an  iron  plate  whl,;i;  u  held  over 
ft  Iro.  1  he  gPlfttinouB  mass  In  then  contlnu- 
ally  stirred  with  n  sti,.k.  nn.l  bv  decree"  It 
torniM  itself  Into  little  translucent  KTohules 
which  are  almost  exactly  identical  wllli  thn 
taHloca  ol  commerce.  The  lulvanlaM  of 
converting  the  manioc-root  Into  tapioca  is, 
that  in  the  after  state  it  la  imperviotSs  to 
the  destructive  weevil. 

Home  parts  of'  Angola  are  low,  marshy, 
fee    /,':^«"-:,!"-^''''i"ff. '""<J  even   th«  nativ.m 

tir' .     '  "  w''"  ".    ^''"  """»'•  ''•"'  -nalarlous 
climate.     Ot  medicine,  however,  they  havn 
but  little  Idea,  lh,.|r  two  prineip  d  S     len 
being  cupi.ing  and  ..harmi.     The  fortm-r  s  a 
••niedy  which  is  Nii,«niarly  popular,  and  \n 
.•ondm^te.   in  mii.h  the  sanu,  way  through 
one  the  whole ,,.  Afri<-a  south  of  the  equator. 
The  operator  has  three  implements,  namely 
Ijsma/l  horn,  a  knife,  nnd'a  piece 'of  w,^ 
he  horn  is  cut  quite  level  at  the  base,  ami 
^m"?n.h""" rl  '"■**"  ""'t  tbe  edge  be  perfectly 
smooth.    The  smaller  end  is  perforated  with 
a  very  small  |,ole.    This  horn  is  ".Mierally 
ed  tr      itring  and  huiiK  round  the  neck  of 
the   "wner,  who  IS   iisually   a  professional 
physician.    The  knife  is  small,  ai  d  slmned 
exactly  like  the  little  Hcchuana  knife  show, 
at  the  top  ot  pajre  281. 

When  the  cupping  horn  is  to  be  used,  the 
wide  end  is  placed  on  the  ulllicttul  part,  an.l 
pressed  down   tightly,  while  the   n.outh   is 

h^llh.*^!  t'"  """"'/■»''.«'"»  the  air  ex- 
hausted. The  operator  continues  to  suck 
for  some  nnnnents,  and  then  rcinoveH  the 
born,  and  su.ldenly  makes  three  or  four 
gashes  with  the  knife  on  the  rai.se.l  and 
redden(<d  skin.  The  horn  is  again  amilied 
nnd  when  the  operator  has  sucked  out  the 
n  r  as  tar  as  h,s  lungs  will  aih.w  him,  he 
places  with  his  tongue  a  small  piece  of  wax 
«>n  the  end  of  the  horn,  introduces  his  (iiiger 
into  his  mouth,  presses  tho  wax  flnnly  on 

in,.  I!  "  !'l'^'""':"  ?<>  '«*  t"  exclude  the  air, 
and  then  allows  the  Ijorn  to  remain  adherent 
>y  the  j)re.siiure  of  the  atmosphere.  Tho 
blood  of  course  runs  into  the  horn,  and  in  a 
short  tiine  coagulates  into  a  flat  circular 

«ni  •.P*'.'^"''  '?  *''^'"  removed  from  the 
end  ol  the  horn,  tho  latter  is  taken  off,  tlie 
uilte  of  l,lood  put  aside,  and  the  prwess 
lepeated  until  the  operator  and  patient  are 

StltlSflCCl. 

Dr.  Livingstone  mentions  a  case  in  wliich 
this  8t:range  predilection  for  the  cupping 
horn  clearly  hivstened.  even  if  it  did  not  pro- 
duce the  death  of  a  child.  Tlie  whol^  story 
18  rather  a  singular  one.  and  shows  the  state 
01  religious,  or  rather  superstitious,  foelinc 
amons  the  native  Angolese.  It  so  happt-nca 
that  ft  Portuguese  trader  died  in  a  villaRe. 
and  atler  his  death  the  other  trailers  niet 
and  disposed  of  his  property  among  thein- 
se!v_es,  e.wi  man  accounting  for  his  portion 
to  the  relations  of  the  deceased,  who  lived  at 
iiounda,  the  principal  town  of  Angola.    Tho 


THE  ANGOLESB. 


generality  of  the  natives,  not  undfjrstandinji; 
the  nature  of  written  obligation",  thouglii 
that  the  traders  had  sinipiv  sold  tUo  goods 
and  appropriated  tiie  money. 

8omo  time  afterwai\l  the  child  of  a  man 
who  had  bought  some  of  this  property  fell 
ill.  unJ  the  mother  sent  for  the  diviner  in 
order  to  tind  out  the  cause  of  its  ailment. 
Aftet  throwing  his  magic  dice,  and  working 
himself  up  to  the  proper  pitch  of  ecstatic 
fury,  the  p  ophet  announced  that  tl.^.  chi.d 
was  being  killed  by  the  s^iirit  of  the  docciwed 
trader  in  revenge  for  his  stolon  property. 
The  mother  was  quite  satisfied  with  (he  rev- 
elation, imd  wanted  to  give  the  prophet  a 
slave  by  way  of  a  fee.  The  father,  however, 
,  was  less  amenable,  and,  on  learning  the 
result  of  the  investigation,  lie  took  a  friend 
with  him  to  the  place  where  the  diviner  was 
still  in  his  state  of  trance,  and  by  the  appli- 
cation of  two  sticks  to  his  back  restored  him 
to  his  senses.  Even  after  this  the  ignorant 
mother  wou'd  not  allow  the  child  to  be 
treateu  with  European  medicines,  but  in- 
sisted on  cupping  it  on  the  cheek;  and  the 
consequence  was,  that  in  n  short  fine  the 
child  died. 

The  Angolese  are  a  marvellously  super- 
stitious jieople,  and,  so  far  from  having  lost 
any  of  their  superstitions  by  four  centuries 
of  connection  with  the  Portuguese,  they 
seem  rather  to  have  infected  tl-eir  white 
visitors  with  tliem.  Ordeals  of  several  kinds 
are  in  great  use  among  them,  especially  the 
poison  ordeal,  '  'ieh  has  extended  Itself 
throufih  so  lai-R,  a  portion  of  Africa,  and 
slays  its  tliousands  annually.  One  curious 
point  in  the  An  jfolese  orcfeal  is,  tliat  it  is 
administered  in  one  particular  spot  on  the 
l).<ink8  of  the  river  Dua,  and  that  persons 
who  ar(!  .iccused  of  crime,  especially  of 
Avitchcraft,  will  travel  hundreds  of  miles  to 
the  sacred  spot,  strong  in  their  belief  that 
the  poison  tree  will  do  them  no  harm.  It  is 
hardly  necessary  to  stjite  that  the  guilt  or 
innocence  of  the  person  on  trial  depends 
wholly  on  the  caprice  of  the  medieine  man 
who  prepares  tne  poi'^onous  draught,  and 
that  he  may  either  weaken  it  or  substitute 
anot'ier  mattirial  .vithout  being  discovered 
by  these  credulous  people. 

As,  according  to  balonda  ideas,  the  spirits 
of  the  decciised  are  aiway.s  with  their  friends 
on  earth,  partakiii"  equally  in  their  jovs  and 
sorrows,  helping  those  whom  they  love,  ar.*i 
thwarting  those  whom  they  hate,  tliey  are 
therefore  supposed  to  share  in  an  etliereal 
sort  of  way  in  the  meals  taken  by  their 
f'iends;  and  it  follows  that  when  a  man 
denieo  himself  food,  he  is  not  only  starving 
himself,  but  afflicting  the  spirits  of  his  ances- 
tors. Sa<'riHces  uro  a  necessary  .jsult  of 
this  idea,  as  is  the  eookii;g  and  latiiig  of  the 
flesh  by  those  wiio  oflVr  them. 

Their  theory  of  ekncKs  is  a  very  simple 
oiii^.     They  fnnrv  (ha*^  if  the  spirits  ai'  th: 


treat  them  properly,  and  give  them  plenty 
to  eat  and  arink,  the  best  thing  to  do  is  to 
take  out  of  the  world  such  useless  allies,  in 
order  to  make  room  for  others  who  will  treat 
them  better.  The  same  idea  also  runs  into 
their  propitiatory  sa<:riiici>s.  If  one  man 
kills  another,  the  murderer  oilers  sacrilices 
to  his  victim,  thinking  that  if  when  he  (list 
(iuds  himself  a  spirit,  instead  of  a  n.an,  he 
is  treated  to  an  abundant  feast,  he  wi",  not 
harbor  feelings  of  revenge  against  the  man 
who  sent  him  out  of  the  winld,  and  deprived 
him  of  all  its  joys  and  jjleasures.  It  is  said 
that  in  some  jiarts  of  the  count rv  human 
sacrilices  are  used,  a  cerlain  sect  existing 
who  kill  men  in  order  to  oiler  their  icarts  to 
the  spirits. 

Marriages  among  the  Angolese  still  retain 
simie  remnant  of  their  origiii.il  eeiemonies. 
The  bride  is  (akoii  to  a  hut,  anoinied  with 
various  charmed  prepar.itioiis,  mid  then  leit 
alone  while  jiraycrs  are  oll'ered  Cor  a  happy 
'/mrriage  and  plenty  of  male  children,  a 
large  family  of  sons  being  one  of  the 
greatest  blessings  that  can  (idl  (o  the  lut  of 
an  Angolese  household.  Daughters  are 
comparatively  despised,  but  a  woman  who 
has  never  presenti'd  her  husband  with  chil- 
dren of  eilher  sex  is  looked  upon  with  the 
greatest  scorn  and  contempt.  Her  more 
fortunate  com])anioiis  are  by  no  means  slow 
in  expressing  their  opinion  of  her,  and  in  the 
wedding  songs  sui.g  in  honor  of  a  bride  arc 
s'lro  to  introduce  a  line  or  two  reflecting  upon 
h"r  usel(  .ssiiess,  and  hoping  tlia*  the  bride  will 
not  be  so  unjiroli table  a  wife  as  togive  neither 
sons  nor  daughters  to  her  husbiiiid  as  a  rec- 
ompense for  (he  money  which  he  hn"  paid 
for  her.  So  bitter  are  these  -.voids,  that  the 
woman  at  whom  thisy  were  aimed  has  been 
more  tlian  once  known  to  rush  oil'  and 
destroy  he-self. 

After  several  days  of  this  performance, 
the  bride  is  taken  to  another  hut,  (Uotlied  in 
all  the  finery  that  she  possesses  w  can  bor- 
row for  the  occasion,  led  out  in  public,  and 
acknowledged  as  a  married  woinun.  She 
then  goes  to  her  husband's  diselling,  but 
always  has  a  hut  (o  her.self 

Into  their  funeral  ceremonies  the  Ango- 
lese contrive  to  inlroduee  iniiny  of  their 
superstitions.  Just  belbre  death  (lie  iVieiidf; 
set  up  their  wailing  cry  (w'lieh  must  bo 
very  con.  .latory  to  the  dying  jjerson),  and 
continue  this  oiitcry  for  a  day  or  two  almost 
without  cessation,  accompanying  themselves 
with  a  i)e"culiar  musical  instniment  which 
produces  tones  of  a  simi'.ir  cluuacter.  For 
a  day  or  two  the  survivors  an^  ciiiployed  in 
gatliering  materials  for  a  gran  I   feast,  in 


lieir  prop- 
inipo\erisIied  for 


which  they  expend  so  nnuli  oi 
erty  that  they  arc  often  inipo 
years.  They  even  keep  pijj.s  and  t)ther  ani- 
mals in  case  some  of  their  friends  might 
die,  when  they  would  be  useful  at  the 
j  funeral.     True  to  tlu-  Idea  Ihal  the  sjiirit  of 


dead  find  that  their  living  Inends  do  not  I  the  dead  partakes  of  the  pleasures  of  the  liv 


DR.  LIVINGSTONE'S  SUMMARY. 


ing,  they  fop^t  continually  until  all  tho  food 
IS  expended,  interposing  their  rcvellini?  with 
songs  and  dances.    The  usual  drum  beatinjr 
goes  on  during  tho  time,  and  scarcely  one  of 
the  party  is  to  be  found  sober.     Indeed  a 
man  who  would  voluntarily  remain  sober 
woidd    bo  looked    upon  as  despisin-'    the 
incmory  of  tho  dead.    Dr.  Livingf.tono"men- 
tions  that  a  native  who  appeared  in  a  state 
ot   uitoxication,   and  was    blamed    for    it 
remarked  in  a  surprised  tone.  "Whv  mv 
mother  is  deadl  "  '       '"•''"'y 

They    have   a  curious    hankering   after 
cross-roads  as  a  place  of  interment,  and 
although  the  Portuguese,  the  real  masters  of 
the  land,  have  endeavored  to  abolish  tho  cus- 
tom, the}  ..iivo  not  yet  succeeded  In  doing 
80,  ev(Mi  though  they  inflict  heavy  Hues  on 
those  who  disobeyed  them,  and  api)ointed 
places  of  public  interment.    Even  whcm  the 
interment  of   the  body  in   the  cross-road 
Itself  has  been  prevented,  the  natives  have 
micceeded  m  digging  tho  grave  by  the  side 
01  tne  path.    (Jn  and  around  it  they  plant 
certain  species  of  euphorbias,  and  on  the 
grave  they  lay  various  articles,  such  as  cook- 
"ig  vessels,  water  bottles,  pipes,  and  arms. 

hi  r!f'H"'''''w'''  '''■°  ''"  ^''«''e»  "I'l^l  useless, 
being  thought   equally  serviceable   to  the 

no^onf  f  I-  '^'"''^'''1  ?l>eeinieus,  and  aflbnling 
no  temptation  ^o  thieves. 

A  very  remarkable  and  striking  picture 

CO.  n?rvT"' •'*''  t'/""' «"Perstition8,and their 
coi  ntry,  is  given  by  Dr.  Livingstone  in  the 
lo.lowing  passage:—  •"  "«. 

"When  the  natives  turn  their  eyes  to  the 
ftiture  world,  they  have  a  view  cheerless 
enough  of  their  own  utter  helplessness  and 

Vl&7:ii    '""'•^  '■'^"7  theSsdvef  co^^ 
hS  '"/'o,P"^vcr  o^  tho  disembodied 

h?win';  nf  ^  '''"^,  "I'""  "»°  P™«Peet  of  fol- 
lowi  g  lu,in  as  the  greatest  of  misfortunes. 

wrath  „f"7  ''■^'=?n«t"ntly  deprecating  the 
wrath  of  departed  souls,  believing  thlt   il 


383 

j!!*'LTi^P'?'"\^''<^'  *''«>■«  '8  no  other  cause  of 
hrcharms!''''''''''^'  ^'"•^"  """y  '"'  "^•''t^d 

AnZ'r  '^''"'°,of  f'o  colored  population  of 

^Kvf.r  '"H  *?"'««'  gross 'superstitions 
but  have  the  opinion,  notwithstanding,  that 

^vhLT■'V^  '"J'"««  ™''»"^"'-«  than^'their 
ne««nf'l^  !''"'■•''•  ^'^^'^  *"''« '''»« ''  eonsciouR: 
thTi.f  f  """""i^  '''  °^'»  ''^'^t  interests  in 
t  fn^f  I'T-  ,/''"y  *•■«  ^y  ""means  desfl- 
te  of  that  self-esteem  which  .s  so  common 

hantom,  and  have  half-developed  ideas  and 

S  whaT  %fr 'Z'^'""  ""■  '!•"'''■'  ^hey  know 
not  wiiat.     The  pleasures  of  animal  life  are 

ever  present  to  their  minds  as  thrsunrome 

Rood;  and,  but  for  the  innumerable  i""S! 

mahl  n7  ""^"''  '^"••'"y  ^''^•"-  "'xurious  c  . 

It"  do.  "*  ''    "  ^'"'"''''''  ^''"'  ™"n 

"  I    I>ftye    often  thought,    in    travellinff 

through  the  r  land,  that  it  ,,Vese„fs  Sof 
of  beauty  which  angels  might  enjov.  IIow 
often  have  I  beheld  in  still  mornings  srene^ 
the  very  essence  of  beauty,  and  all  bathed  in 
a  quiet  air  of  delicio^s^varmth!  yet  tl " 
occasional  soft  motion  imparled  a  pleasing 
sensation  of  coolness,  nn  of  a  fan.'  C ireen 
grassy  meadows  the  cattle  feeding,  the  -oat« 
Krowsing,  the  kids  skipping;  tin"  groun"  of 
henlboys  with  miniature  bows,  anCs'  and 
spears;  the  women  wending  their  way  to 

oir  hnn'  T'"'  ^^'''*<^'-P.o'«  l'"i^ed  .lanntily  on 
their  heads;  men  sewing  under  the  sbadv 
banians;  and  old  gray-headed  flu.ers  s  tS 
on  the  ground,  with  staff  in  hand,  listening 
fin!  mo'ning  gossip,  while  others  can-y 
trees  or  branches  to  repair  their  iK.dges;  anj 
8hinr'.n?rr' '^/f»\t»'e,I.rif,'ht  Afrieau'snn- 
shino  and  the  birds  singing  amono'  thp 
branches  before  the  heaf  of  the  day  K 
become  intense,  form  pictures  which  can 
never  be  forgotten." 


Il 


111 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 


THE  WAGOGO  AND  WANYAMUEZI. 


THE  MANY  Am)  TBAN8ITORY  TRIBES  OP  AFBICA  —  UOOOO  AND  THE  PEOPLE  — UNPLEASANT  CHARACTER 
OF  THE  WAOOGO  — THEFT  At<D  EXTORTION  —  WAOOOO  GREEDINKSS  — THE  WANYAMUKZI  OB  WBEZKB 
TRIBE—THEIH  VALUE  AS  OUIDB8  — DRESS  OF  THE  MEN  — "SAMBO"  RINGS  — WOMEN'S  DHESS  AND 
OUNAMBNT8— HAIB-DHESSINO  —  OENEKAL  CHAIIACTEU  OF  THE  WOMEN— WEEZEK  ARCHITECTUBK 
—  USE  OF  THE  DRUM- SALITTATION  — SULTAN  STIRADODT  — THE  HUSBAND'S  WEIX'OME —  GAMES 
AND  DANCES  — SHAM  FKIHTS— PITCH  AND  TOSS  — NIGHT  IN  A  WEEZEE  VILLAGE  —  BREWIKO  AND 
DRINKING  POMUE  — HARVEST  SCENE  —  SUPERSTITIONS  —  FUNERALS. 


We  will  now  pas'*  from  Ihc  west  to  the  cast 
of  Africa,  and  accompany  Cajitains  Speke 
and  Grant  in  their  jonrney  through  the 
extraordinary  tril)es  that  exist  between 
Zanzibar  and  Nortliern  Africa.  It  will  be 
impossible  to  describe  in  detail  the  many 
tribes  that  inhabit  this  tract,  or  even  to 
give  the  briefest  account  of  them.  We 
shall  therefore  select  a  few  of  the  most  im- 
portant among  them,  and  describe  them  as 
fully  as  our  v<'ry  limited  space  will  permit. 

Perhaps  the  "reader  may  think  it  strange 
that  we  are  lingering  so"  long  in  this  part 
of  the  world.  'I'iie  reason  is,  that  Africa, 
southern  and  equatorial,  is  fdled  with  a  be- 
wildering variety  of  singular  tribes,  c.ich  of 
which  has  manners  and  customs  unicpie  in 
themselves,  and  presents  as  great  a  contrast 
to  its  neighbors  as  if  they  were  8e))ara(ed 
by  seas  or  mountain  ranges.  Sonic'iimes 
they  merge  into  each  other  by  indefinable 
gradations,  but  often  the  line  of  demarca- 
tion is  boldly  and  sharjjly  drawn,  so  that 
the  tribe  which  inhabits  one  bank  of  a  river 
is  utterly  unlike  that  which  occupies  the 
opi)osite  bank,  in  ajipeaiance,  in  habits,  and 
in  language.  In  one  case,  for  exami)Ie,  the 
people  who  live  on  one  side  of  the  river  are 
remarkable  for  the  scrujjulous  completeness 
with  which  both  sexes  are  chad,  while  on 
the  other  side  no  clothing  whatever  is  worn. 

The  same  clause  which  has  given  us  the 
knowledge  of  these  remarkable  tribes  will 
inevitably  be  tlie  precursor  of  their  disap- 
pt-nranco.  The  white  man  has  set  Iris  foot 
on  their  soil,  and  from  that  moment  may 


1384) 


I 


be  dated  their  gradual  bnt  certain  deca- 
dence. They  have  learned  the  value  of 
fire-arms,  and  covet  them  beyond  every- 
thing. Their  chiefs  have  already  aban- 
doned the  use  of  their  native  weapons, 
having  been  wealthy  enough  to  purchase 
muskets  from  the  white  men,  or  iiowerful 
enough  to  extort  them  as  presents.  The 
example  which  they  have  set  is  sure  to  ex- 
tend to  the  people,  and  a  few  jears  will 
therefore  witness  the  entire  abandonment 
of  native-made  weapons.  With  the  weaj)- 
ons  their  mode  <>l'  warfare  will  be  changed, 
and  in  course  of  time  the  whole  pcojile  will 
undergo  such  modifications  that  they  will 
lie  an  essentially  different  race.  It  is  the 
object  of  this  work  to  bring  togelhei',  as  fur 
as  possible  in  a  limited  space,  tlio  most 
remarkable  of  these  jierishing  usages,  and 
it  is  therefore  necessary  to  exjiend  the  mt)st 
space  on  the  country  that  all'ords  most  of 
them. 

The  line  that  we  now  have  to  follow  can 
be  seen  by  referring  to  a  map  of  Africa. 
We  shall  start  from  Zanzibar  on  the  cast 
coast,  go  westward  and  northward,  pass- 
ing liy  the  Unyamuezi  an<l  Wabunia  to 
the  great  Nyaiiza  lakes.  Here  we  shall 
come  upon  th((  track  of  Hir  Sanuiel  Haker, 
and  shall  then  accompany  him  northward 
among  the  tribes  which  he  visited. 

Passing  by  a  number  of  tril)es  which  we 

cannot  stop  to   invt^stigate,  we  come  upon 

tl'     Wasiogo,  who  inhabit  t'^gogo,  a  district 

:^   lat.   4"  S.  and   !<»:-.  3fr  E.     Here  I 

Ay  mention  that,  although  the  language  of 


JTT  CHARACTER 
K7.1  OK  WBEZKB 
'.N'S  DHESS  AND 
AUCHITECTUBB 
X'OME  —  GAMES 
-BREWIWO  AND 


'ortain  deca- 
Ihe  value  of 
'Vond  cvery- 
Ircasly  aban- 
ivc  weapons, 

to  purcliase 

or  jKjwcrlul 
cscnts.  The 
s  sure  to  ex- 
w  years  will 
ibandonincnt 
III  till'  weaj)- 

l)e  eliaugod, 
e  peojile  will 
lat  tiiev  will 
'.  It  is  tlie 
L^ellici',  as  far 
e,   tlio   most 

usa,ij;es,  and 
und  the  most 
.>rds  most  of 

lo  follow  can 
p  of  Africa, 
ou  the  cast 
iward,  pass- 
Wahunia  to 
■re  we  shall 
inuel  Uaker, 
1  northward 
ed. 

es  wliicli  wc 

come  upon 

j;o,  a  district 

E.     Here  1 

language  of 


some  of  these  tribes  is  so  different  that  the 
people  cannot  understand  each  otlier  in 
most  o(  them  the  pn^flx  "Wa"  indicates 
plurality,  like  the  word  "men"  in  Eno-. 
lish.  Ihus  the  people  of  Ugogo  are  the 
Wagogo,  and  the  mhabitants  of  Unyamuezi 


THEFT  AND  EXTORTION'. 


385 


o..,.  ti.  Wr —  •"■"". wviii-a  ui  unyamuezi 
me  the  Wanyamuezi,  pronounced,  for  brev- 
ity s  sake,  W^eezee.  An  individual  of  the 
Wagogo  IS  called  Mgogo. 

The  Wagogo  are  a  wild  set  of  people 
such  as  mi>'ht  be  expected  from  the  countrv 
in  which  they  live.    Their  color  is  reddish- 
brown,  with  a  tinge  of  black  ;  and  when  the 
Bkm  happens  to  be  clean,  it  is  said  to  look 
like  a  very  ripe  plum.    They  are  scanty 
dressers,  wearing  little   except  a  cloth  of 
some  kind  round  the  waist ;   but   they  are 
excee<lingly  fond  of  ornaments,  by  means 
of  which  tliey  generally  contrive   to   make 
themselves  as  ugly  as  possible.    Their  p"in- 
cipal   ornament  is  the    tubular  end    of  a 
gourd,   which  is   thrust  through   the   ear'- 
but    they  also    decorate   their  heads   with 
hanks    ot    hark    fibre,  which    thev    twist 
among  their  thick  woolly  hair,  and  which 
nave  a  most  absurd  ai)pearance  when  the 
wearer  is  running  or  leaping.    Sometimes 
they  weave  strings  of  beads  into  the  hair 
m  a  simtlar  manner,  or  fasten  an  ostrich 
leather  ujion  their  heads. 

ohTJ,'.^-^'  i""''  "°^  **  '"""^''^''^^  P'^oP'e,  but,  like 

others  who  are  not  remarkable  for  courac^e 

they  always  go  armed,    a    Mgogo    mvcr 

walking  wi(  lout  his  spe'ar  and'slTield,  and 

perhaps  a  short  club,  also  to  be  used  a"  a 

"uasile.    The  shield  is  oblong,  and  m  de  of 

eather,  an,   the  spear  hivs  noti  ing  ren     ka- 

ble  about  it;    and,  as  Captain "sS    , v- 

biiovv  iiian  tor  use. 

Tho_y  are   not  a  pleasant  people,   heiiio. 

fl  Int  ,  ''•"■■''  """'  ■'^"'■^  to  bully  if  'thev 
t hmk  they  can  do  so  with  safetv."^  If  t"av. 
e lers  p^tss  through  their  countiT,  they  are 
a  1  loymg    b.yond    endurance,  je'e- u^    at 

toKlnig  themselves  among  the  party  and 
t  r  iin.    over    everything  "that    t  ley '  " 
reives  S  "r^'r^'  "^"  'brcing^^hm- 

^^'ZiSr^r'ti:"^''"r^ '^-"""-V.nS 

does  not  choose^o'eSUuer""'"'^  ^^"«« 

every  ,,ni,,,rtnniH-nf,,'    •  "    ^^'»S;ofr<>  seize 

coni,f  in' !  "l  oi  '  irrftorf '"fi  "T*^','"'-'^  ^^■''" 
tiix   or  ''hoZ"   xS'  .  I^<;«"''' the  usual 

J.ermissiou  "7";,,ss     tuT-h^'Tr'^''  /"■• 

tji^;de„iam,aiLort;;:}^^:Li!ter::;£ 
t-^ap^^^irb;;iS£^Sc^s; 


the  owner  Immediately  claimed  as  com-pn 
satmn  something  of  ten  times  its  vnlu™' 
Magomba,  the  chief,  j.rovcd   himself  an 

reside   rf  T^^^*"'  '•«1»««ting  Ca,,taiii  Speke  to 

hSh  trr,"'"^"  ''""'°'  ''"'  "»''  fla'ttering 

rio^uf  1  '^T'^*!™"^  proposal  was  at  once 

tnis  part  of  the  country  are  small  and  in 

iX'wuh^'S"  "•'."""' '»-"  tb."  m  :i 

nura   with  flat-topped    roofs,   this    khwl   nf 

"2mbe  """in'^r  '^■^"';^  '/^  «"  >--  " 
lemoe.       in   the  next  pace,   the  cliif-r* 

^T.  ^^  «r.i^«ntly  to  iiolat,  Se  ^eadS 
of  the  expedition  from  his  companions  and 
so  to  have  a  hold  upon  him.    Tl  is  le  con^d 

walled'l'^f  V"'  ''''  villages  are  sUvm"  y 
Tl  \  ?°  .V^^*  ^  traveller  who  is  once 
ont  r."*  ''^!^''  *'''^'"  <^°"1'1  "Ot  escape  vv  h! 
uuiis.  Unlike  the  villages  of  the  Soiiihom 
Africans,  which  are  invarial.lv  <'ircuru  1  eV. 
are  invariably  oblong,  and  both  he  wall  4d 
the  houses  are  made  of  mud  ""'^ 

nomhf  f?''^  Magomba  had  drunk  so  much 

Which,  of  course,    meant    one    of   t\fenfv 
times  Its  value.     llaviiKr  secure     (l.k   V'^ 
proceeded  to  further  extort  "|^/  «      ^.i:^ 
Ca,,t:un  Grant  of  having  shot  a  li.a  d  o    ^ 
stone  which  lie  was  plelvsed  to  cal    sacn,i 
So  too,  none  of  them  would  -nve  anv  infi  ' 
mation  without  bein-  naidl.r  f/^    f  V 
because  they  thought-  tffth    .•  %to^l 
was    not    sumciently    successfu      they    ,c 
veuged    themselves   l,y   tellin-   the   ,fati\^ 
porters  such  horrifyin;^  tales  of    L  i?, 

S;^''"^\/^^«^;^'*^«"'^-tto'^is?aJi;^ 

Snn-  to^„^  '/""^  '/jn.^^vay,  some  for- 
„ecnng  lo  put  down  the  r  loads  Tlu-xn 
tactics  were  repeate.l  at  every  v  11  ..^e  near 

Koods  which  would  have  l)e,.n  <lue    o  the m  • 

tL^'Sltsr'- "-^ '^'^'r-i '^"™^^ 

tno  rascally  Wagogo  Iuk  arranged  th.t 
tI«oy  should  do  so,"  and  then  they  wo  id 
go  shares  in  the  plunder.  ^    "* 

refused  rs?,.r,/'''-' •^'  ''••'"*  "'•'^  ""*  «nly 
niusKi  to  sell  provisions  exc(>iit  at  -in  pv 

orbitan   rate,  but.  when  the  1  eador.  if  L' 

l^xpedition  shot  game   to  su  .        to   j  tt 

)ii.i"V  '-t"  ''^•'T''' '"''"  ^""h  his  arms.  an,l 

wM«n  fi       '  ""'"'''■■''  *"""'<l  reach  it.    Once 
>vllen  they  were  sadly  in  want  of  Ibod  Spl 


S80 


THE  WANYAMUEZI. 


tain  Spoko  went  at  night  in  search  of  game, 
and  shot  a  rliinoceros.  liy  earliest  dawii 
he  gave  notice  to  his  men  that  there  was 
plenty  of  meat  lor  thoin. 

"  Wo  Iiail  all  now  to  hurry  back  to  the 
carcass  bol'ore  the  Wagogo  could  And  it; 
but,  though  this  precaution  was  quickly 
taken,  still,  before  the  tough  skin  of  the 
beast  coulii  be  cut  through,  the  "Wagogo 
began  ivssyniljling  like  vultures,  and  fighting 
with  my  men.  A  more  savage,  filthy,  dis- 
gusting but  at  the  same  time  grotesque, 
scene  than  that  which  followed  cannot  be 
described.  All  fell  to  work  with  swords 
spears,  knives,  and  hatchets,  cutting  ami 
slashing,  tlmmping  and  bawling,  lighting 
and  tearing,  up  to  their  knees  in  filth  and 
blood  in  the  middle  of  the  carcass.  When 
a  tempting  morsel  fell  to  the  possession  of 
any  one,  a  stronger  neighbor  would  seize 


and  bear  off  the  prize  in  trhimph.  All  right 
was  now  a  matter  of  pure  might,  and  lucky 
It  was  that  it  did  not  end  in  a  light  betwi^en 
our  men  and  the  villagers.  These  might 
be  afterward  seen,  covered  with  blood, 
8camj)eriug  home  eacli  one  with  his  sjioil  — 
a  piece  of  tripe,  or  liver,  or  lights,  or  what- 
ever else  it  might  have  been  his  fortune  to 
get  off  with."  The  artist  has  represented 
this  scene  on  the  next  page. 

It  mi'dit  be  imagined  that  the  travellers 
were  only  too  glad  to  be  fairly  out  of  the 
dominions  of  this  tiil)e,  who  had  contrived 
to  cheat  and  rob  them  in  every  way,  and 
had  moreover,  through  sheer  spite  antl  cov- 
etousness,  frightened  away  more  thnn  a  hun- 
dred porters  who  had  been  engaged  to  carry 
tho  va.st  quantities  of  goods  wit!;  which  the 
traveller  must  bribe  the  chiefs  of  tho  ditl'er- 
ent  places  through  which  he  passes. 


THE  WANYAMUEZI. 


The  next  tribe  which  we  shall  mention 
is  that  which  is  called  Wanyamuezi.  For- 
tunately the  natives  seldom  use  this  word 
in  full,  and  speak  of  themselves  as  Weezee, 
a  word  mucli  easier  to  say,  and  certjiinly 
simpler  to  write.  In  the  singular  tho  name 
is  Myamuezi.  The  country  which  they 
inhabit  is  called  Unyamuozi,"  The  CounlrV 
of  the  Moon.  TTnyamiiezi  is  a  largo  dis'- 
trict  about  the  size  "of  England,  in  lat.  5°  S. 
and  between  long,  li"  and  6°  E.  .Formerly 
it  must  have  been  a  great  empire,  but  it  has 
nowsuftered  the  fate  of  most  African  tribes, 
and  is  split  into  a  number  of  petty  tribes, 
each  jealous  of  the  other,  and  each  "liable  to 
continual  subdivision. 

For  many  rejusons  this  is  a  most  remark- 
able tribe.  They  are  almost  the  only  jieo- 
i)le  near  Central  Africa  who  will  willingly 
leave  their  own  country,  and,  for  the  sake 
of  wages,  will  act  as  porters  or  guides  to 
distant  counti-ies.  It  seems  that  this  capa- 
bility of  travel  is  hereditary  among  them, 
and  that  they  have  been  from  time  imme- 
morial the  greatest  trading  tribe  in  Africa 
It  waa  to  this  tribe  that  the  porters  belonged 
Who  were  induced  by  the  Waiiogo  to  desert 


Captain  Speke,  and  none  knew  better  than 
«  themselves  that  in  no  other  tribe  could  he 
find  men  to  supply  their  places. 

The  Weezee  are  not  a  handsome  race, 
being  inferior  in  jiersonal  ai)pearance  to  the 
Wagogo.  though  handsome  individuals  of 
both  sexes  may  be  found  among  them. 
Like  the  Wagogo,  they  arc  not  a  martial 
race,  though  they  always  travel  with  their 
weapons,  such  n»  they  are,  i.  e.  a  very  inetti- 
cient  bow  and  a  couple  of  arrows.  Their 
dress  is  simple  enough.  They  wear  tho 
ordinary  cloth  round  the  loins;  but  when 
they  start  on  a  Journey  thev  bans  over  their 
Shoulders  a  dressed  goatakiu,  which  pasSes  i 


over  ono  shoulder  and  under  the  other.  On 
account  of  ita  narrowness,  it  can  hardly 
answer  any  purpose  of  warmth,  and  for. the 
same  reason  can  hardly  bo  intended  to  servo 
as  a  covering.  However,  it  seems  to  be  the 
lasluon,  and  they  all  wear  it. 

They  decorate  themselves  with  plenty  of 
oriianicnts,  some  of  which  are  used  as  amu- 
lets, ami  the  others  merely  worn  as  decora- 
tion. They  have  one  verv  curious  mode  of 
making  their  bracelets.  They  take  a  single 
hair  ot  a  girafte's  Uiil,  wrap  it  round  with 
wire.  Just  like  the  bass  string  of  a  violin, 
and  then  twist  this  compound  rope  round 
their  wrists  or  ankles.  These  rings  arc 
called  by  tho  name  of"  sambo,"  and,  tliough 
they  arc  mostly  worn  bv  women,  the  men 
will  put  them  on  when  "they  have  nothing 
better.  Their  usual  bracelets  are.  however, 
heavy  bars  of  cojjper  or  iron,  beaten  into 
the  proper  shape.  Like  other  natives  in 
the  extreme  South,  they  knock  out  the  two 
central  incisor  teeth  of  the  lower  jaw,  and 
chip  a  V-liko  space  between  the  correspond- 
ing teeth  of  the  upper  jaw. 

The  women  are  liir  better  dressed.  They 
wear  tolerably  large  cloths  made  by  tbeni- 
selves  of  native  cotton,  and  cover  the  whole 
body  from  under  tho  arms  to  below  the 
knees.  They  wear  the  sambo  rings  in  vast 
profusion,  winding  them  round  and  round 
their  wrists  and  ankles  until  the  limbs  are 
sheathed  in  metallic  armor  for  six  or  seven 
inches.  If  they  can  do  so,  thev  naturally 
prefer  wearing  calico  and  other  material's 
brought  from  Europe,  partlv  because  it  is  a 
sign  of  wealth,  and  partlv  because  it  is  much 
lighter  than  the  native-made  cotton  cloths, 
thoiierh  not  so  durable. 

Their  woolly  hair  is  plentiAilly  dressed 
with  oil  and  twisted  up  v.ntn  st  a  littlv  di-- 
tance  they  look  m  if  they  had  a  headdress 


mi)h.  All  Jiiiflit 
i<;iit.,  und  liiiky 
I  lij^ht  b(>t,w(!(!n 
Thcso  iiii;^ht 
il  with  l)loo(l, 
fith  his  Mjioil  — 
lifj;lils,  or  wlint- 
his  fortiiiui  to 
lOS  rcprt!8untiHl 

f  the  travcllors 
Irly  out  of  tli(i 
had  contriv<'(l 
3Vcry  wiiy,  and 
spite  iiiid  cov- 
)rij  tliMuahun- 
igas;e(l  to  carry 
A'it!;  which  tlio 
s  of  the  diU'er- 
paases. 


the  other.  On 
it  can  liardly 
th,  and  for. the 
ended  to  servo 
Jonis  to  be  tlie 

ivilh  plenty  of 
!  used  as  amii- 
)rn  as  dccora- 
irious  mode  of 
.'  take  a  Kin<;le 
it  round  with 
Iff  of  a  violin, 
d  rope  round 
i^sc  rings  are 
,"  and,  though 
nen,  tlie  men 
have  nothing 
are.  however, 
,  beaten  into 
er  natives  in 
w  out  the  two 
)wcr  jaw,  a!ul 
e  correspond- 

■csscd.  They 
idc  by  theiu- 
,'er  the  whole 
;o  below  the 
rings  in  vast 
d  and  round 
he  limbs  nro 
six  or  seven 
ley  naturally 
u>r  materials 
ccauso  it  is  a 
so  it  is  much 
otlou  cloths, 

fblly  dressed 

t  a  little  di=- 
a  headdress 


(1.)  WAOOOO  (;i{||.|,iv|,m.   ,u 


■■)   ARCUITKCTLKE  OF  THE  WEkviu 
(887) 


al 

St 

ni 
to 
of 
wl 
foi 
ov 
W 

tit 
th( 
sui 


of  bl«!k-beetle  shardg.  Sometimos  thev 
screw  It  into  tassels,  and  haug  beads  at  the 
on  of  each  tassel,  or  decoraie  them  with 
httlo  charms  madt  of  beads.    The  manner 

8mni;'''Th"''  ."'''SV:  T  '""d"  •«  very 
3  M   ^- '■''  .^'  "  ^'"^  °f   "^""ian  tree 
on  mt!%'"i'""^'  ?".*^  fr*""  ""«  are  cut  a 
quantity  of  slender  twigs.    These  twigs  are 
then  spilt  longitudinally,  the  outer  and  inner 
bark  separated,  and  then  well  chewed  until 
the  iibres  are  properly  arranged.    At  flrst 
they  are  much  lighter  in  color  than  the 
black  woolly  hair  to  which  they  are  fastened, 
but  they  soon  become  blackened  by  use  and 
grease.    They  use  a  little  tattooing,  but  not 
much,  making  three  lines  on  each  temnle 
am    another  down  the  middle  of  the  nose.' 
liinos  of  blue  are  often  seen  on  the  foreheads 
01  both  sexos,  but  these  are  the  permanent 

thl^        ""  ^'1^  headache,  and  which,  with 
them,  seems  to  bo  effectual.  ' 

The  character  of  the  women  is  on  thn 
dSr'/'r  "'«y  ""-^  decentTnd'we'r-coi! 
cleaninM.'i'i  ''"*''""''' i^?^'  though  scarcely 
acconmanl  H  P-^T"^-  T^^y  wilfsometimes 
accompany  their  husbands  on  the  march  and 

thefrKkVSir7wo"rnJ  Sl^ZZ 


SULTAlf  STIBABOUT. 


act  as  cooks  as'  sooT^  thLV'haU:  pSiiS 
^vrrj£^.'?.«*''>-'>«?^heiH'urands^ 


Ti  ^^  f^^ory  V..CU  VI  nuina  ror  tnelr  husbanHq 
They  have  a  really  wonderful  practica"knowl 
odge  of  botany,  and  a  Weezee  will    ve  in  com 

Sa  vf 'll^'r  ^T  another  trIbo"S" 
«Liviii'^       "°  huts  made  of  boughs   in 

a  strong  Jence     S^'n'  «4"-«»nded  with 

-^/i£B^«-:«-vyth^« 

are  decorated  wUh  hl<S^  ^l^^'  ^^e  door 
tops;  and  some  of  tho^^r?  2  ^'^^  on  their 
of  fliing  oTthf  nosts  .h^  T.  "^'^  habit 
whom  tliey  have  Ct  t^  h  '^^  •  "^  ^^""^^ 
formeryeare  thlhi^s^f^**''''  •'"«*  '^  '« 
over  Temp^  Bar     Th^  ^'^^u^"  ^^'■•'  ^^ed 

Wee.ee  i^Ited'^Jn^  ^^S'S?"'^  ^'  '"^^ 

tit£"o?  a^eli'teisTY^'^™  *«  *he 
they  co„sTructl*"'a    pali^nf  V.^ 

s"o!it-i^"  •«  ^^"^  ft"^n"d^tT;^i> 

hv  «  "",  '"  a  m<>st  artistic  innner  firs/ 

by  a  covered  way,  then  a  quickset  hedge  of 


euphorbia,  and,  lastly,  a  broad  drv  ,mnh  ^- 
Ztn  ^'^r'""'*"^  "•«  S  is ZiU  S  in 

sr^vLrof^i^w^-^^--^-^^^^^^ 

ha?/c-i^pl^te^c»r  Sj'u^ettT^Te'* 

gers.  u  a  chief  receives  anothnr  chief  hn 
gets  up  quite  a  ceremony,  a8senblin--Ult« 
people  of  the  village  with  thei^  drmns  aid 
to  honoTfr'  '"«?'-"'n«nts,  and  causing  them 
M  nmnh  'h«.coming  guest  with  a  dance,  and 
^«  r^»  """.*  ^.  ^n  he  e.Ktracted  out  of 
their  meagre  band.  If  they  have  lire-arms 
*hey  ^\»  ?''"harge  them  as  long  a^  tS 

solve 'wuTf'h'?'''  •'•  °°''  "^^y  «'"'enTtS 
lo.wi  tin   1      '■"■  ^°'?®^'  which  are  naturally 

sirument  that  they  may  possess. 

But,  whatever  may  be  used,  the  drum  is 
a  necessity  m  these  parts,  aii.l  s  ind  spensi^ 
ble  to  a  proper  welcome     Even  when  th^ 
guest  takes  his  leave,  the  drum  Ts  a  lessen! 
tial  accompaniment  of  his  departure-  and. 
accordingly, "  beating  the  druui  "  s  ajlhrS 
which  IS  frequently  used  to  signify  &! 
turo  from  a  place.    For  exam,)le'  if  i  trave!! 
lor  IS  passing  through  a  district  and  is  bar- 
gaming  witK   the  chief  for  the  "bongo"' 
which  Tie  has  to  pay,  the  latter  will  Xn 
hrea  en  tha    unless  he  is  paid  his  demands 
in  full,  he  will  not  "  beat  the  drum  "  i  e  will 
not  permit  the  traveller  to  pass  o".'    So  we 

up  their  burdens  until  they  hear  the  w7l 
come  sound  of  the  drum,    this  Ins  rument 
often  calls  to  war,  and,  in  fact,  can  be  S 

Euron^it'"''"^- "'  *=°nipletely  ^  the  bu^e  of 
Jiuropean  armies.  e  °  "» 

When  ordinary  men  meet  their  chief 
they  bow  themselves  and  clap  the  r  hands' 
twice,  and  the  women  salute  himry  JaWng 

This    hn'J  ^'  """^  ^  ^°y   huly  It  court! 
1  his,  however,  is   an  obeisance  which  ia 

no  [vr«'^"^l  ^  ^"y  ^••^»*  chieft  the 
petty  chiefs,  or  headmen  of  villages  having 
to  content  themselves  with  the  simple  clap? 
ping  of  hands.  If  two  women  of  uueouai 
ran^  meet,  the  inferior  drops  on  one  knee 
and  bows  her  head;  the  8uperiorTa%  one. 
hand  on  the  shoul.ler  of  the  other;  3 thev 
reniam  in  this  position  for  a  few  m"    onts^ 

ton?  %7  ""l]'"^'  '■'""'  ^«"'«  •"  aTuuder - 
*onf- ,  They  then  rise  and  talk  freely. 

io  judge  from  Captain  Grant's  account  of 

«ie  great  chief  Ugafee  (i.  e.  Stirabout),  who 

mfn  oTfi*'^"?.*'  singularly  favorable  speci- 

SlledfI«H^f '*""''  *'  ^'i^^^  r^'^  chiefs  are 
calle^tlie  deference  paid  to  them  is  given  to 
theofflce  andnot  to  tlie  individual  wfoLlda 

iihaf  k""i  k'  '"'"  "^^^  "'"  ""««t  specimen 

that  had  been  seen,  was  supposed  to  be  a 

I  clever  man,  though  he  did  not  know  hi^ 


890 


THE  WANYAMUEZI. 


own  n^o.,  nor  could  count  above  ten,  nor 
hiul  miy  names  I'or  the  day  of  the  week, 
the  month,  or  the  year. 

"  Alter  w(!  Iiiul  been  about  a  month  in  his 
district,  SuKan  Ugalee  arrived  at  Mineenga 
on  U>e  aist  of  Ajiril,  and  was  saluted  by  llle- 
flring  from  our  volunteers  and  yhrill  cries 
from  the  women,  lie  visited  us  in  the 
verandah  the  day  fallowing.  He  looks  about 
twenty-two  years  of  age;  has  three  children 
and  thirty  wives;  is  six  feet  high,  stout,  with 
a  stupid,  heavy  expression.  His  bare  head 
is  in  tassels,  hanks  of  fibre  being  mixed  in 
Avith  the  hair.  His  body  is  loosely  wrapjicd 
round  with  a  blue  and  yellow  cotton  cloth, 
his  loins  are  covered  with  a  dirtv  bit  of  oily 
calico,  and  his  fec^t  are  large  and  naked.  A 
monster  ivory  ring  is  on  his  lefl  wrist,  while 
the  right  one  bears  a  copper  ring  of  rope 
j)attern;  several  hundreds  of  wire  rings  are 
massed  round  his  ankles. 

'•  He  was  asked  to  be  seated  on  one  of  our 
iron  stools,  but  looked  at  first  frightened, 
and  did  not  open  his  mouth.  An  old  man 
spoke  for  him,  and  a  crowd  of  thirty  fol- 
lowers squatted  behind  him.  Speke,  to 
amuse  him,  ])roduced  his  six-barrelled  re- 
volver, but  he  merely  eyed  it  intently.  The 
book  of  birds  and  aninials,  on  being  shown 
to  him  upside  down  by  Sirboko,  the  hea<l- 
nian  of  the  village,  drew  from  him  a  sickly 
smihi.  and  he  was  jjleased  to  imply  that  lie 
preferred  the  animals  to  the  birds.'  He  re- 
ceived some  snutf  in  the  palm  of  his  hand, 
took  a  good  pinch,  and  gave  the  rest  to  his 
spokesman. 

"  He  wished  to  look  at  my  mosquito-cur- 
tained bed.  and  in  moving  away  was  inviti'd 
to  dine  with  us.  We  sent  him  a  message  at 
seven  o'clock  (hat  the  feast  was  prepared, 
but  a  rejily  came  that  he  was  fidl,  and  could 
not  be  teinpted  cvi'U  with  a  gla.ss  of  rum. 
The  following  day  he  came  to  bid  us  good- 
b  > .  and  left  without  any  exchange  of  pres- 
ents, being  thus  very  dilferent  from  the 
grasping  race  of  Ugogo." 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  the  Wanya- 
niuezl  act  as  traders,  and  go  to  great  dis- 
tances, and  there  is  even  a  separate  mode  of 
greeting  by  which  a  wife  welcomes  her  hus- 
band back  from  his  travels.  The  engraving 
No.  1,  on  the  next  p.age,  illustrates  this 
wifely  welcome.  As  soon  as  she  hears 
tliat  her  husband  is  about  to  arrive  home 
after  his  journey  to  the  coast,  she  puts  on 
all  her  ornaiiients,  decorates  herself  with 
a  feathered  cap,  gathers  her  friends  round 
lior,  and  proceeds  to  the  hut  of  the  chief's 
principal  wife,  before  whose  door  they  all 
dance  and  .sing.  Dancing  and  singing  are 
with  them,  as  with  other  tribes,  their  chief 
amusement.  There  was  a  blind  man  who 
was  remarkable  ibr  his  powers  of  song,  being 
able  to  send  his  voice  to  a  considerable  dis- 
tance with  a  sort  of  ventriloquial  effect.  lie 
was  exti-emely  popul.ar,  an<l  in  the  evenings 
the  chief  iiiiuscU"  would  form  one  of  the 


audience,  and  Join  in  the  chorus  with  which 
his  song  was  accompanied.  Thev  have  sev- 
iral  national  airs  which,  atHiorilitig  to  Cap- 
tains Wpeke  and  Grant,  are  really  line. 

lnsi(le  each  villa^Lft!  there  is  a  club-house, 
or  "  Iwansa,"  as  it  is  called.  This  is  a.  struc- 
ture much  larger  than  those  which  arc^  used 
for  dwelling-houses,  and  is  built  in  a  dilfer- 
ent manner.  (Jne  of  these  iwansas,  which 
was  visited  by  Captain  (irant,  "  was  u  long, 
low  room,  twelve  by  eighteen  leet,  with  one 
door,  a  low  flat  roof,  well  blackened  with 
smoke,  and  no  chimney.  Along  its  length 
there  ran  a  high  inclined  bciieli,  (ui  which 
cow-skins  were  spread  for  men  to  take  their 
seats.  Some  huge  drums  were  hung  in  one 
corner,  and  logs  smouldered  on  the  lloor. 

"Into  this  place  strangers  are  ushered 
when  they  first  enter  the  village,  and  here 
they  reside  until  a  house  can  be  appro- 
priated to  them.  Here  the  young  men  all 
gather  at  the  close  of  day  to  hear  the  news, 
and  join  in  that  interminable  talk  which 
seems  one  of  the  chief  joys  of  a  native  Afri- 
can. Here  they  iicrform  kindly  oflices  to 
each  other,  such  as  pulling  out  the  hairs  of 
the  eyelashes  and  eyebrows  with  their  curi- 
ous little  tweezers,  chipping  the  teeth  into 
the  correct  form,  and  marking  on  IIh;  (;lieeks 
and  temples  the  peculiar  marks  w  hich  desig- 
nate the  clan  to  which  they  belong." 

These  tweezers  are  made  of  iron,  most 
ingeniously  flattened  and  bent  so  as  to  give 
the  required  elasticity. 

Smoking  and  drinking  also  go  on  largely 
in  the  iwansa,  ami  here  the  youllis  indulge 
in  various  games.  One  of  these  games  is 
exactly  similar  to  one  which  has  lieen  intro- 
duced into  England.  Each  i)layer  has  a 
stump  of  Indian  corn,  cut  short,  which  he 
stands  on  the  ground  in  front  of  him.  A 
rude  sort  of  teetotum  is  made  of  a  gotiid  and 
a  stick,  and  is  spun  among  the  corn-stumps, 
the  object  of  the  game  being  to  knock  down 
the  stump  belonging  to  the  adversary.  This 
is  a  fixvorite  game,  and  elicits  niiicli  noisy 
laughter  and  aj)plause,  not  only  from  the 
actual  player.s,  but  from  the  spectators  who 
surround  them. 

In  front  of  the  iwansa  the  dances  an;  con- 
ducted. Thev  are  similar  in  some  respects 
to  those  of  the  Damaras,  as  nientioned  on 
page  iU.'i,  exceitt  that  the  performers  stand 
in  a  line  hislead  of  in  a  circle.  A  long  strip 
of  bark  or  cow-skin  is  laid  on  the  ground, 
and  the  Weezees  arrange  themselves  along 
it  the  tallest  man  always  taking  the  place  of 
honor  in  the  middle.  When  thej'  have 
arranged  themselves,  the  drummers  strike 
up  their  noisy  instruments,  and  the  dancers 
begin  a  strange  chant,  which  is  more  like  a 
howl  than  a  song.  They  all  how  their  heads 
low,  put  their  hands  on  their  hips,  stamp 
vigorously,  and  are  i)le;ised  to  think  that  they 
are  dancing.  The  male  spectators  stand  in 
front  and  encounige  their  friends  by  joining 
iu    the    chorus,    while    the    wuinen    siainl 


)rUR  with  which 
Tluiy  hiivo  s(!V- 
KordiTig  to  Ciip- 
eally  fino. 
8  a  cliih-jioiise, 
Thin  is  ii.  striic- 
whicli  iirc!  used 
uilt  in  ii  diller- 
iwansas,  wliich 
it,  "  was  a  loiif.', 
1  I'tu^t,  with  DUO 
l)la(  kciH'il  with 
loiisj;  its  Icnjjth 
iciR-li,  on  which 
LMi  to  ta]<i!  their 
irc  hunK  in  one 
on  tlu;  11of>r. 
rs  aro  nshered 
illagc,  and  here 
can  l)e  appro- 
voiinj:;  men  all 
hear  tliu  news, 
ble  talk  which 
f  a  native  Afri- 
indjy  oilices  to 
lit  the  hairs  ol' 
with  their  curi- 
the  teeth  into 
Ron  the  (;lieeks 
ks  which  desig- 
leloiifj." 

?  of  iron,  most 
lit  so  as  to  give 

o  go  on  largely 
youths  indulge 
these  games  is 
has  heen  intro- 
l)layer  has  a 
ihort,  which  he 
)nt  of  him.  A 
'■  of  a  gourd  and 
le  corn-stumps, 
to  knock  down 
ilversary.  Tliis 
its  niuch  noisy 
only  from  the 
spectators  who 

[lances  an!  con- 
some  respects 
mentioned  on 
rlbrmers  stand 
.    A  long  strip 
»n  the  ground, 
emselves  ahJiig 
ing  the  place  of 
leii    they  have 
ummers  strike 
ind  the  dancers 
is  more  like  a 
low  their  lieads 
ir  hips,  stamp 
think  that  they 
tators  stand  in 
mds  liy  Joining 
wunieii    siaini 


(39i; 


"•nisip"':: 


AMUSEMENTS  OP  THE   WEEZEES. 


behind  nnd  look  on  silently.  Each  dance 
pnds  with  h  >f(>noml  Hhoiit  of  liuijjlitor  or 
niipliiiiso.  iiiid  then  ft  fresh  set  of  dnuccr» 
tuko  tlifir  pinco  on  tbo  strip  of  altin. 

HoMuitiincs  n  varioty  in  introduced  into 
tlioi.-  dimccH.  On  ono  occiwion  tlio  cliicf  Imd 
ft  nunilxir  of  howln  (llled  witli  pomlni  and  set 
in  ft  row.  Tlio  people!  took  tlieir  unmn 
bowls  anil  (lili'd  tlieni  H><ain  and  again  from 
tho  Jars,  tins  ciiicf  wettinj;  the  oxaniijlc,  and 
drinkiiii;  nioro  poniW  than  any  of  lii.s  snb- 
j(M!tH.  Whf.n  tlu!  l)owl«  had  cir'oulatKd  plen- 
tifully, a  couple  of  lads  leaptid  into  the  circle, 
presi'iitini,'  a  most  fant^istic  ftjipearance.' 
They  had  tied  zebra  manes  over  their  heads, 
and  had  furnished  themselves  with  two  long 
bark  tubes  like  huge  bassoons,  into  .which 
they  blew  with  all  thidr  might,  ac(;oin|)any- 
iiig  tbcur  shouts  with  e.vtravagant  contor- 
tions of  the  limbs.  As  soon  as  the  pombi! 
was  all  1,'nne,  live  drums  were  hung  in  a 
lino  upon  a  horizontal  bar,  and  tho  per- 
former began  to  hammer  them  furiously. 
Inspired  by  tho  sounds,  men,  women,  aii<i 
children  l)ej.'an  to  sing  and  clap  their  hands 
in  time,  and  all  danced  for  severftl  hours. 

"  The  Weezee  boys  are  amusing  little  fel- 
lows, and  have  quite  a  talent  for  games.    Of 
coiir.se   th(!y   imitate   the  pursuits  of  their 
fathers,  such  as  shooting  with  .small  bows 
and  arrows,  .jumping  over  sticks  at  various 
heights,    pretending   to    shoot    game,  and 
other  amusements.    Some  of  the  elder  lads 
converted  their  play  into  reality,  by  making 
their  hows  and  arrows  large  entrngh  to  kill 
tho  pigeons  and  other  birds  which  dew  about 
them.     Ihev  also  make  very  creditable  imi- 
tiUions  of  tho  white  man's  gun,  tyiiiT  two 
pieces  of  cane  to;jether  for  the  barrels,''mod- 
olling  the  8t(K'k,  fianuner,  and  trigger-guard 
out  ot  clay,  and  imitating  tho  smoke  by  tufts 
of  cotton    wool.      That    they   were    kind- 
hearted  boys  is  evident  from  .  le  fact  that 
tliey   hail  time   birds  in  cages,  and  spent 
much  time  in  teaching  them'to  sin"  " 

f  roin  the  above  description  it"  may  be 
interred  that  the  Weezees  are  a  lively  L'e 
«nd  such  indeed  is  the  fact.  To  the  travelled 
"  iolliesf  ';:?'"'''"-^  companions,  singing  their 

fr  m  H, ,     •  r"  1"'  ''"^ '  'lecp-toned  choruses, 
trom  their  (luck  necks  and  throats."    «u 
they  require  to  be  very  caiTfully  managed 
be  ng  independent  as  knowing  the  rov„ 

over  MS  .  ''•"'";'  '",  ^""'^  "'«">•  ^I"'-'  - 
ovei  as  they  are  not  a  cleanly  race  and  are 
sociably  Ibnd  of  making  their  evenh  I  e 
Close  by  and  to  windwar.l  of  (he  travell ' r4 
t.'nfc,  they  are  o'ten  much  too  near  t  Le 
agreeable   especially  as  they  alwa^  de c  ii  e 

"tShrjiieiii^^r^"^^"'^'-''^^'-^ 

manage  to  make  thImselVes  h.'pp.   and  do 
not  become  bomcsick.  as  is  the'^'ILn  wm 
mcu  oi  orfier  tnbes.    Moreover,  from  their 


305 

loc«.motivo  habits,  they  aro  oxcellont  miides 
and  they  are  most  iweful  assLstants  in  hunt' 
ing,  detectinjj,  and  following  up  the  spoor  of 
an  animal  with  unerring  certainly  They 
are  rather  too  ant  to  steal  tho  llesh  of  the 
animal  when  it  is  kill  d,  and  quite  sure  to 
steal  the  tat,  but,  as  in  nine  ciwes  out  of  tea 
It  would  not  liave  been  killed  at  all  without 


their  help,  they  may  be  OMrdoned  for  these 
acts  ot  i.etty  htrceny.  They  never  seem  at 
ft  loss  for  anything,  but  liavo  n  singular 
power  oJ  supplying  themselves  out  of  the 
inost  unexpected  in.iterials.  For  example. 
It  ft  Wanyamuezi  wants  to  smoke,  and  hiuj 
no  pipe,  he  makes  a  pipe  in  a  minute  or  two 
roin  the  nenrest  tree.  All  lu;  baa  to  do  ia 
to  cut  ft  green  twig,  strip  the  bark  oif  it  aa 
(.oys  do  when  they  make  willow  whistles, 
push  a  plug  of  clay  into  it,  and  bore  a  holo 
through  tho  clay  with  a  smaller  twig  or  a 
gra.ss-blade.  ** 

Both  sexes  aro  inveterate  smokers,  and. 
as  they  grow  their  own  tobacco,  they  can 
gratily  this  ta.ste  to  their  heart.s'  content, 
tor  .sinoking,  they  generally  use  their  home- 
cnred  tobacco,  which  they  twist  up  into  a 
thick  rope^  like  a  haybftnd,and  then  coil  Into 
a  tiattened  spiral  like  a  small  target.  Some- 
times they  make  it  into  sugar-loaf  shape. 
Imported  tobacco  they  eiiqiloy  as  snuH' 
grinding  it  to  powder  it  it  should  be  given 
to  them  in  a  solid  form,  or  pushing  it  into 
their  nostrils  if  it  should  be  in  a  cut  state, 
like  '•  bird  s-eye  "  or  "  returns." 

The  ftinnsements  of  tho  Weezces  aro  tol- 
erably numerous.  Uesides  those  which  Imve 
been  ineiitioned,  the  lads  are  fond  of  a 
mimic  fight,  using  the  stalks  of  maize  in- 
stead ot  spears  and  making  for  themselves 
shields  of^  bark.  Excei.t  that  the  Weezee 
ads  are  on  foot,  insteacl  of  being  mounted, 
this  game  is  almost  exactly  like  the  -dierid'' 
"'."r/."'"''^'  '"»'!  '8  quite  as  likely  to'inllict 
painful,  It  not  dangerous,  injuries  on  the 
careless  or  unskilful. 

Then,  for  more  sedentary  people,  there 
are  several  games  of  chance  ami  others  of 
ftkill.  Ihe  game  of  chance  is  the  time- 
honored  "nitoh  and  toss,' which  is  played 
Its  eagerly  here  as  in  England.     It  is  true 


hat  the  Weezee  have  no  Jialfpcnce,  but 
they  can  always  cut  discs  out  of  bark,  and 
het  upon  the  rough  or  smooth  side  turninir 
uppermost.  They  are  very  fond  of  this 
game,  and  will  stake  their  most  valued  nos- 
sessions,  such  as  "sambo,"  rings,  bows, 
ariwvs,  spear-heads,  and  the  like? 

Ihe    chief  game   of  skill   has   probably 

cached  thein  through  the  Mohammedan 
traders  as  it  is  almost  identical  with  a 
game  long  familiar   to   the   Turks.      It  is 

ailed  Bao,  and  is  played  with  a  board  on 
wich    are   thirty-two   holes  or  cups,  and 

SI    ,'.I.l'f/"'^"7"  '"■'''  ''^  "''^3^  of  counters. 

hhould  two  players  meet  and  neither  i)o.s- 

e.iR  .•»  Dnan!,  nor  the  proper  .seeds,  lu.iliing 

18  easier  than  to  sit  down,  scrape  thirty-twS 


li 


3U4 


THK   WANYAMUEi^L 


holuN  in  the  Krniind,  Helect  Blxly-four  ntonoi, 
and  tlion  bt'^iii  to  piny.  Tim  riin(i<>r  niuy 
pHrhapM  cull  U>  mind  tint  old  EnKliah  giimn 
(if  Mt'ndli'H,  or  Ninis-nten'H  Morriit.  which 
can  hu  iilayi'd  on  an  uxteniporiztid  bourd 
cut  in  tlic  turf,  and  with  Mtunes  inatuttd  of 
connttTH. 

Thu  moHt  invetdratd  gnmhU'rii  wore  the 
lift'KUiii'dx  of  the  Multan,  Hoinis  twenty  in 
ninnher.  They  were  not  a^jreeahle  |)ui°Hon- 
ajj[0H,  l)ein>»  olfenKivelv  Bupereilious  in  their 
manner,  and  tiatly  refuHinK  to  do  a  Rtroico  of 
worlt.  Tiie  extent  of  tlieir  duty  lay  in 
oseortiii)?  their  <'hief  fVoni  one  place  to 
another,  and  eonveyin)/  his  orderH  from  one 
village  to  another.  The  rest  of  their  time 
Vfixa  spent  iti  gambling,  drum-beating,  and 
ftiinilur  amusementH;  and,  if  they  distin- 
guished theinselves  in  anv  other  way,  it  was 
hy  the  care  whieh  they  hestowed  on  their 
dress.  Some  of  these  lifeguards  were  very 
skilful  in  beating  the  drum,  and,  when  a 
number  were  performing  on  a  row  of  sus- 
pended drums,  the  principal  drummer  al- 
ways took  the  largest  instrument,  and  was 
the  conductor  of  the  others,  just  as  in  a 
society  of  bellringers  the  cliief  of  them 
takes  the  tenor  bell.  For  any  one,  exccnt  a 
native,  to  Hleej)  in  a  Weezee  village  wliile 
the  drums  are  sounding  is  perfectly  imnos- 
fiible,  but  when  thtsy  liave  ceased  the  place 
is  quiet  enough,  as  may  be  seen  by  Captnin 
Grant's  description  of  a  night  scene  in 
Wanyamue/.i. 

"  In  a  Weezee  village  there  are  few  sounds 
to  di.sturb  one's  night's  rest:  the  traveller's 
horn,  and  the  reiily  to  it  from  a  neighboring 
villaj^e.  are  aeciuenlal  alarms;  the  chirning 
of  crickets,  and  the  cry  from  a  sick  cliihl, 
however,  oceasionally  broke  ujjon  the  still- 
ness of  one's  night.  Waking  early,  the  first 
sounds  we  heard  were  the  crowing  of  cocks, 
the  impatient  lowing  of  cows,  the  bleating 
of  calves,  and  the  chirning  of  sparrows  anil 
other  unmusical  birds.  The  pestle  and 
mortar  shelling  corn  would  soon  after  be 
heard,  or  the  cooing  of  wild  pigeons  in  the 
grove  of  palms. 

"  The  huts  were  shaped  like  corn-stacks, 
supported  by  bare  polos,  fifteen  feet  high, 
and  fifteen  ta  eighteen  feet  in  diameter. 
Sometimes  their  grass  roofs  would  b(  pro- 
tected from  sparks  by '  michans,'  or  framed  uf 
Indian  corn-siaiks.  There  were  no  caipot', 
and  all  was  as  dark  as  the  hold  of  a  s'  i"  .*. 
few  ear'.hern  jars,  made  like  tlie  lauiua 
'gurrah,'  for  boiling  vj'getables  or  stirabout, 
tiittered  skins,  an  old  bow  and  arrow,  some 
cups  of  grass,  some  gourds,  perhaps  a  stool, 
constitute  the  whole  of  the  furniture.  Grain 
was  housed  in  hard  boxes  of  bark,  and  goats 
or  calvt's  liad  free  access  over  the  house." 

Their  customs  in  eating  and  driuking  are 

rather  remarkable.     I'erhaps  wo  ought  to 

^tran.sfer  those  terms,  drinking  holding  the 

first  place  in  the  mind  of  a  Weezee.    The 


inn 


?hsch  he  cares  »l>out 


native  beer  or  "  poinbd,"  and  ninny  of  tho 
tiativeii  live  almost  entirely  on  pumbe.  Ink- 
ing iicun:ely  any  lolid  nourishmcnl  what- 
*!Ver.  i'onibO  making  is  tlii^  work  of  tho 
women,  who  brew  large  (|uuiiliti('H  ut  a 
time.  Not  being  able  to  build  a  large  tank 
in  whieli  the  waUtr  can  be  heated  to  the 
boiling  point,  the  pomtie  makttr  tu!ies  a 
number  of  eathern  pots  and  places  tliein  in 
a  double  row,  with  an  interval  of  eighteen 
inches  or  so  between  the  rows.  U'IiIh  inter- 
mediate space  is  filled  with  wood,  which  is 
lighted,  and  the  fire  tended  iiiilil  the  beer 
is  boiled  simultaneously  in  both  rows  ot 
jiots.  Five  days  are  required  for  lomple- 
ting  the  brewing. 

The.  Sultan  Ukulinm  was  vt  ry  fond  of 
jiombe,  and,  indeed,  livi  I  nriiicl|ially  upon 
it.  He  used  to  begin  with  u  bowl  of  his 
favorite  btiverage,  and  ci.iitinu  ilrinking  it 
at  intervals  until  be  went  to  his  tiny  sleep- 
lUg-hul  for  the  ni  :'.  Though  he  was  half 
slupitfied  during  tiie  day,  lie  did  not  suffer 
in  health,  but  was  a  fine,  sturdy,  halo 
old  man,  pleasant  enough  in  manner,  and 
rather  amusing  when  his  lu^ad  ha))pened  to 
be  clear.  lie  was  rather  f'oiul  of  a  practical 
Joke,  and  sometimes  amused  liimself  l>y 
begging  some  (luinincj  inixii'g  it  slyly  with 
jwmbe,  and  then  ei\joying  the  consternation 
which  api)eared  on  tlie  countenances  of 
those  who  partook  of  the  l)itter  draught. 

Every  morning  he  used  to  go  rt)und  to 
the  diftereut  houses,  timing  his  visits  so  as 
to  appear  when  the  brewing  was  finished, 
lie  always  partook  of  tlie  first  bov»  1  of  beer, 
and  then  went  on  to  another  house  and 
drank  more  pomb«5,  wliich  he  sometimes 
sucked  through  a  reed  in  sherry -cobbler 
fashion.  (See  page  Hl'l.)  Men  and  women 
seldom  drink  in  company;  the  latter  assem- 
bling together  under  the  presidency  of  the 
sultiina,  or  chief  wife,  and  drinking  in  com- 
pany. 

As  to  food,  regular  meals  seem  to  bo 
almost  unknown  among  the  men,  wlio 
"drop  in  "  at  their  friends'  houses,  talcing  a 
small  potato  at  one  i)lace,  a  bowl  of  pombtS 
at  another,  and,  on  rare  occasions,  a  little 
beef.  In(leed,  Captain  Grant  says  that  he 
seldom  saw  ine".i  at  their  meals,  unless  thiy 
were  assembled  for  poinbe  drinking.  W'o- 
iner  however,  who  eat,  as  they  drink,  by 
iV'cii. selves,  are  i  ir  ■  regular  in  their  meals, 
i.mi  ,vt  stated  times  have  their  food  pre- 
pared. 

The  grain  from  which  the  pombe  is  made 
is  cultivated  by  the  women,  who  undertiikc 
most,  though  not  all,  of  its  preparation. 
AVhen  it  is  green,  they  reap  it  by  cutting  olf 
the  ears  with  a  knife.  Just  as  was  done  by 
the  Egyptians  of  ancient  times.  They  then 
carry  the  ears  in  baskets  to  the  village, 
empty  them  out  upon  tho  ground,  and 
spread  them  in  the  sunbeams  until  they  are 
thoroughly  dried.    The    men   then   thresh 


Wh.  n  lhro«hp.l,  it  U  stored  away  In  varl- 

«to.|(lle«'  „•  o„r  o,v„  f,irn,v„r!lH  ZtT- 
Hm.a  a  iml„  Ih  st.i.'k  into  tho\.ftrlh,  ami  e 
corn  .«  (.oun.l  ,„„n,l  It  at  Homo  ',llZn c," 
from     fic;  groun.l,   ho  that  it  r(.H,.nihl,.8  an 

anL'l..i-'H    ioat  of  «i.,„,ti,.  dim io„,.    Th" 

0(l(l«8t,  thoM«li   perhaps   th.,  saf.sHt,  way  oV 
pack  n-  Kra.n    ,s  to  tlo  it  up  in  a  bu.uli" 
and  iian-  it  to  (!„,  |,r«n,li  of  k  (r,.,.     Vnu'n 
wanto.l  lor  us..,  it  i.  poun.1,.,1  in  u  woo,  e 
mortar  liko  llu.s.,  of  thu  Ovuuibo  tribo    in 
onior  to  boat  oft'  the  lumk,  «n,|  llnally  /t  |" 
Rroun.     l...tw..on   two  stones.      A  lulrvcst 
«c..ne,  llluHtrating  thcHc  various  operations 
is  (jivon  on  the  ;tl»7th  pagn.  '  «'»»"ns, 

TiKi  Wanyamuezl  are  not  a  very  supersti- 
tious neop]o,_at  all  events  thify  are  n  t 
mich  slavos  o  superstition  as  many  other 
iihes.  As  tar  as  is  known,  they  fiavc  no 
Idols,  but  thou  they  have  no  reliKlorsy". 
toin,  ex,,.pt  i)orliap8  a  fear  of  evil  snirlt^ 

of  m^of'tb"'"'  ^''"•'■•''-   ^  r"'  "'''•'"•"t 
tain  Grant  exorc.sms  is  given  by  Cap- 


ExoncisiNo  AX  Evir.  sprniT. 


800 

the  sultana  pr.'ceded  and  followed  by  gnenr 

Cr-stlll  h  r*^. "}"  •'"!  "''"  ^"'^«  '«?t^ 
fo     w,.Vl       f"' '"'•"'.  "nd  attended  by  several 

or  'ran- 


H'ingn.'-  An   old   woman  is    ai.poinVed'  to 

ick  whicli  she 


iliiils     I'W'V'ncT 


The  sultnn  sits  at  (lie  doorway  of  his  hut 
which  is  deeorat...!  with  lion's  paws  ' 

His  (lauLfhler  the  possesse.l,  is  opposite 
to  him  coni|)le(ely  hooded,  an.l  L'uar  1  d  bv 
two  Watus   wo,n..u,  one  on  .■aeh'^sUu'  hold- 

tus  the  cu-ele.    Pombii  is   spirted  un  in 

he  air  so  as  to  fall  upon  them  all     A ',  ,w 

s  then  brought  in  with  it.  mouth  tiirhtlv 

l^ound  np,  almost  preventing  tlu,  Zs  S£ 

F^fif^iHtSi- ti  3 
^«  ^'^e^-srhi^srannoS- 

thepo^stlser;M/''^''r*  ^^J^'  ^^'^'  "f 
her  littleLTn  S  p,r^''''\^  *'"'  »''«°'> 
receive  it.    Sister  ..nn'f"'?'  "' '"  '^'''-'^'l  <" 

...I.:..:.    ^""'"   "er  seat,  utt^rinc  »  -nrf -.f 
"■"'""ff  '^r^',  and  walks  olf  to  thi  house  of 

20 


wrestle  with  her  for  a  broomstiek  whiel,  «h„ 
™rrie„,  and  finally  tho  stick  is  len 

"Late  in  the  afternoon  a  chanffn  1« 
!!•;;''*;''';, "he  appears  as  In  onli Sf  but 
with  her  tace  curfously  painted  in  t\\7L,l 
way.     .She  sits  withof.t^.nin  L'"o   roee  v« 

;S"on*tef;;f  IV'","^-''  -  ^^ 

h,,hoh|puS;htfai!rttne:^:iSi£ 

V7"T  ''"  **'""'»'"; ^''''«h..utout/(^K)Xo 
(eow),  ,„.  some  otJur  ridiculous  ex,  re"  oA 

l'|i.-Uod  .,,1,1,  ij  l„.,.„'^f,„Slofl,?..""- 
210.  ftilly  l„,||,,,„  ,,,„, ,,,  '  "■ "'"  Wee. 
"lU'LiTall  m.i,l  Imv,,  lj,,.„7he  So   ,r  ,h.' 

tied,  e..nvu-ted.  and   killed.     The  tn.th^f 

he  verdict  was  confirmed  by  the  f  h  t    hnf 

H-^hy.en.a«  did  not  touch  tL^'body'Sr' 

oe  ine  result.    Consequently,  the  skin  wo« 
o«t,  ami  only  a  skct<-i  preserved     Thesn 

Se  u./a?7""''  **  ""••^y  '^f  Another  ffi 
ealTt  oil'ttVot"  ^^^^-  «'"•  ^"  ^^^  ^'  -d 

except  himself,  and'h'e '^eSi^Hl':?,.!'^.'," 
iijf,'  With  the  paw.s  and  other  soojiii  "TVia 
may  be  expected,  as  the  lion  4^  couTkl! 


386 


THE  WANYAMUEZI. 


la-ed  as  an  cmbli^m  of  royalty  in  other  lands 
beside  Ai'rica.    iJut  there  is  a  cudous  super- 
stition about  the  lion,  which  prohibits  any 
one  from  walking  round  its  bouy,  or  even  its 
t  kin.    One  day,  when  a  lion  had  been  killed, 
and  its  body  brought  into  the  village,  Cap- 
tain Grant  measured  it,  and  was  straightway 
assailed  by  the  chief  priest  of  tJio  place  for 
breaking  the  law  in  walking  round  the  ani- 
mal while  he  was  measuring  it.    He  gave 
as  his  reason  that  there  was  a  spell  laid  on 
the  lions  which  kept  them  from   entering 
the  villuges,  and  that  the  act  of   walkin"' 
round  the  animal  broke  the  spel),     He  aauf, 
however,  that  a  payment  of  four  cloths  to 
him  would  restore  the  efficacy  of  tha  spell, 
and  then  he  would  not  tell  the  sultan.    Cap- 
tain Grant  contrived  to  extricate  himself 
ver^  ingeniously  by  arguing  that  the  action 
which  broke  the  spell  was  not  walking  round 
the  body,  but  stepping  over  it,  and  that  he 
had  been  careful  to  avoid.    Alter  sundry 
odd  ceremonies  have  been  performed  over 
the  dead  body  of  f  lie  lion,  the  flesh,  which  is 
by  that  time  half  putrid,  is  boiled   by  the 
sultan  in  person,  the  fat  is  skimmed  off,  and 
preserved  as  a  valued  medicine,  and  the  skin 
dressed  for  regal  wear. 

TheWauyainuezi  have  a  way  of  "  making 
brotherhood,"  similar  to  that  which  lias 
already  been  described,  except  tliat  instead  of 


drinking  each  other's  blood,  the  newly-made 
brothers  mix  it  with  butter  on  a  leaf  and 
exchange  leaves.  The  butter  is  then  rubbed 
into  the  incisions,  so  that  it  acts  as  a  heal- 
ing ointment  at  the  same  time  that  the  blood 
is  exchanged.  The  ceremony  is  concluded 
by  tearing  the  leaves  to  pieces  and  shower- 
ing the  fragments  on  the  heads  of  the 
brothers. 

The  travellers  happened  to  bo  in  the 
country  just  in  time  to  see  a  curious  mourn- 
ing ceremony.  There  was  a  tremendous 
commotion  in  the  chiefs  "  tembe,"  and  on 
inquiry  it  turned  out  that  twins  had  been 
born  to  one  of  his  wives,  but  that  they  were 
both  dead.  All  the  women  belonging  to  his 
household  marched  about  in  i)iocession, 
painted  and  adorned  in  a  very  grotesque 
manner,  singing  and  dancing  with  str-^nge 
Ijesticulations  of  arms  and  logs,  and  looking, 
indeed,  as  if  they  had  been  indulging  in 
pombe  '•ather  than  afflicted  by  grief  This 
went  on  all  day,  and  in  the  evening  they 
collected  a  great  bundle  of  bulrushes,  tied  it 
up  in  a  doth,  and  carried  it  to  the  door  of 
the  mother's  hut,  just  as  if  it  had  been  the 
dead  body  of  a  man.  They  then  sot  it  down 
on  the  ground,  stuck  a  quantity  of  the  rushes 
into  the  earth,  at  each  side  of  the  door,  knelt 
down,  and  began  a  long  shrieking  wail, 
which  lasted  for  several  hours  togeUier. 


'•**.•: 


he  newly-made 
on  a  leaf  and 
•  is  then  rubbed 
acts  as  a  heal- 
i  that  the  blood 
ly  is  concluded 
IS  and  shower- 
heads  of  the 

to  be  in  the 
3uiiou8  niourn- 

a  tremendous 
imbe,"  and  on 
vms  had  been 
that  they  were 
Blonging  to  his 
in  procession, 
ery  grotesquo 
;  with  str-^nge 
8,  and  looking, 
1  indulging  in 
)y  grief.    This 

evening  they 
h'ushes,  tied  it 
:o  the  door  of 
had  been  the 
lensotit  down 
y  of  the  rushes 
the  door,  knelt 
irieking  wail, 
•s  togetlier. 


(1.)  HAKVKST  SCENE.    (See  page  395.) 


'^^mm^^^^imumim^ 


(•■!.)   SALL'TATION.    (sicc  p,,;,^.  4uM. 


Gl 


CHAPITER  XXXVIII. 


KABAGUE. 


MCALITY    OF    KARAOUE-THE    DISTINCT     CLASSES    OF    THE    INHAniTANTS-THFrn    n^»„=.r 

TEH-MODE    or    SALUTATION -TIIK    KULINO    0A8TK     OH    Wum«A      .„!  <"''"=«*I'    CHARAC 

MO„E.N„A-LAW  OP  SUCCESSION -T„E  rLTrnUMANIK^l^'llirK.MTLV  TAU"™'   "" 


[* 


Passing  by  a  number  of  tribes  of  more 
or  less  nnnortance,  we  come  to  tlio  coun- 
try called  Kakaoue  (pronounci-d  Kah-rali- 
fTto^i  ^^'",^'*.  occupies   a  district   about 
h-;    r  *  -^"'^  '""J?-  /'^°  ^-    The  people  of 
this  district  are  divided  into  two  distinct 
classes, -namely,    the    reigning    race,   or 
VVahuma,    and    the    peasantry,   or    Wan- 
yambo      These   latter   were    the    origi  ml 
inhabitants  of  the  land,  but  were  dispos- 
sessed by  the  Wahuma,'who  have  tnS 
them  into  slaves  and  tillers  of  the  ground 
Among  the  Wahuma  there  is  auotlior  dis- 

r«,^^  *?  ?^^  ,Wanyambo,  althougli  they  are 
reduced  to  the  condition  of  pe':asants,^and 
aye  been  compared  to  the  ryots  of  India 
thm.  seem  to  preserve  their  self-respect 
^LiZl\^'"''^  °!  government  Sg' 
dtecte   eVv  ''nr"!'  7  ^''''^S  «livided  into 

ernor      ThoL    ^  '^•"'^^'  ^''^^  '^  "^^  gov- 
ernor.     These   men   are  called   Wakunco 

consistfn^n(^"^"r''^.'^  '7  "^  «°^*  "^  ""ifonn,' 
consisting  of  a  sheet  of  calico  or  a  smlnf 

blanket  ii:  addition  to  the  ordinary  dress 

riicy  are  an  excitable  and  rather  quar- 

Sr'tlfeT^'^'n''  "'"•  '^••^  1"'^«  capable  of 
taking  their  own  parts,  even  against  tlie 

Z     ThovT  '";""*  fl>ey  occasionally  qua  - 


timjally,HketheWi;4o;:;;,tI^'^-^i- 
r""''f?ii",L"'*^'V««lves  with  a  stick  K 


The  mode  of  spluting  another  is  to  hoM 
out  the  stick  to  the  friend,  who  touches  the 
knobbed  end  with  his  hand,  and  repeats  a 
ew  words    of  salutation.      Yet,  although 
they  do  not  habitually  carry  weapons   tlu'V 
are  very  well  armed,  their  bows  boin.'  ex- 
ceedingly powerful  and  elastic,  more 'than 
SIX  tcet  in  length,  and  projecting  a  spear- 
headed arrow  to  a  ^.  jat  distance.    Spears 
are  also  employed,  but  the  familiar  weapon 
18  the  bow.     A  bow  belonging  to  M'nana- 
gee,  the    brother  of   Rumanika,  the   (hen 
head  chief  or  "sultan"  of  Karague,  was  a 
iJcautitul  specimen  of  native  workmanship. 
It  waa  SIX  feet  three  inches  in  length,  i.  e. 
exactly  the  Iieight  of  tlic  owner,  am!  w.as  so 
carefully  made  that  there  was  not  a  curve 
m  It  that  could  offend  the  eye.    The  strin" 
was  twisted  from  the  sinews  of  a  cow  anil 
the  owner  could  project  an  arrow  some  two 
hupdred  yards     The  wood  of  which  it  waa 
ma(le  looked  very  like  our  own  ash. 
.  .The  AVanyambo  were  very  polite  to  Cnp- 
tain  Grant,  taking  great  care  of  him.  and 
advising  bim  how  to  (u-eserve  his  health, 
thus  aftording  a  practical  refutation  of  the 
alarming  stories  respecting  their  treachery 
and  ferocity  of  which  be  had  been  told  when 
determining  to  pass  through  their  (r.untrv. 
1  he  Wanyamix)  are  obliged  to  furnish  pro- 
visions to   travellers    free  of  charge,   but 


although  they  oliey  the   letter  of  the  law 

employed  in  greeting  a  fdcud    ^     '  themselves  abundantly.    They  do  not^  how- 

^  'ever,  possess  such  an  evil  odor  as  other 

(399  J 


'I 


400 


KARAGUE. 


'i  fi 


greaae-using  tribes,  as,  after  they  have 
anointed  themselves,  they  light  a  fire  of 
aromatic  wood,  and  stand  to  leeward  of  it, 
so  as  to  allow  the  perfumed  smoke  to  pass 
over  them. 

The  Wahuma  are  of  much  lighter  com- 
plexion, and  the  royal  caste,  or  Moheen<la, 
are  remarkable  for  their  bronze-like  com- 
l)lexions,  their  well-cut  features,  and  their 
curiously  long  heads.  The  niembo'^  of  this 
caste  are  furtiier  marked  by  some  sears  under 
the  eyes,  and  their  teeth  are  neither  liled 
nor  chipi)ed.  There  is  rather  a  curious  law 
about  the  succession  to  the  throne,  As  with 
us,  the  king's  eldest  son  is  the  acknowledged 
heir,  but  then  he  must  have  been  born  when 
his  father  was  actually  king.  Consequently, 
the  youngest  of  a  family  of  brothers  is  some- 
times the  heir  to  the  throne,  his  elder  bro- 
thers, havinj^  been  born  before  their  father 
was  king,  being  ineligible  to  the  crown. 

According  to  Captain  Speke,  the  AVahunia, 
the  Gallas,  and  the  Abyssiuiuns  are  but  dif- 
ferent branches  of  the  same  people,  br  \ "  ig 
fought  and  been  beaten,  and  retired,  a  io 
made  their  way  westward  and  southward, 
until  they  settled  down  in  the  country  which 
was  then  inhabited  by  the  Wanyambo.  Still, 
although  he  thinks  them  to  have  derived 
their  source  from  Abyssinia,  and  to  have 
spread  themselves  over  the  whole  of  the 
country  on  Mhich  we  are  now  engaged,  lie 
mentions  that  they  always  accommodated 
themselves  to  the  manners  and  customs  of 
the  natives  whom  they  supplanted,  and  that 
the  Gallas  or  Walmina  of  Karague  have 
difl'erent  customs  from  the  Wahuma  of  Un- 
yoro. 

The  king  or  sultan  of  Karague,  at  the 
time  when  our  travellers  passed  through  the 
country,  was  Rumanika.  He  was  the  liand- 
somest  and  most  intelligent  ruler  that  they 
met  in  Africa,  and  had  nothing  of  the  Afri- 
can in  his  appearance  except  that  his  hair 
was  short  and  woolly.  He  was  six  feet  two 
inches  in  height,  and  liad  a  peculiarly  mild 
and  open  expression  of  counteuance.  He 
wore  a  robe  made  of  small  iuitelope  skins, 
and  another  of  bark  cloth,  so  that  he  was 
completely  covered.  He  never  wore  any 
headdress,  but  had  the  usual  metivllic  arm- 
lets and  anklets,  and  always  carried  a  long 
statr  in  his  hand.  His  four  sons  appear  to 
have  been  worthy  of  their  ilither.  The  old- 
est and  youngest  seem  to  have  been  pecul- 
iarly favorable  specimens  of  their  race.  The 
eldest,  named  Chunderah,  was  twenty-five 
years  old,  and  very  fair,  so  that,  but  for  his 
woolly  hair  and  liis  rather  thick  lips,  he 
might  have  been  taken  for  a  sepoy.  "He 
ftfTeoted  the  dandy,  being  more  neat  about 
his  lion-skin  covers  and  ornaments  than  the 
other  brothers.  He  led  a  gay  life,  was  always 
ready  to  lead  a  war  party,  and  to  preside  at 
a  dance,  or  wherever  there  was  wine  and 
women. 
"  I'rom  the  tuft  of  wool  left  unsliaven  on 


the  crown  of  his  head  to  his  waist  he  was 
bare,  except  when  decorated  round  the  mus- 
cle of  the  arms  and  neck  with  charmed 
horns,  strips  of  otter  skin,  shells,  and  bands 
of  wood.  The  skin  covering,  wljich  in  the 
Karague  people  is  neculiar  in  shape,  reaches 
below  the  knee  benind,  and  is  cut  away  in 
front.  From  below  the  calf  to  the  ankle 
was  a  mass  of  iron  wire,  and,  when  visiting 
from  neighbor  to  neighbor,  he  always,  like 
every  Karague,  carrie'd  in  his  hand  a  five- 
feet  statf  with  a  knob  at  the  end.  Ho 
constantly  came  to  ask  after  nie,  bringing 
tlowers  in  his  hand,  as  he  knew  my  fondness 
for  them,  and  at  night  he  would  take  Fri), 
my  headman,  into  the  jjalace,  along  witli 
his  'zezc,'  or  guitar,  to  amuse  his  sisters 
with  Zanzibar  music.  In  turn,  the  sisters, 
brothers,  and  lollowors  would  sing  Karague 
music,  and  early  in  the  morning  Master  Frij 
and  Chunderah  would  return  rather  jolly 
to  their  huts  outside  the  palace  enclosure. 
This  shows  the  kindly  feeling  existing  be- 
tween us  and  the  family  of  the  sultan;  and, 
although  this  young  prince  liad  showed  mo 
many  attentions,  he  never  ones  asked  me 
for  a  present." 

The  second  son,  wlio  was  by  a  difTerent 
mother,  was  not  so  agreeable.  His  disposji- 
tiou  was  not  bad,  but  he  was  stupid  and 
slow,  and  anything  but  handsome.  The 
youngest  of  the  four,  named  Kukoko,  seemed 
to  have  become  a  general  favorite,  and  was 
clearlv  the  pet  of  his  father,  who  never  went 
anywhere  without  him.  He  was  so  mild 
and  pleasant  in  his  manner,  that  the  trav- 
ellers presented  him  with  a  pair  of  white 
kid  gloves,  and,  after  much  trouble  in  coax- 
ing them  on  his  unaccustomed  fingers,  were 
much  amused  by  the  young  man's  added 
dignity  with  which  he  walked  away. 

Contrary  to  the  usual  African  custom, 
Rumanika  was  singularly  abstemious,  living 
almost  entirely  uj)on  milk,  and  merely  suck- 
ing the  juice  of  boiled  beef,  without  eatin^ 
the  meat  itseUl  He  scarcely  ever  touclua 
the  plantain  wine  or  beer,  that  is  in  such 
general  use  throughout  the  country,  and 
never  had  been  known  to  be  intoxicated. 
This  wine  or  beer  is  made  in  a  very  in- 
genious manner.  A  large  log  of  wood  is 
hollowed  out  so  as  to  form  a  tub,  and  it 
seems  essential  that  it  should  be  of  consid- 
erable size.  One  end  of  it  is  raised  upon 
a  support,  and  a  sort  of  barrier  or  dam  of 
dried  grass  is  fixed  across  the  centre.  Ripe 
plantains  are  then  placed  in  the  upper  divi- 
sion of  the  tub,  .md  mashed  by  the  women's 
feet  and  hands  until  they  are  reduced  to  a 
pulp.  The  juice  (lows  down  the  inclined 
tub,  straining  itself  l)y  passing  through  the 
grass  barrier.  When  a  sufficient  quantity 
has  been  pressed,  it  is  strained  several  times 
backward  and  forward,  and  is  then  pa.ssed 
into  a  clean  tub  for  fermentation.  Some 
burnt  sorgl'.uj'.j  is  then  hrssiscd  and  thrown 
into  the  juice  to  help  fermentation,  and  the 


waisl  he  was 
luiul  the  mu8- 
I'ith  chnrmed 
Is,  and  ban(<8 
which  in  the 
ihnpc,  reaches 
s  cut  away  in 
to  the  ankle 
when  visiting 
3  always,  like 
hand  a  five- 
he  end.  lie 
nie,  brini;;iiig 
r  my  fondness 
lid  take  Frij, 
!,  along  witli 
e  his  sisters 
I),  the  sisters, 
«ng  Karaguo 
^  Master  Frij 
,  rather  jolly 
cc  enclosure, 
existing  be- 
sultan;  and, 
J  showed  ine 
C3  asked  me 

ly  a  different 
His  disposi- 
9  stupid  and 
dsome.  The 
koko,  seemed 
rite,  and  was 
6  never  went 
was  so  mild 
iiat  the  trav- 
)air  of  white 
uble  in  coax- 
fingers,  were 
man's  added 
iway. 

ican  custom, 
mious,  living 
merely  suck- 
thout  eatinw 
ner  touclud 
t  is  in  such 
:ountry,  and 
intoxicated. 
II  a  very  in- 
of  wood  is 
tub,  and  it 
)e  of  consid- 
raised  upon 
;r  or  dam  of 
entre.  Kipe 
L>  upper  divi- 
the  women's 
reduced  to  a 
the  inclined 
through  the 
Mit  quantity 
leveral  times 
then  passed 
ition.  Some 
and  jhrown 
lion,  and  the 


SULTAN  KUMANIKA. 


<ub  IS  then  covered  up  and  placed  in  the 
Bun's  ray,  or  kept  warm  by  a  Are.  In  the 
course  of  three  days  the  brewing  process  is 
supposed  to  be  completed,  and  the  beer  or 
wine  is  poured  off  into  calabsishes. 

The  amount  of  this  wine  that  is  drunk  by 
the  natives  is  really  amazing,  every  one 
carrying  about  with  him  a  calabash  full  of 
it,  and  even  the  youngest  children  of  the 
peasants  drinking  it  freely.  It  is  never 
bottled  for  prc'Tvation,  and,  in  fact,  it  is  in 
such  request  that  scarcely  a  calabash  full 
can  be  found  within  two  or  three  days  after 
the  brewing  is  completed.  This  inordinate 
fondness  for  plantain  wine  makes  Rumanika's 
abstinence  the  more  remarkable. 

But  Rumanika  was  really  a  wonderful 
man  in  his  way,  and  was  not  only  king,  but 
pi-iest  and  prr->het  also.    His  very  elevation 
to  tlio  throne  was,  according  to  the  iu-count 
given  by  him  and  his  friends,  entirely  due 
to  supernatural  aid.    When  his  father,  Da- 
gara,  died,  he  and  two  brotliers  claimed  the 
throne.    In  order  to  settle  their  pretensions 
a  small  magic  drum  was  laid  before  them 
and  he  who  could  lift  it  was  to  take  the 
crown.    The  drum  was  a  very  small  one 
and  of  scarcely  any  weight,   but   upon  it 
were  laid  certain  potent  charms.    The  con- 
sequence was,  that  although  his  brothers  put 
all  their  strength  to  the  task,  they  could  not 
stir  the  drum,  while  Rumanika  raised  it 
easily  with  his  little  finger.    Ever  afterward 
he  carried  this  drum  with  him  on  occasions 
of  ceremony,  swinging  it  about  to  show 
how  easy  it  was  for  the  rightful  sovereign 
to  wielJ  it.    Being  dissatisfied  with  such  a 
test,  one  of  the  chiefs  insisted  on  Rumani- 
ka s  trial  by  another  ordeal.    He  was  then 
brought  into  a  sacred  spot,  where  he  was 
required  to  seat  himself  on  the  ground  and 
await  the  result  of  the  charms.    If  he  were 
really  the  appointed  king,  the  portion  of  the 
ground  on  which  he  was  seated  would  rise 
up  m  the  air  until  it  renehed  the  sky;  but 
It  he  were  the  wrong  man,  it  would  col- 
lapse, and  dash  him  to  pieces.    Accordini^ 
to  all  accounts,  his  own  included,  RumanikS 
took  his  seat,  was  raised  up  into  the  skv 
and  his  legitimacy  acknowledged. 
Altogether,  his  family  seem  to  have  been 

\Vhl  Z^*"  <•!'?''''■  supernatural  qualities. 
When  his  father,  Dagara,  died,  his  body 
was  sewed  up  m  a  cow-hide,  put  into  a 

was  allowed  to  decompose.  Three  ma<rffot8 
were  then  taken  froiA  the  canoe  anWven 
m  charge  of  Rumanika,  but  as  soon  as^  he? 
came  into  his  house  one  of  them  became  a 
hon,  another  a  leopard,  and  the  third  Wiis 
transformed  into  a  stick.  The  bo.ly  v^ 
then  aid  on  the  top  of  a  hill,  a  hut  built 
over  It,  five  girls  and'  fifty  cows'  put  into  t 
and  the  door  blocked  un  and  watched^  o 
t  on  Ti,oT-'-^'',  J^rnAm\ly  died  c.f  starva- 
tion. The  hon  which  issued  fi-om  the  corpse 
was  supposed  to  be  an  emblem  of  the  pe- 


401 

culiar  character  of  the  Karagne  country 
winch  IS  supposed  to  be  guarded  by  lions 
from  the  attack  of  other  tribes.  It  was  said 
that  whenever  Dagara  heard  that  the  enemy 
was  marching  into  his  country,  he  used  to 
call  the  lions  together,  send  them  against 
the  advancing  force,  and  so  defeat  them  by 
deputy.  ■' 

In  his  character  of  high-priest,  Rumanika 
was  very  imposing,  especially  in  his  new- 
moon  levee,  which  took  place  every  month, 
tor  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  loyalty  o^ 
his  subjects.  On  the  evening  of  the  new 
moon  he  clothes  himself  in  his  priestly 
garb,  I.  c.  a  quantity  of  feathers  noddin* 
over  his  forehead,  and  fastened  with  a  kin3 
of  strap  of  beads.  A  huge  white  beard 
covers  his  chin  and  descends  to  his  breast 
and  IS  fastened  to  his  face  by  a  belt  of  beads! 
Having  thus  prepared  himself,  he  sits  be- 
und  a  screen,  and  waits  for  the  ceremony 

This  is  a  very  curious  one.    Tliirty  or 
forty  long  drums  are  ranged  on  the  ground 
just  like  a  battery  of  so  many  mortars:  on 
their  heads  a  white  cross  is  painted.    The 
drummers  stand  behind  them,  each  with  a 
pair  of  sticks,  and  in  front  is  their  leader 
who  has  a  pair  of  small  drums  slung  to  his' 
neck.    The  leader  first  raises  his  rigTit  arm 
and  then  his  left,  the  performers  imitrttinK 
him  with  exact  precision.    He  then  brim's 
down  both  sticks  on  the  drums  with  a  rapTd 
roll,  which  becomes  louder  and  louder,  until 
the  noise  is  scarcely  endurable.     This  is 
continued   at  intervals   for  several    liours 
interspersed  with  performances  on  smaller 
drums,  and  other  musical  instruments     The 
various  chiefs  and  ortlcers  next  r-, Vance  in 
succession,  leaping  and  gesticulating,  shout- 
ing  expressions  of  devotion  to  their  sover- 
T"',j"l  ""^o^'ing  his  vengeance  on  them 
.should  they  ever  fail  in  their  loyalty.    As 
they  finish  their  salutation  they  kneel  suc- 
cessively before  the  king,  and  hold  out  their 
knobbed  sticks  that  he  may  touch  them,  and 
then  retire  to  make  room  for  their  succes- 
sors in  the  ceremony.     In  order  to  give 
added  force  to  the  whole  proceeding,  a  horn 
IS  stuffed  full  of  magic  powder,  and  placed 
in  the  centre,  with    its   opening  directed 
toward  the  quarter  from  which  danger  is  to 
bo  feared. 

A  younger  brother  of  Rumanika,  named 
M  nanagee,  was  even  a  greater  prophet  and 
divmer  than  his  royal  brother,  and  was 
greatly  respected  by  the  Wahuma  in  conse- 
quence of  his  supernatural  powers.  He  hml 
a  sacred  stone  on  a  hill,  and  might  be  seen 
daily  walking  to  the  spot  for  the  purpose *f 
divination.  He  had  also  a  number  of  ele- 
phant tusks  which  he  had  stuffed  with 
magic  powder  and  placed  in  the  enclosure 
for  the  purpose  of  a  kind  of  reliaimis  wor- 
ship. " 

M'nanagee  was  a  tall  and  stately  person- 
age, skilled  in  the  knowledge  of  plants,  and. 


402 


KABAGUE. 


strange  to  say,  ready  to  impart  his  knowl- 
edge.   As  insignia  of  his  priestly  office,  he 
wore  an  abundance  of  charms.    One  charm 
was  fastened  to  tlio  back  of  liis  shaven  head 
others  liiiug  from  his  neck  and  arms,  while 
some  were  ti(!d  to  his  knees,  and  even  the 
end  of  his  walking  stick  contained  a  charm. 
He  was  always  attended  by  his  page,  a  little 
fat  boy,  who  carried  liis  fly-flapper,  and  his 
master  a  pipe,  the  latter  being  of  considera- 
ble length,  and  having  a  bowl  of  enormous 
size.    He  had  a  full  belief  in  the  power  of 
his  magic  horns,  and  consulted   them  on 
almost  every  occasion  of  life.    If  any  one 
were  ill,  he  asked  their  opinion  as  to  the 
nature  of  the  malady  and  the  best  remedy 
for  it.    If  he  felt  curious  about  a  friend  at  a 
distance,  the  magic  horns  gave  him  tidings 
of  the  absent  one.  If  an  attack  were  intended 
on  the  country,  the  horns  gave  him  warning 
Of  It,  and,  when  rightly  invoked,  they  eilher 
averted  the  threatened  attack,  or  gave  vic- 
tory over  their  enemies. 

The  people  have  an  implicit  faith  in  the 
power  of  their  charms,  and  believe  that  they 
not  only  inspire  courage,  but  render  the 
person  invulnerable.  Kumanika's  head  ma- 
gician, K'yengo,  told  Captain  Speke  that  the 
>\  atuta  tribes  had  invested  his  village  for  six 
months;  and,  when  all  the  cattle  and  other 
provisions  were  eaten,  they  took  the  vil- 
lage and  killed  all  the  inhabitants  except 
himself  Ilim  thev  could  not  kill  on  account 
ot  the  power  of  his  charms,  and,  although 
they  struck  at  him  with  their  spears  as  he 
lay  on  the  ground,  they  could  not  even 
wound  him. 

The  Wahuma   believe    iu  the    constant 
presence  of  departed  souls,  and  that  they 
can  exercise  an  influence  for  good  or  evil 
over  those  whom  tlu^y  had  known  in  life. 
So,  if  a  field  happens  to  be  blighted,  or  the 
crop  docs  not  look  favorable,  a  gourd  is  laid 
on  the  path.    All  passengers  who  see  the 
gourd  know  its  meaning,  and  set  up  a  wail- 
ing cry  to  the  spirits  to  r,ive  a  gooilcrop  to 
their  surviving  friends.   In  order  to  propitiate 
the  spirit  of  his  father,  Dagara,  Eumanika 
used  annually  to  sacrifice  a  cow  on  his  tomb, 
and  was  accustomed  to  lay  corn  and  beer  near 
the  grave,  as  offerings  to  his  father's  .spirit. 
In  Karague,  marriage  is  little  more  than 
a  species  of  barter,  the   flUher    receivin.^ 
cows,  sheep,  slaves,  and  other  property  for 
his  daughter.     But  the  transaction  is  not  a 
final  one,  for  if  the  bride  does  not  happen  to 
approve  of  her  husband,  she  can  return  the 
marriaire   gifts  and  return  to  her  father. 
Ihere  is  but  little  ceremony  in  their  mar- 
riages, the  principal  one  seeming  to  consist 
or  tying  up  the  bride  in  a  blackened  skin, 
and  carrying  her  in  noisy  procession  to  her 
husband. 

The  Wahuma  women  lead  an  easy  life 
comi)ared  with  that  of  the  South  African 
women,  and  indeed  their  chief  ol)ject  in  life 
seems  t«  be  the  attaiuuieat  of  corpulence. 


Either  the  Wahuma  women  arc  specially 
constituted,  or  tlie  food  which  they  eat  is 
exceptionally  nutritious,  for  they  attain 
dimensions  that  are  almost  incredible.  For 
example,  Kumanika,  though  himself  a  slight 
and  well-shaped  man,  hiul  five  wives  of 
enormous  fatness.  Three  of  them  were 
unable  to  enter  the  door  of  an  ordinary  hut, 
or  to  move  about  without  being  supported  by 
a  person  on  either  side.  They  are  fed  on 
boiled  plantains  and  milk,  and  consume  vast 
quantities  of  the  latter  article,  eating  it  all 
day  long.  Indeed,  they  are  fattened  as  sys- 
tematically as  turkeys,  and  are  "  crammed  " 
with  an  equal  disregard  of  their  feelings. 

Captain  Speke  gives  a  very  humorous  ac- 
count of  his  interview  with  one  of  the  women 
of  rank,  together  with  the  measurements 
which  she  permitted  him  to  take:  — 

"  After  a  long  and  amusing  conversation 
with  Rumanika  in  the  morning,  I  called  on 
one  of  his  sisters-in-law,  married  to  an  elder 
brother,  who  wa.s  born  before  Dagara  as- 
cended the  throne.  She  was  another  of 
these  victims  of  obesity,  unable  to  stand 
except  on  all  fours.  I  was  desirous  to 
obtain  a  good  view  of  her,  and  actually  to 
measure  her,  and  induced  her  to  give  me 
facilities  for  doing  so  by  offering  in  return  to 
show  her  a  bit  of  my  naked  legs  and  arms. 
The  bait  took  as  I  wished  it,  and,  after  get- 
ting her  to  sidle  and  wriggle  into  the  mid- 
dle of  the  hut,  I  did  as  I  had  promised,  and 
then  took  her  dimensions  as  noted. 

"  Round  arm,  one  foot  eleven  inches. 
Chest,  four  feet  four  inches.  Thigh,  two 
feet  seven  Inches.  Calf,  one  foot  eight 
inches.  Height,  five  feet  eight  inches.  All 
of  these  arc  exact  except  the  height,  and  I 
believe  I  could  have  obtained  this  more 
accurately  if  I  could  have  had  her  laid  on 
the  floor.  But,  knowing  what  difliculties  I 
should  have  to  contend  with  in  such  a  jjiece 
of  engineering,  I  tried  to  get  her  height  by 
raising  her  up.  This,  after  infinite  exer- 
tions on  the  jiart  of  us  both,  was  accom- 
plished, when  she  .sank  down  again  fainting, 
for  the  blood  had  rushed  into  her  head. 

"  Meanwhile  the  daughter,  a  lass  of  six- 
teen, sat  stark  naked  before  us,  sucking  at  a 
milk-pot,  on  which  tlie  father  kept  her  at 
work  by  holding  a  rod  in  his  hand;  for,  as 
fattening  is  the  first  duty  of  fashionable 
female  life,  it  must  be  duly  enforced  with 
the  rod  if  necessary.  I  got  up  a  bit  of  a 
flirtation  with  missy,  and  induced  her  to  rise 
and  shake  hands  with  me.  Her  features 
were  lovely,  but  her  body  was  as  round  as  a 
ball." 

In  one  jiart  of  the  country,  the  women 
turned  their  obesity  to  good  account.  In 
exchanging  food  for  beads,  the  usual  bar- 
gain  was  that  a  certain  quantity  of  food 
should  be  paid  for  by  a  belt  of  beads  that 
would  go  round  the  waist.  But  the  women 
of  Karague  were,  on  an  averacre,  twice  as 
large  round  the  waist  as  those  of  other  dis- 


I  arc  specially 
ch  they  eat  is 
r  they  attain 
icrediblo.  For 
liinselfa  flight 
five  wives  of 
of  them  were 
1  ordinary  luit, 
g  supported  by 
ley  are  fed  on 
I  consume  vast 
e,  eating  it  all 
ittened  as  sys- 
e  "crammed" 
nr  feelings. 
humorous  ac- 
!  of  the  women 
measurements 
take:  — 

conversation 
ig,  I  called  on 
ed  to  an  elder 
e  Dagara  as- 
is  another  of 
able  to  stand 
!  desirous  to 
lid  actually  to 
;r  to  give  nie 
ig  in  return  to 
)gs  and  arms. 
Eind,  after  get- 
into  the  mid- 
)romised,  and 
)tcd. 

leven  inclies. 
Thigh,  two 
le  foot  eight 
;  inches.  All 
iieight,  and  I 
'd  this  more 
I  her  laid  on 

dirticulties  I 
;  such  a  j)iece 
er  h('ight  by 
nlinite  exer- 

was  accom- 
?ain  fainting, 
cr  licad. 
V  lass  of  six- 
sucking  at  a 

kept  her  at 
liand;  for,  a« 

liishiouable 
iforced  with 
p  a  bit  of  a 
'd  her  to  rise 
ler  features 
ts  round  as  a 


,  tlie  women 
iccount.  In 
3  usual  bar- 
tity  of  food 
beads  tJiat 
;  the  women 
ze,  twice  na 
if  other  dis- 


»  '    HI!!,  I 


IlL'MAXIKA'S    rinV.VlK    UAM). 


(Sec  pngc  ioj.) 


im) 


nUMANIKA'S  PRIVATE   HAND. 


405 


.-ftLt 


-T^A 


^^•-  -. 


^:Wi 


Iricts,  and  ttio  natural  couanquonco  was,  that 
food  practically  rose  oiio  liundrud  pur  cent 
Inprice. 

.DcHpito  tlioir  oxcopdinR  fatness,  their  fea- 
tures rediiii  much  beauty,  tlie  lace  being 
oval,  and  (Ik^  v.yi)H  i)eeuliu'rly  tine  and  iutel- 
ligeut.  Tilt!  Iiif,dier  class  ot"  women  are  very 
modest,  not  only  wojirinj?  the  cow-skin  jietti- 
coat,  but  also  a  largo  wrapper  of  l)laek  cloth, 
with  which  they  envcloi)e  their  whole 
bodies,  merely  allowing  one  eye  to  he  seen. 
Yet  up  to  the  marriageable  age  no  clotliing 
of  any  kind  is  worn  by  either  sex,  and  both 
boys  and  giils  will  come  up  to  the  traveller 
and  talk  familiarly  with  him,  as  unconscious 
of  nudity  as  their  (Irst  parents.  Until  they 
are  married  tliey  allow  tlieir  hair  to  grow, 
and  then  siiave  it  oil",  sometimes  entirely, 

tfci 


and  Romclimcs  |)artially.  They  have  an  0(.,i 
habit  of  mdving  cans  "of  cane,  which  they 
cover  on  llic  oiUside  with  the  woolly  hair 
shaved  otf  (heir  own  lie.ads. 

Mention  luv*  lieen  made  of  various  musi- 
cal instruments  used  in  Karague.  The 
inost  imporlant  are  the  drums,  which  vary 
in  size  iis  much  as  they  do  in  Kngland 
That  whicdi  corresponds  to  our  side-drum  is 
about  four  feet  in  length  and  one  in  width, 
and  is  covered  at  the  wide  end  with  an 
ichneumon  skin.  This  instnnnent  is  slung 
from  the  shoulder,  and  is  jjlayed  with  the 
fingers  like  the  Indian  "tom-tom."  The 
large  drums  used  at  the  new-moon  levee  are 
of  similar  .structure,  but  very  much  larger. 
The  wiir  drum  is  beati'u  by  the  women,  and 
at  its  sound  the  men  rush  to  arms  and  repair 
to  the  several  quarters. 

There  are  also  several  stringed  instruments 
cmploycKl  in  FCaraguo.  The  principal  of 
these  is  tin;  nanga,  a  kind  of  guitar,  wdiich, 
according  to  Captain  Grant,  may  be  calleil 
the  national  instrument.  There  are  several 
varieties  of  the  naiig.a.  « In  one  of  these, 
played  by  an  old  woman,  six  of  the  seven 
notes  were  a  jierfeet  scale  the  seventh  beiu'' 
the  only  faulty  string.  In  another,  plave'd 
by  a  man,  three  strings  were  a  full  harmoni- 
ous chord.  These  facts  show  that  the  peo- 
ple arc  capable  of  (!ultivation.  The  nan^a 
w-as  formed  of  heavy  dark  wood,  the  shape 
of  a  tray,  twenty-two  by  nine  inches,  or 
thirty  by  eight,  with  three  crosses  in  the 
bottom,  and  laced  with  one  string  seven  or 
eight  times  over  bridges  at  eitiier  end 
bomctimes  a  gourd  or  sounding-board  was 
tied  to  the  buck. 

"Prince  M'nanagee,  at  my  request,  sent 
the  best  player  he  knew.    The  man  boldly 
entered  without  introduction,  dressed  in  the 
u.sual    \Vaiiyambo  costume,  and    looked   a 
wild,  cjtcitefl  creature.    After   restin<r  his 
spear  against  the  roof  of  the  hut,  he  took  a 
nanga  from  under  his  arm,  and  commenced 
As  he  sat  upon  a  mat  with  his  head  averted 
he  sang  something  of  his  having  been  sent 
to  me,  .and  of  the  favorite  dog^Keeromba 
Ihe  wild  yet  gentle  music  and  words  at- 


tracted a  crowd  of  admirer-s,  who  sang  the 
dog-song  for  days  afterward,  us  wo  had  it 
encored  several  times. 

"  Another  jilayer  was  an  old  woman,  call- 
ing hi-rscdf  KiHdeeamyagga.  As  she  played 
while  standing  in  front  of  me,  all  the  song 
she  could  produce  was  '  sh  !  sh  I '  screwing 
her  mouth,  rolling  her  body,  and  raising 
hor  feet  from  the  ground.  It  wa.s  a  misera" 
ble  nerlormancc,  and  not  rejieated." 

There  is  another  stringed  instrument 
called  the  "  zeze."  It  ditlers  from  the  nan- 
ga in  having  only  one  string,  and,  like  the 
nan-ja,  is  used  to  accompany  the  voice  in 
singing.  Their  wind  instruments  may  bo 
called  the  fla-'colet  and  the  bugle.  The  for- 
mer has  six  finger  holes  ;  and  as  the  people 
walk  along  with  a  load  on  their  heads,  they 
play  the  flageolet  to  lighten  their  journov, 
and  really  contrive  to  jiroduce  sweet  and 
mu.sical  tones  from  it.  The  so-called  •'  bu- 
"lo  IS  made  of  several  pieces  of  gourd, 
fitting  into  one  another  in  telescope  titsh- 
lon,  and  is  covered  with  cow-skin.  The 
notes  of  a  common  chord  can  be  produced 
on  the  bugle,  the  thumb  acting  as  a  key. 
It  IS  about  one  foot  in  length. 

llumanika  had  a  special  military  band 
comprised  of  sixteen  men,  fourteen  of 
whom  had  bugles  and  the  other  two  carried 
hand  drums.  They  formed  in  three  ranks 
the  drummers  being  in  the  rear,  and  played 
on  the  march,  swayin''  their  bodies  in  time 
to  tne  music,  and  the  leader  .advancin"  with 
a  curiously  active  step,  in  which  he  touched 
the  ground  with  each  knee  alternately.  The 
illustration  onposite  will  give  the  reader  a 
good  idea  of  llumanika's  jirivate  band.      " 

The  code  of  laws  in  Karague  is  rather 
severe  in  some  cases,  and  strangely  mild  in 
others  For  example,  theft  is  punished 
with  the  stocks,  in  which  the  oflender  is 
sometimes  kejit  for  many  months.  Assault 
with  a  stick  entails  a  Ihie  of  ten  goats,  but 
It  with  a  deadly  weai)on,  the  whole  of  the 
property  is  forfeited,  the  injured  party  tak- 
ing one  h.alf,  and  the  sultiui  the  other.  In 
cases  of  actual  murder,  the  culprit  is  exe- 
cuted, and  his  entire  property  goes  to-  tho 
relations  of  the  niurdered  man.  The  most 
curious  law  is  that  against  adultery.  Should 
the  oflender  be  an  onlinary  wife,  the  loss  of 
an  ear  is  thought  to  be  sulHcient  penalty  • 
but  if  she  be  a  slave,  or  the  daughter  of  tlie 
sultan,  both  parties  arc  liable  to  capital 
punishment. 

AVhen  an  inh.ahitant  of  Karague  dies,  his 
body  IS  disposed  of  according  to  his  rank. 
Should  he  be  one  of  the  peasants,  or  Wan- 
yambo,  the  body  is  sunk  in  the  water ;  but 
if  ho  .><hoidd  belong  to  the  higher  caste,  or 
W.ihum.a,  the  corpse  is  buried  on  an  island 
HI  the  lake,  all  such  islands  beiu"  consid- 
ered as  sacred  ground.  Near  the  spot 
whereon  one  of  the  Wahuma  has  died, 
the  relations  i)lace  a  symbolical  mark,  con- 
sisting of  two  sticks  tied  to  a  stone,  and  laid 


I 


406 


TUE   WAZAUAMO. 


m 


m     ,  V    '^'^ 


pre«c.,.t  H,u..e.l,  .U..1  in  con.eciuo.fco  ho  tun.«  |  «ulta\ 'Li^-lii^eacjy  U7men^  "'  '^^ 


THE  WAZAHAMO  AND  WASAGAEA. 


Bkfohe  nrocepdinR  to  other  African  coun- 
tries,  1    will  ho  :w  will  to  j,mvo  a  fow  linoB  to 
two  otiier  tnbcH,  nanusly.-tho  W'nzaraino 
and  tho  Wasagnni.     Tlio  country  in  wliich 
the  lornicr  jn-oplo  live  ia  calhul   U^saranio. 
and  JH  Hituatcd  inunodiafiiv  southward  of 
/arwil)ar,  bcin^   llic   <li       ,listrict   throiuth 
which  CapUinis  Spolvo  ami  (irant  iHwscd. 
It  is  covered  witli   viliuj,'OH,  tlio  houses  of 
Wlucli  are  partly  conical  after  the  ordinary 
African   lushion,  and  partly  gable-ended,  ac- 
cordni.'  to  the  architicture  of  the  coiwt,  tho 
latter  loriu  beinj,'  probably  due  to  the  many 
traders  who  have  come  from  dillerent  i)art8 
f  the  world.    The  walls  of  the  houses  arc 
wattle  and  daub,"  i.  c.  hurdle-work  plas- 
tered with  day,  and  the  roofs  aro  thatched 
with  grass  or  reeds.     Over  these  villaKcs 
arc  set  headmen,  called  phanzes,  who  or- 
tlinarily   call    themselves  subjects  of  Said 
M.-\|i(l,  the  SulUn  of  Zanzibar.    But  as  soon 
as  a  caravan  passes  through  their  country 
each  headman  considers  hmiself  as  a  sultan 

travellers.  They  never  allow  strangers  to 
como  int«  their  villages,  differing  Fn  this 
respect  Irom  other  tribes,  who  use  their 
towns  a.s  traps,  into  which  the  unwary  trav- 
eller IS  induced  to  come,  and  from  which  he 
clees  not  escape  without  suffering  severely 

The  people,  'although  rather  short  and 
thick-set,  arc  good-looking,  and  very  fond 
pt  dress,  although  their  costume  is  but  lim- 
ited, consisting  only  of  a  cloth  tied  round 
the  waist.  They  are  very  fond  of  orna- 
merits,  such  as  shells,  pieces  of  tin,  and 
beads,  and  rub  their  bodies  with  red  clay 
and  oil  until  they  look  as  if  they  were  new 

twisted  into  numerous  tufts,  each  of  which 
18  elongated  by  bark  fibres.'  S  men  are  I 
very  attentive  to  the  women,  dressing  their 
hair  for  them,  or  escorting  them   to  the 
water,  lest  any  harm  should  befall  them. 

A  wise  traveller  passes  through  Uzaramo 
as  fast  a.s  he  can,  the  natives  never  furnish- 
ing ffujdes,  nor  giving  the  least  assistance, 
but  being  always  ready  to  pounce  on  him 
should  he  be  weak,  and  to  rob  him  by  open 
Molence,  instead  of  employing  the  more 
refined  "  hongo  "  system.  Tlie/seem  to  be 
a  boisterous  race,  but  are  manageable  by 
^u^^  gentleness  and  determination.  Even 
when  tliey  had  drawn  out  their  warriors  in 
battle  array,  and  demande<l  in  a  menacinc 
manner  a  fkrger  hongo  than  they  oS  "^ 
expect,  Cantain  Spoke  found  that  gont  e 
words  would  always  cause  them  to^with- 


tiatioii  hhouhl  thev  come  to  bh.wH,  thoy 
aro  rather  formidably  .uemicH,  being  weH 
armed  with  spears  an.l  bows  an.l  arrow., 
tlio  latter  being  poisoned,  and  their  weaii- 
o  s  being  always  kci)t  in  (he  same  8tat«  ot 
polish  and  iieadie.ss  lus  their  owners 

homo  of  these  riianzes  .ire  ai)t  to  bo  very 
troublesome  to  the  traveller,  afmoHt  always 
demandMig  more  than  they  expect  to  get, 
«nd  generally  using  thivats  as  the  simplest 
means  01   extortion.    One  of  them,  named 
Khoiiibo  la  Simha  or  Lioirs-claw,  was  very 
n.ublesome,  sending  back  contemptuously 
he  present  that  had  been  given  him,  and 
threatening  the  direst  vengeance  if  his  de- 
maiids  were  not  complied  with.    I'ivo  nulvs 
urther  inland,  another  I'han/.e,  named  Mil- 
kia  va  Nvimi,  or  Monkey -s-tail,  demr.nded 
another  hongo  ;   but,  as  the  stoics   of  tho 
cxi)e(lition  would  have  been  soon  exhausted 
at  this  rjite,  Capt.ain  S,)eke  put  an  abruiit 
stop  to  t  lis  e.xtortion,  giving  the  chiefs  tlio 
option  ot   Uiking   what    he   chose   to    jrivo 
them    or  fighting  tor  it ;  an<l,  as  ho  took 
care  to  di.si, la_y  his  armory  ancl  the  marks- 
manshii)  of  his  men,  th.v  thought  it  better 
to  comply  rather  than  light  and  get  nothing. 
Owing  to   the   rapidiiv   with   which   tlfo 
travellers  passed  through  this  inhospitable 
land,  and   the   necessity  for    avoiding  the 

learned  of  their  manners  and  ciisloms.    The 
Wazaramo  would  flock  round  the  caravan 
for  the  purpose  of  barter,  and  to  in.spect  the 
stn-ingers,  hut  their  ordinary  lile  was  spent 
in  their  villages,  which,  as  has  been  already 
mentioned,  are  never  entered  by  travellers 
Nothing  18  known  of  their  religion,  thousili 
it  18  possible   that  tho  many  Arahometans 
who  pivss  through  their  land  may  have  in- 
troduced  some  traces  of  their  own  religion 
.)U8t  as  18  the  case  in  Londa,  where  the  "eliir- 
lon  IS  an  odd  mixture  of  idolatrous,  Mahom- 
etan,  and  Christian  rites,  with  the  meaning 
ingeniously  excluded.     In  fact   they  do  not 
want  to  know  the  meaning  of  tlio  rites 
leaving  that  to  the  priests,  ami  being  per- 
lectjy  content.-d  so  long  as  thi!  wit(tli-iioctor 


performs  his  part.  That  the  Wa.araTno 
have  at  all  events  a  certain  amouiitof  super- 
stition is  evident  from  the  fact  that  they 
erect  httlo  model   huts  as   t.niplcs  to   the 

called  M  ganga.  They  also  lay  broken  arti- 
cles on  graves,  and  occasionally  carve  rude 
wooden  dolls  and  fix  them  intl.e  ground  at 
he  end  of  the  grave;  but,  as  far  as  is  known, 
tliey  have  no  separate  burying-pUicc. 


THE   WASAOARA. 


407 


TriK  Hccond  of  thcna  tribos,  tho  Wasa- 
OAiiA,  iiihabitH  II  liirj,'()  Irimt  of  coiiiitrv  full 
R  liiin.lic'.l  mih-H  ill  l..n«tli,  mid  in  cjomp'oH,.,] 
<)t   ft  Ki-fiit  iiuiiibor  of  inferior  or  Hiih-dilu.s 
liiktf  ( llnT  AlVimn  iifttioiis,  who  iUoik.  time 
worn  evidently  Knuit  and  powerful,  tlie  Wa- 
Ra^'al•ll  have   becoino   feeble   and   eoninara- 
t ively  insisriiitleant,  thouKli  Htill    num.Tous 
Uein;;  imieh   i)erseeuted   by  armed   parties 
Irijin  tlu!  eoaal,  who  attack  and  earry  them 
otl'  for  HJaves,  besideH  HtcMvlinp  what  property 
they  have,  the  Wawa;^ara  have  mostly  takeii 
to   the   lolily  conical   mountains  that  form 
Hueh  coiiHpieuoiis  obiectn  in  thoir  eouiitry 
and  llicr((  are  tolerably  safe.     Hut,  as  tlu'v 
arc  thus  oblif,'ed  to  reside  in  such  limited 
districts,  they  can  do  but  little  in  a«rioul- 
ture.  and  th.-y  an-  afraiil  to  d(!scend  (o  (he 
level  >,'roiind  in  order  to  take  part  in   tho 
ayatcin  of  oonunerce,  which   is  so  larcelv 
devolojied  in  this  country.    Their  viilatres 
are  mostly  built  on  the  li{||  spurs,  and  they 
cultivate,  as  far  as  they  can,  thc!  fertile  lands 
wiilch  lio  between  them.    But  the  continual 


THE  WASAOARA  TRIBE. 


lhrMave'"<i"''r'"''  "■""""'  ""  ^""  «"  thoHC  of 
tlie  H  aye-dealerH,  prevent  the  inliabitantu 
[|;.;m  Ullin«  m 

Ho  utterly  dispirited  are  thoy,  that  as  soon 
ft«  ft  caravan  is  seen  by  a  sentry,  warninTis 

i!iiuo',;"w/"  fi'"  i'<'P"i"tio.//i,:;k"  """the 

lul-top,  where  they  Header  and  hichs  them- 
wonM  vT"  r">'''V'"'y  ^'"'t  »"  HlaviiK  i^rTy 
lu  stance  s  never  even  thou«ht  of  and  it  io 
banlly  possible  to  induce  the  AVasa '-ar  o  de! 
Hcend  tl.e  hills  „„til  the  caravan  ha"  wVefl 
CoMHoquently  it  is  scarcely  posb  to'  Zdi 
ft  Wftsa-araas  a  K.ddc  (hrou«h  his  c  m  trv 
It,  however,  the  traveller  do^s  suc.-ee  In  «« 
;  o'nff,  he   inds  that  the  man  is  (rustworthy 

comiianion.    The  miin  iieem  to  h^^  «ood  hunt- 

ftiid  trackiiij,'  ^'ame.  Owiiif;  to  the  nrerVirK 
|..m  nature  of  their  lives,  the  Wa '  ^^ara  h  ve 
but  little  dress,  a  small  strip  of  doth  round 
the  Wtttat  being  the  ordinary  costume. 


"  I 


in 


':-■'% 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 


THE  WATU8I  AND   WAGANDA. 


tOCALITT  or  THK  WATtTHI  TflinK  — MODB  Of  I>mtSS  — A  WATttSI  WOMAV  — THEin  VALnR  AS  IIBIU)8- 
MKN— HAI.l'TATION— WATIHI  DANClNd  —  TIIK  WAdANDA  —  UOAI)  MYHTKM  OK  IKIANDA  — OOOIt  OF 
KTlgl.KTTK  -n.SKKdAUl.  OK  HUMAN  I.IKK  -  CHIEI.TV  -  IIIK  WIKK-Wllll- -  AN  AHUCAN  ULUK- 
nKAIll>— UKK  IN  IIIK  I'ALACK  — IlKVlKWINd  TllK  Tltool'8  -  OHKIIN  OK  HIE  WAOANI.A  TltlllK  — 
KIMEIIA,    AND  IIH   MOOK  OK  (lOVKIINMKNT  —  HVSTKM  OK  011.1ANI/.ATION  — TllK  LAW  OK  Hill'.  KHSION 

—  M'iKSA,  TIIK   I-IIESBNT   KINO,  ANI>  IIIB  COUUT  — TllK   IIOIAI,  I-AI,AOK  —  OKNKUAL   AHCMITKCTIIHK 
OK  TllK    WAOANDA  — KKIBITION    OK  A  UUKHT— TIIK    llOYAL  WALK-A  COl'NCII,  — HlII-Kll»riTIONII 

—  THE   WAIKIIHIMIIIT   ANI>  IIIX   IIIOII   flllEST  -  UKUdlON   OK  TIIK   WAOANDA— HUMAN   HAlltlKICES 

—  TIIK  SLAVK-THADK- BUUVUfUOllOUNBa  OF  TIIK  WAOANDA. 


Thkuk  is  0110  tiilio  wliicli,  (houph  Htimll, 
liiLs  Hiilllcii'iit  inilividimlily  to  dcsi-rvt*  a  hrid' 
uutUi'.  The  ^VATl^sl  mt'  ii  race  of  lu'iils- 
incn,  who  live  on  cillior  side  of  the  cquiitor, 
luul,  jUTonliui,'  lo  I'aptahi  (Jriuit,  rosciul)le 
thi!  Soiiiiili.s  ill  i^'ciKM-al  appoamiico.  They 
{^c'lU'rally  take  ncrvico  in  thi'  Iiouschoids  (if 
wealthy  jicrsSiis,  and  dcvoto  thenisi-lves 
nhiiost  I'litiifly  to  the  eare  of  the  cuttle. 
They  have  jiU'iitilul  and  Avoolly  hair,  and 
the  men  whave  their  heards  with  the  exeep- 
f  ion  of  a  ('reseeiit-sliaped  patch.  Thev  have 
nn  odd  fashion  of  stainiii},'  tlieir  sums' hlaek, 
iisinj,'  (or  the  purpose  a  mixture  o'"the  tama- 
rind seed  ealeined  and  powdered,  and  tlien 
nii.xed  Willi  a  salt  of  eopper.  The  men  carry 
their  wea|M)ns  when  walkinpf,  and  Hcldoin 
appear  without  a  how  and  arrows,  a  flve-feet- 
loii!?  btick  with  a  knob  at  ouo  cud,  and  a 
liipe. 

When  they  moot  a  friend,  they  hold  out 
the  knohhed  end  of  the  stiek  to  him;  he 
touclies  it,  and  ilie  demands  of  etiquette  are 
supposed  to  he  fullilled.  This  knobbed  slick 
i-  quite  an  institution  amonj?  the  tribes  that 
liave  recently  been  mentioned,  and  a  man 
seems  to  be  quite  unhappy  unless  he  baa  in 
his  baud  one  of  these  cu'rious  implements. 
They  are  fond  of  ornament,  and  wear  inulti- 
tiidiuous  rinfrs  upon  their  wrists  and  ankles, 
the  latter  lieing  generally  of  iron  and  the 
former  of  bra-ss. 

They  are  a  (Ine-lookinK  race,  and  the 
women  are  ecjually  remarkaltlo  in  this  re- 
spect with  the  men,— a  phenomenon  rarely 
8oca  in  thi"  part  of  the  world.    They  arc 


(408) 


tall,  erect,  and  well-featnrod,  and,  as  a  rulo, 
are  decently  clud  in  dressed  cow-skins.  'J'lio 
general  aiijiearance  of  the  Waliisi  womeu 
can  be  gathered  from  Caiitaiii  Giant's  de- 
scription. 

')iie  morning,  to  my  surprise,  in  a  wild 
Jungle  we  came  up(m'  cattle,  tlicn  upon  u 
'  bomair  or  ring  fence,  concealed  by  beauti- 
ful umbrageous  large!  trees,  quite  the  place 
for  a  gi|)sy  ca  ,ip.  At  the  eiitrv  two  strap- 
ping lellows  met  me  and  invited  my  ap- 
proach. I  mingled  with  the  peojile,  mtt 
water  from  them,  aiwl  was  asked,  '  Would  I 
prefer  some  milk  V  Tliis  sounded  tome 
more  civilized  than  I  exjiccted  from  Afri- 
cans, so  1  followed  the  men,  who  led  me  up 
to  a  beautiful  lady-like  creature,  a  "Watusi 
woman,  silting  alone  under  a  tree. 

"She  received  me  without  any  expression 
of  surprise,  in  the  most  diguiticd  manner  ; 
and,  aft<'r  talking  with  the  men,  rose  smil- 
ing, showing  great  gentleness  in  her  man- 
ner, and  led  me  to  her  hut.  I  bad  time  to 
scrutinize  the  interesting  stranger  :  she 
wore  the  usual  AVatusi  cosliinie  of  a  cow's 
skin  reversed,  teased  into  a  fringe  with  a 
neculle,  colored  lirowu,  and  wrapped  round 
her  iiody  from  lielow  thi!  chest  to  the  ankles. 
Lappets,  showing  zebra-like  stripes  of  many 
colors,  she  wore  as  a  '  turn-ovi-r '  rouiKl  the 
waist,  and,  except  where  ornamented  ou  one 
arm  with  a  highly  polished  c()il  of  thick 
brass  wire,  two  equally  bright  and  ni!v.ssive 
rings  on  the  ri),'ht  wrist,  and  a  neck  pen- 
dant of  brass  wire,  —  except  these,  and  hel 
becoming  wraiJiJt-r,  ahc  was  au  nalurdle. 


INTKr.LKJRNCIi:    AWD   POMTRNRSS, 


I  w,i8 Htni.k  wiHi  l.or  |u-.ullu,lv.f„,„u.,| 

"•■■","""'«'■' "'"oHKr  ,u.<'k  ;    tho    LoHy     t 

KT  llr...  ,.y..N.  ,„„utl..  aii.l  nn.s.,  ;  th,.  .nmll 

..<s^,ot  \u'r  Uniuln  ui.,1  nnkod  r..,.t-all  were 

«HUlll..Ms;    (ho    only    1.(1.1    »',.,ii„r,.     whi.l,    i„ 

r..nm,|,.r.-cl  o,n,   ol^  h.-aii(y  will,  'tl,..ni,  wa" 

rouii.l,..!  ..II  liko  nil  ..«!:,  tint  hIiohI.I,.,-^  w.to 
Klopintf.  nn.l  Iht  Ninall   l.rcaM.H  w.to  th..8.. 

thoiiKh  .liirkiT  than  a  hriin.'tl.'.  ''' 

"  ir.T  I.Miip.irarv  rcsiih-nci)  was  i.t'cuilar' 
it  was  i..nn...l  ..f  jjraNM,  waw  (lat-r...)f..,I  an.i 
HO  1..W  ihal,  I  .•..iil.rn..t  Htan.l  upright,  in  it 
llio    lli-i'iilafc  consisted    of   thn-.!    Hton.-s- 
milk  vrMs..|s  ..r  wi.o.l,  flhining  whitis  tioni 
Hcoiinn^'   w.n-  rauijcil  on  ono  hI(|i>  of  tin' 
nl)i.(li\    A  i;.»).l-i.,i.kin«  woman  Hat  rockinL' 
a  Kounl  h,.hv,.,.n  h.-r  kiiocs  in  tlic  process  i>f 
ohuniin;,'  hull,.!-.     Aft..rtl.e    fair  on.!   ha.l 
exanuiii'.l   my  skin  and   niy  cL.tli.'s    I   ...x. 
pressed  ^.r.'Mt  r..j,nvt  tluit  I  had  no  l.ca.ls  i,, 
present  t..  h..r.    'They  are  not  wanted,'  sh.. 
said;    sit  .I.nvn,  drink  this  hnllerniilk,  and  I 
lUM-o  !»  also  some   l.utter  f..r  y(.u.'     It  was' 

r''}7''  "•'  »  ;■ "  '••id-.    I  Hhook  hands,  pat- 

ted  her  .•h,.,.k.  ami  to.,k  my  leave,  hut  mmu 
beads  wen.  sent  h.M-,  an.l  she  pai.l  ni.-  a  visit 


4» 


i,„,       .       •   ■"  ''  '•""  noe  pai.l  ni.'  a  visit. 

)nnf,Mnn;  h„,t,.r  and  l.nttenniik,  and  askini; 

tor  nior..  pivsents,  wiii.di  she  of  <;..iirse  ir..t 

an.l  I  had  (he  -ratilieation  to  see  her  eves' 

spark  .;,  a(  (he  .i^ht  of  them.  ^ 

Ihis  was  one  ..f  tlie  IVw  women  I  met 

Nme':,.- '(h ";'";!"  •'""';v'^^  "'''^  ^  ■•'•""''"'i 

ri,,',,i      I      "'-^    '''•''■"   "^  ''  'lillcrent   cash. 
Wlwii   ...ws   skins   were   not  wT..;.    Mu.se' 

ne.i.is    and   their   iii'ek  ornaments  showe.l 

of  I^".  i  ■  ""^  I)''-'')"!!!!-  were  a  striin^ 
S,i  .  ^"f^""''  «!'I>ores  of  marld.-s  "ed 
wJiite  jmrcdain,  an.l  trian<niiar  niec<.«  ,  f 
shell  r..u,„l,.,|  at  tl...  corner""  '        '  "^ 

i^nd'sj^t  ^i^i:ii;  ^;  '^Xur  oS  ^'^,rf '^ 

lice  of  ,;    '  '>'['"'  y  ornament  was  a  neck- 
wranti^anT   '>eads;  she  wore   the   usual 

&:;^Sir;r.fcv^-£--sr 

cnos   were    prohahly   left    it    homl       '/«i 
TvoKinii  ,aP  h       t  ,  >'  '"'    "ome.      The 

f^i«I.u>npro,inei„.^'^J;^:;^''^^  =-;-<>;- 
over  ff'  y'""/,''^''^  '^•"i  Which  te     passes 


The  w»n.-a  of  the  Wfttnsl  tril.e  for  tho 
management  of  ih.-  eatlh.  aiv  simido 
'•"""kI..  Half  (he  milk  is  (h,  i,s,  anll'S 
u  cow  in  tlicHe  reclons  Is  sin-nlarly  del], 
••init  II  inilk  pr...lu.dnK  a  I'mh-  pii.t  per 
diem  (1...  h.r.lsni.'n  have  hut  small  rewnnl 
«')r  (h.dr  la  ...r.  Th..y  are  very  ,.l..v..r  nt 
inan.iK  n«  the  animalN  phi.c.l  u.i.ler  their 
control,  re  (luiy  have  to  ,|riv..  an  unruly 
...w,  they  simply  tie  a  cord  (..  (h..  hock  of 

<•<;'";•  hill,  h.j;,,  and  walk  l.,d.iiid  it 
h/'I'I'/'fT  the  en.i  of  tlie  cor.l.  This  vorv 
«imi.le  procesH  has  the  ,de,t  ..f  sulMluinu 
Ih.  cow,  wh..  yiei.ls  as  if  to  a  charm  aid 
walks  .p.ietly  in  whatev.-r  .iir,.,..i„  "i„  « 
tol,  o«...  (>oatsarol...ll,y,,Kin.Mipono 
d  the  fore  lejfH  i„  (he  Iian.l,  wImii  it  U 
'••"'"I  that  the  animal  walks  ai,.n,r     ui,.tly 

"I  tlie  lourth  hml)  h,.,n;;  no  particular  Im- 
peilim.'iit.  F'erhai.s  on  ac.-..uiil  of  (his  nias- 
Icrv  over  th.'  ealtl..,  even  the  Waiiyainiie/i 

Shoul.l  m..,iihers  of  th..se  trihes  m....(  tho 
We..i,ee  press..s  (he  palms  of  his  Ikiu.Is  to- 
{,^-ther,  an.l  th..  Watusi  K.'ndy  ,la..i,s  h.-m 
n  h.s  own,  nintt.-rin;.  „t  tii..'.a.n..'  time  a 
tew  wor.ls  111  a  low  ton.-  of  v..ice.  Jf  « 
Watusi  man  meets  a  woman  of  (he  sam. 
tril  ..  sh..  allows  her  arms  t..  fail  l.y  h..rsi.le 
an.l  he  K<'ntl^  pre.s.s...s  her  arms  (...low  (hj 
shoulders  h\n-  an  illustratioi,  .,f  (his  nio.lo 
pl^e'.'K       '  "'°      °  ongmvin«  Ao.  -2  ou 

an.l  inako 
nsin^j    a 
f   '«    .    '   -■(.<-■•",   umi   .iiiin^r   ii(.arlv   as 
niuch  of  tho  work  with  th..ir.  A  h  I  wi  h 
their   hands.     They  also   wvrk    in   nielar 
a..,    have  a  kind  of  bellows  made  (,(  wood,' 
with  caiio   iiandl.'S,— very  s.iull.    I.iit  ofH- 
cient  enough  lor  the  purpose.     Th-  d  iticea 
with  which   the  Watusi  'amuse   (iKiHs'l^e' 
n    he  evenin-  are^  as  simpl..  an.l  i„.acef\il 
as    h._  dancers  an.    w..nu.n  tak,.  ..qn.l  part 
wi(h  the  men  in  them.     Th-.y  array  thein- 
flclv.'s    in    a  circl..,  .sin.,'in«,   au.l   clappina 
hands  „,  tune      Pres..„ily  a  w..,nan  imss..* 
into  the  rinir,  .lances  al..iie,  an.l  then  mak- 
iiif?  a  >,'rac<.|ul  obeisance  t..  some  fav.irite  in 
the  rini,',  she  retires  backwar.l  t..  h.r  place 
A  yoiin;?  man   then   conu.s   forwar.l,   ./oeii 
tbr..UKh  a  number  of  ..v..lulious.  hows   to 
one  of  the  girls,  and  tlu.ii  mak..s  way  for       * 
a  successor.  •' 

Captain  Grant  always  speaks  in  the  liijrh- 
est  terms  of  the  Watusi,  whom  ho  .lesig. 
nates  as  his  fav.,rite  ra..c.  II,.  states  that 
thev  never  will  p..rmit  themsehvs  to  bo 
sold  into  slavvry,  hut  prefer  <i,.ath  to  such 
dishonor.  This  p.-ople  are  alwav.s  .li.stin. 
ffinshable  by  their  intellijrenee  an.l  the  easy 
politeness  of  their  manners.  Th.>y  are  also 
remarkable  for  their  neatness  an.l  personal 
cleanliness,  in  wliich  they  pr.-sent  L  strong 


They  are  an  in.lustrious  jieople, 
considerable  s(.iM" 
^•/•'-■•'•^,   .tail  .iiiin^f 


l)aski.Ls    with 


j  contrast  to  the  ueighboriiig  tribes 


410 


THE  "WAGANDA. 


THE  WAGAKDA  TRIBE. 


Passing  still  northward,  and  keeping  to 
the  westward  of  the  Victoria  N'yanza,  we 
come  to  the  Uganda  district,  the  inhabit- 
ants of  which  are  named  Waganda. 

This  country  is  situated  on  the  equator, 
and  is  a  much  more  pleasant  land  than 
mi^ht  be  supposed  from  its  geographical 
position,  being  fertile,  and  covered  with 
vegetation.  It  is  a  peculiarly  pleasant  land 
for  a  traveller,  as  it  is  covered  with  roads, 
which  are  not  only  broad  and  firm,  but  are 
cut  almost  in  a  straight  lino  from  one  point 
to  another.  Uganda  seems  to  be  unique  in 
the  matter  of  roads,  the  like  of  which  are 
not  to  be  found  in  any  part  of  Africa,  except 
those  districts  which  are  held  by  Europeans. 
The  roads  are  wide  enough  for  carriages,  but 
far  too  steep  in  places  for  any  wheeled  con- 
veyance; but  as  the  Waganda  do  not  use 
carriages  of  any  kind,  the  roads  are  amply 
suflacient  for  their  purposes.  Tbe  Waganda 
have  even  built  bridges  across  swamps  and 
rivers,  but  their  knowledge  of  engineering 
has  not  enabled  them  to  build  a  bridge  that 
would  not  decay  in  a  few  years. 

Like  many  other  tribes  which  bear,  but  do 
not  deserve,  the  name  of  savages,  the  Wa- 
ganda possess  a  curiously  strict  code  of  eti- 
quette, which  is  so  stringent  on  some  points 
inat  an  offender  against  it  is  likely  to  lose 
his  life,  and  is  sure  to  incur  a  severe  penalty. 
If,  for  exrmple,  a  man  appears  before  the 
king  with  his  dress  tied  carelessly,  or  if  he 
makes  a  mistake  in  th(>  mode  of  saluting, 
or  if,  in  squatting  before  his  sovereign,  he 
allows  the  Jeast  portion  of  his  limbs  to  be 
visible,  he  is  led  off  to  instant  execution. 
As  the  fatal  sign  is  given,  the  victim  is  seized 
by  the  royal  pages,  who  wear  a  rope  turban 
round  their  heads,  and  at  the  same  moment 
all  the  drums  and  other  instruments  strike 
up,  to  drown  his  cries  for  merJjr.  He  is 
rapidly  bound  with  the  roi)cs  snatched 
hastily  from  the  heads  of  the  pages,  dragged 
off,  and  put  to  death,  no  one  daring  to  take 
the  lea.st  notice  while  the  tragedy  is  being 
enacted. 

They  have  also  a  ck.C.s  of  sumptuary  laws 
which  is  enforced  with  the  greatest  severity. 
The  skin  of  the  8erval,a  kind  of  leopard  cat, 
for  example,  may  only  bo  worn  by  those  of 
royal  descent.  Once  "Captain  Speke  was  vis- 
ited by  a  very  agreeable  young  man,  who 
evidently  intended  to  strike  awe  into  the 
white  man,  and  wore  round  his  neck  the 
serval-skin  emblem  of  royal  birth.  The 
attempted  deception,  however,  recoiled  upon 
its  author,  who  suffered  the  fate  of  the  daw 
with  tlic  borrowed  plumes.  An  offlcer  of 
rank  detected  the  imposture,  had  the  young 
man  seized,  and  challenged  him  to  show 
proofs  of  his  right  to  wear  the  emblem  of 
royalty.  As  he  failed  to  do  so,  ho  wnj? 
threatened  with  being  brought  before  the 


king,  and  so  compounded  with  the  chief  for 
a  fine  of  a  hundred  cows. 

Heavy  as  he  penalty  was,  the  young  man 
showed  his  wisdom  by  Acceding  to  it;  for 
if  he  had  been  brought  before  tlie  king,  he 
would  assuredly  have  lost  his  life,  and  prob- 
ably have  been  slowly  tortured  to  death. 
One  punishment  to  which  M'tesu,  the  king 
of  Uganda,  seems  to  have  been  rather  par- 
tial, was  the  gradual  dismemberment  of  the 
criminal  for  the  sake  of  feeding  his  pet  vul- 
tures; and  although  on  some  occasions  he 
orders  them  to  be  Killed  before  they  are  dis- 
membered, he  Bometimrs  omits  that  precau- 
tion, and  the  wretched  beings  are  slowly 
cut  to  pieces  with  grass  blades,  as  it  is 
against  etiquette  to  use  knives  for  this  pur- 
pose. 

The  king  alone  has  the  privilege  of  wear- 
ing a  cock^s-comb  of  hair  on  the  top  of  liis 
head,  the  remainder  being  shaved  off.  This 
privilege  is  sometimes  extended  to  a  favorite 
queen  or  two,  so  that  actu.al  royalty  may  be 
at  once  recognized.  Even  the  mode  of  sit- 
ting is  carelully  regulated.  Only  the  king 
is  allowed  to  sit  on  a  chair,  all  his  subjects 
being  forced  to  place  themselves  on  the 
ground.  When  CapUiins  Speke  and  Grant 
visited  Uganda,  there  was  a  constant  strug- 
gle on  this  point,  the  travellers  insisting  on 
sitting  in  their  arm-chairs,  and  the  ting 
wanting  them  to  sit  on  the  ground.  On  one 
occasion,  when  walking  with  M'tesa  and  his 
suite,  a  halt  was  ordered,  and  Captain  Speke 
looked  about  for  something  to  sit  upon. 
The  king,  seeing  *b\s,  and  being  deternnned 
not  to  be  outdone,  called  a  page,  made  him 
kneel  on  all  fours,  and  then  sat  on  his  back. 
The  controversy  at  last  ended  in  a  com- 
promise, the  travellers  abandoning  their 
cliairs  in  the  king's  presence,  but  sitting  on 
bundles  of  grass  which  were  quite  as  high. 

When  an  inferior  presents  any  article  to 
his  superior,  he  always  pats  and  rubs  it 
with  his  hands,  and  then  strokes  with  it  each 
side  of  his  face.  This  is  done  in  order  to 
show  that  no  witcherafl  has  been  practised 
with  it,  a.s  in  such  a  case  the  intended  evil 
would  recoil  on  the  donor.  This  ceremony 
is  well  enough  when  employed  with  articles 
of  use  or  apparel;  but  whcii  meat,  plantains, 
or  other  articles  of  food  are  rubbed  with  the 
dirty  handa  and  well-greased  face  of  the 
donor,  the  recipient,  if  he  should  happen  to 
be  a  white  man,  would  be  only  too  happy 
to  dispense  with  the  ceremony,  and  run  his 
risk  of  witchcraft. 

The  officers  of  the  court  are  required  to 
shave  off  all  their  hair  except  a  single  cock- 
ade at  the  back  of  the  head,  while  the  pages 
are  distinguished  by  two  cockades,  one  over 
each  temple,  so  that,  even  if  they  happen  to 


be  without  their  rone   turlijitis'  (h 
and  authority  ore  at  once  indicated. 


When 


h  the  chief  for 

;he  young  mean 
ling  to  it;  for 
e  uie  king,  he 
life,  and  prob- 
ired  to  death, 
'tesu,  tlie  king 
jn  ratlier  par- 
icnnent  of  tlie 
ig  his  ^)et  vul- 
j  occasions  he 
e  they  are  dis- 
ts  that  precau- 
gs  are  slowly 
ados,  as  it  is 
}  for  this  pur- 

ilege  of  wcar- 
the  top  of  his 
ived  ottl  Tliis 
'd  to  a  favorite 
syalty  may  be 
3  mode  of  sit- 
3nly  the  king 
1  his  subjects 
ielves  on  the 
ke  and  Grant 
onstant  strug- 
'8  insistinff  on 
und  the  king 
)und.  On  one 
Vl'tesa  and  his 
Captain  Speke 
to  sit  ujjon. 
ig  deternnned 
ge,  made  him 
t  on  liis  back. 
)d  in  a  com- 
idoning  their 
but  sitting  on 
|uite  as  liigh. 
any  article  to 
I  and  rubs  it 
8  with  it  each 
e  in  order  to 
een  practised 
intended  evil 
Ills  ceremony 
1  with  articles 
cat,  plantains, 
bbed  with  the 
I  face  of  the 
lid  happen  to 
ly  too  happy 
',  and  run  his 

0  required  to 

1  single  cock- 
liilc  tlie  pages 
ides,  one  over 
ey  happen  to 
is,  tlwir  rsTtk 
;atcd.    When 


AUIMM    i)i     rill.  <jl  1.1..N. 

i.Sci  piiHi.'  4IJ.; 


^412) 


AFRICAN  BLUEBE^VED. 


m 


the  king  sends  the  pages  on  a  message,  a 
most  picturesque  sight  is  presented.  All 
the  commands  of  the  king  have  to  be  done 
at  full  speed,  and  when  ten  or  a  dozen  pages 
start  olr  in  a  body,  their  dresses  streaming 
in  the  air  behind  them,  each  striving  to  out- 
run the  other,  they  look  at  a  distance  like  a 
flight  of  birds  rather  than  human  beings. 

Here,  as  in  many  other  countries,  human 
life,  that  of  the  king  excepted,  is  not  of  the 
least  value.    On  one  occasion  Captain  Sp^e 
had  given  M'tesa  a  new  ritlo,  with  which  he 
was  much  pleased.    After  examining  it  for 
some  time,  he  loaded  it,  handed  it  to  one  of 
his  pages,  and  told  him  to  go  and  shoot  some- 
body in  the  outer  court.    The  page,  a  mere 
boy,  took  the  rifle,  went  into  the  court,  and 
in  a  moment  the  report  of  the  rifle  showed 
ttiat  the   king's  orders  had  been   obeyed. 
The  urchin  came  back  grinning  with  delight 
at  the  feat  which  he  had  achieved,  just  like 
a  schoolboy  who  has  s^ot  his  first  sparrow 
and  handed  back  the  rifle  to  his  master.    As 
to  the  unfortunate  man  who  was  fated  to  be 
the  target,  nothing  was  heard  about  him 
the  murder  of  a  man  being  far  too  common 
an  incident  to  attract  notice. 

On  one  occasion,  when  M'tesa  and  his 

^e^^^  ^l^^^  ""  *  pleasure  excursion,  one 

ot  the  favorites,  a  singularly  good-looking 

woman,  plucked  a  fruit,  and  offered  it  to  the 

king,  evidently  intending  to  please   him. 

instead  of  taking  it  as  intended,  he  flew  into 

a  violent  passion,  declared  that  it  was  the 

tirst  time  that  a  woman  had  ever  dared  to 

otter  him  anything,  and  ordered  the  pages 

to  lead  her  off"  to  execution.     "  These  words 

were  no  sooner  uttered  by  the  king  than  the 

whole  bevy  of  pages  slipped  their  cord  tur- 

",*  froj,"  tlK'i"'  heads,  and  rushed  like  a 

pack  of  Cupid  beagles  upon  the  fairy  queen 

who,  indignant  at  the  little  urchins  darin" 

to  touch  her  majesty,  remonstrated  with  the 

king,  and  tried  to  beat  them  off  like  flics,  but 

was  soon  captured,  overcome,  and  dra""ed 


m  thus  thwarting  the  capricious  tyrant,  but 
his  caprice  proved  the  friend  of  both.  The 
novelty  of  interference  made  him  smile,  and 
the  woman  was  instantly  released." 

On  another  occasion,  when  M'tesa  had 
been  out  shooting.  Captain  Giant  asked  what 
sport  he  had  enjoyed.  The  unexpected 
answer  waa  that  game  had  been  very  scarce. 
but  that  he  had  shot  a  good  many  men  in- 
stead. Beside  the  pages  who  have  been 
mentioned,  there  were  several  executioners 
who  were  pleasant  and  agreeable  men  in 
private  hte  and  held  in  great  respect  by  the 
people.  They  were  supposed  to  be  in  com- 
mand of  the  pages  who  bound  with  their 
rope  turbans  the  unfortunates  who  were  to 
.sufter,  and  mostly  inflicted  the  punishment 
itself. 

This  particular  king  seems  to  have  been 
rather  exceptionally  cruel,  his  very  wives 
being  subject  to  the  same  capriciousness  of 
temper  as  the  rest  of  his  subjects.  Of  course 
he  beat  them  occa-sionally,  but  as  wife  beat- 
ing is  the  ordinary  custom  in  Uganda  he 
was  only  following  the  ordinary  habits  of 
the  people. 

There  is  a  peculiar  whip  made  for  the 
special    purpose    of  beating  wives.    It 


away,  crying  in  the  names  of  the  Kamra- 
SnTlT.iff'*  MVungu  (myself  [i.  e.  Captain 
Speke])  for  help  and  i)rotection,  whilst  Lu- 
&'  *«  pet  sister,  and  all  tho  other  women 

fmn  oril'V'  '^  "^  ^y  '';•"  '«?«'  ^"^1'  kneeling, 
implored  forgiveness  for  their  sister.    Tl?e 

ZZl7  ^'■•'*^^!'/<^'-  ,™ercy,  the  more  bru- 
tiU  he  became,  till  at  last  he  took  a  heavy 
stick  and  began  to  belabor  tho  poor  victim 

scene'iS'Mf  •  ^^'  "^"^*  '^'^  reprLent«  tS 
scene  in  the  engraving  on  previous  pnge. 

'Hitherto  I  had  been  extrcmel}  c^reftil 
not  to  interfere  with  any  of  the  king's  .acts  of 

SncT^  r'^'y^  ^r""^''"  *«t  such  inter- 
ference at  an  early  stage  would  produce 
more  harm  than  good,    f  his  last  act  of  imr- 
.r.ri.«m,  liowcvoi;,  was  too  much  for  my  En--- 
li^.h  blood  to  stand;  and  as  I  heard  my  name 
Mzungu,  Imploringly  pronounced,  Irushei 
at  the  kins,  and.  stavinff  },,=  „nli»*"f'  ■.—-. 
demanded  from  him  the  woman's "I'ife    'of 
course  I  ran  imminent  risk  of  losing  my  own 


tornied  of  a  long  strip  of  hippotamus  hide, 
split  down  tho  middle  to  within  three  or 
four  inches  of  the  end.  The  entire  end  is 
beaten  and  scraped  until  it  is  reduced  in 
size  to  tho  proper  dimensions  of  a  handle 
The  two  remaining  thongs  are  suffered  to 
remain  square,  but  are  twisted  in  a  screw-like 
tashioHj  so  as  to  present  sharp  edges  throu<»h- 
out  their  whole  length.  When  drv,  this  whin 
IS  nearly  as  hard  as  iron,  and  scarcely  less 
heavy,  so  that  at  every  blow  the  shim 
edges  cut  deeply  into  the  flesh.    Wife  floe- 

habit  of  killing  his  wives  and  their  attend- 
ants without  the  least  remorse.  While  Can- 
tarn  Speke  was  residing  within  the  limits 
ot  the  palace,  there  was  scarcely  a  day 
when  some  woman  was  not  led  to  execution, 
and  some  days  three  or  four  were  mur- 
dered. Mostly  \hey  were  female  attendants 
ot  the  queens,  but  ft-equently  the  royal  na^es 
dragged  out  a  woman  whose  single  cockade 
on  the  top  of  her  head  announced  lier  m 
one  of  the  king's  wives. 

M'tesa,  in  fact,  was  a  complete  African 
iiluebeard,  continually  marrying  and  kill- 
ing, the  brides,  however,  exceeding  the  vie? 
timsin  number.  Royal  marriage  is  a  very 
simple  business  in  Uganda.  Parents  who 
have  offended  their  king  and  want  to  pacify 
him,  or  who  desire  to  be  looked  on  Favor- 
ably by  him,  bring  their  daughters  and  offer 
them  as  he  sits  at  the  door  of  his  house 
As  18  the  case  with  all  his  female  attendants" 
they  are  totally  unclothed,  and  stand  before 
the  king  in  ignorance  of  their  future.  If 
nc  accept  them,  hu  makes  them  sit  down, 
seats  himself  on  their  knees,  and  embraces 
thorn.    This  is  the  whole  of  the  ceremony, 


I? 


414 


THE  WAG.\NDA, 


and  fts  each  ^irl  is  thus  accepted,  the  happy 
parents  perfbrni  the  curious  salutation  callecl 
u  yanzigjring,"  /.  e.  prostrating  themselves 
on  the  ground,  floundering  about,  clap- 
ping their  hands,  and  ejaculating  the  word 
"nyans,"  or  thanks,  as  fast  as  they  can 
say  it.  "' 

Twenty  or  thirty  brides  will  sometime.- 
be  presented  to  him  in  a  single  niornintv 
and  he  will  accept  more  than  half  of  them' 
some  of  them  being  afterward  raised  to' 
tlie  rank  of  wives,  while  the  others  are 
relegated  to  the  position  of  attendants.  It 
was  rather  remarkable,  that  although  the 
prmcipal  queen  was  most  liberal  with  these 
attendants,  offering  plenty  of  them  to  Cap- 
uam  bpekc  and  his  companions,  not  one  of 
lliem  would  have  been  permitted  to  marry 
a  native,  as  she  might  have  betrayed  the 
secrets  of  the  palace. 
Life    in    the    palace    may  be  honorable 


enough,  but  seems  to  be  anything  but  agree- 
able except  to  the  king,  l^he  wliole  of  the 
court  are  abject  slaves,  and  at  the  mercy  of 
any  momentary  caprice  of  the  merciless, 
thoughtless,  irresponsible  despot.  "What- 
ever wish  may  happen  to  enter  the  king's 
head  must  be  executed  at  once,  or  woe  to 
tlie  delinquent  who  fails  to  carry  it  out. 
Itestless  and  Ciqjtious  as  a  spoiled  child  he 
never  seemed  to  know  exactly  what  he 
wanted,  ud  would  issue  simultaneously  the 
most  contradictory  orders,  and  then  expect 
them  to  be  obeyed. 

As  for  the  men  who  held  the  honorable 
post  of  his  guards,  they  were  treated  some- 
thing worse  than  dogs— far  worse,  indeed, 
than  M  tesa    treated  his  own  dog.    They 
might  lodge  themselves  as  they  coul     and 
were  simply  fed  by  throwing  great   .imps 
of  beef  and  plantains  among  them.    For 
this  they  scramble  Just  like  so  many  do.rs 
scratching  and   tearing    the   morsels  from' 
each  other,  and  trying  to  devour  as  much 
as  possible  within  a  given  number  of  seconds 
The  soldiers  of  M'tesa  were  much  better 
off  than  his  guards,  although   their  posi- 
tion was  not  80  honorable.    They  are  well 
dressed,  and  their  rank  is  distinguished  by 
a  sort  of  uniform,  the  otlicers  of  royal  birth 
wearing  the  leopard-skin  tippet,  wlule  those 
of  inferior  rank  are  distinguished  by  colored 
cloths,  and  skin  cloaks  made  of  the  hide  of 
oxen  or  antelopes.    Each  carries  two  spears 
and  an  odd?"-formed  shield,  originally  oval' 
but  cut  into  deep  scallops,  and  havinc  at 
evei-y  point  a  pendent  tuft  of  hair,    'fiieir 
heads  are  decorated  in  a  most  curious  man- 
ner, some  of  the  men  wearing  a  crescent- 
like ornament,  and  some  tying  round  their 
liea<l8  wreaths  made  of  di'fferent  materials, 
to  which  a  horn,  a  bunch  of  beads,  a  dried 
lizard,  or  some  such  ornamenl,  is  appended. 
Not  deficient  in  personal  courage,  their 
spirits  Avere  cheered  in  combat  by  the  cer- 
tainty of  reward  or  punishment.     Should 

they    hehavo    «Iinnmo!..,>o    I.-.,.... I,.     J. ,,„ 


wou  d  be  heaped  upon  them,  and  thev 
would  roceive  from  their  royal  master  plenty 
of  cattle  and  wives.  But  if  they  behaved 
badly,  the  punishment  was  equally  certain 
and  most  terrible.  A  recreant  soldier  was 
not  only  put  to  death,  but  holes  bored  in  his 
•lody  with  red-hot  irons  until  he  died  from 
dheer  nam  and  exhaustion. 

Now  and  then  the  king  held  a  review,  in 
which  the  valiant  and  the  cowards  obtained 
the;r  fitting  rewards.    These  reviews  offered 
most  picturesque  scenes.    "Before  us  was 
a  large  ojien  sward,  with  the  huts  of  the 
queen  s  Kamraviona  or  commander-in-chief 
beyond.    The  battalion,  consisting  of  what 
might  be  termed  three  companies,  each  con- 
taining two  hundred  men,  being  drawn  up 
on  the  left  extremity  of  the  parade  grouncl, 
received  onlers  to  march  past  in  single  file 
from  the  right  of  companies  at  a  lone  trot 
'lid  re-form  again  at  the  end  of  the  square. 
"  Nothing  conceivable  could  be  more  wild 
or  fantastic  than  the  sight  which  ensued- 
the  men  all  nearly  naked,  with  goat  or  cat 
skins    <i  ))ending    from    their  girdles,   and 
smear(      with  war  colors,  according  to  the 
taste  ol  the  individual;  one  half  of  the  body 
red  or  blaek,  the  other  hlue,  not  in  rculii 
order;  as,  for  instance,  one  stocking  would 
be   red,  and    the    other   black,  whilst  the 
breeches  above  would  be  the  opjjositr  colors 
and    so  with    the    sleeves    and    waistcoat. 
Ji-very  man  carried   the    same    arms,   two 
spears  and  one  shield,  held  as  if  anproachin-' 
an  enemy,  and  they  thus  moveil  in  three 
lines  of  single  rank  and  file,  at  fifteen  or 
twenty  paces  asunder,  with  the  same  hif'h 
action  and  elongated  step,  the  ground  Ic" 
only  being  bent,  to  give  their  strides  the 
greatir  force. 

"After  the  men  had  all  started,  the  cap- 
tains  of  companies  followed,  even  more  fan- 
tastically dressed;    md  last  of  all  came  the 
great  Colonel  Congow,  a  perfect  Itobinson 
Crusoe,   with  his    long  white-liaired  goat- 
skins, a  fiddle-shaped  leather  shield,  tufted 
with  hair  at  all  six  extremities,  bands  of  long 
hair  tied  below  the  knees,  and  a  magnifi- 
cent helmet  covered  with  rifh  beads  of  every 
color  in  excellent  taste,  surmounted  with 
a  plume  of  crimson  feathers,  in  the  centre 
of  which  rose  a  bent  stem  tufted  with  goat's- 
hair.    Next,  they  charged  in  com])anie8  to 
and  fro,  and  finally  the  senior  ottieers  came 
charging  at  their  king,  making  violent  iiro- 
fessions  of  faith  and  honesty,  for  whii;h  they 
were  applauded.    The  parade  then  broke  up, 
and  all  went  home." 

At  these  reviews,  the  king  distributes 
rewards  and  metes  out  his  punishments. 
1  he  scene  is  equally  stirring  and  terrible. 
As  the  various  oflicers  come  befr)re  the  king 
thev  prostrate  themselves  on  the  ground 
and,  alter  going  through  their  elaborati-  sal- 
utation, they  deliver  their  reports  as  to  the 
conduct  of  the  men  under  their  command. 
To  some  are  given  various  presents,  with 


KIMERA,  THE  KING. 


41S 


which  they  go  off  rejoicing,  after  flounder- 
ing about  on  the  ground  iu  the  extremity  of 
their  gratitude;  while  others  are  seized  by 
the  ever-offlcious  pages,  bound,  and  dragged 
off  to  execution,  the  unfortunate  men  strug- 
gling with  their  captors,  fighting,  and  deny- 
ing the  accusation,  until  they  are  out  of 
hearing.  As  soon  aa  the  king  tliinks  that 
he  has  had  enough  of  thff  business,  ho  rises 
abruptly,  picks  up  his  speai-s,  and  gees  off, 
loading  his  dog  with  him. 

The  native  account  of  the  origin  of  the 
"Wagauda  kingdom  is  very  curious.  Accord- 
ing to  tlieui,  the  country  which  is  now  called 
Uganda  was  previously  united  with  Unyoro, 
a  more  northerly  kingdom,  of  which  we 
shall  presently  treat  Eight  generations 
back  there  came  from  Unyoro  a  hunter 
named  Uganda,  bringing  with  him  a  spear, 
a  shield,  a  woman,  and  a  pack  of  dogs.  He 
began  to  hunt,  on  tiic  shores  of  the  lake,  and 
was  so  successful  that  he  was  joined  by  vast 
numbers  of  the  people,  to  whom  jie  became 
a  chief. 

Under  his  sway,  tlic  hitherto  scattered 
people  assumed  the  character  of  a  nation, 
and  began  to  feel  their  strength.  Their 
leading  men  then  held  a  council  on  their 
government,  and  determined  on  makin" 
Uganda  their  king.  "  For,"  said  they,  "  of 
what  avail  to  us  is  the  king  of  Unyoro? 
He  is  so  far  distant  that,  when  we  sent  him 
a  cow  as  a  present,  the  cow  had  a  calf,  and 
taat  calf  became  a  cow  aud  gave  birth  to 
another  calf,  and  yet  the  present  has  not 
reached  the  king.  Let  us  have  a  king  of 
our  ovvn."  So  they  induced  Uganda  to  be 
their  king,  changed  his  name  to  Kimera,' 
and  assigned  his  former  name  to  the  coun- 

Kimera,  thus  ma-lo  king,  took  his  station 
on  a  stone  and  showed  himself  to  his  new 
subjects,  having  in  his  hand  his  spears  and 
shield,  and  being  accompanied  by  a  woman 
and  a  dog;  and  in  this  way  all  succeeding 
kings  have  presented  themselves  to  their 
subjects.  All  the  Waganda  are,  in  conse- 
quence, e-  ccted  to  keep  at  least  twosijcars, 
a  shield  and  a  dog,  and  the  officers  are  also 
entitled  to  have  drums.  The  king  of  Un- 
yoro heard  of  the  new  monarch,  but  did  not 
trouble  himself  about  a  movement  at  such  a 
distance,  at:d  so  the  kingdom  of  Uganda 
became  an  acknowledged  reality. 

However.  Kimera  organized  his  people  in 
so  adm.rabie  a  manner,  that  he  became  a 
peifect  terror  to  the  king  of  Unyoro,  and 
caused  aim  t<j  regret  that,  vhen  Kimcra's 


est  particulars  of  domestic  polity,  and  en- 
forced the  strictest  sanitary  system  through- 
out  his  country,  not  even  suffering  a  house 
to  bo  built  unfesfa  it  possessed  the  means  of 
cleanliness. 

Organization,  indeed,  seems  now  to  bo 
implanted  in  the  Wagauda  mind.  Even  the 
mere  business  of  taking  bundles  of  wood 
into  the  palace  must  bo  done  in  military 
style.  "  After  the  logs  are  carried  a  certain 
distance,  the  men  charge  up  hill  with  walk- 
ing stick?  at  the  slope,  to  the  sound  of  the 
drum,  shouting  and  chorusing.  On  reach- 
ing their  officer,  they  drop  on  their  knees  to 


owei  was  not  yot  consolidated,  ho  had  not 
crushed  lum  Kimera  formed  his  men  into 
soldiers,  drafted  them  into  different  regi- 
nients,  drilled  aud  organized  them  thor- 
oughly.  Ho  cut  roads  tlirough  his  kingdom 
tiaversing  it  in  all  directi^)ns.  Ho  had 
whole  fleets  of  boats  built,  and  threw  bridges 
over  rivers  whurovi-r  (i...„  .•,,{^,j.^j,^,  |  7. 

line  of  road.    He  descended  into  the  minut^ 


neously  to  pick  up  the  wood,  till  step  by  step. 
It  taking  several  hours,  the  neatly  cut  logs 
are  regularly  stacked  in  the  palace  yards." 

Each  officer  of  a  district  wouUl  seem  to 
have  a  different  mode  of  drill.  The  Wazee- 
wah,  with  Ion<?  sticks,  were  remarkably  well- 
disciplined,  shouting  and  marchin<T  all  iu 
regular  time,  every  club  going  through  the 
same  movement;  the  most  attractive  part 
of  the  drill  being  when  all  crouched  simul- 
taneously, and  then  advanced  in  open  ranks 
swinging  thou-  bodies  to  the  roll  of  their 
drums. 

Pjf  such  means  Kimera  soon  contrived  to 
make  himself  so  powerful  that  his  very 
name  was  dreaded  throughout  Uuyoro,  into 
which  country  he  was  continually  making 
naids.  If,  for  example,  at  one  of  his  coun- 
cils lie  found  that  one  part  of  his  dominions 
was  deficient  lu  cattle  or  women,  he  ordered 
one  or  two  of  his  generals  to  take  their 
troops  into  Unyoro,  and  procure  the  neces- 
sary number.  In  order  that  ho  might 
a  ways  have  the  means  of  carryin<^  liis 
ideas  into  effect,  the  officers  of  the  "army 
are  expected  to  present  themselves  at  the 
palace  .08  often  as  they  possibly  can,  and,  if 
they  fail  to  do  so,  they  are  se\-erely  pun- 
ished;  their  rank  is  taken  from  them- 
their  property  confiscated,  and  their  goods 
their  wives,  aud  their  children  are  given  to 
others.  ° 

In  factj  Kimera  proceeded  on  a  system 
of  reward  and  punishment:  tho  former  ho 
meted  out  with  a  liberal  hand;  the  latter 
was  certain,  swift,  and  terrible.  In  procews 
of  tinio  Kimera  died,  and  his  body  was  dried 
by  being  phwed  over  an  oven.  AV'hen  it  was 
quite  dry,  tho  lower  jaw  was  removed  and 
covered  with  beads;  and  this,  together  with 
the  body,  were  placed  in  tombs,  aud  guarded 
by  tho  deceased  monarch's  favorite  women 
who  were  prohibited  oveu  from  seeing  his 
successor.  * 

After  Kimera's  death,  tho  people  pro- 
ceeded  to  choose  a  king  from  •  among  his 
many  children,  called  "Warangira"  or 
princes.  The  king  elect  was  very  vounff. 
and  was  6e^<arated  from  the  others,  wiro 
were  placed  m  a  suite  of  huts  under  charge 


41G 


THE  WAGANDA. 


iiially  received 
supreme  as  if  lu 
ceremonj'.    He  wu 


of  n  keeper.  As  soon  as  the  young  prince 
reached  years  of  discretion,  he  was  publicly 
made  kin;^,  and  at  the  same  time  all  his 
brothers  except  two  were  burned  to  death. 
The  two  were  allowed  to  live  in  case  the 
new  king  should  die  before  ho  had  any  sons, 
and  also  as  companions  for  him.  As  soon 
jw  the  line  of  direct  succession  was  secured, 
one  of  the  brothers  was  banished  into 
Unyoro,  and  the  other  allowed  to  live  In 
Uganda, 

When  Captains  Spekc  and  Grant  ar- 
rived in  Uganda,  the  reigning  sovereign 
was  M'tesa,  the  seventh  in  succession  from 
Kimera.  He  wv.f  "bout  vwcntv-f.ve  years 
of  age,  and,  all  i,'.'  v-  had  not  been  for- 
■  'ielded  a  power  as 
^.assed  through  this 
.  ise  enough  .o  keep  up 
the  system  which  had  been  bequeathed  to 
him  by  liis  ancestors,  and  the  Uganda  king- 
dom was  even  more  powerftil  m  his  time 
tlian  it  had  been  in  the  days  of  Kimera.  A 
close  acquaintance  proved  that  his  personal 
character  was  not  a  pleasant  one,  as  indeed 
was  likely  when  it  is  remembered  that  he 
had  possessed  iliimitable  power  ever  since 
he  was  quite  a  boy,  and  in  consequence  had 
never  known  contradiction. 

He  was  a  very  line-looking  young  man, 
and  possessed  in  perfection  the  fovo  of 
dress,  which  is  fo  notable  a  feature  in  the 
character  of  the  Waganda.  They  are  so 
fastidious  in  this  respect,  that  for  a  man  to 
appear  untidily  dressed  before  his  superiors 
would  entail  severe  punishment,  while,  if 
he  dared  to  present  himself  before  the  king 
with  the  least  disorder  of  apparel,  imme- 
diate death  would  be  the  result.  Even  the 
royal  pages,  who  rush  about  at  full  speed 
when  performing  their  commissions,  are 
obliged  to  hold  their  skin  cloaks  tightly 
round  them,  lest  any  portion  of  a  naked 
limb  should  present  itself  to  the  royal 
glance. 

The  appearance  of  >r'tesa  is  well  dc- 
.scribed  by  Captain  iioke:  —  "  A  more  the- 
atrical sight  I  never  saw.  The  king,  a  good- 
looking,  well-formed  young  man  of  tWenty- 
flve,  was  sitting  upon  a  red  blanket,  spread 
upon  a  square  platform  of  royal  grass, 
encased  in  tiger-grass  reeds,  scrupulously 
dressed  in  a  new  'mbugu  (or  grass-cloth). 
The  hair  of  his  head  was  cut  short,  except 
upon  the  top,  where  it  was  combed  up  into 
a  high  ridge,  running  from  stem  to  stern, 
like  a  cock's  comb.  On  his  neck  was  a  veiy 
neat  ornament  — a  large  ring  of  lieautiftilly- 
worked  small  beads,  forming  elegant  pat- 
terns by  their  various  colors.  On  one  arm 
was  another  bead  ornament,  prettily  de- 
vised, and  on  the  other  a  wooden  charm, 
tied  by  a  string  covered  with  a  snake  8kin. 
On  every  finger  and  toe  he  had  alternate 
brass  and  copper  rings,  and  above  the 
ankles,  half-way  up  the  calf,  a  stocking  of 
very  pretty  beads. 


"Everything  was  light,  neat,  and  ele- 
gant in  its  way,  not  a  fault  could  bo 
found  with  the  taste  of  his  'gctting-up.' 
For  a  handkerchief,  he  had  a  well-lohlcd 
piece  of  barkj  and  a  piece  of  gold-embroid- 
ered silk,  which  he  constantly  employed  to 
hide  his  large  mouth  when  laughing,  or 
to  wipe  it  after  a  drink  of  plantain  wine,  of 
which  he  took  constant  and  cojiious  drauglits 
from  little  ^'ourd  cups,  administered  by  his 
ladies  in  waiting^  who  were  at  once  his  sis- 
ters and  his  wives.  A  white  dog,  spear, 
shield,  and  woman  —  the  Uganda  cogni- 
zance —  were  by  his  side,  as  also  a  host  of 
staff  officers,  with  whom  he  kept  h[)  a  brisk 
conversation,  on  one  side;  and  on  the  other 
was  a  band  of  '  Wlchwezi,'  or  lady  sorcer- 
ers." 

These  women  are  indispensable  append- 
ages to  the  court,  and  attend  the  king  wher- 
ever he  goes,  their  office  being  to  avert  the 
evil  eye  from  their  monarch,  and  to  pour 
the  plantain  wine  into  the  royal  ciiiis.  They 
are  distinguished  by  wearing  dried  lizards 
on  their  heads,  and  on  their  belts  are  fas- 
tened goat-skin  aprons,  edged  with  little 
bells.  As  emblems  of  their  office,  they 
also  carry  very  small  shields  and  spears, 
ornnnieiitcd  with  cock-hackles. 

M'tesa's  palace  is  of  enormous  dimen- 
sions, and  almost  deserves  the  name  of  a 
village  or  town.  It  occupies  the  whole  side 
of  a  hill,  and  consists  of  streets  of  huts 
ananged  as  methodicallj  as  the  houses  of 
an  European  town,  the  line  being  preserved 
by  fences  of  the  tall  yellow  tiger-grass  of 
Uganda.  There  are  also  squares  and  open 
spaces,  and  the  whole  is  kept  in  perfect 
order  and  neatness.  The  inner  courts  arc 
entered  by  means  of  gates,  each  gate  being 
kept  by  an  officer,  who  permits  no  one  to 
pass  wlio  has  not  the  king's  permission.  In 
case  his  vigilance  should  be  evaded,  each 
gate  has  a  bell  fastened  to  it  on  the  inside, 
just  as  they  are  hung  on  shop-tloors  in  Eng- 
land. 

In  the  illustration  No.  1,  opposite,  the 
artist  has  selected  the  moment  when  the 
visitor  is  introduced  to  the  immediate  pres- 
ence of  the  king.  Under  the  shade  of  the 
hut  the  monarch  is  seated  on  his  throne, 
having  on  one  side  the  spears,  shield,  and 
dog,  and  on  the  other  the  woman,  these 
being  the  accompaniments  of  royalty.  Some 
of  his  p.-^ges  arc  seated  near  him,  with  their 
cord  turbans  bound  on  their  tufted  hcadu, 
ready  to  obey  his  slightest  word.  Imme- 
diately in  front  are  some  soWiers  saluting 
him,  and  (me  of  them,  to  whom  he  has 
granted  some  favor,  is  tloundering  on  the 
ground,  thanking,  or  "  n'yanzigging,"  ac- 
cording to  the  custom  of"  the  place.  On 
the  other  side  is  the  guest,  a  man  of  rank, 
who  is  introduced  by  the  officer  of  the  gate. 
The  door  itself,  with  its  bells,  is  drawn 
aside,  and  over  the  doorway  is  a  rope,  on 
■ffhich  arc  hung  a   row  ol   charms.    The 


icnt,  and  cle- 
iiilt    couUl    bo 

'gcttiug-iii).' 

a  woll-)ol<lc(l 

goki-cnibroid- 

y  orni)loyed  to 

Inugliing,  or 
iiitain  wine,  of 
pious  (Iraugiits 
listered  by  his 
L  once  Ins  sis- 
te  dog,  spear, 
■gaiida  cogni- 
also  a  host  of 
cpt  up  a  brisit 
d  on  the  other 
r  lady  sorcer- 

sable  append- 
he  king  wher- 
g  to  avert  tlio 
1,  and  to  pour 
al  cujts.  They 
dried  lizards 
belts  are  fas- 
ed  with  little 
r  otflce,  they 
s  and  spear^, 

9. 

•nious  dimen- 
hc  nnnie  of  a 
the  whole  side 
reets  of  huts 
the  houses  of 
MHg  preserved 

tiger-grass  of 
ares  and  ojien 
ipt  in  perfect 
ler  courts  are 
I'll  gate  being 
its  no  one  to 
irniission.    In 

evaded,  each 
on  the  inside, 
doors  in  Eng- 

opposite,  Iho 
'nt  when  the 
iinediate  pres- 

shade  of  the 
n  his  throne, 
•s,  shield,  and 
iVoniun,  these 
)yalty.  Some 
ini,  with  their 

tufted  hcadu, 
vord.  Imnie- 
fliers  saluting 
rhom  he  has 
lering  on  the 
zigging,"  ac- 
0  place.  On 
man  of  rank, 
r  of  the  gate, 
lis,  is  drawn 
is  a  rope,  on 
;harm3.    The 


(1.)  i;i;i  |..ni<i.\  nt-  \  \  isrioi;    ,s.-i.  j,,,;,.,.  cc, 


THE   WATER-SPIRIT. 


410 


king's  private  bftnd  is  necn  in  thn  distflnco, 


pyrrormiiiu;  with  its  customary  vigor. 

Tim  architeeturo  of  tlio  l»ut«  witiiiii  tlioac 
cnckwures  is  wonderfully  good,  tho  Wagand-i 
having  great  natural  advantages,  and  making 
full  use  of  thorn.  Tiic.  principal  matoriiU 
in  their  odiflccH  is  reed,  which  in  Uganda 
grows  to  a  very  great  height,  and  is  thick 
and  strong  in  tlio  stem.  Gi-ass  for  thatch- 
ing is  also  found  in  vast  quantities,  and 
there  is  plenty  of  straight  timber  for  the 
rafters.  The  roof  is  double,  in  order  to 
exclude  the  sunbeams,  and  the  outer  roof 
comes  nearly  to  tlie  ground  on  all  sides. 
The  fabric  is  upheld  by  a  number  of  poles, 
from  wliieh  are  hung  corn-sacks,  meat,  and 
other  necessaries. 

The  interior  is  separated  into  two  com- 
partments by  a  high  screen  made  of  plan- 
tain leaf,  and  witliin  the  inner  apartment 
the  cane  bedstead  of  the  owner  is  placed. 
Yet,  with  all  this  care  in  building,  tliere  is 
only  one  door,  and  no  window  or  chimney  ■ 
and  although  the  Waganda  keep  their  houses 
tolerably  clean,  the  number  of  dogs  which 
they  keep  fill  their  huts  with  fle.xs,  so  that 
when  a  traveller  takes  possession  of  a  house 
he  generally  has  the  plantain  screen  re- 
moved, and  makes  on  the  tloor  as  large  a  fire 
as  possible,  so  as  to  exterminate  the  insect 
mhabitauts. 

The  ceremonies  of  receiving  a  royal  <'uest 
are  as  elaborate  as  the  architecture.  "Ofli- 
cors  of  rank  step  forward   to  greet  him, 
while  musicians  are  in  attendance,  playiii" 
on  the  various  instruments  of  Uganda,  most 
of  them  bein;j  similar  to  those  which  have 
already  been  described.    Even  the  height  of 
the  seat  on  which  the  visitor  is  to  place  him- 
self IS  rigorously  determined,  the  chief  object 
seeming  to  be  to  force  him  to  take  a  seat 
lower  than  that  to  which  he  is  entitled      In 
presence  of  the  king,  who  sits  on  a  chair  or 
throne,  no  subject  is  allowed  to  be  seated  on 
any!  un^  higher  than  the  ground;  and  if  he 
can  be  induced  to  sit  in  the  blazing  sun- 
beains,  and  wait  until  the  king  is  pleased  to 
see  hi  in,  a  triumph  of  diplomacy  has  been 

When  tho  king  has  satisfied  himself  with 
us  guest,  or  thinks  that  he  is  tired,  he  rises 
without  any  warning,  and  marches  ofl'to  his 
room,  using  the  peculiar  gait  affected  by  the 
kiims  of  Uganda  an.l  supposed  to  be  imita- 
ted rom  the  walk  of  the  lion.  To  the  eyes 
of  tie  Waganda,  tho  "lion's  step,"  as  the 
peculiar  walk  is  termed,  is  very  maiest  c 
t)ut  to  the  eyes  of  an  Eu.-opean  ft  s  simpu: 
ludicrous,  the    feet    being    planted   widelv 

reih"s  u^  'r^''  ^--'^^f-m  ^Ife  t'o'sLr^^ 
at  eacn  step.    If  any  of  my  readers  should 
have  known  Christ's  Ilospital,  thev  n'av  re 
member  the  peculiar  style  of  walkJii-r  wlieh 
was  termed  "  spadging,-"  and  which  "us^d  to 

"Hon-    en'-^of  H''"n'  «>\«r.'^'"*^»*  ^  "le 
Jion-step     of  the  Uganda  king. 

Aft^r  M'tcsa  had  received  hii  white  visi- 
21 


tor,  he  suddenly  rose  and  retired  after  the 
ro^al  custom,  and,  as  etiquette  did  not  per- 
mit him  to  eat  until  he  had  seen  his  visitors 
he  took  the  opportunity  of  breaking  his 
fast  " 

Round  the  king,  as  ho  sits  on  his  grans- 
covered  throne,  are  his  councillors  and  ofH- 
ccrs,  squatted  on  the  ground,  with  their 
dresses  drawn  tightly  around  thein,  and 
partly  seated  on  the  royal  leopard  skins 
which  are  strewed  on  tho  ground.  Tliore  is 
also  a  large  drum,  decorated  with  little  bolls 
strung  on  wire  arches,  and  some  smaller 
Uruins,  covered  with  beads  and  cowrie  shells 
worked  into  various  patterns  Outside  tho 
inner  circle  sit  tho  ordinary  officers,  and 
wlule  the  king  is  present  not  a  word  is 
spoken,  lest  ho  should  take  oftence  at  it- 
and  not  an  eye  is  lifted,  lest  a  casual  glance 
might  fall  on  one  of  the  king's  women,  and 
"e  the  nrecursor  of  a  cruel  death. 

The  Waganda  are  much  given  to  nupcr- 
Ktition,  and  have  a  most  implicit  faith  in 
cliarms.  The  king  is  very  rich  in  charms, 
and,  whenever  he  liolds  his  court,  has  vast 
nuinbers  of  them  suspended  behind  him 
besides  those  which  he  carries  on  his  per- 
son. These  charms  are  made  of  almost 
anything  that  the  magician  chooses  to 
select.  Horns,  filled  with  magic  powder 
are  perhaps  the  most  common,  and  tl.cso 
are  slung  on  the  neck  or  tied  on  the  head 
it  small,  and  kept  in  the  huts  if  largo. 

Their  great  object  of  superstitious  dread 
IS  a  sort  of  water-spirit,  wliieh  is  sur.ijosod 
to  nihabit  the  lake,  and  to  wreak  his  ven- 
geance upon  those  who  disturb  liim.  Like 
the  water-spirits  of  the  Rhine,  this  goblin 
hiis  supreme  jurisdiction,  not  only  on  the 
lake  itself,  but  in  dl  rivera  that  communi- 
cate with  It;  and  the  people  are  so  afraid  of 
this  a(iu.'.tic  demon,  that  they  would  not 
allow  a  soundinj'-line  to  be  thrown  into  tho 
water,  lest  perchance  the  weight  should 
happen  to  hit  the  wat.  r-spirit  and  euniao 
bim.  The  name  of  tliis  spirit  is  Al'gussi, 
and  lie  comaumicates  with  the  people  by 
mean.s  of  his  own  .special  minister  or  priest, 
who  livtf,  on  an  island,  and  ia  held  in  neaily 
ivs  much  awe  as  his  master. 

M'tcsa  once  took  Captain  Speke  with  him 
to  see  the  magician.  Tie  took  also  a  num- 
l>er  of  hi.T  wives  and  attendants,  and  it  was 
very  anuising,  when  they  r.niched  the  boats, 
ta  see  all  the  occupants  pimp  into  the  water 
(lucking  their  heads  so  as  to  avoid  seeing 
the  royal  women,  a  stray  glance  being  sure 
to'incur  immediate  di-atli.  They  proceeded 
to  the  island  on  which  the  wizard  lived. 

''Proceeding  now  Uirough  the  treos  of 
this  beautiful  island,  we  next  turned  into 
the  hut  of  the  M'g.is.s3's  familiar,  which  at 
tlie  further  end  w.as  decorated  with  many 
inystic  symbols,  among  them  a  paddle,  the 
oailgeof  high  office;  and  for  some  time  wo 
sat  chatting,  when  nonvbe  w:i.".  hio-.s'-'bt  -■■:■•.' 
the    spiritual    medmin    arrived,     fie  '  was 


in  I  III 


i; 


m 


TIIE  WAOANDA. 


dressed  WMm6A  fashion,  with  n  littlo 
white  KOiifskiii  anmii,  mlDrned  with  ViiriouB 
clmrnw,  luid  iisud  a  iwddlo  for  a  walkinj,'- 
stick.  lie  wiw  not  nii  old  ninn,  thoiijrh  he 
aftceled  to  lie  .it),  wiilkiii^'  very  slowly  and 
delilierately,  coii^rhinj,'  iwthnia'tically,  glim- 
mering^ with  his  eyes,  and  ninnihlinR  like  a 
witch.  With  Miiich  iitleeted  difflcidty  lie  sat 
nt  the  end  of  the  lint,  henido  the  synihols 
nlhided  to,  and  continued  hiH  roughing  full 
half  an  hour,  when  his  wife  camo  in  in  tI>o 
Biinu^  manner,  without  saying  a  word,  and 
lussiimed  the  sanu^  alfocaed  stylo. 

"The  king  jokingly  looked  at  mo  and 
Iftughed,  and  then  at  tliese  strange  rrea- 
t-ures  hy  turns,  as  much  as  to  say,  '  What 
do  you  think  of  thcm'i"  hut  no  voice  wius 
)iL;ud,  save  that  of  the  old  wife,  who  croaked 
Jike  a  frog  for  water,  and,  when  some  was 
brought,  croaked  again  because  it  was  not 
the  purest  of  the  lake's  produce  — had  the 
Mrst  cu])  changed,  wettecl  her  lips  with  the 
second,  and  hobl)led  away  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  she  )>ad  come." 

On  thi'ir  pathways  and  roads,  wJnch  arc 
very  numerous  and  well  kept,  they  occa- 
sionally i)laco  a  long  stick  in  the  ground, 
with  a  shell  or  other  charm  on  the 


------  ■•■  "■•  iiii:  top   or 

susijcnd  the  shell  on  the  overhanging  branch 
ol  a  tree.  Similar  wands,  on  a  smaller 
scale,  are  kept  in  the  houses,  and  bits  of 
feathers,  rushes,  and  other  articles  are  tied 
behind  the  door.  Snake-skin  is  of  course 
much  used  in  making  these  charms,  aiul 
a  s((uaro  jjioce  of  this  article  is  hung  round 
the  neck  of  almost  every  man  of  this  coun- 
try. 

The  religion  of  the  Wasjanda  is  of  course 
one  inspired  by  terror,  and  not  by  love,  the 
object  of  all  their  religious  rites  being  to 
avert  the  anwr  of  malignant  fjiirits.  Every 
new  moon  has  its  own  peculiar  worship 
which  is  conducted  by  hanging  drums,  re- 
plenishing the  magic  horns,  and  other  cere- 
monies too  long  to  describe.  The  most  ter- 
rible of  their  rites  is  that  of  human  sacrifice, 
which  IS  usually  employed  when  the  kin-' 
desires  to  look  into  the  future.  " 

The  victim  is  always  a  child,  and  the  sac- 
rifice is  conducted  in  a  most  cruel  manner. 
Having  discovered  by  his  incantations  that 
a  neighbor  is  projecting  war,  the  magician 
flavs  a  young  child,  and  lays  the  blecdinn- 
body  in  the  path  on  which  the  soldiers  pass 
to  battle.  Each  warrior  steps  over  the 
bleeding  body,  and  thereby  is  supposed  to 
procure  immunity  for  himself  in  the  ap- 
proaching battle.  When  the  king  makes 
war,  his  chief  magician  uses  a  still  more 
cruel  mode  of  divination.  lie  takes  a  lar-'c 
earthen  pot,  half  fills  it  with  water,  and 
then  places  it  over  the  fireplace.  On  the 
inouth  of  the  pot  he  lays  a  small  platform 
o*  crossed  sticks,  and  having  bound  a  youu" 
child  and  a  fowl,  he  lays  them  on  the  plat" 
form,  covering  them  with  another  pot, 
which  lie  inverts  over  them.    The  fire  is 


then  lighted,  and  dulTorod  to  hum  for  a  gf  von 
time  when  the  upper  pot  is  removed,  and 
tlio  victims  inspected.  If  they  should  lioth 
tie  dead,  it  is  taken  as  a  sign  that  tlie  war 
must  be  deferred  for  tlu^  present;  but  if 
either  should  be  alive,  war  may  be  made  at 
once. 

Speaking  of  those  and  other  black  tribos. 
Captain  Speko  very  rightly  obsejves:  "  JIow 
the  negro  has  lived  so  many  ages  without 
advancing  seems  marvellous,  when  nil  the 
countries  surrounding  Africa  are  so  for- 
ward in  comparison.  And,  judging  from 
thn  progressive  state  of  thi!  world,  one  is  led 
to  suppose  that  the  AlYican  must  .soon  either 
step  out  from  his  diirknoss,  or  lie  superseded 
by  a  being  superior  to  himself.  Could  a 
government  be  formed  for  them  like  ours  in 
India,  they  would  be  saved,  but  without  it  I 
fear  there  is  very  little  chance.  For  at  pros- 
ent  the  African  neither  can  help  himself  nor 
be  helped  hy  others,  because  his  country  is 
111  such  a  constant  state  of  turmoil  that  ho 
has  too  much  anxiety  on  hand  looking  out 
lor  his  food  to  think  of  anything  else. 

"  As  his  fathers  did,  so  does  he.  He  works 
his  wife,  sells  his  children,  enslaves  all  ho 
can  lay  hands  on,  and,  unless  when  flghtin" 
(or  the  property  of  others,  contents  liimserf 
with  drinkiii":,  singing,  and  dancing  like  a 
baboon,  to  drive  dull  care  away.  A  few 
only  make  cotton  cloth,  or  work  in  wool 
iron,  coiipcr,  or  salt,  their  rule  being  to  do 
as  httlc  as  possible,  and  to  store  up  notliiu" 
beyond  the  necessities  of  the  next  sensoi" 
lest  their  chiefs  or  neighbors  should  covet 
and  take  it  from  them." 

The  same  exiierieiiced  traveller  then  pro- 
<'eeds  to  enumerate  the  many  kinds  of  food 
which   the  climate    affords   to  any  one  of 
ordinary  industry,  such  as  horned   cuttle, 
sheep,  goats,  pigs,  fowls,  ducks,  and  jiigeons 
not  to  mention  the  iilanfain  and  other  vege- 
table products,   and  expresses  a  feeliii--"of 
sur])rise  that,  with  such  stores  of  food  aPhis 
command,  the  liJack  man  should  be  so  oflen 
driven  to  feed  on  wild  herbs  and  roots,  dcx's 
cats,  rats,  snakes,  lizards,  insects,  and  otirer 
similar  animids,  and  should   be  frequently 
found   on   the   i)oint  of  starvation,  and  bo 
compelled  to  sell  his  own  children  to  jiro- 
ciire  food.    Moreover,  there  are  elephants 
rhinoceroses,    hippopotamus,  buflhloes,   <r\. 
i-affes,  antelopes,  guinea-fowls,  and  a  host^of 
other    animals,   which    can   be  easily   cap- 
tured ill  traps  or  pitfalls,  so  that  the  native 
African  lives  in  the  midst  of  a  country  which 
produces  food   in   boundless   variciy.     Tho 
4'easons  for  such  a  phenomenon  are  simple 
enou'di,    and    may  be    reduced    to  two  — 
namely,  utter  want  of  foresight  and  consti- 
tutional indolence. 

As  to  the  question  of  .slavery,  it  may  per- 
haps be  as  well  to  remark  that  slaves  aro 
not  exclusively  sold  to  white  men.  On  tho 
contrary,  there  is  no  slave-holder  so  tena- 


ciousof  !us  acquirs-d  rights  as  the  black  man, 


BURYING  GROUNDS  OP  THE  WAGANDA. 


ami,  for  every  slave  sold  t<.  a  white  tnnn 
ton  aro  bought  by  the  dnrk  mcoH,  whether 
on  the  oiwt  or  west  i)f'  AtVicH.    And  when 
n  bIuvo  l)i'«iiiH  to  niiHe  himsoU'iibovo  a  huto 
menial  nink,  hi.s  (Irnt  idoiv  in  to  buy  slnven 
for  hnnmlf,   becunsti  they  iiro  the  articloM 
of  nunrliiindiso  which  In  nioHt  easily  to  bo 
procured,   and  ho,   m  Captain   Sneko   well 
ubserveH,  hIu very  begets  slavery  ad  inftnitinn 
Ihfc  Buuiniaryof'tJaptiun  Speko's  experience 
is    vaiuui)Ie.    "  PosMossed    of   a    wonderful 
amount  of  loquacity,  ),'rcat  riNibility,  but  no 
stability  —  a  creature  of  impulse  —  ii  grown 
child  iii.Mhort  — at  first  sight  it  seems  won- 
derful how  he  can  bo  trained  to  work,  for 
there  iH  no  law,  no  homo  (o  bind  him.     He 
would  run  away  at  any  moment,  and  pre- 
suniiun;  on  this,  ho  sins,  expecting  to   bo 
forgiven.     (Jreat  forbearance,  occasionally 
tinctured  with  a  little  fatherly  severity  Ih  I 
believe,  the  beat  dose  for  him.    For  ho'  says 
to  his  master,  after  sinning,  'You  ought  to 
forgive  and  to  forget,  for  aro  von  not  a  hi(^ 
nmn  who  would  be  above  harboring  HpitiT 
though  for  a  moment  you  ma3'  be  angry? 
Flog  mo  if  you  like,  but  do  not  k«ep  count 


421 


rJh't  ^!'7"'K-l>''><'f''  Of  the  Waganda  arc 
rati  or  elaborate.  Captain  Grant  had  tho 
curlofl  ty  to  outer  one  .{f  them,  and  de^'rlK 
it  as  lol  ows:  "Two  huts  on  a  heigT.  an! 
.eiired  devoted  to  the  remains  of  the  dcaS 
itni^'fl'"'^   T'\  "'"    '«"««    surrounding 

shut  o,  I  h  '  ''""■*^  ^J^'^rcm  of  bark  cloth 
sniit  out  tho   view  of  tho   Interior     r.m 

can  '  (■  r  .!„  1  '""'?!  •*  "''^'•'  »'<"»'^tt-ad  of 
KrasH  Vor.  ?''  "•"  '*  °  "'"«'«  »*  ^'^'i  oe 
sticks  w  ?h  '""«a<'!to,  «pears,  charms, 

w^'"tCrV"n"'^"' '"  '^'  ^"terCbut  no  one 

mm.soIeun\.""'  "'''  '''''  '''"  ">'»'  '^  ^^  "» 

Many  of  such  houses  were  seen  on  tho 

mnf;^""    ^''\''*    elaborately    built! 
Usually  they  were  littlo  more  than  snuaro 
patches  of  ground  enclosed  with  a  reed  & 
'These  were  called  by  the  name  of  "Loo^l 
liih,   or  eacred  ground. 


CIIAFfER  XL. 


THE  WANYORO. 

CnAnACTien  or  THH  WAmrORO  XniBB-DIRTY  IIABITS-MODE  of  OOVERNMlCNT-KtNO  KAMI.ASI- 
Jim  DKSWmC  CIIAUALTKU-HW  I.OI.V-OUAIU.  AN..  T..E.U  PHIVILEOKS  -  1..H  rKHSONAl.  AITKAJl- 
ANCK-.im  UUAHI-im.  8KLKIHIINK8H-A  IK.VAL  VWIT- KAMHAH.'h  COWAIIUIOK  -  KXlC.irnON  OK 
0HIMINAL8-<Hf.S,IIN„  A  UEl.KI.UON  -  LAWS  Or  HUCCICS8ION- THR  KINd's  8.HTKKH  -  WANVOUO 
8IM<..N0-(X.Nl,.T.<,f(  OK  WOMRN-K„0.,  OK  THE  W.VNVOKO- OARHVINU  PI.OVm.ONH  OK  THE 
MAUrH-l.»EH„KT»R  PLANTAIN  THEE- FKAUDH  U.  THAUK -flUPKKSTITIONH -THE  MAfl.rWN  AT 
WOHK  — TUB   ilUHNKO  POO  — »l'AI»K-MO>KV. 


\  m 


PnorKKniNo  «tin  iinrtlnvanl,  wc  come  to  the 
Innd  of  Unyoro,  from  wliicli,  as  tlKs  roailtr 
will  rcniomlicr,  I  lie  country  of  Uj^iuida  was 
separated.  Tlic  inhaliitauts  of  Unyoro  form  u 
very  unpleasant  eontraMt  to  those  "of  I'^anda, 
beiuf,' dirty,  mean-lookin>',  and  badly  dressed! 
The  country,  too,  is  far  inferior  to"  Ujjanda, 
which  mi^ht  be  made  into  a  i)eri)etually 
blooming  garden;  for,  as  the  traveller  leaves 
the  c(iuator  and  i)asHes  to  the  north,  he  linds 
that  the  rains  gradually  decrease,  and  that 
vegetation  tirst  becomes  thin,  then  stiuited, 
and  lastly  disappears  altogether.  The  same 
structm-c  of  language  jirevails  here  as  in 
Uganda,  so  that  the  people  of  Unyoro  are 
called  Wanyoro,  and  a  single  person  in  a 
M'yoro. 

The  character  of  the  Wanyoro  is  quite  on 
ft  par  with  their  appearance,  for  they  are  a 
mean,  selfish,  grasping  set  of  peoi)le,  sadly 
lacking  the  savage  virtue  of  hospitality,  anil 
iilways  on  the  lookout  for  onportunit'ies  to 
procure  by  unfair  means  the  property  of 
others.  They  seem,  indeed,  to  ))e  about  as 
unpleasant  a  nation  as  can  well  be  imagined, 
and  in  almost  everv  point  afford  a  strong 
contrast  to  others  which  have  already  been 
d(>scribed. 

They  are  singularly  dirty  in  their  domestic 
habits,  their  huts  being  occupied  equally  by 
men,  goats,  and  fowls,  and  the  floor,  which  fs 
thickly  covered  with  straw,  is  consequently 
in  a  most  abominable  condition.  It  is  so 
bad,  indeed,  that  even  the  natives  are  obliged 
to  make  a  raised  bedstead  on  which  to  sleep. 
Even  the  king's  palace  is  no  exception  to 
the  general  rule  ;  the  cattle  are  kept  within 
the  enclosure,  and  even  bis  very  sleeping- 


hut  is  freely  entered  by  calves.    To  visi 


the  "  palace  "  without  stilts  and  a  respirator 
was  too  severe  a  tusk  even  to  ho  hardened 
a  traveller  as  Captain  Speke,  l)ut  the  kin" 
walked  about  among  the  cows,  ankle-deep 
in  all  sorts  of  horrors,  and  yet  perfectly  at 
his  ease. 

The  government  of  this  country  is  pure 
despotism,  the  king  possessing  irresponsible 
and  unquestioned  power.  The  subject  can 
really  possess  propertv,  but  onlv  holds  it  by 
the  king's  pleasure.  This  tlieorv  is  coiitimi- 
allyrednced  tooractice,  the  king  (akiii!,'fr(mi 
one  nenson,  and  giving,  or  lalher  lending,  to 
another,  anything  that  be  cbooscs,  — land, 
cattle,  slaves,  Avives,  and  children  being 
equally  ranked  In  the  category  of  prop- 
erty. 

The  king  who  reigned  over  T'nvoro  at  the 
time  when  Cajitain  Siieke  visited  it  was 
named  Kamrasi.  He  was  a  man  who  united 
in  himself  a  singular  variety  of  characters. 
Merciless,  even  beyond  (he  ordinary  (vj)o 
of  African  cruelty  ;  capricious  as  a  sjjolled 
child,  and  scattering  death  and  torture 
around  for  the  mere  whim  of  the  ir.onient  • 
inhospitable  and  repcllant  according  to  the' 
usual  "Wanyoro  character ;  covetous  and 
grasping  to  the  bust  degree  ;  nnibitious  of 
regaining  the  lost  portion  of  his  kingdom, 
and  yet  too  cowardly  to  declare  wai',  he  was 
a  man  who  scarcely  seemed  likely  to  retain 
his  hoid  on  the  sceptre. 

Yet,  although  contemptible  as  ho  was  in 
many  things,  he  was  not  to  be  despised,  ond, 
although  no  one  cared  to  meet  him  as  a 
friend,  all  knew  that  be  could  be  a  most 
dangerous  enemy.  For  ho  possessed  a  large 
share  of  cunninor,  which  stood  him  in  stead 
of  the  nobler  virtues  \v)>!cli  nnrrV,f  (r>  n.i.,„n 


(4a2) 


KING   KAMUAST. 


ft  throni",  ftml  rii!(!(|  Wn  nuhJucU  by  a  mixtuni 
ot'crafl  1111(1  loici!.     IliH  Myntoin  of  uniiionuifd 


a  rospirntor 
NO  ImrdoiHMl 
lilt  tlie  kiiii,' 
,  iinkle-dcep 
licifdctly  nt 

itry  is  pure 
rro!'|)onsil)lo 

Kullil'Ct   Cllll 

'  lidlds  it  ]>y 
V  is  ('(iiitimi- 
(ukiiiiiCroni 
!•  Iciidiiij;,  to 
ii.siH,  —  liiud, 
drcii  being 
y  of  prop- 

tiyoro  nt  the 

itcd   it  wns 

who  united 

cbaracters, 

iliiiary  (ypo 

:>H    il  H]l()lic(l 

nd  torture 
('  Uioment  ; 
ilinj;  to  the 
i-olous  and 
iiliitious  of 
s  kingdom, 
ivni',  be  wns 
ly  to  retain 

bo  was  in 
spised,nnd, 
,  bim  as  a 
be  a  most 
?«ed  a  large 
m  in  stead 


would  biive  done  honor  to  M.  do  Hurtinen, 
and  there  wiis  nothing  lliat  happened  in  bin' 
eoniitry  that  hu  did  not  know. 

T\w  wliohi  land  was  divided  into  distrieU, 
and  over  eaeb  dislriet  was  s«t  un  ollleer 
who  was  n!spouMil)l(«  lor  everything  wliiidi 
(•(•(•urred  ill  it,  and  was  bound  "to  giv('  inl'or- 
nmtion  fo  the  kliiK.  The  least  liiihire  in  (bis 
respect  entailed  death  or  the  "  shoe,"  whieh 
w»M  ni'ail^v  as  bad,  and  often  tcrniinatod  in 
death.  '1  he  "  shoe  "  is  simply  a  large  iukI 
heavy  lo^  of  wood  with  an  oblong  slit  eiit 
through  it.    Into  this  slit  the  foot  aro  passed, 


to 


torn 


CULPniT  IN  THE  SHOE. 


and  ft  stout  wooden  ])cg  is  then  driven 
throu.di  the  log  and  between  the  anklos,  so 
as  to  bold  the  teet  tightly  imprisoned.  As 
to  the  exact  position  of  the  peg,  the  cxeeu- 
tioner  is  in  no  way  particular  ;  and  if  he 
^  should  happen  to  drive  it  against,  instead  of 

I  between,  the  ankles,  bo  cares  nothing  about 

;  It.     Conse(iueiitly,  the   torture   is  often  so 

i  great,  that  those  who  have  boon  so  imnris- 

I  o"fl'>'\vc  died  of  sheer  exhaustion. 

w  thoiit  having  , a  chance  of  disobedionce,  he 
Kept  a.ruani  ot  armed  soldiers,  some  five 

ed.'es^Sn  /"m'  ''"''','■'^7  «»""-P'  «'«J  their 
edges  defended  by  a  sheath,  neatly  inmlo  of 

Then.P.",''""''^'''"''  '"«''"'«•'  ^viH>  thongs 

for  ex,„n  .?-  ^V^"y"r"  are  not  remarkable 

tliroiS^h  "»"""•  heads  which  aro  Imwked 
uirough  the  country  are  bought  by  tho  Wa- 
ganda,  who  are  a  ril-hor  peopTe!     ^         ^" 
Ibis  body-guard  is  dressed  in  the  most 


extraordinary  manner,  their  chief  obleet 
seeming  to  be  to  render  themselves  iiMun- 
lik'»  men  and  as  like  demons  iw  possible 
I  bey  Wiiar  leopard  or  monkey  skins  by  way 
ot  tunic,  strap  <ows'  (ails  to  tho  small  of 
their  hacks,  and  tii-  u  couple  of  imtidone's 
horns  on  their  beads,  while  their  chins  are 
dec(.rn(eil  with  Ituig  (iilse  beanls,  nmdo  of 
the  bushy  ends  of  cows'  tails. 

When  Sir  H.  Uakor  visited  Kamrasl,  this 
body-miani  rushed  out  of  the  |mltt<;e  to  moot 
him,  dancing   yelling,  screaming,  brandish- 
ing tlier  spears  pretending  to  fight  amouK 
tliemselves,  and,  when  they  reached  their 
Visitors,  tlourisbing  tbeirspears  in  the  faces  of 
the  strangers,  and  making  fbiuts 
of  attack.    Ho  sudden  wiw  their 
cliargc!,  and   so   nu^nacing   their 
aspect,  that  several   of  his  men 
tlioiigbt  that  they  worn  charging 
in  real  earnest,  and  begged  him 
to  fire  at  them.     JJeing,  however 
convinced  flint  their  object  was 
not  to  kill,  but  to  (hi  biiii  honor, 
he  declined  to  fire,  and  found  that 
the  threatening  body  of  men  were 
simply  sent  by  Kamrasi  as  bis  es- 
cort.    Had  bis  armed  Turks  been 
with  him,  they  would   certainly 
have  received  these  seeming  dc- 
luons  with  a  volley. 

A  curious  instance  of  his  craft 
wns  given  by  bis  recejitioii  of  .Sir 
8.    Uaker.     When  the   traveller 
was  first  promised  an  interview 
Kamrasi    ordered    bis    brother, 
M'Gambi,  to  personate  bim,  while 
be   himself,  disguised  as   one  of 
the  escort,  secretly  watched  tho 
travi  111  rs.      MTSumbi    executed 
his  ofllco  admirably,  and  person- 
ated  his  royal  brother  to  perfec- 
tion, asking  for  everything  whicli  he  saw  — 
guns    watches,   beads,   and    clothes    being 
equally  acceptable  — and  finished  by  asking 
for  Lady  Haker.    In  case  the  article  should 
he  thought  more  valuable  than  the  others, 
ho  olfered   to  give   one  of  bis   own   wives 
111   exchange.      This  proposal   nearly  cost 
MGambi  bis  life,  and  it  may  be  that  tho 
wily   king   had   foreseen   the   iwssibility  of 
some    such    result    when   he   ordered    his 
brother   to   nersonalo    bim,  and   permitted 
bim  to  take  his  jilace  on  the  copper  stool  of 
royalty.    In  fact.  M'tianibi  did  admit  that 
the  king  wivs  afraiil  that  his  visitors  might 
be  in  league  with  an  adverse  power. 

In  order  to  attach  his  guards  to  his  per- 
son, Kamrasi  allowed  them  all  kinds  of  li- 
censo,«permiting  them  to  rob  and  plunder 
as  much  as  thoy  liked;  his  theory  being 
that,  ivs  everything  within  his  reach  belonged 
to  him,  he  in  reality  did  no  liarm  to  his 
subjects,  the  loss  eventually  falling  on  him- 
self.   Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  king  was 

_    . 1. „ !....   ,.,,;,„,^  !tl!'t   tliat.  iiC 

know  how  to  rule  by  fear,  if  not  by  love. 


434 


THE  WANYORO. 


He  was  tall   and  slender,  and  scarcely 
looked  his  age,  which  was  about  forty,  ami 
hjs  features  on  the  whole  were  good,  as 
were  his  eyes,  which  wore  sett  and  gentle, 
sadly  belying  his  character.    His  face  was 
however,  disfigured  by  the  national  custom 
of  removin"  the  lower  incisor  and  eye-teeth, 
and  he  said  that  the  dentist  who  performed 
the  ojjcration  had  been  rewarded  with  a  fee 
of  a  hundred  cows.     His  color  was  dark 
brown,  and,  but  for  the  sinister  expression 
of  his  countenance,  he  would  really  be  a 
handsome   man.    His  Jeatures  were,  how- 
ever, rather  disfigured  by  the  scars  which 
covered    his  forehead,  and  which  still  re- 
mained aa  vestiges  of  sundrv  cauterizations. 
In  Unyoro,  the  actual  cauter5',  «'•  «•  "  red-hot 
iron,  is  in  great  favor  as  a  means  of  cure; 
and  whenever  a  man  chooses  to  intoxicate 
himself  with  native  boor  or  imported  rum, 
and  t«  suflfcr  the  usual  penalty  of  a  head- 
ache on  the  following  morning,  he  immedi- 
ately thinks  that  he  is  bewitched,  and  pro- 
ceeds to  drive  out  the  demon  by  burning 
his  forehead  in  a  multitude  of  spots.    Kam- 
rasi  had  gone  a  little  beyond  the  ordinary 
custom,  and   had  ajjplied  the   hot  iron  to 
his  nose,  causing  such  a  scar  that  he  was 
anxious  to  have  it  removed,  and  his  nose 
restored  to  its  ordinary  color. 

lie  did  not  take  to  European  clothinK, 
preferring  the  manufactures  of  his  own 
country.  His  ordinary  dress  was  a  mantle 
tied  round  his  waist  and  descending  to  his 
feet  Sometimes  it  was  made  of  cloth,  and 
at  others  of  skins;  but  it  was  always  of  a 
light  red  color,  and  was  decorated  with  little 
patches  of  black  cloth,  with  which  it  was 
covered.  He  had  his  head  shaved  at  inter- 
vals, but  between  (he  times  of  shaving  his 
hair  grew  in  little  knobby  tufts,  like  those  of 
the  Bosjesman.  He  wore  but  few  ornaments 
the  chief  being  a  necklace  of  beiuls,  which 
hung  to  his  waist. 

Kamrasi  ha<l  a  very  tolerable  idea  of  ef- 
tect,  as  WiiB  seen  from  the  manner  in  which 
he  received  his  guests.    A  hut  <•  as  built  for 
the  express  purpose,  and  within  it  was  the 
royal  throne,  t.  e.  a  stool  —  to  sit  on  which  is 
the  special  privilege  of  rovalty.    A  quantity 
of  grass  Wiw  formed  into  a  rather  high  plat- 
form, which   was  covered   first  with  cow- 
hides and  then  with  leoiiard  skins,  the  latter 
being  the  royal  fur.    Over  this  throne  was 
hung  a,  canopy  of  cow-skin,  stretched  on 
every  side  and  suspended  from  the  roof,  in 
order  to  keep  dust  off  the  royal  hesul.    On 
the  throne  sat  Kamrasi,  enveloped  in  fine 
grass  cloth,  his  left  wrist  a<lorned  with  a 
bracelet,    and    his    hair    carefully  tkessed. 
lie  sat  calm,  motionless,  and  silent,  like  an 
Jigyptian  stjitue,  and  with  unchanired  coun- 
tenance contemplated  the  wonderful  white 
men  of  whom  he  hsid  heard  so  much 

It  IS  hardly  possible  to  conceive  a  more 
unpleasant  person  than  Kamraai  mittiMT 
iwide  Uie  total  want  of  cleanliness  wfiich  lie 


exhibited  and  which  may  be  considered  as 
a  national  and  not  as  an  individual  ciiaracter- 
istic.  His  avarice  induced  him  to  wish  for 
the  presence  of  travellers  who  would  create 
a  new  lino  of  trmle,  while  his  intense  cow- 
ardice made  him  fear  a  foe  in  every  stran- 
gei.  He  was  hornblv  afraid  of  M'tesa,  and 
when  he  found  that  wJiite  travellers  had  been 

S?S!'  t^i,  ?*K ''*'''  ''y  "'"'  potentate,  ho 
thought  that  thev  must  come  with  sinister 
intentions,  and  therefore  was  en  his  ffuard 
againtjs  his  fancied  foes.  When  he  got  over  his 
fears,  he  was  as  provoking  in  the  character 
of  mendicant  as  he  had  been  in  that  of  a 
torrid  despot.  When  Sir  S.  Jlaker  was  in 
his  dominions,  Kamrasi  insisted  on  pavinn- 
iTc?  ^■""*'  '^'"iO"S»'  1"-  knew  well  tliat  his 
n«,wu  ^^**"'^  J,"^''  recovering  from  fever, 
and  therefore  had  not  been  able  to  attend  at 
the  palace. 

'•Although  I  had  but  little  remaining 
from  my  stock  of  luggage  excejit  the  guns, 
ammunition,  and  astronomical  instruments 

Lrr  Jl^^T^  *?  '''•^^  everything  under- 
neath the  beds,  lest  the  avaricious  eyes  of 
Kamrasi  should  detect  a  '  want.'    True  to 
his  api)oin(ment,  he  appeared  with  numer- 
ous a  tendants,  and  was  uslu>red  into  my 
ittle  hut.    I  had  a  very  rude  but  servicea- 
ble arm-chair  that  one  of  my  men  had  con- 
structed-in  this  the  king  was  invited  to 
sit.    Hardly  was  he  seated,  when  ho  leant 
back,  stretehed  out  his  legs,  and,  makin- 
some  remark  to  his  attendants  concerning' 
his  personal  comfort,  he  asked  for  the  chair 
BS  a  present    I  promised  to  ha\e  one  made 
for  him  immediately.    This  being  arraiK'ed 
he   8urve_yed   the  barren  little   hut,  vanilv 
endcavonnc;  to  fix  his  eves  upon  sometliincr 
that  he  could  demand.     Kut,  so  lh.il  l.ss  was 
his  search,  that  he  langhiiigly  Imwil  to  his 
people  and  said,   'How   was   il    that   they 
wanted  so  many  porters  if  tlwy  have  iio(hin<' 
to  carry  r    My  interjin'ter  "explained  tha't 
many  things  had   been  spoiled  <lurin<r  the 
storms  on  the  lake,  and  had   been  left  be- 


-    -.....^,  ......    ...1,1     uriii     luil    De- 

hiuii;  that  our  provisions  had  Ion"  since 
been  consumed,  and  that  our  clothes  were 
worn  out  — that  we  had  notliing  left  but  a 
few  beads. 

'"New  varieties,  no  douM.'  he  replied- 
give  me  .all  that  you  Imve  of  the  small  blue 
and  the  large  red.' 

"We  hiwl  cirefullv hidden  the  main  stock 
iiml  a  few  had  been  arranged  in   !,;,■'«  to  bo 
produced   as   the  occasion    might    require 
IJiese  were  now  unpacked  by  the  boy  Saat 
and   Laid   before   the   king.     1   told  him   to 
make  his  choice,  which  he  did.  preeiselv  as 
1   had  anticii)ated,  bv  makintf  i)resents  to 
his  surrounding  friends  out  of  my  stock,  and 
monopolizing  the  ri'inainder  foi-  his  share 
Ihe  division  of  the  portions  anioiicr  liis  peo- 
ple was  a  modest  wav  of  takiiur   (ho  whole 
as  he  would  immediately  demand  their  re- 
turn on  liuiliing  my  hut. 
"No  sooner  were  the  beads  secured  than 


I 


KAMBASI'S  COWAIiDICE. 


:onai(lered  as 
ml  cliaracter- 
1  to  wish  for 
would  create 
intense  cow- 
I  every  strnn- 
t  M'tesa,  and 
Hera  hud  been 
[lofentrtto,  ho 
Willi  sinister 
>n  liifl  ffuard 
e  jifot  over  his 
llie  character 
in  that  of  a 
Milker  was  in 
h1  on  j)aying 
well  thathi's 
r  from  fever, 
!  to  attend  at 

e  remaining 
jit  the  guns, 
Hhstrunicnts, 
hing  under- 
'ious  eyes  of 
It.'    True  to 
vith  numer- 
ed  into  my 
)ut  servicea- 
en  had  con- 
3  invited  to 
en  ho  leant 
md,  niakin," 
concerning 
or  the  chair 
.0  one  made 
ig  arranged, 
hilt,  vainly 
I  Komelliing 
iiiidcss  was 
riii'd  (o  his 
tliiit   they 
live  nothing 
ilained  that 
(luring  the 
'111  left  be- 
I'lng  since 
olhcs  were 
,'  led  but  a 

le   replied; 
small  blue 

nain  stock, 

l>Mg.s  to  bo 

it    require. 

!•  boy  Saat, 

>ld  him   to 

irecisely  as 

resents  to 

stock,  and 

his  share. 

ig  his  peo- 

Ihe  whole, 

1  their  re- 

ured  than 


435 


he  repeated  the  original  demand  for  my 
wateli  and  the  No.  24  double  rillc ;  those  I 
resolutely  refused.  He  then  requested  per- 
mission to  see  the  contents  of  a  few  of  the 
biiskets  and  bags  that  formed  our  worn-out 
luggiige.  There  was  nothing  that  took  his 
fancy  except  needles,  thread,  lancets,  medi- 
cimvs,  and  a  small  tooth  comb.  The  latter 
int(. rested  him  excoodinglv,  as  I  explained 
of  the  Turk.' 


that  the  object  of  the  l^urks  in  collecting 
ivory  was  to  sell  it  to  Europeans,  who  man- 
ufactured it  into  many  articles,  among  whicli 
were  small  tooth  coinbs,  sucli  !is  lu;  then 
examiued.  He  could  not  understand  how 
the  teeth  could  be  so  tiuely  euL 

"Upon  the  use  of  the  comb  being  ex- 
plained, he  immediately  attemi)ted  to  prac- 
tise U|)<m  his  woolly  head.  Failing  in  the 
operation,  he  adapted  the  instrument  to  a 
difierout  purpose,  and  conunenccd  serat^-h- 
ing  beneath  the  wool  most  vigorously.  The 
effect  being  satisfactorv,  he  at  once  de- 
manded the  c^onib,  which  was  handed  to 
each  of  the  surrounding  chiefs,  all  of  whom 
had  a  trial  of  its  properties.  Everv  head 
having  been  scratchi'd,  it  \-.'as  returned  to 
the  king,  who  hjuidcd  it  to  Quonga,  the 
headman  that  received  his  presents.  So 
complete  was  the  success  of  the  comb,  that 
he  proposed  to  send  me  one  of  the  largest 
tusks,  which  I  was  to  take  to  England  and 
cut  into  as  many  small  tooth  combs  as  it 
would  produce  tor  himself  and  his  chiefs." 

During  this  interview,  Kamraai  discovered 
n  case  of  lancets,  iuid  begged  for  them,  as 
they  were  so  well  adiqited  for  jiaring  his 
nails.  Also,  he  opened  the  medicine  chest, 
and  was  so  determined  to  take  a  dose  at 
once  that  Sir  S.  Ijaker  took  a  little  revenge, 
and  administered  three  grains  of  tarPar 
emetic,  not  to  be  taken  until  he  reached 
his  own  hut.  As  to  the  No.  H  rifle,  which 
has  already  been  mentioned,  Kamrasi  was 
always  hankering  af\er  it. at  one  time  openly 
begging  for  it,  and  at  another  asking  to  bor- 
row it  just  for  a  day  or  two,  when,  of  course. 
It  never  would  have  escaped  the  grasp  of  the 
royal  clutches. 

*rhis  iirovoking  man  evidentlv  considered 
his  guests  to  be  scut  especiallv' for  his  own 
aggrandizement,  and  his  only  idea  wax  how 
to  use  them  best  for  his  service.  Ilaviier 
once  got  thein  safelv  into  his  domains  he 
liiul  no  intention  ol  letting  them  go  a-'ain 
until  ho  had  .squeezed  them  quite  drv. 
J;  irst,  Im  wanted  to  make  them  jiav  for  tlie 
privilege  of  entering  his  doininiohs;  and 
when  they  had  once  entered,  he  was  sure 
to  make  them  pay  before  they  got  out  a^ain 
ills  farst  ruse  was,  to  pretend  that  lluv 
were  weak  and  insignificant,  whereas  he 
was  great  and  strong,  and  that,  if  they 
wanted  his  protection,  they  must  pav  for 
It.  When  once  th-y  had  entered  ins  dis- 
trict, and  had  shown  tljeniselvcs  to  be  vnore 
lormidable  than  he  had  chosen  to  admit  he 
aeked  them  to  aid  him  against  his  enemies, 


and  to  lead  Ins  army  against  the  adverse 
tribe. 

This  stratagem  failing,  Cven  though  ho 
wa.s  good  enough  to  ofl'er  half  ^lis  kingdom 
for  the  privilege  of  alliance,  he  had  still 
ono  resourccj— namely,  forbidding  them 
to  leave  his  kingdom  until  he  gave  permis- 
sion, i.  e.  until  he  had  extracted  from  them 
everythinj;  of  value.  To  leave  the  country 
without  his  jjermission  was  simply  impossi- 
ble, ou  account  of  the  system  of  espionage 
which  has  already  been  mentioned,  aiid, 
although  it  might  have  been  possible  to 
force  a  way  by  (Uut  of  superior  arms,  such 
a  struggle  would  have  neutralized  the  very 
object  of  the  expedition. 

Bully  though  he  was  where  ho  could 
tyrannize  with  safety,  he  was  a  most  con- 
temntible  coward  when  he  thought  himself 
in  the  least  danger.  A  very  a'musiug  ex- 
ami)le  was  shown  during  the  visit  of  Sir  S. 
Baker.  One  morning,  just  at  sunrise,  Kam- 
rasi came  hastily  into  his  hut  shorn  of  all 
regal  dignity.  In  his  hands  ho  grasped 
two  spears  and  a  rifle,  and  wanted  to  bring 
them  into  the  hut,  contrary  to  all  etiquette. 
This  could  not  be  allowed,  and  he  reluc- 
tantly left  them  outside.  He  had  laid  aside 
his  usual  cold  and  repellent  manner,  and 
was  full  of  eagerness.  He  had  also  thrown 
off  his  ordinary  apparel  of  beautifully- 
dressed  skins,  and  only  wore  a  kind  of 
short  kilt  and  a  scarf  across  his  shoulders. 
Knowing  that  an  attack  was  meditati-d  by 
a  neighboring  chief,  and  having  seen  the 
people  all  in  war  costume  — horned,  bearded, 
and  tailed  — Sir  S.  JJaker  naturally  thought 
that  Kamrasi  was  in  fighting  costume.  ai)(l 
congratulated  him  ou  its  appropriate  light- 
ness. 

"/  fight!"  exclaimed  the  king.  "I  am 
not  going  to  light;  I  am  going  to  run  away, 
and  put  ou  this  dress  to  be  able  to  riia 
faster." 

He  then  cxjilained  in  great  trepidation 
that  the  enemy  were  a])proacliing  with  a 
hundred  and  fitly  muskets,  and  that,  as  it 
was  useless  to  light  against  such  odds,  ho 
meant  to  run  away  and  hide  himself  in  the 
long  grass,  and  his  guest  had  better  follow 
his  example.  From  the  anticipatwl  attiuik 
he  was  saved  by  the  timely  intervention  ot 
his  guest,  and  the  only  niark  of  gratitude 
which  he  showed  was  to  ask  again  for  the 
double-barrelled  ritle. 

Still,  in  spite  of  these  unamiablc  cliarae- 
teristics,  the  man  had  his  redeeming  points; 
and  although  h(>  was,  on  occasions  and  on  a 
large  scale,  almost  as  cruel  as  a  nlan  could 
be,  he  did  not  commit  those  continual  mur- 
ders of  his  subjects  which  disgraced  the 
reign  of  M'tesa.  Personal  clmstiscment 
was  used  in  many  cases  in  which  vl'tesa 
would  have  inllicted  death,  and  prolably  a 
lengthened  torture  besides. 

The  mode  of  passing  sentence  on  a  pris- 
oner was  very  remarkable.    Should  the  king 


480 


THE   WANYORO. 


M    M 


or  his  brotlipi-  At'Onmbi  tonoh  him  with  the 
point  of  ii  spoiii-,   the  cxccutioncra  iiiime- 
dintcly  fill!  nnon  him  with  thoir  cluha,  and 
boat  him  to  i'dth.     nut,  if  he  slioiild  touch 
the  iinsonor  with  his  stick,  the  exocutioiiors 
instantly  pierce  Iiim  with  their  spears;   ho 
tliiit  the  instrument  used  in  killing  the  man 
IS  always  the  opposite  to  that  with  which 
the  king  touches  him. 
Even  in  cases  where  death  wns  intlicted 
■  the  ernninal  was  generally  killed  by  a  blow 
with  a  diib  on  the  hack  of  the  neck.    There 
were  of  cour.se  (>xcei)tions  to  this  rule     For 
exainple,  a  hostile  chief,  named  Ition^u  one 
ot  his  thirty  brothers,  hud  been  takJii  pris- 
oiier  l)y  a  treacherous  act  on   the  part  of 
Kainrasi,  who  first  pretended  to  make  peace 
then  invited  him  to  a  banquet,  and  seized 
iiiwn  him  while  he  was  otf  his  guard.    Kam- 

7'*"n  ""Vi, '"■''"'*-''•  ^"'"  <»  <!'«  1>V  a  cruel 
dea  h.  There  was  a  hut  with  fiigh  mud 
walls  and  no  doorway.  Into  tiiis  hut 
J?ionga  was  hoisted,  and  the  kinn-  jrjive 
orders  that  on  the-  following  morniii'^  the 
hut  should  bo  fired,  and  its  inmate  burned 
to  death. 

Another  chief,  however,  named  Sali  in- 
geniously brought  ont  great  quantities  of 
lieer,  knowing  that  the  guards  would  b<' 
sure,  (o  as.semble  in  anv  spot  where  beer 
was  to  be  found.  This  they  did;  and  while 
they  were  engaged  at  one  side  of  the  prison 
drinking,  dancing,  and  singing,  Sali's  men 
were  engaged  on  the  other  side  in  di-'.<-in" 
a  hole  through  the  mud  wall  of  the  hutluin 
soon  sneeeeded  in  makinij  an  aperture  lar-'e 
enough  to  allow  the  prisoner  to  make  his 
escape. 

AlYer   this    feat,   Sali,  li.aving   seen   how 
treacherous    Kamrasi    could    be,  ou"ht  to 
have  secured  his  own  safety  by  fli;ri7t,  hut 
chose   to   remain,   thinking   that  his  share 
111   the    rescu(>   would    not    be    discovered. 
Aamiasi,   however,  suspected    his    compli- 
city, and   had   him   arrested   at  once.     He 
was  sentenced  (o  the  cruel  death  of  beiii" 
dismembered  while  alive,  and  the  sentence 
was  carried  out  by  cutting  otf  his  hands  at 
the  wrists,  his  arms  at  the  elbows,  and  so  on 
uiKil  every  joint  was  severed.     While  un- 
dergoing this  torture,  he  j)roved  himself  a 
brave  man  by  trying   to  help   his  friends 
calling  aloud  from  the  stake  that  they  had 
better  esciipe   while   they  conld,  lest  they 
should  sutler  the  same  ju-nalty.  '' 

A  curious  custom  prevails  in  Unyoro 
with  regard  to  tlie  kin<,''s  sisters.  Like 
other  women  of  rank,  they  are  fattened 
on  curdled  milk,  and  attain  such  a  size  that 
they  are  not  able  to  walk,  and,  whenever 
they  leave  the  hut,  each  has  t«  ])e  borne  on 
a  litter  by  eiifht  men.  Each  woman  con- 
sumes daily  the  milk  of  fifteen  or  tw<.nty 
cows,  a  cow  producing  barely  one  qn.-irt  of 
milk.  \  et,  though  this  fattening  process  is 
an  ordinary  preliminary  to  marria.'e.  the 
King  8  sisters  are  forbidden  to  mariy '  and  i 


arc  kept  in  strict  seclusion  in  his  palnco. 
So  ar«|  his  brothers;  but,  unlike  the  kin''  of 
Uganda,- he  does  not  think  it  necessar^  to 
kill  them  when  he  reaches  the  throne. 

piiring  the  short  interval  of  peace  which 
ollowed  upon  Sir  S.  JJaker's  intervention, 
the  iKiojile  gave  themselves  np  to  debauch- 
ery, the  men  drinking  and  dancing  and  yell- 
ing, blowing  horns  and  beating  drums  all 
through  the  night.  The  women  took  no 
part  in  this  amusement,  inasmuch  as  they 
liad  been  hard  at  work  in  the  fields  all  day. 
while  their  husbands  had  been  sleeijin^at 
home.  Consequently  tliey  were  mr- '•  "'oo 
tired  to  dance,  and  tried  to  snatc  what 
rest  they  could  in  the  midst  of  the  nicht- 
long  dm.  " 

"The  usual  style  of  singing  was  a  rapid 
cliant,  delivered  as  a  solo,  while  at  intervals 
(he  crowd  Imrst  out  in  a  deafeii!n<' chorus 
together  with  the  drums  and  horns.    The 
latter  were    formed    of   immenst!    gourds 
which,  growing  in   a  i)e(;uliar  shajie,  with' 
long,   bottle   necks,   were   (-asily   converted 
into  musical  instruments.     Kvery  now  and 
then  a  cry  of 'Fircl '  in  the  middle  of  the 
night  enlivened  the  oiinii  of  our  existence 
The   huts  were   liltcMvd   deej)   with   straw! 
ami  the  inmates,  intoxicated,  frequently  fell 
asleep  with  their  hiiujc  iiipes  liijhted,  wlpch 
falling  in  the  dry  straw,  at  onc'>  occasioned 
a  conflagration.     In  such  cases  the  flames 
.si)read  from  hut  to  hut  with  immense  rai)i(l- 
ity,  and  frequently  four  or  five  hundred  huts 
in  Kamrasi's  large  camp  were  (lestro\((l  by 
lire,  and  rebuilt  in  a  few  days.    I  wiis  anx- 
ious concerning  my  powder,  ks,  in  the  event 
of  hre,  the  bhi/e  of  flu^   straw  hut  was  so 
instantaneous  that  nothing  could  be  saved- 
should  my  jiowder  explode.  I  should  be  en- 
tirely defenceless.    Accordinujlv,  aOeracon- 
fiagration  in   my  neiij:liborhoo'd,  I   insisted 
on   removing  all    huts  within  a  circuit  of 
thirty  yards  of  my  dwellini;,    The  natives 
demurring,  I  at  once  ordered  my  men  to 
])ull  down  the  houses,  and  thereby  relieved 
myself  from  disunken  and  dangerciiis  nci-di- 
bors."'  " 

The  condition  of  the  women  in  irnyoro 
IS  not  at  all  agreeable,  as  indeed  may  be 
inferreil  from  the  brief  mention  of  the  liard 
work  which  Ihey  have  to  i)erl'orm.  They 
are  watched  V(>ry  carelMJly  hy  their  hus- 
bands, and  beateft  severt-ly  if  they  ever 
venture  outside  the  nalisades  aller  sunset. 
For  unfaithfulness,  the  pnnishment  .seems 
to  be  left  to  the  aggrieved  hush.-md,  who 
.sometimes  demands  a  heavy  line,  some- 
times cuts  off  a  foot  or  a  hand,  and  some- 
times inflicts  the  ininishment  of  tleath. 

])irtyas  are  the  Wanyoro  in  some  things 
111  others  they  are  very  neat  and  clean! 
Ihey  are  admirable  packers,  and  makeup 
the  neatest  imaginable  parcels.  Some  of 
these  i)areels  are  sm-roiinded  with  the  bark 

-    ....   , — 1 ..  .JI..1   .-..!,,v    rritri   lur   i;nti  or 

interior  ol  a  reed,  from  which  the  outside 


THE  MAGICIAN  AT  WORK. 


427 


has  been  carofUlly  stripped,  so  as  to  leave  a 
iiiiiuber  of  Huow-wliite  cyliiidurs.  These 
un>  laid  side  by  side,  and  bound  round  tlio 
ohJiH't,  producing  a  sinj^ularly  pretty  clTcct. 
Little  mats,  forniud  of  shreds  ot  these  reeds 
an;  very  niuuli  used,  eapeeially  as  covers  to 
b(^er  jars.  When  a  M'yoro  is  on  tliu  march, 
lie  always  carries  willi  him  a  gourd  full  of 
l)laiiti>iu  wiut!.  The  mouth  of  the  gourd  is 
slopped  with  a  bundle  of  these  reed-shreds 
through  which  passes  a  tube,  so  that  the 
traveller  can  always  drink  without  checking 
his  i)ace,  and  without  any  danger  of  spill" 
ing  the  licpiid  as  he  walks. 

In  their  diet  the  Wan^voro  make  great  use 
of  the  plantain,  and  it  is  rather  remarkable 
that,  in  a  land  which  abounds  with  tliis 
fruit,  it  is  hardly  possible  to  procure  one  in 
a  rine  state,  the  natives  always  eating  them 
while  still  green.  The  i)lautain  tree  is  to 
the  Wanyoro  the  chief  necessity  of  exist- 
ence, as  it  all'ords  them  means  for  supplying 
all  the  real  wants  of  life.  Sometimes  the 
plantain  is  boiled  and  eaten  as  a  vegetable, 
and  sometimes  it  is  dried  and  grouncl  intc! 
ineal,  which  is  used  in  niMking  jioriidge. 
^he  fruit  is  also  peeled,  cut  into  slices,  a7id 
dried  in  the  sun,  so  as  to  bo  stowed  away 
lor  future  consumption,  and  from  this  drie'd 
plantain  the  Wanyoro  make  a  palatable  and 
nutritious  so:ip.  Wine,  or  rather  biicr,  is 
niiulc  from  the  same  fruit,  which  thus  sup- 
plies both  food  and  drink. 

The  tree  itself  is  most  useful,  the  loaves 
being  spilt  uito  i,hre(ls,aiid  woven  into  cloth 
ot    remarkable  elegance,  and   the   bark   is 
stripped   oil;   anil   employed   like   paper   in 
wrapping  up  jjarcels  of  the  meal.    .Slroii" 
roj)es  and  the  finest  thread  are  twisted  fron" 
the  i)Iautain  libre,  and  the  natives  are  clever 
at  weaving  ornamental  articles,  which  look 
so  like  hair,  that  a  very  close  inspection  is 
needful   to  detect  the    difference.     In    all 
these  manulacturcs   the   Wanyoro  show  a 
neatness  of  hand  and  delicacy  of  taste  that 
contrast  strangely  with  the  slovenly,  care- 
less and  repulsive  habits  of  their  daily  life. 
Cuidledinilk  IS  much  used  by  the  natives 
Who  employ  it  in  fattening  their  wi  ts  and 
augh ters,  but,  unlike  the\\rabs,  they  w" 

tnoso  wlK  eat  the  capsicum  will  never  be 
bleseed  with  children.  Butter  is  usJas  m 
"njiuenf,and  not  tor  f..od,  and  tie  at  v"  " 
are  veiy   „ju„h  scandalized  at  seel  «    he 

•1  ver  fr    k      »=» '"«!,  .  tbey   once   played  a 

ftill)  1.  leaves,  a  little  bit  being  allowed    ,, 

>n.,i..ct  as  a  sample.    One  <hw  the  n;  t  ve" 

..;ou«^s„me  butter  to  their  ^l2  Su^^ 

ruJf    ,    !***  ^"""^  '■■'I'"'''  it  was  rejected 

1  t  wb  n  n  ""*'  ••^l'l"-"^-«''  't"<l  l)".elia.se.l. 
/.'  '  ;\^  »  '•'«  "'-apper  was  taken  ofll  it,  w«« 
"iii..!  that  the  butter  was  the  sanui  that  hiiTl 
been  refused,  the  natives  having  mitUe 


piece  of  fresh  butter  at  the  t,oi).  Itinerant 
cheesemongers  play  very  similar  tricks  jit 
the  present  day,  plugging  a  totally  uneatable 
cheese  with  bits  of  best  (Jheshiro,  and  scoop- 
ing out  the  ^llugs  by  way  of  sample. 

/n  '■"m!'*'''"'''"'  t'i«  "VVanyoro  have  none 
at  all.  They  are  full  of  superstition,  but,  as 
lar  as  is  known,  they  have  not  the  least  idea 
ot  a  religion  which  can  exercise  any  influ- 
ence on  the  motions.  In  common  with  most 
uncivilized  people,  they  make  much  of  each 
new  moon,  this  being  the  unit  by  which 
they  reckon  their  epochs,  and  salute  the 
slonihu-  crescent  by  profuse  dancing  and 
gesticulation.  *' 

They  have  a  wonderful  faith  in  demons, 
with  whoin  the  prophets  or  wizards  aver 
that   they  hold  connnunication.      Some  of 
tlieir    guesses    at    the    future   occasiouallv 
come  true.    For  example,  one  of  the  men 
of  the,  expedition  was  said  („  be  possessed 
>y  a  demon,  who  told  him  that  the  expedi- 
tion   would  succeed,  but   that  the   demon 
required  one  man's  life  and  another  mairs 
Illness.      This   prcxliction   was   literally  ac- 
complished, (me   of  the   escort  beiii<'  mur- 
dered   and  Captain  Grant  falling  se7-io!:sly 
111.    Again  the  same  man  saw  the  demon 
who  said   that  in   Uganda  one  man's  lifo 
would  b(>  re((uired,  and  accordingly  Kari  a 
man  belonging  to  the  expediliou,  w.is  mur- 
•lercd.     A  third  time,  when  in  Unyoro,  he 
saw  the  demon,  who  said  that  no  imire  lives 
were  needed,  but  that  the  expedition  would 
succeed,    though    it    would   be   i)rotractpd 
And  such  eventually  proved  to  he  the  ciuse 

The  magicians  lay  claim  to  oiu-  most  val- 
uable power,  — namely,  tluvt  of  liudiug  h.st 
articles.  On  one  occasion  CJaplain  Speko 
saw  the  whole  proces.s.  A  rain-gauge  and 
Its  bottle  had  been  stolen,  and  every  one 
disclaimed  knowledge  of  it.  A  sorcerer 
was  tlierefore  summoned  to  find  the  missing 
article.  The  following  account  of  tl-e  pro- 
ceeding is  given  by  Captain  Speke:  — 

"At  !»  A.M.,  the  time  for  measuring  tho 
fall  of  rain  for  the  last  twentv-four  hours 
wo  found  the  rain-gauge  and  bottle  had' 
been  removed,  so  we  sent  to  Kidgwiga  to 
inform  the  king  we  wished  bis  magTcians  to 
com  !  at  once  and  iiistituli!  a  searcli  for  it 
KiJgwiga  inunediately  returned  with  the 
necessary  adejH,  an  old  man,  nearly  blind, 
dressed  in  strips  of  old  leather  fast'ened  to 
the  waist,  and  carrying  in  one  Uand  u  cow's 
horn  i)rimed  with  magic  pow^der,  carefully 
covered  on  the  mouth  with  leather,  from 
which  dangled  an  iron  bell." 

The  curious  scene  now  to  be  describi  i 
the  artist  has  reproduced  in  the  eniTravinir 
Xo.  ii  on  page  417.  ^ 

"The  old  creature  jingled  the  1h  II,  en- 
tered our  hut,  s(|uatted"  oil  his  hums  looked 
lirst  at  one,  then  at  the  other—- iiinuired 

*••  '"•.  "•''"■'"■^  iiiiii;;^  Were  tike,  grunted, 

moved  his  skinny  arm  round  his  head,  as  if 
desirous  of  catching  air  from  all  four  sides 


428 


THE  WANYORO. 


of  tho  hnt,  then  (lashed  the  acpuniulfttcd  nir 
ou  tlie  IkmuI  of  his  horn,  smelt  it  to  see  il' 
all  wna  goinr;  right,  iingled  the  bell  again 
close  to  hiH  oar,  and  grunted  his  satisfac- 
tion; the  missin-?  artielea  must  bo  found. 
To  carry  out  incantation  more  cflectu- 

ally,  however,  ,i,,  my  men  were  sent  for  to 
sU  in  the  open  air  before  the  hut,  but  the 
old  doctor  rose,  shaking  the  liorn  and  tink- 
ling the  bell  close  to  his  ear.  He  then,  eon- 
Ironting  one  of  the  men,  dashed  th(!  horn 
forward  as  if  intending  to  strike  him  on  (he 
lace,  then  smelt  the  head,  then  dashed  at 
another,  and  so  on,  till  he  became  satisfied 
that  my  men  were  not  the  thieves. 

"He  then  walked  into  Grant's  hut,  in- 
spected that,  and  finally  went  to  the  place 
where  th(!  luXtle  had  been  kept.  Then  lu- 
walked  about  the  grass  wi(h  his  arm  up 
and  Jingling  the  bell  to  his  ear,  first  on  one 
side,  then  on  (he  other,  till  the  track  of  a 
iiyiena  gave  him  the  eUie  and  in  two  or 
.  three  more  steps  he  found  it.  A  livmna 
had  earned  it  into  the  grass  and  dropix'nl  i( 
Bravo,  for  the  infallible  horn!  and  well  doin" 
the  king  for  his  bonestv  in  sendiii'r  it!  so  1 
gave  the  king  the  bottle  and  gauge,  which 
(lehghled  him  amazingly;  and  the  old  doc- 
tor, who  begged  for  pombe,  got  a  goat  for 
his  trouble. '  ° 

As  in  Uganda,  (he   porcerers  are  distin- 
guished by  (he  odd  ornaments  which  (hey 
wear;  dried  roots,  lizards,  lions'  claws,  cro('- 
odiles'  teeth,  little  tortoise  shells,  and  other 
ob)ec(s  being  strung  together  and  tied  on 
their  heads.    There  is  also  an  order  of  re- 
ligious mendicants  called  "  IJamlwa,"  both 
sexes  being  oljgiblo  to  (he  ottic(>.     They  are 
distinguished    by  an    abundance   of   orna- 
ments, sneb   as  bits  of  shining  metal,  and 
little  tinkling  bells,  and  one  liian  had  dis- 
tinguislu'd  himself  greatly  bv  weariii<T  the 
skin  of  a  long-haired  monfeey'down  liis"~baek 
from  the  to])  (>f  his  hea<l,  to  which  lie  had 
attached  a  couple  of  antelope  horns.     The 
•^'^rnf^n  when   dressed   in   the  full  robes  o( 
otilce  look  vei-y  handsome,  being  clothed  in 
colored  skins,  and  wearing   turbans  made 
of  the  plaintain  bark.    They  walk  about  from 
house  to  house  singing  tlieir  jieeuliar  son.rs 
and  always  expecting  a  present.    The  omcJ 
ot  a  Handwa  is  not  heredKary,  for  any  one 
may  join  them  by  undergoing"  certain  "cere- 
monies, and  the  children  of  a  H.audwa  are 
at  liherty  t«  follow  any  business  that  thev 
may  liapjien   to   like.  "  Although   they  are 
meiidieants.  (hey  do  not  wholly  depend  on 
th<"ir  ludfcssioii,   having  cattle  and    other 
proiierty  of  their  own. 

In  many  countries  where  superstition 
takes  the  ])la<-e  of  religion,  the  birth  of 
twins  is  look.Ml  ujion  as  a  bad  (nnen,  which 
must  be  averted  by  the  sacrifice  of  one  or 
both  of  the  children.  In  Unyoro  (he  case 
IS  dillerent.  Captain  Speke  had  been  an- 
noyed by  certain  drums  and  other  musical 


instruments  which  were  played  day  and 
nijrht  without  cessation,  and,  when  he  in- 
quired as  to  tlKiir  objeet,  was  told  that  they 
wen;  in  honoi-  of  twins  that  had  been  liorii 
to  Kamrasi,  and  (hat  they  would  be  played 
in  the  same  manner  for  four  months. 

The  use  of  the  cow's  horn  in  magie  ia 
explained  by  a  tradition  that  once  uiion  a 
time  there  was  a  dog  with  a  horn.     When 
the   dog  died,   the   horn   was  stuffed   with 
niagic  powder,  and  was  a  powerful   charm 
in  war,  .soldiers  who  stepped  over  it  when 
on  the  march  being  thereby  rendered  vic- 
torious.    Kamra.si  po.ssesse(l  several  ma"ic 
horns,  and  when  he  sent  an  aml)assa(lor''to 
a  neighboring  poten(a(e,  one  of  (hesc  horns 
was  hung  roiuul  the  man's  neck  as  his  cre- 
dentials; and  when  li((  re(urned,  he  brought 
wi(h   him  another  magic  horn  a.s  a  proof 
that  his  iness,age  had  been  delivered.    No 
one  dared  to  (ouch  a  man  who  bore  .so  ])o- 
leiit  an   emblem,  and   this  was  p(!culiarly 
f'ortuna(e,  as  on  one  occasion  Kamrasi  ha'd 
sent   an   expedition  which  took  with  them 
six  hundred  majembe  or  iron  spades,  which 
form  a  sort  of  currency,  the  expenditure  of 
two  majembd  per  diem  being  sufiicient  to 
buy  food  for  the  whole  party.     Laden  with 
weaKh   therefore   as   they  were,  the  ma"ic 
horn   nrolected   the  i)arl"y,   and    they  per- 
formed their  journey  in  safety. 

AV- ar  charnis  are  'in  great"  rerpiest,  and 
while  (  apfain  Speke  was  in  Unyoro  he  saw 
the  preliminary  act  in  charm  "making.  A 
feud  was  in  action  between  Kamrasi  and 
the  Chop!  (ribe.  Kamrasi  (lurefore  sent 
si)ies  in(o  (he  Chopi  (lis(ric(.  uiili  orders  (o 
bring  some  grass  from  (he  hut  of  a  chief 
This  they  did,  with  the  addition  of  a  sjjcar, 
much  (o  Kamrasi's  delight,  who  thought 
that  the  jiossession  of  this  weajion  would 
enable  him  to  bewitch  the  spears  as  well  as 
the  courage  of  his  enemies,  and  so  prevent 
(111'  weapons  fr.)in  hurfing  his  (ribe. 

In  order  to  ensure  prosperity  to  their 
family,  or  to  cun'.  a  sick  relative",  the  Wan- 
yoro  kill  some  animal,  split  it  ojieii,  and  lay 
It  at  the  intersection  of  two  cross  roads 
such  spot  being  held  by  them,  as  bv  (he 
Halonda,  in  great  rever.Mice.  If  the' man 
is  rich  enough,  he  sacrifices  a  goat,  but,  if 
not,  a  fowl  will  answer;  and  if  a  man"  is 
very  ])oor  indeed,  lie  makes  a  frog  serve  his 
purpose. 

These  people  seem  to  have  kept  their 
burial  ceremonies  very  secret,  as  a  funeral 
was  never  seen  in  Central  Africa,  but  it  is 
said  that  the  dead  are  buried  near  the  house 
or  in  the  cattle-fold,  wrapped  in  liark  cloth 
or  a  cow-skin.  When  the  king  dies  his 
body  is  first  dried,  and  then  the  lower  jaw- 
bone is  removed  and  buried  by  itself.  "Ofll- 
cers  of  the  palace  are  privireg(>d  to  have 
their  heads  and  hands  treated  in  the  same 
manner. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 


GANI,  MADI,  OBBO,  AND  KYTCH. 


POSITION  OP  THE  OANI  TninE-TIIBIR  HOSriTAnLE  ClIAUACTER-OANI  AnCmTKCTUHE-SmGULAB 
MOW.  OP  DUKHS-TIIK  OANI  (JUKUB -TOILKT  MAKI.NO  IN  rUIlLIC-T.IK  MADI  TUIl.E-OAUE  OF 
Clm-DUKN-DUKHS  OF  TUB  WOMKN- VAllIOLS  DANCKS-MAUI  VILUA0B9-ILL  THKATMRNT  OF 
TIIK  NAirVKH-I-OHITIO.V  OF  TIIK  OI.DO  TUIl.K -OKNKUAI,  Al-I-KAllANCB  OF  THIS  NATIVI'S  -  8IN- 
OUr,AIlM()I.E0FI)llKSH-KATCmHA,  THE  OlIllO  CIIIKF-HIS  LAIUiE  FAMU.Y-HI8  REPUTATION  \B 
A  80HCKilKIl-I\-.;F.NI0UH  ESCAPE  FROM  A  DILEMMA- KATCHIIlVs  1-ALACE-A  VISIT  TO  TUK 
CHIEF  — HIS  HOSMTALITY  AND  GENEROUS  CONDUCT  —  CHARACTER  OF  KATCUIB.!, 


We  now  conio  to  a  lar^n  district  ahout  lat. 
.;i°  N.  ..11(1  long.  ;«°  E.  This  country  is 
inhabited  by  a  gi'onp  of  tribes,  who  aro  per- 
hai)s  moro  roiniirkablc  for  their  style  of  dress 
tlian  any  wliicli  we  have  yet  noticed.  We 
will  (ii'st  taki'  the  CtAXI. 

The  Gaiii  are  a  hospitable  people,  and, 
when  Ciptains  Spoke  and  Grant  passeil 
thro'.icjh  their  country,  received  thcin  witli 
great  kinilncss,  even  thougli  they  had  never 
seen  white  men  beforo,  and  might  be  ex- 
pected to  take  alarm  at  an  armed  party  pen- 
etratini;;  into  their  land. 

One  (lay,  when  (Japtain  Grant  Avas  walkiii" 
in  search  of  plants,  he  was  hailed  by  a  native^ 
who  coiilrivc'd  to  make  him  understand  that 
he  wished  to  Cdiidiu't  the  white  man.  lie 
-was  very  polite  to  his  guest,  acting  as  pio- 
neer, beatmg  down  the  thorny  branches  that 
obstructed  the  ]rMh,  and  pointing  out  the 
best  places  for  crossing  rocks.  Ho  evidently 
thought  that  Captain  (Jrant  had  lost  his  wav 
and  so  giiidfd  him  back  to  the  camp  previ- 
ously leaving  his  spear  in  a  hut,  Jjeciiuse  to 
appear  arin^d  in  the  presence  of  a  suiierior 
IS  contrary  lo  their  system  of  etiquette. 

Ihe  mode  of  welcome  was  rather  rem.ark- 
able.  lli(-  old  chief  of  the  village  advanced 
to  meet  the  slrangers,  accompanied  by  his 
councdlors  and  a  number  ot'  women,  one 
ot  whom  carried  a  white  cliickcn,  said  the 
otiiers  beer  and  a  bunch  of  u  (lowerimr  plant. 
When  the  two  jiarties  met,  the  chief,  whose 
name  was  Chongi,  toi.k  the  fowl  by  one  leir 
Ptooped,:iii(i  swung  it  backward  anil  torwanl 
close  to  the  ground,  and  then  passed  it  to  his 

(4 


male  attendants,  who  did  the  same  thin". 
He  then  took  agourd  full  of  beer,  dipped  tl^e 
plant  in  it,  und  sprinkled  tlie  liquid  over  his 
guests,  and  then  spreatl  cow-skins  under  a 
tree  by  way  of  couches,  on  wlwch  liis  guests 
might  repose.  Tliey  were  next  presented 
with  a  supply  of  beer,  which  was  politely 
called  water.  "' 

The  villages  of  the  Gani  are  extremely  neat, 
and  consist  of  a  quantity  of  huts  biiilt'round 
a  Hat  cleared  space  which  is  kept  exceed- 
ingly smooth  and  neat.  In  the  middle  of 
this  sjiace  are  one  or  two  miniature  huts 
made  of  gra.ss,  and  containing  idols,  and  a 
few  horns  are  Ynid  near  them.  When  tlio 
Gani  lay  out  plans  for  a  new  village,  they 
mostly  allow  one  large  tree  to  remain  in  the 
centre  of  the  cleared  sp.ace,  and  under  its 
shade  the  inhabitants  assemble  and  receive 
their  guests.  The  houses  are  shaped  like 
beehives,  are  very  low,  and  composed  simply 
of  a  mud  wall,  and  a  roof  made  of  bamboo 
thatched  with  grass.  The  doors  are  barely 
two  feet  high,  but  the  supple-bodied  Gani 
who  have  never  been  encumbered  witli" 
clothes,  can  walk  through  the  aperture  with 
perfect  case.  The  tloor  is  made  of  clay 
beaten  hard,  and  is  swept  with  great  care. 
('ow-ski»s  are  spread  on  the  (loor  by  way  of 
l>eds,  and  upon  these  the  Gani  sleep"  without 
.any  covering. 

Close  to  the  huts  are  pl.aced  the  grain 

stores,  which   are   very   ingeniously  m.ade. 

I  First,  a  number  of  rndo  stone  pillars  :ir!'  set 

j  in  a  circle,  having  flat  stones  Laid  on   their 

I  tops,  much  resembling  the  remains  of  Stoae- 

29) 


S'fi! 


430 


THE  MADI. 


hengc.  Upon  these  is  scoured  an  enor- 
mous cyliniicr  of  basket  work  plastered  with 
clay,  tlio  top  of  wiiich  is  covered  with  a 
conical  roof  of  bamboo  and  grass.  Wlien  a 
woman  wishes  to  take  grain  out  of  tlie  store- 
house, she  places  against  it  a  large  branch 
from  which  the  smaller  boughs  have  been 
cut,  leaving  stumps  of  a  foot  or  ten  inches  in 
length,  and  by  means  of  this  rude  ladder  she 
easily  ascends  to  the  roof. 

Tlie  appeiirance  of  this  tribe  is  most  re- 
markable, as  they  use  less  clothing  and  more 
ornament  than  any  peojde  at  present  known. 
AVe  will  begin  with  the  men.  Their  dress  is 
absolutely  nothing  at  all  as  far  as  covering 
the  body  is  coueerned,  but,  as  if  to  compen- 
sate fortius  nudity,  there  is  scarcely  a  s(iuare 
inch  of  the  person  without  its  adornment. 
In  the  lirst  place,  they  use  paint  as  a  suc- 
cedanoum  fur  dress,  and  cover  themselves 
entirely  with  colors,  not  merely  rubbing 
themselves  over  with  one  tint,  but  using 
several  colors,  and  painting  themselves  in  a 
wonderful  variety  of  patterns,  many  of  them 
showing  real  artistic  power,  while  others  are 
simply  grotesque. 

Two  young  men  who  came  as  messengers 
from  Cliongi  lia<l  used  three  colors.  They 
had  painted  their  faces  white,  the  iiigment 
being  wood  ashes,  and  their  bodies  wi'i-e 
covered  with  two  coats  of  paint,  the  first 
purple,  and  the  second  a.'<hen  gi'ay.  This 
latter  coat  they  had  scraped  oil"  in  irregular 
patterns,  just  as  a  j)aiiiter  uses  his  steel 
comb  when  graining  wood,  so  that  the  pur- 
ple appeared  through  the  gray,  and  looked 
much  like  the  grain  of  mahogany.  Some  of 
the  men  cover  their  bodies  with  horizontal 
stripes,  like  those  of  the  zebra,  or  with  verti- 
cal stripes  running  along  the  curve  of  the 
spine  and  limbs,  or  with  zigzag  markings  of 
hn;ht  colors.  Some  very  grt'at  dandies  go 
still  furthei',  and  paint  their  bodies  chequer 
fiwhion,  exactly  like  that  of  a  liarlequin. 
White  always  plays  a  large  part  in  their 
decorations,"  and  is  often  applied  in  broad 
bands  round  the  waist  and  neck. 

The  head  is  not  less  gorgeously  decorated. 
First  the  hair  is  teased  out  with  a  pin,  and 
is  then  dressed  with  clay  so  as  to  form  it 
into  a  thick  felt-like  mass.  This  is  often 
further  decorated  with  pipe-clay  laid  on  in 
patterns,  and  at  the  back  of  the  neck  is  in- 
serted a  piece  of  sinew  about  a  foot  in  length. 
This  odd-looking  queue  is  turned  up,  and 
finished  off  at  the  tip  with  a  tuft  of  fur,  the 
end  of  a  leopard's  tail  being  the  favorite 


ornament.  Shells,  beads,  and  other  orna- 
ments are  also  woven  into  the  hair,  and  in 
most  cases  a  feather  is  addeil  by  way  of  a 
finishing  touch.  The  whole  contour  of  the 
headdress  is  exactly  liki!  that  of  the  panta- 
loon of  the  stage,  and  the  sight  of  a  man 
with  the  bodyof  aharU'ciuin  and  the  head  of 
a  i)antaloon  is  too  much  for  European  grav- 
ity to  withstand. 

Besides  all  this  elaborate  decoration,  the 
men  wear  a  quantity  of  bracelets,  anklet.Sj 
and  earrings.  The  daily  toilet  of  a  Gam 
(landy  occupies  a  very  long  time,  and  in  the 
morning  the  men  may  be  seen  in  numbers 
sitting  under  the  shade  of  trees,  einployed 
in  painting  their  own  bodies  or  dressing  the 
hair  of  a  friend,  and  applying  paint  where 
he  would  not  be  able  to  guide  the  brush. 
As  may  bo  inferred,  they  are  exceedingly 
vain  of  their  personal  ajipt^aianec;  and  when 
their  toilet  is  completed,  they  j-trut  about 
in  order  to  show  themselves,  and  continu- 
ally j5ose  themselves  in  altitudes  which  they 
think  graceful,  but  which  might  bo  charac- 
terized as  conceited. 

Each  man  usually  carries  with  him  an  odd 
little  stool  with  one  lej;,  and  instead  of  sit- 
ting on  the  ground,  as  is  doiu^  by  most  sav- 
ages, the  Gani  make  a  point  of  seating  them- 
sehes  on  these  little  stools,  wliieh  look  very 
like  those  which  are  used  by  Swiss  herds- 
men when  they  ii'lk  the  cows,  and  only 
dill'er  from  them  in  not  being  tied  to  the 
body.  The  engraving  >'u.  1  on  page  4;il 
will  help  the  reader  to  understand  this  de- 
scription. 

The  women  are  not  nearly  such  votaries 
of  fashion  as  their  liusbaiids,  principally 
because  they  have  to  work  and  to  nurse  the 
children,  who  would  make  short  work  of  any 
paint  that  they  might  use.  Like  the  parents, 
the  children  have  no  clothes,  and  are  merely 
su.si)ended  in  a  rather  wide  strap  passing 
over  one  shoulder  of  the  mother  and  under 
the  other.  As,  however,  the  rays  of  the  sun 
might  be  injurious  to  them,  a  large  gourd 
is  cut  in  two  j)ieces,  hollowed  out,  and  one 
of  the  pieces  inverted  over  the  child's  head 
and  shoulders. 

The  Gani  have  cattle,  Vmt  are  very  poor 
herdsmen,  and  have  sull'ered  the  herd  to 
deteriorate  in  size  and  quality.  They  can- 
not even  drive  their  cattle  properly,  each 
cow  recognizing  a  special  driver,  who  grasps 
the  tail  in  one  hand  and  a  horn  in  the  other, 
nd  thus  drags  and  pushes  the  animal  along. 


THE  MADI  TIIIBE. 


Not  very  far  from  the  Gani  are  situated  |  markable  for  the  scrupulously  neat  and 
the  Madi  tribe.  They  are  dressed,  or !  clean  state  in  which  they  keep  their  huts, 
rather  undressed,  in  a  somewhat  similar  Every  morning  the  women  may  be,  seen 
fashion.  (See  engraving  on  page  (KM).)  The  sweeping  out  their  houses,  or  kneeling  in 
Women  are   very   iudustrioua,  and  are  re-   froutof  the  ttpuriiuu  wkicli  ourvcB  ad  ft  door, 


1  other  orna- 

0  hair,  itiul  in 

1  l)y  way  of  a 
lontour  of  tho 
of  the  panta- 
;!ht  of  a  man 
11(1  the  head  of 
uropeau  grav- 

lecoration,  tho 
L'kts,  unklotHj 
let  of  a  Gam 
lie,  and  in  tho 
11  in  numbers 
ecs,  emjiloyed 
ir  ilressing  the 
^  paint  where 
de  the  brush. 
e  ex('cedin<,'ly 
nee;  and  when 
^y  strut  about 
,  and  continu- 
les  wliich  they 
;ht  be  charac- 

ith  him  an  odd 
instead  of  sit- 
!  liy  most  sav- 
Kelitiug  them- 
liicli  look  very 
■  Swiss  liords- 
iws,  and  only 
!<;  tied  to  the 
I  on  page  4.'il 
■stand  this  dc- 

•  such  votaries 
Is,  principally 
d  to  nurse  the 
rt  work  of  any 
ke  the  parents, 
md  are  merely 
strap  passing 
ler  and  under 
mysof  the  sun 
a  large  gourd 
I  out,  and  one 
le  child's  head 

are  very  poor 
I  till!  herd  to 
y.  They  can- 
iroperly,  each 
er,  who  grasps 
n  in  the  otlier, 
;  animal  along. 


sly  neat  and 
:ep  their  huts, 
may  be  seen 
r  kneeling  in 
L'ves  M  a  door, 


(1.,    tii;..l  !•    (II'  (JAM    AMI  MAUI. 
(.See  imga  l.'Ki.) 


lti;MOVAI.   IIK  A    Vll,I.A(;l.. 
(See  iiiiH.'  111. 


(431) 


VILLAGES  OF  THE  MADL 


433 


and  patting  and  smoothing  the  spaco  in  front 
of  the  doorway.  Tlicy  are  also  ronntantly 
omnloyi'd  in  trowing  beer,  grinding  corn, 
and  baking  broad. 

They  take  great  caro  of  their  children, 
washing  thcni  daily  with  warm  water,  and 
then,  as  they  have  no  towels,  licking  them 
dry  as  a  cat  does  with  her  kittens.  AVhen- 
the  child  is  wiished  and  dried,  the  mother 

t)roduces  some  fat  with  which  vermilion  has 
)een  mi.xed,  and  rnt)s  it  over  the  cliild's 
body  nntil  it  is  all  red  and  shining.  The 
next  proccMS  is  to  lay  the  child  on  its  back 
upon  a  goatskin,  the  corners  of  which  are 
then  gathered  nj)  and  tied  together  so  as  to 
form  a  cradle.  Should  the  mother  be  ex- 
ceedingly Imsy,  she  hangs  the  cradle  on  a 
f)eg  or  the  branch  of  a  tree,  the  child  otrer- 
ng  no  olijcetion  to  this  treatment. 

The  dress  of  the  women  consists  of  a  pet- 
ticoat reaching  a  little  below  the  knees,  but 
they  otli!)!  dispense  with  this  article  of 
dress,  and  content  themselves  with  a  few 
leathern  thongs  in  front,  and  another  clus- 
ter of  thongs  liehind.  In  default  of  leath- 
ern thongs,  a  bunch  of  chickwced  answers 
every  purpose  of  dress.  They  wear  iron 
rings  round  their  arms  above  the  elbow, 
and  generally  have  a  small  knife  stuck  be- 
tween the  rings  and  the  arm. 

They  are  fond  of  wearing  little  circular 
disks  "cut  from  a  univalve  shell.  These 
shells  are  laid  out  to  bleach  on  the  tops  of 
the  huts,  anl,  when  whitened,  are  cut  into 
circles  about  as  large  as  fourpenny  nieces, 
each  having  a  holi!  bored  thi-ough  the 
middle.  They  are  then  strung  together  and 
worn  as  belts,  and  have  also  the  advantage 
of  being  used  as  coin  with  which  small 
articles  of  food,  as  fruit  or  beer,  could  be 
purchased.  The  men  are  in  the  habit  of 
wearing  ornaments  made  of  the  tusks  of 
the  wild  boar.  The  tusks  are  tied  on  the 
arm  above  the  elbow,  and  contrast  well  with 
the  naturally  dark  hue  of  the  skin  and  the 
brilliant  colors  with  which  it  is  mostly 
painted. 

Whenever  a  child  is  born,  the  other  wo- 
men iLssemble  round  the  hut  of  the  mother, 
and  make  a  hideous  noise  by  way  of  con- 
gratulation.    Drums  are   beaten  violently 
songs  are  sung,  hands  are  clapped,  gratula- 
tory  sentences  are  yelled  out  at  the  full 
stretch  of  the  voice,  while  a  wild  and  furi- 
ous dance  acts  as  an  accompaniment  to  the 
noise.    As  soon  as  the  mother  has  recov- 
ered, a  goat  is  killed,  and  she  steps  back- 
ward and  forward  over  its  body.    One  of 
the  women,  the  wife   of  the   commandant, 
went    through    a    very    curious  ceremony 
when  she  had  recovered  her  health  after 
her  child  was  born.     She  took  a  bunch  of 
dry  grass,  and  lighted  it,  and  then  passed  it 
from  hand  to  hand  three  times  round  her 
body  while  she  walked  to  the  left  of  the 
door.    Another  grass  tuft  wsut  then  lighted, 
and  she  wuut  tluouyii  a  similar  pertbrra- 


ance  as  she  walked  to  the  front  of  the  door, 
and  the  jjrocess  was  again  repeated  as  she 
walked  to  the  right. 

The  dances  of  the  Madi  are  ratlier  vari- 
able. The  congratulatory  dance  is  per- 
formed by  jumping  up  and  down  without 
any  order,  tlingin>^  the  legs  and  arms  about, 
and  tlapping  the  ribs  with  the  elbows.  The 
young  men  have  a  dance  of  their  own, 
which  is  far  more  pleasing  than  that  of  the 
women.  Each  takes  a  stick  and  a  drum, 
and  they  arrange  themselves  in  a  circle, 
beating  the  drums,  singing,  and  converging 
to  the  centre,  and  then  retiring  again  iu 
exact  time  with  the  rhythm  of  the  drum- 
beats. 

Sometimes  there  is  a  grand  general  dance, 
in  which  several  hundred  performers  take 
part.  "Six  drums  of  dilferent  sizes,  .slung 
upon  polesj  were  in  the  centre;  around  these 
was  a  moving  mass  of  people,  elbowing  and 
pushing  one  another  as  at  a  fair;  and 
outside  tlu'in  a  ring  of  girls,  women,  and 
infants  faced  an  outer  circle  of  men  sound- 
ing horns  and  armed  with  spears  and  clubs, 
their  heads  ornamented  with  ostrich  feath- 
ers, helmets  of  the  cowrie  shell,  &c.  Never 
had  I  seen  such  a  scene  of  animated  savage 
life,  nor  heard  a  more  savage  noise.  As  the 
two  large  circles  of  both  sexes  jumped  simul- 
taneously to  the  music,  and  m'ovecl  round  at 
((Very  leap,  the  women  sang  and  jingled 
their  masses  of  bracehtts,  challenging  and 
exciting  the  men,  forcing  them  to  various 
.acts  of  gallantry,  while  our  Seedees  joined 
in  the  dance,  and  no  doubt  touched  many  a 
fair  breast." 

The  weapons  of  the  Madi  are  spears  and 
bows  and  arrows.  The  spears  are  about  six 
feet  long,  with  bamboo  .shalts,  and  with  an 
iron  spike  at  the  butt  for  the  purpose  of 
sticking  it  in  the  ground.  They  are  better 
archers  than  the  generality  of  African  tribes, 
and  amuse  themselves  by  setting  up  marks, 
.and  shooting  at  them  'from  a  distance  of 
forty  or  fifty  yards.  The  arrows  are  mostly 
poisoned,  and  always  so  when  used  for  war. 
The  villages  of  the  Madi  are  constructed 
in  a  very  neat  manner,  the  floors  being 
made  of  a  kind  of  red  clav  beaten  hard  and 
.•iinoothed.  The  threshoUfs  of  the  doors  are 
of  the  same  material,  but  are  paved  with 
pieces  of  broken  earthenware  pressed  into 
the  clay,  and  ingeniously  joined  so  as  to 
form  a  kind  of  pattern.  In  "order  to  jnevent 
cattle  from  entering  the  huts,  movable  b.ars 
of  bamboo  are  generally  set  across  the  en- 
trance. The  villages  are  enclosed  with  a 
fence,  and  the  inhabitants  never  allow  the 
sick  to  reside  within  the  enclosure.  They 
do  not  merely  elect  them,  as  they  do  in 
some  iiarts  of  Africa,  but  build  a  number  of 
huts  outside  the  walls  by  w.ay  of  a  hospital. 

The  roofs  of  the  huts  are  cleverly  made 
of  bamboo  and  gnuss,  and  nprtn  them  is 
Lavished  the  Erreater  part  of  the  l:ibor  isf 
house-building.    If  therefore  the  Maiii  are 


484 


tup:  on  ho. 


II  H|,1 


disHjitisflnd  with  the  poMtion  of  a  villngo, 
or  rind  (hill.  luiKhboiin^  trihus  are  bocoiii- 
nij{  iioiililcsoinc,  Ihcy  (|ui(itlv  nii)  «  oH"  to 
another  upot,  c inrvinR  with  tiit'in  ,  w  most 
iiiiporlaul  part  of  tlicir  Iioiihoh,  iiainciv,  this 
roofs,  which  are  so  IlKht  that  a  few  iiiuii  tan 
carrv  tlu'ni.  A  villa^jn  on  tho  march  iire- 
scnts  a  inoNt  ciirioiia  and  picturcscpu!  spco 
lach\  llu!  nwh  of  tlm  liiit«  carricil  on  tlui 
licmis  of  (bin- or  (1 VI'  men,  tlio  hanil)oo  Htal<e« 
!.orne  hy  otiii-r.s,  wliilc  m>n>i)  aro  driving  tho 
c  all',  and  (In-  woini-n  am  t;arrvin<(  their 
i'l  lidrcn  ami  tinir  siniidii  housi'liold  I'urni- 
tni\  Tin-  enKraviri!,'  No.  2  ou  paijo  431 
rep/  -811018  sucli  IX  riMnoval. 
rh,!  Tnrliisli  caravans  tliat  oceaaionally 


IiasB  tliroiiRh  tho  routilry  aro  tho  nhiof 
(•anH.M.t  tli.'se  niiKrations,  Im  t\uy  tr.at  tlio 
Madi  very  rouKldy.  When  they  eonie  to  a, 
ydlap"  they  will  not  take  up  'tluir  id.odo 
niHido  it,  hnt  carry  ..if  lh(>  |(m.|m  „f  (he  huta 
and  lorm  a  camp  with  Ihem  onlnide  tho  «.n- 
eloHUre.  IheyalMo  rol.  the  corn-Mores,  and. 
It  the  awneved  own.-r  ventures  |„  remon- 
strate, ho  IS  knocked  down  hy  the  butt  of  a 
muHket,  or  threatened  willi  Km  ( ontenls     In 

Nonio  parts  of  the  ,„, .y  ,|„.^,.  „„.„•  i,,,,, 

behaved  HO  cruelly  to  the  nuHviH  that,  as 
Hoon  an  the  iidmbitant.s  of  a  vill.n'o  saw  ii 
caravan  approaehluK,  all  (he  w.-men  and 
children  lorHook  their  (iwelliii.'M,  and  hi  • 
thoinsolvos  iu  tho  bush  and  grasH. 


THE  OHHO. 


Wk  now  como  to  Onno,  a  district  .situated 
in  lal.  4^  M'  N.  and  lon^'.  M'^  Ui  E.  Sir  S. 
JJaker  spent  a  consiileial)le  time  in  Obbo,— 
much  more,  indeed,  than  wius  desirable,— 
and  in  coiise(|iieiice  learned  much  of  tho 
peculiarities  of  the  inhabitants. 

In  some  respects  the  niiti\,>s  look  soino- 
ti mil  like  thetiani  and  Aladi,  especially  in 
their  lon<lness  for  paint,  their  disregard  of 
clolhinsr.  and  tho  mode  iu  which  they  dress 
their  heads.     Iu  ibis  last  respect  (liey  are 
even  more  fastidious  than  the  tribes  which 
have    been  Just  mentioned,  »oine  of  them  I 
Iiavin,!,'  snowy  white  wi!j;s  descendinj;  over 
their  shoulders,  and   finished   otf  with   the 
curved    and   tufted   pi^jtail.     The   shape   i.f 
tho  Obbo  headdress  hius  been  happily  eotii- 
pared  to   that  of  a  beaver  s  tail,  it"  beiiifr 
wide  and    lliii,  and   thicker  in   the   middle 
Ibnn  at  the  cdijes.     The  length  of  this  head- 
dress is  not  owiniT  to  the  wearer's  own  hair, 
but  is  produe.d  by  tho  interweaving  of  hair 
Irom  otli(>r  sound's.    If,  for  examiile,  a  man 
<lies,  his  hair  is  removed  by  his  relations, 
and  woven  with  their  headdresses  as  a  sou- 
venir of  t\u:  depart.'d,  and  an  addition  to 
t  u;ir  ornamculs.     They  also  make  caps  of 
shells,  striiiiK  together  and  decorated  with 
feathers;  and  instead  of  clothing  th<'v  wear 
a  small  skin  slung  over  one  shoulder." 

The  men  have  an  odd  liishion  of  W(  irin<T 
round  their  necks  several  thick  iron  rings', 
sometinies  as  niMuv  as  six  or  eight,  all 
brightly  polished,  and  looking  like  a  row  of 
doi,'  collars.     Should    the  wearer  happen  to 


become  stout,  these  rings  press  so  tightly  on 
is  nearly  choke(l7    'J^h(«y 


Ins  throat  that  he  ,..  ..,„..»  i:„„K,.a.  ii,ey 
also  are  fond  of  making  tufts  of  cow's  tjiils, 
W'hich  they  suspend  from  their  arms  just 
above  the  elbows.  The  most  <;i.shionable 
oriiiinientH.  luiwevcr.  are  made  of  hoi-se  tails 
the  hinrs  of  which  are  .also  highly  prized  for 
stringing  beads.  Couseciuently",  a  horsed 
tail  1.S  an  afticle  of  considerable  value,  and 
in  Obbo-I.md  a  cow  can  be  imrchased  for  a 
liorse  8  Uil  in  good  couditiou. 


1  aint  is  cliiefly  used  ns  a  kind  of  war 
unilorm.  The  colors  which  the  natives  iiso 
are  vermilion,  yellow,  aii.l  while,  but  tho 
particular  pattern  is  Idi  much  to  their  own 
uiyention.  Stripes  of  iilterunie  scarlet  and 
yellow,  or  scarha  and  Mhiie,  seem,  how- 
ever, to  t()rm  the  ordinary  pattern,  probiiblv 
l)ecauso  they  are  easily  drawn,  and  present 
a  bold  contrast  of  color.  The  head  is  deco- 
rated with  a  kind  of  cap  nia.le  of  cowrio 
shells  to  which  are  lived  several  Um^f 
ostrich  plumes  that  droop  over  tho  shonl" 
(lers. 

Contrary  to  usual  custom,  the  women  aro 
less  clad  than  the  nun,  and,  until  they  aro 
married,  wear  either  no  clothing  whatever 
or  <mly  thrci!  or  four  strings  of  white  befida! 
some  three  inches  in  leiigih.     Some  of  tho 
prudes,  liowever.  tie  a  pic.te  of  sliiiiir  round 
heir  waisls,  and   stick   in   it  a   lilile  lealV 
branch,  with   tho  stalk  iipiiermost.     "One 
great  advantage  wius  p, assessed  by  this  cos- 
tume.    Jt  was  always  ch-an  ami  'fresh,  ami 
tho  nearest  bii.sh  (if  not  tle>niv)  provided 
a  clean  jiotticoat.     When  j,,   d,;,  society  of 
tbe.se  very  simple,  ami,  in  dem.auor,  ahvavs 
modest  Eve.s,   1   could   not   help   lellectiiig 
np(m  the  Mosaical  description  of  our  (irst 
parents."'    Married  wonieii  gi  iieially  wear  a 
Jringe  of  leathern  thongs,  abmii  lour  indies 
long  and   two   wide.     Old   women   mostly 
prelerthe  leaf  branch  to  the  Icalbern  frin.re 
Hhen  young  they  are  nsiiallv  luetlv.liaving 
well-tormed  noses,  and  li|i.s  but  sli.'htly  par- 
taking of  the  negro  duiracter.    Some  oftho 
men  remind  llu-  spectators  of  the  Soniauli 

Katchiba,  tho  chiei  of  Obbo,  wiis  lather'a 
hnc-looking  man,  about  sixty  vears  of  a^e 
and  was  a  truly  remarkable  man.  makin-' 
up  by  crall  the  lack  of  force,  and  rulin-  hi';; 
httlo  kingdom  with  a  really  lirm.  th(3ii..h 
ai)Iiarently  lax,  grasj).  I„  the  liist  iilace 
having  a  goodly  supply  of  „ons,  he  niado 
them  all  into  sub-chiefs  of  the  many  dif- 
ierent  districts  into  which  lie  divided  his 
dommns.    Owing  to  tho  groiit  isiimatioa  hi 


KATCIIinA'8  POLICY. 


480 


whldi  hfl  w(w  !i«Ul  by  his  j)copi(<,  fVosh 
wivcH  wcro  contiiuiHlly  b-inc  prisi^t-iitod  to 
him,  Hiii|  lit  llmt  ho  was  nithur  imrplexod 
Ity  tlui  ilidiiulty  of  acconimndaiiiiK  hd  iiuiiiy 
ill  hlM  paliu^o.  At  liiMt  hi!  hit  on  thd  expo- 
(Hunt  of  (liHtrihutinK  tinin  in  thi>  varioim 
viliuKi'f  through  whicli  hu  wiim  ttcoiiMlonit'd 
to  ni.iku  \n»  »<>iir,  no  I  hut  wherever  Im  vviis 
hi)  loinid  hiin.st-ir  at  hi>niii. 

It  so  hap|)('iied  that  when  Sir  8.  Hiiltcr 
vi^iteit  Katcliiha  h(;  liad  oni;  hundred  and 
Hixteen  eliihircn  living.  Tliis  may  not  neoin 
to  1)0  a  very  wonderful  iiu-t  when  the  nuni- 
hur  'Jjf  liix  wives  is  eonsidered.  Jlut,  in 
Africa,  plurality  of  wiveH  does  not  neces- 
sarily imply  a  corresponiliny;  number  of 
chilm'cn.Heverul  of  thefie  many-wived  ehi«(fs 
haviu)^  only  one  child  to  everv  ten  or  twelve 
wives.  Therefore  the  fact  that  Katehiha's 
family  was  ho  very  large  raised  him  ,t,'rcnMy 
in  the  minds  of"  his  people,  who  lo'Jiod 
upon  him  as  a  great  Horcerer,  and  had  tlie 
nuwt  profound  respect  for  Iuh  supernatural 
power. 

Katchiba  laid  claim  to  intercourse  with 
the  unseen  world,  aiid  to  authority  over  tlie 
elemi^nts;  rain  and  drouKhl,  calm'  ami  tem- 
pest, being  sumjoaed  by  his  subjects  to  be 
equally  under  Ins  conunand.    Sometimes,  if 
the  country  had  been  alllictcd  with  drought 
beyond   the   usual   time   of  rain,    Katchiba 
would   assemble   hiit   i)eople.  mul  deliver  a 
long  harangue,  inveighing  against  their  evil 
<I()ings,  which  had  kept  olf  the  rain.    These 
evil   doings,  on  being   analv/.ed,  generally 
proved  to  be  little  more  tha'n  a  want  of  lib- 
erality  toward   himself.     Ho  explained   to 
them  that  ho  sincerelv  regretted  their  con- 
duct, which  "  has  comijcih'd  him  to  atllict 
them  with  unfavorable  weather,  but  that  it 
IS   their  own  fault.     If  they  are  so  greedv 
and  so  slmgy  that  they  will  not  sui)i)lv  hiii, 
]>roj)erly,  how  can  tln^y  expect  him  lo'think 
«1  their  mterests?     No  goats,  no  rain;  that's 
our  contract,  my  friends,"  says  Katchibu. 
•iJ«)  as  you  like:   /can  wait;    I  hope  vou 
can.      Should  his  peo|)le  complain  of  "too 
iniicli  ram,  he  threati'iis  to  pour  storms  ami 
ighlnmg  upon  them   forever,   unless  thev 
bring  him  so  many  hundred  baskets  of  corn 
>.Vc.,i'tc.     Thus  he  holds  his  sway. 
_    "No  man  would  think  of  starting  on  a 
journey  without  the  blessing  of  the  old  chief 
and  a  peculiar  'liocus-poeus'  is  considered' 
necessary  from   the    magic   hands  of  Kat- 
chiba, that  shall  ch.rm  the   traveller,  an  1 
.reserve  liiin  trom  all  danger  of  wil.    ani- 
mals upon  the  road.     In  casT,  of  sickness  he 

bnfii'M"';""^;n.^^"-  '"  ""•■  "'•'••ept'vtion, 
It  as  Doc  or  o  Magic,  and  he  charms  both 
tie  hu  and  patient  against  death,  with  the 
llu.t.mtmg  resuKs  that  must  att..nd  profes- 
sionals, even  in  sorcery.  His  .subje,  l^,  have 
t  (■  most  tliorough  eonlid,'ne(,  in  his  power- 

; '  iLr,"""''-'^'  '1  '''•"  '■^"l""^"i<'n,that.listant 
tnl.es  (ie(,uently  consult  hinj,  and  beg  his 
a-istance  us  a  laa-ician.    in  this  inauuer 


doos  old  Kat.  liiba  hold  his  sway  over  his 
savage  but  cre.tulous  peoph!;  and  so  Umu 
has  he  imposed  upon  the  |)ublic,  thut  1  be- 
lieve he  luutat  loiiglh  imposed  upon  himself, 
and  that  he  really  believes  thai  he  has  tho 
jiower  of  Borcery,  uotwith-standing  repeated 
fiiilurcs." 

Once,  wliile  Hir  8.  ]Jakcr  was  in  tlie  conn- 
try,  Katchiba,  like  olhiir  rain-makers,  fell 
into  a  dileninia.  There  had  been  no  rain 
lor  a  long  time,  and  the  peoj)le  had  bccomo 
so  angry  at  the  continueil  drought,  that 
thoy  assembled  round  his  house,  blowing 
horns,  and  shouting  execrations  against 
their  chief,  because  he  had  not  sent  them  a 
shower  which  would  allow  them  to  sow  their 
seed.  True  to  his  polii:y,  the  craftv  old  man 
made  light  of  tlieif  threats,  telling  them 
that  thev  might  kil  .im  if  thev  liked,  but 
that,  d  thej^  did  so,  no  more  rain"  wouhl  ever 
fiill.  Kain  in  tlu'  country  was  the  necc^ssary 
result  of  goats  and  provisions  given  to  tho 
chi(>f,  and,  as  soon  as  h(!  got  the  proper  fees, 
the  ram  should  come.  The  rest  of  the  story 
IS  so  good,  that  it  must  bo  told  in  tho  au- 
thor's own  W(.rds. 

"With   all   this   bluster,   I   saw  that  old 
Katchiba  was  in  a  great  dilemma,  and  that 
he  would  give  anything  for  a  shower,  but 
that  he  did  not  know  how  to  get  out  of  tho 
scrajie.     It  was  a  common  freak  of  tht;  tribes 
l>>  sacrilico  their  rain-maker,  should  he  bo 
unsuccessful.     He  suddenly  altered  his  tone, 
and   asked,   '  Havo    you   any  rain   in  your 
country  V '     1  replied  that  wi-  h-ad  every  now 
and  tlu'n.     '  How  do  you  bring  it  'r*    An;  you 
a  rain-maker 'r"     I   told  him  that   no  ono 
believed  in  rain-makers  in  our  country,  but 
that  wo  knew  how  to  bottle  lightning  (mean- 
ing electricity).     '  I  don't  keep  mine  in  bot- 
tles, but  I  havo  a  house  full  of  thunder  and 
lightning,'  he  most  coolly  replied;  but  il  you 
can  bottle  lightning,  you  must  understand 
riin-makiiig.      What  do  you   think  of  tho 
weather  to-day  V ' 

"1  immediately. saw  (hcdrift  of  thecunninjr 
old  Ivntchiba;  he  wanted  professional  ad- 
vice. 1  reiiiied  that  he  must  know  all  aln.ut 
It,  as  he  was  a  regular  rain-maker.  'Of 
lourso  I  do,'  he  answered;  'but  I  want  t<» 
know  what  i/oa  think  of  it.'  '  Well,'  1  said, 
'  I  don't  think  wo  shall  have  any  steady  rain,' 
but  1  think  we  may  havo  a  heavy  sliower 
in  about  four  days'  (I  said  this," as  I  had 
observed  tleecy  clouds  gathering  daily  in 
the  aflernoon).  'Just  my  opinion,'  .said 
Katchiba.  delighted,  'in  lour,  or  perhaps 
in  live,  days  I  inteiul  to  givt;  them  ono 
.slii.wcr— just  one  shower;  yes,  I'll  just  step 
ilowii  to  them,  and  tell  the  rascals  that  if 
they  will  give  me  some  goats  bv  this  even- 
ing, and  some  corn  by  to-morro"w  morning, 
I  will  give  them  in  four  or  live  days  just  ono 
shower.' 

"To  give  elfoct  to  his  declaration,  he  gave 

several   toots  on  his    ni!ii.'ic  \vlsistle.      '  Do 

i  you  use  whistles  in  your  country i'  '"inquired 


489 


THE  KYTCir. 


If^ 


Katchlba.  I  only  roplic*!  hygivinR  so  nhrill 
and  ilciili'tiint,'  ii  \vhi«tlc  on  my  thij,'"'",  iluit 
Kiitcliiliii  Rti)ii|)f<l  his  ours,  iind,  rt'liiiminK 
into  a  sinil)'  of  luliiiinilion,  hu  look  ii  Klunru 
nt  till-  Hkv  iVoin  th(!  doorwav,  to  nw  if  any 
elf(!C't  liiid  bi^tii  |iro(luti'<l.  '  VVhinllc  uKiiin',' 
lie  Hiiid;  antl  once  inon'  I  inTfornu'd  likf  (lu- 
whintli-  of  a  Ii)coniotlvi\  'That  will  do;  \v<' 
shall  have  it,'  «uid  the,  cunuinR  (dd  rain- 
makor;  and,  proud  of  having  «o  kno\vin>{ly 
olitaincd  'cdunstd'H  opinion  '  in  hi«  case,  hi' 
todiili'd  olf  to  his  inipatii'iit  HiihJi-ctH.  In  a 
fi'w  days  a  middi-n  Htorni  of  rain  and  violent 
tliuniler  addetl  to  Kiileliil)a'n  renown,  and 
nfler  the  uliower  liorns  were  Mowinj;  ami 
no^aros  beating:  in  honor  of  their  ehief. 
Entre  nous,  my  whistlo  was  considereil  infal- 
lible." 

When  his  ^juests  were  lyinj»  ill  in  their 
hnts,  Htriick  down  with  the  fever  which  is 
prevalent  in  hot  and  moist  elimatcH  such  a« 
that  of  Ohbo,  Katehiba  came  to  visit  them 
in  his  character  »>'"  magician,  and  performed 
a  curious  ceremony.  IIiMook  a  Hmall  leaty 
branch,  lilled  his"  mouth  with  water,  and 
Bcpiirted  it  on  the  branch,  which  wii«  then 
waved  about  the  hut,  and  lastly  ntuck  ovi'r 
tile  door.  He  assured  his  Hick'j;ucsls  that 
tlieir  recovery  was  now  certain;  and,  as 
tlicy  <liil  recover,  his  opinion  of  his  mayical 
powers  was  doubtless  contirnied. 

After  tlieir  recovery  (hey  paid  a  visit  to 
the  chief,  bv  his  special  desire.  His  jialace 
consisted  oi"  an  enclosure  about  a  hundred 
yards  in  diameter,  within  which  were  a 
uumbcj-  of  lulls,  all  circular,  but  of  did'erent 
sizes;  the  laru'est.  which  was  about  twcnty- 
flve  feet  in  diameter.  lielon,u;inj;  to  the  chief 
liiniself.  The  whole  of  the  courtyard  was 
paved  with  beaten  clay,  and  was  beautifuliv 
clean,  and  the  palisades  were  covered  Avitli 

S turds    and   a    si)ccies    of  climl)iiij;    yam. 
alchiba  had  but  little  furniture,  the  chief 


articles  beiuK  a  few  cow-hiiles,  which  were 
Hiiread  on  the  lloor  and  imed  a."  eouelieM,  On 
thcHe  primilivti  sofaH  he  placed  hiH  giietttfi, 
and  took  bin  place  between  them.  The  rent 
of  hiH  furniture  consinted  of  earlhi  n  Jars, 
hiddiii;;  about  thirty  pillonM  each,  and  in- 
tended for  eonlainins,'  or  brewing  beer. 

After  otlcrinn  a  huKe  gounlful  of  that 
beverage  to  his  nucBts,  and  having  donii 
ample  limtice  to  it  hiiiiHelf,  he  politidy  asked 
wlielher  he  hIkmiIiI  sin^f  them  a  Mong.  ^'ow 
Katcliib<,  in  wiite  of  IiIh  gray  hairs, IiIh  rank 
as  chief,  and  liis  dignity  as  a  sorcer,  was  a 
notable  bulVixm,  a  savage  (trimaldi,  firll  of 
inborn  and  grotescpie  fun,  and  so  they  nat- 
urally expected  that  the  ^lerformam'es  would 
be,  like  his  other  exhibitions,  extremely 
ludicrous.  They  were  ngncably  disap- 
pointed. Taking  from  the  lianil  of  one  of 
his  wives  a  "  rababa,"  or  rude  harp  with 
eight  strings,  he  spent  some  time  in  tuning 
it,  and  then  sang  Ihi!  jiromised  song.  The 
air  was  strange  and  wild,  but  plaintive  niul 
remarkably  pleasing,  with  accompaniment 
very  ajipropriate,  so  that  this  "delightful 
ohl  sorcerer  "  proved  himself  to  be  a  man  of 
genius  in  music  as  well  as  in  i)olicy. 

When  his  guests  rose  to  depart,  he  brought 
them  a  slice])  as  a  present;  and  when  they 
refused  it,  he  saiil  no  more,  bid  waitc<l  on 
them  throMgh  the  doorway  of  his  hut,  and 
then  conducted  them  by  llic  hand  for  about 
a  hundred  yards,  gracefully  cxiiressiiig  a 
hope  that  they  would  repeat  their  visit. 
Wlien  they  reached  their  hut,  they  found 
the  sheep  there,  Katehiba  having  sent  it  im 
before  them.  In  line,  this  I'lief,  who  at  (irst 
appeared  to  be  little  more  than  a  jovial  sort 
of  butlboii,  who  by  accident  happened  to 
ludii  llie  chief's  place,  turned  out  unexpect- 
edly to  be  a  wise  and  respected  ruler,  a  pol- 
islied  and  accomplished  gentleman. 


f 


||] 


THE  KYTCII. 


Not  far  fVoin  Obbo-land  there  v  .  district 
inhabited  by  the  Kytcu  tribe.  In  IH-J.'i  there 
was  exhibited  in  the  jirincipal  cities  of  Eu- 
rope a  Frenchm.'iii,  named  Claude  Ambroise 
Seiirat.  who  w.-is  popularly  called  the  "  Liv- 
ing Skeleton.''  on  account  of  his  extraor- 
dinary leanness,  his  body  and  limbs  looking 
just  as  if  a  skeleton  had  been  clothed  with 
skin,  and  endowed  with  life.  Among  the 
Kyteli  tribe  he  would  have  been  nothing 
remarkable,  almost  every  man  being  formeil 
after  much  the  same  model.  In  fact,  as 
Sir  S.  Maker  remarked  of  them,  they  look 
at  a  dishmce  like  animated  slate-jiencils 
with  heads  to  them.  The  men  of  the 
Kyteh  tribe  are  bill,  and,  but  for  their  ex- 
tr-'ine  emaciation,  woulil  be  flue  figures;  an<l 
Oie  b;!me  mav  be  said  of  the  women.    These 


l)liysieal  peculiarities  are  shown  in  the  en- 
graving >.o.  I  on  thi^  next  page. 

Almost  (he  only  siiecimens  of  the  Kyteh 
tribe  who  had  any  claim  to  rounded  forms 
were  the  chief  anil  his  daughter,  the  latter 
of  whom  was  about  sixteen,  and  really  good- 
looking.  In  common  with  the  re.st  of  the 
tribe  she  wore  nodiing  except  a  little  jiiece 
of  dressed  hide  about  a  foot  s(iiiare.  which 
was  hung  over  one  shoulder  and  fell  uimii 
the  arm,  the  only  attempt  at  clothing  being 
a  belt  of  jingling  iron  circlets,  and  some 
beads  on  the  head. 

Her  father  wore  m<n'e  clotliing  than  liis 
inferiors,  though  his  raiment  was  more  for 
show  (ban  for  use,  being  merely  a  piece  ot 
dressed  leopard  skin  bung  over  his  shoul- 
ders as  an  emblem  of  his  rank.    He  had  on 


(1.)    i.ltm  I'  111     lilK    hVICH    iltlliK. 

(Sec  |,ui;i.    rUi.) 


'^Il^ 


m:.v.m-na.m   ii.,iiri.\( 

(Spo  pagr  H:!.; 


i 


LAW  OP  MAURiAGE. 


his  head  a  sort  of  skull-cap  made  of  white 
beads,  from  which  drooped  a  crest  of  white 
ostrich  ffiitluirs.  lie  always  carried  with 
him  a  curious  instrument,  — namelj,  an 
iron  spike  about  two  feet  in  length,  with  a 
hollow  socket  at  the  butt,  the  centre  being 
bound  with  snake  skin.  In  the  hollow  butt 
he  kept  his  tol)acco,  so  that  this  instrument 
served  tit  once  the  ollices  of  a  tobacco  box 
a  dagger,  and  a  club.  ' 

It  is  hardly  possible  to  conceive  a  more 
miserable  and  dcgraderl  set  of  people  than 
the  Kytch  tribe,  and,  were   it  not  for  two 


439 

tribe  above  the  level  of  the  beasts  are,  that 
they  keep  cattle,  and  that  they  have  a  law 
regarding  marriage,  which,  although  rcnu<r- 
nant  to  European  ideas,  is  still  a  law,  and 
lias  Its  parallel  in  many  countries  which  are 
lar  more  advanced  in  civilization. 

The-  cattle  of  the  Kytch  tribe  are  kept 
more  for  show  than  for  use,  and,  unless  they 
tile,  they  are  never  used  as  food.  A  Kytch 
cattle-owner  wouhl  nearly  as  soon  kill  him- 
se  t,  and  quite  as  soon  murder  his  nearest 
relation,  as  he  would  slaughter  one  of  his 
beloved  cattle.    The  milk  of  the  one  is,  of 


circumstauces,  they  might  be  considered  as  coursra  si.  Ln.lnri.?  ""  •  «*  ^^e  one  is,  of 

the  very  lowest  examples  of  humanitr  ^cSrv  aK„„«  ffi/"  '"^  ''""f-Htarvcd 

For  tiieir  food  the/depond  entirely  uj.on    areffiy 'ev"  r  "o  tas^e  it     Thn**'"'""   """° 

the  natural  productions  of  the  eartli,  and   divided  intriittloh,r,l«  oJi? ''"™,'''u """f 

pass  a  life  which  is  scarcely  superior  to  that    tl  ere  is  a  tached  a  fi^^S^^  ^^'^ 

of  a  baboon,  almost  all   their  ideas  beiu-J  to  breoiSr^^^ 

limited  to  tlie  .liscovery  of  their  daily  foof    sacSd  XSr    ^s  ,  "ssessing  an  almost 

From  the  time  when  tlfey  wake  to  th^  ho"ur    S  ar^^S  u  ^ 

when  they  sleep  they  are  incessantly  look-   is  decorated  with  bu^.d  e    k  feaUK-S  S 

mg  for  food.     Tlieir  country  is  not  a  pro-    to    I.U   l.r.r.,»    i   "1-  . .     "'.  '^'^M'V'^^..""" 

ductive  one;  they  never  till  the  ground 
and  never  sow  sccm'  d  tiiat  they  are  always 
takiii"!  from  the  giuund,  and  never  puttin" 
anythiii;^  into  it.  They  eat  almost  every 
iinagiuiible  substance,  animal  and  vegetable 
thinking  themselves  very  fortunate  if  they 
ever  llud  the  hole  of  a  (ield-mouse,  whicili 
they  will  painfully  dig  out  with  the  aid  of  a 
stick,  and  then  feed  lux'.iriously  upon  it. 

So  ravenous  :u-e  they,  that  they  eat  bones 
and  skin  as  well  as  (lesh;  and  if  by  chance 


S-Crlir-n  -  ':*5  ».»=  ^"=^^sz,  z^  £;«s 


80  large  that  its  bones  cannot  be  eaten 
whole,  the  Kytch  break  the  bones  to  fra<'- 
ments  between  two  stones,  then  pound  them 
to  powder,  and  make  the  pulverized  bones 
into  a  sort  of  porridge.  In  fact,  as  has  been 
torcibly  remarked,  if  an  animal  is  killed,  or 
dies  a  natural  death,  the  K"tch  tribe  do  not 
lea\-e  enough  for  a  fly  to  feed  upon. 
The  two   facts    that  elevate  tho  Kytch 


to  his  horns  and,  if  possible,  with  little 
bells  also.  lie  is  solemnly  adjured  to  take 
great  care  ol  the  cows,  to  keep  them  from 
straying,  and  to  lea<l  them  to  the  best  pas- 

S*"'  ""  ^''''*'  "'*'^  '""^  ^'^''  abundance  of 
The  law  of  marriage  is  a  very  peculiar 
one.  Polygamy  is,  of  course,  the  custom  in 
Kytch-laiid,  as  in  other  parts  of  Africa,  the 
husband  providing  himself  with  a  succession 
of  voun<'  wives  as  the  others  become  old 
an(l  feeble,  and  therefore  unable  to  perform 


can  Wives.  Consequently,  it  mostly  happens 
that  when  a  man  is  quitti  old  and  infirm  he 
has  a  number  of  wives  much  younger  than 
himself,  iiiul  several  who  might  be  Iils grand- 
children. Under  these  circumstances,  the 
latter  are  transferred  to  his  eldest  son  and 
tho  whole  lamilv  live  together  harmoni- 
ously, until  tho  death  of  the  Mhei  renders 
tho  soa  absolute  master  of  all  the  property. 


CHAPTER  XLII. 


THE  NEAM-NAM,  d6r,  AND  DJOUR  TRIBES. 


LOCAUTT  OF  THE  NEAM-NAM  TRIBE  — THEIK  WAEJLIKE  NATCKE  — A  SINGULAR  RECEPTION  —  EFFECT 
OF  FIBE-ARMS  — DRESS  AND  OENERAL  APPEARANCE  OF  THE  NBAM-NAM  TRUIE— MODE  OF 
HtrN^INO  ELEPHANTS  — REMARKABLE  WEAPONS  — THE  D()R  TRIBE  AND  ITS  SUBDIVISIONS  — 
WEAPONS  OF  THE  d6r— A  REMARKABLE  POUCH  OR  QUIVER  — THE  ARROWS  AND  THEIR  TERRI- 
BLE BARBS  — A  d6b  BATTLE  — treatment  OF  DEAD  ENEMIES— "  DROPPING  DOWN"  UPON  THE 
ELEPHANT  — DRESS  OF  THE  d6r  — THE  LIP-ORNAMENT  — THEIR  ARCHITECTURE  —  CURIOUS  AP- 
proach to  the  village  — the  wooden  cihefs  and  their  followers- musical  instru- 
ments—the djour  tribe  — absence  of  cattle  — tub  tsetse-fly  —  metalll'rgy- inoen- 
lous  smelting  furnace  — women's  knives  — extensive  traffic  — smoking -the  bakk 
"quids." 


Just  over  the  Equator,  and  in  the  Nile  dis- 
trict, is  a  very  remarkable  tribe  called  the 
Nkam-Nam.  They  are  a  iierce  and  warlike 
people,  and  afrgessive  toward  all  the  sur- 
rounding tribes,  making  incursions  into 
their  territories,  and  carrying  otF  their 
children  into  slavery.  Consequently  they 
are  held  in  the  utmost  dread,  and  the  lands 
that  surround  the  Neam-Nani  borders  are 
left  uncultivated,  no  one  daring  to  occupy 
them  for  fear  of  their  terrible  neighbors. 
The  Neam-Nam  seem  not  only  to  have 
firmly  established  themselves,  but  ijven  to 
have  gnidtially  extended  (heir  boundaries, 
their  neighbors  falling  farther  and  farther 
back  at  each  successvc  raid. 

When  Mr.  Petherick  passed  through  their 
country,  many  of  his  porters  could  not  be 
induced  to  enter  the  territory  of  such  a  ter- 
rible tribe,  even  though  protected  by  (he 
white  man's  weapons.  Several  of  them 
deserted  on  the  way,  and  at  last,  when  tliey 
were  come  in  sight  of  the  first  village,  the 
rest  flung  down  their  loads  and  ran  away, 
only  the  interpreter  being  secured. 

As  they  neared  the  village,  the  menacing 
sound  of  the  alarm  drum  was  heard,  and  out 
came  the  Neam-Nams  in  full  battles  array, 
their  l-'.nces  in  their  right  hands  and  their 
large  shields  covering  their  bo<iies.  They 
drew  up  in  line,  and  seemed  disposed  to  dis- 
pute the  passage;  but  as  the  |)arty  inarched 
quietly  and  unconcernedly  onward,  they 
opened  their  ranks  and  allowed  theiu  to 
enter  the  village,  from  which  the  women 


(440) 


and  children  had  already  been  removed. 
They  then  seated  themselves  under  the 
shade  of  a  large  sycamore  tree,  deposited 
the  baggage,  and  sat  in  a  circle  round  it, 
keeping  on  all  sides  a  front  to  the  armed 
natives,  who  now  began  to  come  rather 
nearer  th.in  was  agreeable,  some  iietually 
seating  themselves  on  the  traveller's  feet. 
They  were  all  very  nicrr^-  and  jocose,  point- 
ing at  their  visitors  coutinimlly.  iiiid  then 
bursting  into  .'■bouts  of  appniving  liiughter. 
There  w-as  evidently  sonic  joke  «bi(h  tickled 
their  fancy,  and  by  inians  of  the  inteipreter 
it  was  soon  discovered. 

The  fact  was,  that  the  Ncjini-Nrim  were 
caiuiibals,  and  inciint  to  eat  the  striuigers 
who  had  .so  fooli.'^hly  trusted  llu  nisdves  in 
the  country  ■without  ( itlu  r  sixain,  swords, 
or  shields,  i)ut  Ihcy  did  not  like  to  kill  them 
before  their  chief  iirrivcd.  When  lhis])leas- 
ant  joke  was  explained,  the  astoiiislK  d  vis- 
itors were  nearly  as  nnuised  as  the  N(  nm- 
Nam,  knowing  jm  rfectly  well  tluit  their 
weapons  were  sufiieicnt  to  diive  oil'  ten 
times  the  number  of  such  foes. 

I'resently  the  chief  arrivid—  an  old,  gray- 
headed  man.  who,  by  his  .•■iigiieity,  cerliiinly 
showed  himself  worthy  of  the  post  whi(h 
he  held.  AtU'r  a  colhxpiy  with  (he  interpre- 
ter, he  turned  to  his  |)eo]"ile,  and  the  follow- 
ing extraordinary  discourse  took  jilacc:  — 

"Neam-Nam,  do  not  insult  these  strange 
men.    Do  you  know  whence  they  come?" 

"  No;  ])ut  we  will  feast  on  ihcin,  "  was  the 
rejoinder.    Then  the  old  man,  holding   up 


A  SINGULAR  RECEPTION. 


441 


his    spear,  and  commanding  silence,  pro- 
ceeded tluis: 

"  Do  you  know  of  any  tribe  that  would 
dare  to  approach  our  village  in  such  small 
numbers  as  these  men  have  done?  " 
"No!"  was  again  vociferated. 
"Very  well;  you  know  not  whence  they 
come,  nor  do  I,  who  am  gri  ally  your  senior, 
and  whose  voice  you  ought  to  respect.   Their 
country  must    indeed    be    distant,  and   to 
traverse    the    many    tribes    between   tlieir 
country  and  ours  ought  to  be  a  j^roof  to  you 
of  tlieir  valor.    Look  at  the   things   they 
hold  in  their  hands:  they  are  neither  spears, 
clul)s,  nor  bows  and  arrows,  but  inexplicable 
bits  of  iron  mounted  on  wood.     Neither 
have  they  shields   to  defend   their  bodies 
from    our    weapons.      Therefore,    to    have 
travelled  thus  far,  depend  on  it  their  means 
of  resistance  must  be  as  puzzling  to  us,  and 
far  superior  to  any  arms  that  any  tribe,  ay, 
even  our  own,  can  oppose  to  theiii.    There- 
fore, Neam-Nam,  I,  who  have  led  you   to 
many  a  fiiJtht,  and  whose  counsels  you  h.ive 
ofren  followed,  saj,.  shed  not  your' blood  in 
vain,  nor  bring  disgrace  upon  your  fathers, 
wlio  have  never  been  vanquished.     Touch 
them  not,  but  prove  yourselves  to  be  worthy 
of  the  friendship  of  such  a  handful  of  brave 
men,  and  do  yourselves  honor  by  entertain- 
ing them,  rather  than  degrade  tliein  by  the 
conlinuance  of  your  insu'  3." 

It  is  impossible  not  t>'  admire  the  pene- 
tration of  this  chief,  who  was  wise  enoiiTh 
to  deduce  the  strength  of  his  visitors  fnun 
tlieir  apparent  weakness,  and  to  fear  them 
for  those  very  reasons  that  caused  his  more 
ignorant  and  impetuous  people  to  despise 
tlicni. 

Having  thus  calmed  the  excitement,  he 
asked  to  inspect  the  strange  weapons  of  his 
guests.  A  gnu  was  handed  to  Iiim  — the 
cap  having  been  removed  — and  verv  much 
it  puzzled  him.  From  the  mode  in  which  it 
wa.sh?l(l,  it  was  evidentlv  not  a  club;  and 
yet  it  could  not  be  a  knife",  as  it  had  no  edge- 
nor  a  spear,  as  it  liad  no  iioint.  Indeed,  Uie 
fact  of  the  barrel  being  hollow  puzzled  him 
exceedingly.  At  last  he  poked  his  finger 
down  the  muzzle,  .and  looked  ini|iiirin<'l\''at 
his  guest,  as  if  to  a-^k  what  could  be  the'use 
of  such  an  article.  »y  way  of  answer.  Mi-. 
Petheriek  took  a  guii,  and.  pointing  to  a 
vulture  that  was  iiovering  over  tlicirlieads 
fired,  and  brought  it  down.  ' 

"But  before  the  bird  touelied  the  ground, 
the  crowd  were  prostrate,  and  erovellin"  in 
the  dust,  as  if  every  man  of  them  had  b<'en 
shot.  Ihe  old  man's  he.ad,  with  his  hands 
on  his  ears,  was  at  my  feet;  and  when  I 


nies  between  two  of  his  men.  The  first  sign 
of  returning  animation  he  gave  was  putting 
his  hand  to  his  head,  and  examining  himselt" 
as  if  in  search  of  a  wound.  He  gradually 
recovered,  and,  as  soon  as  he  could  regain 
his  voice,  called  to  the  crowd,  who  one  after 
the  other  first  raised  their  heads,  and  then 
again  dropped  them  at  the  sight  of  their 
apparently  lifeless  comrades.  After  the  re- 
peated call  of  the  old  man,  they  ventured  to 
rise,  and  a  general  inspection  of  imarr!"  uy 
wounds  commenced.'" 

This  man,  Mur-mangae  by  nar  ,  was 
only  a  sub-chief,  and  was  inferior  .1  very 
great  chief,  whose  name  was  Din  .  There 
IS  one  single  king  among  the  ?  am-Nam 
who  are  divided  into  a  number  ot  independ- 
ent sub-tribes,  each  ruled  by  its  own  chief 
and  deriving  its  importance  from  its  num- 
ber.s.  While  they  were  recovering  from  the 
etfect  ot  the  shot,  Dimoo  himself  ajipeared 
and,  after  hearing  the  wonderful  tale,  seemed 
inclined  to  discredit  it,  and  drew  up  his  men 
!us  if  to  attack.  Just  then  an  eleidiaiit 
appeared  in  the  distance, and  iie  deteiinined 
to  use  the  animal  as  a  test,  asking  whether 
the  white  men's  thunder  could  kill  an  ele- 
phant as  well  as  a  vulture,  and  that,  if  it 
could  do  so,  he  would  respect  them.  A 
narty  was  at  once  despatched,  accompanied 
by  the  chief  and  all   the   savages.     At  the 


fiiised  him,  his  apnearaiu-e  was  gliastlv,  and 
hi.s  eyes  were  fixed  on  me  with  .1  mci'min.'- 
le.s^  exjiression.  I  thought  that  he  had  lost 
his  senses. 

"After  shaking  him  several  times,  I  at 
length  Mircecded  in  ultiaeliiig  bis  attention 
to  the  fallen  bird,  quivering  in  its  la.st  ago- 


first  volley  down  went  most  of  the  Neam 
Nam,  including  the  chief,  the  rest  ruiiiiin.r 
away  as  fast  as  their  legs  could  earrv  them." 
After  this  event  the  whole  demeanor  of 
the  people  was  changed  from  aggressive 
insolence  to  humble  respect,  and  thc-y  imme- 
diately showed  Uieir  altered  feelings  liv 
sending  largo  quantities  of  milk  aiuf  noi^ 
rfflge  for  the  pai-t>,aml  half  a  fat  dog  for 
Mr.  Petheriek's  o\-n  dinner.  They  also 
began  to  open  a  trade,  and  were  e<niallv 
astonished  and  amused  that  such  conunoii 
and  useless  things  as  elephants'  tusks  e(,iild 
be  excbau'^cd  for  such  priceless  valuables  a.s 
beads,  ami  were  put  in  high  good-humor 
iiceordingly.  Up  to  that  time  trad"  had 
been  entirely  unknown  among  the  Xeam- 
N'am.anil,  thoutjh  the  peojile  made  great  use 
of  ivory  in  fashioning  ornaments  for  them- 
selves, they  never  had  thought  of  peaceful 
barter  with  their  neisilibors,  thinking  that 
to  rob  was  better  than  to  exchange. 

Dimoo,  however,  still  retained  .some  of  his 
suspicious  natur'e,  which  showed  itself  in 
various  little  ways.  At  last  Mr.  Petheriek 
invented  on  the  .spur  of  the  moment  a  jilan 
bv  which  he  completely  conquered  liis  liost. 
Dimoo  had  taken  an  inordinate  fancy  for 
the  tobacco  of  his  guests,  and  was  alwiivs 
asking  for  some.  As  the  supply  was  small, 
Mr.  Petheriek  did  not  like  to  liiake  it  still 
smaller,  while,  at  the  same  time,  a  refusal 
would  have  lieen  impolitic.  So,  one  day, 
when  the  usual  reniiest  w,?*  niade.  he  .I'e- 
ceded  to  it,  at  the  same  time  telling  DIukk* 
that  the  tobacco  was  unsafe  to  riinoke,  be- 


442 


THE  NEAM-NAM. 


rn 
III 


I' ' 


ii 


cnuso  it  always  broke  the  pipes  of  those  who 
meditated  treachery  toward  him. 

Mefliiwhile,  a  servant,  who  liad  been  pre- 
viously instructed,  tilled  Dimoo's  pipe,  at 
the  simie  time  inserting  a  small  charge  of 
gunpowder,  for  which  there  was  plenty  of 
room,  in  consequence  of  the  inordinate  size 
of  the  bowl.  Dimoo  took  the  pipe  and  be- 
gan to  smoke  it  defiantly,  when  all  at  once 
an  explosicm  took  place,  the  bowl  Avas  shat- 
tered to  pieces,  and  Dimoo  and  his  coun- 
cillors tumbled  over  each  other  in  terror. 
Quite  conquered  by  this  last  proof  of  the 
white  man's  omniscience,  he  humbly  ac- 
knowledged that  he  did  meditate  treachery 
—  not  against  his  person,  but  against  his 
goods — and  that  his  intention  was  to  detain 
file  whole  party  until  he  had  got  possession 
of  all  their  property. 

The  appearance  of  the  Neam-Nam  tribe  is 
very  .striking.  They  are  not  quite  black,  but 
have  a  brown  and  olive  tint  of  skin.  The 
men  are  better  clothed  than  is  usually  the 
case  in  Central  Africa,  and  wear  a  home- 
made! cloth  woven  from  bark  fibres.  A  tol- 
erably large  piece  of  this  cloth  is  slung  round 
the  body  in  such  a  way  as  to  leave  the  arms 
at  liberty.  The  hair  is  plaitt>d  in  thick 
masses,  exending  from  the  neck  to  the 
shoulders. 

In  the  operation  of  hair  dressing  they  use 
long  ivory  pins,  varying  fi-om  six  to  twelve 
or  fourteen  inches  in  length,  and  very 
slightly  curved.  One  end  is  smoothly  pointed, 
and  the  other  is  much  thicker,  and  for  some 
four  inches  is  carved  into  various  patterns, 
mostly  of  the  zigzag  character  which  is  so 
pn>valent  throughout  Africa.  When  the 
liair  is  fully  combed  out  and  arranged,  two 
of  the  largest  pins  are  stuck  through  it 
horizontally,  and  a  number  of  shorter  pins 
are  arranged  in  a  radiating  form,  so  that 
they  form  a  semi-circle,  .something  like  the 
large  comb  of  a  Spanish  lady. 

One  of  these  pins  is  now  before  me.  It  is 
just  a  foot  in  length,  and  at  the  thick  end  is 
almost  as  large  a.s  a  black-lead  pencil,  taper- 
ing gr.adually  to  the  other  end.  The  butt, 
or  b;we,  is  covered  with  a  multitude  of 
seratt'hes,  which  are  thought  to  be  orna- 
mental, but  which  look  exactly  as  if  they 
had  been  cut  by  a  child  who  for  the  first 
time  had  got  hold  of  a  knife,  and  they  are 
stained  black  with  a  decoction  of  some  root 
The  dress  of  tin;  women  consists  partly  of 
a  piece  of  cloth  suith  ivs  has  been  described, 
but  of  smaller  dimensions,  and,  besides  tliis, 
they  wear  a  rather  curious  apron  made  of 
leather.  The  one  in  nu-  C(.llection  some- 
what resembles  that  of  the  Zulu  apron, 
shown  in  "  Articles  of  Costume,"  at  psige 
33,  fig.  3,  but  is  not  nearly  so  thick  nor  so 
heavy,  and  indeed  is  made  on  a  different 
plan.  The  top  is  a  solid  square  of  thick 
leather  doubled  in  the  middle  and  then 
benten  flat  To  both  of  the  edgps  has  been 
firmly  sewed  a  trijilc  row  of  7lat  leathern 


thongs,  almost  the  eighth  of  an  inch  in 
width,  and  scarcely  thicker  than  brown 
paper.  Six  rows  of  these  flat  thonga  are 
therefore  attached  to  the  upper  leatler. 
All  the  ornament,  simple  as  it  is,  is  confined 
to  the  front  layer  of  thongs,  and  consists 
entirely  of  iron.  Flat  strips  of  iron,  evi- 
dently made  by  beating  wire  flat,  are  twisted 
round  the  thonps  and  then  hammered  down 
upon  them,  while  the  end  of  each  thong  is 
further  decorated  with  a  ring  or  loop  of  iron 
wire. 

The  centre  of  the  solid  leather  is  orna- 
mented with  a  circular  piece  of  iron,  boss- 
shaped,  scratched  round  the  edges,  and  hav- 
ing an  iron  ring  in  its  centre.  The  strap 
which  8up^)orts  the  ajjion  is  fastened  to  a 
couple  of  iron  rings  at  the  upper  corners. 
In  some  aprons  bead  ornaments  take  the 
place  of  the  iron  boss,  but  in  almost  every 
instance  there  is  an  ornament  of  some  kino. 
The  women  have  also  an  ornament  made  by 
cutting  little  flat  pieces  of  ivory,  an(l  i)lacing 
them  on  a  strip  of  leather,  one  over  the 
other,  like  fish  scales.  This  ornament  is 
worn  as  a  necklace.  They  also  carve  pieces 
of  ivory  into  a  tolerable  imitation  of  cowrie- 
shells,  and  string  them  together  as  if  they 
W(    3  the  veritable  shells. 

'1  here  is  another  ornament  that  exhibits 
a  tyi)e  of  decor»tion  which  is  prevalent 
throughout  the  whole  of  Central  Africa.  It 
is  composed  of  a  belt  of  stout  leather  —  that 
of  the  hippopotamus  being  preferred,  on 
account  of  its  strength  and  thickness — to 
which  are  attached  a  quantity  of  enn)ty  nut- 
shells. Through  the  uj)per  ("nd  of  the  nut  a 
hole  is  bored  with  a  re(lhot  iron,  and  an  iron 
ring  passes  through  this  hole  and  another 
which  has  been  punched  through  the  leather. 
The  shell  is  very  hard  and  thick,  and,  when 
the  wearer  dances  with  llu;  energetic  ges- 
tures which  accompany  such  performances, 
the  nuts  keep  up  a  continual  and  rather  loud 
clatter. 

The  Neam-Nam  all  wear  leathern  ssmdals, 
and  although  their  clothing  is  so  scanty, 
they  are  remarkable  for  their  personal  clean- 
liness, a  virtue  which  is  so  rare  in  Africa 
that  it  desarvcH  commemoration  whenever 
it  does  occur. 

As  may  already  have  been  seen,  the 
Neam-Nam  are  a  c!uinil)al  race,  and  always 
devour  the  bodies  of  sliiin  enemies.  This 
rej)ulsiv(!  custom  is  not  restricted  to  ene- 
mies, but  is  extended  to  nearly  all  human 
beings  with  whom  they  come  in  contact, 
their  own  tribe  not  proving  any  exception. 
Mr.  Petherick  was  told  by  themselves  that 
when  a  Neam-Nam  became  old  and  feeble, 
he  wi»8  always  killed  and  eaten,  and  that 
when  any  were  at  the  point  of  death,  the 
same  fate  befell  them. 

Should  one  of  their  slaves  run  away  and 
be  ( aptured,  he  is  always  slain  and  eaten  as 
a  waniintr  to  other  slaves.  Such  an  event 
however,  is  of  very  rare  occurrence,  th& 


REMARKABLE  WEAPONS. 


443 


slaves  being  treated  with  singular  kindness, 
and  master  and  slave  being  mutually  proud 
of  eaeh  other.    Indeed,   in   many  families 
the  slaves  are  more  valued  than  the  chil- 
dren.   Indeed,  much  of  the  wealth  of  the 
Neani-Nam  consists  of  slaves,  and  a  man 
mea.'nires  his  importance  by  the  number  of 
slaves  wliom  lie  maintains.    All  these  slaves 
belong  to  some  oilier  tribe,  and  were  cap- 
tured by  their  owners,  so  that  they  are  liv- 
ing witnesses  of  itrowess  as  well  as  signs  of 
wealth.    Tliey  are   never  sold  or  barTercd, 
and  therefore  a  slave  dealer  is  not  known 
among  them,  and  they  are  spared  one  of  the 
chief  curses  of  Africa.    As  a  general  rule, 
the  slaves  are  so  fiiithful,  and  are  so  com- 
pletely incoriioratcd  with  the  household  to 
which  th(>y  belong,  that  in  case  of  war  they 
are  armed,  and  accompany  their  masters  to 
battle. 

The  Neam-Xam  are  skilful  hunters,  and 
make  great  use  of  fire  when  chasing  the 
elephant.  As  they  were  desirous  of  procur- 
ing tusks  to  exchange  for  Mv.  Petlierick's 
beads,  they  anxiously  awaited  the  first  rains 
which  would  bring  the  elephants  into  their 
country. 

"Successive  showers  followed,  and,  after 
a  fortnight's  sojourn,  a   herd  of  eighteen 
elephants  was  announced  by  beat  of  tom- 
tom, as  being  in   the  vicinity.    Old  men 
boys,  women,  and  children,  collected  with 
most  sanguine  expectations;   and,  anxious 
to  witness   the  scene,  I  accompanied   the 
hunters.    A  liner  body  of  well-grown  and 
active  men   I   never  beheld.     The  slaves 
niuiiy  of  them  from  the  Baer,  but  most  of 
them  appertaining  to  unknown  tribes  from 
the  west,  were  nearly  black,  and  followed 
their  more  noble-looking  and  olive-colored 
masters.    Two  hours'  march  —  the  first  part 
through  cultivated  grounds  and  the  latter 
through  magiiilicent  bush  — brought  us  to 
the  open  plain,  covered  hip-deep  with  dry 
j?rass.  and  there  were  the  elephants  march- 
mg  leisurely  toward  us. 

"The  negroes,  about  five  hundred,  swifl 

as  antelopes,  formed  a  vast  circle   round 

them,  and  by  their  yells  brought  the  luise 

game  to  a  standstill.    As  if  by  matric    the 

plain  was    on  (ire,  and   tlio   elephimti,   in 

the  midst  of  the  roar  and  crackling  of  the 

flames,  were  obscured  from  our  view  bv  the 

smoke.    Whore  I  stood,  and  along  the'line 

as  far  as  I  could  see,  the  grass  was  beaten 

down  to  prevent  the  outside  of  the  circle 

from  being  seized  in  the  conflagration;  and, 

^„.f      T-  ^'nK^-not  more  timn  lialf  an 

.j^  ri      ^\^  '"^^'"S  exhausted  itself,  the 

^u  V'!i  """'''•  Ki-adually  rising,  again  dis- 

plajed  the  group  of  elephants  standing  as  if 

petrified.    As  soon  as  the  burning  embers 

had  become  sufBciently  extinct,  the  negroes 

with  a  whoop  closed  from  all   sides   upon 

their  prev.    The  fire  an,i  «n,ot"  ^■>'>  hVn-'-d 

thvm,  and,  unable    to  defend   themselves 

they  successively  fell  by  the  lances  of  their 


assailants.  The  sight  was  grand,  and,  al- 
though their  tusks  proved  a  rich  prize  I 
was  touched  at  the  massacre."  ' 

When  the  Neam-Nam  warrior  goes  out 
to  battle,  he  takes  with  him  a  curious  series 
of  weajions.  He  has,  of  course,  his  lance 
which  IS  well  and  strongly  put  together,  the 
blade  being  leaf-shaped,  like  that  of  a  ho<r 
spear  only  very  much  longer.  On  his  left 
arm  he  bears  his  shield,  which  is  made  of 
bark  fibre,  woven  very  closely  together 
and  very  thick.  The  maker  disphus  his 
taste  in  tile  natterns  of  the  work,  and  in 
those  which  he  traces  upon  it  with  vari- 
ously colored  dyes.  Within  the  shield  he 
has  a  sort  of  wooden  handle,  to  which  are 
attached  one  or  two  most  remarkable  wean- 
on  s.  * 

•  ^"1  ?*"  'K^"^  ^^  W''°"y  "'"It,  the  handle 
included,  and  is  about  the  thickness  of  an 
ordinary  sword-blade.  The  projectin"  por- 
tions are  all  edged,  and  kept  extivmely 
sharp,  while  the  handle  is  rather  thicker 
than  the  bhide,  and  is  rounded  and  ioih'!!- 
cned,  .so  as  to  aftbrd  a  firm  grip  to  the  hand. 
(See  the  "  Neam-Nam  Fight "  on  p.  4;37.) 

When  the  Neam-Nam  comes  near  his 
enemy,  and  before  he  is  within  ran-'e  of 
a  spear  thrust,  he  snatches  one  of  These 
strange  weapons  from  his  shield,  and  hurls 
It  at  the  foe,  much  as  an  Australian  fiin>'s 
his  boomerang,  an  American  Indian  lus 
tomahawk,  and  a  Sikh  his  chakra,  giviu'r  it 
a  revolving  motion  as  he  throws  it.  0\nii£r 
to  this  mode  of  flinging,  the  weapon  covers 
a  considerable  space,  and  if  the  projecting 


blades  come  in  contact  with  the  enemy's  per- 

-         to  kill, 


son,  they  are  sure  to  disable,  if  not 
him  on  the  spot. 

And  as  several  of  these  are  hurled  in  rapid 
succession,  it  is  evident  that  the  Neam-Nam 
warrior  is  no  ordinary  foe,  and  that  even  the 
possessor  of  fire-arms  might  in  reality  be 
ov-ercome  if  taken  by  surprise.,  for,  as  the 
boomerangs"  are  concealed  within  the 
shield,  the  first  intimation  of  their  existence 
would  be  given  bv  their  sharp  blades  whirl- 
ing successively  through  the  air  with  deadly 
aim.  •' 

Besides  the  lance  and  the  "hoomeranfs  " 
each  Neam-Nam  carries  a  strangely-shaped 
knife  in  a  leathern  sheath,  and  oddly  enoiV'h 
the  hilt  IS  always  downward.  It  is  sharp  lit 
both  edges,  and  is  used  as  a  hand-to-hand 
w-eapon  after  the  boomerangs  have  been 
thrown,  and  the  ))arties  have  come  too  close 
to  use  the  spear  eflectuallv.  From  the  iiro- 
jection  "t  the  base  of  the  blade  a  cord  is  tied 
loosely  lu  the  handle,  and  the  loop  passed 
over  t';,>  wrist,  so  as  t..  prevent  the  warrior 
from  being  disarmed. 

Some  of  the  Neam-Nam  tribes  us{^  a  •.,  rv 
remarkable  shield.  It  is  spindle- s'.i.iiH>d 
very  long  and  very  narrow,  measurirtf;  only 
lOUr  t.f  five  inches  in  brcudlh  in  the  ri^ddle 


and  tapering  to  a  point  at  either  eiifl.     In 
the  middle  a  hole  is  scooped,  large  enough 


444 


THE  dAr. 


I 


to  contain  the  hand,  and  a  bar  of  wood  is 
left,  so  an  to  I'orin  a  handle.  This  curious 
shield  is  carried  iu  the  left  hand,  and  is  used 
to  ward  off  the  lances  or  arrows  of  the  en- 
emy, whidi  is  done  by  giving  it  a  smart 
twi.st. 

In  principle  and  appearance  it  resembles 
80  closely  the  shield  of  the  native  Austra- 
lian, that  it  might  easily  be  mistaken  for  one 
of  those  weapons.  Sometimes  a  warrior 
decorates  his  shield  by  covering  it  with  the 
skin  of  an  antelope,  wrapped  round  it  while 
still  wet,  and  then  sewed  together  in  a  line 
with  the  handle.  The  Shilloch  and  Dinka 
tribes  use  similar  weapons,  but  their  shields 
are  without  the  hollow  guard  for  the  hand, 
and  look  exactly  like  bows  without  tlie 
strings. 

Each  warrior  has  also  a  whistle,  or  call, 


made  of  ivory  or  antelope's  horn,  which  is 
used  for  conveving  signals;  and  some  of  tho 
officers,  or  leaflers,  have  large  war  trumpets, 
made  of  elephants'  tusks.  One  form  of  ilioso 
trumpets  is  seen  in  the  illustration  "  Cabo- 
ceer  and  soldiers,"'  on  page  otU.  The  reader 
will  observe  that,  as  is  usual  throughout 
Africa,  they  are  soimded  from  the  side,  like 
a  flute,  and  not  from  the  end,  like  ordinary 
trumpets. 

Alt(.)gethcr  Mr.  Pctherick  passed  a  con- 
sideralHe  time  among  this  justly  dreaded 
tribe,  and  was  so  popular  among  them,  that 
when  he  left  the  country  he  was  nccomi)a- 
nied  by  crowds  of  natives,  and  the  great  chief 
Dimoo  not  only  begged  liim  to  return,  Imt 
generously  ollered  his  daughter  as  a  wife  iu 
case  the  invitation  were  accepted,  and  prom- 
ised to  keep  her  until  wanted. 


THE  DOR. 


Parsino  by  a  number  of  small  and  com- 
panitivclv  insignificant  tribes,  we  come  to  the 
large  and  important  tribe  of  the  Dor.  Like 
all  African  tribcsof  any  pretence,  it  includes 
a  great  number  of  smaller  or  sub-tribes, 
which  are  only  too  glad  to  be  ranked  among 
80  important  and  powerful  a  tribe,  and,  tor 
the  sake  of  belonging  to  it,  they  forego  tlieir 
own  individuality. 

Like  the  Ncam-Nam,  the  Dor  acknowl- 
edged no  paramount  chief,  the  innumerable 
sub-tribes  of  which  it  is  composed  being  each 
independent,  and  nearly  all  at  feud  with  one 
another.  Indeed  the  whole  political  condi- 
tion of  the  Dor  is  wonderfully  similar  to  that 
of  Scotland,  when  clan  wiis  set  against  clan, 
and  a  continual  state  of  feud  prevailed 
among  them,  though  they  all  gloried  in  the 
name  of  Scotchman. 

.As  in  the  old  days  of  Chevy  Chase,  a  hunt 
is  almost  a  sure  precursor  of  a  fight.  Tln^ 
Dor  are  much  given  to  hunting,  and  organ- 
ize l>!iUues  on  a  grand  scale.  Thev  weave 
strong  nets  of  bark  fibre,  and  fasten  them  be- 
tween trunks  of  trees,  so  as  to  cover  a  space 
of  several  miles.  Antelojiesand  oiiiergame 
are  driven  from  considerable  distances  into 
tliese  nets;  and  lus  the  hunters  have  to  pass 
over  a  large  sjiace  of  country,  some  of  which 
is  sure  to  be  claimed  by  inimical  tribes,  a 
skirmish,  if  not  a  regular  battle,  is  sure  to 
take  ))lace. 

The  weapons  carried  by  the  Dor  are  jf 
rather  a  formidable  description.  One  of  the 
most  curious  is  the  club.  It  is  about  two 
feet  six  inches  in  length,  and  is  remar'ca  ile 
for  the  shape  of  the  liead,  which  is  iluivu  J 
like  a  nuishroom,  but  has  sharp  edge  <  As 
it  is  niiide  of  very  hard  wood,  it  is  a  most 
etlective  weapon,  and  not  even  the  stone- 
like  skull  of  a  Dor  warrior  can  re-  im  a  blow 
ii'oiii  it.  The  l)ow  exhiliils  !i  M.'iie  of  con- 
struction which  is  very  connnon  ir.  'bis  part 


of  Africa,  and  which  must  interfere  greatly 
with  the  power  of  the  weapon.  The  string 
does  not  extend  to  the  tips  of  the  bow,  so 
that  eighteen  inches  or  so  of  the  weanon  aro 
wasted,  and  the  elasticity  inipaireti.  Tho 
reader  will  see  that,  if  the  ends  of  the  bow 
were  cUt  off  inunediately  above  the  string, 
the  strength  and  elasticity  would  sull'er  no 
diminution,  and  that,  in  fact,  the  extra 
weight  at  each  end  of  the  bow  only  gives  tho 
weapon  more  work  to  do. 

The  Africiuis  have  a  strange  habit  of  mak- 
ing a  weapon  in  such  a  way  that  its  elliciency 
shall  b(!  weakened  as  nnich  aspossi))le.  Not 
content  with  leaving  a  foot  or  so  of  useless 
wood  at  each  end  of  the  bow,  some  tribes 
ornament  the  weapon  with  large  tuCls  of 
loose  strings  or  lil)res,  .nbout  half  way  be- 
tween the  handle  and  the  tip,  as  if  to  cause 
as  nnich  disturbance  to  the  aim  as  possible. 
Spe.ars  again  are  decorated  with  tufts  to  such 
an  extent  llmt  they  are  rendered  quite  un- 
manageable. 

Much  more  care  is  taken  with  the  arrows 
than  with  the  bows.  There  is  a  great  vari- 
ety in  the  shape  of  the  arrows,  as  also  in 
their  length.  They  are  all  ii-on-headed,  and 
every  man  seems  to  make  his  arrows  after 
his  own  peculiar  fashion;  somi'limes  largo 
and  broad-headed,  sometimes  slightly  barbed, 
though  more  commonly  slender  and  sharply 
pointed. 

In  my  collection  there  is  a  most  remark- 
able quiver,  once  belonging  to  a  warrior  of 
one  of  the  Dor  sub-tribes.  It  was  brought 
from  Central  Africa  by  Air.  retherick. 
Nothing  can  be  simpler  than  the  construc- 
tion of  this  quiver.  The  maker  has  cut  a 
strip  of  antelope  hidt-  rather  more  than 
three  feet  in  length  and  fourteen  inches  in 
width.  lie  has  then  poki'd  his  knif(!  through 
the  edges  at  moderately  regular  intervals, so 
as  to  make  a  series  of  holes.    A  thong  about 


WEAPONS  OF  THE  d6r. 


445 


half  an  inch  wiili>  has  next  been  cut  from 
the  8itni(!  hide,  and  i)assed  through  the  top- 
most hole  or  slit,  a  largo  knot  preventing  it 
from  sliopin;;,'  through.  It  lias  then  been 
passed  through  tiie  romaining  slits,  so  as  to 
laco  the  edges  together  liko  the  sides  of  a 
boot.  The  bottom  is  closed  by  the  simple 
plan  of  turning  it  up  and  lacing  it  by  the 
same  thong  to  the  side  of  the  quiver. 
It  is  hardly  nosMiblo  to  conceive  any 
ughuF  work.     I'lio  maker  has  cut  the  slits 


rou^ .,,.„  „„„  „„,^ 

quite  at  random,  so  that  he  has  occivsionally 
missed  one  or  two,  and  ho  has  not  taken  the 
least  pains  to  bring  tiio  sides  of  the  quiver 
together  tiu'oiighout  their  length.  So  stupid 
or  careless  has  he  been,  that  he  has  begun 
by  cutting  the  strip  of  skin  much  too  nar- 
row, and  then  has  widened  it,  never  taking 
the  pains  to  sow  up  the  cut,  which  extends 
two-thirds  down  the  quiver. 

Four  or  five  of  the  arrows  have  the  leaf- 
shapeil  head  and  need  not  be  particularly 
descrii)ed.  The  largest  of  the  arrows,  being 
a  "  cloth-yard  shaft,"  but  for  the  absence  ol" 
feathers,  might  vie  with  the  weapons  of  the 
old  English  archers.  The  head  is  remark- 
able for  a  heavy  ridge  which  runs  along  the 
centre  on  botb  sides.  Then;  is  another  not 
so  boldly  barbed  as  that  which  has  just  been 
mentioned,  but  which  is  quite  as  formidable 
a  weapon,  on  aceount  of  a  thick  layer  of 
poison  that  begins  just  behind  the  head,  and 
extends  nearly  as  far  as  the  shaft. 

The  most  characteristic  forms,  however, 
are  these  two.  The  first  is  an  arrow  which 
is  barbed  with  a  wonderful  ingeuuif  •,  the 
barbs  not  being  mere  i)rojections,  but  actual 
spikes,  more  than  an  inch  in  length,  and  at 
the  base  nearly  as  thick  .as  a  crow  quill. 
They  have  l)een  separated  from  the  iron 
head  l)y  the  blow  of  a  chisel,  or  some  such 
implement,  and  have  then  been  bent  out- 
ward, and  sharpened  until  the  points  are 
liko  those  of  needles.  Besides  those  long 
barbs,  tlie  whole  of  the  square  neck  of  the 
iron  is  jagged  exactly  like  the  Bechuana 
assagai  which  has  been  figured  on  page 
281. 

Such  an  arrow  cannot  bo  extracted,  and 
the  only  mode  of  removing  it  is  to  push  it 
through  the  wound.    But  the  Central  Afri- 
cans have  evidently  thought  that  their  enemy 
was  let  otr  too  cheaply  by  being  allowed  to 
nd  himself  of  the  arrow  hy  so  simple  a  pro- 
cess and  accordingly  they  have  invented  a 
kmd  of  arrow  which  can  neither  be  drawn 
out  nor  pushed  through.     In  the  second  of 
these  arrows  there  is  a  pair  of  reversed  barbs 
just  at  the  junction  of  the  shaft  and  the  iron 
head,  so  tiiat  when  the  arrow  has  once  pene- 
trated. It  must  either  be  cut  out  or  allowed 
to  remain  where  it  is.    Such  an  arrow  is  not 
poisoned,  nor  docs  it  need  any  such  addi- 
tion to  its  terrors.    Both   those  arrows  are 
remarkable  for  having  the  heads  fastened  to 
the  shaft,  first  in  the  ordinary  way,  by  raw 
mac,  and  then  by  a  band  of  iron,  about  the 


sixth  of  an  inch  in  width.  Though  shorter 
than  some  of  the  other  arrows,  they  are  ou 
that  account  much  heavier. 

One  of  the  fights  consequent  on  a  hunt  ia 
well  described  by  Mr.  Pethorick.    He  was  sit- 
ting in  the  shade  at  noon-day,  when  he  per- 
ceived several  boys  running  in  hasti;  to  the 
village  for  an  additional  supply  of  weapons 
for  their  fathers.    "  The  alai-m  spread  in- 
stantly that  a  fight  was  taking  place,  and 
the  women  en  masse  proceeded  to  the  scene 
with   yellings    and    shrieks    indescribable. 
Seizing  my  rifle,  and  accompanied  by  four  of 
my  follower*,  curiosity  to  see  a  negro  fight 
tempted  me  to  accompany  them.    After  a  stitl 
march  of  a  couple  of  hours  through  bush 
and  glade,  covered  with  waving  grass  reach- 
ing nearly  to  our  waists,  the  returu  of  sev- 
eral boys  warned  us  of  the  proximity  of  the 
fight,  and  of  their  fear  of  its  turning  against 
them,  the  opposing  party  being  the  most 
numerous.     Many  of  the  women  hurried 
back  to  their  homes,  to  prepare,  in  case  of 
emergency,  for  fiight  and  safety  in  the  bush. 
*or  such  an  occurrence,  to  a  certain  extent, 
they  are  always  prepared;  several  parcels  of 
grain  and  provisions,  neatly  packed  up  in 
spherical  forms  in  leaves  surrounded  by  net- 
work, being  generally  kept  ready  in  everv 
hut  for  a  sudden  start. 

"  Accelerating  our  pace,  and  climbing  up 
a  steep  lull,  as  we  reached  tho  summit,  and 
were  proceeding  down  a  gentle  slope,  I  came 
m  contact  \vuth  Djau  and  his  party  in  full 

noundi 


retreat,  and  leapinir  like  grevhounds  over 
the  low  underwood  and  higli  grass.  On 
perceiving  me,  they  halted,  and  rent  the  air 

wJ'^'^'A'f  ."''?"'*'  "*■ '  'T'l"  ^V'»'te  Chief  1  tho 
VVIute  Chietr  and  I  was  almost  suffocated 
by  the  embr.aces  of  the  chief.  My  presence 
gave  them  courage  to  face  the  enemy  again; 
ii  loud  peculiar  .shrill  whoop  from  the  gray- 
headed  but  still  robust  chief  was  tho  signal 
for  attack,  and,  bounding  forward,  they  were 
soon  out  of  sight.  To  keep  up  with  them 
would  have  been  an  impossibility;  but 
inarching  at  the  top  of  our  pace,  we  fol- 
lowed them  as  best  we  could.  After  a  long 
march  down  a  gentle  declivity,  at  the  bot- 
tom of  which  was  a  beautiful  glade,  we 
again  came  up  with  them  drawn  up  in  line, 
m  pairs,  some  yards  apart  from  each  other, 
within  the  confines  of  the  bush,  not  a  sound 
indicating  their  jjiesence. 

"Joining  them,  and  inquiring  what  had 
become  of  the  enemy,  the  man  whom  I 
addressed  silently  pointed  to  the  bush  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  glade,  some  three 
hundred  yards  across.  Notwithstanding 
my  intention  of  being  a  mere  spectator,  I 
now  felt  myself  compromised  in  the  fight; 
and,  although  unwilling  to  shed  blooil,  I 
could  not  resist  my  aid  to  tho  friends 
who  afforded  me  an  asylum  amongst  them. 
Marching,  accordingly,  into  the  open  space 
with  my  lurce  of  four  men,  I  resolved  "that 
WO  should  act  as  skirmishers  ou  the  side  of 


II 


446 


THE  I>6k 


ii  1 
,3 

i 


our  hosts,  who  retained  their  position  in  the 
bush.     We  had  proceeded  about  a  third  of 
tlie  way  across  the  glade,  when  the  enemy 
advanced  out  of  the  wood  and  formed,  in  a 
long  lino  of  two  or  three  deep,  on  its  con- 
lines   opposite   to  us.    I  also  drew  up  my 
force,  and  for  an  instant  we  stood  looliing 
at  each  other.      Although  within  range,  at 
about  two  hundred  yards'  distance,  I  did 
not  like  to  firo  upon  them;  but  in  pref- 
erence  continued   advancing,   thinking  the 
prestige  of  niv  tire-arms  would  be  sufficient. 
"  I  was  right.     We  had  scarcely  marched 
fifty  yards  when  a  general  flight  took  place, 
and  in  an  instant  IJJau  and  his  liost,  amount- 
ing to  some  tliree  or  four  hundred  men, 
passed  in  hot  pursuit    After  reflection  on 
the  rashness  of  exjjosing  myself  with  so  few 
men  to  the  hostility  of  some  six  hundred 
negroes,  and  in  self-congratulation  on  the 
effect  my  a^)pearance  in  the  fight  had  pro- 
duced, I  waited  the  retinii  of  my  hosts.     In 
the  course  of  an  liour  this  took  place;  and, 
as  they  advanced,  I  shall  never  forget  tlie 
impression  they  made  ujjon  me.    A  more 
complete  picture  of  savage  life  I  could  not 
have   imagined.    A    large    Iwst    of   naked 
negroes  came  trooping  on.  gra8j)ing  in  their 
hands  bow  and  arrow,  lances  and  clubs,  with 
wild  gesticulations  and  frightful  yells  pro- 
claiming their  victory,  whilst  one  displayed 
the  reeking  head  of  a  victim.    I  refused  to 
join  them  in  following  up  the  deieat  of  their 
enemies  by  a  descent  on  their  villages. 

"  With  some  dilHculty  they  were  per- 
suaded to  be  content  with  the  success 
alreiuly  achieved  —  that  of  having  beaten  ofl 
a  numerically  superior  force  — and  return 
to  their  homes.  Their  compliance  was  only 
obtained  by  an  actual  refusal  of  further  co- 
operation; but  in  the  event  of  a  renewed 
attack  upon  their  villages,  the  probability 
of  which  was  suggested,  I  promised  them 
my  willing  support." 

^riie  death  of  an  enemy  and  the  capture 
of  his  body  are  alwavs  causes  of  great  re- 
joicing among  the  Dor  tribes,  because  they 
gain  trophies  whereby  they  show  their  skill 
in  warfare.  In  the  centre  of  every  village 
there  is  a  lar^e  open  space,  or  circus,  in  the 
middle  of  which  is  the  venerated  war  tree. 
Beneath  this  tree  are  placed  the  great  war 
drums,  whose  dcf  booming  notes  can  be 
heani  for  miles.  Un  the  branches  are  hung 
the  whitened  skulls  of  slain  warriors,  and 
the  war  drums  only  sound  when  a  new  head 
is  added  to  the  trophy,  or  when  the  warriors 
arc  called  to  arms. 

Four  of  the  enemy  were  killed  in  this 
skirmish,  and  their  bo'dles  were,  thrown  into 
the  bush,  their  heads  being  reserved  for  the 
trophy.  On  the  same  evening  they  were 
brought  into  the  village  circus,  and  dances 
performed  in  honor  of  the  victors.  The 
great  drums  were  beaten  in  rhythmic  meas- 
ure, and  the  women  advanced  in  pairs, 
dancing  to  the  sound  of  the  drain  and  chant- 


ing a  war-song.  As  they  apjiroachcd  the 
heads  of  the  victims,  they  halted,  and  ad- 
dressed various  insulting  epilhets  to  them, 
clanking  their  iron  anklets  and  yelling  with 
excitement.  On  the  following  day  the  heads 
were  taken  into  the  bush  to  he  bleached, 
and,  after  they  were  completely  whitened, 
they  were  hung  on  the  tioi)hy  witli  the 
accompaniment  of  more  shouts  and  dances. 

All  their  hunting  parties,  however,  are 
not  conducted  in  this  manner,  nor  flo  they 
all  lead  to  bloodshed.  When  they  hunt  the 
elephant,  for  example,  the  animal  is  attacked 
by  a  small  party,  and  for  the  suflicient  reason, 
namely,  th;it  he  who  first  wouikIh  the  ele- 
phant takt  .  the  tnsks,  and  therefore  every 
additional  man  onlv  dfcreafes  the  chance. 

They  have  ont;  singularly  ingenious  mode 
of  hunting  the  elephant,  which  is  conducted 
by  one  man  alone.  The  hunter  takes  witli 
him  a  remarkable  spear  niadeifor  the  ex- 
press purpose.  One  of  these  sV'ars,  which 
was  brought  from  C'entrHl  Africa  bv  Mr. 
Petherick,  is  in  my  collection,  and  a  repre- 
sentation of  it  may  be  seen  on  jiage  1(13,  fig. 
2.    They  vary  slightly  in  size,  but  my  speci- 


men is  a  very  fair  example  of  the  average 
dimensions.  It  is  rather  more  than  six  feet 
in  length,  three  feet  of  which  are  due  to 
the  iron  head  and  the  socket  into  which  the 
shaft  passes.  As  may  be  seen,  the  sliaft 
tapers  gradually,  so  as  to  permit  it  to  pass 
into  the  socket.  To  the  butt  is  fastened  a 
heavy  piece  of  wood,  rather  more  than  four 
inches  in  diameter.  It  is  a  heavy  weapon, 
its  whole  weight  being  a  little  liiore  than 
seven  pounds,  and  is  so  ill-lialanced  and  so 
unwieldy,  that,  unless  its  use  were  known, 
it  would  seem  to  be  about  the  most  clumsy 
weapon  that  e"er  was  invented.  This,  how- 
ever, is  the  spear  by  which  the  Dor  and  Baer 
tribes  kill  the  elephant,  and  very  ingeniously 
they  do  it. 

Knowing  the  spots  where  the  elephant 
loves  to  hide  itself  in  the  noon-tide,  and 
ivhich  are  always  in  the  depths  of  the  forest, 
the  hunter  proceeds  thither  in  the  early 
morning,  and  carries  with  him  his  heavy 
snear  and  some  rope.  When  he  approaches 
the  place,  he  proceeds  to  take  some  large 
stones,  and  binds  them  to  llie  luitt  of  the 
spear,  plastering  them  over  thi(kly  with 
lumps  of  clay,  so  as  to  make  his'  heavy 
weapon  still  heavier.  He  tluii  tits  one  end 
of  the  rope  to  the  spear,  and  after  selecting 
a  suitable  tree,  climbs  it,  and  works  his  way 
out  upon  one  of  the  horizontal  branches, 
hauling  up  his  weapon  when  he  has  settled 
himself. 

He  now  awaits  the  coming  of  the  herd, 
and,  when  they  are  close  to  the  tree,  unties 
the  spear,  and  holds  It  in  rea'Hness.  When 
an  elephant  with  good  tusks  jjn^^es  under 
him,  he  drops  the  spear  u|)on  the  animal's 
back,  the  weight  of  the  weapon  cai:sing  it 
to  penetrate  deeply  into  the  body.  Startled 
at  the  sudden  pang,  iho  <;lephaal  rusiies 


i 


TirEIR  ARCHITECT  UllE. 


ironchcd  the 
l<'(l,  and  ail- 
t'ts  to  them, 
yelling  with 
ny  the  heads 
be  hleached, 
ly  whitened, 
ly  Avitli  the 
and  dances, 
nwever,  are 
nor  do  they 
icy  hunt  the 
li  IS  attacked 
Kient  reason, 
ids  the  ele- 
rel'ore  every 
le  elianee. 
■nious  mode 
s  conchicted 
'  takes  witli 
for  tlie  ex- 
»ears,  which 
•ica  by  Mr. 
nd  a  i-ejire- 


han  six  feet 
are  due  to 
[>  which  the 
1,  the  shaft 
t  it  to  pass 
I  fastened  a 
re  tlian  four 
ivy  weapon, 
more  than 
iced  and  so 
ere  known, 
lost  chimsy 
This,  liow- 
>r  and  Baer 
ingeniously 

e  elephant 

n-tide,  and 

f  I  he  forest, 

Ihe   early 

his  heavy 
approaches 
'oiue  large 
luitt  of  the 
iikly    with 

his  heavy 
fs  one  end 
r  selecting 
ks  his  way 

hrauches, 
has  settled 

'  the  herd, 
ree,  unties 
ss.  When 
.«e8  under 
e  animal's 
caiising  it 
Startled 
ml  rushes 


447 


tJiroiigh  the  trees,  trying  to  shake   off  the 
terrible  spear,  whiob  Mvays  about  from  side 
to    side,   occasionally   striking  against  the 
trunks  or  branches  of  fho  trees,  and  so  cut- 
tiHf,'  its  way  deeper  among  the  vital  organs 
unld  the  uafortuuate  animal  fiills  from  loss 
of  blood.    Th(^  liiiiiter  does  not  tremble  him- 
.self  about  chasing  bis  victim  at  once.     Ho 
can  always  U-.wk  it  by  its  bloody  traces,  and 
knows  full  well  that  williin  a  moderate  dis- 
tance the  unfortunate  animal  will  halt  and 
there  die,  unless  it  is  disuirbcd  by  tlio  pres- 
eu««  of  man,  and  urged  to  further  e.\ertions. 
The  reailur  will  note  the  curious  similar- 
ity between  this  mode  of  elephant  lumtinc 
and  the  JJanyai  melliod  of  trapping  the  hip- 
popotaimis,  as  described  on  p.age  342.     The 
pcJr  also  use  lances,  at  least  eleven  feet  lon>' 
for  eleiihaiit  hunting,  the  blades  measuring 
between  two  and  three  feet  in  length.  These 
however,  iu-e  not  dr.ipped  from  a  tree,  but 
wielded    by  hand,  the  liuutecs  SMrrounding 
the  animal,  and  each  watcln'n'.^  his  opportu- 
nity, and  driving  his  spear  into   its    side 
when  its  attention  is  directed  toward  some 
on  the  other  side. 

The  I)i)r  hold  in  great  contempt  the  per- 
fect nudity  which  ilistingiiislies  the  Kvtch 
and  several  other  tribes,  but  no  one  on  "first 
entering  tlieir  villages  would  suppose  such 
to  bo  the  ease.  'I'lie  dress  which  the  men 
wear  is  simply  a  little  llap  of  leather  lianij- 
ing  behind  llieiu.  This,  however,  in  their 
ideas  constidites  dress;  and  when  some  of 
the  Djoiir  people  entered  a  Dor  villa<'e  the 
latter,  as  a  mark  of  rcsi)ect  to  the  vTsitors 
turned  their  little  aprons  to  the  front,  and 
so  were  considered  as  having  put  on  full 
dres.s. 

The  women  use  a  still  simpler  dress.  Un- 
til they  are  married,  they  wear  no  dress  at 
all;  but  when  that  event  t.ikes  place,  thcv 
clothe  theinselves  in  a  very  simple  manner, 
in  tlieu-  country  is  an  abundance  of  ever- 
greens and  creepers,  and  with  these  they 
form  their  dress,  a  branch  tucked  into  the 
girdle  111  trout,  and  anoth.u-  behind,  answer- 
ing al  lairpuses  of  clothing.  Thcv  use 
these  leafy  .hvsses  of  such  a  length  that 
they  fall  nearly  t,>  the  ground.    Ornament.s, 

w?Z  rr','"-T;':''""''  ^''''-•"edingly,  and  the 
weigh  of  a  Dor  woman's  decorations  is 
moio  than  an  or.lmary  man  would  like  to 
carry  about  wi!  h  him  for  a  whole  day.    Heavy 

Deads  beui,^  as  large  as  pigeon's  ecus  and 
also  tall  h(in  their  ears.    On   their   wrists 

£  ;ur';o''tr'''^"^'  '"^"'f  '"^'viy  of  is, 

round  ,,,.";  '"■"J',"'"  '«"«*''-  an  J  l'«"t 
lotind  the   wrist.     Others,   but  of  greater 

i«°"r"ir'  ^'"'•"■'^'^*    ^'"•'    "nkles;    ami    as 

Sesoli   '?1?'""'  '^"r  ""^  '"<='>  thick,  and 

sideraE  '      '"'  "'"     '  '""'"''^  '"  very'cou- 

Xvike  most  African  tribes,  the  Dor  are 


fond  of  wearing  amulets,  though  they  do 
not  seem  to  have  any  narticufar  idea  of 
their  meaning,  and  certafnly  do  not  attach 
any  sanctity  to  them.  They  have  a  hazy 
Idea  that  the  possession  of  a  certain  amulet 
IS  a  saleguard  against  certain  dangers,  but 
they  do  not  trouble  themselves  about  the 
vwduH  operandi. 

Ill  this  tribe  we  may  notice  the  re-appeaf- 

ance  ot  the  lip  ornament.    In  the  manner 

n  which  It  IS  worn  it  resembles  the  "pe- 

ele     described  on  page  350.  but  it  is  worn 

in  the  under  instead  of  the  ujiper  lip.     One 

of  these  ornaments  is  now  before  me.     It  is 

three-,p,arters  of  ati  inch  in  diameter,  and 
exactly  an  inch  in  length.  The  base,  which 
comes  against  the  lower  teeth  and  gum,  is 
nearly- Hat,  and  well  polished,  while  the  co" 
ical  top,  which  projects  in  front  of  the 
mouth,  IS  carved  very  neatly  with  a  "  cross- 
hiitching'  sort  of  a  pattern,  the  effect  of 
which  IS  heightened  by  the  charriiK'  of  a 
certain  portion  of  it,  the  blackened  and  pol- 
islied  surfaces  contrasting  well  with  the 
deep-red  color  of  the  woo.l.  In  order  to 
keep  it  in  its  place,  a  shallow  groove  runs 
round  it.  This  is  one  of  the  simtlh-r  spcci! 
mens,  but  it  is  the  custom  of  the  owner  to 

Z^Z  nf'^'.T  '""'  •''l-'^'"  "•'  "'•"'■""ents,  until 
some  of  them  contrive  to  force  into  their 
lips  pieces  of  wood  three  inches  in  circum- 
ference. Before  taking  leave  of  the  DOr 
costume  It  may  be  as  well  to  observe  that 
n  the  Botocudo  tribe  of  Tropical  America 
both  se.xes  wear  a  similar  ornament  in 
tlieir  lips  and  in  most  instances  have  these 

^.  •''fK^''W'"'*"'''^*'""^  ^^''•^'^  »s  largo  aa  those 
01  the  Dor  women. 

The  villages  of  the  Dor  tribes  are  really 
remarkable.  The  houses  are  neatly  con- 
structea  ot  canes  woven  into  a  sort  of'basket 
work.  The  perpendicular  walls  are  about 
SIX  teet  high,  and  are  covered  by  a  conical 
loof,  the  whole  shape  of  the  hut  bein^  al- 
most exacUy  like  that  of  the  lip  ornament 
which  has  just  been  described.  The  reed 
roof  IS  ornamented  on  the  exterior  with 
jiieces  of  wood  carved  into  the  rude  sem- 
blance of  birds. 

In  the  middle  of  each  hut  is  the  bedstead 
and.  as  no  cooking  is  done  within  it,  the 
interior  of  the  hut  is  very  clean,  and  in  that 
respect  entirely  unlike  the  sooty  homes  of 
the  Kathr  tribes.  All  the  cooking  is  per- 
lormed  in  a  separate  hut,  or  kitchen,  and  is 
ot  a  rather  simple  character,  the  chief  food 
being  a  kind  of  porridge.  The  doorway  is 
very  small,  and  is  barricaded  at  nio-ht  by 
several  logs  of  wood  laid  horizontally  upon 
each  other,  and  supported  at  each  end  bv 
two  posts  driven  into  the  ground.  The 
whole  village  is  kept  as  clean  as  the  Individ- 
ual  houses,  and  the  central  circus  is  not  only 
swept,  but  kept  well  watered,  so  as  to  lay 
the  uu.st.  ■' 

The  most  singular  point  in  the  Dor  vil- 


' 


III: 


If 

i  = 

11 


448 


THE  DJOUR. 


IftRe  lioH  in  tlm  npproiichca  to  it,  which  iiro 
narrow  Hmtpivths,  nmrkeil  out  on  each  sido 
i)y  wooUi;n  posts  roughly  carvetl  into  tlic, 
iunnan  tbnu.  They  tiro  placed  about  four 
I'cct  apart,  and  an'  dilTcrent  iti  size.  Tlic 
ouo  uuart'st  the  village  in  the  hirf,'eHt,  while 
thn  oUiiTs  are  much  Hiualler,  an<i  are  repre- 
h  Med  ■•  I'arrying  howls  on  tlu:ir  headH. 
Thi'  iiiiuts  say  that  llie  (irst  is  the  chief 
fMuug  (o  a  feast,  and  that  the  others  are  his 
attendants  carrying  tbod  on  tlieir  lieads. 

Several  of  these  wooden  ligures  wore 
hrought  fo  England  by  Mr.  Petnerick,  and 
two  of  tlie  chiefs  are  represented  on  the 
next  page.  They  are  about  four  f'3et  in 
length.  It  may  be  imagined  that  a  double 
row  of  sueii  titrun  -  <,iiibi  give  a  most  curi- 
ous aspect  to  liie  road. 

"The  village,"  writes  Mr.  Petherick,  "was 
prettily  situated  at  the  foot  of  a  hill,  around 
which  were  two  or  tliree  other  villages,  this 
fonniug  ihe  entire  connnunity  of  a  large 
district.  From  its  summit  a  beautiful  view 
of  the  surrounding  country  was  obtained. 
Surrounding  tlie  village  at  a  moderate  dis- 
tance were  the  uufeiiced  gardens  of  the  vil- 
lagers, in  which  eueiu'bits,  vegetables,  luul 
seeds  were  grown;  and  beyond,  to  the  east- 
ward, was  a  large  plain  of  cultivated  dourra 
fields;  and  southward,  at  about  a  mile,  dis- 
tant, a  wiutling  brook  was  to  be  seen,  bor- 
dered with  superb  trees  and  nourishing 
canes.  The  bush  supi)lie4  a  variety  of 
game,  consisting  of  partridges,  guinea-fowl, 
a  large  white  boar,  gazelles,  anteloiies.  and 
girall'es.  Elepluinls  and  bulValoes  I  did  noi 
encounter,  and  I  was  told  that  tluy  only 
frequented  the  locality  in  the  rainy  season." 

There  arc  three  forms  of  the  guitar,  or 
rababa,  yet  in  neither  instrument  is  the 
neck  rigid, as  in  the  guitars  and  violins  with 
which  we  are  all  familiar.  This  is,  however, 
intentional  o)i  the  j)art  of  the  maker,  its 
object  being  to  keep  the  strings  at  a  proper 
tension.  The  mode  in  which  it  is  tuned 
is  equally  sim|)le  and  etl'ective.  A  ring, 
mostly  niade  of  the  same  libre  as  the 
atring.s,  is  passed  over  each  neek,  so  that,  as 
it  is  slipped  up  or  down,  the  souu4  becomes 


proportionately  gr  ive  or  acute.  It  can  bo 
thus  tuned  with  i  asonabh;  accuracy,  as  I 
Clin  tcH'ify  by  uxik  cience,  the  only  draw- 
back being  tnat  ttie  notes  cannot  be  altered 
by  pressure  of  the  lingirs  upon  tlu^  strings, 
on  account  of  tlu^  angle  which  (hey  nutku 
with  the  neck.  Five  sounds  only  c«n  he 
l)roduced  by  this  instrument,  but  it  is  wor- 
thy of  notice  that  one  string  is  very  much 
longer  than  the  others  so  that  it  produces  a 
deep  tone,  analogous  to  the  "drone"  in  tlie 
bagpipes. 

Although  tolerably  well-nuuinen d  lo  trav- 
ellers with  whom  tllev  were  ae(|uaiuted.  tho 
Dor  are  very  apt  to  hehave  ba<lly  lo  those 
v*hom  (hey  do  not  know.  Mr.  I'etheriek 
iKiirly  lost  his  life  by  a  sudden  and  treach- 
erous attack  that  was  made  on  him  by  some 
of  this  tribe.  Accomi)anied  by  the  friendly 
chief,  Djau,  he  went  to  a  village,  and  began 
to  purchase  ivory.  In  spite  ol  Djini's  pres- 
ence the  peoi)le  were  susi)icious,  aiiii  became 
more  and  more  insolent,  asking  higln  r  prices 
for  (Very  tusk,  and  at  last  trying  to  run  off 
with  a  tusk  and  the  beads"  that  bad  been 
oflered  in  j  aynunl  for  it.  The  tusk  was 
regained,  whereupon  a  .^uddcn  uttaek  was 
made,  .■lud  a  lance  hurled  at  Mr.  I'etheriek, 
whom  it  missed,  but  strut  k  one  of  his  men 
in  the  shoulder.  'J  lirec  more  were  wounded 
by  a  volley  ol'sjiears,  and  tli(re  was  nothing 
lor  it  but  to  Hri".  One  ol  the  assailants  hav- 
ing been  woi.iMled  in  the  leg,  liring  was 
stoiipcd.  On  going  lor  their  donkey,  wlio 
b;iil  been  brought  to  carry  back  the  tusks, 
he  was  found  lying  dead,  having  been  killed 
by  the  vengeful  Dor. 

Hereupon  i)iau  recommended  that  tho 
village  should '  In  sacked  as  a  warning, 
which  was  done,  and  the  spoil  canied  home. 
Next  day  the  chief  of  the  \illage  ci;nie  very 
hundily  lo  a|">logiz(;.  l)ringing  ^( me  tusks 
as  an  equivalent  for  the  (ionkey,  and  as  a 
j)roof  of  good-will  for  tln'  fiiturr'.  So  tho 
tuskS  were  accepted,  the  ])luiiler  of  the  vil- 
lage restored,  and  haimouy  was  thus  estab- 
lished, a  siqipl.  uientary  imsenl  of  beads 
being  added  as  u  seal  to  llie  bargain. 


THE  DJOUR. 


The  Djour  tribe  afford  a  remarkable  in- 
stance of  the  inUtu;nc(!  which  is  exercised 
over  man  by  the  ])eculiarities  of  thi'  country 
in  which  he  is  placed.  Surrounded  by  pas- 
toral tribes,  which  breed  cattle  and  trouble 
themselves  but  little  about  tho  cultivation 
of  the  ground,  the  Djour  are  iigricultiitists, 
and  have  no  cattle  except  goats.  The  sole 
reason  for  this  fac't  is,  thai  the  dread  tsetse- 
fly  is  abundant  in  the  land  of  Djour,  and 
consequenMy  lU'ither  hor.^e  nor.«ox  h.is  a 
chance  of  iiie.     This  terrible  insect,  iunai- 


less  to  man  .ind  to  mo.st  animals,  is  certain 
death  to  the  horse,  dog,  and  ox  iriiie. 

It  is  very  little  larger  tliaii  (he  liorse-fly, 
and  its  only  weapons  are  a  kind  if  Uincet, 
which  projects  from  its  mouth,  as  one  may 
see  in  the  gail-liy.  J. ike  the  gad-lly,  the 
tsetse  only  <-aus(s  a  It'Uiporary  irritation 
when  it  bites  a  human  being,  and  tlu'  stran- 
gest thing  is  that  it  does  no  harm  to  calv  ■< 
until  they  are  weaned.  It  does  not  stin,'. 
but,  like  the  gnat,  inserts  its  sharp  probos- 
cis into  the  akin  lor  the  purpose  of  sucking 


m 


It  con  bo 
:unicy,  BH  I 
(inly  <iniw» 
jt  bi!  altered 
tlic  Htriii^H, 
llicy  innku 
)nly  c'«in  be 
lilt  it  is  wor- 
i  VI  ry  much 
t  protluccH  II 
one"  in  tiie 

end  lo  trav- 
lUiiiutcd.  tbo 
illy  to  (nose 
1-.  I'ctlu'rick 
1  and  trcach- 
liiiii  by  Hunio 

the  Iricndly 
f,  niid  bcftan 

Djiiu'R  prcs- 
,  aiid  became 
Inj^lii  r  prices 
ifi  to  run  off 
at  lind  been 
lie  tusk  was 
jitlaek  was 
r.  I't'llierick, 
•  oi'  bis  men 
ere  wounded 

was  notbini^ 
isailaiits  bav- 
'X.  bring  was 
donkey,  -wiu) 
ek  tbe  tusks, 
(,'  been  kille(l 

led  that  the 

a  warning, 
■arried  home. 
:;e  ciitiie  very 
;  .''(.nie  tusks 
ey,  and  as  n 
ure.  So  tbo 
er  of  the  vil- 
s  thus  estab- 
iit  ut°  beads 
gain. 


lis.  is  certain 
Iriiic. 

be  borse-fly, 
lid  I'f  lancet, 
as  one  may 
}iad-lly,  tbe 
ry  irritation 
id  tbe  slrnn- 
rm  to  calv>  s 
's  not  stin;.'. 
Iiarj)  proboH- 
le  ol'  piicking 


BKACKLKTS. 
,ye«  pa|,'c  4<ir.) 


OKXAMEXr. 

1  Hi'i'  pHjfe  4.1 1 . ) 


WOMKN'!i   KNIVES. 

(.Sec  \m'jv  151.) 


WOODKN   CUIEKS 


NKIIIK    IlKIMI.l 
(Sec  p«i;u  iC«.) 
(449) 


■<(  M  r    l.ucKS 
,!>wpHi,'e  407) 


INOENIOIJH  FURJJACE. 


481 


the  blood.  Afttir  an  ox  hwi  bren  hitton,  it 
losDH  im.litloti,  thii  oout  Btnrts,  t\n:  munvk-n 
Ixscomc  lliiciid,  iinil  in  a  ulioit  tiiiu;  llm  uni- 
niitl  (lii'.i,  ovcii  till!  iniimlo  of  (lie  liciiit  hav- 
iiit?  hucoino  MO  dolt  that,  wlioii  pinclKMl,  the 
lliiui'iH  can  1)1!  niadii  to  imioi  tliiou>,'li  it. 

Vot  tho  miiU',  unn,  and  j(oat  onjoy  a  pcr- 
I'l'ct  iminnnity  fVoin  this  [wat,  ana  coriMi-- 
(|ii('iilly  (lu!  only  donnisticatod  animal  ainon« 
tlir  DJoiiiiM  tlioj»oat.  Tht!  tm-tHo  in  a  Min- 
K'tilarly  I  wn\  inHccl.  It  will  Hwarin  aloni,' 
one  banii  of  a  river,  and  thi-  utlicr  bank  Im 
fn-o;  or  ii  will  iidiabit  littit)  hills,  or  ijc-haim 
a  pivlcli  of  Hoil  oit  li'Vdl  jfroiiml.  'rHia.sc- 
hauntod  piiu'fs  aro  wtdl  known  to  tho  na- 
tives, and  it  has  often  hanpened  thsit,  when 
II  herd  of  oxen  has  been  driven  thron^^h  one 
of  thesii  drraded  upofs,  not  a  Hin;,'lo  animal 
Ikis  eneapeil. 

Hein;,'  deprived  of  cattle,  tho  Djour  do 
not  depend  wholly  upon  a«rieultiire,  but  live. 
adniirablo  workers  in  iron,  and  by  tlieni  are 
ni:ido  many  nf  thn  weapons  and  polislied 
iron  ornivni.'Kts  whieh  are  so  much  in  re- 
qupit  throuubout  (.'entral  Africa.  Iron  oro 
i?t  abiiiidiinl  in  tlieir  coinitry,  and,  after  llicy 
have  liuislicd  Ketlin.!,'  in  "their  crops,  tji',. 
industrious  Djciur  se»  to  work  at  their  ine- 
tUliirijy,  at  wbieli  I'Very  man  is  more  or  less 
an  adept.  After  procuring'  a  sulllrirnt  cpian- 
tity  of  ore,  they  proceed  to  smelt  it  in  fur- 
naces very  iu'^'cniously  built. 

•'Tlie  cupolas  are  constructed  of  Htiff  vhiv 
one  foot  liiick,  iueri'a-in.i,'  toward  the  bolloiu" 
to  about  fourteen  inches    in   diameter,  and 
four  fi'i't  in  hei^'iil.     irndernealh  is  ,i  small 
b:isni  for  Ibe  reception  of  the  metal,  and  on 
ft  level  Willi  the  surface  are  four  aperlun's 
o|.|)ositr   ,.arli   olli,.,-,   for   tln!   reception  of 
the  blast  pipes.    These  are  nnde  of  hunit 
c  ay,  and   are   allaebed   to   earthen    vessels 
about  eijibtecu  iuclies  in  diameter  and  six 
nii'lies    in    bei-bt,    covered    willi    a    loos'e 
dressed   Koat-sklu   tied    ti-htly   over    (bem 
and  p^rtorated  with  a  few  small  holes,     lu' 
the  eeiiln!  Ibere  is  a  loop  to  contain  the  (in- 
Kcrs  ottbe  operator.    A  lad.sitlim,'  between 
two  ot    thes,,   vessels,   |,y  a  ,.a,,i,i'  jilteriiate 
Vertical   motion   with   each   li:ind  .hives    a 
current    of  air    int.)    the    furn.'ice,    which 
cbar«ed   with   alternate   layers   of  'on,   and 
charcoal,  n.Mirisb,.,!  I,y  ..ijrht  of  ti„,.s,.  ,.,„u. 

a.:;Su;i::!"i:^-^'ii;';f:;r;;;-^^ 

metal  IS  nenrly  lull,  the  cbar,MnJ  of  th;^!^^^^^ 

-llirou-h  an  aperture  at  the  bottom  tb.. 
KTcaerpartof  thesla,^is   wi.bd,   w   .  a    i 

St'  ^". '•"""■''  "'r,"H.tal  to  the  lluid 
Stat.    It  IS  mixed  up  with  a  quantilv  .d'  im- 

.small  pieces.  These  are  siibse./ucntlv  sub- 
mitted to  the  heat  of  a  smitlf.  i,.;, '^1 
hammered  with  a  huge  granite  boukler  on  a 


«mnll  nnvll,  pronontlnfl:  ft  "iirfhco  of  onn  nnd 

a  ha  I  in.heH  wpiaro,  stuck  int.)  an  immeiiNo 
block  o  woo.l.  Uy  this  m.,tho.l  the  metal 
i«  Ir.u'd  from  Its  impuritbs,  and  conv.-rte.l 
into  nialhsable  iron  of  the  bcHt  ipiality.  Tho 
Hbw  nnderjcoim  tho  oporations  ..f  c'rushina 
and  wasbiuK,  und  the  hiuuII  Klobules  of  iroii 
contained  in  it  arn  obtained.  A  .'ruciblo 
'•barK'c.l  with  th.un  i.s  «xp.)(i...i  to  w.  Idlna 
beat  on  the  hearth,  and  it»  contents  uro 
weldod  and  purilied  a.>)  above. 

"The  ir.)ii  I.einK  reduce.l  to  small  malle- 

ai>  e  iiiKots,  the  manuliielur..  .)f  lances,  hoes. 

uit<-hets,  Ac.   IS  proee.ule.l  with.     Th.-se  uro 

heat.'n  into  shapo  by  tho  hoidrler  wi.dded  by 

iipow.Mlul  man;  mid  the  imwter  smith  with 

a  hamm..r.  handleless,  like  the  p.stlo  of  ,» 

inorlar,   linistu^s   them.      With    tliems   ru.lo 

irniilcmciits,  tho   proliciency  they  havo   at- 

laincl  ,s  truly  astonishiiiK,  maiiv  lane..s  and 

other  articles  ot  their  manufaet'uiv  which   [ 

now  po8so.ssjiavin«  been  ))ronoun.'e.l  .'ood 

sn....mi..ns  ot  workmanship  for  an  ordinary 

Kiijfli.ih  smith. '  •' 

In  an  illustration  on  piiK.>  449  may  bo  seen 

an  examp  e  of  th.!  workmanship  „f  the  I»|our 

triiie.      itie   remarkable   ornament  with   a 


oil- Irnok  IS  an  armlet,  the  hooked  portioa 
l>ein;^  pa.ss.^d  ov.a-  tho  arm,  and  then  bent 
.<^o  a.s  to  ret,ain  its  Ii.dd.  The  singular  .d.ject.s 
cntitb-d  ■•  Women  m  kiiiv.s  •'  arc  ^ood  e.xam- 
P  CM  o  the  patient  skill  .lisplay..,!  by  tho 
D.iour  Iril...  with  such  v..ry  imp..rfe.'t  tools. 

these  aiKl  other  products  of  Hu-ir  incro- 
nuity  are  disperse.l    throu^'bout  s.-verafof 

1...  trib.'s  .)f  Central  Afri.'a,  many  of  them 
liemj,;  ivcoj,'ni/.e.l  as  .•urreiicy,  just  as  is  the 
Mii;  ish  s..verei^'n  on  the  Continent.  As  if 
to  illustrate  the  truth  of  the  proy^.i!,  ii,„t 
m.'ii  are  always  lon^inj;  tor  that  which  Ihny 
do  not  possess,  the  Djours  are  always  haiik- 
erin;r  alter  beef,  and  in  cons.Mjiieuce  buy 
.•attb,  larjr.dy  from  their  warlike  iieij,'bbors, 
be   Dmka  tr.b...     The   ts.ts,.   pivvents  tho 

D.jour  Iromke.-pinjr  the .•alth' just  i.urchased, 
am   .s.)  they  .,iily  |,i,y  n,,,,,,  j,,  „,.,,      j     ,^jj| 

and  cat  them  .at  once. 

.Owinjr  to  this  traliic,  the  Djour  are  rocoff- 

mzed  us  the  chief  smith.s  of  Central  Africa 

Mu\  they  can  always  lin.l  a  market  for  their 

wares.     (  onse.iueiitly,  tb,.y  are  a  very  nnw- 

|H:rous  tribe,  as  even  the  Diiikas  woiib'l  not 

wish  to  destroy  a  jieople  from  whom  they 

j.r.x'ur.!  tie  very  weapons  with  which  they 

b^'bt;   and  there-  is  not  a  Djour  man  who 

cannot  with  .)rdinary  industry  ..arn  enouK'h 

b)r  the  purchase  and  m.uiiteuance  of  a  wife 

as  soon  as  he   is  old   euoii-b   to  lake   one. 

Amoiif'  tbemsclvt^s  they  do  not  care  i)articu- 

Ijirly  about  wcarin;,'  as  ornaments  the  iiro- 

du.ts  of   tb.'ir  .)wii   skill,  but   prize   I.'ads 

al.oye  every  other  per.soiial  decoration;  and 

so  far  do  they  carry  this  predilection,  th.it 

their  w-ives  are   purchased  with  Loads,  and 

not  with  itoats  — the  only  cattle  which  thov 

.  .111  t.rce.i.     There  is  scarcely  a  Djour  of  full 

age  who  hu3  not  a  wife,  if  nbl  in  fact,  yet  in 


452 


THE  DJOU^. 


IMi 


view;  and  so  brisk  is  the  matrimonial  mar- 
ket, that  Uiere  is  not  a  girl  in  tlie  country 
above  eight  years  of  age  who  hais  not  been 
purdiased  by  some  one  as  a  wife. 

Tobaoco  is  as  dear  to  the  Djour  as  to  other 
African  tribes,  and  ihey  are  fond  of  smoking 
it  in  pipes  of  very  great  eapacity.  Tliey 
have  a  rather  odd  mode  of  managing  their 
pipes.  Tlie  bowl  is  of  reddish  clay,  worked 
on  the  outside  into  a  kind  of  pattern  like 
that  iu  frosted  glass.  The  stem  is  of  bamboo, 
and  is  very  thick,  and  the  junction  between 
the  stem  and  the  bowl  is  made  tolerably  air- 
tiglit  by  binding  a  piece  of  raw  hide  round 
it.  A  long  anil  narrow  gourd  forms  the 
mouthpiece,  and  round  it  is  wrapped  a  piece 
of  leather  like  that  wliich  fastens  the  bowl 
to  the  stem,  hi'st  the  mouthpiece  should 
fall  off,  a  string  is  passed  round  it,  and  the 
other  end  fastened  to  tlie  lower  end  of  the 
stem. 

When  the  pipe  is  used,  a  quantity  of  fine 
bark  fibres  are  rolled  up  into  little  balls,  and, 
the  gourd  mouthpiece  being  removed,  they 
are  thrust  into  it  and  into  die  stem,  so  that, 
when  the  pipe  is  lighted,  they  may  become 
saturated  with  tobacco  oiL    This  libre  is  not 


inserted  for  the  purpose  of  purifying  the 
smoke,  for  the  tobacco  oil  is  thought  to  be 
much  too  valuable  an  article  to  be  wasted, 
and  the  fibre  balls,  when  thoroughly  satu- 
rated, are  taken  out  and  chewed  as  if  they 
were  the  best  pigtail  tobacco. 

It  is  thought  to  be  a  delicate  attention  for 
two  friends  to  exchange  "  quids  "  from  each 
other's  pipe,  and,  when  one  person  lias  ob- 
tained as  much  tobacco  oil  as  he  cares  for, 
he  passes  the  quid  to  another,  and  so  on, 
until  the  flavor  has  all  been  extracted.  1 
have  in  my  collection  one  of  these  pipes.  It 
is  two  feet  in  length,  and  the  bowl  is  capa- 
ble of  holding  a  large  handful  of  tobacco. 
Pipes  of  this  description,  though  diftering 
slightly  in  details,  prevail  through  the  whole 
of  Central  Africa,  and  especially  along  the 
east  bank  of  the  Nile.  In  the  splendid  col- 
lection gathered  by  Mr.  Petherick,  and  ex- 
hibited in  London  in  186'!,  more  than  twenty 
such  pipes  were  exhibiteii,  several  with  horn 
stems,  some  mounted  wi.h  iron,  and  in  one 
or  two  the  bark  "quids  "  vcre  still  in  their 
places.  The  specimen  described  above  be- 
longed to  the  collection. 


CHAPTER  XLFI. 


THE  LATOOKA  TKIBE. 


THEIK  LIVBLV  AND  PLEASANT  DlgPOSIXrON  -  SINGULAR  HEADDHE«S- WEAPONS -THE  AHMES  BRACE- 
LET  AND  ITS  USE -LATOOKA  WOMEN  AND  THEIR  DRESS -THE  CURIOUS  LIP  ORNA^NT- noKKS 
AND  HEU  DAUGHTER -WEALTH  OK  THE  LATOOKAS -INOENIOUS  STRUCTURE  OF  THE  vl,  LA0E8  _ 
TARRANOOLLE,  THE  HAPITAL  OF  LATOOKA  -  CONDITION  OF  THE  WOMEN-ROKkS  AND  THE  SOL- 
DIER-MODE  OF  GOVERNMENT -ABSENCE  OK  RELIGIOUS  IDEAS -SKILL  AT  THE  FORGfItHK 
MOIX)TE,  OR  IRON  IIOE  -  FONDNESS  FOR  CATTLE  -  REPULSE  OF  A  RAID,  AND  A  LATOOKA  V  0- 
TORV-THE  DRUM  DIONAI  .-FUNERAL  CEREMONIES  -  THE  STRANGE  DANCES  -  LATOOkIbeI^ 


The  Latooka  tribe  inhfibit  a  tract  of  country 
on  tho  east  of  the  Nile,  lat.  40°  N.  E'lually 
warlilte  wlion  war  is  needed,  tliev  are  not 
the  morose,  inliosi)ital)!o  set  of  8ava<^es  we 
have  seen  some  of  tiieir  ncighl)ors''to  bc^ 
liiit  are  merry,  jocose,  and  always  read\' 
cither  for  fighting,  laughing,  or  playing. 

The  dress  of  the  Latookas  is  at  once  sim- 
ple and  complicated.  Tho  men  wear  but 
little  dress  upon  their  bodies,  but  bestow 
a  wonderful  amount  of  attention  upon  their 
heads,  the  ])roper  tiring  of  wliich  is  so  long 
a  process,  that  a  man  cannot  hope  to  dress 
his  head  nerfectly  until  he  has  arrived  at  full 
a;;e.  Indeed,  from  tlie  time  that  a  Latooka 
bpgins  to  dress  liis  head  at  least  seven  or 
eight  years  must  elapse  before  his  toilet  is 
completed.  The  following  account,  given 
by  Sir  S.  Ilaker,  alfords  an  excellent  idea 
of  the  Latooka  headdress. 

"  However  tedious  the  operation,  the  result 
is  extraordinary.  The  Latookas  wear  most 
exquisite  hehnets:  all  of  them  are  formed 
of  then-  own  hair,  and  are  of  course  fixtures. 
At  first  sight  it  appears  incredible,  but  .-i 
muuite  examination  shows  the  wonderful 
perseverance  of  years  in  producing  what 
must  bo  highly  inconvenient.  The  thick 
crisp  wool  is  woven  with  fine  twine,  formed 
from  the  bark  of  a  tree,  until  it  presents  a 
thick  net-work  of  felt.  As  the  hair  grows 
through  this  matted  substance,  it  is^  sul). 
jected  to  the  same  process,  until,  in  the 
course  of  years,  a  compact    substance    is 

o  k"ic  .V'-'',"  V^fonK  f'-lt.  nl'out  an  inch  and 
a  half  thick,  that  has  been  trained  into  the 
Shape  of  a  helmet.  A  strong  rim,  of  nbou* 
two  inches  deep,  is  formed  by  sewing  it  to- 
gether with  thread;  and  the  front  part  of 


{■m) 


the  helmet  is  protected  by  a  piece  of  pol- 
ishcd  copper;  while  a  [late  of  the  same 
metal,  shaped  like  the  half  of  a  bishop's 
mitre,  and  about  a  foot  in  length,  forms  tho 
cre.sl. 

"The  framewoi'  of  the  helmet  being  at 
length  completed,  it  must  be  i)erfected  by 
an  arrangement  of  .ads,  should  the  owner 
be  sulhciently  rich  to  indulge  in  the  coveted 
distinction.  The  J>eads  most  in  fashion  are 
the  red  and  th«  blue  porcelain,  about  the 
size  of  sm.iU  peas.  These  are  sewed  on  the 
nape  of  the  felt,  and  so  beautifully  arranged 
in  sections  of  blue  and  red,  that'  the  entire 
helmet  appears;  to  be  formed  of  beads;  and 
tlie  liandsome  crest  of  polished  copper,  sur- 
mounted by  ostrich  plumes,  gives  a  most 
rtignilicd  and  martial  appearance  to  this 
elaborate  head-gear.  No  helmet  is  sup- 
posed to  be  complete  without  a  row  of  cow- 
rie-shells stitclied  round  the  rim,  so  as  to 
lorm  a  solid  edge." 

Xiicklaces  of  metal  are  also  worn  by  the 
m.  a,  and  also  bracelets  of  the  same  liiatc- 
r\:\\.  Each  warrior  carries  in  addition  a  most 
I  inarkable  bracelet  on  his  right  wrist.  This 
IS  a  ring  of  iron,  round  which  are  set  four 
or  five  knife-ldades  with  points  and  ed<rc8 
scrupulously  kept  sharp.  With  this  instru- 
ment they  can  strike  terrible  blows,  and,  if 
in  action  the  spear  is  dropi)cd,  the  wearer 
instantly  closes  M'th  his  enemv,  and  strikes 
at  him  with  his  armed  bracelet.  The  other 
■.veajwiis  of  the  Latooka  tribe  are  a  strong 
lance,  or  a  short  mace,  mostly  made  of  iron, 
and  a  shield  about  four  feel  loiuj  by  two 
wide  The  shields  are  generally  made  of 
buffalo  hule,  but  the  best  arc  fofined  from 
the  skin  of  the  giralfe,  this  combining  tho 


i54 


THE  LATOOKA. 


it  i 


;]i8     H   ;f 


two  qualities  of  lightness  and  toughness. 
Hows  and  arrows  are  not  used  by  the  La- 
tookas. 

The  women  take  comparatively  little  pains 
with  their  toilet.  Instead  of  spending  their 
time  in  working  up  their  woolly  hair  into 
the  felt-like  mass  whieh  decorates  the  men, 
they  shave  their  heads  entirely,  and  trust 
for  their  ornaments  to  beads,  paint,  and 
taltooin<j.  Like  the  belles  of  more  Southern 
tribes,  the  Lalooka  women  extract  the  four 
incisor  teeth  of  the  lower  jaw;  and  the 
favorite  wife  of  the  king  told  Lady  Baker 
that  she  would  really  not  be  bad-looking  if 
.she  would  only  remove  those  teeth,  and  give 
herself  a  coat  of  grease  and  vermilion. 

15okko,  the  queen  in  question,  with  her 
daughter,  were  the  only  good-looking  women 
that  wore  seen  in  that  country;  the  females 
being  strangely  large,  coarse,  and  powerful. 
On  bodily  strength  they  pride  themselves, 
and  each  woman  makes  it  a  daily  t.ask  to 
carry  on  her  head  a  ten-gallon  jar  to  the 
water,  fill  it,  and  bring  it  back  again,  the 
distance  being  seldom  less  than  a  mile. 
Their  dress  is  rather  reyiarkable.  It  con- 
sists of  a  leathern  belt,  to  which  is  attached 
a  large  (Inj;  of  tanned  leather  in  front,  while  to 
the  back  are  tied  a  numljer  of  thongs,  two  feet 
or  more  in  length,  which  look  at  a  distance 
exactly  like  a  horse's  tail. 

The  most  fashionable  feminine  ornament 
in  the  Latooka  country  is  a  long  j)ieee  ot 
polished  crystal,  about  as  thick  as  a  draw- 
ing pencil.  A  bole  is  bored  in  the  under 
lij),  and  the  ornament  hung  from  it.  Sir  S. 
Jiaker  coniineiided  himself  greatly  to  liokke 
and  her  datighter  by  presenting  them  with 
the  glass  stem  of  a  tJicrnumieter  that  had 
been  accidentally  broken,  and  his  gift  was 
valued  much  as  a  necklace  of  brilliants 
would  be  by  Kuropean  liulics.  In  ordei-  to 
prevent  this  ornament  from  falling,  a  jiiece 
of  twine  i-!  knotted  upon  the  end  that  passes 
through  the  lip.  As  the  lower  teeth  are 
removeil.  tli(>  tongue  of  coursy  acts  upon  it. 
and  will  !i  a  lady  is  sjieaking  the  movements  of 
the  tongue  cause  the  crystal  pendant  to  move 
about  in  a  very  ludicrous  manner.  Tattoo- 
ing is  mostly  couliued  to  the  cheeks  and 
foreluad.  and  consists  chieflv  of  lines. 

The  men  are  also  fond  of  decorating  their 
heads  with  the  feathers  of  various  birds,  and 
the  favorite  ornament  is  the  head  of  the 
crested  eivme,  its  black,  velvet-like  plumage, 
tipped  with  the  gold-colored  <'rest,  having  a 
very  hamlsome  ap|)earance  when  fixed  on 
the  top  of  I  be  head. 

When  Sir  S.  h;iker  was  encamping  among 
the  Latookas.  he  could  not  purchase  either 
goi.ts  or  cows,  though  large  herds  were 
being  driven  before  him,  aiul  he  was  there- 
fore forced  to  depend  much  on  his  gnn  for 
subsistence.  The  feathers  of  the  cranes, 
dr.cks,  geese,  and  otlier  birds  weri;  thrown 
ovpf  the  palisade  of  his  encampnii  nt,  and, 
.aring  the  whole  time  of  his  visit,  the  boys 


were  to  be  fjeen  with  their  heads  comically 
dressed  with  white  feathers,  until  they 
looked  like  huge  cauliflowers.  The  long- 
est feathers  were  in  greatest  request,  and 
were  taken  as  perquisites  by  the  boys  who 
volunteered  to  accompany  the  sportsman,  to 
carry  home  the  game  which  he  shot,  and 
then  to  pluck  the  bii-ds. 

In  general  appearance,  the  Latookas  arc 
a  singularly  fine  race  of  men.  They  are, 
on  an  average,  all  but  six  feet  in  height, 
and,  although  they  are  exceedingly  muscular 
and  powerful,  they  do  not  degenerate  into 
corpulency  nor  unwieldiness.  The  expres- 
sion of  the  countenance  is  pleasing,  and  the 
lips,  although. large,  are  not  of  the  negro 
type.  The  forehead  is  high,  the  cheek- 
bones rather  prominent^  and  the  eyes  large. 
It  is  thought  that  their  origin  nuist  have 
been  derived  from  some  of  the  Galla  tribes. 

The  Latookas  are  rich  as  well  as  power- 
ful, and  have  great  herds  of  cattle,  which 
they  keej)  in  stockades,  constructed  after  a 
most  ingenious  fashion;  as  many  as  ten  or 
twelve  thousand  head  of  cattle  being  often 
herded  in  one  town.  Knowing  that  the)e 
are  jilenty  of  hostile  tribes,  who  w  o\dd  seize 
every  opportunity  of  stealing  their  cows,  the 
Latookas  always  ]wu  them  in  very  strong 
stockades,  the  entrance  to  which  is  only  a 
yard  or  thereabouts  in  width.  These  en- 
trances are  arch-shaped,  and  only  just  wichi 
enough  to  allow  an  ox  to  jiass  through,  and 
from  the  top  of  each  arch  is  hung  a  rude 
kind  of  cattle  bell,  foiined  fnun  the  shell  of 
t!ie  dolape  ]iah"  nut.  against  which  the  ani- 
n:al  must  strike  as  it  passes  in  or  out  of 
the  stockade. 

The  path  whieh  leads  from  the  entrances 
is  no  wider  tlian  the  door  itself,  and  is 
flanked  at  either  side  by  a  high  and  strong 
palisade,  so  tliat.  if  an  enemy  were  to  attack 
the  place,  they  could  hardly  force  their  way 
along  i>assages  which  a  few  men  could  guard 
as  etrectually  as  a  multitude.  'J'hroiigh  the 
village  runs  a  tolcriiMy  wide  street,  and  irilo 
the  street  open  the  larger  entrances  inlo 
the  cattle  enclosures,  so  that,  if  tlie  inhabi- 
tants desired,  they  could  eitlier  remove 
their  oxen  singly  by  tbe  small  doors,  or 
drive  them  out  in  herds  through  the  gates 
that  open  inlo  the  central  street. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  ai^pect  of  a 
Lalooka  town  is  very  remarkable.  It  is 
surnmnded  by  a  very  strong  j)alisade,  in 
which  arc  stiveral  doorways.  Through  the 
centre  of  tlie  village  runs  the  main  street, 
upon  which  all  the  cattle-pens  o])eu,  and  the 
rest  of  tbe  interior  is  traversed  by  lanes,  so 
narrow  tliat  only  cnc  cow  can  pass  at  a 
timt^  The  various  gai.-s  aiul  doors  of  the 
village  are  dosed  ai  night,  ami  carefully 
l)ari«d  with  branches  of  the  thorny  mimosa. 
S(mietimes  these  villages  are  so  large  as  to 
deserve  the  name  of  towns.  Tarrangolle, 
the  cauital  of  the  Latookas,  comprised  at 
least  tliree  thousand  homesteads;  and  not 


BOKKl!  AND  THE  SOLDIER. 


456 


only  was  the  whole  town  surrounded  hy  a 
strong  iron-H'ood  palisading,  bu*,  each  home- 
stead was  fortifkcl  in  like  manner. 

The  wives  of  the  Latookas  seem  tolera- 
bly well  ofl"  in  comparison  with  their  mar- 
ried sisters  of  other  tribes.  They  certainly 
work  hard,  and  carry  ponderous  weights, 
but  then  they  are  so  tall  and  strong,  that 
such  labor  is  no  very  great  hardship  to 
them.  Tliat  they  arc  not  down-troddon,  as 
women  are  in  too  many  parts  of  Africa,  is 
evident  from  the  w.iy  in  which  they  comport 
themselves.  On  one  occasion  one  of  the 
armed  soldiers  belonging  to  the  Turkish 
caravan  met  a  woman,  who  was  returning 
from  tlio  water  witli  her  heavy  jar  on  her 
head,  lie  demanded  the  water,  and,  when 
she  refused  to  give  it  him,  threatened  her 
with  his  slick.  IJokke,  the  pretty  wife  of 
Common),  seeing  (his  proceeding,  went  to 
the  rescue,  seized  the  soldier  by  the  throat, 
and  wrested  his  stick  from  him,  while 
another  woman  twisted  his  gun  out  of  his 
hand.  Several  other  women  came  runnin" 
to  the  sjiot,  threw  the  mim  down,  and  ad^ 
ministei'ed  a  soinid  pommelling,  while  others 
poured  water  down  the  muzzle  of  liis  gun, 
and  plastered  great  lumps  of  wet  mud  over 
the  lock  and  trigger. 

Wives  are  purchased  in  Latooka-land  for 
cows,  anil  thrrefcire  a  I;u'ge  family  is  a  sure 
step  to  iirosperity:  the  boys  ])eeo'ming  war- 
riors, who  will  fight  I'or  their  tribe;  and  the 
girls  bring  always  saleable  for  cows,  should 
tliey  live  to  womanliod.  Every  girl  is  sure 
of  being  niarrieil,  because,  when  a  man 
begins  to  procure  wealth,  the  first  thintj 
(hat  he  docs  is  to  l)uy  a  wife,  and  he  adds  to 
the  number  of  his  wives  as  fast  as  ho  can 
muster  cows  enough  to  pay  for  thi-m. 

Wi\en  Sir  S.  Haker  passed  tlu-ouarh  the 
country,  the  jrreiit  chief  of  the  I.atookas 
W!is  nauied  Moy.  He  liad  a  brother,  named 
Coninioro.  aU'l,  lUllKuigh  in  actual  rank  Moy 
took  prei'idenei  of  his  brotiier,  Connnor'o 
was  virtually  the  king,  having  far  more  in- 
fluence over  the  peoplf  tlian  bis  brother. 
Common)  was  really  deserving  of  this  influ- 
ence, and  was  rem:irkalile  for  bis  aenteness 
and  stronj;  common  sense.  "Witliout  his 
exertions  tlic  I.atookas  wiudd  certainly  have 
nssaulteil  the  caravan,  and  great  .s'laugli- 
ttr  nuist  have  ensued,  the  natives  having 
learned  to  (les[iisi'  ;r,iiis  on  account  of  a  vic- 
tory which  tliev  bad  la!elv  gained  over  a 
party  of  slavi'-stenlers.  Ile"had  a  long  argu- 
ment with  Ihs  visitor  respeeting  the  immor- 
tality of  the  soul,  and  resurrection  after 
death,  but  could  in  no  way  bo  convinced 
that  a  man  could  live  r.fter  ileath.  Had  he 
had  even  any  superstitious  feelings,  .some- 
tliing  might  h;ac  been  done  with  him,  but. 
like  many  other  se..])ties,  he  flaflv  r>fifsed  to 
believe  anything  which  is  without  the  TRna» 
of  Ins  senses. 

The  ftimiliar  illustration  of  t!»  grain  of 
corn  planted  in  the  earth  was  used,  but 


without  effect.  He  was  quite  willing  that 
the  grain  in  question  should  represent  him- 
self, but  controverted  the  conclusion  which 
was  drawn  from  the  premises.  The  ears 
of  corn  filled  with  grains,  which  would 
spring  up  after  the  decay  of  the  original 
seed,  were  not,  he  said,  representatives  of 
himself,  but  were  his  children,  who  lived 
after  he  wa.s  dead.  The  ingenuity  with 
which  he  slipped  out  of  the  argument  was 
very  considerable,  and,  as  Sir  S.  Baker 
remarks,  "it  was  extraordinary  to  see  so 
much  clearness  of  perception  combined 
with  such  coini)lete  obtuseness  to  anvthin" 
ideal."  *'        ° 

The  Latooka-3  r.re  very  good  blacksmiths, 
and  excel  ni  the  manufacture  of  iron  hoe- 
blade.s,  or  "molotes"  as  thev  are  called. 
This  instrument  is  also  used  as  money. 
The  bellows  are  made  on  the  .same  princi- 
ple as  those  used  by  the  Kaffir  tribes,  but, 
instead  of  using  me;ely  a  couple  of  leather 
bags,  the  Latooka  blacksmith  employs  two 
earthenware  pots,  and  over  the  month  of 
each  pot  is  loosely  tied  a  large  i)iece  of  soft, 
j)liable  leather,  kept  well  greased  to  insure 
Its  sofhiess.  A  perpendicular  stick  about 
four  feet  in  length  is  fastened  to  the  centre 
of  each  skin,  and,  when  these  are  worked 
rai)idly  up  and  down,  the  wind  is  forced 
through  earthenware  tubes  which  commu- 
nicate witli  the  bottom  of  the  pots. 

The  tools  are  very  simple,  a  large  stone 
doing  duty  for  an  aiivil,  and  a  smaller  for  a, 
hammer,  while  a  cleft  stick  of  green  wood  is 
used  by  way  of  pincers.  Great  care  is  taken 
in  .shaping  the  molotes,  which  are  alwavs 
carefully  tested  by  balancing  them  on  their 
heads,  and  making  them  ring  by  a  l)low  of 
the  finger.  When  used  for  agii('nlture,  the 
molotes  are  fastened  to  the  end  of  wooden 
shafts,  seldom  less  than  seven,  and  often  ten, 
feet  in  length,  and  thus  a  powerful  levera"-e' 
is  gained.  "^ 

Although  the  Latooka  is  generally  ready 
for  war,  he  is  not  a  born  warrior,  as"  is  the 
case  with  many  tribes.  The  Zulu,  for  ex- 
ample, lives  chiefly  for  war;  he  thinks  of  it 
day  and  night,  and  his  great  ambition  is  to 
distinguish  himself  in  battle.  The  Latooka, 
on  the  other  hand,  seldom  waires  war  with- 
out a  cans:-  which  he  is  pleased  to  think  a 
good  one;  but,  when  he  does,  lie  fii;hts  well. 
The  chief  cause  for  which  a  Latooka  will 
fight  to  the  death  is  his  cattle.  He  will 
sometimes  run  aw.ay  whi'u  a  powerful  partv 
makes  a  raid  on  his  village,  and  carries  off 
his  wives  and  children  for  slavps;  but  if  thev 
.attempt  to  drive  off  bis  cattle,  the  spirit  of 
the  ;ioble  savage  is  set  n-hlazo,  and  lie  is  at 
once  up  in  arms. 

A  curious  example  of  this  trait  of  charac- 
ter occurred  during  Sir  S.  Baker's  residence 
in  Latooka-land.  One  of  the  Mahometan 
traders  (who,  it  will  be  remembered,  are  tlie 
very  pent  and  scourge  of  the  countiv)  gatli- 
ered  together  a  band  of  tliree  hundred  na- 


406 


THE  LATOOKA. 


tives,  and  more  than  a  hundred  of  his  own 
countrymen,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a 
raid  upon  a  certain  village  among  the 
mountains.  The  men  ran  away,  and  tiie  in- 
vaders captured  a  great  number  of  women 
and  children,  with  whom  they  might  have 
escaped  unmolested.  Unfortunately  for 
them,  they  were  told  of  a  large  herd  of 
cattle  which  they  had  missed,  and  accord- 
ingly returned,  and  began  to  drive  off 
their  spoil. 

The  Latookas  had  wltnes^-^d  the  capture 
of  their  wives  and  children  without  attempt- 
ing a  rescue,  but  the  attack  on  thtir  beloved 
cattle  was  too  mueh  for  them,  ,\nd  they 
poured  out  of  their  hiding  placej  like  a 
swarm  of  angry  wasjjs.  Maddened  with  the 
idea  of  losing  their  cattle,  they  bravely  faced 
the  muskets  with  their  spears  and  shields, 
aad  clustered  round  the  invaders  in  resist- 
less numbers.  Each  man,  as  he  advanced, 
leaped  behind  some  cover,  from  which  he 
could  hurl  a  lance,  while  others  climbed  up 
the  rocks,  and  rolled  great  stones  on  their 
enemies.  The  attack  was  so  sudden  and 
siniuKancous,  that  the  Turks  found  them- 
selves beset  on  all  sides,  and  yet  could  hardly 
Bee  a  man  at  whom  they  could  airn. 

They  (led  in  terror  down  the  path,  and, 
mistaking  in  their  haste  the  right  road,  they 
turned  a.-iide  to  one  which  led  to  a  precipice 
five  hundred  feet  in  depth.  Seeing  their 
danger,  they  tried  to  retreat,  but  the  ever- 
increasing  multitudes  pressed  clo.ser  and 
closer  upon  them,  forced  them  nearer  to  the 
precipice,  and  at  last  drove  them  all  over  it. 
Not  a  mnn  escaped,  and  although  a  few 
turned  and  fought  with  the  courage  of  de- 
spair, they  were  hurled  over  the  precijjiee 
after  their  comrades.  The  artist,  has  repre- 
sented Ibis  victory  on  the  next  jiagc. 

This  was  the  victory  over  tlre-arnis  which 
had  inspired  the  Latookas  with  such  con- 
tempt tor  these  weapons,  and  had  it  not  been 
for  Coninu)ro's  meuiation,  they  would  have 
attacked  the  English  party  That  subtle 
chief,  however,  well  knew  the  difTerenee 
between  asaulti.ig  an  assemblage  of  Turks 
and  Africans  among  the  rocky  passes  and 
attacking  in  the  open  country  "a  well-armed 
party  commanded  bv  Europeans.  Such  an 
attack  was  once  meditated,  and  Sir  Siunuel 
Baker's  account  of  it  gives  an  excellent  idea 
of  the  Latooka  m  nlc  of  warfare.  The  reader 
must  remenibev  that  the  war  drum  is  an 
instiiution  throughout  the  greater  part  of 
Central  Africa. 

"  It  was  about  five  P.M.,  one  hour  before 
sunset.  The  woman  who  usually  brought 
us  water  delivered  her  jar,  but  disappeared 
immediately  after,  without  sweeping  the 
courtyard,  as  was  her  custom.  Her  children, 
who  usually  played  in  this  enclosure,  van- 
ished. On  searching  her  hut,  which  was  in 
one  corner  of  the  yard,  no  one  was  to  be 
found,  and  even  the  grinding-stone  was 
gone.      Suspecting  that  something  was  in 


the  wind,  I  sent  Karka  and  Gaddum-Her, 
the  two  black  servants,  to  search  in  various 
huts  in  the  neighborhood  tf)  observe  whether 
the  owners  were  present,  and  whether  the 
women  were  in  their  houses.  Not  a  woman 
could  be  found.  Neither  woman  nor  child 
remained  in  the  large  town  of  Tarrangoll^. 
There  was  an  extraordinary  stillness,  where 
usually  all  was  noise  and  chattering.  All 
the  women  and  children  had  been  removed 
to  the  mountains,  about  two  miles  distant, 
and  this  so  quickly  and  noiselessly  that  it 
appeared  incredible." 

C  -nmoro  and  Moy  were  then  sent  for, 
and  said  that  the  Turks  had  behaved  so 
badly,  by  robbing  and  beating  the  women, 
that  the  people  were  much  excited,  and 
would  endure  it  no  longer;  and,  not  being 
accustomed  to  any  travellers  except  slave- 
dealers,  yiey  naturally  iucluded  Sir  S.  Ba- 
ker's party  in  that  category.  Commoro, 
however,  took  his  leave,  saying  that  he 
would  do  his  best  to  quiet  the  ))eople. 

"The  sun  .set,  and.  as  is  usual  in  tropical 
climates,  darkness  set  in  within  half  an 
hour.  Not  a  woman  had  returned  to  the 
town,  nor  was  the  voice  of  a  man  to  be  heard. 
The  natives  had  entirely  forsaken  the  por- 
tion of  the  town  that  boih  I  and  the  Turks 
occupied.  There  was  a  death-like  stillness 
in  the  air.  Even  the  Turks,  who  were 
usually  ujjroarious,  were  iierl'eclly  quiet;  and, 
although  my  men  made  no  reniark,  it  was 
plain  that  we  were  all  occupied  by  the  ."amc 
thoughts,  and  that  an  attack  was  "ex]iccted. 

"It  was  about  nine  o'clock,  iind  the  still- 
ness had  become  almost  painlul.  There 
was  no  crj-  of  a  bird;  not  even  the  liowl  of  a 
hyaMia:  the  camels  were  sleeping;  but  every 
man  was  wide  awake,  and  the  sen  fries  well 
on  the  alert.  "We  were  almost  listening  to 
the  supernatural  stillnefs,  if  I  may  so  de- 
scribe the  pi'rfect  calm,  when  suddenly  every 
one  startled  at  the  dee])  arjd  solemn  boom 
of  the  great  war  drum,  or  nogara!  Three 
distinct  beats,  at  slow  intervals,  rang 
through  the  apparently  deserted  town,  and 
echced  loudly  irom  the  neighboring  moun- 
tain. It  was  the  signal!  A  feiv  hiiimtes 
elapsed,  and,  like  a  distant  echo  from  the 
north,  the  three  mournful  notes  again  dis- 
tinctly Bounded.  Was  it  au  echo?  Impos- 
sible! 

"  Now  from  the  south,  far  distant,  hut  un- 
mistjikable,  the  same  three  regular  beats 
came  booming  through  the  still  night  air. 
Again  and  again  fnmi  every  quarter,  si)r«ad- 
ing  far  and  wide,  the  signal  was  r'^sponded 
to,  and  tlie  whole  ciuuitry  echoed  these 
three  solemn  notes  so  full  of  warning.  Once 
more  the  great  nogara  of  Tarrangolle 
sounded  the  original  alartn  within  a  few 
hundred  paces  of  our  quarter.".  The  whole 
country  was  up.  There  was  no  doubt 
about  the  matter.  The  Turks  well  knew 
those  thrqp  notes  to  be  Uie  war  signal  of  the 
Latookas.  .  ,  . 


ratldum-Her, 
ill  in  varioua 
iTVo  whether 
whether  the 
Jfot  a  woman 
in  nor  child 
Tarrangoll^. 
llness,  where 
ttering.  All 
eon  removed 
iiik'h  distant, 
lessly  that  it 

len  Bent  for, 
behaved  so 
the  women, 
'^xcited,  and 
id,  not  being 
^xcept  slave- 
!d  8ir  S.  Ba- 
Commoro, 
ing  that  he 
e  ))eople. 
\\  in  tropical 
liln  halt'  an 
iirncd  to  the 
II  to  be  heard, 
ken  the  por- 
(1  the  Turks 
like  stillness 
s,  who  were 
ly  quiet;  and, 
'fnurk,  it  was 
l)_v  the  ."anie 
18  ('X]iceted. 
ind  the  still- 
nliil.  There 
the  howl  of  a 
ig;  but  every 
senirics  well 
listening  to 
may  so  de- 
(Idiiily  every 
olenm  boom 
;ara!  Three 
>rvals,  rang 
■d  town,  and 
loiiug  nionn- 
ffAV  hiiuutes 
ho  from  (he 
's  again  dis- 
hoV    Jmpos- 

tar.t,  but  un- 
■gnlnr  beats 
ill  night  air. 
iirter,  spnad- 
ifl  responded 
choed  thepc 
rning.  Once 
Tarrangollc 
vithin  a  few 
The  whole 
s  no  doubt 
i  well  knew 
signal  of  the 


■  Mr 

1  Mr 

B  m  l> 

■  fl  ' 

11 

i  11 

1 

mm  i 

1 

FUNERAL  CEREMONIES. 


400 


"  The  patrols  shortly  reported  that  large 
bodies  or  men  wore  collecting  outside  the 
town.    Tlio  groat  nogara  again,  beat,  and 
was  answered,  as  before,  from  the  neighbor- 
ing villages;  but  the  Turk's  drum  kept  up 
an  uninterrupted  roll,  as  a  challenge,  when- 
ever the  nogara  sounded.    Instead  of  the 
intense  stillness,   that   had  formerly  been 
almost  ijuinful,  a  distinct  hum  of  voices  be- 
tokened the  gathering  of  large  bodies  of  men. 
However,  we   were  well  fortified,  and   the 
Latookas  knew  it.     We  occupied  the  very 
stronghold  which  they  themselves  had  con- 
structed for  the  defence  of  their  town;  and 
the  square,  being  surrounded  with   strong 
iron-wood   palisades,  with   only   a   narrow 
entrance,  would  be  impregnable  when  held 
as  now,  by  fifty  men  well  armed  against  a 
mob  whose  best  weapons  were  only  lances. 
"  I  sent  men  up  the  watchmen's  stations. 
These  were  about    twenty-five  feet  high; 
and,  the  night  being  clear,  they  could  dis- 
tinctly report  the  movements  of  a  large  mass 
,  of  natives  that  were  ever  increasing  on  the 
outside  of  the  town,  at  about  two  hundred 
y-irds  distance.    The  rattle  of  the   Turk's 
drum  repoatedljr  sounded  in   reply  to   the 
nogara,  and  the  intended  attack  seemed  des- 
tined to  relapse  into  a  noisy  but  empty  bat- 
tle of  the  drums." 

Toward  midnight  Commoro  came  in  per- 
son, iind  said  that  the  nogara  had  been 
beaten  without  his  orders,  and  that  he  would 
try  to  quiet  the  peoj)le.  He  admitted,  how- 
ever, tiiat,  if  the  exi)loring  party  had  not 
been  or  their  guard,  an  attack  wo'uld  really 
have  been  made.  After  tliis  business.  Sir 
Samuel  very  wiselv  determined  to  separate 
entirely  from  the  tnrks,  and  therefore  built 
himself  a  camp  about  a  quart(>r  of  a  mile 
from  the  town,  so  that  the  Latookas  might 
not  again  think  that  the  two  parties  had  a 
commnn  interest. 

On  the  following  morning  the  women  ap- 
peared Willi  their  water  j;irs  as  usual,  and 
the  men,  tlxnij^h  still  excited,  and  under 
arms,  returned  t-  their  homes.  By  degrees 
the  excilpmc/)!;  <».>-(l  away,  .-ind  then  they 
talked  over  tliu  rllUir  with  perfect  Ir.  -ikness, 
admitting  that  an  attack  w.is  meditated,  and' 
rather  amused  that  the  intended  victims 
should  have  been  aware  of  their  plans. 

The  Latookas  are  not  free  from  the  vice 
ot  thieving,  and,  when  employed  as  porters 
have  exeivisod  their  cr.aft  with  so  little 
attempt  at  eoneealment,  that  they  have  de- 
liberately broken  oi)en  the  parcels  whieli 
they  carried,  not  taking  anv  notice  of  the 
met  that  a  sentry  was  watching  them  within 
a  few  yards.  Also  they  would  oeeasionally 
watch  an  opportunity,  slip  aside  from  the 
caravan,  and  sneak  awav  with  their  loads. 

i-uneril  ceremonies  differ  among  the  La- 
tookas iKcording  to  the  mode  of  death.    If 

tmrA^"  K 'l'"!'  '"  ''""''■'  the  body  is  not 
touched,  but  18  allowed  to  remain  on  the 
spot  where  U  fell,  to  be  eaten  by  the  hyicnas 


and  the  vultures.  But  should  a  Latooka, 
whether  man,  woman,  or  child,  die  a  natural 
tieatli  the  body  is  disposed  of  in  a  rather 
singular  manner.  Immediately  after  death 
a  shallow  grave  is  dug  in  the  enclosure  that 
surrounds  each  house,  and  within  a  few  feet 
of  the  door.  It  is  allowed  to  remain  here 
lor  several  weeks,  when  decomposition  ia 
usually  completed.  It  is  then  dug  up,  the 
bones  are  cleaned  and  washed,  and  are  then 
placed  m  an  earthenware  jar,  and  carried 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  outside  the  vil- 
lage. 

No  particular  sanctity  attaches  itself  either 
to  the  bones  or  the  spot  on  which  they  are 
deposited.  The  earthen  jar<  are  broken  in 
course  of  time,  and  the  bones  scattered 
anout,  but  no  one  takes  any  notice  of  them 
In  consequence  of  this  custom  the  neigh- 
borhood of  a  large  town  presents  a  most 
singular  and  rather  dismal  aspect,  the 
ground  being  covered  with  bones,  skulls 
and  earthenware  jars  in  various  states  of 
preservation;  and,  indeed,  the  traveller 
always  knows  when  he  is  approaching  a 
Ljatooka  town  by  coming  across  a  quantity 
of  neglected  human  remains. 

The  Latookas  have  not  the  least  idea 
why  they  treat  their  dead  in  this  sinrrular 
manner,  nor  why  they  make  so  strange  a 
distinction  between  the  bodies  of  warriors 
who  have  died  the  death  of  the  brave  and 
those  w-ho  have  simply  died  from  disease, 
accident,  or  decay.    Perhaps    there  is  no 


as 


other  country  where  the  body  of  the  dead 
warrior  is  left  to  the  bea-sts  and  birds,  while 
those  who  die  natural  deaths  arc  so  elabo- 
rately buried,  exhumed,  and  placed  in  the 
public  cemetery.  Why  they  do  so  they  do 
not  seem  either  to  know  or  to  care,  and,  as 
far  as  li.as  been  ascertained,  this  is  one  of 
tlic  many  customs  which  has  survived  long 
alter  those  who  practise  it  have  forgotten 
its  signification. 

During  the  three  or  four  weeks  that  elap.se 
between  tjje  interment  and  exhumation  of 
the  body  funeral  dances  are  performed. 
(Treat  numbers  of  both  sexes  take  part  in 
these  dances,  for  which  they  deconUe  them- 
selves in  a  very  singular  manner.  Their 
liair  helmets  are  supplemented  by  great 
|)lumes  of  ostrich  feathers,  each  man  wear- 
ing as  many  as  he  can  manage  to  fasten  on 
us  head,  and  skins  of  the  leopard  or  mon- 
key are  hung  from  their  shoulders.  The 
etiict  adornment,  however,  is  a  large  iron 
bell  which  is  fastened  to  the  small  of  the 
liack,  and  which  is  sounded  bv  wrigglinrr 
the  body  after  a  very  ludicrous  fiushion!  A 
faithful  representation  of  one  of  these  dan- 
ces is  given  thtt  reader  on  page  465. 

"A  large  crowd  got  up  in  this  stvle  cre- 
ated an  indescribable  hubbub,  heightened 
by  the  blowing  of  bonis  and  the  healing  of 
seven  nogaras  of  various  notes.  Everv 
dancer  wore  an  anteloue's  horn  suspended 
round  the  neck,  which  he  blew  occasioually 


1 


;   i  ! 


m '  1 1 


I  i> 


n  •■h 


460 


THE  LATOOKA. 


in  the  height  of  his  excitement.  Tliese 
instruments  produced  a  sound  partaking  of 
the  braying  of  a  donlcey  and  the  screech  of 
an  owl.  Crowds  of  men  rushed  round  and 
round  in  a  sort  of  galop  infernel,  brandish- 
ing tlieir  arms  and  iron-headed  maces,  and 
keeping  tolerably  in  line  five  or  six  deep, 
following  the  leader,  who  headed  them,  dan- 
cing bacKward. 

"  The  women  kept  outside  the  line,  dan- 
cing a  slow,  stupid  step,  while  a  long  string 
of  younji  girls  and  small  children,  their 
heads  and  necks  rubbed  with  red  ochro  and 
grease,  and  prettily  ornamented  with  strings 
of  beads  round  their  loins,  kept  a  very  good 
line,  beating  time  with  their  feet,  and  jing- 
ling the  numerous  iron  rings  which  adorned 
their  ankles  to  keep  time  to  the  drums. 

"One  woman  attended  upon  the  men, 
running  through  the  crowd  with  a  gourd- 
ful  of  wood-asiies,  handfuls  of  which  she 
showered  over  their  heads,  powdering  them 
like  millers:  the  object  of  the  operation  I 
could  not  understand.  The  premiere  da)i- 
seuse  was  immensely  fat;  she  nad  passed  the 
bloom  of  youth,  but,  malgre  her  unwieldy 
state,  she  kept  up  the  pace  to  the  last,  quite 
unconscious  of  her  general  appearance,  and 
absorbed  with  the  excitement  of  the  dance." 

These  strange  dances  form  a  part  of  every 
funeral,  and  so,  when  several  persons  have 
died  successively,  the  funeral  uances  go  on 
for  several  months   together.     The   chief 


Commoro  was  remarkable  for  his  agility 
in  the  ftineral  dances,  and  took  his  part  in 
every  such  ceremony,  no  matter  whether  it 
were  for  a  wealthy  or  a  poor  man,  every 
one  who  dies  being  equally  entitled  to  the 
ftineral  dance  without  any  distinction  of 
rank  or  wealth. 

The  bells  which  are  so  often  mentioned 
in  those  tribes  inhabiting  Central  Africa 
are  mostly  made  on  one  principle,  though 
not  on  precisely  the  same  pattern.  These 
simple  Dells  evidently  derive  their  origin 
from  the  shells  of  certain  nuts,  or  other 
hard  fruits,  which,  when  suspended,  and  a 
wooden  clapper  hung  within  tliem,  can  pro- 
duce a  sound  of  some  resonance. 

The  next  advance  is  evidently  the  carving 
the  bell  out  of  some  hard  wood,  so  as  to  in- 
crease its  size  and  add  to  the  power  of  its 
sound.  Next,  tlie  superior  resonance  of  iron 
became  apparent,  and  little  bells  were  made, 
shaped  exactly  like  the  before-mentioned 
nuts.  This  point  once  obtained,  the  variety 
in  the  shape  of  the  bells  is  evidently  a  mere 
matter  of  caprice  on  the  part  of  the  maker. 

One  form  approaches  nearer  to  our  famil- 
iar type  of  bell  than  any  other,  and  really 
bears  a  very  close  resemblance  to  the 
strangely-shaped  bells  of  Siam  or  Burmah. 
Instead  of  being  flattened,  as  are  the  others, 
it  is  tolerably  wide,  and  is  so  formed  that  a 
transverse  section  of  it  would  give  the  figure 
ofaquatrefoil. 


% 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

THE  sum,  BARI,  DJIBBA,  NUEHR,  DINKA,  A^D  SHILLOOK  TRIBES. 

LOCALITY  OF  THE  SHIR  TRIBB-THEm  PORTABLE  PROPKRTV- DRESS  AND  OEKERAL  APPEARANCE - 
A  STRAyOE  »TORT-nA«KET  MAKmO-THB  BAR,  TH.B«  AND  THE.R  CHARACTER -SLAVE  DEAL 
TNO-BARI  ARC.IER.S-A  DARrNO  B„AUPHH0OTKB-T„E  noVs  STRATACKM-ARCHITECTURK  OF  THE 
BAni-THB  D.TmnA  TRn.E-T,tE,R  NATIONAL  PRIDE- D.,inBA  WKAPONS- THE  AXK  CI  UB  AND 
KKIFE-„„ACELET-THE  SCALP-LOCKH  ORNAMENT- A  PRo™  WARRIOR-THE  KOITAER  OR  NPElm 
TRILE-TIIK  CLAV  WIO  AND  BEAD  „ELMET-T„E  CHIEF,  ..OCTIAN,  AND  HIS  IMPORTUNITY  - 
NCEHH  SALUTATION -THE  DINKA  ..UBE  AND  ITS  WARLIKE  CHARACTER  -  ZENEB  TO  THE  KFSOUE 
-FEUD  WITH  THE  SH.LU,OKS  AND  UAOARAS  -  DRESS  OF  THE  DINKA -TREACHERY,  AND  T  E 
TABLES  TUU.VKD-T»E  DINKA  MARKET-AN  EMBASSY  OF  PEACE-THE  SH.LLOOKH,  THE  uT 
CAUTY,  DRKSS,  AND  APPEARANCE -THEIR  PREDATORY  HABITS -SKILL  IN  BOATING  -  A  P^- 
TOKAL  COLONY  AND  ITS  MANAGEMENT- FISH-SPEARINO- A  SH.LLOOK  FAHILV- GOVERNMENT 
AMONG  THE  8HILLOOK8  — MUSICAL  INSTRUMENTS.  U"vr,KflraBNT 


As  the  Shir  tribe  are  frequently  montioned 
by  those  travellers  who  liave  pa-ssed  through 
Central  Africa,  a  brief  mention  of  them  will 
be  necessary.  The  Shir  country  extends  on 
cither  side  of  the  Nile,  in  lat  6°  N.,  and 
Ions-  yO°  E. 

Tlie  men  are  remarkable  for  never  stir- 
ring out  of  their  villages  without  all  their 
personal  property  about  them.  Clothes,  in 
our  sense  of  the  word,  are  not  considered  as 
property,  the  principal  article  of  costume 
being  a  tuft  or  two  of  cock's-feathers  on  the 
top  of  the  head.     But  they  always  carry 


pose.  They  are  about  three  feet  in  len^fli 
and  without  feathers,  so  that  they  can  only 
be  used  at  a  short  distance. 

The  women,  however,  have  some  preten- 
sions to  dress.  To  a  belt  which  goes  round 
the  waist  is  attflched  a  small  lappet  of  leather 
which  hangs  in  front.  This  is  balanced 
behind  by  a  sort  of  tail  or  long  ta-ssel  of  very 
thin  leather  thongs,  which  reach  ne.irly 
down  to  the  knees.  Captain  Speke  remarks 
tliat  this  article  of  dress  is  probably  the 
foundation  of  the  reports  that  in  Central 
Africa  there  is  a  race  of  men  who  have  tails 


ti, nir  liffiVT  7  T    1  ■;    ""'"ja  «^i"ryM""ca  mere  IS  a  race  of  men  who  have  tails 


no  one  ever  moves  without  his  loved  iiipe 
Upon  their  pijie  they  la.ish  all  their  ar- 
tistic powers,  which,  however,  are  not  verv 
considerable.  Precious  as  is  iron  in  this 
country,  beinj;  used,  like  gold  in  Europe,  as 
a  medium  of  curronev,  the  pipes  are  all 
mounted  with  this  costlv  metal.  The  bowls 
are  made  of  clay,  conical  in  shape,  and  hav- 
ing a  couple  of  prongs  on  which  to  rest. 
Ihey  are  very  large,  holding  quite  a  handful 
ot  tobacco,  and  their  mouthpieces  are  almost 
invariably  made  of  iron. 
Besides  the  implements  of  peace,  the  Shir 

wl^'^Vfy  '^'^''  "'^"^  ^'>'^''-  weapons  of 
nZh^I   u,^  consist  of  clubs,  made  of  a  kind 

lancp?^'  ^'"^■^'  •""''''  ""•1  »'*''^^'  '^  ^'ouple  «f 
tZt^^i  ?  u'"^  *'"*  »  ^""'"^  of  arrows,  so 
tlidUheir  hands  are  quite  full  of  weapons, 
ihe  bows  are  always  kept  strung,  and  the 

rronZi.r.P°'"*^?  v'ith'somo  hS^d  wood! 
iron  being  too  costly  i  metal  for  such  a  pur- 


(401) 


among  Europeans,  but  among  the  Central 
Africans  thems.'lves,  each  tribe  seeming  to 
think  that  tl-ey  are  the  only  perfect  race  of 
men,  and  tliat  all  others  have  some  nhvsical 
defect.  ■^ 

A  very  amusing  instance  of  such  a  belief 
is  narrated  by  Mr.  Petherick,  a  nati\  hav- 
ing given  him  a  most  circumstantial  account 
of  tribes  among  which  he  had  been,  and 
where  he  had  seen  some  very  singular  peo- 
ple. In  one  tribe,  for  example,  he  had  seen 
people  who,  like  the  white  man,  could  kill  at 
a  great  distance.  But  instead  of  having  odd- 
shaped  pieces  of  wood  and  iron,  which  made 
a  noise,  they  had  bows  and  arrows,  which  lat- 
ter could  not  be  extracted.  Had  he  stopped 
here  he  might  have  been  believed,  the  only 
exaggeration  being  in  the  range  of  the 
wearton.  Unfortunately  for  his  own  charac- 
ter, he  must  needs  add  a  number  of  other 
circurastauccs,  and  proceeded  to  tell  of  a 


469 


THE  BARI, 


people  who  hail  four  eyes,  two  in  the  usual 
(daces  and  two  behiiul,  and  who  could  thorc- 
Ibrc  walk  l)ackward  as  well  as  torwaid— like 
til.!  decapitated  iady  in  the  lairv  tale,  whoso 
head  was  replaeed  wronj^  Hide  forwaiil, 
"wliicli  was  very  useful  ui  dressing    her 

back  hair."  ,      ,  ,  ,  i.  i 

Till'  next  tribe  through  which  he  passed 
frightened  hini  exceedingly.  Tliey  hud  tlie 
utiial  number  of  eyes,  but  one  eye  was  under 
eacli  arm,  so  that,  when  tliey  wnnte<l  to  look 
iibout  tlieni,  they  were  obliged  to  lill  up  their 
arniH.  Not  liking  these  strange  eonipuinons, 
he  went  still  IV.rlhev  -outhwii-d,  and  there  he 
saw  people  witli  tails  a  yard  in  length,  and 
with  faces  like  monkcvs.  Hut  the  most  hor- 
rible people  among  whom  he  travelleil  \\ere 
dwarts,  who  had  such  enormous  ears  ihiil, 
wlun  Ihey  wished  to  rest  for  tin'  night,  tliey 
bprcad  one  car  beneatli  Miem  for  a  mattress, 
and  the  oilier  above  the  a  by  way  of  cover- 

iic^. 

*i'he  hlrangc  part  in  connection  with  these 
■wild  tales  is,  that  none  of  them  are  new.  To 
the  lovers  of  old  legends  all  these  monstrous 
races  of  men  are  nerfectly  familiar.  More- 
over, in  tliat  wonderful  old  book,  the  '•  Nu- 
remberg Chronicle,'"  there  are  woodcuts  of  all 
the  strange  people.  There  arc  tlie  AcephaU ; 
whose  eyes  are  in  their  breasts;  there  are 
the  tailed  men,  tlie  ape-faced  men,  the 
dwarfs,  and  the  large-cared  men.  The  ori- 
<»in  of  several  of  these  wild  notions  is  evi- 
dent enough,  and  it  seems  piobalile  tliat  the 
idea  of  the  large-eared  race  arose  fn^m  the 
enormous  ears  of  the  African  elephant,  one 
of  wliich  is  large  enough  to  shelter  a  man 
beneath  its  covert. 

To  return  to  tiie  Shir  women.  Thoy  are 
^ery  tbnd  of  ornament,  and  nearly  all  tlic 
iron  in  the  country  which  is  not  used  in 
tlie  decoration  of  pipes,  or  for  the  "  spade- 
money,"  is  worn  upon  the  legs  of  the  women, 
lliiiiis  of  considerable  thickness  are  fastened 
rouiid  the  ankles,  and  a  woman  of  considera- 
tion will  oiten  have  so  many  of  these  rings 
that  they  extend  far  up  the  leg.  As  the 
women  walk,  these  rings  make  a  clanking 


soun.l,  R.H  if  the>  wore  iron  fettcru;  but 
nmonjr  the  -^hlr  beiles  this  houikI  '-<  lliollglit 
i,  bo\er,  liushionable,  and  th<  oultivale 
the  art  of  walking  so  as  to  itiake  the  aukletit 
clank  as  mueli  as  nossilile.  rherc  in  another 
ornament  of  which  they  me  very  !on(  . 
They  take  the  shells  of  the  i  U  •  f  mussel, 
and  cut  it  into  small  circular  pieces,  about 
rhe  size  of  ordinary  pearl  biatons.  These 
are  strung  together  will  the  hair  of  the  gi- 
ralfe's-tail,  which  is  m  irly  as  strong  as  iron 
wire,  and  are  ratlierelfc  live  wh.  ii  contrasted 
with  !lie  Idack  skins  .  i  the  wearers.  liike 
the  Wanyoro  and  otlur  tribes,  the  Shir  ot 
both  sexes  knock  out  the  incisor  teeth  of  the 
lower  jaw. 

These  women  are  skilful  as  basket  makers, 
the  principal  material  being  tlie  leaf  of  tlie 
dome  or  do<im  i>alni.  1  havf  a  mat  ol  their 
manufacture,  which  is  wovt  i  so  nciaily  and 
closely,  and  with  so  tasteful  an  arrangeiiniit 
of  colors.  111.' ■  might  easily  be  taken  l<.r 
the  work  ot  Kuropean.  It  is  oval,  and 
about  eightiM  indies  in  diameter.  Tlio 
centre  is  deep-red,  surrounded  liy  alternaio 
riii"s  of  red  and  black,  which  have  a  very 
iidinirable  liVect  upon  the  pale-yellow  of  the 

mat  itself.  ...  .  .    ,         , 

The  food  of  the  Shir  tribe  consists  largely 
of  the  lotus-seed,  the  white  species  lieiiig 
that  which  is  commonly  used.  Just  before 
the  see<l  is  ripe  it  is  gathered  in  tlie  pod, 
whieli  looks  something  like  an  artielioke, 
and  contains  a  vast  (piantity  of  little  grahis, 
rather  like  those  of  tlie  poppy  both  in  size 
and  tlavor.  When  gathered,  the  pods  are 
bored  and  strung  upon  reeds  about  four  feet 
in  length.  They  are  then  taken  into  the 
village,  dried  in  the  sun,  and  stored  away  tor 
food!  The  fruit  of  the  doom  palm  is  also 
ground  and  used  as  tlour.  ~    ,.  ^ 

There  is  one  very  strange  kind  ot  diet 
which  iirevails  along  the  upiier  part  of  the 
White  Nile.  Tlie  i)eople  have  large  herds 
of  cattle,  and  they  not  only  live  on  the  milk, 
but  bleed  them  monthly,  and  cook  the  blood 
witli  their  tlour  and  meal. 


TIIE  BARI. 


Between  lat.  4°  and  8°  N,  and  long.  31° 
b:)'  E.  there  are  several  tribes  so  peculiar  as 
to  deserve  a  brief  notice  before  we  pass 
westward  to  the  land  of  the  negroes.  The 
lirsl  of  these  is  the  Bari  tribe,  which  is  situ- 
ated on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Nile. 

They  are  a  warlike  and  dangerous  tribe, 
being  well  armed,  and  capable  of  using  their 
weapons,  so  that  a  traveller  who  wishes  to 
pass  safely  through  their  land  must  bo  able 
to  show  an  armed  front.  When  Captains 
Speke  and  Grant  passed  through  their  coun- 
try, an  umbrella  Wiis  accidentally  left  behind, 
aiid  some  of  the  men  sent  to  fetcli  it.    The 


Bari,  however,  drew  up  in  battle  array,  evi- 
dently knowing  that  without  their  leaders 
the  men  might  be  safely  bullied,  so  tliat  the 
umbrella  was  left  to  the  mercies  of  the  Bari 

'^^hief.  ,  .  .,     _-.,     ^, 

Owing  to  their  iiositum  on  the  Nile,  thi  y 
do  a  great  business  in  tlie  slave  trade,  for  as 
far  as  Gondokoro,  the  capital  of  the  Ban 
country,  steamers  have  been  able  to  asceiiil 
the  river.  Consequently,  every  party  ot 
stnui"ers  is  supjiosed — and  mostly  with 
truth  — to  be  a  slaving  expedition,  and  is 
dreaded  by  (me  part  of  the  pcipulation,  whiU- 
it  is  courted  by  the  other.    TIic  quarrelsome 


THE  nOY'S  STRATAGExM. 


463 


fettcr«;  but 
(1  U  lltdtight 
\v\  cultivulo 
)  the  anklola 
K'  Ik  luiDthfT 
very  Joiul. 
Ivcr  inuKscl, 
pii'ces,  iibout 
toiiH.  TlicHO 
lir  of  llio  Ri- 
tronj»  H8  iron 
11 1'ontrasti'd 
"uriTS.  liikc 
,  the  Sliir  of 
r  teeth  of  the 


nsists  larffdy 
spccifH  bciiii^ 
JuHt  bi'lorc 
1  ill  tliu  iiotl, 
[Ui  artitlioki', 
f  littlo  fjraiiis, 
'  both  in  size 
tlic  1)1  kIs  are 
liout  tour  tVet 
ken  into  tlie 
.orid  away  for 
palm  is  also 

kind  of  (liot 
;r  part  of  tbo 
I!  larn;('  iii'rcN 
e  on  till'  milk, 
;ook  the  blood 


:tlc  array,  ovi- 

tlieir  leudtTH 

id,  »o  tliat  the 

ies  of  the  Bari 

the  Nile,  tht  y 
,-e  trade,  for  as 
il  of  the  Hari 
iblc  to  ascend 
very  party  of 
,  mostly  with 
Klition,  and  is 
pulation,  while 
lie  quarrelsome 


(linpoHition  of  tho  liar:  has  often  bron^jht 
them  into  collision  wilh  the  trmlcrH,  and,  as 
nilf;ht  he  irnnpfined,  tho  HUperior  arinn  and 
dlNdpline  of  lliu  latter  have  jjiven  them  sueii 
a  Huperiority,  that  the  Hari,  are  not  as 
trouhlesomo  iw  they  used  to  tie.  Still,  tlxiy 
are  ahvayn  on  thtt  watch  for  nn  opportunity 
f  extortion,  and,  if  u  traveller  even  sits 
under  a  tree,  lliey  will  demand  payment  for 
its  «lia<le. 

When  Sir  S.  Bakor  was  at  fJondokoro,  he 
was  looked  upon  as  a  spy  and  opposer  of 
the  slave-trade,  and  eonsemiently  ran  mueh 
grcalcr  risk  of  heinfj;  killed  than  amonj;  tli 
aeknowledgcd  savage  trilx  s  of  tho  interior. 
And  as  the  slave  dealers  had  further  eoiniili- 
cated  matters  by  stealiiij;  caKle  from  one 
Rub-tribe,  with  wlii 'h  they  boiij^ht  slaves 
from  another,  the  journey  tfirough  Ibiri-liuid 
was  certain  to  be  most  perilous,  and  prob- 
ably would  be  rendered  impossible.' 

Once  they  or<^anize(l  a  rej^ular  attack  upon 
the  party,  stationinjj  theujselves  on  either 
side  of  a  rocky  goru;e  througli  which  tho  road 
vui,  and  keeping  up  a  contiiin  1  discharge 
.if  llieir  poisoned  arrows.  Fortunatelv,  some 
of  the  natives,  brilliant  in  their  scarlet  war 
paint,  had  been  seen  ahead  of  the  gorge, 
and  preparations  had  Ik ni  made  for  receiv- 
ing the  attack.  They  ran  along  the  rocks 
like  luonkeys,  every  now  and  then  balling 
to  discharge  a  pofsoned  ariow,  and  then 
rtmtiing  on  in  reuiliness  for  another  .shot. 
Thcv  show,  much  courage  on  the  occasion 
cimiing  wilhm  titty  or  si.\ty  yards  of  the 
nriiicd  escort,  in  sjiite  of  tht-ir  fire-arms, 
viiich  they  seemed  justiliablv  to  despise,  as 
t!ie  men  who  carried  them  had  no  idea  of 
aim,  and,  ]M-ovided  that  they  pointed  a  mus- 
k.'t  somewhere  toward  the  eiiemv,  and  tired 
i»,  thought  that  they  h.id  done  all  that  was 
r(M|uirc(l. 

IFDwever.  the  Bari  were  quite  as  b.ad  as 
nrcluMs.  and  not  a  single  arrow  took  ctfect. 
■^f;Uly  were  <liverted  from  their  line  by  the 
iiraiiches  of  trees  and  the  clusters  of  nani- 
bno,  while  (hose  that  (lew  straight  were 
easily  avoided,  on  account  of  the  weakness 
ami  stilfness  of  the  bow,  \vbich  would  only 
Itniject  (lieni  feebly  and  slowly.  The  end  of 
(lie  skirmish  was  "that,  although  tiio  leader 
of  the  expedition  did  not  tJiink  it  worth 
while  to  tire  at  so  iuiiignitioant  an  enemy, 
one  of  tlic  Bari  was  somehow  shot  through 
the  body,  probably  by  a  bullet  aimed  at 
Roinebody  else,  and  a  "few  were  thought  to 
be  wounded.  They  then  took  to  their  heels 
and  ran  otf. 

During  the  march  the  Bari  still  hung 
about  the  caravan,  and  at  night  completely 
surrounded  it,  (heir  forms  being  quite  invis- 
ible unless  the  sentinel  lay  on  the  ground, 
and  contrived  to  see  the  outline  of  their 
forms  above  the  horizon.  They  even  were 
audacious  enough  to  creep  close  to  the  camp, 
and  discharge  their  arrows  at  random  into  it, 
m  the  hope  of  hitting  some  one;  but  this 


modo  of  assault  was  elTeetually  checked  by  a 
volley  of  buckshot,  which  killed  one  of  (he 
most  daring  of  (hem.  When  his  body  wh« 
louiui  next  morning,  lying  about  thirty  yards 
rtom  the  camp,  the  bow  was  in  his  hand,  and 
■1    supiily  of  poi-oned  m-rows  by  his  side. 

"urot  bisarro'  ^  were  afterward  found  in 
I  I'c  camp  uid  their  Ingeniously  barbed  heads 
ch.irged  with  de.illy  poison  showed  that  the 
ilcath  ot  the  former  owner  was  well  deserved 

It  was  fortunate  for  the  travellers  that  the 
Ban  are  such  wretehod  archers,  as  the  ar- 
rows, when  they  do  strike  a  man,  aro  tolera- 
bly sure  to  kill  him.  The  poison  with  which 
they  are  imbued  hiwt  not  the  rajiiditv  of  ac- 
tion which  distinguishes  that  of  tbe  Bos- 
Jesman,  but  it  is  scarcely  less  formidable, 
though  less  swift.  The  ethct  of  the  iioison 
IS  to  destroy  tbe  life  of  the  surrounding  llesh 
so  that  a  liint)  which  has  been  pierced  by 
oiie  of  tho  arrows  is  attacked  by  a  slow  kind 
ol  mortification,  and  thus  the  wound  eir<iires 
death,  which  is  far  more  painlul,  because  so 
inucli  slower,  than  that  which  is  caused  by 
the  poison-grub,  the  euiihorbia  juice,  or  tho 
venom  of  the  serjicnt. 

Uii])leasaiu  as  these  I?ari  are  in  their 
ordinary  state,  (hey  can  be  trained  into  good 
and  taithful  attendants,  and  are  excellent 
material    for    soldiers.     On    one   occasion, 


when  a  larg(M)arty  of  the  Ma<li  had  aVtack'ed 
of  traders,  killed  (he  standard-bean.-r. 


a  body 

and  nearly  carried  oil"  the  standard' itself,  a 
young  IJari  boy  came  (o  (lie  rescue,  shot 
with  bis  pistol  the  man  who  was  carryin"o(r 
the  standard,  snatched  it  from  him,  and  t"ook 
It  safely  to  his  master. 

One  of  these  Bari  lads,adrummernamcd 
Arnoiit,  saved  the  life  of  his  master  by  a 
stratagem.  AVhile  the  latter  was  reloading 
his  gnu,  he  was  attacked  by  several  natives', 
when  young  Arnout  ran 'up,  and,  though 
weaponless,  jn-esented  his  drumstick  at  (he 
eneiny.  Thinking  it  to  be  some  novel  kind 
ot  (ire-arm,  the  assailants  ran  away,  leavinir 
Arnout  ni.aster  of  the  field. 

Th(>  appearance  of  the  Bari  is  rather 
remarkable.  Their  heads  are  round  and  bul- 
let-.shaped,  wi(h  low  foreheads,  and  much 
development  b(diind  (lie  ears  and  at  the 
nape  of  the  neck,  .so  that  t!ie  general  con- 
tbrmation  of  the  head  is  anything  but  pleas- 
ing, and  is  a  good  index  to'  the  character  of 
the  iieoplc.  As  they  shave  their  heads,  the 
formation  of  the  skull  is  easily  seen.  They 
are  a  tall,  well-grown,  and  well-fed  people, 
thus  being  a  great  contrast  to  the  Kytch  and 
several  other  tribes;  and,  .although  they 
wear  but  litdo  clothing,  they  contrive  to 
spend  much  time  on  nersonal  adornment. 
The  men  shave  the  whole  of  their  heads 
with  the  exception  of  a  little  tuft  of  hair  on' 
the  top,  which  is  preserved  as  an  attachment 
tor  a  few  feathers  from  a  cock's  Uiil.  When 
they  go  to  war.  and  even  in  their  own  vil- 
lages, they  rub  themselves  with  a  kind  of 
vermilion  mixed  with  -jreaae,  and  cover  the 


m 


7 


^^. 


<?y 


'e. 


'^     At' 


/a 


'>/  -V 


w/ 


om 


W/ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


[f  IM  IIM 
1^  i^  mil  2.2 


I.I 


£  Ifi 


2.0 


1.8 


11-25  11.4    11.6 


PhotDgraptiic 

Sciences 

Ck3rpomtion 


///. 


M/.. 


{./ 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


^^ 


\ 


'^ 


t*, 


V  /M^.. 


<? 


.rs 


"^C 
% 


N? 


;\ 


% 


ri:^ 


O" 


\ 


«^ 


'ii" 


I 


464 


THE  DJIBBA. 


!    i 


w^iole  of  their  persons  with  this  pigment. 
The  men  never  stir  without  their  weapons, 
which  consist  of  a  bow,  arrpws,  and  a 
spear. 

The  bow  is  fuiry  six  feet  in  length,  and 
looks  a  very  formidable  weapon;  but  it  is  so 
stiff  and  inelastic  that,  as  has  been  already 
mentioned,  it  cannot  propel  the  heavy  ar- 
rows with   much   force.    The    arrows  are 
cruelly  barbed,  and  the  butt  of  the  shaft  is 
8i)read  out  so  as  to  allow  a  wide  notch  to  be 
cut  m  it    This  widened  butt  is  seen  in  ar- 
rows throughou ,  a  large  part  of  Africa;  and 
there  is  now  before  me  a  Zanzibar  quiver 
full  of  arrows,  kindly  presented  by  J.  A. 
Wood,  Esq.,  R.N.    These  arrows  are  made 
with  wonderful  neatness,  but  are  spoiled  in 
appearance  by  the  width  of  the  butt.    How 
the  natives  can  use  these  arrows  without 
having  their  left  hand  cut  to  pieces  by  the 
butt  IS  really  wonderful;    and  as  it  must 
strike  against  the  bow,  and  ieflect  the  ar- 
row from  its  intended  course,  the  wretched 
archery  of  the  natives  is  accounted  fur. 

Besides  his  weapon,  the  Bari  man  always 
carries  his  stool,  slinging  the  latter  behind 
lum.  When  he  stands,  he  has  an  odd  mode 
ot  reposing  himsslf.  which  reminds  the 
observer  of  the  stork,  flamingo,  and  other 
long-shanked  birds.  One  foot  rests  on  the 
ground,  while  the  other  is  pressed  against 
the  leg  just  below  the  knee,  and  thT  man 
steadies  himself  by  resting  tlie  butt  of  the 
sjiear  on  the  ground.  Generally,  the  bow, 
arrows  and  pipe  are  tucked  between  the 
Ic"^  while  the  owner  is  standing. 

The  women  shave  the  whole  of  their 
Jieads,  and,  by  way  of  dress,  wear  a  little 
apron  about  six  inches  sauare,  sometimes 
made  of  beads  strung  together,  and  some- 
times of  iron  rings  linked  in  each  other  like 
Cham  mail.    These  last  aprons  are  much 


valued.  They  also  adorn  themselves  bv 
making  a  vast  quantity  of  semi-circular  scars 
on  the  body,  fi-om  the  breast  down  to  the 
waist,  so  that  at  a  little  distance  they  look 
as  if  they  wore  a  cuirass  of  scales.  They 
are  as  fond  of  the  vermilion  and  greaae  as 
their  husbands,  and  the  effect  of  this  pig- 
nient  on  the  scars  is  to  increase  the  resem- 
blance to  scale  armor. 

The  houses  are  neatly  built.  Each  family 
resides  within  a  considerable  space  sur- 
rounded by  a  hedge  of  euphorbia,  and  the 
whole  of  the  interior  is  levelled,  and  care- 
fully laid  down  with  a  sort  of  cement,  com- 
posed of  wood-ashes,  cow-dung,  and  clay. 
This  mixture  soon  dries  in  the  sun,  and 
forms  a  kind  of  asphalt,  so  that  it  can  be 
swept  easil>.  The  huts  are  floored  with 
the  same  material,  and  both  they  and  the 
enclosure  are  kept  scrupulously  clean.  The 
homestead  (see  engraving)  consists  of  a 
number  ol  huts,  according  to  the  size  of  the 
family;  and  near  them  are  placed  the  gran- 
aries, which  are  carefully  raised  on  posts. 

As  is  the  case  in  so  many  parts  of  Africa 
the  roof  of  the  circular  hut  projects  for  some' 
distance  beyond  the  low  walls,  so  as  to  forin 
a  sort  of  shady  veranda.  The  door  of 
ttie  hut  is  not  more  than  two  feet  high. 
This  form  of  hut  vemlnds  the  traveller  of 
the  Biechuana  houses,  while  another  custom 
IS  almost  exactly  identical  with  one  which  is 
practised  among  the  Damaras.  If  the  reader 
will  refer  to  page  302,  he  will  see  a  repre- 
sentation of  a  Damara  tomb.  The  Bari 
bury  their  dead  within  the  enclosure  of  the 
homestead,  and  in  like  manner  fix  a  pole  in 
the  ground,  and  tie  to  it  the  horns  and  skulls 
of  oxen.  In  order  to  show  that  it  is  the  tomb 
of  a  Bari,  a  tuft  of  cock's  feathers  is  fastened 
to  the  top  of  the  pole,  in  imitation  of  that 
which  the  deceased  once  bore  on  his  Ijoad. 


THE  DJIBBA. 


Prockedinq  still  northward,  and  diverg- 
ing a  little  to  the  east,  we  come  to  a  large 
and  formidable  tribe  called  the  Djibba. 
Their  territory  is  situated  about  lat.  7°  N. 
and  long.  34°  E.,  and  occupies  a  large  tract  of 
country  almost  encircled  by  the  Sobat  River, 
one  of  the  many  tributaries  of  the  Nile. 

The  Djibba  are  a  bold  and  warlike  tiibe. 
They  are  not  negroes,  neither  are  they 
black,  their  color  being  a  dark  brown. 
Iheir  stature  is  tall,  and,  except  in  color, 
they  bear  much  resemblance  to  the  Shil- 
looks,  who  will  be  presently  described.  It 
has  been  thought  that  they  may  be  an  off- 
shoot of  that  tribe,  but  they  indignantly 
deny  any  relationship  either  to  the  Shillook 
or  any  other  tribe:  and  even  hold  them- 
selven  aloof  from  the  warlike  Dinkas,  with 
whom  80  many  inferior  tribes  are  orly  too 
glad  to  claim  relationship.  | 


These  people  are  essentially  warriors,  and 
have  a  most  remarkable  set  of  weapons 
Spears  of  course  they  possess,  and  he  is  a 
happy  man  who  has  a  weapon  with  an  iron 
head.    Iron  is  scarce  in  the  Djibba  country 
and,  m  consequence,  many  o'f  the  warriors 
are  obliged  to  content  themselves  with  faat- 
enitig  the  sharp  horns  of  antelopes  to  their 
spear  shaft,  until  they  can  manage  to  pro- 
cure the  coveted  iron  head.  When  a  Djibba 
warrior  does  possess  so  valuable  a  weapon 
he  takes  very  great  care  of  it,  keeping  the 
edges  as  sharp  as  a  r.izor,  and  coveriiifi  the 
head  with  a  hide  sheath.    The  shoa^i  is 
attached  to  the  shaft  by  a  thontj,  so  that 
there  shall  be  no  danger  of  losing  it  and  it 
IS  never  uncovered  except  when  the  spear 
18  to  be  used.    They  also  have  clubs  and 
axes  of  different  shapes.    The  most  common 
club  IS  formed  from  a  dark,  hard,  and  heavy 


;hemselvcs  by 
i-circular  scars 
t  down  to  tlio 
ince  they  look 
scales.  They 
and  grease  as 
ct  of  this  pig- 
ase  the  reseni- 

Each  family 
le    space   sur- 
orbla,  and  the 
lied,  and  care- 
cement,  com- 
mg,  and  clay, 
the  sun,  and 
hat  it  can  be 
I  floored  with 
they  an4  the 
y  clean.    The 
consists  of  a 
;he  size  of  the 
ced  the  gran- 
id  on  posts. 
xtta  of  Africa, 
jects  for  some 
so  as  to  forin 
rhe   door    of 
vo  feet   high, 
e  traveller  of 
lother  custom 
1  one  which  is 
If  the  reader 
see  a  repre- 
K     The  llari 
;lo8ure  of  the 
p  fix  a  pole  in 
rnsand  skulls 
it  is  the  tomb 
rs  is  fastened 
ation  of  that 
in  his  !u;urt. 


[varriors,  and 
of  weapons, 
and  he  is  a 
vith  an  iron 
bba  country, 
the  warrio>-s 
es  with  faat- 
pes  to  their 
lage  to  pro- 
len  a  Djibba 
le  a  weapon, 
keeping  the 
Joveriuf'  the 
0  sheafli   is 
>ng,  so  that 
ng  it,  and  it 
n  the  spear 
i  clubs  and 
58t  common 
,  and  heavy 


(10   A    HAI!1    IIOMKSIKAI) 


ii-1    I'L.VKliAL  DA.NcJi. 
iSeu  pinfo  4011.1 


(405; 


I& 


A  PBOUD  WABRIOB. 


467 


wood,  and  is  remarkable  for  the  musliroom- 
.ike  shape  of  the  head.  This  shape  is  par- 
ticularly mentioned,  because  it  is  a  favorite 
one  m  Central  Africa,  and  among  the  Dor 
tribe  expands  until  it  is  exactly  like  a  large 
flat-headed  mushroom,  with  sharp  edges. 
The  most  characteristic  form  of  axe  reaem- 
bles  the  battle-axe  of  the  Middle  Ages 
which  was  equally  adapted  for  thrusting  or 
striking.  " 

If  the  reader  will  refer  to  p.  449,  he  will 
seoj  over  the  title  "  Bracelets,"  two  objects 
which  serve  the  double  purpose  of  orna- 
ments and  weapons.  As  is  evident  from 
their  shape,  they  are  worn  on  the  wrist,  so 
that  the  wearer  is  never  entirely  unarnnd. 
The  Djibo,  workman  takes  a  thin  plate  of 
iron,  sharp', ns  the  edges,  and  cuts  a  row  of 
deep  notciies  along  them;  he  then  rolls  it 
longitudinally,  so  as  to  form  half  a  cylinder- 
and,  lastly,  bends  it  round  into  the  form  of  a 
bracelet.  When  it  is  placed  on  tlie  wrist 
the  two  ends  are  pressed  or  hammered  to- 
gether, until  the  bracelet  is  held  firmly  in 
its  place.  •' 

Another  far  more  formidable  weapon,  fig 
2.  is  a  bracelet  made  of  a  flat  plate  of  iron 
about  an  inch  and  a  half  in  width.  On  the 
inside  it  is  very  thick,  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
at  least,  and  it  is  thinned  gradually  to  the 
ed^e,  which  is  kept  exceedingly  sharp.  In 
order  to  prudent  it  from  injuring  the  wearer 
a  sort  of  sheath  of  stout  leather  runs  rounci 
the  edge,  and  is  held  in  its  place  by  its  own 
elasticity,  so  that  it  can  be  pulled  off  in  a 
moment,  and  replaced  almost  as  quickly. 
Whenever  the  warrior  comes  to  cl'  oe  quar- 
ters, he  strips  off  the  leathern  sheath,  and 
rushing  in  upon  his  adversary,  strikes  at  the 
face  with  the  sharp  edge,  or,  flinging  thw  left 
arm  round  him,  cuts  his  naked  body  almost 
in*:o  pieces  with  rapid  strokes  of  this  terri- 
ble weapon. 

A  well-armed  Djibba  warrior  also  carries 
II  club  made  on  exactly  the  same  principle. 
It  18  about  the  size  of  an  ordinary  racket 
and  very  nearly  the  same  shape,  except  that 
the  flattened  portion  is  not  so  regular.  In- 
deed, if  an  ordinary  golf-club  had  a  head 
which  could  be  flattened  out  until  it  was 
about  a  foot  long,  and  seven  or  eight  inches 
wide,  it  would  almost  exactly  resemble  the 
"  assaya,"  as  this  club  is  called.  The  edee 
of  the  weapon  is  kept  very  sharp,  and  is 
guarded  by  a  sheath  of  hide  exactly  like 
that  of  the  knifc-bracelet.  The  New  Zeal- 
anders  formerly  used  an  axe-club  of  similar 
construction,  though  very  much  larger 
iJ^^\^  illustration  on  page  449,  entitled 
bcalp-locks,"  is  shown  another  proof  of  the 
essentiuUy  warlike  nature  of  the  Djibba  tribe 
When  a  Djibba  warrior  kills  a  foe  in  battle 
he  cuts  off  his  head,  and  takes  it  homp  with' 


him;  he  then  cuts  a  number  of  leethern 
thongs,  removes  all  the  hair  from  the  head 
of  the  enemy,  and  hands  them  both  to  a 
friend,  who  undertakes  the  office  of  decorat- 
ing  the  victor  with  the  proofs  of  valor. 

First  the  thongs  are  plaited  into  sixteen 
or  seventeen  bands,  a  part  of  one  being 
shown  of  its  original  size  at  flg.  2,  One 
end  of  the  bands  is  then  woven  firmly  into 
the  back  of  the  head,  and  is  so  manared, 
that  as  the  hair  grows  it  renders  the  fasten- 
ing more  and  more  secnre.  The  hair  of  the 
dead  man  is  then  matted  together  into  a 
sort  of  felt,  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in 
thickness,  and  sewed  firmly  to  the  under 
side  of  the  leathern  bands.  This  process 
being  accomplished,  the  Djibba  warrior 
stalks  proudly  forth,  feeling  himself  every 
mch  a  man,  and  enjoying  the  envy  and 
admiration  of  those  who  have  not  as  yet 
been  fortunate  enough  to  attain  such  an 
honorable  trophy. 

Whenever  he  kills    another  enemy,  ho 
adds  to  the  length,  but  not  to  the  width,  of 
this  singular  ornament;  and  as  he  despoils 
the  slain  man  of  all  his  ornaments,  he  is 
able  to  buy  cowries  with  which  to  enhance 
the  beauty  of  1  ^>  icalp-locks,  fastening  them 
in  rows  along  tno  leathern  bands.    A  war- 
rior of  emv^ence  will  sometimes  have  this 
trophy  oi  .^ordinate  length.    I  have  seen 
one  that  was  brought  ever  by  Mr.  Pctherick, 
which  was  so  long  that,  when  a  man  of 
ordinary  height  placed  it  on  his  head,  the 
end  trailed  on  the  ground.    It  was  so  thickly 
covered  with    cowries,  that    the    leathern 
bands  and  hair  could  not  be  seen  until  it 
was  lifted  up,  and  the  proud  owner  had  also 
extended  the  cowries  over  the  top  of  his 
head  nearly  to  the  eyes  in  front,  and  over 
the  ears  on  either  side.    The  weight  of  this 
ornament  was  enormous,  and  it  is  really 
wonderful  I'lat  any  amount  of  pride  could 
have  induced  any  man  to  subject  himself  to 
such  discomfort    The  celebrated  pearl  suit 
of  Prmce  Esterhazy  must  have  been  singu- 
larly uncomfortable,  but  then  it  was  only 
worn   on   special   occasions,   whereas   the 
Djibba  warrior  cannot  relieve  himself  of 
"'^honorable  but  weighty  decoration. 

The  existence  of  such  an  ornament  shows 
tliat  the  Djibba  are  fond  of  decoration. 
They  are  moderately  well  clothed,  wearing 
goatskin  dresses,  with  the  hairy  side  ou^ 
ward.  The  dress  passes  over  the  left  shoul- 
der, leaving  the  right  arm  free,  and  then 
goes  round  the  waist,  descending  to  mid- 
thigh.  Ivory  armlets  of  good  worimianship 
are  worn  on  the  upper  arm,  heavy  belts  of 
cowries  are  tied  round  the  waist,  and  both 
the  ankles  and  waist  are  ornamented  with 
polished  iron  rings. 


468 


THE  NUEIIR. 


THE  NUEHR. 


We  now  come  to  another  of  those  remark- 
able tribes  which  inhabit  Central  Africa. 

About  lat.  9°  N.  and  long.  25°  E.  there  is 
a  large  district  inhabited  by  a  tribe  called 
the  Kuehr  or  Nouaer.  Contrary  to  the 
usual  custom,  this  tribe  possessep  land  on 
both  sides  of  the  Nile,  which  in  the  midst 
ot  their  territory  spreads  itself  into  a  lake. 
Ihe  Nuehr  are  a  line-looking  race  of  sav- 
ages, and  very  like  savages  they  look.  The 
men  are  tall,  powerful,  and  well-formed, 
but  their  features  approach  the  negro  type, 
and  are  heavier  and  coarser  than  those  of 
the  tribes  which  have  been  previously  men- 
tioned. The  women  are  not  nearly  so  good- 
looking  as  the  men,  and  are  rather  clumsilv 
built.  •' 

Neither  sex  is  much  troubled  with  clothes. 
The  males  never  wear  any  clothes  at  all;  nor 
do  the  females,  until  they  are  married,  when 
they  tie  a  fringe  of  grass  round  their  waists, 
some  of  the  wealthier  wonen  being  able  to 
use  a  leathern  fringe,  of  which   they  are 
very  proud.    Their  ornaments  really  seem 
to  serve  no  other  purpose  but  to  disfigure 
the  wearers  as  mucli  as  possible.    Hcin- 
ning  with  the  head,  the  men  stain  their 
woolly  hair  of  a  dusty  red  by  a  mixture  of 
which  ashes  form    the  chief   part.     They 
then  take  a  sort  of  pipe-clay,  and  plaster  it 
thickly  into  the  hair  at  the  back  part  of  the 
head,  dressing  it  up  and  shaping  it  until  it 
IS  fonned  into  a  cone,  the  slmpe  of  the  or- 
nament varying  according  to  the  caprice  of 
the  individual.    By  means  of  this  clay  head- 
dress i'le  hair  Is  thrown  back  from  the  face, 
the  expression  of  which  is  not  improved  by 
the  horizontal  lines  that  are  tattooed  across 
it. 

A  headdress  of  remarkable  beauty  was 
brought  from  this  tribe  by  Mr.  Petherick, 
and  is  now  in  the  collection  of  Colonel  Lane 
Fox.  It  is  white,  in  imitation  of  the  white 
clay  with  which  the  head  is  usually  deco- 
rated, and  is  made  of  cylindrical  beads 
shaped  as  if  they  were  pieces  of  tobacco 
pipe.  These  beads,  or  bugles,  as  they  ought 
perhaps  to  be  called,  are  threaded  on  string, 
and  fastened  together  in  a  very  ingenious 
manner.  The  singular  point  in  this  head- 
dress is  the  exact  resemblance  to  the  sol- 
dier's casque  of  ancient  Egypt,  and  to  the 
helmets  now  in  use  in  India,  and  other  p.irts 
.of  the  world.    (See  "  Helmet,"  page  449.) 

The  natural  glossy  black  of  the  skin, 
which  has  so  pleasing  an  appearance,  is 
utterly  destroyed  by  a  coating  of  wood 
•asnes,  which  gives  to  the  surface  a  kind  of 
grayish  look.  On  the  upper  ai-m  they  gen- 
erally wear  a  large  armlet  of  ivory,  and 
have  heavy  coils  of  beads  r<.und  their  necks. 
The  wrists  are  adorned  with  rings  of  copper 
and  other  ornaments,  and  on  the  right  wrist 
they  carry  an  iron  ring  armed  with  project- 


ing blades,  very  similar  to  that  which  is 
worn  by  the  Latookas. 

Joctian,  the  chief  of  the  Nuehr  tribe,  was 
(wked  by  Sir  S.  Baker  what  was  the  use  of 
this  weapon,  and  by  way  of  answer  he  sim- 
plv  pointed  to  his  wife's  anus  and  back, 
which  were  covered  with  scars  produced  by 
this  primitive  wife-tamer.  He  seemed  quite 
proud  of  these  marks,  and  evidently  consid- 
ered them  merely  as  ocular  proofs"  (hat  his 
wile  was  properly  subservient  to  her  hus- 
band. In  common  with  the  rest  of  his  tribe, 
he  had  a  small  bag  slung  round  his  neck  by 
way  of  a  pocket,  which  held  bits  of  wood, 
beads,  and  all  kinds  of  trillcs.  Ho  asked  for 
everything  he  saw,  and,  when  anything  of 
small  size  was  given  him,  it  straightway 
went  into  the  bag. 

Siill,  putting  aside  these  two  traits  of 
cruelty  and  covetousncss,  Joctian  seems  to 
have  been  a  tolerably  agreeable  8ava"e,  and 
went  away  delighted  with  the  presents  he 
had  received,  instead  of  grumbling  that  he 
could  not  get  more,  as  is  the  usual  way 
among  savage  chiefs.  It  was  rather  stran"e 
that,  although  he  was  so  charmed  with  beads 
and  bracelets,  he  declined  to  accept  a  knife, 
-saying  that  it  was  useless  to  him.  Hu  had 
m  his  hands  a  huge  pipe,  holding  nearly 
a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  tobacco.  Every 
Nuehr  man  has  one  of  these  pijics,  which 
he  always  carries  with  liiin,  and,  should  his 
supply  of  tobacco  be  exhausted,  he  lights  a 
piece  of  charcoal,  puts  it  into  his  pijie,  and 
inhales  the  vapor  that  it  draws  from  the 
tobacco-saturated  bowl. 

The  women  are  not  so  n.uch  adorned  as 
the  men,  probably  because  the  strongei-  sex 
prefer  to  use  the  ornaments  themselves. 
At  a  nttle  distance  the  women  all  look  as  if 
they  were  smoking  cigarettes.  This  odd 
appearance  is  caused  by  a  strange  ornament 
which  they  wear  in  their  upper  lij).  They 
take  a  piece  of  iron  wire,  aI)oi  four  inches 
in  length,  and  cover  it  with  sr  beads.  A 
hole  is  then  pierced  in  the  upper  lip,  and 
the  ornament  inserted,  so  as  to  project  for- 
ward and  rather  upward. 

The  Nuehr  are  very  fond  of  beads,  and 
are  glad  to  exchange  articles  of  food  for 
them.  One  kind  of  bead,  about  the  size  and 
shape  of  a  pigeon's  egg,  is  greatly  valued  by 
them;  and,  when  Mr.  Petherick  was  travel- 
ling through  their  country,  he  jjurchased  an 
ox  for  eight  such  beads.  The  chief  came 
on  board  the  boat,  and,  as  usual,  asked  for 
everything  he  saw.  Among  other  odd 
things,  he  set  his  affections  on  Mr.  Pether- 
ick's  shoes,  which,  as  they  were  nearly  worn 
out,  were  presented  to  him.  Of  course  they 
were  much  too  small  for  him,  and  the  at- 
tempts which  he  made  to  put  them  on  were 
very  amusing.  After  many  failures,  he 
determined  on  taking  them  home,  whcro 


that  which  is 


b?  Se^lnf.'ll";'^!"  K"^^'  '°  set  them  on 

.oxl  A''"  '"  V'"''*"  entered  the  cabin  and 
saw  the  wonders  of  civilized  life,  h^  S 
quite  overcome  with  the  novel  RrandeuT 
and  proceeded   to  kneel  on  one   knee    in 

chS  "M.r  ^''°  ^'^'"*-''V"»  duetorg;.ea" 
h"  nn  .>""?"'? '"J'  "S:l»t  l»and,  and  turn- 
ing up  the  piilni,Tie  quietly  spat  into  it  and 

T^^^ttZ  '"'"  '''y'4  "^^  'l^"ibeJkt"e  J 
repe.itetl    the    process.      8tafff»ered   at  thi 

man's  au.lacity,  my  first  impulse  w,8  to 
knock  lum  down,  but,  his  fealures  expresS^ 


CHAliACTER  OF  THE  DINKA. 


469 

Snrn'i"*'"*^  ""^J"'  ^  ^•'"'^d   my  ra-o  by 
imeiest.    His  delight  seemed  excessive  and 

hT7{'"Ft'"«  «"'''*'  '^^  expressed  his  c offi 
tion  that  I  must  bo  a  great  chief  s imnnr 
salutes  followed  with  Isach  of  h  s  aSd' 
ants,  and  friendship  was  established."  ThU 
strange  salutation  extends  through  many  of 
the  tribes  that  surround  the  Nuehr-  but^in 
Bome  as  for  example  the  Kytch  Ze'  sail  ter 

Sh^nfr^'^  ^  «P'*  in  the  hand  of  his 
liiend,  and  does  not  really  do  so. 


Still  south  of  the  Nuehr  tribe  we  come 

mac  ot  the  JN^ilo.  Tins  country  is  inhabited 
by  two  nb.-s,  who  are  both  warlike  both  at 
deadly  eud  with  each  other,  and  both  n, 
of  making  iiaoxnected  raids  into  the  e  e- 
mv's  country,  fhe  tribe  that  inhr  its  ho 
left  or  west  bank  is  called  the  Shillook  and 
that  which  occupies  the  eastern  bank  is  the 


THE  DINKA. 


They  have  more  of  th"i  nc<»ro  in  tboir 

Sri,  r"Tt/^"l  T'^''^'^  !-sV'"tS 
aescri  ed.  lliey  include  many  nmaller  or 
8ub-tnbef<,  all  of  which  speak  tlie  same  Vin- 
guage,  or  at  least  a  dialect  of  it?  WUhout 
go...^  into  any  minute  details  as  to    the 

UKe  the  hading  character  sties  of  the  <riWt 
and  form,,  able  Dinka  tribe.    That  thov  ,re 

Indecl  '  iS  Tir"'^  If  ^already  I^^i^S^ 
in  lecd,  had  they  not  been  so,  they  would 
^  g  Mgo  have  been  exterminated;  f^or,  whit 

been  brave  men.  .and  trained  to  ams  ^^  ""' 

v«^nri  "•"■,'■"'  '■'l"'''*  extends  even  to  the 
v^omen  and  was  once  of  very  great  servi  It 
to  Sir  Samuel  IJaker,  while  o.f  h?  tmvels 
A  dangerous  quarrel  had  suddenly  arisen 

Uie  latter  l»l  mt  bohlml  sir  Sanmol  "K. 

st"Siri,Tth;  z^d^i  -F' 


nui^],^5  7'''?'""^  the  lances  of  the  van- 

tTelragnfeS''"'  '"""="  *^°  ''^^'^^  ^^"^ 

The  principal  weapon  of  the  Dinkas  is 

the  lance  but  they  also  use  clubs  of  various 

oK;,r  If  t:V''l  ^'•^"Sly  i-c-mimrtho 
ormiver  ot  certain  clubs  in  use  ainon<r  the 
Polynesians,  and  indeed  mi-ht  eas  iv  e 
mistaken  for  such  weapons  °  The  cub  s 
employed  for  a  double  purpose.  It  is  Lll 
m  the  left  hand,  and  used  .is  a  shiel  f  wUh 
which  to  turn  .aside  the  lance  ^,7  of 
the  enemy,  and,  when  the  enemy  nsb,.pn 
wounded,  the  club  is  ready  forX^  o  eratio 
of  knockmg  out  his  brains.  optiation 

VV.arhke  as  they  may  be  the  r>hi'-,=  „ 

brs'^^hfS^  t^''- '- "  t'Sr  t  i„^{;? 

baSs  of  flo  ter  ''  T^  "'^'^  '■•■•'l"^"'  the 
l.y  drought  S  'n  ""•"''  comnellod  to  do  so 
Pwi  1^?.  "  1 ,  ^'^"^y  ^™  agriculturists  after  a 
fashion,  and  keep  vast  herds  of  cattle  and  it 
•s  chieHy  on  account  of  their  catt  e  tha   thev 

a  tacks  of  tL  ?  ^■^P^f*'  themselves  to  the 
act.vRs  ot   their  inveterate  foes,  the  P'   ■ 

tit  f  1  ^"S*'^'''-'''  ^'"'  »«t  only' steal  v., 

and  swS  t&'f  T  ^•^^•'^"^nt  horsemen, 
anu  s\um  their  steeds  across  the  river  nli 
eing  one  hand  on  the  animal's  quaVters'  Si 
sw.mm.ng  alongside.    They  are  also  ^reat 

Sfie"  on  '\""**^7'  V"'-«"'"^  their  mPglty 
game  on  horseb.ack,  armed  only  with  a 
spear,  eaping  from  the  horse  and  inflict  n- 
a  mortal  wound,  and  springing  on  tEf 
Slo-frn  fef^  WhaSt  h"as'S 
The  dress  of  both  sexes  is  simple  enouf'h 
Jirdirb'JitT'h^P'"*'^  ""S  ^"^i"  '^t?aehed  K 

fxcent  nn       ^  ''•""'   ^f^'""^   ""'^   ""t  before, 

except  on  occas.ons  of  ceremonv  wb^n  if  iJ 
care/ully  brought  round  to  H^nt^Beads 
are  of  course  worn,  the  quantity  vaT-vh^,^ 

The  married  women  wear  small  aprons  and 
the  g,ris  and  children  nothing  afal   \Ath 
the    exception    of  beads  and  other  o7n J 
ments.    llike  those  of  the  Niehr  tribe  the" 
Dmka  women  perforate  the  upjer  lip^'aid 


m 


THE  DINKA. 


|)lm;o  in  it  a  littlo  bit  of  stick  covered  with 
bomlM.  'I'lit.  wonuiii  uro  not  nt  nil  nrotty, 
>>.,»lovi'r  piod   l()oi<H   Mit>v  nmy  liuvo   liiui 


hciiiK  <H>ni|tl(il.ily  iioutraiizml  liy  tli 
of  Nlinyin^  iho  lioml.    'I'ho  giils  ai 


hitl)it 

,.     ,     ,.     - n-'"  "ii*  very 

loiiji  ol  an  (iniimuwif,  wliioli  in  a  Horiim  lil 
liollow  ii-Dii  coiioN,  about  Imll"  nn  iiu-h  or  so 
in  (liann'tir  iit  Ibu  bottom,  and  (upurinir  to  a 
i)oint  alH.vo.  TliroiiKli  tl.o  upimr  i)Vu-t  a 
liolo  in  horoti,  Ko  that  tlio  ooncH  ran  b« 
Btnui^r  on  a  loallu<rn  thonjj;.  Tlioy  aro  of 
yci-y  <litl.'ivut  b-nKtim;  Uiomo  wliidi  conio 
111  IVont  boMif,'  alxait  lour  in(  bos  lon>-,  wbib« 
(lioso  at  lliK  back  nuMisuro  l)aroiv  two 
inc-li|.8.  As  lb(>  >;irl  walks  aliout,  Ihis'waist- 
l>an.l  K'vi's  loilii  a  iiicasaiit  tinkling,',  of 
whu-b  Ibt'  wcart-r  is  cxlrcniciv  proud.  Such 
nu  ornament  is  cxlrcmdv  iirizcd,  and,  as 
It  IS  aJmosi  indcstructibb>,  it  is  liaiuicd 
down  I'rom  mollicr  to  diild,  and  so  there  is 
scarcely  a  Dinku  maiden  who  docs  not  pos- 
sess one.  ' 

Tlie   pursuits  of  (Iio  Dinkaa  in  tiino  ot 
jieacc  arc  mostly  limited   to  liuntini,'  and 
tondiiif;  cattle.     Agriculture   is   rather  de- 
spised, and  jell  to  (he  women,  and  the  con- 
sequence IS,  lIiiU  the  capai)ilities  of  tlie  soil 
are    never   fairly    developed.     Indeed,  they 
only  till  .small  patches  of  >;ionn(i  near  IlieiV 
but.s,    and    there    cultivate    maize,    millet 
gourds,  yams,  nut.s,  cottiui,  (.ipsicuin    and" 
siinilai;  plants.    They  seldom  cat  the  llcsh 
ot  their  cattle,  unless  a  cow  liappen.s  to  die 
n  natural  death,  in  wliich  ca.se  a  yrcat  feast 
IS  held:  for  their  supplies  of  meat  tliey  trust 
almost  cuiircly  („   ibeir  skill  in  hunting, 
ihe  rich    live   luincipallv   on   tlie   milk   of 
their    cattle,  and,  should   tbev  liave   more 
milk  than  they  can  consume,  llu'v  liurter  it 
with  other  trilies  tor  f,'rain.    Tlu-y'are  clever 
tlsliermcn.  and  those  wlio  are  not  well  otl 
are   accu.st.uned    to   fieqiient   the   l)aiiks  of 
rivers  or  lakes,  (ryiufj;  to  kill  tim  iiippopota- 
iniis,  and  in  the  mean  time  suli.sisting   on 
lisb.    They  have  an  iuijeuious  incUiod   of 
transportmi,'  tisli  to  a  distance  by  wrappiui/ 
Ibeni  in  tldck  clay,  and,  a.s  thi.s  oovorini,'  caij 
be  made  air-tight,  tlie  tish  can  be  kept  for 
several  days  even  in  so  liot  a  country. 

AKriculture  l)einjj  thus  neglected,  it  nat- 
unUI^y  (oUows  that  ),'reat  distress  is  occasion- 
nllyielt  in  tlie  country, ureat  numbers  being 
reduced  to  spend  tlie  wliole  of  tlicir  time  in 
searchiiif.'  for  grains  and  berries.  Some- 
times they  hire  themselves  as  .servants,  and 
take  care  of  the  lierds;  and  in  bad  years  it 
IS  not  uncommon  to  lind  in  the  biisli  the 
bodies  of  men,  women,  and  children,  wlio 
have  died  from  luuiger  in  a  country  whicli 
IS  eapal)le  .)f  supplying  both  the  nccessaiics 
and  luxuries  of  life. 

With  one  brancli  of  the  Dinka  tribe,  Mr. 
1  etherick  reiuaiued  for  some  time,  and  had 
a  go<Hl  opportunity  for  studying  tlieir  man- 
ners. His  lirst  reception  was  not  a  promis- 
ing one,  as  the  chief  fully  intended  to  take 
by  lorce  oil  the  beads  that  had  bceu  brought 


for  the  purchaHo  of  Ivory,  and  threatened 
destriielion  to  the  wliole  party  if  this  niod- 
ost  notion  were  not  at  once  carried  out. 
However,  tlie  illscliarge  of  a  gnu,  and  ita 
ellccts  at  a  distance,  terrilled  the  chief  to 
such  an  extent,  that  be  was  very  glad  to 
assume  a  inoro  hunil)le  tone.  'I'he  next 
Htratagiin  wan  to  tVightcii  away  all  Ihe  por- 
ters, so  that  the  nierehaiii'liMe  could  not  bo 
carried  out  of  the  country,  and  to  cut  otftiio 
sujiply  of  water  and  provisions,  in  (uder  to 
Ibrce  Mr.  I'etjierick  and  bis  partv  to  leave 
tlie  district.  Jiidin-d,  the  chid  staled  |)lainly 
that,  as  they  could  not  remove  their  gooifs 
out  of  his  country,  the  best  plan  would  In;  to 
band  them  over  at  once,  and  proceed  on  their 
journey. 

Previous  to  (lu'se  events,  the  life  of  tlio 
same  traveller  liad  been  endangered  by  an 
alliance  of  six    Dinka   tribes   against   liini, 
they  having  imbibed  the  usual   notion  tliat 
tlie  only  object  of  a  white  man  in  coming 
into  their  territory  was  to  destroy  the  slave- 
trade,  and  bring  white  enemies  among  tbeni. 
This  was  while  he  was  innong  the  Dor  tribe, 
with  some  of  whom  Ihe  Dinkas  had  alrtady 
contrived   lo  pick  .Kpiarrd.     He  Iherdbio 
teiiced  in  his  camp  very  strongly,  and,  by 
creeling  a  kind  ol    bast'ien  at  each   angle, 
made    it  so  formidable  a  fortress    Ibat   the 
Dinkas  were  afraid  to  attack  it.     They  bung 
about  the   place  for  six  weeks,  and  "at  last 
Mr.  I'etlienck  (h'lermincd  on  striking  a  ladd 
stroke,  and   turning  the   laldcs  upon  them. 
Knowing   the  exceeding  value  which  they 
placed  on  cattle,  lie  thought  that  if  be  could 
carry  olf  one  of  their  herds  tlicv  would  bo 
brought  to  Hair  senses.     He  sciit  olf  a  de- 
tacbnient  of  his  party,  who  seized  .six  liuii- 
dred  head  of  cattle,  liesides  slieei)  and  go.-.ts 
innumerable.     As  had  been  anticipated,  the 
Dinkas,  who  really  value  their  cattle  much 
more  than  liiiinan  life,  wen^  ternii-stricken, 
and   came   humbly  suing   Ibr  peace.     This 
was  granted,  on  l"heir  giving  in  Ibeir  sub- 
mission, and  llie  caltli!  were  liaudi d  over  to 
a  Dor  chief,  in  order  lo  juovide  food  lor  bis 
village.     However.   Ihe    Dinkas    kept    liad 
lailh,  tor  tlie^-  continually  hung  upon   Mr. 
IVtherick's  hue  of  niardi;  and  once  a  sii))- 
tribe,  called  Ajack.  had  tlic  tenieiity  to  niako 
an  open  diarge.    C)f  course  they  were  at  onco 
repulsed,  with  a  loss  of  several  dead   and 
wounded;  iint  in  consennence  t)f  these  ro- 
nealed   attjicks   it  was   tonnd    necessary  to 
halt  for  Ihe  niglit  in  some  catlle-shed,  and 
to  loop-hole  tlie  walls  for  niu.sketiy. 

A  considerable  trade  in  beads  and  tusks 
was  done  among  the  Dinka  tribe,  who  at 
last  became  rather  sliari)  dealers.  Mr. 
I'etherick  gives  an  amusing  acciamt  of  one 
of  their  markets:  — "  After  lifUen  days' 
tedious  tracking,  we  made  tiist  under  some 
Dinka  villages  situated  on  its  southern  bank, 
where  wc  succeeded  in  bartering  numeroua 
tusks  from  the  natives,  who  received  us  with 
opou  arms,  iu  tho  hope  that  we  would  de- 


fi'iid  tlu'in,  ill  cnni\  of  ..nion/c v    «v,....  n 

"I    piocccdcd    on   mIioi'v!    Io    i„n,.#    n,,,,,, 


AN  EMUASHIT  OF  PEACE. 


m 


'"k'a  I'.i;,'  ol  viii-inu.s  klnr^^  of  bt-adH  iiiul  l,,.ic 
<•!    111.'   iMNk,  wlK.  ()l,Ht^,mtoly  nit^ii,,..,!     il 

,„."i ■'"''■,  V'T'"'''  "'"  l'»«"'y  "f  llio  liri.l.,  i. 

cmmfy!'  '  ^'"'J^ '■•'"""  ironiudillbrc.it 

of  u!.';:'''''--'^^^''''- '"'•»»' ''a voH«„i„ni.,ro 

I'll.  ..      I  .      ami  f  iS^"'  '  l'""i"  1"'"'- 

•u.kii.raitsXnfi'''';':':?"'"'''''" 


""ddi'nly  !i  wliiMU.i  wiiM  lu'..,-,!  ■„  m,,.  r 

iiHtnintfo  voicfwiM  I ■',!  j  .    i  "Wliilo 

iiiid,  vvhon  luiiiHHiir  hKaiiMwcr  wim  r  .     .       ' 

cuodwl  to  buHinosa  ^        "  '""' 


479 


TIIK  HIIILLOOKS. 


TIIK  Hini.LOOKfl. 


"KxArrr.Y  on  tho  nppoMtio  bnnk  of  tli.< 
V/lilto  Nllo  IhIoiiixI  |Ii«  Ktvitt  HhllUiok  Irlho, 
with  whii'li  lliii  Dliikit  In  alvvuvN  nl.  t'ciitl. 
Tho  ShIllookM  iiro  u  (nil  itiul  "tliit'ly-iimdt" 
riico  ol  int«ii,  ii|i|in>ai<hliiK  vory  t'liiNrly  lo  Hii< 
iiouro,  li«lii«  hliu'k,  with  wtMiJiv  Iml'r.  Tim 
tliil  iiiiNc  Mild  tnonniiiiA  lipN  of  iho  trim  iii'^ro 
«rt«  liKWfVi'i',  tilmoiit,  ami  only  in  a  ft«\v  ciiiiom 
Ih  iIioi'k  an  Mpiii'oarli  towarti  (hiil  Ktmctnic. 

Tho  siilliook  iiii'ii  aro  very  lond  of  oriiii- 
nn'iit,  Ihoiifjii  droHM  In  not  coiisidcrod  iioitn- 
HMi  V.  Tlnn'  ornaiiionlH  nio  Hiniiiar  (o  tliimo 
which  lia\t'  ah'i<ady  liocn  doNcrlliod.aiul  roii- 
hIhI  fliiollv  of  iitni  hrafolotH,  nnkl(>lN,  and 
lioad  nccklaroH,  Tlioy  havo  iiIho  oiio  riilhcr 
Hin^iiliir  doioiatioii.  "TiiiM  in  an  ciionnini.'* 
iv'orv  liny;,  wliiih  in  worn  ahovo  llio  oitttiw 
of  I  ho  ili-ht  arm.  It  is  concavo  on  (lio  iii- 
Rido,  ami  Ih  ko  lai>;o  that  it  Im  iimimI  »!*  a 
l>ockol  lor  holding  Hiuiill  ohJootM,  Small  caps 
of  black  ostrich  |)liinnm  d<>(-oratc  their  licads, 
and  many  of  these  cai>s  are  ornamented  with 
H  circle  of  cowrie  nhollM  in  tht>  nii(hlle.  Their 
woapoiis  arc  clnhs  and  laiicos,  tho  latter 
hoiii^;  very  lonn;  ami  havin>»  iron  Mire 
(wi«tcd  round  th»>  hiilt,  so  as  to  connterlial- 
ance  the  head.  Thoy  also  carry  the  rcmark- 
ahlo  how-like  hhicid  "which  lian  hocn  idrcadv 
incntioncd. 

The  women  wear  no  clothinj?  until  niar- 
viajje,  and  then  as;iuino  a  c<ni]de  of  pieces  ol 
di-csscii  liid(>,  one  in  IVont  and  the  other 
hehind.  These  hides  reach  nearly  to  the 
ankles,  and  are  decorated  round  tde  lower 
«>di»e  with  iron  riiiits  and  hells.  The  head.s 
ar<<  shavt>d,  and  the  cars  arc  hored  all  roimd 
their  edi,'cs  Willi  a  iiinnher  of  holes,  from 
which  liMiii;  small  clusters  of  heads. 

Tlie  vill!ii,'es  of  tho  Shillooks  arc  hiiill  very 
roi;nliirly,  and  in  fact  are  so  rcj'iilsir  as  to  he 
8tilf  and  formal  in  appearance.  Tlie  houses 
nrv  niiidt>  of  reeds,  t;»ll,  of  nearly  tli<>  same 
hoiijht,  and  placed  close  to  cacli  other  in 
recninr  rows  or  streets,  and  when  seen  tVom 
n  ilistiiiicc  aio  compari'd  hy  Sir  S,  Maker  to 
rows  of  luilttMi  mnshiMoms'. 

The  Slillooks  arc  tpiitc  an  accoinplislied 
po»>ple,  hoiiiii  warlike,  pastoral,  a<xricnltiiral, 
piscatorial,  and  hayinu;  a  woll-detined  >»oy- 
prnment.  Not  only  do  they  keep  np  the 
eontimial  fend  with  their  poweH\il  neijjhhors, 
(ho  Dinkas,  hiit  they  (ako  adyantaiie  of  (he 
overllowiiii:  of  the  'Nile  to  lannch  their  c«- 1 
iiiH'«,drop  tpiiotly  down  tho  riyor,  and  attack  i 
tho  .Vrah  popiiliition  on  either  hank.  So ! 
hold  arc  they,  that  on  several  occasions  thoy 
descended  the  river  nearly  half  >vi»y  to  Khar- 
t'>uin.  hid  their  i-anoes  in  tho  ivcds,  and 
ct-<>ssed  the  country  to  Sennaar  or  the  Uliic 
Nile.  Takiiis;  the  iuhaliitaiits  by  surprise, 
thoy  carried  oif  numbers  of  women  and  chil- 
dren as  slayes,  di\n'o  away  lari;o  herds  of 
cattle,  rc-ombarkod,  and  i;ot  safely  hiunc 
with  their  sjioil.    At  length  tho   K(i;vptiiin 


(Jovernmont  wi»«  oMI)»od  lo  Inlerfei'o,  nnd 
had  to  place  troops  lM'*wceii  the  White  unil 
Ulllo  Nile,  Hesldeii  li.eir  <linoe«,  l|i(>  Shil- 
looks mako  most,  iiiKenioiiH  vessels,  which 
are  n  Horl  of  compromiso  lidtwooii  a  rult  anil 
a  cniioo. 

In  this  part  of  AlVica  there  In  a  tree  called 
the  aiiihalch,  or  amhiull  ( .  I  nvniinif  iiiiniliilin), 
This  tree  k''"'**'n  tolerably  straight,  and 
tapers  pirailiially  IVoin  the  ^'ronnil  to  the  tip. 
It  never  (jrows  to  any  Kient  Hl/,e,  and  tlio 
wood  In  almoNt  as  light'  as  cork.  To  make  ii 
rati,  tho  Shillook  ciiIh  a  Niitllcieiil  mnnlier  of 
ainhadj  trees,  lays  them  side  by  side,  and 
lashes  them  llr'nilv  to  each  oiher.  Thu 
tapcriiijj  ends  are  then  drawn  lo;elhcr  with 
cords,  and  also  lashed  llnnly,  mid  the  i-cMiilt 
\h  a  singnlarly  etl'cclive  iiiid  biioyani  ralT, 
easily  K<*l<l*'<l  I'i'imii  its  sliape,  and  so  li;^'lit 
that  n  man  can  carry  it  on  his  sIioiiIiIci'n. 
When  Ihesti  ratts  are  taken  out  ol'  the  water, 
they  are  placed  upright  on  their  bases,  ami 
two  Of  three  are  siippurted  ngiiinst  eai'li 
other,  ,,.iNt  as  soldiers  pile  their  arms.  One 
of  tlit'se  rafis,  nimt  feet  in  leiigih,  and  only 
four  feet  wide  at  the  Kiorii,  laii  cany  two 
men. 

The  ShillookH  nro  very  clever  In  the  nuiii- 
agenient  of  their  raftsi  which  they  propel 
with  small  paddles;  and  ovcii  the  litlle  hoys 
may  bo  seen  paddling  about,  not  in  ihe  least 
alVaid  of  tho  swanniug  crocodiles,  but  always 
carrying  a  lance  with  which  to  drive  oil'  the 
horrid  reptiles  if  lliev  attempt  an  attack. 

When  Mr.  I'ctherick  wa.s  nnssiiig  through 
this  country,  th(>  daring  Shillooks  bad  csiab- 
lislicd  a  snmll  colony  on  the  caslci  ii  or  Dinkii 
bank  of  the  rivor,  on  account  of  ilic  good 
pasturage.  As  hooii  as  the  Dliika  had  witli- 
di-iiwn  toward  the  interiiu',  the  Shillooks 
crossed  over,  built  a  number  of  reed  huts, 
ran  an  extemporized  fence  nnmd  them,  and 
then  brought  over  their  cat  lie.  They  had 
plenty  ofoul])osts  inland,  and  as  soon  iis  the 
enemy  were  ropm-ted  the  Shillooks  embarked 
in  their  ratts.aiid  paddled  over  to  their  own 
side  of  the  river,  the  cjittlc  plunging  into  the 
water  in  obedieneo  lo  a  well-kiiown  call, and 
following  the  canoes  and  rafts  of  their  mas- 
ters. Strange  to  say,  the  <-roco(liles  do  not 
moddli>  witn  cattle  under  such  circimi- 
stances. 

.Vided  by  their  rafts,  the  Shillooks  employ 
much  of  tiicir  time  in  tisbing.  They  do  not 
UNO  either  not  or  hook,  but  t'liiploy  tlie  more 
sportsnianlike  spear.  This  weapon  is  about 
ten  fei't  in  length,  and  has  a  barbed  iron 
head  loosely  stuck  into  the  end  of  the  shaft, 
both  being  eoniici'ted  by  a  slack  cord.  As 
soon  as  the  tlsli  is  struck,  the  shaft  is  disen- 
gaged from  tho  head,  and  being  of  light 
wiHid  floats  to  ihe  surface,  and  so  "plays" 
tho  tish  until  it  in  exhausted,  and  can  ho 
(Irawu  ushoro  by  »  hooked  stick.    Tho  Shil- 


CODE  OP  (i(JVl':ilNMKVT. 


lookH  ollrn  ,.„(,.h  (iHh  at 

HI.  i|..„„  (|..„r  H,K.a.„  vinla  un,l  l.,a  i.uj  tiul 

s;'?':s,i'i;:'i?,;:;;i'; '■'■"" '•■'•■■■'«"  »»i." 

R.;.M.,l,lv  ..|u(..|H.i  i,v /,iH  uu luniH  .,   ,  V. 

n-j     ,.,.s,„,  an  onl.rlo  ....„:.,•  ,.iL,r. 'I.; 
•-.  .nl.M-,,n..s,,,l  of  u  MluM.,,.     ()„|,i«    ../vl,,'' 

1.  .1,1  ..I   l.y  hiM    „„„s  „„|y,   wl.....    I    woul, 
niiik..  I....,  u.ul  (|„..n  H..itHl.l„  |,i-,.H...,lM 

' '-f    '"^""•"    Hi"    a|l|.()i|,t,..l    (ii.i,.   i)„n,| 

u...-....s..,,a..al.|.  ar,M,...,.a,.i,„.,\u^;',u   i 

H  n..lM..N     ,„„|,  aM    I    ,m|Kwi.'t..l   ....   ,|,,,.k,  a 
t'     I'-'^l' i"",/"w.ml  ...0,  will.  vrU'H  oi 

miuialum.   ....„„„.,.ul,|.,      Ah  ho.,,    .s 
(li.'.s..  m1,„i,i.s  .s..l,Hi,|,,,l,  Dood,  <liNi..nl.a.T  Js 
";«","' ''^vi.hHn,;unlimn.l..;      r.uii 

"";.'!f/o?;i;ra.::r:^i:;;;-l;;;';!^,;:!;.;:!:i 

•';.".;  hut  his  .„...    M)h'tua'^>^'\' 

<>'>"t  k""W  ...y  llunily  .vel;    hut,  owi,.>/ 


478 

''•"""'"■  """■;;(  I, r;;'.z:.''"  "■"■» """'  ">»» »™  * «. 
u,,a7;ll,r3,?';!r;;?  ::;:;;;■;,  :r 

wine  .  h.  inurk.Ml  l.y  plHcl..«  a  .,i.' .^,  '  ro  »/ 

';!"';•'» '""I  .aa.k...l  th.  ..un.h,.'  /•   .i»Vl  1 
'I'"'.     I  .u   Hiiin  total,  with   Ih.,  .xVAiti. 
;«  iH^ha.l  oxi.l.iincl,  „r  ba|,i,„  a.,  Id  ffi"  ,' 

"'<»l'h'  to  l.n.tr.t  thiiiUHdvoH,  wa«   Illy      ivo 
hovM  ani   twin. V  „i,.iu      ..:..  '  "V.  "'"" 


i...,«.,,,,w,.rH.v„™r;,;::::xs 

^h<.i.,;  an.l,  ,,h„w..,l  with  n.y  .l.,„ati'„" 
'•vit..,|  n..,  l_o  l.iM  l.oi.s,.,  wh.:  •„  I       r(  ok  V^ 

H..hHt.(..  ..  (i„.  rat,  ll.n  .,.t.ailH  had     ...'„',  ' 

Kx|..-,.«H.nK   a   .h.nin,    to   h...,    |,is  wiv  V  1  i 
«jll'nKly  ......In,.,..,!  ,„..   in,,.,  luu   t,    i.i 

whriv  ...y  skin,  h.iir,  an.l  .•l..th..H  .,|  "  w  "V 
a  inoMt  .s..,„H„i,i„^  .•xan.i,.ati.,.,.  k"  d,  wj  \ 
wan  .,..at..,l  inuH..^,a.•al.,  l.atd.  oCI  «' ,7,  ' 
all.'.-  haviUK  .l.Ht.ll.,it..,|    n,y  ,„„.k..iri  l"     f 

1 

...•  H..|....io,.  .,111,...,.,  „.|.o  i«  call.Vl'ti;."  "  Muck  " 
an 


Th.M-.)(|„ol«ovt)nimontnmoni'IIio  Shii- 
""kH  iH  m.iipl,,  ,.n„„^i,.    'J'l...r,.i„,  -.?!»,„ 

..•  H..,...rio..  .,,,1......  „.i.'^  i„  ,ai,.:.',\,:,':  //j^ :  j",j 

''  "'"'  f">^^''HHt.Ma.,<l  ..XOIVi,S..H  pow.TH  tlmt 


!<''H;|.red..t.  tlu,,,n.vorhllmt"-n;,;;iS 
ittiiiipt,"  and  k..,m„  hin.soir  nlo.Il' 


I 


'01. . 


Hont  to  th.^  (.attl. 


kiii.l   pn,„,l„i,M,  \   „^.,„ 
»  lullio     ill.  Nai.l,  •ThuMd  are  iiiv  II.H,(ii„ 

-S  ,11;:;.,  l^;J:y  ^^'--  -"'«  h-o 

rr;  in,  '','''  7'"'"/ ,l""«'"7  '"nount  to 

I"   ly  ),  .,M   l-l    ,  |,u,u  ,„„i  |„.„l(y  lixi\n       i  Y..M  ' 

'•'  VI  u  '!:!;;rv';fri  ^""'-  «^-'"'''..ity. ' 

jvn.it!  mon^  little  boya  an.l  L'i  lis  I    wi.,.f 
{..^yho|hoiMuii.iber,a^,h,;h;t,^;!:;; 

wivi.J-'tiu'vV..!n/"^"''r'' "  «""•'  """'v 

1 , ..     '  '  "'.^>''^  »''!.  you  know;  mi.l  now  T 
have  only   t.-i,  a,„l    (!,.,..'     ],,  ^  „.  „    'V,! 


l)r.'o.l.s  c.tn 

(..,         ,      "— ."i.^,     unit  Ai.i!iiH  ninisoii'  iiioiif 

lo  will  not  .,v.m  ml.ln.Hs  hiH  mh\Z» 
'I  •«;«■  ly,  hut  f.„T..H  th,.,i,  t.,  . ..'mnruiK,! 
w.  h  III,,.  tlin>i,;;|,  tl,.,  nu-diuni  of     ,        .    ," 

>  I  IH  k.h.iH,  an.l  „„  ,„„.  ,„      ,,i„     .  • 

nut  or  cany  ariiiH  in  J,i„  pn,,s.>n.. , 

«'VIHM,1..S   JUHtl...,     ,|,.,„ly    ft,,,,  'h,.v„  ■  .Iv     a, 

:iy'r^?:=')^..:?'""'^>"'^«-""..re.it^ 


<liatlf,  an.l  |,is  family  h<,I.|  as  slav.s. 

....;..     '"'■'  """■'''•'•,  howcvei-,  uh..„  com. 
'"tto.1  against  other  triln-s,  are    •  nsidor" 
"'■ntor.ouH,  an.l,  when  a  n.ara  ..I    !'  „aHv 

ixptclM  a  present  Iron,  ,;vt!i-v  trader  wlm 
paMses  through  IiIh  territory.^  So  Meek 
w  ln.,t  a  l.,w  strangors  to  s/ttle  w  ithif  ^he 

K^HKio  at  Kakii,  a  large  town  on  their 
extren.o  north.  Hero  many  trndin"  Arabs 
hv.Mvlule  they  are  making  Iheir  f?tuno  in 

L  ,  "^  ?'^"'''  "'"vc-a,  and  ivory.  Tlio 
Irm  e  ,n  the  latter  artielo  is  entirely  cnrrid 


■BPiwm 


474 


THE  finiLL00K8. 


Ivorv,  ^ut  hlfl  offlclnin  watch  the  procccdingH 
ill  tlu!  nmrkct,  and  exiToiso  a  supcrviBion 
over  every  bargain. 

Probably  on  account  of  tho  preBcnco  of 
dtrnnKcrs,  tho  Mccic  d«)os  not  live  at  Kaka, 
liut  takcH  up  his  rcNldcnro  out  In  a  villiqjo 
eomo  ton  milcn  up  tiio  river. 

I  have  in  my  collection  a  curious  muHical 
instrument,  which  we  may  call  a  flute,  In 
liou  of  a  better  word.  It  Is  made  of  some 
hard  wood,  and  is  rudely  covered  with  a 
siiiral  belt  of  Iron  and  leather.  An  Iron 
ring  is  also  fastened  througli  It.  through 
which  passes  the  leathern  strap  by  which 
it  is  carried.    Tho  top  hole  is  very  small, 


and  the  sound  produced  by  the  inslrumont 
is  of  a  wailing  and  lugubrious  cimracter. 
Inside  tho  fluto  is  fitted  an  odd  Iniploment 
which  wo  may  call  the  cleaner.  It  is  com- 
posed of  an  ostrich  feather  with  the  vnnos 
cut  short,  and  in  order  to  render  it  long 
enough  to  reach  to  the  bottom  of  tho  flute, 
it  is  kiigthoned  by  n  wooden  Imiidle,  to  tho 
end  of  which  is  attached  a  tuft  of  hairs  fVom 
a  cow's  tail,  by  way  of  ornament.  In  length 
tho  flute  measures  rather  more  tluiii  eigh- 
teen inches,  and,  in  consequ-nco  of  tho 
amount  of  Iron  upon  It.  tho  weight  is  more 
than  might  bo  suppostxt 


CHAPTER  XLV. 


THE  ISIIOOO,  ASILi^GO,  AND  OBONOO  TRIBES. 

WJMTSIIV    AFRIOA  — TIIR    IHIIOOO    Ti 

TUB    SINOULAH    IIKAI)I„tMH    orTIIg"  WO^KV  "''^.^U'^" ""'""  *""    '^'"'"'^    <"    ™"    PBOPLE- 
NAT.VK.   •'ACTOU,„H_,„„,.,oMAN.«,^;"^~I     "'"'"'"•''    '"   ^"^V'"" -T"«  OlrA«a,AH.   OB 

-T.IK  AHHANOO  THII>K -CAUACTKK  OK  TulVvll^T  ~  ''''^''  CnARACTKH  Or  T..K  ,H„0O08 

A   VI.S.TOH-THK    OnONOO  TniHE,   OH    ..U«„„KV  o^™  *"■  «"''*'''r^- "K'KIT.ON  OF 

1.00K-K,N,.NE«8    OP  T.,B    AHHA^OO*    Z^^  tImL:""'^   -■'"■"'  •»"'«'  ^''■'  "'^"TKD 
TOMS  AND  FU^BAI,  CEliEMONrBS.  TMM  — THl    QUONOO    MARKBT-DOMEBTIC  CUH- 


We  arc  now  coming  among  some  of  tho 
nogro  tribes,  and  shall  see  them  aT  thov  are 

ana  mode  of  life  have  been  altered  bv  tho 
influence!  of  Europeans.  ^    ^ 

and  loo'^''inr'.''"/'ir**'"";'^"'l '"'tween  10" 
iTv  m!:t?'  '°"fif''"''c,  is  a  district  inhabited 

ri^ibe     Tt^^\  '^  ""V  ^'^'•?''  ""'I  remarkable 
Tow  traT    of  i^f  <'Hr"«  »  rather  nar- 

Ianfc7;i','ls"'^'''-'  '"*  ^'^'''«^  ^-^  i^  •^y  a 
The  Ishogo  arc  a  fine  race  of  men  black 
^^  h  woolly  hair,  but  not  exhS^  the 
tel£eT'thn%';:  ''?X«'opment  which  clmrac- 
Ti,n;f  1      "  aborigines  of  the  west  coast 

Jng  two  nieces  of  hn,.-.,r„„,i  ^1  " .. "  ^^^^P 


lapnet-liko  form,  coming  to  a  point  tif  fl,« 
encf  and  being' Hnishcl  off  wff  a  „S 
bi<aa,  or  perhaps  a  piece  of  pXhod  wi^o 
On  account  of  the  sfow  grow  h  of  the  S 

uTl^fsrerr/el^"'"'^^''^  '>^«  "^^^^^ 

head,  at  tRo  top  or' at  the  hack,  as  thdr 
taste  may  direct.  They  then  work  the 
woolly  hatr  into  it,  and,  (vhen  ?haTpart  of 
lin  r"''?^  J',  completed,  shave  away  aU 
the  fiair  that  is  not  reou  red  for  hn  "V.nJ 
pose     When  the  headd?"r?s  tmpleto"!: 

H'n'T"  '^^^^  ""'  '•'»  inches  Tom  the 
head,  and  consequently  a  term  of  years 
elai^es  before  this  odcC  ornament  re&s 

twentV  ""^'  '*°°  ""''*''■  flve-and. 

jng  t«;o"piecer;rb;rXooTKthL"''"P^       '^\  "»S'^'?°""'"  '^  ^«  '"ay  apply  such  a 


S'c°o°w'L''Vl™''''  <»"  '<>  '■""•ft 


(473) 


-_....  v^^..„  t'ciiuuruHs,  uas  lour  nartiniTB  onn 
in  front,  one  behind,  and  one  ^2  'sWe'' 
Of  course  this  elaborate  ornament  cannot 
be  dressed  by  the  owners,  and,  as  a  genera 
rule,  ,t  is  intrusted  to  professionarhands 
several  women  in  every  town  making  S 
''"■"'■'""^^  a  regular  business..    Afte^Vehig 
arranged,  the  liead  is  not  touched  for  bcv- 
crai  months   when  the  structure  is  taken 
to  pieces,  and  elaborately  rebuilt,  the  fresh 
growth  of  hair  being  woven  into  it    Th« 
Zr^''^  of  taking  ^lown  ind  reb^iildS 
one  of  these  towers  is  a  very  long  and  t^ 
dious  one,  and  occupies  a  full  day. 


M 


476 


THE  ISIIOGO. 


;iii 


m< 


I 


li  \ 


Four  modes  of  arranging  the  tower,  if  it 
may  be  called  so,  prevail  among  the  Ishogo. 
The  ordinary  plan  is  to  raise  it  perpen- 
dicularly from  the  top  of  the  head,  so  that 
at  a  distance  it  looks  exactly  as  if  the  woman 
were  carryin^j  a  cylindrical  basket  on  her 
head.  Sometimes,  when  the  base  of  the 
tower  is  placed  half  way  between  the  ton 
of  the  head  and  the  neck,  the  direction  i's 
diagonal,  and,  when  the  hair  at  the  back  of 
the  hoiid  is  retained,  the  tower  projectd 
ba'ikward  and  horizontally.  These  are  the 
usual  iiishioiis;  but  some  of  the  women 
wear,  in  addition  to  the  tower,  a  tuft  of 
hair,  whicli  is  allowed  to  remain  at  each 
side  of  the  head,  and  is  trained  into  a  ball 
just  above  the  ear. 

The  dress  of  the  Ishogo  is  "  grass  cloth  " 
of  their  own  manufacture.  Thjy  are  cele- 
brated for  the  soft  nrd  close  texture  of  this 
cloth,  which  is,  howevjr,  not  made  from 
grass,  but  from  the  cuticle  of  youn"  palm 
leaves,  strijiped  off  dexterously  by  the  fin- 
gers. M.  du  Chaillu  gives  the  following 
occount  of  the  weavers:  — 

"  In  walking  down  the  main  street  of 
MokoTiwa  a  number  of  ouandjas,  or  houses 
without  walls,  are  seen,  oach  containing 
four  or  five  looms,  with  the  weavers  seated 
before  them,  weaving  the  cloth.  In  the  mid- 
dle of  the  our- 'Ija  a  wood  Are  is  seen  burn- 
ing, and  the  weavers,  as  you  pass  by,  are 
sure  to  be  seen  smoking  their  pipes,  and 
chatting  to  one  another  whilst  going  on  with 
their  work.  The  weavers  are  all  men,  and 
it  is  men  also  vho  stitch  the  ' bongos 'to- 

f  ether  to  make  '  denguis '  or  robes  of  them, 
'he  stitches  are  not  very  close  together,  nor 
is  the  tlircad  very  fine,  but  the  work  is  very 
ueat  and  regular,  and  the  needles  are  of 
their  o\vn  manufacture.  The  bongos  are 
very  often  striped,  and  i;omelimes  made  even 
in  check  patterns.  This  is  done  by  their  dye- 
ing some  of  the  threads  of  the  w  arp,  or  of  the 
warp  and  woof,  with  various  simple  colors. 
The  dyes  are  all  made  of  decoctions  of  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  wood,  except  for  black,  when 


ft  kind  of  iron  ore  is  used. 


The 
this 


oonqos 
pari  of 


are    employed  as   money  in 
Africa." 

Two  of  the  words  in  this  -^assagc  need 
explanatiou.  The  'com  of  t' e  Ishogo  is 
made  as  follows:  ~A  bar  of  wood,  about 
two  feet  in  length,  is  suspended  horizon- 
tally from  tlie  roof  of  the  weaving  hut,  and 
over  this  bar  are  passed  the  threads  which 
c^ustit^te  the  warp,  their  other  ■.nO'i  being 
fastened  to  a  corresponding  bar  below,  which 
is  j.xed  tightly  down  b  r  a  couple  of  forked 
sticks  tiirust  into  th^  ground.  The  alter- 
nate threiuls  of  the  i^arp  are  divided  by  two 
sligjit  rods,  the  ends  of  which  are  held  in 
the  Angers  of  the  left  hand,  which  cross 
them  alternately,  whiie  the  woof  is  inter- 
laced by  means  of  a  sword-shaped  shuttle, 
which  also  serves  to  strike  it  down  aad  lay 
it  regularly. 


In  consequence  of  this  form  of  loom  it  is 
only  possible  to  weave  nieces  of  cloth  of  a 
limited  length,  and,  as  tVese  cloths  are  used 
as  -urrencv,  thej  are  all  ma<le  of  the  same 
length,  inch  o\  these  pieces  is  called  a 
"  bongo,"  a.id  v  hen  two  are  se  wed  to- 
gether they  become  "  denguis." 

The  women  are  only  allowed  to  wear  two 
of  these  pieces  of  cloth,  the  size  of  the 
ivearer  not  being  taken  into  consideration. 
One  is  hung  at  each  side,  and  Ihe  edges  are 
joined  before  and  behinr.,  so  Uiat  a  large 
and  fat  woman  presents  a  very  absurd  ap- 
pearance, the  pieces  of  cloth  being  too  short 
to  meet  properly. 

The  Ishogos  seldom  go  armed,  and  al- 
though they  have  spears,  and  bows  and 
arrows,  thev  do  not  carry  them  except 
when  actually  required.  It  is  thought  eti- 
quette, however,  for  them  to  take  their 
swords  with  them  when  they  go  to  visit  an- 
other village.  They  are  a  quiet  and  peaceful 
people,  and  although  they  have  at  hand  the 
means  of  intoxicating  themselves,  ',hey  are 
remarkable  for  their  sobriety,  in  which  vir- 
tue they  present  H  pleasing  contrast  to  their 
noisy,  quarrelsome,  and  ir.temperule  neigh- 
bors, the  Apono  tribe. 

The  villages  of  the  Ishogo  tribe  are  often 
very  large,  containing  two  hundred  or  more 
huts.  Each  hut  is,  on  an  average,  twenty- 
two  feet  in  length,  and  ten  or  twelve  feet  in 
width,  and  is  divided  by  partitions  into  three 
compartraeats.  The  mud  walls  are  not  quite 
five  feet  in  height,  and  the  top  of  the  roof  is 
about  .le  feet  from  the  ground.  T'ledoorfj 
are  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  central  com- 
partment, and  are  very  small,  only  a  little 
more  than  two  feet  and  a  half  in  height, 
and  are  not  hung  on  hinges,  but  turn  in  the 
middle  on  a  ceuiple  of  pivots,  one  at  the  top 
and  the  other  at  the  bottom.  Perhaps  one 
reason  for  this  diminutive  size  is,  tint  the 
natives  have  no  saws,  and  their  only  method 
ol'  making  a  door  is  by  felling  the  trunk  of 
a  tree,  cutting  it  into  the  proper  length,  and 
'aboriously  chij  ping  away  the  wood  at  each 
side.  The  doors  arc  decorated  with  virions 
devices,  compHcated  and  even  elegant  pat- 
terns being  painted  on  them  in  red,  black, 
and  ',v?i:te,  &c.  Most  ot  the  houses  have 
the  outer  surface  of  the  walls  covered  with 
the  l^ark  of  trees. 

The  furniture  of  these  huts  is  scarcely 
equal  to  the  excellence  of  the  architecture. 
Ilanging  from  the  roof  are  a  quantity  cf 
calabashes,  which  contain  water,  palm  wine, 
and  oil,  and  .ue  accompanied  by  plenty  of 
cotton  bags  and  cooking  vessels.  A  well- 
furnished  hut  has  also  a  number  of  plates 
a..d  dishes,  made  either  from  reeds  or  from 
the  rind  of  a  plant  called  "  astang,"  divided 
into  str.'ps,  and  against  .ne  walls  are  stored 
the  bundles  of  pain,  fibres  from  which  the 
bongos  pre  woven.  T(^bacco  is  also  stored 
within  tlin  hut,  and  is  completely  enveloped 
in  leaves. 


I  of  loom  it  is 
of  cloth  of  a 
lotlis  are  used 
!  of  the  same 
IS  is  called  a 
re    sewed   to- 


l  to  wear  two 
B  size  of  the 
consideration, 
the  edges  are 
t!iat  a  large 
ry  absurd  ap- 
eiiig  too  sliort 

•med,  and  al- 
id  bows  and 
tliem  except 
i  thought  eti- 
;o  take  tlieir 
50  to  visit  an- 
t  and  peaceful 
B  at  hand  tlie 
Ives,  ',hey  are 
in  which  vir- 
iitrast  to  their 
perale  ueigh- 

ribe  are  often 
idrcd  or  more 
iragc,  twenty- 
twelve  feet  in 
ons  into  three 
s  arc  not  quite 
of  the  roof  is 
d.    T'le  doors 
3  central  corn- 
only  a  little 
df  in  height, 
ut  turn  in  the 
ine  at  the  top 
Perhaps  ono 
;e  is,  that  the 
r  only  method 
the  trunk  of 
!r  length,  and 
wood  at  each 
I  with  various 
elegant  pat- 
in  red,  black, 
liouses  have 
covered  with 

8  is  scarcely 
architecture, 
i  quantity  of 
T,  palm  wine, 
by  plenty  of 
!els.  A  wcll- 
ber  of  plates 
eeds  or  from 
ang,"  divided 
lis  are  stored 
m  which  the 
s  also  stoFiid 
dy  enveloped 


11 


,^   ,    >.|1>I.S(.C)     MMJkKT.        ^r,-    |,;n;i.    is-.; 


M'PAZA,  OR  TWIN  CEREMONIES. 


The  usual  form  of  a  villaee  is  a  Hinvln 
Btreet,  of  great  Wth,  and^ometimei  fi- 
ceedlngly  wide     Tlie  street  of  one  village 
was  fuFly  a  hundred  yards  in  width,  and  wis 
kept  so  neatly  that  not  a  single  weed  was  to 
be  seen  in  it,  — a  really  remarkable  fact 
when  we  remember  the  exceeding  rapidity 
with  which  vegetation  grows  in  this  cou  .- 
try.    Each  village  has  at  least  one  "  palaver- 
house,'  while  many  have  several.    The  "  na- 
laver-house  "  is  more  of  a  shed  than  a  house 
and  consists  chiefly  of  a  roof  and  the  post^ 
which  support  it    In  this  house  the  men 
meet  daily,  to  smoke,  to  hold  trials   to  re 
ceive  strangers,  and  to  indulge  in  that  in- 
terminable gossip  of  which  a  relic  sOU  exists 
m  the  "  discoorsing  "  of  Ireland. 
.  There  is  also  a  temple,  or  M'buiti  house 
in  which  a  kind  of  religious  service  is  held 
and  which  always  contains  a  large  wooden 
idol,  which  the  people  hold  in  great  rev- 
erence.   The  proceedings  within  this  edifice 
will  be  presently  described. 

In    the    middle    of    every    Ishogo    and 
Ashango  village  there  is  a  single  large  tree 
belonging  to  the  genus  Ficus.    When  the 
Bite  ot  a  village  is  first  laid  out,  a  saplin*  of 
this  tree  is  planted,  the  prosperity  of^the 
future  village  being  connected  with  it.    If 
it  should  live  and  flourish,  the  new  village 
wdl  be  prosperous;  but,  if  it  should  die,  the 
place  IS  abandoned  and  a  new  site  chosen 
Some  of  the  villages  are  distinguished  by 
having  two  heads  of  the  gorilla,  one  male 
and  the  other  female,  stuck  on  poles  under 
the  sacred  tree,  an.l  M.  du  Chaillu  learned 
afterward  that  certain  charms  were  buried 
at  the  root  of  the  same  tree. 

Among  the  Ishogos  tliere  is  a  very  re- 
markable custom  connected  with  the  birth 
of  twins  In  many  parts  of  the  world  twins 
are  destroyed  as  soon  as  born,  bui  in  this 
country  they  are  permitted  to  live,  though 
under  restrictions  which  lell  much  more 
severely  on  the  mother  than  on  her  off- 
spring. The  Ishogo  have  a  vague  kind  of 
a  notion  that  no  woman  ought  to  produce 
more  than  a  single  infant  at  a  time,  and  that 
nature  desires  to  correct  the  mistake  by 
killing  one  of  the  children  before  it  is  able 
to  take  care  of  itself.  After  that  time -f 
e.  when  the  children  are  about  six  years  old 
-the  balance  of  the  births  and  deaths  is 
supposed  t«  be  equalized,  and  no  furthe? 
precautions  need  be  taken.  '""ner 

Therefore,  as  soon  as  twins  are  born  tho 
house  is  marked  of!' in  some  way  so  as  to 

hTTS  rh„'.?  T  '"1'«»''«'  mentioned 
bv  M.  du  Claillu,  two  long  poles  were 
planted  at  each  side  of  the  door,  a  piece  of 
doth  was  hung  over  the  entr.-vnce,  and  a 
rowof  wh.tc  pegs  driven  into  the'gm  „d 
just  in  front  of  the  threshold.    These  niarks 

In^^rT^f.''  *"  v^"""  -dangers  from  enter! 
ing  the  hut,  as,  if  any  one  excepi  the  chil- 

fr"S  *ilT"?^F  —'**'' ""'  "•"  ddinquent 
i„v.«  r...u  pviu  luio  sjavcry.    Tlio  twins 


479 

themselves  are  not  allowed  to  play  with  the 
other  children,  and  even  the  very  utensils 
and  cooking  pots  of  the  hut  cannot  be  used! 
,   In  consequence  of  this  curious  law,  there 
8  nothing,  next  to  being  childless, 'which 
tlie  women  dread  so  much  as  having  t^vin8 
born  to  them,  and  nothing  annoys  anlshoeo 
womjin  so  much  as  telling  her  that  she  is 
sure  to  have  twins.    Perhaps  the  most  irri- 
tating restriction  is  that  which  forbids  the 
wonian  to  talk.    She  is  allowed  to  go  int^ 
the  forest  for  firewood,  and  to  perform  such 
necessary  household  tasks,  as  otherwise  she 
*  •   n«r  children  must  starve.    But  she  is 
strictly  forbidden  to  speak  a  word  to  any 
one  who  does  not  belong  to  her  own  family 
—  a  prohibition  annoying  enough  to  any 
one,  but  doubly  so  in  Africa,  where  pei-petuid 

A  *^*u '"®®*  *'°®  ^^'  t*^®  necessaries  of  life. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  sixth  year,  a 
ceremony  takes  place  by  which  all  parties 

Za  ^l"^^^^  ^'■°'"  *^^"  '«"«  confinement, 
and  allowed  to  enter  the  society  of  their 
teilows.    At  daybreak  proclamation  is  made 

mnfh!,  ""^S*'  ^^^.  ^'^^  women,  namely,  the 
mother  and  a  friend,  lake  their  stand  a* 

tJT''^  ***^  ^".*'  having  previously  whi^ 
ened  their  legs  and  faces.    T^hey  next  march 

soZ  A  ^  «*«?.»?•'  «*"Sing  an  appropriate 
S  ^/f  °cral  dance  and  feast  tfieii  tikes 
afer'trVi^*-'  *»^^«"g»>«"t  the  night,  and' 
«;„  L  ^"I^^^.^y  '«  ovc>".  a»  restrictions 
are  removed.  This  rite  is  called  "  M'paza  " 
a  word  which  both  signifies  twins  and  the 

^rr«T?^''^;'^^'*^'»  ^^y  a»d  their  mother 
are  set  tree  from  their  imprisonment    It  is 
Illustrated  on  the  478th  pa<re. 
As  m  other  parts  of  Al"rica,  the  natives 

toZ^i3T^  '"',°'""  •'*"  °'ght,  partly  on 
^hTil  ^^■,  .''""'nc''^.  and  partly^  because 
fdoTthnf  •r"'*^!"P*'''''*'"°»«'  and  have  an 
oivpr  nf  h"^  spirits  might  hurt  them  under 
cover  of  the  night,  if  they  were  not  ft-ight- 
ened  away  by  the  fires  and  noise.  ^ 

une  of  these  dances  is  called  M'muirri,  oft 
account  of  the  loud  reverberating  sound 
produced  by  their  li.,8.  It  is  properly  a 
war-d.T.nce,  and  18  performed  by  men  alone. 
Sfl"™ '".''"'''''"*'  advance  and  retreat 
the  im^r'^'  ^tan>ping  so  as  to  mark 
the  time,  beating  their  breasts,  yellino-.  and 
making  the  reverberating  sound  which  lu-w 
been  already  mentioned.  Their  throats 
i3„^P??'''"?"/  ""^  '"■•''««  and  their  lungs  of 
K^  '  *^^  '■!.*'''^°  villagers  keep  up  this 
horrid  uproar  throughout  the  night,  without 
a  moments  cessation,  and  those  who  are  for 
the  moment  tired  of  singing,  and  <Jo  not 
own  a  dru.u.  contribute  their  share  to  tho 

woZtgXr.  '^  ^''*''PP'"«  '^"^  P'^^'^^  "* 

With  all  their  faults,  the  Ishogos  are  a 

pleasant  set  of  i)eopIe,  and  M.  du  Ohaillu. 

who  lived  Wifh    thorn    nv"!  " ■      1 

by  Ishogos  in  his  expedition,  says  that  they 


( 


m 


THE  ASHANGO. 


are  the  gentlest  and  kindest-hearted  negroes 
that  he  ever  m  i.  After  his  retreat  from 
Ashango  -  land,  which  will  next  be  men- 
tioned, the  Ishogoa  received  him  with  even 
more  than  uauiu  hospitality,  arranged  his 


journey  westward,  and  the  whole  population 
of  the  villages  turned  out  of  their  iiouses 
and  accompanied  him  a  little  distance  on 
his  way. 


ASHANGO. 


Eastward  of  the  Ishogos  is  a  people 
called  the  Ashango.  They  speak  a  dinerent 
dialect  from  the  fshogo,  and  call  themselves 
a  different  race,  but  their  manners  and  cus- 
toms are  so  similar  to  those  of  the  Ishogos 
that  a  very  brief  account  of  them  is  all  that 
is  needed. 

Ashango-Iand  was  the  limit  of  M.  du 
CLaillu's  second  expedition,  which  was  sud- 
denly brought  to  a  close  by  a  sad  accident. 
The  people  had  been  rather  suspicious  ci 
his  motives,  and  harassed  him  in  his  camp, 
so  that  a  few  shots  were  fired  in  the  aii  by 
way  of  warning.  Unfortunately,  one  of  the 
guns  was  discharged  before  it  was  raised,  and 
the  bullet  struck  an  unfortunate  man  in  the 
head,  killing  him  instantly.  The  whole  vil- 
lage flew  to  arms,  the  war-drum  sounded,  and 
the  warrior  s  crowded  to  the  spot,  with  their 
barbed  spears,  and  bows  and  poisoned  arrows. 

For  a  moment  there  was  a  lull:  the  inter- 
preter, whose  hand  fired  the  unlucky  shot, 
explained  that  it  was  an  accident,  and  that 
the  price  of  twenty  men  should  be  paid  as 
compensation.  Beads  and  cloth  were  pro- 
duced, and  one  of  the  headmen  had  just 
assented  to  the  proposal,  when  a  loud  wail- 
ing was  heard,  and  a  woman  rushed  out  ot 
a  hut,  announcing  that  the  favorite  wife  of 
the  friendly  headman  had  been  killed  by  the 
same  fatal  bullet,  which,  after  scattering 
the  brains  of  the  man,  had  passed  through 
the  thin  walls  of  the  hut,  and  killed  the 
poor  woman  within. 

After  this  announcement  all  hopes  of 
peace  were  at  an  end;  the  husband  natu- 
rally cried  for  vengeance;  and,  amid  a 
shower  of  arrows,  one  of  which  struck  the 
interpreter,  and  another  nearly  severed  M. 
du  Chailiu's  finger,  tl»e  party  retreated  as 
they  best  could,  refraining  from  firing  as 
long  as  they  could,  but  at  last  being  forced  to 
fire  in  self-defence.  In  order  to  escape  as 
fast  as  they  could,  the  porters  were  obliged 
to  throw  away  the  instruments,  specimens 
of  natural  history,  and  photographs,  so 
that  the  labor  of  months  was  lost,  and 
scarcely  anytliing  except  the  journal  was 
saved.  Each  village  to  which  they  came 
sent  out  its  warriors  against  them.  M.  du 
Chaillu  was  dangerously  wounded  in  the 
side,  and  had  at  last  to  throw  away  his  best 
but  heaviest  rifle.  It  was  only  after  the 
death  of  several  of  their  number  that  tlie 
Ashangos  perceived  that  they  had  to  con- 
tend with  a  foe  who  was  more  than  a  match 
for  them,  and  at  last  save  ud  the  oursuit. 


It  was  necessary,  however,  to  conceal  the 
fiict  of  being  wounded,  for  several  of  the 
tribes  had  an  idea  that  their  white  visitor 
was  invulnerable  to  spears  and  arrows,  and 
it  was  a  matter  of  great  consequence  that 
such  a  notion  should  be  encouraged.  All 
kinds  of  wild  rumors  circulated  about 
him:  some  saying  that  the  Ashango  arrows 
glanced  off  his  body  without  hurting  him, 
just  as  the  Scotch  believed  that  the  bullets 
were  seen  hojjping  like  hail  off  the  body  of 
Claverhouse;  while  others  improved  on  the 
tale,  and  avowed  that  he  had  changed  him- 
self into  a  leopard,  a  gorilla,  or  an  elephant, 
as  the  case  might  be,  and  under  this  strange 
form  had  attacked  the  enemies  and  driven 
them  away. 

The  Ashangos  are  even  better  clothed 
than  the  Ishogos,  wearing  denguis  of  con- 
siderable size,  and  even  clothing  their 
children,  a  most  unusual  circumstance  in 
Central  Africa.  The  women  wear  hair- 
towers  like  those  of  the  Ishogos,  but  do  not 
seem  to  expend  so  much  trouble  upon  tlicm. 
They  seem  to  lead  tolerably  happy  lives, 
and  indeed  to  have  their  own  way  in  most 
things. 

•  The  Ashango  warriors  are  well  armed, 
carrying  swords,  spears,  and  poisoned  ar- 
rows. The  spear  and  arrow-heads  and 
swords  are  not  made  by  themselves,  but  by 
the  Shimba  and  Ashangui  tribes,  who  seem 
to  be  the  acknowledged  smiths  in  this  part 
of  the  country.  The  sword  is  carried  by 
almost  every  Ashango.  and  when  one  of 
these  weapons  is  bought  or  sold,  tlie  trans- 
action is  (dways  carried  on  in  private. 

Before  the  Ashangos  go  out  to  war,  they 
have  a  sort  of  magical  ceremony,  called 
;'  Cooking  the  War-dish."  The  witch-doctor 
is  summoned,  and  sets  to  work  preparing  a 
kind  of  porridge  of  all  sorts  of  herbs  and 
fetishes  in  an  enormous  pot.  None  but  the 
warriors  are  allowed  to  see  the  preparation, 
and,  when  the  mess  is  cooked,  each  warrior 
eats  a  portion.  None  of  it  is  allowed  to 
be  left,  and  after  they  have  all  eaten,  the 
remainder  is  rubbed  over  their  bodies,  until 
they  have  excited  themselves  to  the  neces- 
sary pitch  of  enthusiasm,  when  they  rush 
out  and  at  once  proceed  to  the  attack. 

There  are  a  number  of  minor  ceremonies 
connected  with  food;  one  of  which  is,  that 
the  women  are  not  allowed  to  eat  goat  flesh 
or  fowls,  the  probable  reason  being,  accord- 
ing to  M.  du  Chaillu,  that  the  men  want  to 
eat  those  articles  themselves^ 


THE  KENDO,  OR  BELL  OF  ROYALTY. 


l8ho»;i^«T''"'?'  "  ^«"  ««  among  the 
fK„^*  I  *  temple,  or  idol  hut,  w  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  buiWings.  Gener^ly 
the  people  did  not  lilce  strangers  to  ffi 
their  temples,  but  in  one  vilfage  he  suc- 
hr^,tf  "^entering  a  temple,  or  M'buTti 
house,  and  seeing  the  strange  irorsh in 
which  was  conducted.  *     woraaip 

"  This  idol  was  kept  at  the  end  of  a  lontr 
narrow,  and  low  hut,  forty  or  flftv  feet  lonf ' 
and  ten  feet  broad,  and  was  pSd  in  r«^' 
white,  and  black  colors.    wCn  I  eM 


m 


«^e  hut,  it  was  full  of  AsFang;  p"eoX 
ranged  m  order  on  each  side,  with  ftghW 
torcJies  stuck  in  the  ground  bef 're  & 
Among  them  were  conspicuous  two  mSI 
men,  or,  as  they  might  be  called,  prieste 
dressed  in  cloth  of  vegetable  fibre,  with' 
their  skins  painted  grotesquely  in  various 
colors,  one  side  of  iL  f^e  re^d, The  other 

iTi''  '*•!?  ''^  t^-""  ™''1'^'«  "f  the  bre^ra 
broad,  yellow  stripe;  the  circuit  of  the  eves 
was  also  daubed  with  paint  These  coWs 
are  made  by  boiling  various  kinds  of  wood 
and  mixing  the  decoction  with  clay. 

The  rest   of  the  Ashangos  were  also 
streaked  and  daubed  with  Various  colors 
and  by  the  light  of  their  torches  they  lookeci 
like  a  troop  of  devils  assembled  in  the  lower 
regions  to  celebrato  some  diabolical  rite- 
around  their  legs  were  bound  white  leaves 
from  the  heart  of  the  palm  tree;  some  wore 
feathers   othei-8  had  leaves  twisted  in  the 
shape  of  horns  behind  their  ears,  and  all 
had  a  bundle  of  palm  leaves  in  their  hands. 
^.J^n^  .?**'''■   ^    entered,    the    rites    be- 
gan, all  the  men  squatted  down  on  their 
haunches,  and  set  up  a  deafening  kind  of 
wild   song.     There    was   an    orchestra   of 

sisting  of  three  drummers  with  two  Jruin- 
sticks  each,  one  harper,  and  a  performer  on 
tJnehT«*'°""":^'^K'  ^'"^"^  '»tter  did  no" 

Ss  ^o  fhTf:  ''"*  ^-^'^^  «»  ^^^  other 
Slicks,   so  that  the    noise  was    made    the 

more  resonant.  The  two  M'buiti  men  in 
the  mean  time,  were  dancing  in  a  fanSc^ 
manner  m  the  middle  of  the  tomple  outSS 
their  bodies  into  all  sorts  of  strange  conS 
*hT-    ^^fyfrae  the  Mbuiti  mfn  oSened 

As  the  ceremony  continued,  the  crowd 
rose  and  surrounded  the  dancing  men  S 
doubling  ac  the  same  time  the  volume  of 
their  songs,  and,  after  this  went  on  forborne 
time,  returning  to  their  former  positions 
This  was  repeated  several  times!  ft  seemed 
'"¥h^  M..^  ^/•"'*  "^  viUageT^t.     """""^^ 

hadbeenSft.."f"''^  r'''''*  ^  "^^""on- 
naa  Deen  sent  lor  from  a  distance  to  officiate 

on  the  occasion,  and  the  whole  affak  wm 

Sn'  %h  •■  mV"';^  "^  theatrical  repre«!^ 
,w^^    .        M'buiti  men,  like  the    />    . 

thelfilS^^'^V"'.''  ""P"'^*"?*  persons  ar.uoi  "^ 
tion  th«i  1^"^^^'  ""."'^  have  more  reput.^ 
f ,""  ^^.^,  °'.hers,  but  in  general  those  who 
live  lurfucsi  on  are  much  esteemed.    Atl 


length,  wearied  out  with  the  noise,  and  beinir 
unable  to  see  any  meaning  or  any  change  if 
ap'';r„T^'*'^  -^--^  toVhTL? 
Bem^     exceedingly     superstitious,    the 
Ashangos  generally  thought  that  their  white 
visitor  was  not  a  man,  gut  a  spirit  m  he 
could  perform  such  wonders.  ™'had  a 
musical  box,  and  set  it  playing,  to  the  creat 
consternation  of  the  people.    Their  awfwas 
tocrea^ed  by.his  leavin?  the  box  wherH 
stood,  and  going  away  into  the  forest.    The 
tact  that  the  instrument  should  continue  to 
plav  with  no  one  near  it  was  still  more  ter- 
rible, and  a  crowd  of  people  stood  round  in 
dead  silence  — a  very  convincing  proof  of 
their  awe-stricken  state.    An  accordion  pro- 
duced  even  a  greater  sensation,  and  none 
but  the  chief  dared  to  utter  a  sound.    Even 

bin!!!  \f'^«'?"*='}  frjghtenedj  and  continued 
beating  his  "  kendo,"  or  magic  bell  of  office 

untZ;?"«  '^'^  ^'^«-  "  '  spirits^nfs' 

ow^fa^Kn  '"^''  ^^7  ^'?'^  »"«"  in  his 
oratorv  of  w  ^^  ^^  **  "'"«  teniple  or 
oratory  of  his  own,  and  every  mornins  and 
even,ng  he  repaired  lo  the  oratory,  shufhim- 
setf  up,  beat  his  bell,  and  invoked  the  sp  rite 

beftrng"£  befl  '^"""'^  "«^'«^  ^  «-  ^^'^^^ 

Kendo  can  be  carried  on  the  shoulder 
Leonard's  ftir  is  fastened  to  it,  much  to  the 
deadening  of  the  aound,  and  the  whole  i^! 
strument  forms  an  emblem  which  is  ie- 
selv^^*^  A  '?»°h  as  the  sceptre  among  our- 
fhih  11  ^t"i.®  chief  walks  along,  he  rings 
SunH  kr^Jf'i  announces  his  presence  by^l 
sound  hke  that  of  a  common  sheep  or  cbw 

When  M.  du  Chaillu  was  among  the 
Ashango  scarcely  any  articles  of  civilized 
manufecturehad  penetrated  into  the  coun- 
l/l  The  universal  bead  had  reached  them, 
ana  so  had  a  few  ornaments  of  brass.  There 

tim»s"°fo^n¥''  ''"'"'^r^''''  ^^^^'»  ^>^  «ome! 
Snf  th^u  ^T"".^  *''^?'  «»<1  which  was 
about  the  last  that  could  be  expected.    It 

i^n!.  Vv.*""T°  ^^^^  beer-bottle  of  En^- 
S  far  S^'Z^'k"","  have  penetrated  almost 
TJ  A  ^  }u  }*^^^^'  »"^  ai"e  exceedino-lv 
prized  by  the  chiefs,  who  value  no  article  oY 
proper  y  more  than  a  black  bottle,  which 

te  fh"*^  *?  ^\^'^  ^"^^^  ^n*!  i"  whiJh  they 
keep  their  plantain  wine.  Calabashfs  would 

of  course  answer  their  purpose  better,  being 
less  fragile,  but  the  black  bottle  is  a  chieff 
great  ambiiion.  Mostly,  the  wives  do  as 
they  hke;  but,  if  a  wi/e  should  happen  to 
break  a  botOe,8he  has  committed  an  offence 
*or  which  no  pardon  is  expected. 
r»I-  •  ^^haii^os  have  an  odd  custom  of 
Hr'::!.1^*j;f  ^!-_-n«°  they  desire  to  do 
7"Z  '  j"  ',:"'*'^^.  niriiur,  liioy  meet  him  with 
some  dishes  of  their  red  paint,  with  which 


481 


II;  I 


11 


in 


THE  OBONGO. 


he  is  expected  to  besmear  himself.  If  a 
stranffer  approach  a  house,  and  the  owner 
asks  aim  to  make  hl^iself  red,  he  is  quite 


happy  and,  if  the  pigment  should  not  bo 
offered,  he  will  go  off  in  dudgeon  at  the 
alight. 


OBONGOS,  OR  BUSHMEN  OF  ASHANGO-LAND, 


SoMETTHEHE  near  the  equatorial  line, 
and  between,  long.  11<»  and  12°  E.,  there  is  a 
tribe  of  dwarfed  negroes,  called  the  Obongos, 
who  seem  to  be  among  the  very  lowest  of 
the  human  race,  not  only  in  stature,  but  in 
civilization. 

The  Obongos  have  no  settled  place  of 
residence,  their  houses  being  simply  huts 
made  of  branches,  and  constructed  so 
slightly  that  no  home  interests  can  possibly 
attach  to  them.  ITi^v  are  merely  made  of 
leafV  boughs  stuck  in  the  ground,  ar  d  are  so 
Blight  that  a  whole  village  of  Obongos  will 
change  its  residence  with  scarcely  a  warn- 
ing. The  principal  cause  of  abandonment 
seems  to  be  summed  up  in  the  single  word 
"vermin,"  with  which  che  huts  swarm  to 
such  an  extent  that,  long  after  they  have 
been  abandoned,  no  one  can  enter  without 
being  covered  with  swarms  of  these  offen- 
sive little  insects.  The  huts  are  merely 
made  of  green  boughs,  and  the  hole  which 
serves  as  a  door  is  closed  with  a  smaller 
bough.  They  are  scattered  about  without 
any  order  in  the  open  space  left  among  the 
trees. 

The  resemblance  between  the  Obongos 
and  the  Bosjesmans  of  Southern  Africa  is 
really  wonderful.  Like  them,  the  Obongos 
are  short,  though  not  ill-shaped,  much  lighter 
in  hue  than  their  neighbors,  and  have  short 
hair  growing  in  tufts,  while  the  Ashangos 
are  tall,  dark,  and  have  rather  long  bushy 
hair. 

'  Their  color  is  pale  yellow-brown,  their 
foreheads  narrow,  and  their  cheek-bones 
high.  The  average  height  is  about  four  feet 
seven  inches,  according  to  M.  du  Chaillu's  J 
measurements,  though  he  found  one  woman  ' 
who  waa  considered  very  tall,  and  who  was 
five  feet  and  a  quarter  of  an  inch  high.  The 
men  are  remarkable  for  having  their  breasts 
and  legs  covered  with  hair,  which  grows  in 
tufts  like  that  of  the  head. 

This  diminutive  stature  is  not  entirely 
owing  to  the  small  size  of  the  whole  figure, 
but  to  the  shortness  of  the  legs,  which,  un- 
like those  of  African  races  in  general,  are 
very  short  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the 
body.  Thus,  mstead  of  looking  like  ordi- 
nary but  well-shaped  men  seen  through  a 
diminishing  glass,  as  is  the  case  with  the 
Bosjesman  of  Southern  Africa,  they  have  a 
dwarfish  and  stunted  appearance,  which, 
added  to  the  hairy  iinibs  of  the  men,  gives 
them  a  weird  and  elfl.sh  appearance. 

The  dress  of  the  Obongos — when  they 
have  any  dress  at  all,  which  is  seldom  the 
case  —consists  entirely  of  old  and  worn  out 


denguis,  which  are  given  to  them  by  the 
Ashangos.  'Indeed,  the  Ashangos  behave 
verv  kindly  to  these  wretched  little  beings, 
and  encourage  them  to  take  up  their  resi- 
dence iiflar  villages,  so  that  a  kiud  of  traffic 
can  be  carried  on.  Degraded  as  these  little 
beings  seem  to  be,  they  are  skilftil  trappers, 
and  take  great  quantities  of  game,  tlie  sup- 
plies of  which  they  sell  to  the  Ashangos  for 
plantains,  iron  cooking  pots,  and  other 
implements.  (See  illustration  No.  2,  on  p. 
478.)  On  one  occasion  M.  du  Chailiu  saw  a 
dozen  Ashango  women  going  to  the  huts  of 
the  Obongos,  carrying  on  their  heads  plan- 
tains which  they  were  about  to  exchange  for 
game.  The  men  had  not  returned  from 
hunting,  but,  on  seeing  that  the  Obongo 
women  were  suffering  from  hunger,  and 
forced  to  live  on  some  very  unwholesome- 
looking  nuts,  they  left  nearly  all  the  plan- 
tains, and  came  away  without  the  game. 

The  woods  in  which  they  live  are  so  filled 
with  their  traps  that  a  stranger  dares  not 
walk  in  them,  lest  he  should  tumble  into  a 
pitfall  which  was  constructed  to  catch  the 
leopaid,  wild  boar,  or  antelope,  or  have  his 
legs  caught  In  a  trap  which  was  laid  for 
monkeys.  There  is  not  a  path  through  the 
trees  which  does  not  contam  a  pitfall  or  two, 
and  outside  the  path  the  monkey  traps  are 
so  numerous  that  even  by  daylight  it  is  dif- 
ficult to  avoid  them.  Being  a  wandering 
race,  the  Obongos  never  cultivate  the  ground, 
but  depend  for  their  food  on  t.ie  game  which 
they  take,  and  on  the  roots,  berries,  and  nuts 
which  they  find  in  the  woods.  Animal  food 
is  coveted  by  them  with  astonishing  eager- 
ness, and  a  promise  of  goat's  flesh  will  bribe 
an  Obongo  when  even  beads  fail  to  touch 
him. 

The  origin  of  the  Obongos  is  a  mystery, 
and  no  one  knows  whether  they  are  the 
aboriginal  inhabitants  of  the  soil,  or  whether 
they  came  fVom  a  distance.  The  probability 
is,  that  they  were  the  original  inhabitants, 
and  that  the  Ashangos,  being  a  larger  and 
more  powerful  race,  have  gradually  pos- 
sessed themselyes  of  that  fertile  land,  whose 
capabilities  were  wasted  by  the  nomad  and 
qon-laboring  Obongos. 

It  is  strange  that  they  should  have  re- 
tained their  individuality  throughout  so 
long  a  period,  in  which  phenomenon  they 
present  a  curious  resemblance  to  the  gipsies 
of  Europe,  who  have  for  centuries  been  among 
us,  though  not  of  us.  Tlie  Obongos  never 
marry  out  of  their  own  tribe,  and  a«  they  live  in 
little  communities  of  ten  or  twelve  huts,  it  is 
evident  that  they  can  have  but  little  matri- 


should  not  bo 
udgoon  at  the 


MODE  OF  BURIAL. 


4d3 


0  them  by  the 
hanpfOB  behave 
d  little  beings, 

up  their  resi* 
kind  of  traiflc 

1  88  these  little 
ikilftil  trappers, 
game,  tlie  sup- 
!  AshangoB  for 
)t8,  and  other 
m  No.  2,  on  p. 
I  Chaillu  saw  a 
;  to  the  huts  of 
tir  heads  plan- 

0  exchange  for 
returned  from 
it  the  Obongo 

1  hunger,  and 
unwholesome- 
r  all  the  plan- 
;  the  game. 

ve  are  so  filled 
iger  dares  not 
tumble  into  a 
tl  to  catch  the 
)o,  or  have  his 

■was  laid  for 
h  through  the 
I  pitfall  or  two, 
nkey  traps  are 
ylight  it  is  dif- 

a  wandering 
ate  the  groumf, 
lie  game  which 
rriee,  and  nuts 

Animal  food 
niching  eagcT- 
lesh  will  bribe 

fail  to  touch 

I  is  a  mystery, 
they  are  the 
oil,  or  whether 
he  probability 
il  inhabitants, 
a  larger  and 
;radually  pos- 
le  land,  whose 
le  nomad  and 

)uld  have  re- 
iroughout  so 
lomenon  they 
to  the  gipsies 
!«  been  among 
bongos  never 
I  as  they  live  in 
ilve  huts,  it  is 
t  little  matri* 


monial  cho  ce.  Indeed,  the  Ashangos  say  that 
fl!*'*  *l*  «f  ^'"«hip  are  totally  neglectecf,  and 
that  the  Obongos  permit  marriages  to  take 
place  between  brothers  and  sisters.  This 
circumstance  may  perhaps  account  for  their 
dwarfed  stature. 

They  are  a  timid  people,  and  when  M.  du 
Chaillu  visited  them  he  could  hardly  catch 
a  sight  of  them,  as  they  all  dashed  into  the 
wood  as  soon  as  they  saw  the  stranger     It 
was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  he  suc- 
ceeded m  intercepting  several  women  and 
some  children,  and  by  presents  of  beads  and 
promises  of  meat  conciliating  some  of  them 
and  inducing   them  to  inspire  confidence' 
in  their  comrades.     One  little  old  woman 
named  Misounda,  who  was  at  first  very  shv 
became  quite  confident,  and  began  to  laugh 
at  the  men  for  running  away.    She  said  that 
•y.?r?5°,'^  t'»"d  as  the  sqilirrel,  which 
cried    Quo,  Qud,"and  squeaked  in  imitation  i 


of  the  animal,  at  the  same  time  twisting  her 
odd  litUe  body  into  all  sorts  of  droll  contor- 
tions,  intended  to  represent  the  terror  of  her 
frightened  companions. 

When  an  Obongo  dies,  it  is  usual  to  take 
toe  body  to  a  hollow  tree  in  the  forest,  and 
drop  it  into  the  hollow,  which  is  afterward 
filled  to  the  top  with  earth,  leaves,  and 
branches.  Sometimes,  however,  they  em- 
ploy a  more  careful  mode  of  burial.  They 
take  the  body  to  some  running  stream,  the 
course  of  which  has  been  previously  di- 
verted. A  deep  grave  is  dug  in  the  bed  of 
the  stream,  the  body  placed  in  it,  and  cov- 
ered over  carefully.  Lastly,  the  stream  is 
restored  to  its  original  course,  so  that  all 
traces  of  the  grave  are  soon  lost.  This 
remarkable  custom  is  not  peculiar  t»  the 
Obongos,  but  has  existed  in  various  part«  of 
the  world  from  the  earliest  known  time. 


iih 


CHAPTER  XL  VI. 

THE  APONO  AND  APINGI  TRIBES. 

CURIOUS  M.VTRmON.AL^U^aKJ^^"""^'''"^''    """  BOATMKN-A  BCENE  ON    THE  KKM..O- 
CHABM-FUNKRAI-  [Zrt^''^'""'''   ^^°^«  ™«  APUCOl-A    HUNTEI.'s  ,.EOPAKl>. 


I 

Of  tho  upper  jaw,  and  file  all  tho  rest  to 
sharp  points.  Tattooing  i,  carried  on  to  a 
considerable  extent,  especially  l)v  the  women, 
who  have  a  habit  of  raLsing  little  elevated 
scars  in  their  foreheads,  sometimes  arrnnced 
in  thatorm  of  a  diamond,  and  situated  be- 
tween the  eyes.  Several  marks  are  made 
on  the  cheeks,  and  a  few  on  tho  chest  and 
abdomen. 

The  dress  of  the  Aponos  resembles  that 

1  lu     mL'°^*'  *"'J"''  '»"'^  '«  ""«•«  of  grass 
cloth.     The  men  wear  the  denguis  or  man- 
ties,  composed  of  several  grass  cloths  sewed 
together,  while  the  women  are  restricted  to 
termined  to  stop  the7evelrv"tharpoTh^,t  I  I^r  °"'', ""{ ''''"*''' ''  attached  on  either  side. 

over  the  vessels  of  nalmwTnn   „i*i' ^''^''""1  "''^^^^^  of  uniform  size,  cannot  be  made  to 


PnocEEDTNO  toward  the  western  coast  of 
Africa,  we  now  come  to  the  Apono  tribe, 
which  inhabit  a  district  just  below  the  Equa- 
tor, and  between  long,  lio  and  12°  E 
«^T<!l7*i*™  »  .merry  race,  and  carry  to 
cl^n^fn  "^°  ^"™»  ^V'tom  of  drumniing, 
dancing,  and  singiii-  throughout  the  entire 

n^??„f  ^0"''"'°'  «f  <=«»"e,  forms  a  chief 
part  of  the  amusements  of  the  night,  the 
iquid  used  being  the  palm  wine,  which 
18  made  in  great  quantities  in  many  parts 
of  tropical  Africa.  Perhaps  tho  ^innate 
good  nature  of  the  Apono  people  was 
never  shown  to  greater  advantage  than 
on  one  occasion  wlien  M.  du  Chaillu  de 


hut.  They  were  certainly  vexed  at  the  loss 
ot  so  much  good  liquor,  but  contented  them- 
orders  "  grumble,  and  then  obeyed 

Tn^t  ^P^P""  proved  to  be  very  honest 
men,  according  to  the  African  ideai  of  hon- 

^n/i^lfi  •^'■°™  ^- ''"  ^'^•'*'""'«  '"'count,  did 
mrt  K''  P''T''t,V'  '^nd  alwavs  took  his 
L,  I  uH  ^^Hniberless  squabbles  with  dif- 
ferent chiefs     They  are  not  pleasing  in  ap- 

Sf  K^'"^?]?™^''  ^'"^  ^tiial  ugliness 
of  feature,  but  from  their  custom  of  dis- 
£r"?-  ^'^n^^e'^es  artiflcially.  In  the  first 
ricco,  lucy  knock  out  the  two  middle  teeth 


ordinary  custom,  and  the  Aponos  arc  per- 
fectly satisfied  with  it. 

The  palm  wine  which  has  just  been  men- 
tioned 18  made  by  the  Ajjonos  in  a  very 
simple  manner.  When  the  fruit  is  nearly 
ripe,  the  natives  climb  the  trees  and  bans 
hollowed  gourds  under  the  fruits  for  the 
mirpose  of  receiving  the  precious  liquor, 
rhey  are  so  fond  of  this  drink,  th.it  even  in 
the  early  morning  they  may  be  seen  climb- 
ing the  trees  and  drinking  from  the  sus- 
pended calabashes.  During  the  season  the 
Apono  people  are  coisstantly  intoxicated, 
and,  in  consequence,  are  apt  to  be  quarrel- 
(484) 


!NT  — THE  OIANT 
ICKNKS8,  DEATH, 
I'l'KAHANCB  AND 
N  THE  KEMIIO  — 
rTKu'8  LEOPARD- 


11  tho  rest  to 
Finied  on  to  n 
I).V  the  women, 
little  elevated 
inies  arrnnced 
d  situated  be- 
rks are  made 
;lie  chest  and 

cscmblcs  that 
lade  of  grass 
Ignis  or  inan- 
i  cloths  sewed 
restricted  to 
tn  either  side. 
!■  and  front  if 
re  young,  tho 
hen  they  be- 
i,  which  are 
''  be  made  to 
ver,  the  dress 
luictioned  by 
nos  arc  per- 

st  been  men- 
>s  in  a  very 
iiit  is  nearly 
es  and  hang 
uits  for  tho 
•ious  liquor, 
that  even  in 

seen  clinib- 
>m  the  Bus- 
)  season  the 
intoxicated, 

be  (quarrel- 


USD; 


THE  GIANT  DANCE. 


8om(>  and  la^y,  willing  to  take  offence  at  any 
sliRit  whether  real  or  ima«in«l,  anrt  to 
neglect  the  diitieH  which  at  other  times  of 
the  yo^ar  thev  are  always  romly  to  perform. 

Jortunately  for  themselves,  the  palm  wine 
season  lasts  only  a  few  months,  and  durinir 
the  remainder  of  the  year  the  Apono.  are 
nerforco  obliged  to  he  sober.  While  It 
lasts,  the  country  is  most  unpleasant  to  a 
stranger,  the  sound  of  the  drum,  the  dance, 
and  the  song  scarcely  ever  ceasing  night  or 
day,  while  the  people  are  so  tetchy  and 
qiwrrelsome  that  a  day  never  passes  without 
a  fight,  which  often  leaves  considerable  scars 
behind  it 

One  of  their  dances  if  very  peculiar,  and 
is  called  ov  the  name  of  Ocuya,  or  Giant 
Dance.  The  reader  will  And  It  illustrated 
on  the  previous  page. 

Tliis  curious  dance  is  performed  by  a  man 
who  enacts  the  part  of  the  giant,  and  raises 


487 


nlmselt  to  the  necessary  height  by  means  of 
stilts.  Ho  then  endues  a  wicker-work 
frani(>,  shaped  like  the  body  of  a  man,  and 
dressed  like  one  of  the  natives,  in  larije 
grass  cloths.  The  dress  reaches  to  the 
ground,  so  as  to  conceal  the  stilts,  and,  in 
spite  of  this  drawback,  the  performer  walks 
and  dances  as  if  he  were  using  his  unaided 
feet.  Of  course  ho  wears  a  mask,  and  this 
mask  is  mostly  of  a  white  color.  It  has 
largi',  tliick  lips,  and  a  mouth  partly  open, 
Bhoiving  the  gap  In  which  the  upper  incisor 
teetii  had  once  existed.  The  headdress  is 
much  like  a  lady's  bonnet  of  1864  or  180.5. 
Tile  material  of  wliich  it  is  made  is  monkey 
skin,  and  it  is  ornamented  with  feathers. 

The  Aponos  are  not  distinguished  as  war- 
riors, their  weapons  being  very  formidable  in 
aj)poarance,  and  very  inefficient  in  practice. 
l!,ach  Apono  has  his  bow  and  arrows.  The 
former  is  a  stiff,  cumbrous  kind  of  weapon 
It  IS  lient  nearly  in  a  semi-circle,  the  strin"- 
being  nearly  two  feet  from  the  centre  of  the 
bow.  The  string  is  of  vegetable  fibre.  The 
arrows  are  ingeniously  armed  with  trian'^u- 
lar  iron  heads,  e.ach  being  attached  to  a  IkiI- 
low  neck,  through  which  the  shaft  passes 
loosely.  The  head  is  poisoned,  and  when  it 
penetrates  the  flesh  it  remains  fixed  in  the 
wound,  while  the  shaft  falls  to  the  ground 
just  as  IS  the  caso  with  the  Bosjesman  arrows' 
already  described. 

Their  spears  are  also  rather  clumsy,  and  are 
too  heavy  to  be  thrown.  They  are,  'ho wever, 
rather  formidable  in  close  combat.  The 
weapon  which  is  most  coveted  by  the  Apono 
tribe  is  a  sort  of  sword,  or  rather  scimitar 
with  a  wooden  handle  and  a  boldly  curved 
blade.  An  ambitious  young  Apono  is  never 
happy  until  he  has  o'btaincd  one  of  these 
scimitars,  and  such  a  weapon,  together  with 
a  handsome  cap  and  a  well-made  "  dcngui  " 
wi'l  give  a  man  a  most  distinguished  ap- 
pearance ninonjr  his  fellowR.  .A.Uhoun'b  *''- 
curved  form  is  most  common,  some  of" these 
swords  are  straight,  and  are  not  made  by 


themselves,  but  hy  the  Abomhos  and  Iliavis 
who  live  to  the  east  of  them.  Tlie  blade  ofihis 
weapon  is  four  feet  in  length, and  the  handle 
is  shaped  like  a  dice-box,  the  "  tang  "  of  the 
blade  running  through  it  and  being  clenched 
on  the  end  of  the  hilt.  From  the  same 
tribes  they  procure  their  anvils,  which  are 
too  largo  f()r  their  resources;  their  only 
melting  pots  being  scarcely  able  to  hold 
more  than  a  pint  of  iron  ore.  The  shields  of 
the  Apono  are  circular  and  made  of  basket 
work. 

The  villages  of  the  Apono  are  well  and 
neatly  built.  One  of  them,  belonging  to 
Nchiengain,  the  principal  chief  of  the  Apono 
tribe,  was  measured  by  M.  du  Chnillu,  and 
found  to  consist  of  one  long  street,  nearly 
four  hundred  and  fifty  yards  long,  and 
eighteen  yards  wide.  The  houses  were  all 
separated  bv  an  interval,  and  each  house 
was  furnished  with  a  little  veranda  in 
front,  under  which  the  inhabitants  sit  and 
smoke  their  jpipes,  eat  their  meals,  and  en- 
joy a  chat  with  their  neighborii.  The  ma- 
terial of  the  Iiouses  is  chiefly  bamboo,  and 
strips  of  the  leaf-stalks  of  palm  trees  and 
the  average  heigiit  of  a  hut  is  about  seven 
feet 

One  of  the  villages,  named  Mokaba,  de- 
served the  name  of  a  town,  and  was  ar- 
ranged in  a  somewhat  different  manner. 
The  houses  were  arranged  in  three  parallel 
rows,  forming  one  wide  principal  street  in 
the  middle,  and  a  narrow  street  on  either 
side.  The  houses  are  arr.anged  in  hollow 
squares,  each  square  belonging  to  one  family. 
As  often  as  a  man  marries  a  fresh  wife  ho 
builds  a  separate  house  for  her,  and  all  tliese 
new  houses  are  arranged  in  the  form  of  a 
quadrangle,  thn  empty  space  being  planted 
with  palm  trees,  whi<'h  are  the  property  of 
the  headman  of  eacL  group,  and  which  pass 
at  his  death  to  his  heir.  These  p.alm  trees 
arc  valuable  property,  and  are  especially 
prized  as  furnishing  material  for  the  palm 
wine  which  the  Apono  tribe  drink  to  such 
an  extent 

Superstition  is  as  rife  among  the  Aponos 
as  among  other  tribes  which  have  been 
inentioned,  and  preserves  its  one  invariabJo 
characteristic,  t.  e.  an  ever-present  fear  of 
evil.  When  M.  du  Chaillu  visited  them, 
they  were  horribly  afraid  of  such  a  monster 
as  a  white  man,  and  jumped  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  any  one  M'ho  was  unlike  them- 
solves  must  be  both  evil  and  supernatural. 

It  was  with  some  difficulty  that  the  chief 
JNchiengain  was  induced  to  allow  the  travel- 
lers to  pass  through  his  territories;  and  even 
after  permission  h.ad  been  granted,  it  was 
thought  better  to  send  a  man  who  was  the 
personal  friend  of  the  chief,  and  who  would 
serve  to  calm  the  fears  with  which  he  re- 
garded the  approach  of  his  visitors.  There 
vrfia  eer tainly  somo  reason  iot  his  fear,  for  by 
some  unfortunate  mischance,  the  small-pox 
swept  through  the  country  during  the  time  of 


THE  APINQI. 


M.  (]ii,())iitillii's  trkveln,  nntl  it  WH  vury 
nuturiir  Uiitt  tho  puuplu  ihuiild  tikiuk  thut 
tlin  wliitu  iiti'ungtir  vhm  cuunuctu<l  wilk  thu 
Uiiit'iMi'. 

Wlii>n,  at  loftt,  tlie  traveller  uiitorud  the 
Apollo  villiiKt)  tlit-ro  wiut  u  Kfiiunil  coiiMtor- 
imlion,  thu  mon  running  iiwayuMlUatiM  tlioir 
lfH»  t'uuid  curry  tliuin,  mid  tlio  woinuii  lltiu- 
iiig  to  thuir  hilts.  cliMpiiig  iliijr  chiidruii  iu 
tliuir  ariiw,  ami  Hhrioltiiig  w itli  terror.  Tlio 
villugt*  wiw,  ill  liict,  destirtod,  iu  spitn  of  tliu 
exuiiiplu  8i!t  i)y  tlio  chief,  wlio,  uUlioiiuh  m 
niucli  I'righteimd  u«  Hiiy  of  Iuh  Hubjocts,  born 
iu  mind  tliu  rcHnoiisibilitius  of  hiBol)icu,uud 
stood  ill  front  otliis  liouau  to  recoivo  liiH  vis- 
itor. Ill  order  to  uoulrulizu  un  much  us  po«- 
Bil)le  th(i  oll'cctH  of  tlio  wliito  man's  witchery, 
ho  iiikd  hung  on  iiis  uoclc,  l)ody,  and  limbs  all 
the  fotisiiu8  whicli  iio  possessed,  uud  hiid  hts- 
sides  covered  his  body  with  mysterious  litius 
of  iihunbi  chailc.  Tliim  fortiiled,  ho  stood  iu 
front  of  liis  hut,  accompanied  by  two  nieu, 
who  bravely  determined  to  take  part  with 
their  chief  m  his  perilous  adventure. 

At  tiiHt  Nchiengain  was  in  too  great  a 
fright  to  look  at  his  visitor,  but  before  very 
long  ho  ventured  to  do  so,  and  accept  sonio 
presents.  Afterward,  when  \w  had  got  over 
the  fear  with  which  ho  regarded  the  white 
man,  ho  acted  after  the  fashion  of  all  African 
chiefs,  i.  e.  ho  found  all  sorts  of  oxcuses  for 
not  furnishing  his  guests  with  guides  and 
porters;  the  real  oWect  being  to  keep  iu  his 
hands  tlio  wonderlul  white  man  wno  had 
such  inexhaustible  treasures  at  command, 
and  who  might  make  him  the  richest  and 
most  powerful  chief  in  tlie  country. 

The  idols  of  the  Apouo  tribe  are  hideously 
ugly.  When  M.  du  Chaillu  was  in  Apono- 
land,  he  naturally  wished  to  bring  home  a 
specimen  of  a  native  idol,  and  oiler  some 
trouble  induced  Nchiengain  to  present  him 
with  a  specimen.  The  chief  obligingly  sent 
his  wife  to  the  temple  to  fetch  an  idol,  which 
he  generously  presented  to  his  guest  It 
was  a  wooden  image,  so  largo  that  the 
woman  could  scarcely  carry  it,  ond  was  of 
such  a  character  that  it  could  not  possibly 
be  exhibited  in  Europe. 

These  people  seem  to  possess  inventive 
faculties  of  no  small  extent,  if  we  may  judge 
from  a  strange  legend  that  was  told  by  one 
of  them.  Accordiiij^  to  this  tale,  in  former 
times  there  was  a  great  chief  called  Red- 
jiona,  the  father  of  a  beautiful  girl  called 
Arondo.  He  was  very  fond  of  this  daughter, 
and  would  not  allow  any  one  to  marry  her, 


UDluas  hu  prouilsod  thut,  ifhia  dsiigiiti.'r  died 
b«foro  hor  husband,  lie  ulioiild  dio  willi  her 
and  bo  buriitd  in  thu  same  grave.  In  < misv. 
ipiuaco  of  this  auuouacenieut,  no  one  dared 
to  ask  for  Arondo'ii  hand,  uud  she  leuiuincci 
unmarried  lor  suvural  years. 

At  last  a  suitor  showed  liinisolf,  in  the 
pi-rson  of  a  man  nomud  Akeiida  Mbaiii. 
This  uumo  signities  "ho  who  never  goes 
twice  to  the  same  plwe;"  and  he  hiul  lakun 
it  in  conseraence  of  a  law  or  command  of 
his  lather,  lliut  ho  must  never  go  twice  to 
tlie  same  phice.  lie  married  Arondo,  and, 
being  a  mighty  hunter,  ho  brought  hoAio 
nlentv  of  game;  but  if  he  had  by  chance 
killed  two  largo  animals,  such  as  antelopes  or 
boars,  together,  he  brought  homo  one,  and 
made  his  father-in-law  letch  the  other,  on 
the  plea  that  ho  could  not  go  twice  to  the 
sumo  place. 

After  some  veors  Arondo  was  taken  ill 
with  a  headache,  whii^h  became  worse  and 
worse  until  she  died,  and,  according  to 
agreement,  Akonda  Mbaiii  died  willi  hor. 
As  soon  as  she  was  dead,  her  lather  gavo 
ord(!r8  to  prepare  a  largo  grave  for  the  hus- 
band  and  wife.  In  the  grave  was  placed  the 
bed  of  the  married  pair,  on  which  their 
bodies  were  laid,  and  they  were  accompanied 
by  a  slave  killed  to  wait  ou  them  in  the  land 
of  spirits,  and  by  much  wealth  in  the  sliapo  of 
ivory,  plates,  mats,  and  ornaments.  Akeiula 
Mbaui  was  also  furnished  with  his  sword, 
sneor,  and  hunting  bag.  The  grave  was 
then  filled  up,  and  a  mouud  of  sand  heoped 
upon  it 

■When  Agambouai.  the  village  orator,  saw 

Uiese  arrangements,  he  disapproved  of  them, 

and  told  Eedjiona  that  the  hyanas  would 

scratch  up  Iho  mound  of  sand,  and  devour  the 

bodies  of  his  daughter  and  her  husband.    So 

Retyioua  ordered  the  grave  to  be  made  so 

deep  that  the  hyosnas  could  not  get  at  the 

bodies.    Accordingly,  the  sand  was  removed, 

and   the  bodies  of  Akenda  Mbaui  and  hia 

wife  were  seated  on  stools  while  tlie  grav« 

was  deepened.    When  it  was  deep  enough, 

the  people  rc]tlaced  the  bed,  and  lowered  uie 

slave   and  Aroudo  into  the  grave.    They 

then  proceeded  to  place  Akenda  Mboni  by 

her,  but  he  suddenly  revived,  and  declined 

to  take  his  place  in  the  grave  i  lecojid  time, 

on  the  ground  that  he  never  *v.iit  tv-  e  to 

the  same  place.     Rcc^jiona  wwV'  j<  ;i  lo-yat 

this,  but  admitted  the  validU.;;'  it  Uic  cxruae, 

and  consoled  himself  by  cuiting  oifthe  head 

of  Agambouai. 


THE  APINGL 


Passing  wfistvui- 
come  to  the  Ai    j; 
inhabit  a  tokfibi;.- 
and  extend  alonr  Ihi 


U  vard  the  coast,  we 
I  tnbe.  rhese  people 
V  ,'e  '     ct  of  country, 

-  , V  )8t  side  of  a  range  of 

Cilia  whicu  s(;pa.:at..8  \£k6m  from  the  lahugo. 


I^he  Apingi  are  not  a  handsome  race. 
Their  skin  is  black,  with  a  decided  tinge  of 
yellow,  but  this  lightness  of  hue  may  proba^ 
bly  be  owIdk  to  the  raountaiuouH  r<*ainna 
which  they  inhabit    They  wear  the  uiiuai 


'NATIVE  INNOCBNCE." 


(frMl^  cl«.th  round  th«  walit,  and  the  women 
aro  roM  riofui  to  two  of  tj'.c  «.u«n,H,  Zlu 
twentv-lour  imlies  long  |,y  eiKlitcen  wid^ 

'  ^^""^ ,  V^"'*-  ^'hoy  ,Jo  not.  lu  w„v"r 
look  o,i  clothing  ill  the  Kami,  Ught ,«  ^^^  ,|,V 
an.l  «o  thn  «c,intin.,»8  of  their  «HWelU  of 
no  ooiiH()(|uoni!i,  to  them. 

♦i.«  h'*  1^'". .'»<'%  »l«"wn  by  tho  con(h.ot  of 
the  h„a<l  wifo  of  Uo,„,„„l)i,  „„  Apingi  cliicf 
Sh«  caino  w  th  h«r  h««bft,.,l  ^  vi.i  M 
du  thai  h.  who  |,rc8ont.,d  hor  with  a  piooe 
o»  IM.Urolorod  cotton  clotli.  Hho  wm 
do  gKtod  w.th  tho  present,  „„d.  „,uch  " 
ho.  h..U«  diHiimy,  proceeded  to  dJHrohe  her- 
self  o»  h.,r  ordinary  dross,  in  order  to  nd  ,„ 
U.n  new  garment.    Hut,  when  she  ha<     S 

a.  nuitod  luM-  attention,  and  she  beffan  to 
inspect  It,  foixettiutf  all  about  her  dress 
chattonng  and  .KdcinR  about  her  for  sonie 
time  before  she  bethought  herself  of  her  cot- 
ton robe,  which  sh.  pu?on  quite  leisurely 

lliis  woman  was  rather  goo<l-lookinc  but 

as  a  r„.,,  the  Apingi  women  are  exceed- 

ng  y  "Kly,  and  do  not  improve  their  beauty 

by  tiie  custom  of  filing  the  teeth,  and  covoS 

ng  themselves  with  tottooing.    This  nrac- 

tice  .8  common  to  both  sexes,  but  tho  women 

are  fond  of  one  pattern,  which  makes  them 

look  much  as  if  they  wore  braces,  a  broiS 

band  ot  tattooed  linos  passing  over  ea?h 

8houMor,n„d  meeting  in  a  V-shape  on  S 

roast.    From  the  point  of  tho   V,  otho? 

linen  aro  drawn  in  a  curved  form  upon  the 

abdomen,  and  a  similar  series  is.^rred 

over  the  back.    Tho  more  of  these  li™a 

Brped?oS^^'"-^^"-''--^«^i" 

wutli  an  European  pursues  his  daily  labor 

Jr^sMoth"t1'"«  '"  '»''"'  ''"•*  >-hetK 
K.r  .r     *«.^^«  ?no  or  two  days'  labor  is  a 
uiatter  of  perfect  indifference.    Ho  will  not 
an  I  "l^hf  «'^"'»K.«i"  work  without  hTs  pipe 
and   always  has  his  friends  about  him    so 

bv  social  converse.    Generally,  a   nunibw- 

r.^1  ,  ?i!  "'°  '^^''^^S'  «o  that  the  weaver! 
can^  Ulk  as  much  as  they  like  wirhTac" 

The  Apingi  are  celebrated  as  weavers 
and  are  said  to  produce  the  best  doths Tn 

tion  that  they  are  sold  even  on  tho  coaat 

ff  mL'"»i"1?^  "^  mosquito  curtS: 
:i„L"'5!!:8''°«''^"y  wear  a  robe  made  of 
•^s-'j  Or  uiut;  squares,  iiarter,  and  not  per- 
soaal  use,  is  the  chief  objeit  in  making 


460 

these  cloths,  the  Apingi  thinking  that  their 
tattooiug  18  quit*  enough  dotliirig  fo,  «11 
Hpeial  purposes.  iudecT,  they  op,  „lv  sav 
that  the  lutUx.iiiv  is  their  mo.l,  „(  (Ircss 
and  that  it  is  (,ulte  ai  reason;! I.lo  as  cov- 
ering up  the  b(Hly  and  limbs  wiih  u  num- 
ber of  absurd  garraenis,  which  can  Imve 
no  object  but  to  restmin  the  inovcmcntii 
Sometimes  the  Apingi  wear  a  cloth  over 
one  slioulder,  but  this  in  u„,.,|  ,«  ^  Hi^jn  of 
wealth,  and  not  intended  as  tlrcss. 

Like  most  tribes  which  live  on  the  banks 
of  rivers,  the  Apingi,  who  inhabit  lb,,  dis- 
trict watered  by  the  llembo  Kiv.r,  are  clever 
boatmen,  and  excellent  swimmeiH,  Tho 
latter  accomplishment  is  a  necessity,  as  the 
camjes  are  generally  very  smairand  IVuil. 
nat-bottomed,  and  are  easily  crti)Nined.  They 
draw  Hcarcelv  any  water,  tliis  structure 
being  noedl\if  on  account  of  the  powerAil 
stream  of  the  Uembo,  which  runs  so  swifliy 
that  even  these  practised  puddlers  can 
scarcely  make    more    than    three  or  four 

wu  "°  w""'  m^innt  tho  stream. 
Unlit  "• ''"  ^^^'*'""  was  pa.s8ing  up  the 
Rombo,  he  met  with  an  accident  that  si  owed 

w.^  n?H,fi^  ''^^^^  ^""■«"*-  ^"  "'''  woman 
buTtf.e&^'''l ''"''*  '"''''''  "'"  "troam, 
stream     aS      i'"^.''  7"*  "^"P'  ''"W"  I'V  the 

Chailiu,  so  that  both  upset.  As  for  tho  old 
woman,  who  had  a  bunch  of  planti  ins  in 
her  boat  she  thought  of  noth  ng  burher 
fruit,  and  swam  down  th^  at- ?  i,"  ...'^ 


<"„.if        1  —  """uniiK  ui  Hoining  out  he 
o'" S..1?i«"r./h-"  *."«  «treanf  bawling 

my   i)lantains  P 


out  lustily,    "Where'  are 

h.'i^wi  Z"*"  '"^  plantains  I  "    sfJe  soon  cap- 

fj.  J^"""?  '*•"  '^"'■.'ous  matrimonial  law  among 
the  Apingi,  w'uch  was  accidentally  discov- 
h^\^^.  ^".^h"'"-  A  young  man,  who 
had  just  married  the  handsomest  woman  in 
tho  country,  showed  all  tho  marks  of  pov- 
erty,  even  his  grass  cloUi  dress  being  raiced 

o?..rj°KK"^    ^"  ^'"'S  ^^^'^  the  r^on 

01  his  shabby  appearance,  he  pointed  to  his 

>^ung  Wife,  and  said  that  slio  had  quite 

uincd  h.m     On  ftirthcr  interrogation,  it 

fe^.-f,  r^^"  "•?.*  T'^"?.""'  Apingifif  a  man 
fell  in  love  with  tho  wife  of  a  nefgi.bor,  and 

she  reciprocated  tho  affection,  tho  fover 
might  purchase  her  from  tho  husband,  who 
was  bound  to  sell  her  for  tho  same  prl^ 
that  he  originally  paid  for  her.  In  the 
Slf fr"  'nstance,  so  largo  a  sum  had  been 
f,J  ♦!  .  l*?®  acknowledged  belle  of  the  coun- 
w?^K  II  .*  '^  '"^*"'  ^^  heen  obliged  to  part 
with  all  his  property  before  he  could  secure 

„,f'*J*  ?^^^'^  *'^°  '^^  '"  Africa,  the  slaves 
are  Seated    very  well   by  their    maafera 
Should  a  slave  bo  treated  Karshly,  ho  can  at 

- .  _. —  .J...  „^  tucaua  OJ  a  curious  aud 

most  humane  law.    He  finds  an  opportunUy 
of  slipping  away,  and  goes  to  another  vit. 


490 


THE  APIMGI. 


Ill 


lage,  where  he  chooses  for  himself  a  new 
master.  This  is  done  by  "  beating  bongo," 
1.  e.  by  laying  the  hands  on  the  head  and 
saying,  "  Father,  I  wish  to  serve  you.  I 
choose  you  for  my  master,  and  will  never 
go  back  to  my  old  master."  Such  an  offer 
may  not  be  refused,  neither  can  the  fugitive 
slave  be  reclaimed,  unless  he  should  return 
to  the  village  which  he  lel'^- 

The  Apingi  are  very  fond  of  palm  wine, 
and,  like  other  neighboring  tribes,  hang  cal- 
abashes in  the  trees  for  the  purpose  of 
receiving  the  juice.  Being  also  rather 
selfish,  they  mostly  visit  their  palni  trees 
in  the  e.arly  morning,  empty  the  calabashes 
into  a  vessel,  and  then  go  off  into  the  woods 
and  drink  tlie  wine  alone,  lest  some  acquaint- 
ance should  happen  to  see  them,  and  ask  for 
u  share. 

Hospitality  is  certainly  one  of  the  virtues 
of  the  Apingi  tribe.  When  M.  du  Chaillu 
visited  them,  the  chief  Remandji  presented 
him  with  food,  the  gift  consisting  of  fowls, 
cass.ava,  plantains,  and  a  young  slave.  The 
latter  article  was  given  in  accordance  with 
the  ordinary  nemo's  idea,  that  the  white 
men  are  cannibals,  and  purchase  black  men 
for  the  purpose  of  eating  them.  "  Kill  him 
for  your  evening  meal,"  said  the  hospitable 
chief;  "  he  is  tender  and  fat,  and  yon  must 
be  hungry."  And  so  deeply  was  the  idea  of 
cannibalism  implanted  in  his  mind,  that 
nothing  would  make  this  really  estimable 
gentleman  comprehend  that  men  could  pos- 
sibly be  wanted  as  laborers,  and  not  as  arti- 
cles of  food. 

However,  a  very  fair  meal  (mimts  the 
slave)  vas  picparca,  and  when  it  was  served 
up,  E'^'.nandji  appeared,  and  tasted  every  diali 
that  was  pliiccd  before  iiis  guests.  He  even 
drank  a  little  of  the  water  as  it  was  poured 
but,  this  custom  being  followed  throughout 
the  tribe,  the  wives  tasting  the  food  set  be- 
fore tlu'ir  husbands,  and  the  men  that  which 
they  offer  to  their  guests.  It  is  singular  to 
see  h(?w  ancient  ami  universal  is  the  office  of 
"taster,"  and  how  a  custom  which  still  sur- 
vives in  European  courts  as  a  piece  of  state 
ceremonial  is  in  active  operation  among  the 
savage  tribes  of  Western  Africa. 

The  religious,  or  rather  the  superstitious, 
system  of  the  Apingi  differs  little  from  that 
which  wc  have  seen  in  other  districb»,  and 
seems  to  consist  chiefly  in  a  belief  in  fetishes, 
and  charms  of  various  kinds.  For  example, 
when  M.  du  Chaillu  told  Remandji  thiit  he 
would  like  to  go  on  a  leopard  hunt,  the  chief 
sent  for  a  sorcerer,  or  "  ouganga,"  who  knew 
a  charm  which  enabled  him  to  kill  any  num- 
ber of  leopards  without  danger  to  hinjself. 
The  wizard  came,  and  went  through  his 
ceremonies,  remarking  that  the  white  man 
might  laugh  as  much  as  he  plense,  but  that 
on  the  next  dr.y  he  would  see  that  his  charm 
(monda)  would  bring  u  leopard. 

On  the  following  morning  he  started  into 
the  woods,  and  in  tlie  afternoon  returned 


with  a  fine  leopard  which  he  had  killed.  He 
asked  such  an  exorbitant  price  for  the  skin 
that  the  purchase  was  declined,  and  the  skin 
was  therefore  put  to  its  principal  use, 
namely,  making  fetish  belts  for  warriors. 
A  strip  of  skin  is  c\i^■  fVom  the  head  to  the 
tail,  and  is  then  charmed  by  the  ouganga, 
whose  incantations  are  so  powerful  that 
neither  bullet,  arrow,  nor  spear,  can  wound 
the  man  who  wears  the  belt.  Of  course 
such  a  belt  commands  a  very  high  price, 
which  accounts  for  the  unwillingness  of  the 
sorcerer  to  part  with  the  skin. 

As  is  usual  in  many  parts  of  the  world, 
when  twins  are  born,  one  of  them  is  killed, 
as  an  idea  prevails  that,  if  both  are  allowed 
to  live,  the  mother  will  die.  Only  one  case 
was  known  where  twins,  boys  seven  years 
of  age,  were  allowed  to  survive,  and,  as 
their  mother  did  not  die,  she  was  respected 
as  a  very  remarkable  woman. 

Seeing  the  treasures  which  their  white 
visitor  brought  among  them,  the  Apingi 
could  not  be  disabused  of  the  notion  that  he 
made,  or  rather  created,  them  all  himself, 
and  that  he  was  able,  by  his  bare  word,  to 
make  unlimited  quantities  of  the  same  arti- 
cle:*. One  day  a  great  consullation  was 
held,  and  about  thirty  chiefs,  with  Re- 
mandji at  their  head,  came  and  preferred 
the  modest  request  that  the  white  man 
would  make  a  pile  of  beads  as  high  as  the 
tallest  tree,  and  another  of  guns,  powder, 
cloth,  brass  kettles,  and  copper  rods.  Noth- 
ing could  persuade  them  lliat  such  a  feat 
was  impossible,  and  the  refusal  to  jierfbrm 
the  expected  miracle  was  a  severe  disap- 
pointment to  the  Apingi  chiefs,  who  had 
come  from  gre.at  distances,  each  bringing 
with  him  a  large  band  of  followers.  There 
was  even  an  Ashango  chief,  who  had  come 
from  his  own  country,  more  than  a  hundred 
miles  to  tlie  eastward,  bringing  witli  him  a 
strong  party  of  men  to  carry  away  his  share 
of  the  goods. 

This  scene  appears  to  have  made  a  great 
impression  on  the  natives,  for  when  Re- 
mandji and  his  son  died,  an  evint  which 
happened  not  long  after  Du  Chaillu  had  left 
the  country,  the  people  firmly  believed  that 
the  latter  had  killed  him  on  account  of  his 
friendship  for  him,  deisring  that  tlicy  should 
be  companions  in  the  spirit  land,  which  they 
believed  was  the  ordinary  habitation  of  white 
men. 

Their  burial  customs  are  nither  curious, 
and  not  at  all  agreeable.  The  body  is  left 
in  the  house  where  the  sick  person  has  died, 
and  is  allowed  to  remain  there  as  long  as  it 
can  hold  together.  At  last,  the  nearest  rel.-i- 
tion  of  tlie  deceased  comes  and  carries  off 
the  body  on  his  shoulders,  bearing  it  to 
some  convenient  spot  at  a  little  distance 
from  the  village.  No  grave  is  dug,  but  the 
corpse  is  laid  on  the  ground,  some  pieces  of 
ivory  or  a  few  personal  ornaments  are  Jaixi 
by  it,  and  the  uineral  ceremony  is  at  an  end. 


CHAPl'ER  XLVII. 


THE  BAKALAI. 


QUENCES-THE   "kEEK"   CVEB  A  DEAD  PeLo7  *"^«-^''    INTBUSION    AND    1X8     C0N8E- 


TriE  largo  and  i.-.-ioi-tant  tribe  of  the  Ba- 
kalai  inhabit  a  -  iisiderable  tract  of  country 
between  the  Equator  and  2°  S.,  and  lon<T 
10°  to  l;3°  E.    The  land  in  which  they  dwell 
IS  not  tenantod  by  tlionnelves  alone,  but  they 
occupy  sn  mueh  space  in  it  that  it  may  fairly 
be  called  by  their  name.    They  have  a  pecul- 
iar faculty  for  coloni-^ation,  and    have  ex- 
tended their  settleaK   ts  in  all  directions 
some  beiiijr  close  to  the  western  coast,  anci 
others  far  to  the  east  of  the  AshaiiMs.    Of 
course,  their  habits  ditfer  according  to  the 
kind  ot  country  in  which  they  are  placed 
but  in  all  situations  they  are  bold  and  enter- 
prising, and  never  fail  to  become  masters  of 
tiie  distrK't. 

One  clan  or  branch  of  this  tribe,  however 
ha^  abandoned  these  roving  habits,  and  has 
settled  peniianently  at  a  place  called  Obindji 
after  the  chief  of  the  clan.    Being  conven- 
iently situated  at  the  junction  of  the  Onenga 
and  Ofouboa  rivers,  Obindji  has  a  command- 
ing position  for  trade,  and,  having  contracted 
an  alliance  witli  the  great  chief  Quengueza 
carries  on  a  prosnerous  commerce,   ebony 
being  their  special  commodity.    In  conclu- 
ding   his  alliance   with   them,    Queiirrueza 
showed  li;s  wisdom  by  insisting  unon'thdr 
maintaining  peace  with  all  their  neighbors 
this  indeed  having  been  his  policy  through- 
out  ni^  life.  " 

When  Du  Chaillu  was  passing  ah-n.^  the 
Rembo  Uiver.  Quengueza  addressed  the  por- 
ters who  carried  the  goods,  and  gave  them 
excellent  advice,  which,  if  they  would  only 
have  followed  it,  would  have  keiit  them 
clear  of  manj-  subse.iueul  quarrels  and  mis- 
tcrtunes.  He  advised  them  never  to  pick  up 
bunches  of  plantain  or  nuts  that  might  be 


(401) 


Ij-mg  on  the  road,  because  those  were  only 
placed  as  a  bait.  Also,  if  told  to  catch  and 
kill  goats  or  fowls,  or  to  pluck  fruit,  they 
were  to  refuse,  saying  that  it  was  the  duty 
of  the  host  to  supply  the  food,  and  not  to  set 
his  guests  to  fetch  it  for  themselves.  Thev 
were  specially  enjoined  not  to  enter  other 
houses  but  those  allotted  to  them,  not  to  sit 
on  strange  seats,  and  to  keep  clear,  of  Oio 
women. 

Obindji's  town  showed  clearly  the  charac- 
ter of  the  inhabitants.    Bound"  to  keep  the 
l)eace  by  the  treaty  with   Quengueza.  thev 
were  still  prepared  against  the  incursions  of 
inimical  tribes.      Usually,   the   houses  arc 
made  of  bamboo,  bat  those  of  Obindji  had 
regular  walls,  made  of  broad  strips  of  bark 
lashed  firmly  to  the  bamboo  uprights.  When 
the  house  is  made  of  bamboo  aioni>,  the  in- 
habitontg  can  bo  seen  nearly  as  well  as  if 
tliey  were  birds  in  cages,  and  consequently 
the  enemy  can  shoot  at  them  between  the 
oars.    In  Obindji,  however,  the  houses  were 
not  only  defended   by  the   bark   walls,  but 
were  further  guarded  by  being  separated 
into  U^o  rooms,  the  inner  chamber  bein» 
that  m  which   the  family  sleep.     So  suspi° 
cious^  are  they,  that  they  never  spread  the 
couch  on  the  same  spot  for  two  successive 
nights. 

Their  great  ambition  seems  to  be  (he  pos- 
session of  the  rivers,  by  means  of  which 
they  can  traverse  the  country,  make  raids 
^^  r'-'^'J*  "•'^  settlements  inanv  proinisin<^ 
spot.  Thus  all  along  the  great  fiver  Bembo 
are  found  dlBtrict-.,  inhahitrd  by  Bakalai.and 
each  of  the  settlements  is  sure  to  be  the 
parent  of  other  colonies  on  eitl.er  bank. 
Moreover,  they  are  of  strangely  nomad  hab- 


W- 


iy 


THE  BAKALAI. 


!«;    f 


its,  settling  down  for  a  time,  and  then  sud- 
denly breaking  up  their  village,  taking  away 
what  portable  stores  they  can  carry,  aban- 
doning the  rest,  and  settling  down  like  a 
flight  of  locusts  in  some  fresh  spot.  The 
causes  for  this  curious  habit  are  several,  but 
superstition  is  at  the  bottom  of  them  all,  as 
will  be  seen  when  we  come  to  that  branch  of 
the  subject. 

The  complexion  of  the  Bakalai  is  dark,  but 
not  black,  and,  as  a  rule,  they  are  of  fair 
height  and  well  made.  They  wear  the  usual 
grass  cloth  as  long  ah  they  cannot  procure 
American  or  European  goods,  but,  whenever 
they  can  purchase  a  piece  of  cotton  p'-int, 
they  will  wear  it  as  long  as  it  will  hang  to- 
getlier.  Of  washing  it  they  seem  to  have  no 
conception,  and  to  rags  they  have  no  objec- 
tion. Neither  do  the  Bakalai  wash  them- 
selves. Those  who  live  on  the  banks  of  the 
river  swim  like  ducks,  and,  as  their  aquatic 
excursions  often  end  in  a  capsize,  they  are 
perforce  washed  in  the  stream.  But  wash- 
ing in  the  light  of  ablution  is  never  per- 
formed by  them,  and  those  who  live  inland, 
and  have  no  river,  never  know  the  feeling  of 
water  on  their  oily  bodies. 

On  account  of  their  migratory  habits,  they 
have  but  little  personal  property,  concen- 
trating all  their  wealth  in  the  one  article  of 
wives.  A  Bakalai  will  go  to  hunt,  an  art  in 
which  he  is  very  expert,  and  will  sell  the 
tusks,  skins,  and  liorns  for  European  goods. 
As  soon  as  he  has  procured  this  wealth,  he 
sets  off  to  buy  a  new  wife  with  it,  and  is  not 
very  particular  about  her  age,  so  that  she  be 
young.  A  girl  is  often  married  when  quite 
a  child,  and  in  that  case  she  lives  with  her 
parents  until  she  has  reached  the  marriage- 
able age,  which  in  that  country  is  attained 
at  a  very  early  period. 

In  consequence  of  this  arrangement,  chil- 
dren are  eagerly  expected,  aYid  joyfully  wel- 
comed when  they  make  their  appearance. 
As  a  rule,  African  women  are  not  prolific 
mothers,  so  that  a  wife  who  has  several  chil- 
dren is  held  in  the  highest  estimation  as  the 
producer  of  valuable  property,  and  carries 
things  with  a  high  hand  over  her  husband 
and  Tiis  other  wives.  The  ideas  of  consan- 
guinity are  very  curious  among  the  Bakalai. 
A  man  will  not  marry  a  wife  who  belongs  to 
the  same  village  or  clan  as  himselfj  and  yet, 
if  a  man  dies,  his  son  takes  his  wives  as  a 
matter  of  course,  and,  if  he  has  no  son  old 
enough  to  do  so,  they  pass  to  his  brother. 
Slaves  also  constitute  part  of  a  Bakalai's 
property,  and  are  kept,  not  so  much  for  the 
purpose  of  doing  their  master's  work,  which 
IS  little  enough,  but  as  live  stock,  to  be  sold 
to  the  regular  slave-dealers  whenever  a  con- 
venient opportunity  may  occur. 

The  prmcipal  food  of  the  Bakalai  is  the 
cassava  or  manioc,  which  is  prepared  so  that 
it  passes  into  the  acid  state  of  fermentation, 
and  !«'f.nmo.s  a  sour,  V«it  otherwise  flp.vorlesa 
mesa.    The  chief  advantage  of  this  mode  of 


preparation  is,  that  it  will  keep  from  six 
'weeks  or  two  months,  and  at  the  end  of  that 
time  is  no  nastier  than  it  was  when  com- 
paratively fresh.  They  have  also  a  singu- 
larly  unpleasant  article  of  diet  called  njavi 
oil.  It  18  made  from  the  seeds  of  the  njavi, 
one  of  the  large  forest  trees  of  the  country, 
and  is  prcjiared  by  first  boiling  the  seed, 
then  crushing  it  on  a  board,  and  lastly 
squeezing  out  the  oil  in  the  hand.  Much 
oil  is  wasted  by  this  primitive  process,  and 
that  which  is  obtained  is  very  distasteful  to 
European  palates,  the  flavor  resembling  that 
of  scorched  lard.  It  is  chiefly  used  in  cook- 
ing vegetables,  and  is  also  employed  for  ihe 
hair,  being  mixed  with  an  odoriferous  pow- 
der, and  plastered  liberally  on  their  woolly 
heads.  It  is  principally  with  this  oil  that  the 
skin  is  anointed,  a  process  which  is  really 
needful  for  those  who  wear  no  clothing  in 
such  a  climate.  Palm  oil  is  sometimes  em- 
ployed for  the  same  purpose,  but  it  is  too 
dear  to  be  in  general  use.  Even  the  natives 
cannot  endure  a  very  long  course  of  this 
manioc,  and,  when  they  Lave  been  con- 
demned to  eat  nothing  but  vegetable  food 
for  several  weeks,  have  a  positive  craving  for 
meat,  and  will  do  anything  to  procure  it. 

This  craving  after  animal  food  sometimes 
becomes  almost  a  disease.  It  is  known  by 
the  name  of  gouamba,  and  attacks  both 
white  and  black  men  alike.  Quengueza 
himself  was  occasionally  subject  to  it,  and 
was  actually  found  weeping  with  the  agony 
of  gouamba,  a  proceeding  which  seems 
absurd  and  puerile  to  those  who  have  never 
been  subjected  to  the  same  aflliction.  Those 
who  suffer  from  it  become  positive  wild 
beasts  at  the  sight  of  moat,  which  they 
devour  with  an  eagerness  that  is  horrible 
to  witness.  Even  M.  du  Chaillu,  with  all 
his  guns  and  other  means  of  destroying 
game,  occasionally  suffered  from  gouamba, 
which  he  describes  as  "real  and  frightful 
torture." 

The  Bakalai  do  not  think  of  breeding 
their  goats  and  chickens  for  food,  their 
wandering  habits  precluding  them  from 
either  agriciTlture  or  pastoral  pursuits,  and 
they  are  obliged,  therefore,  to  look  to  fish- 
ing and  hunting  for  a  supply  of  animal  food. 
The  former  of  these  pursuits  is  principally 
carried  on  during  the  dry  season,  when  the 
waters  of  the  river  have  receded,  and  pools 
have  been  left  on  the  plains.  To  those  pools 
the  Bakalai  proceed  m  numbers,  men,  wo- 
men, and  childicn  taking  part  in  the  work. 
Each  is  furnished  with  a  pot  or  bowl,  with 
which  they  btiil  out  the  water  until  the  fish 
are  left  struggling  in  the  mud.  The  whole 
party  then  rush  in,  secure  the  fish,  and  take 
them  home,  when  a  large  portion  is  con- 
sumed on  the  spot,  but  the  greater  quantity 
dried  in  the  smoke  and  laid  iji  for  future 
stores.    (See  illustration  p.  480.) 

Savages  as  they  are,  the  Bakalai  are  very 
cleanly  in  their  cooking,  as  is  mentioned  by 


m 


?iPh%""-  7^^  ^^^^^^'  ^««  cooking 
a  meal  before  setting  out  on  their  travels! 

Ih  ^h^^.^i"''"^  ^'^  «««  ^^^  neatness  wi  h 
w^h«  I  *'*''''^'''  P'"«P'^«  their  food.  I 
watched  sortie  women  engaged  in  boi  inc 
plantains  which  form  the^bfead  of  all  twf 

two  stones.    The  others  peeled  the  nlan- 
tams,  then  carefully  washeS  them-lus    "s 
a   clean  white  cook  would -and,  cCing 
them  m  several  pieces,  put  them  in  thf 
earthen   pot.     This  wa^  then    filled  with 
water,  covered  over  with  leaves,  over  wWch 
were  placed  the  banana  peelings,  and  then 
the  pot  was  put  on  the  stones  to  boil.    S 
they  had  not,  but  roasted  a  few  groun.l-nuts 
instead;    but  the  boiled  plantaiL  they  ate 
vJ'nJlf-^  quantities  of  Cayenne  pepper." 
From  this  last  circumstance,  it  is  evident 
that  the  Hakalai  do  not  share  in  the  super- 

Wn'^fT^'""  ^^o"*  red  pepper  which  has 
been  lately  mentioned. 

With  all  this  cleanliness  in  cooking,  thev 
are  so  fond  of  animal  food  that  they  will  eat 
it  when  almost  falling  to  pieces  witli  decom- 
position. And,  m  spite  of  their  love  for  it 
there  is  scarcely  any  kind  of  meat  which  is 
not  prohibited  to  one  family  or  another  or 
at  all  events  to  some  single  individual     Tor 

wild  bul    (Bos  brachkeros),  their  principal 
chief  or  king  refused  to  touch  the  rfesh,  sL- 

h}Vu    VT  " '•oo^'l'i."  or  prohibited  to 
.himself  and  his  family,  because,  many  gen- 
erations back,  a  woman  of  his  famifyliad 

^tntn  h''\\  ^  **  '^'^'f-    Another  family  waa 
prohibited  from  eating  the  flesh  of  the  croc- 

love?n,^n  "  /'? -,*'';?  I"''J'^*  ^^^^  «^en  their 

roonda, '  and  a  man  will  sooner  dip  nf 

cS.?"Th- ^"'1  ?*  "J^  prohibited  food     Of 
course,  this  state  of  things  is  singularlv 
inconvenient     The  kindred  prohiSns  of  I 
Judaism    and    Mahometanism   are    trviiS ' 
enough,  esi,ecially  to  travellers,  who  cannol 
expect  any  great  choice  of  fooc^.    But  ™n 
the  lat  or  cases,  the  prohibited  ardcles  are 

about  the  commissariat.  ^ 

to  Jo,„  his  comrades  at  their  reS     5ne 

S:^nrae?'i^Sintm 

pork,  and  a  third  is  forbi.^Wen  Stuch  [he 
hippopotamus,  or  some  other  an  mal  in 
strict  is  the  law  of  "roonr'i  "  fhlf      "    ^° 

«««»"?  ]}"1  "**  natxrallvto  other  sunersti- 
their  religious-  syslem^kV^^S^™  ,;'  i 


CRUEL  TREATMENT  OF  THE  SICK. 


493 

generally  learn  fi-om  savages.  Tlie  usual 
aniount  of  inconsistency  is' found  in  S 
religion,  if  we  may  dfgnify  with  such  a 
name  a  mere  string  of  inconirruous  «.?»», 
wfc.  I"  *he  flrft  plac"  S  isUTng 
which  they  dread  so  much  as  death  whicf 
they  believe  to  be  the  end  of  all  li/e^  and 
yet  they  have  a  nearly  equal  fear  bf  g'hS 

wofe£l';?k^.'^  '""^y  ^''-«  *«  '-'t Th*^ 

This  fear  of  death  is  one  of  their  princi- 

pal  inducements  to  shift  their  dwellin<rs     If 

to  ^hav«  ^T  '"  *  ^'"?^*^'  ^'^"th  is  th^ougl" 
to  have  token  possession  of  the  place  and 

settle  "Jlf*"*^-"*'  ^*  u°°*=^  ^''""do'n  it,'  and 
settle  down  m  another  spot.    The  nreva- 

elty  toward  the  sick  and  infirm  who  are 
remorselessly  driven  from  the  v"  la^es  les? 
tteVtcT'^  ^'''  ''"•^  «°  »>""?  death%nTo 

tra^^n  nf?^'''""  ^l^^^  ^  ^^'•y  forcible  illus- 
tration  of  this  practice.  « I  liave  twice  senn 
o^d  men  thus  driven  out,  nor  couW  I  pe  ° 
f^  M^  «°y.o"e  to  give  comfort  and  shelter 
to  these  friendless^wretches.  Once  an  old 
man  poor  and  naked,  lean  as  death  hfms^lf 

kalai'vl^  "''^'*^  '^^"^'  hobbfitto  TS 
kalai  village,  where  I  was  staying.  Seeing 
me,  the  poor  old  fellow  came  to  be<-  som? 
mI^'"^'  ""Z"'  cherished  sfe.""! 
'1do"tknow.'''^""«°'"S. 

"  '^here  are  you  from? ' 

"  <  Hav»  "!!°"''^^^^"H'^  »  fc^  m»es  off. 
"  '  Ko     ^      ""  friends  there  ?  ' 

sister?^  '''°'  ""  "^^"Shter,  no  brother,  no 
"•If one.' 
'"You  are  sick?' 

" '  ?te^''^r  me  away  for  that.' 
I     „,J^hatwillyoudo?' 
I        'Die!' 

"A  few  women  came  up  to  him  and  bivp. 

saw  del'   -"'V'^  ""'^  ^»"'^'  bu?  S  ^7^ 
saw  death  in  his  eves.     They  drove  him 

rr    He  went  sadly,  as  thoigh  knowing 
and  submitting  to  his  fote.    A  few  dav! 

after,  his  nnm-  ln„«   u„j -      ,.         ,    .  "'v» 

WOO: 


r   !,;»  ^,        ,'"   ''"*'•    ^  lew  days 

>a.    Ills  troubles  were  ended." 

This  IS  the  »  noble  savage,"  whose  unso- 

C'tb.«i''^K ''•i,"""  ^''^^  »>ee«'s6  often  lauded 

.  Tne  terror  which  is  felt  at  the  least  susni- 

'  cr^ell.'^"'''"™/*  ""'"'^  '•'^ds  to  b"  ood  vTd 
cruel  actions.  Any  one  who  dies  a  natural 
death,  or  is  killed  %  violence,  is  thouS  to 
if?-  ^T  H'^^'itched,  and  tlie  fli^  Set 
of  his  friends  is  to  find  out  the  sorcerer 
There  was  m  a  Bakalai  village  a  little  bov 
ton  years  of  age,  M;ho  was  accused  of  sorcery' 
The  mere  accusation  of  a  crime  which  can^ 
not  be  disproved  is  q„ite  onou-h  in  m« 
land  and  the  population  of  the  village  nished 
on  the  poor  little  boy,  and  cut  him  to  pSs 


mam 


494 


THE  BAKALAI. 


■m 


with  their  kniveB.  They  were  poeitively 
mad  with  rage,  tiul  did  not  cool  down  for 
eeveral  hours  afterward. 

The  prevalence  of  this  superstition  was  a 
sad  trial  to  M.  du  Chaillu  when  he  was 
seized  with  a  fever.  He  well  knew  that  his 
black  friends  would  tiiink  that  he  had  been 
bewitclicd,  and,  in  case  of  his  death,  would 
be  sure  to  pounce  upon  some  unlucky  wretch, 
and  put  him  to  a  cruel  death  as  a  wizard. 
Indeed,  while  he  was  ill  one  of  his  men 
took  up  the  idea  of  witchcraft,  and  at  night 
paraded  the  village,  threatening  to  kill  the 
sorcerer  who  had  bewitched  liis  master. 

Idolatry  is  carried  on  here,  as  in  most 
heathen  countries,  by  dancing,  drumming, 
and  singing,  neither  the  songs  nor  dances 
being  very  decent  in  their  character.  One 
of  the  chief  idols  of  the  Bakalai  was  in 
the  keeping  of  Mbango,  the  head  of  a  clan. 
The  imago  is  made  of  wood,  and  repre- 
sents a  grotesque  female  figure,  nearly  of 
the  size  of  liie.  Her  eyes  are  copper,  her 
feet  are  cloven  like  those  of  a  deer,  one 
cheek  is  yellow,  the  other  red,  and  a  neck- 
lace of  leopard's  teeth  hangs  round  her 
neck.  She  is  a  very  powerful  idol,  speaks 
on   great    occasions,  and    now    and    then 


^      -    occasions, „    „„„    ^u,;,, 

signifies  approbation  by  nodding  her  head. 
Also  she  eats  meat  when  it  is  offered  to 
Jier,  and,  when  she  has  exhibited  any  of 
those  tokens  of  power,  she  is  taken  into  the 
middle  of  the  street,  so  that  all  the  people 
may  assemble  and  feast  their  eyes  on  the 
wooden  divinity. 

Besides  the  ordinary  worship  of  the  idol, 
the  women  have  religious  ceremonies  of 
their  own,  which  strangely  remind  the 
reader  of  the  ancient  mysteries  related  by 
sundry  classic  authors.  To  one  of  these 
ceremonies  M.  du  Chaillu  became  a  specta- 
tor in  rather  an  unexpected  manner. 

"  One  day  the  women  began  their  pecul- 
iar worship  of  Njambai,  which  it  seems  is 
their  good  spirit :  and  it  is  remarkable  that 
all  the  Bakalai  clans,  and  all  the  females  of 
tribes  I  have  met  during  my  journeys,  wor- 
ship or  venerate  a  spirit  with  this  same 
name.  Near  the  sea-shore  it  is  pronounced 
Njembai,  but  it  is  evidently  the  same. 

"  This  worship  of  the  women  is  a  kind  of 
mystery,  no  men  being  admitted  to  the 
ceremonies,  which  are  carried  on  in  a  house 
very  carefully  closed.  This  house  was  cov- 
ered with  dry  palm  and  banana  leaves,  and 
had  not  even  a  door  open  to  the  street'  To 
make  all  close,  it  was  set  against  two  other 
houses,  and  the  entrance  was  through  one 
of  these.  Quengueza  and  Mbango  warned 
me  not  to  go  near  this  place,  as  not  even 
they  were  permitted  so  much  as  to  take  a 
look.  All  the  women  of  the  village  painted 
their  faces  and  bodies,  beat  drums,  marched 
about  the  town,  and  from  time  to  time  en- 
tered the  idol  house,  where  they  danced  all 
one  night,  and  made  a  more  outrageous 
noise  th.in  even  the  men  had  raado  before. 


They  also  presented  several  antelopes  to 
the  goddess,  and  on  the  fourth  all  but  a  few 
went  off  into  the  woods  to  sing  to  Njanibai. 
"I  noticed  that  half-a-dozen  remained, 
and  in  the  course  of  the  morning  entered 
the  Njanibai  house,  where  they  stayed  in 
great  silence.  Now  my  curiosity,  which 
had  been  greatly  excited  to  know  what  took 
place  in  this  secret  worship,  flnnlly  over- 
came me.  I  determined  to  see.  Walking 
several  times  up  and  down  the  street  past 
the  house  to  allay  suspicion,  I  at  last  sud- 
denly pushed  aside  some  of  tlie  leaves,  qind 
stuck  my  head  through  the  wall.  For  a 
moment  I  could  distinguish  nothing  in  the 
darkness.  Then  I  beheld  three  perfectly 
naked  old  hags  sitting  on  the  clay  floor, 
with  an  immense  bundle  of  greegrees  be- 
fore them,  which  they  seemed  to  be  silently 
adoring. 

"  When  they  saw  me  they  at  once  set  up 
a  hideous  howl  of  rage,  and  rushed  out  to 
call  (heir  companions  from  the  bush;  in  a 
few  minutes  these  came  hu-.  ;ing  in,  crying 
and  lamenting,  rushing  tov,  .  me  with  ges- 
tures of  anger,  and  threatening  mc  for  my 
offence.  I  quickly  reached  my  house,  and, 
seizing  my  gun  in  one  hand  and  a  revolver 
in  the  other,  told  them  them  I  would  shoot 
the  first  one  that  came  inside  my  door.  The 
house  was  surrounded  by  above  three  hun- 
dred infuriated  tvomen,  every  one  shouting 
out  curses  at  me,  but  the  sight  of  my  re- 
volver k«nt  them  back.  They  adjourned 
presently  for  the  Njambai  house,  and  from* 
there  sent  a  deputation  of  the  men,  who 
were  to  inform  me  that  I  must  pay  for  the 
palaver  I  had  made. 

"  This  I  peremptorily  refused  to  do,  tell- 
ing Quengueza  and  Mbango  that  I  was  there 
a  stranger,  and  must  be  allowed  to  do  as  I 
pleased,  as  their  rules  were  nothing  to  me, 
who  was  a  white  man  and  did  not  believe  in 
their  idols.  In  truth,  if  I  had  once  paid  for 
such  a  transgression  as  this,  there  would 
have  been  an  end  of  all  travelling  for  me, 
as  I  often  broke  through  their  absurd  rules 
without  knowing  it,  and  my  only  course  was 
to  declare  myself  irresponsible. 

"However,  the  women  would  not  give 
up,  but  threatened  vengeance,  not  only  on 
me,  but  on  all  the  men  of  the  town;  and,  as 
I  positively  refused  to  pay  anything,  it  was 
at  last,  to  my  great  surprise,  determined  by 
Mbango  and  his  male  subjects  that  they 
would  make  up  from  their  own  possessions 
such  a  sacrifice  as  the  women  demanded  of 
me.  Accordingly  Mbango  contributed  ten 
fathoms  of  native  cloth,  and  the  men  came 
one  by  one  and  put  their  offerings  on  the 
ground;  some  plates,  some  knives,  some 
mugs,  some  beads,  some  mats,  and  various 
other  articles.  Mbango  came  again,  and 
asked  if  I  to9  would  not  contribute  something, 
but  I  refused.  In  fact,  I  dared  not  set  such 
a  precedent.  So  when  all  had  given  v/hat 
they  could,  the  whole  aiuouul  wua  Ukeu  U> 


the  irefbl  women,  to  whom  Mbango  said 

Uiat  I  was  his  and  his  men's  guest  aid  tZt 

&r"'r  "°*  ^^  ">«  to  pay  iu  such  a  maf 

el^es  "' With  a.lLr"^  tL^demanS  tW 

£^£';j;Ss.^g-»|on 

lasts  about  two  weeks  I  rnniri  ?  ^'"*^' 
little  about  the  spiS  whilT^Jh  70°!!^ 
tlus    name.    Tlieir   own    i,Uc^    ^  -J^ 

va^ue.  Tl>ey  knowTnlyt"  irproSs 
the  women  against  their  male  cnVrnies 
avenges  their  wrongs,  and  serves  thom  In 
various  ways  if  they 'ple^e  Tt/'  "''""  '" 
1  he  superstitions  concerninff  death  ovnn 
ex  end  to  tlioso  cases  where  a  man  £  blen 
killed  by  accident.  On  one  occasion  a  man 
ad  been  .,I,ot  while  batlung,  wKu^on 

h^fn'"'''-,/"''?  ¥  '"to  a  panic,  though 
that  the  village  had  been  attacked  by  w  Ss 


THE  "KEEN"  OVER  THE  DEAD. 


49& 

and  straightway  abandoned  it.     On  their 
passage  to  some  more  favored  spo"   thev 
l.alteorfor  the  night  at  another  viC'e  3 
at  sunset  they  all  retired  to  their  K  and 
began    he  mournful  chant  with  which  thev 
celebrate  the  loss  of  their  friends      Th{ 
women  were  loud  in  their  lamenSons  as 
they  poured  out  a  wailing  song  whicll  t 
?erantrj"fl"''  ''''  "^''•^'^"  o^  the  Irish 
"  ^ou  will  never  speak  to  us  any  morel 
We  cannot  sec  your  face  any  morel 
You  wi    never  walk  with  us  again! 
for  u^  P'""'"  °'^''*  '«'*'°  «*^"1°  ou?  palavers 

^p^i"**  «°,°'?'.«^  libitum.  In  fact,  the  lives 
of  fie  Bakalai,  which  might  be  so  jovouS 
tZ^!^'  «f,«a«e   are  quit%  embitteri/  by 


•T-i 


III 


CHAPTER   XLVIII. 


THE  ASHIRA. 


APPEARANCE  AND  DREB8  OP  THK  NATIVES  —  A  MATRIMONIAL  BQU ABBLB  —  NATUBAIj  CUNNINO  OF  THK 
A8IIIRA  —  VARIOUS  MODES  OP  PROCUBINO  FOOD  — NATIVE  PLANTATIONS  —  THE  CHIEP's  "  KOMBO," 
Olt  SALUTATION  —  ASHIRA  ARCHITECTURE  —  NATIVE  AGRICULTURE — SLAVERY  AMONO  TUB  ASHIRA 

—  MEDICINE  AND  SURGERY  —  AN   "hEROIC"   TREATMENT  —  SUPERSTITIONS  —  HOW  TO  CATCH  OAMB 

—  TRIAL    OF    THE    ACCUSED  —  THE    ORDEAL    OF  THE    RING  —  THE  ASHIRA  FAREWELL  —  FUNERAL 
CEREMONIES — DEATH  AND  BURIAL  OF  OLENDA. 


!i 


The  tribe  next  in  order  is  the  Asliira. 
These  people  are  not  so  nomad  in  their  hab- 
its as  the  Bakalai,  and  are  therefore  more 
concentrated  in  one  locality.  They  cer- 
tainly are  apt  to  forsake  a  village  on  some 
great  occasion,  but  they  never  move  to  any 
great  distance,  and  are  not  so  apt  to  take 
flight  as  the  Bakalai.  The  Ashira  are  a  sin- 
gularly fine  race  of  men.  Their  color  is 
usually  black,  but  individuals  among  them, 
especially  those  of  high  rank,  are  of  a  com- 

Earativeiy  light  hue,  being  of  a  dark,  warm 
ronze  rather  than  black.    The  features  of 
tlie  Ashira  are  tolerably  good. 

The  dress  of  the  natives  has  its  distin- 
guishing points.  The  men  and  married 
•women  wear  the  grass-doth  robe,  and  the 
former  are  fond  of  covering  their  heads  with 
a  neat  cap  made  of  grass.  So  much  stress 
do  they  lay  on  this  article  of  apparel,  that 
the  best  way  of  propitiating  an  Ashira  man 
is  to  give  him  one  of  the  scarlet  woollen 
caps  so  affected  by  fishermen  and  yachtsmen 
of  our  country.  There  is  nothing  which  he 
prizes  so  highly  as  this  simple  article,  and 
even  the  king  himself  will  think  no  sacrifice 
too  great  provided  that  he  can  obtain  one  of 
these  caps. 

The  men  also  carry  a  little  grass  bag, 
which  they  sling  over  one  shoulder,  and 
which  is  ornamented  with  a  number  of  pen- 
dent strings  or  thongs.  It  answers  the  pur- 
pose of  a  pocket,  and  is  therefore  very  useful 
where  the  clothing  is  of  so  very  limited  a 
character.  Both  sexes  wear  necklaces,  brace- 
lets, and  anklets,  made  of  thick  copper  bars, 
and  they  also  display  some  amount  of  artis- 
tic (itste  in  the  patterns  with  wliich  they  dye 
their  robes. 


The  strangest  part  of  Ashira  fashion  is, 
that  the  females  wear  no  clothing  of  any 
kind  until  they  are  married.  They  certainly 
tie  a  small  girdle  of  grass  cloth  round  the 
waists,  but  it  is  only  intended  for  ornament, 
not  for  dress.  As  is  usual  in  similar  cases, 
the  whole  of  the  toilet  is  confined  to  the  dress- 
ing of  the  hair  and  painting  of  the  body. 
The  woolly  hair  is  teased  out  with  a  skewer, 
well  rubbed  with  oil  and  clay,  and  worked 
up  until  it  looks  something  like  a  cocked 
hat,  rising  high  on  llie  top  of  the  head 
and  coming  to  a  point  before  and  behind. 
Mostly,  the  hair  is  kept  in  its  position  by  a 
number  of  little  sticks  or  leaves,  which  are 
passed  through  it,  and  serve  as  the  frame- 
work on  whici'.  it  rests.  Filing  the  teeth  is 
practised  hy  ihe  Ashira,  though  vgry  few  of 
them  carry'the  practice  to  such  an  extent  as 
to  reduce  the  teeth  to  points. 

Among  the  West  Africans,  the  women 
are  not  so  badly  treated  as  in  the  south,  and 
indeed,  are  considered  nearly  as  the  equals 
of  men.  They  can  hold  i)roperty  of  their  own, 
and  are  quite  aware  of  the  importance  which 
such  an  arrangement  gives  them.  Mayolo, 
one  of  the  chiefs,  had  a  most  absurd  quarrel 
with  his  favorite  v/ife,  a  young  woman  of 
twenty  years  of  age,  and  remarkable  for  her 
light-colored  skin  and  hazel  eyes.  She  had 
contrived  either  to  lose  or  waste  some  of  his 
tobacco,  and  he  threatened  to  punish  her 
by  taking  away  the  pipe,  which,  among  these 
tribes,  belongs  equally  to  the  hu^ljnud  and 
wife.  She  retorted  that  he  could  not  do  so,  be- 
cause the  nlanta'n  stem  of  the  ))ipe  was  cut 
from  one  other  own  trees,  and  if  he  quarrelled 
with  her,  she  would  take  away  the  stem,  and 
not  allow  him  to  cut  another  from  the  plantain 


(490) 


CUNNIXG  OF  THE  ASIIIRA. 


407 


trees,  which  belonged  to  her  and  not  to  him. 
The  (luarrel  was  soon  niiido  np.  l)ut  the  fiict 
that  It  took  place  at  all  .shows  the  position 
which  the  women  liold  in  domestic  allairs 
As  IS  often   the   ease  with   savages,  the 
Ashira  exhibits  a  strange  inixlm-o  of  char- 
acter.    Ignorant  though  he  may  be,  he  is 
possessed  of  g.-cat  natural  cunning.    No  man 
can  ho  with  so  innocent  a  face  as  the  "noble 
savage,"  and  no  one  is  more  capable  of  tak- 
ing care  of  Ids  own  interests.     The  Ashira 
porters  were  a  continual  source  of  trouble  to 
pa  Lhailiu,  and  laid  various  deep  plans  for 
increase  of  wages.    Those  of  one  dan  re- 
fused to  work  in   company  with   those   of 
another,  and,"  on  the  iirinciplo  of   trades' 
unions,  struok  woik  unanimously  if  a  man 
belonging  to  another  clan  were  permitted  to 
handle  a  load. 

Having  thus  left  the  traveller  with  all  his 
pairkages  in  the  fore  st,  their  next  plan  was 
to  demand  higher  wages  before  they  would 
consent  to   re-enter   tlie   service.     In    the 
course  of  the  jiaLiver  which  ensued  on  this 
demand,  a  curious  stroke  of  diplomacy  was 
discovered.    Tlie  old  men  appeared  to  take 
Ills  part,  declared  that  the  demands  of  the 
young  men  were  exorbitant,  and  aided  him 
in  beating  them  down,  asking  liif»her  wa<res 
for  themselves  as  a  percentage  on  their  hon- 
orable conduct.   Wlum  the  affair  was  settled 
and  the  men  paid,  the  voting  men   aTairi 
struck  work,  saying  that'  it  was  not  fair  for 
the  old  men,  who  had  no  Inirdens  to  carry,  to 
have  highor   wages   than   themselves,  "and 
demanding  that  all  should  be  paid  alike.     In 
cniiMe  of  iuvestiga!  ion  it  was  discovered  that 
tins  was  .a  d(!eply-laid  schemo,  planned  by 
both  parties  in  order  to  exact  higher  wages 
for  the  whole.  * 

Those  people  can  bo  at  the  same  time  dis- 
honest   and    honorable,   hard-hearted    and 
kind    disobedient    and  fiithful.      When    a 
number  of  Ashira  porters  wore  accomiiany- 
irig  Du  Cliailhi  on  his  journev,  they  robbed 
lum  sh.amefiilly,  by  some  uiif-ortunate  coin- 
cidence stealing  just   those  -articles  whieh 
con  d  not  beof  the  least  use  to  them,  and 
the  loss  of  which  would  Ik;  simple  irreparable, 
lliat  they  should  steal  his  provisions   was 
to  be  expected,  but  why  Iheyshould  rob  him 
01  Ins  focussing  glasses  and  black  curtains  of 
the  camera  wa>?  not  so  dear.    The  cunning 
ot  the  Aihira  was  as  remarkablcas  their  dis- 
honesty.   All  the  villages  knew  the  whole 
circumstances.     Tlioy  knew  who  were  the 
thieves    whit  was  stolen,   and  where   the 
property  had   been   hidden,  but  the  secret 
was  so  well  kept  that  not  even  a  diild  cave 
the  least  liint  which  would  lead  to  the  dis- 
covery of  the  stolen  goods. 

Yet  when,  in  tlio  course  of  the  journev 
they  were  reduced  to  semi-starvation  (m 
account  of  the  negro  habit  of  onlv  earrvinn^ 
two  or  three  days'  provision,  the'men  hup- 
penc-d  to  kill  a  couple  of  monkevs,  and  of- 
lered  them  both  to  tlie  leader  whom  they 
25 


had  been  so  remorselessly  idundering.    Even 
when   he  refused  to  take  them  to  himself, 
they  insisted  on  his  retaining  the  lion's  share 
and  were  as  pleasant  and  agreeable  as  if  no' 
differences  had  existed. 

Next  day,  however,  those  impulsive  and 
unrertecting  creatures  changed   their  con- 
duct again.    They  choso  to  believe,  or  say 
they  believed,   that    the  expedition   would 
come  to  harm,  and  tried  to  get  their  pay  in 
iulvance,  for  the  purpose  of  running  otfwith 
it.    When  this  very  transparent  device  was 
detected,  they  openly  avowed  their  intention 
of  running  away,  and  threatened  to  do  so 
even  without  their   pay.    Fortunatcdy,  the 
dreaded  name  of  Quengueza  Iiad  its  etlect 
on  them,  and,  as  it  was  represented  to  them 
that  war  would  certainly  be  made  on   the 
Ashira  by  that  chief  if  they  dared  to  forsake 
the  white  traveller  whom  he  iiad  committed 
to  their  charge,  they  resumed  their  burdens. 
In  the  course  of  the  day  supplies  arrived, 
and  all  was  peace  again. 

The  reason  why  the  natives  dislike  taking 
much  food  \'illi  them  is  that  the  plantains 
which  Ibrm  the  usual  rations  an;  very 
heavy,  and  the  men  would  rather  trust  to 
the  chance  of  coming  on  a  villao-o  than 
trouble  themselves  with  extra  loadsr  How- 
ever, there  are  the  koola  and  mpegai  nuts, 
on  which  the  natives  usually  live  while  trav- 
elling in  the  nut  season. 

The  koola  is  a  singularly  useful  nut.  It 
grows  in  such  abundance  on  the  tree,  that 
when  the  nuts  are  ripe,  the  whole  crown  of 
the  koola  tree  appears  to  be  a  single  mass 
of  fruit.  It  is  round,  about  as  large  a.s  a 
cherry,  and  the  shell  is  so  hard  that  it  has 
to  be  broken  between  two  stones.  Thirty 
of  these  nuts  are  considered  sufficient  for  a 
meal,  even  for  a  native  African,  and,  as  a 
general  rule,  the  trees  are  so  plentiful  that 
the  natives  do  not  trouble  themselves  about 
carrying  food  in  the  nut  season.  M.  du 
Cliailhi,  liowever,  was  sinnularly  imfortu- 
nate,  for  he  contrived  to  "^  miss  the  koola 
trees  on  his  journey,  and  hence  the  whole 
party  suffered  great  privation. 

The  wild  swine  know  the  value  of  the 
koola  nuts  as  well  as  the  natives,  and  in 
the  season  become  quite  fat  and  sleek. 

The  mpegai  nut  is  round,  like  the  koola, 
but  the  kernel  is  three-lobed.  It  is  so  full 
of  oil  that  it  is  formed  into  cakes  by  the 
simple  operation  of  pounding  the  kcriul, 
folding  the  paste  in  leaves,  and  smoking 
them  over  a  wood  fire.  When  thus  treated, 
it  can  be  kept  for  a  considerable  time,  and 
IS  generally  oaten  with  peiijier  and  .sf't  if 
those  can  bo  obtained.  Neither  the  koola 
nor  the  mpegai  arc  cultivated  by  the  im- 
provident natives. 

About  ten  miles  from  Oleiida's  residence 
was  a  village  belonging  to  a  chief  named 
Angonkft,  and  remnvkable  for  the  mumicr 
in  which  the  jilantain  was  cultivated.  In 
one  plantation  there  were  about  thirty  thou- 


m« 


Ik 


4ilO 


THE  A8HIRA. 


SQiid  frees,  set  about  five  feet  npart  Each 
tree  produced  flvo  or  nix  shoots,  but  tho  cul- 
tivatorr,  cut  away  all  but  two  or  three  of  the 
liiiest,  III  ncvordance  with  true  arboricultural 
I)rineii)le8.  On  an  average,  thirty  pounds' 
wciglit  ot  fruit  were  grown  on  each  tret 
and  the  natives  managed  so  as  to  keep  up  a 
tolerably  constant  sui)ply  by  planting  several 
varieties  of  the  tree,  soino  bearing  IVuit  in 
SIX  months  aftijr  planting,  some  ten  months, 
and  others  not  until  eighteen  months,  the 
last  bein^  the  best  and  most  fertile. 

While  describing  the  journeys  of  certain 
travellers,  mention  is  frequently  made  of 
the  porters  and  their  loads.  The  burdens 
are  carried  in  rather  a  peculiar  manner. 
The  men  have  a  sort  of  oblong  basket 
called  "otaitai,"  which  is  made  of  canes 
woven  closely  along  the  bottom,  and  looselv 
along  the  sides.  The  elasticitv  of  the  sides 
enables  it  to  accommodate  itself  to  various- 
sized  loads,  as  thev  can  be  drawn  together 
if  the  loads  should  be  small,  or  expanded  to 
admit  a  larger  burden.  Three  broad  straps 
made  of  rushes,  arc  fixed  to  the  otaitai,  one 
passing  over  each  shoulder  of  the  porter 
and  the  other  one  over  his  forehead. 

Some  of  the  ceremonies  omjiloyed  by  the 
Asliira  are  verj  curious.  Each  chief  has  a 
sort  of  salutation,  called  "  Kombo,"  which 
he  addresses  to  every  one  of  importance 
wuoin  he  meets  for  the  first  time.  For 
example,  when  M.  du  Chaillu  met  Olenda 
the  head  chief  of  a  sub-tribe  of  the  Ashira 
a  singular  scene  took  place.  After  waitin" 
for  ,«()me  time,  he  heard  the  ringing  of  the 
'  kando"  or  sacred  bell,  which  is  the  em- 
blem of  royalty  in  this  land,  and  which  is 
only  sounded  on  occasions  of  ceremony. 

Presently  the  old  chief  appeared  — a  man 
of  vencnil)le  aspect,  and  very  old  indeed. 
Ilis  woolly  hair  was  perfectly  white,  his 
body  bent  almost  double  with  age,  and  his 
face  one  mass  of  wrinkles.  IJy  way  of  add- 
ing to  the  beauty  of  his  coiintenance,  he 
had  covered  one  side  of  his  lace  with  red 
and  the  other  with  white  strij)es.  He  was 
so  old  that  he  was  aicompanied  by  many 
of  his  children,  all  old,  white-headed,  and 
wrinkled  men.  The  natives  held  him  in 
great  resi)ect,  believing  that  he  had  a  pow- 
erful fetish  against  death. 

As  soon  as  he  had  recovered  from  the 
sight  of  a  clothed  man  with  straight  hair, 
steady  eyes,  and  a  white  face,  he  proceeded 
to  make  a  speech  which,  when  translated 
was  as  follows:  "I  have  no  bowels.  lam 
like  the  Ovenga  River;  I  cannot  be  cut  in 
two.  But  also,  I  am  like  the  Niembai  and 
Ovenga  rivers,  which  unite  together.  Thus 
my  body  is  united,  and  nothing  can  divide 
it."  This  iuldress  wa.s  rather  puzzling  be- 
cause no  sense  could  be  made  from  it,  but 
the  interpreter  cxidained  that  this  was 
merely  the  kombo,  and  that  sense  was  not  a 
ncce><sary  ingredient  in  it. 
According  to  the  etiquette  of  the  country  ! 


"^cr  Olenda  had  made  his  salutation,  ho 
oflered  Im  presents,  consisting  of  three 
goats,  twenty  fowls,  twenty  buiiehes  of 
plantauifi,  several  baskets  of  ground-nuts 
some  sugai-caiie,  and  two  slaves.  That  the' 
last-mentioned  articles  should  be  declined 
was  a  most  astonishing  i)henomenoii  to  tho 
Ashira.  This  mode  of  salutation  is  finely 
represented  in  an  engraving  on  the  next 
page. 

Tho  villages  of  the  Ashira  are  singularly 
neat  and  cleanly,  a  most  remarkable  fact, 
considering  the  jiropensity  to  removal  on 
the  death  of  an  inhabitant.  They  consist 
J^ljsyy^o^  one  lon^  street,  the  houses  being 


(unit  of  bark,  and  having  the  ground  clear,  u 
at  the  back  of  the  houses  as  well  as  in  (ho 
front,  — almost  the  only  example  of  smh 
industry  in  tlis  part  of  Africa.  Paths  inva- 
riably lead  from  one  village  to  anolher. 

The  Ashira  are  a  folerabJy  industrious 
tribe,  and  cultivate  the  land  around  their 
villages,  growing  tobacco,  plantains,  yams, 
sugar-cane,  and  other  i)laiits  with  nuieh 
succe8.s.  The  tobacco  leaves,  when  jducked 
and  dried,  arc  plaited  together  in  a  fort  of 
flat  rope,  and  are  fhen  rolled  uj)  tightly,  so 
that  a  considerable  quaiititv  of  tobacco  is 
contained  in  a  very  small  space. 

Of  course,  they  drink  the  jialm  wine,  and, 
as  the  method  of  luocuiing  (his  univei>ally 
favorite  beverage  is  radier  luriiliar,  it  will 
be   briefly    explained.    The   iialive,   taking 
with  him  an  empty  calabash  (u-  two,  and  a 
kind  of  auger,  climbs  tlie  tree  by  means  of 
a  hooi)  made  of  jjliant  creepers;"  tying  tho 
hooi)  loosely  round  the  tree,  he  gets  into  it 
so  that  his  back  is  pressed  against  the  hoop 
and  his  feet  again^st  (he  tree.    ]Jy  a  .succes- 
sion of"  hitches,"  he  ascends  the  tree,  much 
as  a  chimnej'-sweep  of  the  old  times  used  to 
a.scend  the  wide  chimneys,  which  are  now 
superseded   by  the   narrow,  ma(hine-swei)t 
flues,  lifting  the  liooj)  at  every  hitch,  and  so 
getting  up  the  tree  with  wcmtlerful  rapidity. 
When  he  has  reached  (he  top,  he  takes  the 
auger  out  of  the  little  bag  which  is  hung 
round  liis  neck,  and  bores  a  deep  hole,  just 
below  the  crown  of  the  palm.     A  leaf  is 
then  plucked,  rolled  up  in  a  tubular  form, 
and  one  end  inserted  into  (he  hole,  (he  cala- 
bfish  I)eing  hung  just  below  (he  o(her  end. 
During  the   night  the  sap  runs  freely  info 
the  calabash,  several  quarts  being  procured 
m  a  single    night.     In   the   morning  it  is 
removed  and  a  fresh  calabash  substituted 
Even    in    its    fresh    state    the  juice    is   a 
very  pleasant  drink,  but  after  standing  for 
twenty -four  hours   it  ferments,  and  then 
becomes  extremely  intoxicating,  the  process 
of  fermentation  being   generally  hastened 
by  adding  the  remains  of  the  previous  day's 
brewing.     The  supply  of    juice  decreases 
gradually,  and,  when  the  native  thinks  (hat 
the  tree  will  produce  no  more,  he  plugs  up 
the  hole  with  clay  to  prevent  insects  from 
hmUhng  their  nests  m  it,  and  so  killing 


i 


I  Kaliitation,  ho 
stitiL'  of  tliri'o 
ly  Jjuiiclus  of 
>i"  RiouiKl-iiuts, 
ivcH.  Tlmt  tlu! 
1(1  be  declined 
lonienoii  to  tlie 
tntion  is  finely 
S  on  tlio  next 

I  arc  finjjularly 
luiirkalile  fact, 
to  removal  on 
They  confist 
le  houses  being 
ground  clean  d 
i  well  as  in  (ho 
iiniple  of  such 
1.    I'atlis  inva- 

0  anolhcr. 

)]y  industrious 
around  theit 
antains,  yams, 
its  with  niueli 
when  jilucked 
n-  in  a  fort  of 

1  up  tiphtly,  so 
of  tobacco  is 

ace. 

ulni  wine,  and, 
Ills  univer.'ally 
ernliar,  it  will 
iialive,  (akiuf; 
or  two,  and  a 
e  by  means  of 
ers;  tying  the 
e  gets  into  it, 
inst  the  hoop 

By  a  succes- 

he  free,  much 

times  nscd  to 

hieh  aro  now 

lachine-swfjit 

hitch,  and  so 
;rful  rapi(Ii»y. 
he  takes  the 
hich  is  hung 
>ep  hole,  just 
1.  A  leaf  is 
tubular  form, 
lole,  the  cala- 
he  other  end. 
iis  freely  into 
ing  procured 
lorning  it  is 
1  .fulistituttd. 
!  juice  is  a 
standing  for 
ts.  and  then 
I,  the  process 
illy  hastened 
revious  day's 
ce  decreases 

thinks  (hat 
he  plugs  up 
insects  from 
d  60  killing 


I 


r 

Ms 
I 


I- 


EMii 


iki 


(4ay; 


AN  "HEROIC"  TREATMENT. 


tho  Viihiablo  treii.  Tliroc  wcoku  U  the  ftvor- 
W)  Juicc-iiiodiKiiii;,'  time,  and  if  a  troo  bu 
forced  luiyoml  Miix  point  il  i.s  apt  to  die. 

HcsidiH  tlui  U)lm(;co,  thu  ABhirii  cultivnto 
n  pliiiit  ciilli'd  tlu)  lianilKi,  i.  t,  Cunnahin,  or 
liidiim  luinp,  cither  tlie  Hamii  speeiei*  Irom 
whi<;li  tiui  »'iii-}iiiii(!(l  liiwehish  of  tlio  East  in 
iniido,  or   very  cloMcly  allied   to   it.     Tliey 
always  ( lioosn  a  rioli  and  moist  soil  on  the 
sunny  sides  of  a  liill,  as  tlio  plant   requires 
both  h(!atund  moisture  to  atUiin  perfection. 
Tho  natives  seen*  toprefor  their  liamba  even 
to  tho  tobiu'co;  but  there  are  some  doubts 
whether  both   these  plants  havo  not  been 
import eil,  the   toba(!co  from  America   and 
tho  li.iniha  fiom  Asia,  or  more  lik(dy  from 
north-western  ,\frica.     Du  (.'hiiillu  says  that 
the  Ashira  and  Apiuiji  arc  the  only  tribes 
who  cuKiv.itf^  it.     rts  elfects  upon  tho  smok- 
ers are  terrible,  eausini?  them  to  become  for 
the,  time  insane,  rushiii},'  into  tho  woods  in 
n  trantie  stat(>.  (luarndling,  screaming,  and 


«01 


at  last  fallinj,'  down  in  convulsions.  Perma- 
nent madness  is  often  tho  result  of  ovor- 
iudulijence  in  this  extraordinary  luxury. 

The  ;vbove-meulioruMl  traveller  mcst  with 
an  idiot  ainonj,'  the  Ashira.  Contrary  to 
the  usual  di^veloiJUKUit  of  idiocy  among  the 
Africans,  the  man  was  lively  and  jocular 
Jumping  about  with  all  kinds  of  strange 
ftnti(!s,  and  singin-?  joyous  songs.  The  other 
inhabitiinls  were  very  fond  of  luTn,  ar.d 
treated  hini  well,  and  with  a  sort  of  rcver- 
once,  m<  something  above  their  comprehen- 
sion. Idiots  of  tho  (hdl  kind  are  treated 
harshly,  and  tho  usual  mode  of  getting  rid 
of  them  is  to  sell  them  as  slaves,  and  so  to 
foist  them  upon  the  purchaser  before  he 
loams  the  quality  of  his  bargain. 

Slavery  exists  among  the  Ashira  as  among 
other  tribes,  but  is  conducted  in  so  hunmno 
a  character  that  it  has  little  connection  with 
the  system  of  slavery  us  the  word  is  gener- 
ally understood.  Olenda,  for  example,  had 
great  numbers  of  .slaves,  and  kept  them  in 
8ei)arate  settlements,  each  consisting  of  two 
or  three  hundred,  each  such  settlenuuit  hav- 
ing Its  chief,  himself  a  slave.  One  of  these 
slave  chiefs  w.os  an  Ashango,  a  noble-look- 
ing man,  with  several  wives  and  plenty  of 
children.  lie  exercised  quite  a  patriarchal 
sway  over  the  people  under  his  charge,  and 
neither  lie  nor  the  slaves  seemed  to  consider 
their  situatioti  at  all  (legnwling,  calling  them- 
selves the  children  of  Olenda. 

This  village  was  remarkably  neat,  and 
the  houses  were  better  built  than  Jiose  of 
the  Ashira  generally.  The  inhabitants  had 
cleared  a  arge  tract  of  ground,  and  cov- 
ered it  with  the  plantains,  sugar-canes,  and 
ground-nuts,  all  of  which  were  thrivino- 
wonderfully,  and  liad  a  most  iiicturesnuc 
appearance  when  contrasted  with  the  wild 
beauties  of  the  surrounding  forest  Most  of 
tliese  slave  families  had  been  inherited  by 
Ulendn,  and  manv  of  them  h.id  never  known 
any  other  kind  of  life. 


.».^.'!'I'm'"°."V'  ■"•'K'T.V  ««•«  IJotli  practised 
among  the  tribes  that  live  along  the  Iteinbo 
and  in  a  very  singular  maimer.  Tlie  oddest 
th  iig  about  the  practitioner  is,  that  tho 
natives  always  try  to  procure  one  from 
another  tribe,  so  that  an  Ashango  patient 
has  a  llakalai  doctor,  and  vire  verm.  The 
Alriean  j.rophet  hiw  little  honor  in  his  own 
country,  but,  the  farther  he  goes,  tho  nZ" 
he  is  respected.  Evil  spirits  that  have  defled 
all  tlie  exorcisms  of  hoine-bred  pronheUaro 
sure  to  quail  before  the  greater  powers  of  a 
sorcerer  who  lives  at  a  distance  ;  while  tho 
same  man  who  has  failed  at  homo  ih  toler- 
ably sure  to  succeed  abroad. 

all  kinds  (,l  disorders,  the  sameleing  used 
foi    both  lumbago  and  leprosy.    Tim  con- 
sists of   scarily.ng    the  atllicted   part   with 
a  knile,  making  a  great  number  of  slight 
cuts,  ami  then  rubbing   in  a   mixture  of 
pounded  capsicum   and  lime   juice.     The 
agony  cau.sed  by  tliis  operi-tion  is  horrible 
and  even  the  blunt  nerves  of  an  African  can 
b.-irely  endure  the  pain.    If  a  native  is  seized 
Willi  dysentery,  the  same  remedy  is  applied 
mternallv   and  the  patient  will  sometimes 
(Irink  half  a  tumblerful  for  a  doso.    There  is 
some  ground  lor  their  faith  in  tho  capsicum, 
fin-  It  really  IS  beneficial  in  the  West  Xfrican 
climate,  and  If  a  travel'er  finds  feverish  ho 
can  generally  relieve  the  malady  by  takino- 
plenty  of  re<l  pepper  with  his  food.    Somc"- 
tinios,  when  the  disease  will  not  yield  to  the 

I'i.'V"'^'  'V"Vi;''I!l!'''"'  «f'-"''S^i-  remedies  are 
tricu,     M.  du  Chaillu  .s 


. ..        - ; vv  f*^*^  "■  '^'"'''ous  instance 

of  the  manner  in  which  a  fein.ale  practitioner 
exercised  her  art  ou  Mityolo,  whose  quarrel 
witlj  his  wife  has  already  been  mentioned. 

Iho  patient  was   seated  on   the  ground 
With  a  genet  skin  stretirhed  befi)re  him,  an(i 
tho  woman  was  kneading  his  body  with  her 
hands,  inuttering  her  incantations  in  a  low 
voice.    When  she  luwl  finished  this  manipu- 
l.ation,  she  took  a  piece  of  the  alumbi  chalk, 
and  drew  a  broad  strij)c  down  the  middle  of 
his  chest  and  along  each  arm.    Her  next 
process  was  to  chew  a  quantity  of  roots  and 
seeds  and  to  spirt  it  over  the  l)odv,  directing 
her  heaviest  shots  at  the    affected    parts. 
Laiitly  she  took  a  bunch  of  dried  grasses, 
twisted  them  into  a  kind  of  torch,  ligiited  it 
and  applied  the  flame  to  various  parts  of  tho 
body  and  limbs,  beginning  at  the  feet  and 
ending  with  the  head.    When  the  torch  had 
burned  itself  out,  she  dashed  the  glowina 
end  against  tho  patient's  body,  and  so  endea 
her  operations.    M.iyolo  sat  perfectly  still 
during  the  nrocccdings,  looking  on   with 
curiosity,  and  only  wincing  slightly  as  the 
flame  .scorched  his  skin.    The  Africans  have 
a  great  faith  in  the  efllcacy  of  fire,  and  seem 
to    tlunk  that,  when  it  ^las  been  apr 
It  effectually  prevents  a  recurrence 
disease. 

The  worship  of  the  Ashira  is  idolatry  of 
the  worst  description.    One  of  their  ongaraa^ 


npplied, 
of  tho 


rm 


TriK  AS  run  A. 


i  i\ 


or  idols  named  tlic  Ilousckcopcr,  wan  pur- 
chftMcd  by  Dii  Cliuillu.  It  wii^,  of  foHrnc, 
hidcoiiftiy  ti^ly,  rt'pix'm'iitiid  a  rcinnio  fij^iiro, 
and  wiiH  kept  hi  thci  lioimo  or  a  chiul'  for  th<i 
purpose  of  protfcliii^'  property.  The  imtive« 
were  liorrilily  uli'iiid  of  it,  and,  ho  lon^nH  llie 
Ilounelieeper  wiiH  in  iier  i)laco,  tiic  owner 
niljjlit  leave  his  ^oods  in  perfect  Heeurity, 
knowins,'  tliat  n.)t  a  nativo  would  daro  to 
touch  tlieni. 

Skilt^d  hunters  as  they  arc,  thny  never 
start  on  the  chuso  williout  preimriujj  tliein- 
Bolves  by  sundry  chanuM.  Thev  liani,'  nil 
kindsof  stranj^e  t\'tishos  almut  their  persons, 
and  cut  tlie  backs  of  their  hands  for  luck, 
the  tlowinj;  blood  haviuu;,  according,'  to  their 
ideas,  a  wonde-.l'nl  etllcacy.  If  they  cin  rub 
a  little  powdered  suiphiu-  into  tlu;  cuts,  tlu' 
power  of  tlie  cb:u-iu  is  supposed  to  be 
doubled^  and  any  man  who  "lias  thus  ])re- 
pared  himself  never  misses  liis  aim  wlieii  he 
8h()ot»i.  Paiulln'j  the  face  red  isalsoa  j:;reat 
assistance  in  huudu!,';  arul,  in  conse<|nenc\ 
of  these  slr;uii,'e  beliefs,  u  party  of  natives 
just  stju'tini,' for  Ibo  duwo  jSrescnts  a  most 
absurd  appearance. 

Along  the  river  Rendx)  arc  certain  sTu-red 
spots,  on  which  the  natives  think  tliemsdves 
bound  to  land  and  dance  in  honor  of  the 
spirit.  In  one  place  tliere  is  a  ceremony 
analogous  to  that  of  "  crossing  the  line  "  iii 
our  own  vessels.  When  any  one  passes  the 
spot  for  the  first  time,  he  is  obliged  to  dis- 
embark, to  eliMiit  a  song  in  praise  of  the 
local  deity,  to  jjiuck  a  bough  from  a  tree  and 
plant  it  "in  the  mud.  \Vhen  Du  Cbaillu 
passed  the  s])ot,  be  was  re()iU'ste(l  to  follow 
the  usual  custom,  but  refused,  on  tlu'  ground 
of  disbelief  in  polytheism.  As  usual,  the 
natives  admitted  bis  jilea  as  far  as  he  was 
concerned.  He  was  a  great  white  man,  and 
one  (fod  Wiis  enough  for  the  rich  and  wise 
white  men.  Hut  black  mefi  were  jxjor  and 
ignorant,  and  therefore  wanted  plenty  of 
gods  to  take  care  of  them. 

Many  superstitious  seem  to  be  connected 
with  trees.  There  is  one  magnificent  tree 
calhtd  the  "oloumi,"  perhaps  the  largest 
species  that  is  to  be  found  in  Western 
Africa.  The  bark  of  the  oloumi  is  said  to 
po.sscss  niany  healing  qualitii>s,  and,  if  a  man 
washes  himself  ;dl  over  with  a  decoction  of 
the  bark  before  starting  on  a  tiading  ex- 
pedition, he  will  be  sure  to  make  good 
bargains.  Consequently,  the  oloumi  trees 
(which  are  rather  scarce)  are  alwji' s  dim>- 
iu;ed  by  the  natives,  who  tear  great  >trips  of 
bark  from  the  triuik  for  the  purpose  of  mak- 
ing this  magic  decoction. 

A  rather  remarkable  ordeal  is  in  use 
among  the  Ashira,  —  remarkable;  because  it 
is  .so  exactly  like  the  ordeals  of  the  Middle 
Ages. 

A  B.ik.alai  canoe  had  been  injured,  and  a 
little  boy,  son  to  Aepuhii,  a  far-famed  Baka- 
lai  sorcerer,  said  that  the  damage  had  been 


rnmna  the  man  denied  the  acoiiHatlon,  nntl 
called  for  the  ordeal,  and,  as  the  matter 
concerned  the  Hakalai,  an  Ashira  wizard 
W.W  Hunnnoned,  according  to  the  iiMunl  cuh- 
tom.  He  said  that  "the  oidy  way  to  make 
the  truth  apuear  was  by  the  trial  of  the  ring 
boiled  in  (.il."  Hereup(m  the  liakalni  and 
the  (icannbi  (i.  v.  (Jaunna)  men  gathered 
together,  and  the  ti-ial  was  at  once  made. 

"The  Asliira  doct(u-  set  three  little  bil- 
lets of  bar  wood  in  the  ground,  with  their 
ends  together,  then  piled  some  smaller 
pieces  between,  until  all  were  laid  as  higli 
as  the  three  pieces,  A  native  pot  half  Hdl 
of  palm  oil  was  set  upon  tlw  wood,  and  the 
oil  was  set  on  fire,  WhcTi  it  buriu'd  up 
brightly,  a  brass  ring  from  the  <loclor's  hand 
was  cast  into  tlu^  pot.  The  doctor  stood  by 
with  a  little  vase  full  of  grass,  soaked  iii 
water,  of  which  he  threw  in  now  and  then 
some  bits.  This  made  (he  oil  burn  up 
afresh.  At  last  all  was  burnt  out,  and  now 
i.'i\\w  the  trial.  The  a<TUser.  the  little  boy, 
W!is  reijuired  to  take  the  ring  out  of  (he  po't. 
He  hesitated,  but  was  pushed  on  by  his 
father.  The  iieople  cried  out.  '  Let  us  see  if 
he  lied  or  told  truth.'  Finally  he  put  his 
hand  in,  seized  the  redhot  ring,  but  (piickly 
dro|)ped  it,  having  severely  buriU'd  his  fin- 
gers. At  this  there  was  a'.~houl,  'He  lied! 
He  lied! '  and  the  (Joundji  man  was  declared 
innocent." 

The  reader  will  remendicr  that  yvhcn  Du 
Cbaillu  visited  the  Ashira,  he  was  received 
by  the  wonderful  old  chief  Oleiida,  whoso 
salutation  was  of  so  extraordinary  a  char- 
acter. The  mode  in  which  he  disu'iissed  liis 
guests  was  not  less  curious,  (iaihernig  his 
old  and  white-haired  sons  round  him.  Oleiida 
addressed  the  travellers,  wishing  tliem  suc- 
cess, and  uttering  a  sort  of  benediction. 
He  then  took  .some  sugar-cane,  bit  a  piece 
of  the  pith  out  of  it,  cliew( d  i(,  and  spat  a 
small  portion  into  (lie  baud  of  each  of  the 
travellers,  nuitteriiig  at  tlii^  siiiiie  time  some 
words  to  the  effect  that  he  lioiied  lha<  all 
things  \vould  go  iileasantly  with  th( m,  and 
be  sweet  as  the  breath  which  be  had  blown 
on  their  hands.  The  reader  will  lind  this 
"Farewell"  illustrated  on  page  lit!*. 

Advanced  as  \vas  his  age,  hi'  lived  for 
some  years  longer,  until  he  succmiibed  to 
the  small-i)ox  in  common  with  iiiaiiy  of  his 
relatives  and  people.  The  ciicunislances 
attending  his  death  and  burial  were  very 
chanicteristic  of  the  pcojile. 

First  Olenda's  head  wile  died  of  it,  and 
then  the  disease  sjiread  with  frightful  rajiid- 
ity  through  the  district,  the  whole  of^  tho 
chief"s  Wives  being  taken  with  it.  and  Mjioto, 
his  nejihew  and  heir,  dying  after  a  very 
short  illness.  TIkii  Olenda  hini.self  took 
the  disease.  Day  after  day  the  jnior  old 
man's  plaintive  voice  was  heard  chantiii" 
his  song  of  grief  at  the  pestilence  wliich 
had  destroyed  his  elan,  and  one  morning 


done    by  one    of  Quenguoza's    men.     Of  I  he  complained  of  fever  "and  thirst,  the  sure 


,111 1 


DEATH  AND  IIUIIIAL  OF  OLKNDA. 


Hiffiis  of  tlu,  (liMnido.  On  tho  third  diiy 
uUtiiwanl  01,11, |„  Mil),  ,i,.,i,i,  hiiviii;?  pm- 
vioUNly  cxliorlnl  til,,  priipl,.  llmt  if  liu  (lied 
thi'v  WITH  iiol  I,)  liolil  tl,„  HiiiU!  iiiiiii  roMpoii- 
Hibfo  for  lii.M  (l.iilli.  'Ilii.  ixliortatioii  wiw 
iioimUuI,  as  they  liad  ahfudy  bfj{nii  to  iicciiNt) 
liiin  of  l)riiin;iii;{  the  Miiiall-pox  anions  tlicin. 
JUm  lioily  wax  (liMpohcd  of  in  ih,'  iwiiul 
AHliiru  iiiMiiiiir.  It  wan  taki-ii  to  an  open 
pluco  oiilhid,!  Ill,,  viilaj,"',  drcM.si.d  in  hit,  |),...,f, 
clollids,  and  Hcal.'d  on  Ilii;  civrlli,  Hurroiindud 
Willi  variou.s  arliclu.H  of  property,  mucIi  hm 

cIu^rIh,  platcH,   jll^rs.  cookinjr   utoiisilH,  pip(.H, 

and  toliaoco.  A  /ir,.  was  alHo  luado  near 
liin>,  and  kept  burning  for  Hovural  weekH 
Ab  tho  body  waa  carried   to  the  placo  of 


<0I 

snjjulture,  tliii  pooiilo  lii-oko  nut  In  wild 
plaintiv..  i-rii'd,  mldri.HHin^  tli.i  <J,.wa»„d. 
and  iwkiiitf  liini  wliy  1,„  l.lt  his  p,.,,,,!,,.' 
Around  hini  wcr..  Iho  boniN  of  many  otluT 
c.iiHn  who  had  preceded  liiin  to  the  iiplrit- 
wor Id;  and  „«  ihe  A«liira  do  not  bury  their 
•leiul,  but  merely  leav((  them  on  the  Miirfneo 
o  llu!  ground,  it  nmy  be  iniMKin,.,!  that  tho 
plaee  jiri.Menled  11  mowt  dismal  aNpect. 

I'orHt.veral  liayH  alter  Olenda'w  death  tho 
rx'oide  deelared  that  they  hail  M,.,.n  their 
ileeeuHi.d  ehief  walking  unions  them,  and 
HfiyuiK  <  >iit  he  had  not  lell  ||„,.m  entirely 
but  would  guard  and  watch  over  them,  nnJ 
would  return  occaHionally  to  sec  how  thov 
were  going  ou.  ' 


m 


;    ii  ' 


[(Ii 


I  ,! 


f'l      I  ■ 


i 


>'ll 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 


THE  CAMMA,  OR  COMMI. 

ITS  WSCIPLINE— HONEST V  OF  TIIF  r»«MA        ^„„  KIN<,  — TH].,       PALAVEU"   AND 

CODE  OF  KT.QUErrF-r4MM!   mLl.w  '^'"'"'^  °''  •'^"'''^'*'   ^^^   '"^^^'  O^'  «K''«>.SAL- 

MTPEHSTIT  OV     i™;;    VND    u»     r  ''''^^         ^''^""^  ^"^  CAMMA-T„E    ..on.u.A   DANCE- 

THE    HA,.UB„    MVSTEUF8-EX0™       Z  ™««"'"0''8l'"=««"T,0.V-,N.,.r.AT,0X  INTO 

..ros:T.N  OF  THE  ...u:^^;:^^.rrr«;r^-™  — r^- ''""- 


If  the  reader  will  look  on  the  west  coast  of 

Africa,  just  below  tlie  Equator,  lie  Avill  see 

a  large  anil  important  river  called  the  Fer- 

nand  Vaz.    This  river  skirts  the  coast  for 

some  distance,  and  is  very  wide,  but,  when 

It  turns  eastward,  it  suddenly  narrows  its 

channel,  and  is    known    by  the    name  of 

Rembo     The  whole  of  the  district  through 

which  the  Rembo  flows,  as  far  as  long.  10°  E.,   nu-re  name 

tube,  which  is   evurently  another  band  of  found  that 

along  the  Rembo. 

h  J!!!?  ''"I^f  -1^  '^'■°'^<^"  "P  '"*"  a  vast  num- 
ber of  sub-tribes  or  clans,  and  each  of  these 

h  n?f  u  ?Y  ^'^'  '"^  ^■'''^•'''  ^^'''«  "cknowledges 
himself  to  be  a  va.ssal  of  one  great  chief  or 
king  named  Quenguo/n.  Tb  ,s  man  was  fond 
of  calling  himself  King  of  (he  Rembo,  by 
which  we  must  understand,  not  that  he  was 

llTtf  f'  *^^?  ^V'"  ^  ."'•'^'^  '"''•'''^'t  its  banks, 
but  that  he  had  authority  over  the  river 
and  could  iirevcnt  or  encourage  traffic  as  lie 
chose.  And,  as  the  Reml,o  is  the  great 
highway  into  Central  Africa,  his  position 
W!us  necessarily  a  very  imi)ortant  one. 
kinlof  M  '1-1  ^'^  ''''^'  ""'  absolutely  the 
^K  /•'"''''  ^''''i*^'  '"^^'<^'"''^'  «f  "'I''"  acknowl- 
edged his  superiority,  and  respected  him, 
and  respect,  as  is  well  said  in  '•  E.ithen  " 

}Z  f.?„    '^  '■  ■'-''l*  "^."1"  respected  person  to 
take  the  property  of  those  who  respect  him. 
Consequently  Quengueza  had  a  right -am 
exercised  it-  to  the  wife  of  any  llakalai  or 
Ashira,  and  even  the  chiefs  of  those  tribes 


thought  themselves  honored  bv  placing  their 
wives  at  the  disposal  of  so  einiiuMit  a  per- 
sonage.   And  he  cerlainlv  claimed  an  au- 
tliority  over  lb.  river  itsi.'lf  and  its  iraflic. 
lHe   JJakalai  bad  submitted  themselves  to 
11m  for  the  sake  of  alliance  with  so  power- 
tul  a  chief,  and  found   that   lie  was   by  no 
means  disposed  to  content  himself  with  the 
nwre  name  of  sovereignty.     On  one  occa- 
passing  along  the   Rembo,  he 
,  the  Rjikalai  bad  (luarrelled  with 

a  neighboring  tribe,  and  had  Imili  a  fence 
across  the  river,  leaviiiu:  onlv  a  small  "an 
which  could  easily  be  deVendid.  ( )n  coining 
to  this  obstacle,  Queiiiriicza  became  very 
angiT,  called  for  axes,  and  in  a  minutg  or 
two  the  fence  was  demolished,  and  the  pas- 
sage of  the  i-M.  'T  freed.  The  Rakal.ai  stood 
on  the  banks  in  great  numbers,  and,  although 
well  armed,  dared  not  interfere. 

The  mode  of  government  which  prevails 
through  all  these  tribes  may  ite  called  (he 
patriarchal.  Each  trijje  is  divided  into  a 
number  of  sub-(ribes  or  clans,  each  of  which 
resides  in  a  separate  locality,  (bat  is  usually 
called  after  the  name  of  (h'e  chief  or  pa(ri- 
arch.  This  man  is  alwavs  i-evercnced  be- 
cause  he  is  sure  to  be  old  and  rich,  and  age 
and  wealth  are  greatlv  vcneiaie.l  in  this 
part  of  the  world.  Their  authority,  liow- 
ever,  is  extremely  limit  ,-d,  and  (hey  aro 
rather  the  chief  .advisers  of  their  cl;m  than 
autocrats.  There  is  no  real  monarchy 
such  as  is  found  among  (he  Kaffi,-  (rihp«' 
although  the  most  iinportiiiit  chief  is  some- 
(504) 


KING  QUENGUEZA. 


SOS 


times  greeted  with  the  title  of  king.  The 
honor,  however,  is  an  oniptv  one,  as  the 
otlicr  cliiefs  have  no  idea  of  fiiibmitting 
themselves  to  one  wliom  they  consider  to 
be^  but  primus  inter  paren. 

The  Ciimma  are  a  fine  race  of  people, 
and,  like  the  Ashini,  are  not  entirely  black, 
but  vary  mucli  in  luic,  some  having  a  de- 
cided oiiv<^  or  chocolate  tint  of  skin.  Nei- 
th(U'  are  their  features  those  of  the  true 
negro,  the  face  of  the  king  Quengucza 
resembling  that  of  a  North  American  In- 
dian rather  than  that  of  an  African.  The 
diaraeter  of  the  Camina  is  well  typified  by 
tiiat  of  their  chief,  Quengueza.  flo  exhib- 
ited a  singular  mixture  of  nobility,  mean- 
ness, kindness,  cruelty,  selfishness,  and  gen-- 
CTosify,  as  is  well  shown  by  the  visits  of  M. 
du  Cliailhi  and  Mr.  AV.  Eeade— the  former 
thinking  much  more  highly  of  him  tlian 
tlie  latter. 

Like  otiier  savage  chiefs,  Quengneza  could 
not  bear  his  white  visitors  to  leave  him.  He 
openly  thwarted  Mi:  Beade,  and  it  is  evi- 
dent from  M.  du  Chaillu's  account  that, 
while  he  was  pretendinu:  to  procure  porters 
for  the  journey  to  the  Bakalai,  ho  was  in 
reality  throwing  every  obstacle  in  the  wa'v. 
The  possession  of  a  white  man  is  far  too 
valuable  to  a  black  chief  to  be  surrendered 
in  a  hurry,  and  Quengueza  knew  his  own 
interests  too  well  to  allow  such  profitable 
visitors  to  leave  Ins  laud  as  long  as  he  could 
detain  them  in  it. 

Once  Mr.  Readehad  succeeded  in  slijipino- 
ofT,  m  s))ite  of  the  king's  assertion  that  he 
would  accompanv  his  "dear  friend  "  and  his 
continual  procrastination.  He  had  j)addled 
to  some  distance,  when  "  suddenly  my  men 
stopped,  and  looked  at  each  other  with 
anxious  faces.  Lazily  raising  myself,  I 
looked  back,  and  coulrl  see  at  a  great  dis- 
taiice  a  large  black  spot,  and  something 
rising  and  falling  like  a  stre.ak  of  light  iS 
the  sunshine.  The  men  put  their  hands  to 
their  ears:  I  listened,  and  could  hear  now 
and  then  a  faint  note  borne  toward  us  on 
the  -vind, 

'"  What's  that,  Mafuk  ■" 
" '  King,  sir.' 

•  "'^^''V.i^^o'""!?;,  is  he?'  said  I,  laugh- 
ing. '  Well,  he  can  easilv  catch  us,  now  he 
»8  ^*"\ 'H-ar.     Knhhi! '  (t.  e.  Paddle !) 

'  My  stewards  gave  an  uneasy  smile,  and 
did  not  answer  me. 

"The  nien  dipped  tlieir  paddles  into  the 
water,  and  that  was  all.  Everv  man  was 
listening  with  bent  head,  as  if  trying  to  de- 
tect the  wonls.  or  the  tune.  I  looked  round 
again.  I  could  see  that  it  was  a  large  canoe 
manned  by  about  twenty  men,  with  a  kind 
ot  Uiatclied  house  in  its  stern.  The  sou^ 
still  continued,  and  could  now  be  heard 
plainly.  My  men  Hung  their  paddles  down 
and  began  to  talk  to  one  another  in  an  ex- 
cited riiainier. 

" '  What  is  the  matter? '  said  I,  pettishly. 


"The  sweat  was  running  down  Mafuk's 
forehead.    He  knew  what  he  had  to  lear,  if 
I  did  not 
'"/<  is  the  war  songf 
"On  came  the  canoe,  low  and  dark,  black 
with   men,   the   paddles   tossing   the  Avhite 
water  in  the  air.    On  it  came,  shot  swiftly 
past  us,  arched  round,  and  came  close  along- 
side.   Then  arose  a  storm  of  angry  voices, 
Quengueza's  raised  above  the  rest, 
" '  "What  does  he  say,  Mafuk  ? ' 
"  '  Says  we  must  go' back.'  " 
And  go  back  they  were  forced  to  do,  ^ov 
just  at  that  moment  another  war-boat  came 
gliding  along,   and  the   whole  party  were 
taken  prisoners,  Quengueza  embracing  his 
"dear  friend,"  and  being  quite  lively  and 
jocular  by  reason  of  his  success  in  recaptur- 
ing him.    Yet  this  man,  superstitious  as  he 
was,  and  dreading  above  all  things  the  small- 
pox, that  scourge  of  savage  nations,  took 
into  his  own  hut  a  favorite' little  slave,  who 
had  been  seized  with  small-pox,  laid   the 
boy  on  a  mat  close   to  his  own  bed,  and 
insisted  on   nursing    him    throughout   the 
illness. 

Afterward,  when  the  small-pox  had  swept 
through  the  country,  and  almost  desolated 
it,  the  sorrow  of  Quengueza  was  great  and 
unfeigned.  Wives,  slaves,  and  relations  had 
all  been  carried  off  by  the  dreaded  plague; 
the  town  of  Goumbi,  where  he  lived,  was 
deserted;  and  the  poor  old  chief  was  obliged 
to  collect  the  few  survivors  of  his  clan,  and 
establish  a  new  settlement  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river.  His  lamentations  bad  all 
the  sublimity  of  intense  grief,  and  he  sat 
chanting  his  monody  over  the  dead,  just  as 
Catlin  describes  a  North  American  chief 
when  his  tribe  had  perished  by  the  same 
fearful  disease. 

No  malady  is  so  terrible  to  the  savage  avS 
small-pox.  Scarcely  susceptible  of  b()dily 
pain,  enduring  the  most  frightful  woun.ls 
with  quiet  composure,  and  tenacious  of  life 
to  an  astonishing  degree,  he  succumbs  in- 
stantly to  sickness;  and  an  ailment  which 
a  white  man  resists  and  finally  throws  off, 
will  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  be  fatal  to  tlie 
black  one.  Yet  for  himself  Quengueza  had 
no  fears,  and  his  sole  lamentations  were 
for  his  friends.  "The  Hakalai,"  said  he, 
"are  all  gone;  the  Rembo  people  are  all 
gone;  my  lieloved  iMonbou  (his  heiu!  slave) 
is  gone;  I  am  alone  in  the  world.'' 

In  spite  of  the  many  barbarous  customs 
of  the  Camilla  tribes,  they  have  a  code  of 
minutely  rejj;ulated  etiquette.  If,  for  ex- 
ample, ilie  king  holds  a  council,  he  takes  his 
seat  on  an  elevated  throne,  and  bears  in  his 
hand  a  wooden  statf.  When  he  has  had  his 
say,  ho  passes  the  slatT  to  the  person  who  is 
to  speak  next,  and  he  in  turn  to  bis  succes- 
sor. In  such  meetings  the  utmost  order  is 
preserved,  and  no  one  thinks  of  interruMting 
the  speaker  so  long  as  he  has  possession  of 
the  stafl". 


ill 


I  i 


606 


THE  CAMMA. 


It  IS  not  every  one  who  has  the  right  of 
speech  m  the  council.    This  is  a  nrivilece 
extended  to  a  very  few  men  calUnl  Council- 
lors, or  iMakagas,  and  only  to  them  docs  the 
king  hand  the  stafl"  which  gives  the  pern.is- 
8  on  to  speak.    They  are  exI'eedingly'jealoiL 
ot  this  honor  and  yet  it  has  been  conferred 
upon  two  white    men,   one    being  M.   du 
diuilhnand  the  other  a  Captain  Cawlin  o 
Kew  York      The  latter  individual  caused 
quilo  a  revolutio:i  in  his  district,  abolishing 
the  many  impediments  to  trade,  inflictin?' 
severe  penalties  on  quarrelsome  chiefs  wlu) 
made  warlike  aggressions  on  their  neicrh- 
bors,  and  establishing  a  strict  code  of  crfm- 
inal  laws. 

«;,m '^f^fi^"*'''  an-angements  as  the  posses- 
B  on  ot  the  orator's  stalf  is  absolutely  neces- 
saiy  for  the  due  regulation  of  the  innumera- 


ceptible  victim,  and  appoints  a  meeting  at  a 
spot  where  the  husl>anil  has  placed  hiniscU 
Iv!n  ^'"if  ■'lament.  As  soon  as  the  couj.le 
each  the  appointed  place,  out  comes  tlw 
husband  and  threatens  a  palaver  if  a  fine  he 
no    paid  at  once     The  young  man  knows 

,i;  f  A  ''""•.<T"l  accordingly  makes  the 
best  of  the  business  and  pays  his  fine.  So 
completely  established  Is  tlifs  system,  that 
even  the  most  powerful  chiefs  have  been 
known  to  purchase  pi'etty  wives  for  the 
express  purpose  of  using  them  as  traps 
wherewith  to  ensnare  the  joung  men. 

As  time  is  not  of  the  least  consequence  to 
the  Camma,  and  they  , ire  rather  pleased 
than  otherwise  when  they  can  find  some 
sort  ot  amusement,  a  jiafaver  will  some 
times  expend  a  week  upon  a  trivial  cause 


ble  "palavers,"or''native  imrlhmo  18  thu  An  fluS'fV^ ''"'"''  'V,?  ^''''''^  *^''>"««- 
arc  continually  being  heldona  11  SoK  l     )t  i  n  I'^^^^'^P,  are  held  in  the  simple 

jects.    Ifone trader  over^^^ach2sanotheram^^  "r^i  "^  ^''''  ^^'^  V^nposi^-    These 

can  be  detected  in  time,  a  ^Xer  is  held-'  id  IfirZ^  ''"'^  T'''  "'''?"  ''''^■''^'  '^omposed 
asiniilarceremony isgone'  through  iftt,£  sties  Th^T'*"*^  T  '^"''f' "»''  "P*^"  «»  ^^^ 
l)aysforgoodsinadvanceandd()t^snotr(4oivo  hi  vnf.?^^^^^  ^'"^'  ^"  '"  *'"•  '"''^'''«  «"  an 
thorn.     Kuiiaway  wives  arc  tl  e  „  ost  Mo     '.^Tf!!'.!.?".'^. »">''*-'  "^  ??•"*<«'  '-i'"!  covered 


Generally  the  otfenJing  wife  has  lier  nose       WhZ      .        "  "'''  P'ound. 

and  ears  cutoff,  and  a  similar  P     ishmenns   in^^  ,t l^.".'''''"'?  '"'\'    '  ""^  •■^''■''"'  "'"^  "^'h- 

indicted   on   the   man   with   whom    sbo    k      f ,^'* '^'^'^  ^'^l" '^'^  ^ 

found;   but   the  latter  l.^therviSo  of     w  V'^'"''"'  t''i' tp  fiighten  the  enemv  by 

comi.uiti  ns  this  sentence  for  a  fl   e -  gf ."^er    are      '  f  ?n  ""''  °^  !  "'  '"  UPP^'-^'-^'x-^'-    'riiey 

ally  a  slave.    Murder  is  a  frequent  cause  of  ^  -m     n    ^ ^ "'''"'''   ''?'  ^^"^ *^°"'^'  "o'  ^"Ih- 

palavers,and  it  is  a  rather  rSkaWof^^f  n;i^''^^•■f^"'  ""'^knowing  th.a  the  ..,.- 


.ilavers,  and  it  is  a  rather  remarkable  flict 
that  the  natives  draw  no  distinction  be- 
tween accidental  homicide  and  wilful  murder. 
JJea  h  IS  not  necessarily  the  punishment  of 

stituted  lor  the  capital  penalty. 
.    If  tlie   culprit  cannot   be   captured    the 
injured  husband  has  a  singular  modeof  ,m> 
curing  a  palaver.    II  ■  —  ■       -  ■  -  ' 


emyis  not  more  gifted  with  courage  than 
themselves,  try  to  insi)ire  tenor  bv  their 
menacing  aspect.  They  paint  their  faces 
white,  this  being  the  war  color,  and  some- 
tinus  .add  bars  and  strijics  of  red  jiaint. 
Ihe  white  paint,  or  chalk,  is  prepared  in 
tneir  greegree  or  idol  houses,  and  is  th()u<dit 
to  be  a  very  powerful   charm.    They  also 


fi.sc,w,i7m;.s^^sz;^s;^fi;^rH!-f '^^^7  ^ 

clone  so  beca.se   so i^  or   I  Am   ^n^' ^  their  caAoes.  yoll- 

with  his  wife.    The  coul^sc  oMus  ice  then    n^.\,'''l'"^  "/•"'•'?'''"«    *''<^''-    ^veapons. 
passes  out  of  his   hands.    Tt-^Mativi^^  of  bu?  a'  i  "»''''•  "''versaries 

the  murdered  man  are  now  bound  to  take    wiM.in  V,  ^  i  "'^  *^T°'^   ^''''^    ""'  '»  ^'""e 
up  the  quarrel,  which  they  do  b"  wliLg,  ntt    I^nl""  '" "  ^'""^''^"^  ''''''  ^^  ^''«  «-'»'^>"r« 
the  murderer,  but  some  one  of  another  vil- 
iage.      II.s   friends    retaliate   upon  a  third 
village,  and  so  the  feud  parses  f\-om  one  vil 


boats. 

The  Camma  seem  to  be  a  bettor  princi- 
pled  peoj,le  than  the  Aslura.  When  Du 
l.liai  In  was  troubled  with  the  strikes  amoiiir 


lage  to  another  unt^    th.^  Xh/      "-^  ^  „  his    XO  ■''"  ^'-oubled  with  the  strikes  among 

arms.    The  gates  are    barricaded     .o   one  r,^>'^"'\J^»'"t'';^^^^  '''"  ^'"^"""'^  »'«*»  «'""'! 

dares  to  go  out  alone,  or  unanned    ind   .t  5  i  Tf^'^l,'"""'*.   "«' ^°"«^"t  to  his  ,, Ian 

last  one  unfortunate  clan    nsi  „;,',,  'T'"''^?  *'''''"  t"™'ard  with  i>art  of  the 

,!.>..„,,  ...A  „„..  .  "r^  ^',"»  "«8  a  man  nun-  goods.    They  feared  lost  he  .-hoi.ld  be  noi 


......iiv.  y.uin  lias  u  man  mur- 

The  ei  il-T.f '"'i"*^  •'l!*'^"''"  o''  retalia  n 
Iho  clnet  of  the  clan  then  holds  a  palaver 
and  pins  forward  his  claim  against  ihe  ma',' 
wiio  ran  away  with  the  wife^    Thefhief  of 

-^L   ^^     '-'V  ""''  l''"'^"'^  's  restored. 

loo  often,  however,  when  a  wife   is    or 
appears  to  be,  unfaithful,  her  husband  ii  h, 
col  us.on  with  her,  for  the  purpose  of  ex 
tortiiig  money  out  of  some  inSrudent  voiniir 


^".  L„.^  ,,„,in-v  oui  01  some  imnrndiMit  v<ii.n.v      .„*      ■-■-       - ■■"•^>'    «.iii>i    m;    m  .-suou    U) 

man.    She  gets  up  a  llirtaticnKii;^^  ^  t£"Si^;/;;^^™;Vtr'«'"  "'"  "- 

1  ujuiii,  UK.  ^..sing  nevfct  t-ntci' the  presence 


soned   among  u.e  Ashira,  and  insisted  on 
ddef""    «»ni«    of  their   party   with    their 

T''"  I'cader  may  remember  that  the  old 
chief  Olenda  was  held  in  great  resiieot  bv 
his  peoide.  Among  the  tribes  of  Equatorial 
Africa  much  reven^ice  is  jiaiil  to  age. an  old 
person  being  looked  ui)on  as  nearlv  akin  to 
tlie  spirits  into  whose  land  he  i8\soon  tr) 
enter.    Contrary  to  the  usual  custom  of  the 


m 


lis  a  meeting  at  a 
vs  plaw'd  hrniscU 
n  as  the  couple 
J,  out  comes  Ure 
a'.iivcr  if  a  fine  i,e 
>iing  man  knows 
lit  of  tlu;  palaver 
lingly  makes  the 
oaj-8  his  fine.  So 
:his  system,  that 
•hicfs  have  heon 
y  wives  for  tlio 

them   as  traps 
jouiig  men. 
t  consequence  to 

rather  pleased 
■  can  find  some 
iver  will  some- 
a  trivial  cause, 
d  in  the  simple 
puipose.  These 
sheds,  composed 
,  and  open  on  all 

0  middle  on  an 
nss,  and  covered 
'.ms  of  his  rank, 
)liged  either  to 

ivail,  and  noth- 
t  of  the  quarrel, 
the  enemy  hy 
oarance.  'rhey 
eould  notwith- 
ig  Ih'ii.  the  eii- 

1  courage  than 
;enor  by  their 
iiit  their  faces 
'lor,  and  some- 

of  red  jjaint. 
is  prejiared  in 
and  is  thought 
m.  They  also 
ids  upon  their 
ir  canoes,  yell- 
lieir  weapons, 
ir  adversaries, 

not  to  come 
f  the  enemy's 

better  prinei- 
.      When  l)u 

strikes  among 
iia  men  stood 
lit  to  his  ])liin 
h  part  of  the 
liould  be  i)oi- 
i  insisted  on 
f   with    their 

that  tlie  old 
it  resjiect  by 
of  Equatorial 
to  age,  an  old 
learly  akin  to 
le  is  soon  to 
iistoni  of  the 
Ihc  presence 


iji»  ?i 


lit 


I 


of  an  old  man  or  woman  without  bendinz 
I'iZl  •'»"'' "'*^'^"'?  a  genuine  scliool-giil  cour- 
tesy.    AVhua    tTiey  seat    themselves,  it    is 
always  at  ii  respectful  distance;  and    f  ihev 
aio  fusked  lor  a  pipe,  or  for  water,  they  pre- 
sent  ,t  on  one  ^nee,  addressing  a  man  ^ 
"  Father  "  and  a  woman  as  "  MotTior  "It  i^ 
moreover  contrary  to  etiquette  for  k  vounc^ 
nan  to   ell  bad  news  to  an  old  one.  ^Even 
the  dead  bodios  of  the  old  are  honored,  an 
he  bones  and  skulls  arc  laid  up  in    it  tie 
temples    made   expressly   for  them.    Thev 
are  usually  laid  in  chalk,  which  is  therefore 
.ought  to  possess  sundry  virtues,  and  with 
that  chalk    he  relations  of  the  dead  ma 
mark  their  bodies  whenever  they  arc  about 
to  engage   m  any  important  undertaking, 
i  in  skull  13  also  put  to  practical  uses.    If  a 
trader  comes  to  make  purchases,  the  vender 
always  entertiuns  him  hospitably,  but  has  a 
•lehnito  purpose  in  so  doing.  Ijofore    he 
prepares  the  banquet,  he  goe°s  to  the  fetish 

fil-  if'  Tr'T'^''-"*''"'^  powder  from  the 
fivull.    This  he  mixes  with  the  food,  and 

of  h;p  !!!'-;'r'"''  '•  *?•  '"•'  Suest.  The  Spirit 
pt  the  dead  man  is  then  supposed  to  enter 
into  the  body  of  the  person  who  1ms  eaten  a 
portion  of  his  skull,  and  to  impress  £  to 
make  good  bargains  with  his  host- in  other 
words,  to  be  cheated 

viSf'l  '''•  •■'''■'jpse^"  first  enters  a  C.-^nnna 

of  fe:.  IrT"!"'  «"'-P'-i«"l  at  the  nuin1,er 
ot  boxes  which  he  seen.  The  fact  is  that 
a-noiig  the  Camma  boxes  are  conventionally 

iivi'n.  "fb'nr.i'*'"'  m^Z^y,  "»e  neighbors 
gi  in- them  the  credit  of  being  flllcTl  with 

?eS  vV'^''"'''^"''""^''  »^  tl,eam}nio 
ot  e\eiy  Camma  man  to  coll.Mt  as  many 

£  them  .';';  f"/'  ^°''"'"^'  '^''-  ^•'''»'-  """1^ 

•hite^    I  >;"""■'  ?|'P"'-tu"ity.  When  his 

c.  ts  ti  ;^    '',^'T  Q»«'!«"<^^a  their  pres- 

.V  H.'  n        ^  ^}''^f^^-^^  quite  as  much  struck 

tei  s  nn  l'"'"^""  ""^ '  '^''^  '-^-^  "''^''  their  con- 
tents, and  expresse.i   his  gratitude  accord- 

Tile  dances  of  the  Camma  have  much  in 
CO nun„„  ,,,^1  j,^^^^  ^j.^^,^^^^.  tribc!s'  l,u"  thev 
ha  e  one  or  two  peculiarities  of  their  on 
;^-e  iiiin^^^^^   H  or  W»S,.tH  their  rule  s 

^l^^tlie  veriest  *.;|.fKS;ii!^;;- 2 
alwavs  remains  a  nliiM  r».,  *i  •  ■''  '  1  ' 
tl.;-ba,Kr'.",i;[i,S;SJi,«',^----on 

IhS'^iiJil^r  '"«l>-l-rtionately  l!:.!^  tS 

There  Wiw  a  row  of  drummers,  each  beat 

ig  Ills  noisy  instrument  with  s  icli  "nemv 

Imt.a  constant  succession  of  drumn  cr   to^^ 

to   nstnunents,  the  stoutest  and  stro  n  est 

^Ncie  also  a  number  of  bovs  beatiu-/  •    h 
=ucks  upon  iiollow  pieces  6f  wood,  and  as 


CAMMA  DANCES. 


SO0 

if  the  drummers  and  log-beaters  did  not 
make  suihcient  noise,  the  musicians  had 
hung  a  row  of  brass  kettles  on  poles,  and 
V ere  banging  tftem  with  sticks  as  if  thev 
had  been  drums.  Add  to  this  the  shouts 
and  screams  of  the  excited  dancers,  and 

TheTiLT^  '^Vi'l"''!"'^  ^^"  appreciated. 
Ihe  artist  has  sketched  this  singular  dance 
on  the  previous  page. 

Great  quantities  of  palm  wine  were  drunk 
lnn„  ff  *-"«"«eq"«nce  was,  that  before  very 

v,r  n:,.""/"'^'"^."^'^  ''•"S  himself,  were  in 
various  stages  of  intoxication.  As  to  the 
king,  being  rather  more  inebriated  tha^i  his 
subjects,  he  nmst  needs  show  his  own  ski  1 
n  the  dance,  and  therefore  juftined  and 
leaped  about  the  ground  with  irearagil  y 
tor  so  heavy  a  man,  while  his  wives  bowed 
lown  to  his  feet  as  he  danced,  clapped  S 

Wuf  the  , """  '1  '^'  '""^••'''  ^^'^  t^e'ated  I  im 
witii  tile  deepest  veneration. 

i^  hL*"i  ^h*"  '^''"f  '.*^^"'  ">«  less  said  about 
■  nr^ltrni'"?'-  ^'  '^  ^^  immodest  as  the 
unrestrained  savage  temperament  can  make 

ot  the  di  urn,  which  seems  to  exc  te  the  neo- 

le  almost  to  madness.     The  songs    vW» 

which   they  accompany   the  c'-.tnce  are    of 

a  similar  nature,  and  are  worse    .'.an  the 

teen  v'?h"'T"'-"^  heathen  vice  as  naiS 
tc'l  by  the  classic  satirists. 

There  is,  however,  one  dance  in  which 

the  immodest  element  does  not  exist    It  is 

called  the  Gorilla  Dance,  and  is  performed 

as  a  means  of  propitiating  the  dei  ies  before 

starling  on  a  gorilla  hunt:  for  this  is  part  of 

fhmH   H,  .FT  '*'  «""»try,in  which  alone  is 

ound  that  huge  and  powerful  ape  which 

has  latelv  attracted  so  nuich  attention     An 

account  ol  a  gorilla  hunt  will  be  given  when 

we  come  to  the  Fan  tribe,  but  at  prcs7n 

ve  will  content  ourselves  with  tlie^gS 

ance,  as  seen  by  Mr.  W.  Reade.    He  lad 

nade  sev.u-al  unavailing  attempts  to  ki  1  a 

Uthith";.'""   ^'"^'"'  *"  ^''""l'-^''-  of  succiss' 

ofS^ai'mSr"'""^^''"-'^"^^^"^'-"^ 

ihl'vnT  '"°""»g  Etia,  the  chief  hunter  of 

he  village,  came  and  told  me  that  he  had 

heard  the  cry  of  a  njina  (/.  c.  goi'  11a)  close 

o  one  of  the  neighboring  plantatio  1    He 

said  that  we  should  certainly  be  able  to  kill 

him  next  day,  and  that  during  the  ni-  ht  he 

dance"'  Wonds  would  celebrate  the'^gmilla 

''This  Etia  was  a  Mchaga  slave.      Hiq 

th'it'  of  Z':  ^ri'"".!''''  comparison,  was  like 
iii.it  ol  an  old  alligator  — all  hornv  anH 
wrinkled;  his  left  hSnd  had  bee  c  pplcd 
Y  the  teeth  of  a  gorilla;  his  face  wS 
absurdly  hideous,  and"  yet  I'eminded  meTf 
some  hing  which  I  had  seen  before  After 
puzzling  myself  for  a  long  time  I  at  h.st 
:;7rjl""/:'-l  "-.t  it  was  the  mask  which 
.;;  ;i,  •  I."  """•,'"  |h.-  character  of  C'aliban 
at  the  rnnccss'  which  Etia  resembled  sS 


1, 


m 
1% 


CIO 


TIIE  CAMMA. 


c'ln 


n'^ 


s  :   ii". 


closely.    Tlmt  night  I  could  have  imagined 
liim  less  man  than  monster. 

"  In  tlie  house  allotted  to  the  slaves  three 
od  men,  their  faces  grotesquely  chalked, 
played  the  (lrum.s,  the  sounding  log,  and  the 
one-stringed  harp.  To  them  danced  Etia 
imitating  the  uncouth  movements  of  the 
gorilln.  Ihen  the  iron  bell  was  rung,  and 
Ombinn,  the  evil  spirit,  was  summoned  to 
atWiKl,  and  a  hoarse  rattle  mingled  with  the 
other  sounds  The  dancers  rushed  yelliiiR 
into  the  midst,  and  sprang  into  the  air 
J.  hen  would  be  a  pause,  broken  only  by  the 

drum  won  d  be  beaten,  and  the  sticks  thun- 
dered on  the  log. 

"In  another  dance  Caliban  assumed  the 
various  attitudes  peculiar  to  tlie  ape.  Now 
he  would  he  seated  on  the  ground,  his  legs 
apart,  us  elbows  resting  on  his  knees,  his 
hea«l  drooping,  and  in  his  face  the  vacant 
expression  of  the  brute;  sometimes  he 
folded  his  bands  on  his  forehead.  Suddenly 
he  would  raise  his  head  with  prone  ears  and 

would  prove  how  natural  it  was.  I^  the 
chorus  all  the  dancers  assumed  such  pos- 
tures as  these  while  Etia,  climbing  ape-like 
up  the  pole  which  supported  the  ?oof,  tow- 
ered above  them  all 

vii'i'J^.f^S  ",""^  i'"."*^^  'i®  imitated  the  go- 
iilla  attacked  and  being  killed.  The  man 
who  played  the  hunter  inimitably,  acted  ter- 
ror and  iiTcsolution  before  he  pulled  the 
infiTin*"  ".  '  |'»aginary  gun.  Caliban,  as 
gorilla,  charge(  upon  alt  fours,  and  fell  dead 
at  the  man  s  feet,  in  th«  act  of  attempting 
to  seize  lum  with  one  hand.        • 

'  Tou  may  be  sure  that  nothinff  short  of 
Beemg  a  gorilla  in  its  wild  state  cSul.l  have 
afforded  me  so  much  interest  or  given  me 
so  good  a  clue  to  the  animal's  real  habits. 
I'or  here  could  be  no  imposture.  It  wai 
not  an  entertainment  arranged  for  my  ben- 
efit, but  a  religious  festival  held  on  the  eve 
ot  an  enterprise." 

This  dance  brings  us  to  the  religion,  or 
rather  tlie  superstition,  of  the  Camma  peo- 
ple. Superstition  has  its  estimable,  its 
grotesque,  and  its  dark  side,  and  there  is 
Bcarccly  any  people  among  whom  these 
three  pha.ses  are  more  strongly  marked. 

Ihe  estimable  side  is,  of  course,  the  value 
Of  superstition  as  a  substitute  for  true  rehV- 
,on  — a  feeling  of  which  the  savage  nev?r 
has  the  cast  uh-a,  and  which  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  make  him  comprehend.  He 
often  takes  very  kindly  to  his  teacher,  Dicks 
op  with  wonderful  readiness  the  phrases 
Which  he  hears,  regulates  his  external  life 
m  accordance  with  the  admonitions  he  has 
received;  but  it  is  very,  very  seldom  indeed 
that  any  real  conviction  Kas  touched  his 
heart;  and  as  soon  as  the  direct  influence 
of  hi8  teacher  is  removed,  he  reverts  to  his 
old  mode  of  life.  Mr.  Reade  relntes  a  rather 
•trikmg  example  of  this  tendcjuv     He  inet 


a  negress  on  her  way  to  church,  accompa. 
nied  by  a  beautifb!  little  girl. 

Addressing  the  child,  he  asked  whether 
She  was  the  woman's  daughter.  The  mother 
answered  in  the  affirmative;  and  in  the 
same  breath,  ofiered  to  sell  her.  This  was 
the  original  ne-rro  nature.  Just  then  the 
befl  stopped,  and  her  education  made  itselt 
apparent.  "Ilei-gh!"  she  cried,  "you  no 
hear  l)ell  stop?  Me  go  now.  After  church 
we  palaver,  give  me  plenty  dashVi.  c.  pres- 
ents) den  we  drink  rum,  dfen  you  take  him 
{I.  c.  the  ^irl) ;  palaver  -^aid." 

Siir.-.Kr.'-on.  thureiore,  takes  the  place  of 
pers  on,  and,  in  spite  of  the  dread 

excosi  vhich  it  leads  the  sava<'es,  it 

does  ai  .      vents  keep  before  them  the  idea 
of  a  spiritual   world,  and   impresses  ui.ou 
them  the  fact  that  there  exist  beings  hi.dier 
and  greater  than  themselves.    That   iheir 
superstitions,  debased  and  gross  as  they  are 
have  yet  the  power  of  impressing  the  native 
mind  with  a  feeling  of  veneration,  is  evident 
7    .     extreme  unwillingness  of  these  peo- 
ple to  utter  the  name  by  which  they  desiff- 
nate  the  Great  Spirit.    Of  course  their  idea 
of  a  God  is  very  imperfect,  but  still  it  is  suf- 
icient  to  impress  them  with  such  awe  that 
they  can  scarcely  be  induced  to  pronounce 
the  sacred  name.    Only  twice  did  Mr.  Keade 
hear  it.    Once,  when  they  were  in  a  danger- 
ous  storm,  the  men  threw  up  their  arms 
and  ejaculated  (he  holy  name  as  if  it  were 
some  great  charm;  and  on  another  occasion 
when  a  man  was  asked  suddenly  what  was 
the  native  name  for  God,  he  pointed  up- 
ward, and  in  a  low  voice  uttered  the  word 
"  Njambi." 

I'he  ceremonies  observed  at  the  time  of 
ull  moon  have  been  several  times  men- 
tioned in  Ihe  cour.'-e  of  the  present  work, 
-uu  Chaillu  gives  an  account  of  one  of  these 
ceremonies  as  performed  by  the  Camma 
which  is  useful  in  showing  the  precise 
object  of  "     ceremony. 

One  d;.     Quengueza  sent  word   that  he 

was  111    and  that  the  people  must  consult 

Ilogo   (be  spirit  of  the  moon,  and  ask  him 

wheCher  he  was  bewitched,  and  how  he  was 

to  be  cured.    Accordingly,  just  before  the 

full  moon,  a  crowd  of  women  assembled  in 

front  of  Quengucza's'  house,  accompanied 

by  the  drums  and  the  usual  noisy  ai)i)urte' 

nances  of  a  negro  festival.    They  formed 

themselves  into  a  hollow  circle,  and  sang 

I  songs    in    honor  of  Ilogo,  clapping   their 

fiands  in  unison  with  the  beatinjr  o^  the 

drums. 

In  the  midst  of  the  circle  sat  a  woman 
steadfastly  gazing  at  the  moon,  and  waitiii-' 
tor  inspiration.  Two  women  tried  this  i)ost 
unsuccessfully,  hut  the  third  soon  began  to 
tremble,  her  limbs  to  work  convulsively, 
then  to  stiffen,  and  at  last  she  fell  insensible 
to  the  ground.  Then  arose  the  chant  to 
Ilogo  with  redoubled  energy,  the  singers 
repeating  the  same  words  over  and  over 


QUENGUEZA'S  WALK. 


agnm  for  about  half  an  hour,  until  the  pros- 
trate form  ol  the  woman  began  to  show 
signs  of  rotuniinjj  sensibility  On  bein- 
questioned,  she  sai3  that  she  had  so^n  Iloffo" 
and  tha  he  i|ad  told  her  that  the  kin-  was 
not  bewitched,  but  that  he  cou'd  be  ifeaTed 


611 


ot  1  ii  ".'.,'  "^'  ■' "111  a  certain  plant 
She  looked  utterly  prostrated  by  the  insnira- 
tion  and  not  only  i.er  hearers,  but  also  her- 
self, thoroughly  believed  in  the  truth  of  her 
strange  statement. 

It  will  bo  seen  that  Quengueza  was  nearlv 
as  superstitionH  as  his  .subfocts.  lie  never 
stirrer!  without  his  favorite  fetish,  which  was 
an  ugly  little  wooden  image,  embellished 
with  a  row  of  four  sacred  cowries  stuck  on 
Its  abdomen 


Sh"prTf  .^'''""oned  in  page  502  as  tho 
lather  ot  the  boy  who  was  tried  bv  tho 
ordeal  of  the  hot  ring.  ^ 

„J'i'^'''fuP*;°P'*'  gathered  in  groat  numbers 

nder  the  immense  hangar  ov  covcrcO  space 

in  which  I  had  been  received,  and  (here  lit 


SC^{:?^'Ll!!-:^':^elf^-\-''<^';tain  plant,   tires,  roumlwhieir^ey^r:.  .  About  ten 

;a- 1  o  clock,  when  it  was  pitch  dark,  the  doctor 


commenced  operations  by  singing  some 
tehll^  TJ?"  recounting  his  power  over 
witches.  This  was  the  signal  for  all  tho 
people  to  gather  into  their  houses,  and 
about  their  hres  under  the  hangar.    Next, 

ill  u  .  /"^^  '^^•■''  ^•••'>'«ft>'l.V  extinguished,  alf 
the  lights  put  out,  and  in  about  an  hour 

=,.".1.'2  '!?hL?f/^?y  J^in/l  was  in  the 

L  gave  notice 


rpi  .    — '  """^■^  v^u   iiiDiu  iiui  a  ii^nt  of  'inv 

digenousYo>.iSi;^^^\^5%-V^K'';vhr"  ^^^^^''^  ^ni^-     I>a^  ^«ce 
have  been  brouglit  from  the  cistern    L,Hr„f„  °  '^*'"  ^'"'^'^  exempted  from  the 


*i     i    r  ■"  ■■'■■'.•V--'  i'"iinni  .1  lew  drops  ov 
the  leet  of  the  image  by  way  of  a  libation. 

When  travelling,  he  liked  to  have  with 
iiim  one  of  his  meditnnc  mon,  who  could 
charm  away  rain  by  blowing  with  his  mao'ic 


.w..^..^„    ,1,    t,H,  J.1UUU1. 

At  last  the  curious  silence  was  broken 
by  the  doctor;  who,  standing  in  tho  centre 
ot  the  town  began  some  loud  babbling  of 
wluch  I  could  not  make  out  the  meaning 


horn.  So  sure  was  the  doctor  of  his  no  vnr,  Vr«^\-  '■°""'  "«*  V^^^^  out  the  meaning, 
that  on  one  occ.^sion  he  wo  d  no  allow  the  i^  ehon.'i"  Ti'-'"''  "'?  P'"?'''  r^r^^s^^v^A  hirn 
I);irty  to  repair  a  dilapidated  hut  hi  which  w.»  n'  ■^'"''  T".*  *'"  ^"''  ^n  ''oi"";  and 
th.v  passed  the  night!    As  it  tne.  od    '  '  -  ^- '^^^^^^^^^  ""'^  ?*^  "'"  «^'"'^"«'-'''t  ^^''^^^  I 


much  heav.,.,-.    .Still  his  natural  strength  of 
mmd  s«m..times  asserted  itself,  and  on  one 

emarkable  occasion,  when  the  small-pox 
had  destroyed  so  many  people  and  to 
survivors  were  crying  lA  for  Venc^eance 
against  the  sorcerers  who  had  bioii^t  ?he 
disease  upon  them.  Quengueza  forbade  any 
more  slau.^hter.  Th^.  small-pox  ho  saf 
NVamv.'\"^.''';"'  /'•".'",  ^'■^^'i  (t^onounced 
already.^'    "'"  '''"^  '''""*  "»°"Sli  people 

Like  ma«t  native  chiefs,  Quen-rue^a  had  i 
pet  superstition  of  his  own.     Xt  Ids  ow-^ 

hncVs  nSrt'fr ''-""»'"' "« f'  ^"  -"'- 

um(.s  spoil),  tliere  w.is  a  very  convpnion*- 
and  dry  nath  leading  from  the  Ui° es 'to   1^* 

se'^'this^  3"'b?:v  '^T^"'^'-'  "^^''''-  ^'°"1'1 

usi  mis  p.itli,  hut  alwavs  ombarkod  m- 
auded  at  an  abominable 'mud  bmkove  • 

which   It   wa.s  necessary  to  run  as  7ast  ns 

irr^'"T/"  "'■'''^'"  '"  •'*™'''  «i"king  in  the 
n  Hio  H  '■  '"""f "  r^^'  <''''i*  when  lie  came 

to  the   throne   he   had   been   told   ilinf  «,. 

enemy  had  pl.aeed  an  evil  sjiritln  the  patT 

So  nS'  •',  ^"""'''  '}''  'f  he  weilt  alon'y  U 
bo  powertiil  was  this  spirit,  that  severa 
unavailing  attempts  had  been  made  to  drTve 
.Uway  and  at  last  Quengueza  w^  ohn"!." 
t^  =>=nd    for  a    rei.owned    Hnkalai  wizard 


n«d  A.,„u„,.  T„„  ,^  vcr.r=  sr'.K?:je«i'^3'r4">?'x 


At  last,  just  at  midnight,  I  heard  the 
doctor  approach.  He  had  bolls  girded  about 
liim    which  he  jingled  as  he  walked.     lie 

Zl  orv^^^^e^M-^  *"  ■^''ry  ^"""'-^  '"  *•'«  town, 
and  asked  If  the  witch  which  obstructed  the 
king  s  highway  belonged  to  them.  Of  course 
all  an.swered  'No.'  Then  he  began  t.)  run 
"P  and  down  the  bewitched  street,  calling 
put  loudly  for  the  witch  to  go  off.  Presentlv 
he  came  back,  and  announced  that  he  coul'd 
no  longer  see  the  anicmha,  and  that  doubt- 
ess  she  had  gone  never  to  come  back.  At 
inis  all  the  people  rushed  out  and  shouted 
txo  away!  go  away!  and  never  come  back 
to  hurt  our  king.'  Then  fires  were  lit,  and 
we  all  sat  down  to  cat.  Tnis  done,  all  tho 
lires  were  again  cxrtngui.shed,  :ind  all  the 
people  sanjj  wild  songs  until  four  o'clock. 

inn,  Vi'"-*^  popu  ation  gathered  to  accom- 
pany their  king  down  the  dreaded  street  to 
the  water. 

"  Quengueza,  I  knew,  was  brave  as  a  hun- 
ter and  as  a  warrior.  He  was  also  intelli- 
gent  m  many  things  where  his  people  were 
very  stupid  But  the  poor  old  king  was 
now  horribly  afhiid.  iTe  was  assured  that 
i.io  witch  rrns  gone,  but  he  evidently 
&'^\5™ff.!',7't'M"«  t?  -'T^o^t  certai^ 


IliUlf 


m 


THE  CAMMA. 


hod  been  posHible.  Ho  hesitated,  but  at 
last  (Uitmniimd  to  face  his  late,  and  wiilked 
nianltilly  down  to  the  river  and  back  amid 
tliu  pliiuditM  of  liis  loyal  Hubjocts."  The 
artist  1ms  represented  this  victory  over 
sunerstitious  fear,  on  the  508th  na«e. 

Ihrou^diout  the  whole  of  this  laiid  are 
many  of  these  prohibitory  superstitions. 
Wlicn,  lor  exumplo,  a  woman  is  about  to 
become  a  inotber,  both  she  and  hor  husband 
are  pro  iibiled  from  seeing  a  gorilla,  as  all 
the  natives  lirmly  believe  that,  in  such  a 
case,  the  expected  child  would  be  a  .rorilla 
cub,  and  not  a  human  baby.  Drinking  the 
water  of  the  Itembo  is  also  prohiOitcd, 
because  the  bodies  of  those  who  are  exc- 
.  uted  for  witchcraft  are  chopped  up  and 
nung  into  It,  and  the  natives  imagine  that 
If  they  were   to  drink  of  the  water,  thev 


would  become  sorcerers  against  their  mil 
Xet,  as  if  to  show  the  inconsistency  of 
superstition,  there  is  a  rite,  wliich  will  be 
presently  mentioned,  in  which  tasting  the 
water  is  the  principal  ceremony. 

There  is  a  certain  island  in  the  Rembo  of 

which  the  n.otives  have  the  greatest  dread.  It 

IS   hic,vly  covered  with  trees,  and  the  people 

fully  behove  that  in  the  niidst  of  this  island 

there   lives  a  liugo  crocodile  covered  with 

brass  scales.    This  crocodile  is  an  enchanter 

ami  by  his  incantations  every  one  who  lands 

on  the  island  either  dies  suddenly,  or  goes 

?,V'''. ;,'"'^  wanders  about  until  he  dies.  ^Du 

Lhail  11  of  course  did  land,  and  traversed  the 

island  m  dillbrent  directions.    The  peonle 

were  stupefied  with  astonishment;  but  even 

the  fact  o   his  safe  return  made  no  difterencc 

in  thoir  belief,  l)ecause  he  was  white,  and 

tiie  great  enchanter  had  uo  power  over  wlute 

As  to  the  fetishes,  they  arc  innumerable. 
,l^nthhi'';±."  "'".  T'l^^^y  V^'^ritm,  but, 


ponent  ports  of  the  clinrm.  A  satu-ed  creeper 
was  alHO  jdanted  by  the  posts,  which  it  had 
covered  with  its  branches,  and  the  natives 
believe  that  as  long  us  the  creeper  survives, 
80  long  does  the  fetish  retain  its  power. 
Uabolo  was  very  jjioud  of  his  health  fetish, 
as  uo  one  had  died  in  (he  village  since  it  ha({ 
been  sot  uit.  Hut,  as  there  had  never  been 
more  than  fifteen  inhabitants,  the  low  death- 
rate  is  easily  accounted  for. 

From  their  own  accounts,  the  Camma 
must  have  a  very  unpleasant  country.  It  is 
overrun  with  spirits,  but  the  evil  fi,r  out- 
number the  good,  and,  according  to  the 
usual  ciistom  of  igm-rant  nations,  the  Camma 
pay  their  chief  reverence  to  the  former,  be- 
caiise  they  can  do  the  most  harm. 

As  specimens  of  these  sj)iiits,  three  will  bo 
mentioned.    The  first  is  a  good  spirit  called 
Albuirijwho  Iraverses  the  country,  and  occa- 
sionally pays  a  visit  to  the  villages,    lie  lias 
taken   under  his    jjiotcction    the    town  of 
Aniambia,  which  also  has  the  i)rivilcKe  of 
being  guarded   by  an   evil  sj.irit  of  equal 
power,  so  tliat  the  inhabitants  ciijoy  a  peace 
of  mmd  not  often  to  be  found  in  ihe  Camma 
country     Ihcre  is  only  one  drawback  to  the 
repose  of  the  place,  and  that  is  the  spirit  of 
an  ui-sane  woman,  who  made  her  habitation 
outside  the  village  \\  hen  she  was  alive,  and 
continues  to  cultivate  her  iilantation,  though 
she  18  a  sj)irit.     She  retains  her  disHke  to 
humanbeinjjs,  and,  ifshe  can  catch  a  man 
almie,  she  seizes  him, and  beats  him  to  death. 
Jhe  evil  spirit  which  protects  Aniambia  is 
.a  very  wicked  and miHliievous  being  named 
Abambou,  who  lives  chiefly  in  burial-places, 
and  nLikes  lus  bed  of  .skeletons.    In  order  to 
Jiropitiate  Abambou,  ofleriiigs  are  made  to   . 
nin  daily,  consisting  entirely  of  food.    Some- 
times  the  Camma  cook  the  food,  and  lay  it  in 
lonely  places  in  the  wood,  where  Abambou 


unlike  the  c/iarins  of  Soidlicrn'  Urkn  Z.  ^  v.7 'T  P'^"'  '."  "'«  ^y"<'<l,  ^Ih'io  Abanibou 

amount  -.f  tn.ubll  lie  Ll  pure  ned  f  on  "th^Ti^^"'  ""^  l'^'*''   ^^  '''i'.'-^'^^''  ^'^  <"»J'"»ies 

a.Petty  chief  named  R^^ol^  a^ua  rdeirte J  nhxJs     f^Vm'of  n  J- "'n ''•'  ''!''^"^'^ '"  *^'« 

village,  and  had   built  a  i\cw  house     The  to  b^/.fir''^'""  ^^'^l^ 

edifice  was  completed  all  bu^he  tcrand .  HI  .^ '    T    •       ?{'"""  "■'"'  *'r"""">'   '"'""^'"l 

when   the    builders    refused   to    worrnm-'  .,,.          It  is  rather  curious  that,  when  a  free 

longer    as   tlu.;Zl"comf  ^,V?a  ^r"e"  ™^^^                              "\   ^^'-"'-",1.0 

health  fetish  that  Rabolo  had  nlaced  tl  e  v.  / N  f /.  ^     i     ,    ' '^"'*'''' "^'''^'•■''''"■^'^''^^^^^^ 

when  the  villarte  was  first  hZ}%ul  fl  n '  ^''^^^.}^  ^^''  R'"'""'-.       . 


w  hen  the  village  was  first  built.  They  flatly 
refused  to  touch  it  until  Rabolo  cainc  aiu) 
even  after  his  permission  had  been  gained' 
they  were  very  nervous  about  the  seeminc 
deseeration.  " 

The  fetish  was  a  good  example  of  such 
articles.  Buried  m  the  sands  were  two  skulls 
one  of  a  man  and  another  of  a  chimpanzee' 
thm  combination  having  a  high  reputation 
among  the  Cainma.  These  were  buried  at 
tlic  loot  of  the  two  posts  that  constituted  the 
entrance  to  the  village.    Then  came  a  cnian- 


Tetisli  houses  are  fii)proiiriated  to  Mbuiri 
and  Abambou,  and  are  jilaced  close  to  each 
other.  They  arc  little  huts,  about  six  feet 
iugh  and  six  wide.  No  image  is  placed  in 
the  huts,  but  only  a  tire,  which  is  always 
kept  burning,  and   a  chest,  on  the   top  of 

which  are  laid  some  sacred  chalk  and  red 

parrot's  feathers. 
A  bed  is  usually  prepared  in  Abambou's 

house,  on  which  he  may  rejiose  when  ho  is 

tired  of  walking  up  and  down  the  country; 

and,  as  the  medicine-man  takes  care  that  no 


oi-  »<,*,.  ™,  kept  o.„.p.„i-  „,ur;,ri  I  ;ii:y  ■'L.^fK,  >»i,x^;:  .rs"^* 


THE  CTENGITA  OR  VAMPIRE. 


ment  ih     Irraflft.l   Abnmb„„  m.y  not  bo 
Bleepin-  within.    Kow  and  then  LTs  „tl° 
dressed  pul)licly,  th,,  cist  of  n  „  iL    i 
being  tl.rt  ov^f^y  i^qU'^'w  1  Zlf^. 
fectb' happy,  and  hopes  that  he  wiilZl  Fmrt 

The  'vil  spirit,  however,  who  is  most 
feared  l.y  this  tribe  is  the  Ov'engua  or  V?mi- 
piro.  It  ,s  most  Hurprisinjr  to  lirul  the  Ilun- 
Kanan  and  .Servian  supoi^stition  about  the 
VBmp.ro  existing  among  the  savages  of 
Western  Afnea  and  yetit  flourishes  la  aU 
Its  dotad,s  along  the  banks  of  the  Renibo 

Ko  worslup  IS  paid  to  the  Oven-rna  who  is 

of  a  m.?^7  -T  "'Jf  "?rf'>9"''«  "Pon  the  tenor 

demon  .^.•"-  '^"  '"  ,'^''"I''-^  ^  destructive 
(lemon    capricious    and    cruel,    murderin-r 

r;t^"t  reason,  and  wandering  c"asdessh; 
through  he  forests  in  search  of  victims  I  v 
l^/.  t  Y'V!'  ''^''"^  ''^^''''•»«'  «"  that  travel! 
nil '«,;.        I  '"'"'^"  '•»■•"'  -I'"'  '>e(its  to  death 

.1.0  ct;z';.:'E;;;  "r,ir  \'t  "'"«'■ 

the  body  decays  until  the  bones  arc  frS  from 

eral  places  are  especially  dremle  his  beh,; 

nyonte  resorts  of  this  horrible  demon  ami 

neither  bnl,es,  threats,  nor  persiasions'  e^n 

nl'htt-ill  ""Tr  '"  ^-ture'near  theiK  r 

p^'iuf— iiSth^aSr^ 

n^/  '"•'^'^^'V'^y  'ind  mn-rderhinr  Schtr 
the  parent  a.-ainst  the  child.    T  e  sSpsJ 

inspired- by  t^i;."^  ^^"  '^^^^^^  ^^^^'^'^  i^ 


61,3 

A  petty  chief  had  been  ill  for  some  time 
and  a  woman  had  been  convicted,  by  her 
own  confession  of  havin-  bowitclled  him. 
It  is  ti-uo  that  the  confession  had  been  ox- 
tortcd  by  flogging,  but  this  fact  made  nodif- 
ierenco  in  the  minds  of  the  natives,  who  had 
also  forced  her  to  accuse  her  son,  a  boy  only 
seven  years  old,  of  having  been  an  accom- 
phce  ill  the  crime.  This  was  done  lest  he 
should  grow  tin  to  manhood,  and  then 
der"?"         mother's  death  upon  her  mur- 

thlwiIliV'^^'"*'""'!  '■}.*''«''••  mi'Ist  crouched 
tiio  ( luld,  the  mark  of  a  severe  wound  visi- 
ble on  his  arm,  and  his  wrists  bound  to- 
getlier  by  a  piece  of  withy.    I  shall  never 
forget  that  child's  face,    ft  wore   that  Ix- 
pression  of  dogged  endurance  which  is  one 
of  the  traditional  characteristics  of  the  sav- 
age.    While  1  was  there,  one  of  the  men 
held  an   axe   before   his  eyes  — it  was   the 
brute  s  idea  of  hnmor.    The  child  looked  at 
It  without   showing  a   spark  of  emotion. 
Some,  equally  fearless  of  death,  would  have 
displayed  contemp.,  anger,  or  acted  ciirios- 
ty;  but  he  was  the  perfect,  stoic.    His  eye 
a.shed  for  a  moment  when  his  name  was 
first  mentioned,  but  only  for  a  moment.    He 
Ui'JVe   li''M«»'n«  iudiflcrenco  when  he  heard 

death "       '*''  "*''  *"'°"  '''""^^^  ^^i"'  >»8 

Both  were  killed.    The  mother  was  sent 

to  sea  in  a  canoe  killed  with  an  axe,  and 

then  thrown  overboard.     The  unfortunate 

ace  nnf  i  '"  '*'"''  "'""^'''  according  to  the 
account  of  a  spectator,  '-mado   him    iumn 

Mu.aul'Sb''"  ^1;?^  •'^'^''"  -''"°  -"«^ 

wlilo  1.;  m"'  '""'^ted  on  the  poor  boy, 
nSivpIv  T-^T'  '^'"^  «»''J<'«ted  to  the  com-' 
paiatively  painless  death  by  the  axe  thp 
.nan  wa.s    quite   astounded    that   any  one 

w'lS  n  r^-  '7-  ^"^'.'^  ^  'listinction.  Leath 
was  death  in  his  opinion,  however  inflicted 

'mused  t  ''"'/'!""  ""!  ">''  ''"-'"r^'-'  S 
amused  fl  e  snectators,  he  could  not  see  why 

flcation."  ^^  ""  themselves  of  the  grati!^ 
"  This  explains  well  enough  the  cruelty  of 
the  negro:  it  is  the  cruelty  of  the  boy  who 
spuis  a  cockchafer  on  a  pi,/;  it  is  the  c  -uelt? 
of  Ignorance.  A  twirling  cockchafer  and  a 
boy  who  jumps  like  adogare  ludicrous  sig  Ita 

sj  ni]  atli3 .  How  useless  is  it  to  address  such 
people  as  these  with  the  logic  of  reason  iS 
gum, and  humanity!  Such'superstitions  can 
Ses'."'^""'"''  ^'^''"vsaa  nit'hlessasthem- 

Another  curious  example  of  this  lack  of 
feeling  is  given  by  the  same  author.  Some- 
times a  son,  who  really  loves  his  mother 
after  his  own  fashion,  thinks  th.at  she  is  get- 

unable  to  help  him.    So  he  kills  her,  under 
I  the  idea  that  she  Avill  be  more  useful  to 


fil4 


THE  CAMMA- 


Mil 


him  (u  a  snirit  thnn  in  bodily  form,  and, 
hotoro  diMnii«.sinff  hor  into  tlio  next  world 
thiirgi's  lu'r  witii  nioftmigt^s  to  ills  friindR 
and  rrlalivos  who  have  died.  The  Canima 
do  not  think  (Imt  wIumi  they  die  tlioy  art- 
cut  oir,  cyt'ii  from  Umgiblo  communication 
with  their  frionds.  "^fhc  people  wlio  are 
(lea<l,  wild  one  of  the  men,  "  when  thcv 
are  (ired  of  wtaying  in  tlie  bush  (i.  c.  tlic 
buryiUK-sround),  then  they  come  for  one  of 
their  people  whom  tlicy  like.  And  one 
Khost  will  say,  '1  am  tired  of  stayiiiR  in  (he 
bush;  please  to  build  a  little  house  for  me 
in  the  town  close  to  your  houHc.'  lie  tells 
the  ninn  lo  dauci  and  sing  too;  so  the  men 
cainilenty  ot  women  by  night  to  dauco  and 

In  accordance  with  his  request,  the  people 
build  a  miniulure  hut  for  the  unciuiet  spiiit 
then  go  t.)  the  grave  and  make  an  idol, 
lliey  then  lake  the  bamboo  frame  on  which 
the  body  was  carried  into  the  bush,  and 
which  IS  always  left  on  the  sjiot,  place  on  it 
some  dust  trom  the  grave,  and  carry  it  into 
the  hut  the  door  of  which  is  closed  l)v  a 
white  cloth.  "' 

Among  the  Gamma,  as  wilh  many  savage 
tnbes,  there  is  a  ccremoiiv  of  initiation  into 
certain  mysteries,  througfi  which  all  have  to 
pa.s8  betore  they  can  ))e  acknowledged  as 
men  and  women.  These  ceremonies  are 
kept  proloundly  secret  from  the  uninitiated, 
out  Mr.  Ueade  contrived  to  gain  from  one  of 
nis  men  some  information  on  (ho  subject. 

On  the  introduction  of  a  novice,  he  is 
taken  in  a  fetish  house,  stripped,  severelv 
flogged  and  tlien  plastere.I  with  goati 
dung,  the  ceremony  being  accompanied  bv 
music.  Iheii  he  is  taken  to  a  screen,  from 
behind  which  issues  a  stranire  and  uucoudi 


Some  of  tho  ccremonios  are  not  concealftd 
very  careliilly  being  lurformed  in  the  oi.en 
air.  Ihc  music  is  taken  in  hiuxl  by  (.Iderlv 
women,  called  Ngeml.l,  who  c(iinmenco 
onorations  by  going  i„to  tho  lorest  and 
clearing  a  «]mce.  They  then  return  to  tho 
village,  and  buihl  a  sacred  hu(.  into  which 
no  male  is  allowed  to  enter.  The  novice,  or 
now  led  to  the  cleared  space  — 
by  tho  way,  must  b((  a  spot  whicli 


Igomi,  ia 
whi(;n,  by 


Bound,  sui)posed  to  be  produced  by  a  spirit 
named  I*  kuk.    There  seems,  however,  to  be  a 
tacit  understanding  that  tlio  spirit  is  only  sui)- 
posed  to  i)e  present  in  a  vicarious  sense,  as 
the  black  informant  not  only  said  (hat  the 
noise  w.os  made    by  the  fetish  man,  but 
showed  the  instrument  with  which  he  i)ro- 
duccd  it.    It  was  a  kind  of  whistle,  made  of 
hollowed  mangrove  wood,  and  closed  at  one 
end  by  a  piece  of  bat's  wing. 
,   During  Hvo  days  after  in'ftiation  an  apron 
IS  worn,  made  of  dry  palm  leaves.    Tliese 
ceremonies    are    not  restricted   to  certain' 
times  of  the  year,  but  seem  to  be  held  when- 
ever a  few  candidates  are  ready  for  initiation, 
jar.  Keadc  liad  several  times  seen  lads  wear- 
ing the  mystic  apron,  but  b:ui  not  known  its 
signification  until  Mongilomba  betrayed  the 
secrets  of  the  lodge.    The  same  man  also 
gave  some  information  regarding  the  initia- 
tion of  the  females.  He  was,  however,  very  re- 
ticent on  the  subject, partly,  perhaps,  because 
tho  women  kept  their  secret  close,  and  partly 
becaiise  he  wa.s  afraid  lest  tliey  might  hear 
that  he  had  acted  the  spy  upon  them,  and 
avenge  their  insulted  rites  by  mobbing  and 


she  baa  never  i)elore  visKed-iiiid  there 
takes  her  place  l)y  a  lb'!  which  is  carefully 
watched  by  the  presiding  Ngeinl.i,  and  never 
suflered  to  go  out.  For  two  days  and  nighls 
a  Ngeml)i  sKs  beside  the  lire,  feeding  itwKh 
sticks,  and  continually  clianUng,"The  lire  will 
never  die  out."  On  (he  third  day  (he  novice 
IS  rubbci  wi(h  black,  white,  aiul  red  chalk, 
and  IS  taken  into  (he  «acred  hnl,  where  cer- 
tain unknown  ceremonies  are  jierlbrmed  the 
men  surrounding  it  and  beadiig  drums, 
while  the  novice  within  continually  responds 
to  them  by  tho  cry,  "Okandal  vol  yo!  yol  " 

^^JV,*-"''' ^^,^^''-  ^^'"'°  "Ijserves.'ivminds  ono 
of  the  "Evoel  "  of  (he  ancient  Itacebantes. 

Ihc  spirit  llkuk  only  comes  to  light  on 
such  occasions.  At  other  (inies  he  lives 
fleei)  below  (ho  surface  of  the  earth  in  his 
dark  cavern,  which  is  imi(a(ed  as  well  as 
may  be  by  the  sacred  hut,  (hat  is  thickly 
covered  witli  leaves,  so  that  not  a  ray  of 
ight  may  enter.  AVlieu  he  enters  the  hut, 
he  blows  the  magic  whistle,  and  on  hearinj? 
the  sound  oil  tlie  initiated  repair  to  tlic 
house.  As  (hese  spirils  nre  so  much  feared, 
It  IS  natural  that  tlie  natives  should  try  to 
drive  them  out  of  every  i)lace  where  they 
have  taken  up  an  unwelcome  residence. 

With  some  spirits  the  fiivoritt'  spot  is  tho 
body  ot  a  man,  nho  is  (hereby  made  ill,  and 
who  will  die  if  (he  spirit  In'  iiot  driven  out 
of  him.    Now  the  Camnia  l)elieve  (ha(  evil 
spirils  cannot  bear  noise,  especially  the  beat- 
ing of  drums,  and  so,  at  the  call  of' the  fetish 
man,   they  assemble  round  (he  sick  man, 
beat  drums  and   kettles  close  to  his  head 
sing,  dance,  and  shout  wilh  all  (heir  might! 
Ihis  hubbub  goes  on  until  either  (he  patient 
diCH,   as   might   naturally   be    expected,   or 
manages  to  recover  in  sjiite  of  the   noise. 
Ihe  people  wlio  assist  in  (he  oj.eration  do 
so  wnth  the    greatest  vigor,  lor,  l)y  some 
strange    coincidence,  it  happens  tlmt   tho 
very   things  which  disgust  an  evil  siiirit, 
such  as  dancing,  singing,  drum-beating,  and 
noise-making  in  general,  are  just  tho  tilings 
which  please  them  best,  and  so  (heir  duties 
and  inclinations  are  hapi)ily  found  to  coin- 
cide. 

Sometimes  the  demon  takes  u])  his  resi- 
dence m  a  village,  and  then  there  is  a  vast 
to-do  before  he  can  be  induced  to  go  out. 
A  fetish  man  is  brought  from  a  distance  — 
the  farther  the  better  — and  immediately  .set 
to  work.  His  first  business  is  to  paint  and 
adorn  himself,  which  he  does  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  look  a.^  domouiacal  &a  'possible 


EJECTING  A  DEMON. 


Ono  of  the«o  men,  named  Daniagondai,  seen 

7,  !'  ^V',V.''""'  '""^  ""*'•'''  l'i'"«i'n"  (I  horrible 
oDJuol.  I  he  artist  hu8  plcdired  tlio  weird- 
lookiiiK  (trt'utun)  on  tlit;  C17th  umo.  His 
face  was  wliitcncd  with  chalk,  a  rod  circle 
was  drawn  on  each  side  of  hi«  mouth,  a 
band  ol  tlui  same  color  mirroundcd  each  cvc 
and  another  ran  Ironi  the  Corfhcad  to  the 
ti|i  "1  ll'i-  nose.  A  white  l)and  wiw  <lrawn 
from  Ihe  shoulders  to  the  wrists,  and  one 
hand  was  comi)letely  whitened.  Ou  his 
Jiead  was  a  tall  nhnne  of  l.laek  feathers; 
»tn|is  ol  leonanl  skin  and  a  varii'ty  of 
channs  were  hun^  upon  his  body  ;  and  to 
his  neck  was  suspended  a  litH'e  box,  in 
Winch  he  ke()t  a  number  of  familiar  spirits. 
A  s  nuij;  of  litljo  bells  encircled  his  waist 

Ihis  Khastly  llj^ure  had  seated  himself  on 
a  stool  before  another  box  full  of  .'harms 
and  on  the  box  stood  a  masic  mirror.  Had 
the  magician  been  bron.!,'ht  from  the  inland 
parts  ot  the  country,  and  away  from  the 
river  alonj,'  whicli  all  tralHc  ruiis,  ho  could 
not  have  possessed  such  an  article  a.s  a  mir- 
i-or  and  would  have  used  instead  a  bowl  of 

fulloML^V  •',""'■•■"•;  ^"^'"'«  •■"»••••'•''  ''»'•" 
•  fi  °.  t^^V**''  powder,  accompanied  l)y  a 
i.ittle  eont^uiuns  «'>nke  bones,    itis  assistant 

etieks.'"'"'      "'  ''*^^'"'^"»-"'g  a  l^o'ird  with  two  | 

After  the  incantations  had  been  continued 
for  some  tunc,  the  wizaid  order.-d  that  the 
names  of  all   the  inhabitants  o    the  vi  hSe 

sho  ite  I  lie  looked  in  the  mirror.    However 

Iv.  Sr;  nf  "J:  r'.^'l'*'/.'"'  ''vil  spirit  did  not 

no  111  any  of  the  inhabitants,  but  had  taken 

ni)  hi8  resi.  ence  in  the  village,  which  he 

wante.1  for  himself,  and  tl.atTi,^  would  be 

\cry  anj^ry  if  any  one  tried  to  share  it  with 

Bii  Chaillu  saw  that  this  was  a  sly  attack 
on  Inm,  as  ho  had  just  built  .some  6onS 

Uo  people  bc-an  to  evacuate  the  place" 
dow^  Z!'T^  ""  their  property,  and'  tore 
!.i  .-."'''J'""'"''''  *"'l  ^y  "ishtfivll  not  an 
inhabitiuit  was  left  in  the  village  except  the 
win  0  man  and  two  of  his  atten.hmts,  bSh 
of  whom  were  m  great  terror,  and  w  mte. 
to  follow  the  others.  Even  the  chief  was 
obliged  to  go  and,  with  many  apofog  es7o 

«  tf  d'v  iYS'*  VT  ■''?'•'««  out^de  The  d  ' 
serted  ^  i  lage.  Not  wishing  to  give  un  the 
houses  that  had  cost  so  mucli  time  and 
tronblo,  Du  Chaillu  tried  to  induce  the  nn 
tivos  to  rebuild  tlie  Iuit«  ;  but  not  even  t^-" 
bacco  could  overcome  their  fear  of  the  cv^l 

nien'tried 'tirr'^""'  ""'■  ^'''  «'""«  of  "h  l-We',! 
, ..      •  ,  *  ""^  experiment,  and  by  degrees  a 

ha^i^jSe^^r^^^''^^*'"^"-'^^'^^ 

abOTe'lnienHnn'"^*^'''''""  ^^"^  fionductod  the 
eatCi  rW  «e>-«'"ony  was  an  unmiti- 

gates  cheat,  and  seems  to  have  succeeded 
m  cheatmg  Iiimself  aa  well  as  hi.fr.ounS^ 
wca.    ii«  WM  abeurdiy  afraid  of  dai-kueas, 


m 

and  M  nightfall  came  on  ho  always  began  to 

or,  l^'^''""' '.^'"""^  "'"1  exexratinraU 
H.)icerers,  witches,  and  evil  spirits,  lanicnt- 
ng  because  he  knew  that  somi  one  was  try- 

|S:rtllet,s.H:;;;l^':./re!iia^o'Kr£ 

tan'' bll'/V''"  «""'-<JV««Ption  was  involun- 
ta.3,bi  t  Damagondai  wilfully  cheat.id  the 
people  hn-  Ins  own  purposes,  'in  his  double 
capacity  as  chief  and  fetish  man  he  had  ho 
c  large  .,  he  yi  lage  idols.  He  ha.l  a  very 
l'"t<'nt  nlol  of  his  own,  with  copper  eves 
and  a  sword-shaped  protruding  ton/uo 
W  h  he  eyes  she  saw'coming  evei.U  and 
w.  1.  the  tongue  she  foretold  tL  Mmi^    " 


cut  to  pieces  the  enemies  of  Damag  ,uK 

Ids'  idol  ^•:''l  ^'''""'»  wanted  to  Srchaso 
this  Idol,  but  her  owner  reliised  to  sell  her 
IIo  hinted,  however,  that  for  a  good  price 
the  goddess  of  the  slaves  might  %  bolight. 
Accordingly,  a  bargain  was  struck,  the  idol 
in   question   was    removed  from    the    hut 
packed  111,    and  carried  away  by  the  pur-' 
cha.ser,  wfule  the  slaves  were  away  at  tlieir 
work.     Damagondai   was  rather  pernlexed 
as  to  the  answer  which  he  would  have  to 
give  ho  slaves  when  th.^y  came  home  and 
found  their  idol  house  empty,  but  at  last  he 
decided  to  tell  them  that'he  luul  seen  thi 
goddess   leave  her  house,  and   walk  away 
into  the  woods;    The  idol  in  question  was 
an  absurd-looking  objcit,  somelhing  like  a 
compromise  between  one  of  the  figures  out 
doll':  "'''  ^'^"  ^"'^  "  Dutcir  wooden 

t\Z:f?^^  "*  '*'"-\'^'    *°««    superstitions, 
thcw  IS  one  point  at  which  they  all  con- 

bv'twiicinS- ■  '^^  '^"""'^  MboundL  ordea  , 
aretSd  Ti  '"  ^'''  accused  of  witchcraft 
fnl  r  tbl'  .  "'I'oundou  is  a  tree  belong- 
ing to  the  same  group  as  that  froin  which 
strychnine  is  made,  and  is  allied  to  ho 
scarcely  less,  celebrated  "vine"  from  wh  ch 
the  Macouslue  Indians  prepare  the  woura 
poison.    F,-om  the  root'of 'the  mboundo™ 

an  .r^i/r    ^"«  PU'Poscs,  the  One  being  a.s 

hlation     '  ""  *'•''■  •"  "  ™  -^"^  of  ^iv- 

The  medicine  men  derive  mo.st  of  their 

mportanco  from  their  capability  of  drink! 

ng  the  mbonndou  without  injury  to  their 
health  ;  and  while  in  the  intoxicated  stete 
t ley  utter  sentences  more  or  less  incohS 
rent  which  are  taken  as  revelations  fVom 
the  particular  spirit  who  is  consulted.  The 
mode  of  preparing  the  poisoned  draught  is 
^  follows: -A  given  quantity  of  the  root 
18  scraped  and  put  into  a  bowl,  together  with 
a  pint  of  water.    In  a  minute  or  so  a  sSt 

.  ni!.  n  -rifh  litijc  buoDios,  iiko  tiiose  of  cham- 
I  pagnc  or  other  sparkUng  wines.    Whea  tWi 


kM; 


m  If 


610 


TIIE  CAM  MA. 


hnn  unbsidcd,  tlio  water  bcromoH  of  a  jialc 
r(■(l(li^<h  lint,  ami  tli<<  prciiaratiou  is  cuiii- 
pl('f('.     lis  tiiHlt)  in  very  bitter. 

The  cMi'cfjt  of  Ihi'  nibotimliai  vary  Krciitly 
in  (litfiTcnt  individiialM.  'I  bcrt'  waA  a  hanl- 
cned  old  sorcerer,  nnincd  ()lanj,'a,  wlio  \\i\h 
jfreall^V  renpected  anions  hiN  people  for  Ids 
fapnbilily  of  drinkiii),'  inboiindou  in  lar^'c 
(juanlitie.s,  and  wilbout  any  permanent  ef- 
leet.  It  is  very  probable  tliat  be  may  bave 
liad  Konie  aididolc,  and  prepared  liiniseir 
bcfonband.  or  Ibat  bm  eoiiMtltiitlon  wa.s 
exeeplionally  H(mn«,  and  tbat  be  coidd  lake 
with  impunity  a  dose  wbicb  ^vould  kill  a 
yveaker  man.  <)lan;ja  was  eonslanlly  drink- 
ing ndionndoii,  usinj;  it  ebit'lly  as  a  menus 
of  ilivinalion.  If,  Kn-  example,  a  man  lell 
ill,  Ids  friends  went  otf  to  Olan^a,  and 
at^ked  bim  to  drink  ndionndon  and  find  out 
whetber  tbe  man  bad  been  bewKelud.  Tbe 
illustration  No.  iJ,  on  tbe  ne.xt  jia^'e,  rejtre- 
sentH  siudi  a  seene.  As  soon  as  lie  bad 
drunk  tbe  p(dson,  lb<'  men  sat  round  bim. 
bealing  tlie  f,'roun(i  witb  tbeir  sticks,  and 
cryinj;  out  tln^  fornuda  — 

"  If  lie  is  a  witeli,  let  tlio  mboundou  liill 
him. 
"  If  b(!  is  not,  let  tbe  mbomidon  go  out." 
In  about  live  miimtes  symptom.s  of  intox- 
ieation  showed  themselves.  Tbe  old  man 
began  to  stagger,  bis  speeeli  grew  thick, 
bis  eyes  became  bloodshot,  bis  lindis  shook 
convulsively,  and  ho  began  to  talk  incohe- 
rently. Now  was  tbe  time  to  ask  bim 
questions,  and  accordingly  several  queries 
were  jiropounded,  some  of  wbicb  be  an- 
swered: lint  lie  soon  brcanie  too  nuieb 
intoxicated  to  nnderstand,  much  less  to 
answer,  tbe  questions  tbat  were  put  to  him. 
Sleep  then  came  on,  and  in  less  tiian  lialfan 
luiur  Olanga  began  to  recover. 

Witb  most  persons,  however,  it  lias  a  dif- 
ferent and  a  d.  idly  effect,  and  M.  du  Chaillu 
mentions  that  he  ba,s  seen  per.sons  fall  dead 
within  five  minutes  of  drinking  the  mboun- 
dou, the  blood  gushing  from  the  month, 
eyes,  and  nose. 

It  is  very  seldom  that  any  one  but  a  pro- 
fessional riiedieine  man  cseajies  with  life 
after  drinking  mboundou.  Siostly  theri'  is 
an  absence  of  the  peculiar  symj)to'ms  which 
show  that  the  poison  is  working  itself  out  of 
the  system,  and  in  such  a  case  the  specta- 
tors hasten  the  work  of  death  by  their 
knives.  Sometimes  the  drinkers  rally  from 
the  effects  of  the  poison,  but  witb  constitu- 
tions permanently  injured;  and  in  a  few 
cases  they  escape  altogether.  Du  Chaillu 
was  a  witness  to  such  an  event.  Three 
young  men,  wlio  wen;  accused  of  witchcraft, 
were  adjudged,  as  usual,  to  drink  the  mboun- 
dou. They  drank  it,  and  boldly  stood  (heir 
ground,  surrounded  by  a  yelling  multitude, 
armed  with  axes,  spears,  "and  knives,  ready 
to  fall  upon  the  unfortunate  victim.s  if  they 
showed  symptoms  that  the  draught  would 
be  fatal,    Iloweveri  they  succeedeil  in  kccp^ 


iiig  their  feot  until  the  cfCcftm  of  tho  r-olwon 
had  passed  off,  and  wore  accordingly  pro- 
nounced innocent.  According  to  custom, 
the  mediiiiie  man  who  prepared  (be  draught 
llnished  the  ceremony  by  taking  a  bowl  liim- 
si'lf,  and  while  in  tlie  stage  of  intoxication 
be  gladdened  (be  hearts  of  the  people  by 
saying  that  (he  wizards  did  no(  heioug  to 
their  villaf'e,  but  came  from  a  dis(au<'e. 

It  is  evident  that  those  who  prepare  tho 
mhoimdou  can  make  tbe  draught  slronger 
or  Weill,  r,  aecoidiiig  to  tbeir  own  caprice; 
and  ii  'd  it  is  said  (b;i(,  when  any  ono 
who  is  icrsomilly  disliked  has  (o  drink  (ho 
poison,  it  always  nroveH  fa(al.  The  accused 
jiersons  are  not  allowed  to  see  thai  it  is  pre- 
pared lidrly,  but  they  are  |)ermitted  (o  send 
two  friends  for  that  "purpose. 

A  most  terrible  scene  was  once  witnessed 
liy  Du  Chiullu.  A  chief  named  Mjiomo  bad 
died,  and  the  iieople  were  in  a  state  of  frenzy 
about  it.  They  coidd  not  believe  tbat  a 
joiing  and  strdng  man  could  be  seized  with 
illness  and  die  unless  be  were  bewitcbcfl, 
and  accordingly  a  powerful  doctor  was 
brought  from  a"  distance,  and  set  to  work. 
I'Nir  two  days  (be  doclor  wen(  (brough  a 
number  of  cere  monies,  like  (hose  which 
have  been  desciilied  at  page  ril,';,  for  the 
pur[iose  of  driving  out  tin'  evil  spirits,  and 
at  last  hv  announced  (bat  be  was  .about  to 
name  (he  wizards.  The  rot  must  be  told 
in  the  ii;irra(or's  own  words:  — 

"At  last,  on  (he  third  morning,  when  (lie 
excitement  of  the  jicoplc  was  at  its  height 
—  wlun  old  anil  young,  male  and  femab;, 
were  frantic  witb  ibe  desire  for  revenge  on 
tbe  sorcerei'K — the  doctor  iissrmbled  them 
about  him  in  (be  een(re  of  the  (own,  ami 
began  bis  final  incanfation,  which  slaadd 
disclose  tlic  names  of  the  murderous  sor- 
cerers. 

"  P^very  man  and  boy  was  armed,  —  some 
witb  spears,  some  with  swords,  some  with 
guns  and  axes;  and  on  every  face  was 
shown  a  determination  to  wreak  bloody 
revenge  on  those  who  should  lie  jioiiited  out 
as  the  criminals.  'J"he  wholi-  town  was 
wrajiped  in  an  indescribable  fury  and  horrid 
thirst  Cor  human  blood.  For  (lie  first  time, 
I  f'liund  my  voice  wKhotit  authority  in 
Oounibi.  r  did  not  even  get  a  hearing. 
AVIiat  I  said  was  jiassed  by  as  though  no 
oiu^  had  .sjioken.  As  a  last  threat,  when  I 
saw  proceedings  begun,  I  said  I  would  make 
Quengueza  punish  them  for  the  murders 
they  Iliad  done  in  his  absence.  Hut,  ala.sl 
here  they  liad  outwitted  me.  On  the  day  of 
Mjiomo'-s  death  they  had  sent  secretly  to 
Quengueza  to  ask  "if  (hey  could  kill  the 
witches.  He,  poor  man  —  sick  himself,  and 
always  afraid  of  the  power  of  sorcerers,  atal 
without  me  to  advise  him — at  once  sent 
word  back  to  kill  them  all  without  mercy. 
So  they  almost  laughed  in  my  face. 

"Finding   all    my    endeavors    vain,  and 
that  the  work  of  bloodshed  was  to  be  carried 


of  the  f.olRon 
■••rdiiiKly  |>ro- 
iK   to  ciistoni, 

'<l  lllC  lll'llll^^llt 

IK  a  liowl  liini- 
)i'  intiixiciition 
llic  iit'oplo  Jiy 
iKil   ncliiiif^  to 

a  (lisliiiK'c. 
>  pn  pail'  Iho 
iii>,'lit  (<lr(ingor 

<nvii  caprice; 
I'licii  any  ciio 
H  to  (Iriiik  Iho 

'I'lic  accused 

lluil  il  in  pre- 
titled  to  Hcnd 

nre  witnessed 
(I  AM]iotiiii  luul 
date  iil'IVciizy 
clieve  tliat  a 
Ite  Kcized  with 
re  bcwitclicfl, 

(loclor  was 
I  set  lo  work, 
nt    llirou^li   il 

tlioHC   whicli 

r>\r,.  for  tiie 
,'il  spirilH,  and 

was  alioiit  to 
iiiiivt  be  luld 

inp,  when  llie 
at  ils  lu'ifrht 
!  and  female, 
ir  revenf^e  on 
ifnilded  tiieni 
lie  town,  and 
tvliicli  shonid 
iirderous  sor- 

rmed,  —  some 
Ik,  some  with 
My  face  was 
vreak  bloody 
('  ])ointcd  out 
le  town  was 
ry  and  horrid 
Ihe  first  time, 
authority  in 
t  a  henVing. 
:s  thouf:!;h  no 
neat,  when  I 
I  would  make 
the  murders 
'.  Hut,  alas! 
)n  the  day  of 
t  secretly  to 
luld  kill  the 
himself,  nnd 
orcerors,  and 
it  onee  sent 
thout  mercy. 
y  face. 

■s  vain,  nnd 
to  be  Citrricd 


(1.)  i;.)i;(;tin(j  A  kkmox.  fs.-o  pnsfo  r.i,'.. 


' 


OI.A.NCA    lUilMOM;    Mliipi  NlTni. 


I"'.; 


ri 
m 
fo 

fe 

ch 
th 
A? 
fc\ 
of 
mt 


cro 


A  TERRIBLE  SCENE. 


£;?«  ree'1.;\;tf";^fe'ol&  these  wo.en  were  accused     ^ 

voice  of  the  doctor  was  heard-  'Thp,«  )?„     '       °  '^^^  reftisud  hor.    Sho  k^Vi  „-f.,  "^^^J 
very  black  woman,  who  lives  in  a  house '- 
describing;  it  fully,  with  its  location-'she 
bewitched  Mpomo.'    Scarce  had  he  ended 


- — ...^,,  ^.•.i<>^iiiu.     ,-jearce  naa  he  ended 
when  the  crowd,  roaring  and  screamin-  1  ke 

for  the  ijlace  indicated.    They  seized  upon  a 

C^^f..il"r'V^'^''-";^'*S''*'  ''»«  sister  oH; 
good  fnend  and  guide  Adouma.  Wavin- 
their  w.>apons  over  her  head,  they  bore  he? 
away  toward  the  water-side.  Here  she  was 
quicklv  boun.I  with  cords,  and  then  all 
rushecl  away  to  the  doctor 'agaJn. 

As  poor  Okandaga  jiassed  in  the  hands   bnr  in  o^^Z;^'^"''^^"'.'"  rivaiiea  his  neiffh- 


witched  him  Therefore  she  had  be- 

fore^heli  d\1h/iS;i[K'eTy  '^'^'•^■ 


Pn/o  ^^'"^  ''*  'noineut  of  terrible  ao-onv  to  me 

cro  v"d  "'„"' Ste.r  ."""'"^  *«  '-"^"-^^  "he- 
tim      'tj  I  '^.    '"''t  to  rescue  the  poor  vie- 

"houlil  only  hm  fS^lrZ?"""""""'-    ' 
Again  the  crowd  rusl'-d  off    Tliia  r,^^ 


"Next  the  victims  were  nut  inir,  „  i 
canoe,  with  the  executbners^  theitnr'''^? 


r-.<,ua«  preparea  the  mboundou      bnii;? 

id        OTr.^*^       i^ ^ 


cup 

now  ,ur™,„<l/d  ,h„.  in'Sh'Kf  viSI 
Th™  ,1.  "  '""■»  ™>«l«a  with  armed  n™, 
S  nl,  .'^  ""'S  »f  mboundou  „a«  handed  to 

let  the  mlmuZm  "cm'^fZev",""'''"' 
noeoM,  let  ,J,c  mbouidougoolill'"'  ""'  '°- 

Thof^riLftThS'Jirrsat 


bl  t^'oT""/"  hor  system.-   L^st  of  aKf 
off    Then  nu  ,""  '""f'-ift  her  head  vva.s  hewn 

SdomhacSn'.'^^.rsucd'^'nT'^-    ^"•"'"-«" 

ibiy^tsj;;;^of'St.;^t^,--i^- 

m  small  pieces,  which  were  cast  hZ   To 


(Si 


i: 


>J 


620 


THE  CAMMA. 


sorrowing  heart  to  me.  He,  too,  had  been 
compcllea  to  take  part  in  the  dreadful  scene. 
He  dared  not  even  refrain  from  joining  in 
the  curses  heaped  upon  his  poor  sister.  He 
dared  not  mourn  publicly  lor  her  who  was 
considered  so  great  a  criminal." 

The  ceremonies  which  attend  the  death  of 
members  of  the  Gamma  tribe  are  really 
remarkable.  As  soon  as  the  end  of  a  man  is 
evidently  near,  his  relations  begin  to  mourn 
for  him,  and  his  head  wife,  thr'^wing  herself 
on  the  bed,  and  encircling  the  form  of  her 
dying  husband  with  her  arms,  pours  out  lier 
wailing  lamentations,  accompanied  liy  the 
tears  and  cries  of  the  villagers  who  assemble 
round  the  house.  The  other  wives  take 
their  turns  in  leatliug  the  lamentations,  and 
after  his  death  they  bewail  him  in  the  most 
pitiful  fashion.  Those  pitiful  lamentations 
are  partly  owin^  to  real  sorrow,  but  there  is 
no  doubt  that  they  are  also  due  to  the  fear 
lest  any  one  who  did  not  join  in  the  mourn- 
ing might  be  accused  of  having  bewitclied 
her  husband  to  death. 

For  several  days  they  sit  on  the  ground, 
covered  with  ashes,  their  heads  shaved,  and 
their  clothing  torn  to  rags;  and  when  the 
body  can  no  longer  be  kept  in  the  place,  the 
relatives  take  it  to  the  cemetery,  which  is 
usually  at  some  distance  down  the  river. 
That,  for  example,  of  Goumbi  was  situated 
at  nearly  fifty  miles  from  the  place.  No 
grave  is  dug,  but  the  body  is  laid  on  the 
ground,  and  surrounded  with  diflcrent  valu- 
ables which  belonged  to  the  dead  man  in  his 
lifetime.  The  corpses  of  the  chiefs  or  head- 
men are  placed  in  rude  bo.ves,  but  those  of 
ordinary  men  are  not  deteuded  in  any  way 
whatever. 

For  at  least  a  year  the  mourning  con- 
tinues, and,  if  the  dead  man  has  hold  high 
rank,  it  is  sometimes  continued  for  two 
years,  during  which  time  the  whole  tribe 
wear  their  worst  clothes,  and  make  a  point 
of  being  very  dirty,  while  the  widows  retain 
the  shaven  head  and  ashes,  and  remain  in 
perfect  seclusion.  At  the  end  of  the  ap- 
pointed time,  a  ceremony  called  Bola-ivoga 
is  performed,  by  which  the  mourning  is 
broken  up  and  the  people  return  to  their 
usual  dress. 

One  of  these  ceremonies  was  seen  by  Du 
Chaillu.  The  deceased  had  been  a  tokirably 
rich  man,  leaving  seven  wives,  a  house,  a 
plantation,  slaves,  and  other  property,  all 
which  was  inherited,  according  to  custom, 
by  his  elder  brother,  on  whom  devolves  tlie 
task  of  gi  vinj?  the  feiist.  Great  jireparations 
were  made  lor  some  davs  previouslv,  large 
quantities  of  palm  wine  being  brought  to  the 
village,  several  canoe  loads  of  dried  fish  pre- 
pared, all  the  best  clothes  in  the  villa<,'e  made 
ready,  and  every  drum,  kettle,  and  anything 
that  could  make  a  noise  when  beaten  being 
mustered. 
On  the  joyful  morning,  the  widows  begin 


the  ceremony  by  eating  a  magic  porridge, 
composed  by  the  medicine  man,  and  arc 
then  released  formally  from  their  widow- 
hood. They  then  throw  off  their  torn  and 
soiled  garments,  wash  away  the  ashes  Avith 
which  their  bodies  had  been  so  long  covered, 
and  robe  themselves  in  their  best  clothes, 
covering  their  wrists  and  ankles  with  iron 
and  copper  jewelry. 

While  they  are  adorning  (heir  persons,  the 
rest  of  the  people  arrange  fhemsclves  in 
little  groups  in  front  of  the  houses,  and  to 
each  group  is  given  an  enormous  jar  of  palm 
wine.  At  a  given  signal  the  drinking  begins, 
and  is  continued  without  interruption  for 
some  twenty-four  hours,  during  which  time 
dancing,  singing,  and  drum-beating  are  car- 
ried on  with  furious  energy.  Next  morning 
comes  the  final  ceremony.  A  large  crowd  of 
men,  armed  with  axes,  surround  the  house 
formerly  occupied  l)y  the  deceased,  and,  at  a 
signal  from  the  heir,  they  rush  at  once  at  it, 
and  in  a  few  miiiules  nothing  is  left  but  a 
heap  of  fragments.  These  are  heaped  up 
and  burned;  and  when  the  flames  die  away, 
the  ceremony  is  over,  and  the  heir  is  con- 
sidered as  having  entered  into  possession  of 
the  property. 

There  are  one  or  two  miscellaneous  cu.s- 
toms  of  the  Camnia  jieople  which  are  de- 
serving of  a  brief  notice.  They  seem  to  be 
rather  quarrelsome  among  tlieniselvcs,  and 
when  they  get  into  a  fight  use  a  moJit  for- 
midable club.  This  weapon  is  made  of  heavy 
and  hard  wood,  and  is  nearly  seven  feet 
long.  The  thick  end  is  deeply  notched, 
and  a  blow  from  the  "  toiigo,"^"  as  it  is 
called,  would  smash  the  skull  of  an  Euro- 
pean. The  native  African,  however,  sus- 
tains heavy  blows  without  being  much  the 
worse  for  it;  and,  allhoiigh  every  tongo  will 
be  covered  with  blood  and  woo'lly  hair,  the 
combatants  do  not  seem  to  have"  sustained 
much  injury. 

As  they  fight,  they  heni)  on  tlieir  adversa- 
ries every  insulting  epithet  they  can  think 
of:  "Your  chief  has  the  leg  of  an  ele- 
nhant,"  cries  one;  "  IIo!  his  eldest  brother 
lias  the  neck  of  a  wild  ox,"  shouts  a  second; 
"IIo!  you  have  no  food  in  your  village," 
bawls  a  third;  and.  according  to  the  narra- 
tor, the  words  really  seem  to  do  more  dam- 
age than  the  blows. 

When  a  <'anoe  starts  on  a  long  journey,  a 
curious  ceremony  is  enacted.  Each  man 
dii)s  his  i)addle  in  the  water,  slaps  it  on  the 
surface,  raises  in  the  air.  and  allows  one 
drop  of  the  water  to  fall  into  his  mouth. 
After  a  good  deal  of  singing,  shouting,  and 
antic -playing,  they  settle  down  to  their 
work,  and  paddle  on  steadily  for  hours. 
When  a  chief  parts  Cioin  ji  guest,  he  takes 
his  friend's  hands  within  his  own,  blows 
into  them,  and  sokninly  invokes  the  spirits 
of  his  ancestors,  calling  on  them  to  take 
care  of  the  departing  guest. 


CHAPTER  L. 

THE  SHEKIANI  AND  MPONGWfi. 


MCALITY  OF  THE  8HEKIANr-M0DE  OF  OOVERNMENT - 8Kir,I,  TV  m^ 

-MEDICAL  TREATMENT -NATIVE  HOnCEuZ^lr^-^^n.         ''^««  "  «H«'f  ^VNI  AHCHITECTCBE 
TWN-TREATMENT    OP    THE     POSSESSED     To™  ""  WIZABD-A  VICTIM  TO  SHPERSTI- 

MPONOWIS    MOtmNrVO-SKILL   m   ™r  *"'    ""*     »«fONOW,5 -NATIVE     FASHIOVS- 

«-v'r„  OF  THE  ^o.,joTLn  ::z:Ti7:'vr'''''''  ^^^^'^  ^'"^ »"  --"z. 

KINO  GLASS  AND  HIS   CHAKACTEB-h's  ^^k^^.s     DeIth '""""^    '"''"'"""'    COKONAT.ON  -  OLD 

«ia  SICKNESS,   DEATH,   BUBIAL,   AND  SUCCESSOK. 


mon  language,  but  call  themselves  bv  v^" 

distingnisluiblo  fn,„  '  f Ji  .'t  I'.ii^'r?.'"'^"'^ 
their  houses  being  the  ian^ an  T)  '•"■"",**' 
of  living  but  littU,.  super  r'stilf'l!'  ™"''' 
respected  as  a.lvisers-   m  i  !.  '  ^^^y  '^^^ 

cul  y,  a  fe^v  woK;„;^l^'yTh;^°y''"- 

s.S^;f'a.^t^t:iS/"^5rr^'"^^ 

man,  present  a  most  cuWo,  ,  ^  vt,  i  f  f""^" 
ageriess  and  civilizati  n  th^  ■^.  f '•'''■■ 
modined  in  various  do  l    1.%'''^^^^"^ 

phant  tor  the  sakeohNtuiks  Thrv  aL"'"" 
arm  themselves  with  trade  guns|"^r'wS 


(5; 


they  pay  seven  shillings  and  sixpence  The 
quality  of  these  wea,)ons  may  be  "i^Uy  hn! 
aqniea,  and  it  is  really  M-oncfcrful  ho  v  the 
Bum.ngham  manufacturer  coutrives  to  fur! 

the  .«me°  ""'"  ^  '"""  ^  ^"'^  '^'^^  ^^'^^'y^^ 

nn?'^!;""''''*'  '*  •>  '"^'^^  t«  8"it  native  ideas 
and  consequently  it  is  very  laro-e  n.,ul  v?.r^ 

Sv  n,  f>  '*  """  ";''''^''  might  l,e  worth 
s  •  n.  nf  H  '  ^  r""*^**-  '^'i""  the  maln- 
and   i?  .  "'"  '"'■'"''  '>*  prodigious  strong  1, 

s'"e  Tnft.r!o;"';r'"*^  '^*'^"  of  proportionate! 
"'-St.    inteiior,  of  course,  as    s  the  material 

ind  if'""'^""   ','  r'^">'   a'wonderfu    aS? 

Sood  service.    But  u  negro  never  handles 

nSt""bo"''^'"""^'-,      ^X'^"    »>e'eo?ks"t 
vii,     •'   ''''^/^■'•^'"clies    back    the    hamnier 
w  th  a  lerk  that  would  break  a  delicate  lock- 

I  e  n.  s  killed,  ho  hangs  it  to  the  muzzle  of 

and,  as  ho   travels,  ho  allows  it  to  bant 

ufoXn  'n""''^^''7'l''"»**''«  l«««t  care  fof 
the  straightness  of  the  barrel. 

n„!!l".'t'*  '"  .'oading  the  weapon  that  he 
St  distrnguishes  himself.    Fi/-st  he  pours 

o.  iTf",  .?  ^-       ^'"^  ,^'■'^''^  ^^"^'^  some  bullets 
01  Oits  of  iron,  niul  fl.«n  tnnro  trr-—      "" 

<Vme  more  powder,  grase,  and"  iron  as 'be" 

foiT;  and  not  until  then  does  the  noffro 

fatterhunself  that  ho  has  loaded  his  S 


11 


m 


i 


i 


523 


THE  SHEKIANI. 


ket.  That  a  gun  should  burst  after  such  a 
method  of  loading  is  not  surprising,  aud 
indeed  it  is  a  woi'der  that  it  can  bo  fired  at 
all  witi-.ut  Hying  to  jjieces.  But  the  negro 
insists  on  having  a  big  gun,  witli  plenty  of 
powder  aud  shot,  and  he  cures  nothing  for 
a  weapon  unless  it  go(<s  oil"  with  a  report 
like  a  small  cannon,  and  has  a  recoil  that 
almost  dislocates  the  shoulder. 

The  Shekiani  are  of  moderate  size,  not 
very  dark-colored,  aud  in  character  are  apt 
to  be  quarrelsome,  passionate,  revengeful, 
and  utterly  careless  of  inflicting  death  or 
pain.  Owing  to  their  unsettled  habits,  they 
are  but  poor  agriculturists,  leaving  all  the 
culture  of  the  ground  to  the  women.  Their 
mode  of  making  a  plantation  is  very  sim- 
ple. When  they  have  fixed  upon  a  suitable 
spot,  they  begin  to  clear  it  after  a  very  primi- 
tive fasliion.  The  men  ascend  the  trees  to 
some  ten  or  twelve  feetof  height,  just  where 
the  .stem  narrows,  supporting  themselves  by 
a  flexible  vine  branch  twisted  hoop-fashion 
round  the  tree  an.l  their  waist.  Tliey  then 
chop  away  at  the  timber,  and  slip  nimbly  to 
tiic  ground  just  .as  the  upper  part  of  the 
tree  is  falliii".  The  trunks  and  branches 
are  tlien  gathered  together  until  the  dry 
season  is  just  over,  when  tlio  whole  niiiss  is 
lighled,  and  on  the  ground  thus  cleared  of 
trees  and  brushwood  the  women  plant  their 
manioc,  plantains,  aud  maize. 

Tluir  villages  are  built  on  one  model. 
Tlu!  houses  are  about  twelve  or  fifteen  feet 
in  length  hy  eight  or  ten  wide,  and  are  set 
end  to  end  m  a  double  row,  so  as  to  form  a 
long  sti-eet.  The  liouscs  have  no  windows, 
and  only  one  door,  which  ojiens  into  the 
street.  At  night  tlie  open  ends  of  the  sftreet 
are  barricaded,  and  it  will  be  seen  that  each 
village  thus  becomes  a  fortress  almost  impreg- 
nable to  the  assaults  of  native  warriors.  In 
order  to  add  to  the  strc'Uglh  of  their  posi- 
tion, they  make  their  villages  on  the  crests  of 
hills,  and  contrive,  if  ])ossible,  to  build  them 
in  the  midst  of  thorn  br.akes,  so  that,  if  they 
were  .attacked,  the  enemy  would  be  exposed 
to  their  missiles  while  engaged  in  forcing 
their  way  through  the  tliorns.  When  such 
a  natural  defence  cannot  be  obtained,  tiiey 
content  themselves  with  blocking  up  the 
ai)i>roaches  with  cut  thorn  branches. 

The  houses  .are  made  of  the  so  called  bam- 
boo poles,  which  are  stuck  in  the  ground, 
and  lashed  to  each  other  with  vine  ropes. 
The  interior  is  divided  at  least  into  two 
apartments,  one  of  which  is  the  eating  and 
the  other  the  sleeping  chamber.  Each  Slieki- 
ani  wife  has  a  separate  ai)artment,  with  its 
own  door,  so  that  tlie  number  of  wives  may 
be  known  by  the  number  of  doors  opcaiing 
out  of  the  "sitting-room.  Although  their 
houses  are  made  with  some  care,  the  Sheki- 
ani arc  continually  deserting  their  villages 
on  some  absurd  pretext,  usually  of  a  super- 
stitions char.actpr.  and.  duri'.i2  their  travels 
toward  another  site,  they  make  temporary 


encampments  in  the  woods,  their  rude  huts 
being  composed  of  four  sticks  planted  in 
the  ground,  tied  together  at  the  top,  and 
then  covered  with  leaves. 

It  '  ^  been  mentioned  that  the  Shekiani 
are  (...less  about  intlicting  torture.  One 
day  M.  du  Chaillu  was  staying  with  one  of 
the  so-called  Shekiani "  kings,"  named  Njam- 
bai ;  he  heard  terrible  shrieks,  and  was  cooliy 
told  that  the  king  was  only  punishing  one 
of  his  wives.  He  ran  to  the  spot,  and  there 
found  a  woman  tiefl  by  her  waist  to  a  stout 
stake,  and  her  feet  to  smaller  stakes.  Cords 
were  tied  round  her  neck,  waist,  wrists,  and 
ankles,  and  were  being  slowly  twisted  with 
sticks,  cutting  into  the  Hesh,  and  intlicting 
the  most  horrible  torture.  The  king  was 
rather  sulky  at  being  interrupted  in  his 
amusement,  but,  when  his  guest  threatened 
instant  departure  unless  the  woman  were 
released,  he  made  a  present  of  the  victim 
to  her  intercessor.  The  cords  had  been  so 
tightly  knotted  and  twisted  that  they  could 
not  be  untied,  and,  when  they  were  cut, 
were  found  to  have  been  forced  deeply  into 
the  tlesh. 

The  same  traveller  gives  an  .account  of 
the  cruel  manner  in  which  the  Shekiani 
treated  an  unfortunate  man  who  had  been 
accused  of  witchcraft,  lie  was  an  old  man 
belonging  to  the  Mbousha  sub-tribe,  and 
was  supposed  to  have  bewitched  a  man  who 
had  lately  died. 

"  I  heard  one  day,  by  accident,  that  a  man 
had  been  apprehended  on  a  charge  of  caus- 
ing the  death  of  one  of  the  chief  men  of 
♦he  village.  I  went  to  Dayoko,  and  asked 
him  al)out  it.  He  said  yes,  the  man  was  to 
l)e  killed;  th.at  he  was  a  notorious  wizard, 
and  had  done  much  harm.  So  I  begged 
to  see  this  terrible  beiiijj.  I  was  taken  to 
a  rough  hut,  within  which  sat  an  old,  old 
mnii,  with  wool  white  as  snow,  wrinkled 
face,  bowed  form,  and  shrunken  lindis.  His 
hands  wore  tied  behind  him,  and  his  feet 
were  jilaccd  in  a  rude  kind  of  stocks.  This 
was  th(!  great  wizard.  Several  lazy  negroes 
stood  guard  over  him,  and  from'  time  to 
time  insulted  him  with  opprobrious  ej)ithels 
and  blows,  to  whicli  the  poor  old  wretch 
submitted  in  silence.  He  was  evidently  in 
his  dotage. 

"  I  asked  him  if  he  had  no  friends,  no  re- 
lations, no  son,  or  daughter,  or  wife  to  take 
care  of  him.    He  said  sadly, '  No  one.' 

"  Now  here  was  the  secret  of  his  persecu- 
tion. They  were  tired  of  taking  care  of  the 
helpless  old  man,  who  had  lived  too  long,  and 
a  charge  of  witclicraft  by  the  gree-grce  man 
was  r.  convenient  pretext  for  putting  him  out 
of  the  way.  I  saw  at  once  tliat  it  would  be, 
vain  to  .strive  to  save  liim.  I  Went,  how- 
ever, to  Dayoko,  and  argued  the  case  with 
him.  I  tried  to  explain  the  absurdity  of 
charging  a  harmless  old  man  witli  super- 
natural powers;  told  Isim  th.at  G'.«l  did  not 
permit  witches  to  exist;  and  finally  made 


an  offer  to  buy  the  old  wretch,  offerinjr  to 
give  some  pounds  of  tobacco,  one  or  two 
coats,  and  some  looking  gliwscH  for  him  JL 

fbS.„sfs,,r'"  "•■'^^ '""""' "-  - 

"l>ayoko  replied  that  for  his  part  he 
would  1,0  glad  to  save  him,  but  hat  the 
people  must  decide;  that  thev  were  mi  eh 
excited  against  him;  but  that  l,e  wouh  to 
please  me,  try  to  sav<,  his  life.  Duriu"'.il 
the  night  (ollowing  f  liear.l  si„gl„„  f,,,^;,^; 
the  town,  and  a  great  uproar."  Evident  v 
they  were  preparing  themselves  for  the 
murder.  Even  these  savages  cannot  kill 
in  cold  blood,  but  work  themselves  into  a 
fi-eiizy  of  excitement  first,  and  then  rush  I 
Off  to  do  the  bloodv  (Used.  I 

"Early  in  the  morning  the  people  gath- 
ered  together    wit),   the  fetish   man -the 
infernal  rascal  who  was  at  the  bottom  of 
the  murder-  in  their  midst.    His  bloodshot 
eyes  glared  in  savage  excitement  as  he  went 
aroiuK   from  man  to  man,  getting  the  votes 
to  decide  whether  tiie  ohl  man  should  die 
In  his   hands  he  held  a  bundle  of  herbs 
With  which  he  sprinkle.l  three  times  those 
to  whoni  he  spoke.    Meantime  a  man  w^ 
stationed  on  the  top  of  a  high  tree  w  en^ 
he  shouted  from  time  to  time  in  a  loud  vo  ce 
^Jocoo!  Jorool'  at  the  .same  time  shS 

the  Mbousha,  ami  the  business  of  this  man 

was  to  dnVP  nwn,rfl.,>  „„.l  „.,:.:,.    ^       ■    .        ".'"' 


FATE  OF  THE  WIZARD. 


623 


w^  to  drive  ^va^f^l^e^n;:^^^,^;:,^!^^ 

At    ast  the  sad  vote  wa.s  taken.     It  wns 
declared  that  the  old  man  was  a  most  nnli" 
nant  wuard;  that  he  had  alrea<H   kil^r; 
number  of  people;  that  he  was  min  led  to 
kill  many  more;  and  that  he  must  die   Vo 
one  vv^nild  tell  me  how  he  was  to  be  kiH^f 
and  they  proposed  to  defer  the  execution 
till  my  departure,  which  I  waTtrteTl    he 
truth  rather  glad  of.    The  whoh  s"ene  1  ad  I 
considerably  agitated  me,  and  I  was  wuS 
to  be  spared  the  end.    Tired    an     si^l.  „? 
heart.  J  lay  down  on  my  be'l  abo  t  iS  to 
awhlw!  't"'"""""  '"y  ^'^'"^'^  ^  ''"le-    After 

aiint ';ike\Zsh!araftrhim"^^h:;:ie^ 

silen   I,ut  infuriated  men.    They  ran  toworH 
the  river.    In  a  little  while,  I  heLd  a  coZe 
of  sharp,  piercing  cries,  m  of  a  man  ^n  S 
agony,  and  then  all  was  still  as  death    ^ 
1  got  up  guessing  the  rascals  had  killed 

toLl?;."";."''^  J''*""'  ^"^'  t">'"ingmv  steps 
to  var(     the    river,  was    met  by  a   crowd 

In  their  fren.y  they  had  tied  the  poo^  w  ": 

scattering  the  brains  in  /h»  ,.'^„-    'Vr  *^  I 
Uiey  returned;  and,  tosee  their'behavior^Tti 


Td  U,st  hPen'°i"^- ''  •-«  though  the  country 
By  nSt  ?h^  <^elivered  from  a  great  curse^ 
davshn! iflii  ,  "^"~.w'i08e  faces  for  two 
snhi„  ,lw '^'^  ""^  ^^'*  loathing  and  horror 
so  bloodthirsty  and  malignant  were  thev^ 

as' thS"  ,r  '";'"  ^  ''^'^'^«'  and  !4  c  Sf^I 
?^«ly5'    ^''^^""^  never  heaid  of  a  witch 

Once,  when  shooting  in  the  forest  Dn 
Suh'horrr  T"  '^  ''h  -'"^h  iS'hfm 
woman  wm.  "  '^*''  ^''.•'  ^°'^y  "^  »  young 
tiedt^'      /     ^°'"l  and  pleasant  fe:  tures 

X  and  Imh  ""'^  '•^^  ^^''"'-    The  whole'. 
V:iVX'  '"'""  *'^  poorVeature'with 

I  e^tnanged  into  certain  an mai.s.  One  man 
f.)r  example,  was  said  to  have  been  s  dd,  nK- 
transformed  into  a  liriro  rrm.!ii„  •^"'"""13' 
wnlkinir !.,  fi,      -n       ^    gOHlla  as  ho  was 

S  nun  ed  th''^  '''^•' ',  u^^'V  «n^hnnted  ani- 
waiV  and  di,l  :^  neighborhood  ever  after- 
waia,  and  did  great  mischief,  killin"-  the 

loust.  The  people  often  hunted  it  hut 
never  could  manage  to  catch  it.    Thi.   storv 

paints  of  the  country^  wherever  the  gorilla 
re.Sdin^^Ko"\,'''''''r    *''""^''^'''  "''<'    ^^^^^'^ 

^Ide^nthe'T^'^'^"^!'^""'*^^^"!^^^^ 
..nJ  T.;  •         u  ''?"^^'  and  keep  up  sin^ln- 

Ihe  sevenn?  t"  '!  "'^*-     ^I'oy  (hncy  that  o^ 
ne  seventh  day  the  woman  who  waited  on 
the  mother  would  be  possessed  of  a„ev 
spirit,  which  would  change  her  nto  a,    owl 
and  cause  her  to  suck  the^bloocVof  the  ch"u  ' 

^i:tr-;.r^ri:-^=-"^y 

tnvo  to  insure  plenty  of  dances  in  th; 
course  of  the  year.  wntes  m    the 

of^aTnl!'"*"",^?^''"  "l^""'*  takes  possession 
Ota  man,  and  is  so  strong  that  it  cannof  h^ 

cinrihr-Y  ''^  ^^«  "«"arsin^ng  a  laS 
nnrf^hn  r'*"'^'"^'  hetween  the^exorcisera 
and  the  demon  bcinfr  so  fl.>rr>n  nc  f^ 

the  possessed  man  to'fall  on  he  'ro"und"to 
foam  at  the^  mouth,  and  to  writhe"  ab„t  in 

a  iri'i  Tcrt/rj^  *"•"*  "r  -  -" 

those  wl.  inh   fK       '     '  ^^^  symptoms  are 

ZibuS'to'eSrei^r  '™""  "'"^^  '"^'^ 

Such  a  case  offers  a  good  opportunity  to 

the  medicine  man,  who  comes  to  the  rdief 

hut  s  Kt'l;  ?/"'"''?i^^•  ^^'  a-ssistan  .'a 
nut  la  Diiilt  in  the  midd  e  of  the  street  an,! 
mh.abited  by  the  doctor  anH  n.H^-  -:^"^ 
week  or  ten  days  high  festiv-ai  is  held  and 
night  and  day  the  da^nce  and  song  are  kejt 


■  I!  ;' 


^' 


k  I; 


624 


THE  MPONGWfi. 


up  within  tho  hut,  not  unaccompanied  with 
strong  ilrink.  Every  one  thinks  it  a  point 
of  honor  to  aid  in  tlio  demolition  or  tlic 
witch,  iuul,  accordingly,  every  one  who  can 
eat  gorges  himself  until  ho  can  eat  no  more: 
every  one  who  has  a  drum  hrings  it  and 
heats  it,  and  those  who  have  no  musical 


instruments  can  at  all  events  shout  and  sing 
until  they  are  hoarse.  Sometimes  the  nat- 
ural result  of  gu(!h  a  proceetling  occurs,  tho 
unfortunate  i)8tient  being  fairly  driven  out 
of  his  senses  by  the  ceaseless  and  deafeninfl 
uproar,  and  darting  into  the  forest  a  cou- 
iirnied  maniac. 


THE  MPONGWfi. 


Upon  tho  Gaboon  River  is  a  well-known 
negro  tribe  called  Mpongwd. 

Perhaps  on  account  of  their  continual 
admixture  with  traders,  they  ai)proach 
nearer  to  civilization  than  those  tribes 
which  have  been  described,  and  are  pecul- 
iarly refined  in  theit  manners,  apiiearance, 
and  language.  They  are  v(My  fond  of  dress, 
and  the  women  in  particular  arc  remarka- 
ble for  their  attention  to  the  toilet.  They 
wear  but  little  clothing,  their  dark,  velvet- 
like stein  requiring  scarcely  any  covering, 
and  being  admirably  suited  for  setting  off 
tho  ornaments  with' which  they  plentifully 
bedeck  themselves. 

Their  heads  are  elaborately  dressed,  the 
woolly  hair  being  frizzed  out  over  a  kind 
of  cushion,  and  saturated  with  palm  oil  to 
make  it  hold  togelhor.  Artificial  hair  is 
also  added  when  the  original  stock  is  defi- 
cient, and  is  neatly  applied  in  the  form  of 
rosettes  over  the  ears.  A  perfumed  bark  is 
scraped  and  applied  to  the  hair,  and  the 
whole  edifice  is  finished  olf  with  a  large  pin 
of  ivory,  bone,  or  ebony. 

When  their  husbands  die,  the  widows  are 
obliged  to  sacrifice  this  cherished  adornment 
and  go  about  with  shavcsn  heads,  a  custom 
which  applies  also  to  the  other  sex  in  time 
of  mourning.  In  this  country  mourning  is 
implied  by  the  addition  of  certain  articles 
to  tlie  ordinary  clothing,  but,  among  the 
M))ongwt?,  ihc  case  is  exactly  reversed. 
When  a  woman  is  in  mourning  she  shaves 
her  liead  and  wears  as  few  and  as  bad 
clothes  as  possible;  and  when  a  man  is  in 
mourning,  he  not  only  shaves  his  head,  but 
abandons  all  costimie  until  tlie  customary 
period  is  over. 

Tho  women  wear  upon  their  ankles  huge 
brass  rings  made  of  stair  rods,  and  many  of 
them  are  so  laden  with  these  ornaments 
that  their  naturally  graceful  walk  degener- 
ates into  a  waddle;  and  if  by  elianco  they 
should  fall  into  the  water,  they  are  drowneil 
by  tho  weight  of  their  brass  anklets. 

The  Mpongwes  are  a  clever  race,  having 
a  wonderful  aptitude  for  languages  and 
swindling.  Some  of  the  men  can  speak 
several  native  dialects,  and  are  well  versed 
in  English,  French,  Spanish,  and  Portu- 
guese, using  their  accomplishments  for  the 
purjwse  of  cheating  both  of  the  parties  for 
whom  they  interpret.  They  are  very  clever 
at  an    ai-guineutj  especially  of   that    kind 


which  18  popularly  known  as  "  special  plead- 
ing," and  will  prove  that  black  is  white,  not 
to  say  blue  or  red,  with  astonishing  cool- 
ness and  ingenuity. 

Clever,  however,  as  they  are,  they  are 
liable  to  be  cbeatid  in  their  town  by 
their  own  people— if  indeed  those  can 
be  said  to  bo  cheated  who  deliberately 
walk  into  the  trap  that  is  set  for  them. 
They  will  come  down  to  tho  coast,  impose 
upon  some  unwary  trader  with  their  fiuent 
and  i)lausible  tongues,  talk  him  into  ad- 
vancing goods  on  credit,  and  then  slink  oflf 
to  their  villages,  delighted  with  their  own 
ingenuity.  As  soon,  however,  as  they  reach 
their  homes,  the  plunderers  become  the 
plundered.  Indeed,  as  Mr.  W.  Head  well 
remarkB,  "  There  are  many  excelleul  busi- 
ness men  who  iu  private  liie  are  weak,  vain, 
extravagant,  and  who  seem  to  leave  th(;ir 
brains  behind  them.  Such  are  the  Mjioug- 
wds,  a  tribe  of  commercial  travellers,  meii 
who  prey  upon  ignorance  in  the  bush,  and 
are  devoure<l  by  flattery  in  the  town." 

As  soon  as  tlie  successful  trader  returns 
to  his  village,  he  is  beset  by  all  his  friends 
and  relations,  who  see  in  him  a  mine  of 
wealth,  of  which  they  all  have  a  share. 
They  sing  his  praises, "they  get  up  dances 
in  his  honor,  they  extol  hi.s  generosity,  eat- 
ing and  drinking  all  the  while  at  his  ex- 
pense, and  never  leaving  him  until  the  last 
plantain  has  been  eaten  and  the  last  drop  of 
rum  drunk.  He  has  not  strength  of  mind 
to  resist  the  llattery  which  is  heaped  upon 
him,  and  considers  himself  bound  to  reward 
his  eulogists  by  iiresents.  Consequently,  at 
the  end  of  a  week  or  two  ho  is  as  ])oor  as 
when  he  started  on  liis  exiiedition,  and  is 
obliged  to  go  off  and  earn  more  money, 
of  which  ho  will  be  robbed  in  a  similar 
manner  when  he  returns. 

These  feasts  are  not  very  cnticinc:  to  the 
European  palate,  for  the  itpongw.  ve  no 
idea  of  roasting,  but  boil  all  their  lood  in 
earthen  vcssel.s.  They  have  little  .scruple 
about  the  dill'erent  articles  of  diet;  but  will 
eat  the  flesh  of  almost  any  animal,  bird,  or 
reptile  that  they  can  kill. 

Among  the  M:  '>n','we,  the  government  ia 
much  the  same  as  that  of  the  other  tribes 
ill  Western  Equatorial  Africa.  The  difterent 
sub-tribes  or  clans  of  the  Mpongwc  are  ruled 
by  their  headmen,  the  i>rincipal  chief  of  a 
distriet  being  dlguiiied  with  the  tit'"  "•'  '''•■■• 


king. 


liout  nnd  sing 
inicB  the  nat- 
ng  occurs,  iho 
ly  driven  out 
ind  deufeiiinff 
I'orest  n  cou- 


special  plead- 

18  white,  not 

nishing  cooN 

ire,  tlicy  are 
:!ir  town  by 
d    those    call 

deliberately 
et  for  them. 
;?oast,  im])0He 
1  their  fluent 
lini  into  ad- 
then  slink  off 
Hi  their  own 
as  they  reach 
become  the 
.  Head  well 
celleul  busl- 
e  weak,  vain, 
)  leave  th(;ir 

the  M]ioiig- 
ivellers,  men 
he  bush,  and 
town." 
ader  returns 
1  his  friends 
n  a  mine  of 
ivo  a  share, 
t  up  (lances 
icrosity,  eat- 
3  at  his  ex- 
initil  the  last 
;  last  dro])  of 
Kth  of  mind 
heaped  upon 
1(1  to  reward 
nequcntly,  at 
)  as  ])()()r  as 
ition,  and  is 
lore  money, 
n  a  similar 


icinsj  to  the 
Xv/i  ve  no 
leir  lood  in 
ttle  scruple 
liet;  but  will 
nal,  bird,  or 

vernmetit  is 
other  tribes 
'he  difl'erent 
vc  are  ruled 
I  chief  of  a 
itlti  of  king. 


|;pi[ 

;;M 

11" 

X^i(  nf 'i^  '^°.  '\"  '  ''"^'  '*«  drawbacks 
as  well   as   Its   privile^',       jvnd  amone   tho 

pioisii  oa.  When  once  a  ninn  is  foirlv 
mmlo  kms,  h«  may  .lo  mu.h  as  ho  likc^^ 
ami  IS  sciii-ccly  i-ver  crossod  in  anythinff 
that  ho   in;iy  (jesiro.     lint    the   process  of 

utt .  ry  un  ko  tlu!  -(.rgoons  ceremony  with 
Which  civilized  men  arc;  so  familiar. 

J.I10  new  kiiij?  is  secretly  chosen  in  solemn 
conclave,  and  no  one,  „f)t  even  tho  kb" 
elect,  knows  on  whom  th.i  lot  has  falh-n" 
On  tho  seventh  day  after  the  fnnoral  of  the 
deceased  soveroi-n,  tho  name  of  tho  now 
king  IS  proclaimed,  and  all  the  people  make 
a  furious  rush  at  him.  They  shout  and  yell 
at  him;  they  bad  him  with  all  tho  terms  of 
abuse  in  winch  their  language  is  so  prolific- 
and  they  insult  him  in  tho" grossest  man-' 

^^.  One  man  will  run  up  to  him  and  shout, 
tl,«  w^  T  ""  .^^  """-  y^-  "  '^';com])anying  | 

AnoH.rn-'""'  ;■*  •'^V""''  »^°^  «n  the  oar" 
Another  (Iinga  a  handful  of  mud  in  his  face 
accompanied  by  the  same  words?  a  oS 
gela  behind    iim  and  administers  a  sovore 

tine'ZV"  ""'■•'  ■^'•'^'•r  '"■"  '''^«-  ^"'•«ono 
thnm         ?r,'"-'"'^"  '"  ''"'*"^'^'  a"'l  beaten  by 

whi7e.  'I'n    ^'^^^  ""-'''''  t"  beworthlesM 
wmio  all  around  is  a  crowd  of  disai.i)ointed 
sub,ec  s    who  have  not  been  able    o  »et  at 

""ont'!i'.Mi:"'""r'''''v"'  ''■'"'  •■^••"  "^""i"'' 

sti-ks  l^;;'"^"!^-^'^  by  polling  him  with 

St.  Ks  and  stones  over  the  heads  of  tluii- 
more  fortunate  comrades,  and  abusing  m 
mid  Is  parents,  and  his  brothers,  siste  " 

Tldsl ni-roi-  he'''  *"'■  ''""''f  Scn^rations.' 
ill  str  ?e,l  on  H  •^'^^•'^''"""y  of  Coronation  is 
luustr,  tec    on  tho  preMous  page. 

elfc  InSe  /°  ^""V,"  ''''''''^  •'^"'i  t'>«  J^-ini? 
eioct,   biuised,    miid-bespattored ,  hleedin.r^ 

and  exhausted,  is  led  into  the  house  of    fs 

procecessor,  whore   ho  seats  himself.    Te 

whole  d.Mneanor  of  the  people  nowchann^es 

vrolen  r'  'rr^'  '^'k'-^^'-  PJ-e'of  fi.ar.t^' 
violence.  1  ho  headmen  of  tho  tribe  rise 
and  say, -Now  we  .'tcknowledge  you  as  onr 
kmg;  we  listen  to  you,  and  ob'y  you"'  The 
people  repeat  these  words  after  them  \un 

and,  arrayed  in  this  splendid  a,XeI    the 

the  king  IS  in  sad  need  of  repose,  stmnSs 

fiomgreat.listaneescontinual iVarrivi    ""and 
al  nisi^iu.  on  being  presented  to   1  ^new 

J^2-  ,S'  l""i    these  rites  are  over  is  the 
King  ailowcd  to  leave  the  house. 
-ai.  (lu  Chaillu  was  a  witness  of  the  re- 


A  MPONGWfi  CORONATION. 


C27 


markable  ceremony  which  has  lust  boon 
described,  and  whici,  took  place  on^Se  S 
nation  of  a  successor  to  tho  old  Kinjr  Glass 

otewth'a"rf  ^"^'""/  remarked,*^"  sS 
m  ,lf  K^  '^  ?  <leterminetf  tenacity,  which  al- 
most bid  fair  to  cheat  Death,  he- wa,  a 
' hsagrecable  old  heathen,  but  in  hi^  Lt 
days  became  very  devout'- after  his  faLh-* 
;  .  .  f  "'°'  ^^"8  always  freshly  naint.-d 
and   highly  decorated;   his  fetish w^,^  the 

few  .hI?'''*"''  '"""'  '"  ^'"'•i'^"'  ^n'l  cver^ 
down  Yrn  '°T    ?''™*  '•o^t"'-  ^^««  brought 

fen  for  n'7  '"• '^  '"'.•'"'"•j  ""'»  P'-'id  a  large 
too  for  advising  tho  old  king.  Ho  was 
afraid  of  witchcraft ;  thought  that  evoTv- 
body  wanted  to  put  him  out  of  the  wav7v 
bewitching  him;  and  in  this  country  Jour 
doctor  (h  cs  not  try  to  cure  your  sic-kness- 
■TbenHr'/:i^"  ^''P  "''■  «'«  witches."  "' 
thm  lb?  'l  nf  /""""  '''"■''  "'"^  ""  the  people 
tnought  that  lie  was  a  powerful  wizard  and 

ad  been  king  too  long  for  their  ideas  and 

hey  corta  nly  did  wilh    him  fair  y  dead 

But  when  he  became  ill,  and  was  ifkely  to 

die,  the  usual  etiquette  was  observed  every 

one  going  about  as  if  plunged  in  the  dllZ 

ce  el?"'r.'  ^^"'"""'^  they"hated  him  Z 
ceiely  and  were  so  afraid  of  his  super- 
natural  powers  that  searcelv  a  native  (E 
topass  fiis  hut  by  night,  and  no  bdbe  less 
than  a  ,ug  of  rum  would  induce  any  one  to 
enter  tlie  house.  At  last  he  died,  and  hen 
everyone  went  into  mourning,  the  wo  en 
wa.hng  and  pouring  out  tears  with  ho 
astonishing  lachrymal  capability  which  d  s- 
ingurshes  the  African  Svomen,  who  cin 
■shed  tears  copiously  and  laugh  a't  the  same 

v^^"r}}^^  '"''^""'^  (lay  after  his  death   old 

lis'lS  r  ''''''  ^•"""''  '^"t  "'«  exact  81  otol 
H  sepulture  no  one  knew,  except  A  few 
d  councillors  on  whom  the.  duty  fell.  By 
waj  of  a  monument,  a  piece  of  st^irlet  cloth 
was  suspended  from  a  pole.  Evcrv  one 
k.iew  that  it  only  marked  the  .^^o^where 
King  Glass  was  not  buried.  For  six  davs 
M?7™''"  <=°»*inued,  at  the  end  of 
which  time^  occurred  the  coronation,  and 

Glass  •'"°''"*  '"'"''*'"''  ^^"^  new  King 

The  mode  of  burial  varies  according  to 
the  rank  of  the  deceased.  The  body  of  a 
chief  IS  carefully  interred,  and  so  is  th^t  ofa 
king  the  sepulchre  of  the  latter  bein<-    as 

«To't"'yr;L"'"*""""^'  "^^P*  ^  I^^"«"n' 
huret.    Jiy  the  grave  are   p  accd    certain 

imp  ements  belonging  to  the'dead  person  S 

stool  or  a  pi-  marking  the  grave  of  a  man 

and  a  calabasli  that  of  a  woman.    Tho  bodies' 

of  slaves  are   treated   less  ceremonioi  sly 

being  merely  taken  to  the  burying-groun'i' 

hrown  df>wn,  and  left  to  perisht  wiZut 

t^he  honors  ot  a  graye  or  accompanying  sym- 

Liko  other  dwellers  upon  river  banks  the 
Mpongwc  arc  admirable  boatmen,  and' dis! 


I  I 


If 


!'k 


628 


THE  MPONGWfl. 


play  pent  ingenuity  in  making  canooi.  Tlio 
Iruo  lioni  wlucli  tliny  arc  ntudu  only  growH 
iiilund,  un<l  KoniolinuH,  wliun  a  largo  vcHHrl 
ia  wiuiliul.  a  HuiUililt'  trot)  cuu  only  l)c  ibunil 
Homu  uigtit  or  tun  niilitM  iVoni  lliu  Mliorc. 
II'  II  cjMioo  inukur  ciin  llnd  a  (run  within  two 
or  thruu  niiluH  ('ron»  tlio  water,  iie  eonntu 
liimMcIf  a  iuekv  man;  Init,  a»  tliu  trees  are 
being  eontinually  eut  im  lor  eiinoe  nmking, 
it  Ih  evident  lliat  tite  NIpongwu  luo  uunliuu- 
ally  driven  (\n-llier  iidund. 

AVIiea  a  MpongwiS  iius  Nettled  i.ion  a  tree 
whicli  lie  tliinkM  will  make  a  gomi  "unoe,  lie 
tranHplants  all  Ium  liiniily  to  tiui  nxit,  and 
ImildM  a  new  liomeHleml  lor  liim.  11,  IiIm 
wiveH,  ids  eluldren,  and  Iuh  i*laveH.  Sonie- 
tinios  ho  will  eeonnnii/.o  Iuh  labor,  and  ,)iteh 
liiH  eneanijiniunt  near  tliree  or  lour  eu.ioe 
trees,  all  of  whieh  ho  intends  to  fashion  into 


veiHol*  bolero  he  returiiH  to  IiIm  village. 
When  the  trees  are  I'elli'd,  and  eut  lo  the 
proper  length  ~  sixty  bet  being  an  ordinary 
measurement— they  re  inguniously  hol- 
lowed by  miauH  ol  llrt«,  wliicli  U  earelUlly 
wat(-hed  and  guidid  until  the  interior  is 
burnt  awav.  'ibe  oul^idu  ol'  the  tree  is  then 
trimmed  into  shapu  willi  the  native  ml/e, 
and  the  eanoe  is  niuly.  A  eleverman;  with 
such  a  I'annly,  will  make  several  sueli  canoes 
during  a  single  dry  season. 

The  next  and  niost  important  business  is 
to  get  the  ean<  IS  lo  the  water.  This  is ih)ne 
by  cutting  a  pathwa.\  llirough  the  wood.nnd 
laboriously  pushing  the  canoe  on  rollers. 
In  some  cases,  when  the  eanoe  free  is  nearer 
the  sea  than  the  river,  (he  maker  takes  it 
direct  to  the  beach,  launelies  it,  and  theu 
piuldlus  it  round  tu  tliu  river. 


CHAFER  LI. 


THE  FANS. 

VAUK-.,,,,,,.,,^     "I-'NT-n""      ;Z'';    "'"'''^■■'•'^«   AU..OWH-WAK   HM.KM.H   A^„    Z,. 
-  *'ATK  OF  T,.„  SHKBP.  '""""  '^"^  "  "'^'"««N  r<l-K-BOWU,  -  CHAV..N..   Fu«  MKAT 


can 

known:  l^r";;" I ■■'.';•      ^  "V"' "'-'Kin  is  un- 

ni>rtli-e:i'<t    (1,1',.     S.^"'    ''"'""  '^■'"'n  'lit- 
and  who  a    ).'■''        "««'->*He«l  tho  i„„,, 

"'•.'  HO  c.on:spi,.;„;  i^  h '  nivr'''^^''^'?'' 

many  in.li/i  |„als  •.  ro  ,■  'i    '  ""."•'ff'""-    I" 

'    v..,„i,.aishaH'''Tl  :^'^;!i.::''''"i"sup 


-    ....V...,,,    ,,,1111    UK!    lorsil  Slimiilnru  iv1.i,.I.      -T    \    "'""""'"W.       J 


othnr  (ihrcs      If  il  ,  ,'•    '^  ''■'""   '"^^  i»(l 


iio  loiK.ii.Ls,  which  stood  W.-U  out   f,.,-,m  ,l.„ 
hoa.l,  au.l  wore  tenninate.I  by  b"  ,      ,rTn  ill 
;;':•    ",s  anklcvs  wcTo  loa.lcll  witl     S 
>"i''.s,  whicli  made  a  "roat  iin<»iinr,   „I  u 
walkml.  and  his  head  wnr^iS''  •?.:":^^° 


i«ito  iiconical'sha.H.""Ti;',:!''«"'  '"""'»S  »pl  rinjr.s,  whicirnvido  n '.'/Jnnf"""'""  v'""   '"'■•^'^s 
or.  In  cm.  ,l„,  ,,„„■>?,.",,.  ,:'>*.'  «!;•    ,  Tiio  „,„„„„  „„  „„„  ,,..  ^  ., 


fl 


530 


THE  FANS. 


r^'vr; 


!      (i 


all  that  they  iiw.  On  thrir  hondu  they  Ron- 
ernlly  wear  mnw.  oriiiimciit,  mid  tlui  vvll'o  ot 
Ndhiyai  —  who,  na  l)ii  Chuilhi  rciimikM,  wuh 
tho  U),'n<'si  woiiiim  \ui  hud  uvi-r  m-eii— hii<i 
a  cup  I'DVfiTd  with  whitn  Hht-llH.  aiid  hiul 
niadi!  (iitlodiiij,',  with  which  hor  wiiolc  hody 
wiw  covorcd,  tiike  thii  pjiici'  of  ciotiiinK. 
8ho  (I  rljiinly  woro  ji  «o  called  drcsM,  hut  it 
WHS  only  u  littli!  stri))  of  rod  Fan  cloth, 
about  tour  inches  wide.  Two  cnonnouH 
copper  rin^s  wcro  passed  tlirouKh  the  lohes 
of  her  ('ars,  whieli  tlu^y  dniRj^od  down  in  a 
very  unsightly  manner,  and  on  her  ankles 
were  iron  rinj,'s  of  great  weight.  These 
were  her  most  precrious  ornaments,  iron 
being  to  the  Fans  even  more  valual)li'  than 
gold  is  among  ours(>lvc8.  Aj)parently  from 
constant  exposure,  lier  ekin  was  rough  like 
the  hark  of  a  tree. 

Most  ol'  the  married  women  wear  a  bnik 
belt  ahctit  four  inches  wide,  which  piwsos 
over  oiu)  shoulder  and  under  tliu  other. 
This  is  not  meant  as  an  article  of  dress.  l)ut 
only  a  sort  of  cradle.  The  chi'd  is  seated 
oil  this  h(  It,  so  that  its  weight  is  principally 
sustained  by  it,  and  it  can  ho  slutted  about 
from  side  to  side  by  merely  changing  the 
bolt  fiom  one  arm  to  the  other.  The  wom- 
en are,  a.s  a  rule,  smaller  in  stature  tlian 
the  men,  and  are  not  at  all  pretty,  what 
pretence  to  beauty  they  may  have  being 
destroyed  by  their  aboiniuiflile  iiractice  of 
painting  their  bodies  red,  ami  liling  their 
teeth   to  sliarp  point.s. 

From  t!  accounts  of  those  who  have 
mixed  witli  them,  the  Fans  ju-csent  a 
strange  jumble  of  cbaract'i-.s.  They  jirac- 
tise  o]ien  and  .ivowed  cannibalism  —  a  cus- 
tom which  is  as  repulsive  to  civilized  feel- 
ings as  can  well  be  imagined.  They  are 
lierce,  warlike,  and  ruthless  in  battle,  light- 
ing for  the  mere  love  of  li,  with  their  hand 
•against  every  man.  Yet  in  private  life  they 
are  liospitable,  polite,  and  gentle,  rather 
afraid  ol  strangers,  and  as  mildly  inquisitive 
as  cats.  ]b)th  Du  Chaillu  ancf  Mr.  IJeadc 
agree  in  these  points,  and  the  latter  has 
given  a  most  amusing  account  of  his  intro- 
duction to  a  Fan  village.  He  liad  been  ])rc- 
viously  challenged  on  the  Gaboon  Kiver  by 
a  Fan,  who  forbade  the  boat  to  pass,  but, 
on  being  oU'ered  a  lirass  rod  jier  diem  as 
a  recomp(>nse  for  bis  services  as  guide, 
"grinned  horribly  a  ghastly  smile,"  which 
allowed  his  liled  "tooth,  and  agreed  to  con- 
duct the  party  to  the  next  vill.age.  He  kept 
bis  word  like  a  man,  and  brought  the  boat 
to  a  village,  when!  our  author  made  his  lirst 
acquaint:, nee  with  the  tribe. 

"I  examined  these  people  with  the  inter- 
est of  a  traveller;  they,  hailed  me  with  the 
cnthusiixsm  of  a  mob.  The  chiefs  house,  to 
which  I  had  l)een  conducted,  was  surrounded 
by  a  crowd  of  cannibals,  four  doe]i;  and  the 
slight  modicum  of  light  which  native  archi- 
tecture permits  to  come  in  by  the  do.-^r  was 
iuterceptcd  by  heads  and  parrots'  feathv^rs. 


At  the  same  time,  every  man  talked  as  if  ho 
hiul  two  voice.i.  Oshupti  ol)lained  me  a 
short  resnite  by  explaining  to  them  that  it 
was  the  liabit  of  the  animal  to  com(>  out  to 
air  liimsell,  and  to  walk  to  and  fro  in  tho 
one  street  of  the  village.  Heiiig  ab\'ii(ly 
inured  to  tins  kind  ot  tiling,  I  went  out  ut 
sunset  and  sat  before  the  door.  Oshupu, 
sipiatting  beside  me,  and  playing  on  a  mnsl- 
eal  instrument,  gave  tlu^  proceeding  the 
appis'irance  of  a  theatriciil  eutertaiumcnt. 

"  And  this  taught  me  how  often  an  acti.r 
can  return  tiie  ojien  merriment  ol  the  liouso 
with  sly  laughter  in  his  sleeve.  One  s(ddom 
has  the  Ibrtune  to  see  anything  so  ludicrous 
on  the  stage  as  the  grolesipie  grimaces  of  a 
laugbhig  audience.  Uiil  (di,  if  Hogarth 
eoiiid  have  seen  my  cannibalsl  Her(!  stood 
two  men  witii  their  hands  upon  each  other's 
shoulders,  staring  at  nu^  in  mule  wonder, 
their  eyes  Ukv  saucers.  th<ir  nioulhs  like 
open  se))ulchres.  There  an  old  woman,  in 
a  stooj'ing  attitude,  with  hi'r  hands  on  her 
knees,  like  a  cricketer  '  fielding  out ; '  n  man 
was  dragging  up  ids  frightened  wile  to  look 
at  me,  and  a  child  cried  bitterly  with  avi^-ted 
eyes.  After  tlu^  Fans  had  taken  the  edge 
otrtiieir  curiosity,  and  had  di.'-per.Ned  a  little, 
I  rose  to  ei\joy  liiy  evening  ]iromena(lo.  All 
starrd  at  mi;  with  increasing  wonder.  That 
a  man  sliiaild  walk  backward  and  Ibrward 
with  no  llxed  object  !>*  something  which 
the  slothful  negro  cannot  understand,  and 
which  possibly  api)ears  to  him  ratlier  llic 
.iction  of  a  beast  than  of  a  hunuin  bi'ing. 

'•  It  was  not  loiij.;  before  ihey  coiilrived  to 
conquer  their  timidity.  1  observed  two  or 
tliree  girls  whisneiing  together  and  looking 
.•it  me.  rreseiitly  1  felt  an  iu(|uisitive  finger 
laid  on  my  coat,  and  heard  the  sound  of  bare 
feet  runiiiii":  away.  1  remained  in  the  same 
position.  Then  one  bolder  than  tln^  rest 
!il)l)roachcd  me,  and  sjioke  to  me  .'^miling.  I 
assumed  as  amiable  an  expression  as  Nature 
Would  nermit,  and  toiicbtid  my  lais  to  show 
that  I  did  not  uiideisland.  At  this  they  had 
a  great  laugh,  as  if  1  had  said  something 
good,  and  the  two  others 
near  like  cats.  One  giii 
between  hers,  and  stn  d 
others,  raising  toward  me 
black  eyes,  and  with  smiles  showing  teeth 
wliich  were  not  filed,  and  which  we're  as 
white  as  snow,  demanded  peniiission  to 
touch  this  hand,  which  seemed  to  tliejn  so 
strange.  And  then  they  all  felt  my  cheeks 
and  my  straight  hair,  and  I(H)ke(l  upon  me 
as  a  lame  prodigy  sent  to  them  by  the  gods; 
and  all  the  while  they  cbatti  red]  Ibe  pretty 
things,  as  if  I  could  understand  them. 

''Now  ensued  a  grand  discussion;  first 
my  skin  w.as  touelu'd,  and  llieii  my  coat, 
aiid  the  two  were  carefiiily  coniiiared.  At 
length  one  of  them  haj  p.ued  to  pull  back 
my  coat,  and  on  seeing  my  wrist  they  gave 
a  crj',  and  clapped  their  hands  unanimously. 
They  had  been  lirguing  whether  my  coat 


began  to  draw 
took   my   hand 

it  timidly;  the 
their   beautiful 


U(  Mill  lU  I1.1.I  Aolvud  till)  injMlcTy. 

dn-nw"!!  .*""•".''";■''■"'"''  '•>  *^""""'  '">«l '•hu- 
ll on,  ul  o  wi.slu.,1  to  touch  my  Imads  uiul  t , 

on.luiiMl  with  ..x..|ii,.lary  |mti..,ui,.     No-  ,li,I 

l»!tt  th.iy  had  ,Mio(l  with  t.irror  who.,  t    .y 

hat  th.^s(1  ainicahh!  Vuricos  would  Htrw  .. 
m  r.aln.  oil  m.d  .s.Tvo  ,„.,  up  l''|  ,"    Th"  ,• 
nKod  8iri..s,  ,f  MO  onl..,-ed,  with  a.s  lltth  re  .li 

•""=0  a.s  au  Ku.Ii.sh  000k  uould  "'m    1." 

"V"  <^'>U"tri.'H  liir  di.sta.it   IVo.n   th  ■  ii  ow.i 
;v  .erevc-  tlwvt  ,i.ay  have  I.c...     Xo  t       '; 
h  u.    ......aWn  to,sta..da«ai,.stth...„,a,.d 

ov  .1  tho  laixo  and  poworful  Hakalui  and 
S  Kk.a...  have  had  to  yield  up  villa-e  ■.«. . 
vih«oloth..i..vad.M.s,iotliatLH;.;,r,rp 

tt,    (I,  :     .'  '"V^^'^'C'S  "i-f  nio.-o  tha..  a  „iat<'h 


WAH   WEAPONS. 


881 


'' "f,  "^^  "«'  »'l"fli  (Iifir  shoit-sijrhtc.d  i,.a|. 
8lM^  ,"■'"  ""t  I'eni.it  tlu.m  to  d?.  a,;  iv 
slow  dcgi-oo,s  tl.o  JJakaiai  and  Sl.oki  1     .,  v 

\r.  ••-   '"'^'^   ''^'^"   pi^niiti-ati'd   imo 

d  i'^uif/Jf  '""!'/''^'  «"   ^'"'t   they     ,'o" 
ux,Ustea.l.ly  from  tho  east  toward  tlfc  iea- 

Th..  projrross  made  I)v  the  Fans  li-m  I.„nn 
ajaouj^nn.,^.  rapid.     liLve  W^L  iy    ^re 

aii.l  (  ,  ,.  "'"  sea-coast  and  are  now 

ami  (la.n  .s..,u  anio„g  the  settlement,  of  tin 

oh5n7,l,!!''"  '''7'"""  /*  ^^^"■•"''  "I'.-n  he 
J,  uiLai,  „i!.i  ouicr  uuracstiu 


111  .1,      11  "  "hiiathH,  Much  (w  aie  Mjnm 

w^  \ll      ''  '"I*'"*'"  "'   *^'^<«'.  "liKhtly 

...  , ; :;r';i;;,'."'i' "?'""< "' "» »i..» '.' 

.»..»,,„„  „.„„  jii  .^TS  KSfc 

•'."^.viiti^riisr'Niz'.'r'!!"'' 
.i.n...r,ut;;s:'«r;tH'™r'''''"™" 

I'l  rather  a  fauhustical   mann.M      n        r 

::^"iS\,:::i:rT'^'r  ^r^^  -''  "^^'^'« 

\  11     1    •     "'  ""  ^•'•"verted  into  a  spear 
«^acrubleporceatagoofK^;Sf^;^ 


I 


632 


THE  FANS. 


M^'ll 


but  that  is  thought  of  very  little  consc- 
quouce. 

Tlio  next  business  is  to  mako  tho  cast- 
iron  malleable,  which  is  done  by  a  scries  of 
beatinuis  and  hammerings,  tlio  result  being 
a  wonderfully  well-tempered  sieel.  For 
their  purposes,  such  steel  is  '.ir  preferable 
to  that  which  is  made  in  England  ;  and 
when  a  Fan  wishes  to  make  a  j)articularly 
good  knife  or  spear  head,  he  would  rathcT 
emelt  and  temper  iron  for  himself  than  use 
the  best  steel  that  Sheffield  can  produce. 

The  bellows  which  they  employ  are  made 
on  exactly  the  same  principle  as  t^iose  which 
have  several  times  been  mentioned.  They 
are  made  of  two  short  hollow  cylinders,  to 
the  upper  end  of  which  is  tied  a  loose  piece 
of  soft  hide.  A  wooden  handle  is  fixed  to 
each  skin.  From  the  bottoms  of  the  cylin- 
ders a  wooden  pipe  is  led,  and  the  two  ])ij)cs 
converge  in  an  iron  tube.  The  end  of  this 
tube  is  placed  in  the  fire,  and  the  bellows- 
man,  by  working  the  handles  up  and  down 
alternately,  drives  a  constant  stream  of  air 
into  the  lire. 

Their  anvils  and  hammers  are  equally 
simple  ;  and  yet,  with  such  rude  materials, 
they  contrive^  by  dint  of  patient  workint,, 
to  turn  out  admirable  specimens  of  black- 
smith's work.  All  their  best  wcajjons  are 
deconUed  with  intricate  patterns  engraven 
on  the  blades,  and,  as  time  is  no  object  to 
them,  they  will  spend  many  months  on  the 
figuring  and  finishing  of  a  single  axe  blade. 
Thejiatterns  are  made  by  means  of  a  small 
chisel  and  a  hammer.  Some  of  their  ruder 
knives  are  not  intended  as  weapons  of  war. 
but  merely  as  instruments  by  which  they 
can  cut  down  the  trees  and  brushwood  that 
are  in  the  way  when  they  want  to  clear  a 
spot  for  agriculture.  It  will  now  be  seen 
why  iron  is  so  valual)lc  a  ("onmiodity  among 
the  Fans,  and  why  a  couple  of  heavy  anklets 
made  of  this  precious  metal  should  be  so 
valued  by  the  women. 

There  is  one  very  singular  weapon  among 
the  Fans.  Perhaps  there  is  no  i)art  of  the 
world  whore  wo  could  less  exjiect  to  find 
the  crossbow  than  among  a  cannibal  tribe 
at  the  head  of  the  Gaboon.  Yet  there  the 
crossbow  is  regularly  used  as  an  engine  of 
war,  and  a  most  formidable  weapon  it  is, 
giving  its  possessors  a  terrible  advantage 
over  their  foes.  The  ingenuity  exhibited 
in  the  manufacture  of  this  weapon  is  very 
great,  and  yet  one  cannot  but  wonder  at 
the  odd  mixture  of  cleverness  and  stupidity 
which  its  structure  shov.s.  Tin;  bow  is 
very  strong,  and  when  the  warrior  wishes 
to  bend  it  he  seats  himself  on  the  ground, 
puts  his  foot  .against  the  bow,  and  so  has 
both  hands  at  liberty,  by  which  he  can  haul 
the  cord  into  the  notch  which  holds  it  until 
it  is  released  by  tho  trigger.  The  shaft  is 
about  five  feet  long,  and  is  split  for  a  cou- 
8idcrabl(!  portion  of  its  length.  The  little 
stick  which  is  thrust  between  the  split  por- 


tions constitutes  the  trigger,  and  the  method 
of  using  it  is  as  follows  :  — 

Just  below  tho  notch  which  holds  the 
string  is  a  round  hole  through  which  pi.sses 
a  short  peg.  The  other  end  of  the  peg, 
which  is  made  of  very  liard  wood,  is  fixed 
into  the  lower  half  of  the  split  shaft,  and 
l)lays  freely  through  the  hoh;.  When  the 
two  halves  of  the  shaft  are  separated  by  tlie 
trigger,  the  peg  is  jiulled  through  the  hole, 
and  allows  the  cord  to  rest  in  the  notch. 
But  as  soon  as  the  trigger  is  removed  the 
two  halves  close  together,  and  the  peg  is 
thus  driven  up  through  the  hole,  knockinsr 
the  cord  out  of  the  notch.  1  have  in  my 
collection  a  Chinese  crossbow,  tho  string 
of  which  is  released  on  exactly  the  same 
principle. 

Of  course,  an  accurate  aim  is  out  of  the 
question,  for  the  trigger-peg  is  held  so  tightly 
between  the  two  halves  of  the  shaft  tliat  it 
cannot  be  pulled  out  without  so  great  an 
elfort  that  any  aim  must  be  efTectually  de- 
ranged. IJutin  the  use  of  this  weajiou  aim 
is  of  very  littlo  consequence,  as  the  bow  is 
only  used  at  very  short  ranges,  fifteen  yards 
being  about  the  longest  distance  at  which  a 
Fan  cares  to  expend  an  arrow.  The  arrows 
themselves  are  not  calculated  for  long  ranges, 
as  they  are  merely  little  strijis  of  wood  aibot 
or  80  ni  len"th,  and  about  the  sixtli  of  an 
inch  in  diameter.  They  owe  their  terrors, 
not  to  their  sharpness,  noi  to  the  velocity 
w'ith  which  they  are  impelled,  but  to  the 
])oison  with  which  their  tips  are  imliuod. 
Indeed,  they  are  so  extremely  light  that  they 
cannot  be  merely  laid  on  the  groove  of  the 
.sh.ift,  lest  they  should  be  blown  away  by 
the  wind.  They  are  therefore  fastened  in 
their  place  with  a  little  piece  of  gum,  of 
which  the  archer  always  takes  care  to  have 
a  supjily  .at  hand.  Owing  to  their  dimimi- 
tive  size,  they  cannot  be  seen  until  their 
force  is  exi)ended,  and  to  this  circumstance 
they  owe  much  of  their  power.  They  have 
no  feathers,  neither  docs  any  ])articular  care 
seem  to  be  t.aken  aln)ut  tlieir  tips,  which, 
although  pointed,  are  not  nearly  as  sliaij)  as 
those  of  the  tiny  arrows  use<l  by  the  Ptaks 
of  Borneo,  or  the  Macoushies  of  the  Esse- 


(juiho. 

The  poison  with  which  their  points  are 
imbued  is  jirocured  from  the  juice  of  some 
plant  at  jiresent  unknown,  aiu\  two  or  three 
coatiuM  are  given  before  the  weapon  is  con- 
sidered to  be  sulliciently  envenomed.  The 
Fans  apjioar  to  be  unacquainted  with  any 
antidote  for  the  poison,  or,  if  they  do  know 
of  any,  they  keep  it  a  profound  secret.  The 
reader  may  remember  a  iiarallel  instance 
among  tlie  Bosjesmans,  with  regard  to  the 
antidote  for  the  poison-grub. 

Besides  these  arrows,  they  use  others 
about  two  feet  in  length,  witli  iron  heads, 
whenever  they  go  in  search  of  large  game; 
but  in  \varfare,  the  littlo  arrow  is  quite 
strong  enough  to  penetrate  the  skin  of  a 


id  the  method 


ELEPHANT  HUNTING. 


C33 

human  being,  and  is  therefore  used  in  nref- 1  climh  i,n  *.„„=       1 1     , 
'^'•^!!-'^^'-J''5^--'l --cunU,ro.!^K    KjiPf^*^^^^^ 


n,, ""-  .."„v-i  ami  iiiviu  uuiuurous  (lart. 

Ilie  only  defensive  weaijou  i.s  the  shield 
wliicii  13  made  from  tlie  hide  of  the  elpph;int' 
It  vanes  sliglitly  in  .shape,  but  i.s  senen.liv 
Obion-,  and  i.s  about  three  feet  lon<'  by  iwo 
and  a  iialf  \vule,so  that  it  covers  all'tlie  vital 
par.s  ot  the  body.     The  piece  of  hide  used 
or  the  .shield  is  cut  from  the  shoulder.s   of 
tlie  elephant,  where,  a.s  i.s  the  case  with  tlio 
paehydrnns  in  general,  the  skin  is  thickc-^l 
and  strongest.    No  .spear  can  penetrate  this 
siiieKl,  ilie  axe  cannot  hew  its  way  throun-h 
It,  the  missile  knife  barely  indents  it,  and  (lie 
crossbow  arrow.s  rebound  harinkvsslv  Irom 


openly  running  away  if  he  makes  a  char"" 
and  returning  as  .soon  a.s  he  pauses  cluster^ 
'ng  roun,l  him  like  Hies  roun.\  a  ca'ca's"! 
,rJ.^  n'ode.ot  chase  is  not  without  its  dan- 

Ph ant  w^M?"*?  ^••''1»'^»"y  killed  by  the  ele- 
pli.mt,  which  charges  unexi)ectedly,  knocks 
hem  down  with  a  blow  of  the  trunk  and 
then  tramples  them  under  foot.  Son"  t  mes 
an  unlortunate  hunter,  when  chai-ed  bvlhe 

war.TH;i"'-'''r  Pr^^""*^''-''  >ni.uUufst^ 
naid  the  vine  barrier,  and  is  cauLd  t  in  the 

:; -■:■   ■"."••^ n.n„,ess,v  irom    tZ  «n..t' H    '''  ''^l'"^*^  '"    ^^™ 

Its  smface.  Even  a  bullet  will  gla,'  ,.„  ,  <  based  h.m^  i  "  .'i'"^'  '-e^ource  of  a 
1    It   should  .strike  oblirjuely  on  Che  shie  J^^s  alm^^^^^^^^  up 

feueh  a  shield  is  exeeedinglv  valuable  be- 1  (bo,  ,i^.iv":  p^'*''''^  ''*'  »w»key.s,  they  find 
cause  the  skin  of  an  elephant  will  not  a(Vo  d  t  lev  m  ul  1  hf H' h'"""""  "V'  l>.-anehes  than 
?!::l"5l^^i*'":.--  t'-"  "ne  or  two  slueldsl' talis ;::u;;.fSS;.i;-:'  '"  ''"'' 


and  elephant-killmg  is  a  task  that  needs 
much  lime,  patience,  courage,  and  inircnuitv 
Moreover,  the  elephant  must  be  an  old.one 
and,  as  tlie  old  elephants  are  proverbiallv 
t  erce  and  cunning,  the  danger  of  huntino- 
llieni  is  very  great.  '  ° 

Of^"  snoH '' '  i?'''-''"'  ^''°   l'-"^"   '''-^^    "'■'   i'l^''1 

^  r  ^'  .'  !  M  ■   /^''■/-,  "^■^■''^sarily  a  '•pot-l.un- 
tu,    and  thinks  it  the  most  foolish  thing  in 

to  kill  the  animal,  and  cares  not  in  the  least 
as  to  the  means  which  he  uses.     The  min- 

genious?"'''''"'  ''''"''"•^'  '^  '^-^^«'^'li"S'y  in- 

the^y,',w"  T  ""^'  '""'  "■^"  elephant  feeding, 
wh,M  .    ,  T  ""  •^''"'  -^"^  ^  "ft'*^  'li«t''"ii^ 

o  1  rnv  hf   ".■^"'■'^V'">'  *'•""'  ^''"  '^<'i'i'«- 

J^uiclly  detaching  iheni,  thev  interwAv.. 
them  among  the  tl-ee  trunks.  I  ufto  n'  ke 
a  strong,  m-t-like  barrier,  which  is  elastie 
e.H.ugl,  to  yield  to  tlie  rush  f  in  elephi,  t 
and  stnmg  enough  t.,  detain  ..i".  onB' 
Moreover,  tlie  Fans  know  well  that 
tl'e  elephant  dre.ads  anything  that  looks  ike 
a   fenc,  and.  as  has  been  well  .said,  mav  be 


•    .  '"  f  "'V^  .also  use  an  elephant  trap  which 
used  in  killing  the  liippopotanuis,  — namelv 


wound  will,  (lurbro;  1   ,.'?,,   «!""''   '"^'V   '">'^'^'*'  *"  "'  ^ 
vain  does  he  sti'ik^'at        'tl.!  r^^;.. .  ^"   «'•-;:  ^'T'^t-r." 


vain  does  he  .tTik^'ar..  tw  t^Jrv/iu.  ^ 
;;"|'avor  (o  pull  them  down  with  lis  t  nmk 
and  equa  ly  in  vain  he  endeavors  to  trn  le 
hem  under  foot.  The  elasfie  ,..'pes  l  |  '  , 
ii.s  e  I.n-t.s,  and  in  the  m..niwhi  e  <f  ■    '  f! 


■  1  .    . — o  ■••^  "'I'lJuiJuiuiiius,  —  nainoiv 

whclfl     '  f"?'"  '/""^'"  ^  branch  uS 
\MiiLh  1  ,    elephant  must  pass,  and  detadied 
by  a  string  tied  to  a  trigger.     Tl.rintive^ 
arcassisled   in  their  el^diant-hunti^^.  ex! 
pedit.ons   by  the   character  of  the  anin'd 
Suspicious  and   crafty  as  is   the   elepliim 
It  has  a  strong   disinclination   to   leave  a 
spot  where  it  finds  the  food  which  it  likes 
best;  and  in  consequence  of  this  pecnliaritv 
whenever  an    elephant  is   discovered,   tifo' 
1-ans   feel  sure   that  it  will   remain  in  the 
same  place  for  several  days,  and  take  their 
measures  accordingly. 

When  thev  have  l^illed  an  elephant,  thev 
utilize  ncarfy  the  whole  of  the  enormous 
ear,..as.s,  taking  out  the  tusks  for  sale,  S 
he  skin  of  the  back  for  shields,  and  'eat  ,"" 
'"  T  '"  ?  f  *''"  "'^«'»-  To  Euro,  can  aU 
nu-tl  1,'''''  "*/'";  ?''^M''>'^'>tis  distastcS, 
]:'ll\l  T  'i^-'-'ouut  of  its  peculiar  flavor,  and 
partly   because   th(>   cookery  of  the   native 

ten  "''rf '  f  ]'  ";  ^''y  '^""temptuons 
F.  w  ;  r  f''^l''""^t  meat,  of  whil-h  the 

iMisseem  to  be  very  fond,  and  which  they 
ha\e  been  cooking  and  smoking  for  three 
<lay.s  IS  the  toughest  and  most  disacreeablo 
m    It  I  ever   taste.l.    I  cannot  explain  its 

ike  iV  b?^"if  '"'  '''V';,"".''^'^''  ^^-'"'^'i  tastes 
like   t,  but  t  seems  full  of  muscular  fibre  or 

gustle;  and  when  it  has  l)een  boiled  for  two 
<lays,  twelve  hours  each  day,  it  is  still  ,„gh 
ri  e  (  ayor  is  not  unplea.sant;  but,  although 
mvse  f  V""-    'V  1'"''?"^  ""'^'^  '"  accustoir 


M  hether  el.-phant  meat  is  governed  bv 
I'e  same  cuhnary  laws  as  ox  n7eat  remains 
<<;  be  seen;  but.  if  such  be  the  case,  the  cook 
who  ho,ed  the  meat  for  twentv-fonr  hours 
seems  to  have  ingeni.msly  hit-upon  a  plan 
tliat    would    make    tlie    best    !,e„f    to   '"? 


Some   of    th\;   hunt;;  ■'   ".'  Uiroull'rr    T'    "°"'''    '"^''^^    '''•'    l^e^t    h/^r  "o  " 
brush,  and  wound  him  f^-om  bS;  ^IhlJrs  I  Sf  LeSf  ^1^  ^  jl^^^  S  tf^ 


If 


mi 


i 


634 


THE  FANS. 


n-^hr 


a  vegetable  gum.    This  guin  is  first  soft- 


the  result  might  have  heen  different;  hut  to 
boil  meat  for  twenty-four  hours  by  way  of 
making  it  tender  is  as  absurd  as  boilin!?  an 
egg  for  the  same  period  by  way  of  makinsr 
it  soft. 

As  to  their  diet  in  general,  the  Fans  do 
not  deserve  a  very  high  culinary  rank. 
They  have  plenty  of  material,  and  very 
slight  notions  of  using  it.  The  manioc 
affords  them  a  large  portion  of  their  vege- 
table food,  and  is  particularly  valuable  on 
account  of  the  ease  with  which  it  is  culti- 
*  vated,  a  portion  of  the  stem  carelessly 
placed  in  the  ground  producing  in  a  single 
season  two  or  three  large  roots.  The  leaves 
are  also  boiled  and  eaten.  Pumpkins  of  dif- 
ferent kinds  are  largely  cultivated,  and  even 
the  seeds  are  rendered  edible.  M.  du 
Chaillu  says  that  during  the  pumpkin  season 
the  villages  seem  covered  with  the  seeds, 
which  are  spread  out  to  dry,  and,  wlien  dried, 
they  are  packed  in  leaves  and  hung  in  the 
smoke  over  the  fireplace,  in  order  to  keep  off 
the  attacks  of  an  insect  which  injures  them. 
When  they  are  to  be  eaten,  they  are  first 
boiled,  and  then  the  skin  is  removed.  The 
seeds  are  next  placed  in  a  mortar  together 
witha  little  sweet  oil,  and  are  pounded  into  a 
soft,  pulpy  mass,  which  is  finally  cooked 
over  the  fire,  either  in  an  earthen  pot  or  in  a 
plantain  leaf.  This  is  a  very  palatable  sort 
Of"  food,  and  some  persons  prefer  it  to  the 
•pumpkin  itself. 

The  mortars  arc  not  in  the  least  like  those 
of  Europe,  being  long,  narrow  troughs,  two 
feet  in  length,  two  or  three  inches  deep,  and 
seven  or  eight  wide.    Each  family  has  one 
or  two  of  these  small  implements,  but  there 
are  ahv.ays  some  enormous  mortars  for  the 
common  use  of  the  village,  which  are  em- 
ployed in  pounding  manioc.    AVhen  the  seed 
IS  pounded  into  k  paste,  it  is  formed  into 
cakes,  and  can  be  kept  for  some  little  time. 
The  cooking  pots  are  made  of  clay,  and 
formed    with    wonderful    accuracy,    seeing 
that  the  Fans  have  no  idea  of  the  potter's 
wheel,  even   in   its  simplest  forms.    Their 
cooking  pots  are   round  and  flat,  and   are 
shaped  something   like   milk  pans.     They 
also  make  cl.ay  water  bottles  of  quite  a  clas- 
sical shape,  and  vessels  for  palm  wine  are 
niiwle  from  the  same  material.    'J'hese  wine 
jars  are  shaped  much  like  the  an\])horffi  of 
the  ancients.    The  clav  is  moulded  by  hand, 
dried  thoroughly  in  the  sun,  and  then  baked 
in  a  fire.    The  exterior  is  adorned  with  pat- 
terns much  like  those  on  the  knives  and  axes. 
The   Fans  also  make  the  bov,-l8  of  their 
pipes  of  the  same  clay,  but  alwavs  form  the 
stems  of  w(K)d.     The  richer  aihong   them 
make  their  pipes  entirely  of  iron,  and  prefer 
them,  in  spite  of  their  weight  and  apparent 
inconvenience,   to  any  others.    They  also 
make  very  ingenious  water  bottles  out  of 
reeds,  and,  in  order  to  render  them  water 
tight,  plaster  them  within  and  without  with 


ened  in  the  fire,  and  laid  on  the  vessel  like 
pitch.  It  has  a  V(;ry  unpleasant  flavor  until  it 
IS  quite  seasoned,  and  is  therefore  kept  under 
water  for  several  weeks  before  it  is  used. 

Like  some  other  savage  tribes,  the  Fans 
have  a  craving  for  meat,  which  sometimes 
becomes  so  powerful  as  to  deserve  the  name 
of  a  disease.  The  elephant  affords  enough 
meat  to  quell  this  disease  for  a  considerable 
time,  and  therefore  they  have  a  great  liking 
for  the  flesh  of  this  animal.  But  the  great 
luxury  of  a  Fan  is  the  flesh  of  a  sheep,  an 
animal  which  they  can  scarcely  ever  procure. 
Mr.  W.  Reade,  in  his  "  Savage  Africa,"  gives 
a  most  amusing  description  of  the  sensation 
produced  among  his  Fan  boatmen:  — 

"  Before  I  left  the  village  I  engaged 
another  man,  whieli  gave  me  a  crew  of 
eight.  I  also  purchased  a  smooth-skinned 
sheep,  and  upon  this  poor  animal,  as  it  lay 
shackled  in  our  jjrow,  many  a  hungry  eye 
was  cast.  "When  it  bleated  the  whole  crew 
burst  into  one  loud  carnivorous  grin.  Bush- 
men can  sometimes  enjoy  a  joint  of  stringy 
venison,  a  cut  off  a  smoked  elephant,  a 
boiled  monkey,  or  a  grilled  snake;  but  a 
sheen  —  a  real  domestic  sheep  !  —  an  animal 
which  had  long  been  looked  upon  as  tlie 
pride  of  their  village,  the  eyesore  of  their 
poorer  neighbors  —  which  they  had  been  in 
the  habit  of  calling  'brother,'  and  upon 
whom  they  had  lavislied  all  the  privileges  of 
a  fellow-citizen  ! 

"  That  fate  should  have  sent  the  white 
and  wealthy  oll'spring  of  the  sea  to  place 
this  delicacy  within  their  reach  was  some- 
thing too  strong  and  sudden  for  their  feeble 
minds.  They  were  unsettled;  they  could 
not  paddle  pVoperly;  their  souls  (which  are 
certainly  in  their  stomachs,  wherever  ours 
ni.ay  be)  were  restless  and  quivering  toward 
that  sheep,  as  (I  have  to  invent  metaphors) 
the  needle  ere  it  rests  upon  its  star. 

"  When  one  travels  in  the  comjiany  of 
cannibals,  it  is  bad  policy  to  let  them  become 
too  hungry.  At  mid-day  I  gave  orders  that 
the  sheep  .should  be  killed.  There  was  a 
yell  of  triumjih,  a  broad  knife  steeped  in 
blood,  a  long  struggle;  then  three  fires 
blazed  forth,  throe  clay  pots  were  placed 
thereon,  and  filled  with  the  bleeding  limbs 
of  the  deceased.  On  an  occasion  like  this, 
the  negro  is  endowed  for  a  few  moments 
with  the  energy  and  promptitude  of  the 
European.  Nor  would  I  complain  of  need- 
less delay  in  its  preparation  for  the  table  — 
which  was  red  clay  covered  with  grass.  The 
mutton,  having  been  slightly  warmed,  was 
rapidly  devoured. 

"  Aher  this  thev  wished  to  recline  among 
the  fragments  of  the  feast,  and  enjoy  a 
sweet  dig(?stive  repose.  But  then  the  white 
man  arose,  and  exercised  that  power  with 
which  the  lower  animals  are  quelled.  His 
look  and  his  tone  drew  thcmi  to  their 
work,  thougli  they  did  not  uuderstund  hia 
words." 


CHAPTER  LH. 


THE  FA2iS~  Concluded. 


CAinnBAMSM  ANI>  ITS  DEVEtOPJIENT  AMONO  THE  P\NS  —  WA-rnro  r^™.„ 

HELICilONOF  TifK  FAN8-TIIE   IDOL  H0U8ES-rnv»-  nj....  ~    ""^  MABItlAGE   FEAST- 

OF  THE    "..-KTrH,,-   ,.V  QUESTION -THE  O0UII.LA  A.VD  ITS  H^TlXa- A  OO^ir.T"''''   "'*«'^«^=« 
—  U8E   OF  THE  SKULL.  "ABITa  — A  QOKILLA  HUNT  BY  TUB  PANS 


The  procediiij?  story  uatiirally  brings  us 
to  the  chiet  ch.-ivnctorislie  of  the  Fans  — 
namely,  tiicir  cannibaliam.  ' 

Some  tribes  wliere  this  custom  is  prac- 
tised are  ratlier  asliamed  of  it,  and  can  onlv 
»e  intluced  to  ackuowIodKC  it  by  cautious 
cross-que.stionins.    Tlie  Fans,  however,  are 
iwt  in  the  least  ashanicHl  of  it,  and  will  talk 
c>f  It  with  perfect  freedom -at  least  until 
they  see  that  their  interlocutor  is  shocked 
by  their  conlcssion.     Probably  on   this  ac- 
count ninsionaries  have  found   some   ditti- 
culty  in  extracting  information  on  the  sub- 
ject.    Iheir  inlormaiits  acknowlcdwd  that 
liuman  tlcsh  was  eaten  by  their  tribe    lut 
not  in  their  villa^^c.    The.i.  as  soon    s'tl  "* 
had  arrive<!  at  the  village  in  which  ca  i  {- 

sS  nnr<.'"'/  '".r-'^'''^',  *'»=  i»''abitants 
said    tbat   the   travellers  had   bet-n  misiu- 

nnnti.?'':^''"^^'  Ihei.-  tribe  did  eat  ll  - 
iJut  If  tl  ,.y  wanted  to  see  caniiil)al?sm  thev 
mist  so  ba<.k  to  th..  village  from  which  t  ov 

!li1uir£-ce!"''  "'"^  "'^""^  '^'^y  "•»"•''  '"''i  't 

Knowing  this  peculiarity,  Mr.  AV.  Reade 

nntil  he  had  jiassed  through  all  the  nlaVes 
previously  visited  by  white^nen,  a.  d  1  en 
q.est.oued  an  old  and  verv  polite  en  a" 
His  answers  were  plain  enough.    Of  co  iric 

,^^1-'  "''-'^  ^■''^,^■•^:>'  J?""'''  '-^''^l  ^v.is  "like 


relations  when  they  died,  although  such  a 
s  atement  is  made,  and  ha's  not  as'yet  been 
disproved.  ^  me  travellers  say  that  the 
lans  o  not  e.  c  people  of  their  own  village! 
but  live  on  terms  of  barter  with  neigh- 
boring villages,  amicably  exchanginn;  tH^eir 
dead  tor  culinary  purposes.  The  Osheba/ 
another  cannibal  tribe  of  the  same  country 
keep  up  Ir.endly  relations  with   the  S' 

tln-m     The  bodies  of  slaves  are  also  sold 
ior  the  pot,  and  are  tolerably  cheap,  a  dead 

The  friendly  Fan  above  mentioned  held,  in 

common  with  many  of  his  dark  countrvm' n, 

the  belief  that  all  white  men  were  canni- 

.a  s.    ';  These,"  said  a  Bakalai  slave,  oirtrst 

beiodnig  a  white  man,  "are  the  n'leii  tha 

<  at  us!       So  he  asked  Mr.  IJcade  why  the 

white  m<Mi  take  the  trouble  to  send  to  Af! 

l\'nl       1 1'/'-™^'''  when  they  could   eat  as 

nany  w lute  men  as  they  like.l  in  their  own 

and.     II.s   interlocutor  having  an  eye   to 

he  possible  luture,  discreetly  .-{^iswered  that 

they  were  obliged  to  do  so,  because  the  llesh 

of  wJutemcn  was  deadly  poison,  with,  which 

salisii'ed  ''""""'^  '^"""'^'•■^^  ''^'  l"-''-^^'''y 
Just  before  M.  dn  Chaillu  came  among 
the  lans  a  strange  and  wild  iiwident  haS 
occurred.  It  ha.s  already  been  mentioned 
>hat  the   Fans  have   been  for  some  years 


monkey,  idl  fat."    Ite  mostly  ate  nrisnn..r"«  I  i,i,oi,;.,~  *T  "'•' "   "''"^""  ""    f^ome   years 

;)f   war,   but   some   of  his   frien  Is' at^   ti  o     'r  .      "     r'"".  ''"''^  westward,  forming  part 
bodies  of  executerl  wizards,  a  f^,od„f"  wh  eh     ii     llv^'no  .,f "'''"  ♦u*'  '"""="'  '"'"  '^^'  ^""- 

He  would  not  allow  that  he  ate  hi,  own  I  "S!;  ^l^^^^  iSZ^ 

(835)  ' 


<•!■'■ 


if 


m 
I 


636 


THE  FANS. 


thev  came  upon  a  village  of  the  Mpongwd, 
and,  according  to  their  wont,  attacked  it. 
The  Mpongwd  were  utterly  incapable  of 
resisting  these  warlike  and  ferocious  inva- 
ders, and  soon  fled  from  their  homes,  leav- 
ing them  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The 
reader  may  find  an  illustration  of  this  scene 
on  the  next  p.age. 

The  Fans  at  once  engaged  in  their  favor- 
ite pastime  of  plunder,  robbing  every  hut 
that  they  could  find,  and,  when  they  hiid 
cleared  all  the  houses,  invading  the  burial- 
grounds,  and  digging  up  the  bodies  of  the 
chiefs  for  the  sake  of  the  ornaments,  weap- 
ons, and  tools  which  are  buried  with  them. 

They  had  filled  two  canoes  with  their 
stolen  treasures  when  they  came  upon  a 
grave  containing  a  newly-buried  body.  This 
they  at  once  exhumed,  and,  taking  it  to 
a  convenient  spot  under  some  mangrove 
trees,  lighted  a  Are,  and  cooked  the  body  in 
the  very  pots  which  they  had  found  in  the 
same  grave  with  it.  llie  reader  will  re- 
member that  the  Mpongwd  tribe  bury  with 
the  bodies  of  their  principal  men  the  arti- 
cles which  they  possessed  m  life,  and  that  a 
chiefs  grave  is  therefore  a  perfect  treasure 
house. 

All  bodies,  however,  are  not  devoured, 
those  of  the  kings  and  great  chiefs  being 
buried  together  with  their  best  apparel  and 
most  valuable  ornaments. 

The   matrimonial   customs  of   the   Fans 
deserve   a  l)rief  notice.     The   reader  may 
rememljcr  that,  as  a  general  rule,  the  native 
African  race  is  not  a  prolific  one  — at  all 
events    in    its    own    land,    though,    when 
imported  to  other  countries  as  slaves,  the 
Africans  have  large  famiii(  <).    Children  are 
greatly  desired  by  the  native  tribes  because 
they  a  Id  to  the  dignity  of  (he  jiarent,  .nnd 
the  lark  of  children  is  one  of  the  reasons 
why  polygamy  is  so  univers-ally  pr.ac-tised; 
and,  as  a  rule,  a  man  hiis  more  wives  than 
children.    Yet  the  Fans  offered  a  remarkable 
exception  to  this  j-ule,  probably  on  account 
of  the   fact   that  (hey  do  not  niarrv  until 
their  ^vives  have  fairly  arrived  at  woman's 
estate.    They  certainly  betroth  their  female 
cliildren  at  a  very  early  age,  often  as  soon 
as  they  are  born,  but  the  actual  marriage 
does  not    take    iilatv  until    the  child   has 
become  a  woman,  and  in  the  meantime  the 
betrothed  girl   remains  with  her  parents, 
and  is  not  allowed  that  unrestricted  license 
which  prevails  among  so  many  of  the  Afri- 
can tribes. 

This  early  betrothal  is  a  necessity,  as  the 
pric;  demaiided  for  a  wife  is  a  very  heavy 
one,  and  a  man  h.as  to  work  for  a  liJng  time 
before  he  can  gather  sufficient  property  for 
the  purchase.  Now  that  the  Fans  have 
lorced  themselves  info  the  trading  parts  of 
the  country,  '•  trader's  goods"  are  the  only 
articles  that  the  father  will  accept  in  return 
for  his  daughter;  and,  as  those  goods  are 
only  to  be.  bought  v/ith  ivory,  the  Fau  bride- 


groom has  to  kill  a  great  number  of  ele- 
phants before  he  can  claim  his  wife. 

Bargaining  for  a  wife  is  often  a  very 
amusing  scene  (see  illustration  on  next 
page),  especially  if  the  father  has  been  suffi- 
ciently sure  of  his  daughter's  beauty  to  re- 
frain from  betrothing  her  as  a  child,  and  to 
put  her  up,  as  it  were,  to  auction  when  she 
IS  nearly  old  enough  to  be  married.  The 
dusky  suitor  dresses  himself  in  his  best 
apparel,  and  wails  on  the  father,  in  order  to 
open  the  negotiation. 

His  business  is,  of  course,  to  depreciate 
the  beauty  of  the  girl,  to  rcjjresent  that, 
although  she  may  be  very  pretty  as  a  child 
of  eleven  or  twelve,  she  will  have  fallen  off 
in  her  good  looks  when  she  is  a  mature 
woman  of  fourteen  or  fifteen.  The  father, 
on  the  contrary,  extols  the  value  of  his 
daughter,  speaks  slightingly  of  the  suitor  as 
a  man  quite  beneath  his  notice,  and  forth- 
with sets  a  price  on  her  thai  the  richest 
warrior  could  not  hope  to  pay.  Copper  and 
brass  pans,  technically  culled  "neptunes," 
are  the  chief  articles  of  barter  among  the 
Fans,  who,  however,  do  not  use  them  for 
cooking,  preferring  for  this  purpose  their 
own  clay  pots,  but  merely  for  a  cnvenieut 
mode  of  carrying  a  certain  weigti^  of  pre- 
cious metal.  Anklets  and  armlets  of  copper 
are  also  much  valued,  and  so  are  white 
beads,  while  of  late  years  the  abominable 
'■  trade-guns  "  have  become  indispensable. 
At  last,  after  multitudinous  arguments  on 
both  sides,  the  affair  is  settled,  and  the  price 
of  the  girl  agreed  »upon.  Part  is  g/Dnerally 
paid  at  the  time  by  way  of  earnest",  and  the 
bridegroom  promises  to  pay  the  remainder 
when  lie  comes  for  his  wife. 

As  soon  as  the  day  of  the  wedding  is 
fixed,  the  bridegroom  and  his  friends  begin 
to  make  preparations  for  the  grand  feast 
with  which  they  are  expected  to  entertain 
a  vast  number  of  guests.  Some  of  them 
go  off  and  busy  themselves  in  hunting  ele- 
phants, smokiiig  and  drying  the  flesh,  and 
preserving  the  tusks  for"  sale.  Others  pre- 
pare large  quantities  of  manioc  bread  and 
plantains,  while  others  find  a  congenial 
occupation  in  brewing  great  quantities  of 
palm  wine.  Hunters  are  also  engaged  for 
the  purpose  of  keeping  uii  the  supply  of 
meat. 

When  the  day  is  fixed,  all  the  inhabitants 
of  the  village  assemble,  and  the  bride  is 
handed  over  to  her  husband,  who  has 
already  paid  her  price.  Both  are,  of  course, 
dressed  in  their  very  best.  The  bride 
we.ars,  as  is  the  custom  among  unmarried 
females,  nothing  but  red  paint  and  as  many 
ornaments  as  she  can  manage  to  procure. 
Her  hair  is  decorated  with  great  quantities 
of  white  beatls,  and  her  wrists  and  ankles 
are  hidden  under  a  profusion  of  b'-ass  and 
copper  rings.  The  bridegroom  oils  his  body 
until  his  skin  shines  like  a  mirror,  blackens 
and  polishes  his  weil-iiled  tceili,  udoiua  his 


imber  of  ele* 
wife. 

often  a  very 
ion  on  next 
las  been  suffl- 
beauty  to  re- 
i  child,  and  to 
ion  wlien  cho 
allied.  The 
in  liis  best 
ir,  in  order  to 

to  depreciate 
present  that, 
tty  as  a  child 
ave  fallen  off 

is  a  mature 

The  father, 

value  of  his 

the  suitor  as 

'c,  and  forth- 

i  the  richest 

Copper  and 

"  neptunes," 
r  among  the 
ise  them  for 
urpose  their 
!i  c'-nvenieut 
cigtii,  of  pre- 
lets  of  copper 
0   are  white 

abominable 
idispcnsable. 
rguiuents  on 
md  the  price 

is  generally 
lest,  and  the 
e  remainder 

wedding  is 
fiends  begin 
grand  feast 
t')  entertain 
ne  of  them 
hunting  ele- 
le  llcsh,  and 
Others  pre- 
c  bread  and 
a  con<jenij>l 
piuntities  of 
engaged  for 
le  supply  of 

inhabitants 
he  bride  is 
I,  who  has 
e,  of  course, 

The  bride 
;  unmarried 
lul  as  many 

to  procure. 
t  quantities 

and  ankles 
f  b'T.8S  and 
)ils  his  body 
or,  blackens 
,  udui'Ua  his 


(1.)    ATTACK  ON  A  MPONGWf   VILLAGK 


(See  page  53C.) 


1;    tj 


and  t7ef  rmlnl!  ^rbriffhtly  colored  feathers, 

hlfnl.  i  •  "*  ?"*^^*'''  sometimes  several 
hundred  m  number,  keep  up  the  feast  for 
throe  or  four  davs  in  8ucces8!(,n,  eatS  ele- 
cing,  until  the  powers  of  nature  are  nuiL 

twS'Sf '  «  "'  ',*"^"  «'%^P'»/fo"an  ho2  "o' 
two  with  the  happy  facil  ty  that  distin 
guishes  he  native  African,  iwak  nc  £ 
tlunr  brief  slumber,  they  begin  11^0*^  £ 
afresh  and  after  the  first iw  iTours  .carceTv 
one  of  the  guests  is  sober,  or  indeed^ 
expected  to  be  so.  At  las  ,  however  all 
the  wiue  IS  drunk,  and  then  the  guests 
return  to  an  involuntary  state  of  sobri!?y 

We  now  come  to  the  religion  and  suner- 
stitions  of  the  Fan  tribe.    Is  iLr  as  "£ 
have  any  real  worship   thev  are   idoln  o« 
Each  village  has  a  huge  i  ioY  s^^iSlv  dlrlf" 
cated  to  the  service  o?  the  famfly  or  dan  of 
which  the  inhabitants  of  the^iHa'o "re 
composed,  and  at  certain  times  the  whol^ 
famiiy  assemble  together  at  the  idol  house 
or  temple,  and  then  go  through  Uieir  Tt^ 
of  worship,  which  consist  chiefTv  of  dand^  ' 
and  s,„gi„g.    Around  each  of^the  temnrel 
are  placed  a  number  of  skulls  of  w  fd  ani 
mals   among  which  the  gorilirtS  thl' 
most  conspicuous  place      Sr  rh   =»lf      " 

thonght  veW  sacred^ttno  oi^eVottveT 
tuie  to  remove  any  of  the  Rkii„a   cm„i 

« Of  do««,o„  i.,„xt>.'  'riffl 

who  are  comlcmncd  for  tlnS  ij  „n.        j'.' 
87 


NEW  MOON  CEREMONY. 


639 

in'wiluJ"'  This  u  r**  *  J'^Jf  l?ngbyaninch 
der  ami  ;,n  J  !k"  ^"V«  "^«'"  "»«  left  shoul- 
cier  and  under  the  right  arm,  and  is  thought 
to  be  very  etHcacious?   Perhaps  such  a  eh! in 

ZlTalV'"''  ""'  other  hfve'Sn'efte 
iffir  fi  n  r''"'"'?'  *""'' '°  consequence,  the 
Illogical  natives  have  thought  that  the  iron 

Next^n'v  f  ™'""'  preservatives  in  w^?° 
i,.,«  ^r'i*'  c**"ies  a  small  bag.  which  is 

Jiung  round  the  neck,  and  which  is^a  con 
spicuous  ornament  among  the  men     Tm2 
of  tV  ''^''''  ^^V^'^'  «°^' '«  'iade  onhe  Sin 
dLrkin  TaCr'^'r    ^'  'T'''^'''  "it^'^of 

Erarfirtisft-IJln'^Ve^te 
some  rare  animal,  and  have  been  sneet^^ 
coiisccrated  by  tlu^  medicine  nmn  T^e  w£ 
r  ors  are   often  so  covered  with  f,,ii^       T 

Z^l  'fr'^^^ ''''''  U^ey' miti:  atev  ry  stef 
much  to  the  gratification  of  the  wearer  an^f 

w«'lT'^\"?^^.,'"°*'°  ^^'gan  to  rise.  When  sha 
lit:!  r*l"'"S,  VO""  calabashes  of  difierent 

ear'^So  d.S'H^T^'^/''?'"  «»  elep&s 

the  forest  '^  Th*"  ''"i^'"-^  '"  procession  from 
ine  loiest.  Their  dance  was  uncouth-  th^ir 
song  a  solemn  tuneless  chant;    ^Solved 

&^oSn^rz.^£;£  £^ 

Jus    naked,   finely    moulded  form -I  saw 

covered  witif  g^^eS^' ^^  ll' Sot 
Wild  beasts,  danced  in  the  micbt,  where  tLy 


1 


wo 


THE  FANS. 


executpd  n  pns-(Jf-<Jfitx  which  would  have 
mnclc  a  premiere  danseuse  despair.  They 
aecompnnii'd  Ihuir  intricate  steps  with  mirnc- 
uloiis  contortions  of  tlio  hody,  and  obtained 
Bmidl  presents  of  white  beads  from  the  spec- 
tators. 

"  It  lias  always  appeared  to  mc  a  special 
ordinaiu'e  of  Nature  that  women,  who  nri^  so 
ea.sily  fntiK'icd  by  the  ascent  of  a  lliglit  of 
stairs,  or  i)y  a  walk  to  church,  should  be  able 
to  dance  for  any  length  of  time;  but  never 
did  I  see  f'jmalc  endurance  equal  this. 
Never  did  1  spend  a  worse  niglit's  rest.  All 
night  long  (hose  dreary  deafening  sounds 
drove  sleep  away,  and  the  next  morning 
these  two  infatuated  women  were  still  to  be 
seen  within  a  small  but  select  circle  of 'con- 
stant ndmirors,'  writliing  in  their  sinuous 
(and  now  somewhat  odorous)  forms  with 
unabated  ardor." 

The  form  of  marimba  or  handja  which  is 
vised  among  the  Fans  has  mostly  seven 
notes,  and  the  gourds  have  each  a  hole  in 
them  covered  with  a  piece  of  spider's  web,  as 
has  already  been  narrated  of  the  Central 
African  drums.  The  Fan  hant^ja  is  fastened 
to  a  slight  frame;  and  when  the  performer 
intends  to  play  tlie  instrument,hc  sils  down, 

E laces  the  frame  on  his  knees,  so  that  the 
andja  is  suspended  between  them,  and  then 
beats  on  the  keys  with  two  short  sticks. 
One  of  these  sticks  is  made  of  hard  wood, 
but  the  end  of  the  other  is  covered  with 
iome  soil  material  so  as  to  deaden  the 
sound.  The  Fans  have  really  some  ear 
for  music,  and  possess  some  pretty  though 
rudely  constructed  airs. 

Of  cour.se  the  Fans  have  drums.  The 
favorite  form  seems  rather  awkward  to 
Europeans.  It  consists  of  a  wooden  and 
slightly  conical  cylinder,  some  four  feet  in 
length  and  only  ten  inches  in  diameter  at 
the  wider  end,  the  other  measuring  barely 
seven  inches.  A  skin  is  stretched  tightly 
over  the  largo  end,  and  when  the  performer 
plays  on  it,  he  stands  with  bent  knees,  hold- 
ing the  drum  between  them,  and  beats  furi- 
ously on  the  he.id  with  two  wooden  sticks. 
To  return  to  the  Fan  belief  in  charms. 
It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  the 
Fans  mostly  hunt  the  elephant  by  driving 
it  against  a  barrier  artificially  formed  of 
vines,  and  killing  it  as  it  struggles  to  escai)c 
from  the  tangled  and  twisted  creepers.  They 
have  also  another  and  most  ingenious  plaii, 
which,  however,  scarcely  seems  to  be  their 
own  invention,  but  to  i)e  partly  borrowed 
from  the  tribes  tln-ough  which  they  have 
passed  in  their  progress  westward.  This 
plan  is  called  the  Nghal,  that  being  the 
name  of  the  enclosure  into  which  the  ani- 
mals are  enticed.  AVhile  Mr.  lleade  was  in 
the  country  of  the  Mpongwe  tribe,  into 
which,  it  will  be  remembered,  the  Fans  had 
forced  their  way,  the  hunters  found  out  that 
three  elephants  frequented  a  certain  por- 
tion of  tlie  forest.    Honorably  paying  the 


Mpong'vd  for  permission  to  hunt  in  their 
grounds,  they  set  out  and  built  round  an 
open  patch  of  ground  an  enclosure,  slightly 
made,  composed  of  posts  and  railings. 
Itound  the  nghal  were  the  huts  of  the  Fan 
hunters.  When  Mr.  Keade  arrived  there, 
he  was  told  that  the  three  elrplmnts  were 
within  the  nghal,  sleeping  under  a  tree;  and 
sure  enough  there  they  were,  one  of  them 
being  a  fine  old  male  with  a  large  pair  of 
tusks.  If  he  had  chosen  he  coulcl  have 
walked  through  the  fence  without  taking 
the  trouble  to  .liter  his  jiace,  but  here  ho 
was,  together  with  his  companions,  witb  ut 
the  slightest  idea  of  escaping.  So  certain 
were  the  hunters  that  their  mighty  prey 
was  safe,  that  they  did  not  even  take  the 
trouble  to  close  the"  openings  through  which 
the  animals  had  entered  the  nghal.  They 
were  in  no  hurry  to  kill  the  elephants. 
They  liked  to  look  at  them  as  they  moved 
about  in  the  nghal,  apparently  unconscious 
of  the  continual  hul>lnib  aroiind  them,  and 
certainly  'judisturbed  by  it.  The  elephants 
were  to  remain  there  until  the  new  moon, 
which  would  rise  in  a  fortnight,  and  then 
they  would  be  killed  in  its  honor. 

On  inquiring,  it  was  found  that  the  enclo- 
sure was  not  iniilt  round  the  elephants,  as 
might  have  been  supposed.  No.  It  was 
built  at  some  distance  from  the  spot  where 
the  elephants  were  feeding.  "Ihc  medi- 
cine men  made  fetish  for  them  to  come  in. 
Thcv  came  in.  The  medicine  men  made 
fetish  for  them  to  remain.  And  they  re- 
mained. AVhen  they  were  bein<,'  killed, 
fetish  would  be  made  that  they  might  not 
be  angry.  In  a  fortnight's  time  the  new 
moon  would  ajipear,  and  the  elephants 
would  then  be  killed.  Eefore  that  time  all 
the  shrubs  and  light  grass  would  be  cut 
down,  the  fence  would  be  strengthened, 
and  interlaced  with  boughs.  The  elephants 
would  be  killed  with  spears  cossbows,  and 
guns." 

Tlie  natives,  however,  would  not  allow 
their  white  visitor  to  enter  the  nghal,  as  he 
wished  to  do,  and  refused  all  his  bribes  of 
beads  and  other  artivles  preeicnis  to  the  soul 
of  the  Fan.  They  feared  lest  the  in-esenee 
.if  u  while  man  n'light  break  the  fetish,  and 
t,ie  sight  of  a  white  face  might  frighten  the 
elephants  so  mneh  as  to  make  them  disre- 
gard all  the  charms  that  had  been  laid  upon 
them,  and  rush  in  their  tervoi'  against  the 
fragile  b.arrier  which  held  tin  in  prisoners. 

As  to  the  method  by  which  the  elephants 
were  induced  to  enter  the  enclosure,  no 
other  answer  was  made  than  that  which 
had  already  been  givcm.  In  India  tlie 
enclosui'c  is  a  vast  and  conijilicated  trap, 
with  an  opening  a  mile  or  so  in  width,  into 
which  th<!  elephants  arc  driven  gradutilly, 
and  which  is  closed  behind  them  as  they 
advance  into  smaller  and  smaller  prisons. 
In  Africa  all  that  was  done  was  to  build  an 
enclosure,  to  leave  an  opening  just  largo 


ELEPHANTS  CAUGHT  BY  THE  FFTISH. 


onough  to  admit  nn  elephant,  to  make  fetish 
m,  "  ""'Phants,  and  in  they  came. 
Tlio  whole  thing  is  a  mystery.   Mr.  Reade 
Who  IVanlcly  confesses  that  if  ho  had  not 
wiLli  his  own  eyes  seen  the  n«hal  and  its 
stui   open  door  ho  would  have  refused   to 
behevo  the  whole  story,  is  of  opinion  that 
the     fetish »  m  question  is  threefold.    Iln 
suggests  that  the  first  fetisli  was  a  prepara- 
tion of  some  plant  for  which  the  efepliants 
have  tlie  same  mania  that  cats  have  for  va- 
lerian and  pigeons  for  salt,  and  thinks  that 
tUey  may  have  been  enticed  into  the  nHial 
by  means  of  this  herb.    Then,  after  tiiey 
had  been  induced  to  enter  the   enclosure 
that  they  were  kept  from  approaching  the 


Ml 

rolilr7n!'.rT'"'*"?'  ^"^'*^'> '""  somewhat  of  a 
religious  character    ibout  it.    No   meat  is 

Set^r'  Th!;"  'i'"'r'  ^'*«^'"*^«  been 'com! 
Lies  r^unTMhi^'f'n'  '".""l''''  P'"''^  •"««™- 
roiiml  U«  ..^  *^^nl"  elephant,  and  dances 
round  Its  body.    Tlic  medicine  man  then 

?  the  'hii^T  "'^"  rr  "^  '"«''*  '■'•"•"""" 


lence  liy  means  of  drugs  distasteful  to  rhein 
and    tliat    tlio    "fetish"   which    prevented 
tliem  Irom  being  angry  when  killed  was 
siinply  a  sort  of  opiate  thrown  to  tliem. 
ilie  well-known  fiislidiousness  of  the  ele- 
phant may  induce  somo  readers  to  think 
tliat    tills    last    suggestion    is    rather    im- 
prob.ible.     Hut  it  is  also  known  that    in 
some  parts  of  Africa,  elephants  are  usuallv 
drugged  by  poisoned  food,  and  that    the 
Indiiiu  domesticated  elephant  will  do  almost 
anything  for  sweetmeats  in  which  the  in- 
toxicatuijr  hemp  forms  an  ingredient 

1  hat  the  elephants  are  prevented  from 
approaching  the  fence  by  means  of  a  dis- 
tasteful preparation  seems  likely  from  a 
piece  of  fetishism  that  Mr.  Reade  witnessed 
At  a  certain  time  of  tlie  day  the  medicine 
man  made  his  round  of  the  fence,  sin<'iu.r  in 
a  melancholy  voice,  and  daubing  the  iiosts 
and  rails  with  a  dark  brown  liquid.  This 
was  acknowledged  to  be  the  fetish  by  which 
1 10  elephants  were  induced  to  remain  within 
the  enclosure,  and  it  is  very  probable  that  it 


nhnnf.  -SF  ""  ™''""  ''"«''«'«  "»  «''"«  'Ele- 
phants. The  meat  i,  then  cooked  under 
tl le  .superintendence  of  the  medicine  man 
and  the  party  who  kill.d  the  elephant,  ad 

offilhni'r"-',''/"'  '"*«  the  woods' and 
offered  to  tlie  idol.  Of  course  the  idol  i.s 
supposed  to  eat  it,  an<l  the  chances  are  that 
be  does  so  through  the  medium  of  his  rej- 
resen  ative,  the  me.licino  man.  Before  th^e 
baskets  are  taken  into  .i,e  woods,  the  hunt- 
ers dance  about  tliem  .s  they  had  danced 
round  the  0  ophaiit,  .n„.,  beseech  tl le  icU 
to  be  liberal  toward  thi.in,  and  give  them 
plentyof  clcnhants  so  uat  thef  may  be 
able  to  give  f.im  plenty  of  moat.       ^ 

The   spirits   being   thus  propitiated,   the 
flesh  IS  stripped  off  the  bones  of  the  elo- 

stkcd  I.'niVif-  '".'"«  "I"'"  branches,  and 
Z  „  • ,  '•  'A  '•'  .'^''y>  ^^■'"^'°  it  can  be  kept 
lor  a  considerable  time.  * 

The  rciuler  may  remember  that  one  of 

he  principal  ornaments  of  ■  ^o  idol  temnle  is 

the  skull  of  the  gorilla,  am.  ,he  same  obfect 

IS  used  by  several  of  the  tribes  for  aluS 

those  districts  in  which  the  gorilla  still  sur- 
viv^  are  liorribly  afraid  ofU.e  aui,„a,and 
feel  for  it  that  nrofound  respect  whicCin 

£r  ZiT  'a '"'''  "  "^°  '■^*'""  «f  f«»r,  and 
bin,r  M.'^^V  ^     T"*^"  "•'^''^  respects  any- 
thing that  he  does  not  fear,  f.nd  the  verv 

nrofonnrl     roanm^t    ,..I,i„i,     _„.....' J 


„'='     ■ ...^i^o  nwi,  leitr,  .'sua  tne  verv 

nossessed  some  "odor  ^vhicV' disgusted  7he1o^  IT?  ^'^vl'    ""    j^""?  tribc.^ 

keen-scented  animals,  and  kept  them  awav  Fins  1 -^vn  w  A  '^'^'''h:?'  ^V'   ^^ell-armed 
from  its  inlluence.  *  ^^^  *  oVn'  ■     J'>o  .^o^'la,  shov^  that  it  is 


from  its  inlluence. 

nf^'.';  "'"'^•«,^'««  suggests  that  this  method 
of  catching  elephants  may  be  a  relic  of  the 
days  when  African  elephants  were  token 
nlive  and  trained  to  the  service  of  man  as 
they  are  now  in  India  and  Ceylon.  That 
the  knowledgo  of  elephant  training  has 
been    lost  is    no  wonder,  considerin'^  the 


real  y  an  animal  which  is  to  be  dreaded, 
fi,,:  ''"m,  ^  ^'^^V»  m»cb  controversy  about 
the  gorilla,  and  the  history  of  this  gigant^- 
ape  IS  so  inextricably  interwoven  witSth  s 

fvo";  I?V^"J'"*  ^f™«'  "■'^t  the  present  work 

would  be  impe^rfect  without  a  brief  notice 

01  it    In  the  above-mentioned  controversv 

internecine-feuTfswd^i^irpVe^jr^;;;;;^  Z  H?  Si':''  '''T  ^'T  taken  -  one 'th^at 

tribes  of  Afri.M,  and  preveii    them  "from  tbo  ^?.  !l    ™'''    ''*'  ."'^'^•no'Wedged   king  of 

developing  the  arts  of  peace      Bnf.    iC,  i'-'^,.  „'f.^*'  ™P»'''?"'\»?  "»  "th^r  wild  ani- 


developing  the  arts  of  peace.  But  that 
they  were  so  cau-ht  an((  trained,  even  in 
the  old  classical  davs,  is  well  known;  and 
from  all  accounts  the  elephants  of  Africa 
were  not  one  whit  inferior  to  their  Indian 
relatives  in  sagacity  or  docility.  ~ 
IS  now  no  part  of  Africa  in  .,.i.ei 
natives  seem  to  have  the  least  idea  tint 
such  monstrous  animals  could  be  subjected 
to  the  sway  of  man,  and  even  In  Abyssinia 
the  sight  of  elephants  acting  as  beasts  of 
burden  and  traction  filled  tlio  natives  will 
half  incredulous  awe. 

When  the  Fans  have  succeeded  in  killin- 
a  elephant  thnv  r,..nn„„,i  t„ J.,       '"'"o 


mals  and  even  attacking  and  driving  away 
he  elephant  itself.  Of  man  it  had  no'drea  f 
ying  ill  wait  tor  him  and  attacking  him 
whenever  it  saw  a  chance,  and  being'^n  t.r- 
h^w '.?/"r'"'*  ';■'["  '»  fair  fight,  the  .luol 


have   the   least  Vl.^'M^"  perish.      '        '' ""'  ""'  °' "^°  °"»''^-  «>"^t 

Those  who  took  the  opposite  view  de- 
nounced all  these  stories  as  « old  wives' 
fables,  only  fit  to  be  relegated  to  your 
grandmother's  bookshelves,"  — I  quote  the 
exact  words  — saying  that  the  gorilla  bein<i 


m 


M9 


TUE  FANS. 


when  it  sees  him.  It  in  Imnlly  ncrossnry  to 
montion  that  M.  du  Chailhi  ia  roxpniiHiblo 
for  many  of  tho  statcmentH  contained  iu  the 
former  of  tliese  theories  —  Hevernl,  however, 
being  confessetUy  gathensd  from  hearsay, 
and  tliat  sevenil  otliers  wro  pi-<'v;il  nt 
throuuliout  Europe  long  befo  vs  */  <;n»il. 
publislied  his  well-known  vtorU. 

The  truth  seems  to  l:<  bo"vc(ii  tliese 
stjitements,  and  it  is  toloral-ly  evident  that 
tho  gorilla  is  a  llerto  and  svvngo  beast  when 
attaeked,  but  that  it  will  not  go  out  of  its 
way  to  attack  n  man,  and  indeed  will  al- 
ways avoid  him  if  it  can.  That  it  is  i  apa- 
ble  of  being  a  fierce  and  determined  «!neniy 
is  evident  from  the  fact  that  one  of  Mr.  w. 
Reade's  guides,  the  hunter  Etin,  had  his 
left  hand  crippled  by  the  bite  of  a  gorilla; 
and  Mr.  Wilson  mentions  that  he  has  seen 
a  man  who  had  lost  nearly  the  whole  cnlf 
of  one  leg  in  a  similiir  manner,  and  who 
said  that  he  was  in  a  fair  way  of  being  torn 
in  pieces  if  he  had  not  been  rescued  by  his 
companions.  FonnidabU'  as  are  the  terrible 
jaws  and  teeth  of  the  gorilla  when  it  suc- 
ceeds in  seizing  a  man,  its  charge  is  not 
nearly  so  much  to  be  feared  as  that  of  the 
leopard,  a.s  it  is  made  rather  leisurely,  and 
permits  the  agile  native  to  spring  aside  and 
avoid  it. 

On  account  of  the  structure  common  to 
all  the  monkey  tribe,  the  gorilla  habitually 
walks  on  all-fours,  and  is  utterly  incapablV- 
of  standing  upright  like  a  man.  It  can 
assume  a  partially  erect  attitude,  but  with 
bent  knees,  stooi)in<'  body,  and  incurved 
feet,  and  is  not  nearly  so  "firmly  set  on  its 
legs  as  is  a  dancing  bear.  Even  while  it 
stands  on  its  feet,  the  heavy  body  is  so  ill 
supported  on  the  feeble  legs  that  tne  animal 
is  obliged  to  balance  itself  by  swaying  its 
large  arms  in  the  air.  Just  as  a  rope-dancer 
balances  himself  with  his  pole. 

In  consequence  of  the  formation  of  the 
limbs,  the  tracks  which  it  leaves  are  very 
curious,  the  long  and  powerf\il  arms  being 
used  as  cruLches,  and  the  short  feeble  hind 
legs  swung  between  them.  It  stems  that 
each  party  or  family  of  gorillas  is  gov- 
erned by  an  old  male,  who  rules  them  just 
aa  the  bull  rules  its  mates  and  children. 

The  natives  say  that  the  j'orilla  not  only 
walks,  but  charges  upon  all-fours,  though  it 
will  raise  itself  on  its  h'nd  legs  in  order  to 
survey  its  foes.  Etia  once  enacted  for  Mr. 
W  Rea<le  the  scene  in  which  he  had  re- 
ceived the  wound  that  crippled  liis  hand. 
Directing  Mr.  Reade  to  hold  a  gun  as  if 
abput  to  shoot,  he  rushed  forward  on  all- 
fours,  seizcu  the  lefl  wrist  with  one  of  his 
hands,  dr.agged  it  to  his  mouth,  made  be- 
lieve to  bite  it,  and  then  made  off  on  all- 
fours  as  he  had  charged.  And,  IVom  tl»e 
remarkable  intelligence  which  this  hideous 
but  polite  hunter  had  shown  in  imitating 
other  animals,  it  was  evident  that  his  story 
was  a  true  one. 


As  to  tho  houses  which  tho  gorilla  Is  said 
to  build,  there  Is  some  truth  in  tho  story. 
Houses  they  can  scarcely  bo  called,  inntt- 
murh  as  they  have  no  sides,  and  In  their  con- 
struction the  gorilla  displays  an  architectural 
power  far  inferior  to  that  of  ninny  animals. 
The  lodge  of  the  beaver  is  n  palace  com- 
pared with  the  dwelling  of  the  gorilla. 
Many  of  tho  deserted  residences  m.iy  lie 
found  in  the  forests  which  the  gorilla  in- 
habits, and  look  much  like  herons'  nests  on 
a  rather  large  scale.  They  consist  simply 
of  sticks  torn  from  the  trees  and  laid  on  the 
spreadin^j  part  of  a  horizoii'al  bniiicb,  so  as  to 
make  a  rude  platform.  This  nest,  it  we  may 
so  cull  ii.  ;  (ii  I  npied  by  the  female,  iiiid  in 
1  i.icess  of  time  is  f^lhiied  by  her  offspring. 
rh(!  males  sle(!p  in  a  large  tiee. 

Shy  and  n-tiriug  in  its  habits,  the  gorilla 
retreats  from  the  habitations  of  ninn,  niul 
loves  to  lurk  in  the  ghxmiiest  recesses  of 
the  forest,  where  it  finds  its  favorite  food, 
ami  where  it  is  free  from  the  intrn>ion  of 
man.  As  to  tho  untmnable  character  of  tho 
gorilla  as  contrasted  with  the  chimpanzee, 
Mr.  Reade  mentions  that  he  has  seen  young 
specimens  of  both  animals  kept  in  a  tamo 
state,  and  both  equally  gentle. 

We  now  come  to  the  statement  that, 
while  the  gorilla  is  working  himself  up  to 
an  attack,  he  beats  his  breast  until  it  re- 
sounds like  a  great  drum,  giving  ont  a  loud 
booming  soiuul  that  can  be  heard  through 
the  forest  at  the  distance  of  thrc'  miles. 
How  such  a  sound  can  be  produced  in  such 
a  manner  it  is  not  easy  to  comprehend,  and 
Mr.  Reade,  on  careful  in(Hiiry  from  several 
gorilla  hunters,  could  not  find  that  one  of 
them  had  ever  heard  the  sound  in  questi  m, 
or,  indeed,  had  ever  heard  of  it.  They 
said  that  the  gorilla  had  a  drum,  and,  on 
being  asked  to  show  it,  took  their  interloc- 
utor to  a  large  hollow  tree,  and  said  that 
the  gorilla  seized  tw"  neighboring  trees 
with  his  hands,  and  swung  himself  against 
the  hollow  trunk,  beating  it  so  "  strong- 
stron""  with  his  feet  that  the  booming 
sound  could  be  heard  at  a  great  distance. 

Etia  illustrated  the  practice  of  the  gorilla 
by  swinging  himself  against  the  tree  in  a 
similar  manner,  but  failed  in  i.roducing  the 
sound.  However,  he  adhered  to  his  state- 
ment, and,  as  a  succession  of  heavy  blows 
against  a  hollow  trunk  would  produce  a  sort 
of  booming  noise,  it  is  likely  that  his  state- 
ment may  nave  been  iu  the  main  a  correct 
one. 

Now  that  the  naiives  have  procured  fire- 
arms, they  do  not  fear  the  gorilla  as  much 
as  they  used  to  do.  Still,  even  with  such 
potent  assistance,  gorilla  hunting  is  not 
without  its  dangers,  and,  as  we  have  seen, 
many  instances  are  known  where  a  man  has 
been  severely  wounded  by  the  gorilla,  though 
Mr.  Reade  could  not  hear  ofa  single  case 
where  the  animal  had   killed  any  of  its 

u^suil&Qts. 


GOEILLA  HUNTING. 


When  tho  native  hiintoM  chnso  the  an- 
rilJii  iind  possess  (Ire-arms,  they  are  obliged 
o  tiro  at  very  short  rai.«e,  partly  becau«.. 
ho  .lense   nature    of   those    paris   of   the 
orest   winch    tho   prllla    haunts    prevent 
then,  from  seeing  the  animal  at  a  tJiMunce 
ot  more  than  ten  or  twc'lvo  yanls,  and  i.irtlv 
because  It  18  necessary  to  kill  at  the  llret 
^hot  an  animal   which,  if  only  wounded 
attacks  Its  foes,  and   uses  fiercely  the  foi": 
imda hie   w..apons  with  which   It  lia.s   been 
g  lied.     Any  one  who  has  s.-en   the  skull 
ot   an   adult  fjorilla,  and   noticed   tl  e  v  "s 
law-bones,    the    enormous    teed.,  an.l    th. 
li  «h   bony  rid«e«   down    tho    head    which 
ftllord  attachmimt  to  the  mnscles,  can  easily 
tinders  and  the  terrible  forre  of  a  Korilli's 

^'V'v.f'l'V.?"''''?"'!  not  the  pawsM-elhe 
chief,  It  not  tho  only  weapons  which  the  ani- 
mal employs;  and,  althouKh  they  are  civen 
to  1  in  Older  to  enable  it  to  bite  out  the  pith 
o(  the  tvces  on  wlucii  it  j)rincipally  feeds 

ii'iomlmt  "'  '"'*''  '^"''"  '^  ereat  effect 
So  the  no-'ro  hunter,  who  is  never  a  good 

«ot,  an,  whoso  «un  is  so  larR..  an.l  heavy 
i.it  to  take  a  c(nrect  aim  is  quite  out  of 

the  question,  allows    the    gorilla  to  conie 

his  I  e.  Sometimes  the  animal  is  too  (uiick 
torluin,and  in  that  c,is„  ho  permits  t  to 
sei.e  the  end  of  the  barrel  in  ts  lands  and 
<  nig  It  to  its  mouth,  and  then  (ires  K^' 

lefeetb-'T-  -'"^'T  '''!'  »""-'o  I'^twee^ 
1 10  teeth.    Seuing  the  olyect  of  attack  in 
the  hands,  and   drawing  ft  to  the   mouth 
seems  to  be  with  tho  g.7rilla,  as  with    tfi 
nil    n"'""n'^ /"'!"'  *!'"  "••'""'^••y  mode  of 
f  T.V  ?•,    i'""  ''""'''I"  ''i«  to  be  very  care- 
ful that  he  fires  .a  tho  right  moment  as  the 
Kigautie  Htreugih  of  tin" gorilla  en  b  es  it 
o  make  vcit  short  work\f  a  tr    le  gun 
If  It  should  happen  to  pull  the  weapot,  ou 
of  its.,wnor8hands.    A  French  office,  told 
Mr.  Ecade  that  he  had  seen  one  of  these 
guns  which  had  been  seized  by  a  'rori Ha 

„. '^f;^.«a"»e  ti-avellcr,  who  is  certainly  not 
Sower  7Mf''  to.exaggerate  the  siLTr  K 
power  of  the  gorilla,  Wius  greatly  struck  bv 

iv^.P'^'  '  T  't'  ''.'^'  ^««'i  recent Iv 
^  d  L  fi  ."./''■'^  Mongilambu  came  ancl 
rma  fir  «w  ^V™^'"''\='  freshly-killed  go- 
riJIa  loi  sale.    I  went  down  to  (he  beach 

almost  filled.    It  was  a  raaJe,  ami  a  very 


largo  one.    The   prcnerved    spcclmon  can 

plveyou  no  idea  of  what  this  animal  real^v 

|H,  with  its  skin  slill  unshrivelled?  and  tK 

.  ood  scarcely  dry  upon  iU  wounds     The 

udn.u,snes«  of  ,ts  face,  the  grand  breadth  of 

ts  breast.  Its  massive  arms,  and,  ;.l.«ve  all 

ita  hands,  l.ke  those  of  a  human  l.>     -  in'' 

pressed,  me  with  emotions  which  1  I,  «i  n"t 

expected   to  feel.     Hut  nothing  is     erf"ct 

Tho  huge  trunk  dwindled  into  a  pair  of 

egs,  thin,  bent,  shrivelled,  and  decrin  1  ^ 

those  of  an  old  woman. 

Such  l,..ing  the  impression  made  on  a  civ- 

li/cd  being  by  the  dead  body  of  a  goril  a 

ly">K  In  a  canoe,  the  imtives^nay  wt  1     « 

aweoMti"'"..'"'^'"''^'T"«    "*    «"ia"rsti   o  « 
awe   d    t  as  it  roams  the  forest  in  freedom 
and  or  th  nking  that  its  skull  is  a  fit  adorn-' 
"lei.t  (or  the  temple  of  their  chief  Idol 

lo  a  party  of  native  hunters  unnrovidefl 
with  fire-arms,  the  chase  of  the  animal  is  a 
service  of  real  didicult^  an<l  danger  Thoy 
are  obliged  to  seek  it  in  the  recesses  of  its 
own  haunts,  and  to  come  to  dose  quartej 
w  th  It.  (See  the  illustration  on  imge  457) 
The  spear  is  necessarily  the  princinai 
weapon  emnloyed,  as  (he  arrow,  even  though 
poisoned,  ,„es  not  kill  at  once,  and    fie 

u;"'.l",erM^' '"''""''  ',*>'"'''  l''"»  Of  a  wound 
to  attack  the  man  who  inflicted  it.  Their 
lear  ot  the  animal  is  al.so  increased  bv  the 
superst,  ion  which  has  already  been  Wn- 
tioned,that  a  man  is  sometimes  transformed 
'no  a  gorilla,  and  becomes  thereby  a  so™  of 
sylvan  <  emon,  who  cannot  be  killed -at  all 
events,  by  a  black  man -and  who  is  no" 

^^s^ta^;i;S'^^''"'^"«-'^»>-- 

transformed  man;  and  as  the  adult  male 
sometimes  measures  five  feet  six  inches  or 
so  in  heiglit  there  is  really  some  exeus.  for 
he  mil  ve  belief  that  some  supernal  ral 
power     OS  hidden  in  this  monstmus  ape. 

Attei  i  careful  investigation,  Mr.  Reado 
ha.s  con,  to  the  conclusion  that  except  in 
point  of  .size,  there  is  no  essential  difTerence 
m.the  gorilla  and  the  chimpanzee'  both 
animals  goin-  usually  on  all-fours,  and  both 
building  sligl.t  houses  or  platforms  in  the 
trees,  both  changing  their  dwelling  in  search 
0  food  .-iiul  to  avoid  the  neighb'orhood  of 
man   and  both,  without  being  gre-rarious 

:?rrnK!""'''"«  '^^'^^^  -  -"-^- 


M 


CHAPTER  LIII. 


THE  KRUMEN  AND  FANTI. 

tOCAUTT  OF  THR  KRtTMKN-THKIR  FINE  DRVBLOPMEKT  Am.  WONDRHPTn,  EXmrRANrK  _  TtlPm  SKILL 

IN    DOAT.NO -COLOR    OF  TMB     KU.-MKV -T>.EIU   VK..V  S.M.LK    ..UK.M —»„-,..,«   NOMKN.XATU,,.. 

-TIIEIB  ITHK  TO  TUAVE,,,,KIW-,H.VE»NMKNT  OK  THE    KKl-MKN- T..KIR   I.IVKI.V  AN..  .HKKnFM 

t.IAI,ACTEU-nO„K8TlC   LIFE  OF  THE    KRUME.-,  -  EAI.N.NO    W.VEH  -  ,..  ......ON  OF  THE     K...TMEN 

KaCT"'"       «"•"""— ^"^X^"    FlNKUA,.-THE,n,A.N    COAHT-THE    FANT,  TI.n.K-THE.n 

r^Znnr"''^ ""'-'''"  ""*■'"  ^"'  ^""'"  »'-^-'^"«»>«NT-THE  KIU-KRA  I..HEA8U-A  W.L^ 
LEGEND  — DRESS  OF  TUB  FAJfTI- IDEAS  OF  A  Fl'TUHB  8TATK.  *   " '«^ 


Alono  the  Grain  Coast  of  Western  Africa 
there  is  a  race  of  men  who  come  ton  prom- 
inently before  European  eyes  to  l)e  omitted 
from  tljis  work.  They  have,  in  n  degree,  lost 
the  habits  of  their  original  savage  life,  but 
they  illustrate  so  well  the  p((  uliar  ne^ro 
character  that  a  small  space  must  be  devoted 
to  them. 

The  name  Km,  or  Croo,  and  sometimes 
C  arew,or  Crew  — so  diversifled  is  the  ortho- 
graphy of  native  names  — Is  a  corruption  of 
the  Grebo  word  "  Kriio."  The  tribe  inhab- 
its a  district  about  twenty-five  or  tiiirty 
miles  along  the  coast,  and  extending  for  a 
considerable,  but  uncertain,  distance  inland. 
A  good  many  smaller  tribes  have  been  grad- 
ually absorbed  into  them,  and,  as  they  have 
adopted  the  language,  manners,  and  cus- 
toms, as  well  as  the  name  of  Knio,  we  will 
treat  of  them  all  under  the  same  title. 

In  the  "Wanderings  of  a  F.  1{.  G.  S." 
there  is  a  curious  account  of  the  derivation 
ot;  th;>  word  Grebo,  one  of  the  absorbed 
triLies.  ^^ccomipg  to  their  own  tradition 
tbw  originally  inhabited  the  interior,  and, 
wuding  that  tl  eir  district  was  too  thickly 
populated,  a  laige  lumber  of  them  deter- 
mined to  emigrate  westward,  and  secretly 
prepared  for  departure,  the  majority  being 
averse  to  the  scheme.  As  they  embarked  in 
a  hurry,  a  number  of  the  canoes  were  upset, 
but  the  remainder  succeeded  in  bounding 
over  the  w.aves.  The  people  who  were 
c.apsized,  and  were  left  behind,  were  there- 
fore called  "  Waibo,"  or  the  C;a])sized,  while 
the  others  took  the  name  of  Grebo,  from  the 
bounding  gray  monkey,  called  Gre. 

The  Krumen  are  a  fine  race,  and  present 
a  great  contrast  to  the  usual  slim-limbed  and 


(544) 


almost  efTemiiiate  savages  of  the  interior, 
i  hey  are  exireinely  j)owertiil,  an<l  are  able 
to  ])addle  for  some  fortv  miles  at  a  stretch, 
without  .seeming  to  be  the  least  fiitlgued  at 
the  end  of  their  labors.  Tlicy  are  The  rec- 
ognized seamen  of  the  coast,  ami  have 
made  themselves  necessary  to  the  tratlens, 
and  even  to  Government  vessels,  as  tlievcan 
stand  a  wonderful  amount  of  work,  and  are 
not  affected  by  the  climate  like  the  white 
sailors. 

A  Kruman  lays  himself  out  for  a  sailor  as 
soon  as  he  beeoiiies  his  own  master,  and  is 
content  to  begin  life  as  a  -  boy,"  so  that  ho 
may  end  it  as  a  "  man  "  — j.  c.  fie  hires  him- 
self out  in  order  to  obtain  goods  which  will 
purchase  a  wile  for  him.  and  by  dint  of  sev- 
eral voyages  he  adds  lo  the  iiumber  of  his 
wives,  and  consc'quently  to  the  respect  in 
which  he  is  held  by  his  countrvmeii. 

lie  is  a  marvellous  canoe  man,  and  man- 
ages his  diminutive  boat  with  a  skill  fhat 
must  be  seen  to  bo  appreciated.  He  drives 
it  through  the  .surf  with  fearless  .sjjeed  and 
cares  nothing  for  the  boiling  water  around 
him.  "The  Kruman,"  writes  Mr.  IJeade, 
"squats  in  it  (m  his  knees,  and  bales  the 
water  out  with  one  of  his  feit.  Soniefime.s 
he  paddles  with  his  hands;  sometimes 
thrusting  a  leg  in  the  water,  he  sjiins  the 
canoe  round  when  at  full  siM.cd.like  a  skater 
on  the  '  outside-edge.'  If  it  should  cai)sizc, 
as  the  laws  of  e(|uilil)riniii  sometimes  de- 
mand, he  turns  it  over,  bales  it  out  with  a 
calabash,  swimming  all  the  while,  and  glides 
m  again,  his  skin  shining  like  a  seal's." 

These  singular  little  canoes  are  pointed  at 
each  end,  and  crescent-shaped,  so  that  they 
project  fore  and  aft  out  of  the  water.    Thi!" 


SKILL  IN  DOATINO. 


649 


are  vt-ry  nnn-ow,  ntut  arc  miido  out  of  tho 
HiiiKl(i  (riirik  «.f  II  trc.>,  iiniihIIv  cotton-wood, 
or  II  kind  of  |io|)lrtr.  Tin*  interior  in  Ihnt 
liollowcil  out  with  llro,  next  trimmed  witli 
an  iid/e,iind  (lie  rilm  me  prevented  Irom  col- 
laiwinj,'  liy  tour  or  five  croHH-HtlekN.  Tliey 
are  very  nifiHHively  eonntrueted,  nnd,  nn  (lie 
wood  iH  vorv  ii«lil,  tiiev  do  not  sink  even  if 
they  lire  tilled  witli  water.  Ho  Miiiall  are 
tlipy,  tlwit  at  II  little  dl.stiinee  they  eiinnot  he 
Hoen,  and  the  inniati  s  atmear  to  ho  treadin" 
water.  " 

It  is  a  curious  «l«lit  to  watch  a  Hoot  of  these 
canoes  eonu^  olf  toward  aHhip.     Am  soon  as 
an  Kn^lish  ship  anchors,  a  swarm  of  these 
canoes  conn'S  dashin;;  iilonj?,  their  hlack  in- 
mates sin!,'ln;;soni.;s  at  (lie  top  of  their  voices 
and  shouting' "llateot  Haleo!  (Ji' way  1  Har- 
iri!" ami  similar  exclamations,  a.s  they  race 
with   each   other   toward   tlin    vessel.      No 
Kuropeiiii  has  heeii  known  to  manaijc  one 
of  these  frail  canoes,  the  usual  result  of  ),'("t- 
tinif  Inloone  lii'in.,'  that  the  hoat  turns  over, 
anil  deposits  the  rash  adventurer  in  the  sea.' 
The  a|ipearaiirc   of   the   men    hiw    l)een 
firaiihically  deserilied  hy  the  ••  F.  U.  (}.  S." 
'•Conceive  the  head  of  a  Socrates,  or  a  Sile- 
"i"*.  "I"">    I-'"-    hody   of  the    Antinous,   or 
Apollo  Helvcdeic.     A  nioic  nia;,'nilicent  do- 
velopmcnt  of  muscle,  such  perfect  symmctrv 
in  the  l>:ilaiiceof  nrrj,,.,,  and  streni^th",  my  eyes 
had  never  yet  looked  upon,     Hiit  the  "fai-es! 
Lxceiil  when  lii;hted  iiii  hy  smiles  and  tfood 
humor  —expression  to  an'African  face  is  all 
In  all  — iiothluir  eould   he   more  unpretms- 
se.ssiii-,'.      The   Hat   nose,   the   hi:;h   clieek- 
bonea,  tho   yellow  eyes,   the  chalky   white 
teeth,  pointed  like  the  shark's,  tho  muzzle 
j)rotruded  like  that  of  a  do^'-monkey,  com- 
bine to  torm  an  unusual  amount  of  ugli- 
ness. '^ 

"Tollilsadils  somewbat  tho  tribe  mark 
ft  blue  line  of  eu(s  half  an  inch  broad,  from 
tho  torehiad  scalp  to  th(>  uo.se  tip  — in  some 
cases  It  extends  over  hoih  lips  to  the  chin 
whence  they  are  called  Uliieiioses  — wliilst 
ft  broad  arrow  or  wed^'e,  pointed  to  the  face 
nnd  also  blue,  occupies  each  temple,  just 
above  the  zy-oniala.  Tho  marks  are  made 
Willi  a  knife,  little  cuts  into  which  tho 
oily  husk  of  a  ,i,'iiin  is  rubbed.  Their  bodies 
are  similarly  ornamented  with  stars,  Euro- 
pean eml>l,.iiis.  as  anchors,  &c.,  especially 
with  broad  d(.ul)le  linos  down  the  breast 
anil  other  parts. 

"Their  features  .aro  distinctly  African, 
wi  bout  a  mixture  of  Arab;  the  conjunctiva 
IS  brown,  yellow,  or  tarnished  — a  Ilamitic 
jH'.culianty  — and  some  paint  white  RorT<»lc- 
Iiko  ovals  round  tho  orbits,  pro(hicinK"tho 
cUect  of  a  loiip,  This  is  sometimes  done  for 
sickness,  and  individuals  are  rubbed  over 
with  various  li^ht  and  dark  colored  powders. 
Ibe  skill  IS  very  dark,  often  lamp-lilaek- 
otliers  are  of  a  deep  rich  lirown.  or  bronzo 
tint,  but  .a  !,.j;!,t.,..'>,„piexione(i  mua  Is  gener- 
ally called  Tom  Collec. 


"Thoy  wpftr  tho  hair,  which  Is  short  and 
kinky,  in  croiis,  which  look  like  a  IJuddha's 
skull-cap,  and  Ihey  shavo  when  in  monrnini/ 
lor  theij-  ndations.  A  favorite  'lash '(i.e. 
lasliion)  is  to  scrnpo  olf  a  paralhdoKrain  l)e- 
hind  tho  head,  from  the  poll  to  tho  corchel- 
Imn;  and  others  aro  decorated  in  that  land- 
scapt!  or  narterre  stylo  whieli  wilder  Africans 
love.  Tho  Imek  of  tho  crnnium  is  often 
remarkably  flat,  and  I  have  seen  many  heads 
of  the  iivramidal  shape,  rising  narrow  nnd 
pointecl  hiKh  to  the  ape:..  The  heard  is  sel- 
dom thick,  and  never  long;  tlu^  iiiouslachio 
is  ivinovod,  and  lli(>  pile,  like  the  hair,  often 
■'rows  in  tufts.  The  tattoo  has  often  been 
deserlbod.  There  seems  to  be  something 
altractivo  in  this  process  — the  Kn^'lish 
sailor  can  seldom  resist  tho   lemptallon. 

"They  also  chip,  sharpen,  and  extract  tho 
tcotli.  Most  nun  cut  out  an  inverted  V 
between  thi!  two  middle  incisors  of  the  up- 
per Jaw;  others  draw  one  or  two  of  the  cen- 
(ral  lower  incisors;  others,  especially  tho  St. 
Andrews  men,  tip  or  sharpen  tho  "incisors, 
like  tho  VVahiao  and  several  Central  African 
tribes. 

"  Odontoloxy  has  its  mysteries.  Dentists 
seem,  or  rather  seemed,  to  hold  as  a  theory 
that  destruction  of  tho  enamel  involved  tho 
loss  of  the  tooth;  the  Krumen  hack  their 
masticators  with  a  knife, or  a  roufjh  piece  of 
hoop  iron,  and  find  that  tho  sharpenim,', 
in.stenilofjiroduciu!,' caries,  acts  as  a  preserv- 
ative, by  lacilitatinj^  the  laniatory  process. 
Similarly  there  aro  physiohiijists  who  attrib- 
ute the  preservation  of  tho  negro's  teeth  to 
his  not  drinkiuK  anythin<jt  hotter  than  blood 
heat.  This  is  mere  empiricism.  Tho  Arabs 
swallow  their  colfeo  nearly  boiling',  and  tho 
P^ast  African  will  devour  his  nijali,  or  iior- 
ridue,  when  the  temperature  would  scfthl  the 
hand.  Yet  both  these  races  have  i)earls  of 
teeth,  except  when  they  chow  limo  or  to- 
bacco." 

Th(?  native  dress  of  tho  men  is  simple 
cnouLrh,  consistin,!,'  of  a  pink  and  white  or 
blue  and  white  check  cloth  round  (ho  waist, 
and  a  variety  of  ornanionts.  made  of  skin, 
metal,  Klass,  or  ivorv.  The  latter  substance 
IS  mostly  obtained  either  from  tho  Gaboon 
or  Cameroon,  and  is  worn  in  tlu;  shape  of 
lart,'o  arm  rinss,  cut  slowly  with  a  knifo,and 
polished  by  drawinn;  a  wot  cord  backward 
and  forward.  Some  of  tho  sailor  Krumon 
have  their  names  (i.  e.  their  nautical  names) 
oni^raved  on  their  armlets,  and  some  of  them 
wear  on  the  breast  a  brass  plato  with  the 
namo  onprraved  upon  it.  Of  course  some  of 
their  ornaments  aro  charms  or  fotishos. 

The  women  present  a  disai?reoable  con- 
trast to  tho  men,  their  stature  beinj?  short, 
their  proportions  mijvainlv,  and  their  fea- 
tures renulsivo.  Their  style  of  dress,  which 
is  meroly  a  much-attenuated  petticoat,  dis- 
plays nearly  the  whole  of  tho  figure,  and 
eiiatiles  tho  spectator  to  form  a  very  accurate 
(opinion  of  their  personal  appearance.    Of 


540 


THE  KRUMEK 


course,  the  cliief  part  of  the  work  is  done  by 
the  women,  iiiul  thi.s  custom  lias  doubtless 
some  elluct  in  stunting  and  detonoratiug  the 
form. 

All  the  Krumen  have  two  names,  one 
beiny  that  liy  which  thev  are  called  in  their 
own  ton<,Mie,  and  one  by  which  they  are 
known  to  tlieir  employers.  It  really  seems 
a  pity  that  these  hue  fellows  shoiil'd  be  de- 
graded by  the  ludicrous  English  names 
which  are  given  to  them.  Their  own  names 
—e.  (/.  Kolii,  Niikii,  Tivii,  &e.  —  are  easy 
enough  to  sjjcak,  and  it  would  he  far  better 
to  use  them,  and  not  to  "call  them  out  of 
their  names,"'  acconling  to  the  domestic 
I'.hrase.  Here  are  the  named  of  five  men 
who  engaged  to  take  Mr.  Ktuule  to  the  (ia- 
boon:  Smoke  .lack,  Drv  Toast,  Cockro.ach, 
Pot-of-lJeer,  and— of  all  tl-j  names  in  (he 
world  li.r  a  naked  black  man— Eloreuee 
>iiglitiiigale. 

They  always  demand  rice,  that  beiii'^  a 
necessity  with  them,  and  as   long  as  they 
get  their  jiint  and  a  half  per  diem  of  rice 
Ihey  can  stand  unlimited  work.     They  cook 
the   rice  lor  themselves  in  their  pri'mitivi; 
but  elfeetive  manner,  and  feed  themselves 
much  as  turkeys  are  eranimed,  seizing  large 
liandfiils  of  rice,  squeezing  them  into  balls, 
and  contriving,  in  some  mysterious  way,  to 
swallow  th(tm  whole  without  being  elio'ked. 
When  they  enter  the  naval  service  thev  con- 
sider themselves  as  made  men,  getting  not  ] 
only   their   rice,   but  allow.ance    in   lieu  of 
other  rations    plenty  of  clothing,  and  high 
w.ages,  so  that  when  th;v  go  ashore  tiny  a"-e 
rich  men,  and  take  ilieir  rank.    Of  course 
they  are  lleeced  by  r  11  their  relations,  who 
Hock  round  them,  and  expect  to  be  feasted 
for  several  days,  but  still  the  sailor  Kruman 
can  buy  a  wife  or  two,  and  si>t   uji  for   a 
'•man  "at  once.    In  his  own  phrase,  he  is 
'•nigger  for  ship,  king  for  country."    One 
year  is  the  usual  term  of  enijagemeiit,  and  it 
IS  hardly  possible  to  induce  Krumen  to  en- 
gage for  moi'e  than  three  years,  so  attached 
are  they  to  ''me  country." 

Their  government  is  simi)le.  They  are 
divided  into  four  classes,  or  castes,  — 
namely,  the  elders,  the  aeltial  warriors,  the 
probationary  w.irriors,  and  the  priests;  the 
latter  term  including  the  priests  proper,  (he 
exorcists,  and  the  physicians.  They  are 
strictly  repuMiean,  a'.id'  no  one  is  periiiitte<l 
to  accumulate,  or,  at  all  events,  to  <lisplav 
wealth  much  above  the  average  of  his  fel- 
lows.    Should  even  om^  of  the  elders  do  so. 


a  palaver  is  held,  and  his  property  is  re 
duced  to  iiroper  level.  This  is  described  by 
the  English-speaking  Krumen  as  the  jiun- 
ishment  for  "  too  much  sass."  In  fact,  prop- 
erty is  held  on  the  joint  stock  principle;,  so 
that  the  word  "commonwealth  '  is  very  ap- 
plicable to  their  mode  of  government. 

Capital  punishment  is  rare,  and  is  seldom 
used,  exc(;pt  in  eases  of  vitchcraft  or  mur- 
der, and  it  is  remarkable  that,  ia  the  Latter 


case,  no  distinction  is  made  between  acci- 
dental manslau'diter  and  murder  with  mal- 
ice prepense."  The  poison  ordeal  ii-  common 
here,  the  draught  being  prepjired  from  the 
;'sas8-wood  "  of  the  gidden  tree;  and  there 
is  a  wholesome  rule  that,  if  the  accused  sur- 
vives the  ordeal,  the  accuser  must  drink  it 
in  his  tiu-ii. 

That  they  .are  arrant  liars,  (hat  they  are 
conhrmed  thieves,  and  that  they  have  not 
the  slightest  notion  of  morality,  is  but  to 
say  that  they  are  savages,  and  those  who  have 
to  deal  with  them  can  manage  well  enough, 
l)rovided  that  (hey  only  bear  in  mind  these 
clKu-acterislies.  If  they  hear  that  (hey  are 
going  to  some  place  which  they  dislike  — 
probably  on  account  of  mnna  jirivale  feud, 
.  .'cause  they  are  afraid  of  some  man  wl.oso 
domestic  relations  they  have  disturbed  — 
they  will  come  with  doleful  faces  to  their 
master,  and  tell  him  the  most  astoundinj? 
lies  about  it. 

Yet  they  are  a  cheerful,  lively  set  of  fel- 
lows, jiossessing  to  the  full  the  negro's  love 
of  siii'dng,  dnimming,  and  daneiiig.  Any 
kind  of  work  that  they  do  is  aided  ))y  asong 
and  an  experienced  traveller  who  ispaddletl 
by  Krumen  always  takes  with  him  a  drum 
of  .some  sort,  knowing  that  it  will  make  the 
dillerence  of  a  tiuarter  of  the  time  occupied 
in  the  journey.  Even  after  after  a  liard 
day's  work,  they  will  come  to  (heir  master 
ask  ))ermission  to  "  make  play,"  and  will 
keep  uj)  their  singing  and  dancing  until 
after  midnight.  Under  such  circumstances 
the  iraveller  will  do  well  to  grant  his  per- 
mission, under  (he  condition  that  they  re- 
move themselves  out  of  earshot.  Even 
th(  ir  o-dinary  talk  is  so  much  like  shouting, 
that  they  must  always  b(-  quartered  in  ouN 
houses,  and  when  (hey  become  excited  with 
(heir  music  (heir  noise  is  unendurable. 

They  are  very  fond  of  intoxiea'iiitj;  liquids, 
and  are  not  in  the  least  particular  about  the 
quality,  so  that  the  intoxicating  property  be 
there. 

It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  they 
arc  arrant  thieves,  and  in  iiothin;,'  is  their 
thieving  talent  more  e(mspieuous  than  when 
they  exercise  it  ujjon  .spirituous  liquors. 
They  even  surpass  the  British  sailor  in  the 
iuKenuity  which  they  display  in  discovering 
and  stealing  spirits,  and  there  is  liardly  any 
risk  which  they  will  not  run  in  order  to 
obtain  it.  Contrary  to  the  habit  of  mcst 
savage  i)eople,  they  are  veiy  sensitive  to 
j)ain,  and  a  (logging  which  w'ould  scarcely 
be  felt  by  a  Ihish  boy  will  elicit  shrieks  of 
pain  from  a  Kruman.  They  dread  the  whip 
almost  as  much  .as  death,  and  vet  they  will 
brave  the  terrors  of  a  certain  (logging  in 
order  to  get  at  rum  or  brandy. 

No  precautions  seem  td  be  available 
against  ;heir  restless  cunning,  and  the  un- 
wary traveller  i  ■.  >,ften  surprised,  when  he 
.eels  ill  and  wants  some  brandy  as  a  medi- 
cine, that  not  a  drop  is  to  be  found,  and  yet, 


THE  GOD  'SUFPIN." 


nn,i,  1  ,'^PP''^i"''»n«f'  I'is  spirit-caso  has  been 
under  h.s  ,.wn  eyes,  and  so  have  tl.o  rasral" 
Wl.o  have  contrived  to  steal  it.  Even  so 
expeneijoed  a  traveller  as  Capiain  Bur  on 
a  man  who  knows  the  .legro  character  bott"; 
than  almost  any  European,  says  that  he 
never  had  the  ci.ance  of  drinkif,^  ifla  t 
bottle  o  c„j,„,ic,  it  ahvays  havin-  been 
emptied  l)y  his  Krtimen.  "     '^°" 

Provisions  of  all  kinds  vanish  in  the  same 
mystenons  w.y:  they  will  stran  .le  eT^^s 
and  prepare,  them  so^as  to  look  a  it^Uov 
had  been  hjiton  by  venomous  serpent"  and 
as  for  fowls,  tluw  vanish  as  if  th.^^^.i  y^f. 
nnlanly  ll.nyn  <fown  the  throats  of  tie  n  - 
hers     Auythn...  brij^ht  or  polished    .so 

t^iew,,  ;m"'*?"i1'  ''  ';V''"  ''^"•''^■«^  thing  in 
the  wn.hl  t„  take  mathematical  instniniTmts 

ofSe  Ihio?/^'"'"'"  A^'-a,  on'aeconn 
men.      ^'"''"'''  propensities  of  the  Kru 

cammt'.'J''?/-''^  stoal  articles  which  they 
cannot  eat,  it  is  very  ditHcult  to  discover 
the  s,,ot  where  tlie  mJssing  object  is  iSn 
and,  as  a   ,.ar(y  of  Krumen  alwavs   sn.e 
their  pl„,„,,,„,ey  have  an  intere.s  Yn  Sep! 

oV^.v  .''";■ '""'"r^  '•'"■'^t-  'i'"'^'  onlvmrX 
of  e.xtniediii,  inrormation  is  by  a  soui'id  flo'' 

gmg,  and  even  then  it  often\apJ!  tlmt 
plunder  by  „iu.  „f  tiicir  own  peonle  or 
Imve  contrived  to  smuggle  it  on  JoarKon^ 


M7 

CO  adfl  to  his  number,  because  everv  addi- 
tionalwifeis  in  fact  an  additional  serv  , 
hor  i^  ''^'''  *^"n«ii'«'-able  amount  of  work  of 

Jlu...  '"'''e'''v  ^'"'  "''  '"♦■•■""I-  ^vifo  would 
alway.s  prefer  to  be  the  twelfth  or  thirteent li 
wife  of  a  wealthy  man,  than  the  .so      ry  wife 

m  their  hands  if  they  are  very  badly  reatef 

llo7ihT  ^''""y  ^'  ">"''•  "^vn  fainilyt  an  i 
then  there  is  a  great  palaver.     Should  a  sen- 

K"/bci?'''"':,*'^' .•^'"'''••''"'  altho,„',M?y 
love  the  r  mother  better  than  their  ftuher 

nre^con^idercd  his  property,  and  have'toS 


"."0   iMunicn  as  .sdminod  ui)   in   marria<rp 
ro/igi..n,,l,,,ib,aii,i  burial.    '  '"''"'age, 

ch.n/'l'"'  '"■"l'|",-'i'''S  :•«  lias  been  seen  a  nru- 
money  to  buv  ,a  s.  coiu        ..  ri,'^"'""    ''"""?-''' 


T/ncm  religion  is  of  averyiirimitive  ch-ir. 

actcr,  and,  although  the  ICruii,"      Lvf  for 

so  many  years  been  brought  in  c  n  u  t  ^vUh 

miLadon,  ard  have  been  se.lulous  It  iS 

lir   '?i""'"' ""' V'.'T  bave   not  exchanged 

J-h.-t  th.7  believe  in  (he  eOicacv  <.f  ai.uilets 
n,l  charms  has  been  ahva.ly  im.ntl on  '  1  and 
then,  ore  1  is  evid.mt  that  they  must  imve 
some  belief  in  the  supernatural  bein-s  u  ho  ,  re 
supposed  to  be  induenced  by  the  7.  <  Sms 

oV  t   nro  v..r'r'"'"'   ""•^'   ''"'"   '^   '^»«^» 
or  It,  imihably  because   very  litUo  is  iir-u- 

^Metked,  aKruman  .stood  all   iiLdit  bv  the 

sea-side    with   bis  face    looking  '^l^i",^ 

av.ng    he  right  arm,  and  k..,V^,ing  l^n 

•es.«ant    howling    until     dayb I'eak.      The 

ojhei.  looked  at  bin,  but  did  Ltatlemplto 

t.i?,'.«''!"i   '"^  -"^"^   religious  ceremony  which 
takc^  place  u,  a   remarkable  cavern,  ca  Ic  I 
.}     he   euphonious   name  of  (J rand  Dev 
t.ne.    It  IS  a  hollow  in  an  (niormous  rock 
having  at  the  end  a  smaller  and    i.teS 
T.7'  "\";'l'^'''  <l'e  demon  resi.les.     Ey! 

thp  i.,r     •  "'":  «"I"'''stitions  which  c,"used 

tood    iieople,"   and    the    Norwegians    of 

t.ie  present  (lay  to  spe.ak  of  the  bear  as  tl"o 

I  isuirber,"  or  "  He  in  the  fur  coat ''    lo 

"  Si  Inn" '?'''"V>"^'  t''"''''^'  tl„>  den  on  ^ 
.suthii,"  1.  c.  Something. 

When  they  go  to  worship  they  lav  beads 

tobam,,  provisions,  and  nim  i,^  thl    n  S 

cavern  which  are  at  once  ivmuovcI  by    he 

mysterious  Sullin,  who  is  sup,,osed  t    con^ 

s ume  them  all.     I„  return  for  the  1  beral  l 

of  his  votaries,  Suffln  answers  any  ,    Sns 

n  any  anguage.     The  Krunu>:.- believe  as 

'■nnly  .n   the   existence  ai.,1    super  i.^t^iral 

sels  of  wine  "  that  were  otKM-ed  .„  bi,„  '\\^f, 
JW  a  convincing  proof   of   the    "daierer  of 


11 


I     Ifi 


I 


648 


THE  FANTI. 


incredulity,  they  point  with  awe  to  a  tree 
which  stands  near  the  mouth  of  tlie  Grand 
Devil  Cave,  and  which  was  formerly  a  Kru- 
man  who  expressed  his  disbelief  in  Suflin, 
and  was  straightway  transformed  into  tlie 
tree  in  question. 

Their  mode  of  swearing  is  by  dipping  the 
finger  in  salt,  pointing  to  heaven  and  earth 
with  it,  as  if  invoking  the  powers  of  both, 
and  then  putting  the  tip  of  tlie  finger  in  the 
mouth,  as  if  calling  upon  the  oflfended 
powers  to  avenge  the  perjury  on  the  person 
of  him  who  had  partaken  of  the  salt.  Con- 
sidering the  wolfish  voracity  of  the  Krumen, 
which  they  possess  in  common  with  other 
savages,  they  show  great  self-control  in 
yielding  to  a  popular  superstition  which  for- 
bids them  to  eat  the  hearts  of  cattle,  or  to 
drink  the  blood. 

The  dead  Krunian  is  buried  with  many 
ceremonies,  and,  notably,  a  fire  is  kept  up 
before  his  house,  so  that  his  spirit  may 
warm  itself  while  it  is  prepared  for  appre- 
ciating the  new  life  into  which  it  has  been 
born.  Food  is  also  placed  near  the  grave 
for  the  same  benevolent  purpose.  Should 
he  be  a  good  man,  he  may  lead  the  cattle 
which  have  been  sacrificed  at-  his  funeral, 
and  so  make  his  way  to  the  spirit  land,  in 
which  he  will  take  rank  according  to  the 
number  of  cuttle  which  he  has  brought  with 
him.  Sometimes  he  may  enter  the  bodies 
of  children,  and  so  reappear  on  earth.  But 
should  he  be  a  bad  man,  and  especially 
should  !i"  bo  a  wizard  —  i,  e.  one  who  prac- 
tises without  authority  the  arts  which  raise 


the  regular  practitioners  to  wealth  aud 
honor  —  his  state  after  death  is  very  terri- 
ble, and  he  is  obliged  to  wander  forever 
through  gloomy  swamps  and  fetid  marries. 

It  is  a  curious  fact  that  the  Krumen  have 
some  idea  of  a  transitiontil  or  purgatorial 
state.  The  paradise  of  the  Krumen  is  called 
Kwiga  Oran,  i.  e.  the  City  of  the  Ghosts, 
and  before  any  one  can  enter  it  he  must 
sojourn  for  a  certain  time  in  the  intermedi- 
ate space  called  Menu  or  Menuke. 

It  may  be  as  well  to  remark  here  that  the 
Grain  Coast,  on  which  the  Krumen  chielly 
live,  does  not  derive  its  name  from  corn, 
barley,  or  other  cereals.  The  grain  in  ques- 
tion IS  the  well-known  cardamom,  or  Grain 
of  Paradise,  which  is  used  as  a  mediciuo 
throughout  the  whole  of  Wostern  Africa, 
and  is  employed  as  a  remedy  against  vari- 
ous diseases.  It  is  highly  valued  as  a  restor- 
ative after  fatigue;  and  when  a  man  has 
been  completely  worn  out  by  a  long  day's 
march,  there  is  nothing  that  refreshes  him 
more  than  a  handful  of  the  cardamoms  in  a 
fresh  state,  the  juicy  and  partly  acid  pulp 
contrasting  most  agreeably  with  the  aro- 
matic warmth  of  the  seeds.  The  cardamom 
is  used  either  internally  or  externally.  It 
is  eaten  as  n  stomachic,  and  is  often  made 
into  a  poultice  and  applied  to  any  part  of 
the  body  that  suffers  i)ain.  Headache,  for 
example,  is  said  to  be  cured  by  the  carda- 
mom seed,  pounded  and  mixed"  with  water 
into  a  paste;  and,  even  during  the  hot  fit  of 
fever,  the  cardamom  powder  is  applied  as  a 
certain  restorative. 


THE  FANTI. 


The  district  of  "Western  Africa,  which  is 
now  known  by  the  general  title  of  the  Gold 
Coast,  Ashanteo,  or  AHhauti,  is  occupied  by 
two  tribes,  who  are  always  on  terms  of 
deadly  feud  wilh  each  other.  Internecine 
quarrels  are  one  of  the  many  curses  which 
retard  (he  progress  of  Africa,  and,  in  this 
case,  tlie  quarrel  is  so  fierce  and  persistent, 
that  even  at  the  present  day,  though  the 
two  great  tribes,  the  F'anti  and  the  Ashanti, 
have  fought  over  and  over  again,  and  the 
latter  are  clearly  the  victors,  and  have 
taken  possession  of  the  land,  the  former  are 
still  a  large  and  powerful  tribe,  and,  in  spite 
of  their  so  called  extermination,  have  proved 
their  vitality  in  many  ways. 

The  Fanti  tribe  are  geographically  separa- 
ted from  their  formidable  neighbors  by  the 
Bossumjiea  Hirer,  and  if  one  among  either 
tribe  passes  this  Iioundary  it  is  declared  to 
be  an  Ovort  act  of  war.  Unfortunately, 
England  contrived  to  drift  into  this  war, 
and,  as  bad  luck  would  have  it,  took  the  part 
of  the  Fauli  tribe,  and  consequent! v  shared 
in  their  defeat. 

It  is  really  not  astonishing  that  the  Fanti 


should  have  been  so  completely  conquered, 
as  they  have  been  termed  by  Mr.  Duncan, 
a  traveller  who  knew  them  well,  the  dirtiest 
and  laziest  of  all  the  Africans  that  he  had 
seen.  One  hundred  of  them  wire  employed 
under  the  supervision  of  an  Engli^ilnnan, 
and,  even  wiih  this  incitement,  they  did  not 
do  as  much  as  a  gang  of  fifteen  English 
laborers.  Unless  contini'ally  goaded  to 
work  they  will  lie  down  and  bask  in  the 
sun;  and  even  if  a.  native  overseer  bo 
employed,  he  is  just  as  bad  as  the  rest  of 
his  countrymen. 

Even  such  work  as  they  do  they  will  only 
perform  in  their  own  stupid  maiiner.  For 
example,  in  fetching  stone  for  building,  they 
will  walk,  some  twenty  in  a  gang,  a  fall  mile 
to  the  (|uarry,  and  come  back,  each  with  a 
single  stone  "weighing  some  eight  or  nine 
l)ounds  on  his  head.  Every  burden  is 
carried  on  the  head.  Thev  were  once  sup- 
plied with  wheelbarrows,  but  they  placed 
one  stone  in  each  wheelbarrow,  and  then 
put  the  barrows  on  tliei  •  heads.  The  reason 
why  they  are  so  lazy  is  i)lain  enough.  They 
can  live  well  for  a  penny  per  diem,  and 


THE  KRA-KRA. 


their  only  object  in  working  is  to  procure 
ruin  tobacco,  and  cotton  clotlis.  So  the 
wito  lias  to  earn  the  necessaries  of  life,  and 
luxui-^"  '^  earns  — and  consumes  —  the 
The  Fanti  tribe  are  good  canoe  men,  but 
f  nn  f,  ""^  f  •'',  ™"'=''  ^"'S^''  anii  heavier 
m^  '^t:!^'^'^^'^'?y^  ^J  the  Kru 


549 


an  to  ask  for  an:  thing  that  he  liked  before 
he  wa.s  restored  to  the  upper  air.  The  boon 
chosen  was  a  remedy  for  every  disease  thi^ 
he  could  name.    He  enumerated  ev^y  „S 

medicuio  for  each.    As  he  was  going  awav 

-"^ --  «.«  .mp.oyca  oy  the  Kru-   it'ease     li^if  t^'  "i^°V  ^^""^  ^«^g°"«»  ^^^ 

men     They  are  from  thirty  to  forty  feftrnUhaUche  "  ^°  ki'^-kra,  and  by  timtyoa 

iength,    and    are    furnisliA,!    wifU  •;..„„...'    ''"i"  H'^' 


...      -■■■luy  uiu  jruiu  imriv  10  tortv  fi'pf  in 

iength,    and    are    furnished    with   weather 
boards  for  the  puqDose  of  keeping  out  tlie 

lTt„*Th  ,T'n,''''''P'^  "J**^  paddle  is  usua-.y 
Ike  that  of  the  ace  of  clubs  at  the  end  of  a 
liaudle;  but,  when  the  canoes  have  to  be 
tiikca  through  smooth  and  deep  water,  the 
blades  of  the  paddles  are  long  and  leaf- 
shaped,  so  as  to  take  a  good  hold  of  the 
water.   The  Fanti  boatmen  are  groat  adepts 


Their  color  is  rather  dark  chocolate  than 
black,  and  they  have  a  tolerably  well-formed 
nose  and  a  facial  angle  better  than  tha  of 
the  true  negro.  Their  dress  is  simply  a 
coup^  of  cotton  cloths,  one  twisted  round 

canoes  like  corks,  they  seize  the  "i-^L  '",  Hv^nnT  •'  ""^  *-'"'''""«  salutation  bein^ 
inent,  snatch  the  anxiLs  ™ssen4r  o  f  t  o  T  ''"'  '"  ""'V  "*  "le  South  Sea  Islands! 
larMor  f«  wi,j,.i.  i„.  i,„"  ,,'_''*'''^V.^^'^.  '^"  the  I     The  women  wlien  youno-  are  U'lv  in  V.« 

id  b(>nnt.i>'iil   in   ft,,.,,,       ...i .";•'.       "^^ 


ladder  to  which  he  has  been  clin'rin<T   de- 
posit him  in  the  boat,  and  set  off'to Thore, 
with  shouts  of  exultation.      On  account  ol' 
tiie  surf,  as  imicii  care  is  needed  in  landin-' 
the  passengers  rn  shore  as  in  takin.^  them 
out  of  tlie  vessel.     They  hang  about   tie 
outskirts  of  the  surf-billows  r  s  they  cud 
and  twist  and  dash  themselves  to  pieces  in 
white  spray  and,  as  soon  as  one  large  wave 
Im  da.hcd  Itself  on  the  shore,  the^pJw^e 
along  on  the  crest  of  the  succeeding  wave 
and  just  before  it  breaks  they  jump^out  of 
the    boat    run  it  well  up  the  shore    and 
then  ask  for  tobacco.  ' 

The  men  arc  rather  fine-lookin''  fellow* 

fablet  my^''^"'',^"^  ^'^  unfdnmiatS 
1  able  to  many  skin  diseases,  amonc  which 

hoirible  disease,  sometimes  spelt,  as  it  s 
prouounced,  craw-craw,  is  a  sort  oV  Km,  osv 
that  overruns  the  entire  body,  and  nS 
the  surn.ce  most  loaths..me  tolho  eye.     Un 

^ortuiiati'v_     f     a   ,,,„.,r  -..>.,.„.-: ^    \     ^^^ 


andbeautiiu.-info;,i;_';^,--a'^,;--« 
hideous  in  both.    In  spite  of  the  Islamism 
with  which  they  are  brought  so  coS  nth? 
n  contact,  and  which  has  .^icceeded  in  3 
ing   them   the   most  civilized  of  the  West 
African  tribes,  the  women  are  so  far  f^-om 
veiling  their  faces  that  their  costume  be-ins 
atthevyaistand  ceases  at  the  knees     tj! 
fortunate  y,  they  spoil  the  only  beauty  thov 
possess  that  of  shape,  by  an  ugly  appei2 
age  caled  the  "canke/,"'   i.  A  to  Jraby 
arge  oblong  bag  of  calico,  stufled  into  cnsli^- 
ion  shape,  and   then   tied   by  tanes   to   t\o 
wearer's  back,  so  that  the  iper' edge  a  ul 
tvvo  of  the  corners  project  npVard  in  a  very 
hidicrous  way.     It  is,  in  fact,  only  a  slirnt 
exaggeration  of  an  article  of  dress  whicirat 
one  tune  was  fashionable   throughout  Eu- 
lope,  and  w  uch,  to  artistic  eyes,  had   the 
same  dement  of  sjioiling  a  good  shape  and 
not  concealing  a  bad  one.  '  The   nuuiTe  1 
uomen  have  some  excuse   for  wearin-  it, 


^brtunately,  i^  h  veJy  :;^,^  ™  ^^  even  &!""  '"^  f?"^  ™   fi^^^.^Hng  i^ 
white  persons  have    been  liCke     by   i^  U^^n    >?  ''? '''il' '' ^^^^^^^^^  ^  "i''^'  eushion  for 

■ads.  (rl.ass   nr   /.lo.r    U'  fK„    ..r '."""o    "A 


5e^v  of  a  ship-;;"il  be  sci^;::' wi,  'IrX^ 
w  uch  even  .communicates  itself  to  KoaS 
Mai.  ■'■  '"'""''''  *"  ^^'^«'»  i^  oa^np^oiol 
The  natives  have  a  curious  leffciul  re- 
s  ecting  Uie  origin  of  this  horriblif  disease 
Iho  first  man,  named  linw.lw.w    ':."  "'^^t.'^. 


Jiu.  fii^t  man,  /i^lm^  ll^chow   ear Z   Ihrott/'b  f't  '^, '-''«  i"  f-u<:  a^i 

Sli^'\>:::  ^»..^i\„^-t  hole  in  th:;  ^o^^^TL  ^::;^  ^.=.^^'^-^y 


ci^vy  with   his  son     o  a  gr^at  i;J^"-n  T. 
ground    from  which   f,re''i.s^;es"a  1  id-^t' 
They  heard    men    speaking   to   them    but 
coui.l  not  distinguish'  their  faces.    So  Ray 
chow  sent  his  son  down  the  pit,  and  at  dl 

;ylio  cliallenged   luin   t.-  a    trial    of   spear 


S'l    if^'o'  T  ''""y,'''  "'"  "^''"■«'-  he  poor 
gold    If    she   be  rich.      This  supports   the 

slum,"  a  sort  of  uiidei-,,etticoat  i' f  we  may 

so  t^m  It  whichis  siJ,ly  a  strip  of  cS 

an  inch  or  so  in  width,  one  end  bein-'  fiis- 

^ril"'L?::^'^'^.hea.lsinfront:Sl 


,  -—.....v..      ■«.">:>   iui  wear   nieiitv 

Of  ornaments  of  the  us::al  description,  i  I 
necklaces,  bracelets,  armlets,  ankl-its  and 
even  rings  for  the  toes.  ' 

in  ri'fhi'^"'"  ""^^'r  '»""'e*l  ^'^"me"  is  dressed 
nather  a  peculiar  manner.  Though  crisn 
and  curly.  It  grows  to  nine  or  ten  inches  in 


throwing,  the  stake  being  lis'     l'       Io^'Ci   mnS'^Vwm    ''  ^''"^'"^  ""'^  ''^ " 

the  contest,  and  the  lire  kini:  was  so  ..h.^V  i    ,  "       f  H  "  "!"'  ™'*»'e  Pntience.    A  boldly- 


650 


THE  FANTI, 


ously  saturated  with  grenee,  and  combed  out 
to  their  greatest  length,  are  trained  upward 
into  a  tall  ridge.  Should  the  hair  be  too 
Bhort  or  too  scanty  to  produce  the  required 
effect,  a  quantity  of  supplementary  hair  is 
twisted  into  a  pad  and  placed  under  the 
ventable  locks.  This  ridge  of  hair  is  sup- 
ported by  a  large  comb  stuck  in  the  back  of 
the  head,  and,  although  the  shape  of  the  hair 
tufts  differ  consideraoly,  it  is  always  pres- 

^"^u'*"'^*'^'^'*^^  ^^'^^  ^^  ^^^S^  as  possible. 
Ihe  Fanti  have  their  peculiar  supersti- 
tions,  a'hich  have  never  yet  been   extir- 
pated. 

In    accordance  with    their   superstitious 
worship,  they  have  a  great  number  of  holy 
days  in  the  course  of  the  year,  during  which 
they  make  such  a  noise  that  an  European 
can  scarcely  live  in    the    town.     Besides 
,  uttering  the  horrible  roars  and  yells  which 
seem  unproducible  by   other   than    negro 
throats,  they  blow  horns  and  long  wooden 
trumpets,  the  souud  of  which  is  described 
as  resembling  the  roar  of  a  bull,  and  walk  in 
procession,  surrounding  with   their    horns 
and  trumpets  the  noisest  instrument  of  all 
—  namely,  the  kin-kasi,  or  big  drum.    This 
IS  about  four  feet  in  length  and  one  in 
width,  and  takes  two  men  to  play  it  one 
carrying  it,  negro  fashion,  on  his  h«.ad'  and 
the  other  walking  behind,  and  beiaborin<r 
It  without  the  least  regard  to  time,  the  only 
object  being  to  make  as  much  noise  as  pos- 
sible. * 

Their  fetishes  are  innumerable,  and  it  is 
hardly  possible  to  walk  anywhere  without 
seeing  a  fetish  or  two.  Anything  does  for  a 
tetish,  but  the  favorite  article  is  a  bundle  of 
rags  tied  together  like  a  child's  rag  doll. 
This  is  placed  in  some  public  spot,  and  so 
great  is  the  awe  with  which  such  articles 
are  regarded,  that  it  will  sometimes  remain 
in  the  samo  place  for  several  weeks.  A  little 
image  of  clay,  intended  to  represent  a  human 
being,  IS  sometimes  substituted  for  the  ra"- 
doil.  " 

The  following  succinct    account  of   the 
religious  system  is  given  in  the  "  Wander- 

'i^!u^  l^-  ^-  ^-  ^-  '■"-'  The  religious  ideas 
ot  the  Faiiti  are,  as  usual  in  Africa,  vague 
and  indistinct.  Each  person  has  his  Samiin 
—  literally  a  skeleton  or  goblin  — or  private 
fetish,  an  idol,  rag,  fowl,  feathers,  bunch  of 
grass,  a  bit  of  glass,  and  so  forth;  to  this  he 
pays  the  greatest  reverence,  because  it  is 
nearest  to  him. 

"The  Dosonis  are  imaginary  beings, pro- 
bably of  ghostly  origin,  "called  '  spirits^  bv 
the  mlH^*lonarie.^.  AbonsAm  is  a  malevolent 
being  that  lives  in  the  upper  regions.  Sasa- 
bonsdm  is  the  friend  of  witch  and  wizard, 
hates  pnests  and  missionaries,  and  inhabits 
huge  silk-cotton  trees  in  the  gloomiest  for- 
ests; he  IS  a  monstrous  being,  of  human 
siiapp,  of  rod  color,  and  with  long  hair.  The 
reader  will  not  fail  to  remark  the  similar- 
ity of  Sasabonsdm  to  the  East  Indian  RjAk- 


shasha,  the  malevolent  ghost  of  a  Brahmin 
brown  m  color,  inhabiting  the  pipul  tree, 

^oU^.'"\''iP°"'  """^  ^-'a^^'  '3  the  supreme 
deity,  but  the  word  al«o  means  the  visible 
Hrmament  or  sky,  showing  that  there  has 
been  no  attempt  to  separate  the  ideal  from 
the  niaterial.  This  being,  who  dwells  in 
Nyankuponft,  or  Nyankuponkroo,  is  too  liir 
from  earth  to  trouble  himself  about  human 
affairs  which  are  committed  to  the  Bosoms. 

whnU„,KH  ■■"'■'■"  "'^^'■"''''«f  "'^  educated, 
who  doubtless  ..-ve  derived  something  from 
European  systems -the    vulgar    -ombund 

«  ,  V  ,  7'  ''''"°'  "'"^  thunder. 
<T„  A^^'  ^'[["''h  the  vocabularies  translate 
LoTd,  is  the  Anglicised  okro,  or  ocroo, 
meaning  a  favorite  male  slave,  destined  to  be 
sacrificed  with  his  dead  master;  and  '  sun- 
sum,  spirit,  means  a  shaciow,  the  man's 
imbra.  The  Fantis  have  regular  days  of 
rest:  Tuesdays  for  fishermen,  Fridays  for 
bushmen,  peasants,  and  so  on  " 

There  is  verv  little  doubt  that  the  conjec- 
ture of  the  author  is  right,  and  that  several 
of  these  ideas  have  been  borrowed  from 
±iUropean  sources. 

The  rite  of  circumcision  is  practised 
among  the  Fantis,  but  does  not  seem  to  be 
universal,  and  a  sacred  spot  is  always  chosen 
for  the  ceremony.  At  Accra,  a  rock  rising 
out  of  the  sea  is  used  for  the  purpose. 

Burial  is  conducted  with  the  usual  accom- 
paniments of  professional  mourners,  and  a 
funeral  feast  is  held  in  honor  of  the  deceased. 
A  sheep  IS  sacrificed  for  the  occasion,  and  the 
shoulder  bone  is  laid  on  the  grave,  where  it 
IS  allowed  to  remain  for  a  considerable  time, 
sometimes  travellers  have  noticed  a  corpse 
placed  on  a  platform  and  merely  covered 
with  a  cloth.    These  are  the  bodies  of  men 
wlio  have  died  without  paving  their  debts 
and,  according  to  Fanti  laws,  there  thev  are 
I  likely  to  remain,  no  one  being  bold  enbu^h 
to  bury  them.    By  their  laws,  the  man  who 
buries  another  succeeds  to  his  iiropcrtv  but 
also  inherits  his  debts,  and  is  legally  resnon^i- 
hie  u)r  them.    And  as  in  Western  Africa  Mie 
legal  rate  of  interest  is  far  above  the  wildest 
dreams  of  European  usurers  —say  fifty  per 
cent.  i)or  annum,  or  per  mensem,  or  per 
diem,  as  the  case  may  be  — to  bury  an  ex- 
posed corpse  involves  a  risk  that,  no  one 
likes  to  run. 

On_j  of  their  oddest  superstitions  is  their 
belief  in  a  child  who  has  existed  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world.  It  never  eats  nor 
drinks,  and  has  remained  in  the  infantile 
state  ever  since  the  world  and  it  cnme  into 
existence.  Absurd  as  is  the  idea,  this  mirac- 
ulous child  is  firmly  believed  in,  even  by 
persons  who  have  had  a  good  education,  and 
)^n"  siiy  that  they  have  actually  seen  it. 
Mr.  Duncan,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for 
the  account  of  it,  determined  to  see  it,  and 
was  so  quick  in  his  movements  that  he  quite 
disconcerted  its  nurse,  and  stopped  hor  nrei)- 
arations  for  his  visit. 


)f  a  Brahmin, 
c  pipul  tree, 

the  supreme 
18  the  visible 
hat  (liere  has 
he  ideal  from 
'ho  dwells  in 
roo,  is  too  liir 
about  human 
)  the  B«)sorus, 
the  educated, 
nu'thing  from 
tar  "onfound 
der. 

ries  translate 
ro,  or  ocroo, 
Instined  to  be 
r;  and  '  sun- 
',  the  man's 
rular  days  of 

Fridays  for 
1." 
t  the  conjce- 

that  several 
rrowed  from 

is  practised 
;  seem  to  be 
Iways  chosen 
I  rock  rising 
irpose. 

usual  accom- 
rners,  and  a 
:he  deceased, 
sion,  and  the 
>ve,  where  it 
lorable  time. 
;ed  a  corpse 
'cly  covered 
dies  of  men 
their  debts, 
3re  they  are 
)nld  enough 
le  man  who 
ropcrty,  but 
lly  resj)onsi- 
ti  Africa  the 
the  wildest 
iay  fifty  per 
pm,  or  per 
niry  an  ex- 
lot.  no  one 

)ns  is  their 
d  from  the 
iM"  eats  nor 
e  infantile 

cnme  into 
this  mirac- 
n,  even  by 
cation,  and 
ly  seen  it. 
idebted  for 

see  it,  and 
at  he  quite 
d  hor  prep- 


___! 


"  Being  again  delaved,  I  lost  nationpf.  a^^A 
mr    ^M  **  •'"  muKitude  assembk^  from  aU 

Venti  Jp^l  7o  in  certainly  overtake  me  if  I 
venturea  to  go  in  without  leave.    But  I 

mv  fpJlh"''"',  r  ''?"l^J«-l>arrelled  gun  aJ 
crowd       '  """^  '^■'""•^  ™^  ^™y  t'^ro^fh  th^ 

or"s*^tewav"inf  *''''°^^'l  **  ^.^'■y  narrow  door 
,,Lt.    .^^'  '"'°  •*  circle  of  about  twenfv 

[l^  '",fV^'"' {;?^«'-e'l  outside  with  long  gas 
(so  that  nothing  within  could  be  seen)  the 
first  and  only  thing  that  I  saw  was  an  old 
woman  who,  but  for  her  size  Zl  sex   i 

resident  there  from  the  time  of  the  creation 
She  certainly  was  the  most  disgusting  and 
loathsome  being  I  ever  bcheKl     «i,L  vP  i 

Thp  oAKu^  nurse  of  the  immortal  child 

th^s&e'sunersSi?*'  P'"'"^'!^^^  ^''^^^^ 
the  prevb"us  p^o    •         '*'*'  '•^P'-esented  on 

wlanTtLSbefoS'  ^^'•'^' ,"?«  "^^^  f«««h 
hideous  S?urerZf.'"^'-.'""'''"F  *e  most 

deavored^to  drive  me  ouTthtf'/  ''^i  ''"- 
C  of  a  chair     iT'^  ""^^^^  ^'""'^  '»  ">e 


AN  INGENIOUS  DEVICE. 


663 
would  have  nlaved  the  same  trick  with  Mr 

trying  to  gain  time  to  borrow  a  baby  H 

selve?iJ'?inii^'"'"",''?  ^^^  natives  excel  them- 
tinn  f„  l^^u  .!?''^''"S,  about  the  only  exer- 
uterest  a"!''  ^^^^  '"'"^  ^«  t'^ke  the^  least 
ZZr^u  .  ^^  ^?"?  "«  »  '"•'in  of  any  note  is 
n  ft?on"of  Ws'h'  r?  ?i^  *"«"'^«  —bio 

St/^rfeS-^riS^Si^ 
«njli  as  "''^^'^  ornaments  are  often  of  soft 

ffiabfe  '*  '''  '""'^'1  Jewelr;t"very  con- 
smerable.    Of  course,  the  graves  are  so.no 

™««  opened  and  robbed,  when  the  cornse" 
18  «iat  of  a  wealthy  person.  ^^ 

One  ingenious  Panti  contrived  to  enrich 
himself  very  cleverlv     Onp  nf  kjo     .  utn 
had  been  b^ed  for  tm^time  ,vUh  all  her 
jewelry,  and,  as  the  average  faluc  of  a  well 
to-do  woman's  trinkets  is  somewhere  abot 

thought  that  those  who  buried  his  sister  had 
beeu  guilty  of  unjustifiable  waste.  After  a 
while  his  mother  died,  and  he  ordeiv^H  ifo^ 

ler.    I  he  ingenious  part  of  the    transno 

tRotf^m  If  11^  ^"^  ^"""y  *c  daughter  at 
honor  ,^^  ^I^^^F"^''^  'n  ^^e  place  of 
The  danShfn  ^^y  ^^  ™*'*''e''  above  her. 
to  give  £o  toTp  «*'=«?''ingly  disinterred 
waf  aaa  nliltnn'Il''  '"""•er,  and  when  she 

U  .1  r**  f'-'^f'"'  "'^"^  it  is  excTian'oHor 


CHAPTER   LIV. 


THE  ASHANTI. 


OraoIN  AND  OENERAL  APPEARANCE  OK  THE  A8HANTI  — AN  ASHANTI  CAPTAIN  AND  HIB  0NIFOBM  — THE 
GOLD  COAST— GOLD  WA8HINO— THE  "TIUKISHI"  WEIGHTS  — INOBNIOUS  FRAUDS  — THE  CUIOCEEHS, 
OR  NOBLES  OF  ASHANTI  — PORTRAIT  OF  A  MOUNTED  CABOCBKR  — THE  HORSE  ACCOUTRBMKNT8  — 
LAW  OP  ROYAL  SUCCESSION  —  MARRIAGE  RESTRICTIONS —THE  YAM  AND  ADAI  CUSTOMS  — FETISH 
DRUM  AND  TRUMPET- RELK1I0U8  SYSTEM  OF  ASHANTI  — WORSHIP  OF  EARTH  AND  SKY  — FE- 
TISHES —  DERIVATION  OP  TUB  WORD  — THE   "KLA,"   OR  FAMILIAR  SPIRIT. 


"Whetvce  the  Ashtinti  tribe  came  is  not 
very  certain,  but  it  is  probable  that  they 
fbrmerly  inhabited  a  more  inland  part  of  the 
continent,  and  worked  their  way  westward, 
after  the  usual  fashion  of  these  tribes. 
Their  traditions  state  that,  about  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years  ago,  the  Ashanti,  with 
several  other  tribes,  w-ero  gradually  ousted 
from  their  own  lands  by  the  inereasing 
followers  of  Islam,  and  that  when  they 
reached  a  land  which  was  full  of  gold  tliey 
took  courage,  made  a  bold  stand  for  free- 
dom, and  at  last  achieved  their  own  inde- 
pendence. 

At  this  time  the  people  were  divided  into 
a  consiilerable  number  of  states  —  between 
forty  and  fifty,  according  to  one  historian. 
After  having  driven  away  their  opjiressors, 
they  enme  to  quarrel  among  themselves, 
ana  fou;^ht  as  fiercely  for  precedence  as 
they  hatl  formei'ly  done  for  liberty,  fHid  at 
Iftst  the  Ashanti  tribe  conquered  tlic  others, 
and  so  consolidated  the  government  into  a 
kingdom. 

In  general  appearance,  the  Ashanti  much 
resemble  the  Fanti,  though  they  are  not 
perhaps  so  strongly  built.  They  are,  how- 
ever, quite  as  good-looking,  and,  according 
to  Mr.  Howdicb.  the  women  are  handsomer 
than  those  of  the  Fanti.  As  a  rule,  the 
■higher  classes  are  remarkable  for  their 
cleanliness,  but  the  lower  are  quite  as  dirty 
as  the  gencralily  of  savage  Africans. 

As  a  specimen  of  the  remarkable  style  of 
costmnc  in  which  the  Ashanti  indulge,  a 
dercri'ition  of  an  army  captain  is  hen^  in- 
troduced. On  his  head  is  a  vast  double 
plunie  of  eagles'  feathers,  surmounting  a 
sort  of  helmet  made  of  rams'  horns,  gilt  in 


a  spiral  pattern,  and  tied  under  his  chin  by 
a  strap  covered  with  cowries.  Ills  bow  is 
slung  at  his  back,  and  his  quiver  of  small 
poisoned  arrows  hangs  from  his  wrist,  while 
in  his  other  hand  is  held  an  ivory  staff, 
carved  in  a  spiral  pattern.  Ilis  breast  is 
covered  with  a  vast  number  of  little  leath- 
ern pouches  gilt  and  painted  in  light  col- 
ors, mostly  scarlet,  and  from  liis  arms  hang 
a  number 'of  horse  tails.  Great  boots  of  red 
hide  cover  his  legs  to  mid  thigh,  and  ai-e 
fastened  to  his  belt  by  iron  chains. 

This  belt  is  a  very  curious  piece  of  leather 
work.  One  of  these  articles  is  in  my  col- 
lection, and  is  furhished  with  the  foli()wing 
implements.  Fi).st  comes  a  small  dagger- 
knife,  with  a  blade  about  four  inches  long, 
and  next  to  it  is  a  little  circular  mirror 
about  as  large  as  a  crown  piece,  and  enclosed 
in  a  double  case  like  that  whiclt  is  now  used 
for  prismatic  compasses.  Then  comes  a 
razor,  a  singularly  primitive-looking  s])eci- 
men  of  cutlery,  mounted  in  a  handle  which 
is  little  more"  than  a  piece  of  stick,  with  a 
slit  in  it.  Next  comes  a  leathern  pouch 
about  four  inches  square  and  on(>  inch  in 
depth,  having  its  interior  lined  with  coarse 
eanvas,  and  its  exterior  decorated  with  little 
round  holes  inmched  in  the  leather,  an(l 
arranged  in  a  siinjjle  pattern.  I^astly  conu-s 
the  razor  strop,  a  very  ingenious  inij)lement, 
consisting  of  a  tube  "tilled  with  emery  pow- 
der, and  slidiuir  into  a  .sheath  so  as  to  allow 
the  powder  to  adhere  to  it.  Al!  these 
articles  are  ju-otectcd  by  leathern  sheaths 
stained  of  diflcrent  colors,  and  are  suspended 
by  short  straps  from  the  belt. 

Tlie  country  wlu^re  the  Ashanti  tribes 
now    live    is    p(Ji)ularly  termed    the    Gold 


(554) 


GOLD  WASHING. 


Sth  ?u  '*'■'■*'•""'  "^  ""■•  richness  with 
winch  the  precious  metal  is  senUcred  over 
its  fiurfa.re  It  is  found  almost  entirely  i,. 
the  torm  of  dust,  and  is  obtaino<l  by  a  very 
rude  and  nnnerfect  mode  of  washin.'  The 
7.Tn7  'T.u  ^  chief  gold  washers.  a7.d  they 
sot  about   Iheir  task  ninied  with  a  hoe   a 

W  th  the  hoe  they  scrape  up  a  quant  ty  of 
sand  troin  the  bed  of  some  st  cam,  and 
place  It  m  the  calabash.  A  nuautitv  of 
water  is  then  added,  and,  by^a  Siar 
rotatory  movement  of  the  hand,  the  water 
nnd  sand  are  shaken  up,  and  made  to  fly 
gradually  over  the  top  of  the  basin.  ^ 

When    this    movement  is   adroitly  per- 
formed, the  water  and  li-hter  sand  escane 

mm  the  bowl,  while  the  gold  dust  sii'K 
Us  own  weight  to  the  bottom,  nnd  in  thus 
separated,  and  put  in  the  rjuills.    Much  sk  I 
^s  r.-c,uired  m  handling  the  calabash    an 
one  woman  will  find  a"fair  supply  of  go 

Si  a  i^vH  r  T'!l  ^"'"''^  '^"  ''-^yan'!  scarcely 
nnd  a  particle  of  the  metal 

Of  course,  by  this  rude  method  of  work 

t  0  qi,.,„t.ty  of  gold  obtained  is  i,    very 

small  proportion  to  the  lal)or  bestowed  in 

or  fo  ,r  ;  ,  "^'-''•''"'■3''  they  would  gain  three 
nrese  t  ' n  1 ""'  ."»'<=•'  S<'1'1  as  ti.ey  do  at 
dus'  .;o  i  '^">"''  ^^''*'"  ""'■''  with  gold 
^vUor.  i^  generally  fastened   to  the    hair 

inencai  as  they  are  pree  ous.  The  best  fin.n 
or  gold  wash  ng  is 'after  violent  rains  wen 
the  increased  rush  of  water  has  br,3 
rt-nvn  a  fresh  supply  of  sand  fS  Ihe^ 
per  regions.  As  one  of  the  old  vovLX 
qaintly  remarked,  "It  raineth  seldom  Tut 
every  shower  of  rain  is  a  ohower  ot'  «o  1 
unto  them,   for  with   the   violence    of  "the 

TtfLn  '  '.'"  "T  *'»«  -"""utaiiis  it  ll-iig! 
cin  trom  tlicm  the  trold  " 

w  10  w  fl  Lrr  ^,1»a»«ty  of  the  dust 

Gold  is^!e&d  by  the'Sh  A"','"""^^ 
and  black  seeds  cdle  in  VV.ir''''Tp *:'"'' 
"  tilikissi,"  and  t  ach  ,  m-M,  ^^-''''••»  ^^friea 
his  own  I  alances  aiKl'h  r    ■''"■  "-'n'^^'"  has 

together,  or  bJr'llSCfto^E'Sner^r 
ings  and  red  coral  i.owier  TMo,.^"  *''' 
or  gold  were  (o  b.^miS,,  V^TTT' 
was  to  make  little  mi^  ^t^  \  •  connS  Jll^'J 
mirround  them  Wth  a^r^^^i^T^S 
This,  of  course,  was  the  most  dangel-ousi 


65^! 


cSi'  "/(   ^'^  **"•"«'  h'^eauso  the  gold 
coating  defied  the  test,  nnd  (he  fraud  wSu 
not  be  discovered  unless  the  nugTet  wero 
^"''"/^^"-••"ther  a  tedious  prot  «  K 
a  great  number  were  olfcred  for  sale 

As  to  the  buyers,  there  wa.s  mostly  some. 
Inng  wrong  about  their  balances  ;  wl  He  as 
to  lie  weights,  they  soaked  the  ti  kissi 
seeds  m  melted  butter  to  make  hem 
heavier  and  sometimes  nia.le  sham  tiliK 
of  pebb  es  neatly  ground  down  an    colored 

fi/v"  fP'*? ,''*  ""  *'»''  drawbacks,  the  quan- 
ity  of  gold  annually  found  in  Ashant  la  "d 
mS  ?'-?S«»'.l  >t  is  use,l  by  the  richer 
natives  n  barbaric  profusion.  They  knmv 
or  care  littio  about  aVt.  Their  usual  way  of 
making  the    bracelets  or  armlets  is    t^B 

ot  led  clay,  and  then  draws  in  the  sand  a 
httle  furrow  into  which  he  runs  the    "oh 
so  as  to  make  a  rude  and  irregular  bar  or 

a  onV  .™'-f  ^^''^"  ^'^'•''  '^  i^  I'amnTered 
along  the  sides  so  as  to  square  them,  and  is 
then  twisted  intr  the  spiral  shape  1  di 
seems  to  have  instinctively  impressed  itS 
on  gold  workers  of  all  ages  aucl  in  all  couu. 

The  collars,  earrings,  and  other  orna- 
ments  are  made  in  this  simple  n.aunnr,  and 
the  wife  ot  a  chief  would  scarcely  think- 
herself  dressed  if  she  had  not  gold  orna- 
ments worth  some  eighty  pounds  Th« 
great  nobles,  or  C'aboceers,  we  on  sfatc 
occ.a..,ons  bracelets  of  such  weight  that  they 
are  obliged  to  rest  their  arms  on  the  hea^a 
Sem  "''''  ''°^''  ''''"^  «^'""'  '"  front  of 

The  Cabocecrs  are  very  important  ner 
eve'ir-be"''  '"  P"'"^  "f  foct  E'on^lhe 
wha/flJ  1  °""""  ^"  ""^  A'^hanti  kingdom 
what   he  batons  were  to  the  EiktHsI,  kin^ 
<1om   in   the   time   of  John.     I   ,leed    the^v' 

rmm!:;rou"'^L^rr""""  ''«  V^^^ 
oHiimdous,  that  for  many  years  /he  kin.^ 

ein'?sion\'"?  steadily  ptikued  a  p.dicv  o? 
die  hns  .^  ''  ''^V'  ""''  ''*■  t'"'  Caboc6ers 
cessor  T- ""^"""l  ''^  acknowledge  a  suc- 
fhat?hep"K ''■'"'*  "^  ""•''  wise'policy  is. 

^Ss-tii:^:"^^  *'>^  ^^"^ '-  -»'<^  -i!^ 

th^n  ,"'"'"■«"»  is  the  distinctive  mark  of 
t  e  Caboceers,  who,  in  the  present  day,  ex' 
liibit  jin  odd  mixture  of  ori.riu;,|  savarpn; 
and  partially  acquired  civili.a  on  Th^ 
.aboceers  have  the  great  privik-e  of  sit- 
tmg  on  stools  when  in  the 'pres4-;.e  of  he 
king  Moreover,  "these  men,"  savs  Mr 
bL\J  ^m'  "'?'""''^  he  surrounded  by  tl^ir 

ancient  days;  their  garments  of  costly  for- 
gn  silks  unravelled  an.l  woven  a,  e  v  into 

£Slir"7"',',  ""•'   ""■«^^'»    «ver  "ho 
snt  lUclcr  like  the  Roman  toga,  loavint'  thn 

right  arm  bare;   a  silk  fillet", nd^ci;";  the 

temples;  Moorish  charms,  enclosed  in  small 


f 


006 


THE  ASIIANTI. 


cases  of  gol<l  and  silver,  suspended  on  their 
brcaslM,  witli  neeklm^t's  mmle  of  '  aggry 
beadH,' a  peculiar  stone  fotiiii!  In  the  coun- 
try, an<l  n'st-nibiing  the 'fr/nin  ndyr' of  the 
nncicMl  HritouM;  lumps  ' of  gol(l  hanging 
from  their  wrists;  while  handaonu!  girls 
would  sianri  behind  holding  silver  ba«inH  in 
their  hands." 

An  illustration  on  page  504  represents  a 
Caboeeer  at  the  hea(l  of  his  wild  soldiery, 
and  well  indicates  the  strange  mixture  oi" 
barbarity  and   culture  which  distinguisheH 
this  as  well  as  other  West  African  tril)es. 
It  will  be  seen  from  his  seat  that  he  is  no 
very  great  horseman,  and,  indeed,  the  Cabo- 
ceers  are  mostly  held  on  their  horses  by  two 
men,  one  on  each  side.     WluiU  Mr.  Duncan 
visited  Western  Africa,  and   mounted   his 
horse   to  show  the  king  liow  the  English 
dragoons  rode  and  fought,  two  of  the  retain- 
ers ran  to  his  side,  and  passed  their  arms 
round  him.    It  was  not  without  some  dilH- 
eulty  that  he  could  make  them  u  iderstand 
that  Englishmen  rode  without  such  assist- 
ance.    The  Caboceer's  dress  consists  of  an 
ornamental   turban,  a  jacket,  and  a    loin 
cloth,  mostly  of  white,  and  so  disposed  as 
to  leave  the  middle  of  the  body  bare.    On 
his  feet  he  wears  a  remarkable  sort  of  sinir 
the  part  which  answers  to  the  rowel  being 
flat,  squared,  and  rather  deeply  notched.     It 
18  used  by  striking  or  scoring  the  horse  with 
the  sharp   nnglt's,  and   not  by   the    slight 
])ncking  movement  with  which  an  English 
jockey  uses  his  spurs.    The  rowels,  to  use 
the  analogous  term,  pass  through  a  slit  in 
an  oval  piece  of  leather,  which  aids  in  bind- 
ing the  spur  on  the  heel.    A  i)air  of  these 
curious  spurs  are  now  in  my  collection,  and 
were  presented  by  Dr.  K.  Irvine,  K.  N. 

His  weajjons  consist  of  the  spear,  bow, 
and  arrows— the  latter  being  mostly  ])oi- 
soncd,  and  furnislvd  with  nasty-looking 
barbs  extending  for  several  inches  below 
the  head.  The  horse  is  almost  liidden  by 
its  accoutrements,  which  are  wonderfully 
like  those  of  the  knights  of  chivalry,  save 
that  instead  of  the  brilliant  emblazonings 
with  which  the  housings  of  the  chargers 
were  covered,  sentences  from  the  Koran 
are  substituted,  and  are  scattered  over  the 
entire  cloth.  The  headstall  of  the  horse  is 
made  of  leather,  and,  following  the  usual 
African  fashion,  is  cut  into  a  vast  number 
of  thongs. 

One  of  these  headstalls  and  the  hat  of  the 
rider  are  in  my  collection.  They  are  both 
made  of  leather,  most  carefully  and  elabo- 
rately worked.  The  hat  or  helmet  is  cov- 
ered with  flat,  quadrangular  ornaments  also 
made  of  leather,  folded  and  beaten  until  it 
is  nearly  as  hard  as  wood,  and  from  each  of 
them  depend  six  or  seven  leather  thongs, 
80  that,  when  the  cap  is  placed  on  the  head, 
the  thongs  descend  as  far  as  the  mouth,  and 
answer  as  a  veil.  The  headstall  of  the 
horse  is  a  moat  elaborate  piece  of  workman- 


ship, the  leather  being  stamped  out  in  bold 
and  lalher  artistic  patterns,  and  deeorat<>d 
with  three  circular  leathern  oi  inents,  d, 
which  a  star-shaped  i)uttern  has  Ikmii  neatly 
worked  in  red,  bhuk,  and  white.  Five  tas- 
sels of  leatliern  thongs  hang  from  it,  and 
are  i)rol)ably  used  as  a  means  of  keeninu  olf 
the  flies.  ° 

The  common  soldiers  are,  as  may  be  seen, 
quite  destitute  of  unifonn,  ami  almost  of 
clothing.  They  wear  several  knives  and 
daggers  attached  to  a  neekliice,  and  they 
carry  any  weapons  that  I  bey  niav  be  able  to 
procure  — guns  if  jiossihle;  and",  in  default 
ol  lire  .irms,  using  bows  and  spears.  Two 
of  the  petty  otlieers  are  seen  blowing  their 
huge  trumiiets,  which  are  vmiply  elejjhant 
tusks  hollowed  and  polished,  and'sdnietimcs 
carved  with  various  patterns.  'I'hey  are 
blown  from  the  side,  ns  is  the  rase  with 
African  wii   I  inslriinients  generally. 

In  Ashai  i.  as  in  other  parts  of  Africa, 
the  royal  sun  rssion  never  lies  in  the  direct 
line,  but  passes  to  the  brother  or  nci)hew  of 
the  deceased  monarch,  the  nephew  in  ques- 
tion being  the  son  of  the  king's  sister, 
and  not  his  brother.  The  reason  for  this 
arrangement  is,  that  the  peojile  are  sure 
that  their  future  king  has  some  royal  blood 
in  his  veins,  whereas,  according'  to  their 
ideas,  no  one  can  be  quite  certain  that  the 
son  of  the  queen  is  also  the  son  of  the  king, 
and,  as  the  king's  wives  are  never  of  royal 
blood,  they  might  have  a  mere  plebeian 
claimant  to  the  throne.  Therelbre  the  son 
of  the  king's  sister  is  alwavs  <hosen;  and  it 
IS  a  curious  fact  that  the  sister  in  (piestion 
need  not  be  married,  provided  tl  it  the 
father  of  her  child  be  strong,  good-looking, 
and  of  tf)lerable  position  in  life. 

In  Ashanti  the  king  is  restricted  in  the 
number  of  his  wives.  Hut.  as  the  prohibi- 
tion tixcK  the  magic  number  of  three  thou- 
sand throe  hundred  and  thirty-three,  he  has 
not  much  to  comi)lain  of  with  regard  to  the 
stringency  of  the  law.  Of  cour.«e,  with  the 
excejition  of  a  chosen  few,  these;  wives  are 
practically  servants,  and  do  all  the  work 
about  the  fields  and  houses. 

The  natives  have  their  legend  about  gold. 
They  say  that  when  the  Great  Spirit  lirst 
created  man,  he  made  one  black  man  and 
one  white  one.  and  gave  them  their  choice 
of  two  gifts.  One  contained  all  the  treas- 
ures of  the  tropics  — the  fruitful  trees,  the 
fertile  soil,  the  warm  sun,  and  a  calabash  of 
gold  dust.  The  other  gift  was  simply  a 
quantity  of  white  paper,  ink,  and  peius.  The 
former  gift,  of  course,  denoted  material 
advantages,  and  the  latter  knowledge.  The 
black  man  chose  the  former  is  being  the 
most  obvious,  and  the  white  man  the  latter. 
Hence  the  superiority  of  tlie  white  over  th« 
black. 

Conceding  to  the  white  man  all  the  advan* 
tages  which  he  gains  from  liis  wisdom,  they 
are  very  jealous  of  their  own  advantages, 


h 


out  iu  bold 
1  diH()rat<d 
■  I  menu,  ii, 
^»M!U  neatly 
Fiv«  tns- 
oni  it,  and 
keeping  oil" 

ny  bo  Rcon, 

almost  of 

mivcH  and 

,  and  they 

'  lie  ul)le  to 

in  default 

'ai'H.    Two 

win;,'  their 

y  elejiimnt 

Honietimcs 

'I'liey   aro 

rase  with 

"ly- 

ot  Africa, 
the  direct 
nei)hew  of 
\v  in  ques- 
\'/h  sister, 
u  for  this 
!  are  sure 
oyal  blood 
f  lo  their 
n  that  the 
'  the  kinjj, 
•r  of  roval 
plebeian 
e  the  son 
en;  and  it 
I  (|iiestion 
tliat  the 
d-looking, 

:cd  in  the 
>  jirohibi- 
rce  thou- 
I'e,  he  ha8 
ird  to  the 
.  with  the 
wives  aro 
the  work 

)ont  gold, 
pirit  lirst 
man  and 
cir  choice 
the  treas- 
trees,  the 
labash  of 
simply  a 
■ns.    The 

material 
ge.  The 
leing  the 
lie  latter. 

over  the 

le  advan* 
om,  they 
k'antages, 


■  °?^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


2.5 
2.2 


as.  IiM 


U    III  1.6 


/a 


c^ 


^m 


cW 


"*  ^\  " 


>/' 


'/ 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


\ 


;v 


^V 


o- 


■"o' 


<^ 


'9) 


'^C,^ 


r;|  r 


IVORY  TRUMPETS.    (See  page  5??.) 
The  right  Imnd  trniiii)i;t  Iiim  n  .•iinifiod  tipinv  mi  it. 


WAR  nniM. 

(3«e  pajfe  in.) 


(568) 


fhi' Tnes"  ff  S*'  of  foreigner,  to  work 
"k      mines,  It  mines  thev  can  be  p.iIlPfJ 

needed  %-^'/  '\'^^  «ubter^raneou?  work!' 
mnf  „?  ;  u-y  ^"'  '■»t''er  allow  the  precious 
metal  to  be  wasted  than  permit  Z  white 

{:^>r=Ste.i:^^-«:B| 

8tre83^''wHl'''h^^^?  mentioned  that  more 
stress  will  be  laid  upon  Dahomo  thin 
Ashanti,  and  that  iu  cases  whore  man ne^-s 

The  former,  which  is  the  "roater  of  t'.n 

TO.  occurs     n  fl,„   K,,™: :__  "„  .."'^'^  OI   tiie 


THE  FETISH  DRUM  AND  TRUMPET. 


669 


two,  occurs  in^hrbeginrntfrSembe" 
21'^/''"  -rr?  •■^••^  "P"-    "eforc  tL^ams 

=S^S™;^r'^'"^^^^--^°^"^th 

[eASe^^J„^-S-,3T..-- 
take  place  every  three  weeks  amrVw 
destr„etion  of  hu'.nan  life  rtSib'?e     The 

mu  c'^hicrin'^il"''"'  r'""  the'horrible 
s-iprifi  .1  I       ",  '^"  countries  where  human 

Sm;^n/St'^''°P°™'"«''  '^^  ''-"its 

man  is  comb med  with  th^f  AV  „  u-  i    1.  '^ 

head  of  the  drum  is  see urecT  t^  Parchment 
ment  bv  a  num  .„r  „p         ,    ^  "^'^  instru- 

fs  proSfbU,Xfthe°hrarofU''"«'  '^.  '' 

means  of  a'  mova  c  head  k^  w'^^  '*  V^ 
Western  Africa/and  em  if  it"v*  ''r"'"  '» 
it  would  not  be  i  rac  sVd  Tho  n  ?•  *-  ''""'^"' 
modify  a  eust,^m  They  exchS',>'f'^' 
anotherj  or  they  abolish  It  but  H.rr.f   *^' 

mg^spirlt  neve/exislod  iKe  „  !)ro  m?n^^^^ 
On  the  side  of  the  drum  may  b"e  sc^n  tt 
air-hole,  which  is  usually  fourld  in  Af  i,nn 
drums,  and  which  is  closed  with  a  I'^eco  of 
spider  web  when  the  instrument  i^  use  f 

28 


Sometimes  the  drums  are  of  enormous  sIzp 

he  end     n'  /-    ""'^^''^P^^^  trumpet,  from 
been  cmckoi'  here  nn,l  Ihorc,  it  is  ImDoLS 

rrtLisSifoSiri-'xiS' 

aM.tion  1.  that  of  „  boa  0>pvtl,oS  which 

"PperjaAvof  a  human  beiiW   ev  dentlv^ 

prStin  "teeth  ?n''^fi'  "'f'"'^^*'^'-  ^^^^  'he 
From  tho  m«ri       •  'i"^  '^"''«*  possible  order. 

barely  to  idolatry,  the?r  id's  oHhtSeme 
l>eity  being  exceedingly  va-nic  and  nS 

S«ff 'C-'""  ""■' "'™  Slit™ 


I     Bl 


660 


THE  ASHANTI. 


of  trees  or  rivers,  have  a  restricted  power 
over  towns,  districts,  or  individuals. 

The  scrap  of  rag,  leopards'  claws,  sacred 
chains,  peculiar  beads,  bits  of  bone,  bird- 
beaks,  &c.,  which  are  worn  by  the  Wontse,  or 
fetish  men,  have  a  rather  curious  use,  which  is 
well  explained  by  the  "  F.  R.  G.  S."  :— "  The 
West  Africans,  like  their  brethren  in  the  East, 
have  evil  ghosts  and  haunting  evastra,  which 
work  themselves  into  the  position  of  demons. 
Their  various  rites  are  intended  to  avert  the 
harm  which  may  be  done  to  them  by  their 
Fepos  or  Mulungos,  and  perhaps  to  shift  it 
upon  their  enemies.  When  the  critical  mo- 
ment has  arrived,  the  ghost  is  adjured  by 
the  fetish  man  to  come  forth  from  the  pos- 
sessed, and  an  article  is  named  —  a  leopard's 
claw,  peculiar  beads,  or  a  rag  from  the 
sick  man's  body  nailed  to  what  Europeans 
call  the  'Devil's  tree' — in  which,  if  worn 
about  the  person,  the  haunter  will  reside. 
It  is  techmcally  called  &ehi,  or  Keti,  i.  e.  a 


chair  or  a  stool.  The  word  '  fetish,'  by  the 
way,  is  a  corruption  of  the  Portuguese  Fei- 
ti9o,  i.  e.  witchcraft,  or  conjuring.'" 

Their  belief  respecting  the  Kra,  or  Kla, 
or  soul  of  a  man,  is  very  peculiar.  They 
believe  that  the  Kla  exists  before  the  body, 
and  that  it  is  transmitted  from  one  to  an- 
other. Thus,  if  a  child  dies,  the  next  is 
supposed  to  be  the  same  child  born  again 
into  the  world;  and  so  thoroughly  do  they 
believe  this,  that  when  a  woman  finds  that 
she  is  about  to  become  a  mother,  she  goes 
U)  the  fetish  man,  and  requests  him  to  ask 
the  Kla  of  her  future  child  respecting  its 
ancestry  and  intended  career.  But  the  Kla 
has  another  office  2  for  it  is  supposed  to  be 
in  some  sort  distinct  from  the  man^  and, 
like  the  demon  of  Socrates,  to  give  him  ad- 
vice, and  is  a  kind  of  small  Wodsi,  capable 
of  receiving  offerings.  The  Kla  is  aluo  dual, 
male  and  female;  the  former  urging  the 
man  to  evil,  and  the  latter  to  good. 


CHAPTER  LV. 


I>AHOME. 

CHARACTERISTIC  OP  THE  WESTERN  AFRICAN  -  LOCALTTT  OF  DAHOME  -  T.«,  ^ 

ABCH1TKCTURE-"  SWISH"  HOU8E8-THE  V  l^URE  .^r„^  X>T  ^^  '««'''«OT8-DAH0MAX 
SHIP  ,N    DAHOME-PUNISI.MENT    OF  A  Bi,AK^^LT  ^Z  ''''''  ^=°»*-«NAKE  WOB- 

MAN  OF  BANK  TO  THE  CAPITAL -AFmCAN^^^oCKl?."^  ^^  COURT- JOURNEV  OF  A 
CEREMONIES  ON  THK  JOUBNE V - kTkA  OB  C^ V^K."  J  '?^^"<»'  ""^  ™«  ^OBD  BAHOME- 
THE  SCENEBV-THK  OVOS  ANO  OO^^S 'c'toT-M^^  llZ^:^:  ---"-BEAUTV  OF 
-"THE  BELL  COMES"-THE  AMAZONS  -  THEIB  F    ^  jm.  AND  rn^rJl  "^''''^    OBNAMENT 

ANB  WEAPONS-RKVIEW  OF  THE  AMAZONB-orA;iZAno;:rTr::Ro":a!"^ 


oy  Ills  trequent  intercourse  with  men  wisBr 


home,  akmgdom  begun  in  blood  and  cnieltv 
^hLVJ!!^  maintained  it8  existence  of  mS 
than  two  centuries  in  spite  of  the  terrible 
scenes  continually  enacted  ~  scenes  which 

^oU^iTt^'r'J  r^  ".^^  nation  To  S 
volt.    But  the  fearful  sacrifices  for  which  the 


barbaniy  by  the  «.MiHnn«/Jl™  „.H'."?'»^      I' >s  situated  in  that  part  of  Africa  eon, 

Onlv  known   na   fj,^    Oi„.„  i^.-_T^  ,^"?"" 


barbarit7hVf  ,„  „  Uv-  "  .  ^  'ncreased  their 
uai  Dauiy  by  the  "dditional  means  which  hp 
haa  obtained  from  the  white  mnn. 

i^xchanguig  the  bow  and  arrows  for  the 
gun  and  the  club  for  the  sword  he  h^ 
employed  his  better  weapons  in  increasK 
his  destructive  nowera  an.!  i,„l  „il-  a       "^ 


whom  he^hairpr  ;ouTffrgK;7d  who   '^"""-"^  "j  Pow.rTand,'  tT  he 'eye  of  T 
S'^J^,^  long  i  tWriis^SS  b"l°  ra^ZtS  tTli^^J^^^-  ^^41  ^ 


r&^eSsidfi^4  ts^*™^^^^^^^  S*^? 

rfouK7'f»;i''^  onl/excuse'Sich  cou  d 
oe  louncl  tor  the  savage  cruelty  with  which 
he  makes  raids  on  every  town  vhich  he 
thinks  he  can  conquer,  he  has  not  yet  earned 
to  abolish  the  drejvdful  "  custom  "^ofhn^r,, 

sacrifices,  although  each  prison^rorcrirna 
killed  18  adead  loss  to  him.  -"^^"nunai 


monly  knowJi  a^  thrsiaTcoast  as'diX 
guished  from  the  Gold,  Ivo^^*^nd  Gmi„" 
Coasts,  and  its  shores  are  washed  bv?hp 

aXnrof't?%^'^'^*  «^  bS  DaCe' 
A={?  '  ,?^J^^Jo»r  great  slave  kingdoms 
Ashant.  Yomba,  Benin,  and  Dahome  iTm 
retained  its  power,  and   to  the  eye  of  a^ 


i,„-  ^    "--- """^»  »BM  even  i'anome.  Which 

tem         '    ^^^  three,  >vlU  speedily' fXw 

On  its  coast  are  the  two  celebrated  nort« 

Lagos  and  Whydah,  which  have  fofso^S 

toe"  fn  Z'Z  ""^  ^'^''^'^  '""^  «'*-'«  5.^ 
fhl  =.,•  T  '"tenor  were  sent  on  boai-d 
the  ships,  Lagos,  however,  has  been  kl- 
ready  ceded  to  England,  and,  undar  a  bet- 
ter management,  will  probably  become  one 
of  the  great  ports  at  which  a  legitimate 


We  now  come  to  one  of  the  strangest  *""!««»"  be  carried  on,  and  which  willbe^ 
kmgdomsonthefaceoftheear^Vat™?!)"-  cuZ  of Vesterl. 'Sr  ''"*^  ^"  "^« 


502 


DAIIOME. 


Whydah,  being  one  of  the  towns  throuj^li 
which  a  traveller  is  sure  to  pass  in  going 
into  the  interior  of  Dahonie,  is  worMi  a 
passing  notice.  Captain  Burton,  from  whom 
the  greater  part  of  our  knowledge  of  this 
strange  land  is  derived,  states  that  the  very 
name  is  a  misnomer.  In  the  lirst  place,  we 
have  attributed  it  to  the  wrong  spot,  and  in 
the  next  we  have  given  it  a  most  corrupted 
title.  The  place  which  we  call  Whydah  is 
known  to  the  people  as  Gre-hwe  (Planta- 
tion House);  while  the  real  Hwo-dah  — as 
the  word  ouglit  to  be  spelt— belongs  rightly 
to  a  little  kingdom  whose  capital  was  Siivi. 

Originally  a  i)ort  belonging  to  the  king  of 
Savi,  and  given  up  entirely  to  piracy,  it 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Agaja,  king  of 
Daliomc,  wlio  easily  found  an  excuse  for 
attackiu"j'  a  place  which  was  so  valuable  as 
giving  hnn  a  direct  communication  from  the 
interior  to  the  sea,  without  the  intervention 
of  middle-men,  who  each  take  a  heavy  per- 
centage from  all  goods  that  pa.^s  through 
their  district.  From  172.5,  when  it  thus 
passed  into  Dahoman  hands,  it  rapidly  in- 
creased in  size  and  importance.  Now  it 
presents  an  extraordinary  mixture  of  native 
and  imported  masters,  rind  we  will  endea- 
vor to  cast  a  rapid  glance  at  the  former. 

The  place  is  divided  into  five  districts 
each  governed  by  its  own  Caboceer;  and  it 
is  a  notable  fact,  that  nowadays  a  Caboceer 
need  not  be  a  native.  The  post  of  Caboceer 
of  the  Soglaji,  or  English  quarter,  was  of- 
fered to  Captain  Burton,  who,  however  could 
not  be  tempted  to  accept  it  even  by  the 
umbrella  of  rank  — equal  to  the  blue  ribbon 
of  our  own  system. 

At  the  entrance  of  every  town  there  is 
the  De-sum,  or  Custom-house,  and  close  by 
it  are  a  number  of  little  fetish  houses, 
tvherein  the  trader  is  supposed  to  return 


his  thanks  to  the  propitiating  demons.  The 
streets  are  formed  by  the  walls  of  enclosures 
and  the  backs  of  houses;  and,  as  Dahoman 
architecture  is  regulated  by  law,  a  very  uni- 
form effect  is  obtained.  The  walls  are  i.r.id, 
popularly  called  "  swish,"  sometimes  mixed 
with  oyster-shells  to  strengthen  it,  and  built 
up  in  regular  courses,  each  about  two  feet 
and  a  half  in  thickness.  Bv  law,  no  walls 
are  allowed  to  be  more  tha"n  four  courses 
liigh. 

The  hot  Bun  soon  bakes  the  mud  into  the 
consistence  of  soft  brick;  and,  were  it  not 
for  the  fierce  rains  of  the  tropics,  it  would 
be  very  lusting.  As  it  is,  the  rainy  season 
18  very  destructive  to  walls,  and  the  early 
part  of  the  dry  season  is  always  a  busy 
time  with  native  architects,  who  are  en- 
gaged in  repairing  the  damages  caused  by 
the  rains.  There  is  a  small  amount  of  salt 
in  the  mud,  which  increases  tlie  liability  to 
damage.  On  the  Gold  Co.st  the  natives 
ingeniously  strengthen  the  swish  walls  by 
growing  cactus  plants;  but  the  negroes  of 
Dahome  neglect  this  precaution,  and  conse- 


quently give  themselves  — as  Jazy  people 
proverbially  do  — a  vast  amount  of  needless 
houble.  There  are  no  windows  to  the 
houses;  but  the  roofs,  made  of  grass  and 
leaves  fastened  on  a  light  'ramcwork,  are 
made  so  that  they  can  be  partially  raised 
Irom  the  walls,  like  the  "fly  "  of  a  tent. 

In  sjiite  of  the  presence  of  localized  Chris- 
tian missions,  and  the  continual  contact  of 
Islamism,  the  system  of  fulishism  is  ram- 
pant in  Whydah.  No  human  sacrifices  take 
place  there,  all  the  victims  being  forwarded 
to  the  cajiital  for  execution.  But,  according 
to  Captain  Burton,  "even  in  the  bazaar 
many  a  hut  will  be  girt  round  with  the  Zo 
Vodun,  a  country  rope  witli  dead  leaves 
dangling  from  it  at  spaces  of  twenty  feet. 
(Zo  Vmhin  signifies  fire-fetish.) 

^' After  a  conflagration,  this  fetish  fire- 
prophylactic  becomes  almost  universal.  Op- 
posite the  house  gates,  again,  we  find  the 
Vo-siva  defending  the  inmates  from  harm. 
It  is  of  many  shapes,  cspecinllv  a  stick  or  a 
pole,  with  an  empty  old  calabash  for  a  head, 
and  a  body  comj)Osod  of  grass,  thatch, 
palm  leaves,  fowls'  feathers,  achatina  shells. 
These  people  must  deem  lightly  of  an  in- 
fluence that  can  mistake,  even  in  the  dark, 
such  a  scarecrow  for  a  liuman  being. 

"  Near  almost  every  door  stands  the  I  i-g- 
ba-gbau,  or  Logba-pot,  by  Europeans  t(jm- 
monly  called  the  'Devil's  dish.'  It  is  a 
common  clay  shard  article,  either  whole  or 
broken,  and  every  morning  and  evening  it 
IS  filled,  generally  by  women,  with  cooked 
maize  and  jjalm  oil,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
turkey  buzzard.  'Akrasu,'  the  vulture,  is, 
next  to  the  snake,  the  happiest  animal  in 
Dahome.  He  has  always  abundance  of  food, 
like  storks,  robins,  swallows,  crows,  adju- 
tant-cranes, and  other  holy  birds  in  difftr- 
ent  parts  of  the  world.  Travellers  abuse 
this  '  obscene  fowl,'  forgetting  that  without 
it  the  towns  of  Yoruba  would  be  uninhabit- 
able. .  .  .  The  turkey-buzzard  perched  on 
the  topmost  stick  of  a  blasted  calabash  tree 
is  to  the  unromantic  natives  of  '  'Vica  what 
the  pea  fowl  is  to  more  enga  -r  Asians. 
It  always  struck  me  as  the  most  .ippropriate 
emblem  and  heraldic  bearing  for  decayed 
Dahome." 

The  Legba,  or  idol  to  whom  the  fowl  is 
sacred,  is  an  abominable  image,  rudely 
moulded  out  of  clay,  and  rei)resentcd  in  a 
squatting  attitude.  Sometimes  Legba's  head 
is  of  wood,  with  eyes  and'  teeth  made  of 
cowries,  or  else  painted  white.  Legba"  is 
i.iostlv  a  male  deity,  rarely  a  female,  and 
the  chief  object  of  the  idol  maker  seems  to 
be  that  the  worshipper  shall  have  no  doubt 
on  the  subject  Legba  sits  in  a  little  hut 
open  at  the  sides;  and,  as  no  one  takes  care 
of  him,  and  no  one  dares  to  meddle  with 
him,  the  country  is  full  of  these  queer  little 
temples,  inside  which  the  god  Is  sometimes 
seen  in  tolerable  preservation,  but  in  most 
cases  has  sunk  into  a  mere  heap  of  mud  and 


k£ 


people 
eedless 
to  the 
iss  and 
rk,  are 
raised 
It. 

Chris- 
tact  of 
8  ralli- 
es tuke 
vardi'd 
ording 
bazaar 
llie  Zo 
luavea 
y  feet. 

Ii  fire- 
l.  Op. 
id  the 
harm, 
k  or  a 
I.  head, 
hatch, 
sliella. 
an  in- 
!  dark, 

I  log. 
I  com- 
b  is  a 
ole  or 
ling  it 
looked 
of  the 
re,  is, 
aal  iu 
f  food, 

adju- 
difler. 
aljiise 
ithont 
habit- 
ed on 
1  tree 

what 
sians. 
priate 
caycd 

>wl  is 
udely 
in  a 
head 
cle  of 
;ba"  is 
,  and 
ms  to 
loubt 
B  hut 
care 
with 
little 
^iines 
most 
land 


mm 


(2.)   PUNISHMENT  OF  A  SNAKK  KILLER.    (Sec  pnjc  565.) 
(504) 


PUNISHMENT  OP  SNAKE  KILLER. 


(lust  Some  of  these  wooden  Lejrbas  may 
bo  novn  on  the  r,r,2tn\  im^e,  but  thoy  are  pur- 
poselv  selected  on  aeeount  of  the  exeen- 
tioriiU  dcliciiey  displayed  hy  the  carver. 

hnakes    are   fetish   throughout   Dahomo 
an<l  are  protected  by  the  severest  laws.    All 
Borpents  are  highly  venerated,  but  there  is 
one  in  particular,  a  harmless  snakc!  called 
.  th(!  '•  Danhgbwe,"  which  is  hel.l  in  the  most 
absurd  rovorenco.     It  is  of  mo.lerate  size 
yeaclung  some  five  or  six  feet  in  length,  an(i 
is  rather  delicately  colored  with  brown  yel- 
low, and  white.     The  Danhgbwo  is  kept 
tiune  in  fcttish  houses,  and,  if  one  of  them 
should  stray,  it  is  carefully  restored  by  the 
man  who  linds  it,  and  who  grovels  on  (he 
ground  and  covers  himself  with  dust  before 
ho  touches  It,  as  he  would  in  the  presence 
of  a  king,    rormorly  the  i)enalty  for  killin-r 
one  of  these  snakes  was  death,  but  it  is  now 
commuted  for  a  punishment  which,  althou"li 
very  severe,  i.n  not  necessarily  fiital  to  tTie 
pufterer.    It  i)artakos  of  the  uiixture  of  the 
horrible  and  tlu^  grotesque  which  is  so  char- 
ncteristic  of   this   land.     Mr.    Duncan  saw 
three  men  undergo  this  punishment.   Three 
small  houses  were  built  of  dry  sticks,  and 
thatched  with  dry  gnuss.    The  culprits  were 
then  placed  in  front  of  the  houses  b .  the ' 
letisb  man,  who  made  a  long  s|)(yech  to  the  ' 
spectators,  and  explained   the   enormity  of 
the  otleuco  of  which  they  had  been  guilty. 

Ihey  then  jiroceeded  to  tie  on  the  shoul- 
ders ot  each  culprit  a  dog,  a  kid,  and  two 
lowls.     A  quantity  of  palm  oil  was  poured 
over  them,  and  on   their   heads  w(!ro   bal- 
anced baskets,  containing  little  oijcn  cala- 
l)ashos  tilled  with  the  same  material,  .so  that 
at  the  least  movement  the  calabashes  were 
upset,  and  the  oil  ran  all  over  the  head  and 
body.    Ihey  were  next  marched  round  the 
httlc  hous,-s,  and.  lastly,  forced  to  crawl  into  '. 
them,  the  dog,  kid,  and  fowls  Ixung  taken  olf' 
their  shoulders  and  thrust  into  the  house; 
with  them.    The  doors  being  shut,  a  lar.'e 
mob  assembles  with   sticks  and  clods,  and' 
surrounds  the  house.    The  houses  are  then  ! 
nred  the  dry  material  blazing  up  like  "iin- 1 
pow.ler,  and   the   wretched   inmates   Inirstl 
tluur  way  through  the  tiaming  walls  and 

^mi^U^?  '""''•^  ^y  "•'^  ^™^^'l'  ^^ho  beat 
and  pelt  them  unmercifully.    If  they  can 

?hov  L*^"  '"'"'"V^'  ""'^  ^'-^  «*'«'  «»'l  «houUl 
tl  e>  be  men  of  any  consequence  they  have, 
1  tie  to  (.ar,  as  their  friends  surround 
them,  and  keep  ott  the  crowd  until  the 
water  is  reached. 

The  whole  of  the  proceedings  are  shown 
in  the  illustration  on  the  previous  page 

In  the  distance  is  seen  one  of  the  culprits 
beinjr  taken  to  his  fetish  house,  the  basket 
of  calabashes  on  his  head,  and  the  animals 
slung  round  his  neck.  Another  is  seen 
creening  into  the  house,  near  wWch  the 
fetish  nian  19  standing,  holding  dead  snakes 
in  his  hands,  and  horrible  to  look  at  by 


86« 


reajion  of  the  paint  with  which  ho  has  cov- 
ered his  tace.  In  the  foreground  is  another 
criminal  rushing  towartf  the  water,  hist 
about  to  plunge  into  it  and  extinguish  the 
flames  that  are  still  playing  about  his  oil- 
saturated  hair  and  iiave  nearly  burned  off 
all  his  scantv  clothing.  The  l)(iizing  hut  1b 
seen  behind  him,  and  around  are  the  spec- 
tators, nelting  and  striking  him,  while  his 
jiersonal  triends  are  che<king  them,  and 
keeping  the  way  clear  toward  the  water. 

We  will  now  leave  Whydah,  and  proceed 
toward  the  capital.  i         «« 

When  a  person  of  rank  wishes  to  pay  his 
resnecls  to  the  king,  the  latter  sends  some 
01  Ins  olHcers,  bearing,  as  an   emblem  of 
|their  riink,  the  shark-stick,  j.  e.  a  kind  of 
;  tomahawk  about  two  feet  long,  carved  at 
the  end  into  a  rude  semblance  of  the  shark 
I  another  image  of  the  same  (ish  being  made 
I  (mt  of  a  silver  <lollar  beaten  Hat  and  nailed 
j  to  the  end  of  the  handle.    On.^  of  the  olH- 
I  cers  will  i)robably  liiive  the  lion  stick  as  his 
emblem  of  the  trust  renosed  in  him;  but  to 
unpractised  eyes  the   li(nis  carved  on  the 
sturk  would  answer  eqiinlly  well    for    the 
shark,  and  both  would  do  well  as  "croco- 
dile" sticks,  the  sh.ap'js  of  the  animals  bein" 
))urcly  conventional.  ° 

The  mode   of  travelling  is  generally  in 
hammocks,  made  of  cotton  cloth,  but  s(>me- 
tiines  formed  of  silk:  these  latter  are  very 
gaudy  alVaiis.    The  average  size  of  a  ham- 
inock  18  nine  feet  by  live,  and  the  ends  arc 
ashed  to  a  pole  some   nine  or  ten  feet  in 
'  ength.     Upon  the  pole  is  fixed  a  slicrjit 
framework,  which  supports  an  awnin'^  as  a 
1  defence  against  the  sun.    The  polo  is  car- 
1  ried  not  on   the  shouMers  but   the  heads 
of  the  bearers,  and,  owing  to   their  awk- 
I  wardness  and   rough  movements   an  inex- 
;  penenced  traveller  gets  his  he.ad   knocked 
against  the  polo  with  considerable  violence. 
i  I  wo  men  carry  it,  but  each  hammock  re- 
quires  a  set  of  seven  men,  some  to  act  as 
,  relays,  and  others  to   help  in  getting  the 
j  vehicle  over  a  rough  part  of  the  road.   Each 
man  fxi)ec(s  a  glass  of  rum  morning  and 
evening,  and,  as   he   is  able  to    make    an 
I  unpopular  master  very  uncomfortable,  it  is 
better  to  yield  to  ihe  general  custom,  espe- 
cially as  rum  is  only  threepence  ))er  pint. 

Being  now  fairly  in  the  midst  of  Dahome, 
let  us  see  what  is  the  meaning  of  the  name. 
Scmewhore  about  A.  D.  1020,  an  old  kin<' 
died  and  left  three  sons.  The  oldest  took 
his  talher's  kingdom,  and  the  youngest, 
JJako  by  name  (some  writers  call  Him  Tacu- 
dona),  went  abroad  10  seek  his  fortune,  and 
settled  at  a  place  not  far  from  Agbome.  By 
(legrees  Dako  became  more  and  more  pow- 
erful, and  was  continually  encroaching  upon 
the  country  belonging  to  a  neighborin<^  kin" 
called  Daub,  t,  #.  the  Snake,  or  Rainbow 
As  the  number  of  his  followers  increased 
Tlako  pestered  Danh  for  more  and  more' 
loud  for  them,  until  at  last  the  kiu"  lost 


i  im 


806 


DAIIOMB. 


pntience,  and  uld  to  thn  portinnclonfl  nion- 
diciint,  "  Soon  thou  wilt  build  iu  my  bi^lly." 
I)ako  tliouL'lit  tliat  tliis  idua  wiU4  not  a  btul 
one,  unil  wluiu  Itu  liud  uollei-led  Hutlicii.nt 
WurrioiH,  ho  uttiickiid  Dauli,  killiid  him,  took 
pon8i!8Miou  of  liiH  kinj^dom,  luid  built  a  new 
prtliico  over  Ids  coipm),  thuH  literally  and 
doliboratuly  fulllUinj,'  tlu;  luediction  matlo 
iu  ha«to  aud  anjjor  by  his  fou(|Unri!d  Ibe. 
In  honor  of  his  victory,  tlio  conquorer  called 
the  nlacc  Dauh-omc,  or  Daidi's-belly.  Tho 
"  n  "  in  tide  word  ia  a  niiHul  sound  unknown 
to  Enjj[liHh  carH,  and  the  word  ia  bent  pro- 
nounced Dah-onie.  as  a  dissvllable. 

The  groat  neighboring  kingdom  of  Al- 
lada  was  friendly  with  Didiome  for  nearly  a 
hundred  years,  when  they  fell  out,  fouglit, 
and  Dahoine  again  proved  victorious,  ho 
that  AUada  allowed  itself  to  be  incorporated 
with  Dahoino. 

It  was  a  little  beyond  AUiwla  where  Cap- 
tain Burton  first  Haw  some  of  the  celebrated 
Amazons,  or  female  soldiers,  who  will  be 
presently  described,  and  here  began  the 
strange  series  of  ceremonies,  for  too  nu- 
merous to  bo  separately  described,  whicli 
accompanied  the  progress  of  so  important  a 
visitor  to  the  capital.  A  mere  slight  outline 
will  be  given  of  them. 

At  every  village  that  was  passed  a  dance 
was  performed,  which  the  travellers  wore 
cxi)ected  to  witness.  All  the  dances  being 
exactly  alike,  and  consisting  of  writhings  of 
the  body  and  stamping  with  the  feet,  they 
soon  became  very  monotonous,  but  had  to 
be  endured.  At  a  place  called  Aquine  h 
body  of  warriors  rushed  tuinultuously  into 
the  cleared  space  of  the  village  under 
its  centro  tree.  They  were  about  eighty 
iu  number,  and  were  formed  four  cfecp. 
Headed  by  a  sort  of  flag,  and  accompanied 
by  the  inevitjiblo  drum,  they  came  on  at 
full  speed,  singing  at  the  top  of  their  voices, 
and  performing  various  agile  aiitics.  After 
circling  round  the  tree,  they  all  fell  flat  on 
the  ground,  beat  up  the  dust  with  their 
hands,  aud  flung  it  over  their  bodies.  This 
is  the  royal  salute  of  Western  Africa,  and 
was  performed  in  honor  of  the  king's  canes 
of  oflice,  which  he  had  sent  by  their  bear- 
ers, accompanied  by  the  great  ornament  of 
his  court,  an  old  liquor  case,  covered  with 
a  white  doth,  and  boine  on  a  boy's  head. 
From  this  case  were  produced  bottles  of 
water,  wine,  gin,  and  rum,  of  each  of  which 
the  •visitors  were  expected  to  drink  three 
times,  according  to  etiquette. 

Alter  this  ceremony  had  been  completed, 
the  escort,  as  these  men  proved  to  be,  pre- 
ceded the  party  to  the  cai)ital,  dancing  and 
capering  t'.ie  whole  way.  After  several  halts, 
the  party  arrived  within  sight  of  Kana,  the 
country  capital.  "  It  is  distinctly  Dahomo, 
and  here  the  traveller  expects  to  look  upon 
the  scenes  of  barbaric  splendor  of  which  all 
the  world  has  read.  And  it  has  its  own 
beauty;  a  French  traveller  has  compared  it 


with  the  loveliest  villages  of  fair  Pnivonco, 
while  to  Mr.  Duncan  it  suggested  'a  vast 
pleasure  ground,  not  unlike  some  parts  of 
the  (Jreat  I'lvrk  at  '"iiidsor.' 

"  After  impervious  but  Hombre  forest, 
grasH-barrens,  and  the  dismal  swamps  of 
the  palli,  the  eye  revels  in  these  open  i)la- 
teaux;  their  seducing  aspect  is  enhaneecl  hy 
scattered  nlantatioiis  of  a  leek-green  stud- 
ding the  slopes,  by  a  background  of  gigantic 
forest  dwarllng  the  nearer  palm  flies,  by 
homesteads  buried  in  cultivation,  and  by 
calabashes  and  cotton  trees  vast  as  the  view, 
tempering  the  fiery  summer  to  tlieir  subject 
growths,  and  in  winter  collecting  the  rains, 
which  would  otherwise  bare  the  newly- 
buried  seed.  Kor  is  animal  life  wanting. 
The  turkey  buzzard,  the  kite,  and  the  kes- 
trel soar  in  the  ujiper  heights;  the  brightosf 
rty-catchors  flit  through  the  lower  strata; 
the  little  gray  squirrel  nimbly  climbs  his 
lofty  home;  and  a  flue  large  spur-fowl  rises 
from  the  plantations  of  muhu  and  cassava." 

As  is  usual  with  African  names,  the  word 
Kar  has  been  spelled  in  a  dill'erent  way  by 
almost  every  traveller  and  every  writer  on 
the  subject.  Koine  call  it  Canua,  or  Caniiah, 
or  Carnah,  while  others  write  the  word  as 
Calmina,  evidently  a  corruption  of  Kana- 
mina,  the  "iniua'''  being  au  addition.  All 
the  people  between  the  Little  Popo  and 
Acua  are  called  Mina.  We  shall,  however, 
be  quite  safe,  if  throughout  our  account  of 
Western  Africa  we  accept  the  orthography 
of  Cantain  Burton.  Kana  was  seized  about 
1818  by  King  Gozo,  who  liked  the  place, 
and  so  made  it  his  country  capiUd  —  much 
as  Brighton  was  to  England  in  the  days  of 
the  Itegency.  He  drove  out  the  fierce  aud 
warlike  Oyos  (pronounced  Aw-yaws),  aud 
in  celebration  of  so  important  a  victory 
instituted  an  annual  "Custom,"*,  e.  a  human 
sacrifice,  iu  which  the  victims  are  dressed 
like  the  conquered  Oyos, 

This  is  called  Gozo's  Custom,  and,  al- 
though the  details  aie  not  precisely  known, 
its  general  tenor  may  be  ascertained  from 
the  following  liicts.  One  traveller,  who  vis- 
ited Kana  in  180;i,  saw  eleven'  platforms  on 
poles  about  forty  feet  high.  On  each  plat- 
form was  the  dead  body  of  a  man  in  an  erect 
position,  well  dressed  in  the  peasant  styk', 
and  having  in  his  hand  a  calabash  contain- 
ing oil,  grain,  or  other  product  of  the  land. 
One  of  them  was  set  up  as  if  leading  a 
sheep. 

When  Mr.  Duncan  visited  Kana,  or  Can- 
anina,  as  ho  calls  it,  he  saw  relics  of  this 
"  Custom."  The  walls  of  the  place,  which 
were  of  very  great  extent,  were  covereil 
with  human  skulls  placed  about  thirty  feet 
apartj  and  upon  a  pole  was  the  botly  of  a 
man  in  an  upright  position,  hohling  a  basket 
on  his  head  with  both  his  arms.  A  little 
further,  on  were  the  bodies  of  two  other 
men,  hung  by  their  feet  from  a  sort  of  gal- 
lows, about  twenty  feet  high.    They  had 


"THE  BELL  COMES." 


al- 


boen  In  that  position  ahout  two  months, 
nnd  were  liardly  rorogniziibh.  iw  htinmii 
hoinRH,  nnd  in  fnct  must  liavu  nn-Hontod  an 
jupulsive  an  nptumrnnco  aH  th«  bodies  huna 
in  chains,  or  tho  iioadH  on  Temple  Bar. 
Two  moro  Irodios  wero  hung  lit  a  Himilar 
manner  in  the  market-piaeo,  and  Mr.  Dun- 
can wftfl  informed  that  they  were  criminals 
exccutcKl  for  intrigues  with  tho  king's  wives. 

At  Kana  is  seen  the  fii-st  intimation  of 
the  pn^senco  of  royalty.  A  small  stream 
nins  bv  it  and  supplies  Kana  with  water. 
At  (layhreak  the  women  slaves  of  tho  paliieo 
are  relenstid  fVom  tho  durance  in  which  thev 
are  kept  during  the  night,  nnd  sent  off  to 
fetch  water  for  tho  palace.  They  are  not 
lighting  women  or  Amazons,  as  thoy  are 
generally  called;  but  the  slaves  of  the  Am- 
azons, each  of  these  women  having  at  least 
one  female  shivo,  and  some  as  many  as  fifty 

The  very  fiict,  however,  that  they  are  ser- 
vants ot  the  Amazons,  who  are  the  servants 
ot  the  king,  confers  on  them  a  sort  of  dignity 
which  they  are  not  slow  to  assert.    No  man 
is  allowed  to  look  at  them,  much  less  to  ad- 
dress them,  and  in  consequence,  when  the 
women  go  to  fetch  water,  they  aro  headed 
by  one  of  their  number  carrving  a  rude  bell 
suspended  to  the  neck.     Whmi  Hk,  leader 
sees  a  man  in  the  distance,  she  shakes  the 
boll  vigorously,  and  calls  out,  "  Gan-ia,"  i.  e. 
the  bell  comes."    As  soon  as  the  tinkle  of 
ino  bell  or  tho  cry  reaches  the  cars  of  any 
men  who  hajipen  to  be  on  the  road,  thev 
Immediately  run  to  the  nearest  footpath,  of 
Which   a  number  are  considerately   made, 
eading  into  the  woods,  tuv„  their  backs,  and 
Vvait  patiently  until  (ho  K,ng  tile  of  women 
has  pxssed     This  hurrying"  of  men  to    he 
right  and  left    hiding    their  faces  in  the 
o'n  U^a:;;!.^!' ''  •^<l'"-ably  represented 

n.^^f^  ^*-"'  "'''^''  ^'^  ^'''•'^P*'  "^s  fnst  as  they 
can,  for  if  evin  one  of  the  water-i)ots  should 
happen  o  be  broken,  tho  nearest  man  wou 
nev.tably  be  accused  of  having  frightened 
Srt^T'\"  "'"V'^T'^I  '^'""'^  wouhT almost 
his  wi^l^and  Sil';!''^  ^'^^'^••^'  '°^^"^-  -"»^ 
As  might  bo  expected  the  attendants  at 
the  palace  are  very  proud  of  this  privile<-e 
and  the  uglier,  the  older,  and  tho  lower  tlity 
are,  the  more  pcrsovoringly  do  they  rin^  the 

Th"  "",'  ""^^V^^  dreadocl  shout,  «^Gan"ja'' 
The  oddest  hing  is  that  even  the  lowest  of 
the  male   slaves    employed  in   tho  palace 

occupying  the  roacf  and  driving  all  other 
travellers  into  the  by-paths,  "^his,"  says 
Capt-ajn  Burton.  "  is  ono  of  the  greatest 
mnsances  in  D.-vhome.    It  continues  fhroiS 

r.„?o  ^^i;  ,/"  ^"J"''  P"'"'*'  a«  ''round  tlSe 
palace,  half  a  mile  an  hour  would  be  ftiH 

pt  burthen  bought  perhaps  for  a  few  pence 
w,^o  say  the  least  of  it,  by  no  means  deco- 


88T 


Tho  town  of  Kana  has  In  Itself  few  ele- 
ments of  beauty  however  picturesque  may 
bo  tho  nurroundlng  scenery.  It  iccuplei 
about  three  miles  of  ground,  nnd  is  com- 
posed  primarily  of  the  palace,  nnd  secondly 
of  a  number  of  houses  scattered  round  it,  set 
closely  noar  the  king's  residence,  and  becora- 
ng  more  and  more  scattered  in  proportion 
to  their  distance  IVom  it.  Captain  Burton 
estimates  tho  population  nt  4,000.  Tho 
houses  are  built  of  a  red  sandy  clay. 

Iho  palace  walls,  which  are  of  great  ex- 
tent are  surrounded  by  a  cheorlYd  adorn- 
ment in  the  shmie  of  human  skulls,  which 
are  placed  on  tho  ton  at  intervals  of  thirty 
foot  or  so,  and  striking,  as  it  were,  tho  key 
note  to  tho  Dahoman  character.    In  no  place 
In  the  world  is  human  life  sacrificed  with 
such  prodigality  and  with  such  ostentation 
In  most  countries,  after  a  criminal  is  exe- 
cuted, the  body  is  allowed  to  bo  buried,  or 
at  the  most  is  thrown  to  tho  beasts  and  the 
birds.    In  Dahome  the  skull  of  tho  victim  is 
cleansed,  and  used  as  an  ornament  of  some 
buililing,  or  as  an  appendage  to  tho  court 
and  Its  precincts      t'onsequently,  tho  ono 
object  which  strikes  tho  eye  of  a  traveller 
iH  tho  human  skull.    Tho  walls  are  edged 
with  skulls,  skulls  arc  heaped  in  dishes  lie- 
fore  the  king,  skulls  are  stuck  on  the  tops  of 
poles,  skulls  are  used  as  tho  heads  of  banner 
staves,  skulls  are  tied  to  dancers,  and  all  the 
teinples  or  Ju-ju  houses,  are  almost  entirely 
built  of  human  skulls.    How  they  come  to  bo 
in  such  profusion  we  shall  see  presently 

IJorriblo  and  repulsive  as  this  system  is. 
wo  ought  to  remember  that  even  in  En^'- 
land,  in  an  age  when  art  and  literature  were 
held  in  the  highest  estimation,  the  quartered 
bodies  of  persons  executed  for  high  treason 
were  exposed  on  the  gates  of  the  principal 
cities,  and  that  in  the  very  heart  of  tho  capi- 
tal their  heads  were  exhibited  up  to  a  com- 
paratively recent  date.  This  practice,  though 
not  of  so  wholesale  a  character  as  the  "  Cus- 
tom of  Dahome,  was  yet  identical  with  it 
in  spirit. 


As  the  Amazons,  or  female  soldiers,  have 
been  mentioned,  they  will  be  here  briefly 
described.     This  celebrated  force  consists 
"" .    ^  of  women,  officers  as   well  as  pri- 
vates.    They  hold  a  high  position  at  court, 
and,  as  hai  already  been  mentioned,  are  of 
such  importance  that  each  Amazon   pos- 
sesses at  least  one  slave.     In  their  own 
countrjr   they  are    called   by  two    names, 
Akho-si,  t.  c.  the  King's  wives,  and  Ml-no 
I.  e.  our  mothers;  the  first  name  being  given 
to  them  on  the  lucus  a  non  lucendo  principle 
because  they  aro  not   allowed    to  be  the 
wives  of  any  man,  and  the  second  being  used 
as  the  conventional  title  of  respect    The 
real  wives  of  the  king  do  not  bear  arms,  and 
though  he  sometimes  does  take  a  fancy  to 
one  of  his  won»en  soldiers,  she  may  not  as- 
8ume  the  iwsition  of  a  regular  wife 


m 


COS 


hXliOUE. 


been  niarrUid,  hiit  th«  rt-M,  ,m^  uuumnUd 
mUUm.    OtV„„rHr  It  iHn...-.in,|  fl.ut  mu 
Wly  .hou  rl  .,l,«,.rv..  Htrlct  ivIII.h.t,  If  I, .i  • 
cfflrl.n.y  IM  („  he  n.ai.uul.io.l,  an.l  CMiHriul 
nnlns  nre  tiik.-r.  to  iiiHun-  this  ()l.|,.,(,     /„  tl"' 

lcq)t  ov.r   thcin,   im.!,  Iti    tli„  hoooihI,   tliu 

)..w,,r  of  HU|.,.r.tiliun  Is  i„vok...l.     At  ,m..    f 

tl  P".''^'^f' '■;;.<'"""'l  Mi«nillout.tly  AkI.o- 

ot  nt  fetish,  nho  walclum  ov.r  Ih.-  .•oi.,l,„.| 

the  TOl.lu;.-  who  hivak.  (h„  most  iinooila  it 
of  the  mi  itM,;v  laws.    Th..   A.„a/o    '  .  •    i 

nfr«(lof.hisiVtisl,.ihatwh..,,  o,,,.  of  I., 
has  trauMiLTiTss..,!  slu-  has  Ikh'..  k.iown  to  co 
«8«  h,.r  fan  t,  ami  to  ^iv.    „,,  th.  nam  •     r 

e  cxtrntod  hy  h.r  f.llow-sohlJors.  Hcshlcs 
there  Ih  a  [nm^'vtW  ,.-<,,rit  ,h  ron,s  rHjrn  n^ 
?'"""«';;'  ^^""^'"•"^  who  are  foiul  of  O 
iiw  that  (h..y  arc  not  women,  l)ut  mi;ii 

llieycertamly  look  as  if  they  were,  heini; 
as  a  rwle.  nu.re  masculine  in  appearanee  t  m 
li.e  male   h«1,  i.-rs,  U.ll,  nu.sc'ular,  a  ,1      " 

ot    this    stalwart    and   formidable  8oldierv 

two  hdl-len-'th   i,ortrait8  are  ;riven        VlL' 

cxt  page.    lj|oo.ltbirs(y  ,,.,,1  s^avage  a"  a  e 


lose  who  have  not  MJain  an  enemy  with 
'  i.-lr  own  hand  me  half-inmldene,f  wi(h 
envioim  JealoiiHy  when  they  see  tli.ir  mere 
NiucesNAll  MiHleiH  a.ssuniinL'  the  eoveled 
de,.ornMn„.  One  eowrle  Is  „ll„wed  for 
••aril  deiMl  nmii  and  8onu)  of  (ho  bol.lest 
and  llereest  of  (he  Amazons  have  (lair 
musket  butts  e.)mpletely  covered  with  cow- 
lies  arranged  in  circles,  stars,  and  similar 

The  (livsH  of  the  Amazons  varies  Hliirhtlv 
aeeor.hm'  to  tli.i  j.osition  whi.b  Ihevoceui,/. 
1  lie  ordinary  unifoim  is  a  blue  and  while 
tunic   of    native  eb.th,   |,„t    ..laib^   without 

sleeves,  so  «„  („  allow  full  fiv. i,  („  the 

arms.  Under  this  is  a  sort  of  sbiit  or  kilt, 
reaeh  iiK  be|„w  (he  knees,  an.l  b.low  tho 
Hliirt  the  so  .lier  wears  a  jiair  of  short  linen 
trousers  R„un,|  11,..  waist  is  .'irded  the 
ammuniti.m-bel(,  whi.h  is  mud.,  exaedy  on 
(h.  si.m.-  priminle  as  (I,..  ban,|„li..r  of'  the 
flli.lille   AK..S.      It  consists  ..f  s„me  tbirtv 

ho.low   woo.l,.n    ey .rs   sli.kii.u    into  a 

leathern  belt,  ea.h  cyliiul..r  .•onlainin«  one 
charjje  of  p„w,l..r.  •;vh..n  (h-.y  loadduir 
Kuns,  (li,.  Ama/ons  m..r..|y  pour  (1...  powder 
down  (h.-  barr.l,  and  ram  the  bullet  aOer 
It,  williout  takini,'  (b..  trouble  (o  iiidodu.e 
waddinj;  of  any  .Kseriiition,  s..  (hat  tlie  force 
of  the  i)owdcr  is  much  wasted,  and  the 
diiv.-tion  of  the  bull..t  v.ry  un<.erlain. 
1  artly  owin^  to  th..  i,'rei,t  winda.r. 


theieadinbo(:h-;;.;iiVi^,^  ,^  --■^.^^   ;^ '"•>  ^r''T  '•■'"'""^  -"'  •'"">•  nuhi 

themselves,  as  it  'were,  fo'r  (he  p f ya„"  ,  «"!     h    t"'"'  '"^''"^  ""J"'-""  "''  <la'  inf-'rioi 
Which  they  are  doomed.    The  sjiinster  sot 


t  eis  are  wom..n  who  have  been  Hele(.t..d  by 

hZ-^J'''"\'  '.''''  *'""'Ii«'s  ^'f  hi«  subjects,  he 

n^TSj  ''".'"■"  "*  "'^'"'  ^^■''«»  "'4  arrive 
ntmarnaKealileagc;  and  the  once  married 
8  Idiern  are  women  who  have  l).,en  d.-UM.  e 

^^  ^^^'.^T'T  ^^''".'^••^'  t""  vixenish  towani 


ty  of  the  powd.'r,  tlu.  ebar^res  are  (wice  as 
soIdT..r  ^^  "'^^'l"""^''^  ^'y  "  i^uioi'uau 

Captain  Burton  rightly  stigmatizes  tho 
cxisten..e  of  Hudi  an  army  as  an  unmixed 
evil,  and  states  that  it  is  on,;  of  th(.  causes 
which  will  one  day  cause  the  kini,'il.)m  of 
Dahomo  to  be  ol)lit..raled  from  the  earth. 

liie  object  of  Dahoman  wars  and  inva- 


drafted  into  (heVmywh:?:;  .^:^rS  dX^-.l^'r^^Jr,,:^  '"^  ^^'"^^  ""^  ^° 


i-^di,.„.itions;;;;^^i.;armr^|i;r^ 

siJrit  'Tl'^-  *"  .'"^'•'^'W*'   their   bloodthirsty 

t Ce'whn  I,nf '^?n'^  ^"'^"'"  "^  omulatb.i^ 
lliose  who  have  killed  an  ciiemy  are  allowed 
to  exhibit  a  symbol  of  their  pn^wess     Thev 

[foTon  'in  "^^"''J'  **"''  ^^''«^'^^"  '^  CoAll 
Thev  hav,    nT'''""  ;?'"'  ^™»<'  ot-easions. 
■I 'ley  have  also  another  decoration    poni 
valen    to  tlie  Victoria  Cro«s  of  Engla 
namely,  a  cowrie  Hhell  fastened  to  the       tt 

V  ctSZs t^n^    ^''''  ''''  '^'^^'^  '«  " '•^••'  " " 
victorious  Amazon  smears  part  of  the  rifle 

,.^^st  before  it  dries  spn-ads  another  layer 
This  18  done  until  a  thick,  soft  taBte  is 
^med,  into  which  tho  cowrie  is  tressed 
The  musket  is  then  laid  in  the  si,n    nni 

The  posaession  of  this  tPophy  is  eagerly 


As  the  history  puis  it,  (he  rulers  have 
ever  loliowe<l   the   example   of  A-'aja    tho 
second  founder  of  the.  kingdom;  ain'iin.'  at 
conquest  and  at  striking  terr.M-,  ralher  tlian 
at  accretion  and  consolidation.    Hence  (hero 
h.as  been  a  decrease  of  pojmlation  with  an 
increase  of  territory,  which  is  to  nations 
(he  surest  road  to  ruin.     In  the  i)r..seiit  day 
tho  wars  have  dwindled  to  i.ien^  slave  hunts 
—  a  fact  it  is  well  to  remember, 
o  r^''H  ^vuJi-ior  troops,  assumed  (o  number 
2,.j00,  Bliould  represent  T.-WO  cliil.lreu;  tlie 
waste   of    reproduction  and   the   necessary 
c.asua  ti(.H  of  'service'  in  a  regi.tn  so  dei)on. 
mated  are  as  detrimentiU  to  the  bodv'politic 
as  a  proportionate  loss  of  blood  would  be  to 
tlio  body  personal.    Thus  the  land  is  desert, 
and  the  raw  material  of  all  industry,  man, 
IS  everywhere  wanting." 

Fierce,  cruel,  relentless,  deprived  I)v  so- 
vcro  law»  of  all   social  ties,  the  woraou 


(I.)    "TUB  BELL  COMKH."    (Hw.  pngu  S67.) 


'4 
-■■♦* 


1 1 .4ji 


i'iv!l 


(669) 


soldiers  of  Daliome  arc  the  only  real  flirht- 
ers  the  meu  soldiers  being  coVaraiiS 
feeble  and  useless.  They  are  badlv  3 
^nf^rr!i'^y  armed,  Jme  havin/trS 
guns  but  the  greater  number  being  onlv 
rurnished  with  bo.v  and  arrow,  swords 
or  clttbs.  All,  however,  whether  S  or 
leinale  are  provided  witii  ropes  wherewith  I 

truth  the  real  object  of  Dahoman  „arllrc 
Tr.m   his   profound   knowledge  of  nS 
character,  Captain  Burton  long°ago  pvonTie^ 
med  that  the  kingdom  of  DaT.ome  wS  on 
the  wane    and  that  "weakened  by  tradi- 
tional policy,  by  a  continual  scene  of  blood 
aid  l,y  the  arbitrary  measi:res  of  her  k^"' 
and  demoralized  by  an  export  slave-trad'' 
by  close  connection  with  Europeans,  and  bv 
ft-equen   failure,  this  band  of  black  Spartans 
IS  rapidly  failing  into  decay."  ^ 

He  also  foretold  that  the  king's  constant 
state  of  vvarfare  with  Abeokuta  wa^  a  ol H  - 
ca  mistake,  and  that  the  Egbas  would  even  - 


AMAZON  BEVIETV. 


ual ly  prove  to  be  the  conquerors.  How  true 
the^e  remarks  were  has  been  proved  by  tlic 
events  of  the  last  few  years.  The  kin^ 
Gelele  made  his  threacenecl  attack  on  aW- 
Of  il'ie   ro.vf  '^°I^°l«««ly  '>?aten.    In  spite 

Who  fon^h^  rf  '°"™«*'  °*  *'^«  Amazons, 
wno  lou<jlit  like  so  many  mad  do-rs    and 

Wei^  assisted  by  tliree  brass  six-p^o under 
field  guns,  his  attack  failed,  a.id  his  troons 
yere  dnvcn  off  with  the  loss  of  a  v^st  num- 
ber of  prisoners,  while  the  killed  verecal- 
culated  at  a  thousand. 

Form  d5fi«H^'''*''^^^^^^^      """^  are  indeed 
iorinia,ii,.e  obstacles.   At  a  review  witnessed 

Bcventv  w  "•^'  '"totalis  of  some  'sixty  or 
seventy  feet  in  thickness  and  ei.rht  in 
height.  It  may  well  bo  imag  „cd  fl  i  n 
cros.  such  ramparts  as  thenoTould  be  „o 
.  easy  task  even  to  European  soldiers  who^o 
eet  are  defended  by  thick-soled  bootrmd 
that  to  a  barefooted  soldiery  th-v  niuit  hi 
3'4™l^'«S:»=^We.  '.Vithi^  thc^ir  s  were 
bunt  strong  pens  seven  feet  in  liei.»ht  inJI, 

n  are'SdTn^.ir r'  "P  .--^  vast '"nulCS 
male  and  female  slaves  belonging  to  the 

inJ'wif'h'L'r'''  M  ""'^  ^'y  t^o  Amazons  form- ' 
drfd  ilet  in'fr'n^^•'''r  "^"''^  t^^«  ''"«- 
Sifrfor    Ihfw-o  d^^^rSS'  71 

ehar/eVfir:  1^"  7?' ^'^^^  rus'^dtonvarll 
cnarged  the  solid  fence  as  though  thorns 
were    powerless    against    their    Rare    fo.?/- 

them  the  captH^ea'^l^Ca^SliSS 


m. 

also  the  scalps  of  warriors  who  had  fallen 
m  previous  Catties,  but  who  were  conven" 
tionally  supposed  to  have  perished  on  fte 
present  occasion.    So  rapid  and  fierce  wnl 

frnsed^f'^.'.r*^.;:*  '"'"''A^  minute'C 
•Elapsed  after  the  word  of  command  waa 

given  and  when  the  women  were  seen  T^ 
turning  with  their  captives. 

is  L  n^n^r"'"'''*'"'?  °'  "'«'  Amazonian  army 
^  as  peculiar  as  its  existence.  The  re-i^ 
ment  is  divided  into  three  battalions,  numefv 

F.nti'batLn°J  *•'"  ^'"S\  '^^'  ^«»t^«.  o-^ 
i'anti  battalion,  is  somewhat  analo'^ous  to 

our  Guards,  anj  its  members  (HsdnSu,"  hed 
by  wearing  on  the  head  a  narrow  wldte  fillet 
on  which  are  sewed  blue  crocodTles  This 
ornament  was  granted  to  them  by  the  kin^ 
because  one  of  their  number  once  killedlj 
crocodile.  As  a  mark  of  courtesy,  the  ki„- 
ftorf  H?o^?°"^''''  °"  ^''  distingiiished  vrs? 
£ Vnnf!  r'J?''f-'^  rank  of  commander  of 
">°.  Jan  1  battalion,  but  this  rank  does  not 

review.  ""  '''°  '"  ''''^''  "'^  '^'i  «»'  ^o"  « 

TiiTl^?  Grenadiers  are  represented  by  the 
Blunderbuss    Company,  who   are  seJected 

?oUoweTir.  "?'  ^^••^'°^"''  '-^"^J  are  each 
Eau'l  ii  ilJ  /^""r  ^^"'y'°"  ammunition, 
ers  or  "  w  t  ImT"  ?I'*^  "le  sharpshoot- 
ers, or  bure-to-kill"  Company,  the  Car^ 
b-neers,  and  the  Bayonet  Comp^'ny. 

Ihe  women  of  most  ackiiow  cdjied  conr- 
age  are  gathered  into  the  Elephant  Com 
pany  their  special  business  benrto  lun 
he  elephant  lor  the  sake  of  its  tusks  a  ask 
which  they  perform  with  great  coura4  and 
success,  often  bringing  dSwn  ^  eKiant 
weapons!""''^  """'^^  ^^^'"  '^'="-  ^^p'^'^^ 
The  youngest,  best-looking,  most  active 
and  neatly  ckessed,  are  the  a^cherS  They 
are  f  irnished  with  very  jioor  weapons  usii- 

knffe'^Lideod  7""  ^^'"^^'^'  -»^  a  -'an 
Km  e.  Indeed,  they  are  more  for  show  than 
tor  use,  and  wear  bv  way  of  uniform  a  dress 
niore  scanty  than  tliat  of  the  regular  army 

o  fhn  t  J''"  arm,  and  a  tattoo  extendin<^ 
to  the  knee.  They  are  specially  trained  in 
tlancing  and,  when  in  ttic  field,  tliev  are 
mployed  as  messengers  and  in  carrwL^off 

'a'tl' .^"'V-^°""i'«>-    l^heir  ofiicfal  title 


iBG.hen-to,.7thebear^',;^;^;^-^.' 

i.lie  greater  number  of  the  Amazons  are 
of  course  linc-soldiers,  and  if  they  o™  had 
a  little  knowledge  of' military  man^uvres 
I  ami  could  be  taught  to  load  propX  ns' 
wella.s  to  aim  correctly,  would  treble  their 
actual  power.  Their  mano-uvresjiowever 
are  ..ompared  l>v  Captain  Burtorl  to  those 
UtZ  I  ^  ,°^i  ''"'^l?'  '^"'l  they  have  sudi 
tie  knowledge  of  con.^ertod  action  that 
t  ey  would  be  scattered  before  a  chame  of 
the  very  worst  troops  in  Europe.  ^ 

iiastlvconie  t!i.>  r!i»!Qr  «r^,.,p„       m, 

oils  body  is  intended  for  striking  terror Tnto 
the  enemy,  the  soldiers  being  aJmed  witk  a 


Iffi 


DAHOME. 


large  razor,  that  looks  exactly  as  if  it  hafl 
been  made  for  the  clown  in  a  pantomime. 
The  blade  is  about  two  feet  in  length,  and 
the  handle  of  course  somewhat  larger,  and, 
when  opened,  the  blade  is  kept  from  shut- 
ting by  a  spring  at  the  back.  It  is  employed 
for  decapitating  criminals,  but  by  way  of  a 
weapon  it  is  almost  worse  than  useless,  and 


quite  as  likely  to  wound  the  person  who 
holds  it  as  it  is  him  against  whom  it  is 
directed.  The  raz'i-  was  invented  by  a 
brother  of  the  late  King  Gezo.  On  the  558th 
page  is  an  illustration  oi"  one  of  the  war- 
drums  of  the  Amazons.  It  was  taken  from 
the  slain  warriors  in  the  attack  upon  Abeo- 
kuta. 


CHAPTER   LVI. 


DAHOME  —  Continued. 


THE  Dtn-LICATE  KINO  — THE   "CUSTOMS"  OF  nARnMV       »»™. 

PR0CES8,0N-THB  FIRST  I>AV  OF  T„B  CUSTOMS  -  T^  YIC-rrLZA^rr''"™^  "''^'^^ 
KOYAL    PAVILION  — PREMMIJfARlf     CPREMnv.    r-       J  VICTIM  SHED    AND    ITS    INMATES  — THE 

"AKLK-TO-DO-ANVTHINO"  CI.oi?,-xr™  „7v  .  "''"•'"'  ^^^  "^  ''"^^  CUSTOMS-THE 
SION  OF  HUNCHBACKS-FETIS„I^,-C0VVKrATI0™^  ™?"''''  "''"  '°^«'"^'  '^''^  ••«°*^''«- 
ITS  EVIL  NIOHT-ESTIMATED  NrMBKTorT„T^^rS  A^  JT™' " "'"  '•°'^""'  «'^^  ^^« 
OB.ECT  AND  MEANING  OF  THE  CUSTOMS -Lx^L^^'  D^^  Zl\Z  ""^"^  ^"^'^'^^"''^  " 
HON  AT  AGDOME-TUE  BLOOD  DBINKEB.  '  ™  K)8T3CBU'T-EXECU- 


Before  proceeding  to  the  dreatl «  customs  " 
ot  JJahome  we  must  give  a  brief  notice  of 
a  remarkable  point  in  the  Dahoman  state- 

hn^t  ;n.f  I'  f'T''-"'  I^»'»ome  has  two  kings, 
but,  instead  of  being  temporal  and  spiritual 
as  m  Japan,  they  are  City  king  ancT  Bush 


Gelele  is  a  fine-looking  man,  with  a  risbf 
royal  aspect.    He  is  more  than  six  fecK 

height,  thin  broad-shouldered,  active,  and 
powerful,  ilis  hair  is  nearly  all  shaven 
except  two  cockade-like  tufts,  whic  laro 
S  f  attachments  for  beads  and  other 


v^iij  n.ii.g  was  ueieie,  son  c 
Bush  king  wiis  Addo-kpore. 

The  Bush  king  is  set  overall  the  farmers 
and  regulates  tillage  an.l  commercerwhile 
the  City  king  rules  the  cities,  makes  war 

S  Z:"!^-'  '^''  '^''','  '^'^'-  Consequent^': 
the  latter  is  so  much  brought  into  contact 
with  the  traders  that  the  former  is  scarcelv 

country  for  the  express  purpose.    Ho  has  a 

caiS  h„?  fi''*''?  '"•M-"*  "''^  ""'««  fr«'n  the 
capital,  but  the  building  was  oulv  mirlo  nP 

poles  and   matting  when  SiS    IWn^f 

visited  it,  and  is  Sot  likely  'S'*benSoo 

buUt"^nf  T'^^^^'a  ^   it\vas    no?  to  be 

tokJn.  ''"'''      """^    Abeokuta   wal 

We  will  now  proceed  to  describe,  as  brieflv 
as  s  consistent  with  truth,  the  cuTton  S 
both  kin«,,  our  authorities  being  res  rU  ted 
t^„*S  ^^i""-  P"°^'«"  «nd  Canton  Burton 

«ct  ons'Vn'H,"^  ";f "  '""^I'^  'Vl-ortantcor-' 
rections  in  the  statements  oi   the  former 

Bcriptioi,:       '^^    '"  "'^"^  througnout  the  de- 


(573i 


thirsty  nature,  lias  a  very  agreeable  smile. 

Sou^h''7h'"'  ^f'  very>,rg,  and  is  sad 
though  the  statement  is  very  doubtful 
that  he  keeps  under  liis  talon-fike  mi  s  a 
powerful  poison,  which  he  slily  infuses  in 
hi  ^^""'^  «L  ^'W  of  his  Caboceers  who 
happen  to  offend  him.  His  face  is  much 
p.thKl  with  the  small-pox,  and  he  weai"  S 
.r  to  ^'^  ™*'.'''  'f'^'^'^y^  tl»'ee  perpendicu- 
nose  Thi^"\1  ^T'^'^  just' above  the 
nose.     This  is  the  last  remnant  of  a  very 

™  I  fTt  "*  ^""^"T^^  "■'"^'•^■Kv  "'c  cheeks 
weie  hterally  carved,  and  the  rfaps  of  flesh 

S."     P'""'  forced  to  heal  iu 'that  post 

.,;="l-'^  "°*  "'''^'y  ^  ^^^^  a«  liis  father, 
IS  skin  approaching  the  copper  color,  and 
It  18  hkely  that  his  mother  was  litber  a 
slave  girl  from  the  northern  Maklii  or  a 
mulatto  ffirl  from  Whydah.  '        * 

.  On  orainiiry  occasions  he  dresses  verv 
simplv,  hiB  body  cloth  being  of  white  stu^ 
edged  with  |rreeu.a!ia  bis  ^Tir-rt  divvversof 
purple  silk.     Ho  wears  but  few  on    n  ents 
Uie  five  or  six  iron  bracelets  wlueh  eucirdo 


674 


DAHOME. 


his  arms  bein^r  used  more  as  defensive  armor 
tliau  as  jowulry. 

Still,  though  dressed  in  a  far  simpler  style 
than  any  of  liis  Caboceers,  he  is  very  punc- 
tilious with  regard  to  etiquette,  and  pre- 
serves the  smallest  traditions  with  a  minute 
rigidity  worthy  of  the  court  of  Louis  XIV. 
Although  he  may  be    sitting  on  a  mere 
earthen  bench,  and  smoking  a  clumsy  and 
very  plain  pipe,  all  his  court  wait  upon  him 
■with  a  reverence  that  seems  to  regard  him 
as  a  demi-god  rather  than  a  man.    Should 
the   heat,  from   which    he   is  sheltered   as 
much  as  possible  by  the  royal  umbrella, 
produce  a  few  drops  on  his  brow,  they  arc 
delicately  wiped  off  by  one  of  his  wives 
with  a   fine  cloth ;    if  the  tobacco   prove 
rather  too  jiotcnt,  a  brass  or  even   a  gold 
spittoon  is  placed  before  the  royal  lips.    If 
lie  sneezes,  the  whole  assembled  company 
burst  into  a  shout  of  benedictions.    The 
chief  ceremony  takes  place  when  he  drinks. 
As  soon  as  he  raises  a  cup  to  his  lips,  two 
of  his  wives  spread  a  white  cloth  in  front 
of  hi  n,  while  others    hold   a   number  of 
gaudy  umbrellas  so  as  to  shield  him  from 
view.    Every  one  who  has  a  gun  fires  it, 
those  who  have  bells  beat  them,  rattles  are 
shaken,  and  all  the  courtiers  bend  to  the 
ground,  clapping  their  hands.    As  to  the 
commoners,  they  turn  their  backs  if  sitting, 
if  standing  they  dance  like  bears,  paddliiig 
with  their  hiuufs  as  if  they  were  paws,  bawl- 
in»  "  Poc  00-00  "  at  the  top  <i!'  their  voices. 
If  a  niessnge  is  sent  from  him,  it  is  done 
in  a  most  circuitous  manner.    lie  first  de- 
livers the  message  to  the  Dakro,  a  woman 
attached  to  the  court.    She  takes  it  to  the 
Men,  and  tlie  Men  passes  it  on  to  the  Min- 
gan,  and  the  Min^aa  delivers  it  to  the  in- 
tended recipient.    When  the  message  is  sent 
to  the  king,  the  order  is  reversed,  and,  as 
ca^h  officer  has  to  speak  to  a  superior,  a 
salutation  is  used  neatly  graduatx^d  accord- 
ing to  rank.    When  the  message  at  last 
reaches  the  Dakro,  she  goes  down  on  all- 
fours,  and  whispers  the   message   into  the 
royal  sars.    So   tenacious  of  trifles   is  the 
native  memory,  that  the  message;  will  travel 
through  this  circuitous   route  without  the 
loss  or  transposition  of  a  word. 

When  any  one,  no  matter  what  may  be 
his  rank,  presents  himself  before  the  king, 
he  goes  tln-ough  a  ceremony  called  "Itte 
d'ai,''  or  lying  on  the  ground.  lie  pros- 
trates himself  flat  on  his  face,  and  with  his 
hands  siiovuls  the  dust  all  over  his  person. 
He  also  kisses  the  ground,  and  takes  care 
when  he  rises  to  have  as  much  dust  as  pos- 
sible on  his  huge  lips.  Face,  hands,  limbs, 
and  clothes  are  equally  covered  with  dust, 
the  amount  of  reverence  being  mea.sured  by 
the  amount  of  dust.  No  one  approaches 
the  king  erect;  he  must  crawl  on  all-fours, 
shuffle  on  his  knees,  or  wriggle  along  like 
a  snake. 

Wherever  Gelele  holds  his  court,  there  \ 


are  placed  before  him  three  larf!;e  cala- 
bashes, each  containing  the  skull  of  a  now- 
erftil  cliief  whom  he  had  slain.  The  exnibi- 
tion  of  these  skulls  is  considered  as  a  mark  of 
honor  to  their  late  owners,  and  not,  as  has 
been  supposed,  a  sign  of  mockery  or  dis- 
grace. One  is  bleached  and  polished  like 
ivory,  and  is  mounted  on  a  small  ship  made 
of  brass.  The  reason  for  tliis  curious  ar- 
rangement is,  that  when  Gezo  died,  the 
chief  sent  a  mocking  message  to  Gelele, 
saying  that  the  sea  had  dried  up,  and  men 
had  seen  the  end  of  Dahome.  Gelele  re- 
taliated by  invading  his  territory,  killing 
him,  and  mounting  liis  skull  on  a  ship,  as 
a  token  that  there  was  plenty  of  water  left 
to  float  the  vessel. 

The  second  skull  is  mounted  with  brass 
so  as  to  form  a  drinking  cup.  This  was 
done  because  the  owner  had  behaved  treach- 
erously to  Gelele  instead  of  assisting  him. 
In  token,  therefore,  that  he  ought  to  have 
"  given  water  to  a  friend  in  affliction  "  — 
_the  metaphorical  mod«  of  expressing  sym- 
pathy—  Gelele  and  his  courtiers  now  drink 
water  out  of  his  skull.  The  third  was  the 
skull  of  a  chief  who  had  partaken  of  this 
treachery,  and  his  skull  was  accordingly 
mountecl  with  brass  fittings  which  rejire- 
serited  the  common  country  trap,  in  order 
to  show  that  he  had  set  a  traj),  and  fallen 
into  it  himself.  All  these  skulls  were  with- 
out the  lower  jaw,  that  being  the  most 
coveted  ornament  for  umbrellas  and  sword- 
handles.  Sad  to  say,  with  the  usual  negro 
disregard  of  inflicting  pain,  the  cai)lor  tears 
the  Jaw  away  while  the  victim  is  still  alive, 
cutting  through  both  cheeks  with  one  hand 
and  tearing  away  the  jaw  with  the  other. 

The  same  minute  and  grotesque  etiquette 
accompanies  the  king  as  he  proceeds  to  Ag- 
bome,  the  real  cajjital,  to  celebrate  the  So- 
Sin  Custom,  and  it  is  impossible  to  read  the 
accounts  of  the  whole  proceeding  without 
being  struck  with  the  ingenuity  by  which 
the  negro "^as  pressed  into  the  service  of 
barbarism  everything  European  that  he  can 
lay  his  hands  upon,  while  he  has  invariably 
managed  thereby  to  make  the  rites  ludicrous 
instead  of  imi)osiiig. 

First  came  a  long  line  of  chiefs,  distin- 
guished, by  their  fliigs  and  umbrellas,  and, 
after  marcliing  once  round  the  large  space 
or  square,  they  crossed  over  and  formed 
a  line  of  umbrellas  opposite  the  gateway. 
Then  came  the  royal  procession  itself, 
headed  bj'  skirmishers  and  led  Ijy  a  man 
carrying  one  of  the  skull-lopped  l)nnners. 
After  these  came  some  five  liundred  mus- 
keteers, and  behind  them  marched  two 
men  carrying  large  leathern  shields  pninted 
white,  and  decorated  with  a  pattern  in  l)lack. 
These  are  highly  valued,  as  remnants  of  the 
old  times  when  shields  were  used  in  war- 
faro,  and  were  accompanied  by  a  guard  of 
tall  negrftes,  wearing  brass  helmets  and 
black  horse-tails. 


I  1 


I 


j 


IJ.)  niK    KIN(i'S  DAN'CK.     (Sw  pajfi' 677.) 


THE  "CUSTOMS." 


alf?'n'.rr  ^^\'^^^"^or  omblem  of  roy- 

III  a  white  hiion  crtso,  topped  with  a  whito 
plu.no;  a,.,l  after  the'Kaf,  came  the  kini 
n.im-  nil.  er  the  shade  of  four  wh  te  unl' 
)re  a.H,  a.hl  further  sheltered  from    he  "un 

Alter  the  kin.?  was  borne  the  irrpat  fetish 
nxe,  fol  .,we.l  i,y  the  "  band,"  n  nSsy  assem 
bhjK..  ..f  perfonnors  on  drums,  rat  leV  trum-" 
pets,  cymbals,  and  similar  instruments  Two 
s  ..T.mcus  of  ivory  trumpets,  with  various 
stran-e  deviees  elaborately  carved  are  re 
Thn"H!ilf'i"'  ^Sr^^^^'S  on  the  558th  page. 

fl.  ure  ,T,  iV    't'*'  .'■"'"'"'*    '"'■"    «  «'-ueifl"ed 
jl!j;iiie  on  It.    Lastly  came  a  crowd  of  slaves 

adeu  with  chairs,  baskets  of  cowries!  bot- 
tles, and  similar   articles,  the  rear  b.^no- 

'■•ought  up  by  a  pair  of  white  and  blf 
umbrellas  and  a  tattered  flai? 

Six  times  the  king  was  carried  round  the 
space,  during  two  of  the  circuits  bein- 
drawn  in  a  nondescript  wheeled  vehicle" 
and  on  the  third  circuit  being  carried  car ' 
nage  and  all,  on  the  shoulders  of  his  att.Mwl 

nv il-.  '"^^'T'l  ?"•'  «ft"  cireu  ts  we?e 
sv'r- ?'*'''  <'/m;|-,and  the  sixth  in  the 
same  vehicle  earned  as  before.    The  kin^ 

!a">  T.  rfir\'"  ''''  "f''"'^''*'  side  of''  hi 
s  ace,  and  the  Amazons  made  their  apnear- 
auco,  dashing  into  the  space  in  three  com 
pan.es,  followed  by  the'  Fant"  companies" 
already  d.-scribod.  These  youn-  wmien 
showed  their  agility  in  dancJng,  "and  were 

£or  Sem  °^  ""«''  ''"'''''^  ''^  ^^^^'ve 
sei?L"n'i'  "'""  *''.•'  H""  ^<''^  transferred  him- 
Kks-Ml  poo  ornamented  with'  silver 

StiiJ'^KrSi-Kr¥«^- 


677 


rest  miH  ihTf  1  ^-      T"^''*'"'  »"  retired  to 
the  first  of  tbo^L"«-"^  %'  '^'"'^'^  ""^  to  bo 

sacriliced.    Tl  ev  wer/an  i^„^'"?^'™"  *«  ^^^ 
and  bound  t»To?he"^iS  V  ^^t 

a^tC'£i«;:^3;^ 

shirt,  bound  wit/,  red  Son,  am   havS'a 
crimson  pat<.h  on  the  left  "re-t    o'  ?■- 
head  was  a  tail  pointed  white  cap,  with  bhi'e 


ribbon  wound  spirally  round  it.    In  spite  of 

seem  to  be  unhappy,  and  looked  upon  the 
scene  with  manifest  curiosity.         ^  *" 

JVext  came  the  rite  from  which  the  cere 
mony  takes  its  name.    The  ch  ef  of  thJ 
in'i'f  "^r"  "P  '^'t''  '^  «"™»^or  o  •  1  oHowm 
and  took  away  all  horses  from  their  owners' 
and  tied  Uiem  to  the  shed,  whence  hey  could 

Another  shed  was  built  especially  for  the 
king,  and  contained  about  the  same  number 
of  victims.  Presently  Gelele  can  e  and 
proceeded  to  his  own  shed,  where  he  took 

..s  seat,  close  to  the  spot  on  which  was 
ptched  a  little  tent  containing  the  relics  of 

'r  «.'l'^/'?«' «n'l  supposed  to^be  tomnora 
rily  inhabited  by  his  ghost.  After  ^ome 
unimportant  ceremonies,  Gelele  made  "„ 
a  dress,  s  at.ug  that  his  ancestors  had  onW 

Ge-50  had  improved  upon  them  when  "mak 
ing  customs  "for  his  predecessor  BuThe 
Gelele,  meant  to  follow  his  father's  exnmn  n' 
and  to  do  for  his  father  what  he  hoped '^ds 
son  would  do  for  him.  This  discoii?so  was 
accompanied  by  liimself  on  the  drum  Zl 
after  ,t  was  over,  ho  displaye.l  his  activitv 
m  dancing,  assisted  by  his^  favo  k"  whS 
and  a  professional  jester.  (See  e igravin ' 
on  the  previous  page.)  Leanin-  on  a  st^fr 
decorated  with  liliuman  ski  Oe  then 
turned  oward  the  little  tent,  aiu  adored  in 
nnpressive  silence  his  father's  ghost 

ihe  next  business  was  to  distribute  deco- 
rations  and  confer  rank,  the  most  piS- 
nent  example  being  a  man  who  was  raised 
from  a  simple  captain  to  bo  a  Cabocce, 
the  newly-created  noble  floundering  on  the 
ground,  and  covering  himself  amf  al?  his 
new  clothes  with  dusl  as  a  mark  of  grati! 
tude.    More  dancing  and  drummino'  then 

«rsrda:jreS!r''^^'-^'^"'-^*^ 

Sives  It  the  name,  of  Clotli-changiL  Dav? 
sTi  hSndir  Vr°  «f  P^tchw<k,^alml 

's  cS  H,/*«t  '*'"*^  ^y  *^"  wide  whicli 
IS  called    the    "  Nun-ce-pace-to,"  i.  e.   the 

hT\  J    '^A.'^'T  "^  ^  »"''c  as  soon  as  he 
has  taken  Abeokuta,  and,  to   all  anpear- 

bS'^r"'"  have  to' wait 'a  very- lonftlme 
before    he  wears  it.     It  is  unrollet  and 

Its  whole  length  on  both  sides,  amid  thf 

to  Ills  shed,  where  lie  was  to  go  throucli 

clan'if."'l'?'*"f'"^-  ^'»«  "t<^  c'onsisted !S 
changing  his  dress  several  times  before  the 
people,  and  dancing  in  each  new  dress 
finishing  with  a  fetish  war-dress,  ,-.  el 
f  li  "nder  robe,  and  a  dark  blue  cloth 
studded  with  charms  and  amulets  pt^nid 
"'mJ'^T.*'!,"!"'  '^''^^'^  With  cowries." 
Ibe  third  day  oi  the  Customs  exhibited 


C78 


DAIIOMB. 


Imt  lltllo  of  internet,  being  tnoroly  the  usual 
)»r«ic«>KHl(iiiM  iinil  HjjetH'ht'H,  rcpentml  over 
uud  ovor  a^iiln  to  n  wnnrisunio  IiiiikIIi. 
'I'h((  most  iidtjkblo  foiituro  In  tlio  cowrits 
iierniiil)linj(.  'I'hn  kliitf  tlirown  «trinu;s  oi' 
cowrloH  nmonn  tho  pitoplu,  who  flglit  for 
Ihoin  «)»  |»>rt'octly  wiual  tcrnid.  tlui  lownst 
jutnttniit  and  Mut  higlii'nt  nobio  thinking 
(lioniHflvoM  (M|unlly  bountl  to  Join  in  the 
HiTainblo.  VVcHpohs  nro  not  tiHod,  i)Ht  it  in 
eonMid*^r(>d  (ndto  logii:-nato  to  goiigo  out 
oy»>8  or  bito  out  jiiocou  of  limbu,  anil  tlicro 
is  st'nrroly  a  Hcninililti  that  docH  not  end  in 
maiming  for  lito,  wliilo  on  somo  occauionH 
ono  or  two  liicklfSH  individuals  aro  Ictl  dead 
on  t\w  ground.    No  notico  is  taknn  of  thi'ni, 


jw  tlu\v  aro,  by  n  nioannnt  fiction  of  law, 
snpnoHod  to  have  (lii'd  an  honorable  death 
in  uefonci"  of  tluiir  king. 

Lastly  thuro  oaino  a  procossion  of  hunch- 
backs, wlio,  as  <;a|)laiu  Burton  tolls  us,  nro 
connnon  in  Western  Africa,  nnd  are  assem- 
bled in  tr(M)j)s  of  both  sexes  at  tho  pahwe. 
The  chief  of  them  wielded  a  formidable 
whip,  and,  having  arms  of  great  length  and 
muscular  iiower,  oa.sily  cut  a  way  for  his 
Ibllowers  tiirough  the  denso  crowd.  Heven 
])0t4Mtt  fetishes  were  carried  on  tho  heads  of 
tho  princi|)al  hunchbacks.  Thev  were  very 
strong  fetishes  indeed,  being  In  "tho  hubit  of 
walking  about  alter  nightfall. 

They  are  described  as  follows :  —  "  The 
first  was  a  blue  <lwarf.  in  a  gray  paque, 
with  hilt  on  heiMl.  The  second,  a  blue 
wonjttu  wilh  pmtuberant  breast.  Tho  third, 
11  n>d  ilwarf  wilh  white  eves,  clad  vap-h-^ne 
in  red  and  brown.  The  fourth  was  n  small 
black  mother  nnd  child  in  a  blue  loin-cloth, 
with  a  basket  or  calabash  on  the  former's 
head.  Tho  fil\h,  ditto,  but  lesser.  Tho 
sixth  was  a  pigmy  bnboon-like  thing,  with 
a  r«l  fiiee  under  a  black  skull-cap,  a  war- 
club  in  the  right  hand  and  i\  gui.  in  the 
lefl ;  and  the  seventh  much  resembled  tl'i> 
latter,  but  was  lamp-black,  with  a  whlio 
apron  behind.  They  were  carved  much  as 
the  fhco  cut  on  the  top  of  a  stick  by  the 
country  bumpkins  in  England." 

The  king  next  paid  a  visit  to  the  victims, 
and  entered  into  conversation  with  some 
of  them,  and  presented  twenty  "  heads  "  of 
cowries  to  them.  At  Captain  Burton's  re- 
quest that  he  would  show  mcrcv,  bo  had 
nearly  half  of  them  untied,  placed  on  their 
hands  and  kneea  in  front  of  him,  and  then 
dismissed  them. 

The  fourth  day  of  the  Customs  is  tradi- 
tionally called  tlio  Horse-losing  Day,  fVom 
a  ceivmony  which  has  now  been  abolished, 
although  the  name  is  retained.  More 
dances,  more  prwossjons,  and  more  boast- 
ings that  Abeokuta  should  be  destroyed, 
and  that  the  grave  of  (Jolele's  father  should 
be  well  ftirnished  with  Egba  skulls.  The 
same  little  fetishes  already  mentioned  were 
again  produced,  and  were  followed  by  a 
carious  oaa^e-aeul  nerformMl  hv  n  ''An" 


The  flo  is  an  Imitation  demon,  "  a  bull-faced 
mask  of  natural  siitc,  ])aiiit'.  d  black,  with 
glaring  eyes  and  peep-holes.  The  lioius 
wore  hung  with  wxl  and  white  rag-strips, 
and  beneath  was  a  dress  of  bamboo  flbro 
(M)vering  tho  feet,  and  fringed  at  the  ends. 
It  danced  with  hemi  oil  one  side,  and 
swayed  itself  about  to  tho  great  lunuso- 
iiieiit  of  the  people." 

Tho  whole  of  the  proceedings  were  termi- 
nated by  a  long  procession  of  slaves,  bear- 
ing in  their  hands  baskets  of  cowries.  "  It 
was  tho  usual  AlVican  inconseniience  — 
1()(),0<K)  to  carry  2(l<." 

The  evening  of  the  fourth  day  is  tho 
dremlcd  Evil  "Night,  on  which  tli;)  king 
walks  in  solemn  nrocession  to  the  niaiket- 
place,  where  the  chief  executioner  with  his 
own  hand  puts  to  death  those  victims  who 
have  been  reserved.  The  precise  natiiie  of 
the  proccdings  is  not  known,  as  none  aro 
allowed  to  leave  their  houses  (^xccjit  tlio 
king  and  his  retinue;  and  any  one  who  is 
foolish  enough  to  break  this  law  is  curried 
oil"  at  once  to  swell  the  list  of  victims.  It  is 
said  that  the  king  speaks  to  the  men,  charg- 
ing them  with  messages  to  his  dcii(l  father, 
telling  him  that  his  moiuory  is  revered,  and 
that  a  number  of  new  attendants  have  been 
sent  to  bim,  and  with  his  own  hand  striking 
the  fli-st  blow,  the  others  being  slain  by  tho 
regular  executioner. 

The  bo<lics  of  tho  executed  were  now  set 
upon  a  pole,  or  hung  un  by  their  hei'is,  ancl 
exhibited  to  tlu^  ponulace,  much  as  iiseil  to 
be  done  in  England,  when  a  thief  was  tlrst 
executed,  and  then  hung  in  chains. 

The  number  of  these  victims  has  been 
much  exaggerated.  In  the  annua!  Customs, 
tho  number  appears  to  be  between  sixty 
and  eighty.  Some  thirty  of  these  victims 
are  men,  lind  suft'or  by  the  hand  of  tho  chief 
executioner  or  his  assistants;  but  it  is  well 
known  that  many  women  aro  also  mit  to 
death  within  the  palace  walls,  tho  blood- 
thirsty Amazons  being  tho  executioners. 
Tho  mode  of  execution  is  rather  remark- 
able. At>er  tho  king  has  spoken  to  tho 
victims,  and  «lictated  his  messages,  the  exe- 
cutioners fall  m)on  them  ai«l  beat  them  to 
death  with  their  ottlcial  maces.  These  in- 
struments arc  merely  wooden  clubs,  armed 
on  one  side  of  the  head  witli  iron  knobs. 
Some,  however,  say  that  tho  victims  aro 
beheaded;  and  it  is  very  likely  that  both 
modes  are  employed. 

As  to  tho  stories  that  have  been  so  IVe- 
qnently  told  of  the  ninny  thousan*!  human 
victims  that  aro  annually  slain,  and  of  the 
canoe  which  is  naddled  by  the  king  in  a 
trench  tilled  with  human  blood,  they  are 
nothing  more  than  exaggerations  invented 
by  ti-aders  for  the  purpose  of  IVightening 
Englishmen  out  of  tho  country.  Even  in 
the  Grand  Customs  which  follow  the  de- 
cease of  a  king  the  number  of  victims  is 

harnlv  flvA   hnnilred. 


Wo  mny  nftturnllv  nsk  oumdvcB  what  is 
Iho   .....unln^  of  tfu,  Uu«tom»,  or  Ho-Sin 

loluK  honor  to  tho  late  king,  by  sending 
t.)  hUu  a  mnnhor  of  atten.^mt/  bo/ltt  n^ 
h  H  rank,  fnuncliatdy  uftor  his  b.S  1  "^ 
tJie  (Jiand  {.'ustonw,  mime,  ||v„  hu. ulrcd 
ftttenjiiu.tH,  both  nmli  and  fcnuvlc,  "re  do- 
H|mfdi,.,!(o  tiiod.Mid  king,  un.l  over  aftor 
ward  IHM  (rain  („  nwdled  bv  th,,«e  who  are 
8lain  at  the  n-hM.lar  annual  Customs  ™ 

UoHidtiH  tlio  (Justonw  tliere  Ih  Hcifrcelv  a 
day  whrn  ..xeeutions  «f  a  sin.ilar  clmS? 
do  no  tak..  idac...  Wliatever  tho  kl  k  d.  cs 
nuiHt  bo  r,.,H.rte.!  U,  Ihh  Hither  by  a  ,     n 

tlion    killed.      No  matter   liow   trivial   t 

liun,  i(  he  ImH  a  new  drum  made,  or  even  if 
he  m..ve«  (Vom  one  house  to  another -a 
mesm.n«er  i.s  Hent  to  tell  Iuh  father.  And  if 
alter  the  execution  tho  kins  Hhould  Hn 
tluit  he  has  Corgctten  HomcthluK,  away  Koes 
juiothor  messenger,  like  the  i.oHtacri/t  of  a 

All  this  terrible  dostruetiou  of  hunmn  life 

Ave  mndnT  ''""^•^'^  ''^  "V^'*'"  ««  avenig^^Jg' 
live  111  n.lred  per  annum  n  ordinary  vears 
an.  .1  thousand  in  the  (hand  Cus SCr' 

painted.    1  ho  victims  are  not  eimulo  gub- 
nrH,»ur!",.p     '"^  are   either  criminals  or 

Indeed,  considering  tho  obfcct  for  whieli 
t  oy  mo  reserved,  it  would  be  bad  policv  for 
s  v%r'"T  "^  *°  'Vh'^ve  cruelly  Kan 

i'rst.  lisfalf  7„,"'^'"'.*^'"''^^ 

nftV..,.         ''""t'r,  about  whom  thevare  ever 

mnu  to  Ins  father  a  messenger  who  wsw  ill 
dspoHod  toward  hipiself,  an     w  lo  ^,1    " 

their  own  lives  w it  th,  so  of  "H """".  '^''• 
equally  undervalue  -and  L  t'^  ^"'« 
that  their  lives  are  forfi'Vi' tf    ^^""^  ''""'^ 

position  wi.hou\l^,t?S\Sr 

tlio   lioiimn,  to  sluMfv'^  J^^.K  '*  '^""^^ 

3!.|...u  jnoeusibio  wheu  kiilcd. 


MEANING  OP  TH.B  "CUSTOMS." 


I     Thia  humane  allovlatioa  of  tlieir  •uffer- 

I  ngH  IS    however,  roHtriet4>d  to    Le  who 

lio  ut  ihe  customs,  and  in  not  extended  to 

tho.e  who  porish  by  the  hund«  of  the  eiecu- 

ir,*!Ii"n""  "'"-'"""K";"  ^»  "'«  dcceiwed  king. 
How  thuRc  execuUons  ore  conducted  ruav 
bo  800U  by  the  following  aocouut  oi'  a  «ctno 
at  UaJjomo  by  Mr.  l^uucan:  — 

Ihe  coremonies  of  this  day  were  ncarlv 

a    repetition    of   those   of    yesterday     tm 

Uio  time  arrived  (an  hour  Lfore  sunset) 

when  tlio  four  traitors  were   broughrinto 

the  square  for  execution.    They  marched 

through  tho  mob  assembled  n.uru    anuar- 

mitly  as  little  concerned  as  U.e  ZcuE 

wlio  seemed  more  cheerful  than  ffic  the 

prisoners    matlc    their   appearance   ^ff 

thov   were  nleased  with    t  le    prosper    of 

a  clian/'o  of  perfonnauce.    The  Sncrs 

were  marched  close  past  me  i     «/,  w  t  "mc  • 

conscquentlv  I  hu.1  A  good  o,,por  mitv  of 

"v"':'"'^  ol'Horvin^   th^in,  p.lr\icu  a  7  .2 

Z  r jr.?"  l'iJ-'-l"»  }%  knees/wilh 


"very  i)ersoii  remained  on  his  knees  with 

r  mi'      ''' '  *""  prisoners.    • 
Hi,l  „   T  *"'^"  a»,young  men,  of  tho  middle 

XlM Lh  "  Tl"-  '"^«  «♦■  *I«»keos,  who  are 
S  ''«f„^{;-'««>'ing  than  the  people  of  the 
coast.  Each  man  was  gagged  with  a  short 
piece  of  wood,  with  a  Ml  strip  ot^wlUte 
cotton  tied  round  each  end  of  the  sli  k  and 

them  ft-om  sneaking.  They  were  arran^erl 
■n  line,  kneeling  be^.re  tho  Lng  ""«"* 

beats  on  Ih"  K"»K-gaiig  man  then  gave  four 
boats  on  the  gong,  as  one -two,  and  ono- 
two  the  upper  part  of  tho  gang-gang  beinff 
smaller  than  the  lower,  a.uf  thus^ren.ler  nf 

^^.r"'"'?^'"?^'"^"*'  «"»"«••  to  the  pubU? 
clocks  in  England  when  striking  the  quar- 

toTH.  After  the  four  beats  the  gan5-gayman  • 
ad,lre88e<l  the  culprits  upon  tlie  enormity  of 
).'  w.f'n  ?  T^  the  justice  of  their  se  tence! 
I>uring  this  lengthened  harangue  the  ganc: 
gang  was  struck  at  short  intervals;  wh?4 

Alter  this,  the  men  were  suddenly  marched 

uition.  The  men  were  then  ordered  to 
kneel  in  line  about  nine  feet  apart  Lir 
ands  being  tied  in  front  of  the  ft  and 
the  elbows  held  behind  by  two  men'  t^re 
•^^^^Z  tho  culprit  bendiri^g  foiward  '  '"^ 
'Poor  old  Mayho,  who  Is  an  excellent 
man  was  the  proner  execution.fr  He  hekl 
tl  c  knifo  or  bill-W  to  me,  but  I  again 
declined  the  honor;  when  the  old  m^  at 

H,„  .'''"Y  r  *•*«,  ^"^■'^  «f  the  neck,  divhltS 
Ho  head  from  the  bo<ly  of  the  firs  c  uh  rit 
sTi^  th.^  exception  of  a  small  portion  o/ tho 

au^n'nj:?.rKrn:;v^S^^^ 

hayingVaisodhi:El,ll:^te--j;;'^J 


I  1 


flW 


DAIIOME. 


slanting  direction,  and  onlj'  made  a  large 
wound;  the  next  blow  caught  him  on  the 
back  of  the  head,  when  the  brain  protruded. 
The  poor  fellow  struggled  violently.  The 
third  stroke  caught  him  across  the  shoul- 
ders, inflicting  a  dreadt\d  gash.  The  next 
caught  him  on  the  neck,  which  was  twice 
repeated.  The  officer  steadying  the  crimi- 
nal now  lost  his  hold  on  account  of  the 
blood  which  rushed  from  the  blood-vessels 
on  all  who  were  near.  I'oor  old  Mayho, 
now  qiiite  palsied,  took  hold  of  the  head, 
and  after  twisting  it  several  times  round, 
separated  it  from  the  still  convulsed  and 
struggling  trunk.  During  the  latter  part  of 
this  disgusting  execution  the  head  presented 
an  awful  spectacle?,  the  distortion  of  the 
features,  and  the  eyeballs  completely  up- 
turned, giving  it  a  horrid  appearance. 

"The  next  man,  poor  fellow,  with  his 
eyes  partially  shut  and  head  drooping  for- 
ward near  to  the  groimd,  remained  all  this 
time  in  susnenso;  casting  a  partial  glance 
on  the  head  which  was  now  close  to  him, 
and  the  trunk'  dragged  close  past  him,  the 
blood  still  rushing  from  it  like  a  fountain. 
Mayho  refused  to  make  another  attempt, 
and  another  man  acted  in  his  stead,  and 
with  one  blow  separated  the  spinal  bones, 
bHt  did  not  entirely  sejiarate  the  head  from 
the  body.  This  was  finished  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  first.    However,  the  fourth 


culprit  was  not  so  fortunate,  his  head  not 
being  separated  till  after  three  strokes.  The 
body  afterward  rolled  over  several  times 
when  the  blood  spurted  over  my  face  and 
clothes. 

"  The  most  disgusting  part  of  this  abom- 
inablo  and  disgusting  execution  was  that  of 
an  ill-looking  wretch,  who,  like  the  numer- 
ous vultures,  stood  witli  a  small  calabash  in 
his  hand,  ready  to  catch  the  blood  from  each 
individual  which  he  greedily  devoured  be- 
fore it  had  escaped  one  mnuito  from  the 
veins.  The  old  wretch  had  the  impudence 
to  put  some  rum  in  the  blood  and  ask  mo 
to  drink:  at  that  moment  I  could  with 
good  heart  have  sent  a  bullet  through  his 
head. 

"  Before  execution  the  victim  is  furnished 
with  a  clean  white  cloth  to  tie  round  the 
loins.  After  decapitation  the  body  is  im- 
mediately dragged  off  by  the  heeb  to  a 
largo  pit  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
town,  and  thrown  therein,  and  is  imme- 
diately devoured  by  wolves  and  vultures, 
which  are  here  so  ravenous  that  they  will 
almost  take  your  victuals  from  you." 

Captain  Burton  says  that  he  never  saw 
this  repulsive  part  of  the  sacrificial  cere- 
mony, and  states  that  there  is  only  one 
approach  to  cannibalism  in  Dahome.  This 
is  m  connection  with  the  worship  of  tlio 
thunder  god,  and  is  described  on  page  586. 


CHAPTER  LVn. 

DAHOME~Cimcfed«f. 

rm   OBAND   CUSTOMS  OP    I>AHOan!-CKlIirB».~„ 

BASK«  SACn,.,CK-„KLKLK's  ^^n-".^':^"    '^  ^  t-IFBTrnK  -  "  WK  A«K    .n^oRT"       ™, 
TUB    CUSTOMS-T.,E    T.BID    OBAxW-A  n/  T«'-«ORAPH  AND  m  DKTArtsT!""!^  n7 

the  sacrifice.    la  coZn  ^.     ''*^JP*'/"^"'"""»  mals/ Ar^^^^^^^^    1-     ''^''''f.  ^''^  v«"«"8  ani- 


he  mode  ^f  con  luerrr"^*,'*'^  '"^"^'^ 
i8  fo  excec(lin"ly  vSbi  ,?''?"^  JP"**"™ 
Bcription  woultT  cntii    a  n  ""**.•"  ^""  ^e- 

ti-  "ire  sivrveW  [^  ^'^^  ^-- 


being  diyCrLTK"".:"''"'*'*''  '»»«  l»"«r 
Below  is  a  fast  „1^^'  ^'"^'**  umbrella. 


Custom  V^b'ef,  EL.^Li"*'  r'^-'  S'^Ll^^oi!' JoT'-*^'  'i^^^"^"  ^-g 
tiontime  in  the  xolv^ ^n^  ■^'"^'""'^  «««"-  rolls  of  rTo?h  ^''^  ^o^ries  strings  of  beads, 
if  a  new  king  finis  tim?b  ? '"''"'^^"encc  J  which  thov  flih^      '  "  valuables,  for 

cient  number  of  Wc  '1 1  "l  "**'  »  «»«'  Sr  I&  Snr'-.T."™*''''  «»•>  tear  each 
father's  memory  ami 'T,'^/^!'  '^"no'-  to  his  for  the  thne^h^r^"'*'  beasts  -  and  indeed, 
whom  his  father  saorifin  i  V*°  «'1"al  those  less  m  thi  mU  .^^  ''•"^  "»  "erce  and  as  ruth- 
the  throne,  he  ,m'sl  waU    .S^rJ'''  '''^'  *«  Sds^  the  most  savage  beasts  that  the  Xtix 

ing  and  anneals  to  his 


war 


both  Gezo  and  Geleh.  ma;i..  '"°"?  °''>«"Jb"u„f;"'r«/ the  king  and  anneals  to  his 
tacks,  Abeokuta  winn in  a  fir^^T^*  f  «'-  cry.  ^FeeZ.s  OK  I.""?"'^''  ^  ^'"«'"  they 
afterward  beaten  back  ^J     hrst,  but  being  and  this  nm.^^A^'"^'^"''^^"'*  hungry  I'' 

It  is  chiefly  for'thiSCfetth.n'^''"*^*^'^^^^^^^^^^^  ''  repeatecf^ilh 

^^  -.  •''"^^'^°--are^b.o<.,-ti;--,:^^^^^^^ 


fi89 


DAHONfE. 


now  l)roiij(ht  forward,  oach  lioinj?  RnffRod  in 
onlcr  to  |iri«vt(»t  liiiii  IVom  iryiiiif  out  t<>  the 
kiiiK  lor  mercy,  in  wliitii  ciiili)  hi!  numt  lie 
inimcdintdy  rt'ltiUM'd.  and  tlu-y  arc,  Jlrnily 
dccnrcd  by  btin>{  laMliod  inrtidc  luinkctH,  mo 
that  tlii-y  can  move  ncitlu-r  head,  hand,  nor 
foot.  At  th«  kIkIU  of  till!  vii-tini8  tlio  ytdJH 
of  thi!  crowd  Ix'low  riMh)ulili',  and  tlio  air  in 
rent  witli  tlm  cry,  "  Wo  are  hungry!  Feed 
UH,  O  Kinf,'." 

Presently  the  deafening  yells  are  huHhcd 
into  a  death-like  Hilence,  iw  the  king  riHc«, 
and  with  IiIh  own  hand  or  foot  ijiisIicm  one  of 
the  victinwolf  the  platform  into  the  nudHtof 
the  crowd  bolow.  The  helitless  wretch  falb 
into  the  outstretched  arms  of  thu  eager 
crowd,  thb  basket  in  rent  to  utoniH  by  a  hun- 
dred liandn;  and  in  a  whorter  time  than  it  has 
taken  to  write  this  nentene<!  the  man  hai« 
been  torn  limb  from  limb,  while  around  each 

fiortion  of  the  hUII  (luivering  body  a  miuss  of 
nfuriated  ncgrocH  are  fighting  like  ho  many 
starved  doga  over  a  l)one. 

Gelele,  following  the  habits  of  his  nncos- 
tors,  introduced  an  improvement  on  this 
practice,  and,  instead  of  merely  pushing  the 
victims  off  the  platform,  built  a  circular 
towor  some  thirty  feet  in  height,  decorated 
after  the  same  grotesque   manner  as   the 

Clatform,and  ordered  that  the  victims  should 
c  flung  from  the  top  of  this  tower.  Should 
the  kingdom  of  Dahome  laat  long  enough 
for  Gclele  to  have  a  successor,  some  new 
variation  will  probably  be  introduced  into 
the  Grand  Customs. 

After  Gelele  hivd  finished  liis  gift  throw- 
ing, a  strange  procession  wound  its  way  to 
the  tower— the  procession  of  blood,  ^''irst 
came  a  number  of  men,  eacli  carrying  u  pole, 
to  the  end  of  which  was  tied  a  living  cock; 
and  after  them  marched  another  string  of 
men,  each  bearing  on  his  liead  a  living  goat 
tied  up  iu  a  flexible  basket,  so  that  the  poor 
animals  could  not  move  a  limb.  Next  came 
a  bull,  borne  by  a  number  of  negroes;  and 
lastly  came  the  human  victims,  each  tied  in 
a  basket,  and  carried,  like  the  goats,  horizon- 
tally on  a  man's  head. 

Three  men  now  mounted  to  the  top  of  the 
tower,  and  received  the  victims  in  succes- 
sion, as  they  were  Handed  up  to  them.  Just 
below  the  tower  an  open  space  was  left,  in 
which  was  a  block  of  wood,  on  the  edge  of  a 
hole,  attended  by  the  executioners.  The 
fowls  were  first  llung  from  the  top  of  the 
tower,  still  attached  to  the  poles;  and  it 
seemed  to  be  requisite  that  every  creature 
which  was  then  sacrificed  should  be  tied  in 
some  extraordinary  manner.  As  soon  as 
they  touched  the  ground,  they  were  seized, 
dragged  to  tlic  block,  and  their  lieads 
chopped  off,  so  that  the  blood  might  be 
poured  into  the  itj-  ,  The  goats  were 
thrown  down  ai'te"-  t?;e  fo.vls,  tf'-'  bull  after 
tlie  goats,  and,  li  !.\,  :.  3  '••  'Vrtunate  men 
shared  the  same  u  ,  'le  K.ingled  blood  of 
these  victims  was  iJl'j>'itd  to  remain  in  the 


hole,  which  was  loft  tmcovered  all  night,  th« 
l.'hMMl-fttaiiu'd  block  standing  beside  It. 

The  ilhintration  on  (he  following  pago 
depicts  the  last  feature  of  tliis  terrible  mmiio. 
On  the  right  band  is  the  king,  siated  under 
his  royal  umlirella,  Hurinotinled  with  a  leop. 
ard,  the  emblem  of  rovally,  and  around 
him  are  his  wives  and  great  men.  In  the 
centre  rises  the  clolh-covered  tower,  from 
which  a  human  victim  has  junt  been  burled, 
while  anotlu"  is  being  carried  to  his  fate. 
Uelow  is  one  of  the  executioners  standing 
by  the  block,  and  cluslering  in  front  of  the 
tower  is  the  mob  of  infiirialcd  savages. 

Just  below  the  king  is  seen  the  band,  the 
most  prominent  liistrMmeut  of  which  is  the 
great  drum  carried  on  a  mnirs  liead,  anti 
beaten  by  the  drummer  who  stands  behind 
him,  ana  one  of  the  king's  banners  is  dis- 
played behind  the  band,  and  guarded  by  a 
body  of  armed  Amazons.  In  front  are  sev- 
eral of  the  fetishmi^n,  their  heads  adorned 
with  the  conical  cap,  their  bodies  fantasti- 
cally iminted,  and  the  inevitable  skull  in 
their  hands.  The  house  which  is  supposed 
to  contain  the  spirit  of  the  deceased  king  is 
seen  on  the  left. 

The  last  day  of  the  Customs  is  celebrated 
after  a  rather  peculiar  manner. 

A  line  of  soldiers  armed  with  guns  Is  sta- 
tioned all  the  way  from  Agbonie  to  "Whydah. 
These  soldiers  are  placed  at  some  little  dis- 
tance ft-om  each  otlier,  and  their  duty  is  to 
transmit  a  rolling  flre  all  the  way  from  the  ' 
capital  to  the  port  and  back  agaili.  This  is 
a  later  invention,  the  former  plan  being  to 
transmit  a  small  present  from  iinnd  to  hand, 
starting  from  Whydah  and  having  its  des- 
tination in  the  palace.  Another  line  of 
musketeers  extended  from  the  Komasi  house 
to  a  suburb  about  a  mile  distant. 

The  method  of  arranging  them  is  very 
curious.  At  intervals  of  three  hundred 
yards  or  so  are  built  little  huts  of  grass, 
each  beinf^  the  lodging-place  of  two  soldiers. 
Though  slightly  built,  there  is  some  attempt 
at  ornament  about  them,  as  each  hut  has 
a  pent  roof,  a  veranda  supjjorted  by  light 
poles,  and  the  side  walls  decorated  with  a 
diamond  pattern  of  bamboo  and  a  fetish 
shrub,  which  is  supposed  to  repel  lightning. 
A  tuft  of  grass  ornaments  eni  1>  ^nf'  of  the 
gables,  and  those  huts  thu,  ,1,'  ilonied 
neanst  the  palace  are  always  "'e  nu)"1  dfc* 
orated. 

In  front  of  each  hut  the  iiuibkci  belong- 
ing  to  the  soldiers  are  fixed  horizontally  on 
forked  sticks.  They  arc  ready  loaded,  and 
the  two  are  employed  lest  one  of  them 
should  miss  fire.  There  are  nearly  nine 
hundred  of  these  huts  upon  the  line  to  Why- 
dah, and  it  is  calculated  that  the  time  occu- 
Eied  in  the  fire  ought  to  be  about  half  an 
our. 

When  Captain  Burton  attended  this  cere- 
mony in  1863,  Gelele  had   not  been  con- 


m 


TUB  tlASKKT  SACRIKICE. 

(Sec  jMige  5R2.J 


<«83; 


A  ROYAL  PALACE. 


hnL^i  V  f't'l'iette,  allowed  to  live  in  a 

were  ohl/"n3  f  ^;«'V'^"f ^t'y,  hia  ofHcors 
weie  obliged  to  follow  lis  example  as  i( 
would  have  been  enuivalent  to  tS„  lU 
a  subject  presumeci  to   live  in  a  "swish" 

Sung"'""  '•"  •"^"•■^••^■'^  «»'3^  d-"'t  in 
However  on  this  occasion  at  all  events 
the  king  trie,  to  atone  by  barbarous  finery 
for  the  wretched  material  of  his  "palace" 
The  Ag^vaJ^l  gate  led  into  an  oblong  court 
of  ma  ting,  sjirinkled  with  thick-leaved    it- 

twn  f.i'f?'  "^  "Vl'-  "'''''''^  ••^"''  <'i^«l'Jd  into 
two  by  the  usual  line  of  bamboos.    At  the 
bottom  of  the  southern  half  was  the  rov  U 
rHiv.lu.n,  somewhat  like   a  -hakmiyana  in 
uV>  '  '^!"'."n  "l'«n  wi"^'  on  each  side. 
1  he   sloping  roof  of  the   central   part 
intended  for  the  ki.:^,  was  of  <rold  and  lako 
damask   under  two  bi-oad  strips  of  "Jd  ami 
green  satin;  the  wings,  all  silk  and  velve 
were  horizontally  banded  with  red,  white 
edged  green,  purple  and   yellow,  red   and 
g';een    in    succession,  fron     the   ton    am 
M'here   the   tongue-shaper^    laj.pets  .start"  1 
W.U.  chrome  yellow,    tho  h.'ng 7^4  ^la^ 

c^JT^^  '"  /''"  ^"";''  "••'•■«   remarkable 
chiefly  for  gn>tesqiie   figures  of  men   and 

Ihflhun'i.""'  ''  ""-■'^^  ^-'othaud  sewed  "2 
.  Severa?  little  tables  were  placed  near  the 
inner  entrances,  each  being'sheltered  bv  a 
huge  umi,,,.,,,,  t,,,,,  ^^,,,-,^^  w  th  tm-es 
Jiml  four  white.  These  were  for  the  wm,  en 
Who  were  dressed  in  fheir  gave  t  apimre  ' 
magnificent  in  r.  afles  of  re^  pin^  nn  1 
flowered  si  ks  and  satins.  Opposfte  to  t he 
king  were  live  raggd  white  uln'brelL  shel- 
tering eleven  small  tables,  and  behind  the 

SpSnrdn.r"i''-  '^™^"'  "'■  otS^ 
fc'&/^.^-rj-    —hat 

furrounded  with  riiu's  of  wl  i/o  V-il  ii     '    ? 
placed  near  hiiii".  "''*^^  ""^  '"^  '^'^"»«  ^*^ 

ti«rhorf.^l,n"''"''""^T  "'"^'^  ""'^i^"*"  ^^o'-« 

uMi  noi  /onUally,   tach   supported    on    twn 


685 


imitation)  passed  over  his  left  shoulder  to 
his  right  side.  Suspended  to  his  neck  was 
a  large  crucifix,  and  in  his  left  hand  ho  car- 

wlth  Ztrr-^'"^%  ^"  «^'^  "ckety  t^dX 
with  metal  legs  and  covered  with  red  vel- 
ve., was  i.laced   before   him,  and   upon  it 

S'es  'o?-nl  f'"'  r^^  ''  rosary,  Tndry 
pieces  of  ulate,  and  some  silver  armlets 
On  taking  his  seat,  he  put  the  silver  mu-  to 
itu  proner  use,   by  drinking  with  all    h  g 
torn  hij'l"  "7"  ^^'  '"''»^''  according  to  cS 

After  ?ho  ^y  %'">«"  "jol'i  ^vhile  he  drank. 

After  the  usual  complimentary  addresses 
ha<l  been  made,  a  woman  rose  at  1  p  si  and 
gave  the   word   of  command -"  A-de?o" 
Ihis  IS  a  corruption  of  Adios,  or  farewell 
At  this  word  two  of  the  muskets  in  from  of 
the   king  were  discharged,  and  the   i  ■  .Kr 
was  taken  up  by  the  Jc^gbc  li.  e.    In    1  "f 
mnutes  the  firing  ran*' round  Je-be  ami 
leturned  to  the  palace.    At  2  p.m.  another 
A-de-o  '  started  the  line  of  fimng  to  y/  t^ 
lah  the  time  of  its  return  having  been  calcu- 
lated and  marked  by  a  rude  device  of  la  in.^ 
cowries  on  the  ground,  and  weavinofa^j    ,f 
ma    oom,  the  number  of  threa<l  Ihat  a  re 

iuratlTffS?"'  '"^  ''"'"'^'^  ^  -'-^^i- 

As  .soon  as  the  firing  began,  two  ofMcials 

marched  up  to  the  king  and  began  a    oral 

until   the  tring  had  returned.    Amid   the 
orrii,le  noise  of  live  heralds  proe      n  i ., 

r'fny^}  ''t"  **"''  ^  ^''"^^  springing  1  is 
rat  le,  they  began  thefr  speech,  but  were 
l^iy  <>'scomfited  by  a  nrotlg  calculati, m  o? 
a  mismanagement  of  the  firing.  Instea  of 
occupying  oi  ,y  half  an  hour,  ft  Wivs  no  f,n- 
™;"-""  •'""'•  •■'».l  a  halhand  the  poor 

no  dust  which  hovered  about,  that  tow.ard 
the  end  of  he  time  they  were  ncarh^.l  ked 
and  could  hardly  get  out  short  sentences  at 

^nTt^'  '.'•''i'"'^'  '•'  '^''ministered  very  freelv 
ii  iWe  to  i['''n*  "■''•'  "'"  '""•'"•'^*  .'vre^HjualYy 
ebiof  nffl  9m  ""''  «c^"«iou  some  of  the 
Clef  officers  of  the  court  did  not  make  their 
appearance  exactly  at  the  proper  time^  The 
king  considered  that  this  conduct  was  on 
usurpation  of  the  royal  preroga  ve  oT  .m^ 
ing  every  one  else  wait  whi^rcas  they  ha, 
absolutely  made  him  wait  for  them  So  as 
soon  as  they  appeared,  he  ordered  the  Ariia- 

'ourofM"^  *'^r  '"""'"'"■''  --"'d  l^catXm 
out  of  the  court,  a  command  which  thev 
execuie.1  with  despatch  and  vigon  Th^ 
beaten  ministers  did  not.  however  seen,  Vn 
resent  their  treatment,  but  sat  cowS  ^l 
the  gate  in  abject  submission.  " 

king  proceeded  to-U^^i.^Tlct"^- U.Lf  c;.'!         ' 
to  us      Having  resumed  his  place  at  fhe 
velvet-covered  table,  he  filled  llis  gU  wUh 


086 


DAHOME. 


rum,  and  drank  with  his  viflitors  to  the 
health  of  his  lather's  gliosl,  who,  by  the  way, 
had  been  seen  bathing  in  the  sea,  and  had 
received  two  slaves,  sacrificed  in  order  to 
tell  him  that  his  sou  was  pleased  at  his  visit. 
Alter  a  few  unimportant  ceremonies,  he 
poured  a  little  rum  on  the  ground,  and, 
dashing  liis  glass  to  pieces  on  the  table,  rose 
iuul  leit  the  tent.  His  attendants  followed 
liis  example,  and  smashed  everytliing  to 
pieces,  even  including  the  tables;  this  act 
probably  accounting  for  the  very  mean  and 
rickety  condition  of  the  royal  furniture. 
With  this  general  smash  the  Customs  termi- 
nated, much  to  tlie  relief  of  the  visitors. 

Marriages  among  the  Dahomans  are  aa 
odd  compound  of  simplicity  and  complexity. 
The  bridegroom  commences  his  suit  by 
sending  a  couple  of  friends  to  the  father  of 
the  intended  bride,  and  furnishes  them  with 
a  doubly  potent  argument  in  the  shape  of 
two  bottles  of  rum.  Should  the  father  ap- 
prove of  the  proposition,  he  graciously 
drinks  the  rum,  and  sends  back  the  empty 
bottles  — a  token  that  he  accepts  the  pro- 
posal, and  as  a  delicate  hint  that  he  would 
like  some  more  rum.  The  happy  man  takes 
the  hint,  fills  the  bottles,  sencls  them  to  the 
father,  together  with  a  present  for  the  young 
lady;  and  then  nothing  more  is  required 
except  to  name  the  amount  of  payment 
which  is  demanded  for  the  girl.  Cloth  is 
the  chief  article  of  barter,  and  a  man  is 
sometimes  occupied  lor  two  or  three  years 
in  procuring  a  sufficient  quantity. 

At  last  the  day  — always  a  Sunday — is 
settled,  and  more  bottles  of  rum  are  sent 
by  the  bridegroom's  messengers,  who  bring 
the  bride  in  triumph  to  her  future  home, 
followed  by  all  her  family  and  friends. 
Then  comes  a  general  feast,  at  which  it  is 
a  point  of  honor  to  consume  as  much  as 
possible,  and  it  is  not  until  after  midnight 
that  the  bride  is  definitely  handed  over  to 
her  husband.  The  least  being  over,  the 
bridegroom  retires  into  bin  house  and  scats 
himself.  Several  fetish  women  lead  in  the 
bride  by  her  wrists,  and  present  her  in  sol- 
emn form,  telling  them  both  to  behave  well 
to  each  other,  but  recommending  him  to 
flog  her  well  if  she  displeases  him.  Another 
tuo  or  three  liours  of  drinking  then  follows, 
and  about  .3  or  4  a.m.  the  fetish  women 
retire,  and  the  actual  marriage  is  supposed 
to  be  completed. 

Next  morning  the  husband  sends  more 
rum  and  .some  heads  of  cowries  to  the  girl  s 
parents  as  a  token  that  he  is  satisfied, 
and  after  a  week  the  bride  n^turns  to  her 
father's  house,  where  she  remains  lor  a  day 
or  two,  cooking,  however,  her  husband^s 
food  and  sending  it  to  him.  On  the  day 
when  she  returns  home  another  feast  is 
held,  and  then  she  subsides  into  the  semi- 
servile  statu  whicli  is  the  normal  condition 
of  a  wife  throughout  the  greater  part  of 
Bavage  Africa. 


Wo  now  come  to  the  religion  of  Dahome, 
which,  as  may  be  imagined  from  the  pre- 
vious narrative,  is  of  a  very  low  character, 
and  has  been  curtly  summarized  by  Captain 
Burton  in  the  following  sentence :  —  "  Afri- 
cans, as  a  rule,  worship  everything  except 
the  Creator."  As  the  contact  of  the  Daho- 
mans with  the  white  men  and  with  the 
Moslems  lias  probably  engrafted  foreign 
ideas  in  the  native  mind,  it  is  not  very  easy 
to  find  out  the  exact  nature  of  their  religion, 
but  the  Ibllowing  account  is  a  short  abstract 
of  the  result  of  Captain  Burton's  investiga- 
tion. 

He  states  that  tlie  reason  why  the  natives 
do  not  worshii)  the  Creator  is  that,  although 
the^  acknowledge  the  fact  of  a  supreme 
Deity,  they  think  that  lie  is  too  great  and 
high  to  trouble  Himself  about  the  affairs  of 
mankind,  and  in  consequence  they  do  not 
trouble  themselves  by  paying  a  worsliip 
which  they  think  would  be  fruitless.  Their 
devotion,  such  as  it  is,  expends  itself  there- 
fore upon  a  host  of  minor  deities,  all  con- 
nected with  some  material  object. 

First  we  have  the  principal  deities,  who 
arc  ranked  in  distinct  classes.  The  most 
important  is  the  Snake  god,  who  has  a 
thousand  snake  wives,  and  is  represented 
by  the  Danhgbwe,  which  has  already  been 
mentioned.  Next  in  order  come  the  Tree 
gods,  of  which  the  silk-cotton  (Bomhax)  is 
the  most  powerful,  and  has  the  same  num- 
ber of  wives  as  the  Danlmbwe.  It  lias, 
however,  a  rival  in  the  Ordeal,  or  poison 
tree. 

The  last  of  these  groups  is  the  sea.  This 
deity  is  represented  at  Whydah  by  a  very 
great  priest,  who  ranks  as  a  kin",  and  has 
five  hundred  wives  in  virtue  of  his  repre- 
sentative office.  At  stated  times  he  visits 
the  shore  to  i>ay  his  respects,  and  to  throw 
into  the  waves  his  offerings  of  beads,  cowries, 
cloth,  and  other  valuables^  Now  and  then 
the  king  sends  a  human  sacrifice  from  the 
capit.ll.  He  creates  the  victim  a  Caboceer, 
gives  him  the  state  uniform  and  umbrella  of 
his  short-lived  rank,  puts  him  in  a  gorgeous 
hanmiock.and  sends  him  in  great  pomj)  and 
state  to  V/hydah.  As  soon  as  he  arrives 
there,  the  priest  takes  him  out  of  his  ham- 
mock and  transfers  him  to  a  canoe,  takes 
him  out  to  sea,  and  flings  him  into  the  water, 
where  lus  is  instantly  devoured  by  the  ex- 
pectant sharks. 

Lately  a  fourth  group  of  superior  deities 
has  been  added,  under,  the  name  of  the 
Thunder  gwls.  In  connection  with  the 
worsliip  of  this  deity  is  found  the  only  ap- 
proach to  cannibalism  which  is  known  to 
exist  in  Dahome.  When  a  man  has  been 
killed  by  lightning,  burial  is  not  lawful,  and 
the  body  is  therefore  laid  on  a  platform  and 
cut  up  by  the  women,  who  hold  th«  nieces  of 
flesh  in  their  mouths,  and  preteuu  to  eat 
thcin,  (•allini;  out  to  th.e  '>as«en!iers.  "  We 
sell  you  meat,  fine  meivt;  come  aiid  buy  I" 


THE  FETISHERS. 


I 


..n^!'fi,*\'^'""',9''*'"P''  «f  superior  deities 
tomeni  f  •"^t'''""  S"**"'  ^«  nu,»en,us 
be  omitS"  Tf"*''  ''°^<'?'-. »  t«o  curious  to 
oe  omitted.    It  is  a  man's  own  head,  which 

Hlntrnfl  ^'^  ongravins  on  the  695th  page 

"The  head  worshipper,  after  providinir  a 
fowl,  kola  nuts,  rum,  a,id  water  Ses 
drasses  in  pure  white'baft,and  sckt  £ 
self  on  a  clean  mat.  An  old  woman  with 
her  mecUus  finger  dipped  in  water  toud^es 
successively  his  forellead,  poil,  nape  and 
mul-brcast,  sometimes  all' his  oints.  '  She 
then  breaks  a  kola  into  its  natui  ,1  divisions 
throws  hem  down  like  dice,  chooses  a  lickv 
piece,  .Wuch  she  causes  a  bystander  to  chew 

and  hrst  toe;  the  same  attonchemmts  nrl 
performed  with  its  head,  and  finallv  with 
eate^^t  •'^"''«'"-«dded' flesh  bclb,^  Tt  is 
eaten.  Meanwhile  rum  and  water  are 
drunk  by  those  present." 
-oo  '®  *"';"'''''<^'^'  <"•  priests,  are  chosen  bv 
reason  of  a  sort  of  ecstatic  fit  which  comes 

inll  to  the  ground  insensible.    One  of  the 
older  pnests  awaits  the  return  of  the  senses 

awStoth^n^f  *"*  '"?.'•■  ."«  ••''  ">en  taken 
away  to  the  college,  or  fetish  part  of  the  4own 
where  he  learns  the  mysteries  of  his  calhn"' 
and  IS  instructed  for  several  yeai-s  in  th°e 
esotonc  language  of  the  priests,  a  L.ngua^e 

n  at  ,re„  V'V^f '"^^''^.'^  '^"»  "nderfS! 
turn  to  l,f,  f  ti.e  novitiate  he  should  re- 
but th?,  T  T."''"  ''"'"^'  I'e  «P'"<"^ks  nothing 
poin  o?h"n'''"'  '«"?^"«ff«^  and  makes  it Tv 
po  nt  of  honor  never  to  utter  a  sentence  that 
any  member  of  the  household  can  unlS 

raSofnwlTM'  ''r."  ^^^mittea  into  the 
to  come  on   him     Tl.^l    r    ^^  ^'■'  ''■"'PPens 

reer  before  The  r  b  r       nnn"""'  '"  ''V"  ™- 
accouui..  the  life  of  the 'husband  is'  uoMhe 


687 


Z'nVt^'"''''^  '"=  ^'^^  ^'"•''^-  The  women 
spend  their  mornings  in  ffoin<r  about  hon, 

w  th  her  sisters  into  the  fetish  house  and 
puts  on  her  official  dress.  The  whole1;ar^v 
then  sally  out  to  the  squares,  where  t"S 

for  a  few  hn    ***  ''1^'"-  ^.*=''*""y-     This  lasts 
hpi^  :  r  ^*'"'^'  '*^'''^"  the  women  assume 
their  ordinary  -ostumes  and  go  home! 

WMiie  the  fetish  is  on  them,  and  so  fh. 

frZ^H^  ^'l^^  !"«'>«««  t«  shied  themselves 
from  their  husbiyid's  wrath  by  a  fetish  fk 
whenever  he  becLes  angry,  a^  tfiten's 

As  to  the  position  of  the  human  soul  in 
he  next  world,  they  believe  Ihat  a  nn 
Jikes  among  the  spirfts  the  same  m nk  w  c 
he  held  among  men;  so  that  a  man  who  dies 
as  a  king  ,s  a  king  to  all  eternity,  while  he 
who  ,8  a  slave  when  he  dies  can  never  be  a 
free  man,  but  must  be  the  pronertv  of"  some 
wealthy  ghost  or  other.  I'^^y  oi  some 

ehXf"i'°^/'"'  "''"■'''  of  spirits  is  one  of  the 
ohiof  employments  of  the  fetish  men  wl  o 
are  alwaj^  ready  to  make  the  journey  when 
paid  for  their  trouble.    They  are  often  ca   eJ 

wKot  of'  '^^  %  "']'"™"  wS  fee""  ! 
rp,nc  V"t  Of  "pints  always  fancies  that  his 
deceased  relatives  are  calling  for  him  f    i,  n 

f?fJ  ^^^}-  .'^0  ''*^  soon  to  his  favorite 
fetisher,  and  gives  him  a  dollar  to  descend 
nto  the  sp.nt  world  and  present  his  exm."s 

w  til  his  cloth,  lies  down,  and  falls  into 
a  lr.ance,  and,  .vhen  he  recover  he  gives  a 
detaile.1  account  of  the  conversation^vhLh 
has  tak.n  place  between  himself  and  th 

back  rrnr^e",'"?*-    Sometimes  he  bri,,' 
Daek  a  rare  bead  or  some  other  object  as 
proof  that  he  has  really  delivered  tl/e  m'es! 
sage  and  received  the  answer.    The  whole 

performed  by  the  medicine  men  or  An4- 
koks  among  the  Esquim.aux.  ° 

It  IS  a  strange  thing  that,  in  a  eountrv 
where  human  life  is  sacrificed  so  fh"h  'I 
sort  of  inquest  tnkes  place  after  every  deatlu 
The  reason  for  this  custom  is  rather  curious 
The  king  reserves  to  himself  the  right  o 
life  and  death  over  his  subjects,  and  .anvonc 
who  killsanother  is  supposed  to  have  usiu-Jed 
the  royal  privilege.  »«-u.iupeu 

As  soon  a.s  death  takes  place,  notice  is 
sent  to  the  proper  officers,  called Vjevi  who 
come  and  inspect  the  bodv,  receiving  as  a 
fee  a  head   and  a  half  of'cowries.    w"feu 
they  have  eertitied  that  the  death  was  uat- 
ural,  the   relatives   begin   their  mournin.' 
unng  which  they  may  not  eat  nor  wash' 
but  may  sing  as  much  as  fhev  please    and 
^rink  as  much  rum  as  fhev  caii  get.    A  cof        • 
,  fin  IS  prepared,  its  size  varyins  aeeordin<^"o 
I  tUe  rank  ,.i^  the  deceased  pers.m;  the  eor"pse 
1 18  clothed  in  it«  best  attire,  decorated  with 


DAHOMB. 


ornaments,  and  a  change  of  raiment  is  laid 
in  the  cottln,  to  be  worn  when  the  deceased 
fairly  reaches  the  land  of  spirits.  The  very 
poor  are  unable  to  obtain  a  coffin,  and  a 
wrapper  of  matting  is  deemed  sufficient  in 
such  cases. 

The  grave  is  dug  in  rather  a  peculiar 
manner,  a  cavern  being  .  xcavated  on  one 
side,  the  coffin  being  first  lowered  and  then 
pushed  sideways  into  the  cave,  so  tlwit  the 
earth  immediately  above  is  undisturbed. 
After  the  grave  is  filled  in,  the  earth  is 
smoothed  with  water.  Over  the  grave  of  a 
man  in  good  circumstances  is  placed  a  ves- 
sel-shaped iron,  into  whicli  is  poured  water 
or  blood  by  way  of  drink  for  the  deceased. 
Formerly  a  rich  man  used  to  have  slaves 
buried  with  him,  but  of  late  years  only  the 
two  chiefs  of  the  king  are  allowed  to  sacri- 
lice  one  slave  at  death,  they  being  supposed 
not  to  need  as  many  attenilants  in  the  next 
world  03  if  they  had  been  kings  of  Dahome 
in  this. 

As  soon  as  the  king  dies,  his  wives  and  all 
the  women   of  the  palace  begin  to  smash 
everything  that  comes  in  their  way,  exactly 
as  has  been  related  of  the  concluding  scene 
of  the  Customs;  and,  when  they  have  broken 
all  the  furniture  of  the  palace,  they  begin  to 
turn  their  destructive  fury  upon  each  other, 
so  tiiat  at  the  death  of  Agiigoro  it  was  calcu- 
lated that  sever'.l  hundred  women  lost  tlieir 
lives  within  the  palace  walls  merely  in  this 
tight,  tliose  sacrificed  at  the  succeeding  Cus- 
toms being  additional  victims.    This  blood- 
thirsty rage  soon  extends  bi.'yond  the  pre- 
cincts of  the  palace,  and  Captain  Burton, 
who  has  done  so  mudi  in  contradicting  the 
exaggerated  tales  of  Dalioman   bloodshed 
that    have   been  so   widely   circulated,  ac- 
knowledges   that,    however    w(dl    a   white 
stranger  may  be  received  at  Agbome,  his 
hfe  would  be  in  very  great  danijer  were  he 
to  remain  in  the  capital  when  tlie  king  died. 
Even  with  the  termination  of  the  Customs 
the   scenes  of   bloou    do    not   end.      Next 
comes    the    "  water-sprinkling,"    t.    e.    the 
graves  of  the  kings  must  be  si)rinkled  with 
•'  water,"    the    Dahoman    euphemism    for 
blood.    Of  late  years  the   number  of  hu- 
man victims  sacrificed  at  each  grave   ha-s 
been  reduced  to  two,  the  requisite  amount  of 
"  water  "  being  suiiplied  by  various  animals. 
Before  each  tomb  the  king  kneels  on  ail 
foui\s  accompanied  by  his  chiefs  and  cap- 
tains, wliile  a  female  \mcM,  who  must  be  of 
royal  descent,  makes  a  long  oration  to  the 
spirit  of  the  deceased  ruler,  asking  him  to 
aid  iiis  descendant  and  to  give  success  and 
I)ro.speiity  to  ids  kingdom.     Lit)ationsof  rum 
and  pure  water  arc  then  poured  upon  each 
grave,  followed  by  the  sacrificial  "water," 
v,'!iieh  flows  from  the  throats  of  the  men, 
oxen,    goats,    pigeons,  and   other  victims! 
Aula  nuts  and  other  kinds  of  food  are  also 
brought  as  ull'erings. 
Tlie  flesh  of  the  animals  is  then  cooked, 


together  with  the  vegetables,  and  a  fenad  la 
held,  the  stool  of  the  deceased  ruler  bein" 
placed  on  the  table  as  an  emblRin  of  his 

Eresence.  All  the  Dahoman  kings  are 
uried  within  the  walls  of  the  pp'ace,  a 
house  being  erected  over  each  grave.  Dur- 
ing the  water  sprinkling,  or  "Sin-quain," 
custom,  the  king  goes  to  each  house  sepa- 
rately, and  sleeps  in  it  for  five  or  six  nights, 
so  as  to  put  himself  in  communion  with  the 
spirits  of  his  predecessors. 

The  reader  will  remember  that  the  kings 
who  formerly  ruled  Dahomo  are  still  sup- 
posed to  hold  royal  rank  in  the  spirit  world, 
and  the  prevalence  of  the  custom  shows 
tliat  this  belief  in  the  dead  is  strong  enough 
to  exercise  a  powerful  inliuenceover  the  liv- 
in.r. 

We  have  now  very  briefly  glanced  at  the 
Dahoman  in  peace,  in  war,  in  religion,  in 
death,  and  in  l)urial.  He  is  not  a  pleasant 
subject,  airtl,  though  the  space  which  has  been 
given  to  him  is  much  too  small  to  afford 
more  than  outline  of  his  history,  it  would 
have  been  more  restricted  but  "  •  the  fact 
that  the  Dahoman  is  an  excellei.  pe  of  the 
true  negro  of  Western  Africa,  and  that  a 
somewhat  detailed  description  of  him  will 
enable  us  to  dismiss  many  other  negro  tribes 
with  but  a  passing  notice. 

Moreover,  as  the  kingdom  of  Dahome  is 
fast  failing,  and  all  the  strange  mannei-s  and 
customs  which  have  been  mentioned  will 
soon  be  only  matters  of  liistory,  it  was 
necessary  to  allot  ratlier  more  sjiace  to  them 
than  would  otherwise  have  been  the  case. 
The  general  character  of  the  Dahoman  has 
been  so  tersely  summed  up  by  Captain  Bur- 
ton, that  our  liistory  of  Dahome  cannot  have 
a  better  termination  than  the  words  of  so 
competent  an  authority. 

'*  The  modern  Dahomans  are  a  moiigrel 
breed  and  a  bad.  They  are  Cretan  liars, 
cretins  at  learnins,',  cow.irdly,  and  therefore 
cruel  and  bloodthirsty;  gaiiiblers,  and  con- 
sequently cheaters;  brutal,  noisy,  boister- 
ous,  unvenerative,  and  disobedioit;  '  dipsas- 
bitten'  things,  who  d.-em  it  duty  to  the 
gods  to  be  drunk;  a  flatulent,  self-conceited 
herd  of  barbarians,  who  endeavor  to  hu- 
miliate all  those  with  whom  thev  deal;  in 
fact,  a  slave  race,  —  vermin  with  a  soul 
apiece. 

'•  They  pride  themselves  in  not  being,  like 
the  Popos,  addicted  to  the  'dark  and  dirty 
crime  of  poison,'  tlie  fad  being  that  they  have 
been  enabled  liithcrto  to  carry  everything 
with  a  high  and  violent  hanil.  They  are 
dark  in  skin,  the  browns  being  of  xan'tlious 
temperament,  middle-sized,  slight,  and  very 
lightly  made.  Mv  Krunien  looked  Iik(^  Eng- 
lishmen among  tliein.  In  all  wrestling  bouts 
my  KrumcMi  threw  the  hammock  bearers  on 
tJH'ir  heads,  and  on  one  occasion,  during  a 
kind  of  party  liglit.  six  of  them,  with  lists 
and  sticks,  held  their  own  against  twenty 
Dahomaus. 


SUMMARY  OP  DAHOMAN  CHABACTER. 


rf ''^^y  "";«  '^S^  (?ood  walkers,  and  hard 
dancers,  but  carry  little  weight    Their  dress 

cloth)  or  a  Tfon    chokoto  (pair  of  short 
drawers),  and  au  owii-chyon,  or  body-cloth 
twelve  f^et  long  by  four  to  six  broa^  worn 
like  the  Roman  toga,  from  which  it  may  pos- 
sibly  be  derived.  * 

"The  women  are  of  the  Hastini,  or  ele- 
phant Older  dark,  plain,  masculine,  and 
comparatively  sneaking  of  large,  strong,  and 
square  build,  -i^hey  are  the  reapers  as  well 
as  the  sowers  of  the  field,  and  can  claim 


'quali^!"*  ""^  l^^oriousness,  if  of  no  other 
"They  tattoo   the   skin,    especially    tha 

aress  is  a  zone  of  beads,  supporting  a  band- 
age  beneath  the  do-oo,  or  scanty  loin  M 
which  suffices  for  the  poor  and  young  gS' 
The  upper  classes  add  an  a<ra-oo  or  ovpr 
cloth,  two  fathoms  long,  parsed  under  thJ 

SL'°NeitS°^^^~«''«^^^^ 


CHAPTER  LVIIL 


THE  EGBAS. 


»HB  KOBA  THIBE— A  BLACK    BISHOP  —  OENERAr,    APPEABANCE    OP  THE    EGBAS  — THKIR  TRIBAI,  MARK 

—  TATTOO  OF  THE  BREKCHEE  OB  GENTLEMEN  —  SIONIFICATION  OP  OUNAMKNTS  — MOPE  OP  SAL- 
UTATION-EGBA  AHCHITECTURE- SUBDIVISION  OP    LABOR- ABEOKUTA  AND  ITS  FORTIFICATIONS 

—  FBUD  BETWEEN  THE  EGBAS  AND  DAII0MAN8  -  VARIOUS  SKIRMISHES  AND  BATTLES,  AND  THEIR 
BESULT8-THE  GRAND  ATTACK  ON  ABEOKUTA  -  REPULSE  OF  THE  DAHOMAN  ARMY -RELIGION 
OF  THE  EOBAS-THE  SYSTEM  OF  OOBON I -MISCELLANEOUS  SUPERSTITIONS  AND  SUPPLEMENTARY 
DEITIES— EGUQUN  AND  HIS  SOCIAL  DUTIES  — THE  ALAK«,  OB  KINO  OF  THE  EGBAS- A  RECEP- 
WON  AT  COITBT— APPEABANCB  OF  THE  ATTENDANTS. 

I 

The  men,  while  in  the  prime  of  life,  are 
remarkable  for  the  extreme  beauty  of  their 
forms  and  the  extreme  ugliness  of  their 
features  ;  and,  as  is  mostly  the  case  in  un- 
civilized Africa,  the  woman  is  in  symme- 
try of  form  far  inferior  to  t!ic  man,  and 
where  one  well-developed  female  is  seen, 
twenty  can  be  found  of  the  ojiposite  sex. 

Whatever  may  be  the  exact  color  of  tho 
Egba's  skin,  it  exhales  that  peculiar  and 
indescribable  odor  which   is  so  character- 
istic of  the  negro  races  ;  and,  although  the 
slight  clothing,  the   open-air  life,  and  the 
use  of  a  rude  j)ahn-oil  soaj)  prevent  that 
odor  from  attaining  its  full  jiower,  it  is  still 
perceptible.     The  lips  are  of  course  large 
and  sausage-shaped,  the  lower  part  of  tho 
face  protrudes,  and  the  chin  recedes  to  an 
almost  incredible   extent,  so  as   nearly   to 
deprive  the  countenance  of  its  human  char- 
acter.   The  hair  is  short,  crisp,  and  often 
grows  in   the   little  peppercorn  tutts  that 
have  been  already  mentioned  in  connection 
with  the  Bosjesnum  nice  of  Southern  Africa. 
The  men  dress  this  scanty  crop  of  hair  in  a 
thousand  different  ways,  shaving  it  into  pat- 
terns, and  thus  producing  an  eflect  which,  to 
the  eye  of  an  European,  is  irresistibly  hidi- 
crous.    The  women  contrive  to  tease  it  out 
to  its  full  length,  and  to  divide  it  into  ridgea 
running  over  the  crown  from  the  fon  head 
to  the  nape  of  the  neck,  preserving  a  dean 
parting  between  each  ridge,  and  so  making 
the   heatl   look  as   if  it  were  covered  with 
the  half  of  a  black  melon.     The  skin  of  the 
romraoa   people  is  hard  uud  coarse,  — so 


We  are  naturally  led  from  Dahome  to  its 
powerful  and  now  victorious  enemy,  the 
Egba  tribe,  which  has  perhaps  earned  the 
ri^ht  to  be  considered  as  a  nation,  and 
which  certainly  has  as  much  right  to  that 
title  as  Dahome. 

The  Egbas  have  a  peculiar  claim  on  our 
notice.  Some  years  ago  an  Egba  boy 
named  Ajai  (».  c.  "struggling  for  life") 
embraced  Christianity,  and,  after  many 
years  of  trial,  was   ordained  deacon    anil 

griest  in  the  Church  of  England.  Owing  to 
is  constitution  he  was  enabled  to  work 
where  a  white  man  would  have  been  pros- 
trated by  disease  ;  and,  owing  to  his  origin, 
he  was  enabled  to  understand  the  peculiar 
temperament  of  his  fellow  negroes  better 
than  any  white  man  could  hope  to  do.  His 
influence  gradually  extended,  and  he  was 
held  in  the  highest  esteem  throughout  the 
whole  of  Western  Africa.  His  widely  felt 
influence  waa  at  last  so  thoroughly  recog- 
nized, that  he  was  consecrated  to  tlie  epis- 
copal office,  and  now  the  negro  boy  Ajai  is 
known  as  the  Right  Rev.  Samuel  Crow- 
ther,  D.  D.,  Lord  Bishop  of  the  Niger. 

As  far  a.s  their  persons  go,  the  Egbas  are 
a  fine  race  of  men,  varying  much  in  color 
according  to  the  particular  locality  which 
they  inhabit  The  skin,  for  example,  of  the 
Egba-do,  or  lower  Egba,  is  of  a  coppery 
black,  and  that  of  the  chiefs  is,  as  a  rule, 
fairer  than  that  of  the  common  people. 
Even  the  hair  of  the  chiefs  is  lighter  than 
that  of  tlio  common  folk,  and  sometimes 
assumes  a.  decidedly  sandy  hue. 


(5S0) 


THE  TRIBAL   MARK 


pares  t  to  shagreen,  and  says  that  the  hand 
fowl  ^^'^  "''*'    *''''  ^•'*'*  °^  » 

As  to  the  dress  of  the  Epbas,  when  un- 
contaminated  by  pseudo-civilization,  it  is  as 
easily  described  as  procured.  A  poor  man 
has  nothing  but  a  piece  of  cloth  round  his 
waist,  while  a  man  in  rather  better  circum- 
stances adds  a  pail-  of  short  linen  drawers  or 
trousers,  called  "shogo,"  and  a  wealthy  man 
wears  both  the  loin  cloth  and  the  drawers 
and  adds  to  them  a  large  cloth  wrapped 
gracefully  round  the  waist,  and  anotiier 
draped  over  the  shoulders  like  a  Scotch 
l!n'„\  .^''';,<^'«ths  are  dyed  by  the  makers, 
blue  being  the  usual  color,  and  the  patterns 

wid"fi  "^  ^^"'"'^  "*'  ''^^^°'"  °^  greater 

Women  have  ffcnerallv  a  short  and  scanty 

petticoat,  above  -vh.ch  is  a  large  cloth  that 

extends  from  th,.  waist  downward,  and  a 

third  which  is  wrapped  shawl-wise  over  the 

s^ioulders.    The  „„„  and  women  who  care 

much  about  dress  dye  their  hands  and  feet 

,Ti5  ""f  '™'"'-   Formerly,  this  warlike  race 

used    to  arm    themselves  with  bows   and 

arrows,  which  have  now  been  almost  wholly 

superseded  by  the  "  trade  gun."    Even  now 

every  man  carries  in  his  hand  the  universal 

club  or  knob-kerrie,  which,  among  the  E^! 

«f^l  h  *"!,"  '"?',""«'l  "ito  a  simple  hooke^d 
stick  bound  with  ir.ni  wire  in  order  to 
Srf  *!?  f*'"''"Sth  and  weight,  and 
studded  with   heavy  nails  along  the  eon 

n!V"l'-T.y*=^P°"«  of  ^  «i'"ilar"nature  a?c 
death.  '°"'°  *'*''■  "'"^*''"S  criminals  [o 

According  to  savage  ideas  of  beauty,  these 
ho^^h  *  r  *°°  ">? "'delves  profusely,  coveS 
their  bodies  with  marks  which  must  at  some 
time  have  been  produced  by  very  nainftil 
operations,  and  wliich,  from  their  J^iv-ershv 
serve  to  perplex  observers  who  have  not 
di?fy  ^h^";  "-"  -inutely/a^dt 

diminutive  prick  to  thereat  c^i'T,  It 
large  boil-liL  lumps.    tTict  aff^^  id  ".riJus 

uf'n'rl.^Xrc^'  '^'"f  ^"-^^  and  the  Cor! 
ri^hMh,^.  ''''^  ,'/""''''"^"«  Circles,  lozenges 

pSfn'lhlen'cS"'^''  -dicinCn/To  £! 

ar^^eiliS-a^I'^i^S^^^JitriJ., 

nite  d.vcrsidcations  may  be  compared  w^^^^^ 
the  lines  and  ordinaries  of  European  her 
a  dry.    A  volume  would  not  suffice  ?o  ox" 
£"  »"  tie  marks  in  det,.il.    Ogubonna^; 

I'lhree  tbacua!'  ^'"'"^'  ''""^'^'^^  -''^ 
"The  chief  are  as  follows: —  The  distin- 


891 

guishing  mark  of  the  Egbas  is  a  gridiron  of 
t^rce  cuts  or  a  multiplfcation  of  three  on 
fwJowh"''-  Ff^c-born  women  have  ^ne" 
two,  or  three  raised  lines,  thread-like  scars 

down   the  dorsal    region,  like  long  neck- 

S:'  ^^'^  '''^^  '^'''  '^»"««  ™y  h"8- 

"  The  Yorubas  draw  perpendicular  marks 
w   h  slight  lateral  incisions,  hardly  percept 

Pfln'^^'fT'^  "I'^'^^'l  «««n  to  heaf  The 
Hmo»  h*-  ^"''"P^l^  jvear  a  blue  patch,  some- 
times  highly  developed,  from  the  cheek- 
bones to  he  ear.  'rhe'  Takpas  of  Kfe 
make  one  long  cut  from  the  upper  part  of 
the  nostril,  sweeping  toward  tile  ear  At 
Ijasha,  a  country  lying  east  of  Yoruba 
proper,  the  tattoo  is  a  long  parallelogram 
lines':"'"  P'^^'P^'^^'cular  antf  fiVe  transverse 

The  most  curious  tattoo  is  that  of  the 
Breechec  (,.  e.  gentleman),  or  eldest  son  and 
heir     He  18  not  allowed  to  perform  any 

Boforn    L  ii    "^'Y'^''  '"^?''  ^"''  children, 
liefore  the  Breechee  attains  full  a<'e  a  slit 

dr^nV^"™''  h'f  forehead,  and  th"e  skin  S 
drawn  down  and  laid  across  the  brow,  so  as 
to  form  a  ridge  of  hard,  knotty  flesh  from 
one  tenlple  to  the  other.  The  severity  offi 
operation  is  so  great  that  even  the  necrro 
often  dies  from  its  effects;  but  when  he  sur, 
vives  he  IS  greatly  admired,  the  unsightly 
ridge  being  looked  upon  as  a  proof  of  hi» 
future  wealth  and  liis  actual  strength  of  con! 
scitution. 

So  minutely  does  the  African  mind  descend 
to  dotail,  that  even  the  ornaments  which 
are  worn  have  some  signification  well  un, 
derstood  by  those  who  use  them.  Rin-s  ol 
metal  are  worn  on  the  legs,  ankles  .irms 
wrists,  fingers,  and  toes ;" and  round Te' 
neck  and  on  the  body  arc  hung  strings 
of  beads  and  other  ornaments.    Each  of 

rloffv  ,.T""'*"17'^  signifies  the  particular 
deity  whom  the  wearer  thinks  fit  to  wor- 
ship; and  although  the  number  of  these 
deities  ,s  very  great,  the  invention  of  the 
negro  has  been  found  equal  to  representing 
wea'r  various  ornaments  which  he 

The  same  minuteness  is  found  in  the  or- 
dinary affairs  of  life;  and,  even  in  the  regu- 
lai  mode  of  uttering  a  salutation,  the  na- 


t!„„I,i.  •  '"^^"^V "o  "•  salutation,  tiie  na- 
tives have  invented  a  vast  number  of  minutiro. 
J*  or  example,  it  would  be  the  depth  of  bad 
manners  to  salute  a  man  when  sitting  as  if 
he  were  standing,  or  the  latter  as  if  he? were 
walking,  or  a  third  as  if  he  were  re  nrnin" 
from  walking.  Should  he  be  at  work,  an*! 
other  form  of  address  is  needed,  and  another 
if  he  should  be  tired.  No  less  than  fifteen 
W  n  "5  personal  salutation  are  mentioned 
l>y  Captain  Burton,  so  that  th"  re.ns'-r  niav 
easily  imagine  how  troublesome  t'he  Ian- 
guage  is  to  a  stranger. 


592 


THE  EGBAS. 


Tlien  the  forms  of  salutation  differ  as 
mudi  as  tho  words.  If  an  inferior  meet  a 
superior,  a  son  muet  his  mother,  a  younger 
brother  meet  his  elder,  and  so  on,  an  elabo- 
rate ceremony  is  performed.  Any  burden 
that  may  bo  carried  is  ulaced  on  the  ground, 
and  the  bearer  procecas  first  to  kneel  on  all 
fours,  then  to  iirostratc  hnnself  Hat  in  the 
dust,  rubbing  tho  earth  with  tho  forehead 
and  each  cheek  alternately.  The  next  i)ro- 
ecsa  is  to  kiss  the  ground,  and  this  ceremony 
is  followed  by  passing  each  hand  down  tho 
opposite  .inn.  The  dust  is  again  kissed, 
and  not  until  then  does  the  saluter  resume 
his  feet. 

This  salutation  is  only  performed  once 
daily  to  the  same  person;  but  as  almost 
every  one  knows  every  one  whom  ho  meets, 
and  as  one  of  them  must  of  necessity  be  in- 
ferior to  the  other,  a  vast  amount  of  saluta- 
tion Ik-is  to  bo  got  through  in  tho  course  of 
a  day.  Tutting  together  the  time  occupied 
in  the  various  salutations,  it  is  calculated 
that  at  least  an  hour  is  consumed  by  every 
Egba  in  rendering  or  receiving  homage. 
Sometimes  two  men  meet  who  aro  nearly 
equal,  and  in  such  a  case  both  squat  on  the 
ground,  and  snap  their  fingers  accordiijg  to 
the  etiquette  of  Western  Africa. 

The  architecture  of  the  Egba  tribe  is 
mostly  confined  to  "  swish "  walls  and 
thatched  roofs.  A  vast  number  of  workers, 
>—  or  rather  idlers  —  aro  engaged  on  a  single 
house,  and  the  subdivision  of  labor  is  car- 
ried out  to  an  extreme  extent.  Indeed,  as 
Captain  Burton  quaintly  remarks,  the  Egbas 
divide  tho  labor  so  muc^i  that  the  remainder 
is  inii)erocptible. 

Some  of  them  dig  the  clay,  forming  thereby 
deep  pits,  which  they  never  trouble  them- 
selves to  fill  up  again,  and  which  become 
the  receptiiclos  of  all  sorts  of  fllth  and  offal. 
Water,  in  this  wet  country,  soon  pours  into 
them,  and  sometimes  the  corpse  of  a  slave 
or  child  is  flung  into  tho  nearest  pit,  to  save 
the  trouble  of  burial.  It  may  easily  be 
imagined  that  such  pits  contribute  their 
part  to  the  fever-breeding  atmosphere  of 
the  country. 

Another  gang  is  employed  in  kneading 
clay  and  rolling  it  into  balls;  and  a  third 
carries  it,  one  ball  at  a  time,  to  the  builders. 
Another  gang  puts  tho  clay  balls  into  the 
squared  shape  needful  for  architectural  pur- 
poses; and  a  fifth  hands  the  shaped  clay  to 
the  sixth,  who  are  the  actual  architects. 
Yet  a  seventh  gang  occupies  itself  in  pre- 
paring palm  leaves  and  thatch;  and  those 
who  fasten  them  on  tho  roof  form  an  eighth 
gang.  Besides  these,  there  is  the  chief  ar- 
chitect, who  by  his  plumb-line  .and  level 
rectifies  and  smooths  the  -walls  with  a  broad 
wooden  shovel,  and  sees  that  they  are  per- 
fectly upright. 

Three  successive  layers  of  clay  or  "  swish  " 
are  needed,  each  layer  being  .ijlowed  to  dry 
for  a  few  days  before  the  next  is  added.    The 


builders  always  manage,  if  possible,  to  com. 
pleto  their  walls  bv  November,  so  that 
tho  dry  harmattan  of  December  may  con- 
solidate tho  soft  clay,  and  render  it  as  hard 
aa  concrete.  This,  indeed,  is  tho  only  rea- 
son why  tho  Egbiw  ajjprove  of  the  liarmat- 
tan.  Its  cold,  dusty  breath  being  exceedingly 
injurious  to  native  constitutions. 

One  might  have  thought  that  this  elabo- 
rate subdivision  of  labor  would  have  tho 
clleet  of  multiplying  the  working  power! 
as  IS  the  case  in  Euroi)e.  So  it  would,  if  tho 
negro  worked  like  the  European,  but  that 
he  never  did,  and  never  will  do.  unless  ab- 
solutely compelled  by  a  master  of  European 
extraction.  He  only  subdivides  labor  in 
order  to  spare  himself,  and  not  with  tho 
least  idea  of  increasing  the  amount  of  work 
that  he  can  do  in  a  given  time. 

Tho  capital  of  ihe  Egbas  and  their  kin- 
dred sub-tribes  is  called  Abeokula,  a  namo 
that  has  already  become  somewhat  familiar 
to  English  ears  on  account  of  the  attempts 
which  have  been  made  to  introduce  Chris- 
tianity, civilization,  and  manufactures  among 
a  pagan,  savage,  and  idle  race  of  negroes. 
The  name  of  Abeokuta  may  be  literally 
translated  as  Understone,  and  the  title  has 
been  given  to  the  idace  in  allusion  to  the 
rock  or  stone  around  which  it  is  built.  The 
best  description  that  has  yet  been  given  of 
Abeokuta  is  by  Captain  Burton,  from  whoso 
writings  the  following  particulars  are  gath- 
ered. 

The  city  itself  is  surrounded  with  con- 
centric lines  of  fortification,  the  outermost 
being  some  twenty  miles  in  circumference. 
These  walls  are  made  of  hardened  mud,  aro 
about  five  or  six  feet  in  height,  and  have  no 
embi-asurcs  for  guns,  an  omission  of  very 
little  importance,  .seeing  that  there  are 
scarcely  any  guns  to  jjlace  in  Ihem,  and 
that,  if  they  were  fired,  the  defenders  would 
bo  in  much  greater  danger  than  the  attack- 
ing force. 

Utterly  ignorant  of  the  first  princiides  of 
fortification,  the  Egbas  have  not  troubled 
themselves  to  throw  out  bastions,  or  to  take 
any  means  of  securing  a  flanking  fire,  and 
they  have  made  so  liberal  a  use  of  matting, 
poles,  and  dry  leaves  within  the  fortifica- 
tion, that  a  ciircass  or  a  rocket  would  set 
the  whole  place  in  a  blaze;  and,  if  the  at- 
tacking force  were  to  take  advantage  of  the 
direction  of  the  wind,  they  might  easily  drive 
out  the  defenders  merely  by  the  smoke  and 
flames  of  their  own  burning  houses.  More- 
over tho  w.all  is  of  such  frail  material,  .and  so 
thinly  built,  that  a  single  bag  of  jjowder  hung 
against  it,  and  fired,  would  make  a  breacli 
that  would  admit  a  column  of  soldiers  to- 
gether with  their  field-guns.  Around  the 
inner  and  principal  wall  runs  a  moat  some 
five  feet  in  breadth,  partly  wet  and  partly 
dry,  and  of  so  insignificant  a  depth  that  It 
could  be  filled  uj)  with  a  few  fascines,  or 
even  with  a  dozen  or  so  of  dead  bodies. 


Tho8o  defenceB,  ludicrously  inefficient  as 
they  would  bo  if  attacked  by  European  sol- 
diers,  are  very  forniidablo  obstacles  to  the 
Dalioinan  and  Ibadan,  against  wlioso  in- 
roads  tlioy  are  cluully  built.  As  a  ride  the 
negro  has  a  great  horror  of  attacking  a  wail 
and  as  has  been  proved  by  actual  conllict,' 
tl  0  Dalionians  could  make  no  impression 
whatever  upon  tliese  rude  (brtiflcations. 

1  he  real   strength  of  the  city,  however, 
lies  m  the  interior,  and  belongs  to  the  rock 
or  "stone  "which  gives  the  name  to  Abeo- 
kutii.    AVithin  the  walls,  tlio  place  is  broken 
up  into   granite    eminences,  caverns,  and 
lyrcst  clumps,  wliich  form  natural  fortiilca- 
tiona,  iiidnitely  superior  to  those  formed  bv 
the  unskilful  hands  of  the  native  engineer 
indeed,  the  selection  of  the  spot  seems  to 
have    been    the  only   noint  in   which   tlie 
1-gbas  have  exhibited  the  least  appreciation 
of  the  art  of  warfare.     The  mode  of  fi.rht- 
ing  will  presently  be  described. 
.    I  he  city  itself  measures  sumo  four  miles 
111  length  by  two  in  breadth,  and  is  enteml 
IJJT  ''"■««  ,K«l«3,  at  each   of   which  is 
laced  a  warder,  who  watches   those  who 
pass  Ins  gate,  and  exacts  a  toll  from  each 
passenger.     The  streets   of  Abeokuta  are 
narrow,  winding,  and  intricate,  a  mode  of 
hmldmg    which    would    aid   mater" Ulv   in 
checking  the  advance  of  an  enemy  wo  ha 
managed   to   pass  tlie  outer   walk    TI  tc 
are  several  small  inarket-,,laccs   here     nd 
there,  and  one  of  them  is  larger  tha^i       e 
•OS  ,  and  called  "Shek-pon,"  F.  e.  "D„  to 
bachelors  good,"  because  on  every  fifth  dav 
when  the  markets  are  held,  there  i.s  a  great 

nnii  plenty  of   persons  who  will  fdl   their 
|.>.l.es,  bring   them  drink,   and  coik    llleir 

ibcokuH  "ti?'  *"?  "?  ''"■■'''  ""Pressions  of 
-locoKuta.     lliu  streets  are  as  narrow  ■im] 

S"i;:^  '1'"^''  •'f  ^^'>^--  iuKct  g 

each    other    at  every  i)aia  lel   nn-'le    -mrr 
>  broad  and  shady,  we  inav  be  sure  t hat' 

'-^ve  been,  or  tlmt  they  will  be  niarkets 

a. .  found  even  under  the  eaves  of  the 

Ihc  sun,  the  vulture,  and  the  pier 

-  <'i<ly  .scavengers.  '  ° 

Sell's  s^i;i«s'S,jius: 

"There  are  courts  within  court.,  fn,  ^^.,. 
vanous  subdivision,  of  the  poJ'^noS  fem!| 


DESCRIPTION  OP  ABEOKUTA. 


m 

&,"''  te  -''*'  '^^?  "P*'  S""'"  nro  staked 
uown.     rhe  sexes  eat  alone;  every  wife  is 

mo  e^'uS'Ti    '^"".^''lucntly  'there\s   IJtt lo 
Zii    *i     '^.  "'""  '"  »  nunnery.    In   each 

ntemed'I''  "r""/ «°'"''  *''^»''"1  ""-^c'^oa 
ntended  as  a  storehouse.     Into  these  cen 

wide'C^/';;-"  '""?"^  "''«'•«'  ^^^-^trZ"ro!l 

wiUe,  open   through  a  veranda  or  piazza 
w  ere,  chimneys  being  unknown,  the  1  re  fs 

spiead  under  the  piazza,  or  in  the  rooms  -la 
the  fancy  takes  them.  Cooking  alsoTn'ef 
ormed  m  the  open  air,  as  the  coaise  eartC 
pots  scattered  over  th^  surface  prove  "'^'''' 
,,„   V  °-  ™"  "■*'  ^^'"^"'i  number  from  ten  to 

posely^  'k"e»t'S"r  T"''«^'-«  and "ur? 
pustiy  Kept  dark,  to  keep  out  the  sun's 
glare;  tliey  vary  from  ten  to  llfteen  feet    n 

Thf  kirni'  u?:'"^  '''■''' .'"  '^'g'' 'in  breadt  u 
-ine  turniturc  is  simp  e  — rude  cots  -in.l 
settles,  caWhcn  pots  aiu\  coarse  platens  ^S 

riably  wea nons,  especially  an  old  musket 
.^  d  its  leatliern  case  for  amniunitio,  So 
lumber  of  inhabitants  may  vary  from  ten 

largest,  llu-rc  is  generally  but  one  sin.'lo 
ivifr"it/"    '  ''"'*''  ^^''^'^  «-'»'™  suspenlTod 

bem?*;  !^"i^'!'"^  strength  of  Abeokuta  lias 
been  tested  by  actual  warfare,  and  has  been 
found  to  be  quite  adequate  o  repel  nat'vo 
troops.  Generally,  an  African  iigit  consists 
of  a  vas  amount  of  noise  atltmdcd  bT  a 
verj- small  amount  of  slaughter,  but  in  tho 

n-cnngs  01  ootli  i)arties  annear  to  b-ivo  ).o<.r, 
•so  conjpletely  excited  tha't'th^  .laughter  oS 
both  sides  was  really  consi.lerablc.  ^  ^"^ 

.staiuiing    grudge    against    the    other     nml 

K""VHelf  f ^  f-    ''^'"'^   the  fath'er'o 
nZZ  n  ',  '"*,''  ''^'^"  d..feated  ignomini- 

stool^  H,"*  A'r°^"^>  "»•>  '''-"l  even  lost  his 
stool,  the  emblem  of  sovereignty.    Burning 

'Senc{s"fwth";;"-^''-'T"l  ^••'^  I>='b^"^.'^n"S 
snv^i  ,        "  ^'"^  inhabitants  of  I.^hogga.  a 

as  to  .;^*'"<"^"'\'  '''•'*  ■•"'^'■«''<1  "'eir  guests 
tn  .H    1^  P^rt'?"''-"-  snte  which  it  was  best 

voul    ^  *''"  ^\T.''^  ''"^  ^^''^n  «"  '-is^ault 

bv  w  in.?  /i""'^  ''^"^  '"  ^"'-•''''♦''l'  «nd  a  ford 
t>y  winch  they  could  jjass  the  river. 

^ncj  made  tho  attack  at  mid-dav  when 
they  were  told  that  every  one  v,  nil  be 
asleep  or  at  work  in  the  gardens  which  are 
cl  r' An  J  <* --i«|--able'distance  from  t'he 
H./".,f  r.  'j*""  ^}'^y  '^"'"e  to  the  walls  of 
the  city  they  found  tho  defcndons  all  on  the 
alert,  and  ready  to  give  them  a  warm  recen? 
tion.  Lastly,  the^y^attacked  a  gate  wh  ch 
had  been  lately  fortified,  wherefus  another 
on  tlio  oppoBifo  side  of  the  town,  was  v erv 
weak,  and  might  have  been  taken  oa^i? 


S04 


THE  EGnAS. 


Consequently,  thoy  had  to  return  to  thoir 
own  country,  vowing  vongenucc  nijainst 
tlicir  troachprous  allies. 

After  Oezo's  death,  Oclelo  took  up  the 
feud,  and,  atter  allaying  nuxnieion  by  con- 
tinually proclaiming  war  against  the  Kghas, 
ond  OS  invariably  stnying  at  honic,  in  the 
tenth  year  he  followed  up  Ills  threat  with  a 
rapid  attack  upon  Ishogga.  carried  off  a  great 
number  of  prisoners,  and  killed  those  whom 
he  could  not  conveniently  take  away. 

Flushed  by  success,  he  determitu'd  to 
assemble  a  large  force  and  attack  the  cai)i- 
tal  itself  In  March.  1851,  sonii;  tiHeen  or 
Bixfcen  thousand  Dahoman  soldiers  march(>d 
against  Abeokuta,  and  a  lieree  tight  ensued, 
the  result  being  that  the  Dahonmns  had  to 
retreat,  leaving  behind  them  some  two  thou- 
sand killed,  and  wounded,  and  prisoners. 
As  might  be  stiitposed,  the  Amazons,  being 
the  fiercest  fighters,  snfrered  most,  while  the 
loss  on  the  Kgban  side  was  comparatively 
trifling.  Ten  years  afterward,  nnodicr  ex- 
pedition marched  against  Abeokuta,  but 
never  reached  it,  small-pox  having  broken 
out  in  the  ranks,  and  frightened  the  soldiers 
home  again. 

The  last  attack  was  fatnl  to  Dahoman 
ambition.  The  Egbas,  exiiecting  their  foe. 
had  arranged  for  their  reception,  and  had 
driven  tunnels  through  tlieir  walls,  so  that 
they  could  make  unexpected  sallies  on  the 
enemy.  When  the  Dahoman  army  np- 
peared,  all  the  Egban  soldiers  were  at  their 
posts,  the  women  being  fold  off  to  tarrj' 
food  and  drink  to  the  soldiers,  while  some 
of  them  seized  swords,  and  insisted  on 
doing  duty  at  the  walls.  A  sketch  of  this 
last  fight  is  given  on  the  next  page. 

As  soon   as  the   invaders   approached,  n 
strong  sally  was  made,  l)ut,  as  the  Daho- 
mans  marched  on  without  returning    the 
fire,  the  Egbas  dashed  back  again  and  joined 
their  comrades  on  the  walls.    Presently,  a 
Dahoman    cannon   was  fired,  dismounting 
itself  by  (he  force  of  its  recoil,  so  as  to  be 
of  no  further  use,  and  its  report  was  fol- 
wwed  by  an  impetuous  rush  at  the  walls. 
Had  the  Dahomans  only  thought  of  making 
a  breach,  or  even  of  filling  up  the  tiny  moat, 
they  might  have  had  a  chance  of  success, 
but  as  it  was  they  had  none.    The  soldiers, 
especially  the  Amazons,  struggled  gallantly 
for  some  time;  and,  if  individual  valor  could 
have  taken  the  town,  they  would  have  done 
so.    But  they  were  badly  commanded,  the 
officers    lost    heart,  and    even  though   the 
soldiers  vere   scaling    the  walls,   creeping 
through  the  tunnels,  and  fighting  bravely  at 
the  very  muzzles  of  th,^  enemy's  guns,  they 
gave  the  order  for  retreat. 

Just  at -that  time,  a  large  body  of  Egbas. 
which  had.  made  unseen  a  wide  circuit,  fell 
upon  them  in  the  rear,  and  completed  the 
rout.  All  fled  without  order,  except  the 
division  which  Gelelo  himself  w.is  com- 
manding,  and    which    retire*!    with    some 


show  of  discipline,  turning  and  firing  on 
their  a«lverRnries,  wUcn  prinscd  too  closely, 
and  indeed  showing  what  they  could  have 
ilono  if  their  officers  had  known  their  busi- 
ness. 

The  Dahomans  lost  everything  tliat  (hey 
had  taken  with  them,  their  brass  guns,  a 
great  number  of  new  muskets,  and  other 
weapons  falling  into  the  hands  of  (ho 
enemy.  Hesides  these,  the  king  himself 
was  obliged  to  abandon  a  nund)er  of  bis 
wives  and  daugliters,  his  horse,  his  precious 
sandals  with  th<>ir  golden  crosses,  his  ward- 
robe, his  rriages  of  which  he  was  so 
proud,  his  provisions,  and  his  treasures  of 
coral  and  velvet.  It  was  caleulated  that 
some  four  or  five  thousand  Dahomans  'verc 
killed  in  this  disastrous  batde,  while  some 
fUHeen  hundred  i)risoncrs  were  captured; 
the  Egbas  only  losing  forty  killed,  and  .nbout 
one  hundred  wounded.  True  to  their  savage 
nature,  the  J:gbas  cut  the  corpses  of  the 
dead  to  pieces,  and  even  the  wonun  who 
passed  l)y  the  body  of  a  Dahoman  soldier 
slashed  it  with  a  knife,  or  peKed  it  with 
stones. 

It  has  been  fliought  that  the  Abeokutas 
are  comparatively  guiltless  in  blood-shed- 
ding, but  it  is  now  known  that  in  this 
respect  there  is  really  very  little  (lillerenco 
between  the  three  fereat  nations  of  Western 
Africa,  except  that  the  destruction  of  human 
life  is  less  at  Abeokuta  than  at  Agbome,  and 
perhaps  that  the  Egbas  are  more  i<ticent  on 
♦•'■■  wliject  than  the  Ashantis  or  Dahomans. 


the  sul^ 

Even  in  Abeokuta  itself,  which  has  been 
supposed  to  be  under  the  influence  of  Chris- 
tianity, an  annual  human  sacrifice  takes 
place,  and  the  same  ceremony  is  performed  in 
other  parts  of  the  kingdom.  As  in  Agbome, 
when  a  human  siieridce  is  oflered,  it  is  with 
the  intention  of  otVering  to  the  dead  that 
which  is  most  valuable  to  the  living.  Tlio 
victim  is  enriched  with  cowries,  and  plied 
witli  mm  until  he  is  quite  intoxicated,  and 
(hen,  alter  being  charged  wi(h  all  sorts  of 
messages  to  the  spirits  of  the  dead,  he  is 
solemnly  decapitated.  Victims  are  sacri- 
ficed when  great  men  die,  and  are  siip])osed 
to  be  sent  to  the  dead  man  as  his  attendants 
in  the  spirit  world. 

As  (o  (he  religion  and  superstitions  of  (be 
Egbivs,  they  are  so  exactly  like  those  of  other 
Western  Africans  that  there  is  little  need  to 
mention  them.  It  only  remains  to  describe 
the  n-markable  system  called  "Ogboni." 
The  Ogboni  are  a  society  of  enormous 
power,  which  has  been  compared,  l)ut  erro- 
neously, to  freem.asonry.  Any  one  who  is 
acquainted  with  the  leading  *princij)leH  of 
ft-eemasonry,  and  has  studied  the  mental 
condition  of  the  Egbas,  or  indeed  any  o.'ber 
West  African  tribe,  must  see  that  "such  a 
parallel  is  ludicrously  wrong.  In  freema- 
sonry there  are  two  leading  i)rinci|)les,  the 
one  being  the  unity  of  the  Creator,  and  the 
second  the  fellowsliip  of  man.    Now,  ,is  the 


(1.)    IIKAII    WOHHJIJI'. 

(Si'o  pa;fo  fw?.) 


(2.)    THK   ATTACK   ON   ABKOKUTA. 

iScc  (mn^c  r)!>l.) 

(695  ^ 


ni 


cli 
in 
in 
re 
lit 
nil 
to  I 

wl 
Tl 
at( 
a  r 
tlu 
ov< 
inn 
po.' 
the 
fat! 
we 
ovc 
1 
Esl 
tlic 

fiiir 

goil 

OCCi 

Will 
the, 


THE  OOBONI. 


EgbuH  bcliovo  in  miniltcrlfiw  goiU,  and  hnvp 
thc!  stroii^citt  intoristit  in  hIhvu ry,  it  in  evid.-iit 
Uut  tlioy  t'luiiiDt  Imv.)  iiivciilcd  a  MVHtt-m 
wlucli  iM  (Imiuetrically  opposod  to  both  tlu'm- 

tc'IK'tM. 

Tilt!  Hvstom  of  O^boiii  ift  partly  politlcnl 
ami  partly  religioiiM.  It  may  bo  entered 
by  a  niilvod  boy  of  ten  years  old,  pro- 
vided  that  he  be  a  free-born  K;;bti  and  of 
Rood  n-piUe.  The  fraternity  extc-nds  itHelf 
throii^^hout  the  whole  of  the  country  oceu 

lliorl    Uv    Hi.,     l-\rl...u ■'..... 


007 


there  is  a  hut  or  loi  „„ 

the  use  of  the  society.  The  forni  of  this 
lodfje  varies  8li«htiy,  liut  tlie  general  fea- 
tures are  the  same  in  all.  "  It  is  a  lon«  low 
buildin;r,  only  t,,  ),u  distinguished   by  tin 


V,  >■'  r\'f'"*  ^ '".•;*•■  "'«  f*""*"*'  Ovisha,  in  the 
ch  et  .,f  lujui.  His  sacred  emblem  or  svni- 
M)I  is  I,  ship,und  it  was  ho  who  created  the 
first  man. 

The  luixt  In  order  is  Shango,  who  in  ovN 
dently  an  example  of  an  apotheosis,  as  he 
has  the  attributes  ..f  Vulcan,  Hercules, 
rubal  Cain,  and  Jupiter  Toiuuis,  and  is 
mu<l  t()  hav<!  a  palace  of  brass,  and  ten  thou- 
sand  horses.  He  presides  over  lightning 
and  l^re,  and,  if  thunder  strik.ts  a  hous(s  his 


'^''' ^' ^'^  ""«™rs^s  i:ii:s^^^ 


ni)sonce  of  iounj<ers,  fronted  by  a  deep  and 
shady  verandii,  witli  stumpy  polygonal  clay 
jallars,  and  a  sin)j;le  door,  caretully  closed, 
riii!  panils  are  adorufd  with  iron  alto-re- 
lievos of  ultra-Egyptian  form;  snakes,  hawk- 
heailed  (1,'ures,  anil  armed  liorsemen  in  full 
front,  ridiu}?  what  are  intendiMl  to  be  horses 
ill  profile;  the  whole  colored  red,  black,  and 
vellow.  The  temples  of  Obatala  are  simi- 
larly decorated. 

"The  doors  have  distinct  panels,  upon 
winch  are  seen  a  leopard,  a  (Ish,  a  serpent, 
nnd  a  land  tortoise.  Mr.  Heaven  remarks 
mat  one  of  the  carvinj,'-.  was  a  fein:ilt!  (i.'iire. 
with  (Hie  haiiil  and  one  foot.  probal)Iv  a  half 
Olmtiilii,  or  the  female  princmle  of  Xaturc 
and  (he  monster  was  remarkable  for  havin-r 
a  (|ueue  of  very  long  hair,  with  a  ball  or 
yiolx!  iit   th(!  end. 

"  A  K(Mitleinan  who  had  an  ojiportunity  of 
ovorlookins  the  O^.boni  lod«e  fUm  the  Ake 
chuHh  steepl..  described  it  as  a lioUow  build- 
nj;  will,  three  courts,  of  which  the  inner- 
most, provided  with  a  sinijle  door,  was  that 
JVHeryed  for  th„  eWers,  the  holy 'of",  os 
1  ke  the  Ivadasta  Kadastan  of  tlfe  Abyssini: 
aiis.  He  cousi.lers  that  the  courts  are  in- 
tended for  the  dilferont  dcrees 

whJlllih'.ii"!"'''"  '"'"''  l'""»'7'"-.  l>c  careful 
iiie  Key.  W.  Heaven  asserts  that  the  initi- 
ate are  compelled  to  kneel  down  and  dri  k 
a  mixture  of  l,lood  and  water  from  ,1  .e 
the   earth.    The   Es,^b.x,  deny  th  s     More 
over  they  charj^e  Mr  Heaven  witi,  en.h^Ivor- 
mj?  to  worm  out  tlieir  secrets  ibr  the  i,ur 
pose  of   publication.    As  all  are  puSX    to 

The  miscollaneous  superstitions  of  the 
ghas  are  very  miscellaneous  in.leed.  Lke 
tl le  Dahonrms,  they  divide  their  deities  i^nto 

gods  ot  tlie  ancients,  and,  like  them  (Ii..v 
occasionally  deify  a  dead  ruler,  and  lass  hh> 
with  the  minor  ko.Is.    The  native  word  thr 


tiiinultuous  mob,  who  plunder  the  dwellfiiff 
eftectualy  Captain  Hurton  saw  one  of  the 
so  called  Shango  stones,  which  was  nothing 
bu  a  lump  of  white  quartz,  of  course  placed 
111  the  hut  by  thc  priest. 

His  symbol  Is  a  small  wooden  bat,  nnd  his 
worship,,ers  carry   a  leathern  bag,  because 
Mmngo   was   fond  of   predatory   wars      If 
war  impends,  his  priest  takes  sixteen  cow- 
ries, mid  llings  them  in  the  air,  and  those 
yhich    a  I  with  tlie  ojiening  downward  am 
thought  to  portend  war,  while  those  which 
have   the   opening    upward    signify   pence. 
1  be  last  of  the  great  three  is  Ipa,  apparently 
an  abstractive  rather  than  an  objective  deity 
He  IS  worshipped  by  a  select  society  called 
he  •'  Fathers  of  Secrets,"  into  which  none 
but  males  can  be  initiated.    His  chief  priest 
lives  on  a  mounlain  at  several  days^  dis- 
tance   from    Abeokuta,   and    close    by   liis 
dwelling  is  the  sacred   palm  tree  with  six- 
teen boughs  produced  by  the  nuts  planted 
i)y  the  sixteen  founders  of  the  empire     A 
second  priest  at  Abeokuta  is  called  the  Kinz 
of  the  Groove.  * 

The  emblem  of  Ipa  is  a  palm  nut  with 
lour  lioles,  and  these  nuts  are  used  in  divl- 
nation,  the  principle  being  something  like 
tlio  ni()de  of  casting  lots  with  cowries.  Cap- 
tain Uurton's  account  of  the  proceedin-'  is 
interesling.  "He  counted  sixteen  nuts, 
reed  them  from  dust,  and  placed  them  in  a 
Dow  on  tlie  ground,  ftill  of  yams  half-boiled. 
tTusbcd,  and  covered  with  some  acid  vegeta-^ 
bio  infusion.  ° 

"His  acolyte,  a  small  boy,  was  then  called 
and  made  to  squat  near  the  bowl,  restinc 
111  -  .)ody  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  feet,  which 
Were  turned  inward,  and  to  take  from  the 
fetish  man  two  or  three  bones,  seeds,  and 
•shells,  some  of  which  are  of  good,  others  of 
bad  omen.  Elevating  them,  he  rested  his 
hands  on  Ins  knees.  The  adept  cast  the 
nuts  from  one  hand  to  the  other,  retaining 
some  in  the  left  and,  while  manipulating, 
dropped  others  into  the  bowl.  He  then 
stooped  down,  drew  with  the  index  and 
medius  fingers  on  the  yams,  insjiected  the 
nuts  and  occasionally  referred  to  the  arti- 
cles m  the  boy's  hand." 

The  priests  of  Ipa  are  known  by  necklaces 
made  of  strings  of  be.a.ls  twisted  together 


thegr;.terg.,is()yisha,.:tiUewhir;^V;^!;:j;^^^ 

'  "'"  'i"'"''-'^  "'^^^^  "f  "'"«c  deities,  i  at  some  distance  qwt  "'"'''  ^'**^ 


6U8 


THE  EGBAS. 


Then  thorc  is  the  Ovisha  of  children,  one 
of  which  is  carried  about  by  women  wlio 
have  borne  twins  wlien  one  of  them  dies  or 
is  killed.  It  is  a  wooden  little  image,  about 
seven  or  eight  inches  in  height,  carved  into 
the  rude  semblance  of  hiimanitv.  The 
images  are  nearly  all  made  by  somi;  men  at 
Lagos,  who  charge  about  three  shillings  for 
each.  Beside  all  these  deities,  whicli  may 
be  rankjd  among  the  benelicent  class,  there 
are  evil  deities,  who  are  worshijiped  by  way 
of  projMtiation. 

Ne.xt  come  some  semi-human  deities,  who 
serve  as  the  correctors  of  public  morals. 
The  two  chief  of  these  deities  are  Egugun 
and  Oro.  The  former  is  supposed  to  lie  a 
sort  of  a  vampire,  being  a  dead  body  risen 
temporarily  from  the  grave,  and  acts  the 
.same  role  as  Munibo  Jumbo  in  another  part 
of  Western  Africa.  Egugun  makes  his 
appearance  in  the  villages,  and  very  much 
frightens  the  women,  who  either  actuallv 
believe  him  to  be  a  veritable  resuscitated 
corps(>,  or  who  assert  that  they  believe  it,  in 
fear  of  public  ojiinion.  The'  adult  males, 
and  even  the  fn'e-born  boys,  know  all  about 
Egugun,  as  is  likely,  'vhen  the  deity  in  ques- 
tion is  personated  by  any  one  who  can  bor- 
row the  recpiisite  dress  i'rom  the  fetish  man. 
Captain  Burton  once  met  Egugun  in  the 
street.  The  demon's  face  was  hidden  by  a 
plaited  network,  worn  like  a  mask,  and  on 
his  head  was  a  hood,  covered  with  streamers 
of  crimson  and  dirty  white,  which  hung 
down  to  his  waist  and  mingled  with  similar 
streamers  attached  to  his  dress.  He  Afore 
on  his  brea.«t  a  very  powerful  fetish,  i.  e.  a 
penny  mirror;  and  his  feet  were  vovered 
with  great  shoes,  because  Egugun  is  sup- 
posed (o  be  a  footless  deity. 

The  other  deity,  Oro,  has  a  wider  range 
of  duties,  his  business  being  to  attend  to 
public  morality.  He  mostly  remain.'  in  the 
woods,  and  In'it  seldom  makes  liis  ajipcar- 
ance  in  jiulilie.  Oro  has  a  verv  strong  voice, 
arising,  in  point  of  fact,  froni'a  thin  slip  of 
wood,  about  a  foot  in  length,  which  is  tied 
firmly  to  a  stick,  and  wliicli  produces  a  kind 
of  roaring  sound  when  jji-operly  handled. 

ire  is  supposed  to  be  r.i known  to  the 
women,  who  are  not  allowed  to  bo  out  of 
their  houses  whenever  the  voice  of  Oro  is 
heard.  Consequei'.iy,  about  seven  or  eight 
in  the  evening,  wlieii  the  well-known  boom- 
ing cry  of  Or.,  is  heard,  the  women  scuffle 
oir  to  tlieir  houses,  and  the  adult  males  go 
out  into  the  streets,  and  there  is  at  once  a 
scene  of  much  excitement.  Dances  and 
tumbling,  processions  and  speech-making, 
go  on  with  vast  vigor,  while  the  Ogboni 
lodges  are  filled  with  devotees,  all  anxious 
to  be  talking  at  onee.  and  every  one  giving 
his  own  opinion,  no  matter  how  absurd  it 
may  be. 

Those   who  have   been  guiltv   of  moral 
ofl'ences  .are  then  proclaimed  and  'lunislied: 


business  to  he  done  that  the  town  is  given 
up  to  Oro  for  an  entire  day.  On  these  occa- 
sions the  women  pass  a  very  unpleasant 
time,  their  hours  of  imprisonment  bein" 
usually  spent  in  quarrelling  with  cac'h  othen 
In  order  to  make  tlie  voice  of  Oro  more 
awful,  the  part  of  the  demon  is  played  by 
several  of  the  initiated,  who  go  iiito  the 
woods  in  various  directions,  and  bv  sound- 
ing their  wooden  calls  at  the  sanie  time 
carry  the  idea  that  Oro  is  omnii)resent. 

Oro  does  really  act  as  a  censor  of  jtublie 
morals,  and  it  is  very  clear  that  he  is  at- 
tended by  armed  Ibllowers,  who  carry  out  a 
sort  of  rude  and  extemporized  justice,  like 
that  which  was  exercised  by  the  "  Kegula- 
tors"  of  America,  some  lifty  or  sixty  years 
ago.  The  bodies  of  delinquents  have  been 
found  in  the  bush,  their  throats  cut  and 
their  legs  broken  by  the  spirit  in  question. 

The  chief,  or  king,  of  the  Egbas,  is  known 
by  the  name  of  Alake,  which  is  a  transmissi- 
ble title,  like  I'haraoh  or  C'lesar,  and  the 
whole  system  of  government  is  a  kind  of 
feudal  monarchy,  not  unlike  that  of  Eng- 
land in  the  days  of  John.  The  Alake  does 
not  reign  supreme,  like  the  King  of  T)ahome 
or  Ashanti,  before' whom  the  highest  in  tiie 
realm  prostrate  themselvc  s  and  loll  humbly 
in  the  dust.  lie  is  trammelled  with  a  num- 
ber of  councillors  and  officers,  and  witli  a 
sort  of  jiarliament  called  the  Bale,  which  is 
composed  of  the  headmen  or  chiefs  of  the 
various  (owns.  The  ri-ader  may  remember 
that  the  King  of  Ashanti  found' that  he  was 
in  danger  of  sult'ering  from  a  similai'  eoin- 
binalion.  and  lie  took  the  prudent  measure 
of  limiting  their  lunnber  while  he  had  the 
power.  The  Alake  has  never  done  so,  and 
in  conse(juence  those  who  arc  nominally 
and  individually  his  servants  are  practically 
and  collectively  his  masters. 

The  Ogboni  lodges  have  also  to  be  con- 
sulted in  !uiy  important  ))oint,  so  that  the 
jirivate  life  of  the  Alake  of  the  lyglias  is  far 
from  being  so  agreeable  as  that  of  the  King 
of  Dahoine. 

Okekunu,  the  Alakd  at  the  time  when 
ra]itain  Burton  lived  in  Abeokuta,  was  an 
ill-lavored,  petulant,  and  cunning  old  ruler. 
In  his  way,  he  was  fond  of  state,  and  de- 
lighted to  exhibit  his  so  called  power  in  a 
manner  truly  African,  displaying  an  equal 
amount  of  pageantry  and  trashiness. 

If  lie  goes  to  pay  a  visit-,  he  must  needs 
do  HO  under  a  huge  pink  silk  umbrella,  at 
th(^  end  of  a  motley  procession.  At  the 
head  is  carried  the  sacred  emblem  of  roy- 
altj-,  a  wooden  stool  covered  with  coarse  red 
serge,  which  is  surrounded  by  a  number  of 
chiefs,  who  pay  (he  greatest  attention  to  it. 
A  long  train  of  ragged  swordsmen  Ibllowed; 
and  last  came  the  A'akd,  cIo(hed  in  a 
"fJuinea  fowl"  shirt  —  a  spotted  article  of 
some  value  —  and  a  great  red  velv<'t  robe 
under  w!>.ieh  he  tottered   along  with   mn"h 


and  on  some  occasions  there  is  so  inucli !  difficulty.    He  wears  trousers  "of  good  pur 


PERSONAL  APPEARANCE. 


pie  velvet  with  a  stripe  of  gold  tinsel,  anrl 
on  Ins  let  are  hw^c  .s]ii)i)ers,  edged  with 
monkey  skin.  On  liis  head  ho  wears  a  sort 
ot  fez  cap  of  erimson  velvet,  the  effect  of 
winch  IS  rumod  by  a  number  of  blue  heads 
lulnglr^l^'c>-^vise  round  the  toj).  The  strin<r 
ot  red  coral  beads  liaii;j;s  round  the  neck 
and  a  double  bracelet  of  the  same  material 
IS  wound  upon  each  wrist.  A  view  of  iiim 
and  his  court  may  bo  found  on  the  COJth 
page. 

"When  ho  receives  a  visitor,  ho  displays 
his  graiuleiir  by  nmking  his  visitors  wait  fm 
a  time  pmportioiiate  to  their  rank,  but  in 
case  they  should  l)e  of  great  consequence 
he  allevKifes  (lie  tediousiu'ss  of  the  time  bv 
sending  llu-iu  rum  and  gin,  both  of  the  very 
worst  (lualitv;  and.  if  thev  be  of  exception- 
ally high  rank,  he  will  send  a  bottle  of  liq- 
uors,  I.  e.  si)h-its  of  wine  and  water,  well 
sweetened,  and  llavorcd  with  a  few  drops  of 
essential  oil. 

To  a  stranger,  the  place  presents  a  mean 
and  ugly  api)earaiic<\  and  as,  Captain  IJur- 
ton  remirks,  is  as  unworthv  of  Abeokuta 
as  ht.  James's  is  of  Loudon.  It  is  a  tumble- 
dowri  "swish"'  house,  long  and  ramblin'' 
and  has  several  courts.  Along  one  side  of 
tlic  inner  court  runs  a  veranda,  the  ed-o 
01  winch  conies  M-ifliin  some  four  feet  of  the 
ground,  and  is  supported  I)v  huge  clav  pil- 
iar.s.  iMve  liuxagoiial  cohimns  divide  tlie 
Aeranda  into  comonrtments,  the  centre  of 

kept  veiled  by  a  curtain.  The  ver.anda,  or 
ante-chamber,  is  filled  with  the  great-toen 
of  AI)eokuta,  and,  according  to  HWfttm's 
account,  thev  are  the  most  viilanous-Iookin- 
set  of  men  that  can  well  be  conceived:  and 
although  he  has  seen  as  great  a  varictv  of 
laces  as  any  one.  he  savs  that  he  never  s.aw 

uVn'i!"-  "'"*  '"''"''*  """'  ^^''^^  elsewhere 
Iheir  skulls  were  depressed  in  front 


600 

and  projecting  cocoa-nut-like  behind;  the 
absence  of  beards,  the  hideous  linos  and 
wrinkles  tha  seared  and  furrowed  the 
external  parchment,  and  the  cold,  unrclent- 
uig  cruelty  of  their  physiognomy  in  repose 
snggcsted  the  idea  of  the  eunudi  torturers' 
erst  so  common  in  Asia.  One  was  sure 
tliat  for  pity  or  mercy  it  would  be  as  well  to 
achh-oss  a  wounded  mandril.  The  atrocities 
winch  these  ancients  have  witnessed,  and 
the  passion  which  they  have  acquired  for 
hoirors,  must  have  set  the  mark  of  the 
beast  upon  their  brows." 

Though  the  a.ssemblage  consisted  of  the 
richest  men  of  the  Egbas,  not  a  vestige  of 
snlendor  or  wealth  appeared  about  any  of 
them,  the  entire  clothing  of  the  most  i)ower- 
ful  among  them  being  under  sixpence  in 
value.    In  fact,  they  da7e  not  exhibit  wealth 

As  for  the  Alake  him.self,  his  ai>i,earanco 
was    not    much  more    prepossessing     "an 
!   hat  of  Ins  subjects.    OkeKunu  was  a  lar-e 
brawny,   and   clumsy-looking    man,   neaWv 
seventy  years  of  age,  and    his    partially^ 
shaven   head   did   not'a.Id    to   hiJ  bea    i. 
Hesides,  he  had  lost  all  his  upper  teeth  ex- 
cept the  canines,  .so  that  his  upper  lip  s.aiik 
into  an  unpleasant  depression.     Ilis  lower 
teeth  were  rapidly  decaying  from  his  habit 
Of  taking  snutl  ne-ro  fashion,  by  ,,lacing  it 
between  th<!  lower  hp  and  the  teeth,  and  in 
cons,.quence  of  the  gap,  the  tip  of  his  tongue 
Pfofruded   in  a  very  disagree.iblc  manner. 
H«  had  lost  one  eye  by  a  blow  from  a  stone 
and,  as  he  assumed  a  semi-comatose  expres- 
sion, wis  not  a  plca-sant  person  to  look  at, 
and  certainly  not  very  regal  in  aspect." 

1  he  king  must  be  selected  from  one  of 
four  tribes,  and  both  the  present  kill"  and 
his  predecessor  belonged  to  the  Ake  tribe 


■> 


,kff 


CHAPTER  LIX. 


BONNY. 


THS  rRtNCITAI,  TRADR  OF  nOKjrY  — KWO  rKPPEL  AND  inS  HISTOllY  — THE  DEFHAUDED  ESnORANTS  — 
MB.  HEADK'm  INTEIIVIEW  WITH  I-EPI'El.  — AHCHITECTUUE  OF  BON.NV  — THE  JU-JU  HOUSES,  PRI- 
VATE AND  PUIIMC  — CANNIHALISM  AT  IIONNY  — THE  JU-JU  EXECUTION  — WHY  THE  EXECUTIONER 
Din  NOT  EAT  THE  HEAI>  — DAILY  LIFE  OP  A  UONNY  GENTLEMAN  —  IIRESS  OF  MEN  AND  WOMEN  — 
SUPEltSTITIONS  — MUMIIO-JUMHO  AND  HIM  OFFICE  — LAST  RESOURCE  OF  A  KEN-PECKKD  HUSP.AND 
—  A  TEKUIIILE  OnE.iREE  AND  ITS  RESULT  — THE  OREOREK  MEN  OR  MAGICIANS  — INGENIOUS 
MODE  OF  WEAVING  THEIR  SPELLS  — ESCAPE  OP  AN  IMPOSTOR. 


Passixq  a  little  .southward  along  the  west 
coast,  wc  come  to  the  well-known  Bonny 
River,  fortnerly  the  great  slave  depot  of 
Western  Africa,  and  now  the  centre  of  the 
pahn-oil  trade.  Unfortunately  there  is  Ss 
much  cheating  in  the  palm-oil  trade  as  in 
gohland  ivory;  the  two  latter  being  plugged, 
and  the  form  'r  mixed  with  sand,  so  thaX  it 
luus  to  be  boili  d  down  betbrc  it  can  be  seut 
from  the  coa.st. 

Honny  is  familiar  to  English  cars  on  ac- 
count of  the  yellow-black'  chief  who  was 
pleased  to  t'alf  him.self  king,  and  who  wa.s 
well  known  in  England  as  Pepper,  King 
of  BKinny.  Ills  name  is  varied  as  Pep])er, 
Pimento,  or  Pep])el.  lie  i.s  descended  from 
Obullo,  an  Ilio  (or  Eboe)  chief,  who  settled 
with  his  slaves  on  the  Bonny  Uiver,  and 
who  was  succeeded  by  liis  son  and  grand- 
son, each  of  whom  took  the  name  of  Pep- 
per. 

Being  of  a  quarrelsome  disjwsition,  the 
present  king  shot  a  wit'e  becauscT  she  dis- 
pleased him,  juurdered  a  chief  called  Ma- 
nilla Pepjiel  because  he  was  jealous,  and  was 
ruining  the  trade  of  the  river  by  his  per- 
petual wars  with  the  Calabars.  So,  at  the 
request  nf  all  the  native  cliiefs  and  traders, 
he  was  dejiosed,  and  his  nephew  Daidie 
placed  in  his  stead.  Dajdie.  however,  (lied 
soon  afterward,  —  poisoned,  it  is  believed,  at 
Peppel's  instigation;  and  then  the  govern- 
ment was  handed  over  to  four  regents, 
while  Pimento  was  transported  to  Ascen- 
sion, a  ])lace  which  he  was  afterward  fond 
of  calling  his  St.  Helena.  However,  he 
proved  himself  to  be  a  clever  s.av.age,  and, 
by  dint  of  importunity,  contrived  to  be 
taken  to  England,  where  he  arrived  in  1837. 


((iOO) 


Possessing  to  the  full  the  imitative  capac- 
ity of  the  negro,  he  ad()])ted  English  cus- 
toms with  wonderful  facility,  abandoning, 
according  to  Captain  Burton,  his  favorite 
di.sh  of  a  boy's  palms,  and  drinking  cham- 
Dagne  and  .sherry  instead  of  traie  rum. 
Soon  lie  b'!came  religious,  was  baptized, 
ai|d  turned  teetotaler,  gaining  thereby  the 
gO«4*&ill  of  i*  large  class  of  jieople.  lie 
iiskcdfor  twenty  thousand  pounds  to  estab- 
lish a  missionary  station,  and  actually  in- 
duced a  number  of  English  who  ktunv  noth- 
ing of  Africa,  or  the  natural  mendacity  of 
the  African  savage,  to  accompany  him  as 
his  suite,  promising  them  snlendiil  salaries 
and  high  rank  at  court. 

No  one  who  knows  the  negro  character 
will  be  8ur|)rised  to  hear  that  when  the 
king  and  his  suite  arrived  at  Bonny  the 
latter  found  themselves  cheated  and  ruined. 
They  discovered  that  the  "  palact; "  was  a 
collection  of  hovels  inside  a  mud  wall;  that 
Bonny  itself  was  nothing  more  than  a  quan- 
tity of  huts  in  a  nnui  tlat;  and  that  the 
best  street  was  infinitely  more  filthy  than 
the  worst  street  in  the  worst  jiart  of  Lon- 
don. As  to  the  i)riyate  life  of  the  king,  the 
less  said  al)out  it  the  better. 

Their  liealth  rapiilly  failed  under  the  pri- 
vations which  they  suffered,  and  the  horri- 
ble odors  of  the  Bonny  Hiver,  which  are  so 
sickening  that  even  the  hardened  traveller 
Captain  Burton  had  to  stop  his  ex])erieiiced 
nostrils  with  camphorated  cotton,  as  he  was 
rowed  up  the  river  at  low  water.  As  to  the 
royal  salaries  and  apartments  in  the  jKilaee, 
they  were  found  to  be  as  imaginary  as  the 
p.alace  itself  and.  tlie  rank  at  court,  the  king 
presenting  each  of  the  oflicials  with  a  couple 


JU-JU  HOUSES. 


601 


of  yams  as  an  equivalent  for  pay  and  lodg- 

Ifow  ponuinn  was  tlie  civilization  and 
Cnnsti.'Miityand  t«ctotalism  of  J'cppcd  riiiv 
bo  imaijiiud  from  an  interview  wUwh  Mi- 
W.  Ilcadc  liad  with  hini  after  IiIh  return-  — 
^I  went  aslion;  willi  tiie  <i()ct<)r  on  a  visit  to 
Peppcl,  tli(!  liiinoiis  kiiif,' of  iJonny.  ...  In 
one  of  till!  iKjvfIs  was  seated  tiui  monarch 
and  till"  si'cne  was  well  adapted  to  the  nuise 
of  his  poet  lauri!ate.  Tlie  Africans  have  a 
taste  for  (M-ockery  ware,  much  ri'seml)lin<' 
tliat  of  tlic  last  c;enern(ion  for  old  china,  and 
a  predilection  for  do;,'  llesli,  which  is  bred 
expressly  Ibr  the  table,  and  exposed  for  sale 
in  the  public  market. 

"  AufI  there  sat  I'eppel,  who  had  lived  so 
lonj^in  Knuland;  behind  him  a  ])ile  of  wil- 
low-pattern crockery,  before;  him  a  calabash 
of  dog  stew  and  i)alaver  sauci;.     It  is  filwavs 
thus   with    these    savages.      The    instincts 
inherited  from   their   iorefithers  will  ever 
ti-iumph  over  a  spriukling  of  foreign  reason. 
Their  intellects  have  a  r</e  miicoKiim  as  weli 
as  their  skins.     As  soon  as  they  retm-n  to 
theirowncoiiiUrv,  lake  tliev  oil" all  their  civ- 
ilization and  their  clotlies,"aii(l  let  body  and 
niind  g,)  linked.    Like  most  negroes  ofrank 
J  eppel  has  a  yellow  complexion,  sis  light  as 
that  ot    a   mulatlo.     His    IVatures  express 
intelligence,  but  of  a  low  and  cunning  kind 
In   every  word  and  look   he  exhibits  that 
nahiL  ot  Mispiciou  ^vhich  one  tinds  in  half- 
eivilizcd  natures.'' 

I'epi"'!.  although  restored  to  Monnv,  has 
scarw;  y  any  real  power,  even  in  hii  own 
nmiled  dominions,  fnim  which  he  dares  not 
stir,  let,  with  the  cool  impudence  of  a 
thorough  savage,  he  aclually  propose,!  to 
es.nblish  ,a  emisul  m  Lon.jon  at  a  salary  of 
6M,  St  ling  as  his  reason  that  he  had 
always  adowe.l  th.>  KimJisI,  consuls  to  visit 
his  dominions  in  the  15i-ht  of  l{,.i,i,i 

the  arehite.ture  of  (he  lio„„v  eountrv  is 
not  very  elal),nate,  being  composed  of  swish 
aniJ  wattle,  suiiported  bv  iiosls.  The  tloors 
and  walls  are  of  mud,  wlii,  h  can  be  obtained 
1  any  amount,  and  the  general  look  of  the 
honsiss  has  |„.^.n  well  <'ompare<l  to  African- 
^1  ^wiss,  ,ho  rools  hei/ig  very  higl^, 
ImMMl      .   '■'''■•''  ''",'■'•'■,  <''•'"•'''••.>•  liouses 

tle^^ealhymen  have  abuiubnce  of  chain- 
and  as  the  door  must  therefore  be  kept  onen 

tahreis  li^dit..!,  ,he  threshold  is 'a  leas 
eighteen  mches  high,  in  ord,.r  to  previm 
tie  intrusion  of  strange  beasts.     It  is  n 

hough  to  be  etiquette  to  .tep  over  I,. 
thiushohUyhen  the  master  of  He  liouse  is 
sit  ing  wi  Inn.  or  he  will  be  all'  fed  with 
sickness,  thinking  himself  heu;-  ,...,1. 

Ihe  Ju-ju  room  or  chaiiel  .,  necessirv 
acliunct  to  every  JJonny  l'.ou>, .  and  witiln 
n  ,r  the  icfi.sh.  or  ,hi-ju,  whi.h  is  the  .niai 


Lares  and  Penates  of  the  ancients.  The 
negro  contrives  to  utilize  the  ju-ju  room 
making  it  a  storehouse  for  his  I'nost  valued 
property,  such  as  cowries,  or  rum,  knowin.- 
that  no  one  will  touch  it  in  so  sacred  a 
place.  As  to  the  Ju-ju  itself,  anythinjr 
answers  the  purpose,  ami  an  Englishman  is 
sometimes  troubled  to  preserve  his  gravity 
when  he  sees  a  page  of  Piuirk,  a  cribbago 
peg,  a  pill  box,  or  a  pair  of  brac<.s,  doin<» 
duty  as  the  household  god  of  the  establish'^ 
inent. 


30 


The  great  Jn-jn  house  of  the  place  is  a 
most  ghaslly-looking   edilice,   and    is    well 
described  by  Captain  Hiirlon.     It  is  built  of 
swish,  aiul  IS  an  oblong  roofless  house    of 
forty  or  lifty  fe.et  in  length.    A  sort  of  altar 
IS  i)laced  at  the  end,  sheltered  from  the  rain 
by  a  small  roof  of  its  own.     Under  the  roof 
are   nailed   rows  of   human    skulls   mostly 
painted  in  din'erent  colors,  and  one  of  them 
IS  conspicuous  by  a  large  black  beard,  which 
is  doubtless  a  rude  co|)v  of  the  lieard  worn 
by  the  man  to  whom  it  originally  belonged 
JJetween    them    are    rows    of   goat    sknills 
streaked  with    red   and  white,  while   other 
skulls  are  strewn  about  the  floor,  and  others 
agnin   are   impaled    on   the   tojis   of  sticks 
Inider   the   altar   is  a   round   hob;    with   a 
raised   day  rim,  in    which  is'  received   the 
blood    ot    the    victims    together   with    the 
sacred  libations,     ^'illiin  this  Ju-ju  house 
are  buried  the  boilii's  of  Ihe  kings. 

This  house  well  illustrates  tlu;  ciiaractcr 
of  Ihe  people  — a  race  which  take  a  positive 
pleasure  in  the  sight  of  blood,  and  in  inlliet- 
iiig  and  witnessing  pain.   All  over  the  conn- 
try  the  traveller  comes  upon  scenes  <if  blood 
pain,  and  sullering.     There  is  hanlly  a  vil- 
age  where  he  does  not  come  upon  animals 
tied  111  some  agonizing  jiosition  .and  left  to 
die    there,      (^oats    and    fowls  are   mostly 
fastened   to   posts  with   their  heads  dowii- 
w.ard,  and  blood  is    the   favorite   color   for 
painting  the  faces  of  men.     Even  the  chil- 
dren of   lu'isoners   taken  in   war— the  war 
in  question   being   mostly  an  unsusiieeted 
attack  on  an  unprepared  villai,', —  are  hun<>- 
bv  the  middle  from  the  masts  of  the  canoes' 
while  the  parents  are  reserved  to  be  s.acri- 
ticed  and  eaten. 

About  this  last  statement  there  has  been 
much  incrednlitv,  and  of  cimrse,  when  ques- 
tioned, the  Honny  negroes  flatly  deny  the 
.accusation.  There  is,  however,  "no  doubt  of 
tlie  fact,  inasmuch  .as  Europeans  have  wit- 
nessed the  act  of  cannibalism.  For  exam- 
ple, old  King  Peppel,  the  father  of  the 
1  imento  whose  life  has  been  briefly  sketched 
gave  a  great  banquet  in  honor  of  a  victory 
which  he  hail  gained  over  Calabar,  and  ifi 
which  Amakree,  the  king  of  that  district 
was  taken  priscnier.  The  European  traders 
were  invited  to  Ihe  bancpiet,  and  were  most 
hosijitably  entertainesi.  T!-,ry  wfic  liow- 
ever.   horrilied   to   see    the    p'rincipal    dish 


SI 


I'l 


ppel.    It  was 


uH 


BONNY. 


the  bleeding  heart  of  Amakree,  warm  and 
palpitating  as  it  was  torn  from  the  body. 
Peppel  devoured  tlio  heart  with  the  greatest 
eagerness,  exclaiming  at  the  same  time, 
"This  is  the  way  I  serve  my  enemies." 

More  recently,  Dr.  Hutchinson  witnessed 
a  scene  of  cannibalism.  lie  had  heard  that 
something  of  the  kind  was  contt  mplated, 
although  it  was  kc^pt  very  quiet.  On 
the  appointed  morning  he  had  liiniself 
rowed  to  »he  shore  at  soini?  distance  from 
the  Ju-ju  house,  near  which  he  concealed 
himself,  and  waited  for  the  result.  The 
rest  of  the  adventure  must  be  told  in  his 
own  words. 

"I  know  not  of  what  kind  arc  the  sensa- 
tions felt  by  those  around  Newgate,  waitin," 
for  an  execution  in  the  verv  heart  of  Lon^ 
don's  great  city;   but  I  know  that  on  the 
banks  of  an  African  river,  in  tlic  gray  dawn 
of  morning,  when  the  slilhiess  was  of  that 
oppressive   nature   which   is   calculated    to 
produce  the  most  gloomv  impressions,  with 
dense  vapors  and  foul  s"ni(>lls  arising' from 
decomposing   mangroves   and  other''causes 
of  malaria  floating  about,  with  a  heaviness 
of  atniosiihere   tiiat    dejiressed   the   spirits, 
amidst    a    connnunily    of   cannibals,   I  dn 
know  that,  although  under  tlie  protection  of 
a  nian-of-war,  I  fi^lton  this  occasion  a  com- 
bined sensation  of  suspense,  anxiety,  horri' 
and  indelinable  dread  of  I  cannot  tell  wh:ii, 
that  1  pray  God  it  may  never  be  niv  fate  to 
endure  again. 

"  Day   broke,    and,    ncarlv  simultaneous 
with  its  breaking,  the  sun  .sh'one  out.     As  I 
looked  through  the  slit  in  the  wall  on  the 
space    between   my  place    of  concealment 
and  the  Jn-Ju  house,  I  observed  no  change 
from    its  apjuarance    the   evening    befoiv. 
No  gibbet,  nor  axe,  nor  gallows,  nor  rope  — 
no  kind  of  preparation,  nolliing  signiticant 
of  dealli,  save  tlio  skulls  on  the  pillars  of 
the  Ju-ju  liouse,  tliat  seemed  leering  at  me 
with    an    exjiression   at  once   strani"-c   and 
vacant.     It  would  iiave  been  a  relief  in  the 
awtul  stillness  of  ilu;  jilaee  to  have  heard 
something  of  what  I  had  read  of  the  i)rei)a- 
rations  for  an   e.vecudon    in    Liveri)ool  or 
London — of  the  haminrrlng  suifgestivc!  of 
driving  nails  into  seallold,  <lrop,  or  coflin,  of 
a  crowd  gathering  round   the  place  before 
early  dawn,  and  of  th.'  solenni  tolling  of  the 
bell  tiiat  cbimed  auolher  soul  into  t'ternitv. 
Everything   seemed   as    if  nothing  beyond 
the  routine  of  d.-iily  life  wen;  to  lake  jjlace. 
"Could  it  i)e  that  I  had  been  misinforme-i; 
that  the  ceremony  was  adjourned  to  another 
time,  or  v.-as  to  be  carried  out  clsewhereV 
No,  a  distant  inunnur  of  gabbling  voices 
was  heard  ai)j)roaihlng  nearer  and  nearer, 
till,  p.ossins  the  corner  house  mi  my  left,  I 
saw  a  group  of  negroes  —  .in  indiscrimina'te 
crowd  of  all  agi's  and  both  sexes  — so  hud- 
dled together  that  no  person  whom  I  could 
particularly  distini;uish  as  either  an  execu- 
tioner or  a  culprit  was  visible  amon<T  them 


But  above  their  clattering  talk  camo  the 
sound  of  a  clanking  chain  that  made  one 
shudder. 

"  They  stopjied  in  the  middle  of  the  square 
opposite  the  Ju-ju  house,  and  ceased  talking. 
One    comnumding   voice  uttered    a  single 
word,  and  down   they  sat  upon     .e  grass 
ibrming  a  circle  round  two  figur^.^,  standing 
upnglit  in  th(!  centre— the  executioner  anJi 
the   man   about  to  be   killed.    The  former 
was  remarkable  only  ]>y  the  black  skull-cap 
which  he  hjul  on  him,  and  bv  a  common  cut- 
lass whieii  ho  held  in  his  hand.     The  latter 
had  chains  round  bis  neck,  his  wrists,  and  his 
ankles.    There  was  no  sign  of  fear  or  cow- 
ardice about   /(/»»  — no  seeming  conscious- 
ness of  the  dreadful  fate  before  him  — no 
evidence  even  ui)on  his  face  of  that  dogged 
stubbornness  which  is  said  to  be  exhibited 
by  some  persons  about  to  undergo  an  igno- 
minious death.    Save  that  he  stood  upright 
one  would  scarcely  have  known  that  he  was 
alive.   Amongst  the  sjieetators,  too,  there  was 
a  silent  impassiveness  whicli  was  ajipalling. 
Not  a  word,  nor  gesture,  nor  glance  of  sviT- 
pathy,  tiiat  could  make  me  believe  I  loo'ked 
at  beings   who  had  a  vestige  of  humanity 
among  them.     (Sc  illustration  on  )).  <J19,) 

"As  (he  Ju-ju  l)utcher  stepped  back  and 
measured  Ills  distance  to  make  an  effectual 
swooj)  at  his  viclim's  neck,  the  man  moved 
not  a  muscle,  but  stood  as  if  he  were  uncon- 
scious —  till ■ 

"Chop!  The  first  blow  felled  him  to  the 
ground.  The  noise  of  a  chopper  falling  on 
meat  is  familiar  to  most  ]ieoi)le.  No  other 
.sound  was  here  — none  from  the  man;  not  a 
whisjier  nor  a  murmur  froi  those  who  were 
seated  about!  I  was  near  .  crying  out  in 
mental  agony,  and  the  sound  of  that  first 
stroke  will  liauiit  my  ears  to  my  dving  day. 
IIow  I  wished  some  one  to  talk  or  scream 
to  desti-oy  the  impression  of  that  fearful 
hough,  and  the  still  more  awful  silence  that 
followed  it  ! 

"Again  the  wea])on  was  raised  to  continue 
the  de(a!)itation  —  another  blow  as  the  man 
lay  prostrate,  and  then  a  sound  broke  llie 
silen.'e!  Hut.  O  Father  of  nu'icv!  of  what  a 
kind  was  that  noise  —  a  giu^le  and  a  gasp. 
aecomi>anying  the  dying  sjiasni  of  the  struek- 
down  man  ! 

"Once  more   (he  weajion   was   lifted I 

saw  the  blood  flow  in  gdry  horroi'  down  the 
liide  to  (he  lui(eher"s  hand,  and  (here  it  was 
visible,  in  (Jod's  brighl  sunshine,  to  the 
whole  hos(  of  heaven.  Not  a  word  had  yet 
been  uttered  by  the  erow<l.  Mor.' eiioi)])ing 
and  cleaving,  "and  (he  head,  severed' from 
the  body,  was  put  bv  the  Ju-ju  ex(!eutioner 
into  a  calabash,  which  was  'carried  off  by 
one  of  his  women  to  be  cooked,  lie  tlieii 
repeated  another  cabalistic  word,  or  per- 
h.aps  the  siune  as  a(  first,  and  direcdy  all 
who  were  seated  rose  u(),  whilst  he  walked 
away. 
"A  yell,  .such  an  reminded  me  of  acorn- 


pan  V  of  tiffers,  arose  from  the  multitude - 
cutla.«ses  were  flourished  as  they  crowded 
round  tlie  body  of  the  dead  man -sounds  of 
cutting    and    chopping    arose    amidst    the 
nvZV'wh^H!  voices  and  I  began  to  question 
myself  whether,  if  l'  were  on  tl-c  ot  ler  side 
of  the  river  Styx,  I  sliould  see  what  I  was 
looking  at  here  through  the  little  slit  in  the 
wall  of  my  hiding-place:  a  crowd  of  human 
vultures  gloating  over  the  headless  corpse 
of  a  murdered   brother   negro- boys  and 
girls  walking  away  from   the  crowd,  holdiii-' 
pieces  of  bleeding  flesh  in  their  hands,  while 
the  dripping  life-fluid  marked  their  road  as 
they  went  along;  and  one  woman  snappiu" 
from  the  hands  of  another— both  of  them 
raising  their  voices  in  clamor  — a  partof  the 
body  of  thati)oor  man,  in  whom  the  breath  of 
lite  was  vigorous  not  a  quarter  of  an  hour  ago. 
The  whole  of  the  body  was  at  length 
divided,  and   nothing  left  behind   but   the 
Woo(l.    Ihe  inteslines  were  taken  awav  to 
be  given  to  an  iguana- the  Bonny-man's 
tutelaiy  guardian.    But  the  blood  was  still 
tlicre,  in  glistening  pools,  though  no  more 
notice  wius  taken  of  it  by  the  gradually  dis- 
persing <-rowd  than  it  it  were  a  fhingas  com- 
mon in  that  town  as  heaven's  briirHt  dew  is 
elsewhere     A  few  <logs  were  on  th  "spot,  who 
devoured  the  fragments.    Two  men  arrived 
to  spread  sand  over  the  place,  and  tlu  re  was 
no   inteiruption   to  the   familiar   sound   of 
coopers   hammering  just  beginning  i,,  the 
ca.sk-h,,uses,or  to  the  daily  n7,rk  oflioistin', 
palm-oil  puncheons  on  board  the  sliips  "     '"' 
()n  passing  the  Ju-ju  house  after  ward  D,- 
nutch.nson  saw  the  relics  of  this  .sac rit  ce' 
1  hey  consisted  of  the  larger  hones  of  the' 
body  and  hmbs,  which  had  evidently  been 
cooked    and   every  particle   of  flesh   eate 
from  them.     The -head  is  the  pern   is  t^o  of 
the  excci.tioner,  as  has  alread^  I  ,^        l, 
tioned.    Somemoir    .afterward,  Dr  ir     i 
inson  met  the  sam.  oxecutionei-  wl  o     a." 
said  to  have  exercis,d  his  olHce  againafbw 
days  previously,  and  to  have  eateiU   e  hcZ 
?f  his  victim.     Being  upbraided  wi  h  1  . 

tnathe  had  i  .,  eaten  the  head  — his  c.  ok 
ha.mg^.,ded  it  by  not  having  put'lJno^Sh 

S'  ■^fi'%::r^'rv''^'i''-'"'-''^-'^' " 

ti;.m?,„r  re'"f''<Mie  is  no  worse  after 

t  un  bcf,)re:  contrives  to  breakfast  as  m  mv 

fiitigues  of  lh-:,1,;y.  '"'"*"  ''  ^■^i-««  ''"-  the 


MUMBO  JUMBO  AND  HIS  OFFICE. 


G03 


I     As  to  his  dress,  it  consists  of  a  cloth,  in  the 
'  ho^'u    "^.  ■''^'*=''   •'*'   ''  '-^-^  fastidious      A 

hio'Sr  ^^"  ^"^Y^  'y^'-T^^^^y  '"»'l  passed 
till ough  the  loop  of  his  knife  belt,  so  as  to 
attach  It  to  his  right  side,  and  this,  with  a 
ew  strings  of  beads  and  rings,  completes 
his  costume.  His  woolly  hair  i^s  combc^d  ou? 
wit  the  coar.sest  imaginable  comb,  made 
of  a  few  wooden  sk.n/ers  lashed  side  by 
side,  and  diverging  from  each  other  toward 
palnroi'l    ' '""  "'''"  ''  polished  up  with 

The  women's  working  day  is  a  real  fact 
being   be-un   by  washi7,g    clothes   in    the 
c  eek,  an.f  consisting  of  making  nets,  hats, 
lines,    and    mflts,    and    going    to    market 
These  are  the  favorites,  and  Iheir  life  is  a 
comparatively  easy  one;   while   the  others 
on   whom   their  (iespotic  master  does   not 
<  oign  to  cast  an  eye  of  affection,  are  simi.ly 
his  slaves,  and  are  .subjected  to  water  <lraw- 
ing,  wood  cutting,  catching  and  curing  fisu. 
the  <lress  of  the  women  is  not  unlike  that 
of   the  opposite    sex,  the  chief  distinction 
being  that  their  f;ashionable  ,,aint  is  b  u" 
iTistead  of  red.    Tiic  coloring  is  put  on  bv "^ 
riend,  usually  one  who  regularly  practiaes 
he  art  .>f  ,,aintiiig  the  hmnan  body   n  nat- 
terns.  Checkers,  like  those  that  were  once  «o 
common  on  the  door  posts  of  p,.„ac  houses 
are  very  inuch  in  favor,  and  so  are  wavv 
stripes,  beginning  with  lines  .scarcely  thicker 
tlian  hair.s,  and  swelling  out  to  half' an  inch 
or   more  in  breadth.     Arabesque   pattern'.- 
curves,  and  scrolls  arc  also  largely  used.       ' 

n  J/",r  "-a  '"l"  '"^  ^■"".«i''''i-a''lo  portion  of  timt 
pat  tot  Western  Africa  which  is  inhabited 
by  the  negroes  there  is  found  a  semi-human 
(h  mon,  ^vho  is  universally  respected,  at  l.^-ivt 
by  th,  feminine  half  of  the  community. 
Ills  name  is  MrMiio  Jr.Mno,  and  his  sway 
s  upheld  by  the  men.  while  the  womeii 
have  no  allernalivo  but  to  submit  to  it. 

On  he  branch  of  a  tree  near  the  entrance 
of  each  town  hangs  a  dross,  made  of  slips  ..f 
b.ark  .sewed  rudely  together.  It  istheshn- 
£ira'''''.;''"'r' ,'•'■'"-  Uttle  more  than  a 
nn  I       ^^i  "'"' ''  '"''^'•'^^  ""'  '"P'»'-  tbe  head 

mnl?  J       '"'"■';'  ""  ''''"■'">'  -^'"'I'le  nia^sk, 
Icf     'I,"  •'"'Pty  Sourd,  with   two  n.un. 
1    les  for  the  eyes  of  the  wearer,  and  dec- 
n   ed  with  a  tufl  of  feathers.     lu  order    o 
m.ike  I    more  fantastically  hideous,  the  mask 
IS  painted  with  scarlet,  .so  that  it  1  vol  s  very 
much  like  the  face  of  a  clown  in  a  pantomim,' 
.  At  niglit  the  j.eople  assemble  as  usual  to 
sinsr  and  dance   when  sn.ldenly  faint  dishint 
owlings  are  h.-ard  in  the  woods.    Tliis  is 
llie   cry   of    Mumbo    Jumbo,    and    all    the 
women    feel    horri'.ly    frighteiH-d,    Ihouoh 
tl cy  are  obliged  to  pretend  to  be  d.dighttvl 
J  he  cries  are  heard  nearer  and  neaivr,  and 
at  last  Mumbo  Jumbo  himself,  follow.'d  }  v 
a  nnmher  of  atten.lant.  a,m,d  with  s   ck^ 
and  clothed  in  the  .Iress  which  is  Icei.lfo^ 
his  use,  apiiears  in  the  noisy  circle,  carrying 


604 


BONNY. 


a  rod  in  his  hand.    Ho  is  loudly  welcomed, 
and  the  song  and  dance  go  on  around  hhn 
with    delight.     Suddenly,    Munibo  Jumbo 
walks  up  to  one  of  the  women  and  touches 
her  with  his  rod.    His  attendants  instiuitly 
seize  on  the  unfortunate  woman,  tear  off  all 
her  clothes,  drag  her   to  a  i)ost  which   is 
always  kept  for  such  occasions,  tie  her  to  it, 
and  inflict  a  tcrrilic  beating  on  her.     No 
one  dares  to  pity  her.    The  men  are   not 
hkely  to  do  so,  and  the  women  all  laugh 
and  jeer  at  their  .suirering  companion,  point- 
ing at  her  and  mocking  hor  cries:   partly 
because  they  f.-ar  that  should  they  not  do 
so  they  might  be  selected  for  the  next  vic- 
tims, and  partly  because!  —  like  the  savages 
that  they  are  at  heart  — they  feel  an  exuFta- 
tion  at  seeing  some  one  sulVering  a  penalty 
which  they  have  escaped.    (See  engraving.) 
The  otleuce  for  which  the  woman  has  suf- 
fered is   perfectly   well   known   by  all   the 
spectators,  and  by  none  better  than  by  the 
sufferer  herself.    The  fact  is,  she  has  been 
bad-tempered  at   home,  quarrelling,  in   all 
probability,  with  her  fellow  wives,  and  has  not 
yielded  to  the  admonitions  of  her  husband 
Consequently,  at  the  next  favorable  oi)|)()r- 
tunity,  either  the  husband  himsi-lf,  or  a  man 
whom  he  has  instructed,  indues  the  dress  of 
Miimbo  Jumbo,  and  inll.cts  a  punishment 
which  fervcs  equally  iis  a  corrective  to  llu' 
disobedient  wife   and  a  warning  to  others 
that  they  had  better  not  follow  her  examijle. 
Mumbo  Jumbo  does  not  alwavs  make  bis 
apiiearance  on  these  nocturnal  festivities,  as 
the  incn  know  that  he  inspires  more  awe  if 
he  is  reserved  for  those  instances  in  which 
the  husl)an(i  has  tried  all  the  means  in  his 
power  to  keep  the  peace  at  home,  but  limls 
that  his  unsiqiported  authority  is  no  more 
respected.     The  reader  will  remember  that 
a  demon   of  a   similar  character  is   to   be 
found  in  Dahoine. 

It  is  to  be  wished  that  all  the  supersti- 
tions of  the  land  were  as  harmless  as  that 
of  Mumbo  Jumbo,  which  iioIkmIv  believes, 
though  every  one  pretends  to  do  so,  and 
which,  at  all  events,  has  some  influence  on 
the  domestic  peace.  Some  of  them,  how- 
ever, are  very  terrible,  and  involve  an 
amount  of  human  suffering  which  would 
deter  any  but  a  savage  from  jierforming 
them.  It  is  very  difflcult  to  learn  the  na- 
ture of  these  superstitions,  as  the  negroes 
always  try  to  conceal  them  from  Euroiieans. 
especially  when  they  involve  the  shedding 
of  blood.  One  astounding  instance  Ikls 
however,  been  related.  A  town  was  in' 
danger  of  attack  from  a  powerful  trilie  that 
inhal)ited  the  neighborhood,  and  the  kiii<T 
was  so  much  alarmed  that  he  sent  for  the 
magicians,  and  consulted  with  them  as  to 
the  best  method  of  rei)elling  the  enemy. 

Accordingly,  tin;  pmpU'.  were  summoned 
together  in  front  of  the  principal  gate,  when 
two  holes  were  dug  in  the  ground  close  to 
each  other.    Songs    and  dances  began  as 


usual,  until  suddenly  the  chief  magician 
I)ointed  to  a  girl  who  was  standing  among 
the  spectators.  She  was  instantly  seized 
and  a  leg  thrust  into  each  hole,  which  was 
then  filled  up  with  earth  so  that  she  could 
not  move.  By  command  of  the  magicians 
a  number  of  men  brought  lunqjs  of  wet 
clay,  which  they  built  around  her  body  in  a 
))illar-like  form,  kneading  them  closely  as 
thev  proceeded,  and  gradually  covering"  her 
with  clay.  At  last  even  her  head  was  cov- 
ered with  the  clay,  and  the  iioor  victim  of 
superstition  soon  ceased  to  breathe.  This 
clay  pillnr  with  the  bod;  of  the  girl  within 
it  stc.  i  -  -  -v,  in  front  of  the  gate,  and  .so 
tt'rriti  •  ■  le  hostile  tribes  at  so  pow- 

'''■'"•  •''•  'r  gregree,  that  they  dared 

not  carrj  _     ,  their  plan    f  attack. 

The  natives  erect  these  gregrces  on  every 
imaginable  occasion,  and  so  ward  off  every 
I)ossible  calamity;    and,  as   they   will  pay 
freely  for  such  safeguards,  the  fetish  men 
are  naturally  unwilling  to  refuse  a  request, 
and  so  to  break  up  a  profitable  trade.    They 
are,  of  course,  aware  that  their  clients  will 
in  many  cases  suffer  from  the  very  calamity 
whiih  they  sought  to  avoid,  and  that  they 
will  come  to  make  bitter  complaints.     They 
tliurefore  take;  care  to  inqiose  on  the  recip- 
ient some  condition  by  way  of  a  looji-hole 
through  which  they  may  eWape.     On   one' 
such  instance  the  man  bought  a  fetish  agiiinst 
fever,  which,  however,  seized  him  and  marly 
killed  him.     Th('  cniuiilion  which   had  lu^eii 
imposed  on  him  was  abstinence  frcmi  goat's 
tiesli.  iuul  this  condition  he  knew  that  ho 
had  fulfilled.     But  the  fetish  man  was  not  to 
lie  ballled  by  such  a  complaint,  and  utierly 
discointited    his   angry   client   by   asserlin>T 
that,  when  his  jiatient  was  dining  at  another 
tow  n.  a  personal  enemy,  who  knew  the  eon- 
(lilioiis   on  which   the   gregree   was   given 
drojjped  a  little  goat's-llesh  broth  into  his 
bowl,  and  so  broke  the  si)ell. 

Absolute  faith  in  the  gregree  is  another 
invariable  I  uiiiion.  Oii  one  stormy  day  a 
])arty  of  naiives  had  to  cross  tlu'  river,  and 
applied  for  a  gregree  against  accidents. 
They  crossiul  safely  enough,  but  on  rccross- 
ing  the  boat  was  upset,  and  .some  of  the 
party  wen;  drowned.  The  survivors  went  in 
a  body  to  the  gregree  maker,  and  upbraided 
him  with  the  accident.  He  heard  them  very 
patiently,  and  then  informed  the  com]ilain- 
aiits  that  the  misfortune  was  entirely  caused 
by  the  incredulity  of  the  steersman,  who 
tried  to  sound  the  river  with  his  paddle 
in  order  to  discover  whether  they  were  in 
shallow  water.  This  nction  indiJated  mis- 
trust, and  so  the  power  of  the  ,'<pell  was 
broken.  The  cunning  fellow  had  seen  the 
accident,  and,  having  ascertained  that  the 
steersman  had  been  drowned,  made  the  as- 
sertion boldly,  knowing  that  the  men  had 
been  too  frightened  to  observe  closelv,  and 
that  the  accused  could  not  contradict  the 
ptatoruent. 


(1.)    TIIK    AI.AKB.S   COURT.     (S....  ,««.•  5W.) 


m 


.*'4  i  lit 

'W         ! 

m 

IH 

B 

to 
M 


th: 

.in 
thi 
far 
wl: 
an 
ac( 
thi 
pe< 

80f 

inn 


ant 

tlui 

of 

Ian 

it  li 

In 

sen 

pec 

ine( 

the 

veil 

terr 

and 

are 


isM 
pie, 
nal  I 
in  R 
the 
Varii 


CHAPTER  LX. 


THE  MANDIJVGOES. 

LANOUAOB  AND  APPEARANCE  OP  THE  MANDINOOES-TMBIB    RELTOmw       n„,  ™„ 

DINOO  80NO-MAB,UAOE  AND  «ONDmON  OP  THE  woLn - n™  .^AT      ^  *"^''"-*   «^'^- 
-  INFLUENCK  of  MAU0MBTANI8M.  ^"  COOKEBV  -  A  MANDINOO  KINO 


tow.'inl  Abyssinia,  we  must  hricfly  notice  the 
Maii(lin<ro  nation,  who  inhabit  a  very  lar-'e 
tract  ot  the  country  throush  which  the  Sene- 
gal ami  Gainbia  flow.    Thev  arc  desorvin-' 

their  anjjuage  is  more  wi.lely  sprea<l  than 
any  that  is  spoken  in  that  part  of  Afri(-a,  and 
that  any  traveller  who  desires  to  dispense  as 
far  as  possible  with  the  native  interpreters 
who  cannot  translate  literally  if  they  would' 
an<l  would  not  if  they  could,  is  fi,rrcd  to 
acquire  the  lan^uase  before  proceeding 
through  the  country.  Fortunately  it  is  a 
K!.''!'^  'ne  "rtious  language,  afmost  as 
soft  as  the  Italian,  nearly  all  the  words  end- 
ing  in  a  vowel. 

In  appearance  the  Mandingoes  are  tall 
and  well  made,  and  have  the  woolly  hair 
Ihousrh  not  thn  ioft,,  om. i . ,„_  "    '•'^  .^^^ 


tJcg^notui^jeU^sll^nandllnrZS 
of  the  true  negro.    "The  structure  of  tVe 


io«  ,.,        y<   '"b'"'        Ai'i;  Niructure  of  the 
an-uage,'  says  Mr.  M'Hrair,  who  has  made 

in  8or'"S  t"'^'  "  ''  *'^r«"gWy  E in' 
t^rJi  \^^  tJ^  grammatical  forms  it  re- 
semles  the  Hebrew  and  Svriac-   its  most 

l!t7bnT  r")''  ''  "'■  ">«  MalarfkmUy  Ts 
metho,}  of  interrogation  is  similar  to  L\t  of 

vei  ns  It  IS  like  the  Persian.  A  few  reli-'ions 
terms  have  been  borrowed  from  tlL  Amb kf 

a  e  cXd  !!ft '"^' H  •?'■  ^•'•^''"»  '"Hnntct  n: 
are   talle(    after  their  European  names  » 

As  a  rule,  the  religion  of  the  Man    nc:oes 
s  Mahometanism.  modified  to  suit  tie  peo- 
ple, but  thc^v'  still  retiin  enoughof  the  ori4 
nal  negro  character  to  have  an  intense  fafti 
in  gregrees,  which  are  made  for  them  Iv 

the  marabouts,  or  holv  men    and  almo?  !v    ■  ,  " - 

variably  consist  of  sentences  of  ti.e  K;r^:  j  c^;;,^£^'4;:>^r  S 


sewed  up  m  little  leathern  cases  beautifully 
tanned  and  stamped  in  patterns.    Mali"  iie- 
tanism  has  put  an  end  to  the  nois;  "on's 
n.I  M"'!i- '"''"''  "'''"^^  •"«'"  »'"'««"«;  bfi? 
ub,i^r.1'"""f  ^•'"i"^'*''  nevertheless,  to 
indu  gc    their  taste   for  religious   noise   at 
night.      Instead   of  sinking  profane   songs 
they  sing  or  intone  the  ICoraA,  bawling  tlto 
sacred  sentences  at  the  .full  stret^'h  of  their 
voices,  and  murdering  sleep  as  cftbctually  as 
If  they  had  been  still  benighted  idolaters 
singing  prai.ses  in  honor  of  the  moon.    Some 
ceremonies  in  iionor  of  the  moon  still  re- 
main, but  are  quite  harmless.     When  it 
appears,  they  salute  it  by  spitting  in  the  r 
hands  an.l  waving  them  round  tlieir  heads! 
For  eclipses  they  account  by  saying  that 
krwbn  ''"T  ,'"*  "^'"'"  ^"•"ewhe^re'in  the 
S'the"eai;i;.'  '''''  ^""^^  '^^^""^'^  '""^  '"^^ 
They  are  very  strict  Mahometans  indeed, 
the    marabouts    always    calling    them    to 
prayers  one  hour  before  sunrise;   th.^^  ac- 
cording to  theological  astronomv,  be  ng'the 
imc  at  which  the"  sun  rises  at  Mecca  ^  Ma- 
hometanism  has  done  much  for  the  MancHn- 
?J^i  f     "  'H^''  substituted   monotheism  for 

£o:^''rTi  *"^""y  ^'^°"^^''«1  ''"'"an  sac- 
unces.  It  has  not  extirpated  tlie  innate 
negro  character  of  the  Mandingoes-  hut  it 

m4iU- "Vl'T^  'T''^'  ".'  "^«  -">^'  °f  hu- 
manity.    It  has  not  cured  them  of  Ivino-  and 

stealing- neither  of  which  vices,  by  the 
way,  are   conflued  to  idolaters;   but  it  has 

nlr?r ''"'{'"'Vr'  s«.«%'™n'^fl  in  the  ordinary 
negro,  and  a  Mandingo  Mahometnn  will  n^t 


008 


THE  MANDINGOES. 


I    ' 


Tho  Rhnmadnn,  or  Mahomotaii  fast,  is 
riL'ully  olmcrvod  liy  Ih."  MandinKors,  luul  it 
IS  no  Niiwll  proof  of  th(!  power  of  their  relig- 
ions svHtein  tlmt  it  liiw  iiuvde  a  negro  ubHtaiu 
from  imytliiiig  whicii  lie  likes. 

Tlieprincij)al  riteof  MaliDinetanism  is  of 
course  practised  hy  tlie  Maiidingoes,  wlio 
liave  contrived  to  engratt  upon  it  one  of 
their  own  sujierstitions,  namely,  tlmt  if  a  lad 
remains  uneircumcised,  ho  is  swallowed  hy 
a  peripatetic  demon,  who  carries  him  for 
nine  days  in  his  hellv.  This  leRond  is  relig- 
iously believed,  aiuf  no  one  has  yet  been 
daring  enough  to  put  it  to  the  test. 

Fourteen  years  is  tho  usual  ago  for  per- 
forming this  ceremony,  whole  companies  of 
lads  partaking  of  it  at  the  same  time,  and 
proceeding   to   the  ai)point(!(l  spot,  accom- 
naiiied  by  their  friends  and   relatives,  who 
dance  and  sing  songs  by  the  way,  neither  of 
them   being  peculiarly  delicat(\     Hero  the 
old  negro  nature  shows  itself  again,  proyini^ 
the  truth  of  tho  axiom  that  nature  exi)ellcd 
with  a  pitchfork  always  comes  back  again. 
After  tho  ceremony  they  'pass  a  month  in  an 
intermediate  state  of  existence.     They  have 
taken  leave  of  their  boyhood,  and  arc  not 
yet   men.     So   until   the   expiration  of  tho 
month  they  are  allowed  unlimited  license, 
but  after  that  time  thev  become  nun,  and 
arc   ranked    with   their 'fathers.     Even  tho 
girls  undergo  a  cercmonv  of  a  somewliat 
similar  character,  tho  oliiciants  being  tho 
wives  of  tho  marabouts. 

As  a  natural  consequence  of  this  religion, 
which  is  a  mixture  of  Mahometanism  en- 
grafted upon  fetishism,  tho  marabouts  hold 
much  tho  same  exalted  position  as  tho  fetish 
men  of  the  idolaters,  and  are  the  most  im- 
portant men  of  tho  community.  They  do 
not  dress  dilTerently  from  the  laitv.  but  are 
distinguished  by  the  colors  of  tlieir  caps, 
wliich  are  of  some  brilliant  line,  such  as  red, 
blue,  or  yellow.  The  whole  of  education  is 
in  their  hands,  some  being  itinerant  teaeii- 
ers,  and  others  establishing  regular  fichools. 
Others,  again,  mingle  the  characters  of 
musicians  and  merchants,  and  all  make  the 
l)rincipal  part  of  their  living  by  the  sale  of 
amulets,  which  arc  nothing  more  tlian 
Mahometanizcd  grcgreea.  So  great  is  the 
demand  for  these  amulets,  tlmt  a  wealthy 
man  is  sometimes  absolutely  enclosed  in  a 
leathern  cuirass  composed  of  nothing  but 
amtileU  sewed  np  in  their  neat  leathern 
ca.ses. 

One  of  the  Mandingo  songs,  translated  by 
Mr.  W.  Reade,  shows  clearly  the  opinion  in 
which  these  men  arc  held.  "If  you  know 
how  to  write  Marabout  (i.  e.  Arabic,  and  not 
Mandingo),  you  will  become  one  of  the  dis- 
ciples of  God.  If  vou  know  Marabout,  you 
are  the  greatest  of  your  family.  You  main- 
tain them.  If  they  commit  a  fault,  it  is  you 
who  will  protect  them." 

Another  of  these  proverbial  sayings  ex- 
presses the  uselessness  of  gregrees,    '•  The 


Tiibabd  went  against  Oalam.  The  King  of 
Maiid  Hivid  to  a  woman,  'Take  your  child 
put  it  in  a  mortar,  and  pound  it  to  dust' 
From  its  dust  i  will  make  a  man  rise  who 
will  save  our  town.'  Tho  woman  pounded 
her  child  to  dust.  From  the  dimt  came  a 
man;  Imt.  the  Tnhiilm  look  MaiiV  The 
'>Tul>abH"are  the  Fn'ucb,  and  the  saying 
evidently  refers  to  tho  inanufacturo  of  a  gre- 
gree  similar  in  character  to  that  which  has 
been  mentioned  on  page  (i()4. 

Still,  their  innate  belief  in  tho  power  of 
gregrees  is  too  strong  to  be  entirely  eradi- 
cated; andif  Olio  of  their  chief  men  dies,  they 
keep  his  death  secret,  and  bury  his  body 
In  a  mivate  spot,  thinking  that  il'an  enemy 
could  get  possession  of  his  blade-bone  ho 
would  make  a  gregreo  with  it,  by  means  of 
which  he  could  usurj)  the  kingdom  for  him- 
self 

Marriages  are  solemnized  by  the  mara- 
bout, in  tho  mosque,  with  an  odd  mixture  of 
native  and  borrowed  ceremonies.  Next  to 
the  marabout  tho  bridegroom's  sister'plnys 
the  most  important  jmrt  at  the  ceremony 
and  in  tho  future  household;  gives  tho  arti- 
cle of  clothing  which  takes  the  place  of  our 
wedding  ring,  and  which  in  this  country 
would  bo  thought  rather  ominous,  — namely, 
a  i)air  of  trousers,— and,  if  a  child  bo  born  of 
the  marriage,  has  the  privilege  of  naming  it. 
Polygamy  is,  of  course,  the  rule,  and  each 
woman  has  her  own  houfse.    So,  when  a  girl 


is  married,  she  stays  with  lier  i)arent8  until 
her  own  house  is  built,  when  she  is  con- 
ducted to  it  in  groat  state  by  her  young 
friends,  who  sing  a  mournful  song  deidorln" 
tho  loss  of  their  comi)anlon.  " 

The  women  have  every  reason  to  bo  con- 
tented w  1th  their  lot.  They  are  not  degra- 
ded slaves,  like  the  married  women  in  so 
many  jiarts  of  Africa,  and,  if  ifhyihiug,  have 
the  upper  hand  of  their  husbands.  "They 
are  the  most  tyrannical  wives  in  Africa." 
writes  Mr.  Reade.  "They  know  how  to 
make  their  husbands  kneel  before  their 
charms,  and  how  to  place  their  little  feet 
upon  them.  When  they  are  threatened 
with  divorce,  they  shed  tears,  and,  if  a  man 
repudiates  his  wife,  they  attack  him  m 
m«s.sc  — they  hate,  but  protect,  each  other. 

"They  go  to  tlii.s  unfortunate  husband, 
who  has  never  felt  or  enjoyed  a  quiet  mo- 
ment in  Ills  own  house,  untl  say, '  Why  do 
you  ill  treat  your  wife?  A  woman  is  help- 
less; a  man  has  all  things.  Go,  recall  her, 
and,  to  appease  her  just  anger,  make  lier  a 
kind  present.'  The  husband  prays  for  for- 
giveness,  and,  when  his  entreaties  take  tho 
form  of  a  bullock  or  a  slave,  she  consents  to 
return." 

Tho  food  of  tho  Mandingocs  is  chiefly 
rice  and  milk,  but  when  they  are  wealthy 
they  Indulge  in  many  luxuries.  T\w  same 
author  who  h.os  just  been  quoted  gives  tlio 
details  of  an  entertainment  cooked  hy  half- 
bred  Maudingoes.    First  they  hat}  oysters 


INFLUENCE   OP  MAIIOMETANISM. 


609 


pliirknd  (Vom  Uk;  hramli.s  ..f  ticcn,  to 
which  they  nttachod  thciiiHclvcH  iit  hi^h 
water,  and  were  h'ft  Niispciidcd  whi-n  thn 
floods  rocude.  Then  then'  wcin  mU>»,  ciiri), 
and  mtillot,  iill  very  hml,  hut  very  Wfll 
cooked.  "Then  follliwed  Kii/.elh;  cu'thaH  <i 
lapapilliilp;  two  sMiiill  niiinkevH  served 
croM.s-ie;;;,'ed  imd  with  hver  Hiuiee,  on  toast; 
Btowed  iKuiinii,  which  w.is  much  ii(hnire<l;  n 
diali  of  rojwted  crocodih'H'  e,!,',i,'s;  Moine  slices 
of  smoked  eie|)h;iut  (from  the  interior), 
which  none  of  us  could  touch;  a  few  aj»ree- 
Rhle  i)l:ites  of  fried  locusts,  land-cnihs  (pre- 
viously fattened),  and  other  cruslacea.';  the 
hroasls  of  a  mermaid,  or  manat('e,  the  ^rand 
honm-hmche  of  (he  re|)a.sl;  some  boiled  alli- 
giitor,  which  had  a  laslo  lic'tween  pork  and 
cod,  with  the  addition  of  a  musky  flavor; 
and  some  hippopotamus'  steaks  —  aiu;  nom- 
mcs  (U  Irrrc 

"  We  mifjht  have  obtained  a  better  dessert 
at  Covent   (fanlen,  where  w<(   can  see   tlie 
bright  side  of  the  tropics  without  the  trouble 
or  expense  of  travelling.     Hut  w(!  had  pine- 
apples,   oranges,    roasted    plantains,  silver 
bananas,  papaus  (which,  when  made  into  a 
tart  with  cloves,  mijrht  be  taken  for  apples), 
and  a  variety  of  fruits  which  had  long  na- 
tive names,  curious  siiapes,  and  all  of  them 
very   nasty   tastes.      Tlie   e(d(d)rate(I   '  eal)- 
bage.'  or  topmost  hud  of  the  palm  tree,  also 
formed  i)art  of  the  repaxi,  and  it  is  said  to 
be  the  finest  vegetable  in  the  world.    When 
stewed  en  sauce  blanche,  it  is  not  to  be  com- 
pared with  any  vegetable  of  mortal  growth. 
It   must  have   been   the  ambrosia    of   the 
gods." 

The  Arandingoes  who  have  not  embraced 
Mahometauisnv  are  much  inferior  to  their 
coinpatrtots  who  have  renounced  their  le- 
tishism.  Mr.  lleade  tells  a  ludicrous  story 
of  a  native"' king,"  wli.  Was  even  dirtier 
than  any  of  his  subjects,  ami  if  possible  was 
uglier,  his  face  being  devoid  of  intelligence 
and  utterly  brutish;  he  made  long  speeches 
m  Mandmgo,  which,  as  usual  with  such 
speeches,  were  simply  demands  for  every- 
thing he  saw,  and  acted  in  a  manner  so  eon- 
fionaut  with  his  appearance,  that  he  excited 
universal  disgust,  and  remarks  were  made 
very  freely  on  the  di.sadvantages  of  beinc 
entirely  in  a  savage  state,  and  never  havinc 
mixed  with  superior  beings. 

wo'^if'""'  ^'^"J  '*''''""*'  '"terpreting  business 
was  at  an  end,  and  nothing  remained  except 
the  number  ot  kola  uuta  to  be  given  as  the . 


present  of  fiiendship  —  a  customary  cero- 
uiony  in  this  country.  Six  had  been  given, 
and  the  king  made  a  long  spei'di,  whlcli 
turned  out  to  hv  a  rerpiest  for  more  "  Well 
we  can't  very  w<dl  refuse  the  dirty  rufllan,'' 
sai(  the  visitor;  "  give  him  four  more,  thit 
will  make  ten."  ' 

"  Make  it  twrnti/,"  cried  the  king  eairerlv 
forgetting  that  his  rnk  was  to  a|)iK.ar  iuno- 
raiit  of  Eiigli.-sli.  He  had  Hv.mI  for  somo 
years  at  Sierra  Leone,  and  could  speak 
l-.nglisb  as  well  as  any  one  when  he  chose 
and  hail  heard  all  the  remarks  niioii  his 
[•ecuhar  ai)i)carance  without  giving  the  least 
indication  that  he  understood  a  word  that 
was  said. 

One   of  the   old   superstitions  which  still 
holds  its  own  against  the  advance  of  Ma- 
homctanism   is   one   which   belongs   to    an 
island  on  the  Upper  ]{iver.    On  this  island 
there  is  a  mountain,  and  on  the  mountain 
lives  a  spirit  who  has  the  unpleasant  power 
of  afflicting  human  beings  so  severely  that 
they  can  never  sit  flown  for  th(<  rest  of  their 
lives.     Therefore,  on  passing  the  liill,  it  is 
necessary   to   lUKdolhe   the    body  from  the 
waist  downward,  to   turn    the   ba.;k  to  the 
mountain,  and  pray  the  spirit  to  have  com- 
passion  on   his   votaries,   and  continue    to 
them  the  privilege  of  sitting.    Every  one  U 
forced  to  und(;rgo  this  ceremony,  but  fortu- 
nately the  spirit  is  content   if   it   be   per- 
ormod  by  deputy,  and  all  travellers  there- 
fore, whether  men  or  women,  i)ay  natives  of 
their  own  sex  to   perform   this  interesting 
rite    for    them.     Itowever,   like    the    welU 
knoiyn  etiquette  of   crossing  the  line,  this 
ecemony  need  only  be  iieiformed  on  tho 
flr^t  tune  of  pasfiing  tho  hill,  the  spirit  beinir 
s.itislled  with  the  tribute  to  his  power. 

The  universal  superstition  respecting  the 
power  of  1  imaii  beings  to  chanfe  them- 
selves into  I  .tial  shapes  still  reigns  among 
the  Mandin-oes,  and  it  is  ratliei-  doubtful 
whether  v  ven  the  followers  of  Mohammed 
have  shaken  themselves  quite  free  from  tho 
old  belief.  The  crocodile  is  the  animal 
\yho8c  form  is  most  usually,  taken  among 
tlie  Mandingoes,  and  on  one  occasion  a  man 
who  had  been  bitten  liy  a  crocodile,  and 
narrowly  escaped  witl.  iiis  life,  not  only  said 
that  tho  reptile  was  a  metamorphosed  nian, 
but  even  named  the  indiviuual  whom  ho 
knew  himself  to  have  offended  a  few  days 
before  the  accident. 


i 

'A 

i 


!>M 


CHAPTER   LXI. 


THE  BUBfiS  AND  CONGOESE. 


BKAL  NAMB  OF  THK  BITDI«C  —  THF.IR  LIMITED  RANOK  —  ArrBAIIANrB  ANH  MANNKR9  OK  THE  MEN — 
TOLA  I'AHTK— REAHO.V<»  FOR  NUDITY  — lUnrt  AHCIMTKITI'RK  —  OKNKKAL  CHARACTER  OF  THE 
BUIllSS  — A  WKDDlNd  AT  FKRNANUO  TO  — fONOO  — ITH  (1E0<1RAPIIICAI,  l-OHITION  —  CURIOIH  TAXA- 
TION—RELKIIOK  OF  lONOO- THE  ClilTOME  AND  HIH  I-t)WKIlS— HIS  DEATH,  AND  LAW  OK  dllC- 
CBHSION  — TIIK,  NOIIOMUO  AND  HW  MODE  OK  WALKINO  — TIIK  OUDRAL  — (.'EKEMON V  OF  ClIOWNINO 
A  KINO  — THE  noVAL  ROIIEH  — THK  WOMEN  OF  CONOO  — EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  COUNTRY- 
TUB  FEMALE   MONAIICU- THE   FATE  OF  TEMBANDUMBA. 


The  Biil)c'  tribo  (whii-h  unfortunately  i« 
pronouncetl  Hooby,  is  a  I'cnlly  iiitcrcstinf; 
one,  and,  but  for  the  rnpidly  decreasing 
space,  would  bo  described  in  detjiil.  The 
real  name  of  tli(>  tribe  is  Adizah,  but,  as 
they  are  in  the  habit  of  addressing  others  as 


t.  0.   Man,   the    term   has   clung    to 


they  a 
Bubd, 
them. 

The  Bubcs  inhabit  Fernando  Po,  and,  al- 
though some  of  them  believe  themselves  to 
be  aborigines  of  the  island,  have  evidently 
come  from  the  n  linland.  They  have,  how- 
ever, no  particular  pride  in  their  autoc- 
thonic  origin,  and,  if  questioned,  are  per- 
fectly content  to  say  that  they  came  from 
their  parents. 

The  Bubes  inhabit  only  one  zone  in  Fer- 
nando Po.  The  sea  air  is  too  soft  and  warm 
for  them,  and,  besides,  there  is  danger  of 
being  carried  off  by  the  slavers.  More  than 
three  thousand  feet  above  the  sea  they  cannot 
exist,  not  beciiuse  the  climate  is  too  cold,  but 
because  the  palms  and  plantains  on  which 
they  live  will  not  flourish  there.  With  the 
exception  of  those  individuals  who  have 
come  under  the  sway  of  the  missionaries, 
the  Bubes  wear  no  clothes  except  closely  tit- 
ting  coats  of  palm  oil,  or.  on  crand  occa- 
sions, of  tola  paste,  i.  e.  jtalm  oil  bruised  and 
mixed  with  the  leaves  of  the  tola  herb. 
This  paste  has  a  powerful  and  very  peculiar 
odor,  and  the  first  intimation  of  the  vicinity 
of  a  Bube  village  is  usually  the  scent  of  the 
tola  paste  borne  on  the  breeze. 

The  men  wear  large  flat  liata  made  of 
wicker-work  covered  witli  niGnkcvftk'n  '^nd 


used  chiefly  to  guard  themselves  fVom  the 
tree  snake.  The  women  are  dressed  in  ex- 
actly the  same  fashion,  but  without  the  hat, 
their  husbands  pcihajis  thinking  that  wom- 
en cannot  be  hurt  by  sniikes.  The  hat  is 
fastened  to  the  head  bv  skewers  made  of  the 
bone  of  the  monkey's  leg,  and  the  hair  Itself 
is  i)lentilully  grcasi'd  and  adoriu'd  with  yel- 
low ochre,  and  nianipulate<l  so  that  it  looks 
0.1  if  it  were  covered  with  littlegildcd  peas. 
Round  the  uiijii  r  arm  is  tied  a  ]>m'v  of  string, 
which  holds  a  knife  for  the  man  and  a  pipe 
for  the  woman.  Clothing  is  to  flu  in  a  posi- 
tive infliction,  and  (  aj)tain  Burlon  remarks 
that,  even  at  an  elevation  of  ten  thousand  feet 
above  the  sea.he  otlercd  the  huMa  blankets, 
but  they  would  not  have  them, though  they 
found  the  warmth  of  the  fire  acceptable  to 
them. 

They  have  a  legend  which  explains  their 
nudity.  Many  years  ago  a  Mpongwe  ma- 
gician made  fetish  upon  his  great  war  spear, 
and  killed  numbers  of  them,  so  that  they  fled. 
They  then  made  a  law  that  the  Bubd  should 
wear  no  clothing  until  they  had  conquered 
the  M'pongwe.  and  that  law  they  have  kept 
to  the  present  day. 

Taken  as  a  savage,  the  IJube  is  a  wo.nder- 
ftill^V  good  specimen.  lie  is  very  industrious, 
laving  out  yam  fields  and  farms  at  some  dis- 
tance from  his  house,  in  order  to  jirevent 
his  df)me8tic  animals  fioni  straying  into  it, 
and  he  is  the  best  palm-wine  nK^ker  in 
Western  Africa.  lie  neither  will  be  a. slave 
himself,  nor  keep  slaves,  preferring  to  work 
for  himself;  and,  after  working  hard  at  his 


(610) 


Il  I 


i 

I- 1 

i! 


< 
P. 

Q 

2    tc 


o 
o 
cc 

?! 
m 

< 


16I2) 


p. 

Q 

2     be 
*^     S 

O     ^ 

ce    «£, 

u 

•2: 
•< 


O 


form  he  will  start  off  Into  tne  woods  to  shoot 
monkeys  or  sqinrrels.  He  is  a  good  athlete, 
and  hiindlus  his  great  staff  with  such  ad- 
dress that  he  IS  a  very  formidable  antagonist. 
He  IS  an  admirable  linguist,  picking  up  lan- 
guages with  astonishing  readiness,  and  he 
IS  absolutely  honest.  "You  may  safely 
deposit  rum  and  tobacco  in  his  street,  and  he 

)^  ■'Jf-^m,-.''^'"^  ■''•''  ''"•■'''y  «« the  Hank  of  £n.r. 
Jiiiul.  This  testimony  is  given  by  Captafn 
Uurton,  who  certainly  cannot  be  accused  of 
painting  the  native  African  in  too  bright  col- 
ors. 

Yet  ho  never  trusts  any  one.  He  will  deal 
with  you  most  honorably,  but  he  will  never 
tell  you  hiH  na.iic.    If  you  present  gifts  to 

urn-'  'l" tI"'"'''  "'^'"''  ''"•■'  with  suspicion  : 
Timet  Daiiaos  et  dona  ferentcs."  If  you 
enter  hi.H  village  iinexi)ecteniy,  he  turns  out 
armed,  and,  "if  you  are  fond  of  collectino- 
vocabulari,  M may  the  god  of  speech  direct 
you.  r  ic  fact  IS,  lie  has  been  so  cheated 
and  plundered  that  ho  now  suspects  all  men 
alike,  aiul  will  not  trust  even  his  fellow- 
countryineii  of  the  next  villafe 

an"«.n''°'''"  ^'l-  ""'•'  »'"'"y  ^'''''  '»"*  has 
Sbnnn  .•'^''•'""''"S  ,^^rwH  of  punishments. 
Should   he   detect  her  in  an  inlidelity.  he 

hami  'M"f  '1'  ""'  *'"/'  ""■  "'"^  "ft-^>uler'.s  left 
he.Vh  I'l  '"l^""'  "';;''t"'"I>  into  the  oil  to 
«I?o  In  '?''^''''."V'-  !'"'•  ""^  «ocoiid  offence 
she  loses  (h.-  r.giit  hand,  and  for  the  third 
the  head,  on  wl,i,.!i  oeoasion  the  boiC  oiMs 

and  pai  (Iv  on  account  of  their  ugliness,  which 
s  said  to  be  portentous,  the  women    lis  lay 

Scai"S;!'""""^'^"'^'-^'^''^«ft^-- 
Dr.  Ilntcliinsou,  who  resided  in  Fernando 
Po  for  some  tin,,-,  has  not  a  very  favoral  e 
opm.on  of  th<.  H„l„;s,  thinkinV^  S  t  « 
twenty  or  thirty  thousand  of  their  trS 
form  the  greatest  obstacle  to  civilian.  He 
sUtes,  moreover,  th,.t  altiiough  the  Baptist 
missionaries  have  benn  hn,,-d  at  w.  rk  a mon- 

S^ded" i.r"n"'T"  ^•"'•^-  '""J^  h-1  noS 
i-<-Liie.i   m   (  hnsiianiKing   or  civili/inff    «.. 

even  humanizim,^  a  sin-ri^  H.iby  °'   '*' 

llieyare  not  an  intellectual  race  and  <i, 

ii.mu  (III  nie  iireceiliii'T  n'if»i>       ti.„  i    -j 
was  a  daughter  of  ll,e  ki     "    .on       IT-"*" 
■.side  of  the  town  ou    fir'  "object    f*^.***'"^ 
ti..n  was  the  ,.ooki„g  go  „  ,    ,,'  ,  t^'^^TJ"":- 
esty's  kitchen.    Il.n,  a\u.  nb  r  o  fd'    1  ^ 

r«^af!„H.„   „,  „,    min^i.Mi  up  will,  palm  oil"  I 
aad   several    grubs  writhii'ig  on  'skowc^rs;! 


A  BUBfi  MARRIAGE. 


613 


probably  to  add  piquancy  to  the  dishes 
These  are  called  'Inchaee/  being  obtained 
from  palm  trees,  and  look  at  first'sight  Uke 
Brobclignagian  maggots.  Instead  Sf  wait^ 
nig  0  8eet1,eart  of  the  Fernandian  Soyer 
on  these  components,  I  congratulated  myself 
on  my  ham  sandwiches  and  brandy-and- 
water  bottle  safely  stowed  in  my  portoan- 

&  "In  f  T  *'*■  "'^  ^"'"'•'»  ^""-'^^'^  °«  hU 
oatic,  and   sat  on  my  camp-stool   beneath 

whilf      "^  «hade  o^  a  palm  tree  to  res?! 

"Outside  a  small  hut  belonging  to  th« 

mother  of  the  bride  expectant,!  sf  on  rec! 

ognized  the  happy  bridegroom  undci-oin., 

si'lr^'V™'"/''^  '^«>'ds  of  his  futu/e^i  "1 
sister.  A  profusion  of  tshibbu  strings  (i  e 
small  pieces  of  Achatectona  shell,  "which 
represent  the  currency  in  Fernando  Po) 
being  fastened  round  his  body,  as  well  as  his 
legs  and  arms,  the  anointing  lady  (hayin"a 

to°nuttS-  P'^'  "'  '''\  '"""th/pVocried 
to  putty  him   over   with    tola   paste.      He 

n^^rr'   r°l  ^""ff'^ther  joyous  at  the  aiitici- 
tn    ,         "f,  "PProaehing  happiness,   but 
turned  a  sulky  gaze  now  am    then  to  a 
kidney-shape<  piece  of  brown-painted  yam 
which  he  held  in  his  hand,  and  wlikVCl 

f  i  ,  /^  ^  .''''"^  informed  was  called 
'ntsheba,'  an.l  is  regarded  as  a  protection 
against  evil  influence  during  the  importan" 

"Two    skower-looking    hair-pins     with 

i:.Tl  '.flvT-  r^  '''''''.  P'^«^  bea^fs,  i-astened 
IIS  hat  (which  was  nothing  moi-e  than  a  disk 
of  bamboo  phuting)  to  the  hair  of  his  head- 
;»"'l,''is  toilet  being  complete,  he  and  one 
ot  tlic  bridesmen,  as  elaborately  dressed  as 
himself  attacked  a  mess  of  ste/ed  tlesh  and 
palm  01  p  aced  before  then,,  as  eagerly  aa 
If  they  had  not  ta.sted  food  for  a  fortniffht. 
In  discussing  this  meal  they  followed  the 
primitive  usage  of  'fingers  before  forks' 
only  resting  now  and  then  to  take  a  gulp  oV 
palm  wine  out  of  a  calabash  which  was  hard 
by.  or  to  wij.o  their  hands  on  napkins  of 
cocoa-le.af,  a  i,rocess  which,  to  say  the  least 
otit,  added  nothing  to  their  washerwomen's 
bill  at  the  end  of  the  week. 

"But  the  bride!    Here  she  comes!    Led 

lortl,  by  her  own  and  her  husband-expeot- 

ants  n,otlier.  each  holding  her  by  a  hand 

followed  by  two  '  nepees  '  (jn'ofessional  sin<r.! 

ers;  and   half-a-dozen   bridesn,aids      \-otK- 

ing  short  of   a  correct  photograph    could 

convey  an  idea  of  her  appearance.     Borne 

down  by  the  weight  of.  rings,  wreaths,  and 

gird  es  of  tshibbu,'  the  tola  pomatum  gave 

n(>r  the  appearance  of  an  exhumed  mummy 

save   her  face,   which  was  all  white  — not 

I  *™™„«''^<'ess  of  modesty  (and  here  I  may 

add,  the  negro  race  are  expected  always  to 

hlush  blue),  but  from  being  smeared  over 

■••'"/*  "vriite  paste.  symJjoiical  of  puritv 

"As  soon  as  she  was  out.side  the  phiino. 
Iior  bridal  attiro  wua  proceeded  witli,  and 


m 


CONGO. 


I  i 


11 


H 


the  whole  body  was  plastered  over  with 
white  stuff.  A  veil  or  strings  of  tshibbu 
shells,  completely  covering  her  face,  and 
extending  from  the  crown  of  her  head  to 
the  chin,  as  well  as  on  each  side  from  ear  to 
ear,  was  then  thrown  over  her;  over  this 
was  placed  an  enormous  helmet  made  of 
cowhide;  and  any  one  with  a  spark  of  com- 
passion in  him  could  not  help  pitying  that 
goor  creature,  standing  for  more  than  an 
our  under  the  broiling  sun,  with  such  a 
load  on  her,  whilst  the  nepees  were  celebrat- 
ing her  praises  in  an  extempore  epithala- 
mium,  and  the  bridegroom  was  completing 
his  finery  elsewhere. 

"Next  came  a  long  chant  — musical  peo- 
ple would  call  it  a  howl  — by  the  chief 
nepee.  It  was  about  as  long  as  'Chevy 
Chase,'  and  celebrated  the  beauties  an'd 
many  virtues  of  the  bride,  among  which 
was  rather  oddly  mentioned  the  delicious 
smell  which  proceeded  from  her.  At  every 
pause  in  the  chant  the  audience  struck  in 
with  a  chorus  of  'Heel  heel  jee!  eh  I'  and 
when  it  was  over  the  ceremony  proceeded. 

"The  candidates  for  marriage  having 
taken  their  positions  side  by  side  in  the 
open  air,  fronting  the  little  house  from 
which  the  bride  elect  had  been  led  out  by 
the  two  mothers,  and  where  I  was  informed 
she  had  been  closely  immured  for  fiileen 
months  previous,  the  ceremony  commenced.  I 
The  mothers  wore  the  officiating  priests  —  ' 
an  institution  of  natural  simplicity,  whose 
homely  origin  no  one  will  dare  to  impugn. 
On  these  occasions  the  mother-bishops  are 
prophetically  entitled  'boowanas,'  tlie  Fer- 
nandian  for  grandmother. 

"  Five  bridesmaids  marshalled  themselves 
alongside  the  bride  postulant,  each,  in  rota- 
tion, some  inches  lower  than  the  other,  the 
outside  one  being  a  mere  infant  in  stature, 
and  all  having  bunches  of  parrots'  feathers 
on  their  heads,  as  well  as  holding  a  wand 
in  their  right  hands.  The  mother  stood 
behind  the  '  happy  pair,'  and  folded  an  arm 
of  each  round  the  body-  of  the  other— 
nepees  chanting  all  the  while,  so  that  it  was 
barely  possible  for  my  interpreter  to  catch 
the  words  by  which  tliey  were  formally  sol- 
dered.    A  string  of  tshibbu  was  fastened 


round  both  arras  by  the  bridegroom's 
mother;  she,  at  the  same  time,  whispering 
to  him  advice  to  take  care  of  this  tender 
lamb,  even  though  he  had  hall-a-dozen 
wives  before.  The  string  was  then  unloosed. 
It  was  again  fastened  on  by  the  bride's 
mother,  who  whispered  into  Jier  daughter's 
ear  her  duty  to  attend  to  her  husband's 
farm,  tilling  his  yams  and  cassava,  and  the 
necessity  of  her  being  faithful  to  him.  The 
ratilication  of  their  promise  to  fulfil  these 
conditions  was  effecte  1  by  passing  a  goblet 
of  palm  wine  from  mother  to  son  (the  bride- 
groom), from  him  to  his  bride,  from  her  to 
her  mother,  each  taking  a  sip  as  it  went 
round. 

"Then  an  indiscriminate  dance  and  chant 
commenced;  and  the  whole  scene  —  the  tola 
paste  laid  on  softie  faces  so  thickly  that  one 
might  imagine  it  was  intended  to  affix  some- 
thing to  them  by  means  of  it— the  dangling 
musk-cat  and  monkey  tails  — the  disk  hats 
and  parrots'  feathers—  the  branches  of  wild 
fern  and  strings  of  tshibbu  shells,  fastened 
perhaps  as  nosegays  to  the  ladies'  persona 
—  the  white  and  red  and  yellow  spots 
painted  uiukr  the  eyes,  and  on  the  shoul- 
ders, and  in  any  ])hice  where  they  could 
form  objccls  of  attraction  —  the  tout  en- 
semble,  contrasted  with  the  lofty  Bombax, 
beautiful  palm,  cocoa-nut,  and  other  mag- 
nificent tropical  trees  around,  presented  "a 
picture  rarely  witnessed  by  an  Euioiiean,  and 
one  calculated  to  excite  varied  rellettions." 

Lastly,  the  whole  parly  — the  tola  paste 
now  cra<-king  from  their  bodies  — proceeded 
to  the  house  of  the  biidcgrooni,  the  old 
wives  walking  before  the  bride  until  they 
reached  the  door,  and  then  allowing  her  to 
precede  them.  The  newly-married  pair 
then  stood  at  their  door  facing  the  specta- 
tors, embracing  each  other  as  before.  One 
of  his  children  then  presented  the  bride 
with  a  huge  yam  painted  brown,  others 
fixed  tshibbu  epaulets  on  her  shoulders,  the 
husband  placed  four  rings  on  her  fingers, 
and  the  ceremony  was  concluded  by  a  sec- 
ond lecture  from  the  bridegroom's  "mother 
at  the  expiration  of  which  Dr.  Hutchinson' 
as  he  rather  quaintly  says,  "left  the  happy 
pair  to  the  enjoyment  of  their  tola-moon." 


CONGO. 


Passing  southward  down  the  West  Coast, 
we  come  to  tlie  celebrated  kingdom  of 
Congo. 

In  these  days  it  has  been  so  traversed  by 
merchants  of  different  countries  and  mis- 
sionaries of  ditlerent  sects,  that  it  no  longer 
presents  the  uniform  aspect  of  its  earlier 
monarchical  days,  of  which  we  will  take  a 
brief  survey.  The  reader  must  understand 
that  the  sources  from  which  the  information 
ia  taken  are  not  wholly  reliable,  but,  as  we 


have  none  other,  we  must  make  the  best  of 
our  information,  and  use  our  own  discretion 
as  to  those  parts  whii^h  are  best  wr)rthy  of 
belief.  The  following  account  is  mostly 
taken  from  Mr.  Iteadii's  condensation. 

The  ancient  constitution  of  the  Congo 
kingdom  mucli  resemliled  that  of  Ashanti 
or  Dahome;  namely,  a  despotic  monarchy 
controlled  by  councillors,  the  king  and  the 
council  boini:  niutuallv  jfiiloijs,  »nd  each 
trying  to  overreach  tlie  other.    When  the 


THE  chitom:^. 


kingdom    of  Congo  was    first  established 
the  royal  revenues  wore  much  in  the  same 
condition  as  the  civil  list  of  a  a  o  Emner^r 
of  Russia -all  belonged  to  the  kinT3 
h«  took  as  much  as\e  wanted.    In^'later 
days,  however,  the  revenues  were  controned 
hy  the  council,  who  aided,  not  only  in  their 
disposal,  but  in  the  mode  if  their  collectSn 
1  he  greater  part  of  the  income  depended 
on  the  annual  tributes  of  the  inferioSefs 
but,  as  in  times  of  pressure,  especially  dur: 
lug  a  protracted  war,  this  tribute  is  fnade- 
quate  to  meet  the  expenses,  the  king  ami 
council  devise  various  objects  of  taxation 

xue  most  productive  is  perhaps  the  'tax 
ou  beds  which  are  assessed  according  to 
their  width  every  span  costing  an  annual 
payment  of  a  slave.  Now.  aa  an  ord  naTy 
man  cannot  sleep  comfortably  on  a  bed  less 
than  four  spans  In  width,  it  is  very  evident 
«.at  the  tax  must  be  a  very  productive  on" 
If  indeed  it  were  not  so  oppressive  as  to 
cause  a  rebellion.  The  nativL  .seem,  ifow- 
Si  '^''''  'I'lu"^  acquiesced  in  it,  and  a 
wealthy  negro  therefore  takes  a  pride  in 

proof  of  his  importance.  ° 

As  in  more  civilized  nations,  war  is  the 
great  parent  of  taxation,  the  kin^  bein" 
obliged  to  maintain  a  large  standing  armf 
and  to  keep  it  in  good  humor  by  constant 

Step  '  T,;  "'°*^''  '•^'■^?"*'  •'"t  ^  t"-"ble 
m^nfc  "^  "'"."'-^  '*  ^'V'ded  into  retri- 
ments,  each  acting  under    the   immediate 

th~ve'  ^ll  'i'   ''''''  ^"  whose^'S'i-i 

.y  ','/<'.  -md  they  are  armed    in  a  nmat 
miscellaneous  faslfion,  with    a.\y  weaZs 

^.ZT.  ?r "'■"•.  ^"  ">«««  «™es  the  tmde 
gnus  are  the  most  valued  weapons  but  tho 
native  swords,  bows  and  arrowTspears  and 

muit.  As  to  uniform,  tliey  have  no  idea 
the  c'hSw "'''  •?^""  'liBting'iiish  the  mJn  of 
SmitS  Afri^'"*^"'^'  ■«  '^^  "^°  K^^ffi-  of 

j^S«5%t^th:l£;\s^^^^xr^ 

they  attribute  the  worst  vices  tf^f     ^^'T 
grade  human  nature  "'**  '='*"  ^^• 

The  fetish  men  or  nrii>«t»  a..^  „     • 

Sk'ot'hrm\r'"'^    «ie    conlSIrprpfo 
looK  on  lum  as  scarcely    ess  than  a  anH 

}t~  ''I7'"t«'i»«d  by  a  sort  of  tll^  .L^tJ^l 
'"'■'  ^hrt^t'^H^  of  the  harvest;;wiich 


CIS 


Tr.2  T  "'\"''^t-'ruits  of  the  harvesV "which 
are  brought  to  him  with  great  ceremSny; 


and  are  offered  with  solemn  chants.  The 
Congo  men  fully  believe  that  if  the v  were 
to  omit  the  flrst-fruita  of  one  year's  harvest 
the  next  year  would  be  an^nproduXe 

A  sacred  fire  bums  continually  in  his 
?o"bp'n^'**  the  embers,  which  are  L,  posed 
to  be  possessed  of  great  medicinal  virtues 
^"  «S  by  him  at  a  high  price,  sTthat 

to  him  Ho  'f  **  ''T^''^  '^°'"'««  «f  income 
to  lum.  He  has  the  entire  regulation  of 
the  minor  priests,  and  every  now  and  then 
makes  a  progress  among  them  to  settle  the 
disputes  which  continually  sprin-  up  aI 
soon  as  he  leaves  his  house,  tl  ""husbands 
and  wives    throughout    the '  kingdom    are 

S  fat  ^f  'v^T\^  ""''•^'-  P'-*'"  «f  death 
m  case  of  disobedience,  the  man  only  is 
punished,  and  cases  have  been  known  where 
wives  who  disliked  their  husbands  have  ac! 
cused  them  of  breaking  this  stran-e  law 
and  have  thereby  gained  a  double  'adS 
tage,  Ireed  themselves  from  a  man  whom 
they  did  not  like,  and  established  a  relSZ 
reputation  on  easy  terms.  'f'lgious 

hu"^''^''''  "'°  ^bitome  has  things  entirely 
his  own  way,  with  one   exceptiSu.     lie  is 

forif  L^^V'"  ";"°"°*  ^'«  »  "atural  death! 
for  if  he  did  so  the  universe  would  imme- 
a  ely  be  dissolved.  Consequently,  as  s™o"i 
K  ''rn  '•!  ^^''''"^  ^^'th  a  dangerous  illness 
the  Chitomb  elect  calls  at  his  house  and 
saves  the  universe  by  knocking^ut  £ 
brains  with  a  dub,  or  strangling^ hhn  with 
a  cord  If  he  should  prefer  it.  That  1  is  own 
death  must  be  of  a  similar  chamcter  ha^ 

o°th?n  "P°\"»'  "^'^  Chitome,  who  true 
to  the  negro  character,  thinks  only  of  the 
present  time,  and,  .so  far  as  being  anxious 
fZ/?'  '1^'  '^'''  ^""  happen^  at  some 
aS  tC^'nenX':'  ^^"^"''^  himself  even 
Next  to  the  Chitom6  comes  the  N-hombo 
^au"  Hi?"r''  d.'«"«g»'''heo  by  his  pecuS 
w.ii-  ^''f.,  d'gnity  would  be  imparcd  by 
WiUking  like  ordinary  mortals,  or  even  like 
the  inferior  priests,  and  so  ho  always  waka 
on  his  hands  with  his  foet  in  the Siiereby 
striking  awe  into  the  laity.     Some  of  the 

tica  of  their  office  by  building  little  mounds 
of  earth  and  making  fetish  over  them  FroS 
the  centre  of  each  charmed   mound   rise^ 

;\v  r??  •'"'"•^''  '^'"^^'^  '»°""t«  into  the 
sky  and  brings  as  much  rain  as  the  peop  o 
have  paid    or.    These  priests  are  re-ularlv 

to  the   otfice,  such   as  dwarfs,  hunchbacks 
and  albinos,  all  of  whom  are'  highly  hon.' 

Z.il'\  f"?.'""^  '■''^"'•'^d  iiKlivhluals,  con- 
secrated to  the  priesthood  by  Nature  her- 

,'^'SA«..™'n'»onest    mo.lo    bcin-    th« 

\mt^Pl!fT  P'^i'T'  cup,  and  the  r.arest 
the  test  of  the  red-hot  ron,  which  is  an. 
phed  to  the  skin  of  the  accuked'aad  buS 


I 


I'l 


i 


(     f 


616 


CONGO. 


him  if  he  be  guilty.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
the  magicians  aro  acquainted  with  some 
preparation  wliicli  renders  the  skin  proof 
against  a  brief  applicatior.  of  hot  iron,  and 
that  tL.y  previously  apply  it  to  an  accused 
person  who  will  pay  for  it. 

The  Chitomfe  naa  the  privilege  of  con- 
ducting the  coronation  of  a  king.  The  new 
ruler  proceeds  to  the  house  of  the  Chitome, 
attended  by  a  host  of  his  future  subjects, 
who  utter  piercing  yells  as  he  goes.  Hav- 
ing reached  the  sacred  house,  he  kneels  be- 
fore the  door,  and  asks  the  Chitome  to  be 
gracious  to  him.  The  Chitomfe  growls  out 
a  flat  refusal  from  within.  The  king  renews 
his  supplications,  in  spite  of  repeated  re- 
buffs, enumerating  all  the  presents  which 
he  has  brought  to  the  Chitome— which 
presents,  by  the  way,  are  easily  made,  as 
he  will  extort  an  equal  amount  from  his 
subjects  as  soon  as  he  is  fairly  installed. 

At  last,  the  door  of  the  hut  opens,  and  out 
comes  the  Chitome  in  his  white  robe  of 
office,  his  head  covered  with  feathers,  and  a 
shining  mirror  on  his  breast.  The  king  lies 
prostrate  before  the  house,  while  (he  Chi- 
tome pours  water  on  him,  scatters  dust  over 
him,  and  sets  his  feet  on  him.  He  then  lies 
flat  on  the  prostrate  monarch,  and  in  that 
position  receives  from  him  a  promise  to 
respect  his  authority  ever  afterward.  The 
king  is  then  proclaimed,  and  retires  to  wash 
and  change  his  clothes. 

Presently  he  comes  out  of  the  palace, 
attended  by  his  priests  and  nobles,  and  gor- 
geous in  all  the  bravery  of  his  new  rank, 
his  whole  person  covered  with  glittering 
ornaments  of  metal,  glass,  and  stone,  so 
that  the  eye  can  scarcely  bear  the  rays  that 
flash  on  every  side  as  he  moves  in  the  sun- 
beams. He  then  seats  himself,  and  makes 
a  speech  to  the  people.  When  it  is  finished, 
he  rises,  while  all  the  people  crouch  to  the 
ground,  stretches  his  hands  over  them,  and 
makes  certain  prescribed  gestures,  which  are 
considered  as  the  royal  benediction.  (See 
the  engraving  Xo.  2,  on  the  next  page.)  A 
long  series  of  banquets  and  revelry  ends  the 
proceedings. 

At  the  present  day,  the  Congo  king  and 
great  men  disfigure  themselves  with  Euro- 
pean clothing,  such  as  silk  jackets,  velvet 
shoes,  dama.sk  cDats,  and  broad -brimmed 
hats.  But.  in  the  former  times,  they  dressed 
becomingly  in  nutive  attire.  A  simple  tunic 
made  of  very  fine  gm.ss  cloth,  and  leaving 
the  right  arm  bare,  covered  the  upper  part 
of  the  body,  while  a  sort  of  petticoat,  made 
of  similar  material,  but  dyed  black,  was  tied 
round  the  waist, and  an  apron,  or  "sporran," 
of  leopard  skin,  was  fastened  to  the  girdle 
and  hung  in  front.  On  their  heads  they 
wore  a  sort  of  hood,  and  sometimes  pre- 
ferred a  square  red  and  yellow  cap.  San- 
dals made  of  the  palm  tree  were  the  pecul- 
iar privilege  of  the  kins  and  nobles,  the  com- 
mon people  being  obliged  to  go  bare-footed,  i 


The  wives  in  Congo  are  tolerably  well  off, 
except  that  they  are  severely  beaten  with  the 
heavy  hippopotamus-hide  whip.  The  women 
do  not  resent  this  treatment,  and  indeed 
unless  a  woman  is  soundly  flogged  occasion- 
ally ■  thinks  that  her  husband  is  neglect- 
ing 1.  ;,  and  feels  offended  accordingly. 
The  king  has  the  power  of  taking  any 
woman  for  his  wife,  whether  married  or  not, 
and,  when  she  goes  to  the  royal  harem,  her 
husband  is  judiciously  executed. 

The  people  of  Congo  are  —  probably  on 
account  of  the  enervating  climate  —  a  very 
indolent  and  lethargic  race,  the  womc^ 
being  made  to  do  all  the  work,  while  the 
men  lie  in  the  shade  and  smoke  their  pipes 
and  drink  their  palm  wine,  which  they  make 
remarkably  well,  though  not  so  well  as  the 
Bube  tribe  of  Fernando  To.  Their  houses 
are  merely  huts  of  the  simplest  description; 
a  few  posts  with  a  roof  over  them,  and  twigs 
woven  between  them  in  wicker-work  fash- 
ion by  way  of  walls,  are  all  that  a  Congo 
man  cares  for  in  a  house.  His  clothing  is 
as  simple  as  his  lodging,  a  piece  of  native 
cloth,  tied  round  his  middle  being  all  that 
he  cares  for;  so  that  the  ample  clothes  and 
handsome  furs  worn  by  the  king  must  have 
had  a  very  strong  effect  on  the  almost  naked 
popiilace. 

According  to  traditional  history,  Congo 
was  in  old  times  one  of  the  great  African 
kingdoms.  Twice  it  rose  to  this  eminence, 
and  both  times  by  the  energy  of  a  woman, 
who,  in  spite  of  the  low  opinion  in  which 
women  are  held,  contrived  to  ascend  the 
throne. 

Somewhere  about  1520  — it  is  impossible 
in  such  history  to  obtain  precision  of  dates 
—  a  great  chief,  named  Zimbo,  swept  over  a 
very  large  part  of  Africa,  taking  every  coun- 
try to  which  he  came,  and  establishing  his 
own  dominion  in  it.  Among  other  king- 
doms, Congo  was  taken  by  him,  and  ren- 
dered tributary,  and  so  powerful  did  he  at 
last  become,  that  his  army  outgrew  his  ter- 
ritory, and  he  had  the  audacity  to  sind  a 
division  to  ravage  Abyssinia  and  Mozam- 
bique. The  division  reached  the  eastern  sea 
in  safety,  but  the  army  then  met  the  Portu- 
guese, who  routed  them  with  great  loss. 
Messengers  conveyed  the  tidings  to  Zimbo, 
who  put  himself  at  the  heatl  of  his  remain- 
ing troops,  went  against  the  Portuguese, 
beat  them,  killed  their  general,  and  carried 
off  a  great  number  of  prisoners,  with  whose 
skulls  he  paved  the  ground  in  front  of  his 
house. 

In  process  of  time  he  died,  and  the  king- 
dom separated,  after  African  fashion,  into 
a  number  of  independent  provinces,  each 
governed  by  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  now 
useless  arniy.  One  of  these  leaders  had  a 
daughter  named  Tembandumlia,  who,  to- 
gether with  her  mother,  ruled  the  ijiovince 
when  her  father  died.  These  women  al- 
ways accompanied  the  troops  in  Avar,  and  so 


1 


(1.)    \VA.SHIN(i    DAY. 
(See  page  MH.) 


(i.)    A  CONliO  COKONATION. 

(See  page  Old.) 

(C17) 


I 


I 


I 

I 


fierce  and  bloodthirsty  was  Tc-mbanduinba 
even  as  a  girl  that  her  mother  gave  her  the 
command  of  half  the  troops,  "the  na  ural 
consequence  of  which  was  that  she  took  the 
command  of  the  whole,  deposed  her  mother 
and  made  herself  queen. 

Iler  great  ambition  was  to  found  a  nation 
t  ^uT'fu-  Licentiousness  she  permitted 
to  the  fullest  extent,  but  inarria"c  wis 
utterly  prohibited;  and,  as  soon  as  the 
women  found  themselves  tired  of  their  male 
companions,  the  latter  were  killed  and  eaten 
their  places  being  supplied  by  i)risnu(,rs  of 
war  All  male  children  were  killwl,  and 
She  had  nearly  succeeded  in  the  object  of 


610 


FATE  OF  TEMBANDUMBA. 

her  ambition,  when  she  wna  poisoned  bv  a 


>oung  man  with  whom  she  fell  violently  in 
love,  and  from  whom  she  imprudently  ac 
cepted  a  bowl  of  wine  at  a  banquet. 

It  IS  very  remarkable  that,  about  a  hun- 
dred years  after  the  death  of  Temband- 
imba,  another  female  warrior  took  the 
kingdom.  Her  name  was  Shingu,  and  she 
ohtained  a  power  scarcely  less  than  that  of 
her  iircdecessor.  She,  however,  was  wise 
in  h(>r  generation,  and,  after  she  had  fou<»ht 
the  Portuguese,  and  been  beaten  by  them, 
she  concluded  an  humble  peace,  and  re^ 
tinned  her  kingdom  in  safety. 


THE  JU-JU  KXKcuiiOxV.    (Hee  puyc  002.} 


CHAPTER  LXII. 


BORNU. 


POSITION  OF  THK  KIXOnOM  OF  BORJTO  — APPEAIIANCR  OP  THB  PEOPI.R  —  MODE  OF  DKESSINO  THE  IIAIB 
—  A  UFXKI'TIOX  BY  TUK  SULTAN  — (■OL'riT  DIIESS  — THE  SHEIKH  OF  IIORNV  — HIS  PALACE  AND 
ATIENDANTS  — HIS    NOllLK  AND     ENEUOKTIC    CHAnACTEB  — KECEPTION    IIY  THE    (aAUIlS —THEIR 

WEAPONS  AND   DISCIPLINE —  THE    KANEMBOO  INFANTRY IVBTICE    OF  THE  SHEIKH— HIS  POLICY 

AND  TACT— HEPUTED  POWEU  OF  CHAKM  WniTING  — HIS  ZEAL  KoR  RELKJION  — A  TKHHII1LE  I'lJN- 
ISHMENT  — IlOllNi;  AllCHITECTUHE  —  CUIUOUa  MODES  OF  KISHINQ  AND  IIUNTINO  — HAUITS  AND 
CUSTOMS  OF  TUB  KAMEMUOOS. 


I 


On  the  western  side  of  Lake  Tchad,  between 
10°  and  Ifj"  N.  ,1.1(1 12°  and  18°  E.,  is  situated 
the  Iaru;c  Ivinsjdoi)'.  of  J3ornu,  whicii  embraces 
a  coiisideriililc  number  of  tribes,  and  is  of 
sulHcicnt  importance  to  demand  a  notice. 
Tliere  arc  about  twelve  or  thirteen  great 
cities  in  IJornu,  and  at  least  ten  different 
dialects  are  spoken  in  the  country,  some 
having  been  due  to  the  presence  of  the 
Shooas,  who  themselves  speak  nearly  pure 
Arabic. 

The  pure  Bornn  people,  or  Kanowrv,  as 
they  call  themselves,  arc  not  handsome, Slav- 
ing large,  (lat,  and  rather  unmeaning  faces, 
Avith  llaltish  noses,  and  large  mouths.  The 
lips.  liowevtM-,  are  not  those  of  the  negro, 
and  (he  forehead  is  high,  betokening  a 
great(-r  amount  of  intellect  than  falls  to  the 
lot  of  (lie  real  nc^ro. 

As  a  rule,  (he  IJornuese  are  not  a  wealthv 
people,  and  they  are  but  indifferenllv  clad, 
wearing  a  kind  of  shirt  stained  of  anindijjjo 
blue  by  themselves,  and,  if  they  are  toh'raldy 
well  oil",  wearing  two  or  even  three  such 
garments,  arcor(ling  to  their  means.  The 
head  is  *ept  closely  shaven,  and  the  belter 
class  wear  a  cap  of  dark  blue,  the  scarlet 
caps  being  ai>pro])riated  to  the  sultan  and 
his  court.  When  they  walk  they  always 
carry  a  heavy  stick  with  an  enormiius  knob 
at  the  to|),  like  a  drum-major's  bfiton,  and 
march  inucb  after  tlu;  manner  of  that  impor- 
tant functionary. 

The  women  are  remarkable  for  the  mode 
in  which  tliey  clresa  their  hair.     It  is  divided 


into  three  longitudinal  rolls,  thick  in  the 
middle  and  diminishing  toward  the  ends. 
One  of  these  rolls  passes  over  th(>  (oj)  of  the 
head,  and  the  others  lie  over  the  cars,  the 
three  points  uniting  on  the  forcluad,  and 
being  held  lirnily  in  their  places  by  a  thick 
plastering  of  beeswax  and  indigo.  'J'lie 
other  ends  of  the  rolls  an-  i)laitcd  very 
llnely,  and  then  turned  up  like  the  curle'd 
feathers  of  a  drake's  tail. 

Sometimes  a  slight  variation  is  made  in 

the   hair,  five  rolls  being   u.scd   instead   of 

three.     The  women  are  so   fond   of  indigo 

that   they  dye  their  eyebrows,  hands,  arms, 

feet,  andlcgs  with  it,  using  the  ruddy  henna 

for  the  palms  of  the  hands  and  the  nails  of 

the  toes  and  fingers,  and  black  antimony  tor 

the  eyela.«hes.     Beads,  bracelets,  and  (itiier 

ornaments  are   profusely   worn,   mostly  of 

horn  or  brass.     Silver  and  ivory  iiiaik  the 

woman   of  rank.      Tin;   dress   is   luiniarilv 

composed  of  a  sort  of  blue,  white,  or  strijiell 

sheet   called    toorkwke,   which    is    wra])i)e(l 

rouial  the  body  under  the  arms,  and  fulls  as 

low  as  the  knees.     This  is  the  usual  costLunc, 

but  if  a  woman  be  well  off,  slie  adds  a  second 

toorkadee,  which  shi-  wears  like  a  mantilla, 

over  her  head  and  shoulders. 

Like  other  African  tribes,  though  they 
belong  to  the  Mahometan  religion,  tlicv  use 
the  tattoo  profusely.  Twenty  cuts  are  inade 
on  (iiu'h  side  of  tin?  face,  converging  in  the 
corners  of  the  mouth,  from  the  angle  of  the 
lower  jaw  and  the  cheek-bones,  while  a  sin- 
gle cut  run.s  down  the  centre  of  the  fore- 


(OiiO) 


A  RECEPTION  BY  THE  SULTAN. 


m. 


head.  Six  cuts  arc  made  on  each  arm,  six 
more  on  tho  tliif,'hs,  a,  i  (li.;  same  number 
on  the  l('-,'s,  while  (our  .n  on  ouch  breast 
and  nnie  on  each  side  jus;  above  the  hip- 
bone. Thcs((  are  miiile  wliile  they  are 
infants,  and  tlie  poor  little  thinys  undergo 
frightful  torments,  not  only  from  the  pain  of 
the  wounds,  but  from  the  countless  flies 
which  settle  on  the  hundred  and  throe  cuts 
with  which  their  bodies  are  marked. 

The  IJornui'se  are  n:overned,at  least  nom- 
inally, by  a  head  chief  or  sultan,  who  holds 
his  court  with  most  quaint  ceremony.    When 
the  travellers  Denliam  and  Cluppertcm  went 
to  pay  their  resi)ects  to  him,  they  were  vis- 
ited on  the  previous  cveninj^  by  one  of  the 
royal  cliamberliiins.  who  displayed  the  enor- 
mous slaU;  like  a  drum-major's  baton,  wore 
eight  or  ten  shlris  in  order  to  exhibit  his 
wealth,  and  had  on  bis   head  a   turban   of 
huge  dimensions.     Hy  his  orders  a  tent  was 
pitched  for  the  whito'visilors,  and  around  it 
was  drau  n  a  liuen   screen,  which  had   the 
double  etlect  of  ki'cpini,'  out  the  sun  and  the 
people,  .iiil  of  admitting  the  air.     A  royal 
banquet,  consist iiig  of  seventy  or    ei'rhtv 
dishes,  was  sent  lor  their  refection,  eaeh7lish 
arge  enoierh  to  siKlice  for  six  persons,  and, 
lest  the  white  men  should  not  like  the  n.itive 
eookery,  th(!  sultan,  with  much  tliou"htful- 
ness,  sent  also  a  number  of  live  fowls,"vhich 
they  nii-ht  cook  for  tbemselves. 

Next  morniug,  soon  after  davli'>'ht  thov 
were  .sumuv)Med  to  atteml  the  siiUan'  who 
v;as  sit 1 11,.^  ill  a  sort  of  cage,  as  if  he  had 
been  a  wi  d  beast.  No  one  was  allowed  to 
come  within  a  considerable  <lisfanee,  and 
the  etimiette  of  fh,>  court  was,  (hat  each  per- 
son ro  le  on  horsebaek  past:  the  eve  and 
then  dismnunted  and  prostrated  himself  be- 
fore the  sultan.  The  oddest  part  of  fho 
ceremony  is.  tint  as  soon  as  the  e„urti,.r  has 
made  Ins  obei-anee,  he  seat'*  himself  on  the 
fft-ound  with  his  hark  toward  his  monarch 

taWll'r,"'^''"'''"';''''^'''^'  '■'''•'••!-«  S 
lake  their  places,  and  nothing  eouM  be  more 

n  esen/'A  h"'  '!''\!'W^^^^^''<'  H-hich  they 
presented,  their  bo.lies  being  putfed  out  Iw 
successive  robes,  ,h.dr  heads^swa    ed?^V.r^ 

In  fact  the  wholebusiness  is  a  sinm   (he 

r'S^iil^^  iurt^;^?;,,:^';:;;"'*- ^- 

court  of  I  ornu  are,  by  ancient  etique  e 
obliged  to  have  very  largo  heads  .and  "torn-' 
aohs,  and,  .as  ..nrh  gifts  of  nature  are   not 


their  abdonienu  seem  to  protrude  over  the 
jwmmel  of  the  naddle,  while  the  eight  or  ten 
Hinrts  winch  the;y  wear,  one  over  the  other 
aid  m  exaggerating  the  outline,  and  reduc- 
mg  the  human  body  to  a  shapeless  lump. 

1  heir  heads  are  treated  in  a  similar  fashion, 
being  enveloped  m  gr.uit  folds  of  liuen  or 
muHlin  of  dilferent  colors,  white,  however 
predominating;  and    those   who    are  most 
careful  in  tluir  dress  fold  tlieir  huge  turbans 
so  a.s  to  make  th.-ir  hea.ls  appear  to  bo  on"! 
sided  and  as  unlike  their  original  shane  as 
possible     Besides  all  these  roi.es  anSThirte  ' 
and  i)addinK,  they  wear  a  v.ast   number  of 
charms,  macro  up  in  red  leather  j.arcels,  and 
nng    all    over   the  body.      Tl/e   sultan  is 
.1  wa\-8  m-omnanied  by  Ins  trumpeters,  who 
low  hideous))l.asts  on  long  woiden  trum- 
pets   called    frnm-trums,   and  also    by  his 
dwarls,  and  other  grotesque  favorites. 

In   war,  as  in  peace,  the  sultan  is  nomi- 
nally the  commander,  and  in  reality  a  mere 
nonentity.    Jle  aceompanies  the  sliL'ikh,  but 
never  gives  orders,  nor  even  carries  .arms 
active  li^'hting  being  supj)osed  to  be  below 
Ins  dignity.     One  of  the  sultans  lost  his  life 
in  consequence  of  this  rule.     Accordiiur  to 
custom  he  liad  accompanit-d  the  sheikh  ?n  a 
war  .against  the  great  enemy  of  Bornu,  the 
sultan   ol   iJegbarmi,  and,  contrary  to   the 
usual  result  of  these  battles,  the  eng.agement 
had  gone  against  him,  and  he  was  obliged  to 
take  refuge  in  llight.    Unfortunately  for  him 
hough  he  was  qualilied  by  nature  for  royalty 
belli;,  large-bodied  an.l  .,f  enormous  weight 
yet  his  horse  could  not  carry  him  fast  enough 
lie  led  to  Ang.ala,  one  of  his  chief  towns, 
and  If  be  could  hiive  entered  it  would  have 
Deen  safe.     Hut  his  enormous  weight  had 
distressed  his  horse  so  much  that  llK"animal 
suddenly  slopped    close    to    tlio  gate,  and 
could  not  be  induc(-d  to  stir. 

The  sultan,  true  to  the  principle  of  no- 
blesse nhb,jc,  accepted  the  i)osition  at  once, 
lie  dismounted  from  his  horse,  wraiiiiod  his 
taco  in  the  shawl  which  covered  liis  head 
seated  himself  under  a  tree,  and  died  as 
beeame  his  rank.  Twelve  of  his  attendants 
rotused  to  leave  their  master,  and  nobly 
shared   hia   death.  ^ 

Around  the  snllati  are  his  inevitable 
musicians,  continually  blowing  their  frum- 
trinns  or  trumpets,  which  are  sometimes 
ten  or  twelve  feet  in  len<;th.  and  in  front 
goes  his  ensign,  bearing  bis  standard,  which 
IS  a  long  ])ole  hung  round  at  the  top  with 
strips  of  colored  leather  and  ^Ik.  At  either 
side  are  two  ollicers,  carrying  enormous 
spears  with  which  thev  .are  supposed  to 
netond  their  monarch.  Tliis,  however  is  as 
much  a  sham  as  the  rest  of  tlio  proceedings- 
tor,  in  the  first  place,  the  spearmen  are  so 


ii^i 


very  common,  an   artilicial  o    a  .e    ent  of  ^f 'n  ."i  n"-"""'^  '''"''"'  ^'"'  «I'<^arm<'n  are^sd 
botf,  regions  is  held  to  be  a  sultieiont  com  m     H"'','"  ^»^"P""^  ^'^  unwieldy  that  they 

pl.anee   with    custom.      CV.n.e     ouiv    tl?e'   m"'!*'  T^  '  ?  "''^  '""'''  ^^^'^''"tion,  and,  .as  if 
courtiers   or.,1  tH-..<,-.ive=  „•='  ■         !  r     tbe  [  to  render  the   .spears  still  mnrr.  1.n,.mi"»s 

such  an  extent  that  astliey  sit  U  hoScil  to  ihe  butr''"' ''"''  "'"""'  ^"^'^^  ^'"^ 


en 


UOIINIJ. 


III!' 


ft  hnn  been  mcntlonoil  tlint  tlui  ronl  power 
of  JJinnii  rcMl.M,  not  witli  the  sultiui,  l)ul  witli 
tho  Hhiikli.  Thin  iiolcntnUi  wiih  tininil  to  be 
of  Himpic  pcrmiiml  ahiu,  yi't  Hiirroiimlcd 
wilb  HliUc  <>(|inil  l«)  tbiit  of  tbd  miltim,  tboiijjb 
diHi'riii«  ill  (Icfircc.  Uicsmd  in  a  pliiiii  blue 
robe  luiil  11  siuiwi  tuibuii,  br  prcrm-cd  to  Hit 
quictl.v  ill  :i  Hiimll  iiiui  <lurk  rooin,  ii((ciiilo<l 
hy  two  of  bis  favorite  ih'>,'io('m  aniiiMl  witb 
piMtols,  and  bavins;  a  liiiico  of  pi.stols  Ijinj^ 
Oil  a  cai'pi'l  ill  front  of  liiiii. 

Hilt  Ibc  approaclics  to  tbin  cba  ibcr  were 
riporoiislv  ^;iiaiilt^d.  Siiiliiii'is  Hto..d  at  liic 
gate,  and  iiiti'ici'ptcd  tbo.se  wbo  W'ubcd  to 
outer,  and  would  not  allow  tbeiii  ti.  niouni 
tbo  staircase  wbieb  led  lotbe  sbeikliV  ipart- 
nuMit  until  tliey  were  satislled.  At  tbo  lop 
of  tlie  slairease  were  iie/,'rt)  K'Hirds  ari.icd 
wilb  ^jl(•ars,  wliieb  t bey  crossed  in  front  of 
tlie  visitor,  and  ai^ain  (|ii(slioned  biiii.  Tbcn 
tbc  passa^'cs  leadin;;  to  tiic  sbeiklrseliainber 
wore  lined  wilb  rous  of  scpiatiin^'  atleiid- 
nuts,  wbo  snadbed  olf  tin;  slipiiers  of  tbc 
visitors,  and  continually  impeded  Ibeir  jiro- 
gress  l)\-  seizinjr  tliei'r  ankles,  lest  Ibev 
pbonld  infrin;<e  etiipiette  by  walking  too 
fast.  Indeed,  bad  not  tbo  "passii^jes  been 
densely  crowded,  ibe  -quests  would  liave 
boon  several  limes  tbinj;  <iii  tbeir  faces  by 
tbo  zeal  of  tliese  courtiers. 

Al  Inst  tliey  siaiiied  admission,  and  found 
this  dread  poU  iitate  a  sini:ularly  quiet  aii(l 
UiiMssiiminjj;  man,  well-disposed  toward  Ibe 
travellers,  and  very  f,'raleful  to  tbem  lor  Ibe 
(loiible-harrelled  m'lii  and  pistols  wbieb  tbev 
jiresenled  to  biin.  In  return,  lie  fed  tbei'ii 
liberally,  semlinij  tbem  tisb  by  tlie  camel 
load,  and  niber  provisiims  in  like  qiianlily. 

Aecordiiii;  to  bis  warlike  disposition,  "bis 
oonyer.-ation  cbielly  turned  on  niililaiv 
alVairs,  and  especially  on  tbe  best  modo  tit 
attacking'  walled  towns.  'l"be  account  ot 
breacliiiiir  b.illerie-  liadnjrreat  ell'ect  upon 
him.  iiiid  tbe  exliiliiiion  of  a  couple  of  rock- 
ot.s  eonlirmed  liim  in  bis  lespect  for  tbe 
wisii  ni  of  tbe  Kii;;lisli.  IJein!;  a  Iboiigbt- 
fiil  man.  be  asked  to  see  some  rockcis  tired, 
lu'caiise  there  were  in  the  town  a  number 
of  tlie  hostile  Sliooas.  The  rockets  wore 
tired  accordiiiiily.  and  bad  tbe  desired  etfoct. 
frif:litenin<_'  not  only  the  Sli(>oa,s.  but  all  tbe 
inbahitants  of  tbe  town,  out  of  tbeir  senses. 
nnd  even  the  steady  nerves  of  the  .sbeikli 
himself  wen>  much  shaken. 

Tbo  ."ibeikb  was  a  fjrent  discijdinarinn, 
nnd  maii.-i^jed  his  wild  cavalrv  with  siiiu'iilar 
skill,  as  is  shown  by  the  aivount  of  Major 
Denbam.  "( )ur  accounts  bad  been  so  con- 
tr.idictory  of  the  state  of  the  country  that 
no  opini.m  could  be  formed  as  to  the  real 
condition  and  tbe  number  of  it.s  i?iliabitants. 
Wo  bad  been  fold  that  the  sheikli's  soldiers 
wore  a  few  riiijijed  ne<;roea  armed  witli 
spoars.  wbo  lived  upon  the  plunder  of  tbo 
black  Katlir  countries  by  which  bo  was  sur- 
rounded, and  wbieb  be  'was  able  to  subdiio 
by  the  assistance  of  .-i  few  Arabs  who  were 


in  liin  Her"ice;  and,  a^rain,  wo  ha<l  boon 
asrtuied  tliiil  his  forces  Were  iiol  only  numer- 
ous, but  to  a  dejjree  r.  ;iilarly  I  ruined.  Tbu 
dogr(H!  of  credit  wbieb  ininlit  be  altiicbed  to 
tlieso  reports  wim  nearly  balanceil  in  the 
scales  of  probabililN,  and  we  iidvunced 
toward  tbe  town  of  Koiika  in  a  niosl  inter- 
esting state  of  iiiieertaintv  wbelher  wc 
should  find  its  chief  at  the  bead  of  thou- 
sands, or  be  received  liy  jijiii  iiniler  u  tree, 
Hlirrounded  by  a  few  naked  .slaves. 

"  Those  doubts,  however,  won"  (|uiokly 
roinovod.  I  b.id  ridden  on  a  short  distance 
in  front  of  Hoo-Kliiii'ioiii,  with  his  train  of 
.Vrabs  all  mounted  and  dressed  out  in  their 
best  apparel,  and.  from  tbe  tlii(  kiicss  of 
tb(^  trees,  now  lost  siijlit  of  them.  I''ancy- 
iiig  that  the  road  could  not  be  mistaken' I 
rode  still  onward,  and,  approaching  a  spot 
less  thickly  planted,  was  surprised  lo  soo  in 
front  of  me  a  body  of  several  thousand  cav- 
alry drawn  U|>  in'liiie,  and  cxiendiiii,'  right 
and  left  as  tar  as  I  could  see.  Checking 
my  horse  I  awaitt d  llie  arrival  of  my  party 
under  the  shade  at'  a  wide-spreading  acacia. 
Tbo  llornii  troops  leiiuuiied  (|uile  steady, 
without  noise  or  confiisioii;  and  a  few  borse- 
nieii,  who  were  moving  about  in  Iroiit,  giv- 
ing directions,  were  the  only  persons  out  of 
the  ranks. 

"On  Ibe  Aralisnpponring  In  sight,  n shout 
or  ^vell  was  given  by  the  sbtikirs  people, 
winch  rent  the  air;  a  blast  was  blown  from 
their  rude  instruments  of  nmsic  e(|iially 
loud,  and  iliey  moved  on  to  nieil  l>oo-Klia- 
looin  and  bis  Anjis.  There  was  an  apjiear- 
aiice  of  tact  and  niaiiMg.  ineiit  in  their 
inovenients,  wliicb  astonishid  nie.  Three 
separate  bodies  trom  tbi'  centre  of  each 
llaiik  ko)it  charging  rapidly  toward  us, 
witliin  a  few  feet  of  our  boi -e's'  heads,  with- 
out checking  the  sjieed  of  tbeir  own  until 
the  moment  of  ibeir  halt,  while  llu^  whole 
body  moved  onward. 

••'I'bese  jiarties  were  mounted  on  small 
l)ut  Very  ]ierfect  horses,  wbo  stopped  and 
wlu'clett  fniii  tin  ir  ntmosl  speed  wilb  the 
greatest  pre(  ision  and  expeiiness,  shaking 
Ibeir  spoars  over  llieir  beads,  and  exclaim- 
ing, ■  Hlessiiigl  blessiii^rl  Sons  of  your  conn- 
Iryl  Sons  of  your  coimiryl '  and"  rtlurning 
quickly  to  the"  front  ot  I'i'e  body  in  order  to 
repeal  the  charge.  Wliiie  all  tins  was  going 
on,  they  closed  in  their  right  and  leli  Hanks, 
and  surrounded  the  lilllc  body  of  Arabs  so 
oomplolely  as  to  give  Ibe  ciiiiipliment  of 
welcoming  tlieiii  very  niiicb  tbe  appearance 
of  a  (b'claration  of  their  Contempt  tiir  their 
Weakness. 

"  I  was  quite  sun!  tliis  was  ])reniedila- 
tod;  wo  were  idl  so  closely  jiressed  as  to  be 
nearly  smothered,  and  in  some  danger  from 
the  crowding  of  the  horses  .-iiid  clashing  of 
the  spears.  Afoving  on  was  impossible,  and 
we  thorofore  came  to  a  full  stop.  Our  chief 
was  much  onrau'ed,  but  it  was  all  to  no  pur- 
pose ;  he  was  only  auswi  red  by  shrieks  of 


THE   KANEMBOO  INFANTRY. 


•Wnlcomn  l»  and  nncnn  most  unr.Iwuiumly 
rutUo.l  over  our  hciocls  uxproBsivo  ol"  Ih..  (mmu 

'-Tliis   iiiuioyaiicn   wiw   not,   howovor,  of 
lonx  duration.      IJimin  (J.nm,  |,|,„  Hlu.ikli'M 
llrHt  (jiiiicriil,  n  n.-^ro  of  iiot)l(.  iwi|i,.(:t,  clothod 
II  a  (iKiirocl  Hilk  robe,  liiid  (iioiiiitod  upon  u 
boiiiitiliil   Miiiiiliirii  liorsi),  madtt  liiis  Mi)puar- 
iiiice,  and  al'tcu-  a  littln   dolay  tlio  roar  wan 
cloarod  of  (lio.so  wlio  had  primmid  in  upon  im 
and  wi!  inovtui  Corward,  although   l)ii(,  vt*ry 
Niowly,    lioi       (III)    (V6(|ii(-ut     inipcdinuiiitH 
thrown  III     iir  wiiy  Uy  tho.so  wii(i  warrioiM. 
"  Til."    "  icikh'H    n.>«rooH,   »»    thiiy    w.'i.s 
callftd,  III.  aniii!,'  tho  iilack  ciiiidH  and  «rin'r- 
alH,  all  laJHi  d  to  (iiat  rank  liy  Honio  dutMl  of 
bravery,  wcni  habited  in  ooatH  of  mail  ooin- 
nosc'd  of  iron   chuiii,  which  covmcd   tlu-iii 
from  tlx!  throat  to  (lit!  km^'H,  diviiliiij,'  bu- 
hiud,  and  (;omin(,'  on  each  sido  of  the  horMc. 
Soint)  of  tbdin  had  lielinrtH,  or  rathor  skull- 
caps, of  dm  samo lal,  with  chiu-pli.tva  all 

sutnoientlv  Htronjj;  to  ward  olf  the  shock  of  a 
8j)oar.  Tlifir  liorscs'  lu-ada  wcro  also  d(>. 
fond    '  '        


023 

wc  have  boon  ho  familiar  In  Southern  and 

t    ini  by  tin,  iuct  that  an  iron  chain  Ih  puhho-I 
tl  rouKh  a  hob,   in   that   part  of  th«   hcL 

of  "the  VT  n  ".r  "«'l  ^'"'  ""»'•  "!  tlio  3 
>f,tho  liandlo  tbo  other  end  of  tin,  chain 

o.iiK  a  Uchud  to  a  riuK  that  nlid  ,8  freo  v 

!•  •f"<l  «luwn  the  handle.     Thin arranjome  |t 

ciuillcs  the  warrior  to  secure  and   rei,  ace 

the  head  of  the  axe  if  it  should  bo  8  ruck  mU 

;;"^  '""Idle  in  the  lu,„t  of  battle.     A  1," 

o  b  e-e,lKed  .luKKer,  ..h„ped  almost  exact  5 

like  the  Hj.ear  heml,  i,  IliMleiied  to  the    eft 

dowill^a'rd;''"'*'  """^  ^"  ^'"■""'^  ^'"^  "-  ii't 

The   inlimtry  carry,  together  with  other 

weap.,„s,an  Iron  axe,  shaped  like  a  sSe 

n.l  closely  nsemblinK  the   weapon  whlcl^ 

lias  been  mentioned  as  used  by  the  Ne-un- 


Nam  and    Fmi  tribes. 
"  lmn«a-inunga,"  and 


T! 


'■*   IS  (Hllod  the 


just  leavliijV 
tlie  animal." 

In  rny  collodion  tlioro  is  one  of  the  re- 
markable spears  carried  by  these  horsemen 
Jn  total  length  it  is  nearly  six  feet  lonir, 
ot  which  the  loii},'.  slender,  loaf-liki,  bla.lc 
occupies  tw.'iity  inches.  The  shall  is  (Ive- 
ei)^hthsof  an  inch  in  diameter  at  the  thickest 
part,  but  dimiiiish(!s  tow.ird  the  head  ami 
butt  Ihe  material  of  (he  shaft  is  some 
Hard,  dark  wood,  which  takes  a  hi.'h  polish 
nnd  18  ol  a  rich  brown  color.  The  head  in 
sec'urod  to  the  shaft  by  means  of  a  rather 
long  socket,  and  at  tin?  butt  th.-re  is  a  sort  of 

Ih.Vt  m''";''  ''"m"  '■!."■,"'«'"•''  with  a  socket,  so 
tli.it  the  leuiTth  ot  the  wooden  portion  of  the 
spear  is  only  thirty-two  inches.  It  is  a  liifht, 
well-balanced,  and  apparently  scrviceablo 
wcrtpon. 

Besides  those  weapons,  there  are  several 
others,  otlensivo  and  defensive.  The  chiefs 
wear  a  really  well-formed  cuirass  made  of 
I  oil  plate.s,  and  having  an  ingenious  addi- 
tion o  a  kind  of  steel  uprishtcollar  attached 
to  the  back  piece  of  the  cuirass,  an.l  nro- 
tecliiig  he  nape  of  the  neck.  The  <-uinws  is 
made  of  five  plates  of  stool,  laid  hori"  Slv 
and  nveCd  to  each  other  and  of  as  ma  v 
similar  p  ates  attache.I  to  them  ,^,^6.  licu^ 

Uti  strajis.  It  IS  made  to  open  at  one  side 
to  admit  of  beinvr  p„t  «„  „'„j  off,  a  id  le 
two  halve.s  are  kept  together  by  looj^  ami 

Tlie  chief's  horses  are  also  distinirnished 
by  the  quantity  of  armor  with  which  thov 
are  pro  ected  an  iron  chamfron  coverlne 
the  whole  of  the  forehead,  and  cxten.lZ  a^ 
far  as  the  nostrils.  *> 

By   the  saddle-bow  ham/s  n    hntn 


.,t  „  „  ,„     ,.•■  ■     '»  "•*«-''l  '<>r  throwing 

at  a  retreating  enemy.  The  infantry  are 
mostly  Kanemboo  negroes.  They  are  a  ta  1 
muscular  race,  an.l,  being  also  courageous 


lo<l  by  piafrs  of  iron,  brass,  an  1  s  Iver'   l.T' weTl  'r^"' '""'''<'"«  .'v'^o  courageous 
leavlni  sulllcient  room  for'  the  eves  of    b 'v^  y."'V  uTr.*^^!  .H"' '''""^ 


lliey  aio  held  by  ti„,ir  maHter''    Unlike  the 
horsemen,  tlioy  are  almost  completely  naked 
t  eir  only  clothing  being  a  rather  ilmK 

hi  s  irJ "'•'"•""     "'r*^-'"''"'  ^'"'  t "« 
iiair  sill  remaining  on  the  skin,  and  a  few 

^tnpsot  cloth,  called  "gubkiis,"  tied  rom.d 
'   '•"•  heads,  and  brought    under  the  Ze 

trt"«o  ?r;^"  '"T.^''"  ''•"'•'•''"••V  "*■  t''«  ««•"■'- 
'  his'h,  ad!  '""''■"''''  '*''•  '^*'"'"»  "" 

anrshh.Id"'Tr\'^'''''"^''    "'*'   ^'"'   "P*""- 
1(1  shield.     Ihe  former  is  a  very  horrible 

weapon,  seven   feet  or  so   in    length,  ad 

armed  with  a  number  of  Iiook-shapod  barbs 

file  shield  IS  made  from  tlie  wood  of  the 

logo,  a   tree   which  grows   in   the  shallow 

Tr^?/  '"•',''«  :^''''"«i.  '""1  which  ?s  loiZ 

tha  ,  although  the  shicl.l  !«  l„rge  enough  to 
protect  (he  whole  bo.ly  and  upper  pS  of 
the  legs.  It  only  weighs  a  few  polinds.  The 
pieces  ot  wood  ,,f  which  it  is  mAde  are  boun.l 

vbb  b  Th  ^^1  '■'■''•''  "^'i''^  I'ullock's  hi.le,  on 
which  the  hair  is  siifTored  to  remain  as  an 
ornament,  and  which,  after  doing  their  dutv 
are  earned  along  the  outer  edge  of  the' 
Shield  in  a  vandyked  pattern.    The  shield 

hiel^^*l^.  V  "''^"•i     ^^"?>^-^  '^'^  «"«»«•  *''<i 
Shield,  the  Kan.unboo  soldier  mostly  carries 

on  Ins  left  arm  a  dagger  like  that  which  has 
a^roiuly  been  described,  but  not  so  neatly 
Sribcl.  ^'""^'"^""^  ^^i"  »>«  Presentlj; 
At  least  nine  thousand  of  these  Mack  soU 
<lir8  are  under  the  command  of  the  sheikh 
and  are  divided  into  r.^giinenU  of  a  thou- 
sand or  so  strong.  It  may  be  imagined  that 
they  are  really  formidable  troops,  especially 
under  the  command  of  such  a  leader,  who 
a-*  wil  be  «• ,  n  by  Major  Denham's  descrii,-' 
fion  of  a  review,  had  introduced  strict  disci- 


.haped  exactly  iike^  those  ^^  ^h'^U^l^lI^^'^^tS:;^^  ^^^^S^ 


624 


nouNu. 


■oldioM,  and  f^allopod  toward  them  on  bin 
fftvoritii  liorflc,  iW!fompi»»ii>(l  hy  four  sultann 
who  wtT«i  under  hin  coniniiuid.  {IIh  stafl' 
W(!r«  gaily  adorned  with  m-arlot  hornoimeM 
decorated  with  j?old  hice,  wliile  he  hiinwif 
preserved  his  tiatial  niniplicity  of  dniuM,  hin 
rol)eH  being  white,  and  a  Ciuthmcru  nhawl 
forming  hiii  turl)an.  As  soon  as  lio  gave  tlie 
signal,  the  KanenilMxis  raised  a  deafening 
shout  and  began  tlieir  iniimiuvres,  their  olll- 
ccr»  being  distinguished  by  wearing  a  dark 
blue  robu  and  turban. 

"On  Hearing  the  spot  where  the  sheikh 
had  platted  himself,  they  quickened  their 
pace,  and  after  striking  tlieir  spears  against 
their  shields  for  some  minutes,  which  had 
an  extremely  grand  and  stinniing  tirteet,  they 
filed  ofl'  to  the  outside  of  the  circle,  where 
they  ngaiii  formed  and  awaited  their  com- 
panions, v.ho  succeeded  them  in  the  same 
order.  There  appeared  to  be  a  great  deal  of 
art'eetion  between  these  troops  and  the 
sheikh,  lie  spurred  his  horse  onward  into 
the  mid^t  of  some  of  the  tribes  as  they  came 
up,  and  S|,;>ke  to  them,  wlulo  the  men 
crowded  rouml  him,  kissing  bis  feet  and  the 
stirrups  of  his  saddle.  It  was  a  most  jdeas- 
ing  siglit.  He  seemed  to  feel  how  much  liis 
present  elevation  was  owing  to  their  exer- 
tions, while  they  displayed  a  devotion  and 
attachment  deserving  and  denoting  the 
greatest  confidence 


"I  confess  I  was  considerably  disappointed 
at  not  seeing  these  troops  engage,  although 
more  than  <  ompen.sated  by  the  reflection  of 
the  8laught>r  tnat  had  been  prevented  by 
that  disappointment." 

It  seems  rather  curious  that  this  leader, 
80  military  in  all  his  thoughts,  should  take 
women  with  him  into  the  field,  especially 
when  he  had  to  fight  against  the  terrible 
Munija  archers,  whose  jk  'soned  arrows  arc 
ccrtiiin  death  to  all  who  arc  wounded  by 
them.  Yet,  whenever  he  takes  the  field, 
he  is  accompanied  by  three  of  his  favorite 
wives,  who  are  mounted  on  trained  horses, 
each  beinc  led  by  a  boy,  and  their  whole 
figures  anrt  faces  so  wrapped  in  their  wide 
robes  that  the  human  form  is  scarcely  dis- 
tinguishable. The  sultan,  as  becomes  his 
superior  rank,  takes  with  him  an  unlimited 
number  of  wives,  accompanied  by  a  small 
court  of  p.alace  officers.  Nine,  however,  is 
the  usual  number  allotted  to  th(!  sultan,  and 
there  are  nearly  a  hundred  non-combatants 
to  wait  upon  tliem. 

The  army,  well  ordered  as  it  is,  shows 
little  signs  of  its  discipline  until  it  is  near 
the  enemy,  the  troops  marching  much  as 
they  like,  and  beguiling  the  journey  with 
songs  and  tales.  As  soon,  however,  as  they 
come  within  dangerous  ground,  the  sheikh 
gives  the  word,  and  they  all  fall  into  their 
places,  and  become  steady  and  well-disci- 
plined troops. 

The  sheikhas  place  is  one  of  no  ordinary 
J>eriL  for,  besides  hayini?  the  rusnunsibl.'it" 


of  command,  and  the  practical  care  of  the 
flultaa'H  unwieldy  person,  ho  is  the  object 
at  which  the  enemy  all  aim,  knowin-f  well 
that,  if  they  can  oiily  kill  the  sheikh,  their 
victory  is  a-ssured.  This  particular  sheikh 
entirely  disregarded  all  notion  of  personal 
danger,  and  was  the  most  conspicuous  per- 
sonage in  the  army.  lie  marches  in  tW)nt 
of  his  soldiers,  and  before  him  are  borne 
five  flags—  two  green,  two  striped,  and  one 
red  — uptm  which  (ire  written  in  letters 
of  gold  extraclM  fVoni  the  Koran.  Uehird 
him  rides  his  favorite  attendant,  bearing 
his  master's  shield,  mail  coat,  and  helmet, 
and  beside  him  is  the  bearer  of  \\\h  drum 
which  is  considered  as  almost  e(piivalent 
to  himself  in  value.  The  IJegbarniis  say  of 
this  sheikh,  that  it  is  useless  to  attack  him, 
because  he  has  the  power  of  rendering  him- 
self invisible;  and  that  on  on(^  occasion, 
when  they  routed  his  army,  and  pursued 
the  sheikh  himself,  they  could  not  see  either 
him  or  liis  drum,  though  the  instrument 
was  continually  sounding. 

Uefore  j)a8sing  to  another  branch  of  this 
subject,  we  will  finish  our  account  of  this 
sheikh.  His  name  was  Alanuen  Hen  Mo- 
hammed  el  Kanemy,  and.  according  to  Ma- 
jor Denhani's  portrait,  he  was  a  nuin  of 
mark,  his  boldly-cut  features  expressing  his 
energetic  character  even  under  the  (olds  ol 
the  turban  and  tobe  in  which  he  habitually 
enveloped  himself.  Being  the  virtual  ruler 
of  the  kingdom,  he  administered  justice  as 
well  as  waged  war,  and  did  so  with  stern 
imitartiaiity. 

On  one  occasion,  when  a  slave  had  of- 
fended against  the  law,  and  was  condemned 
to  death,  bis  master  petitioned  the  sheikh 
against  the  capital  punishment,  saying'  that, 
as  the  slave  was  his  property,  the  real  pun- 
ishment fell  upon  hmi,  who  was  not  even 
cognizant  of  his  slave's  offence.  The  sheikh 
admitted  the  validity  of  the  plea,  but  said 
that  public  justice  could  not  be  expected  to 
yield  to  private  interests.  80  he  ordered 
the  delinquent  for  execution,  but  paid  his 
price  to  the  owner  out  of  his  own  purse. 

Ho  was  equally  judicious  in  enforcing  his 
own  authority.  IJis  <'  orite  oflicer  was 
Barca  Gana.  who  has  already  been  men- 
tioned. El  Kanemy  had  an  csjiecial  liking 
for  this  man,  and  had  committed  to  his  care 
the  government  of  six  districts,  besides 
enriching  him  with  numbers  of  slaves, 
horses,  and  other  valuable  property.  It 
happened  that  on  one  occasion  El  Kanemy 
had  sent  him  a  hoi-se  whidi  he  had  ina(l- 
vertently  promised  to  another  person,  and 
which,  accordingly,  Barca  Gana  had  to  give 
up.  Being  enraged  by  this  proceeding,  he 
sent  back  to  the  sheikh  all  the  animals 
he  had  presented,  saying  that  in  future  he 
would  ride  his  own  animals. 

El  Kanemy  was  not  a  man  to  suffer  such 
an  insolent  message  to  be  given  with  ini- 
pu&i.y,     He  seat  for  Barca  Gbuui,  stripped 


GENERAL  BAV.C\  GANA. 


him  on  ho  ipot  of  all  hU  Kor^«„u«  clothing, 
jub«ti  iiU-d  the  8lav.<'H  Lvithorii  Kir.lU.  for 
1U8  robes,  ami  or.lcr.,1  l.im  U,  he  hoI.I  ,J 
a  lavo  U,  th^  Ti  .boon.  IIumbl..<l  to  Uu, 
•  dii«L,  the  disKriiced  KciKTiil  ackiiowlodK.Hl 
tho  JtiHthio  of  tljo  w^iteiuo,  n„d  oaly  beuge.l 
that  hiH  iniwter'M  dmi)I..iw.,r.>  iniKlit  not  tUH 
on  his  wives  and  cfiiidrcn.  Noxt  day,  u« 
IJjirra  Giina  wa«  about  to  I),.  |„,i  away  to  the 
Iibboos,  tlio  ncK")  body  KUards,  who  ncem 
to  havo  roBpeclcd  their  Keneral  for  his 
CournKc  in  spito  of  his  haughty  and  soinc- 
What  ovcrbeannn  manner,  eunio  beforu  the 
Bhoikh,  and  boKK«.(i  him  to  pardon  their 
commander.  Jiwt  at  that  moment  tlio  dio- 
gnu-cd  chief  came  before  liiH  (ilfeiided  mas- 
ter, to  taU  h^avo  before  uoinR  off  witlt  tlio 
llbbooR  to  whom  he  liad  been  sold 

El  Kancnjy  was  miito  overcome  \^y  the 
BiKht,  Huns  himsell  l)acl<  on  hia  carpet 
went  like  a  c^hild,  allowed  Burea  Gana  to 
embrace  Iua  knees,  and  gave  his  free  par- 
don. "  In  the  eveninj^  there  was  great  and 
gtmeral  rejoioing.  'J'he  timbrels  beat,  the 
Kanemboos  yelled  and  struek  their  shields' 
everything  bespoke  joy,  and  Jiarea  Gana' 
m  new  robes  and  a  rich  bernouse,  rode 
round  the  ciimp,  followed  by  all  the  chiefs  of 
tlie  army." 

Even  in  war,  El  Kanemy  permitted  policy 
and  tjict  to  overcome   the  national  feolinK 
of  revenge.    For  «xample,  the  formidable 
Munga  tnbe,  of  whom  we  shah  presently 
treat,  had  proved  i4hemselves  exceedinirlV 
troublesome,    and    the    sheikh    threatened 
to  extermmate  them  — a  threat  which  he 
could   certainly  have   carried  out.  thouflh 
with  much  loss  of  life.     He  did  not,  how- 
ever, inteiKl  to  fulfil  tlie  threat,  but  tried, 
by  working  on  their  fears  and  their  Inter- 
csts,  to  concili.ite  them,  and  to  make  them 
his  allies   rather    than    his    foes.     lie  did 
not  only  frighten  them  by  his  splendidly- 
appointed  troops,  but  awed   them  by  his 
accomplishments  as  a  writer,  conyine  out 
a  vast  number  of  charmed  senU'nces  for 
three  successive  nights.  The  illiterate  Muu- 
gas  thought  that  such  a  proceeding  was  a 
proof  of  supernatural  power,  and  yielded 
to  his  wisdom  what  they  would  not  have 
yielded  to  his  veritable  power.    They  said 
It  was  uaeless  to  light  against  a  man  who  had 
such  terrible  powers,    2<ight  after  night,  as 
he  wrote  the  potent  words,  their  arrows 
were  blunted  in  their  quivers.    Their  spears 
snapped  asunder   and  their  weapons  were 
removed  out  of  their  huts,  so  that  some  of 
the  chiets  absolutely  became  ill  with  terror 
and  all  agreed  that  they  liad  better  conclude 
peace  at  once.    The  performance  of  Major 
Denham  8  rocket*  had  also  reached  their 
ears,  and  had  added  much  to  the  ceneral 
consternation.  *' 

He  carried  his  zeal  for  religion  to  tlie 
extreme  of  fanaticism,  constituting  himself 
the  guardian  of  public  morals,  and  visitino. 
oaencea  with   iiie  severest  penalties.    H^ 


was  espociallv  hard  on  the  women,  over 
whjm  he  keiit  a  vigilant  watch  by  means  of 
ins  spies.    On  one  occasion,  two  young  girls 
or  seventeen  were   found  guilty,  aiKl  con- 
aemne(i  t.»  be  hanged.    Great  remonntranceH 
were  miule.    The  lover  of  one  of  the  girls 
who  hail  previously  offered  to  marry  her' 
threatened  to  kill  any  one  who  plu<M<l  a  rone 
round  her  neck  and  a  general  excitement 
peryiuled  the   place.    For  a  long  time  the 
sheikh  remained  inexorable,  hut  at  last  com- 
pounded the  affair  by  having  their  heads 
shaved    publicly    in    the    market-iilace  —  a 
disgrace  scarcely  less  endurable  than  death. 
On  another  occasion  the  delinriuents  hud 
exaggerated  their  offence  by  comniittinjr  it 
during  the  fust  of  the  lihaniadaii.    The  man 
was  sentenced  to  four  hundred  stripes,  and 
the  woman  to  half  that  number,    llio  pun- 
isliment  was  immediate.    The  woman  mm 
stripped  of  her  ornaments  and  all  her  gar- 
ments, except  a  cloth  round  the  middle,  and 
her  heat  shaved.     Shu  was  then  suspended 
by  the  cloth,  and  the  punishment  indicted. 

Jler  partner  was  treated  far  worse.  The 
whip  was  a  terrible  weapon,  made  of  the 
skill  of  the  hippopotiimus,  and  having  a 
metal  knob  on  the  end.  Each  blow  wa« 
stnick  on  the  back,  so  that  the  lash  curled 
round  the  body,  and  the  heavy  knob  came 
with  t<)rrible  violence  on  the  breast  and 
|Htomach.  Uefore  half  the  lashes  wore 
inflicted,  blood  flowed  profusely  from  his 
mouth,  and.  a  short  time  after  the  culprit 
waa  taken  down  he  was  dead.  Strange  to 
say,  he  acknowledged  the  justice  of  the 
sentence,  kissed  the  weapon,  joined  in  the 
profession  of  faith  which  was  said  before 
the  punishment  began,  and  never  uttered  a 

Fierce  in  war,  and.  as  we  have  seen,  a 
savage  fanaUc  in  religion,  the  sheikh  was 
I  no  stransrer  to  the  softer  emotions.  Major 
Deidmm  showed  him  a  curious  musical 
snufl-box,  the  sweetness  of  which  entranced 
him.  He  sat  wiUi  his  head  in  his  hands,  as 
It  m  a  dream;  and  when  one  of  his  cour- 
tiers spoke,  he  struck  the  man  a  violent 
blow  for  interrupting  the  sweet  sounds. 

Ills  punishment  for  theft  was  usually  a 
severe  flogging  and  a  heavy  fine.  But,  in 
cases  of  a  first  offence  of  a  young  delin- 
quent, the  offender  was  buried  in  the  ground 
up  to  his  shoulders,  and  his  head  and  neck 
smeared  with  honey.  The  swarms  of  flies 
that  settled  on  the  poor  wretch's  head  made 
his  existence  miserable  during  the  time  that 
he  was  thus  buried,  and  no  one  who  had 
undergone  such  a  punishment  once  would 
be  hkely  to  run  tlie  risk  of  sufferine  it 
again,  even  though  it  did  no  permanent 
injury,  like  the  whip.  Beheading  is  also  a 
punishment  reserved  for  Mahometans,  while 
Kaffirs"  are  either  impaled  or  crucified 
^m^imes  living  for  several  days  in  tor- 

Tbe  slaves  of  the  Bornueae  aie  treated 


;■! 


i\ 


'*  I 


i' 


696 


BORNU. 


Ill 


I 


with  great  kindness,  and  are  almost  consid- 
ered aa  belonging  to  tlieir  master's  family, 
their  condition  being  very  like  that  of  the 
slaves  or  servants,  as  they  are  called,  of  the 
patriarchal  ages.  Much  of  the  marketing 
is  done  by  female  slaves,  who  take  to  market 
whole  strings  of  oxen  laden  vth  goods  or 
cowries,  and  conduct  the  transaction  with 
perfect  honesty.  The  market,  by  the  way, 
m  which  these  women  buy  and  sell,  is  really 
a  remarkable  place.  It  is  regulated  in  the 
strictest  manner,  and  is  divided  into  dis- 
tricts, in  each  of  which  different  articles 
are  sold.  It  is  governed  by  a  sheikh,  who 
regulates  all  the  prices,  and  gets  his  living 
by  a  small  commission  of  about  a  half  per 
cent,  on  every  purchase  that  exceeds  four 
dollars.  He  is  aided  by  dylalas.  or  brokers, 
who  write  their  private  mark  mside  every 
parcel. 

The  whole  place  Is  filled  with  rows  of 
.stalls,  in  which  are  to  be  found  everything 
that  a  Bornuese  can  want,  and  one  great 
convenience  of  the  place  is,  that  a  parcel 
need  never  be  examined  in  order  to  dis- 
cover whether  any  fraud  has  been  perpetra- 
ted. Should  a  parcel,  when  opened  at 
home,  be  defective,  the  buyer  sentls  it  back 
to  the  dylala,  who  is  bound  to  find  out  the 
seller,  and  to  force  him  to  take  back  the 
parcel  and  refund  the  money.  As  an  exam- 
ple of  the  strange  things  which  are  sold  in 
this  market,  Major  Denham  mentions  that 
a  young  lion  was  offered  to  him.  It  wa.s 
perfectly  tame,  and  was  led  about  by  a  cord 
round  his  neck,  walking  among  the  people 
without  dLsplaving  any  ferocity.  Tame 
dons  seem  to  be  fashionable  in  Bornu,  as 
the  sheikh  afterward  sent  Major  Denham 
another  lion  equally  tame. 

The  architecture  of  the  Bornuese  is  supe- 
rior to  that    of  Dahome.     "The  towns," 
writes  Major  Denham,  "  are  generally  large, 
and  well  built:  thoy  have  walls  thirty-five 
and  forty  feet  in  height,  and  nearly  twentv 
feet  in  thickness.    They  have  four  entran- 
ces, with  three  gates  to  each,  made  of  solid 
planks  eight  or  ten  inches  thick,  and  fas- 
tened together  with  heavy  clamps  of  iron. 
The   houses  consist  of  several  courtyards 
between  four  walls,  with  apartments  leading 
out  of  them  for  slaves,  then  a  passage  and 
an  inner  court  leading  into  habitations  of 
the    different  wives,   which    have    each    a 
square    space    to  themselves,  enclosed  by 
walls,  and  a  handsome  thatched  hut.    From 
thence  also  you  ascend  a  wide  staircase  of 
five  or  six  steps,  Ic.iding  to  the  apaitnients 
of  the  owner,  which  consist  of  two  build- 
ings like  towers  or  turrets,  with  a  terrace  of 
communication  between  them,  looking  into 
the  street,  with  a  castellated  window.    The 
walls  are  made  of  reddish  clav,  as  smooth 
as  stones,  and  the  roofs  are  most  tastefully 
arched  on  the  inside  with  branches,  and 
thatched  on  the  outside  with  a  grass  known 
in  Bombay  by  the  uame  of  lidiher. 


"The  horns  of  the  gazelle  and  antelope 
serve  as  a  substitute  for  nails  or  pegs. 
These  are  fixed  m  different  parts  or  the 
walls,  and  on  them  hang  th»^  quivers,  brws, 
spears,  and  shields  of  the  chief.  A  man  of 
consequence  will  sometimes  have  four  of 
these  terraces  and  eight  turrets,  forming 
the  faces  of  his  mansion  or  domain,  with  all 
the  apartments  of  his  women  within  the 
space  below.  Horses  and  other  animals  are 
usually  allowed  an  enclosure  near  one  of  the 
courtyards  forming  the  entrance." 

Such  houses  as  these  belong  only  to  the 
wealthy,  and  those  of  the  poor  are  of  a 
much  simpler  description,  being  built  of 
straw,  reeds,  or  mats,  the  latter  being  the 
favorite  material. 

As  is  mostly  the  case  in  polygamous  Af- 
rica, each  wife  has  her  owh  .special  house,  or 
rather  hut,  which  is  usually  of  the  kind 
called  "coosie,"  t.  e.  one  that  is  built  en- 
tirely of  sticks  and  straw.  The  wives  are 
obliged  to  be  very  humble  in  presence  of 
their  husbands,  whom  they  always  approach 
on  their  knees,  and  they  are  not  allowed  to 
speak  to  any  of  the  male  sex  except  kneel- 
ing, and  with  their  heads  and  faces  covered. 
Marriage  is  later  in  Bornu  than  in  many 
parts  of  Africa,  the  girls  scarcely  ever 
marrying  until  they  are  full  fifteen,  and 
mostly  being  a  year  or  two  older. 

Weddings  are  conducted  in  a  ceremoni- 
ous and  noisy  manner.  The  bride  is 
perched  on  the  back  (bt  an  ox,  and  rides 
to  the  bridegroom's  house  attended  by  her 
mother  and  friends,  and  followed  by  other 
oxen  carrying  her  dowry,  which  mostly 
consists  of  toorkadees  and  other  raiment. 
All  her  male  friends  are  mounted,  and  dash 
up  to  her  at  full  gallop,  this  being  the  rec- 
ognized salute  on  such  occasions.  The 
bridegroom  is  in  the  mean  time  parading 
the  streets  with  a  shouting  mob  after  him, 
or  sitting  in  his  house  with  the  same  shout- 
ing mob  in  front  of  him,  yelling  out  vocif- 
erous congratulations,  blowing  horns,  beat- 
ing drums,  and,  in  fact,  letting  their  African 
nature  have  its  full  .sway. 

In  this  country,  the  people  have  a  very 
ingenious  method  of  counteracting  the  ef- 
fects of  the  rain  storms,  wliieh  come  on 
suddenly,  discharge  the  water  as  if  it  were 
poured  from  buckete,  and  then  pass  on.  On 
account  of  the  high  temperature,  the  rain 
soon  evaporates,  so  that  even  after  one  of 
these  showers,  though  the  surface  of  the 
ground  is  for  the  time  converted  into  a 
marsh  intersected  with  rivulets  of  running 
water,  the  sandy  ground  is  quite  dry  at  the 
depth  of  two  feet  or  so. 

As  soon  as  the  Bornuese  perceive  one  of 
these  storms  approaching,  they  take  off  all 
their  clotbes,  dig  holes  in  the  ground,  bury 
the  clothes,  and  cover  them  up  carefully. 
The  rain  falls,  and  is  simply  a  shower-bath 
over  their  naked  bodies,  and,  as  soon  ns  the 
storm  has  passed  over,  they  reopen  the  hole, 


THE  KAl^EMBOOS.  e07 

nnd  put  on  their  dr;r  clothes.    When  they  holes  until  they  come  to  the  dry  sand   on 
are  preparing  a  resting-place  at  night,  they   which  they  m^e  their  beds  ' 

take   a   similar  precaution,  digging   deep 


THE  KANEMBOOS. 


If  the  reader  will  refer  to  the  illustration 
on  paM  612,  ho  will  see  that  by  the  side  of 
the  Kanemboo  warrior  is  his  wife.  The 
women  are,  like  their  husbands,  dark  and 
well-shaped.  They  are  lively  and  brisk  in 
their  manners,  and  seem  always  ready  for  a 
laugh.  Their  clothintj  is  nearly  as  limited 
that  of  their  husbands,  but  they  tiike 


as 


great  pains  in  plaiting  their  hair  into  nu- 
merous little  strings,  which  reach  as  far 
as  the  neck.  Tlie  head  is  generally  orna- 
mented with  a  flat  piece  of  tin  or  silver 
hanging  from  the  liair.  This  custom  is 
prevalent  throughout  the  kingdom,  and, 
indeed,  tiie  principal  mode  of  detecting  the 
particular  tribe  to  which  a  woman  belongs 
IS  to  note  the  color  and  pattern  of  lier  scanty 
dress.  Most  of  the  Kanemboo  women  have 
a  string  of  brass  beads  or  of  silver  rings 
hanging  upon  each  side  of  the  face.  In  the 
latter  case  they  mostly  have  also  a  flat  cir- 
cular piece  of  silver  on  their  foreheads. 

The  architecture  of  the  Kanemboos  is 
very  similar  to  that  of  the  Kallirs  of  South- 
ern Africa,  the  huts  more  resembling  those 
of  the  Bechuanns  than  the  Zulu,  Kosa,  or 
Ponda  tribes.  They  are  compared  to  hay- 
stacks in  appearance,  and  are  made  of  reeds. 
Each  house  is  situated  in  a  neat  enclosure 
mada  of  the  same  reed,  ^vithin  which  a  goat 
or  two,  a  cow,  and  some  fowls  are  usually 
kept.  The  hut  is  divided  into  two  portions, 
one  being  for  the  master  and  the  other  for 
the  women.  His  bed  is  supported  on  a 
wooden  framework  and  covered  with  the 
skins  of  wild  animals.  The.u  is  no  window, 
and  the  place  of  a  door  is  taken  by  a  mat. 

In  tills  country,  they  subsist  generally  on 
fish,  which  they  obtain  from  the  great  take 
Tchad  in  a  very  ingenious  maimer.  The 
fisherman  takes  two  large  gourds,  and  con- 
nects them  with  a  stout  bamboo,  just  lon.r 
enough  to  allow  his  body  to  pass  easily 
between  them.  He  then  takes  his  nets,  to 
the  upper  part  of  which  are  fastened  floats 
made  of  cane,  and  to  the  lower  edtre  are 
attached  simple  weights  of  sand  tled°UD  in 
leathern  bags.  *^ 

He  launches  the  gourds,  and,  as  he  does 
80,  sits  astride  the  bamboo,  so  that  one  gourd 
is  in  front  of  him  and  the  other  behind 
Having  shot  his  nets,  he  makes  a  circuit 
round  them,  sphushing  the  water  so  as  to 
drive  the  fish  against  the  meshes.    Wh«n 


he  thinks  that  a  sufficiency  of  fish  has  got 
into  his  net,  he  draws  it  up  gently  with  one 
hand,  while  the  other  hand  holds  a  short 
club,  with  which  he  kills  each  fish  as  its  head 
IS  lifted  above  the  water.  The  dead  fish  is 
then  disengaged  from  the  net,  and  flung  into 
one  of  the  gourds;  and  when  they  are  so  full 
that  they  can  hold  no  more  without  running 
the  risk  of  admitting  water,  the  fisherman 
paddles  to  shore,  lands  his  cargo,  and  goes 
off  for  another  haul.  He  has  no  pafWles 
but  his  hands,  but  they  are  etticient  instru- 
ments, and  propel  him  quite  as  fast  as  he 
cares  to  go. 

The  women  have  a  very  ingenious  mode 
of  catching  fish,  constituting  themselves  into 
a  sort  f  net.  Thirty  or  forty  at  a  time  go 
into  the  water,  and  wade  up  to  their  breasts. 
They  then  form  in  single  file,  and  move 
gradually  toward  the  muddy  shore,  which 
slojies  very  gradually,  stamping  and  beating 
the  water  so  as  to  make  as' much  disturbance 
as  possible.  The  terrified  fishes  retire  be- 
fore this  formidable  line,  and  at  last  are 
forced  into  water  so  shallow,  that  they  can 
be  scooped  out  by  the  hands  and  flung 
ashore. 

The  fish  arc  cooked  in  a  very  simple  man- 
ner. A  fire  is  lighted;  and  when  it  has 
burnt  up  properly,  each  fish  has  a  stick 
thrust  down  its  throat.  The  other  end  of 
the  stick  is  fi.^ed  into  the  ground  close  to 
the  fire,  and  in  a  short  time  the  fire  is  sur- 
rounded with  a  circle  of  fish,  all  with  their 
heads  downward  and  their  tails  in  the  air  as 
if  thev  were  diving.  They  can  be  easily 
turned  on  the  sticks,  the  tail  aflTording  an 
excellent  leverage,  and  in  a  very  short  time 
they  are  thoroughly  roasted. 

The  Kanemboos  catch  the  large  animals 
in  pitfalls  called  "  blaquas."  These  bUiquaa 
are  laboriously  and  ingeniously  made,  and 
are  often  used  to  protect  towns  against  the 
Tiiaricks  and  other  invaders,  as  well  as  to 
catch  wild  animals.  The  pits  are  very  deep, 
and  at  the  bottom  are  fixed  six  or  seven 
perpendicular  stakes,  M-ith  sharpened  points, 
and  hardened  by  being  partially  charred. 
So  formidable  are  thev,  that  a  Tuarick  horse 
and  his  rider  have  been  known  to  fali  into 
one  of  them,  and  both  to  have  been  found 
dead,  pierced  through  the  body  with  the 
stakes. 


i  1 


li  i 


CHAPITER  LXIII. 

THE  SHOOAS,  TIBBOOS,  TUARICKS,  BEGHARMIS,  AND  MUSGUESE. 

THE    SHOOA    TBIBE-THKIB   SKILL    tS    HORSBMANSHn- -  A    8H00A    BITFFALO -nUNT- CHA8R    OF    THK 

THT"rjTHK",r  ™""  '•"""  — — OOA  nAVCKS-AVPKAHANC^  ZTJLZ 
THEJOMBN-THE  TIBBOO  TRmE-THEm  ACTIVm- -  DRESS  AND  APPEARANCE  OF  BOTH  8FXE8 
-THEIK  SKILL  WITH  TIIE  SPEAU-TIBBOO  DANCES-THEIU  CITIES  OF  REFUGF 1^  L  Til! 
B.CK8 -THEIR  THIEVISH  CHABACTEU  AND  ORAVE  MANNERS -THARICK  SINOINO-THE  REO^ARms 

r.^TD':FA;'o:s''or''~™''  ""^^^  ^'"^  "'^  «-in.e-ocrioi;s  :ncH.TECTr-oo  - 

TUME    AND    WEAPONS    OP    THE     LANCERS  -  WRESTLERS,    BOXERS,    AND    DANCEH8-TIIE     Mt78GU 

-z;^::ztT:::rZ  ^'^'^  ^^■"'"^-^'"=  -^  orn..ent-a..sou  chiefand  :z::z: 


Or  E  of  the  most  important  of  the  many 
tribes  which  surround  Lake  Tchad  Is  the 
f  .hooa  tribe,  which,  like  tlie  Kanemboo,  has 
jeeu  absorbed  into  tlie  Bornuan  kino'dom 
Their  chief  value  is  their  soldierly  nature 
and,  as  they  are  splendid  horsemen,  they 
form  the  greater  part  of  the  cavalry.    Arabs 
by  descent,  they  preserve  the  Arabic  lan- 
guage, and  speak  it  nearly  pure,  only  mix- 
ing with  it  certain  words  and  phrases  of 
Bornuan  origin.     Tliey  present  a  strong 
contrast   to   the    pure  Bornuese,  wlio    are 
peaceable,   quiet,  slow,  and  good-natured. 
Ihey  are  absurdly  timid,  and,  except  iu  pur- 
suing an  already  routed  enemy,  arc  useless 
in  the  Held,  running  away  when  there  is  the 
least  sign  of  danger. 

The  Shooas,  on  the  contrary,  are  bold 
active,  energetic,  and  daring,  passing  a  con- 
siderable part  of  their  lives  on  horseback 
and  such  admirable  equestrians  that  man' 
and  horse  look  like  one  animal.  They  are 
mighty  hunters,  not  being  contented  to  dig 
l)its  and  catch  the  animals  that  fall  into  them 
but  boldly  chasing  the  fierce  and  dan<'orous 
buffaloes  and  killing  them  with  the  soear 
alone. 

The  Shooa  hunter  rides  to  the  swampy 
grounds  where  tho  butfalo  loves  to  wallow, 
and  drives  the  animals  upon  the  firm  land.' 
Ho  then  makes  choice  of  one,  and  gives 
chase  to  it,  getting  on  its  off  side  and  press- 
ing It  closely.  Ills  horse  is  trained  to  run 
side  by  side  with  the  buffalo,  and  the  rider 
then  stands  like  a  circus-rider  upou  tiiu  two 


(628) 


animals,  one  foot  on  his  horse's  back,  and 
the  other  on  that  of  the  buffalo. 

He  then  drives  his  spear  through  the 
shoulders  of  the  bufialo  toward  the  heart 
and,  if  he  has  time,  will  fix  another  spear! 
He  then  droiw  on  his  horse,  which  leaps 
away  from  the  wounded  animal,  so  as  to 
avoid  the  stroke  of  the  horn  which  the 
buffalo  18  apt  to  give  as  it  feels  the  pain 
of  the  wound.  As  a  rule,  the  buflalo  can 
run  but  a  very  short  distance  when  thus 
injured,  and,  as  soon  as  it  staggers,  the  bold 
hunter  dismounts,  and  gives  the  final  stroke. 
Sometimes  a  ba<]ly-trained  horse  will  be  too 
eager,  and  press  so  far  forward  that  the 
turn  of  the  buffalo's  head  will  wound  it 
severely;  but  an  old  and  experienced  horse 
knows  the  danger  as  well  as  its  rider,  and 
just  keeps  itself  far  enough  back  to  avoid 
the  blow. 

The  Shooas  chase  the  elephant  in  a  simi- 
lar manner,  but,  as  the  animal  is  so  enor- 
mous, twenty  or  thirty  hunters  generally 
unite  their  forces,  one  always  riding  in  front 
so  as  to  draw  the  angry  animal's  attention, 
Willie  the  others  follow  it  up,  and  inflict  a 
series  of  wounds,  under  which  it  soon  sinks. 
Sometimes,  when  the  elephant  is  very  active 
and  savage,  one  of  the  hunters  will  dis- 
mount, and  try  to  hamstring  tho  animal,  or 
will  even  creep  under  it  and  drive  his  spears 
into  its  belly. 

It  may  be  easily  imagined  that  such  hunt- 
ers as  these  are  likiily  to  make  "ood  to!, 
diers,  and  that  the  Bornuan  shoikli'was  fuily 


THE  SHOOA  DANCES. 


Justified  in  forming  them  into  so  large  a 
contingent  of  his  army. 

Their  constant  practice  in  hunting  the 
wild  biitfalo  renders  them  bold  and  succes- 
ful  cattle  managers.  They  are  excellent 
drivers,  and  contrive  to  make  whole  herds 
of  half-wild  cattle  obey  them  implicitly.  In 
nothing  is  their  skill  shown  so  much  as  in 
forcing  the  cattle  to  cross  the  rivers  in  spite 
of  their  instinctive  dread  of  the  crocomles 
that  infest  the  water.  One  driver,  or  rather 
leader,  enters  the  water  first,  dragging  after 
him  an  ox  by  a  cord  tied  to  the  ring  through 
his  nose.  As  soon  as  the  timid  cattle  see 
that  one  of  their  number  has  ventured  into 
the  water,  they  are  eiusily  induced  to  follow 
its  example,  and  whole  herds  of  oxen  and 
flocks  of  sheep  are  thus  taken  across  in 
safety,  the  noise  and  splashing  which  they 
make  frightening  the  crocodiles  away.  Even 
the  women  assist  in  cattle-driving,  and  not 
unfrequently  the  part  of  leader  is  taken  by 
a  woman. 

As  might  be  expected,  the  Shooas  possess 
great  numbers  of  cattle,  and  Major  Denham 
calculated  that  this  single  tribe  owned  at 
least  sixty  thousand  oxen,  sheep,  and  goats, 
besides  multitudes  of  horses.  The  Shooas, 
indeed,  are  the  chief  noraebreeders  of  the 
Soudan. 

True  to  their  origin,  the  Shooas  have 
retaiued  many  of  their  Arabic  characteris- 
tics. They  build  no  houses,  but  live  in 
tents,  or  rather  movable  huts,  composed  of 
a  simple  framework  of  sticks,  covered  either 
with  leather  or  rush  mats.  They  have, 
however,  lost  much  of  the  nomad  character 
of  the  Arabs,  probably  because  the  fertile 
soil  permits  their  flocks  to  remain  perma- 
nently in  the  same  spot.  They  pitch  their 
tents  in  a  circle,  each  such  circle  represent- 
ing a  town,  and  having  two  openings  or 
entrances  for  the  cattle. 

Even  the  governor  or  sultan  of  the  largest 
settlement  does  not  inhabit  a  house.  The 
ostablishmeut  of  one  of  these  potenUites, 
who  was  visited  by  Dr.  Oudney,  consisted 
of  a  great  quadrangular  enclosure  made  of 
mats  suspended  on  poles,  within  which 
were  a  number  of  small  huts,  or  rather 
tents,  with  walls  of  the  same  materials,  but 
with  thatched  roofs,  ami  much  like  straw 
beehives  in  shape.  The  doorway,  or  open- 
ing of  each  tent,  is  always  placed"  westward, 
because  rain  always  comers  from  the  east. 
The  furniture  of  the  tents  is  as  simple  as 
their  architecture,  ami  consists  of  a  rude 
bed,  some  mats,  and  a  few  gourds  and 
earthen  jars.  The  dwelling  of  a  man  of 
rank  is  dislinguished  bv  an  ostrich  egg-shell. 
Not  only  do  they  build  no  houses  of  their 
own,  but  they  never  inhabit  those  which 
others  have  built,  and,  though  they  have 
overcome  many  a  district,  thev  have  nev(>r 
peopled  or  conquered  towns.  For  tlio  «iir- 
rounding  negro  nations  thev  have  the  su- 
premest  contempt,  and  yetj  with  strange 


inconsistency,  they  are  always  tributary  to 
one  of  the  nations  which  they  despise. 
Probably  on  this  account,  unless  they  are 
well  officered,  they  do  not  care  to  flght  even 
in  the  service  of  that  nation  which  they 
serve  ;  and  iilthough  they  are  foremost 
when  plunder  si  (^ms  within  their  reach,  they 
are  always  apt  to  retire  from  the  battle 
when  it  seems  likely  to  go  against  them. 

Their  amusements  consist  principally  of 
dances,  one  of  which  is  very  peculiar,  and 
is  performed  exclusively  by  women.  They 
advance  by  pairs  at  a  time,  and  throw  them- 
selves into  various  attitudes,  accompanied  by 
the  wild  and  rude  music  of  the  band.  Sud- 
denly they  turn  their  backs  on  each  other, 
stoop,  and  butt  backward  at  each  other,  the 
object  being  to  upset  the  adversary.  "She 
who  keeps  her  equilibrium  and  destroys 
that  of  her  opponent  is  greeted  with  cheers 
and  shouts,  aiid  is  led  out  of  the  ring  by  two 
matrons,  covering  her  face  with  her  hands. 
They  sometimes  come  together  with  such 
violence  as  to  burst  the  belt  of  beads  which 
all  the  women  of  rank  wear  round  their 
bodies  just  above  the  hips,  and  showers  of 
beads  would  lly  in  every  direction.  Some 
of  these  belts  arc  twelve  or  sixteen  inches 
wide,  and  cost  fifteen  or  twenty  dollars. 

"Address,  however,  is  often  attended  in 
these  conte  h  with  better  success  than 
strength,  ai  •  a  well-managed  feint  exer- 
cised at  the  moment  of  the  expected  con- 
cussion, even  when  the  weight  of  metiil 
would  be  very  unequal,  often  brings  the 
more  weighty  tumbling  to  the  ground, 
while  the  other  is  seen  quietly  seated  on 
the  spot  where  she  had  with  great  art  and 
agility  dropped  herself.  The  Shooas  are 
particularly  happy  in  these  feints,  which 
were  practised  in  diflercnt  ways,  cither  by 
suddenly  stepping  on  one  side,  or  by  lying 
down." 

The  young  girls  arc  fond  of  skipping  with 
a  long  roi)e,  just  as  is  practised  in  Europe. 
They  display  very  great  agility,  which  is 
not  hindered  by  the  presence  "of  any  gar- 
ment. Major  "Denham  once  came  on  a 
party  of  girls  amusing  themselves  in  this 
manner,  and  enjoying  the  sport  so  thor- 
oughly that  nothing  but  the  fear  of  losing 
dignity  prevented  him  from  joining  them.     . 

The  manners  of  the  Shooas  are  pleasing 
and  gentle.  They  are  a  hospitable  people, 
and  give  freely  of  the  milk  on  which  they 
almost  entirely  live,  as  is  alwavs  the  case 
with  a  pastoral  tribe.  Major  Deiiham  seems 
to  have  been  particularly  charmed  with  the 
manners  of  the  Shooas,  which  he  describes 
as  peculiarly  interesting  and  expressive. 
Even  when  bringing  milk  to  their  guests, 
the  girls  do  so  in  a  sort  of  punctilious  way, 
each  sitting  down  by  the  side  of  the  bowl, 
and  making  a  little  oeromonious  speech 
with  her  head  wra'^>'^ed  in  jv  s?jjm!.!i>  .--ui-u 
she  afterward  removes  for  the  sake  of  freer 
conversation. 


I  M 


■i 


630 


THE  TIBBOOS. 


The  Shooa  women  are  rorriivrkable  for 
their  beiuity.  Their  color  is  a  light  ruddy 
copper,  and  they  have  fine  open  counte- 
nances, with  mjuiline  noses  and  larjre  eyes  — 
all  very  remarkable  among  the  negro  tribes 
that  surround  them.  The  women  are  espB- 
cially  good-looking,  and  remind  the  observer 
of  tlie  gipsy  women.  Their  dress  (see  en- 
gravnig  on  page  031)  consists  of  two  wrap- 
pers, one  round  the  waist  and  the  other 
thrown  over  the  shoulders.  Tiie  latter  is 
worn  in  diflerent  ways,  sometimes  like  a 
shawl,  sometimes  tied  under  the  arms  so 
as  to  leave  both  shoulders  bai-e,  and  some-  i 


tmies  thrown  over  one  shoulder  and  under 
the  other.  On  their  feet  they  wear  curious 
shoes  without  heels,  but  coming  up  the  sides 
of  the  foot  above  the  ankles.  Their  hair  is 
dressed  ni  rather  a  curious  manner,  bein" 
plaited  into  innumerable  little  tresses,  which 
are  first  pressed  tightly  to  the  head,  and  then 
suddenly  diverge. 

Handsome  as  are  the  Shooa  women,  their 
beauty  is  held  in  great  contemjit  by  the 
negro  tribes  among  which  they  live,  and 
who  naturally  think  that  thick  lips,  flat  noses 
and  black  skins  constitute  the  only  real 
beauty  in  man  or  woman. 


THE  TIBBOOS. 


li  ! 


ALtiED,  in  all  probability,  to  the  Shooas 
are  the  Tibboos. 

They  are  a  small  and  active  race,  and  are 
admirable    horsemen,    always    leaiiing    on 
their  horses  at  a  single  bouiid,  aiding  Uiem- 
selves  with   the  shall  of  a  .spear,  which  is 
used  as  a  leaping-iiolc.     Their  saddles  are  of 
wood,  lashed  together  with  thongs  of  cow- 
hide, and  left  open  along  the  middle,  so  as 
to  avoid  galling  the  horse's  back.    Thev  arc 
well  stull'ed  with  camel's  hair,  and  are  com- 
fortable enough  when  the  rider  is  used  to 
them.    Both  the  girth  and  the  stirrup  leath- 
ers are  of  jjlaited  leather,  and  the  stirrups 
themselves  are  so  small  that  they  only  ad- 
mit of  four  toes.    In  fact,  the  Tibboo  saddle 
IS  almost  exactly  like  that  of  the  Tatagonian. 
The  men  are  very  ugly,  but  the  women 
are  tolerably  good-looking,  and  those  who 
live  in   the  country  are    .  x  tter  maile  and 
more  active   than   those   who   live    in    the 
towns.     The  color  is  copper,  but  (he  noses 
are  flat,  and  the  mouth  is  very  large,  though 
without  the  thick  lips  of  the  negro. 

Their  dress  is  a  tolerably  large  Soudan 
^'rapper,  folded  round  the  body  and  tied  on 
the   left  shoulder  so  as  to  leave  the  right 
side  bare.     It  is,  however,  disposed  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  be  a  perfectly  delicate  as  well 
as  a  graceful  costume.    A'  smaller  wrapiier 
IS  thrown  over  the  head,  and  is  drawn  across 
the  face  or  flung  back  at  pleasure.    The  hair 
.  is  dressed  in  triangular  flaps,  which  fall  on 
either  side  of  the  f.ice;  and  thev  wear  neck- 
laces of  amber,  which  thev  prize  very  highly 
and  bits  of  red  coral  in  their  noses.    They 
invariably  carry  something  by  way  of  a  sun- 
screen, such  as  a  bunch  of  ostrich-feathers 
a  tuft  of  long  grass,  or  even  a  leafy  bough.  ' 
Ugly  as  the  men  are,  they  are  exceodinglv 
•vain  of  their  personal  appearance;  and  oh 
one  occasion,  when  Major  Denham  h.ad  lent 
»  Tibboo  chief  a  small   looking-glass,  the 
man  spent  several  hours  in  contemplating 
his  own  features,  bursting  every  now  and 
then  into  loud  ejiuiulntions  of  joy  at  his  own 
beauty,  and  sometimes  leaninir  in  the  air  in 
Uie  extremity  of  his  delight. 


They  contrive  to  make  their  naturally 
ugly  faces  still  less  attractive  bv  their  invet- 
erate habit  of  taking  snufV,  which  they  take 
both  by  the  mouth  and  (he  nostrils,  the  lat- 
ter becoming  enormouslv  extended  by  their 
liabit  of  thrusting  the  siiulf  into  their  heads 
with  their  fingers.  Their  mouths  are  also 
distended  by  their  custom  of  placiii<'  quan- 
tities of  snutf  between  the  ]\\)h  and  <  mm. 

The  dress  of  the  TiblxMis  is  sjeiiorally  a 
single  tobe,  or  shirt,  (lose  garnients  would 
only  embarrass  them  by  aflbrdiiig  a  lodge- 
ment for  the  sand,  which  has  tlie  cllect  of 
irritating  the  skin  greatly,  and  making  al- 
most intolerable  sores.  'They  iiave,  how- 
ever, a  mode  of  alleviating  the  iiain  of  such 
sores  by  shampooing  them  with  fat,  a  pro- 
cess which  is  always  conducted  by  the 
women.  The  only  article  of  dress  about 
which  (hey  seem  to  trouble  themselves  is 
the,  turban,  which  is  worn  high  on  (he  head, 
and  the  ends  brought  under  the  chin  and 
across  the  face,  so  as  to  conceal  .ill  but  the 
nose,  eyes,  and  part  of  the  forehead.  The 
turban  is  dyed  of  a  dark  indigo  l)lue,  and 
IS  mostly  decorated  with  a  vast  number  of 
charms,  sewed  in  little  leathern  cases. 

Their  horses,  though  small,  are  very 
handsome,  and  are  quite  strong  enouHi  to 
carry  the  light  and  active  men  wlio"ride 
them.  They  are  kept  in  admirable  coikH- 
tion,  and  are  fed  almost  entirelv  on  camel's 
milk,  which  they  tike  both  fresh  and  when 
clotted.  This  diet  suits  them  admirably, 
and  the  animals  are  in  excellent  condi- 
tion. 

The  Tibboos  stand  in  great  dread  of  the 
Arabs,  who  plunder  them  unmercifully  when 
they  have  the  chance.  Thev  are  better 
riders  and  better  mounted  than  their  foes; 
but  they  do  not  possess  fire-arms,  which 
they  look  upon  with  absolute  terror.  Major 
Denham  remarks  that  "  five  or  six  of  them 
will  go  round  and  round  a  tree  where  an 
Arab  has  laid  down  his  gun  for  a  n.inute 
stepping  on  tipUie,  as  if  alhiid  of  disturbing  it; 
tilkinjT  uu-nrh  r.thiT  in  whispers,  as  if  the  gun 
could  understand  thoir  exclamations;  and,  I 


H 

> 

2 

o 

03 


§  :^ 


w 


(C'ln 


ill 

f    'r 

CITIES  OF  REFUGE. 


Sfrv  «^'f^'''''^'l?  ^  '*  ""*  t"  ''"  then  any 
injury  as  fervently  as  ever  Man  Friday  did 
to  Robinson  Crusoe's  musket  " 

Though  they  have  no  guns,' they  are  more 
orm.dat.  0  warriors  than  they'  seem  to  Jcuow! 
iiurhng  the  spear  with  deadly  aim  and  won- 
derful  force.    In   throwing  it,  they  do  not 
raise  the  hand  higher  than  the   s^houlder- 
and,  as  It  leaves  the  hand,  they  give  it  a 
twist  with  the  fingers  that  makes  it%in  like 
a  nf^c  bullet    The  shaft  is  elastic,  and,  when 
the  blade  strikes  the  ground,  the  shaft  bends 
nearly  double.    One  young  man  threw  his 
spear  a  good  eighty  yards;  and,  as  each  man 
carries  two  of  tliosu  spears,  it  may  be  imae- 
ined  that  even  the  Arabs,  with  all  their  fire- 
arms an.  not  much  more  than  a  match  for 
the  Tibboos     They  also  carry  the  strange 
missilc-sword  which  has  alreatly  been  men- 
tioned,   liie  warriors  carry  bows  and  ar- 
rows   as   weU  as   two  <laggers,  one  about 
eighteen  inches  long,  stu.k  in  the  belt,  and 
tlio  otliei-  only  six   inches  in  length,  and 
fastened  to  the  arm  by  a  ring.    The  Tibboos 
metaphorically  term  the  long  dagger  their 
gun,  and  the  short  one  their  pistol. 
_   The  dances  of  the  Tibboo  women  are  not 
in  the  least  like  those  of  the  Shooas.    Danc- 
ing IS  among  them  one  of  the  modes  of  greet- 
ing an  honored  guest;  and  when  a  man  of 
rank  approach(is,  the  women  meet  him  with 
dances  and  songs,  just  as  Jephthah's  daugli- 
ter  met  her  victorious  father,  and  the  woinen 
of  Israel  met   David  after  he  had  killed 
(jroliath. 

Nor  an;  these  dances  the  slow,  gliding 
movements  with  which  we  generally  assocf- 
ato  OrioiUal  dances.  The  women'  displav 
very  groat  activity,  and  fling  themselves 
about  in  an  astonishing  manner.  Thev 
begin  by  swaying  their  heads,  arms,  and 
bodies  ftom  side  to  side,  but  gradually  'work 
the inse  vcs  up  to  a  great  pTtch  of  excite- 
ment, leaiHiig  in  the  air,  gnashing  their 
eeth  whirling  their  arms  about,  anJ  seem- 
ing to  be  in  a  perfect  frenzy. 

Some  of  tlie  Tibboo  settlements,  or  vil- 

rS'"'n'"T'""""''yP''''=<^J«"  the  tops  of 
rocks  with  almost  perpendicular  sides.  The 
fiituation  IS  an  inconvenient  one,  but  it  is 
l^fnrL'"  'V""'""?  «'*■  *he  attacks  of  the 
nate  libboos,  sweep  ofl"  all  the  cattle  inrf 
other  property  that  tliey  can  And  an  ca^-rv 
away  the  iiih.abit.mt8  t^  be  so  d  ^  slave  J 
sparing  nei  her  age  nor  sex.  Consequentlv' 
as  soon  as  the  Tibboos  have  wa3  of  fc 
approach  of  their  enemies,  they  toke  rcfiSe 

Partly  on  this   account,  and  partlv  from 
natura  carelessness,  the  Tibboos  are  almos 
regardless  of  personal  appearance,  a^deyep. 


m 


their  sultan,  when  he  went  to  meet  Major 
Denham,  though  he  had  donned  in  honor  of 
his  guests  a  new  scarlet  bernouse,  wore  it 
over  a  filthy  checked  shirt;  and  his  cap  and 
turban,  which  purported  to  be  white,  were 
nearly  as  black  as  the  hair  of  the  wearer. 

One  might  have   thought  that  the  con- 
tinual  sufferings  which  they  undergo  at  the 
hands  of  the  Tuaricks  would  have  taught  the 
libboos  kindness  to  their  fellow  creatures, 
whereas  there  are  no  people  more  reckless 
ol  inflicting  pain.    The  Tibboo  slave-dealers 
are   notorious  for  the  utter  indifference  to 
the  sufferings  of  their  captives  whom  thev 
are  conveying  to  the  market,  even  though 
they  lose  many  of  them  by  their  callous  neg- 
ect.    They  often  start  on  their  journey  with 
barely  one  quarter  the  proper  amount  of 
provisions  or  water,  and  then  take  their  cap- 
tives over  wide  deserts,  where  they  fall  from 
exhaustion,  and  are  left  to  die.    The  skele- 
tons of  slaves  strew  the  whole  of  the  road 
As  the  traveller  passes  along,  he  sometimes 
nears  his  horse's  feet  cnishing  amojo-  the 
dried  and  brittle  bones  of  the  dead,    liven 
round  the  wells  lie  hundreds  of  skeletons, 
the  remains  of  those  who  had  reached  the 
water,  but  had  been  too  mi<ch  exhausted  to 
be  revived  bv  it.    In  that  hot  climate  the 
Skin  of  the  dead  person  drios  and  shrivels 
under  the  sun  like  so  much  horn,  and  in 
many  cases  the  features  of  the  dead  arc  pre- 
served.   Careless  even  of  the  4>ecuniary  loss 
which  they  had  suffered,  the  men  who  accom- 
panied Mtyor  Denham  only  laughed  when 
they  recognized  the  faces  of  the  shrivelled 
skeletons  and  knocked  them  about  with  the 
butts  of  their  weapons,  laughing  the  while 
and  making  jokes  upon  their  present  value 
in  the  market. 

The  Tibboos  are,  from  their  slight  and 
active  figures,  ^ood  travellers,  and  are  em- 
ployed as  couriers  to  take  messages  from 
JWornu  to  Moorzuk,  a  iask  which  none  but  a 
libboo  will  undertake.    Two  are  sent  in 
company,  and  so  dangerous  is  the  journey, 
that  they  do  not  expect  that  both  will  re^ 
turn  m  safety.    They  are  mounted  on  the 
swiftest  dromedaiies,and  are  furnished  with 
parched  corn,  a  little  brass  basin,  a  wooden 
bowl,  some  dried  meat,  and  two  skins  of 
water.    Not  only  do  they  have  to  undergo 
the  ordinary  perils  of  travel,  such  as  the  hot 
winds,  the  sand-storms,  and  the  chance  of 
perishing  by  thirst,  but  they  also  run  great 
risk  of  being  killed  by  Arab  robbers,  who 
W'ould  not  dare  to  attack  a  caravan,  but  are 
glad  of  the  opportunity  of  robbing  defence- 
less travellers.  e  c 
Such  events  do  frequently  occur,  and  the 
consequence  is  that  the  I'ibboos  and  the 
Arabs  are  in  perpetual  feuds,  each  murder- 
ing one  of  the  enemy  whenever  he  gete  a 
chance,  and  reckoning  each  man  killed  as  a 


^1 

'i 


I 


\i 


"'t 


Oi 


THE  TUABICKS. 


THE  TUARICKft 


"We  ought,  before  lenTing;  the  Tibboos,  to 
give  a  few  words  to  their  enemies  the 
Tuarlcks.  These  are  emphatically  a  nation 
of  thieves,  never  working  themselves,  and 
gaining  tlio  whole  of  their  subsistence  by 
robbing  those  who  do  Mor,  They  do  not 
even  phmt  or  sow,  and  their  whole  education 
consists  in  the  art  of  robbery,  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  dromedary,  and  the  handling 
ot  the  spear.  Th-^y  live  m  tents,  wliich  are 
sometlung  like  those  of  the  ordinary  Bedouin 
Arabs,  and  liave,  Mke  our  gipsies,  a  supreme 
contempt  for  all  whr.  are  so  clegra«led  as  to 
live  in  houses  and  congregate  in  cities.  In 
the  engraving  No.  2  on  page  (Mil,  the  artist 
has  illu9ti<ited  the  characteristics  of  the 
Tuaricks  and  Tibboos. 

Like  the  gipsies,  the  Tuaricks  have  their 
own  language,  into  which  they  liavo  only 
inserted  occiisional  words  of  Arabic,  and 
they  have  their  own  written  alphabet,  in 
which  several  letters  are  exactly  tlio  same  as 
some  of  the  Roman  characters,  though  they 
do  not  express  the  same  sounds,  such  as  the 
H,  the  S,  and  the  W,  There  arc  also  the 
Greek  e  and  a,  and  the  Hebrew  2,  while 
several  letters  are  composed  of  dots  grouped 
in  various  ways.  These  letters  are  either 
written  from  rigl»t  to  left,  as  the  Arabic,  or 
\nce  versa,  as  European  languages,  or  per- 
pendicularly, as  the  Chinese;  and  in  their 
country  almost  every  large  stone  is  engraved 
with  Tuarick  characters.  Yet  they  have  no 
literature,  r.nd  assert  that  no  book  exists  in 
their  language.  In  sound  the  Tuarick  lan- 
guage is  harsh,  but  it  is  expressive,  and 
seems  to  be  capable  of  strength. 

In  their  manners  the  Tuaricks  are  grave 
and  sedate,  and  before  Denham  and  Clapper- 
ton  visited  them  they  were  careftilly  lec- 
tured by  the  guide  on  "their  proper  beliavior, 
the  demeanor  of  Captain  Clapperton  being 
considered  too  cheerful  and  humorous  to 
suit  the  grave  Tuaricks,  This  aj)plies  only 
to  the  men,  the  women  being  lively  and 
amusing.  They  are  very  fond  of  singing, 
joining  in  little  bands  for  the  purpose,  and 
continuing  their  songs  until  midnight.  The 
men,  however,  never  sing,  considering  the 
song  to  be  essentially  a  feminine  amusement, 
and,  proiiably  for  the  same  reason,  they  are 
never  heard  "to  recite  poetry  like  most  Ori- 
entals. The  women  wear  the  usual  striped 
blue  and  white  dress,  and  th(>y  mostly  carry 
earrings  made  of  shells.  Wives  are  con- 
veniently valued  at  six  camels  each;  and 
whether  on  account  of  their  value,  or 
whether  from  an  innate  courtesy,  the  men 
treat  their  wives  with  respect,  and  permit 
them  a  freedom  of  manner  which  denotes 
the  admission  of  equality. 
The  depredations  of  the  Tuaricks  have 


been  mentioned  when  treating  of  the  Tib- 
boos,  on  whom  the  chief  brunt  of  their  at- 
tacks seems  to  fall.  That  they  carry  off  all 
the  cattle,  and  would  seize  even  the  Tibboos 
themselves  for  slaves,  is  a  standing  and  rea- 
sonable grievance.  But  even  the  constant 
fear  of  these  attacks  does  not  seem  to  anger 
the  Tibboos  so  much  as  the  raids  which  the 
Tuaricks  make  on  their  salt-market.  In  the 
Tibboo  country  there  are  some  large  salt 
marshes,  which  are  extremely  valuable  to 
the  owners,  salt  being  a  mnrketable  com- 
modity, fetching  a  high  price,  indeed  being 
itself  used  as  a  sort  of  currency;  a  cylinder 
of  coarse  brown  salt,  weighing  eleven  pounds, 
being  worth  four  or  five  dollars.  The  puri- 
fled  salt,  which  they  obtain  in  a  beautmdly 
clear  and  white  state,  is  put  into  baskets, 
and  brings  a  correspondingly  high  price. 

Not  choosing  to  take  the  trouble  of  pro- 
curing salt  for  themselves,  the  Tuaricks 
supply  themselves  as  well  as  their  market 
l>y  robbiii"  the  Tibboos,  and  in  one  season 
these  robbers  carried  off  twenty  thousand 
bags  of  salt,  selling  the  greater  part  in  the 
Soudan  market.  The  Tibboos  were  par- 
ticularly enraged  at  this  proceeding.  It 
was  bad  enough  to  have  their  property 
stolen,  but  it  was  still  worse  to  take  their 
remaining  salt  to  the  market,  and  then  find 
that  the  price  had  fallen  in  consequence  of 
the  Tuaricks  having  filled  the  market  with 
the  twenty  thousand  bags  which  they  had 
stolen,  and  which  they  could  therefore  aftbrd 
to  sell  at  a  very  low  price. 

Among  these  people  medicine  and  sur- 
gery are  necessarily  at  a  very  low  ebb, 
shampooing  and  cauterizing  being  the  chief 
remedies  for  almost  every  complaint.  One 
man  who  was  Buffering  from  an  enlarged 
spleen  was  advised  to  undergo  ;ho  opera- 
tion, and  was  laid  on  his  back  ad  tirmly 
held  down  by  five  or  six  assistants.  An 
iron  was  heated  in  the  fire,  and  three  s])ots 
burned  on  his  side,  just  under  the  ribs. 
Each  spot  was  about  as  large  as  a  sixpence. 
The  iron  was  then  rejilaced  in  the  fire, 
and,  while  it  was  being  heated,  the  assist- 
ants r  1  idled  him  in  the  side  with  their 
thumbs,  asking  whether  the  pressure  hurt 
him;  and,  as  their  hard  thumbs  l)ruised  his 
flesh,  ho  was  obliged  to  admit  tliat  it  did 
hurt  him.  So  four  more  scars  were  made, 
close  to  the  others.  He  was  then  burned 
on  his  face,  and  three  large  scars  burned 
near  the  spine;  and,  by  way  of  making  the 
cure  quite  complete,  a  large"  burn  was  made 
on  his  neck,  just  above  the  collftr-bone. 
The  poor  man  endured  the  torture  with 
great  patience,  and,  when  the  operation  was 
over,  he  drank  a  draught  of  water,  and  went 
on  as  usual  with  the  camels. 


I 


CURIOUS  ARCHITECTURE. 


THE  BEGHARMI8. 


We  now  come  to  the  curious  Begharmi 
kingddm,  between  whicli  an.l  Bornu  there 
rages  a  perpetual  warfare.  War  was  the 
ancient  custom  in  1824,  wlien  Denliam  and 
Clapperton  visited  the  country,  and  many 
years  aflenvard,  when  Dr.  Barth  travelled 
through  the  district,  it  was  going  on  as 
fiercery  as  ever.  Indeed,  if  they  could, 
each  kingdom  would  exterminate  the  other 
and,  oven  as  it  is,  great  loss  of  life  takes 
place  by  the  continual  battles,  in  which  no 
quarter  is  given,  except  to  those  prisoners 
who  are  to  be  qualilied  for  the  harem.  Con- 
sequently, the  wives  of  the  Bornuan  sultan 
are  guarded  by  Begliarmi  eunuchs,  and 
those  oi  the  Begharmi  sultan  by  Bornuese 

Even  the  Bornuan  sheikh  had  yielded  to 

the  prevaihng  custom,  and  maintained  thirty 

of  these  unfortunate    individuals.     Major 

Deuhain  saw  about  a  dozen  of  them  shortlv 

after  their  admission,  and  evidently  showed 

pity  by  his  countenance.    The  chief,  seeing 

tins,  exclaimed,  "Why,  Christian,  what  sig"- 

nifies  all  tlusV    They  are  only  Begharmis! 

dogs!    Kalhrs!    enemies!     They  ought   to 

nave  been  cut  in  four  quarters  alive;  and 

now  they  will  drink  coffee,  eat  sugar,  and 

hve  in  a  palace  all  their  lives." 

When  Dr.  Barth  visited  Begharmi,  the 
sultan  was  absent  on  one  of  liis  warlike 
expeditions,  and  it  was  some  time  before  ho 
vriis  allowed  to  proceed  to  Mass(;na,  the  cap- 
ital. At  last  he  did  so,  and  had  an  opportu- 
nity of  seeing  the  sultan  return  after  his 
expedition,  in  which  he  had  been  victorious. 
First  rode  the  lieutenant-governor,  sur- 
rounded 1^'  his  horsemen,  and  next  came 
another  officer,  behind  whom  was  borne  a 
long  and  peculiarly-formed  spear,  connected 
in  some  way  with  their  religion.  '  After  hin 
rode  the  commander-in-chfef,  and  tl  en  the 
sultan  himself,  riding  on  a  gray  horse  wear 
ing  a  yellow  bernouse,  anil  leltemlZm 
the  sun  by  two  umbrellas,  one  green  and 
one  yellow,  held  over  him  by  slaves  He 
was  continually  cooled  by  six  slaves  wield- 
ng  Ion-  ostrieh-featlier  fans,  and  Imvlnl 
their  r.gli  arms  clothed  in  iron  armor  ani 
around  h.m  rode  a  few  of  the   inlldpal 

1.  Jh  ""i  *"*™°  ^l"^  ^*"*  ciimel,  bearin<»  the 
battle-drums,  which  were  vigorous  v^ela! 
bored  liy  the  drummer.  Nov?  r'n,,, '•'^  i 
ime  of  ihe  «ulta,i-s  wYves,''cae'd' in  bft 
then  the  baggage,  and  then  the  soh  krs 
Prisoners  are  led  in  the  triuniphal  proees: 
8  on,  and  are  taken  to  the  harem  where 
they  are  insulted  by  the  inmates  The 
handsomest  among  them  are  selected  for 

are^rtTd^aS'^''''^^'"'-'^"---^'^^^^^ 
In  this  ca.se  the  Begharmi  sultan  had  been 
victonmis;  but  ,n  or.e  battle  wiluessed  bv 
Major  Denham  the  Bornuese  won  the  day 


I  the  sheikh  having  arranged  his  few  fire- 
arms with  such  skill  that  the  Begharmis, 


nearly  five  thousand  strong,  fell  back  in 
eontiwion,  and  were  at  once;  attacked  by  tho 
Bornuan  horse,  who  are  rewly  enough  to 
flgnt  when  tho  enemy  seems  to  bo  running 
away.  The  slaughter  was  enormous,  con- 
sidering tho  number  of  the  ccmbatants.  Of 
the  two  hundred  Begharmi  chiefs  who  came 
into  the  fleld,  only  one  was  said  to  have 
escaped,  seven  sons  of  the  sultan  were 
killed,  together  with  some  seventeen  hun- 
dred soldiers,  while  mt^ny  more  were  re- 
jiorted  to  have  been  murdered  after  the 
battle  was  over.  They  also  lost  nearly  flvo 
hundred  horses,  and  nearly  two  hundred 
women,  who,  according  to  the  odd  custom 
of  the  land,  followed  their  lords  to  battle. 

In  the  greater  part  of  the  country,  as  well 
as  at  Loggun,  the  houses  are  built  in  a  very 
curious  manner,  being  composed  of  cell 
within  cell,  like  a  nest  of  pill-boxes.  This 
ci'noHs  architecture  is  intended  to  keep  out 
tho  flies,  which  at  some  seasons  of  the  year 
swarm  in  such  numbers  that  even  the  in- 
habitants dare  not  move  out  of  their  houses 
for  several  hours  in  the  day.  Major  Den- 
ham would  not  believe  the  story  until  it  was 
corroborated  by  the  appearance  of  one  of 
his  men,  who  imprudently  ventured  into  the 
open  air,  and  came  back  with  his  eyes  and 
h(;ad  swollen  uj),  and  so  bitten  that' he  was 
laid  up  for  three  days. 

The  Begharmis,  though  they  are  always 
at  war  with  tho  Bornuese,  resemble  them  in 
so  many  paints  that  a  detailed  description  is 
not  needed,  and  we  will  only  glance  at  a  few 
of  their  peculiarities. 

As  we  have  mentioned  the  constant  war- 
fare in  which  they  are  engaged,  we  will  give 
a  few  words  to  tho  remarkable  cavalry  force 
which  forms  the  chief  strength  of  tho  Beg- 
harmi army.  These  men  present  a  most 
remarkable  appearance,  as  may  be  seen  by 
reference  to  the  illustration  No.  1  on  page 
638.  They  carry  a  most  curious  spear,  with 
a  double  head,  something  hke  a  pitchfork 
with  flattened  prongs. 

The  most  remarkable  point  is,  however, 
the  armor  with  which  the  Begharmi  lancer 
IS  defended.  It  is  made  of  quilted  cloth  or 
cotton,  and  is  almost  exactly  identical  with 
the  quilted  armor  worn  by  the  Chinese,  and 
which  caused  the  miserable  deaths  of  so 
many  soldiers  by  the  cotton  taking  fire  from 
the  fla-sh  of  their  own  muskets.  The  whole 
of  the  body  and  limbs  of  the  rider  arc  cov- 
ered with  tliis  armor,  while  he  wears  on  his 
head  a  helmet  of  the  s.ame  material;  and  his 
horse  is  defended  as  well  as  himself.  Al- 
though useless  against  fire-arms,  the  cotton 
quilting  is  proof  acainst  arrows  and  ir 
therefore  useful  in  guarding  the  soldier 
against  tlie  poisoned  weapons  of  hia  foes. 


> 


686 


TIIE  BEGHARMIS. 


i  I 


li  { 


Hi! 


Ab  this  armor,  though  light,  is  very  cum- 
Drona,  it  lo  soldom  worn  uxoopt  in  tu-tu-il 
combat,  or  wlien   tho  general   reviews'  his 
troops;  and  it  may  bo  doubted  whether  it  ifl 
^^V'^'^^L"]}  |™Pedim<mt,  both  to  horse  and 
•oldier,  (hat  the  troops  would  bo  more  eiU- 
«ient  without  it     Perhaps  tho  ,  ""l  7  me 
which  It  inspires  is  its  oh:.      .       i.a    .  ^ 
Ihose  men  are  always  employ.u'fu.  hoavv 
horse,  to  protect  the  vai  .   „1  .Ar^r-*  Mc  rear 
of  the  army    tho  arxhcts  be.ug  sUitioned 
just  behind  them,  ,m<\  shoodng*^  whenever 
they  find  a  chance.  Th.  saddle  is  m  awkward 
as  tlie  armor,  rising  both  in  front  and  hehin. 
to  such  a  height  that  the  soldier  could  ha  d  y 
foil  to  the  ground  even  if  ho  were  killed    In 
front  i   forms  a  sort  of  little  table,  on  which 
the  soldier  can  rest  his  bridle-am    wh  eh 
rj'rft-''  '■'!^'^"^^  ^"f*  holdingThe  re  ns 

The  njl)"'"  •''''^"  ".f  "'«  •J""t«^  coat 
Ido  JJegliarmis  maybe  almost  reckoned 
a«  negroes,  their  skins  f.eing  black  and  thHr 
faceslmving  much  of  the  flatness  and  thick 
nessoi  tho  negro.    They  are  powerful  and 
active  men,  «nd  the  sultons  of  other  coun 
faies  pride  themselves  on  their  trained  Be"- 
harmi  wrestlers,  these  men  being  chos  "n 
des    ^''''  ^'^         ''"*"'■''  ^°''  well-knit  mus- 

«i„Y'l?"  *""'  athletes  contend,  it  is  no  child's 
play  the  vanquished  being  sometimes  killed 
on  the  spot,  and  frequentfy  maimed  for  life 
mi?hn!!!;lwn?  ^T  ^  P"''"^'*^  monomania 
lo  Id  .rl  •"  '  ""  •  "'■fi'''  °"  '»>«  wrestlers  by 
loud  cries  promising  great  rewards  to  the 

n  enf  't."';^  ^'"•'^»'«l'ing,th«  severest  punish- 
ment to  the  vanquished.  The  ereat  ohier  t 
of  the  wrestlers  Is  to  catch  the  fpponen  by 
the  hips,  and  so  to  lift  him  off  his^  feet  and 
dash  lum  to  the  ground.  The  master  cares 
nothing  for  a  wrestler  who  has  been  once 
conouered;  and  a  man  for  whom  his  owner 
would  refuse  a  couple  of  hundred  dollars  in 

iTeKuS'^^°''^'°^"««-t^"f''^«^ 

Similar  to  these  combats  arc  the  boxinj;- 

^^*^k'''''  l".r^l'"''  ^^"^  "«g'-0''«  from  IlaZa 

tefnS°"^A *  *"?  f'/'  ,"•"  ^"'^  "'''t  '•''n  be  ob- 
tained. A  spirited  account  of  one  of  these 
matches  is  giVen  by  Major  Denham: 


to'Ztl' m"  '^'•7'"K,'l"«t  on  the  spectators 
tomakj*  them  stan.i  back.    The  drumnu-rs 

One  of  the  boxers  followed,  quite  naked 
cxeep  a  skin  roun.l  the  middle.^  He  hlacerf 
himself  in  an  attitmle  as  if  to  oppose  an 

^&°^J?"'',^'"""»'."  '""  '""«^ie«  into 
action,  seemingy  to  And  out   that   every 

ZTHr'TJ"  '"^'  "?'""••  '■•"•  t'H"  approach  nj 
the  s?<  .  ^'J^'";,"""'"*?  from  time  to  time  to 
the  side  of  the  ring,  aiu  presenting  his 
right  arm  to  the  bystanders  he  said, '  I  am 

kiite?  r  '  '*'"  "^  lion- -'I  am  able' to 
kill  all  that  oppose  me.'  The  spectators  to 
whom  he  presented  himself  laid  ti.eir  hands 
on  his  shoulder,  repeating, '  The  M  saing  of 
rW  „  ;  nr.hee'-' thou  art  a  hya'na'- 
o.iou  art  a  lion.'  iK,  then  abandoned  the 
ring  to  another,  who  showed  olf  in  the  same 
manner. 

"  The  right  arm  and  hand  of  the  pugilists 
were  then  hound  with  narrow  country  doth 
beginning  with  a  Ibl.i  round  the  ^niddlo! 
vi'nfVi  w'j;"' the  hand  being  first  ci.nched 
,  J  ,i  .^"'"["^'i  between  the  fi.re  and  mid 
lingers  the  cloth  was  passed  in  many  turns 
round  the  fist,  the  wrist,  and  the  tbrearm 

Alter  about  twenty  had  separately  gone 
through    their    attitudes    of  llefiance    and 
apilea  8  to  the  bystanders,  they  were  next 
brought  forward  by  pairs.  If  they  hapi)ened 
to  bo  friends,  they  laid  their  left  breasts  to- 
gether twice,  and  exclaimed, '  We  are  lions' 
—  We  are  friends.'    One  tlun  lef>,  the  rine, 
and  another  was  brought  fbrwaid.    If  the 
two    did    not    recognize    one    another   as 
tricnds,  the  set-to  immediately  commenced. 
On   taking  their  stations,   the  two   pu- 
gilists first  stood  at  some  distance,  iiarrv  nc 
with  the   left    hand   open,   and,   whenever 
opportunity  offered,  striking  with  the  right. 
Ihey  generally  aimed    at   tho   pit  of   the 
stomach    and   under    the   ribs.    AVhenever 
Uiev   closed,  one   seized    tho  otherV   head 
under  his  arm,  and  b.  at  it  with  his  fist, 
at  the  same  time  striking  with  his  knee 
between  his  antagonist's  thighs.     In  this 
position,  with  the  head  'in  chancery  '  they 
are  said  sometimes  to  attempt  to  gouge  or 


of 

performance.  Accordingly  I  sent  one  of 
my  servants  last  night  to  offer  2,000  whydah 
A^  ?».P"5'''fi"=  j?x»»b'«on  in  tj,.-  morning 

^mo8t"irf  •  "[?"  °^  ^'^  combatants  fs 
almost  cprtiin  before  a  battle  is  over    I 

,K™ ';,rf  V^i"'  %'"'"S  In  c»™e.. 


blows  that  are  so  often  fatal. 

"The  combatants  were  rei>eatedlv  sep- 
arated hy  my  orders,  as  they  were  hesrin- 
nmg  to  lose  their  temper.  When  this  spec- 
tacle was  heard  of,  girls  left  their  pitchers 

e  threw  down 
see  the  fight, 
--  square  before  my  house  was 
crowded  to  excess.  Aftor  six  pairs  had 
gone  through  several  rounds,  I  ordered 
them,  to  their  great  satisfaction,  the  prom- 
ised reward,  and  the  multitude  quietly  dis- 
parsed."  ■' 

The  Begiiarmi  women  are  guod  dancers, 


for  it  wou  d  have  been  dW^e/nl  hntif  *'  T..  W'«^„h«ard  of,  gfrls  left  t 
myself  and  my  count^  tof,i^  mik  .  \-n  ?u  "'e  wells,  tho  marl^et-people 
one  another "rtheSifican^  •"  '   "l^""   T^''^^  ""^  all  ran  t!.  . 

osity.  '^-'^'^egratihcationofidlecun-  The   whole  square   before    m^ 


osity, 

dnh^^^w*  ^""^^  "°  *^°»'"  <'^^  th«  'massu- 
°"°,"^y^ere  gone,  the  boxers  arrived  at- 
tended by  two  drums  and  the  whole  body  of 
butehers,  who  here  compose  '  the  fancy  '  A 
nng  was  soon  formed  by  the  n,=.«t^r  >  *»-" 


spectators 
(Iruiiuacre 
mi  lustily, 
to  naked, 
He  plnced 
>Pj)o«e  an 
seles  into 
»nt  every 
pr<»acl)injf 

0  time  to 
ntini;  liiH 
»itl, '  I  am 
ni  al)le  to 
ctatoFB  to 
<"ir  hands 
■  saing  of 
lyjcnn' — 
loncd  I  he 
the  same 

ptIgiliRtB 

try  cloth, 
t    middle 
clenched 
and  mid 
ny  turns 
earm. 
ely  gone 
nee    and 
sre  next 
ap])encd 
easts  to- 
re lions' 
he  ring, 
If  the 
tiler    as 
nenced. 
two  pu- 
)ariying 
henever 
le  right, 
of   the 
henever 
'h  head 
his  fist, 
is  knee 
In  this 
>','  they 
>ngo  or 
n  tliey 
iwinge- 
-ibs,  or 

1  these 


ii  i| 


y  sop. 
begin- 
s  spec- 
itchers 
'  down 

:   fight 

f.  was 
•8  had 
rdered 
prom- 
ly  dis- 


ncers, 


11  k  I 


1 1  ii 


4*^ 


1  '•»'  » 


:frt;:t 


"/Si 


•••»  111         > 


"*  '^im»4i^ 


'I.)    HK(iilAI{MI    I.ANCKUS.     (Sir  paur  ii:ir. 


-'•)    MUSUU  CHIKK.    (6tf  jjugu  (Wu./ 
(638) 


A  MUSOU  CHIEF. 


thoir  movcnifinU  bniritf  Ront.ln  nnil  ernrr- 
t\il.  They  miiku  iniicli  u'so  of  tlu'lr  hutuls, 
muni'tini.M  cnmsinK  them  on  tlu'ir  ImviHtH 
Hoiimliiiu'j*  cluKpiiiK  tliom  U)«flliir,un(l  Homo- 
tiiiu'j*  JiiNt  prcuMiiij;  tlio  tips  of  the,  IliiircM 
Hifiiiiist  tliose  of  the  opposite  hand.    As  they 


(Innco,  Uicv  fling  In  low  and  nlaintlvu  loiien 
twiiiijinK  il>"  l><)dy  backward  and  forward 
and  heiidiiiK  tl>«  head  from  Hide  to  side,  end-' 
inic  by  «inkiiiK  Moltly  ou  the  ground,  und  cov- 
ering tholr  fttcoH. 


MT7SGIT. 


NKAnr-T,  if  not  quite  equal  to  the  Beffhar- 
mls  ill  stature  and  strength  are  th(>  Mithou 
lrii)c,  whi<!li  inliahit  a  (listriet  of  Maiidara. 
In  consequence  of  tlieir   fine   proportions, 
Mus!;u  slaves  are  greatly  valueel  Ijy  the  sur- 
rounding' nations,  and  are  employed  in  va- 
rious ways.     The  sultans  aixl  great  chiefs 
are  fond  of  having  their  male  Musgu  slaves 
as  wrestlers;  and  next  in  interest  toa  match 
between  two    IJegharmis   is   a   contest   be- 
tween a  Hegharmi  and  a  "Musgu  wrestler. 
Th(!    feiniile    slaves    are    proportionat('ly 
strong,  l)ut  they  are  never  i)urchased  by  the 
Fe/,/,!in  traders,  because  they  lack  beauty  of 
teaturo  as  nnu-h  as  they  possess  strength  of 
muscle.     Their   faci'S   are    large   and   ugly, 
iiiid  llicv  have  a  custom  of  wtiaring  a  silver 
oruaiucnt  in  the  lower  lip.    This  ornament 
is  about  as  large  as  a  shilling,  and  is  worn 
exactly  after   the   fiwhion   of  the  "  pelele,'' 
which  Ims  already  been  described  and  llg- 
ured.     Ill  order  to  make  room  for  this  ugly 
ai)peiidug(>,  the  women  knock  out  the  two 
middle  teelli  of  the  lower  jaw,  and,  in  pro- 
cess of  time,  the  lip  is  dragged  down  by  the 
inserted  metal,  and  has  a  verv  horrid'  and 
repulsive  appcivrance.    Their  hair  is  dressed 
like  that  of  tlie  Hornu  women,  j.r.  one  large 
plait  or  roll  from  the  forehead  to  the  nape  of 
the  ni.ck,  and  two  others  on  each  side. 

They  are  very  trustworthy,  and  are  set  to 
laborious  tasks,  from  which  weaker  slaves 
would  shrink.  Tliey  do  all  the  .agricultural 
work,  — digging  the  ground,  planting  the 
seed,  and  carrying  homo  the  crops.  They 
ulso  perform  the  otlice  of  watchers,  by  ni.'ht 
as  well  as  by  day,  and  there  is  scarcely  a  year 
passes  that  one  or  two  of  these  patient  crea- 
tures are  not  carried  olT  hv  the  lions,  who 
creep  up  to  them  under  shelter  of  the  corn 
and  then  spring  ujion  them.  ' 

The  men  are  etiuaiiy  ugly.  Only  the 
chiefs  wear  any  elotliing,  an3  even  they  are 
seldom  clad  In  anything  more  than  a  goat- 
skin or  leopard's  hide,  hung  over  the  shoul- 
ders so  as  to  bring  the  head  of  the  animal 
on  the  wearer's  breast.  Their  heads  are 
covered  with  rather  strange-looking  caps, 
and  their  hair,  as  it  stniagies  from  uncler 
the  caps,  is  thick  and  ^Tistiy.  They  wear 
on  their  .yms  large  rings  of  bone  of  ivory 
and  round  their  nocks  hang  trophies  of  their 
valor,  being  necklaces  made  of  the  strun« 
teeth  of  alain  enemies.  They  paint  their 
bodies  with  red,  and  stain  their  teeth  of 
the  sanio  color,  so  that  they  present  a  sin- 


gularly wild  and  savage  appearance.  Tliey 
are  nionntod  on  small  b.-t  strong  and  active 
horses,  which  they  ri<le  without  saddles  and 
alinosl  without  bridles,  a  slight  piece  of  cord 
being  tied  lialter-wise  round  the  anlmRl's 
niU7./le. 

Their  weapons  consist  mostly  of  the  spear 
and  the  missile  knives,  siiniliir  to  those 
which  have  bi-en  alrearly  described.  The 
inferior  men,  though  they  are  mounted,  and 
carry  the  same  weapons  as  the  chief,  wear 
no  clothing  except  a  leather  girdle  round 
the  waist,  and  the  same  light  attire  is  worn 
by  tlie  women.  Though  so  liable  to  be 
enslaved  themselves  they  are' great  slave- 
dealers;  and  when  they  pay  tribute  to  the 
sultan  of  Maudara,  or  wish  to  make  a  peacc- 
olfiiring,  tlie  greater  part  of  it  consists  of 
slaves,  both  male  aiuf  female. 

Ill  illustration  No.  2,  page  (i.'W,  is  seen  a 
Aliisgu  chief  going  to  battle.  He  is  one  of 
the  very  great  chiefs,  as  is  shown  from  the 
fact  that  he  wears  a  tobe  instead  of  a  skin 
In  his  right  hand  is  a  sjiear,  and  in  his  M\ 
a  couple  of  the  missile  knives.  Uehind  him 
ride  his  soldiers,  naked  men  on  naked 
horses.  In  the  background  is  seen  a  party 
of  women  engaged  in  the  water,  witli  which 
elt;nient  they  are  very  familiar,  and  are  not 
kept  out  of  It  by  any  fear  of  wetting  their 
clothes.  Near  them  is  one  of  the  raound- 
ike  tombs  under  which  a  dead  chief  has 
been  buried  — the  Musguese  being  almost 
the  only  African  tribe  who  erect  such  a 
monument. 

The  huts  are  seen  a  little  farther  hack, 
and  near  tluin  are  two  of  the  remarkable 
gran.aries,  covered  with  projecting  orna- 
ments, and  mostly  kept  so  well  lilled  that 
marauders  are  nearly  as  anxious  to  sack  the 
granaries  as  to  steal  the  people.  On  the 
bi-iinches  of  the  trees  is  a  quantity  of  grass 
which  h.os  been  hung  there  to  dry  in  the 
SHU,  and  to  be  used  as  hay  for  the  horses. 

When  Major  Denhani  was  near  the  Mus^u 
territory,  he  was  told  that  these  strange  and 
wild-looking  people  were  Christians.  Ho 
siud  that  they  could  not  be  so,  Itecause  they 
had  Just  begged  of  him  the  carcass  of  a 
horse  which  had  died  during  the  night,  and 
were  at  that  time  busily  employed  in  eatin" 
It.  The  man,  however,  adhered  to  his  opin" 
ion  saying  that,  although  he  certainly  never 
had  heard  that  Christians  ate  horse-flesh 
they  did  eat  swine's-flesh,  aud  that  was  la- 
,  tinitoly  more  disgusting. 


I.li 


r 


- 


f!l 


l;l 


«I0 


MU6GU. 


Theso  people  were  unwittingly  the  cause 
of  great  loss  to  th6  Bornuese  ana  Mandaras. 
The  Arabs  who  hail  accompanied  Deuhani 
and  Clapperton  from  Tripoli  were  very  anx- 
ious, before  returning  home,  to  make  a  raid 
on  their  own  account,  and  bring  back  a 
number  of  Musgu  slaves.  The  sheikh  of 
Bornu  thought  that  this  would  be  a  good 
opportunity  of  utilizing  the  fire-arms  of  the 
Arabs  against  the  warlike  and  unyielding 
Fellatahs,  and  sent  them  off  together  with 
three  thousand  of  his  own  troops. 

As  had  been  anticipated,  when  they 
reached  Mandara,  the  sultan  would  not 
allow  them  to  attack  Musgu,  which  he 
looked  upon  as  his  own  particulai-  slave- 
preserve,  but  added  some  of  his  o^n  troops 
to  those  of  the  Bornuan  sheikh,  and  sent 
them  to  capture  as  many  Fellatahs  as  they 
liked,  doing  them  the  honor  of  ^jcompany- 
ing  the  expedition  in  person.  It  is  also  evi- 
dent tliat  both  the  sultan  and  the  sheikh 
disliked  as  well  as  feared  the  Arabs,  and 
Yff.e  very  willing  to  turn  to  account  the 
tci  able  weapons  which  they  carried,  and  by 
means  of  which  they  had  made  themselves 
80  overbearing  and  disagreeable. 


When  they  reached  the  first  Fellitali  town 
and  attacked  it,  they  found  it  to  be  strongly 
defended  with  chevaiix  de  /rise  of  sharpened 
stakes  six  feet  in  height,  behind  which  'vere 
stationed  their  arcliers,  who  pouied  showers 
of  poisoned  arrows  on  the  invaders.    The 
Arabs,  after  a  struggle,  carried   the  fence 
and   pursued    the    Fellatahs    uj)   the    hill. 
Hero  they  were  received  with  more  arrows, 
brought  to  the  archerc  by  the  women,  and 
with  stones  rolled  down  the  hill.    Had  the 
Bornu  and  Mandara  soldiers  pushed  for- 
ward, the  whole  town  must  have  been  taken, 
instead  of  which  they  prudently  kept  out  of 
range  of  the  jpoisoned  arrows.    The  Fella- 
tahs, seeing  their  cowardice,  then  assumed 
the  offensive,  whereupon  the   Bornu  and 
Mandara  soldiers  at  once  ran  away,  headed 
by  tl.o  sultan,  who  would  have  laid  claim  to 
the  town    had    the   Arabs  taken  it.    The 
whole  force  was  routed  with  great  loss,  the 
Bornu  leader — »  truly  brave  man  —  was 
killed  with  a  poisoned  arrow,  and  Major 
Denham  was  severely  wounded,  stripped  of 
all  his  clothes,  and  barely  escaped  with  his 
life. 


CHAPTER  LXIV. 


ABYSSINIA. 


ABTSSmiA,  THE  LAND  OF  MYSTERT-OniGm  OF  TIHS  NAME-THB  KINOI>OM  OF  PRESTEH  JOHN-THB 
THREE  ABVS8m.AN  DISTRICTS  OR  KINODOMS-OE.VEBAI.  APPEAR  .NCE  OF  T„7ABVS8miAN8 - 
DBE8S  OF  THE  MEN-THE  QHARRV  AND  THE  TR0C8EB8 -G0«O  TO  BED-THE  D.TaTiTS 
FASHIONS-l^X-S  ORNAMENTS-HOW  THE  JEWELLER    IS  PAm-WEAPONS  OF  THE  IbVSS^S 

^TfepLTIn  z:r:i' ""  ™  """"'-'•' '""''  ^^^  "■^^^-^'"^ «—  --Mor^r 

ZZ,  0«»««-fHE  SHIELD  AND  ITS  ORNAMENTS  -  APPEARANCE  OF  A  MOUNTED  CHIEF 

-SWORDSMANSHlr-THE  ABYSSINIAN  AS  A  SOLDIER  -  DRESS  AND   APPEARANCE  OF  THE  W^EN 
-THRIR  ORNAMSNXS-TATT0OC,O-M0DE8  OF  DEESaiNO    THK  HAIB-THE  A.Y88«irp7LI^W 


Abyssixia  is  one  of  the  most  wonderfu' 
nations  on  the  &ce  of  the  earth.  It  was 
long  a  land  of  mystery,  in  which  the  unicorn 
and  the  lion  held  their  deadly  combats,  in 
which  dragons  flapped  their  scaly  wings 
through  the  air,  in  which  the  mountains  were 
ot  gold  and  the  river-beds  paved  with  dia- 
monds, and  greatest  marvel  of  all,  in  which 
1  rester  John,  the  priest  and  king,  held  his 
court,  a  Christian  Solomon  of  the  Middle 
Ages. 

In  this  last  tale  there  was  this  amount  of 
truth,  that  a  Christian  Church  existed  in 
Abyssinia  — a  Church  of  extreme  antiquity 
which  has  remained  to  the  present  day  hav- 
ing accommodated  itself  in  a  most  rcmarka- 
Dle  manner  to  the  race-characteristics  of  the 
people.    Setting   aside  the  interest  which 
has  been  excited  in  Abyssinia  by  the  suc- 
cessful march  of  a  British  force  to  the  mili- 
tary  cp.>,tal  Abyssinia  deserves  description 
m   th-s  vohime.     At  first  sight  it  would 
appear  that  a  Christian  country  would  fm 
^X^     ■''■r  ''^^••l' which  has  nothing  to  do 
with  civilization;  but,  as  we  procee7l  with 
the  account,  we  shall  find  that  dhristianitv  in 
Abyssinia  has  done  scarcely  anything  tociVil- 
ize  the  nation,  a«  we  understand  the  wonl  and 
mstead  of  extirpating  the  savage  customs  of 
nlnn^t??   '  ^^i '»  "^  .«/«•«"?{«  manner  existed 
used  "'  *  ^^"^  "^^y  ^"^ 

Jt  is  my  purpose  in  the  following  paces  to 
give  a  succinct  descripUon  of  the  uncivil- ' 


ized  manners  aad  customs  of  the  Abyssi- 
nians,  together  with  a  brief  account  of  that 
peculiar  system  of  Christianity  which  could 
survive  for  nearly  fifteen  hundred  years, 
and  yet  leave  the  people  in  a  scjircely  better 
moral  state  than  if  they  had  never  heard  the 
name  of  Christ. 


(641) 


Like  many  other  large  communities,  the 
great  Abyssinian  nation  is  composed  of 
several  elements,  differing  as  much  from 
each  other  as  the  Scotch,  the  Irish,  the 
VV  elsh,  and  the  other  mixed  races  who  to- 
gother  form  the  English  nation.  In  Abys- 
ftiniti,  however,  these  different  eloment.s  have 
not  fused  themselves  so  much  together  as  Is 
the  case  with  tliis  kingdom,  and  each  prim  i- 
pdity  18  independent,  Iiaving  its  own  ruler 
and  its  own  laws. 

That  such  a  state  of  things  is  fnjurious  to 
the  interests  of  the  kingdom  is  evident  to 
all  students  of  history,  and  we  find  that 
every  great  ruler  has  attempted  to  unite 
them  under  one  head.  The  peculiar  charac- 
ter of  the  Africans  is,  however,  strong  in 
these  people;  and  as  soon  as  the  strong  hand 
that  held  them  together  is  removed,  they 
fly  asunder,  and  resume  their  individuality. 
To  the  Abyssinian  kingdom  may  be  well 
applied  the  familiar  epigram  of  a  "  concur- 
rence of  antagonistic  atoms." 

Their  native  name,  "  mbaah,"  of  which 

our  wonl  Abyssinia  is  a  corruption,  signifies 

mixture,"  and  is  exceodinarfy  annronriate 


-i"    ■ 


612 


ABYSSINIA. 


to  them.  Among  the  many  mixtures  which 
compcje  tlie  Abyssinian  nation,  the  natives 
rockon  a  considerable  Je  wisli  element.  Tlicy 
say  that  the  Slieba  of  Scripture  was  Abyssi- 
nia, and  that  their  queen  went  to  visit  Solo- 
mon for  the  express  purpose  of  introducing 
the  l)lood  of  80  eminent  a  sovereign  into  the 
royal  succession  of  Abyssinia.  She  waited 
till  she  had  borne  a  son,  and  through  tliat 
son  the  successive  kings  of  Abyssinia  be- 
lieve themselves  to  be  lineal  descendants 
of  Solomon.  Whether  this  story  be  true  or 
not,  it  is  thoroughly  in  consonance  with  the 
very  lax  morality  of  Abyssinian  females. 
When  the  queen  returned  to  her  own  coun- 
try, she  was  followed  by  a  number  of  Jews, 
and  they  say  that  at  the  time  of  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  Temple,  and  the  captivity,  a  great 
multitude  of  fugitives  followed  their  com- 
patriots, and  took  refuge  in  Abyssinia. 

Numbers  of  Greeks  and  Portuguese  have 
at  different  times  takeii  up  their  residence 
in  Abyssinia,  and,  like  the  immigrant  Jews, 
been  absorbed  into  the  country,  so  that  the 
native  name  of  Ilibash  is  srilu  to  be  well 
deserved. 

Three  of  the  districts  or  sub-kingdoms 
liave  tlie  best  claim  to  the  title  of  Abyssinia, 
and  are  inhabited  by  Christians  of  that 
peculiar  kind  to  which  aUusion  has  just  been 
made.  The  first  is  the  Tigrd  (pronounced 
leegray)  country,  whi(;h  takes  its  name  as  a 
province  from  a  small  district  to  which  this 
name  belongs.  It  extends  to  the  Red  Sea 
on  the  east,  and  to  the  Taccazy  River  on  the 
west,  ant!  iias  a  rather  uncertain  ran^e  be- 
tween lat.  15°  and  12°  N.  It  is  divided  from 
Nubia  by  a  number  of  Independent  tribes, 
while  some  oJ  the  Gallas  and  other  tribes  are 
on  its  nonliern  boundary. 

AVestwanl  oftheTaccazy  lies  the  scqond 
kingdom  or  province,  called  Amhara,  in  the 
middle  of  which  is  situated  the  city  of  Gon- 
dar;  and  the  third  is  Shooa,  which  lies  south- 
ward of  Tigre  nnd  Amhara,  and,  strangely 
enough,  is  si>parated  from  them  by  Gallas 
and  other  tribes. 

Of  these  three  districts.  Tigre  seems  to 
afford  the  best  characteristic  of  the  Abyssi- 
nians,  and  therefore  the  chief  part  of  the 
account  will  be  devoted  to  the  Tigrdans. 
Among  these  people  Mr.  Mansfield  Parkyns 
lived  for  a  consideral)le  time,  and  to  hin^we 
are  indebted  for  the  greater  i)art  of  our  in- 
formation concerning  this  remarkable  nation. 
As  a  rule,  the  Al>ys3inians  arc  of  moderate 
stature,  rather  below  than  above  the  English 
average.  .  Mr.  Parkvns  saw  one  or  two  men 
who  attained  the  lieight  of  six  feet  two 
inches,  but  remarks  that  such  examples  were 
very  rare. 

As  is  often  the  case  with  Afruans,  the 
complexion  is  exceedingly  variable,  some- 
times being  of  a  very  pale  coppery  brown, 
and  sometimes  almost  a?  dark  as  the  negro. 
This  variation,  whic'h  is  often  the  effect  of 
locality,  is  attributed  by  Mr.  Parkvns  to  the 


mixture  of  races.  As,  moreover,  marriages 
are  of  the  loosest  description  in  Abyssinia, 
Christian  though  it  be,  a  man  may  be  often 
seen  with  a  number  of  children  by  different 
wives,  all  unlike  each  other  in  point  of  com- 
plexion; a  brother  and  sister,  for  example, 
being  totally  dissimilar,  one  short  anil  black 
as  a  negro,  and  the  other  tall  and  fair  as  an 
European. 

The  negro  element  seems  to  expend  itself 
cTiiefly  in  color,  the  peculiarity  of  the  negro 
form  having  been  nearly  obliterated  by  con- 
tinual mixture  with  other  races.  Now  and 
then  the  negro  conformation  of  leg  shows 
itself,  but  even  this  evidence  is  rather  un- 
common. 

The  women  of  the  higher  class  are  re- 
markalle  for  their  beauty,  not  only  of  feature 
but  of  form,  and  possess  singularlv  small  and 
pretty  hands  ancl  feet,  all  of  which  beauties 
their  style  of  dress  exhibits  freely.  Their 
features  arc  almost  of  the  European  type, 
and  the  eyes  are  exceedingly  large  and  beau- 
tiful—so large,  indeed,  that  an  exact  draw- 
ing would  have  the  appearance  of  exagger- 
ation to  persons  who  are  unaccustomed  to 
them.  It  is  said,  indoed,  that  the  only  wo- 
men who  can  be  compared  with  the  Abyssi- 
uians  are  tlie  French  half-caste  of  the  ]\Iau- 
ritins.  The  engraving  No.  2  on  the  next 
pape  will  give  a  good  itlea  of  the  features  and 
general  appearance  uf  the  Abyssinians. 

liejjinning  at  the  top,  we  have  first  a  pro- 
file view  of  a  woman's  liead,  to  show  the 
elaborate  way  in  which  the  hair  is  ])laited 
and  arranged.  Next  comes  a  fVont  view  of 
a  head,  showing  the  appearance  of  the  hair 
as  it  is  teased  and  combed  out  before  plait- 
ing. The  third  figure  gives  a  view  of  the 
head  and  bust  of  a  lady  of  rank.  This  is 
drawn  to  show  another  'mode  of  arranging 
the  hair,  as  well  as  the  elaborate  tattoo  with 
which  the  women  love  to  decorate  every 
inch  of  the  body  and  limbs  from  the  neck  to 
the  tips  of  the  fingers  and  toes. 

Below  are  the  portraits  of  two  men.  One, 
a  priest,  ha.s  covered  his  shaven  head  with  a 
white  turban,  the  mark  of  the  jiriesthoofl 
am<mg  the  Abyssinians,  among  whom  the 
laitv  wear  no  head  covering  save  their 
highly-decorated  and  wcll-greasid  locks. 
The  second  portrait  is  the  profile  view  of 
a  man,  and  gives  a  goo<l  idea  of  the  cast  of 
countenance.  The  reader  may  scarcely  be- 
lieve that  tlic  Abyssinians  have  been  cited 
by  a  certain  school  of  philaiilhro])ist8  as 
examples  of  the  intellectual  capability  of  the 
im/ro. 

Next  to  tlie  personal  appearance  of  the 
Abyssinians  comes  their  dress.  Varying 
slightly  in  different  jk  .ts  of  the  country, 
and  changing  in  sonr,;  of  its  details  accord- 
ing to  the  fashion  of  the  day,  the  dress  of  the 
Abyssinians  is  essentially  the  same  through- 
out the  kingdom.  The  principal  articles  of 
dress  are  trousers,  and  a  large  mantlo  or 
"  quarry." 


■« 


two  kinds,  the  one  descondini?  some  threp 

na'tS  ^f'"''  "'"  ^^^''  •'^"^  thf  oZ  termT 
nating  the  same  distance  above  it.  The 
trousers  are  very  tight,  and  an  Abvssininn 
dandy  will  wear  them  of  so  verv  cfose  a  fit 
tlmt^  to  get  them  on  is  nearl^an  l^?,rl' 

Round  the  waist  is  rolled  the  sash  or  belt 
about  one  yard  in  width.  This  is  also  of 
cotton  and  varies  in  length  according  S 
the  fineness  of  the  material.  A  common 
belt  wui  be  about  fifteen  yards  in  k^S" 
but  a  very  l.ne  one,  which  only  contains  the 
'  f^Tilh'""""/  f  •n-'^te"''*!,  '-vill  be  from  fifty 
!P..7*^  ^f"''  ^i'""-  ^'•om  thirty  to  forty 
y;ard8  IS  the  ordinary  length  for  an  A;>,8^ 
sunan  gentleman's  belt.  ^It  is  p„"  on  ^1 
hodmg    he  end  with  one  hand  to  the  side 

ha  df  whL'\K^"'^"*l  *"  'P"^^  i^^^vith  his' 
ftands,  while  the  wearer  turns  round  and 
round,  and  so  wind*  himself  up  in  the  beU 

inl*'  """■  °'""'^"  did  when  the  long  sUk 
sashes  were  worn  round  the  waist.    ^ 

»„„  u  ",.,  l*^^  ^'^°  "ot  only  useful  in  nreserv- 
inL^-""'"'.'  ^"'  ««i^  •''«  detensivo  armor?n  a 
wher'^tirov'""'  ''^  V^"  '""^  ^'•^  •'irmed.and 
I^on  1  ^^  ^'"^  ""P^  to  quarrel  terribly  as 
Lo,  f?*  "'fi^  ""^''^  excited  by  drink.    Even  fn 

long  by   hree  wide,  and  having  at  eaC"  end 
a  red  stripe,  some  five  or  ..ix  inches  in  width 
Those  are  put  together  after  a  ratJ.er  curious 
and  complicated  manner.  "  One  is  first  tXn 

of  eitS  '^■^-^""•V'- "^^^^  the  mfstnies 
ot  ea«h  end  come  exactly  together.    A  sec 

ffle'oul  'InY''  'f '^i'!-'  «'"l«l«o  folded,  bu 
inside  out,  and  one  half  of  it  laid  under  ind 
the  other  half  over  t)ie  first  piece  so  tha 
Onetr  ^^l^rders  now  cofne  t'oget  er 
One  edge  of  this  quadruple  cloth  ift  len 

mentioned  piece  is  turned  back,  so  that  X 

fecSf 'Tlf'th-  "r-*^""'^'«  cloth  of^v^ 
weaatns.     I  he  third  piece  h  now  addod  in  n 

similar  manner,  the  wllole  forming  a' qui"y^ 

Kieabe  used  m  ihc  Ab,.s8n  in  toilet  (h,.v 

etir^Z'fr  ^'%  .  -"'-^  naiye8,''h5;^ 
ever,  rather  adm:r.i  tnis  apoearance  An 
Abyssinian  dandy  dospi.^es  a  clean  ouarrv 


THE  QUARRY  AND  THE  TROUSERS. 


thJ'jfl  f""^  different  qualities  of  quarrv 
the  best  being  made  of  materials  so&Ii 
that  SIX  pieces  are  required  and  if  !«  Ixi  i  I 
four  time^double.  TrcolVed  s    ije  S  ?he 

..£;'|^^-usJi';e=>a«^ 

of  thf  ?r"'"''^  •*'°''™'=  *^«  sleeping  costume 
serJ  anJ'^Jn'n'i'."'^^'  ^.^^  ^^ke  off  their  TrZ 
sers  and  roll  themselves  up  so  comnletflv 
in  their  mantles  that  they  cover  Z.H 
entire  bodies,  limbs,  and  hJads  When  thev 
arrange  themselves  for  the  night  they  con^ 
trive  to  remove  their  trousers 'an7 even 
their  belts,  vBthout  exposing  themselves  In 
the  leas  ;  and  when  we  remember  the  ex° 
treme  Jightness  of  the  former  article  of 
dress,  an^  the  inordinate  length  of  the  V 

ea't  si ''  A  T''"'  '^^  «•"»''  «'Srise  that  the 
feat  should  be  accomplished  so  cleverly 

,imn?''""*  P''""?^  P'"*^!^  themselves  up  in  a 
similar  manner,  but  in  pairs,  their  mantles 
forming  a  covering  for  the  two.  It  is  very 
cunous  to  see  how  they  manage  to  perfoi^^ 
this  se-^ming  y  impossible  tasg.  Tfiey  seat 
themse  ves  side  by  side,  the  man  on  the 
woman's  right  banc',  and  pla.e  the  short 
end  of  the  quarry  under  them.  The  louff 
end  IS  then  thrown  over  their  heads  an3 
under  its  shelter  the  g.rmonts  Le  rSovetf 

couple,  and  they  are  ready  for  repose. 

ipn/',^f°*'  *>  "?•■'","*'  '^'  ^^  cou'-ae,  inconven- 
ient on  a  windy  day,  and  in  battle  would  bo 

sion  i'    t^Tfi™"."!-    ?"  *'»«  «>r'«er  occa^ 
sion  It  18  confined  to  the  body  by  a  short 

'l^mp'  "r*""*  ^''"^'l  the^Jino"  o^ 
J%,y  and  in  war  the  quarry  io  laid  aside 
ad  the  dino  substituttd  for  it!  The  d"no  fs 
often  a  very  elaborate  gaimcnt,  made  of 
cloth,  velvet,  or,  more  filquently  the  skin 
of  some  an.mr.l,  cut  in  a  peculiar  manner  so 

ow"r  iTo'  r^^'  «^rins 'pendent  from  the 
lovvei  edge  by  way  of  a  fringe. 

Iho  skins  of  the  lion  and  black  leonarrl 
are  most  esteemed,  and  arc  o.dy  worn  on 
gala  day.yb7  chiefs  and  very  great  Sors 
They  are  ifned  with  scarlet  doth,  and  nra 
fitted  with  a  number  of  amulets  which  «« 

TaJX^'T  ''''r  hreast"AdnoiLaX 
of  the  black-maned  lion  skin  will  often  h^ 
valued  at  e-ht  or  ten  pounds,  wMo  a  com 

TooT  '1"  ''""'^'^y  cost^onl^-tinth  of  th™ 
amount.  A  very  favorite  skin  is  that  of  the 
unborn  calf,  which  takes  a  soft  lustre  rice 
worn"bv"1::°!^-"'^'^  accordingly  can  Sy  be 
n,?v.^     y  dandies  who  are  rich  enough  to 

U^s  kin  '''  r  ''"V''  '''''  ^"'  ""^  ««ke  of 
U118  Skin.     An  ordinary  calf-skin  is  onn 

temned,  and  would  onl/be  wo^n  by  a  man 
of  the  lowest  class.  A  peculiar  kind  of 
sheen   is   Iccnt  hv  tK„    au'    :_■  o  ""    Of 


'!    i 


i| 


St 


—  .v,,,cni.  ,,isjsB.     jy  peculiar  kind  of 

Sheep  IS  kept  by  the  Abyssinians  for  the 

sake  of  its  wool,  whicris  sometimes  more 

than  two  feet  in  length.  ™ 

The  fcheep  load  a  very  artificiaJ  life,  are 


ill 


640 


ABYSSINIA. 


kept  clay  and  nipht  on  couches,  are  fed  with 
meat  and  milk,  uiul  their  fleeces  washed  and 
combed  regularly  as  if  they  were  ladies'  lap- 
dogs.  The  result  of  this  treatment  is,  that 
they  have  beautiful  fleeces,  which  are  worth 
from  twenty  to  thirty  shillings  each,  but 
their  flesh  is  utterly  useless  for  consump- 
tion, being  very  small  in  quantity,  and 
olfeiiMive  in  quality.  The  fleeces  are  gener- 
ally dyed  b'ack,  that  being  a  fashionable 
color  ui  Abyssinia. 

The  skin  of  the  hyaena  or  the  dog  is  never 
used  for  clothing,  and  the  natives  have  a' 
superstitious  fear  of  the  red  jaelml,  thinking 
that  if  they  should  be  wounded  while  weai-- 
ing  a  dino  of  jackal  skin,  oiio  <)r  the  hairs 
might  enter  tho  wound,  and  ao  prove  fatal 
to  the  sufferer.  The  leopard  skin  is  never 
worn  by  ordinary  Abyssinians,  being  exclu- 
sively used  by  the  Gallas  and  Sliooas,  and 
by  a  certain  setof  dervishes  called  the  Zac- 
chari. 

Contrary  to  the  habit  of  mi  si.  African 
nations,  the  men  wear  but  few  </niaments, 
those  which  tliov  employ  being  ahnost  al- 
ways signs  of  vui>.r.  Amulets  an;  found  on 
almost  every  man,  and  many  of  them  wear 
whole  strings  of  thcs-'  sacrcl  articles,  crossed 
over  the  shoulders  ,  ud  Ihlling  as  low  as  the 
knees.  Most  Abyssinian-  carry  a  pair  of 
tweezers  for  extracting  Hm! n  from  the  feet 
and  legs,  and  the  wijalthicr  among  them 
place  their  tweezers  in  a  highly  ornamented 
silver  case,  which  is  hung  from  the  handle 
of  the  sword. 

Whenever  an  Abyssinian  is  seen  wearing 
a  silver  chain,  he  is  known  to  have  killed  an 
elephant,  while  those  who  have  distin- 
guished themselves  in  battle  are  known  by 
a  son  of  silver  bracelet,  which  extends  from 
the  wrist  nearly  as  far  as  the  elbow.  It  opens 
longitudinally  by  hinges,  and  is  fastened  with 
a  clasp.  This  ornament  is  called  the  "  bitoa," 
and  is  often  very  elegantly  engraved,  and 
adorned  with  gifded  patterns.  The  silver- 
smiths who  make  these  and  similar  articles 
are  rather  oddly  treated.  They  are  consid- 
ered as  sl.ives,  are  not  allowecf  to  leave  the 
country,  and  yet  are  treated  with  consider- 
able kindness,  save  and  excejit  the  payment 
for  their  labor. 

Consequently,  the  silversmith,  finding  that 
he  has  to  wait  a  very  long  time  for  hismonev, 
and  probably  will  not  get  it  at  all.  is  forced 
to  pay  himself  by  embezzling  a  quantity  of 
the  gold  and  silver  which  are  given  him  for 
the  manufacture  of  the  bracelet,  and  substi- 
tuting an  equal  amount  of  less  precious 
metal.  Mr.  Parkyns  mentions  that  he  Ikis 
known  a  man  to'  receive  silver  equal  to 
thirty  sequins, and  to  use  in  Ihe  work  rather 
less  than  eight  Manv  of  these  bracelets 
are  ornamented  with  ifttlo  bell-like  pieces 
of  silver  rouud  the^dge,  which  tinkle  and 
claah  as  the  wearer  moves.  Similar  bells 
are  attached  to  a  sort  of  silver  coronet  worn 
by  very  great  men   and,  together  with  the 


silver  chains  to  which  they  are  attached, 
hang  over  the  ears  and  neck  of  the  wearer. 

As  to  the  weapons  of  the  Abyssinians, 
they  consist  chiefly  of  the  sword,  spear,  and 
shield.  In  later  days  fire-arms  have  been 
introduced,  but,  as  this  work  treats  only  of 
the  uncivilized  part  of  mankind,  tliese  weap- 
ons will  not  bo  reckoned  in  the  Abyssinian 
armory. 

The  sword,  or  "  Shotcl,"  is  a  very  oddly- 
shaped  weapon.  The  blade  is  nearly  straight 
for  some  two  feet,  and  then  turns  suddenly 
like  a  sickle,  but  with  a  more  angular  bend. 
The  edge  is  on  the  inside,  and  this  peculiar 
form  is  intended  for  striking  downward 
over  the  enemy's  shield.  In  order  to  give 
weight  to  the  blow,  the  blade  is  much  wider 
and  heavier  toward  the  point  than  at  the 
hilt.  As  if  this  form  of  blade  did  not  make 
the  sword  feebbi  enough,  the  hilt  is  so  con- 
structed that  it  prevents  all  play  of  the 
wrist.  The  handle  is  matle  of  a  pyramidal 
piece  of  rhinoceros  horn,  five  inches  wide 
at  one  end,  and  three  at  the  other.  It  is 
made  into  the  projier  shape  for  a  handle  by 
cutting  out  semicircular  pieces  along  the 
sides,  leaving  tho  four  sharp  corners  in 
their  previous  form.  When  the  sword  is 
grasped,  one  of  the  four  angles  must  come 
under  the  Avrist,  so  that  if  the  weapon  were 
allowed  to  play  freely,  as  in  ordinary  swords- 
manship, the  point  would  be  driven  into  the 
wrist. 

As  with  the  natives  of  Southern  Africa, 
the  Abys.^inians  prefer  soft  iron  to  tempered 
steel,  the  former  admitiing  of  being  straight- 
ened when  bent,  but  the  lattn  being  apt  to 
snap.  The  sword  is  always  hung  on  the 
right  side,  in  order  to  be  out  of  the  way  of 
the  shield,  especially  when,  as  in  travelling, 
it  is  swung  backward  and  Ibi  ward  with  tho 
play  of  the  left  arm. 

The  sheath  of  the  sword  is  ^nade  of  lea- 
ther or  red  morocco,  and  is  ornamented  by 
the  great  men  with  a  number  of  silver 
plates.  At  the  end  of  the  sheath  is  a  metal 
ball,  called  "lomita."  Tiiis  curious  orna- 
ment is  mostly  of  silver,  and  is  ahnost  as 
largo  as  a  billiard  liall.  The  sword-belt  is 
of  the  same  material  as  tho  m  :ibb.'ird. 

The  spear  is  from  six  to  seven  feet  in 
length,  -vA  the  luafl  is  squared  like  that  of 
a  pike.  The  four  sides  itre  mostly  grooved, 
so  that  the  head  of  the  weapon  looks  some- 
thing like  a  quadrangular  bayonet.  This 
spear  is  used  both  as  a  lance  and  as  a  Jave- 
lin, a  good  soldier  being  able  to  strike  a 
man  at  thirty  or  forty  yards'  distance.  The 
cavalry  always  carry  two  spears,  one  of 
which  is  thrown,  and  the  other  retained  to 
bo  used  as  a  lance.  They  have  rather  a. 
curious  mode  of  using  the  lance,  aiming  it 
at  the  adversarj'  as  if  they  meant  to  throw 
it,  but  only  letting  the  shaft  slip  through 
the  hand,  and  catching  it  by  the  butt. 

The  sh  wts  of  the  spears  are  very  neatly 
made,  and  much  paina  aro  bestowed  upon 


thotn  Tlicy  are  marlc  of  very  yoiinu  trees 
which  are  c  oared  of  the  bart  Vy  fl?o  and 
arc  then  straightened  and  dried.  This  oner, 
atmn  requires  a  very  skilful  manipulator;  m 
if  the  wood  be  too  mueh  dried,  ft  is  brittle 
«t|d  snaps;  if  irregularlv  heated,  U  never 
Mill  remain  straignt;  antf  if  not  dried  suffi- 
ciently, It  warps  with  every  chanire  of 
weather.  When  nroperly  straightened,  the 
shafts  are  greasecl  and  hung  over  the  fire 
for  several  months,  until  they  assume  the 
proper  reddish-yellow  hue. 

When  not  in  use,  each  Innce  is  kept  in  a 
sheath,  to  the  top  of  which  is  fastened  a 
OOP  by  which  It  can  be  hung  to  the  end  of 
the  cow  8  horn  which  docs  duty  for  a  ncir  in 
Abyssinian  houses,  and  which  is  just  Ion- 
enough  to  allow  the  lance  to  hang  strai-hl 
without  touching  the  wall.  °  «"a'o'H 

The  Abyssinian  shield  is  made  of  buffalo 
hide,  and  is  strong  enough  to  resist  anv 
sword  cut  and  to  throw  Sff  a  spear  if  i^e^ 
ceived  obliquely  upon  it.  If,  however  a 
goo.  spear  should  strike  the  shielTlIk  riy 
I'^'p  ,P'7f^  '^-  I"  «••''«•  to  preserve  tfe 
needful  obliquity,  the  shield  is  madlike 
the  segment  of  a  sphere,  and  has  a  nroiec^ 
i"g  boss  in  the  centre.     The  shield    ^^1 

oecorations  being  the  m.in.-,  tnil,  and  naw  of 
a  hon,  arranged  in  various  ways  according 
o  the  tast^  of  the  owner.    T(.Tme  Th  S 
18  attached  the  skin  of  the  GuerezaUnkev  ' 
which,  with  Its  bold  contrast  of  100-^-' 
black  and  snowy-white   hair,  has  r"  ally  a 
s  riking  and  artistic  etlect.    This,  howeve?  is 
alway.s  discarded  when  the  native  kilTs  a  Hc;n' 
Chiefs  always  have   their  shields   nearly 
covered  with    silver  plates  and    bosses    l 
fashion  wh  eh  is  imitkted  in  brass  by  the 
oorcT  soldiers.    Still,  if  a  common  soldier 
had  a  good  shield,  he  M-ould  not  hide  its 
beauties  ^yith  brass  plates.    A  ch  ef    '  d  s- 
shl"n"rl  l!"^?"'y  ^y  '»«  «ilver-n^oun  ed 
ban    'O^S,!^  r''  «ilver-plated  sword-scab 
oani.    On  his  head  he  wears  a  silver  front 
let,  called  "akodainir,"  haying  sUvIrcharns 

?n".f'"l  ^''T  l*:^  ■■^"f'  ^  white?  feather  Sck 
m  tfie  Jiair  behind  the  frontlet.    If  a  man 

ekirdhlo.'  ''"'■"°''  ^'^  "^'^^  ^^"^^  ">«  ^^on. 
Round  the  edge  of  the  shield  are  nierce<l 

nn'^nn.^T''  «"'»''<''"n''m  the  shield  would  be 
an  encumbrance,  and  not  a  means  of  snfetv 

the  Sd  V'/th'n  ""rf'^  "f  f""'«nTo"i 

eoiiia^L^^^a;;^^^^? 


THE  ABYSSINIAN  AS   A  SOLDIER. 


C47 

ST"^  h"  '^^'''  P"  /'^''-Jnnies,  finds  his 
lil^if  nf  1''  ^.r'-'l.'-^P^  shield,"  nmkes  very 
light  of  an  Abyssinian  warrior's  prowess. 
Mr.  Parkyns  saj*  on  this  subject,  that  any 
ordinary  swordsman,  without  a  shield   can 
easily  beat  the  best  Abyssinian  armed'wkh 
nifnr/L'tv'"  ".'«?■    The  best  mode  o 
fighting  the  Abvssinian  warrior  is  to  make 
a  feint  at  his  fiead.    Up   goes  his  heavy 
shield,  which  certainly  guards  his  head,  but 
prevents   the  owner  from  seeing   that  h  s 
adversary  is  making  a  sweeping^eut  at  his 
legs      Should    the  cut  5  or  6  fail,  make 
another  fent  at  the  head,  and  follow  R  up 
with  a  real  blow.    Anticipating  a  feint  the 
Abyssinian  lowers  his  shield  to  protect  his 
legs,  anrt  as  he  does  so,  receives  the  ed-e  of 
'he  sword  full  on  his  unprotected  crown. 

Although  he  is  well  anned,  looks  very 
fierce  an(l  is  of  a  quarrelsome  disposition 
the  Abyssinian  soldier  is  not  remarkable  for 
courage,  and  prefers  boasting  to  fl<rhtino- 
He  never  seems  to  enter  the  battle  wTth  th^c 
Idea  of  merely  killing  or  routing  the  enemy, 

h[!!.«"ir"  '?^'  uu^'"'"  ""'  lor  trophies  for 
himself.  As  with  many  nations,  and  as  was 
the  case  with  the  Israelites  in  the  earlier 
times,  the  Abyssinian  mutilates  a  fallen 
enemy,  and  carries  off  a  portion  of  his  body 
as  a  trophy,  which  he  can  exhibit  before  his 
chie^  and  on  which  ho  can  found  a  reputa- 
tion  for  valor  for  the  rest  of  his  life. 

So  much  do  the  Abyssinians  prize  this 
savage  trophy  that,  just  as  American  In- 
dians have  feigned  death  and  submitted  to 
the  loss  of  their  scalps  without  giving  the 
least  sign  of  hfe,  men  wounded  in  battle 
have  suffered  an  even  more  cruel  mutila- 
tion, and  survived  the  injury.  An  Abyssi- 
nian has  even  been  known  to  kill  a  comVadc 
in  order  to  secure  this  valued  trophy,  when 
he  has  been  unable,  either  from  mischance 
or  want  ot  courage,  to  kill  an  enemy 


A.^^f'  """""^  """^  ^"^  "»<^  women  and  their 

„n^-n?i".^  f ';'^  ""■'■  "^""'"mcd  in  the  simplest 
posMble  style,   namely,  a  piece   of  cotton 
stuff  wrapped  round  the  waist,  and  descend- 
ing half  way  to  the  knee.    Should  the  -irl 
be  rich  enough  to  afford  a  large  wrapper, 
she  brings  one  end  of  it  upwanf  and  throws 
It  oyer  the  left  shoulder,    fn  Tigrd  the  "iris 
prefer  a  black  goatskin,  ornamented  with 
cowries.    A  married  woman  wears  a  sort  of 
oose  shirt,  and  a  mantle,  or  quarry,  similar 
to  that  which  IS  worn  by  the  men,  but  of 
fin.-r  materials.    Should  she  be  able  to  own 
a  'mile,  she  wears  trousers,  which  are  very 
tull  at  the  waist,  and  decrease  gradually  to 
the  ankle,  where  they  fit  like  the  skin 

As  to  their  ornaments,  they  are  so  numer- 
0U.S  as  to  def;y  description.  That  which 
kiL  f„H '''*•  "";'!«  ;et  the  most  valued, 
IS   the    tattoo,  which   is   employed   with   a 

"Tlie'Tlirr'i^-"'"  ,/''•'   Ne/zealander 
I    I  he  Tigr^an  ladies,"  so  writes  Mr.  Par. 


648 


ABYSSINIA. 


kynH,  "  tattoo   thomsnlvos;  tlioii^h,  an  tliiH 
mode  of  adorning  the  person  in  not  com 


men  cxcoptinK  among  tlio  inhabitants  of 
tho  capital  and  persons  «vlio  have  passed 
some  time  there,  1  slionid  judge  it  to  be  a 
faaliion  imported  from  tlie  Andiara. 

"  The  men  seldom  tattoo  more  tlian  one 
ornament  on   the   upi)er  part  of  tho  arm 
near  tho  shoulder,  while  tho  women  cover 
nearly  the  whole  of  their  botlie-s  with  stars, 
lines,  and    crosses,  ollen   mtlit^r  tastefully 
arranged.    I  may  well  say  nearly  the  whole 
of  their  persons,  for  they  mark  the  neck, 
shoulders,  breasts,  and  arms,  down  to  the 
lingers,  which  are  enriched  with   lines,  to 
imitftte  rings,  nearly  to  the  nails.    Tho  feet. 
ankles,  and  calves  of  the  legs  arc  similarly 
adorned,  and  even  tho  gums  are  by  some 
pricked  intirely  blue,  while  olhers  have  them 
striped  alternately  blue  and  tho  natural  jiink. 
"  To  see  some  of  their  designs,  one  would 
give  them  credit  for  some  skill  in  the  handling 
their  pencil;  hutj  in  fact,  their  system  of  draw- 
,    ing  the  pattern  is  purely  mechanical.     I  had 
one  arm  adorned;  a  rather  blind  old  woman 
was  tho  artist;  her  imi)lcmentH  consisted  of 
a  small  pot  of  some  sort  of  blacking,  made 
she  told  me,  of  charred  herbs,  a  large  home- 
made iron  pin,  about  one-fourth  of  an  inch 
at  the  end  of  which  w.-w  ground  fine,  a  bit 
or  two  of  hollow  cane,  and  a  i)ieco  of  straw. 
Ihe  two  last-named  items  were  her  substi- 
tutes for  ^)encils. 

"Iler  circles  were  made  by  dipping  tho 
end  ot  a  niece  of  cane  of  the' required  size 
into  the   blacking,  and  making  its  imi)re8- 
sion  on  the  skin ;  while  an  end  of  the  straw 
bent   to   the  proper    lengtli,    and   likewise' 
t)Iackcned,   marked   all    the   lines,  squares, 
diamonds,  Ac,  which  were   to  be  of  equal 
length.    Iler  design  being  thus  completed, 
she  worked  away  on  it  with  her  jjin,  which 
she  dug  in  a.s  far  as   the   thin  part  would 
enter,  keeping  the  supjtly  of  blacking  suf- 
flcient,  and  going   over   the  same   ground 
repeatedly  to  insure  regularity  and  unity  in 
the  hues.    With  some  persons  the  fii-sf  effect 
of  this  tattooing  is  to  produce  a  considerable 
amount  )f  fever,  from  the  irritation  caused 
by  the  punctures,  especially  so   with   the 
ladies,  from  the  extent  of  surface  thus  ren- 
dered   wire.    To  allay   this  irritation,  they 
are  peiorally  obliged  to  remain  for  a  few 
days  III  a  case  of  vegetable  matter,  which  is 
jWaste vea  all  over  them  in  the  form  of  a  sort 
of  grf-en  poultice.    A  scab  forms  over  the 
tftttoomg,  which  should  not  be  picked  off 
but  I'llowed  to  fall  off  of  itself.    When  this 
disajipears,  the  operation  is  complete,  and 
the   marks  are    indelible;    n.ny,   more,   the 
Abvssinians  doclai-e  that  they  may  be  trticed 
on  the  person's  bones  even  after  death  has 
ba-ed  them  of  their  fleshy  covering." 

The  women  also  wear  a  vast  number  of 
si.ver  ornaments,  such  as  several  chains 
round  the  neck,  three  pairs  of  silver  or  gilt 
Iracelfcte,  a  number  of  Uttlo  silver  orna- 


■monts  hung  like  bells  to  the  ankles,  above 
which  are  a  series  of  Imngles  of  the  same 
metal.  A  wealthy  woman  has  also  a  large 
flat  sdver  case,  containing  talismans,  and 
ornamented  with  bells  of  the  same  metal 
suspended  by  four  silver  chains;  whih.  her 
hair  is  decorated  with  a  large  silver  pin 
elaborately  made,  and  furnished  with  a 
number  of  pendent  oriiamentsL 

Tho  illustration  No.  1.  (i17th  page,  cxhib- 
Its  the  costume  of  an  Abvssinian  lady,  and 
the  dillcrence  in  dress  between  herself  and 
her  servants.  The  latter  —  who,  of  course, 
are  her  slaves,  no  other  idea  of  servitude 
entering  the  Abyssinian  mind  —  are  wash- 
ing clothis  in  a  brook,  in  preparation  for 
the  Feast  of  St.  John,  the  only  day  in  the 
year  when  the  Abyssinians  trouble  fhum- 
to  wash  cither  their  clothes  or  themselves. 
Other  slaves  ar.^  carrying  water-jars  on  their 
backs— not  on  their  heads;  and"  in  the  lore- 
ground  stands  their  mistress  giving  h(>r 
orders.  The  reader  will  note  the  graceful 
way  in  which  the  mnnfle  is  j)ut  on,  and  tho 
string  of  leathern  amulet  cases  which  hangs 
by  her  side.  ^ 

As  to  the  hair  itself,  it  is  dressed  in  a 
peculiar  manner.  It  is  gathered  into  a  mul- 
titude of  jilaits,  beginning  at  the  very  ton 
of  the  head,  and  falling  as  low  as  the  neck. 
Hoth  sexes  have  the  hair  plaited  in  this 
manner,  but  the  men  wear  their  plaits  in 
various  ways.  According  to  strict  Abvs- 
sinian  etiquette,  which  has  greatly  faded  in 
later  years,  a  youth  who  has  not  distin- 
guished himself  ouglit  to  wear  liis  hair 
unplaited.  As  soon  as  lie  has  killed  a  man 
in  battle,  he  shaves  liis  head,  with  the  cx- 
cejition  of  a  single  ])lait,  and  for  every  addi- 
tional victim  a  fresh  plait  is  added.  When 
ho  kills  the  fifth,  he  is  allowed  to  wear  tho 
whole  of  his  hair  in  tresses. 

This  mode  of  dressing  the  hair  occupies 
a  va«t  amount  of  time,  but  time  is  of  no 
value  to  an  Ahyssiijian,  who  expends  sev- 
eral  hours  ujion  his  head  once  every  fort- 
night or  so.     The   plaits  are  held  in  their 
places  by  a  sort  of  fixture  made  of  boiled 
cotton-seeds,  and  are  plentifully  saturated 
with  butter.     Vast  quantities  of  this  latter 
article  are  consumed  in  Abyssinian  toilets 
and  it  is  considered  a  mark  of  fashion  to 
place  a  large  pat  of  butler  on  ihe  lop  of  the 
head  before  going  out  in  the  morning,  and 
to  allow  it  to  be  melted  by  the  heat  of  tho 
sun  and  run  over  the  hair.    Of  course  it 
drips  from  the  ends  of  the  long  tresses  on 
the  neck  and   clothes  of  the  wearer,  but 
such  stains    are    considered    aii    marks  of 
wealth.    Sometimes  it  runs  over  tho  face 
and  is  apt  to  get  into  the  eyes,  so  that  in  hot 
weather  tlio  corner  of  the  quarry  is  largely 
used  m  wiping  away  the  trickling  butler. 

In  order  to  preserve  the  arrangement  of 
the  hair  during  the  night,  they  use  instead  of 
a  pillow  a  sort  of  short  crutch,  looking  very 
like  a  common  scraper  with  a  rounded  top. 


CHAPTER   LXV. 


ABYSSINIA—  Cmtinued. 


OOVEnNMENT  OP  ABYSSINIA— Tint  BMPEIlOn  AND  HIS  OENEALOOY  — THE  THREE  DIBTBICTS  AND  TireTB 
nULKKH  — THE  MINOll  (JHIBFS  AN1>  THEIR  DISTIN(1UIHIIIN(J  EMIILEMH— ..iNO  TJIEODOHE  — A  HIUEF 
SKETCH  OP  1II9  LIKE  — CAHEBB  FltOM  THE  RANKS  TO  THE  THRONE- HIS  ATTEMITS  AT  REFORM 
—  ADMINISTRATION  OP  JtIHTU:B— A  MODERN  HO IX)MON  — MODES  OF  PUNISHMENT  — THE  I.ADIEs' 
GAME— AllYSSINIAN  PLEADING- THE  TRIAI,  BY  WAOER— QUARRELSOME  CHARACTER  OP  THE 
AUY8S1NIAN8  — THEIR  VANITY  A>ID  BOASTPUI-NESS  —  THE  LAW  OF  DEIIT  —  HOSPITALITY  AND  ITS 
DUTIES  — COOKERY  AND  MODES  OF  BATING- THE  HAW  FLESH  FEAST— PBPPEH  SAUCE— THB 
USE  OP  TUB  8II0TEL  — A  WEDDING  FEAST  —  AD YS8INIAN  DIGESTION. 


The  government  of  the  AbysHinlans  has 
variert  several  limes,  but  liaa  mostly  settled 
down  into  a  sort  of  divided  monarchy. 

There  is  an  Emneror,  supreme  king,  or 
ISegust,  who  must  be  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Solomon  and  the  Queen  of  Sheba,  and  who 
must  bo  crowned  by  the  high  priest  or  Abuna, 
an  ecclesiastic  who  corresponds  very  nearly 
with  the  Greek  Patriarch.  Mostly,  the  kin<' 
holds  but  nominal  sway  over  the  nerce  and 
insubordinate  chiefs  of  provinces,  and,  as 
18  likely,  the  fiercest,  cleverest,  and  most 
unscrupulous  chief  generally  contrives  to 
nvmage  the  king  much  as  he' likes.  Should 
the  king  be  strong-minded  enough  to  hold 
his  own  opinions,  the  chiefs  become  dissatis- 
fied, and  by  degrees  fall  into  a  state  of 
chronic  rebellion,  as  was  the  cnso  durins  the 
last  years  of  Theodore's  life. 

Each  of  the  great  districts  has  its  own 
Kas,  chief,  or  prince,  according  to  the  title 
jhat  may  be  used,  and  his  authority  is  abso- 
lute in  his  own  province.  The  Rivs  appoints 
under  him  a  number  of  great  chiefs,  who 
bear  the  title  of  Dejasmatch  (commonly  con- 
tracted into  Dejateh),  corresponding  in  some 
degree  with  our  ducal  rank.  Under  these 
great  chiefs  are  lesser  officers,  and  each  of 
them  IS  appointed  by  beat  of  the  great 
(irum  of  ceremony  and  pnxilamation  by  the 
iieralds.  Men  so  appointed  have  the  privi- 
lege of  drums  beatingbeforc  them  on  a  march 
or  in  battle,  and   .heir  rank,  that  of  "addy 


t(M)\ 


negarie,"  or  men  of  honor,  confers  the  samo 
practical  power  as  that  of  Dejasmatch,  the 
title  alone  being  wanting. 

It  may  be  as  well  to  mention  that  the  lato 
King  Theodore  held  the  title  of  Dejasmatch 
before  ho  had  himself  named  King  of  Ethio- 
pia; and  as  the  history  of  this  remarkable 
man  gives  some  idea  of  the  Abyssinian  mode 
of  govermnent,  a  very  brief  sketch  will  be 
given  of  his  progress  to  the  throne. 

Putting  together  the  various  histories  that 
have  appeared,  and  rejecting  their  many 
discrepancies,  we  como  to  the  following  series 
of  events. 

Kassai,  f^r  such  was  his  name  before  he 
changed  it  to  Theodorus,  was  the  son  of  -. 
very  small  chief  named  Ilailu  Weleda  Gcjr- 
cis,  whose  only  distinction  sec^ms  to  have 
been  his  reputed  descent  from  the  Queen  of 
Sheba,  a  tradition  of  which  Kassai  afterward 
took  advantage.  When  he  died,  his  little 
property  was  seized  by  his  relations,  and  his 
widow  wa-s  forced  to  support  herself  by  sell- 
ing the  "kosso,"  the  populnr  remedy  for  the 
tape-worm,  a  creature  which  is  singularly 
prevalent  in  this  country.  Kassai,  then  a 
boy,  took  refuge  in  a  monastery,  where  he 
might  have  remained  until  this  day,  had  not  a 
Dejasmatch,  who  had  turned  rebel  after  their 
custom,  nttiicked  the  monastery,  burned  the 
huts  of  which  it  was  composed,  and  killed  the 
boys  who  inhabited  it  by  way  of  avenging 
himself  on  their  parents.    Kassai,  however, 


era 


ABYSSINIA. 


escaped  the  mnssncre,  nn-l  (led  to  a  powerful 
nnd  wiidike  ii-lutioii,  the  Dcjasmutch  CoulU, 
under  whom  he  learned  the  muuigenunt,  of 
arms,  and  as  much  of  the  art  of  war  as  wu« 
known. 

His  uncle  however  died,  and  his  tw«  sons 
Immediately  fonj,'ht  for  the  piitrimony:  and, 
while  they  were  quarrelling,  another  pow.r- 
liil  Dejasmateh  saw  his  o|)i)()rtnnity,  HWr|)t 
down  suddenly  upon  them,  ami  made  himself 
master  of  the  best  and  most  fertile  nurt  of  the 
district. 

Again  ejected  from  a  home,  Kassai  con- 
trived to  get  together  a  band  of  followers, 
whom  we  should  not  wrong  very  greatly  by 
calling  robbers,  and  for  some  years  lived  a 
wandering  life  marvellously  resembling  that 
ot  David  in  his  earlier  years.    Uy  degrees 
his  band  increased  until  some  of  the  petty 
chiefs  joined  him  with  their  followers,  and 
he  became  a  man  of  such  importance  that 
the  well-known  WaisoroMennen,  the  crafly 
and  ambitious  mother  of  Eas  Ali,  finding  that 
he  could  not  be  beaten  in  the  field,  gave  him 
m  marriage  the  daughter  of  the  lias.    She 
however,  proved  a  faithful  wife  to  him,  and 
would  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  schemes 
of  her  grandmother.     At  last  Kassai  and 
Waisoro  Mennen  came   to  an  open  rupture 
and  fought  a  battle,  in  which  the  former  was 
victorious,  and  captured  both  the  lady  and 
her  tine  province  of  Dembca.    The  latter  ho 
kept,  but  the  former  he  set  at  liberty. 

Has  Ali  then  tried  to  rid  himself  of  his. 
troublesome  son-in-law  by  assigning  Dem- 
bea  to  Berru  Goshu,  a  powerful  Dejasmateh 
who  accordingly  invaded  the  district,  and 
drove  Kassai  out  of  it.  This  happened  in 
1850.  In  less  than  two  years,  however,  Kas- 
sai reorganized  an  army,  attacked  the  camp 
of  Berru  Goshu,  shot  him  with  his  own  hand 
and  got  back  his  province.  Thinking  that 
matters  were  now  be  oming  serious,  Kas 
Ali  took  the  field  in  person  and  marched 
against  Kassai,  who  conquered  him,  drove 
lum  among  the  Gallas  for  safety,  and  took 
possession  of  the  whole  of  Amhara. 

Having  secured  this  splendid  prize,  he 
sent  to  lias  Oubi,  the  Prince  of  Tigre,  and 
demanded  tribute.  Oubi  refused,  led  his 
army  against  Kassai,  and  lost  both  his  prov- 
ince and  his  liberty.  The  conqueror  kept 
lum  in  prison  until  1860,  when  his  first  wife 
died,  and  he  married  the  daughter  of  Oubi 
whom  he  released  and  made  a  tributary  vas- 

Being  now  practically  master  of  the  whole 
country,  he  sent  for  Abba  Salama,  the 
then  Abuna  or  Patriarch,  and  had  himself 
crowned  by  the  title  of  Theodorus,  King  of 
the  kings  of  Ethiopia.  This  event  took 
place  in  1855;  and  from  that  time  to  his 
death  Theodore  maintained  his  supremacy 
hi8  astonishing  personal  authority  keeping 
m  check  the  fierce  and  rebellious  spirits  by 
whom  he  was  surrounded.  How  he  really 
tried  to  do  the  best  for  his  country  we  aU 


know.    Semi-rtiivnge  as  lie  was  by  nature 
he    possessed  many   virtues,  aud,   had   he 
known  his  enoch  better,  would     "  il   have 
been  on  the  throne,  the  ruler  of  a  rcMii.nted 
instead  of  a  rebellious  peonlc.     But  he  was 
tt)o  far  ahead  of  his  age.    lie  i^aw  the  neces- 
sity for  reforms,  and   imi)atiently  tried   to 
force  them  on  the  peoi)le,  instead  of  "eiitly 
paving  the  way  for  them.    The  inevitable 
results   followed,  and   Theodore's   mind  at 
last  gave   way  under  the  cures  of  emidro 
and  the  continual  thwartings  of  his  many 
schemes.     Still,  even  to  the  last  ho   never 
lost  his  self-reliance  nor  his  splendid  cour- 
age, and,   though  the  baliince  of  his  mind 
was  gone,  and  he  alternated  between  acts  of 
singular  kindness  and   savagt    cruelly,  lie 
fought  to  the  last,  and  not    until  he  was 
deserted  by  his  soldiers  did  he  die  by  his 
own  hand  at  the  entrance  of  his  stronghold. 
He  saw  verv  clearly   that  the  only  way 
to  establish         consolidated  kingdom   was 
to  break  the  j.  wer  of  the  giejit  chiefs  or 
princes.    This  he  did  by  the  simple  process 
of  ^)utting  them  in  chains  until  they  yielded 
their  executive  iwwers,  and  contented  them- 
selves rather  with  the  authority  of  generals 
than  of  irresjionsible  rulers.    "He  was  also 
desirous  of.doing  away  with  the  custom  that 
made    every  man    an    armed  soldier,  and 
wished  to  substitute  a  paid  standing  army 
for  the  miscellaneous  horde  of  armed  men 
that  filled  tlic  country.     He  was  anxious  to 
promote  agriculture,  and,  according  to  his 
own  words,  not  only  to  turn  swords  into 
reaping-hooks  — a  very  easy  thing,  by  tlie 
way,   with  an   Abyssinian   sword— -but   to 
make  a  ploughing  ox  more  valuable  tb^n  a 
a   war-horse.    To  his   own   branch  ot   the 
Church  he  was  deeply  attached,  and  openly 
said  that  he  had  a  mission  to  drive  Islam- 
ism  from  his  country,  and  for  that  reason 
w-as  at  war  with  the  Gallas,  who,  as  well  as 
the  Shooas  and  other  tribes,  profess  the  re- 
ligion of  Mohammed.     That  being  done,  ho 
intended  to  inarch  and  raze  to  the  ground 
Mecca  and  Medina,  the  two  sacred  cities  of 
Islam;  and  even  projected  a  inarch  to  Jeru- 
salem itself. 

His  most  difiicult  task,  however,  was  the 
suppression  of  the  immorality  that  reigns 
throughout  Abyssinia,  and  which,  according 
to  Mr.  Parkyns,  has  a  curious  effect  on  the 
manners  of  the  people.    Neither  men  nor 
women  seem  to  have  any  idea  that  the  least 
shame  can  be  attached  to  immorality,  and 
the  consequence  is  that  both  in  word  and 
manner    they  are  perfectly  decorous.     To 
cope  with  so   ingrained   a  vice  seems  an 
impracticable  task,  and  such  it  turned  out  to 
be.     He  set  the  example  to  his  peonle  by 
only  taking  one  wife,  and  when  she  died  he 
had  many  scruples  about  the  legality  of  tak- 
ing another,  and  did  not  do  so  until  after 
consultation    with    European    friends    and 
careful  examination  of  the  Bible.    He  could 
not,  however,  keep  up   the   fight  against 


! 

^^H 

1 

1 

i 

1 

IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MTS) 


// 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


In  1^ 


2.5 
2.2 

U    11 1.6 


<^ 


/^ 


o 


7 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


''O" 


•<* 


^^^ 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBST*r,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4603 


"<?." 


I 


0 


V^  4^ 


f/j 


^^ 


i:| 


I 


I'  li'  1 1     ) 

■       I 
I 

IIM  I 

Jill     ' 


I     i 


_^ ('•)    THKOnORE  AND  THK  UONS.    (S, 


"0  puffo  ft5:i.) 


(■-'.)    I'U; ADKKS.    (s™  p,^f,.  «5,.j 

rer.s) 


THE  TAME  LIONS. 


058 


ami 


nucurc,  and  in  his  Inst  years  he  had  resorted 
to  the  old  custom  of  the  harem. 

As  the  reader  would  probably  like  to  see 
what  kind  of  a  man  was  this  Theodorus,  I  give 
a  portrait  on  pa^e  652,  taken  from  a  sketch 
made  of  him  while  he  was  in  the  eujoyment  of 
perfect  health  of  body  and  mind,  and  while  he 
was  the  irresponsible  ruler  of  his  country, 
knowing  of  none  greater  than  himself,  and 
havmg  his  mind  filled  with  schemes  of  con- 
quest of  other  lands,  and  reform  of  his  own. 
The  portrait  was  taken  by  M.  Lejean,  some 
ten  years  before  the  death  of  Theodorus; 
and,  in  spite  of  the  loss  of  his  hair,  which 
he  wore  short  in  the  last  years  of  his  life, 
and  of  the  ravages  which  time,  anxiety,  and 
misdirected  zeal  had  made  in  his  features, 
the  face  is  essentially  the  same  as  that  of 
the  dead  man  who  lay  within  the  gates 
of  Magdala  on  the  fatal  Good  Friday  of 
18G8.  ■' 

Knowing  the  character  of  the  people  ovei" 
whom  he  reigned,  Theodore  made  liberal 
use  of  external  accessories  for  the  purpose 
of  striking  awe  into  them,  such  as  magnifi- 
cent robes  and  weapons  adorned  with  the 
precious  metals.    Among  the  most  valued  of 
these  accessories  were  four  tame  lions,  of 
which  he  \^as  very  fond.    These  animals  trav- 
elled about  with  him.  and  even  lived  in  the 
same  stable  with  the  horses,  never  being 
chained  or  shut  up  in  cages,  but  allowed  to 
walk  about  in  perfect  liberty.    They  were  as 
tame  and  docile  as  dogs,  and  M.  Lejean 
states  that  the  only  objection  to  them  was 
the    over-demonstrative   affection  of   their 
manners.    Like  cats  they  delighted  to  be 
noticed  and  ma<le  much  of,  and  were  apt  to 
become  unpleasantly  importunate  in  solicit- 
ing caresses. 

They  were,  however,  somewhat  short- 
tempered  when  travelling  over  the  moun- 
tain ranges,  the  cold  weather  of  those  ele- 
vated regions  making  them  uncomfortable 
and  snappish.  With  an  idea  of  impressing 
his  subiiets  with  his  importance,  an  art  in 
which  he  was  eminently  successful,  Theo- 
dore was  accustomed  to  have  his  lions  with 
him  %vaen  he  gave  audience,  and  the  accom- 
panying portrait  was  taken  from  a  sketch 
ot  tlie  Lion  nf  Abyssinia  seated  in  the 
auaionce-chamber,  and  surrounded  with  the 
living  emblems  of  the  title  which  he  bore 
and  which   ho   perpetuated   in   his   royal 


JusTicK  18  administered  In  various  modes, 
sometimes  by  the  will  of  the  chief,  and 
sometimes  by  a  sort  of  court  or  council  of 
elders.  The  former  process  is  generally  of 
a  very  summary  character,  and  is  based  on 
the  old  Mosaic  principle  of  an  eye  for  an 
eye,  and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth.  If  one  man 
murders  another,  for  example,  and  the  cul- 
prit be  detected,  the  Ras  will  direct  the 
nearest  relation  of  the  murderer  to  kill  him 
in  precisely  the  same  manner  that  ho  killed 


his  victim.  One  very  odd  case  was  inves- 
tigated by  Oubi,  the  Eas  or  Prince  of 
Tigrd. 

Two  little  boys,  the  elder  eight  ind  the 
younger  five  yfears  of  age,  had  been  walking 
logetner,  when  they  saw  a  tree  laden  with 
fruit.  After  somedifflcultyj  the  elder  climbed 
into  the  tree,  and,  standing  on  a  branch, 
plucked  the  frait  and  tlu-ew  it  to  his  little 
companion  who  stood  below  him.  Bv  some 
accident  or  other  he  fell  from  the  tree  upon 
the  head  of  his  playfellow,  and  killed  him 
on  the  spot.  The  parents  of  the  poor  child 
insisted  that  the  boy  who  killed  him  should 
be  arraigned  for  murder,  and,  after  a  vast 
amount  of  consultation,  he  was  found  guilty. 
Has  Oubi  then  gave  sentence.  The  culprit 
was  to  stand  under  the  branch  exactly  where 
hsul  stood  the  poor  little  boy.  The  eldest 
brother  was  then  to  climb  up  the  tree  and 
fall  on  the  other  boy's  head  until  he  killed 
him. 

Theft  is  generally  punished  with  flogging, 
the  whip  being  a  most  formidable  weapon, 
made  of  hide,  and  called,  from  its  length 
and  weight,  the  "  giraffe."  A  thief  is  some- 
times tfucen  into  the  market-place,  stripped 
to  the  waist,  and  led  by  two  men,  while  a 
third  delivers  a  terridc  series  of  blows  with 
the  jjiraffe  whip.  After  each  blow  the  delin- 
quent is  forced  to  exclaim,  "  All  ye  who  see 
me  thu?,  profit  by  my  example." 

Many  other  offences,  such  as  sacrilege, 
rebellion,  and  the  like,  are  punished  by  tfie 
loss  of  a  hand  or  a  foot,  sometimes  of  both. 
The  forfeited  member  is  amputated  in  a 
very  clumsy  way,  with  a  small  curved  knife, 
so  that  a  careless  or  maladroit  executioner 
can  inflict  frightful  suffering.  The  culprit 
generally  gives  a  fee  to  the  executioner, 
who  will  then  put  as  keen  an  edge  as  possi- 
ble on  the  knife,  and  tell  the  sufferer  how  to 
arrann:e  his  hand,  and  spread  his  fingers,  so 
that  the  tendons  may  be  stretched,  and  the 
joint  separated  easily.  One  man  of  rank, 
who  had  been  condemned  to  lose  his  left 
hand,  suffered  the  operation  without  moving 
a  muscle  of  his  countenance,  and  when  the 
hand  was  severed,  he  took  it  up  with  his 
right,  and  flung  it  in  the  face  of  the  presid- 
ing chief,  with  the  exclamation  that  he  still 
had  a  hand  wherewith  to  fling  a  spear. 
With  the  same  equanimity  ho  dipped  the 
bleeding  stump  into  the  boiUng  oil  which 
is  generally  used  as  a  styptic.  Sometimes, 
however,  the  use  of  the  hot  oil  is  forbidden, 
and  the  sufferer  is  left  to  bleed  to  death. 

The  Abyssinians,  however,  are  as  little 
sensitive  to  pain  as  most  African  tribes,  and 
endure  with  ease  injuries  which  would  kill  an 
European.  The  young  men  have  a  curious 
amusement,  which  well  exemplifies  their 
insensibility  to  pain.  "When  a  party  of 
young  men  are  seated  together,  the  ladies 
present  will  bring  bits  of  the  pith  of  millet 
stems,  cut  to  about  an  inch  long,  and  of  the 
tliickness  of  a  man's  thumb,  or,  what  ia  bet- 


6M 


ABYSSINIA' 


ter  still,  pieces  of  old  rag,  rolled  tight,  so 
as  to  form  a  pellet  of  similar  dimensions. 
Ihese  are  arranged  m  patterns  by  each  ludv 
on  the  extended  arm  of  any  one  whom  she 
may  choose,  and  their  tops  lighted. 

"The  only  merit  in  the  man  is  to  allow 
them  to  burn  themselves  out  entirely,  with- 
out moving  Ins  arm  so  as  to  cause  tiera  to 
ofLintUr'T  ^''"  ff'^'^'^  consciousness 
thi^!;l?  '•'^'^  ^y  '^°''^' '»°'^' o""  gesture.  On 
«^ri^  '■''''■^'  ^'^  ™V8*  continue  a  flow  of 
agreeable  conversation,  as  if  nothing  were 

heXp^t  J''"  Ify  '•'«^'-''**«'  usuallv°b7ows 
her  fires  to  keep  them  going,  and  the  mate- 
rial, whether  pith  or  rag,  t'eing  of  a  verv 
porous  nature,  and  burnfng  slowly  like  tin- 
aer,  the  action  of  the  fire  i?felt  on  the  skL 
long  before  it  actually  reaches  it.    It  is    n 
tect,  an  operation  similar  t»  the  'moxa''  of 
Euronean  surgery.    When  the  pellets  are 
comnleely  burned  out,  the  lady^rubs  her 
hand  roughly  over  the  cauterized  parts  so  as 
to  remove  the  burnt  skin.    On  a  copper- 
colored  person  the  scars,  when  well  healed 
assume  a  polished  black  surface,  wh  ch  con- 
traats  very  prettily  with  the  surSndTog 

hpTn  l*'"?"*'  Of  justice,  to  which  allusion  has 
been  made,  are  composed  of  elders-  or  nnt 
unfrequently  the  chic^f  of  the  district  acts  as  I 
the  magistrate  When  two  persons  faUin^o 
a  depute  and  brinff  it  before  the  court  an 
officer  comes  for  tTie  litigants,  and  ties  to" 
gether  the  corner  of  their  quarries.  Ho  d- 
ing  them  Ip.  the  knot,  he  leads  them  before 
the  magistrate,  where  each  is  at  liberty  [o 

t  lat  the  knot  is  tied,  neither  is  allowed  to 
speak  under  penalty  of  a  heavy  fine!  mitU 
they  have  come  before  the  magistrate-  and 

«;f  uV^\^''  P  •'^•ntiff  '><is  the  first  right  of 
speech,  followed  by  the  defendant  in  ml? 

wea&  L  1   "^'^  ^"  ' '"  compassion  to  the 
weakness  of  human  nature,  the  non-sneikpr 
may  grunt  if  he  likes  wh(;„  the  Ksary 
makes  any  statement  that  displeases  hi,     ^ 
The  oddest  part  of  the  proceeding  is  the 
custom  of  betting,  or  rather  paying  forfeUs 
on  the  result  of  tie  investigation.    A  p  a  in-' 
tiff,  for  example,  ofl'-rs  to  bet  one   two  or 
more  mules,  and  the  defendant  feels'  h  m^eTf 
bound  to  accept  the  challenge,  though  he 
hei  wZnT  •"°'J.'fy  the  fm'ount  if  t  e 
^ni  JT     °  """  '''^'^ '«  determined,  the  loser 
pays  the  sum,  not  to  the  winner,  hut  to  the 
chief  who  decides  the  case.    A«mule"bv 
the  way  does  not  necessarily  mean  the  aui^ 
nial,  but  the  word  is  used  conventionaUv  to 
represent  a  certain  sum  of  monev  so  Taf  n 
"  mu  e  "  means  ten  dollars   JusT'o^aSong 
En|lish  sporting  men  a '''p'ony'^siSf 

fS^^  r^S^"^®  '?  ''-'''■'■'•^'^  on  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  Mr.  Parkyns  has  seen  ten  mules  bet- 
led  upon  the  payment  of  a  small  quantity  of  I 


corn,  worth  only  two  or  three  shillin-rs  Tlie 
object  of  the  "  bet"  seems  to  bo  tC  to 
o«er  binds  the  opposite  party  to  carry  out 
the  ht^ation,  and*^  when  it  is  offer'/  the 
chief  forces  the  loser  to  pay  under  the 
penalty  of  being  put  in  chains.  ^° 

It  may  be  seen  from  the  foreffoine  obser. 
vations  that   the  Abyssinians  are  rather  a 

Jlnn^l'"-"^  P".°P'°-  This  arises  chieflj 
from  tlieir  vanity,  which  is  extreme,  anj 
which  culminates  to  its  highest  point  when 
the  brain  is  excited  and  the  tongue  loosened 

S,v?'J--J*;'*"'*^""''  »^^'"n«^  character- 
istic which  induced  King  Theodore  to  imaff- 

f»l  ?ll'''^*''?,*'1"»^  of  any  monarch  on  tie 
face  of  the  earth,  and  to  fancy  that  he  could 

land  ^"'^'^^^^^""y  ^'th  the  power  of  Eng- 

.  Mr.  Mansfield  Parkyns  gives  a  very  amus- 
ing  account  of  this  national  failing.  ^ 

sin«  °M^  '^"u  "^  °-^  ^''''  principal  besetting 
sms  ^1  the  Abyssinians,  and  it  is  to  this 
Tvoakness,  when  brought  out  by  liquor,  that 

ti  aced.  I  remember  more  than  once  to  have 
heard  a  remark  something  like  the  following 
made  by  one  ot  two  men  wlio,  from  being '  my 
d°ar  friends/ had  chosen  to  sit  next  to  each 
other  at  iabfe:  '  You're  a  very  good  fellow 
and  my  very  dear  friend;  but  ^iccup)  W 
arent  half  so  brave  or  handsome  as  14™" 
The 'very  dear  friend 'denies  the  fact  in  a 

nmf«f.J°";?.'^/"!°*^"^?"y*'""S  J^"'  amity, 
and  states  that  his  op  n  on  is  exactlv  thn 
reverse.  The  partiesNvarm  in  fhe  igu! 
mcnt;  words,  as  is  usual  when  men  are  in 
such  a  state,  are  bandied  about  without  anv 
measure,  and  often  without  much  meanin/ 
insuls  follow:  then  blows;  and  if  thepartifs 
lound  them  be  in  a  similar  condition  to 
themselves,  and  do  not  immediately  separate 
tliom,  it  frequently  happens  that  swords  are 
uPciwri. 

"  Dangerous  wounds  or  death  are  the  con- 
sequence; or,  as  is  not  uncommon,  others  oi 
thp  party,  siding  with  the  quairellers,  prob- 
aoy  with  theicfea  of  settling  the  affaikare 
luuuced  to  join  m  the  row,  which  in  the  end 
becomes  a  general  engagement.     I    have 
noticed  this  trait  of  vanity  as  exhibiting 
Itself  in  various  ways  in  a  (fruukcn  Abyssi- 
nian.   I  always  found  that  the  best  plan  for 
keeping  a  man  quiet,  when  in  this  state,  was 
to  remark  to  him  that  it  was  unbecoming  in 
a  great  man  to  behave  in  such  a  way,  fliat 
people  of  rank  were  dignified  an,!  reserved 
in  tbeir  manners  and  conversation.    And 
tlius  I  have  argued  very  succes.sfully  with 
my  own  servants  on  more  than  one  occasion 
flattering  them  while  they  w(!re  tipsy,  ami 
then  paying  them  off  with  a  five-foot  male 
bamboo  when  they  got  sober  again. 

I  recollect  one  fellow  who  was  privileged, 
for  he  had  asked  my  leave  to  go  to  a  partv 
and  get  drunk.  On  returning  Home  in  thi 
JirS^^  ^^  «ta«gcred  into  my  room  in  as 
dignified  a  manner  as  he  coul  j^  and,  seating 


THE  LAW  OP  DEBT. 


665 


himself  beside  me  on  my  couch,  embraced  me 
with  tears  in  his  eyes,  made  me  a  thousand 
protestations  of  attachment  and  affection, 
oflfcring  to  serve  me  in  any  way  he  could,  but 
never  by  a  single  expression  evincing  that 
he  considered  me  as  other  than  a  dear  friend, 
and  that  indeed  in  rather  a  patronizing  fash- 
ion, althougli  the  same  fellow  was  in  the  habit 
of  washing  my  feet,  and  kissing  them  after- 
ward, every  evening,  and  would,  if  sober, 
have  no  more  thought  of  seating  himself, 
even  on  the  ground,  in  my  presence,  than 
of  jumping  over  the  moon. 

"With  his  fellow-servants,  too,  he  acted 
similarly;  for  though  he  knew  them  all,  and 
their  characters  and  p  ^sitioas,  he  addressed 
them  as  his  servants  ordering  them  about, 
and  upbraiding  thum  for  sundry  peccadil- 
loes which  they  had  doubtless  committed, 
and  which  thus  came  to  my  knowledge.  In 
fact,  in  every  point  he  acted  to  perfection 
the  manners  and  language  of  a  great  man; 
and  so  often  have  I  seen  the  same  mimicry, 
that  it  I'.as  led  me  to  believe  that  the  chief 
mental  employment  of  the  lowest  fellow  in 
the  country  is  building  castles  in  the  air, 
and  practising  to  himself  how  he  would  act, 
and  what  he  would  say,  if  he  were  a  great 
man."  " 

The  law  of  debt  is  a  very  severe  one. 
The  debtor  is  thrown  into  prison,  and 
chamed  to  the  wall  bj  the  wrist.  The  riu" 
that  encloses  the  wrist  is  a  broad  hoop  or 
bracelet  of  iron,  which  is  forced  asunder  far 
enough  to  permit  tho  hand  to  enter,  and 
IS  then  hanniiered  together  tightly  enough 
to  prevent  the  hand  from  being  withdrawn. 
After  a  while,  if  the  sum  be  not  paid,  the 
bracelet  is  liaminerod  a  Httle  tighter;  and 
so  the  creditor  continues  to  tighten  the  iron 
until  it  is  driven  into  the  flesh,  the  course 
of  the  blood  checked,  and  the  hand  finally 
destroyed  by  mortification. 

Should  the  Government  be  the  creditor 
for  unpaid  tribute,  a  company  of  soldiers  is 
quartered  on  the  debtor,  and  he  is  obliged 
to  feed  them  with  the  best  of  everythmi'- 
under  pain  of  brutal  ill-treatment.  Of  course 
this  mode  of  enforcing  payment  often  has 
the  opposite  effect,  and,  when  a  heavy  tax 
has  been  procLaimed  in  a  district,  the  people 
run  away  en  masse  from  tho  villages.  In 
such  a  case  tho  headman  of  the  village  is 
responsible  for  the  entire  amount,  and  some- 
times is  obliged  to  make  his  escape  with  as 
much  portable  property  a.3  ho  can  manage 
to  carry  off.  ^ 


Whjtx  rightly  managed,  the  Abyssinians 
are  a  hospitable  people.  Some  travellers 
take  a  soldier  with  theni,  and  demand  food 
and  lodging.  These  of  course  are  given, 
through  fear,  but  without  a  welcome.  The 
right  mode  is,  that  when  a  traveller  comes 
to  a  village,  he  sits  under  a  tree,  and  waits. 
Ihe  villagers  soon  gather  round  him,  ques- 
tion him,  and  make  remarks  on  his  appear- 


ance with  perfect  candor.  After  he  has 
undergone  this  ordeal,  some  one  is  sure  to 
ask  him  to  his  house,  and,  should  he  happen 
to  be  a  person  of  distinction,  one  ot  the 
chief  men  is  certain  to  be  his  host 

When  Mr.  Parkyns  was  residing  in  Abys- 
sinia, he  always  adopted  this  plan.  On  one 
occasion  the  headman  invited  him  to  his 
house,  and  treated  him  most  hospitably, 
apologizing  for  the  want  of  Sbtter  food  on 
the  ground  that  he  had  lately  been  made 
liable  for  the  tribute  of  a  number  of  persons 
who  had  run  away,  and  was  consequently 
much  reduced  in  the  world.  It  proved  that 
sixteen  householders  had  escaped  to  avoid 
the  ta:-.,  and  that  the  unfortunate  man  had 
to  pay  the  whole  of  it,  amounting  to  a  sum 
which  forced  him  to  sell  his  horse,  mule, 
and  nearly  all  his  plough  oxen,  and,  even 
when  he  was  entertaining  his  visitor,  he 
^eas  in  dread  lest  the  soldiers  should  be 
quartered  on  him. 

The  question  of  hospitality  naturally  leads 
us  to  the  cooking  and  mode  of  eating  as 
practised  in  Abyssinia,  about  which  so 
many  strange  stories  have  been  told.  We 
have  all  heard  of  Brui-o'a  account  of  the 
eating  of  raw  meat  cut  -i  the  limbs  of  a 
liviii"  bullock,  and  of  the  storm  of  derision 
which  was  raised  by  "le  tale.  We  will  see 
how  far  he  w.as  bori.i;  jut  by  facts. 

Tho  "staff"  of  life'  is  prepared  in  Abys- 
sinia much  after  the  same  flishion  as  in 
other  parts  of  Africa,  the  grain  being 
ground  between  two  stones,  and  then  made 
into  a  sort  of  very  thin  paste,  about  tho 
onsistency  of  gruel.  This  paste  is  allowed 
to  remain  in  a  jar  for  a  day  and  night  in 
order  to  become  sour,  and  is  then  taken  to 
the  oven.  This  is  a  very  curious  article, 
being  a  slab  of  earthenware  in  which  a  con- 
cave hollow  is  made,  and  furnished  with  a 
small  cover  of  the  sai.  e  material.  A  fire  is 
made  beneath  the  oven,  or  "  magogo,"  as  it 
is  termed,  and  when  it  is  hot  the  baker,  who 
IS  always  a  woman,  proceeds  to  work. 

She  first  rubs  the  hollow  with  an  oily  seed 
in  oraer  to  prevent  the  bread  from  adhering 
to  it,  and  then  with  a  gourd  ladle  takes 
some  of  the  thin  dough  from  tho  jar.  The 
gourd  holds  exactly  enough  to  make  one 
loaf,  or  rather  cake.  With  a  rapid  move- 
ment the  woman  spreads  th3  dough  over 
the  entire  hollow,  and  then  puts  on  the 
cover.  In  two  or  three  minutes  it  is  re- 
moved, and  the  bread  is  peeled  off  in  one 
flat  circular  piece,  some  eighteen  inches  in 
width,  and  about  the  eighth  of  an  inch  in 
thickness.  This  bread,  called  "  teff,"  is  the 
ordinary  diet  of  an  Abyssinian.  It  is  very 
sour,  very  soft,  and  very  spongy,  and 
requires  an  experienced  palate  to  anpreci- 
ate  it.  There  are  several  other  kinds  of 
bread,  but  the  teff  is  that  which  is  most 
valued. 

As  to  the  meat  diet  of  the  Abyssinians,  it 
may  be  roughly  divided  into  cooked  and 


'I 


656 


ABYSSINIA. 


sri 


uncooked  meat.  Cooked  meat  is  usuallv 
ST^IfT  tV'«»?' valued  parts  of- tE 
animal.    It  is  cut  up  into  little  nieces  and 

d  S'  i"  oV'-\  '''i'''''  with  oCr'fngre^ 
dients,  a  considerable  quantity  of  butter 
and  such  an  amount  of  capsicum  pods  th-it 
dron'^onM™'"'  ''  °^^  Hgh?red  color  and  a 
nJ^  £i  •    *  l"*^^^  ^  '■'^'^  Stain  on  any  earment 

fs  c Jled'V,  i!M  l^PPf  °  *«  f''"-    -^hls  S 
18  cai  ea    diUikh,"  and  is  made  bv  crindiiur 

together  a  quantity  of  capsicum Vodranf 

an  eoua    amount  of  onions,  to  which  are 

added  ginger,  salt,  black  pepper,  and  othe? 

mrer'    TuT^"^  to  the  We  k  "the  pre- ' 
paier.    The  poorer  class,  who  cannot  attorrl 

SS"'"".-'","  "^'^^«  '^'"•kh  ?~nd  live 
almost  entirely  on  teff,  clotted  milk,  and  dll! 

But  the  great  treat  fo.-  an  Abvssinian 
f  ^'r  K  ^  *^  "  I^roundo,"  or  nS  meat 
about  which  he  is  as  fastidious  asZ  Euro- 

fn  ivll  wi^ J,  1"  Abyssinian  will  eat  any 
animal  which  has  incisor  teeth  in  its  unner 
jaw,  and  ike  the  Jews,  they  even  reject 
the  c.amel,  because  it  has 'not  a  cloven  iZf 
According  to  the  account  given  by  Bruce 
when  a  dinner  party  is  assembled  a  cow  fs 
brought  to  the  door  of  the  house   bound 

SouTedtnVe"'  "  'T  ^™P«  ofl'ts  bfi 

e°ter  of  flSxf ""•"'^  i°  «rdcr  to  save  the 

fhir    ;,    ^'^  Mosaic    law.    The   butchers 

beast  Hkinf  '*'''Pf  °^  ™''^*  ^™'n  tl^"  Poo' 
beast  taking  care  to  avoid  the  vital  parts 
and  larger  vessels,  and  managin-  so  as  to 
re^nioye  the  flesh  without  muci  effusion  of 

The  sti'l  warm  flesh  is  takeff  within  the 
house,  ,,iiere  it  is  sliced  into  stdp    by   he 

ineir  si(l( .  The  women  cut  it  up  into  small 
squares,  lay  it  en  the  "teff"  bread  sea^oT.U 
Fnto  hS'^  ^V'  "L  '^'"■kh  pasTe  'rollU  up 
of  thell  ;r''  P""'  "'*'  balls  into  tlie  moud^ 
ot  their  companion,  who  eats  until  he  is 

tfontv  ;,nK    "'*'"  ^^'^Wocatcs  the  aUe  " 
and  numm,'".?  "''  '"^  T^PI*^  "^  «"»»'^'-  ^nlls, 

Irwh  •    ^^^^  P-''^^  ^^3.)    Mead  and  ted-o 
are  then  consumed  as  largely  aa  the  meat 

aboiirhf  1?  *^?^"^'''  '^'^^^^  of  the  most 
abominable  licentiousness  accompanies  the 
conclusion  of  the  festival.  '^'=°'"P*°"'«  t^^e 
-I  hese  statements  have  been  much  con 
trover  ed,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that  h  the' ' 
main,  the  narrative  of  Bruce  wL  a  truthful 
one  Many  of  the  fact«  of  which  he  wrote 
have  since  been  corroborated,  while  the 
tZT  ■\?  '"'^'"^  Abyssinia  ha^  been  suK 

ifon«  t"^'  ^  "r""*?,*  *■"•■  unimportant  varia- 
tions. Later  travellers,  for  example,  have  not 
witnessed  such  a  scene  as  has  been  narmS 

^L^'T'  'i'*  "^*t  i«  "«  i-^'^^on  why  such  a 
scene  should  rot  have  occurred,    l^e  m 

mrfl'e^^h'bPafh  °'  '''  "'*'"*"-^'  'he  SnTS 
raw  flesh,  has  been  repeatedly  corroborated 

especially  by  Mansflel'd  Pai-kyns^ho  lived 


hSlf  in  ^n  Z*"^™'  ?"^  accommodated 
tiimselt  m  most  respects  to  their  mode  of 

He  found  that  meat  was  always  ifno«*il.7n 
eaten    in  the  raw  state,   oily  the  iXiS 

eaUnir^kinnl  *'*'«"'P"oii  of  the  {node  of 
eating   tai hea   exactly  with   that  of  Bruce 

ihfleTtm  ■r^-"y«j'rouf.ht  to  (he  consume; 
While  still  warm  and  quivering  with  life  as 
t  becomes  tough  and' stringy  when  suffered 

vithX^of  f'W  ^'T!V  ^y'^'  i«  ?"She1 
sauce*^   rr!^«  fl    ''^  T\  ^^"^  invariable  pejiper 
sauce.    His  fingers  take  the  place  of  a  fork 
and   his  sword,  or  shotel,  d<  es  diUy  fbr  a 
knife     Holding  the  broundo  n  his  S  hand 
ho  takes  into  his  capacious  mouth  as  ,m  eh  as 
It  can  accommodate,  and  then,  with  an  adroit 
upward    stroke   of' the  swoni    so  cis   the 
piece  of  meat,  and  just  contrives  to  o void 
cutting  off  his  I'lose.   k  alteiS'he  pS 
of  meat  with  teff  and  dillikh,  and,  who u  he 
has^flnished,refresheshimsel/copi;,usly;ith 

Such  food  as  this  appears  to  be  indescriba- 
bly  disgusting,  and  very  unfit  for  a  nation 
that  prides  itself  on  its  Christianity     M-  nv 
persons,  indeed,  have  said  that .  o  one  col^^^ 
ea    r.wmeat  except  when  pressed  "y  star- 
vation, and  have  therefore  discred  ed  aH 
accounts  of  the  practice.        "'^^"^c""*-''  all 
Perhaps  my  readers  may  remember  that 
after  Bruce's  return  a  gentleman  was  nJk- 
ing  very  merry  with  this  aemint  in  the 
traveller's    presence,    treating    t  e      hole 
story  as  a  fabrication  on  the  |ro,  nd  tl  at  to 
cat  raw  meat  was  impossible!    Bruce  sad     ' 
not  nng  but  quietly  left  the  room,  and  pres- 
ently returned  with  a  piece  of  1  erf  rolled 
and  peppered  after  the  Abys.sinianh'h  on 
o?  pS in^  'If  astonished  opponent  ihe  choice 

snot  a".  t5"  '"''"*'"■  ¥"'""  ^'='»«n  the 
spot.  As  Bruce  was  of  gigantic  stren<nh 
and  stature,  and  an  accompkhed  swordsman 
to  boot,  the  meat  was  eaten,  and  the  ft  ct 
proved  to  be  possible.  ^' 

Mr.  Parkyns,  who,  when  in  Abyssinia 
very  wisely  (tid  as  the  Abyssinians  do,  fovS 
that  he  soon  became  accustomed  to  the  tas  o 
of  raw  meat,  and  learned  how  to  pr'll.r  one 
part  of  an  animal  to  another.  Ho  aiscovcrcd 
that  a  very  good  imitation  of  an  o-ster 
could  be  mate  by  chopping  up  a  sh^eS 
hver  very  fine,  and  seasoning'it  will,  popper 
vinegar,  and  a  little  salt,  provided  1  r  t  the 
consumer  shut  his  eyes  lyU  eating  it  Ho 
even   learned  to  ap-^reciate-a  dish  called 

a?mf 'n^f '"'r^'""'?^^  *«  ^"  "bout  (he  very 
acme  of  abomination.  It  consists  of  the 
hver  and  stomach  chopped  up  fine  mixed 
with  a  little  of  the  halt-d  gest..d  S's  found 
o"ft'e^oinT!^'V  '''''^?'-'^''  '^'"»  th'e  contents 
neiLoi^  iVli'^fni'  P'^Ptiftilly seasoned  with 

An  Abysslnian's  digestion  is  marvellous, 


FEAST  AT  A  WEDDING. 


8OT 


and  almost  rivals  that  of  a  pike,  which  will 
digest  half  of  a  flsh  in  its  stomach  while  the 
other  half  is  protruding  from  its  mouth, 
IIo  will  go  to  any  number  of  fcast-s  in  a  day, 
and  bring  a  Una  fresli  appetite  to  each  of 
them,  consuming  at  a  meal  a  quantity  that 
would  sulllce  seven  or  eight  hungry  Eng- 
lishmen. Mr.  Parkyns  once  gave  a  break- 
fast to  fourteen  guests,  thinking  that,  ns  they 
were  engaged  for  three  or  four  other  fe.asts 
on  the  same  day,  they  would  perhaps  eat  but 
little. 

Keeping  up,  however,  the  old  hospitable 
customs,  he  killed  a  cow  and  two  fat  shec]), 
and  provided  many  gallons  of  mead  and  an 
infmito  quantity  ol'  "  tetf."  To  his  astonish- 
ment, the  whole  of  this  enormous  supply 
vanished,  as  ho  says,  "  like  smoke."  before 
his  guests,  who  left  scarcely  a  scrap  for  their 
servants.  And,  after  this  feast,  the  whole  of 
the  party  proceeded  to  another  house,  where 
they  were  treated  in  a  similarly  Uberal  man- 
ner, and  employed  the  day  in  a  series  of  four 
or  *ive  such  banquets. 

The  Abyssinians  are  very  fastidious  re- 
specting the  part  of  the  animal  from  which 
the  broundo  is  cut,  and  have  a  vast  number 
of  names  to  express  the  ditferent  qualities 
of  meat.  Tlie  most  valued  portion  is  the 
hump  of  the  shoulder,  the  first  cut  of  which 
is  always  given  to  the  man  of  the  highest 
rank.  Consequently,  when  several  men  of 
nearly  equal  rank  meet,  a  polite  controversy 
is  carried  on  for  somo.time,  each  offering  the 
cut  of  honor  to  his  neighbor. 

On  one  occasion  this  piece  of  etiquette 
produced  fatal  results.  Several  Ainhara 
chiefs  wore  present,  together  with  one  Ti- 
grdan.  The  latter,  in  order  to  assert  the  su- 
periority of  his  own  province,  drew  his  sword 
and  helped  himself  to  the  tirst  cut,  where- 
upon he  was  immediately  challenged  by  two 
Amhara  warriors.  lie  accepted  the  chal- 
lenge, fought  them  both,  killed  them  both, 
an(r  so  vindicated  the  course  which  he  had 
taken. 

The  quantity  which  an  Abyssini.in  will 
eat  when  he  gets  the  chance  must  be  seen  to 
be  appreciated.  See  for  example  Mr.  Par- 
kyns' account  of  a  feast  at  au  Abyssinian 
wedding  :  — 

"The  Aby.ssinian  guests  were  squatted 
round  the  tables  in  long  rows,  feeding  as  if 
their  lives  depended  on  the  quantity  they 
could  devour,  and  washing  it  down  with 
floods  of  drink.  I  never  could  have  believed 
tliat  any  people  could  take  so  much  food,  and 
certainlj;,  if  the  reader  wishes  to  see  a  curi- 
ous exhibition  in  the  feeding  line,  he  has 
only  to  run  over  to  Abyssinia,  and  be  pres- 
sent  at  a  wedding-feast. 


"  Imagine  two  or  three  hundred  half-naked 
men  and  womon  all  in  one  room,  eating  and 
drinking  in  the  way  I  have  described  in  a 
former  chapter,  but  with  this  dillercuce  — 
that  the  private  party  is  well  ordered  and 
;  ^ranged,  while  the,  public  '  hang-out '  is  a 
scene  of  the  most  terrible  confusion.  Hero 
all  decorum  is  lost  sight  of;  and  you -see  the 
waiters,  each  with  a  huj^e  piece  of  raw  beef 
in  his  hands,  rushing  tranticuUy  to  and  tic 
in  his  desire  to  satisfy  the  voracious  appe- 
tites of  *he  guests,  who,  as  he  comes  witliin 
their  reach,  grasp  the  meat,  aud  with  their 
long  crooked  swords  hack  olf  a  lump  or  strip, 
as  the  case  may  be,  in  their  eagerness  not  to 
lose  their  share. 

"  One  man  was  reported  on  this  occasion 
to  have  eaten  '  tiillak  '  and  '  tainash  '  of 
raw  beef  (each  weighing  from  four  to  five 
i)Ounds)  and  seven  cakes  of  bread,  and  to 
have  drunk  twentv-six  pints  of  beer  and 
'  tedge.'  From  what  I  saw  I  can  believe 
a  good  deal,  but  this  appeara  rather  a 
'  stretcher.' 

"We  of  the  Frank  .sect  were  presented 
with  our  share  of  the  '  broundo  ;'  but  as  our 
thoughtful  host  had  informed  us  that  a  din- 
ner, cooked  by  his  own  hands  in  (he  Turkish 
styie,  was  awaiting  us  in  an  inner  apartment, 
we  merely,  for  formality's  sake,  tasted  the 
offered  delicacies,  aud  then  handed  them 
over  to  our  servants,  who,  standing  behind 
us,  were  ready  enough  to  make  away  with 
them.  The  silversmith  Michael,  before  com- 
ing to  the  feast,  had,  it  would  appear,  been 
pouring  a  tolerably  copious  libation  to  some 
god  or  other,  for  he  was  considerably  ele- 
vated, and,  being  anxious  to  show  off,  com- 
menced eating  in  the  Abyssinian  fash'on,  nor 
did  he  stop  until  he  had  out  a  largo  gash  in 
his  nose." 

The  hands  are  always  carefully  washed 
both  before  and  alter  a  meal.  Jiist  before 
the  feast  is  over,  die  servants  come  round 
with  baskets  to  the  guests,  each  of  whom 
places  in  the  basket  a  portion  of  his  food.  As 
to  the  little  boys,  they  crawl  about  under  the 
tables, and  among  the  legsof  the  guests, and 
are  always  ready  for  any  fragments  that 
maybe  accidentally  dropped  or  intentionally 
given  to  them. 

The  beer,  or  "  tedge,"  and  mead,  which 
have  been  mentioned,  are  favorite  drinks 
among  the  Abyssinians.  The  former  is  very 
thick  and  gruel-like,  and  to  a  European 
is  very  repulsive.  The  latter,  however,  is 
tolerably  good,  and  is  hept  carefully  in  large 
jars.  The  mouth  of  each  jar  is  covered 
with  a  piece  of  cotton  cloth 'drawn  lightly 
over  it.  This  is  not  removed  when  the 
mead  is  poured  out,  and  acts  as  a  strainer. 


CHAPTER  LXVI. 


ABYSSINIA—  ConcMed. 


i:   I 


THE.U    WFFERENT    CHAIUCTEM-THn.Vir      «f«r  "'*"°'''  *''^''' ^^^  ««"«I0U9,  A«D 

AKDFEASTIXO    BOTH    CABBrED    '^EXTHEMES  -  «T       "Jl         ««"°'°''  ""^  ^B  VBSmiA  -  FASTINO 
FRIENDLY     SKIRMISHES- AI,V88miAnHrRr.,^  ^'AV  AND  THE  ANNUAL  WASHING - 

IN    BArrLE-IONORANCE    07x1  E     PRIE^D     ".r/"''*^''""^    ^"'^    """^    ^«'^-"'«  ^«« 
LAYMEN -LIFE  OF  A  8AINX  -  s"  PERrxroT  .7 7J  "    ^  '"'*''''°    """'^    ™  '■«"^«™  ^^^ 

T«A-EXAMPra.8  8KEN  BY  MR    P^r™"- LvSsZn'T''''"'' ~ ""''    ''"""^  ^^°    "'=    ''««'■ 
»•».   rAMivxHs  — AB13SINIAN  AilCUITECTURB. 


We  will  now  cursorily  glance  at  the  life  of 
an  Abyssmmn  from  his  birth  to  his  funeral 
As  soon  as  the  birth  of  a  child  is  expected 
all  the  men  leave  the  house,  as  they  would 
be  considered  as  polluted  if  they  were  under 
the  same  roof,  and  would  not  be  allowed  to 
enter  a  church  for  forty  days.    The  women 
take  immediate  charge  of  the  new  comer, 
wash  and  perfume  it,  and  mould  its  little 
leatuics  in  order  to  make  them  handsome, 
bhould  It  be  a  boy,  it  is  held  up  to  the  win- 
dow until  a  warrior  thrusts  a  lance  into  the 
room  and  pokes  it  into  the  child's  mouth 
this  ceremony  being  supposed  to  make  it 
courageous.    The  throat  of  a  fowl  is  then 
cut  m  front  of  the  child,  and  the  women 
utter  their  joy-cries  —  twelve  times  for  a 
boy  and  three  times  for  a  girl.    They  then 
rush  tumultuously  out  of  the  house,  and  trv 
to  catch  the  men.    If  they  succeed,  they 
hustle  thoir  captives  about,  and  force  them 
to  ransom  themselves  by  a  jar  of  mead,  or 
some  such  present  ' 

Next  come  the  religious  ceremonies;  and 
It  18  not  the  least  curious  point  in  the  reli- 
gious system  of  the  Abyssinians  that  thev 
have  retained  the  Jewish  rite,  to  which  thev 
siiperadded  Christian  baptism.  Eight  davs 
after  birth  the  child  is  circumcisecf,  twentv 
days  afterward  the  priests  enter  the  house 
and  perform  a  purification  service  which' 
restores  it  to  general  use,  and  forty  days 
afterward  the  baptism  takes  nl.ice,  should 
the  child  be  a  boy,  and  eighty  days  if  a  girl 


(658) 


A  plaited  cord  of  red.  blue,  and  white  silk 
IS  then  placed  round  tlie  child's  neck,  as  a 
token  that  it  has  been  baptized,  which  is 
altciward  exchanged  for  the  blue  cord,  or 
'match,"  worn  by  all  Christian  Abyssi- 
nians.  There  is  a  curious  law  that,  if  either 
ot  the  snonsors  should  die  without  issue, 
lus  godcluld  becomes  the  heir  to  his  nron- 
erty.  ^    ^ 

I  1  ^'^^  J?""!? ®*^,  ^^^  ^^'■y  particular  about  the 
date  of  ho  baptism.  They  believe  that 
Adam  and  Eve  did  not  receive  the  spirit  of 
life  until  they  had  been  created  forty  and 
eighty  days.  Should  the  father  miscalculate 
the  date,  he  would  be  sentenced  to  a  year's 
fasting;  while  the  priest  is  liable  to  a  simi- 
ar  penalty  if  he  sliould  liappeu  to  assign 
the  wrong  day.  ^ 

As  to  their  marriages,  the  Abyssinians 
manage  them  very  easily.  As  soon  as 
betrothal  takes  place,  which  is  mostly  at  a 
very  early  age,  the  coujjle  are  not  allowed 
to  see  each  other,  even  though  they  may 
have  eijjoyed  the  greatest  liberty  before- 
hand. So  rigidly  is  this  practice  carried 
out  in  Tiare,  that  the  bride  never  leaves 
her  father's  house  until  her  marriage,  be- 
lieving that  if  she  did  so  she  would  1)e  bit- 
ten  by  a  snake. 

Just  before  the  wedding-day,  a  "dass,"  or 
marquee,  is  built  of  stakes  and  reeds  for  the 
reception  of  the  wedding-jiartv,  in  which 
the  mamage-fea.st  is  prepared.  Certain 
distingmshed   guests    have   special    places 


MARRIAGE  AND  FUNERAL  CEREMONIES. 


609 


roscrvdd  for  them ;  but  any  one  is  at  liberty 
to  enter  and  cat  to  his  heart's  content.  A 
Bccnc  of  groat  turmoil  always  occurs  on 
these  occasions,  a  crowd  of  men  who  have 
already  been  fed  trying  to  gain  re-admis- 
aion,  whilst  another  crowd  of  hungry  appli- 
cants is  lighting  and  pushing  toward  the 
entrance.  Order  is  kept  to  some  extent  by 
a  number  of  young  men  who  volunteer 
their  services,  and  are  allowed  to  exercise 
their  ofllijo  as  they  think  best,  hitting  about 
at  the  crowd,  and  no  man  returning  their 
blows.  As  soon  as  one  batch  of  guests 
have  eaten  as  much  as  they  can  be  expected 
to  consume,  the  door-keepers  turn  them  out 
by  main  force  and  admit  a  fresh  batch. 

After  tlie  feast,  the  bride  is  carried  in 
upon  a  man's  back,  and  put  down,  like  a 
sack  of  coals,  on  a  stool.  Music  and  dancing 
then  take  place,  while  the*  bridegroom,  at- 
tended l)y  his  groomsmen,  or  "  urkees,"  is 
proceeding  to  the  houio,  accompanied  by 
his  friends,  and  preceded  by  music.  When 
he  arrives,  the  marriage  —  which  is  a  civil 
rather  than  a  religious  ceremony  —  takes 
place,  an  address  being  delivered  to  the 
married  couple  by  a  priest,  should  one  hap- 
pen to  be  present;  if  not,  by  an  elder;  and 
the  actual  ceremony  is  at  an  end. 

The  arkees  have  a  number  of  curious  offi- 
ces to  perform,  among  which  is  the  custom 
of  collecting  gifts  for  the  newly-married 
couple,  begging  with  songs  and  drum-beat- 
ing before  the  houses.  If  nothing  be  given 
thorn,  they  take  whatever  they  wish;  and, 
after  a  wedding  the  robberies  are  countless, 
the  arkees  being  privileged  persons  during, 
their  term  of  office.  They  are  oven  allowed 
to  perjure  themselves  — a  crime  which  is 
held  in  the  deepest  abhorrence  by  all  Abys- 
sinian Christians.  Should  a  person  from 
whom  anything  is  stolen  offer  a  present  as  a 
ransom,  the  arkees  are  obliged  to  give  up 
the  stolen  property;  but  should  they  have 
taken  fowls  or  any  other  edibles,  there  is  no 
restitution  possible,  the  arkees  taking  care 
to  have  them  cooked  and  eaten  at  once. 

Such  marriages,  being  merely  cwil  cere- 
monies, are  dissolved  as  easily  as  they  are 
made,  the  slightest  pretext  on  either  side 
being  considered  as  sufficient  for  the  separa- 
tion. Should  there  be  children,  the  father 
takes  the  boys,  and  the  mother  the  girls, 
and  each  will  probably  marry  again  almost 
immediately. 

In  consequence  of  this  very  easy  arrange- 
ment, it  often  happens  that,  m  one  family  of 
children,  two  may  be  by  one  mother,  two  by 
another,  and  one  or  two  more  by  a  third; 
and  it  is  almost  invariably  the  case  that  the 
children  of  one  father  by  different  mothers 
hate  each  other  cordially,  while  the  children 
of  one  mother  by  different  fathers  live  to- 
gether in  amity. 

Besides  these  civil  marriages,  which  are 
really  no  marriages  at  all,  there  are  ecclesi- 
astical  marriages,  which   are   held  to  be 


Indissoluble.  These,  however,  are  very  sel- 
dom contracted  except  between  persons  who 
have  been  civilly  married,  and  nave  found, 
after  many  years  of  experience,  that  they 
cannot  be  better  suited.  Thinr  tlierefore  go 
to  the  church,  are  married  by  tlie  priest, 
and  receive  the  Communion  together. 

When  an  Abyssinian  dies,  the  funeral 
takes  place  within  a  very  short  time,  the 
same  (lay  being  preferred  if  possible.  The 
death  being  announced  from  the  house-top 
by  the  relatives,  and  by  meHsengers  to  the 
neighboring  villages,  a  grave  is  at  once  dug 
by  volunteers.  There  are  no  professiontH 
grave-diggers  in  Abyssinia,  but,  as  the  act 
of  burying  the  dead  is  considered  as  a  meri- 
torious one,  plenty  of  assistance  is  always 
found.  The  body  is  then  placed  on  a  couch 
and  carried  to  the  grave,  the  whole  of  the 
Psalter  being  repeated  as  the  procession 
makes  its  way.  Six  halts  are  made  during 
the  progress  of  the  body  to  the  church,  at 
each  of  which  incense  is  burned  over  it, 
and  certain  portions  of  the  Scrijitures  are 
read,  or  rather  gabbled,  as  fast  as  the  words 
can  bo  repeated.  In  order  to  save  time, 
each  priest  or  scribe  who  is  present  has  a 
certain  portioh  assigned  to  him,  and  they 
all  reafi  at  once,  so  that  not  a  word  can  be 
caught  by  the  mourners.  These,  however, 
are  making  such  a  noise  on  their  own 
account  that  they  do  not  trouble  themselves 
about  hearing  the  Scriptures. 

The  bearers  of  the  corpse  manage  so  that 
their  seventh  halt  is  made  at  the  church 
gate.  Here  more  portions  of  Scripture  are 
read  in  the  same  tirae-saviug  fashion,  while 
the  body  is  wrapped  in  a  cloth  made  of  palm 
leaves,  this  being  emblematical  of  the  palms 
thrown  before  our  Lord  on  His  triumphal 
entry  into  Jerusalem.  When  the  grave  is 
ready,  the  priest  descends  into  it  and  censes 
it,  after  which  the  body  is  lowered  and  the 
earth  filled  in. 

In  consequence  of  the  rapidity  with  which 
burial  follows  death,  the  mourning  ceremo- 
nies are  postponed  for  three  days,  so  as  to 
give  time  for  assembling  the  mourner.s,  and 
making  the  corresponding  preparations. 

On  that  day  the  mourners  proceed  to  a 
spot  near  the  church,  on  which  is  placed 
a  couch  containing  a  rude  figure  of  a 
human  being,  supposed  to  represent  the 
deceased  person.  The  relations  ajipear  with 
their  heads  shaven  like  those  of  the  priests, 
and  among  the  Tigrcans  they  rub  their  fore- 
heads and  temples  with  the  borders  of  their 
robes  until  they  take  off  the  skin,  and  pro- 
duce sores  which  often  occupy  many  weeks 
in  healing.  Mostly  the  injury  is  so  great, 
that  when  the  skin  is  renewfed  it  is  blacker 
than  the  rest  of  the  body,  and  remains  so 
during  life,  giving  to  the  face  a  very  sin- 
gular expression.  The  Amharas  do  not 
employ  this  mode  of  showing  their  grief. 

Each  of  the  mourners  then  advances,  and 
pronounces  a  sort  of  eulogy  ou  the  deceased, 


coo 


ADYSSIXIA. 


Ronornlly  uttorlng  their  pnnogyHcfl  In  n  sort 
"f  riido  v<!rK(>.     In   case,  howovor,  the  rela- 
tives should  not  bo  gooij  poets,  n  number  of 
profesHioniil   mouinerH  attend   the  tiuK^rnl, 
some  beiiiji  hired,  l)ut  the  greater  number 
coming  merely  in  hope  of  a  fee  nnd  a  share 
In  tlio  funeral  banquet  wliieh  eoneludes  the 
proceedingH.     According  to  Mr.   Parkyns 
these  people  will  give  minute  details  of  the 
history  of  the  dead  man,  his  deeds,  ebaracter, 
nnd  even  his  property;  and  this  to  a  great 
length,  thu«:    "0  Gabron,  son   of  Wclda 
Mousa,  grandson  of  Itta  Garrn  llaphaol,  &c. 
Ac;  rider  of  the  bay  horse  with  white  feet, 
and  of  the  grey  aml)ling  mule;  owner  of  the 
Damascus    barrel-gun,  and    bearer  of  the 
silver-mounted  shield,  why  have  you  left 
us?  "  Ac,  entering  with  astonishing  readi- 
ness Into  every  particulaV  of  the  deceased's 
hfo  and  actions.    All  the  bystanders,  at  the 
end  of  each  verse,  break  In  with  a  chorus  of 
sobbing  lament^itions,  adapted  to  a  mourn- 
ful chant,  "Moni  I  wnil  wail  wailayavl  wai- 
]ay  1  wailayayl"  &c.,  which  has  a  pretty  plain- 
tive Bound,  especially  when,  as  is   usually 
the  case,  a  number  ot  soft  fenr.alo  voices  join 
in.  "^ 

"The  'ambilta'  and  the  'cundan'  keep 
time  with  them,  and  add  not  a  little  to  the 
effect.  This  continues  until  all  the  expected 
friends  have  arrived,  and  had  their  fill  of 
wailing;  and  about  noon  the  whole  party 
retire  to  the  house,  where  a  cow  is  killed, 
and  a  quantity  of  provisions  provided  for 
those  who  have  come  from  a  distance. 
Everything,  except  the  cow,  ib  usually  fur- 
nished by  the  neighbors,  as  the  mourners 
nre  supposed  to  be  so  overwhelmed  with 
grief  as  to  be  unable  to  attend  to  such  prep- 
arations." 

The  "ambiltn,"  which  is  mentioned  above, 
is  a  musical  instrument  composed  of  a  set 
of  six  pipes,  each  performer  having  one 
pipe,  and  each  pipe  only  having  one  note. 
The  "cundan  mclakhat"  is  made  of  four 
long  cane  tubes,  each  having  a  bell,  and  a 
reed  mouth-j)iece,  like  that  of  a  clarionet. 
They  are  played  in  succession  like  the 
ambilta,  nnd  give  forth  very  harsh  and 
unpleasant  notes.  Hoth  instruments  are 
generally  accompanied  by  a  small  drum. 
Although  the  immediate  ceremonies  of  the 
funeral  terminate  with  this  feast,  they  are 
not  totally  completed.  Indeed,  for  a  whole 
year,  masses  are  said  regularly  for  forty 
days,  and  another  mass  is  said  on  the  cigh- 
tietJi  day.  A  second  and  larger  edition  of 
the  funeral  feast,  called  the  "  teskar,"  is  held 
six  months  after  the  burial,  and  sometimes 
lasts  for  several  days. 

To  this  feast  Viome  all  the  poor,  who  claim 
for  themselves  the  right  of  being  helped  be- 
fore any  of  the  regular  guests.  They  seat 
thomseves  in  the  "  dass,"  and  pour  out  loud 
invocations,  until  an  official  comes  round,  and 
slightly  taps  each  one  on  the  head  with  a  stick. 
The  man  who  has  been  thus  signalled  holds 


out  his  hands,  and  roccilves  In  them  a  por- 
tion of  moat  rolled  up  in  "toff"  bread. 
When  all  have  been  served,  they  hold  the 
lood  under  their  mouths,  and  calL  in  a  very 
loud  voice,  "  lliii  .  .  .  oh!"  the  last  i  liable 
being  protracted  until  they  have  no  more 
breath. 

"This  "Hai  ...  oh  I"  is  thought  to  be  a 
sort  of  benediction,  and  very  few  would 
diire  to  omit  it.  Huch  an  omission  would 
be  taken  as  a  drawing  down  of  the  maledic- 
tions of  the  poor,  and  would  excite  the 
greatest  contempt.  If  such  a  man  were  to 
quarrel,  his  opponent  would  bo  sure  to  say 
to  him,  "Ah  1  you  are  the  man  who  made 
no  '  Ilai  .  .  .  ohl'  for  his  brother." 

On  the  next  day  the  priests  and  men 
of  highest  rank  assemble,  and  day  by  day 
the  rank  of  the  guests  diminishes,  until  the 
seventh  day  is  rt)ntemptuou8ly  given  to  the 
women.  Six  months  after  the  teskar  an- 
other feast,  but  of  a  larger  kind,  is  lield, 
and  on  every  anniversary  of  the  ftineral 
food  is  sent  to  the  priests. 


We  now  naturally    >me  to  the  religion  of 
the  Abyssinians. 

This  18  a  kind  of  Christianity  which  con- 
sists chierty  in  fasting,  so  that  an  Abyssinian 
life  oscillates  between  alternate  severe  fasts 
and  inoi-dinato  gluttonv.    The  fasts  of  the 
Abyssinian  Church  occupy  nearly  two-thirds 
of  the  year,  and  are  measured  in  duration  by 
the  length  of  the  shadow.  One  fast,  for  exam- 
ple, must  be  kept  until  a  man's  shadow  mea- 
sures in  length  nine  and  a  half  of  his  own  feet, 
another  until  it  is  nine  feet,  and  a  third  until 
it  is  ten  feet  long.    And  these  fasts  are  real 
ones,  no  food  of  any  kind  being  taken  until 
the  prescribed  time,  and  no  such  modifiea- 
tions  as  flsh,  &c.,  being  allowed  to  mitigate 
their  severity.    During  Good   Friday   and 
the   following  Saturday  the  clergy,  and  all 
who  have  any  pretensions  to  religion,  fast 
for  forty-eight  hours;    and,  altogether,  in- 
cluding the  Wednesdays  and  Fridays,  two 
hundred  and  sixty  days  of  fasting  occur  in 
the  year.    During  the  long  fasts,  such  as 
that  of  Lent,  which  lasts  for  fifty-five  days, 
the  people  are  allowed  to  eat  on  the  morn- 
ings of  Saturday  and  Sunday,  but,  even  in 
that  case,  meat  in  any  form  is  strictly  for- 
bidden. 

As  soon  as  the  lengthening  shadow  pro- 
claims the  end  <»f  the  fast,  the  feasting  sets 
in,  and  during  the  season  of  Epiphanv  the 
whole  night  is  passed  in  a  succession  of  eat- 
ing, drinkiu]^,  singing,  dancing,  and  pray- 
ing, each  being  considered  equally  a  reli- 
gious duty.  Then  there  is  a  sort  of  game, 
much  resembling  our  "  hockey,"  at  which 
all  the  people  play,  those  from  one  district 
contending  ag.ainst  those  of  another,  much 
as  the  Ashlnirne  North  and  South  football 
match  used  to  be  conducted  on  Shrove 
Tuesday. 
St  John's  Day  is  a  great  foaat  among  the 


im  a  nor- 
r"  breml. 
hold  the 
hi  ft  very 
il  1  liable 
no  more 

it  to  be  a 
w  would 
)n  would 
maledic- 
(cite  the 
I  wore  to 
ire  to  say 
ho  made 

iiid  mnn 
y  by  day 
until  the 
.in  to  the 
sknr  an- 
i»  lield, 
!  ilineral 


ligion  of 

ich  con- 
lyssinian 
ere  fasts 
s  of  the 
^o-thirds 
ation  by 
)r  exani- 
ow  niea- 
)wn  feet, 
ird  until 
are  real 
en  until 
lodifiea- 
mitigato 
lay  and 
and  all 
ion,  fast 
her,  in- 
lys,  two 
>ccur  ill 
such  as 
^e  days, 
e  mom- 
even  in 
:tly  for- 

nw  pro- 
ing  sets 
vny  the 

of  eat- 
d  pray- 

a  reli- 
F  game, 
;  which 
district 
",  much 
football 
Shrove 

>ng  the 


!1 

I! 


(,'.)    INTKlUOlt   (tl     AN    AllYSSINJAN   HOUSK.    (8«- page  .K17.) 
(C62) 


ST.  -JOHN'S  DAY  AND  THE  ANNUAL  WASHINO. 


0C3 


Al^JTMlnlnns.  and  has  tliix  prp-piniiiptu-oovnr  I 
th*  OthiM-M,  ihiit  nil  the  i)uopK>  not  oiily  wiiit)  < 
thcms.'ivcH,  bill  their  pliitlwa  iiImo.  It  U  tl.> 
only  (lay  when  (ho  Al>yMnlniiinH  upply  water 
cxti'inally,  with  tlie  tixcpptioii  of  wuHhlnK  the 
lisinilx  hcl'oru  and  nt'tur  nutaiit,  and  tlui  Tout 
after  a.|oiirni7.  In  fairt,  they  conMiili-r  that 
washiny;  tho  liody  in  a  hcathcnlMh  ami  alto- 
gc.tlicr  iin-('liri«'tian  practice,  only  to  ho 
|)ractini'(l   hy  Ih 


MohaninKMlana 


lil<(t   ponli'mptililit  licingM. 
Hctwicn  St.  John'H  Da 


to 
itnil  Huch 


— Day  and  tho  fcoHt  of 

Mascal,  or  tho  (Jross,  tlio  youni{  pcoplo  of 
both  Hi'XPH  Iti'cp  up  a  rontinuai  MkiimiNliing. 
In  tho  ovi>niiij{  tlioy  all  loavc  their  houses, 
tho  boys  Willi  bunclios  of  nottlcs,  and  tho 
airln  with  Kourdx  tlllod  with  all  kinda  of 
llllli.  When  thoy  meet,  Ihcy  laiiiieh  vollt  ys 
of  iibiiHo  at  each  other,  tiio  "laiiKiiago  being 
not  tho  most  delieato  in  the  world,  ami  then 
nroeood  to  acdvo  nieasures,  tho  girl.s  tling- 
111},'  tho  contents  of  tho  gourds  at  tho  boys, 
while  the  latter  retaliate  by  nottling  the 
girls  about  tlie'.r  naked  .shoiilders. 

The  day  on  whi('h  tho  greatest  corcmo- 
nials  take  pliico  is  tho  fea.st  of  Mascal.     On 
tho  evo  of  .Mitscal  cv^M-y  one  goes  about  with 
torches,  (Irst  carrying  them  over  tin,  houses, 
and  jieering  into  overy  crevice  like  tho  Jews 
looking  for  lonvon,  and  thon  sallying  into 
tho    air.    TIk!    play  which    ensues   mottly 
turns  into  a  light,  which  reminded  Mr.  Par- 
kyiis  of  the  town  and  gown  rows  at  collogo, 
and  which  begin  in  tho  same  w.iy,  t.  e.  with 
tho  mischievous  little  boys.    These  begin  at 
flrst  to  abuse  each  other,  and  then  to  tight. 
■  Next,  a  man  acva  his  son   getting  rather 
roughly  haudhul,  dr&gs  him  out  of  tho  fray, 
and  iiommels  his  antjigonist.    The  father  of 
th')  latter  conns  to  the  rescue  of  his  son,  the 
friends  of  each  party  Join  in  the  struggle, 
nnd   a  general   light    takes    place.    Mostly 
these  contests  are  harmless,  but,  if  the  com- 
batants hav)  been  Indulging  too  freely  in 
drink,  they  are  apt  to  resort  to  their  weap- 
ons, niid  to  intlict  fatal  injuries. 

During  the  night  great 'lires  of  wood  arc 
built  by  tho  chiefs  on  tho  highest  hills  near 
tlio  towns,  and  set  on  Are  before  daybreak 
Oxen  and  sheep  arc  then  led  three  times 
round  the  llrcs,  slaughtered,  and  left  to  be 
eaten  by  the  birds  and  beasts  of  proy  This 
is  distinctly  a  heathen  custom,  both  tho 
position  of  tho  altar  and  tho  mode  of  sacri- 
fice designating  clearly  the  nre-worshipper. 
When,  therefore,  tho  people  awake  in  the 
morning  alter  tho  fatigue  and  dissipation  of 
the  night  thev  find  the  whole  country 
illuminated  with  these  hill-fires. 

They  then  go  to  their  several  chiefs,  and 
nil  tho  soldiers  boast  before  him  of  their 
prowess,  some  describing  tho  feats  which 
llioy  have  done  before  tho  enemy,  and 
others  prophesyin;.'  the  feats  that  tiiey  in- 
tend to  do  when  they  happen  to  meet  an 
enemy.  Gifts  are  mostly  presented  at  this 
time,  and  feasting  goes  on  as  usual;  every 


chief,  however  petty,  slaughtering  an  many 
owH  Its  ho   can  ull'ord,  and  almost  overy 
.louseholder  killing  at  loast  one  cow. 

The  churches  of  AbyHsinitt  are  not  in  the 
leant  like  those  edifices  with  which  we  gcu- 
enillv  tiHsoeiatti  the  inme  of  church,  be.nff 
small,  low,  fiat-roof(!d,  and,  indeed,  very 
much  like  tho  old  Jewish  tubornacle  traus- 
formed  into  a  permanent  buihiiiig.  Some 
of  the  more  modern  churches  are  oblong  or 
siiuare,  but  the  real  ancient  Abyssinian  biiild- 
Ings  are  (drcular,  and  cxa(;tly  resemble  the 
ordinary  houses,  except  that  they  are  rather 
larger.  They  are  divided  into  three  coin- 
nartmonts  by  conccuitric  walls.  Tho  simco 
between  the  first  and  second  wall  is  that  in 
which  tho  laity  stand,  tho  priests  alone  hav- 
ing the  orivilogo  of  ent.:ring  tho  holy  place 
within  the  second  wall. 

In  tho  very  centre  Is  a  small  compartment, 
sometimes  smiare  and  sometimes  circular, 
riiis  IS  the  Most  Holy  I'lace,  and  contains 
tho  ark,  which  is  veneintod  almost  as  much 
by  tho  Abysniuiaus  as  tho  ancient  ark  was 
reverenced  by  the  Jews.  The  ark  is  merely 
a  wooden  box,  in  many  churches  being  of 
extreme  antiquity,  and  within  it  is  placed 
the  Decalogue.  Over  the  ark  is  a  canopy  of 
silk  or  chintz,  and  around  it  aro  a  vast 
number  of  silken  and  cotton  rags.  They 
oven  fancy  that  the  original  urk  of  tho  Jews 
is  deposited  within  a  rock-shriuo  in  Abyssi- 
nia. 

The  Abyssinians  also  follow  tho  old  Jew- 
ish custom  of  taking  their  sacred  shrine  into 
battle. 

In  an  illustration  on  page  (!fi2,  which  rep- 
resents ft  battle  between  tb.o  Abyssinians 
and  (Julias,  is  seen  the  king,  shadeif  with  his 
umbrellas,  giving  orders  to  a  mounted  chief, 
whose  oriiamented  shield  and  silver  coronal 
denote  his  rank.  In  the  distance  may  bo 
seen  villiii^es  on  fire,  while  on  the  right  an 
attack  is  being  made  on  one  of  the  lofty 
strongholds  in  which  tho  people  love  to  en- 
trench themselves.  Heveral  deivd  Gallos  arc 
seen  in  the  foreground,  and  in  front  of  tho 
king  are  some  of  the  fallen  prisoners  beg- 
ging for  mercy.  In  the  right-hand  corner  of 
the  illustration  is  seen  n  conical  object  on  the 
back  of  a  mule.  This  is  one  of  their  shrines, 
which  accompanies  them  as  the  ark  used  to 
accompany  tho  Israelites  to  battle.  Tho 
fihrino  mostly  contains  either  a  IJible  or  the 
relics  of  some  favorite  saint,  and  the  cover- 
ing of  tho  mulo  is  always  of  scarlet  cloth. 
Two  priests,  with  their  white  robes  and  tur- 
bans, are  seen  guarding  the  mulo. 

Paintings  of  the  rudest  po.ssible  descrip- 
tion  decorate  the  walls  of  the  church,  and 
aro  looked  upon  with  the  greatest  awe, 
though  they  are  no  better  in  execution  than 
the  handiwork  of  a  child  of  six.  Their  sub- 
jects are  generally  tho  Crucifixion  and  con- 
ventional portraits  of  saints,  St,  George 
being,  perhaps,  tho  greatest  favorite,  nnd 
Imriiig  tho  most  numerous  reprcBentations. 


6M 


ABYSSIMA. 


•.c    • 


.  Tho  priesthood  are,  as  may  be  imagined, 
no  very  g'oofl  examples  either  of  pl^y  or 
letters,  home  of  them,  but  by  no  means  all 
can  read;  and  even  of  those  who  do  T,os8e88 
tnis  accc  -ipushment,  very  few  trouble  them- 
selves t(  understand  what  they  read,  but 
gabble  the  words  iu  parrot  fashion,  with- 
out^producmg  the  least  impression  on  the 

fi,ff"^f  n*"'""  ^\^  education  of  the  teachers, 
tnat  01  the  taught  may  be  inferred;  in  fact 

v*?/^?f '"!''"  '''y™*"  ^'^o  -^»'l-  ^le  late 
King  rheoiiore  wa?  a  brilliant  pxception  to 
this  general  rule;  but  then  it  must  be  re- 
membered that  he  had  passed  several  years 
in  a  monastery,  and  had  partaken  of  the 
same  educational  privileges  as  those  who 
were  intended  for  the  priesthood.  Conse- 
quently, the  Bible  is  a  sealed  book  to  all  the 
lalty  and  to  a  very  large  proportion  of  the 
priests,  and  the  lives  of  the  s^nts,Pnd  the 
various  written  charma  which  they  pur- 
chase so  freolv  are  by  the  AbyssiniaLs  val- 
ued Iftr  above  the  sacred  volume  itself. 
A^n.^^i^^T^"''^':  ^\^,  scribes,  who  are  the  most 
in^hv  J^r'' '°  "'?  country,  gain  their  liv- 
ngby  wntmg  copies  of  the  Bible,  of  the 

l7Zf-^'?  ''"'"*?'  I"'^  ^y  ^"""S  charms,  it 
IS  their  interest  io  keep  the  neople  in  i.^no- 
rance,  even  though  the  laity  were  to  mlmi- 
test  any  desire  to  think  for  themselves.  As 
S™r'''f '""i^'""  '"  /■'*'■  t«"  tr-'blesome  a 
Cr»  nil  fu'-  *''',•'■'•  *"y  ^^'•y  contentedly 
leave  all  their  -eligious  matters  in  the  hands 
of  their  clergy.    Each  man  to  his  own  busi- 

Stst';:^^yr"""™"*°''^'^*'*'^« 

As  for  these  lives  of  the  saints,  they  are  a 
collection  of  the  most  marvellous  tales,  often 
ludicrous  and  puerile,  mostly  blasphemous 
according  to  our  ideas  on  the  sulJject  but 
sometimes  highly  poetic  and  e/en  touckin. 
the  sublime.    There  is  one  tale  of  St,  GatrS 

JS"\^r'^*^*'?'.'-  '•  «'^''^«  «f  the  S 
Spirit,  which  contrives  to  comprise  in  itself 
all  these  elements.    He  was  born  a  si-mt, 
stood  up  and  repeated  the  threefold  invoca- 
tion three  days  after  his  birth,  and  was  so 
very  holy  that  lor  hh  entire  life  he  took  no 
nourishment  o*"  any  kind.    Once  he  fell  over 
a  precipice  three  hundred  feet  doeo   and 
hl^'l    },^  angels  spread  their  rdngs'u'ndcr 
him  he  declined  their  assistance,  givin.?  his 
reasons  at  such  length  that  the  fall  mn.t 
have  been  a  very  slow  one.    The  apparently- 
blasphemous  portions  of  his  life  I  omit  and 
proceed  to  t'  o  end  of  it.  ' 

He  worn,  go  on  living  for  such  an  trncon- 

l'«°««if  *'"''  ^^^\?'  ^f'  '*  '^^  angel  of  death 
was  seat   personally    o  fetch  him.     Th 

samt,  however,  declined  the  invitation,  id 
nf  7J  ^tT^I  that  as  he  had  neither  eaten 
nor  drunk,  his  bodv  did  not  belong  to  earth, 
therefore  could  not  be  restored  to  earth,  and 
taat,  on  the  whole,  any  change  must  be  f?r 
1%TT,  '^"  the previous  saints  came 
and  tried  to  persuade  nim,  and  at  last  he 


found  himself  obliged  to  die.     But   then 
there  was  a  great  controversy  a^  to  tho  des- 

inf  JT  •[  ^''  .''•"^y^  ^''■'  «'■  coiTse,  wonld 
not  take  it;  and  as  the  saint  had  mver  eaten 
nor  drunk  nor  used  a  Are,  neither  of  the  ele- 
ments could  receive  his  body  and  \o  he  was 
again  restored  to  it,  and,  stili  lu'ing,  was 
u  1  "P  *°  heaven.  Any  of  our  readers 
who  have  perused  the  Talmud  will  remem- 
ber  a  similar  legend,  which  is  doubtless  the 
oi'JH'n  of  the  above-mentioned  story. 

This  being  a  sample,  and  a  very  mild  one 
ot  the  religion  of  the  Abyssinians,  we  mny 
easily  imagine  what  must  be  their  supersti- 
tions. These  are  of  the  genuine  African 
cast,  and  have  survived  witli  undiminished 
strength  m  spite  of  the  system  of  Christian- 
ity which  has  so  long  existed  in  Abyssinia, 

Ihe  people  fully  believe  in  the  power  of 
transformation.    There  in  a  sort  of  demon, 
called  Bouda,  who   possesses  this   power 
and  IS  supposed  to  be  the  special  demon  of 
b.acksmiths.    Now  in  Abyssinia  the  trade 
I'lacksmith  is  hereditary,  and  is  consid- 
ered a  disgraceful  one,  all    sn.iths    being 
looKed  upon  as  sorcerers.    This  idea  ha* 
evidently  taken  its  rise  from  times  of  great 
antiquity,  when  the  power  of  smelting,  Torg- 
ing,  and  welding  iron  was  thought  to  be 
too  wonderful  to  be  possessed  by  ordinary 
human  beings.  ^ 

*i  ^i'  ^^J'^yns  narrates  several  instances  of 
tins  belief  m  transformation.    lie  knew  for 
example,  of  two  little  girls  who  had  been  in 
tne  lorest  to  gather  wood,  and  came  back  in 
a  great  fright.    They  had  met  a  blacksmith, 
and  had  begun  to  jeer  i-     lim  for  a  wizard 
asking  him  as  a  proof  ot  his  power  to  turn 
himself  into  a  hjsena.    T?ie  man  took  them 
at  their  word,  untied  a  corner  of  his  robe, 
tooK  out  some  ashes,  and  sprinkled  them 
over  his  shoulders.    Immediately  his  head 
changed  into  that  of  "a  hywna,  hair  spread 
itself  over  his  body,  and,  before  they  could 
recover  from  tne  terror  which   paralyzed 
t.iem,  the  now  complete  hyn.>na  grinned  and 
laughed  at  them,  and  then  trotted  into  the 
neighboring  bush. 

Another  story  curiouFly  resembles  some 
ot  the  transformation  tales  of  the  Arabian 
JNights.    Two  Bouda  brothers  used  to  make 
a  gorl  living  by  their  powc-rs  of  transforma- 
tion.   One  of  them  would  cbnngi  himself 
mto  a  horse,  mule,  or  some  oiher  valuable 
animal,  and  was  then  sold  by  iiis  brother 
In  the  middle  of  the  night  the  transformed 
mar  resumed  his  human  shape,  and  walked 
home  ..  jo'n  his  brother.    This  went  on  for 
some  time,  but  at  last  no  one  would  buy 
from  them,  as  they  kept  no  stock.    No  one 
Knew   whore    they    obtained    the    animals 
which   th;y  sold,  a%d.  moreover,  no   one 
liked  to  buy  animals  which,  had  a  knack  of 
always  escaping  before  twenty-four  hours. 
At  last  one  man  determined  to  solve  the 
mystery.    One  of  the  Bouda  '.rothers  ofqred 
?s!c  s  piculiafly  haudsomfl  fauisti.    xhe 


SUPERSTITIOUS  LEGENDS. 


6G5 


man  bought  it,  and  as  soon  as  he  got  the 
animal  out  of  the  town,  he  drove  his  lance 
thioagh  its  heart,  and  killed  it  on  the  spot 

He  then  threw  himself  iu  the  way  of  the 
seller,  and  uttered  loud  lamentations  over 
his  hasty  temper,  which  had  caused  him  to 
kill  so  splendid  an  animal.  The  Bouda  con- 
trived to  hide  his  emotion  until  he  reached 


his  home,  and  then  bej^an  the  usual  lamen- 
tations for  the  dead,  rubbing  the  skin  otfhis 
tomples  and  wailing  louJly.  On  being  ques- 
tioned, he  said  that  he  was  mourning  the 
death  of  his  brother,  who  iuul  been  robbed 
and  murdered  by  the  Gallas,  from  whom  he 
had  been  buying  horses  for  sale. 

It  seems  also  that  the  Boudas  can  trans- 
form other  persons  nto  animals,  even  with- 
out thfcir  consent.  A  woman  had  died,  and, 
immediately  after  the  funeral,  a  blacksmith 
came  to  the  priest  in  charge  cf  the  ceme- 
tery, and  bribed  him  to  give  up  the  newly- 
buried  carpse.  Tbis  was  done,  and  the 
neighbors  all  remarked  that  the  blacksmith 
had  purchased  a  remarkably  fine  donkey,  on 
which  he  .alwayn  rode.  There  was  this 
peculiarity  about  the  animal,  that  it  always 
wanted  to  run  into  the  house  where  the 
dead  woman  had  lived,  and  whenever  it 
met  any  of  the  young  people  brayed  loudly, 
and  ran  toward  them. 

The   eldest  son  beinsr  a  very  intelligent 
young  man,  suddenly  declared  that  the  ani- 
m.al  m  question  must  be   his  mother,  and 
insisted  on  biv.u'ing  the  ass  and  its  rider 
into    the    hut.    Here    the  •animal  seemed 
quite  at  home:  and  the  smith  was  charged 
with  being  a  Bouda,  and  with  changiu"-  the 
body  of  the  woman  into  an  ass.    At  first  he 
repudiated  the  assertion,  but  at  last,  by  dint 
of  mingled  threaus  and  promises,  ho  con- 
fessed   that    he    had    indeed  wrought  the 
change.    The  woman  was  not  dead,  but  was 
only  in  a  trance  into  which  he  had  thrown 
her,  and  could  be  restored  to  her  own  form 
again.    Being  jiromised  forgiveness,  he  be- 
gan his  incantation  ,  when  'he  ass  -n-aduallv 
threw  off  the  furry  coat  and  assumed  tne 
human    form.      The    transformation    was 
nearly  complete,  when  one  of  the  sons,  in 
a  sudden   access  of  Uiry,  drove   lis  spear 
throu.'h  the  blaeksmitn  and   stopped    the 
tr.insformati()n,  so  that  ever  afterward  the 
woman  had  one  human  foot  and  one  a^Vs 
hoof     Many  persons  told  Mr.  Parkyns  that 

T^.l"nf  "''"^,  -f^:"  V'.°  '"'"f  ^"  I'-estion. 

Ihe  Bouda  exhibits  his  iiower  in  various 
modes,  one  of  which  is  a  kind  of  possession 
m  which  the  affli-ted  person  is,  'as  it  w!""' 
senn-dem..uiacal,  and  performs  feats  which' 
are  utterly  impossible  to  the  human  bodv 
in  the  normal  coii.iition.  Men  and  women 
are  alike  seized  vith  the  Bouda  nadness, 
although  the  femaies  are  naturally  more  lia- 
ble to  its  attacks  tlian  the  men,  ffenerallv 
accounting  for  the  fact  by  stating  that  thev 
hruc  rejected  the  love  of  some  i^ouda  or  i 
other.    The  chief  object  of  the  Bouda  seems  I 

83 


to  be  to  lay  a  spell  on  the  afficted  persons 
which  will  cause  them  to  come  at  his  call 
Consequently,  he  assumes  the  shape  of  the 
liytena,  calls  the  victims  at  night,  and,  if  thev 
are  not  bound  and  carefully  watched,  thev 
are  forced  to  go  to  the  hyiena,  and  are  then 
devoured. 

A  remarkable  example  of  this  Bouda  ill- 
ness was  watched  by  Mr.  Parkyns  with  the 
greatest  c.T-e.  The  afflicted  person  was  a 
servant  woman  of  Rohabaita.  The  com- 
plaint began  by  lanjruor  and  headache,  and 
then  changed  into  an  ordinary  lit  of  hvs- 
terics,  together  with  great  pain. 

"  It  was  at  this  stage  that  the  other  ser- 
Viuts  began  to  suspect  that  she  was  under 
the  inlUienee  of  the  Bouda.    In  a  short  time 
she  became  qui...,  and  by  degrees  sank  into 
a  state  of  lethargy,  approaching  to  insensi- 
ouity.     Jiitlier  from  excellent  acting  and 
great  fortitude,  or  from  real  want  of  feelinjr 
(be  various  experiments  which  were  made 
on  her  seemed  to  have  no  more  effect  than 
they  would  have  had  on  a  mesmeric  som- 
nambulist.     We    pinched   her  repeatedly 
but,  pinch  as  hard  as  we  could,  she  never 
moved  a  muscle  of  her  face,  nor  did  she 
otherwise  express   the   least  sensation.     I 
held  a  bottle  of  strong  sal-volatile  under  her 
nose,  and  stopped  her  mouth;  and  this  hav- 
ing no  elfect,  I  8teepc<l  some  rag  in  it,  and 
placed   it  in   her  nostrils;   but,  altliou<^h  I 
would  wager  any  amount  that  she  had  iievcr 
either  sei  n,  smelt,  or  heard  of  such  a  iirep- 
aration  r.s  liqui.l  ammonia,  it  had  no  more 
effect  o.i  her  than  rosewater 

"  She  held  her  tluimbs  t'ghtlv  inside  her 
hands,  as  if  to  prevent  their 'beiiK'  seen 
On  my  observing   this  to  a  bystander,  he 
told  me  that  the  thumbs  were  "the  Bt)uda's 
particular  perquisite,  and    that   he  would 
allow  no    person  to    take    tliem.     Conse- 
quently, several   persons  tried  to  open  her 
hands  and  get  at  them;   but  .she  resisted 
with    what    appeared    to    me    wonderful 
strength  for  a  girl,  and  bit  their  fingers  till 
m  more  than  one  instance  slir  drew  blood. 
1,  among  others,   made   the  attemi)t,  and. 
though  I  got  a  bile  or  two  for  mv  pains,  yet 
eitlu-r  the  devii  had  great  respect  for  me  as 
an  Englishman  and  a  good  Christian,  or  she 
l-iiid  for  me  as  her  master,  for  the  biting  was 
all  a  sham,  and  struck  me  as  more  like'  kiss- 
ing than  anything  else,  compared  with  the 
fearful  wounds  she  had  inflicted  on  the  rest 
of  the  party. 

"I  had  a  string  of  ornamental  amulets 
which  I  usually  wore,  having  on  it  many 
charms  for  various  maladies;  but  I  was  per- 
fectly aware  that  none  for  the  Bouda  was 
among  them.  Still,  hoping  thereby  to  ex- 
pose the  cheat,  I  asserted  that  there  was  a 
very  celebrated  one,  and  laid  the  whole 
string  on  her  face,  expecting  that  she  would 
J  .-- — .  ._  .t...i  ..lit.  .  ,17!,  |_^  jjij^^i  .^gj^  aucorti- 
ingly;  but,  to  my  surprise  and  disappoint- 
ment, she  remained  quite  motionless.    Sev- 


666 


ABYSSINIA. 


oral  persons  had  been  round  the  villnge  to 
look  lor  some  talisman,  but  only  one  was 
found.  On  its  being  applied  to  her  mouth 
she  for  an  inatant  sprang  up,  bit  at  it,  and 
tore  It,  but  then  laughed,  and  said  it  was 
weak,  and  would  not  vex  him. 

"  I  here  use  the  masculine  gender, 
because,  although  the  patient  was  a  woman, 
t-u)  Bouda  is  supposed  to  speak  th'-oufh  her 
medmm;  and,  of  whatever  sex  they  be,  the 
sufterers,  or  rather  the  spirits,  when  speak- 
ing of  themselves,  invariably  use  that  gen- 
der. I  deluged  her  with  bucketfuls  of 
water,  but  could  not  either  elicit  from  her  a 
start  or  a  pant,  an  effect  usually  produced 
by  water  suddenly  dashed  over  a  person. 

"At  night  she  could  not  sleep,  but  be- 
came more  restless,  and  spoke  several  times. 
She  even  remarked,  in  her  natural  tone  of 
voice,  that  she  was  not  ill,  nor  attacked  by 
the  Bouda,  but  merely  wished  to  return  to 
Aduun.  She  said  this  so  naturally  that  I 
was  completely  taken  off  my  guard,  and  told 
her  that  of  course  she  might  go,  but  that 
she  must  wait  tiii  the  morrow.  The  other 
people  smiled,  and  whispered  to  me  that 
It  was  only  a  device  of  the  Bouda  to  get 
her  out  into  the  forest,  and  then  devour 
her." 

By  one  of  those  curious  coincidences  that 
sometmies  occur,  a  h-ajna,  who,  according 
*o  the  popular  ideas  was  the  transformed 
iJouda,  was  heard    hooting  and    lauehinsr 


close  to  the  village   for  tile  whole  of  the 
night,  that  being  the   only  time  that  Mr. 
1  arkyns  had  known  the    nimal  do  so  dur- 
nig  the  whole  of  his  stay  at  Rohabaita.    In 
consequence  of  the  presence  of  the  animal 
the  young  woman  was  tightly  bound,  and 
sentniels  were  placed  within  and  without 
the  door  of  the  hut.    Whenever  the  hycena 
called,  the  woman  moaned  and  started  up, 
and  once,  after  she  had  been  quiet  for  nearly 
an  hour,  and  the  inner  sentinel  had  dropped 
off  to  sleep,  the  liytcna  came  close  to  the  hut, 
and    the   woman    rose,   without  her    bonds, 
crept  on    all-fours   to   the    door,  and    had 
partly  succeeded  in  opening  it  wheu  one  of 
the  sentinels  made  a  noise,  and  she  went 
back  to  her  place.    In  this  way  she  was  kept 
under  the   strictest  watch  for  three  days, 
during  which   time  she  would  neither  eat 
nor  diink,  rejecting  even  a  small  piece  of 
bre.adwhen  she  had  swallowed  it,  and  on  the 
third  evening  she  mended  and  graduallv 
recovered.  ■' 

If  this  Averc  imposture,  as  Mr.  Parkyns 
remarks,  it  is  difficult  to  find  a  motive.  She 
had  scarcely  any  work  to  do,  and  the  won- 
der IS  what  could  make  her  voluntarily  pre- 
fer three  days  confinement,  with  piiiches, 
cords,  cold  water,  and  other  ill-treatment— 
not  to  mention  that  severest  of  all  puni.sh- 
ments  to  an  Abyssinian,  total  abstinence 
from  food  and  drinlc. 

According  to  the  people,  this  enchantment 
i»  caused  by  a  Buwla,  who  has  learned  the 


baptismal  name  of  the  affected  person.  Tliis 
18  always  concealed,  and  the  Abyssinians  are 
only  known  by  a  sort  of  nicknamo  which 
18  given  bv  the  mother  as  they  leave  the 
church.  When,  however,  a  Bouda  learns 
the  baptismal  name,  he  takes  a  straw,  bends 
It  into  a  circle,  mutters  charms  over  it,  and 
puts  it  under  a  stone.  As  the  straw  is  bent, 
the  illness  begins;  and  should  it  break,  the 
victim  dies. 

Charms  of  certain  kinds  have  a  potent 
effect  on  the  Bouda.  On  one  occasion  a 
poor  weakly  girl  was  lying  apparently  sense- 
less, on  whom  Mr.  Parkyns  had  uselessly 
tried,  by  the  ai)plication  of  false  charms,  to 
produce  an  effect.  Suddenly  the  woman 
new  into  violent  convulsions,  screaming 
and  struggling  so  that  four  strong  men 
could  scarcely  hold  her.  Just  then  an  Am- 
hara  soldier  entered  the  outer  court,  and 
she  cried  out,  '■  Let  me  alone  and  I  will 
sneak."  This  man,  it  appeared,  had  heard 
that  a  patient  was  ill  of  the  Bouda,  and 
had  brought  with  him  a  charm  of  known 
power. 

After  much  threatening  with  the  amulet, 
accompanied  by  fierce  and  frantic  rage  on 
the  part  of  the  possessed,  the  Bouda  prom- 
ised to  come  out  if  food  were  given  him.  It 
IS  remarkable  by  the  way,  that  the  Bouda  is 
always  of  the  male  sex,  and,  whether  the 
possessed  be  a  man  or  a  woman,  always 
uses  the  masculine  gender  in  language.  The 
rest  must  be  told  in  Mr.  Parkyns'  own 
words :  — 

"  A  basin  was  fetched,  in  which  was  put  a 
quantity  of  any  filth  that  could  be  found 
(of  fowls,  do„'s,  &c.),  and  mixed  up  with  a' 
little  water  and  some  ashes.    I    took  the 
basin  myself,  ard  hid  it  where  I  was  posi- 
tive that  she  could  not  see  me  place  it,  and 
covered  it  uj)  with  some  loose  stones  which 
were   heajjod   in   the  corner.    The  Bouda 
was  then  told  that  his  supper  was  prepared, 
and  the  woman  rose  and  walked  down  the 
court  on  all-fours,  smelling  like  a  dog  on 
either    side,  until,   passing   into   the    yard 
where  the  basin  was,  she  went  straight  up 
to  It,  and,  pulling  it  out  from  the  i)lace  where 
It  was  hidden,  devoured  its  abominable  con- 
tents  with    the   utmost   greediness.      The 
Bouda  was  then  supposed  to  leave  her,  and 
she  fell  to  the  ground,  as  if  fainting.    From 
this  state  she  recovered  her  licalth  in  a  few 
days." 

A  somewhat  similar  sort  of  possession  is 
called  Tigritiya.  In  this  case  the  patient 
falls  into  a  sort  of  wa-^ting  awav,  without 
apparent  cause,  and  at  last  sits  for  several 
days  together  without  eating  or  speaking. 
Music  is  the  only  means  of  curing  a  patient, 
who  will  then  spring  from  the  couch  on 
which  he  has  lain,  apparentlv  wi.hout 
strength  to  sit  up.  and  will  dance  with  the 
most  violent  contortions,  keeping  up  the 
exercise  with  a  vigor  and  pert'n,"a!itv  that 
would  tire  tlie  strongest  man   in  perfect 


ABYSSINIAN  ARCHITECTURE. 


667 


hea  th.    This  is  a  sign  that  the  demon  may 
be  driven  out;  and  when  the  music  ceases, 
the  patient  falls  to  the  ground,  and  then 
begins  to  speak  (always  in  the  person  of  the 
demon),  demanding  all  kinds  of  ornaments 
—  sometimes,  even  if  a  poor  woman,  asking 
for  the  velvet  robes  and  silver-mounted  weap- 
ons of  a  chief.    These  cannot  be  obtained 
without  much  expense,  but  at  last  are  pro- 
cured, when  the  dancing  is  resumed,  and, 
after  several  accessions  of  the  fit,  the  patient 
takes  off  all  the  borrowed  ornaments,  and 
runs  at  full  speed  until  the  demon  suddenly 
departs,  and  the  possessed  person  loses  all 
the  fictitious  strength  that  liad  animated 
hiin,  and  falls  to  the  earth  in  a  swoon.    The 
demon  takes  his  leave,  and  is  deterred  from 
returning  by  the  firing  of  guns,  and  a  guard 
with  drawn  swords  that  surrounds  the  pros- 
trate form  of  the  moaning  patient 


,  The  architecture  of  the  Abyssinians  is 
simple,  but  characteristic.  Houses  differ  in 
form  according  to  the  means  of  their  owner 
those  of  the  commonalty  being  merely  cir- 
cular huts,  while  those  of  the  wenlthy  are 
square  and  flatr roofed. 

A  rich  man's  house  is  rather  a  compli- 
cated piece  of  architecture.  It  stands  in  an 
enclosure,  like  a.i  Indian  compound,  and  the 
principal  gateway  is  covered  and  flanked  on 
either  side  by  a  porter's  lodge,  in  which 
sleep  the  actual  gate-keeper  and  other  ser- 
vants. Within  the  enclosure  are  generally  a 
lew  slight  huts  of  straw,  for  the  reception  of 
strangers  or  servants.  About  one-fourth  of 
the  compound  is  divided  by  a  wall,  and  con- 
tains the  kitchen,  store-houses,  &c.  At  the 
end  opposite  the  gateway  is  the  Adderash 
or  reception  room,  which  is  square  or  ob- 
long and  often  of  considerable  size.  The 
roof  is  Hat;  but  when  the  room  is  too  lar<'c 
to  be  cros.scd  by  beams,  only  fhe  angles  are 
rooted  in  the  ordinary  way,  so  as  to  leave  an 
octagonal  opening  in  the  centre.  A  wooden 
wall  about  four  or  five  feet  high  is  next  built 
round  the  opening,  and  there  isthennodiffl- 
cultv  in  roofing  it. 

The  Adderash  is  divided  into  three  rooms, 
the  argest  o  winch  is  the  reception  room 
At  the  end  is   the  stable,  the   horses  and 

room.  The  '  medeb,"  or  bed-room  (if  it 
may  be  so  called),  is  merely  a  strip  of  the 
apartment,  ai)out  eight  feet  wide  senaratod 
by  a  partition  wall;and  if  the  o^^lTonhe 
house  shoul.  be  a  mai  ried  man,  the  entrance 
of  the  medeb  is  closed  by  a  curtain  ThU 
apartment  takes  its  name  from  the  medeb 
or  divan  wluch  is  simply  a  part  of  th.  floor 
raised  a  foot  or  so  above  the  rest,  about  five 
fenttbnf'H"''""^  extending  for' the  whole 
^A^  *'"'  ™"'»v. Opposite  the  medeb  is 
a  small  alcove,  in  which  Is  placed  the  couch 
of  the  master  of  the  house.  This  couch  or 
.-irai,  IS  a  stout  ^yoo.ien  framework,  across 
Which  IS  stretched  a  network  of  raw  hide  I 


thongs,  an  inch  or  two  in  width.    Tho'e 
eSSe?^"  drying,  and  form  a  tolerably 

In  warm  weather  the  arat  is  placed  out  of 
doors,  and  is  only  covered  with  a  slight  cloth 
roof.  One  of  these  outdoor  beds  niay  bo 
^^^! '  V  ^^  -llustration  No.  2,  on  page  (S52. 

Ihe  floor  of  the  reception  room  is  covered 
with  grass,  just  as  in  the  olden  times  even 
pa  ace  floors  were  strewn  with  rushes. 
VVhenever  a  visitor  enters,  fresh  grass  is 
strewn  to  make  a  clean  seat  for  him,  but  no 
one  thinks  of  removing  that  which  already 
has  become  discolored.  Consequently,  what 
with  the  continual  washing  of  hands  bv 
pouring  water  over  them,  the  8pillin<»  of 
beer  and  mead,  and  the  mud  that  cling^s  to 
the  horses'  feet  as  they  pass  to  and  liom 
tlieir  stab  e,  the  flooring  of  the  house  be- 
comes nothing  more  or  less  than  a  ferment- 
rng  manure-heap.  At  last,  when  even  the 
Abyssinian  nose  can  endure  it  no  longer 
the  room  is  cleared,  and  left  empty  for  a  dav 
or  two  m  order  to  rid  it  of  the  intolerable 
odor  which  still  clings  to  it 

Round  the  walls  of  the  reception  room  are 
a  number  of  cows'  horns  by  way  of  pe<Ts  on 
which  are  hung  the  spears,  shields,  iTorse- 
accoutrements,    drinking-horns,  and  other  • 
pr(K)crty  of  the  owner. 

The  store-houses  contain  huge  earthen- 
ware jup,  the  mouths  of  which  nearly  reach 
the  roof  of  the  house,  tliough  their  bases  are 
sunk  a  yard  or  so  in  the  ground.  The 
Abyssinians  value  these  jars  highlv,  inas- 
much as  they  are  evidences  of  wealth 


As  to  the  other  two  provinces,  Shoa  and 
Ainhara,  there  is  so  little  difl-erence  between 
them  and  Tigre  that  there  is  no  need  to 
occupy  space  with  them.  PracticaPv  they 
lorm  one  kingdom,  just  as  England,  Wales, 
Scotland,  and  Ireland,  and  there  is  among 
them  .a  verv  strong  provincial  jealousv,  anal- 
ogous to  that  which  still  prevails  among 
the  ..meducated  members  of  our  own  United 
Kingdom.  Even  Mr.  Parkyns  could  not 
resist  the  feeling,  and  was  a  strenuous  ad- 
mirer of  Tigre,  considering  the  Amharas  aa 
ferocious  and  overbearing  boors,  and  despis- 
ing the  Shoas  altogether. 

The  province  of  Shoa,  however,  is  bv  no 
moans  a  despicable  one,  as  may  be  seen 'from 
the  following  description  of  the  great  annual 
feast  which  IS  given  by  the  king  or  prince  at 
Easter.  This  hospitable  banquet  is  on  a 
truly  royal  scale,  and  is  continued  for  a 
whole  week,  so  that  every  free  man  who  can 
attend  the  capital  may  have  an  opportunity 
of  taking  part  in  it  if  j 

Tlie  banqueting  room  is  a  very  large  and 
lofty  chamber,  having  on  one  side  a  cur- 
tained alcove,  in  which  the  prince  sits. 
if  rcsh  grass  is  daily  strewn  on  the  floor,  and 
-_ji.!.  i.i.i  ,i..im  ,t,c  =t;t.  tut-  iaoiGs, •ivnicn ai'tj 
low,  circular  pieces  of  wickerwork.  It  is 
only  in  such  houses  that  the  tublos  are  uni- 


688 


ABYSSINIA. 


form  in  shape  or  size.  Behind  the  tables 
and  ranged  along  the  wall  ins  the  body 
guards  ol  the  prince,  armed  with  shields  and 
a  sword  much  resembling  the  old  Roman 
weapon.  Troops  of  servants  are  in  waiting, 
and  before  the  banquet  begins  they  brini^  m 
the  bread  in  piles,  and  place  it  on  the  tiibles. 
Sonu'times  as  many  as  thirty  loaves  will  be 
placed  for  each  guest,  the  finest  bread  being 
always  at  the  top  and  the  coarsest  below. 

The  object  of  this  arrangement  is  to  suit 
the  different  ranks  of  the  party.  Those  of 
highest  rank  come  first,  and  eat  the  finest, 
using  the  second-class  bread  as  table-nap- 
kins. When  they  have  finished,  the  guests 
of  the  next  rank  come  in,  eat  the  second- 
class  bread,  and  wipe  their  fingers  on  the 
third-class  bread,  and  so  on  until  the  whole 
IS  consumed. 

Eound  the  room  are  hung  rows  of  shields 
lion  skins,  and  mantles  of  honor  to  be  con- 
ferred by  the  prince  on  his  subjects,  while 
above  them  is  a  wide  carpet,  on  which  arc 
depicted  lions,  camels,  horses,  and  otlier  ani- 
mals. 

All  being  ready,  the  guests  assemble,  and 
the  prince  takes  his  scat  in  the  alcove 
where  he  gives  audience.  Professional  mu- 
sicians enliven  the  scene  with  their  instru- 
ments, and  professional  dancers  aid  their 
efforts.  In  the  mean  time,  the  guests  are 
eating  as  fast  as  they  can,  the  servants  car- 
rying? meat  from  one  guest  to  the  other,  and 
making  up  neat  little  sausages  of  meat 
bread,  and  pepper,  which  they  put  adroitly 
into  the  mouths  of  the  guests.  As  in  more 
civilized  lands,  it  is  always  better  to  propiti- 
ate the  servants,  because  they  can  give  the 
best  parts  of  the  meat  to  those  whom  they 
like,  and  reserve  the  gristle  and  toughest 
parts  for  those  who  displease  them. 

The  politer  guests,  having  by  means  of 
two  or  three  pounds  of  meat,  a  ])ilc  of  bread, 
and  a  gallon  or  so  of  mead,  taken  the  edge 
off  their  own  .appetites,  make  up  similarly 
sea-soned  balls,  and  put  them    into    their , 
neighbors'  moufJ'  ^.    This  is  done  with  such 
rapidity  that  a  Jii;m  who  happens  to  have ' 
made  himself  agreeable  to  his  right  and  left 
hand  neighbors  is  nearly  choked    by  the 
haste  with  which  etiquette  requires  that  he 
shall  despatch  the  highly-spiced  morsels. 

After  this  preliminary  portion  of  the  feast, 
m  which  cooked  mutton  is  mostly  employed 
acting  as  a  provocative  to  the  real  banquet  i 
which  IS  to  follow,  the  servants  tring  in  raw 
meat  still  warm  with  life,  and  cut  from  a 
cow  that  has  been  slaughtered  at  the  door 
while  the  mutton  and  bread  has  been  con-' 
sumed. 

The  giver  of  the  feast  aits  in  his  alcove, 
and  below  hnn  are  the  armed  guards.  The 
guo8t«  sit  at  wickerwork  tables,  using  their 
curved  swords  with  the  national  adroitness, 
and  servants  wait  on  the  guests  carrviiig 
great  pieces  of  raw  beef  about.  The  lioiiids.  I 
oy  lae  way, are  diuuk  from  horns,  which  are  i 


always  served  by  women.   In  the  centre  are 

WnT/QK""'' P'!5y'".?  "'"curious  fiddle  and 
harp  of  Shoa,  and  a  little  ftirther  on  are  the 


As  to  the  other  tribes  which  are  either  in 

^!,m      }  ^ijy«8>n>a.  a  Very  few  words  must 
sumco  for  them. 

There  is  one  curious  and  very  wild  tribe 
known  by  the  name  of  Bahka.  They  are 
inborn  marauders,  executing^  their  raids 
with  marvellous  rapidity  and  skill.  So 
clever  are  they  at  concealing  themselves, 
that  even  on  an  open  plain,  where  there  is 
not  the  least  cover,  they  manage  to  dispose 
ot  themselves  in  such  a  way  as  to  deceive 
an  eye  unpractised  in  their  arts. 

Once  Mr.  Parkyns  was  passing  through  a 
district  over  which  one  of  the  bush  fires  had 
swept,  when  he  was  astonished  by  the  excla- 
mation of  his  guide,  that  Barea  were  in 
sight,  pointing  at  the  same  time  to  a  dead 
tree,  standing  on  an  eminence  at  a  distance 
ot  several  hundred  yards,  aiidcharred  black 
bv  last  year's  fires.  "All  I  saw  was  a 
charred  stump  of  a  tree,  and  a  few  black- 
ened logs  or  stones  lying  at  its  foot.  The 
hunter  declared  that  neither  the  tree  nor 
(he  stones  were  there  the  last  time  that  he 
passed,  and  that  they  were  simply  naked 
Barea,  who  liad  placed  themselves  in  that 
position  to  observe  us,  having  no  doubt 
seen  us  for  some  time,  and  prepared  them- 
selves. 

"  1  could  scarcely  believe  it  possible  that 
they  sliould  remain  so  motionless,  and  de- 
termined to  explore  a  little.    The  rest  of 
the  party  advised  me  to  continue  quietly  in 
the  road,  as  it  was  possible  that,  from  our 
presenting  a  rather  formidable  appearance, 
we  should  pass  unmolested;  but,  so  confi- 
dent was  I  of  his  mistake,  that,  telling  the 
rest  to  go  on  slowly  as  if  nothing  had  hap- 
pened,  I  dropped  into  the  long  grass  and 
stalked  toward  them.    A  shot  from  my  rifle 
at  a  long  distance  (I  did  not  venture  too' 
I  close),  acted  on  the  tree    and    stones   as 
promptly  as  the  fiddle  of  Orpheus,  but  with 
the  contrary  effect,  for  (he  tree  disapi)pared 
and  the  stones  and  logs,  instead  of  running 
after  me,  ran  in  the  opposite  direction. 

"  I  was  never  more  surprised  in  my  life 
for  so  complete  was  the  deception,  that  even 
up  to  the  time  I  fired  I  could  have  declared 
the  objects  before  me  were  vegetable  or 
mineral  — anything  but  animal.  The  fact 
was  that  the  cunning  rascals  who  repre- 
sented stones  were  lying  flat,  with  their  lit- 
tle round  shields  placed  before  them  as 
screens." 

Some  of  the  witd  tribes  of  India  act  in  the 
same  manner.  There  is  a  well-known  story 
of  an  officer  on  the  march,  who  was  so  com- 
pletely deceived  that  he  stowl  close  by  one 
of  these  metamorphosed  men  lor  some  time, 
and  at  last  biino;  his  helmet  on  a  prn'eeti'in' 
bough.     This  Ivas  nothing  more    than '  a 


(1.)   BUFFALO  DANCE.    (See  pHgc  flil.) 


(2.)   BEUOLIN  CAMI".    (Sec  pajfe  6(a.) 
(670) 


THE  GALLAS. 


m 


log  of  the  dark  savage,  who  was  standing 
on  his  head,  with  Iuh  limbs  fantastically  dis- 
posed to  represent  the  branches  of  an  old 
treo-stump,  tlio  illusion  being  heightened 
by  the  spear-shafts,  which  did  duty  for  the 
Itmaller  branches.  Tliis  mark  of  confidence 
was  too  much  for  tho  gravity  of  the  savage, 
who  burst  into  a  shriek  of  laughter,  turned 
head-over-heels,  and  disappeared  into  the 
jungle,  tho  helmet  still  attached  to  his  leg. 

These  clever  and  withal  amusing  marau- 
ders arc  voj-y  thorns  in  tho  side  of  the  Abys- 
sinians,  who  never  know  when  the  Barea 
may  not  be  upon  thcni.  In  many  respects 
they  resemble  tho  warlike  tribes  of  tho  Red 
Indians,  though  they  are  certainly  superior 
to  them  in  sizo  and  strength.  They  will 
follow  a  travelling  party  for  days,  giving  not 
an  indication  of  their  presence,  and  speak- 
ing to  one  another  wholly  by  signs,  of  which 
they  have  an  extensive  vocabulary.  But 
they  will  never  show  themselves  until  tlio 


time  comes  for  striking  the  long-meditated 
blow,  when  they  will  make  their  attack,  and 
then  vanish  as  mysteriously  as  they  had 
come.  On  one  occasion  nearly  two  hundred 
Barea  came  overnight  ^to  the  outskirts  of  a 
village,  and  there  lay  in  wait.  In  tlie  early 
morning,  two  of  the  principal  men  of  the 
village,  ono  a  man  who  was  celebrated  for 
his  majestic  and  somewhat  pompous  de- 
meanor, took  a  walk  toward  their  cotton- 
flolds,  and  found  themselves  in  the  midst  of 
tho  Barea,  who  captured  them,  and  carried 
them  off  to  bo  sold  as  slaves  to  the  Arabs, 
who  would  probably  sell  them  again  to  the 
Turks. 

When  tho  Barea  encamp  rotmd  a  village, 
they  keep  tlieniselvcs  warm  for  tho  night 
by  the  ingenious  plan  of  each  man  digging 
a  hole  in  the  ground,  making  a  small  fire  in 
it,  and  squatting  over  it  enveloped  in  his 
cloth,  so  as  to  retain  the  heat  and  to  pre- 
vent the  fire  from  being  seen. 


THE  GALLAS. 


SuuROUNDiNO  a  very  considerable  por- 
jion  of  Abyssinia  proper  are  various  tribes 
)f  tho  fierce  and  warlike  Gallas. 

Tile  Galla  men  arc  a  line  and  even  hand- 
Some  race,  extremely  variable  in  the  line  of 
iheir  skin,  as  may  be  supposed  from  the 
very  large  extent  of  ground  which  is  inhab- 
ited by  their  trilies.  Moreover,  they  have 
mixed  considerably  with  the  Abyssinians 
[iroper,  and  are  often  employed  as  slaves  by 
them.  Female  Galla  slaves  are  frequently 
kept  in  tlie  liouseholds  of  Abyssinians,- and 
the  consequence  is,  tliat  a  mixed  progeny 
has  sprung  \i\)  which  partakes  of  tho  charac- 
teristics of  botli  parents.  This  has  taken 
place  considerably  in  Shoa,  where  the  Galla 
blemcnt  is  very  conspicuous  among  the  pop- 
ulation. As  a  rule,  however,  they  are  much 
darker  than  the  Abyssinians,  a  circumstance 
which  has  induced  Mr.  Johnstone  to  derive 
their  name  from  tlie  word  "  calla,"  or  black. 
Their  language  is  a  dialect  of  th(vAmhara 
tongue,  but  vari.d,  like  their  skins,  accord- 
ing to  tlie  precisijocality  of  the  tribe. 

The  features  oT  tho  Gallas  have  none  of 
tho  negro  characteristics,  such  as  the  length 
of  the  skull,  the  contracted  (though  not 
recedino;)  forehead,  and  the  ftill  develop- 
ment of  tho  lips  and  jaws.  The  hair  resem- 
bles that  of  tlie  Aliyssinians,  and  is  dressed 
in  various  modes.    Sometimes  it  is  formed 


into  lon^.  nanow  plaits,  hanging  nearly  to 
ilders,  and  in  others  it  is  frizzed  out 


the  shou 

into  tufts.  Tiie  most  singular  way  of  dress 
ing  the  hair  is  to  collect  it  into  three  divi- 
sions, ono  occupying  tho  top  of  the  head,  and 
ono  crossing  each  temple.  Tho  divided 
tresses  being  then  combed  and  frizzed  to 
tho  grcat<!st  possible  extent,  the  v/hoic  head 


has  a  most  comical  aspect,  and  has  been 
likened  to  the  ace  of  clubs. 

The  young  women  arc  bold  and  hand- 
some, but  are  anything  but  good-looking 
when  they  grow  old.  Three  old  women 
who  visited  Mr.  Johnstone,  and  evidently 
acted  as  spies,  were  remarkable  for  their 
ugliness.  They  wore  the  hair  in  the  usual 
multitudinous  plaits,  which  they  had  con- 
nected by  means  of  threads,  so  as  to  form 
them  into  a  continuous  curtain,  and  had 
been  exceedingly  lavish  of  butter.  They 
wore  a  sort  of  soft  leather  petticoat,  tind  had 
on  their  feet  a  simple  sandal  of  ox-hide, 
fastened  to  the  foot  by  a  lap  passing  over 
tho  great  toe,  and  a  thong  over  the  instep. 
Tliey  came  ostensibly  to  sell  tobacco  and 
ropes.  Tho  latter  articles  they  made  even 
while  they  were  bargaining,  a  bundle  of 
hemp  being  fastened  to  their  girdles  in 
front,  and  tho  ropes,  as  fast  as  they  were 
twisted,  being  coiled  round  their  waists. 

Tho  Gallas  are  a  warlike  race,  and  far 
more  courageous  than  tho  Abyssinians,  who 
are  more  given  to  vaporing  than  fighting. 
When  they  return  home  after  a  victory  they 
celebrate  a  curious  and  violent  dance,  called 
the  Buffalo  Dance.  A  head  and  the  attached 
skin  of  a  buffalo  is  laid  on  the  ground,  and 
the  men  assemble  round  it  armed  as  if  for 
war,  with  their  spears  and  crooked  swords. 
They  then  dance  vigorously  round  tho  buf- 
falo skin,  leaping  liigh  in  tho  air.  striking 
with  their  swords,  and  thrusting  with  their 
spears,  and  going  through  all  the  manoiuvres 
of  killing  tho  animal.  The  women  take  an 
active  part  in  the  dance.  It  is  illustrated 
in  the  engraving  No.  1,  on  the  preceding 
page. 


m 


ABYSSINIA. 


Thev  thoro  arc  tho  Dnnknlll  mid  Sommill 
tribes  one  I  of  thcin  HutHlivldt.l  into  u  mun- 
b.T  .)r«malloi-  trilu's.  hikI  haviii«  »omo  tiiiitH 
nwulifti- to  UuMiisolvt  • 

to    tho   Abyssininns 


THE  DANKALLI  AND  80MAULI. 


m.cu lift,-  to  UuMiisolvoH,  and  otl.oiH  ooinn.on 

t«>    tho    Abyssininns  pi  on 

JohnMono  rrnimlts  that  l.o  Ium   no  doubt 


pionor.     Indoi'd,  Mr. 

»i,,.,  ,.i„ ■•••"—  Mxi  ho  liikM   no  doubt 

that,  allliouKli  thoyaro  now  <ll«tinot  nations, 


ji.  .,'        in     .  y  '"'  """  """i'hh.  naiiona, 
thjy  aro  dprlvtni  Ci-oni  ii  i-onnnon  i)ri«ln 

Iho  SonmuliH  aiv  a  warliltc  i)e..i)lt-  and 
instoad  of  tho  «,,,ar8  nud  shioI.lH  wl.ioi,  aro 
nlmost  tho  univorsal  wvn]wm  throu>;h  tins 
1  a  rt  of  AlVu;a  I  hoy  ,-a.ry  liKht  bows  and  larL-o 
u  vow  winch  hang  un.lor  tlio  loll  nnn  by  u 
broad  strap  piusaod  ovor  tho  wuno  shouhlor. 
Tho  bow  thouKh  liK'ht.  is  vory  strong,  an<I 
^  muoh  nllor  tho  o.lasmoal  or  C^.pi.l'H  I'ow 
ft>rni.  In  ^ousoquonco  of  tliis  »|,apo,  whon 
tl  o  arn.w  is  .lisoimrgod.  tho  string  coino" 
quiokly    against   tho    linndio.    niul    if   IJ  o 

U'iil' Wo^;.  ""'''"'^  '""  "'"'"'*  K^"'^  »  ^i"- 
Tho  (juivor  is  inmhi  of  an  omptiod  gourd. 

ko  tl  at  winch  is  ivprcscntod  on  sovoral  of 
tUo  AtVican  (piivors  inontionod  in  this  work 

fibrin  i'"'  .'I'""","  '•"?""  nnows.  about  a 
toot  in  length  and  made  of  a  hollow  rood. 
Kiich  18  arnuM  with  n  homl  of  bliio  stool 
sIwn)od  something  like  thi^  aco  of  spades,  niu 
having  Its  nock  loiigthonod  int,',  a  sj.iko 
u  on  an  mob  and  a  half  long;  this  is  not 
ntlmhod  to  tho  arrow, but  is  looso.i.nd whon 


rounded,  nud  ilightly  hollowed  to  givo  n 
tlrinor  grnsp.  '*        " 

Tho  droHH  of  tho  mon  oonsists  of  a  "  fotnh  " 

Vr„v'*'f  *'■'""''"»'•  "  »■<•'»'"  ••'»lli'««  tho  "mirroo'" 
I'Ifloring  ill  uso,  those  cloths  are  of  oxaotlv 
tho  sanjo  shape  and  si/,o.  t'.  f.  about  elovou 
toot  in  longtii.  Tho  Ibtidi  is  wound  twice 
round  tho  waist,  the  end  being  (u.kod  in 
•oil  nd,  and  the  whole  gnrnii'iit  made  seciiro 
by  tho  brond  bolt  which  holds  (he  knife 
llio  sarroo  is  worn  in  robo  Ihsbion,  round 
the  body,  and  a  man  of  Insto  dispdHcs  it  so  as 
to  show  otr  tile  two  broad  stripes  of  bliiu  or 
scnrlot  at  the  end. 

Tho  women  also  wear  the  folah,  over 
winch  when  out  of  doors,  (bov  wear  a  Ions 
blue  skirt  without  sloovos.  and  vorv  opoti 
down  the  ftonl.  This  is  laid  aside  "in  tho 
House,  whoro  nothing  but  tho  fotidi  is  worn. 
I  lie  mode  of  dre«siiig  tho  hair  inlo  a  con- 
tinuons  veil  has  boon  already  ni.ntionod, 
and  Mr.  .lohustono  was  for|uiiale  enough  to 
witness  tho  luocoss  of  dressing  "  this  entan- 
gled niass.wlnoh  reminded  me  of  the  hair  of 
bamsoi^  interwoven   with  the  web  of  tho 


wanted  for  use  the  .sjiiko  is  simply  slipped 
iiit4>  tho  unfoathoivd  end  of  tho  hollow  sKaft. 
Of  course,  whon  the  weapon  strikes  its  ob- 
jeot,  the  shaft  tails  off,  and  tho  head,  which 
IS  poLsoncd  remains  in  tho  wound,  and  soon 
CAuscs  death. 

Insto.id  of  tho  sword,  tlu^y  cnrrv  n.  knife 
With  ft  blade  alunit  eight  inchoa  in  louirlh 
the  handle  being  merely  a  piece  of  wood' 


>d  mass,  winch  reminded  me  of  the  hair  of 
amson,  interwoven  with  the  web  of  tho 
loom.  1  lie  lady  whoso  hair  was  to  bo  oper- 
utod  upcm  sat  upon  a  stone  in  the  court 
benonthoneof  our  windows,  and  behind  her 
on  her  knees  was  a  stout  slave-girl,  who 
held  in  both  Iinnds  a  long-luindlod  wooden 
fork-hke  comb,  having  tbnr  very  slronjr 
prongs,  whuh  sho  .Irnggod  through  the 
woolly,  greasy,  and  black  hair  of  her  mis. 

horse'r 'tnlll'' ''  '"'"*''"  "''  *  »"'"'"  ^""■^'"^  " 
The  narticulnr  sub-tribe  to  which  the  neo- 
j.  e  hefong  Ih  donotod  by  «nndry  inciso.l 
njarks,  whieh  are  cut  with  a  fragment  of 
oDsullnn,  and  are  formed  inlo  pnttorns  which 
somotir.es  extend  over  tho  wliolo  back  and 
breast,       ..^ 


CHAPTER  LXVII. 


NUBIANS  AND  IIAMRAN  ABAB9. 


TIST  or  THB  NtrniAV  «KIN— DnRflB  AND  WRAPOK8  OP  THK  MRN— PKCUUAH  SWOnn  AND  HniKLD  — 
IIUKSH  OJf  TlIK  WOMKN  — IIAIIAT,  Oil  TIION'l  AI'IION  —  AMIJI.ETH  —  NIHIIAN  AlUJIin  KCTrilB  — TUB 
IIAMUAN  AKAIIH  — WriAI'ONH  OV  TlIK  MKM  — <MnB  TAKEN  Olf  THK  WKAPON8— KLKPIIANT  HUNT- 
IM(I  — ADMIUAIILK  IIOIWKMANHIIII'  — <ATCIIIN(»  IIAIIOONS  — IIUNTINO  TUB  UON  — CATCH  INO  A 
UUVrALO  IIY  TlIK  TAIL.  — UABl>OONINU  TlIK  IIII'l-QI-OTAMUS. 


iNAHMtiiir  as,  in  spite  of  the  continual  con- 
tact witluMviliziition,ciiu8i!d  by  tlieir  locality 
oa  tlus  Nile  bault,  the  Nubians  have  pre- 
Boivt'd  their  ancient  style  of  dress  and  much 
of  tlu'ir  ancient  manners,  they  deserve  a 
pliuo  in  this  work. 

In  color  the  Nubians  are  mostly  black, 
some  beina;  of  quite  a. jetty  hue,  while  others 
are  of  mucli  lighter  collir.  Even  in  the  black- 
est Nubian,  however,  the  tint  of  the  skin  is 
not  that  of  the  tropical  negro,  but  there  is  a 
certain  transparency  about  it,  which,  in  the 
sunbeams,  gives  a  sort  of  amber  hue  to  the 
limbs.  IJesides  being  a  fine  and  well-built 
race,  the  Nubians  possess  pleasing  features, 
the  only  fault  being  that  the  lower  part  of  the 
face  is  somewhat  apt  to  project 

AVhilo  young  the  boys  wear  no  clothing 
whatever,  but  when  adult  they  wcai  short 
trousers,  a  shirt,  and  a  kind  of  large  scarf 
which  passes  over  the  left  shoulder,  and  is 
fastened  by  a  girdle  round  the  waist.  Being 
Mahometans,  they  shave  the  hair  except  one 
tuft  on  the  crown,  and  cover  their  bare  heads 
with  a  white  cotton  cap. 

The  Nubian  men  mostly  go  armed  accord- 
ing to  their  ability.  The  usual  weapons  are 
the  sword,  dagger,  spear,  and  shield.  The 
sword  is  shaped  somewhat  like  that  of  the 
Abyssinian,  but  the  curve  is  not  so  abrupt 
The  general  style  of  the  weapon,  however, 
and  the  shape  of  the  handle,  proclaim  a  com- 
mon origin.  With  some  of  the  Nubians  the 
favorite  weapon  is  the  straight  sword,  like 
that  of  the  Huiiiniii  Arabs,  which  will  be 
described  in  a  iXiture  page. 


(073) 


Perhaps  on  account  of  the  facility  which 
the  Nil(!  affords  for  travelling  into  Hoiith  Cen- 
tral Africa,  they  wear  a  dagger  fastened  to 
the  left  arm  just  above  Hk!  elbow,  exactly  iw 
do  several  of  the  tribes  that  arc  found  near 
the  sources  of  the  Nile.  This  dagger  is  short 
and  crooked,  and  is  k«!pt  in  n  red  leathern 
sheath,  and,  on  account  of  its  position  on  the 
arm,  is  covered  by  the  garments.  The  spear 
is  simply  the  ordinary  wooden  shaft  with  an 
iron  head,  and  has  nothing  about  it  specially 
worthy  of  notice. 

The  shield,  however,  is  remarkable  for  its 
structure.  It  is  genersvlly  made  of  the  hide 
of  the  hippopotiimus  or  of  crocodile  skin,  and 
is  easily  known  by  the  projecting  boss  in  the 
centre.  The  hide  is  stretched  on  a  wooden 
framework,  and  the  boss  is  made  of  a  sepa- 
rate piece  of  skin.  The  Nubians  value  these 
shields  very  highly,  and,  in  consequence,  it  is 
extremely  difllcult  to  procure  them. 

The  women  are  dressed  after  the  usual 
African  manner.  As  girls  they  wear  noth- 
ing but  a  little  apron  of  leathern  thongs  called 
a  rilhat  This  apron  is  about  nine  inches  or 
a  foot  in  width,  and  perhaps  six  or  seven  in 
depth,  and  in  general  appearance  resembles 
that  of  the  Kaftir  girl.  Instead  of  being  cut 
from  one  piece  of  leather,  each  thong  is  a 
separate  strip  of  hide,  scarcely  thicker  than 
packthrca<l,  and  knotted  by  the  middle  to  the 
thong  which  passes  round  the  v,'aist  The 
apron  Is  dyed  of  a  brick-red  color,  and,  after 
it  has  been  in  use  for  any  time,  becomes  so 
satur  ,ted  witik  the  castor-oil  which  stuuds 
these  primitive  belles  in  lieu  of  clothing,  that 


674 


NUniANS. 


the  smell  In  nnpndumblo.    Trnvollors  olh.n 
IMirHms,.  il,..,n  (Vo,„  tl.o  Nubia.    kHh  w    " 

I. ut  tlu.  l.„y,.,«  ,„•„  „l.fi.,,i  to  ImnK  tli.-i    ,„": 

HO   1...  o,v  Uu.y  ,.a„  IM.  takrn  i.U,,  tlu,      K 

)n,.  ol  jlu-m,  ai.n.im  in  n.y  ,.„ll,.,d„„  |,a„Vti 

tl..«  (aiuilmr  ca.sto.-,.il  ,„!,„•  „|,„„t  it.  t,,„„ ' 

•nar.y  vc;ar.  l,„v.,  ,,as«e.!  hIucc  it  w««    S 

Of  fourm.  they  wt-ar  a«  marv  ..rimiiu-nts  an 
lh..y  onn  pr,Ku,r..;  „n.l  ..„„.  of  thr^     ,  |  i  • 
arc    .an.],.,l  down  /•,,„»  oiu-  Kiia-ru  i,  ,  t 
anoduT,  are  of  g.vat  vahu-.    IVw  d    n    U  r 
I.S  u:.s  nr..  inorc  «(.•!!<!.,«  loan  ob.MTva   t  ,   v- 
ol  or  llian  the  fact  that  a  Nubian  L-ir    v    1 
vljolo  .1,T88  ,nay  ,,crha,,.s  be  wort!         "  . - 


".""ir^?"  ?'•'  ''l*'y  '^!l"-"   (r-ady  Duff  Got- 

r,„       '■'i''t«'«  b)rm  E^vpt.")  - 

llio  «anio  writer  will  n-niarki.  that  tho 
w  <,lc  cj.untry  i.  n  imlimpw^.t,  i„  wj.  "h 
lo   Hible  iH   writtn.  ov.r  H.-r.ulotui,,  „,, 

e   Koran  ov.m-   tbo    Hibl...     I„  the  t o "   , 

t'loVcJ^iouir'^  ■""'  "^''''^''  '»  ^•'--'''••^. 

Olio  of  tboHo  iriwcful  Nubian    cirlH  is 

mnr"'""        '"     '"  *''""^'-l''«cc  to  thia  vol- 

The  anuilotd  which  Imvo  boon  fust  nion- 
lionod  are  w.jrn  by  mon  and  women  aliko 
an.l  arc  Howfi  up  in  red  leather  ca.se«  liko 
l"'«o  oj  he  UornuaUH.  It  i«  an  esHen  la" 
part  ot  Ihe.r  edicacy  tluit  their  conte  U 
should  not  be  kn..wn,  an.l  if  once  a  .-am    bo 


wear  any  cIotbiuK  at  .ill  if  it  cost  si"  e le    ^  »'■/«''"'='"'*'''  "'""'''^  '"■^-•''  "«  J'""'or. 


A>i  I  yet  carry  on  her  neck,  her  wrists  hVr 
nnkles,an(l  m  her  ear..,  «   luantitv  o f  i?  I, 

8Ufn,-.enttoj,ur..haseaha„d«on.    .2,    nu" 

It  •«  rath.-r  a  remarkable  point  ll.  t     ,  i ." 
ni.ron.s  ahvay,,  be.une  uarroVer  (.  w    •<     1 
b  .^l^h  \.  ^''"  *'""=^'"^''-«  «'f  wealthy  pa  en  s 
n       "     !-P'  "''"•:"■  ""  ''otl'inK  except  the 
,?.:!!*. f,.''5V"''''^'<^'  'I'-'-'i^'y  tCe  inst  net    e 


tymj,'  them  on  their  arni.s  above  the  oII.owh. 

The  houscH  in  which  tho  Nubians  live  or 

rather  ni  which  they  sleep,  are  of  v,.rv  Kim- 

plo  construction.     Hesiding  amon;,'  the  ruins 

;>    pamos,  the  Nubians  h^vo  ueN"er  learl.ed 

ti'  build  anythinj^  better  than  a  mud  hut. 

1  heso  huts  are  ol  much  the  same  shane  as  tho 

love  of  dress  bveoverin'.^"ii;;:i,;;n,;;;;7;;'';"^''   "'•!  K^ypUan  buildings,  being  snuared  t«w- 

wi|h  beads,  wfiite  sh.lfe      dee    ,(•'«;•!   T'  "''*'"  «Mhe.bnse,^m,|  .lecTea^ing  toward 

wisted  ■•ound  then,.     ^Vhen  t      gi.^:  ,' ..'^      t^'Tii'^'!.  •«.«'1"'"-^N  "»<1  i"  ^.l,  bettei- 


tliey  retain  the  aprt.n.  but  wear  oun-  it  a  loo^n 
Karment,  which  j.asses  over  one  shouldei^ 
an^  hangs  a.s  low  as  the  knee.  '"''""'^' ' 

TIh!  ornainentswith  which  they  i)roftiselv 
locorafe  their  ,,er8ons  areof  varions  ni  terf- 
Kacconl.rg  to  the  wealth  of  the  w     ./n 

ot  gold  and  silver,  while  those  of  the  noorer 

niatei  lals.     The  metal  amulets  are  of  a  ores 


class  of  luniso  answers  as  a  terrace.    Tho 

™'*'  *?'V'''''^  ''''•'  1'"'"'  Ixaiuhes,  and 
c\eiy  good  house  possesses  a  sort  of  court- 
yard surrounded  by  walls,  in  which  tho 
women  can  pursue  their  diderent  vocations 
while  sheltered  from  tho  sun. 

Orauaries  are  seen  near  every  villa-'e 
and  consist  of  shallow  pits  sunk  in  tlio 
ground  and   covered   with  a  sort  of  white 

,    ,  --" »..-.«  are  o,  acres-    lo,'   (iw;    /!"'?:'"''«*',«   «''«'   I"»*'"'S''   "   '^'u'** 

cent  shape,  and  are  open  at  one  si.le  so  as  to   1    ns J    nfl  V  ""'l-  f  ."Strangers,  and   each 

Kr,;:!^r:i^::;;:>cr'--'''--^  -^       "'  '"^' ''''''  "'"-^^  '-^^^ 

It  .is  Jetty  bhuLimd  toWabv  In    'a      T^^  ^'>'VV   aro    despised    by   tl',; 

wisted  with  hundreds  of  sma    amf^tn    d    UhS  s  fl'"r''  ""   ^^^"".t  t>'"t  «  ^"I'ian 

tresses,  geneiallyflnishe.!  otVat  Ih    th  s  w^       'wb.^^.fv      i      J  '"'T.  ''""'•^"  """  "«  »»"  ^^'•'»» 

little  knobs  of  v,.ll,»vr  ,.u..  ,..,.!,.",','','' ^V""  P^'"^"^:^''"   lu)  has  the  opportunit.v,  they  aro 


ii*n„  '   o--— ••—.>  "i.i.^inn  on  ai  iiie  lips  wi 
Itt  lo  K-nobs  of  y.llow  claj-,  wbi<I,  look  at  a 

Am  ilets  of  d.fterent  kin.ls  are  woven  int 
the  locks  an.l  the  whole  is  sosaf.irate.l  wit 
Cius  or-oil  that  an  e.xj.erienee.l  travel ler  who 
Wishes  to  talk  to  a' Nubian  wom.-vn    takes 
«™  T''''  ^''"  wi'i.lwar.1  si.le,  and  not  to 

^^themen,bntnpproachni^r:eS»^^^ 

vi2n,J'i^rtST(ihSJrt=±5^ 


ever   boasting  of  the   many  i,crffeetion8  of 
the  land  which  they  thn  re|ect 

How  Ion.'  tl„!  Nubians  "may  possess  thia 
land  IS  douCtful.  The  Turk,  "  ul.dor  whoso 
loot  no  grass  grows,"  is  doing  his  best  to 
depopulate  the  country.  The  m.-n  are  pressed 
or  soldiers,  as   many  as    thirtv   per  cent 

^n^i'l^  ;^i  ^i::'^':;'  ?«; '" "»« '^••Boriptio,,; 


t        •  1     1  ...  "ii-ii  luuioH  Ol  veiiow  clav 

Im-nished  like  golden  tags.^oft  dee,,  bro.f^e 
sk  ns,  and  lips  and  eyes  fit  for  Iris  and  Athor. 
iheir  very  dress  and  ornaments  wore  the 
same  ««  those  represented  in  the  tombs, and 
I  lolt  incliucd  to  ask  them  how  manv  thou 


_  .,        ;,  • ~-    ...."1.111^    iMfui    lo 

rather  thnn  serve  ui,<ler  tho  hated  i^ule  of 
the  1  iirk.  The  least  resistance,  or  show  of 
resistance,  IS  punished  by  death,  and  s.iveral 
travellers  have  related  incidents  of  cold- 
blooded cruelty  wluch  scum  almost  t«o  hor- 


WEAPONS  OF  THE  ahabs. 


riblo  to  toll,  but  whii.li  were  takon  quite  lu 
luatters  of  ordinurv  "ccurreiii;().  'J'uxiition 
too,  m  carried  out  to  a  Hiniply  rulnouH  ox- 
tont,  and  the  uuturul  result  U  last  U\kU\g 


m 

plaoo  nnimdy,  the  dopopulation  of  the  land, 
ami  tho  gradual  losaomug  of  the  uumbot 
ol  tax-payers. 


THE  HAMIIAN  ATIABS. 


To  dosonbo,  however  brielly.all  tlu^  tribes 
which  inhabit  tiie  vaNt  diutriet  called  Arabia 
wouhj  l)e  a  ta.'^k  far  beyond  tho  prctfnsion.i 
of  this  work.  Souio  have  advanced  very 
(ar  lu  civilization,  while  others  have  rc- 
taiuc'd,  with  certain  niodilications,  their 
m-Kstnu!  and  almost  Navage  niodcj  of  life 
I  shivll  tiKirefore  .select  these  latter  tribes 
fis  exiunples  of  the  Aral*  life,  and  shall 
l)rielly  describe,  one  or  two  of  the  most  chiu-- 
ncterttitiu  examples. 


SoiiTii  of  ('assala  there  Is  a  remarkable 
tribe  of  Arabs  known  an  the  Hamrans,  who 
are  celebrated  throu^'h  all  tho  country  tor 
their  skill   in  huntiiij,'.    They  possess   the 
Well-cut  ieatures  and  other  characteristics 
of  the  Arab  r.ice,  and  are  only  to  bo  distin- 
Ciushed  by  the  style  of  weariiis   the  hair. 
1  hey  permit  tho  liair   to  f,'row  to  a  L'reat 
length,  part  it  down  tho  middle,  and  care- 
tiilly  train  it  into  Ions  curls.    Each  man 
always    carries    the  only  two  weapons  he 
cares  about,  namely,  the  sword  aud  shield. 
lUe  latter  is  of  no  very  jjreat  size,  is  circu- 
lar in  shape,  and  about  two  feet  in  diameter 
with  a  boss  in  the  centre  much  like  that  of 
the  ^iibiiin  shield  already  described.    It  is 
m;ule  of  the  skin  of  the  hippopotanuis,  and 
beins  meant  for  use  and  not  for  show,  i.s 
never  ornamented. 

A.S  to  the  sword,  it  is  tho  chief  friend  of 
he  iramran  Arab's  life,  and  he  looks  upon 
It  with  a  sort  of  chivalric   respect.     It  is 
straight  double-edjjed,  and  is  furnished  with 
a  cross-handle,  like  that  of  th.!  ancient  (.'ru- 
sad(!rs    from   whom   the   fashion  seems  to 
have    been   borrowed.    The   blades  are  of 
i■.uro^)ean  make,  and   the  Arabs  are  excel- 
bjnt  jiid-es  of  steel,  valuing  a  good  blade 
above   everything.    They  keep  iToth   edges 
literally  as  .sharp  as  razors,  and  prove  the 
tact  by  shaving  with  tlhrni.    Wh.ui  a  Ilain- 
n,  Arab  IS  travelling  and  conies  to  a  la  t 
the  hrst  thill- he  does  after  seatin- himself 
IS   to  draw   his  sword   and  exan Un     I^t 
edges  with  the  keenest  attention.    He  S 
smrpens    the  weapon    upon    his    leather 
shield,  and   when   ho   can  shave   t^he   la"- 
on  his  own  arm  with  both  ed.res   ho  care- 
fully returns  the  blade  into  tho'sheath. 

Ihe  length  of  the  blade  is  three  feet,  and 
the  handle  is  about  six  inches  long,  so 
that  the  weapon  is  a  very  weighty  onerand 
a  fair  blow  from  its  keen  edge  will  J„t  a 
man_  in    two     Still,  it  is    nol  servic'"u,le 

m   single  combat  a«    aUhoi-g')  =( i, 

readers  a  successful  blow  iM,  it  ir^veuts  \ 


the  recovery  of  ho  sword  after  an  unsuc 
ce8.sful  blow.     (Sir  S.  Uaker,  to  whom  wo 
are  indebted  for  an  accoi-nt  of  this  remark- 
ablo  tribe,  says  that  u  llamran  Arab,  with 
his  sword  and  shield,  would  be  at  the  mercy 
of  an  ordinary  swordsman.    He  can  cut  anfl 
slasli  with  wonderful  <'nergy,  but  knows  noth- 
!"«;''.  "»,'"«  "^'V  l'"'»l  "'•  parrying,  so  that, 
ij  a  eint  be  made  at  his  head,  he  will  instinc- 
tively raise  the  shield,  and  lay  his  whole  body 
ojieii  to  the  point  of  his  adversary's  sword. 
_  Iho  scabbard  in  which  the  sword  is  car- 
ried IS  very  ingeniously  made  of  two  strins 
ot  soft  and  elastic  wood,  slightly  hollowed 
to  receive  tho  blade,  and  covered  with  loa- 
tlior.    The  absurd  metal  scabbards  still  in 
use  m  our  army  would  be  scorned  by  an 
Arab,  who  knows  the  value  of  a  keen  edge 
to  his  weapon.    On  tho  .scabbard  are  fitted 
two   nrojecting  pieces  of   leather.     When 
the  Arab  is  on  the  march,  he  slings  tho 
sword  on   the  nommel  of  his  saddle,  and 
passes  his  lep  between  these  leather  pro- 
Jcctions,  .so  that  tho  sword   is  held  in  if 
jilace,  and  does  not  jump  and  bang  against 
the  sides  of  the  horse.  "    ° 

Armed  with  merely  the  sword,  these 
nullity  hunters  attack  all  kinds  of  game, 
and  match  themselves  with  equal  coolness 
aj^'ainst  the  elephant,  the  rhinoceros,  tho 
giralle,  the  lion,  or  the  antelope.  Their 
mode  of  procedure  is  almost  invariably  the 
same.  Ihey  single  out  some  pa-ticular 
animal,  and  contrive  to  cut  the  tei  .Ion  of 
the  hind  leg  with  a  blow  of  the  sword,  thus 
rendering  tho  unfortunate  beast  heli)less. 

\Vlien  they  cha.so  the  elephant,  they  in-o- 
ceed  111  the  following  manner.  The  elephant 
hunters,  or  aggageers,  as  they  call  them- 
selves,  convert  their  swords  into  two-handed 
weapons  bv  wrapning  thin  cord  very  closely 
round  the  blade,  for  about  nine  inches  from 
he  handle.  The  guarded  portion  of  tho 
blade  IS  held  in  tho  right  hand,  and  the  hilt 
111  tlic  loft. 

Two  hunters  generally  set  out  in  chase  of 
the  elephant.  Having  selected  the  bull 
with  tho  largest  tusks,  they  sei)arate  it  from 
Its  lellows,  and  irritate  it  until  it  charges 
u"\',  -^'V  ^^  *'**^  agi,'ageers  takes  on  hun- 
selt  this  duty,  and  draws  the  attention  of 
tlio  elephant  upon  liimself.  The  irritated 
animal  makes  its  furious  onset,  and  goes  oft 
at  lull  speed  after  tho  aggageor,  who  care- 
fully accominodates  his  pace  to  that  of  the 
elephant,  so  that  it  alw.iys  thinks  it  is  goincr 
to  ciucu  lum,  and  forgets  that  he  lias  awxa- 


tit 


THE   HAMRAN   ARABS. 


Mnanwhlln,  tho  othor  njj)jRf;ror  rldcB  close 
to  tint  «i<l<'of  Ihti  elcphmit,  (Imwn  hin  nwoixl, 
RiiriiiKM  to  llii>  uriiuiid,  IioiiikIn  iiloiiuHidii  of 
tlu'  (li'iiliiuil,  (Iclivi TH  niiti  Irciiiciiiruw  tut 
on  tli(<  iiiikli*  of  ili(>  hind  fool,  mid  Hpriii^M 
nKtiiii  on  liin  liorac  An  noon  iw  llic  <'li'iiliunl 
luilM  llio  iiijuivd  foot  on  the  uroifnd,  tin. 
Joint  l)cfoin<M  (liMlociilfd,  and  ihc  fool  tnrnx 
up  liko  iin  old  hIkic.  'I'Ih!  animal  in  now 
hidpK'HM,  and,  wliilc  its  atttiilion  Ih  Hiill  en- 
gaged liy  llic  ajj^aKccr  whom  It  has  lu'in 
purHuin/j;,  the  MwordMman  panNcs  to  ilH  other 
aide,  nImsIich  tht>  niikln  of  the  remaining 
leg,  nnd  hiinKs  (Im  animtll  ton  dead  halt. 
The  Hword  is  caiffnlly  wiped,  Hharpeiied, 
nnd  returned  to  the  shealli,  while  the 
wonnihid  elephant  sink^*  to  the  (ground,  and 
In  a  short  linio  <lien  from  loss  of  hlood. 
Thus  one  man  will  kill  uu  elephant  willi  two 
blows  of  a  sword. 

It  is  evident  that  sueh  hnntinK  n.s  this 
re(|uires  the  most  perfeet  horsemanship,  nnd 
it  IS  accordingly  found  that  the  IlMinrnn 
Arahs  are  anions  the  hest  horsemen  in  the 
world.  TiK'y  and  their  steeds  seem  to  he 
iietuated  hy  one  spirit,  and  they  sit  as  If  the 
horse  and  his  rider  were  hut  one  animal. 
In  his  travels  in  Aliyssinia  Sir  S.  Maker 
gives  a  very  graphic  account  of  their  mode 
of  riding. 

"Hardly  were  wo  mnnntcd  nnd  fairly 
started,  than  the  monkey-liko  a;?ilitv  of  our 
ngua^'eers  was  displayed  in  a  variety  of 
nnties,  that  were  far  more  suited  to  iierform- 
anee  in  a  circiiH  than  to  a  i)arty  of  steady 
and  experienced  hunters,  who  wished  to 
reserve  the  strength  of  their  horses  for  a 
trying  journey. 

"Ahoii  Do  wn.'»  mounted  on  a  beautiful 
Abyssinian  horse,  a  gray;  Suleiman  rode  a 
rough  and  inferior-looking  beast;  while  lit- 
tle Jali.  who  was  the  pet  of  IIk-  party,  rode 
a  gray  mare,  not  exceeding  fourteen"  bands 
in  height,  which  matched  her  rider  exactlv 
in  fire,  sjiirit,  and  speed.  Never  was  there 
a  more  perfect  picture  of  a  wild  Anib  borse- 
nian  than  Jali  on  his  mare.  Hardly  was  he 
in  the  saddle,  than  away  Hew  the  niare  over 
the  loose  shingles  that  lonned  the  dry  bed 
of  the  river,  scattering  the  rounded  i)ebhles 
in  the  air  from  her  liintv  hoofs,  while  her 
rider  in  the  vigor  of  (leligbt  threw  himself 
almost  under  her  belly  while  at  full  speed, 
and  iiickcd  up  stones  from  the  ground,  which 
he  flung,  nnd  again  caught  ivs  they  descended. 
"Never  were  there  more  coinplete  Cen- 
taurs than  these  Hamran  Arabs;  the  horse 
nnd  man  appeared  to  be  one  animal,  and 
that  of  the  most  elastic  nature,  that  could 
twist  and  turn  with  the  suppleness  of  a 
snake;  the  fact  of  their  sepai-atc  being  was 
proved  by  the  rider  springing  to  t'lo  earth 
with  bis  drawn  sword  wliile  the  b»fvi  t  - 
in  full  gnlloj)  over  rough  and  dilllcnl!  •.■  vtui, 
and,  clutching  the  mane,  he  ngiMii  -tc'  rl 
into  the  saddle  with  the  aailitv  of  a  iton  {■.</,  | 
without  once  checking  '.he  speed.  | 


"Tho  Ihet  of  boing  on  borsebnck  lim] 
smideiily  altered  the  cbarmter  of  these 
AriiljM;  frimi  a  sedate  and  proud  bearing 
they  had  become  the  wildest  exampleH  of 
the  most  Hiivage  disciples  of  Niliirod;  ex- 
cited by  eiilbiisiasm,  Ihev  shook  tlieir  naked 
blades  aloft  till  the  steel  trembled  in  tbelr 
gra«p,  and  away  they  dashed,  over  rocks, 
Ibroiigh  thorny  bush, 'across  ravines,  up  and 
down  steep  Inclinialons,  engaging  in  a 
mimic  hunt,  and  going  tliroiiL'F  the  variouH 
acts  supposed  to  occur  In  the  attack  of  n, 
furious  elepbaiil." 

This  capiibllitv  of  snatching  up  articles 
from  the  groiintl  stands  the  hunters  in  good 
stead.  If  for  example,  they  should  come 
across  a  llock  of  sheep,  each  man  will  dash 
through  the  llo<k,  stoop  from  his  saddle, 
pick  up  a  lamb,  and  ride  olf  with  it.  They 
can  even  cal(di  far  more  active  prey  than 
the  lamb  or  kid.  On  oiu^  occasion,  as  the 
party  were  travelling  along,  they  came  upon 
a  large  trooj)  of  baboons,  who  bad  been 
gathering  gum  arable  from  the  mimosas. 
"Would  the  la<ly  like  to  have  a  balioonV" 
asked  .lali,  the  siiiallcst  and  most  excitable 
of  (he  party. 

Three  of  the  hunters  dashed  olf  in  i)ursuit 
of  the  baboons,  and  in  spile  of  the  rough 
ground  soon  got  among  them.  Stooping 
from  their  saddles,  two  of  the  aggngeers 
Hnal<'hed  each  a  young  balioon  IVom  its 
mother,  placed  it  on  the  neck  of  the  horse, 
and  rode  otf  with  it.  Strange  to  say,  the 
Ciiptive  did  not  attempt  to  escaiie,  nor  even 
to  bite,  but  clung  convulsively  to  tlie  mane 
of  the  horse,  scre.'Uiiing  w  ith  fear.  As  soon 
as  they  halted,  the  bunters  stripped  some 
mimosa  bark  from  the  trees,  bound  tlie 
baboons,  and  with  their  heavy  whips  in- 
llicted  a  severe  (logging  on  tlui'poor  beasts. 
This  was  to  make  them  Inimble,  and  pre- 
vent them  from  biting.  However,  in  the 
(•(Uirse  of  the  next  halt,  when  the  liabdoiiH 
were  lied  to  trees,  oik-  of  them  contrived  to 
strangle  itself  in  its  struggles  b)  eseajie.  and 
the  other  bit  through  its  bonds  and  made  off 
unseen. 

For  such  work  ns  this,  the  hunter  must 
be  able  to  stoj)  bis  horse  in  a  moment,  and 
accordingly  the  bit  must  be  a  veiy  severe 
one.  The  sixddle  is  a  verv  <'lunisy  all'air, 
m;ide  of  wood  and  unstufVed,  while  tlu;  stir- 
rups are  only  large  ciuaigh  to  admit  tho 
gn^at  toe. 

The  rhinoceros  gives  far  more  trouble  to 
the  hunters  than  the  elephant.  It  is  much 
swifter,  more  active,  and  can  turn  more  rap- 
idly, spinning  round  as  if  on  n  pivot,  and 
batlling  their  attemps  to  get  at  its  bind  leg. 
Unlike  the  elephant,  it  can  charge  on  three 
legs,  so  that  a  single  wound  does  not  disable 
it.  Still  the  Hamran  Arabs  always  kill  the 
rbi?!:'cero8  when  they  can,  ns  its  skin  will 
'•  xUice  hide  for  seven  shields,  each  piece 
beini.;  worth  two  dollars,  niul  the  horn  is 
sold  to  the    Abyssinians  as    material   for 


iiuNTmo  THE  nrpi'opoTAMus. 


877 


•word  liiltH,  Ili(.  l)c«t  horn  feldiinx  ^wo  <1«)I- 
lurH  por  |)oiiii<l. 

I,loii-liiin(iii|{  in  not  II  l'uvorii<!  pnrBnit 
with  th«  liiiniriinH,  n>^  tht'v  k.ju  lilUo  If  duc- 
WhhI'iiI,  nn<l  (hey  Nfliloni  coino  out  of  the 

contimt   will t    hiivin)^   Miill'crcd   Niivcri'ly 

Thi'yalwuyH  try  to  ulunh  Ihoiuiiinal  m-roHH 
thii  h)inH,  UM  II  blow  in  lliiitHjiot  (IIniiIiIch  it 
inntiintly,  iiml    pn-vioM    it    IVorn    IcnpiiiK 


noinctinii'K  ilic  linn  Mpriiij,'M  on  tlic  cruppcir 
of  th(5  liofMc,  uiKJ  tli(.|i  It  liiiflt-liiiniliMl  blow 
iH    (h'livcrcil    witli    tlio    two-eduwl    sword 
moHtly  Willi  fiiiiil  cH'cct.  ' 

Thi'i  liulliilo.  lien .'  mid  artlvo  n'n  it  in,  they 
hunt  witli  thii  Kwoid.  Notliin;^,  pcriiiipH 
KhowM  tlio  Mpliihlid  lioi -icnianMiiip  and  dar- 
iuK  foui-ji  ■  I  (••■  111!)  lliiPiniiiM  lu-KiT  than  ii 
Hconc!  whuli  was  witm^HMcd  liy  Sir  H.  Halter. 
A  hii'i,"  herd  of  liulliilocH  \vm  Hct-n  niuj 
inHliintly  <liar;,<  d  liy  tho  a;;(,'iv!,'ccrH,  anil, 
whilr  fill!  luiiriilniis  niid  liiintiTM  wcrii  mixed' 
to^'eilll  r  ill  one  niiiHt*,  (lie  ivreprcHMihlo  little 
Jiili  Huddeiily  leaned  forward,  <ind  Mcized 
the  tail  of  a  line  yoiiiii,'  liiilliil,),  m.mo  twelve 
handH  liii,'li.  Tivo  other  hiiiUei-H  leaped 
from  their  horses,  Hiialehed  olf  their  heltH, 

and  aetiiiiljy  niici ded  in  (akinx  tlie  nnimnl 

alive.  '1'lii.M  was  a  f^reat  [iri/.e,  m  it  would 
bo  Hold  for  a  eoiiHidernlile  sum  at  (-'axsaliv. 
Nowa-s  .liili  was  Iwrely  (ivn  feet  tlirci!  iueheH 
in  lini>,'hl,  and  vi-ry  Vlis^'htlv  maile,  Hueh  a 
(eat  iiH  Heiziii^'  and  liiially  ciipturinf,'  a  pow- 
nrfnl  anim.il  like  a  Inilliilo  hull  wiw  reullv  a 
wonderful  oiie. 

They  are  m  uetivii  on  foot  as  on  liorHo- 
hiyek.  On  one  oecasion,  (hree  of  them,  Jail 
of  course  heini;  one,  were  so  oxeitcd  with 
the  ehase  of  a  wounded  elephant  that  thny 
actually  leajied  from  their  liorses  and  pur- 
sued th.'  animal  on  foot.  The  elephant  wa.s 
mad  with  rii-,'e,  hut  seemed  instim^tivoly  to 
know  that  his  enemies  wanted  to  t,'et  behind 
hnn,  und  ahvavH  turned  in  timo  to  jiroveiit 
them.  Active  us  monkeys,  the  amnK^ecrs 
mana-Tftd  to  save  themselves  from"  the 
charges  of  the  elephant,  in  spite  of  deen 
sand,  whi(!h  impeded  them,  while  it  hiul  no 
ellect  on  the  elephant.  Tijno  after  time  he 
was  within  a  yard  or  so  of  one  of  the  hun- 
ters when  tlu!  other  two  Baved  him  by 
d.ishing  upon  either  (lank,  and  so  divertln.' 
his  attention.  " 

They  hunt  the  hippopotamus  us  success- 
fKllu  ,^  they  chase  the  eleplmat,  and  arc 
OH  mi-hty    lunlers  in   the   water  a.s  upon 

and  shield  (or  the  harpoon  and  lauee  Tlu. 
former  weapon  is  made  on  exactly  the  same 
principle  as  that  which  Iias  ulrea.ly  been 
described  when  tn>atiiiK  <>f  the  liippopot^v- 
mu8  hunters  of  South  tlentral  Africa  hut 
t  18  much  h^rhtor.  The  shad  is  a  itout 
bamboo  about  ten  feet  in  hn.nh.  and  the 
head  18  a  piece  of  soft  steel  about  a  foot 
lonji.  sharply  pointed  at  one  end  and  haviii" 
a  sing!,,  .t..,„t  biirb.  Ouc  end  of  a  ror"" 
about  twenty  feet  iu  length,  is  firmly  at- 


tachod  trt  tho  head,  and  to  the  other  end  in 
(uHtened  II  rtoat  inH(h<  of  a  very  liKht  wood 
culled  nmlnileh,  which  Im  (Uho  uaed  for  iiiuk- 
InX  canoes  und  rafls. 

When  the  hunter  seed  a  hippopolnmns, 
and  nil  HUH  to  atUick  i(,  he  puis  on  his  hunt- 
in  diesN,  I.  «!.  he  braces  a  leallieni  belt 
round  his  waist,  and  takes  olf  all  his  dotlicd. 
He  then  (Ixes  the  Iron  head  on  the  liamhoo 
Nlmft,  windH  the  rope  round  the  latter,  and 
bohlly  enters  the  water,  lloldin^'  the  har- 
poon iu  the  riuht  hand  and  (he  anibatch 
lh)at  in  the  left.  As  soon  as  he  comoM 
within  HlrikiiiK  distan.e  of  his  victim,  tho 
liarooon  is  hurled,  and  the  hunter  tricH  to 
(Ind  a  spot  in  which  the  infuriated  animal 
cannot  reach  him.  The  wounded  hiiipopot- 
aniiis  duHhcs  about,  (list  in  tlie  river,  then 
on  tho  hank,  and  then  in  the  river  a«ain  al- 
ways trailing  after  it  lli(>  rone  and  (loat,  and 
HO  weakening  itself,  and  allowing  its  cno- 
niies  to  track  it.  Hooncr  or  later  they  con- 
trive  to  seiz((  tho  end,  drag  the  animal  near 
tlie  bank,  and  tiien  with  their  lonccH  put  It 
to  death. 

Often,  wlion  they  have  brought  the  hip- 
popotamus to  the  shore,  it  chargew  opcn- 
moutlu'd  at  its  tormentorH,  Some  of  tliera 
receive  it  with  sjiearH,  wliilo  others,  though 
unarmed,  boldly  await  its  onset,  and  (ling 
handfuls  of  sand  into  its  eyes.  The  sand 
really  seems  to  (^aiise  more  pain  and  annoy- 
ance than  the  s[)ears,  and  the  animal  never 
can  witlmtand  it,  but  retreats  to  tlu!  water 
to  wash  the  sand  out  of  its  eyes.  In  tho 
mean  time,  weapon  after  weapon  is  plunged 
into  its  body,  until  at  last  hiss  of  blood 
begins  to  tell  upon  it,  and  by  degrees  it 
yields  up  its  life. 

Hir  S.  llakcr  gives  a  most  animated  de- 
scription of  one  of  these  strange  hunt*. 

One  of  the  old  Ilamran  hunters,  named 
Abou  Do  — an  ab'ireviatcd  version  of  a  very 
long  string  of  names  — was  celebrated  as  a 
howarti,  or  hippopotamus  hunter.  This  flno 
old  nian,  some  seventy  years  of  age,  was  ono 
ot  tlie  (iiiesfc  conceivable  speciinons  of  hu- 
manity. In  spite  of  his  great  age,  his  tall 
torm,  SIX  feet  two  in  height,  was  as  straight 
as  in  early  youth,  his  gray  locks  hung  in 
tliick  curls  over  his  shouMers,  and  liis 
bronze  features  were  those  of  an  ancient 
statue.  Despising  all  encumbrances  of 
dress,  ho  stepped  from  rook  to  rock  as 
lighty  as  a  goat,  and,  dripping  with  water, 
and  l)earing  liis  spear  in  Ins  hand,  he  looked 
a  very  Neptune.  The  huntern  came  upon  a 
herd  of  hippopotami  in  a  pool,  but  found 
that  they  were  too  much  awake  to  bo  safelv 
attacked. 

"About  half  a  mile  below  this  spot,  as 
we  clambered  over  the  intervening  rocks 
through  a  gorge  which  formed  a  powerful 
rapid,  I  observed,  in  a  small  pool  Just  below  ' 
the  rapid,  an  immense*  Jioiul  of  a  r>i'i".n"„".t«_ 
mus  close  to  a  perpendicular  rock 'that 
lorined  a  wall  to  the  river,  abom  six  feot 


078 


THE  HAMBAN  ARABS. 


above  the  surface.    I  pointea  out  tiio  hippo 
to  old  Abou  Do,  who  liad  not  seen  it 

"  J^  *  once  the  gravity  of  the  old  Arab  dis- 
appeared, and  the  energy  of  the  hunter  was 
exhibited  as  he  motioned  us  to  remain, 
while  he  ran  nimbly  behind  the  thick 
screen  of  bushes  for  about  a  hundred  and 
fifty  yards  below  the  spot  where  the  hippo 
was  unconsciously  basking,  with  his  ugly 
head  above  the  surface.  Plunging  into  ihe 
rapid  torrent,  the  veteran  hunter  was  carried 
some  distance  down  the  stream,  but,  breast- 
ing the  powerful  current,  he  landed  upon 
the  rocks  on  the  opposite  side,  and,  retiring 
to  some  distance  Irom  ihe  river,  ne  quickly 
advanced  toward  the  spot  beneath  which 
the  hiijpopotamus  was  lying,  I  had  a  fine 
view  of  the  scene,  as  I  was  lying  concealed 
exactly  opposite  the  hippo,  who  had  disap- 
peared beneath  the  water. 

"  Abou  Do  now  stealthily  apprftached  the 
ledge  of  rock  beneath  which  he  had  ex- 
pected to  see  the  head  of  the  anim.il;  his 
long,  8ine\  y  arm  was  raised,  with  the 
harpoon  ready  to  strike  as  he  carefully 
advanced.  At  lcn<jth  he  reached  the  edge 
of  the  nerpendicular  rock,  tiie  hij)po  had 
vanished,  but,  far  from  (!xhibiting  surprise, 
the  old  Arab  renjained  standing  on  the 
sharp  ledge,  unchanged  in  attitude. 

"Ko  figure  of  bronze  could  have  been 
more  rigid  than  that  of  the  old  river-king, 
as  he  stood  erect  uoon  the  rock  with  the  left 
foot  advanced,  and  the  harpoon  poised  in 
his  ready  ri"ht  hand  above  his  head,  while 
in  the  left  he  held  the  loose  coils  of  rope 
attached  to  the  ambatch  buoy.  For  about 
tliree  minutes  he  stood  like  a  statue,  gazing 
intently  into  the  clear  and  deep  water  be- 
neath his  feet. 

"  I  -.vatched  eagerly  for  the  reappearance 
of  tlie  hippo;  the  surface  of  the  water  wns 
still  barren,  when  suddenly  the  right  arm  of 
the  statue  descended  like  lightning,  and  the 
harpoon  shot  perpendicularly  into  the  pool 
with  the  speed  of  an  arrow.  What  river- 
fiep '.  answered  to  the  summons?  In  an 
instiint  an  enormous  pair  of  open  jaws 
appeared,  followed  by  the  ungainly  liead 


I  aDd  form  of  the  furious  hippopotamus,  who, 
springing  half  out  of  the  water,  lashed  the 
river  into  foam,  and,  disdaining  the  conceal- 
ment of  the  deep  pool,  he  charged  straight 
up  the  violent  rapids.  (See  engraving  No. 
1,  on  the  next  ptige.)  With  extraordinary 
power  he  breasted  the  descending  ptre-^m; 
gaining  a  footing  in  the  rnpids,  about  five 
feet  doep,  he  ploughed  his  way  against  the 
broken  waves,  sending  them  in  showers  of 
spray  upon  all  sides,  and  upon  gaining 
broadci-  sliallows  he  tore  along  through  the 
water,  with  the  buoyant  lloat  hopi)ing  be- 
hind him  along  the  surface,  until  he  'andod 
from  the  liver,  started  at  full  gallop  along 
the  dry  shingly  bed,  and  at  length  disap- 
peared in  the  thorny  nabbuk  jungle." 

During  one  of  these  flights,  the  hippopot- 
amus took  it  into  his  head  that  the  ambatch 
float  was  the  enemy  that  was  damaging  him, 
and  attacked  it  furiously.  Taking  advan- 
tage of  his  pre-occupation,  two  hunters  swam 
across  the  river,  carrying  with  them  a  very 
long  and  tough  rope,  and  holding  one  end  on 
each  bank  and  "  sweeping,"  as  the  sailors  say, 
they  soon  caught  the  float  in  the  centre  of  the 
rope  and  brou<Tht  it  ashore.  The  hipiiopot- 
amus  then  made  achiiige,  and  the  slackened 
line  was  immediately  coiled  round  a  rock, 
while  two  hunters  fixed  additional  harpoons 
in  the  animal;  and  though  he  made  six 
charges  at  his  foes,  bit  one  of  the  ropes  asun- 
der, and  crushed  the  lance-shafts  between 
his  teeth  like  straws,  the  hardy  hunters  got 
the  better  of  him,  and  his  death  wns  a  mere 
matter  of  time. 

The  hippopotamus  is  nearly  as  great  a 
prize  as  the  rhinoceros,  as  it  aflbVds  an  almost 
unlimited  rupply  of  food,  and  the  hide  is 
extremely  valuable,  being  cut  into  strips  two 
inches  in  width,  which  are  used  in  the  manu- 
facturo  of  the  koorbasli,  or  hide  whip,  so  uni- 
versally employed  throughout  Africa. 

In  the  water,  the  crocodile  is  even  i.  more 
dangerous  antagonist  than  the  hipi)opotii- 
mus,  and  yet  the  llamrans  attack  it  with 
their  harpoons,  boldly  entering  the  water, 
and  caring  no  more  lor  crocodiles  than  for 
so  many  frogs. 


(1.)    nrNIINP,   TTTE  HIPPOPOTAMUS.    (800  piifjc  firN.) 


(a.)    TKAVKLLKKS   AND  THfc  MIRAGE.    (Scu  paRC  «8tf.) 
(679-) 


CHAPTER    LXVIII. 

BEDOUINS,  IIASSANIYEIIS,  AND  MALAGASY. 

BiaNIFICATIOX    OK    Tmc    NAMK-ORVKHAL    API.E.UIAN.K    OP    THE    J.KUOUINH -THKIR  nOlmEIl  NATITRB 

—  ll()SI-llAI,rrv  AND  IM  IXiriKM  — MKH  AMONO  TIIK  IIKDOUINS  — TIIK  IlKDOUIN  WOMEN  —  HIMW.K 
»IOI)H  OK  ..(.VEKHMKNT-roNHTANT  KKUl>H-MOI>E  OK  COOKINd  — fllE  DATE  AND  ITH  UHEH- 
TIIK  HAMSA.NlVKMH-.lKMillAI,  AIPKAHANCE— IHKFIt  VILLAOES-HTHANOE  MAKHIAOE  CUHTOMH- 
A  IIAMHANIVHH  DANCE— Htll'ICIlNTITIONS  01.'  THE  AnAIlH— niE  lIAdNTED  IIOUHE  —  NOTIONS  OK 
THE   MmA(iK— THE    INK   MlltUOIl  —  THE   MAI,A(1AHY   AND  TIIEIIl  TRIIIKS  — THE   KIHST  IlEEK-EATEH 

—  Tin;  IIOVA  THlllE  — AmillTECTIItK  — THE  TUAVKLLEIl'H  TUEK  AND  ITH  UHK8  —  TKEATMENI  OF 
BLAVES  — NOTIONH  OK  IlBl.UilON  — THE  IILACKS.MITII  THIUB. 


Or  all  the  many  tribes  which  nvc  (lcsij,'iiiitn(l 
by  tho  coimiv)!!  tiH(^  of  Aral),  the  typical 
tribos  !ii-o  those  which  are  so  well  known  hy 
the  niinie  of  MicDotri  v,  or  Hkoawkkv.  Tho 
former  is  tho  more  tiuniliar  mode  of  snell- 
iijs  th(!  word,  and  it  will  therefore  he  em- 
ployed. The  name  is  a  most  appropriate 
one,  bein.j;  derived  from  an  Arabic  word 
which  si<,Miilies  the  di^si^rt.  an'l  mcanin:?, 
therefore,  a  man  of  the  wildi'rness.  Tlfe 
lledonins  are  indeed  men  of  the  desert. 
True  Ishmaelites,  their  hand  is  a'jrainst  every 
man,  and  every  man's  hand  a<,'aiiist  them. 
They  build  no  houses,  thev '  eiiltivale  n^) 
lands,  they  conduct  no  merchandise-;  but  an; 
nomad  and  predatory,  trusting,'  chielly  for 
their  liviii-  to  the  milk  of  their  camels,  and 
looking  upon  their  horses  and  dromedaries 
an  means  wheiciby  they  can  plunder  with 
greater  security. 

As  Mr.  raijrrave  pithily  remarks,  while 
treatiiijr  ,,1  the  character  of  the  Hedouin  : 
lie  Hedoum  does  not  linrhj  f,,,.  his  home 
he  has  none;  nor  for  his  country,  that  is  any- 
where; nor  tor  his  honor,  he  has  never  heard 
of  It;  nor  for  his  religion,  he  owns  and  cares 
lor  none.  His  only  object  in  war  is  the  tem- 
porary occupation  of  SOUK!  bit  of  miserable 
piusture-land,  or  the  use  of  a  brackish  well- 
perhaps  the  desire  to  g,.t  such  a  one's  horse 
or  camel  into  his  own  ])ossession." 

Ill  person  the  Hedouiusare  line  .specimens 
of  the  human  race.  They  are  tall,  stately 
With  well-cut  features,  and  have  feet  aiid 
hands  that  are  proverbial  fir  tin-ir  beauty. 
ineir  demeanor  in  public  is  grave  and 
haughty,  aiul  every  man  walks  as  if  he  were 


mi) 


monarch  of  the  world.  "While  other  Arab 
tribes  have  lost  their  distinctive  manners 
by  contact  with  civilization,  the  Hedouins 
alone  have  preserved  them,  and,  even  when 
they  visit  the  cities  which  they  hate  so  much, 
they  can  be  at  once  dislin-'uished  by  their 
demeanor.  I^ady  Dntf-Gonlon  was  greatly 
struck  with  it.  "Tosei!  a  Bedaweo  and  his 
wif(!  walk  through  the  strec^ts  of  Cairo  is 
superb.  Her  hand  resting  on  his  shoulder, 
and  scarcely  deigning  to  cover  her  haughty 
face,  she  looks  down  on  the  Egyptian  veileil 
woman,  who  carries  the  heavv'  burden  and 
walks  behind  her  lord  and  master. " 

The  dress  of  tho  IJedouins  is  simple  enough. 
Tho  men  wear  a  sort  of  a  tunic  or  shn-t, 
covered  with  a  large  thick  mantle  called  tho 
liaik.  Another  doth  is  disposed  over  tho 
head,  and  falls  on  cither  side  of  the  face  so 
as  to  shield  it  from  the  sun,  and  is  kept  in  its 
jjlace  by  a  cord  of  camel's  hair,  that  is  wound 
several  times  across  the  brows.  As  for  the 
women,  they  wear  a  blue  shirt,  much  open 
at  the  bosom,  and  care  for  no  other  cloth- 
ing. 

JJeing  a  predatory  race,  the  Bedouins  are 
always  armed,  their  chief  weapon  being  the 
spear,  which  is  of  enormous  length,  and 
often  Ko  weighty  that  a  powerful  as  well 
as  a  practised  arm  is  required  to  wield  it. 
At  the  present  day  those  who  can  afford 
(ire-arms  carry  guns'  of  such  length  of  barrel 
that  thej'  seeili  to  have  been  made  in  emu- 
lation ot  the  spear  shafts.  These  weapons  . 
are  of  very  indiirureiit  quality,  and  the  Be- 
douin is  never  a  good  marksman,  his  clumsy 
weapon  taking  a  long  time  to  load,  and  the 


^ 


»l* 


'I; 


082 


BEDOUINS. 


ownor  (nkiiiEf  a  long  time  to  aim,  and  thou 
iiiiiiiiii;  very  hadly. 

la  (•onsccmciuH!  of  Iho  ro1)))er  imtiiro  of 
the  JJcdotiiiis,  no  oiui  will  vfiUiiro  to  i)aas 
tliroii),'li  (heir  districts  wiMioiit,  being  Hell 
ariiUMJ,  or  protected  hy  a  siitlleient  (Escort. 
At  the  jji-esent  day,  Euroi)eans  can  travc  ! 
with  eoni|)arative  safety,  as  they  have  a  way 
of  lighting  when  attacked,  and'of  generally 
hitting  (heir  mark  when  they  fire,  so  that 
even  th(!  wandering  Hedoniiis  have  con- 
ceived a  resi)ect  for  such  ineoniprehensihle 
heings,  and  would  rather  receive  Jheni  as 
guests  than   light  them  as  enemioH. 

Jf,  however,  they  come  uj)on  a  solitary 
traveller,  they  iiouiiee  upon  him,  and  ro)) 
himofeverytliing,  even  of  his  clothes.  Still, 
they  are  not  hrntal  ahout  it,  except  j)erhai)s 
in  enforcing  haste  hy  a  menacing  gesture 
with  a  sjiear.  They  seldom  accompanv  rob- 
bery with  nnn-der,  and  have  been  known  (o 
lake  the  (ravdler  whom  thev  hav((  robbed 
into  their  tents,  feed  him.  give  him  old  clothes 
instead  of  the  new  which  thev  have  taken 
from  him,  keep  him  all  night,  and  semi  him 
on  his  Journey,  even  taking  the  trouble  to 
accompany  hiTu  lor  some  distance,  lest  he 
should  lose  his  way.  le  robber  feels  no 
enmity  toward  the  man,  and  simplv  looks 
on  him  as  a  iirovidenlial  hcnelit  cast  in  his 
way,  and  as  such  rather  rcsi)ecl.s  him  than 
otherwise. 

Tile  reader  will  remember   that  the  I5e- 
(louin  takes  the  man  to  his  tent  itflo-  lie  has 
robbed   him.     IFad   he  begun  operations  hy 
allowing  the  traveller  to  enter  his  tent,  and 
partake  of  his  iV  xi,  he  eouhl  not  have  robbed 
his  guest  allerward.     TIk  i-e  is  a  chivalrous 
Fort  of  feeling  in  the  Arab  mind  that  the 
pi-rsonof  aguest  is  sacred;  and  if  the  liercest 
Uedoiiin    had    received   a   man    nnder    the 
shadow  of  his  tent,  he  would   be  hound   to 
])ro(e(l  thai   man  as  if  ho  were  his  own  .son. 
So  far  is  tliis  feeling  carried,  that  iiistaiice.- 
liavc  been  known  where  a  strange  Arab  has 
taken   refuge   in  a  tent  and   receiv  d   j)ro- 
lection.  tIiou<>h   (he  owner  discovered   (ha( 
Jiis  guest  had  killed  one  of  his  nearest  rela- 
tions. I 
The  only  habitations  of  tlie  Bedouin-s  are  I 
their  tents.    Tliese  tents,  on  which  so  much 
poetry  has  been  lavished,  are  about  as  iiu- 
poetical  as  anything  can  be.    Any  one  can 
make  a  JJedouin  tent  in  live  niinntes.     He 
has  only  *o  lake  a  few  sticks,  some  live  feet  in 
length,  thrust  one  end  into  the  ground,  throw 
over  Iheni  a  piece  of  black  and  very  dirty 
sackcloth,  peg  (he  edges  (o  (he  ground,  anil 
there  is  the  tent.     I{einu;only  some  four  feet 
in  heiuht  in  the  middle,  no"  one  can  stand 
upright  ill  it,  and  only  in  the  middle  can  any 
one  even  sit  upright."    Hut  .as  the  tent  is  not 
regarded  as  wo  regard  a  house,  and  is  only 
used  as  a  sort  of  convenient  shelter  in  which 
the  Arabs  can  sli'(-p.  heijjht  is  of  no  impor- 
tance.    The  iMi'jjra.vinir  Xu.  2.  on  p:iye  !i70, 
illustrates  a  "  Bedouin  camp." 


llieso  low,  dink  leiils  are  almost  invaria- 
bly pitched  in  the  form  of  a  semicircle,  tho 
opemngs  eastward,  and  Just  enough  space 
lelt  between  each  hut  tor  the  passage  of 
their  camels  and  horses.  The  area  inclosed 
between  the  arms  of  the  crescent  is  intended 
for  the  children,  as  a  plac(^  whereiM  they 
may  dis|)ort  themselves  while  still  under  the 
mother's  eye.  When  new,  the  tents  are 
mostly  striped  in  broad  bands  of  two  or 
three  feet  in  widlli,  bii!  the  rouiih  ti.sage  to 
which  they  are  subjected  soiin  destroys  tho 
color. 

Suel>  are  th(\  d  nts  of  the  ordinary  Hc- 
donins.  The  sheikh,  or  chief  of  (.,ich  clan, 
haa  a  larger  and  belter  tent,  which  is  di- 
vided into  coniparlmcnts  by  curlains,  so 
disposed  as  to  leave  a  set  of"  rooms  on  tho 
(Hitside,  and  one  or  more  I'oonis  in  the  <'cn- 
trc.  Those  on  the  oiilside  are  liir  tlie  men, 
and  those  in  (hi"  interior  tin  Ihe  women 
lielongiiig  (o  the  sheikh's  faniilv.  A  certain 
aniount  of  jirivacy  is  gained,  w'hich  ludoiigs, 
however,  only  fo  the  eye  and  not  to  the  car, 
the  partitions  l)eing  notliim,'  more  (ban  cur- 
lains, and  (he  Aralis  all  speaking  in  (he 
loudest  of  voices  —  a  bawling  nation,  us  a 
French  traveller  desdibed  iluni. 

The  fuiiiilnre  is  suitable  to  the  dwelling, 
and  consists  merely  of  a  mat  orlw()an<ra 
few  pots.  Some  ol'  the  wealtbitr  are  very 
proud  of  jiosse.s'ing  brass  mortar.s.  in  which 
they  luaiiid  their  coll'ce,  and  every  morning 
is  heard  the  musical  tinkh'  of  ihe  collee- 
niaker.  Even  the  men  condi  scend  to  make 
collee,  and  the  slieikh  biniself  may  be  seen 
at  woik  in  ihe  morning.  )ioundiii;;  away  at 
the  berries,  and  rejoicing  cipiallv  in  the 
musical  .Miniid  of  (be  pestle  and  the  fragrant 
odor  of  the  IVesbiv-roastcd  coirce. 

Tliiis  bred  eiitirelv  in  Ihe  open  air,  the 

only  shelter  being  tl'ie  latteied  sackcloth  of 

the  lent,  the   true   liediiiin  cjiii  endure  no 

oilier   life,     lie  is  as  niiseiable  within  the 

walls  of  a  town  as  a  wolf  in  a   trap.    Ilia 

eyes,   acciislomcd    to    raiigi!   over   the  .vast 

expan.se  of  desert,  are  allronfed  bv  the  walls 

lover   which    he   cannot    see.      'I 'be    streets 

opjiress  him,  and  wilbiii  the  atmosphere  of  a 

room  he  can  scarcely  bn  atlie.     lioib  lie  and 

his  camel  are  ciiuwily  out  of  their  element 

when  among  civili/ed  iicojili',  and  they  are 

ever  looking  forward   to  the  liappv  iiioinent 

when  they  may  again  breathe  liie'fnio  air  of 

the  desert. 

Life  among  the  IJedonins  is  not  pleasant 
to  a  European,  and  is  by  no  means  tlie  sort 
of  jiaradisaical  cxistciur  that  we  are  often 
led  to  think.  It  is  eerlainlv  a  free  life  in 
its  ^yay,  and  has  that  peculiar  charm  which 
is  felt  by  all  civilized  beings  when  first 
allowed  to  do  as  they  like.  JJut  it  has  its 
drawbacks,  not  the  least  being  that  every 
on'>  is  eiiually  free;  and  if  a  .s'lronger  man 
should  choose  to  assert  his  freedom  by  plun- 
dering (he  traveller,  he  i&  at  perfect  'liberty 
to  do  tio. 


iwi 


SOCIAL  PECULIARITIES. 


683 


Then  tho  "Amb  maids,"  who  look  so 
pictiiresqiio  —  ill  n  jmiiitiii-,'  — me  not  niiitc 
HI)  piciisiiut  in  reuiitv.  Dirt,  evil  mIih-h, 
scrfiunni','  voicos  und  dettistablo  nmmmrH 
iiro  not  si'cn  in  ii  picituro,  but  in  reality  force 
tlieniscaves  on  more  senxeH  tlinnone.  Kven 
in  youMi  liie  Hedoiiin  f,'irlH  iin^  not  ho  liand- 
Honit!  iis  is  >,'(^n(!r!illy  tlion-rht.  They  are 
tall,  well  made,  and  ^'nieeful,  but  ari!  dcliei(ait 
ni  that  f.'1'ntlencH.s  and  .soCtncHs  which  we 
naturally  a.s,so(;iate  with  the  ren»inin(!  natiu-e. 
Tiiey  are  fond  of  tattooiufj  tlieniselves,  and 
cover  tli(ir  arms  and  chins  with  blue  pat- 
terns, such  as  stars  or  arabes(pu!  Ii.!,'urcs. 
Some  of  them  extend  the  tattoo  ovit  the 
breast  nearly  as  low  as  tne  waist.  Tlie  cor- 
ners of  till!  eyes  are  sometimes  decorated 
with  this  cheap  and  indestructible  ornament. 
They  are  fond  of  ornaments,  especially  of 
ear-riujjs,  which  can  scarcely  be  U)o  larL'o  for 
them. 

Uulikn  tho  more  civilized  Mahometans, 
they  care  little  about  veilin;,'  their  faces,  and, 
\n  fact,  i)ass  -^  life  nearly  iw  free  as  that  of 
the  men.  I'^ven  the  women's  apartment 
of  tlie  tent  is  thrown  open  by  day  for  the 
sake  of  air,  and  any  one  can  sue  freely  into 

Feminine  beauty  differs  as  muc'i  amon<' 
the    Arabs  .as  nmonj,'  other  piiople.     Mi\ 
I  alfrrave  says  wittily  that  if  any  one  coidd 
invent  an  instrument  which  could  measure 
beauty  — a  kalometer,  as  he  calls   it— the 
JJedoinn  would  bo  '•  repres(!iited  by  zero,  or 
at  most  l;^.     A  d(-,'rec  liiKher  would  repre- 
sent the  toinale  sex  of  Nejed;   above   them 
rank-  the  women  of  Shoiner,  who  are  in  their 
turn  surmounted  by  thosi;  of  Djowf.    The 
hfth  or  sixth  de«nMfsyniI)olizes  the;  fair  ones 
ot     lasa;   the  seventh  those  of  Katar:  and 
astly,  hy  a  sudden  rise  of  ten   d(-i'rees    it 
Iciist  the  sevent(-enth  or  eif,'lite(.nth  would 
aenote  tlie  pre-tMniiieiit  beauties  of  (Jman. 

"  Arab  poets  occasionally  lan-'uish  after 
the  charmers  of  llejaz;  I  never  saw  anyone 
to  cliarin  /«.•,  but  then  I  only  skirted  the 
province.  All  bear  witness  to  the  iibsence 
ot  teniiUe  loveliness  in  Yainen;  and  I  should 
much  doubt  whether  llui  mulatto  races  and 
dusky  complexions  of  Iladrainout  have  much 
to  vaunt  of.  Hut  in  llasa  a  decided  imi.rove- 
meiit  111  this  important  jioint  is  aKrceably 
evident  to  the  traveller  arriving  from  X,.je,i 
•and  he  wi  1  be  yet  further  delij,d,t»..l  on  lin.N 
iig  his  Calypsos  much  more  eonversihle,  and 
hav.nj,M,u,c  .  more  too  in  their  ...nversation, 

and  Aared."'"    '  '  ''''"'"^  '"'"    '"  ^'^''^J'" 

„r.^iii'  !";r'''""'-\."';>"«''*'  "'f^t  Ar.ab  manners 
are  like  those  ol   the  Turk,  --mve,  polite 
lid   majestic.      The   fact    is    thr    .lill Ir ent 


ai 


liion-h,  like  the  American  Indian;  (he 
Arab  has  a  iiroud  and  stately  walk,  and 
knows  well  enoujrh  how  to  .assunio  a  re-'ally 
indillerent  demeanor  on  occasion,  he  is  bv 
nature  lively  and  talkative,  not  (larini,'  very- 
much  what  he  talks  about;  and  fond  of  sing- 


nj?  Arab  songs  in  tnat  curious  mixture  of 
hiKh  scrcamiiifr  falsetto  and  «iittural  intona- 
tion which  he  is  jileased  to  consider  vocal 
music. 

Tluiii  the  Rener.al  manners  are  by  no 
means  dij,'niH(^d,  even  wlnm  the  IJedouins 
want  to  do  special  honor  to  a  Kiiest.  Mr 
lalxrave  spent  much  time  anion;,'  them,  and 
has  drawn  a  vivid  picture  of  life  in  a  JJedouin 
encampment.  It  is  no  unfavorable  one,  tho 
minafes  being  describ(;d  as  "  ajawecd,"  or 
Kenllemen  — thouK!  the  author  remarks 
rather  wickedly  that,  if  they  were  g(!ntle- 
men  bo  very  much  wondered  what  tlio 
blackguards  were  like. 

"  The  chief,  his  family  (women  excepted), 
his  intimate  followers,  and  some  twenty 
others,  young  and  old,  hoys  and  men,  came 
up,  and,  alt(!r  a  kindly  salutation  Hedouin- 
wise,  seated  theins  'ves  in  a  seniicinlc  Uo- 
fore  lis.  Every  man  held  a  short  crooked 
stick  for  camel-driving  in  Ids  hand,  to  ges- 
ticulate with  in  sjieakiiig,  or  to  play  with 
m  tho  intervals  of  cimversation;  while  Ihe 
younger  mcinlx'rs  of  socii^y,  loss  promiit 
in  discourse,  politely  employed  their  leisure 
in  stiirinij;  at  us,  or  in  pinching  up  dried 
pellets  of  dirt  from  tho  sand,  and  tossing 
them  about.  " 

"  JJut  how  am  I  to  describe  their  conver- 
sation, their  questicms  and  answers,  their 
manners  and  Jests?  '  A  si^nsible  iierson  in 
this  city  is  like  a  man  tied  up  among  a  drove 
of  mules  in  a  stable,'  I  onc(!  heard  from  a 
res])ectable  stranger  in  the  .Syrian  town  of 
Iloms,  a  locality  proverbial  for  the  utter 
stupidity  of  its  denizens.  JJut  anion-  IJe- 
douins in  tho  di!Sort,  where  tb.o  advairtages 
of  the  stable  are  wanting,  the  gucist  rather 
resembles  a  man  in  tho  middle  of  a  field 
among  untied  mules,  frisking  and  kiekin-r 
their  heels  in  all  directions  around  him.  '^ 
"  llere  you  may  see  human  natun;  at  its 
I'Jwest  stage,  or  vcuy  nearly.  One  sprawl;* 
stretched  out  on  the  sanil,  anollior  draws 
unmeauinrr  n,,,,.^  ^^.j^],  y„,  j.„j  ,,,.  ^^^^  ^^.^^_^  ^ 

third  grins,  a  f.airth  asks  purposeless  or  im- 
liertinent  questions,  or  cuts  jokes  meant  for 
wit,  but  111  fact  only  coarse  in  the  extreme. 
Meanwhile  tho  boys  thrust  themselves  for- 
wal  without  restraint,  and  interrupt  their 
eld  rs  (their  betters  I  can  hardly  say)  wlth- 
o''    tho  smallest  resjieet  or  def.'ronce. 

And  yet,  in  all  this,  there;  is  no  real 
intention  of  rudeness,  no  desire  to  arino"  — 
quite  tho  reverse.  They  sincerely  wisli  to 
make  themselviis  agreeable  to  "(ho  new 
comers,  to  put  them  at  their  ease,  nay,  to 
do  them  what  good  service  (hey  can,  ;)nly 
they  do  not  exactly  know  how  (i)  .«et  about 
It.  If  they  violate  all  laws  of  decorum  or 
courtesy,  it  is  out  of  sheer  ignorance  not 
mrtliir  pi-cjirnsfi.  And,  amid  th.>  aimlessness 
of  an  utterly  uneiiltivated  mind,  they  occa- 
smnally  sb.ow  indieati»nK  of  r()n.-,i,V:rai)Io  ' 
(act  and  shrewdness;  wlole,  through  all  tho 
Hckleness  proper  to  man  accustomed  to  no 


p. 

m 

Ma 


M 
imi 


m 


684 


BEDOUINS. 


moral  or  physical  restraint,  there  appears 
the  grounawork  of  a  manly  and  Renerous 
character,  audi  as  a  Persian,  for  instance, 
seldom   offers. 

"  Their  defects  are  inherent  in  their  con- 
dition, their  redeeming  qualities  are  their 
own — they  have  them  by  inheritance  from 
one  of  the  noblest  races  of  earth,  from  the 
Arabs  of  inhabited  lands  and  organized 
governments.  Indeed,  after  having  trav- 
elled much  and  made  pretty  intimate  ac- 
quaintance with  many  races,  African,  Asiatic, 
and  European,  I  should  hardly  be  inclined  to 
give  the  preference  to  any  over  the  genuine 
unmixed  clans  of  Central  and  Eastern  Af- 
rica. Now  these  last-mentioned  populations 
are  identical  in  blood  and  tongue  with  the 
myriads  of  the  desert,  yet  how  immeasurably 
inferior!  The  difference  between  a  barbar- 
ous Highlander  and  an  English  gentleman, 
in  '  Rob  Roy  '  or  '  Waverley,'  is  hardly  less 
striking." 

The  resemblance  between  the  gipsy  and 
the  Bedouin  is  almost  too  evident  to  need 
mention,  and  the  author  of  this  passage  has 
here  drawn  attention  to  the  singular  re- 
semblance between  tlie  Bedouin  and  the 
Hi,^hlander,  as  described  by  Scott.  There 
is,  however,  in  the  "  Legend  of  Montrose,"  a 
p.^ssage  which  is  worthy  of  being  quoted  in 
this  place,  so  strangely  close  is  the  parallel. 
It  occurs  in  the  scene  where  the  wounded 
Mac-Eogh  is  dying  in  prison,  and  is  giving 
his  last  commands  to  his  grandson.  "  Keep 
thou  unsoiled  the  freedom  which  I  leave  thee 
as  a  birthright.  Barter  it  not,  neither  for 
the  ricli  garment,  nor  for  the  stone  roof, 
nor  for  the  covered  board,  nor  for  the  couch 
of  down.  Son  of  the  Mist,  be  free  as  thy 
forefathers.  Own  no  land  —  receive  no  law 
— take  no  hire  —  give  no  stipend  —  build  no 
hut — inclose  no  pasture  —  sow  no  grain.  .  .  . 
Begone  — shake  the  dust  from  thy  feet 
against  the  habitations  of  men,  whether 
banded  together  for  peace  or  war."  Shift 
the  scene  from  Scotland  to  Arabia,  and  no 
more  appropriate  words  could  have  been  put 
into  the  mouth  of  a  dying  Bedouin  chief. 

With  characters  so  impatient  of  control, 
it  is  evident  that  there  can  be  no  govern- 
ment worthy  of  the  name.  Like  the'Son  of 
the  Mist,  they  acknowledge  no  lord,  and 
there  is  no  one  who  bears  even  by  courtesy 
the  title  of  King  of  the  Bedouins.  Each 
clan  is  governed  by  its  own  sheikh,  and 
occasionally  a  few  clans  unite  for  some  raid 
under  the  presidency  of  the  eldest  or  most  im- 
portant sheikh,  .and  remain  united  for  some 
lime.  But  his  rule  only  lasts  as  long  as  the 
others  choose  to  obey  him,  and  instead  of 
being  a  sovereign,  or  even  a  commander-in- 
chief,  he  is  hnt  primus  inter  pares. 

The  clans  themselves  v.arv  exceedingly  in 
numbers,  and,  as  a  general  rule,  each  clan 
consists  of  one  family,  gathered  together 
after  the  patriarehnl  s^^-  :;:.  Thcti  if  one  of 
the  men  should  happen  to  excel  his  fellows  I 


he  is  sure  to  get  together  a  band  of  followers, 
to  separate  in  time  from  his  family,  and 
found  a  clan  of  his  own. 

In  consequence  of  this  insubordinate  na- 
ture, war,  as  we  understand  it,  is  impos- 
sible, simply  because  discipline  cannot  be 
maintained.  If,  for  example,  several  clans 
unite  under  the  presidency  of  one  of  tlieir 
number,  should  one  of  the  confederated 
sheikhs  feel  dissatisfied  with  the  commander, 
he  will  go  off  together  with  his  people,  and 
probably  join  another  who  is  more  to  his 
mind. 

Though  war  is  unknown,  the  Bedouins 
live  in  a  chronic  state  offend,  no  one  know- 
ing whether  his  encampment  may  not  bo 
assailed  by  another  clan,  all  his  little  prop- 
erty—  dress  included — torn  from  him,  if 
he  submits,  and  his  throat  very  prob.ibly  cut 
if  he  resists.  No  one  ever  thinks  of  giving 
notice  of  attack,  or  of  fighting  anything  like 
equal  numbers.  Should  they  not  be  far 
superior  in  numbers,  they  contrive  to  pro- 
ject their  assault  secretly,  and  to  take  their 
victims  by  surprise,  andthe  man  who  is  most 
ingenious  in  planning  such  raids,  and  the 
most  active  and  courageous  in  carrying  them 
out,  is  sure  to  be  the  man  wiio  will  rise  to  a 
sort  of  eminence  in  his  own  clan,  and  finish 
by  founding  one  of  his  own.  The  only 
object  of  such  a  raid  is  the  acquisition  of 
property;  and  even  a  handsome  horse,  or  a 
remarkably  swift  dromedary,  will  cause  the 
destruction  of  a  whole  clan. 

Living  in  the  desert,  and  only  travelling 
from  one  fertile  spot  to  another,  they  cannot 
be  expected  to  be  very  delicate  in  regard  to 
provisions,  nor  to  possess  any  great  skill  in 
cookery.  Their  greatest  luxury  is  a  feast 
on  boiled  mutton  and  the  whole  process  of 
cooking  and  serving  is  almost  ludicrously 
simple.  The  body  of  a  sheep  is  cut  up  and 
thrown  into  a  pot,  together  M'ith  a  sufli- 
ciency  of  water.  The  pot  is  then  placed  on 
the  tire,  and  in  process  of  time  it  boils. 
When  it  is  about  two-thirds  cooked,  accord- 
ing to  our  ideas,  the  hungry  Bedouins  can 
wait  no  longer;  it  is  all  turned  into  a  large 
wooden  bowl,  and  the  guests  assemble 
round  it.  Their  hands  are  plunged  into 
the  bowl,  the  scalding  and  half-raw  meat  is 
quickly  torn  to  jiieces,  and  in  five  minutes 
nothing  is  left  but  the  cleanly  picked  bones. 
No  vegelrtbles  are  added  to  it,  and  no  condi- 
ments are  thought  needful.  Water  is  then 
passed  round  in  another  bowl  or  pail,  a  dee}) 
draught  is  taken,  and  the  feast  is  over. 

The  bread  of  the  Bedouin  is  as  simple  as 
the  cookery.  The  baker  pours  a  few  hand- 
fuls  of  flour  upon  a  circular  piece  of  leather, 
pours  a  little  water  upon  it,  and  kneads  it 
into  dough.  Another  man  has  in  the  mean 
time  been  preparing  a  fire,  and,  as  soon  as 
it  burns  up,  the  dnugh  is  patted  into  a  thin 
circular  cake,  about  one  inch  thick  and  six 
inches  diameter.  This  is  laid  on  the  fire 
and  covered  with  embers,  and  after  being 


THE  DATE  AND  ITS  USES. 


685 


turned  once  or  twice,  and  tlie  ashes  brushed 
ofT,  it  is  taken  from  the  fire,  broken  up, 
and  ciiton  as  it  is  — "half-kneaded,  half-raw, 
Iialf-roiistcd,  and  burnt  all  round."  Were  it 
not  eaten  while  still  hot,  it  would  become 
HO  toufjli  and  leathery  that  not  even  a  Be- 
douin could  eat  it.  tn  fact,  it  very  much 
resemble.'!  the  rough-and-ready  bread  of  the 
Australian  .shepherds,  which  is  so  well 
known  under  the  name  of  "  damper."  One 
advantage  of  this  style  of  bread  is,  that  it  can 
be  readily  cooked  on  a.journcy,an(l,  on  special 
occasions,  a  camel-rider  can  even  bake  his 
bread  while  on  the  back  of  his  dromedary. 

The  date  is,  however,  the  chief  resonrcc 
of  the  Hedouin,  and  on  that  fruit  alone  he 
can  exist  for  a  lon<j  time,  even  through  the 
niany  hardships  which  he  has  to  endure  in 
his  joiirueying  through  the  desert.  In  Eng- 
lanii  we  do  not  know  what  the  date  really  is, 
nor  can  understand  the  rich  luseiousness  of 
thu,  fruit  before  it  is  dried  and  j)reserved. 
In  -the  latter  state  it  is  very  heating  to  a 
European,  and  slightly  so  even  to  a  native, 
whereas  in  its  fresh  state  it  has  no  sucli  evil 
qualities.  It  contains  a  marvellous  amount 
of  nonrishuKuit,  and  when  fresh  does  not 
cloy  the  palate,  as  is  always  the  ciise  when 
it  is  dried. 

In  consequence  of  this  nourishing  prop- 
erty of  the  fruit,  the  date  tree  is  not  only 
valued,  but  absolutely  honored.  The  Arab 
addresses  it  .as  his  mother,  aiul  treats  it  with 
w.  much  reverence  as  if  it  were  really  his 
l)arent.  A  single  date  tree  is  a  valuable 
property  among  all  Arab  tribes,  and,  al- 
though the  genuine  Hedouins  own  none, 
they  reverence  it  as  much  as  their  more 
stationary  brethren.  Cutting  down  the  date 
trees  of  an  enemy  is  looked  upon  as  the  Inst 
extremity  of  criielty,  while  planting  the 
trees  on  a  new  piece  of  ground  is  a  sign  of 
peace  and  prosperity. 

The  date  is  eaten"  in  various  ways.  It  is 
usually  preferred  while  fresh  and  full  of  its 
own  sweet  Juices,  but,  as  it  camiot  be  kept 
fresh  very  long,  it  is  dried,  pressed  together 
and  so  stored  for  future  use.  When  the 
dried  date  forms  a  portion  of  a  fe.ast,  the 
fruit  is  served  in  a  large  wooden  bowl  in 
the  middle  of  which  is  a  cup  eontainin" 
melted  butter.  Each  guest  then  picks  oiil 
the  dales  singly  from  the  mass,  and  dips 
eacli  slightly  into  the  butter  before  eatin<rit 
There  are  many  qualities  of  dates,  and" 
the  best,  which  grow  at  Kaseein.  are  in 
great  estimation,  and  are  largely  imported 
to  the  non-producing  jiarts  of  Arabia.  At 
Kasecm,  the  date-p.alm  is  euKivated  to  a 
great  extent,  and  i)robably  owes  its  peculiar 
excellence  to  the  constant  presence  of  water 


M 


six  or  seven  feet  below  the  surface  of  the 
ground.  The  ripening  season  corresijonds 
with  our  autumn,  extending  through  the 
latter  part  of  August  and  the  beginning  of 
September. 

Some  connoisseurs,  however,  prefer  the 
Khaliis  date.  It  grows  only  in  llasa,  and 
fully  deserves  its  name,  which  signifies 
quintessence.  It  is  smaller  than  the  Ka- 
seem  date,  semi-transi)arent,  and  of  a  rich 
amber  color.  The  sale  of  this  particular 
dale  brings  in  a  large  income  to  Ila.sa,  the 
fruit  being  exported  as  far  as  Bombay  and 
Zanzib.ar. 

Of  religion,  the  genuine  Bedouin  has  not 
the  least  idea.  He  is  nominally  a  Mahome- 
tan, and  will  repeat  certain  formula  with 
perfect  accuracy.  He  will  say  his  Bismillahs, 
and  Mashallahs,and  other  pious  ejaculations 
as  well  as  any  one,  but  he  has  not  the  least 
idea  who  Allah  nuiy  be,  neither  does  he 
care.  As  far  as  Mr.  Paljjravc  could  ascer- 
tain, their  only  idea  of  Allah  was  that  of  a 
very  great  sheikh,  who  would  have  about 
the  same  authority  over  them  in  the  next 
world  as  -their  own  sheikh  in  this  sphere. 
That  is  to  say,  they  consihr  that  they  will 
be  quite  as  independent  after  death  svs 
before,  and  that  they  will  acknowledge  alle- 
giance to  this  great  sheikh  as  long  as  they 
choose,  and  no  longer. 

Like  all  men  who  are  ignorant  of  religion, 
they  are  superstitious  in  proportion  to  their 
ignorance.  Profoundly  illiterate  themselves, 
they  have  the  greatest  reverence  for  book- 
learning,  and  any  one  who  c^an  read  a  book 
is  respected,  while  he  who  can  write  as  well 
as  reiul  is  regarded  with  a  curious  mixture 
of  admiration,  envy,  and  fear.  The  latter 
feeling  is  excited  by  his  presumed  ability  of 
writing  .saphies,  or  charms,  which  are  mostly 
sentences  from  the  Koran,  and  are  supposeil 
to  possess  every  imaginable  virtue. 

Before  leaving  the  Bedouin  Arabs,  a  few 
words  must  be  said  about  the  Arab  and  his 
horse.  Many  tales  are  told  of  the  love  that 
exists  between  the  animal  and  its  master,  of 
the  attention  which  is  lavished  on  a  favorite 
mare,  and  how  .she  and  her  colt  inhabit  the 
tent  together  with  the  children,  and  .are  all 
playfellows  together.  This  certainly  m.ay 
be  the  case  occasionally,  but  not  invariably. 
That  they  are  brought'up  in  close  contact  "is 
true  enough,  and  that  the  animal  thereby 
acquires  an  intelligence  which  it  never  could 
possess  under  less  .sociable  treatment.  But 
the  Arab  has  no  more  re.al  affection  for  his 
steed  than  has  many  an  English  gentleman 
for  his  favorite  horse;  and,  if  he  be  angered, 
he  is  capable  of  treating  the  animal  with 
ha-sty  cruelty. 


I'll 

6     ' 


lU 


666 


THE  HASSANIYEII. 


THE  HASSANIYEII. 


fl 


We  nro  oomo  to  a  bmnch  of  tlio  ArntiH 
nvlli'd  tlui  IliiHHiiniyi'h,  wlu)  inlialiil  ii  lur),'(! 
tract,  of  luixl  w.uitli  of  Khartomii.  Tliiiy  a"o 
nulcr  ill  coiiipU'xioii  than  tlioHc  of  whom  wi; 
Iiavi'  already  tivatfil,  haviiiif  u  decided  tiiiye 
of  yellow  ill  their  Hkiiis.  They  are  Hlic,'ht, 
tall,  and  Htrai;,'ht-featnred.  The  men  part 
their  hair  in  the  middle,  olait  it  into  lon;^ 
braids,  and  liisteu  it  at  the  hack  of  the  heacF, 
so  that  they  have  rather  a  feminine,  aspect. 

The  villaj,'es  of  tlu^  Hassaniveh  are  mere 
nsseinblaj,'eH  of  sli>r|it  huts,  cin'iilar  in  shajie, 
and  havin^x  conical  roofs,  wiili  a  hole  in  the 
centre  by  way  of  a  chimney.  Thi^  walls  are 
made  of  sticks  and  reeds,"and  the  roofs  of 
straw,  and  at  a  little  distance  the  Imis  look 
more  like  teiils  (ban  houses.  Kach  hut  is 
surrounded  with  a  fence  of  (horns. 

.\s  anion.;,'  oilier  Arab  tribes,  the  sheikh's 
house  is  much  larger  and  better  than  those 
of  the  commonalty,  and  is  divided  into  sev- 
eral cliambers.  Somelinies  a  sort,  of  second 
hut  is  placed  in  the;  interior,  is  made  of  Hue 
vellow  ,1,'rass,  and  is  inhabited  bv  the  women. 
Now  niid  then  a  sheikh  has  his"  tent  covcrccl 
with  camers-liair  clolli,  and  one  of  them, 
seen  by  Mr.  liayard  Taylor,  was  thirty  feet 
in  leuj^lh,  and  contained  two  inner  cham- 
*.burs.  The  walls  were  covered  with  skins, 
gourds,  and  similar  articles;  the  priiici])al 
chamber  contained  a  larf,'e  bedstead  or  an<ra- 
rep;  and  the  cloth  roof  was  decorated  witli 
great  (inaiititicH  of  cowrie  shells,  sewed  upon 
it  in  crosses,  stars,  and  other  patterns. 

The  pcojjle  have  some  very  stran<;e  cus- 
toms, iinionu;  which  is   one  "that  is  almost 
Jioculiar  to  themselves,  thoutrh  an  anido<i;oiis 
custom  jn-evails  in  tine  or  two  parts  of  the 
World.     A   woman   when  she   marries  does 
not  inerife  her  identity  entirely  in  that  of 
her  husband,  but  reserves   to   herself  one- 
fourth  of  her  life.     C'onseqneiitly,  on  every 
fourth  (lay  she  is  released  from  her  marriage 
vows;  ami.  if  she  happens  to  take  a  fancy  to 
any  man,  the  liivored  lover  may  live  with 
lier  for  four-and-lwenty  hours,  during  which 
time  tiie  husband  may  not  enter  the  hut. 
With  this  curious  exception,  the  Ilas.sini- 
yeh  women  are  not  so  immoi'al  as  tliose  of 
many  parts  of  the  world.     When  a  traveller 
jiiusses  through  the  country,  tliev  are  bound 
to  fuUil  the  riti's  of  liospit"ality  by  ii.ssigning 
him  a  house  during  the  time  of  liis  visiT, 
and  lending  him  a  wife  for  the  .>;ame  jieriod. 
Mi:  Taylor  suggests  that  if  the  Hassaniveh 
would  also  lend  him  a  faniilv 


fill  of  tobacco  and  fourponce  in  .^opjior.  "  [n 
a  short  time  I  received  word  that  the 
women  of  the  villaL'c  would  come  to  per- 
form a  dance  of  welcome  and  salutation,  if 
I  would  allow  them.  As  the  wind  was 
blowing  strongly  against  us  and  the  sailors 
had  nol,  (hiished  skinning  (he  sheep,  I  bad 
my  carpet  spread  on  the  sand  in  the,  shade 
of  a  group  of  mimosns,  and  awaited  tlieir 
lu-rival. 
"  I'r 


their  generosity  would  be  coi'nplete. 

When  a  slra'iiLrer  of  rank  visits  their  do- 
mains, they  l>erform  a  curious  dance  of  wel- 
come by  "way  of  salutation.  Mr.  Hayard 
Taylor  "has  well  described  one  of  these 
dances  which  he  witnessed  on  his  voyag(> 


sently  we  heard  a  sound  of  shrill 
singing  and  the  clapiiiiig  of  hands  in  meas- 
ured beat,  and  discerned  the  iiroccssion 
advancing  .slowly  (lirough  the  trees.  They 
canii;  two  by  two,  nearly  thirty  in  all,  sing- 
ing a  shrill,  jiiercing  ch(>rus,  w"liich  souiidcii 
more  like  hmitntation  than  greeting. 

"When  they  had  arrived  in  front  of  nio, 
they  ranged  theniselvi^s  into  a  semicirch', 
with  their  fac.'s  toward  me,  and,  still  clap- 
ping their  hands  to  mark  the  rlivlbm  of  Uw. 
song,  she  who  stood  in  the  centre  stcjijied 
Ibrtb,  with  her  breast  heaved  almost  to 
a  level  with  her  face,  which  was  thrown 
hack,  and  advanced  with  a  slow  undulating 
motion,  till  she  had  reached  the  edge  of 
my  cariiet.  Then,  with  a  (piick  jerk,  she 
reversed  the  curve  of  lier  bodv,  'throwing 
her  head  forward  and  downward",  .so  that  the 
multitude  of  biT  louif  twists  of  Mack  hair, 
shining  with  butler,  brushed  my  ca]).  This 
was  inteiidi  (1  as  a  salutation  and  sign  of  wel- 
come; I  bowid  my  bead  at  the  same  time, 
and  she  went  back'lo  her  place  in  the  ranks. 
"After  a  pause  the  chorus  was  resnnic(l 
and  another  advanced,  and  so  in  succession, 
till  all  had  .salutid  me,  a  ceremonv  which 
oecujiied  an  hour.  They  wire  nearly  ail 
young,  between  the  ages  of  fourteen  and 
twenty,  and  some  were  strikingly  beautiful. 
They  had  the  dark-olive  Arab  complexion, 
with  regular  features,  teelli  of  pearly  white- 
ness, and  black,  brilliant  eyes.  T!ie  coarse 
cotton  I'obc  thrown  over  (ine  shoulder  leil 
free  the  arms,  neck,  and  breasts,  which 
were  cx(|uisitely  moulded.  'J'heir  bare  feel 
and  ankles  were  as  slender  as  those  of  the 
Venus  of  (Jleoinenes." 

All  the  women  took  their  jiart  succes- 
sively in  this  curious  dance,  and  by  far  the 
most  beautiful  and  graceful  of  them'  was  llie 
wife  of  the  sheikh,  a  young  woman  b.-irely 
twenty  years  old,  willi  features  compareil 
liy  Mr.  "I'aylor  to  those  of  (iiiido's  (,'leopa- 
tra,  the  broad  round  forehead,  full  oval  face, 
of  children  !  and  re^id  beariiii.'  all  a<ldiiif,'  to  the  resem- 


blance. Her  hair  was  |)lailed  into  at  least 
lifty  bniids,  and  was  thickly  plastered  with 
butter,  and  ujum  her  head'  was  a  diadem 
of  white  beads.  She  moved  with  a  stately 
grace  down  the  line,  .and  so  cliMnned  were 
the  guests  with  her  mode  of  iierlbrming  the 


to  Kharte.um.     He  liad  w.'>n  the  hearts  of  ■  curious  .salitlalion,  that  she  lepcateil  it'fccv 
the  people  by  presenting  them  with  a  baud-  j  eral  timea  for  their  gratilication. 


ARAB  SUPERSTITIONS. 


687 


Even  the  mon  took  part  in  tho  dancn, 
and  one  of  Ihnin,  a  H|iltMi(li(l  exampU!  of  tlii- 
j)iireHt  Anil)  Idood,  jioHncHHtid  ho  purfcct  a 
form,  an<l  moved  in  tliii  ihvnvv  witli  hucIi 
i-nlire  and  al)M<diit('  f^racc^,  that  Iiu  (ivon 
driw  away  tho  travollur'H  jitteution  from  thu 
wumun. 


\Vk  now  oomo  to  Homo  of  thn  manners 
and  customs  of  IIk-  Arabs,  whii  ii  are  not 
r(!stri('t('d  lo  certidn  Irihos,  hiil,  arii  (diarac- 
t(^ris(ic  of  the  Aral)  nature.  Hi>uui  of  them 
are  reiii:ii'k;d)l(!  for  thi^  fae(,  that  they  liav(! 
survived  lhrouL;h  many  (t(!nturi((s,  and  havi! 
resisli'd  the  inlhuuKU!  of  a  comparatively 
new  r(di;,'ion,  and  the  eiKM-oaehmenttt  of  a 
gradually  advancin<r  eivlli/alion. 

As  m;iv  he  expected,  thcar  HiiporstitioiiH 
have  iini(erj(on<^  out  little  ehan)4i%  and   the 
litarned  and  most  civili/,(Mr  Aral)  ackiiowl- 
cdt';;'S  llu'ir  powcir  in  his  heart  as  well  as  the 
ii,'norant  and  half-savaii;(^   Aral)  who  nctver 
saw  a  bonk  cir  enU'.red  a  housi!.     He  will  not 
openly  admit  th;it  lu!  believes  in  these  super- 
stitions, bill  he  does  believe  in  tlu^m  very 
firmly,  and  betrays  his  belitd"  in  a  thousan!) 
ways',     Educated    thou'^li   he   be,  he    has  a 
linj,'erin,!?  faith   in   the  ellleacy  of   writtcui 
charms;  and  if  Iks  should  hapjien  to  see  in 
the   possession  of  another   man  a  scraj)  of 
paper  (Covered  with  characters  he  does  not 
understand,   he    will   feel   un(!asy   as    often 
as    the    mysterious  writin;^  occurs    to  hitn. 
Should  he  u;et  su(di  a  piece  of  i)aper  into  his 
own  possession,  he  chi:rishe.s  it  fondly,  and 
takes  (-an!  to  con(H!al  it  from  othtfrs. 

In  coiisetpuMice  of  this  widely-diirusod 
superstition,  travellers  have  pass'eil  safely 
throu'^h  lari,'e  tracts  of  country,  mecitin,;^ 
with  various  tril)(\s  of  Arabs,  all  at  variance 
with  each  other,  ;;i  tru(!  Arab  fiishion,  and 
yet  have  niana',ed  to  propitiate  them  by  the 
simple  pro'-  .ss  of  writing'  a  sentence  or  two 
of  anv  iii-ua'^e  on  a  scrap  of  paper.  One 
*'iV'>r  ■■♦•   the    "saphios,"  as   these 

w'-'tlc.  called,  exhibits  a  curi- 

ous mix;  iciue  and  literature.   "A 

man  wlio   ,f  ■••lo  wants  a  charm   to 

prevent  hiii.  ,e..v^'  ill,  brinj,'s  to  tho 

saphie  writer  -..  oth  board,  a  pen  an<l  ink. 
Thu  sa|)bi6  is  written  on  tho  board,  and  the 
liappy  possessor  takes  it  home,  washes  off 
every  vestige  of  the  writing,  and  then  drinks 
tho  blackene:!  water. 

Even  at  the  present  day,  tho  wholi!  of  the 
Arabian  tribes  have  the  full  and  imi)licit 
belief  m  the  Jinns,  Efreids,  Ghouls,  and 
other  supe.human  l)eins,'s,  that  forms  the 
chief  element  in  the  "  Anibian  Ni<'hts " 
This  belief  is  inbred  with  them,  and  lio 
amount  of  education  can  drive  it  out  of 
them.  They  do  not  parade  this  belief  nor 
try  to  conceal  it,  but  accejjt  the  existence  of 
these  bcmss  as  an  acknowledged  fact  which 
no  one  would  dreani  of  disputing. 

According  to  their  idea.s,  every  well  has 
its  peculiar  spirit,  mostly  an  efreet  or  semi- 


eyil  genius,  and  every  old  tower  is  peopled 
with  them,  and  there  is  scarctdy  u  house 
that  has  not  at  least  one  Hi)irit  ininale. 
Many  of  the  Arabs  say  that  they  have  seen 
and  conversed  with  the  efreets,  and  relate 
very  curious  adventures.  tJenerally,  the 
e  reet  is  harmless  enough,  if  lie  he  only  let 
alone,  but  sometimes  Ik'  becomes  ho  trouble- 
some that  strong  measures  must  he  used. 
What  was  done  in  the  way  of  exorciHin  be- 
fore the  discovery  of  lire-arms  is  not  known, 
but  in  the  present  day,  when  an  efreet  iraii 
be  seen,  he  can  be  destroyed  by  u  bullet  as  if 
he  were  a  human  being. 

Mr.  J^aiie  relates  a  most  curious  story  of 

such  an  encounter.    Jt  is  so  interesting,  and 

IS  HO  well  told,  that  nothing   but  our  very 

limitecl   space   prevents  its  insertion.    The 

I  gist  of  it,  how(rver,  is  as  follows  :  — 

An  European  lady  had  been  looking  after 
I  a  house  in  Cairo,  and  at,  last  h:ul  ibund  a 
very  handsome  one,  with  a  large  garden,  for 
a  very  low  rent  — scarccdy  more  than  ,t'12 
per  annum.  She  took  the  house,  wliicli 
pleased  her  widl  enough,  though  it  did  not 
have  the  same  elfect  on  the  maid-servants, 
allot  whom  left  it  aH  soon  as  possible.  At 
last  the  reason  came  out.  The  house  wa.s 
haunted  by  an  efreet,  which  lived  mostly  in 
the  bath,  and  at  night  used  to  go  about  tho 
house,  hanging  at  the  doors,  knocking  against 
the  walls,  and  making  such  a  perpetual  rio^ 
that  he  had  frightened  tenant  alter  tenant 
out  of  it,  and  kept  (he  house  lo  himself.  The 
family  hail  heard  the  noises,  l)nt  attributed 
them  to  the  festivities  which  had  been  going 
on  for  some  time  at  tin?  next  house. 

In  spite  of  the  changi!  of  servants,  thu 
noises  contiiuKMl,  and  rather  increased  than 
decreased  in  violence!.  "Very  frequently 
the  door  of  tho  room  in  which  we  were  sit- 
ting, late  in  the  evening  within  two  or  three 
hours  of  miilnighl,  was  violently  knocked  at 
many  short  intervals.  At  otfua-  times  it 
seemed  as  if  something  very  heavy  fell  upon 
the  i)ave!U('nt,  close?  under  tl'ie  wiiulows  of  tho 
same  room  or  one  adjoining;  and,  as  these 
rooms  were  on  tlu;  toj)  of  the  house,  wo  iin- 
agined  at  lirst  that  some  stones  or  other 
things  bad  been  thrown  by  a  neighbor,  but 
we  could  lind  nothing  outside  after  the  noise 
I  have  mentioned.  The  usual  sounds  con- 
tinu(?d  during  the  greater  part  of  the  night, 
and  w(?re  generally  varied  with  a  heavy 
tramping,  like!  the  walking  of  a  person  in 
large  clogs,  varied  by  knocking  at  the  doors 
of  many  of  the  apartments,  and  at  tli.  "i.irg  j 
water-jars,  which  are  placed  in  recesses  iti 
the  g.illcries.''' 

During  the  fast  of  Ramadhan  tin?  house, 
was  free  from  noises,  as  efreets  are  sui)posed 
to  bo  imprisoned  during  that  season,  but  as 
soon  as  it  was  over  they  recommenced  with 
added  violence.  After  a  while,  the  efreet 
began  to  make  himself  visible,  and  a  new 
door-keeper  w.is  greatly  amazed  bv  hearing 
and  seeing  the  figure  walking  uiglitly  round 


M 


iJii 


THE  IIASSANIYEir. 


thn  (Tnllory.  TTo  bpfjgfd  to  bo  allowt-d  to  flrn 
at  it,  and  iit  last  hv  was  piTiiiittcd  to  do  so, 
i)rovid(!tl  that  lio  only  uaud  blank  cartiidp'. 
Tho  man,  lioui'Ver,  iiot  only  put  balin  into 
his  pislol,  but  loaded  H  with' two  bullcl.s  and 
11  double  cliarj,'!'  of  powder.  .Fust  about 
midni^'llt  the  report  ot'the  pistol  rani,'  thronjLfb 
the  house,  followed  by  the  voiee  of  tln^  door- 
keeper, eryinj,'  out,  "  There  he  lieN,  the  ac- 
cursed !"  and  aeconipanied  by  sounds  as  of  u 


•reature  struggling  and  gasping 


a  wotnided  t 
for  breath. 

The  man  continued  to  call  to  his  fellow- 
servants  to  come  up.  and  the  master  of  the 
house  ran  at  once  to  thn  spot.  The  door- 
keeper said  that  the  eireet  hud  ai)peared  in 
his  usual  shape,  a  tall  white  (ignre,  and  on  !)(•- 
ing  asked  to  leave  the  house,  refused  to<lo  so. 
lie  then  passed  as  usual  down  the  passagi-, 
when  the  man  (Ired  at  him  and  struck  him 
down.  "  Here,"  said  iie,  "  are  the  remains." 
tfo  saying,  he  picked  np,  u!ider  the  spot 
where  the  bullets  had  entered  Die  wall,  a 
small  mass  of  something  that  looked  like 
scordied  leather,  perforated  by  lire  in  sev- 
eral places,  and  burnt  to  a  cinder.  This,  it 
appears,  is  always  tin-  relic  which  is  left 
when  an  efreet  is  destroyed.  Ever  afterward 
tlje  house  was  free  froni  disturbance. 

The  reader  will  notice  the  curious  resem- 
blance to  the  efreet  stories  in  the  "  2^  rabian 
•  Nights,"  more  esjiecially  to  the  story  of  the 
Second  Calender,  in  which  the  efreet  and  the 
l)rincess  who  fonuht  liim  were  both  reduced 
to  ashes.  The  idea,  too.  of  the  wells  being 
inliabited  by  efreets  rejjeatedly  occurs  in 
those  wonderful  tales. 

Another  curious  tale  of  the  efreet  was  told 
to  Mr,   Taylor   by  an   Arab  of  some  rank. 
He  was  walking  one  night  near  Caiio,  wlien 
he   .saw  a  donkey  near   him.     The  animal 
seemed  to  be  without  an  owner,  and,  as  lie 
ha|ii)ened   to  be  rather    tired,  he  mounted, 
and  rode  on  his  way  iileasanlly.     In  a  short 
time,  however,  he  became  startled  by  tinding 
that  the  donkey  was  larger  than  it  w.-is  when 
ho  mounted  it,  and   no  sooner  had  lie  made 
this   discovery  tlian    the   animal    increased 
rapidly  in  size,  and  in  a  few  minutes  was  as 
large  .is  a  camel.    Of  course  he  w.-is  horri- 
bly frightened,  but  he   remembered   that  a 
disguised  efreet  could  be  detected  by  wound- 
ing him  with  a  sharp  instrument.     ^\ccord- 
ingly,   lie  cautiously  drew  his  dagger,  and 
was   aboi:t  to   plunge    it  into   the  animars 
back.     The  efreet,  liowever,  was  too  clever 
for  him,  and,  as  soon  as  lie  saw  tlie  dagger, 
suddenly  shrunk  to  his  former    <ize,  kicked" 
oir  his  rider,  and   vanished  with  a  peal  of 
laughter   and   the   exclamation,   "Oh, 


want  to  ride,  do  vouV" 


you 


According  to  the  Arab  belief,  the  spirit  of 
man  is  bound  to  pass  a  certain  time  on 
ear  h,  and  a  natural  death  is  tlie  token  of 
reaching  that  time.  Should  he  be  kilhsd  liy 
violence,  l;is  spirit  haunts  the  spot  where 
bis  body  was  buried,  and  remains  there  until 


the  t«wm  on  eartli  has  been  ftiiniled.  The 
same  Arab  told  Mr.  Taylor  that  for  many 
years,  whenever  he  jjassed  by  night  over 
the  pbico  where  Napoleon  defeated  the 
Mamelukes,  the  noise  of  battle  was  heard 
Ihi^  shouts  of  the  soldiers,  the  cries  of  the 
wounded,  and  the  groans  of  the  dying.  At 
lirst  the  sounds  wer((  loud,  as  of  a  inullilude- 
bnt  year  by  year  they  gradually  decreased' 
as  the  time  of  earthly  sojourn  expired,  and 
at  the  tiiiK'  when  ho  told  the  story  but  few 
couhl  be  heard. 

Among  some  of  the  tribes  tliev  have  a 
rather  odd  suiierstition.  A  tin  Her  was 
struck  with  the  tastcl'uliicss  of  r,  young  girl's 
headdress,  iind  wanted  to  buy  it.  Slu'  was 
willing  enough  to  sell  it  for  tlie  liberal  price 
which  was  ollered,  bnt  her  lather  prohibited 
the  sale,  011  Die  ground  (hat  from  the  head- 
(Iress  could  be  made  a  charm  which  W(nild 
Ibrce  the  girl  to  tly  to  the  possessor,  no  mat- 
ter in  what  part  of  the  world  he  might  be. 

It  is  not  wonderlul  (hat,  saturated  as  llioy 
nro  with  these  ideas,  many  of  the  wonders  of 
nature  ajipear  to  them  to'bc  of  supernatural 
origin.  Chief  among  them  is  that  extraordi- 
nary iihcnonienoii,  the  mirage,  in  which  a 
place  far  below  the  horizon  is  suddenly  made 
visible,  and  ajjpears  to  hv  close  at  liand. 
Even  in  our  own  country  we  have  had 
examples  of  the  mirage,  tliongh  not  in  .so 
striking  a  manner  as  is  often  seen  among 
the  sandy  jilains  of  Arabia.  Water  is  a 
fiivorite  subject  of  the  mirage,  and  the  trav- 
eller, as  he  jiasses  over  the  burning  plain.s, 
sees  before  him  a  rolling  river  or  a  vast  lake, 
the  i)alm  trees  waving  on  its  edge  and  re- 
tleetcd  on  its  surface,  and  the  little  wavelets 
riiipling  along  as  driven  by  the  wind.  Heasts 
as  well  as  men  see  it,  and'it  is  liardly  possi- 
ble to  restrain  (he  tliirstv  camels  froni  rush- 
ing to  the  seeming  water. 

The  Arabs  call  tlie  mirage,  "  Water  of  the 
Jinns,"  and  believe  thai  it  is  an  illusion 
caused  by  the  jinns  — oiir  old  friends  the 
geiii  of  "The  Arabian  Nights."  A  very 
vivid  account  of  this  phenomenon  is  given 
in  St.  .Tolin's  "  Egypt  and  Nubia  :"  — 

"I  had  been  riding  along  in  a  reverie, 
when,  chancing  to  raise  my  head,  1  thought 
I  perceived,  desertward,  a  "dark  strip  on  the 
far  horizon.  What  could  it  be?  My  com- 
panion, who  had  very  keen  sight,  was'riding 
in  advance  of  me.  and,  with  a  sudden  excla- 
mati(m,  he  jinlled  no  his  dromedary  and 
gazed  in  the  same  direction.  I  called  to 
him,  and  asked  him  what  he  thought  of  yon- 
der strip,  and  whether  he  could  make"  out 
anything  in  it  distinctly.  He  answered  that 
water  had  all  at  once  appeared  there;  that 
he  saw  the  motion  of  the  waves,  and  (all 
palms  and  other  trees  bending  uji  aiul  down 
over  them,  as  if  tossed  by  a  strong  wind.  An 
Arab  was  at  my  side,  with  his  tace  niuflled 
up  in  hiH  burnous:  1  roused  his  attention, 
and  pointed  to  the  object  of  our  infiiiiiy. 
'Mashallah!'  cried  the'old  man,  with  a  face 


THE   MIRAOE. 


«W0 


ns  if  ho  had  Hocn  n  p;hnst,  and  Btnrcd  with  all 
hiH  inii,'lit  iicnwn  tint  di-siTt. 

"  All  lli(f  otiicr  Ariil)M  of  the  party  cvinred 
no  l(m  cmoliiin;  and  our  interpreter  tiilled 
out  to  us,  that  wliat  we  Maw  was  tiie  evil 
Mpirit  of  the  desert,  that  led  travellers  astray, 
luriii:^  them  larlher  and  Carllier  into  tlie 
Iieart  of  the  waste,  evtir  relreatlii;,'  l)erore 
th(itn  as  (hev  pursued  it,  and  not  llnally  dis- 
Mppeariiii;  till  ils  deluded  victims  had'  irre- 
coverahlv  lost  theinselv-es  in  the  palhh'ss 
sands,  riiis,  llii'n.  was  the  inira<,'e.  My 
eoniiianiou  <jalloped  toward  it,  and  we  fol- 
lowed hiui,  thoiiL,'h  the  Arahs  tried  to  pre- 
vent us.  aud  ereloti'.,'  I  eould  with  niv  own 
eyes  disrern  souietliiuL;  of  this  Htran;i;e  |)he- 
noMU'non.  It  was,  as  niv  friend  reported,  a 
hroail  slii'et  of  water,  with  fresli  ;;reon  trees 
aloii,'ils  hanks;  and  yet  there  was  nothiuLf 
niluilly  before  us  hut  parehed  yellow  saml. 
Tlie  apparition  oeeasioned  us  all  very  uneoni- 
fortili!.'  fei'iiuuis,  and  yet  we  eonjj'ratulated 
our-ieives  in  havinj^  Hccn  for  onec  the  <lesert 
WoiidiM'. 

"  The  iihenouienon  really  deserves  the 
name  llu-  Arahs  i;ive  it,  of  (tohliu  of  the 
Desert;  an  evil  s|)irit  that  henuiltis  the  wan- 
derer from  the  safe  palli,  and  moeks  him 
with  a  tiilse  show  of  what  his  heated  hrain 
paints  in  iilowiu'.,'  eolors.  Whence  eomes  it 
that  this  illusion  at  lirst  tills  with  uncasineHs 
—  I  nii!,'lit  even  say  with  disuiav— those 
even  who  aserihe  it's  existenei!  ti)  natural 
causes?  ()u  a  spot  where  the  hare  sands 
spread  out  for  hundreds  of  miles,  where 
there  is  neither  tree  ni.r  shrul),  nor  a  traee 
of  water,  tluu-e  suddenly  appeariid  hefore  us 
■,'roui)s  of  tall  trees,  proudly  uirdlin','  the  rnn- 
nniix  strcMtn.  on  whose  waves  we,  saw  the 
sunbeams  daneiu'j;.  Hills  ehul  in  pleasant! 
p-een  rose  hefore  us  and  vanished;  small 
houses,  and  towns  with  hiijh  walls  and  ram- 
))arts,  were  visibh-  amonir  the  trees,  whose 
tall  holes  swayed  to  and  fro  in  the  wind  like 
reeds. 

"  Kar  as  wo  rode  in  the  direetion  of  the 
apparition,  we  never  came  any  nearer  to  if 
the  whole  scemoil  to  recoil  sK-p  by  step  willi 
our  advance.  We  halted,  and  remained  Ion" 
m  contemplation  of  the  ma!,dc  scene,  until 
whatever  was  unplea.sant  in  its  stranjjeuess 
eesiscd  by  decrees  to  atlcct  us.  1^,-ver  had  1 
seen  any  landscape  so  vivid  its  this  seem- 
inir  one,  never  water  so  bri-ht.or  trees  so 
sottly  fireen.  so  tall  an<l  stately.  Evervthin- 
seemed  tar  more  eharmins  there  thanin  the 
real  world;  and  so  stron-ly  did  w,~  feol  tl  i.s 
attraction  that  although  we  were  notdriven 
by  thirst  to  seek  tor  water  where  water  there 
was  none,  still  we  xvould  willinsxlv  have  fol- 
lowed on  and  on  after  the  phantom;  and  thus 
wo  could  well  perceives  how  the  despairing' 
wanderer,  who  with  burniiiir  eves  thinks  he 
{,'azes  on  water  and  human  dwelliie's  will 


struifirle  onw.-ird  to  h 


them,  until  his  fearful,  lonel 


s  last  ira'-p   to   read 


upon   travellnrH  \k  well   Illustrated  ])y  the 
artist,  on  tlu!  ((7l)th   piiKo. 

"  We  returned  slowly  to  our  Arabs,  who 
had  not  stirred  from  the  spot  wIuto  wo  hdl 
them,  liookinj,'  back  onc-o  more  into  the 
desert,  we  saw  the  apparition  (,'ratlnally  he- 
coming  fainter,  until  at  last  it  melted  awiiy 
into  a  dim  limd.  not  unlike  a  thin  mist 
MWeepiiiK  over  the  fac(!  of  a  Held  (IIo<di- 
lander).  It  was  probably  this  phenomenon, 
which  is  beheld  as  widl  in  lladramaut  and' 
Yemen  as  in  the  deserts  of  Ej;ypt,  which 
wave  rise  to  the  tiihleof  the  (JardeJi  of  Irem 
deserihed  in  the  story  td"  tlui  Phantom 
Lanwd,  in  tho  '  Tales  ot'  the  Uamadhan.' " 
■  -"  . '  ;-  I  I  ™»>i"'  Piirt  from  tho  Arab  sniHTstitions 
■eported,  a  without  mentionin«  one  which  is  of  very 
i-eon  trees  '  ijnat  aiilinuity,  and  which  has  spread  itself 
wid(dy  over  the  world.  1  allude  to  the  cele- 
brated ink-mirrr)r  of  the  ,\ral)  inaf,'icians,  In 
which  they  see,  through  the  tiyes  (d" another 
the  events  of  the  future  and  the  forms  of 
persons  far  distant. 

The  mirror  is  made  as  follows:  — The 
ma^'ician  calls  a  very  youny  hoy,  n„t  old 
enoujj;li,  aeeordin«  to  tludr  ideas,  to  bo 
tainted  with  sin,  and  makes  him  sit  on  the 
ground.  The  magician  sits  opposite  him 
holdiiii;  the  l)oy"s  opened  riuht  hand  in  his 
and  alter  repeatinu;  prayers. and  burnim;  in- 
cense, he  draws  a  crossed  square  on  the  pulm 
of  the  hand  — thus  :J::j:_  writes  cabalistic 
words  in  all  the  aisles,  and  pours  about  a 
.spoonful  of  ink  into  tho  centre.  Alore 
j)iayers  and  Mitrumijratioii.s  follow,  and  the 
boy  is  then  directed  to  look  closely  into  the 
ink.  _  Should  he  be  really  piu'e.  and  a  fit  sub- 
ject for  the  ma;ric  art,  he  sees  a  series  of  (in- 
ures, always  be^'innin:,' with  a  man  sweei)in<' 
the  ffromul,  and  ending  with  a  camp,  with 
lh(^  sultan's  tent  and  llain;  in  the  centre. 
These  vanish,  and  the  mirror  is  left  clear  for 
any  liij;uie  whi(di  may  be  invoked. 

All  parties  seem  to  have  tho  most  implicit 
belief]  in  the  proceed inu;;  and  thouifh  several 
boys  in  succession  may  fail  to  see  anvthin;,' 
but  the  rellcction  of  their  own  faces,  the  fail" 
ure  is  set  down  to  their  bad  moral  character 
and  others  are  tried  until  (me  is  found  who 
[wssesses  the  re(iuisite  vision.  It  is  a  curi- 
ous  fact  that  the  magician  himself  never  pre- 
tends to  this  inner  sii,'ht,  the  sins  which  he 
has  committed  beini,'  an  ellectual  hindrance. 
Educated  Eui-opeaiis  have  often  witnessed' 
this  curious  eereinonv,  and  have  fjivendiller- 
en;  iccouiits  of  it.  With  some  it  has  been 
an  utter  fiiilure,  the  boy  evidently  trying  to 
deceive,  and  inventinj.,',  aceordi'n^j;  "  to  his 
ability,  scenes  which  are  sniijiosed  to  be  rep- 
resented in  the  mirror.  'Wiih  others  it  ha.s 
been  as  sini;ular  a  success,  European  .scenes 
and  persons  have  been  described  accurately 
by  the  hoy,  thoujih    the  r^reatest  care  was- 


taken  that 


y  < 


nini.      This  singular  illusion  and  its  etlc 


loom  befalls  j  ^'^'^  "»i»giciau  or  the  boy 


no  clue  should  he  given  cither  to 


cl 


I 


eeo 


MADAOASCAR. 


MADAOASCAIl. 


Wic  complete  tho  acfomit  of  AfViciui  U-ilwit 
with  a  luinf  iioiict!  of  houu^  of  (ho  trihctt 
which  iiilmhit  tiic  iMluiid  of  Ma(lay;aN(iir. 
For  my  iiiforniatioii  I  am  chicllv  iiitli'l)l('il 
to  Eliis'H  U('ll-I<nit\vii  worit,  :tiii|  to  a  valiia- 
hlc  paper  road  Uy  Lioiit.-iiaiil  Olivi'r,  U.  A., 
boforo  tho  Aiill»n)p(ilof,Moal  Hocioty  of  Lou- 
don, on  Manli .{,  lH(;s. 

Tlio  nanio  of  Miida^jascar  \n  ontiroly  of 
Europoan  invention,  tlio  native  name  for 
thiH  frroat  island  hoin^  Nosindamlio,  ('.c.  tlie 
island  of  wiid  ho^s.  Tlio  inliahilants  are 
known  by  tho  Koneral  name  of  Mala<,'asv. 


and  tliov  an 


di 


vided    into    several    tribes. 


These  tribes  dilfer  from  each  other  in  tlieir 
eolor,  mode  of  dress,  and  otiier  partieulars, 
«nd  may  Ite  nm^ddv  dividiil  aeeordinx'  to 
their  color  into  the  iair  and  the  dark  tribes, 
each  consisting  of  foiu- in  number,  and  raii;^- 
iu,!,'  tliroutfh  almost  every  shade  of  skin,  from 
thelightoliveof  the  llov'as  to  the  lilack  tribes 
of  tho  south.  Acoordiiii,'  to  Kllis  tlu^  entire 
population  in  only  three  millions,  while  Meu- 
tonsint  Oliver,  wlu)  jjives  tho  approximate 
numbers  of  each  ♦ribe,  oslimates  them  at 
llv(f  millions. 

Tho  orifiiu  of  the  Mala^;asy  is  rather 
obscure,  and,  aUliou!,'li  so  close  "to  the  con- 
tiiu^nt  of  Africa,  tliey  have  scareidy  ixny- 
tliinj,'  in  connnon  with  the  African"  races. 
The  hynothesis  which  has  been  f,'ouerallv 
accepted  is  that  they  are  of  Malay  orijjin, 
their  ancestors  bavin"^'  been  in  all  probability 
blown  out  to  sea  ill  their  eauoes,  and  evt-ntu"- 
ally  landed  ou  the  island.  That  they  are  not 
of  African  oriirin  has  been  arf,'iu'd  iVoui  sev- 
eral jioiuls,  whiU'  they  have  many  habits  be- 
Ion,s,'ui^'  to  the  oceanic  race.  For  example, 
althouj^'h  they  aro  so  close  to  Africa,  tliey 
have  never  adopted  (he  skin  dresses  wliicli 
aro  j,'euerally  found  (broii^dioiit  (he  .sava^'e 
races  of  the  coidiueiit,  bu(,on  the  contrary, 
make  use  of  the  hibiscus  bark  beaten  oiit 
exactly  after  the  fusliion  of  the  i'olyne- 
siaus. 

"It  is  evident,"  writes  Lieutenant  Oliver, 
"that  tho  Mala^'asy  have  never  deterioraled 
from  any  orijjiual  condition  of  civilization, 
for  there  arc  no  relics  of  ])riinieval  civiliza- 
tion to  bo  found  in  the  country.  Yet  the  Ma- 
lajjasy  seem  to  have  considerably  advanced 
tliemselves  in  (he  art  of  biiildin;;  fiouses,  and 
originating  olabor.ile  fortitieations,  which 
thoy  have  themselves  modilied  to  suit  their 
Olfensivo  and  defensive  weaiioiis,  j.revious  to 
any  known  intercourse  wi(h  civilized  jieoplo. 
They  had  domesticated  oxen,  and  pii^s,  and 
made  advances  in  the  cuKivation  of  rice, 
yarns,  ."te.;  but  wliedier  by  their  own  un- 
ttid(!d  intcdlect,  or  by  external  example,  we 
cannot  say." 

With  regard  to  the  domestication  of  cattle, 
ey  themselves    refer  it    to  a  very  receiU 


tl 


date,  and  even  state  that  the  use  of  beef  was 


neeldentally  (liscovorod  during  tho  \twi.  cvn- 
tiiry.  A  cliief  named  Uabiby  was  siiperin- 
(eiidlng  the  planting  of  his  "rice,  when  ho 
"olicid  that  one  of  his  men  was  remaikablo 
for  his  increase  in  stre!i;,'(h  and  corpiileneo, 
and  interrogated  him  on  the  suiijeil.  Tho 
man  told  him  that  some  time  previously  ho 
happened  lo  kill  a  bullock, and  hail  the  curi- 
osity to  cook  some  of  the  meat.  I'^iiiding  it 
to  be  remarkably  good,  he  continued  to  kill 
and  eat,  and  so  improved  his  bodily  coiidi- 
tion.  Habiby  very  wisely  tried  tho"ex|icri- 
ineiit  for  himself,"  and,  lliidiug  it  suecci-sj'ul, 
had  a  bullock  killed,  and  gave  a  feast  (o  hi!i 
companions.    'I'lie   geiierul  impression  Wiis 


so  favor.'ible  (hat  he  Ifav 


gave  tii'ders  to 


r  bill 


iiing 


folds  in  which  the  cattb^  miKlit  be  (•ollecte(i, 
and  he  further  exiouded  tloMiativo  diet  by 
the  (lesli  of  (he  wild  hog,  The  original  lold.s 
built  l)y  his  orders  are  siill  in  existence. 

("Iiief  aiixmg  (he  Malagasy  are  the  IIoVA 
(ribe,  who  have  gradually  extended  theiu- 
selvos  over  a  considcralde  ptu'tion  of  (ho 
island,  and  are  now  virdially  its  masters. 
They  are  the  lightest  in  color  df  all  (he  Irilies, 
and  have  more  of  (he  Spanish  (ban  (he  negro 
expression.  The  hair  is  black,  Ituig,  and 
abundant,  and  is  worn  in  several  fashions. 
Tli(!  men  usually  cut  the  hair  rather  short, 
and  arrange  it  oyer  the  forehead  and  templi  s 
much  after  the  style  (hat  was  prevalent  in 
the  days  of  (he  Kegeney.  The  women  speiul 
much  time  over  (heir"  hair,  sometimes  friz- 
zing it  out  until  they  remind  the  spe(  later  ot 
the  Fiji  race,  and  scaiictimcs  iilaitiiii,'  it  into 
an  intiiiityol  braids,  and  tying  them  in  small 
knots  or  fiunclies  all  oyer"(lie  bead. 

Their  dress  has  somediiug  of  the  Abyssin- 
ian ty))e.  I'oor  iieoplo  wear  little  ex('c|il  ik 
cloth  twisted  round  (heir  loins,  A\liile  the 
more  woaKhy  wear  a  shir(  covered  wi(h  u 
mantle  callid  a  lamba.  This  ardele  of  ap- 
parel is  disposed  as  variously  as  the  Abyssin- 
ian's  tobe.  The  llovas  are"distingiii8li"ed  by 
having  their  lainbas  edged  with  a  border  (if 
tive  broad  stripes.  'I'heir  houses,  to  which 
allusion  has  already  beiii  made,  are  formed 
exclusively  of  vcgrtable  materials.  Tho 
walls  are  formed  by  driving  rows  of  posts 
into  the  giouiid  at  iiue(|iiai  dislauces,  ami 
tilling  in  (be  sjiaces  with  the  strong  h  af-stalks 
of  the  '•  Inveller's  tree."  Facli  leaf-stalk  is 
about  ten  t.  et  in  Ii^ngth,  and  they  an;  tixed 
in  their  places  by  Hat  laths.  The  roof  is 
Ihatehed  with  the  broad  U'aves  of  the  same 
tree,  tied  (irmly  on  the  very  steep  rai'ters. 
The  eaves  project  well  lie^^'ond  the  walls, 
so  as  to  form  a  veranda  round  tlie  linuse, 
under  \vhich  the  bi'iielii^s  are  placed.  'I'lio 
tloor  is  covered  with  a  sort  of  boarding  made 
of  tho  traveller's  tree.  The  b;irk  is  stripped 
olT  and  beaten  tlat,  so  as  to  form  boards  of 
tweiih"  feet  or  so  in  lermih,  and  liilecn  inches 
ill  width.    Those  boards  aro  laid  ou  the  floor, 


iwt.  con- 
npfiiii- 
liin  \w 
iii'kniilu 
iiili'iice, 
1.  'J'ho 
iihIv  lio 
1(1  ruri- 
iliii^;  it 
to  kill. 
■  coiidi- 
cxpcri- 
ccsHriil, 
I  (<>  ilia 
iiri  xviis 
iiililiiig 

lli'i'lcil, 

ilii'l  liy 
al  Colds 

IIoVA 
tllC!!!- 

ol    tho 

Irilx'H, 
•  ii();fi(> 
il,  mid 

dllollS. 

hIkhI, 

('lll|)ic8 

lilt  ill 
1  spend 
'H  Iri/- 
ator  ot 
it  into 
I  8inall 

lyssin- 

lie  Ihu 
willi  II 
of  ap- 

IVHuill- 

iicd  liv 
•del-  of 
which 
oiini'd 
Tho 

'  pf>KtS 

s,  and 
-stalks 
talk  is 
!  tixcd 
not"  is 
>  saiiio 
al'tcis. 
walls, 

llnllse, 

Tho 

inado 
lipped 
rds  of 
iiic-hfs 
J  floor, 


i; 


(; 


fl 


TnAVELLlNCi    IX    MAUAUASCAR. 

(Sw  paife  093.) 


COOB) 


THE  ART  OF  TRAVEL. 


and,  although  they  are  not  nailed,  they  keep 
their  places  iirnily. 

This  traveller's  tree  is  one  of  the   most 
usetiil  plants  in  Madagascar.    It  is  a  sort  of 
palm,  and  its  broad  leaves,  besides  supplyin>' 
thuteh  and  walls  for  the  houses,  furnish  a 
COi)ious  supply  of  fresh  water.    The  water 
IS  lound  in  the  hollow  formed  by  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  base  of  the  leaf-stem  em- 
hraci's  the  trunk  from  which  it  sprin,<,'s,  and 
the  iKjnid  is  obtained  bv  piercing  the  leaf- 
'item  with  a  spear.    A  fall  quart  of  water  is 
obtained  from  e.ich  leaf,  and  it  is  so   pure 
that  the  natives  will  rather  walk  a  little  dis- 
tance to  a  traveller's  tree,  than  supply  them- 
selves with  water  from  a  stream  at  their  feet. 
The    Malagasy  have  some    knowledge  of 
musical   sounds,  and   have    invented    some 
instruments  which  arc  far  superior  to  tho.se 
of  the  African  tribes.    One  of  the  best  is  the 
yiohn.    It  is  played  with  a  bow  equ.ally  rude 
111  character,  and,  although  the  sounds  which 
it  produces  are   not  particularly  harmoni- 
ous to  English  ears,  they  are  at   all  events 
quite  as  agreeable  as  those  produced  by  the 
stringed   instruments  of  China,  Japan,  or 
Turkey. 

Slavery  exists  among  the  Malagafiy,  but  is 
not  of  a  very  severe  character, aiid  n'lay  i)os- 
sibly,  through  the  exertions  of  the  mi'ssioii- 
anes,  become  extinguished  altogether.     The 
slaves  do  all   the  hard  work  df  the   i>lace 
which  is  really  not  very  hard,  and,  as  they 
take   plenty  of  time  over  everything    that 
they  do.  their  work  would  be  t'hoa'>-ht  very 
light  by  an  ordinary  English  laborerr'  Draw- 
ing water  is  perhaps  the  Hardest  labor  the 
teiu.i.j  slaves  undergo,  and  it  is  not  suc'i  very 
hard  work  after  all.    They  draw  the  water 
by  means  of  cows'  horns  tied  to  ropes,  and 
pour  It  into  ingenious  pails  made  of  bamboo, 
llie  hardest  work  which  the  men  do  is  act- 
ing as  bearer  to  their  master's  hammock  or 
Utter,  and,  as  the  roads  often   lie  throuHi 
uncleared  forests,  and  are  very  roufh  and 
rocky,  they  have   a  fatiguing  task.  "These 
litters  are  very  convenient,  and  are  covered 
with  ii  root  to  shield  the  occupant  from  the 
sun.     I  hey  are  rather  unwieldy,  and  some- 
times as  many  .as  twenty  or  thirty  men  are 
attached    to  each    litter,  some  be'arin-'    the 
po  es  on  their  shoulders,  and  others  draTr.ri„„ 
It  by  rones,  while  the  whole  proc.H'din^'s'are 
(lirected  by  a  snperinten.h.iit.     The  en'n-av- 

mif,le  of  t',.,v''n-''''!"^.''^^"'  i"»«fratos'  the 
moile  ot  travelling  in  Madagasear 

Within   the   hist  few  years,   Christianitv 

has   made  won.lerful   progrcs;  ^Zml  £ 

Malagasy,    although    at    ffrst    missionaries 

were  driven   out    and  the   native  converts 

put  to  death  with  frightful    tortures.     The 

old  superstitions,  however,  still  remain,  but 

tliey  are  ol  a  more  harmless  character  than  i 

18  generally  the  case  with  the  superstitious  | 


of  a  people  ^vho  are  only  beginning  to 
emerge  out  of  the  savage  state.  All  rep- 
tiles, especially  snakes,  are  regarded  with 
great  veneration.  Whether  any  of  the  ser- 
pents are  poisonous  is  not  ciearly  ascer- 
tained, though  the  natives  deny  that  ven- 
omous snakes  are  found  on  the  island.  Bo 
this  .as  it  may,  they  never  kill  a  snake,  and, 
even  it  a  large  serpent  should  come  into 
their  house,  they  merely  guide  it  through  the 
doorway  with  sticks,  telling  it  to  go  away. 

They  do  not  appear  to  possess  idols, 
though  Mr.  Ellis  tbuud  certain  objects  to 
which  a  sort  of  worship  was  paid.  Tlieso 
were  simply  "  pieces  of  wood  about  nine 
feet  high,  not  square  and  smooth  at  the 
base,  but  sin-eading  ■  into  two  or  three 
branches  at  about  Hve  feet  from  the  ground 
and  gradually  tapering  to  a  point."  Near 
them  was  a  large  basaltic  stone,  about  five 
feet  high,  and  of  its  natural  Jn-ismatic  form, 
and  near  it  was  another  stone,  smooth  and 
rounded,  and  about  as  large  as  a  man's  head. 
The  natives  said  that  blood  was  poured  on 
one  stone,  and  fat  burned  on  the  other,  but 
they  were  very  averse  to  any  conversation 
on  the  subject,  and  very  probably  did  not 
tell  the  truth. 

Some  of  their  domestic  superstitions  — if 
we  may  use  such  a  term  —are  rather  curious. 
Mr.  Ellis  had  noticed  that  on  several  occa- 
sions a  spot  of  white  paint  had  been  placed 
on  the  forehead,  or  a  white  circle  drawn 
round  the  eye.  One  morning,  lie  found 
tliese  marks  adorninjj  nearly  the  whole  of 
his  bearers.  On  inquiring  into  the  cause  of 
this  decoration,  he  found  that  it  was  a 
charm  to  avert  the  consequences  of  bad 
dreams.  As,  however,  they  had  p.artaken 
copiously  of  beef  on  the  preceding  evening, 
the  cause  of  the  bad  dreams  was  clearly 
more  material  than  spiritual. 

Partly  connected  with  their  superstitious 
Ideas  is  the  existence  of  a  distinct  class, 
the  Zanakambony.  They  are  hereditary 
blacksmiths,  and  .are  exempt  from  forced 
labor  except  in  their  own  line,  so  that,  a.s 
Lieutenant  Oliver  writes,  they  will  make  a 
sp.ade,  but  cannot  bo  compelled  to  use  it. 
They  have  the  right  of  carrying  deceased 
kings  to  the  grave,  and  building  monuments 
over  them.  They  are  very  ji'roud,  and  be- 
Imve  most  arrogantly  to  other  clans,  refu- 
sing to  associate  with  them,  to  cat  with 
them,  or  even  to  lend  them  any  article  to  be 
defiled  by  the  touch  of  i)lebeia'n  hands.  As 
they  will  not  even  condescend  to  the  ordi- 
nary labor  of  their  countrymen,  and  think 
that  even  to  build  a  house  is  a  degradation, 
they  .are  very  jioor;  as  they  refuse  to  associ- 
ate with  others,  they  are  very  ignorant,  but 
they  console  themselves  for  tli(>ir  inferiority 
in  wealth  and  learning  by  constantly  dwell- 
ing on  their  enormous  superiority  iii  rank. 


I    m 


'4 


il 


I  '  I! 

r 


CHAPTER    LXIX. 


AUSTRALIA. 

THE  NATIVE  AIT8TRAWANS-THE  GENERAL  CONFORMATION  OP  THE  HEAD  AND  rBATURF,8  - TIIEIB 
AVERAGE  STATURE  AND  FORM -THE  WOMEN  AND  THEIR  APPEARANCE  -  CHARACTER  OK  THE 
NATIVES-THEIR  THIEVISH  PKOPENSITIEa -THEIR  CUNNING,  AND  POWER  OF  DIS.SIMUI^ATION - 
A  PAIR  OF  CLEVER  THIEVES-THB  "GOOD  NATIVE"-A  CLEVER  OLD  WOMAN  -IN<1ENr.VE8  TO 
BOBBERY -HIDEOUS  ASPECT  OP  THE  OLD  WOMBN-A  RK.nu.slVE  SUaiECT  FOR  AN  ARTIST- 
VOUNOER  WOMEN  OF  SAME  TRIBE -THEIR  STRANGE  DRESS-THE  CIRCULAR  MAT  CLOAK  AND 
ITS  USES-IHE  NATIVE  BASKET -TREACHEROUS  CHARACTER  OP  THE  NATIVES-MR.  BAINEs'S 
NAllRATIVB-THE  OUTRIGGER  CANOE  OP  NORTH  AUSTRALIA,  AND  ITS  PROBABLE  ORIGIN  -  PIPB, 
AND  MODE  OP  9MOKING-THE  MAMMALS  OF  AUSTRALIA,  AND  THEIR  MARSUPIAL  CHARACTER- 
CONFUSION  OF  NOMENCLATURE -EFFECT  OF  THfl  ANIMALS  ON  THE  HUMAN  INHABITANTS  OF 
THE  COUNTRY— PRIMARY  USE  OF  WEAPONS. 


Following  up  the  principle  of  taking  the 
least  civilized  races  in  succession,  we  natu- 
rally pass  to  the  great  contineit  of  Austra- 
lia and  its  adjacent  islands. 

This  wonderful  country  hohls  a  sort  of 
isolated  position  on  the  earth,  owing  to  the 
curious  contrast  which  reigns   between   it 
and  all  the  lands  with  which  we  are  familiar. 
It  is  situated,  as  my  readers  will  see  by  ref- 
erence to  a  map,  just  below  the  equator,  and 
extends  some  forty  degrees  southward,  thus 
having  at  its  nortiiern  extremitv  a    heat 
which  is  tropical,  and  at  its  soutliern  point 
a  climate  as  cold  as  our  own.     But  there  is 
perhaps  no  country  where  the  temperature 
IS  so  variable  as  Australia,  and  there  is  one 
instance  recorded  where  the   thermometer 
registered  a  change  of  fifty  degrees  in  twen- 
ty-five minutes.      This   sudden    change   is 
owing  to  the  winds,  which  if  they  ))low  from 
the  sea  are  cool,  but  if  they  blow  toward 
the   coast,  ati   r  passing    over   tlie    heated 
sand-wastes  of  the  interior,  raise  the  tem- 
perature in  the  extraordiiiuy  manner  which 
has  been    mentioned.      8; ill,   the    climate, 
changeable  though  it  bo,  is  a  pleasant  one; 
and  .;he  colonists  who  visit  England  nearly 
always  grumble  at  the  damp  climate  of  the 
mother  country,  and  loni;  to  be  back  again 
in  Australia.     Botli  the  animal  and  vegeta- 
ble products  of  this  country  arc  strangely 
unlike  those  of  other  lands,  'but,  as  we  sliall 
have  occasion  to  descri))e  them  in  (he  course 
of   the   fnljowirig   i>age>,   (hoy  will    iiut   !ir 
mentioned  at  present;  and  we  will  proceed 


(694) 


at  once  to  the  human  inhabitants  of  Aus- 
tralia. 

It  is  exceedingly  difficult,  not  to  say  im- 
possible, to  treat  of  the  aborigines  of  Aus- 
tralia with  much  accuriicy  of  system.  Dif- 
fering as  do  the  tribes  with  which  we  are 
acquainted  in  many  minor  particulars,  they 
all  agree  in  gene'ral  charaetcristios;  and, 
whether  a  native  be  taken  from  the  north  or 
south  of  the  vast  Australian  continent,  there 
is  a  similitude  of  habits  and  a  cast  ol'  features 
which  point  him  out  at  once  as  an  Australian. 

The  plan  that  will  be  adopted  will  there- 
fore be  to  give  a  general  skelch  of  the  na- 
tives, together  with  an  account  of  Ihose 
habits  in  which  they  agree,  and  then  to 
glance  over  as  much  of  Australia  as  trav- 
ellers have  laid  open  to  us,  aii.l  to  nu-ntiou 
briefly  the  most  interesting  of  the  manners 
and  customs  which  exist  in  the  several  tribes. 

In  color  the  Australians  are  quite  l)lnck, 
as  dark  indeed  as  the  negro,  but  wiili  noth- 
ing of  the  negro  character  in  the  face.  The 
forehead  does  not  recede  like  that  of  the 
negro;  and  though  the  nose  is  wide,  the 
mouth  large,  and  the  lips  thick,  there  is  none 
of  that  projection  of  jaw  which  renders  the 
pure  negro  iiieo  so  reiiulsive.  Tlie  eye  is 
small,  dark,  and,  being  deeply  sunken,  it 
gives  to  the  brows  a  heavy,  overliaiifjing  sort 
of  look.  The  hair  is  by  iio  nutans  close  and 
woolly,  like  that  of  tin"  nej>n»,  hul  is  jileiiii- 
ful,  rather  long,  and  disposed  to  cuil,  mostly 


A  UEPUESENTATION  OF  UNCIVILIZED  ISLANDERS  AND  INDIANS. 


Ii 


I 


PHYSICAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 


695 


undulating,  and  sometimes  oven  taking  the 
form  oFi-i Uriels.    In  texture  it  ia  very  coarse 
and  iiarsh,  but  cannot  bo  described  as  wool. 
Tlu\  beard  and  moustadic  are  very  thicl< 
and  full,  and  the  men  take  a  pride  in  these 
oruain  'iits,  Hometimos   twisting    the  beard 
into  curious  shapes.     Indeed,  as  a  rule  they 
arc  a  hairy  race.    There  is  now  before  me 
a  largo  coUection  of  photographs  of  native 
Australian-i,  in  many  of  which  the  men  are 
remarkiil)li'  for  the  "thickness  of  the  beard, 
and  SDiHi'  of  them  have  their  faces  so  heavily 
hearded  that  srarcely  the  nose  is  perceptible 
among    th;;  mass  of  liair  tliat    covers    the 
cheeks  nearly  up  to  the  eyes.    Several  of  the 
elder  m  ui  are  very  remarkable  for  the  de- 
velopment of  the    hair,  which  covers    the 
whole  of  the  breast  and  arms  with  a  thick 
coating  of  ))ile,  and  looks  as  if  they  were 
clothed  with  a  liKhtly-fUtintr  fur  garment. 
The  illustration  No.  l,"on  the  OOSth  page,  will 
giv(!  a  good  idea  of  the  features  of  the  Aus- 
tralian.    It  is  exactly  copied  from  plioto- 
graphu;  portraits;  and  although  the  subjects 
have   dislignred  thcuuselvcs   by  putting  on 
European  dress,  and  the  woman  has  actually 
comb,  d  her  hair,  the  general  cast  of  the  fea- 
tures is  well  pi'eserved. 

In  stature  the  Australian  is  about  equal  to 
that  of  the  average  Englishman —say  five 
feet  eight  inches,  although  individuals  mucli 
below  and  above  this  height  may  be  seen. 
The  bodily  form  of  the  Australian  savages  is 
good,  and  (heir  limbs  well  made;.  There  are 
several  well-known  drawings  of  Australians, 
wliieh  liive  been  wid(dv  circulated  on  ac- 
count of  tiicir  grotesqueness,  and  which  have 
b(!en  accepted  as  the  ordinary  form  of  this 
curious  jieople,  and  they  have  given  the  idea 
that  the  mitive  Australian  is  distinguished 
by  a  very  large  lu>ad,  ji  very  small  bodv,  and 
very  lonij;  and  attenuated  limbs;  in  fixcf,  that 
he  IS  to  the  European  what  the  spidc  -mon- 
key IS  to  the  liaboon. 

Such  drawings  are,  however,  only  taken 
from  ex-eentioniU  cases,  and  give  no  idea  of 
the  real  contour  of  the  native  Australian. 
Indeed,   Mr.  Pickering,  who  traversed  the 
greater  i)artof  the  world  in  sear  a  of  anthro- 
pological knowledge,  writes  in  very  strong- 
terms  of  the  beautiful  forms  which  can  be 
seen  among  these  natives     "The  general 
form,  though  sometimes  defective,  .seemed 
on  the  ave-ago  bettor  than  that  of  the  nc-o 
and  I  did  not  find  the  undue  slendernes"s  of 
hmb  which  has  been  commonly  attributed 
to  the  Australians.     Strange  as  it  niav  ap- 
pear, I  would  refer  to  an  Australian  as  the 
nnest  modtd  of  human  proportions  I  have 
ever    inet  with,  in  muscular   development 
combining  perfect  symmetry,  activity,  and 
strength;  while  his   head  might  have  com- 
P'lied  ^v"tl»  an  antique  bust  of  a  philosopher  " 
Those  of  my  roadei-s   who   happened  to 
see  the  native  Australians  that  came  over 
to  Enijiand  us    cricketers  and   athletes  in 
general  must  have  noticed  the  graceful  forms 


for  which  some  of  the  men  wore  remarkable, 
while  all  were  possessed  of  great  elegance 
of  limb. 

The  disadvantageous  effect  of  European 
clothing  on  the  dark  races  was  well  shown 
in  these  men,  wlio  seemed  to  undergo  a  posi- 
tive transformation  when  they  laid  aside 
their  ordinary  clothes  for  a  costume  which 
represented,  as  far  as  possible,  the  lig!it 
and  airy  apparel  of  the  native  Australian. 
Dressed  in  gray,  or  clad  in  the  cricketer's 
costume,  there  was  nothing  remarkable 
about  tliem,  and  in  fact  they  seemed  to  be 
very  ordinary  persons  indeed.  But  with 
their  clothes  they  threw  of  their  common- 
place look,  and,  attired  only  in  tight  "  flesh- 
ings," dyed  as  nearly  as  possible  the  color  of 
their  black  skins,  with  a  piece  of  fur  wrapped 
round  their  loins  and  a  .sort  of  fur  cap  on 
their  heads,  they  walked  with  a  ])roud^,  elastic 
step  that  contrasted  strangely  with  tlieir  for- 
mer gait. 

It  may  perhaps  be  said  that  this  change  of 
demeanor  was  oidy  the  natural  result  of  re- 
moving the  heavy  clothing  aiicl  giving  free- 
dom to  the  limbs.  Tliis'was  not  the  case, 
for  several  professional  English  athletes  con- 
tended witii  the  Australians,  and,  when  they 
eaino  to  run  or  leap,  wore  the  usual  light 
attire  of  the  professional  acrobat.  In  them, 
however,  ao  such  improvement  took  place, 
and,  if  anything,  they  looked  better  In  their 
ordinary  dress. 

The  women  arc,  as  a  rule,  much  inferior  to 
the  men  in  appearance.  Even  when  young, 
althoucrli  they  possess  symmetrical  "forms, 
their  general  appearance  is  not  nearly  .so 
pleasing  as  that  of  the  young  African  girl, 
and,  when  the  wom.-tn  becomes  old,  she  is, 
if  possible,  even  more  Ir  Icons  and  hag-like 
than  the  African.  This  deterioration  may 
partly  be  due  to  the  exceedingly  hard  life  led 
by  the  women,  or  "  gins  "  — iiii  which  word, 
by  the  way,  the  f/  is  pronounced  hard  as  in 
"  giddy."  That  they  have  to  do  all  the  hard 
work,  and  to  carry  all  the  heavy  weiHits 
nicluding  thee  ddrcn,  while  their"  husbands 
sit  or  sleep,  or,  if  on  the  march.  l)urden  them- 
selves with  nothing  more  weighty  than  their 
weapons,  is  to  be  expected,  as  it"^  is  the  uni- 
versal practice  among  natives.  But  it  is  not 
so  much  the  hard  work  as  the  privation  which 
tells  upon  the  woman,  who  is  treated  with 
the  same  contemiituous  nei;leet  with  which 
a  savage  treats  his  dog,  aii'l,  while  her  hus- 
band, lather,  or  brother,  is  feasting  on  the 
irame  which  she  has  cooked,  thir.ks  hei-self 
fortunate  if  they  now  and  then  toss  a  nearly 
cleaned  bone  or  a  piece  of  scorched  meat  to 
her. 

Like  most  savages,  the  Australian  nptives 
are  adroit  and  daring  thieves,  displaying'  an 
"mount  of  aeutenoss  in  carrying  out  their 
ciesigns  which  would  do  hon-'ir  to  the  most  ' 
expert  professional  thief  of  T.-.'-l  -.n  or  raris 


In   his   interesting    work  entitled     ,,„,«..o 
Life  and  Scenes,"  Mr.  G.  F.  Angas  has  re- 


ivage 


696 


AUSTRALIA. 


lfen«itT^'"'*'*"'°*^°*^'"''P'''"°*^  this  pro- 1  they  fell  in  with  a  number  of  natives  who 


peiisity. 

"Leaving  Rivoli  Bay,  we  fell  in  with  two 
very  droll  natives,  the  only  ones  who  had 
made  bold  to  approach  our  ciimp;  both  were 
m  a  state  of  nudity.  One  of  these  fellows 
was  a  perfect  supplejack;  he  danced  and 
capered  about  as  though  he  were  tilled  with 
quicksilver.  We  mounted  thoni  on  horses, 
troni  which  they  were  continually  tumbling 
oti;  and  they  travelled  with  us  all  day. 

"■\Vhen  we  encamped  at  an  old  restin-'- 
placo,  near  Lake  Ilowden,  thcv,  by  .sj.'u's 
requested  permission  to  remain  by  our  fiTes' 
which  we  allowed  them  to  do,  aiurgave  them' 
for  su'pper  the  head  and  refuse  of  a  slicei) 
fliat  was  just  killed  and  hung  up  to  a  tree 
near  the  tents.  They  showed  great  surprise 
on  seeing  our  various  utensils  and  articles  of 
cookery.  So  modest  and  well-behaved  did 
these  artful  gentlemen  appear,  that  they 
would  not  touch  the  slightest  article  of  food 
without  first  asking  permission  by  signs;  and 
they  so  far  gained  our  confidence  that  one  of 
them  was  adorned  with  a  tin  plate,  suspended 
round  his  neck  hyji  string,  on  which  was 
inscribed  '  Good  Native,' 

"  la  the  dead  of  the  night  we  were  all 
aroused  by  the  unusual  barking  of  the  doo-g 
At  farst  It  was  supposed  that  the  wild  dogs 
were  '  rushing  '  the  sheep;  l)ut  as  the  tumult 
increased,  the  Sergeant-Major  unwrapi)ed 
his  opossum  rug,  and  looked  around  for  his 
hat,  to  go  and  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  dis- 
turbance. To  his  surprise,  he  found  that  his 
hat  had  v.inished.  The  hat  ofhis  comj)anion, 
who  lay  next  him  near  the  fire,  was  also  no- 
where to  be  found;  and,  casting  his  eyes  to 
the  spot  where  the  sheep  hung  susijcndcd 
from  the  tree,  be  saw  in  a  moment  that 
our  fond  hopes  lor  to-morrow's  repast  were 
blighted,  for  the  sheep  too  bad  disappeared. 
The  whole  camp  was  roused,  when  it  was 
ascertained  that  forks,  spoons,  and  the  con 


were  cooking  their  food, 


At  our  approach,  they  flew  down  the  c'e- 
scent,and  hid  among  the  bulriKshes;  but  one 
old  woman,  unable  to  escape  as  speedily  as 
the  rest,  ftnding  flight  useless,  began  to  chat- 
ter very  loud  and  fast,  pointing  to  her  blind 
eye,  and  her  lean  and  withered  arms,  as 
objects  of  commiseration.  ]  ):iniper  was  "i  ven 
to  her  and  she  continued  in  terror  to  chew  it 
very  fast  without  swallowing  any,  until  she 
wrisalnK)st  choked;  when  suddenly  she  got 
bold  of  Gisborne's  handkerchief  and  made  off 
with  it.  With  a  vigoroi-- '.,:.;)  Kim  T.inr.red 
into  thenuidand  recti  I.,.  •.  '  .■fleet in" Tier 
escai)e  by  crawling  .-jm  •:  swampland 
.loimii"  her  wild  compK'  ,  aj  whom  she 
doubtless  recounted  he.  ..aventures  .iiat 
ni^bt  over  a  dish  of  fried  tadpoles." 

The  dish  of  fried  tadpoles,  to  which  ,il. 
lusion  l;as  been  made,  is  quite  a  luxury 
among  this  wretched  tribe,  and,  when  the 
exploring  parly  pushed  on  to  the  spot  where 
the  people  had  been  cooking,  it  was  found 
that  they  had  been  eugagr.l  in  roasting  ^ 
uish  of  water-beetles  over  a  fire. 

It  is  impossible  to  withhold  admiration  for 
the  skill  displayed  by  these  sable  thieves  in 
stealing  the  property  which  they  coveted 
and,  in  excuse  for  them,  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  the  articles  which  were  stolen 
wcre^  to  the  blacks  of  inestimal)le  value. 
Food  and  ornaments  are  coveted  bv  the  black 
man  as  much  as  wealth  and  titles  by  the 
white  man,  and  both  these  .articles  were 
ready  to  hand.  The  temiUation  to  which 
these  poor  people  was  exposed  seems  very 
trifling  to  us,  but  we  must  meiisiire  it,  not 
from  our  own  point  of  view,  but  from  theirs. 
The  strange  visitors  who  so  suddenly  ap- 
peared among  them  possessed  abundance  of 
the  very  things  which  were  dearest  to  them. 
There  was  a  whole  sheep,  which  would  en- 
able  them   to  enjoy  the   <^:-':">'-:\t  luxury  of 


«3  L^    f  ^T^^'f'-'iors  canteen,  p.annikins  ,  which  they  couldVorm  anf  .>.  ■(  ion. ,-.  e.  catin" 
and  other  articles,  were  likewise  missing,  and   meat  to  repletion;   and  f!      e  was  store  o"f 

l^\^^unS^raSr^^^^^^  '>^'^k!!i-'!:i^^-^«,.^»j'eh  could  i^Twlr^ 


iii 


left  us  under  cover  of  the  night. 

"  A  council  of  w.ar  was  held.  Bla.k  Jimmy 
protested  that  it  was  useless  to  follow  their 
tracks  until  the  morning,  and  that  from  the 
nature  of  the  country  they  had  doubtless 
taken  to  the  s^vamjis,  walking  in  the  w.atcir, 
so  Hint  pursuit  was  in  vain.  We  had  been 
C()nipletely  du]nd  by  these  artful  and  clever 
fellows,  who  j)robably  had  a  large  party  of 
their  colleagues  lying  in  ambush  amid  the  sur- 
rounding swamps,  ready  to  assist  in  carrying 
aw-ay  the  stolen  property.  Retaliation  was 
useless;  and  we  contented  ourselves  by 
giving  utterap-e  to  our  imprecations  anil 
commcntinf;  on  the  audacity  and  cunning  of 
the  rogue?  until  daybreak." 

Anotbdr  instance  of  theft  — in  this  case 
8ingle-'.i.anded— occurred  not  long  before 
the  robbery  which  has  just  been  recorded 


Winlcuioexploiing  party  was  on  the  march,  I  which  would  only  be  made  more  repulsive 


ornaments,  and  would  dJLinify  them  forever 
in  the  eyes  of  their  fellows.  The  hai)py 
possessor  of  a  spoon,  a  fork,  or  a  tin  i)late 
which  would  be  hung  round  the  neck  and 
kejit  highly  polished,  would  be  ex.alted  above 
his  companions  like  a  newly  ennobled  man 
anion"  ourselves,  and  it  should  not  be  ex- 
pected that  such  an  opportunity,  which  could 
never  again  be  looked  for,  would  be  allowed 
to  pass.  The  temptation  to  them  was  much 
as  would  be  a  title  and  a  fortune  among  our- 
selves, and  there  arc  many  civilizcif  men 
who  have  done  worse  th.'in  th(>  savage  Aus- 
tralian when  tempted  bv  such  a  bait. 

Reference  has  been  rii.ade  to  the  haggard 
appearance  of  the  old  woman  who  so  in- 
geniously stole  the  handkerchief,  the  love 
of  finery  overcoming  the  dr(>ad  of  the  white 
man  in  spite  of  Ikm.-  aire  and  hideous  MHi^ect 


■1 


(1.)  AUSTRAUAN  MAN  AND  WOMAN. 

(See  page  696.) 


(2.)   WOMEN  AND  OLD  MAN  OF  THE  LOWER  MURRAY  AND  THE  LAKES. 

(See  page  099.) 


.698) 


ASPECT  OF  THE  OLD  WOMEN. 


809 


by  any  attnmpt  nt  ornnini  it.  It  is  scftrccly 
jiossihlo  to  iinasiiH!  th<!  dcpllis  of  u>,'lin(..ss 
into  which  an  Auatralinii  woiiiati  (IumclmuIh 
iitler  hIic  lias  paMsod  tlio  priiuc  of  licr  life. 
As  wo  liiivo  Hct'ii,  th(i  old  woiimii  of  Africa 
in  Hiiij^iihirly  hidnous,  hut  who  is  qiiito  lassa- 
hl(i  wli(!U  compared  with  lici-  aged  wistur  of 
Australia. 

Tlio  old  Australian  woman  certainly  docs 
not  possess  the  projctctiiig  Jaws,  the  ciior- 
nioiisinoiith,  and  thi!  saiisagc-likc  lips  of  the 
African,  liiit  she  oxhiliits  a  t\j)c  of  hideons- 
ncss  peculiarly  lier  own.  Jler  liice  looks 
like  a  piece  of  black  j)arcliniciit  strained 
tightly  over  a  skull,  and  tin;  mop-like,  un- 
kempt hair  adds  a  <j;n)ti\«(]ue  element  to  the 
features  which  only  makes  them  still  more 
re])iilsive.  The  breasts  VKwh  to  the  \vaist, 
flat,  pendent,  and  swin;j;ing  about  at  every 
movement;  her  body  is  so  shrunken  lliat 
each  rib  stands  out  "boldly,  the  skin  beinj,' 
drawn  (hieply  in  bctwecni  them,  and  the 
limbs  shrivel  up  until  th(!y  look  like  sticks, 
the  elbows  and  knees  projecting  like  knots 
in  a  gnarled  branch. 

Kach  succeeding  year  adds  to  the  hideous 
look  of  these  poor  creatures,  because  the 
feebleness  of  increasing  years  rendiU's  them 
less  and  less  useful;  and  accordingly  tlu^  an- 
neglected,  ill-treated,  and  conteinptuously 
pushed  aside  by  those  who  are  younger 
and  stronger  than  themselves,  siitlerin"''in 
their  turn  the  evils  wliii'h  in  their  youth 
tluiy  carelessly  indicted  ou  those  who  were 
older  and  feebler. 

Mr.  Angas  has  among  Ids  sketches  one 
Wiiich  represenls  a  very  old  woman  of  the 
Tort   I<  airy   tribe.     They  had    built  their 
nule  huts  or  miam-miams  under  some  "uni- 
trees,  and  very  much  disgusted  the  explor- 
ing party  by  their  hideous  npjiearanco  and 
neglected  state.     There  was  one  old  woman 
in  particular,  who  exenij)li(ied  .stroii'dy  all 
the   characteristics   wliicli   have  just*^  been 
descrihed  ;    and    so    surpassingly,  hideous, 
ilthy,  and    repulsive    was    slie,    that    she 
looked   more   like   one   of   the   demoniacal 
lorms  that  Callot  was  so  fond  of  jiaintin^ 
than  a  veritable  human  creature.    Indeeir 
so  very  disgusting  was  her  appearance,  that 
one  ot  the  jiarty  >»as  made  as  ill  as  if  he 
bad  taken  an  emetic. 

Not  wishing,  to  shock  my  readers  by  the 
jiortnut  ot  this  wretched  (•reature,  I  "have 
introduced  on  page  preceding,  two  younger 
leniales  ot  the  same  tribe.  Jo 

The  remarkable  point  about  this  and  one 
or  two  other  tribes  of  the  same  locality  and 
the  neighborhood,  is  the  circular  mat  which 
IS  tie,  ,111  their  backs,  and  which  is  worn 
by  l)oth  sexes.  The  mat  is  made  of  reeds 
twisted  into  ropes,  coiled  round,  and  fas- 
tened together  very  much  as  the  archer's 
targets  of  the  present  day  are  made.  The 
hbres  by  which  the  reed  ropes  are  bound 
to/?p(her  are  ..btaiiu-d  from  the  .liewt'd  roots 
ot  the  bulrush.    The  native  name  for  this 


mat  is  ^miiKjkoout.  One  of  the  women 
ajipeurs  in  her  ordinary  home  dress,  i.  e. 
wearing  the  paingkoont  and  her  baby,  over 
whose  little  body  she  lia.s  thrown  a  piece  of 
kanpiroo  skin.  The  mat  makes  a  very  good 
cradle  for  the  child,  which,  when  awake  and 
disposed  to  be  lively,  puts  its  head  over  the 
mat  and  surveys  the  prospect,  but  when 
alanned  pops  down  and  hides  itself  like  a 
rabbit  disappiiariiig  into  its  burrow.  Tho 
old  woman,  wliose  portrait  is  withheld,  was 
clothed  in  the  paingkoont,  and  wore  no 
other  raiiiKMit,  so  that  the  full  hideousuess 
of  her  form  was  exposed  to  vicsw. 

The  woman  standing  opposite  is  just  start- 
ing upon  a  journey.  She  la  better  clad  than 
her  ('(iinpanion,  having  beside  the  paing- 
koont a  rude  sort  of  jielticoat.  On  lier 
back  .she  li.as  slung  the  ncit  in  which  she 
places  tlie  roots  which  she  is  supposed  to 
dig  out  of  the  ground,  and,  thrust  through 
the  end  which  ties  it,  she  carries  the  dig- 
ging-stick,  or  kalta,  which  serves  her  for"a 
spadc!.  She  has  in  her  hand  the  Inviriablo 
accompaniment  of  a  journey,  — namely,  tho 
(Ire-stick,  smouldering  anii'd  dry  ^niss  be- 
tween two  ])ieces  of  liark,  and  always  ready 
to  De  forced  into  a  flame  by  whirnii"  it 
round  her  head.  " 

Behind  them  is  seated  an  old  man,  also 
wearing  the  mat-cloak,  and  having  bv  his 
side  one  of  the  beautifully  constructed  na- 
tive baskets.  These  b.askets  are  iiiaife,  like 
the  mat,  of  green  rushes  or  reeds,  and  are 
plaited  by  the  women.  One  of  these  bas- 
kets is  illustrated  in  an  engraving  on  the 
722d  page.  The  reader  will  doubtless  ob- 
serve that  the  mode  of  ])laiting  it  is  almost 
identical  with  that  which  is  employed  by 
the  natives  of  Southern  Africa,  the  rushes 
bein"  twisted  and  coiled  upon  each  other 
and  bound  lirmly  together  at  short  intervals 
!)y  .strong'  fibrous  threads.  They  are  rather 
variable  in  .sliape;  some,  Avhieli  are  intended 
to  stand  alone,  being  Hat-bottomed,  and 
others,  which  are  always  suspended  by  a 
Btnng,  ending  in  a  point. 

In  common  with  other  savage  races 
the  Australians  are  apt  to  beha\H!  treach- 
erously to  the  white  man  when  they  nnd 
Uiemselves  able  to  do  so  with  iiiijamity. 
This  behavior  is  not  always  the  result  of 
ferocity  or  cruelty,  though'  an  Australian 
ean  on  occasion  be  as  fierce  and  cruel  as 
any  savage.  Oftentimes  It  is  the  result  of 
fear,  the  black  people  standing  in  awe  of 
the  white  stranger  and  bis  dcullv  weapons, 
and  availing  themselves  of  their  native  cun- 
ning to  deprive  him  of  his  unfair  advan- 
tages as  soon  as   jiossible. 

Ignorant  of  the  object  of  travel,  and  hav- 
ing from  infancy  been  accustomed  to  con- 
sider certain  districts  a"  the  propertv  of  cer- 
tain tribes,  and  any  man  who  intruded  into  ' 
the  district  of  another  .'is  .•i.ii  enemv.  it.  is  l>!;t 
natural  that  when  they  see,  especially  Tor 
the  first  time,  a  man  of  ditTereut  color  'from 


700 


: 


AU8TIIALIA. 


thercselvps  travollltiff  through  the  country, 
such  Htrmi-'ors  iniiHt  necfssiirily  l)u  enemies 
come  till-  tlu.  purposo  of  ir.ing  iigniiist  tlio 
al)()nj,'incH  (he  wctiijoris  whicli  they  posHCBS. 
Aj,'iiiii,ii  fecliiif,'  oriiMimsitivenosa  hns  much 
tQ<lo  with  (ho  (ri'ai'hcrv. 

Add  to  their  ideas  of  tlio  inimical  characlor 
ol  (he  stran;,'er.s  (lie  cupidity  tluit  must  he  ex- 
i-Ued  l.y  111,"  si^ditof  tlic  vuluahlo  property 
m.u;,'lit  in(o  (|,eir  country  by  tlwso  wiicmi 
tliey  (ouMderas  enemicH delivered  into  tlieir 
iiind,iiiid  tliere  is  no  reason  for  wonder  tliat 
lliey  Hiiould  tal<e  l»()(h  tlic  lives  and  the  prop- 
erty oi  the  stpan;,'erH,  and  thus  aecuro  the 
vaiticd  (rophies  of  war  at  the  same  lime 
that  tliey  nd  their  country  of  Birango  and 
liowerlul  enemies,  niul  attain  at  one  8(roke 
an  amount  of  wealtii  wliieh  they  could 
iiot  hope  to  gain  through   tho  labors  of  a 

1  '^xi'*  V}y'^€?^  ^'"''''  cJinr'icter  is  well  shown 
hvMr.  J  IJanies,in  a  letter  wh!eh  ho  has 
kindly  allowed  me  to  transfer  to  these  pa.'es 
lie  was  one  of  an  exploring  cxpednron, 
w  luch  liad  also  undertaken  to  convey  a  num- 
ber of  sheep  and  horses.  "  While  makiu" 
the  iimer  i)as.sMge  along  the  coast,  wc  fell  in 
witli  several  eanoes,  sonic  of  very  rude  con- 
struct U)u,  henig  in  fact  mere  logs  cai)al)le  of 
carrymg  a  couple  of  men,  who,  perhaps  in 
terror  of  the  telescopes  pointed  at  them,  did 
not  ajjoroach  us.  ' 

" Othirs  \yere  of  greater  size  and  power, 
bemg  large  hollowed  logs,  very  straigl.t  an<i 
narrow,  and  steadied  on  cither  side  by  otlier 


logs,  pointed  at  the  ends,  and  acting  as  out 
riggers,  neatly  enough  attached  by  pes 
driven  nito  them  through  a  framing  of  bam- 
boo. Others  again  were  strictly  double 
canoes,  tw  of  the  narrow  vessels  bein^  con- 
nected by  a  l)amboo  platform  so  as  to  lu;  par- 
allel to  each  other  at  some  little  distance 
apart. 

"  They  were  manned  by  crews  of  from  six 
to  twelve,  or  even  more  in  number,  all  tol- 
crab  y  fine  fellows,  perfectly  naked,  with 
Bliock  heads  of  woolly  liair  and  scanty  beards. 
They  were  ornamented  with  scars  and  raised 
cicatrices  tastefully  cut  on  their  siioulder  and 
elsewhere.  They  were  armed  with  lontr 
spears,  some  of  them  tipped  with  wootF, 
others  with  bone,  and  having  ft-om  one  to 
four  points.  They  also  had  bows  and  ar- 
rows, as  Well  as  their  curious  paddles,  the 
looms  of  which  were  barbed  and  pointed,  so 
as  to  be  useful  as  spears.  When  these  weap- 
ons were  thrown  at  a  lish,  the  owner  always 
plunged  into  the  water  after  his  weajjon.soas 
to  secure  the  fish  the  moment  that  it  was 
struck. 

"Their  arrival  caused  various  emotions 
among  our  party.  One  gentleman  ruined 
his  revo.ver  by  hurriedly  trying  to  load  it, 
while  a  httlc  gi.-|,  so  far  fl-oin  being  afraid  of 
them,  traded  'vith  (hem  for  almost  every- 
thing they  had  in  (heir  canoes.  Just  as  they 
dropped  astern  after  reaching  us,  the  c.ip- 


tains  little  daughters  wero  being  bathed 
la  a  tub  on  tho  maiii-liatc-li,  and,  iiaturally 
enough  jumped  out  of  their  bath,  and  ran  aft 
\vetaiid  ghstening  In  tho  suiiligiit,  to  hide 
themselves  from  tlie  strange  black  fellows 
who  wero  stretching  themselves  to  look  over 
our  low  bulwarks  at  the  litLlo  nuked  whito 
girls. 

"  "Wo  bought  spears,  bows,  arrows,  tor- 
to  se-shell,  &c.,  for  hats,  handkeicliiels,  and 
other  tilings;  and  they  were  greatly  inter- 
ested in  tho  wiiito  baby,  which,  At  their 
express  request,  was  helil  ui)  for  them  to 
look  at." 

Up  to  this  point  wo  find  the  natives  mi'd 
and  conciliatory,  but  we  luoceed  witli  the 
letter,  and  find  an  unexpected  change  in  their 
demeanor. 

"  "Wo  had  hero  an  instance  of  the  capri- 
ciousness  of  the  natives.  We  met  about  a 
dozen  on  shore,  and  endeavored  by  all 
(ncndly  signs  to  induce  them  to  come  to 
terms  with  us.  We  showed  them  that  we 
had  no  guns,  but  our  attempls  were  useless, 
rheylcll  into  regular  battle  anav,  with  tlieir 
lou"  spears  ready  shipped  on  the  lhrowin>' 
sticks,  six  standing  m  fVont,  and  tlu!  resl 
acting  as  sujiports  behind.  As  it  was  unsafe 
(o  parley  longer,  we  mounted  our  horses, 
and  again  tried  to  make  them  iindi'istaiid 
that  we  wished  to  be  on  friendly  terms.  It 
Mas  all  useless,  and  the  only  thing  that  we 
could  do  was  to  ride  straight  at  theiu.  They 
ran  like  antelopes,  and  gained  the  thick  bush 
where  wc  could  not  follow  them.     I}- 


wanled  to  shoot  one  of  them,  but  1  would  not 
allow  it. 

"  The  prospect  of  killing  and  eating  our 
horses  seemed  to  be  their  great  temptation, 
riiey  made  constant  war  ui)oii  our  ttucl  for 
a  fortnight  or  three  weeks,  in  mv  camp  at 
Dej)ot  Creek,  and  I  had  to  iiatrol'the  coun- 
try with  n daily,  to  keep  them  from 

ringing  the  horses  round  with  fire. 

"The  character  of  the  Australian  canoe- 
men  is  variously  spoken  of,  some  reporting 
them  as  good-natured  and  jieaceable,  while 
others  say  that  they  are  treacherous  and 
savage.  Bo(h  speak  the  truth  from  their 
own  experience.  A  fellow  artisi,  who  gen- 
erally landed  from  a  man-of-war's  boat,  with 
the  ship  in  the  offlng,  found  them  peaceable 
enough,  but  poor  Mr.  Strange,  the  natural- 
ist, was  murdered  on  one  of  the  islands. 

"  While  we  were  on  board  our  vessels, 
they  were  quite  friendly;  and  even  duriiif 
my  boaCs  voyage  of  750  miles,  wliilc  We 
bad  a  dashing  breeze  and  the  boat  well 
under  command,  we  found  the  groiiiis  we 
met  with  civil  enough.  IJut  when  we  were 
helplessly  becalmed  at  the  entrance  of  the 
Gulf  of  Carjienlaria,  and  RU])])osed  Iiy  the 
natives  to  be  tho  unarmed  siirvivcu-s  of'some 
vessel  wrcK'ked  in  Torres  Straits,  we  were 
deliberately  and  treacherously  attacked. 

"  We  watched  (he  preparations  for  nearly 
an  hour  through  the  tduscopc,  and  roi'iained 


THE  MAMMALS  OF  AUSTRALIA. 


701 


from  sivin"  thorn  thn  allghtcat  ground  ovoii 
to  su.s))i'ct  that  \vu  looked  on  tlicin  otlierwine 
thiui  as  tVieniU.  As  soon  as  tlicy  thouglit 
tlii'V  had  us  ill  their  power,  tlicy  began  to 
throw  spears  lU  us,  so  I  put  ii"  ritle-hullet 
tlirough  tlie  slioulder  of  tiie  man  who  tlirew 
at  us,  to  teaeh  him  th(!  danger  of  interfering 
with  supposed  helpless  boats,  l>ut  did  not  (Ire 
again.  The  wf)unded  man  was  led  on  shon; 
by  one  of  Ids  mates,  and  wo  were  not  mo- 
lested again. 

"These  people  are  very  capricious.  They 
have  tlic  cunning  and  the  strong  passions  of 
men.  but  in  reason  (hoy  are  only  children. 
Life  is  not,  held  sacred 'by  them,"  and,  when 
their  thir.-ft  for  blood  is  raised,  they  revel  in 
cruelty." 

These  Australian  canoes,  with  outriggers 
altaclu'd,  indicate  a  Polynesian   origin,  as 
indeed  do  the   bows  and  arrows,  which  will 
be  fully  described   on  a  future  page.     The 
tobacco  pipes  in  use  in   that    |)art  of  Aus- 
tralia are   curious.    One  form  consists  of  a 
hollow  tube  as  thick  as  a  man's  arm,  stoi)ped 
at    the    ends    and    having  one    hole    near 
the   bottom   into  which   is    introduced    the 
stem  of  a  pipe,  and  another  hole  lU'ar  the 
top   through  which  the  smoke   is   imbibed. 
Their   use  of  the  pipe  is  rather  singular. 
When  a  party  desires   to  smoke,  the  chief 
man  lights  the  \npe,  i)laces  his  mouth  to  the 
orilice,   and    continually   inhales   until    the 
interior  of  the   hollow  stem   is  filled  with 
smoke.    The  bowl  is  then  removed,  and  the 
aperture  stopped  with  a  plug  which  is  kept 
in  readiness.     Tiie  (irst  snu)ker  closes  with 
his  thumi)  llio  hole  through  which  he  has 
been   imbibing   the  smoke,  and   jjasses  the 
pil)e  to  his  luiighbor,  who  ai)plies  his  lips  to 
the  hole,  (ills   his   lungs   with   smoke,   and 
then  passes  the  pijjc  to  tlu!  next  man.     In 
this  way,  the  tobacco  is  made  to  last  as  loii' 
as  possit)l(>,and  the  greatest  possible  aniounl 
ot  enj'oyinent  is  got  out  of  the  least  possible 
amount  of  material.    The  exterior  of  the 
stem  IS  generally  carved  into  tlu;  simple  i)at- 
tcrns  which  arc  found  on  nearly  all  Austra- 
lian weajions  and  implements. 

Bkfork  proceeding  furtlierwith  the  char- 
acter and  habits  of  the  natives,  we  will  (-ast 
a  glance  at  the  countrv  which  they  inhabit, 
and  the  peculiarities  wliich  have  contributed 
toward  forming  that  character. 

It  IS  a  very  strange  country,  as  stran'^e 
to  US  as  England  would  be  to  a  savage 
Au.stral.an.  Its  vegetable  and  animal  pro- 
ductions arc  most  remarkable,  and  arc  so 
stra!',4_e  that  when  the  earlier  vova>^ers 
brought  back  accounts  of  tlu-r  travels  tl.ey 
were  not  believed;  and  when  they  exhibited 
specunens  of  the  flora  and  fauna"  they  were 
accused  of  manufacturing  them  for  the  pur- 
pose of  deception. 

In  the  first  place,  with  a  single  exception 
the  mammalia  are  all  marsupials,  or  eden- 
tates.   The  solitary  exception  is  the  dini^o 


or  native  dog,  an  anlimd  whiidi  somewhat 
resembles  the  jackal,  but  is  altogether  u 
handsomer  animal.  VVIielher  it  be  Indiu- 
(■nous,  or  a  mere  variety;  of  the  dog  modi- 
fied by  long  residence  in  the  country,  is 
rather  doubtful,  though  the  best  zoi>logist'» 
incline  to  the  latter  oj)iiiioii,  and  say  that 
fh(!  marsii|)lal  type  alone  is  indigenous  to 
this  strange  ('ouiitiy.  Of  course  the  reader 
is  supposed  to  know  that  the  young  of  a 
marsupial  animal  is  born  at  a  very  early 
age,  and  attains  its  full  development  in 
a  Hupplcmentiuy  pouch  attached  to  the 
mother,  into  which  pouch  the  teats  open. 

The  animal  whicli  is  nujst  characteristic 
of  Australia  is;  thc^  kangaroo.  Of  this  sin- 
gular tyj)o  .some  forty  species  are  known, 
varying  m  size  from  lliat  of  a  tall  man  to 
that  of  a  mouse.  Some  of  them  arc  known 
as  kangaroos,  and  others  as  kangaroo-rats, 
but  the  type  is  the  same  iu  all.  As  their 
form  implies,  they  are  made  lt)r  leaping  over 
the  ground,  their  enormously  long  legs  and 
ma.sHivc  development  of  the  hind  quarters 
giving  tlu'iu  the  re(iiiisite  power,  while  their 
long  tails  serve  to  balance  them  as  they  i)ass 
through  the  air. 

^(^•irly  all  the  so-called  "rats"'  of  Aus- 
tralia belong  to  the  kangaroo  tribe,  though 
.some  are  members  of  otjier  marsupial  fami- 
lies. Here  I  may  mention  thai  the  nomen- 
clature of  the  colonists  has  caused  great 
perplexity  and  labor  to  iin'ipicnt  zoologists. 
Tlu-y  are  told  in  some  book.T  that  the  dingo 
is  the  only  Australian  animal  that  is  nofa 
marsupial  or  an  (^dentate,  and  yet  tb.ey  read 
in  books  of  travel  of  tlu^  bi'ar,"thc  monkey, 
the  badger,  the  wolf,  the  cat,  the  H(|uirrel, 
the  mole,  and  .so  forth.  The  fact  is,  that, 
with  the  natural  lo  iseuess  of  diclion  com- 
mon to  colonists  i'.fl  over  the  world,  the  im- 
migrants have  trans'erred  to  (heir  new  coun- 
try the  nomenclature  of  th  'Id.  To  the 
great  trouble  of  index-sean  rs,  ihere  is 
scarcely  a  i)art  of  the  worhl  inhabited  by 
our  colonist;)  where  Loudon,  Oxford,  Boston, 
and  fifty  other  jdaces  arc  not  multiplied. 
The  (irst  large  river  they  meet  they  arc 
sure  to  call  the  Thames,  a"iid  it  is  therefore 
to  be  expected  that  natural  history  should 
sutler  in  the  same  way  as  geograpliy. 

Thus,  should,  in  the  course  of  this  account 
of  Australia,  the  reader  come  across  a  pa.s- 
sage  quoted  from  .some  traveller  in  which 
the  monkey  or  bear  is  mentioned,  he  must 
remember  tliat  the  so-called  '-monkey"  and 
"bear"  are  identical,  and  that  the  animal 
in  question  is  neither  the  one  nor  the  other, 
hut  a  marsujdal,  known  to  the  natives  by 
the  name  of  koala,  and,  as  if  to  add  to  the 
confusion  of  names,  some  travellers  call  it 
the  sloth. 

The  so-called  "badger"   is   the  wombat, 
probably  called  a  badger  because  it  lives  In. 
holes  which  it  burrows  in  the  ground.    The 
Australian    "  wolf"    is    auulln'r    marsupial 
belonging  to  the  Dasyures,  and  the"cat'* 


*■! 


709 


AUSTRALIA. 


bolongH  to  tlic  mmo  proiin.  TIio  "  nqulrrolH  " 
nrc  nil  nmiNiipiiils,  and  by  ilglitH  iirt;  culled 
|)liiiliinKlNtM,  Mild  it  JH  to  tliiH  uroiip  that  thu 
kciidii  ifally  l)cl(>iij,'s.  An  to  tlic  •'  lu'dfjcho^r,"' 
it  Ih  thf  Hj)iny  aiil-catcr  or  ccliidiia,  and  llic 
"  nioh^  "  i«  tho  telcbmled  duck-bill  or  orni- 
tlioi'liyncliuH. 

Willi  few  pxccptions  thesn  animals  are 
not  caHily  cantiir.'d,  many  of  tliciu  lu'iiij; 
noctiirniif,  and  liidin;,'  in  luiriowH  or  hollow 
U-M'H  iiiiiil  (ho  Hhadi'H  of  iii),'lit  conceal  their 
nioveiiieiit.s;  whih^  othcrx  arc  no  Hhv,  active 
nnil  watcUtiil,  that  all  th(>  crall  of  the  hun- 
ter iiiiiHt  lie  tried  befori!  tliev  can  be  cap- 
tured. Much  tho  same  may  bo  said  of  the 
birds,  the  chief  of  which,  the  emu,  is  nearly 
ns  large  as  an  ostrich,  and  is  nuich  valued  by 
the  natives  as  food.  It  is  evident,  therefore, 
that  the  existence  of  these  peculiar  animals' 
must  exercise  ii strong  intluenccioii  the  char- 
ftcter  of  the  natives,  and  must  make  them 
more  active,  wary,  and  (piicksighted  than  the 
creatures  ou  which  tlicy  live. 


I     Possessing,  ns  ho  doos,  tho  most  minute 

I  lic(|uuiuljllice  with  every  veiretabh!  wlllch 
can  all'ord  him  food,  and  even  iTnowiiiK  where 
to  obtain  anieutiful  su|)plv  of  food  and  water 
in  a  land  where  an  Kuropeaii  could  not  tlnd 
u  particle  of  iinything  eatable,  nor  discover  a 
drop  of  inoisturc  in  the  dry  and  parched  ex- 
panse, the  Australian  native  places  his  chief 
reliance  on  animal  food,  and  supports  him- 
self almost  entirely  on  the  creatures  which 
he  kills,  n is  appetite  is  very  iiidiscriiniiiale; 
and  although  he  prefers  the  llesli  of  the  kan- 
garoo and  the  mgeon,  he  wi'l  devour  any 
beast,  bird,  reptile,  or  fish,  n;,  will  also  eiit 

II  considerable  numlier  of  d,  ■cts.  Conse- 
quentl^V  the  life  of  the  Australian  savage  is 
essentially  one  of  warliire,  not  against  his 
fellow-man,  but  against  the  lower  luiiuuils, 
and,  as  the  reader  will  sec  in  the  course  of 
the  following  [lagcs,  the  jiriinarv  object  of 
his  weapons  is  the  hunt,  and  war 'only  a 
secondary  use  to  wliich  tliey  arc  directed. 


CHAPTER  LXX. 


AUSTRALIA-  Continued. 


MANNBIW    AND    CrSTOMS     OK    TIIH     NATIVES -WIKSJ.    AND     OIINAMKNTS    OF    NOnTHFRN     ArSTnAIIA- 

MODK  OP   I.UKSSINO   THK   UA.H-TI.K    "  l.I -I.riU.I  " -TATTO,.,N..   ANI.  CICA  IHIZINr.  -  .-ATTKHN 

OKTHK  HCAUH-HKINIKI,  ION  OK  TIIK  VAltlOtrs  PATTKUNH  -  l-OMl-  ANI.  VANITV-TI.E  NnME- 
„ONK-NK.Kr.A<;KH-TI.K  ...UI.I.K  AN..  TAHSKI, -TATTOOH  ANI.  H.MUH  AMOV.  TMR  w/.MFN- 
T.IK,  TiniTLK.  H(AIl-III,„I  SIIOIM.I.KIIH  OP  TIIK  A.WUAMANH  -  INI.IKKK.IKNCI!  TO  DnKSH  -  TUFIB 
FIB  MANTLEH,  AND  TIIKIll  IHKM-TIIK  HKA-OKAHH  MANTLK-KOOD  OK  TIIK  AlHTI.  \I  1  X.Vh- 
VKOKTAIir.K  FOOD-MODE  OK  I'llOCnMN,.  BOOTg-TIIR  niVU-TI.K  NAHI.OO  fl-ANT  AND  ITH 
UHKH-TIIK  'nniKK  AND  WIM.m"  KXPKDl TD.N  -  T.IK  I...I,n.m.,  |,o<.T,  .T.4  imK  K...I  FOOD  XND 
nol-KMAKIN(l-s.:.,TK..I.ANRAN  WATK.l  HTOUK.rt  -  MO....UH(H,  AND  MODK  OK  COM.ErTINr.  T..F.M -- 
HA..D  WO..K  KOU  TDK  WOMKV- D.V.N.l  P..O.M  T..K  UAFT- nKLAXAT.ON  WI.KN  T.IPY  UBTiuV 
nOMK-COOK.NO  TIIK  MOLUS.H  AN..  (MUmTACKA- K.8.1  CATC  M.N«  WITH  UNK,  M-.T,  AND  HPKAU 
-.NSK,.T  FO0..-T.IK  ,.KK  CATaiKUS -TUEK  AND  KAUT.,  OI.ri.H,  AND  MODK  OK  .ATrillNO 
T.IKM-T.IK  IM.,KVA..-T.IR  Dl'OONO-.TS  LOCAMTIES.  AND  M<.DKH  OF  TAKINO  AND  lOOKINO 
IT-CAPTruiNO  AND  COOK.NO  TIIK  OI.KKN  Tl-HTLK -CUUIOUH  IJHK  O.-  THE  H.CK.NO  K.S.I- 
TAM.NO  T„K  TrHT,,K-T„K  .IAWK«I„M.  TI-UTLR,  AND  MODE  OK  OATC...N,.  IT-TUUT,...;  O.LAND 
DK.ED  K.,KH.,-HAI,K  OK  TOUTO,HE-H.,KM,-TWO  KOUMH  OK  A.-STUAI.IAN  OVKNS-  O  K  N,  AND 
KAT.N,.  HNAKE.-CAT,.,l,NO  TDK  HNAKE  AMVK-THE  0.OAK  AND  T..E  .l^JrZZ^O 
AND  1T8  CAITULB  -  SMALL  TRNAC.TV  OK  LIKE  -  A  8A  VOIIV  TOAHT. 


Wk  Will  now  proccpd  to  the  various  man- 
ners anil  riistoins  of  the  Australians  not 
separating,'  them  into  the  arbitrary  and  tluc- 
tuatin«  (listinetioiis  of  tribes,  but'deseribin-' 
as  brielly  as  is  eonsistent  wilh  justice  the 
most  interesting  of  their  habits,  and  men- 
tioninj?  those  cases  whei-e  any  particular 
custom  sc.'ins  to  be  confined  to  any  one 
tribe  or  district.  "^ 

We  have  in  the  illustration  No.  l,on  ]m<re 
707,  a  «ood  example  of  a  native  of  iVorth 
V,  e.stern  Australia.  The  sk*cli  was  kindly 
made  by  Afr.  T.  Haines.  A  p.-olllc  of  tho 
man  is  priveii,  m  order  to  show  the  peculiar 
contour  ol   the   face,  which,  as   the   rea.ler 

about  It,  the  boldly  prominent  no.se,  the  full 
heard,  and  (he  Ion j-  hair  fastened  up  in  a 
lop-knot  beinij  the  distinKuishinjj;  features 
1  ho  man  carries  in  his  belt  his  j.rovisions 
for  the  day,  namely,  a  snake  and  one  of  the 
ittle  kauijaroo-rats,  and  having  these  he 
knows  nr.  care,  though  of  course  ho  would 
prefer  larger  game. 

Kound  his  neck  may  be  seen  a  strin"' 
This  supports  an  ornament  which  haii'^s 
upon  his  breast.  Several  forms  of  this  oT- 
nament,  which  is  called  in  the  dupiioallve 


(703 


Australian  lanprnago  a  "dibbi-dibbi,"  aro 
employed,  anrl  there  are  in  my  collection 
tw(.    beautiful    spi-cimons    made    from   tho 

vV'.  r-C-''"  pearl-oyster.  The  ordinary 
•  ibbi-dibbi  is  fan-shaped,  and  does  not 
•lejwrt  very  much  from  tho  original  out|in(i 
ol  the  shell.  There  is,  however,  one  kind 
of  (libbi-dibbi  which  is  valued  exceedingly 
and  which  is  shaped  like  a  crescent,  flio 
specimen  in  my  possession  is  almost  aa 
large  as  a  cheese  plate,  and  must  have  been 
cut  from  an  enormous  shell,  economy 
whether  of  material  or  time,  not  bein-'  un- 
derstood by  these  savages.  Owiiv  to  the 
shape  of  the  shell,  it  is  slightly  convex,  and 
wa.s  worn  with  the  concave  side  next  the 
body. 

^fot  being  satisfied  with  the  natural 
smooth  polish  of  the  nacre,  the  native  has 
ornamented  the  dibbi-dibbi  with  a  Mmnlo 
but  tolerably  effective  pattern.  Along  tho 
margin  of  the  scooped  edge  he  has  bored 
two  i.arallcl  rows  of  small  and  shallow  holes 
about  half  an  inch  ajiart,  and  on  either  side 
of  each  row  he  has  cut  a  narrow  line.  From 
the  outer  line  he  has  drawn  a  series  of  scal- 
loped patterns  made  in  a  similar  flislilfin- 
simple  as  tliis  pattern  is,  its  eiiect  is 


704 


AUSTRALIA. 


really  remarkable.  The  man  has  evidently 
begun  a  more  elaborate  pattern  on  the  broad 
surface  of  the  shell,  but  his  mind  seems  to 
have  misgiven  him,  and  he  has  abandoned 
it.  Tile  coi'd  l)y  whiih  i  is  suspended  round 
tlic  neck  is  nearly  an  inch  wide,  and  is  made 
of  strnig  and  a  sort  of  rattan  plaited  to- 
gether. 

On  the  shoulder  of  the  man  may  be  seen 
a  number  of  raised  marks.  These  are  the 
sears  of  wounds  with  which  the  Australians 
are  in  the  hal)it  of  adorning  their  bodies, 
and  which  thcv  sometimes  wear  in  "^reat 
profusion.  The'  marks  are  made  by  cuUiii"- 
deeply  into  the  skin,  and  tilling  the  wounds 
with  clay  and  otlier  substances,  so  that 
when  the  wound  heals  an  elevated  scar  is 
made.  These  scars  are  made  in  i)atterns 
which  partly  ditfer  according  to  the  taste  of 
the  individual,  and  partlv  signifving  the  dis- 
trict to  whii'h  the  tattooed  person'  belou"s. 
For  example,  the  scars  as  shown  in  tTie 
illustration  are  the  mark  of  a  Northern 
Australian;  and,  although  he  may  have 
plenty  other  scars  on  his  body  and  limbs, 
these  will  always  ai)pcar  on  hi,s  shoulder  as 
the  distinguishing  mark  of  his  tribe. 

In  my  photograjjlis,  which  represent  na- 
tives i'rom  various  j)arts  of  the  continent, 
these  scars  are  very  iironiinent,  and  there 
IS  not  an  individual  who  does  not  possess 
them.  Some  have  them  running  longitu- 
dinally down  the  ni)i)er  arm,  while  others 
have  them  alternately  longitudinal  and  trans- 
verse. They  oeeasionallv  appear  on  the 
breast,  and  an  old  man,  remarkable  for  the 
quantity  of  hair  which  covered  his  breast  and 
arms,  has  disposed  them  in  n  fan  shaiie, 
Bpreading  from  the  centre  of  the  body  td 
(he  arms.  He  ha.'  evidently  spent  a 'vast 
amount  of  time  on  tiiis  adornment,  and  suf- 
fered eoiisideralile  jtain,  as  sears,  although 
not  so  large  as  in  many  other  instances,  a'l-e 
exceedingly  numerous';  theniini  has  adorned 
his  arms  and  shoulders  with  little  sears  of 
the  same  oharaeter  arranged  in  regular 
lines. 

In  some  parts  of  An.stralia  the  sears  as- 
sume a  much  more  formidable  ai>i)earance, 
being  long  and  heavy  ridges.  One  chief, 
who  was  very  jiroud  of  his  adornments,— 
as  well  he  might  be.  seeing  that  their  pos- 
session must  nearly  have  cost  him  his  life.— 
was  entirely  covered  from  his  neek  to  his 
knees  with  sears  at  least  an  inch  broad,  set 
closely  togci her,  and  coveriii!,'  the  whole  of 
the  body.  The  fnmt  of  the  chest  and  stom- 
ach was  adorned  with  two  rows  of  these 
sears,  each  sear  being  curved,  and  reacliin<>- 
from  the  side  to  the  centre  of  the  body, 
where  they  met.  The  man  was  so  inord'i- 
nately  ])roud  of  this  ornament  that  nothing 
could  induce  him  to  wear  clothing  of  any 
kind,  and  he  stalked  about  in  his  grandeur, 
wearing  nothing  but  his  weapims.  The 
photogra[)h  of  tl'is  man  has  a  very  sinsular 
aspect,  the  light  falling  on    the"  poirshed 


ridge  of  the  sears  having  an  effect  as  if  he 
were  clad  in  a  suit  of  some  strani,'e  armor. 

By  way  of  adding  to  the  beauty  of  their 
countenances,  they  are  in  the  liabit  of  per- 
forating the  septum  of  the  nose,  ami  of 
t  irustiiig  through  it  a  i)iece  of  boiu!  or  stick, 
the  loriner  being  preferred  on  account  of  its 
whitenes.s.  It  is  ahnost  impossible  to  de- 
scribe the  exceedingly  grotesque  a|i]iearance 
presented  by  an  Australian  dandy,  who  has 
his  body  covered  with  scars,  aii'd  his  face 
crossed  by  a  wide  piece  of  Ixme  some  six 
inches  in  length,  making  his  naluiallv  broad 
nose  wider,  and  seeming  as  it  were  lo'Cuthis 
lace  in  half.  The  hole  throiiiih  which  this 
ornament  is  thrust  is  made  when  a  child  is  a 
fortnight  old. 

As  to  other  ornaments,  thev  consist  of  the 
usual  necklaces,  bracelets,  and  anklets  which 
are  common  to  savage  tribes  in  ail  parts  of 
the  world.  Some  of  these  necklaces  which 
are  in  my  collection  are  r(>allv  in'etty,  and 
some  skill  is  shown  in  their  nianuliieture. 
One  is  made  of  i)ie(  es  of  yellow  reed  as  thick 
as  quills  and  almost  an  inch  in  leuiilh,  strung 
alternately  with  scarlet  reeds;  another  is 
made  entirely  of  the  same  reeds,  while  a 
third  is,  in  my  oj)inion,  the  handsomest, 
though  not  the  most  striking  of  them.  At 
first  sight  it  ajjjiears  to  be  made  entirelv  of 
the  reeds  already  mentioiu'd,  but  (ui  a  closer 
examination  it  fs  seen  to  be  composed  en- 
tirely of  the  antennre  of  lobsters,  cut  into 
short  lengths  and  strung  together.  To 
the  necklaces  is  attached  a'small  mother-of- 
pearl  dibl>i-dibbi  four  inches  long  and  one 
inch  wide,  and  the  ]>ieces  of  lobster  antenna) 
are  so  disposed  that  the  thinner  parts  of  the 
antenna},  taken  from  the  extremities,  come 
next  to  the  dibbi-dibbi  and  haiii:  on  the 
breast,  while  the  larger  and  thicker  jiarls, 
taken  from  the  base  of  the  antenme,  come 
on  the  neck.  The  native  basket  in  which 
these  necklaces  won:  kept  is  more  than  half 
tilled  with  bright  colored  seeds  of  various 
hues,  that  are  evidently  intended  for  the 
manufacture  of  necklaces. 

(iirdles  of  finely  twisted  human  l.air  are 
often  worn  by  the  men.  and  the  native  who 
is  represented  in  the  eiigraviiii,'  No.  ],  on 
l)age  7(»7,  is  Wearing  one  of  these  -rirdles. 
Sometimes,  as  in  the  present  iiisliinee,  a 
small  tassel  made  of  the  hair  of  a  phalan- 
gist  or  "flving-s(piirrel,"'  as  it  is  wrongly 
termed,  is  hung  to  the  front  of  the  girdle, 
by  no  means  as  a  covering,  but  as  an  orna- 
ment. 

The  scars  are  so  highly  valued  that  the 
women  wear  them  nearly 'as  piofiis(dvas  the 
in<-n.  In  my  photographs,  there  are  por- 
traits of  many  women  of  all  ages,  not  one  of 
whom  is  without  sears.  They  do  not  wear 
them  so  large  !is  the  men,  but  s<'em  to  be 
more  careful  in  the  regularity  of  the  pat- 
tern. 

Taking  a  Pc-ri<-s  of  three  women,  the  first 
has  three  cuts  on  the  shoulder,  showing  her 


northern  extraction,  and  a  row  of  small  hor- 
izontol  an.l  parallel  sears  alonjj  the  W  of 
Hie  body  freni  th.,  breast-bone  dowmvard 
The  second,  m  addition  to  the  should  ™s 

Drcast  to  the  collar-bones,  torrether  with  i 
central  hue  as  ah-cady  <le.scribed,  and  some 
similar  rows  of  cuts  on  the  ribs  and  sS 
The  third  woman,  a  mere  girl  of  fourteen  oi^ 
80,  has  been  very  careful  in  the  arrangement 
of  the  scars,  ivhich  descend  in  regular  and 
parallel  rows  from  the  breast  down  ward  and 
then  radiate  fan-wise  in  six  rows  from' the 
breast  upward  to  the  collar  hones. 

Mr.  M  Gillivray,  who  accompanied  II.  M. 
b.  EatlJcmal-c  in  her  voyage,  writes  as  fol- 
lows  concerning  the  scar  ornaments  and 
their  uses:  _;"riie  Torres  Straits  islanders 
are    distinguished  by  a  large  complicated 
oval  scar,  only  slightly  rais,ul,  and  of  nca 
construction.    This,  which  1  hive  been  to  d 
has  some  connection  with  a  turllc,  occ^ipii 
the  right  shoulder,  and  is  occasionally  re- 
peated on  the  left.    (See  en-rravinT  -xt  tclt 
of  page  722.)    At  C,lpe  Y<S  hm^v^r  °ho 
cicatrices  were  so  varied  tha    I  eoiild' rwt 

vrallrir^'^Af.?''-'''-  ■'*'■>"''.  ^""»  ^^ 
nle     ,n  r       -A*  *''"  ■"'""''  ""X^.  something 

K.itchialaigas,  nearly  all  of  whom  had  in 
addition  to  the  horned  breast  n wk  two  or 
three  long  transverse  scars  on  he  chest 
Which  he  other  tribes  did  n-.t  possess.  ' 
m.,i"  °  remaining  people  the  variety  of 
marking  was  such  that  it  appeared  fiir  to 
consider  it  as  being  regulated 'more  by  n,^? 
vidual  caprice  than  by   any  fixed   custo 

^y.\^!t"  .n  r""  ^--'--"1  mark  on 
Tho^,  ,  '  ""'1  ^^'^  S'lmetimes  saw  upon 
then  a  clumsy  imitation  of  the  elaborate 
shoulder  mark  of  the  islanders."  ''*'''°^'^*'' 
\\^ell-shai)ca  as  are  these  women  thev 
have  one  defect  in  form,  namelv  the  hi-ll 
and  square  shoulder,  which  cS^ts  so  nS 
from  feminine  beauty,  and  which  Tseqrhv 
conspicuous  in  the  child  of  six,  the  <?ir    of 

oaya  t  is  soinntinies  dressed.     The  «fvlo  nf 
hair-dress  n<>-  viiir>s  «.ifi>  A      yn  style  ot 

into  long  and  narrow  rn^es   and  i^^  m'^ 
savase  shoiil.l  net  i„.„.. '„^^'?'  '*"'''  '^  the 


THE  TURTLE  SCAR 


70S 


^J^\  ""V^  ""'  P^'"'  Of  Australia  never 
wear  any  dress,  and  the  women  are  olten 
7Tl\  '"'"«^rent  to  costume.  At  Cane 
iTork  however,  they  mostly  wear  an  anol! 
ogy  for  a  pelticoat,%onsisting  of  a  tuKf 
long  grass  or  split  pandanm  leaves  sus- 
pended to  the  front  of  the  girdle.  On^rea 
occasions,  and  especially  in  their  dances 
they  wear  over  this  a  second  nettS 
mostly  made  of  some  leaf'and  havhS  the 

mJeHT"?  1^°  ^  '".•■'  °f  waistband  °Tho 
material  of  the  pett  coat  is  "enerallv  nVn 

chnus  leaf,  but,  Whatever  ml/be  theS-" 
ml,  the  mode  of  plaiting  it  and  the  general 
form  arc  the  same  among  all  the  tribes^ 
Torres  Straits.  From  this  useful  eaf  the 
women  also  make  the  rude  sails  for  their 
canoes,  which  serve  the  double  purpose  of 
sails  and  coverings  under  which  the  atWes 
can  sleep  in  wet  weather.  "auves 

The  women  have  rather  a  curious  mode  of 
wearing  one  of  their  ornaments.    ThU  is  a 
very  long  belt,  composed  of  manv  strands  of 
paied   or  twisted  fibre,  and  passed   round 
the  body  in  such  a  manner  that  it  crosses  on 
the  breast  ike  the  now  .abolished  cross-belts 
"f  the  soldier.    It  is  drawn  rather  ti-ht  and 
may  perhaps  be  of  some  service  in  .Support- 
ing the  bosom.    In  neither  case  docs  cloth- 
ing  seem  to  be  worn  as  a  mode  of  coiiceaU  I 
any  part  of  the  body,  but  morel  v  as  a    eSf 
against    the   weather  or  as  an   orn  ,mc  it 
Even  when  dress  is  worn  it  is  of  a  very  sli  'hi 
character,  with  one  or  two  exceptions  "^  These 
exceptions  are  the  fur  cloaks,  with  whicl  the 
Z'n^rir''"'"^'^  •"'•^'•^^  thomsel^s  an    a 

The  fur  cloaks  are  made  almost  universally 
from  the  skin  of  the  opossum,  an,    "Vie 
animal  is  a  small  one,  a  consitleiVb le  „  ,mber 
arc  sewed  together  to  make  a  si,  „"">?,„ 
Ihe  mode  of  manufacture  is  exact  y  si m  if; 
to  that  which  wasdescribed  wlufn  Katin"  of 
the  kaross  of  the  KafHr  tribes,  the  ski  s  be 
ing  cutto  the  proper  shape,  lai  1 .  ide  by  side" 
and  sewed  laboriously  toge  her  w j  h  &d ' 
formed  of  the  n.,ews\if  the  kan-a rooSi 
or  often  with  those  which  aredmwn  outoV 
the  tails  of  the  very  creatures  mC^^ 

Sometimes  a  piece  of  kangaroo  skin  is  used 

l.J-1'/;',^':. '""■''"•^^^''"'l  i"  neither  else 

on  I   a"  '  Tb  >  Tl  '^'  '"^  "^^^^  according^o 
oui  ideas,     ihe  cloak  is  a  very  small  one  in 

ivoZ°''l  V  1  *"  '^''.r'  °f  *'>«"-<>men  an     ti" 
woin  by  being  thrown  over  the  ba<'k  and 
tied  across  the  chest  by  a  couple  of    hon". 
corcV'Ttf"  "'""^^^■•?"'  oV  the'bolK  .• 
Skin  ot  the  kangaroo,  it    s  shin"  over  one 
shoulder,  and  allowe.l  to  fallmuchas  U  ikc^ 
the  only  object  seeming  to  he  that       shall         • 
cov.T  the  "rca'er  rir*  ^e  (!      I      1     'I'  snail 
fihnnlfi;  r    ^A  •^•'^r  r-»rt  ot  t!i(;  back  and  one 

el,Z  .  V  Z'^"''*'''""*''-^  "■  '»«•>  «ears  a  fur 
cloak,  but  he  seems  to  be  very  indifferei  t  m 
to  the  manner  in  which  it  hangs  upon  hU 


:  I 


f 


I  i 


'  I 


706 


AUSTRALIA. 


body,  sometimes  draping  it  about  his  shoul- 
ders, sometimes  ktting  it  fall  to  liis  waist 
and  gathering  it  about  liis  loins,  and  some- 
times, especially  if  walking,  holding  two  cor- 
ners together  with  his  left  hand  in  front  of 
his  breast,  while  his  right  hand  grasps  his 
bundle  of  weajions. 

Mr.  Angas  mentions  one  instance  of  a  sin- 
gularly peri'oct  dress  in  use  among  the  Aus- 
tralians —  the  only  dress  in  fact  that  is  really 
deserving  of  the  name.  It  is  a  large  cloak 
made  from  the  zostera  or  sea  grass,  a  plant 
that  is  remarkable  for  being  the  only  true 
flowering  plant  that  grows  inlhe^ea.  It  has 
very  long  grass-like  blades,  and  is  found  in 
vast  beds,  tlict  look  in  a  clear  sea  like  lux- 
uriant hay-fields  just  before  mowing. 

The  fibre  of  the  zostera  is  long,  and  won- 
derfully tough,  and  indeed  the  fibre  is  so 
good,  and  the  plant  so  abundant,  tliat  the 
uses  to  which  it  is  now  put,  such  as  packing 
and  stuffing,  are  far  below  its  capabilities,  and 
it  ought  to  be  brouglit  into  use  for  purposes 
for  which  a  long  and  strong  fibre  arc  needed. 
Some  time  ago,  when  the  supply  of  rags  for 
paper  seemed  to  be  failing,  there  was  an  at- 
tempt made  to  substitute  the  zostera  tor  rags; 
and,  altliough  it  was  not  a  perfectly  success- 
ful experiment,  it  had  at  all  events  the  ele- 
ments of  success  in  it. 

With  this  lon,^  grass  the  Australian  native 
occasionally  makes  a  large  cloak,  which  will 
cover  the  whole  body.  It  is  made  by  laying 
the  fibres  side  by  sicle,  and  lashing  them  to- 
gether at  regular  intervals,  much  as  the  well- 
known  New  Zealand  mantle  is  made  from 
the  phormium.  Anxious  to  avoid  trouble 
the  native  only  fastens  together  a  sufHcient 
quantity  to  make  a  covering  for  his  bo(ly  as 
lowivs  the  knees,  the  loose  ends  of  the  zostera 
being  left  as  a  kind  of  long  fringe  that  edges 
the  mantle  all  round,  and  really  has  a  very 
graceful  elfect. 

The  illustration  No.  2,  on  the  next  page, 
shows  one  of  those  curious  mantles,  which 
was  sketched  while  on  the  body  of  tlie  wearer. 
As  the  manufacture  of  such  a  mantle  in- 
volves much  trouble,  and  the  Australian  na- 
tive has  the  full  savage  hatred  of  labor,  verv 
few  of  these  cloaks  are  to  be  seen.  Indeed, 
nothing  but  a  rather  long  inclement  season 
will  induce  a  native  to  take  the  trouble  of 
making  a  garment  which  he  will  only  use 
for  a  comparatively  short  period,  and  which 
is  rather  troublesome  to  carry  about  when 
not  wanted. 


We  now  come  to  the  food  of  the  natives. 
As  has  already  been  stated,  thev  eat  almost 
anything,  but  there  are  certain  kinds  of  food 
which  they  prefer,  and  which  will  be  specially 
mentioned. 

As  to  vegetable  food,  there  are  several 
kinds  of  yams  which  the  more  civilized  tribes 
cultivate  — the  nearest  approach  to  labor  of 
which  they  can  be  accused.  Il  in  almost  ex- 
clusively on  the  islands  that  cultivation  is 


found,  and  Mr.  M'Gillivray  states  that  on  the 
mainland  he  never  saw  an  attempt  at  clear- 
ing the  ground  for  a  garden.  In  the  islands, 
however,  the  natives  manage  after  a  fashion 
to  raise  crops  of  yams. 

When  they  want  to  clear  a  piece  of  ground, 
they  strew  the  surface  with  branches,  which 
are  allowed  to  wither  and  di-y;  as  soon  as 
they  are  thoroughly  dried,  fire  is  set  to  them, 
and  thus  the  space  is  easily  cleared  from 
vegjtation.  The  ground  is  then  pecked  up 
with  a  stick  sharjiened  at  the  point  and  iiartl- 
ened  by  fire ;  the  yams  are  cut  up  and  planted, 
and  by  the  side  of  each  hole  a  stick  is  thrust 
into  the  ground,  so  as  to  form  a  sujjport  for 
the  plant  when  it  grows  up.  The  natives 
plant  just  before  the  rainy  season.  They 
never  trouble  themselves  to  build  a  fence 
round  the  simple  garden,  neither  do  they 
look  after  the  growth  of  the  crops,  knowing 
that  the  rains  which  are  sure  to  fall  will 
bring  their  crops  to  perfection. 

There  are  also  multitudes  of  vegetable  pro- 
ducts on  which  the  natives  feed.  One  of 
them,  which  is  largely  used,  is  called  by  them 
"biyu."  It  is  made  from  the  young  and 
tender  shoots  of  the  mangrove  tree.  The 
sprouts,  when  three  or  four  inches  in  length, 
are  laid  upon  heated  stones,  and  covered  witli 
bark,  wet  leaves,  and  sand.  After  being 
thoroughly  stewed,  they  are  beaten  between 
two  stones,  and  the  pulp  is  scraped  away 
from  the  fibres.  It  then  forms  a  slimy  gray 
paste,  and,  although  it  is  largely  eaten,  the 
natives  do  not  seem  to  like  it,  and  only  resort 
to  it  on  a  necessity.  They  contrive,  how- 
ever, to  improve  its  flavor"  by  adding  large 
quantities  of  wild  yams  and  other  vegetable 
products. 

Perhaps  the  most  celebrated  wild  food  of 
the  Australians  is  the  "  nardoo,"  which  has 
become  so  familiar  to  the  British  reader 
since  the  important  expedition  of  15urke  and 
Wills.  The  nardoo  is  the  produce  of  a  cryp- 
togamous  plant  which  grows  in  large  quan- 
ties,  but  is  rather  local.  The  fruit  is  about 
as  large  as  a  pea,  and  is  cleaned  for  use  by 
being  rubbed  in  small  wooden  troughs.  It 
is  then  pounded  into  a  paste,  and  made  into 
cakes,  like  oatmeal. 

The  nardoo  plant  is  one  of  the  ferns,  and 
those  of  my  readers  who  are  skilled  in  bot- 
any will  tind  it  in  the  genus  Marsilea. 
Like  many  of  the  ferns,  the  jilant  jiresents  a 
strangely  unfernlike  aspect,  consisting  of 
upright  and  slender  steins,  about  twelve 
inches  high,  each  having  on  its  tips  a  small 
quadruple  frond,  closely  resembling  a  flower. 
The  fruit,  or  "  sporocarp,"  of  the  nardoo  is 
the  part  that  is  eaten ;  and  it  is  remarkable 
for  Its  powers  of  ahsorbing  water,  and  so 
increasing  its  size.  Indeed,  when  the  fruit 
is  soaked  in  water,  it  will  in  the  course  of  a 
single  hour  swell  until  it  is  two  hundred 
times  its  former  size. 

Tiio  nardoo  is  usetul  in  its  way,  and,  when 
mixed  with  more  nutritious  food,  is  a  valu- 


1  ! 


3  that  on  the 

pt  at  clear- 

the  islands, 

;er  a  fashion 

c  of  ground, 
ches,  which 
as  soon  as 
set  to  them, 
learcd  from 
I  peeked  up 
it  and  iiam- 
ind  planted, 
ck  is  thrust 
snjjport  for 
rhc  natives 
ison.  They 
lild  a  fence 
ler  do  they 
IS,  knowing 
to  fall  will 

^etable  pro- 
d.  One  of 
led  by  them 
young  and 
tree.  The 
iS  in  length, 
)vercd  with 
.fter  being 
en  between 
ai)ed  away 
slimy  gray 
eaten,  the 
only  resort 
trive,  how- 
Iding  large 
r  vegetable 

ild  food  of 
which  has 
ish  reader 
'  JJurkeand 
('  of  a  cryp- 
lai'ge  quan- 
lit  is  about 
for  use  by 
•oughs.  It 
made  into 

■  ferns,  and 
ed  in  bot- 

Marsilea. 
jiresents  a 
isisting  of 
)ut  twelve 
ipa  a  small 
ig  a  flower. 

nardoo  is 
■eniarkable 
er,  and  so 
n  the  fruit 
;ourso  of  a 
>    hundred 

and,  when 
,  is  a  valu- 


2! 


> 
'A 
O 

> 


O 


C707) 


i  I 


ai 


th 
to 


SUBTERRANEAi<f  WATER  STORES. 


709 


able  article  of  diet    Taken  alone,  however, 
It  has  scarcely  the  slightest  nutritive  powers 
and  though  it  distends  the  stomach,  and  so 
ki-nps  oflf  the  gnawing  sense  of  hunger,  it 
gives  no  strength  to  the  system.    Even  when 
eaten  with  fish,  it  is  of  little  use,  and  re- 
quires either  fat  or  sugar  to  give  it  the  due 
power  of  nourishment.    With  the  wonderful 
brightness  of  spirit  which  Mr.  Wills  managed 
to  keep  up,  even  when  suffering  the  severest 
hardships,    and    feelinjj   himself  gradually 
dying,  he  gives  in  his  diary  a  curiously  accu- 
rate picture  of  the  effects  of  living  fora'lencth 
of  time  on  an  innutritious  substance,     lie 
liked  the  nardoo,  and  consumed  considerable 
quantities  of  it,  but  gradually  wasted  away 
leaving  a  record    in  his  diarv  that  "star- 
vation on  nardoo  is  by  no  means  unpleas- 
ant but  for  the  weakness  one  feels,  and  the 
utter  inability  to  rouse  one's  self;  for  as  far 
as  appetite  is  concerned,  it  gives  the  greatest 
satisfaction." 

The  death  of  this  fine  voung  man  affords 
another  jiroof  of  the  disadvantage  at  which  a 
stranger  to  the  countrv  is  placed  while  trav- 
ersing a  new  land,  ilanv  native  tribes  lived 
on  the  route  along  which  the  travellers 
passed,  and,  from  their  knowledge  of  the 
resources  of  the  country,  were  able  to  sup- 
port themselves;  whereas  the  white  travel- 
lers seem  to  have  died  of  starvation  in  the 
Tnidst  of  plenty. 

The  chief  vegetable  food,  however,  is  fur- 
bished by  the  bulrush  root,  which  is  to  the 
Austrahans  who  live  near  rivers  the  staff 
ot  life.  As  tlu  lask  of  procuring  it  is  a 
very  disagreeable  one,  it  is  handed  over  to 
the  women,  who  have  to  wade  among  the 
reeds  and  half  bury  themselves  in  mud  while 
procuring  the  root. 

It  is  cooked  after  the  usual  Australian 
manner.  A  heap  of  limestones  is  raised, 
and  heated  by  fire.  The  roots  are  then  laid 
on  the  hot  stones,  and  are  covered  with  a 
layer  of  the  same  material.  In  order  to  pro- 
duce a  quantity  of  steam,  a  heap  of  wet 
grass  IS  thrown  on  the  upper  layer  of  stones 
and  a  mound  of  sand  heaped  over  all. 

As  the  root,  however  well  cooked,  is  very 
fibrous  the  natives  do  not  swallow  it,  but 
after  chewing  it  and  extracting  all  the  soft 
parts,  they  reiect  the  fibres,  just  as  a  sailor 
throws  a.side  bis  exhausted  quid;  and  great 
quantities  of  these  little  balls  of=  fibre  are  to 
be  found  near  every  encampment.  The 
same  fibre  is  convertible  into  stiin^  and  is 
S  '"        manufacture  of  fishing  fines  and 

The  singular  knowledge  of  vegetable  life 
possessed  by  the  natives  is  never  displaved 
with  greater  force  than  in  the  power  wliich 
they  have  of  procuring  water.  In  nn  appar- 
ently desert  place,  where  no  signs  of  water 
are  to  be  found,  and  where  not  even  n 
pigeon  can  be  seen  to  wing  its  way  through 
the  air,  aa  the  guide  to  the  distant  water 
toward  which  it  is  dying,  the  native  will 


manage  to  supply  himself  with  both  water 
and  food. 

He  looks  out  for  certain  eucalypti  or  gum- 
trees,  which  are  visible  from  a  very  great 
distance,  and  makes  his  way  toward  them. 
Choosing  a  spot  at  three  or  four  yards  from 
the  trunk,  with  hib  katta  he  digs  away  at  the 
earth,  so  as  to  expose  the  roots,  tears  them 
out  of  the  ground,  and  proceeds  to  prepare 
them.  Cutting  them  into  pieces  of  a  foot  or 
so  m  length,  he  stands  them  upright  in  the 
bark  vessel  which  an  Australian  mostly  car- 
nes  with  him,  and  waits  patie^tly.  Pres- 
ently a  few  drops  of  water  ooze  from  the 
lower  ends  of  the  roots,  and  in  a  short  time 
water  pours  out  freely,  so  that  an  abundant 
supply  of  liquid  is  obtained. 

Should  the  native  be  very  much  parched 
he  takes  one  of  the  pieces  of  root,  splits  it 
lengthwise,  and  chews  it,  finding  that  it 
gives  as  much  juice  as  a  water-melon.  The 
youngest  and  freshest-looking  trees  are  al- 
ways chosen  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 
water,  and  the  softest-looking  roots  selected 
Afler  the  water  has  all  been  drained  froiii 
them,  they  are  pealed,  pounded  between  two 
stones,  and  then  roasted;  so  that  the  euca- 
lyptus supplies  both  food  and  drink. 

As,  however,  as  has  been  stated,  the  chief   • 
reliance  of  the  natives  is  upon  animal  food 
and  fish,  molluscs,  Crustacea,  reptiles,  and 
insects  form  c  very  considerable  proportion 
of  their  food.    Collecting  the  shell-fish  is  the 
[  duty  of  the  women,  chiefly  because  it  is 
really    hard    work,  and    requires    a    great 
amount  of  diving.    Throughout  the  whole 
of  tins  vast  continent  this  duty  is  given  to 
the  women;  and  whether  in  the' Gulf  of  Car- 
pentaria, on  the  extreme  north,  or  in  the 
island  of  Van  Diemen's  Land,  in  the  ex- 
treme   south,    the    same   custom    prevails. 
Dunng  Labillardiore's  voyage  in  search  of 
La  Perouse,  the  travellers  came  upon  a  party 
of  the  natives  of  Van  Diemen's  Land  while 
the  women  were  collecting  shell-fish,  and 
the  author  ^ives  a  good  description  of  the 
labors  to  which  these  poor  creatures  were 
subjected:  — 

"About  noon  we  saw  them  prepare  thein 
repast.    Hitherto  we  had  but  a  faint  idea  of 
the  pains  the  women  take  to  procure  the 
food  requisite  for  the  subsistence  Of  their 
families.     They  took  each  a  baskot,  and 
were  followed  by  their  daughters,  uho  did 
the  same.    Getting  on  the  rocks  that  pro- 
jected  into  the  sea,  they  plunged  from  them 
to  the  bottom  in  search  of  shell-fish.    When 
they  hafl  been  down  some  time,  we  became 
very  uneasy  on  their  account;  for  where 
they  had  dived  were  seaweeds  of  great  len"-th 
among  which  we  observed  the  fucus  nyrifl 
erm,  and  we  feared  that  they  might  have 
been  entangled  in  these,  so  as  to  be  unable      ' 
to  resTftin  the  suvf^"*n. 

"At  length,  however,  they  appeared,  and 
convinced  us  that  they  were  capable  of  re- 
maining under  water  twice  as  long  as  our 


710 


AUSTRALIA. 


I 


^    if 


,1 

1!    i 


ablest  divers.  An  instant  was  sufficient 
for  them  to  take  brcatli,aiul  then  they  dived 
again.  Tliis  tliey  did  repeatedly  till  thoir 
baskets  were  nearly  full.  Most  of  them 
were  provided  with  a  little  bit  of  wood,  cut 
into  the  shape  of  a  spatula,  and  with  those 
they  separated  from  beneath  the  rocks,  at 
great  depths,  very  large  sea-ears.  Perhaps 
they  chose  the  biggest,  for  all  they  brought 
were  of  a  great  size. 

"  On  seeing  the  large  lobsters  which  they 
had  in  their  baskets,  we  were  afraid  that 
thejf  must  have  wounded  these  poor  women 
terribly  with  their  large  claws;  but  we  soon 
found  that  they  had  taken  the  precaution  to 
kill  them  as  soon  as  they  caught  them. 
They  quitted  the  water  only  to  bring  their 
husbands  the  fruits  of  their  labor,  and  fre- 
quently returned  almost  inimediatelv  to  their 
diving  till  they  had  procured  a  sufficient  meal 
for  their  families.  At  other  times  they 
stayed  a  little  while  to  warm  themselves, 
with  their  faces  toward  the  fire  on  which 
their  fish  was  roasting,  and  other  little  fires 
burning  behind  them,  that  thoy  might  be 
warmed  on  all  sides  at  once. 

''  It  seemed  ns  if  they  were  unwilling  to 
lose  a  moment's  time;  "for  while  they  were 
warming  themselves,  they  were  employed  in 
roasting  fish,  some  of  which  they  laid  on  the 
coals  with  the  utmost  caution,  though  they 
took  little  care  of  the  lobsters,  which  they 
threw  anywhere  into  the  fire;  and  when 
tliey  were  ready  they  divided  the  claws 
among  the  men  and  the  children,  reserving 
the  body  for  themselves,  which  thev  some- 
times ate  before  returning  into  the  water. 

"It  gave  us  great  pain  to  see  these  poor 
women  condemned  to  such  severe  toil; 
while,  at  the  same  time,  thev  ran  the  hazard 
of  being  devoured  by  sharks,  or  entangled 
among  the  weeds  that  rise  from  the  bottom 
of  the  sea.  We  often  entreated  their  hus- 
bands to  take  a  share  in  their  labor  at  least, 
but  always  in  vain.  They  remained  con- 
stantly near  the  fire,  feasting  on  the  best 
bits,  and  eating  broiled  fucus,  or  fern-roots. 
Occasionally  they  took  the  trouble  to  break 
boughs  of  trees  mto  short  jjieces  to  feed  the 
fire,  taking  care  to  choose  the  dryest. 

*'From  their  manner  of  breaking  them 
we  found  that  their  skulls  must  bo  very 
hard;  for,  taking  hold  of  the  sticks  at  each 
end  with  the  hand,  they  broke  them  over 
their  heads,  as  we  do  at  the  knee,  till  they 
broke.  Their  heads  being  constantly  bare, 
and  often  exposed  to  all  weathei-s  in  this 
high  latitude,  acquire  a  capacity  for  resisting 
such  efforts:  besides,  their  hair  forms  a 
cushion  which  diminishes  the  pressure,  and 
renders  it  much  less  painful  ou  tho  summit 
of  the  head  than  any  other  part  of  the  body. 
Few  of  the  women,  however,  could  have 
done  as  much,  for  some  had  their  hair  cut 
pretty  short,  and  wore  a  string  several  times 
round  the  head;  other.s  Jmd  only  a  simple 
crown  of  hair.    We  made  the  same  observa- 


tion with  respect  to  several  of  tho  children, 
but  none  of  the  men.  These  had  the  back, 
breast,  shoulders,  and  arms  covered  with 
downy  hair." 

Sometimes  a  party  of  women  will  go  out 
on  a  raft  made  of  layers  of  reeds,  pushing 
themselves  along  by  means  of  very  long 
poles.  When  they  arrive  at  a  bed  of  mus- 
sels, tliey  will  stay  there  nearly  all  day  div- 
ing from  the  raft,  with  their  nets  tied  round 
their  necks,  and,  after  remaining  under  water 
for  a  considerable  time,  come  up  with  a 
heavy  load  of  mussels  in  their  nets. 

They  even  manage  to  cook  upon  this  fragile 
raft  They  make  a  heap  of  wet  sand  upon 
the  reeds,  put  a  few  stones  on  it,  and  build 
thoir  fire  on  the  stones,  just  as  if  they  had 
been  on  shore.  After  remaining  until  they 
have  procured  a  large  stock  of  mussels,  they 
pole  themselves  ashore,  and  in  all  probability 
have  to  spend  several  hours  in  cooking*  the 
mussels  for  tho  men.  The  mussels  are  usually 
eaten  with  the  bulrush  root. 

There  is  a  sort  of  crayfish  which  is  found 
in  the  mud-fiats  of  rivers  and  lakes.  These 
are  also  caught  by  the  women,  who  feel  for 
them  in  the  mud  with  their  feet,  and  hold 
them  down  firmly  until  thoy  can  be  seized 
by  the  hand.  As  soon  as  the  creatures  are 
taken,  the  claws  are  crushed  to  prevent  them 
from  biting,  and  they  are  afterward  roasted, 
while  still  alive,  on  "the  embers  of  the  fire. 
Tadpoles  are  favorite  articles  of  diet  with  the 
Australians,  who  fry  them  on  grass. 

The  ordinary  limpet,  mussel,  and  other 
molluscs,  are  largely  eaten  by  the  natives, 
who  scoop  them  out  by  moans  of  smaller 
shells,  just  as  is  done  by  boys  along  our  own 
coasts  —  a  jdan  which  "is  very  efficacious,  as 
I  can  testily  from  personal  experience. 
Sometimes  they  cook  the  molluscs  by  the 
simple  process  of  throwing  them  on  tlio 
embers,  but  as  a  general  rule  they  eat  them 
in  a  raw  state,  as  wo  eat  oysters. 

Fish  they  catch  in  various  ways.  The 
usual  method  is  by  a  hook  and  lino;  the 
former  of  which  is  ingeniously  cut  out  of  the 
shell  of  the  hawksbill  turtle.  Two  of  these 
hooks  are  now  before  mo,  and  raise  a  feel- 
ing of  wonder  as  to  the  fish  which  could  be 
induced  to  take  such  articles  into  its  mouth. 
It  is  flat,  very  clumsily  made,  and  there  is 
no  barb,  the  point  being  curved  very  much 
inward,  so  as  to  prevent  the  fish  from  slip- 
ping off  the  hook.  In  fact  the  whole  shape 
of  the  hook  is  almost  exactly  identical  with 
that  of  the  hook  which  is  found  throughout 
Polynesia  and  extends  to  New  Zealand. 

The  hook  is  fastened  to  a  long  and  stout 
line,  made  by  chewing  reeds,  stripping  them 
into  fibres,  and  rolling  them  on  the  thighs. 
Two  of  these  strings  are  then  .  ■■sted  to- 
gether, and  the  line  is  complete.  My  own 
specimen  of  a  lino  is  about  as  thick  as  the  fish- 
ing lines  used  on  our  coasts,  .ind  it  is  very 
long,  having  a  hook  at  either  end.  The 
hook  is  lashed  to  the  line  by  a  very  firm  but 


BEE  HUNTING. 


rather  clumsy  wrapping,     fiometinies  the 
lino  iH  made  of  scniped  i-attan  ttbres. 

Another  mode   of  fishing  is  by  the  net. 
nils  requires  at  least  two  men  to  manage  it. 
The  net  is  many  feet  in  length,  and  about 
four  feet  in  width;    It  is  kept  extended  bv  a 
number  of  sticks  i)laced  a  yard  or  so  apart, 
and  can  then  be  rolled  up  in  a  Qyliiidrical 
package   and   be  taken  to  tlie  water.    One 
m:iri  then  takes  an  eild  of  the  net,  unrolls  it 
and  with  the  assist.ince  of  his  comrade  drops' 
it  into  the  water.    As  soon  as  the  lower 
edge  of  the  net  touches  the  bottom,  the  men 
wadi)  toward  the  shore,  drawing  with  them 
the  two  ends  of  the  net  and  all  the  fish  that 
happen  to  be  within  its  range.    As  soon  as 
they  near  the  shore,  they  bring  the  two  ends 
of  till!  net  to  the  land,  fix  them  there,  and 
are  then  able  to  pick  up  and  throw  ashore 
ali  the  fish  that  are  in  the  net.    Some  of  the 
move  active  fish  escape  by  leaping  over  the 
upper  edge  of  the  net,  and  some  of  the  mud- 
loving  and  crafty  wriggle  their  way  under 
the  lower  edge;  but  there  is  always  a  suffi- 
ciency of  fish  to  reward  the  natives  for  their 
labor. 

Like  the  fishing  line,  the  net  is  made  of 
chewed  reeds,  and  the  labor  of  chewing  and 
twisting  the  string  belongs  exclusivelv  to  the 
women.  •' 

A  tliiid  mode  of  fishing  is  by  einployin'r 
cert!)  11  traps  orb;iskets,  ingeniously  woven 
of  rattan,  and  made  so  that  the  fish  can  easily 
pass  into  them,  but  cannot  by  any  posaibilitv 
got  out  again.  Sometimes  fish  are  speared 
in  tlie  shallow  water,  the  native  wadin"  in 
an.  with  unerring  aim  transfixing  tho^fish' 
Willi  his  spear.  Even  the  children  take  part 
in  tills  sport,  and,  though  armed  witli  noth- 
ing better  than  a  short  stick,  sharpened  at 
one  end,  contrive  to  secure  their  fish.  With 
tlie  same  stick  they  dig  molluscs  out  of  the 
mud,  and  turn  Crustacea  out  of  their  holes- 
and  when  they  can  do  this,  they  are  sunnosed 
to  be  able  to  shift  for  themselves,  and  their 
parents  take  no  more  trouble  about  feedin"' 
them.  =" 

They  are  not  more  fastidious  in  the  cook- 
ing olhsh  than  of  Crustacea  or  molluscs,  but 
just  throw  them  on  the  fire,  turn  them  once 
or  twice  with  a  stick,  and  when  they  are 
warmed  through  and  the  outeide  .scorched' 
they  pick  them  out  of  the  Are,  scrape  off  the' 
burnt  scales,  and  eat  them  without  further 
ceremony.  uiun-i  | 

Insect'food  is  much  used  among  the  Aus- 
traluans.  As  might  be  expected",  honey  is 
grealy  valued  by  them,  ami  th^y  display 
great  ingenuity  in  procuring  it.  When  a 
native  sees  a  bee  about  the  flowers,  and 
Wishes  to  find  the  honey,  he  repairs  to  the 
nearest  pool,  selects  a  spot  where  the  bank 
shelves  very  gradually,  lies  on  his  face,  fills 
his  mouth  with  water,  and  patiently  aVait« 
the  arrival  of  a  bee.  These  insect/require 
a  «>.nsu.er.=t»:e  amouut  of  moisture,  as  every 
one  knows  who  lias  kept  them,  and  the  bee- 


711 


hnnter  reckons  on  this  fact  to  procure  him 
the  honey  which  he  desires.  Arterawhi™ 
hl?JV^^  to  come  and  drink,  and  the 
hunter,  hearing  the  insect  approaching  him 
retains  his  position  and  scarcely  breatKes,  w 
fearftjl  is  he  of  a  arming  it    At  last  it  alight^ 

?rni  f?'""*'y.."*°  "*"^«  ^''o^s  the  water 
Irom  Ins  mouth  over  it,  stunning  it  for  the 
moment  Before  it  can  recover  itself,  he 
seizes  It,  and  by  means  of  a  little  gum  at! 

Sm  Li^f  H  *l'*^  °^  ^^''*^  •'""''^  «'^t»ined 
irom  one  of  the  trees. 

.J^l  r°°  f}*'  '^  '•elcnsed,  the  insect  flics 
away  toward  its  nest,  the  white  tuft  serving 
the  double  purpose  of  making  it  more  con- 
spicuous  and  retarding  its   flight     Away 
goes  the  hunter  after  it  at  fullspeed,  rmr. 
ning  and  leaping  along  in  a  wonderful  man- 
ner, his  eyes  fixed  on  the  guiding  insect 
and  makinc  very  light  of  obstacles.    (See 
Illustration ^0. 1,  on  the  716th  page.)    Some- 
times a  fallen  tree  will  be  in  his  way,  and  if 
he  can  he  jumps  over  it;  but  at  all  risks  he 
must  get  oyer  without  delay,  and  so  he 
d.«whes  at  the  obstacle  with  reckless  activity. 
Should  he  surmount  it,  well  and  good:  but 
If,  as  often  happens,  he  should  fall,  he  keeps 
his  eyes  fixed,  as  well  aa  he  can,  on  the  bee 
and  as  soon  as  he   springs  to  his  feet  ho 
resumes  the  chase.    Even  if  he  should  lose 
sight  of  It  for  a  moment,  ho  dashes  on  in 
the  same  direction,   knowing    that  a    hee 
always  flies  in  a  straight  line  for  its  home- 
and  when  he  nears  it,  the  angry  hum  of  the 
hampered  insect  soon  tells  him  that  he  has 
recovered  the  lost  ground. 
The  reader  will  see  that  this  mode  of 

f?fi  T^p  "J^  ''f"  '"  '^  '^"'»«  Js  far  inferior   • 
to  that  of  the  American  bee-hunters,  and  is 
rather  a  business  of  the  legs  than  of  the 
Head.     The    Australian   bee-hunter    waits 
until  a  bee  happens  to  come  to  the  spot 

Sffo!"'  ir"\."^«  American  bee-hunter 
baits  an  attractive   trap,  and  induces  the 

1  hen  the  Australian  bee-hunter  only  runs 
after  the  single  bee;  whereas  the  American 
bee-hunter  economizes  his  strength  by  em- 
ploying  two  bees,  and  s.aving  his!e<rs. 
_   He  puts  h«ney  on  a  flat  wooden  slab,  liav- 

Tll'r'''",-\*1''"'''''",^^'^''«  paint  round  it 
1  he  bee  alights  on  the  honey,  and,  after  fW]- 

^'ifff^fr'.f'"''''''^  through 'the  white  paint 
and  sets  off  homeward.    The  hunter  follows 

marks  it  by  scoring  or  "blazing"  a  few 
trees.  He  then  removes  his  honeyed  tran 
to  a  spot  at  an  angle  with  his  former  station 
and  repeats  the  process.    There  is  no  need 

run  considerable  risk  of  damaging  himself 
^,?JL  °v  '^^*  seriously;  he  simply  follows 
out  the  lines  which  the  two  bees  have  tiken 
and,  by  fixing  on  the  point  at  which  thev    ' 
meet,  wn.lks  leiH«r<>!y  !5p  to  the  nest.  ^ 

i^^r^'nA"  5**""^.'"^  ^^^  "*"«*'  "»o  Australian 
loses  no  time  in  ascending  to   the   spot, 


T13 


AUSTRALIA. 


H   l\ 


whplhcr  It  bo  a  doft  In  n  rock,  or,  m  Ih 
UMually  the  rami,  n  liolt-  in  a  triio.  This  lat- 
ter H|)ot  in  much  Iftvored  l)y  tho  been,  us  well 
ns  by  ninny  of  tho  nrboroal  innniniulu,  of 
which  theio  nro  so  nwny  in  AuHtnilia.  Tho 
muUivn  and  violi'iit  tempt-Mts  which  riitfo  in 
that  part  of  tho  world  toar  ott'  tho  branuhcH 
ol  trooH  and  hurl  thoni  to  (ho  ground.  Dnr- 
injj  miccpcilinK  rainy  soiiNons,  tho  wot  lodaoK 
in  tho  brokon  brtuich,  and  by  doKroos  rots 
•way  tho  woixl,  which  in  instaiilly  llllod  with 
tho  larva!  of  booties,  niotlw.  IlioH,  and  other 
inw'ctc  that  food  upon  decaying  W(H)d. 
rium,  in  u  fow  yoarn,  the  hollow  oxtondu 
itsolt  until  it  burrows  into  tho  troo  itm-lf 
iHul  soniiitina'8  doncendH  noarlv  from  the  top' 
to  tho  Iwttom,  thus  forming ';>n  admirable 
locality  for  the  bocH. 

TakiUK  with  him  a  hatdiot,  a  bnskot,  and 
A  quantitv  of  «lrv  grass  or  loavo.i,  tho  native 
ajtccnds,  lights  ilic  jfrasx,  and  under  <-ovor  of 
tho  Hujoko  chopH  away  tho  wood  niitii  ho 
can  got  at  tho  combs,  which  ho  places  in 
the  baskot,  with  which  ho  descends.  Shouhl 
ho  bo  too  poor  to  ponsesH  even  a  basket,  ho 
extemporizes  one  by  cutting  away  tho  bark 
of  the  tree;  and  should  tho  nest  bo  a  very 
arge  one,  ho  is  supplied  by  his  frieiuls  from 
below  with  a  numlier  of  vessels,  and  passes 
them  down  as  liwt  as  they  are  llllod. 

Perhaps  somo  of  mv  readers  may  remark 
thnt  honey  cannot  b('  rightly  considered 
as  inm'ct  food,  and  that  it  ,>u«ht  to  have 
been  ranked  amonj?  tlio  vejjetr.blo  produc- 
tions. Tho  Australian,  howevev,  does  not 
content  himself  with  extriuitin}?  the  honoy 
from  tho  comb,  but  eats  it  i)recisely  in  the 
state  in  which  it  is  brought,  from  the  nest 
As  the  bees  arc  not  forced,  as  amonjjst  En.'- 
Iish  bee-masters,  to  keoj)  their  honey-cells 
distinct  from  those  which  contniii  (he 
hoard  and  (ho  "bee-bread,"  each  comb  no n- 
tnins  indiscriminately  bee-bread,  youn>i'  beo- 
grubs,  and  honey,  and  (bo  Australian  cats 
all  three  with  cnual  satisfaction. 

Another  kind  of  insect  food  is  a  grub 
which  inhabits  the  trunks  of  trees,  and  of 
which  tho  natives  are  inordinatoly  fond. 
They  have  a  wonderfiil  facnilty  of  discovor- 
'"?  ..'°.  Pr'!<*nf 0  of  this  prubf  and  twist  it 
out  ot  Its  hole  with  an  odd  little  instrument 
composed  of  a  hook  fastened  to  the  end  of  a 
slender  twi>,'.  This  implement  is  carried  in 
the  hiiir  so  as  to  project  over  tho  ear,  like 
a  clerk  s  pen,  and  for  a  lon<»  time  puzzled 
travellers,  who  thought  it  to  be  merely  an  ' 
ornament,  and  could  not  understand  its 
very  peculiar  shape. 

The  larva  is  the  caterjiillar  of  a  moth 
which  is  closely  allied  to  the  goat-moth  of 
our  own  country,  and  has  the  same  habit 
ot  burrowing  into  the  wood  of  living  trees. 
llie  hooked  instrument  which  is  used  for 
drawing  them  out  of  their  holes  is  called 
the  •  pile/v'ah, '  and  is  employed  also  for 
hooking  beetles,  grubs,  and  other  insects 
out  of  their  hole?  in  the  grouud.    When  the 


pileynh  Is  mod  for  oxtmctinff  gmbM  from 
tho  earth,  tho  ground  is  (Irst  loosonud  br 
moans  of  a  womlon  moop  that  looks  sotmi- 
thlng  like  a  hollowed  wnddy.  The  nileyah 
Is  th«n  tied  to  the  end  of  it  polygonum  twig 
ot  sufflcient  englh,  and  by  such  mentis  «nn 
bo  IntHMlurod  into  the  holim. 

I'erhaps  tho  most  colebrntod  of  thn  vari- 
ous insect  banquets  in  which  the  Austni- 
llnns  delight  Is  that  which  Is  furnished  by 
the  bugong  moth,  as  tho  Insect  Is  ponularlv 
hut  wnmgly,  called.  IiiKtend  of  yongiiig 
to  the  moth  tribo.  It  is  one  nf  the  biittnrfliCH. 
am  belongs  to  tho  grncoftil  family  (.f  the 
Holiconidw.  Its  scientiHc  name  in  Kupln-a 
hnmatn.  Tho  bugong  is  remarkable  for  tho 
act  that  its  body,  liisl(>ad  of  being  slender 
like  that  of  most  biittevllles,  Is  very  stout 
and  contains  an  astonishing  amount  of  oily 
matter.  The  <-olor  of  (lie  Insect  is  dark 
brown,  with  two  black  spols  on  tho  upper 
wings.  It  is  n  small  insect,  measuring  only 
an  inch  and  a  half  across  (ho  wings. 

It  is  found  in  the  >iew  South  Wales  dis- 
trict,  and  inhabits  a  range  of  hills  (hat  aro 
called  Ironi  tho  insect  (lie  Utigong  Aloiin- 
tains.  Tho  Australians  eat  the  bugong  but- 
terllies  Just  as  hMiists  are  eaten  in  many 
parts  ot  tho  world,  and,  for  the  short  tlino 
durin>5  which  the  insect  makes  its  aiipenr- 
an<;e,  least  inordinately  upon  it,  and  get  (luito 
ht.  Ihe  following  account  is  given  by  Mr. 
(».  Ueimett:  — 

"After  riding  over  the  lower  ranges,  wtj 
arrived  a  short  distance  nhovo  the  base  of 
(heUngong  Moiin(ain,  tethered  the  horses 
and  ascended  on  foot,  by  a  steep  and  niggeci 
path,  which  led  us  to  the  Ihst  summit  of  tho 
mountain:  at  this  jjlace,  called  (Jinnudery 
by  the  natives,  enormous  miisses  of  grnnito 
rock,  i)ilod  one  upon  another,  and  sitimted 
on  the  verge  of  a  wooded  iire<'ipice,  excited 
our  attention.  An  extensive  and  romantio 
VK^w  W!is  here  obtained  of  a  distant,  wooded, 
mountainous  country. 

"This  was  the  first  place  where,  upon  tho 
smooth    sides    or  crevices  of    the    gianito 
blocks,  the  bugong   moths  congregated   in 
siK-h  incredible  multitudes;   bnt,  from   tho 
blacks  having  recently  been  here,  we  found 
but  few  of  th<>  insects  remaining.     At  one 
jmrt  of  this  group  of  granite   rocks  wero 
two   pools,   apparently   hollowed    naturally 
tVom  the  solid  stone,  and  filled  with  cool  anil 
clear  water;  so,  lighting  a  fire,  we  enjoyed 
a  cup  of  tea  previous  to  recommencing  our 
further  ascent.    On   proceeding   wo   found 
tho  rise  more  gradual,  bnt  unpleasant,  from 
tho  number  of  loose  stones  and  branches  of 
trees  strewed  about;  seV(!ral  of  the  deserted 
bark  huts  of  the  nativciS  (which   they  had 
temporarily  erected  when  engaged  iii  col- 
lecting anil   i)reparing    the    bugong)   wero 
scattered  around.    Shrubs  and  plants  wero 
numerous  as  we  proceeded,  but,  with  few 
exceptions,  did  not  dilfer  ftom  those  seen  in 
other  paita  of  the  coiyuy. 


il; 


THE  BUGONO. 


"NwirftHinull  limpi,!  Btmam  a  ip.  i.<«  of 
Lycupodmrn  ^rtiw  ho  (huiso  «,  to  i.,,  i  .« 
CHrpot  over  wliiiih  wo  wcro  ablo  to  wui 
The  timlior  Irons  t<>wiMn<l  to  ho  irrcBt  iin 
olovalioii  tlmt  tlio  i)roH|)t.(;t  of  iho  country 
wo  liiid  iiiitl<',i|mti)(l  wiw  iiu|)i!(lo(l.  At  liiiit 
wo  nrrivcd  at  iiiiotlinr  lu^ciiliar  uroup  of 
granlU)  rookH  in  oiionnoiis  iiiiiHN)!M  and  of 
yariouH  forniH;  thin  pliicd,  Himiliirto  tho  Innt, 
formed  tlui  locality  whcro  tliii  l)U)(0M^f  niotim 
congroKiit(!,  and  ih  cnJN'd  'WarroKonir'  by 
tho  iiiilivi'H.  Tlio  rcnuiiMH  o(  rociiut  flroH 
apprlodd  UH  that,  tlio  alioriRinim  had  only 
recently  lol't  tlio  place  for  another  of  Mimilar 
charncter  a  Cow  uxilcn  further  diHtant, 

"Our  native  guidcH  winlied  us  to  proceed 
and  Join  tho  tribe,  but  the  day  had  so  far 
advanced  that  it  was  thought  inoro  advisa- 
ablc  to  return,  beeauHe  it  was  doubtful,  as 
tho  I)  ai'kH  removed  from  a  iilmio  as  soon  as 
they  bad  <'leared  it  of  the  insects,  whether 
wo  should  llnd  them  at  the  next  irroun  or 
removed  to  othcirs  Htill  furtlier  distant. 

"  1"  rom  tho  result  of  mv  observations  it 
ajjpears  that  the  insects  are  only  found  in 
such  multitudes  oa  tlKsse  insulated  and  pecul- 
iar masses  of  frranite,  for  about  the  other 
sohtiirv  Kianite  rocks,  so  profusely  scattered 
over  the  ratiKis  I  did  not  observe  a  sinijlo 
moth,  or  even  the  remains  of  ono.  Why 
they  should  be  coulliicd  only  to  those  nar- 
ticular  places,  or  for  what  purpose  they  thus 
collect  to>,'(!ther,  is  not  a  less  curious  than 
intorestii:;;  subject  of  inquiry.  Whether  it 
be  for  the  jnupose  of  emigratim;,  or  any 
other  cause,  our  p.-esont  knowledgo  cannot 
satisfactorily  answer. 

"Tho  buKouK  moths,  as  I  Imvo  boforo 
Observed,  collect  on  the  surfa(-es,  and  also  in 
the  crevices,  of  the  mass.'H  of  ^r,.,„,it„  i„  j,,. 
credible  (piantities.  To  ju-ocuro  them  with 
greater  futility,  the  natives  make  smothered 
Jires  und(.rnoath  thiise  rocks  about  which 
they  are  collectiul,  and  suffocate  them  with 
smoke,  at  the  same  time  sweei)iiiir  them  off 
frequently  in  busholfuls  at  a  time.  After 
they  have  collected  a  larwe  quantity,  they 
proceed  to  prepare  them,  whicli  is- done  in 
tho  following  manner. 

„.l'^i*''''r"''":  "P'^'^*'  '"  '■•«'»'"c<l  upon  tho 
Kround  of  a  size  proportioned  to  the  num- 
ber of  msec  s  to  bo  prepared;  on  it  a  fire  is 
hghted  and  kej)t  burning  unti   the  ground  » 
considered  to  bo  sumciently  hoat.^l  S , 
the  fire  beinK  removed,  and  the  ashes  cleare 
away,  tho  moths  are  placed  upon  the  hcate 
ground,  and  stirred  about  until  tho  down  and 
w.ng.s  are  removed  from  them;  they  a^e  then 
tlt,VT''.  of  bark,  and  wiLowSZ 

boK  n"'  ''""'r'*  '"'"««  ""'^"'J  ^vith  tho 
bodies;  they  are  then  eaten,  or  placed  into 
a  wooden  vessel  called  'walbuni,'  or  'calU 
bum  '  and  pounded  by  a  ),;..o  of 'wood  into 
masses  or  cakes  resembling  lumps  of  fat,  and 
tTX^?r'"'T''i  '"  "•°'"'-  and' consistence 


7Vi 

niled  with  a  yellowish  oil,  resemblTng  in 
tMte  a  sweot  nut.  These  masses  (with  which 

ShJar'T'"'  V.  '^"'"''.""'-'  "'  "'"  »«"vo 
tribes  are  lomlcd  during  tho  season  of  feastlna 
upon  the  bugong)  will  not  keep  more  than  a 
week,  and  seldom  even  for  that  time;  but  by 
smoking  they  are  ablo  to  jireservo  tliem  for 
a  much  longer  p.iriod.  Tf.o  first  time  thia 
diet  8  used  by  tho  nalive  tribes,  violent 
vomiting  and  other  <lel)ilitatlng  effects  ar« 
produce.!,  but  after  a  few  .lays  tliey  become 
accustomed  to  its  use,  and  then  thrive  and 
latten  excoedingly  ujion  it. 

"  These  insects  are  lield  in  such  ostlmar 
tion  among  tho  aborigines,  that  they  assem- 
ble from  all  parts  of  the  country  U,  (;ollw;t 
thoin  fVom  these  mountains.    It  Is  Hot  onlr 
tho  native  blacks  that  resort  to  the  bugong 
but  crows  als.j  congregate  for  tho  same  pur^ 
pose.     I  ho  blacks  (that  is,  tho  crows  and 
tho  aborigin.m)  do  not  agree  about  their 
respective  shares  :  so  tlie  str.mger  decidefi 
the  point;  for,  wlien  tho  crows  (called  'nra- 
)Ul     by  tho   natives)  enter  the  hr)llow8  of 
tho  rocks  to  feed  upon  tho  insc-cts,  the  na- 
tives stan.l  at  the  (entrance  and  kill  them  as 
they  fly  out;  and  they  afford  th(!m  an  excel- 
lent meal,  being  fat  from  feeding  upon  th« 
rich  bugong.     Ho  eager  are   the   f.mtherod 
bla(!ks  or  arabuls  after  this  food  that  they 
attack  It  even  when  it  is  preparing  by  tho 
natives;  but  as  the  aborigines  nev(.r  consider 
any  increase  of  fbod  a  inisfortiin(%  they  lav 
111  wait  for  tho  arabuls  with  wmldies  or  clubs 
kill  them  m  great  numbers,  and  uso  thoiu  m 


nKPTii,KH  form  a  very  considerable  part 
of  an  Australian's  diet,  and  he  displays  emial 
aptitude  in  capturing  and  cooking  them. 
1  iirtle  IS  an  especial  favorite  with  him,  not 
only  on  account  of  its  size,  and  of  tli(;  riuan- 
Uty  of  mr.,t  which  it  furnishes,  but  on  ac- 
count of  tho  oil  which  is  obtained  from  It. 

()n  the  vuvit  of  Australia  several  kinds  of 
turtle  are  found,  the  most  useful  of  which 
arc  the  ordinary  green  turtle  and  the  hawks- 
1)111.     Ihey  aro  caught  either  in  the  water 
or  by  watching  for  them  when  they  come 
on  shore  for  the   purpose   of  laying  their 
eggs,  and  then  turning  them  on  their  backs 
before  they  can   rea<.-h   the  sea.    As,  how- 
ever, comparatively  few    venture   on    the 
Shore,  the  groatx-r  number  are  taken  in  tho 
water.    Along  tho  shore  tho  natives  havo 
regular  watchtowers  or  cairns  msyle  of  stones 
and  the  hones  of  turtles,  dugongs,  and  other 
creatures.    When  the  sentinel  se'es  a  turfl," 
dnf  ing  along  with  the  ti.le,  he  gives  tho 
alarm,  and  a  boat  puts  out  after  it.    Thn 
<anoo  appro.aches  from  behind,  and  paddles 
very  cautiously  so  that  the  reptile  may  not 
hear  it.    As  soon  as  thoy  come  close  to  it     • 
the  chief  hunter,  who  holds  in  his  band  nne 
end  of  a  sliulit  but  tough  rope,  leaps  on  the 
turtle's  bacTc,  and  clings  to  it  with  both 


h  ' 


TkA 


AUSTRALIA. 


hands  on  itn  flhoulders.  The  startliul  rep- 
tile (lonhuH  off,  but  before  it  luw  got  verv  fur 
the  hunter  contrives  to  upset  it,  and  while 
it  is  struggling  ho  slips  the  noosi  of  the 
rope  over  one  of  its  Hippers.  The  creature 
is  then  comparatively  helpless,  and  is  towed 
ashore  by  the  canoe. 

In  some  districts  the  turtle  is  taken  by 
means  of  a  harpoon,  which  is  identical  in 
principle  with  that  which  is  used  by  the  hip- 
popotamus hunters  of  Africa.  "lliero  is  a 
long  shaft,  into  the  end  of  which  is  loosely 
Bhpned  a  movable  head.  A  rope  is  attached 
to  the  head,  and  a  buoy  to  the  other  end  of 
the  rope.  As  soon  as  the  reptile  is  struck, 
the  shall  is  disen-'nged.  and  is  picked  up  by 
the  thrower:  while  the  float  serves  as  an 
indication  of  the  turtle's  whereabouts,  and 
enables  the  hunters  to  tow  it  toward  the 
shore. 

■w^m.'''^"'''.""*'^*'''''"»'"«'(l  Oi'om,  told  Mr. 
M  Gillivray  th.it  they  sometimes  caught  the 
turtle  by  means  of  the  reinora,  or  suckinir- 
flsh.  One  o»  these  fish,  round  whoso  tail  a 
Jine  has  been  previously  made  fast,  is  kept 
In  a  vessel  of  water  on  board  the  boat,  and 
when  a  small  turtle  is  seen,  the  remdra  is 
dropped  into  the  sea.  Instinctively  it  makes 
its  way  to  the  turtle,  and  fastens  itself  so 
flrmly  to  the  reptile's  back  that  they  arc  both 
hauled  to  the  boat's  side  and  lifted  in  by  the 
flshermen.  Only  small  turtles  can  be  thus 
taken,  and  there  is  one  sijccies  which  never 
attains  any  great  size  which  is  generally 
captured  in  this  curious  manner. 

The  hawksbill  turtle  is  too  dangerous  an 
antagonist  to  be  chased  in  the  water  The 
sharp-edged  scales  which  project  from  its 
sides  would  cut  deeply  into  tho  "hands  of  any 
man  who  tried  to  turn  it;  and  even  the  green 
turtle,  with  its  comparatively  blunt-edged 
shell,  has  been  known  to  inflict  a  severe 
wound  upon  the  leg  of  tho  man  who  was 
clinging  to  its  back.  Tho  native,  iherefore, 
IS  content  to  watch  it  ashore,  and  by  means 
of  lon^,  stont  poles,  which  he  introduces 
levorwise  under  its  lody,  turns  it  over  with- 
out danger  to  himself. 

When  the  Australians  have  succeeded  in 
turning  a  turtle,  there  are  great  rejoicings, 
as  the  very  acme  of  human  felicity  consists, 
according  to  native  ideas,  in  gorging  until 
the  feasters  can  neither  stand  nor  sit.  They 
may  be  seen  absolutely  rolling  on  the  grountl 
m  agony  from  the  inordinate  distension  of 
their  stomachs,  and  yet,  as  soon  as  the  pain 
has  abated,  they  renew  their  feastings. 
Mostly  they  assemble  round  the  turtle,  cook 
It  rudely,  and  devour  it  on  the  spot;  but 
in  Torres  Straits  they  are  more  provident, 
and  dry  the  flesh  in  order  to  .supply  them- 
selves with  food  during  their  voyages.  They 
cut  up  the  meat  into  thin  sines,  boil  the 
slices,  and  then  dry  them  in  tho  sun. 

During  the  process  of  cooking,  a  consider- 
able amount  of  oil  rises  to  the  surface,  and 
W  Skimmed  off  and  kept  in  vessels  made  of 


bamboo  and  turtles'  bladders.  Tlio  cook 
however,  has  to  exercise  some  vigilance 
while  performing  his  task,  as  the  ratlves 
are  so  fond  of  the  oil  that,  unless  th  y  are 
closely  watched,  they  will  skim  it  off  and 
Inu  u  ''while  in  an  almost  boiling  state. 
Tho  bo  ling  and  subsequent  drying  render 
the  flesh  very  liard,  so  that  it  will  keen  for 
several  weeks;  but  it  cannot  be  eaten  with- 
out a  second  boiling. 

The  shell  of  the  hawksbill  turtle  is  doubly 
va*  able  to  tho  natives,  who  reserve  a  little 
for  he  manufacture  of  hooks,  and  sell  the 
rest  .0  shinpers  or  traders,  who  bring  it  to 
Euro,  e,  where  it  is  converted  into  (lie  "tor- 
toise-s.\cll "  with  which  we  are  so  lamiliar. 
There  ik  in  my  collection  a  beautiful  speei- 
inen  of  oi.e  of  these  scales  of  tortoise-shell  ns 
It  was  nuichased  from  the  natives.  It  is 
about  eleven  inches  in  length  and  seven  in 
width,  and  has  a  hole  at  one  end  by  which 
they  string  the  scales  together.  There  are 
the  scars  of  eight  large  limi)et  shells  upon  it, 
showing  the  singular  apj)eiirance  which  tho 
animal  must  have  jjresented  when  alive. 

The  cooking  of  turtle  is  a  far  more  impor- 
tant process  than  that  of  boiling  (ish,  and  a 
sort  of  oven  is  required  in  order  to  dress  it 
properly.    In  princi^)Ie  the  oven  resembles 
tliat  which  is  in  use  in  so  many  parts  of  the 
world,  and  which  has  been  already  described 
when  showing  how   the    hunters  of  South 
Africa  cook  the   elephant's  foot.    Insiead 
howeyor,  of  digging  a  hole  and  burning 
wood  in  it,  tho  Australian  takes  a  number  of 
stones,  each  about  the  size  of  a  man's  flst 
and  puts  them  into  the  lire.    "When  they  are 
heated,  they  are   laid  cloHely  together,  and 
the  meat  jihiced  upon  them.    A  second  layer 
of  heated  stones  is  arranged  ujjon  the  meat, 
and  a  rim  or  bank  of  tea-tree  busli,  backed 
up  with  sand  or  earth,  is   built  round   this 
primitive  oven.    Grass  and  leaves  are  then 
strewn  plentifully  over  the  stones,  and  are 
held  in  their  iilaces  bv  the  circular  bank. 
The  steam  is  thus  retained,  and  so  the  meat 
is  cooked  in  a  very  eflcctual  manner. 

In  Bomo  parts  of  the  country,  however,  a 
more  elaborate  oven  is  used.     It  consists  of 
a  hole  some  three  feet  in  diameter  and  two 
feet  in  depth,  and  is  heated  in  the  following 
manner:  — It  is  fllhd  to  within  six  inches  of 
tlie  top  with  round  and  hard  stones,  simi  ar 
to  those  which  have  already  been  described, 
and  upon  them  afire  is  built  and  maintained 
for  some  time.    When  the  stones  are  thought 
to  bo    sufficiently    healed,  the  embers    are 
swept  away,  and  the  food  is  simply  laid  upon 
the  stones  and  allowed  to  remain  there  until 
thoroughly  cooked. 

This  kind  of  oven  is  found  over  a  large 
range  of  country,  and  Mr.  M'Gillivray  has 
seen  it  throughout  the  shores  of  i'orres 
Straits,  and  extending  as  far  southward  as 
Sandy  Cape  on  the  eastern  side. 

Although  the  idea  of  snake  eating  isso  re- 
pugnant to  our  ideas  tliat  many  'Persons  "~i\- 


m 


•liU. 


».  TJio  cook, 
>nio  vlgiiance 
i«  the  r-alivea 
nlcBs  th  y  are 
im  it  0(1  and 

boiling  state 
drying  render 

will  keep  for 

0  eaten  with. 

Lirtlo  is  doubly 
eservo  a  little 
t,  and  sell  the 
10  briiifT  it  to 
into  (lie  "tor- 
'o  BO  I'ainiliar. 
3ai'tifiil  speei- 
irtolse-sbcil  ns 
intivos.  It  in 
and  seven  in 
■nd  l)y  which 
r.  There  are 
shells  upon  it, 
ice  which  the 
lien  alive. 
•  more  impor- 
ig  fish,  and  a 
Br  to  dress  it 
en  resembles 
y  jiarts  of  the 
ady  described 
ers  of  South 
lot.  Insiead, 
and  burning 
?  a  nuiiiherof 

a  man's  fist, 
'lien  they  are 
together,  and 

second  layer 
on  the  meat, 
bush,  backed 
t  round  this 
VIS  are  then 
ines,  and  are 
rcular  bank. 

so  (he  meat 
uner. 

■,  however,  a 
t  consists  of 
•tcr  and  two 
he  followiuf? 
i\x  inches  of 
)ue8,  similar 
n  described, 

maintained 

are  thought 
embers  are 
ly  laid  upon 

1  there  until 

ver  a  large 

illivray  has 

of  'Jforres 

uthward  as 


ng  18  80  re- 
?rson6  csa- 


in 

I 


(I.)    UEK   IIINTINO. 

fSw  pn({i'  ril.) 


!il 


s        ti  '■■ 


COOKJNi:    A   S.NAKl.. 
(Sw  paifc  7ir.; 


(n«; 


COOKING  A  SNAKE. 


not  f.nt  opls  hpcaiwr,  thoy  look  like  nn.ikofl, 
the  Aiwtmlmn  known  bfitt.T,  and  conitidursa 
Bnako  as  oiKw.C  tho  Rreatrxtdollcacies  which 
tho  earth  |.rr)iluri.H.  And  thero  In  certainly 
no  icMson  wliy  w,.  NJiould  ropndiate  (lie  miak. 


in 


M  (li«},'iistni«  whlh?  wo  acc.'i)t  the  turtle  and 
HO  inany  nt  the  torloiMe  kin.f  as  delicaeieH,  no 
ma  ter  wluih.'r  llicir food  he  animal  or  vejr- 
clablo.     J  h<^  Australian  knows  that  a  »nake 
in  Root   condition  on«ht  to  have  plenty  of 
lat,  and  to  he  well  llavored,  and   in  always 
fia»y  in  his  mind  so  lon^'  as  ho  can  catch  one. 
1?  U7""''f"'  ">•'  ••'•'•kiiiK  (see  pajfe  71«)  is 
exactly  Ike  that  which  is  employed  with  flsh, 
except  that  more-  piiins  are  taken  about  it  as 
s  consistent  with  the  superior  character  of 
tho  food.     The  fire  heinj,'  lighted,  the  native 
squats  Ml  front  of  It  and  waits  until  the  (lame 
and  srnoke  have  partly  died  awav,  and  then 
caietully  coils  the  snake  on  the  embers,  turn- 
ing It  and  ivcoilinjf  it  until  all  the  scales  are 
80  scorched  that  thev  can  he  nihhed  otf.     Ho 
then  allows  it  lo  ivmain  until  it  is  cooked  ac- 
cordiii,!?  to  his  ideas,  and  cats  it  deliberately, 

Z.f^HT'r  "."■''  "^ .'.'"'"•>',  pickinj?  out  tile 
best  parts  for  himself,  and,  if  he  be  in  a  L'ood 
Juiinor,  tos.sin;;  the  rest  to  his  wives 
Hniko  huulin-   is  carried  on  in  'rather  a 

unless  It  should  l,P  wanted  for  immediate  con- 
mimi.tion,  would  be  extremely  foolish,  a.s  it 
^vouf(l  be  unlit  for  food  belbrc  the  ni-ht  ha. 
..-..ssed  away  Takin-  it  alive,  theivfore.  s 
the  plan  which  is  adopted  by  tho  skilful  hun- 
te^,  and  this  ho  manages  in  a  very  ingenious 

8houM  ho  coiwe  upon  one  of  tho  venomous 
flerpenls,  he  cuts  olfits  retreat,  and  with  his 

th.    narrow    woodel^  '^.^l^^X  iq-SS^Kri^'/^.'^i^I^l'^'^  "-'-  -<^  "-  otl^? 
lows  he  in.luces  the  reptile  to  attacfc  him, 
and  dexteimisly  receives  the  stroke  on  the 


As  It  would  bo  a  waste  of  time  to  probe 
each  hole  in  succession,  the  natives  easily  ,ui. 
certain  those  holes  which  are  Inhabited  by 
smearing  the  earth  around  them  with  a  kind 
of  white  c  ay  .nixed  with  water,  which  l"^ 
soa  ns  iiutty.  On  the  following  day  they  can 
easily  see,  by  tho  appeamnce  of  the  W 
when  a  snake  has  entered  or  left  its  hole,  ami 
at  onco  proceed  to  in.iucetho  reptile  to  leave 
sstronghoM  This  is  done  by  putting  on 
the  trunk  oJ  li,e  tree  immediately  over* the 
hole  a  ba  t,  which  tho  natives  state  to  bo 
honey,  and  waiting  patiently,  often  for  many 
U'urs.unti  the  serpent  is  attracted  by  the 
liait  and  chmbs  the  tree.    As  soon  as  It  Is 

ri''  /  m'  '""'•■'  '*."  '■""■'''*'  '•*•  '^u'  "»■'  "»«» tho 
'PI  r  .  '}'''  ensuing  combat  Is  a  certainty, 
rho  forked  spear  which  tho  native  emplovg 
IS  called  a  bo-bo.  ■^ 

All  tho  tribes  which  live  along  tho  eastern 
coast,  especially  those  which  inhabit  tho 
northern  part  of  the  country,  are  in  the  habit 
of  cantnring  tho  dugong.  This  animal  f« 
very  fond  of  a  green,  branchless,  marine  alira 
and  ventures  to  the  shore  in  order  to  feed 
upon  it.     The  natives  are  on  the  watch  for 

putTirXTt"'^  •'""''■'« '^  "•">'"-»- 

Each  canoe  is  furnished  with  paddles  and 
a  harpooner,  who  is  arnie<l  with  a  weapon 
very  similar  to  that  which  is  use<l  by  the 
turtle  cat<-her8,  except  that  no  buoy  is  re- 
quired. It  IS  coini)oscd  of  ,t  shafl  some 
twelve  or  fifteen  teet  in  length,  light  at  one 
end  and  heavy  at  the  other.  A  liole  is  made 
at  the  heavy  end,  and  into  the  hole  is  loosely 
lilted  a  kind  of  spear  head  made  of  bono, 
about  four  inches  in  length,  aii.l  covered 
with  barbs  One  end  of  a  stout  and  Ions 
rone  IS  iiiiiilo  fnof  (r.  »i,:..  i i    . .   .  ,.        .."» 


shield,  ll.u  Mug  the  snake  back  by  tlie  su.lden 
ropiilse.  Time  after  time  tho  snake  renews 
the  a  tark  aiirl  is  as  often  foile.l;  and  at  last 
It  yields  he  battle,  and  lies  on  the  ground 
completely  beaten.    The  hunter  then  presses 

is  forked  stick  on  the  rentile's  neck  seizes 
It  firnily.  and  hol.ls  it  while  a  net  is  thrown 
over  I  and  it  is  bound  securely  to  his  spea" 
It  IS  then  carried  olf,  and  reserved  for  the 
next  day's  ban.iuet. 

Sometimes  the  onossum-skin  cloak  takes 

lteft''bl^i't'^^'"'^''''-^"'--'^«i-l- 
Tho 


is  attached  to  the  canoe. 
As  soon  as  he  is  within  str'ldng  distance 

water,  striking  at  the  same  time  with  his 
weapon,  so  as  to  add  to  the  stroke  the  ft.rco 
of  his  own  weight.  Disengaging  the  shaft 
he  return.s  to  the  canoe,  leaving  the  dugong' 

nuutfr''  '^  '7  ".'''  '•°^'«•  The  wounded 
animal  dives  and  tries  to  make  its  way  sea- 
ward. Strange  to  say,  although  the  dugong 
IS  a  large  animal,  often  eight  feet  in  length 
and  very  bulky  in  proportion  to  its  le  fe,  ' 
t  seldom  requires  to  be  struck  a  second  tinic 
biit  rises  to  the  surface  and  dies  in  a  few 
minutes  from  a  wound  occasioned  by  so  ao- 
narent  V  insi'.r..  A^ t  _ "y  av  up- 


.    .     ,    ■•  ■•''.••»it  ^'^v  (1.111  iiiud  uy  so  an- 
Tho  carpet  snake,  which  somptimna  „tf  •      I  {'"'''^""y  "isiKmflcant  a  weapon  as  a  niece  of 


^amo  with  the  Austrah;,^;;aJi;:::^i^Z^: 

size  furnishos  him  with  an  abundant  supK 

?hS"«p  ."'•''"•''!"'  "•"•"t'.V lives  in  holes  at 
itte  toot  of  the  curious  grass-tree,  of  which 
we  shall  see  several  figures  in  the  course  of 
the  following  pages,  and  in  many  places  it  is 
BO  plentiful  that  there  is  scarcelyVgraas-^ee 
Without  ita  auake.  j'  «  b'"a»  wee 


Those  who  are  acquainted  with  zociloffv 
are  awaro  that  the  dugong  is  formed  mucll 
after  the  manner  of  the  whale,  and  that  it  is 
:^y.r.^,^''}  ^J'h  ?•  tough  .skin  and  tlu^ 
"  ._n  a  .;t3  Li  ui  uiubbcr  over  tlie  muscles 
Tins  structure,  by  Uie  way,  renders  its  S 


"II 

m 


Iti 


if  I 


III 


.    \'4 


! 


f      i 


m 

It.     ihl 


718 


AUSTBALIA. 


cumbing  to  the  wound  of  the  harpoon  the 
more  surprising.  The  natives  alwaj;a  cut  it 
up  in  the  same  manner.  The  tail  is  sliced 
much  as  we  carve  a  round  of  beef,  while  the 
body  is  cut  into  thin  slices  as  far  as  the  ribs, 
each  slice  having  its  own  proportion  of  meat, 
blubber,  and  skin.  The  blubber  is  esteemed 
higher  than  any  other  portion  of  the  animal, 
thoagh  even  the  tough  skin  can  be  rendered 
tolerably  palatable  by  careful  cooking. 

Of  all  Australian  animals,  the  kangaroo 
is  most  in  favor,  both  on  account  of  the 
excellent  quality  of  the  flesh,  and  the  quan- 
tity which  a  single  kangaroo  will  furnish. 
It  is  hardly  necessary  to  remind  the  reader 
that  with  the  Australian,  as  with  other  sav- 
ages, quantity  is  considered  rather  than  qual- 
ity. A  full  grown  "  boomah "  kangaroo 
will,  when  standing  upright,  in  its  usual 
attitude  of  defence,  measure  nearly  six  feet 
in  height,  and  is  of  very  considerable  weight. 
And,  vVhen  an  Australian  kills  a  kangaroo, 
he  performs  feats  of  gluttony  to  whicn  the 
rest  of  the  world  can  scarcely  find  a  parallel, 
and   certainly  not   a  superior,     uive   an 


Australian  a  kangaroo  and  ho  will  eat  until 
he  is  nearly  dead  from  repletion;  and  he 
will  go  on  eating,  with  short  intervals  of 
rest,  until  he  has  linished  the  entire  kanga- 
roo. 

Like  other  savage  creatures,  whether  hu- 
man or  otherwise,  he  is  capable  of  bearing 
deprivation  of  food  to  a  wonderful  extent; 
and  his  patient  endurance  of  starvation, 
when  food  is  not  to  be  obtained,  is  only  to 
be  excelled  by  his  gluttony  Avhen  it  is  plen- 
tiful. This  curious  capacity  for  alternate 
gluttony  and  starvation  is  fostered  by  tho 
innately  lazy  disposition  of  the  Australian 
savage,  and  his  utter  disregard  for  the  future. 
The  animal  that  ought  to  serve  him  and  his 
family  for  a  week  is  consumed  in  a  few  hours; 
and,  as  long  as  he  docs  not  I'eel  the  pain  of 
absolute  hunger,  nothing  can  comjiel  the 
man  to  leave  his  rude  coiich  and  go  oif  on  a 
hunting  expedition.  ]Jut  when  he  does 
make  up  his  mind  to  hunt,  he  has  a  bulldog 
sort  of  tenacity  which  forbids  him  to  relin- 
quish the  chase  until  he  has  been  successful 
in  bringing  down  his  game. 


CHAPTER    LXXr. 


A^VSTRALIA- Continued. 


OF  T„K  NATIVrs_"ovr    r\."r.  '■"''  '''^"^^'^-'^ "  ^^  AUSTUAUAX    I.UEL-TH.CK  SK,r,X3 

M.H.I..  ™v-,rL^A     OH  mt^'r?  '"'    ""    ^^•-^''''^-^^    «-'  -^    '■— •   KO«,,.K-T„K 
8TUUIVN  Kvniva   „-„  T03IAIIA>»  K    AND    ITS    U8E-TIIE  ASCENT    OF    TUEES  — HOW    AN    AV 

BOV Tm       Zl  "  ^-^  ^'^'''''^    '^  "*  ^  T«EE-«MOKIN«  OUT  THE  PUEV-THE  bLcK- 

BOV    <,IM-TUE  GltASS-TME  OF  AUSTRALIA  -  THE  AUSTUALIAN  SAW. 


As  in  the  course  of  the  foUowinj?  pa^cs  all 
the  weapons  of  the  Australian  wTll  have  to 

of  .."1"  •'.'■""';■"'"  '^''^  ^'-'^'^  *'»«  opportunity 
o  tlescnhnij,  ti,cni  at  once,  without  troubling 
ourselves  as  to  the  peculiar  locality  in  which 
each  inodilicalion  is  found. 


Four  fleep  grooves  run  along  the  waddy. 

from    the    point  to   the  spot  where   it    is 

grasped,  and  seem  to  be  intended  as  edires 

wixereby  a  blow  may  out  through  the  skin 

''*'''  ^v*^"  as  inflict  a  bruise.    Besides  these 

We  will  bec'in  with  Hw. '^i..K  n       •      ,        grooves,  there  are  sundry  carvin-'s  which 

of  .11   weLpo.^"  ^Se^i  L    ex^nSes^'oftlu    .'^  '/'-^l'^^ 'evidently  has  tlfought  tote  o    m- 

club  are  to'  be  seen  in  tt  iS  "^LnL    "^    T^'^  .  «"  *"■«  "''.the  si_de_s  the  pattern  is 


t  ub  aie  to  be  seen  in  the  illustration  enti- 
tled 'Australian  Clubs,"  on  the  7->2d  page. 
All  the  hgures  are  drawn  from  actual  sppci- 
mens,  .some  belonging   to  n)y  own  collec- 

brtLfT-r''r'!a  '^'''^^^'^'^  from  e.xaH.ples 
n  the  British  Museum,  and  others  bein- 

Lane  Fox"  ""*"  ''''''l^'''"""  «*"  t^'olonJl 

The  siinplost  form  of  Australian  club  is 


n.  I  1  .■■■■}■■'"■  •"'■■•  v'l  jvusiraiian  club  is 
that  which  IS  known  by  the  name  of"  waddy  " 
ad  which  IS  the  favorite  weapon  of  a  Au- 
wiU  on!  '?';'"'■  r''?  "?'^''-  ■^'^'""-^  to  be  happy 
what  otl  >r  w'''^  '"  '','•'  '"""'■"''  »"  »>"' '«r 
carri  (n.,-'H''''"'  '>«.  ""^X  ''appen  to 
carry,  uue  ol  these  waddies  may  be  seen  at 
hg.  4,  and  another  at  fig.  o..    The  latter  ?sn 

wad  Iv  "Tm"-::''"'?'"  ;•»/'»«  tnie  Australian 
^00.  of  the  gum-tree,  and  is  really  a  most 
maiks  of  long  usasre.     The  hmtrth  is  two 


merely  the  double-headed  T  .seen  in  the 
Illustration,  but  on  the  other  two  sides  the 
Ija  tern  is  varied  In  every  (-ase  the  top 
(i-r-'ie  IS  the  double  T  ;  but  on  one  side  there 
IS  lust  a  1,  then  a  cross  with  curved  arms 
then  i».T,  and  then  a  pattern  that  looks 
something  hke  a  key,  having  a  bow  at  each 
end.  1  he  lourth  side  is  e videntl v  unfinished, 
there  being  only  two  patterns  on  it;  the  sec-! 
ond  evidently  an  attempt  to  imitate  the  let- 
ter ]},  showing  that  the  maker  had  some 
acquaintance  with  civilization. 

With  this  waddy  the  native  is  better  armed 
than  most  men  would  be  with  the  keenest 
sword  that  ever  was  forged,  and  with  it  he 
strikes  and  stal)8  with  marvellous  rapiditv 
seeming  to  be  actuated,  when  in  combat,  by 
an  uncontrollable  Jury.  lie  can  use  it  ils  a 
missile  vith  deadly  etlect;  and  if,  as  is  gen- 
erally th(«  civse,  he  has  several  of  these  wad- 
dies  m  his  hand,  he  will  hurl  one  or  two  of 
tliein   in  rapid   succession,  and,  while   tlio 


f^it  eight  inches,  ami  as  Crea"h."^^^  !w'"   '"■  T^'"''  .''.^•^•^'•''•^"•n,  and,  while   tho 

'lomthe  ill"«tr.ati.,n,it  isslm«^^  '^  '''"  "'^''''Pting  to  avoid  tho 

point,  so  that  in  dos    eomlST    e^'l  "  .S    '^"'1:.^!^^:!^;^^'!^]'^}^  li"-^":  I'PO"  ih. 


|.oi.i,  so  Uuu  in  dos^eomlnltirericfJiLl 


!  foe.  and  attack  him  with  the  w:,ddy  which 
lie  has  reserved  for  hand-to-hand  combat, 
llie  waUdy  is  tlic  Austruliaa  panacea  for 


1  Ail 

'km 


I*  .'iij! 


720 


AUSTRALIA. 


|i,, 


domestic  troubles,  and  if  one  of  his  wives 
should  presume  to  have  an  opinion  of  her 
own,  or  otherwise  to  oflend  her  dusky  lord, 
a  blow  on  the  head  from  the  ever-ready 
waddy  settles  the  dispute  at  once  by  leaving 
her  senseless  on  the  ground.  Sometimes 
the  man  strikes  the  ofl'ender  on  a  limb,  and 
breaks  it;  but  he  docs  not  do  this  unless  ho 
should  be  too  an^ry  to  caltiulate  that,  by 
breaking  his  slave  s  arm  or  leg,  he  deprives 
himself  of  her  services  for  a  period. 

With  the  Australian  man  of  honor  the 
waddy  takes  the  place  which  the  pistol  once 
held  ni  England  and  the  United  States,  and 
it,  the  weapon  by  which  disputes  are  settled. 
In  case  two  Australians  of  reputation  should 
fall  out,  one  of  them  challenges  the  other  to 
single  combat,  sending  him  a  derisive  mes- 
sage to  the  effect  that  he  had  better  bring 
his  stoutest  waddy  with  him,  so  that  he  may 
break  it  on  the  challenger's  head. 

Thickness  of  skull  —  a  reproach  in  some 
parts  of  the  world  —  is  among  the  Austra- 
lians a  matter  of  great  boast,  and  one  Au- 
stralian can  hardly  insult  another  in  more 
contemptuous  words  than  by  comparing  his 
skull  to  an  emu's  egg-shell.  I  have  exam- 
ined sever.ll  skulls  of  Australian  natives, 
and  have  been  much  siu-prised  by  two 
points:  the  first  is  the  astonishing  thickness 
and  hardness  of  the  bone,  wliich  seems 
capable  of  resisting  almost  any  blow  that 
could  be  dealt  by  an  ordinary  weapon;  and 
the  second  is  th  j  amount  of  injury  which  an 
Australian  sku  1  can  endure.  Owing  to  tlie 
thickness  of  t'.ie  skull,  the  Australian  puts 
his  head  to  s. range  uses,  one  of  the  oddest 
of  which  is  .lis  custom  of  breaking  sticks 
on  his  head  instead  of  snapi)ing  them  sjcross 
the  knee. 

Ill  due  time  the  combatants  appear  on 
the  ground,  each  bearing  his  toughest  and 
heaviest  waddy,  and  attended  by  his  friends. 
After  going  tliTOUgh  the  usual  gesticula- 
tions and  abu.sc  which  always  precede  a 
duel  between  savages,  the  men  set  definitely 
to  work. 

The  challenged  individual  takes  his  waddy, 
and  marches  out  into  the  middle  of  the  space 
left  by  the  spectators.  His  adversary  con- 
fronts him,  but  unarmed,  and  stooping  low. 
with  his  hands  on  his  knees,  he  offers  his 
head  to  the  onponent.  The  adversary  exe- 
cutes a  short  ciance  of  delight  at  the  blow 
which  he  is  going  to  deal,  and  then,  after 
taking  careful  aim,  he  raises  his  wnddy  high 
in  the  air,  and  brings  it  down  with  iill  his 
force  on  the  head  of  his  foe. 

The  blow  would  fell  an  ordinary  ox;  but 
the  skull  of  an  Australian  is  made  of  sterner 
stuff  than  that  of  a  more  ox,  and  the  man 
accordingly  raises  himself,  rubs  his  head, 
and  holds  but  his  hand  to  his  nearest  friend, 
who  giv?8  him  the  waddy,  which  he  is  about 
to  use  in  his  turn.  The  challenged  man  now 
takes  his  turn  at  stooping,  while  thp  chal- 
lenger does  his  best  to  smash  the  skull  of 


the  antagonist.  Each  man,  however,  knows 
from  long  experience  the  hardest  part  of  his 
own  skull,  and  takes  care  to  present  it  to  tho 
enemy's  blow.  In  this  way  tliey  continue  to 
exchange  blows  until  one  of  them  falls  to  tho 
ground,  when  the  victory  is  decided  to  re- 
main with  his  antagonist. 

In  consequence  of  the  repeated  injuries  to 
which  the  head  of  a  native  Australian  is 
subjected,  the  skull  of  a  warrior  presents, 
after  death,  a  most  extraordinary  appear- 
ance, being  covered  with  dents,  fractures, 
and  all  kinds  of  injuries,  any  one  of  which 
would  have  killed  ah  European  immediately, 
but  which  seems  to  have  only  caused  tem- 
porary inconvenience  to  the  Australian. 

So  fond  is  the  Australian  of  his  waddy, 
that  even  in  civilized  life  he  cannot  be  in- 
duced to  part  with  it.  Some  of  my  readers 
may  be  aware  that  a  great  number  of  cap- 
tives are  now  enrolled  among  the  police, 
and  render  invaluable  service  to  the  com- 
munity, especially  against  the  depredations 
of  their  fellow-blacks  whom  they  persecute 
with  a  relentless  vigor  that  seems  rather 
surprising  to  those  who  do  not  know  the 
singular  antipathy  which  invariably  exists 
between  wild  and  lamed  animals,  whether 
human  or  otherwise.  In  fact,  the  Australian 
native  policeman  is  to  the  colonist  what  the 
"Totty"  of  South  Africa  is  to  the  Dutch 
and  English  colonists,  Avhat  the  Ghoorka  or 
Sikh  of  India  is  to  the  English  army,  and 
what  the  tamed  elephant  of  Ceylon  or  India 
is  to  the  hunter. 

These  energetic  "  black  fellows  "  arc 
armed  with  the  ordinary  weapons  of  Euro- 
peans, and  are  fully  acquainted  with  their 
use.  But  there  is"  not  one  of  them  who 
thinks  himself  properly  armed  unless  he 
has  his  waddy;  and.  when  he  enters  the 
busli  in  search  of  native  thieves,  he  will  liiy 
aside  the  whole  of  his  clothing,  except  the 
cap  which  marks  his  office,  will  carry  his 
gun  with  him,  buckle  his  cartoucli-i)ouch 
round  his  naked  waist,  and  will  take  his 
waddy  as  a  weapon,  without  which  even  the 
gun  would  seem  to  him  an  insuflicient 
Weapon. 

This  form  of  waddy  (fig.  4),  although  it 
is  often  used  as  a  missile,  is  not  the  one 
which  the  native  prefers  for  that  luirpose. 
His  throwing  waddy  or  ''  wadna,"  is  much 
shorter  and  heavier,  and  very  much  resem- 
bles the  short  missile  club  used  so  eU'ectivcly 
by  the  Polynesians.  Two  other  forms  of 
waddy  arc  shown  at  figs.  .'J  and  r>,  the  latter 
of  wliich  is  generally  known  Iiv  the  name  of 
"piccaninny  waddy,"  because  it  is  generally 
smaller  and  lighter  than  the  others,  and  call 
be  used  by  a  child. 

Nos.  1  .ind  2  are  also  clubs,  but  are  made 
in  a  diflercnt  form,  and  used  in  a  difl'crent 
inann('r.  If  the  reader  will  refer  to  the 
account  of  the  Abyssinian  curve<l  sword,  or 
sIinteK  he  will  see  that  in  Ereneral  form  it 
much  rcBcmblcs  this  club,  the  long  pointed 


wever,  knows 
est  part  of  his 
cscnt  it  to  tho 
jy  continue  to 
cm  falls  to  tho 
[lecided  to  re- 
ted  injuries  to 
Australian  is 
rior  presents, 
inary  appear- 
iits,  fractures, 
one  of  which 
immediately, 
!  caused  tem- 
ustralian. 
)f  Ills  waddy, 
cannot  be  in- 
)f  my  readers 
mber  of  cap- 
g  the  police, 
to  tho  corn- 
depredations 
hey  persecute 
seems  rather 
lot  know  the 
itriably  exists 
nals,  whether 
he  Australian 
nist  what  the 
to  the  Dutch 
c  Ghoorka  or 
sh  army,  and 
iylon  or  India 

'ellows  "  arc 
ions  of  Euro- 
L>d  with  their 
L)f  them  who 
I'd  unless  he 
le  enters  tlie 
'8,  he  will  lay 
?.  exeei)t  the 
iill  carry  his 
rtoiich-i)()ueli 
iVill  take  liis 
liich  even  the 
I    insuflicient 


,  although  it 
not  the  one 
that  luirpose. 
na,"  is  much 
much  resem- 
so  eU'ectively 
!icr  forms  of 
T),  the  latter 
:  the  name  of 
t  is  fienerally 
hers,  and  caii 

)ut  are  made 
in  a  difl'creiit 
refer  to  the 
'c<l  sword,  or 
leral  form  it 
long  pointed 


If! 


.  ■< 


a 


iji 


rJ 


r 


I       \ 


r  . ! 


mi 

I! 


AUSTKAI.IA.N   CLCBS. 
(ii«a  piij;!.'  71U.) 


TATTOOING   CHISELS.    (See  pnge  801.) 


Ai;STI{ALIAN    SAW.     (Sec  piige  7JB.) 


'»R 


MAN  OF  TORRES  STU  AIT       -ee  pnfv  rw  ' 


BASKET.    (See  pnt'o  HlW.) 


'7-J-2) 


CLUBS  AND  TOMAHAWKS. 


723 


head  of  each  being  equally  useful  in  strik- 
ing downward  over  a  shield.  This  weapon 
IS  not  only  used  in  combat,  but  is  employed 
in  the  native  dances  to  beat  time  by  repeated 
strokes  on  the  shield. 

The  reader  will  notice  that  many  of  these 
clubs  have  the  ends  of  the  handles  pointed. 
This  formation  is  partly  for  the  purpose  of 
increasing  their  efflciency  as  offensive  weap- 
ons, aud  partly  for  another  object.  As  was 
the  case  with  the  warriors  of  the  Iliad,  both 
combatants  will  occasionally  rest,  and  give 
each  other  time  to  breathe,  before  renewing 
the  fight.  During  these  intervals  the  Au° 
stralian  combaUnts  squat  down,  dig  up  the 
earth  with  the  handle  of  the  clul),  and  rub 
their  hands  with  the  dusty  soil,  in  order  to 
l)revcnt  the  weapons  from  slipping  out  of 
.    their  gnxsp. 

Tiiis  club  is  made  in  a  very  ingenious 
way,  tlie  artilicer  taking  advantage  of  some 
gnarled  branch,  and  cutting  it  so  that  the 
grain  of  the  wood  follows  the  curve,  or 
rather  the  angle  of  tiie  head,  which  adds 
greatly  to  its  strength.  A  club  of  almost  I 
the  same  shape,  and  cut  similarly  from  the' 
ansrleof  a  l)ranch,  is  used  in  New  Caledonia, 
and,  but  for  the  great  superiority  of  the 
workmanship,  might  easily  be  mistaken  for 
the  angular  club  of  the  Australian. 

riiis  particular  form  of  club  has  a  tolera- 
bly wide  range,  and  among  the  tribes  which 
inhabit  tlie  shores  of  Encounter  Bay  is  called 
JVlarpangye. 

In  many  parts  of  Australia  the  natives 
nave  a  curious  weapon  which  much  resem- 
bles a  sword.  It  is  from  three  to  four  feet  in 
iength,  IS  Hat,  about  three  inches  in  width 
and  has  the  oiiLer  edge  somewhat  sharpened. 
Being  made  of  the  close-grained  wood  of  the 
gum-tiee,  it  is  very  heavy  in  proportion  to 
Us  size,  and  in  practised  hands  is  a  most 
lormidable  weapon. 

The  Australian  women  carry  an  instru- 
mtnt  which  is  sometimes  thought  to  be  a 
spear,  and  sometimes  a  club,  but  which  in 
the  bauds  of  a  woman  is  neither,  thou'di  a 
man  will  sometimes  employ  it  for  eitherliur- 
pose.  It  is  simply  a  stick  of  variable  lengtli, 
sharpened  at  one  end  and  the  point  hard- 
ened by  fire.  It  is  called  by  the  natives  the 
katta,^  and  is  popularly  known  by  the  an- 
propi-iate  name  of  llic  dlggin<»-stick 

With  this  stick  the  natives^contrive  todi"' 
up  tlie  ground  in  a  most  astouishiu.'  man" 
ner  andau  Englisli  '•  navvy,"  with  his  pick, 
spade,  and  barrow,  would  feel  considerablv 
surprised  at  the  work  which  is  done  by  the 
naked  black,  who  has  no  tools  except  a 
j)ointed  stick  Let,  for  example,  a  navvv 
be  set  to  work  at  the  task  of  digging  out  an 
echidna  ft-o.u  its  hole,  and  ho  woTild  find  his 
powers  of  dij^ging  baffled  by  the  burrowinn^ 
capabilities  ot  the  animal,  which  would  mako 


[  be  obliged  to  make  a  funnel-shaped  hole  of 
yerylar^e  size,  so  as  to  allow  liim  to  work 
in  It,  and  to  give  the  pick  and  spade  free  play 
as  he  threw  out  the  soil. 

The  black  man,  on  the  contrary,  would 
have  no  such  ditliculty,  but  knows  how  to 
sink  a  hole  without  troubling  himself  to  db^ 
a  foot  of  needless  soil.  This  he  does  by 
handling  the  katta  precisely  as  the  Bosjes- 
inan  handles  his  digging-stick,  i.  e.  by  hold- 
ing It  perpendicularlv,  jobbing  the  hardened 
point  into  the  ground,  and  throwing  out  with 
his  hands  the  loosened  earth. 

In  digging  out  one  of  the  burrowing  ani- 
mals, the  black  hunter  pushes  a  long  and 
flexible  stick  down  the  hole,  draws  it  out, 
measures  along  the  ground  to  the  spot  ex- 
actly above  the  end  of  the  burrow,  replaces 
the  stick,  aud  digs  down  upon  it.  By  the 
time  that  he  has  reached  it,  the  animal  has 
gone  on  digging,  and  has  sunk  its  burrow 
still  further.  Tlie  stick  is  then  pushed  into 
the  lengthened  burrow,  and  again  dug  down 
upon;  and  the  process  is  repeated  until  the 
tired  animal  can  dig  no  more,  and  is  captured. 
The  katta  also  tiikes  the  part  of  a  weapon 
and  can  be  wielded  very  etlectively  by  a 
practised  hand,  being  used  either  for  strikiu" 
or  thrusting.  " 

We  now  come  to  a  curious  instrument 
which  is  often  thought  to  be  a  weapon,  but 
which,  although  it  would  answer  such  a  pur- 
pose very  well,  is  seldom  used  for  it.  This 
IS  the  tomahawk,  or  hammer,  as  it  is  generally 
called.  Three  varieties  of  the  tomaiiawk  are 
given  in  the  ilhistration  "  Tomahawks  "  on 
the  722(1  page.  In  all  of  them  the  cuttiii'^ 
part  IS  made  of  stone  and  the  handle  of  wood, 
and  the  head  and  the  handle  are  joined  in 
several  different  ways,  according  to  the  fash- 
ion  of  the  locality  in  which  the  Instru- 
ment  is  made.  The  simplest  plmi  is  that 
which  IS  shown  in  tig.  1.  In  this  instrument, 
a  conveniently  sluaued  piece  of  stone  has 
been  selected  for  a  head,  and  the  handle  is 
made  o  a  flexible  stick  bent  over  it,  and  the 
two  ends  firmly  lashed  together,  just  .■is  the 
bnghsh  blacksmith  makes  handles  for  his 


.     •  -    --  ---"  »-••«. ...•I,  Million  tvuiiui  IIUIKU 

Its  way  through  the  earth  faster  than  could 
^ne  navvy.  Li  order  to  sink  some  six  feet 
deep  into  the  ground,  the  wliite  man  would 


I)unches  and  cold  chisels.    This  weapon  was 
made  in  New  South  Wales. 

.U  fig.  ;i  is  shown  a  tomahawk  of  a  more 
elauorate  construction.  Here  the  stone 
head  has  been  lashed  to  the  shaft  by  a  thong 
winch  IS  wrap])ed  over  it  in  a  way  that  ex' 
actly  resembles  the  lashiiisr  employed  by  the 
:srew  Zealander  or  the  I)  yak  for  the  same 
purpose.  The  tomahawk  at  fig.  4  is,  how- 
ever,  the  best  example  of  the  instrument, 
and  IS  taken  from  a  specimen  in  the  British 
Museum.  Tiic  handle  and  head  are  shm>ed 
much  like  those  of  fig.  3,  but  the  fiistcniiiff  is 
much  more  elaborate. 

In  the  first  place,  the  head  is  held  to  the 
handle  by  lashings  of  sinews,  which  are 
drawn  from  t.lm  (.i!]  of  ti...  i.o..„.._.,_    ...  i 

,    .- —    — ■-    -»     — ••      "•••■g.-ti'-n/     aim 

always  kept  m  readiness  by  the  Australian 
savage.     The   sinews  are  steeped    iu   hot 


m 


ijf ; 


m 


fell: 


Y9^ 


AUSTRALIA. 


Ill 


water,  and  ponnded  between  two  stones,  in 
order  to  separate  them  into  Hbres;  and, 
while  still  wet  and  tolerably  elastic,  they 
are  wrapped  round  the  stone  and  the  handle. 
Of  course,  as  they  dry,  they  contract  with 
great  force,  and  bind  the  head  and  handle 
together  far  more  securely  than  can  be  done 
with  any  other  material.  Even  raw  hide 
does  not  hold  so  firmly  as  sinew. 

When  the  sinew  lashing  is  perfectly  dry, 
the  native  takes  a  quantity  of  the  peculiar 
substance  called  "  black-boy "  wax,  and 
kneads  it  over  the  head  and  the  end  of  the 
handle,  so  as  to  bind  everything  finnlv 
together.  Jo  J- 

Another  instrument  is  shown  at  flg.  2,  in 
which  the  combination  of  stone  and  vcge 


table  is  managed  in  another  wav.  The  blade 
is  formed  from  a  piece  of  qu.-irtz  about  as 
long  as  a  man's  hand,  which  has  been 
chipped  into  the  form  of  a  spear-head.  The 
handle,  instead  of  being  a  piece  of  wood,  is 
simply  a  number  of  fibres  made  into  a  bun- 
dle. The  base  of  the  stone  head  has  been 
pushed  among  the  loose  ends  of  thi  librcs, 
and  then  the  whole  has  been  bound  firmlv 
together  by  a  lashing  of  string  made  of 
reeds.  This  is  a  sort  of  dagger ;  and  another 
form  of  (he  same  instrument  is  made  >'. 
simply  sharpening  a  stick  about  eighteen 
inches  in  length,  and  hardening  the  sharp- 
ened end  in  the  fire.  It  is,  in  fact,  a  miniature 
katta,  but  is  applied  to  a  different  purpose. 

These  axes  and  daggers  have  been  men- 
tioned together,  because  (hey  are  used  for  the 
same  purpose,  namelj',  the  accent  of  trees. 

Active  as  a  monkev,  the  Australian  na- 
tive can  climb  any  tree  that  grows.  Should 
they  be  of  moderate  size,  he  ascends  them, 
not  by  claspihg  (he  (runk  with  his  legs  and 
arms  ((he  mode  which  is  generally  used  in 
England),  and  which  is  popularly  called 
"  swarming."  Ins(ead  of  passing  liis  legs 
and  arms  round  (he  tree-trunk  as  far  as  they 
can  go,  he  applies  the  soles  of  his  feet  to  ft 
in  front,  and  presses  a  hand  against  it  on 
either  side,  and  thus  ascends  the  tree  with 
the  rapidity  of  a  squirrel.  This  mode  of 
ascent  is  now  taught  at  every  good  gymna- 
sium in  England,  and  is  far  superior'to  the 
old  fashion,  which  has  the  disadvantage  of 
slowness,  added  to  the  certainty  of  damaging 
the  clothes.  " 

Those  who  have  seen  our  own  acrobats 
performing  the  feat  called  La  I'crche,  in 
which  one  man  balances  another  on  the  toj) 
of  a  pole,  or  the  extniordinary  variations  on 
it  performed  by  the  Japanese  jugglers,  who 
balance  poles  and  ladders  on  the  soles  of 
their  feet,  will  be  familiar  with  the  m.anner 
in  which  one  of  the  performers  runs  up  the 

Fole  which  is  balanced  by  his  companion, 
t  is  by  this  method  that  (he  Australian 
ascends  a  tree  of  moderate  dimensions,  and, 
when  he  is  well  among  the  houghs,  he  trav- 
erses them  with  perfect  certainty  and  nuick- 
ness. 


Trees  which  will  permit  the  man  to  ascend 
after  this  fashion  are,  however,  rather  scan-o 
m  the  Australian  forests,  and,  moreover 
there  is  comparatively  little  inducement  to 
climb  them,  the  hollows  in  which  the  bees 
make  their  nests  and  the  beasts  take  up  their 
diurnal  abode  being  always  in  the  branch  or 
trunk  of  some  old  and  decaying  tree.  Some 
of  these  trees  are  so  large  that  their  trunks 
are  veritable  towers  of  wood,  and  afford  no 
hold  to  the  hands;  yet  they  are  ascended  by 
the  natives  as  rapidly  as  if  they  were  small 
trees. 

By  dint  of  constant  practice,  the  Austra- 
lian never  passes  a  tree  without  casting  a 
glance  at  the  bark,  and  by  that  one  glance 
he  will  know  whether  he  will  need  to  mount 
it.  The  various  arboreal  animals,  especially 
(he  so  called  opossums,  cannot  ascend  the 
tree  without  leaving  marks  of  their  claws  in 
the  bark.  There  is  not  an  old  tree  that  has 
not  its  bark  covered  with  scratches,  but  the 
keen  and  i)rac(ised  eye  of  the  native  can  in 
a  moment  dis(inguish  between  the  ascend- 
ing and  descending  marks  of  the  animal,  and 
can  also  de(crmine  the  date  at  which  they 
were  made. 

The  difference  between  the  marks  of  an 
:i.scendiug  and  descending  animal  is  easy 
enough  to  see  when  it  has  once  been  pointed 
out.  When  an  animal  climbs  a  tree,  the 
marks  of  its  claws  are  little  more  than  small 
holes,  with  a  slight  scratch  above  each,  look- 
ing something  like  the  conventional  "tears" 
of  heraldry.  But,  when  it  descends,  it  does 
so  by  a  series  of  slijipings  and  caichings,  so 
(hat  (he  claws  leave  long  scratches  behind 
them.  Nearly  all  arboreal  animals,  \vi(h  the 
exception  of  the  monkey  tribe,  leave  marks 
of  a  similar  character,  and  the  bear  hunter 
of  Nordi  America  and  (he  'jjossum  hunter 
of  Ausdalia  are  guided  by  similar  marks. 

Should  (he  native  hunter  see  an  ascend- 
ing mnrk  of  more  recent  date  than  the  o(her 
scra(clus,  he  knows  that  somewhere  in  the 
tree  lies  his  intended  prey.  Accordingly,  he 
lays  on  the  ground  everything  that  may  ini- 
jiede  him,  and,  going  to  the  tree-trunk,  he 
begins  (o  deliver  a  scries  of  choj)ping  blows 
widi  his  axp.  These  blows  are  delivered  in 
pans,  and  (o  an  Englishman  present  ra(hcr 
a  ludicrous  reminiscence  of  the  pos(man's 
double  rap.  By  each  of  these  double  blows 
he  chops  a  small  hole  in  the  tree,  and  man- 
ages so  as  to  cut  them  alternately  right  and 
leit,  and  at  intervals  of  two  feet  or  so. 

Ifavin"  cut  these  notches  as  high  as  he 
can  reach,  he  places  the  great  toe  of  his  left 
foot  in  the  lowermost  hole,  clasps  the  tree 
with  his  left  arm,  and  striket,  (he  head  of  the 
tomahawk  into  the  tree  as  high  as  he  cnn 
re^ch.  Using  the  tomahawk  as  a  handle  by 
which  he  can  pull  himself  up,  he  lodges  (im 
tor  ')f  his  rio;ht  foot  in  the  second  bole,  r.ml 
is  tb.-n  enabled  to  shift  the  toe  of  the  '"ft 


foot  iiito  (he  (bird  hnle.     Here  he  w.:if:i  ihra 
moment,  holding  tightly  by  both  his  ieet  and 


TREE  CLIMBING. 


725 


the  left  hand  and  nrtn,  while  he  cuts  more 
notchcH;  iind,  by  coiUimiing  the  process,  he 
Boon  reiichis  the  top  of  the  tree. 

When  ho  rc'iithes  the  first  branch,  he  looks 
carefully  to  (ind  (he  spot  toward  which  the 
tell-tale  scratclu-.s  are  directed,  and,  guided 
by  them  alone,  he  soon  discovers  the  hole  in 
which  the  animal  lies  hidden.  Ho  tests  the 
diinensiouH  of  the  hollow  by  tapping  on  the 
trunk  with  the  axe,  and,  if  it  shoufd  be  of 
moderate  depth,  sets  at  work  to  chop  away 
the  wood,  and  secure  the  inmate. 

Should,  however,  the  hollow  be  a  deep 
one,  he  is  ()bli!:f(!d  to  have  recourse  to  an- 
other plan.  Descending  the  tree  by  the 
same  notches  aa  those  by  which  he  had 
climbed  it.  111!  takes  from  his  bundle  of  be- 
longini,'8  a  tire-stick,  i.  e.  a  sort  of  tinderlikc 
wood,  which  keeps  up  a  smouldering  tire, 
like  that  of  the  willow  "  touchwood  "  so  dear 
to  schoolboys.  Wrapping  up  the  (ire-stick 
in  a  bundle  of  dry  gr.xss  and  leaves,  he  n- 
Rscends  the  tree,  and,  when  he  h.as  reach.-rl 
the  entrance  of  the  burrow,  he  whirls  the 
bundle  round  his  hciid  until  the  (ire  spreads 
through  the  mass,  and  the  grass  bursts  into 
name. 

As  soon  as  it  is  well  inflamed,  ho  pushes 
some  of  the  burning  material  into  the  bur- 
row, so  as  to  lidl  upon  the  enclosed  animal, 
and  to  rouse   it  from   the  heavy  sleep   in 
which  it  passes  the  hours  of  daylight,     lie 
also  holds  the  rest  of  the  torch  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  burrow,  and  manages  to  direct 
the   smoke   into  it.    Did  he  not  rouse  the 
animal  by  the  burning  loaves,  he  would  run 
a  chance  of  sullbcating  it  in  its  sleep.    This 
may  seem  to  be  a  very  remote  contingency, 
but  in  fact  it  is  very  likelv  to   happen.    I 
have  known  a  cat  to  be  baked  alive  in  an 
oven,  and  yet  not  to    have  awaked  from 
sleep,  as   was   evident  by   the  attitude   in 
which  the  body  of  the  animal   was  found 
curled  uj),  with  its  chin  on  its  paws,  and  its 
toil  wrapped  round  its  bodv.    Yet  the  slum- 
ber of  a  donicstieated  cat,  which  can  sleep  as 
often  as  it  likes  in  the  day  or  night,  is  not 
nearly  so  deep  as  that  which  wraps  in  obliv- 
ion the  seiixes  of  a  wild  animal  that  is  abroad 
all  night,  and  wiiose  whole  structure  is  in- 
tended for  a  nocturnal  life. 
^    The  chopping  holes,  and  getting  the  toes 
into  them,  seems  in  theory  to  be  rather  a 
tedious  business,  but  in  practice  it  is  quite 
Uie  contrary  the  native  ascending  almost  as 
quickly  as  it  he  were  climbing  a  ladder     As 
the  large  tn-es  are  so  capable  of  containinrr 
the  animals  on  which  the  Australians  feecf 
there  is  scarcely  one  which  does  not  exhibit 
several  series  of  the  notclies  that  denote  the 
track  of  a  native.     Strange  to  sav,  the  Au- 
stralian hunters  will  not  avail  themselves  of 
the  notches  tiiat  have  been  made  by  other 
persons,  but  each  man  chops  a  new  series  of 
Jtoles  for  himself  every  time  that  he  wants  to 
ascend  a  tree. 
Sometimes  a  man  sees  the  track  of  an 


animal  or  the  indication  of  a  bee's  nest  on  a 
tree  when  he  happens  not  to  have  an  axe  In 
hand.  In  such  a  case  he  is  still  able  to 
ascend  the  tree,  for  he  can  make  use  of  the 
dagger  which  has  been  already  described, 
punching  holes  in  the  bark,  and  i)ulling  him- 
self up  exactly  as  if  he  had  a  tomahawk,  the 
only  dlflerence  being  that  the  holes  ai-e 
smaller  and  the  work  is  harder. 

When  the  hunter  has  once  found  the 
entrance  of  the  burrow,  the  capture  of  the 
mmato  is  simply  a  tnatter  of  time,  as  the 
heat  and  smoke  are  sure  to  force  it  into  the 
air,  wliere  it  has  the  double  disadvantage  of 
beinw  half-choked  with  smoke  and  bemtr 
blind  with  the  (lame  and  the  daylight,  to 
which  its  eyes  are  unaccustomed.  A  blow 
on  the  head  from  the  tomakawk,  or  a  stab 
from  the  dagger,  renders  it  senseless,  when 
It  IS  flung  on  the  ground,  and  the  successful 
hunter  proceeds  to  traverse  the  tree  in  case 
some  other  animal  may  be  hidden  in  it. 

The  skill  of  the  natives  in  tree  climb- 
ing IS  also  exercised  for  another  purpose 
besides  hunting  for  bees  and  animals.     The 
well-known  cabbage-palm  grows  to  a  very 
great  height,  and,  like  other  palms,  never 
grows    quite   straight,    but    has    always    a 
bend  in  the  trunk.    After  the  manner  of 
the  palm.tribe,  it  grows  by  a  succession  of 
buds  from  the  top,  and  tins  bud,  popularly 
called  the  "cabbage,"  is  a  favorite  article 
of  food.    It  h.as  been  called  the  prince  of 
vegetables,  and  one  enthusiastic  traveller 
declares  that  it  must  have  been  the  am- 
brosia of  the  Olympic  gods.    The  removal 
of  the  bud  causes   the  death  of  the  tree 
.and  for   that  reason   the  vegetable   is  for- 
bidden in  civilized  regions  under  penalty 
of  a  heavy  fine.     The;  sav.age,  however,  who 
has  no  idea  of  care  for  the  morrow,  much 
less  ot  looking  forward  to  future  vears,  takes 
the  bud  wherever  he  meets  it,  caring  noth- 
ing for  the  death  of  the  useful  tree.    He 
ascends  l)y  means  of  a  little  wooden  dat'ger, 
or  warpoo,  or  makes  use  of  the  tomahawk. 
The  quartz  d.agger  which  was  shown  in  a 
previous  illustration  would  not  be  used  for 
tree  climbing,  unless  the  owner  could  not 
procure  a  tomahawk  or  warpoo.    Its  chief 
use  is  as  a  weapon,  and  it  can  l)e  also  em- 
idoyed  as  a  knife,  by  means  of  which  the 
savage  can  mutilate  a  fiillen  enemy,  after 
the  manner  which  will  be  described  when 
we  come  to  treat  of  warfare  in  Australia. 

The  •'  black-boy  "  gum,  which  pl.ays  so 
.arge  a  part  in  the  manufacture  of  Austra- 
lian weapons  and  implements,  is  obtained 
from  the  gr.ass-tree,  popularly  called  the 
'•  bl.ick  boy,"'  because  at  a  distance  it  may 
easily  be  mistaken  for  a  native,  with  his 
spear  and  cloak.  It  is  very  tenacious  in  its 
own  country,  but  when  brought  to  England 
it  becomes  brittle,  and  is  apt  to  break  away  ' 
from  the  weapon  in  fra<rments.  iust  na  ilncs 
a  similar  preparation  called  "  kurumanni " 
gum,  which  is  made  by  the  naUves  of  Gui- 


^'#i 


J! 


TSS 


AUSTHALIA. 


ann.  U  l»  qnUo  hlwilt,  And  when  dry  is 
cxtioiiioly  IiudI. 

'J'lio  Kiii«N-trcc  In  oho  of  tho  rlmrm'ttTbtic 
pInnlH  of  AuMtraliii,  and  i)uitukc«  of  lli« 
«triuiK(!  individiiiilily  of  Unit  ciiriouM  coiiu- 
Iry.  rill!  (milk  \h  <vliiidriciil,  utid  lookH  liko 
timtofii  ituliii,  while  nil  (iiioriiioim  lull  of 
loiiK  IcHVcM  f'aiU  IVoiii  tlui  top  and  droopHin 
All  diicctionH,  liko  a  Kipinlic  pliirno  ofrciUh- 
ers.  'J'lin  llowiir  hIiooIs  up  n(,iaiKl>t  I'loni  tho 
centre;  and  tho  lonu  Htalk  hcconioH,  wlu-n 
(hiod,  HO  hard,  IoiikIi,  luid  llKlit,  Ihul.  it  in 
mndo  into  xncar  HhuHH. 

Thero  Ih  in  my  collection 


wiw  (illuHlniled  on  page 
faeture  of  which  the  hlacj 


7'221,  in  tiio  niann- 

.,      ,, ;k-l>oy  ftnm  nlavH 

HConsKhialde  part.     No  one  wi.nld  take  it 


an  AuHtraliun 

laiui- 

•y  )/uni  plavH 


for  II  Haw  who  tfid  not  know  tho  iinpleniciit, 
iind  ind(H<d  it  looks  much  more  liko  a  rudo 
diiRKcr  thnn  a  naw.  It  in  made  (Voin  a  pU-co 
ot  W'xid  UHUnlly  cut  from  a  bramdi  of  the 
cnm-tree,  and  ahiiut  tw  thick  iw  a  ninn'n 
linger  -it  the  thick«-t  part,  whence  il  taperH 
r-vlually  to  a  point.  The  avcia«o  length 
oi  tho  Haw  is  fourteen  inclieH,  though  I  have 
MH'i\  them  nearly  two  feia  long. 

Along  the  thicker  end  in  cut  n  groove, 
which  is  intended  to  receivi*  tho  tci^th  of 
the  saw.  These  teeth  are  made  from  diipH 
of  quartz  or  oliHidian.  tho  latter  being  pre- 
ferred; and  Hoine  niakci-H,  who  have  been 
brought  in  contact  with  civilixalion,  have 
taken  to  using  fiagnicnt.s  of  jrhuss  hottlcH. 
A  number  of  flat  and  HharpM-dgcd  ehipH  nro 
selected  iw  nearly  as  powiblu  of  thtt  muiio 


«  zo,  and  bo  ng on  nu  av.rago  m  largo  nn  a 
Hidlling.  JhoHO  the  natlvcM  iiiMert  into  tliu 
groove  with  their  nliiup  edged  uppormoflt. 
Ammntlly  of  black-boy  wax  Ih  then  warmed 
and  applied  to  them,  tfie  entire  wood  of  tho 
wiw  being  enveloped  in  it,  an  well  an  tlio 
teeth  for  half  their  depth,  ho  hh  to  hohl 
them  llrmly  in  their  pluccn.  Ah  tho  chipn 
ot  Htoiio  are  |)laced  ho  mm  to  leavo  littlo 
HpaceH  bolweeii  them,  the  gapn  iiro  llllod 
in  with  this  uneful  ceiiu^nt. 

For    AuHlralian    work    this    Hiniplo    tool 
HooniH  to  answer  IIh  purpose   well  enough. 
Of  course  it  in  very  hIow   in   itn  operation, 
and  no  great  force  can  be  ajiplicil  to  it,  lent 
the  teeth  MJiould  bo  broken,  or  twistecl  out 
of  tho  (M'inenl.    'I'he  use  of  this  saw  cntallii 
great  waste  of  nialerial,  tinits  and   labor; 
but  iiH  tho  first   two  of  tliese   arthiloH  aro 
not  of  the  leimt  value  to  the  natlvcH,  and  tho 
third   is  of  tho  lightest  possible  kind,  tho 
tool  works  wt'll  enough  lor  ItH  purpose,     A 
perfect  sjiocimen  of  this  saw  is   not  oftiai 
seen  in  this  country,  as  the  black-boy  wax 
flakes  off,  and  allows  the  teeth  to  drop  out 
of  ihoir  placo.     hWvu  In  my  own  s|ieeimen, 
which  ha«  been   earefiilly  tended,  the  wax 
has  been  chijmodolf  here  and  there,  while  in 
iiiiHtrumcntH  that  have  been  knocked  about 
carel(!SHly  Hcarcely  a  tooth  is  left  in  its  place. 
Owing  to   the  pointed  end  of  lh(t  handle, 
till!  saw  can  be  used  after  the  fashion  of  a 
dagger,  and  can  bo  (imployod,  liko  tho  war- 
poo,  lor  tho  ttBccut  of  trees. 


CIUfTKU  LXXII. 


At)HTllAI,IA-0™«m,«l. 

'""  rrr/r;,:!!' r  rrr."",,;™: " — "■"-""  ™ "™"-'  -■-"  •» 


.YJ:  """[  f1"'"  *"  'f""  vurloun  fomifl  of  tho 
Tlui  u«.iiil  w(.,i,,c,„  in  hUkUI,  and  fu-arccly 

el(iv<  11  f.  (,t.  Am  a  Kc-nnral  nilcs,  tl,„  Hr)car  Ih 
construct.,,!  aft,.,-  a  wry  r„,|« 'faHhi./n,  and 
t    .  maker  mM-niH  to  can,  hut  little  wl.khcr 

w"«n^*  '";  I"""'  T^'y  ""•'"«'"'  ««  that  the 
weapon  I),,  tolcral.ly  w.-ll  halancc.l.    Thf-ro 


Tn  ,nv„  '  "."""""""  "    AuBtralian  Hpear, 

n    nv  collection,  one  of  which  (a  W(aiK>n 

that  Ji«H  evi.h.ntlv  hccn  a  favorite  one  Tl" 

the  fteconjl  bcu.l  counU..ractin«  tho  former 
stmiKhi.  '"■"'"""«  "'^  ^'"'l'""  ^>'«™Wy' 
,,^''0  butt  of  the  AuHtralian  sncar.  like 
t  at  of  tlie  South  AlVicau  aw  J    «  verv 

Krvijrcif if a.'"''r'"i  ^--'"'""^'^ '^^^^^^^^^^ 

Roi,  t«  the  l.utt,  where  it  h  hardly  tliicker 
tlmn  an  arti«t'H  pencil.  This,  be  nVon^  of 
t  e  common  spears,  is  nimply  «harpene«1  « 

worwi     1 1  ave,  however,  specimens  in  which 


wood. 

there  is  almost  <.,very  variety  of  materiai" 

Some  of  these  are  miulo  on  the  aamf.  k^c 


mado  of  hard  and  lieavy  wood.  ThlH  In 
deeply  cut  with  barbs;  so  tliat  Hie  weapon 
is  a  more  formidable  f)ne  than  that  which  in 
mmie  smiiily  from  one  piece  of  w(»od.  'J'ho 
hea.l  of  oiie  of  these  snears  is  shr.wn  at  fljf. 
m  e  vTi  ""'"'■'^^'""  "  "'"»''''  »'■  MpwiM,"  on 

H(-vcral  of  the  upears  arc  perfectly  plain. 

>•'!>'«  simt.ly   louK  sticks,  p'ointed  at    the 

I'TKcr  end.  These,  however,  have  been 
seraped  very  carefully,  an.l  seem  t,,  have 

iful  more  pains  bestowe.l  upon  .them  than 
tliosc!  with  more  elal)orat<!  hea^s.  Tliene 
spears  are  about  elKht  feet  in  length. 

I  hen  there  are  other  spears  with  a  varia- 

!  '  """J'V""  "''  '"•'"»»,  and  of  variable  dimen- 
sions, rhe  commonest  form  of  muitllieaded 
sp(.ar«  iHw  either  three  or  four  poinU;  but 
m  .!very  other  respect,  except  nlunber  the 
spear  heads  are  -constructed  in  the  same 
manner.  One  of  th(-«..  «,,ears,  now  before 
me  has  a  shaft  about  nine  feet  in  length,  and 
rather  more  than  an  inch  in  diameter  at  the 
lluckest  part,  whi(rh,  as  is  usual  with  Aus- 
tralian spears,  is  just  below  the  hcnd.  Tho 
wofMl  of  which  It  is  mad(!  is  exceedindy 
ight  and  rH.rou»;  but  this  very  quality  Iim 
unfortunately  mmlc  it  so  acceptable  t/)  the 
ptilinus  beetles  that  they  have  damaged  It 


sarllv,  and  rendered  it  so  brittle  that  a  verr 

^ „,..., "!'«]?*  Jhock  would  snap  it.     Indeed.  th« 

cljile  u»  that  which  has  iimf  >»",!«« /iT-'^liu'T  i '"".'''"''  *':  °^^  '^''  """"  **«»»  broken  into  thrpc 

bu. differ <>.„  ,.,itvCA'i'iAnSS3;IS&i„rdtwt'^^^^^^ 
'*  (7«) 


728 


AUHniALIA. 


i  m 


The  four  points  which  constitute  llic  lu-ivil 
arc  cut  I'nini  tho  gnni-lrci',  ilu;  wowl  of 
wliich  is  liard  and  (lural)li',  and  can  be 
trinnncd  to  a  very  Hliuip  jjoint  witliout  dan- 
ger of  l>r('aka<'e.  Each  of  tiicni  is  twenty 
inclu'8  in  leiifjth,  and  they  are  largcHt  in  tlic 
middle,  tiiperinj,'  Nll!,'l)tly  at  one  end  so  as  t<. 
j)eiinit  of  tlieir  l)elii<^  lastencd  to  the  Nliaf'L 
and  being  scraped  to  a  fine  point  ul  ,.  i 
otlicr  end. 

On  exannnation  I  find  tliat  the  Inrfjo  end 
of  tlie  hIuiII  lias  l)cen  cut  into  four  giooves, 
in  eacli  of  wliicli  is  jdaced  tlie  butt  end  of 
one  of  tli(!  points,  wliich  is  fixed  teinpoiaiilv 
by  black-boy  gum.  Wedgelikc  pegs  have 
then  been  pushed  between  the  points,  so  as 
to  make  them  diverge  i)roperly  from  each 
other,  and,  when  they  have  assumed  the 
m-oper  iiosilion,  they  have  been  tightly 
bound  together  with  cord.  A  layer  of  Idack- 
boy  gum  has  then  been  kneaded  over  the 
string,  so  as  to  keep  all  firmly  together. 

So  much  for  the  mode  of  "putting  on  the 

points,  (ho  end  of  one  of  which  may  be  seen 

at  fig. 'i  in  the  illustration.    My  own  sjieci- 

nien,  liowever,  is  better  made  than  that  from 

which  tlie   sketch    lias   been    taken.      The 

reader  will   i)erceive   that  tliere  is  a  liarh 

attached  to  the  point,  and  la.shed  in  its  |)lace 

by   string.     In    my   specimen   the   Ijarb   is 

made  of  a  jiieco  of  bono  about  as  h)ng  as  a 

skewer,  and  -harjjly  pointed  at  both  ends. 

In  the  exaniph!  shown  in  the  illustration, 

the  barb  merely  projects  from  the  side  of 

the  point,  whereas  in  my  sjiecimen  tlie  hone 

answers  the  purpose  both  of  point  and  barb. 

In  order  to  enable   it   to   take  the  proper 

direction,  the  toji  of  the  wooden  point  is 

bevelled  off,  and  the  piece  of  bone  lashed  to 

it  by  the  middle,  so  that  one  end  becomes 

the  point  of  the  weapon,  and  the  other  end 

does  duty  for  tlie  barb.     Wishing   to  see 

how  this  was  done,  I  have  cut  away  i)art  of 

the  lashings  of  one  of  the  four  points,  ancl 

have  been  much  struck  with  the  ingenuity 

displayed   Ry   the   maker   in   fastening  the 

hone  to  tlie  "point,  so  as  to  make  it  discharge 

it«  double  duty.    The  barbs  are  all  directed 

inward,  so  that,  when   tho  native  makes  a 

stroke  at  a  fish,  the  slippery  prey  is  caught 

between  the  barbs,  and  held  there  just  as  is 

an   eel  between   the  pi-ongs  of  tlie  speai-. 

The  elasticity  of  tlie  fouriong  iioints  causes 

them  to  diverge  when  they  come  upon  the 

back  of  a  fish,  and  to  contract  tightly  upon 

it,  so  that  the  points  of  the  barbs  are  pressed 

firmly  into  its  sides. 

This  sncar  also  stands  the  native  instead 
of  a  paddle,  and  with  it  he  contrives  to 
guide  his  fragile  bark  wit!;  moderate  .speed. 
How  he  manages  to  stand  erect  in  so 
frail  a  vessel,  to  jiaddle  about,  to  strike  the 
fish,  and,  lastly,  to  haul  the  struggling  prey 
aboard,  is  really  a  marvel.  The  last-men- 
tioned feat  is  the  most  wonderful,  as  the  fish 
are  often  of  cnnHiderahle.  sikc,  and  th."-  mere 
leverage  of  their  weight  at  the  end  of  a  I 


ten-foot  spear,  added  to  the  violent  Htrug- 
gles  which  the  wounded  fish  makes,  seems 
sufHcient  to  upset  a  far  more  stnUle  vissel. 

Yet  the  natives  miinng(>  to  pass  hour  after 
hour  without  meeting  with  an  accident,  and 
in  f'uooftheirtiiiy boats, which  seem  scarcely 
■  1.  iiiv'i,:'  to"  hold  a  single  European, 
even  (hiiu-;!!  he  should  lie  accustonied  to 
III"  'niMJW  outrigger  skill',  or  the  com- 
paratively modern  caiine,  two  men  will  be 
perfectly  comfort4ihle,  siicMring  and  hauling 
in  their  fl.sh,  and  even  cooking  them  witli  a 
tire  maile  on  an  extemporized  hearth  of  wet 
sand  ami  stones  in  thi!  niiiiiilt  of  the  caiinc. 

Night  is  the  favorite  time  for  llsli  spear- 
ing, and  then  tho  si-li(  nf  ;.  number  of  na- 
tives engaged  ir.  Jic  wutery  cliase  is  a  most, 
picturesque  one.  They  carry  torches,  by 
means  of  which  they  see  to  "the  bottom  of 
the  water,  and  whicli  have  also  the  advan- 
tage of  dazzling  the  fish;  and  the  etfect  of 
tlie  constantly  moving  torches,  the  shifting 
glare  on  the"  rijiiiled  water,  and  the  dark 
figures  moving  about,  some  searcliing  for 
fish,  others  striking,  and  otliers  struggling 
with  tlie  captured  prey,  is  ofjually  pictu- 
resque and  exciting.  "The  torches  which 
they  use  are  made  of  iiitlammable  bark; 
and  the  whole  scene  is  almost  ])reci.sely 
like  that  which  is  witncf^sed  in  "burning 
the  water,"  in  North  Aniciica,  or,  to  eomo 
nearer  home,  "  leistering  "'  in  Scotland. 

In  the  daytime  they  cannot  use  the  torch, 
and,  as  the  slightest  brei  ze  will  cause  a 
ripple  on  the  surlivce  of  the  water  that  effec- 
tually prevents  them  from  seeing  liie  fish, 
they  have  an  ingenious  plan  of  lying  flat 
across  the  canoe,  with  the  iijiiier  jiarl  of  the 
head  and  the  eyes  immersed  in  the  water, 
and  the  hand  grasping  the  si)ear  ready  for 
the  stroke.  Tlie  eyes  being  under  the  rip- 
ple, they  can  see  distinctly  enough. 

1  have  often  einjiloyed  this  ))lan  when 
desirous  of  watching  the  proeeedings  of  sub- 
aquatic  animals.  It  is  very  etlcctual,  though 
after  a  time  the  attitude  becomes  rather 
tiitiguing,  and  those  wlio  are  not  gymnasts 
euiiujj;h  to  1)0  iiuleiicudent  as  to  the'relafivo 
position  of  their  heads  and  heels  are  apt  to 
find  themselves  gi(hly  from  the  determina- 
tion of  blood  to  tlie  head. 

Another  sjiear.  also  used  for  fishing,  and 
with  an  elaborate  bead,  is  seen  at  fig  8.  In 
tlis  spear  one  point  is  iron,  and  the  other 
two  are  bone.  'I'lie  weajion  is  remarkable 
for  the  manner  in  wlndi  the  shaft  is  allowed 
to  project  among  the  points,  and  for  the 
peculiar  mode  in  which  the  various  parts 
arc  lashed  together.  This  specimen  comes 
from  the  Lower  Murray  Hiver. 

There  is  in  ni.\  colU'c'tion  a  weapon  which 
was  brought  from  ('ape  Vork.  It  is  a  fisli- 
ing  spear,  and  at  first  sight  greatlv  resem- 
bles that  which  has  just  been  described.  It 
is,  however,  of  a  more  elaborate  character, 
and  drserves  :-.  Rejinrate  description.  It  ir, 
seven  feet  in  length,  and  very  slender,  the 


AUSTRALIAN   AS  A  THROWER  OF  MISSILES. 


729 


thickoHt  part  of  tlie  uliaft  not  bfiii^  more 
thiui  half  iin  incli  in  (liainft«r.  Ft  has  lour 
nointa,  two  of  which  an'  iron  and  witliout 
barhs,  tlio  iron  tttin^'  about  thii  tliicliniis.M 
o(  a  i!row-(iuill,  and  ratlier  under  tlirue 
inuih's  in  lcnfj;th.  The  two  Ijoud  poiutn 
are  made  IVoni  the?  Mat  tail-lioiK!  of  one;  of 
the!  rays,  and,  Itoinj,'  arranj^ud  with  tlio  point 
of  tiiii  iMino  in  front,  iwii  of  these  points 
has  a  doubhj  row  I'  liarlis  directed  back- 
ward, out!  rnnnin;;  uhiujj  eaelt  edjje. 

At  n'4.  ()  of  the  Maine  illusiratiou  is  seen  a 
very  f()rniidal)le   variety   of    (he   throwing- 
spcar.     Alon-?  eacli  side  of   tlic   head  tlie 
native  warrior  lias  cut  a  groove,  and  has 
stuck  in  it  a  ninnber  of  chips  of  Hint  or 
quartz,  fastened  in'  liieir  places  by  the  black- 
boy  j,'iiin,   just  as  has  been  related  of  the 
saw.    The  workuvinshlp  of   tjiis  sp(!cimen 
is,  however,  far  rul^r  than  tb  it  of  the  saw, 
the  pieces  of  Hint  nut  beinj'  ilio  same  size, 
nor  so  carefully  adjusted.    Indeed,  it  seems 
as  if   Oie  .saw  maker  laid  aside   the   fraj;- 
ments   of  flint   which   he   rejected  for   the 
tool,  and  afterward  used  tlieni  in  arming  the 
head  of  his  spear.    One  of  these  weapons 
m  my  collection  is  armed  on  one  side  of  the 
head  only,  along  whi-li  are  arranged  four 
pieces  of  obsidian  having  very  jagged  edges, 
and  being  kejit  in  their  places  by  a  thick 
coatmg  of  biack-lioy  gum  extending  to  the 
very  point  of  the  spear. 

At  tigs  4  and  5  of  the  same  illustration 
are  seen  two  spear  heads  which  remind  the 
observer  of  the  Hint  weapons  which  have  of 
late  years  been  so  abundantly  found  in  va- 
rious ))arts  t)f  the  world,  and  which  belonged 
to   races  of   men   now   long  extinct.    The 
spear  heads  are  nearly  as  large  as  a  man's 
hand,  and  are  madr  of  tiint  chippi'd  can  - 
fully   into, the   re(iuire<l   shape.      '1  iiey  nn^ 
flat,  and  the  maker  has  had  sufHcient  knowl- 
edge of  the  cleav.age  to  enable  him  to  give 
to  each  side  a  sliarp  and  tolerably  uniform 
edge.     It  will  be  observed  (bat  llg".  5  is  much 
darker  than  fig.  4.     This  distinction  is  not 
:u,cidental   but  very  well  expre,!ses  the  vari- 
ety m  till,   hue  of    the  material  employed, 
some  of  th(!  spear  heads  being  pale  brown 
and  some  almost  black.    The  weapons  are' 
in  fact,  nothing  but  elongations  of  the  da<»i^er 
shown   in   fig.  2,  of  the   "  tomahawk.s,''^'"'on 
page  7'22,  ' 

if  the  reader  will  look  at  fi-  1  and  2  of 
the  I  lustration,  he  will  see  tuat  there  are 
two  heads  ot  somewhat  similar  construc- 
tion. exccMit  that  one  is  single  and  the  other 
double.  These  spears  were  brought  from 
i:'ort  Lssington. 

Specimens  of  each  kind  .ire  in  my  collec- 
^«"-  ,^hey  are  of  great  size,  one  being 
more  than  thirteen  feet  in  length,  and  the 
oth,^'  falling  but  little  short-  .  (hat ,."" 'ure- 
ment.  In  diameter  they  ar,  ;us  thick  as  a 
man  s  wrist;  and,  however  light  mav  be  the 
woou  or  which  they  are  made,  they  are 
exceedingly  weighty,  and  must  be  very  in^ 


ferior  in  gffl(;lency  to  the  light  throwing- 
HiKiirs  which  have  already  been  described. 
()f  course  such  a  weapon  iis  that  is  meant  to 
bo  used  as  a  pike  luiil  not  as  a  missile.  Be- 
sides these,  I  have  another  with  ihreo  heads, 
and  of  nearly  the  same  dimensions  ns  the 
two  others. 

In  every  case  the  head  and  the  shaft  are 
of  diHerent  material,  the  one  being  light  and 
norous,  and  the  other  hard,  coiiipa('t,  and 
heavy.  Instead  of  being  Iu.slie4  together 
with  the  neatness  which  i>  exhibiteil  in  the 
lighter  weapons,  the  he;id  and  shall  arc 
united  with  a  binding  of  thick  string, 
\yrftp|)e.l  carefully,  but  yet  roughly,  round 
llio  weapon,  and  not  being  cov  ered  with  the 
coating  of  bliw:k-boy  gum,  which  gives  so 
neat  a  look  to  the  smaller  weapons,  hi  the 
till  ee-pointed  sjiear,  the  maker  has  exer- 
cised his  ingenuity  in  decorating  the  weapon 
with  paint,  the  tips  of  the  points  biing 
painted  with  red  and  the  rest  of  the  head 
white,  while  the  lashing  is  also  painted 
red. 

In  his  wild   state  the   Australian   native 
never  likes  to   be  without  a  .spear  in  liis 
hand,  and,  as  may  be  expected  from  a  man 
whose  subsistence  is  almost  entirely  due  to 
his  skill  in  the  use  of  weapons,  he  is  a  most 
accomplished  .spear  thrower.    Indited,  as  a 
thrower  of  missiles  in  general  the  Australian 
stands  without  a  rival.     Putting  asidi!  the 
boomerang,   of   which    we   shall    presently 
treat,  the  Austriiliaii  can  hurl  a  .spear  either 
with  his  hand  or  with  the  "  throw-stick,"  can 
fling  bis  short  club  with  unerring  aim,  and, 
even  should  he  be  <leprived  of  these  missiles, 
bo  h:is  a  singular  facultv  of  throwing  stones. 
.NIaiiya  time,  before  the   chai-acte'r   of  the 
natives  was  known,  has   an  armed   •■soldier 
been  killed  by  a  totally  unarmed  Australian. 
The   man  luis   fired  iit  tlu!  native,  who,  by 
dodging  ab.nit,  has   prevented   the   enemv 
from  taking   a  correct  aim,  and  then   has 
been  simply  <'ut   to   pieces  by  a  shower  of 
stJjiies,  picked  up  and  bur    d  with  a  force 
and  i)recision  that  must  b     seen  to  bo  be- 
lieved.   When  the  fir.st  A     tralian  discov- 
erer came  home,  no  u\u\  wouiil  believe  that 
any  weapon  could  be  flung  and  then  return 
to  the  thrower,  and  even  at  tlu'  present  day 
|t  is  dilflcult  to  make  some  persons  believe 
in  the  stone-throwing  powers  of  the  Austra- 
lian.   To  fling  one  .stone  will,  perfect  jirc- 
cision  is  not  .so  easy  a  matter  as  it  seems,  but 
the  Austral!  Ill  will  hurl  one  after  the  other 
with  sudi   rapidity  that   they  seem    to   be 
poured   from    sonio   machine;   and    as    he 
throws  them  he  leaps  from  ;iide  to  side,  so 
as  to  make  the  missiles  converge  from  dif- 
ferent directions  upon  the  unfortunate  ob- 
ject of  his  aim. 

In  order  to  attain    the   wonderful    skill 
which  they  possess  in  avoiding  as  well  as  in 

throwinor    Kn»nra     it    jo    i.n/./.ciii......    thaf    •• 

should  be  in  constant  practice  from  child- 
hood.   Accordin-ly,  they  are  fond  of  get- 


;i 


780 


AUSTRALIA. 


*■     II 


ting    up  nhnm  flahti,  armed  with  shield, 

tlin>w-ntick,  and  upoiir,  the  latter  wfii|)(iti 
lining  hcacileM,  nnd  llm  end  hliiiUod  l>\ 
bdiii^  Mplit  find  Hcrnpi'd  into  DlnmoiitM,  nnd 
tiiu  l>UHliy  IlininontN  tlicn  turiu;(i  liiu-k,  until 
tl\i'y  tonu  ft  Mofl  tlbrouH  pud.  Evon  witli 
tlii.i  protection,  tlui  wciii)()n  in  not  to  \w 
dcspiHcd;  nnd  if  it  Rtril<i>  oni^  of  tlio  con>- 
biitiintH  f'liirly,  it  1h  «iir«  to  knocli  Idni  down; 
nnd  it'  it  nhould  strike  liiin  in  tlu^  ril)»(,  it 
loiivos  him  unsping  for  l)rcatli.  TIds  ndndc 
spoivr  goes  nj'  tlm  nanio  of  "  mntnnioodiu," 
nnd  h  nuido  of  viirious  nxr.M  nccording  to  tlu; 
age  and  cnpnbilitii'M  of  the  nornon  wlio  uses  it. 
Tliere  is  one  niis.sile  wliich  is,  I  bidiove, 
as  peculiar  to  Australia  as  (he  boomerang, 
though  it  is  not  so  widtdy  noread,  iTor  of  sucJi 
use  in  war  or  hunting.  It  is  j)opuiariy  calleci 
tlie  -kangaroo-rat,"  on  account  of  its  i)e- 
culiar  leaping  progressi(Mi,  and  it  may  be 
familiar  to  those  of  my  readers  who  saw  the 
Australian  cricketers  who  canui  over  to 
England  in  the  spring  of  IHC.H,  The  "kan- 
garoo-rat" is  a  pi(ce  of  hard  wood  shaped 
Rke  a  double  cone,  and  having  a  long  flexi- 
ble handle  projecting  from  out;  of  the  points. 
Tile  haiullc  is  about  a  yard  in  h^ngth,  iind  as 
thick  as  an  artist's  drawing-pencil,  and  at  a 
little  distance  the  weapon  looks  like  a  huge 
tadpole  with  a  much  elongated  tail.  In 
Australia  the  natives  make  the  tail  of  a 
flexible  twig,  but  those  who  have  access  to 
the  resources  of  civilization  have  found  out 
that  whalebone  is  tlui  best  substanco  for  the 
tail  that  can  bo  found. 

When  the  native  throws  the  kangnroo- 
rat,  he  takes  it  by  the  end  of  the  tail  and 
swings  it  backward  and  forward,  so  that  it 
bends  quite  double,  nnd  at  last  lie  gives  a 
sort  of  underhanded  Jerk  and  lets  it  lly.  It 
darts  through  tin  air  with  a  sharp  and  men- 
acing hiss  like  the  sound  of  a  ritlo  ball,  its 
greatest  height  being  some  seven  or  eight 
feet  from  the  ground.  As  soon  as  it  touches 
the  earth,  it  springs  up  and  makes  a  succes- 
sion of  leaps,  each  less  than  the  preceding, 
until  it  tlnnlly  stops.  In  fact,  it  skims  over 
the  ground  exactly  as  a  (lat  stone  skims  over 
the  water  when  boys  are  playing  at  "  ducks 
and  drakes."  The  distance  to  which  this 
instrument  an  be  thi  -"n  is  really  astonish- 
ing. I  have  Kef"  lui  Australian  stand  at  one 
side  of  Kennitigton  Oval,  and  throw  the 
"  kangaroo-rat "  completely  acr(>ss  ii".  Much 
depends  uj)on  the  angle  at  wiicli  it  first 
takes  the  ground.  If  thrown  too  high,  it 
makes  one  or  two  lofty  leaps,  bvit  traverses 
no  great  distance;  and[.  If  it  be  thrown  too 
low,  it  .slioots  along  the  ground,  and  is  soon 
brought  un  by  the  excessive  friction.  When 
properly  tnrown,  it  looks  just  like  a  living 
animal  leaping  along,  and  those  who  have 
been  accustomed  to  traverse  the  country  say 
that  its  movements  have  a  wonderful  resem- 
blanee  to  the  lon^  leaps  of  a  kangaroo-rat 
fleeing  in  alarm,  with  its  long  tail  trailing  as 
a  balance  behind  it. 


A  somnwhat  similarly  ahapitd  inlssllo  Is 
used  in  Fiji,  but  the  Fijian  iiistrunu'iil  has  a 
still' shaft,  and  it  is  propelled  by  placing  Ihu 
end  of  the  foretliigiu'  againrt  the  butt,  and 
throwing  it  undurlmndeu.  It  is  only  used  in 
a  gnme  In  which  the  competitors  try  to  Bend 
it  skimming  along  the  ground  as  far  as  pos- 
sible. 

To  return  to  our  spears.  It  Is  Keldoin 
that  an  Australian  condescends  to  throw  a 
spear  by  hand,  the  native  always  iirefer'ing 
to  use  the  curious  im|)lement  called  by  the 
aborigines  a  "  wumnierah,"  or  "  midlah, '  and 
by  the  colonists  the  *•  throw-stick."  The 
theory  of  the  throw-stick  is  Hinipl(!  enough, 
but  the  practice  is  very  ditllcidt.and  rctpiires 
along  apprenticeship  before  it  can  be  learned 
with  any  certainly. 

The  |)rinciple  of  this  implement  is  that  of 
the  sling;  and  the  throw-slick  is,  in  fact,  a 
sling  made  of  wood  instead  of  cord,  the  spear 
taking  the  place  of  Ibe  stone.  Si;  i<nn|iletely 
is  the  throw-stick  associated  with  the  spear, 
that  the  luitivc  would  as  soon  think  of  going 
without  his  spear  as  without  tlie  instrument 
whereby  he  throws  it.  The  inipkiucnt  takes 
(liirerent  forms  in  ditl'erenl  Incalities,  al- 
though the  princijile  of  its  construction  is 
the  same  thioughout.  In  the  illustration 
entitled  "  Throw-sticks,"  on  i)nge  T.'il.  the 
reader  may  see  every  variety  of  form  which 
the  throw-stick  takes.  Ilewill  see,  on  in- 
specting tlie  figures,  that  it  consists  of  a  stick 
of  variable  length  and  breadth,  but  always 
having  a  barblike  projection  at  one  end. 
IJefore  describing  the  manner  in  which  the 
instrument  is  used,  I  will  proceed  to  a  short 
notice  of  the  mode  of  its  construction,  and 
the  various  forms  which  it  takes. 

In  the  first  place,  it  is  always  more  or  less 
flattene<l;  sometimes,  as  in  lijf.  il,  being 
almost  leaf-shaped,  and  fiomet lines,  as  in  llg. 
0,  being  quite  narrow,  and  throughout  the 
greater  part  of  its  length  little  more  than  a 
tiattened  stick.  It  is  always  made  of  some 
hard  and  elastic  wood,  and  in  many  cases  it 
is  largo  and  heavy  enough  to  be  serviceable 
as  a  club  at  close  quarters.  Indeed,  one 
very  good  speciim^u  in  my  collection,  which 
came  from  the  Swan  Uiver,  was  labelled, 
when  it  'reached  me,  as  an  Iiulian  club. 
This  form  of  the  throw-stick  is  shown  at 
fig.  .3. 

This  particular  specimen  is  a  trifle  under 
two  feet  in  length,  and  in  the  broadest  part 
it  measures  four  inches  and  a  half  in  w  idth. 
In  the  centre  it  is  one-sixth  of  an  inch  in 
thickness,  and  diminishes  gradually  to  the 
edges,  which  are  about  as  sliarp  as  those  of 
the  wooden  sword  already  mentioned.  Tow- 
ard the  end,  however,  it  becomes  thicker, 
and  at  the  place  where  the  peg  is  placed  it 
is  as  thick  as  in  the  middle.  Such  a  weapon 
would  be  very  formidable  if  used  as  a  club  — 
scarcely  less  so,  indeed,  than  the  well-known 
"  metal "  of  Is  ow  Zealand. 


)<1  miMKllc  tl 
'umt'iil  liaN  a 
'  |)liu'iii){  lliu 
111!  butt,  iiiul 
only  UMi'il  in 
N  try  to  Mt'iul 
iH  fur  nti  poH- 


HKAD9   OF  AUSTUALIAN   HI'KAUS.    (Sfc  piw  r^r.) 


BOOMEKANOS.    (See  pa^e  737.) 
(781) 


THE  THROW- STICK. 


788 


.  That  It  h.os  been  used  for  this  purpose  is 
evuleut  from  a  fracture,  whicli  li:i.s  clearly 
been  caused  by  the  effect  of  a  severe  blow. 
The  wood  is  split  from  oue  side  of  the  handle 
half  alon^  the  weapon,  and  so  it  has  been 
rendered  for  a  time  unserviceable.    The  care- 
ful owner  has,  however,  contrived  to  mend 
the  fracture,  and  has  done  so  in  a  sin^i'larly 
ingenious  manner.    He  has  fitted  the  fjroken 
surfliees   accurately  together,  and  has  then 
bound  them  with  the  kangaroo-tail  sinews 
which  have  alreaily  been  mentioned.    The 
sinews  are  flat,  and  have  !)een  protected  by 
a  thick  coating  of  bhick-boy  gum.    Perhaps 
the  reader  m;iy  he  aware  that,  when  catgut 
is  knotted,  the  ends  are  secured  by  scorching 
them,  which  makes  them  swell  into  rouuil 
knobs.    The  sinew  has  the  same  propertv, 
and  the  native  has  secured  the   ends   pre- 
cisely as  an  English  artisan  would  do. 

The  wood  is  that  of  the  tough,  hard,  wavy- 
gramed  ^um-treo.  AViiether  in  consequence 
of  muc  1  handling  by  greasy  natives,  or 
whether  from  ether  causes,  I  ilo  not  know, 
but  1  can.'iot  make  a  label  adhere  to  it.  To 
each  of  tho  specimens  in  my  colleclion  is 
attached  a  ca'alogue  number,'and  though  I 
have  tried  to  alilx  the  label  with  paste,  gum 
and  glue,  neither  will  hold  it,  aiul  in  a  few 
days  the  label  falls  off  of  its  own  accord. 
This  specimen  has  been  cut  from  a  tree 
which  has  been  attacked  by  some  boring 
insect,  ami  the  consequence  "is,  that  a  small 
hole  is  bored  thn^ugh  it  edg(!wise,  and  has  a 
very  curious  appearance.  The  hole  looks 
exactly  like  that  of  our  well-known  insect 
the  great  Siiwv. 

The    pecnliarly-shaped    handle    is   made 
entirely  of  black-boy   gum,  and,  with    the 
exception  of  a  tendeucv  to  warp  away  from 
the  wood,  it  is  as  linn  as  on  the  dav  when  it 
was  first  ma<le.    Tlie  peg  which  fit's  into  the 
butt  of   the  spear  is  in  this  case  made  of 
wood,  but  in  many  throw-sticks  it  is  made 
ot  l)one.     Figs.  1  and  '2  are  ex«nplcs  of  this 
tiatteneil  form  of  midlah,  and  were  drawn 
from  specimens  in  .Soutliern  Australia     At 
figs.  4  and  5  may  be  seen  examples  of  the 
tiirow-stick  of  Port  Essington,  one  of  which 
fig.  4  m  remarkable  for  the  peculiarly-shapecl 
handle.     That  of  lig.  n  seems  to  be  remark- 
ably inconvenient,  and  almost  to  have  been 
made  for  the  express  purpose  of  preventing 
the  native  from  taking  a  firm  hold  of  tbo 
weapon     1  ig.  (i  is  an  examjile  of  the  throw- 
stick  of  Queensland,  and,  as  mav'  ea.sily  be 
seen,  can  be  used  as  a  club,  provided  that 
It  be  reversed,  and  tho  peg  end  used  as  a 
handle. 

There  is  another  form  of  throw-sfick  used 
in  i^Torthern  Australia,  an  example  of  which 
may  be  seen  at  fig.  (}.  It  is  a  full  foot  longer 
than  thai  which  came  from  the  Murrav  and 
IS  one  of  the  "  flattened  sticks  "  whicli'  iiave 
been  casually  meiKumed.  It  ha.s  a  wooden 
suike  for  the  spear-tiii#t,  and  a  most  remark- 
ablo    handle.     Two  pieces  of  melon-shell 


have  been  cut  at  rather  long  ovals,  and  have 
been  P.xed  diagonsilly  across  the  end  of  the 
weapon,  one  on  each  side.  Black-boy  "rum 
has  been  profusely  used  in  fixing  these 
fiieces,  and  the  whole  of  the  interior  space 
between  the  shells  has  been  tilled  up  with 
it.  A  diagonal  lashing  of  sinew,  covered 
with  the  same  gum,  jia.sses  over  the  shells 
and  the  handle  is  strongly  wrapped  witli 
the  same  material  for  a  space  of  five  inches. 
We  will  now  proceed  to  see  liow  the 
native  throws  tho  spear. 

Holding  the  throw-stick  by  the  handh?,  so 
that  the  other  end  projects  over  his  shoul- 
der, he  takes  a  spear  in  his  left  hand,  fits  a 
slight  hollow  in  its  butt  to  the  peg  of  tho 
midlah,  and  then  holds  it  in  its  place  by 
passing  the  forefinrrer  of  the  right  hand  over 
the  shaft.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  leverage 
18  enormously  Increased  by  this  plan,  aiul 
that  the  force  of  the  arm  is  more 'than 
doubled. 

Sometimes,  especially  when  huntiu"-  the 
native    throws   the  sjiear  without  ftu-tlier 
trouble,  but  when  lie  is  engaged  in  d  fi"ht 
he  goes  through  a  series  of '  performances 
winch  are  rather  ludicrous  to  an  European 
though   they  are   intonued  to  strike  terror 
into  the  native  enemy.    The  spear  is  jerked 
about  violently,  so  that  it  quivers  just  lik-^ 
an    African    assixgai,  and    while  vibrutiii" 
strongly  it  is  thrown.    There  are  two  ways 
01  quivering  the  spear;  the  one  by  merely 
moviiig   the  ii<dit   hand,  and  the  other  bv 
sewing  the  shaft  in  the  left  hand,  and  shak- 
ing It  violently  while  the  butt  rests  a"ainst 
the  peg  of  the  throw-stick.     In  any  case  the 
very  fact  of  quivering  the  spear  acts  on  tlie 
Australian  warrior  as  it  does  upon  the  Afri- 
can.    The  whirring  sound  of  the  vibratin-' 
weapon  excites. him  to  a  pitch  of  freiiziel! 
excitement,  and  while  menacing  his  foe  with 
the  trembling  spear,  the  warrior  dances  and 
leaps   and    yells   as  if  he  were  mad  — and 
indeed  for  tlie  moment  he  becomes  a  ravin" 
madman.  ° 

The  distance  to  which  the  spear  can  be 
thrown  is  something  w  )nderful,  and  its  as- 
pect as  it  passes  through  the  air  is  siii-ni- 
arly  beautiful.  It  seems  rather  to  have 
lieen  shot  from  some  huge  bow.  or  to  be  fur- 
nished with  some  innate  jioweis  of  flight, 
than  to  have  been  flung  from  a  human  a"m' 
as  It  performs  its  loftv  course,  undulating 
like  a  thin  black  snake,  and  writhing  ite 
graceful  way  through  the  air.  As  it  leaves 
the  throw-stick,  a  .slight  clashing  sound  is 
lu'ard,  which  to  the  experienced  ear  tells  its 
story  as  clearly  as  the  menacing  clang  of  an 
archer's  bowstring. 

To  me  the  distance  of  its  flight  is  not 
nearly  so  wonderful  as  the  i)recision  with 
which  It  can  be  aimed.  A  tolerably  long 
throw-stick  gives  so  jiowi^rful  a  leverage  that  • 
the  length  of  range  is  not  so  very  astonish- 
ing. Jhit  that  accuracy  of  aim  should  be 
attained  as  well  as  lensrth  of  fliirbi  i«  r.iall" 


734 


AUSTRALIA. 


!  i 


■wonderful.  I  Iinvo  seen  the  natives,  when 
enga>,a(l  in  mock  ba'ie,  .stiind  at  a  distance 
of  (.Mj,'li*y  or  ninety  yards,  and  tlirow  tlieir 
spears  witli  such  certainty  that,  in  four 
throws  o;it  of  six,  tliu  'antagonist  was 
obli<,'ed  to  move  in  order  to  escape  tlie 
si^ears. 

Beside  the  powerful  and  lofty  throw,  they 
liaye  a  way  of  suddenly  (linking  it  nnder- 
liand,so  that  it  skims  just  ab(')'yc  tlie  frround, 
aii'l,  wlien  it  touches  Ihc  eartli,  ijroceeds 
Avitlia  series  of  ricochets  tirat  nuist  be  pecul- 
iarly embarrassing  to  a  noyico  in  tliat  kind 
of  warlhre. 

The  power  of  the  spear  is  neyer  better 
Bhown  than  in  (lie  chase  of  the  kaniraroo. 
"When  a  natiye  sees  one  of  these  animals 
engaged  in  feeding,  he  goes  off  to  a  little 
distance  where  it  cannot  see  him,  gathers  a 
few  leafy  boughs,  and  ties  (hem  together  so 
as  to  form  a  screen.  lie  (lu  n  t;d<i's  liis 
spears,  (hrow-stiek,  and  waddy,  and  goes  off 
in  chase  of  the  kangaroo.  Taking  advantage 
of  every  cover,  he  slijis  noiselessly  forward, 
always  taking  care  to  approach  ("he  animal 
against  (he  wind,  so  that  it  shall  not  be  able 
to  detect  his  presence  by  the  nostrils,  and 
glidhig  along  with  stud'ied  avoidance  of 
withered  leaves,  dry  twigs,  and  (he  other 
na(ural  obJec(s  which,  by  iluir  rustling  and 
snai)ping,  warn  (he  anin'ial  fiiat  danger"' is  at 
liand. 

As  long  as  possible,  (he  hui'.ter  keeps  under 
tlie  sheKer  of  natural  cover,  but  when  (his  is 
impossible,  h(>  (akes  to  his  leafy  screen,  and 


trusts  to  it  for  apiiroaclilug  within  range. 
Before  quitting  ttn'  trees  or  bush  behind 
which  he  has  been  hidiug  himself,  lie  (akes 
his  siiear,  fits  it  to  the  tiirow-stick,  raises  his 
arm  with  the  sjiear  ready  poised,  and  never 
moves  (hat  arm  until  it'dclivers  tb.e  spear. 
Holding  (he  iealy  screen  in  front  of  him 
wiih  his  left  haiid.  and  disposing  (he  second 
.sjieai-  and  other  weapons  which  cannot  Ih'. 
hidden  so  as  (o  look  like  dead  branches  grow- 
ing froni  the  bush,  be  glides  carefully  (("ward 
the  kangaroo,  always  advancing  "wliile  i( 
s(oops  lo  feed,  and  ciduching  (piietiy  liidiind 
the  screen  whcueyer  it  raises  itself,  after  the 
fashion  o''  kangaroos,  and  surveys  the  sur- 
rounding country. 

At  las(  he  comes  wiihin  fair  range,  and 
with  unerring  aim  he  transtixes  the  nn- 
suspeciing  kangaroo.  Sometimes  he  comes 
n;)on  several  animals,  and  in  that  case  his 
second  spear  is  rajiidly  fixed  in  tlie  midlali 
and  hurled  at  the  flying  animals,  and,  should 
lie  have  come  to  foleral)ly  close  quarlers,  the 
short  missile  dub  is  flung  with  certain  aim. 
Having  (hrown  all  the 'missiles  whiili  he 
finds  available.  li(>  proceeds  to  despafc  h  the 
M'oiMKled  animals  with   his  waddy. 

In  (he  illustraiion  No.  l,(m  the 'f.'Utdi  page, 
the  action  of  the  throw-sfj.'k  is  well  slanrii^ 
and  two  seem  s  in  the  hiiiK  are  deiiicted.  In' 
the  foregroiMid  is  a  hunter  who  has  succeeded 
in  getting  tolerably  close  to  the  kangaroos 


by  creeping  toward  them  behind  thcsTiaJow 

of  trees,  and  is  Just  poising  his  sjiear  for  the 
fatal  throw.  The  reader  will  note  the  curi- 
ous bone  ornament  which  passes  tliiou"h 
tlie  septum  of  the  nose,  and  gives  such  a  curi- 
ous character  to  the  face.  In  the  back>.'roun(l 
IS  anotlier  hunter,  who  has  been  obllced  to 
have  recourse  to  the  bough  screen,  behind 
which  he  is  hiding  himself  like  the  soldiers 
in  "Alacbeth,"  while  the  unsuspecfiiig  kan- 
proos  are  quietly  feeding  within  easy  range. 
One  of  them  has  taken  alarm,  and  is  sitting 
upright  to  look  about  it,  just  as  the  squirrel 
will  do  while  it  is  feeding  on  the  ground. 

The  reader  will  now  see  (he  absolute 
necessity  of  an  accurate  aim  in  the  thrower 
—  an  accomplishment  which  to  me  is  a  'prac- 
tical mystery.  I  can  hurl  the  spear  to  a  con- 
siderable distance  by  means  of  a  (hrow-s(ick, 
but  the  aim  is  quite  another  business,  the 
spear  seeming  to  take  an  iadependent  course 
of  its  own  without  the  least  reference  to  (he 
wishes  of  the  (hrower.  Yet  the  Australian 
is  so  good  a  marksman  thai  he  can  make 
good  practice  a(  a  man  at  (he  dis(ance  of 
eiglUy  or  nine(y  yards,  making  due  allow- 
ance for  the  wind,  and  calculating  (he  curve 
described  by  the  spear  with  wonderful  ac- 


iiraey;  while  at  asliort  distance  his  lye  and 
hand  are  equally  true,  and  he  will  transfix  a 
kangaroo  at  twenty  or  (hirty  yards  as  cer- 
tainly as  it  could  be  shot  by  "an  experienced 
rifleman. 

In  some  parts  of  Auslrnlia  the  nafivesuse 
(he  bow  and  arrow;  but  the  employment  of 
such  weaiions  seems  to  belong  chieily  (o  tlio 
inhabitants  of  (lie  extreme  north. "  There 
are  in  my  collection  siiecimens  of  bows  and 
arrows  brought  from  Cape  York,  which  in 
their  way  are  really  adinirable  weapons,  and 
would  do  credit  to 'the  aivhers  of  rolvnesia. 
The  bow  is  mor(^  than  six  feet  long, 'and  i.s 
made  from  the  male,  i.  c.  the  solid  bamboo. 
It  is  xi'iy  stilK  and  a  powerful  as  well  as  u 
praetised  arm  is  needed  lo  bend  it  i>roperly. 
Like  the  spear  shaft,  (his  bow  is  mcaily 
subjee(  (o  being  worm-ea(en.  jMy  owiisjieci"- 
ineii  is  sohopeycombi  d  oy  (liese  tiny  liorers 
that  when  it  arrived  a  little  hiaj)  of  yellow 
jiowdec  fell  to  the  ground  wherever  tlie  how 
was  set,  and,  if  it  were  shariily  slruek,  a 
cloud  of  (he  same  jiowder  cai'ne  from  it. 
Fortunately,  the  same  looseness  of  texture 
whieh  enabled  the  be(  tie  to  make  such  havoc, 
served  also  (o  conduct  the  poisoned  ,'^]iirit 
which  I  iiijec(ed  iuioi'ie  hobs:  and  now  (he 
ravages  have  cease  ('  .iial  not  the  most  vora- 
cious insect  in  existence  can  toiu  h  the  wea- 
])on.  The  string  is  very  siiuiily  made, being 
notliiiiir  hut  a  jiiei  e  of  'rattan  split  to  ibe  re- 
i|uiied  thickness.  Perhaps  the  most  ii.-en- 
ious  part  of  this  bow  is  the  manner  iii  which 
the  loop  is  made.  Allliou.vdi  iinaeciuainted 
with  lhcsini|)leyet  efleetive  bowslrinu'  knot, 
which  is  so  well  known  to  our  archers,  and 
which  would  not  suit  tliestitfand  harsh  rat- 
tai);  'J-e  native  has  inveided  a  knot  which  i» 


THE  BOW  AND  ARROWS. 


73S 


quite  as  effleacions,  and  is  managed  on  the 
same  pnnciplc  of  taking  several  turns,  witli 
the  cord  nunid  itself  just  Ijelow  the  lonp.    In 
order  to  j;iv(>  the  rattan  the  needful  flexibility 
It  has  been  heaton  so  as  to  separate  it  into 
nhres  and  break  up  the  hard,  flinty  coatin" 
which  surroiinils  it,  iintl  these  fibres  have 
then  been  twisti;d  round  and  round  into  a 
liOrt  of  rude  cord,  guarded  at  the  end  with  a 
wrappinn;  of  tiie  sanio  material  in  order  to 
preserve  it  from  unravelling. 
The  arrows  are  suitable  tii  the  bow.    They 
•     are   variable  in    liMigth,  but  all    arc   much 
longer  tlian  those  whicli   the   English  bow- 
men were  accustoni;'d  to  use,  and,  instead  of 
being  a  "cloth  yard  '"  in  length,  the  shortest 
measures  three  fin-t  seven  inches  in  length 
while  I  hi!  longi'st  is  four  feet  eight  incjies 
from   butt  to  point.    They   are   without  a 
vestige  of  feathering,  and   have  no  nock,  so 
that  tlie  nntive  arclier  is  oblig.'d  to  hold  "the 
arrow  agiiinsttbe  string  with  his  thumb  and 
finger,  and  can.iot  draw  the   bow  with  the 
fore  and  mid, 11.'  liuL^er,  as  all  good  English 
archers  have  done  ever  since  the  bow"'was 
known. 

The  shafts  of  the  arrows  are  made  of  reed 
and   they  are  all   he.aled  with  long  spikes  of 
some  dark  and    heavy  wooil,  whifdi  en.ablo 
them  to  lly  jjroperjy.     Some  of  the  heads  are 
plain,  rounded  spikes,  l)ut  others  are  elabo- 
rately l)aH)ed.     One,  for  example,  has  a  sin- 
gle row  of  six  bir))s,  each  an  inch  in  length 
and  anotiier  has  one  double  barb,  like  that 
of  the  "  broMd  arrow "'  of  Kngland.     Another 
aas,  instead  of  a  barb,  a  smooth  bmi),  cndin<' 
gradually  lu  a  sjuke,  ,ind  serving  no  i)ossibl'c 
purpose,  except  perhaps  that  of  oruament. 
Another  li;is  two  of  these  bulbs;  aiuhuiother 
the  longest  „f  (hem  all,  has  a  slight  bulb,  unl 
then  an  attempt  at  carving.     TJie  pattern  is 
ot  the  very  snni)lesi  cliariieter,  but  it  is  the 
only  pice,,  of  ciu-vinu'  on    all   the  weapons. 
Ihe  s,ame  arrow  is  rem  irkable  for   Irlvin-' 
the  point  eover.'d  for  some  (wo  inches  with 
a  sort  ot   varnish,  looking  oxaetly  like  red 
se.ahng-wax,  while  a  I,;,,,  1  ,,f  the'.same  ma- 
terial encircles  the    bead  about  si.x    inches 
nearer  the  shaft.  -  Tlu;   s;.ilor  who  brought 
tlie  weapons  over  told  m,;  (hat  this  red  \ni- 
nish  was  poison,  but  I   doubt  exceedinHv 
Whether  it  is  anvdiing  but  ornament        " 
.    Ihe  end  of  (he  r,  ed  into  which  (he  head 
is   insericl   IS  gnard.Ml   by   a   wrapping   of 
rattan  tibre,  eov.'red  with  a  sort  of  ,lark  rar- 
msh,  which,  however,  is  not  the  black-boy 
gum  the,  is  so  pbmtifuljv  used  in  the  maiui- 
aeture  ot  other  weapons.     I,,  nuo  instance 
the   place  ot   the  wrapping  is  taken  by  an 
inch   or  so  ot   i.jailing,  wrought  so  beauti- 
ully  witi.  Mie  outside  of  the  rattan  cut  iito 
lat    strips    s,,-rc.dy    wider    than    ordinary 
twine,  (hat  It  betniys  (he   Polynesian  ori-iii 
ot  (lie   weapons,  and   coiUirins   me   in   The 
heliel  that  (he  bow  and  arrow  are  not  ■••!- 
digenous  to  Australia,  I)ut  have  only  been 
imported  from  Xew  Guinea,  and  luivo  not 


made  their  way  inland.  The  natives  of 
Northern  Australia  have  also  evidently  bor- 
rowed much  from  Polynesia,  as  we  shall  see 
in  the  course  of  this  narrative. 

The  bow  is  usually  about  six  feet  in 
length  though  one  in  my  possession  is 
somewhat  longer.  Owing  "^  to  the  dimen- 
sions of  the.  b(Mv  and  arrows,  a  full  equip- 
ment of  them  is  very  weighty,  and,  together 
jyith  the  other  weapons  which  an  Austra- 
lian think.s  it  his  duty  to  carry,  must  be  no 
■slight  burden  to  the  warrior. 

Ferocity  of  'lountcnance  is  very  charac- 
teristic of  the  race,  and,  as  wc  "shall  see 
when  we  come  to  the  canoes  and  tliidr  occu- 
pants the  iifople  are  very  crafty:  mild  and 
complaisant  when  they  think  themselvc,? 
overmatched,  insohmt  and  menacing  when 
th(!y  lancy  themselves  sujiorior,  and  tolera- 
bly sure  to  commit  murder  if  they  think 
they  can  do  so  with  impunity.  The  only 
mode  of  dealing  with  these  iicoijlc  is  tlie  ' 
safe  one  to  adopt  with  all  savages:  i.e. 
never  trust  them,  and  never  cheat  riiem.  " 

We  now  come  to  that  most  wonderful  of 
all  weapons,  the  boomerang.  This  is  essen- 
tially th(!  national  weapon  of  Australia  and 
IS  found  throughout  the  West  country.'  As 
far  as  is  known,  it  is  peculiar  to  Austraha, 
and,  though  curious  missiles  are  found  in 
other  parts  of  tl-.e  world,  there  is  none  which 
can  be  coni])ared  with  tlie  boomerano'. 

On  oiu!  of  the  old  I.;gvi)tian  nioiniments 
there  is  a  figure  of  a  bird-catcher  in  a  canoe 
lie  IS  assisted  by  a  cat  whom  he  has  l.au'dit 
to  catch  ])rey  for  him,  and,  as  the  birds'lly 
oiit  of  the  reeds  among  which  lit'  is  pushini^' 
ins  canoe,  he  is  hurling  at  them  a  curved 
missile  which  some  persons  have  thought  to 
be  (he  boomerang.  1  cannot,  however,  see 
that  there  is  tlie  slightest  reason  for  such  a 
su])position. 

\o  weapon  in  the  least  like  the  boome- 
rang is  at  present  found  in  any  part  of 
.\lrica,  and,  .so  far  as  I  know,  (here  is  no 
example  of  a  really  elllcient  weapon  having 
entirely  disappeared  from  a  whole  continent! 
ihe  liarpoon  with  which  the  Egyi)tiaiis  of 
old  kiile(l  (he  liippopo(amiis  is  lised  at  the 
present  day  without  the  least  alteration;  the 
net  IS  used  for  catching  fish  in  the  same 
manner;  the  spear  and  shield  ,)f  the  E'ryn- 
tian  infantry  were  identical  i,,  .shape  with 
those  of  the  Kancmboo  soldier,  a  jiortrait  of 
whom  may  be  seen  on  page  (112;  the  bow 
and  arrow  still  survive;  and  even  the  whip 
with  which  (he  Egyi.tian  task  masters  beat 
their  -rewish  si>rvants  is  the  "  khoorbash " 
with  wlncli  the  Nubian  of  the  present  day 
beats  Ins  slave.  ^ 

In  all  iirobability,  the  .airved  weaiion 
which  the  bird-catcher  holds  in  his  hand 
and  which  he  is  about  (o  throw,  is  nothiu<^ 
:nore  than  a  short  club,  analogous  (o  (he  • 
knoo-kerry  of  (he  Kallir,  aiuj  havin<'  n() 
returning  power.  Varying  slightly  in  some 
ot  Its  details,  the  boomerang  is  identical'm 


N 


I 


3't 


i 


i\ 


736 


AUSTRALIA. 


11  ;i 


principle  wherever  it  is  made.  It  is  a  flat- 
tlsh  curved  piece  of  wood,  various  examples 
of  which  may  bo  seen  in  tlic  illustration  on 
the  731st  page;  and  neither  by  its  shape 
nor  material  does  it  give  the  least  idea  of  its 
wondei'ful  pow(!rH. 

The  material  of  which  the  boomerang  (or 
bommereng,  as  the  word  is  sometimes  ren- 
dered) is  made  is  almost  invariably  that  of 
the  gum-tree,  which  is  heavy,  hard,  an(l 
tough,  and  is  able  to  sustain  a  tolerably 
severe  shock  without  breaking.  It  is  slightly 
convex  on  the  upper  surface,  and  flat  below, 
and  is  alw.ays  thickest  in  tlie  middle,  being 
scraped  away  toward  tlie  edges,  which  are 
moderately  sharp,  especially  the  outer  edge. 
It  is  used  as  a  missile,  and  it  is  one  of  the 
strangest  weapons  that  ever  was  invented. 

In  the  old  iairy  tales,  with  which  wc  are 
more  or  less  .icquaiuted,  one  of  tlie  strange 
gifts  which  is  presented  by  the  fairy  to  tlie 
hero  is  often  a  weapon  of  some  wonderful 
power.  Thus  we  have  the  sword  of  sh;irp- 
ness,  which  cut  through  every  thing  at 
which  it  was  aimed,  and  the  coat  of  mail, 
which  no  weapon  would  pierce.  It  is  a  pity, 
by  the  way,  that  the  sword  and  the  coat 
never  seem  to  have  been  tried  against  each 
other.  Then  there  arc;  arrows  (in  more 
modern  tales  inodilicd  into  bullets)  that 
always  struck  their  mark,  ami  so  on.  And 
ill  one  of  the  hi'dicst  llights  of  fairy  lore  we 
read  of  arrows  fiiat  always  returnetl  of  their 
own  accord  to  the  archer. 

In  Australia,  however,  we  have,  as  an 
actual  fact,  a  missile  that  can  be  thrown  to 
a  considerable  distance,  and  which  always 
returns  to  the  thrower.  By  a  iieciiliar  mode 
of  hurling  it  the  wenijon  circles  through  the 
air,  iind  then  (K'scribes  a  circular  course, 
tailing  l)y  the  side  of  or  behind  the  man 
who  tliiew  it.  The  mode  of  throwing  is 
very  simple  in  theory,  and  very  dillicult  in 
practice.  Tiie  weapon  is  grasped  by  the 
handle,  which  is  usually  marked  by  aiuini- 
bor  of  cross  cuts,  so  as  to  givi;  a  firm  huld, 
and  the  Hat  side  is  kept  downward,  Then, 
with  a  quick  and  shai'|)  fling,  the  boomerang 
is  hurled,  the  band  at  the  same  time  being 
drawn  back,  so  as  to  make  the  weapon 
revolve  with  extreme  rapidity.  \  billiard- 
player  will  undei-sialld  the  scrt  of  luove- 
ment  wlien  told  that  it  is  on  the  same  ]»iin- 
eiple  as  the  "screw-back"  stioke  at  billiards. 
The  weapon  must  be  Hung  with  great  force, 
or  it  will  not  jicrform  its  evolutions  properly. 
If  the  reader  would  like  to  i)raelice  tlirow- 
ing  the  boomerang,  let  me  reeominetid  him, 
in  the  iirst  place,  to  jiroeuVe  a  genuine 
weapon,  and  not  an  English  imitation  tliore- 
of,  such  as  i'-.  g,'nerally  sold  at  the  toy-shops. 
He  should  then  ;'o  iilone  into  a  l.aige  field, 
where  tin;  ground  is  toh'rably  soft  and  there 
arc  no  large  stones  about,  and  then  stand 
facing  the  wind.  IL  ving  gra'«])ed  it  m 
described.  lie  should  mark  with  liis  eve  a 
bpot  on  the  grouml  at  the  distance  of  forty 


yards  or  so,  and  hurl  the  boomerang  at  it. 
Should  he  throw  it  rightly,  the  weapon  will 
at  first  look  as  if  it  were  going  to  strike  the 
ground;  but,  instead  of  doing  so,  it  will 
shot  off  at  a  greater  or  les.s  angle,  accord- 
ing to  circumstances,  and  will  rise  high  into 
the  air,  circling  round  with  gradually  dimin- 
ishing force,  until  it  falls  to  the  ground. 
Should  sutlicieiit  force  liave  been  imparted 
to  it,  the  boomerang  will  fall  some  eight  or 
ten  yards  behind  the  tlirower. 

It  is  necessary  that  the  thrower  should  be 
alone,  or  at  least  have  only  ati  'nstructor 
with  him,  when  he  jiractises  this  art,  is  the 
boomerang  will,  in  iryxjierienced  h,  nds, 
take  all  kinds  of  strange  courses,  and  ^  'ill, 
in  all  probability,  swerve;  from  its  line,  and 
strike  one  of  the  sijeclators;  and  the  force 
with  which  a  boomerang  can  strike  is  almost 
incredible.  I  h.ave  seen  a  dog  killed  on  tho 
spot,  its  body  being  nearly  cut  in  two  by  tho 
boomerang  as  it  fell;  and  1  once  saw  a  brass 
spur  struck  cli'aii  off  the  heel  of  an  incau- 
tious sjieelator,  who  ran  across  the  path  of 
the  weajion. 

It  is  iiecessarv  tliat  he  choose  a  soft  as  well 
as  spacious  field,  as  tin;  boomerang  has  a  spe- 
cial knack  of  selecting  the  hardest  sjiots  on 
which  to  fall,  and  if  it  can  find  a  large  stone 
is  sure  to  strike  it,  and  so  break  itself  to 
pieces,  '.nd  if  there;  are  trees  in  tlie  way, 
it  will  get  among  the  boughs.  i]erhu])s  smash 
itsrdf,  certainly  daniage  itself,  and  probably 
stick  among  tlce  branches.  The  learner 
should  throw  also  agi'inst  the  wind,  as,  if 
iho  boomerang  is  thrown  wiih  the  wind,  it 
does  not  think  of  coming  Iiack  again,  but 
sails  on  as  if  it  never  meant  to  sto|).  and  is 
sure  to  reach  a  wonderful  distance  before  it 
falls. 

M'early  thirty  years  ago,  I  lost  a  boome- 
rang by  this  very  error.  In  comjiany  with 
some,  of  my  scboollellows,  I  was  throwing  the 
vi'eapon  for  tlieii'  amusement,  when  one  of 
them  snatched  it  up,  tinned  round,  and 
throw  it  with  all  his  force  in  the  direction 
of  tlu!  wind.  The  disianee  to  which  the 
weajion  travelled  1  ."m  afraid  to  mention, 
lest  it  should  not  bi;  oi  lieved.  The  ground 
in  that  neighborhood  is  c(ini|iosi'd  of  suc- 
cessive undulations  of  hill  mid  vale,  and  wc 
saw  the;  boomerang  cross  two  of  the  valleys, 
and  at  last  disappear  into  a  grove  of  lime- 
trees  that  edged  the  churchyard. 

Ill  \aiu  we  s(jught  for  ihe  weapon,  and  it 
was  not  found  until  four  years  afterward, 
when  a  jihunlu^r,  who  hail  been  sent  to  re- 
pair the,  roof  ot  the  church,  found  it  stick- 
ing in  th(!  leaiis.  So  it  liad  first  traversed 
that  extraordinary  didlaiK'e,  had  then  cut 
clean  through  tim  foliage  of  a  lime-tree, 
and  lastly  had  sutftcifut  force  to  stick  into 
tlu;  leaden  rooting  of  a  (;hurch.  The  boiime- 
ruiig  was  brought  down  half  decayed,  and 
wrenehed  out  of  iU  pi'oper  fbrni  by  tho 
shock. 

Sliould  the  rcivUer  wish  to  learn  tbo  U8t 


i* « 


THE  BOOMERANG. 


of  the  weapon,  he  dio.ild  watch  a  native 
throw  It.  The  attitude  of  tlie  m.an  .as  he 
hurls  tile  hoomenm-  is  singularly  j^raceful. 
Holding  three  or  four  of  the  weapons  in  lis 
eft  hand,  he  draws  oi.t  one  .at  random  w  th 
Ills  right,  while  his  eyes  are  (ixed  on  tl  e 
object  which  he  desires  to  hit,  or  the  spot 
to  whieli  the  weapon  hiis  to  travel  B.al- 
ancing  the  boomerang  for  a  moment  in  his 
hand,  lie  suddenly  steps  a  pace  or  two  fo»^ 
ward,  and  with  a  quick,  sharp,  almost  an-^rv 
8ti-()ke,  launches  his  weapon  into  the  air. 

Should  he  desire  to  bring  the  boomeran" 
b.ack  again,  ne  has  two  modes  of  throwin<" 
In  the  one  mode,  he  lliugs  it  high  in  the  air' 
into  which  it  mounts  to  a  wonch^rful  hei<'ht' 
circling  the  wliih.  with  a  bold,  vigorous  sweep' 
tlmt  reminds  (ho. observer  of  the  grand 
tlightot  the  eagle  or  the  buzzard.  iT  Hies 
on  until  It  has  reached  a  sjtot  behind  the 
tlirower,  when  all  life  seems  suddcnlv  to 
dieout  of  It:  it  collapses,  so  to  speak,"like 
a  bird  shot  on  the  wing,  topples  over  .and 
over,  and  fdls  to  the  ground.  j 

There  is  another  mode  of  throwin<T  the  ' 
returning  boomerang  which   is  even  more 
rem.'irknl)!e.     The  thrower,  instead  of  aim- 
ing liigli  in  the  air,  marks  out  a  sjiot  on  the 
ground  some  thirl v  or  forty  yards  in  .ad- 
vance, and  hurls  the  boomeraii"  at  it      The 
we.aiion  strikes  the  ground,  and,  inste.ad  of 
being  smashed  toi.irccs.as  might  he  thou^dit 
Irom  t  u"  violence  of  tl,o  stroke,  it  snrincrs 
Ironi  the  ground  Aiit;eus-like,  seemin-r   to 
attain  new  vigor    by  its  contact  with   the 
earth      It   Ihcs   up  as  if  it   had  been  shot 
liom  the  ground  by  a  catapult;  and,  takin-r 
a  co.n,,arat,vely  lo^v  elevation,  pcrfonns  the 
lost  cunous  evolutions,  whirling  so  rapidly 

w'l,  ...  "  ''"'"  '-'  ^ '''»i-l' ■'"^I'Mrent  disc 
with  an  opaque  centre,  and  directiu"'  its 
course  m  an  erratic  manner  that  is  "-erv 
alann.n,^  to  those  wl.o  are  iinaccnstoine;i 
to  It.  L  buve  seen  it  execute  all  its  manreu- 
Mcs  within  seven  or  eight  fecf  fi'om  the 
gnmn.l,  bissin^  as  it  passed  tlu-ou.^l,  1  le  ai- 
with  ,a  strangely  men/uan.  sound,, ml   who 

^  in  wo'""' .•■'■'''"-'■''"•'''• '-'i'"'^=«i''"" 

a.s  It  It  were  a  living  creature 

Vfe  will  n„w  examine  th,.  'various  shapes 
of  boomerangs,  as  s..cn  in  the   illustration 


T87 


IS  Irom  specimens  olitained  in 
I  hav,.  bad  them  brought  to- 
••eader  may  see  h>\v  the 


rti  the  UM 


on  the  /.Slst  ,,a.;o.     ,S,„ne  of  the  specimens: 

are  tak,.n  from  the  JSri.ish  Museum    soe 

lom  the  collection  .,f  ColouoA  Laiio  F  x 

V  M,-''An'''^  ':-^':  "■"'  ')'"  '--^  -•-l-^^- 
the  count  rv 
g"ther.  so  that  th 

i;~elun.'"^^'''^''^-'-''y'-ciMi;"vv; 

.,.;'^*  '-r?  "^  '*'  ''""  ''''•^'■'^  pointed  st-k  wl  ;,.h 

tureeluh  a  da-'er,  or  an  insirimv.„t  to  bo 
used   ,n   the   i.s,Y.iit  of  trees,     .hist  belov  it 

am<  at  /ig    i,  die  h(-a.l  has  bc.-n  develoncd 
luto  u  point,  and  rather  Hatteueci.    if  \iVe 


reader  will  refer  to  figs,  fi  and  7,  he  will 
sec  two  clubs  which  arc  rem.arkaRle  for 
having  not  only  the  knob,  but  the  whole  of 
tlie  handle  liattencd,  and  the  curve  of  the 
lie.ad  extend(-(l  to  the  handle. 

The  transition  from  this  dub  to  the  boome- 
rang is  simple  enough,  and,  indeed,  we  hav- 
ari  example  (tig.  I)  of  a  wc  apon  which  looks 
like  an  ordinary  booinerani,',  but  is  in  fact 
a  club,  and  is  used  for  hand-to-hand  combat 
lliese  figures  show  prettv  clearly  the  pro- 
gressive structure  of  the  boomerau".    The 
flattened  clubs  were  probably  r.^acre  from 
I  neee.ssity,  the  native  not  beiiv,'  able  to  find  a 
suitable  piece  of  wood,  and  taking  the  best 
that  he  could  get.     If,  then,  on"  of  these 
clnbs  were,  on   the   spur  of  the   moment, 
lurled  at  an  object,  the  sujierior  v.alue  which 
tins  flatness  conferred  upon  it  as  a  missile 
would    be   evident   as  Avell   as   the  curved 
course  which  it  would  take  through  th.  air 
I  liie    native,   ever  qu'ck  to   note' anvthiu'^ 
which    might    increase    the   power  of   liil 
[  weapons,  would  be  sure  to  notice  this  latter 
peculiarity,  and    to  perceive    the   valuable 
uses  to  which  it  could  be  turned.     He  would 
therefore  try  various  forms  of  flattened  mis- 
siles, until  he  at  la.st  readied  the  true  boom- 
erang. 

The  strangest  point  .about  the  hoomeran" 
IS,  that  the  curve  is  not  uniform,  and,  in  fac? 
scarcely  any  two  specimens  Jiave  iireciselv 
the  saine  curve.  Some  have  the  curve  .so 
sharp  that  it  almost  deserves  the  name  of 
angle,  for  an  example  of  which  sr^e  Ihr  8- 
others,  as  in  fig.  9,  have  the  curve  very 
slight;  while  otluM-s,  as  in  fig.  2,  have  a  ten- 
dency to  a  doiilde  curve,  and  there  is  a  spec- 
imen in  the  British  Museum  in  which  the 
double  ;  ..rve  i--.  verv  boldlv  marked.  The 
best  and  typical  f.„-m  of  bo.imerang  is,  how- 
ever, that  which  is  shown  at  li^-, ;!.  The  spec- 
imen which  is  there  represented  v.as  made 
on  the  banks  of  the  river  Darliiiir. 

The  natives  can  do  almost  anvthing  ^vith 
the   boomerang,  and  the  circuiious  course 
which   It  adojits  is  rendered  its  most  useful 
cliaracteristic.     Maiiv  a  hunter  has  wished 
liat    he    only    jiossessed     fliat    iiivahialde 
Aveaiion,  a  gun  wliidi  would  shoot  round  a 
corner,  .and  just  such  a  weapon   does   the 
Australian   find  in  his  boomeraiiLr.     If,  for 
examjile,  he  should  see  a  kangaro(rin  such  a 
position   that   he  cannot  coini^  within   the 
i-ange  of  a  spear  without  showing  himself 
and  alarming   the  animal,  or  s.av    for  ex- 
ample, that    it   is    sheltered   froni  a  direct 
attack  by  (he  trunk  of  a  tree,  he  will  st,-  d  as 
near  as  he  can  without  disturbing  the  ani- 
mal, and  then  will   throw  his  booinerau"  in 
such  a  manner    that  it  circles   r(Hind'''the 
tree,  and  strikes  the  animal  at  wlrch  it  i,s 
aiuK-d. 

That  such  precision  should  be  obtained 
with  so  curious  a  weapon  seems  rather  re- 
markable, hut  those  of  mv  readers  who  r.'-e 
accustomed  to  play  at  bowls  will    call  to 


•  t    H.: 


738 


AUSTRALIA. 


0 


mind  the  enormous  power  which  is  given  to 
theiii  iTy  tlk'  '•  bias,"  or  weighted  side  of  the 
bowl,  and  ll»n  bol<l  curves  wliich  tliey  can 
forec  the  iniMsile  to  exeeule,  wlieii  (Iiey  wish 
to  send  tlic  l)()wl  round  a  number  of  obsta- 
cles wlucli  are  in  its  way.  The  Iwomerang 
is  used  as  a  sort  ofaiirial  howl,  witli  the 
advantii','1'  that  the  expert  thrower  is  able 
to  alter  the  bias  at  will,  and  to  make  the 
weapon  describe  almost  any  curve  tliat  he 
chooses. 

It  is  even  said  thai,  in  case  there  should 
be  obstacles  which  prevent  the  boomerana; 
from  passing  round  tiie  tree,  the  native  has 
the  jiowcr  of  throwing  it  so  that  it  strikes 
the  ground  in  front  of  the  tree,  and  then,  by 
the  force  of  the  throw,  leaps  ov>r  the  top  of 
the  branches,  and  desecuda  upon  the  object 
at  which  it  is  thrown. 

'')n  page  7.')il  is  shown  a  scene  on  the  river 
Murray,  in  wliich  the  natives  are  drawn  .is 
they  ajjpear  when  catching  the  sliag,  a  spe- 
cies of  cormorant,  which  is  found  there  in 
great  numbers.  Tbey  cajiturc  thvse  birds 
in  various  ways,  sometimes  by  clind)ing  at 
nisrht  tlie  frees  on  which  thev  i-oost,  and 
seizing  them,  getting  severely  iiilteii,  t-v  tlie 
way, on  tlieir  naked  limbs  and  Ixxiie:^.  'rhey 
have  also  a  very  ingenious  .novle  o!  jjlant- 
ing  sticks  in  the  bed  of  (he  river,  fo  th:u 
they  pniject  .above  the  .surface,  and  f-v/u 
conyeuieht  re«hng-places  for  the  birds. 
Fatigued  wilh  diving,  the  cormorants  are 
sure  to|>ereli  upon  tlu'in;  and  as  they  arc  doz- 
ing w-hile  digesting  their  meal  of  tisb,  the 
native  '^wims  gently  up.  and  suddiudy  catches 
them  by  (lie  wings,  and  drags  them  under 
water.  lie  always  breaks  the  neck  of  the 
hii'd  iit  once. 

They  are  so  wonderfully  skilful  in  (he 
water,  that  wlien  jtelieans  are  swimming 
unsuspectiuglv  on  I  he  surface,  (he  natives 
api)ro.a(l\  silently,  dive  nude  )•  them,  seize 
th(!  birds  by  the  legs,  jerk  the.n  underwater, 
and  break  iiodi  the  wings  and  legssorapidlv 
that  the  unfortunate  birds  luivo  iio  chance  of 
esc.ajie. 

8omeliuies,  a<  shown  in  (he  illustration, 
the  natives  use  (lii^ir  Iioonu'rangs  and  elul's, 
knock  the  birds  ulf  the  branches  on  which 
they  are  I'oosiing.  and  secure  them  Ix'fore 
they  have  recovered  from  th,-  slutniing  blow 
of  the  weapon.  AVhen  a|)))ro.'tchiug  cormo- 
rants and  odier  arpialic  birds,  the  native  has 
a  very  ingenious  ])lan  of  disguising  himscd". 
lie  gatliei's  a  huneii  of  wi'cds,  ties  it  on  his 
head,  and  slips  quietly  into  tlie  water,  keep-  ' 
ing  bis  whole  body  iinnu-rsed  and  oidy  al- 
lowing the  artidcial  covering  to  he  seen. 
Th(>  bird  being  quite  accustomeil  to  see 
patch(>s  of  weeds  (loatiug  iilong  (be  water 
t;ikes  no  nolice  of  so  fuuiliar  an  object,  and 
so  allows  (he  disguised  man  to  conie  within 
ca-'v  reach. 

I'o  return  to  (he  boomerang.  The  reader 
may  readily  have  imagined  that  (be  maini- 
lacture  of  so  remarkable  an  impleme  jt  is 


not  a  very  easy  one.  The  various  points 
which  constitute  the  excellence  of  a  boome- 
rang are  so  light  (bat  tlun-e  is  scarcely  an 
European  who  can  see  them,  especialiy  as 
the  shajje,  size,  .and  weight  of  the  weapon 
differ  so  nnudi  according  to  the  locality 
in  which  it  was  made.  The  native,  when 
employed  in  making  a .  boonu'raug,  often 
spends  many  days  over  it,  not  oidv  on  ac- 
count of  the  very  imiierfcct  tools  which  lie 
possesses,  but  by  reason  of  the  minute  care 
which  is  required  in  the  manufacture  of  a 
good  weajion. 

Day  after  day  he  may  be  seen  with  the 
l>or.!neraug  in  liis  hand,  Ihippingat  itslowly 
and  circumspectly,  and  becoming  more  and 
more  careful  as  it  appro.aches  conqilelion. 
When  he  has  settled  tho^curve,  and  nearly 
llattened  it  to  its  iiroper  (hiekucss,  he 
scarcely  makes  (hree  oi'  four  strokes  wKhout 
balancing  the  weapon  in  his  hand,  looking 
carcl'ully  along  the  edges,  and  uiiiking  move- 
mi  !its  as  if  he  were  about  (o  throw  it.  The 
last  i*'e\>'  chips  seem  to  exercise  a  wonderful 
effect  on  the  powers  of  the  wea])on,  and 
about  them  the  native  is  exceedingly  fastid- 
ious. 

Yet,  with  ill!  this  care,  the  wea]ion  is  a 
very  rough  one.  and  the  marks  of  the  flint 
a.KC  are  left  without  even  an  attempt  to 
^^moolh  them.  In  a  well-used  boomerang 
the  jirojecting  edges  of  the  grooves  made  by 
various  cuts  and  eliijis  liecoiue  qnit(>  pol- 
ished l)y  friction,  while  (he  sunken  portion 
is  left  rougli.  In  oiu>  fine  specimen  in  my 
possession  the  nianuiacturer  has  taken  a 
curious  advaiitag(>  of  these  grooves.  lie- 
sides  marking  (lu^  liaudle  end  liy  covering  it 
wi(h  cross-seonngs  as  has  .already  been  de- 
scribed, he  has  iilled  (be  grooves  with  the 
red  ochre  of  w  Inch  the  Auslialian  is  so  fond, 
and  for  some  eight  inches  the  remains  of 
(he  red  paint  are  visible  in  almost  tveiy 
groove. 

So  delicate  is  the  opeiatiou  of  boomerang 
making,  that  sonu' nun,  ii:ilive.s  tbougb  they 
be,  canuou  turn  out  a  really  gooil  weapon, 
while  others  are  C(debra(e(l  for  (heir  skill, 
and  can  (lis|)ose  of  (heir  \venp<uis  as  fiist  as 
(hey  make  (hem.  One  of  (he  uati\i-  ••  kings" 
was  a  well-known  boonier;nig  maker,  and  Ids 
weapons  were  n'.  idcly  disiiibuled  among  (he 
nadvcs,  who  knew  his  li;,iidiwoik  as  an  arlist 
knows  (he  (ouib  of  a  celebraled  jiainler.  To 
(his  skill,  and  (be  compaiative  weallli  which 
its  exercise  brought  him,  ilu^  king  in  qu(>s- 
tion  owed  the  principal  part  ol  his  author- 
ity- 

A  fair  id.  •  of  the  size  and  weight  of  the 
boomerang  may  be  gained  by  the  measure- 
ments of  (he  weapon  which  has  fust  been 
mcn.il  ned.  It  is  two  feet  nine  inches  long 
when  measured  Willi  the  curve,  and  two  feet 
six  inches  Iron;  lip  lo  lip.  II  is  c  xaeily  two 
inches  in  wiiii.i,  only  narrowing  at  the  tips, 
and  its  weight  is  exact'y  eleven  ounces. 
Tills,  by  the  way,  is  a  war  boomerang,  anil  is 


arions  points 

0  of  a  boonie- 
is  scarce  I  y  an 
,  es[iecialiy  as 
f  tlic  wcajion 

1  tlio  locality 
native,  whon 
ncraus;,  often 
t  only  on  ac- 
lols  ■which  ho 
L'  niinnto  caro 
lufacturc  of  a 

con  with  tho 
lit;  at  it  slowly 
in.i;  nioi-o  and 
H  <'(ini])lction. 
c,  and  nearly 
liickness,  ho 
rokcs  without 
hand,  looking 
nakinjf  move- 
>row  it.  The 
?  a  wonderful 
wea])on,  and 
(lingly  f'astid- 

weajion  is  a 
s  of  the  Hint 
i\  alteini)t  to 
1  lioonierang 
ivesniade  by 
10  quite  poi- 
iikeii  portion 
•linen  in  my 
has  taken  a 
;ni()ves.  J5o- 
ly  eovering  it 
ady  been  dc- 
>ves  with  the 
iaii  is  so  fond, 
'  remains  of 
iliiiosL  Lvery 

f  boomerang 

tluniLi;!)  they 

ood   weajxiii, 

r  iheir   skill, 

lis  as  fast  as 

live  •'  kings" 

laker,  and  i'is 

d  among  tho 

k  as  Mil  artist 

piiilller.   .'J'o 

weallli  v.hich 

:iiig  ill  ques- 

liis  autlior- 

I'eiglit  of  the 
:he  measure- 
as  just  been 
•  inches  lung 
and  two  feet 
s  cxaeily  two 
T  at  the  tips, 
'ven  ounces. 
eraiig,  anil  is 


(I.)   Sl>|.;AHI\(i   Tin;   K.VNfJAROO.    (Seo  page  r3<.) 


.vJr 


•'i  ^i^l 


fi 


«i. 


'I!'!l 


f! 


li 


II 


f     !i 


AUSTRALIAN  SHIELDS. 


7« 


flhapt!(l  lik-R  that  which  is  shown  in  '■  Boome- 
raiig.i  '  oij  page  7;n,  (ig.  JJ.  Another  speci- 
men, wluch  IS  of  about  the  sai»u  wei.rfit  is 
Hliai)0(l  Hive  tlmt  of  fig.  8.  It  nieasnrt"s  tVo 
feet  (ivo  Indies  along  tlie  curve,  two  feet 
one  nicli  from  tip  to  tip,  and  is  tin-ee  inches 
ni  widtli  in  tlie  middle,  diminisliiug  gradu- 
ally toward  tlio  tips. 


In-  order  to  enable  them  to  ward  oir  these 
various  missiles,  tlie  natives  are  armed  with 
a  sliield,  wliieh  varies  exceedingly  in  shape 
and  dimensions,  and,  indeed,  in  some  ))laees 
is  so  unlil<e  a  sliield,  and  aiiiiarenlly  so  in- 
adefjuatc  to  the  otllce  of  protecting  the  body, 
that  wlien  strangers  come  to  visit  iny  collec- 
tion I  often  have  much  didlculty  in  pcM-suad- 
iug  them  that  sueli  strange-looking  o)>jeets 
can  by  any  possibility  bo  shields.     As  ('here 
is  so  great  a  vaiiety  in  (he  shiidds,  I  have 
collected  together  a  ninnber  of  examples, 
which,  1   believe,  comprise   every   form   oi' 
.shield  used  throughout  Australia.     Two  of 
them  are  from  s])eeimi>ns  in  niv  own  collec- 
tion, several  from  that  of  Coloiiid  Lane  Fox, 
others    are    drawn   from   examples   in   the' 
Uritish  .Museum,  and  the  rest  Were  sketched 
by  }.lr.  Aiigas  in  the  course   of  his  travels 
through  Australia. 

As  a  general  fact,  the  shield  is  very  solid 
and  heavy,  and  in  some  eases  looks  iniieh 
more  like  a  elub  with  which  a  man  can  be 
knocked  down,  than  a  shield  whereby  he  can 
l)e  saved  from  a  blow,  several  of  them  hav- 
ing sharp  edges  as  if  for  the  purpose  of  in- 
llieling  iiijiuy. 

If  the  reader  will  look  at  th(!  row  of  shields 
on  page  74:.',  lie  will  see  that  (ii,'s.  2  and  ;{  ex- 
hibit two  views  of  tlie  same  shield.     This  is 
one  ot  the  eominonest  forms  of  the  weapon 
and  IS  found  throughout  a  considerable  iior- 
tion  of  Western  Australia.     It  is  cut  out  of 
a  solid  pieei!  of  the  ever  useful  gum-tree  and 
IS  111  coiisiMiueiiee  very  hard  and  very  heavy. 
As  may  be  seen  by  reference!  to  Ihe'illustrii-' 
tioii.  the  form   of  the  shield   is   somewhat 
triangular,  the  face  wliieh  forms  the  front  of 
the  weapon  being  slightlv  rounded,  and  the 
handle  being  formed  by  cutting  throu'di  the 
edge  on  wliieli  the  other  two  faces  conver.'e. 
the  handle  is  very  small,  and  could  scareelv 
be  used  by  ;ui  onlinarv  I'^urojiean,  thoiedi  it 
IS  aiiiply  wide  enough  tor  the  small  andTleli- 
cati!  looking  hand  of  the  Australian  native 
Mv  own  IS  a  small  haul,  but  is  vet  too  large 
to  hold  the  Australian  shield  ciunforiablv 

Ihe  reader  will  see  that  bv  this  mode'of 
fonniiig  the  handle  the  wrist  has  groat  nlav 
andean  turn  the  shiehl  from  side  to  side 
with  the  slightest  movement  of  the  hand. 
J  his  faculty  is  very  useful,  espeeiallv  when 
the  instrument  is  used  for  w,ardiie'"otr  the 
spear  or  the  club,  weajjoiis  which  need  ..nIv 
to  1)0  just  turned  aside  in  order  to  t'uid'e 
tlium  aw.ay  from  t\u'  body. 

One  of  these  shields  in  inv  own  collection 
is  a  very  fine  example  of  the'instrume-t,  and 


its  dimensions  will  servo  to  guide  the  render 
a-i  to  the  usual  form,  size,  and  weight  of  an 
Australian  shield.  It  measures  exactly  two 
feet  seven  inches  iu  length,and  is  five  incheH 
wide  at  tlie  michlle,  which  in  the  broadest 
part.  The  width  of  the  hole  which  re(;eivc8 
the  hand  is  three  inches  and  tlire(sid<'htli3 
and  the  weight  of  the  shield  is  rather  more 
than  three  pounds. 

The  extraordiiiiuy  weight  of  the  sliield  is 
needed  in  order  to  enable  it  to  resist  the 
shock  of  th(!  lioonierang,  the  force  of  which 
may  be  estimated  by  its  weight,  eieven 
ounces,  multiplied  by  the  force  with  which 
It  is  hurled.  This  terrible  weapon  cannot  bo 
merely  turned  aside,  like  the  .spear  or  the 
\ya(ldv,  and  otHen  seems  to  receive  an  addi- 
tional impul.se  from  striking  any  object,  as 
the  reader  may  se(!  by  reference  to  page  737" 
in  which  the  mode  of  throwing  the  boome- 
rang is  described.  A  boomerang  must  bo 
stopi)ed,  and  not  mendy  iiarried,  and  more- 
over, It  it  be  not  stop])ed  projierlv,  it  twists 
round  the  shield,  and  with  one  ot'its  rev(dv- 
ing  ends  iiitliets  a  wound  on  the  candess 
warrior. 

Even  if  it  be   met  with   the   shield  and 
st(.|)ped.  It  is   apt   to  break,   and   the   two 
halves   to  coiivergi;   i.poii   the    body.    The 
very  fragments  of  the  boomerang  seem  able 
to  iiithet  almost  as  .iiueli  injury  as  the  entire 
we;ii)on;  and,  in   one  of  the  "skirmishes  to 
V  hich  the  natives   are  .so  addicted,  a   man 
was  seen  to  fall  to  the  ground  with  his  body 
cut  completely  ojien  by  a  broken  boonieraii"-. 
It  is  ill  warding  off  tiu;  boomerain'  there- 
fore, that  the  chief  .skill  of  the  AnstTalian  is 
shown.     When  he  sees  the  weapon  is  pursu- 
ing a  course  which  will  bring  it  to  him,  ho 
steps  forward  so  as  to  meet  it;  and, as  (he 
boomerang   clashes   against   the    shield,  lie 
gives  the  latter  a  rapid  turn  witli  the  wrist, 
ft  this  maiKeuvre  be  properly  executed,  the 
boomerang  breaks  to  jiieees.  and  the   fra<'- 
nicnts  are  struck  apart  by  the  inoveineiit  of 
the  shield. 

Peiha[)s  some  of  mv  readers  may  remem- 
ber  that  "J)ick-a-dick,"  the   verv   poi.ular 
member  of  the   Australian  c"i<keters  who 
came  to  Lnglanil  in  lS(i,s,  among  other  e.\- 
hibitions  of  his  quickness  of  eve  and  hand 
.allowed  himself  to   be   pelted  "witii  cricket 
l)alls.  at  a  distance  oi'  fifteen  vards,  having 
nothing  wlu'i-ewith   to   protect    himself  biit 
the  .shield  and  the  leowal,  or  angular  club, 
the  tormer  being  used  t.)  shield  the  body 
and  the  latter  to  guard  the  legs.     Th'e  force 
and  accuracy  with  which  a  practised  crick- 
eter can  throw  the  ball  are  familiar  to  all 
Lnglishmeii,  and  it  was  reallv  wonderful  to 
see  a  man,  with  no  clothes  biit  a  skin-tight 
elastic  dress,  with  a  piece  of  wood  five  inches 
wide  in   his   h.ft  hand,  and   a  ciub  in  his 
right,  ipiietly  stand  against  a  positive  rain 
of  cricket-balls  as  long  as  any  one  liked  to 
throw  at  hnn,  and  coiuc  out  bf  the  ordeal 
unscathed. 


Sf  SI 


742 


AUSTRALIA. 


'< 


Not  the  least  surprising  part  of  the  per- 
formiince  was  the  (uwliiess  with  whicli  ho 
trentc<l  titc  wholo  nirnir,  iiiid  llio  aIniuHt  iii- 

HlillcliVO  kllUWUMJ^'l'  tllllt  IlU   8ui>llle(l    to   pUM- 

fiesH  respecting  the  precise  (Icstinatioii  nf 
each  ball.  If  a  hall  went  straight  at  his 
body  or  head,  it  was  met  and  blocked  by  the 
shield;  if  it  were  hurled  at  hin  legs,  the  club 
knocked  it  aside.  As  to  those  which  were 
sure  not  to  hit  him.  he  treated  them  with 
contemptuous  indillerence,  just  moving  his 
head  a  little  on  one  side  to  allow  the  ball  to 
pass,  which  absolutely  rullled  !<ie  hair  as  it 
shot  by,  or  lifting  on(!  arm  to  allow  a  ball  to 
pass  between  the;  limb  and  his  body,  or,  it'  it 
were  aimed  but  an  inch  wide  of  hi'm,  taking 
no  notice  of  it  whaieviir.  The  shield  which 
he  used  with  such  skill  was  the  same  kind 
as  that  which  has  Just  been  described,  and 
was  jjrobably  selected  because  its  weight 
enabled  it  to  block  the  balls  without  the 
hand  that  held  it  feeling   the  shock. 

To  all  apijcarances,  the  natives  expend 
much  more  labor  upon  the  shield  than  upon 
the  boomerang,  the  real  reason,  however, 
being  tli.at  much  ornament  would  injure  the 
boomerang,  but  can  have  no  injurious  clTcct 


grooves,  and  each  groovo  h.os  been  filled 
with  red  ochro.  The  space  b»  Uv(  en  is  lilled 
in  with  a  *U)uble  zigzag  pattern,  and  the 
eiicci  of  all  these  Hues,  Hinif)lo  as  tiiey  are, 
s  perfectly  artistic  and  consistent. 

The  pattern,  by  the  way,  is  one  that  seems 
conuuou  to  all  savage  races  of  men,  wher- 
ever they  nuiy  be  foimd,  and  is  to  be  seen 
on  weapon'^  made  by  (he  ancient  races  now 
long  i)ivsHi  i|  away,  among  the  Kalllr  tribes  of 
South  Afiica,  the  cannibal  tribes  of  Central 
Western  Africa,  the  inhabitants  of  the  vari- 
ous Polynesian  islands,  the  savages  of  the 
extreme  north  and  extreme  south  of  AnuM'- 
ica,  and  the  natives  of  the  great  continent 
of  Australia. 

At  fig.  7  of  the  nccompanying  illustration 
ma^'  be  seen  a  shield  made  of  solid  wood,  in 
which  the  triangular  form  has  been  devel- 
oi)ed  in  a  very  curious  manner  into  a  quad- 
rangular  shape.  The  handle  is  made  in  the 
same  manner  as  that  of  the  'i>rmer  shield, 
i.  c.  b^;  cutting  through  two  ■  ;'  the  faces  of 
till!  tri.,ngle,  while  the  front  vi'  the  shield, 
iiist(!ad  of  being  a  tolerably  round  face, 
is  flaileued  out  into  a  sharp  edge.  It  is 
scarcely  possible  to  imagino  any  instrument 


! 


SHIELDS. 


upon  th>;  shield.  By  reference  to  the  illus- 
tration, the  reader  will  see  that  the  face  of 
the  shield  is  covered  with  ornament,  wliich, 
simple  in  principle,  is  elaborate  in  detail. 

There  i.s  a  specimen  in  my  collection 
which  is  ornamented  to  a  verv  great  extent 
ou  its  face,  the  sides  and  the"  handle  being 
perfectly  plain.  It  has  a  number  of  lines 
drawn  transversely  in  bands,  which,  how- 
ever, are  seven  instead  of  live  in  number. 
Each    baud  is  composed  of  three   zigzag 


that  looks  less  like  a  shield  than  does  this 
I  curious  weajjon,  which  seems  to  have  been 

made  for  the  express  purpose  of  iiri'sentiiig 

as  small  a  suriiice  as  jiossible  to  the  enemy. 
The  fact  is,  however,  that  the  Southern 
]  Australian  who  uses  these  shielils  has  not 

to  defend  himself  against  arrows,  from 
,  which  a  man  can  only  be  defended  by  cou- 
!cealiiig  his   body    behind   shelter    which   is 

proof  against  them:  he  h.as  only  to  guard 
i  against  the  spear  and  boomerang,  and  occa- 


THE  MULABAKkA  SHIELD. 


7A 


sloJifilly  thr  mJssllo  club,  all  wliich  wiaponn 
ho  i.\n  turn  iiMidf  Hiih  tlir  imrmw  iliield 
that,  haa  ht-.n  d^h,    iiu«t|. 

One  ol"  thcHo  shuifJH  in  my  collection  is 
two  Icct  80VIH  irirhi'8  in  length,  rnthor  more 
thiiu  Hix  in<  ^  ill  width,  mid  barely  three 
iiii'lies  thick  ill  tlx-  middle.  lU  weight  i,i 
just  two  pounds.  Such  n  weapon  seems 
much  more  llk(  a  club  than  a  shield,  and. 
indciMl,  ir  held  liy  one  (iid,  it.i  sharp  cdgi 
might  I  uttod  with  great  cllect  upon  tin 
head  of  m  eneiny.  Like  moMt  Au.straliau 
fihields,  ir  is  covckmI  with  a  pattern  of  the 
same  chiiacter  as  that  which  has  already 
been  ini  ntioned,  and  i(  has  bcu  so  thor- 
oui'hly  i)aintcd  with  ochre  tl  it  is  of  a 
reddish  mahogany  color,  and  real  hue 

of  the  wood  can  only  be  seen  by  scrajjing 
off  some  of  the  stained  surface.  The  name 
for  this  kind  of  shield  is  tamarang,  and  it  is 
much  used  in  .lance.s,  in  which  it  is  struck 
at  regular  intervals  with  the  waddv. 

In  the  Ihitish  Museum  is  a  .shield  which 
is  much  more  solid  than  either  of  those 
wliieh  have  been  described.  The  manufac- 
turer evidently  ftmnd  the  labor  of  ehiijping 
the  wood  too  niueh  for  him,  and  accordingly 
made  much  use  of  (ire,  forming  his  shi7d"d 
by  alternate  charring  and  scraping.  The 
handle  is  rather  curiouslv  made  by  cut  tin" 
two  deep  holes  side  by  side  in  the  back  o? 
the  shield,  the  piece  ot  wood  between  them 

1)piiiir  miitiilnil  iitf/^t  n  Kntiflw.       A  »  :..  ji... 


bemg  rounded  into  a  handle.  Aa  is  the  case 


with  most  of  the  shioldd,  the  handle  Is  a 
very  small  one.  The  face  of  flu-  shield  is 
much  wider  than  either  of  those  which 
have  been  notici^d,  and  is  very  slightly 
rounded.  It  is  ornanu'nted  with  carved 
groi.ves,  but  rough  usage  has  i  l.Jiternted 
mo  I  of  them,  and  (he  whole  imi.lement 
is  IJ.S  rough  and  unsightly  :,n  article  as  can 
well  be  lujagined,  in  spite  of  the  labor 
■■•null     las   been  bestowed  upon   it. 

We  now  (ome  to  another  class  of  shield 
made  of  bark,, and  going  by  the  title  of  Mul- 
al)akka.  .Shields  in  general  are  called  by  thc! 
!uimo  of  Ilieleman.  Some  ot  these  bark 
shields  are  of  considerable  si/c,  and  are  so 
wide  in  thc  middle  that,  when  the  owner 
crouches  behind  them,  they  protect  the 
greater  part  of  his  body.  As"  thc  compara- 
tively thin  material  ot  which  they  are  com- 
posed i)rcvents  the  handle  from  being  made 
by  cutting  into  the  shield  itself,  the  native  is 
obliged  to  make  tin;  haixlle  separately,  and 
fasten  it  to  the  shield  by  various  methods. 

"He  commonest  mode  of  (ixing  Hi.  handle 
'  tulabakka  shield  is  .lecn  at  tigs.  4  and 
.),  1)11  page  742,  which  exhibit  the  front  and 
motile  views  of  the  same  shield.  Another 
Mulabakka  is  shown  at  (iu.  r,  The  faces  of 
all  the  Mulabakka  shields  are  ('ovcred  with 
ornamented  patterns,  mostly  on  the  usual 
siigzag  principle,  but  some  haviiis  a  pattera 
m  which  curves  form  the  chief  element. 


M 


#. 


Ai 


^>?^A.^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


Msm 


tiS. 
Muu. 


1^  ilM 


II!  1.8 


U    mil  1.6 


I 


'^o 


•^p 


/a 


p 


/i 


<^ 


/} 


/ 


w 


'^W  "^^      AJ*'''  /'V^i^y 


p 


P' 


o^ 


Photographic 

Sdences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)872-4503 


Ls^ 


CHAPTER  LXXTII. 


AUSTRALIA—  Continued. 


EEAI,  WAR  UNKNOWN  TO  THE  AUSmALIANa  —  FEUDS  AND  THE  CAITSES  OF  THEM— A  SAVAGE  TOUBNA- 
MENT— .VENOEANCS  FOB  DEATH  — THE  TUOPHY  OP  VICTOBY  —  AITSTKALIAN  VENDETTA  — FIBE- 
SIG.VAL8  — DEATH  OF  TAUMEENIA  — OBDEAL  OP  BATTr-E  — CANNIBALISM  A8  AN  ADJUNCT  OF  WAB 
—  DANCES  OF  THE  ABOBIOINES  — THE  KUBI  DANCE  AND  ITS  BTBANOB  ACCOMPANIMENTS  — THE 
.  PALTI  DANCE  — THE  CONCLUDING  FIOUBE  — DANCE  OF  THE  PARNKALLA  TIUUE  —  OUDLNAKY  tOB- 
BOBUOBEES  —  THE  KANGABOO  D^VNCE  —  TA8MANIAN  DANCE. 


TriE  mention  of  these  various  weapons  nat- 
urally leads  us  to  warfare ;  and  that  they  arc 
intended  fop  that  purpose  the  existence  of 
the  shields  is  a  proof.  Offensive  weapons, 
such  as  the  spear  and  the  club,  may  be 
used  merely  for  killing  game;  hut  the  shiehl 
can  only  bo  employeel  to  defend  the  body 
from  tlie  weapons  ot  an  enemy 

War,  however,  as  we  understand  the  word, 
is  unknown  among  the  Australians.  They 
have  not  (he  intellect  nor  the  organization 
for  it,  and  so  we  have  the  curious  fact  of 
skilled  warriors  who  never  saw  a  battle.  No 
single  tribe  is  large  enough  to  take  one  side 
in  a  real  battle;  and,  even  supposing  it  to 
possess  sufTieient  numbers,  there  is  no  sjiirit 
of  discipline  by  means  of  which  a  force  could 
be  gathered,  ke])t  together,  or  directed,  even 
if  it  were  :issembled. 

Yet,  though  real  war  is  iniknown,  the 
Australian  natives  arc  continually  fighting, 
and  almost  every  tribe  is  at  feui'l  with  its 
neighbor.  The  cause  of  quarrel  with  them 
is  almost  invariably  the  possession  of  some 
territory.  By  a  sort  of  tacit  arrangement, 
the  various  tribes  have  settled  themsidves 
in  certain  districts;  and,  although  they  are 
great  wanderers,  yet  they  consider  them- 
selves the  rightfurowners"  of  their  own  dis- 
trict. 

It  mostly  happens,  however,  that  members 
of  one  tribe  trespass  on  the  district  of  another, 
especially  if  it  be  one  in  whicli  game  of  any 
kind  is  plentiful.    And  sometimes,  when  a  I  general, 

(744) 


tribe  has  gone  off  on  a  travelling  expedition, 
another  tribe  will  settle  themselves  in  the 
vacated  dis(ri"t;  so  that,  when  the  rightful 
owners  of  the  soil  return,  there  is  sure  to 
be  a  quarrel.  The  matter  is  usually  sel tied 
by  a  skirmish,  which  bears  some  resemblance 
to  the  vii'h'e  of  ancient  chivalry,  and  is  con- 
ducted according  to  well-understood  regula- 
tions. 

The  aggrieved  triLe  sends  a  challenge  to 
the  ofl'enders,  the  challenger  in  question 
bearing  a  bunch  of  enui's  feathers  tied  on 
the  top  of  a  s])ear.  At  daybreak  next  morn- 
ing the  warriors  array  themselves  for  battle, 
painting  Iheir  bodies  in  various  colors,  so  as 
to  make  themselves  look  as  much  like  de- 
mons, and  as  much  unlike  men,  us  jiossible, 
laying  aside  all  clothing,  and  arranging  their 
various  weapons  for  the  fight. 

Having  placed  themselves  in  b.ittlo  array, 
at  some  little  distance  from  each  other,  the 
opposite  sides  begin  to  revile  each  other  in 
(pnte  a  Homeric  manner,  taunting  their  an- 
tagonists with  cowardice  and  want  of  skill 
in  their  weapons,  and  boasting  of  the  great 
deeds  which  they  are  about  to  do.  AVhen, 
by  means  of  interposing  these  taunts  with 
.•(houts  and  yells,  dancing  from  one  foot  to 
the  other,  quivering  and  poising  their  spears, 
and  other  mechanical  moiUis  of  exciting 
themschcs,  they  have  worked  theniselvos 
up  to  the  requisite  pitch  of  fury,  they  begin 
to  throw  the  spears,  and  the  coihbat  becomes 
Confused  as  it  appears,  it  is,  how- 


FEUDS  AND  THEIR  CAUSES. 


748 


ever,  arranged  wUh  a  sort  of  order.  Each 
warrior  selects  his  antagonist;  so  that  the 
fight  is,  in  fact,  a  scries  of  duels  rather  than 
a  Dattlc,  and  tlie  whole  business  bears  a  curi- 
ous resenil)l!ince  to  the  mode  of  lighting  in 
the  ancient  days  of  Troy. 

Generally  the  combatants  stand  in  rather 
scattered  lines,  or,  as  we  should  say,  in 
wide  skirmishing  order.  The  gestures  with 
which  they  try  to  irritate  their  opponents 
are  very  curious,  and  often  grotesque;  the 
chief  object  being  ajiparently  to  induce  the 
antagonist  to  throw  the  first  spear.  Some- 
times they  stand  with  their  feet  very  widely 
apart,  and  their  knees  straight,  after  the 
manner  which  will  be  seen  in  the  illustra- 
tions of  the  native  dances.  While  so  stand- 
ing, tliey  communicate  a  peculiar  quivering 
movement  to  tke  legs,  and  iiretend  to  olfer 
themselves  as  fair  marks.  Sometimes  they 
turn  their  ))acks  on  their  adversary,  and 
challenge  him  to  throw  at  them;  or  they 
drop  on  a  hand  and  knee  for  the  same  pur- 
pose. 

Mr.  M'Gillivray  remarked  that  two  fepear- 
mcn  never  throw  at  the  same  combatant; 
but,  even  with  this  advantage,  the  skill  of 
the  warrior  is  amply  lusted,  and  it  is  surpris- 
ing to  see  how,  by  the  mere  inflection  of 
the  body,  or  the  lifting  a  leg  or  arm,  they 
avoid  a  spear  which  otherwise  must  have 
wounded  them.  AVIiilo  the  light  is  going 
on,  the  women  and  children  remain  in  the 
bush,  watching  the  combat,  and  uttering  a 
.sort  of  wailing  chant,  rising  and  falling  in 
regular  cadence. 

Sometimes  the  fight  is  a  very  bloody  one, 
thnugli  the  general  rule  is,  that  when  one 
man  is  killed  the  battle  ceases,  the  tribe  to 
which  the  dead  man  belonged  being  consid- 
ered as  having  been  worsted.  It  might  bo 
thought  that  a  batllo  conducted  on  such 
principles  would  be  of  very  short  duration; 
but  the  Australian  warriors  are  so  skilful  in 
warding  otf  the  weapons  of  their  antago- 
nists that  they  often  light  for  a  considerable 
time  before  a  man  is  killed.  It  must  be 
remembered,  too,  that  I  he  .\ustralian  natives 
can  endure,  without  seeming  to  be  mucli  the 
worse  for  thinn,  wounds  which  would  kill  an 
European  at  once.  In  such  a  skirmish, 
however,  much  blood  is  spilt,  even  though 
only  one  man  be  actually  killed,  for  the 
barbed  spears  and  sharp-edged  i)ooinerjings 
inflict  terrible  wounds,  and  often  cripple  tlie 
wounded  man  for  life. 

Other  causes  beside  the  quarrel  for  terri- 
tory may  originate  a  fend  between  two 
tribes.  One  of  these  cases  is  a  very  curious 
one.  aA  Wf)man  had  been  bitt-jn  bva  snake; 
but,  na  no  blood  flowed  from  the" wound,  it 
was  thought  that  the  snake  was  not  a  veno- 
mous one,  and  tlisit  there  was  no  danger. 
However,  the  woman  <lied  in  a  few  houi-s, 
and  her  death  was  the  signal  for  a  desperate 
war  between  two  tribes.  There  seems  to 
be  but  little  connection  between  the  two 


events,  hut  according  to  Australian  ideas 
the  feud  wa.s  a  justifiable  one. 

The  natives  of  the  part  of  Australia 
where  this  event  occurred  have  a  curious 
idea  concerning  death.  Shou'd  any  one  die 
without  apparent  cause,  they  think  that 
the  death  is  caused  by  a  great  bird  called 
marralya,  which  comes  secretly  to  the  sick 
person,  seizes  him  round  the  waist  in  his 
claws,  and  squeezes  him  to  death.  Now  the 
marralya  is  not  a  real  bird,  but  a  magical 
one,  being  always  a  man  belonging  to  a 
hostile  tribe,  who  assumes  the  shape  of  the 
bird,  and  so  finds  an  opportunity  of  doing 
an  injury  to  the  tribe  with  which  he  is  at 
feud.  Ilaving  made  up  his  mind  that  the 
snake  which  bit  the  woman  was  not  a  veno- 
mous one,  her  husband  could  not  of  course 
be  expected  to  change  his  opiuion,  and  so  it 
was  agreed  upon  that  one  of  a  neighboring 
tribe  with  whom  they  were  at  feud  must 
have  become  a  marralya,  and  killed  the 
woman.  The  usual  challenge  was  the  con- 
sequence, and  from  it  came  a  series  of 
blood}'  fights. 

Like  most  savage  nations,  the  Australians 
mutilate  their  fallen  enemfcs.  Instead, 
however,  of  cutting  off  the  scalp,  or  other 
troph}',  they  open  the  body,  tear  out  the  fat 
about  the  kiilneys,  and  rul>  it  over  their  own 
bodies.  So  general  is  this  custom,  that  to 
"  take  fat "  is  a  common  paraphrase  for  kill- 
ing an  enemy;  and  when  two  antagonists 
are  opposed  to  each  other,  each  is  sure  to 
boast  that  his  antagonist  shall  furnish  fat 
for  him.  As  far  as  can  bo  learned,  they 
have  an  idea  that  this  practice  endues  the 
victor  with  the  courage  of  the  slain  man  in 
addition  to  his  own;  and,  as  a  rei)utation  for 
being  a  warrior  of  prowess  is  the  only  dis- 
tinction that  a  native  Australian  can  achieve, 
it  m.ay  be  imagined  that  he  is  exceedingly 
anxious  to  secure  such  an  aid  to  ambition. 

Not  from  deliberate  cruelty,  but  from  the 
utter  thoughtlessness  and  disregard  of  in- 
flicting pain  which  characterizes  all  savages, 
the  victorious  warrior  does  not  trouble  him- 
self to  wait  for  the  death  of  his  enemy  before 
taking  his  strange  war  trophy.  SluJuld  the 
man  be  entirely  disabled  it'  is  enough  for 
the  Australian,  who  turns  him  on  his  back, 
opens  his  body  with  the  quartz  knife  which 
has  alrea<ly  been  described,  tears  out  the 
coveted  prize,  and  rubs  himself  with  it  until 
his  whole  body  and  limbs  shine  as  if  they 
were  burnished  Oftentimes  It  has  happened 
that  a  wounded  man  has  been  thus  treated, 
and  has  been  doomed  to  see  his  conqueror 
adorn  himself  before  liis  eyes.  Putting 
aside  any  previous  injury,  such  a  wound  as 
this  is  necessarily  mortal;  but  a  man  has 
been  known  to  live  for  ntnre  than  three 
days  after  receiving  the  injury,  so  wonder- 
fully strong  is  the  Australian  constitution. 

Sometimes  these  feuds  spread  very  widelj',- 
and  last  for  a  very  long  time.  IJefore  the 
declaration    of   war,    the    opposing   tribes 


746 


AUSTRALIA. 


1     ! 


f         ! 


refrain  from  attacking  each  other,  but,  after 
tliat  declaration  is  oiice  made,  the  greatest 
secrecy  is  often  observed,  and  the  warrior  is 
value(f  the  highest  who  contrives  to  kill  his 
enemy  without  exposing  himself  to  danger. 
Sometimes  there  is  a  sort  of  wild  chivalry 
about  the  Australians,  mingled  witli  much 
that  is  savage  and  revolting.  A  remarkable 
instance  of  these  traits  is  recorded  by  Mr. 
M'Gillivray. 

An  old  man  had  j»one  on  a  short  expedi- 
tion in  his  canoe,  while  the  men  of  his  tribe 
were  engaged  in  catching  turtle.  He  was 
watched  by  a  party  beh;  aging  to  a  hostile 
tribe,  who  followed  and  speaved  him.  Leav- 
ing their  spears  in  the  body  to  indicate  their 
identity,  they  returned  to  shore,  and  made  a 
great  nre  by  way  of  a  challenge.  Seeing 
the  signal,  and  knowing  that  a  column  of 
thick  smoke  i.s  almost  always  meant  as  a 
challenge,  the  men  left  their  turtMng,  a»-;l, 
on  finding  that  the  old  man  was  mi::)Sing, 
instituted  a  search  after  him.  As  soon  as 
they  discovered  the  bod^  they  lighted 
another  lire  to  signify  their  acceptance  of 
the  challenge,  and  a  party  of  them  started 
oft"  the  same  evening  in  order  to  inflict 
repi-isals  on  the  enemy. 

They  soon  came  upon  some  natives  who 
belonged  to  the  inimical  tribe,  but  who  ha<} 
not  been  concerned  in  the  murder,  iind 
managed  to  kill  the  whole  party,  consisting 
of  four  men,  a  woman,  and  a  girl.  They  cut 
oflf  the  heads  of  their  victims,  and  returned 
with  great  exultation,  shouting  and  blowing 
conch-shells  to  announce  their  victory. 

The  heads  were  then  cooked  in  an  oven, 
and  the  eyes  scooped  out  and  eaten,  together 
with  portions  of  the  cheeks.  Only  those 
who  had  been  of  the  war-party  were  allowed 
to  partake  of  this  horrible  feast.  When  it 
was  over  the  victors  began  a  dance,  in 
which  they  worked  themselves  into  a  per- 
fect frenzy,  kicking  the  skulls  over  the 
ground,  aiid  indulging  in  all  kinds  of  hide- 
ous antics.  Afterward  the  skulls  w.irc  hung 
up  on  two  cross  sticks  near  the  camp,  and 
allowed  to  remain  there  undisturbed. 

Fire,  by  the  way,  is  very  largely  used  in 
making  signals,  which  are  understood  all 
over  the  continent.  A  Large  fire,  sending 
up  a  great  column  of  smoke,  is,  as  has 
already  been  mentioned,  almost  invariably 
a  sign  of  defiance,  and  it  is  sometimes  kin- 
dled daily  until  it  is  answered  by  another. 
If  a  man  wishes  to  denote  that  he  is  in  want 
of  assistance,  he  lights  a  small  tire,  and,  as 
soon  as  it  sends  up  its  little  column  of 
smoke,  ho  extinguishes  it  suddenly  by 
throwing  earth  on  it.  This  is  repeated'until 
the  required  assistance  arrives. 

Some  years  «go,  when  the  character  and 
habits  of  the  natives  were  not  known  so 
well  as  they  are  now,  maiij  of  the  settlers 
were  murdered  by  the  natives,  simply 
through  their  system  of  flre-signalling. 
One  on  two  natives,  generally  old  men  cr 


women,  as  causing  least  suspicion,  and 
being  entirely  unarmed,  would  ajjproach 
the  farm  or  camp,  and  hang  about  it  for 
some  days,  asking  for  food,  and  cooking  it 
at  their  own  little  fires. 

The  white  men  had  no  idea  that  every 
fire  that  was  lighted  wa.s  a  signal  that  was 
perfectly  well  understood  by  a  force  of 
armed  men  that  was  hovering  about  them 
under  cover  of  the  woods,  nor  that  the  little 
puffs  of  smoke  which  occasionally  arose  in 
the  distance  were  answers  to  the  signals 
made  uy  their  treacherous  guests.  When 
the  spies  thought  that  their  iiosts  were 
lulled  into  security,  they  made  the  battle- 
signal,  and  brought  down  the  whole  force 
upon  the  unsuspecting  whites. 

The  Australians  are  wonderfully  clever 
actors.  How  well  they  caninct  honesty  and 
m-actise  theft  has  already  been  mentioned. 
They  have  also  a  way  of  appearing  to  be 
unarmed,  and  yet  having  weapons  ready  to 
hand.  They  will  come  out  of  the  bush,  with 
green  boughs  in  their  hands  as  signs  of  peace, 
advance  for  so.oie  distance,  and  ostenta- 
tiously throw  down  their  spears  and  other 
weapons.  They  then  advance;  again,  appa- 
rently unarmeci,  but. each  man  trailing  a 
spear  along  the  ground  by  means  of  his  toes. 
As  soon  as  they  are  within  spear  range, 
they  pick  up  their  weapons  with  their 
toes,  which  are  nearly  as  flexible  and  useful 
as  fingers,  hurl  them,  and  then  retreat  to 
the  spot  where  they  hud  grounded  their 
weapons. 

The  Australians  have  a  tenacious  memory 
for  injuries,  and  never  lose  a  chance  of 
reprisal.  In  1849,  some  men  belonging  to 
the  Badulega  tribe  had  been  spending  two 
months  on  a  friendly  visit  to  the  natives  of 
Muralug.  One  of  their  hosts  had  married 
an  Itillega  woman,  and  two  of  the  brothers 
were  staying  with  her.  The  IJadulegas 
happened  to  remember  that  several  years 
before  one.  of  their  own  tribe  had  been 
insulted  by  an  Itiilega.  So  Ihoy  killed  the 
woman,  and  tried  to  kill  her  brothers  also, 
but  only  succeeded  in  murdering  one  of 
them.  They  started  at  once  for  their  home, 
taking  the  heads  as  proof  of  their  victory, 
and  thought  that  they  had  done  a  great  and 
praiseworthy  action. 

A  similar  affair  took  place  among  some  of 
tho  tribes  of  Port  Essington.  A  Monobar 
native  had  been  captured  when  thieving, 
and  was  imprisoned.  He  attempted  to 
escape,  and  in  so  doing  was  shot  by  the  sen- 
tinel on  duty.  Uy  rights  his  family  ought  to 
have  executed  reprisals  on  a  white  man;  but 
they  did  not  venture  on  such  a  steps  and 
accordingly  picked  out  a  native  who  was  on 
good  terms  with  the  white  man,  and  killed 
him.  The  friends  of  the  murdered  man 
immediately  answered  by  killing  a  Moii- 
obar,  and  so  the  feud  went  on.  In  each 
case  the  victim  was  murdered  while  sleep- 
ing, a  number  of  natives  quietly  surrounding 


THE  AUSTRALIAN  VENDETTA. 


747 


I 


him,  and,  after  spearing  him,  beating  him 
with  their  waddies  into  a  shapeless  mass. 

Should  the  cause  of  the  feud  be  the  unex- 
plained death  of  a  man  or  woman,  the  duty 
of  vengeance  belongs  to  the  most  formidable 
male  warrior  of  the  family.  On  such  occa- 
sions he  will  solemnly  accept  the  office, 
adorn  himself  with  the  red  war-paint,  select 
his  best  weapons,  and  promise  publicly  not 
to  return  until  he  has  killed  a  male  of  tlie 
inimical  tribe.  How  pertinaciously  the  Au- 
stralian will  adhere  to  his  bloody  purpose 
may  be  seen  from  an  anecdote  related  by  Mr. 
Lloyd. 

He  was  startled  one  night  by  the  furi- 
ous barking  of  his  dogs.  On  taking  a  lan- 
tern he  foimd  lyin^  on  the  ground  an  old 
black  named  T"-  .neenia,  covered  with 
wounds  inflicted  hy  spears,  and  boomerangs, 
and  waddies.  He  told  his  story  in  the 
strange  broken  English  used  by  the  natives. 
The  gist  of  the  story  was,  that  he  and  his 
son  were  living  in  a  hut,  and  the  son  had 
gone  out  to  snare  a  bird  for  his  father,  who 
was  dl.  Presently  a  "  bungilcarney  coolie," 
i.  e.  an  enemy  from  another  tribe,  entered 
the  hut  and  demanded,  "  Why  did  your  son 
kill  my  wife?  I  shall  kill  his  father." 
Whereupon  he  drove  his  spear  into  the  old 
man's  side,  and  was  beating  him  to  death, 
when  he  was  disturbed  by  the  return  of  his 
son.  The  young  man,  a  singularly  power- 
ful native,  knowing  that  his  father  would  bo 
certainly  murdered  outright  if  he  remained 
in  the  hut,  actually  carried  him  more  than 
four  miles  to  Mr.  Lloyd's  house,  put  him 
down  in  the  yard,  and  left  him. 

A  hut  was  at  once  erected  close  to  i'.e 
house,  and  Tarmeenia  was  installed  and 
attended  to.  He  was  very  grateful,  but  was 
uneasy  in  his  mind,  bogging  that  the  con- 
stable might  visit  his  hut  in  his  nightly 
rounds,  '*  'cos  same  bungilcarney  coolie  cum 
agin,  and  dis  time  too  much  kill  'im 
Tarmeenia."  The  alarm  of  the  old  man 
seemed  rather  absurd,  considering  the  posi- 
tion of  the  hut.  but  it  was  fully  justified. 
About  three  weeks  after  Tarmeenia  had  been 
placed  in  the  hut,  Mr.  Lloyd  was  aroused  at 
daybreak  by  a  servant,  who  said  that  the  old 
black  fellow  had  been  burned  to  death. 
Dead  he  certainly  was,  and  on  examining 
the  body  two  fresh  wounds  were  seen,  one  by 
a  spear  just  over  the  heart,  and  the  other 
a  deep  cut  in  the  loins,  through  which  the 
"  bungilcarney  "  had  torn  the  trophy  of  war. 
Occasionally  a  man  who  has  offended 
against  some  native  law  has  to  engage  in 
a  Kind  of  a  mimic  warfare,  but  without  the 
advantage  of  having  weapons.  Mr.  Lloyd 
mentions  a  curious  example  of  such  an 
ordeal. 

"  The  only  instance  I  ever  witnessed  of 
corporeal  punishment  being  inflicted  —  evi- 
dently, too,  by  some  legal  process —  was 
upon  the  person  of  a  fine  sleek  young  black, 
who,  having  finished  his  morning's  repast, 
87 


rose  in  a  dignified  manner,  and,  casting  his 
rug  froni  his  shoulders,  strode  with  Mohi- 
can stoicism  to  the  appointed  spot,  divested 
of  his  shield,  waddy,  or  other  means  of  de- 
fence. Nor,  when  once  placed,  did  he  utter 
one  word,  or-move  a  muscle  of  his  graceful 
and  well-moulded  person,  but  with  folded 
arms  and  defiant  attitude  awaited  the  fatal 
ordesil. 

"  A  few  minutes  only  elapsed  when  two 
equally  agile  savages,  each  armed  with  two 
spears  and  a  boomerang,  marched  with 
stately  gait  to  within  sixty  vards  of  the  cul- 
prit.  One  weapon  after  another  was  hurled 
at  the  victim  savage,  with  apparently  fatal 
precision,  but  his  quick  eye  and  wonderful 
aeiivity  set  them  all  at  defiance,  with  the 
excaption  of  the  very  last  cast  of  a  boome- 
rang, which,  taking  an  unusual  course,  sev- 
ered a  piece  of  flesh  from  the  shoulder- 
blade,  ec^ual  in  size  to  a  crown-piece,  as  if 
sliced  wUh  a  razor,  and  thus  finished  the 
affair." 

The  lex  talionis  forms  part  of  the  Austra- 
lian traditional  law,  and  is  sometimes  exer- 
cised after  a  rather  ludicrous  fashion.  A 
young  man  had  committed  some  light  of- 
fence, and  was  so  e^ely  beaten  by  two 
natives,  who  broke  1  .irm  with  a  club,  and 
laid  his  head  open  with  a  fishing  spear. 
Considerable  conft'^ion  took  place,  and  at  last 
the  elders  decidv.  "i  i-aatthe  punishment  was 
much  in  excess  oi'  the  offence,  and  that,  when 
the  wounded  man  recovered,  the  two  assail- 
ants were  to  offer  their  heads  to  him,  so  that 
he  might  strike  them  a  certain  number  of 
blows  with  his  waddy. 

In  the  description  of  the  intertribal  feuds, 
it  has  been  mentioned  that  the  men  who 
assisted  in  killing  the  victims  of  reprisal  par- 
cook of  the  eyes  and  cheeks  of  the  murdered 
person.  This  leads  us  to  examine  the  ques- 
tion of  cannibalism,  inasmuch  as  some  trav- 
ellers have  asserto' "  that  the  Australians  are 
cannibals  and  others  denying  sush  a  pro- 
pensity as  strongly. 

That  the  fiesh  of  human  beings  is  eaten 
by  the  Australians  is  an  undeniable  fact; 
but  it  must  be  remarked  that  such  an  act  is 
often  intended  as  a  ceremonial,  and  not 
merely  as  a  means  of  allaying  hunger  or 
gratifying  the  palate.  It  has  been  ascer- 
tained tliat  some  tribes  who  live  along  tha 
Murray  River  have  been  known  to  kill  and 
eat  children,  mixing  their  fiesh  with  that  of 
the  dog.  This,  however,  only  occurs  in  sea- 
sons of  great  scarcity';  and  that  the  event  was 
exceptional  and  not  customary,  is  evident 
from  the  fact  that  a  man  was  pointed  out  as 
having  killed  his  children  for  food.  Now  it 
is  plain,  that,  if  cannibalism  was  the  custom, 
such  a  man  would  not  be  sufficiently  con- 
spicuous to  be  speciiilly  mentioned.  These 
tribes  have  a  horrible  custom  of  killing  little 
boys  for  the  sake  of  their  fat,  with  which 
they  bait  fish-hooks. 
Another  example  of  cannibalism  is  de< 


» 


.1  !■ 


14S 


AUSTRALIA. 


scribed  by  Mr.  Angns  as  occurring  in  New 
South  Wales.  A  lad  ha<l  died,  and  his  body 
was  taken  l)y  several  young  men,  who  pro- 
ceeded to  the  following  remarkable  cere- 
monies. They  began  bv  removing  the  skin, 
together  with  the  hc.ui,  rolling  it  round  a 
stake,  and  drying  it  over  the  Are.  Wliile 
this  was  being  done,  the  parents,  who  had 
been  uttering  loud  lamentations,  took  the 
fleoh  from  the  legs,  cooked,  and  ate  it.  The 
remainder  of  the  body  was  distributed  among 
the  friends  of  the  deceased,  who  carried  away 
their  portions  on  the  points  of  tlieir  spears; 
and  the  skin  and  bones  were  kept  by  the 
parents,  aud  always  carried  about  in  their 
wallets. 

It  may  seem  strange  that  the  mention  of 
the  weapons  and  mode  of  fighting  sliould 
lead  us  naturally  to  the  dances  of  the  Au- 
stralians. Such,  however,  is  the  case;  for  in 
most  of  their  dances  weapons  of  somt  sort 
are  introduced.  The  first  which  will  be  men- 
tioned is  the  Kuri  dance,  which  was  de- 
scribed to  Mr.  Angas  by  a  friend  who  had 
frequently  seen  it,  and  is  illustrated  on  the 
next  page.  This  dance  is  performed  by  the 
natives  of  the  Adelaide  district.  It  seems 
to  have  one  point  in  common  with  the 
cotillon  of  Europe,  namely,  that  it  can  be 
varied,  shortened,  or  lengtlicned,  according 
to  the  caprice  of  the  players ;  so  that  if  a  spec- 
tator see  the  Kuri  dance  performed  six  or 
eeven  times,  he  will  never  see  the  move- 
ments repeated  in  the  same  order.  Tlie  fol- 
lowing extract  describes  a  single  Kuri  dance, 
and  from  it  the  reader  may  form  his  impres- 
sions of  its  general  character  :  — 

"  But  first  the  dramatis  jte^sonce  must  be 
introduced,  and  particularly  described.  The 
performei's  were  divided  into  five  distinct 
clasp' ' ,  the  greater  body  comprising  about 
tweniy-five  young  men,  including  five  or  six 
boys,  painted  and  decorated  as  follows:  in 
nudity,  except  the  yondna,  which  is  made 
expressly  for  the  occasion,  with  bunches  of 
gimi-leaves  tied  round  the  legs  just  above 
the  knee,  which,  as  they  stamped  about, 
made  a  loud  switching  noise.  In  their 
hands  they  held  a  hitta  or  vrirri,  and  some 
a  few  gum-leaves.  The  former  were  held  at 
arm's  length,  and  struck  alternately  with 
their  legs  as  they  stamped.  They  were 
painted,  from  each  shoulder  down  to  the 
hips,  with  five  or  six  v.hite  stripes,  rising 
from  the  breast;  their  faces  also,  with  white 
perpendicular  lines,  making  the  most  hide- 
ous appearance.    These  were  the  dancers. 

"  Next  came  two  groups  of  women,  about 
five  or  six  in  number,  standing  on  the  right 
and  left  of  the  dancers,  merely  taking  the 
l>art  of  supernumeraries;  they  were  not 
painted,  but  had  leaves  in  their  hands, 
which  they  shook,  and  kept  be;  ting  time 
with  their  feet  during  the  whole  perform- 
ance, but  never  moved  from  the  spot  where 
they  stood. 


"Next  followed  two  remarkable  charac- 
ters, painted  and  decorated  like  the  dancers, 
but  with  the  addition  of  the  puhjertatta  — 
a  singular  ornament  made  of  two  pieces  of 
stick  put  crosswise,  and  bound  together  by 
the  maligna.,  in  a  spreading  manner,  hB,ving 
at  the  extremities  feathers  opened,  so  as  to 
set  it  oft"  to  the  best  advantage.  One  had 
the  pulyertatta  stick  sidew.iys  upon  liis 
head,  while  the  other,  in  the  most  wizard-^ 
like  wanner,  kept  waving  it  to  aud  fro  be- 
fore him,  corresponding  with  the  action  of 
his  head  and  legs. 

"  Then  Ibllowed  a  performer  distinguished 
by  a  long  spear,  from  the  top  of  which  a 
bunch  of  feathers  hung  suspended,  and  all 
down  the  spear  the  mangna  was  wound;  he 
held  the  koonteroo  (spear  and  feathers)  with 
both  hands  behind  nis  back,  but  occasion- 
ally altered  the  position,  and  waved  it  to 
the  right  and  left  over  the  dancers.  And 
last  came  the  singers — two  elderly  men  in 
their  usual  habiliments;  their  musical  in- 
struments were  the  katta  and  inrri,  on 
which  they  managed  to  beat  a  double  note; 
their  song  was  one  unvaried,  gabbling  tone. 

"The  night  was  mild;  the  new  moon 
shoiie  with  a  faint  li^ht,  casting  a  depth 
of  shade  over  the  earth,  which  gave  a  som- 
bre a^)pearance  to  the  surrounding  scene 
that  highly  conduced  to  enhance  the  effect 
of  the  api)roachii.g  play.  In  the  distance, 
a  black  mass  could  be  discerned  under  the 
gum-trees,  whence  occasionally  a  shout  and_ 
a  burst  of  flame  arose.  These  were  the" 
performers  dressing  for  the  dance,  and  no 
one  approached  them  while  thus  occupied. 

"  Two  men,  closely  wrajiped  in  their  opos- 
sum-skins, noiselessly  approached  one  of 
the  wMrfies,  where  the  Kuri  was  'o  be  per- 
formed, and  commenced  clearing  a  space 
for  the  singers;  this  done,  lliey  went  back 
to  the  singers,  but  soon  after  returned, 
sat  down,  and  began  a  peculiar  harsh  and 
monotonous  tune,  keeping  time  with  a  kutUi 
and  a  tcim  by  rattling  (hem  together. 
All  the  natives  of  the  diflerent  xcurliea 
flocked  round  the  singi-rs,  and  sat  ^wn 
in  the  form  of  a  horse-shoe,  two  c.  irec 
rows  deep. 

"  By  this  time  the  dancers  had  moved  in 
a  compact  body  to  within  a  short  distance  of 
the  spectators;  after  standing  for  a  few 
minutes  in  perfect  silence,  they  answered 
the  singers  by  a  singular  deep  shout  simul- 
taneously: twice  this  was  done,  and  then 
the  man  with  the  koonteroo  stepped  out,  liis 
body  leaning  forward,  and  commenced  with 
a  regular  stamp;  the  two  men  with  ihoiyalytr- 
tattas  followed,  stamping  with  great  regular- 
ity, the  rest  joining  in:  the  rrguiar  and  alter- 
nate stamp,  the  waving  of  the  pah/crtatta  to 
aud  fro,  with  the  loud  switching  noise  of 
the  gum  leaves,  formed  a  seene  highly  char- 
acteristic of  the  Australian  natives.  In  this 
style  they  approached  the  singers,  the  spec- 
tators every  now  and  then  shouting  forth 


; 

^  1 

ii 

i 

ll 

i 

,.'.;    I'ALTI    UANCK,   UK    rdKKUbulil.K.     i-six  (mjiu  Tj.'. 
(749) 


S        i 


,!  n  ■ 


DIFFERENT  DANCES. 


m 


their  applause.  For  gomo  time  they  kept 
fitiimping  in  a  i)otly  before  the  Hinders,  which 
had  an  admirable  effect,  and  <lid  xreat  credit 
to  their  dancing  attainments;  then  one  by 
one  they  turned  round,  and  danced  their 
way  back  to  the  place  they  Hrst  started 
from,  and  sat  down.  The  pah/ertatUt  and 
koonteroo  men  were  the  last  who  left,  and 
as  tlicse  three  sinRuiar  beings  stamped  their 
way  to  the  other  dancers  they  made  a  very 
odd  appearance. 

"  The  singing  continued  for  a  short  time, 
and  then  pipes  were  liglitod;  shouts  of  ap- 
jilause  ensued,  and  boisterous  conversation 
followed.  After  resting  about  ten  minutes, 
the  singerH  commenced  again;  and  soon  after 
the  dancers  huddled  together,  and  responded 
to  the  call  by  the  peculiar  shout  already  men- 
tioned, and  then  perfornieil  the  same  feat 
over  again  — with  this  variation,  that  the 
pnh/ertatta  men  brought  up  the  rear,  instead 
of  leading  the  wiiy.  Four  separate  times 
these  parts  of  the  play  were  i)erformod  with 
the  usual  effect;  then  followed  the  conclud- 
ing one,  as  follows:  after  tramping  up  to  the 
singers,  the  man  with  the  koonteroo  com- 
menced a  part  which  called  forth  unbounded 
applause;  with  his  head  and  body  inclined 
on  one  side,  his  spear  and  feathers  behind 
his  back,  standing  on  the  left  leg,  he  beat 
time  with  the  right  foot,  twitching  his  body 
and  e^e,  and  stamping  with  the  greatest 
precision;  he  remained  a  few  minutes  in 
this  position,  and  then  suddenly  turned 
round,  stood  on  his  right  leg,  and  did  the 
'same  once  with  his  left  foot 

"  In  the  mean  while  the  two  men  with  the 
mystic  pnh/ertatta  kept  waving  their  instru- 
ments to  and  fro,  corresponding  with  the 
motions  of  their  heads  and  legs,  and  tlie 
silent  trampers  performed  their  part  equally 
well.  The  koonteroo  man  now  suddenly 
stopped,  and,  planting  his  spear  in  the 
ground,  stood  in  a  stooping  position  behind 
it;  two  dancers  stepped  up,  went  Ihrougli 
the  bame  manfeuvro  as  the  preceding  party 
with  wonderful  regularity,  and  then  gave  "a 
final  stamp,  turned  round,  and  grasped  the 
spear  in  a  stooping  position,  and  so  on  with 
all  the  rest,  until  every  dancer  was  brought 
to  the  spear,  so  forming  a  circular  body. 

"  The  pnh/ertatta  men  now  performed  the 
same  movement  on  each  side  of  this  body, 
accompanied  with  the  pcrpetu.'d  motion  of  the 
head,  leg,  and  arm,  and  tlifen  went  round  and 
round,  and  finally  gave  the  arrival  stamp, 
thrust  in  their  arm,  and  grasped  the  spear: 
a^the  same  time  all  sunk  on  their  knees  and 
began  to  move  away  in  a  mass  from  the 
singers,  with  a  sort  of  grunting  noise,  while 
their  bodies  leaned  and  tossed  to  and  fro; 
when  they  had  got  about  ten  or  twelve  yards 
they  ceased,  and,  giving  one  long  semi-grunt 
or  groan  (after  the  manner  of  the  red  kan- 
garoo, as  they  say),  dispersed. 

"  During  the  whole  performance,  the  sing- 
ing went  on  in  one  continued  strain,  and, 


after  the  last  act  of  the  performers,  the  rat- 
tling accomnaniment  of  the  singing  ceased, 
the  strain  died  gradually  away,Tlnd  shouta 
and  acclamations  rent  the  air." 

There  are  many  other  dances  among  the 
Australians.  Tiiere  is,  for  example,  the 
Frog-dance.  The  performers  paint  them- 
selves after  the  usual  grotesque  manner,  take 
their  wirrin  in  their  hands,  beat  them  to- 
gether, and  tlien  squat  down  and  jump  after 
each  other  in  circles,  imitating  the  move- 
ments of  the  frog.  Then  there  is  the  emu- 
dance,  in  which  all  the  gestures  consist  of 
imitation  of  emu-hunting,  the  man  who 
enacts  the  part  of  the  bird  imitating  its  voice. 
In  some  parts  of  Australia  they  have  the 
canoe  dance,  one  of  the  most  graceful  of 
these  performances. 

Hoth  men  and  women  take  part  in  this 
dance,  painting  their  bodies  with  white  and 
red  ochre,  and  each  furnished  with  a  stick 
which  represents  the  pnddle.  They  begin 
to  dance  by  stationing  themselves  in  two 
linos,  but  with  the  stick  across  their  backs 
and  held  by  the  arms,  while  they  move  their 
feet  alternately  to  the  tune  of  the  song  with 
which  the  dance  is  accompanied.  At  a 
given  signal  they  all  bring  the  sticks  to  the 
frontj  iiwd  ho'd  them  as  they  do  paddles, 
swaying  themselves  in  regular  time  as  if 
they  were  paddling  ia  one  of  their  light 
canoes. 

Another  dance,  the  object  of  which  is  not 
very  certain,  is  a  great  favorite  with  the 
Moorundi  natives.  Tlie  men,  having  pre- 
viously decorated  their  bodies  with  stripes 
of  red  ochre,  stand  in  a  lino,  while  the 
women  are  collected  in  a  group  and  beat 
time  together.  The  dance  consists  in  stamp- 
ing siir.Mltancously  with  the  left  foot,  and 
shaking  the  fingers  of  the  extended  arms. 
This  dance  is  called  Pedeku. 

There  is  a  rather  cui-ious  dance,  or  move- 
ment, with  which  they  often  conclude  the 
performance  of  the  evening.  They  sit  cross- 
legged  round  their  fire,  beating  time  with 
their  spears  and  inn-is.  Suddenly  they  all 
stretch  out  their  arms  as  if  pointing  to  «ome 
distant  object,  rolling  their  eyfcs  fearfull/  ?>s 
they  do  so,  and  finish  by  leaping  on  theii, 
feet  with  a  simultaneous  yell  that  echoes  for 
miles  through  the  forest 

In  his  splendid  work  on  South  Australia, 
Mr.  Angas  describes  a  rather  curious  dance 
performed  by  the  Parnkalla  tribe,  in  which 
both  sexes  take  part.  Each  man  carries  a 
belt  made  either  of  human  hair  or  opossum 
fur,  holding  one  end  in  each  hand,  and  keep- 
ing the  belt  tightly  strained.  There  is  a 
slight  variation  in  the  mode  of  performing 
this  dance,  but  the  usual  plan  is  for  all  the 
men  to  sit  down,  while  a  woman  takes  her 
place  in  the  middle.  One  of  the  men  then 
dances  up  to  her,  jumping  from  side  to  side, 
and  swaying  his  arms  in  harmony  with  his 
movements.  The  woman  begins  jumping  as  . 
her  partner  approaches,  and  then  they  dance 


709 


AUSTRALIA. 


t       i 


back  again,  when  thoir  place  is  takon  by  a 
froah  cuu]ilc. 

Uomu  pursons  have  Buppoaud  that  this 
dauce  in  n  roligioug  oeruinouy,  because  it  is 
usually  hold  uu  clear  mu(>uli>^ht  evenings. 
Bometiinos,  liowever,  it  is  perlonncd  during 
the  d.iy-timo. 

The  commonest-native  dance,  or  "corrob- 
boree,"  is  that  which  is  known  as  the  Pulti, 
and  which  is  represented  on  the  74Uth  page. 
It  is  always  danced  by  night,  the  lltt\il  olaze 
of  the  lire  beinit^  thought  necessary  to  bring 
out  nil  its  beauties. 

Before  beginning  this  dance,  the  perform- 
ers prepare  themselves  by  decorating  their 
bodies  in  some  grotesque  stylo  with  white 
and  scarlet  paints,  which  contrast  boldly  with 
the  shilling  black  of  their  skins.  The  favor- 
ite pattern  is  the  skeleton,  each  rib  being 
marked  by  a  broad  stripe  of  white  paint,  and 
a  similar  stripe  running  down  the  breast  and 
along  the  logs  and  arms.  The  face  is  jminted 
in  a  similar  fashion.  The  ellect  i)roduce(l 
by  this  strange  pattern  is  a  most  startling 
one.  Illuminated  only  by  the  light  of  the  tire, 
the  black  bodies  and  limbs  are  scarcely  vis- 
ible against  the  dark  bu(;kground,  so  tliat,  as 
the  performers  pass  backward  and  forward 
in  the  movements  of  the  dance,  they  look 
exactly  like  a  number  of  skeletons  enduecl 
with  life  by  magic  powers. 

This  eflect  is  increased  by  the  curious 
quivering  cfthc  legs,  whicharepliinted  firmly 
on  the  ground,  but  to  whicli  the  dancers  are 
able  to  impart  a  rapid  vibratory  movement 
from  the  knees  upward.  The  wirris,  or 
clubs,  are  held  in  tlic  hands,  as  seen  in  the 
illustration,  and  at  certain  intervals  they  arc 
brought  over  the  bead,  and  clashed  violently 
together.  The  Palti,  as  well  as  the  Kuri 
dance  is  conducted  by  a  leader,  who  gives  the 
word  of  command  for  the  different  move- 
ments. Some  of  the  dancers  increase  their 
odd  appearance  by  making  a  fillet  from  the 
front  teeth  of  the  kangaroo,  and  tying  it 
round  their  forehead.s. 

Once  in  a  year,  the  natives  of  some  districts 
have  a  very  grand  dance,  called  the  "cob- 
bongo  corrobboree,"  or  great  mystery  dance. 
This  dance  is  performed  l)v  the  natives  of  the 
far  interior.  An  admirable  account  of  this 
dance  was  published  in  the  Illustrated  Lon- 
Oon  Ne^cs  of  October  3,  186.1,  and  is  here 
given.  "The  time  selected  tor  this  great 
event  is  every  twelftli  moon,  and  during  her 
declination.  For  several  days  previous  a 
number  of  tribes  whose  territories  adjoin  one 
another  congregate  at  a  particular  %pot, 
characterized  by  an  immense  mound  of  earth 
covered  with  ashes  (known  amongst  the 
white  inhabitants  as  'a  black's  oven')  and 
surrounded  by  plenty  of '  couraway '  or  water 
holes.  To  this  place  they  bring  numbers  of 
kangaroos, '  possums,  emus,  and  wild  ducks, 
and  a  largo  quantity  of  wild  honey,  together 
with  the  grass  from  the  seeds  of  whica  they 
make  a  sort  of  bread. 


"  Upon  the  evening  on  which  the  '  cor- 
robboree' is  celebrated,  a  number  of  old 
men  (one  IVom  each  tribe),  called  by  the 
natives  '  wammaroogo,'  sig^'itying  modii^ino 
men  or  charm  men,  repair  ■,<)  the  top  of  tlie 
mound,  where,  alXijr  lighting  a  flro,  they 
walk  round  it,  muttering  neiitetuHm  and 
throwing  into  it  portions  of  old  charms 
which  they  have  worn  round  their  necks 
for  the  past  twelve  months.  This  is  con- 
tinued for  about  half  an  hour,  when  they 
descend,  each  carrying  a  fire-stick,  wliicn 
he  i)laces  at  the  outskirts  of  the  camp,  aiul 
which  is  supposed  to  prevent  evil  spirits 
approiu'hing.  As  soon  as  this  is  over,  du- 
ring which  a  most  profound  silence  is  ob- 
served by  all,  (he  men  of  the  tribe  prei)aro 
their  toilet  for  the  '  corrobboree,'  (  nubing 
themselves  over  with  chalk,  red  ochre,  and 
fat. 

"While  the  men  are  thus  engaged,  the 
gentler  sex  are  busy  arranging  themselves 
in  a  long  line,  and  in  a  sitting  posture,  with 
rugs  made  of  'possum  skins  doubled  round 
their  legs  and  a  small  stick  called  '  nullh- 
nuUJi'  in  uch  hand.  A  fire  is  lighted  in 
front  of  them,  and  tended  by  one  of  the  old 
charmers.  As  the  men  are  "ready,  they  seat 
themselves  cross-legged  like  tailors,  and  in 
regular  '  serried  file,  at  the  opposite  side  of 
the  lire  to  the  women,  while  one  of  the  medi- 
cine men  takes  up  his  position  on  the  top  of 
the  mound  to  watch  the  rising  of  the  moon, 
which  is  the  signal  for  '  corrobboree.'  All  is 
now  still;  nothing  disturbs  the  silence  save 
the  occasional  jabber  of  a  woman  or  child, 
and  even  that,  after  a  few  minutes,  is  hushed. 
The  blaze  of  the  Are  throws  a  fiti\il  light 
along  the  battalion-like  front  of  the  black 
phalanx,  and  the  hideous  faces,  daubed  with 
jiaiiit  and  smeared  with  proase,  show  out  at 
such  a  moment  to  anything  but  advantage. 

"  As  soon  as  the  old  gentleman  who  has 
been  ' taking  the  lunar'  announces  the  ad- 
vent of  that  jjlanet,  which  seems  to  exercise 
as  great  an  influence  over  the  actions  of 
these  people  as  over  many  of  those  amongst 
ourselves,  the  '  corrobboree '  commences. 
The  women  beat  the  little  sticks  together, 
keeping  time  to  a  peculiar  monotonous  air. 
and  repeating  the  words,  the  burden  of 
which  when  translated  may  be  — 

"  'The  kangaroo  is  swift,  but  Hwifter  is  Ngoyullo- 
man; 
Thci  simkn  is  cunning,  but  mure  cuuniiif;  is 
Ngoyulloinaii,'  &c., 

each  woman  using  the  name  of  her  husband 
or  favorite  in  the  tribe.  The  men  spring^o 
their  feet  with  a  yell  that  rings  through  the 
forest,  and,  brandishing  their  spears,  boome- 
rangs, &c.,  commence  their  dance,  flinging 
themselves  into  all  sorts  of  attitudes,  howl- 
in;s;,  laughing,  grinning,  and  singing;  and 
this  they  continue  till  sheer  exhaustion  com- 
pels them  to  desist,  after  which  they  roast 
and  eat  the  product  of  the  chase,  gathered 


THE  GREAT  COBROBBOREE. 


788 


for  the  occafl\on,  and  then  drop  off  to  sleep 
one  by  ono." 

Tlic  reader  will  see  thut  this  groat  mvHtcry 
"  corrobboreo  "  cotnhiiuifl  Hcvonil  of  tho  pe- 
culiar movements  whicli  are  to  bo  fountl  in 
the  various  dances  that  have  alretuly  been 
described. 

A  dunce  of  somewhat  similar  charncter 
used  to  bo  celebrated  by  the  Tasnianiuns  at 
tho  occasion  of  each  full  moon,  as  Is  described 
by  Mr.  G.  T.  Lloyd.  Tlie  various  tribes  as- 
sembled at  some  trystin^j-pliice:  and  while 
the  women  prepared  the  lire,  and  fenced  ofl' 
a  space  for  tlie  dance,  the  men  retired  to 
adorn  themselves  with  paint,  and  to  fasten 
bunches  of  bushy  twigs  to  their  anltles, 
wrists,  and  waists. 

The  women  boiuc  seated  at  the  end  of 
this  space,  one  of  tl»o  oldest  among  them 
strode  forward,  calling. by  name  one  of  the 
performers,  reviling  him  as  a  coward,  and 
challenging  him  to  appciar  and  answer  her 
charge.  The  warrior  was  not  long  in  his 
response,  and,  bouiidiu'^  into  the  circle 
through  the  lire,  he  proclaimed  his  deeds  of 
daring  in  war  and  in  the  hunt.  At  every 
iiause  ho  made,  his  female  admirers  took  up 
nis  praises,  vaunting  his  actions  in  a  sort  of 
chant,  which  they  accompanied  by  extcm- 
l)orized  drums  formed  of  rolled  kangaroo 
skins. 

Suddenly,  upon  some  inspiring  allegretto 
movement  of  tho  thumping  band,  thirty  or 
forty  grim  savages  would  bound  successively 
througli  the  furious  flames  into  the  sacred 
arena,  looking  like  veritable  demons  on 
a  special  visit  to  terra  Jirnm,  and,  after 
thoroughly  exhausting  themselves  by  leap- 
ing in  unitation  of  the  kangaroo  aroi"  d  and 
through  the  lire,  they  vanished  in  an  instant. 
Tliese  were  as  rapidly  succeeded  by  their 
lovely  gins,  who,  at  a  giveti  signal  fVom  the 
beldame  speaker,  rose  en  mn.iae,  and  ranging 
themselves  round  the  fresh-piled  tlamcs  in  a 
state  unadorned  and  genuine  as  imported 
into  the  world,  contorted  their  arms,  legs, 
and  bodies  into  attitudes  that  would  shame 
first-class  acrobats.  The  grand  point,  how- 
ever, with  e.ich  of  tho  well-greased  beauties 
was  to  scream  down  her  sable  sister. 

This  dance,  as  well  aa  other  native  cus- 
toms, has  departed,  together  with  the  abo- 
rigines, from  the  island,  and  tho  native 
Tasmanians  are  now  practically  extinct. 
There  is  before  me  a  photograph  of  the 
three  remaining  survivors  of  these  tribes, 
which  some  sixty  years  ago  numbered  be- 
tween six  and  seven  thousand.  That  they 
should  have  so  rapidly  perished  under  the 
influenceof  tho  white  man  is  explained  from 
the  fact  th.it  their  island  is  but  limited  in 
ext^mt,  and  that  they  arc  altogether  inferior 
to  the  aborigines  of  the  continent.  They 
are  small  in  stature,  the  men  averaging  only 
five  feet  three  inches  in  height,  and  they  are 
very  ill-favored  in  countenance,  the  line 
from  the  nose  to  the  corners  of  the  mouth 


being  very  deep  and  much  curved,  so  ns  to 
enclose  the  mouth  in  a  pair  of  parentheses. 
The  hair  is  cut  very  closidy.  'fliih  is  done 
by  means  of  two  snarp-edged  fragments  of 
flint,  broken  glass  being  preferred  since 
Europeans  settled  in  the  country.  Cutting 
the  hair  is  necessarily  a  tedious  ceremony, 
only  ten  or  twelve  hairs  being  severed  at  a 
time,  and  upwards  of  thrde  hours  being  con- 
sumed in  trimming  a  !<ead  fit  for  a  dance. 
>Shaving  is  conducted  atler  the  same  mau- 
ii(!r. 

Tho  general  habits  of  the  Tasmanian  na- 
tives agree  with  those  of  the  continent.  Tho 
mode  of  climbing  trees,  however,  is  a  curious 
mixture  of  tho  Australian  and  Polynesian 
custom.  When  the  native  discovers  tho 
marks  of  an  opossum  on  the  bark,  ho  plucks 
a  quantity  of  wire  grass,  and  rapidly  lays  it 
up  in  a  tlirec-stranded  plait,  with  which  he 
encircles  the  tree  and  liis  own  waist.  By 
means  of  a  single  chop  of  the  tomahawk  ho 
makes  a  slight  notch  in  the  bark,  into  which 
lie  puts  his  great  toe,  raises  himself  by  it, 
aiKl  simultaneously  jerks  the  grass  han(f  up 
the  trunk  of  the  tree.  Notch  after  notch  is 
tlius  made,  and  tho  native  ascends  with  in- 
credible r.ipidity,  the  notches  never  being 
less  than  three  feet  six  inches  apart. 

Often,  the  opossum,  alarmed  at  the  sound 
of  tho  tomahawk,  leaves  its  nest,  and  runs 
along  some  bare  bough,  projcctinn;  horizon- 
tally from  eighty  to  a  hundred  feet  above 
tho  ground.  The  native  walks  along  the 
bough  upright  and  firm  ns  If  the  tree  were 
his  native  place,  and  shakes  the  animal  Into 
tho  midst  of  his  companions  who  arc  assem- 
bled under  the  tree. 

The  natives  never,  in  their  wild  state,  wear 
clothes  of  any  kind.  They  manufacture 
cloaks  of  opossum  and  kangaroo  skins,  but 
only  in  defence  against  cold.  They  are  won- 
derfid  hunters,  and  have  been  successfully 
employed  by  the  colonists  in  tracin"  shcei) 
that  had  strayed,  or  the  footsteps  of  the  thief 
who  had  stolen  them.  The  slightest  scratch 
tell  its  tale  to  these  quick-eyed  people,  who 
know  at  once  the  very  time  at  which  the 
impression  was  made,  and,  having  once 
seen  it,  start  off  at  a  quick  pace,  and  are 
certain  to  overtake  the  fugitive. 

The  untimely  end  of  the  aboriginal  Tas- 
manians is  greatly  to  be  attributed  to  the 
conduct  of  a  well-known  chief,  called  Mos- 
quito. He  was  a  native  of  Sydney,  and,  hav- 
ing been  convicted  of  several  murders,  was, 
b\'  a  mistaken  act  of  lenity,  transported  to 
Tasmania,  when  he  made  acquaintance  with 
the  Oyster  Bay  tribe.  Being  much  taller 
and  stronger  than  the  natives,  he  was  unan- 
imously elected  chief,  and  took  the  command. 
His  reign  was  most  disastrous  for  the  Tas- 
manians. lie  ruled  them  with  a  rod  of  iron, 
Eunishing  the  .slightest  disobedience  with  a 
low  of  his  tomahawk,  not  caring  in  the  le.ist 
whether  the  culprit  were  killed  or  not.  He_ 
organized  a  series  of  depredations  on  the 


m 


li 


ill 


I       I 


t      I 


if  I 


!!' 


7M 


AUSTUALIA. 


proprrty  of  t\w  coIoiiImIh,  niiil  wii8  norullnrly 
tvlnhnUfd  lor  hiii  nkill  in  (itt'iillii«  poluloi.* 
tniuhiiiK  hlH  f(.ll()w<irH  lo  ulmlnut  tlu'iii  Ih.iii 
tlu)  ridden,  mill  to  rciinuiiKi'  t'm  Hrounil  no 
nn  to  look  iM  If  It  hiul  nnvtir  ln«oii  (llMtiirlx-d 
nixi  to  ol)llu>mt»i  nil  truce*  of  thoirrooliiiurkit 

Willi    llOll^llH. 

('luicr  till)  innuonco  of  Hiich  n  ii-mliT,  the 
nativfuhcciuno  iiuinli-rtTH  iw  well  iwtiiiovcH, 
so  that  the  liven  oftlie  eoloni^ttn  weronUviivH 
In  peril.  It  wiw  therefore  iieeeHHiiry  to  tutce 
some  decided  meiwuren  with  them  ;iind  after 
miiidry  uiimieoeHHnd  expedilit.iw,  ihe  imtiven 
Bt  Innt  Hiihiiiltted  themnelveN,  niid  the  whole 
Of  th.'in,  nuinheriiiK  then  (IH.tT)  Hciireely  more 
timn  three  htmdred,  were  removed  to  Flin- 
tier h  Inland,  where  ii  nnmber  of  eointortiihle 
fllone  eottARen  were  Iniilt  for  them,  Inllnllelv 
Kunerior  to  the  rnde  boii^'h  Initn  o  niiiini- 
niiiimn  of  their  own  oonstnutlon.  They 
were  lli.ernlly  nnpplied  with  foo.l,  clothinir. 
and  other  uecossarlce,  08  well  ws  luxurlcB  I 


I  iind  Ihe  fJovernment  even  appointed  a  roiu 

I  dent  nurxuon  to  attend  them  when  111.     AH 

wl.l.  Tm  **","•   •'"»*"'vcr,  unelenn.     (;ontact 

and  in  18  II  the  nallvo  Tanmanlann  were  only 
thirteen  In  nmni.er.  Ten  have  nince  dlorf, 
and  it  in  no  likely  that  the  three  who  nur- 
vived  in  18(17  will  perpetuate  their  niee 

That  the  nliixiilarly  rapid  dc-eadenc-e  of  tho 
liutmaniaiin  wan  partly  entined  hy  the  eon- 
duct  ot  the  nhejiherdn,  and  oilier  roiiirli  and 
uneducattMl  men  in  the  nerviee  of  the  eolo- 
ninin,  cannot  he  denied.  Hut  Ihe  white  of- 
leiK  ern  W(.re  comparatlv.^ly  f.-w,  and  .uiito 
unable  thenmelvi'n  to  ellect  nueli  achanJe  in 
m)  nhort  a  tim(..  For  the  real  eaune  we  munt 
look  to  tho  BlraiiKo  hut  unvariahle.  lawn  of 
proKrennlon.  Whenever  a  liiKher  race  oecn- 
pien  the  name  Kroundn  an  a  lower,  the  latter 
perinhen,  and,  wheth<'r  in  aiilmale  or  inani- 
mate natiins  tl?"  new  world  in  always  built 
on  the  ruins  of  tlio  old. 


s     m 


CHAPTER  LXXrV. 


AUSTK  ALIA — Conlinued. 


DOMKHTIC    LIFE. 


MAURI  An  R  —  PTtnriiAHK  Avn  KxniANnie  or  wivkh  — a  notion  wooiko— trkatmrkt  of  thk  ^rtVKS— 

A  imt'TAI,  IKIftllANn  — HAItllOW  KdOAPR  — A  FAITIIKUL  (.'OMI-ANtON  —  AimTHAMAN  MOTIIRIW  — 
TUKATMKNT  OK  Til*  NSW-IIOBN  INFANT  —  I'BACTICB  OF  INFANTIUIDB  —  TUB  MOTIIBR  AND  IIRH 
DKAI>  CIIILU. 


We  will  now  proceed  to  tho  (lomontic  llfo  of 
till)  native  AiiMtriilinn,  if,  indoed,  tlunr  inodn 
ofoxiHtonco  di'Htrvcs  such  n  name,  ond  will 
begin  with  iniirriiige  (Mwtoins. 

IJotrolliiil  takcM  plftco  at  a  very  early  age, 
the  K''l  l)<'in^  Dl'ten  oromiHcd  in  ninrriime 
when  «he  in  n  men!  ehild,  her  fiitnrti  lui«l)and 
beinji  perlmp.s  an  old  man  with  two  or  three 
wives  and  a  number  of  ehildren.  Of  eoiirHe 
tliG  girl  is    |)urcliiuied  from  her  father,  the 

f)riee  vaiyinj;  aeeording  to  tho  means  of  the 
lusband.  Articli^s  of  Enroi)ean  make  an? 
now  exceedingly  valued;  and  as  a  rule,  a 
knife,  a  glass  bottle,  or  some  sueh  article,  is 
considered  as  a  fair  price  for  a  wife. 

Exchange  is  often  practised,  bo  that  a 
young  man  who  ham)cnH  to  have  a  sister  to 
spare  will  look  out  for  some  man  who  has  a 
daughter  un betrothed,  and  will  ell'cet  an  ami- 
cable exchange  with  him,  so  that  a  man  who 
possesses  sisters  by  his  father's  death  is  as 
sure  of  a  corresponding  number  of  wives  as 
if  he  had  the  means  wherewith  to  buy  them. 
Until  her  intended  husband  takes  her  to 
wife,  the  betrothed  girl  lives  with  her  parents, 
and  during  this  interval  she  is  not  watched 
with  the  stric-tness  which  is  generally  exer- 
cised toward  betrothed  jjirls  of  savages.  On 
Uio  contrary,  she  is  tacitly  allowed  to  have 
OB  many  lovers  ps  she  chooses,  provided  that 
a  conventional  amount  of  secrecy  be  ob- 
served, and  her  husband,  when  ho  marries 
her,  makes  no  complaint.  After  marriage, 
however,  the  case  is  altered,  and,  if  a  fonncr 
lover  were  to  attempt  a  continuance  of  the 


acquaintance,  tho  husband  would  avenge 
himself  l>y  visiting  both  parties  with  the  se- 
verest punishment.  There  is  no  ctiremony 
about  marriage,  the  girl  being  simjily  taken 
to  the  hut  of  her  husband,  and  thenceforth 
considi-red  as  his  wife. 

In  some  parts  of  Australia,  when  a  young 
man  takes  a  faii(;y  to  a  girl  lie  obtiiins  her 
after  a  rather  curious  fashion,  which  seems  a 
very  odd  mode  of  showing  allcetion.  Watch- 
ing his  opiiorliinity  when  the  girl  lias  strayed 
anart  from  her  friends,  he  stuns  her  with  a 
blow  on  tho  liead  from  his  waddy,  carries 
her  off,  and  so  makes  her  his  wife.  Tho 
father  of  the  girl  is  naturally  ofKmded  at  the 
loss  of  his  daughter,  and  complains  to  tho 
elders.  The  result  is  almost  invariaHy  that 
the  gallant  offender  is  sentenced  to  stand  tho 
ordeal  of  spear  and  boomerang.  Furnished 
with  only  nis  narrow  shield,  ho  stands  still, 
while  the  agf?rievod  father  and  other  relatives 
hurl  a  certain  number  of  spears  and  boomer 
langs  at  him.  It  is  very  seldom  that  he 
allows  himself  to  bo  touched,  but,  when 
the  stipulated  number  of  throws  has  boon 
made,  no  is  considered  as  having  expiated 
his  offence,  whether  ho  be  hit  or  not 

Polygamy  is  of  course  practised,  but  to 
no  very  great  extent.  Still,  although  a 
man  may  never  havo  more  than  two  or 
three  wives  at  a  time,  ho  has  often  married 
a  considerable  number,  cither  discarding 
tliem,  when  they  are  too  old  to  please  his 
taste,  or  ncrhaps  killing  them  in  a  fit  of 
anger.    Tuo  last  is  uo  uucouimou  mode  of 


(7M) 


,M 


7M 


AFSTBALIA. 


getting  rid  of  a  wife,  and  no  one  seems  to 
think  that  her  husliand  has  acted  cruelly. 
Indeed,  the  genuine  native  would  not  he 
able  to  comprehend  the  iiossibility  of  bein" 
cruel  to  his  wife,  inasmuch  as  he  recognizes 
in  her  no  right  to  kind  treatment.  She  is 
as  much  his  chattel  as  his  spear  or  hut,  and 
he  would  no  more  think  himself  cruel  in 
beating  his  wife  to  death  than  in  breakin<T 
the  one  or  burning  the  other.  " 

Since  white  nic  came  to  settle  in  the 
country  the  natives  have  learned  to  consider 
them  as  beings  of  another  sphere,  very 
powerful,  but  unforlunately  possessed  with 
some  unaccountable  prejudices,  Findino' 
therefore,  that  breaking  a  wife's  limb  witli^a 
club,  piercing  licr  with  a  si)car,  or  anv  other 
mode  of  expressing  dissatisfaction,  shocked 
the  prejudices  of  the  white  men,  they  ceased 
to  mention  such  practices,  though  the\  did 
not  diseontiuuo  them. 

Quite  recently,  a  native  servant  was  late 
m  keeping  his  appointment  with  his  mas- 
ter and,  on  inquirv,  it  was  elicited  that  he 
liad  lust  quarrelled  with  one  of  his  Hives 
and  bad  speared  her  through  the  body  Oil 
being  rebuked  by  his  master  he  turned  oft' 
the  h^nttcT  witl;  a  laugh,  merely  r'>markin<r 
that  white  men  had  ouly  one  wife,  whereas 
he  had  two,  and  did  not  mind  losiu"-  one 
until  he  could  buy  another. 

Con.sidering  and  treating  the  women  as 
mere  articles  of  property,  the  men  naturally 
repose  no  confidence  in  them,  and  never 
condescend  to  make  them  acquainted  with 
their  plans.  If  they  intend  to  make  an 
attack  upon  another  tube,  or  to  organize 
an  expedition  for  robbery,  they  carefully 
conceal  it  from  the  weaker  sex,  thinkin" 
i-hat  such  inferior  an-inals  cannot  keep  se"^ 
trets,  and  might  betray  them  to  the  objects 
of  the  intended  att.ick. 

The  utter  contempt  which  .s  felt  by  the 
native  Australians  for  their  women  is  well 
Illustrated  by  an  adventure  which  occurred 
after  a  dance  which  had  been  got  up  o^r  ihe 
benefit  of  the  white  men,  on  the  under- 
standing that  a  certain  amount  of  biscuit 
should  be  given  to  the  dancers.     When  the 
penormance  was  over,  the  biscuit  was  in- 
judiciously handed  to  a  woman  for  distribu- 
tion.    A  misunderstanding    at  once     ook 
place.    The  men,  although  'hey  would  not 
hesitate  to  take  away  tJie  bisi,  'it  by  force 
would  not  condescend  to  ask  a  woman  for 
It  and  therefore  considered  that  the  prom- 
.  led  payment  had  not  been  made  to  them 
■some  of  ihem,  after  muttering  th;-ir  discon- 
tent, shnped  a  vay  for  tlicir  spear-" .  nd  throw 
ing-sticks,  aud  the  whole  nlaco  was  in  a  tur- 
moil. 

Fortunatelv,  in  order  to  wmuse  the  na- 
tives, tue  white  visitors,  who  had  never 
thou^'ht  of  the  offence  that  they  had  given 

*!.°S"Pc  ^'^^,.'^^'*«*8.  which  friglitened  the 
peop.c  for  a  timt.-,  and  then  burned  a  blue 
hg-it    As  the   brilliant   rays   pierced  the 


dark  recesses  of  the  forest,  thoy  disclosea 
numbers  of  armed  men  among  the  trees, 
some  alone  and  others  in  grtups,  but  all 
evidently  watching  the  movements  of  the 
visitors  whose  conduct  liad  so  deei)ly  in- 
sulted them.  A  ft'p>ir?'y  native  saw  their 
danger  at  once,  and  hurried  them  off  to 
their  boats,  saying  that  speais  woidd  soon 
be  thrown.  • 

.1  ^'"''■'IJvas  much  excuse  to  be  found  for 
them     They  bad  been  subjected  to  one  of 
the  grobiiest  insults  that  warriors  could  re- 
ceive.   To  them,  women  were  little  better 
than  dogs,  and,  if  there  were  uny  food,  the 
warriors  first  satisfied    their  own   Inin<Ter 
and  then   threw  to  the    v.'omen  anv  ffa''- 
ments  that  might  be  left.    Therefore",  that's 
woman  —  a  mere  household  chattel  —  should 
be  deputed  to  distribute   food   to  warriors 
was  a  gross,  intolerable,  and,  as  they  natu- 
rally thought,  intentional    insult.     It  was 
equivalent  to   degrading   them  from  their 
rank  as    men    and  warriors,  and    mak'ng 
theiu   ever,  of  less    nccount  than   womeii! 
ISO    wonder,  then,    that    their    anger  was 
roused,  and  the  only  matter  of  surprise  is 
that  an  attack  was  not  immediately  made. 
Australian  warriors  have  their  own  idea."  of 
chivalry,  and,  like  the  knights  of  old,  feel 
thems(>lve8    bound   to  resent   the    smallest 
aspersion  ca.st  upon  their  honor, 

Mr.  M'Gillivray,  nho  narrates  this  anec- 
dote makes  a  few  remarks  which  are  most 
valuable,  as  showing  the  errors  which  are 
too  often  committed  when  dealing  with  sav- 
ages, not  onl-  Jiose  of  Australia,  but  of 
other  countries. 

"  I  have  alluded  to  this  occurrence,  trivial 
as  It  may  appea.;,  not  without  an  object.  It 
serves  as  an  illustration  of  the  policy  of 
respecting  the  known  customs  of  the  Au- 
stralian race,  even  in  apparently  trifling  mut- 
ters, at  least  during  the  early  period  of 
intercourse  with  a  tribe,  and  shows  how 
a  hltle  w.mt  of  judgment  in  the  director  of 
our  partv  caused  the  most  friendly  inten- 
tions to  be  misunderstood,  and  might  have 
led  to  filial  rcsuK^. 

"I  must  confess  that  I  should  have  con- 
sidered any  injury  sustained  on  our  side  to 
have  been  most  richly  merited.  Moreover, 
1  am  coaviiiced  that  some  at  le^t  of  the 
collisions  which  have  taken  jjlace  in  Au- 
stralia between  the  first  European  visitors 
and  the  natives  of  any  given  district  have 
originated  in  causes  of  offence  brought  on 
by  the  indiscretion  of  one  or  more  of  the 
party,  and  revenged  on  others  who  were 
innocent." 

Mr.  McGillivray  then  proceeds  to  mention 
the  well-known  case  of  the  night  attack  on 
Mr.  Leifnhardt's  expedition.  For  no  ap- 
[)arent  reason,  i-  violent  assault  ^vas  ma(le 
on  the  camp,  and  Mi.  Gilb  rt  was  killed.  ' 
The  reason  of  this  attack  did  n<'t  transpira 
until  long  attei  mrd,  when  a  native  at- 
t;u;hea    to    the    expedition   divulged,  in  a 


INFANTICIDE. 


7«7 


state  of  intoxication,  the  fact  tliat  he  and 
a  fellow-countryman  had  grossly  insulted  a 
native  woman. 

5fet,  in  spite  of  this  brutal  treatment,  the 
women  often  show  a  depth  of  affectionate 
feplin''  which  raises  them  far  above  the 
brutal  savages  that  enslave  them.  One  re- 
markable instance  of  this  feeling  is  men- 
tioned by  Mr.  Bennett.  She  had  formed 
an  attachment  to  an  escaped  convict,  who 
became  a  bushrv,nger,  and  enabled  him,  by 
her  industry  and  courage,  to  prolong  the 
always  precarious  life  of  a  bushranger  be- 
yoncl  the  ordinary  limits. 

The  chief  dangers  that  beset  these  ruf- 
fians are  the  lecessity  for  procuring  food, 
and  the  watc'  which  is  always  kept  by  the 
police,  riei  native  skill  enabled  her  to  sup- 
ply him  with  food,  and,  while  he  was  lying 
concealed,  she  used  to  fi3h,  hunt,  dig  roots, 
and  then  to  cook  them  for  him.  Her  native 
quickness  of  eye  and  ear  enabled  her  to 
detect  the  approach  of  the  police,  and,  by 
the  instinctive  cunning  with  which  these 
blacks  are  gifted,  she  repeatedly  threw  the 
pursuers  off  the  scent.  He  was  utterly  un- 
worthy of  the  affection  which  she  bestowed 
on  him,  and  used  to  beat  her  unmercifully, 
but,  undeterred  by  his  cruelty,  she  never 
nagged  in  her  exertions  for  his  welfare; 
and  on  one  occasion,  while  he  was  actually 
engaged  in  ill-treating  her,  the  police  came 
upon  his  place  of  refuge,  and  must  have 
capture;'  him,  had  ahe  not  again  misled 
them,  and  sent  them  to  a  spot  far  from  the 
place  where  he  was  hidden.  At  last,  he 
ventured  out  too  boldly,  during  her  acci- 
dental absence,  was  captured,  tried  and 
hanged.  But  up  to  the  las,t  this  faithful 
creature  never  ueserted  him,  and,  even 
when  he  Vfixs  imprisoned,  she  tried  to  fol- 
low him,  but  was  reclaimed  by  her  tribe. 

When  a  native  woman  is  about  to  become 
a  mother  she  retires  into  the  bush,  some- 
times alone,  but  generally  accompanied  by 
a  female  fri  'nd,  and,  owing  to  the  strong 
constitution  of  these  women,  seldom  re- 
mains in  her  retirement  more  than  a  day 
or  so.  Ai.iong  the  natives  of  Victoria,  t)\e 
ceremony  attei'.din.^  the  birth  of  a  child  is 
rather  curious,  and  is  amusingly  described 
byMr.  IJoyd:  "While  upon  the  subject  of 
the  Australian  aborigines,  I  must  not  omit 
to  describe  the  very  original  modus  operamU 
of  the  indigenous  sage  femme. 

"The  unhappy  loobra  (native  woman) 
retired  with  her  wise  woman  into  some  lone 
secluded  dell,  abounding  with  light  sea-sand. 
A  Ire  was  kindled,  and  the  wrctclu'd  miam- 
miara  speedily  constructed.  Then  came  the 
slender  rei)ast,  comprising  a  spare  morsel  of 
kangaroo  or  other  moat,  supplied  with  b 
sparing  ha.id  by  her  stoical  coolie  (male  na- 
tive), grilled,  and  graced  with  the  tendrils 
of  greeu  opiate  eow.thistlos,  or  the  succulent 
roots  of  the  bulbous  leaf  *  mernong.' 
"  The  sable  attendant  soon  entered  upon 


her  interesting  duties.  One  of  the  first  was, 
to  light  a  second  fire  over  a  quantity  of  pre- 
pared sand,  that  had  been  carefully  divested 
of  all  fibrous  roots,  pebbles,  or  coarser  mat- 
ter. The  burning  coals  and  faggots  were 
removed  from  thence,  upon  some  nice  cal- 
culation as  to  the  period  of  the  unfortunate 
little  nigger's  arrival.  When  the  miniature 
representative  of  his  sable  father  beheld  the 
light  of  day,  a  hole  was  scratched  in  the 
heated  sand,  and  the  wee  russet-brown  thing 
safely  deposited  therein,  in  a  state  of  per- 
fect nudity,  a^id  buried  to  the  very  chin,  so 
effectually  covered  up  as  to  render  any 
objectionable  movement  on  his  or  her  part 
utterly  impossible. 

"So  far  as  any  infantine  ebullitions  of 
feeling  r  3  concerned,  the  learned  sages 
fcmmes  appeared  to  have  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge as  to  the  world-wide  method  of  treat- 
ing the  mewling  and  puking  importunities 
of  unreasoning  nurslings.  They  knew  well 
that  a  two-hours'  sojourn  in  the  desert  sand, 
warm  as  it  might  be,  would  do  much  to  cool 
the  new  comer,  and  temper  it  into  compli- 
ance. At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  hav- 
ing acquired  so  much  knowledge  of  earthly 
troubles,  the  M'ell-baked  juvenile  was  con- 
sidered to  be  thoroughly  done,  and  there- 
upon introduced  to  iiis  delighted  loobra 
mamma." 

Following  t'.ie  custom  of  many  savage  na- 
tions, the  Australians  too  often  destroy  their 
chldren  in  their  first  infancy.  Among  the 
Muralu"  tribes  the  practice  is  very  common, 
has  already  been  mentioned  that  the  girls 


live  very  unrestrair.edly  before  marriage, 
and  the  result  is,  that  a  young  woman  will 
sometimes  have  several  children  before  her 
marriage.  As  a  general  rule,  these  children 
are  at  once  killed,  unless  the  father  be  desir- 
ous of  preserving  them.  This,  however,  is 
seldom  the  case,  and  he  usually  gives  the 
order  "  iliirana  teio,"  i.  e.  Throw  it  into  the 
hole,  when  the  poor  little  thing  is  at  once 
buried  alive.  Even  those  children  which 
are  born  after  marriage  are  not  always  pre- 
served. In  the  first  place,  a  woman  will 
scarcely  ever  take  charge  of  more  than 
three  children,  and  many  a  female  child  is 
destroyed  where  a  male  would  be  allowed  to 
live. 

All  children  who  have  any  bodily  defect 
are  sure  to  be  killed,  and,  as  a  general  rule, 
half-caste  children  are  seklom  allowed  to  live. 
The  mothers  are  usually  ashamed  to  acknowl- 
edge these  murders,  but  in  one  case  the 
unnatural  parent  openly  avowed  the  deed, 
saying  that  the  infant  was  like  a  waragul, 
i.  e.  the  native  dog  or  dingo.  The  fact  was  that 
its  father  was  a  sailor  who  had  fiery  red  hair, 
and  his  offspring  partook  of  the  same  rufous 
complexion.  Of  course  there  are  excep- 
tions^ to  the  rule,  one  of  which  may  be 
found  in  the  case  of  the  poor  woman  wlio 
was  so  faithful  to  her  convict  mate.  She 
had  a  male  child,  which  was  brought  up  by 


■    >L4I 


?H 


> 


N'i 


I«"! 


768 


AUSTRALIA. 


the  tribe  to  which  she  belonged,  and  they 
were  so  fond  of  him  that  they  refused  to 
give  liim  up  when  some  benevolent  persons 
tried  to  obtain  possession  of  him  in  order  to 
educate  him  in  civilization. 

If,  however,  the  child  is  allowed  to  live, 
the  Australian  mother  is  a  very  affectionate 
one,  tending  her  offsprina;  with  the  greatest 
care,  and  in  her  own  wild  way  being  as  lov- 
ing a  parent  as  can  be  found  in  any  part  of 
the  world.  The  engraving  No.  2,  on  the 
next  page,  illustrates  this  devotion  of  Au- 
stralian mothers  to  their  children. 

In  nothing  is  this  affection  better  shown 
than  in  the  case  of  a  cliild's  death.  Al- 
though she  miffht  have  consigned  it  when 
an  infant  to  a  living  grave  without  a  pang 
of  remorse,  yet,  when  it  dies  after  having 
been  nurtured  by  her,  she  exhibits  a  steady 
sorrow  that  exhibits  the  depth  of  affection 
with  which  she  regarded  the  child.  When 
it  dies,  she  swathes  the  body  in  many  wrap- 
pers, places  it  in  her  net-bul,or  native  wallet, 


and  carries  it  about  with  her  as  if  it  were 
alive.    She  never  parts  with  it  for  a  mo- 
ment.   When  she  eats  she  offers  food  to  the 
dead  corpse,  as  if  it  wcic  still  alive,  and 
when  she  lies  down  to  sleep,  she  lays  her 
head  upon  the  wallet,  which  serves  her  as  a 
pillow.    The  progress  of  decay  has  no  effect 
upon  her,  and  though  the  body  becomes  so 
offensive  that  no  one  can  come  near  her, 
she   seems  unconscious  of  it,  and   never 
dreams  of  abandoning  the  dreadful  burden. 
In  process  of  time  nothing  is  left  but  the 
mere  bones,  but  even  these  are  tended  in 
the  same  loving  manner,  and  even  after  the 
lapse  of  years  the  mother  has  been  known 
to    bear,  in  addition    to    her    other    bur- 
dens, the  remai.18  of  her  dead  child.    Even 
when  the  child  has  been  from  six  to  seven 
years  old  she  will  treat  it  in  the  same  man- 
ner, and,  with  this  burden  on  her  back,  will 
continue  to  discharge  her  heavy  domestic 
duties. 


.i 


J  if  it  were 
t  for  a  mo- 
food  to  the 


(1.)  AN   AUSTKALIAN   FKAST.    (See  page  763.) 


(2.;    AUSTRALIAN   MOTHERS. 
(See  pn<fe  758.) 


* 


.3  ]>'    ' 


(W») 


CHAPTER   LXXV. 


AUSTRALIA—  Continued. 


FROM  CHILDHOOD  TO  MANHOOD. 

AU9TBALIAN  CHlLDBEIf  —  CEREMONIES  ATTENDANT  ON  BECOMING  MEN  —  ADMISSION  TO  THE  RANK  OF 
HUNTER  — CEIIBMONY  OF  THE  KANGAKOO  — THE  KOBADJEE8  AND  THEIR  DUT'ES  —  KNOCKINO 
OUT  THE  TOOTH  — TRUL  BY  ENDURANCE  —  TEST  OF  DETERMINATION  —  THB  MAOIC  CEY8TAI,— 
THE  FINAL  FEAST  —  INITIATION  AMONO  THE  MOORUNDl  AND  PABNKAI-LA  TRIBE  — THE  WITARNA, 
AND  ITS  DREADED  SOUND  — THB  WHISPERERS  —  TAKING  THB  SECOND  DEGREE  — THE  APRON  AND 
HEAD-NET— THE  THIRD  AND  LAST  CEREMONY— ENDURANCE  OF  PAIN  — A  NAUO  MAN  — STORY  OF 
01 'OM  — MAKING  KOTAIQA  OR  BROTHERHOOD. 


Australian  children,  while  they  remain 
children,  and  as  such  are  under  the  domin- 
ion of  their  mothers,  are  rather  engaging 
little  creatures.  They  cannot  be  called 
pretty,  partly  owing  to  the  total  neglect,  or 
rather  ignorance,  ot  personal  cleanliness,  and 
partly  on  account  of  the  diet  with  which 
they  are  fed.  Their  eyes  are  soft,  and  pos- 
sess the  half-wistful,  half-wild  expression 
that  so  peculiarly  distinguishes  the  young 
savage.  But  they  aie  never  washed  except 
by  accident,  their  profuse  black  hair  wan- 
ders in  unkempt  masses  over  their  heads, 
and  their  stomachs  protrude  exactly  like 
those  of  the  young  African  sav.ige. 

In  process  of  time  they  lose  all  these 
characteristics.  The  wistful  expression  dies 
out  of  their  eyes,  while  the  restless,  suspi- 
cious glance  of  the  savage  takes  its  place. 
They  become  quar-elsome,  headstrong,  and 
insubordinate,  and,  after  exhibiting  these 
qualifications  for  a  higher  rank  in  life,  they 
become  candidates  for  admission  into  the 
rights  and  privileges  of  manhood.  Among 
civilized  nations,  attaining  legal  majority  is 
a  simple  process  enough,  merely  consisting 
of  waiting  until  th'>  candidate  is  old  enough; 
but  with  many  savage  nations,  and  specially 
with  the  Australians,  the  process  of  becom- 
ing men  is  a  long.  Intricate,  and  singularly 
pamfYil  series  of  ceremonies. 

These  rites  vary  .-ic'tirding  to  the  locality 
in  which  they  are  celebrated,  but  they  all 


(761) 


agree  in  one  point,  namely, — in  causing 
very  severe  pain  to  the  initiates,  and  testing 
to  the  utmost  their  endurance  of  pain.  As 
many  of  these  rites  are  almost  identical  in 
different  tribes,  I  shall  not  repeat  any  of 
them,  but  only  mention  those  points  in 
which  the  ceremonies  differ  from  each 
other. 

One  of  these  customs,  which  seems  to 
belong  to  almost  every  variety  of  savage 
life,  namely,  the  loss  of  certain  teeth,  flour- 
ishes among  the  Australians.  The  mode  of 
extracting  the  teeth  is  simple  enough.  The 
men  who  conduct  the  ceremony  pretend  to 
be  very  ill,  swoon,  and  writhe  on"  the  ground, 
and  are  treated  after  the  usual  method  of 
healing,  the  sick,  i.  c.  their  friends  make  a 
great  nowling  and  shouting,  dance  round 
them,  and  hit  them  on  the  back,  until  each 
sick  man  produces  a  piece  of  sharp  bone. 

This  ceremony  being  intended  to  give  the 
initiates  power  over  the  various  animals,  a 
series  of  appropriate  ceremonies  are  per- 
formed. On  tlie  morning  after  the  sharp 
bones  have  been  mysteriously  produced,  the 
Koradjees,  or  operators,  dress  themselves 
up  with  bits  of  fui  and  other  decorations, 
which  are  conventionally  accepted  as  repre- 
icnting  the  dingo,  or  native  dog.  The 
"  ■  '^^n  sword,  which  is  thrust  into  a  belt, 
siic.  j  up  over  the  back,  and  takes  the  place 
of  the  tail.  The  boys  arc  then  made  to  sit 
on  the  ground,  whilo   the  korac\jees   ruu 


liii 


•^.i 


^ill 


!m! 


liiil 

\  i 


\i 


ilJ 


m 


AUSTRALIA. 


round  and  round  them  on  all  fours,  thus 
representing  dogs,  and  giviuL'  the  lads  to 
understand  tliat  the  succeeding  ceremony 
will  g'.ve  them  power  over  dogs.  In  token 
of  this  power,  each  time  that  tliey  paas  the 
boys  they  throw  sand  and  dust  over  them. 

Here  it  must  bo  remarked  that  the  Au- 
stralian natives  are  great  dog-fanciers,  the 
dog  being  to  them  what  the  pig  is  to  the 
Sandwich  Lslandert*.  There  is  scarcely  a 
lad  who  does  not  possess  at  least  one  dog. 
and  many  have  several,  of  which  they  take 
charge  from  earliest  puppyhood,  and  which 
accompany  t'.ieir  masters  wherever  they  go. 
Besides  their  value  as  companions,  these 
dogs  arc  useful  for  another  reason.  They 
are  a  safeguard  against  famine;  for  when  a 
man  is  in  danger  of  starving,  he  is  sure  to 
rescue  himself  by  killing  and  cooking  his 
fhithful  (log.  The  animal  has  never  cost 
him  any  trouble.  It  forages  for  itself  as  it 
best  can,  and  always  adheres  to  its  owner, 
and  is  always  at  hand  when  wanted.  The 
object,  therefore,  of  the  first  part  of  the  cer- 
emony is  to  intimate  to  the  lads  that  they 
are  not  only  to  have  dominion  over  the 
dogs,  but  that  they  ought  to  possess  its 
excellent  qualities. 

The  next  part  of  the  ceremony  is  intended 
to  give  them  power  over  the  kangaroos. 

Accordingly,  a  stout  native  now  appears 
on  the  scene,  bearing  on  his  shoulders  the 
rude  etligy  of  a  kangaroo,  made  of  grass; 
and  after  him  walks  another  man  with  a 
load  of  brushwood.  The  men  move  with 
measured  steps,  in  time  to  the  strokes  of 
clubs  upon  shields,  wherewith  the  specta- 
tors accompany  the  songs  which  they  sing. 
At  the  end  of  the  dance,  the  men  lay  their 
burdens  at  the  feet  of  the  youths,  the  grass 
effigy  signifying  the  kangaroo,  and  the 
brushwood  being  accepted  as  a  sign  of  its 
haunts. 

The  koradjees  now  take  upon  themselves 
the  character  of  the  kangaroo,  as  tlicy  for- 
merly i)ersonated  the  dog.  They  make  long 
ropes  of  grass  in  imitation  of  the  kangaroo's 
tail,  and  fasten  them  at  the  back  of  their 
girdles.  They  then  imitate  the  various 
movement?  of  the  kangaroo,  such  as  leap- 
ing, feeding,  rising  on  their  feet  and  looking 
about  them,  or  lying  down  on  their  sides 
and  scratching  themselves,  as  kangaroos  do 
when  basking  in  the  sun.  As  they  go 
through  these  performances,  several  men 
enact  the  part  of  hunters,  and  follow  them 
with  tlu'ir  spears,  pretending  to  steal  upon 
them  unobserved,  and  so  to  kill  them. 

After  a  few  more  ceremonies,  the  men  lie 
on  the  ground,  and  the  boys  are  led  over 
their  prostrate  bodies,  the  men  groaning 
and  writhing,  and  pretending  to  suffer  horri- 
ble agony  from  the  contact  with  uninitiates. 
At  last  tile  boys  are  drawn  up  in  a  row,  and 
opposite  to  them  stands  the  principal  korad- 
jee,  holding  his  shield  and  wa^idv,  with 
which  he   keeps  up   a   series  of  'regular 


strokes,  the  whole  party  poising  their  spears 
at  him,  and  at  every  third  stroke  touching 
his  shield. 

The  operators  now  proceed  to  the  actual 
removal  of  the  tooth.  The  initiates  are 
placed  on  the  shoulders  of  men  seated  on 
the  ground,  and  the  operator  then  lances 
the  gums  freely  with  the  sharp  bone.  One 
end  of  a  wummerah,  or  throw-stick,  is  next 
placed  on  the  tooth,  and  a  sharp  blow  is 
struck  with  the  stone,  knocking  out  the 
tooth,  and  often  a  piece  of  gum  also  if  the 
lancing  has  not  been  properly  done. 

Among  another  tribe,  the  initiate  is  seated 
opposite  a  tree.  A  stick  is  then  placed 
against  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  with  its  other 
end  resting  on  the  tooth.  The  operator 
suddenly  pushes  the  lad's  head  forward, 
when,  as  a  matter  of  course,  the  tooth  comes 
out.  The  blood  is  allowed  to  flow  over  the 
spot,  and,  as  it  is  a  sign  of  manhood,  is 
never  washed  off. 

The  uooth  being  flnallv  extracted,  the  boy 
is  led  to  a  distance,  and  bis  friends  press  the 
wounded  gum  together,  and  dress  him  in 
the  emblems  of  his  rank  as  a  man.  The 
opossum  fur  belt,  or  kumeel,  is  fastened 
round  his  waist,  and  in  it  is  thrust  the 
wooden  sword,  which  he,  as  a  warrior,  is 
now  expected  to  use.  A  bandage  is  tied 
round  his  forehead,  in  which  are  stuck  a 
number  of  grass-tree  leaves;  his  left  hand 
is  placed  over  his  mouth,  and  for  the  rest  of 
the  day  he  is  not  allowed  to  eat. 

In  some  parts  of  the  country  there  is  a 
curious  addition  to  the  mere  loss  of  the 
tooth.  The  warriors  stand  over  the  lad, 
exhorting  him  to  patience,  and  threatening 
him  with  instant  death  if  he  should  flinch, 
cry  out,  or  show  any  signs  of  pain.  The 
operators  then  deliberately  cut  long  ^.ishes 
all  down  his  back,  and  others  upon  his 
shoulders.  Should  he  groan,  or  disjilay  any 
symptoms  of  suffering,  the  operators  give 
three  long  and  piercing  yells,  as  a  sign  that 
the  youth  is  unworthy  to  be  a  warrior.  The 
women  are  summoned,  and  the  recreant  is 
handed  over  to  them,  ever  alter  to  be  ranked 
with  the  women,  and  share  in  their  menial 
and  despised  tasks. 

Even  after  passing  the  bodily  ordeal,  ho 
has  to  undergo  a  mental  trial.  There  is  a 
certain  mysterious  piece  of  crystal  to  which 
various  magic  powers  are  attributed,  and 
whjch  is  only  allowed  to  be  seen  by  men, 
who  wear  it  in  their  hair,  tied  up  in  a  little 
packet.  This  crystal,  and  the  use  to  which 
It  is  put,  will  be  described  when  we  come  to 
treat  of  medicine  among  the  Australmns. 

The  youth  having  been  formally  admitted 
as  a  huntsman,  another  ring  is  formed 
round  him,  in  order  to  sec  whether  his  firm- 
ness of  mind  corresponds  with  his  endurance 
of  body.  Into  the  hands  of  the  maimed  and 
bleeding  candidate  the. mysterious  crystal  is 
placed.  As  soon  as  he  hhi^  Uikcn  it,  the  old 
men  endeavor  by  all  their  arts  to  persuade 


COMING  OF  AGE. 


763 


him  to  give,  it  up  again.  Should  ho  be  weak- 
minded  enough  to  yield,  ho  is  rejected  as  a 
warrior;  and  not  until  he  has  successfully 
resisted  all  their  threats  and  cjyolerics  is  he 
finally  admitted  into  the  rank  of  men. 

The  ceremony  being  over,  a  piercing  yell 
is  set  up  as  a  signal  for  the  women  to  return 
to  the  camp,  and  the  newly-admitted  man 
follows  tln.'m,  accompanied  by  their  friends, 
all  chanting  a  song  of  joy,  called  the  korinda 
braia.  They  then  separate  to  their  respec- 
tive fires,  where  they  hold  great  feastmgs 
and  rejoicinijs  (see  engraving  No.  1,  page 
759^;  and  the  ceremonies  are  concluded 
witn  the  dances  in  which  the  Australians  so 
much  delight. 

As  may  be  gathered  from  the  account  of 
these  ceremonies,  the  lad  who  is  admitted 
into  the  society  of  hunters  thinks  very  much 
of  himself,  and  addresses  himself  to  the 
largest  game  of  Australia;  niimely,  the  emu 
and  the  dingo.  When  he  has  suiceeded  in 
killing  either  of  these  creatures,  he  makes 
a  trophy,  which  he  carries  about  for  some 
time,  as  a  proof  that  he  is  doing  credit  to  his 
profession.  This  trophy  consists  of  a  stick, 
a  yard  or  so  in  length,  to  one  end  of  which 
is  tied  the  tail  of  the  first  dingo  he  kills,  or 
a  huge  tua  of  feathers  from  the  first  emu. 
These  trophies  he  displays  everywhere,  and 
is  as  proud  of  them  as  an  English  lad  of  his 
first  brush,  or  of  his  first  pheasant's  tail. 

Among  the  Moorundi  natives,  who  live  on 
the  great  Murray  River,  another  ceremony  is 
l>ra«tised.  When  the  lads  are  about  sixteen 
years  old,  and  begin  to  grow  the  beard  and 
moustache  which  become  so  luxuriant  in 
their  after-life,  preparations  are  quietly 
made  by  sending  for  some  men  from  a 
friendly  tribe,  who  are  called,  from  their 
office,  the  weearoos,  or  pluckers.  When  they 
have  arrived,  the  lads  who  have  been  se- 
lected arc  suddenly  pounced  upon  bv  some 
one  of  their  own  tribe,  and  conducted  to  the 
place  of  initiation,  which  is  marked  by  two 
spears  set  in  the  ground,  inclining  to  each 
other,  and  bein^  decorated  with  bunches  of 
emu  feathers.  They  are  then  smeared  over 
with  red  ochre  and  grease,  and  the  women 
flock  round  them,  crying  bitterly,  and  cut- 
ting thi  if  own  legs  with  mussel-shells,  until 
they  inflict  horrible  gashes,  and  cause  the 
blood  to  flow  abundantly.  In  fact,  a  stranger 
would  think  that  the  women,  and  not  the 
lads,  were  the  initiates. 

The  boys  lie  down,  with  their  heads  to  the 
spears,  surrounded  by  their  anxious  friends, 
who  watch  them  attentively  to  see  if  they 
display  any  indications  of  flinching  from 
pain.  The  weearoos  now  advance,  and 
pluck  off  every  hair  from  their  bodies,  thus 
causing  a  long  and  irritating  torture.  When 
they  have  endured  this  process,  green 
branches  are  produced,  and  fastened  to 
the  bodies  of  the  lads,  one  being  worn  as  an 
apron,  and  the  others  under  the  arms.  Two 
kangaroo  teeth  are  then  fastened  in  the 


hair,  and  the  young  men,  oa  thoy  are  now 
termed,  are  entitled  to  wear  u  bunch  of  emu 
feathers  in  their  hair. 

With  another  tribe  there  is  a  curious 
variation.  The  initiate  is  brought  to  the 
selected  spot  by  an  old  man,  and  laid  on  his 
back  in  the  midst  of  Ave  fires,  each  fire  con- 
sisting of  three  pieces  of  wood  laid  across 
each  other  so  as  to  form  a  triangle.  An 
opossum-skin  bag  is  laid  on  his  face,  and  the 
various  operations  are  then  performed. 

Among  the  Parnkallas,  and  other  western 
tribes,  there  are  no  less  than  three  distinct 
ceremonies  before  the  boys  are  acknowl- 
edged as  men. 

The  first  ceremony  is  a  very  simple  one. 
When  the  boys  are  twelve  or  fifteen  years 
old,  they  are  carried  away  from  the  women, 
and  are  blindfolded,  llie  operators  then 
begin  to  shout  the  words  "Herri,  herri" 
with  the  full  force  of  their  lungs,  swinging 
at  the  same  time  the  mysterious^  instrument 
called  the  witarna. 

This  mysterious  implement  is  a  small 
shuttle-shaped  piece  of  wood,  covered  with 
carved  ornaments,  and  being  suspended,  by 
a  hole  cut  at  one  end,  from  a  stiing  made  of 
plaited  human  hair.  When  swung  rapidly 
in  the  air,  it  makes  a  loud  humming  or 
booming  sound.  The  witarna  is  kept  by  the 
old  men  of  the  tribe,  and  is  invested  with 
sundry  and  somewhat  contradictory  attri- 
butes. Its  sound  is  supposed  to  drive  away 
evil  spirits,  and  at  the  same  time  to  bo  very 
injurious  to  women  and  children,  no  unini- 
tiated being  allowed  to  hear  it.  Conse- 
quently the  women  are  horribly  afraid  of  it, 
and  take  care  to  remove  themselves  and 
their  children  so  far  from  tho  place  of  initia- 
tion that  there  is  no  chance  of  being  reached 
by  tho  dreaded  sound. 

When  the  witarna  has  been  duly  swung, 
and  the  blindfolded  boys  have  for'  the  first 
time  heard  its  boomiu"  sound,  tho  operators 
advance,  and  blacken  the  faces  of  the  boys, 
ordering  them  at  the  same  time  to  ceaso 
from  using  their  natural  voices,  and  not  to 
speak  above  a  whisper  until  they  are  re- 
leased from  their  bondage.  They  remain 
whisperers  for  several  months,  and,  when 
they  resume  their  voices,  assume  the  title  of 
warrara. 

They  remain  in  the  condition  of  warrara 
for  at  least  two,  and  sometimes  three  years, 
when  they  undergo  a  ceremony  resembling 
tho  circumcision  of  the  Jews.  Their  hair  is 
tied  in  a  bunch  on  the  top  of  the  head,  is  not 
allowed  to  be  cut,  and  is  secured  by  a  net. 

The  net  used  for  this  purpose  is  made  out 
of  the  tendons  drawn  from  the  tails  of  kan- 
garoos. When  they  kill  one  of  these  ani- 
mals, the  natives  always  reserve  the  tendons, 
dry  them  carefully  in  tho  sun,  and  keep 
them  in  reserve  for  the  many  uses  to  which 
they  are  put  Tho  sinews  taken  from  the 
leg  of  the  emu  are  dried  and  prepared  in  the 
same  manner.  In  order  to  convert  the  sinew 


I 


T» 


AUSTRALIA. 


.     :, 


I  ' 


! 


Into  thread,  two  of  the  fibres  are  taker,  and 
rolleci  upon  the  thiph,  just  as  is  done  witli 
the  (11)10  of  the  bulrush  root.  A  thread  of 
many  yards  long  is  thus  spun,  and  is  forirted 
into  a  net  with  meshes  mnde  exactly  after 
the  European  fashion.  Sometimes  it  is  left 
plain,  but  usually  it  is  colored  with  red  ochro 
or  white  with  pipe-clay,  according  to  the 
taste  of  the  wearer.  These  tendons,  by  the 
way,  are  valued  by  the  white  colonists,  who 
use  them  chiefly  for  whip-I.ishes,  and  say 
that  the  tendon  is  more  durable  than  any 
other  material. 

The  initiates  of  the  second  degree  are 
also  distins-'uislied  by  wearing  a  bell-shaped 
apron,  made  of  ojiossum  fur  spun  together 
and  called  "  mabbirringe."  This  is  worn 
until  the  third  and  last  ceremony.  The 
young  men  are  now  distinguished  by  the 
name  ot  Partnajias,  and  arc  permitted  to 
marrv,  though  they  are  not  as  yet  considered 
a.s  belongmg  to  the  caste,  if  we  may  so  call  it, 
oi  warriors. 

Even  now,  the  young  men  have  not  suf- 
fered suflicient  pain  to  take  their  full  rank 
and  in  course  of  time  a  ceremony  takes 
place  in  which  they  become,  so  to  speak,  dif- 
lerent  beings,  and  change,  not  only  their 
appearance,  but  their  names.  Tip  to  this 
time,  they  have  borne  the  names  given  to 
them  by  their  mothers  in  ehildhoo(7,  names 
which  are  always  of  a  trivial  character,  and 


which  are  mostly  numerical.    For  "example" 
be  a  boy,  it  is  called  Peri' 


if  the  first  child _,,  .„ ,,.  , 

0'..c.  Primus);  if  a  girl,  Kartanya  (i.  e. 
Prima).  The  second  toy  is  Wari  (or  Se- 
cundus),  tlie  second  girl  Waruyau,  and  so 
on.  Sometimes  the  name  is  taken  from  the 
place  where  the  child  wa-s  born,  or  from 
some  accidental  circumstance,  such  as  the 
ajipearauce  of  a  bird  or  insect,  or  the  fallin"- 
ot  a  shower  of  rain.  But,  when  the  voulfi 
becomes  a  man,  he  puts  away  this  cluldidi 
name,  and  chooses  another  for  himself 
which  marks  him  out  as  a  man  and  a  war- 
rior. The  process  of  cpnv(;rtiug  a  lad  into 
a  man  is  admirably  told  by  Mr.  G  F 
Angas :  — 

"  In  the  third  and  last  ceremony  the  young 
men  are  styled  Wih/alkwuje,  when  the  most 
important  rites  take  place.  Each  individual 
has  a  sponsor  chosen  for  him,  who  is  laid  on 
his  back  upon  another  man's  lap,  and  sur- 
rounded by  the  operators,  who  enjoin  him 
to  discharge  his  duties  aright.  The  youu" 
men  arc  then  led  away  from  the  camp,  an^ 
bhmifolded;  the  women  lamenting  and  cry- 
ing, and  pretending  to  object  to  their  re- 
mov.al. 

"They  are  taken  to  a  retired  spot,  laid 
upon  their  stomachs,  and  entirely  covered 
ove.  with  kangaroo  skins;  the  men  uttering 
the  most  dismal  wail  imaginable,  at  inter- 
vals of  from  three  to  five  minutes.  After 
Ij'ing  thus  for  some  time,  the  L-uls  are  raised, 
anr,,  whilst  still  blitidfoldcd,  two  men  tlirow 
green  boughs  at  them,  while  the  others  stand 


in  a  semlcirclo  around,  making  a  noiso  with 
their  tvirris  and  voices  combined,  which  is 
so  horrible  that  the  wild  dogs  swell  the  hid- 
eous  chorus  with  their  howRngs.  Suddenly 
one  of  the  party  drops  a  bough,  others  fol- 
low; and  a  platform  of  bouglis  is  made,  on 
which  the  lads  are  laid  out.  The  sponsors 
then  turn  to  and  sharpen  their  pieces  of 
quartz,  choosing  a  new  name  for  each  lad, 
which  is  retained  by  him  during  life.  These 
names  all  end  either  in  alta,  ilti,  or  ulht. 
1  revious  to  this  day  they  have  borne  the 
names  of  their  birth-places,  &e.;  which  is 
always  the  case  amongst  the  women,  who 
never  change  them  afterward.  The  spon- 
sors now  open  the  veins  of  their  own  arms, 
and,  raising  the  lads,  open  their  mouths,  and 
make  them  swallow  the  first  quantity  of 
blood.  •' 

"The  lads  are  then  placed  on  their  hands 
and  knees,  and  the  blood  caused  to  run  over 
their  backs,  so  as  to  form  one  coagulated 
mass;  and  when  this  is  sutticiently  coliesive 
one  man  marks  the  places  for  the  tattooing 
by  removing  the  blood  with  his  thumb  nail. 
The  sponsor  now  commences  with  his 
quartz,  forming  a  deep  incision  in  tlie  nape 
of  the  neck,  and  then  cutting  broad  gashes 
from  the  shoulder  to  the  hip  down  each 
side,  about  an  inch  apart.  These  gashes 
are  pulled  open  by  the  fingers  as  far  as  pos- 
sible; the  men  all  the  while  repeating  very 
rapidly,  in  a  low  voice,  the  following  incau- 
tation :  — 

"  '  Kaiiya,  marra,  marra, 
Kaiio,  marra,  marra, 
I'jlbirri,  marra,  marra.' 

When  the  cutting  is  over,  two  men  take  the 
mtunms,  and  swing  them  rapidly  round 
their  heads,  advancing  all  the  time  toward 
the  young  men.  The  whole  body  of  opera- 
tors now  draw  round  them,  singing  and 
bean  11^  their  jt'iVWs,  and,  a.s  they  reach  the 
the  lads,  each  man  puts  the  string  of  the 
wiUmm  over  the  neck  of  every  lad  in  suc- 
cession. A  bunch  of  green  leaves  is  tied 
round  the  waist,  above  which  is  a  firdic 
of  human  hair;  a  tight  string  is  ftistencd 
round  each  arm  just  above  the  elbow,  with 
another  about  the  neck,  which  descends 
down  the  back,  and  is  fixed  to  the  girdle 
of  hair;  and  their  faces  and  the  upper  uart  of 
their  bodies,  as  far  as  the  waist,  are  black- 


ened with  charcoal. 

"  The  ceremony  concludes  by  the  men  all 
clustering  round  the  initiated  ones,  enjoin- 
ing them  again  to  whisper  for  some  months, 
and  bestowing  upon  them  tlieir  advice  as 
regards  hunting,  fighting  and  contempt  of 
pain.  All  these  ceremonies  are  carefully 
kept  froiii  the  sight  of  the  women  and  chil- 
dren; who,  when  they  hear  the  sound  of  the 
mUtrna,  hide  their  heads,  and  exhibit  every 
outward  sign  of  terror." 

The  illustration  No.  1,  on  page  7C5,  is  given 
m  order  to  show  the  curious  appearance 


t 

i  % 

> 
> 

o 

B3 

o 


> 


O 


3 
■a 


MAKING  KOTAIGA. 


767 


which  Is  Homntimefl  prenrntcd  by  the  men 
when  thoy  have  HUcecHsfiilly  pasaod  through 
their  various  ordeals.  Thn  niuno  of  llie  man 
wan  Miiitiilta,  and  ho  Ix'lunned  to  the  Nauo 
triho,  whieli  iives  near  (.'oflin's  Hay.  In  his 
hand  iie  lioldt*  tlio  waddy,  and,  l)y  way  of 
apron,  he  wears  a  l)iineli  of  emu  feathers. 
Across  ids  l)rea8t  are  seen  the  bold  ri(if{es 
whieli  inaric  his  rank  as  a  man,  and  others 
are  seen  upon  his  arms.  His  beard  is  gath- 
ered into  a  long  pointed  tutl,  and  decorated 
with  a  little  bunch  of  white  cockatoo  feathers 
at  the  tip.  In  his  hair  he  wears  two  curious 
ornaments.  Tiieso  are  not  feather  plumes, 
as  they  seem  to  bo  in  the  illustration,  but 
are  simply  slender  sticks  of  white  wood, 
scrai)ed  so  as  to  let  the  shavings  adhere  by 
one  end.  Indeed,  they  are  made  exactly  like 
those  little  wooden  brooms  that  are  some- 
times bawked  by  German  girls  about  the 
streets,  or,  to  use  a  more  familiar  simile,  like 
the  curly-branched  trees  in  children's  toy- 
bo.xes. 

Many  of  the  particulars  which  have  been 
and  will  be  related  of  the  domestic  life  of  the 
Australians  were  obtained  in  a  very  curious 
manner.    In  the  autumn  of  1849  some  per- 
sons belonging  to  II.M.S.  linttlemukc  were 
out  shooting,  when  they  came  across  a  na- 
tive woman,  or  gin,  dressed  rather  better  than 
the  generality  of  native  women,  as  she  wore 
a  narrow  apron  of  leaves.    To  their  astonish- 
ment, the  supposed  gin  addressed  them  in 
English,  saying  that  she  was  a  white  woman, 
and  desired  their  help.    They  immediately 
furnished    her    with    some    clothing,    and 
brought  her  on  board  the  ItattUanake,  where 
she  contrived  to  make,  known  her  sad  story. 
Her  name  was  Thomson,  and  she  was  the 
widow  of  the  owner  of  a  small  vessel.    Cruis- 
ing one  day  in  search  of  a  wreck,  the  pilot 
missed  his  w.ay,  a  gale  of  wind  came  on,  and 
the  vessel  was  dashed  on  a  reef  on  the  East- 
.   ern  Prince  of  Wales  Island.    The  men  tried 
to  swim  on  shore  through  the  surf,  but  were 
drowned,  while  the  woman  was  saved  by  a 
party  of  natives,  who  eamo  on  board   the 
wreck  after  the  gale  had  subsided,  and  took 
her  ashore. 

The  tribe  into  whose  hands  she  had  fallen 
was  the  Kownirega,  which  inhabits  Mura- 
lug,  on  the  Western  Prince  of  AVales  Island. 
When  she  got  ashore,  one  of  the  princii)al 
men,  who  fully  held  the  popular  idea  that 
the  white  men  are  the  ghosts  of  dead  na- 
tives, recognized  in  Mrs.  Thomson  a  daugh- 
ter named  Gi'om,  who  had  long  ago  died. 
lie  accordingly  took  her  home  as  his  daugh- 
ter, she  was  acknowledged  by  the  tribe  as 
one  of  themselves,  and  was  forced  to  become 
the  wife  of  one  of  the  natives,  called  Bo- 
roto.  ' 

For  nearly  five  years,  she  was  kept  pris- 
oner by  the  blacks,  and,  although  she  could 
see  many  Englibh  ships  pass  within  a  faw 
Hales,  she  was  so  closely  watched  that  escape 
was  hopeless.    At  last,  when  the  smoke  sig- 


nals told  tlie  tribe  that  another  tohscI  wa« 
approachinj<,  (Ji'Om  cleverly  worked  on  the 
cupidity  of  the  aborigines,  and  jjersuaded 
them  to  take  her  to  the  mainland,  promising 
them  to  proctiro  nlenty  of  axes,  knives,  to- 
bacco, and  other  thingt  which  an  Australian 
savage  values  above  all  tilings,  and  saying 
that  she  had  lived  so  long  with  the  natives 
that  she  could  not  think  of  leaving  them. 
When  she  was  safely  lodged  on  board,  many 
of  her  friends  came  to  see  her,  bringing 
presents  of  Osh  and  turtle,  but  always  ex- 
pecting an  equivalent.  Iloroto  was  one  of 
the  visitors,  and  in  vain  tried  to  persuade 
her  to  return.    When  she  dellnitely  reftised, 


ho  became  very  angrv,  and  left  the  ship  in  a 
passion,  declaring  that,  if  he  or  any  of 
his  friends    could  catch    her  ashore,  they 


would  take  otf  her  head  and  carry  it  to  Mu- 
ralug.  Not  feeling  the  least  doubt  that  the 
threat  wouhl  be  fulllUed,  she  never  ventured 
on  shore  near  those  parts  of  the  coast  which 
the  Kownlregas  seemed  likely  to  visit. 

Being  a  woman  of  no  education,  she  had 
in  the  course  of  her  sojourn  among  the  na- 
tives almost  forgotten  how  to  express  her- 
self in  her  native  tongue,  and  for  some  time 
mixed  Kownirega  words  and  phrases  with 
English  in  a  very  curious  manner.  A  vast 
amount  of  valuable  intbrmation  was  ob- 
tained from  her,  but,  when  she  was  restored 
to  civilization,  she  forgot  the  language  and 
customs  of  savage  life  with  singular  rapid- 
ity, her  untrained  mind  being  unable  to 
comprehend  the  mutual  relationship  of  ideas, 
and  utterly  incapable  of  generalization. 

From  her  was  learned  the  curious  but 
dreadful  fact  that  many  of  the  really  unjiro- 
voked  assaults  on  ships'  crews  while  unsus- 
nectingly  visiting  the  shore  were  instigated 
by  white  men,  who  bad  degraded  them, 
selves  into  companionship  with  native  tribes, 
and,  by  reason  of  their  super'  )r  knowledge, 
h.ad  gained  a  supremacy  over  tliem.  One  of 
these  men  had  lived  with  the  Badu  tribe 
many  years,  and,  having  heard  of  a  white 
woman  among  the  Kownlregas,  visited  Mu- 
ralug,  and  tried  to  induce  Gi'6in  to  leave 
Boroto  and  share  his  fortunes.  "Who  ho 
was  is  not  known.  He  goes  by  the  name  of 
Wini,  and  is  sunnosed  to  be  an  escaped  con- 
vict, who  repel8*he  visits  of  English  ship.s, 
lest  he  should  be  captured  and  sent  back  to 
prison.  By  means  of  his  instigations,  the 
Ba<lu  i)eople  became  so  violently  opposed  (o 
all-  white  men  that  any  European  who  vis- 
ited that  part  of  the  country  would  do  so  at 
the  imminent  hazard  of  his  life. 

Among  many  of  these  tribes,  there  is  a 
custom  wliich  is  common  also  to  many  sav- 
ages in  all  parts  of  the  world.  This  Is  the 
custom  of  making  "  kotaiga,"  or  brother- 
hood, with  strangers.  When  Europeans 
visit  their    districts,  and    behave    as  they 

nnrrht    i(\    t'\i\      flin     tiotNrrta    «n»»r.i.rtll..    ..nif^ 

themselves  in  bonds  of  fellowship  with  the 
strangers,  each  selecting  one  of  them  as 


fi 


il 


'*  n 


iii'i 


'  il 


m 


I'll' 


liiil 


H< 


AUSTRALIA. 


IiIh  koUilgn.  The  new  rolatlotui  oro  tlu>n 
conHiilcruil  an  liuviiiK  mutual  roaponaibili- 
tle»,  fucli  boiiig  bouud  to  forward  tlio  wol- 
fiiro  of  tlio  ullu!r. 

Thu  memory  of  the  nntivo*  1h  womlurftil, 
aiul,  cv(!ii  If  ft  Hhip  doen  not  n'pciit  n  vlHlt 
until  ftrttsr  u  liipso  of  ooveral  yriirn,  no  Hoonor 
dooii  sh(!  arrive  than  the  nutivon  Hwarm  on 
board,  uud  ut  onio  pick  out  their  kotuigiw. 
They  briun  pn-sontx  to  their  guusta  wuilo 
on  board;  they  accompany  thum  Joyfully  to 
the  Hhoro;  they  carry  their  hagn  aud  haver- 
tacks  for  them;  they  toko  them  on  hunting, 


"hootins,  and  Ashing  rxciirslons,  point  out 
the  game,  retrieve  It,  no  matter  where  it 
may  have  fallen,  and  carry  it  home  on  their 
Hlioulders  rejoicing.  Of  courwo  they  r!xi)ect 
bJHcuit  anil  toliacco  in  return  for  their  kind 
ortlcen,  hut  the  wageit  are  very  cheap,  and  their 
HcrvlceH  are  simply  invaluable.  The  rewuo 
of  Mr.  M('Oillivray  and  his  porty  from  the 
threatened  attack  of  the  natives  was  owing 
to  the  fact  that  onit  of  them,  the  friimdiy 
native  who  gave  liim  warning,  and  saw  him 
and  his  party  sofel;  otf  in  their  boats,  wa« 
his  kotaiga,  and  bouud  in  honor  to  save  him. 


•  I 


CHAPTER  LXXVI. 


AUSTUALIA  —  Continued. 


MEDICINE,  BUBOEnY,  AMD  THE  DISPOSAL  OF  TUE  DEAD. 


BFLBOI,  Oil  NATIVR  DOCTOnd  —  WOIIKHS  AMD  nRlTIHRR  — A  HTRANOB  CI'BK  — TRKATMKNT  OF  THK  nSAD- 
A(^IIK— A  IIIIKAM  ANI>  ITS  URSUI.TH  — THE  MA(IIO  CRV8TAL,  OK  DOOTOB-HTONK  — ITS  KPFBCTS  ON 
WOMKH  AND  CIIILDHRN  — THB  DOCTOIl-HOltHK  — SUCTION  A«  A  MKANH  Ot  CUHE  —  BELIRP  IN 
CIIAIIM8  — TIIR  PAHENT'H  HKUI.Ij  —  (.'RRBMONIRS  OR  MOURNINO  —  CUTTING  THK  HEAD  AND  BODY 
AS  A  SKIN  OR  WOE— DRIVINO  AWAV  TUB  EVIL  SPIRITS  — FBAK  OF  OHOMTB  —  UITRIAI,  AMONO  THE 
PAUNKALLAS  AND  NAUOS  — THE  TOMIl  OF  HKULI.S-  A  SUMMARY  MODE  OF  IIUHIAL— FUNERAL 
OF  HOYS  — TIIK  TURR-TOMIIS  — HMOKINIl  THE  WARRIOHM — INCONSISTRNT  nEIIAVIOR  — IIURIAL 
OK  OLD  WOMEN  — TIIR  WIDOWS'  CAPS  —  RELUlIorS  IDEAS  OF  TUB  AIIOKIOINES  — THB  VARIOUS 
BVIL  SPIRITS  — THE  DUNYIP  — ROCK  AND  CAVB  PAINTINGS —THEORY  OF  TRAM8UIURATI0N. 

We  will  now  see  how  the  Auatraltan  na- 1  rescmbHng  the  «mall-pox  In  many  things, 
lives  treat  sickiicfls  of  various  kiiuis.    Among   and  yet  displaying  Bynintoms  wliich  scarcely 


them  arc  certaia  personages  called  hilbos. 
or  doctors,  to  whom  the  sick  usimliy  appoai 
in  cases  of  illness  or  pain.  It  is  not  known, 
however,  whether  the  mere  fact  of  age  gives  a 
man  the  rank  of  bilbo,  or  whether  it  is  at- 
tained by  sundry  ceremonials,  as  is  the  case 
with  the  Africans  and  other  savages. 

The  most  usual  mode  of  treating  any 
local  disease  or  pain  is  by  pressing  the 
hands  upon  the  atVected  part,  ancl  kneading 
it,  a  remedy  which  is  found  in  every  part  of 
the  world,  and  which  is  really  elHeaeious  in 
many  complaints,  especially  in  rheumatic 
affections,  or  in  sprained  or  over-exerted 
muscles.  If  a  limb  bo  wounded,  bruised,  or 
sore,  the  native  practitioners  tie  a  fillet 
tightly  above  it,  for  the  purpose,  as  they  say, 
of  nrovenling  the  maliuly  from  reaching  the 
body.  Ill  a<l!iche8  arc  treated  by  tying  a 
' :.»uda<je  (irmly  round  the  temples,  ancf,  if 
the  pain  bo  obstinate,  the  doctors  bleed  the 
patient  under  the  arm,  using  a  sharp  piece  of 
quartz  as  a  lancet.  The  flowing  blood  is 
never  allowed  to  be  wasted,  but  is  received 
on  the  body  of  the  operator,  and  diligently 
rubbed  into  the  akin,  under  the  notion  that 
by  this  process  both  parties  arc  strength- 
ened. This  depends,  however,  on  the  sex 
of  the  patient,  women  holng  never  bled, 
nor  allowed  to  have  thi>  blood  of  any  other 
person  sprinkled  upon  thnm. 

About  1S32,  a  curious  disease  broke  out 
among  the  natives  of  Wellington  Valley. 


88 


belong  to  that  dread  disease,  the  one  fatal 
scourge  of  savage  tribes.  It  was  preceded 
by  headache,  rover,  sore-throat,  Jfcc,  and 
accompanied  by  pustules  very  much  resem- 
bling those  of  the  small-pox.  It  was,  how- 
ever, scarcely  virulent  enough  for  the  real 
disease^  though  it  was  probably  a  milder 
form  of  it,  and  was  subject  to  the  power  of 
vaccine  matter.  It  was  not  limited  to  the 
natives,  but  attacked  many  Europeans  just 
like  the  genuine  small-pox,  and  in  one  case 
was  fatal. 

It  is  hero  mentioned  on  account  of  the 
mode  of  cure  adopted  by  the  native  doctors. 
They  punctured  the  pustules  with  sharp 
flsh-boncs,  and  squeezed  them  well  with 
the  blunt  end  of  their  rude  lancets,  and  it 
is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  the  rate  of  mortal- 
ity was  very  much  reduced.  '  Of  course  the 
doctors  used  other  moiles,  whereby  they 
gave  their  patients  confidence  in  their 
powers.  The  chief  of  these  was  performed 
by  means  of  a  number  of  slender  rods,  six 
to  nine  feet  in  length,  which  were  stuck  in 
the  ground  in  the  form  of  a  crescent,  and 
addressed  with  long  speeches  and  many 
mysterious  gestures.  Among  the  Austra- 
lians, this  disease,  whatever  it  may  be,  does 
not  strike  the  abject  terror  with  which  it  is 
usually  accompanied.  Although  they  know 
that  it  is  infectious,  they  do  not  fiKfvndon  * 
the  sick  person,  unless  perhaps  the  doctor 
pronounces  the  patient  incurable;  in  which 


(mi 


^^wii 

i 

I 


■  r.l 

■t  1 


^: 


■'■!  i 


ll 


I  J 


.M   , 


,  -11 


:lili 


It    I 


770 


AUSTRALIA. 


case  they  save  him  prolonged  pain,  and 
themselves  useless  trouble,  by  burying  him 
alive.  The  native  term  for  this  (liseasc  is 
"  thunna-thunna,"  and  it  is  known  to  have 
existed  when  the  country  was  first  discov- 
ered, so  tliat  it  is  not  imported  from  civilized 
countries. 

Another  remarkable  kind  of  cure  for  the 
headache  is  mentioned  by  Mr.  Angas.  The 
patient  being  seated  on  the  grouni'.  a  string 
18  tied  round  his  head,  the  knot  being  care- 
fully adjusted  to  the  nildiUc  of  the  for<head. 
The  operatorj  who  is  always  a  woman,  .s(?ats 
herself  opp.)Siite  the  paMent,  places  the  line 
between  her  \\\)S,  and  frets  them  with  it 
until  they  bleed  freely.  The  idea  is  that 
the  disease,  attracted  by  the  blood,  passes 
along  the  line  from  the  "patient's  head,  and 
is  cast  out  together  with  the  blood. 

A  very  remarkable  in»tiince  of  this  mode 
of  cure  is  related  in  Tyerman  and  Bennett's 
"  "Voyage  round  the  World."  A  man  had 
dreamed  that  he  had  been  speared  in  the 
Side,  and  had  died  in  consequence  of  the 
wound.  Although,  when  he  woke,  he  knew 
it  was  but  a  dream,  he  was  so  frightened 
that  he  became  very  ill,  retired  to  his  hut, 
chose  the  place  of  his  burial,  and  lay  down  to 
die. 

Nearly  a  week  elapsed,  during  which  he 
could  take  no  food,  grew  worse  and  worse, 
and  it  was  plain  that  nature  would  not  hold 
out  much  longer.  The  priests  —  or  rather 
sorcerers,  for  it  cannot  be  ascertained  that 
the  New  Hollanders  have  any  other  kind  of 


priests,  having,  in  fact,  no  religious  worship 
—  came  to  do  what  tliey  could  for  him  with 
their  enchantments,  iiy  tlieir  order  he  was 
earried  down  to  the  side  of  a  running  water, 
and  tumbled  into  the  stream,  wliere  it  was 
pretty  deep,  head  foremost.  \Vhen  taken 
out,  he  was  rolled  in  tlie  sand  till  his  body 
Was  quite  encased  with  it.  This  .again  was 
Wiished  oft'  by  pouring  water  over  him. 

"  Meanwhile  a  young  woman  of  the  com- 
pany was  perceived  plaiting  a  cord  of  kan- 
garoo's hair,  whicli,  when  completed,  was 
bound  round  his  chest,  and  a  knot,  very 
cunningly  inipiicated  l)y  one  of  the  opera- 
tors, was  placed  over  that  part  of  his  side 
into  which  the  spear  of  his  dream  liad  en- 
tered. From  this  knot  a  line  was  passed 
to  the  young  woman  who  had  prepared  the 
bandage.  This  she  drew  through  her  mouth 
backward  and  forward  (as  children  some- 
times do  with  a  piece  of  packthread)  until 
she  began  to  spit  blood,  which  was  said  to 
be  sucked  by  that  process  from  tiie  wound 
in  the  sick  man's  side.  There  it  wa.s  now 
perceptible  that,  from  whatever  cause,  a 
considerable  swelling  liad  arisen  under  tlie 
knot.  Toward  this  one  of  the  sorcerers 
began  to  stroke  the  man's  flesh  from  all  the 
adjacent  regions  of  the  back,  belly,  and  chest, 
as  though  to  force  t\\".  bhsod  thiM'.or.  TTc 
then  applied  his  mouth  to  the  b,vc;i;ing,  and, 
with  hideoujs  noises,  sometimes  sucked  it 


with  his  lips,  sometimes  pressed  it  violently 
with  his  hands,  till  fortk  cume  the  iioint  of  a 
spear,  four  inches  in  length,  which  he  pre- 
sented to  the  astonished  spectators  and  the 
expecting  suflerer,  as  verily  extracted  from 
the  man's  side. 

"  Then  he  applied  his  month  again  to  tho 
swollen  part,  from  which,  although  there 
v^as  no  visible  wound,  he  appeared  to  draw 
blood  and  corrupt  matter,  stains  of  both 
being  soon  seen  on  the  swarthy  skin.  At 
length,  with  distended  cheeks,  as  though  he 
had  filled  his  mouth  with  the  abominable 
matter,  lie  ran  about,  anxiously  looking  for 
a  fit  place  to  discharge  it  upon;  l)ut,  afl'ect- 
ing  to  fiad  none,  he  crossed  tne  water,  and 
deposited  the  nauseous  extract  behind  a 
bush.  The  poor  man's  hopes  revived,  and 
he  now  believed  that  he  should  get  well 
again.  Mr.  Dunlop  thereui)on  sent  him 
some  tea,  which,  however,  he  would  not 
drink,  but  requested  that  it  might  be  given 
to  the  sorcerer,  and,  if  he  drank  it,  then  it 
would  do  himself  (the  patient)  good.  He 
was  deceived,  disiippointed,  and  tiled." 

The  Australians  are  toleral^ly  good  sur- 
geons in  a  rough-and-ready  sort  of  way,  and 
are  clever  at  setting  broken  limbs.  After 
bringing  the  broken  ends  of  tlie  bone  to- 
gether, they  support  the  liml)  by  several 
pieces  of  wood  which  act  as  splints,  and  then 
make  the  whole  secure  by  bandages,  winch 
they  often  strengthen  with  gum,  exactly  as 
is  done  in  modern  surgery. 

One  of  the  most  powoVful  remedies  em- 
ployed by  the  native  pi-actitioners  is  the 
"  doctor-stone."  This  is  nothing  but  a  com- 
mon quartz  crystal;  but  the  doctors  aver 
that  tliey  manufacture  it  themselves,  and 
that  the  ingredients  are  kept  secret.  Like 
the  witarna,  mentioned  on  page  7-17,  women 
are  never  allowed  even  to  look  upon  the 
doctor-stone,  and  are  impressed  with  the 
belief  that,  if  they  dared  to  set  their  eyes 
upon  the  forbidden  object,  they  would  be 
immediately  killed  by  "its  radiant  powers. 
The  larger  the  crystal,  the  more  valuable  is 
it;  an<l  a  tolerably  large  one  can  scarcely  be 
procured  from  the  natives  at  any  pri(;e. 

The  doctors  say  that  tills  ston'e  is  not  only 
fatal  to  women,  but  also  destroys  men  if 
flung  at  them  with  certain  incantations.  An 
European  settler  once  cbatlenged  a  native 
doctor  to  say  as  many  charms  as  he  like<l, 
and  throw  the  niiigic  stone  as  nuich  as  he 
pleased.  This  oiler,  liowev(,'r,  lie  decline<l, 
giving  the  u^ual  excuse  of  savages,  that  the 
wliite  man  belonged  to  a  totally  diflerent 
order  of  beings,  and,  although  tlie"]ioor  bliick 
fellow  would  die  from  tlie  elleets  of  the 
doctor-stone,  tlu^  white  man  was  much  too 
powerful  to  be  hurt  by  it. 

The  mode  in  which"  the  crystal  is  used  is 
very  curious,  and  hjis  been  descritied  by  an 
eyewitness, 

A  native  of  the  Tum.'it  country,  named 
Oolong,  was  sufl'ering  ftoni  a  spear  wound 


.111? 


THE  DOCTOR-STONE. 


771 


received  in  a  skirmish  with  a  hostile  tribe, 
aad  was  brought  to  a  bilbo,  named  Bara- 
mumbup,  to  be  healed. .  The  patient  being 
laid  on  the  ground  outside  the  encamp- 
ment so  that  women  could  not  run  the 
risk  of  death  through  the  accidental  sight 
of  the  crystal,  the  doctor  began  a  close  ex- 
amination of  the  wound,  and  sucked  it. 
He  then  retired  to  a  distance  from  the 
patient,  muttered  some  magic  words  for  a 
minute  or  so,  and  placed  the  crystal  in  his 
mouth.  Having  retained  it  there  for  a  short 
time,  he  removed  it,  spat  on  the  ground,  and 
with  his  fee^.  trampled  on  the  saliva,  press- 
ing it  deeply  into  the  ground.  This  was 
repeated  several  times,  and  the  doctor  took 
his  leave. 

For  several  sucf^ssive  evenings  the  wl-/»o 
of  the  process  was  gone  tlirough,  and  the 
recovery  of  the  patient,  whici.  wns  really 
rapid,  was  attributed  by  all  parties  to  the 
wonderful  etticacy  of  the  doctor-stone.  "  On 
making  inquiry,"  writes  Dr.  Bennett,  "why 
the  physician  is  so  careful  in  tramphng  the 
saliva  discharged  from  his  mouth  into  the 
ground,  no  s-^tisfactory  reason  could  be  ob- 
tained, a  vague  answer  only  being  rerurned 
to  the  query.  But  it  is  not  improbable  that 
they  consider,  by  this  practice,  that  they 
finally  destroy  the  power  of  the  evil  spirit, 
extracted  by  the  operaiL.i  through  the  vir- 
tues of  the  stone.  Some  such  reason  for 
this  proceeding  may  be  inferred  from  an 
observation  made  to  any  European  who 
may  be  present  at  this  part  of  the  ceremony, 
'  that  he  (t.  e.  the  disease)  may  not  come  up 
again.'  " 

It  is  remark.able  that  a  cci  nony  almost 
exactly  identical  in  principle  is  employed  by 
the  Guaycura  tribe  of  Brazil.  Among  them 
the  doctors,  or  paycs,  cure  local  ailments, 
whether  wounds  or  otherwise,  by  sucking 
the  part  affected,  spitting  into  a  hole  dug  in 
the  ground,  and  then  filling  in  the  earth,  as 
if  to  bury  the  complaint. 

The  Australian  doctors  make  great  use  of 
the  principle  of  suction,  and  employ  it  in 
all  kmds  of  cases.  Ifj  for  example,  a  patient 
Iiius  a  bad  pain  in  his  stomach  from  over- 
eating, or  suffers  more  than  he  thinks  right 
from  the  blow  of  a  v.addy,  the  doctor  sucks 
at  the  afflicted  part  vigorouslj',  and  at  last 
produces  from  his  moutli  a  piece  of  l)ono,  or 
some  other'hard  substance,  which  he  asserts 
to  be  the  concentrated  essence  of  the  pain, 
or  other  ailment.  The  reader  mav  remark 
that  the  bones  with  which  the  gums  of 
youths  are  lanced  in  the  ceremonies  of  initi- 
ation are  supposed  to  be  produced  from  the 
bodies  of  the  operators  by  moans  of  suction. 
A  very  remarkable  curative  agent  is 
shown  in  the  illustration  No.  3,  p.age  76.'), 
w'-ich  is  taken  from  a  sketch  by  Mr.  Baines. 
It  consists  of  a  stone  building,  which  at 
first  sight  looks  so  like  an  ordiiiary  Druid- 
ical  remain  that  it  might  bo  taken  for 
one,  except  for  its  dimensions.     Instead, 


however,  of  being  composed  of  huge  stones, 
each  weighing  several  tons,  it  is  quite  a 
tiny  edifice,  scarcely  larger  than  the  grotto 
which  children  erect  with  oyster-shells.  The 
patient  lies  in,  or  rather  under  it,  the  aper- 
ture being  just  wide  enough  to  admit  his 
body,  and  the  small  »oof  only  covering  a 
very  small  portion  of  the  inmate.  Sundry 
superstitious  rites  are  employed  at  the  same 
time,  and  the  remedy  is  cHicacious,  like  the 
crystal  already  mentioned,  in  consequence 
of  enlisting  the  imagination  of  the  sufferer. 
These  little  buildings  are  found  along  the 
Victoria  Iliver,  and  for  a  considerable  time 
the  object  for  which  they  were  built  greatly 
puzzled  the  discoverers. 

A  medicine  scarcely  less  efficacious  than 
the  doctor's  stone  is  human  fat,  which  is 
carefully  preserved,  and  administered  by 
being  rubbed  in  and  around  die  affected 
part.  As,  however,  it  is  highly  valued  by 
the  warriors  it  is  not  easily  procure -i,  and, 
had  it  to  be  taken  solely  from  the  bodies  of 
slain  enemies,  would  in  all  probability  never 
be  used  at  all.  The  eflicacy  of  this  repulsive 
remedy  does  not  depend  on  the  individual 
from  whom  it  is  taken,  that  of  a  child  or 
woman  being  quite  as  useful  as  that  of  a 
warrior. 

According  to  Mr.  G.  T.  Lloyd,  the  prac- 
tice of  deserting  the  helpless  is  found  in 
Australia  as  well  as  in  other  countries,  and 
is  practised  exactly  as  is  the  case  in  Africa. 
When  a  person  is  ill  the  relations,  as  a  rule, 
do  not  trouble  themselves  to  visit  the  sick 
person,  and,  when  there  is  no  apparent  hope 
of  recovery,  a  supply  of  food  and  firing 
enough  to  last  them  for  several  days  is  left 
near  them,  and  they  arc  then  abi;ndoned  to 
their  fate.  Even  in  the  case  of  poor  old 
Tarincenia,  mentioned  on  page  747,  the  son, 
although  he  carried  his  wounded  father 
more  than  four  miles  in  order  to  place  him 
in  safety,  never  once  came  to  see  him. 

Seeing  that  the  natives  p'  \ce  such  implicit 
faith  in  the  healing  power  of  the  doctor's 
stone,  it  is  natural  that  they  should  also 
believe  in  sundry  charms  as  preservatives 
against  disesuse  and  misfortune.  One  of 
these  charms  is  a  sort  of  girdle,  several 
inches  wide  in  the  middle,  and  tapering  to  a 
mere  thong  at  each  end.  If  it  be  made  of 
string  prepared  from  the  bulrush  root,  it  is 
called  Taara  or  Kuretti;  and  if  made  of 
human  hair,  it  goes  by  the  name  Godlotti. 
It  is  used  more  as  a  curative  than  a  preven- 
tive, and  is  mostly  found  among  the  tribes 
of  the  lower  Murray  Iliver.  The  hair,  when 
twisted  into  thread^  is  wound  upon  a  curious 
spindle,  consisting  of  two  slender  pieces  of 
wood  placed  .across  each  other  at  right 
angles. 

Another  charm  is  shown  in  the  illustra- 
tion No.  2,  on  the  765th  page,  s!uri;>  found 
the  neck  of  the  boy.    It  is  the  beak  of  the  ' 
black  swan,  which,  from  its  scarlet  color, 
contrasts  well  with  the  black  skin  of  the 


n 


I  i 


m 


m\ 


■'■         .... 
M'      :  i* 


;!!Ji 


772 


AUSTRALIA. 


wearer.  The  little  boy's  name  is  Bimtnilli- 
peringery,  and  Mr.  Gr.  F.  Angas  remarks 
that  ho  was  an  engaging  little  fellow,  and 
had  the  largest  and  softest  pair  of  dark  eyes 
that  could  be  imagined.  The  elder  figure  is 
that  of  a  young  man  named  Ty  ilkilli,  belong- 
ing to  tlie  Parnkalla  tribe  of  Port  Jjiucoln. 
He  has  been  selected  as  a  favorable  exam- 
ple of  the  Australian  young  man  in  good 
circumstances,  well-fed,  careless,  and  gav 
with  the  unthinking  happiness  of  mere  ani- 
mal life,  which  finds  a  joy  in  the  very  fact  of 
existence. 

Among  many  of  the  tribes  may  be  seen  a 
strange  sort  of  ornament,  or  rather  utensil ; 
namely,  a  drinking-cup  made  of  a  human 
skull.  It  is  slung  on  cords  and  carried  l)y 
tliem,  and  tlx;  owner  takes  it  wherever  he 
or  she  goes.  These  gliastly  utensils  are 
made  from  the  skulls  of  the  nearest  and 
dearest  relatives;  and  when  an  Australian 
mother  dies,  it  is  thought  right  that  her 
daughter  should  form  the  skull  of  her 
mother  into  a  drinking-vessel.  The  prepa- 
ration is  simple  enougli.  Tlie  lower  jaw  is 
removed,  the  brains  are  extracted,  and  the 
whole  of  the  skull  thoroughly  cleaned.  A 
rope  handle  made  of  bulrush  fibre  is  then 
attached  to  it,  and  it  is  consiilered  lit  for 
use.  It  is  filled  with  water  through  the  ver- 
tebral aperture,  into  which  a  wisp  of  grass 
is  always  stufled,  so  as  to  prevent  the  water 
from  being  spilled. 

Inconsistency  is  ever  the  attribute  of  sav- 
age minds.  Although  they  consider  that  to 
convert  the  skull  of  a  parent  into  a  drink- 
ing vessel,  a!ul  to  carrv  it  about  with  them, 
is  an  important  branch  of  filial  duty,  tlu^y 
seem  to  have  no  very  deep  feelings  on  the 
sultject.  In  fact,  a  native  named  Wooloo 
sold  his  mother's  skull  for  a  small  i)iece  of 
tobacco.  His  mind  was  evidently  not  com- 
prehensive enough  to  admit  two  ideas  to- 
gether, and  the  objective  idea  of  present 
tobacco  was  evidently  more  powmful  than 
the  conii)arative  abstraction  of  filial  rever- 
ence. 

Mr.  Angas  saw  one  wliich  was  carried  by 
a  little  girl  ten  years  of  age.  Like  "Little 
Nell,"  she  was  In  attendance  upon  an  old 
and  infirm  grandfather,  and  devoted  her 
little  life  to  him.  In  notliing  was  the  difler- 
ence  of  human  customs  shown  more  jjlainly 
than  in  the  use  of  the  mother's  skull  as  a 
drinking  vessel  —  an  act  whioh  we  should 
consider  as  the  acme  of  heathen  brutiUity, 
but  with  these  aborigines  is  held  to  be  "a 
duty  owed  by  the  child  to  the  parent. 

Perhaps  my  (classical  readers  will  remem- 
ber a  chapter  in  Herodotus  which  bears  on 
this  very  subject.  He  finds  fault  with  Cam- 
byses  for  breaking  into  the  temples  of  the 
Cabeiri,  burning  their  idols,  and  so  hurting 
the  religious  feelings  of  the  people;  and 
remarks  that  he  was  wary  in  oflending 
aijrainst  .°.ny  ro.!!;"..'ii!s  •i!>ntin',pT!t,  however 
absurd  it  might  appear  to  himself.    lie  then 


Eroceeds  to  tell  an  anecdote  of  Darius,  who 
ad  at  his  court  some  "  Indians  called  Calla- 
tians."  and  some  Greeks.  He  asked  the 
Greeks  (who  always  burned  their  dead,  as 
the  Hindoos  do  now),  what  bribe  would 
induce  tliem  to  eat  the  bodies  of  their  dead 
parents,  and  they  naturally  replied  that  for 
no  bribe  could  th'jy  perform  so  horrible  a 
deed.  Then,  in  the  presence  of  the  Greeks, 
he  asked  the  Callatians,  who  ate  their  dead 
(as  several  savage  nations  do  now),  for 
what  sum  they  would  consent  to  burn  the 
bodies  of  their  dead.  They,  as  it  appears 
from  the  style  of  their  answer,  were  even 
more  shocked  than  the  Greeks  at  the  idea  of 
such  horrible  sacrilege,  and  would  not  deign 
t(i  ;^ive  a  direct  answer,  but  begged  Darius 
to  "  speak  words  of  good  omen."  (See 
Tlmlia,  xxxvii.  8.) 

A  somewhat  similar  proceeding  is  narrated 
in  the  life  of  Nussir-er-deen,  the  late  king  of 
Oude.  His  native  ministers,  jealous  of  the 
influence  exercised  over  him  by  some  of  his 
European  friends,  complained  that  the  Eng- 
lish guests  treated  the  monarcli  with  dis- 
respect, by  retaining  their  shoes  in  his  royal 
presence.  The  king,  who,  enervated  as  ho 
was  by  vanity,  dissipation,  self-indulgence,, 
and  flattery,  was  no  fool,  immediately  pro- 
posed a  com  jiromise.  "  Listen  to  me,  liawab ; 
and  you,  general,  listen  to  me.  The  King  of 
England  is  my  master,  and  these  gentlemen 
would  go  into  his  presence  with  their  shoes 
on.  Shall  they  not  come  into  mine,  thcny 
Do  they  come  before  me  with  their  hats  on? 
Answer  me,  your  excellency." 
"  They  do  not,  your  mnjestj-." 
"  No,  that  is  tlwir  way  of  showing  respect. 
I'liey  take  oft'  their  hats,  and  you  take  off 
your  shoes.  But  come  now,  let  us  have  a 
bargain.  "Wallah  !  but  I  will  get  them  to 
take  off  their  shoes  and  leave  them  without, 
as  you  do,  if  you  will  Uike  oft"  your  turban 
and  leave  it  without,  as  they'  do."  (Sec 
Knighton's  "  Private  Life  of"  an  Eastern 
Kiu".") 

We  now  come  naturally  to  the  burial  of 
the  dead,  and  the  various  ceremonies  which 
accompany  the  time  ofmourning.  Although 
the  relatives  seem  so  careless  about  the  sick 
person,  they  really  keep  a  watch,  and,  as 
soon  as  death  actually  takes  place,  they  an- 
nounce the  fact  by  loud  cries.  The  women 
are  the  principal  mournei"s,  ami  they  con- 
tinue to  sob  and  shriek  and  moan  untfl  they 
are  forced  to  cease  from  absolute  exhaustion. 
Thev  cut  their  bodies  until  the  blood  streams 
freely  from  their  wounds,  and  sonu'  of  them 
choj)"  their  own  heads  with  their  tomahawks 
until  their  shoulders  and  bodies  are  covered 
with  blood. 

The  re.tder  will  probably  have  noticed  how 
widely  sjiread  is  this  custom  of  wounding  the 
body  iuj  a  sign  of  mourning,  and  esiiecialiy  as 
a  lamentation  for  the  dead.  We  nave  seen 
that  it  exists  in  Africa,  and  we  shal!  see  liiat 
it  is  practised  in  many  other  countries.    That 


BUEIAL  OF  THE  DEAD. 


773 


it  was  practised  in  ancient  days  by  tlie  peo^ 
pie  among  whom  the  Jews  lived,  we  see  from 
several  passages  of  Scripture.  See  for  ex- 
ample Dcut.  xiv.  1 :  "  Ye  shall  not  cut  your- 
selves, nor  make  any  baldness  between  your 
eyes  for  the  dead."  Also  Jer.  xvi.  6:  "  They 
shall  not  be  buried,  neither  shall  men  lament 
for  them,  nor  cut  themselves,  nor  make  them- 
selves bald  for  them."  There  is  also  the 
well-known  passage  concerning  the  sacrifice 
that  the  priests  of  Baal  offered,  in  the  course 
of  which  they  "cut  themselves  after  Iheir 
manner  with  knives  and  lancets,  till  the  blood 
gushed  out  upon  them." 

The  body  is  not  disposed  of  at  once,  but  is 
suffered  to  remain  for  a  considerable  time, 
during  which  decomposition  takes  nlace,  and 
is  allowed  to  work  its  course  until  the  flesh  is 
separated  from  the  bones.  The  body  is 
watciied  carefully  during  the  night;  and  if  a 
passing  meteor  sliould  appear  in  the  sky,  the 
peoi)lc  shout  and  wave  hrebrands  in  order 
to  drive  away  a  certain  evil  spirit  named 
Yiimburhar,  which  is  thought  to  be  the  re.al 
though  invisible  cause  of  death  and  all  calami- 
ties, and  to  haunt  the  spot  where  a  dead  body 
lies  for  the  purpose  of  feeding  upon  it. 

When  decomposition  has  done  its  work,  the 
bones  are  carefully  collected,  cleaned,  and 
painted  red,  after  which  they  are  wrapped 
up  in  bark,  and  carried  about  with  the  tribe 
for  a  time.  This  term  being  fulfilled,  thej' 
are  finally  disposed  of  in  various  ways,  ac- 
cording to  the  customs  of  the  tribe  to  which 
they  belonged.  Some  tribes  scoop  holes  in 
soft  rocks,  and  place  the  remains  therein, 
while  others  prefer  hollow  trees  for  that  pur- 
pose. Sometimes  the  body  is  placed  in  the 
cave  without  being  reduced  to  a  skeleton, 
and  in  some  places  the  soil  is  of  su(;h  a  na- 
ture that  tiic  body  becomes  dried  before 
decomposition  can  proceed  very  far.  During 
the  Exhibition  of  18()'2  one  of  these  desic- 
cated bodies  was  exhibited  in  England,  and 
called  the  "  petrified "  man.  It  was,  how- 
ever, nothing  but  a  shrivelled  and  dricd-up 
body,  such  as  is  often  found  in  very  dry  soils. 

Near  the  Murrumbidgeo  River,  in  the 
Wellington  Valley,  there  is  a  remarkable  sta- 
lactitic  cavern,  divided  into  several  "  halls." 
This  cavern  is,  or  has  been,  a  favorite  bury- 
ing-place  of  the  aborigines,  who  seem  to  have 
employed  it  for  the  same  purpose  that  Abra- 
ham purchased  the  cave  of  Machpelah.  In 
Conse(pience  of  the  use  of  the  cavern  as  a 
burial  place,  the  natives  are  rather  nervous 
about  cnterinn;  it,  and  they  flatly  refuse  to 
venture  into  the  darker  recesses,  for  fear  of 
the  "  dibbil-dibbil."  When  Dr.  Bennett 
visited  it  in  1832,  he  found  in  a  small  side 
cave  the  skeleton  of  a  wom.an.  The  bones 
had  been  placed  there  nearly  twenty  years 
before. 

The  Parnkalla  and  Nauo  tribes  have  an- 
other mode  of  burial,  which  somewhat  re- 
r-embles  that  whirh  is  employed  bj^  the  Be- 
chuanas.    The  body  is  placed  in  a  crouching 


or  squatting  position,  such  as  is  employed  by 
the  natives  when  sitting,  the  knees '  being 
drawn  up  to  tlie  chin,  the  legs  close  to  the 
body,  and  the  hands  clasped  over  the  le^s. 
Examples  of  this  attitude  may  be  seen  m 
many  of  the  illustrations.  A  circular  pit  or 
grave,  about  five  feet  in  depth,  is  then  dug, 
and  after  the  body  is  lowered  into  the  pit  a 
number  of  sticks  are  laid  over  the  grave, 
nearly  touching  one  another.  -A  thick  layer 
of  leaves  and  another  of  <;ra88  are  then  placed 
on  tbe  sticks,  and  over  all  is  heaped  the  earth 
which  has  been  dug  out  of  the  pit,  so  that 
the  grave  looks  something  like  a  huge 
anthill. 

In  Northern  Australia  the  natives  have  a 
curious  method  of  disposing  of  the  dead. 
Tliey  gather  the  skulls  together,  and  heap 
them  into  a  circular  mound,  placing  stones 
round  them  to  keep  them  in  their  pl.aces. 
They  do  not  cover  the  skulls,  but  make  the 
tomb  in  an  open  and  conspicuous  place. 
Such  a  tomb  is  illustrated  on  page  765. 

The  blacks  of  the  Clarence  lliver  build 
monuments  which  are  somewhat  similar  in 
appearance,  but  are  made  of  different  mar 
terlals.  They  place  a  number  of  siones  in  a 
circle,  and  in  the  centre  they  erect  an  up- 
riglit  slab  of  stone.  They  can  give  no  reason 
for  this  custom,  but  only  say  that  "black- 
fella  make  it  so,"'  or  "  it  belong  to  black-fella." 
The  former  reply  signifies  that  the  custom 
has  always  prevailed  among  the  natives;  and 
the  second,  that  the  tomb  shows  that  a  native 
lies  buried  beneath  the  upright  stone. 

Some  of  the  tribes  along  the  Clarence 
River  have  a  curious  mode  of  disposing  of  the 
dead  —  a  mode  which  certainly  has  its  advan- 
tages in  its  greateeonomy  of  trouble.  When 
an  old  man  feels  that  the  hand  of  death  is  on 
him,  he  looks  out  for  a  hollow  tree,  climbs  it, 
lets  himself  down  to  the  bottom  of  the  hol- 
low, and  so  dies  in  bis  tomb. 

In  New  South  Wales  the  young  people 
are  buried  beneath  small  tu'muli,  but  the 
adults  are  buried  in  a  rather  curious  fashion. 
A  pile  of  dry  wood,  leaves,  &c.  is  built,  about 
three  feet  in  height  and  six  or  seven  in  length. 
On  the  pile  the  body  is  laid  on  its  back,  hav- 
ing the  face  directed  toward  the  rising  sun. 
The  fishing  apparatus,  spears,  and  other  wea- 
pons and  implements  of  the  dead  man  arc 
next  laid  on  the  pile,  and  the  bwly  is  then 
covered  over  with  large  logs  of  wood.  The 
pile  is  fired  liy  the  nearest  relative,  and  on  the 
following  (l.iV,  when  the  place  is  cool,  the 
ashes  of  the  dead  are  collected,  and  carefully 
buried. 

Should  a  woman  die,  leaving  an  unweaned 
child,  the  poor  little  creature  is  buried 
together  with  the  ashes  of  its  mother.  The 
natives  defend  this  practice  as  a  humane 
one,  saying,  with  savage  justice,  that  it  is 
better  to  kill  the  child  speedily  than  to  allow 
it  to  pine  to  death  from  starvation. 

As  is  the  care  with  Tnarij'  tribes  in  diirvr,- 
ent  parts  of  the  world,  as  soon  ns  any  one 


T74 


AUSTRALIA. 


Ji' 


fal 


dies  the  name  borne  by  the  deceased  is  no 
more  mentioned.  So  strictly  is  this  rule 
observed,  that  if  another  member  of  the  tribe 
should  happen  to  beai-  the  same  name,  it 
must  be  abandoned,  and  a  new  name  taken, 
by  which  the  bearer  will  ever  afterward  be 
known. 

Mr.  Angas,  to  whom  we  arc  indebted  for 
so  much  of  our  knowledge  ot  the  Austra- 
lians gives  an  interesting  account  of  the 
bunaJ  of  a  boy,  as  described  to  liim  bv  an 
eye-witness :  ' 

"  Previously  to  burying  the  corpse  of  the 
boy,  a  contest  with  clubs  and  spears  took 
place,  out  110  injury  was  done  to  the  parties 
engaged.  The  body  was  placed  in  a  bark 
canoe,  cut  to  the  proper  length,  a  spear,  a 
fishing-spear,  and  a  throwing-stickT  with 
several  other  articles,  being  placed  besides 
the  corpse.  The  women  and  children  made 
great  lamentations  during  the  ceremony, 
and  the  father  stood  apart,  a  picture  of  silent 
griet. 

"The  canoe  was  placed  on  the  heads  of 
two  natives,  who  proceeded  with  it  slowlv 
toward  the  grave;  some  of  the  attendants 
waving  tufts  of  dried  grass  backward  and 
lorward  under  the  canoe  and  amongst  the 
bushes  as  +.hey  passed  along.    The  grave 
being  dug,  a,  native  strewed  it  with  grass 
and  stretched  himself  at  full  length  in  the 
grave,  first  on  his  back  and  then  on  his  side 
As  they  were  about  to  let  down  the  child 
into  the  grave,  they  first  pointed  to  the  de- 
ceased and  then  to  the  skies,  an  though  thev 
had  a  vague  idea  that  the  spirit  had  ascended 
to  another  world. 

"The  body  was  then  laid  in  the  grave, 
with  the  face  looking  toward  the  rising  sun 
and,  in  order  that  the  sunshine  might  fall' 
upon  the  spot,  care  was  taken  to  cut  down 
all  shrubs  around  that  could  in  any  wav 
obstruct  its  beams.    Branches  were  placed 
over  the  grave,  grass  and  boughs  on  them, 
and  the  whole  was  crowned  with  a  log  of 
wood,  on  which  a  native  extended  himself 
A**""\f  ™»n"te8,  with  hh  face  to  the  sky." 
At  the  beginning  of  this  description  is 
mentioned  a  sham  fight.    This  is  held  in 
consequence  of  a  curious  notion  prevalent 
among  the  aborigines,  that  death  from  na- 
tural causes  must  be  ransomed  with  blood. 
It  suflices  if  blood  be  drawn  even  from  a 
triend,  and  the  mode  by  which  they  make 
the  required  oflfering,  and  at  the  same  time 
gratity  their  combative  nature,  is  by  get- 
ting up  a  sham  fight,  in  which  some  one  is 
nearly  sure  to  be  wounded  more  or  less 
severely. 

Sometimes  the  bodv  of  the  dead  man  is 
disposed  of  rather  oddly.  In  some  parte  of 
AuatraJia  the  natives,  instead  of  consuminff 
tue  body  by  flre,  or  hiding  it  in  caves  or  in 
graves,  make  it  a  peculiarly  conspicuous 
ooject.  (should  a  tree  grow  favorably  for 
their  purpose,  they  will  employ  it  a»  the  final 


resting-place  of  tluj  dead  bodv. 


canoe  coffin,  and  so  covered  over  with  leaves 
and  grass  that  its  shape  is  quite  disguised, 
the  body  is  lilted  into  a  convenient  iork  of 
the  tree,  and  lashed  to  the  boughs  by  native 
ropes.  No  further  care  is  taken  of  it,  and  if, 
in  process  of  time,  it  should  be  blown  out  of 
the  tree,  no  one  will  take  the  trouble  of  re- 
placing it. 

Should  no  tree  be  growing  in  the  selected 
spot,  an  artificial  platform  is  made  for  the 
body,  by  fixing  the  ends  of  stout  branches  in 
the  ground,  and  connecting  them  at  their 
tops  by  smaller  horizontal  branches.    Such 
are  the  curious  tombs  which  are  represented 
in  the  illustration  No.  3,  on  page  775.    These 
strange  tombs  are  mostly  placed  among  the 
reeds,  so  that  nothing  can  be  more  mourn- 
ful than  the  sound  of  the  wind  as  it  shakes 
the  reeds  below  the  branch  in  which  the 
corpse  is  lying.    The  object  of  this  aerial 
tomb  IS  evident  enough,  uamcly,  to  protect 
the  corpse  from  the  dingo,  or  native  dog. 
That  the  ravens  and  other  carrion-eating 
birds  should  make  a  banquet  upon  the  body 
of  the  dead  man  does  not  seem  to  trouble 
the  survivors   in  the    least,  and   i'      ften 
happens  that  tlie  traveller  is  told   .,     the 
croak  of  the  disturbed  ravens  that  the  body  of 
a  dead  Australian  is  lying  in  the  branches 
over  his  head. 

The  aerial  tombs  are  mostly  erected  for 
the  bodies  of  old  men  who  have  died  a 
natural  death;  but  when  a  young  warrior 
has  fallen  in  battle  the  body  is  treated  in  a 
very  different  manner.    A  moderately  high 
platform  is  erected,  and  upon  this  is  seated 
the  body  of  the  dead  warrior,  with  the  face 
toward  the  rising  sun.    Tlie  legs  are  crossed, 
and  the  arms  kept  extended  by  means  of 
sticks.    The  fat  is  then  removed,  and,  after 
being  mixed  with  red  ochre,  is  rubbed  over 
the  body,  which  has  previously  been  carefully 
denuded  of  hair,  as  is  done  in  the  ceremony 
of  initiation.    The  legs  and  arms  are  cov- 
ered with   zebra-like  stripes  of  red,  white 
and  yellow,  and  the  weapons  of  the  dead  man 
are  laid  across  his  lap. 

The  body  being  thus  arranged,  fires  are 
lighted  under  the  platform,  and  kejjt  up  for 
ton  davs  or  more,  during  the  whole  of  which 
time  the  friends  and  mourners  remain  by 
the  body,  and  are  not  permitted  to  speali. 
Sentinels  relieve  rach  other  at  appointed 
intervals,  their  duty  being  to  see  that  the 
"fes  are  not  suffered  to  go  out,  and  to  keep 
the  flies  away  by  waving  leafy  boughs  or 
buntnes  of  emu  feathers.  When  a  body  has 
been  treated  in  this  manner,  it  becomes 
hara  and  mummy-like,  and  the  strangest 
point  le,  that  the  wild  dogs  will  not  touch  it 
after  it  has  been  ao  long  smoked.  It  re- 
mains sitting  on  the  platlbmi  for  two 
months  or  so,  and  is  then  taken  down  and 


buried,  with  the  exception  of  the  skull 
which  is  made  into  a  drinking-cup  for  the 
nearest  relative,  as  has  alrendy  been  men- 


(1.)  (JAKVKl)    FEATHER    BOX,  NKW    /,1;AI-A."I>.     (See  page  KKt.) 


(J.)   SMOKING    I'liE   BODIKS   OF   SLAIN    WAIUMOKS,     (Sw  lu^'o  "7.) 


(a.)  TREE  TOMUS  OF   AUSTRALIA.    (Sue  page  774.) 


(T76) 


Sip) 


SMOKING  THE  WARRIORS. 


T7T 


Considering  Ihc  trouble  which  is  taken  in 
the  preparution  of  thcRO  bodies,  and  the 
evident  respect  which  is  felt  for  a  bravo 
warrior  in  death  as  well  as  in  life,  the  after 
treatment  of  them  is  very  remarkable. 
When  a  friend,  or  even  an  individual  of  the 
same  tribe,  sees  one  of  these  mummified 
bodies  lor  the  first  time,  he  pays  no  honor  to 
it,  but  loads  it  with  reproaches,  abusing  the 
dead  man  for  dying  when  the  tribe  stood  in 
such  need  of  bravo  and  skilful  men,  and  say- 
ing that  he  ought  to  have  known  better  than 
to  die  when  there  was  plenty  of  food  in  the 
country.  Then,  after  contemplating  the 
body  for  some  timo,  he.hurh  his  spear  and 
club  at  it,  crying  out  at  the  same  time, 
"  Why  did  you  die?    Take  that  for  dying." 

In  the  illustration  No.  2,  on  page  775, 
two  of  those  bodies  arc  seen  seated  on  the 
platform,  supjwrtod  by  being  tied  to  the  up- 
rights by  their  hands  and  heads,  and  having 
their  weapons  iu  their  laps.  On  one  side  is 
one  of  the  sentinels  eng.iged  i  ti  driving  away 
the  flies  with  his  rtap|)er,  and  on  the  other 
is  a  second  sentinel  bringing  fuel  for  the  fire. 
The  seated  figures  belong  to  the  s.ime  tribe. 

Around  Portland  Bay,  and  toward  the 
south-eastern  parts  of  the  continent,  the  na- 
tives have  a  curious  combination  of  entomb- 
ment and  burning.  They  let  the  dead  body 
down  into  one  of  the  hollow  trees,  whore  it 
is  supported  in  an  upright  position.  A  quan- 
tity of  dry  leaves  and  grass  is  then  heaped 
upon  the  tree,  and  the  whole  consumed  by 
fire,  amid  the  dismal  screams  and  cries  of 
the  women. 

It  is  rather  curious  that  funeral  ceremonies 
are  only  employed  in  the  case  of  those  whose 
death  is  supposed  to  be  a  loss  to  the  tribe. 
Men,  and  even  boys,  are  therefore  honored 
with  funeral  rites,  because  the  younger  men 
are  warriors,  tlie  Ijoys  would  have  been  war- 
riors, and  the  old  men  have  done  service  by 
arms,  and  arc  still  useful  for  their  wisdom. 
Even  young  women  are  buried  with  some 
amount  of  show,  because  they  produce  chil- 
dren for  the  tribe. 

But  of  all  beings  an  old  woman  is  most  utr 
terly  despised.  She  can  render  no  service; 
she  has  never  been  considered  as  anything 
but  a  mere  domesticated  animal,  and  even 
for  domestic  purposes  she  has  ceased  to  be 
U9ef\il.  When  she  dies,  therefore,  no  one 
regrets  her.  She  is  nothing  but  a  useless 
burden  on  her  people,  consuming  food  which 
she  does  not  earn,  and  sitting  by  the  fire 
when  tlie  younger  women  are  engaged  in 
work.  It  is  notliing  to  them  that  she  has 
worn  herself  out  in  the  hard,  thankless,  and 
never  ceasing  labor  which  constitutes  the 
life  of  an  Australian  woman,  and  so  when 
she  dies  her  body  is  drawn  away  out  of  the 
camp  by  the  heek,  and  stuffed  away  hastily 
in  some  hollow  tree  or  cave  that  mav  be 
most  convenient.    Sometimes  the  body  is 

acribed;  but  even  in  such  a  case  it  is  merely 


laid  on  the  branch,  without  being  placed  in 
a  canoe,  or  covered  with  matting,  boughs, 
and  leaves,  as  is  the  case  with  the  bodies  of 
men.  The  corpse  is  allowed  to  remain  on 
the  branch  until  it  falls  to  pieces;  and  whea 
any  of  her  relatives  choose  to  take  the  trou- 
ble, they  will  scrape  a  hole  in  the  sand  and 
bury  the  scattered  bones. 

The  shoe-oak,  or  casuarina,  is  the  tree 
which  is  generally  selected  for  this  purpose, 
partly  because  it  is  one  of  the  commonest 
trees  of  Australia,  and  partly  because  the 
peculiar  growth  of  its  boughs  affords  a  firm 
platform  for  the  corpse. 

The  time  of  mourning  does  not  cease  with 
the  funeral,  nor,  in  case  of  a  tree-tomb,  with 
the  subsequent  interment  of  the  bones.  At 
stated  times  the  women,  by  whom  the  mourn- 
ing is  chiefly  performed,  visit  the  tomb,  and 
with  their  kattas,  or  digging-sticks,  peck  up 
the  earth  around  them,  and  make  the  place 
look  neat.  This  done  they  sit  down  and  ut- 
ter their  most  doleful  cries  and  lamentations. 
In  some  places  they  content  themselves  with 
vocal  lamentations,  but  in  others  the  women 
think  it  necessary  to  show  their  grief  by 
repeating  the  head  chopping,  limb  scarring, 
and  other  marks  of  liliHul-letting  which  ac- 
company that  portion  of  the  funeral  cere- 
monies. 

In  one  part  of  Australia,  near  the  north- 
west bend  of  the  Murray,  a  most  remarkable 
custom  prevails.  Widows  attend  upon  the 
tombs  of  their  dead  husbands,  and,  after 
shaving  their  heads,  cover  them  with  pipe- 
clay kneaded  into  a  paste.  The  head  is  first 
covered  with  a  net,  to  prevent  the  pipe-clay 
from  sticking  too  tightly  to  the  skin,  a  mis- 
fortune which  is  partly  averted  by  the 
amount  of  grease  with  which  every  Austra- 
liau  is  anointed. 

A  layer  of  this  clay  more  than  an  inch  in 
thickness  is  plastered  over  the  head,  and 
when  dry  it  forms  a  skull-cap  exactly  fitting 
the  head  on  which  it  was  moulded,  and  on 
account  of  its  weight,  which  is  several 
pounds,  must  be  very  uncomfortable  to  the 
wearer.  These  badges  of  mourning  maybe 
found  lying  about  near  the  tumuli,  and,  until 
their  real  use  was  discovered,  they  were  very 
mysterious  objects  to  travellers.  In  the  il- 
lustration No.  1,  on  the  781st  page,  is  seen  a 
burying  place  near  the  river.  Several  of  the 
mound  tombs  of  the  natives  are  shown,  and 
in  the  foreground  are  two  widows,  seated  in 
the  peculiar  attitude  of  Australian  women, 
and  wearing  the  widow's  cap  of  pipe-clay. 
Several  other  caps  are  lying  near  the  tombs, 
having  been  already  employed  in  the  cere- 
monies of  mourning. 

So  carefiil  are  the  natives  of  the  marks  of 
respect  due  from  the  survivors  to  the  dead 
that  a  widow  belonging  to  one  of  the  tribes 
on  the  Clarence  River  was  put  to  death  be- 
cause she  neglected  to  keep  in  order  the  tomb 
»f  Uf^j.  late  husband,  and  to  dicr  up  periodic 
cally  the  earth  arouud  it. 


W8 


AUSTBALIA. 


I    li' 


I      4 


From  the  disposal  of  the  dead,  wc  arc  nat- 
urally led  to  the  luligiouB  belief  of  tho  Au- 
stralians.   Like  all   sivvagos,  they  are  very 
reticent  about  their  religious  feelings,  con- 
cealing as  far  as  possible  tlieir  outward  ob- 
servances from  the  white  people,  and  avow- 
ing ignorance,  if  (luestioned  respecting  tlie 
meaning  of  those  which  liave  become  known 
to  the  strangers.    Home  observances,  how- 
ever, have  been  explained  by  Gi'om,  the  un- 
fortunate Scot<;h  woman  v,  ho  had  to  reside 
80  long  among  tho  Kownlregaa,  and  others 
by  native    converts  to  Christianity.    Even 
these  latter  have   not  been  able  "to  shake 
off"  tho  superstitious  ideas  which  they  hatl 
contracted  through  the  whole  of  their  pre- 
vious lives,   and    tliere    is   no   doubt   that 
they  concealed   much  from    their  interro- 
gators, and,  if  pressed  too  closely,  wilfully 
misled  them. 

The  following  short  account  will,  however, 
give  an  idea  of  tlie  stfito  of  religious  feeling 
among  the  aborigines,  as  fiir  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained. And,  in  conse(jUence  of  the  rapid 
and  steady  decrease  of  the  native  tribes,  it  is 
possible  that  our  knowledge  of  this  subject 
will  never  be  greater  than  it  is  at  present. 

In  the  first  jilace,  there  are  no  grounds  for 
thinking  that  the  aborigines  believe  in  any 
one  Supreme  Deity,  nor,  in  fact,  in  a  deity 
of  any  kind  whatever.  As  is  usual  with  most 
savage  nations,  their  belief  in  supernatural 
beings  is  limited  to  those  who  are  capable  of 
doing  mischief,  and,  although  the  conception 
of  a  beneficent  spirit  which  will  do  good 
never  seems  to  enter  an  Australian's  mind, 
he  believes  fully,  in  his  misty  llishion,  in  the 
existence  of  many  evil  spirits  which  will  do 
liarm. 

Of  these  there  are  many.  One  of  them  is 
the  Arlak,  a  being  which  takes  tho  shape  of 
a  man.  It  is  only  seen  at  night,  and  is  in 
the  habit  of  watching  for  stragglers  in  the 
dark,  seizing  them  and  carrying  tlicin  oflT. 
Several  natives  told  Mr.  Mc(!illivray  that 
they  had  seen  the  arlak;  and  one  man,  who 
had  summoned  enough  courage  to  fight  it 
when  it  attacked  him,  showed  the  marks  of 
the  demon's  teetli  upon  his  body.  For- 
tunately, the  arlak  cannot  endure  light,  and 
therefore  the  natives,  if  they  have  to  go  the 
smallest  distance  in  the  dark,  take  a  fire-stick 
in  one  hand  and  a  weapon  of  some  sort  in 
tho  other. 

One  kind  of  evil  spirit,  which  is  very  much 
dreaded  by  the  aborigines,  is  the  one  in 
whom  death  is  personified.  He  is  short, 
thick,  very  ugly,  and  lias  a  disagreeable 
sincll.  The  natives  of  the  Moorundi  dis- 
trict believe  in  a  native  spirit,  wonderftilly 
nimikir  in  attributes  to  the  Necker  of  Ger- 
man mythology.  Although,  according  to 
■their  accounts,  it  is  verv  common,  they  have 
great  difficulty  in  desc^ribing  it,  and,  as  far 
as  can  be  ascertained  from  tlieir  statements, 
it  '"s  like  a  bugo  star-fish.  Tb.is  demon  in= 
habits  the  fresh  water,  or  tliero  might  huvo 


been  grounds  for  believing  it  to  be  merely 
an  exaggeration  of  tho  cuttle-fish. 

Throughout  the  greater  part  of  Australia 
is  found  the  belief  in  tho  Bunyip,  a  demon 
which  infests  woods,  and  which  hiis  been 
seen,  as  is  said,  not  only  by  natives  but  by 
white  men.  The  different  accounts  of  the 
animal  vary  extremely.  Some  who  have 
seen  it  aver  it  to  be  as  large  iis  a  horse,  to 
have  a  pair  of  eyes  as  big  as  saucers,  and  a 
pair  of  enormous  horns. 

Others  give  a  very  different  account  of  it, 
and  one  of  the  Barrabool  Hill  natives  gave  a 
very  animated  description  of  the  dreaded 
bunyip.  He  illustrated  his  lecture  by  a 
spirited  drawing,  in  whidi  the  bunyip  was 
represented  as  liaving  a  long  neck  and  head, 
something  like  that  of  the  giiatl'e,  a  thick 
rtowing  mane,  and  two  short  and  massive 
fore-legs,  each  of  which  was  armed  with 
four  powerful  talons.  The  entire  body  Avas 
covered  with  strong  scales,  overlapping  each 
otlier  like  those  of  the  hawksbill  turtle. 
This  creature  he  represented  as  half  beast, 
half  demon,  and  vaunted  the  superior  cour- 
nge  of  his  ancestors,  who  ventured  to  ojipose 
this  terrible  creature  as  it  lav  in  wait  for 
their  wives  and  children,  and  drove  it  out  of 
the  reeds  and  bush  into  the  water  whence  it 
came. 

Thinking  that  some  largo  and  now  extinct 
beast  might  have  lived  in  Australia,  which 
might  have  been  traditionallv  known  to  the 
aborigines,  scientific  men  have  tiiken  par- 
ticular pains  to  ransack  those  portions  of  the 
country  which  they  could  reach,  in  hopes  of 
finding  remains  which  might  be  to  Australia 
what  those  of  the  megatherium  and  other 
huge  monsters  are  to  the  Old  World.  Noth- 
ing of  the  kind  has,  however,  been  found. 
Some  very  large  bones  were  once  discovered 
on  the  banks  of  a  shallow  salt  lagoon  ( just 
the  place  for  the  bunyip),  but  when  sent  to 
the  British  Museum  tliej  were  at  once  found 
to  be  the  remains  of  a  gigantic  kangaroo.  At 
liresent,  the  legend  of  the  bunyip  stands  on 
a  level  with  that  of  the  krakcii  — every  na- 
tive believes  it,  some  aver  that  they  have 
seen  it,  but  no  one  has  ever  discovered  the 
least  tangible  proof  of  its  existence. 

To  these  evil  spirits  the  natives  .attribute 
every  illness  or  misfortune,  and  in  conse- 
quence are  anxious  to  avoid  or  drive  them 
away.  All  meteors  are  reckoned  by  them 
among  the  evil  spirits,  and  are  fancifully 
thouo;ht  to  be  ghosts  which  niulti])lv  by  self- 
division.  The  aborigines  tliink,  however, 
that  by  breathing  as  loudly  as  they  can,  and 
repeating  some  cabalistic  words,  tliey  disarm 
the  demons  of  their  power. 

They  have  ono  very  curious  belief,— 
namely,  that  any  one  who  ventured  to  sleep 
on  the  grave  of  a  deceased  person,  he  would 
ever  afterward  be  free<l  from  the  jiower  of 
evil  sjiirits.  The  ordeal  is,  however,  so  ter- 
r!..lp  that  very  few  suiriuion  up  sufficient 
courage  to  face  it.     "During  that  awful 


ROCK  CABVINGS. 


779 


sleep  the  spirit  of  the  deceased  would  visit 
him,  seize  him  by  the  throat,  and,  opouin^ 
him,  talic  out  his  bowels,  whiuh  it  would 
afterward  replace,  and  close  up  the  wound! 
Such  liS  are  hardy  enough  to  go  through  this 
terrible  ordeal  —  encounter  the  darknens  of 
the  night  and  tlie  solemuitv  of  tlie  grave  — 
are  tlitinceforth  '  koradjoe' men,  or  priests, 
and  practise  sorcery  and  incantations  upon 
the  otliors  of  their  trilie." 

In  Southern  Australia,  the  ni.ii/es  believe 
that  the  sun  and  moon  are  human  beings, 
who  once  inhabited  the  earth.  The  pianists 
are  dogs  belonging  to  the  moon,  who  run 
about  lu)r;  and  the  various  constellations  are 
groups  of  children.  An  eclipse  of  either  the 
sun  or  moon  is  looked  upon  as  a  terrible 
calamity,  being  sure  to  be  the  forerunner  of 
disease  and  death. 

All  burial-places  of  the  dead  are  held  as 
liable  to  l)e  haunted  by  evil  spirits,  and  are 
therefore  avoided.  Promontories,  especially 
those  which  have  rocky  heiullands,  are  also 
considered  as  sacred;  and  it  is  probably  on 
account  of  that  idea  that  the  skull  monu- 
ments, mentioue.l  on  page  77;{,  are  raised. 
Some  of  these  places  are  rendered  inter- 
esting by  specimens  of  native  drawings, 
showing  that  the  aborigines  of  Australia 
really  possess  the  undeveloped  elements  of 
artistic  power.  Owing  to  the  superstition 
wliich  prevails,  the  natives  can  scarcely  be 
induced  to  visit  such  spots,  giving  as  their 
reason  for  refusing  that  "too  miich  dibbil- 
dibbil  walk  there."  Mr.  Angas  was  fortu- 
nate enough,  however,  to  discover  a  con- 
siderable number  of  these  drawings  and 
carvings,  and  succeeded  in  impressing  into 
liis  service  an  old  native  woman.  IIis  de- 
scription is  so  vivid,  that  it  must  be  given  in 
his  own  words :  — 

"The  most  ::.iportant  result  of  our  ram- 
bles around  the  bays  and  rocky  promontories 
of  Port  r.iekson  was  the  discovery  of  a  new 
and  rj'-.iarkable  feature  connected  with  the 
h  ■  t'  ->  natives  formerly  inhabitiug 

*;:i.  Yew  South  Wales. 

ir  carvings  in  outline,  cut 
♦■  lat  rocks  in  the  neighbor- 
on  the  summits  of  the 


into  th , 
hood,  iiii 

various  p.  .  .itories  about  the  harbors  of 
the  coast.  Although  these  carvings  exist  in 
considerable  numbers,  covering  all  the  flat 
rocks  upon  many  of  the  headlands  overlook- 
ing the  water,  it  is  a  singular  fact  that  up  to 
the  present  time  they  appear  to  have  re- 
mained uaol)served;  and  it  was  not  until  my 
friend  Mr.  Miles  first  noticed  the  rude  figure 
of  a  kangaroo  cut  upon  the  surtaco  of  a  flat 
rock  near  Camp  Cove,  that  we  were  led  to 
make  a  careful  search  for  these  singular  and 
interesting  remains  of  a  people  who  are  now 
nearly  extinct. 

"  About  a  dozen  natives  of  the  Sydney  and 
Broken  Bay  tribes  were  encamped  amongst 
the  bushes  on  the  margin  of  u  sniall  Iresh- 
wa,ter  lake,  close  to  Camp  Cove;  and  from 


amongst  them  wo  selected  'Old  Queen 
Gooseberry '  (as  she  is  generally  styled  by 
the  colonists)  to  be  our  guide,  promising 
her  a  reward  of  flour  and  tobacco  if  she 
would  tell  us  what  she  knew  about  these 
carvings,  and  conduct  us  to  all  the  rocks  and 
headlands  in  the  neighborhood  where  like 
figures  existed.  At  first  the  old  woman 
objected,  saying  that  such  places  were  all 
korutljee  ground,  or  'priest^s  ground,'  and 
that  she  must  not  visit  them;  but  at  length, 
becoming  more  communicative,  she  tola  us 
all  she  knew,  and  all  that  she  had  heard  her 
father  say,  respecting  them.  She  likewise 
consented  at  last  to  guide  us  to  several  spots 
near  the  North  Land,  where  she  said  the 
carvings  existed  in  greater  numbers;  as  also 
the  impressions  of  hands  upon  the  sides  of 
high  rocks. 

"  With  some  difllculty  we  prevailed  upon 
the  haggard  old  creature  to  venture  with  us 
into  a  whale-boat;  co,  with  Queen  Goose- 
berry for  our  guide,  we  crossed  to  the  North 
Land.  After  examining  the  hai  rocks  in 
every  direction,  we  found  suflleient  ex- 
amples of  these  singular  outlines  to  confirm 
at  once  the  opinion  that  they  were  executed 
by  the  aboriginal  inhabitants;  l)ut  at  what 
period  is  quite  uncertain.  From  the  half- 
obliterated  state  of  many  of  thein  (although 
the  lines  are  cut  nearly  an  inch  deep  into 
the  hard  rock),  and  from  the  fact  that  from 
several  of  them  we  were  comjielled  to  clear 
away  soil  and  shrubs  of  long-continued 
growth,  it  is  evident  that  they  have  been 
executed  a  very  long  time. 

"At  first  we  could  not  bring  ourselves  to 
believe  that  these  carvings  were  the  work  of 
savages,  and  we  conjectured  that  the  figure 
of  the  kangaroo  might  have  been  the  work 
of  some  European;  but  when,  pursuing  our 
researches  further,  we  found  all  the  most 
out-of-the-M'ay  and  least  accessible  head- 
lands iidorncd  with  similar  carvings,  and 
also  that  the  whole  of  the  subjects  repre- 
sented indiytnmis  objects  —  such  as  kanga- 
roos, opossums,  sha'rks,  the  heikmnn  or 
shield,  the  boomerang,  and,  above  all,  the 
human  figure  t>i  the  attitudes  of  the  corrob- 
boree  dances  —  we  could  come  to  no  other 
conclusion  than  that  they  were  of  native 
origin.  Europeans  would'have  drawn  ships, 
and  horses,  and  men  with  hats  ujion  their 
heads,  had  they  attempted  such  a  laborious 
and  tedious  occupation. 

"An  old  writer  on  New  South  Wales, 
about  the  year  _1803,  remarks,  when  refer- 
ring to  the  natives,  '  They  have  some  taste 
for  sculpture,  most  of  their  instruments  being 
carved  with  rude  work,  eflected  with  pieqes 
of  broken  shell;  and  on  the  rocks  are  fre- 
quently to  be  seen  various  figures  of  fsh, 
clubs,  swords,  ammals,  Ac,  not  contempti- 
bly represented.' 

"  Some  of  the  figures  of  flsh  measiirecl . 
twenty-five  feet  in  length;  and  it  is  curious 
that  the  representations  of  the  shield  ex- 


U' 


'A 


mi 


■*i 


m 


1 1 

>%4\ 


i' 


I 


!, 


I 


!  : 


IJH 


TW 


AUSTRALIA. 


•ctly  corrcflponded  with  thnt  used  by  the 
nntives  of  i'ort  Htephuna  nt  the  present-day. 
These  sculptured  forms  prove  thnt  tlie  New 
IIolhincUirM  exercised  the  art  of  design, 
whicli  lias  lii'uii  questioned,  iind  they  also 
Bcrvo  to  c.rroboruto  Captain  Grey's  cliseov- 
eriesof  native  delineations  in  caves  upon  the 
Dorth-W(^Ht  coast  of  Australia,  during  his 
expedition  of  diHcovorv.  At  Lano  Cove,  at 
Port  Aiken,  and  at  I'oint  I'ijper,  wo  plso 
met  with  similar  carvinjjs.  Whilst  on  a 
visit  nt  the  latter  pint'o,  it  occurred  to  me 
that  on  the  flat  rocks  at  the  extremity  of  the 
grounds  belonging  to  the  estate  where  I  Wivs 
staying,  there  might  be  carvings  similar  to 
those  at  the  Heads;  and  on  searching  care- 
ftiUy  I  found  considerable  numbers  of  them 
iu  a  tolerably  perfect  state  of  preservation. 
Of  all  these  I  took  measurements,  and 
made  careful  fac-slmile  drawings  on  the 
spot" 

In  the  appendix  to  his  work,  Mr.  Angas 
gives  reduced  copies  of  these  figures,  some 
of  which  are  executed  with  wonderftil  spirit 
and  fidelity.  Even  the  human  figures, 
which  are  shown  with  extended  arms  an(l 
spread  legs,  as  in  the  dance,  are  far  better 
tlian  those  usually  drawn  by  savages,  infi- 
nitely superior  to  those  produced  by  the 
artists  of  Western  Africa,  while  some  of  the 
animals  are  m.irveUously  accurate,  remind- 
ing the  ()l)»erver  of  the  outline  drawings 
upon  Egyptian  monuments.  The  best  are, 
perhaps,  a  shark  and  a  kangaroo.  The  lat- 
ter is  represented  in  the  attitude  of  feeding. 

In  some  parts  of  Australia,  the  carvings 
and  paintings  are  usually  in  caves  by  the 
water's  edge,  and  of  sudi  a  character  is 
the  cave  which  is  shown  in  the  illustra- 
tion No.  2,  on  the  following  page.  These 
caves  are  in  sandstone  rock,  and  the  figures 
upon  them  are  mostly  those  of  men  and 
kangaroos,  and  it  is  a  remarkable  fact  that 
in  the  human  figures,  although  their  eyes, 
noses,  and  even  the  joints  of  the  knees,  are 
boldly  marked,  the  mouth  is  invariably 
absent. 

Human  hands  and  arms  are  often  carved 
on  rocks.  One  very  remarkable  example 
was  discovered  by  Captain  Grey  in  North- 
West  Austmlia.  When  penetrating  into  a 
large  cave,  out  of  whicli  ran  a  number  of 
smaller  caves,  the  explorers  were  struck  by 
a  really  astonishing  trick  of  native  art.  The 
sculptor  had  selected  a  rock  at  the  side  of 
the  cavity,  and  had  drawn  upon  it  the  figure 
of  a  haiici  and  arm.  This  had  then  been 
painted  black,  and  the  rock  around  it  col- 
ored white  with  pipe-clay,  so  that  on  enter- 
ing the  cave  it  appeared  exactly  as  if  the 
hand  and  arm  of  a  black  man  were  project- 
ing through  some  crevice  which  admitted 
light. 

Their  belief  in  ghosts  implies  a  knowle<lge 
that  the  spirit  of  man  is  immortal.    Yet 

misty,  not  to  say  inconsistent,  one  part  of 


their  belief  entirely  contradicting  tho  other. 
They  bidieve,  for  example,  that  when  tho 
spirit  leaves  tho  body,  it  wanders  about  for 
some  time  in  (larkness,  until  at  last  it  finds 
a  cord,  by  means  of  which  a  "big  black-fella 
spirit"  named  Oomudoo  pulls  it  up  I'lom  tlio 
earth.  Yet  they  apj)ropria(c  cerlaiii  jmrts  of 
the  earth  as  the  Ihture  residence  of  the  dilfer- 
ent  tribes,  tho  spirits  of  the  deiiarled  Nauos 
being  thought  to  dwell  in  the  islands  of 
Spencer's  Gulf,  while  those  of  the  I'arnkal- 
ias  go  to  other  islands  toward  the  west.  As 
if  to  contradict  both  ideas,  we  have  already 
seen  that  throughout  the  whole  of  Australia 
tho  spirits  of  tho  d  I  are  supposed  to 
haunt  tho  spots  where  their  bodies  lie 
buried. 

And,  to  make  confusion  worse  confounded, 
the  aborigines  believe  very  firmly  in  trans- 
migration, some  fancying  that  the  si)irit8  of 
the  departed  take  up  their  abode  in  ani- 
mals, but  by  far  tho  greater  miniber  be- 
lieving that  they  are  transformed  into  white 
men.  This  latter  belief  was  put  verv  suc- 
cinctly by  a  native,  who  stated  in  (lie  odd  jar- 
(joii  employed  by  them,  that  "  when  blaek- 
fella  tumblo  down,  he  jump  up  all  same 
white-fella." 

This  idea  of  transmigration  into  the  forms 
of  white  men  is  very  remarkable,  as  it  is 
shared  l)y  the  negro  of  Africa,  who  could 
not  have  had  any  communication  with  the 
blac;k  native  of  Australia.  And,  still  more 
strangely,  like  the  Africans,  thev  have  the 
same  word  for  a  white  man  and  for  a  spirit 
Tho  reader  may  remember  that  when  Mrs. 
Thomi)son  was  caj)tured  by  the  natives,  one 
of  them  declared  that  she  was  his  daughter 
Gi'om,  who  had  become  a  white  woman, 
and  the  rest  of  the  tribe  coincided  in  the 
belief.  Yet,  though  she  became  for  the 
second  time  a  member  of  the  tribe,  they 
always  seemed  to  feel  a  sort  of  mistrust, 
and  often,  when  tho  children  were  jeering  at 
her  on  account  of  her  light  complexion  and 
ignorance  of  Australian  accomplisliments, 
some  elderly  person  would  check  them,  and 
tell  them  to  leave  her  in  peace,  as,  poor  thing, 
she  was  nothing  but  a  gnost. 

It  has  been  found,  also,  that  numbers  of 
white  persons  have  been  recognized  by  the 
blacks  as  being  the  spirits  of  their  lost  rela- 
tives, and  have  in  consequence  been  digni- 
fied with  tho  names  of  those  whom  they 
represented.  Mr.  M'Gillivray  mentions  that 
the  natives  of  Port  Essington  have  a  slight 
modification  of  this  theorv,  believing  that 
after  death  they  become  Malays. 

Of  their  belief  in  the  metempsychosis,  or 
transmigration  into  animal  forms,  there  are 
hut  few  examples.  Dr.  IhMinett  mentions 
that  on  one  occasion,  at  Bdrana  Plains,  when 
an  European  \vi\s  chasing  one  of  the  native 
animals,  a  native  who  was  with  him  begged 
him  not  to  kill  it,  but  to  take  it  alive,  as  it 
iy(|a  i'  Him  brothi^r."  When  it  wo?,  killed 
ho  was  very  angry,  and,  as  a  proof  his  sin- 


1  ii  ■ .» 


f'J 


mij: 


m  f':M 


■iff  ^  -  ^^^=*::^^?^- 


'W^^Wf 


ZTT-    ■-.--> 


(1.)    ALSTUALIAN    Wll)(lW>    AN1>    IIU.Il!    (Al'.i. 
(Sec  page  77'.) 


(.2.;  CAVE   WITH    NATIVE   DRAWINGS. 

I  Set  putff  rsuo 
(781) 


B^l 


ft 


iff 


^v  IJil 
"?  -I  ill 


■:ll| 


Jl 


!l 


f 


II 


I.  I 


I 


i  I 


THEORY  OF  TRANSMIGRATION. 


788 


cerlty,  rnftwed  to  oat  anv  of  It.  continually 

gruiiililin){  and  coini)laiiiii)g  of  the  "  tuin- 
iiiiK  liowii  him  brotlu-r." 
The  Naiiotriho  prtwrvo  a  trmlition  which 
InvolvcH  thiit  nict(!in|mytlu)HlH.  Onio  upon 
a  time,  a  rcrtain  nvi-id  warrior,  nanicil 
Wllloo,  I'oiiKht  their  tribe,  and  carried  oil" all 
thu  women,  and  killed  all  thi^  men  except 
two.  The  Hurvi  vorH  climlied  up  a  tfrcnt  tj-ee, 
followed  hy  Willoo.  They,  however,  broke 
oil"  the  liraneh  on  which  he  wan  cliinblnjf, 
80  that  lie  tell  to  the  j{ronnd,and  wan  seized 
by  a  din^o  below,  when  he  immediately  died, 
and  waH  chanj^ed  into  an  cajole  hawk,  which 
has  ever  afterward  been  called  by  the  name 
of  Willoo. 

The  Name  trlbo  tliink  that  a  small  lizard 
was  the  originator  of  the  bcxcm,  and  in  con- 
Horiuenee  call  it  liy  ditlercnt  names;  the  men 
usiuj?  the  tc^rni  ihirri,  and  the  women  waka. 
Following  up  the  idea,  the  men  kill  every 
male  lizard  that  thoy  can  find,  while  the 
women  do  the  same  by  the  females. 

Connected  with  this  Hubject  is  their  idea 
of  creation.  Of  h  single  Creator  of  all  things 
they  have  not  the  least  notion,  but  they  pos- 
sess some  traditions  as  to  the  origin  of  luuu 


or  natnrn!  oblects.  The  Kowrdrega  tribe 
say  that  the  llrst  created  man  was  a  huge 
giant  named  Adl.  One  day,  while  he  was 
llshing  oir  Hammond  l»lam,  he  was  caught 
by  the  tide  and  dro\,  iied,  a  great  rock  start- 
ing up  to  nm.  k  the  spot.  This  is  now  called 
Hammonds  Rock.  His  wives  saw  his  fate, 
conunitted  suiciile  by  Hinging  tliemselven 
Into  the  sea,  aiul  were  Imnu'diately  changed 
into  a  series  of  dry  rocks  on  a  nei;,'hboririg 
reef.  These  rocks  are  still  called  by  the  na- 
tives Ip\le,  i.e.  the  Wives. 

The  natives  of  the  Lower  Murray  have  a 
curious  tradition  respecting  the  origin  of 
the  river,  and  the  Alexandrina  and  Albert 
Lakes.  The  river  was  matlo  by  Oomudoo, 
the  "big  blaek-fella  8i)irit,"  already  men- 
tioned. He  came  down  from  the  sky  iii  his 
canoe,  and  ordered  the  water  to  rise  and 
for(u  the  river,  which  ho  then  clotluid  with 
bulrushes  and  populated  with  liMh.  IIo 
brought  two  wives  with  him,  but  they  unfor- 
tunately proved  intractable,  and  ran  away 
frouj  him,  whereupon  Oomudoo  made  tho 
two  lakes  in  question,  ouo  of  which  drowned 
each  wife. 


I 


»n 


m\ 


■    -  ■■•I?  I 

I   m 


CHAPTER    LXXVn. 


AUSTRALIA—  Conclxulea 


ARCHITECTUKE  AND  BOAT-BUILDING, 

PAKALLEL  BETWEEN  THE  noS-TESMAN  AND  THE  AUSTRALIAN- MOPES  OF  UriLDING  HTTS-A  SrMMEB 
ENCAMIMENT— RITDE    NATURE    OF    THE    HUTS— RETREATS     OF    TJIE     WOMEN— BONE     HUTS     OF 
ENCOUNTER  RAY  — WINTER  HOUSES  — HUTS  NBAR  THE  COORUNO  —  PIRE-.MAKINO— HIRI>-8NAKING 
_    —A  SELF-ACTING  SNARE —llOAT-BUILDING— USES  OF  THE  s'tRINGY    HARK  — A    FRAIL    VESSEL- 
CANOE  FOB  GENERAL  USE  — TUE  HEED  CANOE  —  GRADUAL  EXTINCTION  OF  NATIVE  TRIRES. 


I  ill 


In  )>i.iny  points  the  Australian  savage  bears 
aciu.oiis  resemblance  to  the  IJosjesman  of 
Southern  Africa,  of  whom  a  full  account  lias 
already  been  given  at  242-208  page. 

So  similar,  indeed,  are  they,  that  the  col- 
onists use  (he  word  Bushman  to  (Fcsignatc 
the  natives  savage,  Just  as  they  call  the  snot- 
ted  dasyure  by  the  name  oY  cat,  and  "the 
wombat  by  that  of  badger.  Aluch  confusion 
has  consequently  arisen;  and  there  is  now 
before  me  a  book  descriptive  of  savage  life, 
in  which  the  author  has  mixed  up  the  IJos- 
jesman of  Africa  and  the  Jiushman  of  Au- 
stralia in  the  most  anuising  manner,  actually 
transjilanling  a  quotation  from  a  book  of 
African  travels  into  the  account  of  Au- 
stralia. 

Like  the  Bosjesman,  the  Australian  de- 
pends upon  his  weajiuns  for  the  greater  part 
of  his  food,  living  almost  entirely  upou"tho 


than  her  forefathers,  that  she  shoidd  want 
to  wear  clothes  like  the  white  strangers. 
The  consequence  was,  that  ir.  a  dav  or  two 
the  solitary  garment  was  thrown  aside,  and 
she  walked  about  as  before,  in  the  primitive 
accoutrements  of  her  tril}e. 

Jjike  the  African  15osjesman,  (he  Austra- 
lian native  has  no  settled  home,  although 
he  considers  himself  as  having  a  right  to  (ho 
district  in  which  his  tribe  liiive  taken  up 
their  abode.  Contrary  to  the  usage  of  civil- 
ized life,  he  is  sensKive  on  (lie  sriiieral  (|ue8- 
tion,  and  careless  in  di  tail.  AVilh  civilized 
beings  the  hearth  and  home  take  the  Hrst 
place  in  the  atfectlons,  the  love  of  country 
being  merely  an  extension  of  the  love  of 
home.  Witli  the  Australian,  however,  as 
well  as  the  IJosjesman.  llie  case  is  just  re- 
veised.  lie  has  no  home,  and  cares"  not  for 
any  one  spot  more  than  anothor,  except  (hat 


game  which  he  kills,  and  being  skilled  in  |  some  spots  are  sheltered  and  other'*  ex 
the  art  of  destroying  the  wariest  and  most  j  posed.  He  i)asses  a  semi-nomail  exi'-t.'uce 
active  of  animals  with  the  simplest  of  not  milike  that  of  (he  Arab,  save  (liat  in- 
wcapons.  He  lives  in  a  state  of  i)eri)etual  |  stead  of  pitchini;  his  tent  on  a  convenient 
feud,  Ins  quarrels  not  being  worthy  of  the  I  spot,  and  taking  it  away  when   h(^  leaves  it 


name  of  warfare;  and  his^^cfdt  a/('((h>'  a  war- 
rior is  a  man  who  steals  u^on  his  enemy  by 
craft,  and  kills  his  foe  without  danger  to 
himself. 

lie  cultivates  no  land,  neither  has  he  the 
least  notion  of  impro\  ini;  his  social  condi- 
tion. He  cares  nothing  for  clothes,  except, 
perhaps,  as  a  partial  shelter  from  the  ele- 
ments, and  utterly  ridicules  the  notion  that 
there  is  any  connexion  between  clothing  and 
modesty. 

Indeed,  on  one  occasion,  when  a  girl  had 
been  presented  with  a  petticoat  by  a  white 
lady,  and  returned  to  her  people,  (lis])laying 


he  does  not  (rout)le  hiinself  even  to  carry 
the  simple  materials  of  n  tent,  but  builds  a 
rude  luit  in  any  spot  which  lie  mav  liai)pen 
to  fancy,  and  leaves  it  to  decay  when  he  Ibr- 
sakes  the  sjiot. 

The  chief  object  of  the  ordinary  hut 
made  by  an  Australian  savaije  is  to  de- 
fend the'  inmates  froe.i  the  cojd  south-west 
breezes.  Conse(pien(ly,  (be  entrances  of  the 
huts  may  be  found,  as  a  rule,  (nrixd  toward 
th(i  north-east,  whence  come  the  warm  winds 
that  have  passed  oyer  the  ecpiator. 

The  summer  encaini)ment  (see  page  787) 
of  an  Australian  familv  is  verv  simple.    A 


with  pride  her  newly  acquiretl  property,  her  I  number  of  leafv  bouiihs  are  stuck' in  the 
coinpatiions  instead  of  disjilaying  envy  at  j  ground  in  a  s.-niicire'iilar  I'orm,  the  size  of 
her  finery,  only  jeered  at  her,  inquiring  i  the  enclosed  space  varyiii"  with  the  nundior 
whetlier  she  thought  iierself  80  much  better  I  of  the  family.    Tiiesc  bou'dia  are  s.ldom 


(784) 


MODES  OF  BUILDING  HUTS. 


785 


more  than  four  feet  in  height,  and  often 
scarcely  exceed  a  yard,  their  only  object 
being  to  keep  off  the  wind  from  the  tire, 
and  from  the  bodies  of  the  natives  as  they 
squat  round  the  flame  or  lie  asleep.  That 
any  one  should  expect  a  shelter  while  he 
is  standing  never  seems  to  enter  the  imagi- 
nation of  an  Australian  savage,  who,  like 
other  savages,  never  dreams  of  standing 
when  he  can  sit,  or,  indeed,  of  taking  any 
trouble  that  is  not  absolutely  necessary. 

All  the  stories  that  are  told  of  the  indus- 
try of  savage  life  are  pure  inventions,  and 
if  labor  be,  as  we  are  often  told,  the  truest 
nobility,  we  ought  to  hear  ho  more  of  the 
"  noble  savage."  Consistently  with  this  idea, 
thi  native  Australian's  only  idea  of  the  hut  is 
a  place  where  he  can  sit  and  gorge  himself 
with  food,  and  lie  down  to  sleep  after  his 
enormous  meal.  A  fence  a  yard  in  height 
is  therefore  quite  good  enouijh  for  him, 
and,  as  long  ixs  no  rain  falls,  nc  thinks  a 
roof  to  be  a  needless  expenditure  of  labor. 

In  the  illustration  referred  to  we  have  an 
example  of  an  encampment  on  which  the 
natives  have  bestowed  rather  more  care  than 
usual,  and  have  actually  taken  the  pains  to 
form  the  branches  iiito  rude  luits.  The 
spears,  shields,  and  other  weapons  of  the 
natives  arc  seen  scattered  about,  while 
round  the  fire  sit  or  lie  the  men  who  have 
satisfied  their  hunger.  The  reader  will 
perceive  that  from  a  little  distance  such 
an  encami)nient  would  be  almost  invisible; 
and,  indeed,  except  by  the  thin  smoke  of 
the  fire,  tlie  most  practised  eye  can 
scarcely  detect  the  spot  where  natives 
are  encamping.  Even  the  spears  which 
project  above  the  bush  huts  look  at  a  little 
distance  merely  like  dried  sticks;  and,  if 
the  inhabitants  be  very  anxious  to  escape 
observation,  they  establish  their  encamp- 
ment ill  a  retired  spot,  where  the  surround- 
ing objects  harmonize  as  closely  as  possible 
witii  the  rude  shelter  which  answers  all 
their  needs. 

In  many  places  the  natives  construct  a 
habitation  similar  in  principle,  but  difl'ering 
in  structure.  Should  the  locality  abound  in 
the  cucalypytus,  or  stringy-bark  tree,  the 
natives  make  a  hut  altogether  difi'erent  in 
appearance.  With  wonderful  dexterity,  tliey 
strip  off  the  bark  of  the  tree  in  large  flakes, 
six  or  seven  feet  in  length.  A  few  large 
branches  of  trees  are  then  l.iid  o;  the 
ground,  so  that  they  form  a  rough  sort  of 
framework,  and  upon  these  ))ranclies  the 
flakes  of  bark  are  laid.  An  hour's  labor 
will  make  one  of  these  huts,  so  that  the  na- 
tives have  really  no  inducement  to  take 
any  care  of  them.  Even  the  very  best  hut 
which  a  native  Australian  ever  made  would 
be  inferior  to  the  handiwork  of  an  English 
l)oy  of  ten  years  old.  For  my  own  part. 
I  remember  building  far  lietteV  huts  than 
those  of  the  Australians,  though  1  was  at , 
the  time  much  below  ten  years  of  age,  and  j 


had  gained  all  my  knowledge  of  practical 
architecture  from  "  Sandford  and  Merton." 

There  is,  however,  one  great  advantage  in 
these  bark  huts  —  namely,  the  rajiidity  with 
which  they  can  be  made,  and  the  shelter 
which  they  really  do  give  from  the  travel- 
ler's great  enemy,  the  night  wind.  Even 
European  travellers  have  been  glad  to  avail 
themselves  of  these  simple  structures,  and 
have  appreciated  the  invaluable  aid  of  a 
few  sheets  of  bark  propped  against  a  fallen 
branch.  Those  who  have  been  forced  to 
travel  without  tents  through  a  houseless 
country  have  learned  by  experience  that 
the  very  best  shelter  froi  i  the  night  winds  is 
not  height,  but  width.  A  tree,  for  example, 
forms  but  a  very  poor  shelter,  while  a  low 
wall  barely  eighteen  inches  high  and  six 
feet  in  length  keeps  off  the  wind,  and  ena- 
bles the  wearied  traveller  to  rest  in  compar- 
ative comfort.  Such  a  shelter  is  easily  made 
from  the  sheets  of  stringy  bark,  one  or  two 
of  which  will  Ibrm  a  shelter  for  several 
sleepers. 

Perhaps  the  simplest  huts  that  human 
beings  ever  dignified  by  the  name  of  habita- 
tion are  those  \vhicli  are  made  by  the  women 
of  a  tribe  when  the  men  are  awfiy.  It  some- 
times happens  that  the  whole  of  the  adult 
males  go  otf  on  an  expedition  which  will 
last  for  a  considerable  time  —  such,  for  ex- 
ample, as  a  raid  upon  a  neighboring  tribe 
—  leaving  the  women  and  children  to  take 
care  of  themselves.  These,  knowing  that 
they  might  be  pounced  upon  by  enemies 
who  would  take  advantage  of  the  absence 
of  their  defenders,  retire  into  the  recesses 
of  the  woods,  where  they  build  the  odde-i 
houses  imtiginable,  half  burrows  scrape'*, 
among  the  roots  of  trees,  and  half  huts 
made  of  bark  and  decayed  wood.  These 
habitations  are  so  inconspicuous  that  even 
the  jiractised  eye  of  the  native  can  scarcely 
discover  them. 

On  the  shores  of  Encounter  Bay  may  be 
seen  some  very  curious  habitations.  Every 
now  and  then  a  whale  is  thrown  ashore  by 
a  tempest;  an<l  in  such  a  case  the  tribes  of 
the  neighborhood  flock  round  it  with  great 
rejoicings,  seeing  in  it  an  unlimited  supply 
of  food.  Iluge  as  the  animal  may  be,  it  is 
ere  long  consumed,  and  nothing  left  but  the 
skeleton.  Of  the  bones  the  natives  make 
the  framework  of  their  huts,  the  ends  of 
the  ribs  being  fixed  in  the  ground,  so  that 
the  bones  form  the  supports  of  the  arched 
roof,  which  is  nothing  more  than  boughs, 
grass,  and  matting  thrown  almost  at  random 
upon  the  bony  framework. 

During  the  winter  time  the  native  huts 
are  of  bettor  construction,  although  the 
best  hut  that  an  Australian  ever  made  is 
but  a  very  rude  and  primitive  specimen  of 
architecture.  These  winter  huts  are  made 
on  the  same  principle  as  those  einiiloyed  iix 
summer,  but  the  materials  are  more  closely 
put  together.    The  framework  of  these  huta 


t 


i*   l!  i| 


:<* 


teisi 


■f 


i      .41 


786 


AUSTRALIA. 


is  matle  by  sticking  n  number  of  saplings 
in  the  ground,  and  tying  them  together. 
Smaller  branches  and  twigs  are  then  passed 
in  and  out  of  the  upriglits,  and  pressed  down 
to  malie  a  tolerably  firm  wall.  Over  the 
wall  comes  a  layer  of  large  leaves,  and  an 
outer  covering  of  tea-tree  bark  is  placed 
over  the  trees,  and  held  in  its  place  by  a 
lashing  of  rattan.  These  houses  are  about 
five  feet  in  height,  and  have  an  arched  open- 
ing just  large  enough  for  a  man  to  enter  on 
his  hands  and  knees. 

Such  huts  as  these,  however,  are  but  sel- 
dom seen,  the  ordinary  winter  dwellings 
being  made  of  bushes,  as  seen  in  an  illuV 
tration  on  the  next  paare.  Near  the  en- 
trance, but  not  within  it,  the  fire  is  kindled, 
and  at  night  the  natives  crowd  into  the  hut, 
filling  it  so  completely  that  a  view  of  the 
interior  displays  nothing  but  a  confused 
mass  of  human  limbs.  The  reader  will  per- 
ceive that  the  luxury  of  a  door  has  not  been 
contemplated  bj^  the  native  architects  —  an 
omission  which  is  perhaps  rather  fortunate, 
considering  the  crowded  state  of  the  in- 
terior. 

Along  the  shores  of  the  Coorung  a  rather 
peculiar  kind  of  habitation  is  used.  It  must 
first  be  mentioned  that  the  Coorung  is  a 
back-water  inlet  of  the  sea,  running  parallel 
to  it  for  some  ninety  miles  or  so,  never  more 
than  a  mile  and  a"  half  from  the  sea,  ai.J 
divided  from  it-only  by  a  range  of  enormous 
sandhills.  It  is  a 'wild  and  desolate  place, 
but  is  inhabited  by  the  Milmendura  tribe, 
who  made  themselves  so  notorious  for  the 
massacre  of  the  passengers  and  men  of  the 
ship  Maria.  The  natives  probably  like  tlie 
spot,  because  in  the  Coorung,  which  is  pro- 
tected from  the  ocean  waves  by  the  sand- 
hills, they  can  take  fish  without  danger,  and 
because  the  sandhills  furnish  a  fruit  called 
the  mon terry,  or  native  apple,  as,  although 
a  berry  growi.ig  upon  a  creeping  plant,  it 
looks  and  tastes  like  a  miniature  apple. 

The  situation  is  much  exposed  in  the 
winter  time  to  the  cold  south-west  blasts, 
and  the  natives  accordingly  make  compara- 
tively strong  huts.  Their  dwellings  are 
formed  of  a  framework  of  sticks,  over  which 
is  plastered  a  thick  layer  of  turf  and  mud. 
In  addition  to  this  they  heap  over  the  hut 
R  great  quantity  of  tho  sand  and  shells  of 
which  the  ground  is  chiefly  composed,  so 
that  the  houses  of  the  Milmendura'look  like 
mere  mounds  or  hillocks  rising  from  the 
sandy  soil. 

The  fire  which  is  found  in  every  Austra- 
lian encampment  is  generally  procured  by 
friction  from  two  pieces  of  woo<i,  one  being 
twirled  rapidly  between  the  hands  and  the 
other  held  firmly  by  the  feet  Indeed,  the 
Australian  savage  produces  fire  exactly  as 
does  the  South  AfVican  (see  page  100).  This 
accomplishment,  however,  is  not  universal, 
some  tribes  being  unable  to  produce  fire,  and 
being  dependent  on  the  "  fire-sticks  "  which 


the  women  carry  with  them.  It  has  occa- 
sionally happened  that  the  women  have  been 
careless  enough  to  allow  all  their  fire-sticks 
to  expire,  and  in  such  a  case  they  are  obliged 
to  go  to  the  nearest  friendly  tribe,  and  beg  a 
li^iit  from  them,  in  order  to  procure  fire 
wherewith  to  cook  the  game  that  their  hus- 
bands have  brought  home. 

Before  leaving  this  part  of  the  subject,  it 
will  be  as  well  to  mention  briefly  a  few  of 
the  devices  used  by  tho  Australian  natives 
in  taking  their  game. 

One  of  thesvj  devices  is  remarkably  in- 
genious, and   is   principally  employed   in 
duck  catching.    The  natives  find  out  a  spot 
where  the  ducks  resort  in  order  to  feed,  and 
arrange  their  nets  so  that  they  may  inter- 
cept birds  that  fly  down  upon  them.    When 
the  ducks  are  all  busy  feeding,  the  native 
hunter,  who  has  concealed  himself  near  the 
place,  alarms  the  birds  by  suddenly  imitat- 
ing the  cry  of  the  fish-hawk,  one  of  their 
deadliest  foes.    The  terrified  ducks  rise  in  a 
body;  but,  just  as  they  ascend,  the  wily  na- 
tive flings  into  the  air  a  triangular  piece  of 
bark,  imitating  again  the  cry  of  the  liaAvk. 
The  birds,  fancying  that  the  )iawk  is  sweep- 
ing down  upon  them,  try  to  escape  by  dart- 
ing into  the  reeds,  and  are  caught  in  the  nets. 
Another  ingenious  plan  is  usoii  for  cap- 
turing birds  singly.    The  native  makes  a 
sort  of  screen  of   branches,  and  conceals 
himself  within  it.    In  his  hand  he  carries  a 
long  and  slender  rod,  at  the  end  of  which 
there  is  a  noose,  and  within  tlie  noose  a  bait. 
Under  cover  of  the  screen  he  comes  close  to 
the  bird,  and  crently  places  the  treacherous 
noose  near  it.    Bydegrees  the  bird  comes 
closer  and  closer  to  the  bait,  and,  as  soon 
as  its  head  is  tiiirly  within  the  noose,  it  is 
secured  by  a  dexterous  twist  of  the  hand. 
Sometimes  the  native  does  not  employ  a 
bait.    He  builds  his  simple  shelter  by  some 
spot  where  birds  are  accustomed  to  drink, 
and  calls   them    by   imitating    their   note. 
They  come  to  the  spot,  and,  not  seeing  their 
companions,  perch  upon  the  sticks  under 
which  the  hunter  is  concealed,  a  large  bunch 
of  gra-ss  being  generally  used  to  prevent  the 
birds  from  seeing  him.    As  soon  as  the  bird 
perches,  he  slips  the  noose  over  its  heatl, 
draws  it  inside  the  slulter, kills  it, and  wait* 
for  another. 

In  some  parts  of  the  country  the  natives 
make  a  seli-acling  snare,  very  much  on  the 

frinciplo  of  the  nets  used  in  siiaring  rabbits, 
t  consists  of  a  sort  of  bag,  and  has  its  open- 
ing encircled  by  a  running  string,  the  other 
end  of  which  is  fastened  to  some  fixed  ob- 
ject, such  as  a  tree-stump.  The  bag  is  made 
of  split  rattans,  so  that  it  remains  open,  and, 
as  the  meshes  are  very  wide,  the  bail  which 
is  placed  within  it  can  ea.sily  be  seen. 

If  a  bird  or  animal  shouhi  come  to  the 
bait,  which  is  fixed  ut  the  yerv  extreniitv  {>f 
the  bag,  it  naturally  forces  its  way  toward 
the  tempting  object,  and  iu  bo  doing  puUe 


Ws:^ 


(!.)   WINTKK   HUTS. 
(Soe  pajje  rsfl.) 


(-'.)   A    Sl'MM^;a  ENCAMPMEXT. 

(See  page  :n.) 


m^i 


.  I 


tr 

it 

T'P' 

r 

1 

i 


I 


«?'H' 

.fif 

'1 

L 

Mil 

USES  OF  THE  STBINGY  BARK. 


789 


upon  the  string  and  closes  the  mouth  of  the 
bag  behind  it.  The  more  it  struggles,  the 
firmer  is  it  lield;  and  so  it  remains  until  it  is 
taken  out,  and  the  trap  set  again.  This  ver^ 
ingenious  snare  is  used  mostly  for  bandi- 
coots and  similar  animals,  though  birds  are 
sometimes  caught  in  it. 

Tlio  natives  have  another  self-acting  trap, 
which  is  identical  in  principle  with  the  eel 
baskets  and  lobster  pots  of  ouf  own  country. 
A  number  of  these  traps  were  found  by 
Mr.  Carron  in  some  huts  near  Princess 
Charlotte's  Bay.  They  were  made  of  strips 
of  cane,  and  were  about  five  feet  in  length 
by  eight  or  nine  inches  in  diameter  at  the 
mouth.  From  the  opening  they  gradually 
tapered  for  some  four  feet,  anci  then  sud- 
denly enlarged  into  a  largo  round  basket  or 
pocket,  the  lower  ends  of  the  neck  projecting 
into  the  basket  so  as  to  hinder  any  animal 
from  returning  through  the  passage  by 
which  it  entered.  This  trap  was  used  in- 
differently for  catching  fish  and  small  ani- 
mals. For  the  latter  purpose  it  was  laid  in 
their  track,  and  for  the  former  it  was  placed 
in  a  narrow  channel,  through  which  the  fish 
were  forced  to  pass  by  being  driven  by  a 
party  of  natives  in  the  water. 

The  reader  will  remember  that  on  page 
785  there  is  a  reference  to  the  "striiigy- 
bark,"  and  its  use  in  architecture.  The 
same  bark  is  used  for  a  great  number  of 
purposes,  among  which  that  of  boat-building 
is  perhaps  the  most  conspicuous.  Should  a 
native  come  to  the  side  of  a  river  which  he 
does  not  wish  to  swim,  he  supplies  himself 
with  a  boat  in  a  very  expeditious  manner. 
Going  to  the  nearest  stringy-bark  trees,  and 
choosing  one  wliich  has  the  lines  of  the 
bark  straight  and  not  gnarled,  he  chops  a 
circle  round  the  tree  so  as  to  sever  the  bark, 
and  about  seven  or  eight  feet  higher  he 
chops  a  second  circle.  Ilis  next  proceeding 
is  to  make  a  longitudinal  cut  d  'vn  one  side 
of  the  tree,  and  a  corresponding  one  on  the 
other  side.  lie  then  inserts  the  handle  of 
his  tomahawk,  his  digging-stick,  or  any  such 
implement,  between  the  bark  and  the"  wood, 
and,  by  judicious  handling,  strips  off  the 
bark  in  two  semi-cylir  A^aX,  trough-like 
nieces  each  of  which  is  capable  of  being  made 
into  a  boat. 

Should  he  be  alone,  he  seldom  troubles 
himself  to  do  more  than  tie  the  bark  to- 
gether at  each  end  of  the  trough,  and  in 
this  frail  vesssel  he  will  commit  himself  to 
the  river.  But  if  his  wife,  or  any  second 
person,  should  be  with  him,  lie  makes  the 
simple  boat  more  trustworthy  by  digging  a 
C[uantity  of  clay  out  of  the  river  bank,  knead- 
ing it  into  each  end  of  the  trough,  and  tying 
the  bark  over  the  clay.  As  soon  as  he 
leoches  the  opposite  shore,  he  lands,  pushes 
the  canoe  back  into  the  river  and  abandons 
tt,  Kn*'"'!?ig  tfiav  to  nittiC?  s  seconti  Cniioe  Will 
not  be  nearly  so  troublesome  as  to  take  care 
of  the  first. 


If,  however,  he  wants  a  canoe  in  which  he 
goes  fishing,  and  which,  in  consequence, 
must  be  of  a  stronger  make,  he  still  adheres 
to  the  stringy  bark  as  his  material,  though 
he  takes  nwo  care  in  the  manufacture. 
The  bark  is  bent,  like  the  birch  bark  of  the 
North  American  Indians,  by  moisture  and 
heat;  and  even  with  this  better  kind  of 
boat  clay  is  required  at  each  end,  and  is  also 
used  for  stopping  up  any  leakage. 

He  also  exhibits  a  still  better  use  of  the 
stringy-bark.  The  bark  is  not  only  formed 
into  a  boat-like  shape,  but  it  is  kept  in  its 
form  by  cross-pieces  of  wood.  The  edges 
are  also  strengthened:  and  altogether  this 
canoe  shows  a  wonderful  advance  in  boat- 
building. The  vessel  is  propelled  with  a 
regular  paddle  instead  of  the  fish  spear:  and 
altogether  the  boat  and  the  accompanying 
implements  remind  the  observer  of  the 
birch-bark  canoes  and  vessels  of  America. 

Another  simple  form  of  boat  is  made  on  a 
totally  different  principle  from  those  which 
have  already  been  described,  and,  instead  of 
being  a  hollow  trough  of  bark,  is  a  solid 
bundle  of  reeds  and  sticks  tied  together  in 
a  very  ingenious  manner,  and  giving  sup-  • 
port  to  one  or  more  persons,  according  to  it« 
size. 

Such  is  the  history  of  the  aboriginal 
tribes  of  Australia,  whose  remarkable  man- 
ners and  customs  are  fast  disappearingjto- 
gether  with  the  natives  themselves.  The 
poor  creatures  are  aware  of  the  tact,  and 
seem  to  have  lost  all  pleasure  in  the  games 
and  dances  that  formerly  enlivened  their 
existence.  Many  of  the  tribes  are  alto- 
gether extinct,  and  others  are  disappearing 
so  fast  that  the  people  have  lost  all  heart 
and  spirit,  and  succumb  almost  without 
complaint  to  the  late  which  awaits  them. 
In  one  tribe,  for  example,  the  Barrabool, 
which  numbered  upward  of  three  hundred, 
the  births  during  seventeen  years  were 
only  twenty-four,  being  scarcely  two  births 
in  three  years;  while  the  deaths  had  been 
between  -eighteen  and  ninetee'n  per  annum. 

Mr.  Lioyd  gives  a  touching  account  of 
the  survivors  of.  this  once  flourishing 
tribe  :  — 

"  When  I  first  landed  in  Geelong,  in  1837, 
the  Barrabool  tribe  numbered  upward  of 
three  hundred  sleek  and  healthy-looking 
blacks.  A  few  months  previous  to  my  leav- 
ing that  town,  in  May  1853,  on  casually 
strolling  up  to  a  couple  of  miam-niiams,  or 
native  nuts,  that  were  erected  upon  the 
banks  of  the  Burwan  River,  I  observed 
seated  there  nine  loobraa  (women)  and  one 
sickly  child. 

"  Seeing  so  few  natives,  I  was  induced  to 
ask  after  numbers  of  my  old  dark  friends  of 
early  days  —  Bally vang,  the  chief  of  the  Bar- 

rong,  and  many  others,  wiien  I  received' 
the  following  pathetic  reply:  'Aha,  Hitter 


m 

1 

1 

II 

•% 


I' 

m 


790 


AUSTRALIA. 


Looyed,  Ballyynng  dcdac  (dead),  Jaga-jag<i 
dodac;  Paniffbrong  dedoc,'  «&c.,  naming 
manyothei-s;  and,  continuing  their  Borrowful 
tale,  they  chanted,  in  minor  and  fbnereal 
tones,  in  their  own  soft  language,  to  the  fol- 
lowing cfl'ect: 

" '  Tiu!  stranger  white  man  came  in  his 
great  swimming  corong  (vessel),  and  landed 
at    Corayio    with    his    dcdabul    boulganas 


Harge  animals),  and  his  anaki  boulganas 
(little  animals).  lie  came  with  his  boom- 
booms  (double  guns),  his  white  miam- 
miams  (tents),  blankets,  and  tomahawks; 
and  the  dedabul  ummageet  (great  white 
stranger)  took  away  the  loilg-inherited  hunt- 
ing-grounds of  the  poor  liarrabool  coolies 
and  their  children,'  &c.,  &c. 

"  Having  worked  themselves  into  a  fit  of 
passionate  and  excited  grief,  weening,  shak- 
ing their  heads,  and  holding  up  their  hands 
in  bitter  sorrow,  thev  exclaimed,  in  wild 
and  frenzied  tones:  'Ooolio!  coolie  I  coolie! 
where  are  our  coolies  nowl  AVhere  are 
our  fathers  —  mothers  —  brothers  —  sisters i* 
Dead  !  —  all  gone!  dead! '  Then,  in  broken 
English,  they  said,  'Nebber  mind,  Mitter 
•  Looyed,  tir;  by  'm  by  all  dem  black  fella 
come  back  white  fella  like  it  you.'  Such  is 
the  belief  of  the  jwor  aborigines  of  Victoria; 
lience  we  may  firmly  infer  that  they  possess 
a  latent  spark  of  hope  in  their  minds  as  to 
another  and  better  world. 

"Then,  with  outstretched  finger,  they 
showed  me  the  unhappy  stfvte  of  the  aborig- 
inal population.  From  their  statement  it 
appeared  that  there  existed  of  the  tribe  at 
that  moment  onlv  nine  women,  seven  men, 
and  one  child.  Their  rapid  diminution  in 
numbers  may  be  traced  to  a  variety  of 
causes.  First,  the  chances  of  obtaining 
their  natural  food  were  considerably  les- 
sened by  the  entire  occupation  of  the  best 
grassed  parts  of  the  country,  which  origin- 
ally abounded  in  kangaroo  and  other  ani- 
mals ujion  which  they  subsisted.  The 
greater  number  of  these  valuable  creatures, 
as  an  irresistible  consequence,  retired  into 
the  wild  uninhabitable  comitries,  far  from 
the  haunts  of  the  white  man  and  his  destruc- 
tive dogs. 

"Having  refused  the  aid  of  the  Govern- 
ment and  the  Missionarv  Societies'  establish- 
ments at  the  River  fturwan  and  Mount 
Rouse,  the  natives  were  to  a  serious  extent 
deprived  of  animal  food,  so  essential  to  a 
people  who  were  ever  exposed  to  the  inclem- 
encies of  winter  and  the  exhausting  heats  of 
summer.  Inlluenza  was  one  of  the  greatest 
scourges  under  which  they  suftercd.  Then, 
among  other  evils  attencling  their  associ- 
ation with  the  colonists,  the  brandy,  rum,  and 
tobacco  told  fearfully  upon  their  already 
wea':»3ned  constitutioiis." 

Vhifi  one  tribe  is  but  an  example  of  the 
''-chers,  all  of  whom  are  surelv,  and  some  not 
slowly,  ftpproachinir  the  em!  nf  thriv  ex- 
istence,   i  or  many  reasons  we  cannot  but 


regret  that  entire  races  of  men,  possessing 
many  fine  guaUties,  should  be  thus  passing 
away;  but  it  is  impossible  not  to  perceive 
that  they  are  but  following  the  order  of  the 
world,  the  lower  race  preparing  a  home  for 
the  higher. 

In  the  present  instance,  for  example,  the 
aborigines  jjorfbrmed  barely  half  of  their 
duties  as  men.  They  partially  exercised 
their  dominion  over  the  beasts  and  die  birds 
—killing,  but  not  otherwise  utilizing  them. 
But,  although  they  inherited  the  earth,  they 
did  not  subdue  it,  nor  replenish  it.  They 
cleared  away  no  useless  bush  or  forest,  to  re- 
place them  with  fruits;  and  the-  tilled  uo 
land,  leaving  ♦:,  -.  h  e-Aaeiiy  m  the  same 
condition  that  lit.    Living  almost 

entirely  by  tht  it  required  a  very 

large  hunting-jjn  ■  to  support  each  man, 
and  a  single  tribe  gained  a  scanty  and  pre- 
carious living  on  a  tract  of  land  suflkient, 
when  cultivated,  to  feed  a  thousand  times 
their  number.  In  fact,  they  occu])ied  pre- 
cisely the  same  relative  position  toward  the 
human  race  aa  do  the  lion,  tiger,  and  leopard 
toward  the  lower  animals,  and  suffered  in 
consequence  from  the  same  law  of  extinction. 
In  process  of  time  white  men  came  to  in- 
troduce new  arts  into  their  country,  clear- 
ing away  useless  forest,  and  covering  the 
rescued  earth  with  luxuriant  wheat  crops, 
sufHcient  to  feed  the  whole  of  the  aborigines 
of  the  country:  bringing  also  with  them  herds 
of  sheep  and  horned  cattle  (o  feed  upon  the 
vast  plains  which  formerly  nourished  but  a 
few  kangaroo,  and  to  multiplv  in  such  num- 
bers that  they  not  only  8ui)plied  the  whole 
of  their  adopted  land  with  food,  but  their 
flesh  was  exported  to  the  mother  country. 

The  superior  knowledge  of  the  white  man 
thus  gave  to  the  aborigines  the  means  of  se- 
curing their  supplies  of  food;  and  therefore 
his  ad\'ent  was  not  a  curse,  but  a  benefit  to 
them.  But  they  could  not  take  advantage 
of  the  opportunities  thus  offered  to  tliem, 
and,  instead  of  seizing  u])on  these  new  means 
of  procuring  the  t!  r  great  necessaries  of 
human  life,  food,  cl.  ihing,  and  lodging,  they 
not  only  refused  to  employ  them,  but  did 
their  best  to  drive  them  out  of  tlie  country, 
murdering  the  colonists,  killing  their  cattle, 
destroying  their  crops,  and  burning  their 
houses. 

The  means  were  offered  to  them  of  in- 
finitely bettering  their  social  condition,  and 
the  opportunity  given  them,  by  substituting 
peaceful  labor  for  perpetual  feuds,  and  of 
turning  professional  nnirderers  into  food- 
producers,  of  replenishing  the  land  which 
their  everla-sting  quarrels,  irri  gular  mode  of 
existence,  and  carelessness  of  human  life  had 
well-nigh  depopulated.  These  means  they 
could  not  appreciate,  and,  as  a  natural  con- 
sequence, had  to  make  way  for  those  who 
could.  The  inferior  must  always  make  way 
lOr  the  snperior,  and  such  has  ever  been  the 
I  case  with  the  savage.    I  am  persuaded  tliat 


EXTINCTION  OP  NATIVE  TRIBES. 


701 


the  comitiff  of  the  white  man  is  not  the  sole, 
nor  even  the  chief,  cause  of  the  decadence 
of  savage  tribes.  I  have  already  shown  that 
we  can  introduce  no  vice  in  which  the  savage 
is  not  profoundly  versed,  and  feel  sure  tliat 


the  cause  of  extinction  lies  within  the  savage 
himself,  and  ought  not  to  be  attributed  to 
the  white  man,  who  comes  to  take  the  place 
which  the  savage  has  practically  vacated. 


I 


ii 


It-' 


CHAPTER  Lxxym. 


NEW  ZEALAND. 
GENERAL  EEJIAEKS. 

lOCAUmr  OF  HEW  ZEALAim  — OENERAL  APPEARANCE  OF  THE  PEOPLE— THE  TWO  CASTES,  AND  TnEIR 
SUPPOSED  OHiaiN  — C0NTHA8T  llETWEEN  THE  8EXE8-LAXNES8  OF  M0KAL3  —  NUMnEB  OP  TUB 
POPULATION,  AND  THE  DIFFEHENT  TIlinES  — MODE  OF  GOVERNMENT  — DISTINCTION  IlETWEEN 
RANKS— rOHMATION  OF  THE  CLANS,  OU  8UU-TI11I1E8  — THE  SLAVES,  THEIll  VAUU!  AND  TREAT- 
MENT— THE  TENURE  OF  LAND  — A  COMPLEX  AIUlANaEMENT  AND  CONSEQUENT  Dri.FICULTlE8  — 
ESTABLISHINO  A  CLAIM  — NATIVE  LAW  — THE  "  LEX  TALIONIS  "  —  SENSITIVENESS  TO  DISOIiACK  — 
TUB  PREVALENCE  OF  SUICIDE  —  STRANGE  CONDUCT  OF  A  MAORI  CHIEF  — THE  SWTER's  VEN- 
GEANCE. 


Southward  and  eastward  of  Australia  wo 
como  to  the  group  of  islands  known  collec- 
tively OS  New  Zealand.  Like  Australia, 
Now  Zealand  possesses  many  peculiarities 
of  climate  and  natural  production,  and  is  in- 
habited by  a  number  of  tribes  which  are  gen- 
erally hostile  to  each  other,  but  whicii  arc 
almost  identical  in  appearance  and  habits. 
We  shall  therefore  be  enabled  to  treat  of  tliis 
important  portion  of  the  globe  with  much 
more  brevity  than  could  be  the  case  if,  as  in 
Africa,  the  tribes  diftercd  from  each  other 
in  hue,  dress,  and  customs. 

Taken  as  a  whole,  the  New  Zealanders  arc 
a  singularly  fine  race  of  people — tall,  power- 
ful, and  well  made.  Though  varying  some- 
what in  shade,  the  color  is  always  a  brown 
of  some  kind,  the  complexion  being  some- 
times as  light  as  that  of  a  Spaniard,  and  some- 
times of  a  dark  umber.  It  is,  however, 
always  of  a  clear  tint  and  never  approaches 
to  the  deep  black  of  the  Australian.  The 
nose  is  straight  and  well  formed,  in  manv 
cases  being  boldly  aquiline;  and  the  mouth 
is  rather  large,  and  the  lips  moderately  full, 
though  not  resembling  those  of  the  negro! 
The  cheekbones  are  rather  high,  but  not 
much  more  prominent  than  those  of  a 
genuine  Scotchman ;  and  the  eyes  arc  large, 
aark,  and  vivacious. 

The  teeth  are  remarkably  whHe  and  even, 
and  the  feet  and  hands  small  and  well  pro- 
portioned, The  foot  is  very  well  developed, 
the  native  never  having  spoiled  its  beautiful 
mechanism  with  shoes  or  boots,  and  being 
accustomed  to  use  the  toes  in  many  tasks 
wherein  a  civilized  European  requires  his 
fingers.    The  toes  are,  for  example,  contin- 


ually employed  in  holding  one  end  of  a  rope, 
while  the  lingers  are  engaged  in  twisting  or 
plaiting  it;  and  the  conHequence  is  that  the 
natives  are  able  to  ridicule  with  justice  tho 
misshapen  feet  and  toes  of  tho  Eu'iopean. 

The  men  have  naturally  n  full  beard;  but 
they  always  remove  evt>ry  vestige  of  hair  on 
the  face,  in  order  to  show  the  patterns  which 
are  tattooed  upon  it.  Now  and  then  a  very 
old  and  powerful  chief  will  dare  to  allow  his 
beard  to  grow;  but.  as  a  rule,  the  face  is  di. 
vested  of  all  covering:  so  that  the  absence 
of  the  beard,  together  witii  the  profuse  tattoo, 
destroys  all  evidences  of  age,  and  makes  the 
countenance  of  a  young  man  of  twenty  look 
nearly  as  old  as  that  of  his  grandfather  aged 
sixty. 

The  hair  is  plentiful,  and  mostly  straight, 
being  twisted  and  curled  l)y  art  into  the 
various  fashionable  forms!.  In  some  cases  it 
is  light,  or  even  reddish,  in  color;  and  in 
such  instances  accoinnanics  a  conqjlexion  of 
peculiar  fairness.  Albinism  (ixists  among 
the  New  Zealanders,  but  is  not  agreeable 
in  apnearanee,  the  eyes  beini'  always  weak, 
and  the  skin  looking  as  if  it  had  been  artill- 
cially  whitened.  In  fact,  such  an  albino 
looks  among  his  dark  fellows  like  a  plant 
that  has  been  bleached  by  growing  in  tho 
dark. 

There  seems  to  be  two  castes  of  men 
nmon^  the  New  Zealanders.  The  upper 
caste  IS  distinguished  by  the  above  char- 
acteristics; but  the  lower  is  shorter  in  stat- 
ure, and  has  coarse  and  curly,  tliough  not 
woolly  hair,  more  prominent  cheekbones, 
and  a  much  blacker  skin.  This  second  race, 
according  to  Dr.  Dieffenbach,  "is  mixed  in 
insensible  gradations  with  tho  former,  and  is 


(71)2) 


■■1 

I 

NEW   ZtALA.NUKK    I'KO.M    (•im.UUuOU    iO  AUli. 
(Sec  pn^'u  ;u5.; 


(701- 


CONTRAST  BETWEEN  THE  SEXES. 


798 


farloM  iuiinr<rou.o-,  it  doofi  not  iircilomiimte 
ill  iiiiy  (»nc!  part  of  the  iKlaiid,  nor  dot-H  it 
occnpy  any  niirticiilar  sUilion  in  a  Irilm;  luui 
there  i.i  no  (litl't  riucc  niado  between  tlic  two 
iw;es  ainoni;  tiieniseiveM. 

"  Uiit  I  niusl  ol>Htrvc  tlint  I  never  met 
Jinv  man  of  eon.He(juene(^  J)e]onf|in<^  to  tills 
tri)ii',aii(i  liiat,  allliouj,'!)  freemen,  lliey  oc<;ii- 
jiicd  tlio  lower  grades:  from  tiiin  we  may, 
ixuhaps,  infer  (lie  relation  in  wliieli  tliey 
Htood  to  till!  earlieNt  inimii^ranls  into  tlie 
country,  alllio',ii«li  tlieir  traditions  and  leg- 
ends are  silent  on  tlie  siii)jeet 

"From  llio  existence  of  two  races  in  New 
Zealand  the  eonelusion  might  he  drawn  that 
tlie  darker  wtire  the  original  jiropriulors  of 
l\\o.  soil,  anterior  to  the  arrival  of  u  stock 
of  true  Polvnesiaii  origin;  that  they  were 
coiKpierud  hy  the  latter,  and  nearly  exter- 
minated. This  opinion  has  been  ent'ertnineil 
regarding  all  Polynesian  islands;  hut  I  must 
observe  that  it  is  very  doulitful  whether 
those  dillereiiees  whieli"  we  observe!  among 
the  natives  of  New  Zealand  are  really  due 
to  sueh  a  source.  We  tlnd  similar  varieties 
in  all  Polynesian  islands,  and  it  is  probable 
that  they  arc  a  eonsequeneu  of  the  ditfer- 
enoe  of  castes  go  extc'usivelv  spread  among 
the  inhabitants  of  the  tribes  of  the  great 
ocean. 

"If  one  part  of  the  population  of  New 
Zealand  are  a  distinct  race  —  a  fiu't  which 
cannot  be  denied  as  regards  other  islands  — 
it  is  very  curious  that  there  should  bo  no 
traces  of  such  a  blending  in  the  language, 
where  they  would  have  been  most  duralde, 
or  in  the  traditions,  which  certainly  wouhl 
have  mentioned  the  conquest  of  one  race 
by  the  other,  if  it  had  happened.  CapUiin 
Crozet.a  Frenchman,  who  early  visited  New 
Zealand,  says  that  he  found  a  tribe  at  the 
North  (Jape  darker  than  the  rest.  I  could 
observe  nothing  of  the  kind  there,  though 
I  visited  all  the  natives.  Nor  an,"  those 
darker-colored  individuals  more  common 
in  the  interior;  I  should  say,  oven  less  so. 
"  There  is  undoubtedly  a  greater  variety 
of  color  and  countenance  among  the  natives 
of  New  Zealand  than  onc!  would  expect — a 
circumstance  which  might  prove  cither  an 
early  blendin<?  of  diiferent  races,  or  a  diflfer- 
eiice  of  social  conditions,  which  latter  sup- 
position would  go  far  to  explain  the  fact. 
All  the  New  Zealanders  speak  of  the  Man- 
go-Mango, or  Blacks  of  New  South  Wales, 
as  nncoiinected  with  and  inferior  to  them- 
eelves;  but  they  never  make  sueh  a  distinc- 
tion regprdiiig  their  own  tribes." 

As  is  often  the  ease  with  uncivilised  peo- 
ple, the  women  are  decidedlv  inferior  to 
the  men,  being  inueli  shorter,  and  not  nearly 
so  well  made.  They  are  not  treated  with 
the  har.shucfis  which  is  the  usual  charaetcr- 
jstic  of  married  Hie  among  savages,  and  are 
even  taken  into  their  husbancfs'  counsels, 
find  have  great  iiillueiici;  in  political  alVairsi 
Still,  the  heavy  work  of  tho  Uousuhold  ftvUs 


upon  their  shoulders,  and  tho  lot  of  an  ordi- 
nary New  Zealand  wife  is  rather  a  severe 
one.  Slio  has  to  cultivate  the  ground,  to 
carry  the  proiluee  of  the  distant  llelds  to  tho 
lumse,  and,  when  the  family  is  travelling, 
the  women  have  to  carry  all  the  heavy  loads. 
It  Is  no  wonder,  thcrtdbre,  that  a  lift!  of  such 
drudgery  should  tell  upon  the  women,  botli 
in  preventing  the  proper  d(!veloiinient  of 
their  fraiiK!  and  in  causing  their  oeaiity  to 
decay.  Those  who  jireservo  their  beauty 
loiigent  aro  the  daughters  of  wealthy  chiefs, 
who  can  atlbrd  slaves  by  wliom  all  the  hard, 
work  in  done,  and  Who  therefore  free  tlieir 
mistressefl  from  one  of  the  causes  of  deteri- 
oration. 

There  is,  however,  another  cause,  which 
is  perhaps  equally  effective,  but  not  so  jial- 
jmhle.  This  is  the  very  lax  code  of  molality 
which  prevails  among  them,  a  young  girl 
being  permitted  the  utmost  freedom  until 
she  is  niarriod,  although  afterward  she  i^  a 
model  of  constancy.  This  license  is  exer- 
cised at  a-  very  early  age,  and  the  natural 
consequence  is  that  the  dui!  development  of 
tho  frame  is  checked.  This  vicious  system 
is  so  much  a  matter  of  course,  that  it  car- 
ries no  reproach  with  it,  and  the  young  girls 
arc  remarkable  for  their  modest  and  ehild- 
liko  demeanor. 

Of  course  they  become  aged  much  earlier 
than  those  whose  development  takes  place 
at  a  later  period  of  life;  but  they  compen- 
sate for  their  deteriorated  apjiearance  by 
their  peculiar  kindliness  of  demeanor.  The 
engraving  No,  1,  illustrates  the  countenance 
and  dress  of  a  Now  Zealand  womau  and 
her  boy, 

TTnli'ke  ti.e  men,  tho  women  do  not  dis- 
figure their  liices  by  the  tattoo,  which  gives 
to  them  tlK!  stern  and  (ixed  expression  so 
cliaracteri.'itic  of  a  New  Zealand  warrior; 
and  they  thus  allow  the  really  flexible  and 
intelligent  features  b  'lavc  fiill  play.  The 
only  portions  of  the  ,re  that  arc 'marked 
with  the  tattoo  are  (lie  lips,  which  an?  ren- 
dered blue  by  the  process,  as  it  is  consirlcred 
disgraceful  tor  a  woman  to  have  red  lipo. 
The  tattooing  is  always  performed  when  the 
child  is  allowed  to  take  her  place  among 
\yomen;  and,  a.s  may  be  imagined,  it  gives  a 
livid  and  altogether  unpleasant  r.ppearance 
to  the  mouth. 

The  children  are  very  pleasing  and  i-^ter- 
esting  little  creatures.  They  are  full  of 
intellig(jnce,  and  unusually  free  and  open  in 
their  manner.  Unlike  the  children  of  most 
savage  nations,  they  live  as  much  with  the 
men  as  with  tho  women,  and  partake  even 
in  the  councils  of  their  parents,  thus  having 
tluur  faculties  sharpened  at  a  very  early  age. 
The  illustration  ojiposito  gives  "typical  ex- 
amiiles  of  the  New  Zealandor  from  child- 
hood to  ago,  and  the  reader  will  notice  the 
contrast  between  the  soft  and  rotinderl  out- 
lines of  the  youth,  and  the  harsh,  rigid  cou'u- 
tcuanccs  of  the  old  mau  nud  his  consort 


TM 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


4     I 


><iU 


1 

fill  I 


In  proportion  «o  (hu  dlnuMmions  of  New 
Zcaliuid,  tli(!  populfttioii  Im  very  mnull;  iiiul, 
oviii  ill  Hitf  i'iirlic«t  <ltiyH  of  our  nc(|niiiii- 
tiuici^  witli  it,  l\w  Iniid  m'l'fns  to  hiivf  been 
but  thiuly  iiilmtiitiil.  Tlmt  huiIi  Mboiild  b« 
llio  (line  m  viTv  rciimrkjvl)li<  ivti  n  very  tbiu 
i)opululioi  iH  Kt'iierully  t'ound  in  thoM»ri-oiii|. 
tiii's  wlieiv,  iiH  ill  AuHtraliii,  the  iiiliitl)ilaiitH 
live  priueipally  tiy  tlio  ilin.sf,  and  thfrelor.- 
rcquiri!  u  vuiy  largo  trint  of  land  to  support 
tlu'in.  Tlio  New  Zenlnndtis,  bowevcr,  do 
not  live  by  the  elmse,  for  the  nimple  reoHon 
that  there  are  no  aninuilM  which  arc  worth 
the  trouble  of  huntiinf;  »«  that  ft  family  of 
twenty  or  so,  even  If  they  had  the  entire 
country  as  a  liuntiiij,'-Krouiid,  would  tlrid 
themselves  in  very  great  straits  were  they 
obliged  to  pnxjure  their  food  by  the  ehase. 
The  reasons  for  this  thin  i)opulation  will  be 
presently  seen. 

Aeeording  to  Dieffenbnch's calculation,  the 
native  population  of  the  entire  country  may 
bo  reckoned  rather  below  one  hundred  anil 
tlfleen  thousand.  These  are  divided  into 
twelve  great  tribes,  which  are  at;u;  \  subdi- 
vided into  sub-tribes,  or  clans,  each  of  which 
has  its  separate  name,  and  is  sui)posed  to 
belong  to  a  certain  district  The  il-'litin.' 
men,  or  warriors,  form  about  one-fourth  o7 
the  whole  po])ulation;  the  remaining  tlirec- 

lourths  being  made  up  of  old  men.  women,  and 
children.  Since  this  calculation  llie  numbers 
of  the  aborigines  have  considerably  lessened 
riic  most  importmit  of  the  tribes  sei  ms  to 
bo  the  Waikato,  which  is  divided  into  eigh- 
teen clans,  and  whici:  occujiies  a  very  largo 
proporlion  of  the  country.  This  tribe  alone 
can  bring  into  the  iield  8i.\  thousand  light- 
ing men;  so  tlmt  the  entire  number  of  the 
tribe  may  bo  calculated  at  twenty-four  thou- 
sand or  so. 

The  Waikato  clans  have  managed  to  pre- 
serve their  individuality  better  than  the 
others,  and,  though  brought  much  in  con- 
tact with  civilization,  and  l  aving  adopted 
some  of  the  habits  of  their  white  visitors, 
they  have  still  retained  m.aiiy  of  their 
ancient  customs,  and,  as  DicfJenbach  re- 
marks, have  preserved  much  of  their  ancient 
vigor  and  original  virtues. 

The  tribe  that  is  strongest  in  mere  num- 
bers 18  the  Nga-te-kahuhnna,  which  inhi.i)- 
its  the  east  coast,  and  may  bo  reckoned  at 
thirty-six  thousand  strong.     In  fact,  these 
two  tribes  alone  outnumber  the  whole  of| 
the  others   taken   collectively.    One   tribe 
the  Rangitani,  is  interesting  from  the  fact 
tliat  it  was  described  by  Captain  Cook.    In 
his  (lays  It  W!us  evidently  a  large  and  tlour- 
islung  tribe,  but  some  few  years  ago  it  could 
scarcely    muster    three    hundred   warriors, 
r'=l";*isc"tiiig  a  total  number  of  twelve  hun- 
dred.    Tlie  decadence  of  this  tribe  is  prob- 
•■*'>'>■  owing  to  the  destructive  wars  in  which 
the  New  Zealanders  engage,  and  which  are 
otten  so  herce  as  to  erase  a  tribe  entirely. 
Iho  govuruiueut  of  the  New  Zcalauders 


!»  n  curious  mlxtiir^  of  iilnipliclly  and  coin- 
plication.  Monarchy  is  unknown,  each  tribe 
huviiig  its  own  gnmt  chief,  while  an  inferior 
chiet  presides  over  each  clan,  or  sub-trilio. 
The  whole  of  the  poi)ulaliou  may  be  roughly 
divided  into  three  ranks.  First  come  tho 
nobility,  then  the  IVee  men,  and  lastly  the 
slaves.  The  nobility  go  by  the  general  iiaino 
of  Hangatira  — a  title  which  Is  always  given 
toolllcers,  missionaries,  and  other  wllite  men 
wlio  are  placed  in  command  over  others. 

In  each  tribe  one  of  the  Hnngatira  is  tho 
Ariki,  or  nrincipal  chief;  but,  as  he  is  necci- 
sarilv  a  Hangatira,  ,      is  always  addressed 
by  that  title,  and,  i*     i.ouseqiience,  a  stran- 
ger tinds  801110  ditllcijity,  even  after  a  juo- 
longed  visit,  in  ascertaining  who  is  the  Arikl. 
Among  the  New  Zealanders  there  is  no  Salic 
law,  so  that  the  Aiiki  need  not  be  a  warrior, 
and  may  be  a  woman.    The  otiice  is  henjd- 
itary,  and  tho  existing  Arikl  is  always  held 
in  the  highest  veneration  in  virtue  of  his 
descent.     Even  the  hostile  tribes  resjiect  ait 
Ariki,  and  in  most  cases,  if  he   should  be 
captured   in   battle,   the   victors   will  sjiaro 
his  life.    One  or  two  of  the  most  powerful 
chiefs  living  have  been  captured  and  after- 
ward released,  whereas,  had  they  been  com- 
mon men,   or    even    ordinary    Raiigatiras 
they  would  have   been  killed,  lluir   bodies 
eaten,  and  their  lieads  dried  and   lixcd   us 
trophies  on  the  liouses  of  thoir  conquerors. 
A  sort  of  tax,  or  tribute,  is  i)aid  by  tho 
dilferent  families,  though  tlie  tax  is  euiirely 
a  voluntary  one,  and  may  be  great  or  small, 
or  withheld  altogether,  at  jilcasiire.    Alostly 
the  Ariki  is  a  man  of  considerable  imiital 
powers,  and.  in  such   a  case,  he  exercises 
great  authority  over  the  tribe,  either  as  a 
l)riest  or  a  warrior.    There   is   nothing   to 
prevent  the  Ariki  from  assuming  the  ollico 
of  i)riest,  and  in   many  instances   Ik;   lias 
been  able  to  exercise  a  "far  greater  iiiduenco 
by  siiirilual  tlian  by  idiysical  means. 

The  Hangatira  are  the  great  men,  or 
nobles,  of  the  land,  and  with  tliciu.  as  with 
the  Ariki,  the  rank  is  hcreditarv.  The  law 
of  succession  is  very  remarkable,  tlie  eldest 
son  being  the  heir  to  his  father's  rank;  but 
if  the  child  dies,  the  youngest,  and  not  tho 
next  eldest,  becomi  s  the  lawftil  successor. 
These  two  heirs,  the  eldest  and  the  young- 
est sons,  are  called  by  a  name  which  sijriiilies 
the  fat  of  the  earth. 

I  Each  Hangatira  is  independent  of  liis 
fellows,  though  they  collectively  form  a  sort 
of  body  which  we  may  compare  with  tho 
House  of  Peers  in  England.  Any  Hanga- 
tira who  has  sutlieient  intlueuce  may  gntiior 
together  the  members  of  his  clan,  build  a 
fortified  village,  or  pah,  and  become  a  \^i'\ty 
sovereign  in  his  own  dominions.  It  is  iu 
this  way  that  the  various  clans,  or  sub- 
tribes,  aro  formed,  each  gathering  round  a 
noble  of  more  than  usual  ability,  and  adopt- 
ing ft  name  by  wbicli  tlie  members  will  "v- 
afterward  be  kuowu. 


\ 


THE  LAND  QUESTION". 


79T- 


Tho  free  mfin  form  tho  >?roat  Ixxly  of  the 
wnrHorH;  sdiihs  of  Hiuin  bi'iii)^  (ho  nmn  of 
Riinifutim,  niul  othiTK  iiu-nly  haviiif?  tho 
nrivilcKo  of  frco  birth;  which  ciirrios  with 
(t  th(!  rif^lit  of  "tnttooiiiK  tlic  t\u*'.  Soiiio- 
times  IV  free  in:in  who  in  rcmarltrthl*!  ft»r  hin 
poiicralnhip  nnd  i'oura>?f  will  talco  the  coiu- 
mnml  of  lui  expedition,  oven  tfiouj^h  im-ii  of 
hijilier  ninlc  tlian  liiin«flf  uliould  bo  engaged 
in  it. 

Last  conio  the  slavcK.  TheMC  are  alwayn 
procured  IVom  two  sources:  tlicy  are  eitlier 
caplivew  tnlcen  in  liattic,  or  are  the  cliildrcn 
of  mu'h  cnptivest.  Tiu'  value  of  oueh  slaves 
is  very  gri-at.  All  Kavagos  are  idle,  hut  the 
Now  Zealander  i«  one  of  the  laziest  of  mor- 
tals ill  time  of  peace.  In  war  ho  is  all  tire 
and  spirit;  hut  in  peace  he  louugos  listlcHsly 
about,  and  will  not  do  a  stroke  of  work  that 
can  possibly  be  avoidc^d. 

He  iuay,perhaii  rondeseeiid  to  carve  tho 
posts  of  his  house  u.io  some  fantustieal  som- 
fclanco  of  the  human  form,  or  he  may,  per- 
chance, employ  himself  in  slowly  rubbing  a 
Bt«no  club  into  shape,  or  in  polishing  or 
adorning  his  weapons.  Whatever  real  work 
is  to  be  done  ia  left  to  the  woiiion  or  the 
slaves,  and  a  man  who  values  his  wife  or 
daughter  will  endeavor  to  jirocure  slavea  wlio 
will  relieve  lier  of  the  drudgery. 

There  arc  slaves  of  both  sexes,  to  whom 
the  appropriate  work  is  allotted.  They  are 
considered  the  absolute  property  of  their 
owner,  who  may  treat  them  as  he  pleases, 
nnd,  if  he  prefers  to  kill  them,  may  do  bo 
without  attracting  any  attention.  Of  course 
he  would  not  do  so'  except  for  very  good 
reasons,  as  he  would  deprive  himself  of  a 
valuable  article  of  property.  Tliere  have 
l)een  ca-ses,  aa  we  shall  presently  see,  when 
the  owner  of  slaves  has  dclil)eralt  y  mur- 
dered them  for  tho  sake  of  selling  their 
heads.  • 

Once  a  slave,  always  a  slave.  Should  one 
of  these  unfortunates  manage  to  escape  and 
ge(>  back  to  his  own  tribe,  liis  owner  would 
apply  for  him,  and  he  would  be  given  up, 
the  right  of  the  master  to  his  slave  being 
universally  recognized.  Still,  as  a  rule,  tlie 
slaves  are  treated  well,  and  some  of  them, 
who  have  attained  excellence  in  certain 
arts,  often  become  richer  men  than  their 
owners.  80  great  is  the  value  of  slaves,  that 
many  a  war  lias  been  undertaken  for  the 
mere  purjiosc  of  slave  liuntiug,  and  some  of 
tlie  most  disastrous  and  obstinate  feuds  liave 
originated  in  the  slave  hunt. 

Connected  with  tlie  government  of  the 
New  Zealnndors  is  tlie  laud  question.  This 
is  a  strangely  complicated  business,  as  every 
iucli  of  ground  has  an  actual  owiutr,  while 
there  are  usually  several  claimants  who  al- 
low their  rights,  real  or  imagined,  to  lie  in 
abeyance  as  long  as  tho  land  is  owned  by 
one  wIjo  can  hold  his  own,  wlxile  tliey  will 
all  prefer  Uieir  claims  itl  his  deulh,  or  even 
during  a  lengthened  absence. 


Ho  It  hhs  often  happened  that  tlic  white 
men,  while  ilesiring  to  act  according  to  law 
and  honor,  have  involved  themsclvrs  in  a 
very  mst  of  dlttlculties.  A  <;liief,  for  ex- 
ani|)lc,  may  igreo  to  sell  a  portion  of  terri- 
tory, will  reix'ive  the  price,  and  will  sign  r. 
deed,  which  will  be  witnesstul  by  natives  as 
well  as  by  Europeans.  No  sooner  lias  he 
done  so,  than  a  claimant  conios  forward, 
declaring  that  the  chief  in  (picstion  ba<l  no 
real  right  to  the  land,  and  therefore  had  no 
rifflit  to  sell  it. 

Ills  claim  will  be  inquired  into,  and,  if  it 
seems  to  be  tolerably  consistent  with  likeli- 
hood, the  mail  will  iie  paid  an  additional 
sum  for  his  consent  to  tlie  sale.  Tin,  mat- 
ter, liow(!ver,  is  not  at  an  end,  for  such  is 
the  Jealousy  with  which  tlit^  natives  regard 
land,  that,  as  long  as  a  foreigner  holds  an 
inch  of  ground,  so  long  will  there  be  a  na- 
tive who  prefers  a  claim  to  it.  Strange  as  it 
may  seem,  the  white  man  would  incur  less 
odium  by  taking  the  land  by  force,  and  seizing 
it  by  right  of  conquest,  than  by  trying  to  act 
according  to  Justice  and  eipiily. 

War  is  a  fertile  source  of  misunderstand- 
ing about  land.  A  tribe  may  be  driven  out 
of  a  district,  and  their  land  given  to  others, 
who  hold  it  as  long  as  they  can  keep  it,  the 
original  possessors  being  sure  to  reconquer 
it  if  possible.  It  has  sometimes  happened 
tl1.1t  a  chief  to  whom  such  lands  have  been 
presented  has  transferred  them  to  anothir 
(^lii(!f,  and  he,  in  his  turn,  has  sold  then?  to 
European  settlers,  the  bargain  being  r.ititied 
by  his  own  followers,  who  are  considered  aa 
liaving  a  share  in  such  property. 

The  colonists  take  the  land,  clear  it,  culti- 
vate it,  and  when  tho  crops  are  fairly  in  the 
ground,  the  dispossessed  tribe  will  come  for- 
ward and  prefer  tlieir  claim  to  it.  Those  to 
whom  it  Wius  sold  have  already  received 
their  price,  and  do  not  trouble  themselves 
to  oppose  the  claim;  and  the  conseiiueiice 
is,  that  the  colonists  are  obliged  either  to 
make  a  second  payment  or  to  run  the  risk  of 
war. 

As  to  the  claims  themselves,  they  are  of 
the  most  curious  and  unexnected  character, 
such  as  no  Euronean  woula  be  likely  to  an- 
ticipate. According  to  Dieflenbach,  "  There 
exists  a  very  distinct  notion  of  the  rights  of 
landed  property  among  tlie  natives,  and  every 
inch  of  land  in  New  Zealand  has  its  proprie- 
tor. Sometimes  land  is  given  to  a  strange 
tribe,  either  aa  pay,  or  from  other  consider- 
ations, but  the  proprietor  reserves  certain 
rights,  some  of  which  are  what  we  should 
term  manorial. 

"  It  was  formerly  verv  common  that  tho. 
fat  of  the  native  rats  (liiore)  killed  on  suoii 
lands  should  be  given  to  the  principal  pro- 
prietor, and  in  many  cases  a  title  to  land 
seems  to  Imve  been  derived  from  tho  fact  of 
having  killed  rats  on  it  TIius  a  chief  will 
say,  'This  or  that  pleCo  of  laitCl  is  uune;  I 
have  killed  rata  on  it'     Generally,  how- 


fill 


798 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


ever,  land  clcscends,  as  witli  us,  by  inheri- 
tance." 

Sucli  being  the  complicated  tenure  on 
whicli  land  is  luM  —a  tenure  wliieh  is  often 
puzzling  to  tlie  i;  itivcs  tliemselvcs  — it  is 
no  matter  of  wonder  that  English  settlers 
should  have  found  themselves  in  difficulties. 
It  is  said  that  the  colonists  tried  to  mal<e 
tlieniselves  masters  of  the  land  hy  unfair 
moans,  i.  c.  eitlior  by  forcibly  taking  posses- 
sion of  It,  or  by  inveigling  the  ignorant  na- 
tives into  signing  documents  which  they  did 
not  understand,  and  thus  .selling  their  pater- 
nal esUitcs  for  rum,  tobacco,  and  a  few  blan- 
kets. 

This  may  to  some  extent  have  been  the 
case  when  the  colonists  first  came  to  settle 
Ml  the  country.     But  the  natives  arc  far  too 
intelligent  to  remain  long  ignorant  of  the 
po\ver  of  ncn,  ink,  and  paper,  and  tliere  is 
no  doubt  that  in  many  cases  they  intention- 
ally outwitted  the  purchaser,  either  by  put- 
ting forward  a  sham  owner  of  the  ground 
who  had  no  rij^ht  to  sell  it,  and  who  van- 
ished with  his  .share  of  the  prize  as  soon  a.s 
tlie  bargain  was  concluded,  or  by  a.xsertin<' 
Ignorance  of  the  meaning  of  the  documenl 
which    had    been   signed,  and   rcfusin"   to 
c.nrry   out  its  conditions.    That   the  white 
nun  succeeded   too  often   in  cheating  the 
natives  is  unfortunately  true,  but  it  is  no  less 
true  that  the  natives as'oftcn  cheated  the  col- 
onists. 

Law  among  the  New  Zealanders  seems  to 
be  of  the  simplest  kind,  and,  as  far  as  we 
know,  is  not  so  well  developed  as  anion" 
-some  of  the  tribes  of  Routhern  Africa.  The 
three  ofl'enees  of  which  the.  law  takes  co"- 
nizauce  are  murder,  theft,  and  adultery. 
For  the  first  (;f  these  o(lpnc(^s  a  sort  of  lex 
talinms  holds  good,  the  relatives  of  the  slain 
man  iK'ing  sure,  sooner  or  later,  to  kill  the 
murderer,  unless  he  manages  to  compromise 
with  them.  Even  theft  is  punished  in  a 
similiar  fashion,  the  thief  being  robbed  in 
Ins  turn. 

As  to  the  third  otfence,  it  is  punishable  in 
various  ways;  but  both  the  otrendin<r  i)arties 
are  sujiposed  to  have  forfeited  their" lives  to 
the  husband.  If,  therefore,  the  fact  be  dis- 
covered, ami  the  culprit  be  a  person  of  low 
rank,  he  seeks  safety  in  flight,  while,  if  he 
be  a  man  of  rank,  he  expects  that  the  of- 
fended husband  will  make  war  upon  him. 
Sometimes,  if  a  wife  discovers  that  her  hus- 
briiid  has  been  unfaithful  to  her,  she  will  kill 
his  paramour,  or,  at  all  events,  disgrace  her 
after  the  native  custom,  by  strijiping  off  all 
her  clothes,  and  exposing  her  in  public. 
Even  the  husband  is  sometimes  subjeeled 
to  tliis  punishment  by  the  wife's  relations- 
and  so  much  dreaded"  is  this  disgrnce  that 
men  have  been  known  to  commit  suicide 
when  tlieir  offence  has  been  di.scoverod. 

Suicide,  i)y  the  way,  is  not  at  all  uncommon 
among  the  New  Zealanders,  who  always 
think  that  death  is  better  than  disgr.ice  and 


sometimes  destroy  themselves  under  the 
most  trivial  provocation.  One  such  case  is 
mentioned  by  Mr.  Angas.  "  On  an-iving 
at  the  village  or  kainga  of  Ko  Nghahokowitu, 
we  found  all  the  natives  if»  a  state  of  ex- 
traordinary excitement.  Wo  had  observed 
numbers  of  people  running  in  that  direc- 
tion, along  the  margin  of  the  river,  from  the 
diftbrent  plantations,  and,  on  inquiry,  wo 
learned  that  an  hour  previously  to  our  ar- 
rival the  son  of  an  influential  chief  had  com- 
mitted suieido  by  shooting  himself  with  a 
musket. 

"Our  fellow-travellers,  with  Wisihona 
their  chief,  were  all  assembled,  and  we  fol- 
lowed them  to  the  shed  where  the  act  had 
been  perpetrated,  and  where  the  body  still 
lav  as  it  fell,  but  covered  with  a  blanket. 
The  mourners  were  gathered  round,  and  the 
women  commenced  crying  most  dolefully 
wringing  their  hands,"  and  bending  their 
bodies  to  the  earth.  AVe  ai)proached  the 
body,  and  were  permitted  to  remove  the 
blanket  from  the  face  and  breast.  The 
countenance  was  perfectly  placid,  and  the 
yellow  tint  of  the  skin,  combined  with  the 
tattooing,  gave  the  corpse  almost  the  appear- 
ance  of  a  wax  model.  The  deceased  was  a 
fine  and  well-made  young  man.  He  had 
placed  the  musket  to  his  breast,  and  delib- 
erately pu.shed  the  trigger  with  his  toes,  the 
bullet  jiassing  right  through  his  lungs.* 
Blood  was  still  oozing  from  the  orifice  made 
by  the  bullet,  and  also  from  the  mouth,  and 
the  body  was  still  warm." 

The  cause  of  tliLs  suicide  was  that  which 
has  already  been  mentioned.  The  young 
man  had  been  detected  in  an  illicit  corre- 
sjwndenee  with  the  wife  of  another  man  in 
the  same  village.  The  woman  had  been 
sent  away  to  a  distant  setthnient,  a  jiro- 
ceeding  which  had  already  made  her  lover 
sullen  and  gloomy;  and,  on  the  dl^- when 
Mr.  Angas  visited  the  jjlaee,  he  had  iieconie 
so  angry  at  the  reproaches  which  were  lev- 
elled at  him  by  .some  of  his  relations,  that 
he  stepped  aside  and  shot  him«"If. 

The  determined  manner  in  wliich  the  New 
Zealanders  will  sometimes  commit  suicide 
was  exemjilified  by  the  ciniduet  of  another 
man,  who  deliberately  wrapped  himself  ii))  in 
his  blanket,  and  strangled  himself  with  his 
own  hands.  The  crime  was  perpetrated  in  the 
common  sleeping-house,  and  was  achieved 
with  so  much  I>oldness  that  it  was  not  di.s- 
covered  until  the  man  had  been  dead  for 
some  time. 

A  remarkable  instance  of  tliis  phase  of 
New  Zealand  law  took  i)lace  when  Mr. 
DiefTenbaeh  visited  the  Waij)a  district.  Ho 
was  accompanied  by  a  chief,  who  called  a 
girl  to  him,  and  handed  her  over  to  the 
police  magistrate  as  a  niurderes.s.    The  fact 

„■■•-; '■    •'!••!.»!,.►   tilthrit-a    mail,  h.-tu 

formed  an  intimacy  with  a  slave  girl,  and, 
fearing  the  vengeance  of  his  wife's  relatives, 
had  killed  himself.    His  sister,  in  order  to 


THE  SISTER'S  VENGEANCE. 


709 


avenge  the  death  of  her  brother,  found  out 
the  slave  girl  in  the  bush,  and  killed  her. 
The  strangest  part  of  the  business  was,  that 
the  accused  girl  was  the  daughter  of  the 
chief  who  denounced  her. 

The  girl  pleaded  her  own  cause  well,  say- 
ing, what  was  perfectly  true,  that  she  had 
acted  according  to  the  law  of  the  land  in 
avenging  the  death  of  her  broUier,  and  was 


not  amenable  to  the  laws  of  the  white  man, 
which  had  not  yet  been  introduced  into  her 
country.  As  might  be  imagined,  her  plea 
was  received,  and  the  girl  was  set  at  liberty; 
but  her  father  was  so  earnest  in  his  wish  to 
check  the  system  of  retaliatory  murder,  that 
he  actually  offered  himself  in  the  place  of 
his  daughter,  as  being  her  nearest  rela- 
tion. 


4i 


m 


CHAPTER  LXXIX. 

NEW  ZEAIj AST)— Continued, 


DRESS. 

ENT    POBtVonS       rlt^  FREEDOM -THE  TATTOO  OP  THE   PACE,   AND  IT8  DIPPER- 

^.^^T  "^    OPBBATIOIf-THB    IMPLEMENTS,     AND    MODE   OP   U8INO    THEM- 

-^Ur'e^HENC^    THrP^'"'    — -VMENT    OP     THE     OPEI^ATOH,    AND     THp/3oo T^^ 
TH^^W    TalAND    r,T       r"'    "    OBTAINED-SCAKLET    PAINT,   AND  MODE   OF  MAKING  IT- 


We  will  now  proceed  to  the  appearance  and 
dress  of  the  natives  of  New  Zealand,  or 
Maones,  as  they  term  themselves.  As  the 
most  conspicuous  part  of  the  New  Zea- 
landers  adornment  is  the  tattooing  with 
which  the  face  and  some  other  portions  of 
the  body  are  decorated,  we  will  begin  our 
account  with  a  description  of  the  moko,  as 
u  18  called  by  the  natives. 

*i-^'}^5.®  "■^^  '"^"y  P^''^^  of  the  world  where 
the  tatt(K)  18  employed,  but  in  none  is  It  of 
BO  formidable  a  description  as  among  the 
New  Zealanders.    As  the  reader  is  proliablv 
aware,  the  tattoo  consists  of  patterns  made 
by   introducing   certain   coloring    matters 
under   the    skm;    charcoal,  variously  pre- 
pared, being  the    usual    material    for  the 
purpose.    We  have  already  seen  among  the 
Kaffirs  examples  of  ornamenting  the  skin  by 
cutting  it  deeply  so  as  to  form  scars,  and  in 
Australia  a  similar  but  more  cruel  custom 
prevails.    In  neither  of  these  countries,  how- 
ever, is  there  any  attempt  at  producing  an 
artistic  effect  while  in  New  Zealand  beauty 
of  design  IS  the  very  object  of  the  tattoo. 

iherc  IS  a  distinction  between  the  tattoo 
of  the  New  Zealanders  and  the  Polynesians: 
that  of  the  latter  people  being  formed  by 
rows  of  little  dots,  and  that  of  the  former  bv 
lines  cut  completely  through  the  skin.  On 
account  of  this  distinction,  though  a  New 
^ealander  and  a  Polynesian  be  covered  from 
head  to  foot  with  tattoo  marks,  there  is  no 
possibility  of  mistaking  the  one  for  the  other, 
-the  moko  of  the  New  Zealanderis  a  mark 
<M  rank,  none  but  slaves  being  without  a 
more  or  less  complete  tattooing  of  the  face. 
In  the  present  day,  even  the  chiefs  h.ivp 


sionaries,  who  objected  to  the  practice  as  a 
niark  of  heathendom.  Consequently,  several 
of  the  most  powerful  convert  chicls  present 
a  very  curious,  not  to  say  ludicrous,  aspect, 
which  can  hardly  have  a  good  effect  in 
recommending  Christianity  to  the  people. 
Having  been  converted  before  the  moko 
was  completed,  and  being  unwilling  to  con- 
tinue the  process  and  unable  to  obliterate 
those  portions  which  were  already  drawn 
they  appear  with  one  half  of  their  faces  tat- 
tooed and  the  other  half  plain,  or  perhaps 
with  a  solitary  ring  round  one  eye,  and  a 
couple  of  curves  round  one  side  of  the 
mouth. 

As,  however,  the  present  work  treats  only 
of  the  native  customs,  and  not  of  modern 
civilization,  the  New  Zealanders  will  be 
described  as  they  were  before  they  had 
learned  to  abandon  the  once-prized  tattoo 
to  exchange  the  native  mat  for  the  English' 
blanket,  the  picturesque  war  eanoe  for  the 
commonplace  whaling  boat,  and  the  spear 
and  club  for  the  ride  and  bayonet. 

The  principal  tattoo  is  that  of  the  face  and 
upper  part  of  the  head,  which,  when  com- 
pleted, leaves  scarcely  an  untouched  spot 
on  which  the  finger  can  be  placed.  When 
finished,  the  whole  face  is  covered  with 
spiral  scrolls,  circles,  and  curved  lines;  and 
It  18  remarkable,  that  though  a  certain  order 
IS  observed,  and  the  position  of  the  principal 
marks  is  the  same  in  every  ease,  no  two  per- 
sons are  tattooed  in  precisely  the  same  man- 
ner, the  artists  being  able  to  produce  an 
infinite  variety  with  the  few  materials  at 
his  command. 
For  example,  the  first  portion  of  the  tat- 


(800)  ' 


THE  TATTOO,  OR  THE  MOKO. 


801 


and  passing  round  the  mouth.  This  portion 
of  the  tattoo  goes  by  the  name  of  rer^. 
Next  comes  a  spiral  scroll  on  the  cheek- 
bone; and  below  it  is  another  spiral,  reach- 
•ing  as  low  as  the  jaw-bone.  These  are 
called  respectively  kakoti  and  km-ohafui. 
Next  come  four  lines  on  the  middle  of  the 
forehead,  called  titi;  and  besides  these  there 
are  several  lines  which  run  up  the  centre  of 
the  nose  and  cover  its  sides,  some  which 
spread  over  the  forehead,  otliers  which  oc- 
cupy the  chin;  and  even  the  ?'^s,  eyelids, 
and  ears  are  adorned  with  tins  singular 
ornament. 

Besides  p-  ^ot  jsing  these  marks,  a  great 
chief  is  selao»ii  content  unless  he  can  cover 
his  hips  with  similar  lines,  each  of  which 
has,  like  those  of  the  face,  its  proper  name. 

Although  tlie  nioko  was  considered  as  a 
mark  of  rank,  there  were  no  sumptuary 
laws  which  forbade  its  use.  Any  one,  pro- 
vided he  were  not  a  slave,  might  be  tattooed 
as  much  as  he  pleased;  but  tne  expense  of 
the  operation  was  so  great,  that  none  but 
men  of  position  could  afford  a  complete  suit 
of  moko.  No  man  could  tattoo  himself,  and 
the  delicacy  of  touch  and  certainty  of  line 
was  so  difficult  of  attainment,  that  tattooing 
became  an  art  or  science,  which  Wfis  left  in 
the  hands  of  a  few  practitionei'S,  who  derived 
a  good  income  Irom  their  business.  Some 
of  those  who  had  attained  much  reputation 
for  their  skill  used  to  command  very  high 
fees  when  called  in  to  decorate  a  client,  and 
their  services  could  therefore  only  be  se- 
cured by  the  men  of  high  position.  It  is 
rather  remarkable  that  some  of  the  most 
celebrated  operators  were  slaves,  men  who 
were  forbidden  to  wear  tlie  tattoo  on  their 
own  persons. 

The  mode  of  operation  is  as  follows.    The 

Eatient  lies  on  his  back,  and  places  his  head 
etween  the  knees  of  the  operator,  who 
squats  on  the  ground  after  the  usual  native 
fashion.  The  latter  then  tikes  a  little  of  the 
black  pifjinent,  and  draws  on  the  lace  the 
line  of  the  pattern  which  he  intends  to  fol- 
low; and  in  some  cases  he  slightly  scratches 
them  with  a  sharp  instrument,  so  as  to  make 
a  sketch  or  outline  drawing.  The  object  of 
this  scratching  is  to  prevent  the  pattern 
,  from  being  obliterated  by  the  flowing  blood 
and  the  black  pigment  which  is  rubbed  into 
the  wounds. 

Next,  he  takes  his  instrument  or  chisel, 
which  is  usually  made  of  teeth,  or  the  bone 
of  a  biril,  and  witlv  it  follows  tlie  pattern, 
cutting  completely  through  the  skin.  Some- 
times, when  engaged  in  tattooing  the  face,  a 
careless  operator  has  been  known  to  cut 
completely  through  the  cheek,  so  as  to  put  a 
temporary  check  to  smoking,  the  sufferer 
experiencing  some  difficulty  in  getting  the 
cHiOri??  into  iiis  rnouiii  at  all,  aU'-i  tuCu  iinu- 
ing  it  escape  through  the  holes  in  his  cheek. 
On  page  722  the  reader  may  find  an  illustra- 
tion waich  gives  a  good  idea  of  the  ditt'oreut 


forms  of  the  tattooing  chisel.  As  the  opera- 
tor proceeds,  he  continually  dips  the  edge  of 
his  chisel  in  the  black  pigment,  and,  when  he 
has  cut  a  line  of  a  few  inches  in  length,  he 
rubs  more  of  the  pigment  into  the  wound, 
using  a  little  bunch  of  fibre  by  way  of  a  bru^ 
or  sponge. 

The  cutting  is  not  done  as  with  a  knife, 
but  by  placing  the  edge  of  the  chisel  on  the 
skin,  and  driving  it  along  the  lines  of  the 
pattern  by  repeated  blows  with  a  small 
mallet.  As  may  be  imagined,  the  pain 
caused  by  this  operation  is  excruciating. 
It  is  painful  enough  to  have  the  skin  cut  at 
all,  even  with  the  keenest  blade,  as  any  one 
can  testify  who  has  been  unfortunate  enough 
to  come  under  the  surgeon's  knife.  But 
when  the  instrument  employed  is  a  shark's 
tooth,  or  a  piece  of  bone,  when  it  is  driven 
slowly  through  the  skin  by  repeated  blows, 
and  when  the  wound  is  at  once  filled  with 
an  irritating  pigment,  it  may  be  imagined 
that  the  torture  must  be  dreadful.  It  is, 
however,  reckoned  a  point  of  honor  to 
endure  it  without  giving  any  signs  of  suffer- 
ing. 

Owing  to  the  character  of  the  tattoo,  the 
destruction  of  the  skin,  and  the  consequent 
derangement  of  its  functions,  only  a  small 
portion  can  be  executed  at  a  time,  a  com- 
plete moko  taking  from  two  to  three  years, 
according  to  the  constitution  of  the  individ- 
ual. Dreadful  swellings  are  always  caused 
by  it,  especially  of  the  glands  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  wounds,  and  the  effects  are 
so  severe  that  men  have  died  when  too  largo 
a  portion  has  been  executed  at  one  time. 

Every  stroke  of  the  chisel  or  tiki  leaving 
an  indelible  mark,  it  is  of  the  greatest  con- 
sequence that  the  operator  should  be  a  man 
of  skill,  and  devote  all  his  energies  to  trac- 
ing a  clear,  though  elaborate  pattern,  in 
which  the  lines  are  set  closely  together, 
sweep  in  regular  curves,  and  never  interfere 
with  each  other. 

Wliile  a  man  is  being  tattooed,  his  friends 
and  those  of  the  operator  sing  songs  to  him, 
in  which  he  is  encouraged  to  endure   the 

Eain  bravely,  and  to  bear  in  mind  the  lasting 
eauty  which  will  be  conferred  upon  him 
when  the  pattern  is  completed.  Tlie  songs 
of  the  operator's  friends  contain  some  very 
broad  lunts  as  to  the  scale  of  payment  whicn 
is  expected.  Although,  as  has  been  stated, 
the  best  of  tattooers  are  paid  very  highly, 
there  is  no  definite  fee,  neither  is  any  bar- 
gain made,  the  operator  trusting  to  the 
liberality  of  his  client.  But,  as  a  man  would 
be  contemned  as  a  skulking  fellow  if  he  were 
to  ask  the  services  of  a  good  operator  and 
then  pay  him  badly,  the  practical  result  is 
that  a  good  tattooer  always  secures  good 

pay- 
Moreover,  he  has  always  tHe  opportunitj 
of  avenging  himself.    As  only  a  small  por- 
tion of  the  moko  can  be  executed  at  a  timiie 
— aay,  for  example,  tlie  spiral  curve  on  one 


809 


ISrEW  ZEALAlfD. 


cheek  —  if  the  operator  be  badly  paid  for  the 
firat  portion  of  his  work,  he  will  take  care  to 
let  the  chisel  slip  out  of  its  course  when  he 
proceeds  to  the  second  part,  or  will  cut  his 
lines  coarsely  r-'d  irregularly,  thus  disfigur- 
ing the  stingy  man  for  lile. 


Mr.  Taylor  gives  a  translation  of  one  of 
these  tattooing  songs : 

"  Ho  who  pays  well,  let  him  be  beautiftiUy  orna- 
mented ; 
But  ho  who  forgets  the  operator,  let  him  be  doue 

carelessly. 
Be  the  lines  wide  apavt 
O  hikl  Tnngaroa! 
O  hiki  Tangaroat 
Strike  tliat  the  chisel  as  it  cuts  along  may  sound. 

O  hiki  Taugaroa!  ~ 

Men  do  not  know  the  skill  of  the  operator  in 
driving  his  sounding  chisel  along. 
O  hiki  Taugaroat 

The  reader  will  sec  that  the  song  is  a  very 
ingenious  one,  magnifying  the  skill  of  the 
operator,  promising  a  handsome  moko  to  the 
liberal  man,  and  threatening  to  disflguro 
him  if  he  be  niggardly  in  his  payments. 

While  the  operation  of  tattooing  is  going 
on,  all  persons  in  the  pah,  or  enclosure,  are 
under  the  tabu,  or  tapu,  lest  any  harm  should 
happen  to  them;  the  work  of  tattooing  being 
looked  upon  with  a  kind  of  superstitious 
reverence.  The  meaning  of  the  word  '  tapu ' 
•will  be  explained  when  we  come  to  treat  of 
the  religious  system  of  the  New  Zealander. 
The  eftect  of  the  moko  on  the  face  is  well 
shown  in  illu.stration  No.  2,  on  the  next 
page,  which  represents  a  chief  and  his  wife. 
The  reader  will  probably  observe  that  on 
the  face  of  the  woman  there  are  marks 
which  resemble  the  tattoo.  They  are,  how- 
ever, the  scars  left  by  mourning  over  the 
body  of  some  relative,  a  ceremony  in  which 
the  women  cut  themselves  unmercifully. 
The  dre.^s  worn  by  both  persons  will  be 
presently  described. 

The  pigment  used  in  tattooing  is  made 
from  the  resin  of  the  kauri  pine,  and  the 
greater  part  of  it  is  made  at  one  spot,  where 
the  tree  grows  plentifully.  There  is  a  rocky 
precipice,  and  a  little  distance  from  its  edge 
a  deep  and  narrow  pit  is  sunk.  A  channel 
is  cut  through  the  face  of  the  cliff  into  the 
pit,  and  the  apparatus  is  complete.  When  a 
native  wishes  to  make  a  supply  of  tattooing 
pigment,  he  cuts  a  quantity  of  kauri  wootf, 
places  it  in  the  pit,  and  sets  Are  to  it,  thus 
causing  the  burnt  resin  to  fall  to  the  bottom 
of  the  pit,  whence  it  is  scraped  out  through 
the  channel. 

Scarlet  paint  is  much  employed  by  the  na- 
tives, especially  Mhen  they  decorate  them- 
selves for  battle.  It  is  obtained  from  an 
ochreous  substance  which  is  deposited  in 
many  places  where  water  has  been  allowed 
to  become  stagnant.  Some  spots  are  cele- 
brated for  the  excellence  of  the  ochre,  and 
the  natives  come  from  great  distances  to  pro- 
cure it    When  they  wish  to  make  their 


scarlet  paint,  they  first  careftilly  dry  and 
then  burn  the  ochre;  the  result  of  which 
operation  is,  that  a  really  fine  vermilion  is 
obtained. 

This  paint  is  used  for  many  purposes,  and  ' 
before  bein;  (>d  it  is  mixed  with  oil  ob- 
tained from  .  shark.  The  natives  are  fond 
of  decorating  their  houses  with  it,  and  by 
means  of  the  scarlet  lines  increase,  according 
to  their  own  ideas,  the  beauty  of  the  carved 
work  with  which  every  available  point  is 
adorned.  Even  their  household  goods  are 
painted  after  a  similar  manner,  the  fiish- 
lonable  mode  being  to  paint  all  the  hollows 
scarlet,  and  the  projecting  portions  black. 
Their  canoes  and  wooden  ornaments  are  pro- 
fusely adorned  with  red  paint.  But  the  most 
valued  use  of  this  pigment  is  the  part  which 
it  plays  in  the  decoration  of  a  warrior  when 
he  goes  to  battle. 

In  such  cases  paint  constitutes  the  whole 
of  his  costume,  the  mats  in  which  he  takes 
so  great  a  pride  in  time  of  peace  being  laid 
aside,  many  warriors  being  perfectly  naked, 
and  with  the  others  the  only  covering  of  any 
kind  being  a  belt  mado  of  plaited  leaves. 

One  of  these  belts  in  my  collection  is  seven 
feet  in  length,  and  only  three  and  a  half  in- 
ches wide  in  the  broadest  part;  while  at 
either  end  it  diminishes  to  a  mere  plaited 
thong.  It  is  folded  fourfold,  and  on  opening 
it  the  mode  of  construction  is  plainly  seen; 
all  the  loose  ends  being  tucked  inside. 

The  material  is  phormium  leaf  cut  into 
strips  an  inch  in  width,  each  alternate  strip 
being  dyed  black.  Each  strip  is  then  divided 
into  eight  little  strips  or  thongs,  and  they 
are  so  plaited  as  to  produce  an  artistic  check- 
ered pattern  of  black  and  white.  The  in- 
genuity in  forming  so  elaborate  a  pattern 
with  so  simple  a  material  is  extreme ;  and, 
as  if  to  add  to  the  difficulty  of  his  task,  the 
dusky  artist  has  entirely  changed  the  pattern 
at  either  end  of  the  belt,  making  it  run  at 
right  angles  to  the  rest  of  the  faliric.  The 
belt  is  also  used  in  lieu  of  clothing  when  the 
men  are  engaged  in  paddling  a  canoe. 

The  paint,  therefore,  becomes  the  charac- 
teristic portion  of  the  New  Zealandcr's  war 
dress,  and  is  applied  for  the  purpose  of  mak- 
ing himself  look  as  terrible  as  possible,  and 
of  striking  teiTor  into  his  enemies.  It  is, 
however,  used  in  peace  as  well  as  in  war, 
being  regarded  as  a  good  preservative  against 
the  bites  and  stings  of  insects,  especially  tlie 
sandflies  and  mosquitoes.  It  is  also  used  in 
mourning,  being  rubbed  on  the  body  as  a 
sign  of  grief,  precisely  as  ashes  are  used 
among  some  of  the  Oriental  nations.  Some 
travellers  have  thought  that  the  continual 
use  of  this  pigment  gives  to  the  New  Zea- 
landers  the  peculiar  softness  and  sleekness 
of  skin  for  which  they  are  remarkable,  and 
which  distinguishes  them  from  the  Ei'ians 
whose  skin  feels  as  if  it  had  been  roughened 
with  a  file.  This  theory,  however,  is  scarcely 
tenable,  the  soft  texture  of  the  skin  being 


(808) 


*    h. 


PRESERVING  THE  HEADS  Ot  WARRIORS. 


m 


evidently  due  to  phyaical  and  not  to  external 

causcH. 

A  warrior  adorned  in  all  the  pride  of  the 
tattoo  and  scarlet  paint  is  certainly  a  terrific 
object,  and  is  well  calculated  to  strike  terror 
into  tliose  who  have  been  accustomed  to 
regard  the  Maori  warriors  with  awe.  When, 
however,  the  natives  found  that  all  the  paint- 
ing in  the  world  had  no  efl'ect  ui)on  the  dis- 
ciplined soldiers  of  the  foreigner,  they  aban- 
doned it,  and  contented  themselves  with  the 
weapons  that  none  are  more  able  to  wield 
than  themselves. 

Moreover,  the  paint  and  tattoo,  however 
well  it  might  look  on  a  warrior  armed  after 
the  primitive  fashion,  has  rather  a  ludicrous 
etfect  when  cftntrasted  with  the  weapons  of 
civilization.  There  is  now  before  nie  a  por- 
trait of  a  Maori  chief  in  full  battle  array. 
Except  a  bunch  of  feathers  in  his  hair,  and 
a  checked  handkerchief  tied  round  his  loins, 
evidently  at  the  request  of  the  photographer, 
he  has  no  dress  wliatever.  He  is  tall,  splen- 
didly made,  stern,  and  soldierlike  of  aspect. 
IJut  instead  of  the  club,  his  proper  weapon, 
he  bears  in  his  hand  a  Belgian  ritto,  with 
fixed  bayonet,  and  has  a  cartouche-box  fas- 
tened by  a  belt  rpund  his  naked  body. 

His  face  is  tattooed,  and  so  arc  his  hips, 
which  ar(!  covered  with  a  most  elaborate 
pattern,  that  contrasts  boldly  with  his  really 
fair  skin.  Had  he  his  club  and  chiefs  stalf 
iU  his  hands,  he  would  look  magnificent; 
having  a  rifle  and  a  cartouche-box,  he  looks 
absurd.  Even  a  sword  would  become  him 
better  than  a  rifle,  for  weareso  accustomed 
to  associate  a  rifle  with  a  private  soldier,  that 
it  is  difficult  to  understand  that  a  powerful 
chief  would  carry  such  a  weapon. 

The  curious  mixture  of  native  and  Euro- 
pean dress  which  the  Maories  are  fond  of 
wearing  is  well  described  by  Mr,  Angas. 
"  Raupahara's  wife  is  an  exceedingly  stout 
woman,  and  wears  her  hair,  which  is  very 
stitr  and  wiry,  combed  up  into  an  erect  mass 
upon  her  head  about  a  foot  in  height,  some- 
what after  the  fasiiion  of  the  Tonga  islanders, 
wliich,  when  combined  with  her  size,  gives 
her  a  remarkable  appearance. 

"  She  was  well  dressed  in  a  flax  mat  of 
native  manufacture,  thickly  ornamented  with 
tufts  of  cotton  wool;  and  one  of  her  nieces 
wore  silk  stockings  and  slippers  of  patent 
leather.  This  gay  damsel  was,  moreover,  a 
very  pretty  girl,  and  knew  how  to  set  off" 
her  charms  to  advantage;  for  over  an  Eu- 
ropean dress  she  had  retained  her  native 
ornaments,  and  had  wrapped  herself  cocpiet- 
tishly  in  a  beautiful, '  kaitaka,'  displaying  her 
largo  hazel  eyes  above  its  silky  folds." 

It  has  often  been  thought  that  th((  warrior 
regarded  his  raoko,  or  tattoo,  as  his  name, 
permanently  inscribed  on  his  face;  and  this 
notion  was  strengthened  by  two  fiicts:  the 
one,  tliat  in  the  earlier  times  of  the  colo- 
nists the  natives  signed  documents  by  ap- 
pending a  copy  of  their  raoko;   and  the 


other,  that  each  man  knows  every  line  of 
his  tattoo,  and  sometimes  carves  a  wooden 
bust  on  which  he  copies  with  admirable 
fidelity  everv  line  which  appears  on  his  own 
head  or  face.  Such  a  work  of  art  is  greatly 
valued  by  the  Maories,  and  a  mau  who  has 
carved  one  of  them  can  scarcely  be  induced 
by  any  bribe  to  part  with  it. 

Moreover,  the  moko  of  a  warrior  is  often 
accepted  as  the  conventional  reuresentation 
of  himself.  For  example,  on  the  pillars  of 
a  very  celebrated  hou8«i,  which  we  shall 
presently  describe,  are  numerous  human 
figures  which  represent  certain  great  chiefs, 
while  men  of  lesser  mark  are  indicated  hy 
their  moko  carved  on  the  posts.  Thus  it 
will  be  seen  that  the  moko  of  a  chief  is  as 
well  known  to  others  as  to  himself,  and 
that  the  practised  eye  of  the  native  discerns 
among  the  various  curves  and  spirals,  which 
are  common  to  all  free  men,  the  characteris- 
tic lines  which  denote  a  man's  individuality, 
and  in  producing  which  the  tattooers'  skill 
is  often  sorely  tried. 

It  has  alremly  been  mentioned,  that  when 
a  warrior  falls  in  battle,  and  his  body  can  be 
carried  off"  by  the  enemy,  the  hcatf  is  pre- 
served, and  fixed  on  the  dwelling  of  the  con- 
queror. No  dishonor  attaches  itself  to  such 
an  end;  and,  indeed,  a  Maori  warrior  would 
feel  himself  direfully  insulted  if  he  were 
told  that  in  case  of  his  death  in  the  field  hia 
body  would  be  allowed  to  remain  untouched. 

In  fact,  he  regards  his  moko  precisely  in 
the  same  light  that  an  American  Indian 
looks  upon  his  scalp-lock;  and,  indeed,  there 
are  many  traits  in  the  character  of  the 
Maori  warrior  in  which  he  strangely  resem- 
bles the  best  examples  of  North  American 
savages. 

In  order  to  preserve  the  head  of  a  slain 
warrior,  some  process  of  embalming  must 
evidently  be  pursued,  and  that  which  is 
commonly  followed  is  simple  enough. 

The  head  being  cut  off",  the  hair  is  re- 
moved, and  so  are  the  eyes;  the  places  of 
which  are  filled  up  with  pledgets  of  tow, 
over  which  the  eyelids  are  sewed.  Pieces 
of  stick  are  then  placed  in  the  nostrils  in 
order  to  keep  them  properly  distended,  and 
tho  head  is  hung  in  the  smoke  of  the  wood 
flrj  until  it  is  thoroughly  saturated  with  the 
pyroligneous  acid.  The  result  of  this  mode  . 
of  preparation  is,  that  the  flesh  shrinks  up, 
and  the  features  become  much  distorted; 
though,  as  the  Maori  warrior  always  distorts 
his  countenance  as  much  as  possible  before 
battle,  this  eff"ect  is  rather  realistic  than 
otherwise. 

It  is  often  said  that  heads  prep.ired  in  this 
fashion  are  proof  against  the  attacks  of  in- 
sects. This  is  certainly  not  the  case,  as  I 
have  seen  several  specimens  completely 
riddled  by  the  |)tilinus  and  similar  crea- 
tures, aiul  have  bfcii  obliged  to  destroy  the 
little  pests  by  ii\iectin^  a  solution  of  corro- . 
blve  sublimate.    In  spite  of  the  shrivelling 


:'^i 


8M 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


to  which  the  flesh  and  skin  are  subject,  the 
tattooing  retains  its  form;  and  it  is  most 
curious  to  observe  how  the  finest  lines  com- 
pletely retain  their  relative  position  to  each 
other. 

Not  only  are  the  heads  of  enemies 
treated  in  this  faahion,  but  those  of  fViends 
are  also  preserved.    The  difl'eronee  is  easily 

Serceptible  by  looking  at  the  mouth,  which, 
the  head  be  tliat  of  a  friend,  is  closed, 
and  if  of  an  enemy,  is  widely  opened. 

Some  years  ago,  a  considerable  number  of 
ttieso  preserved  heads  were  brought  into 
Europe,  having  been  purchased  from  the 
natives.  Of  late  years,  however,  the  trade 
in  them  has  been  strictly  forbidden,  and  on 
very  good  grounds.  In  the  first  place,  no 
man  who  w.as  well  tattooe<l  was  safe  for  an 
hour,  unless  lie  were  a  great  chief,  for  he 
might  at  any  time  be  watched  until  he  was 
off  his  guard,  and  then  knocked  down, 
killed,  and  bis  head  sold  to  the  traders. 
Then,  when  the  natives  became  too  cautious 
to  render  head  hunting  a  profitable  trade,  a 
new  expedient  was  discovered. 

It  was  found  that  a  newly  tattooed  head 


looked  as  well  when  preserved  as  one  which 
had  been  tattooed  for  years.  The  chiefs 
were  not  slow  in  taking  advantage  of  this 
discovery,  and  immediately  set  to  work  at 
killing  the  least  valuable  of  their  slaves, 
tattooing  their  heads  as  though  they  had 
belonged  to  men  of  high  rank,  drying,  and 
then  selling  them. 

One  of  my  friends  lately  gave  me  a  cu- 
rious illustration  of  the  trade  in  heads.  Ilia 
father  wanted  to  purchase  one  of  the  dried 
heads,  but  did  not  approve  of  any  that  were 
brought  for  sale,  on  the'ground  that  the  tat- 
too was  poor,  and  was  not  a  good  example 
of  the  skill  of  the  native  artists.  The  chief 
allowed  the  force  of  the  argument,  and, 
pointing  to  a  number  of  his  people  who  liad 
come  on  board,  ho  turned  to  the  intending 
purchaser,  saying, "  Choose  which  of  these 
heatls  you  like  best,  and  when  you  come 
back  I  will  take  care  to  have  it  dried  and 
readjr  for  your  acceptance."  As  may  be 
imagined,  this  speech  put  an  abrupt  end  to 
sill  head  purchasing,  and  gave  an  unexpected 
insight  into  the  mysteries  of  trading  as  con- 
ducted by  savage  nations. 


CHAPTER  LXXX. 


NEW  ZEALAND —  Conttnued. 


DRESS  AND  ORNAMENTS. 


THE  "mats"  op  the  NEW  ZBALANDEBS  — THE  MATERIAL  OF  WHICH  THEY  ARH  MADE— THE  NEW 
ZEALAND  FLAX,  OB  PHOKMIVM  —  MODE  OF  MAKING  THE  MATS  —  VARIOUS  KINDS  OF  MATS  — THB 
BAIN  MAT  AND  ITS  U8K8  — THE  OPEN-WOBKED  MAT— THE  DIFFERENT  0BNAMENT8  OF  THE  MAT: 
8TBINOS  AND  TAGS,  SCABLET  TUFTS  AND  BORDERS  —  WAB  CLOAKS  OF  THE*  CHIEFS  — TUB  DOGs'- 
HAIB  MAT— THE  CHIEF  PArAtENE  IN  HIS  CLOAK  — MODE  OF  MAKING  THE  WAB  CLOAKS  —  BRIEF 
ACCOUNT  OF  THE  CHIEF  —  AMUSING  INSTANCE  OF  VANITY  IN  A  CHIEF  —  SUBSTITUTION  OF 
THE  BLANKET  AND  ITS  ATTENDANT  EVILS  —  ORNAMENTS  OF  THE  NEW  ZEALANDBB'S  HEAD  — 
FEATHERS,  AND  FEATHEB  BOXKS  —  VARIOUS  DECORATIONS  OF  GREEN  JADE  —  TIKIS  AND  EAR- 
RINGS—  A  REMARKABLE  AMULET  —  THE  SHARK'S  TOOTH  —  MODES  OF  DBEBBINO  THE  HAIB  — 
HAIRr-CUTTING  AND  SHAVING- A  I'BIMITIVB  RAZOB. 


We  now  come  to  the  costume  of  the  New 
Zcalauders.  This  is  of  a  rather  remarkable 
character,  and  may  be  characterized  l)y  the 
generic  title  of  mat,  with  the  exception  of 
the  belt  'vludi  has  Just  been  described.  The 
costume  of  the  New  Zealander  consists  of  a 
square  or  oblong  mat,  varying  considerably 
in  size,  though  always  made  on  the  same 
principle.  In  this  mat  the  natives  envelop 
themselves  after  a  very  curious  fashion, 
generally  mulliing  themselves  up  to  the 
neck,  and  often  throwing  the  folds  round 
them  alter  the  fashion  of  a  conventional 
stage  villain. 

These  mats  are  of  various  textures,  and 
differ  as  much  in  excellence  and  value  as  do 
the  fabrics  of  more  civilized  lands.  The 
material  is,  however,  the  same  in  all  cases, 
and  even  the  mode  of  wearing  the  garment, 
the  value  being  estimated  by  the  fineness  of 
the  material,  the  amount  of  labor  bestowed 
upon  it,  and  the  ornaments  introduced  into 
it. 

The  material  of  which  the  mate  are  made 
is  the  so-called  New  Zealand  "  tlax,"  scien- 
tiflcally  known  by  the  name  of  Pliormium 
tcnux.  It  belongs  to  the  natural  family  of 
the  Liliaceaj  ami  the  tribe  Asparagaceee. 
The  plant  has  a  nimiber  of  showy  yellow 
flowers  arranged  on  a  tall  branch-panicle, 
and  a  number  of  straightish  leaves,  all  start- 
ing from  the  root,  and  being  Ave  or  six  feet 
long,  and  not  mor«  than  two  inches  wide  at 
the  broadest  part. 

The  fibres  which  run  along  these  leaves 
are  xory  strong  and  fine,  and,  when  properly 
dressecf  and  combed,  have  a  beautiful  silky 


(807) 


look  about  them.  At  one  time  great  quan- 
tities of  New  Zealand  flax,  as  it  was  called, 
were  imported  into  Europe,  and  the  plant 
was  cultivated  in  some  of  the  southern  parts 
of  the  Continent.  Strong,  however,  as  it 
may  be,  it  has  the  curious  fault  of  snapping 
easily  when  tied  in  a  knot,  and  on  this 
account  is  not  valued  so  much  in  Europe  as 
in  its  own  country.  I  have  before  me  a 
largo  roll  of  8trinj»  made  by  natives  from 
the  phormium.  It  is  very  strong  in  propor- 
tion to  its  thickness,  and  much  of  it  has 
been  used  in  suspending  various  curiosities 
in  my  collection;  but  it  cannot  endure  being 
made  into  a  knot.  It  is  useful  enough  in 
hitches,  especially  the  "clove-hitch;"  but 
as  soon  as  it  is  tied  into  a  knot,  it  will  hardly 
bear  the  least  strain. 

The  principle  on  which  the  mats  are 
made  is  very  simple.  A  weaving  frame  is 
erected  on  sticks  a  foot  or  so  from  the 
ground,  and  upon  it  is  arranged  the  well, 
made  of  strings  or  yarns,  placed  as  closely 
together  as  possible,  and  drawn  quite  tight. 
The  weft  is  double,  and  is  passed  under  and 
over  each  yarn,  and  the  upper  one  is  always 
passed  between  the  ends  *of  the  under  weft 
before  it  is  drawn  tight.  The  mat  is  there- 
fore nothing  more  than  a  number  of  parallel 
strings  laid  side  by  side,  and  connected,  at 
intervals  of  an  inch  or  so,  by  others'  that 
pass  across  them.  More  care  is  taken  of 
the  edges,  which  are  turned  over,  and  the 
yarns  are  so  interwoven  as  to  make  a  thick 
and  strong  border. 

When  the  wefts  are  hauled  tight,  they  are  • 
beaten  into  their  place  by  meaus  of  a  hone 


,iiitl 


ml 


•oe 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


InHtrument,  very  much'  like  n  paper  knife  in 
slwpc;  and  In  every  respect  the  wciiving  of 
a  New  Zealamlur  most  strongly  reminds  the 
B^)ectator  of  the  process  of  ii  ..iking  the  Oobe- 
hn  tapestries.  In  both  eases  there  is  a  fixed 
warp  on  wliich  tlio  weft  is  laboriously  woven 
by  hand,  and  is  kept  straight  and  regular  by 
,  being  struck  with  an  instrument  that  passes 
between  the  threads  of  the  warn.  Although 
at  the  present  day  the  warp  of  the  GobeUn 
tapestry  is  stretched  perpendicularly,  in 
former  times  it  was  stretched  longitudii  .illy 
in  a  low  frame,  exactly  similar  in  princ.nlo 
to  that  which  is  employed  by  the  Now  Zoi- 
lander. 

The  reader  will  perceive  that  the  process 
of  weaving  one  of  these  m.ita  must  be  a 
work  of  considerable  time,  and  an  industri- 
ous woman  can  scarcely  complete  even  a 
common  mat  under  eighteen  moutlw,  while 
one  of  the  more  elaborate  robes  will  occupy 
twice  that  time. 

The  illuslration  No.  1  on  the  next  page,  is 
drawn  from  a  sketch  of  a  house  belonging 
to  one  of  the  great  chiofk,  and  in  it  arc  seen 
Borne  women  busily  employed  in  making 
mats.  One  of  them  is  scraping  the  leaves 
•with  a  shell  or  stone,  while  another  is 
engaged  a*  the  primitive  loom.  The  mat  is 
represented  as  nearly  completed,  and  the 
woman  is  Been  with' the  four  ends  of  <he 
double  weft  in  her  hand,  passing  them 
across  each  other  before  she  draws  tliem 
tight.  A  heaj)  of  dressed  leaves  of  the 
l)h()rmium  is  seen  in  the  background,  and 
a  bundle  of  the  long  swordlike  leaves  is 
strewn  on  the  Hoor.  Various  baskets  and 
other  implements,  made  of  the  same  mate- 
rial, are  hung  from  the  r.afters;  and  in  front 
is  one  of  the  curiously  carved  poles  which 
support  the  roof. 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  there  is  but 
one  principle  on  which  all  the  mats  an; 
made,  but  that  there  is  a  very  great  variety 
in  making  them.  There  is,  for  example, 
the  rain  ni.it.  which  is  used  in  wet  weather. 
As  Ihestrui  line  proceeds,  the  mamifacturer 
inserts  into  each  knot  of  the  weft  an  un- 
dressed blade  of  the  phormium  upon  which 
the  epidermis  has  been  allowed  to  remain. 
When  wrapiH'd  round  the  body,  the  leaves 
all  fall  over  each  other,  so  as  to  make  a  sort 
of  penthouse,  and  to  allow  the  rain  to  run 
over  their  smooi  h  and  polished  surfaces  until 
it  falls  to  the  ground. 

When  rain  comes  on,  and  a  number  of 
natives  are  seen  squattiiig  on  tlie  ground, 
each  wearing  his  rain  mat,  they  have  a 
most  absurd  appearance,  and  look  like  a 
number  of  human  beings  who  had  hhlden 
themselves  in  haycocks."  On  page  80.T  may 
be  seen  the  (igurc  of  a  chief  wearing  one  of 
these  dresses.  The  name  of  the  mat  is  E 
mann;aika. 

I  h.ive  seen  another  kind  of  mat,  tvhiel! 
is  made  in  a  kind  of  open-work  pattern,  pro- 
duced by  eroMsing  every  fifth  Btran4  of  tJic 


warp.  This  mat  is  of  the  very  best  quality, 
and,  considcriug  the  nature  of  tlie  malt  rial 
of  which  it  is  made,  is  wondei  >illy  light,  sof^t, 
and  pliant 

Another  kind  is  the  woman's  mat,  of 
which  there  are  several  varieties.  It  is  of 
larger  size  tlian  that  employed  by  the  men, 
ancT  is  capable  of  enveloping  the  entire 
figure  from  lieatl  to  foot.  It  is  of  rather 
lighter  material  than  the  rain  mat,  and  is 
decorated  on  the  exterior  with  a  number 
of  strings,  varying  in  length  from  a  I'cu' 
inches  to  lliree  I'cet  or  so.  A  variety  of  this 
mat  is  distinguished  by  having  the  strings 
white  instead  of  black.  Spei  imens  of  liolh 
these  mats  are  in  my  collection,  and  the  gen- 
viral  ellec't  of  them  can  be  seen  by  relert  iico 
tc,  any  of  the  illustrations  which  represent 
the  native  women. 

Strings  or  tags  are  undoubtedly  the  most 
characteristic  portion  of  the  dress",  and  there 
is  scarcely  a  mat  of  any  descrii)tion  that  is 
not  ornamented  with  them.  One  variety  of 
mat,  which  is  called  E  wakaiwa,  is  covered 
witli  long  C3'lindricai  ornaments  that  look 
very  mucn  as  if  they  were  made  of  porcu- 
pine quills,  being  hard,  and  colored  alter- 
nately black  and  yellow.  The  ornanu  uts 
are,  however,  made  of  the  phormium  leaf  in 
a  very  ingenious  iiKiinier.  The  » ]U(lci sni.s 
is  carefully  scraped  oil'  the  under  side  of  the 
leaf  with  a  sharp-edged  shell,  and  the  leaf  is 
then  turned  over.  On  the  upper  side  tiie 
epidermis  is  removed  at  regular  intervals,  so 
as  to  expose  the  tlhres. 

The  ne.Nt  jiroicss  is  to  put  the  scniiied 
leaf  into  a  dye  made  of  a  decoction  of  kiiian 
liark,  and  to  k-t  it  remain  for  adellnitelime. 
When  it  is  taken  out.  the  dye  has  stained 
the  exposed  fibres  a  deeji  glossy  black,  while 
it  has  not  been  able  to  touch  the  polisliid 
Vellow  epidermis  that  is  allowed  to  remain. 
The  dyid  leaves  are  next  rolled  up  until 
they  liirm  cylinders  as  large  as  goose  rpiills, 
anci  are  then  woven  in  regular  rows  inU>  the 
material  of  a  mat.  As  the  w«  arer  moves 
about,  the  cylinders  rustle  and  clatter  against 
each  other,  j)rodueiiig  a  sound  which  seems 
to  be  peculiarly  grateful  to  the  ears  of  the 
natives.  Such  a  niat  or  clonk  is  highly 
prized.  Several  of  these  mats  are  in  mj  cof- 
ieetion,  and  very  curious  exam[>le8  of  native 
art  they  are. 

One  of  these  has  cost  the  weaver  nn  infin- 
ity of  trouble.  It  is  nearly  five  feet  wide 
and  three  in  depth.  The  wari)  has  been 
dyed  black,  whih'  the  weft  is  white;  and  the 
enbet  of  the  weft  passing  in  reversi'  lines 
across  the  wari)  |s  very  good.  Kvery  other 
line  of  weft  is  decorated  with  the  cylindri- 
cal tassels  each  of  which  is  nine  inches  in 
length,  an<l  Is  divided  Into  four  parts  by  the 
removal  of  the  cpldennis.  These  tassels 
begin  at  the  fourth  line  of  warp,  and  are 
re,<j!!l:n-!y  contir.Uf!!  *.-•.  the  lower  e-lge, 
whence  they  hang  so  as  to  flirm  a  fringe, 
Oo  awouiit  of  their  pumber,  they  woul4 


(1.)  WOMEN    MAKING  MATH. 
(See  page  808.) 


(2.)    THE  TANGl. 
(Suo  page  tU4.) 

(809) 


THE  WAR  CLOAK. 


811 


qualify  (ho  garment  aa  n  rain  mat  on  an 
imcrKoncv;  and  thu  rattiinK  thoy  make  aa 
till)  mat  tH  moved  in  vt^ry  nmcli  liku  that 
which  la  pruduuud  by  a  peacock  when  it  rua- 
lleH  itM  train. 

Along  tilt)  upuer  edge,  which  paMCfl  over 
the  shouldorM,  tliu  Htrings  have  been  rullcd 
togdthnr  into  ro|)cH  im  thick  ai*  the  linger, 
and  then  plaitixl  ho  im  to  form  a  thick  and 
itoft  border  which  will  not  hurt  the  neck. 
The  portion  of  the  nuit  which  comis  between 
tlie  edge  and  the  first  row  of  tuHHel8  is  orna- 
mented with  Hcnips  of  Hcarlet  wool  plaited 
into  thu  welt.  This  wool  is  afavorito  though 
costly  ornaint'iit  to  thu  natives,  being  iiro- 
cured  from  Hcatnen'H  woollen  cap*,  which 
they  unpick,  uiid  thu  yaruHU.scd  tooranmeut 
Uio  drcsH. 

One  of  these  mantles  brought  from  Now 
Zealand  by  Sliverd  Vores,  Ks(i.,  is  adorned 
very  largely  with  si^arlet  wool.  It  is  com- 
pletely bordered  witli  the  precious  material, 
a  narrow  line  of  sciirlet  running  under  the 
ui)porcdge,a  broader  under  tlie  lower,  while 
the  two  sides  aro  decorated  with  a  band 
nearly  four  inches  in  width.  In  this  case 
the  wool  hiis  been  arranged  in  a  Bcries  of 
loops;  but  in  iiiiolherspecimen  the  loops  are 
cut  so  .as  to  form  a  fringe. 

In  this  latter  inuiith!  the  tags,  inste.id  of 
being  cylindrical  and  alternately  black  and 
vellow,  are  entirely  black,  each"  rolled  leaf 
being  wholly  divested  of  its  epidermis,  and 
the  fibres  radiating  from  each  other  in  tsin- 
Bul  fashion.  I  rather  think  that  the  object 
of  this  mode  of  treatment  is  to  prevent  the 
oyc  from  being  distriieted  by  tlio  jangling 
yellow  ta„'s,  and  so  to  permit  the  scarlet  bor- 
der to  exhibit  its  beauties  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage. 

Scarlet  worsted  is,  of  course,  a  compara- 
tively late  iiiviMition,  and  hiis  only  been 
introduced  since  thu  viMits  of  Europeans. 
In  former  days  the  natives  were  equally 
fond  of  ornamenting  their  cloaks,  and  were 
obliged  to  use  the  plumage  of  birds  for  the 
purpose.  The  feathers  tivken  from  tlio 
breast  of  the  kaka  (a  species  of  nestor)  were 
mostly  used  for  tlu«  purpose.  Although  the 
colored  ornaments  are  generally  disposed  in 
lines,  they  .ire  soniutiines  arranged  in  tufts, 
which  are  disposed  in  regular  intervals  over 
tlio  whole  of  the  dress.  Examples  of  this 
kind  of  decoration  may  be  seen  in  several 
of  tho  costumes  which  are  drawn  in  this 
work. 

The  yarns  or  strings  of  which  tho  warp  is 
made  are  not  twisleil  or  plaited,  but  consist 
merely  of  the  pliormium  libres  as  they  lie  in 
the  leaf.  The  leaves  are  prepared  lor  this 
purpose  by  scraping  oiT  the  epidermis  on 
both  sides,  and  then  beating  them  on  a  flat 
stone  with  a  pestle  made  of  the  hard  volcanic 
stone  employed  in  the  jiianufacturo  of  adzes 
and  other  tools. 

iisc  I11U31  vaiuiitJie  ui  ait  tue  urcsKcs  arc 
the  war  cloaks  of  the  great  cljicfa.    They  are 


very  large,  being  somctimea  nearly  alx  feet 
in  denth,  and  wide  enough  to  be  wrapped 
over  tliu  entire  b(Hly  and  limba.  Their  na- 
tive name  la  I'arawaL 

Uefore  making  one  of  theao  great  war 
mata,  the  weaver  collects  a  large  (piaiitlty  of 
do;^'s  hair,  which  she  assorts  into  parcels  of 
dilkrent  colora.  Hhe  then  sets  up  her  aim- 
plo  loom,  and  fixes  the  warp  as  usual.  liut 
with  every  knot  or  mesh  which  she  makes 
with  the  weft  she  introduces  a  tuft  of  hair, 
taking  care  to  make  each  tail  long  enough 
to  overlap  and  conceal  tho  insertion  of  the 
tufts  in  tho  next  row.  Bhe  is  also  careful 
about  the  regular  arrangement  of  the  hues, 
so  that  when  a  complete  mat  is  made  by  a 
skilful  weaver,  it  looks  exactly  as  if  it  waa 
composed  of  the  skin  of  some  largo  animid, 
tho  vegetable  fibres  which  form  the  fabric 
itself  being  entirely  concealed  by  tho  tufts 
of  hair. 

One  of  these  mata  is  tho  result  of  some 
four  years'  constant  labor,  and  causes  some 
surprise  that  a  people  ao  naturally  indolent  as 
the  Maorits  should  prove  themselves  capa- 
ble of  such  long  and  steady  industry.  But 
tho  fact  is,  the  mat  mak(!r  is  a  woman  and 
not  a  man,  and  in  conscfjucnco  is  obliged  to 
work,  whether  she  likes  it  or  not. 

In  tho  next  nlace,  mat  weaving  scarcely 
comes  under  the  denomination  of  labor. 
Tho  woman  is  not  tied  to  time,  nor  even 
bound  to  produce  a  given  number  of  mata 
within  a  given  period.  Her  living,  too,  does 
not  'lepend  upon  tho  rate  of  her  work,  and 
whether  she  takes  eighteen  months  or  two 
years  to  produce  a  garment  is  a  matter  of 
total  inditi'ercnco  to  all  parties.  Besides,  she 
never  works  alone,  but  is  always  accoinpa» 
nied  by  friends,  one  of  whom,  jwrhaps,  may 
bo  occupied  in  a  similar  manner,  another 
may  bo  employed  in  scraping  tho  phormium 
leaves,  and  another  is  cngajjed  in  pounding 
and  softening  the  fibre  >,  or  urying  those  that 
have  just  been  dyed  black. 

But,  whatever  their  hands  m.ay  be  doing, 
the  weavers'  tongues  are  never  still.  A. 
continual  stream  of  talk  flows  round  the 
looms,  and  the  duty  of  mat  making  is  thus 
changed  into  an  ajj'reeable  moije  of  enjoy- 
ing the  pleasures  ol  conversation  while  the 
hands  arc  employed  in  a  light  and  easy 
labor. 

Very  great  ingenuity  is  displayed  by  the 
woman  to  whom  is  entrusted  tho  onerous 
task  of  making  a  war  mat.  No  two  are 
alike,  the  weaver  exercising  her  discretion 
respecting  the  colors  and  their  arrangement 
Some  of  them  arc  made  on  the  same  princi- 
ple as  the  ]3echuana  kaross,— namely,  dark- 
est in  the  centre,  and  fading  into  the  lightest 
hues  round  the  edges.    Others  arc  white  or 

{lalo  in  the  middle,  and  edged  with  a  broad 
)and  of  bla<;k  or  dark  brown  hair.  Some- 
times the  colors  are  arranged  in  a  zigzag 
pattern,  and  several  mats  arc  striped  liko 
tiger  skins.    They  always  have  a  sort  or 


1:1! 


..n 


813 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


collai-,  composed  of  strips  of  fur,  which  hang 
about  six  inches  over  the  shoulders. 

In  New  Zealand  there  arc  one  or  two 
dresses  which  are  made  almost  entirely  of 
fur,  the  skins  being  dressed  with  the  hair 
adhering  to  them,  and  then  sewed  together, 
A  very  remarkable  mat  is  possessed  by  a 
powerful  chief  named  Parateue  Maioha  It 
IS  made  of  strips  of  dogs'  fur  sewed  over  a 
large  tlaxen  mat.  Of  this  garment  he  is 
very  proud,  and  reserves  it  to  be  worn  on 

frand  occasions.  A  portrait  of  tliis  cele- 
ratcd  chief  is  given  in  the  illustration  No. 
1,  on  the  820th  page,  partly  to  show  the 
aspect  of  a  Maori  chief  in  time  of  peace, 
and  partly  to  give  the  reader  an  idea  of  the 
peculiar  look  of  tlie  war  cloak. 

There  is  also  before  me  a  photographic 
portrait  of  Panitene,  authenticated  by  his 
autograph,  in  wliich  he  is  represented  as 
clad  in  a  ditlerent  manner.  He  wears  two 
mats  or  cloaks,  the  lower  bein^^  of  the  finest 
flax,  and  called  by  the  natives  kaitaka.  A 
description  of  this  kind  of  cloak  will  be  pre- 
sently given.  Over  the  kaitaka  he  wears  a 
very  remarkable  war  cloak,  which  is  made 
of  dogs'  fur  sewed  upon  a  Hax  mat.  It 
reaches  a  little  below  tlie  knees,  and  is  made 
m  perpendicular  stripes  alternately  dark  and 
pale,  and  is  furnished  with  a  thick  collar  or 
cape  of  tlie  same  material.  This  cape,  by 
the  way,  bears  a  curious  resemblance  to  the 
ornament  which  is  worn  by  the  Abyssinian 
chiefs. 

Unfortunately  for  the  general  effect  of  the 
picture,  Panitene  has  combed,  divided,  and 
brushed  his  hair  in  European  fashion;  and 
muftled  up  as  lie  is  to  the  chin,  it  is  too'  evi- 
dent thai  he  is  wearing  a  complete  European 
suit  under  his  mats.    The  cape  has  fallen  off 
a  little  on  the  right  side,  and  we  liavo  (he 
absurd  anomalj'  of  a  face  profusely  tattooed 
surmounti'd  with  hair   that  has  just   been 
brushed  and  combed,  a  dog-skin  war  mat, 
irom  wliich  protrudes  a  bare  right  arm,  a 
jade  earring  six   inches  long,  and  a  black 
cravat  and  turn-down  collar.     In  his  right 
hand   he  grasjjs  his  cherished   merai;   his 
stafl"  of  otlice,  or  E'hani,  rests  against  liis 
shoulder;  and  bv  his  side  is  his  loiii,'  battle- 
axe,  adorned  with  a  tuft  of  feathers  iuid  dog- 
skin.   This  same  Pardtcne  is  a  man  of  ereivt 
mark  amoni,'  the  Maories. 

As  is  the  case  with  natives  of  rank  who 
have  associated  with  Europeans,  he  is  known 
by  several  names.  The  following  account 
of  him  is  given  by  Mr,  G.  P.  Angas: 

"PanilciK!  (IJrotiKhton),  wliose  native 
name  was  Te  Maihoa,  is  a  cousin  at  Te 
Whero-whero,  and  one  of  the  leadini;  men 
of  the  Ngatim.Thuta  branch  of  the  Waikato 
tribes.  He  generally  resides  in  a  village 
(or  kainga)  on  the  northern  bank  of  tlie 
picturesque  little  harbor  of  Waingaroa,  on 
the  west  coast  of  the  Northern  Island:  nnd 
the  correctness  of  his  general  conduct,  and 
the  gravity  of  his  demeanor,  have  obtained 


for  him  a  marked  ascendancy  over  many  of 
Ins  equals  in  rank, 

"  Eccentricity  is  the  principal  feature  in 
the  character  of  this  chief;  and  the  scrupu- 
lous attention  which  he  invariably  pays  to 
those  trifling  circumstances  which  constitute 
his  notions  of  eticjuette  often  renders  his 
conduct  highly  curious.  He  has  gained,  by 
unwearied  application,  a  smattering  of  arith- 
metic, and  one  of  his  most  self-satisfactory 
exploits  IS  the  correct  solution  of  some  such 
important  problem  as  the  value  of  a  pig  of 
a  certain  weight,  at  a  given  price  per  pound, 
making  the  usual  deduction  for  the  oflal.- 
Ills  erudite  quality  and  the  dignified  gravity 
of  his  carriage  have  commanded  the  defer- 
ential respect  of  his  people,  and  encouraged 
them  to  consider  him  quite  an  oracle. 

"  One  little  incident  will  place  the  harm- 
less foible  of  this  chier's  eharacter  in  a  strik- 
ing light.  When  the  author  was  about  to 
employ  his  pencil  in  the  delineation  of  his 
figure,  Pardtene  desired  to  be  excused  for  a 
few  moments.  Having  gained  his  point,  he 
sought  an  interview  with  Mrs.  Wells,  the 
missionary's  wife  (under  whose  hospitable 
roof  his  portrait  was  taken),  and,  i)reterring 
his  request  with  some  solemn  intimations  of 
its  paramount  importance,  begged  'Mother' 
to  lend  him  a  looking-glass,  lliat  he  mi-'ht 
compose  his  features  in  a  manner  suitaTile 
to  his  own  idea  of  pronrietv  ere  he  took  his 
stand  before  the  easel  of  tlie  artist." 

It  may  be  observed,  by  the  Wiu,  that 
'Mother"  is  the  term  alwavs  employed  by 
the  nativ(?S  when  addressing  tli(>  wife  of  a 
missionary.  The  autognqili  of  Panitene,  to 
which  allusion  lias  already  been  made  is 
written  witli  pencil,  and  is  perfectly  intel- 
igible,  though  the  cliaiacteis  an'' shaky, 
large,  and  sprawling,  and  look  as  if  they  had 
been  made  by  fingers  more  accustomed  to 
handle  the  du!)  than  the  pencil. 

The  last  kind  of  mat  which  will  be  men- 
tioned is  the  kaitaka.  This  garment  is  made 
ofa  peculiar  kind  of  tlax,  cultivated  tor  the 
express  puq)ose,  and  furnishing  a  liU-e  which 
13  soft  and  hue  as  silk.  The  whole  of  the 
mat  is  plain,  excejit  the  border,  wliieli  is  in 
some  ca.ses  two  feet  in  dei)tli,  and  which  is 
most  elaborately  woven  into  a  vaiidyked 
pattern  of  black,  red,  and  white.  At  tho 
l)resent  day  a  good  kaitaka  is  scarcely  anv- 
where  to  be  seen,  the  skill  requind  in  mak- 
ing them  being  so  gn-at  that  only  a  few 
weavers  can  produce  tluin,  and  Europe.in 
blankets  being  so  easilv  pnxiired  that  tlio 
natives  will  not  take  tlie  trouble  of  weav- 
in,^  garments  that  take  so  much  time  and 
trouble. 

Handsome  as  are  these  native  garments, 
they  are  not  very  pl(>asant  to  Avear.  As  tho 
threads  are  only  laid  i)!iiallel  to  each  other, 
and  are  not  cnissed,  lu,  in  fabrics  woven  in 
the  loom,  they  foi-ni  «.■:,!•(•.!•,■  anv  protertion 
against  the  wind,  allhough  thev  may  servo 
to  keep  out  tho  rain.    The  mate  are  very 


OENAMENTS. 


818 


heavy,  my  own  fimnll  specimen  of  the 
waikawa  oloak  weii^hiiij;  live  pounds  and 
a  half,  and  so  stiff  tliat  tiiey  cannot  be  con- 
veniently rolled  up  and  packed  away  when 
out  of  use.  An  Englisii  blanket,  on  the 
contrary,  is  close-textured,  resists  the  wind, 
is  very  light,  and  can  be  rolled  up  into  a 
small  conii)ass;  so  that  it  is  no  wonder  that 
the  natives  prefer  it. 

Unfortunately  for  them,  it  is  not  nearly  so 
healthy  a  garment  as  that  which  is  made  by 
themselves,  as  it  is  worn  for  a  long  time 
without  being  washed,  and  so  becomes  satu- 
rated with  the  grease  and  paint  with  which 
the  natives  are  tond  of  adorning  their  bodies. 
In  consequence,  it  fosters  several  diseases 
of  the  skin  to  whicli  tlie  Maories  are  subject, 
and  it  has  been  found  that  those  who  wear 
blankets  are  much  more  subject  to  such  ail- 
ments than  those  who  adlierc  to  the  native 
raiment. 

In  some  parts  of  the  country,  where  the 
ground  is  hard  and  stony,  the  natives  plait 
for  themselves  sandals  or  slijjpers,  which 
Very  nuieh  resemble  those  whieli  are  used  by 
the  ,T;ipan(>se.  They  consist  of  the  ever-use- 
ful phoijninni  (ihres,  which  are  twisted  into 
cords,  and  then  plaitetl  lirnily  into  the  shape 
of  a  shoe  sole. 

Wk  now  proceed  from  the  dress  to  the 
ornaments  worn  i)y  tlie  Xew  Zealanders. 

In  sduie  res|ii'('ts  they  resemldc  those 
whicii  are  in  use  among  other  dark  tribes. 
Feathers  are  much  valued  by  tliem,  and 
among  the  commonest  of  tliese  adormnents 
is  a  bunch  of  while  feathers  taken  from  the 
pelican,  and  fastened  to  the  ears  so  as  to  fall 
on  the  shoulder.  An  example  of  this  may 
be  seen  in  tii(>  jiortrait  ol'tlie  old  warrior  on 
page  7'.)4.  Sometimes  the  skin  of  a  small 
bird  is  rudely  stull'ed,  and  then  suspended 
as  an  earring,  and  sometimes  one  wing  will 
be  i)IaeiMl  at  each  side  of  the  head,  the  tips 
nearly  meeting  .-ibove. 

Tlie  most  jjrizi'd  of  tlu^se  adornments  are 
the  tail  featiu'rs  of  the  i)ird  called  l)y  the 
natives  E  lOlia.orK  Ifuia  {Xemnni'pha  Onid- 
dii).  It  is  allied  to  the  hoo])oos,  and  is  re- 
markable lor  the  fact  that  tlie  beak  of  the 
mali^  is  straight  and  stout,  while  that  of  the 
female  is  long,  slender,  and  sickle-shaped. 
The  color  of  the  bird  is  a  dark  glossy  green 
of  so  deep  a  hue  that  in  some  liglits  it  seems 
to  be  black.  The  tail  feathers,  however,  are 
tipped  with  snowy  white,  so  that  when  tlie 
bird  sjireads  its  ])luinage  for  liight,  the  tail 

>ks  at  a  Utile  distance  as  if  it'wero  black, 
iged  with  while. 

The  bird  is  only  found  in  the  hills  near 
Port  Nicholson,  aiid,  as  it  is  very  wary,  can 
scarcely  be  obtniiied  except  by  tin-  liel])  of 
a  native,  wlio  imitates  Us  cry  witli  wonderful 
jierfection.  The  nann!  K  Klia  is  s.iid  to  l)e 
merely  an  imitiuionof  the  ioiigsiu'iU  whittle 
of  the  bird.  Tlie  birds  are  so  valued  by  tin' 
Maories  that  in  all  probability  the  species 
40 


would  have  been  extinct  by  this  time,  but 
tor  the  introduction  of  European  customs, 
which  to  a  certain  degree  have  driven  out 
the  ancient  customs. 

The  feathers  of  the  tail  are  the  parts  of  the 
bird  tliat  are  most  valued  by  the  chiefs,  who 
place  them  in  their  hair  on'  great  occasions. 
So  much  do  they  prize  these  feathers,  that 
they  talv-e  the  trouble  to  make  boxes  in  wliich 
they  arc  kept  with  the  greatest  care.  These 
boxes  are  made  by  the  chiefs  themselves, 
and  are  covered  with  the  most  elaborate 
carvings,  some  of  them  being  the  finest  spec- 
imens of  art  that  can  be  found  in  New  Zea- 
land. They  are  of  various  shapes,  but  a  very 
good  idea  of  their  usual  form  may  be  obtained 
from  the  illustration  No.  ,3,  on  page  775.  The 
usual  forms  are  similar  to  that  of  the  illus- 
tration, but  in  some  cases  the  boxes  are 
oblong.  There  is  now  before  me  a  drawing 
of  one  of  these  boxes,  which  is  covered  with 
an  equally  elaborate  jiattern,  in  which  the 
lines  are  mostly  straight  instead  of  curved, 
the  pattern  being  of  a  vandyked  character, 
similar  to  that  u|)on  the  kaitaka  cloak. 
There  is  a  jirojeciing  handle  upon  the  lid, 
and  an  almost  siumar  handle  upon  each  end. 

The  natives  do  not,  however,  confine  them- 
selves to  wearing  the  tail  feathers,  but,  when 
they  can  obtain  so  valual)le  a  bird,  are  sure 
to  use  every  portion  of  it.  The  head  seems 
to  be  thought  of  next  rnportance  to  the  tail, 
and  is  susjie  tided  to  the  ear  by  a  thong. 

Perhaps  the  most  characteristic  (U'liaments 
that  are  worn  by  the  New  Zealanders  are 
those  which  are  made  of  green  jade.  This 
mineral,  called  liy  the  natives  Poonamu,  is 
mostly  Ibund  near  the  lakes  in  the  Middle 
Island,  and  is  valued  by  them  with  almost  a 
superstitious  reverence.  If  a  very  large  piece 
be  found,  it  is  taken  by  some  chief!,  who  sets  to 
work  to  make  a  chib  from  it.  This  club, 
called  a  merai,  will  bo  described  when  we 
come  to  treat  of  war  as  conducted  by  the 
Maories. 

In  the  illustration  No.  1,  on  page  841,  are 
represented  some  of  the  most  characteristic 
jade  ornaments. 

Fig.  1  is  a  Hat  image  bearing  the  rude  sem- 
blance of  a  human  being,  and  made  of  various 
sizes.  That  which  is  here  given  is  rather 
smaller  than  the  usual  dimensions.  It  is 
called  by  the  natives  Tiki,  and  is  at  the  same 
lime  one  of  the  commonest  and  the  hiiihest 
prized  articles  .among  the  New  Zealanders. 
A  new  one  can  be  purchased  lor  a  sum  which, 
though  it  would  be  considered  absurdly  high 
in  England  for  such  an  object,  is  in  n"w 
Zealand  really  a  low  price,  and  scarcely 
rejiays  th(i  trouble  ot'  carving  it. 

Jade  is  an  extremely  hard  mineral,  rank- 
ing next  to  th(\  ruby  iii  that  respect,  and,  in 
consequence  of  its  exIr'Miu'  iianhu^ss,  taking 
a  peculiar  glossy  polish  that  is  seen  on  no 
other  sui)stanee.  The  time  which  is  oc- 
cuiiied  in  carving  one  of  these  ornaments  isr 
necessarily  very  great,  ae  the  native  does 


%  1.4 


'ilil 


£■  "  ■■Pil 


6U 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


not  possess  the  inechanical  means  which 
render  its  manipulation  a  comparatively  emy 
taak  to  the  European  engraver,  and  can  only 
shape  his  ornaments  by  laboriously  rubbing 
one  piece  of  stone  upon  another. 

That  ornaments  made  of  such  a  material 
should  bo  highly  prized  is  not  a  matter  of 
surprise,  and  it  is  found  that  a  wealthy  chief 
will  give  an  extraordinarily  high  price  for  a 
handsome  jade  ornament.    There  is  in  my 
collection  a  very  ancient  Buddhist  amulet, 
made  of  the  purest  green  jade,  and  beauti- 
tully  carved,  the  remarkable  portion  of  it 
being  a  revolving  wheel  with  spiral  spokes, 
ttu;  wheel  being  cut  out  of  the  solid  jade. 
The  amulet  was  found  in  the  apartments  of 
the  Queen  of  Oude,  and  had  evidently  been 
imported    from   China,  where    it  was  en- 
graved, the   whole  character  of  the  work 
belonging  to  a  very  ancient  epoch  of  Chi- 
nese art.    It  was  shown  to  a  Maori  chief, 
who  was  then  visiting  England,  and   who 
was  intensely  pleased  with  it,  saying  that. 
If  It  were  sent  to  New  Zealand  and  oftered 
for  sale  to  one  of  the  great  chiefs,  it  would 
be  purchased  for  £20  or  £25  of  English 
money. 

It  has  been  just  mentioned  that,  in  spite 
of  the  labor  bestowed  on  the  ornament  a 
new  tiki  can  be  purchased  for  a  moderate 
sum.  Such,  however,  would  not  be  the  case 
were  the  tiki  an  old  one.  These  ornaments 
are  handed  down  from  father  to  son,  and  in 
process  of  time  are  looked  upon  with  the 
greatest  reverence,  and  treated  as  heirlooms 
which  no  money  can  buy. 

One  of  these 'tikis  was  seen  by  Mr.  Angas 
lying  on  the  tomb  of  a  child,  where  it  had 
been  placed  as  an  offering  by  the  parents. 
It  had  lain  there  for  a  long  time;  but  in 
spite  of  the  value  of  the  ornament,  no  one 
had  ventured  to  touch  It.  It  was  a  very 
small  one,  even  less  in  size  than  the  draw- 
ing in  the  illustration,  and  ha<l  in  all  proba- 
bility been  worn  by  the  child  on  whose 
tomb  it  hay. 

Most  of  these  tikis  are  plain,  but  some  of 
them  have  their  bcautv  increased  by  two 
patches  of  scarlet  cement  with  which  the 
sockets  of  the  eyes  are  filled. 

The  tikis  are  worn  on  the  breast,  sus- 
pended by  a  cord  round  the  neck;  and 
almost  every  person  of  rank,  whether  man 
or  woman,  possesses  one.  They  are  popu- 
larly supijoscd  to  be  idols,  and  are  labelled 
as  such  in  many  museums;  but  thoro  is  not 
the  least  reason  for  believing  them  to  tlilfll 
any  offlco  exoeiit  that  of  i)ersonal  decora- 
tion. The  Maories  are  fond  of  carving  the 
human  figure  upon  everything  that  can  be 
carved.  Their  houses  are  ooyerod  with  hu- 
man figures,  their  canoes  are  decorated  with 
grotesciue  human  faces,  and  there  Is  not  an  im- 
plement or  utensil  which  will  not  have  upon 
It  some  conventional  repronentation  of  the 
nunianfonu.  it  is  therefore  not  remarkable 
that  when  a  New  Zealauder  fluds  a  piecQ  of 


jade  which  is  too  small  to  be  converted  into  8 
weapon,  and  too  flat  to  be  carved  into  one 
ot  the  cylindrical  earrings  which  are  so 
much  valued,  he  should  trace  upon  it  the 
same  figure  as  that  which  surrounds  him  on 
every  side. 

The  most  common  forms  of  earring  are 
those  which  are  shown  at  figs.  4  and  5,  the 
latter  being  most  usually  seen.  It  is  so 
strangely  shaped  that  no  one  who  did  not 
know  its  use  would  be  likely  to  imagine 
that  it  was  ever  intended  to  be  worn  in  the 
ear.  Two  rather  remarkable  earrings  are 
worn  in  New  Zealand  as  marks  of  rank- 
one  being  a  natural  object,  and  the  other  an 
imitation  of  it.  This  earring  is  called  inako 
tamina,  and  is  nothing  but  a  tooth  of  the 
tiger  shark.  Simple  though  it  be,  it  is 
gre.atly  prized,  as  being  a"^  mark  of  high 
rank,  and  is  valued  as  much  as  a  i)lain  red 
button  by  a  Chinese  mandarin,  or,  to  come 
nearer  home,  the  privilege  of  wearing  a 
piece  of  blue  ribbon  among  ourselves. 

Still  more  prized  than  the  tooth  itself  is 
an  imitation  of  it  in  pellucid  jade.  The 
native  carver  contrives  to  imitate  his  model 
wonderfullv  well,  giving  the  peculiar  curves 
ot  a  shark's  tooth  with  singular  exactness. 
Such  an  ornament  as  this  is  exceedingly 
scarce,  and  is  only  to  be  seen  in  the  ears  of 
the  very  greatest  chiefs.  Anything  seems 
to  serve  as  an  earring,  and  it  is  not  uncom- 
mon to  see  natives  of  either  sex  wearing  in 
their  ears  a  brass  button,  a  key,  a  button- 
hook, or  e,ven  a  pipe. 

There  is  very  little  variety  in  the  mode  of 
dressing  the  hair,  especially  among  women. 
Men  generally  keep  it  rather  short,  having  it 
cut  at  regular  intervals,  while  some  of  the 
elders  adhere  to  the  ancient  custdin  of  wear- 
ing it  long,  turning  it  up  in  a  bunch  on  the 
top  of  the  head,  and  fastening  it  with  combs. 
These  are  formed  after  a  (ii.vliion  common 
to  all  Polynesia,  and  extending  even  to 
Western  Africa.  The  (ecth  are  not  cut  out 
of  a  sinjrle  piece  of  wood,  but  each  is  made 
separately,  and  fastened  to  its  neighbor  by 
a  strong  cross-lashing.  The  teeth,  although 
slight,  are  strong  and  elastic,  and  are  well 
capable  of  enduring  the  rather  rou<'h  hand- 
ling to  which  they  are  subjected.     ' 

Children  of  both  sexes'  ahvavs  wear  the 
hair  short  like  the  men;  but  "as  the  "iris 
grow  up,  they  allow  the  hair  to  grow,  and 
permit  it  to  flow  over  lluir  shoulders  on 
either  Mo  of  the  face,  Thev  do  not  jiart 
It,  but  bring  it  down  over  the  forehead,  and 
cut  It  in  a  slraigbt  line  just  ajjove  the  eye- 
brows. When  they  niiin y,  they  allow  the 
whole  of  the  hair  to  grow,  and  jiart  It  in 
the  middle.  They  do  not  jiiait  or  otherwise 
dress  it.  but  merely  nUow  it  to  hang  loosely 
in  itH  njtural  curls. 

Hair-cutting  is  with  the  New  Zealanders 
a  loiii?  and  todiou<>  o<M>r:>.t!n!>.  v.v.i]  is  con- 
ducted after  th(>  fashion  wiiich  prevails  in  so 
many  parts  of  the  world.    Not  knowing  tho 


A  PBIMITIVE  RAZOR. 


816 


use  of  scissors,  and  being  incapable  of  pro- 
ducing any  cutting  instrument  witli  an  edge 
keen  enough  to  sliave,  tliey  use  a  couple  of 
shells  for  the  operation,  placing  the  edge  of 
one  under  the  hair  that  is  to  be  cut,  and 
scraping  it  with  the  edge  of  the  other. 

Although  this  plan  is  necessarily  a  very 
slow  one,  it  is  much  more  efficacious  than 
might  be  imagined,  eand  is  able  not  only  to 
cut  the  hair  of  the  head,  but  to  shave  the 
stilT  beards  of  the  men.    In  performing  the 


latter  operation,  the  barber  lays  the  edge  of 
the  lower  shell  upon  the  skin,  and  presses 
it  well  downward,  so  as  to  enable  the  upper 
shell  to  scrape  off  the  hair  close  to  the  skin. 
Beard-shaving  is  necessarily  a  longer  pro- 
cess than  hair-cutting,  because  it  is  not 
possible  to  cut  more  than  one  or  two  hairs 
at  a  time,  and  each  of  th.  m  takes  some  little 
time  in  being  rubbed  asunder  between  the 
edges  of  the  sheila. 


CHAPTER    LXXXI. 

NEW  ZEALAND— ConJjnwei 

DOMESTIC  LIFE. 

CEBEMOJOEa  AITENDANT  ON  BinTH-PBEVALENCK  AND  CAU8ES  OF  INFANTICIDE  -  A  CURI0IT9  IW- 
STAZ^CE  OK  SUPERSTITION-NAMES  AND  THEIR  SIGNIFICATION -THE  CEREMONV  OF  8PRINKLINO 
-THE  RECITATIONS -CHANGES  OP  NAME -MARRIAGE-COURTSHIP  AND  WIFE-SNATCHINO - 
AMUSEMENTS  OF  THE  NEW  ZEALANDERS-THE  SWING,  OR  CIANT  STRIDE -DRAUGHTS  AND 
OTHER  SEDENTARY  GAMES -CHILDREN'S  SPORTS  -  TOP-SPINNING,  KITE-FLTING  -  AND  CAT's- 
CRiDLE- SWIMMING  AND  DIVING -CURIOUS  PETS:  DOGS,  PIGS,  AND  PARROTS-DALL-PI.AVlNa 
-MUSIC  AND  SINGING -CHARACTER  OF  THE  SONGS-MUSICAL  INSTRUMENTS -THE  FIFE,  THE 
WAR  TRUMPET,  AND  THE  WAR  BELL-CURIOUS  MODE  OP  SALUTATION- THE  "tANGI,"  AND  ITS 
LUDI.-R0U8  APPEARANCE -ITS  WEARISOME  EFFECT  ON  A  FOREIGNRB  -  UNCERTAIN  TEMPER  OF 
THE  MAORIES— STRENGTH   OF  MEMORY,   AND  CURIOSITY. 


TVe  Will  now  examine  the  domestic  life  of 
thi;  Now  Zcalander,  and  begin  at  the  begin- 
Hiiig,  i.  e.  with  his  birth. 

As  is  mostly  the  ca.so  in  those  nations 
which  do  not  lead  the  artificial  life  of  civili- 
zation, there  is  very  little  trouble  or  cere- 
mony about  the  introduction  of  a  new  mem- 
ber of  society.  The  mother  does  not  trouble 
herself  about  medical  attendants  or  nurses, 
but  simnly  goes  off  into  some  relii  i'  place 
near  a  stream,  and  seldom  takes  with  her 
even  a  compani<Mi  of  her  own  sex.  When 
the  baby  is  ho)  ii,  the  mother  bathes  her 
child  and  then  herself  in  the  stream,  ties 
the  infant  on  her  back,  and  in  a  short  time 
resumes  the  business  in  which  she  was 
engaged.  Until  the  child  is  named  the 
mother  is  sacred,  or  "tapu,"  and  may  not 
be  touched  by  any  one. 

The  New  Zealand  women  arc  too  often 
guilty  of  the  crime  of  infanticide,  as  indeed 
might  be  imagined  to  lie  the  case  in  a  land 
where  human  life  is  held  at  so  cheap  a  rate. 
Various  causes  combine  to  produce  this 
result.  If,  for  example,  the  child  is  de- 
formed or  seems  sickly,  it  is  sacrificed  as 
an  act  of  mercy  toward  itself,  the  Mnories 
thinking  that  it  is  better  for  the  scarcely 
conscious  child  to  be  destroyed  at  once  than 
to  die  slowly  under  disease,  or  to  live  a 
despised  life  as  a  cripple. 

Revenge,  the  leading  characteristic  of  the 

Maori  mind,  has  caused  the  death  of  manv 

n  infant,  the  mother  being  jealous  of  her 

b.tud,  or  being  separated  from  him  l<.n<ri>r 

she  thinks  to  be  necessary.    Even  a 

I  quarrel  will  sometimes  cause  the 


(8ic; 


woman,  maddened  by  anger,  to  destroy  her 
child  in  the  hope  of  avcaiging  herself  upon 
her  husband.  Slave  women  often  syste- 
matically destroy  their  children,  from  a 
desire  to  save  tliem  from  the  life  of  servi- 
tude to  which  thev  are  born.  In  many 
cases  the  life  of  the  child  is  sacrificed 
through  superstitious  terror. 

A  very  curious  example  of  such  a  case  is 
given  bj'  Dr.  Dietlenbaeh.  A  recently  mar- 
ried wife  of  a  young  chief  was  sitting  near  a 
pah  or  village,  on  the  fence  of  which  an  old 
priestess  had  hung  her  blanket.  As  is  gen- 
erally the  case  with  JS'ew  Zealand  ganiients, 
tlie  blanket  was  infested  with  vermin.  The 
young  woman  saw  one  of  these  loathsome 
insects  crawling  on  the  blanket,  caught  it, 
and,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  cduiitry, 
ate  it.  The  old  woman  to  whom  the  gar- 
ment belonged  flew  into  a  violent  passion, 
poured  a  volley  of  cur.ses  on  the  girl  for 
meddling  with  the  sacred  garment  of  a 
priestess,  and  finished  by  prophesying  that 
the  delinquent  would  kill  and  eat  the  child 
which  she  was  exi)ecting. 

Tiie  spirit  of  revenge  was  strong,  in  the 
old  hag,  who  renewed  her  imprecations 
whenever  she  met  the  young  woman,  and 
succeeded  in  terrifying  llir  to  such  a  degree 
that  she  was  alnmst  (Iriven  mad.  Immedi- 
ately after  the  cliild  was  born  the  old  woman 
found  out  her  victim,  and  renewed  her 
threats,  until  the  young  mother's  mind  was 
so  coninletely  unhinged,  th.it  she  hastily 
dug  .1  hole,  tbr.'w  h.'r  rliild  into  it,  fuul 
buried  it  alive.  She  was,  however,  filled 
with  remorse  for  the  crime  that  she  had 


THE  CEBEMONY  OF  SPRINKLING. 


817 


committed;  Btid  before  very  long  both  she 
and  her  husband  liud  emancipated  tliem- 
selves  Irom  their  superstitious  thraldom, 
and  had  become  converts  to  Christianity. 

It  is  seldom,  however,  that  a  mother  kills 
her  child  after  it  luis  lived  a  day;  and,  as  a 
general  rule,  if  an  infant  survives  its  birth 
but  for  a  few  hours,  its  life  may  be  consid- 
ered as  safe  from  violence.  Both  parents 
seem  equ.illy  fond  of  infants,  the  father 
nursing  them  quite  as  tenderly  as  the 
mother,  lulling  it  to  sleep  by  simple  son^s, 
and  wrapping  its  little  naked  body  in  the 
folds  of  his  mat. 

Soon  after  its  birth  the  child  is  named, 
either  by  its  parents  or  other  relatives,  the 
name  always  having  some  definite  significa- 
tion, and  mostly  alluding  to  some  supposed 
quality,  or  to  some  accidental  circunistance 
which  may  hav(;  happened  at  the  time  of 
birth.  Much  ingenuity  is  shown  in  the 
invention  of  these  names,  and  it  is  very 
seldom  found  that  the  son  is  named  after 
his  father  or  other  relative.  All  the  names 
are  harmonious  in  sound,  and  end  with  a 
vowel;  and  even  in  tlio  European  names 
that  arc  given  by  the  missionaries  at  bap- 
tism the  terminal  syllable  is  always  changed 
into  a  vowel,  in  order  to  suit  the  native 
ideas  of  euphony. 

When  the  child  is  about  two  or  three 
months  old,  a  ceremony  is  performed  which 
is  remarkable  for  its  resemblance  to  Chris- 
tian baptism.  The  origin  of  the  ceremony 
is  not  known,  and  even  the  signification  of 
the  words  which  are  employed  is  very  ob- 
scure. Very  ftnv  persons  are  present  at  the 
ceremony,  which  is  carried  on  with  much 
mystery,  and  is  pprl'ormed  by  the  priest. 

The  three  principal  parts  of  the  rite  are 
that  tlio  child  should  be  laid  on  a  mat,  that 
it  should  be  sprinkled  with  water  l)y  the 
priest,  and  that  certain  words  should  bo 
used.  As  far  as  has  been  ascertained,  the 
mode  of  conducting  the  ceremony  is  as 
follows:  Tlu!  women  and  girls  l)ring  the 
child  and  lay  it  on  a  mat,  while  the  priest 
sfcmds  by  witli  a  green  branch  dipin^d  in  a 
calabiish'of  water.  A  sort  of  ineantiilion  is 
then  said,  after  wliich  tlie  priest  sprinkles 
the  ciiild  with  water.  The  incantation  dif- 
fers acooi'ding  to  the  sex  of  the  child,  but 
the  sense  of  it  is  very  obscure.  Indeed, 
even  the  natives  cannot  explain  the  mean- 
ing of  tiie  greater  part  of  the  incantation: 
80  tiiat  in  all  prob.ability  it  consists  of  obso- 
lete words,  the  sounds  of  which  have  been 
retained,  while  their  sense  has  been  lost. 

As  far  .08  can  be  ascertained,  the  incanta- 
tion consists  of  a  sort  of  dialogue  between 
the  priest  .and  the  women  who  lay  the  child 
on  the  mat.  The  following  lines  are  given 
by  Dieflenbach,  as  the  translation  of  the 
beginning  of  the  incantation  said  over 
female  children.  lie  dues  mil.  however, 
guarantee  its  entire  accuracy,  and  remarks 
that  the  true  sense  of  several  of  the  words 


is  very  doubtful.    The  translation  runs  as 
follows: 

Oirla.  "  We  wish  this  child  to  be  im- 
mersed." —  Priest.  "  Let  it  be  sprinkled." 

Oirh.  "We  wish  the  child  to  live  to 
womanhood."  —  Priest.  "  Dance  for  Atua." 

OirU.  "  Me  ta  nganahau."  (These  words 
are  unintelligible.^  —  PWesi.  "  It  is  sprinkled 
in  the  waters  of  Atua." 

Girls.  "  The  mat  is  spread."  —  Priest 
"  Dance  in  a  circle." 

"  Thread  the  dance." 

The  reader  must  here  be  told  that  the 
word  "  Atua  "  signifies  a  god,  and  that  the 
word  which  is  translated  as  "  womanhood  " 
is  a  term  that  signifies  the  tattooing  of 
the  lips,  which  is  performed  when  girls  are 
a<lmitted  into  the  ranks  of  women.  The 
above  sentences  form  only  the  commence- 
ment of  the  incantation,  the  remainder  of 
which  is  wholly  unintelligible. 

When  the  cliild  is  old  enough  to  under- 
take a  journey  to  the  priest's  house,  another 
ceremony  tiikes  place,  in  which  the  baby 
name  that  the  parents  have  given  to  the 
infant  is  exchanged  for  another.  Accord- 
ing to  Mr.  T.aylor's  interesting  account, 
when  the  child  has  arrived  at  the  house  of 
the  priest,  the  latter  plants  a  sapling  as  a 
sign  of  vigorous  life,  and  holds  a  wooden 
idol  to  the  ear  of  the  child,  while  he  enu- 
merates a  long  string  of  names  which  had 
i)elonged  to  its  ancestors.  As  soon  as  the 
child  sneezes,  the  priest  stops,  the  name 
which  he  last  uttered  being  that  which  is 
assumed  by  the  child.  We  are  left  to  infer 
that  some  artificial  means  must  be  used  to 
produce  sneezing,  as  otherwise  the  tiusk  of 
the  priest  would  be  rather  a  tedious  one. 

After  the  requisite  si<j;n  has  been  given, 
and  the  child  has  signified  its  assent  to  the 
name,  the  priest  delivers  a  metrical  address, 
dift'ering  according  to  the  sex.  Boys  are 
told  to  dear  the  land  and  be  strong  to  work; 
to  be  bold  and  courageous  in  battle,  and 
comport  themselves  like  men.  Girls  .are 
enjoined  to  '■  seek  food  for  themselves  with 
panting  of  breath,"  to  weave  ijarments.  and 
to  perform  the  tvther  duties  which  behmg  to 
their  sex. 

Even  this  second  name  is  not  retained 
through  life,  but  may  be  clianged  in  after 
life  in  consequence  o^  any  feat  in  war,  or  of 
any  important  circumstaiice.  Such  names, 
like  the  titles  of  the  peerage  .among  ourselves, 
supersede  the  original  name  in  such  a  man- 
ner that  the  same  person  may  be  known  by 
sevei-al  totally  distinct  names  at  different 
periods  of  his  life. 

There  seems  to  be  no  definite  ceremony 
by  which  the  young  New  Zealand  lad  is 
allmitted  into  the  ranks  of  men.  The  tat- 
too is  certainly  a  sign  that  hi«  in.anhood  is 
acknowledged;  but  this  is  a  long  process, 
extending  over  several  years,  and  cannot  be 
considered  as  an  initiatory  rite  like  those 
which  are  performed  by  the  Australians. 


m 


818 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


When  a  young  man  finds  himself  able  to 
maintain  a  wife,  ho  thinks  about  getting 
married,  and  sets  about  it  very  deliberately. 
Usually  there  is  a  long  courtship,  and,  as  a 
general  fact,  when  a  young  man  fixes  his 
attections  on  a  girl,  ho  is  sure  to  marry  her 
fn  the  end,  however  much  she  or  her  frtends 
may  object  to  the  match.  He  thinks  his 
honor  involved  in  success,  and  it  is  but  sel- 
dom that  he  fails. 

Sometimes  a  girl  is  sought  by  tAvo  men  of 
tolerably  equal  pretensions;  and  when  this 
IS  the  case,  they  are  told  by  the  father  to 
settle  the  matter  by  a  pulling  match.  This 
IS  a  very  simple  process,  each  suitor  taking 
one  of  the  gu-l's  arms,  and  trying  to  drag 
her  away  to  his  own  house.  This  is  a  very 
exciting  business  for  the  rivals  as  well  as  for 
tlie  friends  and  spectators,  and  indeed  to 
every  one  except  the  girl  herself,  who  is  al- 
ways much  injured  by  the  contest,  her  arms 
being  sometimes  dislocated,  and  always  so 
much  strained  as  to  bo  useless  for  some 
time. 

In  former  times  the  strugfrle  for  a  wife  as- 
sumed a  more  formidable  !•  i;ect,  and  sev- 
eral   modern    travellers    have    related    in- 
stances where  the  result  has  been  a  tragic 
one.    If  a  young  man  has  asked  for  a  girl 
and  been  refused,  his  only  plan  is  i:;  Uvio  her 
by  force.    For  this  purpose  he  assembies  his 
male  friends,  and  makes  up  his  mind  to 
carry  the  lady  otf  forcibly  if  he  cannot  obtain 
her  peacefully.    Her  friends  in  the  mean- 
time know  well  what  to  expect,  and  in  their 
turn  assemble  to  protect  her.    A  fierce  fight 
then  ensues,  clubs,  and  even  more  danger- 
ous weapons  being  freely  used;  and  in  more 
than  one  case  the  intended  bride  has  been 
killed  by  one  of  the  losing  side.    Sometimes, 
though  not  very  often,  a  girl  is  betrothed 
when  she  is  quite  a  child.    In  that  case  she 
IS  as  strictly  sacred  as  if'shc  were  actually  a 
married  woman,  and  the  extreme  laxity  of 
morals  which  has  been  mentioned  cannot 
be    imputed    to   such    betrothed    maidens. 
Should  one  of  them  err,  she  is  liable  to  the 
same  penalties  as  if  she  were  actually  mar- 
ried. 

The  New  Zealanders  seldom  have  more 
than  one  wife.  Examples  are  known  where 
a  chief  has  possessed  two  and  even  more 
wives;  but,  as  a  general  rule,  a  man  has  but 
one  wife.  Among  tho  Maorics  the  wife  has 
very  mucli  more  acknowledged  influence 
than  is  usually  the  case  among  uncivilized 
people,  and  the  wife  always  expects  to  bo 
consulted  by  lier  husband  in  every  impor- 
tant undertaking.  Marriage  usually  t.^kes 
place  about  the  age  of  seventeen  or  eighteen, 
sometimes  at  an  earlier  age  in  the  case  of 
Uie  woman  and  a  later  in  the  case  of  the 
man. 

As  to  the  amusements  of  tho  New  Zea- 
landers, they  are  tolerably  varied,  and  rre 
iKi  auperlor  io  the  more  succession  of  n/,' - 
mg  and  dancing,  in  which  are  summed  np  \ 


the  amusements  of  many  uncivilized  races. 
SongB  and  dances  form  pait  of  the  amuse- 
ments of  this  people,  but  only  a  piu-t,  and 
tliey  are  suplemented  by  many  others. 

Ono  of  the  most  curious  was  seen  by  Mr. 
Angas  m  tho  interior  of  the  country,  but 
never  on  the  coasts.  A  tall  and  stout  pole, 
generally  the  trunk  of  a  pine,  is  firmly  set  in 
the  ground  on  the  top  of  a  steep  bank,  and 
from  the,  upper  part  of  the  polo  are.  sus- 
pended a  number  of  ropes  made  of  phor- 
mium  fibre.  Tho  game  consists  in  seizing 
one  of  the  ropes,  running  down  the  bank! 
and  swinging  as  lar  as  possible  into  tho  air! 
bometinies  they  even  run  round  and  round 
the  pole  as  if  they  were  exercising  on  the 
giant  stride;  but  as  they  have  not  learned  to 
make  a  revolving  top  to  the  pole  or  swivels 
lor  the  ropes,  they  cannot  keep  up  this 
amusement  for  any  long  lime. 

They  have  a  game  which  is  very  similar 
to  our  draughts,  and  is  played  on  a  check- 
ered board  with  pebbles  or  similar  objects 
as  men.  Indeed  the  game  bears  so  close  a 
rcsemblanco  to  draughts,  that  it  may  proba- 
bly be  .a  mere  variation  of  that  game,  which 
some  New  Zealander  has  learned  from  an 
Em-opean,  and  imported  into  his  country. 

There  IS  also  a  game  which  much  re- 
*«'"?"les  the  almost  universal  "  morro,"  and 
which  consists  in  opening  and  closing  tho 
hand  and  bonding  the  elbow,  performing 
both  actions  very  sJiarply,  and  accompany- 
ing them  with  a  sort  of  doggrel  recitation, 
wluch  has  to  be  said  in  one  breath. 

The  children  Iiave  many  games  which  are 
very  similar  to  those  in  use  among  our- 
selves.   They  spin   tops,  for  example,  and 

J\,"®.?'  ^'^^  '""*-''■  t"y  I'f'ng  cleverly  made 
of  the  flat  leaves  of  a  kind  of  sedge.  It  is 
triangular  in  form,  and  the  cord  is  made 
of  the  universal  flax  fibre.  Kite-flying  is 
alwivys  accompanied  by  a  song;  and  when 
tho  kites  are  seen  flying  near  a  village,  they 
are  a  sign  that  the  village  is  at  peace,  and 
may  be  approached  with  salety. 

1  erhaps  the  chief  amusement  of  the  chil- 
dren IS  the  game  called  Maui,  which  is  in 
fact  a  sort  of  "  cat's-cradle."  The  Maori 
children,  however,  are  wonderful  proficients 
at  the  game,  and  would  look  wHh  contempt 
on  the  few  and  simple  forms  which  English 
children  produce.  Instead  of  limiting  them- 
selves to  the  "cradle,"  the  '-pound  of  can- 
dles," the  "  net,"  and  the  "  purse,"  the  New 
Zealander  produces  figures  of  houses,  canoes, 
men  and  women,  and  various  other  patterns. 
They  say  that  this  game  was  left  to  them  as 
an  inheritance  by  M.aui,  the  Adam  of  New 
Zealand,  and  it  appears  to  be  intimately 
connected  with  tlielr  early  traditions. 

The  elder  children  amuse  themst'U.::  with 
spear-throwjng,  making  their  mimic  v  .^pons 
ot  tern-sterna  bound  at  the  end.  T'leso  they 
throw  with  great  dext^eri.iv.  niii  emulate 
each  other  in  aiming  at  a  small  inrgei. 
Swimming  is  oao  of  tho  I'.ivorite  amuse- 


races, 
musc- 
t,  and 

y  Mr. 

y,  but 
i  pole, 
set  in 
i,  and 

).  8U8- 

plior- 
nzing 
bank, 
10  air. 
round 
>n  the 
led  to 
vivels 
I  this 

niilar 

lieck- 

bjects 

ose  a 

roba- 

vliich 

■1  an 

ry. 

h  re- 

"  and 

g  the 

niing 

)any- 

[ition, 

h  are 
our- 
,  and 
made 
It  is 
made 
iiL'  is 
rthcn 
they 
,  and 

chil- 
is  in 
laori 
ients 
L'nipt 
i;lish 
icni- 
can- 
New 
loes. 
jrns. 
n\  as 
New 
itely 

ftith 
:)on8 
tliey 

ilafa 


use* 


•>l   ! 


i  i 


(,820; 


a. 


if 

o 


r    i 


a   s 
I 

o 
o 

X 


3 


b. 
U 


o 


I     a^     - 


AMUSEMENTS. 


821 


monts  of  Hio  Now  Zenlandors,  who  can  Rwitn 
alnioHt  ixn  Hoori  iim  llicy  cim  walk,  anil  nuver 
hnvu  an  idea  tliiil  tlus  walur  is  an  unfriendly 
clenu^nl.  liolii  huxcs  awini  aliku  well,  and 
in  tiu!  Huini!  manner,  i  e.  aftcT  tlio  fashion 
which  we  cjill  "swinuning  like  a  dog,"  j)ad- 
dling  llic  water  witii  nw\\  arm  alternately. 
Being  eonHtantly  in  the  watc^r,  they  can  ktiep 
\k\i  the  exertion  for  a  long  time,  and  in  tliuir 
bathing  parties  sport  al)ont  as  if  thoy  were 
ampliihious  heings.  Tiiey  divo  as  well  afl 
they  swim,  and  tlie  woini^n  spend  much  of 
their  tinut  in  diving  for  uraylisli. 

InMiose  i^iarls  of  tho  conntr};  where  hot 
springH  are  found  the  natives  are  fond  of  Imth- 
ing  in  tlu!  hcatc^l  water.  Mr.  Angas  makes 
th(!  following  observations  on  this  eustom:  — 
"  Upon  tlu!  i)i'acli  of  the  lak(',  fWAV  To  llapn, 
there  is  a  charming  natural  hot  bath,  in 
which  the  natives,  (^specially  tho  young 
folks,  luxuriate  ilaily.  Sunset  is  the  favorite 
time  for  l>iilliiiig,aud  I  have  frc(|uently  seen 
of  an  evening  at  Ic.'ist  twenty  persons  squat- 
ting togetlu!!'  in  the  watcir,  with  only  their 
head*a!)ovo  the  surface. 

"  Boiling  springs  burst  out  of  the  ground, 
close  to  a  large  circular  basin  in  the  volcanic 


rock,  wliich,  bv  tlie  assistance  of  a  little  art, 
had  been  renilered  a  capivciou.s  bath. 


I)V  til 

ilered  a  capivciou.s  bath.  The 
boiling  stream  is  conducted  into  this  reser- 
voir gradually,  and  the  temperature  of  the 
water  is  kept  up  or  decreascil  by  stopping 
out  the  boihng  stream  with  stones,  through 
which  it  trickles  slowly,  whilst  tho  main 
body  runs  steaming  into  tho  lake. 

"Tho  medicinal  properties  of  these  hot 
mineral  springs  preserve  the  natives  in  a 
healthy  state,  and  render  their  skins  beauti- 
fully smooth  and  clear.  Indeed,  some  of  the 
finest  neople  in  the  island  are  to  be  observed 
about  Taupo,  and  the  beauty  and  symmetry 
of  the  limbs  of  many  of  the  youth  would 
render  them  tidmirable  studies  for  the  sculp- 
tor." 

Perhaps  the  oddest  amusement  with  which 
the  N(!W  Zealanders  have  ever  recreated 
themselves  is  one  that  only  occurred  some 
eixty  years  ago,  and  is  not  likely  to  be  re- 
produced. About  that  date  Captain  King 
took  away  two  New  Zealanders  to  Norfolk 
Island  for  the  purpose  of  teaching  tho  set- 
tlers tho  art  of  flax-dressing.  When  ho 
came  Ijack  to  restore  them  to  their  homes, 
ho  planted  a  quantity  of  maize,  which  was 
then  new  in  the  country,  and  presented  the 
natives  with  three  i)igs.  Most  of  them  had 
never  seen  any  animal  larger  than  acat,an(l 
the  others,  who  had  a  vague  recollection  of 
seeing  horses  on  boiird  Captain  Cook's  ves- 
sel, naturally  mistook  them  for  those  animals. 
Thinking  ttiem  to  be  horses,  they  treated 
them  iis  horses,  and  speedily  rode  two  of 
them  to  death.  The  third  did  not  come  to  a 
better  end,  for  it  strayc<l  into  a  burial-ground, 
and  w.as  killed  by  the  indignant  nntiven. 

Nowadays  tho  Maori es  understand  pigs 
far  too  well  to  ride  them.    Pigs  have  be- 


come quite  an  institution  in  New  Zealand. 
Every  village  is  plentifully  ]>opiilated  with 
pigs,  and,  as  may  be  seen  in  tho  illustration 
of  a  village  which  will  bo  given  on  a  future 
page,  oiU!  of  llie  commonest  objects  is  a  sow 
with  a  litter  of  pigs. 

Little  pigs  may  be  seen  tottering  about 
the  houses,  and  the  natives,  (^specially  tho 
women,  pet  nigs  exactly  as  Euroncan  women 
pet  dogs  and  cats.  'Iliey  carry  them  In  their 
arms,  fondle  and  pet  them;  and  nothing  is 
more  common  than  to  see  a  young  girl  un- 
fold her  mantle  and  discover  a  pig  nestling 
under  its  folds.  Such  a  girl,  for  example,  as 
tho  one  who  is  represented  in  tho  illustra- 
tion No.  2,  on  the  preceding  page,  would  bo 
very  likely  indeed  to  have  a  pig  in  her  arms 
under  tho  shelter  of  her  mantle. 

Th(!  ligiire  in  question  is  tho  portrait 
of  the  daughter  of  a  chief.  Iliif  name  i'', 
Tieiiga,  and  she  is  llie  daughter  of  a  very 
powi-rfiii  and  celebrated  v\w\'.  Iler  costume 
IS,  like  her  charactcir,  an  odd  mixture  of  civ- 
ilization and  nature.  Iler  miintle  i'.  tho 
native  llax  mat,  under  which  she  may  prob- 
ably wear  a  muslin,  or  even  silken,  garment, 
artlclt'S  of  dress  of  which  th(^  young  lady  in 
question  was,  when  \u'V  portrait  was  taken, 
exceeilingly  i)roud.  On  her  head  she  wears 
a  common  straw  hat,  jjurchased  from  tho 
trader  at  some  five  hundred  per  cent,  or  so 
above  its  value,  and  round  it  she  has  twisted 
a  bunch  of  a  species  of  clematis,  which  grows 
with  great  luxuriance  in  the  forests. 

It  is  a  curious  study  to  note  the  difTer- 
ent  cliaract(!ristics  of  tlie  human  mind.  An 
Oriental  would  turn  with  unspeakable  dis- 
gust from  tho  very  touch  of  a  pig,  and  is 
scarcely  less  fastidious  concerning  tin;  dog. 
Yet  the  inhabitantsof  that  wonderful  group 
of  islands  which  stretches  fi'om  Asia  to 
America  have  a  wonderful  affinity  for  both 
these  animals,  and  especially  for  pigs,  dis- 
playing, as  we  shall  And  on  a  future  page, 
their  atfection  in  a  manner  that  seems  to 
our  minds  extremely  ludicrous. 

Pigs  are  now  fast  becoming  acclimatized 
to  the  country,  just  like  the  mustanii  horses 
of  America.  When  a  tribe  has  suffered  ex- 
tinction, as  too  often  happens  in  the  san- 
guinary and  ferocious  wars  in  which  the 
people  engage,  the  pigs  escape  as  well  as 
they  can;  and  those  that  evade  the  enemy 
have  to  shift  for  themselves,  and  soon 
resume  all  the  habits  of  the  wild  swino 
from  which  they  were  originally  descended. 
Those  which  now  inhabit  the  country  are 
easily  to  be  distinguished  ftom  their  imme- 
diate ancestors,  having  short  heads  and  legs 
and  round  compact  bodies. 

The  native  name  for  tho  pig  is  "  poaka,"  ^ 
word  which  some  have  thought  to  be  derived 
from  the  English  word  "  pork."  Dr.  DiefTen- 
bach,  however,  differs  from  this  theory,  and 
thinks  that  the  nativn  word,  nlthoii^h  nf 
European  origin,  is  derived  from  a  source 
common  both  to  England  and  New  Zealand. 


W\ 


i  i 


j  mi, 
i 


822 


NEW  ZEALiVXD, 


Ho  thinks  that  the  New  Zoahindcrs  hiul  »ome 
knowleil^c  of  this  i)iy;  j)!..' vioiis  to  its  introiluc- 
tioii  by  Eiiglimd, iiiid  Uittt  they  doiivod  their 
KnowIcdj,'i)  Iroin  SpHninh  voyagers,  lie  is 
struiigtlieiied  in  tlii.so|ii»iou  l»y  the  fact  that 
tlu!  uiiuKi  lor  dog,  "porro,"  is  iikowiso  Spau- 

Pigs  and  dogs  are  not  the  only  petP  fh, 
nntivcB  heiiig  in  liie  hiihit  of  catcliin  iJir 
kaka  iiiurot,  wliich  hiis  ulreadv  b.on  iU.'n- 
tioaed,  ami  keeping  it  tiime'ab.na  thoii 
houHcs.  Thev  make  a  very  cllecf i vo  n nd  nic- 
turesquo  i)ereh  for  the  bird,  covuiiur  it  with 
a  sloping  roof  as  a  jirolection  against  the 
suu,  and  seeurin.r  it  to  tiio  piireh  by  a  string 
round  its  eg.  Ur.  Angus  mentions  tliat  he 
has  brought  these  birds  to  England,  but  that 
the  chniato  did  not  agree  with  thiun,  and  they 
all  died.  •' 

Many  of  the  New  Zcaianders,  csneciallv 
the  women  are  dexterous  bail-players'  throw- 
ing four  balls  in  various  ways  so  as  always  to 
keen  then,  in  the  air.  Some  few  of  them  are 
BoskiUul  that  they  surpiws  our  best  iuffclers 
playing  with  live  ball.s  at  a  time,  aiul  throw- 
ing them  over  the  hend,  round  tin-  neck,  and 
in  various  other  ingenious  modes  of  iilcreas- 
ing  the  dilHculty  of  the  performance. 

Most  of  their  snorts  are  accompanied  with 
songs,  which,  inclced,  seem  to  bcKuited  to  all 
phases  of  a  New  Zcalander's  life.  In  pad- 
dling canoes,  for  example,  the  best  songster 
takes  his  stand  in  the  liead  of  a  vessel  and 
begins  a  song,  the  chorus  of  which  is  taken 
up  by  the  crew,  who  paddlo  in  exact  time  to 
the  melody. 

Respectmg  the  general  character  of  these 
songs  DieflTenbach  writes  as  follows:  "  Some 
songs  are  lyric,  and  are  sung  to  a  low,  plain- 
tive, uniform,  hut  not  at  ail  disagreeable  tune. 
Vi  Vt  i'  ^^'"''^*  's  '1  sons  o*'  n. joyful  nature; 
Ji    llaka  one    accompanied  bv  gestures  of 
mimicry  ;'  E  '  Karakia  is  a  prayer  or  an  incan- 
tation used  on  certain  occasions.     In  savin" 
this  prayer  llierc  is  gcneially  no  modulation 
01  the  voice,  but  syllables  are  lengtiienod  and 
shortened,  and  it  produces  the  same  clfect  as 
reading  the  Talmud  in  synagogues.    Mosi 
01  these  songs  live  in  the  memorv  of  all,  but 
with  numerous  variations.    Certain  Karakia 
or  invocations,  however,  are  less  generally 
known  and  a  stranger  obtains  them  witli 
difficulty,  as  they  are  only   handed   down 
among  the  tohunga,  or  priests,  from  father  to 
son. 

"To  adapt  words  to  a  certain  tune,  and 
thus  to  commemorate  a  passing  event,  is  com- 
mon in  New  Zealand,  and  has  been  the  begin- 
ning of  all  national  poetry.  Many  of  these 
children  of  the  moment  have  along  exist- 
ence, and  are  transmitted  through  several 
generations ;  but  their  allusions  become  unin- 
teJIigible  and  foreign  names,  having  undcr- 
nS  "  ^^"'■^"^^  change,  cannot  be  recog- 

-A !!  the.-r.  =«ng=  are aeeompanicd  by  gcniic- 
ulations  more  or  less  violent  and  "in  that 


which  is  known  as  E  '  Hnka  the  bodily  ex- 
ertion 18  extreme.  Tlie  wingers  sit  down  in 
a  circle,  throw  olf  their  u|)per  mats,  and  sing 
m  concert,  aecomnatiying  the  song  with  the 
wildest  imagin.iblo  gestures,  squinting  and 
turning  up  their  cyc»  so  as  to  show  nothing 
but  the  whites.  • 

'.  'Mi.dcal  iilstruments  they  have  but  very 
vtujut!    ind    liiint   ideiis.    Even   the  driini, 

•"■'I  is  porhaiisthc  instrument  that  hns  the 
vvioest  range  through  tlie  World,  is  unknown 
to  the  native  New  Zealaiidcr.  Drums  re« 
sound  in  all  the  islands  of  the  I'neilic.  but  the 
New  /ealander  never  indulges  hinisdf  in  a 
drumming  The  sole  leallv  musical  instru- 
mciit  which  he  jmssesses  is  a  sort  of  life  made 
out  ol  human  Imne.  'Jenernlly,  the  llute  is 
lormedlr.:-!,  u,-  <h;^h-i„neofirslain  enemy; 
and  when  this  is  the  case,  (he  Alaori  warrior 
prizes  the  instrument  iiiordiimlely,  and  car- 
ries it  suspended  to  the  tiki  which  he  wears 
slung  on  his  breast. 

There  are  cerlainly  two  noise-producinff 
instruments,  which  have  no  right  to  be 
honored  with  the  title  ol  inusicMl  ilistru- 
ments.  These  are  the  war  bell  and  the  war 
trumpet. 

The  former  is  called  the  war  bell  in  default 
01  a  better  word.    It  consists  of  a  block  of 
hard  wood  about  six  feet  long  and  two  thick 
with  a  deep   groove    in    the   cenire.    This 

belt  IS  su.speiuled  horizontally  bv  cords, 
and  struck  by  a  man  who  st/uats  oii  a  scaf- 
lohl  under  it.  With  a  stick  made  of  honvv 
wood  be  delivers  slow  and  regular  stnkes  in 
Ihe  groove,  the  ellect  being  to  produce  u 
most  melancholy  sound.  (Iiillv  iK.oming  in 
the  silliness  of  the  night.  Tl'ie  war  b,.|l  is 
never  sounded  by  day,  the  object  l.cin<T  to 
tell  (he  people  inside  (he  pah,  or  villagejhat 
the  sentinel  is  awake,  and  (o  (.11  anv  ap- 
proaching enemy  (hat  it  would  be  iiscles's  for 
him  to  attemj)t  nn  attack  bv  suipiiee.  Its 
native  name  is  I'ahn. 

The  war  (rumjiet  is  called  rntara-putara. 

It  is  a  most  ninviddly  instrument,  at  least 

seven  leel  in  lenglli.     It  is  hollowed  out  of  a 

suitabl;y-shaped  i)iece  of  hard  wood,  and  an 

th  is     ■ 


cxpamling  month  is  given  to  it  by  means  of 
several  jjieces  of  wood  la.'«lied  logVther  with 
flaxen  fibre,  and  fitted  to  each  other  like  the 
staves  of  a  cask.  Toward  the  m(iu(li-i,!..cc 
it  is  covered  with  the  grotesfjne  carvin|-H  of 
whidi  the  New  Zealanders  are  so  fond?  It 
is  only  used  on  oceaf^ions  of  alarm,  when  it 
is  laid  over  (he  fi  nee  of  the  i  ah,  and  sounded 
by  a  strong-lunj.*  d  native.  The  note  which 
the  trumpet  produces  is  aloud  roaring  sound, 
which,  as  the  natives  aver,  can  be  heard,  on 
a  calm  night,  the  distance  of  several  miles. 
In  fact,  the  sound  ajipears  to  be  \or\  much 
the  same  as  (hat  which  is  produced  by  the 
celebrated  Blowing  Stone  of  AViKshire. 

In  some  places  a  sm.iller  trumpet  ir  used 
in  time  of  war.  The  body  of  this  trumnet 
^'i  iiiways  made  of  a  largj  shell,  generally 
that  of  a  triton,  and  the  mode  of  blowing  it 


THE  TANQI. 


823 


(liflTei's  acfording  to  the  locality.  The  sim- 
plest kimlofHluiTl-triiinpot  is  that  which  is  in 
UHc  throiijj;lu)ul  tlic  whole  of  the  Pacillc  Isl- 
ands. It  is  iiiiulo  by  taking  a  largo  empty 
shell,  and  boring  a  round  hole  on  one  side 
near  the  point.  The  shell  is  blown  like  a 
fluto,  being  iilaced  horizontally  to  the  lips, 
and  the  air  mroctcd  across  the  aperture.  In 
fact,  it  exactly  resembles  in  principle  the 
horn  and  ivory  trumpets  of  Afnca,  which  are 
shown  on  a  )  i'('cedin,i»  page. 

There  is,  1  \vcver,  in  the  British  Museum 
a  much  more  elaborate  form  of  trumpet, 
which  is  blown  with  n  m<)uth-pi(!co.  In  this 
case  the  point  of  the  shell  has  been  removed 
ami  a  wooden  mouth-piece  substituted  for  it, 
so  that  it  is  blosvn  at  the  end,  like  trumpets 
in  our  own  country. 

The  dances  of  the  New  Zealandcr  are 
almost  entirely  conrioeted  with  war  and  will 
therefore  be  mentioni'd  when  We  come  to 
treat  of  Ihui  subject. 

The  mo(hi  ot'  salutation  at  parting  and 
meeting  is  vt'ry  ciu'ioiis,  and  to  an  European 
sutliciently  ludicrous.  When  two  persons 
meet  who  have  not  saeu  crioh  other  for  some 
time,  it  is  considered  a  Ui-ces-sary  (loint  of 
etiquette  to  go  through  the  ceremony  called 
tanrfi.  The  "  g,"  by  the  wav,  is  pronounced 
hard,  as  in  the  word"  begin. '^  They  envelope 
themselves  in  their  mats,  covering  even  their 
faces,  excojjt  on(!  eye,  squat  on  the  ground 
opposite  each  other,  and  begin  to  weep  co- 
piously. They  seem  to  have  tear-'  at  com- 
mand, and  they  never  fail  to  go  through  the 
whole  of  the  ceremony  .as  often  as  etiquette 
demands  it.  Having  finished  their  cry,  thi-y 
approach  c.T,eli  other,  press  their  noses  tii- 
gether  for  sumo  time,  uttering  the  while  a 
scries  of  short  grunts!  Eiiquetto  is  now 
satisfied  and  both  parties  become  very  cheer- 
ful and  lively,  chatting  an  1  laugiiing  lus  if 
there  had  never  been  such  a  thing  iis  a  tear 
in  existence. 

Mr.  Angas  tells  a  ludicrous  story  of  a  tangi 
which  he  once  witnessed.  A  woman  was 
paddling  a  very  small  canoe,  and  fell  in  with 
the  exploring  party,  wlio  were  in  two  large 
cfmoes.  Seeing  some  friemls  on  board  of 
the  largo  canoes,  she  ran  her  little  vessel 
between  them,  and  began  a  /igorous  tangi. 

Time  being  pressing,  sliv>  ,^ould  not  stop 
to  wrap  herself  up  in  the  orthodox  style, 
but  biH-st  into  a  flood  of  tt.ii->  in  the  most 
approved  fashion,  an  paddled  and  howled 
with  equal  vigor.  ^  1  crying,  she  put  on 
board  a  basket  of  potatoes  .as  a  present,  and 
received  in  return  a  fig  of  toljacco.  The 
tangi  being  by  this  time  complete,  the  old 
woman  burst  into  a  loud  lau^h,  had  a 
lively  talk  with  her  friends,  turned  her  little 
canoe  round,  and  paddled  briskly  out  of 
sight. 

In  one  instancr  this  forre  of  habit  was 
rather  ludicrously  -vi'inplifled.  The  writer 
shall  tell  his  owri  story. 

"  At  Hopeton  wc  met  with  a  sister  of 


Karake,  or  Clark,  the  chief  of  Waikato 
Heads,  whose  portrait  I  bad  jtainted  when 
at  Auckland.  This  portrait  I  showed  to  the 
old  woman,  who  had  not  seen  her  brother 
for  some  time,  when,  to  my  surpriso  and 
amusement,  she  at  once  eonimen(;ed  a  moat 
atfoctionate  tangi  before  the  sketch ;  waving 
hor  hands  in  the  usual  manner,  and  uttering 
successively  low  whining  sounds  expressive 
of  her  ioy. 

"After  she  had,  as  I  Imagined,  satisfied 
herself  with  seeing  the  representation  of  her 
brother,  I  was  about  to  nsplace  the  sketch 
in  my  portfolio,  when  she  begged  of  For- 
salth  that  she  might  be  permitted  to  tangi 
over  it  in  good  earnest,  saying,  'It  was  hor 
brother — her  brother;  anu  she  must  TANGI 
till  the  tears  come.'  And  sure  enough, 
prt'sently  the  tears  did  coiik!,  and  the  old 
woman  wept  and  moaned,  and  waved  her 
hands  before  the  picture,  with  us  much 
apparent  feeling  as  if  her  brother  himself 
had  thus  suddenly  appeared  to  her.  I  could 
not  prevail  upon  the  old  creature  to  desist, 
and  was  at  lenrrlb  compelled  to  leave  the 
portrait  in  Forsailh's  care,  whilst  I  was 
employed  in  sketching  elsewhere.  In  future 
I  shall  be  more  cautious  how  I  show  my 
sketches  to  the  old  women,  finding  that 
they  are  liable  to  produce  such  melancholy 
results." 

Mr.  A.  Christie,  to  whom  I  am  indebted 
for  much  information  about  the  country, 
told  me  an  anecdote  of  a  tangi  performed  m 
England  by  a  party  of  Maories  who  had 
visited  this  country.  They  were  about  to 
bhl  farewell  to  one  of  their  friends,  and  vis- 
ited his  house  for  that  purpose,  desiring  to 
bo  allowed  to  perform  the  tangi. 

Knowing  their  customs,  their  host  took 
them  into  an  empty  room,  previously  cau- 
tioning his  family  not  to  be  surprised  at  the 
ceremony.  The'whole  party  then  sat  down 
on  the  floor,  and  raised  a  most  dismal  howl, 
wailing,  waving  their  hands,  shedding  floods 
of  tears,  and,  in  fact,  enjoving  themselves 
in  their  own  queer  way.  I'he  tangi  being 
over,  they  all  bee  iue  lively  and  chatty,  ana 
finally  took  leave  iftcr  the  undcmonstr.ativo 
English  fashion. 

To  a  stranger  the  performance  of  the 
tangi  is  very  iimusing  for  the  first  few  times 
of  witnessing  it;  but  he  soon  becomes  tired 
of  it,  and  at  last  looks  upon  it  as  an  uiimiti- 
gated  nuisance,  wasting  lime,  and  subject- 
ing him  to  a  series  of  doleful  howls  from 
which  he  has  no  mode  of  escape.  Mr. 
Augas  describes  a  tangi  to  which  he  was 
subjected. 

"  At  sunset  wc  reached  a  small  fortified 
port,  on  the  summit  of  a  hill  overlooking 
the  lake.  There  were  but  few  natives  resid- 
ing in  it,  to  whv;m  the  sight  of  a  p.akeha 
(w'hite  man)  was  indeed  astonishing;  and, 
after  the  salutation  of  welcome,  tb.ey  enm- 
menced  a  tangi  at  my  guides  and  myself.  • 

"The  man  who  introduced  us  uttered  a 


fft' 


NKW  ZEALAND. 


i  II 


&int  sound  In  his  thrunt,  llk(:  that  of  a  por- 
aon  crying  at  a  distniK  c,  and  cuntinued  to 
louk  nioiirnt'iilly  on  tlm  ground.  Tlio  wul- 
come  of  the  mun  wan  volubiu  and  loud: 
thuy  howled  diMumlly,  and  thuir  Iuuth  fell 
faat  for  ttoniu  tiuiu. 

"  AnotluT  fenudo  soon  arrived,  who, 
■quattiuK  on  tho  uround,  coninii'uced  t\ 
tangi  with  lior  friends,  so  loud  and  dolelUl  — 
now  mutterinjj  and  anon  howling  like  a 
hyena— that  it  made  mo  feel  quite  dismal. 
TItero  she  sat,  yelling  horribly,  to  my  great 
annoyance,  hut  Maori  etiquette  coiiipelled 
nio  to  look  grave  and  not  to  disturb  her. 
There  seemed  to  be  no  end  to  this  woman's 
wailings  of  welcome.  Tho  night  was  cold, 
and  slio  still  continued  to  sit  by  tho  (Ire 
prolonging  her  lugubrious  and  discordant 
strains.  Sometimes  she  would  pitch  a 
higher  key,  going  upward  with  a  scream, 
shaking  her  voice,  and  muttering  between 
every  howl;  then  it  would  ho  a  squall  with 
variations,  like  '  housetop  cats  on  moonlight 
nights.' 

"Then  blowing  her  noso  with  her  fingers, 
sho  made  some  remarks  to  the  woman  next 
her,  and  recommenced  howling  in  the  most 
systematic  way.  Once  again  she  became 
ftirious-  then,  during  an  interval,  she  spoke 
about  the  pakehn,  joined  in  a  hearty  laugh 
with  all  tho  rest,  and  at  litst,  aller  oiie  long 
continued  howl,  all  was  silent,  to  my  great 
relief." 

Tho  manner  in  which  tlic  natives  can 
produ(;c  such  torrents  of  tears  is  really 
marvellous;  and  they  exhibit  such  apnannt 
agony  of  grief,  acting  the  part  to  such  per- 
fection, that  for  some  time  a  stranger  can 
hardly  believe  that  the  profusely  weeping 
natives  arc  simply  acting  a  conventional 
part. 

In  t'vi  illusti-ation  No.  2,  on  the  80i)th 
page,  is  shown  the  sort  of  scene  which  takes 
place  at  a  pah  when  some  of  the  inhabitants 
return  after  a  long  absence  —  a  scene  wliich 
would  be  very  pathetic  did  it  not  trench 
upon  the  ludicrous, 


pluted,  tho  provisions  at'u  brought  out  and  a 
great  feasting  ensues, 

As  to  tho  genyral  charwtorof  the  nativoi, 
it  presents  a  curiou:*  mixture  of  wildness  and 
fenjcity,  all'ection  and  llcklenesH,  benevo- 
lence and  veiisjefulnesH,  hospitality  and  coy- 
etousness.  The  leading  chunieieristlc  of 
the  Maori  mind  is  sell-esteem,  which  some- 
limes  takes  the  form  of  a  loity  and  oven 
chivalrous  pride,  anil  at  other  tunes  degen- 
erates into  childish  vanity.  It  is  this  feel- 
ing which  leads  a  New  Zealander  to  kill 
himself  rather  than  live  to  sullir  disgrace, 
and  which  causes  him  to  beliuve  with  tho 
noliteness  for  which  (he  well-bred  NewZca- 
hvnder  is  so  con.sjiiiuous.  Degenerating 
into  vanity,  it  is  easily  wounded;  and  henco 
the  accidentally  hurt  feelings  of  a  Maori, 
added  to  the  venj^'i'lulness  which  Ibrms  so 
large  a  jiortion  of  his  nature,  Imve  occasioned 
long  and  desolating  wars,  in  which  whole 
tribes  have  been  extinguished. 

The  temper  of  1\h\  Maories  is,  as  is  often 
the  case  with  uncultivated  natures,  quick, 
tctthy,  and,  though  pleasing  (  noiigh  as  a 
general  rule,  is  apt  to  cliange  suddenly  with- 
out the  least  provocation;  a  livelv,  agreea- 
ble i)erson  becoming  suddenly  diiil,  sullen, 
id    ill-tempered.      This   lickleiiess  of  de- 


ani 

meanor  is  very  troublesome  to  Eurimeans, 
and,  indeed,  is  sometimes  assumed  by  the 
natives,  for  the  pur(iose  of  seeing  how  much 
their  white  companion  will  endure.  When 
they  find  that  he  nieelH  (limi  with  firmness, 
they  lay  aside  the  ir  uiqileasant  manner,  and 
beconu!  (luite  gay  and  sociable. 

Often,  however,  an  European  hurts  their 
feelings  quite  unintentionally,  through  sheer 
ignorance  of  tlu;  minute  code  of  eticiuetto 
which  they  observe.  If,  lor  exami)le  two 
Europeans  meet  and  wish  to  discuss  a  sub- 
ject, they  stand  si  ill  and  have  their  talk,  or 
perhaps  they  walk  backward  and  forward. 
Two  New  Zealanders.oii  the  contraiy,  would 
always  sit  down,  as  it  is  thought  a  mark  of 
inattention  to  slmul  while  addressed  by 
another.    Again,    uhen   a  New   Zealander 


When  a  part_y  of  strangers    arrive  at  a   enters  a  house,  he  makes  his  salutation  and 


pah,  the  preliminary  part  of  tho  tangi,  i.  c. 
the  sitting  down  and  weeping,  is  omitted, 
another  ceremony  being  substituted  for  it. 
The  visitors  are  introduced  into  the  interior 
of  the  pab,  -.vliei-i  «  large  space  has  been 
kept  clci'.r.  The  piiiu'ipai  chief  of  the  vil- 
lage the.i  atlvances,  cla.1  as  if  for  war,  i.  e. 
wealing  nothing  but  hn  nioko  and  plenty 
of  scarlet  paint,  and  ber.rinj;  a  spear  in  his 
hand.  He  brandishes  aid  aims  the  spear 
as  if  he  meant  to  pierce  the  chief  of  the  op- 
posite party,  and  then  throws  it  toward,  but 
not  at,  the  stranger.  Tho  visitors  then 
sauat  silently  on  tho  ground,  according  to 
Maori  etiquette,  and  presently  each  stranger 
is  faced  by  one  of  the  receiving  tribe,  who 
goes  through  the  ceremony  of  ongi,  or  press- 
ing noses,  which  is  the  hist  part  of  the  tangi 


then  squats  down  in  silence  for  some  time, 
the  omission  of  this  ceremonv  beincr  looked 
upon  as  great  a  mark  of  ill-breeding  as  logo 
into  a  drawing-room  with  the  hat  on  is  con- 
sidered among  ourselves. 

One  curious  trait  of  the  Maori  character  is 
the  inability  to  keep  a  secret.  This  curious 
disposition  sometimes  subjects  the  natives 
to  very  unpleasant  consequences.  Those, 
for  example,  who  have  adopted  the  laws  of 
the  white  man,  have  discovered  that  there  arc 
many  delinquenojes  which  can  be  done  with 
impunity,  provided  that  they  are  commit- 
ted in  secret.  ]5ut  according  "to  Dieffenbach, 
"  with  the  art  of  keeping  a  secret  the  New 
Zealander  is  little  accpiainted.  Although  he 
possesses  in  many  other  respects  great  self- 
control,  the  secri>t  niU8t  como  out.  evi^n  if  hi.i 


This  lasts  for  some  time,  and",  when  it  is  coin-  i  death  should  be  the  immediate  consequence." 


STBENOTII  OF  MEMORY. 


8SS 


They  have  a  strong  nnti  tenacious  inom- 
orv,  liDHilv  aciiuiriii^  kiiowludgu,  ami  re- 
taining it  with  wondfrf'ul  accurmy.  Tins 
Rtn)n;:;th  of  thuir  memory  in  well  exempli- 
fiiul  l>y  the  native  converts  to  (Jhristlanlty, 
who  will  repeat  hmjf  passages  of  the  IJiblo 
ami  many  hymns  with  absolute  oxaetness. 

One  ol  tlie  most  remarkable  exumnles  of 
this  characteristic  is  atforded  by  an  olil  cliief 
nanioil  Iloroniana  Marahau,  who  is  popu- 
larly known  as  iilinil  Solomon,  lie  has  led 
a  most  exciting  and  varied  life,  having  been 
engaged  in  war  ever  since  he  was  a  boy,  and 
once  actually  taken  prisoner  by  the  ferocious 
chief  E'  Ilongi,  or  Hhongi,  as  he  is  generally 
called.  He  has  captured  many  a  pah,  anil 
assisted  in  eating  many  a  slain  enemv,  and 
had  he  not  escai)ed  when  he  himself  was 
made  prisoner,  ho  would  have  shared  the 
same  fate. 

His  last  exploit  was  an  attack  on  Poverty 
Hay  where  he  and  his  followers  took  the 
l)ali,  and  killed  and  afterward  ate  six  hun- 
dred of  the  enemy.  Shortly  after  this  feat 
lie  became  bliiul,  at  Otawaho,  where  he  lirst 
mot  with  the  missionary.  In  process  of 
time  he  became  a  convert,  and  afterward 
labored  as  a  teacher,  displaying  the  same 
earnest  energy  which  distuigiiished  his  mil- 
itary career,  and,  though  an  old  man,  under- 
taking long  and  toilsome  Journeys  for  the 
purpose  of  instructing  his  fellow-country- 
men. Mr.  Angas  once  heard  him  deliver  a 
funeral  oration  over  the  body  of  a  child, 
which  he  describes  as  one  of  the  finest  and 
most  impassioned  bursts  of  eloquence  he 
ever  heard. 


Iloroniana  was  peculiarly  suited  for  the 
olHce  of  instructor  in  consetpieiice  of  his 
exceptionallv  retentive  memory.  He  knows 
the  whole  of  the  Church  Service  by  heart, 
together  witii  many  hymns  and  long  pas- 
sages of  the  liibh;,  and  when  he  was  exam- 
ined in  the  Catechism,  it  was  found  that  ho 
knew  every  word  correctly.  This  strength 
of  memory,  by  the  way,  useful  as  it  i»  when 
rightly  employed,  is  sometimes  abused  by 
becoming  an  instrument  of  revengis  a  Maori 
never  forgetting  an  insult,  wlietlier  real  or 
imaginary,  nor  the  face  of  the  person  by 
whom  he  was  insulted. 

The  curiosity  of  the  people  is  insatiable, 
and  they  always  want  to  hear  ail  aliout 
everything  they  see.  This  spirit  of  curiosity 
has  naturally  led  them  to  take  the;  greatest 
interest  in  tiie  various  arts  and  sciences 
possessed  by  the  while  mar.,  and  in  order 
to  gratify  it  they  will  often  hire  themselves 
as  sailors  in  European  ships.  Accustomed 
to  the  water  ail  their  lives,  and  being  ad- 
mirable canoe  men,  they  make  excellent 
sailors,  and  soon  learn  to  manage  boats  after 
the  European  fashion,  which  (lillers  essen- 
tially from  their  own.  Some  of  them  pene- 
trate into  the  higher  mysteries  of  navigation, 
and  in  1843  a  Kew  Zealander  was  captain  of 
a  whaler. 

They  take  quite  as  much  interest  In  the 
familiar  objects  of  their  own  country  as  in 
those  which  are  brought  to  them  by  for- 
eigners. They  have  names  for  all  their 
animal,  vcgetaulc,  and  even  mineral  pro- 
ductions, pointing  out  and  remarking  upon 
any  peculiarities  whiah  may  be  found  in  them. 


<\ 


i 


I 


CHAPTEK  LXXXII. 


NEW  ZE  A  LAND  —  Contih.'ed. 


FOOD  AND  COOKEUY. 


HOSPWAT.ITT  OF  THB  KEW  ZEALANDER9  —  KPKECT8  OP  CTVILIi! ATION  —  TUB  CRtTlLISn  HOSTS  AND 
THEIB  llEWAUD  — A  i}EW  ZEALAND  FEAST  — THE  WALL  OF  rKOVISIO>iS  — FOOD-BASKETS —  TUB 
KtiMARA  OB  SWEET  POTATO  —  WASIII.VO  AND  COOKINO  VEOETAHLES— THE  CAimACiE  I'ALM  AND 
FEItX  UOOT  — A  NATIVE  LEGEND  — THK  PAWA  SHKLL- THE  MUSSEL  AND  OVSTEU  — FISHING  — 
TIIK  NE.%  TI!E  TllAP,  THE  HOOK,  AND  THE  Sl'EAM— DIUD-CATCHINO  — CAPTUHING  THE  KIWI- 
KIWI  AND  PAUIIOT- riG-CATCHINO  AND  COOKINO  —  CANNIHAMSM,  ITS  SIGNIFICATION  AND  EX- 
TENT—BATING  HUMAN  FLESH   A  SUPFHSTITIOUS  CUSTOM  — ANECDOTES  OF  CANNIBALISM. 


The  New  Zcalandors  arc  the  most  lios- 
pi table  and  generous  of  people;  a  stranger, 
wliotlior  native  or  European,  is  welcomed 
into  the  villages,  is  furnished  v  itli  slielter, 
and  provided  at  once  with  food.  Should  the 
visitor  lie  a  relative,  or  even  an  inlininte 
friend,  fhey  hold  all  their  property  in  com- 
mon, and  will  divide  with  him  evervthing 
that  they  posisess.  Even  if  a  Maori  has 
earned  by  long  labor  some  article  of  i)rop. 
crty  which  he  was  very  anxious  to  possess, 
he  will  give  it  to  a  relation  or  friend  who 
meets  him  after  a  long  separation. 

Tliis  generosity  of  disposition  lias  unfor- 
tunately been  nuich  checked  by  contact  with 
the  white  man.  and  those  natives  who  have 
much  to  do  with  the  white  .settlers  liave  lost 
much  of  their  politeness  as  well  as  their 
hos|)i(alily.  Instead  of  welcoming  tlie  trav- 
eller, housing  him  in  their  best  hut.  provid- 
ing him  with  their  choicest  food, and  tending 
him  as  if  he  were  a  near  relation,  they  have 
become!  covetous  and  suspicious,  and  instead 
of  offering  aid  gratuitously  will  sometimes 
refuse  it  altogether,  and  at  the  best  di'mand 
a  high  riit('  of  payment  for  their  assistance. 
,The  native  converts  to  Christianity  have 
deteriorated  greatly  in  this  respfct  through 
the  misjudged  zeal  of  liie  misf  ionaries. 
who  have  taught  their  pupils  to  refuse 
food  and  shelter  to,  or  to  perf()rm  any  kind 
of  work  for.  a  traveller  who  hap])ens"  to  ar- 
rive at  tiieii  houses  on  a  Sunday  —  acircum- 


(820) 


Stance  w!iieh  ranst  continually  occu:  in  a 
country  where  the  tr.avcllers  are  entirely 
dependent  on  the  natives.  Dr.  Diefleiibacii, 
who  always  sjjcaks  in  the  highest  terms  of 
the  zeal  and  si  11-denial  of  the  missionaries, 
writes  as  folhrw-  on  this  subject:  "Highly 
as  I  appreciate  ihe  merits  of  the  mission- 
aries, I  must  say  tliat  thej-  liave  omitted  to 
teach  their  converts  some  most  important 
social,  and  therelbr?  moral,  duties,  which 
they  will  only  acquire  by  a  more  inlimauj 
intercourse  with  civilized  Europeans. 

"In  their  native  state  tiiey  are  as  labo- 
rious as  their  wants  reepiire  luit,  easily  sat- 
isfying those,  and  incapable  even  by  their 
utmost  exertions  to  compete  with  llie'loweat 
of  Europeans,  flu  y  get  lazy  and  indolent, 
prefer  begging  to  working,  and  pass  a  great 
part  of  their  time  in  showing  tluir  acquired' 
fineries  and  in  cont(  inplating  (lie  restless 
doings  of  llie  colonist.  As  servants  they 
are  verv  independeiil,  and  Europeans  will 
do  well,  if  they  want  any  native  helpers,  to 
treat  them  with  atteutiim,  and  rather  as  be- 
longing to  the  family  than  as  servanls. 
They  have  this  feeling  of  independence 
very  strongly,  and  it  is  very  creditable  io 
tliem. 

"  There  is  every  reason  to  beUcve  (hat  in 
a  sliort  (in;e  the  character  of  the  New  Zea- 
landers  will  be  eutircly  changed,  and  any 
one  who  wishes  to  Hee"wh;K.  they  were  for- 
njerly  must   study   them    m    the  interior, 


A  NEW  ZEALAND  FEAST. 


827 


where  they  are  still  little  influenced  by  in- 
tercourse with  us,  which  I  must  repeat,  has 
been  little  advantageous  to  them." 

The  same  writer  relates  an  amusing  anec- 
dote respecting  the  ancient  custom  of  hos- 
pitality, lie  had  been  travelling  for  some 
distance  with  scarcely  any  provisions,  and 
came  upon  a  tribe  which  churlishly  refused 
hospitality  to  the  party,  and  \*ould  not  even 
fin-nish  a  guide  to  sliow  them  their  way._ 
One  of  them  condescended  to  sell  a  small 
basket  of  potatoes  in  exchange  for  some 
needles,  but  nothing  more  could  be  ob- 
tiiined,  and,  after  spending  a  day  iu  vain, 
the  party  had  to  pack  up  and  resume  their 
march. 

After  they  had  left  the  pah,  they  came 
suddenly'  across  a  family  of  pigs.  One  of 
the  native  attendants  innnediately  killed  a 
large  sow,  and  in  a  few  minutes  tlie  animal 
was  cut  up  and  the  pieces  distributed.  Not 
liking  to  take  food  without  l)aying  for  it, 
Dr.  Dieflenljach  hung  the  offal  of  the  jiig 
on  a  bush,  together  with  an  old  pair  of  trou- 
sers and  an  iron  kettle.  Ilis  attendants, 
however,  went  back  and  took  them  away, 
SKving  that  it  was  the  custom  of  the  coun- 
try ihat  a  stranger  should  be  supplied  with 
food,  and  that,  if  it  were  not  given  to  him, 
he  had  a  right  to  take  it  when,  where, 
and  hpw  he  could.  They  were  very  nuich 
amused  at  the  whole  proceeding,  and  made 
many  jokes  on  the  disappointment  of  the 
churlisli  people  who  refused  to  sell  a  pig 
at  a  good  price,  and  then  found  that  it  had 
been  taken  for  nothing. 

Hospitality  being  such  a  nnivers.al  and 
imperative  characteristic  of  the  aboriginal 
Maori,  it  may  be  imagined  that  when  a 
chief  gives  a  feast  he  does  so  with  a  liberal 
hand.  Indeed,  some  of  these  banquets  are 
on  so  enormous  a  scale,  that  a  whole  dis- 
trict is  ransacked  to  furnish  sutlicient  pro- 
visions, and  the  inhabitants  hrve  in  conse- 
quence to  live  in  a  state  of  semi-starvation 
for  nip.ny  months.  Mr.  AngasMnentions  that, 
■when  he  visited  the  celebrated  chief  Te 
"Whero-Wiiero,  he  saw  more  tlian  a  thousand 
men  ])lanting  sweet  potatoes  in  order  to  fur- 
nish ]>ri>visions  for  a  feast  that  the  chief 
intended  to  give  to  all  the  Waikato  tribes 
in  the  following  spring 

These  feasts  are  continued  as  long  as  any 
food  is  left,  anil  a  very  liberal  chief  will 
sometimes  get  'ogether  so  enormous  a  sup- 
ply of  provisions  that  the  banrpu't  lasts  for 
several  weeks.  Songs  and  <lances,  espe- 
cially the  war  d.ance,  are  performed  at  iu- 
tervids  througliout  the  time  of  feasting. 

The  first  illustration  on  the  Hltlst  page 
gives  a  good  idea  of  the  preliminaries  which 
arc  ot)si'rved  before  the  celelu-atiou  of  an 
ordinary  feast,  such  as  would  be  given 
by  a  well-to-do  Eangatira.  A  sort  of  scaf- 
fold Ii  erected,  on  the  bars  of  which  are 
iiung  inrge  supplies  of  fish,  mostly  dried 
shark,  together  with  pieces  of  pork,  und 


similar  luxuries.  The  upper  part  of  the 
scallbld  is  tbrmed  into  a  flat  stage,  on  which 
are  jilaced  large  baskets  full  of  sweet  pota- 
toes and  common  potatoes.  The  guests 
range  themselves  in  a  circle  round  the 
scatfold,  and  the  chief  who  gives  the  feast 
makes  a  speech  to  them,  brandishing  his 
staff  of  office,  running  up  and  down  the 
open  space,  leaping  in  the  air,  and  working 
himself  up  by  gestures  to  an  extraordinary 
pitch  of  excitement. 

One  of  my  friends  was  distinguished  by 
having  a  feast  given  in  his  honor,  and  de- 
scribed the  ceremony  in  a  very  amusing 
manner.  The  generous  founder  of  the  feast 
had  built  a  sort  of  wall,  the  contents  of 
which  were  potatoes,  sweet  potatoes,  pigs, 
and  fish.  By  way  of  ornament,  he  had  rtxed 
a  num))er  of  sticks  into  the  wall,  like  so 
many  Itagstaffs,  and  to  the  toj)  of  each  he 
had  fastened  a  living  eel  by  way  of  a  fla<j 
or  streamer,  its  contortions  giving,  accord- 
ing to  his  ideas,  a  spirit  to  the  whole  pro- 
ceedings. 

He  then  marched  quickly  backward  and 
forward  between  the  wall  of  provisions 
and  his  guests,  who  were  all  seated  on  the 
ground,  and  as  he  marched  uttered  a  few 
broken  sentences.  By  degrees  his  walk  be- 
came quicker  and  quicker,  and  changed  into 
a  run,  diversified  with  much  leaping  into 
the  air,  brandishing  of  imaginary  weapons, 
and  utterance  of  loud  yells.  At  last  he 
worked  himself  up  into  a  pitch  of  almost 
savage  fury,  and  then  suddenly  squatted 
dowii  silently,  and  made  way  for  another 
orator. 

The  waste  which  takes  place  at  such  a  feast, 
which  is  called  in  the  native  language  hui, 
is  necessarily  very  great.  In  one  such  i)arty 
mentioned  by  Mr.  Angas,  the  donor  ar- 
ranged the  provisions  and  presents  for  his 
guests  ill  the  form  of  a  wall,  which  was  five 
I'eet  high,  as  many  wide,  more  than  a  mile 
in  kn(jtli,  and  supplied  for  many  days  thou- 
sands of  natives  who  came  to  (lie  fiMst  from 
very  great  distances.  The  great  chiefs  take 
great  pleasure  in  rivsUliiig  each  other  in  their 
expenditure  and  it  was  for  the  ])urnosc  of 
building  a  still  larger  food  wall  that  Te 
Whero-Wliero  was  so  busily  setting  his 
men  to  work  in  planting  the"  kumeras,  or 
s\veet  jiotatoes. 

Considerable  variety  is  shown  in  the  man- 
ner of  presenting  the  food  to  the  gn  ts. 
Generally  it  is  intended  to  bo  eaten  on  the 
spot,  but  sometimes  it  is  meant  to  be  given 
away  to  the  people,  to  be  consumed  when 
and  where  they  like.  In  such  a  case  cither 
the  scatfold  or"  the  wall  is  used.  The  scaf- 
fold is  sometimes  fifty  or  sixty  feet  hiiih.and 
<livided  into  a  number  of  stories,  each  of 
which  is  loaded  with  food.  If  the  wall  ho 
employed,  it  is  sepanvted  into  a  number  of 
divisions.  In  either  ciise,  when  the  guests 
arc  sealed,  a  chief  who  acts  as  the  master  of 
tlie  cerenionies  marches  about  and  makes  a 


/  • : 


I' 


mil 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


speech,  after  the  fashion  of  his  country;  and. 
after  luiving  delivered  his  oration,  he  points 
■out  to  eacli  tribe  the  portion  which  is  in- 
tended for  it.  Tlie  chief  man  of  each  tribe 
take.,  possession  of  the  girt,  and  afterward 
Bubdivides  it  among  liia  followers. 

It  is  rather  remarkable  that  the  baskets 
fn  which  the  provisions  are  served  are  made 
for  the  express  purpose,  and,  having  fulfilled 
their  office,  are  thrown  aside  and  never  used 
again.  Should  a  chief  take  ore  of  these  bas- 
kets and  begin  to  eat  from  it,  not  only  the 
basket  but  any  food  which  he  may  leave  in 
it  is  thrown  away,  no  chief  ever  eating  after 
any  one,  or  allowing  any  one  to  eat  after 
him. 

So  when  a  chief  takes  his  basket  of  food, 
he  withdraws  liinisclf  from  the  rest  of  the 
company  and  consumes  his  food,  so  that 
no  one  shall  be  incommoded  by  his  rank. 
Ordina)y  people,  even  the  Rangatiras,  are 
not  nearly  so  fastidious,  one  bus';et  of  food 
sufficing  several  of  them,  three  or  four  being 
the  usual  number  for  a  basket.  Each  of 
these  baskets  contains  a  complete  meal,  and 
is  usually  supplied  with  plenty  of  potatoes 
and  kumeras,  some  fish,  and  a  piece  of  pork. 
The  meat  is  passed  from  one  to  another, 
each  taking  a  bite,  or  tearing  oft"  a  portion; 
and  when  they  have  finished,  thev  wipe  their 
liands  on  the 'backs  of  the  dogs'  which  are 
sure  to  thrust  themselves  among  the  revel- 
lers. 

These  feasts  n.aturally  lead  us  to  the  various 
kinds  of  food  used  by 'the  New  Zealanders, 
and  their  modes  of  procuring  and  preparing 
them. 

AVe  will  begin  with  the  i)lnnt  which  is  the 
very  stafl'  of  life  to  the  New  Zealander, 
namely,  the  kumern,  or  sweet  potato,  as  it  is 
popula'rly  though  erroneously  called.  This 
plant  is  la'-gely  cultivated  by  the  Maories, 
who  are  v  erv  careful  in  selecting  a  proper 
soil  for  it.  The  best  ground  for  the  kumera 
is  that  which  has  beeii  thickly  wooded,  and 
is  cleared  for  the  purpose.  Tllc  natives  tiiko 
but  little  troulile  about  preparing  the  land, 
merely  cu'tiug  (knvn  the  trees  and  burning 
the  brushwood,  but  never  attempting  to  root 
up  *hc  slumps. 

The  ground  is  torn  up  rather  than  dug  by 
■a  simple  instrument,  which  is  nothing  more 
than  a  sharpened  ))olo  with  a  cross-piece 
fastened  to  it,  on  which  the  foot  can  rest. 
As  the  New  Zealanders  do  not  wear  shoes, 
they  cannot  use  an  iron  spade  as  we  do;  and 
it  may  eiu-^ily  be  imagined  that  the  unpro- 
tecteii  foot  of  the  Maori  would  sufl'er  terribly 
in  performing  a  task  which,  even  among  our 
stoutly-shod  laborers,  forces  them  to  wear  a 
plate  of  iron  on  the  sole  of  the  boot. 

The  hihoru,  as  this  too?  is  called,  is  more 
eflTeetive  than  an  iron  spade  could  l)e,  In 
consequence  of  the  jieeuliar  character  of  the 
soil,  which  is  thickly  interlaced  with  the 
roots  of  forns,  brushwood,  and  slirubg.  A 
few  of  these  curious  spades  arc  tipped  with 


a  piece  of  green  jade,  and  arc  then  highly 
valued  by  the  natives.  Such  a  tool  is  called 
E  Toki.  The  Maories  have  also  a  kind  of 
hoe  which  is  very  useful  in  some  soils. 

The  kumeras  are  planted  in  regular  rows, 
and  the  greatest  care  is  taken  to  keep  tho 
field  clear  of  weeds.  The  dark  agricultu- 
rists even  remove  every  caterpillar  that  is 
seen  upon  the  plants;  and  altogether  such 
elaborate  care  is  taken  th.at  the  best  man- 
aged field  in  Europe  cannot  surpass,  and 
very  few  even  equal,  a  piece  of  land  culti- 
vated by  the  New  Zealander, 

Each  family  has  its  own  peculiar  field,  the 
produce  of  which  is  presumed  to  belong  to 
the  family.  But  a  great  portion  of  the  labor 
performed  in  it  may  be  done  by  poor  men 
who  have  no  land  of  their  own.  In  such  a 
case,  they  acquire,  in  virtue  of  their  labor,  a 
legal  right  over  the  fruits  of  the  land  which 
they  have  helped  to  till.  Sometimes  the  head 
or  chief  of  a  tribe,  consideriny  himself  as 
'the  father  of  the  family,  institutes  a  general 
sale,  and  distributes  the  proceeds  according 
to  the  amount  of  material  or  labor  which 
each  has  contributed. 

Before  the  potatoes  are  cooked,  they  are 
carefully  washed  in  a  simple  and  very  eflec- 
tive  manner.  A  woman  puts  their  into  a 
basket  with  two  handles,  popularly  called  a 
"  kit,"  wades  into  a  running  stream,  pivts  one 
foot  into  the  basket,  takes  hold  of  the  handles, 
and  rocks  the  ba.'-kct  violently  backward 
and  forward,  while  w  ith  her  foot  .she  contin- 
ually stirs  up  and  rubs  the  potatoes.  In  this 
manner  the  earth  is  washed  away  from  the 
vegetables,  and  is  carried  off  by  the  stream 
through  the  interstices  of  the  basket. 

At  the  present  day.  the  kumera,  although 
very  highly  valued,  and  used  at  every  im- 
port.ant  feast,  has  been  rivalled,  if  not  su- 
perseded, by  the  common  potato  which  can 
be  raised  with  less  trouble  and  cooked  more 
casil}-.  Both  the  kumera  and  potato  are 
cooked  in  a  sort  c''  oven,  made  by  heating 
stones,  and  nmcl:  xcsembling  the  cooking- 
])lace  of  the  Australians.  No  cooking  is 
allowed  to  take  place  in  the  house,  the  act 
of  preparing  food  being  looked  upon  as  a  des- 
ecration of  any  building.  Through  igno- 
rance of  this  curious  superstition,  Eur  weans 
have  frequently  brought  upon  themselves  the 
anger  of  the  natives  by  eating,  and  even  cook- 
ing, food  within  a  house  whicli  is  looked  upon 
as  sacred. 

In  consequence  of  this  notion,  the  oven  is 
either  constructed  in  the  open  air,  or  at 
best  in  a  special  house  called  Te-kauta, 
which  is  made  of  logs  jiiled  loosely  uj)on 
each  other,  so  as  to  permit  the  snloko  to 
escape. 

The  bud,  or  "  cabbage,"  of  the  nikau-palm, 
a  species  of  Areca,  is  highly  i)rized  by  tho 
Maories,  who  fell  every  tree  which  they 
think  likely  to  jiroduce  a"  young  and  tender 
bud.  This  vegetable  is  sometinie^i  eaten 
raw,  and  sometimes  cooked  in  the  same 


A  NATIVE  LEGEND. 


mode  OS  the  potato.  Fortunately,  the  tree 
ia  not  wasted  by  being  cut  down,  as  its 
leaves  are  used  lor  many  purposes,  such  as 
making  temporary  sheds  when  travellers  are 
benighted  in  the  forest,  thatching  houses, 
and  similar  uses.  Still,  the  destruction  of 
this  useful  and  graceful  palm  is  very  great, 
and  there  is  reason  to  fear  that  the  improvi- 
dent natives  will  wholly  extirpate  it,  unless 
means  be  taken  to  preserve  it  by  force  of 
law. 

The  Maories  have  one  curious  plan  of  pre- 
paring food,  whicli  seems  to  have  been  in- 
vented for  the  purpose  of  making  it  as  dis- 
gusting as  possible.  They  take  the  kumera, 
tlie  potato,  or  the  maize,  and  steep  it  in 
fresh  water  for  several  weeks,  until  it  is 
quite  putrid.  It  is  then  made  into  cakes, 
and  eatea  with  the  greatest  zest.  To  an 
European  nothing  can  be  more  offensive, 
and  the  very  smell  of  it,  not  to  mention  the 
flavor,  is  so"  utterly  disgusting  tliat  even  a 
starving  man  c;.ii  hardly  manage  to  eat  it. 
The  odor  is  so  powerful,  so  rancid,  and  so 
penetrating,  th:it  when  Europeans  have  been 
sitting  inside  a  house  and  a  man  has  been  sit- 
ting in  the  open  air  eating  this  putrid  bread, 
they  have  been  forced  to  send  him  away 
from  the  vicinity  of  the  door.  By  degrees 
travellers  Ijoeomo  more  aecustorned  to  it, 
but  at  lirst  the  elfeet  is  inexpressibly  dis- 
gusting; and  when  it  is  cooked,  the  odor  is 
enough  to  drive  every  European  out  of  the 
village. 

In  former  days  the  fern-root  (Pteris  escu- 
lenta)  was  largely  eaten  I>j'  the  natives,  but 
the  potatoes  and  nmize  have  so  completely 
superseded  it  that  fern  root  is  very  seldom 
eaten,  ox(H^pt  on  occasions  when  nothing 
else  can  be  obtained.  When  the  fern  root 
is  cooked,  it  is  cut  into  pieces  about  a  foot 
long,  and  then  roasted.  After  it  is  suffi- 
ciently cooked,  it  is  scraped  clean  with  a 
shell.  The  flavor  of  this  '-oot  is  not  prepos- 
sessing, having  an  unpleasant  mixture  of  the 
earthy  and  tin;  modicinal  about  it. 

About  December  another  kind  of  food 
comes  into  season.  This  is  the  pulpous  stem 
of  one  of  the  tree-ferns  which  are  so  plenti- 
ful in  New  Zealand  (Cijnthci  mcdullaris). 
It  retjniros  long  cooking,  and  is  generally 
pl.aced  in  the  oven  in  tiie  evening,  and  eaten 
in  the  m(>rning. 

With  legard  to  the  vegetables  used  in 
New  Zealand,  Dr.  Dielleuhach  lias  the  fol- 
lowing remarks.  After  mentioning  the  na- 
tive idea  that  they  were  eontiuerors  of  Now 
Zealand,  and  brought  with  them  the  dog 
and  the  taro  plant  (Arum  escidentum),  he 
jU'ocqeds  as  follows  :  —  "  A  change  took  place 
in  their  food  by  the  introduction  of  the 
sweet  potato  or  kumera  (Convolvulus  ba- 
tata)—  an  introduction  which  is  gratefully 
remembereil  and  recorded  in  many  of  their 
songs,  and  has  given  rise  to  certain  rsligious 
observances. 

"  Jt  may  bo  asked,  What  wos  the  period 


when  the  poor  natives  received  the  gift  of 
this  wholesome  food,  and  who  was  their 
benefactorV  On  the  first  p  lint  they  know 
nothuig;  their  recollection  .attaches  itself  to 
events,  but  not  to  time.  The  name,  how- 
ever, of  the  donor  lives  in  their  memory.  It 
is  E'  Paul,  or  Ko  Paul,  the  wife  of  E'  Tiki, 
who  brought  the  first  seeds  from  the  island 
of  Tawai.  E'Tiki  was  a  native  of  the  island 
of  Tawai,  which  is  not  that  whence,  accord- 
ing to  tradition,  the  ancestors  of  the  New 
Zealanders  had  come.  lie  came  to  New  Zea- 
land with  his  wife,  whether  ii\  less  frail  ves- 
sels than  they  possess  at  present,  and  whether 
purposely  or  driven  there  by  accident,  tra- 
dition is  silent. 

"  He  was  well  received,  but  soon  per- 
ceived that  food  was  more  scanty  here  than 
in  the  happy  isle  whence  he  came.  He 
wished  to  confer  a  benefit  upon  his  hosts, 
but  knew  not  how  to  do  it,  until  his  wife, 
E'Paui,  offered  to  gobiiek  and  fetch  kumera, 
that  the  people  who  had  received  them  kindly 
might  not  suffer  want  any  longer.  This  she 
.accomplished,  and  returned  in  safety  to  the 
shores  of  New  Zealand. 

*'  What  a  tale  of  heroism  may  lie  hidden 
under  this  simple  tradition!  Is  it  a  tale 
connected  with  the  Polynesian  race  itself?  or 
does  it  not  rather  refer  to  the  .arrival  in 
New  Zealand  of  the  early  Spanish  naviga- 
tors, who  may  h.ave  brought  this  valuable 
product  from  the  island  of  Tawai.  one  of  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  where  the  ])lant  is  still 
most  extensively  cultival:cd?  There  can  be 
scarcely  any  doubt  but  that  New  Zealand 
w.as  visited  by  some  people  antecedent  to 
Tasmaii.  Kaipuke  is  the  name  of  a  shij)  in 
New  Zealand  — huque  is  a  Spanish  word  — 
Kai  means  to  cat,  or  live.  No  other  Poly- 
nesian nation  has  this  word  to  designate  a 
ship.  Pero  (dog)  .and  poaca  (pig)  are  also 
Spanish.  T.awai,  whence  E'Paui  brought 
the  kumera,  is  situ.ated  to  the  east  of  New 
Zealand  .according  to  tradition,  and  the  first 
discoverers  in  the  great  ocean,  Alvaro  Men- 
d.ana  (1595),  Quiros  (1(108),  Lcmaire,  and 
others,  arrived  from  the  eastward,  as  they 
did  at  Tahiti,  according  to  the  tradition  of 
the  inh.abit^ants.  Tasman  did  not  come  to 
New  Zealand  until  1642." 

However  this  m.ay  be,  the  fields  of  ku- 
mera are  strictly  ''  tapu,"  and  any  theft 
from  them  is  severely  punished.  The 
women  who  are  engaged  in  their  cultiva- 
tion are  also  tapu.  They  must  pray  to- 
gether with  the  priests  for  the  increase  of 
the  harvest.  These  women  are  never  al- 
lowed to  join  in  the  cannibal  I'ea.'its,  and  it 
is  only  after  the  kumera  is  dug  up  that  they 
are  released  fror.j  the  strict  observance  of 
the  tapu.  They  believe  that  kumera  is  the 
fo(Hl  consumed  in  the  "  reinga."  the  dwell- 
ing-plaoe  of  the  departed  spirits;  and  it  in 
certainly  the  food  most  esteemed  among  the 
living. 

They  have  several  ways  of  preparing  the 


n  m 


III 


830 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


sweet  potato.  It  is  either  simply  boiled,  or 
dried  slowly  in  a  "  haugi,"  when  it  has  the 
,  taste  of  dates,  or  ground  into  powder  and 
baked  into  cakes.  The  kumcra,  like  most 
im])ortations,  is  rather  a  delicate  vegetable, 
and  while  it  is  young  it  is  sheltered  by 
fences  made  of  brushwood,  which  are  set  up 
on  the  windward  side  of  the  plantation 
when  bad  weather  is  apprehended.  Great 
stacks  of  dried  brushwood  are  seen  in  all 
well-managed  kumera  gardens,  ready  to  be 
used  when  wanted.  So  great  is  the  venera- 
tion of  the  natives  for  the  kumera,  that  the 
storehouses  wherein  it  is  kept  are  usually 
decorated  in  a  superior  stylo  to  the  dwelling 
of  the  person  who  owns  them. 

In  illustration  No  2,  on  the  next  page, 
several  of  these  elaborate  storehouses  are 
shown.  They  are  ahvavs  supported  on 
posts  in  such  a  way  that  the  rats  cannot  get 
among  the  contents,  and  in  some  instances 
they  are  set  at  the  top  of  poles  fifteen  or 
twenty  feet  high,  which  are  climbed  by 
means  of  notches  in  them.  These,  however 
arc  almost  without  ornamentation,  whereas' 
those  which  belong  specially  to  the  chief  are 
comparatively  low,  and  in  some  cases  every 
inch  of  them  is  covered  with  graceful  or 
grotesque  patterns,  in  which  the  human  face 
always  predominates. 

Some  of  these  curious  storehouses  are  n6t 
rectangular,  but  cylindrical,  the  cyliiukr 
lying  luirizontally,  with  the  door  at  the  end, 
and  I'cing  covered  with  a  pointed  roof.  Even 
the  Vv-ry  posts  on  which  the  storehouses 
stand  are  carved  into  the  rude  semblance  of 
the  human  form. 

The  Maories  also  say  that  the  calabash,  or 
hue,  is  of  comparatively  late  introduction, 
the  seeds  having  been  oDlained  from  a  cala- 
bash which  was  carried  by  a  whale  and 
thrown  on  their  shores. 

A  very  curious  article  of  vegetable  food  is 
the  cowdio  gum,  which  issues  from  a  species 
of  pine.  This  gum  exudes  in  great  (pianti- 
ties  from  the  trees,  and  is  fotmit  in  large 
masses  adhering  to  the  trunk,  and  also  in 
detached  pieces  on  the  ground.  It  is  a  clear, 
yellowish  resin;  and  it  is  imported  into 
England,  where  it  is  converted  into  varnisli. 
The  llavor  of  the  cowdie  gum  is  powerfuliv 
aromatic,  and  the  natives  of  fhe  northern 
island  chew  it  just  as  sailors  cliew  tobacco. 
They  think  so  much  of  this  gum,  that  when 
a  stranger  comes  to  vinit  them,  the  highest 
compliment  that  can  be  paid  to  him  is  for 
the  host  to  take  a  partially  chewed  piece  of 
gum  from  his  mouth,  and'olfer  it  to  the  vis- 
itor. 

The  New  Zealandera  eat  great  quantities 
of  the  pawn,  a  species  of  Haliotis.  from 
which  they  procure  the  pearly  shell  M-ith 
which  they  are  so  fond  of  inlaying  their 
carvings,  eppocialiy  the  eves  of  the  human 
figuvcH.  Shells  belonging' to  this  group  are 
well  known  in  the  Channel  Islands  under 
the  name  of  Onrjer  shells,  and  the  molluscs 


are  favorite  articles  of  diet.  Those  which 
are  found  in  New  Zealand  are  very  much 
larger  than  the  species  of  the  Channel 
Islands,  and  the  inhabitants  are  tough  and, 
to  European  taste,  very  unpalatable.  Great 
quantities  are,  however,  gathered  for  food. 
The  putrid  potato  cakes  are  generally  eaten 
with  the  pawa;  and  the  two  together  form  a 
banquet  which  an  Englishman  could  hardly 
prevail  on  himself  to  taste,  even  though  ho 
were  dying  of  hunger. 

Mussels,  too,  are  '"rgely  used  for  food: 
and  the  natives  have  a  m..-;  of  opening  aud 
taking  out  the  inmate  wliici  I  have  often 
practised.  If  ihe  bases  of  U\  t  mussels  be 
placed  together  so  that  the  projections 
interlock,  and  a  sharp  twist  be  given  in 
opposite  directions,  the  weaker  of  the  two 
gives  way,  and  the  shell  is  opened.  ^Either 
shell  makes  an  admirable  knife,  and  scrapes 
the  mollusc  out  of  its  home  even  better  than 
a  regular  oyster-knife. 

Oysters,  especially  the  Cockscomb  oyster 
(Ostrma  cristata),  .are  very  jjlentiful  in  many 
parts  of  the  const,  and  atlbrd  an  unfailing 
supply  of  food  to  the  natives.  They  aro 
mostly  gathered  by  women,  who  are  in 
some  places  able  to  obtain  them  by  waiting 
until  low  water,  and  at  other  jilaces  aro 
forced  to  dive  at  all  states  of  the  tide. 

Fis'i  form  a  large  j>ortion  of  New  Zealand 
diet;    and  one   ot   their  lavorite   dislies   is 
shark's  tlesh  dri.'d  and    nearly  putr(scent. 
In  this  slate   it  exhales  an  odor  which  is 
only  less  horrible  than   that  of  the  putrid 
cakes.    Mr.  Angas  mentions  one  instance 
where   he   was   greatly  inconvenienced   by 
the  fondness  of  the  natives  for  tliese  otl'en- 
sivc   articles   of   diet.      lie   was   travelling 
through     the    country    with     sonu'    native 
guides,  and  on  arriviVig  at  a  pah  had  ]iro- 
cured  for  breakfast  some   reiiiarkably  line 
kumeras.    The  native  s  inimediatelv  set  to 
work  ,11  cooking  the  kunicas.  anioiig  which 
they  introduced  a  quami/y  ol'  s( mi-putrid 
shark's  tlesh.    This  was  not  the  worst  of  the 
business,  for  they  next   tvove  some  of  the 
phormium  bof'cets  whiih  have  already  been 
described,  filled  them  with  the  n'>wly-cooked 
provisions,  and  carried  them  until  ilw.  even- 
ing repast,  giving  the  traveller  the  benefit 
of  the  horrible  odor  for  Ihi;  rest  of  the  day. 
Fish  are  either  taken  with  the  net,  tlio 
weir,  or  the  hook.    The  net  jji-csents  noth- 
ing remarkable,  and  is  used  as  are  nets  all 
over  the  world,  the  natives  weighting  them 
at  the   bottom,   floating   them   at    the   top, 
shooting  them  in  moderately  sliailoiv  water, 
and  then  beating  the  water  with  polos  in 
order  to  frighten  the  fisli  into  the  meshes. 

Traps,  called  i)ukoni-tuna,  are  made  of 
funnel-shaped  baskets,  Jiisi  like  the  eel-traps 
of  our  own  country;  but  the  mosl  iiigetiious 
device  is  the  weir,  which  is  hnilt  (piito 
across  the  river,  and  sui'ported  hv  jxiles  for 
many  yards  along  its  side.  Often,  when  tiio 
mi  or  the  weir  is  used,  the  fish  taken  arc 


(1.)   I'KEl'AIMNG   FOK  A   KKAST.    (See  page  827.) 


(?,)  0HIKF8'    STOREHOl'SES.    (See  page  tSJO,) 


MODES  OF  FISHLMG. 


833 


considered  as  belonging  to  the  community 
in  general,  and  arc  divided  equally  by  the 
chief. 

Sometimes  a  singularly  ingenious  net  is 
used,  which  has  neither  float  nor  sinkers. 
.  This  net  is  about  four  feet  wide,  thirty  or 
forty  feet  in  length,  and  is  tied  at  each  end 
to  a  stoul  stick.  Ropes  are  lashed  to  the 
stick, "and  the  net  is  then  taken  out  to  sea  in 
a  canoe.  When  they  have  arrived  at  a  con- 
venient spot,  the  natives  throw  the  net  over 
the  side  of  the  canoe,  holding  the  ropes 
at  either  end  of  the  boat,  so  that  the  net 
forms  a  large  semicircle  in  the  water  as  the 
boat  drifts  along.  In  fact  it  is  managed 
much  as  an  English  flsherman  manages liis 
dredge. 

In  the  middle  of  the  canoe  is  posted  a 
man,  who  bears  in  his  hand  a  very  long  and 
light  pole,  having  a  tuft  of  feathers  tied  to 
one  end  of  it.  With  the  tufted  end  he  beats 
and  stirs  the  water,  thus  driving  into  the 
mei^es  of  the  net  all  the  small  fishes  witliin 
the  curve  of  the  net.  Tliose  who  hold  the 
ropes  can  tell  by  the  strain  upon  the  cords 
whether  there  are  enough  fish  in  the  net  to 
make  a  haul  advisable,  and  when  that  is  the 
case,  the  net  is  brought  to  the  side  of  the 
canoe,  emptied,  and  again  shot. 

Spearing  flsh  is  sometimes,  but  not  very 
largely,  employed.  The  hooks  employed  by 
the  New  Zealanders  present  a  curious  mix- 
ture of  simplicity  and  ingenuity.  It  really 
seems  strange  that  any  flsh  should  be  stupid 
enough  to  take  such  an  object  in  its  mouth. 
There  is,  however,  one  which  is  a  singularly 
admirable  contrivance.  The  body  of  the 
hook  is  made  of  wood,  curved,  and  rather 
hollowed  on  the  inside.  The  hook  itself  is 
bone,  and  is  always  made  from  the  bone  of 
a  slain  enemy,  so  that  it  is  valued  as  n  trophy, 
as  well  as  a  nii'ans  of  catching  fish.  This 
bone  is  fastened  to  the  rest  of  the  hook  by 
a  very  ingenious  lashing;  and,  in  some 
instances,  even  the  bone  is  in  two  pieces, 
which  are  firmly  lashed  together.  In  con- 
sonance with  the  warlike  character  of  the 
natives,  who  seem  to  be  as  ready  to  offer  an 
insult  to  other  tribes  as  to  take  offence 
themselves,  the  use  of  the  enemy's  bone  is 
intended  as  an  insult  and  a  defiance  to  a 
hostile  tribe. 

The  body  of  the  hook  is  lined  with  the 
pawa  shell,  and  to  the  bottom  of  it  is 
attached  a  tuft  of  fibres.  This  hook  is 
remarkable  for  requiring  no  bait.  It  is 
towed  astern  of  the  canoe,  and  when  pulled 
swiftly  through  the  water  it  revolves  rai>- 
idly,  the  pearly  lining  flashing  in  the  light 
•ike  the  white  belly  of  flsh,  and  the  tuft  of 
fibres  representing  the  tail.  Consequently, 
the  predatorial  fish  take  it  for  the  creature 
which  it  represents,  dash  at  it  as  it  flashes 
by  them,  and  are  hooked  before  they  dis- 
cover their  mistake.  If  any  of  my  readers 
should  happen  to  be  anglers,  "they  will 
see  that  tnis  hook  of  the  New  Zealanderl 
41 


is  exactly  similar  in  principle  with  the 
"  spoon-bait "  which  is  so  efficacious  in  prac- 
tised hands.  One  of  these  hooks  in  my 
collection  is  quite  a  model  of  form,  the 
curves  being  peculiarly  graceful,  and  the 
effect  being  as  artistic  as  if  the  maker  had 
been  a  professor  in  the  school  of  design. 
The  length  of  my  hook  is  rather  more  than 
four  inches:  and  this  is  about  the  average 
size  of  these  implements.  The  string  by 
which  it  is  held  is  fastened  to  the  hook  in 
a  very  ingenious  manner;  and  indeed  it 
scarcely  seems  possible  that  so  apparently 
slight  a  lashing  could  hold  firmly  enough  to 
baffle  the  struggles  of  a  flsh  large  enough 
to  swallow  a  hook  more  than  four  inches  in 
length,  and  three-quarters  of  an  inch  in 
width.  Some  of  these  hooks  are  i\irnished 
with  a  feather  of  the  apteryx,  which  serves 
the  purpose  of  an  artificial  fly. 

Both  salt  and  fresh  water  crayfish  are  taken 
in  large  quantities.  The  latter,  which  are 
very  large,  are  almost  invariably  captured  by 
the  women,  who  have  to  dive  for  them,  and 
the  former  are  taken  in  traps  baited  with 
flesh,  much  like  our  own  lobster-pots.  Birds 
are  almost  always  caught  by  calling  them 
with  the  voice,  or  b^  using  a  decoy  bird. 
The  apteryx,  or  kiwi-kiwi,  is  taken  by  the 
first  of  these  methods.  It  is  of  nocturnal 
habits,  and  is  t;eldom  seen,  never  venturing 
out  of  its  haunts  by  day.  It  is  very  thinly 
scattered,  living  in  pairs,  and  each  pair  in- 
habiting a  tolerably  large  district.  At  night 
it  creeps  out  of  its  dark  resting-place  among 
the  ferns,  where  it  has  been  sleeping  through- 
out the  day,  and  sets  off  in  search  of  worms, 
grubs,  and  other  creatures,  which  it  scratches 
out  of  the  ground  with  its  powerful  feet. 
During  the  night  it  occasionally  utters  its 
shrill  cry;  that  of  the  male  being  somewhat 
like  the  words  "  hoiro,  hoirc,  hoirc,"  and  that 
of  the  female  like  "  ho,  ho,  ho." 

When  the  natives  wish  to  catch  the  ap- 
teryx, they  go  to  the  district  where  the  bird 
lives,  pnd  imitate  its  cry.  As  soon  as  it 
shows  itsiT,  it  is  seized  by  a  dog  which  the 
hunter  U;5=  wUh  him,  and  which  is  trained 
for  the  puv-pose.  As  the  birj'  ^'«  a  very  strong 
one,  there  is  generally  a  fight  between  itself 
and  the  dog,  in  which  the  powerful  legs  and 
sharp  claws  of  the  bird  are  used  with  great 
effect.  Sometimes  the  hunter  has  ready  a 
torch  made  of  the  cowdie  resin,  and  by  light- 
ing it  as  soon  as  the  kiwi-kiwi  comes  in  sight 
he  blinds  the  bird  so  effectually  by  the  un- 
wonted light  that  it  is  quite  bewildered,  does 
not  know  m  what  direction  to  run,  and  allows 
itself  to  be  taken  alive. 

At  some  seasons  of  the  year  the  bird  is  very 
fat,  and  its  flesh  is  said  to  be  well  flavored. 
In  former  days,  when  it  was  plentiful,  it  was 
much  used  for  food,  but  at  the  present  time 
it  is  too  scarce  to  hold  any  real  place  among 
the  food-producing  animals  of  New  Zealand, 
its  wingless  state  rendering  it  an  easy  prey 
to  those  who  know  its  habits.    The  skin  is 


m 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


I 


ti 


i 


i,(  i 


very  tough,  and,  when  dressed,  was  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  mantles. 

,  The  parrots  are  caught  by  means  of  a  decoy 
bird.  The  fowler  takes  with  him  a  parrot 
which  ho  has  taught  to  call  its  companions, 
and  conceals  liimself  under  a  shelter  made  of 
branches.  Prom  the  shelter  a  long  rod 
reaches  to  the  branches  of  a  neighboring  tree, 
and  when  the  bird  calls,  its  companions  are 
attracted  by  its  cries,  fly  to  the  tree,  and  then 
walk  down  the  rod  in  parrot  fashion,  and  are 
captured  by  the  man  in  the  cover. 

Formerly  the  native  dog  used  to  be  much 
eaten;  but  as  the  species  has  almost  entirely 
been  transformed  by  admixture  with  the 
various  breeds  of  English  dogs,  its  use,  as  an 
article  of  food,  has  been  abandoned.  Pigs 
are  almost  the  only  mammalia  that  are  now 
eaten;  but  they  are  not  considered  as  form- 
ing an  article  of  ordinary  diet,  being  reserved 
for  festive  occasions.  The  pork  of  New  Zea- 
land pigs  is  said  to  surpass  that  of  their 
European  congeners,  and  to  bear  some  re- 
semblauco  to  veal.  This  superiority  of  flavor 
is  caused  by  their  constantly  feeding  on  the 
fern  roots.  In  color  they  are  mostly  black, 
and,  although  tame  and  quiet  enough  with 
their  owners,  are  terribly  frightened  when 
they  see  a  white  man,  erect  their  bristles  and 
dash  off"  into  the  bush. 

We  now  come  to  the  question  of  canni- 
balism, a  custom  which  seems  to  have  re- 
sisted civilization  longer  in  New  Zealand 
than  in  any  other  piirt  of  the  world.  In  some 
places  cannibalism  is  an  exception;  here,  as 
among  the  Neam-Nam  of  Africa,  it  is  a  rule. 
An  illustration  on  the  next  page  represents 
a  cannibal  cooking-house,  that  was  erected 
by  a  celebrated  Maori  chief,  in  the  Waita- 
hanui  Pah.  This  was  once  a  celebrated  Ibrt, 
and  was  originally  erected  in  order  to  defend 
the  inlial)itiuit8  of  Te  Rapa  Irom  the  attacks 
of  the  Waikato  tribes.  Both  these  and  their 
enemies  having,  as  a  rule,  embraced  Chris- 
tianity, and  laid  aside  their  feuds,  the  pah 
has  long  been  deserted,  and  will  probably 
fall  into  decay  before  many  veare  have 
passed.  Mr.  Angas,  description  of  this  pah 
18  an  exceedingly  int«re8ting  one. 

"  Waitahanui  Pah  stands  on  a  neck  of  low 
swampy  land  jutting  into  the  lake,  and  a 
broad,  deep  river,  forming  a  delta  called  the 
Tongariro,  and  by  some  the  Waikato  (as  that 
nver  runs  out  again  at  the  other  end  of 
Tampo  Lake),  empties  itself  near  the  pah. 
The  long  fa^aile  of  the  ^mh  presents  an  im- 
posing appearance  when  viewed  from  the 
lake;  a  line  of  fortifications,  composed  of 
upright  poles  and  stakes,  extending  for  at 
least  half  a  mile  in  a  direction  parallel  to  the 
water.  On  the  top  of  many  of  the  posts  are 
carved  figures,  much  larger  than  life,  of  men 
in  the  act  of  defiance,  and  in  the  most  sav- 
age posture,  having  enormous  protruding 
tongues;  and,  like  all  the  M«>ri  carvings 


"Tlie  entire  pah  is  now  in  ruins,  and  has 
been  made  tapu  by  Te  Ileuhcu  since  its 
desertion.  Here,  tnen.  all  was  forbidden 
ground;  but  I  eluded  the  suspicions  of  our 
natives,  and  rambled  about  all  day  amongst 
the  decaying  memorials  of  the  past,  making 
drawings  of  the  most  striking  and  peculiar 
objects  within  the  pah.  The  cook  houses, 
where  the  father  of  Te  Ileuhcu  had  his 
original  establishment,  remained  in  a  per- 
fect state;  the  only  entrance  to  tlieso  build- 
ings was  a  series  of  circular  apertures,  in 
and  out  of  which  the  slaves  engaged  in  pre- 
paring the  food  were  obliged  to  crawl. 

"  Near  to  the  cook  houses  there  stood  a 
carved  patuka,  which  was  the  receptacle  of 
tlio  sacred  food  of  the  chief:  and  noUiing 
could  exceed  the  richness  ot  the  elaborate 
carving  that  adorned  this  storehouse.  I 
made  a  careful  drawing  of  it,  as  the  frail 
material  was  falling  to  decay.  Huined 
houses — many  of  them  once  beautiiuUy 
ornamented  and  richly  carved  —  numerous 
waki-tapu,  and  other  heathen  remains  with 
images  and  carved  postSj  occur  in  various 
portions  of  this  extensive  pali;  but  in 
other  places  the  hand  of  Time  has  so  effec- 
tually destroyed  the  buildings  as  to  leave 
them  but  an  unintelligible  mass  of  ruins. 
The  situation  of  this  pah  is  admirably 
adapted  for  the  security  of  its  inmates: 
it  commands  the  lake  on  the  one  side, 
and  the  other  IVonts  the  extensive  marshes 
of  Tukanu,  where  a  strong  i)alisade  and  a 
deep  moat  aftbrd  protection  against  any 
sudden  attack.  Water  is  conveyed  into  the 
pah  through  a  sluice  ov  canal  for  the  supply 
of  the  besieged  in  times  of  war. 

"  There  was  an  air  of  solitude  and  gloomy 
desolation  about  the  whole  pah,  that  was 
heightened  by  the  screams  of  the  plover 
and  the  tern,  as  they  uttered  their  mourn- 
ful cry  through  tlie  deserted  courts.  I 
rambled  over  the  scenes  of  many  savage 
deeds.  Ovens,  where  human  flesh  had  been 
cooked  in  heaps,  still  remained,  with  the 
stones  used  for  ncating  them  lying  scatt«red 
around,  blackened  by  fire;  and  here  and 
there  a  dry  skull  lay  bleaching  m  the  sun 
and  wind,  a  grim  memorial  ol'  the  past" 

The  chief  reason  for  the  persistent  sur- 
vival of  cannibalism  is  to  be  found  in  the 
light  in  which  the  natives  regard  the  act. 
As  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  the  Maorics 
do  not  cat  their  fellow-men  simply  because 
they  have  any  especial  liking  for  human 
flesh,  although,  as  might  be  expected,  there 
are  still  to  be  found  some  men  who  have 
contracted  a  strong  taste  for  the  flesh  of 
man.  The  real  reason  for  the  custom  is 
based  on  the  superstitious  notion  that  any 
one  who  eats  the  flesh  of  another  becomes 
endowed  with  all  the  best  qualities  of  tlic 
slain  person.  For  this  reason,  a  chief 
will    often  content  himself   with  the    left 


these  linages,  or  waikapokos,  are  colored  with  eye  of  an  adversary,  that  portion  of  tJie 
kokowai,  or  red  ochre.  Ibody  being  considered  as  the  seat  of  the 


ii 


^mm-KMe^^-t^-iij^l  j'..^.^ 


(1.)   CANNUtAL   (  OOK    IIOUSK.    (Sw  piifrf  KH.) 


m 


'^':m 


(2.)   MAOKl    I'AH.     (Sec  i)«BC  84fi.) 
(885) 


CA    yiBALISM. 


88T 


Boul.  A  Bimllar  Idea  prcvailB  regarding 
the  blood. 

When  I  '  dead  bodies  of  enemies  are 
brought  into  the  villagoR,  much  ceremony 
atter'  1h  the  cooking  and  eating  of  tliem. 
Then  .<re  considered  (IS  tapii,  or  prohil)itod, 
until  tlu  t'hunga,  or  priest,  has  done  ii» 
part  This  consists  in  cutting  off  part  ,>f 
the  fleHh,  antl  hanging  it  up  <in  a  tree  or  a 
tall  stick,  aa  an  otrerlng  to  tlie  d(ii'"8,  iv- 
•  orapanying  liis  proceedings  wit!  rtaiu 
mystic  pfayers  and  invocations. 

Most  women  are  forbidden  to  eat  liuman 
llesh,  and  so  are  some  men  and  all  young 
children.  When  the  latter  reach  a  certain 
age,  they  aio  permit  to  become  eaters 
of  human  flesh,  and  ai  inducted  into  their 
new  privileges  bjr  the  sinfjing  of  chants  and 
songs,  the  meaning  of  which  none  of  the 
initial  s  understsvnd,  and  which,  it  is  prob- 
able, are  equally  a  mystery  to  the  priest 
himself  who  chants  them. 

The  palms  of  the  hands  and  the  breast 
are  supposed  to  be  the  best  parts;  and  -ome 
of  the  older  warriors,  when  they  have  r- 
como  their  reluctance  to  talk  on  a  subject 
which  they  know  will  shock  their  interloc- 
utors, speak  in  quite  enthusiastic  terms  of 
human  tlcsh  as  an  article  of  food. 

That  cannibalism  is  a  custom  which  de- 
pends on  warfare  is  evident  from  many 
sources.  In  war,  as  wo  shall  presently  see, 
the  New  Zealander  can  hardly  be  recog- 
nized as  the  same  being  in  a  state  of  peace. 
His  whole  soul  is  filled  with  but  one  idea  — 
that  of  vengeance;  and  it  is  the  spirit  of 
revenge,  and  not  the  mere  vulgar  instinct 
of  gluttony,  that  induces  him  to  eat  the 
bodies  of  his  fellow-men.  A  New  Zea- 
lander would  not  dream  of  eatin"  the  body 
of  a  man  who  had  died  a  natural  death,  and 
nothing  could  be  further  from  his  thoughts 
than  the  deliberate  and  systematic  canni- 
balism which  disgraces  several  of  the  Afri- 
can tribes. 

How  completely  this  spirit  of  vengeance 
enters  into  the  very  soul  of  the  Maories 
can  be  inferred  ft-om  a  short  anecdote  of  a 
battle.  There  is  a  small  island  in  the  Bay 
of  I'lcnty  called  Tuhua,  or  Mayor's  Island, 
the  inhabitants  of  which,  about  two  hun- 
dred in  number,  had  erected  a  strong  pah, 
or  fort,  in  order  to  defend  themselves  from 
the  attacks  of  tribes  who  lived  on  the  main- 


land, and  wanted  t  capture  this  very  con- 
venient little  islauil.  The  fort  was  built  on 
a  very  <ite(.p  part  of  the  island,  craggy,  pre- 
cipitous, and  chiefly  ma<lo  up  of  iava. 

After  making  several  unsuccessful  attacks, 
the  enemy  at  last  made  an  onslaught  in  tho 
night,  lumiug  to  take  th.  iieople  off  tlu  ir 
guard.  Tlie  inmates  were,  however,  awake 
and  prepared  for  r<  Histance;  and  aa  soon  an 
the  enemy  attacked  the  pah,  tho  defenders 
retaliated  on  them  by  allowing  them  to  come 
partly  up  the  hill  on  which  the  pah  stands, 
and  then  rolling  great  stones  upon  them. 
Very  many  of  the  assailants  were  !  lied, 
and  tho  rest  retreated. 

Next  morning  thesuccessftd  defenders  re- 
lated this  tale  to  a  missionary,  and  showed 
the  spot  where  so  sanguinary  an  encounter 
had  tjiken  jilace.  The  missionary,  finding 
that  all  the  stones  and  rocks  were  perfectly 
clean,  and  betrayed  no  traces  of  the  bloody 
struggle  which  liad  taken  place  only  a  few 
hours  previously,  asked  to  bo  shown  the 
marks  of  the  blood.  His  guide  at  once  an- 
swered that  the  women  hid  licked  it  off. 
It  has  sometimes  been  stated  that  the  Ma- 
ories will  kill  their  slaves  in  order  to  fur- 
nish a  banquet  for  themselves;  but  such 
stivtcments  are  alionither  false. 

Cannibalism  is  at  the  present  day  nearly, 
though  not  quite,  extinct.  Chiefly  by  the 
efforts  of  tlio  missionaries,  it  has  been 
greatl'  reducd;  and  even  in  cases  where 
it  does  take  place  the  natives  are  chary 
of  speaking  about  it.  In  wars  that  took 
place  some  forty  years  ago,  we  learn  that 
several  hundred  warriors  were  slain,  and 
their  bodies  eaten  by  their  victors.  In 
comparatively  recent  times  twenty  or  thirty 
bodies  have  been  brought  into  the  pah  and 
eaten,  while  at  the  present  day  many  a  na- 
tive has  never  seen  an  act  of  cannibalism. 
This  strange  and  ghastly  custom  is,  how- 
ever, so  dear  to  the  Maori  mind  that  one  of 
the  chief  obstacles  to  the  conversion  of  the 
natives  to  Christianity  is  to  be  found  in 
the  fact  that  the  Christian  natives  are 
obliged  to  abjure  the  use  of  human  flesh. 
Still,  the  national  instinct  of  vengeance  is 
rather  repressed  than  extirpated,  and  there 
arc  many  well-known  occasions  when  it  haa 
burst  through  all  its  bonds,  and  the  savage 
nature  of  the  Maori  has  for  a  time  gained 
ascepdency  over  him. 


'% 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


iii  i?A 


M 

2.2 


"    lis    1120 


1.8 


• 

1.25      u      16 

^ 6" 

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  USSO 

(716)  672-4503 


„^ 


^v^ 


CHAPTER   LXXXm. 


WAK. 


3  JZ  DEPENDENT  ON    WBAP0N9-THB    SPEAP,    NOW   EXTINCT-THE    MERAI,  AND 

»^S  HELD  «r™rr'™  "  '^  ^^^^-TUB  OKEEN  .ADB  MEKA,,  AND  ESTmATION  IN  ^H.CH 
ZZZ  CHIEFS-. THE  BTONE  MEBAI-THK  BONE  MERAI,  AND  ITS  VARIED  8HAPE8- 

^  t??  •  •"^^^-"^  •'0«»',   AND  MODE  OF  USING   IT-THE  CHIEF'S  SPEAR,  OR  HANI 

~Z  ^Z""  ^"  """^  ^"^"^  SCEPTRE-THE  TONOHE  OF  DEFIANOE-THE  wIr  DANC^ 
TePRXNO  ™,''''  '"'^'*''  SHIP-THE  FORT.  OR  PAH,  AND  ITS  CONSTRUCTION  -  NATIVE  ENOI^ 
™r.Z~    "  '■''"•'  ^^  '■'"'  *'^'"'    r^H-CONCEALINO  AN  AMBU.SH-FATK  OF  CAPTIVES- 

THE  CHIEF  E'HONOIAND  HIS  BATTLES  -  SLAVE-DRIVINO  WITH  A  MERAI  -  ETIQUETTE  OF  WAR 
7«*^,^''  ^^  ""  »^^«a-«BTALIATION  TOB  BLOODSHED -CEREMONIES    BFTORE  AND  ATTEB 


We  now  come  to  the  one  great  object  of  a 
Maori  s  life,  nameljr,  war.  Before  we  treat 
ot  actual  warfare,  it  will  be  necessary  to  de- 
scribe the  weapons  which  are  used,  as  much 
ot  the  character  of  warfare  materially  depends 
on  them.  •'     ^ 

In  those  parts  of  the  world,  for  instance, 
where  missiles,  such  as  bows  and  arrows  or 
spears,  are  the  principal  weapons,  war  be- 
cornes  a  series  of  skirmishes,  each  individual 
trying  to  conceal  himself  as  much  as  possi- 
ble from  the  enemy,  and  to  deal  his  own 
blows  without  exposing  himself  to  retalia- 
tion. But  when  the  weapons  are  of  a  nature 
that  necessitates  hand-to-hand  combat,  war- 
fare naturally  assumes  a  different  aspect, 
and.  If  the  forces  be  at  all  disciplined,  more 
resembles  the  regulated  war  of  civilized 
°at'ons  than  the  indejiendent  single  combats 
which  represent  war  in  most  savage  coun- 
tries. ° 

To  this  latter  category  belong  the  weapons 
of  the  New  Zealander.  In  former  days  the 
Maori  warriors  used  to  employ  the  spear, 
but  that  weapon  has  long  been  laid  aside.  A 
few  specimens  are  still  retained,  but  they 
are  intended,  not  to  be  used  against  an 
enemy,  but  in  welcoming  a  friend,  the  chief 
who  receives  his  guests  pointing  the  spear 
at  them,  and  throwing  it  toward  them,  as 
has  already  been  described.  When  Mr. 
Angas  visited  the  islands,  he  found  only  a 
very  few  of  these  spears,  and  they  were  used 
entirely  for  peaceful  purposes.  They  were 
01  the  same  character  as  those  of  the  great 


Polynesian  group,  t.  e.  made  entirely  of  wood, 
long,  3harply  pointed,  and  armed  with  a 
series  of  barbs. 

One  of  these  spears  is  shown  at  figure 
1,  of  "  Maori  weapons,"  on  page  841.  The 
reader  will  understand  that  only  the  heat]  of 
the  spear  is  shown,  the  entire  length  of  the 
weapon  bein^  about  twelve  feet.  The  barbs 
are  seen  to  be  arranged  in  double  order,  a 
number  of  them  pointing  backward,  and 
then,  after  a  blank  space,  several  rows  point- 
ing forward.  The  object  of  this  device  was 
ingenious  enough.  The  spear  was  supposed 
to  be  pushed  through  the  body  of  a  man 
until  it  was  stopped  by  the  second  row  of 
barbs.  It  will  be  seen  that  his  body  would 
then  rest  in  the  blank  space,  and  the  barbs 
on  either  side  of  him  would  prevent  it  from 
being  drawn  out  or  pushed  through,  so  that 
a  wound  from  the  weapon  was  necessarily 
mortal.  A  spear  made  on  the  same  princi- 
ple, and  employed  by  the  Bechuauas,  is 
shown  on  page  281. 

The  weapons  used  by  the  Maories  are 
very  few  in  number,  and  of  the  simplest 

Cossible  construction.  It  is  extraordinary, 
y  the  way,  what  misconceptions  exist  on 
this  subject.  With  the  generality  of  persons 
almost  every  club,  axe,  or  spear  is  set  down 
as  belonging  to  New  Zealand,  especially  if 
it  has  any  carving  about  it.  Even  the  best 
public  collections  are  not  free  from  these 
errors,  and  in  one  of  the  most  celebrated 
collections  of  arms  I  discovered  witliin  five 
r  minutes  ten  or  twelve  wrong  labels. 


^838) 


THE  MERAI. 


889 


There  is  now  before  me  an  illustrated 
work  on  savage  manners  and  customs,  in 
which  is  a  group  of  "  New  Zealand  arms," 
containing  thirteen  objecth.  Of  these  onlv 
one  is  a  genuin'j  weapon  of  New  Zealand, 
and  two  others  are  doubtful.  There  are  two 
Fiji  clubs  (one  of  them  with  a  hollow  tubu- 
lar handle!),  one  stone  knife  of  New  Cale- 
donia, two  clubs  of  the  Tonga  Islands,  one 
Maori  chiefs  staff  of  office,  one  New  Zea- 
lander's  carpenter's  adze,  one  "  poi "  mallet 
and  one  "  gnatoo  "  mallet  from  Tonga,  and 
two  articles  which  the  draughtsman  may 
have  intended  for  clubs,  but  which  have 
been  transformed  by  the  engraver's  art  into 
bottle-gourds.  Besides,  there  is  one  non- 
descript article  which  may  bo  a  drum  (and 
therefore  cannot  belong  to  New  Zealand), 
or  it  may  be  a  pail,  or  it  may  be  a  jar,  and 
another  nondescript  article. 

We  need  not,  however,  wonder  at  these 
trifling  errors  when,  in  the  same  work,  a 
scene  in  a  North  American  wigwam  is  de- 
scribed as  a  "  New  Zealand  christening," 
und  the  "  Interior  of  a  Caffre  hut "  is  fitted 
with  Abyssinian  arms  and  implements:  the 
men  are  represented  as  wearing  long  two- 
forked  beards  like  those  of  the  Pans,  head- 
dresses like  those  of  Tonga,  and  capes  like 
those  of  Abyssinia;  while  a  smooth-haired 
woman,  instead  of  beinj»  dressed  in  Kaffli' 
fashion,  is  naked  with  Che  exception  of  a 
white  cloth  tied  round  her  hips.  The  hut 
itself  is  a  singularly  ingenious  example  of 
perversity  on  the  part  of  tlie  draughtsman, 
who  has  selected  precisely  those  very  char- 
acteristics which  do  not  belong  to  the  Kaffir 
hut.  In  the  first  place,  the  hut  is  three 
times  too  large,  and  the  walls  are  apparentlv 
of  clay  —  certainly  not  of  the  basket-work 
employed  by  Kaffirs  in  house-building.  The 
floor,  which  in  a  Kaffir  hut  is  laid  down 
with  clay,  as  smooth  as  a  tabic  and  hard  as 
concrete,  is  irregular  and  covered  with  grass; 
while,  by  way  of  climax,  the  door  is  high 
enough  to  allow  a  man  to  pass  without  stoop- 
ing, and  is  finished  with  a  beautiful  arched 
porcii  covered  with  creepers. 

With  the  exception  of  one  man,  who  may, 
by  some  stretch  of  imagination,  be  taken 
for  a  Hottentot,  neither  the  hut,  its  furni- 
ture, its  inhabitants,  nor  their  weapons,  bear 
the  slightest  similitude  to  those  of  any  part 
of  Southern  Africa.  Such  being  the  case 
with  museums  and  books,  we  need  not  be 
surprised  that  the  popular  ideas  respecting 
the  weapons  and  warfare  of  New  Zealand  are 
very  indeflnite. 

C)f  coursoj  at  the  present  day,  the  Maories 
have  practically  discarded  their  ancient 
weapons  in  favor  of  the  rifle,  which  they 
know  well  how  to  use,  retaining  the  aborig- 
inal weapons  more  as  marks  of  rank  than  for 
active  service.  We  have,  however,  nothing 
to  do  with  these  modern  innovations,  and 
will  restrict  ourselves  to  the  weapons  that 
belong  to  the  country. 


The  first  and  most  important  of  these  is 
the  raeral,  or  short  club.  This  weapon  is 
exactly  analogous  to  the  short  sword  used 
by  the  ancient  Romans,  and  in  some  cases 
resembles  it  so  closely  that  if  the  cross-guard 
were  removed  from  the  sword  and  the  blade 
rendered  convex  instead  of  flat,  the  shapes 
of  the  two  weapons  would  be  almost  exactly 
identical. 

The  material  of  which  these  weapons  are 
made  is  sometimes  wood  and  sometimes 
stone,  but  mostly  bone,  the  latter  material 
being  furnished  by  the  spermaceti  whale. 
The  stone  merai  is  the  most  valued,  on  ac- 
count of  the  difficulty  of  finding  a  suitable 
piece  for  the  purpose,  and  of  the  enormous 
time  which  is  consumed  in  cutting  it  to  the 
desired  shape  with  the  very  imperfect  in- 
strument which  the  Maori  possesses.  In 
fact,  a  stone  merai  is  lowly  and  laboriously 
ground  into  shape  by  rubbing  it  with  a  piece 
of  stone  and  a  sort  of  emery  powder. 

Every  merai  has  a  hole  drilled  through 
the  end  of  the  handle.  Through  this  hole  is 
passed  a  loop  of  plaited  cord,  by  means  of 
which  the  weapon  is  slung  to  the  wrist,  to 
prevent  the  wearer  from  being  disarmed  in 
battle.  Drilling  the  hole  is  a  very  slow  pro- 
cess, and  is  done  by  means  of  a  wetted  stick 
dipped  in  emery  powder. 

The  finest  merai  of  this  description  that  I 
have  seen  belongs  to  H.  Christie,  Esq.,  and  is 
remarkable  not  merely  for  its  size,  but  for  the 
regularity  and  beauty  of  its  curves.  The  ma- 
terial is  the  dark,  dull  green  volcanic  stone 
of  which  the  New  Zealandei-s  make  so  many 
of  their  implements.  It  is  nearly  eighteen 
inches  in  length,  and  rather  more  than  four 
inches  wide  at  the  broadest  part  There  is  a 
similar  weapon,  nearly  as  large,  in  the  col- 
lection of  the  United  Service  Institution; 
but  the  curves  are  not  so  regular,  nor  is  the 
article  so  handsome. 

One  of  these  weapons  is  in  my  collection. 
It  is  of  equal  beauty  in  shape  with  that 
which  has  been  described,  but  is  fiot  so  long. 
It  is  rather  more  than  fourteen  inches  in 
length,  and  not  quite  four  inches  wide.  It 
weighs  two  pounds  six  ounces,  and  is  a  most 
formidable  weapon,  a  blow  from  its  sharp 
edge  being  sufficient  to  crash  through  the 
skull  of  an  ox,  not  to  mention  that  of  a  hu- 
man being. 

Every  chief,  however  low  in  rank,  is  sure 
to  have  one  of  these  merais,  of  which  he  is 
very  proud,  and  from  which  he  can  scarcely 
be  induced  to  part  The  great  chiefs  have 
their  merais  made  of  green  jade,  such  as 
has  already  been  described  when  treating 
of  Maori  ornaments.  These  weapons  are 
handed  down  from  father  to  son,  and  are  so 
highly  valued  by  the  natives  that  it  is  hardly 
possible  to  procure  one,  unless  it  be  cap- 
tured in  battle.  If  a  chief  should  die  with- 
out a  son  to  whom  his  merai  can  descend, 
the  weapon  is  generally  buried  with  him. 
At  fig.  6,  iu  the  "  weapons,"  on  page  841, 


iff 


11 


1   ! 


840 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


is  seen  one  of  these  green  jade  merais.  The 
shape  is  not  nearly  so  elegant  as  that  of  my 
weapon  which  haa  lust  been  described.  In- 
deed, with  so  valuable  and  rare  a  mineral  as 
this  green  jade,  it  is  not  easy  to  find  a  piece 
large  enough  to  be  cut  into  an  ordinarily 
shaped  weapon  and  the  manufacturer  is 
obliged  to  do  his  best  with  the  material  at 
his  command. 

At  flg.  7is  an  example  of  the  commonest 
kind  of  merai,  that  which  is  made  of  wood. 
As  the  material  of  such  a  weapon  is  com- 
parativeW  valueless,  the  Maories  seem  to 
indemnify  themselves  by  adding  ornament 
to  the  weapon.  For  example,  they  very  sel- 
dom make  the  merai  of  the  same  simple 
shape  as  that  at  fig.  6,  but  give  it  a  distinct 
edge  and  back  as  at  fig.  7.  In  some  cases 
they  make  it  into  a  most  elaborate  piece  of 
native  art,  the  whole  being  so  beautifully 
carved  that  it  looks  more  like  a  number  of 
carved  pieces  of  wood  fitted  together  than  a 
weapon  cut  out  of  one  solid  block. 

A  singularly  beautiful  example  of  such  a 
weapon  is  to  be  seen  in  flp.  1  of  the  illustra- 
tion Merais,"  on  page  841.  As  the  reader 
may  see  it  is  one  mass  of  carving,  the  design 
being  cut  completely  through  the  wood,  and 
therefore  being  alike  on  both  sides.  The 
back  of  the  merai  is  carved  into  a  pattern  of 
singular  beauty  and  boldness,  and  the  edge 
18  armed  with  a  row  of  shark's  teeth,  which 
make  its  blows  very  formidable  when  di- 
rected against  the  naked  bodies  of  the  Maori 
warriors.  The  specimen  from  which  the 
drawing  was  taken  may  be  seen  in  the  col- 
lection of  the  British  Museum. 

The  second  fig.  of  the  illustrations  shows 
a  merai  made  of  bone.  The  material  is 
mostly  obtained  from  the  blade  bone  of  the 
spermaceti  whale,  and  in  consequence  the 
weapon  is  said  in  books  of  travel  t»  be  made 
ot  whalebone,  thus  misleading  the  ordinary 
reader,  who  is  sure  to  understand  "  whale- 
bone "  to  be  the  black  elastic  substance  ob- 
tained froip  the  Greenland  whule. 

These  merais  are  extrer:<jly  variable  in 
shape.  Some  of  them  aie  made  like  the 
stone  weapons,  except  that  they  are  much 
natter,  and  have  in  consequence  both  ed^es 
alike.  Sometimes  they  are  studded  with 
knobs  and  cut  into  hollows ;  sometimes  carved 
ir.t»  patterns,  much  resembling  that  of  the 
wooden  merai,  but  not  so  elaborate.  The 
specimen  which  I  have  selected  for  the  illus- 
tration shows  examples  of  the  ornaments 
and  studs. 

I  possess  a  very  good  merai  which  has 
«een  made  from  the  lower  jaw  of  the  sper- 
maceti whale.  This  weapon  is  shown  in 
fig.  4  of  the  safne  illustration,  opposite,  and 
close  by  it  is  a  section  of  the  jaw  of  the  whale, 
in  order  to  show  the  manner  in  which  it 
is  cut.  This  weapon  measures  seventeen 
inches  m  length  by  three  and  a  half  inches 
in  width,  and  weighs  one  pound  nine  ounces. 
4n  consequence  of  this  comparative  lightness, 


It  IB  a  much  more  efficient  weapon  than  the 
stone  merai;  for  the  latter  is  so  heavy  that. 
It  a  blow  misses  its  aim,  the  striker  is  unable 
to  recover  the  weapon  in  time  to  guard  him- 
self or  to  repeat  the  blow,  and  so  lays  liim- 
seli  open  to  the  enemy. 

If  the  reader  will  look  at  the  section  of 
bone,  he  will  see  that  It  is  porous  in  the  cen- 
tre and  hard  and  solid  at  the  edges.  It  is 
from  the  solid  part  that  the  merai  has  been 
cut,  and  m  consequence  the  weapon  is  very 
flat.  The  numerous  channels  through 
which  pass  the  blood  vessels  that  nourish 
the  bone  are  seen  in  the  section,  and  in  the 
drawing  of  the  merai  one  of  them  is  shown 
traversing  the  weapon  longitudinally.  The 
name  of  the  merai  is  "  patu-patu,"  the  m  hav- 
ing the  same  sound  as  in  flute. 

Many  of  the  natives  have  found  out  that 
the  ii-nglish  bill-hook  answers  admrablyas 
a  merai,  and  can  be  obtained  with  very  little 
trouble.  Great  quantities  of  them  were  at 
one  time  imported  from  Birmingham;  but 
the  nfle  and  bayonet  have  in  latter  days  so 
completely  supprseded  all  other  weapons  that 
the  Maories  trouble  themselves  little  about 
the  bul-hook. 

"When  a  Maori  fights  with  the  merai,  he 
does  not  merely  strike,  his  usual  movement 
being  to  thrust  sharply  at  the  chin  of  the 
enemy;  and  if  he  succeeds  in  striking  him 
with  the  point,  he  cut«  him  down  witl  the 
edge  beforo  he  can  recover  himself. 

At  fig.  o  of  the  "Maori  weapons,"  on 
tnc  next  *^^*^^   ■*'^'  •*- —    —   — 


»,  ,  "m,.P^?^'  '*  *^''°  ^^  »xe,  or  toma- 
hawk. This  18  a  curious  mixture  of  Euro- 
pean and  Maori  work,  the  blade  being  ob- 
tained from  Encland,  and  the  handle  made 
and  carved  in  New  Zealand  with  the  usual 
grotesque  patterns  which  a  Maori  likes  to  in- 
troduce  into  all  objects  connected  with  war- 
fare. The  thigh  bone  of  a  slain  enemy  is  a 
tavorite  handle  for  such  a  tomahawk. 

Before  the  fierce  and  warlike  character  of 
the  New  Zealanders  was  known,  they  took 
several  vessels  by  the  use  of  the  merai.    It 
was  easy  to  suspend  the  short  club  over  the 
shoulder,  where  it  was  hidden  by  the  mat,  so 
that  when  a  party  of  n.atives  came  on  board, 
apparently  unarmed,  having  ostentatiously 
left  their  patus  and  other  weapons  in  their 
canoes,  each  man  was  in  fact  armed  with  the 
weapon  that  he  most  trusted.    The  plan  pur- 
sued was,  that  the  Maories  should  mingle 
freely  with  the  crew,  until  each  man  was 
close  to  one  of  the  sailors.    At  a  signal  from 
ttie  chief,  the  concealed  merai  was  snatched 
from  beneath  the  mat,  and  in  a  moment  it 
had  crashed  through  the  head  of  the  selected 
victim. 

Even  after  this  ruse  was  discovered,  the 
ingenious  Maories  contrived  to  get  hold  of 
more  than  one  vessel  under  pretence  of  ex- 
hibiting their  war  dance,  which  in  a  moment 
was  changed  from  the  mimicry  of  battle  into 
reality,  the  warriors  leaping  among  the  spec- 
tators and  dealing  their  blows  right  and  leR 


1  * 

(1.)  GREEN  JADE  OKNAMENTS.    (Sec  patff  813.) 


(2.)  WOODEN   AND  BONE   MERAI8.    (See  pngi  840.) 


.{*' 


l\ 


(:i.)   MAOKI   WEAl'ONS.    (See  pajios  t)3H,  SjO,  8-H.) 


(841) 


A  CBITICAL  SITUATION. 


648 


among  them.  Ship-taking  seems,  indeed,  to 
be  a  proceeding  so  dear  to  the  New  Zea- 
lander,  tliat  he  can  scarcely  resist  the  temp- 
tation wlien  it  is  offered  him.  In  Messrs. 
Tyerman  and  Bennet's  "Missionary  Voy- 
age "  there  is  an  anecdote  of  an  adventure 
that  befell  them,  which,  but  for  the  timely 
aid  of  a  friendly  chief,  would  undoubtedly 
have  had  a  tragic  issue. 

The  ship  had  arrived  off  New  Zealand,  and 
while  at  anchor  the  following  events  oc- 
curred:—"This  morning  our  little  vessel 
was  surrounded  with  canoes,  containing  sev- 
eral hundreds  of  the  natives,  of  both  sexes, 
who  presently  climbed  up,  and  crowded  it  so 
much  that  we  were  obliged  to  put  a  bar  across 
the  quarter-deck,  and  tabu  it  from  intrusion. 
The  commerce  in  various  articles,  on  both 
sides,  went  on  pretty  well  for  some  time,  till 
one  provoking  circumstance  after  another 
occurred,  which  had  nearly  led  to  the  seizure 
of  the  ship  and  tlie  loss  of  our  lives. 

"  In  the  confusion  occasioned  by  the  great 
throng  in  so  narrow  a  space,  the  natives  began 
to  exercise  their  pilfering  tricks,  opportuni- 
ties for  which  are  seldom  .permitted  to  slip 
away  unimproved.  Suddenly  the  cook  cried 
out,  'They  have  stolen  this  thing;'  but 
scarcely  had  he  named  the  thing  (some 
kitchen  article),  when  he  calLd  out  again, 
'  They  have  stoien  the  beef  out  of  the  potl' 
and  then  a  third  time, '  They  have  stolen  my 
cooking  pan! '  Presently  another  voice 
bawled  out  from  the  forecastle, 'Captain I 
they  have  broken  open  your  trunk,  and  car- 
ried away  your  clothes  1' 

"  Up  to  this  time  we  had  been  in  friendly 
intercourse  with  the  chiefs,  rubbing  noses, 
and  purchasing  their  personal  ornaments 
and  other  curiosities,  suspecting  no  mischief. 
But  now,  in  the  course  of  a  fsw  momenta, 
without  our  perceiving  the  immediate  reason, 
the  whole  scene  was  chan^,d.  We  found 
afterward  that  the  captain  (Dibbs),  on  hear- 
ing of  the  audacious  thefts  above  mentioned, 
had  become  angry,  and  while  he  was  endeav- 
oring, rather  boisterously,  to  clear  the  deck 
of  some  of  the  intruders,  one  of  them,  a  chief, 
on  being  jostled  by  him,  fell  over  the  ship's 
side  into  the  sea,  between  his  own  canoe  and 
the  vessel.  This  was  seized  instantaneously 
as  the  pretext  for  commencing  hostilities. 
The  women  and  children  in  the  course  of  a 
few  minutes  had  all  disappeared,  leaping 
overboard  into  their  canoes,  and  taking  with 
them  the  kakaous,  or  mantles,  of  the  warriors. 
The  latter,  thus  stripped  for  action,  remained 
on  deck;  of  which,  before  we  were  aware, 
they  had  taken  complete  possession;  and 
forthwith  made  us  their  prisoners. 

"Tremendous  were  the  bawlings  and 
acreechings  of  the  barbarians,  while  they 
stamped,  and  brandished  their  weapons,  con- 
sisting principally  of  clubs  and  spears.  One 
chief  with  his  cookies  (his  slaves)  had  sur- 
rounded the  captain,  holding  their  spears  at 
Lis  breast  and  hia  sides,  on  the  larboard  quur 


ter  of  the  vessel,  Mr.  Tyerman,  under  guard 
of  another  band,  stood  on  the  starboard;  and 
Mr.  Bennet  on  the  same  side,  but  aft,  toward 
the  stern.  Mr.  Threlkeld  and  his  little  boy, 
not  seven  years  old,  were  near  Mr.  Bennet 
not  under  dfirect  manual  grasp  of  the  savages. 
The  chief  who,  with  his  gang,  had  been  traf- 
ficking with  Mr.  Bennet,  now  brought  his 
huge  tattooed  visage  near  to  Mr.  B.'s,  scream- 
ing, in  tones  the  most  odious  and  horrifying: 
'  ^ngata.  New  Zealandi,  tongata  kakino?— 
•ngata.  New  Zealandi,  tongata  kakino? ' 


Ton, 
"This 


ho 


.._   repeated   as   rapidly  as  lips, 

tongue,  and  throat  could  utter  the  words, 
which  mean, '  Man  of  New  Zealand,  is  he 
bad  man?— Man  of  New  Zealand,  a  bad 
man?'  Happily  Mr.  Bennet  understood  the 
question  (the  New  Zealand  dialect  much  re- 
sembling the  Tahitian):  whereupon,  though 
convinced  that  inevitable  death  wps  at  hand, 
he  answered,  with  as  much  composure  as 
could  be  assumed,  'Kaore  kakino  tongata 
New  Zealandi,  tongata  kapai '  ('  Not  bad;  the 
New  Zealauder  is  a  good  man ') ;  and  so  often 
as  the  other,  with  indescribable  ferocity  of 
aspect  and  sharpness  of  accent,  asked  the 
same  question  (which  might  be  a  hundred 
times),  the  same  answer  was  returned. 

'"  But,'  inquired  Mr.  Bennet, '  why  is  all 
this  uproar?  Why  cannot  we  still  rub  noses, 
and  buy  and  sell,  and  barter,  as  before?'  At 
this  moment  a  stout  slave,  belonging  to  the 
chief,  stepped  behind  Mr.  Bennet,  and  pm- 
ioned  both  his  arms  close  to  his  sides.  No 
effort  wp,9  made  to  resist  or  elude  the  gigan- 
tic grasp,  Mr.  B.  knowing  that  such  would 
only  accelerate  the  threatened  destruction. 
Still,  therefore,  he  maintained  his  calmness, 
and  asked  the  chief  the  price  of  a  neck  orna- 
ment which  the  latter  wore.  Immediately 
another  slave  raised  a  large  tree-felling  axe 
(which,  with  others,  had  been  brought  to  bo 
sharpened  by  the  ship's  company)  over  the 
head  of  the  prisoner.  This  ruffian  looked 
with  demon-like  eagerness  and  imnatience 
toward  his  master  for  the  signal  to        "vC. 

"  And  here  it  may  be  observed  ii-it  our 
good  countrymen  can  have  no  idea  of  the 
almost  preternatural  fury  which  savages  can 
throw  into  their  distorted  countenances,  and 
infuse  into  their  deafening  and  appalling 
voices,  when  they  are  possessed  by  the 
legion-flend  of  rage,  cupidity,  and  revenge. 
Mr.  Bennet  persevered  in  keeping  up  con- 
versation with  the  chief,  saying, 'We  want 
to  buy  bruaa,  kumera,  ika,  Sec,  (hogs,  pota- 
toes, fish),  of  you.' 

"  Just  then  he  perceived  a  youth  stepping 
on  deck  with  a  large  fish  i  n  his  hand.  '  What 
shall  I  give  you  for  that  fish?'  — 'Why,  so 
many  fish-hooks.' — 'Well,  then,  put  your 
hand  into  ray  pocket  and  take  them.'  The 
fellow  did  so.  'Now  put  the  fish  down  there, 
on  the  binnacle,  and  bring  some  more,  if  you 
have  any,'  said  Mr.  Bennet.  At  once  the 
fish  that  he  had  just  bought  was  brought 
round  from  behind  and  presented  to  mm' 


; 

i 

.    i 

!  i 

• 

i  ■  U' 

a' 

^1 

«l 

i 

11 

8M 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


kaayory  but  jienmiulecl, '  WImt  simll  Ir  vc 
you  lor  that  «8h?'_  >  S„  ,;,ai,v  hooks.'-'  fake 
them  Have  you  no  other  ilsh  to  sell?'  A 
tliirtl  tuno  (ho  Kamo  tlsh  was  olferecl,  and  the 
samo  price  in  hooks  required  and  Riven,  or 
rather  taken  by  the  vendor,  out  ofhiH  ja'ket 
^wUh  f"'  ''''"'■''  '>'*W''"fl  to  bo  well  stored 

Mr  J  ennef"J^"7  "Z;""'^'""-  ^  *■»"■•">  "'"« 
ShV-  A  fhf'^r'''  ""''''  you  never  another 
nsiii-     At  this  the  roL'ucseouId  contain  their 

erred  "  We"*^''' ''".'  h'' '"'"  "^"«hter  a^ 
r'Tan Jf?i  M^  '^^''"ting  tlio  foreisnerl- 
(  langatake!')  supposing  that  theu- cus- 
tomer was  not  aware  ho,^  otten  tK  had 
caught  lum  with  the  same  bait  »        ^ 

the  dunf  nf*^H  "T  f''?"  "fp'-etending  to  be 
ine  dupe  of  the  Muorios,  Mr.  Bonnel  con- 
tnved  to  gain  time,  of  which  ho  k  ew  that 

ciat.irsHip^^^'^'"^  ^^^^'^'  -'-  ^'  -" 
th.^fe*  ""^  v'*^"; ''''!'  observe  that  at  tliis  time 

lae  ^fX^?^'""'^"''  '^"'^  ""*  abandoned  the 
use  of  the  spear  as  a  weapon  of  war  though 
only  twenty  years  afterward  scareelv  a  snear 
could  be  found  that  was  not  intended  as  a, 

ilT  V?ri^y''y  '''''^^^  of  strife. 
At  hg.  3  of  •'  \\  eajions  "  is  shown  a  verv 
curious  club,  called  Atu  by  the  natives  anil 

oatiie-axe.    It  is  about  Ave  feet  in  len.rti, 
and  has  at  one  end  a  flat,  axe-like  head  Sd 

weanons'^rm"''^"'^'  »?'""'•  O"^  oTthe  e 
weapons  in  my  possession,  presented  to  me 

&,  n""^''"'.™?"^  ^"""'^r  article.,  by  E 
™Iell,  Esq.,  is  live  feet  one  inch  in  leuKth 

lxiZ"\t'  *""'  P°^'"''«  ^''^  ounces  b^inl; 
exactly  the  samo  weight  as  the  stone  meril 
already  described.    tT.o  rounded  edge  of  the 

looklL^-f-f^  ''•^"'■y  «harp,and  certalnh' 
ooks  as  if  It  was  intended  for  the  purpose  of 

cLe'Sr"'-*^'-  •  Such,  however  is i^ot  the 
Sr  orn ^T"'  "?'"^.f  '«  P""'ted  butt  as  a 
tKa  iP'''^'  ^"'^  «.t"king  with  the  back  of 
the  head  and  not  with  the  edge. 

boredTL.n^f  ^«V'?V^*'''"""  «f  ">°  ^'^^^  is 
bored  a  hole,  to  which  is  suspended  a  bunch 

of  feathers  and  streamers.    Sometimes    w" 

longer  1^^  .^  '^"'-  '"  '*'"«*'''  '»>'  '«  «K 
longer.    In  a  specimen  taken  by  Sir  J  E 

selt.    At  first  eight  this  appendage  seems 

rate  fv^  "1"^"°?"^  ^'^^'^^'^  ^^ichS- 
rate  a  North  American  spear  or  club,  to  be 
merely  an  ornament,  an<i  to  detract  from 
rather  than  add  to,  the  efficiency  of  the' 
weapon.  But  the  Maori  warrior  is  far  too 
keen  a  soldier  to  sacriflce  use  to  ornament 
and,  ,f  he  employs  the  latter,  he  is  su™  to 
take^care  that  the  former  is  not  endangered 

In  the  present  case,  this  apparentlv  use- 
less appendage  adds  materiallV  to  the  effec 
tiveness  of  the  weapon.    When  the  warrior, 


armed  with  the  patu,  meets  an  adversary, 
he  docs  not  rush  at  him   heedlessly,  but 
cnces,  as  it  were  with  his  weapon,  holding 
It  in  ho  h  h.ands,  twirling  it  about,  and  ttour- 
j«h.ng  tho  bunch  of  feathers  in  'the  face  of 
IS  loe  80  as  to  distract  his  attention.    Nei- 
ther toes  he  stand  ia  the  same  si)ot,  but 
caps  here  and  there,  endeavorng  to  take 
theloe  oil  his  guard,  and  making  all  kinds 
of  feints   in  order  to   tost  the   adversary's 
j)owers.    bhould  ho  see  the  least  opening, 
he  sharp  i)oint  of  tho  butt  is  driven  into 
his  adver8ary'.s  body,  or  a  severe  blow  deliv- 
e  ed  with  the  head,  the  stroke  being  gener- 
ally made  upward  and  not  downward,  as 
might  bo  imagined. 

In  fact,  the  whole  management  of  the 
pat.i  18  almost  identical  with  that  of  the  old 
quarterstafl  of  England,  a  weiii)on   whose 
use  IS  unfortunately  foigotton  at  the  present 
<l.ay.    The  bunch  of  feathers  is  not  an  inva- 
riable appendage.     In   my  own  specimen, 
for  example,  it  has  never  been  used,  and  f 
have  seen  many  others  in  which  tho  hole 
has  not  been  bored  for  tlie  insertion  of  tho 
string  that  ties  the  feathers  together.      • 
_   The  last  weapon  drawn  in  this  illustration 
IS  hardly  worthy  of  the  name.    It  is  a  dae- 
ger,  .and  is  shown  at  fig.  4.    At  fig.  2  of  the 
same    illustration    is    seen    an    imitlement 
wluch  IS  generally  mistaken  for  a  spear,  and 
is  labelled  as  sucli  in  many  a  collection.    It 
IS  however  no  spear  at  all,  but  a  scejUre,  or 
staff  of  office  belonging  to  a  (;hief.    The 
Maori  luame  is  E'llani.    It  is  shaped  at  the 
butt  like  an  exceedingly  elongated  merai, 
and  indeed  the  entire  implement  looks  as  if 
tlie  liani  and  the  m.-rai  were  but  dillerent 
modifications  of  the  same  Aveapon. 

but  astatt  of  olllce,  .almost  identical  in  form 
with  that  which  was  borne  by  the  ancient 
kings  and  heralds  in  the  times'of  Trov.    At 
the  upper  end  is  seen  the  head,  which  bears 
some  resemblance  to  the  i)oint  of  a  spear 
and  has  given  ground  to  the  notion  that  the 
nnplement  in  question  is   really  a    spear. 
This  portion,  however,  does  not  serve  tho 
purpose  of  offence,  but  is  simply  a  conven- 
tion.al  rcnresentation  of  the  hunian  tongue 
which,  when  thrust  forth  to  its  utmost,  Jon-' 
veys,  according  to  Maori   ideas,  the   most 
bitter  insult  and  defiance.    When  the  chief 
wishes  to  make  war  against  any  tribe,  ho 
calls  his  own  people  together,  makes  a  fiery 
oration,  and  repeatedly  thrusts  his  hani  in 
the  direction  of  the  enemy,  each  such  thrust 
being  accepted  as  a  putting  forth  of  the 
tongue  m  defiance. 

In  order  to  show  that  the  point  of  the 
ham  is  really  intended  to  rei)resent  the 
human  tongue,  the  remainder  of  it  is  carved 
into  a  grotesque  and  far-fetched  resemblance 
of  tho  human  face,  the  chief  features  of 
el,-  "5''  two  enormous  circular  eyes  made 
of  h.aliotis  shell. 

Generally,  the  hani  is  ornamented  with 


THE  HANI. 


848 


fenthera  like  the  pntu;  but  many  of  the 
staves  are  without  this  decomtiou,  which  is 
looked  ui)ou  us  a  mere  non-essential.  These 
staves  vary  gr(<atly  in  length.  My  own 
specimen  is  between  five  and  six  feet  in 
length,  and  is  without  the  feather  orna- 
ments, whereas  others  are  not  more  than  a 
yard  in  length,  and  are  decorated  with 
a  buneli  of  feathers  as  long  as  themselves. 
The  chiefs  are  nearly  as  tenacious  of  the 
hani  as  tlio  merai,  and  do  not  seem  to  be 
easy  if  it  be  put  out  of  their  reach.  Some 
years  ago  several  Maori  chiefs  came  to  visit 
England,  and  were  taken  to  see  the  various 
siglits  of  London.  But  whether  they  went 
to  the  theatre,  or  to  the  Zoological  Gardens, 
or  to  make  calls,  they  invariably  took  their 
hanis  with  them,  sometimes  carrying  a 
short  one  for  convenience'  sake,  but  appear- 
ing to  attach  the  greatest  value  to  its  pos- 
session. 

One  of  these  curious  implements  in  my 
collection  is  six  feet  in  length,  and  is  made 
of  the  same  wood  as  the  patu.  If  held 
nprigbt  the  resemblance  of  the  point  to  the 
outstretched  tongue  is  not  very  plain;  but 
if  It  be  held  horizontally,  the  eileet  is  quite 
altered,  and  the  whole  of  the  tip  is  seen  to 
represent  a  human  head  with  the  tongue 
thrust  out  as  far  as  possible  between  the 
lips.  As  the  tongue  is  only  a  conventional 
representation,  it  is  covered  with  a  pattern, 
ft  ridge  running  along  the  centre,  and  each 
side  being  marked  with  precisely  similar 
curves  and  semi-spirala. 

In  spite  of  its  length,  it  really  makes  a 
very  convenient  walking-staflf,  and,  on  an 
emergency,  might  do  duty  as  a  weapon,  the 
tongue-like  tip  being  sharp  enough  to  act 
as  a  spear  head,  and  the  llattened  butt  being 
heavy  enough  to  stun  a  man  with  a  well- 
directed  blow.  My  specimen  does  not  pos- 
sess the  tuft  of  feathers  and  dog's-hair 
which  decorates  the  hani  shown  in  the 
"weapons"  (tig.  2,  p.  R41);  but  tliis  adorn- 
ment is  not  considered  as  forming  a  neces- 
sary ])art  of  the  implement. 

fieibre  a  party  engage  in  war,  they  think 
themselves  bound  to  join  in  the  war  dance. 
There  are  war  dances  in  almost  all  savage 
tribes,  but  that  of  the  New  Zealandcr  sur- 
passes them  all.  In  other  cases,  each  war- 
rior gives  himself  up  to  the  excitement  of 
the  moment,  and  shouts,  yells,  dances,  and 
brandishes  his  weapons  as  he  seems  to  think 
fit;  but  the  Maori  warrior's  dance  is  of  a 
far  different  character,  being  guided  by  a 
discipline  and  precision  of  drill  to  which 
that  of  the  Russians  themselves  is  loose  and 
irregular. 

They  begin  by  smearing  the  whole  of 
their  clothing  and  by  painting  their  faces 
with  scarlet  ochre,  so  as  to  make  themselves 
as  hideous  as  possible.  When  they  assem- 
ble for  the  dance,  they  arrange  themselves 
in  lines,  mostly  three  deep,  and  excite  their 
naturally  passionate  disposition  to  the  high- 1 


est  pitch  by  contorting  their  faces  and 
thrusting  out  their  tonj^ucs  as  an  act  of 
defiance,  interspersing  these  gestures  with 
shouts,  yells,  and  challenges  to  the  enemy. 
The  dance  itself  begins  with  stamping  the 
feet  in  perfect  time  with  each  other,  the 
vigor  of  the  stamp  increasing  continually, 
and  the  excitement  increasing  in  similar 
proportion. 

Suddenly,  witli  a  yell,  the  whole  body  of 
men  leap  side-ways  into  the  air,  as  if  actu- 
ated bv  one  spirit,  and,  as  they  touch  the 
ground,  come  down  on  it  with  a  mighty 
stamp  that  makes  the  earth  tremble.  The 
war  song  is  raised,  and  in  accordance  with 
its  rhythm  the  men  leap  from  side  to  side, 
each  time  coming  down  with  a  thud  as  of 
some  huge  engine.  The  effect  of  the  danco 
upon  the  performers  is  extraordinary.  It 
seems  to  make  them  for  the  time  absolute 
maniacs,  their  whole  nature  being  given  up 
to  the  furious  excitement  of  the  moment 
Their  faces  arc  frightfully  contorted,  and 
thus  assume  an  absolutely  demoniacal  ex- 
pression. 

Even  when  war  is  not  imnending,  the 
magic  influence  of  the  dance  aflccts  the  per- 
formers as  strongly  as  if  they  were  close  to 
a  pah  or  fort  of  the  enemy,  ready  for  battle; 
and  when,  as  is  sometimes  the  case,  the 
Maories  give  a  dance  in  honor  of  a  visitor, 
they  become  so  furiously  excited  that  they 
are  quite  dangerous  until  they  have  had 
time  to  cool. 

On  one  such  occasion  a  party  of  Maories 
who  had  visited  a  ship  were  requested  to 
exhibit  their  war  dance,  and  very  good- 
naturedly  did  so.  But  in  a  short  time  their 
measured  leaps  became  so  vehement,  and 
their  stamps  so  powerful,  as  they  shouted 
the  martial  rhymes  of  the  war  song,  that 
thoy  shook  the  whole  ship  as  if  by  blows 
of  a  battering-ram;  and  the  commanding 
officer,  fearful  that  they  would  absolutely 
smash  the  deck,  begged  them  to  desist.  His 
entreaties  were  in  vain,  even  if  they  were 
heard,  though  it  is  very  likely  that,  in  their 
furious  excitement,  the  dancers  were  deaf  to 
every  sound  except  the  war  song  wliich  they 
were  yelling  at  the  top  of  their  voices;  and 
the  dance  proceeded  to  its  end,  and  did  not 
cease  until  the  performers  were  quite  ex- 
hausted by  the  furious  exertions  they  had 
made. 

The  most  ludicrous  part  of  the  dance  was 
the  conduct  of  the  chief.  He  had  been 
treated  with  much  attention,  and  presented 
with  a  full  suit  of  naval  uniform,  of  which 
he  was  mightily  nroud,  and  in  which  he 
stalked  about  the  aeck  to  the  great  admira- 
tion of  his  subjects.  When  he  was  asked 
whether  the  war  dance  could  be  given,  he  at 
once  ordered  his  followers  to  accede  to  the 
request,  and  at  first  stood  quietly  by  while 
they  went  through  the  performance. 

The  influence  of  the  dance  was,  however, 
too  contagious  to  be  resisted,  and  rapidly- 


I 


M6 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


extended  itself  to  him.  First  he  merely 
swayed  hiH  body  in  rliythm  with  £ho  stens 
of  the  dnncors,  then  ho  joined  aotto  voce  In 
the  Bong,  tlicii  he  began  to  stamp  In  time 
with  them,  and  at  lust  threw  otf  all  restraint, 
sprang  into  line,  and  leaped,  yelled,  and 
stamped  aia  euthusiostically  as  any  of  them, 
splitting  his  new  garments  to  pieces,  and 
prcsentmg  a  very  sorry  night  when  his  ex- 
citement hiul  died  away. 

The  illustration  oppoHite  represents  a  por- 
tion of  a  party  of  warriors  as  they  appear 
when  performing  their  war  dance.  Only 
the  flrst  three  ranks  of  them  are  seen;  but 
the  reader  must  picture  for  himself  the  long 
lines  of  warriors  stretching  into  the  distance, 
numbering  often  from  one  to  two  hundred, 
The  leading  chief  is  seen  in  front,  with  his 

freen  Jade  merai  in  his  hand;  ard  another 
ut  interior  chief  is  stationed  behind  him. 
In  the  background  is  shown  a  portion  of  the 
pah  in  whicli  the  dance  is  ta!;ing  place;  a 
chiers  storehouse  for  foo<l  is  seen  on  the 
right,  and  under  the  shelter  of  the  houses 
arc  seated  the  women  who  are  watching  the 
dance. 

I  have  already  said  that  war  is  always  in 
the  thoughts  of  a  genuine  Maori.  Unlike 
the  vaporing  Fiji  warrior,  who  is  always 
ready  to  boast,  and  seldom  ready  to  fight, 
preferring  to  knock  his  enemy  on  the  head 
when  asleep,  the  Maori  is  a  brave  soldier. 
Accustomed  from  his  earliest  childhood  to 
deeds  of  war.  A  mimic  war  forms  one  of 
the  favorite  games  of  the  Maori  children, 
tliough  it  is  necessarily  restricted  to  boys. 
Just  as  boya  of  our  country  build  snow  cas- 
tles, and  attack  and  defend  them  with  snow- 
ballB,  so  do  the  young  New  Zealanders 
build  miniature  forte,  ana  enact  on  a  small 
scale  the  deeds  of  actual  war,  using  light 
sticks  instead  of  the  merai  and  patu.  They 
make  their  forts  by  erecting  mounds  of 
earth,  and  building  the  fortresses  of  stakes, 
in  exact  imitation  of  the  more  substantial 
architecture  of  the  veritable  pah. 

These  ingenious  pahs  well  exemplify  the 
whole  system  of  Maori  warfare.  The  two 
opposing  parlies  seldom  meet  each  other  in 
the  open  ground,  as  is  the  case  with  Euro- 
pean warfare;  neither  do  they  employ  an 
Irregular  skirmishing  fight  among  trees  or 
under  cover,  as  is  the  case  with  many  sav- 
age tribes.  The  attacking  party  is  sure  to 
be  very  superior  in  numbers  to  their  foes, 
and  the  latter,  knowing  that  this  will  be  the 
case,  resort  to  the  system  of  fortification, 
and  entrench  themselves  in  forte,  or  pahs. 

These  pahs  are  marvellous  examples  of 
uncivilized  engineering,  and  are  admirably 
adapted  to  the  purpose  which  they  are  in- 
tended to  fulfil.  They  are  always  placed  in 
some  strong  situation,  sometimes  on  the  sea- 
shore, sometimes  on  heights,  and  one  or  two 
of  the  strongest  arc  built  on  the  very  edge  of 
a  perpendicular  precipice,  so  that  they  can- 
not be  attacked  on  three  sides,  while  the 


fourth  can  only  bo  approached  by  a  narrow 
and  awkward  path,  along  which  only  a  few 
men  can  pnss,  and  wliicn  can  Im  defended 
by  a  comparati\  'y  limited  number  of  the 
besieged.    (See  n.  to.) 

Taking  one  oi^  these  pahs  is  really  a  great 
enterprise  for  the  natives,  and  before  they 
knew  the  use  of  firearms  it  Is  wonderl\il 
that  they  ever  took  a  pah  at  all.  Many  of 
them  are  indeed  impregnable,  and,  until 
firearms  were  introduced  into  the  colony, 
could  hid  defiance  to  all  enemies.  They 
were  so  situated  that  by  merely  rolling 
stones  down  the  approach  the  path  could  be 
cleared  of  every  foe.  They  are  surrounded 
with  trenches,  and  have  ingenious  sally- 
ports so  constructed  that  the  defenders  can 
issue  from  unexpected  parts  of  the  fort, 
make  a  sudden  attack  on  the  assailants,  and 
retreat  through  the  snme  aperture  vhen 
they  have  attained  their  purpose. 

They  are  fenced  round  with  very  strong 
posto,  lashed  together  so  firmly  that  they  are 
able  to  resist  any  ordinary  attack,  binco 
'rearms  were  introduced,  tno  Maorics  have 
modified  the  structure  of  the  pahs  to  suit 
their  new  weapons,  throwing  out  angles  to 
secure  a  flanking  fire,  and  filling  the  interior 
with  trenches  in  which  the  defenders  can 
lie  secure  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  Since 
they  learned  the  terrible  power  of  fifiells,  the 
natives  have  learned  to  construct  "trav- 
erses," t.  e.  cross-walls,  in  the  trenches, 
which  not  only  guard  the  inmates  from  the 
fragmente  of  the  shells,  but  prevent  an  en- 
filading fire  from  doing  much  damage.  Rifle- 
pite  are  also  constructed  with  singulai*  inge- 
nuity. One  pah  was  remarkable  for  being 
built  over  a  number  of  boiling  springs,  which 
were  used  as  traps  for  the  enemy  when  the 
fort  was  besieged. 

The  reader  may  remember  the  unfortu- 
nate business  at  the  Gate  Pah,  at  Tauranga. 
When  taken  by  storm,  the  pah  appeared  to 
be  empty  and  deserted,  the  natives  having 
apparently  escaped,  according  to  their  cus- 
tom, when  they  found  the  place  no  longer 
tenable.  They  had,  however,  laid  a  trap, 
into  which  the  assailants  fell.  When  the 
latter  had  scattered  themselves  over  the 
interior,  and  were  quite  off  their  guard, 
picking  up  arms,  utensils,  and  other  objects 
lying  carelessly  about,  a  terrific  musketry 
nre  was  opened  from  under  their  very  feet, 
the  natives  having  constructed  pits  in  which 
they  hid  themselves  until  the  enemy  w^ere 
attracted  within  their  range  by  the  weapons 
and  implements  which  they  had  laid  on  pur- 
pose to  act  as  a  bait.  The  men,  who  were 
entirely  off  their  guard,  and  many  of  whom 
besides  were  but  raw  recruits,  were  struck 
with  a  sudden  panic,  and,  with  a  few  hon- 
orable exceptions,  rushed  out  of  the  pah,  fol- 
lowed and  cut  up  by  the  fire  of  the  wily  foe. 

Of  course  the  repulse  was  but  temporary; 
but  such  a  stratagem  as  this  is  sufficient  to 
show  the  military  genius  of  the  Maori,  who, 


'fHK  MAORI    WAR   UANCK. 
(See  pii};e  S4fl.) 


It 
li; 

ii' 


I 

! 


ii 
iiri 


i 

1 

i  ' 

Wl 

|; 

'., 

1.' 

(84T) 


II' 


li 


THE  CHIEF  E'  IIONGI. 


840 


If  ho  bcromes  an  enemy,  ia  ono  that  cannot 
bo  ilcnpiH<!(l  with  impunity.  '"hi«  nvHtcm  of 
taking  tho  unnmy  by  Bur^^  in  tlin  uiuul 
moUo  of  rtKhtin{<  among  thu  Maorinit,  who 
dianlay  womiurlul  ingenuity  In  contriving 
nmuuihtm,  luid  onticTng  tho  enemy  into 
tiiem.  When  we  were  nrst  driven  into  war 
with  tlio  natives  of  New  Zealand,  we  were 
fVequcntly  entrapped  in  an  amhuseodo;  and 
in  ono  ciiio  tho  hidden  enemy  were  so  eloso 
to  our  men,  their  dusky  forms  being  hidden 
in  the  shadows  of  the  bush,  that  many  of  the 
soldiers  who  eseaped  with  life  hail  their 
faces  eomplotely  tattooed  with  grains  of 
unburnt  powder  iVom  tho  muskets  of  tho 
enemy. 

If  the  assailants  succeed  in  taking  the  pah, 
a  terrible  massacre  always  ensues.  Every 
man  is  killed  who  is  capable  of  wielding  a 
weapon,  while  tho  women  and  chihiren  are 
carried  off  to  become  tlio  slaves  of  tho  con- 
querors—  a  doom  from  which,  as  1  have 
already  stated,  there  is  no  escape;  tho  un- 
fortunate women,  their  children,  and  any 
future  offspring,  bei.ig  slaves  without  the 
possibility  of  release,  not  oven  their  own 
tribe  being  able,  according  to  Maori  law,  to 
interfere  with  tlie  right  or  tho  captors. 

The  bodies  oi"  tho  warriors  are  of  course 
reserved  to  bo  baked  and  oaten.  Somet'mes 
oven  tho  prisoners  fall  victims  to  tho  thirst 
for  blood  which  chnracterisies  these  islanders; 
and  in  this  respect  tho  women  aro  as  bad  as 
the  men,  if  not  worse.  For  example,  the 
principal  wife  of  a  very  groat  chief,  named 
E'llongi,  was  accrstomed,  oven  though 
blind,  to  murder  some  of  tho  captives,  when 
they  were  brought  home  by  her  formidable 
husoand.  Her  own  end  was,  however,  more 
tragic  than  that  of  any  of  her  victims. 
E'llongi  was  in  tho  habit  of  making  long 
excursions  to  different  parts  of  the  country, 
in  which  he  took  his  wife  with  him.  On 
ono  of  these  excursions  she  fell  sick,  and 
had  to  be  left  behind.  In  conseq^uenco  of 
her  blindness,  added  to  tier  debility,  she 
was  unable  to  act  in  her  own  defence,  and  a 
number  of  dogs,  discovering  her  weakness, 
tore  her  to  pieces  and  devoured  her. 

She  seems,  however,  to  'have  been  a 
woman  of  uncxceptionally  strong  feelings  of 
vengeance.  "  She  had,"  writes  Mr.  Angas, 
"a  little  slave-girl  to  attend  upon  nor, 
toward  whom  she  evinced  a  strong  attach- 
ment. Tho  little  creature  was  interesting 
and  good-tempered,  and  her  mistress  was 
apparently  so  fond  of  her  that  she  was 
spared  the  experience  of  the  misery  of 
slavery;  she  was  only  a  favorite. 

"  Hongi  returned  from  ono  of  his  succoss- 
ftil  expeditions  of  war,  but  had  left  a  son 
upon  the  field  of  battle,  and  tho  lamentation 
wasgreat  The  petted  slave-child  laid  her 
head  upon  the  lap  of  her  mistress,  and 
poured  out  her  share  of  tho  general  sorrow. 
But  the  spirit  of  vengeance  or  of  insane 
retribution  came  over  the  heart  of  the  be- 


reavod  mother;  and  she  carried  tho  child  to 
tho  water,  and  cruelly  suffocated  her  in  sat- 
isfaction of  her  seltlsh  sorrow." 

It  was  not  long  after  this  incident  that 
she  mot  with  her  death.  Whi!n  slio  was 
loft  behind,  a  small  shed  was  erected  ou 
poles,  according  to  native  cui«t<>m,  and  a 
supply  of  foiMl  was  placed  near  hcrr.  When 
tho  party  returned  the  shed  was  lying  |)ros- 
trato,and  among  its  ruins  wore  the  whitened 
bones  of  the  inmate.  It  Is  suppos(;d  that  the 
wind  blew  down  tho  shed,  and  so  enabled 
the  dogs  to  reach  her. 

This  same  E'Hongi  was  a  really  remark* 
ablo  man,  and  earned  a  great  name  for  wis- 
dom and  courage.  Having  made  a  voyage 
to  England,  ho  threw  all  Tiis  energies  into 
strengthening  his  military  power,  and  took 
back  with  him  a  quantity  of  muskets  and 
ammunition. 

He  came  back  to  his  own  country  ex- 
actly at  the  proper  time.  A  long  and 
somewhat  desultory  war  had  been  going 
on  between  tho  Waikatos  and  other  tribes, 
in  which  tho  former  had,  after  many  vicissi- 
tudes, been  victorious,  and,  after  bnally  con- 
quering their  enemies,  had  returned  to  th^ir 
country  in  triumph. 

Just  then  E'  Iiongl  came  back  to  his  o„a 
tribe,  tho  Nga  Puis,  distributed  his  fire- 
arms among  the  best  warriors,  and  when  he 
had  instructed  them  in  tho  use  of  tho  new 
and  terrible  weapons,  entered  the  Waikato 
country,  and  attacked  their  great  pah  called 
Matukotuko.  Tho  Waikatos,  having  only 
their  clubs,  and  not  having  sunk  the  trenches 
which  in  those  days  are  dug  in  every  pah 
that  is  intended  to  resist  an  assault,  could 
not  contend  against  firearms,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  the  fort  was  taken.  It  was  in  this 
engagement  that  Iloromoua  and  To  Whcro- 
Whero  were  captured. 

The  slaughter  on  this  occasion  was  terri- 
ble, two  thousand  warriors  being  killed,  and 
their  bodies  eaten  bv  the  victorious  tribe, 
who  built  vast  numbers  of  ovens  for  the 
special  purpose  of  cooking  the  bodies  of  tho 
slain.  For  many  years  afterward  the  re- 
mains of  the  ovens,  and  t1  e  whitened  bones 
of  the  two  thousand  warriors,  might  be  seen 
as  tokens  of  the  terrible  scene,  where  feasts 
wore  kept  up  until  all  the  bodies  had  been 
consumed,  and  every  evil  passion  of  unre- 
strained huiTian  nature  was  allowed  to  have 
its  ftill  sway. 

One  of  the  very  muskets  which  were  used 
on  this  occasion,  and  which  was  given  bv 
George  IV.  to  E'  Hongi  when  ho  visited 
England,  is  now  in  the  collection  of  Colonel 
Sir.  J.  E.  Alexander.  It  is  one  of  the  regu- 
lar "  Brown  Bess  "  weapons,  onco  so  dear 
to  soldiers,  and  now  irreverently  termed  a 
gaspipc. 

rrisoners  without  number  were  captured 
on  this  occasion;  and  indeed  the  supply  of 
slaves  thus  obtained  so  far  exceeded  the  de- 
mand for  them,  that  the  Nga  Puis  kill  ad 


if 
111 


!!    ■  Pi 

i ; :  i  is: 


rii 


1 1' 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


many  of  them  on  their  joxumey  home, 
merely  to  rid  themselves  of  them.  E'  Hongi, 
though  known  to  be  a  man  of  the  most  de- 
termiaed  coura<?e,  not  lo  say  ferocity,  whes 
engaged  in  v>ar,  and  rather  disposed  to  be- 
have in  an  overbearing  manner  toward 
those  whom  he  considered  as  his  inferiors, 
was  at  the  same  time  peculiarlj/  mild  and 
courteous  in  his  demeanor  to  his  equals, 
and  toward  strangers  was  remarkable  for 
Lis  gentle  courtesy. 

There  was  another  very  celebrated  c'uief 
of  a  somewhat  similar  name,  Hongi-Hongi, 
who  has  sometimes  been  confounded  with 
his  §reat  predecessor.  One  feat  of  this 
warrior  is  so  characteristic  that  it  deserves 
mention.  He  was  leading  an  attack  on  a 
pah  near  Mount  Egmont,  captured  it,  and, 
according  to  custom,  killed  the  warriors, 
and  took  the  rest  of  the  inmates  as  his 
f  laves.  Sixty  of  *heso  unfortunate  beings 
fell  tc  the  share  of  Hongi,  who  drove  them 
like  a  flock  of  sheep,  with  his  green  jade 
merai,  all  the  way  to  his  home,  a  fiistancc 
oi  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles. 

This  chief  was  proof  against  the  mission- 
aries of  all  kinds.  Mr.  Angas  once  asked 
him  Vi'hcth'ir  he  was  u  mihaiiari,  i.  e.  a  Pro- 
testant convert,  or  a  pikopo,  i.  e.  a  Eoman 
Catholic.  Hongi  denied  that  he  w.''.s  either 
one  or  t^-^  other,  and  confessed  with  glee 
that  he  was  a  revera,  or  devil,  i.  e.  that  he 
Btill  remained  a  heathen. 

It  is  very  unfortunate  that  intolerance  in 
religious  matters  has  been  fostered  by  those 
who  ought  to  have  made  it  their  business  to 
repress  any  such  feeling.  The  consequence 
Is,  that  the  Protestant  converts  regard  their 
Roman  Catholic  brethren  as  reveras,  or 
devils,  wliile  the  latter  have  allied  them- 
selves with  their  acknowledged  heathen 
countrymen;  and  chus,  under  the  pretence 
of  leligion,  the  customury  feuds  are  kept 
up  with  perhaps  even  additional  bitterness. 
I  have  the  pleasure  of  presenting  to  the 
reader,  on  the  820th  page,  a  portrait  of 
Hongi-Hon|ri,  as  he  appearevl  in  the  yoar 
1844,  dressed  in  his  fhll  panoply  of  war 
costume.  This,  of  course,  would  be  doffed 
before  he  went  into  actual  fight.  In  his 
ear  is  r.ie  of  the  greer  jade  ornaments 
which  have  already  been  iescribed,  and  in 
his  right  hand  no  bears  his  merai,  the  cele- 
brared  weapon  wiih  which  he  drove  the 
slaves  before  him.  He  is  represented  as 
standing  just  inside  the  wall  of  his  pah, 
position   which    he    insi  .^ed   on  taking 


izpntal  pole  is  laid  across  them:  and  the 
whole  is  firmly  lashed  together,  either  with 
the  ordinary  phor.  lium  rope,  or  with  the 
stem  of  the  wild  vine. 

Warfare  umong  the  Maories,  fierce  and 
relentless  ?«  it  may  be  in  some  particulars, 
in  not  devoid  of  a  sort  of  chivalry  which 
somewhat  relieves  it  from  its  more  ierocious 
aspect.  Tliere  is,  for  example,  a  well-known 
code  of  military  etiquette  which  is  some- 
times exhibited  m  a  mode  that  to  us  seems 
rather  ludicrous. 

For  example,  the  'Vraikafos  and  Taranaki 
tribes  were  at  wa/  as  usual,  and  the  Waikato 
were  besic^ging  a  pah  belonging  to  their 
enemies,  Tho  pah,  however,  was  too  strong 
for  them ;  and  moreover  the  defenders  had 
contrived  to  get  hold  cf  several  guns  be- 
longing to  a  vessel  that  had  been  wrecked 
on  the  shore,  and  bad  induced  some  Euro- 
peans to  mount  and  work  them,  which  they 
aid  with  such  success  that  the  Waikatos 
were  forced  at  last  to  abandon  the  siege. 

But,  in  the  very  midst  of  tLe  contest,  a 
vessel  appeared  in  the  offing,  and  a  truce 
was  immediately  concluded  in  order  to  allow 
both  parties  to  trade.  Accordingly,  both 
the  besiegers  and  besieged  set  oft  amicably 
to  the  vessel,  and,  having  completed  their 
bargains,  returned  to  resume  their  hostili- 
ties. A  very  amusing  scene  then  occurred. 
The  Taranakis,  who  were  the  besieged 
party,  had  much  the  best  of  the  trading, 
as  the>  possessed  a  large  quantity  of  dressed 
flax,  or  phormium,  and  exchanged  it  for  a 
ntity  of  tobacco. 


_-    ins! „„   g 

vp,  and  having  his  portrait  drawn  to 
Bond  to  the  Queen  ..t  England.  In  fact,  he 
was  so  deciatd  o;  tliis  point,  thut  he  reftised 
to  let  Mr.  Angas  leave  the  pah  i-  atil  the  po-- 
irait  was  completed.  The  portion  of  the 
pah  which  is  shown  in  the  illustration  gives 
a  good  idea  of  thir  kind  of  fortification,  the 
ctiiirmous  posts  with  thtir  circular  tops 
being  sunk  deeply  into  the  ground,  and 
BmaUer  posts  placed  bet\feen  ui^m;  a  hor- 


jjTow  tobacco  is  one  of  the  greatest  luxu- 
ries that  a  New  Zealander  can  possess;  and 
uni'ortunatsly  for  the  besieging  Waikatos, 
they  had  no  tobacco.    They  had,  however, 
a  plentiful  supply  of  muskets,  which  they 
had  taken  in  an  attack  upoii  another  pah, 
while  the  besieged  were  very  shovt  cf  arMs. 
So  they  struck  up  a  trade,  the  Waikatos 
being  so  inordinately  desirous  of  obtaining 
tobacco,  that  they  gave  in  return  fire-arras 
which  wer  j  to  be  ti-rned  against  tl.emselves. 
"  The  scene,"  writes  Mr.  Angus,  "  as  dt- 
scribed  by  an  fye-vitncss,  must  have  been 
most  ludicrous.     The  Waikato  thrust  his 
m".Eket  half-way  through  the  jialisadcs  of 
the  pah,  retaining,  liowever,  a  firm  hold  of 
his  property  until  the  intending  purchaser 
from  within  thrust  out  in  a  sinular  manner 
the  quantity  of  tobacco  he  was  willin^  to 
give;  neither  party  relinquishing  his  hold 
of  the  property  about  to  change  hands  until 
he  had  secured  a  firm  grasp  of  that  offered 
by  his  adversary." 

The  chief  who  led  the  AVaikatos  on  this 
occasion  was  the  celebrated  Wiremu  Nera, 
or  William  Taylor;  the  former  name  being 
the  nearest  approa-^a  that  the  Maories  can 
make  to  the  proper  pronunciation.  His 
M.wi  name  was  T'i  Awaitaia,  and  he  was 
widtly  celebrated  for  his  dauntless  courage 
and  his  generalship  in  conuactfug  or  resist- 


I   ;^ 


LAW  OF  KETALTA.TION". 


861 


ing  an  attack.  Beinpr  closely  allied  with 
the  famous  chief  Te  it'hero-Wbero  (or  Po- 
tatau),  he  was  engaged  in  nearly  all  the 
combats  between  the  Waikatos  and  the 
Taranakis.  On  one  of  his  warlike  expedi- 
tions he  took  a  pah  containing  nearly  eigh- 
teen hundred  inhabitants,  and,  of  course, 
killed  nearly  all  of  them,  and  carried  the 
survivors  as  slaves  into  the  Waikato  dis- 
ti-ict, 

I  atterly,  he  embraced  Christianity,  and 
became  as  zealous  in  the  cause  of  peace  as 
he  had  been  in  that  of  war.  When  he 
became  a  Christian,  Te  Where- Whero  was 
80  well  aware  of  his  value  as  a  warrior,  that 
he  exclaimed  to  those  who  brought  him  the 
1  ews,  •'  I  have  lost  my  righ ,  arml  " 

Although  repulsed  on  this  occasion  by 
the  three  guns  taken  from  the  wrecked  sh.p, 
the  Waikatos  were  not  discouraged,  and 
made  a  second  attack.  The  Taranakis,  how- 
ever, had  seen  too  much  of  Waikato  cour- 
age to  risk  a  second  siege,  and  so  quietly 
made  off,  some  two  thousand  in  number, 
accompanied  by  the  Europeans  who  had 
served  the  guns  fur  them.  The  latter  very 
rightly  spiked  the  guns  when  they  left  the 
pah,  so  that  when  the  Waikatos  came  again 
and  took  the  pah,  they  found  it  deserted, 
and  the  guns  useless  to  the  captors. 

The  Taranakis  lived  in  deadly  fear  of  the 
powerful  and  warlike  Waikatos,  and,  but  for 
the  love  which  they  felt  toward  their  native 
country,  would  have  fled,  and  left  the  con- 
querors to  take  quiet  possession.  1  'hey  were 
even  obliged  to  have  their  plantations  in 
the  bush,  where  none  but  th^  owner  could 
find  them;  for  they  feared,  and  with  reason, 
that  if  their  dreaded  enemies  could  discover 
tlie  sources  whence  their  provisions  were 
obtained,  they  would  destroy  the  whole 
plantation,  and  leave  their  victims  to  starve. 
They  were  in  such  a  state  of  nervous  alarm 
about  a  suspected  invasion  by  their  power- 
ful neighbors,  that  on  one  occasion,  when  a 
fire  was  seen  in  the  distance,  every  one  took 
it  for  granted  to  b*^  a  fire  lighted  by  the 
Waikatos,  and  in  consequence  every  one 
kept  awake  all  night,  ready  to  give  the 
o-larm  at  the  first  unwonted  sight  or  sound. 

Among  the  New  Zealanders  is  a  custom 


of  retaliation  which  is  found  with  but  little 
variation  in  many  parts  of  the  vorld.  If 
blood  has  been  shed,  the  friends  of  the  dead 
man  issue  from  the  pah,  with  the  drtarmi- 
nation  of  killing  the  nrst  person' whom  they 
may  happen  to  meet.  Should  he  belong  to 
an  inimical  tribe,  so  much  the  better;"  should 
he  belong  to  the  same  tribe,  so  much  tht 
worse;  for  in  either  case  he  is  killed.  On 
such  an  occasion  one  of  the  avengers  would 
be  bound  to  kill  his  own  brother,  should  he 
happen  to  be  the  first  man  who  came  in  the 
way  of  the  party. 

Such  an  exercise  of  vengeance  is  rather 
an  inconvenient  one  to  those  who  are 
engaged  in  it;  for  they  are  forbidden  the 
use  of  their  ordinary  comfoits,  they  may 
not  eat  any  food  except  that  which  is  indig- 
enous to  New  Zealand,  and,  above  all,  they 
are  not  allowed  to  smoke.  When,  therefore 
they  have  been  unable  to  find  any  human 
being  whom  they  can  sacrifice,  the  aid  of 
the  priest,  or  tohunga,  is  called  in.  He 
pulls  up  a  tuft  of  grass,  and,  after  repeating 
one  of  the  many  incantations  which  abound 
in  New  Zealand  lore,  and  of  which  neither 
the  hearers  nor  the  reciter  understand  one 
word  in  ten,  he  throws  the  grass  into  the 
nearest  stream,  in  token  that  the  avengers 
are  released  from  their  vow.  Blood,  how- 
ever, must  still  be  shed;  but  after  this  cere- 
mony has  been  performed,  the  blood  of  any 
Living  thing,  even  though  it  be  a  bird,  is 
held  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  traditional  cus- 
tom of  the  Maori  race. 

Elaborate  rites  closely  allied  with  this 
ceremony  are  employed  both  before  and 
after  battle;  but,  as  they  belong  rather  to 
the  subject  of  religion  than  of  war,  we  will 
postpone  them  for  the  present. 

As  the  New  Zealanders  know  that  it  is  a 
point  of  military  honor  combined  with  per- 
sonal giatiflcation  to  eat  the  bodies  of  slaia 
enemies,  they  are  equally  desirous  of  secur- 
ing the  iwdies  of  their  foes  and  of  carrying 
off  those  who  have  fallen  on  their  own  side; 
and  in  many  instances  the  anxiety  to  save 
those  who  have  fallen  has  caused  others  to 
share  the  same  fate  while  attempting  to 
carry  off  their  dead  or  wounded  comrades. 


I 


CHAPTER  LXXXiy. 


NEW  Z:E ALAND— Continued. 


CAKOES. 


THK  CANOB,  •^VD  ITS  trSES  IN  PEACE  AND  WAB  — THE  COMMOK  TRABWO  CAKOE  — 91CILI-  OF  THE  BOAT- 
MEN—THE LARGE  WAB  CANOES,  AND  MODE  OP  BUILDINO  THEM  —  DECOBATIONS  OP  THE  CANOES 
—  SKILFUL  CARVINGS  — THIS  THEORY  OF  THE  VAHIOUB  PATTERNS- NAMES  OP  CANOES  — MANAGE- 
MENT OF  THE  SAIL— CANOE  SONGS- A  COMPLETE  BOAT-LOAD  — MODE  OF  LANDING  —  SHAPE  OF 
THE  PADDLES,  AND  MODE  OF  USING  THEM- CARVDJa  TOOLS  —  SUPPOSED  COMPASSES. 


Wak  is  carried  on  quite  as  much  by  water 
as  by  land,  and  a  chief  who  knows  the  prin- 
ciples of  good  generalship  always  uses  the 
sea  as  well  as  the  land  to  serve  as  a  basis 
for  his  attack.  For  this  reason  the  Maories 
take  care  to  build  their  pahs  in  spots  where 
they  are  well  defended  from  attack  both  on 
the  seaward  and  the  landward  side.  Some 
of  them  are  on  the  very  verge  of  high- 
water  mark,  while  others  are  perched  on 
the  tops  of  cliffs,  the  base  of  which  is 
washed  by  the  waves. 
One  of  the  most  picturesque  of  these  is  a 

Eah  situate  near  Mount  Egniont,  and  known 
y  the  name  of  the  Waimate  Pah.  There 
is  a  cliff  that  rises  perpendicularly  some  four 
or  five  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
water  which  laves  its  foot,  and  on  the  very 
summit  of  this  cliff  is  situated  the  pah  in 
question.  It  is  of  considerable  size,  con- 
taining many  houses  and  is  fortified  with 
the  usual  wooden  fence.  In  order  to  render 
it  as  nearly  as  possible  impregnable,  the 
only  approach  is  by  a  very  narrow  and  very 
steep  path,  that  cannot  be  ascended  except 
by  people  who  have  strong  heads,  the  path 
being  so  narrow,  so  steep,  and  so  dangerous 
that  two  men  coulc'  Jefend  it  against  fifty. 

In  his  warlike  expeditions  E'llongi  made 
great  use  of  his  canoes,  taking  them  inland 
as  far  as  thev  would  go,  and  then  having 
them  dragged  over  land  to  the  next  river. 

These  canoes  play  so  important  a  part  in 
the  life  of  a  New  Zealander,  whether  in 
war  or  peace,  that  they  require  a  detailed 
description.  The  canoes  are  of  several 
kinds,  according  to  the  work  which  thev 
have  to  perform.  The  simplest  form  of  the 
New  Zealander's  canoe  is  little  more  than  a 


trunk  of  a  tree  hollowed  into  a  sort  of 
trough.  Being  incapable  of  withstanding 
rough  weather,  this  canoe  is  only  used  upon 
rivers.  Some  of  these  canoes,  which  are 
called  by  the  name  of  kaupapas,  are  from 
forty  to  fifty  feet  in  length,  and  in  the  wit  est 
part  not  exceeding  a  yard  in  "beam."    A 

glentiful  supply  of  fern  leaves  is  laid  at  the 
ottom  of  thfe  canoe,  and  upon  tliese  the 
passengers  recline.  Canoes  of  a  similar 
character,  called  tiwai,  are  used  in  the 
inland  lakes,  and  sit  so  low  in  the  water 
that  they  appear  to  have  no  gunwale. 

Owing  to  their  want  of  beam,  these  canoes 
are  as  easily  upset  as  the  slight  skiffs  in 
which  races  are  rowed  on  English  rivers. 
The  agile  Maori,  accustomed  from  child- 
hood to  balance  himself  in  these  crank  ves- 
sels, traverses  them  with  ease  and  security, 
but  an  European  gencrallv  upsets  four  or  five 
canoes  before  he  learns  how  to  enter  or 
leave  them  properly.  The  natives  manage 
these  canoes  with  wonderful  skill,  and,  appa- 
rently regardless  of  the  risk  of  capsizmg 
the  canoe,  dash  their  paddles  into  the  water 
with  furious  energy,  driving  up  spray  on  all 
sides,  and  making  the  canoo  and  its  rowers 
look  at  a  distance  like  bi^me  gigantic  centi- 
pede dashing  through  the  water. 

The  vessels,  however,  of  which  the  Mao- 
ries are  most  fond,  and  on  which  they  ex- 
pend the  most  labor,  are  the  large  canoes  in 
which  the  warriors  embark  when  on  a  cam- 
paign. Those  canoes  are  made  from  the  cow- 
rie pine  (the  same  tree  which  furnishes  the 
aromatic  gum  already  mentioned);  and  the 
tree  being  a  very  large  one*  the  natives  are 
able  to  make  their  canoes  of  co'-  iderable 
size.    Some  of  these  canoes  ar        ward  of 


(852) 


THE  WAR  CANOE. 


863 


eighty  feet  in  length  and  in  consequence  are 
able  to  carry  a  ^reat  number  of  warriors. 

They  are  built  in  rather  an  elaborate 
manner.  First  the  trough-like  vessel  is 
formed  from  the  tree  trunk;  and  if  it  were 
left  in  that  state,  it  would  be  simply  a  very 
large  kaupapa.  As,  however,  it  is  intended 
for  sea  voyages,  and  may  have  to  endure 
rough  weather;  it  is  much  wider  in  propor- 
tion than  the  boat  whicli  is  only  used  on 
rivers,  and  is,  moreover,  rendered  more  sea- 
worthy by  gunwales.  These  are  made  sep- 
arately, and  are  lashed  firmly  to  the  sides  of 
the  boat  by  the  ordinary  flax  ropes. 

Both  the  head  and  stern  of  the  canoo  are 
decorated  with  carving,  exactly  similar  in 
character  to  the  specimens  of  native  art 
which  have  already  been  described.  They 
are  pierced  with  the  most  elaborate  patterns, 
which  have  as  their  basis  the  contour  of  the 
human  countenance  and  the  semi-spiral 
curve.  Perhaps  a  single  canoe  head  will 
have  fifty  or  sixty  human  faces  on  it,  each 
with  the  tongue  protruded,  with  the  cheeks 
an  1  forehead  covered  with  tattooed  lines,  and 
with  a  pair  of  goggle  eyes  made  of  the  halio- 
tis  shell.  The  mode  which  a  native  adopts 
when  carving  these  elaborate  patterns  is  as 
follows: 

After  shaping  out  the  general  form  of  the 
article  to  be  carvad,  he  fixes  on  some  part 
which  he  thinks  will  be  suitable  for  the 
purpose,  and  carves  a  human  head  upon  it. 
When  this  is  completed,  he  pitches  upon  a 
second  spot  at  some  distance  from  the  first, 
and  carves  another  head,  proceeding  in  this 
way  until  he  has  carved  as  many  heads  as 
he  thinks  the  pattern  will  require. 

Ho  next  furnishes  the  heads  with  bodies 
and  limbs,  which  are  always  represented  in 
a  very  squat  and  ungainly  manner,  and  fills 
in  the  vacant  spaces  with  the  beautiful 
curved  lines  which  he  loves  so  well  to  draw 
and  carve.  The  minute  elaboration  of  some 
of  these  war  canoes  is  so  intricate  that  it 
bafflos  all  power  of  description,  and  nothing 
but  a  well  executed  photograph  could  give  a 
correct  idea  of  the  beauty  of  the  workman- 
ship. It  is  a  marvellous  example  of  the  de- 
velopment of  art  under  difficulties.  It  is 
quite  unique  in  its  character,  so  that  no  one 
who  is  acquainted  with  the  subject  can  for  a 
moment  mistake  a  piece  of  New  Zealand 
carving  for  that  of  any  other  country. 

Besides  carving  the  canoes,  the  Maori 
paints  them  with  vermilion  in  token  of  their 
warlike  object,  and  decorates  them  pro- 
fusely with  bunches  of  feathers  and  dog's 
hair,  just  like  the  tufts  which  are  attached 
to  the  patu.  When  the  canoes  are  not 
wanted,  they  arc  drawn  up  on  shore,  and  are 
thatched  in  order  to  save  them  from  the 
weather. 

Like  more  civilized  nations,  the  New  Zea- 
iauders  give  names  to  their  canoes,  and 
seem  to  (lelight  in  selecting  the  most  sono- 
rous titles  that  they  can  invent    For  ex- 


ample, one  canoe  is  called  Maratuhai,  i.  e. 
Devouring  Fire;  and  otherts  have  names 
that  coincide  almost  exactly  with  our  In- 
vincibles,  Terribles,  Thunderers,  and  the 
like. 

These  boats  are  furnished  with  a  very  re- 
markable sail  made  of  the  raupo  rush.  It  is 
small  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  vessel, 
is  triangular  in  shape,  and  is  so  arranged  that 
it  can  be  raised  or  lowered  almost  in  a  mo- 
ment They  are  better  sailors  than  would  be 
imagined  from  their  appearance,  and  run 
wonderfully  close  to  the  wind. 

Sometimes  from  fifty  to  sixty  men  paddle 
in  one  of  these  war  canoes,  singin"  songs  in 
time  to  the  stroke,  and  guided  both  in  song 
and  stroke  by  a  conductor  who  stands  in  the 
middle  of  the  canoe,  prompting  the  words  of 
the  song,  and  beatin"  time  for  the  paddlers 
with  a  staff  which  he  holds  in  his  hand. 
Owing  to  the  power  of  the  water  in  reflecting 
sound,  the  measured  chant  of  the  paddle- 
song  can  be  heard  on  a  river  long  before  the 
canoe  comes  in  sight. 

Mr.  Angas  gives  an  interesting  account 
of  a  journey  in  a  Maori  canoe.  After  men- 
tioning that  the  vessel  was  so  deeply  laden 
that  its  sides  were  not  more  than  two  inches 
above  the  water,  he  proceeds  as  follows: 
"  The  paddles  were  plied  with  great  spirit: 
the  exertions  of  the  natives  being  stimulated 
by  the  animated  shouting  song  kept  up  in- 
cessantly by  the  one  or  other  of  the  p.arty. 
At  length  the  splashing  was  so  violent  that 
we  became  nearly  drenched,  and  on  request- 
ing the  Maori  before  us  to  throw  less  water 
in  our  faces,  he  replied  with  a  proverb  com- 
mon among  them,  that '  No  one  is  dry  who 
travels  with  the  Waikatos,'  meaning  that  tlie 
people  of  this  tribe  excel  all  others  in  the 
speed  and  dexterity  with  which  they  man- 
age their  canoes. 

"Our  natives  were  in  excellent  spirits. 
They  had  been  on  a  long  journey  to  Auck- 
land, where  they  had  seen  the  pafce/ut  (white 
man,  or  stranger)  in  his  settlement,  and 
had  witnessed  many  sights  of  civilization 
to  which  they  were  previously  strangers. 
They  had  also  purchased  articles  of  Euro- 

Eean  manufacture,  and  longing  to  return 
ome  to  the  peaceful  banks  of  the  Waipa, 
to  present  them  to  their  friends  as  tokens 
of  their  regard.  Their  wild,  deafening 
songs,  with  their  heads  all  undulating  at 
every  stroke,  the  contortions  of  their  eyes, 
and  their  bare,  tawny  shoulders,  finely  de- 
veloping their  muscles  as  they  all  dashed 
their  paddles  simultaneously  into  the  water, 
rendered  the  scene  at  once  novel  an^  ani- 
mating. 

"The  canoe  songs  are  generally  impro- 
vised, and  frequently  have  reference  to  pass- 
ing objects.  Such  ejaculations  as  the  fol- 
lowing were  uttered  ny  our  comp.aniQns  at 
the  higcst  pitch  of  their  voices, '  x-uil  away! 
Pull  away!  Pull  away!'  'Dig  into  tnc- 
water!'    'Break   your  backs,'   &c.    From 


8M 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


P 

i 


the  prow  of  one  of  the  canoes  a  native  flute 
sounded  iili.n lively.  This  ia  a  very  rude 
and  inipert'ect  instrument,  and  they  do  not 
play  it  with  any  degree  of  skill,  it  having 
only  two  or  three  notes."  The  flute  in  ques- 
tion is  that  wliich  is  made  of  human  bone, 
and  has  been  described  on  a  previous  page. 
It  is  played  by  placing  the  orifice  against 
one  nostril,  and  stopping  the  other  with  the 
finger. 

When  the  natives  proceed  on  a  journey  in 
their  canoes,  they  are  so  sure  of  their  own 
skill  and  management  that  they  overload 
them  to  a  degree  which  would  cause  an  im- 
mediate capsize  in  most  countries.  One 
chief,  named  Wirihona,  who  was  travelling 
with  his  family,  afforded  a  curious  example 
of  overloading  a  boat  with  impunity.  The 
canoe  was  delicate  and  frail,  and  in  the  bow 
sat  a  little  boy  with  a  small  fire  kept  be- 
tween two  pieces  of  bark.  In  the  fore  part 
of  the  canoe,  where  it  was  narrow,  sat  the 
younger  children,  the  adult  members  of  the 
family  being  placed  in  the  middle,  where  the 
boat  was  widest.  Toward  the  stern  came 
another  batch  of  young  children,  and  on  the 
stern,  which  projects  over  the  water,  sat 
Wirihona  himself,  steering  the  vessel  with 
his  paddle. 

The  canoe  in  which  were  Mr.  Angas  and 
his  companions  was,  as  the  reader  may  rec- 
ollect, so  laden  that  her  gunwale  barely  rose 
two  inches  above  the  surface.  As  long  as 
they  were  paddling  along  the  narrower  and 
more  sheltered  parts  of  the  river,  all  went 
smoothly  enough,  though  the  deeply-laden 
state  of  the  crank  boat  gave  cause  for  uneasi- 
ness. At  last,  however,  they  came  to  some 
wide  and  open  reaches  exposed  to  the  wind, 
and  had,  moreover,  to  cross  the  current  di- 
agonally. 

"  The  wind  blew  violently,  and  meeting 
the  current,  caused  an  unpleasant  sea  in  the 
middle  channel  of  the  river.  Our  heavily- 
laden  canoe  was  not  fitted  to  encounter  any- 
thing beyond  still  water;  and,  as  our  natives 
related  to  each  other  where  this  and  that 
canoe  were  upset,  they  dashed  their  paddles 
into  the  water  with  all  their  energy,  and 
our  bark  was  soon  in  the  midst  of  the  ter- 
rible current.  We  were  every  moment  in 
miminent  danger  of  being  swamped;  the 
water  rushed  in  on  both  sides;  and  nothing 
but  the  extreme  swiftness  with  which  we 
glided  through  the  current  prevented  us  from 
tilling. 

"  As  the  canoe  dashed  against  the  oppo- 
site shore,  our  natives  gave  a  loud  shout  and 
commenced  bailing  out  the  water,  which  we 
had  shipped  in  great  quantities,  with  a  tatmi 
or  scoop.  We  now  looked  anxiously  toward 
the  second  canoe,  and  watched  them  liter- 
ally pulling  for  their  lives,  splashing  and 
dashing  with  the  utmost  vehemence.  Tlie 
frail  ^ark  appeared  almost  swallowed  up  by 
the  angiy  Btream,  iiut  she  glided  securely 
through  it,  and  the  drenched  chief  and  his 


family  repeated  the  sound  of  welcome  to  the 
opposite  shore,  as  their  canoe  also  dashed  in 
siUety  against  its  banksJ' 

The  paddles  with  which  the  Maories  pro- 
pel their  canoes  are  curious-looking  imple- 
ments, and  are  so  formed  that  tlicy  will 
answer  almost  equally  well  as  paddles  or 
weapons.  Indeed,  it  is  not  unlikely  that 
their  peculiar  shape  was  given  to  thtm  for 
this  very  reason.  In  the  illustration  No.  1, 
on  p.^e  881.  are  seen  two  exiimples  of  the 
New  Zealand  paddle,  both  being  drawn  from 
specimens  in  my  collection,  ancTbeing  useful 
as  showing  the  typical  form  of  the  imple- 
ment 

They  are  rather  more  than  five  feet  in 
length,  and  have  very  long  blades  which  are 
leaf-shaped  -and  sharply  pointed  at  the  tirs, 
so  that  a  thrust  from  one  of  these  paddles 
would  bo  quite  as  dangerous  as  if  it  were 
made  with  the  butt  of  the  patu.  The  blade, 
too,  is  sharp  at  the  edges,  and,  being  made  of 
rather  heavy  wood,  is  capable  of  siijitting  a 
man's  skull  as  effectually  as  if  it  had  been 
the  short  merai. 

In  one  of  these  paddles  the  handle  is 
curved  in  a  peculiar  manner,  while  in  Ihe 
other  it  is  straight,  and  ibinis  a  continuation 
of  the  blade.  The  foimer  of  these  imple- 
ments is  quite  plain,  and  even  at  the  end  of 
the  handle  there  is  no  carving,  while  the 
latter  is  liberally* adorned  with  patterns  both 
on  the  blade  and  handle,  and  at  their  junc- 
tion there  is  the  inevitable  human  l^guie 
with  the  protruding  tongue,  Ihe  goggle  eyes, 
and  the  generally  aggressive  expression  that 
characterizes  all  such  figures.  None  of  the 
New  Zealand  paddles  are  adorned  with  the 
minute  and  elaborate  carving  which  is  found 
upon  the  paddles  of  several  of  the  Polynesian 
islands.  The  carving  of  the  New  Zca- 
landers  is  of  a  far  different  and  much  bolder 
character ;  and,  instead  of  covering  his  pad- 
dle with  small  patterns  repeated  some  hun- 
dreds of  times,  the  Maori  carves  nothing 
but  bold,  sweeping  curves  and  imitations  or 
the  human  face. 

As  far  as  is  known,  the  Maori  carver 
makes  no  use  of  measuring  tools,  doing  all 
his  work  by  the  eye  alone.  He  does  not 
even  use  compasses  in  describing  his  circles; 
.and  in  consequence,  whenever  he  carves,  as 
is  often  the  case,  a  number  of  concentric  cir- 
cles on  a  rafter  or  beam,  the  circles  are  quite 
undeserving  of  the  name,  and  always  tend 
rather  to  an  irregular  oval  form. 

There  is  in  my  collection  a  remarkable 
instrument,  presented  to  me  by  C.  Ileaton, 
Esq.  It  bears  a  Jabel  with  the  following 
inscription,  "  A  New  Zealand  Compass  by 
which  the  natives  turn  the  volute  in  their 
carving."  In  shape  it  resembles  one  half 
of  a  parenthesis  ^ — ~^,  and  is  armed  at  each 
point  with  a  shark's  tooth,  which  is  inserted 
into  a  groove,  and  tlinn  lulled  firmlv  with  a 
cord  passing  through  holes  bored'  in  the 
tooth  aud  through  the  semicircular  handle. 


Itisn 

Havir 

reasoi 

and  tl 

land  c 

which 

been 

showc 

lers  w 

land. 

None 

Chrisi 

manu 

about 

island 

inforr 

whost 

illuatr 

New; 

such 


SUPPOSED  COMPASSES. 


855 


It  is  made  of  the  same  wood  as  the  paddle. 
Having,  as  I  have  already  stated,  abundant 
reason  to  distrust  the  accuracy  of  labels, 
and  thinking  that  the  curves  of  New  Zea- 
land carving  did  not  possess  the  regularity 
which  would  accompany  them  had  they 
been  sketched  out  by  an  instrument,  I 
showed  the  tool  to  several  observant  travel- 
lers who  have  spent  much  time  in  New  Zea- 
land, and  asked  them  if  they  recognized  it. 
None  of  thorn  had  seen  the  implement  Mr. 
Christie,  who  gave  much  attention  to  the 
manufactures  of  New  Zealand,  knew  nothing 
about  it,  and  Mr.  Angas,  who  visited  the 
island  for  the  express  purpose  of  collecting 
information  respecting  the  Maories,  and  to 
whose  pen  I  am  indebted  for  nearly  all  the 
illustrations  of  the  life  and  manners  of  the 
New  Zealanders,  had  never  seen  or  heard  of 
such  a  tool.    I  possess  many  specimens  of 


New  Zealand  carvine,  and  have  seen  many 
others,  together  with  a  great  number  of 
photographs,  and  in  no  case  have  I  noticed 
a  single  circle  or  portion  of  a  circle  that  was 
regular  enough  to  have  been  drawn  by  the 
aid  of  compasses. 

I  even  doubt  whether  this  article  was 
made  in  New  Zealand  at  all,  and  am  inclined 
to  think  that  it  belongs  to  the  Tonga  or  the 
Kingsmill  Islands.  As  to  its  use,  I  have  no 
opinion. 

In  propelling  these  canoes,  the  New  Zea- 
lander  holds  his  paddle  in  both  hands,  anc* 
always  keeps  it  on  the  same  side  of  the  ves- 
sel, being  balanced  by  a  companion  on  the 
other  side.  He  employs  no  rowlock,  but 
uses  one  hand  as  a  fulcrum  near  the  blade, 
while  the  other  holds  the  handle  nearer 
the  tip.  The  boat  is  steered  by  means  of  a 
large  paddle  in  the  stern. 


49 


CHAPTER    LXXXV. 

NEW  ZEALAND— Continued. 


RELIOION. 

THR  GOOD  AND  KVII,  INFLPItNCBS-THB  I,K.ARD  ATtTAS-ALARM  OF  THK  CHIEF-MAOBI  PRAYKRS- 
WFFICITLTV  IN  TR.*N8I^TIVa  TUKM-THB  SACHKD  LANOUAOE-THK  T0HUNOA8,  OR  PRIESTS - 
BELIBF  IN  THE  FUTVUE  STATE -THE  SACRKD  BRANCH- THE  MALEVOLENT  SPIRITS -HAUNTED 
MOUNTAINS -THE  TIKIS,  OB  SUPPOSED  IDOLS  OF  TUB  MA0RIK8-S0ME  GIOANTIO  WOODEN 
TIKIS -BELIEF  IN  WITCHCRAFT  -  FATE  OF  A  WITCH  -  COUNTRY  OF  THE  WIZARDS  -  INCANTA- 
TION OVER  THK  SICK— MAORI  ANATOMISTS. 


We  now  come  to  the  religion  of  the  Maorics. 
This  is  a  curious  mixture  of  simplicity  and 
elaboration,  having  the  usual  superstitions 
conmion  to  all  savage  tribes,  and  being 
complicated  with  the  remarkable  system  of 
"  tapu,"  or  "  laboo,"  as  the  word  is  some- 
times spelt.    • 

Of  real  religion  they  have  no  idea,  and,  so 
far  as  is  known,  even  their  superstitions 
lack  that  infusion  of  sublimity  which  dis- 
tinguishes the  religious  system  of  many 
savage  nacions.  They  have  a  sort  of  Indefi- 
nite belief  in  a  good  and  evil  influence;  the 
former  going  by  the  generic  name  of  Atua, 
and  the  latter  of  Wairua.  Now,  Atua  is  a 
word  that  has  a  peculiar  significance  of  its 
own.  It  may  signify  the  Divine  Essence, 
or  it  may  be  applied  to  any  object  which  is 
considered  as  a  visible  representative  of  that 
essence. 

Thus,  if  a  Maori  wishes  to  speak  of  God, 
he  would  use  the  word  Atua.  But  he  would 
equally  apply  it  to  a  lizard,  a  bird,  a  sun-ray, 
or  a  cloud.    There  is  one  species  of  lizard. 


of  a  lovely  green  color,  called  by  the  natives 
kakariki,  which  is  held  in  the  greatest  ven- 
eration as  a  living  representative  of  divinity, 
and  is  in  consequence  always  dreaded  as  an 
atua.  The  belief  which  the  natives  hold  on 
this  subject  is  well  shown  by  an  anecdote 
told  by  Mr.  Angas. 

"The  following  incident  will  show  how 
deeply  the  belief  in  witchcraft  and  the  sup- 
posed influence  of  the  atuas  obtains  among 
those^who  are  still  heathens.  The  mission- 
ary nas  shown  some  small  green  lizards 
preserved  in  a  phial  of  spirits,  Muriwenua 


(8S6; 


and  another  man  being  in  the  room.  We 
forgot  at  the  moment  that  the  little  crea- 
tures in  the  phial  were  atuas,  or  gods, 
according  to  the  superstitious  belief  of 
Maori  polytheism,  and  inadvertently  showed 
them  to  the  man  at  the  table. 

"  No  sooner  did  he  perceive  the  atuas  than 
his  Herculean  frame  shrank  back  as  from  a 
mortal  wound,  and  his  face  displayed  signs 
of  extreme  horror.    The  old  chief,  on  dis- 
covering the  cause,  crijd  out,  'I  shall  die! 
I  shall  die  I'  and  crawled  away  on  his  hands 
and  knees;  while  the  other  man  stood  as  a 
defence  botween  the  chief  and  (he  atuns, 
chancing  his  position  so  as  to  form  a  kind  of 
shield,  till  Muriwenua  was  out  of  the  influ- 
lenco  of  their  supposed  power.    It  was  a 
dangerous  mistake  to  exhibit  these  atuas,  for 
the  chief  is  very  old,  and  in  the  course  of  na- 
ture cannot  live  long, and,  if  he  dies  shortly, 
his  death  will  certainly  be  ascribed  to  the 
baneful  sight  of  the  lizard  gods,  and  I  shall 
be    accused  of  makutu  or  witchcraft."    In 
connection  with  this  superstition  about  the 
lizard,  the  same  traveller  mentions  a  curious 
notion  which  prevails  regarding  a  spider. 

"  On  the  beach  of  the  west  coa.st  is  found 
a  small,  black,  and  very  venomous  spider, 
called  katipo  by  the  natives.  Its  bite  is  ex- 
ceedingly painful,  and  even  dangerous,  and 
the  natives  think  that  if  the  katipo  bites  a 
man  and  escapes,  the  man  will  die.  But  if 
he  contrives  to  catch  the  spider,  and  makes 
a  circle  of  fire  round  it  so  that  it  perishes  in 
the  flames,  then  the  man  recovers  as  the 
spider  dies." 
The  extent  to  which  the  imagination  of 


MAORI  PBAYERS. 


an 


the  natives  is  excited  by  their  fear  of  witch- 
craft is  scarcely  credible.  There  was  one 
woman  named  Eko,  who  was  the  most  cel- 
ebrated witch  of  the  Waikato  district.  She 
exercised  extraordinary  influence  over  the 
minds  of  the  people,  who  looked  upon  her  as 
a  superior  being.  On  one  occasion,  when 
angry  with  a  man,  she  told  him  that  she  had 
taken  out  his  heart.  The  man  entirely  be- 
lieved her,  and  died  from  sheer  terror. 

Ol)jects  which  they  cannot  understand  are 
often  considered  by  the  Maories  as  atuas. 
Thus  a  compass  is  an  atua,  because  it  points 
in  one  direction,  and  directs  the  traveller  by 
its  invisible  power.  A  barometer  is  an  atua, 
because  it  foretells  the  weather.  A  watch  is 
an  atua,  on  account  of  the  perpetual  ticking 
and  moving  of  the  hands.  Fire-arms  used  to 
be  atuas  until  they  came  into  common  use, 
and  lost  the  mystery  which  was  at  first  at- 
tached to  them. 

Yet  the  Maori  never  addresses  his  prayers 
to  any  of  these  visible  objects,  but  always  to 
the  invisible  Atua  of  whom  these  are  but  the 
representatives.  The  prayers  arc  almost 
entirely  made  by  the  priests  or  tohungas, 
and  are  a  set  form  of  words  known  only  to 
the  priests  and  those  whom  they  instruct. 
The  meaning  of  the  prayers  is  often  uncer- 
tain, owing  to  the  obsolete  words  which 
are  pi"ofusely  employed  in  them,  and  of 
which,  indeed,  the  prayer  almost  entirely 
consists.  Prayers,  or  incantations,  as  they 
may  perhaps  be  called  with  more  precision, 
are  made  on  almost  every  occasion  of  life, 
however  trivial,  and  whether  the  Maori 
desires  safety  in  a  battle,  a  favorable  wind 
when  on  the  water,  success  in  a  campaign, 
or  good  luck  in  fishing,  the  tohunga  is  called 
anon  to  repeat  the  appropriate  prayer. 
Many  of  these  prayers  or  incantations  have 
been  preserved  by  Dr.  Dieffcnbach  and 
others.  One  of  these  prayers,  which  can  be 
more  correctly  translated  than  many  of  them, 
is  uttered  at  the  otfering  of  a  pigeon.  It  is 
designated  as  "  A  prayer  that  the  pigeon  may 
be  pure,  that  it  may  be  very  fat:  when  the 
fire  burns,  the  prayer  is  said." 

"  When  it  is  lighted,  when  it  is  lighted,  the 
sacred  fire,  O  Tikil  When  it  burns  on  the 
sacred  mornin",  O  give,  O  give,  O  Tiki,  the 
fat  It  burns  for  thee  the  fat  of  the  pigeon; 
for  thee  the  fat  of  the  owl;  for  thee  the  fat  of 
the  parrot;  for  thee  the  fat  of  the  flycatcher; 
for  tliee  the  fat  of  the  thrush.  A  water  of 
eels;  where  is  its  spring?  Its  spring  is  in 
heaven;  sprinkle,  give,  be  it  poured  out." 

Offerings  of  food  are  common  rites  of 
Maori  native  worship,  and  offerings  are  made 
of  both  vegetable  and  animal  food.  It  is 
much  to  be  regretted  that  very  many  of  the 
ancient  religious  rites  of  the  Now  Zealanders 
have  perished,  and  that  they  have  been  en- 
tirely forgotten  by  the  present  generation. 
Sucii  a  lols  as  this  can  never  be  replaced, 
and  the  fact  that  it  has  occurred  ought  to 
make  ub  the  more  careful  in  rescuing  from 


speedy  oblivion  the  expiring  religious  cus- 
toms of  other  uncivilized  nations. 

Prayers,  such  as  have  been  mentioned, 
are  handed  down  by  the  tohungas  or  priesU 
from  father  to  son,  and  the  youths  undergo 
a  long  course  of  instruction  before  they  can 
take  rank  among  the  priests.  Dr.  Dieffcn- 
bach was  once  fortunate  enough  to  witness 
a  portion  of  this  instruction.  "I  was  present 
at  one  of  the  lessons.  An  old  priest  wiis 
sitting  under  a  tree,  and  at  his  feet  was  a 
boy,  his  relative,  who  listened  attentively 
to  the  repetition  of  certain  words,  which 
seemed  to  have  no  meaning,  but  which  it 
must  have  required  a  good  memory  to  retain 
in  their  due  order.  At  the  old  tohunga's 
side  was  part  of  a  man's  skull  filled  with 
water.  Into  this  from  time  to  time  he  dipped 
a  green  branch,  which  he  moved  over  the 
boy's  head.  At  my  approach  the  old  man 
smiled,  as  if  to  say, '  See  how  clever  I  am,' 
and  continued  his  abracadabra. 

"  I  have  been  assured  by  the  missionaries 
that  many  of  these  prayers  have  no  meaniuj,' ; 
but  this  I  am  greatly  inclined  to  doubt.  The 
words  of  the  prayers  are  perhaps  the  remains 
of  a  language  now  forgotten:  or,  what  is  more 
probable,  wo  find  here  what  has  existed 
among  most  of  the  nations  of  antiquity,  even 
the  most  civilized,  viz:  that  religious  mys- 
teries were  confined  to  a  certain  class  of 
men,  who  kept  them  concealed  from  the  pro- 
fanum  vul/us.  or  communicated  only  such 
portions  of  them  as  they  thought  fit. 

"They  often  had  a  sacred  symbolic  lan- 
guage, the  knowledge  of  which  was  confined 
to  the  priesuhood,  as,  for  instance,  the 
Egyptian  hieroglyphics  and  the  Sanscrit;  or, 
if  we  look  nearer  home,  we  find  the  religion 
of  Thor,  Odin,  and  Freya  enveloped  m  a 
poetical  my  thos,  which  has  for  its  foundation 
deep  and  grand  philosophical  conceptions  of 
morals  and  ethics." 

It  is  a  rather  curious  fact  that,  contrary  to 
the  usual  custom  of  heathen  priests,  the 
tohungas  did  not  oppose  the  Christian  mis- 
sionaries, but  were  among  the  first  to  receive 
the  new  religion.  Some  of  them  seem  to 
have  received  it  too  hastily  and  without 
sufllcient  knowledge  of  its  principles,  as  wc 
see  from  the  miserable  travesty  of  Chris- 
tianity which  has  sprung  up  of  late  years 
among  the  Maories,  and  which  is  in  New 
Zealand  what  the  system  of  Taeping  is  in 
China. 

The  priests  are,  as  a  rule,  the  most  expert 
artists  and  woodcarvers  in  the  country;  so 
that  the  word  "  tohunga"  is  often  applied  by 
the  natives  to  a  man  who  is  skilful  in  any 
art,  rio  matter  whether  he  be  a  priest  or  not 
The  illustration  No.  1,  on  the  860th  page, 
is  a  portrait  of  a  very  celebrated  tohunga, 
taken  by  Mr.  Angas  in  1844.  His  name  was 
Te  Ohu.  The  portrait  was  obtained  during 
a  great  meeting  of  cliiofH  at  Ahuahu.  To 
Ohu  distinguished  himself  greatly  on  tliis 
occasion,  running  about  after  the  fashion  of 


H 


; 


MS 


KEW  ZEALAND. 


Maori  orntora,  nhnkinjir  IiIm  long  nii'I  grix/.Uid 
lo(;kH  tVoin  sidu  to  Hido,  HUiinping  i\iriouMly 
on  tliu  K>'<»«>*l<  Hixl  ultoHng  IUn  vpvucit  in  u 
sinKuliirly  duup  and  HonurouH  voluu. 

Ill  till)  biivltKround  of  tlio  Hkutuli  may  be 
BOOH  two  roiiiarkublo  nrlicIi'H.  Thn  oim, 
whiib  Ih  thu  halt' of  aounoo,  stuck  upright  ill 
tho  (ground,  nuirks  tho  grnvo  of  a  diH!oaMi>d 
v\\M\  and  tho  othor  in  u  polo,  on  whioh  arc 
hung  a  calubanh  of  water  and  ii  buNkot  of  food, 
with  whirh  tho  spirit  of  tho  deadcnu  icfroHh 
hiinsolf  when  ho  ruturim  to  viHit  tho  acono  of 
I>is  lifotimo.  Hoinotimos  a  diiih  of  eookod 
pigeons  is  added;  and  in  onoeaMo  n  niodol  of 
n  canoe,  with  its  sail  and  paddles,  wiw  placed 
on  tho  tomb,  as  »  convovaneo  for  the  mouI  of 
tho  departed  when  ho  'wished  to  cross  the 
waters  which  lead  to  tho  eternal  abodes  of 
tho  spirit. 

Concerning  tho  sUito  of  tho  spirit  after 
tho  ileath  of  the  body  tho  Maories  seem  to 
have  very  vajfue  ideiis.  Tho  sum  of  their 
notions  on  this  siibfoct  is  as  follows:  —  They 


believe  that  the  spirit  of  man  is  imtuort4i., 
ftnd  that  when  ii,  lenvos  tho  bodv  it  goes  to 
the  Ucinga,  or  place  of  dopmteil  spirits. 
Shooting  and  fulling  stars  are  thought  to  bo 
the  souls  of  men  going  to  this  place.  The 
entrance  to  the  lieinga  is  down  the  face  of 
n  rocky  cliir  at  Cai)e  Maria  Van  Dieinen. 
Lest  tho  spirit  should  hurt  itself  bv  falling 
down  this  precipice,  there  is  a  very'old  tree 
which  grows  there,  on  which  the  spirits  break 
their  fall.  One  jiarticular  branch  was  pointed 
out  as  being  the  jHU-tiuu  of  tho  tree  on  which 
tlie  spirits  alighted. 

One  of  the  niissionnries  cut  off  this  branch , 
and  in  consequence  tho  natives  do  not  re- 
gard it  with  quite  so  much  awe  as  they  did 
in  former  days.  Still  Dr.  DietVenbacti  re- 
marks that,  when  he  visited  tho  islands,  they 
hold  the  spot  in  great  veneration,  and  no't 
oven  tho  (Jliristian  natives  would  go  near  it. 
AH  8i)irita  do  not  enter  the  Ueinga  in  the 
same  manner,  tho.so  of  chiefs  a!<cei)iiiiig  flrat 
tho  upper  hfcavens,  where  they  leave  the 
left  eye,  which  becomes  a  now  star.  For 
this  reiwon,  if  a  chief  is  killed  in  war,  his 
loft;  eye  is  cnten  bv  the  chief  of  ihe  victori- 
ous party,  who  thinks  that  ho  has  thus  in- 
corporated into  his  own  being  the  courage, 
skin,  and  wisdom  of  the  dead  man. 

Siiirits  are  not  considered  as  imprisoned 
in  the  Ucinga,  but  are  able  to  leave  it  when 
they  please,  and  to  return  to  the  scone  of 
their  former  life.  They  can  also  hold  con- 
verse with  their  fk-iends  and  relatives,  but 
only  through  the  tohungaa.  Sometimes,  but 
very  rarely,  the  tohunga  boos  the  spirit;  and 
even  then  it  is  only  visible  as  a  sunbeam  or 
a  shadow.  The  voice  of  the  spirit  is  a  sort 
of  low  whistling  sound,  like  a  slight  broere, 
and  is  sometimes  heard  by  others  beside  the 
tohunga.  He,  however,  is  the  only  one  who 
can  understand  tho  mysterious  voice  and 
i"Mi  Interpret  tho  wishes  of  U)6  UcuU  U>  Uie 
living, 


As  to  tho  life  led  by  departed  spirits,  tho 
Muories  seem  to  have  no  idea;  neither  do 
thov  Hoem  to  care.  They  have  a  notion  that 
in  Ueinga  the  kumoras,  or  swii  I,  potatoes, 
abound;  but  beyond  that  tradition  they  ap- 
pear to  know  nothing. 

As  to  the  inalevolont  spirits,  or  wairuas, 
the  same  cloudy  indeniilteiiess  of  ideas 
seems  to  prevail.  The  word  wairua  sigui- 
llcs  either  the  soul  or  a  dream,  and  is  mostly 
used  to  signify  tho  spirit  of  simvo  deceased 
person  who  desires  to  act  nialevoleiilly 
toward  the  living.  Such  spirits  are  siiji- 
posed  to  haunt  certain  spots,  wliieh  uro 
in  consequence  avoided  by  the  New  Zea- 
lander.  Mountains  are  esju'cial  objects  of 
Ills  voiicialion,  and  those  which  aio  lofty 
enough  to  have  their  tops  covtrcii  with 
perjietui'l  snow  are  spceiiillv  feared.  Ho 
tlincicH  that  they  are  inhabited  by  strnngo 
and  monstrous  aninuils,  that  tierce'  birds  of 
huge  size  sit  continually  on  their  whitened 
tops,  and   that   every    breeze   which  blows 


IVom  thciu  is  the  voice  of  the  spirit  which 
haunts  it. 

Ill  consequence  of  these  superstitions,  tho 
natives  can  no  more  be  induced  to  usirciid 
one  of  these  mountains  than  to  apiuocch  a 
burial  ground.  They  have  a  curious  legend 
about  the  Tongariro  and  Mount  Egnioiit, 
«aying  that  they  were  originally  brother 
and  sister,  and  lived  together,  but  that  they 
afterward  quarrelled  anil  separated.  There 
is  another  strange  leiiend  of  a  sjjot  near 
Mount  Eginont.  Owing  to  the  nature  of 
the  ground,  a  strong  cluinical  action  is  con- 
stunlly  taking  jdace,  which  gives  out  great 
(juantitics  ot  sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas. 
The  natives  say  that  informer  days  an  Atua 
wa.s  drowned  near  the  spot,  anil  that  ever 
since  that  time  his  body  has  been  decompos- 
ing. 

As  to  the  idols  of  the  New  Zcalanders,  it 
is  very  doubtftil  whether  they  ever  existed. 
There  are,  it  is  true,  many  representations 
of  the  human  form,  which  are  jjopularly 
supposed  to  be  idols.  It  was  formerly  sup- 
posed  that  the  green  jade  ornaments,  called 
"tikis,"  which  are  worn  su-pended  from  tho 
neck,  were  idols;  but  it  is  now  known  that 
they  are  merely  ornaments,  deriving  their 
solo  value  from  being  handed  down  ftom 
one  generation  to  another. 

Three  examples  of  the  so-called  idols  are 
here  given.  One  of  Ihcm  is  remarkable  for 
its  gigantic  proportions  and  curious  shape. 
It  is  about  sixteen  feet  in  height,  and  in- 
stead of  consisting  of  a  single  humiin  figure, 
as  is  usually  the  ca.se,  the  enormous  block  of 
wood  is  carve<l  into  the  semblance  of  two 
figures,  one  above  the  other.  This  arrange- 
ment is  not  uncommon  in  New  Zealand,  and 
is  found  also  in  "Western  Africa.  I  possess 
a  walkiuff  staff  of  both  countries,  which  are 
composed  of  several  human  fljnires.  ench 
upon  ihe  other's  head.  Tho  New  Zeaiand 
staff  will  bo  presently  described  and  figured. 


itfl,  tho 
,licr  do 
on  tliut 
)tiktoeH, 
luy  up- 

nirimn, 
iileiiR 

inoHtly 

i)l(!iilly 

i'     Hllll- 

ili  mo 
V  Zcii- 
I'cU  of 
1   lofly 

i    Willi 

I.  IIu 
trniigo 
irds  uf 
liU'iiod 
blows 
vliich 

riH,  tlio 

tlBIH'Ild 

[K'ch  a 
U'jjt'iul 
(iiiont, 
rolhor 
it  they 
Thiro 
;  mar 
lire  of 
Is  oon- 
Kicnt 

1     gHH. 

I  Atim 

t  I'VIT 

nipos- 

lora,  it 
cistod. 
utioiia 
ulnrly 
y  8UI)- 
cnlk'd 
111  tho 

II  timt 
tlii'ir 
ftom 

Is  nri< 
le  for 
ihniio. 
id  m- 
iguro, 
:)ck  ot 
;■  two 
nnge- 
1,  and 

[i  are 
ench 
iland 
urcd. 


1                        '■"■  ■■- 

i 
1 

1    |||;ii|i||i||J 

iiiijiP'ilPI'viiilHIflB^I 

iyL^'t.;. 

I 


(SCO) 


o 
o 

2 


ffi 
X 

w  -:• 
C  S 
<<  S 

H 

•< 

ci 


BELIEF  IN  WITCHCRAET. 


881 


< 

'A 


TliU  gigantic  tiki  «taiwl8,  together  with 
«!nv(>ral  otliei«,  noiir  tlio  tomi)  ot  the  dmiKh- 
t.TolTe  Whcio-Whero,aiul,  lilto  the  nionu- 
mciit  which  it  seomH  n«  it  wero  to  BiianI,  1h 
ono  of  the  tliicst  cxami)li'«  of  nntivu  carving 
to  be  found  in  Now  Zealand.  'll»o  itreciHe 
ol.icct  of  the  tiki  is  uncertain;  but  the  pro- 
tiuding  tongue  of  the  upper  figure  (leemj,  to 
Bliow  that  it  is  one  of  the  numerouH  defiant 
Htatues  which  al)ound  in  the  ifdands.  Ihe 
natives  say  that  tlie  lower  figure  repr'*""!" 
Maui,  the  Atua  who,  ncconling  U.  Maori 
tradition,  fished  up  the  islands  from  the 
bottom  of  the  sea.  xr     o 

As  may  bo  seen  In  the  illustration  No.  2, 
on  the  preceding  page,  nearly  the  whole  ot 
both  figuroH  is  carved  with  most  elaborate 
curved  patterns,  which  descend  over  the 
ftrn.s,and  adorn  those  pai;t8  of  the  sta  ue 
whici.  do  duty  for  hipH.  A  portion  o  he 
naliiitf  of  llaroera  Pah  is  seen  in  the  back- 
mound,  and  around  the  tiki  grow  many 
plants  of  the  phormium,  or  New  Zealand 

"Near  this  wonderful  and  mysterious  niece 
of  carving  stand  several  others,  all  ot  tlic 
ordinary  type.  Two  such  tikis  arc  shown  in 
the  illustration  No.  U,  opposite,  dravvn  from 
sUetclies  taken  at  Whakapokoko.  Although 
not  quite  so  largo  as  the  double  tiki  ot 
llaroera,  they  are  of  very  great  size,  as  may 
be  seen  by  contrasting  them  with  the  figure 
of  Iho  woman  who  is  standing  by  one  ot 
them.  .    ,       ^  ... 

The  firmest  belief  in  witchcraft  prevails  in 
New  Zealand,  though  not  to  such  an  extent 
as  in  many  parts  of  Africa.  In  cases  ol  ill- 
ness for  which  no  ordinary  cause  can  be  dis- 
covered, especially  if  the  patient  bo  of  high 
rank,  "makuta,"  or  witchcraft,  is  always 
suspected.  If  a  chief,  for  example,  fancies 
that  he  has  been  bewitched,  he  thinks  over 
the  names  of  those  who  are  likely  to  have  a 
BDite  against  him,  and  pitches  upon  some 
unfortunate  Individual,  who  is  thereby 
doomed  to  death.  One  curious  example 
of  such  a  murder  is  related  by  Mr.  Angas. 

He  met  a   party  of  natives,    who  told 
him  that  a  woman,  a  relation  of  the  chiet 
Ngawaka,  had  been  shot  by  another  chict, 
who  suspected  that  she  had  bewitched  his 
son.    The  young  man  had  been  taken  ill, 
and,  though  the  woman  in  question  did  her 
best  to  euro  him,  he  died.    His  father  took 
It  Into  his  he?a  that  she  had  killed  him  by 
her  incantations,  and,  after  loading  his  mus- 
ket with  a  stick,  shot  her  through  the  body. 
As,  however,  she  was  the  relation  of  Nga- 
waka, It  was  expected  that  the  chief  would 
demand  compensation  for  her  death,  and 
that  the  murderer  would  have  to  pay  a  very 
heavy  sum.    This  sort  of  compensation  is 

callell  "  taua."  ,        /...,« 

There  are  several  modes  of  witchcratl, 
but  that  which  is  most  practised  is  per- 
formed by  digging  a  hole  iu  the  ground  ans. 
invoking  the  spirit  of  the  person  who  is  to 


be  bewitched.    After  the  incnntntlons  are 
said,  the  invoked  spirit  appears  alxive  tho 
hole  like  a  fiickerlng  light,  and  is  tlieii  sol- 
emnly  cursed  by   the   witch.     Homelinus, 
insteml  of  diggiiig  a  hole,  the  witch  goes 
by  night  to  the   river  bank,  and  there  in- 
vokes tho  spirit,  who  appears  as  a  flame  of 
fire  on  the  opjiosite  bank. 

Dr.   DteHenboch  gives  rather  a  curious 
account  of  a  district  named  llrewcra,  wliich 
is  supposed  to  be  the  special  abode  of  witches. 
U  is  situated  in  the  northern  island,  between 
Tauiio   and    Hawkes'   Hay,  and  consists  o 
steep  and  barren  hills.    The  Inhabitants  ot 
this  district  are  few  and  scattered,  and  have 
the  reputation  of  being  tho  greatest  wltclies 
In  the  country.  ,        ,  ,         ,..., 

"They  are  much  feared,  and  have  little 
connection  with  the  neighboring  tribes,  who 
avoid  them,  if  possible.    If  they  conic  to 
the  coast,  the  natives  there  scarcely  venture 
to  refuse  them  anvthlng,  for  tear  of  incur- 
ring their  displeasure.    They   arc  said    to 
use   the   saliva  of    the  peoi)le  whom   they 
intend    to  bewitch,  and  visitors   caretully 
conceal  It,  to  give  them  no  oiiportuiuty  ol 
working  them  evil.    Like  our  witches  and 
sorcerers  of  »)ld,  they  appear  to  be  a  very 
harmless  people,  and   but  little  mixed  up 
with  the  quarrels  of  their  neighbors. 

"  It  Is  a  curious  fact  that  many  of  the  old 
settlers  in  tho  country  have  become  com- 
plete converts  to  the  belief  In  these  super- 
natural powers.    Witchcraft  has  been  the 
cause  of  many  mu-'lers:  a  few  days  before 
I  arrived  at  Aotea,  on  the  western  coast, 
'  three  had  been  committed,  in  conseauence 
of  people  declaring  on  their  deathbeds  that 
they  had  been  bewitched.  ....      . ,  ,    , 

"It  is  another  curious  fact,  which  has 
been  noticed  in  Tahiti,  Hawaii,  and  the 
islands  Inhabited  by  the  great  Polyiujsian 
nue,  that  their  first  Intercourse  with  Euro- 
peans pi-ouuces  civil  wars  and  social  (Icgra- 
(latlon,  but  .lat  a  change  of  Ideas  is  quickly 
Introduced,  and  that  the  most  ancient  and 
deeply-rooted  prejudices  soon  become  a  siil)- 
jeet  of  ridicule  to  the  natives,  and  arc  abol- 
ished at  once.  The  grey  priest,  or  tohunga, 
deeply  versed  In  all  tho  mysteries  of  witcli- 
craft  and  native  medical  treatment,  gives 
way  In  his  attendance  on  the  sick  to  every 
European  who  pretends  to  a  knowledge  of 
the  science  of  surgery  or  medicine,  and  Uc- 
rldes  the  former  credulity  of  his  patient 

"  If  a  chief  or  his  wife  fall  sick,  the  most 

influential  tohunga,  or  a  woman  who  has 

the  odor  of  sanctity,  attends,  and  continues 

day  and  night  with  the  patient,  sometimes 

repeating  Incantations  over  him,  and  Bomc- 

tlmes  sitting  before  the  house  and  praying. 

The  following  is  an  incantation  which  is 

I  said  by  the  priest  as  a  cure  for  headache. 

I  He  pulls  out  two  stalks  of  the  Plena  escu- 

\knta,  fVom  which  the    fibres   of  the  root 

l-iuai-  h«  removed,  and.  beating  them  to- 

ge^er  over  the  head  of  the  patient,  8»>8 


KBW  ZEALAND. 


this  rhant."— Thf)  ehanl  in  question  ia  u 
uiiititt'iliKihlo  M  thono  wliicli  littvo  alruady 
been  mniitinned.  lU  titlo  In  "  A  priiyor  for 
tho  (Iciui  (i.  e.  the  siclc  man)  wIikii  hln  humi 
achoii:  to  Atim  thin  praynr  in  prayed,  that 
ho,  tho  dick  man,  niav  l)oo(>mo  woll." 

When  a  chief  in  ill,  liiM  relutionH  aaannilile 
near  tlio  liouso  and  all  weep  l)itturly,  the 
patient  taking  hi8  part  in  the  general  aor- 
rowing;  and  when  all  tho  weeping  and 
mourning  has  been  got  out  of  one  village, 
the  pati<'ut  ia  often  carried  to  another, 
where  the  whole  busineaa  in  gone  over 
again.  Should  tho  aick  person  bo  of  an 
inferior  claaa,  ho  bocb  off  to  the  bush,  and 
remains  there  until  ho  ia  well  again,  choos- 
ing the  neighborhood  of  a  hot  epring  if  he 


can  rind  one,  or,  if  no  such  spring  ia  at  hand, 
intbsing  certain  herba  in  boiling  woter  and 
inhaling  the  ateani. 

A»  may  be  inutgined  H-om  tlie  practico 
which  they  have  in  cutting  up  the  dead  for 
their  canuil)al  foasU,  the  Maorloa  are  good 
practical  anatominta,  and  know  well  tho 
posilitxi  of  all  tho  principal  organa  and  vea- 
sela  of  the  body.  Consequently,  they  can 
operate  in  casea  of  danger,  UHing  shnrp- 
edgiid  ahella  if  they  have  no  knives.  Ihey 
can  also  £.)t  broken  limba  well,  bringing  the 
l»roken  surfaces  together,  binding  the  limb 
with  splints,  laying  it  on  a  soil  pillow,  and 
mirrounding  it  with  a  wickerwork  conlri- 
vanco  iu  order  to  guard  it  against  iijury. 


CHAPTER  LXXXVI. 

NEW  ZEALAND  — ConMnued. 


TOB  TAPX7. 

M     tLk-HOW    TAONU,    cot     ....    A«MOH-UA.«    OI^TT.NO -.THOIB.KS     or    AN    ART..T-T... 

cirr  „Kr-«.w„K«o-wH....o    akh    h,.   ro«TaA.x-T..K    --   --;---»;:i';^^ 

■FKR(T«  or  TUB  TAPU  OK  NAT.VB  AHT  - DB8TJIUOTJ0N  Or  THK  PAIU  AND  HOUHKl.  THB 
■"rNir.  TArU-T...  BArr.B-TAPU-TAK«0  Or,,....  TAPU  -  U.XV  O.  THB  TOHUNOA  - 
TUB  TAPU  TUB  gTBBMQTU  Of  THB  CI.IBrB. 


We  now  come  naturally  to  the  custom  of 
Tanu  or  Tiiboo,  that  extraordinary  system 
which  extends  throughout  the  whole  of 
Polynesia,  modi  tied  slightly  according  to 
the  locality  in  which  it  exists. 

The  general  bearings  of  the  law  of  tapu 
may  bo  inferred  from  the  sense  of  the  word, 
which  signilies  prohibition.  The  system  of 
tapu  is  therefore  a  law  of  prohibition,  and, 
when  stripped  of  the  extravagances  into 
which  it  often  deteriorates,  it  is  seen  to  bo  a 
very  excellent  system,  and  one  that  answers 
the  purpose  of  a  more  elaborate  code  of 
laws.  In  countries  where  an  organized 
government  is  employed  the  tapu  is  need- 
loss,  and  we  find  that  even  in  those  parts  of 
the  earth  where  it  was  once  the  only  restric- 
tive law  it  has  fallen  into  disuse  since  regu- 
lar government  has  been  introduced. 

Were  it  not  for  the  law  of  tapu,  an  abso- 
lute anarchy  would  prevail  in  most  pprts  of 
Polynesia,  the  tapu  being  the  only  guardian 
of  property  and  morality.  In  order  that  it 
may  be  enforced  on  the  people,  the  terrors 
of  superstition  are  called  into  play,  and,  in 
the  absence  of  secular  law,  the  spiritual 
powers  are  evoked, 

Unpnitected  by  the  tapu,  property  could 
not  exist:  protected  by  it,  the  moat  valued 
and  coveted  articles  are  safei  than  they 
would  bo  in  England  or  America  despite 
the  elaborate  legal  system  that  secures  to 
every  man  that  which  is  his  own.  In  New 
Zealand,  when  a  nmu  haa  cuitivatod  a  SciU 
of  kumeras,  or  sweet  potatoes,  he  needs  no 


fence  and  no  watchman.  Ho  simply  sends 
for  the  tohunga,  who  lays  the  tapu  on  the 
field;  and  from  that  moment  no  one  save 
the  owner  wiU  venture  within  its  bounda- 
ries. .      .        .     ,  LU 

Sometimes  a  canoe  is  hauled  up  on  the 
beach,  and  must  be  l">ft  there  for  some  time 
unwatched.  The  owner  need  not  trouble 
himself  about  securing  his  vessel,  lie  has 
the  tapu  mark  placed  upon  it,  and  the  boat 
is  accordingly  held  sacred  to  -%\\  except  its 
possessor.  Similarly,  if  a  native  boat-builder 
fixes  on  a  tree  which  ho  thinks  can  be  made 
into  a  canoe,  he  places  the  tai>u  on  it,  and 
knows  that  no  one  but  himself  will  dare  to 
cut  it  down.  The  mark  of  tapu  in  this  case 
is  almost  invariably  the  removal  of  a  strip 
of  bark  round  the  trunk  of  the  tree. 

Then  the  system  of  tapu  is  the  only  guar- 
dian of  morals.  It  has  been  already  men- 
tioned that  an  extreme  laxity  in  this  respect 
prevails  among  the  unmarried  girls.  But 
as  soon  as  a  girl  Is  married  she  becomes  tapu 
to  all  but  4ier  husband,  and  anv  one  who 
induces  her  to  become  unfaithftu  must  pay 
the  penalty  of  the  tapu  if  the  delinquenU 
be  discovered.  Nor  is  the  tapu  restricted  tx> 
married  women.  It  is  also  extended  to 
young  girls  when  they  are  betrothed:  and 
any  girl  on  whom  the  tapu  has  thus  been 
laid  Is  reckoned  as  a  married  woman. 

It  will  be  seen,  therefore,  that  the  princi- 
ple of  the  tapu  is  a  good  one,  and  that  it 
«.~<^»..f;.>n    W»*h  tr»  nronnrtv  and 


II 


KcrVca  fiS    pt 


morals.    There  are,  of  course,  many  instan- 


(803) 


804 


NEW   ZEALAND. 


7^-^^^'i-^ltTn.^^^^^^^^  -"^.i-t  to  this  law,  and 

h  has  developed  into  .  tvrannv!'  ^^"^^''«"'  I  ^^^  sSrollTl/cll^KjTt  .t'^^ 


{^tmv-i;o,  ;iuu  wucre,  ius[ea(i  01  8 
It  has  developed  into  a  tyranny. 

Take,  for  example,  the  very  praiseworthy 
Idea  that  the  life  of  a  chief  is  most  impor- 
tant to  his  people,  and  that  his  person  is 
therefore  considered   as  tapu.      This  is  a 
proper  and  wholcaome  idea,  and  is  condu- 
cive to  the  interests  of  law  and  justice. 
Uiit  the  aevelopmcnt  of  the  system  becomes 
a  tyranny,    xiie  chief  himself  being  tanu, 
everything  that  he  touched,  even  wfth  the 
skirt    of  Ins   garment,  beean.e    tapu,  and 
thenceforth  belonged  to  him.    80  ingrained 
IS  this  idea  that  on  one  occasion,  when  a 
great  chief  was  wearing  a  large  and  hand- 
some mantle  and  found  it  too  heavv  for  a 
hot  day,  he  threw  it  down  a  precipice.    His 
companion  remonstrated  with  him,  saviu" 
that  it  would  have  been  better  to  have  hun" 
the  mat  on  0  bough,  so  that  the  next  come? 
might  make  use  of  it.    The  chief  was  hor- 
ror-struck at  such  an  idea.    It  was  Iwdlv 
possible  that  a  superior  to  liimself  should 
find  the  mat,  and  not  likely  that  an  equal 
should  do  so,  and  if  an  inferior  were  to  wear 
U,  he  would  at  once  die. 
As  the  verv  contact  of  a  chiefs  garment 


surrounded  with  a  fence  of  smiill  boughs 
stuck  archwise  into  the  earth,  in  order  to 
prevent  profane  feet  from  polluting  the 
sacred  snot.  '* 

The  most  s?\cied  object  that  a  New  Zea- 
lander  can  imagine  is  the  head  of  the  chief. 
It  IS  so  sjicred  that  even  to  mention  it  is 
considered  as  an  affront.  Euroi)cans  have 
often  given  deadly  oflence  through  i-nio- 
rance  of  this  superstition,  or  even  thro"u<di 
inadvertence.  Mr.  Angas  narrates  a  curious 
instance  of  such  an  adventure.  A  friend  of 
his  was  talking  to  a  M.iori  :-hief  over  his 
tence,  and  the  conversation  turned  upon 
the  crops  of  (he  j'ear.  Quite  inadvortently 
he  saul  to  tlic  chief,  "  Oh,  I  have  in  my  gar- 
den some  apples  as  large  as  that  little  bSy's 
,  •  ,,  —pointing  at  the  same  time  to  the 
cbiels  son,  who  was  standing  near  his 
latlier.  ° 

He  sav/  in  a  moment  the  insult  that  ho 
bad  oftered,  and  apologized,  but  the  chief 
was  so  deeply  hurt  that  it  was  with  the 
greatest  diiRculty  that  a  reconciliation  was 
brought  about.    The  simile  was  a  peculiarlv 


iti^^fe,f^4^l«  ^—^^  sri-iJ 


falhng  upon  even  such  objects  as  are  free 
trom    the  ordinary  laws   k   tapu    renders 
them  his  property.    A  curious  example  of 
the  operation  of  this  law  occurred  when  a 
meeting  of  chiefs  was  called  at  the  Taupo 
lake.    As  the  principal  man  of  the  tribes,  the 
celebrated  diief  Te  Heu-heu  was  invited 
and  a  new  and  beautifully  carved  canoe 
sent  to  fetih  him.    As  he  stepped  into  it,  a 
splinter  ran  into  his  foot,  inflictip"-  a  verv 
slighi  wound.    Every  man  leaped"  out  of 
the  canoe,  which  wr3  at  once  drawn  up  on 
tlie  beach  and  considered  as  the  property  of 
Xc  Heu-heu.    Another  canoe  was  in-ocured 
and  m  it  the  party  proceeded  on  their  jour- 
ney. '' 

Another  kind  of  tapu  takes  place  with 
regard  to  any  object  which  is  connected 
with  the  death  of  a  native.    If,  for  example 
a  Maori  has  fallen  overboard  from  a  canoe' 


enough,  but  to  compare  it  to  an  article  of 
food  was  about  the  most  deadly  insult  that 
could  be  offered  to  a  Maori.  All  food  and 
the  various  processes  of  i.rei)aration  ara 
ookcd  down  upon  with  utter  contempt  bv 
the  tree  Maori,  who  leaves  all  culiuarv 
operations  to  the  slaves  or  "  cookies  " 

One  of  the  very  great  chiefs  of  New  Zea. 
and  was  remarkable  for  his  snowy  white 
hair  and  beard,  which  gave  him  a  most  ven, 
erable  aspect.  He  was  held  in  the  hi-'hesl 
respect,  and  was  so  extremely  sacred  a''man 
tliat  Ins  head  might  only  be  mentioned  in 
comi)arison  with  the  snow-clad  ton  of  the 
sacred  mountain. 

The  same  traveller  to  whom  we  are  in- 
debted lor  the  i)revious  anecdote  relates  a 
curious  story  illustrative  of  (his  etinuctte. 
There  wa.s  n  certain  old  chief  named 
Xaonui,  who  was  in  possession  of  the  ori"'- 


und  been  .1-wned  ti;;;-;;;:;;^  c^.^^:^"  b  i^^"  ^r'^^^^JI^CS'"^    ■     r 

used  again  but  is  tapu.    Or  if  a  man  com-   Geor-^e  IV    to  F' Tlon.^      -1  In    ,-''''!^ '^^ 
mits  suicide   by  shooting  himself   .is   his  Fn" i^ml     " -rL     i      "     V\  '   '"'  ^""'''1 


tapu  to  the  atuas,  and  not  to  men.  Some- 
times they  are  left  to  decay  on  the  spot,  no 
Tiian  daring  to  touch  them,  or  they  are 
broken  to  pieces,  and  the  fragments  stuck 
upright  in  the  earth  to  mark  the  spot  where 
xne  event  occurred. 

Sometimes  this  personal  tapu  becomes 
exceedingly  inconvenient.  The  wife  of  an 
old  and  venerable  tohunga  had  been  ill,  and 
vas  made  tapu  for  a  certjiin  \on<'th  of  tiin" 
during  which  everything  that  she  touched 
became  tapu.    Even  the  very  ground  on 


To  Whero-Whero  at  the  M'aikato  feast,  and 
came  into  Taonui's  hands  under  the  follow- 
in";  circumstances. 

w'i^"  ^}l^,  '•''"*'»  "^  ^  favorite  daughter  To 
Wheni-Whero  made  a  song,  (he  substance 
of  which  w:is,  that  he  would  take  off  the 
seali)s  of  all  the  chiefs  except  \gawaka,  and 
tling  them  into  his  daughters  grave  to 
avenge  her  untimely  death.  The  words  of 
this  song  Highly  insulted  lia,  vurioiis  i,  di- 
viduals  ag.ainst  whom  it  was  directed,  more 
especially  aa  It  was  a  great  eurso  for  the 


INCONVENIENCE  OP  THE  TAPU. 


8es 


hair  of  a  chief,  which  is  sacred,  to  be  thus 
treated  with  contempt.  But  the  only  chief 
who  daied  to  resent  this  insult  from  so  great 
a  man  as  Te  Whero- Whero  was  Taonui,  who 
demanded  a '  taua,'  o"  gift,  as  recompense  for 
the  alfront,  and  received  the  armor  of  E' 
IIon!j;i  in  compensation. 

"  i  made  a  drawing  of  the  armor,  which 
was  old  and  rusty.  It  was  of  eteel,  inlaid 
with  brass,  anil,  though  never  worn  by  the 
possessors  in  battle  — for  it  would  sadly  im- 
l)ede  their  movements  —  it  is  regarded  with 
a  sort  of  superstitious  veneration  by  the  na- 
tives, who  look  upon  it  as  something  extra- 
ordinary.'' 

A  cliii't''s  head  is  so  exceedingly  sacred 
that,  if  ho  should  touch  it  with  his  own  fin- 
gers, he  may  not  touch  anything  else  with- 
out having  ai)plied  the  hand  to  his  nostrils 
and  luiilt  it  so  as  to  resto.e  to  the  head  the 
virtue  which  was  taken  out  of  it  by  the  touch. 
The  hair  of  a  chL"*"  Is  necessarily  sacred,  as 
growing  ui)on  bis  head.  When  it  is  cut,  the 
operation  is  genertvUy  confided  to  one  of  his 
wives,  who  receives  every  particle  of  the 
cut  hair  in  a  cloth,  and  buries  it  in  the 
ground.  In  consequence  of  touching  the 
cliief 's  head,  she  becoirics  tapu  for  a  week, 
during  which  time  hei  hands  are  so  sacred 
that  she  is  not  allowed  to  usetheni.  Above 
all  things,  s!ie  may  not  feed  herself,  because 
she  would  then  be  obliged  to  pollute  her 
hands  by  toiicliiug  food,  and  such  a  deed 
would  be  equivalent  to  putting  food  on  the 
chief's  head  —  a  crime  of  such  enormity  that 
the  mind  of  a  Maori  could  scarcely  compre- 
hend itsi  possibility. 

When  engaged  in  his  explorations  in  New 
Zealand,  and  c  iployed  in  sketching  every 
object  of  intei -st  whicli  came  in  his  way, 
Mr.  Angas  found  this  notion  about  the 
chief's  head  to  be  a  very  troublesome  one. 
He  was  not  allowed  to  portray  anything  con- 
nected with  food  with  the  same  pencil  with 
which  he  sketched  the  head  of  a  chief,  and 
to  put  a  drawing  of  a  potato,  a  dish  for  food, 
or  any  such  obJ;;ct,  into  the  same  portfolio 
which  containe<i  the  portrait  of  a  chief,  was 
thouglit  t')  be  a  most  fe.arful  sacrilege. 

Tlie  artist  had  a  narrow  escape  of  losing 
the  whole  of  his  skc^tches,  which  a  chief 
named  Ka  Tarui  wanted  to  burn,  as  mixing 
sacred  with  profane  things.  They  were 
only  rescued  by  the  intervention  of  Te  Ileu- 
heu,  a  suricrstilious  old  savage,  but  capable 
of  seeing  that  'lu;  white  man  had  meant  no 
harm.  Warned  by  this  escape,  Mr.  Angas 
always  made  his  d-.iwings  of  tapu  objects  by 
stealth,  and  often  had  very  great  diliicnlty  in 
eluding  the  suspicious  natives. 

Even  tlie  carved  image  of  a  chiers  head  is 
considered  as  sacred  as  the  '>bject  which  it 
represents.  Dr.  DielVenbach  relates  a  curi- 
ous instance  of  this  superstition. 

"  In  one  of  the  houses  of  Te  Puai,  the 
heafl  ch'ef  of  all  the  Waikato,  I  saw  a  bust, 
made  by  himself,  with  all  the  serpontiue 


lines  of  the  moko,  or  tattooing.  I  asked  hira 
to  give  it  to  me,  but  It  was  only  alter  much 
pressing  that  he  parted  with  it.  I  had  to  go 
to  his  house  to  fetch  it  myself,  as  none  of  hia 
tribe  could  legally  touch  it,  and  he  licked  it 
all  over  before  he  gave  it  to  me;  whether  to 
Uike  the  tai)U  oil',  or  whether  to  make  it 
more  strictly  sacred,  I  do  not  know.  lie 
parlicu"u.ily  engaged  mo  not  to  put  it  into 
the  provision  bag,  nor  to  let  it  see  the  na- 
tives at  Rotu-nua,  whither  I  was  going,  or  he 
would  certainly  die  in  consequence. 

"  Payment  for  the  bust  he  would  not  take; 
but  he  had  no  objection  to  my  making  hira 
a  present  of  my  own  free  will:  which  I  ac- 
cordingljr  did,  presenting  him  and  his  wifa 
with  a  sliirt  each." 

Once  the  natives  were  very  angry  be, 
cause  Mr.  Angas  went  under  a  cooking  shed, 
having  with  him  the  portfolio  containing 
the  head  of  Te  Ileu-heu.  Even  his  hands 
were  tapu  because  they  had  painted  the  por- 
trait of  so  great  a  chief,  and  ho  was  subjected 
to  many  annoyances  ir.  consequence.  Find- 
ing that  the  tapu  was  likely  to  become  ex- 
ceedingly inconvenient,  he  put  a  stop  to 
farther  encroachments  by  saying  that,  if  the 
people  made  any  more  complaints,  he  would 
put  Te  Heu-heu's  head  into  the  lire.  This 
threat  shocked  them  greatly,  but  had  the  de- 
sired effect. 

Sometimes  this  sanctity  of  the  chief  is  ex- 
ceedingly inconvenient  to  himself  On  one 
occasion,  when  Mr.  Angas  was  visiting  the 
chief  Te  Whero-Whero,  he  found  the  great 
man  superintending  the  plantation  of  a 
kumera  ground  and  the  erection  of  a  house 
for  himself,  llain  was  falling  fast,  but  the 
old  chief  sat  on  the  damp  ground,  wrapped 
up  in  his  blanket,  and  appearing  to  be  en- 
tirely un.  oncerned  at  the  weather,  a  piece  of 
sail-cloth  over  the  blanket  being  his  only  de- 
fence. 

He  did  not  rise,  according  to  the  custom 
of  the  old  heathen  chiefs,  who  will  some- 
times sit  for  several  days  together,  in  a  sort 
of  semi-apa.hetic  state.  To  the  request  that 
his  portrait  might  be  taken  To  "Whero- 
Whero  graciously  acceded,  and  talked  freely 
on  the  all  important  subject  of  land  while 
the  painter  was  at  work.  Finding  the  rain 
exceedingly  unpleasant,  the  artist  suggested 
that  they  had  better  move  into  a  house. 
The  old  chief,  however,  knowing  that  ho 
could  not  enter  a  house  without  making  it 
his  prop(>rty  by  reason  of  contact  with  hia. 
sacred  person,  Jleclined  to  move,  but  ordered 
a  shelter  to  be  erected  for  the  white  man. 
This  was  done  at  once,  by  fastening  a  blan- 
ket to  some  upright  poles:  and  so  the  portrait 
was  completed,  the  painter  under  cover  and 
the  sitter  out  in  the  rain. 

Localities  can  be  rendered  tapu,  even 
those  which  have  not  been  tmiched  by  the 
l)er8on  who  lavs  the  tapu  upon  them.  The 
chief  Te  Ileu-heu,  for  example,  was  pleasecl 
to  declare  tlie  volcano  Toagaiiro  under  the 


I 


I  •• 


«ii!fj 


i»j' 


888 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


tapu,  by  calline  it  his  backbone,  so  that  not 
a  native  would  dare  approach  it,  nor  eveu 
look  at  it,  if  such  en  act  could  be  avoided. 
Mr.  Angas  was  naturally  desirous  of  visit- 
inff  this  mountain,  but  found  that  such  a 
Bcheme  could  not  be  carried  out.    He  of- 
fered blankets  and  other  articles  which  a 
Now  Zealander  prizes;  but  all  to  no  pur- 
pose, for  the   tapu  could  not  be  broken. 
The  chief  even  tried  to  prevent  his  white 
visitors  from  travelling  in  the  direction  of  the 
mountain,  and  only  gave  his  consent  after  or- 
dering that  the  sacred  Tongariro  should  not 
even  be  looked  at    So  deeply  is  this  super- 
stition engraven  in  the  heart  of  the  New 
Zealander,  that  even  the  Christian  natives 
are  afraid  of  such  a  tapu,  and  will  uot  dare 
to  approach  a  spot  that  has  thus  been  made 
sacred  by  a  tohunga.    Reasoning  is  useless 
with  them;  they  will  agree  to  all  the  pro- 
positions, admit  the  inference  to  be  drawn 
from  them,  and  then  decline  to  run  so  terri- 
ble a  risk. 

One  of  the  finest  examples  of  native  ar- 
chitecture was  made  tapu  by  this  same  chief, 
who  seems  to  have  had  a  smgular  pleasure 
m  exercising  his  powers.  It  was  a  pah 
called  Waitahanui,  and  was  originally  the 
stronghold  of  Te  Heu-heu.  It  is  on  the 
borders  of  the  lake,  and  the  side  which 
fronts  the  water  is  a  full  half-mile  in  length. 
It  is  made,  as  usual,  of  upright  posts  and 
stakes,  and  most  of  the  larger  posts  are 
carved  into  the  human  form,  with  visages 
hideously  distorted,  and  tongues  protruded 
seaward,  as  if  in  defiance  of  expected  ene- 
mies. 

"Witliin  this  curious  pah  were  the  cannibal 
cook-houses  which   have  already  been  fig^ 
ured,  together  with  several  of  the  beautifully 
carved  patukas  or  receptacles  for  the  sacred 
food  of  the  chief.    Specimens  of  these  may 
be  seen  figured  on  page  831.    In  this  pah 
Mr.  Angas  found  the  most  elaborate  spec- 
imen of  the  patuka  that  he  ever  saw.     It 
was  fortunate  that  he  arrived  when  he  did, 
as  a  very  few  years  more  would  evidently 
complete    tlie    destruction   of    the    place. 
Many  of  the  most  beautiful  implements  of 
native  art  were  already  so  decayed  that  they 
were  but  a  shapeless  heap  of  ruins,  and  the 
others,  were  rapidly  following  in  the  same 
path.    Of  these  specimens  of  Maori  carving 
and  architecture  nothing  is  now  left  but  the 
sketches  from  which  have  been  made  tha 
illustrations  that  appear  in  this  work. 

Here  I  may  be  allowed  to  controvert  a 
popular  and  plausible  fallacy,  which  has 
often  been  brought  before  the  public.  Trav- 
ellers are  blamed  for  bringing  to  England 
specimens  of  architecture  and  other  arts  ft-om 
distant  countries.  It  is  said,  and  truly  too, 
that  such  articles  are  out  of  place  in  Eng- 
land. So  they  are:  but  it  must  be  remem- 
ocrea  mat  if  tiiey  had  not  been  in  England 
they  would  not  have  been  in  existence. 
Ihe  marvelloua  sarcophagus,  for  example, 


brought  to  London  by  Belzoni,  and  now  in 
the  Soane  Museum,  would  have  been  broken 
to  pieces  and  hopelessly  destroyed  if  it  had 
been  allowed  to  remain  in  the  spot  where  it 
was  found. 

Again,  had  not  the  Assyrian  sculptures 
found  a  home  in  the  British  Museum,  they 
would  have  been  knocked  to  pieces  by  the 
ignorant  tribes  who  now  roam  over  the 
ruins  of  Nineveh  the  Great  Even  had 
the  vast  statues  defied  entire  destruction, 
the  inscriptions  would  long  ago  have  been 
defaced,  and  we  should  nave  irreparably 
lost  some  of  the  most  valuable  additions 
to  our  scanty  knowledge  of  chronology. 

So  again  with  the  Elgin  Marble.^.  Un- 
doubtedly  they  were  more  in  their  place 
in  Greece  than  they  are  in  England;  but, 
if  they  had  not  been  brought  to  England, 
the  iconoclastic  hand  of  the  Mussulman 
would  have  utterly  destroyed  them,  and  the 
loss  to  art  would  have  been  indeed  terrible. 
Thus  is  it  with  regard  to  the  specimens 
of  savage  art,  no  matter  in  what  way 
it  is  developed.  Taking  New  Zealand  as 
an  example,  there  is  not  in  England  a 
single  specimen  of  a  Maori  house.  It 
coiild  be  easily  taken  to  pieces  and  put  to- 
gether again;  it  is  peculiarly  valuable  to 
ethnologists  on  account  of  the  extraordinary 
mixture  which  it  displays  of  ancient  Egyp- 
tian architecture  and  ancient  Mexican  art; 
and  in  a  very  few  years  there  will  not  be  a 
single  specimen  of  aboriginal  architecture 
in  the  whole  of  New  Zealand.  The  Mao- 
ries,  who  have  abandoned  the  club  for  the 
rifle,  the  mat  for  the  blanket,  and  even  the 
blanket  for  the  coat  and  trousers,  have  be« 
gnu  to  modify  their  ancient  architecture, 
and  to  build  houses  after  the  European 
models. 

Unless,  therefore,  means  be  taken  to  res- 
cue specimens  of  Maori  architecture  from 
destruction,  it  is  much  to  be  doubted 
whether  in  twenty  years'  time  from  the 
present  date  a  single  specimen  will  exist 
as  a  type  of  native  art  So  it  is  Mith  the 
canoes.  Graceful,  picturesque,  and  adorned 
with  the  finest  specimens  of  Maori  art,  the 
canoes  were  unique  among  vessels.  At  the 
present  day  the  more  useful  but  more  com- 
monplace whaleboat  has  superseded  the 
canoe,  and  in  a  few  vears  the  elal>orately 
decorated  vessels  of  the  Maories  will  have 
utterly  passed  away. 

We  may  be  sure  that  the  tide  of  civiliza- 
tion is  sweeping  so  rapidlv  over  the  world, 
that  a  very  few  years  will  see  tlie  end  of 
savage  life  in  all  lands  to  which  the  white 
man  can  gain  access.  The  relics  of  the 
ancient  mode  of  life  are  left  by  the  natives 
to  perish,  and,  unless  thev  are  rescued,  and 
brought  to  a  country  where  they  can  be 
preserved,  th<;y  will  necessarily  vanibii  from 
the  tace  of  the  earth.  Hav\u^  this  idea  in 
my  own  mind,  I  set  myself  some  ye.ars  ago 
to  collect  articles  of  daily  use  from  all  parti 


THE  BATTLE  TAPU. 


8vr 


of  the  world.  The  light  which  they  throw 
upon  anthropoloffy  is  really  astonishing,  and, 
among  some  eiglit  or  nine  hundred  speci- 
mens, there  is  not  one  that  does  not  tell  its 
own  story. 

Take,  for  example,  the  stone  merai  that 
lies  before  me.  W  hat  a  tale  does  it  not  tell 
of  the  country  where  it  was  found,  and  of 
the  workman  who  made  itl  The  stone 
shows  that  it  was  obtained  from  a  volcanic 
country;  the  short,  weighty  form  of  the 
weapon  shows  that  it  was  made  for  t>  cour- 
ageous race  who  fought  hand  to  hand;  and 
the  graceful  curves  and  perfect  balance  of 
the  weapon  show  that  the  maker  was  a  true 
artist  More  than  that  The  merai  has 
been  made  by  rubbing  it  with  another 
stone,  and  must  have  occupied  years  of 
labor.  See,  then,  what  a  tale  this  weapon 
tells  us  —  the  volcanic  region,  the  cour- 
ageous warrior,  and  the  worthlessness  of 
time.  Year  after  year  the  man  must  have 
worked  at  that  merai,  bending  his  tattooed 
face  over  it,  balancing  it  in  his  hand,  and 
watching  its  soft  curves  grow  into  perfection. 
Then,  after  it  was  made,  he  has  evidently 
carried  it  about  with  him,  fought  with  his 
foes,  and  dashed  out  their  brains  with  its 
once  sharp  and  now  notched  edge.  After- 
ward, when  he,  or  may  be  his  grandson, 
came  to  iight  against  the  white  men,  their 
flro-arms  were  too  terrible  to  be  opposed, 
and  the  merai  was  taken  from  the  hand  of 
the  dead  warrior  as  he  lay  on  the  field  of 
battle,  its  plaited  cord  still  round  his  wrist 
Nevermore  will  a  stone  merai  be  made,  and 
before  very  long  the  best  examples  of  Maori 
weapons  will  be  found  in  English  museums. 

We  will  now  return  to  the  subject  of  the 
tapu.  Useful  as  it  may  be  as  a  guardian  of 
property,  it  often  exaggerates  that  duty,  and 
produces  very  inconvenient  results.  For 
example,  some  travellers  were  passing 
through  the  country,  and  were  hungry  and 
wearied,  and  without  food.  Very  oppor- 
tunely tliere  came  in  sight  a  fine  pig;  but 
the  animal  contrived  to  run  across  a  piece 
of  ground  which  was  tapu,  and  in  conse- 
quence became  tapu  itself  for  a  certain 
number  of  days,  and  could  not  be  eaten. 

There  are  thousands  of  such  tapu  spots  in 
the  country.  If,  for  examjjle,  a  great  chief 
has  been  travelling,  every  place  where  he  sits 
to  rest  is  tapu,  and  is  marked  by  a  slight 
fence  of  sticks.  In  many  cases,  each  of 
these  sacred  spots  has  its  own  name.  The 
same  is  the  case  when  the  body  of  a  chief  is 
carried  to  his  own  pah  for  burial,  eveiy  rest- 
ing place  of  the  bearers  becoming  tapu. 
Therefore  nothing  was  more  likely  than  to 
come  across  one  of  these  tapu  spots,  or  more 
easy  than  for  the  pig  to  break  through  its 
slight  fence. 

A  curious  modification  of  the  tapu  took 
place  before  and  after  a  battle.  The  tohunga 
assembled  the  warriors  of  his  own  party,  and 
went  with  them  to  the  lake  or  river,  which 


had  been  made  tapu  for  the  purpose.  The> 
men  then  threw  off  all  their  clothing,  and 
went  into  the  water,  which  they  scooped  up 
with  their  hands  and  threw  over  their  heads 
and  bodies.  The  priest  then  recited  the 
appropriate  incantation. 

Thus  the  battle  tapu  was  laid  upon  the 
warriors,  who  were  thereby  prohibited  from 
undertaking  any  other  business  except  thafe 
of  fighting,  and  were  supposed,  moreover,  to 
be  under  the  protection  of  the  gods.  This 
tapu  was  most  itrictly  regarded,  and  the 
warriors  had  to  learn  quite  a  long  list  at 
occupations  which  were  forbidden  to  them, 
such  as  carrying  a  load,  cutting  their  own 
hair,  touching  the  head  of  a  woman,  and  so 
forth. 

After  the  fighting  is  over,  it  is  necessary 
that  the  tapu  should  be  taken  off  from  the 
survivors,  so  that  they  should  be  enabled  to 
return  to  their  usuu  mode  of  life.  This 
ceremony  is  rather  a  complicated  one,  and 
varies  slightly  in  different  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. The  chief  features,  however,  are  as 
follows:  — 

Each  man  who  had  killed  an  enemy,  or 
taken  a  slave,  pulled  off  a  lock  of  hair  from 
the  victim,  and  retained  it  as  a  trophy. 
They  then  went  in  a  body  to  the  tohunga, 
and  gave  him  a  portion  of  the  hair.  This 
he  tied  on  a  couple  of  little  twigs,  raised 
them  high  above  his  head,  and  recited  the 
incantation;  after  which  the  whole  body 
Joined  in  the  war  song  and  dance.  This 
being  over,  the  warriors  clapped  their  hands 
together  and  struck  their  legs,  that  act  being 
supposed  to  take  off  the  tapu  which  had  been 
contracted  by  imbruing  them  in  the  blood 
of  the  enemy. 

The  war  party  then  goes  ''ome,  and  a 
similar  ceremony  is  undergone  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  principal  tohunga  of  their  pah, 
the  hands  being  clapped  and  the  war  dance 
performed.  The  remainder  of  the  hair  is 
given  to  the  tohunga,  who,  after  reciting 
his  incantation,  flings  the  tuft  of  hair  away, 
and  ends  by  another  incantation,  which  de- 
clares that  the  tapu  is  taken  away. 

As  a  general  rule,  the  tapu  can  only  be 
taken  off  by  the  person  who  imposed  it; 
but  if  a  man  imposed  a  tapu  on  anything, 
another  who  was  very  much  his  superior 
would  not  have  much  scruple  in  breaking 
through  it.  By  courtesy  the  tapu  was 
mostly  respected  by  great  and  small  alike, 
and,  by  courtesy  also,  the  very  great  men 
often  put  themselves  to  great  inconvenience 
by  refraining  from  actions  that  would  lay 
the  tapu  on  the  property  of  inferiors.  Thus 
we  have  seen  how  a  chief  refused  to  enter  a 
house,  lest  he  should  render  it  his  property, 
and  preferred  to  sit  in  the  pouring  rain, 
rather  than  run  the  risk  of  depriving  an 
inferior  of  his  property. 

Hhould  an  object  become  tapu  by  acci- 
dent, the  tohunga  can  take  off  the  tapu  and . 
restore  the  object  to  use.  A  curious  instance 


en' 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


IH 


of  the  exercise  of  this  power  is  related  by  a 
traveller.  A  white  man,  who  had  borrowed 
an  iron  pot  for  cooking,  wanted  some  soft 
water,  and  so  he  placed  the  pot  under  the 
eaves  of  a  house  from  which  the  rain  was 
running.  Now,  the  house  happened  to  be 
tapu,  and  in  consequence  the  water  running 
from  it  made  the  pot  tapu.  It  so  happened 
that  a  woman,  who  was  ignorant  of  the  cir- 
cumstance, used  the  pot  for  cooking,  and 
when  she  was  told  that  the  vessel  was  tapu 
she  was  greatly  frightened,  declaring  that  she 
would  die  before  night.  In  this  difficulty  a 
tohunga  came  to  her  relief,  repeated  an 
incantation  over  the  vessel,  and  made  it 
"  noa,"  or  common,  again. 

Sometimes  the  tapu  only  lasts  for  a  period, 
and,  after  that  time  has  elapsed,  expires 
without  the  need  of  any  ceremony.  Thus,  if 
a  person  who  is  tapu  by  sickness  is  touched 
by  another,  the  latter  is  tai)u  for  a  definite 
time,  usually  three  days.  If  a  sick  person  dies 
inside  a  house,  that  house  is  ipso  facto,  tapu 
and  may  never  again  be  used.  It  is  painted 
with  red  ochre,  as  a  sign  of  its  sanctity,  and 
is  left  to  decay.  In  consequence  of  this 
superstition,  when  the  patient  seems  likely 
to  die,  he  is  removed  from  the  house,  and 
taken  to  a  spot  outside  the  pah,  where  a  shed 
is  built  for  his  reception. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  account 
how  great  is  the  power  of  the  tapu,  and  how 
much  it  adds  to  the  power  of  the  cliiefa. 
Indeed,  without  the  power  of  tapu,  a  chief 
would  be  but  a  common  man  among  his 
people  —  he  would  be  liable  to  the  tapu  of 
others,  and  could  not  impose  his  own.  The 
tapu  is  one^oj'the  chief  obstacles  against  the 
„j-  <^u-.--x:._vL       Knowing  that  the 


spread  of  Christianity. 


missionaries  treat  the  tapu  as  a  mere  super- 
stition, the  great  chiefs  do  not  choose  to 
embrace  a  religion  which  will  cause  them  to 
lose  their  highest  privilege,  and  would  de- 
prive them  of  the  one  great  power  by  which 
they  exercise  their  authority. 

Mr.  Williams,  the  well-known  missionai-y, 
sums  up  the  subject  of  the  tapu  in  very  bold 
and  graphic  language:  — "  It  is  the  secret  of 
power,  and  the  strength  of  despotic  rule. 
It  aflects  things  both  great  and  small.  Here 
it  is  seen  tending  a  brood  of  ciiiekens,  and 
there  it  directs  the  energies  of  a  kingdom. 
Its  influence  is  variously  diffused.  Coasts, 
islands,  rivers,  and  seas;  animals,  fruit,  fish, 
and  vegetables;  houses,  beds,  pots,  cups,  and 
dishes;  canoes,  with  all  that  belong  to  them, 
with  their  management;  dress,  ornaments, 
and  arms;  thiiiM  to  eat  and  things  to  drink; 
the  members  of  the  body;  the  manners  and 
customs;  langutige,  names,  temper;  and  even 
the  gods  also;  all  come  under  the  influence 
of  the  tapu. 

"It  is  put  into  operation  by  religious, 
political,  or  selfish  mr;>  3s;  and  idleness 
lounges  for  months  bt..  ith  its  sanction. 
Many  are  thus  forbidden  to  raise  their  hands 
or  extend  their  arms  in  any  useful  employ- 
ment for  a  long  time.  In  this  district  it  is 
tapu  to  build  canoes;  on  that  island  it  is  tapu 
to  erect  good  houses.  The  custom  is  much 
in  favor  among  chiefs,  who  adjust  it  so  that 
it  sits  easily  on  themselves,  while  they  use 
it  to  gain  influence  over  those  who  are 
nearly  their  equals;  by  it  they  supi)ly  many 
of  their  wants,  and  command  at  will  all  who 
are  beneath  them.  In  imposing  a  tapu,  a 
chief  need  only  be  checked  by  a  care  that 
he  is  countenanced  by  ancient  precedents." 


THB 


We 
lonjr 
W 
dies, 
in  til 

pOS8( 

semi 
Tlie 
indu 
say  ( 
time 
bodi 
as  if 
time 
ingt 
8orr( 
wail 
theii 
M 
saril 
Nev 
so  r 
that 
cut  I 
inci! 
The 
ifth 
tatt< 
peri 
won 
that 
the 
face 
ther 
tanf 
tatt< 


CHAPTER  LXXXVn. 

NEW  ZEALASD  — Concluded. 


11 


rxmEKAL  CEREMONIES  AND  ABCHITECTTmB. 


THB  MOITRNINQ  OVER  THB  DEAD  CHIBF-THK  1  _TOt,  AITO  THB  SOABS  TTHICH  IT  USAVES - »IB8T 
BtmiAL  OF  THE  CHIEF  — THE  WAHl  TAPU  — THB  SECOND  BUBIAL,  OR  "  HAHUNOA "  —  BEMOVAI. 
OF  THB  TAPU,  AND  INSTALLATION  OF  THB  8UCCE8SOB  — B*  HONQl'S  DEATHBED  — A  DECAYINO 
PAH— CANOE  TOMBS  — MONUMENT  TO  b'TOKI- TOMB  OF  TE  WHERO-WHBBO'S  DAUOHTEB— SAV- 
AGE EBNTIMBNT  — MAOBI  ABCHITECTUBB  — MATEBLAL,  SHAPE,  AND  SIZE  OF  THB  H0U8BS  — A 
CROWDED  8L3EPINO  PLACE— THE  EAT  MAN  HOUSE  — BANOIHABATA'S  BBVENOE-PUATIA'S  WAB- 
H0U8B  AND  ITS  SCULPTURES  — INTERIOB  VIEW  OF  A  PAH  — TOOLS  USED  IN  HOUSK-BUILDINa 
—  THB  AXBl  AND  THB  CHISEL  — THB  TOKO-TOKO,  OB  WALKING  STICK. 


We  now  come  to  the  ceremonies  that  be- 
long to  I'unei  Ai.'i. 

WheE  a  chief,  or  indeed  any  Rangatira, 
dies,  his  friends  and  relations  deck  the  body 
in  tlie  finest  clothes  which  the  deceased  had 
possessed  in  his  lifetime,  lay  it  out,  and  as- 
semble round  it  for  the  customary  mourning. 
The  women  are  the  chief  mourners,  and 
indulge  in  the  most  demonstrative,  not  to 
say  ostentatious,  ebullitions  of  grief.  Some- 
times tliey  squat  upon  the  ground,  their 
bodies  and  faces  wrapped  in  their  mantles, 
as  if  utterly  overpowered  by  grief.  Some- 
times they  wave  their  arms  in  the  air,  shak- 
ing their  hands  with  expressive  gestures  of 
sorrow,  and  all  the  while  they  utter  loud 
wailing  cries,  while  the  tears  stream  down 
their  cheeks. 

Much  of  this  extravagant  sorrow  is  neces- 
sarily feigned,  according  to  the  custom  of 
New  Zealand  life,  which  demands  tears  on 
so  many  occasions;  but  there  is  no  doubt 
that  much  is  real  and  tru'  felt  The  women 
cut  themselves  severely  v.  .th  shells,  making 
incisions  in  the  skin  several  inches  in  length. 
These  incisions  are  filled  with  charcoal,  as 
if  they  had  been  part  of  the  regular  moko  or 
tattoo,  and  become  indelible,  being,  in  fact, 
perpetual  records  of  sorrow.  Some  of  these 
women  cut  themselves  with  such  severity, 
that  in  their  old  ago  they  are  covered  with 
the  thin  blue  lines  of  the  "  tangi,"  their 
faces,  limbs,  and  bodies  being  traver8ed_by 
them  in  rather  a  ludicrous  manner,  rhe 
tangi  lines  might  be  mistaken  for  regular 
tattooing,  except  for  one  point    They  have 


no  pattern,  and  instead  of  being  curved,  as 
is  always  the  case  with  the  moko,  they  are 
straight,  about  two  inches  in  length,  and  run 
parallel  to  each  other. 

They  address  long  speeches  to  the  dead 
man,  enumerating  nis  many  virtues,  his 
coiurage,  his  hberality,  the  strength  of  his 
tapu,  and  so  forth,  mixed  with  reproaches 
to  him  for  dyin^  and  going  away  from  them 
when  they  stood  in  such  need  of  him.  In- 
deed, the  whole  of  the  proceedings,  with  the 
exception  of  cutting  the  skin,  are  Very  like 
those  of  an  Irish  wake. 

In  the  illustration  No.  1,  on  the  872nd 
page,  are  shown  these  various  ceremonies. 
The  dead  body  of  the  chief  is  lying  under 
the  shed,  wrapped  in  the  best  mantle,  and 
with  a  coronal  of  feathers  in  the  hair.  In 
the  front  sits  a  chief,  whose  rank  is  de- 
noted by  his  hani,  or  staflf  of  oflSce,  that  lies 
by  him,  and  by  the  elaborate  mantle  in 
which  he  has  wrapped  himself.  Standing 
near  the  corpse  is  one  of  the  mourners,  wim 
arms  upraised  and  hands  quivering,  while 
others  are  seen  sitting  in  various  attitudes 
of  woe.  The  fence  of  the  pah  is  shown  in 
the  background,  with  its  grotesque  images 
and  curious  architecture. 

When  the  old  people  attend  a  funeral, 
they  usually  paint  themselves  freely  with 
red  ochre,  and  wear  wreaths  of  green  leaves 
upon  their  heads.  The  house  in  which  the 
death  took  place  is  rendered  tapu  until  the 
body  is  iinaiiy  disposed  of — an  event  Wtacu 
does  not  take  place  for  some  time. 

After  the  mourning  ceremoaies  have  beeii 


i 


870 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


completed,  the  body  is  placed  in  a  sort  of 
cottin  and  allowed  to  decay,  the  green  jade 
merai,  the  tiki,  the  hani,  and  other  emblems 
of  rank  being  placed  with  the  corpse.  In 
some  parta  of  the  country  this  coffin  is  oanoe- 
Bhaped,  and  suspended  to  the  branches  of  a 
tree,  certain  piivfces  being  kept  sacred  for  this 
purpose.  1  hf  re  existed,  for  example,  several 
graves  belonging  to  the  Nga-pui  tribe,  which 
had  been  preserved  on  account  of  the  sacred 


character  which  belonged  to  them.  The 
natives  had  long  abandoned  the  custom  of 
hanging  the  coffins  of  the  dead  on  the  trees, 
but  the  sacred  character  still  clung  to  them, 
and,  though  the  woods  in  that  part  of  the 
country  had  been  felled,  the  sacred  groves 
were  allowed  to  flourish  unharmed. 

Sometimes  the  body  of  a  very  great  chief 
was  placed  in  a  wooden  receptacle  in  the 
midst  of  the  pah,  called  the  wakitapu,  and 
there  allowed  to  decay.    As  might  be  ex- 
pected, a  most  horrible  odor  is  disseminated 
through  the  pah  during  the  process  of  decom- 
position; but  the  inhabitants  do  not  seem  to 
trouble  themselves,  their  nostrils  not  being  | 
easily  offended.    For  example,  when  a  whale 
is  thrown  ashore,  the  stench  of  the  huge 
mass  of  decomposition  is  so  ovorpowering 
that  an  European  cannot  endure  it    The 
natives,  however,  say  that  they  are  used  to  it, 
and  do  not  notice  it.    Indeed,  people  who 
can  eat  the  horrible  messes  of  putrid  maize 
of  which  they  are  so  fond  must  be  so  obtuse 
of  scent  as  to  be  indifferent  to  any  ill  odor. 
Be  it  as  it  may,  in  time  the  process  of 
decay  is  supposed  to  be  complete,  —  seven 
or  eight  months  being  the  usual  time.    A 
curioud  ceremony,  called    the  "hohunga," 
then  takes  place.    Tlie  friends  and  relatives 
of  the  deceased  chief  are  again  assembled, 
and  the  bones  are  solemnly  taken  from  their 
receptable  and   cleaned.    The   person  who 
cleans  them  is  necessarily  tapu,  but  is  ren- 
dered "  noa,"  or  common  again,  by  the  eldest 
son  and  daughter  of  the  deceased  chief  eating 
of  the  sacred  food  offered  to  the  dead.  Shouhi 
the  eldest  girl  happen  to  be  dead,  the  food  is 
placed  in  a  calabash,  and  laid  in   the  now- 
empty  coffin,  the  spirit  of  the  girl    being 
called  by  name,  and  the  food  offered  to  her. 
The  spirit  is   supposed  to   partake  of  the 
food;  and    the    tapu    is   thus    removed    as 
effectually  as  if  she  were  alive,  and  had  visibly 
eaten  the  provisions.    Should  the  chief  have 
had  no  daughter,  the  nearest  female  relative 
takes  the  office.    The  usual  orations  are  made 
in  honor  of  the  deceased  and  the  merai,  tiki, 
and  other  ornaments  of  the  dead  chief  are 
then  handed  over  to  his  eldest  son,  who  thus 
takes  possession  of  the  post  which  his  father 
had  vacated,  the  ceremony  being  analogous 
to  a  coronation  among  Europeans. 

When  the  celebrated  chief  E '  Hongi,  the 
"  Scourge  of  New  Zealand,"  as  he  has  been 
called,  died,  his  childrprs  v/rr."  s-o  afraid  that 
they  would  be  attacked  by  those  whom  the 
terror  of  bis  name  had  kept  quiet,  that  they 


wanted  to  omit  the  preliminary  orations 
"  tan^i,"  and  to  lay  his  body  in  the  "  wi 


and 
igi,"  and  to  lay  his  body  in  the  "  waki- 
tapu, or  sacred  place,  on  the  day  after  his 
death.  This  intention  was,  however  over- 
ruled, chiefly  in  consequence  of  the  foresight 
of  the  dying  chief.  " 

Feeling  that  his  end  was  close  at  hand,  he 
rallied  his  sons  round  him,  sent  for  all  his 
warlike  stores,  the  merais,  patus,  muskets 
ammunition,  and,  above  all,  the  armor  which' 
he  had  received  from  George  IV.,  and  be- 
queathed them  to  his  children.  He  was 
asked  what  "utu,"  or  satisfaction,  should  be 
exacted  for  his  death,  but  replied  that  the 
only  utu  which  his  spirit  would  desire  was, 
that  his  tribe  should  be  valiant,  and  repel 
any  attack  that  might  be  made  upon  them. 
But  for  this  really  noble  sentiment,  there 
would  have  been  great  slaughter  at  his  death, 
in  order  to  furnish  attendants  for  him. 

That  his  tribe  should  for  the  future  be 
valiant,  and  repel  the  attacks  of  their  en- 
emies, was  the  ruling  idea  in  E '  Ilongi's 
mind;  and  on  March  6, 1828,  he  died,  con- 
tinually repeating  the  words,  "Kia  toal  kia 
toal"— ».  c."Be  valiant!  be  valiant!  " 

After  the  ceremony  of  cleaning  the  bones 
18  over,  they  are  taken  by  the  principal 
tohunga,  or  priest,  who  generally  disposes 
of  them  m  some  secret  spot  sacred  to  the 
remains  of  dead  chiefs,  and  known  only  to 
himself.  Sometimes,  however,  they  are  laid 
in  beautifully  carved  boxes,  which  are  sup- 
ported on  posts  in  the  middle  of  the  pah. 

Sometimes  the  waki-tapu,  or  sacred  place 
in  which  the  body  of  a  chief  is  placed  while 
It  underjjoes  decomposition,  is  marked  in  a 
very  curious  manner,  and  the  entire  village 
deserted  for  a  time.    For  example,  at  the 
pah  of  Ilurewenua,  the  chief  had  died  about 
six  weeks  before  Mr.  Angas  arrived  at  the 
place,  which  he  found  deserted.    ''  Not  far 
from  this   island  pah  stood  the  village  of 
Iluriwenua,  the  gaily-ornamented  tomb  of 
the  late  chief  forming  a  conspicuous  object 
m  the  centre.    Here,  although  everything 
was  in  n  atate-of  perfect  preservation,  not  a 
living  soul  was  to  be  seen;  the  village,  with 
its  neat  houses  made  of  raupo,  and  its  court- 
yards and   provision   boxes,   Mas   entirely 
deserted.    From  the  moment  the  chief  was 
laid  beneath  the  upright  canoe,  on  whicli 
were  inscribed  his  name  and  rank,  the  whole 
village  became  strictly  tapu,  or  sacred,  and 
not  a  native,  on  pain  of  death,  was  permitted 
to  trespass  near  the  spot.    The  housis  were 
all  fastened  up,  and  on  most  of  the  doors 
were  inscriptions  denoting  that  the  property 
of  such  an  one  remained  there. 

"An  utter  silence  pervaded  (he  place. 
After  ascertaining  that  no  natives  were  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  forbidden  spot,  I  landed, 
and  trod  the  sacred  ground ;  and  my  footsteps 
w^ere  probably  the  first,  since  the  desertion 
Oi  the  Village,  that  had  echoed  along  its  pal- 
isaded passa«;cs. 
"On  arriving  at  the  tomb,  I  was  struck 


wmm 


ins  and 
"  waki- 
ter  his 
,  over- 
resight 

ind,  he 
all  his 
iiskets, 
wliieh 
lid  be- 
e  was 
uld  be 
at  the 
e  was. 
repel 
them, 
there 
death, 

ire  be 
ir  en- 
ongi's 
I,  con- 
>al  kia 

bones 
ncipal 
sposes 
:o  the 
nly  to 
•e  laid 
2  8up- 
ih. 

place 
while 
1  in  a 
illage 
it  the 
about 
it  the 
i>t  far 
ge  of 
nb  of 
)bject 
thing 
not  a 

with 
•ourt- 
tirely 

was 
vhieh 
vhole 
I,  and 
litted 
were 
:loors 
perty 

)Iace. 
re  in 
ided, 
steps 
rtion 
I  pai- 

ruclf 


(1.)    MOUKNINU  OVEK  A  DEAD  CHIEF.     (See  page  ««U.) 


;j.)   TOMIi   OK   E   TOKI.     (Sei-  pagv  873.) 
(»72) 


TOMB  OF  E'TOKI. 


tn 


P* 


Si 


T^^ 


with  the  contrast  between  the  monument  of 
the  savage  and  that  of  the  civilized  European. 
In  the  erection  of  the  latter,  marble  ami  stone 
and  the  most  durable  of  metals  are  employed, 
■while  rapidly  decaying  wood,  red  ochre,  and 
feathers  form  the  decorations  of  the  Maori 
tomb.  ILuriwenua  having  been  buried  only 
six  weeks,  the  ornaments  of  the  waki-tapu^ 
or  sacred  place,  as  those  erections  are  called, 
were  fresh  and  uninjured.  The  central 
ui)right  canoe  was  richly  painted  with  black 
and  red,  and  at  the  top  was  written  the  name 
of  the  chief;  above  which  there  hung  in  clus- 
ters, bunches  of  fcrtfca  feathers,  forming  a 
largo  mass  at  the  summit  of  the  canoe.  A 
double  fence  of  high  palings,  also  painted  red, 
and  ornamented  with  devices  in  arabesque 
work,  extended  round  the  grave,  and  at  every 
fastening  of  flax,  where  the  horizontal  rails 
were  att.ichod  to  the  upr'ght  fencing,  were 
stuck  two  feathers  of  the  albatross,  the  sunny 
whiteness  of  which  contrasted  beautifully 
with  the  sombre  black  and  red  of  the  re- 
mainder of  the  monument." 

One  of  these  tombs  may  be  seen  in  the 
background  of  illustration  No.  1,  on  p.  860, 
containing  the  portrait  of  an  old  priest,  and 
another  is  shown  in  the  view  of  a  village 
which  will  be  given  on  a  future  page. 

Within  the  pah  is  often  erected  a  monu- 
ment or  mausoleum  of  the  dead.  A  very 
beautiful  example  of  this  kind  of  tomb 
was  erected  in  the  pah  of  Rangihaeta  to  the 
memory  of  E'  Toki,  the  mother  of  Baupa- 
hara. 

It  was  nearly  semi-circular  in  shape,  and  the 
body  was  placed  in  it  in  an  upright  position. 
It  was  covered  with  a  roof,  squared  at  the 
corners,  and  projecting  like  a  verandah  all 
round,  and  sloping  toward  the  back.  The 
central  tomb,  the  roof,  and  the  posts  which 
supported  it,  were  all  covered  with  the  most 
elaborate  arabesque  pattern,  mostly  of  a 
spiral  character.  Paint  was  liberally  used 
on  it,  that  on  the  central  tomb  or  coffin 
being  red  and  white,  whi'e  that  which  dec- 
orated the  roof  and  posts  was  red  and  black. 
In  front  of  the  projecting  roof  was  hung 
•^e  beautifully  woven  kaitaka  mat  of  the  de- 
jt. .  sed  woman,  and  tufts  of  the  white  feath- 
ers of  the  albatross  were  arranged  at  regu- 
lar intervals  ujion  it 

Even  when  Mr.  Angas  saw  this  beautiftil 
example  of  Maori  art,  it  was  beginning 
to  decay,  the  climate  being  damp,  and  the 
natives  never  repairing  a  decaying  tomb. 
It  was,  of  course,  strictly  tapu.  No  native 
liked  to  go  close  to  itj  and  for  a  slave,  or 
even  a  free  man  of  inferior  rank,  to  go 
witliin  a  certain  distance  of  it  would  have 
been  a  crime  punishable  with  instant 
death. 

I  have  much  pleasure  in  presenting  on 
the  preceding  page  an  illustration  of  this 
beautiful  monument  of  Maori  art,  taken 
from  a  drawing  made  by  Mr.  Angas  in 
1844,   while  the  perishable    materials  of 


which  the  tomb  was  ma<lo  were  yet  in 
tolerable  preservation.  Under  the  ca-Tcd 
and  decorated  roof  may  be  seen  the  semi- 
circular cottln  in  which  the  body  had  been 
placed,  distinguished  from  the  outer  portion 
of  the  tomb  by  the  red  and  white  colors  with 
which  it  was  painted,  in  contrast  to  the  red 
and  black  of  tiio  outer  portions.  The  reader 
will  notice  tliat  red  is  the  prevalent  color  in 
all  tombs,  because  red  is  tlie  hue  of  mourn- 
ing as  well  as  of  war  among  the  Maories. 
Immediately  under  the  eaves  of  the  front 
may  be  seen  the  highly  ornamented  border 
of  the  kaitaka  mat  once  worn  by  the  de- 
ceased, and  now  left  to  decay  upon  her 
tomb. 

Bound  the  tomb  itself  runs  a  slight  and 
low  fence.  This  palisade,  small  as  it  might 
appear,  afforded  ample  protection  to  the 
tomb,  inasmuch  as  the  whole  space  within  it 
was  rendered  sacred  by  a  tapu  laid  upon  it 
by  Baupahara,  so  that  not  even  the  highest 
chief  would  venture  to  enter  the  forbidden 
enclosure. 

One  of  the  finest  specimens  of  carving  in 
New  Zealand  — perhaps  the  finest  in  the 
whole  country  —  is,  or  rather  was,  a  mau- 
soleum erected  by  Te  Whero-Whero  to  his 
favorite  daughter.  It  was  ujion  the  death 
of  this  daughter  that  Te  Whero-Whero  gave 
such  dire  offence  to  the  other  chiefs  by  threat- 
ening to  throw  their  scalps  into  his  daugh- 
ter's grave,  for  which  offence  he  had  to  give 
up  the  celebrated  armor  of  E'  llongi  by  way 
of  fine. 

The  monument  was  erected  in  Raroera, 
formerly  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  pahs 
in  New  Zealand,  but  rendered  desolate 
by  the  act  of  the  headstrong  and  determined 
chief.  He  had  this  wonderful  tomb  built  for 
his  daughter,  and,  as  soon  as  her  body  was 
placed  within  it,  he  pronounced  the  whole 
pah  to  be  tapu.  It  was  at  once  deserted: 
old  and  young  quitted  the  place,  leaving 
everything  behind  them,  the  provisions  to 
moulder  and  the  weapons  to  decay.  Solid 
houses  that  had  occupied  many  years  in 
building  and  carving  were  allowed  to  fall 
into  mere  shapeless  heaps  of  ruins;  and  even 
in  1844  the  rank  vegetation  had  so  com- 
pletely overrun  the  place  that  many  of  the 
best  pieces  of  native  work  were  covered  by 
the  foliage. 

The  tomb  is  about  twelve  feet  high,  and 
consists  of  the  usual  box  for  the  reception 
of  the  body,  covered  by  a  projecting  roof, 
which  is  supported  by  pillars.    Were  it  as 

fraceful  in  form  as  the  monument  to  E' 
'oki,  this  would  be  by  far  the  finest  spec- 
imen of  native  art;  but  unfortunately  it 
does  not  possess  the  bold  outline  and  con- 
trast of  the  curve  and  the  straight  line 
which  are  so  characteristic  of  E'  Toki's 
tomb. 

The  claboratioa  of  the  carving  on  this 
monument  is  so  great  tiiat  it  almost  baffles 
tiie  «1(U1  of  the  draughtsman.    Mr.  Angas 


874 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


' 


Bucoflcdod  In  copying  it,  and  when  the 
drawing  w»8  shown  to  the  artint  wlio  hnd 
executed  tlio  woric  he  wan  iwtoundcd,  ami 
nronoiiiiced  the  white  man  to  be  a  great 
tohungn.  The  roof  is  supported  by  nillars, 
each  pillar  conHisting  of  two  human  tigures, 
the  ujjper  standing  on  the  head  of  the  lower. 
The  upper  Hgure  is  about  seven  feet  in 
height,  and  has  a  gigantic  head,  with  an 
enormous  protruding  tongue  that  teaches 
to  the  breast. 

The  whole  of  the  tomb  is  covered  with  hu- 
man heads.  Exclusive  of  those  upon  the 
posts,  the  front  alone  of  the  tomb  contains 
fourteen  faces,  each  diil'ering  from  the  other 
in  expression  and  pattern  of  the  moko,  but 
all  wearing  the  same  defiant  air.  Their 
enormous  eyes  arc  made  peculiarly  conspic- 
uous by  being  carved  out  of  haliotis  shell, 
carrying  out  on  a  largo  scale  the  plan 
adopted  in  the  chiefs'  hanis  and  other  sculp- 
tures. The  whole  of  the  space  between  the 
figures  is  covered  with  the  most  elaborat« 
arabesques,  intertwining  with  each  other  in 
a  bewildering  manner,  but  each  running  its 
own  boldly  curved  course.  Between  the 
various  pieces  that  compose  this  tomb  are 
set  bunches  and  tufts  of  white  and  green 
feathers,  which  serve  to  adorn  as  well  as  dis- 
guise the  necessary  seams  of  the  wood- 
work. 

This  wonderful  monument  was  entirely 
carved  by  one  man,  named  Paranui.  He 
was  lame,  and  in  consequence  had  expended 
his  energies  in  art,  in  which  ho  nad  so 
greatly  distinguished  himself  that  ho  took 
rank  as  a  tohunga.  He  was  equally  cele- 
brated as  a  tattooer;  and  it  may  well  be 
imagined  that  a  man  who  could  design  so 
extraordinary  a  piece  of  workmanship  must 
bo  skilful  in  mventing  the  endless  variety  of 
patterns  needful  in  the  decoration  of  chiefs 
faces.  In  performing  this  work,  Paranui 
had  but  one  tool,  the  head  of  an  old  bayo- 
net. ' 

The  loss  of  such  specimens  of  native  art 
a.s  those  which  have  been  described  carries 
out  mjr  former  remarks  on  the  necessity  for 
removing  to  our  own  country  every  memo- 
rial of  savage  life  that  we  can  secure.  We 
inflict  no  real  injury  upon  the  savages,  and 
we  secure  an  invaluable  relic  of  vanishing 
customs.  These  monuments,  for  example, 
were  simply  carved  and  then  left  to  decay. 
Had  they  been  removed  to  this  country, 
where  they  would  have  been  guarded  from 
the  power  of  the  elements  and  the  encroach- 
ments of  vegetation,  we  should  have  seen 
them  in  complete  preservation  at  the  pres- 
ent day,  and  likely  to  last  aa  long  as  the 
building  which  contained  them. 

Of  course  the  sentimental  argument  may 
l>e  pleaded  against  this  view  of  the  case; 
but  in  matters  which  are  of  vital  impor- 
tance in  the  grand  study  of  SinthFO'>ck>:rv 
more  sentiment  ought  to  hare  no^pkice. 
Neither  has  it  such  place  aa  somo  often 


Imagine.  The  savage,  flnding  that  the 
white  man  yields  to  liim  on  litis  point,  is 
only  Uio  glad  to  find  any  vanlago  ground, 
and  always  presses  on  n»  fust  uh  tlui  other 
yields — just  as  has  been  done  in  India  with 
the  question  of  c.wte.  Wo  cannot  measure 
their  mental  sensibilities  any  more  than 
their  piiysical  by  our  own.  A  savage  en- 
dures with  stoicism  tortures  which  would 
kill  an  £uro])ean,  simply  beenuso  he.  does 
not  feel  them  as  much.  And  tlu!  mental 
and  physical  sensibilities  are  very  much  on 
a  par. 

The  Maori  is  perhaps  the  finest  savage 
race  on  I  face  of  the  earth,  and  yet  we 
cannot  think  tlint  he  is  exactly  an  cKlimablo 
being,  whose  ambition  is  murder,  and  whose 
reward  is  to  eat  the  body  of  his  victim,  who 
never  does  a  stroke  of  work  that  he  can 
avoid,  and  who  lends  a  life  of  dissipation  as 
far  as  his  capabilities  go.  Of  all  savage 
nations,  the  New  Zealander  displays  most 
sorrow  for  the  loss  of  a  friend  or  relation. 
Tears  flow  prof\isely  from  his  eyes,  ami 
every  tone  of  his  voice  and  every  gesture 
of  his  body  convey  the  impression  that  ho 
is  borne  aown  by  unendurable  woe.  Yet 
we  have  seen  that  this  eflusion  of  sorrow  is 
mostly  premeditated,  and  merely  a  conven- 
tional mode  of  acting  required  by  the  eti- 
quette of  the  country. 

When  two  people  can  be  bathed  in  teqrs, 
speak  only  in  sobbing  accents,  utter  heart- 
rending cries,  and  sink  to  the  ground  as 
overwholmed  by  grief,  wo  cannot  but  com- 
passionate their  sorrow  and  admire  their 
sonsibiUty.  But  if,  in  the  middle  of  all 
these  touching  demonstrations  of  grief,  we 
see  them  suddenly  cease  from  their  sobs 
and  cries,  enter  into  a  little  lively  conversa- 
tion, enjoy  a  hearty  laugh,  and  then  betake 
themselves  afresh  to  their  tears  and  sobs,  we 
may  take  the  liberty  of  doubting  their  sin- 
cerity. 

So  with  those  beautiful  houses  and  monu- 
ments that  are  left  to  perish  by  neglect. 
The  builder  did  in  all  probability  feel  very 
keenly  at  the  time,  though  the  feeling  of 
grief  seems  sometimes  to  take  a  curious 
turn,  and  be  metamorphosed  into  vengeance 
and  an  excuse  for  war;  but  it  is  very  much 
to  be  doubted  whether  grief  for  the  departed 
is  a  feeling  that  is  really  permanent  in  the 
savage  mind.  The  Maori  chief  may  lay  liis 
tapu  on  an  entire  village  when  a  relative 
dies,  and  if,  after  the  lapse  of  years,  any  one 
be  rash  enough  to  invaae  the  forbi(lden  pre- 
cincts, he  will  visit  the  oflence  with  instant 
punishment.  But  it  mu.st  be  remembered 
that  the  infringement  of  the  tapu  in  ques- 
tlDn  is  not  an  insult  to  tho  dead  but  to  the 
living,  and  that  when  the  chief  punishes  the 
offender,  he  docs  not  avenge  an  affront 
offered  to  his  dead  relative,  but  a  direct 
insult  to  himself. 

In  spite  of  his  sentiment,  I  think  that  the 
Maori  might  have  been  induced  to  sell  such 


MAORI  ARCHITECTURE. 


Bhccimcns  of  nrt,  and  even  if  ho  mftidod  to 
yield  to  »noli  a  proposition,  he  would  Imvc 
re8pe(at>(l  us  nono  tho  lesii  if,  wlion  wo  hftd 
Cftpturod  n,  pah,  w«  cxorcioed  the  rl^ht  of 
conquest,  rtnd  took  thiU  whii-h  wo  could  not 
buy.  Or  oven  HupposhiK  tlwt  tho  llrst  Idou 
Imd  prov.'d  hnpriM^tiiuihlo,  and  tho  second 
unadvisiihlc,  it  would  not  huvo  been  very 
dilllcult  to  have  induco<l  a  native  nrtiNt  to 
cxocuto  II  duplicatu  which  lie  could  hoII  for  a 
price  which  would  enrich  him  for  lite. 

Such  Hcutimonts  are,  I  know,  unpopular 
with  tlie  u»vas  of  those  who  only  seo  the 
RRva-'c  at  a  distance,  which  certainly,  in  the 
case'of  Bava!?n  life,  lends  tho  only  enchant- 
ment to  tho  view  that  it  can  possess.  Hut  I 
believe  thoiu  to  bo  just  and  true,  and  know 
that  the  closer  is  our  acquaintance  with 
sava^i!  life,  the  more  rensun  wo  have  to  bo 
thanlcful  for  civilization.  Tlio  8avai?o  knows 
this  hinisi'lf,  and  bitterly  foels  his  inferi- 
ority. He  hiites  and  fears  tho  white  man, 
but  always  ends  by  tryin;?  to  imitate  him. 

To  return  to  these  monuments.  In  for- 
mer tininfl  they  existed  in  j?reat  numbers, 
and  even  in  more  recent  days  those  which 
survive  are  so  characteristic  of  a  stylo  of  art 
that  may  have  taken  its  rise  ft-om  ancient 
Mexico,  that  I  should  have  boon  glad  to 
transfer  to  these  pages  several  moro  of  Mr. 
Angas'  sketches. 

It  will  bo  seen  from  several  of  the  pre- 
vious illustrations  that  tho  New  Zoalanders 
must  possess  much  ekill  in  architecture. 
The  observant  reader  must  have  remarked 
that  the  art  of  houso-buildinj?  is  practically 
wanting  in  Australia;  and  that  such  should 
be  the  case  is  most  extraordinary,  seeing 
that  architectural  skill  is  singularly  devel- 
oped among  the  great  Polynesian  families. 
The  New  Zoalander,  whoso  country  has 
mucK  in  common  with  Australia,  is  remark- 
able for  tho  skill  and  taste  which  he  displays 
in  architecture;  and  a  short  space  will  there- 
fore be  devoted  to  this  subject. 

As  is  tho  caso  throughout  Polynesia  in 
general,  tho  material  used  in  house-building 
LS  wood,  and  the  various  pieces  of  which  a 
iiouse  is  composed  aro  fastened  together  not 
l)y  nails,  but  by  ropes  and  strings,  which 
in  many  cases  are  applied  in  a  most  elabo- 
rate and  artistic  manner,  beauty  being  stud- 
ied not  only  in  tho  forms  of  tho  houses  and 
in  tho  carved  patterns  with  which  they  are 
adorned,  but  m  tho  complicated  lashings 
with  which  they  are  bound  together.  As, 
however,  this  branch  of  or  'amontal  archi- 
tecture is  carried  to  a  grealnf  extent  in  Fiji 
than  in  New  Zealand,  I  shall  reserve  the  de- 
tails for  the  description  of  tho  Fiji  Islands. 

The  size  of  some  of  these  edifices  is  ver3r 
great.  For  example,  in  1843  the  Maori 
converts  built  for  themselves  a  place  of  wor- 
ship large  enough  to  contain  p.  tho»s»r.d 
persons,  and  measuring  eighty-six  feet  in 
length  by  forty-two  in  width.  The  size  of 
43 


this  odiflco  was  evidently  dotormincd  by  the 
length  of  the  ridgo-polo.  This  w«a  out 
from  a  single  tree,  and  won  dragued  by  tho 
natives  a  distance  of  throe  miles.  Tlie 
eroHH-luf  hings  of  the  building  were  all  orna- 
mental, giving  to  it  ft  peculiar  riuhuoas  of 
tinish. 

Wo  are,  however,  chiefly  concerned  with 
tho  domostic  architecturo  of  tlie  Maorios. 
Within  each  pah  or  euclosud  village  are  a 
number  of  houses,  eiush  representing  a 
family,  and  soparutod  from  each  other  by 
fences,  several  houses  generally  standing 
near  each  other  in  one  enclosure.  A  full- 
si/.ed  house  is  about  forty  I'eet  long  by 
twenty  wide,  and  is  built  on  precisely  tho 
saiho  principle  as  the  tombs  which  have 
been  just  described,  tho  actual  hoi'so  taking 
the  position  of  the  coffin,  and  being  shel- 
terea  fVom  tho  weather  by  a  gable  roof, 
which  extends  far  beyond  tho  walls,  so  as  to 
form  a  sort  of  verandah.  The  roof  is  sup- 
ported on  separate  posts,  and  does  not,  aa 
with  ourselves,  rest  upon  tho  walls  of  tho 
house.  The  roof  always  projects  greatly  at 
tho  princii)al  end  of  the  house,  in  which  tho 
door  is  situated,  so  tliat  it  forms  a  sort  of 
shed,  under  which  the  members  of  tho 
family  can  shelter  themselves  trom  the  sun 
or  rain  without  going  into  the  house.  A 
genuine  New  Zealander  has  a  great  love  for 
fresh  air,  and,  as  we  have  seen,  will  com- 
posedly sit  for  a  whole  day  on  the  wet 
ground  in  a  pouring  rain,  although  a  house 
may  be  within  easy  reach.  Yet  a*;  night, 
when  he  retires  to  rest,  ho  is  equally  fond  of 
shutting  himself  up,  and  of  excluding  every 
breath  of  fresh  air. 

Indeed,  tho  native  does  not  look  upon  a 
house  as  a  place  wherein  to  live,  but  merely 
as  a  convenient  Hhelter  from  tlie  elements 
by  day  and  a  comfortable  sleeping-plade  b^ 
night.  As  soon  as  evening  is  near,  a  flro  is 
liglitcd  in  tho  middle  of  tho  house,  which 
fills  it  with  smoke,  as  there  is  no  chimney. 
Tho  New  Zealander,  however,  seems  to  bo 
smoke-proof,  and  sits  composedly  in  a  place 
which  would  drive  an  European  half  mad 
with  smarting  eyes.  Indeed,  before  tho 
natives  become  inured  to  tho  acrid  vapor, 
their  eyes  have  much  to  endure,  and  it  is  to 
the  habit  of  t'dting  in  the  smoke  that  the 
bleared  look  so  prevalent  in  old  people  is 
chiefly  due. 

Not  only  do  the  natives  thus  surroimd 
themselves  with  a  smoky  atmosphere,  but 
they  limit  its  quantity  as  well  as  its  quality. 
The  number  of  men  and  women  that  will 
pack  themselves  into  one  house  at  night  is 
almost  incredible,  each  person  lying  down 
on  a  simple  mat,  and  retaining  the  same 
clothes  that  have  been  worn  during  the  day. 
As,  however,  the  heat  becomes  excessive, 
the  inmates  generally  contrive  to  throw  off 
fi!t.h;>!r  clothin*^  durinsT  the  nicrht.  By  day- 
break  the  heat  and  closeness  are  almost  sti- 
fling to  an  £uropean,  and  it  ia  rather  ail. 


876 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


i'ii: 


atnuHin^  diaht  to  nee  n  hut  f^lvo  up  itn  in- 
iiiatuH  oil  tint  morniiiK  of  n  coUl  ilny,  thu 
wholo  pirrty  Ituiiic  (itivi'Topod  in  stoam  ua  tUuy 
coiiin  into  i\w  cold  nir. 

At  tlu)  pririci|ml  ciiil  of  tli«  hoUHO,  uii" 
dcr  tho  vtu-iiiiilitli,  in  tho  piitranc*!.  Tliiit 
Btrun^i'ly  rt'Hrtiililcn  tlic  friitcot'nii  Kgyptian 
toni|>li<,  boinj?  inmlo  of  tliruo  iarg«  iioaniH, 
tlio  two  Hl(io  poMtH  KiiKlitiy  inclining  to  eiu:li 
otiier,  aiid  tiio  tliir<l  iaicf  upon  tlicni.  Tlio 
fti)i'rturo  is  clom-d  i)y  iv  Hli(iiii}{  door,  and  nt 
tlui  (ddo  of  tliti  door  is  jjcntiraily  a  Hquiiro 
window,  wliicli  can  t)o  ploxcd  in  tlus  siinui 
manner.  In  some  liirRc  lioUHcn  tlicro  wciO 
two  of  tlu!8o  windowH,  ono  on  cither  side  of 
tho  door. 

Ah  tl»o  roof  is  riindo  witli  a  conHidcrp.blo 
slant,  tlie  walls  are  scildom  more  than  two  or 
tlirpol'ect  lii}j;h  wIktc  tho  roof  touches  thcin, 
though  in  tho  niiddlo  tho  house  is  lotly 
onouRh.  Tho  roof  is  8upporte<l  on  the  inside 
by  ono  or  two  jio-sfs,  wliich  aro  always 
carved  elaborately,  and  almost  invariably 
have  tho  human  ilgure  as  ono  of  the  orna- 
ments u])on  them.  The  ridgo-polo  is  flat- 
tened and  boardiike,  and  in  go(Ml  houses  is 
carved  and  painted  in  ijattorns,  usually  of  the 
spiral  character.  This  board,  as  well  as 
those  which  are  used  in  dilferent  parts  of  the 
building,  is  made  by  hacking  tho  trunk  of  a 
tree  on  both  sides,  until  it  is  recluccd  to  the 
required  thickness,  tho  native  Maorics  hav- 
ing no  tool  which  can  answer  tho  purpose  of 
a  saw. 

At  tho  end  of  tho  ridge-pole,  over  the 
door,  is  carved  a  distorted  human  figure,  in- 
tended to  represent  the  owner  of  tho  house, 
and  recognized  as  such  by  the  lines  of  tlie 
moko  or  tattoo  on  its  face,  and  generally 
having  the  tongue  thrust  out  to  an  inordinate 
extent 

An  illustration  on  page  877  represents 
the  most  celebrated  of  all  Maori  houses, 
namely,  the  war  house  of  the  ruthless  chief 
Rangihaeta,  an  cdilice  which  fully  expresses 
the  ferocious  character  of  the  builder. 
These  houses  are  designed  by  chiefs  in  honor 
of  some  great  victory,  and  are  surrounded 
with  wooden  figures,  which  either  represent 
in  derision  tho  leading  warriors  of  tho  en- 
emy who  have  been  killed,  or  tho  victorious 
chief  and  his  own  warriors  in  tho  act  of  de- 
fying and  insulting  tho  enemy  by  thrusting 
out  their  tongues  at  them.  Tliis  house  bears 
the  ominous  name  of  Kai-tangata,  or  Eat- 
man. 

The  illustration  is  taken  fVom  a  sketch 
made  by  Mr.  Angas,  who  describes  the  build- 
ing as  follows:  "Kai-tangata,  or  Eat-nmn 
House,  Is  a  wooden  ediflco  in  the  primitive 
Maori  style,  of  large  dimensions,  with  the 
door-posts  and  the  boards  forming  the  por- 
tico curiously  and  elaborately  carved  in  gro- 
tesque shapes,  representing  human  figures. 


Tho  tongues  of  all  those  fl, 
HtrouRly    large,   and 
mouth,  us  a  mark  of 
I'nemies    wlu> 


nuiy 


0  moH' 
nrutrudo  out  of  tho 
(li'fiunco  toward  their 
approach    the    house. 


The  whole  of  the  ctu-ved  work^  as  well  as 
tho  wooden  parts  of  the  build. ng,  are  col- 
ored red  witit  kok-owui,  an  oclire  found  prin- 
cipally on  the  side  of  the  volcano  of  Tarau- 
aki. 

"The  portico  or  verandah  of  Haiigihacta's 
house  is  about  twelve  feet  tlrcp,  and  tho 
ridge-pole  and  frame  boards  of  the  roof  aro 
richly  painted  in  spiral  arabcsciucM  of  black 
and  red;  tint  margin  of  each  spiral  being 
dotted  with  white  snots,  which  add  rich- 
ness to  the  eflV'ct.  Tlie  spaces  between  tho 
woodwork  are  filled  up  with  variegated 
reeds,  beautifully  arranged  with  great  skill, 
and  fastened  together  with  strips  of  tlax 
dyed  red,  and  tied  crosswise,  so  as  to  nre- 
sent  tho  appearance  of  ornamental  basket* 
work. 

"Above  the  centre  of  the  gable-roofed 
portico  is  fixed  a  large  wooden  liead,  elabo- 
rately tattooed,  with  hair  and  a  beard  fas- 
tened on,  composed  of  dogs'  tails.  Within 
tho  house  is  a  carved  inuige  of  nuist  hideous 
asi)ect,  that  supports  the  ridge-i)ole  of  tho 
roof.  This  is  intiaided  to  reiyreseut  tho 
proprietor,  and  is  said  by  the  natives  to  bo 
entirely  tho  work  of  l{angihaeta's  own 
hand." 

This  figure,  together  with  the  polo  that 
issues  from  tho  head,  may  be  seen  in  illus- 
tration No.  1,  on  jjuge  800,  which  repre- 
sents the  interior  of  the  house.  On  account 
of  the  circumstance  recorded  in  the  begin- 
ning of  this  description,  the  artist  h''%  been 
unable  to  draw  a  vast  number  of  carvings 
which  decorated  this  house,  so  that  much  of 
the  extraordinary  elaboration  is  necessarily 
omitted. 

Uangihaeta  displayed  his  merciless  'dis- 
position in  ono  of  tho  unfortunate  skir- 
mishes which  often  took  place  between  tho 
Maories  and  the  English,  and  which  have 
afterward  been  equally  regretted  l)y  both 
parties,  the  white  men  having  generally  of- 
fered an  unintentional  insult  to  the  na- 
tives, and  tho  latter  having  resented  it  in 
the  heat  of  ))assion.  On  this  occasion,  a  num- 
ber of  the  white  men  had  been  captured  by 
the  Maories  under  the  two  chiefs  Rangi- 
haeta and  Raupahara,  who  were  related  to 
each  other  by  marriage,  the  former  having 
married  a  daughter  of  the  latter.  Some  time 
prcvioiKsly,  this  woman  had  been  accidentally 
killed  by  a  chance  shot,  which,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  lier  relations  insisted  on  considering 
as  intentional. 

While  the  prisoners  and  their  capturers 
were  standing  together,  another  chief  uamed< 
Puatia  tried  to  ni.iko  peace,  8.iying  that  the 
slain  on  both  sides  were  about  equjil.    Ilia 


frequently  in  the  most  indecent  attitudes.  |  proposition  was  accepted,  the  lately  opiios- 
The  eyes  are  inlaid  with  pawa  shell,  and  ing  parties  shook  hands,  and  all  would  liavo 
itke  tattooing  of  the  faces  is  carefUlly  cut.  I  gone  well   had  they  not  been  Joined  by 


1 


(J.)    INTKKIOU  OK  A    PAH  OK   VIl.LAOi:.     («««-'  P«i;«  »'«•) 
(477) 


INTERIOR  VIEW  OF  A  PAH. 


879 


Rangihacta,  who  had  been  employing  him- 
self in  the  congenial  task  of  killing  all  the 
wounded.  He  immediately  demanded  the 
lives  of  the  prisoners,  and  when  llaupahara 
refused  to  accede  to  his  demand,  Rangi- 
hacta told  him  to  remember  his  daughter. 
The  bereaved  chief  was  silent  at  this  im- 
plied reproach,  and,  before  he  had  time 
to  collect  his  thoughts,  Rangihacta  gluleil 
round  the  party,  getting  behind  ea(!h  ot 
the  captives  as  they  stood  among  the  Alao- 
ries,  and  killed  them  successively  with  his 
mcrai.  The  ubiquitous  land  question  was  at 
tho  bottom  of  this  sad  business. 

Houses  like  the  Kai-tangata  were  for- 
merly common,  answering  the  purpose  of 
the  ancient  trophies.  A  war  house  nearly 
as  celebrated  as  that  which  has  just  been 
described  was  erected  by  Puatia,  the  chief 
of  OtawhaoPah,  in  order  to  commemorate 
the  capture  of  Makctu  on  the  east  coast. 
Since  Puatia  died,  the  whole  of  this  splendid 
pah  was  rendered  tapu,  and,  in  consequence, 
the  buildings  within  it  were  given  up  to 
decay.  Mr.  Angas  was  fortunate  enough  to 
secure  a  sketch  of  the  war  house  before,  like 
the  rest  of  the  buildings  in  the  pah,  it  had 
entirely  decayed. 

The  house  itself  is  perhaps  scarcely  so 
neatly  made  as  the  Kai-tangata,  but  it  de- 
rives great  interest  from  the  number  of 
figures  with  which  the  beams,  rafters,  and 
posts  are  decorated.  On  either  side  of  the 
verandah  stand  two  huge  wooden  figures, 
which  are  intended  to  represent  two  chiefs 
who  fell  in  battle,  but  who,  as  belonging  to 
the  victorious  side,  are  represented  with 
their  tongues  defiantly  menacing  the  beaten 

enemy.  ,  ^    ,      i 

The  figure  that  supports  the  central  pole 
represents  a  chief  who  was  one  of  the  prin- 
cii)al  warriors  at  the  capture  of  Maketu.  At 
the  height  of  six  and  ten  feet  respectively, 
on  the  same  pole,  are  carvings  which  repre- 
sent two  other  warriors,  their  moko,  or  tat- 
too, doing  duty  for  the  whole  of  the  person. 
Still  higher  are  a  couple  of  figures  repre- 
senting warriors,  the  upper  figure  appear- 
in<T  to  stand  on  the  roof  itself.  Just  within 
the  upper  part  of  the  gable  is  the  figure  of 
Pokana,  a  warrior  who  was  living  at  the 
time  when  the  house  was  built,  and  who 
is  represented  with  a  pipe  in  his  mouth. 
Around  the  house  are  numbers  of  similar 
fi.'ures,  each  representirg  some  well-known 
individual,  and  having  a  signification  which 
is  perfectly  well  understood  bv  the  natives. 

It  was  in  this  ruined  pah  of  Otawhao  that 
the  disused  wooden  war-bell  was  found. 
The  former  owner,  Puatia,  was  con/erted 
to  Christianity  before  his  death,  and,  while 
he  lay  sick  within  his  pah,  he  had  a  school 
established  for  the  purpose  of  disseminating 
Chfistirtnity,  and    used  to  call  his  people 


contempt  with  which  the  Maories  regard 
everything  that  pertains  to  the  preparation 
of  food,  cooking  is  never  carried  on  in  the 
dwelling-houses.  If  possible,  it  is  conducted 
in  the  open  air;  but  when  the  weather  is  too 
wet  or  too  windy,  a  shed  is  employed.  "Ihese 
cooking  sheds  arc  built  expressly  for  the 
nurpose,  and  no  one  with  any  claims  to  rank 
ever  enters  within  them.  Were  no  shelter 
but  a  cooking  shed  to  be  found  within  miles, 
the  Maori  chief  v/ould  not  enter  it,  no  mat- 
ter how  severe  the  weather  might  be. 

The  cooking  sheds  are  built  very  simply, 
the  sides  or  walls  being  purposely  made  with 
considerable  interstices,  so  that  the  wind 
mav  pass  freely  between  then;i.  They  are 
roofed  with  beams,  over  which  is  placed  a 
thatch  of  the  raupo  rush.  As,  among  other 
articles  of  diet,  the  putrid  maize  is  prepared 
in  these  sheds,  the  European  traveller  is 
often  L'lad  to  find  that  the  abominable  mess 
will  be  cooked  at  a  distance  from  him. 

Some  of  the  larger  pahs  contain  a  great 
number  of  houses,  and  several  of  them  are 
inhabited  bv  at  least  two  thousand  people. 
Civilization  has  at  the  present  day  exercised 
great  influence  upon  the  pahs,  and  reduced 
them,  as  a  rule,  to  fortresses  rather   than 
villages.    In  many  districts  the  use  of  the 
pah  lias  been  practically  abandoned,  those 
natives  who  wish  to  be  at  peace  devotinj^ 
themselves  to  the  cultivation  of  the  ground 
and  living  in  scattered  houses,  without  car- 
ina for  the  protection  of  the  fence.  _ 
^he   illustration  No.  2,  on  page  877,  is 
taken  from  a  sketch  by  Mr.  Angus  repre- 
senting the  interior  of  a  pah  as  seen  by  him 
in  1844.    One  or  two  of  the  houses  are  seen 
scattered  about,  adorned  with  the  grotesir'.e 
figures  of  which  the  Maori  is  so  fond,  am,. 
having  several  of  the  inmates  sitting  under 
the  shelter  of  the  deep  verandah.    Rather 
in  the  background- arc  one  or  two  of  the  in- 
genious and  beautifully  carved  storehouses, 
?n  which  food  is  protected  from  the  rats,  and 
on  one  side  is  a  great  wooden  tiki  projecting 
from  the  ground.    Jusi  behind  the  large 
storehouse  is  seen  the  curious  monument 
that  marks  the  waki-tapu,  or  sacred  burial- 
place  of  a  chief,  a  half  canoe  being  planted 
m  the  ground  and  painted  with  elaborate 
patterns  in  red,  the  color  for  mourmng  and 
war  among  the  New  Zealanders. 

Groups  of  the  natives  may  be  seen  scat- 
tered about,  conspicuous  among  whom  is 
the  council  that  is  sitting  in  the  loregrouiKl, 
under  the  presidency  of  the  seated  chiol, 
whose  haul,  or  staff  of  office,  mailcs  his 
diffiiitv  A  slave  woman  is  seen  working  at 
her  task  of  beating  the  flax  leaves;  and 
wanderinsi  promiscuously  about  the  pan,  or 
lying  comfortably  asleep,  are  the  pigs,  witU 
which  every  village  swarms. 


round  him  for  the  morning  and  evening 
It  has  been  mentioned  that,  owing  to  the 


We  now  come  to  the  tools  with  which 
the  Maori  performs  all  this  wonderful, 
amount  of  carpentering  and  carving. 


880 


NEW  ZEALAND. 


■I 


Looking  at  the  results,  we  might  naturally 
fancy  that  the  dusky  arcliitect  possessed  a 
goodly  array  of  tools;  but,  in  fact,  his  tools 
are  as  few  and  simple  as  his  weapons,  and 
may  be  practically  considered  as  two,  tlie 
adze  and  the  chisel.  On  the  next  page  an 
example  of  each  is  drawn,  the  artist  having 
taken  care  to  select  the  best  and  most  valu- 
able specimens;  the  blades  being  formed 
from  tlie  precious  green  jade,  and  the  han- 
dles carved  elaborately,  so  as  to  be  worthy 
of  the  valuable  material  from  wliieh  the 
blades  are  shaped. 

As  may  be  imagined,  these  tools  cannot 
have  very  sharp  edges  given  to  them,  as 
the  brittleness  of  the  stone  would  cause  it 
to  chip  into  an  edge  like  that  of  a  bad  saw, 
and  in  consequence  the  worst  iron  axe  is  a 
far  better  tool  than   the   best  specimen  of 
green  stonework  that  a  Maori  ever  made. 
At  No.  3  may  be  seen  one  of  the  common 
"  tokis,"  or  stone  axes,  that  were  formerly 
so  much    used    in    building    canoes.     The 
specimen  from  which  it  is  drawn  is  in  my 
collection,  and  I  have  selected  it  for  illustra- 
tion because  it  jjives  so  excellent  an  idea  ot 
the  structure  ot  the  tool,  and  the  mode  of 
fastening  the  blade  to  the  handle.     This  is 
achieved  in  a  very  ingenious  manner,  and 
although  it  scarcely  seems  possible  to  secure 
the  requisite  firmness  by  a  mere  lashing  of 
string,  the   Maori   workman   has  contriVed 
to  attach  the  blade  as  firmly  as  if  it  h.-id 
been  socketed. 

This  mode  of  fastening  the  blade  to  the 
handle  prevails  over  the  greater  part  of  the 
Polynesian  group,  and,  although  the  elabo- 
ration of  the  lashings  varies  considerably, 
the  principle  is  exactly  the  same  through- 
out. The  same  plan  prevails  even  in  Bor- 
neo, and  tliere  is  in  my  collection  a  boat- 
builder's  adze,  the  iron  blade  of  which  is 
lashed  to  the  socket  in  precisely  the  same 
manner,  the  only  diflerencfi  being  that  split 
rattan  is  employed  instead  of  string.  The 
reader  will  notice  the  peculiar  shape  of  the 
adze-edge,  which  is  exactly  that  of  the  in- 
cisor tooth  of  any  rodent  animal.  Whether 
the  maker  intentionally  copied  the  tooth 
is  doubtful,  but  that  he  has  done  so  is  evi- 
dent. 

Tools  such  as  these  are  necessarily  im- 
perfect; yet  with  these  the  Maories  pa- 
tientl^y  executed  the  elaborate  and  really 
artistic  designs  which  they  once  lavishe"d 
on  their  dwellings,  their  canoes,  their  weap- 
ons, and  their  tools.  They  could  not  even 
make  a  walking  stick  but  they  must  needs 
cover  it  with  carvings.  There  is  in  my  col- 
lection, and  illustrated  at  fig.  4,  a  rcmarkablv 
flue  example  of  such  a  walking  stick,  called 
lu  the  Maori  tongue  "  toko-toko,"  which  was 
presented  to  me  by  Stiverd  Vores,  Esq.    Ae 


the  reader  may  see  from  the  illustration 
It  IS  ornamented  with  six  complete  human 
figures,  and  a  human  face  on  the  knob  of 
the  handle.  The  portions  of  the  stick  that 
come  between  the  figures  are  comi)lelelv 
covered  with  carving,  and  the  only  plain 
surface  is  that  which  is  intended  to  be 
grasped  by  the  hand. 

The  six  figures  are  in  three  pairs,  set 
back  to  back,  and  those  of  each  ])air  exactly 
resemble  one  another.  A  distinct  grada- 
tion  is  observed  in  them,  the  upjiermost 
pair  having  their  faces  most  elaborately 
tattooed,  the  middle  pair  being  less  orna- 
ihented,  and  the  lowermost  pair  bavin"  a 
comparatively  simple  tattoo.  In  the  posi- 
tion of  the  heads  there  is  also' a  distinction, 
which  I  believe  to  have  some  signification 
known  to  tlie  carver.  The  upper  pair  have 
the  left  liand  laid  on  the  breast,  and  the 
right  hand  pressed  to  the  lips;  the  middle 
pair  have  the  left  hand  still  on  the  breast, 
and  the  right  fingers  toucliing  the  throat; 
while  the  Jower  figures  have  both  hands 
clasjied  on  the  breast. 

All  the  figures  arc  separated,  except  at 
the  backs  of  the  heads,  the  hijis,  and  the 
heels,  where  they  touch  each  other;  so  that 
the  labor  expended  -u  this  stick  has  been 
very  great. 


^^  E  now  take  farewell  of  this  interesting 
race  — a  race  which  is   fast  waning  away, 
and  will  soon   perish  altogether.    No  New 
Ze.^lfinder  will  ever  sit  on  the  broken  arches 
of  London  RridM,  and  contemplate  the  ruins 
of  &t.  Paul's.    The  Maori  is  f:ist  disappear- 
ing, and  in  a  comjiaiatively  few  years  it  is 
certain  that  not  a  Maori  of  jiure  blood  will 
be  found  ill  the  islands;  and  before  a  cen- 
tury   has    elapsed,    even   the    characteris- 
tic tattoo   will  be  a  renumbrance  of  the 
past,  of  which  the  only  memorials  will  be 
the  dried  heads  that  have  been  preserved 
in   European   museums.    It  is  pitiful   that 
such  a  race  should  be  passing  away;  but 
its  dccatlence  cannot  be  arrested,  and  in 
a  short  time  the  Maories  will  be  as  com- 
pletely extinct  as  the  people  of  the  stone 
age,  leaving  nothing  but  their  manufactures 
as  memorials  of  their  existence.    Such  me- 
morials,   therefore,  ought  to  be  sedulously 
preserved.    Every  piece  of  genuine  native 
carving  that  can  be  found  in  New  Zealand 
ought  to  be  secured  and  brought  to  Eng- 
land, where  it  can  be  preserved  for  future 
ages,  and,  with  the  isolated  specimens  that 
are  scattered  in  private  houses  throughout 
the  country,  oujjht  to  be  gathered  together 
in  some  central  museum,  where  they  can 
be    accessilile   to    all   who    interest  them- 
selves   in    the    grand    science    of   authro- 
pology. 


(1.   MAOUI    PADDLES. 

(Sii'  page  Sd4.) 


COUHON   STONE  ADZB. 

(See  pagtf  bW.) 


(4.)  TOKO-rOKO. 
(See  page  680.) 


i 


(8»1) 


PC 


k 
o 
a 
P 

c 

1) 
1 
l 
l 


CHAPTER  Lxxxym. 


NEW  CALEDONIA. 


POSITION  AND  „nn»N9ION9  OF  NT.W  CA.KnON.A- APr^ARANCE  ANP  DRBS8  OP  ^  ^™«-;™ 
DANCNa  MA8K -NATIVE  ARCHITECTURE  -  BMOKE  AND  M«««"'™«'' -7„^™'' "  ^^ "'''"* 
^EAPONa-THE  8UNO  AND  THE  BPEAR-MODE  Or  THROW.NO  ^""^  J''^^"-^"^  "^^.^Jf 
"AMENTUM"  OF  THE  ANCIENTS -SHAPE  OF  THE  CLUB-OHJECTS  OF  WAR-CANNI.^™- 
THE  KNIFE  AND  FORK-DIET  AND  COOKERY  IN  OENERAL-THE  NOUOUI  «™-»^«''=  «^ 
DRINKINO- CHARACTER  OP  THE  NEW  CALEDONIANS  -  AN  INGBNI0U8  TaEFT-TUK  KATA-TUE 
ISLE  OF  PINES,   AND  ITS  INHABITANTS. 


East  of  Australia  is  a  tolerably  large  island 
known  by  tbe  name  of  New  Caledonia.  It  is 
of  no  very  great  e.Ktent,  but  is  inhabited  by 
a  people  who  deserve  a  short  notice  in  these 
paj»(!s. 

The  new  Caledonians  are  nearly  black  m 
color,  and  in  general  form  and  appearance 
bear  some  rcsemblanco  to  the  aborigines  of 
Tasmania.    They  are,  however,  better  look- 
in?,  and  wear  altogether  a  less  savage  aspect, 
piv)bal)ly  on  account  of  the  comparatively 
regular   supplies   of  food  which   they  can 
obtain.    Tht  .  are  of  ordinary  stature,  but 
one  man  was  seen  who   measured  rather 
more    tlian   six  feet  in  height.    His  form, 
however,  was  ill  proportioned.    They  wear 
scarcely  any  dress,  the  men  having  ^  ^nerally 
a' sing'  •  leaf  hanging  from  their  girdles,  or 
Jit  the  most  a  strip  of  soft  bark  answering 
the   purpose   of  drawers,  while    the    adult 
women  wear  a  narrow  fringed  girdle,  which 
passes  several  times  round  the  waist. 

Their  hair  is  woolly  and  short,  but  at  a 
distance  many  ()f  them  would  be  taken  for 
long-haired  people,  in  consequence  of  a  habit 
of  making  artificial  tresses  some  two  feet  in 
length,  out  of  grass  and  the  hair  of  a  bat. 
Rome  of  these  appendages  are  so  long  that 
they  fall  to  the  middle  of  the  back.  Round 
the" head  is  sometimes  lied  a  small  net  with 
wide  meshes,  and  the  chiefs  wear  an  odd 
sort  of  a  hat.  These  hats  are  cylindrical,  and 
dcconited  with  a  large-  circular  ornament  at 


that  hangs  down  the  back.  The  hat  forms 
no  protection  to  the  head,  having  no  crovn 
to  it,  and  is  only  used  as  a  mark  of  rank. 

The  natives  also  make  a  sort  of  mask,  very 
in<Tcniously   cut    out  of  wood,  having  the 
mouth  open  and  the  eyes  closed.    The  wearer 
looks,  not  through    the  eyes,  but   through 
some  apertures  which  arc  made  iu  the  upper 
part  of  the  mask.     It  is  supposed  that  these 
masks  are  employed  in  war,  when  the  com- 
batants desire  to  disguise  themselves  from 
their  opponents.   This  however,  is  only  a  con- 
jecture.   I  have  little  doubt  that  the  wooden 
"mask  described  and  figured  by  D'Entrccas- 
teaux  is  nothing  more  than  an  ornament  used 
in    the    native    dances.     It  is,  in   fact,  the 
"  momo,"  which  is  described  by  more  recent 
travellers.    "When  complete,  the  "  momo  "  is 
decorated  with  plumes  of  feathers,  long  tufts 
of  hair,  and  a  thick,  coarse  network,  which 
does  duty  for  a  beard,  and  descends  as  far  as 
the  knees  of  the  wearer. 

A  mask  made  in  a  precisely  similar  manner 
is  used  liythe  natives  of  "Vancouver's  Island, 
bnt  is  employed  by  them  in  their  dances. 
One  of  these  masks  is  in  my  collection,  and 
will  be  described  in  the  course  of  the  work. 
Ear  ornaments  of  variouskinds  are  in  favor 
among  the  New  Caledonians,  and  some  of 
the  natives  enlarge  the  hole  in  the  lobe  to 
such  an  extent  that  it  forms  a  long  loop,  the 
end  of  Wiiich  falls  on  the  shoulders.  Oc- 
casionallv.  they  try  the  pilasti(;ity  of  the  ear 


dcconited  with  a  lar^e-  nrv.mr  ornamrnr,  at  cap-onaiiv,  mev  iry  .,,«  „.»«.  .,...y  w.  ...v,  .«. 
each  side,  a  plume  of  feathers  at  the  top,  and  too  much,  and  tear  it  completely  through 
a  long  drooping  tuft   of  grass   and  hair  1  Any  thing  seems  to  be  worn  in  the  ears,  and 

(883) 


884 


NEW  CALEDONIA. 


when  a  New  Caledonian  cannot  find  a  suit- 
able ornament  ho  Alls  up  the  ear  with  a  leaf 
or  a  roll  of  bark.  Thev  do  not  tattoo  them- 
selves but  draw  black  lines  across  the  brejist 
with  cliarcoal,  the  lines  being  bri)ad,  and 
traced  diagonally  across  the  breast.  ■  Neck- 
laces of  various  kinds  are  worn,  and  these 
ornaments  bear  a  certain  resemblance  to 
those  of  New  Guinea,  consisting  principally 
of  a  twisted  strin-  to  which  is  suspencled  a 
shell  or  piece  of  bone,  carved  in  a  manner 
•wiilch  the  natives  are  pleased  to  consider  as 
ornamental. 

nn^l\W*  Vf/'""^  .""^  '"*'"  Pos^'^ss  thick 
and  stiff  beards,  these  hirsute  ornaments  are 
generally  removed,  the  hair  being  pulled  ui, 
by  the  roots  by  means  of  a  pair  ofsfiells  used 
in  lieu  of  tweezers. 

Architecture  ainong  the  New  Caledonians 
IS  infinitely  superior  to  that  of  Australia  and 
111  some  reelects  almost  equals  that  of  New 
/iealand.  The  houses  are  conical  in  shape, 
and  often  rcichfi-om  ten  to  elevcx:  feet  h 
height  m  the  middle. 

.  The  principle  on  which  the  huts  are  built 
IS  perfectly  simple.  The  native  architect 
begins  by  (Iiggiug  a  hole  in  the  ground,  and 

Fn  il'"f.  "'  '\  '''•''^°"*  P'''"'  so'»e  «ftecn  feet 
in  length,  and  nine  or  ten  inches  in  circum- 
Icrence.  A  number  of  smaller  poles  or 
rafters  are  set  in  the  ground  around  the 
8  andard  or  central  pole,  their  bases  being 
planted  in  the  earth  and  their  tips  leanini^ 
against  the  standard.  Smaller  branches  arS 
nterwoven  among  the  rafters,  and  the  whole 

}xftole^\^!;ilr-"°'^* '''''-'  ^-•^"'^- 

These  simple  wails  arc  often  several  inches 
in  tluckness;  and  as  the  natives  spread  thick 
mats  on  the  floor,  they  are  well  slJltereS 
irom  the  weather. 

th'^^ff^T'''T°  \^  ^^""y  «™»"'  "ever  above 
three  feet  in  height,  and  on  occasions  can  be 
closed   with   a  rude   door   made    of  palm 
branches.    Some  of  the  latter  kind  of  huts 
have  regular  door-posts,  on  which  are  carved 
rude  mutations  of  the  human  face.    A  fire 
1.S  almost  always  kept  burning  inside  the  hut, 
not  so  much  lor  the  sake  of  warmth  or  for 
culinary  purposes,   as  to  form  a  defence 
against   mosquitoes.    Smoke,   therefore,  is 
encouraged;  and,  though  it  may  be  the  lesser 
ot  two  evils.  It  forms  a  great  drawback  to  the 
comfort  of  Europeans,  who  can   defy   the 
mosquitoes  by  their  clothes,  and  can  protect 
«iomselves  at  night  by  means  of  curtains. 
I  he  central    post   of  the    house    is  mostlv 
decorated  with  shells,  and  carved  at  the  ton 
mm  the  shape  of  a  human  being. 

Each  house  is  usually  surrofindod  with  a 
fence  some  four  or  five  feet  in  height,  and 
viithm  the  hut  there  is  a  curious  piece  of 
lurniture  which  gives  to  the  rude  habitation 
quite  a  civilized  look.  This  is  a  wooden  shelf 
suspended  by  cords  exactly  like  our  hanging 
bookshelves.  It  is  huns;  abont  four  fcPt  ft^om 
the  ground,  but  as  the  cords  are  very  sUght,  I 


it  can  sujiport  only  a  trifling  weight.    The 
native  name  for  this  shell'  is  "  paite." 


mimarv  f  ^  .proceed  from  domestic  to 
military  life,  and  dev(,tea  small  sijaco  to 
warlarc  among  the  New  Caledonians 

It  IS  very  remarkable  that  among  Ibeso 
naked  and  peculiarly  savage  cannibals  wo 
should  find  two  of  the  weapons  of  war  which 
were  in  greatest  favor  .unong  (he  civili/e 
Romans  of  the  classic  times.  ^'TheseTre  U.o 
shng  and  the  javelin,  the  latter  being  cast  ly 
a  peculiar  arrangement  of  a  thong,  sS  that,  in 
point  o  fact,  the  New  Caledonian  warrior 
does  not  only  sling  th-i  stone,  but  the  spear 

^^  "fe  these  weajions  in  order,  the 

fiH'  hrst,  as  being  the  simpler  of 

the  t  iajions. 

The  construction  ot  the  sling  or  "  wondat  " 
as  the  natives  call  it,  is  very  simple,  ih'c 
weapon  being  merely  a  doubled  thoiW  with 
a  pouch  in  the  middle,  in  which  the  stone  is 
placed  This  pouch  is  m.ade  of  two  small 
cords  laid  side  by  side,  and  as  the  smooth 
stone  might  slip  out  of  it,  the  slinger  always 
wets  the  missile  in  his  moufh  before  placiii"- 
it  in  the  Douch.  The  stones  are  cut  out  of  a 
hard  kincl  of  steatite,  which  can  take  a  good 
polish  They  are  oval  in  shape,  and\are 
carefully  ground  down  by  friction,  the  sur- 
lace  becoming  very  smooth  in  the  process 

Ihirty  or  forty  of  (In^se  stones  are  kept  in 
a  small  net,  which  is  fastened  to  the  left  side 
of  the  slinger    In  illustration  No.  1,  on  pa-^e 
HJd,  one  ol   the  warriors  is  seen  with  his 
s  ing  m  his  hand,  and   the   net   filled  with 
stones    fastened    to    his  side.      When   the 
slinger  wishes  to  hurl  a  stone,  he  does  not 
waste   tune  and  strength  by  whirling  the 
slin^  round  and  round,  but  merely  giv"es  it 
one  half  turn  in  the  air,  and  discharges  the 
mis.sile  with  exceeding  force  and  wonderful 
accuracy  of  aim.    In   consequence  of  onlv 
giving  one  half  tura  to  the  sling,  the  stones 
can  be  hurled  nearly  as  fast  as  they  can  be 
thrown  b-  M„.  hand, and  the  weapon  is  there- 
lore  an     ,>  eedingly  formidable  one  in  the 
open  held  when  tire-arms  are  not  opposed  to 

It*  , 

We  now  come  to  tlic  spear,  or  rather 
javelin.  ' 

This  weapon  is  of  very  great  length,  some 
specimens  measuring  fourteen  or  fifteen  feet 
from  butt  to  point;  and  unless  the  warrior 
were  able  to  supplement  the  natural  streUL'th 
I  ot  his  arm  by  artificial  means,  he  would  not 
he  able  to  throw  the  spear  more  than  a  few 
yards.    He  has  therefore  invented  an  -nstru- 
ment  by  which  he  can  hurl  this  long  and  un- 
wieldly  weapon  to  a  considerable  distance, 
llie  princjiile  on  which  this  instrument  is 
formed  is  identical  with  that  of  the  Austra- 
lian throw-stick,  but  there  is  a  dilference  in 
the  application.     The   Australian    throw- 
suck  IS  straight,  rigid,  and  is  applied  to  the 
butt  of  the  spear,  whereas  the  implement 


CANNIBALISM 


885 


used  by  the  Now  Caledonian  \s  flexible, 
elastic,  and  applied  to  a  spot  a  little  behind 
the  middle  of  the  spear.  . 

This  inatnimenl  is  ingeniously  simple,  it 
is  nothing  more  than  a  plaited  cord  or  thonc 
made  of  a  mixture  of  cocoa-nut  fibre  and 
fish-skin.  It  is  a  foot  or  more  in  length,  anU 
is  furnished  at  one  end  with  a  knob,  while 
the  other  is  worked  into  a  loop.  This  elas- 
tic cord  is  called  by  the  natives  ounep. 
When  the  warrior  desires  to  throw  a  spear, 
he  slips  the  loop  over  the  forefinger  of  Ins 
ri"ht  hand,  and  allows  it  to  hang  in  readi- 
ness for  the  spear.  As  soon  as  the  time 
comes  for  the  spear  to  bo  thrown,  the  man 
balances  the  weapon  for  a  moment  so  as 
to  find  the  middle,  and  then  ca,sts  the  end 
of  the  thong  round  it  in  a  sailor's  halt-hitch, 
drawing  it  tiglit  with  his  forefinger. 

As  long  as  pressure  is  thus  kept  upon 
the  thong,  it  retains  its  hold  of  the  spear; 
and  as  soon  as  it  is  released, "  the  hall-hitch 
gives  way  and  allows  the  spear  to  iree  itsolt. 
The  mo(lo  of  throwing  is  therefore  evident. 
The  warrior  holds  tlic  loop  of  the  thong  on 
his  forefinger,  the  rest  of  the  hand  grasping 
the  spear.  As  ho  throws  the  weapon,  he 
loosens  the  hold  of  his  hand,  and  so  hurls 
the  spear  by  means  of  the  thong. 

The  classical  reader  will  doubtless  re- 
member that  this  thong  or  "  ounep  "  is  pre- 
cisely the  "  amentum  "  of  the  ancients,  but 
is  actually  superior  in  its  construction  and 
manipulation.  The  amentum  w.is  simply  a 
loop  of  cord  or  leather  fastened  to  the  shaft 
of  the  javelin  just  behind  the  balance. 
When  the  warrior  wished  to  throw  a  spear, 
he  grasped  tlie  shaft  in  his  hand,  inserted  his 
finders  in  the  loop,  and  by  means  of  the  addi- 
tional leverage  was  able  to  throw  a  heavy 
weapon  to  a  considerable  distance.  See,  for 
example,  Ovid's  Metamorphoses,  xii.  321: 

"  Inserit  ann>nti)  iliRitos,  noo  j[)lura  locutus, 
lu  juvouem  torait  jaculuiu; 

In  English,  "  He  inserted  his  fingers  into 
the  amentum,  and,  without  saying  more, 
whirled  tlie  dart  at  the  youth."  Commen- 
tators have  been  extremely  perplexed  about 
this  pa>jsage.  In  the  first  place  they  were 
rather  uncertain  as  to  the  meaning  of  the 
word  "  amentum,"  and  in  the  second  place, 
they  could  not  see  the  force  of  the  word 
"  torsit,"  i.  e.  whirled.  The  reader  will, 
hrwever,  see  how  perfectly  appropriate  is 
the  term,  the  spear  being  flung  with  a  whirl- 
in,"  movement  as  a  stone  from  a  sling.  The 
same  word  is  used  by  Virgil:  "  Intendunt 
acres  arcus,  amentaque  torquent."  Another 
writer  also  alludes  to  this  instrument: 

"  Amontnm  digitis  tende  prioribiiH, 
Et  totig  juculura  dUiigo  vlribus;" 

;*.  e.  "  Stretch  tbo  amentum  with  your  first 
fingers,  and  aim  the  javelin  with  your  full 
strcngtli," 


Ingenious  as  was  the  amentum  of  the 
ancients,  the  ounep  is  far  superior  to  it 
With  the  ancients  a  separate  amentum  had 
to  be  fixed  to  each  spear,  while  among  the 
New   Caledonians  only  one  ounep  is  re- 

Besides  these  weapons,  the  club  is  much 
used,  and  great  ingenuity  is  shown  m  its 
manufacture.  The  shape  and  size  of  the 
clubs  are  extremely  variable,  and  in  some  of 
them  the  natives  have  exhibited  a  surpris- 
ing amount  of  artistic  skill,  the  curves  being 
singularly  bold  and  (lowing.  One  of  these 
clubs,  which  is  indeed  a  typical  ibrin,  is  in 
mv  collection.  The  form  of  the  head  is 
evidently  taken  from  the  beak  ot  a  bird,  and 
the  curves  are  exceedingly  bold  and  sweep- 
in  <».  It  is  rather  more  than  three  feet  in 
length,  and  it  weighs  almost  exactly  two 
pounds  and  a  half.  .    -vt      -» 

War  is  in  New  Caledonia,  as  in  New  Zea- 
land, the  chief  occupation  of  the  men.    The 
first  lessi)n  that  a  child  receives  is  hghting, 
and  the  idea  is  prevalent  with  him  as  long 
as  he  lives.    As  soon  as  he  is  born,  the  boy 
is  consecrated  to  the  god  of  war,  and  a  hard 
black  stone  is  laid  on  his  breast,  as  a  symbol 
that  his  heart  must  be  as  hard  as  a  stone  in 
battle.  Even  the  women  take  a  share  in  the 
fi.'hting,  and,  though   they   are  not  actual 
combatants,  they  follow  their  relatives  to 
the  battle,  in  order  to  seize  the  bodies  or 
slain  enemies,  and  drag  tliem  away  to  the 
cookin<'  oven.    Strife  is  always  fomented  by 
the  piTests  from  interested  motives,  inas- 
much as  the  hands  of  the   slain   arc  their 
perfiuisites,  and  among  the  connoisseurs  in 
cannibalism  the  palms  of  the  hands  are  the 
most  delicate  portions  of  the  human  body. 

Primarily  the  New  Caledonians  are  can- 
nibals because  they  are  warriors,  the  body 
of  a  dead  enemy  being  always  supposed  to 
be  eaten  by  the  victors.  There  is  mostly 
a  fi'dit  over  the  body  of  a  fallen  war- 
rior,"the  one  party  trying  to  drag  it  away  to 
the  cooking  oven,  and  the  other  endeavor- 
in"  to  save  it  for  burial  by  themselves. 

As  a  rule,  however,  the  body  is  carried  oft 
by  the  women,  who  have  the  task  of  cook- 
iii"  it.  The  preparation  of  the  l)ody  is  quite 
a  ceremonial,  each  part  of  it  belonging  by 
right  to  certain  individuals,  and  evon  the 
ciu-ving  being  regulated  by  strict  rules.  A 
peculiar  kind  of  knife  is  made  of  flat  serpen- 
tine stone,  oval  in  form,  and  about  seven 
inches  in  lengtb.  Two  holes  are  bored  on 
one  side  of  it,  by  means  of  which  it  is  fas- 
tened to  a  wooden  handle.  This  knife  is 
called "  nboijet."  ,    ,  ,        , 

With  the  nbouet  the  body  is  opened,  and 
the  whole  of  the  intestines  are  torn  out  by 
means  of  a  fork  made  expressly  for  the  pur- 
pose. This  fork  is  composed  of  two  human 
armbones  placed  side  by  side,  about  ah  hich 
apart,  and  fastened  tightly  together.  ^  Thejr 
are  sharply  pointed,  and  arc  vorv-  uiicctuai 
instruments  for  Uio  purpose.    SometimeB 


h 


«ie  bodies  nre  cnt  up  for  cooking,  but  in 
many  cases  they  a.i  bukod  entiVe,  the 
women  piuhng  themselves  in  serving  them 

iTA'/ir^""'"*^  r*""'"'  f"™">">d  a«id  dressed 
in  lull  war  costume. 

Thus,  then    we  see   that  c.innibalism  In 

U    "nor."';'-\TI'"''''  '^"t  "nlortnrtely 

iJ  Jinlrecasteaux  went  la  search  of  LaPe 
roMc.ono  of  the  natives  was  eating  a  newly- 
roastetl  piece  of  meat.  The  uaUiralist  to 
the  expedition  i.nmediately  recog  "e  it  as 
being  part  of  the  body  of  a  child.^  The  man 

of  a  mfi  h    ''y.""  ''"'"'^''^  °"t  "»  the  bodj 
ot  a  ht  le  boy  the  pari  of  the  body  which  hi 

ZT  ^''^T  ?."'*  P^'«  ^»«  '•^''irprs  to  under- 
8tr..d  that  the  ifesh  of  children  was  very 

This  cannibalism  of  Now  Caledonia  ex- 
plained some  curious  gestures  which  the  na- 
tives were  fond  of  making.  They  used  to  bo 
very  fa„,i,iar  with  their  white  'CVfe^l- 
]ng  their  arms  and  legs,  looking  at  each 
other  with  admiration,  and  tli«rwhistbn" 
and  sinacking  their  lin's  loudly.  Ii  p^"  of 
lac  they  were  admiring  the  iell-fe  1  !„£ 
of  the  white  men,  and  anticipating  to  each 

Europoauf"^'''  °'"'^^^*  "l'«"  '^^  P'"»'P 

tlK^Vnw  p'T']  "'•'''  '«  ''"*  "  '"^"ry  among 
«  i„r  1  <^''*l<'''o''''i»s,  and  cannot  be  con" 
sulered  as  an  ordinary  article  of  diet     he 

v;t>Hb;^'^'l'  '^^'^y^'^^  tl'^iroxistenco  on 
vegetable  food.    Roots  of  various  kinds  are 

SerfS'it  nn'tf  ^^'^^"^  cocoa-muaml 
woik  i.  ^„n  "r  ^«"k.ng,  as  well  as  the 
Vfoik  in  general,  being  performed  hv  *i.n 
^vomen.  Shell-fi^h  arelilso  much  olteif,  ad 
are  procured  by  the  women.  The  lar"o 
SZt'nn/'^^"'^'-^  ""  '^'^  shores  of  [ilc 
wHVl,  '^  supplies  abundance  of  food; 
ont  rff  ""''''!:  molluscs  are  mostly  dug 

snen  1  t''l/'''"^''^  ''^™^"'  ''^''^  frequently 
water.  ^^  "^   ^^^   ^'''-'''"  ^^'''''«'«  '» 

Two  very  strange  articles  of  diet  are  in 

uVThV""'  ^/''  C..ledonians.  The  fi,;" 
IS  a  sort  of  spider,  which  spins  larse  and 

tr-lveiw/  "  'l\'  ^'°"''^,'  "f^^"  in— oding 
travellers  by  the  number  and  strength  of 
the  silken  cords.    They  are  not  eaten  mw 


NEW  CALEDONIA. 


]>!.(  /.^Ai  1  i  V  :'""=J' »"«  not  eaten  raw, 
but  cooked  by  being  placed  in  a  eovered 
earthen  jar,  which  Ts  set  on  a  brisk  fire 

"  iou"u  "'\f"  ''''  r^''''  V  ">«  """^"  of 
.coverfd  with  1  r  ^'^^^^^^^^  the  back  being 

'it  i^s  black.  "^^""^  ''''"'"'  ''"'^  ^"^""'^ 

H  J  n';?-*'''""''  •n'""'''*'  *''■  '^'^* '«  '=>'*V,  of  which 
•rfn?  ^u*-"^'"  consume  a  great  amount. 
The  earth  m  question  is  a  soft  greenish 
steatite,  which  crumbles  very  oasfly  and 
has  the  property  of  distending  the  stomach 

fi?n  ^TuT  "^"^  ^'••''^'"g«  of  hunger,  even 
though  it  does  not  nourisK  the  bodv.  A  wol  1- 
u^teadcd  stomach  is  one  of  the  great  lux- 
uries of  a  savage,  and,  iu  accordance  wUh 


«  ovtite  wice  as  large  as  his  flst,  even  though 
!  be  had  just  taken  a  full  meal.  Some  of  the 
natives  have  been  known  to  cat  as  much  as 
two  pounds  of  this  substance-.  A  s  n  In? 
ffilca.^  '"  ^"""'^  ^"''^  '"  AfHnrand 
When  they  drink  at  a  pool  or  river  tbov 
have  an  odd  lashion  of  dipping  tlie  water 
with  their  hands,  and  tlinglng  h  to  eir 
mouths,  so  that  much  more  wafer  is  s plaS 
over  their  heads  than  enters  their  nmutbs 

fJinv''''"'"'''/"  "'"  •^"'''''■''  "f  those  who 
lall  in  war,  and  are  rescued  from  the  en- 
emv,  many  ceremonies  are  eniiiloyed  Ac 
corduig  to  Captain  Head,  in  his  "  Voya-e  of 
the ^/-aitV'  they  are  "brought  home  with 
loud  lamentations,  and  buried  with  creat 
wailing  and  shrieking  from  the  niij.ointed 
mourners,  who  remain  unclean  often  for  sev- 

are  I'^hZfi'  *'"''''"^'  "  «'''^^"t  chief,  and 
are  subject  to  many  strict  observances. 
For  weeks  they  continue  nightly  to  waken 
the   forest  echoes  with  their  cries.     After 

W*l?o'i '"?/■' •'?'!''  *'"'  1^'^'-''  i«  opened, 

And  the  bead  twisted  oil';  and,  again   n  this 

cuistom  resembl  ng  the  Andaman  island"  s 

he  teeth   are  di>stribut,.d   as  relies  among 

the  relatives,  and  the  skull  preserved  as  a 

memorial    by  the    nearest   k^in,  who   da  1? 

goes    hrough  the  form  of  oiloring  it  food.    ^ 

•  rhe   only  exceptions  are  in  the  case  of 

the  remains  of  old  women,  whr.se  teeth  are 

sown  ,„  the  yam  pateh..s  as  a  charm  to  pro- 

duce  good  croj,s;  their  skulls  set  up  ,/pon 

Spect"'"°  ''''"'"'  "^"""^  P"**'"t  "^  tl"" 
The  general  character  of  the  New  Cale- 
donians seems  to  be  tolerably  crood  and  in 

of  their  visitors,  they  are  not  on  the  whole 
inhospitable.  They  are  clever  tl.i,.^TS  and 
are  ingenious  m  robbery  by  means  of  an 
accomphco  On  one  occ.,si6„,  when  a  na- 
tive was  oflering  for  sale  a  basket  full  of 
sling-stones,  and  was  clmfferiuif  about  the 
price,  an  accomplice  came  quietly  behind  the 
white  man  and  uttered  a  loud  yell  in  hi  eaS 
Naturally  startled,  he  looked  behind  him 
and  inamoment  the  man  with  whom-  ho  was 
inS-nfv"''*?''-''  '''"■•"JJ'"'^  basket  and  tl^ 

w"«i tiKm'^ ""  '•"'''''*"^"^' "'"'  •■•''»  ""••'^y 

One  of  the  officers  was  robbed  of  bis  cm 

and  sword  in  an  equally  ingenious  manner 

He  had  seated  himself  on  the  ground,  and 

for  bettor  security  had  placed  his  sword 

under  him.    Suddenly  one  of   (he  natives 

snatched  off  his  cap,  arid  as  he  instimthely 

rose  to  rescue  it,  .another  man  pieked  ui,  his 

sword  and  escaped  with  it.     ThVy  e,  en  tried 

to   stcnl   a  ship's   boat,  togetheV  with  the 

ropertyinit,nnd  would  not  leave  it  until 

sanorl"'^  """'-•ked  by  a  strong  body  of  armed 

They  make  very  good  canoos  —  as,  indeed 

IS  generally  the  case  with  islaudm.    The 


THE  ISLE  OP  PINES. 


887 


largest  (■  noes  nrn  moslly  double,  two  bonis 
bciujj  |)i  ced  alotijj.siilo  of  each  other,  and 
conuectuvl  by  a  platt'onu.  Tliey  luivo  a  sin- 
gle must,  wliieli  is  stepped  toward  one  end 
of  the  eoniijounil  vessel,  and  can  sail  with 
consi(leral)le  swil'tuess,  thouifh  tliey  are  not 
80  in;in;i,:^i'a))lo  as  those  ot  New  Guinea, 
some  of  whicii  are  marvels  of  bout-l)uild- 
ing.  llicy  can  accommodate  a  considera- 
ble numbia'  of  passengers,  and  have  cen- 
t-rally a  lire  buriiinji;  on  the  platform,  whicli 
is  protected  from  the  heat  by  a  thick  layer 
of  earth. 

A  rather  remarkable  custom  prevails 
nmoiis;  them,  which  derives  its  chief  inter- 
est from  the  fact  that  it  is  practised  in 
Northern  Asia.  This  is  the  Kata,  or  scarf 
of  felicity.  It  is  a  little  scarf,  of  white  or  i 
red  material;  and  when  two  persons  meet  j 
they  excbango  their    katas  —  a  ceremony  | 


which  is  analogous  to  shaking  hands  among 
ourselves. 

Wlicther  these  savages  are  the  aborigines 
of  the  island  is  doubtful.  If  they  bo  so, 
they  seem  to  have  declined  from  tlie  com- 
parative civilization  of  their  ancestors. 
This,  indeed,  is  their  own  opinion;  and,  in 
support  of  this  theory,  they  point  to  the 
rums  which  are  still  to  be  seen,  and  which 
tell  of  architectiu'e  far  beyond  the  power  of 
the  present  natives.  Tliere  are  even  the 
remains  of  an  acpieduct  eight  miles  in  length, 
a  jiieco  of  engineering  which  would  never 
iiavo  entered  the  head  of  the  New  (Caledo- 
nian of  the  present  day.  Perhaps  these  works 
of  art  may  have  been  constructed  by  immi- 
grants, who  have  since  left  them  to" perish; 
l)ut,  in  any  case,  their  prosonco  iu  such  a  spot 
is  most  remarkable. 


THE  ISLE  OF  PINES. 


SoMK  thirty  miles   to 
New  Caledonia,  and  .in  fa 


the  south-east  of 
fact  forming  part  of 
the  same  group,  there  is  a  small  island, 
called  by  Captain  Cook  the  Isle  of  Pines, 
in  couse(iuence  of  the  number  of  araucarias 
with  which  its  hills  are  covered.  The  strait 
bct.veen  the  Isle  of  Pines  and  New  Cale- 
donia i)roper  is  nearly  all  shoal  water,  caused 
by  the  numerous  coral  reefs. 

In  many  respects  the  inhabitants  of  this 
island  resemble  those  of  New  Caledonia. 
They  are  not,  however,  so  dark,  and  their 
features  are  tolerably  good.  They  are  can- 
nibals from  choice,  wrapping  up  the  bodies 
of  the  dead  in  banana  leaves,  and  then 
cooking  them  in  ovens.  Some  years  ago, 
they  contrived  to  indulge  their  taste  for 
liuman  tlesh  at  the  expense  of  their  neigh- 
bors. 

About  1840,  it  w.as  found  that  sandal  wood 
grew  on  the  island,  and  several  vessels  pro- 
ceeded thither  for  the  sake  of  procuring 
this  valuable  product.  At  first  they  did  so 
with  great  risk,  and  lost  many  of  their  men 
from  the  onslaughts  of  the  natives.  After- 
ward, however,  a  Sydney  merchant  set  up 
a:i  estul)lishment  for  the  collecting  and 
storing  of  sandal  wood  and  beches-de-mer, 
and  since  that  time  the  natives  have  become 
quite  peaceable. 

In  course  of  this  transitional  time  be- 
tween utter  barbarism  and  commerce,  they 


learned  by  painful  experience  the  power  of 
tire-arms.  As  so^n  as  they  became  accus- 
tomed to  trade,  the  first  thing  that  they  did 
was  to  procure  a  large  stock  of  fire-arms 
and  to  go  olf  with  them  to  New  Caledonia, 
where  they  landed,  shot  as  many  of  the  nar 
lives  as  tliey  could,  and  brought  their  bod- 
ies home  for  consumption.  It  is  true  that 
a  constant  feud  raged  between  the  two  isl- 
ands, but  the  sudden  acquisition  of  fire- 
arms gave  tlie  people  of  the  Isle  of  Pines 
a  terrilde  advantage  over  their  hereditary 
foes,  and  enabled  them  almost  to  depopulate 
the  south-easteini  part  of  the  island. 

They  care  no  more  for  dress  than  the 
New  Caledonians,  but  arc  very  fond  of  or- 
.nament,  the  men  appropriating  all  the  best 
decorations,  and  leaving  the  women  to  take 
what  they  can  get.  The  men  friz  their  hair 
out  as  much  as  possible,  and  wrap  a  thin 
scarf  round  it,  or  sometimes  cut  it  short, 
leaving  only  a  tuft  on  one  side  of  the  head. 
Tlie  women  shave  off  the  whole  of  the  hair, 
thus  depriving  themselves  of  their  natural 
ornament,  and  rendeiing  themselves  very 
unprepossessing  to  European  eyes.  The 
rough  work  is  done  by  them,  the  men  re- 
serving to  themselves  the  noble  occupation? 
of  war,  fishing,  house  building,  and  canoe 
making,  the  only  real  work  which  th(?y  do 
being  yam  planting,  after  the  ground  has 
been  prepared  by  the  women. 


I 
I 


CHAPTER  LXXXIX. 

THE  ANDAMAN  AND  NICOIJAR  ISLANDS. 

POSmON  OF  THE  ANDAMAN  mr.ANDS-OBIGIN  OF  THE  NATIVES -TIlEm  novINO  nAI.IT«  AND  LACK  OF 
CLOTIIIN.i-TllKIU  IIATI.KDOF  8TUANOEUS  -  T.IK  NATIVKH  AND  THK  HTKAMER  -  AI-I-KAKANCE 
OF  TLB  WOMEN-TIIK  ENOUMOUH  I.OW  AND  SKILL  OF  TIIH  MINCOIMK  AltCl.KUrt  -  VAUIOl  S  MODES 
OF  FISIII.N.I-KXCELLKNCK  OK  TIlElll  CANOKS,  AND  MODK  OF  MAKINO  TIIKM-TI.E  LONO  r  U)- 
DLBS-TI.K  Hlln-'H  C.tEW  l.EATE.N  l.Y  THE  MINt'OWE  lANOK  MEN-CANMMALISM  NOT  I-IUITISED 
IN  THE  ANDAM-VN  ISLANDX- INOKNIOUtt  FIUEPLACES  AND  METHOD  OF  COOKINO- WANT  OP 
ABOIIITKCTIUAL  BKILL- EDITCATION  OF  THE  CHILDllEN,  AND  THEIIl  (lAMEH  -  1-..»EHH  OF  NWIM- 
MIN.l-MATHIMONIAL  AIUIANUEMENTS  -  DEATH  AND  IIUIIIAL-TIIE  NlCOIIAll  ISLANDS  -  AP.KAII- 
ANOE  AND  COSTUME  OF  THE  INHAUITANTS-THB  t;lW8S-BOW  AND  ITB  AlUtOW  -  A  I-KIMITIVB 
1IA3IM0CK  — TOMU8  IN  TUB  NICODAU  ISLANDS.      .^ 


i 


We  will  now  pass  to  the  westward,  and  travel 
gradually  lliiough  the  wonderful  Rroui)  of 
islands  which  extends  almost  from  Asia 
to  America,  and  which  is  known  by  the 
general  title  of  Polynesia.  One  or  two  of 
them  will  have  to  be  omitted  for  the  i)res- 
ent,  so  as  not  to  break  (he  continuity  of 
races,  but  will  be  described  before  we  pass 
m>ward  throuj,'li  America,  from  Tierra  del 
Fuego  to  the  Esquimaux. 

In  the  Bay  of  Bengal,  and  not  much  to 
the  eastward  of  India,  is  seen  a  group  of 
islands,  named  the  Andamans.  They  are 
of  considerable  length,  but  very  narrow, 
seldom  exceeding  twenty  miles  in  breadth, 
and  are  arranged  very  much  after  the  fashion 
of  the  New  Zealand  islands,  though  on  a 
smaller  scale.  These  islands  exhibit  a  phe- 
nomenon almost  unparalleled  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  human  race. 

They  lie  close  to  India,  a  country  in  which 
a  high  state  of  civilization  has  been  reached 
many  centuries  ago.  They  are  almost  in 
the  middle  of  the  track  wliich  is  traversed 
by  multitudes  of  ships,  and  yet  their  inhab- 
itants are  sunk  in  the  deepest  dejiths  of 
savage  degradation.  Even  tlie  regular  vis- 
its made  by  the  Chinese  vessels  to  the  An- 
daman coasts,  for  the  jiurpose  of  procuring 
tlie  trepang,  have  had  not  the  least  effect 
upon  them;  and  they  afford  perhaps  the 
most  perfect  example  of  savage  life  which 
the  surface  of  the  earth  can  show. 
The  origin  of  the  Andamaners  is  a  prob- 


(888) 


lem  to  anthropologists.  They  are  small  in 
stature,  the  men  being  on  an  average  but 
little  nbovi'  five  i'eet  in  height,  and  (ho 
women  being  still  smaller.  They  are  very 
dark,  but  have  scarcely  anything  excej)t 
their  color  in  conunoii  wit'li  the  negro. 
They  have  neither  (he  huge  projecting 
jaws  and  cavernous  mouth  of  the  true 
negro,  nor  his  curiously  elongated  heel; 
and  though  they  arc  so  small  as  almost  to 
merit  the  name  of  pigmies,  they  are  i)er- 
fectly  well  formed.  The  hair,  when  it  is 
allowed  to  grow,  is  seen  to  be  thick  and 
bushy,  and  resembles  that  of  the  I'apuans; 
and  it  is  the  opinion  of  many  competent 
Judges  that  the  Andamaners  are  the  abo- 
rigines of  the  Papuan  race,  who  li.ave  never 
permitted  contact  with  strangers,  and  havo 
preserved  their  own  individu.nlity  intact. 

In  habits  they  are  absolutely  savage,  their 
arts  being  limited  to  the  manufacture  of 
canoes  and  weapons,  architecture  and  agri- 
culture being  equally  unknown.  They  jjos- 
sess  one  of  the  chief  characteristics  of  sav- 
age life  in  their  roving  disposition,  n(!ver 
remaining  long  in  one  spot,  a  stay  of  threo 
or  four  days  being  considered  a  long  visit  to 
any  place.  They  have  no  laws,  no  religion, 
and  no  tribal  distinctions.  Marriage,  as  wo 
understand  the  word,  is  unknown  to  them; 
and  there  seems  to  be  few  restrictions  of 
consanguinity,  a  mother  and  her  daughter 
being  sometimes  the  wives  of  tlie  same  hus- 
band. 
Clothing  is  entirely  unknown  to  them ;  and 


DISLIKE  TO  STRANGERS. 


889 


when  captives  havo  btum  taken,  they  have 
alwuyH  t'ountl  cIoIIil'h  tu  bu  tin  incuinbnwKU! 
to   thcni,   though   they  weru   nUiiiHcil   with 

faiuly  liiinilki!rchii't'«  lied  round  thfir  hi'iidn. 
'ho  only  covering  which  they  eiire  Tor  in 
onu  whicii  tliuy  Hhure  in  connnon  vvitli 
many  of  tins  piiehyderniiitouM  iininiiilH,  and 
employ  for  the  Hiuno  purpoNo.  It,  ix  notiiing 
more  than  a  hvyer  of'  nuid,  witli  wiiich  tlio 
natives  plastta-  "tlieniHelves  in  tlie  morning 
and  evening,  in  order  to  defend  llieni»clve« 
t'rom  tlie  atlaek«of  tlic  nio.S(iuitoeM,  nandlUeM, 
and  oilier  insect  plaguen. 

Until  the  last  tew  years  our  knowlodgo  of 
tho  AndamaniTM  has  been  almont  xt't,  in 
conHccjiiener!  (if  their  lialred  of  Mtrangers, 
and  the  determincHl  oi)positi<>n  which  tliey 
offer  to  any  foreignern  landing  on  their 
ahorcH.  The  virry  presence  of  a  boat  or  a 
ship  seenis  to  excit(!  tl»em  to  frenzy.  In 
Captain  Moiiatt's  valuable  account  of  these 
islands  is  an  animated  description  of  aaccuu 
which  occurred  off  the  coast. 

The  steamer,  on  rounding  a  point,  came 
suddenly  upon  two  groups  of  savages,  who 
were  at  ilrst  naralyzed  l)y  fear  at  the  sudden 
apparition  of  the  unknown  object,  with  its 
columns  of  white  steam  roaring  from  tlu; 
escape-pipe,  its  smoke,  and  its  plashing  pad- 
dles. In  a  few  moments  they  nicovered 
ft'om  their  surprise,  and  raised  a  sinudtane- 
ous  shout  of  doliancn.  Two  boats'  crews 
were  sent  ashore,  to  the  cxtreino  anger  of 
the  Mincopics. 

"  A  neculiar  natural  phenomenon  ren- 
dered the  scene  still  more  striking  and 
impressive  as  the  interval  between  the  two 
l)arti(^s,  the  savage  and  the  civilized,  wnt 
gradually  diminished  by  the  onward  motion 
of  th(!  boats.  The  spray  as  it  rose  in  clouds 
from  the  breakers  dasliing  on  the  shore, 
rellecting  the  rays  of  the  declining  sun, 
niagnilled  considerably  (he  slight  figures  of 
the  natives,  making  massive  and  formidable 
giants  of  men  wlio  wore  in  reality  little 
more  than  sable  dwarfs.  As  the  cutters 
neared  that  nart  of  tho  slioro  where  they 
had  stationcii  themselves,  and  they  clearly 
perceived  that  we  were  making  preparations 
to  land,  their  excitement  was  such  that  they 
ajipeared  as  if  they  had  suddenly  become 
frantic. 

"  They  seemed  to  lose  that  restraint  and 
control  which  it  is  the  pride  of  the  savage 
to  exhibit  in  time  of  danjjer,  and  jumped 
and  yelled  like  so  many  demons  let  loose 
from  the  bottomless  pit,  or  as  if  there  had 
been  a  Bedlam  in  that  locality,  and  they  the 
most  unmanageable  of  its  frantic  inmates. 
Their  manner  was  that  of  men  determined 
and  formidable  in  the  midst  of  all  their 
excitement.  They  brandished  their  bows 
in  our  direction;  they  menaced  us  with 
their  arrows,  said  by  common  report — so 
oft,?n  a  liar  -to  bo  poisoned;  exhibiting 
by  every  possible  contortion  of  savage  pan- 
tomime  their  hostile   deteriuluutiou.     To 


u»e  a  common  vulgar  oxnrcRsion  of  some  of 
the  seamen,  they  seemed  to  have  made  up 
their  minds  to  '  chaw  us  all  up.'  .... 

"The  Hpear  which  he  tlourinhed  inces- 
santly wuH  terminati^d  by  a  l)riglil.,  tint, 
iiointed  ht^ad,  which  gleamed  with  tlasbes  o( 
light,  as,  circling  rapidly  in  the  air,  it 
rellected  the  rays  of  the  sun.  S(inieliim>8 
he  would  hold  it  aloft,  jioising  it  in  bis  u|>- 
litled  hand,  as  if  with  the  intention  of  hurl- 
ing it  with  unerring  and  deadly  aim  at  the 
Ilrst  who  dared  to  approach  the  slion-  of  his 
native  island.  At  length,  in  a  |.aroxysm  of 
Well-acted  fury,  he  dashed  boldly  into  tho 
water,  boiling  and  seething  rounc)  him  as  it 
broke  in  great  billows  on  the  beach,  and  on 
tho  rocks  by  which  it  was  defended,  and, 
fixing  an  arrow  in  his  bow,  hu  shot  it  olf  in 
the  direction  of  the  steanuT,  as  if  that  were 
the  arch  cneniy  that  had  provoked  his  belli- 
cos(!  fury." 

The  second  party  of  natives,  who  turned 
out  to  be  females,  were  iis  frigh(ened  as 
their  male  friends  were  angry.  Al'ler  sev- 
tu'al  failures  in  launching  a  canoe,  they 
ruslied  in  a  body  to  the  jungle  and  hid 
theniselvi!8  from  the  strangf^-s.  They  ex- 
hibited tho  usual  characteristics  of  the  peo- 
ple, a  basket  for  fish  doing  duty  for  clothes, 
and  a  patch  of  red  ochre  on  their  heads  tak- 
mg  the  place  of  hair.  So  repulsive  were 
they  in  their  appearance,  that  the  sailors 
declined  to  leave  mirrors  on  the  shore  as 
presenlb  for  th(!m,  saying  that  such  hideous 
creatures  ought  not  to  bo  allowed  to  look  at 
their  own  features. 

The  weapons  with  which  the  Mincopie 
men  threatened  the  strangers  are  really 
formidable,  and  before  very  long  the  (ixplor- 
injt  party  learned  to  hold  them  in  great 
r'jspect.  The  bows  are  sometimes  six  feet 
'ong  and  enormously  powerful,  —  so  |)Ower- 
fu!  in  fact  that  thi!  strongest  sailors  tried 
in  vain  to  ''end  the  wea])ons  which  the 
pigmy  Mim  ^lies  handled  with  such  skilful 
ease. 

Tho  shape  of  the  bow  is  very  peculiar. 
Instead  of  being  nearly'  cylindrical,  largest 
in  tho  middle  and  tapering  regularly  to 
each  end,  it  is  nearly  flat  except  at  the 
handle,  on  either  side  of  which  it  becomes 
very  broad.  In  fact,  a  good  idea  of  it  may 
be  taken  from  a  llaltened  hour-glass,  the 
channel   in  the  middle  being   the   handle. 

The  force  and  accuracy  witf»  which  these 
tiny  men  can  shoot  are  really  wonderful. 
They  very  seldom  fail  to  hit  their  mark  at 
any  reiisonablc  disUince,  and  can  make  tol- 
erably sure  of  a  man  at  sixty  or  seventy 
yards,  so  that  tb.o  Mincopie  bow  is  really  a 
far  better  weapon  than  the  old  "  Brown 
Bess"  musket  ever  was.  One  aiTow  that 
was  shot  at  a  boat's  crew  at  a  distance  of 
sixty  yards  struck  a  hickory  oar,  and 
knocked  oft  a  pieee  Ot  wooit  s?  ^^I'g^  "^  « 


ii-m 


man's  hand. 
These   arrows 


nm 


are   very    neatly   made. 


i 


Wb 


THE  ANDAMANERS. 


Tlioy  nro  about  thrco  fcrt  in  lonRth,  and 
arc  "m.idn  of  a  ri'wl  hy  way  of  shall,  to  the 
ond  of  wliicli  in  fiwiti'iicd  a  piece  of  liard 
wood  in  order  to  fjive  weight.  Upon  tliin 
tip  is  (Ixfd  tlic  Iliad,  wliich  in  UHiially  tlii« 
barlii'd  tail  lione  of  the  «tiii>j-ray,  anil  Hoine- 
tinicH,  tliou>,'Ii  not  always,  poiHoncd.  Should 
this  tiTriblc  weapon  enter  the  body,  it  can- 
not be  removed  witliotit  n  severe  operation, 
the  sIiiMj)  brittle  barbs  luins  '»pt  to  snap  olV 
and  remain  in  the  wound  if  any  force  be 
used  in  extractinj;  the  arrow. 

Their  eouNumniate  skill  in  the  use  of  the 
bow  is  olitained  l)y  constant  practice  from 
earliest  infancy.  As  is  the  assa},'ai  to  tlu^ 
KatHr,  tlu^  boomerang  to  the  Australian,  and 
the  la.iso  to  the  (Juacho,  so  is  the  bow  to  the 
Andamiiner.  The  first  plaything;  that  a 
^fincopie  bo^v  sees  is  a  miniature  bow  made 
for  him  by  bis  father,  and,  as  he  advances  in 
HSU',  bows  of  jirogressivo  streiK'th  are  i)lace(i 
in  his  hands.  Consequently,  he  is  so  famil- 
iarized with  the  weapon  that,  by  the  lime 
ho  is  of  full  iipe,  tnj  pij,'my  Andanianer 
draws  with  j^racefui  ease  a  bow  which  seems 
made  for  a  giant. 

Numl)ers  oi  the  toy  bows  and  arrows  mav 
be  seen  scattered  about  an  encampment  If 
the  natives  are  forced  to  leave  it  in  a  hurry, 
and  their  various  sizes  show  the  ages  of  tlic 
children  to  whom  they  belonged.  The  ed- 
ucation of  the  Mincojiie  archer  is  in  fact  al- 
most precisely  lilce  that  of  the  old  English 
bowmen,  who,  from  constant  jiracticc  in  tlie 
art,  and  being  trained  from  childhood  in  the 
use  of  ilw  bow,  obtained  such  a  mastery 
of  the  weapon  as  made  them  the  terror  of 
Europe. 

Being  such  skilful  archers,  they  trust  al- 
most entirely  to  the  bow  and  arrow,  caring 
little  for  any  other  weapon.  Even  the 
h.arpoon,  with  which  they  catch  the  larger 
f5sh,_  is  shot  from  the  powerful  bow.  It  is, 
in  Ihct,  a  vci  .  large  arrow,  with  a  move- 
able head.  This  head  tits  loosely  into  a 
hole  at  the  cikI  of  tlu^  arrow,  and  is  secured 
to  the  shaft  by  a  thong.  It  is  a  very  re- 
markable fact  that  Uie  bow  and  harjioon  ar- 
row of  the  Mincopies  arc  almost  exactly  like 
those  which  arc  used  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Vancouver's  Island.  They  are  twice  as 
large,  but  in  shape  almost  identical,  as  will 
be  seen  when  we  come  to  the  North  of 
America. 

When  they  use  the  harpoon,  a  long  and 
el.astic  cord  is  attached  to  it,  one  end  of 
which  is  retained  by  the  archer.  The  cord 
is  made  from  a  fibre  which  has  the  useful 
property  of  hardening  by  being  soaked  in 
water.  For  killing  the  fish  when  hcdd  with 
the  harpoon  the  Mincopies  use  smaller  ar- 
rows, without  barbs  or  movable  heads. 

The  Mincopies  are  very  expert  fisher- 
men, and  use  nets  which  are  made  from  the 
same  tn'-re  that  hfw  been  incutioncd.  For 
small  fish  they  make  the  nets  of  rather  thin 
but  very  tough  string,  but  for  turtle  and 


large  flsli  they  make  nets  of  cord  nn  thick  an 
a  man's  finger.  One  side  of  the  net  is  licld 
to  the  bed  of  the  sea  by  hcavv  stones  laid 
on  It,  and  the  other  is  uphe'ld  by  lUmts. 
The  women  search  for  molluscs,' a  busi- 
ness which  occupies  a  consider;ible  part  of 
their  time.  Tluiv  always  carrv  iu>iit  baskets, 
in  which  to  put  the  resiilts  of  "their  iiulustry, 
and  each  woniim  has  gcnciallv  a  small  net 
fixed  to  a  hnndle,  like  that  which  Is  used  by 
buUcrlly  collectors. 

In  nothing  do  the  Andanianers  show 
their  •  itcrior  skill  more  than  in  canoo 
inakii;  Tlicir  bows  and  arrows  are,  as  we 
have  S( .  n,  good  specimens  of  savage  munu- 
faeture,  but  in  Ibe  making  and  miinngemcnt 
of  canoes  tlicv  are  sinii)ly  iinni)proaeliable, 
even  though  tlicir  tools  arc  of  tlie  rudest  pos- 
sible description. 

Furnished  merely  with  a  simple  adzo 
made  of  a  stone  fixed  into  a  liandle,  the  Min- 
copie  boat  maker  searclies  Ibe  forest  for  a 
suitable  tree,  and  after  a  week  or  ten  days 
succeeds  in  bringing  it  to  tlie  ground.  Tlio 
rest  of  the  process  is  so  well  described  by 
Captain  Moiiatt,  that  it  must  be  given  in 
his  own  words. 

"  The  next  operation  is  to  round  the  trunk, 
a  process  which  they  perform  with  remark- 
able dexterity,  it  being  almost  inii)ossible  to 
conceive  how,  with  Uie  imperfect  instru- 
ments at  their  command,  they  execute  their 
work  w'ith  so  much  skill  and  neatness. 
Practice,  however,  must  render  Ihem,  as 
well  as  others,  jierfect;  and  hence  .it  is  that 
in  a  short  time  the  rough  and  shapeless  trunk 
begins  to  assume  form  and  pro])ortions;  and, 
when  the  process  is  finished,  exhibits  a 
finish  and  perfection  that  even  a  Chinese 
carpenter,  by  far  the  most  handy  and  in- 
genious of  human  '  chips,'  would  regard  with 
a  feeling  of  envy,  as  a  work  of  dexterity 
which  it  would  be  vain  for  him  to  attempt 
to  imitate. 

"  As  soon  as  the  trunk  has  been  rounded, 
they  commence  the  operation  of  culling  and 
cbii)i)iiig  at  it  externally,  until  eventually 
the  oullines  of  the  elegant  canoe  begin  to 
apiiear  from  the  shapeless  mass  of  the 
kn-ttcd  trunk,  just  as,  by  the  skill  of  the 
statuary,  the  beautiful  flg'ure  gradually  as- 
sumes its  fair  proportions  in  tlic  block  of 
marble.  The  shajie  externally  is  generally 
finished  with  great  care  and  elaboration  be- 
fore they  proceed  to  hollow  it  internally, 
the  next  process  to  which  Ihey  direct  their 
.attention.  The  interior  is  excavated  in  the 
same  perfect  and  business-like  manner,  until 
the  .shell  is  no  thicker  than  the  side  of  a  deal 
bonnet-box,  although  it  still  preserves  that 
strength  which  would  enable  it  to  resist  suc- 
cessfully the  utmost  force  and  violence  of  the 
w.aves,  should  it  even  be  assailed  by  a  storm 
—  a  thing  not  at  all  probable,  as,  unless  car- 
ried out  to  sea  by  some  accident,  it  Is  rare 
that  the  Andamaners  venture  far  from  the 
shore. 


SHIPS  CUEW  BEATEN  BY  CANOE  MEN. 


88] 


"Tho  buoyniicy  of  these  boatH,  when  thoy 
firt-  well  coimtnuted  iiiul  carDlullv  lltiished, 
in  reiimrkiibli'.  They  llodt  li}{htly  i>ii  the 
t<ti)  of  the  wiivcH,  and,  uuh'SM  llK^y  have  ro- 
coivi'il  soii'u  iiijiirv,  it  in  vnmuUrvd  ahnoHt 
linpoHsililo  to  "Niii"k  tliein.  Wc  Hoiuutlmes 
mailc  tilt!  attciniit,  Imt  never  nueeeeded. 
We  Hied  at  tin  in  repeatedly  when  at  Tort 
Mouatt— whieli  iniiy  be  regarded  as  a  »ort 
of  Andaman  I'eiubroke-yard,  where  a  fleet 
of  Mineopie  nun-of-war  were  iyini^  in  every 
HtuKe  of  preparation -— bnt  they  utill  floated 
with  a«  ),'r('at  eano  and  buoyaney  as)  ever. 
They  would  n»ak«!  excellent  life-boatH,  Huch, 
wo  believe,  as  have  never  yet  been  con- 
Htnicted  by  any  of  our  most  experienced  bout- 
builders." 

Near  shore  tlie  boatuKin  oixildlc about  with 
perfect  ease  in  theio  fra;;ilo  vessels,  though 
an  Kuroi)ean  can  liardly  i)roceed  twenty 
yards  will  'il  being  upset.  When  they  go 
further  to  -  a  they  ad(l  ft  lisht  outrigger  to 
one  side  of  tho  canoe,  and  then  venture  forty 
or  lilly  miles  from  laud.  They  always,  in 
fluch  cases,  take  lire  with  them,  which  has 
the  double  advantage  of  attracting  the  llsh 
at  night,  and  of  coi)King  them  when  taken. 
Sometimes  a  number  of  boats  will  remain 
all  night  at  sea,  and  the  offeist  of  their  tires 
and  torches  is  very  picturesque  wheu  seen 
from  tho  land. 

The  outrigger  is  certainly  a  new  inven- 
tion. The  earlier  travellers,  who  were  al- 
ways minute  enough  in  their  accounts,  did 
not  mention  tho  outrigger,  and,  as  far  as  can 
bo  seen,  tho  idea  has  been  borrowed  from 
some  Cmgaleso  cauoo  which  had  got  into  a 
current  and  Iteen  drifted  toward  the  island. 

The  paddles  are  rather  peculiar  in  their 
form,  and,  apparently,  very  meirective,  look- 
ing sometliing  like  long  spo,  is  with  flattened 
bowls,  or,  on  a  smaller  scale,  tlie  "  peels  "  with 
which  bak(a-s  take  bread  out  of  their  ovens. 
The  women  are  the  padille  makers,  and  the 
implements  vary  from  three  to  four  feet 
long.  They  arc  cut  frojn  a  very  hard  wood, 
and  tho  work  of  making  them  is  necessarily 
laborious. 

Imperfect  as  the  canoe  and  paddles  seem 
to  be,  they  are  in  fact  absolute  marvels  of 
efficiency.  Tho  tiny  Mincopies,  furnished 
with  these  simple  paddles,  and  seated  in  a 
canoe  cut  by  themselves  out  of  a  tree  trunk, 
can  l)eat  wi  th  case  our  best  oarsmen.  Captain 
Mouatt  got  up  several  races  between  the 
Mincopies  and  his  own  prize  crew  in  their 
favorite  boat  In  point  of  fact  there  was 
never  any  race  at  all,  the  Andamaners  hav- 
ing it  all  their  own  way,  and  winning  as  they 
liked.  The  powerful,  sweeping  stroKo  of  the 
man-of-war's  crow  was  beautiful  to  see,  but 
tho  little  Mincopies  shot  through,  or  rather 
over,  tlie  water  with  such  speed  that  the  sail- 
ors were  hopelessly  beaten,  although  they 
strained  themselves  so  mucli  that  they  felt 
the  results  of  their  exertions  for  some' time 
afterward. 


Slight,  and  almost  an  active  as  monkcyt, 
the  Mincopies  artceud  the  talh^st  trees  with 
tho  like  agility,  applying  the  solec  of  their 
feet  and  the  palms  of  their  hands  to  tho 
trunk,  and  literally  running  up  them.  When 
they  reach  the  branches,  they  traverse  them 
with  as  much  euso  and  security  as  if  they 
were  on  llrni  land.  Indeed,  lh<ir  jiowers  of 
tree  climbing  seem  to  be  etpial  to  those  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Dourga  Strait,  of  whom 
an  account  will  j)re»ently  \n'.  given. 

We  now  come  to  a  question  which  has 
often  been  agitated,  namely,  the  assorted 
cannibalism  of  the  Andainaiiers. 

It  is  a  (piestion  that  every  observant 
reader  would  be  sure  l()  ask  himself,  as  the 
Andamaners  are  just  such  a  savage  race  as 
might  be  expected  i,o  fiuul  habitually  on 
human  bodies.  Yet,  though  we  lind  tho 
comparatively  civili/ed  New  Zealauder  shar- 
ing with  the  savage  New  Caledonian  tho 
haT)it  of  eating  human  llesh.  the  Mincopio, 
who  is  innnitely  below  tho  New  Zealauder, 
and  certainly  not  above  the  New  (Caledon- 
ian, is  ftee  from  that  revolting  practice.  IIo 
undoubtedly  has  been  known  to  eat  human 
flesh,  but  only  when  urged  by  extreme  hun- 
ger to  eat  the  flesh  of  man  or  to  die;  and  in 
so  doing  he  has  but  set  an  example  which 
hiis  been  followed  by  members  of  tho  most 
civilized  countries. 

That  they  are  fierce  and  cruel  toward  for- 
eigners is  true  enough,  and  it  is  also  true 
th.at  the  bodies  of  those  whom  they  have 
killed  have  been  found  frightfully  mutilated, 
the  flesh  being  almost  pounded  from  tho 
bones  by  the  blows  which  have  been  show- 
ered upon  the  senseless  clay  in  the  blind 
fury  of  the  savage.  But  no  attempt  has 
been  made  to  remove  any  part  of  the  body, 
and  it  was  evident  that  the  victors  had  not 
even  entertained  the  idea  of  eating  it. 

The  food  of  the  Andamaners  is  tolerably 
varied,  and  is  prepared  in  a  very  Himjilo  and 
ingenious  oven.  A  large  tree  is  selected  for 
tins  purpose,  and  Are  is  applied  to  it  at  the 
bottom,  so  that  by  degrees  a  large  hole  is 
burned  in  it,  the  charred  wood  being  scraped 
away  so  as  to  form  eventually  a  large  hole. 
This  is  the  Mincopio  oven,  and  at  the  bot- 
tom a  heap  of  ashes,  about  three  feet  in 
depth,  is  always  left.  The  fire  smoulders 
away  gradually  amon^  the  ashes,  and  never 
entirely  goes  outj  so  that  whenever  a  native 
wishes  to  cook  his  pig,  turtle,  or  tish,  he  has 
only  to  blow  up  the  smouldering  embers, 
and  in  a  few  moments  he  has  fire  sufficient 
for  his  purposes. 

These  oven-trees  are  very  carefully  pre- 
served, the  natives  never  cutting  them  down, 
and  always  managing  to  prevent  them  from 
being  entirely  burned  through.  In  illustra- 
tion No.  2,  on  the  893d  page,  one  of  these 
trees  is  shown,  with  the  fire  burning  in  the 
hollow,  and  tlie  natives  sitting  round  it. 
The  Mincopies  always  contrive  to  have  the 
opening  of  the  oven  in  such  a  direction  that 


t: 


m 


THE  ANDAM.INERS. 


the  raiti  caunot  get  toto  it  and  put  out  the 
fire. 

Pigs  have  been  mentioned  as  forming 
part  f  the  Andamanera'  food.  These  pigs 
are  small  and  blaclc,  wiih  spare,  hard  bristles, 
that  look  like  pieces  of  wire.  They  are  won- 
derftilly  active,  and,  according  to  Captain 
Mouiitt,  "  are  the  most  curious  and  mischiev- 
ous little  animals  in  creation.  They  have 
a  leer  that  makes  them  look  like  so  many 
Mephistonheles,  who  have  chosen  to  assume 
that  peculiar  form,  in  many  respects  a  very 
appropriate  one,  for,  if  they  are  not  so  many 
little  devils,  they  are  certainly  possessed  by 
them. 

"  At  the  time  of  our  visit  to  the  Cinque 
Islands,  we  turned  out  a  dozen  of  them,  and, 
our  unwonted  appearance  filling  them  with 
alarm,  they  ran  off  from  us  witli  the  velocity 
of  an  Indian  express  train,  squeaking  like 
mad.  We  set  off  and  had  a  regular  hunt 
after  them  —  a  hunt  that  beats  to  chalks  the 
most  exciting  scene  of  pig-sticking  ever 
seen  in  Bengal.  After  discharging  their 
rifles,  some  of  the  hunters  would  probably 
find  the  pigs  between  their  legs,  making 
them  measure  their  length  on  the  sand. 
The  tails  were  made  with  considerable  vio- 
lence, though  they  were  not  dangerous,  for 
they  only  excited  our  risible  faculties:  and 
as  each  one  came  down  he  was  gfeeted  with 
a  loud  and  hearty  burst  of  laughter,  as  a 
sort  of  congratulation  to  him  in  his  misfor- 
tune." 

The  architecture  of  the  Andamaners  is 
very  primitive.  Four  posts  are  stuck  in  the 
ground  in  the  form  of  a  square,  and  the 
builder  is  quite  indifferent  as  to  their 
straightness.  Two  of  them  are  much  loneer 
thp,n  the  others,  so  that  when  they  are  con- 
nected by  sticks,  a  sloping  roof  is  formed. 
Palm  leaves  are  then  placed  upon  them,  one 
lying  over  the  other  in  tile  fashion,  so  that 
they  form  a  protection  from  perpendicularly 
iallmg  rain.  A  number  of  these  huts  are 
generally  erected  in  a  circle,  in  some  cleared 
space  in  the  forest,  which  is  sheltered  by 
large  trees,  and  within  a  convenient  dis- 
tance of  water.  One  or  two  of  these  simple 
houses  may  be  seen  in  the  illustration. 

Primitive  as  are  these  huts,  some  attempt 
is  made  at  ornamenting  them,  the  decora- 
tions being  characteristically  the  trophies  of 
the  chase.  Skulls  of  pigs  and  turtles,  bun- 
dles of  flsh-boncs,  and  similar  articles  are 
painted  with  stripes  of  red  ochre,  and  hung 
to  the  roofs  of*  the  huts.  Ochre  painting, 
indeed,  seems  to  be  the  only  idea  that  the 
Atidamaners  have  of  ornament,  if  perhaps 
we  except  a  string  which  the  dandies  tie 
round  the  waist,  having  a  piece  of  bone  or 
other  glittering  article  hanging  from  it 
This  ochre  is  in  great  request  among  the 

^^ , . I,  ,(  ,,.-,,!„  rrrprvittiiy  luuu 

of  it  by  way  of  a  decoration  of  their  heads. 
As  has  already  been  mentioned,  they  shave 
the  head  completely,  using,  instead  of  a  razor, 


a  piece  of  flint  chipped  very  thin,  and  Having 
a  sharp  edge.  Th^  are  wonderfully  adroit 
at  making  these  primitive  knives,  which  are 
exactly  like  those  of  the  stone  age.  The 
hair  having  been  scraped  off.  a  tolerably 
thick  plastering  of  red  ochre  is  rubbed  on 
the  head,  and  the  toilet  of  a  Mincopie  belle 
is  complete. 

Not  only  is  the  ochre  used  for  external 
application, but  it  is  administered  internally. 
What  is  good  for  the  outside,  the  Mincopie 
logically  flilnks  will  be  equally  good  for  the 
inside.  So,  when  he  feels  ill,  he  makes  a 
sort  of  bolus  of  red  ochre  and  turtle  oil, 
swallows  it,  and  thinks  that  he  has  cured 
himself  Wounds  are  dressed  by  binding 
certain  leaves  upon  them,and^in  many  cases 
of  internal  pains,  bruises,  or  swellings,  scari- 
fication is  freely  used.  Certain  individuals 
enjoy  a  sort  of  reputation  for  success  in  the 
treatment  of  disease,  and  are  much  honored 
by  the  less  skilful. 

It  lias  already  been  mentioned  that  mar- 
riage is  nothing  more  than  taking  a  female 
slave. 

When  a  wife  becomes  a  mother,  the  only 
treatment  which  she  receives  is,  that  after 
the  birth  of  her  child  she  is  plentifully 
rubbed  with  the  red  ochre  and  turtle  oil,  and 
is  expected  to  follow  her  usual  occupations 
on  the  next  day.  The  young  child  is  soused 
with  cold  water,  poured  out  of  one  of  the 
great  bamboo  vessels  which  the  Alineopies 
use,  and  is  dried  by  rubbing  with  the  hand. 
Like  its  parent,  the  child  wears  no  clothing; 
but  if  tlie  party  should  be  on  their  travels, 
and  rain  begin  to  fall,  the  mother  pulls  a  few- 
leaves  from  the  next  tree,  ties  them  together 
with  a  fibre  of  rattan,  and  fastens  them  on 
the  body  of  the  child.  This  is  the  only 
clothing  which  an  Andamaner  ever  wears. 

Children  are  never  weaned,  but  continue 
to  take  their  childish  nourishment  until  the 
mother  is  absolutely  incapable  of  affording 
it.  Both  parents  redeem  much  of  their 
savage  nature  by  their  affection  for  their 
children,  the  fathc-  being  quite  as  loving 
a  parent  as  tlie  mother  — a  trait  which 
is  often  absent  among  savage  tribes.  The 
children  reciprocate  the  aft'cction,  so  that, 
in  spite  of  the  absence  of  any  definite 
home,  there  is  a  domestic  character  about 
the  family  which  could  scarcely  have  been 
expected  from  such  a  race. 

It  has  been  already  mentioned  that  the 
boys  amuse  themselves  chiefly  with  small 
bows  and  arrows,  having  these  toys  of  a 
continually  increasing  size  to  suit  their 
growth.  !rhe  girls  are  fond  of  disporting 
themselves  by  the  sea-shore,  and  building 
sand  houses  for  the  waves  to  knock  down, 
precisely  as  is  done  by  the  civilized  children 
of  Europe  and  America.  Their  great  amuse- 
ment is  to  built!  an  ciiclosurc  wiih  walls  of 
sand,  and  to  sit  in  it  as  if  it  were  a  house 
of  their  own  until  the  rising  tide  washes 
away  the  frail  walls.    Both  sexes  dre  fond 


(1.)    NEW  CALKDONIANS  DEFENDING  THEIR  COAST.    (Sou  i)a>je  (<**4.^ 


''',;-^*3*r^ 


{2.)  ANDAMANERS  COOKING  A   PIG.    (Sec  page  892.) 
(808) 


GAMES  OF  CHILDREN. 


of  swimming,  and  as  soon  as  they  can  walk 
tlie  little  black  children  are  seen  running 
into  and  out  of  the  water,  and,  if  they  can 
pick  some  sheltered  spot  free  from  waves, 
they  dive  and  swim  like  so  many  ducks. 
A  Hindoo,  named  Pooteeah,  who  was  taken 
prisoner  by  the  Mincopies,  and  bis  life 
spared  for  some  reason  or  other,  states  that 
they  are  such  excellent  swimmers  that  sev- 
eral of  them  will  dive  together  among  the 
rocks,  search  for  fish  in  the  crevices, 
and  bring  their  struggling  captives  to  shore. 
This  statement  was  d"  ^credited  by  those  to 
whom  it  was  made,  as  were  several  other 
of  his  accounts.  As,  however,  subsequent 
ob'  jivations  showed  that  he  was  right  in 
many  of  the  statements  which  were  at  first 
disbelieved,  it  is  possible  that  ho  was  right 
in  this  case  also. 

This  man,  by  the  way,  was  furnished  with 
two  wives,  mother  and  daughter,  and,  as  he 
was  above  the  ordinary  size.  Captain  Mouatt 
expresses  some  curiosity  as  to  the  appear- 
ance of  the  progeny.  He  made  his  escape 
from  the  island  before  the  birth  of  a  child 
that  one  of  his  wives  was  expecting,  and,  as 
the  Miucopie  mothers  are  remarkable  for 
their  affection  toward  their  children,  it  is 
likely  that  the  little  half-caste  was  allowed 
to  live,  and  that  a  new  element  may  thus  be 
introduced  into  the  race. 

They  have  more  than  once  made  use  of 
their  swimming  powers  in  escaping  from  cap- 
tivity. Several  instances  have  been  known 
where  Andamaners  have  been  kept  prison- 
ers on  board  ship,  and  have  seemed  tolerably 
reconciled  to  their  lot.  As  soon,  however, 
as  the  ship  neared  land,  they  contrived  to  es- 
cape for  a  moment  from  the  eye  of  the  sentry, 
slipped  overboard,  and  swam  to  land.  They 
always  dived  as  soon  as  they  struck  the  wa- 
ter, swam  as  far  as  they  could  without  rising 
to  the  surface,  and  then,  after  taking  a  single 
respiration,  dived  again,  and  so  swam  tlio 
greater  part  of  the  distance  under  water. 
Tliis  mode  of  swimming  was  doubtless 
practised  by  them  when  trying  to  escape 
from  the  arrows  of  an  unfriendly  party. 

In  Captain  Syme's  "Embassy  to  Ava" 
there  is  a  curious  account  of  two  young 
Miucopie  girls  who  had  been  decoyed  on 
board  the  ship.  They  were  treated  very 
kindlv,  and  soon  learned  that  no  harm 
would  be  done  to  them.  "They  suffered 
clothes  to  be  put  on,  but  took  them  off 
again  as  soon  as  opportunity  offered,  and 
threw  them  away  as  useless  encumbrances. 
When  their  fears  were  over,  they  became 
cheerful,  chattered  with  freedom,  and  were 
inexpressibly  diverted  at  the  sight  of  their 
own  persons  in  a  mirror 


in  a  melancholy  recitative,  at  others  in  a 
lively  key;  and  often  danced  about  the  deck 
with  great  agility,  slapping  the  lower  part 
of  their  bodies  with  the  back  of  their  heels. 
Wine  and  spirituous  liquors  were  disagree- 
able to  them;  no  food  seemed  so  palatable 
as  fish,  rice,  and  sugar.  In  a  few  weeks, 
having  recovered  strength  and  become  fat, 
from  the  more  than  half-famislied  state  in 
which  they  were  brought  on  board,  they . 
began  to  tliink  confinement  irksome,  and 
longed  to  regain  their  native  freedom. 

"In  the  middle  of  the  night,  when  all 
but  the  watchman  were  asleep,  they  passed 
in  silence  into  the  Captain's  cabin,  jumped 
out  of  the  stern  windows  into  the  sea,  and 
swam  to  an  island  half  a  mile  distant,  where 
it  was  in  vain  to  pursue  them,  had  there 
been  any  such  intention;  but  the  object 
was  to  retain  them  by  kindness,  and  not 
by  compulsion,  an  attempt  that  has  failed 
on  every  trial.  Hunger  may  (and  those  in- 
stances are  rare)  induce  them  to  put  them- 
selves into  the  power  of  strangers;  but  the 
moment  that  their  want  is  satisfied  nothing 
short  of  coercion  can  prevent  them  from  re- 
turning to  a  way  of  life  more  congenial  to 
their  savage  nature." 

Like  many  other  savage  races,  the  Min- 
copies make  a  kind  of  festivity  on  each  new 
moon;  and  as  soon  as  the  thin  crescent 
appears  they  salute  it  after  their  odd  fash- 
ion, and  get  up  a  dance.  Their  dances  are 
rather  grotesque,  each  performer  jumping 
up  and  down,  and  kicking  himself  violently 
with  the  sole  of  his  foot,  so  as  to  produce 
a  smart  slapping  sound.  This  is  the  dance 
which  is  mentioned  in  the  preceding  ac- 
count of  the  two  captives. 

When  a  Mincopie  dies,  he  is  buried  in  a 
very  simple  manner.  No  lamentations  are 
made  at  the  time;  but  the  body  is  tied  in  a 
sitting  position,  with  the  head  on  the  knees, 
much  after  the  fashion  employed  among  the 
Eechuanas,  and  described  on  page  300.  It  is 
tlicn  buried,  and  allowed  to  decay,  when  the 
remains  are  dug  up,  and  the  bones  distri- 
buted among  the  relatives.  The  skull  is  the 
right  of  the  widow,  who  ties  it  to  a  cord  and 
hangs  it  round  her  neck,  where  it  remains 
for  the  rest  of  her  life.  This  outward  ob- 
servance is,  however,  all  that  is  required  of 
her,  and  is  the  only  way  in  which  she 
troubles  herself  to  be  faithful  to  the  memory 
of  her  dead  husband.  It  is  rather  strange 
that,  though  the  Andamaners  make  no 
lamentations  on  the  death  of  a  relative, 
they  do  not  altogether  dispense  with  these 
expressions  of  sorrow,  but  postpone  them 
to  the  exhumation  and  distribution  of  the 
relics,  when  each  one  who  gets  a  bone  howls 


"  They  wero  fond  of  singing,  sometimes  |  over  it  for  some  time  in  honor  of  the  dead. 


896 


THE  nicobah  islands. 


THE  NICOBAR  ISLANDS. 


Immedtatelt  to  tho  south  of  the  Anda- 
man J'l.inds,  anil  barely  thirty  miles  distant, 
lie  the  Nicohau  Islands.  The.  group  con- 
sists of  nine  tolerably  large  islands,  and  sev- 
eral of  much  smaller  size"  One  of  the  large 
islands,  called  Great  Nicobar,  is  twenty  miles 
long  by  eight  wide,  while  Little  Nicobar  is 
barely  half  these  dimensions. 

The  islands  are  singularly  fertile,  and 
abound  in  various  kinds  of  vegetation,  es- 
pecially in  the  cocoa-nut  palm,  not  a  spec- 
imen of  which  is  to  be  found  in  the  Anda- 
man Islands.  This  curiois  fact  is  accounted 
for  by  the  character  of  the  Andamaners, 
who  have  an  almost  superstitious  love  for 
the  cocoa-nut.  If  one  of  the  nuts  be  washed 
ashore,  it  is  always  broken  u^)  and  eaten; 
and  if  perchance  one  of  the  fruit  happens  to 
escape  the  sharp  eyes  of  the  natives  and  to 
germinate,  its  green  feathery  shoots  are 
sure  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  first 
Mincopie  who  passes  in  that  direction.  A 
similar  barrier  to  the  production  of  the  cocoa- 
nut  is  found  on  the  coast  of  Australia. 

Although  so  close  to  the  Andaman  Islands, 
the  inhabitants  of  Nicobar  arc  very  unlike 
the  Mincopies,  being  a  fine  tall  race,  and  of 
a  copper  rather  than  a  black  hue.  Unlike  the 
Mincopies,  the  men  are  very  fat,  especially 
about  the  breast,  so  that  at  a  little  distance 
they  might  easily  be  mistaken  for  women. 
Moreover,  they  wear  the  hair  long,  and 
parted  in  the  middle,  which  to  the  ej  es  of  a 
modern  European,  gives  them  a  peculiar 
effeminate  look.  They  wear  neither  beard 
nor  moustache,  their  features  are  ugly,  and 
their  large  mouths  are  stained  a  dark  red  from 
the  juice  of  the  betel-nut,  which  they  are 
continually  chewing. 

There  is  one  distinction,  however,  which 
is  apparent  at  a  considerable  distance.  In 
lieu  of  clothes,  the  men  wear  a  strip  of  cloth, 
never  more  than  two  inches  wide.  This  is 
passed  round  the  waist,  under  tho  legs  in 
front,  and  tucked  through  itself  behind,  the 
end  being  left  as  long  as  possible.  The  men 
place  great  value  on  the  length  of  this  tail, 
and  he  is  the  best  dressed  man  who  wears  it 
t>.e  longest.  Some  of  the  wealthy  among 
them  have  the  tail  dragging  along  the  ground 
for  several  feet,  like  an  European  lady's 
train.  If  possible,  this  tail  is  made  of  blue 
cloth,  an  article  that  is  held  in  very  high  es- 
timation by  the  natives. 

The  women  are  quite  as  ill-favored  as  the 
men,  and  increase  their  natural  ugliness  by 
shaving  off  all  their  hair.  They  do  not  wear 
tiiils  like  the  men,  but  have  a  plaited  grass 
girdle,  from  which  depends  a  soft  fibrous 
fringe  about  a  foot  in  depth. 

The  character  of  the  Nicobarians  is  far 
gentler  than  that  of  the  Mincopies,  the  latter 
being  proverbially  fierce  and  cruel  toward 
strangers,  and  the  former  sooa  learning  to 


welcome  foreigners  when  they  have  made 
up  their  minds  that  no  harm  is  intended 
thill'  Cimtain  Campbell,  to  whom  I  am 
ind  d  for  most  of  the  information  re- 
specliug  these  natives,  found  them  very 
agreeable  and  hospitable,  ready  to  barter, 
and  always  welcoming  him  to  their  houses. 

After  a  shoi-t  time,  even  the  women  and 
children,  who  had  at  first  been  scrupulously 
concealed,  after  the  manner  of  savages,  came 
boldly  Ibrward,  and  were  as  hospitable  as  the 
men.  On  one  occasion,  while  jiaying  a  visit 
to  one  of  their  huts.  Cai)tain  Caniplxill  tried 
to  make  friends  with  one  of  the  diildren,  all 
of  whom  were  terribly  frightened  at  tho 
white  face  of  their  visitor.  Finding  that  no 
response  was  made  to  his  advances,  he  pulled 
the  child  from  his  hiding-place,  and  held  him 
for  a  little  time,  in  spite  ol  his  struggles.  The 
mother  made  no  opposition,  but  laughed 
heartily  at  the  skirmish,  evidently  feeling 
that  no  harm  was  intended  toward  "her  little 
one. 

The  native  weapons  of  the  Nicobarians  are 
very  curious.  As  the  people  are  not  of  a 
warlike  character  like  the  Mincopies,  their 
weapons  are  used  almost  exclusively  for 
killing  game.  The  most  formidable  is  a  tol- 
erably large  spear  headed  with  iron,  which  is 
used  for  killing  hogs,  and  is  thrown  like  the 
assagai  of  Southern  Africa.  They  have  also 
a  smaller  javelin  for  fish-killing,  and  a 
number  of  many-pointed  hand-spears  for  the 
same  purpose.  The  most  remarkable  of  their 
weapons  is  a  cross-bow,  which  is  almost 
exactly  like  that  of  the  Fan  tribe  of  Africa. 
It  is  not  very  po.verful,  and  only  jiropels  a 
small  arrow.  Its  chief  use  is  in  killing 
birds.  " 

Besides  these  weapons,  every  man  carries 
a  cntlass-blade  from  which  the  hilt  has  been 


I 


removed,  and  a  handle  roughly  made  b 
wrapping  some  six  inches  of  the  butt  wit., 
cocoa-nut  fibre.  It  is  intended  not  so  much 
as  a  weapon  as  a  tool,  and  with  it  the  natives 
cut  down  trees,  carve  their  canoes,  and 
perform  similar  operations. 

The  architecture  of  the  Nicobarians  is 
infinitely  superior  to  that  of  the  Mincojiies, 
and  is  precisely  similar  in  character  to  tliat 
which  is  found  among  the  inhabitants  of  New 
Guinea,  the  home  of  the  Papuan  race. 

The  nTidve  architect  begins  by  fixing  a 
number  of  posts  in  the  ground,  and  erecting 
on  them  a  platform  of  split  bamboo.  Over 
this  platform  he  builds  a  roof  shaped  exactly 
like  a  beehive,  and  his  house  is  then  complete. 
The  bamboo  platform  is  the  floor  of  the  hut, 
and,  being  el.astic  as  well  as  firm,  serves  also 
for  a  bed.  To  this  hut  the  native  ascends  by 
a  primitive  sort  of  ladder,  and  nnssi-s  into  tho 
chamber  through  a  hole  cut  in  the  floor. 
The  sides  of  the  hut  are  adorned  with  tho 
skulls   of  hogs,   intennixcd   with    spears, 


knii 
pect 

A 
The 
groi 
as  il 
BunI 
prin 
aboi 
or  r 
moc 
tim( 
day. 
smo 
toh 
Wei 
oft! 
"Sc 
on 
peai 
of  a 

T 
beai 
but 
bein 
Bupi 
a  ve 
proi 
Iigh 


A  PEIMITIVE  HAMMOCK. 


897 


knives,  bows,  and  arrows.  The  huts  arc  kept 
peculiarly  neat  and  clean. 

A  rather  remarkable  use  is  made  of  the  hut. 
The  onen  space  between  the  floor  and  the 
ground  is  far  too  valuable  not  to  be  utilized, 
as  it  affords  a  cool  and  airy  shelter  from  the 
sunbeams.  Under  this  floor  is  suspended  a 
primitive  sort  of  hammock,  which  is  a  board 
about  six  feet  in  length,  slung  by  ropes.  In, 
or  rather  on,  this  very  uncomfortable  ham- 
mock thiNicobarian  likes  tolounge  away  his 
time,  dozing  throughout  the  hot  hours  of  the 
day,  sipping  palm  wine  at  intervals,  and 
smoking  witiiont  cessation.  In  fact,  we  seem 
to  have  got  a^ain  among  the  inhabitants  of 
Western  Africa,  so  similar  is  the  'character 
of  the  Nicobarian  to  that  of  the  negro.  The 
"  Scene  in  the  Nicobar  Islands,"  represented 
on  the  fl0.3d  page,  shows  the  personal  ap- 
pearance of  the  Nicobarians  and  their  style 
of  arcliitecturc. 

The  canoes  of  the  Nicobarians  are  not  so 
beautifully  formed  as  those  of  the  Mincopies, 
but  are  constructed  on  the  same  principle, 
being  hollowed  out  of  the  trunks  of  trees,  and 
Bupported.by  a  slight  outrigger.  They  have 
a  very  high  and  ornamental  prow,  and  are 
propelled  by  short  paddles.  They  are  very 
light,  and,  when  properly  raanued,  skim  over 


the  water  at  an  astonishing  pace.  Some  of 
them  are  nearly  sixty  feet  in  length,  while 
others  are  barely  six  or  seven  feet  long,  and 
only  intended  for  one  person. 

The  mode  of  burial  is  not  in  the  least  like 
that  which  is  employed  among  the  Mincopies. 
When  a  man  dies,'  the  body  is  placed  in  a 
coflin,  which  is  generally  made  from  a  canoe. 
The  canoe  is  cut  in  half,  the  body  being 
laid  in  one  moiety,  and  covered  with  the 
other  half.  In  order  to  supply  the  de- 
ceased v;ith  provisions  for  his  journey  to  the 
spirit-land,  a  pig  is  killed  and  placed  in  the 
coffin,  together  with  a  supply  of  yams  and 
cocoa-nuts.  In  case  he  should  be  attacked 
on  his  journey,  a  quantity  of  weapons,  such 
as  bows,  spears,  and  cutlasses,  are  placed  in 
the  coffin. 

The  body  is  buried  in  the  middle  of  the 
village,  and  the  spot  marked  by  a  stick,  to 
which  is  attached  a  small  streamer.  After 
some  time,  when  the  body  has  been  con- 
sumed by  the  earth,  the  coffin  is  dug  up 
again.  The  deceased  being  now  supposed  to 
have  completed  his  journey  to  his  spirit- 
home,  his  bones  are  thrown  into  the  bush,  and 
the  cutlasses  and  other  weapons  distributed 
among  his  relatives. 


44 


mm 


CHAPTER  XO. 


NEW  GUINEA. 


THE  HOME  OP  THE  PAPTAJf  RACE  —  DISTINOUlSHDf O  MARKS  OF  THE  RACE— DERI VATIOX  OP  THE 
NAME  — GENERAL  CHARACTER  OP  THE  PAPUANS  —  THE  SIGN  OF  PEACE  —  AN  UNFORTrNATE  MIS- 
UNDERSTANDING—  DRESS  AND  ORNAMENTS  OF  THE  TKlnES  OF  DOUBGA  STRAIT  —  THEIR  AGILITY 
AMONG  THE  TREES  —  THE  OUTANATA  TRIBES  —  TATTOOING  AND  ORNAMENTS  — EI.AMORXTE  AUCHI- 
TECTUHE— WEAI-ONS  — THB  DUBT  SIGNALS  AND  TUEUl  MEANING— THEUl  UNSUSPICIOUS  NATURE 
—  ABOAVW,  THE  CHIEF, 


Wb  now  come  to  the  very  home  and  centre 
of  the  Papuan  race. 

New  Guinea  is  a  very  large  island,  four- 
teen hundred  miles  in  length,  and,  as  far  as 
has  been  ascertained,  containing  some  two 
hundred  thousand  geographical  square  miles. 
It  is  separated  from  Australia  only  by  Torres 
Strait,  and,  as  wo  have  seen,  a  certain  amount 
of  intercourse  has  taken  place  between  the 
Papuans  of  the  south  of  New  Guinea  and 
the  natives  who  inhabit  the  north  of  Austra- 
lia. Fertile  in  the  vegetable  kingdom,  it 
possesses  one  or  two  animals  which  have 
the  greatest  interest  for  the  naturalist,  such 
as  the  tree-kangaroo,  the  crowned  pigeon, 
and  the  bird  of  jparadise.  It  is  equally  inter- 
esting to  the  ethnologist  as  being  the  home 
of  the  Papuan  race. 

Taken  as  a  race,  they  are  very  fine  exam- 
ples of  savage  humanity,  tall,  well-shaped, 
and  powerful.  They  arc  remarkable  for  two 
physical  peculiarities.  The  one  is  a  rough- 
ness of  the  skin,  and  the  other  is  the  growth 
of  the  hair.  The  reader  may  remember  that 
some  of  the  tribes  of  Southern  Africa  have 
the  hair  of  the  head  growing  in  regular 
tufts  or  patches,  each  about  the  size  of  a 
pea. 

*  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that,  in  the  Papuan 
race,  the  hair  grows  in  similar  patches,  but, 
instead  of  being  short  like  that  of  the  South 
African,  it  grows  to  a  considerable  length, 
sometimes  measuring  eighteen  inches  from 
root  to  tip.  The  Papuans  are  very  proud  of 
this  natural  ornament,  and  therefore  will 
seldom  cut  it  off;  but  as,  if  left  untrained,  it 
would  iall  over  the  eyes,  they  have  various 


modes  of  dressing  it,  hut  in  most  cases  man- 
age to  make  it  stand  out  at  right  angles  from 
the  head.  Sometimes  they  take  the  hair  of 
each  patch  separately  and  screw  it  up  into  a 
ringlet.  Sometimes  tliey  tease  out  all  the 
hairs  with  a  wooden  comb  of  four  or  five 
prongs,  and,  as  the  hair  is  very  coarse  and 
stiff.  It  is  soon  induced  to  assume  a  mop-like 
shape,  and  to  increase  the  ajjpurent  size  of 
the  head  to  an  enormous  extent. 

Indeed,  the  word  Papua  is  derived  from 
this  peculiarity  of  the  hair.  In  the  ^Nlalay 
language,  the  word  which  siguities  '•  crisped" 
is  pua-pua,  which  is  easily  contracted  into 
pa-2Ma.  Even  the  hair  of  the  face  grows  in 
similar  patches,  and  so  does  that  on  the 
breast  ol  the  man,  and  in  the  latter  case  the 
tufts  are  much  further  apart  than  on  tho 
head  or  face. 

The  color  of  the  Pa]nmn3  is  a  very  dark 
chocolate,  sometimes  inclining  to  black,  but 
having  nothing  in  common  with  the  deep 
shining  black  of  tlie  negro.  Their  features 
are  large  and  tolerably  well  nuule,  though 
the  nose  is  very  broad  at  the  wings,  mid  tho 
lips  wide.  The  nose,  however,  is  ni  '  it  like 
that  of  the  negro,  but  is  inominem,  rather 
arched,  and  descends  so  low  tliat  when  seen 
ifl  front  the  tip  nearly  readies  the  upper  lip. 
The  natives  seem  to  be  iierf'eclly  awnre  of 
this  peculiarity,  and  perpetuate  It  in  their 
carvings. 

Although  taken  as  a  whole,  they  are  a  flno 
race,  there  are  many  diversities  among  tho 
different  tribes,  and  they  may  be  divided 
into  the  large  and  small  tribes.  The  for- 
mer are  powerfully  built,  but  more  rcmark- 


mS) 


AN  UNFORTUNATE  MISUNDERSTANDING. 


800 


able  for  strength  than  symmetry  —  broad- 
breasted  and  deep-clicsted,  but  with  legs 
not  equal  in  strength  to  the  upper  parts  of 
the  body. 

Their  character  has  been  v.ariously  given, 
some  travellers  describing  them  as  gentle 
and  hospitable,  whilo  others  decry  them  as 
fierce  and  treacherous.  Suspicious  of  stran- 
gers they  certainly  arc,  and  with  good  rea- 
son, having  sulfered  much  from  the  ships 
that  visited  their  coasts.  A  misunderstand- 
ing may  soon  arise  between  sav.ige  and 
civili/.cd  people,  especially  when  neither 
understands  tne  language  of  the  other.  An 
examjile  of  such  a  inisunderstandiug  is  given 
by  Mr.  Earle  in  his  v.aluablc  work  on  the 
native  races  of  the  Indian  Archipelago. 
Lieutenant  Modera,  an  oflicer  in  the  Dutch 
navy,  embarked  with  several  other  gentle- 
men in  the  ship's  boat,  for  the  purpose  of 
landing  on  the  shore  of  Dourga  Strait,  a 
passage  between  the  mainland  and  Fred- 
erick lleury  Island. 

"  When  the  boat  had  proceeded  to  within 
a  musket-shot  distance  from  them,  the  mi- 
tives,  who  were  armed  with  bows,  arrows, 
and  lances,  commenced  making  singular 
gestures  with  their  arms  and  legs.  The 
native  interpreter  called  out  to  them  in  a 
language  partly  composed  of  Ceramese,  and 
partly  of  a  dialect  spoken  by  a  Papuan 
tribe  dwelling  a  little  further  to  the  north; 
but  his  words  were  evidently  quite  unintel- 
ligible to  them,  as  they  only  answered  with 
loud  and  wild  yells.  AVe  endeavored,  for  a 
long  time  without  success,  to  induce  them 
to  lay  aside  their  weapons,  but  »t  length  one 
of  them  was  prevailed  upon  to  do  so,  and 
the  others  followed  his  example,  on  which 
we  also  laid  down  our  arms,  keeping  them, 
however,  at  hand. 

"  We  now  slowly  approached  each  other, 
and  the  interpreter,  dipping  his  hand  into 
the  sea,  sprinkled  some  of  the  water  over 
the  crown  of  his  head  as  a  sign  of  peaceful 
intentions.  Tliis  custom  seems  to  bo  gen- 
eral among  all  the  Papuan  tribes,  and  in 
most  cases  their  peaceful  intentions  may  be 
depended  upon  after  having  entered  into 
this  silent  compact. 

"This  they  seemed  to  understand, for  two 
of  them  immediately  did  the  same,  on  which 
the  interpreter  Jumped  into  the  shallow 
water,  and  approached  them  with  some 
looking-glasses  and  strings  of  beads,  which 
were  received  with  loud  laughter  and  yells. 
They  now  began  dancing  in  the  water,  mak- 
ing "the  interpreter  join,  and  the  party  was 
soon  increased  by  other  natives  froin  the 
woods,  who  were  attracted  by  the  presents. 
Mr.  Ilagenholtz  also  jumped  into  the  shal- 
low water  and  joined  in  the  dance,  and  they 
soon  became  so  friendly  as  to  come  close 
round  the  boat;  indeed  some  of  them  were 
even  induced  to  get  in." 

Meanwhile  their  confidence  increased, 
and  they  began  to  barter  with  their  visitors, 


exchanging  their  ornaments,  and  even  their 
weapons,  for  beads,  mirrors,  and  cloth.  They 
were  very  inquisitive  about  the  strange  ob- 
jects which  they  saw  in  the  boat,  and,  al- 
"though  they  handled  everything  freely,  did 
not  attempt  to  steal.  One  of  them  took  up 
a  loaded  pistol,  but  laid  it  down  at  oneo 
when  the  owner  said  it  was  tapu,  or  for- 
bidden. Unfortunately,  a  misunderstanding 
then  took  place,  which  destroyed  all  the  ami- 
cable feeling  which  had  been  est.ablished. 

"While  all  this  was  going  on,  they  kept 
drawing  the  boat  —  unperceived,  as  tlay 
thought  —  toward  the  beach,  which  deter- 
mined us  to  return,  as  our  stock  of  presents 
was  exhausted,  and  there  seemed  no  jjroba- 
bility  of  our  inducing  any  of  them  to  go  im 
board  with  us.  Shortly  before  this,  Mr. 
Boers  had  ornamented  a  Papuan  with  a 
string  of  beads,  who,  on  receiving  it,  joined 
two  of  his  countrymen  that  were  standing' 
a  little  distance  oil"  with  the  arms  that  had 
been  laid  aside,  but  which  they  had  been 
gr.adually  getting  together  again  —  a  pro- 
ceeding we  had  observed,  but,  trusting  in 
the  mutual  confidence  that  had  been  estab- 
lished, we  did  not  much  heed  it. 

"  At  the  moment  in  which  we  were  setting 
off  the  boat  to  return  on  board,  this  niau 
fixed  an  arrow  in  his  bow,  and  took  aim  at 
Mr.  Roers,  who  was  sitting  in  the  fore  part 
of  the  boat,  on  which  the  latter  turned  aside 
to  take  up  his  gun,  but  before  he  could  do 
so  he  received  the  arrow  in  his  left  thigh, 
which  knocked  him  over,  shouting,  'Firo! 
fire!  I  am  hit!' as  he  fell.  The  order  w,as 
scarcely  given  before  every  one  had  hold  of 
his  arms  (which,  as  before  stated,  were  kept 
at  hand),  and  a  general  discharge  put  ihn 
natives  to  flight,  swimming  and  diving  like 
ducks. 

"  Refore  they  took  to  flight,  however,  Ihcy 
discharged  several  more  arrows  at  our  people, 
one  of  wliich  struck  Mr.  Ilagenholtz.  in  the 
right  knee,  another  hit  a  sailor  in  the  leg, 
while  a  third  pierced  a  sailor's  hat  and  re- 
mained sticking  in  it;  and  lastly,  a  Javaneso 
had  the  handkerchief  shot  off  his  head,  but 
without  receiving  any  personal  injury." 

Three  of  the  natives  were  severely 
wounded,  if  not  killed,  in  this  unfortunafo 
affair,  which  evidently  arose,  as  Mr.  Earlo 
points  out,  from  misunderstanding,  and  not 
from  deliberate  treachery.  Seeing  the  boats 
being  pulled  toward  the  ships  while  four 
of  their  companions  were  On  board,  they 
proI)ably  thought  that  they  were  being  car- 
ried off  as  captives,  as  has  so  often  been  done 
along  their  coast  by  the  slavers.  They  could 
not  be  expected  to  understand  the  difierenco 
between  one  white  man  and  another,  and 
evidently  mistook  the  Dutch  sailors  for 
slavers,  who  had  come  for  the  purpose  of 
inveigling  them  into  the  ships,  where  they 
could  not  be  rescued. 

The  tribes  of  this  part  of  the  coast  are  nob 
agreeable  spccimeas  of  the  Papuan  race. 


m 

1.  ^*- 


li'Pi 


000 


NEW  GUINEA. 


They  are  barolv  of  the  middle  size,  and 
lij^liil.v  built.  ThiurskiuiM  docidedly  black, 
and  tliey  ornament  tlii'ir  bodies  with  nid 
oclirc,  ijuyinjj;  especial  attention  to  their  fiices, 
wliieh  are,  made  as  scarlet  as  ochre  can  make 
them.  The  hair  is  deep  ))la('k,  and  is  worn 
in  various  ways.  Most  of  the  men  plait  it 
in  a  number  of  tresses,  which  tall  nearly  on 
the  shoulders,  while  others  conline  it  all  into 
two  tails,  and  several  were  si'en  with  a  curi- 
ous headdress  of  rushes,  the  ends  of  which 
were  firmly  ])laited  among  the  hair.  They 
are  a  dirty  set  of  people,  and  arc  subject  to 
diseases  of  the  skin,  which  give  them  a  very 
repulsive  ajipearance. 

Dress  is  not  used  by  the  men,  who,  how- 
ever, wear  plenty  of  ornaments.  Thej^  mostly 
have  a  b(dl  made  of  plaited  leaves  or  rushes, 
about  live  inches  wide,  and  so  long  that,  when 
tied  together  behind,  the  ends  hang  down 
for  a  foot  or  so.  Some  of  them  adorn  this 
belt  with  a  large  white  shell,  i)laced  exactly 
in  the  middle.  Earrings  of  plaited  rattan, 
necklaces,  and  bracelets,  were  worn  by 
nearly  all.  Some  of  them  had  a  very  in'- 1 
genious  annlet,  several  inches  in  widtli.  It 
was  made  of  plaited  rattan,  and  fitted  so 
tightly  to  the  limb  that,  when  a  native  wished 
to  take  it  off  for  sale,  he  was  obliged  to  smear 
his  arm  with  mud,  and  have  the  ornament 
drawn  off  by  another  person. 

Their  principal  weapons  are  bows,  ar- 
rows, and  spears,  the  latter  being  some- 
times fi])ped  with  the  long  and  sharp  claw 
of  the  tree-kangaroo. 

The  agility  of  these  Papuans  is  really  as- 
tonishing. Along  the  water's  edge  there 
run  wide  belts  of  mangroves,  which  extend 
for  many  miles  in  length  with  scarcely  a 
break  in" them.  The  ground  is  a  thick,  deep, 
and  soft  mud,  from  which  the  mangrove- 
roots  spring  in  such  numbers  that  no  one 
could  pass  through  them  even  at  low  water 
without  the  constant  use  of  an  axe,  while  at 
high  water  all  passage  is  utterly  impossible. 
As  the  natives,  who  are  essentially  mar- 
itime in  their  mode  of  life,  have  to  cross  this 
belt  several  times  daily  in  passing  from  their 
canoes  to  their  houses,  and  rice  versa,  they 
prefer  doing  so  by  means  of  the  njipeV 
branches,  among  which  they  run  and  le.ap, 
by  constant  practice  from  childhood,  as  easily 
as  monkeys.  (See  p.  000.)  There  is  really 
nothing  extraordinarj^  in  this  mode  of  pro- 
gress, which  can  be  learned  by  Europeans  In 
a  short  time,  although  they  never  can  hope 
to  attain  the  graceful  ease  with  which  the 
naked  savages  i)ass  among  the  boughs.  In 
some  ijlaces  the  mangroves  grow  so  closely 
togelher  that  to  traverse  them  is  a  matter  of 
pca'fect  e.aso,  and  Mr.  Earle  rcmjirks  that  he 
once  saw  a  file  of  marines,  with  shouldered 
arms,  making  their  way  thus  over  n  man- 
grove swamp. 

The  familiarity  of  these  people  with  the 
trees  causes  them  to  look  upon  a  tree  as  a 
natural  fortress,  and  as  soon  as  explorers  suc- 


ceeded in  reaching  tho  villages,  the  natives 
invariably  made  off,  and  climbed  into  tho 
trees  that  surroundwl  the  villages. 

Wild  and  savage  as  they  are,  the  Papuans 
of  Dom-ga  Strait  dis|)lav  sonm  acquaintance 
with  the  luxuries  of  civlli/ed  life  and  are  in- 
orflinalely  fond  of  tobacco,  the  one  luxury 
that  is  common  to  the  highest  and  lowest 
races  of  mankind. 

Some  travellers  have  stated  tliat  these 
Papuans  are  cannibals,  and  it  is  certain  that 
their  gestures  often  favor  such  an  opinion. 

The  I'apuans  of  Bonrga  Strait  are  admi- 
rable canoe  men,  and  paddle  with  singular 
skill  and  j)owei\  They  always  stand  while 
paddling,  a  plan  where))y  they  obtain  a  great 
nicreasi^  of  power,  though  perhaps  at  the  ex- 
j)ense  of  muscular  exertion.  They  give  as 
their  chief  reason  for  jireferring  the  erect 
position,  that  it  enables  them  to  delect  turtle 
better  than  if  th(>y  were  sitting,  and  to  watch 
them  as  they  dive  under  water  after  being 
wounded. 

SKnjTiNG  the  coast  of  New  Gnirtea  and 
proceeding  northward  from  Dourga  Strait, 
we  come  to  the  Oi'tanata  Kiver,  at  the 
embouchure  of  which  is  a  tribe  that  difl'ers 
nnich  from  those  natives  which  have  already 
been  described.  Tliey  are  a  finer  and  taller 
set  of  men  than  those  of  Dourga  .Strait,  and 
seem  to  have  preserved  many  of  their  cus- 
toms intact  since  the  time  when  Captain 
Cook  visited  them.  Their  skin  is  a  very 
dark  brown,  and  is  described  as  having  a 
bluish  tinge,  and  they  are  said  to  rub  them- 
selves with  some  aromatic  substance  which 
causes  them  to  diffuse  an  agreeable  odor. 

It  is  jirobable  that  the  l)hiish  gloss  may 
be  due  to  the  same  aromatic  substance  with 
which  the  body  is  jierfumed.  Mr.  Earle 
thinks  that  the  odoriferous  material  in  ques- 
tion is  the  bark  of  the  tree  called  the 
"rosamala." 

The  blue  tinge  is  never  seen  among  Papuan 
slaves,  and  this  circumstance  adds  force  to 
Mr.  Earle's  conjecture. 

The  features'  are  rather  large,  esjiecially 
the  mouth,  and  the  lijis  are  thick.  The  cus- 
tom of  filing  the  teeth  to  a  sharj)  point  pre- 
vails among  this  tribe,  but  is  not  universal. 
The  eyes  are  .small,  and  the  septum  of  tho 
nose  is  alway."  pierced  so  as  to  carry  a  piece 
of  white  bone,  a  boar's  tusk,  or  some  similar 
ortiamcnt.  The  hair  is  thick,  and,  instead 
of  being  trained  into  long  tails  like  that  of 
the  Dourga  Strait  natives,  it  is  j)laited  from 
the  forehead  to  the  crown. 

The  men  wear  scarcely  any  real  dress, 
many  of  them  being  entirely'  naked,  and 
none  of  them  wearing  more  than  a  small 
piece  of  bark  or  a  striji  of  coarse  cloth  made 
either  of  cocoa-nut  fibre  or  of  split  bamboo. 
They  are,  however,  exceedingly  fond  of  or- 
nament, and  have  all  tho  savage  love  of 
tattooing,  or  rather  scarifying,  the  body, 
which  is  done  in  a  way  that  reminds  tho 


A  REMARKAHLE  INSTRUMENT. 


901 


. 


observer  of  the  same  process  ninoiif?  the 
AiiHtraliiins.  TL  HcarilicatioiiH  jji-ojocl 
above  th(i  Hkin  to  tl.i  'hickut'SM  of  a  linger, 
ami  the  niitivus  say  tli  t  this  elfuct  m  pro- 
»liict!(l  by  lirst  cutting,'  deeply  into  tlic  llcsii, 
and  tlien  applying  beat  to  the  wonncis. 
AnkU'ts,  bracelets,  and  other  articles  of  sav- 
age linory  aro  eon»inon,and  a  man  who  does 
n7)t  wear' an  ineli  of  elothing  will  pride  him- 
self on  his  boar's  teeth  neeklaee,his  braeelets 
of  woven  rattan,  and  bis  peaked  rnsh  cap. 

Tho  women  always  wear  some  anionnt  of 
clothinj;.  however  small,  the  very  fact  of 
possessing  apparel  of  any  kind  being  con- 
ventionalTy  atxopted  as  eonstitnling  rai- 
ment. .  Tlieir  solitary  garment  consists  of 
a  small  ajiron,  about  six  inches  square, made 
from  the  cocoa-nut  fibre. 

It  is  rather  remarkable  that  these  pco])le 
have  the  same  habit  of  pbu'ing  tbiiir  new- 
born children  in  hot  sand,  as  has  already 
been  described  wluiu  treating  of  the;  now 
extinct  Tasmanians.  "When  the  mother 
goes  about  her  work,  she  carries  the  child 
by  means  of  a  sort  of  sling  made  of  leaves  or 
tile  bark  of  a  tree. 

The  architecture  of  the  Outanatas  is  f\\r 
superior  to  that  of  their  brethren  of  Dourga 
Strait.  One  of  these  bouses,  described  by 
Lieutenant  Modiu-a,  was  at  least  a  hundred 
feet  in  length,  tlioiigh  it  was  only  five  feet 
iiigh  and  six  wide,  so  that  a  man  "could  not 
stand  upright  in  it.  There  were  nineteen 
doors  to  tliis  curious  building,  which  was  at 
first  mistak(!n  for  a  row  of  separate  huts. 
The  floor  is  covered  with  white  sand,  and 
the  inliabitauts  generally  seat  themselves  on 
mats.  Each  of  these  doors  seemed  to  be 
appropriated  to  a  single  family,  and  near  the 
doors  were  jilaced  the  different  fireplaces. 
Over  the  roof  a  fishing  net  had  been  spread 
to  dry  in  the  sun,  while  a  number  of  weap- 
ons were  hung  under  the  roof 

This  house  was  built  in  a  few  days  by  tiie 
women  and  girls,  and  was  placed  near  a 
much  larger  l)uilding,  which  had  been 
raised  on  piles. 

The  weapons  of  the  Outanatas  are  spears, 
clubs,  and  the  usual  bow  and  arrows,  which 
form  the  staple  of  Polynesian  arms. 

Tiie  bows  are  aboutfive  feet  in  length,  and 
are  furnished  with  a  string  sometimes  made 
of  baml)oo  and  sometimes  of  rattan.  Tin; 
arrows  are  about  four  feet  in  length,  and 
made  of  cane  or  reed,  to  the  end  of  which  is 
attached  a  piece  of  hard  wood,  generally 
that  of  the  betel-tree.  The  tips  are  mostly 
simple,  the  wood  being  scraped  to  a  sharp 
point  and  hardened  in  the  lire,  but  the  more 
ambitious  weapons  are  armed  with  barbs, 
and  furnished  with  a  point  mad(^  of  bone. 
The  teeth  of  the  sawfish  are  often  employed 
f;-  this  purpose,  and  a  few  of  the  arrows  are 
tipped  with  the  kangaroo  claw,  as  already 
mentioned  in  the  description  of  tlio  Dourga 
Strait  spear. 
Beside  these  weapons,  the  natives  carry  a 


sort  of  axo  made  of  stone  lashed  to  a  wooden 
handle,  but  this  ought  rather  to  b(^  consid- 
ered as  a  tool  than  a  weapon,  although  it  can 
be  used  in  the  latter  capacity.  With  this 
simphf  instrument  the  Outanatas  cut  down 
the  trees,  shape  them  into  canoes,  and  per- 
form the  various  pieces  of  carpentering  that 
art!  recpiired  in  architecture. 

The  most  remarkable  part  of  an  Outa- 
nata's  equipment  is  an  instrument  whidi 
greatly  i)erplexed  the  earlier  voyag(M-s,  and 
led  tlicm  to  believe  that  these  natives  were 
ac.<piainted  witli  fire-arms.  Cai)tain  Cook, 
who  visited  New  Guinea  in  1770,  mentions 
that  as  soon  as  he  reached  the  shore  and 
had  left  his  boat,  three  natives, or  "Indians," 
as  he  c.ills  them,  rushed  outof  lln^  wood,  and 
that  one  of  them  threw  out  of  his  hand 
something  which  "  Hew  on  one  side  of  him 
and  bmnt  exactly  like  jHiwder,  Imt  ma<le  no 
report."  The  two  others  hurled  their  si)ears 
at  tlu^  travellers,  who  wore  in  self-defenco 
obliged  to  use  their  fire-arms. 

Not  wishing  to  come  to  an  encagement, 
tliey  retired  to  the  boat,  and  reached  it  just 
in  time,  tho  natives  appearing  in  consider- 
able force.  "  As  soon  as  we  were  alioard, 
wo  rowed  abn^ast  of  them,  and  their  num- 
ber then  appeared  to  be  betwec^n  sixty  and 
a  hundred.  "We  took  a  view  of  them  at  our 
leisure.  They  made  much  the  same  ai)pear- 
ance  as  the  New  Hollanders,  being  m  arly 
of  the  same  stature,  and  having  tlu'ir  hair 
short-cropped.  Like  them  they  also  were 
all  stark  naked,  but  we  thought  the  color  of 
their  skin  was  not  quite  so  dark;  this,  how- 
ever, might  be  merely  the  elt'ect  of  their 
being  not,  quite  so  dirty. 

"  All  this  time  they  were  shouting  defi- 
ance, and  letting  off  their  fires  by  four  or 
live  at  a  time.  What  those  fires  were,  or 
for  what  purpose  intended,  we  could  not 
imagine.  Those  who  discharged  them  had 
in  their  hands  a  short  piece  of  stick— possi- 
bly a  hollow  cane  —  which  they  swung  side- 
ways from  them,  and  we  immediately  saw- 
lire  and  smoke,  exactly  resembling  those  of 
a  nuisket,  and  of  no  longer  duration.  This 
wonderful  i)henomenon  was  observed  from 
the  ship,  and  the  deception  was  so  great  that 
the  people  on  board  thought  they  had  fire- 
arms; and  in  tho  boat,  if  we  had  not  been  .so 
near  that  we  nuist  have  heard  the  rei)ort, 
we  shoidd  have  thought  they  had  been  tiring 
volleys." 

The  reader  will  doubtless  remark  here 
that  the  travellers  were  so  accu8tonie<l  to 
•associate  fire  with  smoke  that  they  believed 
themselves  to  have  seen  flashes  of  fire  as 
well  as  wreaths  of  smoke  issue  from  the 
strange  weapon.  Many  years  afterward. 
Lieutenant  Modera  contrived  to  see  and 
handle  some  of  these  implements,  and  found 
that  they  were  simply  hollow  bamboos,  filled 
with  a  mixture  of  sand  and  vvood-ashes. 
which  could  be  flung  like  smoke-wreaths 
from  the  tubes.    The  Outanatas,  their  weap- 


'■ill 


m 


m 


Mi'ir 


W\ 


I 


002 


NEW  GUINEA. 


oiiH,  cnnoos  and  tho  rcmnrkublo  inBtrumcnt 
Just  (lescriljotl,  arc  iUustrnttid  on  tho  follow- 
In;,'  paso. 

l-ionio  persons  hn .  o  thought  that  tho  na- 
tives UHi'd  these  tubes  in  iniitati(.n  of  (Iru- 
arms,  but  the  lnteri)retor8  gave  it  as  their 
opinion  timt  they  woro  enipl()yed  as  signals, 
the  (liroction  of  tho  dust  clouu  being  indica- 
tive of  tho  intention  of  tho  thrower.   Others 
say  that  tho  tubes  are  really  weapons,  made 
■for  (ho  purpose  of  blinding  thti"  adversaries 
by  flinging  sand  in  their  eye.     I  cannot 
agree  with  this  last  suggestion,  oocauso  tho 
other  weapons  of  tho  Outanatas  show  that 
tho  natives  do  not  tlglit  hand  to  '  and  like 
the  Now  Zoalandors.   I  think  that  t;\o  intcr- 
pretors  woro  right  in  their  statonici^t  that 
the  tubes  are  used   for  signalling,  anc!  tiiis 
supposition  is  strengthened  by  the  fact  that 
the  natives  of  Australia  do  use  smoko  for  tho 
same  purpose,  as  has  already  boon  described. 
The  c-inocs  of  tho  Outanat-as  are  often  of 
considorablo  size,  measuring  fifty  or  sixty 
foot,  and,  although  narrow  in  proportion  to 
their  length  from  stem  to  stern,  containing 
a  great  number  of  men.    They  aro  hand- 
somely carved  and  adorned  with  p.'iint,  and 
both  ends  are  flat  and  broad.    The  rowers 
stand    up   when    they   use    their    paddles, 
■which  aro  necessarily  of  considerable  length, 
haying  long  handles  and  oval  blades  slightly 
hollowed.    Tho  narrowness  of  these  canoes 
strengthens  tho  opinion  of  several  travel- 
lers, that  tho  Outanatas  aro  really  an  inland 
tribe,  descending  the  river  in  flotillas,  and 
returning  to  their  inland  home  when  tho 
object  of  their  expedition  is  accomplished. 

They  neem  to  bo  loss  suspicious  than 
their  countrymen  of  Dourga  Strait,  and 
have  no  hesitation  in  meeting  Europeans 
and  exchanging  their  own  manufactures  for 
cloth,  knives,  and  jjlass  bottles,  tho  last 
mentioned  objects  being  always  favorite  ar- 
ticles of  barter  with  Polynesian  savages, 
who  employ  them  when  entire  for  holdiii" 
liquids,  and,  if  they  should  unfortunately 
bo  broken,  use  the  fragments  for  knives, 
lancets,  points  of  weajions,  and  similar  pur- 
poses. Lieutenant  Modera  describes  the 
appearance  of  one  of  their  flotillas  as  repre- 


senting a  perfect  fair,  tho  boats  being  laid 
closely  together,  and  their  docks  crowded 
with  natives  laden  w  'h  articles  for  barter. 

Unlike  the  Dourgi.  Strait  natives,  those 
of  tho  Outanata  Kiver  had  no  objection  to 
come  on  hoard  the  Kuropean  shijis,  and  vis- 
ited tho  vessels  in  great  numbers.  Even 
their  principal  chief  came  on  board  fre- 
quently.  On  tho  first  occasion  he  disguised 
his  rank,  and  merely  came  as  an  ordinary 
native,  but  he  afterward  avowed  himself, 
and  came  freely  on  board  in  his  own  char- 
acter. For  convenience'  sake  ho  called 
himself  Abrauw,  i,  r.  Abraham,  a  name  by 
which  he  was  well  known  for  a  consiclerablo 
distance.  lie  oflered  no  objc'ction  to  going 
below  and  entering  tho  Cajjtain's  cabin, 
though  his  subjects  were  rattier  uneasy  at 
his  absence,  and  shouted  his  name  so  peiso- 
vcringly  that  he  was  obliged  every  now  and 
then  to  put  his  head  out  of  the  cabin  win- 
dow, lie  had  all  the  regal  power  of  con- 
cealing astonishment,  and  witnessed  with 
utter  imperturbability  the  discharge  of  lire- 
arms,  the  ticking  of  watches,  and  examples 
of  similar  marvels,  lie  did,  however,  disjjlay 
a  little  interest  in  the  musketry  practice, 
which  was  directed  at  a  succession  of  bottles, 
slung  from  the  yard-arm,  but  whether  ho 
was  struck  with  the  accuracy  of  aim  or  with 
tho  needless  destruction  of  valuable  bottles 
is  doubtful. 

Ho  seemed  to  be  worthy  of  his  position  as 
chief,  and  was  desirous  of  establishing  an 
European  settlement  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Outanata.  Unfortunately,  tho  river,  al- 
though a  noble  stream,  has  a  sandbar  across 
the  mouth  which  ell'ectuallv  prevents  vessels 
of  even  light  draught  from' passing  except  at 
high  water.  The  people  in  general  were 
wonderfully  honest,  not  displaying  the 
thievish  propensities  which  cause  the  visits 
of  many  savage  tribes  to  be  so  troiiblesoine. 
They  even  brought  on  board  articles  which 
had  been  accidentally  left  on  shore.  They 
Iirobably  owe  much  of  their  superiority  to 
their  connection  with  the  Malay  Moham- 
medans, many  of  whom  visit  New  Guinea  aa 
traders. 


(1.)    A    SCKNK   IN   TIIK   NKOllAK   ISKANDS.    (Sw  pngo  wir.) 


Sl 


i 


i 

:T3V»f|: 


ill 


(903) 


'IL 


m 


CHAPTER  XCI. 


NEW  GUINEA  — Confl!wcI«d. 


IHB  ALFOfiOfl  on  nARAFOnAS  —  VAHIOUS  BBPOnTa  nKSPBCTINO  TnKM— THKin  MOnB  OF  OOVERNMEUfT 
—  AN  AI,KOii:HIAN  DIVOIICB  C'OUIIT — TIlKrANO  COLLKCTimt  —  DESTUUCTION  OK  I'UOl'KKTY^ 
FirNKBAL  ItlTKH  — TIIIIIU8  OF  Tlllt  BOUTII-KASTEIIN  COAHT— A  QUAINT  DltUMMKIl— DItKHH  AND 
OllNAMK.NT  — THE  TATTOO  —  THE  FULI.-DliKHH  I'ETTICOAT  — IIAin-llHEHHINO  — EXCEI.I.KNUE  OF 
TIIBUt  CANOKH  — AN  INOENIOUIt  BAIL  —  HOW  TO  HTOP  A  I,ICAK— TUB  I'lll-I'KT  —  AHCUITKCTU1U! — 
DEFENCE  AOAINHT  VEUMIN  —  HOUHBS  OF  UEIIBCAR  BAY  —  DIIEAO  OF  MTEEL  — TIIIIIK8  OF  TUB 
NOHTIl-WEHT  COAHT— TlIEia  CAMOKH— MOOES  OF  FIHllINO  — AQUATIO  IIOUHEB  —  MOKE  OF  OOV- 
EllNMENT— APPOINTMENT  OF  A  NEW  CHIEF— NEW  (IIJINEA  WBUDINaS — THE  KABWAIl,  OB 
HOUUEHOLU  aOD  — TUB  WAil-UAMCB  — CBlUSMOMEa  AT  FUNERALS. 


We  must  hero  givo  a  short  spaco  to  Romo 
tribes  called  by  various  names,  such  as 
Ilaraloras,  Alfouras,  and  Alfoiirs,  and  sup- 
posed by  many  ethnologists  to  be  a  sepa- 
rate faniily  livnig  in  New  Ouinea  and  the 
neighboring  islands,  hut  as  distinct  fVom 
the  generality  of  tl»e  inhabitants  as  tho 
nosjesman  of'  Southern  Africa  are  tVom  the 
Kaffir. 

This  theory,  however,  ha.s  now  been 
shown  to  be  untenable,  and  it  is  now  known 
that  the  word  Alfoers,  or  Alfouras,  is  ap- 

filied  by  the  tribes  of  the  coast  to  those  who 
ive  in  the  interior.  The  word  has  n  Portu- 
guese origin,  and  as  Mr.  Earlo  remarks,  is 
apj)licd  to  the  mountaineers  of  tho  interior, 
just  as  the  Spaniards  called  tho  aborigines  of 
America  "  Indians,"  and  the  Mohammedan 
inhabitants  of  Salcc  and  Mindano  "  Moros," 
oc  "  Moors." 

Most  of  the  accounts  that  have  been  re- 
ceived of  tho  Alfoiirs  are  not  at  all  to  be 
trusted.  Thoy  have  been  described  as  pe- 
culiarly disgusting  and  repulsive,  ferocious, 
gloomy,  living  in  the  depths  of  the  forest,  and 
murdering  all  atrauMrs  who  camo  in  their 
way.  In  fact,  they  have  a  worse  reputation 
than  tho  Andamaners.  It  has  been  ascer- 
tained, however,  that  these  evil  reports  have 
originated  from  the  coast  tribes,  who  have  a 
very  strong  objection  to  allow  foreigners  to 
penetrate  inland. 

The  reason  is  obvious.  The  visits  of  the 
traders  are  exceedingly  valuable,  furnish- 
ing all  kinds  of  tools,  weapons  and  orna- 


ments, which  constitute  the  wealth  of  the 
savage.  The  natives,  having  purchased  these 
with  articles  which  to  themselves  are  com- 
paratively valueless,  can  sell  their  super- 
abundance to  tho  inland  Alfoers,  and  inako 
an  enormous  profit  on  their  bargain.  If  tho 
white  men  were  allowed  to  go  inland  and 
tr.ade  directly  with  tho  natives,  their  profita- 
ble traffic  would  be  broken  up. 

As  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  tho  Alfoers 
are  in  much  tho  same  state  as  were  the  Ou- 
tanatas  before  thoy  were  visited  by  traders. 
Those  who  were  seen  were  remarkable  for  a 
certain  stupidity  of  aspect,  a  taciturnness  of 
disposition,  and  a  slowness  of  movement, 
which  are  not  found  among  the  Outanatas. 
As,  however,  they  were  slaves,  it  is  more 
than  likely  that  these  characteristics  were  tho 
result  of  servitude. 

Subsequently  some  discoveries  were  made 
among  the  Alfoers,  which  entirely  contra- 
dictea  the  reports  of  the  coast  tribes.  They 
are  certainly  rough  in  their  manners,  and  if 
they  tjvke  a  dislike  to  a  foreigner,  or  if  ho 
should  perchance  olfend  any  of  their  preju- 
dices, they  eject  him  from  the  district  with 
more  speed  than  ceremony;  taking  care, 
however,  not  to  inflict  personal  damage, 
and  refraining  from  confiscating  his  prop- 
erty. 

As  far  as  can  be  ascertained  from  the 
slight    intercourse  which   has    been    held 
with  these  tribes,  there  is  no  regular  form 
of  government,  the  elders  deciding  disputes, , 
and  their  decisions  being  respected.    They 


(gos) 


iilll 


m 


000 


NEW  GUINEA. 


nro  Bu  honest  set  of  pcojtlo,  pftving  tho 
Rrontt'.st  n>nar(l  to  llui  rights  ol"  pioiicrly; 
and  b(Mii)jf  ho  HcrumiloiiH  in  thin  ri'sprcl,  (Imt 
if  uiiy  one  KJiould  ovi'n  cnlor  tlio  IionHo  of 
ini  )il)M(;nl  niiin  ho  i»  called  to  moount,  and 
made  to  jiay  ii  line  to  tho  owner  of  (he 
luuiHO.  A  Riniiliir  law  exis(n  wilh  regard  (o 
(hu  women.  If  a  man  nhonld  >en  toneJi, 
though  aecidentally,  the  wile  of  unolher,  he 
makoH  himself  lialile  to  a  tine. 

A  eurious  example  of  this  regulation  is 
mentioned  Uy  liieutenant  IvolIlT  A  man 
net  out  in  liis  eanoe  to  llsh,  intending  io 
return  in  a  weejv;  hut  heing  eauglit  liy  con- 
trary winds,  he  was  driven  away  froin  his 
own  itart  of  the  coast,  and  was  detained  two 
months.  Unfortunately  he  hud  only  leil  at 
honn>  |)rovisi<ins  for  a  week,  and  liis  wife, 
tlnding  herself  without  food,  asked  a  neigh- 
bor to  provide  it  for  her.  This  he  did,  and 
as,  day  id'ter  day,  nothing  was  heard  of  the 
husband,  tlu!  woman  transferred  her  alVee- 
tion.s  ai\d  herself  to  tho  neighbor  who  had 
a.ssistod  her,  and  tho  pair  went  olf  to  another 
island. 

Aller  two  months  had  elapsed  tho  hus- 
band canu'  back,  and,  not  tlnding  his  wife, 
demnnded  her  from  her  brothers,  wlio  were 
then  lionnd  to  ])roiluce  her.  They  sot  otf  in 
search  of  the  guilty  counle,  discovered  them, 
and  brought  them  hack,  when  the  injured 
husband  demanded  an  enormous  suiu  bv 
way  of  tiiu'.  The  man  said  that  lie  coulil 
not  possibly  j)ay  such  a  sum  if  lie  were  to 
work  for  the  rest  of  his  lifetime.  The  atfair 
was  eventually  brought  before  the  elders, 
who  decided  that  tho  luisband  had  done 
Wong  in  leaving  his  wife  so  ill  ])rovidod 
for,  and  that  if  he  had  sujmlied  her  w  ith  a 
suthciency  of  iirovisions  the  at(iuaintanco 
between  herself  and  her  paramour  wouhl 
probably  have  been  avoided.  !^o  Ihev 
tlecrcod  that  the  man  should  p.ny  a  small 
flne,  and  advised  the  liushand  to  leave 
plenty  of  provisions  at  homo  when  he  next 
wentout  lishing. 

Tlic  principal  object  for  which  the  natives 
make  (Jieso  expeditions  is  the   trepang,  or 


in    great 
is    pnichased    bv 


sea-shig  (IMolliurio),  which  is 
demand  in  China,  and 
trtulers  from  the  natives  for  the  Chines'i 
market.  It  is  chietly  by  means  of  the  tre- 
pang that  a  man  procures  a  wife.  As  is  the 
case  among  many  savage  tribes,  a  wife  can 
only  be  ohliiined  by  i)urchttso,  so  that  duugh- 
tcrs  are  quite  as  "v.duable  to  their  parents 
as  sons.  With  (he  Alfoers,  the  marriage 
present  must  alwavs  consist  of  foieij'u  valu- 
ables, such  as  elephants'  tusks,  gongs,  (  i.ina 
dishes,  cloth,  and  similar  ohjects.  These 
are  obtained  by  exchanging  trepang  with 
tlie  tnulers. 

When,  therefore,  a  younjj  man  wants  a 
wife,  and  has  settled  tho   amount  of   tho 


tlie  fath' 


er,  lie  j^ocs 


olT  for  a  year  on  a  Imnling  expedition.    He 
t4ikcs  a  cauoe,  and  sails  from  island  to  island, 


catching  ns  nuieJi  trepang  as  possible,  and 
begging  from  all  those  whom  he  visits.  At 
the  end  of  the  year  ho  returns  home,  know- 
ing that  by  means  of  the  protective  law  his 
house  ami  property  will  be  perfect iy  saie. 
atid  presents  himself  to  tlu^  father  of  llie  girl 
with  the  goods  which  he  has  obtained.  It 
is  seldom  that  he  is  able  to  make  up  tho 
entire  amount  at  once,  but  he  is  allowed  to 
pav  by  instalments. 

ll'roperty  cannot  be  inherited,  owing  to  n 
neculiar  custom.  As  soon  as  any  one  dies, 
liis  relations  assemble,  gatlicr  togelher  all 
his  valuables,  break  tliem  to  [lieces,  and 
throw  the  I'ragmenls  away.  Kvcn  the  pre- 
cious brass  gongs  are  thus  broken,  the  sur- 
vivors thinking  that  no  one  may  use  any- 
thing belonging  to  the  dead.  Large  heaps 
of  broken  cliina,  ivory,  and  metal  are  found 
on  the  outskirts  of  villam's  thai  have  existed 
for  any  long  time,  showing  that  many  di^aths 
must  have  occurred  within  its  limits. 

The  rest  of  the  funcial  ceremonies  aro 
curious,  and  are  worthy  of  a  brief  descrip- 
tion. 

When  death  is  a.scertained,  nolic<'  is  sent 
to  all  the  relatives  <if  the  lieceased,  who 
ofleii  aro  scattered  widely  apart,  so  that 
..everal  davs  usually  elapsi'  before  they  can 
all  assemble.  The"  body  meanwhile  is"  kept 
sprinkled  with  lime,  in  order  to  retard  decay 
as  much  as  |)o.s'^ible,  and  aromatic  resins  aro 
burned  in  the  house  to  coin  leraet  any  ill 
otlor.  As  the  lelativcs  cor.ie,  they  "take 
their  places  in  the  house,  and  begin'<lrink- 
iug.  ih'fore  the  traders  .•supplied  them  with 
arrack,  tliey  had  a  fermented  litpior  mado 
by  themselves  from  fruit.  They  always 
otfer  the  deeciused  ii  share  of  evervlhing, 
putting  a  little  food  into  the  moM(li"of  tho 
ilead  person,  and  poo.ring  a  little  li(|uid 
between  tlie  senseless  lips.  Meanwhile  tho 
women  utter  loud  lamentations,  gongs  are 
beaten,  and  a  stunning  uproar  is  kept  uj) 
until  the  time  of  the  funeral. 

When  the  relatives  have  all  assembled,  a 
bier  is  provided,  covered  with  cloth,  tho 
quantity  and  (luality  of  which  accord  with 
the  wealth  of  the  di'ceased;  and  the  body  is 
then  brought  out  in  front  of  the  house,  aial 
supported  in  a  sitting  jiosilion  against  a 
post.  The  villagers  tlicn  a.ssenible,  aiitl  a 
jfcneral  feast  takes  jilace,  a  share  of  which 
is  offered  to  the  deceased  as  before,  rind- 
ing' that  lie  will  neither  cat  nor  drink,  in 
snite  of  tho  solicitations  of  his  friends  and 
companions,  tlie  body  is  carried  into  tho 
woods,  where  it  is  placed  on  a  platform 
erected  on  four  fee*. 

This  heing  done,  the  concluding  cere- 
mony is  left  to  the  women.  They  remove 
all  their  clothing,  and  then  plant  by  the  sido 
of  the  platform  a  yiaing  sapling;  this  cere- 
mony being  eailedtJie  "casting  away  of  tho 
body,"  and  considered  as  a  symbol  "that  tlio 
deccaaed  has  done  with  his  body,  and  Ihrowa 
it  from  liim. 


A  QUAINT  DRUMMER. 


907 


PASstNO  more  to  the  cnslwanl  of  New 
Guineaj  wci  come  to  somii  iiitcrnHting  nations 
inlmliitnig  I)rum(!i''H  iHliiiid,  and  thu  nuigh- 
borhood.  Them!  iHliiiulH  aro  nituato  about 
lat.  10°  4r,'  S.  and  Ion.  l.W"  2'V  E. 

Living  MS  llioy  do  on  a  nnniber  of  small 
isbinds,  Mu!  Inrgcwt  bcnng  ratbcr  less  tban 
threo  niiics  in  widtli,  tlio  natives  aro  noces- 
. sarllv  niaritiinc,  |i!iHning  from  one.  island  to 
anotnor  in  tJK'ir  admirably  contrived  ves- 
sels. Tlicy  arc  ac'cnstomea  to  llie  visits  of 
•sliips,  and  boldly  put  off  to  meet  them,  tak- 
ing no  weapons,  i^xeept  for  salo,  and  dis- 
playing tbo  greatest  confidence  ia  their 
visitors. 

One  of  tlicMc  natives  ranscd  groat  amusc- 
metit  l)V  Ids  imilnlion  of  tlie  ship's  drnm- 
nier.  Monie  one  gave  him  a  hirge  tin  can, 
wliic^li  lie,  being  a  nHisi<'al  genius,  imn^edi- 
ately  converted  into  a  drum.  At  first  he 
mendy  pounded  it  with  his  hands,  but  wluMi 
the  ship  s  drninnirr  was  sent  into  the  chains, 
and  bettan  to  jilay  upon  his  instrument,  the 


i;' 


man  waldied  liini  lor  a  little  time,  and  then 
began  to  imitate  him  in  the  most  ludicrous 
manner,  his  antics  and  grimaces  being 
esi)eeialiy  iirovoculive  of  laught(;r.  The 
ctfect  of  liis  huirooiiery  was  ludghtened  by 
the  manner  in  which  he  had  adorned  his 
face.  lie  had  lilack<'n(Ml  his  naturally  dark 
featnn^s  wilh  charcoal,  and  had  drawn  a 
streak  of  wliiti^  paint  over  e:ieli  eyebrow, 
and  another  under  the  chin  to  the  chcek- 
boiKjs. 

The  mode  of  salutation  is  rather  ludicrous 
to  a  stranger,  as  it,  consists  of  pinching. 
AVhen  they  desire  to  salute  any  one,  they 
pinch  the  tip  of  the  nose  willi  the  finger 
and  thumb  of  tlie  light  hand,  while  with 
th(>  left,  they  ])ini;h  the  nnddli-  of  tlieir  stom- 
achs, acci)ni|)anying  this  odd  and  comi)lex 
gestun?  with  the  word  "  Magasftka."  These 
natives  seem  to  be  a  hospitalde  peonle,  for, 
after  several  of  them  had  been  received  on 
])oard  and  treated  kindlv.  they  returned  on 
the  followin;,'  ilay,  and  hrought  witli  them  a 
great  cpiantily  of  cooked  yams,  for  which 
thev  refused  jiMyment. 

Tlie  iiieii  wear  nothing  but  a  small  strip 
of  pandanus  leaf,  l)ut  the  women  have  a 
dress  which  in  principle  is  exactly  similar 
to  tlie  thong-aprons  of  Southern  Africa.  It 
consists  of  a  number  of  very  narrow  strips 
of  pjuidanus  leaf,  reaching  nearly  to  the 
knee.  The  girls  wear  only  a  single  row  of 
these  strips,  but  the  women  wear  sever.al 
layers  of  then),  one  coining  a  little  b(dow 
the  other,  like  tlonnces.  In  wet  weather 
the  ujjpermost  petticoat  is  taken  fnmi  the 
waist  and  tieil  round  (he  neck,  .so  as  to  pro- 
tect the  shoulders  from  the  rain,  which 
shoots  off  the  leaf-stri[i8  aa  olf  a  thatched 
roof. 

On  gala  days  a  mueli  handsomer  petticoat 
is  worn.  Tliis  consists  of  much  finer  leaf 
strips  than  those  which  constitute  the  ordi- 
nary dress,  and  it  is  dyed  of  various  colors. 


Some  of  thorn  which  wore  seen  by  Mr. 
M'Gillivray  were  red  and  green,  with  bands 
of  nalo  yellow  and  pure  white.  The  tufts  of 
wliicii  they  were  composed  wore  extremely 
light  and  soil,  and  looked  like  vtsry  fine- 
twisted  grass  blades.  Several  of  the  women, 
by  way  of  flnifihing  their  toilet,  had  black- 
ened their  faces.  This  process^  if  it  did  not 
add  to  their  beauty,  certainly  did  not  detract 
from  it,  as  their  faces  were  originally  so 
plain  that  the  black  cov(aing  could  not 
make  them  more  ugly.  The  young  men 
and  lads  formed  a  curious  contrast  to  the 
women  in  this  respect,  many  of  them  being 
remarkable  for  th('ir  good  looks. 

The  woim^n  usually,  tliough  not  invaria- 
bly, divide  their  hair  into  avast  number  of  lit- 
tle tresses,  and  twist  them  up  like  the  thrums 
of  a  mop,  while  the  men  tease  out  their  stiff 
and  wiry  locks  as  much  as  possiiih;,  and  fix 
in  them  a  slcnd('r  stick,  some  two  feet  in 
length,  decorated  with  a  little  nhniK!  at  the 
top,  tlie  base  being  cut  into  teeth  and  so  used 
as  a  comb. 

The  inhabitants  of  Redscar  Hay  use  a 
inoi-,.  elaborate  system  of  tattooing  th.an  that 
wl.,  Ii  lias  been  described  above.  The  men 
generally  restrict  thiiinselves  to  cert.ain  por- 
tions of  the  body,  such  as  the  bniiist,  cheeks, 
forehead,  and  arms,  and  oven  on  those  spots 
the  tattooing  is  comparatively  slight.  JJut 
llie  wo!nen  are  so  covered  with  blu(!  nat- 
terns,  that  there  is  hardly  a  jiortion  of  their 
bodies  which  has  not  been  thus  ihuioratecL 
They  have  various  p.atterns,  but  fh(!  usn.il 
typ(!  is  formeil  by  double  parallel  lines,  the 
intervals  between  which  are  filled  with 
smaller  patterns,  or  with  zigzag  lines.  As 
the  dress  of  the  women  consists  merely  of 
the  leaf-strip  pettic'o.-it,  the  patterns  of  the 
tattooing  are  vciry  fully  displayed. 

The  hair  of  the  meii  is  (Iressed  here  after 
a  rather  singular  fashion.  Ft  is  shaved  from 
the  forchoad  for  some  three  inches,  and  the 
remainder  is  combed  liackward  to  its  full 
length.  A  string  is  then  tied  round  it,  so  as 
to  confine  it  as  closely  as  possilile  to  the 
head,  leaving  ratlier  more  than  half  its  length 
to  be  frizzed  into  a  mop-liko  bundle  project- 
ing from  the  crown. 

Those  who  are  especially  careful  of  their 
personal  appearance  add  an  ornament  which 
is  not  unlike  the  pigtail  of  the  last  century. 
A  tolerably  large  bunch  of  hair  is  gathered 
together  and  tied  into  a  long  and  straight 
tad,  the  end  of  which  is  decorated  with 
some  ornament.  In  one  case,  a  man  had 
attached  to  his  pigtail  a  bunch  of  dojjs' 
teeth.  The  mouths,  n.aturally  wide,  are  dis- 
llmired  with  the  universal  ciistou;  of  chew- 
ing the  l)etel-leaf  mixed  with  lime,  which 
stains  the  lips  of  a  dull  brick-red,  and  makes 
the  w)>olo  mouth  look  as  if  it  had  been 
bleeding. 

The  hair  is  usually  black,  but  some  diver- 
sities of  color  are  often  seen.  Sometimes  it 
is  black  except  the  tips  of  each  tress,  where 


m\ 


pjf 


'^M 


-908 


NEW  GUINEA. 


the   iaie  becomes   yellow  or  reddish,  and 
sometimes  the  whole  of  the  hair  is  red.    In 


all  probabilitjr,  this  change  of  tint  is  pro- 
duced by  artificial  means,  such  as  lime- 
water,  the  use  of  which  is  known  in  various 
parts  of  New  Guinea.  Those  who  have  the 
entire  hair  red  have  probably  dyed  it  lately, 
while  those  who  have  only  tlie  tips  red  have 
passed  several  months  without  dyeing  it. 
There  is  but  little  beard  or  moustache. 

As  far  as  can  be  judged  from  appearances, 
the  women  are  treated  better  than  is  usually 
tlie  case  among  savages,  and  seem  to  be  con- 
sidered as  equal  wifli  the  men.  They  are 
affectionate  parents,  as  was  proved  by  the  fact 
that  children  were  often  brought  by  their 
fathers  to  look  at  the  ships. 

The  average  stature  of  these  natives  was 
rather  small,  few  exceeding  five  feet  four 
inches  in  height.  They  were  vefy  active, 
but  not  powerful,  as  was  proved  by  testing 
their  strength  against  that  of  the  ship's 
crew. 

Allusion  has  already  been  made  to  their 
skill  in  boating.  These  natives  possess  vari- 
ous canoes,  some  so  small  as  only  to  hold, 
and  by  no  means  to  accommodate,  one  per- 
son, while  others  contain  with  ease  fifty  or 
sixty  at  once. 

The  connnonest  canoe  is  that  which  is 
popularly  called  a  catamaran,  and  which  is 
more  of  a  raft  than  a  boat.  It  is  formed  of 
three  planks  lashed  together  with  rattan. 
The  man  sits,  or  rather  kneels,  a  little  be- 
hind the  centre,  and  is  able  to  propel  this 
simple  vessel  with  great  speed.  Some  of 
these  catamarans  are  large  enough  to  carry 
ten  or  twelve  persons,  together  with  a  cargo. 
Instead  of  being  merely  three  planks,  they 
consist  of  three  great  logs  of  wood  laid  side 
by  side,  and  lashed  firmly  together  with  rat- 
tan at  their  ends,  in  the  centre,  and  midwav 
between  the  c(>ntre  and  each  end.  There  is 
no  {larticuLar  bow  or  stern,  but  the  central 
log  is  longer  than  the  others,  so  as  to  project 
at  each  end,  and  is  generallv  carved  into 
rude  patterns,  and  ornamentecl  with  red  and 
white  paint. 

Of  course  the  sea  washes  freely  over  this 
primitive  vessel,  so  that  the  natives  are 
obliged  to  (uect  a  small  platform  in  the  mid- 
dle, on  which  they  can  place  any  goods  that 
might  be  damaged  by  wetting. 
_  One  of  the  smaller  catamarans  is  shown 
m  the  foreground  of  illustration,  No.  2,  on 
the  next  page,  and  just  behind  it  is  one  of 
the  large  canoes  with  its  s.ail  struck.  Such  a 
canoe  as  this  is  about  twenty-five  feet  in 
length.  It  consists  of  two  parts,  the  canoe 
proper  and  the  outrigger.  The  canoe 
proper  is  very  curiously  formed.  It  is  cut 
from  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  and,  in  spite  of  its 
length,  is  not  more  than  eighteen  or  nine- 
teen inches  in  extreme  width.  The  most 
curious  part  of  its  construction  is,  that  the 
sides,  alter  bulging  out  below,  como  to- 
gether above,  so  that  the  space  between  the 


gunwale  is  barely  eight  inches,  there  is  only 
.fust  room  for  a  man's  legs  to  pass  into  the 
interior  of  the  boat.  A  section  of  the  canoe 
would  present  an  outline  very  much  like 
that  of  the  Greek  Omega  reversed,  thus  — jj. 
In  order  to  preserve  the  gunwales  from  in- 
jury, a  slight  pole  is  lashed  to  them  through- 
out their  entire  length. 

As  is  the  case  with  the  catamaran,  both 
ends  of  the  canoe  are  alike.  They  are  gen-  ' 
erally  raised  well  above  the  water,  and  are 
carved  into  the  semblance  of  a  snake's  or 
turtle's  head,  and  decorated  with  paintl 
tufts  of  feathers,  shells,  and  similar  orna- 
ments. 

The  outrigger  is  as  long  as  the  canoe,  to 
which  it  is  attached  by  a  series  of  light 
poles  to  the  gunwale  of  the  canoe  itself. 
The  method  by  which  the  outer  ends  of  the 
poles  are  fastened  to  the  outrigger  is  very 
curious,  and  can  be  better  understood  by 
reference  to  the  illustralion  than  by  a  de- 
scription. Like  the  ends  of  the  canoe,  those 
of  the  outrigger  poles  are  fashioned  into  a 
snake-like  form. 

The  natives  can  run  along  these  poles  to 
the  outrigger  with  perfect  safety,  often  sit- 
ting upon  It  when  the  wind  is  high,  so  as  to 
preserve  the  balance  of  the  vessel.  In  many 
canoes,  however,  a  slight  platform  is  laid 
upon  these  poles,  so  as  greatlv  to  increase 
the  burthen-carrying  space  of  the  vessel; 
and  a  corresponding  but  smaller  platform 
projects  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  canoe. 
On  this  platform  several  jjaddlers  are  sta- 
tioned, finding  it  easier  to  work  their  long- 
handled  paddles  from  the  platform  than 
from  the  narrow  space  of  the  canoe  itself. 

The  sail  is  made  of  strips  of  palm  leaf, 
interlaced  with  each  other.  When  it  is  not 
required,  the  sail  is  struck  and  rolled  up,  so 
as  to  occupy  as  little  room  as  possible,  and 
the  ma.st  can  also  be  struck,  like  those  of  our 
sailing  barges  while  passing  under  a  bridge. 
Two  other  kinds  of  New  Guinea  canoes 
are  shown  in  the  same  illustration.  These 
canoes  are  not  found  in  the  same  part  of 
New  Guinea,  but,  as  the  natives  travel  in 
them  for  considerable  distances,  they  have 
been  brought  together  in  the  s.ame  illustra- 
tion for  the  convenience  of  comparison. 

Beyond  the  large  canoe  is  a  smaller  one, 
with  a  sail  that  is  set  in  rather  a  curious 
manner.  There  is  no  mast,  but  the  two 
edges  of  the  sail  are  fastened  to  slight  spars, 
and  when  the  native  finds  the  wind  to  be 
favorable,  he  fixes  the  lower  ends  of  these 
.spars  in  the  canoe,  and  supports  the  upper 
ends  by  stays  or  rot)es  that  were  fore  and 
aft.  The  reader  will  notice  the  pointed  end 
of  the  cylindrical  outrigger.  On  the  oppo- 
site side  to  the  outrigger  is  a  slight  plat- 
form made  of  planks.  The  platform  itself 
is  out  of  sight,  but  the  reader  may  see  the 
heads  and  shoulders  of  the  two  men  who 
are  sitting  on  it. 
This  canoe  is  made  near  Redscar  Point, 


(1.)    THE   MONKKY   MKN   (JF   DOUKGA   f?     lAIT.     (See  page  UOO.) 


ii.)    CAAOJiS  OF  NEW  UUIMKA.    (See  pugu  UOS.) 

(909) 


THE  PIG-PET. 


911 


and,  except  in  the  arrangement  of  the  sail, 
is  somewhat  similar  to  the  vessels  which  are 
built  at  Brumer  Island.  The  paddles  are 
between  six  and  seven  feet  in  length,  and 
are  ratlier  clumsily  formed,  without  any  at- 
tempt at  ornament. 

The  canoe  to  the  right  of  the  illustration 
is  the  most  curious  of  these  vessels.  The 
body  of  the  canoe  is  made  out  of  the  trunk 
of  a  tree,  which  is  first  shaped  to  a  conical 
form  at  each  end,  and  then  hollowed.  Over 
the  ends  is  flrmlv  fixed  a  piece  of  wood,  sev- 
eral feet  in  length,  so  as  to  make  the  two 
ends  into  hollow  cones  into  which  the  water 
cannot  force  its  way.  The  gunwale  is  raised 
about  two  feet  by  planks  which  box  m  the 
opening  of  the  canoe,  and  act  as  wash-boards, 
the  seams  beiug  pitched  and  rendered  water- 

tiglit. 

These  particulars  arc  mentioned  because 
in  i^eneral  the  natives  of  New  Guinea  are 
singularly  indilferent  as  to  the  amount  of 
water  which  is  taken  in  by  their  canoes, 
provided  that  they  are  not  sunk.  There  is, 
for  example,  one  kind  of  Xew  Guinea  canoe 
found  in  Coral  Haven,  in  which  the  gun- 
wales are  not  connected  at  the  stern,  which 
is  left  open.  Tlie  water  would  of  course 
rush  in,  were  it  not  that  one  of  the  crew  sits 
in  the  opening,  forcing  his  body  into  it  so  as 
to  render  it  temporarily  water-tighU  Even 
with  this  precaution  it  "is  impossible  to  pre- 
vent some  water  from  makini'  its  way  be- 
tween the  body  of  the  man  and  the  sidea  of 
the  eanoe,<ns  it  heels  over  by  the  force  of  the 
wind,  and  iu  squally  weather  another  of  the 
crow  is  oliliged  to  keep  perpetually  baling 
with  a  large  shell. 

The  most  curious  part  of  the  canoe  which 
we  are  now  examining  is  the  sail,  which, 
clumsy  as  it  looks,  is  a  very  great  improve- 
ment on  those  which  have  been  previously 
described,  inasmuch  as  it  can  be  shifted  and 
trimmed  to  suit  the  wind. 

The  mast,  instead  of  being  merely  stuck 
upright  when  wanted,  is  permanently  fixed, 
l)ut  is  so  shore  that  it  causes  no  inconven- 
ience when  the  sail  is  struck  and  the  paddles 
alone  are  employed.  It  is  fixed,  or  "stepped,'' 
into  a  hole  in  a  "board  at  the  bottom  of  the 
canoe,  and  is  lashed  to  a  transverse  spar  that 
extends  across  the  canoe  from  one  gunwale 
to  the  other.  At  the  head  of  the  mivst  ^s  a 
stout  projecting  arm,  through  which  is  bored 
a  hole. 

The  sail  is  made  by  matting  stretched  be- 
tween two  slight  spars,  and  when  not  wanted 
it  can  be  rolled  up  aiul  laid  up  on  the  plat- 
form of  the  outrigger.  The  lualyard,  a  rope 
by  whi;'h  the  s.ail  is  hauled  to  its  place,  is 
fixed  to  the  middle  of  the  sail,  and  jjasses 
through  tiie  hole  in  the  projecting  arm  of 
the  mast-head.  Ropes  are  fastened  to  each 
end,  constituting  the  "  tack"  and  the  "sheet." 
When  the  crew  wish  to  nut  their  canoe 
about,  they  do  so  in  a  very  expeditious  man- 
ner, merely  lotting  go  the  ropes  and  hauling 


them  in  again,  so  as  to  turn  the  sail  and 
convert  the  slieet  into  the  tack,  and  vice 
versa.  As  both  ends  of  the  canoe  are  alike, 
the  vessel  at  once  obeys  the  new  impulse, 
and  goes  oft'  in  the  required  direction. 

The  canoe  is  steered  with  one  special 
paddle  some  nine  feet  in  length,  of  'hich 
the  oblong,  rounded  blade  occupies  half. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  New  Guinea  coasts 
are  remarkable  for  their  skill  in  swimming 
and  diving.  When  II.  M.  S.  liailksnake  was  • 
oft"  New  Guinea,  the  anchor  of  cue  of  the 
boats  caught  in  the  coral,  and  could  not  be 
(iislodged.  An  old  man  who  was  standing 
on  the  beach  saw  that  something  was  wrong, 
and  swam  otf  to  the  boat.  He  soon  under- 
stood the  case,  and,  after  diving  several 
times,  succeeded  iu  clearing  the  anchor,  a 
feat  for  which  he  was  rewarded  by  an  axe. 
He  always  dived  feet  foremost,  without  an 
eftbrt,  and  remaiued  liuder  water  for  about 
half  a  minute. 

It  is  rather  curious  that  the  love  of  pigs 
which  is  found  among  the  New  Zealanders 
should  be  quite  as  strongly  developed  among 
tiie  natives  of  New  Guinea.  Tlie  girls  and 
women  make  great  pets  of  them,  and  it  is 
not  at  all  an  uncommon  event  to  see  a  young 
girl  tripping  along  in  all  the  graceful  freedom 
of  the  savage,  holding  a  young  pig  in  her 
arms,  and  caressing  and  talking  to  it  as  an 
European  girl  talks  to  her  doll,  or  to  her  pet 
lapdog.  These  pigs  arc  long-legged,  black- 
skinned,  stiff-haired  animals,  not  at  all  agree- 
ing^with  our  ideas  of  a  pig's  proper  form. 

The  dress  used  by  the  women  consists  of 
slender  leaf-strips,  and  forms  a  really  grace- 
ful costume.    Many  of  the  women  employ  a 
kind  of  tattooing,  though  they  do  not  carry 
it  to  such  an  extent  as  to  disfigure   them- 
selves.   The  patterns,  though  elaborate,  are 
very  small  and  delicate,  and  extend  over  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  body.    The  arms 
and  front  ot   the  body   display   a  regular 
pattern,  which  is  usually  carried  over   the 
shoulder  for  a  little  way,  but  leaves  the  back 
untouched.    The   most  delicate   pattern  is 
reserved  for  the  arm  and  waist,  where  it 
looks  like  a  delicate  blue  lace  fitting  tightly 
to  the  skin.    The  women  are  very  proud  of 
this  ornament,  and  are  always  gratified  when 
a  stranger  expresses  admiratiAin  of  it.    The 
men  occasionally  use  the  tattoo,  but  in  a 
comparatively  scanty  manner,  confining  the 
patterns  to  a  stir  or  two  on  the  breast   Now 
and  then  a  man  will  have  a  dcHible  series  of 
stars  and  dots  extending  from  the  centre  of 
the  chest  to  the  shoulders, but  on  an  average 
a  native  of  this  part  of  the  connti-v  is  not  so 
much  tattooed  as  an  ordinary  English  sailor. 
The   architecture    of  this    ;>.iit   of   New 
Guinea  ditfers  from  that  of  Dourga  Strait  in 
being  much  more  elaboiixte,  but  throuijrbout 
New  Guinea  the  style  of  hnuRe-buildinv  is  so 
similar  that  wo  will  take  a  few  example  j.  as 
representatives  of  the  whole  group  of  islands. 


oia 


NEW  GUINEA. 


All  the  houses  are  elevated  on  posts  like 
those  of  the  Nicohar  Islands,  but  have  several 
improvcmeuts  in  architeeture. 

The  posts  vary  in  number  according  to  the 
size  of  llie  house,  and  about  four  feet  from 
the  ground  each  post  passes  through  a  wide 
circular  wooden  disc,  which  serves  as  an 
ellectual  barrier  against  the  rats  and  snakes, 
which  would  otherwise  take  possession  of 
the  dwellings.  The  posts  are  connected 
together  at  about  five  feet  from  the  ground 
by  rafters,  on  which  the  floor  is  laid. 

These  rafters,  or  joists,  support  a  row  of 
poles  laid  horizontally  side  by  side,  and 
upon  them  are  laid  crosswise  a  great  number 
of  slighter  si)ars,  thus  forming  a  franunvork, 
on  which  is  fixed  the  floor  itself,  which  con- 
sists of  a  lunnber  of  thin  planks  taken  from 
tlic  cocoa-nut  tree.  The  supporting  posts 
are  about  ten  feet  in  total  length,  and  are 
connected  at  their  tops  by  horizontal  poles, 
on  which  a  second  or  upper  floor  is  fixed, 
precisely  similar  to  the  princii)al  floor,  though 
much  smaller.  On  this  upper  floor  are  kept 
the  weapons,  inii^li  lents,  provisions,  and 
siniHar  articles,  for  which  accommodation 
cannot  be  found  on  the  principal  floor.  A 
supply  of  water,  for  example,  is  generally 
kept  in  the  huts,  a  numb  "  ^f  empty  cocoa- 
nut  shells  being  used  in  IJvu  of  bottles,  and 
closed  at  the  orifice  by  a  plug  of  grass.  In 
fact,  they  arc  identical  in  principal  with  the 
ostrich-egg  vessels  of  the  South  African 
savage,  which  have  been  already  described 
upon  a  preceding  page. 

Entrance  is  gained  to  the  house  by  a  square 
hole  in  the  flooring,  and  the  jirimitive  stair- 
case by  which  the  inhabitants  ascend  info 
their  houses  is  equally  simi)le  and  ettectual. 
It  is  necessary  that  the  stairs  —  if  we  may 
use  tlu>  term  — should  1)e  so  constructed,  that 
while  human  beings  can  easily  obtain  access 
t«  the  house,  the  rats  and  other  vermin  shall 
be  kept  out.  If  an  ordinary  ladder  or  even 
a  notched  jiole  were  fixed  to  the  house,  the 
rats  and  snakes  would  be  sure  to  climb  up 
it  and  take  possession  of  the  dwelling.  The 
native  architect,  therelbre,  proceeds  after  a 
ditlerent  fashion. 

Immediatelyiuider  the  opening  in  the  floor 
he  fixes  two  stout  posts  in  the  ground,  leaving 
them  to  project  rather  more  than  three  feet. 
The  posts  have  forked  heads,  andujjon  them 
is  laid  a  transverse  pole,  which  is  firmly  lashed 
to  tliem.  From  this  transverse  pole  another 
])ok'  is  laid  to  the  ground,  so  as  to  form  an 
inclined  plane  up  which  the  inhabitants  of 
tlie  house  can  walk.  It  will  now  be  seen, 
that  if  a  man  walk  up  the  inclined  pole,  to 
the  transverse  one,  he  can  pass  along  the  lat- 
ter in  a  stooping  attitude  until  he  comes  to  the 
opening  in  the;  floor.  He  can  then  pass  his 
body  through  the  opening  and  lift  himself  to 
the  level  of  the  floor,  while  the  space  which 
iiitei'Vencs  liciween  tlie  liori-.i'.-Uil  post  and 
the  floor  affords  an  effectual  biirrier  against 
the  rats  and  other  vermin. 


The  reader  will  better  understand  this 
description  by  comi)aring  it  with  illustra- 
tion No.  1,  on  the  910th  page,  which  repre- 
sents three  of  these  huts.  That  on  the  right 
is  seen  from  the  end,  and  is  represented  as 
lialf  fiiiislied,  in  order  to  show  the  structure 
of  the  interior. 

The  sides  and  roof  of  the  hut  are  formed 
of  slight  spars  which  are  lashed  togellier  by 
a  framework,  so  as  to  form  a  support  lor  the 
that(;hing.  This  is  made  of  coarse  grass  . 
pulled  up  by  the  roots  in  large  tufts,  and 
covered  with  an  outer  layer  of  cocoa-nut 
leaves.  If  the  house  be  a  large  one,  there  is 
an  entrance  at  each  end,  and  another  in  the 
middle,  each  being  closed  with  neatly  woven 
mats.  Similar  but  coarser  mats  are  fastened 
to  the  lower  portion  of  the  sides,  in  order  to 
exclude  the  wind. 

U])  to  this  point  the  architecture  is  iden- 
tical throughout  the  island,  but  a  divergence 
fakes  place  in  the  shape  of  the  house  itself, 
acconling  to  tlie  locality.  The  usual  form  is 
that  which  is  represented  in  the  illustration. 
Such  a  house  as  is  there  drawn  is  on  the 
average  thirtv  feet  in  length,  nine  in  width, 
.and  thirteen  "in  total  height,  so  that  a  space 
of  about  three  feet  intervenes  between  the 
upper  floor  and  the  roof.  The  central 
figure  of  Ihe  illustration  shows  the  side 
view  of  a  finished  hut,  and  the  left-liand 
figure  shows  the  end  view  of  a  similar  dwel- 
ling. 

in  some  places,  however,  such  for  example 
as  Redscar  Bay,  the  form  of  the  houses  is 
different.  Instead  of  having  the  slender 
jioles  which  form  the  framework  of  the  walls 
bent  over  in  a  curved  form,  they  are  arranged 
so  as  to  make  a  lofty  and  sliar]ily-poiiited 
gable  roof.  A  house  of  this  description, 
which  measures  thirty  feet  in  length,  will 
reach,  on  an  average,  twenty-five  feet  iu 
height.  There  is  no  dislinctioii  between  the 
roof  and  walls  of  the  huts,  except  that  the 
lower  j)ortion  of  the  roof  is  covered  with 
slieets  of  a  bark-like  substance,  which  is  sup- 
posed to  be  the  base  of  the  cocoa-nut  leaf 
flattened  by  ijressure.  The  entrance  or  door 
of  these  huts  is  at  one  end,  and  is  covered 
witli  a  mat  as  has  already  been  mentioned. 
Access  is  obtained  by  a  sloping  pole  resting 
on  a  short  post.  In  some  of  these  huts  a 
number  of  sjiears  were  seen  in  the  interior, 
lashed  along  Ihe  sides,  togetlier  with  several 
human  skulls;  l)ut  whether  the  latter  were 
intended  as  ornaments,  or  whellier  they  were 
preserved  in  memorial  of  the  dead  owners, 
18  not  certain. 

The  people  who  inhabit  Redscar  Bay  and 
its  vicinitv  exhibited  a  curious  mixture  of 
shvness  and  confidence.  Tliey  came  freely 
to "^ the  ships  as  they  ai-vhovcd  in  the  bay, 
and  were  very  anxious  t  >  be  admitted  on 
board,  peeping  into  the  jwrts  in  the  most 
inquisitive  manr..  r,  ^!.i  holding  up  their 
weapons  and  imn'fi„  nts  for  sale.  They 
have  in  use  a  rath  r  ri markable  arrow,  with 


DREAD  OF  STEEL. 


013 


a  head  In  the  form  of  a  pointed  gouge  or 
scoop. 

One  of  these  arrows  is  in  my  collection. 
The  shaft  is  made  in  llio  usual  manner  from 
a  rood,  and  is  weighted  at  one  end  with  a 
piece  of  Iiard  and  heavy  wo(id.  Into  this 
wooden  tip  is  cut  a  deep  groove,  into  wliieh 
slips  tlie  butt  of  tlie  liead.  Tliis  is  about 
eight  inches  in  length,  and  is  made  of  bam- 
boo, the  reed  being  nearly  cut  away  so  as  to 
leave  a  piece  rather  more  than  half  an  inch 
in  widtli  in  the  middle,  and  tapering  gently 
to  one  end  so  as  to  form  a  point,  and  abruptlv 
to  the  other  end  in  order  to  form  a  butt  which 
can  be  slipped  into  the  wooden  tip  of  the 
arrow. 

Bamboo  scoops  of  a  similar  description, 
but  of  a  larger  size,  are  used  as  knives, 
and  are  sharpened  by  the  simple  process  of 
biting  oir  a  piece  of  the  edge.  When  Mr. 
M'Gillivray  visitoti  New  Guinea,  he  asked 
a  native  the  use  of  the  bamboo  scoop;  and 
when  he  found  tha:  it  was  used  as  a  knife, 
he  produced  his  own  knife,  and,  taking  up  a 
piece  of  wood,  he  sLowed  the  superiority  of 
steel  over  bamboo  by  cutting  a  stick  vigor- 
ously with  it. 

Strangely  enough,  instead  of  being  grati- 
fied with  the  performance  of  the  knife,  the 
man  was  so  frightened  that  he  pushed  off 
his  canoe,  called  his  friends  around  him,  and 
explained  to  them  the  terrible  deed  that  had 
been  done.  The  knife  was  offered  to  him, 
but  he  looked  ui)on  the  proftered  gift  as  an 
aggravation  of  the  original  offence,  and  de- 
clined all  overtures  toward  reconciliation. 
This  aversion  to  steel  was  found  to  be  prev- 
alent among  the  inhabitants  of  this  part  of 
New  Guinea. 

The  bow  by  which  these  arrows  are  pro- 
pelled is  a  very  effective  though  clumsily 
made  weapon.  My  own  si)ecimen  is  about 
six  feet  in  length,  and  is  made  from  some 
Iiard  and  tough  wood,  apparently  that  of  tlie 
cocoa-nut  tree.  It  is  very  stiff,  and  requires 
a  strong  arm  to  draw  it.  The  string  is  a 
strip  of  rattan,  like  that  which  has  already 
been  mentioned  when  treating  of  North 
Australia. 

Passing  to  the  nc/th-west  of  the  island, 
we  find  that  their  appearance  and  manners 
are  not  very  dissimilar  from  those  which  be- 
long to  their  brethren  of  the  southern  coast. 
Taking  the  Dory  jjcople  as  our  type,  we  find 
that  they  often  disjjlay  good  examples  of 
tlie  high  and  narrow  foreliead  of  the  Papuan 
family,  and  many  of  them  have  narrow  and 
arcluul  noses,  together  with  lijis  nearly  as 
thin  as  those  of  an  European.  Indeed,  some 
of  thi^se  natives  possess  a  cast  of  counte- 
nance which  is  so  like  that  of  an  European 
that  several  travellers  have  thought  that 
tliere  nmst  have  been  some  admixture  of 
foreign  blood.  Such,  however,  is  not  the 
case,  thr-«e  peruliaritis-s  helnnging  to  the  in- 
dividual, and  not  implying  any  foreign  mix- 
ture. 


The  canoes  of  this  part  of  the  country  are 
ratlier  different  from  those  of  the  southern 
coast.  Tlie  mast  is  made  of  three  distinct 
spars,  united  at  their  tojja.  Two  of  them 
are  fastened  to  the  side  by  pins  passing 
through  them,  on  which  they  work  back- 
ward and  forward,  as  if  on  hinges.  The 
third  is  not  fastened  to  the  vessel,  but  its 
butt  fits  into  a  cavity  from  which  it  can  bo 
removed  at  pleasure.  If,  therefore,  the  na- 
tives wish  to  use  their  paddles,  all  they  have 
to  do  is  to  lift  the  foot  of  this  spar  out  of  its 
socket,  when  the  whole  of  the  triide  mast 
can  bo  lowered  on  deck.  When  the  wind 
becomes  favorable,  and  the  sail  is  to  be  em- 
ployed, the  masts  are  raised  again,  the  butt 
of  the  third  spar  is  stepped  into  its  socket, 
and  the  triple  mast  is  thus  kept  firmly  up- 
right. A  similar  contrivance  is  now  pro- 
posed for  our  ships  of  war,  as  these  triple 
masts  made  of  three  slight  iron  bars  cannot 
be  so  easily  shot  away  as  the  single  and  solid 
mast. 

The  natives  are  very  expert  canoe-men, 
and  are  accustomed  to  the  use  of  their  ves- 
sels from  childhood.  Even  the  small  bovs 
have  their  little  canoes,  which  are  so  light 
■that  they  can  be  carried  to  and  from  the 
water  without  difficulty. 

They  excel  as  fishermen,  being  as  expert 
in  the  water  as  on  it.  The  trcnang  fisheij 
is  energetically  conducted  by  them,  as  it  is 
by  the  sale  of  trepang  to  the  merchants  that 
they  obtain  the  greater  part  of  the  foreign 
luxuries  on  which  they  set  so  high  a  value. 
The  hawksbill  turtle  is  captured  principally 
for  the  sake  of  the  shell,  vhich  is  also  pur- 
chased by  the  traders,  and,  together  with 
mother-of-pearl  shell,  is  mostly  sent  to  the 
Chinese  markets. 

The  mode  of  fishing  with  a  net  is  much 
the  same  as  on  all  these  coasts.  The  net  is 
three  or  four  feet  in  depth,  and  a  hundred 
feet  or  more  in  length.  The  meshes  are 
about  an  inch  in  width.  One  edge  is  fur- 
nished with  a  row  of  flat  pieces  of  light  wood, 
which  act  as  floats,  and  aloiif^  the  other  edge 
are  fastened  a  number  of  perforated  shells  by 
way  of  weights. 

When  the  natives  wish  to  use  this  net, 
they  place  it  in  a  canoe,  and  look  out  for 
a  shoal  of  fish.  As  soon  as  a  favorable  op- 
portunity is  found,  the  canoe  is  taken  to  sea- 
ward of  the  shoal,  and  let  carefully  into  the 
water.  Each  end  is  taken  in  charge  by  one 
or  two  men,  who  bring  the  net  round  the 
shoal  in  semi-circular  form,  so  as  to  enclose 
the  fish.  These  men  gradually  approach  each 
other,  while  another  man  beats  the  water 
with  a  pole,  or  flings  stones  into  it,  so  as  to 
frighten  the  fish  into  the  enclosure.  As  soon 
as  "the  two  ends  of  the  net  have  been  brought 
together,  the  canoe  comes  up,  and  the  net, 
with  the  fiah  banging  in  its  meshes,  is  hauled 
on  board.  Tliey  also  use  fish-traps,  like 
those  which  have  been  .alreatly  described  in 
the  account  of  Australia,  sinking  them  by 


\{ 


<3. 


i! 


014 


NEW  GUINEA. 


means  of  a  stone,  and  raising  them  by  a 
cord,  to  tlie  cud  of  which  a  bamboo  buoy  is 
fastened. 

Tlicj  lire  tolerable  smiths,  and  have  a 
kind  of  iiellows  identical  in  principle  witli 
those  of  'ravage  Africa,  but  worked  in  a  dif- 
ferent ni;  liner.  Instead  of  having  a  couple 
of  Uii'.Au  l  skins,  they  have  a  pair  of  wide 
bamboo  I  ibes,  about  four  feet  in  length,  the 
lower  ends  of  which  are  buried  in  the  earth, 
and  connected  by  means  of  channels  with 
the  hole  in  which  the  fire  is  made.  The 
pistons  arc  formed  of  bunches  of  feathers  tied 
to  bamboos,  and  the  blower  works  them  al- 
ternately up  and  down,  so  as  to  jiroduce  a 
tolorat)ly  constant  Idast.  It  is  remarkable 
that  the  bellow;  of  the  Chinese  itinerant 
jeweller  are  ftted  with  feather  pistons.  It 
is  most  ])r.)bablc  that  these  bellows  have 
been  borrowed  from  the  more  eastern 
islands. 

As  to  the  actual  working  of  the  metal,  it 
boars  a  curious  similitude  to  that  which  is 
employed  in  savage  Africa.  The  anvil  is 
generally  a  stone,  unless  the  native  smiths 
can  procure  an  iron  "pig"  or  a  piece  of  a 
broken  anclior.  They  can  work  in  silver 
and  copper  a.s  well  as  iron,  melting  the  two 
former  metals  and  running  them  into  moulds, 
to  be  afterward  beaten  and  worked  into 
shaiie. 

The  archiiecture  of  these  tribes  is  rather 
remarkable.  Like  the  generalitj'  of  houses 
in  New  Guinea,  the  huts  are  raised  on 
stakes  in  order  to  preserve  them  from  ver- 
min; but  those  of  the  Borj-  people  are  sim- 
ilarly elevated  in  order  to  preserve  them 
from  water.  These  natives  have  a  curious 
predilection  for  building  their  huts  on  the 
sea-shore,  and  place  them  below  the  level  of 
low  water.  They  begin  this  curious  style 
of  architecture  by  building  a  long  pier,  or 
rather  jettj-,  which  extends  far  into  the  sea, 
and  which  keeps  open  a  communication 
between  the  house  and  the  shore. 

At  the  end  of  this  jetty  the  hut  itself  is 
situated,  and  is  made  of  boarded  walls  and 
a  thatched  roof.  Great  as  is  the  labor  that 
is  bestowed  upon  it,  the  house  does  not 
come  up  to  our  ideas  of  comfort.  In  the 
first  place,  the  floors  are  made  of  rou";h 
spars,  placed  parallel  to  each  other,  but  still 
far  enough  apart  to  cause  some  uneasiness, 
not  to  say  danger,  to  an  unpractised  walker. 

A  good  specimen  of  a  Dory  house  is 
about  seventy  feet  long,  twenty-five  wide, 
and  fifteen  high.  Along  the  centre  runs  a 
tolerably  wide  passage,  and  at  either  side 
are  a  nu'mber  of  rooms,  separated  from  each 
other  and  from  the  passage  by  mats.  At 
the  end  next  the  sea  there  are  no  walls,  but 
only  a  roof,  so  that  a  sort  of  verandah  is 
formed,  under  which  the  inhabitants  spend 
much  of  their  time  when  they  are  not 
actively  employed.  Such  a  house  as  this  is 
usually  occupied  by  some  forty  or  fifty  indi- 
viduals, consisting  of  about  twenty  men, 


together  with  the  wives  and  families  of 
those  who  are  married.  All  cooking  is  car- 
ried on  by  the  different  families  in  their 
own  chambers,  each  of  which  is  furnished 
with  its  own  fireplace. 

The  dress  of  the  Dory  natives  varies 
but  little  from  that  of  other  Tapuans  of 
New  Guinea.  The  men,  however,  oil  en 
ornament  their  bodies  with  raised  scars  like 
those  of  the  Australians,  and  they  are  Hmd 
of  tattooing  their  breasts  and  arms  with 
figures  of  their  weapons.  They  are  fond  of 
ornaments,  such  as  shells,  twisted  wire,  and 
armlets  of  plaited  rattan.  They  ingeniously 
utilize  the  latter  ornament  by  platting  a 
very  thick  and  strong  bracelet,  and  wearing 
it  on  the  left  wrist  and  fore-arm,  so  as  to 
proLect  the  wearer  from  the  recoil  of  tho 
bowstring. 

1'hough  not  a  warlike  people,  they  always 
go  armed,  carrying  the  inv.iriable  parang, 
or  chopper,  which,  as  its  very  name  imparts, 
is  piocured  from  the  Malay  tribes.  Tlicso 
parangs  are  chietly  made  in  Borneo,  as  wo 
shall  see  when  we  come  to  treat  of  the 
Dyalcs.  Tho  Dory  Papuans  do  not  seem  to 
fight,  as  do  some  savage  tribes,  for  the  mere 
love  of  combat;  the  chief  object  of  warfare 
being  the  capture  of  slaves,  each  of  whom 
is  valued  at  fift^'  shillings. 

This  value  is,  however,  a  conventional 
term;  and  when  a  bargain  is  made  with  the 
Dory  pcophi  for  so  many  slaves,  in  most 
cases  the  conventional  money  value  is  in- 
tended, and  not  the  actual  slaves.  In  fact, 
the  word  "  slaves  "  is  used  much  as  we  use 
the  word  "  horses  "  in  reckoning  the  power 
of  a  steam-engine,  or  "  tons"  in  describing 
the  capacity  of  a  ship.  Perhaps  the  words 
"  pony  "  anil  "  monkey,"  of  modern  sporting 
slang,  are  better  illustrations. 

Still,  slavery  is  rife  among  tho  Dory  peo- 
ple, who  simietimes  make  a  raid  into  a  dis- 
trict, capture  a  villajje,  and  carry  otf  the 
inhabitants  into  servitude.  They  do  not, 
however,  treat  their  captives  i  adly,  but  feed 
them  well,  and  seem  to  consider  them 
partly  in  the  light  of  domestic  servants,  and 
partly  as  available  capital,  or  as  a  means  of 
exchange  when  any  of  their  own  friends 
are  taken  jirisoners  liy  hostile  tribes. 

The  government  of  the  Dory  tribes  is 
11'  .'•  'jially  a  delegated  chieftainsliip,  but  in 
reality  a  sort  of  oligarchy.  There  is  a  cer- 
tain dignitary,  called  the  Sultan  of  Tidorc, 
under  whoso  sway  this  part  of  the  country 
is  supposed  to  be,  and  from  him  the  chief  of 
the  Dory  tribes  receives  his  rank.  When 
the  chief"  dies,  one  of  his  relatives  goes  to 
convey  the  news  to  the  Sultan,  takiii"  with 
him  a  present  of  slaves  and  birds  of  jiara- 
dise  as  tokens  of  allegiance.  This  man  is 
almost  always  appointed  to  the  vacant  jdace, 
and  is  bound  to  pay  a  certain  tribute  of 
slaves,  provisions,  and  v,-ar  canoes,  the  latter 
being  employed  in  collecting  the  Sultan's 
taxes.    Should  he  fail  to  comply  with  these 


• 

B8    of 

\ 

car- 

thcir 

shed 

arica 

18   of 

often 

(  like 

fond 

with 

id  of 

,  and 

nisly 

np  a 

ll'iug 

ns  to 

•  tho 

ways 

rang, 

)arts, 

1u;so 

18  wo 

f  tlio 

m  to 

mere 

w 

rfaro 

vhom 

. 

ional 

1  the 

most 

s   in- 

faet, 

e  use 

ovver 

ihiiig 

vords 

rting 

•                       '                                                  ' 

peo- 

i  dis- 

f  tho 

not, 

.  feed 

tliem 

.  and 

ns  of 

ieiids 

• 

es  IS 
ut  in 
I  cer- 
dore, 
imtry 
ief  of 
Vhen 
es  to 
with 
jiara- 
an  is 
ilnce, 
to  of 
latter 
1  tan's 
tbcso 


:'M 


(ii.)    UANOE   Uy  TOKCULIUHT,  NEW   UUlNiiA.    (Set-  pagu  Uir.) 


C916) 


THE  KAIIWAR,  OR  HOUSEHOLD  GOD. 


M7 


conditions,  his  vlllago  would  bo  attacked  by 
tho  Sultan's  rtoet,  and  tho  whole  district  ran- 
sacked;  so  that  tho  position  of  chief  has  its 
nnxif  tics  as  well  as  its  privilefjes. 

His  authority  is  more  nominal  than  real, 
for  he  decides  nothing  but  unimportiui! 
matters,  leavinj?  more  weighty  subjects  to  a 
council  of  elders,  who,  as  a  rule,  administer 
Justice  with  impartiality.  Their  laws  are 
really  good  and  sensible,  and,  thuuj,'li 
lenient,  are  based  on  the  principle  of  the 
uld  Jewish  law,  the  eye  for  tho  eye  and  th" 
tooth  for  the  tooth. 

Marriage*  are  managed  in  a  very  simple 
manner,  the  hridu  and  i)ridegroom  sitting 
opposite  each  oLlier,  iu  front  of  an  idol,  and 
the  former  giving  the  laller  some  betel-leaf 
and  tobacco.  Ills  acceiitunee  of  tho  pres- 
ent, and  taking  tlie  hand  of  the  giver,  con- 
stitute the  whole  of  tho  ccr  uiouy. 

The  idol  which  has  been  mentioned  is 
called  tii.^  Karwar,  and  is  found  in  every 
house  except  those  which  belong  to 
Mohamim'dfiii  natives.  Tho  Karwar  is  a 
wooden  tigun\  about  eighteen  inches  in 
height,  large -headeil,  wide-mouthed,  and 
long-nosed,  —this  po(Miliarity  of  the  Papuan 
face  being  exagi^erated.  It  is  represented 
OS  holding  a  siiicld,  and  wearing  a  calico 
wrapper  on  tho  body  and  a  handkerchief  on 
tho  head. 

The  Karwar  plays  an  important  part  in 
the  life  of  a  Dory  "native.  It  is  present  at 
his  birth,  takes  [)art  ia  his  funeral,  and,  as 
we  have  seen,  is  witness  to  his  marriage. 
In  all  cases  of  perplexity  the  Karwar  is 
consulted,  the  devotee  slating  his  inten- 
tions, anil  al)andoning  them  if  ho  should 
feel  nervous,  such  a  sensation  being  sup- 
posed to  be  the  Karwar's  answer.  There 
are  plenty  of  I'etishes,  hut  these  aro  only 
supplemental     to  the  Karwar. 

Without  going  into  the  details  of  tho 
Vivrions  tril)es  which  inhabit  this  part  of  the 
earth,  we  will  glance  at  a  few  of  the  most 
interesting  customs. 

These  Papuans  have  a  strong  love  for 
flowers,  especially  tliose  which  possess  a 
powerful  .scent.  They  twine  sucli  flowers 
m  their  hair,  weave;  Ihem  into  garlands  for 
their  necks,  and  carry  them  in  their  brace- 
lets and'armlets. 

Thoy  aro  fond  of  singing  and  music,  and, 
as  far  a^^  has  b(!on  ascertained,  arc  in  the 
habit  of  inii)osing  extoniporo  songs,  as  well 
as  sing.  , ;  tliosa  ditties  whicdi  thoy  know  by 
heart.  As  for  thiir  musical  instruments, 
they  consist  ehiedy  of  the  cylindrieal  drum, 
A  trumpet  made  of  a  triton  sin  il,  and  a  .sort 
of  Pandean  pipe,  lomposcd  of  six  or  seven 
reeds  of  ditl'erent  lengths  lashed  firmly  to- 
gether. Tliere  is  also  a  wind  instrument, 
which  is  nothing  but  a  banjboo  tube  gonxe 
two  feet  in  length. 

Act  ■■lapanicd  by  these  Instfunicrsts,  tuey 
perform  their  curif)U8  dances,  one  of  which 
033  been  well  described  by  Mr.  M'GUlivray. 


"  They  advanced  ond  retreated  together  by 
sudden  Jerks,  beating  to  quick  or  slioit  time 
as  requintd,  and  chanting  an  accompanying 
song,  the  cadence  rising  and  falling  accord- 
ing to  the  action.  The  attitude  wits  a  sin- 
gular one  —  tho  back  straight,  chin  pro- 
truded, knees  bent  in  a  crouching  position, 
and  I  lie  arms  advanced. 

"On  another  occasion,  one  of  tho  same 
men  exhibited  himself  before  us  i'l  a  war 
dance.  In  one  hand  ho  held  a  large  Midon 
shield,  nearly  three  feet  in  length,  and 
rather  more  than  one  in  width,  and  in  the 
other  a  formidable  looking  weapon,  two  f'">et 
in  length  —  a  portion  of  the  snout  of  Uio 
sword-lish,  with  long,  sharu  teeth  nrojcct- 
ing  on  each  side.  Placiii.f  himself  in  a 
crouching  attitude,  with  one  hand  covered 
by  the  Hliidd,  and  holding  his  wcajion  in  a 
position  to  strike,  he  advanced  rapidly  in  a 
succession  of  short  bounds,  striking  tho 
inner  side  of  his  shield  with  his  left  knee 
at  each  Jerk,  causing  the  large  cowries  hung 
round  his  waist  and  ankles  to  rattle  vio- 
leiillv.  At  the  same  time,  with  fierce  ges- 
tures, he  loudly  chanted  a  song  of  defiance. 
The  remainder  of  the  pantomime  was  ex- 
liressive  of  attack  and  defence,  and  exulta- 
tion after  victory, 

"  But  a  still  more  curious  dance  was  <3nce 
performed  a  few  nights  ago  by  a  party  of 
natives  who  had  left  the  ship  after  sunset, 
aiul  landed  abreast  of  the  anchorage.  On 
seeing  a  number  of  lights  along  the  beach, 
we  at  first  thought  thev  proceeded  from 
a  fishing  party,  but  on  looking  through  a 
night-glass  the  group  was  seen  to  consist  of 
above  a  dozen  people,  each  carrying  a  blaz- 
ing torch,  and  going  through  the  move- 
ments of  the  dance.  At  one  time  they 
extended  rapidly  into  line,  at  another  closed, 
dividing  into  two  parties,  advancing  and 
retreating,  crossing  and  reerossing,  and 
mixing  up  with  each  other.  This  continued 
for  half  an  liour,  and,  it  having  apparently 
been  got  up  for  our  amusement,  a  rocket 
was  ~;ent  up  for  theirs,  and  a  blu  liglit 
bun  d,  but  the  dancing  had  ceasi  !,  and 
the  '  '.^hts  disappeared." 

A I  iccompawying  illustration  represents 
this  wild  .and  curious  scene.  In  the  fore- 
ground are  the  dancers,  each  with  his  torch 
in  his  hand,  and  indulging  in  the  grotesque 
movements  of  the  dance.  To  the  left  are 
seen  the  musicians,  one  playing  on  the  bam- 
boo pip(!,  and  the  other  beating  the  drum 
which  has  before  been  mentioned.  One  of 
those  drums  is  lying  in  the  foreojround.  It 
Is  a  hollow  cylinder  of  palm  wood,  about  two 
feet  in  length  and  four  incho"  in  diameter. 
One  ond  is  covered  with  liz  rd-.skin,  and 
along  the  side  there  run  longitudinal  slits. 
The  native  name  for  this  drum  is  "  baiatii." 
The  funeral  ceremonies  appear  to  differ 


aocorciinj; 


^*^^i."l?   ^hc     sifi**V 


people,  when  a  man  dies,  the  body  is  rolled 
la  white  calico,  and  laia  on  its  side  iu  a 


.rvn 

i 

Hi? 


§ 


'111 


018 


NEW  GUINEA. 


arnvc,  it«  lioml  renting  on  an  earthenware 
dish.  The  uiiipous  »ud  ornanuints  of  the 
dfnd  nmii  .irn  luid  in  the  gravo,  wliich  Ih 
then  liliud  uj),  uud  a  thatched  roof  erected 
over  it. 

Should  the  deeenncd  l)o  ahead  of  a  family, 
the  Karuiir  Ih  l)roiiiflit  to  perform  itn  last 
duticH.  When  tlu!  man  is  buried,  Ihe  Kar- 
war  is  i)lacud  near  the  grave,  uud  violeuUy 


exeerated  by  nil  the  mourner*!  for  allowlno 
ts  charge  to  die.  The  lluUche.l  roof  being 
tinished,  the  idol  is  laid  upon  il,  luid  idc* 
and  roof  iire  lell  to  decay  together.  As  is 
usual  with  savage  tribes,  IuiumuI  feasts  are 
lield  at  the  time  of  burial  and  for  some  days 
afterward,  those  which  celebrate  the  rleaths 
ol  chiofa  being  kept  up  for  a  whole  month. 


CHAPTER   XCn. 

THE  PHILIPPINE  ISLANOa 

THE  AJITAfl,  OB  A1IITA8. 

ronmov  and  ntMFNSION«  OF  TIIK  rillMPriNK  I8I,AND9-TnSi  MALAYS  AND  THE  NEOniTOB,  OR  A.HTAi. 
-ZhAVa':    .NHTINCT-MKKT.NO    A    TAUTV   OK  Aa.TAH-THK.U  APrKAUANCK,    AN..  .......MN.. 

HO^N  ;  OK  T,.K..t  .,AN.nUOK-CON<,....AT.NO  T..K.   -»»-''''''•''- ''"^'l''''''";;';™   ^^I^^^h' 

T.l.r.»t  A.'T.V.TV   .N   ...-NTINa  -  NOMAWO  P.t01-BNH.TIB«  OK    T.IB  AJITAfl -KBVEUISNCB    FOB    THK 
DKAD  — A  yUAIlWEL,   ANB  ITS  CAUHK. 


To  tho  north-wcHt  of  New  Guinea  lie  scv- 
ci-iil  islands,  whii^h  arc  {^Touped  together 
iiniler  the  «eiie.-iil  uanie  of  Pliilippincs. 
Tiiey  consist  of  a  iionsidei-able  number  ot 
i8l;inils,  of  which  the  iioithern  isla.ul,  called 
Lii/.a,and  the  southern  island,  called  Magiii- 
dano,  are  hv  far  the  larj^est. 

The  iiihahitants  of  the  IMiilippincs  arc  ol 
two  kinds;  namely,  the  Malays  and  tho 
Ne;,M-itos.  The  former  are  evidently  not 
the"ah(>rii,'iiial  inhabitants,  but  have  voy- 
n"(-d  to  the  islands  in  their  canoes  and 
formed  a  number  of  settlements.  As  in  th<! 
course  of  the  wo.-k  we  shall  see  much  of  the 
Malay  race,  wc  will  pivss  them  by  for  tho 
present,  and  only  notice  the  Negritos,  or 
'  little  negroes,  so  called  by  the  Spanish  on 
account,  of  their  dark  skins  and  small  size. 

This  strau'^'e  little  race  is  mostly  known 
by  a  name  which  is  given  in  dilferent  forms. 
Hy  some  writers  it  is  spelt  Ajitas,  by  some 
A'hilas,  and  by  others  Has.    Of  these  differ 


round  tho  head.    The  eyes  arc  remarkable 
for  a  decided  yellow  tin},'e.  ^ 

In  common  with  other  savagrs  who  lead 
an  uncertain  kind  of  life,  fasting  som'-'timos 
for  two  days  together,  and  then  gorgmg 
themselves  like  wolves,  they  are  ant  to  have 
their  limbs  and  projecting  stomachs  with  a 
recurved  back  such  as  is  the  case  with  the 
liosjesman,  the  back  being  bent  like  mu 
letter  S.  Their  shape  is  in  no  way  con- 
cealed by  their  dress,  which  is  nothing  more 
than  a  wide  belt  of  plaited  bark  fastened 
round  the  waist.  . 

In  many  respects  there  is  a  great  similar- 
ity between  the  Hosjesman  and  the  AJita. 
The  latter  live  by  the  chase  and  by  plunder, 
having  no  idea  of  agriculture.  They  always 
go  armed,  their  weapons  being  bamboo 
lances  and  bows  and  arrows,  tho  latter 
being  poisoned.  The  ctlect  of  the  poison 
with  which  they  arc  tipped  is  to  produce  an 
unextinguishable  thirst  in  the  animal,  which 


A  1  las,  am   bv  otners  itas.     ui  inese  (iiiiei-    uiii-AHiis"-^-""—  " -        ,..,,.„    „  'i  ,!:„_ 

^.t  fo;-,ns  I  Select  the  first,  which,  by  the   seeks  the   IV'?'-^*^^''!  J'^'.^c^  Vute\Z 
1   „„   :e  u   ,.,.„.„   D.<..iii.ri    As  anon  OH  it  IS  dead,  tlie  nuntcr  cuis  away 


way,  is   pronounced  as  if  it  were   spelled 
Alieelas. 

Tlie  Ajitas  are  quite  as  small  as  the  Bos- 
jesmans  "of  Southern  Africa,  their  average 
'height  being  four  feet  six  inches.  They  are 
well  shaped,  and  their  skins,  though  of  a  very 
dark  hue,  are  not  so  black  as  those  of  tho 
negro  tribes.  Tlie  features  arc  tolerably 
good,  except  th;.t  the  nose  is  broad  and 
rather  flat,  and  that  there  is  a  marked  defi- 
ciency of  chin.  The  hair  is  woolly,  like  that 
of  othe.-  Papuans,  and,  as  they  do  not  know 
how  to  dress  it,  they  wear  it  in  a  sort  of  moj) 


As  soon  as  it  is  dead,  the  hunter  cuts  away 
tho  flesh  from  around  the  wound,  as  the 
poison  would  otherwise  coimnunicatc  so 
i.itter  a  taste  to  the  whole  carcass  that  the 
flesh  could  not  be  eaten. 

Their  bows  are  but  slight,  as  are  their  ar- 
rows, tho  poison  doing  the  work  of  death, 
and  the  depth  of  the  wound  being  of  no  con- 
sequence. They  are  skilful  archers,  having 
the  bow  and  arrow  in  their  hands  from  in- 
fancy, and  practising  at  any  object  that  may 
take  their  attention.  Both  sexes  use  the 
bow,  and  tho  iittic  boys  and  girls  arc  fond,  of 


9m 

i 


v-« 


fiA 


46 


(919) 


mi 


in 


THE  AJITAS. 


wading  along  the  banks  of  streams  and  shoot- 


•    in^  the  fish. 

Lilje  the  BosjesTnan,  the  Ajita  is  always 
at  feud  with  th^  other  races  that  inhabit 
tlie  same  country,  and,  small  as  he  is,  makes 
himself  dreaded  by  rer.son  of  his  poisoned 
.  weapons.  Sometimes  Ajitas  are  taken  pris- 
oners, and  are  generally  enslaved.  As  thev 
are  light,  active,  and  not  bad-looking,  they 
are  otten  employed  as  servants  by  the  digni- 
taries of  Manilla. 

One  of  these  people  was  in  the  household 
of  an  Archbishop  of  Manilla,  and  was  edu- 
cated by  him  with  great  care.  To  all  ap- 
pearance he  was  thoroughly  civilized,  and 
at  last  was  ordained  priest.  Hut  the  in- 
stmcts  of  his  savage  nature  were  too  stron" 
for  him,  and  the  man  escaped  from  his  posi^ 
tion  and  civilized  society,  threw  off  his  gar- 
ments, and  rejoined  his  lavage  relatives. 
Such  instances  arc  continually  occurring 
and  it  is  almost  impossible  to  retain  an  Ajita 
in  civilized  society,  no  matter  how  well'  lie 
may  be  treated,  or  how  young  he  may  be 
wnen  captured. 

The  habits  of  the  Ajitas  are  essentially  of 
a  savage  character,  and,  as  a  rule,  travellers 
m  the  I'hilippines  are  obliged  to  be  very 
careful    lest  they  should   suddenly  be    set 
upon   by  these  dangerous   little   creatures. 
Sometimes,  however,   they  can   be  gentle 
and  even  hospitable,  and  an  instance  of  such' 
conduct  is   related   by  M.  de  la  Gironiu.o, 
part  of  whose  narrative  has  been  translated 
and  quoted   by  Mr.   Earle:    "  We  direct dd 
our  course  toward  the  north,  among  moun- 
tains always  covered  with  thick  foivsts,  and 
which,  like  those  we  had  just  quitted,  pre- 
sented no  traced  route,  exceptinj'  a  few  nai- 
row  pathways  beaten  by  wild  breasts.    We 
advanced  with  caution,  "for  we  were  now  in 
the  parts  inhabited  by  the  Ajitas.     At  night 
we  concealed  our  fires,  and  one  of  us  always 
anted  as  sentinel,  for  what  we  feared  most 
was  a  surprise. 

"One   morning,  while  pursuing  our  way 
in  silence,  we  heard  before  us  a  chorus  of 
squeaking  tones,  which   had   more   resem- 
blance to  the  cries  of  birds  than  to  the  hu- 
man voice.    We  kept  on  our  cround,  con- 
cealing our  approach  as  mucir  as  possible 
with  the  aid  of  the  trees  and  brambles.    All 
at  onee  we   perceived  at  a  little  distance 
about  forty  savages,  of  all  sexes  and  ages, 
who  had  absolutely  the  air  of  animals.    They 
were  on  the  banks  of  a  rivulet,  surrounding 
a  great  fire.     AVe  made  several  steps  in  ad- 
vance, and  presented  the  butt-end  of  our 
guns   toward  them.    As  soon  as  they  per- 
ceived us,  thev  set  up  shrill  erics  and  pre- 
pared to  take  to  flight;  but  I  made  signs  to 
them,  by  showing  them  some  packets  of  ci- 
gars, that  we  wished  to  offer  them  for  their 
acceptance. 

"  I  had  fortunately  received  at  Binango- 
nan  all  ihe  instructions  necessary  for  know- 
ing  how  to   open  a  communicatlou  with 


them.  As  soon  as  they  comprehended  us, 
they  ranged  themselves  into  a  line,  like  men 
preparing  for  a  review;  this  was  the  signal 
that  we  might  approach.  We  went  up  to 
them  with  oar  cigars  in  our  hands,  and  I 
commenced  distributing  them  from  one  ex- 
tremity of  the  line.  It  was  very  important 
that  we  should  make  friends  with  them,  and 
give  each  an  equal  share,  according  to  their 
custom.  The  distribution  being  over,  an  al- 
liance was  cemented,  and  peace  concluded, 
when  they  commenced  smoking. 

"A  deer  was  hanging  to  a  tree,  from 
which  the  chief  cut  three  large  slices  with  a 
knife  of  bamboo,  and  threw  them  upon  the 
fire,  and,  drawing  them  out  an  instant  after- 
ward, presented  a  i)iece  to  each  of  us.  The 
exterior  was  slightly  burned  and  sprinkled 
with  ashes,  but  the  interior  was  pcrfeelly 
raw  and  bloody.  It  would  not  do,  however, 
to  show  the  repugnance  I  felt  at  making  a 
repast  scarcely  better  than  that  of  a  canni- 
bal, for  my  hosts  would  have  been  scandal- 
ized, and  I  wished  to  live  in  good  corre- 
spondence with  them  for  some  d.iys.  I 
therefo'-e  ate  my  piece  of  venison,  which, 
after  all,  was  not  ill  flavored,  and  my  Indian 
having  followed  my  example,  our  good  repute 
was  established,  and  treason  on  their  part 
no  longer  jjossible." 

M.  de  la  (iironiorc  showed  his  wisdom  in 
accommodatin<j  himself  (o  circumstances, 
and  in  sacrificing  his  own  predilections  in 
favor  of  expediency;  and  if  all  travellers  had 
acted  in  a  .iimilar  manner,  we  should  have 
known  much  more  of  savage  manners  and 
customs  than  we  do  at  the  present  time. 
After  proiiitiating  his  little  black  hosts  by 
tact  and  kindness,  he  remained  among  them 
for  ^ome  time,  and  by  means  of  an  iuter])re- 
ter,  whom  he  was  fortunate  enough  to  ob- 
tain, continued  to  procure  a  considerable 
amount  of  information  concerning  a  people 
of  whom  scarcely  anvthing  hral  been  pre- 
viously known  since  their  exis'enee, 

The  Ajitas  live  in  small  tribes,  consisting 
of  some  fifty  or  sixty  individuals.  They 
have  no  fixed  residence,  but  wander  about' 
the  country  according  to  the  amount  of  game 
which  they  find.  They  have  not  the  least 
notion  of  house-building,  and  in  this  re- 
si)ect  are  even  below  the  aborigines  of  Au- 
stralia, and  at  night  they  crowd  round  the 
fire  and  lie  as  close  to  it  as  possible.  This 
fire  is  the  central  i)oint  of  (he  tribe,  the  old 
people  and  children  asMeml)lin<,'  round  it  dur- 
ing the  day  while  the  adults  are  hunting  for 
game;  and  if  the  hunters  should  be  able  to 
bring  in  enough  food  to  last  for  some  days, 
they  remain  round  the  fire  until  it  is  all  con- 
sumed. 

lliere  seems  to  be  no  particular  form  of 
government  among  the  Ajit.as,  who  always 
choose  one  of  the  oldest  men  to  be  the  chief 
of  each  little  tribe,  and  do  not  acknowledge 
any  principal  c^ief  or  king.  Age  is  re- 
spected among  them,  and  in  this  point  the 


REVERENCE  FOR  THE  DEAD. 


921 


Ajitaa  show  their  superiority  over  many 
savage  tribes.  Tiic  language  of  the  Ajitas 
is  saitl  to  rescml>le  tlie  cliirpin"  of  birds 
rather  than  the  voice  of  manltind,  but  it 
must  bo  remembered  that  the  same  was  said 
of  the  Bosjeamen's  hmguage  when  European 
travellers  fust  came  among  them.  Any 
language  which  is  heard  for  the  first  time 
att'ccts  the  ear  i:npleasautly,  and  even  those 
of  Europe  are  generally  stigmatized  by  for- 
eigners as  gabbling  or  grunting,  according 
to  the  pitch  of  the  voice.  Of  the  structure 
of  the  Ajitiis'  language  nothing  is  yet 
known. 

In  one  point  they  arc  superior  to  many 
savage  people.  A  man  has  but  one  wife, 
and  both  ave  faithful  in  the  married  state. 
When  a  young  man  wishes  to  marry,  he 
asks  the  consent  of  her  parents,  who,  on  a 
fixed  day,  send  her  into  the  woods  alone 
before  sunrise,  and  after  iin  hour  the  young 
man  goes  after  her.  If  he  can  And  her,  and 
bring  her  back  before  sunset,  the  marriage 
is  acknowledged;  but  if  ho  cannot  succeed 
in  his  search,  he  must  yield  all  claims  to 
her.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  real  choice 
lies  with  the  girl,  who  can  always  conceal 
herself  if  she  dislikes  the  inten;ied  bride- 
groom, or,  oven  if  he  did  find  her,  could 
refuse  to  come  back  with  him  until  the  stip- 
ulated time  has  passed. 

The  i-eligion  of  the  Ajitas  seems  to  be,  as 
far  as  can  be  ascertained  on  a  subject  from 
which  a  savage  always  shrinks,  a  mere 
fetishism;  any  object,  such  as  an  oddly- 
shaped  tree  trunk  or  stone,  bein^  worshipped 
for  a  day,  and  then  forsaken  in  favor  of  some 
other  idol. 

Any  real  rcvc  fence  in  the  nature  of  the 
Ajitas  seems  t*  be  given  to  the  dead,  whom 


they  hold  in  veneration.  Year  after  year 
they  will  resort  to  the  burl.al-places  of  their 
friends  for  the  purpose  of  laying  betel-nut 
and  tobacco  upon  the  grave.  Over  each 
spot  where  a  warrior  is  buried  his  bow  and 
arrows  are  hung,  the  Ajitas  having  an  idea 
that  at  night  the  man  leaves  his  grave,  and 
hunts  until  the  morning.  Owinjj  to  this 
reverence  for  the  dead,  M.  de  la  Gironicre's 
expedition  nearly  came  to  a  fatal  termina- 
tion. They  had  succeeded  in  procuring  a 
skeleton  from  the  buria'.-place,  when  the 
theft  was  discovered  by  the  Ajitas,  who  at 
once  set  upon  them,  and  fairly  chased  them 
out  of  their  country,  the  poisoned  arrows 
proving  to  be  weapons  too  formidable  to  bo 
resisted,  especially  when  used  by  foes  .13 
active  as  monkeys,  who  could  pour  their 
.arrows  on  their  foes,  while  they  scarcely 
exposed  an  inch  of  their  little  dark  bodies  to 
tlie  enemy. 

It  is  owing  to  another  form  of  this  venera- 
tion for  the  dead  that  travellers  have  so 
often  come  in  collision  with  the  Ajitas. 
AVhen  a  warrior  dies,  his  companions  arc 
bound  to  take  their  weapons  and  roarp 
through  the  country,  for  the  purpose  f 
killing  the  first  living  tWng  that  they  meet, 
.vhcther  man  or  beast.  As  they  pass  along, 
they  break  the  boughs  in  a  peculiar  manner 
as  warnings  to  others,  for  even  one  of  their 
own  tribe  would  be  sacrificed  if  he  fell  in 
their  way.  Travellers  from  other  countries 
would  cither  fail  to  see,  or,  if  they  saw,  '^■^ 
understand,  the  meaning  of  thest  litt.  ■ 
broken  twigs,  and  in  consequence  have 
been  attacked  by  the  Ajitas,  not  from  any 
unfriendly  feelings,  but  in  fulfilment  of  a 
national  custom. 


=(1 


I' 

■F' 


:M 


; 


CHAPTER    XCin. 


FIJI. 


APPEARANCE  AND  DRESS  OF  THE  FIJIANS. 


POSITION  OF  THE  n.n  I3LAKD3 — GEtfERAI,  APPEAllANCB  OF  THE  NATIVES — TIIEin  PECULIAR  HAIR, 
AND  VAIUOrS  MODES  OF  DRBSSINU  IT  —  IIAIK-DYES — THE  FIJIAN  MIKlcOU  —  WIC-MAKINO  —  TUB 
AMHASSADOU  AND  HIS  MESSAfiE — THE  FIJIAN  TURBAN  —  WATER-PHOOF  HEADDRESSES —lMiES8 
OF  THE  FIJIANS  — THE  "MASI,"  AND  METHOD  OF  WEARING  IT —  EAR-ORNAMENTS  —  NECKLACES 
AND  FLOWERS  —  TATTOOING  AND  PAINT  —  PATTERNS  USED  FOR  TUB  FACE  —  DRESS  OF  THE  WOMEN 
—  THE  HOUCIHNESS  OF  THE  SKIN  AND  USE  OF  PAINT— HAIR-DRESSING  —  MAKLV<!  MASI  AND  MODE 
OF  PRODUCING  I^ATTEUNS  —  INGENIOUS  MODE  OF  STENCILLING  —  TUB  WOMAN'S  Al'IlON,  OR  "  LIKU," 
AND  MODE   OF  WEARING  IT. 


To  describe  the  inhabitants  of  iill  the  multi- 
tudinous isl<ands  of  Polynesia  would  be  an 
agreeable,  but  impossible  task,  our  space 
confining  us  within  limits  which  may  not  be 
transgressed.  We  will  therefore  pass  at 
once  to  the  largo  and  important  group  of 
islands  which  is  popularly  known  by  the 
name  of  Fiji. 

This  group  of  islands  lies  due  north  of 
New  Zealand,  and  to  the  eastward  of  New 
Guinea,  so  that  they  are  just  below  the 
liquator.  The  collective  name  of  the 
islands  has  been  variously  given,  such  as 
Fiji,  Heetco,  Feegee,  Fidge,  Fidschi,  \'ihi, 
and  Viti.  Of  all  these  names,  the  lirst  and 
the  hist  are  correct,  the  norllu'rn  portion  of 
tho  islands  being  known  as  Fiji,  and  the 
southern  ai^Viti.  The  reader  must  remem- 
ber that  tli(  se  names  are  pronounced  as  if 
written  Feegee  and  Veetee. 

The  inhabitants  of  Fiji  arc  a  fine  race  of 
savages,  tolerably  well  formed,  and  with 
dark,  though  not  black  skin.  Like  other 
Papuans,  they  are  remarkable  for  their 
thick,  bushy  liair,  wliich  they  dress  in  a 
singular  variety  of  jiattcrns.  As  the  apjiear- 
ancc  and  costume  of  savage  races  are  tii(> ,  ^  , 
first  points  which  strike  a  stranger,  we  will  |  lu'ad  of  liair  would  form 
at  once  proceed  to  describe  them. 

The  most  conspicuous  part  of  a  Fijian's 
general  appeanmce  is  liis  headdress,  in  the 
arrangement  of  which  he  gives  the  reins  to 
his  fancy,  and  invents  the  most  extraordi- 
nary variations  of  form  and  color.  Exam- 
ples of  the  Fijian  headdress  will  be  seen  in 

most  of  the  illustrations.    But  as  it  would  |  Fiji  for  thirteen  yeirs.    "  Most  of  the  chiefs 
be  tedious  to  describe  them  as  they  occur,  I )  have   a    hair-dresser,    to    whose    care   >'>8 

(t!'i2) 


will  mention  a  few  of  the  most  prominent 
varieties. 

The  hair  of  the  Papuan  race  is  always 
stitr,  wiry,  and  plentiiul,  and  grows  to  a  con- 
siderable lenijrtli;  so  that  it  necessarily  as- 
sumes a  '  .,ny  form  if  sull'ered  to  grow 
according  to  its  own  will.  The  Fijian,  how- 
ever, thinks  that  nature  is  to  be  improved 
by  art,  and  accordingly  lavishes  all  the 
resources  of  a  somewhat  artistic  character 
on  his  hair.  To  train  the  hair  into  any  of 
(he  graceful  and  tiowing  mclbods  wbieli  dis- 
tinguish those  sol't-haired  raws  would  be 
utterly  impossible  for  a  T'ljian.  II.-  goes  on 
tjuile  the  opposite  priiici|ile, and,  tiiic  to  real 
artistic  feeling,  tries  todevelo])  t<i  (he  utmost 
those  characteristics  which  rightly  In  long  to 
him,  instead  of  endeavoring  to  jiroduce  ef- 
fects which  would  not  be  cdiisoiuuit  with 
their  surroundings. 

The  principle  on  whi  'h  a  Fijian  taiffure  is 
arranged  is,  that  every  hair  is  i)resunu'd  to 
grow  naturally  at  right  .'iiii;Ii's  to  the  skin, 
and  to  stand  out  stiHly  iuul  boldly.  Sup- 
posing, then,  that  each  liair  ('(■ul<l  be  induced 
to  follow  its  own  course,  without  being  en- 
tangled by  others,  it  isevidi  iit  that  the  whole 

a  huge  globular 
mass,  surrounding  the  face.  It  is,  therefore, 
the  business  of  the  Fijian  hair-dresser  to 
accept  this  as  the  normal  foim  of  Ww  hair, 
and  to  change  or  niodiiy  it  as  he  thinks  best. 

Ft  is  imi)ossible  to  describe  tlu'  various 
modes  of  Fijian  hair-dressing  better  than  has 
been  d<me  by  Mr.  Williams,  who  resided  in 


I         ! 


^1 


(•J.)    FIJIAN   CANOE   IN    A    IIUEKZK.    (See  pagt-  u:i^.y 
(924) 


•^•iwiMWiii 


AMBASSADOK  AND  HIS  MESSAGE. 


9BS 


master's  hair  is  intrusted,  often  demanding 
diiily  iittoulion,  and  at  certain  stages  of  pre- 
press requiring  suvcral  hours'  labor  each  day. 
During  all  tiiis  linio,  the  operators  hands  are 
tapu  from  touching  his  lood,  but  not  from 
working  in  liis  garden. 

"  The  hair  is  strong,  and  often  quite  wiry, 
and  so  dressed  that  it  will  retain  the  positic; 
in  which  it  is  placed,  even  when  projecting 
from  the  head  a  distance  "of  six  or  eight 
inches.  One  .stranger,  on  seeing  their  per- 
formance in  this  department,  exclanns, 
'  What  astonishing  wigs! '  another  thinks, 
'  Surely  ihe  hcan  ideal  of  hair-dressing  must 
e.xist  in  Fiji;'  a  third, 'Their  heads  surpass 
imagination.' "  No  wonder,  then,  that  they 
defy  description. 

"Whatever"  may  bc'said  about  the  ap- 
pearance being  unnatural,  the  best  coiffures 
have  a  sufprisiug  and  almost  <jeometrical 
accuracy  of  outline,  combiaed  with  a  round 
softness  of  surface  and  uniformity  of  dye 
which  display  extraordinary  care,  and  merit 
some  praise.  Thoy  seem  to  be  carved  out 
of  some  solid  substance,  and  are  variously 
colored.  Jet-black,  blue-black,  ashy  white, 
and  several  shades  of  red  prevail.  Among 
young  people,  bright  red  and  llaxcn  arc  in 
fiivor.  Sometimes  two  or  more  colors  meet 
on  the  same  head.  Some  heads  are  finished, 
both  as  to  shape  and  color,  nearly  like  an 
English  counsellor's  wig. 

""in  some,  Hk;  hair  is  a  spherical  mass  of 
jet  black  liair,  with  a  white  roll  in  front,  as 
broad  as  the  iiand;  or,  in  lieu  of  this,  a  white, 
oblong  braid  occupies  the  length  of  tlie  fore- 
head, the  black  passing  down  on  either  side. 
In  each  case  the  black  projects  further  than 
the  white  hair.  Some  heads  have  all  the  or- 
namentation behind,  consisting  of  a  cord  of 
twisted  coils,  ending  in  tassels.  In  others, 
the  cords  give  place  to  a  large  red  roli  or  a 
sandy  projection  falling  on  the  neck.  On 
one  head,  all  the  hair  is  of  one  uniform  length, 
but  one-third  in  front  is  ashy  or  sandy,  and 
the  rest  bl.ack,  a  sharply  defmed  separation 
dividing  the  two  colors. 

"Not  a  few  arc  so  ingeniously  grotesque 
as  to  apjjcar  as  if  done  purposely  to  excite 
laughter.  One  has  a  large  knot  of  flcryhair 
on  his  crown,  all  the  rest  of  the  head  "being 
bald.  Another  has  the  most  of  his  hair  cut 
aw.ay,  leaving  threi  or  four  I'ows  of  small 
clusters,  as  if  his  head  were  planted  with 
small  i)aint  brushes.  A  third  has  his  head 
hare,  except  wlice  a  black  jiatch  projects 
over  each  temple.  One,  two,  or  three  cords 
of  twisted  l.air  often  fall  Irom  the  right 
temple,  a  f  r ;,  or  eighteen  inches  long.  Some 
men  wear  r.  >  ..iSer  of  these  bridds  so  as  to 
form  aoi!.-'  li.  u  .aeback  of  the  neck,  reach- 
ing ftom  vjc  '  ■     to  the  other. 

"  A  mode  ti:.,  requires  great  care  has  the 
hair  wro-a^^ht  into  distinct  locks,  radiating 
from  the  head.  Each  lock  is  a  perfect  cone, 
about  80V(>n  inciies  in  length,  having  the 
base  outward,  so  that  the  surface  of  the  hair 


ia  marked  out  into  a  great  number  of  small 
circles,  the  ends  bejng  turned  in,  in  each  lock, 
toward  the  centre'ot  the  cone.  In  another 
kindred  stylo,  the  locks  arc  pyramidal,  the 
sides  and  angles  of  each  being  as  rej^ular  as 
though  formed  of  wood.  All  round  the  head 
they  look  like  square  black  blocks,  the  upper 
tier  projecting  horizontally  from  the  crown, 
.■und  :>,  'lat  space  being  left  at  the  top  of  the 
head.  VV  hen  the  hair,  however,  is  not  more 
than  four  inches  long,  this  flat  does  not  exist, 
but  the  surface  consists  of  a  regular  suc- 
cession of  squares  or  circles.  The  violent 
motions  of  the  dance  do  not  disturb  these 
elaborate  preparations,  but  great  care  is 
taken  lo  preserve  them  from  the  eftects  of 
the  dew  or  rain." 

Whenever  the  Fijian  desires  to  know 
whether  his  heaildress  is  in  proper  order,  ho 
has  recourse  to  his  mirror.  This  is  not  a 
portable,  but  a  fixed  article  of  manufacture, 
and  is  necessarily  situated  m  the  open  air. 
When  the  native  sees  a  large  tree  with  a 
sloping  trunk,  he  cuts  in  the  upper  part  of 
the  trunk  several  deep  hollows,  and  arranges 
the  leaves  of  the  tree  so  thut  the  water  froai 
the  foliage  drips  intq  them,  and  keeps  them 
full.  These  are  his  mirrors,  and  by  their 
a"  1  he  examines  his  hair,  sees  if  the  outline 
be  quite  correct,  and,  if  he  be  dissatisfied, 
arranges  it  with,  his  long-handled  comb,  and 
then  replaces  the  con)b  in  his  mop  of  a  head, 
carefidly  sticking  it  i^ver  one  ear  as  a  soldier 
does  his  forage  cap. 

Not  content  with  liaving  the  hair  plaited 
and  frizzed  out  as-  Itos  already  been  d"scribcd, 
many  of  the  Fijians  wear  great  wigs  over 
their  own  hair,  thus  increasing  the  size  of 
their  heads  to  the  most  inordinate  vlimen- 
sions.  The  natives  an  excellent  wig-makers 
anil,  as  their  object  is  not  to  imitate  nature, 
but  to  produce  a.",  fantastic  an  elTect  as  pos- 
sible, it  is  evident  that  the  result  of  their 
labor  is  oftc  i  very  ludicrous.  As  is  the  case 
with  their  own  hair,  they  dye  these  wigs  of 
variou.-,  colors,  red  and  white  being  the 
favorite  hues. 

Three  examples  of  th^sc  curious  head- 
dresses are  shown  in  illustration  No.  1,  on 
preceding  page,  vrhich  represents  an  ambas- 
sador delivering  a  message  from  his  chief  to 
some  man  of  consequence.  Savages  such 
as  tlv'se  have  no  idea  of  writing,  but,  lest 
they  should  forget  the  various  terms  of  their 
message,  they  have  recourse  to  a  simple 
memoria  tcchnicru  consisting  of  a  bundle  of 
sticks,  no  two  being  of  the  same  length. 

Each  of  these  sticks  answers  to  one  of 
the  terms  of  the  message,  which  is  repeated 
once  or  twice  to  the  ambassador,  who  reck- 
ons tliem  over  on  his  sticks.  When  he 
delivers  hia  message,  he  unties  the  bundle, 
selects  the  sticks  in  their  order,  and,  laying 
them  down  in  succession,  delivera  the  mes- 
sfige  without  a  mistake. 

In  the  illustration,  the  principal  figure 
represents  the  ambassador,  the  others  being 


•1 


1 


"r  i 


ill 
111 


ml 

"1% 


m 


11 


926 

his  attendants.  Ho  has  laid  down  several 
or  the  sticks,  ;iiid  is  delivering  the  message 
belonging  to  one  of  them,  while  he  is  hold- 
ing the  rest  in  his  left  hand.  His  headdress 
IS  of  that  remarkable  kind  which  consists  of 
a  number  of  conical  locks  of  hair  —  a  fash- 
ion which  denotes  a  man  of  rank,  as  no 
other  could  afford  to  have  such  a  coiffure 
kept  in  order.  The  man  seated  next  to  tlie 
ambassador  has  his  hair  in  two  colors,  the 
greater  part  beii.g  dark  and  frizzed  out 
trom  the  head,  while  a  couple  of  rolls  of  a 
hgliter  hue  jjuss  over  the  forehead.  The 
central  figure  exhibits  a  favorite  mode   of 


FIJI. 


hair-dressiug,  in  which  the  linir  is  clipped 
very  short,  e.\cept  in  certain  .spots,  in  which 
It  13  allowed  to  grow,  so  at;,  t-,  lorm  a  series 
of  brush-like  cufls. 

Men  of  consequence  mostly  protect  their 
enormous  mops  of  hair  bv  a  sort  of  thin 
turban,  whicii  is  wrapped  round  Uiem.  The 
turban  is  made  of  a  piece  of  very  delicate 
bark  cioth,  or  niasi,  nearly  as  thin  as  gauze 
and  perfectly  white.  It  is  sonKtinies  six 
leet  in  length,  bat  varies  according  to  the 
quantity  of  hair.  It  is  twisted  round  the 
head  in  difF.rcnt  fashions,  but  is  mostly 
lastcned  by  a  bow  on  the  forehead,  or  on 
the  top  of  the  head.  Several  examples  of 
the  turban  will  be  .  een  iu  the  course  of  the 
lollowing  pages.  Men  .f  rank  often  wear 
the  m.asi  of  such  longili  i^at  the  ends  fall 
down  behind  like  a  scarf. 

In  order  to  preserve  their  hair  from 
being  displaced  by  rain,  they  use  a  water- 
proof covering  of  tlieir  owA  invention.  This 
is  a  young  banana  k-af,  which  is  heated  over 
a  hrc,  and  then  becomes  as  thin,  trauspa- 
JTcnt,  and  imj)ervious  to  water  as  oiled  silk. 
The  light  turban  otters  no  protection  what- 
ever, being  soaked  as  easily  as  tissue  paper, 
which  it  somewhat  resembles. 

Material  similar  to  that  which  is  worn  on 
the  hc.xd  is  used  for  tlie  dress.    The  niasi 
which  IS  employed  for  this  purpose  is  mostly 
Irom  twenty  to  tiiirty  feet  in  length,  though 
a  wealthy  man  will  sometimes  wear  a  masi 
of  nearly  three  hundred  feet  long.     In  this 
ease,  it  is  made  of  very  delicate   material. 
It  18  put  on  in  a  very  simp!c  manner,  part 
being  wound  round  the  loins,  and  the  r(>st 
passed  under  the  legs  and  tucked  into  the 
belt,  so  as  to  hang  as  low  as  tb-  knees  in 
Iront,  and  to  fall  as  low  as  possible  bohind. 
A  wealthy  man  will  often   have  his   masi 
trailing  fiir  behind  him  like  a  train.    This  is 
all  the  dress  which  a  Fiji  man  needs.  Cloth- 
ing as  a   protection   f-om   the   weather   is 
needless,  owing  to  tlio  geniality  of  the  .-li- 
ma^e  and  the  masi  is  worn  simply  as  a  mat- 
ter of  fashion. 

Ornamcnls  are  worn  in  great  p'-ofusion, 
and  are  of  the  kinds  which  seem  dea.  to  all 
savage  races.  Ear  ornaments  of  portentoiw 
size  are  worn  by  the  inhabitants  of  Fiji 
somfl  of  them  stietching  the  lobe  to  such  an 
ext«at  that  a  man's  two  fists  could  be  placed 


m  the  opening.  The  Fijians  also  wear 
breast  ornaments,  very  similar  in  shaiie  and 
appearance  to  the  largo  dibbi-dibbi  which  is 
worn  by  the  Northern  Australians,  and  has 
evidently  been  boirowed  from  the  Papuan 
race.  Any  glittering  objects  can  be  made 
into  necklaces,  which  often  combine  the 
most  incongruous  objects,  such  as  European 
beads,  bits  of  tortoise-shell,  dogs'  teeth,  bats' 
jaws,  and  the  like. 

Flowers  are  plentifully  worn  bv  the  Fijian, 
who  keeps  up  a  constant  sujjply  of  tliese 
natural  ornaments,  weaving  them  into 
strings  and  chaplets,  and  passing  thrm,  like 
belts,  over  (uie  shoulder  and  under  the 
other.  In  the  illustration  on  page  S)37th, 
which  represents  the  ])ayniont  of  taxes,  sev- 
eral girls  are  seen  adorned  with  these  gar- 
lands. 

Tattooing  is  almost  entirely  coufiner.  to 
the  women,  and  even  in  theni  is  but  little 
seen,  the  greater  part  of  the  patterns  being 
covered  by  the  liku  or  fringe  apron.     When 
young,  the  women  usually  tattoo    their  lin- 
gers with  lines  and  stars  in  order  to  make 
them  look  ornamental  as  they  present  food 
to  the  chief,  and,  after  they  become  mothers, 
they  add  a  blue  patch  at  each  corner  of  the 
mouth.      The   operation   is  a  painful   one, 
though  not  so  torturing  as   that  which   is 
ertiployed    in    New    Zealand,    the    jiattern 
being  made  by  the  punctures  of  a  sharp- 
toothed  instrument,  and  not  by  the  edge  of 
a  chisel  driven  completely  through  the  skin. 
Faint  is  used  very  largely,  the  three  prin- 
cipal colors   being   black,   white,   and    red. 
With  these  three  tints  they  i-outrive  to  pro- 
duce a  variety  of  ell'ect  on  iticir  faces,  that 
is  only  to  be  rivalled  by  the  fancy  displayed 
in  their  hair-dressing.    Sonietinies  the  face 
is  all  scarlet  with  the  excc|>iioii  of  the  nose, 
which  is  black,  and  sonitiiiiies  the  face  is 
divided  like  a  quartered  heraldic  shield,  and 
painted   red   and   black,  or  white,  red,  and 
black  in    the   diHereiit   qiiarterings.     Some 
men  will  have  one  side  of  the  face  black  and 
the  other  white,  while   others   paint   their 
countenances  black  as  far  as  the  nose,  and 
finish  them  off  with  white. 

lieversin"  the  lirst-nifntioned  pattern, 
the  Fijian  dandy  will  occusioiially  paint  his 
face  black  and  his  nose  red,  or  will  have  a 
black  ._je,a  white  nose,  a  scarlet  ring  round 
each  eye,  and  a  white  crescent  on  the  fore- 
head, Sometimes  he  will  wear  a  white  face 
covered  with  round  scarlet  spots  like  those 
on  a  toy  horse;  or  will  substitute  for  the 
round  spots  a  large  patch  on  each  cheek  and 
another  round  the  mouth,  just  like  the  face 
of  a  theatrical  clown. 

Some  very  cnrions  effects  arc  produced  by 
lines.  A  white  face  with  a  single  broad 
black  stripe  from  the  forehead  to  the  chin 
has  a  very  remarkable  appearance,  and  so 
has  a  face  of  which  one  side  is  p.ainted  lon- 
gitudinally with  black  strijjes  on  a  white 
grcund,  iiud  the  other  half  with  transverse 


THE  MANUFACTURE  OF  MASI. 


037 


Btripps  of  the  Bnme  colors.  A  similar  i)at- 
teni  is  sometimes  proiliu-ed  Avitli  Ijlaek  upon 
red.  F'lMliiipa  tiie  oddest  of  all  the  jiattorns 
is  formed  by  painting  the  face  white,  and 
upon  the  wliite  dniwinj?  a  number  of  undu- 
lating? lines  from  the  foreheatl  downward, 
the  lines  crossing  each  other  so  as  to  form  a 
sort  of  rippling  network  over  tne  face. 

So  much  for  the  dress  of  the  men.  That 
of  the  women  is  different  in  every  way. 
Though  possessing  the  same  kind  of  still", 
Aviry,  profuse  hair  as  the  men,  they  do  not 
troul)lo  themselves  to  weave  it  into  such 
fantastic  designs,  but  mostly  content  them- 
selves with  combing  it  out  so  as  to  project 
as  far  as  possible  on  every  side.  Sometimes 
they  twist  it  into  a  series  of  locks,  which  are 
allowed  to  fall  on  the  head  merely  at  ran- 
dom, like  the  thrums  of  a  mop. 

Taint  is  employed  by  them  as  by  the  men, 
though  not  with  such  profusion.  Scarlet 
seems  to  be  their  favorite  color  in  paint, 
and  to  this  predilection  Mr.  Tickering  was 
indebted  for  opportunities  of  ascertaining 
by  touch  the  peculiar  roughness  of  the 
Papuan  skin.  The  Fijiavis,  an  essentially 
ceremonious  and  punctilious  people,  will 
not  allow  themselves  to  be  handled,  and  Mr. 
Pickering  was  rather  perplexed  as  to  the 
means  ot  ascertaining  whether  this  rough- 
ness belonged  to  the  race,  or  whether  it 
were  only  a  peculiarity  belonging  to  indi- 
viduals. The  love  ot  scarlet  paint  here 
came  to  his  assistance.  The  vermilion  jn-e- 
pared  by  European  art  was  so  much  supe- 
rior to  the  pigments  of  Fiji,  that  the  natives 
were  only  too  glad  to  have  so  brilliant  a 
color  put  on  their  faces  and  bodies.  Ac- 
cordingly men  and  women,  old  and  young, 
pressed  'forward  to  have  a  little  vermilion 
rubbed  on  them,  and  the  mothers,  after  hav- 
in"  their  own  faces  painted,  held  out  their 
iuFants  to  participate  in  tlie  same  benefit. 

The  native  cloth,  or  masi,  which  has 
already  been  mentioned,  is  made  from  the 
inner  liark  of  the  malo  tree,  and  h  manufac- 
tured in  a  simple  and  ingenious  mazier. 
As  at  the  present  dav  English  fulrii'o  uvc. 
largely  imported  into  t'iji,  and  are  r.'ipidly 
8upplantin<'  the  delicate  and  becoming  na- 
tive manufactures,  the  art  of  making  the 
masi  will  soon  l)ecome  extinct  in  Fiji,  as 
lias  been  the  case  in  other  islands  where 
Europeans  have  gained  a  footing.  I  shall 
therefore  devote  a  few  lines  to  the  descrip- 
tion of  its  manufacture. 

The  natives  cut  otf  the  bark  in  long  strips, 
and  soak  them  in  water  for  some  time,  until 
the  inner  bark  can  l)e  separated  from  the 
outer,  an  operation  which  is  performed  with 
the  edge  of  a  shell.  After  it  has  been  re- 
moved from  the  coarse  outer  bark,  it  is  kept 
in  water  so  as  to  preserve  it  in  the  necessary 
state  of  moisture;  and  when  a  sufficient 
quantity  is  collected,  the  operation  of  beat- 
ing it  begins. 
Masi  18  beaten  upon  a  log  of  wood  flat- 


tened on  the  upper  surface,  and  bo  arranged 
as  to  spring  a  little  with  the  blows  of  the 
mallet.  This  tool  does  not  resemble  our 
mallet  with  a  handle  and  a  head,  but  is  sim- 
ply a  piece  of  wood  about  fourteen  inches  in 
length  and  two  in  thickness,  rounded  at  one 
end  80  as  to  form  a  handle,  and  squared  for 
the  remainder  of  its  length.  Three  sides  of 
this  mallet,  or  iki,  as  it  is  called,  arc  cov- 
ered with  longitudinal  grooves,  while  the 
fourth  side  is  left  plain.  Those  .specimens 
that  I  have  seen  have  the  sides  not  qiiito 
Hat,  but  very  slightly  convex,  nerhaps  by 
use,  perhaps  rounded  intentionally.  A  masi 
maker  has  several  of  these  mallets,  soine- 
times  as  many  as  six  or  seven,  each  having 
some  difference  in  the  fhiting,and  with  them 
she  contrives  to  produce  a  fabric  tliat  has 
all  the  effect  of  woven  linens  among  our- 
selves, the  pattern  being  incorporated  with 
the  material. 

There  are  in  my  collection  several  spec- 
imens of  masi,  one  of  which  is  singularly- 
beautiful.  It  is  thin,  snowy  white,  and  soft 
iis  silk,  and,  even  at  a  distance,  must  have 
looked  very  graceful  when  wrapped  round 
the  dark  bu'dy  of  a  Fijian  warrior.  But  it  is 
only  on  a  closer  examination  that  the  real 
beauty  of  the  fabric  is  dis^ilayed.  Instead 
of  imu-elv  beating  the  msusi  after  the  usual 
fivshion,  s'o  as  to  impress  upon  it  the  longi- 
tudinal grooves  of  the  mallet,  the  native 
manufacturer  has  contrived  to  change  the 
position  of  her  mallet  at  every  blow,  so  as  to 
produce  a  zigzag  pattern  on  the  fabric,  very 
much  like  the  well-known  Greek  pattern  of 
European  decorators.  It  is  beautifully  reg-  ■ 
ular,  and,  when  the  fabric  is  held  up  to  the 
light,  looks  like  the  water  mark  in  paper. 

The  plasticity  of  the  malo  bark  is  really 
wonderful.    A  strip  of  two  inches  in  length 
can   be   beaten    to   the  width  of    eighteen 
inches,  its  length  being  slightly  reduced  cia 
the   width    increases.     As  the   material   is 
very  thin  and  flimsy,  a  single  piece  being, 
when  beaten  out,  no  thicker  than  tissue  pa- 
per, two  or  more  pieces  .arc  usually  laid  on 
each  other  and  beaten  so  as  to  form  a  single 
tiiickncss,  th'>  natural  gluten  which  this  ma- 
terial contains  being  sufficient  to  unite  them 
as  if  they  had  heeii  one  piece.     Some  spec- 
imens of  their  larger  mantles,  now  in  my 
collection,  arc  as  thick  a» stout  brown  paper, 
and  very  much  tougher,  appearing  both  to 
th  J  eye  and  the  touch  as  if  made  of  leather. 
When  a  large  masi  ha',  to  be  made,  many 
lengths  of  the  bark  are  united  to  each  other, 
the  ends  being  soaked  in  arrowroot  starch, 
laid  carefully  over  each  other,  and  then  sub- 
jected to  the  mallet,  which  forces  the  two 
■pieces  of  bark  to  unite  as  if  they  were  one 
substance,  and  does  not  exhibit  the  least  trace 
of  the  junction.    As  I  have  already  men- 
tioned, some  of  these  masis  arc  of  very  great 
length.    Mr.  Williams  measured  one  which 
was  for  the  use  of  the  king  on  festival  days, 
and  found  its  length  to  be  five  hundred  and 


H 


iii    : 


Ik 

nil 


Ull 


'III 


5:    t- 

'I 


. 


928 


FIJI. 


forty  feet.  Many  of  tlio  large,  and  at  tlio 
same  time  thin  niasis,  are  used  as  mosqnito 
curtains,  and  in  tliat  case  are  decorated  with 
patterns  of  dusky  red  and  black.  The  pat- 
terns generally  commence  at  the  centre, 
and  are  gradually  extended  toward  the 
edges.  The  mode  of  making  these  patterns 
is  well  described  by  Mr.  Williams  :  — 

"  Upon  a  convex  board,  several  feet  long, 
are   arranged  parallel,  at  about  a  finger^s 


width  apart,  thin  straight  strips  of  bamlwo. 


a  quarter  of  an  inch  wide;  ancf  by  the  side  of 
these,  curved  pieces,  formed  of  the  mid-rib 
of  cocoa-nut  leaflets,  are  arranged.  Over 
the  board  thus  prepared  the  cloth  is  laid,  and 
rubbed  over  with  a  dvo  obtained  from  the 
laitci  (Akurites  triloba).  The  cloth,  of 
course,  takes  the  dye  upon  those  parts  which 
receive  pressure,  being  supported  by  the 
strips  beneath,  and  thus  shows  the 'same 
pattern  in  the  color  employed.  A  stronger 
preparation  of  the  same  dve.  laid  on  witfi  a 
sort  of  brush,  is  used  to  divide  the  squares 
into  oblong  compartments,  with  large  round 
or  radiated  dots  in  the  centre.  The  kcsa,  or 
dye.  when  good,  dries  bright. 

"  Blank  borders,  two  or  three  feet  wide, 
are  still  left  on  each  side  of  the  scpiaro,  and 
to  elaborate  the  ornamentation  of  these  so 
as  to  e.vcite  ajjplause  is  the  pride  of  every 
Fijian  lady.  There  is  now  an  entire  change 
of  apnnriUiis.  The  operator  works  on  a  plrun 
board;  (he  red  dye  gives  place  to  a  jet  black; 
her  pattern  is  now  formed  by  a  strip  of  ba- 
nana leaf  placed  on  the  ujipeV  surfaee  of  the 
cloth.  Out  of  the  leaf  is  cut  the  pattern,  not 
more  than  an  inch  long,  which  she  wishes 
to  jirint  upon  the  border,  and  holds  by  her 
first  and  middle  linger,  i)ressing  it  down"  with 
the  (luiinb.  Then,  taking  in  her  right  hand 
a  soft  ])ad  of  cloth  steeped  in  dye,  she  rubs 
it  (n-inly  over  the  stencil,  and  a  fair,  sharp 
figure  is  made. 

"  The  piadised  fincrers  of  the  women 
move  quickly,  but  it  is  alter  all  a  tedious 
process.  In  the  work  above  described,  the 
Lakemba  women  excel.  On  the  island  of 
Matiiku  very  pretty  curtains  are  made,  but 
the  [tattirn  is  large,  and  covers  the  entire 
square,  while  the  spaces  between  the  black 
lines  are  lilled  in  wiih  red  and  yellow." 

AVe  now  pass  to  the  liku.or  fringed  girdle 
of  the  women.  Thi«  is  made  of  various  ma- 
terials, and    much   trouble    is  usually  ex- 


pended in  Its  manufacture.  The  ordinary 
likus  are  little  more  than  a  number  of  slight 
thongs  fixed  to  a  belt,  and  allowed  to  hang 
down  for  several  inches.  When  worn,  it  in 
passed  round  the  waist  and  tied,  not  behind, 
but  on  one  side,  and  on  festivals  the  bark 
cord  by  which  it  is  fastened  is  allowed  to 
hang  so  low  that  it  often  trails  on  the  ground 
as  tno  wearer  walks  along. 

The  thongs  are  made  of  the  hark  of  a  spe- 
cies of  hibiscus,  called  by  the  natives  vau, 
and  used  for  many  purposes,  of  long  flexible 
roots  like  that  of  the  caseus  grass,  and  of 
diderent  grasses.  One  kind  of  liku  which  is 
rather  fashionable,  is  made  of  a  vegetable 
parasite,  called  by  the  natives  mnloa.  The 
thongs  of  this  liku  are  not  thicker  than 
packthread,  and  when  fresh,  an;  as  flexible 
as  silk.  In  ))roccss  of  time,  however,  tlu^y 
become  brittle,  and  are  apt  to  break.  The 
color  of  this  material  is  deep  glossy  black. 

There  are  in  my  collection  two  s])eciinen3 
of  the  liku,  one  of  them  being  made  of  the 
fashionable  waloa.  The  other  is  the  com- 
mon liku.  It  is  made  of  split  grass,  the 
blades  of  which  are  more  than  three  feet  in 
length.  In  order  to  make  them  into  the 
garment  they  have  been  doubled,  and  the 
loops  woven  into  a  narrow  plaited  belt  of 
the  same  material.  The  better  kind  of  likus 
are,  however,  ma<le  with  far  greater  care 
than  is  bestn\ved  on  this  article.  There  is 
but  little  diflerenee  in  the  thongs,  the  chief 
labor  being  bestowed  on  the  belt.  In  some 
cases  the  belt  of  the  liku  is  four  inches  in 
width,  and  is  plaited  into  elegant  patterns, 
plaiting  being  an  art  in  which  the  natives 
exoel. 

In  general  shapes  the  liku  never  varies, 
being  worn  liy  girls  and  women  alike.  As 
long  as  a  girl  is  unmarried,  she  wears  a  liku 
(he  fringe  of  which  is  not  more  than  three 
inches  in  dei)th,  and  the  whole  article  is  so 
scanty  that  when  tied  round  the  waist  the' 
ends  do  not  meei:  at  the  hips  by  several 
inches.  As  soon  as  the  girl  is  iiiairied,  she 
(•hauges  lu'r  liku  in  token  of  her  new  rank, 
and  wears  a  garment  with  a  fringe  that 
reaches  half-way  to  iK'r  knees,  and  which 
.  ntirely  surrounds  the  body.  After  she  has 
become  a  mother,  she  wears  an  apron  which 
quite  reaches  to  the  knees,  and  sonietiines 
falls  below  tliciu. 


CIIAPTEK  XCrV. 


FIJI  —  Continued!. 


n 


MANUFACTUBE3. 


M«  M«IVO-3ar.3  FOR  THK  CAN0E9-FL00U  MATS  AND  „EDniNO -  IlOr E  AND  STnlNO  - 9INNET  A, ^ 
,TrVAR.OaS  USKH-  n.H  KKTT.NC,  NEKm.K  ANO  M.,..- .AN.  AND  SUNSHAUKS -TUF.  OUATOUS 
KrArPr-lsKKT  WOU.-KI,nAN  POTTK.V,  AND  NAT.VK  '^«-- ^--^^r.^T^^'^rvrSSK^ 
WOMFN-TIIEIR  SIMPLE  TOOLS  AND  IMPEUFKCT  MATEIUAL9 -MODE  OF  "  Fir.IN.l  TIIL  VESSEI^ 
r„LA^.VO  "hBWATBU    VESSELS-FLHAN    K.SnEUMEK-VAU.Or8    KINDS    OF  ^F.TS,    AND  MODES 

-  o^cBirJiEM-TiiK  TUU.LE  FisiiEuv-A  «oLD  --'---^-^'■:^'^;'^^^^z^;::^''^::i 

.,  _        ,    ii„u.in"     nv     TUUTLE    AND     ITS     VALUE  —  DANdEKM    or    liiH 

•  :rsn:;r:;',.ArCA^7s      An'd     M   ;■;;    OF    M^nIoInO    T„EM-„..LD,N0    CAN0KS-IN.ENI0., 

™"oF  "olTlNO    THf/plANKB-TONOA    CAUPENTEHS- THE    .UIANS    U.FKKIOK  8AIL0UB  TO 
THE  TONQANU  — FIJIAN  TRADERS. 


f.;| 


m 


M\T9  of  various  kinds  are  made  by  the 
woiiiRti,  and  thov  display  as  much  ingenuity 
in  mat-making  as  in  tlie  manut'ncture  of  n\nsi. 
Mnts  are  enii)loyed  for  many  purposes.  Tlie 
sails  of  the  Fijian  canoes  are  always  made 
of  matting,  wli'ich  is  woven  in  lengths  and 
then  sewed  together  afterward,  just  as  is  the 
case  with  om-  own  canvas  sails.  The  width 
of  the  ."trips  varies  from  two  to  four  feet,  and 
their  length  from  three  to  a  hundred  yards. 
On  an  average,  however,  the  usual  length  of 
these  strips  is  twenty  feet,  that  being  tht^ 
ordinary  length  of  a  sail.  Sail  mats  are 
necessarily  rather  coarse,  and  are  made  from 
the  leaf  ot  the  cocoa-nut  palm. 

Then  there  arc  floor-mats,  which  are  used 
as  carpets  in  th'e  houses.  These  vary  in 
si/.e  according  to  the  dimensions  of  the  house, 
but  twenty  feet  by  sixteen  is  a  very  ordinary 
mpasuremont.  They  are  generally  adorned 
with  a  border  or  pattern  round  the  edges, 
this  border  being  about  six  inches  wide,  and 
often  decorated  with  feathers  and  scraps  of 
any  colored  material  that  can  be  procured. 
Mats  of  a  similar  character,  but  much  finer 
texture,  are  used  as  bedding;  the  best  kind, 
which  is  called  0)10,  being  of  a  very  line  tex- 
ture. 

The  native  love  of  ornament  is  in  no  way 
better  displayed  than  in  their  rope  and 
string  making.  The  best  rope  is  formed 
from  several  strands  of  sinnct.  This  is  a  scu-t 
of  plait  made  from  tlie  fibre  of  the  cocoa-nut. 
The  fibre  is  carefully  removed  from  the  uut, 

(t 


baked,  and  combed  out  like  wool.  Cordage 
is  made  by  twisting  sinnel  together,  and 
some  of  the  Fijian  cords  arc  neaily  as  thick 
as  a  cable,  and  possessed  of  extraordinary 
elasticity  and  strength.  The  sinnet  is  used 
in  a  "reat  variety  of  offices,  houses  being 
built  7\nd  the  planks  of  the  canoes  tied 
to^eiher  with  this  most  useful  material. 

AVIien  made,  the  sinnet  is  made  into  groat 
rolls,  some  of  them  being  of  gigantic  dimen- 
sions. Mr.  Williams  saw  one  which  was 
twelve  feet  long,  and  nearly  seven  feet  in 
diameter.  These  rolls  are  dilfereiitly  shaped, 
and  each  shape  is  known  by  its  own  name, 
such  as  the  double  cone,  the  plain  hank,  the 
oval  ball,  the  lioneycoinb  ball,  and  tJie  va- 
riegated roll.  These  rolls  are  given  as  pres- 
ents, and  offered  to  the  chiefs  as  Irilute, 
together  with  other  property.  In  the  .argc 
illustration  on  page  y;57,  which  re]  vesents  a 
tax-paying  scene,  one  or  two  of  these  rolls 

are  shown.  .  ,   /.  ^ 

Sinnet  is  the  favorite  material  for  net 
making,  l)ut  as  it  is  costly,  nets  are  oneii 
constructed  of  the  hibiscus  bark.  Another 
material  is  a  sort  of  creeper  named  yakxt, 
which  is  steeped  in  water  to  dissolve  tie 
trreen  matter,  then  scraped  to  clean  the 
fibres,  and,  lastly,  twisted  into  strings.  It  is 
remarkable  tliat  the  netting  needle  and 
mesh  are  exactly  similar  to  those  which  arc 
employed  1)V  ourselves,  and  the  same  may 
be  said  of  the  mesh  and  needle  of  the  Esqui- 
maux. 
29) 


i 

I 


1 

'.ii 


m\ 


i^i' 


11        i' 


030 


FIJI. 


1 


The  same  ingrnnily  in  pliiitinjf  which  is 
cxpcndod  ill  tlu;  iniikiii''  aiui  rolling'  nf  lin- 
net OHscrtH  itself  ill  viirToiis  ntlu'r  inuinit'iic- 
turcH,  siicli  nn  baxicct  iinil  inn  malting.  In 
the  latter  art  tlio  Fijian  i^xccIh,  and,  lut  tlie 
fan  is  almost  as  important  to  tlio  Fijian  as 
to  tlio  JapiHicsc,  iniK'h  play  of  fancy  is  ex- 
hibited in  tiin  malting.  IJissirnilar  as  are 
these  fans  in  sliaixi,  there  is  always  a  sort  of 
character  about  tliiin  which  deholes  their 
origin  to  a  practised  eye. 

I  have  a  specimen  in  my  collection,  which 
is  a  very  K<'"d  type  of  the  Fijian  fan.  It  is 
two  feet  in  leniftli,  and  rather  more  than  a 
foot  broad  in  tlie  widest  part.  The  handle 
is  made  of  cocoa-nnt  wood,  and  extends 
nearly  to  the  en<l  of  the  fan,  so  as  to  form  a 
8up[i()rt  through  its  entire  length.  It  is  fas- 
tened to  the  fan  by  double  bancls  of  the  lliicst 
and  most  beautifully  plaited  siuiiet.  Tlie  ma- 
terial of  which  the  fan  is  composed  is  cocoa- 
nut  leaf,  divided  into  doubled  strips  about 
the  third  of  an  iiicli  in  width  near  the  base 
of  the  fan,  and  gradually  di'crcasing  toward 
its  lip.  A  strong  band  of  the  same  material 
runs  round  tlie  edges  of  the  fan,  and  the  two 
ends  of  tliiM  band  are  secured  to  the  handle 
by  the  same  sinnct  as  has  been  just  men- 
tioned. 

Such  a  fan  as  this  is  employed  rather  as  a 
sunshade  or  parasol  than  a  fan,  and  is  held 
over  the  liead  when  the  owner  hapjieiis  to 
be  seated  in  the  sunshine.  It  is  very  light, 
and  is  really  a  much  more  eilicient  imple- 
ment tlian  its  appearance  intimates. 

The  form  of  the  fan  is  exceedingly  variable. 
Sometiiin's  they  are  triangular,  with  the 
handle  projecting  from  one  of  the  angles, 
and  sometimes  they  are  square,  but  witli 
the  handle  passing  diagonally  across  them. 
Various  modilications  of  the  battledoor  are 
in  much  favor,  and  there  is  one  form  which 
almost  exactly  res  -mbles  tliat  of  the  Japan- 
ese handscreen. 

It  is  rather  remarkable  that  the  aborigines 
of  tropical  America,  such  as  the  Caribs,  the 
Accowais,  and  the  like,  make  fans  of  pre- 
cisely similar  material  and  structure,  except 
that  the  handle  is  not  separately  made  of 
wood,  but  is  formed  from  the  ends  of  the 
leaf-strips  of  which  the  implement  is  made. 
There  is  another  curious  article  of  manu- 
facture which  is  properly  Fijian,  but  extends 
through  several  of  the  Polynesian  group. 
It  is  the  orator's  flapper,  which  the  native 
holds  in  his  hand  while  he  speaks  in  council. 
An  engraving  showing  its  form  is  given  on 
the  949th  page.  The  handle  is  carved  into 
various  patterns,  and  mostly,  though  not 
invariably,  is  terminated  by  a  rude  repre- 
sentation of  a  couple  of  luiman  figures 
8cate<l  back  to  back.  Sometimes  the  entire 
handle  is  covered  with  sinnet,  plaited  in  the 
most  delicate  patterns,  as  none  but  a  Fijian 
can  plait.  The  tufl  at  the  end  is  formed  of 
cocoa-nut  fibre,  which  has  first  been  soaked 
in  water,  next  rolled  round  a  small  twig, 


and  then  'Iriod.  When  it  is  unwound  from 
tlu!  stick,  it  has  a  crisn,  wrinkled  app  lu- 
ance,  very  like  that  of  the  Fijian's  hair,  mid 
is  probably  intended  to  inillal  it.  lu  i  o 
specimens  of  iiiy  collection,  sonic  have  sin- 
net-covered  handles,  and  some  carved  han- 
dles, while  some  have  the  tuft  black,  and 
others  sandy  red,  just  as  is  the  case  with  tlio 
hair  of  the  natives. 

In  their  basket  making,  tlie  I'ijians  are 
equally  lavish  of  their  artistic  powers,  weav- 
ing them  in  patterns  of  such  elaborate  intri- 
cacy as  to  nut  the  best  European  makers  to 
shame,  anu  then,  as  if  not  satisfied  with  the 
amount  of  work  liestowed  upon  them,  cover- 
ing all  the  edges  with  sinnet,  braided  into 
really  artistic  patterns. 

Indeed,  the  Fijians  are  I  orn  artists.  Their 
work,  although  sometiiius  grotesque,  is  al- 
ways artistic,  because  always  apiirojiiiate. 
They  carry  this  feeling  of  ;trt  into  the  mate- 
rial wild  ■  plasticity  allows  the  greatest 
freedom  I  manipulation;  namely,  earthen- 
ware. iSoiui  of  the  vessels  wliidi  are  in- 
tended for  cooking  are  quite  plain,  while 
others  which  arc  made  for  other  jiurposes 
are  of  elegant  shape,  and  covered  with  orna- 
ments. Mr.  Williams  suggests,  with  mucli 
probability,  that  the  cooking  pots  are  made 
m  imitation  of  the  cells  of  a  species  of  black 
bo(^  which  inhabits  the  Fiji  group  of  i.^^lauds. 
Several  sjieeimens  of  Fijian  ])otteryare  in 
the  ]}riti;ili  Museum.  As  examples  of  intui- 
tive art  they  are  far  superior  in  outline  and 
ornament  to  the  generality  of  decorated 
earthenware  in  civilized  countries.  A  con- 
ventional imitation  of  nature  is  theprinci])lo 
which  is  employed  by  the  Fijian  jiotters, 
who  liiid  their  chief  patterns  ii  llowers, 
leaves,  and  fruits,  thus  obtaining  the  most 
graceful  curves,  joined  to  great  certainty 
and  iirecision  of  outline. 

Ilude  as  is  the  manipulation  of  the  potter, 
and  coarse  as  is  the  material,  the  design  of 
the  vessel  is  sure  to  be  bold  and  vigorous, 
putting  to  shame  the  feeble  prettiness  Avith 
which  we  are  too  familiar  in  tliis  countiy. 
tioiiig  to  nature  for  their  models,  the  I'Mjian 
potters  display  a  wonderful  power,  fertility, 
and  originality  of  design.  In  any  country, 
an  artist  who  really  studies  nature  is  sure 
to  produce  works  that  are  fresh  and  original; 
and  in  a  country  like  Fiji,  which  is  within 
the  trojiics,  and  in  which  the  magnificent 
vegetation  of  the  tropics  springs  up  in  luxu- 
riant profusion,  it  is  likely  that  an  artist, 
however  rude  he  may  be,  who  studies  in 
such  a  school,  will  produce  works  of  genuine 
merit. 

The  art  of  pottery  is  confined  to  the 
women,  and  is  practically  restricted  to  the 
wives  and  daughters  of  fishermen.  Q^he 
material  employed  by  them  is  a  red  or  blue 
clay  mixed  with  sand,  and  their  implements 
are  merely  an  annular  cushion,  a  flat  stone, 
one  or  two  wooden  scrapers,  a  round  stone 
to  hold  against  the  inside  of  the  vessel,  and 


PUT  VN  POTTERY  AND  NATIVE  ART. 


981 


n  sharp  stick.  Thoy  hnvo  no  wheel:  and 
yo.t,  In  spite  of  such  ilisndvantiiges,  tlit^y  con- 
trive (u  produir  vcHsois  80  true  in  outline, 
that  few  persons,  unless  tlicy  nro  practi- 
cally acquainted  with  pottery,  could  believe 
that  they  wore  merely  rounded  by  the  eye. 
The  sliapes  of  neiirly  n''  the  vessel*  are 
very  clej^ant,  as  is  lik.ly  l(.  'o  the  ciwe  from 
the  models  cinploved  by  the  maker.  They 
are  often  wonderftillv  elaborate  »pecin»ens 
of  workmanship.  I  'mam  utly  covered 
vessels,  with  a  hole  ii  <•  lid,  are  v«  ry  com- 
mon, and  Mr.  Williani-t  cawoni^  Jar  ait  lar^c 
as  a  hogshead,  that  was  furnished  with  f<»ur 
openings  In-  the  purpose  of  ftlling  and 
omptyin  "  '  rapidly.  The  most  remarkable 
exampl'  i'  (no  comixuind  vessels,  several 
being  uuii'd  together  at  the  point  where 
they  touch,  and  furtiier  connecte<l  by  arched 
handles.  In  some  eases,  even  the  handles 
are  hollow,  and  have  an  opening  at  the  top, 
HO  that  the  vessels  can  l)e  tilled  or  emptied 
through  them.  This  compound  form  has 
lately  been  copied  by  Europeans. 

Considering  the  amoiii  of  labor  and  artis- 
tic skill  which  is  given  <  ttory,  it  is  a  pity 
that  the  natives  are  not  lietter  olf  for  mate- 
rial and  tiring.  The  material  is  very  co.irse, 
and  the  very  imixrfeet  mode  of  baking  fails 
to  give  to  the  vessels  the  hard  and  almost 
imperishable  quality  which  distinguishes 
properly  prepared  earthenware. 

After  the  vessels  have  been  shaped,  and 
the  decorative  patterns  traced  on  the  with 
a  sharp  stick,  they  are  placed  on  the  giiiund 
close  together,  but  not  touching  each  other, 
and  covered  with  a  (^uantity  of  dried  leaves, 
grass,  reeds,  and  .sunilar  materials.  The 
pile  is  then  lighted,  and  when  it  has  burned 
itself  out  the  baking  is  supposed  to  be  liu- 
ished.  Those  pots  that  are  to  be  glazed  are 
rubbed,  while  still  hot,  with  k.awri,  the  same 
rosin  which  has  already  been  mentioned"  iu 
the  account  of  New  Zealand. 

As  mny  be  expected  in  ;ui  island  popula- 
tion, the  Kijians  are  expert  fishermen,  and 
emploj'  various  means  of  securing  their  prey. 
Nets,  Weighted  at  one  edge  with  shells  and 
floated  at  the  otluu-  with  pieces  of  light 
wood,  are  much  used  ;  and  so  are  the  hook, 
the  creel,  and  the  weir.  In  some  places  a 
very  remarkal)lo  net,  or  rather  an  imitation 
of  a  net,  called  the  ran,  is  used.  To  the 
long,  flexible  stems  of  creepers  are  fastened 
a  quantity  of  split  cocoa-nut  leaves,  so  as  to 
m.ake  a  fringe  of  considerable  depth  and 
very  great  length,  one  of  these  raus  some- 
times measuring  nearly  ten  thousand  feet 
from  one  end  to  the  other. 

When  completed,  the  rau  is  taken  out  to 
sea  and  thrown  into  the  Wiiter,  the  ends 
being  attached  to  canoes,  which  stretch  it 
to  a  straight  line.  They  then  make  for  a 
small  bay,  across  which  the  ran  can  be 
drawn,  and  then  capture  all  the  fish  by 
smaller  acts  or  sycars.    Sometimes  they  do 


not  trouble  them«olvc«  to  return  to  the 
shore  itut  bring  the  net  round  in  a  circle, 
the  tish  lieing  so  afraid  of  the  leafy  fringo 
that  thev  avoid  It,  and  keep  themselves  In 
the  middle  of  the  toils. 

The  principal  use  of  the  net  is,  however, 
In  turtle  Ii  'ling,  a  Hi)ort  "hich  may  bo 
almost  ealleil  an  art.  The  li  tie  flsh.  "s  sup- 
ply themselves  with  sinnet  nets,  sn  u;  ten 
feet  i  I  width,  and  one  or  tw*-  hundred  yards 
in  length.  While  the  turtb'  are  feeding 
upon  the  shore,  the  tisherinen  carry  dtit  the 
net  and  shoot  It  to  seaward,  so  that  when 
the  turtle  returns  to  the  sea  after  !■  iding,  it 
is  sure  to  bo  interccptei'  by  the  net,  which 
lias  large  meshes,  In  order  to  entanglo  tlie 
tlippers  of  the  reptile. 

When  the  tishcrmcn  find  that  the  turtle 
is  fairly  caught,  they  proceed  to  get  it  on 
board,  a  task  of  very  great  difliculty  and 
some  danger,  inasmuch  as  the  turtle  is  in  its 
own  element,  and  the  men  arc  obliged  to 
dive  and  conduct  their  operations  under 
water.  The  most  active  divir  tries  to  seizo 
the  end  of  one  of  the  fore-flippers,  and  pulls 
it  violently  ilownward,  knowing  that  the 
instinctive  desire  to  rid  itself  of  the  incon- 
venience will  cause  the  reptile  to  rise.  Of 
course  the  diver  can  only  retain  his  hold  for 
a  limited  time,  but  as  soon  as  he  rises  to  tho 
surface  for  breath  another  takes  his  place. 
Should  the  turtle  be  a  vicious  one,  as  is  often 
the  case,  one  of  the  divers  grasps  it  across 
the  head,  fixing  his  finger  and  thumb  in  the 
sockets  of  the  eyes,  so  as  to  prevent  the 
creature  from  doing  mischief. 

Finding  itself  thus  hampered,  the  turtle 
rises  to  the  surface,  when  it  is  seized  by  the 
other  fishermen  who  are  in  the  canoe, 
hauled  on  board,  and  laid  on  its  back,  in 
which  jiositlon  it  is  utterly  helpless.  Tho 
successtul  fishermen  then  blow  loud  blasts 
of  triumph  on  their  conch-shell  trumpets, 
and  bring  their  prize  to  land. 

In  consequence  of  the  number  of  men 
who  are  employed  in  this  pursuit,  the  men 
almost  invariably  flsh  in  parties,  who  are 
engaged  by  some  individual.  Sometimes 
they  are  the  servants  of  a  chief,  .and  fish  on 
his  account,  all  the  captured  turtles  belong- 
ing to  him,  but  the  fishermen  always  receive 
a  present  of  some  kind  when  they  h.ave 
been  successful.  Should  tho  fishers  bo  free 
men,  they  lure  themselves,  their  nets,  and 
canoe  to  some  one  who  will  pay  the  regular 
price,  for  which  they  are  bound  to  make  ten 
expeditions.  Should  they  be  entirely  unsuc- 
cessful, they  get  nothing,  but  each  time  that 
they  bring  a  turtle  ashoro  they  receive  a 
present  from  the  hirer,  who  Is  obliged,  after 
the  completion  of  the  fishing,  to  give  the 
men  a  handsome  present.  Sometimes  sev- 
eral turtles  are  taken  in  a  single  day,  but  the 
business  Is  a  very  precarious  one,  even  tho 
best  fishermen  returning  day  after  day  with- 
out catching  a  single  tnrtle. 

Some  of  the  modes  of  catching  the  turtle 


M^:. 


m 


m 


!■ 

||H 

■"Sr  i 

M 

sS 

1 

1 

V 

H 

'/''' 

^^H 

iBMB 

•^■i 

pkI^H 

ki'i 

ts^^B 

Ml 

ij^H 

IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


'*?  MS) 


1.0 


I.I 


^1^  IK^ 

1^  !■■    122 

L^  1^  ^ 

S^  lia  illlio 


1.8 


1.25      14      1,6 

= :             = 

«i 6"     

^ ► 

m. 


^ 


^ 


0>* 


/r 


% 


/>■ 


■^/ 


O 


"/// 


7 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


~yfi,\j~ 


"^  j^  ^^Z^^ 


% 


V 


^v- 


?3  WEST  MAIN  SVREET 

WEBSTER.  NY.  USSO 

(716)  872-41503 


o 


^    Mi  ^ 


;.  <i' 


yj 


FIJI. 


are  very  ingenious.  "VVhen  the  men  have 
no  net,  they  chsise  the  reptile  as  tliey  best 
can,  keeping  the  shadow  of  the  sail  just 
behind  it  so  as  to  frighten  it,  and  keep  it 
continually  on  the  move.  They  will  pursue 
It  in  this  way  for  a  long  time,  until  the 
creature  is  So  exhausted  that  it  can  be  cap- 
tured by  a  few  divers  without  the  aid  of  a 
net.  When  brought  home,  the  turtles  are 
tept  in  pens  and  killed  as  wanted. 

Although  the  flesh  of  the  turtle  is  highlv 
esteemed,  ar  d  the  green  fat  is  appreciatea 
nearly  as  mucli  as  in  England  tlie  chi.  f 
value  of  the  turtle  lies  in  it.  shell,  the  ullr- 
teen  plates  of  which  are  called  a  "head,"and 
sold  to  the  traders  by  weight.  A  "head" 
weighing  threo  pounds  is  a  fair  one,  .-i  head 
that  weighs  four  pounds  is  exceptionally 
good  while  one  that  exceeds  five  pounds  is 
hardly  ever  seen. 

The  dangers  that  beset  the  turtle  fisherv 
are  many.  Chief  among  them  is  the  shark 
Which  IS  very  plentiful  on  these  coasts,  and 
Which  IS  equally  fond  of  men  and  turtle,  so 
that  when  It  sees  a  turtle  entangled  in  the 
IlfiWlf'^r"?  »"''>ck,and  isSs  likely  to 
take  off  the  limb  of  one  of  the  divers  as  to 
seize  the  reptile.  Another  fertile  source  of 
danger  hes  m  the  structure  of  the  coral 
leets,  which  form  the  principal  shores  of 
these  islands  ^  They  are  full  of  hollows  and 
crannies,  and  it  sometimes  happens  that  a 
diver  bcconics  entangled  in  them,  and  is  not 
aWe  to  extricate  himself  in  time  to  save  his 

As  the  canoes  return  home  after  turtle 
nslung,  the  women  come  down  to  the  shore 
and  meet  them.  Should  the  expedition  be 
successful  the  men  return  with  songs  and 
shouts  of  triumph,  as  if  they  were  bdnging 
homj  the  bodies  of  s'<iin  foes,  on  wl.icS 
occasion  as  wo  shall  presently  see,  a  scene 
of  horrid  reioicing  takes  place.  Should  they 
be  unsuccessfLd,  they  reiurn  in  sad  silence. 

tbo  ^nn^  Tr';  ?''''''  "'°  '^'"'"">  welcome 
the  successful  fishermen  with  songs  and 
dances,  and  sometimes  become  rather  rou^h 
m  the  exuberance  of  their  delight.  Itfr. 
U.  f^T  r.??."i^"'^^^«'l  •'*"  ^'""^inS  scene, 


.•„  ,„i  ■   1     ;, --^ouu  .wi  amusing  scene, 

1 1  ^hlch  the  women  brought  a  quantity  of 
oitter  oranges  down  to  the  shore,  and  when 
the  .fishermen  were  about  to  land,  pelted 
them  .so  mercilessly  that  the  men  were  in 
She  beaclf  ^'^'^'  to  drive  their  aggressors 
,  As  the  canoe  has  so  often  been  mentioned 

Sim  uM  I     "   P'',""ple  it  resembles    the 
01  m  which  prevails  among  the  great  Poly- 

nos"e^.  l^  ordinary  vessels.  All  the  canoes 
possess  modifications  of  the  outrigger  but 
the  best  example  is  the  double  cano1,fwhere 
two  boats  are  placed  side  by  side  in  such  a 

rl^Tiin  W  °".t  °f  ^'^^^  acta  as  th"  out- 
rigger and  the  other  as  the  canoe. 

a  the  reader  will  refer  to  illustration  No. 


1,  on  the  924th  page,  he  will  be   able   to 
understand  the  general  appearance  of  this 
curious  vessel,    f  he  two  caSoes  a  e  covered 
over,  so  as  to  keep  out  the  water!  and  are 
connected  bv  a  platform  which  project"  ove? 
the  outer  edges  of  both  boats.    liatch™ 
are  cut  through  the  platform,  so  as  to  en3 
the  sailors  to  pass  into  the  interior  of  the 
canoes.     In     the    illustration    a    man    is 
seen  emerging  from  the  hatch  of  the  outer 
canoe.    Upon  this  platform  is  erected  a  sort 
of  deck-house  for  the  j.rincipal  person  on 
board,  and  on  the  top  oi'  the  deck-house  is  a 
platform,  on  which  stdiids  the  captain  of  the 
vessel  so  that  he  may  give  his  orders  from 
this  elevated  position,  like  the  captain  of  a 
steamboat    oa   the    paddle-box    or  bridge 
Ihis  position  also  enables  him  to  trace  the 
course  of  the  turtle,  if  they  should  be  en- 
gaged  m  the  profitable  chase  of  that  reptile 
lUe  mode  of  managing  the  vessel  is  ex- 
tremely ihgenious.    The  short  mast  works 
on  a  pivot  at  the  foot,  and  can  be  slacked 
over  to  either  end  of  the  vessel.    When  the 
canoe  IS  about  to  get  under  way,  the  long 
yard  IS  drawn  up  to  the  head  of-  the  mast, 
and  the  latter  inciined,  so  that  the  mast,  the 
yard,  and  the  deck  ioiin  a  triangle.    The 
Halyards   arc   then  made   fast,   and   :ict  as 
stays.     When  the  vessel   is  wanted   to  go 
about,  the  mast  is  slacked  off  to  the  other 
end,  so  that  the  stern  becomes  the  bow,  the 
tack  and  the  sheet  change  places,  and  away 
goes  the  vessel  on  the  other  course. 

It  will  be  seen  that  such  a  canoe  sails 
equally  well  in  either  direction  and,  there- 
lore,  that  It  can  be  steered  from  either  end. 
Ibe  rudder  is  a  very  large  oar,  some  twenty 
leet  m  length,  of  wl.ich  the  blade  occupies 
eight,  and  is  sixteen  inches  wide.    The  lev- 
erage of  such  an  oar  is  tremendous,  and,  in 
a  stilT  gale,  several   men   are   lenuiied   to 
woi*  It.    In  order  to  relieve  them  in  some 
degree,  rudder-bands   are   lised;    but  even 
with   this   assistance   the   men    have  great 
difficulty  in  keeping  the  canoe  to  her  course 
and  arc  nearly  sure   to  receive  some  very 
I  sharp  blows  in  the  side  from  the  handle  o'f 
the  .steering  oar.    Sometimes  a  sudden  "ust 
of  wind,  or  a  large  wave,  will  bring  round 
the    rudder  with   such  violence    that    the 
handle  strikes  a  man  in  the  side  and  kills 
him.    With  all  these  drawbacks,  eaiioe  sail- 
ing is  a  favorite  occupation  with  the  Fijians 
who  are  as    merry  as    jjossible  while    on 
board,    singing    songs    to    encourage     the 
[steersman,  watching  the  waves  and  giving 
notice  of  them,  and   adding  to  the   joyous 
tumult  by  beating  any  drum  that  they  may 
happen  to  have  on  board.    Even  when  the 
wind  fails,  and  the  canoe  has  to  be  propelled 
by  poling  if  she  should  be  in  shoal  water, 
or  by  sculling  if  she  should  be  too  far  out  at 
sea  for  the  poles,  the  crew  do  their  work  in 
gangs,  which  are  relieved  at  regular  inter- 
vals, those  who  aiu  resting  singing  songs 
and  encou.-aging  those  who  are  at  work. 


riJIAN  CANOES. 


ScullinjT  one  of  these  large  canoes  is 
rather  heavy  work,  the  great  paddles  being 
worked  from  side  to  side  in  perfect  unison, 
the  men  moving  their  feet  in  accordance 
with  the  rhythm  of  their  comrades'  song. 
As  many  as  eight  sculls  are  sometimes 
employed  at  the  same  time,  should  the 
canoe  be  a  large  one  and  the  crew  tolerably 
numerous.  The  sculling  oars  pass  through 
holes  in  the  deck,  an  equal  number  being 
out  fore  and  aft. 

The  mode  of  building  these  canoes  is  so 
ingenious  that  I  will  try  to  describe  it, 
though  without  a  plentiful  use  of  diagrams 
description  is  very  difficult.  Canoes  of 
moderate  size  are  cut  out  of  single  logs; 
and  in  these  there  is  nothing  particularly 
worthy  of  I'emark.  But  when  the  native 
ship-builder  wi-shes  to  construct  one  of  the 
great  war  canoe.s,  he  has  to  exercise  all 
the  skill  of  his  craft. 

Here  it  must  be  mentioned  that  the 
canoe  makers  form  a  sort  of  clan  of  their 
own,  and  have  their  own  chief,  who  is 
always  a  man  eminent  for  skill  in  his  pro- 
fession. The  experienced  Fijians  know  the 
■workmanship  of  these  men  as  well  as  our 
artists  know  the  touch  and  style  of  a  cele- 
brated sculptor  or  painter,  and  contemplate 
both  the  man  and  his  workmacship  with 
respectful  admiration. 

The  tirst  process  in  canoe  building  is  to 
lay  the  keel,  which  is  made  of  several  pieces 
of  wood  carefully  "  scarfed  "  together;  and 
upon  it  the  planking  is  fi.xed,  without  re- 
quiring ribs,  as  in  our  boats.  The  most 
ingenious  part  of  boat  building  is  the  way 
that  the  planks  are  fastened,  or  rather  tied 
together,  without  a  vestige  of  the  sinnet 
appearing  on  the  outside.  Along  the  inside 
edge  of  each  plank  runs  a  bold  flange, 
through  which  a  number  of  holes  are  bored 
downward  at  regular  distances,  so  that 
when  two  i)lanks  are  placed  together,  the 
holes  in  the  (hinges  exactly  coincide,  and  a 
cord  can  bo  run  tiu-ough  them. 

When  a  plank  has  been  made,  and  all  the 
flange  holus  bored,  the  edges  are  smeared 
with  a  sort  of  white  pilch,  upon  which  is 
laid  a  strip  of  fine  masi.  This  of  course 
covers  the  holes,  which  are  reopened  by 
means  of  a  sniidl  fire-stick.  The  planks 
thus  prepared  are  called  "  vonos."  When 
the  vono  is  ready,  it  is  lifted  to  its  place, 
and  very  carefully  adjusted,  so  that  all  the 
holes  exactly  coincide.  The  best  and  strong 
est  sinnet  is  next  psissed  eight  or  ten  times 
through  the  iiole,  drawn  as  tight  as  possi- 
ble, and  then  tied.  It  will  be  seen,  there- 
fore, that  all  the  tying  is  done  inside  the 
ve-sel.  In  order  to  tighten  the  sinnet  still 
mc: e,  a  number  of  little  wedges  are  inserted 
under  it  in  dilTerent  directions,  and  are 
driven  home  with  the  mallet 

By  this  process  the  planks  are  brought  so 
tightly  together  tliat,  when  the  carpenter 
cornea  to  smooth  off  the  outside  of  the  ves- 


sel with  his  adze,  he  often  has  to  look  very 
closely  before  he  can  see  the  line  of  junc- 
tion. Caulking  is  therefore  needless,  the 
white  pitch  andma"!  rendering  the  junction 
of  the  planks  completely  waterproof.  The 
vonos  are  by  no  means  equal  in  size,  some 
being  twenty  feet  in  length,  while  others 
are  barely  thirty  inches,  but  all  are  con- 
nected in  exactly  the  same  manner. 

The  gunwales,  arid  other  parts  above  the 
water  mark,  do  not  require  so  much  care, 
and  are  fastened  without  flanges,  a  strip  of 
wood  or  "  bead  "  being  laid  upon  the  junc- 
tion, and  the  sinnet  bands  passing  over  and 
over  it  and  drawn  tight  with  wedges,  and 
the  holes  carefully  caulked  with  filjre  and 
pitch.  When  the  canoe  is  completed,  it  is 
beautifully  finished  off,  the  whole  of  the 
outside  being  first  carefully  trimmed  with 
the  adze,  and  then  polished  with  pumice 
stone,  so  that  it  looks  as  if  it  were  made  of 
one  piece  of  wood. 

Ornament  is  freely  used  in  the  best 
canoes,  especially  in  the  two  projecting 
ends,  which  are  carved  in  patterns,  and 
frequently  inlaid  with  white  shells  belong- 
ing to  the  genus  Oviilum  or  egg  shells. 
Tliis  form  of  canoe  has  gradually  super- 
seded the  more  clumsy  lorms  that  were 
once  in  use  in  Tonga  and  the  neighboring 
islands.  The  Tongans  olten  made  voyages 
to  Fiji,  being  better  and  bolder  sailors, 
though  their  canoes  were  inferior;  and, 
having  been  struck  with  the  superiority  or 
Fijian  boat-building,  have  by  degrees  built 
their  own  vessels  after  Fijian  models.  Be- 
ing also  remarkably  good  carpenters,  they 
have  taken  to  boat  building  even  in  Fiji 
itself,  and  have  in  a  great  measure  ousted 
the  native  builders,  being  able  to  work  bet- 
ter and  quicker,  and  for  less  pay. 

In  spite  of  their  excellent  canoes,  and 
their  skill  in  managing  their  vessels,  the 
Fijiuns  arc  not  bold  sailors,  and,  according 
to  Mr.  Williams,  "  none  have  yet  taken  their 
canoes  beyond  the  boundaries  of  their  own 
group."  lie  knew  one  old  man  named  Toa- 
levu  (Great  Fowl)  who  had  a  fancy  that  he 
could  make  a  profitable  trading  expedition 
westward,  and  who  accordingly  loaded  his 
canoe  with  pottery  and  masi,  and  started 
off.  Alter  two  or  three  days,  however,  he 
became  frightened,  and  made  the  best  of 
his  way  back  again,  only  to  become  a  stand- 
ing warning  to  rash  voyagers.  Yet  in 
waters  which  they  know  the  Fijians  are 
excellent  sailors,  and  the  women  appear  to 
be  as  bold  and  skilful  as  the  men,  assisting 
in  steering,  managing  the  sail,  and  even  in 
the  laborious  task  of  sculling  or  poling. 

Owing  to  their  excellence'in  canoe  build- 
ing, the  Fijians  carry  on  a  brisk  trade  with 
other  islands,  supplying  them  not  only  with 
the  canoes,  but  with  the  masts,  sails,  sinnet, 
and  other  nautical  appliances,  receiving  in , 
exchange  the  whales'  teeth,  shells,  weapon^ ' 
and  other  valued  commodities. 


■Hin 


CHAPTER    XCV. 

FIJI  —  Continued. 

GOVERKMENT   AND    SOCIAL   LITE. 


Owing  to  the  geographical  nature  of  the 
*  ni  group,  which  consists  of  seven  groups 
of  islands,  some  of  them  very  large  and 
some  very  small,  the  mode  of  government 
has  never  been  monarchical,  the  country 
being  ruled  by  a  number  of  chiefs  of  greater 
or  less  importance,  according  to  the  amount 
of  territory  over  which  their  sway  extended. 
The  various  islands  had  in  former  days  but 
little  connection  with  each  other.    At  the 
present  time,  more  intercourse  takes  place, 
and  ..n  jne  instance  the  visit  involves  a  sin- 
gular and  ludicrous  ceremonial. 

<Jne  of  the  gods  belonging  to  Somo-somo, 
named  Ng-gurai,  went  to  visit  Mbau  a  spot 
on  the  eastern  coast  of  Viti  Lemi,  one  of  the 
greater  islands,  and  to  pay  his  respects  to 
the  god  of  that  place.  lie  was  accompanied 
by  a  Vuna  god  named  Vatu-Mundre,  who 
gave  him  a  bamboo  by  way  of  a  vessel,  and 
undertook  to  guide  him  on  his  journey. 
Wg-gurai  then  entered  into  the  body  of  a 
rat,  seated  himself  on  the  bamboo,  and  sot 
off  on  his  lourney.  After  they  had  sailed 
lor  some  time,  Kg-gurai  lost  his  way  on 
account  of  wanting  to  call  at  every  island 
Which  he  passed,  and  at  last,  just  as  he  ar- 
rived on  the  Mbau  shore,  he  was  washed 


(934) 


off  the  bamboo  and  nearly  drowned  in  the 
surf. 

From  this  fate  he  was  rescued  by  a  Mbau 
woman,  who  took  him  into  the  chiefs  house 
and  put  him  among  the  cooks  on  the  hearth' 
where  he  <sat  shivering  for  four  days.  Mean- 
while, Vatu-Mundre  airlved  at  his  destina- 
tion, a.id  was  received  in  royal  manner  bv 
the  Moau  god,  who  tried  in  vain  to  induce 
him  to  become  tributary  to  him. 

After  a  proper  interval,  the  Mbau  god 
returned  the  visit  of  Vatu-Mundre,  who  had 
craftily  greased  the  path,  so  that  when  his 
visitor  became  animated,  his  feet  slipped 
and  he  fell  on  his  back.  Vatu-Mundre  then 
took  advantage  of  his  situation,  and  forced 
his  visitor  to  become  his  tributary. 

In  consequence  of  this  afl'uir,  the  M  )au 
people  pay  u  homage  to  the  natives  of  Vuna, 
but  indemnify  themselves  by  exacting  a  most 
humiliating  homage  from  the  men  of  Somo- 
somo,  though  in  fact  Somo-somo  is  the 
acknowledged  superior  of  Vuna. 

Whenever  a  Somo-somo  canoe  gbes  to 
Mbau,  the  sail  must  be  lowered  at  a  certain 
distance  from  shore,  and  the  crew  must 
paddle  m  a  sitting  position.  To  keep  up 
the  sail  or  to  paddle  in  the  usual  standing 


THE  VASTJ. 


985 


god 
had 


position  would  cost  them  their  lives.  As 
soon  aa  they  come  within  hearing  of  the 
shore  they  have  to  sliout  the  Tama,  i.  e.  the 
reverential  salutation  of  an  inferior  to  a 
superior,  and  to  reiterate  it  at  short  intci  vuls. 
Arrived  on  shore,  they  are  not  allowed  to 
enter  a  house,  but  are  kept  in  the  open  air 
for  four  (lays,  during  which  time  they  are 
obligfiu  to  wear  their  worst  dresses,  move 
about  in  a  stooping  attitude,  and  to  say  the 
Tama  in  a  low  and  trembling  voice,  in  imi- 
tation of  the  shivering  rat-god.  After  the 
four  days  have  expired,  they  m<ay  enter 
houses  and  dress  in  better  clothes,  but  are 
still  obliged  to  walk  in  a  half-bent  attitude. 
When  a  Mbau  man  meets  one  of  those 
crouching  visitors,  he  cries  out,  "  Ilo!  IIol  " 
in  a  jeering  manner,  and  asks  the  Somo- 
somo  man  whether  his  god  is  yet  at  liberty. 
The  unfortunate  visitor  is  then  obliged  to 
place  his  hand  on  his  heart,  stoop  half-way 
to  the  ground,  and  say  humbly  that  Ng-gurai 
is  allowed  his  liberty. 

Naturally  disliking  this  oppressive  and 
humiliating  custom,  the  people  of  Somo- 
somo  have  of  late  years  managed  to  evade 
it  by  means  of  foreign  vessels.  The  custom 
of  lowering  the  sail  and  paddling  while 
seated  was  not  binding  on  people  of  other 
countries,  and  so  they  contrived  to  visit 
Mbau  on  board  of  Tongan  canoes,  or,  better 
still,  English  ship-boats. 

Of  late  years  the  government  has  assumed 
a  feudal  aspect,  the  chiefs  of  large  districts 
being  considered  as  kings,  and  having  under 
them  a  number  of  infevior  chiefs  who  are 
tributary  to  them,  and  bound  to  furnish  men 
and  arms  when  the  king  declares  war.  Ac- 
cording to  Mr.  Williams,  the  Fijians  may  be 
ranked  under  six  distinct  orders,  i'irst 
come  the  kings,  and  next  to  them  the  chiefs 
of  separate  large  islands  or  districts.  Then 
come  the  chiefs  of  ^owi:s,  the  priests,  and 
the  Mata-ni-vanuas,  or  aides-de-camp  of  the 
great  chiefs.  Next  to  them  come  the  chiefs 
of  professions,  such  as  canoe  building  and 
turtle  fishing,  and  with  them  are  ranked 
any  distinguished  warriors  of  low  birth. 
The  fifth  rank  includes  all  the  commonalty, 
and  the  sixth  consists  of  tha  slaves,  who  are 
always  captives. 

As  is  often  the  case  in  countries  where 
polygamy  is  practised,  the  law  of  descent 
passes  tlirough  the  female  line,  the  succes- 
sor of  the  kinjj  or  chief  being  always  the  son 
of  a  woman  of  high  rank. 

The  oddest  part  of  Fijian  political  econ- 
omy is  the  system  of  Vasu,  or  nephew  —  a 
system  which  may  be  described  as  nepotism 
carried  to  the  greatest  possible  extreme. 
Mr.  Williams's  description  of  the  Vasu  is 
very  curious.  "  The  word  means  a  nephew, 
or  niece,  but  becomes  a  title  of  office  m  the 
caae  of  the  male,  who  in  some  localities  has 
the  extraordinary  privilege  of  appropriating 
whatever  he  chooses  belonging  to  his  uncle, 
or  tbogje  under  his  uncle's  power. 


"  Vasus  are  of  three  kinds  :  the  Vasu- 
taukei,  the  Vasu-levu  and  the  Vasu  ;  —  the 
last  is  a  common  name,  belonging  to  any 
nephew  whatever.  Vasu-tauker  is  a  term 
apjjlied  to  any  Vasu  whose  mother  is  a  lady 
of  the  land  in  which  he  was  born.  The  fact 
of  Mbau  being  at  the  head  of  Fijian  rank 
gives  the  Quuen  of  Mbau  a  pre-eminence 
over  all  Fijian  ladies,  and  her  son  a  place 
nominally  over  all  Vasus. 
"  No  material  difference  exists  between  the 
power  of  a  Vasu-taukei  and  a  Vasu-levu, 
which  latter  title  is  given  to  every  Vasu 
born  of  a  woman  of  rank,  and  having  a  first- 
class  chief  for  his  father.  A  Vasu-taukei 
can  claim  anything  belonging  to  a  native  of 
his  mother's  'and,  excepting  the  wives, 
home,  and  land  of  a  chief.  Vasus  cannot 
be  considered  apart  from  the  civil  i)olity  of 
the  group,  forming,  as  they  do,  one  of  its  in- 
tegral parts,  and  supplying  the  high-pressure 
power  of  Fijian  despotism. 

"  In  grasping  at  dominant  influence,  the 
chiefs  have  created  a  power,  which  ever  and 
anon  turns  round  and  grips  them  with  no 
gentle  hand.  However  high  a  chief  may 
rank,  however  powerful  a  king  may  be,  if  lie 
has  a  nephew,  he  has  a  mast  r,  one  who 
will  not  be  content  with  the  na...o,  but  who 
will  exercise  his  prerogative  to  the  full 
seizing  whatever  will  take  his  fincv,  regard- 
less of  its  value  or  the  owr. '■ ';  inconven- 
ience in  its  Iqss.  Resistance  is  not  to  be 
thought  of,  and  objection  is  only  offered  in 
extreme  cases.  A  striking  instance  of  the 
power  of  the  Vasu  occurred  in  the  case  of 
Thokonauto,  a  Rewa  chief,  who,  during  a 
quarrel  'ith  an  uncle,  used  the  right  of 
Vasu,  and  actually  supplied  himself  with 
ammunition  from  his  enemy's  stores.  .  .  . 

"Descending  in  the  social  scale,  the  Vasu 
is  a  hindrance  to  industry,  few  being  willin" 
to  labor  unrewarded  for  anotlier's  benefit 
One  illustration  will  suffice,  i*  n  industrious 
uncle  builds  a  canoe  in  which  he  has  not 
made  half-a-dozen  trips,  when  an  idle 
nephew  mounts  the  deck,  sounds  his  trum- 
pet-shell, and  the  blast  announces  to  all 
within  hearing  that  the  canoe  has  that  in- 
stant changed  masters." 

The  Vasu  of  a  king  is  necessarily  a  per- 
sonage of  very  great  importance  ;  and  when 
he  acts  as  delegate  for  the  king,  he  is  in- 
vested for  the  time  with  royal  dignity.  Ho 
is  sent,  for  example,  to  other  places  to  col- 
lect property,  which  is  handed  over  to  his 
kiiig  as  tribute  ;  and  were  it  not  for  a  check 
which  the  king  has  over  him,  he  might 
be  tempted  to  enrich  hinvself  by  exacting 
more  from  the  people  than  they  ought  to 
give.  In  thip,  case,  however,  the  Vasu  is 
hold  amenable  to  the  king,  and  should  he 
exceed  his  proper  powers,  is  heavily  fined. 
Taxes,  to  which  reference  is  here  made, 
are  paid  in  a  manner  differing  materially 
from  the  mode  adopted  in  more  civilized  • 
countries.    In  Europe,  for  example,  no  one 


H 


'M 


IB' 


0i6 


FIJI. 


pays  a  wa  If  he  can  possibly  escape  from  it, 
and  the  visits  of  the  tax-gatherer  are  looked 
upon  as  periodical  vexations.  In  Fiji  the 
case  is  different.  People  take  a  pnde  in 
paying  taxes,  and  the  days  of  payment  arc 
days  of  high  festival. 

On  the  appointed  day  the  king  prepares  a 
great  feast,  and  the  jieople  assemble  in  vast 
multitudes  with  their  goods,  such  as  rolls  of 
sinnet,  masi,  whales'  teeth,  reeds,  women's 
dresses  —  and  often  accompanied  by  their 
wearers  —  ornaments,  weapons,  and  the  like, 
and  present  themselves  in  turn  before  the 
king.  Each  man  ^s  clad  in  his  very  best 
raiment,  is  painted  in  the  highest  style  of 
art,  and  displays  the  latest  fashion  in  hair- 
dressing,  with  songs  and  dances  the  people 
approach  their  monarch,  and  lay  their  pres- 
ents before  him,  returning  to  the  banquet 
which  he  has  prepared  for  them. 

It  is  hardly  possible  to  imagine  a  more 
animated  scone  than  that  which  occurs  when 
the  tribute  from  a  distant  place  ia  taken  to 
the  king,  especially  if,  as  is  often  the  case,  a 
valuable  article,  such  as  a  large  war  canoe, 
is  presented  as  jiart  of  the  tribute.  A  Heet 
of  canoes,  contaming  several  hundred  people 
and  great  quantities  of  property,  makes  its 
appearance  off  the  coast,  and  is  received  with 
great  hospitality,  as  well  may  be  the  case. 
The  king  having  seated  himself  on  a  large 
masi  carjjet,  the  principal  chief  of  the  t'-ib- 
ute  bearers  comes  before  him,  accompanied 
by  his  men  bringing  the  presents  with  them 
in  proper  ceremonial,  the  chief  himself  car- 
rying, in  the  Iblds  of  his  robe,  u  whale's 
tooth,  which  is  considered  as  the  symbol  of 
the  canoe  which  is  about  to  be  presented, 
and  which  is  called  by  the  same  name  as  the 
canoe  whicli  it  represents. 

Approachmg  the  king  with  the  prescribed 
gectures,  the  chief  kneels  before  him,  and 
first  offers  to  his  master  all  the  property 
which  h.is  been  deposited  on  the  groundf. 
He  then  takes  from  the  folds  of  bis  volu- 
minous dress,  which,  as  the  readev  may  re- 
member, is  often  several  hundrp<l  feet  in 
length,  the  whale's  tooth,  and  makes  an 
appropriate  speech.  He  compliments  the 
king  on  the  prosperity  which  is  enjoyed  by 
all  districts  under  his  sway,  acknowledging 
their  entire  submission,  r.nd  hoping  that 
thev  may  be  allowed  to  live  in  order  to 
build  canoes  for  him.  As  an  earnest  of  this 
wish,  he  presents  the  k'ng  with  a  new  car.oe, 
and,  so  s.ayin^,  he  gives  the  king  the  sym- 
bolical whale,  s  tooth,  calling  it  by  the  name 
of  the  vessel.  On  receiving  the  tooth,  the 
king  graciously  gives  them  his  permission 
to  live,  whereupon  all  present  clap  their 
hands  and  shout,  the  cry  of  the  receivers 
being  different  from  that  which  is  employed 
by  the  givers. 

In  the  following  ilhistr.ation  one  of  these 
animated  scenes  is  represented. 

Nearly  in  the  centre  is  the  king  seated  on 
the  masi  carpet,  having  his  back  to   the 


spectator  in  order  to  show  the  mode  In 
which  the  flowing  robes  of  a  great  man  are 
arranged.  In  fVont  of  him  kneels  the  chief 
of  the  tax-pajing  expedition,  who  is  in  the 
act  of  offering  to  the  king  the  symbolical 
whale's  tooth.  One  or  two  similar  teeth  lie 
by  his  side,  and/orm  a  part  of  the  present. 
In  the  distance  is  the  flotilla  of  canoes,  in 
which  the  tax-paying  party  have  come  ;  and 
near  the  shore  is  the  new  war  canoe,  which 
forms  the  chief  part  of  the  offering. 

In  the  foreground  are  seen  the  various 
articles  of  property  which  constitute  taxes, 
such  as  yams,  rolls  of  cloth  and  sinnet, 
baskets,  articles  of  dress,  and  young  women, 
the  last  being  dressed  In  the  finest  of  likus, 
and  being  decorated,  not  only  with  theiror- 
dinary  ornaments,  but  with  wreaths  and  gar- 
lamls  of  flowers.  Behind  the  ottering  chief 
are  his  followers,  also  kneeling  as  a  mark  of 
respect  for  the  king;  and  on  the  left  hand 
are  the  spectators  ot  the  ceremony,  in  fVont 
of  whom  sit  their  chiefs  and  leading  men. 

Tribute  is  not  only  paid  in  property,  but 
in  labor,  those  v/ho  accompany  the  tax-pay- 
ing chief  being  required  to  give  their  labor 
for  several  weeks.  They  work  in  the  fields, 
they  thatch  houses,  they  help  in  canoe  build- 
ing, they  go  on  fishing  expeditions,  and  at 
the  end  of  the  stipulated  time  they  receive  a 
present,  and  return  to  their  homes. 

Should  the  king  take  it  into  his  head  to  go 
and  fetch  the  taxes  himself,  his  visit  becomes 
terribly  burdensome  to  those  whom  ho 
honors  with  his  presence.  He  will  be  ac- 
companied by  some  twenty  or  thirty  canoes, 
manned  by  a  thousand  men  or  soj  and  all 
those  people  have  to  be  entertained  by  the 
chief  whom  he  visits.  It  is  true  that  he 
always  makes  a  present  when  he  concludes 
his  visit,  but  the  present  is  entirely  in- 
adequate to  the  cost  of  his  entertainment. 

The  tenure  of  land  is  nearly  as  ditBcult  a 
question  in  Fiji  as  in  New  Zealand.  It  is 
diflicult  enough  when  discussed  between 
natives,  but  when  the  matter  is  complicated 
by  a  quarrel  between  natives  and  colonists, 
it  becomes  o  very  apple  of  discord.  Neither 
party  can  quite  unclerstand  the  other.  The 
European  colonist  who  buys  land  from  a 
native  chief  purchases,  according  to  his 
ideas,  a  complete  property  in  the  land,  and 
control  over  it.  The  native  who  sells  it  has 
never  conceived  such  an  idea  as  the  total 
alienation  of  land,  and,  in  consequence,  if  the 
purchaser  should  happen  to  leave  any  part 
of  the  land  unoccupied,  the  natives  will  build 
their  houses  upon  it,  and  till  it  as  before. 
Then  as  in  process  oi  time  the  proprietor 
wants  to  use  nis  ground  for  his  own  purposes, 
the  natives  refuse  to  be  ejected,  and  there  is  a 
quarrel. 

The  state  of  the  case  is  very  well  put  by 
Dr.  "ritchard:  "  Every  inch  of  land  in  Fiji 
has  its  owner.  Every  parcel  or  tract  of 
ground  has  a  name,  and  the  boundaries  are 
defined  and  well-known.     The  pcoprietor- 


I 


ill 


m 


rUKSKNTATlOX  OK  THE  CANOE. 
(See  page  936.) 


(987) 


m 


^ 


m\ 


A  TEDIOUS  CODE  OF  ETIQUETTE. 


039 


nhip  rests  in  families,  tlic  lieads  of  families 
beinsthc  representatives  of  the  title.  Every 
mcniber  of  the  family  can  use  the  lands  at- 
taching to  the  family.  Thus  the  heads  of 
families  arc  the  nominal  owners,  the  whole 
family  are  the  actual  occupiers.  The  family 
land  maintains  the  whole  family,  and  the 
members  mnintai!»  the  head  of  the  family. 

"A  chief  holds  his  lands  under  precisely 
the  same  tenure,  as  head  of  his  family,  and 
his  perKonal  rights  attain  only  to  the  land 
pertaining  to  his  family,  in  which  right  every 
member  of  his  family  snares  so  far  as  on  any 

Kortiori  of  the  land.  But  the  chief  is  also 
ead  of  his  tribe,  and,  as  such,  cert'iin  rights 
to  the  whole  lands  of  the  tribe  appertain  to 
him.  The  tribe  is  a  family,  and  the  chief  is 
the  head  of  the  family. 

"  The  families  of  a  tribe  maintain  the  chief 
In  war  they  give  him  their  services,  and 
follow  him  to  the  light.  In  peace  they  sup- 
ply him  witli  food.  In  this  way,  the  whole 
tribe  attains  a  certain  collective  interest  in 
all  the  lands  held  by  each  family ;  and  every 
parcel  of  land  alienated  contracts  the  source 
whence  the  collective  tribal  support  of  the 
chief  is  drawn.  From  this  complicated 
tenure  it  is  clear  that  the  alienation  of  land, 
however  large  or  small  the  tract,  can  be  made 
valid  only  l)y  the  collective  act  of  the  whole 
tribe,  in  the  persons  of  the  ruling  chief  and 
the  heads  of  families.  Random  and  reclcless 
land  transactions  under  these  circumstances 
would  be  simply  another  seizure  of  Naboth's 
vineyard,  for  which  the  price  of  blood  wouM 
inevitably  liave  to  be  paid."' 

Another  cause  of  misunderstanding  lies  in 
a  peculiar  attachment  which  the  Fijian  has 
to  the  soil.  When  he  sells  a  piece  of  land, 
it  is  an  understood  thing  between  the  buyer 
and  seller  that  the  latter  shall  have  the  ex- 
clusive right  of  working  on  the  ground,  that 
none  but  he  shall  be  employed  to  till  the 
ground,  or  build  houses  upon  it.  The  white 
settlers  who  understand  tne  customs  of  the 
natives  have  accepted  the  condition,  and 
find  that  it  answers  tolerably  well.  Those 
who  are  unacquainted  with  native  ideas  have 
often  suffered  severely  for  their  ignorance, 
and,  when  they  have  brought  a  ganfj  of  their 
own  workmen  to  put  up  a  house  on  the  newly 

Eurchascd  land,  have  been  fairly  driven  out 
y  armed  parties  of  natives. 
Mr.  Pritchard  narrates  an  amusing  an- 
ecdote, which  illustrates  the  working  of  this 
principle.  A  missionary  had  purchased 
some  land  according  to  the  cmle  of  laws  which 
had  been  agreed  upon  by  the  native  chiefs 
and  the  colonists;  all  the  natives  who  be- 
longed to  the  family  having  been  consulted, 
and  agreed  to  the  purchase.  As  a  matter  of 
course,  they  expected  that  the  work  of  clear- 
ing the  ground  and  building  the  house  would 
be  given  to  thent.  Being  ignorant  of  this 
custom,  the  purchaser  took  some  of  his  own 
people,  but  was  immediately  surrounded  by 
a  body  of  armed  savages,  who  flourished  their 


clubs  and  spears,  and  fr!|;htened  him  so  much 
that  he  retreated  to  his  boat,  and  mode  off*. 
VVhonheA'as  well  out  of  range,  all  those  who 
had  muskets  fired  them  in  the  direction  of 
the  boat,  as  if  to  show  that  their  intention 
was  not  to  kill  but  merely  to  intimidate. 

It  will  be  seen  fftim  the  foregoing  pas- 
sages, that  the  whole  government  of  Fiji  is 
a  repetition  of  one  principle,  nomely,  that 
of  the  family.  The  head  of  a  family  is  tl>e 
nominal  possessor  of  the  land.  AH  the 
members  of  the  family  use  the  land,  and 
support  their  he.id,  as  a  return  for  the  use 
of  tne  land.  Districts  again  are  considered 
as  families,  the  chief  being  the  head,  and 
being  supported  by  the  district.  The  king, 
again,  is  considered  as  the  father  of  all  the 
chiefs,  and  the  nominal  owner  of  all  the  land 
in  his  dominions,  and  he  is  therefore  entitled 
to  be  supported  by  the  taxation  which  has 
been  described.  Practically,  however,  he 
has  no  more  right  to  land  than  any  other 
head  of  a  family. 

From  the  preceding  observations  the 
reader  may  see  that  a  oefinito  code  of  eti- 
quette prevails  among  the  Fiji  islands. 
Indeed,  there  is  no  part  of  the  world  where 
etiquette  is  carried  to  a  greater  extent,  or 
where  it  is  more  intimately  interwoven  with 
every  action  of  ordinary  life.  If,  for  exam- 
ple, one  man  meets  another  on.a  path,  both 
Living,  as  usual,  their  clubs  on  their  shoul- 
ders, as  tliey  approach  each  other  they  lower 
their  clubs  to  their  knees,  as  a  token  that 
they  are  at  peace,  and  pass  on.  Retaining 
tlie  club  on  the  shoulder  would  be  equiva- 
lent to  a  challenge  to  light. 

The  leading  characteristic  of  this  code  of 
etiquette  is  the  reverence  for  the  chief,  a 
reverence  which  is  carried  to  such  a  pitch 
that  in  battle  a  chi'^f  sometimes  comes  out 
unhurt  simply  because  his  opponents  were 
so  much  awe-stricken  by  his  rank  that  they 
did  not  dare  to  strike  him.  Each  superior 
therefore  partakes  of  the  chiefly  character 
as  far  as  his  inferiors  are  concerned,  and 
expects  the  appropriate  acknowledgments 
of  rank. 

This  extraordinary  reverence  is  carried  so 
far  that  it  has  invented  a  language  of  eti- 
quette, no  one  with  any  pretensions  to  good 
breeding  speaking  in  ordinary  language  of 
a  chief,  of  a  chiers  head  or  limbs,  of  a  cniefs 
dress,  or  indeed  of  any  action  performed  by 
a  chief,  but  supplying  a  parai)hrastic  and 
hyperbolical  phraseology,  of  which  our  own 
court  language  is  but  a  faint  shadow.  The 
Tama,  which  has  before  been  mentioned,  is 
the  right  of  a  chief,  and  is  therefore  uttered 
by  men  of  inferior  rank,  not  only  when  they 
meet  the  chief  himself,  but  when  they  come 
within  a  certain  distance  of' his  village.  So 
elaborate  is  this  code  of  ceremony  that,  dis- 
courteous as  it  might  be  to  omit  the  Tama 
when  due,  it  would  be  thought  doubly  so  to 
utter  it  on  occasions  when  it  was  not  due. , 
For  example,  the  Tama  is  not  used  toward 


MO 


FIJI. 


eithclntuin^*"'  ''Jjy-*''  ^''«"  the  chief  in 
a   work    «„f  ■?  r'  «;|;w«tchinKu«.ul  maker 

an^iZu. "'""'""' "'^°"'''  ^^  "•'«°'«'l  «« 

o  Ji'?"'."*''  '\  ""Pfiriof  on  the  wrong  side 
and8„,l„.«  by  hi.,  canfte  on  the  outriSS 
sale,  ftre  considered  aa  solecisms  in  ma . 
ners  while  passing  behind  a  chief  s  so 
deadly  an  insult  that  the  man  who  dared 
do  such  a  deed  would  run  the  rfsk  of  getthu  | 

o^-i  .?K      . '^  ■'^^'''""  '«  f^Pt  to  bo  treacherous 
and  when  ho  atUicks  another  alwa>^  tdes "cJ 
take  him  unawares,  and  steals  on     im     I 
possible,  from  behind.     It  i^  therS 

IB  looKca  upon  as  contemi)  at  ntr  assjmsinn 

SioTiit'  """■""■  "«"• » "» w- 

ground'         "'''   '"   ''''   "^« "«»  "- 
The  act  of  giving  anything  to  the  ohinf 

SS  ^""  "*■  '".^  '^'•«««'  «'•  ^«yth  nS  above' 
h  8  head,  or  receiving  anything  from  him  or 
hearing  a  gracious  message  from  him  k  ac 

Si.r  ?n'?h"  «"'"'''  '''»PPi"g  "f'r  haiX 
OHvncing  in  the  presence  of  a  chief  is  not 
permitted.     Auv  one  who  add  esses  h^° 
raust  kneel;  ancfif  they  move  about  inus" 
ctSnVa^^'Ji^^  ''"-'  -  at  leasVr* 

c^e^in^pr^tSh^Sp^^rtii: 

exceedingly  ludicrous.     If  a  suneiTor  fill 

a^kwar^nn'^'"  .^^y.  •"^^es  Ee7look' 
awkward,  all  his  infer  ors  who  are  nroHnnf 
immediately  do  the  same  tiling,  and '^xpec 
Mr'Vir/'"''*'"  "^^"'^'^  pofiteness?  ^'  ' 
dot«  nf/K""?'  "^^ates  an  amusing  anec- 
dote of  this  branch  of  etiquette   whir-h   i. 

called  6«fe-„.«„-  (pronouncTdtahreK^^^ 
ree;,  i   e.  follow  m  fa    ng.    "  One  dav  T 

c^Ta  n^ut't  r«  ^^'i<''  «»'-"»«'^  «  "  «  «iilo 
S'strL^  Vr''"=^  ""?"  ">'-°«^»  "crosf  a 

W^   two    nr    Vl"'^   ?»'""'''    ^^^^   of    which 

was  two  or  three  feet  lower  so  thit  h.« 
The  pole  was  also  wet  and  slippery  and 


lie  spoke  of»  ft  muskot,  the  man  replied  '  I 
lelt  certain  vou  would  Ihll  in  attoin     ini'  to 

l^youagen^,„i:p';-|;r-;a 

upon  a  true  sense  of  c..urtisy  u'  d,"!"?' 
spare  the  feelings  of  others.    ^'  '" 

a  number  of  corcmonics  are  r)erformed  in 
regular  order.    Should  the  visit  bo  Zd  n  a 

a  C 'Zi"  '""'-"^  ','"'  ^'^■''«''  »  'KTal.  "  sent 
a  few  days  proviousl^y  to  give  notice  of  his 
coming,  so  a.s  to  avofd  taking  the  intern  d 
l»ost  by  surprise.  As  soon  as  the  canoe 
comes  in  sight,  a  henild  is  sent  out  to"n! 
c|uiro  the  name  and  rank  of  the  visitor  who 

chief  h'.Vl"','','"'''''  ''y  •*  •'"Pntutlon  of 'pit  ; 
de  in^' 'h  ^  «»'\o''  tl"-  Matas,  or  aides- 
vP^vLT'i,  "  ,*''?u''?l^"'"  •*"  «  Parsonage  of 
to'rJleeKim."''  "'^  *'"'"^  ^^■'"  «"  '""  ""'«=« 

roii^-hnT/L^  "'^  '''*!■'?.'■ ".  '  •^i"  'ctinue  have 
reached  the  house  of  their  entertainer,  they 

wel~i  H^'""y  '"  t"."^""  «'■  «nl"tation, 
welcomes  them  in  a  s^t  form  of  words,  such 
as  Come  with  peace  the  chief  from  Mbau," 
or  ''  Sonrio-somo,"  as  the  caise  may  be 

both'S^f  l'"""'  '•'■""»'•'<«  i«  'nade  by 
pnL^  '  *^"  ."'"'"   P"'''t  l>e'»g  that 

norfoLi"^'"'"^  T  the  driest  and  dullest  of 
performances,  always  broken  up  into  short 
K,r!'/^'"'""t  «"y  "•M.l'ar..n't  c"m,eethm 
attihfrnf"""  T^  *•"■,"'"'•  '"n<''>™<l  ''y  tho 

to  adont  tT"'"''"-''^  '''"•^''  *''*'  siH-nker  has 
to  adopt.  It  is  impossible  for  the  finest 
orator  in  the  world  to  make  an  efll"  tivo 
speech  If  he  has  to  deliver  it  in  u  k.Veeling 
posi  ion  w  th  his  body  bent  forward  h"f 
hands  holding  his  beard,  an<l  his  eves  dN 
rected  o  the  ground.  In  some  parts-of  F  i 
etiquette  requires  that  the  or.t.  r\s  back 
should  be  toward   the  chief   w  om   he   U 

listen  to  these  speeches,  or  is  exnected  to  .In 
so,  the  chief's  of^cn  talking  ovTinnffercit 

riSrt'cl''^^P'"^^^""'"^-°^«P-^- 
The  ceremonies  on  leave-taking  ,nrc  quite 

^JZ^  "'  '"'u"""''''  '^"''  "«  tedious;  TnL 
v.hen  the  speeches  are  over,  the  two  great 
men  salute  each  other  after'the  fashioTof 

^e?hpr''Z"i'"\'  ^y-  P"'^'''"^  their  faces  to- 
gether,  and  drawing  in  the  breath  with  a 

ioum'll"  S!  h'' f""  "*"■■'  "P«"  their  return 
nart  o?^h^^^  **r''TP'''"«"'  "'em  for  a 
P .  1  u  *.r .  ^'^y'  the  distance  being  regu- 
ated  by  their  relative  rank.    If  they  shoShi 

for7ho  W  t  '""'  the  proper  etiqVeUe  is 
lor  the  host  t»  go  on  board,  together  with 
-ome  of  hi«  chief  men,  and  '  to  ^aceompTnJ 


PUEPARATIONS  FOR  A  FEAST. 


041 


hlR  viVitOM  to  ft  certain  dliitnnco  from  land, 
wJu^ii  thuy  all  jump  into  tlio  sea  awl  swim 
Rshnri!. 

Ah  is  the  caao  in  all  countries,  wlipthor 
Bavngf  or  civilized,  tlio  code  of  etiquette  is 
rigidly  ent'orci'd  nt  meal-times.  Lvcn  the 
greatest  chiel",  it'  i)rpH(^iit  at  a  l)anquet,  be- 
haves in  as  deferential  a  manner  as  the 
connnonest  man  present.  Tli()Uf,'li  he  may 
be  ill  liis  own  doniinions,  and  tiiough  ho 
may  hold  absolute  sway  over  every  man 
anil  woman  within  sight,  lie  will  not  venture 
to  taste  ft  morsel  of  food  until  it  has  first 
been  oll'.'red  to  him.  Many  years  a),'o  one 
diie*'di(lso,and,in  consequenee,  the  F^ians 
have  hated  his  very  name  ever  since. 

So  great  would  be  the  bre^vch  of  manners 
by  siieii  a  proceeding,  tliat  the  life  of  the 
oifcndcr  would  bo  endangered  by  it.  On 
oie  occasion  it  did  cost  the  chief  his  life, 
lie  inadvertently  ate  a  piece  of  cocoa-nut 
wliieh  had  not  been  olfercul  to  him;  and  this 
insult  80  rankled  in  the  mind  of  one  of  his 
unii;erM,  who  was  in  attendance,  that  ho  ran 
away  from  his  own  chief,  anil  Joined  another 
who  was  at  war  with  him.  A  battle  took 
place,  the  olfending  chief  was  worsted,  and 
was  running  for  liis  life,  when  he  met  the 
insulted  ofllcer,  and  asked  for  his  assistance. 
The  man  was  inclined  to  give  it,  but  the  in- 
sult could  not  be  forgotten,  and  so,  with  an 
apology  for  the  duty  which  he  was  called  on 
to  pcribrm,  ho  knocked  out  his  former  mas- 
ter s  br.ains  with  his  club. 

A  still  more  astonishing  instance  of  this 
feeling  is  mentioned  by  Mr.  Williams.  A 
young  chief  and  his  father-in-law  were 
about  to  dine  together,  and  a  baked  guana 
was  provided  for  each.  The  guana  is  a  liz- 
ard which  h.as  a  long  and  slender  tail.  In 
passing  by  his  relative's  guana,  the  young 
man  accidentally  broke  otf  the  end  of  its 
tail,  wliicb  would  necessarily  be  rendered 
britlle,  by  cooking.  This  was  held  to  be  so 
gross  an  insult,  that  the  oflendcr  paid  for  it 
with  his  life. 

Etiquette  is  shown  to  its  fullest  extent 
when  a  king  or  principal  chief  gives  a  grcftt 
banquet.  As  with  the  New  Zoalnnders, 
such  a  feast  is  contemplated  for  many 
months  previously;  vegetables  are  planted 
expressly  for  it,  and  no  one  is  allowed  to 
kill  i)igs  or  gather  fruit,  lest  there  should 
not  be  a  sufficient  quantity  of  provisions. 

.lust  before  the  day  of  festival,  the  final 
preparations  are  made.  Messages  are  sent 
to  all  the  neighboring  tribes,  or  rather  to 
the  chiefs,  who  communicate  them  to  the 

rple.  The  turtle  fishers  bestir  themselves 
g»t  their  nets  and  canoes  in  order,  and, 
as  soon  as  they  are  ready,  start  oft'  to  sea. 
Yams  and  other  root  crops  are  dug  up,  the 
ovens  made,  and  the  fuel  chopped  and 
brought  ready  for  use. 

These  ovens  are  of  enormous  size,  as  each 
is  capable  of  cooking  a  number  of  pigs,  tur- 
tles, and  vast  auantities  of  vegetables.  With 


all  our  skill  In  cooking,  it  is  to  be  doubted 
whether  wo  are  not  excelled  by  the  Fijiims 
in  the  art  of  cooking  large  (piantities  of 
meat  at  a  time.  The  ovens  ar"  simply  hobis 
dug  in  the  ground,  some  ten  feet  in  depth 
and  (il'teon  foci  or  m>  in  diameter. 

The  mode  of  cooking  is  very  simi)le.  A 
snuill  lire  is  made  at  the  bottom  of  the  pit, 
which  is  then  (illed  with  firewood,  and  as 
soon  as  the  wood  is  thoroughly  on  (ire,  large 
stones  arc  placed  on  it.  When  the  wood 
has  all  burned  away,  the  i)igs,  turtles,  and 
vegetables  are  laid  on  the  hot  st(mes,  some 
of  which  are  introduced  into  the  interior  of 
each  animal,  so  (hut  it  may  bo  tlie  more 
thoroughly  (looked.  The  oven  is  then  fillrd 
up  with  boughs  and  green  leaves,  and  »q)on 
the  leaves  is  placed  a  thick  covering  of 
earth.  The  oven  regulates  its  own  time  of 
cooking,  for  as  soon  as  steam  rises  through 
the  earthy  covering,',  the  contents  of  the 
oven  arc  known  to  be  properly  cooked. 

For  the  two  or  three  days  preceding  the 
feast,  all  the  people  are  full  of  activity. 
They  take  a  pride  in  the  lil)erality  of  their 
chief,  and  each  man  brings  as  manv  pigs, 
yams,  turtles,  and  other  kinds  of  food  as  ho 
can  manage  to  put  together.  The  king  him- 
self tftkes  the  direction  of  affairs,  his  orddrs 
being  communicated  to  the  people  by  his 
Matas,  or  aides-de-camn.  Day  and  night  go 
on  the  iireparations,  tne  pigs  squealing  as 
they  arc  chased  belbre  being  killed,  the 
men  hard  at  work  digging  the  ovens,  some 
loosening  the  earth  with  long  pointed  sticks, 
others  carrying  off  the  loosened  soil  in 
bftskets,  while  the  flames  that  blaze  from 
the  co"'.pleted  ovens  enable  the  workmen  to 
continue  their  labors  throughout  the  night. 
On  these  occasions  the  Fijians  dispense 
with  their  ordinary  feelings  respecting  cook- 
ing. In  Fiji,  as  in  New  Zealand,  cooking  is 
despised,  and  the  word  "  cook  "  is  used  as  a 
term  of  reproiicli  .and  derision.  In  conse- 
quence of  this  feeling,  all  cooking  is  prr- 
fornied  by  the  slaves.  But  on  the  eve  of  a 
great  feast  this  feeling  is  laid  aside,  and 
every  man  helps  to  cook  the  food.  Even 
the  king  himself  assists  in  feeding  the  ovens 
witli  fuel,  arranging  the  pigs,  stirring  the 
contents  of  the  cooking  pots,  and  perform- 
ing offices  which,  on  the  following  day,  none 
but  a  slave  will  perform. 

By  the  time  that  the  cooking  is  com- 
pleted, the  various  tribes  have  assembled, 
and  the  ovens  are  then  opened  and  the  food 
taken  out.  It  is  then  arranged  in  separate 
heaps,  a  layer  of  cocoa-nut  leaves  being 
placed  on  the  ground  by  way  of  dish.  On 
the  leaves  is  placed  a  layer  of  cocoa-nuts, 
then  come  the  yams  and  potatoes,  then  pud- 
dings, and  at  the  top  of  all  several  pigs. 
The  quantity  of  provisions  thus  brought  to- 
gether is  enormous.  Mr.  Williams  men- 
tions that  at  one  feast,  at  which  he  was 
present,  two  hundred  men  were  employed 
for  nearly  six  hours  in  piling  up  the  food. 


;^M 


if; 


nt. 


iil' 


•it 


Pur. 


Thero  wore  nix  heaps  of  food,  and  nmonK 
Ui^lr  foiitcnfs  went  nbotit  rtfty  ton«  ."f 
cooknd  yams  and  potatoes,  (lrt,.;.,i  toim  of 
pnil.lhijf,  i.,vciU.v  turtleit,  atid  al.oiit  two 
ntiiKlriMl  totiH  of  iinoookfd  yams.  Tlioro 
was  Olio  pmldlnsf  w'licli  incanurcd  twoiitv- 
oiif  f«et  ill  cinHiriifrrfnce. 

Proftisioii  i»  tho  rule  upon  thc«o  oiu-a- 
■loiis  niid  tlin  nioro  food  timt  a  cliii.f  nrodii- 
CON,  tlio  inoni  honor  he  rootivos.  One  diiof 
ginned  tlic  honoinhlo  nanui  of  Ilii/h  I'ork 
bceauso  h«  oiiro  orovided  8U(;h  viuTt  nuanti- 
Ups  ot  food  that  before  it  could  !>«  tlnisiied 
deeoinnoHitioii  had  begun  in  tlio  iioik. 

All  being  arranged,  tho  distribution  now 
begins  and  is  tarried  out  witli  that  preci- 

fn' Kih  '''/T"""  ,^'"<'''  pervades  all  eociety 
In  1-  III.  1  ho  various  trifics  and  their  chiefs 
being  scate.l,  tlio  Tui-rara,  or  master  of  tho 
ceremonies,  orders  tho  fofwl  to  ho  divided 
into  as  many  portions  as  there  are  tribes 

the  tribe.  He  then  takes  tho  tribes  in  suc- 
cession, and  calls  their  names.  As  ho  calls 
each  tribo,  the  people  return  their  thanks 

fetch  the  food.  This  goes  on  until  tho  whol.i 
ft  wi  !i"!  |"\'^''cn  Kiven  away,  when  a 
All  tlKT  distribution  takes  place  among  tho 
ribes,  each  village  llrst  taking  a  share  and 
then  each  family  receiving  its  proper  por- 
tion, winch  is  handed  to  Its  head 

It  18  evident  that  tho  Tui-rara  has  no  sine- 
cure. He  must  possess  tho  most  intimate 
knowledge  of  all  tho  tribes,  and  the  ranks 
Of  their  respective  chiefs,  and  must  at  the 
m;Tie  tunc  be  on  tho  alert  to  distinguish  any 
slranger  that  may  make  his  appearance, 
hhould  he  be  a  foreigner,  he  is  considered  a 
.^\  "'I'l"^  '^'"''''"''  I>">'"tion, ».  e.  a  quantity 
sufflpient  for  twenty  Fijians  or  sixty  En-'- 
ishinen,  is  sent  to  him.  Of  course  he  gives 
the  greater  part  away,  but  in  so  doing  he 
m;  8  tho  part  of  a  chief.  It  is,  in  fact,  th<, 
olil  story  of  Benjamin's  mess  translated  into 
Jrijian. 

i'ho  men  always  cat  their  food  in  tho 
open  air,  but  send  the  women's  portion  to 
*"o  nowes  to  he  eaten  within  doors 

The  first  illustration  on  the  next  page  will 
give  ah  Idea  of  a  Fijian  feast  On  the  left 
hand  IS  seen  the  master  of  tho  ceremonies, 
calling  the  name  of  a  tribe,  and  in  the 

&."k   n  ""^  f  ^?  "'P  >'""''8  '"«"  running  to 
fetch   tho  food.    In   tho  foreground  is  tho 
portion  of  their  tribe,  consisting  of  pie, 
yams,  turtles,  and  so  forth.     Ii^  front  of 
them  are  some  of  the  curious  drums,  wliich 
will  bo  presently  described,  and  in  tho  dis- 
tance arc  seen  the  members  of  tho  different 
tribes,  some  eating,  and  others  waiting  for 
their  portion.    The  curious  building  in  the 
background  ,8  one  of  the  Burds,  or  temples, 
which  will  bo  presently  described. 
..IJ^iu  wu  PS:?.*'''"'«  description  it  will  be 
h^?   L^^i^.?.!^,'"""  ^1--'  V-leooks,  and 


duco  I.  by  no  moans  small.  Tho  variety  of 
iiui  iiishoi  Is,  how.iver,  much  greater  than 
bus  been  mentioned.  They  eat  many  kln<ls 
ol  llsh,  together  with  almost  every  liviiiir 
creature  t  lat  they  lind  in  the  coral  reefs 
home  of  their  preparations  very  much  ro- 
"enible  ho.^e  to  which  we  u,e  ucciwtomed  in 
hnglaiK  .  tor  exami.Ie,  «  sort  of  shrimp 
saiidwicli  is  made  by  putting  a  layer  of 
shriinpH  between  two  taro  leaves.  Scveial 
k  lids  ot  brciulare  known,  and  nearly  thirty 
kinds  of  nuddings.  Turtle  soup  is  in  great 
layor,  and  so  are  various  other  soups. 

The  Fijians  even  make  sauces  to  be  eaten 
Willi  varu.us  kinds  of  food,  tho  sweet  iiiico 
ot  the  sugar-cane  being  much  used  for  this 
purpose,  riiey  also  Iwivo  a  sort  of  an  imi- 
tatiou  of  tea,  infusing  sundry  leaves  and 
grasses  in  boiling  water,  and  drinking  it 
M'hen  it  becomes  siilHciently  cool.  Most  of 
their  food  is  cooked;  butj  liko  ourselves, 
thoy  prefer  some  food  in  an  uncooked  state. 
Mmali  Hsh,  Ibr  example,  arc  eaten  alivo,  just 
as  we  eat  oysters.  "^ 

They  mostly  drink  water,  or  the  milk  of 
tho  cocoa-nut.  To  drink  water  in  native 
ashion  IS  not  very  easy.  They  keep  it  in 
ong  bamboo  tubes,  so  tliat  when  it  is  raised 
|o  the  hps  the  greatest  caro  is  required  lest 
It  should  suddenly  deluge  tho  face  and 
body. 

Cocoa-nuts  are  opened  in  rather  a  curi- 
ous manner.  A  tout  .stick  is  sharpened  at 
)<)th  ends,  and  (.ne  end  driven  (Irmly  into 
he  ground.  Taking  the  nut  in  both  hands, 
tlie  native  dashes  it  on  (ho  stick,  which 
Hphls  oi)en  the  thick  husk,  and  allows  the 
mit  to  be  extracted.  With  a  stone,  or  even  • 
with  another  cocoa-nut  in  case  a  stone 
should  not  be  at  hand,  (ho  native  hammers 
away  round  tho  jjointed  end,  and  contrives 
to  knock  off  a  small  round  lid,  which  is  then 
removed,  leaving  a  natural  drinking-cup  iu 
his  hand.  "      ' 


«».  «.e  n„,„.ev„r  s» '.sx;;;s  =eT<!ffi';°rrf;,.'^'sS"s 


Wk  now  como  to  tho  terrible  subject  of 
cannibalism,  on  which  no  more  will  be  said 
th.in  IS  necessary  to  illustrate  the  character 
o(  the  people. 

The  Fijians  are  even  more  devoted  to 
cannibalism  than  the  New  Zcalaudors,  and 
their  records  are  still  more  appalling.  A 
New  Zealander  has  sometimes  the  grace  to 
(eel  ashamed  of  mentioning  the  subject  in 
the  hearing  of  an  European,  whereas  it  is 
imposKible  to  make  a  Fijian  really  feel  that 
in  eating  human  flesh  he  has  committed  an 
unworthy  act.  He  sees,  indeed,  that  tho 
white  men  exhibit  great  disgust  at  canni- 
balism, but  in  his  heart  he  despises  tliem  for 
wasting  such  luxurious  food  as  human  flesh, 

i-ven  tho  Christianized  natives  have  to 
bo  watched  careftilly  lest  they  should  bo 
tempted  by  old  habiU,  and  revert  to  tho  cus- 
tom which  they  had  promised  to  abjure. 
*  or  example,  Thakombau,  the  King  of  Mbau. 


mmmm 


10  milk  of 
in  iintivo 
kce])  it  in 
it  is  laiflud 
luiri'd  li'Ht 
facu   und 


(I.)    A    IIJI.VN    KKA.ST.    (Sec  iHi;;e  IM'.'.) 


m 


i\ 

i; 

m 
•ft 


ik' 


(•-•.)  TUK  y.vvK  or  Till-.  ii(>A>ri.ic.  ^-mi  im-.'.Pij 


(943) 


Jtj 


FIJIAK  LOVE  FOR  "LONG  PIG." 


046 


do  so.  He  was  not  a  particularly  creditable 
convert.  Some  time  after  he  had  an- 
nounced himself  to  be  a  Christian,  he  went 
in  his  war  canoe  to  one  of  tlie  districts  under 
his  swav.  He  was  received  with  the  horri- 
bly barbarous  ceremonial  by  which  a  very 
;»r'iat  chief  is  honored,  conch-shell  trum- 
pets blowin<j  before  him,  and  the  people 
shoutinjj  their  songs  of  welcome.  Thus  ac- 
companied, he  walked  through  a  'louble  row 
of  living  victims  —  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren of  all  ages  —  suspended  by  their  feet, 
and  placed  there  to  give  the  king  his  choice. 
The  hopeful  convert  w.as  pleased  to  accept 
the  offering,  touching  with  his  club  as  he 
pnssed  along  those  victims  t  nich  seemed 
most  to  his  taste. 

Tiie  natives  are  clever  enough  at  conceal- 
ing tJie  existence  of  c.annib.alism  when  they 
find  tliivt  it  shocks  the  white  men.  An  Euro- 
pean nottou-growc,  who  had  tried  unsuc- 
cessfully^ to  introduce  the  culture  of  cotton 
into  Fiji,  found,  after  a  tolerably  long  resi- 
dence, that  four  or  five  human  beings  were 
killed  and  eaten  weekh'.  There  was  plenty 
of  food  in  the  place,  pigs  were  numeroiw, 
and  fish,  fruit,  and  vegetables  abundant. 
But  the  people  ate  human  bodies  as  often  as 
they  could  get  them,  not  from  any  supersti- 
tious motive,  but  simply  because  they  pre- 
ferred human  flesh  to  pork. 

Many  of  the  people  actually  take  a  pride 
in  tile  number  of  human  bodies  which  they 
have  eaten.  One  chief  was  looked  upon 
with  groat  respect  on  account  of  his  feats  of 
cannibalism,  and  the  people  gave  him  a  title 
of  honor.  They  called  him  the  Turtle-pond, 
comparing  his  insatiable  stoirach  to  the 
pond  in  which  turtles  are  k'jpt;  and  so  proud 
were  they  of  his  deeds,  that  they  even  gave 
a  name  of  honor  to  the  bodies  brought  for 
his  ronRuinption,  calling  them  the  "Con- 
tents of  the  Turtle-pond."  Thifi  man  was 
accustomed  to  eat  a  human  body  himself, 
sulferiug  no  one  to  share  it  v'.th  him.  After 
his  fiiwily  wore  grown  up,  he  bctiiought 
himcelf  of  registering  his  unholy  meals  by 
placing  a  stone  on  the  gn.uud  as  soon  as  he 
had  finished  the  body.  His  soi.  showed  these 
stones  to  an  English  clergyman,  who  counted 
them,  and  .bund  that  there  were  very  nearly 
nine  liundrud. 

One  man  gainad  a  great  name  among  his 
poi  jIg  by  an  act  of  peculiar  atrocity.  He 
to!d  his  wife  to  build  an  oven,  to  fetch  fire- 
wood for  heating  it,  and  to  prenaro  a  bam- 
boo knife.  As  soon  as  she  baa  concluded 
her  labors  her  bus'  .ind  killed  her,  and  baked 
her  in  the  oven  which  her  own  hands  had 
prepared,  and  afterward  ate  her.  Some- 
times a  man  has  been  known  to  take  a  vic- 
tim, bind  him  baud  and  laot,  cut  slices  froia 
his  ariijs  and  legs,  and  eat  them  before  his 
eyes.  Indeed,  the  Fiji.ans  are  so  inordi- 
nately vain,  that  they  will  do  anything,  no 
matter  how  horrible,  in  order  to  gain  a  name 
among  their  people;  and  Dr,  i'l'itcha'-d,  who 


knows  them  thoroughly,  expresses  his  won- 
der that  some  chief  dia  not  cat  slices  from 
his  own  limbs. 

Cannibalism  is  ingrained  in  the  very  na- 
ture of  a  Fijian,  and  extends  through  all 
classes  of  society.  It  is  true  that  there  are 
some  persons  who  have  "never  eaten  fiesh, 
but  there  is  always  a  reason  for  it.  Women, 
for  example,  are  seldom  permitted  to  eat 
"bakolo,"  as  human  flesh  is  termed,  and 
there  are  a  few  men  who  have  refrained  from 
cannibalism  through  superstition.  Every 
Fijian  has  his  special  god,  who  is  supposed 
to  have  his  residence  in  some  animal.  One 
god,  for  example,  lives  in  a  rat,  as  we  have 
already  seea;  another  in  a  shark;  and  so  on. 
The  worshipper  of  that  god  never  eats  the 
animal  in  which  his  divinity  resides;  and  as 
some  gods  are  supposed  to  reside  in  human 
bodies,  their  worshippers  never  eat  the  flesh 
of  man. 

According  to  the  accounts  of  some  of  the 
older  chiefs,  whom  we  may  believe  or  not, 
as  we  like,  there  was  once  a  time  when  can- 
nibalism did  not  exist.  Many  years  ago, 
some  strangers  from  a  distant  laud  were 
blown  upon  the  shoves  of  Fiji,  and  received 
hospitably  by  the  islanders,  who  incorpo- 
rated them  into  their  own  tribes,  and  made 
much  of  them.  But,  in  process  of  time, 
these  people  became  too  poweriul,  killed  the 
Fijian  chiefs,  took  their  wives  and  property, 
and  usurped  their  office. 

In  this  emergeicy  the  people  consulted 
the  priests,  who  .-iaid  that  the  Fijians  had 
brought  their  misfortunes  upon  themselves. 
They  had  allowed  strangers  to  live,  .vhercas 
"Fiji  for  the  Fijians"  was  the  golden  rule, 
and"  from  that  time  every  male  stranger  was 
to  be  killed  and  eaten,  and  every  woman 
taken  as  a  wife. 

Onlv  one  people  was  free  from  fhis  law. 
The  Tongans,  instead  of  being  killed  and 
eaten,  were  always  welcomed,  and  their 
visits  encouraged,  as  they  passed  backward 
and  forward  in  their  canoes,  and  brought 
with  them  fine  mats  and  other  articl*  s  for 
barter.  So  much  have  these  people  inter- 
mingled, that  in  the  eastern  islands,  which 
are  nearest  to  thope  of  Tonga,  there  is  a 
decided  jnixturo  of  Tongan  "blood.  With 
this  exception,  however,  the  Fijians  went 
on  the  same  principle  as  the  Ephesians  of 
Shakespeare  — 

"  If  any  Svra'^iisan  1)om 
Come  to  tho  bay  oi  EpUesus,  he  dies;" 

save  that,  instead  of  merely  putting  to  death 
those  who  cwne  from  one  country,  they 
only  excepted  one  country  from  thd  univer- 
sal law. 

The  reader  may  remember  that  a  sort  ol 
respect  is  paid  to  a  huma;.  body  used  for 
food.  Educated  people  speak  of  it  in  the 
court  language,  and,  instead  of  using  any 
vulgar  term,  such  as  a  human  body,  they 


ml 


M6 


riji. 


f/",?'^-^  *'>«  "metaphorical  language,  and  call 

vessels  u  which  human  flesh  is  cooked  are 
reserved  expressly  for  that  purpose!  and 
both  the  vessel  in  which  it  is  cooked  and 
the^dish  Irom  which  it  is  eaten  are  held  a2 

So  highly  is  «  bakolo"  honored,  that  it  is 
oaten,  not  with  fingers,  but  with  A  fork  and 

tikis  of  the  New"ze£de  "^  ThesTfo^rks 

En.lTn?   Th!''  ""?f  T'"^'»  are  used  t 
ih^  f  M  I  hey  mostly  have  four  nrones 

b  t  these  prongs,  instead  of  being  setTn  a 

fer  a^s'^r"^  ""•'^"Sed  in  ?/cSe  or 
uiangjo  as  the  case  may  be.     Thev  arl 

■on  of  age  0,  „,  ,|,e  ,„„t  „,  their  nroiSeS' 
tlicj-  receive  names  of  honor.    Sev  mS' 

&'.;4r&/»fSSVo?:is,;ir 

J  or  examp  e  when  ,1  #.lii,.f  i„„i  1        ,   »    ' 

eauoe,  a  serieTof  sac   flee     akes  So  ^'I 
laid"  and  "ff'vf"'"  TT''^  ^>^   thft  .'e,  t 

gamed  some  notorietv  by  binding  a  number 
are  fZnd  fL"  e  """?°  ''  '»""«"«>■  """"c. 

c-...oe  w„,'Ce'E  ^iSTh^"?  ";-"'  ""rl 


iMS,iSK„XSvS: 

♦L     V.^''^"  *''«'   canoe  arrived  at  W    ,„ 
the  chiefs  were  so  vexed  thaf  ii  »!„^  '"; 

them  unhonored  b^human  b loKh^^"  '''^ 
straightway  attacked  a  vmace  kil  Ih  .  '^^ 
fourteen  or  fifteen  men  anf  at«  fi  '""?'' 
order  to  do  honor  toThe  cerenionv  nf  f  "2- '" 
down  the  mast.  ceremony  of  taking 

Sometimes,  in  order  to  secure  a  victim 
whenever  one  is  wanted,  the  chiefs  nick  o.?I 
secretly  a  certain  number  of  men  and  nnt 
them,  80  to  speak,  on  the  black  li^t.'  When 
ever  a  sacrifice  is  needed,  all  the  execu  ion 
ers  have  to  do  is  to  find  out  how  nanJ 
victmis  are  wanted,  and  then  togomulki! 

WhT';''  ""'"'''^''  "*■  ">«  Wack^lisfmen 
bln^kl^*""'"" ■''"■'  sometimes  put  on  the 
black  hs  ,  a  curious  example  of  which  cus- 
tom IS  given  by  Mr.  Williams.    "Vakam 
bua,  chief  of  Mbau,  thus  doomed  Tivu^ 
and  gave  a  whale's  tooth  to  a  Kara  chief 
bat  he  n,ig,,t  at  a  fitting  time  iShS 
place.    Years  passed  away,  and  a  reconci  a 
tion  took  place  between  illmu  and  T-fv ua 
but    unhappily,  the  Mbau  chief  failed  To 
Eir  "'a""*^  engagement  made    v  h  the 

who  heW  ?i;/?^  /k""  "•""8''ts  of  those 
Tiv„«%)^*°'!'^ /'■<''■«  *"'ned  toward 
iin  ;  ^^l^^y  '"^■'t*^''  t'i«  people  of  t  at 
place  to  a  frfendly  exchangi  ol'  food    and 

liZn'r'''-''''''   '^^   "-''    unsjTpttinl 

the  flesh  cut  oir  and  roasted  on  tL^snot  the 
bodies  were  taken  to  Vaknmbua,  who'w^s 
greatly  astonished,  expressed  much  ,^. rot 
oufofn''  ""  '  """'^'^•"  '*''°»'''  J'"ve  grown 
Slices  tettTnT"'  •'""'  ">"'  ^"«-'    "'" 

♦K^f^^  i'ii''"?, ''•■'"  seldom  resist  meat  and 
that  he  should  resist  "  bakolo  »  coidd  not  be 

instance  of  tlL' i'r'e.fnSA  is""r"oS:f 
A  white  man  had  shot  and  carried  off  a 
p.g  belonging  to  a  Kjian,  who,  be  ng  a  con 
vert,  went  to  a  native  teache  •  nanifd  Oha" 
diah,  and  asked  him  to  irn  tn  tiJ  1  r  ^' 
and  remonstrate  with  Tim  The  ITf,''' 
put  on  his  black  coat,  went  to  tL  n'^"' 
Use^  and  with,  mu.h' e^rneVne^'pb^Xd 
o.,t  U)  him  the  iniquity  of  the  deed  a  k  ni 
jum  how  J'e  would  have  liked  it  haft  ^S 


.  .„   V ■;""'"  iiine  iiKca  It  had  a  Piiiii 

ki]|cc    one  of  hi,  o„„  pig,.    The  i.'on'  f, 

So°r  o7E.  "'«P'"=™y.  «"'l   «""W.°1       e 

i'if«i;?i4";«^'S-^,.»i' : 

shall  we  not  sit  down,  and  voif  will  ait 
biessing?'  '     •   "«'*  'S^it  a 

"Obadiah,  taken  by  surprise  by  Q >, 


I 


■MM* 


BLESSING  ASKED  OVER  STOLEN  PIG. 


947 


penitence,  and  the  compliment  paid  to  hia 
own  clerical  functions,  and  swayed  perhaps 
a  little  by  the  irresistible  love  of  all  Fijiaus 
for  roast  pork,  bowed  his  head,  and  reveren- 
tially said  a  long  prayer,  after  which  the 


two  set  heartily  to  work  on  the  pig."  When 
the  teacher  went  to  the  missionary  to  report 
his  successful  labors,  he  was  quite  aston- 
ished at  being  charged  with  complicity  with 
the  tiiiefl 


h 


fir 
'1& 


CHAPTER  XCVT. 


FIJI —  Continued. 


WAK  AND  AMUSEMENTS. 

WKAP0N8  OF  THK  FIJIANS-THE  8I.IN0,  AND  MODE  OF  USING  IT-xnE  CLPI,,  AND  ITS  VARIOUS  MODI- 
FICATIONS-OHADUAL  DEVELOPMEVT  OF  THK  CLUB  I.VTO  THE  PADPLE-MODE  OKmIk^L  THK 
CLUBS,  AND  PUEPAHATION  OF  THE  TREES  -  ORNAMENTS  OF  THE  CLUBS,  AND  THKm  nTmks - 
FIJIAN  SPEABS-THEIB  TERRIBLE  BARBS-OBaECTS  OF  WAR-THE  REVIEW -THE  FATK  OF 
THE  DOASTER-INOENIOUS  ENGINEERING -CRUELTV  TOWARD  PRISONERS-  "  CONSK  RATION^'  OF 
A  WARRIOR.  AND  HIS  NEW  NAME  -  DOMESTIC  LIFE -CEREMONIES  AT  BIRTH-t^^  IN 
BEVEN0K-AMUSF.MENT8-VAB,0US  GAMES -BIRIKI- WOMEN  AGAINST  MEN-DAN  ES^ND 
SONGS-MARRIAGE   FESTIVITIES  -  WEDDING  OF  A  CHrEF'S    DAUGHTER -DOMESTIC    msCIP,  INK - 

III  Hors-rp;rA=rr  =°''^^ — ^^  —o  and  de^l 


In  accordance  with  the  plan  on  which  this 
work  liaa  been  arranged,  Fijian  warfare  will 
be  described  as  it  was  before  fire-arms  were 
introduced,  and  had  changed  the  ancient 
style  of  warfare. 

The  original  weapons  of  the  Fijian  are  the 
club,  the  axe  (which,  by  the  way,  is  little 
more  than  a  modification  of  the  club),  the 
bow,  the  sling,  and  the  spear.  In  most  of 
these  weapons  is  exhibited  the  fancifully 
artistic  nature  of  the  manufacturers.    The 


sling  is  perhaps  the  only  weapon  from  which   rvYdenhy'^odifie^rfro'f  a"*  .Scd 

ornament  18  almost  wholly  absent.    Like  the  ' '-•-^^-''^--         '  ■  r,narlcd 

corresjronding  weapon  of  the  JSTew  Caledo- 
nians, it  carries  stones    )f  tolerable  weight 

Ti*^,'"?''^*^  '^•'^'■•Iness,  and,  when  wielded  by  a 

skilful  hand,  becomes  no  inefficient  weapon 

even  against  fire-arms  themselves.    A  stone 

hurled  from  a  Fijian  sling  has  been  known 

to  render  a  musket  useless,  the  stone  having 

struck  the  ban-el,  and  bent  and  indented  il 

«s  ™uch  as  would  have  been  done  by  a  bullet. 
The  chief  weapon  of  the  Fijian  is  the  club, 
and  upon  this  he  lavishes  all  the  artistic 
power  at  his  command,  covering  nearly  the 
whole  of  it  with  the  most  intricate  and  deli- 
cately executed  carvings.  Some  clubs  are 
straight,  like  thick  cudgels,  others  are 
curved.  Those  which  are  knobbed  at  the 
end  have  an  infinite  variety  in  the  knob,  as 
we  shall  presently  see.  Some  are  more  or 
less  flattened,  while  there  are  some  which 

S!:«.'";!lSlo  de^^er^'!?"""^''^  '^^  "^'^^^■''™  instrument,  except  perha,^ 

(M8) 


they  require  tlie  whole  exertion  of  a  muscu- 
lar man  to  wield  them,  Avhile  others  are  so 
short  tliat  tliey  are  kept  stuck  in  the  girdle 
and  used  as  missiles  precisely  as  the  short 
knc^-kerries  are  used  by  the  South  Africans. 
A  Fijian  will  often  carry  two  or  more  of 
these  clubs  in  his  girdle. 

Some  of  the  most  characteristic  forms  of 
Fijian  clubs  are  given  on  the  following  page, 
all  being  drawn  from  specimens  in  my  col- 
lection.   Fig.  1   represents  a  club,  and  is 

^    modified    from    a    gnarled    and 

knotted  branch,  and  by  comparing  a  num- 
ber of  specimens  together  it  is  easy  to  trace 
the  progress  of  manufacture.  This  form  of 
club  is  also  to  be  found  among  the  Papuans 
of  New  Guinea,  the  natives  of  the  Outanata 
district  carrying  it.  W<th  the  exception  of 
the  deep  transverse  cuts,  there  is  no  attempt 
at  ornament.  It  is  tolerably  heavy,  thou-di 
not  vei-y  large,  and  requires  two  hands  to  be 
wielded  properly,  , 

Figure  2  represents  one  of  the  paddle-like 
clubs  which  have  just  been  mentioned.  The 
blade  is  not  an  inch  in  thiekiu  ss  in  the  mid- 
dle, and  it  gradually  slopes  oil'  to  either  side, 
so  as  to  form  a  toler.ibly  sliai-))  edge.  With 
the  exception  of  the  liandle,  it  is  entirely 
covered  with  carving;  the  dentatcd  pattern, 
which  seems  common  to  nearly  all  savage 
art,  being  very  consjjicuous.  It  is  extremely 
weighty,  and,  to  an  European,  appears  a 
very  awkward  instrument,  except  perhaji« 


i^-xfa^xa-^tffm^&mt^ 


ISLANDS.    (Sic  jiiijje  '>7(K) 


m 


« 


»rKAR.    (Sec  page  aw.J 


0.)   FIJIAN    CLLUS.    (Sec  page  W8.) 

C949) 


j 
I 

^i^  1 


as 
t\y 
hr 
at 
or 
ce 
w: 
lo 
se 
ki 
is 


er 


ni 
as 


m 


ca 
It 
1)1 
m 
e\ 


d( 
fr 
be 
in 
III 

,ae 

t« 
in 
ar 
A 
of 
th 
ap 
bi 
th 

he 
in 
of 
th 


ta 

811 
Wl 

it 
up 


do 
po 
an 

tO] 

ar 
to 
to 


THE  CLUB,  AND  ITS  VARIOUS  FORMS. 


951 


Fig.  3  is  a  club,  which  may  be  considered 
as  a  sc  rt  of  ititermediato  form  between  the 
two  airuady  mentioned.  Like  the  last,  it 
has  a  broad  blade,  but  is  evidently  a  club 
and  not  a  paddle.  The  blade  la  strength- 
ened by  a  bold  ridge  running  along  the 
centre.  In  order  to  show  the  mode  In 
whi,;h  it  is  flattened,  a  side  view  of  the 
low  er  part  is  shown  at  flg.  a,  and  a  cross 
section  of  the  blade  is  given  at  flg.  b.  This 
kind  of  club  is  modilcd  in  various  ways,  but 
is  always  made  on  tiin  same  principle, ,t.  e. 
a  round  handle  and  a  llattened  paddle-like 
end,  sometimes  nearly  plain,  as  in  the  above 
mentioned  specimens,  and  sometimes  fur- 
nished with  knobs,  teeth,  and  spikes  pro- 
jecting from  the  sides.  In  some  cases  it 
assumes  the  shape  of  a  crescent,  and  looks, 
indeed,  much  like  a  cheese  knife  very  much 
magnified. 

Anotlier  very  characteristic  shape  is  given 
in  flg.  4.  As  may  lie  imagined  from  the  illus- 
tration, it  is  vi;ry  weighty,  so  that  even  to 
carry  it  about  must  be  ratlier  troublesome. 
It  is  covered  witli  carvings  in  the  most  lavish 
manner,  and  sudi  value  has  been  set  by  the 
manufacturer  upon  tlie  weapon,  that  he  has 
even  taken  the  troul)lo  to  invent  different 
patterns  for  the  opposite  sides. 

The  peculiar  form  of  this  club  is  evi- 
dently due  to  the  structure  of  the  branch 
from  which  it  was  cut,  the  projecting  portion 
being  the  l)ase  of  another  branch.  Although 
in  many  spocimens  —  my  own  among  the 
number  —  tlie  club  has  been  carved  from  a 
great  log  of  solid  wood,  the  form  has  evi- 
,  dently  been  borrowed  from  the  junction  of 
two  branches.  The  edge  of  the  club  is  cut 
into  slight  teeth,  and  just  within  the  edge 
are  a  number  of  round  holes,  set  in  a  line. 
A  tolerably  bold  ridge  runs  along  the  head 
of  the  club  and  follows  its  curve,  and  through 
this  ridge  are  also  bored  a  numbe:'  of  holes, 
apparently  for  the  purpose  of  af^,~Aing 
bunches  of  feathers,  or  other  ornaments,  to 
the  weapon. 

The  most  characteristic  club  of  Fiji  is, 
however,  that  of  which  an  example  is  given 
in  flg.  5.  It  is  made  from  the  stem  and  part 
of  the  root  of  a  younLC  M-ee.  In  this  part  of 
the  world  there  are  certain  trees  which  grow 
in  a  manner  wliicli  to  us  seems  very  peculiar. 
As  is  the  case  with  many  trees,  it  sends  a 
tap-root  deeply  into  the  earth,  and  is  further 
supported  by'  a  number  of  smaller  roots 
which  diverge  from  it  on  all  sides,  and  retain 
it  in  its  upright  position,  just  as  a  mast  is 
upheld  by  tlie  standing  rigging. 

While  the  tree  is  very  young,  it  is  drawn 
down  nearly  horizontally,  and  fixed  in  that 
position,  so  as  to  be  bVnt  nearly  at  right 
angles  close  to  the  earth.  When  it  has 
grown  to  the  tlHckuoss  of  a  man's  wrist,  the 
top  is  cut  oft'  and  the  roots  dug  out  of  the 
ground.  The  tjip-ront  is  then  Kcraped  down 
to  a  point,  and  all  the  smaller  roots  are  cut  off 
to  wlthiq  an  inch  and  a  half  of  the  tap-root, 


so  AS  to  form  a  radiating  mass  of  spikes, 
which  are  sharpened,  and  thus  present  the 
appearance  shown  in  the  illustration. 

Such  a  club  as  this  is  an  exceedingly  val- 
uable weapon,  and  the  greatest  care  is  taken 
in  its  manufacture.  The  spike  at  the  end  is 
scraped  and  rounded  until  it  assumes  a  per- 
fectly regular  shape,  and  is  then  polished 
until  it  shines  like  a  well-rubbed  piece  of 
mahogany.  The  radiating  spikeletsai'eeach 
trimmed  with  the  greatest  nicety,  so  that,  in 
whatever  direction  the  weapon  is  viewed, 
they  all  radiate  with  exact  regularity. 

The  handle  is  polished  as  carefully  as  the 
lower  spike,  and  in  most  cases  is  adorned 
with  elaborately  carved  patterns.  In  many 
clubs  it  is  completely  covered  with  black  and 
white  sinnet  made  expressly  for  this  purpose, 
and  plaited  in  patterns  as  elaborate  as  those 
which  are  carved.  Some  of  the  best  clubs 
are  further  ornamented  by  having  scarlet 
fealhers  worked  in  Avith  sinnet.  There  are, 
indeed,  scarcely  any  bounds  to  the  decoration 
of  clubs,  many  of  which  are  inlaid  with  shell, 
or  hogs'  tusks,  or  whales'  teeth,  or  even  the 
teeth  of  men.  These  latter  ornaments  are 
chiefly  reserved  for  the  knobs  of  the  small 
missile  club. 

Beside  these,  there  is  an  infinite  variety 
of  forms,  some  of  the  clubs  exactly  resem- 
bling the  steel  maces  of  the  days  of  chivalry, 
others  being  first  squared  and  then  cut  into 
pyramidal  form,  while  others  look  just  like 
enormous  mushrooms.  Some  of  them  have 
the  handles  completely  covered  with  wicker- 
work;  but,  as  a  rule,  these  highly  ornamental 
weapons  are  not  for  use  but  lor  show,  like 
the  court  sword  of  the  present  day. 

Some  of  the  names  given  to  these  cluha 
are  highly  suggestive.  For  example,  ono 
was  called  "Weeping  urges  me  to  action,"' 
others  "  Disnerscr,"  "  Smasher,"  and  so  forth. 
Those  whicn  belong  to  well-known  chiefs 
or  distinguished  warriors  are  used  much  as 
cards  amon^  ourselves.  If,  for  example,  a 
great  chief  desires  tojj.ay  a  visit,  ho  will  send 
his  club  as,an  intimation  that  the  owner  will 
follow.  Or,  if  one  chief  asks  another  for  aid 
in  war,  the  ordin.ary  mode  of  showing  that 
the  application  is  lavorably  received  is  for 
the  latter  to  send  his  club  by  the  ambassador 
who  brought  the  message. 

There  is  as  great  variety  of  spears  as  of 
clubs.  Spears  are  almost  invariably  of  great 
length,  some  measuring  fourteen  or  fifteen 
feet  in  length.  They  arc  made  from  hard 
wood  and  are  almost  invariably  armed  with  a 
series  of  barbs.  In  the  manufacture  and 
arrangement  of  the  barbs,  the  Fijians  show 
wonderful  ingenuity.  Mostly,  they  are  not 
from  the  same  piece  of  wood  as  the  spear 
itself,  but  in  many  weapons  they  are  made 
of  other  materials.  The  sharp  tail-bone  of 
the  sting-ray  is  a  favorite  material,  both  for 
the  points  and  barbs  of  spears,  '^robabl*' 
because  it  is  very  hard,  and  so  brittle  that  it ' 
is  nenrly  sure  to  break  off  in  the  wou-d. 


11 

m 


052 


FIJI. 


n 


"  I 


ill 

I 


Other  ImrbR  are  made  of  a  wood  wliich  has 
Uie  property  of  ftwcllinj?  up  wlien  moistened, 
and  bursting  in  the  wound,  so  that  it  can 
Hardly  bo  extracted.  8uch  speurs  m  this 
are  called  by  a  very  ominouM  title,  "  The 
priest  IS  too  lute."  Some  of  the  spears  are 
not  only  carved  In  various  patterns,  but  have 
the  heads  cut  into  a  kind  of  bold  open  work 
pattern,  which  has  a  very  clcLmnt  ai)poar- 
ance,  tboufjh  it  must  detract  greatly  from 
the  strenj,nh  of  the  weapon.  One  of  the  or- 
dinary l-ijuin  spears  is  shown  on  pajio  041>. 
and  is  taken  trom  specimens  in  my  collection 
in  wliieli  there  are  sevonU  others,  but  ail  of 
a  similar  character. 

Many  of  the  weapons  have  more  than  one 
point.  In  the  specimens  which  I  have  the 
points  are  riither  more  than  a  yard  in  length, 
and  are  made  of  separate  i)ieces  of  woodrin- 
geniously  dovetailed  into  the  shaft  of  the 
spear,  and  held  in  their  place  by  lashings  of 
flinnct.  In  my  specimen,  the  manufacturer 
bas  been  so  lavish  of  his  labor,  that  he  has 
not  onlv  woven  the  sinnet  into  elegant  pat- 
terns, but  has  continued  them  along  the 
^vhole  of  the  shaft,  covering  it  with  a  sSrt  of 
mixture  of  the  zigzag  and  the  dentatcd  pat- 
terns. Ihcre  are  also  spears  with  several 
points,  each  point  being  barbed  or  deeply 
serrated  on  the  inside  cap.  These  are  not 
tor  war,  but  for  fishing  purposes.  As  for 
tlie  war  in  which  these  weapons  are  used,  it 
13  hardly  <leservin|j  of  the  name. 

When  two  chiefs  have  decided  oa  goin<' 
to  war  messengers  pass  between  thnn,  and 
both  sides  beat  up  recruits  for  their  armies 
and  offer  gifts  to  the  gods.    Whales'  teeth 
and  food  form  the  chief  part  of  these  offer- 
ings, and  the  latter  is  often  given  in  vast 
quantities.    Indejiendent  chiefs  often  fake 
ndvanlago  of  Avar  to  increase  their  proiiertv 
huch  a  chief,  for  example,  though  urged  by 
both  sides  to  join  them,  trims  and  hesitates 
and  liides   his   time.    One  party  will   then' 
send  him  a  I)rlbe,  and  as  soon  as  the  other 
party  hear  of  it,  they  send  a  larger  bribe,  in 
order  to  "  press  down  "  the  former  gift.  The 
result  usually  is,  that  the   recipfent  keeps 
both  bribes,  and  eventually  declines  to  fi"ht 
on  either  side. 

The  forces  are  gathered  by  a  series  of  re- 
views, held  as  the  army  inarches.  These 
reviews  form  the  great  charm  of  war,  as 
any  amount  of  boasting  mav  be  done  with- 
out the  sliglitest  risk.  Each  warrior  rushes 
up  to  the  commanding  chief,  brandislies  his 
weapons,  and  boasts  of  the  great  deeds  which 
he  is  goiiifr  to  do;  all  the  warriors  being  in 
their  very  best,  with  bodies  covered  with 
black  powder,  so  as  to  contrast  with  the 
snow-white  masi,  and  their  faces  painted  as 
none  but  a  Fijian  cm  paint  them,  in  order 
to  look  as  marti.al  as  possible. 

The  chief  often  ridicules  the  pretensions 
of  these  men,  insinuating  that  they  will  be 
more  ready  to  run  away  than  ^"  'iirht-  )-•!* 
this  is  only  for  the  purpose  ofinciting  them  \ 


to  display  tlieir  courage,  and,  by  way  of  in- 
dncing  them  to  fight  well,  large  gifts  are 
promised  to  those  who  distinguish  them- 
selves in  battle. 

Sometimes  a  warrior,  carried  away  bv  the 
'"if.",".'"';?*  »'■  ">e  nioment,  boasts  that  he 
will  kill  t»ie  enemy's  chief,  eat  his  flesh,  and 
make  adrinking-eu])  of  his  skull.  This  is  gen- 
eral  y  a  very  foolish  jnoceeding.  The  men- 
aced chief  is  sure  to  hear  of  it,  and  to  iirom- 
isea  large  reward  if  the  boaster  betaken 
alive. 

Hhould  he  be  captured,  his  fate  is  certain. 
Ills  hands  are  bound   behind  him,  and  n 
arge   bundle   of  dried  coeoa-mit  leaves  is 
fastened   tightly  across   his  shoulders,  pro- 
jecting for  several  feet  on  either  side     The 
ends  of  the  leaves  are  then  liglited,  and  the 
poor  wretch   is   left  to  .lie,  the  spectators 
laughing  and  jeering  at  him  as  he  runs 
about,   maddened    by   the    torment.      This 
punishment  is  called  by  a  name  which  sia- 
nifies  carrying  fuel.    The  artist  bas  repre- 
sented in  the  lower  engraving,  on  the  &i3d 
pi^e,  this  frightful  fate  of  the  boaster. 
_    The  party  that  are  attacked  usually  retire 
into  a  native  fort,  the  structure  of'  which 
often  shows  great  engineeriiij,'  skill.    The 
f  i.lians  are  very  apt  at  selecting  a  spot  which 
IS  clifHcult  of  access,  and  fortifying  it  in  such 
a  manner  that  two  or  three  men  could  hold 
It  against  a  thousand.    Mr.  Williains  visited 
one  of  these   forts,  and  found  that  the  ap- 
proach to  it  was  not  without  danger  even 
in  time  of  peace.     The  only  path  to  the  fort 
led  througli  thick  and  tangled   vegetation, 
and  terminated  on   the  edge  of  a  precipice 
The  entrance  to  the  fort  ^vas  on  the  fiice  of  * 
the  precipice,  several  yards  from  the  end  of 
the  path,  and  there  was  no  mode  of  gettin'» 
to  It  except  by  crawling  along  the  iierpen" 
dicular  rock  by  means  of  little   holes  in 
which    the    toes    and   fingers  could  be  in- 
sertec'    •  - 

Wlieii  the  natives  cannot  find  a  iilace  of 
sucli  natural  strength,  they  have  a  way  of. 
defending  the  entrance  by  a  series  of  gates 
with  traverses  between  them,  so  that  any 
enemies  who  forced  the  first  gate  were 
obliged  to  go  for  some  distance  through  a 
narrow  passage  wliicli  >vas  jiierced  with  ioop- 
holes,  through  which  spears  could  be  thrust 
and  arrows  shot.  Even  if  they  succeeded  in 
passing  the  second  gate,  a  similar  gauntlet 
had  to  be  run  before  they  could  reach  the 
third.  Thorny  trees  are  in  great  request 
for  the  outer  defences  of  these  forts,  the 
bare-skinned  natives  greatly  <lreading  the 
prickly  walls,  which  every  year  grow  more 
dense  and  less  penetrable'. 

Knowing  the  strength  of  the  forts,  the 
natives  do  not  care  about  assaulliii"  them 
and,  as  they  advance  to  flu;  walls,  avaii 
themselves  of  every  cover.  Thr y  then  yell 
•"iiu  shout  derisive  taunts  at  the  enemy, 
challengiiig  them  to  come  out  and  fight 
Sometimes  the    challenge  is   answered^  a 


CONSECllATION  OF  A  WAllRlOll. 


058 


number  of  warriors  issuing  fVom  the  fort 
and  each  selocliiigan  ailvt'i'ttary  ;  often,  how- 
over,  as  soon  as  tlio  bosiof^ors  see  their 
challeiijjc  answered,  tiicy  run  away  as  fast 
as  tluiy  can,  the  Fijian  likini^  to  come  l)chind 
his  enemy  and  Itnoelc  liim  on  tiiu  head 
Htealtliily  bettor  than  to  oppose  liim  iu  open 
flght. 

Hiiould  a  fort  bo  talten,  tho  slaughter  is 
dreadful,  and  is  notliing  but  a  inassa(;ru,  tlie 
greater  number  being  killed,  and  the  rest 
reserved  to  l)e  put  to  death  by  torture.  One 
favorite  mode  of  torture  is  to  stun  ti)o  un- 
liappy  captive  with  a  club,  and  to  throw 
liiin  into  a  heated  oven  by  way  of  bringing 
him  back  to  liis  senses.  The  struggles  of 
tho  unfortunate  man  as  the  tierce  heat  rc- 
btores  him  to  consciousness  are  greeted 
with  laughter  and  jeera  by  tho  delighted 
Rpectators.  Others  are  bound  hand  and 
foot  and  given  to  the  sons  of  chiefs  as  sub- 
jects on  which  they  can  try  their  skiU  at  tor- 
turing. 

As  these  ex))edition9  are  nearly  always 
made  iu  canoes,  the  retiu-n  of  the  war  party 
is  seen  from  a  great  distance,  and  all  the 
population  ivssemblo  on  the  beach  to  wel- 
come tho  victorious  warriors,  tho  women 
dancing  and  singing  songs  of  trumi])h  in 
lienor  of  the  conquerors.  A  horrible  scone 
th(!n  takes  j)laee,  too  horril)le  indeed  to  be 
doscrilied;  the  bodies  of  the  dead  are  olfered 
in  the  temples,  tho  ovens  are  prepared,  and 
for  some  days  unbridled  license  reigns  su- 
premo. 

In  connexion  with  warfare  must  bo  mon- 
tioiied  a  curious  custom  of  giving  a  new 
name  to  men  who  have  killed  any  of  tho 
enemy  during  the  campaign.  AVliether  the 
enemy  be  an  armed  warrior  slain  in  fair 
fight,  an  unarmed  man  knocked  down  by 
stealth,  a  woman,  or  even  a  little  child,  sig- 
nilies  nothing.  The  warrior  has  clubbed  an 
enemy,  .and  has  a  right  to  his  now  name  of 
honor.  Should  ho  have  killed  a  chief,  he 
takes  tho  name  of  his  victim,  .and  sometimes 
his  own  chief  honors  him  by  calling  tho  man 
his  Hag,  his  canoe,  his  comb,  <&c.  Of  the 
cousocnvtiou  ceremony,  wherein  tho  new 
name  is  given,  Mr.  Williams  once  saw  a 
very  excellent  example  at  Somo-sorao,  the 
subject  of  consecration  being  a  young  chief. 

"  The  king  and  leading  men  having  taken 
their  seats  in  the  public  S(purc,  fourteen 
mats  were  brought  and  spread  out,  and 
upon  these  were  placed  a  bale  of  cloth  and 
two  whale's  teeth.  Near  by  was  laid  a  sail 
mat,  and  on  it  several  men  s  dresses.  The 
Voung  chief  now  made  his  appearance,  bear- 
ing in  one  hand  a  large  pine-apple  club,  and 
in  tho  other  a  common  reed,  while  his  long 
train  of  luasi  dragged  on  tho  ground  behind 
him. 

"On  his  reaching  tho  mats,  an  old  man 
took  tho  reed  out  of  the  hero's  hand,  and 
despatched  a  youth  to  deposit  it  carcfuiiy  in 
tho  temple  of  tho  war  god.    The  king  then 


ordered  tho  young  chief  to  utand  upon  tho 
bale  of  cloth;  ana  while  lie  obeyed,  a  num- 
ber of  women  came  into  the  s(|uare,  bring- 
ing small  disht'8  of  turmeric  mixed  with  oil. 
whicli  they  placed  beft)ro  the  youth,  and 
retired  with  n  song.  The  masi  was  now 
removed  by  the  chief  himself,  an  attendant 
substituting  one  much  larger  in  its  stead. 
The  king's  Mata  (aide-de-camp)  next  se- 
lected several  dishes  of  the  colored  oil,  and 
anointed  the  warrior  from  tho  roots  of  tho 
hair  to  his  heels. 

"  At  this  stage  of  tho  proceedings  one  of 
the  spectators  stepped  forward  and  ox- 
changed  clubs  with  the  anointed,  and  soon 
another  did  tho  same.  Then  one  left  him  a 
gun  in  place  of  the  club,  and  many  similar 
changes  were  eflected,  under  a  belief  that 
tho  weajions  thus  passing  through  his  hands 
derived  some  virtue. 

"  Tlio  mats  were  now  removed,  and  a  por- 
tion of  them  sent  to  the  temple,  some  of  tho 
turmeric  being  sent  aller  them.  The  king 
and  old  men,  followed  by  the  young  man 
ami  two  men  sounding  conchs,  now  pro- 
ceeded to  tho  seaside,  where  the  anointed 
one  passed  through  tlio  ancients  to  the  wa- 
ter's od^c,  returned,  while  tho  king  and 
those  with  him  counted  one,  two,  throe, 
four,  five,  and  each  then  threw  a  stone  into 
the  sea.  Tho  whole  company  now  went 
back  to  the  town  with  blasts  of  tho  trumpet 
shells,  and  a  peculiar  hooting  of  the  men. 

"  Custom  requires  that  a  hut  should  bo 
built,  in  which  tho  anointed  man  and  his 
companions  may  pass  tho  next  three  nights, 
during  which  time  the  newly  named  liero 
must  not  lie  down,  but  sleep  as  he  sits;  ho 
must  not  change  his  masi,  or  remove  tho 
turmeric,  or  enter  a  house  in  which  there  is 
a  woman,  until  that  period  has  elapsed.  In 
tho  case  now  described,  tho  hut*  had  not 
been  built,  and  tlic  young  chief  w.as  permit- 
ted to  use  the  temple  of  the  god  of  war  in- 
stead. 

"  During  the  throe  days  he  was  on  an  in- 
cessant march,  followed  by  half  a  score  lads 
reddened  like  himself.  After  throe  weeks 
he  paid  mo  a  visit,  on  tho  first  day  of  his 
being  permitted  to  enter  a  house  in  which 
there  was  a  female.  He  informed  me  his 
new  name  was  Kuila,  or  Flag." 

When  a  name  of  honor  has  thus  been 
givort  to  a  man,  the  complimentary  title  of 
Koroi,  or  consecrated,  is  prefixed  to  it. 

The  battles  of  tho  Fijians  are  not,  as  a 
rule,  remarkable  for  tho  slaughter  that  takes 
place.  They  arc,  in  fact,  little  but  a  series 
of  single  combats.  When  a  man  falls,  his 
friends  try  to  get  him  off  the  ground  to  save 
his  life,  it  possible,  or  to  be  able  to  bury  tho 
body  if  he  should  die ;  while  tho  enemy  use 
their  best  endeavors  to  secjjro  tho  wounded 
man  in  order  to  bake  and  eat  him.  No  dis- 
honor is  attached  to  the  fact  of  a  slain  man 
being  eater.  On  the  contrary,  it  is  a  proof 
of  his  courage,  for  uoue  but  those  who  die 


"#» 


::H 


V>  ! 


I'l 


ilM 


n ; 


'!'i 


•M 


FIJI. 


brnvcly  in  battle  arc  caton  In  the  feaHt 
which  follows  iinon  the  victory,  the  bodies 
of  sliiin  cowiinlN  heing  contemptuously 
thrown  into  the  bush. 

Wk  now  come  to  a  more  plensinj?  part  of 
Fijian  elinraeter,  namely,  the  various  inci- 
dents of  (loinestlc  life. 

Ah  soon  as  the  Fijian  child  comes  into  the 
world,  it  is  taken  IVom  the  luoMier,  and 
Riven  to  another  woman  for  three  days.diir- 
in<,'  which  time  slie  lies  at  her  ease.  The 
first  clothing  which  the  child  receives  is  a 
thick  coating  of  turmeric  oil,  and  tli«^  first 
food  which  it  knows  is  either  the  juice  of 
sugar-cane  or  of  cocoa-nut.  A  name  is  given 
to  thecliihiasHoonas  possihie  alter  its  hirlh, 
and  tliese  luunes  are  generally  signilleant  of 
some  event  that  has  happeiu-d  either  to  the 
child  its(>If  or  to  some  member  of  its  fam- 
ily- 

Though  the  Fijian  children  spend  the 
great  iniH  of  their  time  in  the  oj)en  air 
and  are  untrammelled  by  clothing,  they  are 
liable  to  a  very  unpleasant  disiNise  called 
the  "thoko,"  which  somewhat  resemliles  the 
"yaws"  of  the  negro  tribes.  The  paniits 
are  rather  glad  than  sorry  to  see  their  chil- 
dren atllieted  with  this  disease,  as  thiy  Iie- 
heve  that  it  forms  a  necessarvacljunct  to  in- 
fantile health,  and  that  a  child  who  escapes 
the  thoko  is  sure  to  ))e  sickly  and  feeble  when 
It  grows  up. 

The  Fijian  child  receives  no  training,  un- 
less encourageiiient  of  every  bad  passion 
may  be  called  l)y  that  name.  Keven"e  is 
imjn-essed  upon  the  child's  mind  from  its 
earliest  infancy,  and  most  horrilile  are  the 
means  which  are  sojnetiines  emjiloyed  for 
this  puri)ose.  In  riper  years  the  duty  of  re- 
venge is  kept  al  wa  vs  before  his  eyes.  Should 
one  man  insult  another,  the  offended  individ- 
ual keeps  himself  constantly  reminded  of 
the  ollence  by  placing  some  object  in  his 
sight,  and  not  removing  it  until  he  has 
avenged  himself. 

Sometimes  he  will  cfTect  the  same  purpose 
by  depriving  himself  of  some  luxury  until 
he  has  had  his  revenge.  One  man,  for  ex- 
anii)le,  will  niait  his  hair  in  a  particular 
manner,  another  will  hang  some  aniele  of 
dress  in  his  house,  while  another  will  re 


walk  alono  in  the  evening.  Mr.  Williams 
mentions  that  he  has  seen  a  whole  connmnv 
disperse  at  the  lifting  of  a  telescope,  uiul. 
more  than  onc'e  when  he  was  visited  liy  na- 
tives and  tiie  door  sudd-.nly  slammed" with 
the  wind,  the  whole  of  his  visitors  rushed 
tmnultuously  out  of  the  windows.  On  one 
occasion,  a  miinbcr  of  men  were  (lra<'>'inir  a 
laijje  canoe  into  the  sea,  when  one  oFtliem 
espied  a  sli.'ht  crack  on  one  side.  lie 
whispered  his  discovery  to  the  man  next 
liim,  lie  to  the  next,  and  so  on,  and  in  a  i'vw 
minutes  every  man  had  run  away  from  tho 
boat,  fearing  lest  the  owner  shoiild  eharsro 
him  with  having  (hme  the  damage. 

The  amusements  of  the  Fijiaiis  are  rather 
more  varied  than  is  usually  the  case  among 
savages.  Some  of  them  are  identical  with 
many  of  our  own  children's  games,  such  as 
"bide  and  seek,"  "blind  man's  liiiir,"  and  a 
sort  of  "  hop,  skin,  and  jiinii)."  A  sort  of 
|)iteh  and  to.ss  "  is  also  in  vogue,  the  substi- 
tute for  pence  lieing  the  Hat,  circular  fruit 
oi  a  si)eeie8  of  mimosa. 

They  have  one  game  which  bears  some 
resemblance  to  that  of  the  "kangaroo-rat" 
of  Australia,  which  has  been  deseiilied  on 
page  7.m  The  nlayers  have  a  reed  about 
lour  feet  in  length,  at  one  en<l  of  which  is  an 
oval  iiiece  of  hard  and  heavy  wood  some  six 
inches  inlength.  This  iii.itrument  is  held 
between  the  thumb  and  middle  linger,  the 
end  of  the  forefinger  being  api^lied  to  its  ex- 
tremity. "With  a  peculiar  uiideihand  jerk 
the  player  drives  it  horizontally,  so  that  it 
glides  over  the  ground  for  a  censiderablo 
(listaiiee,  the  jilayer  who  sends  the  niissilo 
larthest  being  flie  winner.  In  order  that 
this  iavorite  game  may  be  '-onstantlv  iilnyed, 
each  village  has  attached  to  it  a  long  s'trip 
of  smooth  sward,  which  is  kept  sedidoiisly 
trimmed,  so  tliat  the  missile  niuy  skim 
along  with  as  little  resistance  as  iioss'ible. 
Then  there  is  the  swiiiir.    This  is  made 


Aise  to  danee,  or  to  eat  of  .some  particiil.ir 
kind  of  food.  One  chief,  for  example,  Run" 
a  roll  of  tobacco  on  the  roof  of  his  house! 
with  the  intention  of  refusing  fo  smoke  until 
he  h.ad  killed  his  enemy  and  could  smoke 
that  tobacco  over  the  dead  body.  Another 
refVaint'd  from  speaking,  and  would  only  an- 
swer by  whistling.  "^ 

The  knowledge  of  this  custom  makes  the 
Fijians  a  most  nervous  race.  Should  a 
strange  canoe  appear  off  the  coa.st,  the  in- 
habitants of  the  villages  are  all  in  a  stir 
some  escaping  to  the  woods,  and  others  con- 
cealing their  food  and  other  valnahlep  in 
secret  storehouses.     They  do  not '  like"  to 


much  like  the  New  Zealand  swing,  but  is 
used  in  a  different  manner.  Instead  of  be- 
ing held  by  the  hands  alone,  the  rope  has  a 
looji  at  the  end,  into  which  flie  swinger  in- 
serts his  foot.  Sometime;-  it  has  a  lar>'o 
knot,  on  which  both  feet  can  be  support«1. 
Drawing  flie  rope  to  the  fop  of  a  conven- 
ient bank,  the  swinger  grasjis  it  with  his 
hniids,  leaps  in  the  air,  places  his  foot  in  the 
loop,  and  goes  sweeping  fhrough  an  enor- 
mous are,  the  mdius  of  which  often  exceeds 
fifty  feet.  In  some  cases  the  swing  is  fixed 
by  the  water  side,  and  tlio  more  diiriiig  of 
the  perfonners  loosen  their  grasp  af'^lho 
projier  moment,  aud  are  hurled'^  through  tho 
air  into  the  water. 

One  favorite  game,  called  Ririki,  is  played 
after  the  following  fashion  ;  — Close  to  tho 
water's  edge  is  fixed  a  stout  post,  and  on  this 
IS  laid  the  trunk  of  a  tall  cocoa-nut  tree,  so 
that  its  base  rests  on  the  ground,  and  tho 
tip  projecfci  over  the  water.  The  game  con- 
sists in  running  at  full  speed  up  this  in- 


isa^sffGi  s.^=irjaEHa 


BETHOTIIAL  and  MARRIAftE. 


Ml 


dined  trco,  and  jumping  into  the  wator  one 
aflor  tliu  otitur,  swiiniuinjt  nshoro  and  re- 
penting tho  procoss.  TluH  is  a  very  lively 
Kamo,  tho  natlvosslioutingnnd  laucliing  tho 
wliolo  time,  and  plunging  so  rapidly  in  suc- 
ccsBion  tliivt  tho  water  IJenealli  tlio  end  of 
tho  iniilincd  troo  Ih  white  with  foam.  Tho 
jieople  are  adiniral)lo  swinnners,  and,  hav- 
ing boon  rtccugtonuid  to  swim  as  noon  as  thoy 
could  walic,  dlnport  themselves  in  the  water 
with  as  much  oaso  as  on  land.  Thoy  are 
fond  of  swimming  out  to  sea  in  parties,  and 
join  In  various  aquatie  games,  sucli  as  trying 
to  push  eai^h  other  under  water,  diving,  rac- 
ing, and  so  forth. 

Some  of  their  sports  are  rather  rongh. 
They  liavo  one  game  which  bears  a  certain 
resemhlaneo  to  8now-l)alling,  excent  that  the 
missiles  arc  bitter  oranges  insteau  of  snow- 
balls. In  some  places  they  jerk  stones  at 
each  other  by  means  of  elastic  bamboos,  and 
do  so  with  such  force  that  considerable  pain 
is  caused  when  tho  missile  strikes  tlic  bare 
skin. 

Sometimes  a  sort  of  mock  battle  takes 
place.  When  food  is  brought  to  tho  men, 
tho  women  suddenly  rush  upon  them,  try  to 
drive  tliem  away,  and  to  soi/.o  tho  food. 
Itougli  as  tho  women  may  be,  the  men  sel- 
dom retiiliate,  except  by  taking  thidr  assaii- 
nnt.s  round  tho  waists  and  throwing  tliem 
on  the  ground.  Mr.  Williams  mentions  one 
instance  when  a  woman  actually  shot  a  man 
dead  with  an  arrow,  turning  tho  mock  fight 
into  a  sad  reality.  Several  cases  are  known 
where  the  men  have  been  so  severely 
handled  that  they  have  afterward  died  of 
their  wounds. 

On  certain  occasions  an  amusing  game  is 
playeil  bv  the  young  men.  A  thin  earthen- 
ware vessel  is  filled  with  water  and  sus- 
pended from  a  bough,  and  a  number  of 
young  men  with  their  eyes  blindfolded,  try 
to  break  the  vessel  by  striking  at  it  with 
long  sticks. 

Music  and  dancing  are  greatly  studied 
among  tiio  Fijians,  and  any  one  who  knows 
a  new  danco  is  sure  to  earn  plenty  of  go.)ds 
by  teaching  it.  Their  musical  instruments 
are  very  poor,  consisting  of  drums,  pipes, 
and  tnnnpets.  The  first-mentioned  instru- 
ments are  nothing  more  than  wooden  cylin- 
ders, tlirough  one  side  of  which  a  groove  is 
cut  about  an  inch  or  so  in  width.  The  pipes 
are  of  two  kinds;  namely,  a  sort  of  pandean 
pipe  made  of  several  strips  of  bamboo  fas- 
tened together,  and  tho  flute.  This  latter  in- 
strument is  played  by  placing  the  anerture 
close  to  one  nostril,  and  breathing  tlirough 
it  while  tho  other  is  stopped  with  the  thumb 
of  the  left  hand.  The  trumpets  are  merely 
conch-shells  blown  through  a  hole  in  the 
side 

Tho  dances  are  very  carefully  got  up,  and 
more  resemble  military  movements  than 
danJTS,  the  simiiitw^  V.cing  increased  by 
the  martial  array  of  the  dancers,  who  arc  all 


dresned  tts  if  for  war.tholr  facrs  painted  wlih 
scarlet,  their  bcMlios  powdered  with  black, 
and  their  best  clubs  or  spears  in  tlieir  hands. 
Thoy  execute  Intricate  manteuvres,  march- 
ing in  various  figures,  wheelinjj,  halting, 
and  stamping  their  foot  in  exact  tune  to  tlio 
rhythm  of  flui  song  and  the  beat  of  tho 
drum.  Sometimes  several  hundred  men 
are  engaged  in  tho  dance,  while  the  musl' 
clans  arc  twenty  or  tliirty  in  niunber. 

The  scene  at  one  of  these  dances  is  very 
picturesque,  but  it  wants  tho  furious  energy 
which  gives  such  fiery  animation  to  tho  war 
dance  of  tho  New  Zealanders,  tho  move- 
ments, though  correct  in  point  of  time, 
being  comparatively  dull  and  heavy.  In 
order  to  enliven  it  a  little  more,  a  profes- 
sional buflfoon  is  usually  introduce(l  upon 
the  scone,  who  performs  sundry  grotcscine 
niovements,  and  is  usually  applauded  for  liis 
exertions. 

Music  and  dancing  are  always  used  at  tho 
celebration  of  a  marriage,  and,  as  may  bo 
imagined  from  the  punctilious  nature  or  tho 
Fijian,  there  is  no  lack  of  ceremony  on  tho 
occasion. 

Mostly,  girls  are  betrothed  when  they  aro 
quite  infants,  no  regard  being  jiaid  to  dis- 
parity of  ago  between  themselves  and  their 
mtended  husbands.  Tho  form  of  betrothal 
is  rather  curious,  and  consists  in  the  mother 
of  tho  child  taking  a  email  liku,  or  woman's 
girdle,  and  presenting  it  to  the  map,  who 
from  that  moment  takes  her  daughter  under 
his  protection  until  she  is  old  enough  to  bo 
married. 

In  those  cases  where  a  young  man  takes  a 
liking  to  a  young  woman,  ho  asks  her  of  her 
father,  making  at  tho  same  time  a  small 
present  as  a  matter  of  form.  Should  tho 
application  be  successful,  an  interchange  of 
presents  then  takes  place  between  tho 
friends  of  botli  parties,  and  in  a  few  days 
follows  the  ceremony  called  "  wnrmi  g," 
which  consists  In  conveying  to  the  house  of 
tho  brldo  some  food  prepared  by  tho  In- 
tended husband.  In  most  parts  of  Fiji,  tho 
bride  has  a  complete  holiday  for  four  days, 
sitting  quietly  at  homo,  dressed  in  her  finest 
apparel,  and  painted  with  turmeric  and  oil. 
A '  the  expiration  of  the  four  days,  she  ia 
taken  by  a  number  of  married  women  to 
the  sea,  where  they  all  join  In  fishing,  and 
afterward  cook  tho  fish  that  they  have  taken. 
Tho  cooking  being  completed,  tho  bride- 
groom is  sent  for,  and  the  betrothed  couple 
eat  together,  each  giving  tho  other  a  por- 
tion of  food. 

After  this  ceremony  comes  a  perlo<l  dur- 
ing which  the  bridegroom  is  employed  in 
building  a  house  for  his  intended  wife,  and 
tho  girl  undergoes  the  painful  tattooing 
which  marks  her  as  having  taken  her  place 
fimong  women.  During  this  time,  she  re- 
mains within  the  house  so  as  to  shield  her 
f.rt|v^*^lf.v|rtj,  from  the  sun.  The  house  bevn^ 
completed,  alf  the  friends  of  boUi  families 


'!i 


lil 


,1'  = 

n 

'*', 

I 

H 

11! 

wl 

M6 


T...I. 


•ro  jfnthored  toffflthor,  nnrl  n  grent  fpMt 
take!!  !>!•!•  ,  at  wliiih  the  given  mrko  it  a 
IKtint  of  liorior  to  bo  an  Invliih  m  nouihle. 
At  the  end  of  thi*  ft^aat,  the  girl  la  formBlly 
hiiii(t(!(l  ovor  to  hor  hushnml,  ami  exchnnges 
her  narrow  liku  for  tho  broader  Rurniuiit 
befitting  lier  now  condition. 

When  tlie  daughter  of  an  important  cliief 
is  miuricd,  liur  father  always  gives  her  a 
numl)t'r  of  female  attendants,  sometimes  as 
many  n»  twelve  or  Jifteen  accomnanying  the 
Jiride  lo  her  home.  They  are  placed  under 
the  cliaigo  of  an  elderly  woman  who  actN  as 
their  Buperlnfendent,  and  are  called  by  a 
name  whiih  nignitieR  a  pot  servant.  There 
is  always  a  great  scone  at  the  departure  of  a 
bride  to  her  home,  all  her  relations  and 
friends  cro\.'ding  round  her,  and  kiseing  her 
until  sho  is  nearly  smothered  by  their 
caresses. 

An  interesting  description  of  the  presen- 
tation of  a  bride  is  given  by  Mr.  wlilinms, 
and  tho  artist  has  reproduced  tho  scene  in 
the   engraving   No.   1,  on   the   next  page. 
"Sho  was  brought  in  at  the  principal  en- 
trance by  tlie  kind's  aunt  and  a  few  matrons, 
and    then,   led   only   bv   tho  old   lady,    ap- 
proached tho  king.    She  was  an  iutorenting 
girl  of  Hfleen,  glistening  with  oil,  wearing  a 
new  liku,  and  a  necklace  of  curved  ivory 
points,  radiating  from  her  neck,  and  turning 
upward.    Tho  king  then  received  from  his 
aunt. the  girl,  with  two  whale's  teeth,  which 
she  carried  in  her  hand.    When  she  was 
seated  at  his  feet,  his  majesty  ro|)eated  a  li.st 
of  their  gods,and  fini.shed  by  praying  that  the 
girl  might  live,  and  bring  forth  m"ale  children. 
"  To  her  friends,  two  men  who  liad  come 
in  at  the  back  door,  he  gave  a  musket,  beg- 
ging them  not  to  think  hardly  of  his  having 
taken  their  child,  as  the  step  was  connected 
with  tho  good  of  tho  land,  in  which  their 
interests,  as  well  as  his  own,  were  involved. 
Tho  musket,  which  was  about  equivalent  to 
the  necklace,  the  men  received  with  bent 
heads,  muttering  a  short  prayer,  the  close  of 
which  was  exactlv  tho  same  as  they  had 
offered  for  years,  '^ Death  to  Natawo.'    Tui- 
kilakila  then  took  off  the  girl's  necklace  and 
kissed  her.    The  gayest  moment  of  hor  life, 
as  for  as  dress  was  concerned,  was  past;  and 
I  felt  that  tho  untying  of  that  polished  orna- 
ment from  her  neck  waa  the  first  down- 
ward step  to  a  dreary  future.    Perhaps  her 
forebodings  were  like  mine,  for  she  wci)t, 
and  the  tears  which  glanced  off  her  bosom 
and  rested  in  distinct  drops  on  her  oily  legs 
were  seen  by  the  king,  who  said, 'Do  not 
weep.     Arc  you  going  to  leave  your  own 
land?    You  are  but  going  a  voyage,  soon  to 
return.    Do  not  think  it  a  hardship  to  go  to 
Mbau.    Here  you  have  to  work  hard;  thex* 
you  will  rest.    Here  you  fare  indiflerentlv; 
there  you  will  eat  the  best  of  food.    Only  ^o 
not  weep  to  spoil  yourself.'    As  he  thuf 
spoke,  he  played  with  her  curly  locks,  t-^rr- 
phmenting  her  on  her  face  and  ihrare.    '^V.a  ' 


reminded  him  of  a  sister  of  hers,  who  had 
btuii  taken  to  Mliau  in  years  past." 

She  hud  .ertHinlv  reason  for  hor  tears,  as 
the  c<mditioM  of  Fijian  wives  i«  not  a  very 
enviable  one.  As  is  the  ease  with  most 
eountri.'s  in  which  polygamy  Is  practised,  tho 
wives  are  apt  to  be  very  Jealous  o»  each 
other,  and  to  quarrel  among  themselves. 
tJeiierallv,  their  squabbles  are  treated  with 
contempluoiiB  imfitrerejice  by  the  husband 
as  long  as  they  do  not  annoy  him  iierson- 
ally;  but  if  he  should  feel  himself  «n;ered, 
he  spiedily  checks  the  tumult  by  belnbor- 
iug  all  parlies  alike  with  a  vvry  siitllcient 
Ktick  which  he  keejm  for  the  purpose.  One 
chief  liad  a  cudgel  as  thick  as  a  broonisti<k, 
in  which  he  seemed  to  fake  no  little  pride, 
having  carved  and  inlaid  it  with  ivory. 

Women  are  not  hold  in  any  great  esti- 
mation, whether  they  bo  single  or  nmrrled. 
A  rather  ludicrous  example  of  the  value  set 
by  Fijians  upon  women  occurred  in  the 
courso  of  traffic  between  Europeans  and  na- 
tives. A  chief  had  bnrgjiitied  with  the  cap- 
tain of  a  shi|)  for  u  musket,  the  price  of 
which  was  to  be  two  pigs.  The  chief  went 
off  with  his  musket,  but  could  only  find  ono 
pig.  So  ho  honorably  kept  his  bargain  by 
sending  the  one  i)ig  aiid  a  young  woman  in- 
stead of  the  other. 

In  tlie  description  of  tho  ceremonies  at- 
tendant upon  a  wedding,  mention  was  made 
of  the  custom  of  building  a  house  for  the 
bride.  The  form  of  Fijian  houses  varies 
according  to  locality.  In  some  places  they 
are  sharp-ridged  and  gabled,  like  those 
which  have  already  been  described  when 
treating  of  New  (Jniuea.  In  others  they  are 
round,  and  in  otliers  conical.  Some"  are 
built  on  posts,  and  others  simply  on  tho 
ground.  As  is  the  case  throughout  all  Poly- 
nesia, the  houses  are  niiule  of  a  wooden 
framework  lashed  together,  and  covered 
with  a  thatch  of  reeds.  Many  of  tliese 
houses  are  of  great  size,  more  than  a  hun- 
dred feet  in  length  and  about  forty  in  wi<lth. 
A  house  that  is  meant  to  endure  for 
any  length  of  time  is  made  of  a  wood  called 
by  the  natives  veM,  which  is  exactly  similar 
to  the  greeiiheart  of  India,  and  a  sort  of 
sandal  wood  is  also  used  for  the  same  pur- 
pose. 

Tho  walls  are  generally  made  of  reeds  ar- 
'  ranged  in  three  layers"  the  middle  layer 
being  horizontal  and  the  outt/  and  inner 
layers  perpendicular.  They  are  tied  or 
sewed  together  with  slnnet,  and  it  is  the 
Fijian  architect's  pride  to  weave  the  sinnet 
into  elegant  patterns.  Some  men  are  cele- 
brated for  their  skill  in  inserting  and  exe- 
cuting these  patterns,  and  go  about  from 
place  tr>  place  as  they  are  wanted.  Even  the 
posts  that  support  the  edifice  are  often  cov- 
?.:  <\  "Jth  reeds,  bound  together  in  the  same 
-i««»n<0U8  K.ivnner.  The  door  is  always  n 
^i' V  o  I  j'^obably  for  the  same  rea.son  that 
j?>  !t;;  68  ~  xiniiir  to   tuokc  su  low  au  en- 


(1.)    A    II.MW    \Vi:i>l>lN(l.     (MiT  ii.i^f  iiftit. 


on- 


:l 


^1 

'I 


'A  A 


ill 


Cl>37) 


1 5'! 


Ill 


tri 
m 

BV 

w 

US 
ai 

al 
al 
b( 
d( 
fii 

rn 

tl 

VI 

VI 

tl 

ti 
S 
b 
a 
1 
a 
o 
tl 
it 
r: 

1 

SI 

V 

d 
d 

g 

Cl 

f( 
ri 
tl 
n 
e 
b 
i( 


MODE   OF  THATCHING  HOUSES. 


959 


trance  to  hia  hut;    namely,  fear  of  ene- 
mies. 

The  thatch  is  sometimes  of  cocoa-nut  or 
sugar-cane  leaves,  and  sometimes  of  grass, 
while  in  a  few  of  tlie  best  houses  both  are 
used.  The  leaves  are  doubled  over  reeds 
and  sewed  together,  so  as  to  form  lengths  of 
about  five  or  six  feet.  Grass  thatch  is  fixed 
almost  exactly  as  straw  is  used  in  England 
being  laid  on  the  roof  in  bundles,  and  held 
down  by  long,  mangrove  branches,  and  tied 
firmly  with  rattan. 

House  thatching  is  one  of  the  most  ani- 
mated scnups  that  can  bo  imagined.  As 
soon  as  the  roof  is  linished,  notice  is  given  that 
the  thatclurs  are  wanted,  and  then  straight- 
way assemble  a  gang  of  merry  laborers, 
varying  in  nuniber  according  to  the  size  of 
the  howse,  as  many  as  three  hundred  some- 
times uniting  to  thatch  a  very  large  house. 
Some  bring  tiin  leaves  and  grass,  others 
bind  and  sew  them  into  the  proper  form, 
and  others  take  them  to  the  thatchers. 
Those  who  actually  apply  the  reeds  always 
arrange  themselves  in  pairs  on  the  roof,  one 
outside  and  tiie  other  inside  the  building,  so 
that  one  can  take  the  end  of  tlie  lasliing  as 
it  is  pushed  through  the  thatch  by  his  com- 
rade, draw  it  tight,  and  return  it  to  him. 
The  reader  may  find  house  thatching  repre- 
sented in  a  spirited  engraving,  on  the  OV/tli 
page. 

The  noise  that  arises  from  a  largo  house 
during  the  process  of  thatching  is  almost 
deafening.  Naturally,  the  Fijian  has  a 
great  genius  for  shouting,  and  on  such  oc- 
casions he  fairly  outdoes  himself.  Some  call 
for  more  gra?s,  leaves,  mangrove  rods  and 
rattans;  others  from  below  sliout  in  reply  to 
them.  Those  who  bring  the  materials  must 
needs  shout  as  they  clamber  to  the  roof,  and 
every  one  throws  in  a  few  yells  occasionally 
by  way  of  cucouragcinent  to  his  compan- 
ions. 

The  most  characteristic  part  of  a  Fijian 
house  is  the  ridge  pole  which  runs  along' the 
top  of  the  roof.  It  projects  at  either  end  for 
a  considerable  distance,  and  in  first-class 
buildings  is  worked  into  a  trumpet-like 
shape  at  the  exiniulties.  These  projecting 
ends  are  mostly  blackened,  and  decorated 
with  large  white  cowrie  shells.  A  sort  of 
cable  made  of  grass  and  bound  with  vine- 
stalks  is  generally  laid  on  the  ridf^e  pole. 
and  in  many  cases  is  fiiiishcd  off  witli  a  row 
of  tassels,  and  nearly  covered  with  patterns 
worked  in  sinnct. 

Some,  tliough  not  all.  the  houses  have 
openings  by  way  of  windows,  which  can  be 
closed  by  nieans  of  mats  fastened  over  them 
like  curtains.  Within  the  house,  and  nearly 
in  the  centre,  is  the  fireplace,  which  is  sunk 
in  the  ground  to  a  foot  or  so  in  depth,  and 
surrounded  by  <-.  sort  of  fender  made  of  hard 


wood.  In  very  livrge  houses,  the  fireplace 
is  ten  or  twelve  feet  square,  and  is  covered 
by  a  wooden  framework  of  several  tiers,  on 
which  cooking  pots  and  similar  utensils  can 
be  kept.  There  is  no  chimney,  nor  even  a 
liole  in  the  roof,  so  that  all  the  smoke  irora 
the  fireplace  ascends  to  the  roof,  and  finds 
its  way  out  through  the  thatch  as  it  li""*'  can. 
In  nearly  every  case  the  doorway  is  fur- 
nished with  a  projecting  roof 

In  connection  with  roof  thatching,  a  char- 
acteristic joke  is  recorded  of  the  Mbiiu  peo- 
ple. The  short  missile  club  is  called  ula, 
and  the  act  of  hurling  it  is  called  ulaula. 
The  latter  word,  however,  also  signifies 
house  thatching.  By  way  of  a  jjractical 
joke,  the  people  of  Mbau  sent  to  those  of 
Tailcvu,  asking  them  to  come  and  nluula. 
The  latter  taking  the  word  in  its  ordinary 
sense,  accepted  the  invitation,  and  came, 
->xppcting  the  usual  scene  of  merriment, 
when  to  their  surprise,  they  were  saluted 
liy  a  volley  of  ulas  hurled  at  them  by  their 
entertainers. 

Tlie  furniture  of  a  Fijian  house  is  simple. 
At  one  end  is  a  raised  dais,  on  which  the 
master  of  the  house  .sleeps  by  night  and 
reclinrr  by  day.  It  is  covered  with  mats, 
and  over  it  are  hung  the  sheets  of  thin  masi 
which  are  used  as  mosquito  curtains.  On 
this  dais  are  generally  one  or  two  pillows. 
These  implements  are  not  unlike  those  of 
the  Kaffirs,  being  nothing  more  tliiin  cylin- 
drical bars  of  wood  supported  on  legs  at 
either  end.  Some  of  them  arc  from  four  to 
five  feet  in  length.  This  form  of  pillow  is 
used  on  account  of  the  mop-like  headdress 
of  the  natives,  which  would  be  pressed  out 
)f  all  shape  were  it  laid  on  an  ordinary  pil- 
low. 

On  the  hearth  arc  several  lai'gc  earthen- 
ware cooking  pots,  oval  in  shape,  and  each 
set  on  three  stones.  As  the  quantity  of 
foml  in  them  diminishes,  they  are  gradually 
tilted,  so  that  when  they  contain  but  very 
little  food  they  lie  quite  on  their  sif'es. 
Near  the  liearth  lies  the  thick  concave 
board  on  which  bread  is  kneaded,  and  close 
to  the  board  are  the  smooth  round  stones 
by  which  the  operation  of  kneading  is  con- 
ducted. The  sm.nll  hand  nets  used  for  fish- 
ing are  kept  near  the  fire,  together  with  the 
knives  and  other  implements  used  in  pre- 
paring food.  Several  earthen  water  jars  are 
always  placed  near  the  fire.  Thev  may  be 
distinguished  by  their  glazed  surfaces,  and 
are  placed  carefully  on  a  thick  bed  of  grass. 
A  few  bamboo  vessels  containing  salt  and 
fresh  \^ater,  are  generally  placed  near  the 
larger  jars.  Round  the  foot  of  the  wall  are 
rangecl  a  series  of  bowls  and  jars,  which 
contain  the  arrowroot  and  similar  articles  of 
food. 


I 


I 


.  .11 


r.|( 


H(l! 


■.m 


,  Ml 


CHAPTER  XCVII. 


I 


'I 


riJI —  Continued. 

RELIGION  AND  FTTNEBAL  RITES. 

THE  O01.N  AV«)  T,tV.rK  ;.n(,DhS-YrSIT  OF  THR  I,ANT>  CIIAB  -  FIJIAN "  PRIESTS  AND  TnEIR  INSIGNIA - 
CON8CLTI,U  fliF.  OhllV  _  VARIOUS  MODES  OF  WVINATION  -  TlIK  DIFFICIILT  1-ASSA<!K  TO  HEAVEN 
-NATIVE  TEMPLES,  TI.EItt  STRUCTURE  AND  USES-FEASTS  GIVEN  TO  THE  GODS-8ACRFD 
STONES-MrRDER  OF  THE  AGED  AND  SICK-A  STRANGE  MARK  OF  AKI-KOTION  -  LUOVIDING  Z 
T"T''  ATTEN,.ANTS-„I-«,A.  OF  A  MVING  K.NG-A  TER„ini,K  SCENE -VOVAGE  TO  tDk 
OF  MoZ'.'vr"  ""   ''"'""'■«*^-="»'"-^«'TV  BETWEEN  THE  CUSTOMS  OF  FUI  AND   INDIA-MODB 

OfT    '      pI-»»  successive    kites    after  a  FUNERAL-THE  CUSTOM    OF    LOLOKU-TOMB 

W    A    CttlKI'^  o    WIFE,  b 


The  rplijrion,  or  ratlior  the  superstition,  of 
the  iMjians  is  mucli  like  tliat  of  other  poly- 
thcists.  The  people  ackiiowlo(l<,'e  vast  num- 
bers of  jioils  of  greater  or  lesser  power- 
most,  If  not  all,  of  which  arc  symbolized 
under  some  natural  form,  such  as  a  hawk  a 
tree,  or  llie  like.  Every  Fijian  considers 
lumselt  undi.r  (he  i)roteetion  of  some  espe- 
cial j,'od,  and.  .as  has  been  slated,  will  not 
eat  the  animal  which  i.s  his  svmbol. 

An  amiisinj,'  instance  of  "the  reverence 
paid  to  tlie  symbols  of  tlie  gods  occurred  at 
Tiiioa.  A  very  powerful  god,  who  is  wor- 
sliipped  at  tliat  idace,  resides  in  a  land  crab, 
but,  as  that  crustacean  is  scarcely  ever  seen 
in  the  locality,  there  are  but  few  ojjportuni- 
ties  of  payiiii,'  the  proper  worship.  When- 
ever any  one  saw  a  laud  crab,  ho  immedi- 
ately ran  to  the  priest,  and  forthwith  the 
whole  place  was  in  a  commotion.  The  iieo- 
ple  assembled  to  p.iy  their  respects  to  tlieir 
deity,  and  a  number  of  cocoa-nuts  were 
gathered,  strung  together,  and  humbly  pre- 
sented to  the  crab  deity  in  order  to  propi- 
tiate him,  and  to  induce  him  to  give  them 
fair  weather  and  a  healthy  sea.son.    • 

As  to  the  particular  doctrines  of  the 
iijian  religion,  it  is  scarcely  possible  to 
learn  much  about  them.  In  the  first  place 
the  people  know  nothing,  and  the  priests 
who  know  but  little,  dislike  communicating 


Tlie  priests  arc  known  by  their  official 
insignia,  which  consists  of  an  oval  frontlet 
of  scariet  feathers,  and  a  long-toolhed  comb 
made  of  separate  pieces  of  wood  ingeniously 
fastened  together.  Several  ..f  these  combs 
arc  in  my  collection,  anu  are  excellent 
examples  of  the  artistic-  capabilities  of  the 
makers.  No  two  of  them  are  alike,  the  deli- 
cate thread  which  fasteu.s  Ihein  together 
being  woven  in  a  singular  variedly  of  pat- 
terns. The  threads  are  nearly  sis  fine  as 
hairs,  and  an  additional  beauty"  is  given  to 
the  pattern  by  using  alternately  "a  deep 
black  and  a  glittering  yellow  thread. 

The  priests  conimunieate  with  their  dei- 
ties by  throwing  tht>mselves  into  a  sort  of 
ecstatic  state,  technically  called  "shaking," 
in  which  the  whole  body  is  convulsed,  and 
the  utterances  which  come  from  the  foam- 
ing lips  are  held  to  be  the  respon-ses  of  the 
god.  A  vivid  idea  of  this  mode  of  consult- 
ing a  deity  is  given  by  Mr.  Williams  in  the 
valuable  work  to  whicli  reference  has  oflcu 
been  made. 

"  Nothing  like  regular  v.'orship  or  habitual 
reverence  is  found,  and  a  iirinciplc  of  fear 
seems  the  only  mniiy,.  fbr  religious  observ- 
ancca;  and  this  is  fully  jnactised  on  l)y  the 
priesfa,  through  whom"  alone  the  i)eople'havo 
access  to  the  gods,  when  they  wish  to  pre- 
sent petitions  alfecting  their  soci.al  or  ii.di- 


their  knowledge.  Even  the  ciiristi;;n7;;;;:  ;^d;^r;n;::":t" w.:";r,,;^":«:'^^'^."':..""'^'- 

verts  can  sehiom  be  induce,!  to  speak  on  the  i  are  involved,  tl,;'  '«J;J  o^  omJi  ;g'co;^  «U 
subject  mth  any  degree  of  truth.  |  of  large  quantities  of  foocl"  togefher  with 

(900) 


VARIOUS  MODES  OF  DIVINATION". 


861 


whales'  tooth.  In  smaller  affairs  a  tooth, 
club,  mat,  or  spear,  is  unough.  Young  nuts 
covered  with  tunnoric  powder  formed  the 
meanest  ottering  I  have  known.  On  one 
occasion,  when  Tuikilakila  a.sked  the  help 
of  the  Somo-somo  gods  in  war,  he  built  the 
war  god  a  large  new  temple,  and  presented 
a  quantity  of  cooked  food,  with  sixty  turtles, 
beside  whales'  teeth. 

"Part  of  the  ottering  —  the  siijanu  —  is 
sot  apart  for  the  deity,  the  rest  forming  a 
feast  of  which  all  may  i)artake.  Tlie  portion 
devoted  to  the  god  is  eaten  by  his  priest  and 
by  old  men,  but  to  youths  and  women  it  is 
tapu. 

"  Strangers  wishing  to  consult  a  god  cut  a 
quantity  of  (ire  wood  for  the  temple.  Some- 
times only  a  dish  of  yams  or  a  whale's  tooth 
is  presented.  It  is  not  absolutely  necessary 
for  the  transaction  to  take  place  at  a  temple. 
I  have  known  priests  to  become  inspired  in 
a  private  house  or  in  the  open  air;  indeed, 
in  some  parts  of  Fiji,  the  latter  is  usually  tlu! 
case. 

"One  who  intends  to  consult  the  oracle 
dresses  and  oils  himself,  and,  accompanied 
by  a  few  others,  goes  to  the  priest,  who,  we 
will  suj)po8e,  has  been  previously  informed 
of  the  intended  visit,  and  is  lying  near  the 
sacred  corner  getting  ready  his  response. 
"When  the  party  arrives,  he  rises  and  sits  so 
that  his  back  is  near  to  the  white  cloth  by 
which  the  god  visits  him,  while  the  others 
occupj'  the  oj)posite  side  of  the  Burc.  The 
principal  person  presents  a  whale's  tooth, 
states  the  purpose  of  his  visit,  and  expresses 
a  hope  that  the  god  will  regard  him  with 
favor.  Sometimes  there  is  placed  before 
the  priest  a  di.sh  of  scented  oil  with  which 
lie  anoints  himself,  and  then  receives  the 
tooth,  regarding  it  with  deep  and  serious 
attention. 

"  Unbroken  silence  follows.  The  priest 
hecomes  absorbed  in  thought,  and  all  eyes 
watch  him  with  unblinking  steadiness.  In 
a  few  minutes  he  trembles;  slight  distortions 
are  seen  in  his  face,  and  twitching  move- 
ments in  his  limbs.  These  increase  to  a 
violent  muscular  action,  which  spreads  until 
the  whole  frame  is  strongly  convulsed,  and 
the  man  shivers  as  with  a  strong  ague  fit.  In 
some  islands  this  is  accompanied  with  mur- 
murs and  sobs,  the  veins  are  greatly  en- 
larged, and  the  circulation  of  the  blood 
quickened. 

"  The  priest  is  now  possessed  by  his  god, 
and  all  his  words  and  actions  are  considereil 
as  no  longer  his  own,  but  those  of  the  deity 
who  has  entered  into  him.  Shrill  cries  of 
'Koi  aul  Koi  an!'  ('It  is  I!  It  is  I!')  fill  the 
air,  and  the  god  is  supposed  thus  to  notify 
his  approach.  While  giving  the  answer^  the 
priest's  e^es  stand  out  and  roll  as  if  in  a 
frenzy ;  his  voice  is  unnatural,  his  face  pale. 


his  1 


jlit.jjl     Ij ja  l^».rto*l>i^^r»  f?f»*^yrtoo/i/l     OMfl    ] 


entire  appearance  like  that  or  a  furious  mad- 
man.   The  sweat  runs  from  every  pore,  and 

i7 


tears  start  from  his  strained  eyes ;  after  which 
the  symptoms  gradually  disappear.  The 
priestlooks  round  with  a  vacant starn,  and  as 
the  god  says  '  I  dei)art,'  announces  his  actual 
departure  by  violently  Hinging  himscHdown 
on  the  mat,  or  by  suddenly  striking  the 
ground  with  a  club,  when  those  at  a  distance 
are  informed  by  blasts  on  the  conch,  or  the 
tiring  of  a  musket,  that  the  deity  has  re- 
turned into  the  world  of  spirits." 

In  many  cases  it  is  evident  that  the  priests 
enact  deliberate  impositions,  but  it  is  also 
certain  that  in  many  others  they  are  com- 
pletely under  the  dominion  of  Ireii/.y,  and 
that  they  do  not  recollect  aftcrwaid  the 
words  which  they  uttered  while  in  their 
delirious  state.  "  My  own  mind,''  said  one 
of  them,  "departs  from  me,  and  then,  when 
it  is  truly  gone,  my  pod  speaks  by  me." 

Various  modes  of  divination  are  emploj'ed 
by  the  Fijian  i)riests.  They  have,  lor  cx- 
ami)le,  divination  by  the  leaf,  by  tlie  reed, 
by  the  nut,  and  by  water.  The  leaf  is  tested 
))y  taking  it  between  the  front  teeth  and 
biting  it.  If  it  be  completely  severed,  the 
omen  is  good;  if  it  hang  together,  even  by  a 
single  fibre,  the  omen  is  nnfavorable.  One 
priest  had  a  very  strange  mode  of  divination 
by  the  leaf.  He  had  twy  magic  leaves,  which 
he  placed  on  the  sides  of  the  applicant,  and 
then  left  them.  If  the  leaf  on  the  right  side 
stung  the  skin,  the  omen  was  good;  but  if 
any  plots  or  treacheries  were  hatched,  the 
leaf  stung  the  man  on  the  left  side,  and  so 
warned  him  of  the  danger.  Another  mode 
of  divination  by  the  leaf  is  to  bite  it,  and 
judge  by  the  flavor  whether  the  omen  bo 
adverse  or  the  contrary. 

The  reed  test  is  managed  as  follows.  A 
number  of  short  reeds  are  cut,  and  laid  in  a 
row  on  the  ground,  a  name  being  given  to 
each.  The  priest  then  holds  his  right  foot 
over  each,  and  the  response  is  given  by  the 
tr(;mbling  of  the  foot. 

The  water  test  is  performed  by  holding 
the  straightened  arm  slightly  upward,  and 
jiouring  a  few  drops  of  water  on  the  wrist. 
If  the  water  shouhl  run  to  the  shoulder,  the 
response  is  favorable;  should  it  fall  olf  at  the 
elbow,  the  answer  is  adverse. 

The  next  test  is  performed  bv  laying  a 
cocoa-nut  on  a  small  surface  and  spinning 
it.  When  it  stops,  the  response  is  given  by 
the  direction  in  which  the  eye  points. 

According  to  Fijian  notions,  the  passage 
to  Huruto  or  heaven  is  a  very  difticult  one, 
except  for  great  chiefs,  and  the  only  plan  by 
whicn  a  man  of  inferior  rank  can  hope  to  ob- 
tain admission  is  by  telling  the  god  a  lie,  and 
proclaiming  himself  a  chief  with  so  much 
apparent  truthfulness  that  he  is  believed,  and 
allowed  to  pass.  Taking  on  his  shoulder  his 
war  club  and  a  whale's  tooth,  the  Fijian 
spirit  goes  to  the  end  of  the  world,  where 
'^ro'.VH  a  sacred  *}ine  and  throws  tlie  tooth  ut 
it.  Should  he  miss  it,  he  can  go  no  furthw; 
but  if  he  hit  it,  he  travels  on  to  a  spot  where 


Iff 
*  4 


*     ^' 


IS 


i 


li 


002 


FIJI. 


1!  <il 

lili 


he  awaits  the  arrival  of  the  women  who 
were  murdered  at  his  death. 

Escorted  by  them,  he  proceeds  until  he  is 
met  and  opposed  hy  a  god  called  Ravuyalo, 
whom  ho  fights  with  his  chib.    Should  he 
lail,  ho  is  killed  and  eaten  by  the  god,  and 
tliere  is  an  end  of  him.    Sliould  he  conquer, 
he  proceeds  until  he  finds  a  canoe,  into 
which  lie  gets,  and  is  conveyed  to  the  lofty 
spot  where  the  chief  god,  Ndengei,  Hves. 
Over  the  precipice  extends  the  long  steering 
oar  of  the  god's  canoe.    lie  is  then  asked 
his  name  and  rank,  when  he  replies  with  a 
circumstantial  account  of  his  grandeur  and 
magnificence,  of  tlie  countries  over  which 
he  h:is  ruled,  of  the  deeds  which  he  did  in 
war,  and  of  the  devastition  which  he  caused. 
He  is  tlien  told  to  take  his  seat  on  the  blade 
oi  the  oar.    Should  his  story  have  been  be- 
lieved, he  is  conveyed  to  Buruto;  but  should 
Ndengoi  disbelieve  his  story,  the  oar  is  tilted 
up,  and  he  is  hurled  down  the  precipice  into 
the  water  below  whence  he  never  emerges. 
It  has  been  mentioned  that  the  spirit  has 
to  wait  for  the  escort  of  his  wives.    This  is 
in  order  to  prove  that  he  is  a  married  man, 
bachelors  having  no  hoiie  of  admission  into 
Buruto.     Should  a  wifek  ~  man  start  on  his 
journey,  he  is  confroiited  by  a  goddess,  called 
the  Great  Woman,  who  has  a  special  hatred 
of  bachelors,  and,  as  soon  as  she  sees  one, 
flies  at  him  and  tries  to  tear  him  in  pieces. 
Sometiines  she  misses  him  in  her  eagerness; 
but,  even  in  such  a  case,  he  has  to  deal  with 
another  "od,  wlio  hides  himself  in  the  spirit 
path,  and,  as  the  soul  of  the  bachelor  passes 
by,  he  springs  on  the  wretched  being,  and 
dashes  him  to  atoms  against  a  stone. 

The  Kurds  or  temples  of  the  gods  abound 
in  Fiji,  at  least  one  Burc  being  found  in 
every  village,  and  some  of  the  villages 
having  many  of  these  buildings.  They  are 
made  of  the  same  material  as  the  liouses, 
but  with  much  more  care.  Instead  of  being 
merely  set  on  the  ground,  they  are  placed 
on  the  top  of  a  mound  of  earth,  sometimes 
only  slightly  elevated,  and  sometimes  twenty 
feet  or  more  in  height. 

The  natives  think  no  labor  too  great  for 
the  decoration  of  a  I3ure',  and  it  is  in  those 
buildings  that  their  marvellous  skill  in  plait- 
ing siunet  is  best  shown.  Every  beam,  post, 
and  pillar  is  entirely  covered  with  sinnet 
plaited  into  the  most  beautiful  patterns,  black 
and  red  being  the  favorite  colors;  and  even 
the  reeds  which  line  tlie  window  frames,  and 
fill  up  the  interstices  between  the  pillars,  are 
hidden  in  the  plaited  sinnet  with  which  they 
are  covered.  So  lavish  are  the  natives  of 
their  work,  that  they  .are  not  content  with 
covering  the  pillars  .and  reeds  with  sinnet 
work,  but  they  make  large  plaited  cords 
of  the  same  material,  and  hang  thern  in  fes- 
toons from  the  eaves. 

^   It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  the 
DGst  houses  have  tiiL-  ends  of  the  ridge-poles  i 
decorated  with  cowries,  but  those   of  the  I 


Bur<5  are  adorned  with  long  strings  of  cow- 
ries that  sometimes  reach  the  ground.  Or- 
dinary laths  are  thought  too  common  to  be 
used  m  thatching  temples,  and  the  beauti- 
fully carved  spears  of  warriors  are  employed 
instead  of  simple  wood.  When  the  Bure  is 
'•rected  on  a  high  mound,  entrance  is  gained 
to  it  by  means  of  a  very  thick  plank  cut  into 
notched  steps. 

Although  the  Burds  are  considered  as 
temples,  and  dedicated  to  the  god,  they  are 
mostly  used  for  secular  purposes.  Visitors 
from  a  distance  are  generally  quartered  in 
them,  and  in  many  instances  the  principal 
men  of  the  village  make  the  Bure  their  sleep- 
ing-place. Councils  are  held  in  the  BuriJs, 
and  entertainments  are  given  in  them,  of 
which  the  ofterings  to  the  god  form  a  large 
part.  Sometimes,  as  has  been  mentioned,  a 
chief  who  wishes  to  propitiate  some  deity 
offers  a  great  quantity  of  food  in  his  temple, 
and  this  food  is  consumed  in  a  general  feast. 
A  certain  portion  is  dedicated  to  the  god, 
and  may  only  be  eaten  by  the  priests  and 
the  old  men,  but  the  remainder  may  be  eaten 
by  any  one. 

Ifone  of  the  food  is  left  to  perish,  the 
Fijians  having  a  convenient  belief  which 
combines  piety  with  self-indulgence.  The 
god  is  supposed  to  be  a  great  eater,  but  only 
to  consume  the  soul  of  the  provisions,  so 
that  when  food  is  cooked  and  offered,  the 

fod  eats  the  soul  and  the  people  tlie  body, 
'he  chief  god,  Ndengei,  used  to  be  both 
greedy  and  dainty  in  his  demands  for  food. 
He  sometimes  ate  two  hundred  hogs  and  a 
hundred  turtles  at  a  single  fe.ist,  and  was 
continually  insisting  on  human  s.icrifices. 
In  order  to  procure  these,  no  respect  was 
paid  to  persons,  and  so  infatuated  were  the 
people  that,  to  keep  up  Xdenijei's  sujiplies 
of  human  food,  chiefs  were  known  to  kill 
their  own  wives. 

No  regular  worship  is  ever  oflTored  in  the 
Burds,  which,  indeed,  are  often  loft  to  fall 
into  decay  until  someone  desires  to  consult 
or  propitiate  the  god,  when  the  building  is 
repaired  and  cleaned  for  the  occasion.  As 
may  be  expected,  during  the  building  of  the 
Bure  several  human  sacrifices  are  offered. 

If  the  reader  will  refer  to  the  drawing  of 
the  Bure  on  the  following  page,  he  will  see 
that  in  front  of  it  are  two  oddly-shaped 
objects.  These  are  examples  of  the  eacred 
stones,  several  of  which  are  to  be  found  in 
various  parts  of  liji.  They  are  considered 
a.s  the  dwelling-place  of  certain  gods,  and 
are  held  to  bo  either  male  or  female,  ac- 
cording to  the  sex  of  the  deity  who  inhabits 
them  Should  the  god  be  of  the  fem.ale  sex, 
the  fact  is  known  by  a  woman's  apron  or 
liku  being  tied  round  the  stone.  One  such 
god  is  a  very  useful  one,  because  he  hates 
mosf^uitocs,  and  keeps  them  away  from  the 
spot  m  which  he  dwell".  Food  is  pren.<irrd 
and  offered  to  those  sacred  stones,  the'  god, 
aa  usual,  eating  the  spirit  of  the  food,  and  the 


A 


I 


(1.)    A    UL'KK,  OK    IKMI'I.K.       Sn-  pa-u  jr.:.) 


(■,'.)    ('ANOK   IIOISK    .VI'   MAKIKA    IIAV.     ^S.v  p.iKi'j;!!.) 


it  i{ 


<«  a 


"^  I, 


III 


ill 

I' 

iiii 


Ml 


MUEDER  OF  THE  AGED  AND  SICK. 


968 


priest  and  officers  consuming  its  outward 
ibrm. 

Wk  now  come  to  the  ftineral  ceremonies 
of  Fiji,  talcing  those  of  the  chiefs  as  types  of 
the  whole. 

Among  the  Fljians  a  very  singular  super- 
stition reigns.  When  men  or  women  become 
infirm  with  age,  they  are  considered  to  have 
lived  their  full  time  on  earth,  and  prep- 
arations are  made  for  their  burial.  So  in- 
grained is  this  belief,  that  if  a  man  finds 
himself  becoming  feeble  with  ago  or  disease, 
he  requests  his  sons  to  strangle  him,  and 
with  this  request  they  think  themselves  bound 
to  comply.  Indeed,  if  they  think  that  he  is 
too  slow  m  making  the  request,  they  suggest 
to  him  that  he  has  lived  long  enough,  and 
ought  to  rest  in  the  grave.  Such  conduct 
seems  to  imply  that  they  are  destitute  of 
afft'ction,  but  m  reality  it  is  their  way  of 
showing  their  love  for  their  parent. 

They  are  really  a  most  affectionate  race 
of  people.  A  young  chief  has  been  seen  to 
sob  with  overpowering  emotion  at  parting 
from  his  father  for  a  short  time,  and  yet, 
were  his  parents  to  become  ill  or  infirm,  he 
would  think  it  his  duty  to  apply  the  fatal 
rope  with  his  own  hands.  To  be  strangled 
by  one's  children,  or  to  be  buried  alive  by 
them,  is  considered  the  most  honorable 
mode  of  death.  The  reason  for  this  strange 
custom  seems  to  be  that  the  Fijians  believe 
the  condition  of  the  spirit  in  the  next  world 
to  be  exactly  the  same  as  that  of  the  in- 
dividual when  in  life.  Consequently,  aflTec- 
tionate  children  are  unwilling  to  allow  their 
parents  to  pass  into  the  next  world  in  an  in- 
firm stite  of  body,  and  therefore  strangle 
them  out  of  sheer  kindness. 

From  a  similar  notion  of  kindness,  they 
also  strangle  the  favorite  wives  and  at- 
tendants of  the  deatl  chief,  so  as  to  provide 
him  with  the  followers  to  whom  he  has  been 
accustomed.  They  also  kill  a  powerful  war- 
rior, in  order  tliat  he  may  go  before  his 
chief  through  the  passage  into  the  spirit 
land,  and  drive  away  the  evil  spirits  who 
oppose  the  progress  of  a  new  comer.  These 
victims  go  by  tne  name  of  "grass,"  and  are 
laid  at  the  bottom  of  the  grave;  the  warrior 
painted  and  dressed  for  battle,  with  his 
favorite  club  by  his  side,  the  women  arranged 
in  folds  of  the  finest  masi,  and  the  servants 
with  their  implements  in  their  hands;  so 
that  the  inhabitants  of  the  spirit  world  may 
see  how  great  a  chief  has  come  among  them. 

All  their  preparations  are  carried  on  in  a 
quiet  and  orderly  manner,  the  victims  never 
attempting  to  escape  from  their  fate,  but 
vying  witli  each  other  for  the  honor  of 
accompanying  their  chief.  In  some  cases, 
when  a  chief  has  died  young,  his  mother  has 
insisted  on  sharing  his  grave.  So  deeply  do 
the  Fijians  foci  the  necessity  fcr  this  sacri- 
fice that  the  custom  has  been  a  greater  bar- 
rier against  Christianity  even  than  canni- 


balism or  polygamy,  and  even  those  natives 
who  have  oeen  converted  to  Christianity  are 
always  uneasy  on  the  subject  On  one  occa- 
sion a  Christian  chief  was  shot,  and  by  the 
same  volley  a  young  man  was  killed.  The 
Christian  natives  were  delighted  with  the 
latter  catastrophe,  inasmuch  as  it  provided  . 
an  attendant  for  their  slain  chief. 

The  scene  which  takes  place  when  a  great 
chief  is  expected  to  die  has  been  described 
by  Mr.  "Williams  with  great  power.  The 
iting  of  Somo-somo,  a  magnificent  specimen 
of  the  savage,  was  becoming  infirm  through 
age,  and  toward  the  middle  of  August  1845 
was  unable  to  do  more  than  walk  about  a 
little:  — 

"  I  visited  him  on  the  21st,  and  was  sur- 
prised to  find  him  much  better  than  he  had 
been  two  days  before.  On  being  told,  there- 
fore, on  the  24th  that  the  king  was  dead,  and 
that  preparations  were  being  made  for  his 
interment,  I  could  scarcely  credit  the  report 
The  ominous  word  preparing  urged  me  to 
hasten  without  delay  to  the  scene  of  action, 
but  my  utmost  speed  failed  to  bring  me  to 
Nasima  —  the  king's  house  —  in  time.  The 
moment  I  entered  it  waa'evident  thai  ih  far 
as  concerned  two  of  the  women,  I  was  too 
late  to  save  their  lives.  The  effect  of  that 
scene  was  overwhelming.  Scores  of  delib- 
erate murderers  in  the  very  act  surrounded 
me:  yet  there  was  no  confusion,  and,  except 
a  word  from  him  who  presided,  no  noise, 
only  an  unearthly,  horrid  stillness.  Nature 
seemed  to  lend  her  aid  and  to  deepen  the 
dread  effect ;  there  was  not  a  breath  stirring 
in  the  air,  and  the  half-subdued  light  in  that 
hall  of  death  showed  every  object  with 
unusual  distinctness. 

"  All  was  motionless  as  sculpture,  and  a 
strange  feeling  came  upon  me,  as  though  I 
was  myself  becoming  a  statue.  To  apeak 
was  impossible  ;  I  was  unconscious  that  I 
breathed;  and  involuntarily,  or  ratlier 
against  my  will,  I  sunk  to  the  floor,  assuming 
the  cowering  posture  of  those  who  were 
actually  engaged  in  murder.  My  arrival 
was  during  a  hush,  just  at  the  crisis  of  death, 
and  to  that  strange  silence  must  be  attrib- 
uted my  emotions;  and  I  was  but  too  familiar 
with  muniers  of  this  kind,  neither  was  there 
anything  novel  in  the  apparatus  employed. 
Occupying  the  centre  of  that  large  room 
were  two  groups,  the  business  of  whom 
could  not  be  mistaken. 

"All  sat  on  the  floor;  the  middle  figure 
of  each  group  being  held  in  a  sitting  posture 
by  several  females,  and  hidden  by  a  large 
veil.  On  either  side  of  each  veiled  figure 
was  a  companv  of  eight  or  ten  strong  men, 
one  company  hauling  against  the  other  on  a 
white  cord  which  was  passed  twice  round 
the  neck  of  the  doomed  one,  who  thus  in  a 
few  minutes  ceased  to  live.  As  my  self- 
command  was  returning  to  iiic  the  gRiHp 
furthest  from  me  began  to  move;  the  men 
Blackened   their    hold,  and   the  attendant 


111 

i 


fi  1 


iili 


''HI': 
Mil 


i'  II 


u 


FIJL 


women  removed  the  large  covering,  makiug 
it  into  a  couch  for  the  victim. 

"As  that  veil  waa  lifted  some  of  the  men 
beheld  the  distorted  features  of  a  mother 
whom  they  had  helped  to  murder,  and  smiled 
witii  satisfaction  as  the  corpse  was  laid  out 
for  decoration.  Convulsion  strongly  on  the 
part  of  the  poor  creature  near  me  showed 
that  she  still  lived.  She  was  a  stout  woman, 
and  some  of  the  executioners  jocosely  in- 
vited those  who  sat  near  to  have  pity  and 
help  them.  At  length  a  woman  saicl, '  she 
18  cold.'  The  fatal  cord  fell,  and  as  the  cov- 
criiif?  was  raised  I  saw  dead  the  oldest  wife 
and  unwearied  attendant  of  the  old  kin"." 

Leaving  the  house  of  murder,  Mr.''Wil- 
hams  went  to  the  hut  of  the  deceased  king, 
determining  to  see  liis  successor,  and  he" 
him  to  spare  the  lives  of  the  intended  victims. 

To  his  horror  and  astonishment,  he  found 
that  the  king  was  still  alive.  He  was  lying 
on  his  couch,  very  feeble,  but  jjcrfectly  con- 
scious, every  now  and  then  placing  his  hand 
to  his  side  as  he  was  racked  by  cough.  The 
young  king  was  full  of  grief.  He  embraced 
his  visitor  with  much  emotion,  saying,  "  Sec 
the  father  of  us  two  is  dead."  It  was  iise'less 
to  dispute  the  point.  The  poor  old  kin" 
certainly  did  move  and  speak  and  eat;  but" 
according  to  the  son's  ideas,  the  movcmenls 
were  only  mechanical,  the  spirit  having  left 
the  body.  ° 

So  the  preparations  for  his  funeral  went 
on.  His  chief  wife  and  an  assistant  employed 
themselves  in  covering  his  body  with  black 
powder,  as  if  dressing  him  for  tHe  war  dance 
and  fastening  upon  his  arms  and  legs  a  num- 
ber of  long  strips  of  white  masi,  tied  in 
rosettes,  with  the  ends  streaming  on  the 
ground.  They  had  already  clad  him  in  a 
new  masi  of  immense  size,  the  white  folds  of 
which  were  wrapped  round  his  feet.  In 
place  of  the  usual  masi  turban,  a  scarlet 
handkerchief  was  bound  on  his  hair  with  a 
circlet  of  white  cowrie-shells,  and  strings  of 
the  same  shells  decorated  his  arms,  while 
round  his  neck  was  an  ivory  necklace,  m.ado 
of  long  curved  claw-like  pieces  of  whale's 
teeth. 

The  reader  may  perhaps  wonder  that  the 
chiei  Wife  of  the  king  was  suffered  to  live. 
Ihe  fact  was  that  the  young  king  would  not 
allow  her  to  be  killed,  because  no  execu- 
ti(  ner  of  sufficient  rank  could  be  found.  She 
lamented  her  liard  lot  in  being  forbidden  to 
accompany  her  husband  to  the  spirit  land, 
and  begged  to  be  strangled,  but  without 
success. 

Presently  the  sound  of  two  conch-shell 
trumpets  was  heard  outside  the  house,  this 
being  the  official  intimation  that  the  old 
king  was  dead,  and  the  new  king  was  then 
formally  acknowledged  by  the  chiefs  who 
were  present.  He  seemed  overcome  with 
grief,  and,  gazing  on  the  body  of  his  father's 
attendant,  he  exclaimed,  "  .a  Ins,  Moalevu! 
ihere  lies  a  woman  truly  wearied,  uot  only 


m  the  day  hut  in  the  night  also;  the  P.ro 
consumed  the  fuel  gathered  bv  her  Imnds. 
If  we  awoke  in  the  still  night, 'the  smind  of 
our  feet  reached  her  ears,  and,  if  spoken  to 
harshly,  she  continued  to  labor  only  Mo- 
alevu t    AliKs,  Moalevu  I  " 

The  bodies  of  the  murdered  women  were 
then  rolled  uj)  in  mats,  placed  on  a  bier,  and 
carried  out  of  the  door,  but  the  old  king  was 
taken  throujjh  a  breach  made  in  the  wall  of 
Ihe  house.  The  bodies  were  carried  down 
to  the  seaside  and  placed  in  a  canoe,  the 
king  being  on  the  deck,  attended  by  his  wife 
and  the  Mata,  who  fanned  him  and  kept  of! 
the  bisects. 

When  they  arrived  atWeilangi,  the  place 
of  supulture,  they  found  the  grave  aire  ady 
dug,  and  liiie<l  with  mats.  The  bodies  of  the 
women  were  laid  side  by  side  in  t)>"  grave, 
and  on  them  the  dying  king.  The  .shell 
ornaments  were  then  taken  from  him,  and 
111!  was  entirely  enveloped  in  mats,  after 
which  the  Varth  was  filled  in,  and  thus  he 
was  buried  aliye.  The  poor  old  man  was 
even  heard  to  cough  af'teraquantity  of  earth 
h.ad  been  hcajjcd  on  him. 

This  final  scene  is  represented  in  an 
illustration  on  the  'JSOth  page.  In  the  fore- 
ground is  seen  the  open  grave,  with  the 
bodies  of  the  murdered  women  lying  in  it  as 
"  grass."  The  still  living  king  is  being  borne 
to  the  grave  by  the  attendants,  while  his  suc- 
cessor sits  mournfully  surveying  a  scene 
which  he  knows  will  be  re-enacted  in  his  own 
case,  should  he  live  to  be  old  and  iiiliim. 
Just  above  the  grave  are  the  rolls  of  fine 
mats  with  which  the  body  of  the  king  is  to  be 
■<'overed  before  the  earth  is  filled  in;  and  in 
the  background  appears  the  mast  of  the  canoo 
which  brought  the  party  to  the  burial- 
ground. 

The  reader  cannot  but  notice  tlie  resem- 
blance between  this  Fijian  custom  of 
strangling  the  wives  and  the  well-known 
suttee  of  India.  In  both  eases  the  women 
are  the  foremost  to  demand  death,  and  for 
the  same  reason.  Just  as  the  Hindoo 
women  arrange  their  own  funeral  pile,  and 
light  it  with  their  own  hands,  the  Fijian 
woman  helps  to  dig  her  own  grave,  lines 
It  with  niat.s  and  then  seats  herself  in  it 

The  fact  is,  that  the  woman  has  positively 
no  choice  in  the  matter;  a  wife  who  sur- 
vives her  hiLsband  is  condemned  to  a  life  of 
neglect,  suffering,  and  insult,  so  that  the 
short  agony  of  immediate  death  is  prefera- 
ble to  such  a  fate,  especially  as  by  yielding 
to  the  national  custom  she  believes  that  she 
shall  secure  a  happy  and  honored  life  in  the 
spirit  land.  Moreover,  lier  relatives  are 
bound  by  custom  to  insist  ujjon  her  death, 
as,  if  they  did  not  follow  this  custom,  they 
would  be  accused  of  disresjject  toward  her 
husband  artd  his  family,  and  would  run  tho 
risk  of  being  clubbed  in  revenge. 

In  eoiiscijuoncc  of  this  horrid  eustoin,  the 
population  of  Fiji  has  been  greatly  checked, 


CUSTOM  OF  LOLOKU. 


M> 


fornot  only  Is  there  the  direct sncriflce  of  life,  I 
but  much  ludircct  loss  is  occasioiu'd.  Many 
of  the  munlcrcd  women  are  motliers,  v/hose 
children  dio  for  want  of  maternal  care,  so 
that,  what  with  the  perpetual  feuds  and 
continual  murders,  the  custom  of  cannibal- 
ism, the  sacrifice  of  wives  with  their  hus- 
bands, the  strangling  of  the  old  or  sick, 
find  tiie  death  of  children  hy  neglect,  very 
few  Fijians  dio  from  natural  causes.  Mr. 
Willia'ms  mentions  that  in  a  class  of  nine 
children  under  his  ch.urge,  tho  parents  hail 
all  Iteen  murdered  with  the  exception  of  two, 
and  those  had  been  condemned  to  death,  and 
only  saved  through  the  exertions  of  the  mis- 
Bioiiaries. 

After  a  king  is  buried,  sundry  ceremonies 
are  observed.  For  twenty  days  or  so,  no 
one  cats  until  the  evening,  tho  people  shave 
their  heads  either  partially  or  entirely,  and 
the  women  cut  off  their  lingers,  which  are 
inserted  in  split  reeds,  and  stuck  along  the 
caves  of  the  roval  house.  Those  who  are 
nearly  related  to  the  dead  -king  show  their 
grief'  by  refusing  to  wear  their  usual  dress, 
and  substituting  rude  garments  of  leaves. 
They  often  deny  themselves  the  luxury  of  a 
mat  to  lie  upon,  and  pass  their  nights  on  tho 
grave  of  their  frienil.  The  coast  is  rendered 
tapu  for  a  certain  distance,  no  one  being  al- 
lowed to  fish  until  the  proper  time  has 
fclapsed,  and  the  cocoa-nut  trees  are  placed 
ttnder  a  similar  restriction. 

Various  strange  rites  tike  place  on  cer- 
tain days  after  the  funeral.     On  the  fourth 
day  the" friends  assemble,  and  celebrate  the 
melancholy  ceremony  called  tho  "jumping 
of  maggots,"  in  which  they  symbolize  the 
progress  of  corruption.    liText  evening   is 
one" of  a  directly  opposite  character,  called 
tho  "  causing  to  laugh,"  in  which  the  imme- 
diate friends  and  relatives  of  the  dead  are 
entertained   with  comic    games.     On    the  i 
tenth  day  the  women  hu,ve  an  amusing  cere- 1 
mony  ot'  their  (i«ti     Arming    themselves  j 
With  whips,  swi;  •^'•''''.  they  fall  upon 

every  man  '"'-oni  ,  "thout  respect 

to  age  or  rank,  the  ,  ofs  only  being 

exempt  from  this  perf  .■  ""ha  men  are 

not  allowed  to  retalir.i  .    \y  Hinging 

mud  at  their  a-ssailants, .-  .lose  who  have 
witnessed  the  scene  say  that  nothing  more 
lu(licrou9can  be  imagined  than  to  see  grave, 
elderly  men  running  in  all  directions,  pur- 
sued by  tho  women  with  their  whips  and 
switches. 

The  last  ceremony  is  the  completion  of 
some  speciiil  work  fcegun  in  honor  of  the 
dead.    It  may  be  the  erection  of  a  house,  tho 


making  of  a  huge  ball  of  sinnr  t,  a  great  bale 
of  cloth,  and,  in  any  case,  it  bears  the  name 
of  the  person  in  whose  honor  it  was  under- 
taken. Huilding  largo  canoes  is  a  favcuite 
form  of  this  (Histom,  and,  during  the  whole 
time  that  the  work  is  in  i)rogress,  the  canoe 
is  put  to  sleep  at  night  by  the  beating  of 
drums,  and  awakened  every  morning  in  a 
similar  manner,  when  tho  carpenters  come 
to  their  work.  . 

A  curious  ceremony  takes  place  m  i  i.U 
when  one  of  the  principal  chiefs  has  died. 
It  is  called  thelolokuof  the  sail,  and  is  a  sort 
of  a  signal  of  honor.  Whenever  a  canoo 
approaAes  tho  coast  for  the  flrst  time  since 
the  death  of  the  chief,  the  vessel  is  obliged 
to  show  the  loloku.  This  is  generally  a  long 
strip  of  masi  tied  to  the  head  of  the  mast, 
and  as  soon  as  the  canoe  touches  the  land, 
both  the  sail  and  masi  are  thrown  into  tie 
water.  Sometimes,  when  the  owner  ot  the 
canoe  is  tolerably  rich,  he  adds  to  tho  simple 
loloku  a  whale's  tooth,  which  is  Hung  from 
the  mast-head  into  the  water,  when  the  peo- 
nle  dive  and  scramble  for  it. 

Should  the  chief  perish  at  sea,  or  be  killed 
in  a  warlike  expedition..and  be  eaten  by  Ins 
enemies,  the  loloku  is  shown  as  caretully  as 
if  he  had  been  buried  on  shore,  and  bis 
relatives  try  to  coini)ensate  him  tor  bis  ad- 
verse fate,  by  killing  an  unusiuU  number  ot 
women  as  his  attendants.  Nearly  twenty 
women  have  thus  been  sacrihced  on  tho 
death  of  a  young  chief  who  was  drowned  at 

RCfl  • 

The  "raves  of  chiefs  and  their  wives  are 
marked"  by  tombs.  Tiieso  are  sometimes 
nothing  but  stones  at  the  head  and  foot  ot 
the  "rave,  or  largo  cairns  of  stones  piled  on 
the  (Icceased.  Sometimes  they  are  roots 
from  thn-e  to  six  feet  in  height,  decorated, 
after  Fijian  custom,  with  patterns  worked 
in  sinnet.  ,  .  „.       . . 

j     One  tomb,  that  of  a  chiefs  wife,  was  a 
very  remarkable  one.     Her  husband  had  a 
!  largo  mouiHl  of  earth  thrown  up,  and   ace<l 
I  witli  stones.    On  the  top  of  the  mound  was 
1  a  double  canoe,  forty  feet  in  length,  held 
i  firmly  in   its   place  by  being  imbedded  in 
earth.      Fine   shingle   was   strewn  on   the 
deck,  and  mats  were  spread  on  tho  shingle 
for  the  reception  of  the  body.    Sand  was 
then  heaped   over  the  canoe,  r.nd   on   tlie 
sand  was  laid  tho  body  of  a  lit'le  child  of 
whom  the  deceased  woman  had  been  very 
fond.    Over  all  was  then  built  r  large  root, 
made  of  mahogany,  and  adorned  with  wUit« 
cowrie-shells. 


■Mi 


111 


CITAPTEIl  XCViri. 

THE  SOLOMON  ISLANDS  AND  NEW  IIKHIIIDES. 

CHAKACTKn,  UKKHH,  CUSTOMS. 

«hI     VrrKU    OK    3^^^  AN.,.,UNAMKMrH-NKW    ,UK.,ANI,    AN,,   NKW    M.OTA.N  -  NOM A,. 

MA..KH  „K    THK   ,„,KK.,    AN,.  THK.U   ,.OM,N,.m  OVKI.    ■,„„    ,.,•...,.„,=  -T„«    .....KA    ,  "an.V-     ,Tk 
«KW    l,K..,<„,KH-MO..K   OK  ..OVKUNMKNV,    AN..   ,„VK..H„.V  „K   ..ANO.UOK -T.  K   .N.A.'.  ™  ^^^^^ 

-'^^u^K  .r::;;r:::j' 'rr'""''-'''"^"'''^'''  "^  ■""'  ——una  a..;;:.;::  ; : 

1K.VU1S  IN   NANl.AI,  WOOD  — ANKUKI  M    ANl.  VANIKOHt). 


llKTWEKN  New  G,iiii(.n  aiul  tlio  Fiji  .rroiip 
lio  Iho  Solomon  (or  Salomon)  iNliuiiiii  'riu'v 
woic  tliscovcfcd,  as  Jar  a«  wo  know,  l,v 
AlviTo  «lo  Monilann.  wliu  toiiclu'd  uitoii 
tlifin  ,n  [ho  yoar  15(i7.  Hoinj;  dosirous  of 
imlunnj;  Ins  oonnlivnion,  who  hold  in  thoso 
tluvs  tlio  oluol"  plnoo  amonji  sailors,  U>  visit 
and  ooloni/.o  so  forlilo  a  hind,  lio  .oncoolod 
«  pious  liand,  and  oaliod  (ho  group  hv  tlio 
name  of  Sohmion  Islands,  as  boinij  tlio 
()|)hir  IVom  whioh  SoK.mon's  ships  hroiiirht 
tho  vast  tiuanlifios  of  j^ohl  wiih  which  ho 
udornod  (ho  Tomplo  and  his  own  palaoi'. 

His  sohomo  failod,  inasmuch  as,  when  ho 
ngaiii  wont  in  soaich  of  tho  islands,  ho 
could  not  (hid  them,  (ho  imporfoot  astro- 
iiomioal  ins(rumoMt8  of  that  dav  hoiiiL'  far 
intoiior   (o  (hoso  of  (ho   prccont   (imo    hy 

|noan8  of  which  a  coinpotont  ohs.-rvor'cai.  i  in.'  ,nc  wnoio  ••  head"  at  once  as  is  donn  n 
hi  o  SV"  "  ''''  ^'""''  •'■''  ''''■''''  l"'^^-»'  «"   4^'^  I'>--"«-      '^'»",   uslml   nrticL'  .If'":.." 


Perhaps  (ho  reiuhM-  mnv  won(h«r  that  any 
one  should  (ake  (ho  trodhle  of  \isi(inff  m, 
iiihospKal.lo  a  place;  hut  (ho  fact  is  (hat 
(ho  liawk's-hill  turllo,  so  valued  as  supply- 
ing (ho  torloise-sholl  of  eonimorco,  is  plon- 
ti(nl  on  tho  coasls,  and  cai.tnroil  hy  (ho 
iia(ivcs,  who  reserve  tho  shell  for  liaitor 
wi(h  Kuroiioan  shins. 

When  slinis  anchor  ofl"  tho  coast,  (ho  nn- 
(ives  put  o(»  in  canoes;  hut  only  a  cor(alu 
mimher  are  allowed  to  appioach,  the  ham- 
mock nediiigs  heiiig  (riced  up  so  as  (o  jiro- 
vent  tlio  natives  (Voin  hoarding  (ho  vessel. 
Only  (ho  principal  chief  is  allowed  to  onmo 
on  hoard,  and  (hrough  him  (ho  hiirgains  am 
made.  These  are  very  (odious,  as  (ho  nil- 
tivos  will  insist  on  haggling  soparaloly  over 
each  piece  of  torloise-sholl,  instead  df  soil- 
ing (ho  whole  "  head  "  at  once,  as  is  done  at 


tho  oartli 

The  natives  of  tho  Solomon  Islands  nro 
so  tlorco  and  trcacliorous,  that  compaia- 
tivoly  htdo  lias  txa  yet  hoen  h'arnod  about 
them.  Ihoy  have  displayed  n  groat  genius 
lor  lulling  voyagers  into  a  fancied  soeurity 
and  then  niurdoiing  and  eating  them;  siJ 
(hat  tho  Spaniards  lost  nothing  hv  Mon- 
dunas  inahili(v  („  find  (ho  islands  again. 
1  hoy  eondived  lately  to  en(rap  a  gontlonian 
vlio  visited  their  islands  in  his  yaolit  and 
inuidorod  him  while  I»e  was  on  slu.re  shoot- 
ing pigeons.  Thoy  have  committed  so 
many  n^urdors  on  seamen,  and  even  can- 
turod  flo  many  vessels,  that  tho  greatest 
I>rorautioi?s  .^re  u^,^  t;ikou  by  thoBo  who 
Visit  their  shores. 


ehandiso  are  employed  in  the  liado,  such  as 
glass  bottles,  beads,  n.xes,  cloth,  knives,  and 
similar  objects. 

Tho  naiivos  are  very  dark,  and  may  oven 
bo  called  black,  with  thick  and  crisp  hair. 
'J'hat  they  are  cannibals  has  already  been 
mentioned.  They  are  suoh  inordinate  lov- 
ers of  human  th-sh  that,  .icct.rding  to  tho 
accounts  of  somo  travellers,  which  nuiy 
how,  vor  have  boon  oxaggorat<>d,  tlioy  mako 
it  (ht<ir  customary  diet.  It  is  oviden't,  how- 
ever, that  (his  statement  must  bo  somewhat 
overdrawn,  iw  no  pooplo  inhabiting  a  lim- 
ited country  could  mako  luinian  (hsh  tho 
chief  article  of  diet  without  gradual  ester- 
mination.  That  they  prefer  Tt  to  iiil  other 
food  IS  likely  enough,  and  iu  this  they  only 
^908)  ^       ' 


DUK88  AND  OUNAMKN'IU 


uno 


follow  the  rxnmiilt"  of  the  Pnjomim.  M«n- 
ilimii  iiU'iilloiiH  (hill  )h<«  rhlcl'  of  on<i  of  th«^ 
islftiids  Hciil  hlin  II  ImmlHomn  iirimt-nt  of  ii 
(iimrltT  of  II  bov,  ivntl  Ihiil  he  kiivo  nn-iit 
ollciicc  lo  thf  iiiillvi'H  by  l.urjiiiK'  iimli'ml  <•' 
rnlliiL'  il.  ,,,,         - 

Thi>v  tlo  (Mi-lainlv  "«"  Kr**!*!  mmntlllcH  of 
this  horril)l«'ili.'l,iu'i(l  oii(«  liiivfUor  mriitUmH 
Ihitt  in  viHiliii«  tlu'ir  hoiim-n,  lio  lm«  m«<Mi 
hum'iin  luMuls,  i('W«,  ami  iirms  hiinM|  from  tlio 
nvOiTMjiist  as  ioiiitM.if  iniMit  urc  liuii«  in  ii 
lanli-r.  The  I'iohnih  l>i>iir  lokiMi  in  othor 
WiiVR  "f  <•»"  tMnnivhiillwIio  hiil>itn  of  thi| 
nalivc'H,  hi'inft  ornaincnlfil  willi  Hltnlln  iitnl 
Hiiniliir  l■(^li(•^*  of  l),v««>uu  fuiwtH,  loKothcr 
with  o( her  oriiiinKMitM. 

The  Solomon  IslamlrrH  iiro  not  Imnclnomi* 
Dooplo  anti  <lo  not,  adtl  to  thrir  hciiuty  l>.y 
their  n\o.lrH  of  ailornmt  nl.  Thoir  invoter- 
nt(i  UHO  of  lh«>  liiti'1-niit  i>lackfim  thi'ir  It'ctli, 
ftud  IlK'ir  liU'cH  lire  (lisll>?"rr(l  with  HlnMil<H 
mid  piiti'hos  of  white  imint.  wliicli  has  n  hor- 
rililv  "hawtly  npiieanmee  ii^ainst  th«  l)liifK 
Bkiii.  '"'I'hey  are  tond  of  wearing  nmnennm 
ornamenu'in  tlieir  ears,  the  hilios  of  whieh 
nro  iierl'onited,  and  so  distended  that  they 
cnn  wear  in  them  eiriMilar  hloeks  ()f  wood 
nine  inelies  in  eirenmferenee.  Their  ehiet 
orniinient  is,  however,  an  armlet  made  tVom 
n  lar^je  shell  found  on  the  reefs.  Sliells  ol 
Biillli'Tent  si/.e  lor  this  inn-poso  are  extr(«mel.v 
rnrn  and  are  pri/.ed  even  n>ore  timn  whales 
tPeth  amouK  the  Kiiiiuis  and  nelKhhorini,' 
poople.  Wars  are  often  ciinsed  l)y  ii  strnn- 
tfle  for  the  possession  of  a  sin<?le  armlet; 
while,  in  eomparison  with  so  valuable  an 
artlele,  bmnau  life  is  looked  iiprn  iiH  utterly 
worthless.  Very  «>•'»'  ilii"!'"  '">'•  warriors 
wear  several  of'thes(>  rinvjs  <m  their  arms; 
but  they  (U>  so  with  the  full  knowledge  that 
(heir  lliierv  is  as  perilous  aH  il  is  valuable 
and  that  tliev  are  likely  to  bo  murdered 
merely  for  (he  saki<  of  their  oriiamentH. 

'riiii  Solomon  Islanders  rare  little  for 
dothiu),',  their  whole  dress  beinK  simply  a 
pieee  of  malting  tieil  round  the  waist;  and 
It  is  rather  ii  remarkable  fact  that  tliey  nur- 
Hue  the  sam<!  art  of  stainin)?  the  hair  yeUow, 
white,  or  red,  or  disrharirin'j;  all  eolor  <mt  ol 
it,  that  is  praetised  by  (he  FIjiaiia. 

Warlike  ns  well  as  llerc(>,  they  ponacss  a 
variety  of  weap(Uis;  sueh  as  elubs  of  ditVer- 
ent  kinds,  spears,  bows  and  arrows.  In 
order  to  ^nard  themselves  nfjainst  the  mis- 
sile weapons,  they  earry  Bliields  nuidc  of 
rushes,  woven  so  thickly  and  tightly  to- 
ce;her  that  they  are  able  to  resist  the 
arrows  and   to    render  the    spearK    almost 

harmless.  ,     .    ,.         , 

That  they  po.ssess  canoeR  may  ho  interred 
ft-om  the  faet  that  they  inhabit  islands  of  such 
diminutive  size.  These  canoes  are  made 
in  a  most  ingenious  manner,  and  are  con- 
atructcd  in  a  nuxh*  that  Rives  a  clue  to  the 
peculiar  shape  which  is  so  olten  seen  amonp; 
the  islands  of  I'olvnosia.  Both  at  the  sleni 
aud  stern  the  cnils  of  the  cauoo  aro  very 


much  raised.  This  struoturo  Is  not  only  for 
ornament,  though  decoration  Is  tVeely  used 
in  Ii,  but  is  principallv  inti^nded  for  defence. 
When  the  crew  attack  an  enemy,  or  aro 
attacked,  they  always  take  care  to  i:resent 
the  liow  or  stern  of  ihe  ciiiioe  to  the  foe,  and 
thus  are  in  a  great  measuio  pfotucted  by 
tlie  raised  ends.  . 

As  is  the  case  with  most  of  these  ocoanlo 
peoples,  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Solomon 
Islands  proftisely  adorn  the  sides  of  their 
canoes  with  carvings,  feathers,  and  inlay- 
lims.  Forthi'  last-mentioned  pur^>ose  whito 
shells  are  llberallv  used,  and  tortoise-shell  is 
also  employed.  Sometimes  these  portions 
of  the  ciin'oe  aro  carved  so  lis  to  resemble 
the  human  tiu'e,  the  eyes  beiiin  made  of 
mother-of-pearl,  Ihe  ears  of  lortoise-shell, 
and  the  cliiti  furnished  with  ii  lon«  beard. 

In  one  of  these  canoes  (!aplniii  l!oii>,'an- 
ville  found  a  Rreat  (piantity  of  weapons  and 
Implements,  such  as  spears,  bows  and  ar- 
rows, shields,  and  llsliiii«  nets.  The  shape 
of  the  shields  was  m^arly  oval,  and  the  ar- 
rows were  tipped  with  sharp  llsh  Ixmes. 
Various  articles  of  food  were  also  found  in 
the  boat,  such  as  cocoa-nuts  and  other  fruits, 
amoiiR  which  was  tlie  somewhat  Blartlin« 
objec't  of  a  human  juw-bonu  partially 
cooked. 


A  MONO   the  same  ri-oui)  of  Islands  aro 
New    Ireland    and    New    Uritain,   both    of 


which,  by  the  way,  seemed  to  have  been 
named  oil  the  h«us  a  »i."»  Iwrutlo  prineilile, 
inasmuch  as  it  is  scarcely  nossible  to  llnd 


Uritain  in  general  than  these  litthr  islands. 

In  their  dress  and  ornaments  the  inhabi- 
tants ditfer  but  little  liom  the  Solomon  Isl- 
anders, exci'pt  that  Ihe  chiel's  wiMir  <licular 
ornaments  of  pearl  almost  exactly  like  the 
dibbi-ilibbi  of  North  Australia.  TortoWO- 
shell  is  also  used  for  the  purpose. 

These  tribes  seem  to  bo  continually  on 
the  move,  the  warriors  bein«  ordered  by  the 
child's  from  stations  inu(di  like  our  own  icK- 
iments  at  home,  and  beinn  accompanied  by 
their  wives  anil  families.  In  their  various 
migrations  the  men  are  bound  to  look  to 
the  interests  of  their  families;  and  il  they 
neglect  to  do  so,  the  case  is  brought  bofix-o 
a  council  of  chiefs,  who  investinato  the  mat- 
ter. Should  the  accusation  be  jnovcd,  tho 
delinquent  is  condemned  to  run  the  gaunl- 
lel,  a  punishment  which  Is  intlictod  in  ex- 
actly tlie  same  mode  as  has  been  einployod 
in  l-luropi 

All  tho  inhabilanls  of  (he  village,  men, 
women,  and  children,  are  drawn  up  m  i\ 
double  line,  anil  each  ia  furnished  with  a 
bundle  of  twi^s  bound  toKcther  liko  tho 
birches  of  schools.  The  culprit  is  placed  at 
one  end  of  this  line,  and  at  a  signal  IVom 
tho  chief  ho  is  obliBcd  to  run  throiigli  it  a 
Certain  number  of  time?,  rf-Cfivir.;;  a  blow 
from  every  one  as  ho  passes.    Shitip  and  so- 


Ii 


070 


SOLOMON   ISLANDS. 


▼ern  n*  i«  this  !nw,  It  shown  no  small  ainntmt 
ot  polHii'nl  windntn,  mid  liOn  Ui«  imopUi  in  u 
u('v;foi'  IVoni  iiicri)  (*avii),'ii  liCii.  Aiiioiijj  onli- 
imry  muviik's  Uh'  niiiii  in  ovcrvtiiiiiu  nnd  liio 
wonicii  mid  childron  nothing,',  mid  lliiU  in 
tlu'«c  rcnioto  islandH  they  MJioiild  Ixt  pliicod 
undor  tlio  'piotcctloii  of  tlio  «ov(Tiinii-iit 
h1i(»wk  a  ('oiiMldonilili^  advaiicn  toward  civlii- 
zatioii.  Tlicrc  iM,  moii'oviM-,  an  in^'cnio'iN 
rftril)uliv(>  jiistici.  in  (ho  niodn  of  puniMli- 
nii'iit.  Ily  dcMiidnp;  liiH  liunilv,  the  man 
llirowN  tli(!  ItiirdcMi  of  (lu'ir  inairitcnunc.!  on 
tlu!  eoiiimiinily,  and  it,  is,  (hcivl'oin,  tlioiiKlit 
only  liiif  that  tlui  piini.vhinunt  HJiould  ulao 
bo  Icti  to  llu<  conimimity. 

Tlio  architvcluro  of  tliVso  people  Ih  good, 
and  we  HJiall  piv^eiitlv  see  an  example  of  it. 
When  u  new  villaije  i«  to  he  htiilt  a  lai^e 
snaee  is  eIemT<l,  in  the  middle  of  whieli  in 
the  comicil  hoii.se,  a  lart;o  eireiilar  edillee, 
mipporled  on  ic.l  pillars,  and  di.«tint,'ui«hed 
hy  havintr  <>n  ilio  roof  a  number  of  tall 
poles,  each  bearing  on  il8  point  a  human 
skull.  J  he  tloor  in  earpeted  with  line  mats 
cohjred  with  turm.'rie,  mid  lulorued  witii 
binlH    feathers  wo\en  into  it. 

The  dwellinfj-liunse.s  are  nindo  in  n  very 
dillerent  manner.  'J'he  nalivo  nrehiteet 
begins  by  ihjiiiiui;  a  lan'e  sipiare  hole  in  the 
ground  some  live  feet  deep,  and  over  this 
Jilt  he  ereets  the  house,  whieh  is  rather  low 
111  coiisoipienee  of  the  depih  piiiied  in  the 
ba.senienl.  The  thatch  is  of  weeds,  and  is 
covered  with  a  thiek  eoatliij.;  of  clay,  which 
Serves  the  double  miriioso  of  rendering;  the 
nut  lire-proof  and  ol  keei)!!!},'  tliu  interior 
cool. 

Tho  weapons  of  the  warriors  are   nnieli 
the  s.-ime  as  lho.se  of  the  other  islands,  but 
slirtfrs  are  also  emploved,  and  the  spears  are 
Roiierally    tipocd   with    sharp    flint.      Like 
most  of  th(^   Tapuaiis,  the  victorious  party 
eat  the  enemies  whom  thev  kill  in  battle.' 
Owins  to  tho  character  of  these  islanders, 
little  is  known  of  their  religion.    That  thev 
have  some  form  of  worship  is  evident  from 
the  tact  that  they  make  f^reat  wooden  idols, 
fioiuetimes  ten  or  more  feet  in  Iiei<'hl,  and 
plant  them  in  dillerent  parts  of  the  country. 
Iho  illustration  No.  '2,  on  tho  l»4!)th  na«(« 
reiiresents   one   of   these   idol.s.     To   these' 
idols  otferiiiKs  of  food  are  coimtaiitlv  made; 
and,  as  sueh  oirerinRs  are  never  taken  awav, 
the   odor  of  decomposing  figs,   fowls,  aiid 
fruit  betrays  the  presence  of  tlio  idol  at  a 
Rreat  distance.     In  one  of  tho  islands,  called 
Ysabol,  tho  natives   are    said   to  worship 
suiikea,  toads,  and  various  reptiles. 


The  most  en.stward  of  this  proup,  San 
Christovid,  is  about  seventy  miles  long  and 
twenty  wide.  In  No.  2, "on  page  «Ji5.1,  is 
given  a  view  taken  in  Makira  harbor,  in  or- 
der to  show  tho  iujfonious  houses  which  tho 
natives  build  for  the  protection  of  thoir 
c.anoes.  As  may  be  seen,  the  house  is  cam- 
Die  01  uccumuluiiug  a  cousideraWo  nutulier 


of  the  beftulifidly  carved  vessels,  nnd  is  elab- 
orately adorned,  alter  the  native  lii.,liiou. 
with  idols  in  imaKes,  human  skulls,  lulU  ut 
feathers,  and  siinilur  ornaments. 

TliK  extremest  of  the  group  are  those 
which  are  known  by  tlie  name  ul  the  Adiui- 
rally  Ittlands. 

'I'he  natives  of  those  islaiulH  mako  use  of 
a  sort  of  obsidian,  which  they  sj)lit  into  IVui;- 
melils  and  use  as  we  use  steel.     !.',„•  exam- 
ple, they  make  razors  of  it,  willi  wliidi  they 
shave  every  part  ol  their  bodies  c\cr|)tiu|| 
the   head,  on  which   the  hair  is  iillowcd  to 
grow,  and  is  tied  up  in  a  knot  on  the  top  of 
the   head.     The   hair  is  often  colored   with 
led  ochre  and  oil.     They  use  tlit^  same  ma- 
terial as  heads    lo   their'  spears,  tying   tho 
head  lo  the  sbnlt  with  plaited  string  coaled 
with  gum.    Tho  clothing  of  the   Admiially 
Islanders  is  very  simple,  the  wdincii  wearing 
a  piece  of  miitliiig  tied  roiin.l  the  «aist,  and 
th(^   men  nolhiiig  but  a  large   while  shell. 
They  have  bracelets  and   armlets  made  of 
plaited  libre,  and  a  bell  of  similar  material 
round  the  waist.     Nome  of  tin m  make  their 
bracelets  of  large   sia-ear   .shells,  griudiiig 
out  the  middle  and  rounding  the  edges;  and 
ornaments  of  a  similar  charaeler  are  hung 
ill   the  ears,  which  are  often  dragged  down 
to  such  an  extent  that  (he  lower  lips  of  the 
lobes  almost  rest  on    the   shoulders.     This 
enormous  si/.e    is   adained   at   the   cost   of 
much    Inaible,  an   elastic   hoop  being  con- 
slanlly  kept  in  (he  aperturi'  so  as  to  k"'ep  it 
giiidually  distended.     A  few  of  the  natives 
also  have  the  septum  of  the  nose  jiierced. 
and   hang  upon   it  a  siring,  to  the  end  of 
which  are   liislcned    feelh.     The   chiefs  are 
distinguished  by  a  double  rowof  lidle  shells 
on  the  forehead,  and  seem  to  exercise  con- 
siderable authority  over  their  inferiors. 

AVheii   Captain"  D'KnIrecasteaiix   visited 
the   place,  bis  boats  ap]iroached  the  shore, 
w  hereona  number  of  natives  were  collected, 
.and  tho  ca|)laiii   made   signs   of  peace.     A 
chief,  distinguished  by  Iho  insignia  of  rank 
on  his  forehead,  ordered  one  of  the  natives 
to  swim  to  the  boats  with  some  cocoa-nuts. 
''The  fear  of  apjiroaehing  jieisons  of  whoso 
intentions  he  ^va^"   ignorant,  niado   the  isl- 
ander, swimming  and  defenceless,  lusitato 
a  moment.     l<ul   the   chief,  who   doiiblless 
was  littlo  accustonied   to  have  his  w  ill  dis- 
obeyed, did  not  allow  him  to  relleet.     Hlows 
from  a  I'lidgel,  \\  hich  he  held  in  his  hand, 
iinmediatoly  sii.  .ceded  his  order,  and  en- 
forced instant  obedieiieo.  .  .  . 

"  Hy  way  of  comforting  the  poor  fellow, 
our  people  gave  him  some  bits  of  red  stuir,a 
i'ew  nails,  and  a  knife,  with  which  he  was 
greatly  pleased.  No  sooner  had  he  returned 
to  tho  island,  than  curiosity  collected  all  tho 
rest  around  him,  every  one  wishing  to  see 
our    nresonts.      Canoes   were   immediately 

Iaiincn«*d     tiiniiv  nr^tiveo   ♦r./iU   i^.    *iio    ...«♦-.« 

and  swam,  auU  la  a  short  time  there  was 


THE  nOUKA  18LAND, 


971 


•  (^roftt  roT.ooiirsfl  round  onr  IxtatM.  Wo 
Wurt)  iiiir|irU<iil  Ui  hcii  that  iwitlutr  tlu;  Coico 
oi'  thn  Hurt'  nor  of  titt;  bruakora  (liscouriiKud 
thum  t'roiii  tlio  attempt. 

"  Tlu'io  wuH  imotlior  eliliif  (liittlnjjuiBliiMl 
by  the  miino  orniiin«iitn  ii.i  bn  who  liiw  btii'ii 
nirtiaily  muiilioiit'd.  and  alno  by  tbo  blows 
whicli  ho  inlli(;tti(I  with  Inn  (uidael  upon 
UiDMo  to  whom  ho  giwo.  bin  orib-rN.'' 

'I'lio  canotiH  of  t\u'.na  poopio  ai'o  furnlnb('d 
with  a,  doiil)lo  outrigniir,  only  ono  tou<hinj? 
tlio  wulor,  and  tlui  otbiu-  proJi'(:tiii«  at  an 
oiiuiil  dlstaucn  on  tbn  oppositii  niilo.  'V\\vy 
fti'o  conni'ctcd  by  a  olaM'ornj,  on  which  llni 
coniin;inilnr  stands  wlitui  tbi'.  sail  is  lowered 
and  i;iid  on  tbo  sceond  outfiRi{or.  When 
tbo  sail  is  hoisted,  bo  stands  on  tbo  |)la(;»i 
wbei-i)   it   hal   been  laid.      Kach  outnj,'ijer 


urojceli  abitul  eij^bt  foot  from  the  ij;unwale. 
Tbo  naililK'S  are  about  six  t'cetin  lenij;lli,and 
are  Innii.shed  with  a  broad  blade,  vvliicb  is 
made  separately  from  tbo  haiuUo,  and  llrmly 
lashed  to  it  with  cord. 

The  sail  is  uiado  of  niattin-:;,  and  about 
thirteen  feet  Ripiaro.  The  mast  is  twenty 
foot  in  heis^ht,  and  when  the  eanoe  is  to  be 
pushitd  to  its  lull  speed,  the  sail  is  hoistiul 
diagonally,  with  one  an^lo  proJeetinu;a  yard 
above  till'  top  of  the  mast.  Wlu^n  th(!  na- 
tives desire  to  );o  slowly,  they  only  hoist  a 
few  feet  of  the  sail,  the  rest  of  it  lyiii^  in  tbo 
canoii;  and  by  thus  boistinjj;  or  lowering  the 
Hail  they  nan  re>.julato  their  speed  mueh  as 
they  li'ui.  When  tbo  sail  is  hoisted  to  its 
fullest  extent,  tbo  canoo  ean  beat  the  swift- 
eat  sailin;'  sbijjs.  The,  ordinary  len;,'th  of 
a  canoe  is  about  thirty-two  feet,  au<l  tbo 
oxtretne  breadth  is  only  twenty-six  ineln^a. 

Tbo  Admiralty  Islanilers  phew  the  pepper 
leaf,  with  the  aildition  of  lime,  whieti  they 
keep  ill  a  lilllt^  calabash,  but  do  not  seem  to 
add  t'.^o  cocoa-nut.  Only  tliu  chiefs  appear 
to  practis(!  this  habit,  probably  on  account 
of  tlio  dilUcully  of  obtaining  tlicjn-oper  ma- 
terials. 

Onb  of  tho.sc  island.s,  named  Bottka,  was 
visited  by  Captain  J>'Entrccastoanx  in  17!»:J. 
The  nalives  are  black,  tall,  powerful,  and 
quite  naked.  Tbo  face  is  rather  broad  and 
flat,  the  nose  projects  but  little,  the  mouth 
Is  lai-f^e,  and  tlio  lips  peculiarly  thin.  They 
pluck  all  tbo  bair  olf  the  body,  and  only 
allow  that  of  tho  head  to  grow,  sometimes 
powdering  it  with  red  chalk.  Rod  and 
white  paint  aro  freely  used  on  tboir  bodiea, 
and  their  ears  aro  pierced  and  loaded  with 
large  shells,  which  drag  them  nearly  to  the 
shoulders.  Round  tho  waist  they  wear  a 
cord  which  passes  round  the  body  several 
times,  and  .some  of  them  have  a  custom  of 
binding  tho  upper  arm  in  a  similar  manner, 
placing  some  Hat  pieces  of  wood  between 
the  arm  and  the  ligature. 

These  people  are  good  canoe  men,  and, 

>V  iir*!!        l!l^\       tdffit        M!Vt  I        tnt  "r*      rr  ttl        ^  rtH'H--", 

exhibit  a  discipline  which  la  hardly  to  be 


expected  among  savages.  Helweon  erery 
two  paddlers  on  ca(^h  side  «tan<lH  a  warrior 
armed  with  bow  and  arrows,  while  interme- 
dialo  parties  of  warriors  stan<l  with  their 
faires  U)ward  the  stern,  so  as  to  obhcrvo  tho 
enemy  and  light  during  a  tetreat.  Two  of 
the  crew  aro  toM  olf  to  bale  out  the  water, 
which  beats  continually  over  the  side  of  tho 
canoo  when  the  wind  lilows  freshly. 

The  bow  is  remarkable  for  having  tho 
string  coated  with  a  sort  of  resimuis  sub- 
stance In  order  to  nreserve  if,  the  middle  of 
Ibo  cord  beiiw  skilfully  wrapped,  with  baric 
to  guard  it  against  injury  from  tbo  nock  ot 
the  arrow.  'I'hv  arrows  are  made  of  two 
pieces,  the  head  being  shaned  from  a  hard 
and  heavy  wood,  and  the  sliuft  being  a  reed. 
The  plate  where  they  are  Joinird  is  strength- 
fiwA  by  a  ligature  ot  bark.  The  butt  of  tho 
arrow  is  wrai)ped  in  the  same  manner  to 
prevent  it  fnim  being  split  by  the  siring. 
They  use  thesis  weapons  with  much  Hkill, 
and,  a.s  was  proved  by  Captain  D'Kntrecas- 
teaux,  are  able  to  kill  birds  with  them. 

Till!  nalives  were  ready  to  part  wilb  their 
weapons  in  exchange  lor  red  stulf,  biscuits, 
bottloa,  and  other  Commodities,  lint  were 
rather  prone  to  -cheat,  agreeing  lo  deliver  a 
bow  for  a  handkerchief,  ami,  when  they  had 
got  the  haudUerchief,  nretendiug  that  tho 
bargain  was  not  made  tor  a  bow  hut  for  an 
ariw.  Tbo  nalives  of  Hoiika  Isliiud,  nakod 
and  savage  as  they  aro,  have  soiiio  sort  of 
civilization  among  themselves,  as  is  evident 
from  the  fact  that  they  cultivate  the  cocoa- 
nut  palm,  largo  nlant.ations  of  which  usehil 
tree!  extend  to  the  water-aide  along  a  great 
portion  of  tho  coast. 

ForxOAViNO  the  line  of  the  Solomon 
Islands  in  a  south-easterly  diicction.  wo 
come  upon  another  grouj)  of  islands  called 
the  N'kw  IIi;ni!inHrt,  extending  lor  some 
four  hundred  miles,  and  containing  a  con- 
siderable number  of  islamls  of  various  sizes. 
They  are  jierbaps  best  known  from  the  fact 
that  one  of  them,  called  Krrumauga,  was  the 
place  in  which  the  celebrated  missionary, 
.lobn  Williams,  met  with  his  death.  These 
islands  attained  importance  in  a  secular 
jioint  of  view  from  the  la(;t  that  st^veral  of 
them  produce  sandal-wood,  and  therefore 
attract  to  them  a  great  number  of  trading 
vessels  of  diiVcront  countries,  with  whom 
a  considerable  commerce  has  been  carried 
on. 

The  islands  .are  mostly  of  a  volcanic  na- 
ture, and  present  the  usual  variations  of  such 
localities,  some  parts  being  rough,  craggy, 
and  bare,  while  others  aro  fertile  and  ]ko- 
liflc  to  n  degree  that  can  scarcely  bo  con- 
ceived by  those  who  have  never  seen  tropi- 
cal vegetation.  As  is  often  the  case  with 
islands  of  no  great  size  and  divided  from 
each  other  by  moderately  wide  channels, 
*Urt  i-»tK.^a  which  inhabit  them  ditler  ennsiiJ- 
erably  iu  tlieir  language  and  manners,  and 


I  J 


n 


\U 


!    t 


r 


ft72 


NEW  HEBRIDES. 


are  in  a  chronic  state  of  feud  with  each 
other.  Tliey  are  just  far  enough  apart  to 
have  but  rare  and  infrequent  intercourse 
with  each  other,  and  so  gradually  diverge 
into  different  customs,  and  they  are  not  far 
enough  apart  to  isolate  them,  and  confer 
upon  them  a  nationality. 

Ve  find  this  f(\eling  in  every  one  of  the 
innumerable  groups  of  islands  which  stud 
the  Pacific,  and,  aa  we  shall  soon  see,  it  pre- 
vails even  among  those  groups  which  pre- 
serve the  same  language  and  customs.  In 
fact,  among  the  Polynesians  there  is  that 
very  feeling  of  local  jealousy  which  prevails 
even  in  civilized  countries,  and  which  is, 
though  necessarily  more  limited,  far  more 
rancorous  than  the  feelings  of  enmity  which 
prevail  between  mighty  nations. 

One  of  the  largest  of  thesi',  islands  is  Vat^ 
sometimes  called  Sandwich  Island.  This 
latter  term  should  not  be  used,  as  it  tends 
to  cause  confusion  between  a  single  island 
of  the  New  Hebrides  and  the  great  group  of 
the  Sandwich  Islands,  which  are  inhabited 
by  a  totiilly  di'^rent  race  of  men.  To 
strangers  A''ate  is  very  unhealthy,  but  the 
causes  which  produce  malaria  also  produce 
a  wonderful  fertility  of  vegetation.  This 
island  is  about  seventy  miles  in  circumfer- 
ence, and  is  remarkable  for  the  thick  growth 
of  forests  upon  its  lower  limits,  and  of  ver-' 
dure  upon  the  higher  portions  which  are  not 
so  well  fitted  for  trees.  The  natives  seem 
to  give  some  time  and  trouble  to  agricul- 
ture. 

The  inhabitants  are  black  of  skin,  but  tall 
and  well-formed,  and  their  dress  in  many 
points  reminds  the  observer  of  the  costume 
of  several  African  tribes.  That  of  the  men 
consists  of  a  broad  belt  or  wrapper  of  mat- 
ting .frought  in  patterns  colored  with  red, 
white,  and  black.  The  hair  is  generally 
gathered  up  into  a  bunch  at  the  top  of  the 
head,  stained  yellow,  and  adorned  with  a 
plume  of  feathers. 

As  to  ornaments,  they  are  much  like  those 
which  have  already  been  mentioned  as  be- 
longing to  the  Solomon  Islanders.  The 
lobes  of  tlie  ears  are  always  much  distended, 
from  the  habit  of  wearing  in  them  heavy 
ornaments  cut  from  white  shells,  or  similar 
materials.  The  septum  of  the  nose  is  mostly 
piciccd,  and  the  aperture  filled  with  a  wh'.e 
stone.  Raised  scars  are  made  in  the  arms 
and  chest,  and  arranged  in  definite  patterns. 
Armlets  made  cf  shells  are  used  bv  these 
islanders.  Their  figure  and  costume  are 
well  rejiresented  in  the  engraving  No.  1,  on 
the  973d  page.  ^ 

The  women  are  equally  well  made  with 
the  t.ien,  and  the  general  fashion  of  the  dress 
IS  much  the  same.  They  wear,  however,  a 
curious  nddition  to  the  dress,  which  is  verv 
much  like  that  of  the  Ovambo  women  of 

Afrino        'PooQin.v   M^..*..4    fl.^    :_^    .■_    .  «     «. 

■ — 6    '•••<i'-t    tiic    rrnist,   jo  a  ocu 

some  seven  inches  wide,  made  of  plaited 
fibre  woven  into  neat  patterns.    Prom  tliis 


belt  depends  in  ft-ont  a  square  apron  of  no 
great  size,  and  behind  is  attached  a  broad 
^'f'P,  7  'no  same  plaited  matting  as  that 
which  faces  the  belt.  It  descends  half-way 
down  the  leg,  and  is  finished  off  with  a  faii- 
like  fringe  of  plaited  grass,  some  eighteen 
inches  long,  and  of  proportionate  width. 
Ihe  women,  as  well  as  the  men,  practise  the 
custom  of  making  raised  scars  on  their 
bodies.  They  difler  from  the  men  in  the 
mode  of  dressing  the  hair,  keeping  it  cut 
closely  to  the  head  instead  of  allowing  it  to 
grow  to  its  full  length  and  tying  it  up  in  a 
bunch.  * 

The  weapons  of  these  islanders  are  re- 
markable for  the  beauty  of  their  tinish,  the 
barbs  of  the  arrows  being  neatly  carved,  and 
the  junction  of  the  head  and  shaft  bein<^ 
neatly  ornamented  with  plaited  grass  an3 
feathers.  Indeed,  the  arrows  have  a  curious 
resemblance  to  those  made  by  some  of  the 
tribes  of  tropical  America. 

Like  the  Solomon  Islanders,  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  New  Hebrides  have  large  coun- 
cil chambers  in  their  villages.  Instead, 
however,  of  being  circular,  thev  are  gener- 
ally made  of  considerable  length,  sometimes 
measuring  as  much  as  a  hunched  feet  from 
one  end  to  the  other.  They  are  entirely 
open  on  one  side.  For  some  rea.son  which 
seems  rather  obscure,  they  art.  adorned 
with  bones  of  various  animals,  the  particular 
species  from  which  they  are  taken  not  seem- 
ing to  be  of  any  consequence.  For  example 
in  one  of  these  houses  may  be  seen  bunches 
of  bones  taken  indiscriminately  from  ni-^s 
fowls,  and  fishes,  while  the  shells  of  luhsters 
and  other  crustacea  are  mixed  with  them. 
It  is  believed  that  human  bones  are  not 
used  for  this  purpose. 


A  Curious  contrast    to  these  tribes  is 
presented  by   the    inhabitants    of   another 

island  calle4  Tanna,  who  are  certainly  in- 
ferior  to  those  of  Vatd  in  stature  and  gen- 
eral appearance,  and  are  thought  to  be  so  in 
point  of  intellect  They  have  a  bad  reputa- 
tion, being  said  to  be  treacherous  and  cruel. 
That  they  are  also  reputed  to  be  cannibals 
is  n«.  matter  of  wonder,  inasmuch  as  they 
belong  to  the  Papuan  race.  They  are  said 
to  rival  the  Fans  ot  Africa  in  one  respect 
and  tj  dig  up  the  bodies  of  the  buried  dead! 
in  order  to  eat  them. 

The  island  is  volcanic,  and  the  subterranean 
fires  seem  to  aid  the  already  exuberant  veg- 
etation of  the  tropics,  which  in  Uanna  at- 
tains a  development  that  is  almost  incredi- 
ble. 

The  inhabitants  of  Tanna  are  as  black  aa 
those  of  VateS,  but  seem  to  have  no  other 
points  of  ri,:,emblance.  The  men  .appear  to 
think  that  they  arc  not  black  enough  by 
nuture,  for  they  have  a  way  of  daubing  their 
same  countenmices  with  biack  lead,  and 
painting  upon  the  black  groundwork  sundry 
pattorus  in  red  ochre.    The  hair  is  frizzed 


5   c 


^  i; 


> 
3 


■3 


3 


■«3 


(873) 


i   1 


!     i 


ill 


DISCOVEKY  OF  RELICS. 


970 


out  after  the  ordinary  Papuan  type  which  is 
dyed  a  reddish  dun  color  by  means  of  lime. 

Wk  come  now  to  Errumanga.  It  has 
kept  up  its  traditional  ferocity.  Not  content 
\N  ilh  killing  the  first  missionary  who  set  his 
foot  on  their  shores,  the  people  many  years 
afterward  murdered  another  missionary  and 
his  wife.  This  second  murder  was  owing  to 
the  priests,  who  persuaded  the  people  that 
an  epidemic  which  had  done  much  damage 
among  the  natives  was  caused  by  the  mis- 
sionaries from  a  strange  land.  The  ignorant 
people  rcic-ily  believed  this  statement,  and, 
wild  with  the  uncontrolled  fury  of  the  sav- 
age, they  murdered  both  the  accused  per- 
sons. The  deed  was  scarcely  done  before 
the  people  repented  of  it,  and  only  the  day 
after  the  murder,  when  the  bodies  were 
buried,  the  natives  stood  round  the  grave 
overwhelmed  with  grief,  the  most  sincere 
mourner  being  the  chief  of  the  district. 

The  murder  of  these  people,  unfortunate 
as  it  may  seem,  really  paved  the  way  for 
others  to  follow  in  their  footsteps;  and,  as  is 
generally  the  case  with  persecution,  the 
cause  only  gained  additional  strength  by  the 
attempts  made  to  repress  it  by  main  force. 

At  one  time  the  inhabitants  were  held  in 
such  dread  that  the  natives  were  not  allowed 
to  come  on  board  the  ships,  nor  were  the 
men  permitted  to  land.  A  jmall  trade  was 
carried  on  in  sandal-wood,  which  the  natives 
carried  to  the  boats  by  swimming  through 
the  surf,  and  being  necessarily  unarmed, 
could  be  allowed  to  make  their  bargains 
without  suspicion  of  treachery.  Although, 
therefore,  the  savage  nature  of  the  inhab- 
itants has  occosioniiUy  broken  out  and 
showed  itself  in  bloodshed,  the  very  fact 
that  Europeans  have  been  allowed  to  reside 
for  any  time  on  the  island  shows  a  great 
improvement  in  the  character  of  the  na- 
tives. 

The  northernmost  island  of  the  group  is 
Ankitkum,  one  of  the  islands  which  pro- 
duce sandal-wood  in  great  plenty.  The 
natural  ferocity  and  suspicion  of  the  natives 
has  been  overcome  by  the  judicious  estab- 
lishment and  introduction  of  a  factory,  to 
which  the  sandal-wood  is  taken  by  the  na- 
tives, and  from  which  it  is  sold  to  the  ships, 
whicii  find  here  a  store  of  this  valuable  wood 
always  ready  for  them.  The  chief  market 
for  ttie  wood  is  found  in  China,  where  it  is 
cut  into  various  articles  of  luxury  with  the 
custonuiry  patience  which  characterizes  the 
artists  of  that  country.  The  success  of  this 
factory  shows  that  the  best  way  of  dealing 
with  savages  is  to  treat  them  precisely  as 
children  are  treated,  and  to  employ  in  all 
dealings  with  them  an  equal  mixture  of 
kindness  and  firmness,  making  allowances 
for  the  uluorent  couaticution  of  their  miadb 


and  the  influence  of  savage  habits  upon  their 
conduct;  but  at  the  same  time  to  be  firm 
almost  to  severity,  and  neter  to  permit  an 
encroachment.  The  safest  maxim  in  dealing 
with  savages  is  never  to  deceive  and  never 
to  trust. 

The  inhabitants  of  Malicolo  differ  con- 
siderably from  those  of  the  islands  which 
have  been  mentioned.  While  the  natives  of 
Vatd  are  tall  and  finely  made,  those  of  Erru- 
manga scarcely  inferior  to  them,  and  those 
of  Tanna  stout  and  powerful,  though  com- 
paratively short  of  stature,  the  inhabitant?, 
of  Malicolo  are  small,  ill-proportioned  peoi)le, 
ugly  of  face,  and  disfiguring  themselves  by 
wearing  a  belt  round  the  waist,  drawn  so 
tight  that  it  gives  them  an  hour-glass  or 
waspish  aspect. 

The  reader  may  perhaps  be  aware  that,  in 
the  year  1788,  the  vessels  Boussole  and  As- 
trolabe, commanded  by  the  cclebratad  voy- 
ager La  Perousc,  disappeared,  and  nothing 
more  was  heard  of  them.  He  was  last 
seen  at  Botany  Bay,  where  he  had  arrived 
from  Tonga. 

In  1791  an  expedition,  consisting  of  two 
vessels,  the  Recherche  and  the  Espdrance, 
was  fitted  out  under  the  command  of  Captain 
D'Entrecasteaux,  and  sent  out  in  search  of 
the  missing  vessels.  The  expedition  failed 
in  its  immediate  object,  though  in  the  course 
of  the  explorations  some  valuable  discoveries 
were  made. 

In  1792  D'Entrecastcaux's  vessels  got 
among  the  New  Hebrides,  and  found  them- 
selves in  the  midst  of  coral  reefs  and  shoals 
of  which  they  knew  nothing,  and  which 
caused  no  small  alarm.  In  consequence  of 
the  danger  of  these  reefs,  the  captain  did  not 
touch  at  all  the  islands  which  were  seen,  but 
contented  himself  with  naming  them,  .and 
marking  their  j)laces  on  a  chart.  As  it 
turned  out,  one  of  these  islands,  Vanikobo, 
or  Recherche  Island,  as  D'Entiecasteaux 
named  it,  was  the  place  on  which  lia  Perouse 
was  wrecked,  so  that  the  expedition  actually 
passed  within  sight  of  the  very  spot  which 
was  the  object  of  their  voyage.  Indeed, 
D'Entrecasteaux  practically  "completed  the 
voyage  which  La  Perouse  began,  and  his 
narrative  furnishes  a  necessary  supjilement 
to  that  of  the  voy.ager  in  search  of  whom  he 
sailed.  It  was  not  until  some  forty  years 
afterward  that  the  relics  were  discovered 
which  proved  beyond  a  doubt  that  Vanikoro 
was  the  place  in  which  La  Perouse  and  his 
companions  perished.  "Vanikoro  is  some> 
times  called  Pitt's  Island.  An  illustration 
is  given  on  the  973d  page,  which  representa 
a  woman  of  "Vanikoro,  and  her  child,  and  is  a 
type  of  the  jxpression  and  features  of  those 
islanders 
i 


CHAPTER   XCIX. 


TONGA. 


GOVERNMENT  AND  GRADATIONS  OF  RANK. 


MAT  LoNM      ^^'*    """"■''-""'   «»"'^«.    OH  <'«NTUV;  AM,    THE    TOO.        OH  COMMON  ,.KO,-,.K- 
MATIUMONUL  AlmANOEMENTS  BKTWKEN  PEOPLE  OP  D.FFEUENT  BANK8- THEATMENT  OF  WOMEN. 


Ouu  rcailovfl  nviv  roniombor  thnt,  in  tli(^  ac- 
cotint  of  (lu-  Fiji  fslaiids,  it  was  moiilioiicd 
t  haUIii-rc  was  one  nation  wliicii  waslnid  l)v 
the  Iijiaiis  as  Tito  from  tlieir  usnal  ciistoiii 
of  killing' aiiii  caliniial!  visitors  to  tlicir  const 
Ihesc  people  arc  the  inliahitaiits  of  ilic  Ton- 
Ran  nrrou]),  popularly  linown  as  tli(>  Fricncllv 
Islands.  Owniji  to  tlioir  couraso  in  war 
and  superior  intellect,  they  have  performed 
toward  (ho  Fijians  the  same  iiart  (hat  has  so 
often  been  jilayed  by  more  civilized  i)eoi)le. 
On   one    or    two  occasions  thev  found  the 


After  this  exploit,  the  Ton^.-m  chief  fol- 
lowed up  his  blow  by  sailing  to  the  island  of 
1  aviuni,  where  anotlicr  rebellion  was  ran-ing 
in  consequence  of  the  nuirder  of  the  (;iiief 
l)y  Ins  sons.     ITe  jnitan  end  to  this  rebellion 
al.so,  inquired  whicli  of  the  murdered  chiers 
other  sons  had  the  best  claim  to  his  lather's 
rank,  ami  installed  him  formally.    The  van- 
(piished    rcl)els,   lindinf:?    ii,nt  "the    Tcmjran 
leader    was    too    slronj:    for  them,  tried  to 
entra])  him  in  an  ambuscade,  but  only  suc- 
ceeded in  nnirderinj,'  one  of  his  chiefs.'  The 


li'iii.in  ,.!,;  \k  11 1        \     .      "'   '"^    <'ee(ie(i  in  niuniennf,'  one  of  his  c  i  efs.     The 

the  m  t     t^H     ■"'  V'T^  >>.v  reWllion.  took    Ton^ans  iminediat^lv  landed  on  the  islan  L 


." |.iv  .-.-.^  M    IF  V     1  (JW^iiUMI,    HH»K 

tlie  part  vf  their   hosts,  crushed   the   rebel 
lorees.  and  restored  (he  chiefs  to  pow(>r. 

A  remarkable  instance  of  this  timely  aid 
occurred  as   late    a.s  IH.'i,';.    Thakomb.an,  of 
whom  wo  h.ave  already  heard,  was  in  danger 
of  losing  his  life  andtlinmc  together  throi?<'h 
a  rebellion  led  by  a  cliief  named  Mara.     For- 
tunately, he  had    j)revi()nsly  p;iv(>n  a  maj?- 
nificent  canoe    to   the    Toriijan   kinjj,  wiVo 
sailed    over,   accordincr    to   custom,  accom- 
panied with  a  lar<,'e  fleet,  in  order  to  receive 
the  royal  present  with  due  honor.     Hfo  in- 
stantly led    his  forces   aijainst   the    rebels 
stornied  a  fort  called  Kamba  wliich  was  held" 
by    them,    took   it,    and   utterly    dispersed 
the  enemy,  Mara  himself  onlyescapinL'  by 
ninnins  over  the  sharp  shells  of  the  reef 
thereby  nearly  cuttinp;  his  feet  to  pieces,  and" 
swjinmmg   to  a  ueighboring  town  on  the 

COASu 


and  aventjed  the  death  of  their  friends  in  a 
niost  terrible  manner.  A  larf;e  pjirly  of 
Touijan  warriors  was  afterward  left  niider 
(he  command  of  a  chief  n.amed  Maafn,  a  re- 
lation of  the  kin<:,nnd  by  nieansof  this  three 
(he  rebels  were  etlectuany  sujiprcssed. 

As  miglu  bo  expeetedi  the  Ton-rans  took 
advant.atre  of  their  situa.  on,  and  enacted 
over  aatain  tlie  fable  of  the  deer,  the  horse, 
and  (he  man.  Some  four  hundred  of  them 
frenernlly  remain  in  Fiji,  and  domineer  over 
the  natives  much  like  armies  of  occupation 
in  other  countries.  A  Tonjj.an  warrior  has 
not  the  least  scruple  in  Roiiirj  to  a  strange 
village,  entering  the  house  (ha(  pleases  him 
best,  and  installing  himself  in  the  best  place 
with  (he  simple  words:  "This  part  of  (ho 
bnusn  is  mipo  "     JIo  toVcn   »!>.»   Knuf   „p  ti — 


food,  and,  if  he  builds  a  c 


anoe,  merely  acts 


(970) 


as  foreman,  making  the  Fijians  do   a'll  tho 


TONGAN  ORGANIZATION. 


077 


hard  work.  There  is  nothing  that  the  Ton- 
gans  ilo,  liowevcr,  which  so  much  incenses 
the  natives  as  their  careless  habit  of  ,slial«- 
ing  tiic  bread-iVuit  trees  in  order  to  procure 
the  fruit,  whicli  ought  always  to  bo  gathered 
by  liand. 

It  is  said,  and  perhaps  with  reason,  that 
the  Ton^ans  contemplate  the  complete  con- 
quest of'  the  Fijian  group;  an(l  from  then- 
oxperiencn,  courage,  and  discipline,  p.nd  the 
fear  whidi  they  have  contrived  to  instil  into 
the  Fijians,  there  is  little  doubt  that  the  at- 
tempt;  if  it  were  to  be  made,  would  be  a  suc- 
cessful one.  The  Fijian  warrior  fights  on  his 
own  account,  each  n'lan  separately,  while  the 
Tongaus  act  in  unison;  so  that  tlie  Fijians 
who  have  fought  a.ijainst  them  compare 
them  to  the  gods,  against  whom  it  is  useless 
to  struggle. 

As  may  be  gathered  from  these  particu- 
lars, the  Tongans  are  a  superior  race  to  the 
Fijian.  They  are,  indeed,  a  dilferent  peojile 
altogether;  the  Fijians  belonging  to  the 
Papuan  race,  whereas  the  Tongans  belong 
to  the  Polynesian  race,  which  does  not  po.s- 
sess  tlie  very  crisp  hair  and  rough  skin  of 
the  Papuans';  and,  as  a  rule,  is  much  lighter 
in  skin,  the  complexions  being  often  as  white 
as  that  of  many^  Europe:uis.  They  are,  on  the 
whole  a  singularly  handsome  set  of  people, 
the  beauty  not  being  limited  to  the  men,  as 
is  the  case  with  so  many  savage  tribes,  but 
possessed  equally,  if  not  to  a  superior  extent, 
by  the  women.  '  The  portrait  of  a  daugh- 
ter of  a  Tongan  chief,  on  the  073d  page,  will 
verify  tliis  statemetit. 

Tlie  dress  of  both  sexes  is  made  of  simi- 
lar materials,  but  is  ditferently  arranged. 
Tlie  fabric  is  called  in  the  Tongan  lan-'uage 
"  gnatoo,"  and  is  almost  identical  with  the 
Fijian  masi.  It  is  made  from  the  bark  of 
the  same  tree,  and  is  beaten  out  in  very 
similav  fashion,  except  perhaps  that  the  Ton- 
gan women  are  more  particular  than  tho  e 
of  Fiji  in  the  care  and  delicacy  with  wlu>  ii 
they  beat  out  the  bark  with  their  grooved 
mallets.  Tho  gnatoo  varies  somewhat  in 
quality  according  to  the  island  in  which  it  is 
made,"thatof  Vavau  being  considered  as  the 
finest. 

In  putting  on  the  gnatoo,  there  is  nearly 
as  much  diversity  as  in  the  arrangement  of 
a  Scotch  plaid,  and  the  mode  ii*  which  it  is 
arranged  serves  to  denote  dift'erence  of  rank. 
Tin;  most  fashionable  mode,  which  is  prac- 
tised by  the  chiefs,  is  to  wrap  a  portion  of  it 
round  the  loins  iu  such  a  manner  that  the 
folds  allow  fair  play  to  the  limbs,  and  then 
to  pass  the  remainder  round  the  waist  like  a 
broad  belt,  and  tuck  the  ends  under  the  belt 
in  front  of  the  body.  The  portion  which 
fbrms  the  belt  is  so  arranged  that  it  can  be 
loosened  at  any  moment  and  thrown  over 
the  head  and  slioulder.  This  is  always  done 
when  the  wearer  is  obliged  to  be  abroad  in 
the  night  time. 

The  gnatoo  of  the  men  measures  about 


eight  feet  in  length,  by  six  in  width.  Under 
the  gnatoo  is  a  belt  made  of  the  same  ma- 
terial. Women  have  'a  larger  i)iece  of 
gnatoo  than  the  men,  and  arrange  it  in  folds 
which  are  as  graceful  as  those  of  antique 
art,  and  seem  as  likely  to  fall  olf  the  perEon. 
This,  however,  is  never  the  case,  and,  even 
if  the  gnatoo  were  by  any  accident  to  slip, 
the  women  wear  under  it  a  small  mat  or 
petticoat  about  a  foot  in  depth. 

As  this  gnatoo  jjlays  so  important  a  part 
in  the  clothing  of  the  Polynesians,  its  man- 
ufacture will  now  be  described,  the  account 
being  taken  from  Mariner's  valuable  his- 
tory of  the  Tongans  :  —  "  A  circular  inci- 
sion being  made  round  the  tree  near  the  root 
with  a  Phell,  deep  enough  to  penetrate  the 
hark,  the  tree  is  broken  off  at  that  point, 
which  its  slenderness  readily  admits  of. 
When  a  number  of  them  are  tluia  laid  on  the 
ground,  they  are  left  in  the  sun  a  couple  of 
days  to  become  i)artially  dry,  so'  that  the 
iniier  and  outer  bark  may  be  stripped  off 
together,  without  danger  of  leaving  any  of 
the  fil)res  behind. 

"  The  bark  is  then  soaked  in  water  for  a 
day  and  a  night,  and  scraped  carefully  with 
shells  for  th<!  purpose  of  removing  the  outer 
bark  or  epidermis,  which  is  thrown  away. 
The  inner  bark  is  then  rolled  up  lengthwise, 
and  soaked  in  water  for  another  day.  It 
now  swells,  becomes  tougher,  and  more 
capable  of  being  beaten  out  into  a  fine  tex- 
ture. ,  ^.  ,. 

"  Being  thus  far  prepared,  the  operation 
of  toQ-too,  or  beating  commences.  This  part 
of  the  work  is  performed  by  means  of  a  mal- 
let a  foot  long  and  two  inches  thick,  in  the 
form  of  a  parallclopipedon,  two  opposite 
sides  being  grooved  horizontally  to  the  depth 
and  breadth  of  about  a  line,  with  intervals 
of  a  quarter  of  an  inch. 

"  The  hark,  which  is  from  two  to  three  feet 
long,  and  one  to  three  inches  broad,  is  then 
laid  on  a  beam  of  wood  about  six  feet  long 
and  nine  inches  in  breadth  and  thickness, 
which  is  supported  about  an  inch  from  the 
ground  by  pieces  of  wood  at  each  end,  so  as 
to  allow  of  a  cerL.in  degree  of  vibration. 
Two  or  three  women  generally  sit  at  the 
same  beam;  each  places  her  bark  trans- 
versely upon  the  l;eam  immediately  before 
her,  and  while  she  beats  with  her  right 
hand,  with  her  left  she  moves  it  slowly  to 
and  fro,  so  that  every  part  becomes  beaten 
alike.  The  grooved  side  of  the  mallet  is 
used  first,  and  the  smooth  side  afterward. 

"They  generally  beat  alternately,  and 
early  in"  the  morning,  when  the  air  ?8  calm 
and  still,  the  beating  of  gnato6  m  nil  the 
plantations  has  a  very  pleasing  effect. 
Some  sounds  being  near  at  hand,  and 
others  almost  lost  by  the  distance,— some 
a  little  more  acute,  and  others  more  grave, 
—  and  all  with  remarkable  regularity,  pro- 
duce a  remarkable  eilect  that  is  very  agree- 
able,  and  not  a  little  heightened  by  the  sing- 


V 


III 


H 


978 


TOKGA, 


ing  of  the  birds  and  the  cheerful  influence 
ot  the  scene.  When  one  hand  is  fatigued, 
the  mallet  ia  dexterously  transferred  to  the 
other,  without  occasioning  the  smallest  sen- 
sible delay. 

"  In  the  course  of  about  half  an  hour,  it  is 
brought  to  1  sutflcient  degree  of  thinness, 
being  so  much  spread  laterally  as  to  be  now 
nearly  square  when  unfolded;  for  it  must  be 
observed  that  they  double  it  several  times 
during  tlic  process,  by  which  means  it 
spreads  more  equally  and  is  prevented  from 
breaking.  The  bark  thus  prepared  is  called 
fetaxji,  and  is  mostly  put  aside  till  they  have  a 
sufficient  quantity  to  go  on  at  a  future  time 
with  the  second  part  of  the  operation, 
which  IS  called  cocanga,  or  printinc  with 
coca. 

"  When  this  is  to  be  done,  a  number  em- 
ploy themselves  in  gathering  the  berries  of 
the  toe,  the  pulp  of  which  serves  for  paste 
(but  the  mucilaginous  substance  of  the  ma- 
hoii  root  is  sometimes  substituted  for  it);  at 
the  same  time  others  are  busy  scraping  off 
the  soft  bark  of  the  cocoa  tree  and  the  toodi- 
tooi  tree,  either  of  which,  when  wrung  out 
without  water  yields  a  reddish-brown  juice 
to  be  used  as  a  dye.  ' 

"The  stamp  is  made  of  the  dried  leaves  of 
the  pcioomjo  sewed  together  so  as  to  be  of 
a  sufficient  size,  and  afterward  embroidered 
according  to  various  devices,  with  the  wiry 
fibre  of  the  cocoa-nut  husk.  Making  these 
stamps  is  another  emplovmcnt  of  the  wo- 
men,*dnd  mostly  women  of  rank.  They  are 
generally  about  two  feet  long,  and  afoot  and 
a  half  broad.  They  are  tied  on  to  the  con- 
vex side  of  half  cylinders  of  wood,  usually 
about  six  or  eight  feet  long,  to  admit  two  or 
three  similar  operations  to  go  on  at  the 
same  time. 

"The  stamp  being  thus  fixed,  with  the 
embroidered  side  uppermost,  a  piece  of  the 
prepared  bark  is  laid  on  it,  and  smeared  over 
with  a  folded  piece  of  gnatoo  dipped  in  one 
of  the  reddish-brown  liquids  before  men- 
tioned, so  (hat  the  whole  surface  of  the  pre- 
pared bark  becomes  stained,  but  particu- 
larly those  parts  raised  bv  the  design  in  the 
stamp.  Another  piece  of  gnatoo  is  now 
laid  upon  it,  but  not  quite  so  broad,  which 
adheres  by  virtue  of  the  mucilaginous 
(luality  in  the  dye,  and  this  in  like  manner 
18  smeared  over;  then  a  third  in  the  same 
way. 

"The  substance  is  now  three  layers  in 
thickness.  Others  are  then  added  to  increase 
it  in  length  and  breadth  by  pasting  the  edges 
of  tliese  over  the  first,  but  not  so  as  there 
shall  be  in'any  place  more  than  three  folds, 
which  is  easily  managed,  as  the  margin  of 
one  layer  falls  short  of  the  margin  of  the  one 
under  it. 

"  During  the  w'lole  process  each  layer  is 
stamped  separately,  so  that  the  pattern  may 
b«  «aid  to  evi?'.  in  the  v^ry  puhatance  of  the 
gnatoo;   and   when   one   portion   is   thus! 


printed  to  the  size  of  the  stamp,  the  material 
being  moved  farther  on,  the  next  por- 
tion, either  in  length  or  breadth,  becomes 
stamped,  the  pattern  beginning  close  to  the 
spot  where  the  other  ended.  Thus  they  go  on 
printing  and  enlarging  it  to  about  six  feet  in 
breadth,  and  generally  about,  forty  or  fifty 
yards  in  length.  It  is  then  carefully' folded  up 
and  baked  under  ground,  which  cniises  the 
dye  to  become  rather  dark,  and  more  firmly 
fixed  in  the  fibre;  beside  which  it  deprives 
It  of  a  peculiar  smoky  smell  which  belongs  to 
the  coca. 

"  When  it  has  been  thus  exposed  to  heat 
for  a  few  hours,  it  is  spread  o"'   ,-.  -.  grnss 


Ijlat,  or  on  the  sand  of  the  sea  ">  .       ■  "^  the 
finishing  ^operation  of  toor/i-hta  ces, 

t.  e.  staining  it  in   certain  placi  a   the 

juice  of  ll;e  hca,  which  constitu.cs  a  bril- 
liant red  varnish.  This  is  done  in  straight 
lines  along  those  places  where  the  edges  of 
the  printed  portions  join  each  other,  and 
serves  to  conceal  the  little  irregularities 
there ;  also  in  sundry  other  places,  in  the  form 
of  round  spots,  about  an  inch  an(l  a  quarter 
in  diameter.  After  this  the  gnatoo  is  ex- 
posed one  night  to  the  dew,  and  the  next 
day,  being  dried  in  the  sun,  it  is  packed  up 
in  bales  to  be  used  when  required.  When 
gnatoo  is  not  printed  or  stained,  it  is  called 
tappa." 

Various  ornaments  arc  worn  by  both 
sexes  among  the  Tongans,  among  which 
may  be  enumerated  a  kind  of  creeper,  with 
flowers  at  intervals  along  (he  stem.  This  ia 
passed  round  the  neck  or  the  waist,  and  has 
a  singularly  graceful  and  becoming  appear- 
ance. The  most  valued  ornament  is,  how- 
ever, that  which  is  made  of  the  ivory  of  the 
whale's  teeth,  so  cut  as  to  resemble  in  min- 
iature the  tooth  itself.  They  are  of  differ- 
ent sizes,  varying  from  one  inch  to  four 
inches  in  length,  and  strung  together  by  a 
cord  passing  through  a  hole  bored  in  their 
thick  ends. 

These  teeth  are  even  more  v:' 'i  il  in 
Tonga  than  in  Fiji,  and  a  comn  .i  man 
would  not  dare  to  have  one  in  his  posses- 
sion, knoiving  well  that  he  would  assuredly 
lose  his  life  on  the  very  first  occasion  that 
offered  the  slightest  opportunity  of  an  ac- 
cusation. Once  Finow,  the  King  of  Tonga, 
was  told  of  a  whale  which  had  been  stranded 
on  a  little  island  inhabited  only  by  a  man 
and  his  wife.  When  Finow  reached  the 
place  he  found  that  the  teeth  had  been  re- 
moved, and  ordered  the  man  and  woman 
into  custody  on  the  charge  of  stealing  them. 
Both  denied  that  they  had  more  than  two 
teeth,  which  they  gave  up,  whereupon  the 
man  was  immediately  killed  with  a  club,  and 
the  woman  threatened  with  a  similar  fate. 
Under  fear  of  this  threat  she  produced  two 
more  teeth  which  she  had  hidden,  but,  re- 
fusing to  acknowledge  that  she  knew  of  any 
otlicrs,  met  with  the  same  fate  as  her  hus- 
band.   Many  years  afterward  the  missing 


material 

cxt  por- 

becomos 

)8o  to  the 

hey  go  on 

ix  foot  in 

y  or  fifty 

folded  up 

nusea  the 

vv  firmly 

deprives 

elougs  to 

I  to  heat 

.  -.  grnsE 

■  ^  Ihe 

ces. 


I 


\  f 


•  If 


■  n 

:           i 

: 

■. 

1 

i 

i 

HI 

llij 

m 

■I 


lljIlL 


:  M     • 


jii 


i\.)  IXTEHIOir  OF  A  TON(iAN   IIOLSK. 

(.St'i>|)ii(;|.  U,>il.) 


(•-')    BI-KIAt,  (IK    A    I.lVI.N(i    KIMi. 


mo) 


iMa 


mmt 


GllADATIONS  OF  RANK. 


961 


VI 


teeth  were  discovered,  the  woman  having 
buried  tiium  in  llio  ground.  TliiM  iiecdote 
sliows  lilt!  viUuc  in  wliicli  wlwles'  <eth  are  | 
held,  Uio  Icing  tiiliing  the  trouljlo  to  go  in 
jicMon  to  cliiini  tlieni,  and  tile  wonwn  iillow- 
ing  herself  to  bo  liilled  rather  than  part  with 
her  tre;\sure». 

A  good  idea  of  the  appcaranee  of  a  I  on- 
gan  woniiiu  of  ranlc  njiiy  be  ol)lHined  ironi 
the  illustration  No.  I,  on  the  preceding  page, 
whieh  represents  the  interior  of  a  ehiet  s 
house,  and  part  of  his  family. 

Id  the  foreground  is  one  of  the  odd 
wooden  pillows  which  are  so  much  in  vogue 
throughout  rolvneMia;  wliile  one  of  the 
most  conspicuous  objects  is  a  roll  of  narrow 
matting,  whi<li  is  usiul  for  the  purnoso  (jf 
surrounding  men  and  women  of  high  rank 
as  thev  sit  on  the  tloor.  AVithin  it  is 
seated  the  chief's  wife,  in  the  graceful  alti- 
tude adopted  by  the  Tongans,  exhibiting  the 
simple  and  really  elegant  folds  of  the  gnatoo 
dress.  The  roa'der  will  observe  the  appar- 
ent looseness  witli  which  the  dress  is  put  on, 
the  folds  lying  so  loosely  that  they  seem 
ready  to  slip  every  moment.  They  are,  how- 
ever, iierfectly  light,  and  there  is  not  the 
least  (ianger  of  their  slipping. 

Williin  doors  the  children  never  wear  any 
clothing  until  they  are  two  years  old;  but 
when  they  go  out,  their  parents  always 
wraj)  round  thein  a  piece  of  gnatoo  or  tappa. 
The  natives  are  exceedingly  fastidious  about 
their  dress,  criticising  every  fold  with  mi- 
nute care,  and  spendin-'  a  considerable  time 
in  arranging  them.  Even  when  bathing, 
they  always  array  themselves  in  a  slijjht 
dross  made  for  such  occasions,  going  aside 
for  the  purpose  of  exchanging  the  usual 
gnatoo  for  an  apron  of  leaves  or  matting. 
§0  disrespectful  is  utter  nudity  reckoned 
among  the  Tongans,  that  if  a  man  be  obliged 
to  undress  near  the  spot  where  a  chief  is 
buried,  the  leaf  apron  is  worn  while  the  dress 
is  changed. 

We  now  come  to  the  various  divisions  of 
rank  in  Tonga,  and  the  mode  of  government. 
Ranks  may  l)o  divided  into  two  distinct 
orders,  munely,  the  religious  and  the  civil. 
We  must  take  them  in  this  order,  because 
among  the  Tongans  religious  takes  the  pre- 
cedeiK^e  of  civil  rank. 


IJy  far  Ihe  greatest  man  in  point  of  rank 
is  the  Tooi-TONOA.  This  word  literally  sig- 
nifles  ("luef  of  Tonf^a,  and  is  given  because 
the  man  who  bears  it  is  the  greatest  man  in 
Tonga,  which  is  the  chief  of  the  whole 
group  of  islands.  The  word  does  not  repre- 
sent a  name,  but  a  rank,  the  family  name 
being  Fatagchi,  and  the  rank  passes  down- 
ward by  legitimate  descent.  So  great  a 
man  is  the  Tooi-tonga,  that  in  his  presence 
no  man  may  stand,  but  is  obliged  to  sit 
down  in  the  altitude  of  respect.  Even  the 
king  i=  n---l  exempt  from  this  law:  and  if  he 
should  happen  to  meet  the  Tooi-tonga,  he 


would  have  to  iquat  down  humbly  until  tli« 
great  nwui  had  passed  by. 

The    Tooi-tonga   sUmds  alone  In  many 
particulars,  and,  according  to  our  ideas,  ho 
has  plenty  of  dignity,  but  very  little  com- 
fort, leading  a  life  sounwhat  like  that  of  the, 
81)iritual  Em])eror   of  .Iai)an.     He  has  cer- 
tainly one  advantage  over  liis  fullows:  he 
does  not  undergo  the  operation  of  tattooing, 
because  there  is  no  one  of  sutllciently  high 
rank  to  draw  the  blood  of  so  sacred  a  per- 
sonage.   He  is  married  alter  a  manner  pe- 
culiar t«  himself,  is   buried  in  a  peculiar 
manner,  and  Is  mouriiiul  in  a  peculiar  man- 
ner.   He  is  so  sacred,  that  in  speaking  of 
him  another  language!  is  use<l,  many  jjhrases 
being  reserved  expr(!8sly  for  the  Tooi-tonga. 
These  are  probably  relics  of  an  ancient  and 
nearly  lost  language,  as  is  the  case  with  the 
incantations  of  the  Now  Zealand  priests. 

The  reason  for  this  extraordiunry  venera- 
tion is,  that  the  Tooi-tonga  is  supposed  to 
be  a  direct  desc<mdant  of  a  cliiet  god  who 
was  accustomed  to  visit  the  islands;  but 
whether  his  female  ancestor  was  a  goddess 
or  a  native  of  earth  is  an  ojK'n  (piestion  with 
the  Tongans.  In  spite  of  all  the  veneration 
which  is  shown  to  htm,  the  Tooi-tonga  has 
very  little  real  jiower,  and  iu  this  respect  is 
far  suri)assed  by  the  king,  and  equalled  by 
many  of  the  nobles. 

There  is  another  chief,  the  Vkaciii,  whe 
IS  also  supposed  to  have  a  divine  origin,  and 
is  therefore  held  in  higher  veneration  than 
any  of  the  chiefs,  but  is  inferior  to  the  Tool' 
tonga.  It  is  true  that  in  his  presence  th« 
king  has  to  sit  on  the  ground  in  the  attitudti 
of  humility,  and  that  ho  is  considered  a 
being  next  in  rank  to  the  great  Tooi-tonga 
himself;  but  the  other  marks  of  veneration, 
such  as  a  separate  language,  and  diircrcnt 
modes  of  marriage,  burial,  and  mourning, 
are  not  paid  to  him;  and  in  power  he  is 
equalled  by  many  of  the  chiefs. 

Next  in  rank,  but  at  a  very  great  dis- 
tance, come  the  priests.  These  men  receive 
their  name  from  their  capability  of  being 
inspired  by  certain  gods,  and,  except  when 
actually  inspired,  have  no  sjiccial  rank,  ami 
are  paid  no  honor  except  such  as  may 
belong  to  them  as  private  individuals.  Mar- 
iner remarks  that  he  never  knew  a  case  in 
which  a  priest  was  a  chief.  The  king  occa- 
sionally becomes  inspired,  because  there  is 
one  god  who  cannot  speak  except  by  th(i 
royal  mouth;  but  the  king  is  not,  in  conse- 
quence, considered  as  a  priest.  Neither  are 
the  Tooi-tonga  and  Veaehi  considered  as 
priests,  nor  is  there  any  connexion  between 
them  and  the  priesthood. 

Should,  in  an  assembly,  a  priest  become 
inspired,  he  is  immediately  held  in  the 
highest  veneration  as  long  as  the  inspiration 
lasts,  because  a  god  is  supposed  to  be  speak- 
ing through  his  lips.  It,  on  such  an  occa- 
«ior..  the  kinsr  should  be  present,  he  imme- 
diately leaves  his  place,  and  sits  hunnbly 


i 


i 


i 


! 


082 


TONGA. 


nmonj?  tlio  Hpectatoni.  Evon  tho  great 
T»)()i-t<)ii;,'ii  lihii«elt' iicta  in  tho  samo  niaiinur, 
niul,  tUou^li  tlu!  (loHcisndaiit  of  a  god,  ho  ro- 
tiroB  bct'oiu  tho  actual  proHonce  of  a  divinity. 
So  iinieli  for  tho  spiritual  rank,  and  wo 
now  paaH  to  tho  toiup-;val  rank. 

Tho  hif,'h(Ht  inau  in  a  Hooular  point  of 
view  is  tho  How,  or  king,  who  is  tho  most 
powerful  of  all  tho  chiolk,  and  jot  may  ho  in 
jwint  of  rank  inforior  to  the  poorobt  of  his 
nobles,  or  Koi.s.  Kank  is  moaaurod  in 
Tonj{a  by  relationship  to  tho  Tooi-tonga  or 
Vcaehi,  tho  relatives  of  tlio  former  beini,' 
licld  superior  to  those  of  tho  latter  Tho 
consecjuonco  is,  that  tho  king  may  meet  a 
poor  man  who  hivs  scarcely  any  power,  and 
yet  who  is  so  high  in  ran'k  above  the  king 
that  tiu)  latter  must  sit  down  till  his  supe- 
rior has  oaHsed.  Should  ho  not  do  so,  or 
should  hi  by  any  accident  touch  anything 
that  belonged  to  his  superior,  the  tapu 
would  asHumo  its  sway,  and  he  would  not  be 
m-rnuttod  to  feed  himself  with  his  own 
hands  until  ho  had  gone  to  his  superior,  and 
saluted  h.m  by  touching  his  feet. 

In  consequence  of  these  customs,  the  king 
avoids  associating  with  nobles  who  are  his 
superior  in  rank,  and  they  in  their  turn  keep 
out  of  his  way  as  far  as  jiossiblc,  so  as  not  to 
humiliate  hi".i  by  making  him  sit  wliile  they 
stand.  t)riginally,  the  king  was  a  desceud- 
nnt  of  the  Tooi-touga,  and  thus  was  equally 
high  in  spiritual  and  temporal  rank.  ])ut 
when  the  throne  was  usurped  by  other  fam- 
ilies, the  king  still  retained  the  temporal 
power,  though  ho  yielded  in  spiritual  rank 
to  others. 

N"xt  to  the  king  come  the  Eois^or  no- 
bles. These  are  all  relations  of  the  Tooi- 
tonga,  the  Veachi,  or  the  king,  kinship  to 
the  king  being  held  as  conferring  rank  be- 
cause he  holds  the  reins  of  power.  Rank 
descends  in  Tonga,  as  in  other  Polynesian 
islands,  through  the  female  line,  so  that  all 
the  children  of  an  Egi  woman  possess  the 
rank  of  Egi,  no  matter  who  may  be  the 
father. 

After  the  nobles  come  the  Matabooles, 
or  councillors,  who  are  the  companions  and 
advisers  of  the  chiefs,  and  take  their  rank 
from  that  of  the  chief  to  whom  they  are 
attached.  They  are  always  the  heads  of 
lamihes,  and  are  mostly  men  of  mature  a^c 
and  experience,  so  that  their  advice  is 
highly  valued.  The  eldest  son  of  a  Mata- 
boole  is  carefully  trained  to  take  his  father's 
place  when  he  dies,  and  is  thoroughly  versed 
in  all  the  rites  and  ceremonies,  the  adminis- 
tration of  laws,  and  the  many  points  of  eti- 
quette about  which  the  Tongans  are  so  fa.s- 
tidious.  He  also  learns  all  the  traditionary 
records  of  his  people,  and  by  the  time  that 
he  is  thirty  y^ars  oV  or  so  is  perfectly  ac- 
quainted with  his  prctession.  But  until  his 
lather  dies  he  has  no  rank,  and  is  merely 
one  of  the  ordinary  gentry,  wbo  will  now  bfi 


T,ast  of  all  those  who  possess  any  rnnk 
lire  the  gi^ntry,  or  A[()oas.  All  tho  s..i.>s  of 
Mataljoolos  are  Mooas,  and  act  us  as.sihUmts 
ot  tho  Alataboolos,  aiding  on  groat  c(iviiio- 
nios  in  managing  tho  dances,  distiiluiling 
loo<l,  and  so  forth.  Like  tluir  superiors 
thoy  attach  thonisolvos  to  tho  service  t.f 
some  chief,  and  dorivo  their  ri'lativ(^  conse- 
quence from  his  rank.  As  a  rule,  tho  Mooas 
all  profess  some  art,  such  as  canoe  building, 
ivory  carving,  and'  Huperiiitciiding  funeral 
rites,  in  which  three  occupations  tho  Mata- 
boolos  also  take  part.  They  also  jjiosidu 
over  tho  inakors  ol  stone  collins,  tho  niakefs 
of  nets,  tho  ll.xhoimen,  and  the  arehitocts, 
and  all  those  employnionts  are  hereditary. 

Just  as  the  children  and  brothois  of  Mat- 
abooles  take  the  next  lowest  rank,  thot  of 
Mooa,  so  do  '.hose  of  Mooas  lake  the  next 
lowest  rank,  and  are  considered  as  Tooah, 
or  plebeians.  In  this  case,  however,  tho 
eldest  son  of  a  Mooa  assumes  the  rank  of 
his  father  after  his  death,  and  is  therefore 
more  respected  than  his  brothers,  who  aro 
regarded  like  younger  mma  among  our- 
selves. The  Tooas  do  all  the  menial  work, 
and  act  as  cooks,  baibors,  tattooers,  eli;b- 
carvor.s,  and  so  forth.  Tho  two  latter  ocriu 
pations.  however,  as  requiring  artistic  sk.il, 
are  also  practised  by  Mooa.s. 

It  will  bo  seen  from  this  l)rief  sketch  how 
elaborate,  and  yet  how  intelligible,  is  this 
system  of  the  Tongans,  even  when  comi)Ii- 
cated  with  the  double  grades  of  spiritual 
and  temporal  rank.  This  resjiect  for  rank 
is  carried  oven  into  the  jirivacy  of  h(nne.  If, 
for  example,  an  Egi  woman  marries  a  Mata- 
boole,  or  a  Mooa,  she  retains  lier  original 
rank,  which  is  shared  by  all  her  children, 
so  that  both  she  and  her  childrin  aro  supe- 
rior to  tho  husband  and  father.  He.  on  h"s 
part,  has  to  play  a  double  n'lle.  He  is  mas- 
ter in  his  own  house,  and  his  wife  submits 
to  him  as  implicitly  as  if  he  were  of  tlio 
same  rank  as  herself.  Yet  he  acknowledges 
tho  superior  rank  both  of  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren, and,  before  he  even  ventures  to  Iced 
himself  with  his  own  hands,  he  goes  througli 
the  ceremony  of  touching  tho  feet  of  his 
wife  or  either  of  his  children,  in  order  to 
free  himself  from  the  tajju. 

When  the  case  is  reversed,  and  a  man  of 
high  rank  marries  a  woman  of  an  inferior 
station,  she  does  not  rise  to  the  rank  of  her 
husband,  but  retjiins  her  original  station, 
which  is  inherited  by  her  children,  who,  to- 
gether with  herself,  have  to  touch  the  feet 
of  the  husband  whenever  they  eat.  They 
imagine  that  if  they  did  not  do  so  a  tcrriblo 
sicknes.s  would  consume  them.  When  Mar- 
iner lived  among  the  Tongans,  he  did  not 
trouble  himself  about  the  tapu,  much  to  tho 
horror  of  the  natives,  who  expected  that  tho 
offended  gods  would  wreak  their  vengeance 
on  him.  Finding  that  he  suffered  no  harm, 
thfty  aecoiinted  for  the  nhenomonon  by  the 
fact  that  he  was  a  white  man,  and  tliereforo 


II 


TUEATMENT  OF  WOMEN. 


088 


had  nothing  to  do  with  the  gods  of  tho 
Tongans.  „  ^, , 

In  couHi!fiucnco  of  the  «trictncH»  of  this 
Bystcm,  Finow,  who  wa«  king  when  Mariner 
ifvod  rttuon},'  tho  TonRivn  iNliin(l»,UH(Ml  to  ftu'l 
ivnnoyccl  if  ovc^n  a  ciiild  of  Huperior  ranlc 
worn  l)r()iif?ht  ni'ar  liim,  and  umid  an;,'ri!y  to 
ordor  it  to  he  taken  away.  Snch  conduct, 
however,  would  not  be  thought  ri^'ht  unlewH 
both  narties  were  nearly  eciual  in  rank:  'Uk 
If,  for  example,  tho  Tooi-tonga'n  child  had 
been  hroUL'ht  near  tho  kin-?,  ho  would  at 
once  have  done  homage  after  the  customary 
fashion.  ,.„    ^,  ,  ,, . 

Some  very  curions  modifications  ot  tnm 
cuHtom  prevail  thiouKliout  Tongan  Hociety. 
For  example,  any  one  may  choose  a  toster- 
molher.  even  though  his  own  mother  he 
alive,  and  he  iniiy  choose  her  from  any  rank. 
Generally  her  rank  is  inferior  to  that  of  her 
adopted  son,  but  even  this  connection  be- 
tween them  docs  not  earn  for  her  any  par- 
ticular respect.  She  would  be  much  more 
honored  as  an  attendant  of  a  young  chief 
than  as  his  foster-mother. 

So  elaborate  and  yet  simple  a  svstem  im- 
plies a  degree  of  refinement  which  we  could 
hardly  cxi)ect  among  savages.  In  conso- 
nance with  this  rellnement  is  the  treatment 
of  women,  who  are  by  no  means  oppressed 
tmd  hard-worked  slaves,  as  is  the  case  with 
most  savage  nations.  Consemicntly  the 
women  possess  a  gentle  freedom  of  de- 
meanor and  grace  of  form  which  are  never 
found  among  those  people  where  women  are 
merely  tho  drudges  of  the  men.  So  long 
ago  as  1777,  Captain  Cook  noticed  that  the 
women  were  much  more  delicately  formed 
than  the  men,  that  they  were  beautifully 
proportioned,  and  that  tho  hands  were  so 


small  and  soft  that  thoy  would  compare 
favorably  with  the  tlnest  examides  in  Eu- 
rope and  America.  Hard  and  constant 
labor,  such  as  is  usuallv  tho  lot  of  savago 
women,  (hiteriorates  the  form  greatlv,  as  in- 
deed we  can  seo  among  ourselves,  by  cc 


com- 


paring together  a  high-lired  lady  and  a  thdd 
laborer.  The  two  hardly  seem  to  belong  to 
the  same  race,  or  scarcely  to  the  same  sex. 

The  Tongan  women  certainly  do  work, 
but  they  are  not  condemiud  to  (fo  it  all,  tho 
men  taking  the  hard  labor  on  themselves, 
anil  leaving  the  women  tho  lighter  tasks, 
su<h  as  beating  gnatoo,  i)laiting  baskcits, 
making  crockery,  and  llio  like.  At  tho 
great  dances,  tlic  women  are  not  only  al- 
lowed to  be  present,  but  assist  in  them,  tak- 
ing as  important  a  share  as  the  men',  and 
infusing  into  the  dance  a  really  cultivated 
grace  which  would  not  exist  without  them. 

The  light-colored  hue  of  the  skin,  which 
has  already  been  mentioned,  is  much  more 
common  among  the  women  than  tho  men, 
for  the  reason  that  the  better  class  of 
women  take  more  care  of  themselves  than 
the  men;  and,  though  all  classes  live  for  the 
most  part  in  the  open,  air,  the  wives  and 
daughters  of  powerful  and  wealthy  men  are 
caret\n  not  to  expose  themselves  to  the  sun 
more  than  is  absolutely  necessary,  so  that 
many  of  them,  instead  of  being  brown,  are 
of  a  clear  olive  tint,  tho  effect  of  which  is 
singularly  beautiful  when  contrasted  witti 
theTr  dark  clustering  hair,  their  gnatoo  gar- 
ments, and  the  leaves  and  flowers  with 
which  they  adorn  themselves,  changing  them 
several  times  daily.  Altogether,  a  Tongan 
chief  looks,  and  is,  a  gentleman,  and  his  wite 
a  lady. 


18 


\M 


ilk. 


>\  ■■ 


! 


i 


I 


CHAPTER  C. 


TONGA— Con^nucd. 


W4,n  AND  CEUEMONIES, 


NATtnut,  MtLnNESs  or  nrE  tonoans— noASTiyn  dwpouuaokd— war  ArrARENTLv  lkaunfd  fhom 

THE  FMTANH— KINOW'S  BrKIT'II  TO  IIIH  HOU)lKIW,  AND  A  NEW  DIHIII  MNK  —  KATK  OK  TIIK 
VANQUWMKI.— TirK  DllOWNUl)  0IUKK8— CKUKMONIKH  — KAVA-l.UINKINO— STItlUT  (OLE  OF  Ell- 
(JUBTTK  — PUKfAllATION  OF  TUB  KAVA— A  (IHAt.KKKL  I'KIIKDUMANCK-  I)I8TUlmrn<>N  OF  TllK 
KAVA  — POINTS  OF  CKUKMONY  — A  TONdAN  I'l-ANTAriON  — HKTTINd  TIIK,  YAMS  — CKHKMONV  OF 
INACIII— rllK  fOLE  IIKAIIKHH  AND  THKHl  1IUBU!!N  — THE  YAM  I'll.LAJW— LIFriNO  TUB  PHIS  — 
DIHTHIHIITION  OF  PUOVIHIONH,  AND  CONCLirslON  OF  THE  CF.HBMONY —  TOW-TOW,  AND  ITS 
OIUEIT- PllESKNTAnoV  OF  TUB  OFFKIIXNO— A  OHAND  HCIUMllI.E  —  IIOXINO  AND  WHI!MTMN(» 
MAT(HE8  — OOOD-aUMOKBD  COMUATANT8  — riOllTS  Wmi  CLUIIS  — THE  SAMOA.V  AND  TONOAN 
UULEtt. 


I>v  nature  the  Toiisans  arc  gentle  and  kind- 
hearted,  and  present  a  inoHt  curious  mixture 
of  inildneHH  and  courage.  To  judge  liy 
many  traits  of  diaracter,  they  might  be  stig- 
matized aH  eHemiuate,  while  by  others  they 
arc  sliowu  to  jxjssess  real  courage,  not 
merely  the  diishiug  and  boastful  bravery 
which  is,  when  analyzed,  merely  bravado, 
and  wliieh  is  only  maintained  by  the  hope 
of  gaining  applause.  The  Tongan  rever 
boasts  of  his  own  courage,  nor  applauds  Unit 
of  another.  When  he  has  jjerlormed  a  d.  cd 
of  arms  which  would  set  a  Kijian  boasting 
fo)'  the  rest  of  his  life,  he  retires  quietly  into 
the  background  and  says  nothing  about  it. 
His  king  or  chief  mav  acknowh^dge  it  if 
thev  like,  but  he  will  bo  silent  on  the  subject, 
and  never  refer  to  it. 

For  (ho  same  reason,  ho  will  not  openly 
applaud  a  deed  of  arms  done  l)y  one  of 
his  fellows.  He  will  regard  the  inan  with 
great  respcet,and  show  by  his  demeanor  the 
honor  in  whidi  he  holds  him,  but  he  will 
not  speak  openly  on  the  subject.  Majinerj 
relates  an  iiistance  in  wliich  a  young  warrior 
named  IFali  Api  Api,  who  seems  to  have 
been  the  very  mode!  of  a  gentleman,  per- 
formed  a  notable  deed  of  arms,  equa'ly  re- 
markable for  courage  and  high-mi  tided  gen- 
erosity. During  a  council,  the  kinf^  called 
hiin  oat,  and  publicly  (hanked  him  f(<r  his 
conduct.  The  man"  blushed  deeply,  as  if 
ashamed  at  this  public  recogiiition  of  his 
ftervices,  saluted  the  king,  and  retired  to  his 


j)laco  without  s.ayiu;^  a  word.  Neither  did 
he  afterward  refer  either  to  Ids  exploit  or 
to  the  public  recognilioa  of  it. 

One  warrior  actually  declfiiod  that  he 
would  go  up  to  a  liiiidcd  cannon  aial  throw 
his  spear  into  it.  IlrfuKilled  his  i)romise  to 
the  letter.  He  ran  up  within  ten  or 
twelve  yards  of  the  gun,  and,  iis  the  match 
was  a])plied,  thrtnv  himself  on  the  ground, 
so  that  the  shoi  passed  over  him.  lie  tlien 
.sprang  up,  and,  in  spite  of  the  enemy's 
weajions,  hurled  his  spear  at  the  can- 
non, and  (itvuck  it  iu  liie  muzzle.  Having 
jierformed  this  feat,  he  quietly  retired,  anil 
wan  never  heard  to  refer  to  Fo'diKtinguishetl 
an  act  of  courage,  tluHigh  he  was  greatly  re- 
spected for  it  by  his  couniiymen. 

vVe  need  not  v.oiuKr  liiat  such  men 
.should  establish  a  moral  intluence  over  the 
boastful  but  not  warlike  Fijians,  and  that 
the  small  colony  established  in  the  Fiji 
group  should  virtually  be  its  masters.  Two 
luiialrcd  years  ago,  the  'i'angan  ap])ear8  to 
h.'ivc  i)een  ignorant  of  weapoiis  and  warfare, 
and  to  have  borrowed 
of  both  from  Fiji.  C'c 
gan  weapons  ar't>  i)raet;,'ariy  those  of 
moditied  somewiiat  accovding  to  the  taste 
of  the  makers  but  evidently  d(  rived  from  the 
sann;  source.  Cajjlain  Cook,  w'  o  vi.iited  tlie 
islands  in  1777,  remarks  that  the  few  clubs 
and  spears  which  he  saw  among  (lu:  Ton- 
gan?  wore  of  Fiii  nianuiV.cture.  or  at  least 
made  after  the  Fiji  pattern.    Yet  by  a  so.rt  of 


his  tirst  kncnvledge 
!;..e(|ueii(ly,  the  Ton- 
I'^iji, 


ii 


muhdeti  of  puisoneus. 


MS 


nocticiil  Justice,  tlin  Tongnn  han  tiirnod  the 
Filiiiii'H  wesiiiKim  n^ninst  liiinxi'lf,  sind,  by 
liiM  Hiiiii-rior  lnti'llcct  and  advciituroiH  rotii- 
a^c,  l>!VH  <)V(U'c(»int>  tho  fcrociouH  piioplc  of 
wlioin  ho  was  foriiuuly  in  dread. 

KiiuH!  the  iiitr()(hic"lion  of  llre-nrms,  the 
siil)eriorily  of  thi;  TonK""**  li'i«  nM\<\v  itwelf 
even  iiiuie  manifest,  the  FiJiiinK  having  no 
idea  (if  (iKhtinR  against  men  wlio  did  not 
run  away  wlien  11''hI  at,  but  rushed  on  in 
Bjiile  of  ihe  weanons  ojjposed  to  them. 

It  is  |)ossil)le  that  the  Ton^ans  may  liave 


h'iM-ned  tl'is  mode  of  ll«litin);  from  Mari- 
ner and  liis  companions.  Wlieii  tlie  kinf,' 
Finow  was  aliout  to  malvO  war  \ipim  a 
nei<,'lil)orif)jj  i^'land,  lie  assemlded  the  war- 
riors and  made  tliem  an  addre.ss,  tellini' 
them  tliat  tlie  system  of  warfare  which  had 
been  jircviously  employed  was  a  false  one. 
He  told  them  uo  longer  to  advance  or  re- 
treat acconlinj,'  as  they  met  with  sii"'ei*8  or 
repulse,  but  to  press  "forward  at  ai.  risks; 
and,  evi'U  if  a  man  saw  the  point  of  a  spear 
at  his  breast,  lie  was  not  to  tlincli  like  a 
co'vard,  bii*  to  press  forward,  and  at  risk  of 
his  own  life  to  kill  his  foe.  He  also  in- 
structed them  in  tlie  art  of  receiving;  the 
onset  of  the  enemy  with  calmness,  iiislead 
of  indulging  in  cries  and  gesticulations,  <:(ll- 
ing  (hem  to  seat  themselves  on  the  ground 
lis  the  enemy  approached,  as  if  pcrf.'cilv 
unconcerned,' and  not  to  stir  until  ordeivd. 
even  if  they  threw  spears  or  shot  arrow.--. 
Put  as  soon"  as  they  got  the  word  to  advance 
they  were  to  leap  to  their  feet,  and  charge 
witliont  regard  to  consenuences.  The  reader 
may  remember  that  this  is  exactly  the  stra- 
tegy wliich  was  einiilo,\cd  in  Africa  by  the 
great  Kallir  chief 'IVliaka. 

It  may  easily  bo   imagined  how  such  n 
course   ()f  con("liict  would  disconcert  their 
opponents,   and   tli 
witli  whom  boasti 

the  place  of  valor.  Kmboldened  by  tlie  ar 
parent  weakness  of  the  enemy,  they  would 
romc  on  in  great  glee,  expecting  to  make  an 
easy  conquest,  and  then,  Just  when  they 
raised  the  shout  of  victory,  they  found  tlieni- 
Belves  suddenly  attacked  with  a  disciplined 
fury  which  they  had  never  been  acciistoMied 
to  'meet,  and  wore  conscquf^ntly  dispersed 
and  almost  annihilated  before  they  could 
well  realizf^  their  position. 

Though  tolerably  mild  toward  their  cap- 
tives, the  Tongans  sometimes  display  an 
unexpected  I'erociiy.  On  one  occasion,  some 
of  Finow's  men  surprised  and  captured  four 
of  the  enemy,  whom  they  imagined  to  be- 
long to  a  party  who  had  annoyed  them 
greatly  by  h.anging  on  their  track  and  cut- 
ting o'flrtlie  stragglers. 

At  tirst  they  wiphed  to  take  the  prisoners 
home  and  make  an  example  of  them,  but 
the  chief  of  the  party  HUggcsted  that  they 
would  have  .ill  the  trouble  of  "narding  them, 
and  propo-cri  to  deoHpitatB  t!"W,  ar.d  t^kc 
their  heads  home.    One  of  them  objected  to 


the  proposal  on  Ihe  groun«l  that  thoy  had  no 
knives,  but  another  man,  fertile  in  expedi- 
ents, picked  up  some  oyster-shells  that  were 
lying  .iboiit,  and  suggested  that  they  would 
linswer  the  purpose. 

U  was  ill  vain  that  the  victiinii  prote(<te<l 
their  innocence,  and  begged  that  at  least 
they  might  be  dubbed  bilon^  their  headu 
were  cut  oil".  The  conquerors  coolly  took 
olf  their  dresses  to  prevent  llicni  being 
stained  with  blood,  and  deliberately  sawed 
otr the  heads  of  the  <iiptives  with  their  oys- 
ter-shells; beginning  at  Ihe  back  of  the  neck, 
and  working  their  way  gradually  round. 
The  reason  lor  this  course  (if  action  seemed 
to  b(>  twofold  — 11  rst,  that  they  tlioiighl  they 
might  spoil  the  heads  by  the  club;  and 
seeoudlv,  that  as  the  heads  must  be  cut  off 
at  all  events,  clubbing  th(>  caiilives  before- 
hand was  taking  needless  Incible. 

IikUmmI,  the  character  of  the  Tongan  pre- 
sents a  curious  mixture  of  mildness  and 
cruelly,  Ihe  latter  being  probably  as  iniich 
due  to  Ihoughtlessncss  as  to  ferocity.  On'co 
when  eighteen  rebels  lia('  been  captured, 
Finow  ordcre(l  thcin  to  be  drowned.  This 
punishment  is  iutlicted  by  taking  the  pris- 
oners  out  to  sea,  bound  hand  and  fool,  and 
towing  some  worthless  canoes.  'When  they 
are  far  enough  from  land,  the  ciiliirila  are 
transferred  lo  the  eaiioes,  whicli  arc  then 
scuttled,  and  letl  to  sink.  Care  is  taken  Uiat 
the  holes  made  in  the  canoes  arc  s-nall,  so 
that  Ihey  shall  he  as  long  as^^  possible  in 
silking. 

On  that  occasion  twelve  of  the  prisoners 
begged  to  be  clubbed  instead  of  drowned, 
anrrtheir  request  was  granted.  The  young 
men  divided  the  prisoners  among  them- 
selves, being  anxious  to  take  a  lesson  in 
elubbit      a  liumiMi  being,  which  w<mld  serve 

■  the 


the  Fijians  in  particular,  them  when  they  c.ime  to  make  use  of  111 
in"  arid  challenging  took  dub  against  an  en"iiiy.  T!-.(!  twelve  wer 
•.  "Fmboldened  by  the  ap-   accontinglv,  despatched  with  the  dub,  hi 

ers,  being  tried  warriors,  scorned  to 
ivor,  an(l  were  drowned.    The  lead- 


hut 


the  othi 

ask  a  fa\    ., 

ing  chief  among  tiKMn  employed  the  short 
time  which  was  leil  him  in  uttering  maledic- 
tions against  Finow  i,ad  his  chiefs, and  even 
when  the  water  came  up  to  his  mouth,  he 
threw  back  his  head  for  the  purpose  of  ut- 
tering another  curse. 

We  will  now  pass  to  a  more  plca-sivnt  sub- 
ject,  namely,  the  various  ceremonies  in  which 
'lh(>  Tongan  delights.  Chief  among  thc.sc  is 
the  drinking  of  kava,  which  forms  an  imjior- 
taiit  nart  of  (>verv  public  religion.*  rite,  and 
is  often  pract iscd'  in  private.  Kava  drinking 
is  known  throughout  the  greater  part  of 
Polynesia;  but  as  the  best  and  fullest  ac- 
count of  it  has  been  obtained  from  Mariner's 
residence  in  Tonga .  a  description  of  it  has 
been  reserved  for  the  present  occasion.  It 
must  first  be  premised  that  the  kava  Is  made 
from  the  root  of  ft  tree  belonging  to  the 
pepper  tribe,  and  known  by  the  name  of 


11 


v 


TONGA. 


Piper  methj/stieum,i.  e.  the  intoxicating  pep- 
per-tree. Disgust;  ng  as  the  priiparation  of 
the  kava  may  be  to  Europeans,  t  is  held  in 
such  high  estimation  by  the  rolynesians 
tliat  it  is  never  made  or  drunk  witliout  a 
complicated  ceremony,  which  is  the  same 
whether  the  party  be  a  large  or  a  small 
one. 

The  people  bein^  assembled,  the  man  of 
highest  rank  takes  his  place  under  the  eaves 
of  the  house,  sitting  with  his  back  to  the 
house  and  his  faci  toward  the  viarh/,  or  open 
space  in  front,  and  having  a  Matiiboolu  on 
either  side  of  him.  Next  to  these  Mata- 
booles,  who  undertake  the  arrangement  of 
the  festival,  sit  the  nobles  or  chicts  of  higli- 
est  rank,  and  next  to  thtm  the  lower  chiefs 
and  so  forth.  They  are  not,  however,  very 
particular  about  the  precise  order  in  which 
they  sit,  distinctions  of  rank  being  marked 
by  the  order  in  which  they  are  served. 

This  is  the  business  of  the  presiding  Mata- 
booles,  and  as  the  distinctions  of  rank  are 
most  tenaciously  observed,  it  is  evident  that 
the  duties  of  a  Mataboole  are  of  a  most  diffi- 
cult nature,  and  can  only  be  learned  by  Ion"- 
and  constant  practice.  If  the  men  sat  ac^ 
f!ording  to  their  rank,  nothing  would  be 
easier  than  the  task  of  serving  them  in 
order.  But  it  often  happens  that  a  mati  of 
high  rank  happens  to  come  late,  and,  as  he 
is  too  polite  to  disturb  those  of  lower  rank 
who  have  already  taken  their  ])laces,  he  sits 
below  them,  knowing  that  his  rank  will  be 
recognized  at  the  proper  time. 

It  mostly  happens,  however,  that  when 
one  of  the  presiding  Matabooles  sees  a  man 
occupying  a  iilace  nmch  below  that  to  which 
his  rank  entitles  him,  he  uip.kes  some  one 
surrender  his  place  to  him,  or  even  iv.rns  out 
altogether  a  man  who  is  seated  in  a  high 
place,  and  jiuts  the  chief  into  it.  The  peo- 
ple thus  gradually  extend  themselves  into  a 
ring,  sometimes  single,  but  often  several 
ranks  deep  wlien  the  party  is  a  large  one, 
every  one  of  the  members  being  a  man  of 
some  rccognizid  rank.  Behind  those  who 
form  the  Ijottom  of  the  ring  opposite  the 
presiding  chief;  sit  the  general  public,  who 
may  be  several  thousand  in  number.  It  is 
a  remarkable  fact,  illustrating  the  rigid  code 
of  etiquette  which  ])revail8  among  the  Ton- 
gaiis,  that  no  one  can  sit  in  the  inner  ring  if 
a  superior  relative  be  also  in  it;  and.  no 
matter  how  high  may  be  his  rank,  he  must 
leave  his  place,  and  sit  in  the  outer  circle,  if 
his  father  or  any  superior  relative  enters  the 
inner  ring. 

This  ring,  which  constitutes  the  essential 
kaya  party,  is  formed  mostly  of  the  sons  of 
chiels  and  Matabooles,  and  it  often  happens 
that  their  fathers,  even  if  they  be  chiefs  of 
tlie  highest  rank,  will  sit  in  tW  outer  ring, 
rather  than  disturb  its  arrangements.  Even 
the  son  of  the  king  often  adopts  this  plan, 
ami  assists  in  preparing  the  kava  like  any 
01  the  other  young  men. 


Exactly  opposite  to  the  king  is  placed  the 
kava  bowl,  and  behind  it  sits  the  man  who 
IS  to  prepare  the  drink.  On  either  side  of 
him  sits  an  assistant,  one  of  whom  carries  a 
fan  wherewith  to  drive  away  the  flies,  and 
another  takes  charge  of  the  water,  which  is 
kept  in  cocoa-nut  shells.  The  rank  of  the 
preparer  is  of  no  consequence.  Sometimes 
he  is  a  Mooa  or  gentleman,  and  sometimes  a 
mere  cook;  but,  whoever  he  mav  be,  he  is 
known  to  be  able  to  perform  his  difliculfc 
task  with  suthcient  strength  and  elegance. 

All  being  ready,  one  of  the  iircsiding 
Matabooles  sends  for  the  kava  root,  which 
is  then  scraped  quite  clean  and  cut  uj)  into 
small  pieces.  Those  are  handed  to  the 
young  men  or  even  to  the  young  women 
present,  who  masticate  the  root,  contriving 
in  some  ingenious  way  to  keep  it  quite  dry 
during  the  process.  It  is  then  wrajiijcd  in  a 
leaf,  and  passed  to  the  preparer,  who  places 
it  in  the  bowl,  carefully  lining  the  interior 
with  the  balls  of  chewed  root,  so  that  the 
exact  quantity  can  be  seen. 

When  all  the  kava  has  been  chewed  and 
deposited,  the  prei)arer  tilts  the  bowl  toward 
the  i)residing  chief,  who  consults  with  his 
Matabooles,  and  if  he  thinks  there  is  not 
enough,  orders  the  bowl  to  be  covered  over, 
and  sends  for  more  kava,  which  is  treated 
its  before.  Should  he  be  satisfied,  the  ])re- 
parer  kneads  all  the  kava  together,  and  the 
ilataboole  then  calls  for  water,  which  is 
lioured  into  the  bowl  until  he  orders  the 
niiin  to  stop.  Next  comes  the  order  to  put 
in  the/o«'.  This  is  a  bundle  of  veiv  narrow 
strips  of  bark  of  a  tree  belonging  to  the 
genus  hlbisnis,  and  it  has  been  compared  to 
the  willow  shavings  that  are  used  in  Eng- 
land to  decorate  fire-places  in  the  summer 
time.  The  assistant  takes  a  quantity  of  this 
material,  and  lays  it  on  the  water,  spreading 
it  carefully,  so  that  it  lies  equally  on  the 
surface  of  the  liquid.  Now  begins  the 
important  part  of  the  jn-occeding  which 
tests  the  power  of  the  preparer. 

"In  the  first  place,  he  extends  his  left; 
hand  to  the  fariher  side  of  the  bowl,  with 
his  fingers  pointing  downward  and  the  i)alm 
toward  himself;  he  sinks  that  hand  carefully 
down  the  side  of  the  bowl,  carrying  with  it 
the  edge  of  the  f(,w;  at  the  same  time  his 
right  hand  is  performing  a  similar  operation 
at  the  side  next  to  him,  the  fingers  pointing 
downward  and  the  palm  iiresenting  outwanE 
He  does  this  slowly  from  side  to  side,  grad- 
ually   descending    deeper   and    deeper   till 

'     "  i   l)Ot 


his  fingers  meet  each  other  at  the  Ijottom, 
so  that  nearly  the  whoU'  of  the  fli)res  of  the 
root  are  by  these  means  enclosed  in  the/oic, 
formiiiir  as  it  were  a  roll  of  above  two  feet 
in  length  lying  along  the  bottom  from  side 
to  side,  the  edges  of  the  fow  meeting  each 
oilier  undorne.T.i.!!. 

"He  now  carefully  rolls  It  over,  so  that 
the  edfjes  overlapping  each  other,  or  rather 
iutermingling,  come  uppermost.    He  next 


WMi 


'4 

h\  j, 


p 


i'  fi 


TJIK   KAVA    I'AItTV 

(Sci-   ph;;!'  iJM).  . 


(988) 


THE  KAVA  PARTY. 


*y 


r^-m' 


Sdt 


doubles  in  the  two  ends  and  rolls  It  care- 
fully over  a^'ain,  endeavoring  to  reduce  it  to 
a  narrower  and  firmer  compass.  He  now 
brings  it  cautiously  out  of  the  fluid,  taking 
firm  hold  of  it  by  the  two  ends^  one  in  each 
hand  (the  back  of  his  hands  being  uj)ward), 
and  raising  it  breast  high  with  his  arms 
considerably  extended,  he  brings  liis  right 
hand  toward  his  breast,  moving  it  gradually 
onward;  and  whilst  his  left  hand  is  coming 
round  toward  his  right  shoulder,  his  right 
hand  partially  twisting  thc/ow,  lays  the  end 
which  it  holds  upon  the  left  elbow,  so  that 
the  fow  lies  thus  cxtendc'd  un'i'>  that  arm, 
one  end  being  still  grasped  b    the  left  hand. 

"  The  rigiit  hand  bei!ig  at  liberty  is 
brought  under  the  left  fore-arm  (which  still 
remains  in  the  same  situation),  and  carried 
outwardly  toward  the  left  elbow,  that  it  may 
again  seize  in  that  situation  the  end  of  the 
foiv.  The  right  hand  then  describes  a  bold 
curve  outwardly  from  the  chest,  whilst  the 
left  comes  across  the  chest,  describing  a 
curve  nearer  to  him  and  in  the  opposite 
direction,  till  at  length  the  left  hand  is 
extended  from  him  and  the  right  hand 
approaches  to  the  left  shoulder,  gradually 
twisting  tho  fow  by  the  turn  and  flexures 
principally  of  that  wrist:  this  double  motion 
is  then  retraced,  but  in  such  a  way  (the  left 
wrist  now  principally  acting)  that  the  fow, 
instead  of  being  untwisted,  is  still  more 
twisted,  and  is  at  length  again  placed  on  the 
left  arm,  while  he  takes  a  new  and  less  con- 
strained hold. 

"Thus  the  hands  and  arms  perform  a 
variety  of  curves  of  the  most  graceful 
deseripcion:  the  muscles  both  of  the  arms 
anil  chest  are  seen  rising  as  they  are  called 
hilo  action,  displaying  what  would  be  a  tine 
and  uncommon  subject  of  study  for  llie 
painter :  for  no  combinations  of  animal 
action  can  develop  the  swell  and  play  of  the 
muscles  with  more  grace  and  better  olU-ct. 

"The  degree  of  strength  which  he  exerts 
when  there  is  a  Inrge  quantity  is  very  great, 
and  the  dexterity  with  which  he  accom- 
plishes the  whole  never  fails  to  excite  the 
attention  and  admiration  of  all  present. 
Every  tongue  is  mute,  and  every  eye  is 
upon  him,  watching  each  motion  ofhis  arms 
as  they  describe  the  various  curvilinear  lines 
essential  to  tli-  success  of  the  operation. 
Sometimes  the  tihres  of  the  fow  are  Iieanl 
to  crack  with  the  incrwising  tension,  yet  the 
mass  is  seen  whole  and  entire,  benmiing 
more  thin  as  it  becomes  more  twisted,  while 
the  infusion  drains  from  it  in  a  regularly 
decreasing  quantity  till  at  length  it  denies  a 
single  drop." 

'I'he  illustration  on  the  preceding  page 
represents  this  portion  of  the  ceremonv. 
On  the  right  hand  is  seen  the  presidiiig 
chief  seated  under  the  eaves  of  the  lious<", 
with  a  Matrt'ioolc  on  cilhcr  side  of  him. 
and  Just  l)eyond  him  extends  a  portion  of 
tbo  mner  ring.    In  front  of  the  chief  sits 


the  performer,  who  is  wringing  out  the  kava, 
and  is  just  about  to  change  the  grasp,  of  his 
right  liaiid,  according  to  Mariners  deserij)- 
ticin.  On  either  side  sit  his  assistants,  both 
of  whom  are  engaged  in  fanning  away  the 
flies. 

Near  them  lie  the  cocoa-nut  shells  from 
which  the  water  has  been  poured.  Beyond 
the  inner  ring  are  seen  the  outer  rings  and 
the  general  population,  who  have  come  to 
witness  the  ceremony  and  get  their  chance 
of  a  stray  cuj)  of  kava  or  some  food. 

When"  the /»!«  ceases  to  give  out  any  more 
fluid,  a  second  and  third  are  used  in  the 
same  manner,  so  that  not  a  particle  of  the 
root  remains  in  the  liquid.  Should  more 
fow  or  water  be  wanted,  an  order  is  given, 
and  twenty  or  thirtj'  men  rush  off  for  it, 
going  and  returning  at  full  speed,  as  if  run- 
ning for  their  lives;  and  anything  else 
that  may  be  wanted  is  fetched  in  the  same 
manner. 

"While  the  operator  is  going  through  his 
task,  those  who  are  in  the  outer  circle  and 
cannot  properly  see  him  occupy  themselves 
in  making  cujis  from  which  the  kava  can  bo 
drunk.  These  cups  arc  made  of  the  unex- 
panded  leaves  of  the  banana  tree,  cut  up 
into  squares  of  about  nine  inches  across. 
The  cups  are  made  in  a  most  ingenious 
manner  l)y  plaiting  up  the  two  ends  and 
tying  them  with  a  fibre  drawn  from  the 
s'tcin  of  the  leaf  The  Mataboolo  then  or- 
ders provisions  to  be  served  out,  which  is 
done  in  an  orderly  manner.  To  the  general 
assembly  this  is  the  most  interesting  part 
of  the  ceremony,  for  they  have  but  little 
chance  of  getting  any  kava,  and  it  is  very 
likely  that  they  will  have  a  share  of  food,  as 
the  regular  kava  drinkers  never  cat  more 
than  a  morsel  or  two  at  these  entertain- 
ments. 

The  operator  having  done  his  part,  now 
comes  the  test  of  the  jilataboole's  efficiency. 
The  kava  is  to  be  distributed  in  precisely 
the  proper  order,  a  slip  in  tiiis  respect  being 
sure  to  give  deep  offence.  8hould  a  visitor 
of  rank  be  ])resent,  he  gets  the  first  cuj),  the 
presiding  Mataboolo  tlie  second,  and  the 
presiding  chief  the  third.  If,  however,  the 
kava  be  given  by  one  of  the  guests,  the 
donor  always  has  the  first  cuj).  unless  there 
should  be  a  visitor  of  superior  rank  to  him- 
self, in  which  case  tlie  donor  is  ignored  alto- 
gether, only  having  the  kava  according  to 
his  rank.  Xo  person  is  allowed  to  have 
two  CUJIS  from  the  same  bowl,  but  after  all 
the  inner  circle  and  their  relatives  are 
served,  the  remainder  is  given  out  to  the 
])eo])le  as  far  as  it  will  go,  and  a  second 
bowl  is  prepared.  It  will  be  seen  that,  if 
the  prejiarer  bo  a  man  of  low  rank,  he 
stands  a  chance  of  never  tasting  the  liquid 
which  he  has  so  skilfully  prepared. 

The  second  bowl  is  prepared  in  precisely 
the  same  w.ay  as  the  first,  except  that  the 
second  presiding  Mataboolo  gives  the  of 


ij 


41 


ill*; 


ill 


Ml 


i-m 


;l' 


990 


TONGA. 


dors;    and,  if  a    third  or  fourth  bowl  be 
ordered,  they  take  the  direction  alternately. 
WJien'the  second  bowl  is  prepared,  the  cups 
are  filled  and  handed  round  in  exactly  the 
same  order  as  before,  so  that  th^se  of  high 
rank  get  three  or  four  cups,  and  those  of 
lower  rank  only  one,  or  perliaps  none  at  all. 
It  is  a  point  of  etiquette   tliat  no  chief 
evf"  visits  the   kava  party  of  an  inferior 
chiei;  as  in  that  case  tho  latter  would  be 
obliged  to  retire  from  the  presidency  and  sit 
in  the  outer  ring.    "When  tho  Tooi-tonya 
lJreside8,no  one  presumes  to  sit  within  sTx 
feet  of  him;  and  if  perchance  an  inspired 
priest  be  present,  he  takes  the  presidency 
and  the  greatest  chief,  or  even  the  kiu^ 
himself,  is  obliged  to  retire  into  tho  outer 
ring  on  such  occasions.    A  priest  always 
presides  at  religious  ceremonies,  and  the 
kava  party  is  held  in  front  of  the  temple 
dedicated  to  the  particular  god  which  they 
are  about  to  consult.    But  in  some  cases  a 
god  has  no  priest,  and  in  those  cases  he  is 
supposed  to  preside  in  person,  though  invis- 
ibly, the  president's  place  being  left  vacant 
for  him. 

The  reader  will  see  from  the  foregoin-^ 
account  that  kava  is  a  luxury  practically 
confined  to  the  higher  classes.  The  great 
chiefs  and  Matabooles  drink  it  every  day, 
either  as  presidents  or  members  of  the 
inner  ring.  Those  of  lower  rank  obtain  it 
occasionally;  while  the  Tooas  seldom  taste 
tills  luxury,  except  by  taking  the  kava  after 
it  has  been  wrung  by  the  operator,  and  pre- 
paring it  afresh. 

As  the  reader  will  see,  it  is  impossible  to 
separate  tlie  secular  and  religious  life  of  the 
Tongans.  They  are  inextricably  woven 
togetlier,  and  therefore  must  be  described 
together.  There  are  a  vast  number  of  cere- 
monies in  which  tliese  two  elements  are 
united,  one  or  two  of  which  will  be  described, 
by  way  of  sample  of  the  rest.  The  first  is  tlie 
festival  of  Infclii,  a  feast  of  firstfruits,  a  cer- 
emony which  in  principle  is  found  through- 
out the  whole  earth,,  though  the  detiiils 
necessarily  differ.  In  the  present  case,  tlie 
offering  is  ma^le  to  the  Tooi-tonga,  as  being 
at  once  the  descendant  and  representative 
of  the  gods. 

About  the  latter  end  of  Julv  the  ordinary 
yams  are  jjlanted  in  the  ground;  but  those 
which  are  intended  for  the  feast  of  Inilchi 
are  of  a  difl'erent  kind,  coming  to  maturity 
earlier,  and  are  planted  about  a  month 
sooner.  In  an  illustration  on  the  next 
page  we  may  see  how -the  yams  are  set  in 
the  ground,  and  m.ay  get  a  good  idea  of  a 
Tongan  plantation.  In  the  centre  of  the 
foreground  is  the  chief  to  whom  the  i)lanta- 
tion  belongs,  accompanied  by  liis  little  boy. 
As  is  usual  with  men  of  rank  in  Tonga,  ho 
bears  in  his  hand  a  short,  many -barbed 
spear,  which  may  either  be  used  as  a  walk 


inrv     a(oA*   /%n 


Its  normal  use,  but  the  chiefs  sometimes  I 


find  tho  advantage  of  having  with  tlicm  a 
serviceable  weapon.  The  point  of  ihc  spear 
IS  frequently  armed  with  the  barbed  tail- 
bone  of  the  sting-ray.  When  Finow  c.ip- 
tured  by  craft  the  rebel  chief  whose  death 
bv  drowning  has  already  been  oribed  his 
chief  difHculty  was  the  bone  ped  spear 
which  the  chief  always  carried 'with  hitn 
and  of  which  he  was  temporarily  deprived 
by  a  stratagem. 

One  of  his  laborers  is  talking  to  him, 
having  in  his  hand  the  hoe  with  which  he 
has  been  making  holes  in  the  ground  for 
the  reception  of  the  yams.  Behind  him 
are  more  laborers,  employed  in  cutting  tho 
yams  in  pieces,  and  planting  them  hi  the 
holes.  Just  beyond  the  yam  plantation  is  a 
piece  of  ground  stocked  wi(h  sugar-canes; 
and  beyond  the  sugar-canes  is  the  house  of 
the  chief,  known  by  the  superiority  of  its 
architecture.  The  house  is  built  near  the 
sea-shore,  and  close  to  the  beach  a  canoe  is 
seen  hauled  up  on  its  support. 

The  greater  part  of  the  illustration  is  oc- 
cupied with  the  ingenious  spiked  fence 
within  which  the  storehouses  and  dwellings 
for  tho  Tooas,  or  peasants,  are  placed.  As 
may  bo  seen,  it  has  no  doors,  but  at  intervals 
the  fence  is  only  half  Uie  usual  height  and 
without  spikes,  and  is  crossed  by  means  of 
istiles,  two  of  which  are  given  in  the  illus- 
tration, one  to  show  the  exterior  and  the 
other  the  interior  of  the  fence.  Close  to  the 
further  stile  is  a  young  tree,  surrounded  with 
a  fencing  to  the  heiglit  of  several  feet,  in 
order  to  guard  it,  while  growing,  from  the 
attacks  of  pigs  and  children. 

The  open  shed  is  one  of  the  peasants' 
houses,  under  which  are  seated  a  number  of 
women,  employed  in  making  mats;  while 
some  children  are  playing  and  fowls  feediuf 
by  them.  Toward  the  further  end  of  the 
enclosure  is  sliown  one  of  the  storehouses. 

As  soon  as  the  yams  are  Wpe,  the   king 
sends  a  message  to  the  Tooi-tonga,  asking 
him  to  fix  a  day  for  the  ceremony,  which  is 
generally  settled  to  be  on  the  tenth  day  after 
the  request  is  made,  so  that  time  may  bo 
given  for  notice  to  be  sent  to  all  the  islands. 
The  day  before  the  ceremony  of  Iniichi,  the 
yams  are  dug  up  and  ornamented  with  scarlet 
streamers  made  of  the  inner  membrane  of 
[  the  pandanus  leaf.    These  are  in  long  and 
narrow  strips,  and  arc  woven  8i)iridly  over 
the  yams,  first  in  one  direction  and  then  the 
other,  so  as  to  produce  a  neat  checkered  pat- 
tern, and  having  the  ends  hanging  loose. 

All  through  tho  night  is  heard  the  sound 
of  tho  conch  shell,  and  until  midnight  tho 
men  and  women  answered  each  other  in  a 
song,  the  men  singing,  "Rest,  doing  no 
work,"  and  the  women  responding,  "  Thou 
shalt  not  work."  About  midnight  the  son,<» 
<ea8es;  but  it  is  resumed  at  daybreak,  an(i 
continues  until  about  eight  A.  m.,  accom- 
panied with  plenty  of  conch  ijlowing.  The 
prohibition  of  work  is  bo  imperative,  that  tho 


*•> 


{•i.)   CKUKMONY  or  INACUl.    ^St.•t' pagu  W:l.) 


{.m) 


THE  FEAST  OP  INACIII. 


903 


people  aro  not  oven  allowed  to  leave  their 
houses,  oxeopt  for  the  purpose  of  assisting 
in  the  ceremony.  *  t  ^  i,; 

At  eight  A.  M.  the   ceremony  of  InAchi 
really  begins,  the  people  crowding  from  <lit- 
fcrent  parts  of  the  Tooi-tonga's  island  toward 
the  capital  town,  and  canoes  approaching  in 
all  directions  from  other  islands.    All  are  in 
their  very  best,  with  new  clothes  and  ribbons: 
while  the   men  c'arry  their  most   beautitul 
spears  and  clutia.    "t^ach  party  carries  the 
vams  in  baskets,  which  are  taken  to  the  marly, 
br  large  central  space  of  the  village,  and 
there  laid  down  with' great  ceremony.     In 
the  marly  are  ready  laid  a  number  of  poles, 
eight  or  nine  feet  in  length,  and  four  inches 
in  diameter,  and  upon  them  the  men  sling 
the  yams,  only  one  yam  being  hung  to  tlie 
middle  of  eacb  pole.        ^     .  .  .        ,    ^.„ 
Meanwhile  the   great  chiefs  and  Mata- 
booles  have  gone  to  the  grave  of  the  last 
Tooi-tonga,  should  it  happen  to  be  on  tlie 
island,  or,  should  he  have  been  buried  on 
another  ial.and,  the  gnivcof  any  of  his  family 
answers  tlie  purpose.    They  sit  there  in  a 
semicircle   before   the    grave,   their   heads 
bowed  and  their  hands  clasped,  waiting  lor 
the  procession,  whicli  presently  arrives. 

First  come  two  boys  blowing  conch  shells, 
and  advancing  with  a  slow  and  solemn  step; 
and  behind  them  come  a  vast  number  of  men 
with  tlie  yams.    Each  pole  is  carried  by  two 
men,  one  at  eacn  end,  and,  as  they  walk,  they 
sink  at  every  step,  as  if  overcome  with  the 
wei'^ht  of  their  burden.    This  is  to  signity 
thaf  the  yams  are  of  such  a  size  that  the 
bearers  can  hardly  carry  them,  and  is  a  sort 
of  symbolized  thanksgiving  to  the  gods  lor 
80  fine  a  prospect  of  harvest.    As  the  men 
coinc  to  the  grave,  they  lay  the  poles  and 
vams  on  it,  and   seat  tliemselves   in  order 
■     before  the  grave,  so  that  they  form  a  line 
between  the  chiefs  and  the  yams. 

This  part  of  the  ceremony  is  shown  in  the 
lower  illustration,  on  the  99Ist  page.  In 
the  foreground  aro  seated  the  cbiets  and 
Matabooles,  with  their  clubs  and  spears, 
while  the  procession  of  polo  bearers  is  seen 
windiu"  along  from  the  far  distance.  Two 
of  them  liave  already  laid  their  yams  and 
poles  before  the  grave,  and  have  seated  them- 
selves between  the  grave  and  the  circle  ot 
chiefs,  while  others  are  just  depositing  their 
burdens  on  the  same  sacred  spot.  Standing 
by  them  are  the  two  boys  who  headed  the 
procession,  still  blowing  busily  at  their 
conch-shell  trumpets.  In  the  distance,  and 
on  the  left  hand  of  the  illustration,  may  bo 
seen  the  people  seated  in  numbers  on  the 
ground.  , 

One  of  the  Tooi-tonga's  Matibooles  then 
sits  between  the  pole  bearers  and  the  grave 
and  makes  an  oration,  in  which  he  gives 
thanks  to  the  gods  for  their  bounty,  and  asks 
for  a  continuance  of  it  to  their  oflspring,  the 
Tooi-louga.  lie  then  retires  to  Ins  farmer 
place,  the  men  take  up  their  poles,  and  after 


marching  several  times  round  the  grave, 
Zy  return  to  the  marly  and  again  deposit 
their  loads,  this  time  untying  the  yamstrom 
the  poles,  but  leaving  the  colored  streamers 

"Xre  the  whole  of  the  people  seat  thorn- 
selves  in  a  largo  circle,  at  wfiich  the  Tooi- 
onga  presides:  even  tiie  king  hi'"«olf  r«. 
tir  ng,  and  sitting  in  the  back  ranks     Next 
thereniainder  of  the  offerings  are  brough 
Jbrward.  consisting   of  mats,  giiat«o,  dried 
flsh  and  various  kinds  of  food.    These  are 
divided   by  one  of  the  Tooi-tonga's  Mata- 
booles into  four  equal  parte.    One  of  these 
Eoes  to  the  gods,  and  is  at  once  taken  awav 
iv  the  servants  of  the  dilferent  prieste,  and 
U^emahider  is  8l'«'^^bv  the  Tooi  tonga 
and  tlie  king,  the  latter,  although  of  inferioi 
Sk,  getting  the  larger  portion,  because  ho 
[mtbSr  times  as  many  clependents  to  feed 
The   proceedings  aro  wound  up  with  the 
kava  drinking,  which  always   accompames 
such   ceremonies.    While    the   m'^sion     « 
being  prepared,  the  presiding  Ma  aboole 
makes  I  sp^eech  lo  the  people.  -^£^9  ^^^ 
right  that  has  just  been  concluded  and  ad- 
vising them  to  pay  due  honor  to  the  gods 
and  their  representative  the  Tool-tonga. 


When  this  great  potentate  dies,  there  is  a 
most  extravagant  feast,  which  often  reduces 
the  people  to  a  state  of  Bemi-starva  ion  for 
a  long  time,  and  sometimes   threatens  an 
actual  famine.    In  such  a  <^*««'\he    apu    s 
laid  upon  hogs,  cocoa-nuts,  and  fowls  for 
leven  or  eight'months,  or  even  longer,  dur- 
ing which  time  none  but  the  great  chiefs  are 
allowed  to  touch  them.    Two  or  three  plan- 
tations are  always  exempted  so  that  there 
may  be  a  supply  for  the  great  chiefs  and  for 
the   various  religious  ceremonies.    At  the 
expiration  of  the  stated  period,  if  the  crops 
look  well,  and  the  pigs  and  fowls  have  in- 
creased in  due  proportion,  the  tapu  is  taken 
off  with  very  great  ceremony. 

One  of  these  ceremonies  was  seen  by 
Mariner  at  the  Hapai  Islands,  and  a  very 
strange  rite  it  turned  out  to  be.  It  was  lield 
on  two  marlies,  one  belonging  to  the  looi- 
tonga  and  the  other  to  the  king  As  if  to 
conipensate  for  the  limited  diet  of  the  previ- 
ous month,  food  was  piled  in  abundance. 
On  the  Tooi-tonga's  marly  were  erected  four 
square  hollow  pillars,  about  four  feet  in 
diameter,  and  made  of  four  poles  connected 
with  matting.  These  were  about  fifty  or 
sixty  feet  in  height,  and  each  of  them  was 
crowned  with  a  baked  hog.  ,,     *  „ 

1  The  king's  marly,  which  was  about  a 
quarterof  a  milefrom  the  other,  was  equally 
'  well  supplied  with  food,  only  in  this  case  the 
vainswere  placed  in  wooden  cars  or  sledges, 
and  nearly  four  hundred  half-baked  hogs 
were  laid  on  the  ground.  The  king  liaving 
arrived,  and  the  signal  given  for  beginning 
fi.o  ,>r.^ooo(!inff».  the  voung  chiefs  and  war- 
"  tried  successively  to  lift  the  largest 


riors 


I 


D94 


iji' 


TOiN^GA. 


,i!M 


'AiViH 


hosf  and  at  last,  wlien  all  ha<l  failed,  it  was 
lilted  by  two  men  and  taken  to  the  other 
marly.  "In  the  meantime  the  trial  was 
going  on  with  the  second  lio«,  which,  beinir 
also  found  too  heavy  for  one  man,  was  cai^ 
ned  away  by  two  in  like  manner,  and  so  on 
with  the  third,  fourth,  &c.,  the  largest  bein-r 
carried  away  first,  and  the  least  last.  " 

"  The  second,  third,  fourth,  &c.,  aflForded 
more  sport  than  the  others,  as  being  a  nearer 
counterbalance  with  a  man's  strength. 
Sometuues  he  had  got  it  nearly  upon  his 
shoulder,  ^yhe^  his  greasy   bunfen '  slipped 

save  It  brought  him  down  after  it.  It  is  an 
honor  to  attempt  these  things,  and  even  the 
king  som-'timcs  puts  his  hand  to  it" 

I  he  next  part  of  the  proceedings  was  the 
carrnngtwcntyof  the  largest  hogs  t^  e 
late  rooi-tongas  grave,  and  leaving  them 
there,  while  the  rest,  together  with  the  other 
provisions,  were  sharec!  among  the  ch  efs 
who  in  their  turn  distributed  tliem  to  S 
followers  until  every  man  in  the  island  cc  s 
a  Diecc  of  pork  an.l  yam.  The  fou  igfeat 
columns  of  yams  were  given,  one  to^  tl le 
king,  another  to  the  Tooi-tonga  the  tliir.l  to 

chiefs,  and  the  fourth  to  the  gods.  The  Tool- 
tonga  also  took  the  cars  of  y!ms  as  a  ma  t' r 
of  tacit  though  unacknowledged  right.  Kava 
drinking,  dancing,  and  wrestling  concluded 
the  ceremony;  and  as  soon  as  the  ch-cTe 
S^led."'''  *'''^'"  '^^  considered  as  an- 

The  twenty  large  hogs  which  were  laid  on 
the  grave  were  left  there  for  several  days- 
but  as  soon  as  they  .showed  signs  of  luitrid- 
ity,  they  were  cut  up,  and  divided  amon.T  all 
who  chose  to  applv  for  a  share  of  the  nu.at. 
«y  right  they  belonged  to  the  chiefs,  but 
as  they  were  able  to  procure  fresh  pork  for 
themselves,  they  preferred  to  forego  their 
right,  and  divide  the  tainted  meat  amon'r 
the  people.  " 

«<r^i     f  •■emony  of  Mo'ee-mo'ee,  or  taking 
off  the  tapu  contracted  by  touching  a  diie? 
has  already  been  mentioned.    The  tapu  is 
even  contracted  by  eating  in  the  presence  of 
a  superior  relation;  but  there  is  a  conven-i 
tional  way  of  getting  rid  of  this  tapu  by ' 
simply  turning  the  back  upon  the  sumriof, 
who  IS  then  considered  as  not  being  ceremo- 
nially in  the  presence  of  the  inferior.  Should 
a  man  think  that  he  may  have  contracted 
Jl'^i^P"  "r*''":"MY'  he  will  not  dare  to 
fted  himself  unti  he  has  gone  to  some  chief, 
whose  foot  he  takes  and  presses  it  against 
his  stomach.    This  rite  is  called  the  Fota 
or  pressing.    Any  chief  can  take  away  the 
tapu  contracted  by  touching  an  equal  or  in- 
terior, but  has  no  power  over  that  of  a  supe- 
rior.   Conse^quently,  no  one  but  himself  can 
take  away  the  Tooi-tonga's  tapu;  and  this 
proved  so  inconvenient  that  whenever  the 
potentate  went  from  his  house,  he  left  ho. 
iiiaa  him  a  cousecrated  bowl  as  his  repre- 


sentative, and  this  was  held  to  be  onually 
powerful  in  removing  the  tapu.  The  Vea- 
chi  a(lopted  a  similar  plan.  It  is  a  remark- 
so  ihiTiV'"'*  ''"J'* '« '^''pn'Pt  from  all  tapu, 
so  that  If  oven  the  Tooi-tonga  has  toucheci 

cVowTt      ^'"'  '""*'  '^''  l*^«--«t  cook  maj 


TiiEKE  is  a  ceremony  which  in  princinlo 
somewhat  resembles  that  of  JmUhi.  tS'h 
It  IS  conducted  after  a  very  difH.reut  mm  - 
ner.  Just  as  the  Indchi  is  an  olferingto  the 
gods  in  general  through  the  Tooi-tonira  so 
18  tins  ceremony,  which  is  called  the  I'ow- 
tow,  a  special  tlianksgiviiig  to  Alo-Alo,  the 
god  of  weather.  It  is  begun  in  the  early 
part  of  November,  when  the  yams  are  ripe, 
and  IS  continued  for  some  three  months  at 
intervals  of  eight  or  (on  days. 

All  the  islands  of  Tonga  are  dividtd  into 
three  distinct  portions,  namely,  the  northern 
division  or  Ilalmgi,  the  southern   division, 
or  IMifo,  and  the  middle  division,  or  Moon. 
J'-acIi  of  these  divisions  has  orders  to  pre- 
pare a  certain  amount  of  food,  such  as  yams 
cocoa-nuts,  and  the  like,  and  to  bring  theni 
to  the  niarly.    The  correct  mode  of  doin^so 
IS  to  bring  them  on  sticks,  so  that  each  sFick 
has  upon  it  seven  or  eight  yams,  or  a  bunch 
ot   pJantiiins,  or  a  quantity  of  bananas     If 
sugar-canes  form  part  of  the  oflering,  ihcv 
are  tied  in  bundles  of  three  or  four  in  each- 
and  all  the  ofterings,  no  matter  what  tliev 
may  be,  are  piled  up  in  three  great  heaps. 

t*rict  ^'"''''''"^  ^'^'  ^^^^  ^'^"^'^^  "'"  ^''"^^  ^'^ 

This  being  done,  and  a  few  preliminarv 
matches  of  boxing  and  wrestling  i)laye(f. 
after  about  three  hours  a  small  procession 
ai)pears,  composed  of  eight  or  ten  men  sent 
by  the  priest  of  Alo-Alo,  and  accompanied 
by  a  young  girl  aliout  eight  or  nine  years 
old,  who  represents  the  god's  wife.  She  is 
always  the  daughter  of  a  chief,  and  generally 
of  one  of  the  highest  chiefs,  and,  during  the 
eighty  days  of  the  ceremony,  she  resitfes  at 
the  temple  of  Alo-Alo.  She  has  nothing 
particular  to  do,  except  presiding  at  one  or 
two  feasts  and  kava  parties. 

The  men  are  all  dressed  in  mats,  and  have 
green  leaves  tied  round  their  necks.    This 
18  the  dress  of  humility  and  sorrow,  and  is 
emi)loyed  in  times  of  mourning  for  the  dead 
and  supplication  for  mercv.      When  they 
have  arrived,  they  seat  tlien'iselves  in  a  line 
having  in  front  of  them  a  great  drum,  which 
IS  kept  for  this  special  purpose.    They  then 
offer  their  prayers  to  Alo-Alo,  begging  for 
propitious  weather  and  good  crops,  and  after 
these  i)rayer8  are  concluded  two  of  the  piles 
of  provisions  are  carried  off  by  the  chiefs, 
and  the  third  is  set  aside  for  the  gods.    Sud- 
denly the  great  drum  is  beaten,  on  which  a 
general  dash  is  made  at  the  pile  of  food, 
every  one  scrambling  for  the  provisions,  and 
fiT'H"'"  "f  "''."'^'^  ss  he  can.    There  is  not 
the  least  order  in  the  scramble,  and  the 


THE  TOW-TOW. 


996 


scene  is  a  most  exciting  one,  the  ynma  beinf' 
torn  tVoin  the  sticks,  und  the  sticks  BinnHheu 
to  pieces,  wliilo  tlio  sugar-canes  are  broken 
up  into  IVagmcnts.  Thus  tlie  gods  are  feil 
VicariouHly. 

The  women  keep  prudently  out  of  tlie 
way  during  tliis  struggle,  and  stand  aside  to 
watch  tlie  Ciiief  and  concluding  ceremony. 
This  is  nothing  more  than  a  genernl  light. 
The  iiilialiitaiits  of  the  island  arrange  ihem- 
8ulv<!S  in  two  divisions,  one  half  tigliting 
againtt  the  other.  All  engage  in  this  battle;, 
the  higlu'st  chiefs  as  well  as  the  lowest 
cooks  tanking  part  in  it.  There  is  no  respect 
of  persons,  the  king,  or  even  the  Tooi-tonga 
himself,  being  assaulted  without  compunc- 
tion, and  handled  as  roughly  as  any  of  the 
common  peoide. 

Sev(!re  iis  is  the  fighting,  it  is  all  con- 
ducted with  the  greatest  good  humor,  and 
no  one  ilisplays  a  sign  of  ill-t((mper  at  th(! 
injury  which  ho  receives.  If  a  man  is 
knocked  down,  he  gets  up  with  a  smile;  if 
his  arm  is  l)roken,  he  retires  from  the  battle 
and  his  it  set,  but  he  never  thinks  of  com- 
plainin;'.  The  same  system  is  observed  in 
the  boxing  and  wrestling  matches  of  which 
the  Tong:vns  are  so  fond. 

In  wri'slling  matches,  for  example,  it  is 
not  thouglit  polite  for  any  one  man  to  chal- 
lenge another;  he  ought  to  give  a  general 
challenge,  l)y  striking  with  the  right  hand 
the  belli;  ell)ow  of  the  opposite  arm.  If  the 
challenge  be  accepted,  the  anttigonists  meet 
very  leisurely,  anil  uilc"  care  to  fasten  tightly 
the  giiatoo  belt  that  siu'-ounds  the  waist. 
They  griisp  the  belt  with  a  hand  on  each 
side,  aii'l  endeavor  to  throw  their  antagonist 
by  lifting  him  from  the  ground  and  Hinging 
him  on  his  back.  The  vanquished  man  rises 
and  retires  to  his  place  among  the  spectators 
without  showing  any  disple;isuro.  Only  in 
one  case  di<l  ilariner  know  a  man  disiilay 
ill-feeling  at  being  beaten,  and  in  that  in- 
Btance  the  man,  altliough  a  chief,  was  looked 
upon  as  an  ill-brod  fellow. 

The  victor  seats  himself  on  the  ground 
for  a  few  seconds,  and  then  retires  to  his 
place,  his  friimds  belonging  to  his  own  side 
singing,  or  rather  chanting,  a  song  of  vic- 
tory. After  a  short  time  he  again  rises  and 
6rters  another  challenge,  and  if  it  be  accep- 
ted by  several  antagonists,  he  may  select 
one  from  tlie  in.  If  they  lind  that  they  are 
equally  matched,  they  leave  olf  by  mutual 
consent;  and  sometimes,  if  a  man  encoun- 
ters a  chief  much  superior  to  him,  he  will 
generallv  yield  out  of  respect  to  the  other's 
rank.  This  only  takes  place  in  single  com- 
bat, not  in  the  general  fight  of  the  Tow-tow 
festival. 

Boxing  is  conducted  on  similar  priiici]iles 
of  fair  play.  The  challenger  "'•ooeeds  into 
the  middle  of  the  ring,  holding  one  arm 
stretched  out  in  front  and  the  otlier  behind, 
and  advances  sidew.avs,  ('banging  sides  at. 
every  step.    When  tlio  challeugu  is  accep- 


ted, both  combatants  wrap  a  piece  of  cord 
1  ind  their  hands  and  proceed  to  blows, 
win  'i  are  given  with  great  force  and  ra^)id- 
ity.  '.'hen  one  is  vanquished,  he  retires 
with  aiiparent  unconcern  to  the  ring,  and 
sits  to  watch  the  combats  of  others,  know- 
ing that  to  be  vanquished  is  not  considered 
a  disgrace.  When  the  victor  returns  to  his 
people,  they  welcome  him,  but  do  not  sin<» 
the  chant  of  victory  unless  he  has  knocked 
his  ant.-igonist  down.  Falling  is  on  these 
occasions  considered  as  equivalent  to  being 
killed  in  real  battle,  and,  in  consequence, 
the  sonjj  of  victory  is  not  sung  unless  the 
antagonist  has  fallen  to  the  ground.  If  a 
man  be  beaten  in  wrestling,  he  may  not 
wrestle  a  second  time  in  the  same  day, 
though  he  may  box,  and  rice  versa. 

In  the  ceremony  of  Tow -tow,  these 
scrambling,  boxing,  and  wrestling  matches 
arc  carried  on  every  tenth  dnj,  !ind  are  rc-r 
po.ated  eight  times,  so  as  to  make  up  the 
eighty  days  of  the  festival.  AHer  each  bat- 
tle, those  who  have  touched  a  superior  chief 
come  to  be  relieved  of  the  tapu  which  they 
have  contracted  by  touching  him.  Kven  the 
Tooi-timga,  whose  nose  has  been  flattened, 
his  teeth  knocked  out,  and  his  face  jioundcd 
to  a  Jelly  by  a  mere  peasant,  over  whom  ho 
has  supreme  command  of  life  and  death, 
performs  the  needful  ceremony  Avith  perfect 
good  humor. 

The  illustration  No.  1,  on  the  9fiflth  pajje, 
represents  the  concluding  scene  of  this 
ceremony.  In  the  foreground  are  seen  the 
two  contending  parties,  one  of  which  is  be- 
ginning to  get  the  victory  over  the  other. 
In  tlie  centre  of  the  illustration,  and  on  the 
left,  are  the  fragments  of  the  food-piles,  with 
a  few  men  still  scrambling  for  them,  and  in 
the  distance  the  women  are  seated  under 
the  trees,  watching  the  progress  of  the 
fight. 

Fighting  is  not  confined  to  the  men,  but 
is  practised  also  by  the  women,  who  on  this 
occasion  lay  aside  the  ordinary  gentleness 
and  mildness  for  which  they  are  remark- 
able. When  Captain  Cook  Visited  Tonga, 
ho  was  much  surprised  to  see  the  girls  step 
into  the  ring  and  box  with  as  much  spirit 
and  determination  as  had  been  shown  by 
the  men.  They  do  not,  however,  carry  the 
combat  to  sucU  extremes,  and  if  one  of 
them  does  not  speedily  yield,  the  combat- 
ants are  parted  by  the  eliler  women.  Even 
the  merest  children  box  after  a  similar  fash- 
ion, the  little  girls  knocking  each  .other 
about  with  hearty  good-will  as  long  as  they 
are  allowed  to  fight.  • 

On  one  occasion,  Finow  ordered  that  all 
the  women  who  were  seated  as  spectators 
should  engage  in  a  general  fight,  after  the 
manner  of  tlie  men.  They  seemed  nothing 
loth,  and  all  the  women  who  lived  on  the 
I  north  of  the  island  fought  against  those  who 

I  drcd  women  engaged  on    each   side,  and 


it 

it 


0U6 


TONGA, 


fr>u«lit  witli  the  ffreatpdt  courage  for  more 
tl.  .11  an  hour,  both  piirtiis  coiUoiuHiik  with 
Bucii  <h!ti!iiniimtioii  that  neithm-  could  i/aiii 
a  loot  i>[  ground;  and  nt  last  I'inow  ordoiod 
tlieni  to  (luMiNt,  N,'t'in«  that  several  ankles 
irnd  been  sprained  and  limbs  broken. 

Besides  boxing  and  wrestling  matches,  tlie 
longans  have  eliib  fights  on  great  occa- 
sions. As  with  the  other  matches,  the  com- 
batants are  divided  into  two  parties,  one 
being  seated  opposite  to  the  other,  with  a 
*^"wi  '''"^''"  *''""^"  of  Kroiind  between  them. 
When  all  is  ready,  a  man  Jumps  up,  runs 
to  the  peoi)lo  of  the  opposite  side,  and  sits 
down  in  front  of  them,  ivsking  if  any  of 
them  will  light  him.  As  in  the  boxing  and 
M-rcstling  matches,  to  challenge  a  i)articular 
opponent  is  bad  mauners.    If  the  cliallengo 


be  acccptpd,  the  combatants  walk   to  tho 
middle   ot  the   ring,   each   attended   by  his 
se-ond  and  then  settle   whether  they  shall 
ng..t  litter  the  longan  or  Hauioan  nmnner 
Ihe  lormer  mode  does  not  allow  a  man  to 
strike   an   antagonist  after  he   h   knocked 
ilown,  but  only  to  llourish  his  club  over  him 
.11  token  of  vi.tory     liv  the  latter  m.Mle    " 
s  allowed  to  beat  the  fallen  man  as  l„ng  as 
ho  shows  signs  of  life.    When  (i..^  fLdft  is 
over,  tho   met.   on   tho   side   of  the   victor 
chant  their  so,  g  of  triumph,  and  (ho  eon- 
qiieror    advancH    to    the   king,   sits  down 
iM.fore  hnn  In  t  «ken  of  respect,  and  then 
rises  and  returns  o  his  own  party.    On  one 
of  these  occasions,  tlie  young  i)rince  fought 
no  less  than  fourteei;  battles,  nnd  was  victo- 
rious in  every  one  of  ilicm. 


Cr  AFTER    CI. 


TONGA—  Concluded. 


SICKNESS  —  ItirillAIi—  OAME8. 


SAcnmre  op  the  finokb,  and  modp  op  opKnATiKo-sAcnirrrE  op  cniLi>nEN-covMm,TtNa  mn 

<J()1)H  — MODES  OP  INSriKATION  — HACniPICKOKWlVEM  — FINOW'hOOODBKNSE  — 8Ul-l'(mHIM'AUHE9 
or  DEATH— FIKOW'S  FUNEHAL  — OUTTINO  TIIK  HEAD  — OI'ENINO  AND  CLOSINU  THE  VAULT  — 
DUKSSINd  IIIK  (lUAVR  — AI'I'OINTMENT  OP  A  SUIM  KSSOH  — CONl.I.l'DINO  CEllEMDNIKSt  —  IDKAH  OP 
IIRI.IOION— VAttlOr*  HI-OUTH  AND  OAMKH  — HAT  SHOIUINO  AND  IlIHD  CATCIlIN.l  ~  KINOW  AND  TUB 
UECOV  UIKD  — BALL  J'l^V  — A  DANUEHOUB  BTAKK,  AND  HONOIUULB  I'AYMKNT  —  TUB  LOVKM'S 
CAVK,  AND  A  NATIVU  LKOKND. 


H 


As  mip;lit  bo  expected,  various  ceremonies 
take  pliice  with  regard  to  sicltness  ami 
Ijuriiil. 

If  any  one  ia  ill,  the  inferior  relations  eiit 
off  a  Jii'iiU  (if  the  little  finger  as  an  (((firing 
to  the  luods.  Sometimes  a  whole  Joint  is 
taken  oil"  at  once,  but  those  who  have  niauy 
superior  relations  remove  only  a  portion,  ho 
that  they  may  be  able  to  oiler  the  saerillee 
several  times.  In  conseqneneo  of  this  super- 
stition, tliere  is  scarcely  a  person  in  Tonga 
wlu)  lias  not  lost  a  consliierablo  jjortiou  of 
the  little  fln<,'er  of  one  or  Ixith  hands. 

The  mode  of  amputating  the  finder  js 
simple  "uongh.  It  is  laid  upon  a  flat  block 
of  wood,  and  the  'dge  of  a  Icnifo  or  axe,  oi' 
even  a  sharp  stone,  i)laced  on  it.  A  smart 
blow  is  given  with  a  mallet,  and  the  stump, 
whicli  bleeds  but  little  in  consequence  of 
t!ie  nature  of  the  ojieration,  is  heltl  over  the 
spioko  of  fresh  grass,  so  as  to  cheek  any 
after  bleeding.  No  ajiplieation  is  made  to  it, 
and  in  a  week  or  two  it  heals  without 
trouble.  The  Tongans  do  not  seem  to  fear 
this  operation,  and  even  little  children  may 
be  seen  ouarrelliug  with  each  other  for  the 
honor  of  navin<;  it  ])erformed  upon  thrm. 

Should  the  illness  take  an  nnfavornble 
turn,  instead  of  a  mere  finger,  a  child  is 
ofTered  to  the  gods  by  being  strangled.  For 
example,  when  Finow  fell  ill  of  the  malady 
from  which  ho  died,  and  was  apparently 
sinking,  his  eldest  sort  took  a  young  child  of 
the  kiiiut's  from  its  mother's  lap,  strangled  it, 
and  olVi-red  it  to  the  gods  at  various  eonse- 
The  neonle  look  with  the 


crated  houses.      

greatest  compassiou  ou  the  poor  litUe  vie-  i  liut  was  held  bacii  by  those  aboui,  Uei' 


tlm,  but  think  that  it  is  right  to  sacrifice  a 
little  child  who  at  present  is  useless  to  the 
community,  and  may  not  live  to  be  of  ser- 
vice, so  that  tbev  may  obtain  in  exiliange 
the  life  of  a  chief  who  is  needed  by  hia 
people. 

Such  a  sacriflco  is  Bometimos  made  on 
other  oecivsioiis,  when  the  anger  of  some  god 
is  to  bo  averted.  In  Tonga  there  are  sev- 
eral .sacred  places,  in  which  to  spill  blood  is 
a  sacrilege,  so  that  they  serve  the  purpo.so 
of  cities  of  refuge.  Once  a  chief  named 
Palavali  was  jiursuing  some  men,  who  ran 
for  refuge  to  the  nearest  sacred  spot.  One 
of  them  was  just  getting  over  the  fence, 
when  Palavali,  in  the  heat  of  the  moment, 
struck  him  on  the  head,  so  that  he  fell  dead 
within  the  enclosure.  As  soon  as  he  had 
done  the  deed  he  was  filled  with  fear,  and 
reported  wliat  he  had  done  to  Finow,  who 
consulted  a  priest.  The  priest,  becoming 
inspired,  said  that  a  child  must  be  sacriflcett 
to  the  gods,  and  the  chiefs,  after  holding  a 
consultation,  agreed  that  they  should  sacri- 
fice a  child  of  one  of  their  own  number  by  a 
female  attendant.  Such  children  are  always 
selected,  for  two  reasons;  tirstly,  because 
the  child  of  a  chief  is  held  to  be  a  worthy 
sacrifice,  and  secondly,  because,  as  its 
mother  is  of  inferior  rank,  it  could  never 
live  to  be  a  chief. 

The  mother,  knowing  the  custom,  took 
alarm,  and  hid  tlie  child,  but  it  was  at  last 
found  by  the  men  who  were  sent  to  search 
for  it.  The  rest  must  bo  told  in  Mariner's 
words.    "  Its  poor  mother  want,  d  to  follow, 

Oa 


M 


098 


TONGA. 


honrlnff  it«  mother's  voice  It,  bognn  to  c»y, 
out  wlicn  it  nrrivcd  iit  tho  thtni  pliiro  of 
cxo(>ii»lon,  it  wiiN  ploMod  ami  (J<<llglitf.|  witli 
tho  band  of  uiiatoo  that  wan  put  round  i(n 
nuck,  iind,  lr)()km);(  up  in  tho  Ihco  of  tlio  niiin 
who  wns  nbout  to  destroy  it,  disi>layt<l  in  its 
bcttUtifUl  countc'H'iuco  a  smllo  ot  iuetlablc 
plconuro. 

"  Much  a  siffht  inspirod  piiy  in  tlic  heart 
of  every  one;  l)ut  acforatioii  lind  fear  of  tlie 
gooH  was  a  Hentinieut  superior  to  any  otlier, 
and  it«  destroyer  eoiild  not  help  excfiiiniini,' 
a«  he  put  on  the  fatal  linndup'. '()  yaooe  chi 
valel'  {-roor  .'ittle  innoecnl!')  two  men 
then  tiijhtoned  the  cord  by  jiullinj,' at  each 
end,  and  the  nuiltK'Ha  ai.d  unxuspeetinc 
victim  was  soon  relieved  of  its  painfiii 
struggles.  Tho  body  was  tli.n  p!ae -d  upon 
a  sort  of  hand-lmrrov,,  suppoited  upi  n  the 
ehoHldi;|-s  of  four  men,  and  earried  in  a  pro- 
cession )f  priests,  eldefs,  and  Malabooles 
Clothed  in  mats,  .\ith  wreatlis  of  graon 
loaves  round  their  necks. 

"In  this  manner  it  was  eonveyeck  to  vari- 
ous houses  ennsecrnted  to  dillerent  jjods, 
before  e.uh  of  'vhich  it  Avas  placed  on  ihe 
ground,  all  tho  company  sittm<j  behind  it, 
except  one  priest,  who  sat  Ix'side  it,  and 
prayed  aloud  to  the  god  that  he  would  be 
pleased  to  accent  of  this  sacrifice  as  an 
atonement  for  the  lieinous  sacrilege  cr)m- 
mittcd,  and  that  nunishnient  might  accord- 
infjly  hf.  withlu.'ld  from  tlu>  people.  After 
this  wa.i  done  before  all  the  consecrated 
houses  in  tlie  fortress,  the  body  was  u'iven 
up  to  its  relations,  to  be  buried  in  tho  usual 
manner." 

This  particular  case  had  a  strange  termi- 
nation. Four  or  tlve  dayi--  after  Ihe  sacri- 
fice. Palavali  went  on  a  foraging  excursion 
at  the  head  of  a  body  of  men  who  were  not 
tried  soldiers,  and  met  witli  a  smaller  body 
of  real  warriors.  In  a  very  short  time 
Palavali's  mm  began  to  run,  and  it  was  in 
vain  that  he  tried  to  rally  them.  At  last,  in 
boldly  fiiciiig  the  enemy  to  set  his  men  an 
example,  he  received  four  spears  in  his 
body,  and  fell.  This  sight  angered  his  men 
so  much  that  they  charg(>d  the  enemy, 
drove  them  back,  and  rescued  their  dyiilg 
chief.  They  were  proceeding  to  draw"  oul 
the  spears,  but  he  told  them  that  it  wotdd  be 
useless,  as  the  gods  had  doomed  him  for  his 
sacrilege,  and  he  must  die.  His  jirognosti- 
cfttion  was  correct,  for  he  died  half  an  hour 
after  the  battle. 

When  a  jjriest  is  consulted  on  any  sub- 
ject—say, on  the  sickness  of  anv  one  — a 
carefully  regulated  ceremony  is  p'erformed. 
On  the  previous  night  a  hog  is  killed  and 
prepared,  and  taken  to  the  place  where  the 
priest  lives,  together  with  plantains,  yams, 
and  kaya  root.  Next  d.ay  they  all  go  to  the 
patient's  house,  and  there  seat  themselves 
in  order,  the  priest  taking  his  place  just 
within  the  eave^s,  if  the  appointee!  spot  fee  a 
house.    vp|;Oaite  to  thu  priest  is  tne  kava 


liowl,  and  around  him  sit  the  MMliiboolr!!  as 
usuiil;  but  on  this  oe<'asion  Ihe  enjelM  always 
mix  with  Ihe  people,  or  ;  ven  .sit  iiduinl 
hem,  thinking  that  such  retiring  nn.l  huni- 
l)le  beb'ivior  is  plensiiig  to  the  gdds. 

From  th"  moment  tluit  all  are  sealed,  tho 
god  is  supposed  to  take  possL^fion  of  iho 
Jinest,  who  sits  silently  with  bis  hands 
elaspe.l  in  front  of  him,  bis  hei.il  Ix.wed,  uiid 
Ins  eyes  bent  on  the  ground.  'I'be  kava 
being  j)rep'irecj,  ||i<.  re(|uire(l  iiuislions  are 
put  to  hhn.  Honu  times  be  aiisiveis  them  at 
once,  but  vers  ofli  n  he  reimdns  in  silence 
until  all  llie  proyisions  i,re  eaten  and  tho 
kaya  drunk,  when  be  do<s  speak,  it  is  in  a 
I'W,  constrained  \  )iee,  generally  abovi  ila 
natural  inlch,  lue  words  being  Mipimsed  to 
be  Ibe  uUeranees  of  the  god  tlii.iugb  biin 
without  his  vcviilion.  In  seni,'  eases  he  is 
<piile  (aim  and  quiet  while  deliyeiiiif  his 
answers,  but  at  ollars  bis  liue  b(c(.nies 
infliimed,  his  eyes  seem  ready  to  start  Irom 
llieir  so<'kels,  tcirs  jioin-  f-ciin"  his  i  yes,  and 
bis  words  issue  in  broken  sobs  and  giic|is. 

This  pan  .;ysm  lasts  l()r  Kmie  time,  and 
then  gradunily  s'iiisides.  As  it  is  passing 
away,  he  U'.kc"  up  a  club  which  is  jjliHeu 
near  him  I'or  the  jinriiose,  ga/.es  at  it  ailen- 
tively,  am'  then  I(,oks  round,  apjiaienlly 
without  sec  ing  Ihe  object  at  which  he  looks 
—  "his  eyes  are  open,  but  their  sense  is 
shut."  Huddenly  he  raises  the  club,  and 
dashes  it  yiolently  on  the  groiimi,  nt  ^^llich 
instant  the  god  is  supposxl  lo  leaye  his 
\otiiry,  who  immediately  rises  and  leaves 
the  place  of  honor,  retiring  to  t],,.  back  if 
the  ring  among  the  iieojile.  'I'be  man  of 
highest  rank  present  then  takes  the  place  of 
honor,  and  more  kava  is  served. 

When  a  priest  is  co.,snlled  on  behalf  of  a 
sick  person,  the  ins]iiralion  retnius  ils  hold 
as  loim'  as  tin  patient  is  in  his  i.iest  nee, and 
in  some  cases   the  insiiiration  lasts  tor  sev- 

1     .1 Tl'      .    ..         -    .-!  ..... 


eral  days.  If  one  priest  cnnnot  find  a  cure, 
the  iiatient  is  taken  to  another,  and  so  on, 
iinlil  he  either  recovers  or  dies. 

The  illustration  No.  2,  on  the  next  page, 
rejiresents  a  consultation  of  the  priest  re- 
specting a  sick  child.  In  the  foreground 
are  the  provisions  and  the  presents  brought 
to  the  priest,  and  in  the  centre  is  the  kava 
bowl.  On  the  right  is  the  priest,  seated  in 
a  state  of  inspiration,  with  crossed  hands 
and  bowed  head,  listening  to  the  (piestions 
which  are  being  put  by  the  Mafalaxile.  The 
mother  of  Ihe  child  is  seen  with  the  infant 
in  her  arms,  and  around  are  members  of  her 
family,  all  wearing  coarse  mats  instead  of 
fine  gnatoo.  and  having  round  their  necks 
the  leaves  which  denote  humility. 

Other  persons  beside  chiefs  "become  in- 
spired, generally  by  the  spirits  of  those 
whom  they  had  known  in  life.  The  eldest 
son  of  Finow,  who  afterward  succeeded  to 
the  throne,  used  to  be  inspired  by  a  great 
chief  who  had  been  murdered  by  his  father 
land    auother  chief.     Mariner  asked    him 


(I.;   riiK  row-row.   (Si^  pu';.'  ww.) 


-•  -^^  • 


"^^^^S^p^ 


^;'> 
'  I X 


^Si^;  ^r^4 


(909) 


i 


SACRIFICE  OF  WIVES. 


1001 


what  were  his  feelings  on  such  occasions, 
and  he  replied  that  ho  felt  restless  and  un- 
comfortable, and  all  over  in  a  glow  of  heat, 
and  that  his  mind  did  not  seem  to  be  his 
own.  When  asked  how  he  know  the  name 
of  the  spirit  wlio  then  visited  him,  ho  an- 
swered that  he  could  not  tell  —  he  knew  it 
intuitively,  but  could  give  no  explanation. 

Wliile  Mariner  was  in  tho  Tonga  Islands, 
a  young  cliicf,  remarkable  for  his  beauty, 
hecame  inspired  to  such  a  degree  that  he 
fainted,  and  was  taken  to  the  house  of  a 
priest,  who  told  him  that  tho  spirit  was  that 
of  a  young  woman  who  had  died  two  years 
before,  ami  was  now  in  Bolotoo  the  TonjTa 
heaven.  She  inspired  him  because  she 
wished  for  him  as  a  husband  in  Bolotoo,  and 
would  soon  take  him  there.  The  young  chief 
acknowledged  tlie  truth  of  tho  exposition, 
saying  tliat  for  several  nights  he  had  been 
visited  in  his  sleep  by  a  young  woman,  and 
had  suspected  that  she  was  tho  person  who 
inspiretl  him.  Two  days  after  he  was  taken 
ill  and  died.  Mariner  was  present  when 
the  priest  gave  his  explanation  of  the  ill- 
ness. 

Shortly  before  Mariner  was  at  the  Tonga 
Islanils,  a  still  graver  form  of  human  sacri- 
fice was  practised  than  that  of  a  child. 

When  the  Tooi-tonga  died,  his  chief  widow 
was  strangled  on  the  day  of  the  funeral,  and 
buried  in  the  same  "rave  with  him,  just  as 
is  tho  case  in  Fiji,  wlience  in  all  jirobability, 
tlie  Tongans  borrowed  the  practice.  Com- 
pfiratively  short  as  was  Mariner's  stay  two 
Tooi-tongas  died;  but  in  neither  case  was 
this  terrible  rite  observed.  In  the  one  case 
there  happened  to  be  no  chief  wife,  all  his 
wives  being  so  equal  in  rank  that  neither  of 
them  ruled  the  household;  and,  in  conse- 
quence a  selection  of  a  victim  became  impos- 
sible. In  the  second  ciise  the  chief  wife  was 
the  daughter  of  Finow,  who  said  openly, 
that  if  the  husband  were  to  die  first,  his 
daughter  should  not  bo  strangled,  for  that 
to  destroy  a  youu"  and  beautiful  woman  be- 
cause her  husband  had  died  was  inflicting  a 
double  loss  upon  tho  community.  As  it 
liappened,  tho  Tooi-tonga  did  not  die  until 
after  the  elder  Finow  was  dead  and  had  been 
succeeded  by  his  son,  who  not  only  carried 
out  his  father's  wishes  on  that  subject,  but 
would  not  allow  another  Tooi-tonga  to  suc- 
ceed; thus  abolishing  the  source  of  tho  only 
rank  that  was  superior  to  him. 

The  Tooi-tonga  being  abolished,  it  neces- 
sarily follows  that  tho  ceremony  of  Imichi 
was  abolished  too,  and  but  for  tho  fact  of 
Mariner's  enforced  residence  iu  Tonga,  this 
curious  and  interesting  ceremony  would 
have  passed  away  without  being  known  to 
European  civilization. 

Mariner  was  present  at  the  wedding  of 
Finow's  daughter  to  the  Tooi-tonga,  and  de- 
scribes it  with  some  minuteness."  It  much 
resembled  a  Fijian  wedding,  except  in  the 
costume  of  the  tride,  who  was  first  copiously 


anointed  with  cocoa-nut  oil  scented  with 
sandal-wood,  and  then  arrayed  in  a  vast 
number  of  the  finest  Samoan  mats,  which 
were  wrapped  round  her  in  such  quantities 
that  her  arms  were  stuck  out  almost  hori- 
zontally from  her  body,  and  her  legs  were 
so  mucli  trammelled  that  she  could  not  sit 
down,  but  had  to  rest  in  a  bent  attitude  upon 
her  attendants. 

She  was  eighteen  at  the  time.  Had  it  not 
been  for  the  gcod  sense  of  Finow,  Mariner 
would  have  seen  within  a  very  short  time 
her  wedding,  her  murder,  ancl  her  burial. 
The  technical  name  for  the  ceremony  of 
strangling  is  Nawgi'a. 

We  now  come  naturally  to  the  subject  of 
funerals,  and  will  take  as  a  typical  example 
the  funeral  of  the  elder  Finow. 

Almost  immediately  after  the  death  and 
burial  of  his  favorite  daughter,  a  child  about 
seven  years  of  age,  Finow  fell  ill,  his  mal- 
ady having  been  increased  by  the  exertions 
which  he  made  during  the  long  ceremony  of 
the  funeral.  It  was  on  this  occasion  that 
he  ordered  the  women  to  box  in  general 
combat.  On  the  evening  of  tin,  day  Finow 
retired  to  a  small  house  that  had  just  been 
built  for  him,  and  was  seized  with  a  violent 
illness,  which  almost  deprived  him  of  the 
power  of  speech,  though  not  of  intellect.  He 
evidently  knew  that  his  end  was  ^t  hand, 
and  continually  muttered  "My  country  I  my 
country  I"  evidently  feeling  that  calamities 
might  come  on  his  land  if  he  were  suddenly 
taken  aw.iy. 

A  child  was  offered  on  behalf  of  him, 
which  had  already  been  selected,  but,  by  the 
time  that  the  sacriflcing  party  had  come 
back  to  the  house  where  the  king  lay,  he  had 
lost  both  his  speech  and  his  consciousness, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  great  and  wise 
Finow  had  departed  this  life.  When  hia 
death  was  ascertained,  a  curious  cersmony 
was  performed.  The  body  was  carried  to 
tho  Tooi-tonga's  house,  and  placed  on  the 
hole  in  which  the  cooks  were  accustomed  to 
light  their  fires.  This  was  a  symbolical  ex- 
pression of  humility  and  submission  to  the 
gods,  the  cooking  place  being  so  degraded  a 
spot  that  only  the  lowest  Tooas  would  coil- 
descend  to  touch  it 

Not  only  tho  king  himself,  but  all  those  in 
his  confidence,  fully  believed  that  his  death 
was  caused  by  a  god  named  Toobo  Totai,  to 
whom  ho  haa  prayed  in  vain  for  his  daugh- 
ter's recovery.  In  revenge  for  the  negli- 
gence of  the  god,  Finow  had  made  arrange- 
ments for  killing  his  priest,  and  had  been 
heard  to  say  that  if  Toobo  Totai  did  not 
change  his  conduct,  and  exert  himself  a  lit- 
tle more,  his  priest  should  not  live  lon^. 
Finow's  sudden  death  put  a  ston  to  this 
project,  which  was  only  known  to  one  or 
two  of  his  immediate  friends.  It  is  not  un- 
likely that  the  threatened  priusl  may  haVo 
heard  of  his  intended  assassination,  and 
saved  himself  by  getting  a  dose  of  poison 


I 


s 


m 


:;iM 


Ijiii 


I 


1002 


TONGA. 


adminiBtered  to  Finow  at  the  funeral  ban- 
quet. 

Finow  was  right  in  his  prognostications 
of  trouble,  for  no  sooner  was  his  death 
known  than  a  number  of  the  principal 
chiefs  of  ilitt'ercnt  islands  began  to  assemble 
their  forces,  witli  the  intention  of  seizing 
on  the  throne.  His  successor,  however,  in- 
herited his  father's  wisdom,  and  took  sucli 
precautions  that  the  attempt  of  tlic  conspir- 
ators was  quietly  foiled. 

After  the  royal  corpse  was  brought  back 
from  the  Tooi-tonga's  dwelling,  it  was  laid 
on  bales  of  gnatoo  in  the  large  conical 
house,  which  was  nearly  filled  with  women, 
who  kept  up  a  continu.al  lamentation,  led  by 
his  daughter,  a  beautiful  girl  of  fifteen. 
Even  by  ni^ht  the  lamentations  went  on, 
the  house  bemg  lighted  up  with  lamps  made 
of  cocoa-nut  shells  half  filled  with  cocoa-nut 
oil,  which  is  only  used  on  such  occasions; 
and  on  the  fv  Mowing  morning  the  people 
assembled  on  the  marly  to  take  part  in  the 
obsequies  of  their  Late  king,  whom  they 
both  loved  and  feared.  Indeed,  among  sav- 
age nations,  there  is  no  love  toward  a  chief 
wlio  is  not  thoroughly  feared. 

By  this  time  the  faces  of  the  principal 
mourners  were  scarcely  recognizable,  being 
swollen  and  disfigured  by  the  repeated 
blows  which  they  had  inflicted  on  them- 
selves as  signs  of  sorrow.  The  chiefs  and 
Matabooles  who  were  especially  attached  to 
the  person  or  household  of  the  deceased 
king  proceeded  to  infiict  even  severer  inju- 
ries upon  themselves,  using  the  club,  or 
shell,  or  a  sharp  stone;  and  running  two  or 
tliree  at  a  time  into  the  open  .space,  while 
they  cut  their  heads  with  the  clubs  and 
shells  so  that  the  blood  poured  down  their 
bodies  in  streams;  as  they  did  so,  they  ut- 
tered a  sort  of  dirge,  some  speeimeiis  of 
which  h.ave  been  given  by  Mariner.  The 
following,  is  his  translation  of  the  death 
chant  and  acconip.inying  proceedings. 

" '  Fiuo w,  I  know  well  j-our  mind ;  you  have 
depa.tcd  to  JJolotoo,  and  left  your  people, 
under  suspicion  th.at  I  or  some  of  those  about 
you  are  unfaithful;  but  where  is  the  proof 
of  infidelity?  where  is  a  single  instance  of 
disrespectV  Then  inflicting  violent  blows 
and  deep  cuts  in  the  head  with  a  club,  stone, 
or  knife,  would  .again  exclaim  at  intervals, 
'  Is  not  this  a  proof  of  my  fidelity  i*  does  this 
not  evince  loy.ilty  and  attachment  to  the 
memory  of  the  (leparted  warrior? '  Then 
perhajis  two  or  three  would  run  on  and  en- 
deavor to  seize  the  same  club,  s.iying  with  a 
furious  tone  of  voice,  '  Behold,  the'  land  is 
torn  with  strife,  it  is  smitten  to  pioocs,  it  is 
split  by  revolts;  how  my  blood  boils;  let  ns 
haste  and  die!  I  no  longer  wish  to  live: 
your  death,  Finow,  shall  be  (nine.  But  why 
did  I  wish  hitherto  to  live?  it  was  for  you 
alone;  it  was  in  your  service,  and  defence 
only  that  I  wish  to  breathe;  but  now,  alasl 
the  country  is  ruined.    Peace  and  happi- 


ness are  at  an  end;  your  death  has  insured 
ours:  henceforth  war  and  destruction  alono 
can  prosper.' 

"  These  speeches  wore  accompanied  with 
a  wild  and  frantic  agitation  of  the  Iwdy, 
whilst  the  parties  cut  and  bruised  their 
heads  every  two  or  three  words  with  the 
knife  or  club  they  held  in  their  hands. 
Others,  somewhat  more  calm  and  moderate 
in  their  grief,  would  parade  uj)  and  down 
with  rather  a  wild  and  agitated  step,  spin- 
ning and  whirling  the  club  about,  striking 
themselves  with  the  edge  of  it  two  or  three 
times  violently  upon  the  top  or  back  of  the 
head,  and  then  suddenly  stojjping  and  look- 
ing steadfastly  .at  the  instrument  spattered 
with  blood,  exclaim,  '  Alas!  my  club,  who 
could  have  said  that  you  would  have  done 
this  kind  office  for  me,  .and  have  enabled  mo 
thus  to  evince  a  testimony  of  my  respect  to 
Finow?  Never,  no,  never,  cmu  you  again 
tear  open  the  brains  of  his  enemies.  Alas! 
what  a  great  and  mighty  warrior  has  fallen  1 
Oh,  Finow,  cease  to  suspect  my  loy.alty;  be 
convinced  of  my  fidelity!  But  "wh.at  absurd- 
ity am  I  talking!  if  I  had  appeared  treach- 
erous in  thy  sight,  I  should  h.ave  met  the 
fate  of  those  numerous  warriors  who  have 
fallen  victims  to  your  just  revenge.  But  do 
not  think,  Finow,  that  I  rejjroach  you;  no, 
I  wish  only  to  convince  you  of  my  inno- 
cence, for  who  that  has  thoughts  of  harming 
his  chiefs  shall  grow  white-neaded  like  me 
(an  expression  used  by  some  of  the  old 
men)?  O  cruel  gods,  to  di^prive  us  of  our 
father,  of  our  only  hope,  for  whom  alone  avo 
wished  to  live.  We  have  indeed  other 
chiefs,  but  they  are  only  chiefs  in  rank,  and 
not  like  you,  alas!  great  and  mighty  in 
Wear.' " 

Such  were  their  sentiments  and  conduct 
on  this  mournful  occasion.  Some,  more 
violent  than  others,  cut  their  heads  to  the 
skull  with  such  strong  and  frequent  blows, 
that  they  caused  themselves  to  reel,  produ- 
cing .afterward  a  temporary  loss  of  reason. 
It  is  difficult  to  s.ay  to  what  length  this  ex- 
travagance would  "have  been  crirricd.  partic- 
ularly by  one  old  man,  if  the  prince  had  not 
ordered  Mr.  Mariner  to  go  up  and  tnke 
away  the  club  from  him,  as  well  as  two 
others  that  were  engaged  at  the  same  time. 
It  is  customary  on  s.-eh  occasions,  when  a 
man  takes  a  club  from  another,  to  use  it 
himself  in  the  same  w.ay  about  his  own 
head;  but  Mr.  Mariner,  being  a  fonigner, 
was  not  expected  to  do  this:  he  therelbre 
went  up,  and,  after  some  hesitation  and 
struggle,  secured  the  clubs  one  alter 
another,  .and  returned  with  them  to  his  scat, 
when,  after  a  while,  they  were  taken  liy 
others,  who  used  them  in  like  manner. 

The  next  proceeding  was  to  jilace  the 
body  of  the  dead  king  in  the  grave,  which 
w.as  at  some  distance  from  the  place  where 
those  wild  laments  liad  been  msuh'.  Having 
arrived  at  the  spot,  a  small  house  w.as  speed- 


PUNEEAL  OF  FINOW. 


1003 


ily  put  together,  tho  body  was  laid  in  it,  and 
the  whole  houne  was  covered  with  coarse 
hlack  gnatoo,  the  sign  of  mourning,  which 
p.oased  over  the  top  of  the  house,  and  hung 
from  the  e'aves  to  the  ground,  so  as  entirely 
to  conceal  it. 

Here  another  set  of  lamentations  took 
place,  while  a  number  of  men  were  em- 
ployed in  opening  the  grave.  All  great 
families  bury  their  dend.  not  merely  in  the 
ground,  but  in  a  solid  vault,  about  eight  feet 
long  by  six  wide,  and  eight  deep.  It  is 
made  of  six  enormous  atones,  the  upper  one, 
which  forms  the  cover,  being  necessarily 
larger  than  the  others.  For  the  conven- 
ience of  raising  it  when  required,  the  upper 
stone  docs  not  lit  quite  closely  upon  the 
lower,  some  smaller  stones  being  placed  be- 
tween them  at  one  end. 

After  digging  some  ten  feet  deep,  the 
men  came  to  the  vault,  and,  having  cleared 
away  the  earth,  they  passed  a  rope  under 
the  end  of  the  atone  cover,  and  by  the  united 
force  of  nearly  two  hundred  men  raised  it 
Oil  end.  Several  bodies  were  already  in  the 
grave.  Two  of  them,  which  had  been  buried 
for  full  forty  years,  were  dried  and  nearly 
perfect;  .while  others,  which  had  not  been 
buried  nearly  so  long,  were  reduced  to  a 
few  bones.  In  some  cases  the  vault  is  lined 
with  the  gnatoo  on  which  the  body  rested, 
while  in  others  it  becomes  the  property  of 
the  presiding  Mataboole. 

All  being  ready,  the  body  of  Finow  was 
handed  down  into  the  vault,  still  lying  on 
the  gnatoo,  and  the  body  of  his  daughter, 
at  wliose  funeral  he  was  seized  with  illness, 
was  buried  by  his  side.  The  stone  w.as  then 
let  down  with  a  great  shout,  and  the  hcad- 
cuttini^  and  maiming  began  afresh.  The 
next  ceremony  was  that  of  collecting  sand 
for  the  decoration  of  the  grave. 

Tiie  whole  company  formed  themselves 
in  single  line,  the  women  going  fii-st,  and 
proceeded  to  the  back  of  the  island,  singing 
loudly  to  warn  stragglers. of  their  presence. 
For  any  one  not  actually  engaged  in  a 
funeral  io  be  seen  on  the  road  is  held  as  so 
great  an  insult  that  any  ordinary  man  would 
lose  his  life.  Even  if  the  king'himself  saw 
n  similar  procession  advancing,  he  would 
iiide  liiinsi'lf  until  it  had  passed.  Remain- 
ing on  his  feet,  though  it  might  not  actually 
cost  him  his  life,  would  probably  be  so  bit- 
terly remembered  that  he  might  lose  his 
throne.  Ah  soon  as  tlie  funeral  party  ar- 
rived at  the  [ilace  where  the  sand  w.as  found, 
they  all  set  to  work  at  making  baskets  out 
of  leaves,  which  they  suspended  from  sticks 
and  carried  on  their  shoulders,  l^y  the  time 
that  they  reached  the  grave,  it  was  nearly 
lilled  up  with  earth,  and  the  remainder  was 
filled  with  sand,  which  was  carefully  and 
neatly  smoothed. 

Niixij  came  a  very  curious  custom,  that  of 
burning  the  checks.  The  mourners, clothid 
in  mats  and  green  leaves,  set  fire  to  little 


rolls  of  bark,  and  pressed  them  against  each 
cheek-bone,  so  as  to  raise  a  circular  blister. 
This  is  then  rubbed  with  the  juice  of  an  as- 
tringent berry,  which  causes  the  wound  to 
bleed,  and  the  blood  is  smeared  over  the 
cheeks.  The  friction  is  repeated  daily  for 
twenty  days,  so  that  an  indelible  scar  i"  the 
natural  result. 

The  day  after  the  burial  a  ceremony  took 
■place  by  which  the  young  prince  was  in- 
stalled in  his  father's  place,  and  invested 
with  his  father's  name.  Finow  was  the  name 
of  the  reigning  family;  but,  according  to 
custom,  no  one  but  the  actual  king  was  al- 
lowed to  bear  it  Sometimes,  as  a  mark  of 
especial  favor,  he  allowed  it  to  be  borne  by 
a  relation,  but  always  in  conjunction  with 
some  other  name.  The  name  by  which  the 
young  prince  had  previously  been  called  was 
Moegnagnongo. 

The  ceremony  was  begun  by  a  kava  party, 
at  which  the  young  prince  presided.  The 
two  first  cups  having  been  filled  and  drunk, 
the  third  was  due  to  the  president.  The 
Mataboole  who  directed  the  proceedings  said, 
while  all  eyes  were  fixed  on  the  prince, 
"  Give  it  to  Finow,"  thus  acknowledging  him 
as  the  king  of  Tonga.  The  young  king  dis- 
->layed  not  the  least  emotion  on  being  called 
by  the  new  name,  as  that  would  have  been 
thought  beneath  his  dignity,  but  took  the 
cup  as  quietly  as  if  he  had  been  calif  by  the 
name  ot  Finow  all  iiis  life. 

llites  similar  to  those  which  have  been  de- 
scribed went  on  for  nineteen  days,  and  on 
the  twentieth  the  concluding  ceremony  was 
performed.  All  the  relations  of  the  deceased 
king,  together  with  those  who  had  taken  part 
in  the  funeral,  went  to  the  back  of  the  island, 
and  procured  a  great  quantity  of  flat  pebbles, 
mostly  white,  but  having  a  few  black  among 
them.  These  they  (tarried  to  the  grave,  and 
strewed  completely  over  the  grave  in  the 
form  of  an  oval,  each  pebble  being  laid  by 
the  side  of  the  other.  The  black  pebbles 
were  laid  upon  the  white  ones. 

Dances,  wrestling  matches,  and  head-cut- 
ting then  took  place,  in  which  latter  rite  the 
fishermen  of  the  late  king  distinguished 
themselves  in  a  very  curio\is  manner.  Into 
each  cheek  they  thrust  three  an-ows,  the 
points  of  which  passed  into  the  mouth.  The 
shafts  of  the  arrows  were  brought  over  the 
shoulders,  and  to  each  pair  was  tied  another 
arrow  across  the  shoulders,  so  as  to  mtike  a 
triangle.  Equipped  in  this  .  extraordinary 
manner,  they  walked  round  the  grave,  and, 
not  satisfied  with  this  proof  of  their  devotion 
to  their  Late  master,  they  cut  their  heads  with 
their  paddles,  and  ])inched  up  the  skiu'  of 
their  breasts,  thrusting  a  spear  through  the 
fold.  A  grand  wrestling  match  ended  this 
complicated  series  of  ceremonies. 

At  the  burial  of  one  great  chief,  who  was 
assassinated  whiln  walking  with  the  king 
(apparently  with  his  connivance),  a  very  cu- 
rious variation  of  the  ceremony  took  place. 


IW 

^^ 

ill 

n 

t| 

1 

1 

H 

1 

1 

H 

I^BI 

i 

H 

m 

^^1 

( 

W- 

i^HI 

! 

w 

iH 

lilil' 


\mM 


1004 


!i 


I 


TONGA. 


Aa  soon  as  the  body  had  been  lowered  into 
the  vault,,  ono  of  tho  lussuwHina,  a  man  of  cx- 
coptiomil  strength  and  stature,  advanced 
toward  thu  grave,  and,  braudisliing  liia  ehib, 
avowed  hhusolf  as  the  murderer,  and  chal- 
lenged any  friend  of  tho  Uecoivsou  chief  to 
iiglit  him. 

Th(!  clialleiigo  was  not  accepted,  and,  al- 
though one  of  the  wives  of  tho  murdered  man 
did  lier  best  to  arouse  tho  family  to  ven- 
geance, she  could  only  succeed  in  inducing 
tljem  to  erect  a  strong  fortroas,  in  which 
they  hoped  to  bid  deiiauco  to  Finow.  The 
king,  however,  was  too  wise  to  allow  such  a 
standing  menace  to  remain,  started  off  with 
four  thousand  warriors,  and  reduced  the  dis- 
affected chiefs  to  obedience.  In  storming 
the  fort,  the  challenging  chief  distinguished 
hmiself  by  his  deeds  of  arms.  Though 
wounded  in  the  breast  with  a  live-barbed 
speai-,  he  broke  off  the  shaft,  scaled  alone  the 
enemy's  fortress,  knockeilout  a  man's  brains 
with  his  club,  and  made  good  his  escajjo.  As 
he  retreated,  however,  he  received  another 
spear  in  his  back,  and  lUed  on  tlie  following 
day.  It  is  remarkable  that  in  this  battle 
nearly  all  the  assassins  perished. 

Tho  religious  system  of  tho  Tongans  is 
tolerably  simple.  Tiioy  believe  that  there 
are  several  orders  of  gods,  just  as  there  are 
several  ranks  of  men.  The  principal  go.'-* 
are  self-existent  and  eternal;  but  the  second 
order  of  gods  are  the  souls  of  dece:ised 
chieftj  and  Matabooles.  All  of  noble  blood 
have  souls,  and  take  rank  in  Bolotoo,  or 
Paradise,  not  according  to  their  moral  merit, 
but  according  to  the  rank  which  ihey  held 
in  the  world.  Matabooles  become  ministers 
to  the  gods,  just  as  they  were  ministers  to 
the  chiefs;  but  they  are  not  powerful 
enough  to  inspire  priests.  There  is  also  a 
class  of  mischievous  gods,  who  arc,  fortu- 
nately, mu('h  less  powerful  tlian  the  benev- 
olent deities. 

As  to  tho  Mooas,  or  middle  class,  the 
learned  aro  rather  doubtful  whether  they  go 
to  Bolotoo,  or  whether  they  have  souls. 
But  that  the  Tooas.  or  peasantry,  have  no 
souls,  there  is  not  the  slightest  doubt,  and 
that  they  can  go  to  Bolotoo  is  therefore  im- 
possible. 

With  regard  to  Bolotoo,  or  Paradise,  the 
Tongans  believe  it  to  be  an  island  some- 
where to  tlui  north-west  of  Tonga.  It  is  a 
most  beautiful  place,  full  of  the  choicest 
fruits  and  the  most  lovely  flowers.  Pigs  are 
lentiful,  and  never  die  unless  they  are 
illed  to  supply  food  for  the  gods,  in  which 
case  another  hog  comes  into  existence  to 
supply  the  jdiK-o  of  the  one  that  was  killed. 
So,  when  a  fruit  or  a  flower  is  plucked, 
another  immediately  takes  its  pliice.  These 
particulars  are  loarne<l  from  some  Tongan 
voyagers,  who  were  returning  from   Fiji, 

Ui.f  im'^^ti  /1..<fr.n  ^..*  *.r  *1...:»  ....'«i,.^..: 1,..  „ 

......     .......    ....*.    ..    ........{      ,,,^j;      ....    t.^...;iij^     ;_.j     ft 

Storm.    At  last  they  were  blown  to  a  lovely 
island,  on  which  they  aucceedcd  in  bnding. 


i; 


There  was  abundance  of  Iruit,  but  their 
hands  could  not  grasp  it.  They  walked 
through  the  trunks  of  trees,  and  through 
the  walls  of  houses  as  if  they  were  nuTO 
shadows;  while  some  of  the  iuliMbitants 
wnlkt^l  through  their  own  bodies  in  a  similar 
manner.  Then  they  fmnul  they  were  at 
Bolotoo.  The  (jods  told  them  to  go  home  at 
once,  and  promised  them  a  favorable  wiixl. 
They  reached  Tonga  in  safety,  but  all  died 
soon  afterward,  tho  air  of  BokJtoo  not  suiting 
more  mortals. 

It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  tho 
-eligious  and  secular  lives  of  the  Tongans 
are  so  blended  together  that  it  is  very  difii- 
cult  to  separate  them,  and  that  even  their 
.•vmusements  partake  somewhat  of  the  relig- 
ious character.  There  are,  however,  ono 
or  two  of  their  games  which  partake  but 
slightly  of  this  element,  and  which  are  yet 
characteristic  of  the  natives.  One  of  these 
sports  is  called  Fanna-kalai,  and  is  a  very  in- 
genious mode  of  bird  catching  by  means  of 
decoys. 

In  order  to  practise  this  amusement,  the 
sportsman  furnishes  himself  with  a  bow  and 
arrows,  goes  into  tho  woods,  and  there  en- 
sconces nimself  within  a  largo  wicker  cage 
covered  with  green  leaves,  so  that  the  in- 
nuvto  may  not  be  seen,  but  having  plenty  of 
ojienings  through  which  tho  arrows  can  bo 
aimed.  By  his  side  he  has  a  small  cage,  in 
which  is  kept  a  hen  bird,  and  on  the  top  of 
the  large  cage  tho  cock  bird  is  tied  by  tho 
leg.  When  properly  trained,  these  birds 
continue  calling  to  each  other,  and  thus 
attract  numbers  of  their  own  species,  which 
fall  victiu's  to  the  arrows. 

Well-trained  birds  are  exceedingly  valu- 
able, and  one  chief  has  been  kiK>wn  to  make 
war  ui)on  another  for  the  sake  of  procuring 
an  especially  fine  bird.  Indeed,  the  Ton- 
gans look  on  these  birds  much  as  sportsmen 
of  the  olden  times  looked  on  their  falcons. 
To  each  pair  of  birds  there  is  a  keeper, 
whose  whole  busihess  it  is  to  attend  to  and 
train  them.  He  is  careful  to  teach  the  cock 
bird  to  llap  its  wings  as  it  calls  to  its  mate, 
and  to  utter  its  notes  loudly,  so  that  they 
may  be  taken  .is  a  challenge  to  other  birds 
tn  come  and  fight  him.  The  bird  keejiers 
have  almost  unlimited  nowers,  as  nothing  is 
(dlowed  to  interfere  witii  the  welfare  of  their 
(diarge.  Even  when  a  famine  visits  a  dis- 
trict, the  birds  must  not  starve.  The  keener 
forages  for  tlie  birds,  and  if  he  sees  a  nne 
bunch  of  pl.antains,  he  is  allowed  to  put  tho 
tapu  on  it  by  sticking  a  reed  in  the  tree, 
after  which  the  proprietor  dares  not  touch 
the  fruit  which  he  h:is  saved  for  himself  and 
his  family.  Ho  may  starve,  but  the  birds 
must  be  fed. 

As  niay  bo  imagined,  tho  keepers  attend 
to  tiicir  own  interests  as  vvei!  a:;  iluine  of  tiic 
birds,  and  are  great  pests  to  the  neighbor- 
hood, fleecing  the  people  without  mercy. 


VAllIOUS  SPORTS  AND  GAMES. 


1005 


JNow  and  then  they  go  a  little  too  far  in  their 
iiifloloiice,  and  a  coinpl.iint  is  laid  against 
them, in  wlii<:h  case  the  man  seldom  fHiapes 
without  a  severe  beatinf,'. 

In  order  to  show  the  enormous  value  of 
these  birds,  Mariner  tells  a  story  re8j)eetln<,' 
the  elder  Fiuow.  The  chief  of  Ilihil'o  pos- 
sessed a  bird  which  he  had  himself  trained, 
and  which  was  the  best  that  ever  was  known. 
Finov/  heard  of  this  bird,  and  sent  a  com- 
missioner to  Ilihifo  in  order  to  treat  with 
the  chief  for  the  purchase  of  it.  This  the 
owner  declined  to  do,  savitif?  that  not  only 
had  he  an  alfection  for  the  bird,  which  he 
had  himself  trained,  hut  he  had  sustained 
many  wars  made  on  him  by  ueighboritif,' 
chieis  who  wanted  to  get  the  bird  —  many 
lives  had  been  lost,  and  h     ''•'^  '■'"   ' 


felt  his  honor 
involved  in  keepin-'  it.  However,  he  in- 
trusted the  ambassador  with  another  nair  ot 
birds,  very  nearly  as  good,  and  asked  him  to 
present  them  to  Vinow. 

The  king  tried  the  birds  next  day,  and 
was  so  delighted  with  their  performance 
that  he  was  the  more  anxious  to  obtain  the 
bird  which  was  even  superior  to  them.  He 
therefore  prepared  a  present,  which  accord- 
ing to  the  Tongau  ideas  of  that  day  was  ()f 
almost  incalculable  value,  comprising,  beside 
whales'  teeth,  gnatoo,  kava,  and  other  native 
productioiis,  several  iron  bolts,  a  quantity  of 
beads,  a  looking-glass,  a  grindstone,  and 
Bomo  axes,  all  ot"  which  had  been  nrocured 
from  Kurone,  and  most  of  them  from  the 
vessel  in  which  Mariner  had  been  wrecked. 
Seeing  that  Finow  v.-iis  determined  to  have 
the  bird,  and  that  he  would  probably  make 
war  if  ai^ain  refused,  the  chief  wisely  ac- 
cented the  present,  and  sent  the  desired 
priz:!  with  n  polite  message. 

As  this  sport  is  necessarily  a  very  expen- 
sive one,  it  can  only  be  practised  by  the  kiivg 
and  very  great  chiefs,  even  the  lesser  chiefs 
being  unable  to  betir  the  cost.  There  is 
another  sport  which  is  limited  to  chiefs  and 
Matabooles.  This  is  Fanna-gooma,  or  rat 
shooliu'^,  and  is  conducted  as  liiUows.  Two 
chiefs  take  the  command  of  two  i)arties  v.-ho 
intend  to  shoot  rats,  and  .arrange  the  pre- 
liminaries, t.  e.  settling  the  course  which 
they  mean  to  take,  the  number  of  shooters 
on  earh  side,  and  so  forth.  (In  the  appointed 
day,  tliev  go  to  some  jdaco  which  has  been 
previo'.isly  lixed  upon,  each  being  provided 
with  his  ()i)W  and  two  arrows. 

These  arrows  are  six  feet  in  length,  and 
ma:le  of  a  reed  headed  with  hard  wood. 
They  are  most  beautifully  made,  the  heads 
being  smooth  and  ^)olished  with  the  greatest 
eare,  and  the  junctum  of  the  head  and  shaft 
guarded  witli  plaited  sinuet.  In  some  of 
these  weapons  in  my  c(dlection.  the  sinnet 
is  scarcely  broader  than  sewing  silk,  and  is 
laid  on  with  a  perfection  that  is  scarcely 
credible.  After  the  sinnet  is  tinished  otf,  a 
fliight  coating  of  transparent  varnish  is  laid 
over  it,  so  as  to  bind  tlio  plait  more  firmly 


together,  and  to  give  it  an  uniform  polish. 
In  some  arrows  thej-o  are  several  similar 
belts  of  plaited  sinnet.  No  feather  is  needed, 
as  they  are  never  aimed  at  any  distance,  and 
their  great  length  is  re(inisite  to  allow  them 
to  go  straight  through  the  bushes  among 
whi(di  the  rats  lurk.  • 

The  bow  is  about  the  same  length  ns  the 
arrows,  and  not  very  powerful,  so  that  the. 
aim  may  not,  bo  disturbed  by  the  efiect  of 
drawing  it. 

When  they  are  ready  to  start,  a  couple  of 
attendants  are  sent  forward,  who  talce  in 
their  mouths  some  roasted  co(;oa-nut,  which 
they  chew,  and  spit  the  fragments  on  either 
side  of  the  iiath.  If  they  come  to  a  cross- 
road, they  plant  in  it  an  upright  reed,  liy 
means  of  winch  a  tapu  is  laid  on  the  path,  in 
order  to  prevent  any  (me  from  passing  alonjj 
and  disturbing  the  rats.  No  oik^  ever  disre- 
gards this  tapu.  Even  if  one  of  the  greatest 
chiefs  c(mie  toward  it,  he  will  stop  at  a  dis- 
tance! and  sit  down  until  the  siiorlsmeii  have 
passed,  while  an  inferior  rbief  would  to  a 
certainty  be  clubbed  for  his  insolence  if  ho 
were  to  break  the  tapu. 

When  tlu!  ])arty  start,  they  arrange  them- 
selves in  the  following  manner.  They  walk 
in  Indian  tile  along  the  path,  the  leading 
chief  of  one  party  going  first,  followed  by  the 
leading  chief  of  the  other  sid(!.  Then  come 
the  men  of  next  rank  on  either  side,  and  so 
on  alternatelv.  Except  the  Icadinj'  man. 
no  one  may  shoot  at  a  rat  that  is  in  front  of 
him,  though  he  may  do  so  if  it  be  on  either 
side,  or  behind  him.  As  soon  as  any  one 
has  shot  his  arrow,  lie  changes  placcis  with 
the  man  behind  him,  no  matter  whether  the 
shot  be  successful  or  not,  so  that  each  in 
turn  has  his  ch.ance  of  becoming  the  leading 
man,  and  so  getting  a  double  chance  of  a  rat. 
Every  sportsman  has  an  attendant  who  fol- 
lows the  party,  and,  as  soon  as  his  master  has 
discharged  an  arrow,  picks  it  up  and  returns 
it  to  him. 

In  order  to  attr.act  their  game,  the  sports- 
men imitate  the  squeaking  of  a  rat,  which 
often  has  the  eftec't  of  bringing  them  out  of 
their  holes,  and  if  a  rat  should  run  away  in- 
stead of  waiting  to  be  shot,  one  or  two  of 
them,  with  a  sharp  percussion  of  the  tongue, 
utter  another  sound,  which  h.as  the  effect  of 
making  the  rat  stop  and  sit  up  to  listen. 
The  party  that  shoots  ten  rats  first  wins 
the  game.    Birds  of  any  kind  are  counted  us 

rats.  ., 

These  two  sports  are  necessarily  re- 
stricted to  chiefs,  on  account  of  the  expense 
in  one  case  and  the  power  of  the  tapu  in  the 
other,  but  there  is  another  which  is  played 
only  by  chiefs  and  Matabooles,  being  re- 
stricted to  thorn  by  etiquette  and  not  by  ne- 
cessity. 

The  two  plavcrs  sit  opposite  each  other, 
and  one  of  lliem  makes  one  of  three 
movements  with  his  riiilil  hand,  i.  e.  pre- 
senting the  open  palm,  the  closed  fist  or  the 


I 


11 


i 


49 


1000 


TONGA. 


nxtonded    forefinger.     His  antagonist  cn- 
fleiivoi-s  to  jniitatu  tlic  movements,  but  if  he 
can  succeed  in  making*  five  without  being 
mutated,  lie  wins  a  point,  and  marlcs  it  by 
laying  down  a  little  piece  of  stick.    Should 
tiic  antagonist  bo  successful,  ho  asks  of  the 
other    pfayer    what    were     the    precedinjr 
nioyements,  their  order  and  the  reason  for 
ouch  of  them.    If  his  opponent  should  fail 
to  give  (lie  correct  answer,  lie  loses  a  point 
"r^.    "?.?"f.<^iieds,  the  game  is  continued. 
I  lie  skill  lies  not  in  seeing  and  imitating 
the  \anous  movements,  which  are  made  so 
rapidly  that  an  inexperienced  eye  cannot 
detect  one  of  them,  but  In  remembering  the 
movements  made  by  the  antagonist,  and  in 
giving  a  Icigned  explanation  of  each.    This 
explanation  must  be  made  according  to  tlie 
laivs  of  the  game,  and  alters  with  every  vari- 
ation in  the  order  of  the  movements,  so  that 
considerable  readiness  and    ingenuity  arc 
needed  m  order  to  invent  on  the  spur  of  the 
moment  an  explanation    according  to  the 
laws  of  the  game.    The  chiefs  are  exceed- 
ingly fond  of  this  game,  and,  while  playin" 
It,  work  themselves  up  to  a  wonderful  pitcfi 
of   excitement.    The   lower  orders  play  a 
game  somewhat  similar  to  this,  except  iliat 
no  discussion  about  the  moves  is  allowable 
and  the   intellectual   element  is  therefore 
wanting. 

There  are  many  other  games  that  arc 
common  to  all  ranks.  One  of  these  is  called 
iolo.  A  piece  of  soft  wood,  nine  inches  in 
(aameter,  la  fastened  to  the  top  of  a  post  of 
harder  wood  about  five  or  six  feet  high  and 
the  game  consists  in  throwing  a  heavy  spear 
so  that  It  shall  stick  in  the  soil  wood.  Six 
or  eight  persons  play  on  each  side,  every 
player  being  allowed  tliree  throws.  Another 
g.iine  with  spears  somewhat  resembles  the 
djond,  and  consists  in  hurling  blunted  spears 
at  each  other.  * 

1  '^l'"  J'^^S^ns  are  singularly  dexterous  of 
h.aud.  1  hey  excel  in  ball  play,  and  have  a 
game  W'hich  consists  in  playing  with  five 
bulls,  which  are  thrown  from  one  hand  to 
the  other,  so  as  to  keep  four  balls  always  in 
the  air.  They  sing  a  song  at  the  same  time, 
cacli  cadence  coinciding  with  the  transfer  of 
the  balls  from  one  hand  to  the  other,  and  for 
every  verse  that  they  can  finish  without  a 
mistake  they  score  one  point.  They  have  also 
a  game  very  much  resembling  our  cup  and 
ball.  ^ 

Another  game  in  which  dexterity  of  hand 
18  needed  is  called  Lafo.  A  mat  is  laid  on 
the  ground,  and  the  players  throw  beans  on 
It,  each  trying  to  knock  off  those  of  his  an- 
tagonist. This  game  has  a  sort  of  celebrity 
from  having  been  connected  with  one  of  the 
few  acts  of  cannibalism  attributed  to  the 
Tongans.  During  a  severe  famine,  two 
daughters  of  a  chief  played  a  game  of  lafo 
with  two  young  warriors.  If  the  meuwon, 
they  were  to  have  half  the  }-am,  but  if  (hey 
lost,  they  were  still  to  havelia'lf  the  yam, 


but  were  obliged  to  go  out,  kill  an  enemy,, 
and  divide  his  body  with  the  girls.  Thev 
ost  the. game,  ate  their  yam,  and  waited 
until  n,..ht  for  the  fulfilment  of'  their  prom- 
se.  Alter  dark  they  stole  out,  and  hid 
themselves  near  the  fortress  of  (ho  enemy. 
As  they  had  anticipated,  in  the  early  morn- 
ing  one  of  the  men  came  out  to  fetch  salt 
water,  and  passed  near  the  spot  where  thev 
ay  in  amhusli.  They  struck  him  down 
with  their  clubs,  and  at  the  risk  of  their 
lives  brought  his  body  off  to  the  siJOt  where 
the  gii-ls  lived.  If  in  any  of  these  games 
there  should  be  a  dispute,  the  men  settle  it 
by  an  extemporized  wrestling  match,  and  Iho 
wtmien  by  spinning  a  cocoa-nut. 

Being  islanders,  they  are  very  familiar 
witli  the  water,  and  practise  the  well-known 
sport  of  surf  swimming.  This  sport  will  bo 
described  when  we  come  to  treat  of  tlie 
Sandwich  Islands.  They  have  another 
aquatic  sport  peculiar  to  themselves.  Two 
posts  are  driven  into  the  bed  of  the  sen, 
about  seventy  yards  apart,  a  spot  being 
i.  .'Sen  where  the  water  is  about  ten  feet 
deep.  Each  jjlayer  takes  in  his  hands  a  largo 
stone,  jumps  into  (he  water  by  one  post,  imd 
tries  to  carry  it  to  the  other  jjost  by  running 
along  ,!,.,  bottom.  The  chief  difficulty  is  to 
pursue;, .Straight  course,  as  at  such  a  dislanco 
the  winning  post  is  not  visible  through  the 
water.  '^ 

While  Mr.  Mariner  was  at  (ho  Tonga 
Islands  he  took  part  in  an  amusement 
winch  derived  its  origin  from  a  love  legend. 
He  accompanied  Finow  to  a  small  island 
called  Hoonga,  and,  on  walking  down. to  the 
sea-shore,  he  saw  his  companions  bathinr 
near  a  great  rock,  and  was  startled  to  find 
that  they  one  after  the  other  dived  into  (he 
water  and  did  not  come  up  again.  Just  as 
the  last  was  preparing  to  dive,  he  asked  the 
meaiiin"  of  this  astonishing  j)roceeding,  and 
was  told  to  follow,  and  he  would  be  taken  to 
a  place  where  he  had  never  been  before,  and 
where  Finow  and  his  Matabooles  were  then 
assembled. 

lie  then  dived  into  the  water,  and  Mr. 
M.ariner  followed  him,  guided  by  (he  light 
lellected  from  his  heels.  Passing  through 
an  aperture  in  the  base  of  the  rock  which 
has  just  been  mentioned,  he  rose  to  the  sur- 
face of  the  water  and  found  himself  in  a  cav- 
ern. At  first  he  could  see  nothing,  but  he 
could  distinguish  the  voices  of  Finow  and 
his  other  friends;  and  after  a  while  became 
.so  accustomed  to  the  ^im  light  that  he  could 
just  manage  to  see  that  he  was  in  a  vast  sta- 
lactitic  cavern. 

As  the  only  light  which  entered  it  was  re- 
flected from  the  bottom  of  the  water,  and 
exceedingly  dim,  he  dived  out  again, 
w-rapped  up  his  loaded  justol  in  a  quantity 
of  gnatoo,  directed  a  servant  to  prepare  a 
torch  in  the  ,- ;ime  manner,  and  dived  back 
a^am.  By  lir.jan-!  of  the  pistol  he  Jiglited 
the  torch,  and  probably  for  the  first  time 


THE   LOVER'S  CAVERN. 


100? 


since  it  was  formed,  the  cavci-n  was  illumi- 
nated. It  was  about  forty  feet  wide  and  as 
many  liigli,  and  ran  o(f  at  one  side  into  two 
galleries.  Its  r(H)f  was  covered  with  stalac- 
tites hangin;?  in  the  fantastic  patterns  which 
they  arc  apt  to  assume.  The  story  which 
was  told  him  respecting  the  discovery  of 
this  cavern  is  quite  a  romance  of  savage 

Many  y(>ars  ago  a  young  chief  of  Vavaoo 
discovered  the  cavern  by  accident,  while 
diving  after  turtles,  but  took  care  to  keep 
the  discovery  to  himself,  as  he  thought  he 
should  find  It  useful  in  case  he  was  detected 
in  a  plot  against  the  ])rincipal  chief  of  the 
island,  a  man  of  cruel  and  tyrannous  dis- 
position. Another  chief  had  the  same  in- 
tentions, .and  w.as  organi/.injj  a  revolt,  when 
ho  was  betrayed  by  one  of  his  own  followers, 
and  coudemriod  to  be  drowned,  together  with 
the  whole  of  his  family.  It  so  happened 
that  ho  h.id  a  very  beautiful  daughter  whom 
the  young  chief  had  long  loved,  but  to 
whom  he  dared  not  speak,  knowing  her  to 
1)0  betrothed  to  a  man  of  higher  rank  than 
himself. 

When,  however,  he  found  that  her  life 
was  to  bo  sac^riticed,  he  contrived  to  make  his 
w.ay  to  her  in  the  evening,  told  her  of  the 
fate  which  was  in  rc^servo  for  her,  and  t)f- 
I'ered  to  save  her.  The  girl  at  once  con- 
sented, and  the  two  stole  gently  to  the  sea- 
side, wliero  a  little  canoe  was  drawn  up.  On 
their  w.ay  to  Iloonga  tiie  young  chief  told 
the  girl  of  this  place  of  retreat,  and  as  soon 
as  the  day  broke  took  her  into  the  cavern, 
lie  was  not  long  in  finding  out  that  the  af- 
fection was  mutual,  but  tliat  the  fact  of  her 
being  betrothed  to  another  had  caused  her 
to  avoid  him 

iShe  remained  in  this  cavern  for  two 
months,  during  which  her  young  husband 
brought  her  the  (inest  mats  and  gnatoo,  the 
best  food,  and  everything  which  constitutes 
Tongan  luxmy.  He  was,  however,  forced 
to  spend  a  considerable  part  of  his  time  at 
Vavaoo,  lest  the  tyrannical  chief  should  sus- 
pect him,  and  ho  was  naturally  anxious  to 
take  his  wife  to  some  place  Avhero  they  could 
live  together  in  safety. 

Accordingly,  he  called  together  his  subor- 
dinate chiefs  and  Matiil)ooles,  and  told  them 
to  prepare  tor  a  voyage  to  the  Fiji  Islands, 
aci!ompanied  with  their  wives  and  families. 
This  expedition  was  kept  secret  lest  the 
tyrant  should  put  a  stoji  to  it.  Just  as  they 
started,  one  of  tlie  chiefs  advised  him  to  take 
a  Tongan  wife  with  him,  but  he  declined  to 
do  so,  saying  that  he  should  find  one  by  the 
way.  They  took  his  reply  for  a  joke,  and 
set  sail  toward  Iloonga.  When  they  neared 
the  shores  of  the  island,  he  told  his  men  to 
wait  while  he  went  into  the  sea  to  fetch  a 


wife,  and,  leaping  into  the  sea  from  the  side 
of  the  canoe  which  was  farthest  from  the 
shore,  ho  dived  and  disappeared. 

After  waiting  lor  a  while  the  people 
began  to  he  seriously  alarmed,  thinking  that 
he  nuist  have  met  with  some  accident,  or 
that  a  shark  had  caught  him.  Suddenly, 
while  they  were  debating  as  to  the  best 
course  to  bo  pursued,  he  appeared  on  tlw 
surface  of  the  water,  accompanied  hy  a 
beautiful  young  female,  whom  he  took  into 
the  canoe.  At  first  his  people  were  terribly 
frightened,  thinking  that  she  was  a  goddess; 
l)ut,  wlien  they  recognized  her  features, 
they  took  her  for  an  apparition,  believin<» 
that  she  had  been  drowned  together  with 
tiie  rest  of  Iier  familv.  The  young  chief 
arrived  safely  at  the  i  iji  Islan(f8,  where  ho 
lived  for  two  years;  and  at  the  expiration 
of  that  time,  hearing  that  the  tyrant  of 
Vavai'O  was  (lead,  he  returned  to  his  native 
island  bringing  with  him  his  strangely  res- 
cued 1  ife. 

The  fads  of  this  story  show  that  the  cave 
must  have  some  opening  which  admits  the 
outer  nir,  as  otherwise  no  one  could  have 
lived  in  it  so  long.  Even  granting  that  the 
time  of  the  girl's  residence  was  exaggerated, 
Mr.  Mariner  found  that  the  air  was  per- 
fectly fresh  and  sweet  after  Finow  and  his 
friends  had  remained  in  it  for  several  hours, 
and  a  torch  had  been  burned  in  it  besides. 

The  island  in  which  this  extraordinary 
cavern  is  found  is  r.ather  venerated  by  the 
Tongans  as  being  the  origin  of  their  group 
of  islands.  Tongaloa,  the  god  of  arts  and 
inventions,  let  down  a  fishing-line  from  the 
sky  into  the  sea.  when  he  suddenly  felt  his 
hook  caught.  He  hauled  up  his  line,  think- 
ing that  from  tiie  resistance  he  had  caught 
a  very  large  fish.  It  turned  out,  however, 
that  the  hook  h.ad  got  itself  fixed  in  the  bed 
of  the  sea,  and  as  the  god  continued  to  haul 
he  drew  up  the  Tonga  islands.  They  would 
have  been  much  larger,  only  the  line  broke, 
and  the  islands  were  left  iirTperfect. 

Mr.  Mariner  learned  that  the  hook  by 
which  the  Tonga  islands  had  bven  drawn 
from  the  bed  of  the  spa  was  kept  in  the 
custody  of  the  Tooi-tonga,  but  had  been 
burned,  together  with  the  house,  about 
thirty  years  before.  It  was  about  six  inches 
long,  and  from  the  description  was  one  of 
the  ordinary  fishhooks  of  the  country.  Mar- 
iner asked  why  it  did  not  break  when  haul- 
ing up  so  enormous  a  weight,  and  was  told 
that  it  was  a  god's  hook,  and  therefore  could 
not  break.  Being  asked  how  it  happened 
that  the  line,  which  was  also  the  jiroperty 
of  a  god,  broke,  his  interlocutor  declined  to 
pursue  the  subject  any  further,  saying  that 
so  he  had  been  told,  and  that  there  was  no 
necessity  for  further  inquiries. 


-  1 1 


■'1 


ii 


n 

I  ■ 

4 


CHAPTER   Cn. 

SAMOA,  OR  THE  NAVIGATORS'  ISLANDS. 


ri 

Ci 

tl 

V 

p 

e 

f 
t 
t 
I 

i 
( 


APPEARANCE  —  CHARACTER  —  DRESS  —  MANUFACTURES. 


POSITION  OF  Tms  OBOIP,  4ND  nERrVATION  OF  Till!  NAME -OENEKAL  APPEARANOE  OP  THE  TEOPLB 
-THEIB  CIAHACTEll  FOB  <;BNTLENEB8,  HOgPITAMTY,  HONESXy,  ANU  COWITESY  -  CAUHYINO  A 
MISS'  -fAKY  AND  III8  FAMILY- AFFECTION  FOB  CIIILDBEN~DBES»  OF  THE  SAMOANS-TIIE 
TATTOO  A  P^UITIAL  SUUSTITUTE  FOB  DBESS-MOUE  OP  TATTOOING -TIME  OCXTPIED  IN  COM- 
1-  .<H"0  THE  01-EBATION-THE  FINK  MATS  OP  SAMOA-WIQ  MAKINO-FEATHKl.  IIKAI.DRESBES 
-  JBEB8  OF  THE  WOMEN  -  DANCING  COSTUME  -  ADVICE  TO  FAA-SAMOA- MODE  OF  DHESSINO 
THE  HAIB- TREATMENT  OP  WOMEN -MODE  OP  MAKING  CLOTH -THE  PHOFE88IONAL  AND 
HEBEDITABY  MANUFACTUKBB. 


1 


North  of  the  Tongan  group,  and  a  little  to 
the  eastward,  lie  the  Navigators'  Islands, 
more  properly  called  by  their  native  name 
of  Samoa,  or  Hamoa.  The  former  of  these 
names  was  given  to  them  by  Bougainville,  in 
consequence  of  the  skilful  seamanship  of  the 
natives.  There  are  eight  islands  compre- 
hended in  this  group,  the  largest  of  which  is 
Savaii. 

As  is  often  the  case  among  those  island 
groups,  no  single  king  or  head  chief  is  recog- 
nized, each  island  having  its  own  ruler;  un- 
der whom  are  subordinate  chiefs  of  different 
ranks.  This  mode  of  government  is  so  simi- 
lar to  that  of  the  Tongans  that  we  need  not 
expend  any  time  upon  it. 

The  Samoans  are  a  fine  race  of  people, 
much  exceeding  the  English  in  average  stat- 
ure, and  peculiarly  wcU  made.  Their  skin 
is  smooth,  soft,  and  a  warm  reddish-brown 
in  color,  and  the  hair,  though  copious,  pos- 
sesses none  of  that  woolliness  which  distin- 
guishes the  hair  of  the  Papuan  races,  but  is 
lon^,  straight,  and,  in  a  few  cases,  possesses 
a  slight  wave.  Naturally  there  is  but  little 
beard,  and  the  Samoan  takes  a  pride  in  extir- 
pating every  sign  of  a  hair  upon  his  chin.  He 
IS  quiet,  composed,  and  stately  in  manner,  so 
that  in  all  things  he  presents  a  bold  contrast 
to  the  black,  harsh-skinned  Fijian,  with  his 
frizzed  and  woolly  hair,  his  copious  beard, 
and  his  quick,  restless,  suspicious  manner. 

Being  savages,  the  Samoans  have  many 
of  the  imperfections  which  nocesparily  ac- 
company savage  life,  but  at  the  same  time 
they  approach  nearer  to  the  "  noble  savage 


(1008) 


of  the  poet  than  most  races  of  men.  They 
are  hospitable,  afl'eetionate,  honest,  and 
courteous,  and  have  well  been  described  as 
a  nation  of  gentlemen.  Toward  strangers 
they  display  a  liberalitv  whicli  contrasts 
greatly  with  the  cruel  and  bloodthirsty  cus- 
toms of  the  Papuan  tribes.  The  Fijians,  for 
example,  do  all  in  Ihcir  power  to  repel 
strangers  from  their  shores,  either  driving 
them  off,  or  killing  and  eating  them.  The 
Samoans,  on  the  contrary,  Mclconie  strang- 
ers, allot  to  them  fluir"  best  houses,  give 
them  the  best  food,  and  make  lliem  feel  that 
tliej-  are  honored  guests. 

They  are  singularly  atl'ectionate  in  their 
disposition,  and  as  jiareiits  are  rather  too 
fond  of  their  children.  Asa  rule,  a  Samoan 
parent  cannot  bear  to  thwart  a  child,  and 
allows  it  to  do  what  it  likes.  In  consequence 
of  this  absence  of  discipline,  many  a  child 
dies  through  the  mistaken  ]  ..Iness  of  its 
parents,  who  have  allowed  it  to  eat  food 
that  was  unsuit.ible  to  it,  or  to  engage 
in  games  for  which  it  had  not  sufficient 
strength. 

The  honesty  of  the  Samoans  is  really  won- 
derful. When  a  number  of  them  were  on 
board  of  an  English  vessel,  they  scrupu- 
lously refrained  from  stealing.  Property 
which  to  them  was  equivalent  to  unbounded 
wealth  lay  within  reach  of  their  hands,  but 
not  even  a  nail  or  a  needle  was  touched. 
In  one  instance,  an  European  vessel  went 
•ishore  Oil  the  rocks.  The  whole  of  its  cargo 
was  at  the  mercy  of  the  Samoans,  but  not  a 
man  went  on  board  of  the  vessel,  and  tho 


EXCELLENT  CIIAKACTER  OF  THE  SAMOANS. 


1009 


whole  of  the  property  was  reserved  for  the  I 
rightful  owners.    There  are  many  civilized 
countricjs  where  the  vessel  would  have  been 
ransacked  within  an  hour  of  her  striking  on 
the  rocks. 

Once  when  a  great  chief,  named  Mahetoa, 
went  on  board  an  English  vessel,  accom- 
panied by  a  younger  brother,  he  examined 
evcrythiiig  with  great  attention,  but  asked 
for  nothing,  only  requesting  the  white  men 
to  comi!  on  shore  and  visit  him.  This  they 
did,  bringing  with  tiiem  a  present  of  axes, 
mirrors,  bi^ads,  knives,  scissors,  needles,  and 
similar  articles.  When  the  present  was 
oni're<l,  Malietoa  took  up  each  article  sepa- 
raiely,  liiid  it  on  his  head,  and  returned 
thanks  for  it,  and  alter  he  had  gone  through 
the  whole  of  the  present  in  detail,  he 
made  a  coniplinientary  speech,  in  which 
ho  thanked  the  donors  for  the  entire  gift. 
Ills  brother,  to  whom  a  similar  present  had 
been  oll'ercd,  at  first  refused  to  take  the 
basket,  priceless  as  were  its  contents,  but 
passed  it  on  to  his  elder  brother,  saying  that 
ho  Would  take  whatever  his  brother  did  not 
liappcn  to  want. 

"  At  the  close  of  this  important  and  inter- 
esting interview,  Midietoa  informed  his  peo- 
ple, who  had  been  gazing  with  wonder  upon 
the  novel  proceedings,  that  a  large  quantity 
of  valuable  property  had  been  given  to  him, 
and  that  the  English  chiefs,  to  whom  he 
was  indebted  for  it,  would  want  something 
to  eat  on  their  return.  Tor,'  said  he, 
'  there  are  no  pigs  running  about  upon  the 
sea,  neither  is  there  any  breAd-fruit  growing 
there.'  Upon  hearing  this,  the  whole  com- 
pany instantly  rose  and  scampered  away; 
and  ittabout  an  hour  they  returned,  bringing 
with  them  tifteen  pigs  of  various  sizes,  with 
a  largo  quantity  of  bread-fruit,  yams,  and 
other  vegetable^,  the  whole  of  which  the 
chief  presented  to  us."  This  extract,  from 
the  journal  of  Mr.  Williams,  the  well-known 
missionary,  gives  a  good  idea  of  the  hospi- 
table uatiire  of  the  people. 

Courtesy  is.  among  the  Samoans,  reckoned 
as  one  of  'the  duties  of  life.  They  address 
each  other  by  titles  of  honor,  and  it  is  con- 
sidered as  an  essential  point  of  etiquette  that, 
when  one  man  addresses  another,  he  should 
use  a  title  rather  higher  than  that  to  which 
his  interlocutor  has  any  claim.  Should  he  he 
ignorant  of  the  rank  of  the  per.son  whom  he 
addresses,  he  uses  the  term  chief,  as  a  safe 
one. 

The  earlier  voyagers  have  all  been  struck 
with  the  Samoans,  whose  gentle  demeanor, 
perfect  honesty,  scrupulous  cleanliness, 
graceful  costume,  gigantic  stature,  and  pol- 
ished maimers,  made  a  strong  impression 
upon  them.  When  Messrs.  Williams  and 
Barth  visited  these  islands,  they  were  re- 
ceived in  the  most  hospitable  manner.  As 
they  went  on  shore,  the  former  happened  to 
mention  that  he  was  tired,  when  .1  young 
chief  addressed  a  few  words  to  tlie  people, 


and  in  a  moment  the  visitor  was  lifted  off 
the  ground  by  a  number  of  gigantic  young 
men,  who  seized  him,  "  some  by  the  lep, 
and  others  by  the  arms,  one  placing  his 
hand  under  my  body,  another,  unable  to 
obtain  so  large  a  space,  poking  a  Hnj^er 
against  me;  and  thus,  sprawling  at  full 
length  ujion  their  extended  arms  and  hands. 
I  was  carried  a  distance  of  half  a  mile,  and 
deposited  safely  in  the  presence  of  the  chief 
and  his  principal  wife.' 
Several  children  were  on  board,  and  were 


carried  otf  by  the  natives  in  fjreat  glee.  One 
or  two  of  them  were  missing  for  several 
hours,  causing  their  parents  great  anxiety. 
However,  they   were   all   brought  back  in 
safety,  their  absence  being  due  merely  to 
the  exuberant  hospitality  of  the  Samoans. 
The  natives  were  so  delighted  at  their  good 
fortune  in  having  the  charge  of  a  white  child 
that  they  could  not  make  uj)  their  minds  to 
restore  It  to  its  parents,  but  took  It  home, 
killed  and  baked  a  pig  and  other  food,  feasted 
the  child  to  the  fullest  extent,  and  then,  hav- 
ing kept  it  as  long  as  they  dared,  restored  it 
to  its  parents.    This  anecdote  carries   out 
the  statement  already  made,  that  the   Sa- 
moans arc   exceedingly  fond  of    children. 
Mr.  Prltehard  mentions  that  on  one   occa- 
sion, when  he  was  witnessing  a  native  dance, 
which  is  a  performance  requiring  the  great- 
est exertion,  the  chiefs  wife  sat  as  a  specta- 
tor, with  two  fine  twin  children  in  her  lap. 
The  chief,  engaged  as  he  was  in  the  absorb- 
ing amusement  of  the  dance,  could  not  keep 
himself  away  from  his  children,  but  every 
now  and  then  left  the  dance  to  caress  them. 
The  mothers  nurse  their  children  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  a  child  of  five  or  six  years 
old   may  often  be  seen  to  pull  away  its 
younger  brother  or  sister  and  take  its  place. 

Thk  dress  of  the  Samoans  varies  consid- 
erably, according  to  the  rank  of  the  individ- 
ual and  the  occasion  on  which  it  is  as- 
sumed. The  usual  dress  of  the  men  is  a 
sort  of  small  apron,  about  a  foot  square, 
made  of  the  green  leaves  of  the  Draccena 
tree,  but  on  occasions  of  ceremony  they 
generally  wear  a  flowing  robe  called  the 
lava-lava.  This  is  made  of  bark  cloth,  and 
is  beautifully  fine  and  soft,  the  Samoans  ex- 
celling in  such  manufactures,  which  will 
presently  be  described.  This  robe  is  gath- 
ered round  the  waist  into  folds,  and  reaches 
down  to  the  ankles. 

Small  as  may  be  the  ordinary  dress  of  the 
Samoan  men,  they  always  seem  to  be  fully 
dressed,  in  consequence  of  the  tattooing 
with  which  they  are  carefully  decorated. 
Even  to  European  eyes  the  tattooing  con- 
veys the  same  impression,  and  has  beisn 
mistaken  for  a  dress  by  some  of  the  early 
voyagers,  who  described  the  people  as  being 
clothed  from  the  waist  downward,  with 
fringed  lace  "  made  of  a  silken  stuff,  and 
artiiticially  wrought." 


4:    I 


MP! 


1010 


SAMOA. 


Tho  render  will  remombpr  that  th«  New 
iJciUmulfiij  t«tU)o  no  part  of  tho  body  ox<!ept 
the  liips,  Hitd  thiit  even  in  timt  cu»e  a  ncin- 
blunco  of  drosH  ia  produced.  The  Haniouiis 
tattoo  tho  whole  of  tlio  body  IVoin  tlio  hiii8 
to  the  kiu-es,  covoriiiK  tho  Hkiii  ho  coni- 
nletoly  with  tho  pattern  tlint  it  loolca  at  a  lit- 
tle distance  exactly  hh  if  the  niiin  were  woar- 
lUK  a  tight  pair  of  ornanient4d  drawers. 

Even  Kiiropoun  eyes  become  so  uccus- 
tonicd  to  the  tJittoo  that  they  are  rnthcr 
tihocked  iit  il«  absence;  and,  accordiiiir  to 
Air.  Pntchard,  nn  nutattooed  >^anioan  dovs 
In  truth  look  unnianly,  looks  even  naked,  by 
the  side  ol  one  who  is  tuttooed.     So  coni 


letclv  is  Uiis  leoling  realized  by  the  natives 
llial  chiuls  who  have  arrived  at  niidtlie  mkc 
IVequont  y  underKo  the  process  of  tjitlooinj; 
a  8CC0I1.1  (Inie,  in  order  to  renew  the  pat- 
terns, as  they  boeonie  dim  and  uncerUiin  by 
apso  ol  years;  tor,  thouKJi  indelible,  the 
UUloo  <loes  fade  in  tho  course  of  years  as  I 
can  testily  from  personal  ('Xj)crience.  Vvhon 
u  very  younj;  boy,  1  read  of  the  custom  of 
tattooinj;,  and  must  needs  try  it  on  my  own 
ai-iu.  I  did  not  do  im.ch  of  It.  but  the  \v  hole 
arm  swelled  up  to  the  shoulder,  and  was 
uaeless  lor  some  time.  At  lirst  tlio  marks 
were  bri.i,'ht  blue,  clear  and  well-delined  but 
now  thfi  blue  is  of  dull  indigo,  and  tlie  out- 
line very  undecided. 

The  pioduction  of  this  elaborate  decora- 
tion IS  n  work  of  considerable  time,  tho 
opcrntion  being,  in  tho  first  place,  too  pain- 
jul  to  be  coniinuod  for  any  long  tinu  ■  and 
m  tho  second,  it  is  apt  to  cause  so  nnuh  dis- 
.    tnrbancc  in  the  general   system   that  tlie 
result  would  be  latal  if  tho  whole  were  exe- 
cuted at  once.    Tho  operation  is  generally 
pcrtormed  in  company,  a  number  of  young 
men  keeping  coini.any  with  the  sou  of  the 
chiet.     When,  for  example,  a  chiefs  son  ar- 
rives at  the  proper  ago.  i.  e.  about  eighteen, 
all  the  Lids  of  his  tribe  assemble  to  partake 
with  him  of  th<!  t^ittoo.   which  is  to  trans-  I 
form  thoin  from  boys  into  men. 

There  is  quite  a  ceremony,  or  rather  a 
series  of  ceremonies,  for  the  occasion.  The  ' 
tattooer  or  Matai.  is  a  man  of  great  inllu- 
cnce,  and  his  services  have  to  bo  requested 
lii  regular  form,  accompanied  by  a  present 
of  fine  mat*.  His  acccptancfc  of  tho  niati? 
ratifies  the  bargain,  though  no  regular 
charge  is  made.  On  tho  appointe<l  day,  the 
lads  and  their  friends  meet  in  a  house  set 
ap.irt  tor  the  ceremony,  and  more  mats  are 
presented  to  the  Matni.  Should  tho  youth 
bo  wealthy,  ho  sometimes  gives  a  canoe. 
I  he  friend.i  of  the  lads  are  also  bound  to 
supply  provisions  as  long  us  tho  operation 

Tho  tools  are  simple  enoujvh,  being  a  set 
of  five  combs  "  and  a  little  mallet.  The 
combs  are  mado  of  human  bone,  and  are  an 
inch  and  h  half  in  length,  varying  in  width  i 
from  the  eighth  of  an  inch  to  an  inch, 
aad  looking  very  mueb  like  iitUc  Uue  adaes  i 


w  th  the  edges  cut  Into  a  niimbei  of  teeth. 
IheHo  blndos  are  attached  to  handles  id.out 
six  Inches  in  length.  Tho  |)igmciit  which 
IS  introdiufd  into  tho  wounds  is  nindo  from 
tlie  iwhes  ol  the  cocoa-nut. 

All  being  read.v,  the  young  chief  lies  on 
lis  lace  in  IVont  .t  <hr  operator,  and  lays  his 
head  in  th  '  1...  n'  i,i..,  .n^u-r  or  some  other 
temalo  n-litioi.,  whMc  three  or  (bur  voiinff 
woim  ,.  1i(,h1  hi.  ■,  ...  Mil  sing  at  tho  tons  ,,t 
llieir  loicos,  in  order  to  drown  utiv  grouns 
or  cries  that  he  may  utter.  This  is  done  out 
ol  C'.usidenUion  for  his  rr|]iiiatioii.  as  it  is 
thought  unworthy  of  ibe  slate  of  niimliood 
to  utter  a  sound,  .-'till  the  pniii  is  so  iiilcime 
that  the  lads  often  do  utter  groans,  and  I'ow 
and  then  actually  ydl  w.'lb  thv  •■  h..  Tn 
on(!  or  two  iiiHlanci  s  tbev  ^  .ivv  b.  en  so  ut- 
terly overcome  with  the'  iiuony  tliiil,  after 
they  have  been  released  thevhaVe  iiol  dared 
to  submit  themselves  agiiin'to  tlic  o|n  nitioii, 
in  which  cose  they  arc  desinsod  for  lifo  as 
cowards. 

Il.iving  traced  out  his  pattern,  llie  ^pora- 
tor  begins  his  work,  driviiiL,'    the   tielh  of 
the   comb  through  the  skin   by  sliiirp  and 
rapid  laps  of  the  nialli  t;  there  is  an  art  even 
in    holding   this   instriiinciil,  the  hninlle  of 
which  passes  under  the  thumb  and  ov.t  the 
lore -linger,   and    is   used   with    wonderful 
rapidliy  and  regularity,    "The  riipidity  with 
which  the  Matai  works  his  lingers,"  »\  rites 
Mr.  Pritchnrd,  "the   precision   witi,  which 
he  move,-!  the  instrument  and  j)uncturfs  ex- 
actly tho  right  spot,  and  the  rcgnlarily   of 
tapping  with    the   mallet,  an^  astounding" 
Ey  the  side  of  the  patient  ar.'  placed  several 
assistants,  furnished   with   strips  of   white 
niasi,  whose   duty   it   is   to  wijie  away  tho 
blood  08  it  Hows  from  the  jiuncturt  s  (if  the 
comb,  and  to  leave  tlu;  skin  clear  for  tho 
operator.      JJctween    every    two    or    tin.  a 
strokes  tho   toothed   end   of   the    comb    is 
di|)ped  into  the  pigment,  which  is  mixed 
I  with  water. 

I  The  pattern  is  in  its  main  cb  incuts  alike 
throughoutall  theSanioMu  islands;  hutthere 
are  usually  sliuht  variaticiis  which  d(  note 
tho  island  in  which  the  n.an  lives,  and  others 
whi<  1 1  mark  the  family  to  which  ho  belongs. 
.Sometimes,  alter  a  man  baa  slain  an  enemy 
he  will  make  an  addition  which  eorrcsimnds' 
to  a  grant  of  arms  among  ourselves.  Tho 
fomi  of  some  animal  is  the  ordinary  pattern 
iOT  such  a  badire  of  honor. 

About  an  hour  is  occupi.^I  in  (  xeciiting  a 
patch  of  tattoo  not  quite  three  inciie.s  square 
and  when  this  is  done,  th.  lad  rises  and 
another  hvkes  his  place.  In  a  week  or  so,  the 
turn  of  the  lirst  lad  comes  i(.un<l  agiiin,  and 
so  tho  process  is  continiKid  for  three  or  lour 
months,  according  to  the  inimber  of  the 
patients,  not  more  than  live  being  operated 
on  in  a  single  day.  When  ihe  pattern  is 
about  h.ilf  completed,  the  Matai  has  another 
present;  but  the  creat  navinent  is  nnlv  m-"'" 
whc'u  tho  last  liuishing  touch  is  put' to  tlio 


Tn 


m 


*  M 


i 


(1013) 


raHiBii — 


TATTOOINO. 


1013 


yrnrk.  Rhoiild  tho  Matai  feol  (li«iiati«litul 
wilh  liin  Ti-en,  hu  will  rmt  k<>  uii  witli  llio 
work,  anil,  aM  an  untiiiiRluMl  tuttou  Im  tliouglit 
to  1)0  luont  (llHffraccl'ul,  tli(!  IViondn  of  thy 
yoiilhs  ^((t  togutlRT  what  property  tliuy  can, 
ivml  maku  \ip  the  <lt'(lcioncy. 

Diiririi;  tlin  lime  I'M^fij^iil  in  the  operation, 
the  patientM  look  must  niii«er!il)le  beings,  the 
woumleil  parts  nwollen  and  inllanieil,  ami 
(lixplayin!^  hh  yet  none  of  the  (de;<ant  pattern 
wliMli  has  l)e(!n  tnieo<l  on  them.  The  lads 
hoiil)le  about  In  nil  nortu  of  contorted  atti- 
tn(l(M,  fannin,'  nway  tho  lliei  witli  tiapners 
maile  of  while  rnasi,  and  doing  all  in  tlieir 
powir  to  alleviate  the  pain.  At  last,  how- 
ever, comes  the  reward  of  all  their  snll'eringH. 
A*  HDon  as  tho  wonniU  arc  healed,  their 
friendu  tj<'t  np  a  grand  danee.  As  the  eos- 
tuiu-  of  the  male  dancers  is  nothing  t)ut  the 
little  apron  of  leaves  which  has  beiMi  already 
nienlionod,  tho  pattern  of  tho  tattooing  is 
frei'lv  disiilaved;  and  the  la<ls,  now  admitted 
ainoi'i!,'  the  nii'n,  tliink  tliemsclves  well  repaid 
for  their  fornior  siilVerings  by  tho  honor  and 
glory  of  being  ranked  as  men,  and  by  the 
admiration  of  llio  opjiositc!  sex. 

An  iUnstratiiin  on  the  preceding  p.ige  rep- 
resc^nts  the  process  of  tattyoing.  In  the 
ciintic  is  lying  tho  patient  with  his  bead  ii\ 
bin  sister's  lait,anil  his  legs  held  hy  hor  coni- 
iianions,  who  are  singing,  in  order  to  cover 
liis  groans,  shonld  he  utter  any.  Near  him 
are  two  assistants  with  their  white;  mrisi 
cloths,  and  at  his  side  knecds  the  onerator, 
busily  at  work  with  his  mallet  anil  comb. 
The  little  vessel  of  pi;im('Mt  is  by  his  side. 
11  iii'jie.l  nnind  the  wall  of  the  house  are  the 
Youo'.;  mi'.n  who  are  waiting  their  turn. 
I'ainl'iil  as  is  the  operation,  and  expensive  iis 
it  is,  involving  not  only  the  fees  to  the  op- 
erator, but  a  constant  "sujiiily  of  provisions, 
all  the  lads  look  forwanl  to  it  with  the 
greatest  anxiety,  knowini;  that  thi-y  will 
never  bo  considered  as  men  unless  they  can 
8h')vv  a  complete  tattoo. 

Until  mim  and  women  wear  mats,  called  in 
the  native  language  "Je-tonga."  One  of 
these  mats  is  in  my  collection,  and  is  a 
beautiful  piece  of  work.  It  is  made  of  very 
narrow  strips  of  leaf  scraped  thin,  e.ich  strip 
beiiii,'  about  the  (Iftconth  of  an  inch  in  width. 
These  are  plaited  together  with  beautiful 
rt^gularity,  and  the  whole  is  edged  with  a 
very  tine  and  almost  silken  fringe  of  the  same 
material. 

Some  of  these  mats  are  decorated  with  the 
red  feathers  of  the  parrot  tribe,  and  increase 
in  their  value  by  age,  being  handed  down  to 
successive  generations,  and  havinjjj  legends 
attached  to  them.  My  own  specimen  has 
been  adorned  in  a  way  which  doubtless  was 
very  imposing  to  a  Samoan  eye,  though  not 
to  that  of  an  Eurojiean.  The  native  maker 
had  evidently  treasured  np  some  scraps  of 
Eni^lish  calico,  and  some  blue  and  yellow 
pjiper  such  as  is  used  for  wrapnin!»  parcels. 
Theso  treasures  she  lias  fastened  to  the  mat, 


to  whlcli   they  give  a  most  ludicrous  ap- 
pcnrunco. 

Harnoan  chiefs,  when  ftill  dressed  for  war 
or  state,  may  bo  known  at  a  great  distance 
by  the  splomlid  headdress  which  they  wear. 
In  the  first  place,  they  increase  theapparet\t 
size  of  their  heads  by  enormous  wigs  made 
of  their  own  hair,  whiidi  is  sulVered  to  grow 
long  for  this  express  purpose.     Wlien  it  has 
attained  sulllclent  length,  It  is  cut  olf,  and  is 
stiiined  red,  and  IVizzoil  out,  until  it  assumcB 
as  largo  diniensiotis  as  tho  woolly  head  of  n 
Papuan.    They  also  wear  great   nlunus  ot 
feathers,  sonuitimes  towering  to  the  height 
of  nearly  two  feet  above  their  heads;  so  that 
the  height  of  a  Samoan  chief,  me;i«ured  from 
tho  top  of  his  plume,  is  not  far  from  nine  feet. 
One  of  theso  heaildresses  in  my  collection 
is  mad(!of  a  vast  iiumber  of  feathers,  tied  by 
the  stems  in  little  bundles,  and  carefully  ar- 
ranged so    that   t'.iej^   shall  drool)    evenly. 
'J'here  are  about  ten  feathers  in  each  bund!;:. 
Tliesc  tufts  arc  arranged  closely  together  in 
circles  composed  of  leaf  stems  and  cocoa-nut 
fibre,  and   there  are   four  of  theso  circlets 
|)lace(i  one  ovi;r   tho  other,  so  that   sover.nl 
ninidred  feather  tufts  are  employed  for  this 
single  dress.    Tho   maker  has  ingeniouidy, 
though  ignorantly,  copied  tlu!  i>eaci)ck.  tho 
erjret,  ami  other  birds  which  ari;   furnished 
with  tr.ains.     In  them,  the  tail  feathers  are 
short  !ind  stiff,  so  as  to  allow  tim  lonj;  train 
of  feathers  to  drooj)  gracefully  over  tliein. 
In  a  similar  manner,  the   Samoan   artificer 
has  emiiloyed  the  shortest  and  stiflcst  feathers 
in  the  tower-most  circlet,  while  in  tho  ujincr- 
njost  are  placed  the  longest  aijd  most  slen- 
der Illumes.     The  headdress  is  really  very 
haiutsome,  and  even  when  worn  by  an  Eu- 
ropean gives  a  most  martial  aspect  to  the 
countenance,  especially  when  the  war  mat 
is  worn,  and  the  huge  Samoan  club  carried 
on  the  shoulder. 

The  dress  of  the  women  is  made  of  tho 
same  material  as  that  of  the  men,  but  dilTor- 
entlv  arranged.  Their  work  costjime  is  a 
petticoat  of  Dracona  leaves,  but  instead  of 
neing,  like  that  of  the  men,  a  mere  short 
ajiron,  it  is  much  longer,  and  completely 
surrounds  the  body.  On  occasions  of 
state  or  ceremony,  however,  they  wear 
lava-lavas  of  siapo  like  those  of  tho  men, 
only  put  on  rather  diQ'ereiitly,  and  of  much 
larger  size.  A  woman  of  rank  will  often 
liave  this  garment  so  long  that  it  trails  on 
the  ground  far  behind  her. 

Captain  Hood,  in  describing  an  entertain- 
ment given  in  honor  of  the  white  visitors, 
writes  as  follows.  After  the  men  had  danced 
"  a  number  of  girls  entered,  who  went 
through  n  somewhat  similiar  set  of  evolu- 
tions, with  infinite  exactness  and  grace.  It 
may  seem  incredible  to  our  fair  sisters  in 
England,  that  a  young  lady  arranged  in  no 
other  garment  but  a  mat'  tied  round  her 
w.aist  should  look  hand.somely  dressed;  but 
could  they  see  these  Samoaia  belles  cuter 


iM; 


1014 


SAMOA. 


the  circle  in  their  full  evening  cos- 
tume, with  their  coronets  of  nautilus  shell 
and  scarlet  hibiscus,  and  their  nt^cklaces  of 
red  and  yellow  llowers,  I  believe  they  would 
admit  that  thci.  appearance  is  highly  im- 
posing. • 

"  Some  wore  Ijcautifully  plaited  fine  mats, 
which  are  so  higlily  prized  that  thev  cost 
more  than  a  rich  silk  or  satin  dress.  Others 
had  white  shaggy  drosses,  made  from  the 
innor  flbres  of  the  hibiscus,  the  amplitude  of 
wliich  would  satisfy  the  most  extensive  pat- 
ronesses of  crinoline,  and  indulged  in  trains 
eriiiallii-.g  in  length  that  worn  by  those  dames 
ot  England  in  former  days,  while  their  car- 
riage and  air  plainly  showed  that,  whatever 
we  might  think,  tliey  felt  themselves  supe- 
rior beings."  To  judge  from  the  photo- 
graphed portraits  of  these  Samoan  beauties, 
Captain  flood  is  perfectly  right;  they  not 
only  look  well  dressed,  but,  if  any  thin",  over 
dressed.  ° 

Tiiat  this  opinion  was  '.lot  a  rare  one  is 
evident    from    Mr.   Williams's    account  of 
Snmoa,  which  he  visited  more  than  thirty 
years  before  Captain  Hood.    The  missioii- 
arits'  wives  had  endeavored  to  persuade  the 
Samoan  women   to   wrap    their    al>undant 
mantles  over  the  whole   of  the  body,  but 
without    success.      On    the    contrarv,   the 
Samoan  belles  in  their  turn  tried  to  convince 
the  white  visitors  tliat  it  would   be  much 
better  for  them  to  faa  Samoa,  i.  e.  to  do  in 
Samor.  as  the  Samoana  do.    Garments  that 
covered  the  whole  of  the  bodv  might  do  well 
enough  in  the  white  wonian''s  country,  but 
when  they  came   to  Samoa  they  ought  to 
dress  themselves  like   the   Samoans,    tif  a 
shaggy  mat  round    the  waist,  coquettisiily 
looped  up  on  one  side,  and  anoint   tlieni- 
selvesAvith  scented  oil  and  color  themselves 
with  turmeric;  wear  a  flower  on  the  head  in- 
stead of  a  bonnet,  and  a  necklace  of  flowers 
by  way  of  a  bodice.     Thus  accoutred,  they 
might /((a-jiVn-m,  i.  e.  strut  about  in  the  con- 
sciousness of  l)eing  well  dressed,  and  certain 
of  admiration.    There  is  much  to  be  said  on 
both  sides  of  the  question. 

Tlie  women  wear  their  hair  differently 
from  the  men,  generally  cutting  it  rather 
short,  and  combing  it  back.  It  is  then  pow- 
dered with  fine  lime  made  of  burning  coal, 
which  has  the  effect  of  staining  it  of  a  red- 
dish |)urple  hue,  which  is  thought  to  be  the 
most  fashional)le  color.  After  this  is  done, 
a  Samoan  belle  merely  twists  a  wreath  of 
scarlet  hiliiscus  Howers'among  the  hair.  In 
both  se.xes  great  pains  are  taken  about  the 
hair,  and  in  onicr  to  promote  its  growth  in 
after  years  the  haul  is  kept  shaved  in  cliild- 
hood,  the  l)oys  having  a  single  lock  of  hair 
on  one  side,  and  the  girla  one  on  either 
side. 

There  is  a  slight  distinction  of  dressing 
the  hair  in  the  different  islands  of  the 
Samoan  group.  In  some  of  them  the  wo- 
men separate  the  hair  into  mnltiti:dinous 


ringlets,  each  bound  with  cocoa-nut  fibre,  and 
cut  square  at  the  bottom,  much  like  the  an- 
cient Assyrian  fashion.  As  if  to  cany  out 
the  resemblance  still  further,  the  men  i)re- 
serve  their  beards,  and  dress  them  almost 
exactly  like  those  of  the  figures  on  the  Nine- 
veh marbles. 

In  bodily  form  the  women  are  by  no 
means  equal  to  the  men,  tlie  latter  bein<» 
trulv  magnificent  specimens  of  humanity, 
while  the  former  are  rather  short,  and 
stoutly  made,  with  features  lliat  are  pleas- 
ing in  expression,  but  have  otiierwise  little 
beauty.  They  are  as  well  treated  as  in 
Tonga,  and  are  not  expected  to  do  hard 
work.  In  tact,  the  men  seem  to  take  a 
pride  in  assisting  the  weaker  sex.  Mr. 
Pritchard  writes  on  this  siibj.'ct  as  follows: 
—  "We  8!x\v  several  women  siliing  qi.ietly 
in  their  canoe,  whilst  tlieir  cavaliers  swam 
alongside,  towing  them  tlirougli  the  surf. 
not  because  they  are  at  all  less  at  liome  in 
the  water  than  tlieir  husl)ands  and  brothers, 
as  we  saw  tliis  afternoon,  when  a  largo 
number  of  girls  were  alongside,  who  wcie  as 
often  swimming  about,  liuigliiiiir  and  talk- 
ing, for  about  half-an-hour  at  a  time  in  the 
water,  or  sitting  in  their  boats,  which  they 
arc  constantly  upsett'iig." 

When  the  husband  of  a  Samoan  wife  dies, 
his  widow  is  not  sacri:;;^<>d  at  his  fiiiieral, 
but  is  usually  taken  by  his  lii-otlui.  after 
the  ancient  Jewish  custom      It  is  remarka- 
ble, by  the  way,  thai  many  of  the  Mosaic 
laws  still  exist  in  full  IWrce  among  the  Sam- 
oans.    In  time  of  war  no  male  i''ai)tivis  arc 
taken,  all  being  killed.     Their  lemale  rela- 
tivco,  Avhether  wives  or  sisters,  p.<-o  ccnsitl- 
ered   as   the  property  of  the   viuors,  and 
mostly  become  their' wive:;.    Thus  it  olten 
happens   that   wonu'ii   are   related    to  bolh 
sides,  and,  as  they  are  by  courtesy  allowed 
to  visit  their  relatives,  iil'l  the  designs  of  one 
side   are   speedily   told    to   the   oihi'r.      So, 
whenever  the  i)i'incipal  chief  jjrcjjans  any 
plan   of  action,   sonu;   of  the   women    w!;o 
have  relations  on  the  Oitposile  side,  immedi- 
ately go  off  and  tell   them  al.out  the  jiro- 
posed  movements.    Slill,  the  Samoaiis  seem 
to  m.'ike  it  a  matter  oi  honor  not  to  take 
advantage  of  this  knowledge,  and  to  alK)W 
the  enemy  to  execute  his  movements  witlj- 
out  interruption. 

The  women  seem  quite  at  their  ease  in 
warfare,  and  mostly  aecvdnpany  their  lius- 
b.ands  to  tlie  wars,  "in  (>rder  to  "siijiijly  them 
witli  necessaries,  and  to  nurse  them  "if  they 
should  1)0  wounded.  Mr.  rritehard  says 
that  he  has  seen  them  iii  the  heat  of  action, 
carrying  water  to  the  wouiult^d,  nnd  seem- 
ing to  care  less  for  the  thickly  flying  bullets 
than  the  warriors  theinaelves. 


Befoue  passing  to  another  subject,  we 
ivill  complete  ouv  notices  of  dress,  The 
reader  nii-.v  remember  that  on  page  !)77  was 
given  a  full  account  of  the  various  processes 


CLOTH  MAKING. 


1015 


by  which  the  inner  bark  of  the  paper  mul- 
berry is  made  into  garments.  The  Samoaus 
employ  the  same  metliod  as  the  Tongans, 
but  are  even  more  careful  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  the  clotlv  which  is  in  great  request 
throughout  many  parts  of  rolynesni,  and 
can  be  recoguizecl  at  once  by  a  skilful  eye. 

The  woinen  arc  the  sole  manufacturers, 
and  are  wonderfully  skilful  and  patient  over 
their  work.  In  the  fn-st  place,  for  tiic  liuest 
cloth  they  always  employ  very  young  trees, 
not  more  than  fourteen  to  lifleen  months 
old,  and  only  two  or  three  inches  ni  diame- 
ter. They  begin  their  work  by  cutting 
down  the  trees,  peeling  otf  the  bark,  and 
steeping  it  for  eight  and  forty  hours  in 
water,  so  as  to  enal)le  the  rough  outer  Jjark 
to  bo  removed  from  the  tiiin  and  delicate 
inner  bark.  The  well-known  "  bass,"  with 
which  gardeners  tie  up  flowers,  is  a  familiar 
instance  of"  /iter,"  or  inner  bark,  i)rociired 
from  the  lime  tree.  By  constfmt  beating, 
this  substance  I  ecomes  greatly  increased  in 
width  and  redi'ced  in  thickness,  and,  like 
gold  leaf,  it  can  be  beaten  out  to  almost  any 
extent. 

As  the  strips  ot  bark  are  only  ten  or 
twelve  inches  wide,  a  nu;nber  of  them  are 
uniled  by  overlapping  the  edges  ami  putting 
between  them  arrow-root  dissolved  in  water. 
Tlie  united  pieces,  while  still  wet,  are  again 
beaten,  and  after  a  while  the  two  pieces 
boeomi!  incorpoiated  into  one,  and  all  signs 
of  the  junction  disappear. 

WIkii  a  piece  of  sullbtient  size  is  made, 
printing  and  staining  are  the  next  ]m)cesses. 
Tlie  dves  are  gcmeiallv  of  thrive  kinils,  red, 
browu^  and  yellow.     The  two  lirst  tints  are 
obtaiiHMl  from  elavs,  and  the  third  from  the 
ever    useful    turn'ierie.      The    women   who 
make  iiiid  print  the  clwth  do  not  prepare  the 
dyes,  that  being  a  separate  occupation,  and 
in  these  ishind.i  the  dill'erent  professions  are 
stricliv  limited  to  certain  families,  just  as  is 
the   ease    with   the   castes   in   India.      The 
printing  is  dune  on  exactly  the  same  prin- 
ciple (hat  is  tiniiloyed  in  ru!)bing  brasses  in 
this  couutrv.    The  pattern  is  made  by  fas- 
tening llie  ilexilile  ril)s  of  the  cocoa-nut  leaf 
on  a  board.    AV'iiCU  the  ril)s  are  quite  bard 
and  dry  the  cloth  is  stn^tched  over  them, 
and   the   dye   rul)l)ed  over   it  with   a    stitf 
brush,  so  that  ii  only  adheres  to  those  parts 
of  the  cloth  which  press  against  the  rai.^-'d 
nattern   bt  low.      For   patterns  of  a  larger 
clescription  a  softer  bark  is  used,  which  holds 
a  quaulity  of  color. 


There  arc  in  my  collection  several  speci- 
mens of  Samoan  bark  cloth;  one  is  very 
flue,  pure  white,  six  feet  long,  by  two  wide, 
and  ornamented  with  a  fine  Iringe  all  round 
it.    Another  is  thicker  and  stronger,  beinj' 
made  of   four  layers  of  bark,  one  placed 
upon  the  other.    In  some  places  the  junc- 
tion has  not  been  completed,  and  the  ditler- 
ent  layers  are  quite  distinct.     It  measures 
rather  more  than  seven  feet  in  length  and 
three  feet  ten  inches  in  width.     It  ha.s  a 
deep-colored  border  about  eighteen   inches 
in  width,  composed  of  a  diamond  pattern 
impressed  upon  a  number  of  perpendicular 
l)arallel  lines  and  dots.     This  border  is  a 
li<'ht  red  in  color,  and  upon  it  are  several 
ci"cles  of  dark  brown.    Circles  of  a  similar 
kind  are  scattered  over  the  uncolored  jior- 
tion  of  the  robe,  which  is  of  a  creamy  yellow 

hue.  .,,,.,  1 

Tlio  third  specimen  is  still  thicker,  and 
lar-'er.  It  is  seven  feet  S(iuare,  and  has 
been  completely  covered  on  the  outside 
with  the  clay  pigment,  which  has  been  put 
on  so  thickly  as  to  make  the  fabric  comparp- 
tively  still".  Two  broad  bands  of  deep  black 
arc  "drawn  across  it  so  as  to  divide  it  into 
three  equal  portions,  and  in  each  division 
are  four  patterns  also  drawn  in  black,  very 
much  resembling  the  ''broad  arrow-  used 
in  the  government  mark  of  England. 

In  the  second  illu:  tration  on  page  1012  arc 
shown  the  successive  processes  of  convert- 
in-'  the  bark  into  cloth.    In  the  foreground 
and  at  the  right  hand  are  seen  some  women 
kneeling  in  the  stream,  engaged  in  scraping 
the  liber  to  free  it  from  every  particle  ot  the 
outer  bark.    One  woman  is  examining  a 
piece  against  the  light,  to  see  whether  it  is 
quite  clean.     Behind  them,  and  toward  the 
left  centre  of  the  illustration  arc  more  wo- 
men, some   of  them  beating  and  scr.aping 
the    bark   with    the   square   mallets   which 
have  been  already  described  when  trcatin>» 
of  Tonga,  and  another  is  busily   eini)love(l 
in  joining  two  pieces  with  arrow-root.    Just 
above  tliem  is  another  woman  engaged  in 
the  more  skilful  part  of  tiie  mamifacture,  i. 
c.  printing  by  rubbing  dye  over  the  cloth 
when  laid  on"the  pattern  board,  and  one  or 
two  of  the  boards  themselves  are  given,  m 
order  to  show  the  cocoa-nut  leaf   pattern 
upon  them.     In  the  distance,  the  other  wo- 
men are  seen  hanging  the  still  wet  cloth  up 
to  dry. 


'  it 


CHAPTER    cm. 

SAMOA,  OR  THE  NAVIGATORS'  ISLANDS  -  Con<mu€(i. 

WAB. 

CAUSES  OF  WAB  I>r  SAMOA-THE  MALO,  AXI>  STnUCflLES  FOR  ITS  POSSESSION  -  THE  CniEP's  VEN- 
GEANCE -rmE-AUMS  PUEVENTIVE  OF  WAU-8AMOAN  WEAPONS-THE  (Xl'BS-PATTEUNS  OF 
CLU«S  THHOUOHOUT  POLYNESIA -STUANGE  MODE  OF  USING  THE  SPEAU-THE  SII«,K-TO0T,I 
GAUNTLETS -SUITS  OF  ARMOIt-OETTIXO  TOOETIIEH  AN  AKMY,  AND  MODE  OF  FIGHTINO-UV- 
PLEASANT  POSITION  OF  NEUTRALS  -THE  SEA-FKiHT- DISTINGUISIIIXO  PENNANTS-THE  DFFLVNCB 
BEFOUE  RATTLE -TBOPH.FS  OF  WAB,  AND  ELATION  OP  THE  VICTOB- DISPOSAL  OF  THEDOD.ES 
-THE  HEAD  PILE-SINC  .  COMBAT  BETWEEN  CHIEFS  -  SAMOAN  LAW -PUNISHMENT  FOB  MUU- 
DEB  AND  LESSEB  OFFENCES- CANNIBALISM-NATIVE  LAWVEB8-THE  PLAINTIFF  DEFEATED 
WITH  HIS  OWN  WEAPONS.  l^t.ll.AlED 


It  was  mentioned  on  page  1014,  that  women 
when  captured  in  war  become  the  absohito 
property  of  those  who  take  thcni;  we  will 
therefore  devote  a  short  space  to  warfare 
among  the  Samoans,  omitting  these  charac- 
teristics in  which  it  resembles  war  among 
the  other  Polynesian  tribes,  which  have 
already  been  described. 

The  causi>s  of  war  may  mostly  be  rednced 
to  four;  namely,  the  desire  of  political  su- 
premacy, disputed  succession  to  chieftain- 
ship, revenge  for  the  murder  of  a  chief,  and   j^aiuumcs  ui    miman  nature,  wiucH   is   too 
infringement  of  the  strange  mnrriagc  laws    prone  to  feel  itself  personally  hurt  at  the 
oft.e^amoans  •  l-rosiierity  of  another.     Ven-eancc  for    a 

The    first   ot    th<-«n    nnncoo    lo  o1,..o,r„  „„„1,        , ,1 >'     .l.:,.f  .•       ...    ,,-    )/."n<"<'"l-    lOl      a 


nant  that  when  they  went  to  a  suliject  dis- 
trict they  found  it  better  cultivated  and 
richer  tliaii  their  own,  and  construed  the 
inferiority  which  Ihev  could  not  but  feel 
into  an  intentional  insult  on  the  part  of 
Ailna.  So  they  proclaimed  the  iicople  of 
Aaiia  to  be  rebels,  and  made  war  ii;;ainst 
them. 

Such  a  cause  of  w?ft-,  absurd  as  it  may  be, 
and  subversive  of  all  real  progress,  is  intel- 
ligible, and  to  be  exjilaiiied  bv  the  petty 
jealousies  of  human   nature,  which   is   too 


The  first  of  these  causes  is  always  rank- 
ling. Each  island  is  diiided  into' several 
districts,  and  wlien  one  I  egins  to  show  signs 
of  special  iirosjierity,  ano'her  is  sure  to  take 
umbrage  at  it  and  go  to  var  in  order  to  se- 
cure the  "llalo,"  or  po.itical  supremacy. 
One  example  of  such  a  wa:-  occurred  only'a 
few  years  ago  in  the  island  of  A  polo. 

Manono,  one  of  the  three  districts  into 
which  it  is  divided,  held  the  supremacy,  and 
the  chiefs  felt  indignant  because  another 
district,  Aana,  was  prospering  under  the 
teaching  of  the  missionaries.  The  chiefs  cf 
Maiion.)  therefore  began  to  oppress  Aana 
by  making  continual  demands  of  projierty 
and  fo(((l.  Still,  in  sjiite  of  their  exaction.S, 
the  district  would  persist  in  llourishimj;  it 
made  and  sold  more  coco.a-niit  oil,  and  sold 
it  for  mor('  hatchets,  calico,  and  other  Euro- 
pean  ti-i'asiires,   than    the    other    districts. 


murdered  chief  is  intelligible,  and  so  is  a 
war  for  succession;  but  the  last  cause  needs 
some  explanation. 

By  the  law.s  of  Samoa,  n  woman  once  a 
wife  is  always  a  wife,  even  though  she  may 
be  put  away  by  her  husliaiul.  The  Siiino.in 
chiefs  claim  the  right  of  marrying  as  many 
wives  as  they  choose,  and  putting  tlieni 
away  as  off^en  as  they  like.  Indeed,  a  man 
often  marries  a  girl  merely  for  the  sake  of 
her  dower  of  mats  and  other  projierty.  Hut 
even  after  he  lias  jiut  awav  a  wife,  he  still 
considers  her  as  his  own  ch.altel;  and  if  any 
otber  chief  takes  her  to  his  house.  \,'ar  is 
at  once  declared  against  him.  Ft  is  a  curi- 
ous fact  that  the  original  husband  cares 
nothing  al-out  the  morality  of  the  wife 
whom  \h\  h.'is  put  away,  but  oidy  for  the  in- 
sult oll'ered  to  himself  by  taking  liis  j)rop- 
erty.      «ucli    cast-off   wi'vea    mostly   attach 


fc,,      ,;  ,  .'  ; ■"-    ■■■■"■    "iniiiiHf.    criy.      nucn    cast-o  I    wives    most  v   attach 

O'he  Manono  chiels  were  naturally  indig- 1  themselves    to    the    Fala-tele    or    visitinc 

(1010)  " 


mmm^mm 


^Wl^i 


um) 


SPEARS  AND  CLUBS. 


1010 


I 


house,  leading  most  immoral  lives,  and  may 
do  so  without  iucurrinj^  any  resentment 
from  tlieir  Ibrnier  husband.  But  let  them 
marry  another,  and  vengeance  Immediately 
follows  the  insult. 

Before  the  introduc^tion  of  fire-arms,  the 
principal  weapons  of  Samoa  were  the  spear 
and  the  club.  The  older  chiefs  have  a  rooted 
objection  to  the  muski't,  and,  like  Hotspur's 
fop,  have  not  been  jjarlicularly  willing  to 
take  tlie  Held  since  that  '•  villanous  salt- 
petre"  has  come  i.ito  vogue.  Muskets, 
say  they,  are  weapons  for  boys;  clubs  for 
men.  They  have  some  reason  to  complain 
of  the  bullels,  which,  as  they  say,  do  not 
know  chiel's,  bi'cause  their  towering  head- 
dri'ss(rs  make  (hem  so  conspicuous  that  they 
allbrd  excellent  marks  to  tiio  enemy;  and  il' 
by  chanci!  one  of  iln'ir  oj)ponen(s  should 
have  even  a  moderate  n:)tion  of  taking  aim, 
their  chance  of  cuming  safely  out  of  the 
battle  would  I-e  n  very  siuall  one. 

The  clubs  used  in  Samoa  are  remarkable 
for  the  exei'lieuci!  of  their  makes  and  the 
polish  and  linish  with  which  the  n.itive 
carver  loves  to  ornament  them.  Some  of 
them  are  shoi't,  used  for  one  band,  and  made 
just  llk(^  the  stiicl  maces  of  European  chiv- 
alry. Oili.M's  are  almost  exactly  like  the 
club  No.  l.ligured  on  piige  !)!!).  The  exam- 
))Ie  wliirli  is  given  in  the  illustrsition  enti- 
tled "('lul>,"  on  i)age  lOlM,  is  drawn  from  a 
speciniiMi  in  my  coiled  ion,  and  belonged  to 
the  same  cliu'f  wiio  owned  the  Vi'ar  mat  and 
feather  head'Iress  which  have  been  de- 
scribed. It  is  live  feet  in  length,  and  very 
heavy,  so  that  none  but  a  very  jiowerful 
man  cm  use  it.  As  it  has  seen  much  work, 
it  has  been  battered  about,  the  wood  of  the 
head  crav'ked,  and  the  carving  defaced.  I 
have  thertfore  had  it  drawn  as  it  was  when 
now. 

As  a  I'ulc  th(>  clubs  of  Tonga,  Samoa,  Fiji, 
and  other  I'olynesian  grou[is  can  hardly  be 
delinili'ly  rei'irred  to  any  one  of  tbcui.  The 
commeree  which  jiasscs  between  them  hi;s 
caused  an  interchange  ol'  weapons  as  well 
as  of  iieaeel'ul  commodities,  so  tliat  the  two 
distinct  races  which  inhabit  Fiji  and  the 
TonLTiin  and  Samoau  gi-oup  use  weapons 
which  are  almost  identical.  Thus  the  ser- 
rated dull  which  has  iiist  been  mentioned  is 
ecpially  used  in  .Vew  (Juinea,  Fiji,  and  Sa- 
moa, the  j>altern  bavins  been  found  a  con- 
venient one,  and  so  liansmitted  from  one 
island  to  the  otlu'r. 

The  spears, again,  have  a  great  similitude, 
ami  arc  armed  with  barl)s,  the  best  bein." 
tipped  with  Ihc  tcil-bone  of  the  sting-r.n 
In  former  days,  when  a  warrior  had  ).ier.  e,( 
an  enen'y  with  his  spear,  be  tried  to  lilt  !.im 
from  the  groutid  upon  it;  and  if  he  \' ,  re 
unai)le  to  do  so,  he  wiis  generally  ;issist<  d 
by  several  of  his  comrades,  who  all  thrusi 
tlieir  spc;irs  into  his  l)ody,  lifted  him  in  the 
air,  ami  liorc  liini  i.lolt  iii  triumph,  not  car- 
ing whether  ho  were  alive  or  dead. 


One  weapon,  however,  seems  to  be  pecul- 
iar to  Samoa,  and  has  been  mentioned  by 
Mariner.  It  consists  of  a  ])air  of  gauntlets 
made  of  cocoa-nut  fibre,  on  the  inside  of 
which  are  fixed  several  rows  ;)f  sh.arks' 
teeth,  set  edgewise.  In  fact,  this  •  ,'ea))on  is 
made  exactly  on  th"  jiripclplo  of  the  ter- 
rible "  tiger-claw"  of  Indi.',  and  is  inlended 
for  the  purpose  of  ripping  up  an  adversary, 
the  abdomen  being  the  part  that  is  always 
attacked,  both  by  the  Samoau  and  the  Hin- 
doo. 

One  chief,  who  was  of  giganiic  dimen- 
sions, even  for  a  Sanutan,  always  fou,;,ht 
with  these  terrible  gamitlets.  I7e  used 
them,  however,  in  a  dill'erent  manner,  and 
disdained  to  tear  open  the  body  of  his  an- 
tagonist. As  all  th..  points  of  the  teeth  are 
directed  bacdcward,  it  is  impossiliU^  for  any 
one  who  is  grasped  by  tlese  iiauntli'ts  to 
tear  himself  away,  Tiie  gigantic  ch!(>f  was 
accusto.ned  to  rush  at  one  of  the  enemj', 
seize  him  with  his  gaunthted  hand,  fling 
him  on  his  face,  place  one  foot  on  the  smail 
of  his  back,  grasp  him  by  the  head  and 
bend  him  fin-cibly  upward  so  as  to  break  his 
spine.  This  was  his  mode;  of  dealing  with 
able-bodied  men.  If,  however,  he  seized  a 
small  man,  he  merely  threw  the  victim 
across  his  knee,  broke  his  back,  and  Hung 
his  dying  foe  on  the  ground.  The  illustra- 
tion <)n  page  10'25  is  taken  from  a  beautiful 
specimen  in  the  collection  of  the  United 
Service  Museum. 

In  order  to  guard  thcmstdvcs  against 
these  weapons,  tlie  Samoau  warriors  gird 
themselves  with  a  very  l>roail  and  thick  i)idt, 
made  of  cocoa-nut  fibre,  wide  enough  to 
reach  from  the  arm  to  the  hip.  It  is  not 
quite  long  enough  to  encircle  tiie  body,  but 
is  worn  mostly  on  th,'  'eft  side,  that  being 
the  side  most  exposed  to  the  enemy. 

One  of  these  belts,  in  my  colleelion,  is 
two  feet  nine  inches  in  lengtli,  so  that  wlien 
fastened  round  the  waist  it  lea\  es  a  <'onsid- 
eralile  portion  of  the  right  side  exiiosed.  It 
is  made  by  taking  a  nnmlier  of  plaited  cords, 
and  iiassiiig  them  over  t'vo  sticks,  so  that  all 
the  cords  are  parallel  to  each  other.  They 
art"  then  bound  firmly  together  by  strings  of 
twisted  fibre,  whi(di  jiass  under  and  over 
each  alternately,  and  niakci  a  very  strong 
armo;',  through  which  the  dreaded  .sharks' 
teeth  cannot  make  their  way. 

Sometmies  the  Samoan  warrior  seems  to 
have  been  mistrustfid  of  th(\  elTieaey  of  the 
belt,  and  to  have  f'eare<l  the  efftu'ts  of  the 
shark's  teeth  on  i>is  naked  arms  and  legs, 
'■'here  is  in  the  collection  of  the  Ignited 
■  i>iee  Museum  a  complete  siijt  of  aiinor, 
I  luost  ingeniously  made  out  of  filire,  and  so 
;  .'med  as  to  c'/ver  (he  grc  ater  part  of  tiio 
lu.dy  and  liinlis.  It  is  in  two  iierlions,  the 
iip))er  being  put  on  as  u  coat,  aid  the-  lower 
as  trousers.  By  the  sides  of  llie  armor,  on 
p.  lOlS,  are  two  small  sketches,  sbowintr  on 
ail  enlarged  scale  the  patterns  of  the  plailintj. 


1020 


SAMOA. 


There  is  no  definito  army  nmon<?  the 
Samoans,  earli  man  being  considered  as  a 
soldier,  and  liaving  his  weajions  always  at 
liand.  lie  is  liable  at  any  time  to  be  called 
out  by  his  chief,  and,  as  a  rule,  he  troubles 
liimself  very  little  about  the  cause  of  the 
war,  only  coneerninj;  himself  to  light  in  the 
train  of  his  ;:hief.  Tlii^  JSanioans  are  a  brave 
race  and,  if  properly  led  and  taught  the 
veriest  rudiments  of  discipline,  would  make 
good  soldiers.  As  it  is,  however,  no  Samoan 
warrio  •  fights  with  the  knowledge  that  his 
movements  are  directed  in  accordance  with 
a  delinite  plan,  or  that  he  will  bo  supi)orte(l 
by  others.  lie  does  not  feel  himself  a  sim- 
ple unit  among  many,  but  has  t>)  look  out 
for  liimself,  to  select  liis  own  ad\  ersary,  to 
advance  when  he  thinks  he  can  do  so  with 
udvantagi',  '"  '"'i  !iway  when  he  feels  him- 
self getting  into  undue  peril. 

Whenever  a  ft^w  Samoans  have  put  them- 
selves nrider  the  guidance  of  a  white  man, 
they  have  always  repelled  their  foes.  In 
one  such  case,  twenty  men  drove  oil"  a  body 
of  five  hundred  enemies.  Hushed  with  success 
and  bloodshed.  I3oth  parties  were  arnie'i 
with  musket.s,  but  the  regular  though  insig- 
nificant volleys  of  th"  twenty  men  so  coin- 
pletely  (iisorganized  the  five  hundred  un- 
disciplined foes,  that  the  latter  dared  not 
attack  the  little  stimo  wall,  live  feet  high 
and  nventy-five  yards  long,  behind  which 
the  defenders  were  lying. 

Ilad  the  latter  been  left  to  their  own  de- 
vices, they  would  have  fired  all  (heir  jjieces 
at  once,  and  been  left  with  unloaded  mus- 
kets at  the  mercy  of  their  foes.  lUit  being 
taught  always  to  keep  half  their  muskets 
hiaded.  they  had  always  a  volley  ready  for 
their  enemies,  wi;o  were  utterly  if iseon'ifiled 
at  their  reception,  and  at  last  were  only  too 
glad  to  esea])e  as  they  best  could,  with  the 
loss  of  many  men. 

The  position  of  a  neutral  is  not  at  all  ^. 
ple-saut  oni>  in  Samoa,  as,  in  case  either 
sidv'  should  ap[)ear  to  Ite  likidy  to  win  the 
day,  those  of  the  losing  side  who  haiijien  to 
be  friendly  with  the  unfortunate  neutral 
make  a  jioint  of  stripiiing  him  of  all  bis 
proi)erty,  to  jjrevent  if  froiu  falling  into  the 
hand<  of  the  enemy.  Thi:se  Europeans  who 
know  t!ie  native  customs  always  erect  barri- 
cades whenever  war  parties  come  m-ar  them, 
knowing  that  th(>y  stand  in  equal  danger 
from  friends  or  foes. 

"When  a  chief  decides  on  going  to  war.  he 
calls  out  all  the  warriors  in  his  district. 
Though  lliere  is  no  real  discii)line  of  the 
soldiers,  there  is  at  all  events  some  sem- 
blance of  order  in  their  arrangement.  Each 
tov.n  has  its  definite  place,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants would  resent  any  attempt  on  the  part 
of  another  tmvn  to  take  the  place  whi(di 
they  consider  as  their  own.  The  most  hon- 
ora'ole  post  is  in  front,  and,  tliouirh  it  is  a 
post  of  danger,  it  is  si,  honorable  that  if  a 
man  belonging  to  any  town  privileged  to 


lead  the  war  were  placed  in  the  rear,  he 
would  probably  desert  to  the  enemy.  In 
ffct,  a  vast  amount  of  desertion  does  take 
place,  and  by  means  of  tlic  deserters  and  the 
women,  both  i)arties  know  tolerably  well  the 
designs  of  their  antagonists.  The  idea  of 
conceiving,  maturing  a  jdan,  keeping  it 
secret,  and  then  suddenly  acting  on  it, 
seems  never  to  have  entered  the  mind  of 
the  Samoan  chiefs. 

Though  the  vanguard  is  the  post  of  dan- 
ger as  well  as  of  honor,  it  is  greatly  coveted, 
for  it  is  also  tlie  ])ost  of  profit  lioth  in  peace 
and  war.  The  inhaliitants  of  the  jn  i  vileged 
[owns  claim  ihi  largest  share  at  tlie  feasts, 
and  gcneraliy  rule  the  district  in  which  they 
live.  As  all  the  Samoans  dress  nmih  alike 
i.nd  sneak  the  same  language,  they  are 
o'oliged  to  wear  a  sort  of  uniform,  by  which 
they  shall  know  friinds  from  foes.  '  In  the 
case  of  warriors,  tiie  hair  is  dressed  in  some 
strange  way,  or  a  Avhite  shell  is  lunig  round 
the  neck,  or  a  ;  trip  of  cloth  lied  roinid  the 
arm,  these  symiutls  being  changed  every 
three  or  four"  day--,  in  order  to  jirevent  the 
enemj'  from  imitating  them. 

AVlien  canoe.-^  unite  under  one  leader,  they 
ha!ig  out  synjbols  of  a  similar  character, 
su.  a  as  idinches  of  leaves,  strips  of  mat  ting, 
or  even  n  M>rt  of  Hag  made  of  native  mat- 
ting, and  li.'.iing  painted  on  it  the  rude  fig- 
ure of  some  animal,  such  as  a  ]iig,  a  dog,  or 
a  bird.  True  to  the  iiulepeiideiit  nature  of 
Samoan  warriors,  the  two  men  who  i-espec- 
tively  cominaiid  the  land  and  the  sea  forces 
never  think  of  consulting  together,  and 
acting  in  concert  together,  but  ench  does 
what  he  thinks  best  on  'he  spur  of  the 
moment.  In  the  case  already  nieiilioned, 
where  twenty  Aaiia  men  repulsed  live  hun- 
dred of  the  Savaiis,  the  latter  might  have 
been  cut  oil'  to  a  man.  AVhile  tliey  were 
kept  in  cheek  by  the  twenty  (lise'i])]ined 
warriors,  a  licet  of  AiUia  canoes  appeared  otf 
the  shore;  and,  if  the  conimander  bad  only 
landed  his  men,  a  most  thorough  e\am|)lc 
would  have  been  niadi  of  the  invaders.  Hut 
he  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  land  force, 
and  so  allowi d  the  enemy  to  escaiie  without 
even  atti'inpting  to  stop  "them. 

The  stnilrui  of  anthropology  always  finds 
that  human  nature  is  mm  li  tlie  sani^  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  earlh,  and  that  manners 
and  customs  wonderfully  resemble  e.ach 
other  in  in-ineiple.  though  tliey  may  be  inod- 
ilied  in  detail  liy  the' accident  of  time  and 
place.  It  has  already  been  mentioned  that 
many  of  the  Samoan  laws  are  idenlieal  witli 
those  given  by  Moses,  tie. ugh  there  is  no  pos- 
sibility th.at  any  geographieal  coiiuection 
cor.id  cvii  have"  taken  place  between  Toly- 
nesia  and  Sinai. 

Warfare  is  carried  on  at  the  ])resent  day 
in  Samoa  just  as  the  scri])tu!  r>s  fell  us  it  used 
'o  lie  in  Pal(!stine  a.id  Syria,  and  as  Homer 
tells  va  it  was  waged  on  the  ])lains  of  Troy. 
AVhcr.  two  ojiposing  bodies  meet,  the  leaders 


DEFIANCE  OF  BATTLE. 


Km 


challenge  and  abuse  each  other  in  good  sot 
terms,  each  boasting  of  his*  own  prowess, 
depreciating  that  of  iho  adversary,  and 
threatening  after  ho  has  killed  his  enemy 
to  dishonor  his  corpse  in  some  way.  Thus, 
wo  And  that  when  David  had  accepted  the 
challenge  of  Goliath,  before  they  proceeded 
to  action  tliey  reviled  each  other,  Goliath 
threatening  to  give  David's  tlesh  unto  the 
"  fowls  of  th')  air  and  the  beasts  of  the  held, 
and  David  retorting  in  almost  the  same 
words,  l)ut  adding  that  he  would  do  the 
same  by  tlic  bodies  of  the  whole  army. 

Thus,  in  the  old  Homeric  stor/,  where 
Ulysses  flings  his  spear  at  Socus,  he  uses 
almost  exactly  the  same  formula  of  words:— 

"Ah,  wroteh!  no  fathi-r  sh:ill  thy  corpso  compose, 
Thy  liyif"  cyii  no  tcmli^r  mother  olos(!; 
But  huii.,'ry'l'ir<l-<  xhill  toar  thoso  ballM  away. 
And  hnvuhiig   vulturoa   soroam   around    thoir 
prey." 


Thus,  the  Fijian  warrior  defles  his  enemy 
in  words  before  he  proceeds  to  blows,  threat- 
ening to  liake  and  eat  his  body  and  make  a 
drinking-cup  of  his  scull.  Thus,  the  Sainoan 
war  parties  always  think  it  necessary  to 
pause  and  defy  ea-h  otlier  in  words  before 
they  proceed  to  blows.  For  example,  when 
the  Manoiio  and  Aana  men  fought  in  the 
struggle  whieli  has  just  been  described,  they 
cxehaugiMl  threats'  and  injurious  epithets 
wonderfullv  like  the  "  winged  words"  of  tho 
Iloin  M'ie  warriors,  the  sentiment  being  iden- 
tical, though  tho  imagery  is  necessarily  dif- 
ferent. Tlie  illustration  N'o.  1,  on  page  1027, 
shows  these  Sainoan  warriors  exchanging 
defiance  with  thoir  foes. 

"  Vou  banana-eating  Manono  men,  be 
your  throats  eonsuiui'd  l)y  M  )so." 

"Ye  cocoa-nut  eating  Aana  men,  be  your 
tongues  wasted." 

"  Wiiere  is  that  Savii  pig  that  comes  to 
his  deatli?  " 

"  Roast  that  Atuaking  who  is  about  to  die 
by  my  snear;"  and  so  on  itdiiiJinUiim. 

Thesu  war  parlies  atford  excellent  oppor- 
tunities of  studying  vlic  dress  and  ornaments 
of  the  Samoans.  It  is  thought  a  point  of 
honor  with  them,  as  with  the  American  In- 
dians, to  go  into  action  in  the  fullest  dress 
and  decorat.'.d  with  every  ornament  that  can 
be  procured,  so  that  "the  headdress  and 
general  accoutrements  of  a  chief  when  en- 
gaged in  war  are  sure  to  be  the  best  ex- 
amples that  can  be  seen. 

The  proceedings  that  take  place  after  a 
battle  are  well  described  by  Mr.  Pritchard. 
"  After  a  light,  llie  heads  of  the  slain  warriors 
are  paraded  in  presence  of  the  assembled 
chiefs  and  people,  when  the  heroes  are  in- 
dividually tliankeci,  and  their  general  prowess 
and  daring  publiety  acknowledged.  The  ex- 
citement of  the  successful  warrior  is  intense, 
as  ho  pivsses  before^  tlie  chiefs  with  his  blee  1- 
ing  trophy,  capering  in  the  most  fantastic 
evolutions,  with  Mackened  face  and  oiled 


body,  throwing  his  club  hi"h  in  the  air,  and 
catching  it  behind  his  back  or  between  his 
legs;  sometimes  himself  carrying  his  dead 
enemy's  head,  sometimes  dancing  round  a 
comrade  who  carries  it  for  him,  all  the  while 
shouting  in  his  loudest  voice, '  On  te  raau 
tangatal  On  t«  mau  tsmgata! '  ('  I  have  my 
man,  I  have  my  man! ')" 

To  a  young  Samoan  this  is  the  realization 
of  his  highest  ambition,  to  be  thus  pul)licly 
thanked  by  the  chief  for  slaying  an  enemy  in 
mortal  combat,  as  he  careers  before  his  com- 
nides  with  the  reeking  head  of  his  foe  in  one 
iiand,  and  his  dub  in  the  other. 

"  Then,  again,  when  the  war  is  over,  and 
ho  returns  "to  his  village,  to  hear  his  com- 
panions rehearse  the  exploit,  and  the  girls 
proiKUince  him'toa'i.  e.  brave;  then  it  is 
you  see  in  their  very  perfection  the  com- 
placent dignity  and  latent  pride   that  lurk 
within  that  brown-skinned  islander.    As  ho 
assumes  an  air  of  unconscious  disregard  of 
the  praises  his  deeds  evoke,  you  see   the 
sublime  and  the  ludicrous  luiatly  blending, 
when  he    turns   to  the    girls,  and   mildly 
exclaims,  '  Funa  mai  si  ruluil'  (-Woman, 
hand  me  a  cigar.')     This  modest  little  order 
is  at  once  pretty    and    pert,  dignilied  and 
careless,  when  it  falls  from  the  lipsof  a  hero 
or  a  l)eau.     And  proud  is  the  jjirl  who  hands 
it  to  liim-,  she  has  but  one  ambition  then,  to 
become   his  wife,  even  Avith   the  certainty 
of  being  cast  off  in  less  than  a  month  for 
another.  ,   , ,    » 

"  After  the  heads  have  been  paraded  before 
the  chiefs,  they  are  piled  up  in  the  malae,  or 
open  space  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  the 
head  of  the  greatest  chief  slain  being  placed 
uppermost.  If  among  the  visitors  there  arc 
any  relatives  of  the  slain,  they  claim  tho 
heads  and  bury  them,  or  send  thein  back  to 
the  comrades  of  the  deceased.  The  un- 
claimed heads  arc  buried  together  in  the 
malae.  Any  bodies  that  may  be  recognized 
are  also  burled  by  their  friends,  while  those 
who  have  no  reiatio.is  among  the  visitors 
are  left  to  rot  and  mal-.e  .  ood  for  the  dogs. 

"  The  relations  arc  careful  to  bury  tlie 
bodies  thev  identify,  lest  their  spirits  shoui '. 
haunt  them  or  w.ander  about  tho  field  of 
l)attle,  disconsolate  and  mournful,  lamenting 
the  fate  which  left  their  bodies  to  rot  or  to 
be  eaten  by  the  dogs.  I  have  often  heard 
the  natives  say, '  Hear  that  spirit  moaning, 
I  am  cold!  I  ain  cold! '  when  a  stormy  night 
hits  thrown  its  darkness  and  poured  its  tor- 
rents of  rain  and  gusts  of  wind  over  the 
battle-field.  It  was  vain  to  tell  them  that 
the  noise  they  heard  was  merely  the  crtraking 
boughs  or  the  pelting  rain;  to  them  it  was 
nothing  el-.e  than  the  spirit  of  tho  unburied 
dead  enemy." 

The  feelings  of  vanity  are  so  acute  in  a 
Samoan  warrior  that  ho  will  do  almost  any- 
thing to  procure  applause  at  these  meetings 
after  a  battle.  One  man  who  had  failed  to 
kill  an  enemy  was  greatly  annoyed  with 


l\ 


'W 


1023 


SAMOA. 


hinwlfrvtl)nvln!»  missprUho  pnbllR nnplatiso 
Wllich  111'  liiul  liojied  to  (,'J"'',  'HkI  l"t  "P<>" 
anothonnodc  ()r(>l)tjiiniii;;;;vH(irt  ofVoIclirity, 
H(>  cut,  oil'  till!  j,'i'(';il,  toi;,i  of  ii  (U'lid  oiKsiny 
whoso  licail  li;iil  alivaily  Imh-ii  takiui,  anil 
with  tlii'sc  toes  in  hismoiith  piiradod  ln^t'oro 
tho  <'hi<'(N  as  if  lie  liad  taken  a  iicad.  Findinj; 
tiiat  this  novel  act  excited  adniinilion,  lie 
beeame  so  exeited  lliat  he  ivio  tlio  toes,  even 
without  cookinj,'  theni,  in  the  prcseaeo  ol' 
all  llie  people. 

Sneh  an  aetasthismi;;ht  indnoo  tho  reader 
to  snppose  that  tlie  Sainoans,  like  many 
I'olvnesians.  are  eannihals.  In  tiie  ordinary 
sense  of  the  word,  they  are  not  so,  Aller  a 
battle  they  will  sonietinu!s  cook  and  oat  a 
Inniian  body.  Imt  this  is  done  as  an  act  of 
(lisLtriiee,  and  not  as  a  sralilieation  of  the 
niipedle.  In  one  instanee,  a  yoini^c  woman 
whos(>  lather  had  been  killed  in  batlle  oh- 
fai'ied  a  scalp  that  had  belon;;ed  to  the 
o)u  my.  She  lirst,  bin-ned  it  to  ashes,  then 
b«nt  i;  to  powder,  and  sealiered  the  dnst 
on  the  lir«  over  which  shu  cooked  her  pro- 
vi.^ioiis. 

After  a  decisive  battle,  tho  chiefs  of  the 
neaten  side  como  hutrddv  before  their  vic- 
torionsanlap:onists,earryinL(l!rewood,  stones 
fic.d  pieces  of  bamboo.  "  They  lay  their  bur- 
dens before  the  ju-ineipal  chief,  and  |)roslrate 
themselves  on  the  .ifronnd,  Ivinir  there  in 
silence.  Should,  as  is  <;ener'allv  the  case, 
the  victors  be  willinL,'  to  accept  the  submis- 
sion, the  pri>strale  chiefs  are  told  to  rise  and 
return  home;  but  if  Ihev  should  not  be 
satisfied,  the  men  are  cluiibcd  where  they 
lie,  while  Ih.'  people  whom  they  represent 
snd'erall  the  horrors  of  savaiie  warfare. 

The  firewood,  stones,  and  bamboo  are  con- 
sidered as  emblems  of  the  ulterlv  abiect 
stale  to  which  I  he  bearers  have  been  reduced. 
The  stones,  beiii!;  the  material  with  which 
the  native  ovens  are  made,  siijnifv  that  those 
who  deposit  Ihcmat  (he  feet  of "  the  victors 
;:ive  themselves  up  (o  he  baked  and  eaten  by 
the  conquerors.  The  (irewood  rei)resenl"s 
the  material  with  which  theovensare  heated, 
and  the  liamhoo  serves  as  a  double  symbol. 
In  the  (list  place,  the  knives  with  which  the 
Samoans  cut  up  their  food  wi>re  always 
inade  of  bamboo  before  the  use  of  iron  was 
introduced  hv  Kuropeans;  and  in  the  second 
place,  the  inslruments  by  which  torture  wa.s 
inl!i.-fi-d  on  inisoners  by  cruel  cajitor-s  were 
made  oft  he  s.aine  (naterial. 

When  (he  (•on(piered  party  arc  p.ardoned, 
tliey  cnier  tlie  house  ot  the  chief,  kiss  his 
feet,  and  present  him  with  tine  mats,  bark 
cloth,  food,  and  similar  property.  This  cere- 
mony is  called  Ifom;;a,  and  is  S('>metimes  ern- 
ployeil  on  other  occasions.  For  example, 
dnrinsT  the  war  between  ilanono  and  Afma, 
two  of  the  most  influential  chiefs  of  the 
latter  jiarty  took  nmbra<,'e  at  some  slight, 
cither  real  or  fancied,  and  deserted  to  the 
enemy.  Desertion  of  this  nature  i'l  cpiite  a 
common  event  in    "Samoan  warfare,  inas- 


mnch  as  tho  clilefa  are  almosl;  entirely  inde- 
pendent of  each  other,  and  are  bound  to- 
gether by  tho  slightesl,  of  ties.  In  fact,  tho 
condition  of  these  islanders  much  resembles 
that  of  tho  Scottish  Highlanders  in  the  old 
times,  when  it  wa.s  hardly  possible  to  wago 
a  regular  war  on  account  of  the  rival  jealou.s- 
icHof  tho  dilfereiit  chiefs,  besides  the  inter- 
nal disHousions  among  the  nioiiibera  oi'  each 
clan. 

Hosidea,  as  in  the  old  Scottish  clans,  thero 
is  no  discipline  by  which  even  the  men  aro 
bound  together.  "  Kach  man  serves  as  long 
as  ho  chooses,  and  no  longer.  If  he  thinks 
himself  slighted,  or  if  his  crops  at  liomo 
have  to  be  got  in,  he  has  no  hesitation  in 
shonhh'ring  his  club,  and  going  olf  to  bis 
own  villiige;  nor  is  ihere  any  law  by  which 
be  can  be  punished  for  so  doing.  "  In  tho 
war  to  which  we  are  now  alluding,  a  vast 
number  of  the  Savaii  allies  of  Manono  had 
gone  olf  to  their  own  jilaiilations. 

In  onler  to  carry  out  this  |iriiiciiile  of 
obtaining  the  Maid,  or  sovereigulv,  it  was 
necessary  that  the  deserters  should" do  hom- 
age to  Jtanono,  and  be  re|ilaced  in  stat(!  in 
(heir  homes,  whi<h  Ihey  were  su]i|,oscd  to 
hold  under  Manono  as  vassals  in  (dinrge. 
If  they  could  take  possession  without  being 
attacked  by  tln^  opjiosing  parly,  they  wero 
sup])osed  to  have  asserted  iheirVighls. 

Accordingly,  a  great  ceremony  was  pro- 
.jected.     The  iManono  chiefs  recalled  all  tho 
allies    who     had    escaped    from     Ihe    war, 
ostensibly  to   look   alter   their   plantations, 
but  in  reality  because    they    had   a  strong 
objeelion  to  bullets,  and  suimnoned  (hem  to 
bring  the  produce  of  their  plantations  to  a 
great  "fono,"  or  discussion.     Accordingly, 
they  all  canu^  back,  allured  by  (he  jirosnect 
of   the    feast    whiih    acconipanies    sucn    a 
"fono."     The  two  deserling  c'liefs  were  in- 
troduced to  the  assembly,  and  went  (hronglj 
the    ceremony   of    Ilbnga    as    a    nia(t<'r  of 
form.     Next 'they  had  to  be  safely  installed 
in   their  own  viilages.     With  one  of  them 
this  was   a   comiiaratively   easy   maltt^r,  as 
the    whole    district   was   ileserted.      So    tho 
chief  was  taken  there  in  triumi>h,  escorted 
by  thirty  or  forty  canoes,  and  fonnally  in- 
stalled   in   his   own    domains,   as   vassiU   to 
Manono,  and  therefore  acknowledging  the 
right  of  Malo  to  belong  to  that  district.     Ilo 
had  no  followers  with   him,  and  in  a  (lav  or 
two  he  left  the  place  and  retmned  to  "Nla- 
nono.     Still,  the  transaction  bi.d  In  en  com- 
I)leted,  tho   time  during  which  he  held  his 
domain  not  being  of  any  imjiorlancc.     The 
reader  may  be  glad  to  know  that  this  chief 
sulTcred  the  usual  fale   of  renegades,  being 
receiyed  at  lirst  with  great   ceremony,  and 
made  much  of,  and  afterward  sinking  into 
utter  obscurity. 

As  to  the  other  cldef,  there  was  r,  diffi- 
culty respecting  the  installation.  It  .so  Iiap- 
pened  that,  ho  having  been  one  of  the  most 
influential  leaders,  all  the  united  forces  of 


TITE  IFONGA. 


1028 


tlin  two  (listrirts,  Allna  and  Atua,  w(-ro  cn- 
c.an»]>(!(l  in  and  about  tlic  placo,  and  if  \u:  liad 
Ikhmi  tnkrn  tlM!r(!  Ins  would  not  only  liavo 
biM-n  atlackod,  but  llio  invading  party  would 
probably  liavo  bt^Mi  rcpollcd  l)y  tin!  nnitcd 
i'orcns  til' t bo  otln^r  two  districts.  So,  aftiM' 
nuu'li  dt'libnration,  it  was  di^lcrinincd  tiiat 
he  sboulil  \w.  instalU-d  at  a  convcniiMil  sca- 
Hon,  but  tbat  tb(!  prt^cisc  tinu!  I'or  pcrtbrin- 
ini,'  llio  (H'ruinony  need  not  for  the  present 
lit>  llxi'il  upon. 

Soini'liuic's  anouplo  of  cbicfs  qnarnd.and, 
instead  of  H"i"o  to  war,  li'.;lit  it  out  tbcin- 
si'lvoH  wilb  tlnur  clubs.  They  display  ^;reat 
dexterity  in  fcnciu;,'  ami  iiuiirdirif^,  as  well 
as  Htrikiiii;,  and  arc  walcbcd  intently  by  tin; 
.inectalors.  They  are  usually  parted  before 
tliey  do  any  serious  harm  to  ea<'h  other, 
l)0(!anso  in  case  cither  wen;  killed,  or  even 
seriously  injured,  a  war  of  vonj^eancc  would 
1)0  the  inevitable  rcsnlt. 

CoMPAnATiVKiiY  liUlo  is  known  of  tin; 
nalivi!  laws  of  Samoa,  which,  liki;  all  similar 
institutions,  are  always  on  the.  chauLje,  and 
of  late  years  have  Ikm-ii  almost  forijoltcn  by 
reason  of  tlu!  presence  of  ICuropeans  in  tln^ 
islands.  Wo  fnid,  ho\vever,  from  several 
travclhirs,  esix-cially  from  (hose  who  luive 
IIvimI  ,'nnon'j;  the  Samoans  as  missionaries, 
that  a  tolerably  wcll-(lelined  code  of  laws  is 
reeo^ni/.ed,  and  aihninistercd  by  the  chief 
and  his  co\nicillors. 

Murder,  for  example,  w.as  punishabl(>  by 
death;  and  this  was  so  well  known  that 
when  onc!  man  mmdercd  anotlnu-,  he  and 
all  lii8  family  ;^enerally  tied  to  anothiir  di.s- 
trict,  wlien^  they  were  .sure  of  jiroteclion. 
It  was  neci'ssai'v  that  all  the.  family  .should 
accompany  the  murdertir,  becaust^  the  rela- 
tives of  the  slain  man  mi^;ht  wreak  their 
venpfcance  upon  any  relation  of  tlu;  mur- 
derer. Practically,  ilie  pnnislnuent  for  nuir- 
der  resolved  itself  into  a  heavy  fine.  The 
fugitive  necessarily  left  behind  him  his  pl.iii- 
talions,  I»is  liouse,  and  other  properly,  all  of 
which  was  seized  by  the  chief.  Sometimes 
the  whole  of  the  i)ro])erty  was  conliscated, 
the  li()us(\  burned  down,  the  ])lantat ion  devas- 
t.aled,  and  a  inessaije  sent  to  the  murdenn- 
that  he  mii^ht  never  return  to  his  own  vil- 
lajje.  /Jenerally,  however,  thi.s  cxtrcino 
punishment  was  commuted  for  a  heavy 
thie,  part  of  which  consisted  in  giving  "a 
feast  to  the  entiri!  village. 

U.iniaging  a  fruit  tree  was  held  to  be  a 
crime  deserving  of  heavy  jinnishment;  an(l 
Ro  was  speaking  di.srespectfnlly  to  a  chief, 
destroying  a  fence,  or  behaving  rudely  to 
8trang(!rs.  For  several  otTenccH  the  Samo- 
ans had  a  curiously  grathiated  scale  of  ])un- 
ishments.  vSometimes,  when  the  offence  was 
a  light  one,  the  otfender  was  .sentenced  to 
seat  himself  in  front  of  the  chief  and  his 
council,  and  take  five  bites  of  a  cruelly  pun- 
gent root.  Sometimes  he  was  obliged  to 
toss  and  catch  a  certain  number  of  times 


ono  of  the  prickly  soa-urchins,  which  aro 
coviTe(l  with  slender  spikes,  a.s  sbarj)  an 
needles  and  as  brittle  as  glass.  Sometnnea 
lie  had  to  beat  Iuh  head  with  sharp  stones 
initil  his  face  was  covered  with  blood. 

'I'bese  punishments  wi're  usually  iidlicliMl, 
but  there  was  a  si^vere  set  of  penalties  for 
gravt^r  otfenees.  In  somt!  cases  llie  otfender 
was  hung  by  the  feet  to  the  branch  of  a 
tre(s  or  stiipjied  of  all  his  clothes,  and  Het 
in  tile  burning  rays  of  the  niid-ilay  sun. 
OiK!  of  the  H(weresl,  as  well  as  most  flegrad- 
ing  nunishments  consisted  in  taking  a  polo 
cut  rroin  a  V(M-y  prickly  tree,  lying  together 
the  (■ulprit'.s  let^  and  hanils,  slinging  him 
on  till!  pole  as  pigs  are  sluug  when  they  aro 
beinjj;  taken  to  the  oven,  and  carrying  him 
to  liii!  house  or  village  against  whi(di  ho 
had  ollen<led. 

The  digrading  part  of  this  iiunishment 
consisted  in  likening  Ihe  oll'cnuer  to  a  pig 
going  to  the  oviui.  It  is  always  held  as  a 
dee|)  insult  to  a  Sainoan  to  eonipari!  him  to 
a  |)ig;  whil(!  the  very  i<lea  of  bein^'  baked  in 
the  oven  is  most  repul.^ive  to  the  feeling.i 
of  till!  jjooplc,  who  have  the  same  cont(^nipt 
for  any  of  llii!  proci^ssesof  cookery  that  pn;- 
vails  throughout  N(!W  Zealand,  Fiji,  and 
Tonga.  So  utterly  humiliatiiig  is  this  pun- 
ishment, that  when  tin;  culjirit  is  laid  hel])- 
lesa  lit  the  ft;et  of  those  whom  he  has  in- 
jured he  is  almost  invariably  rcdeasiid  and 
forgiven,  the  extreme  degradation  being 
ac('e,pled  as  an  atonement  for  almost  an^ 
olfeiice,  no  matter  how  heinous.  This  w 
the  reason  why  the  ceremony  of  Ifonga  is 
considered  as  .so  di^grading. 

Ind(!ed,  it  is  in  consenueiice  of  this  feel- 
ing that  cannibalism  is  occasionally  i)rac- 
tised,  thongli,  as  has  alnuidy  been  inim- 
tioned,  it  exists  in  a  very  modilied  form. 
Formerly,  the  women  always  attendecl  npou 
the  warriors  for  the  sake  of  obtaining  the 
bodies  of  the  slain  I'oi!.h,  which  they  draggtid 
lout  of  Ihe  liekl,  and  then  cooked,  \>y  way  of 
expressing  the  utmost  contempt  for  them. 
The  priests  nsed  also  to  accompany  the  war- 
riors, and  pr.ay  to  the  gods  for  success.  Tliey 
had  good  reas<ni  for  wishini;  for  victory,  as 
their  ])orfcion  of  the  food  was  only  the  hands  of 
tb  '  ilain  warriors,  and  ns  long  as  the  strng- 
gl  Lasted  they  were  not  allowed  to  eat  any 
other  food  cxce|)l  these  hands.  The  iiriesta  of 
the  losing  side  have  sometimes  been  obliged 
to  fast  for  several  days  in  succession. 

AVhen  the  body  of  a  chief  was  carried  off 
to  the  oven,  great  rejoicings  were  made, 
and  every  one  was  expccli'd  ti>  cat  a  piece 
of  it,  no  m.atter  liovv  small.  On  such  occa- 
sions, ev(>n  the  women  and  littlc!  children 
had  a  .share,  the  question  bcint;  frcr|uently 
asked  whether  all  have  tasted.  Sometimes, 
when  a  captive  has  been  taken  alive,  tho 
Samoans  have  been  known  to  tie  him  up  to 
ii  tree,  dig  a  hole  in  front  of  him,  line  it 
with  stones,  heat  it  before  his  eyes,  and 
then  throw  him  into  it. 


1024 


SAMOA. 


ill' 


According  to  the  accounts  of  the  natives, 
wars  wuro  t'orinerly  much  more  coninion 
tliiui  iM  now  the  case,  the  musket  having 
alninst  driven  the  pIuI)  and  spear  out  of  the 
field,  and  rendering  useless  tho  strength 
and  skill  of  the  warriors,  who  prided  theni- 
aelves  on  their  dexterity  of  handling  their 
weapons.  How  well  they  fence  with  the 
clul)  has  already  been  described,  and  that 
they  were  equally  efllcient  in  tho  use  of  the 
spear  is  evident  from  an  anecdote  told  by 
Mr.  Williams. 

A  chief  named  Matctau  had  come  on 
board  an  English  vessel,  and  the  captain, 
wishing  to  test  the  skill  of  his  visitor,  painted 
on  the  foresail  a  ring  about  four  or  five 
inclies  in  diameter,  and  asked  Matctau  to 
throw  his  spear  at  it.  The  chief  retired  to 
the  quarter-deck,  about  eighty  feet  from  the 
mark,  poised  his  spnar  for  a  moment,  and 
sent  it  through  the  middle  of  the  ring. 
AVarriors  thus  skilful  in  tho  use  of  their 
weajions  might  well  feel  indignant  at  the 
Inlroduetion  of  fire-arms,  which  equalize  the 
weak  and  the  strong,  and  enable  a  nu-re 
bov  only  just  tattooed  to  kill  the  greatest 
chief. 

When  cases  arc  brouglit  before  the  coun- 
cil for  adjudication,  both  plaintilf  and  de- 
femlant  exhibit  tho  greatest  inj^enuity  in 
stating  their  case,  and  are  wonderfullv  fertile 
in  inventing  new  arguments.  The  Samoan 
litigant  is  as  slipnery  as  an  eel,  and  no 
Rooner  has  lie  found  one  post  untenable  than 
he  has  contrived  to  glide  away  from  it  and 
establish  himself  in  another.  Mr.  Pritchard 
givi's  a  very  amusing  instance  of  this  char- 
acteristic of  tho  Samoan. 

The  property  of  an  English  resident,  who 
was  popularly  called  "  Monkey  Jack,"  had 
been  wantonly  destroyed,  and  the  injured 
man  referred  the  case  to  the  council.  As  at 
that  time  two  ships  of  war  arrived,  the  mat- 
ter was  by  common  consent  referred  to  the 
senior  otlicor,  and  the  plaintiff,  accompanied 
bv  bis  friends,  proceeded  to  the  spot.  The 
cJiiefs  were  convened,  and,  though  they 
could  not  deny  that  the  property  had  been 
destroyed,  they  put  forward  a  series  of  ex- 
cuses for  refusing  to  pay  any  indemnity. 

Firstly,  they  said  that  the  plaintiff  had 
joined  the  enemy,  .and  that  they  were  there- 
fore entitled  to  wage  war  on  him.  This  ac- 
r-nsation  being  refuted,  they  shifted  their 
ground  frt)m  the  man  to  liis  wife,  saying 
that  she  was  related  to  the  enemy,  ancl 
that  her  husband  necessarily  partook  of 
the  relationship!.  Fortunately,  the  woman 
hajipened  to  bo  related  equally  to  both  sides, 
so  tliat  the  defendants  had  to  abandon  that 
plea. 

Their  next  count  was,  that  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  property  was  accidental,  and  that 
therefore  the  owner  had  no  claim  on  them. 
As  their  own  previous  admissions  contra- 
dicted them,  there  was  no  difflculty  in  dis- 
posing of  this  allegation.    Their  next  line  of 


defence  was  a  very  ludicrous  one,  nnd 
8lu)wed  that  they  wi  ro  nearly  brought  to 
bay.  It  so  b  oipened  that  "  Monkey  Jack  " 
was  Hdmetliiiig  of  an  armorer,  and  used  to 
repair  for  iho  natives  the  nuiskets  which 
their  rough  hands  had  danuiged.  His 
opponents  suddenly  recollected  this  and 
turned  it  to  account,  saying  that  his 
charge^  for  repairs  \\  rre  so  much  heavier 
to  thim  than  to  tiie  enemy,  that  in  self- 
defence  they  had  taken  his  projjerty  in  con\- 
pensatlon.  Evidence  was  brought  that  hia 
charges  were  always  the  same  to  any  na- 
tives, no  matter  to  which  party  they  be- 
longed, and  so  the  defendants  were  again 
beaten. 

Like  wise  men,  however,  they  had  re- 
served their  weightiest  argument  to  tho 
last.  It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  in 
time  of  war  either  parly  has  no  scrujile  in 
destroying  or  confiscating  the  pro))erty  ()f  a 
friend,  on  the  plea  that  it  is  better  for  t!  vm 
to  have  the  use  of  the  propertv  than  for  .hc 
enemy  to  'ake  it.  The  defendants  brought 
forward  an  argument  based  on  this  custom, 
saving  that  they  only  acted  in  accordnnco 
with  national  custom,  and  that  they  had  de- 
stntyed  the  projierty  of  the  plainiid",  in  or- 
der to  keep  it  out  of  the  bands  of  the  en- 
emy. 

'riiis  was  by  far  the  most  formidable  ar- 
giuuent  they  could  have  emploved,  but 
"Monkey  Jack"  was  as  clever  as  liis  opiio- 
nents,  and  replied  with  crushing  ellect,  tliiit 
for  several  weeks  tlu?  ojiposite  jiarty  had 
been  able,  if  they  had  desired  to  do  so,  to  de- 
stroy all  his  property,  but  lad  refrained  from 
touching  it. 

When  the  chiefs  saw  that  they  had  met 
with  men  more  skilful  than  tbeiuselves  in 
argument,'  they  were  sadly  perplexeil,  and 
some  of  the  younger  chiefs  hit  on  a  mode 
by  which  they  thought  that  they  niigbt  es- 
cape from  paying  the  indemnity.  They 
Agreed  quietly  to  surround  the  spot  where 
the  captain  and  the  consul  were  silting,  and 
suddenl}'  carry  tlumi  otf,  and  retain  them  as 
hostages  until  the  indemnity  should  bo 
given  up.  Fortunately,  Mr.  I'ritchard  de- 
tected their  plot,  and  contrived  to  slip  back 
to  the  boats,  where  he  arranged  a  counter 
plot.  • 

Ik'fore  very  long,  the  Samoans  surrounded 
the  place  where  the  intended  captives  were 
silting,  and,  just  as  they  were  about  to  seize 
them,  Mr.  Pritchard  called  out  to  them,  and 
showed  them  that  they  were  covered  by  tho 
levelled  muskets  of  the  sailors  and  marines, 
who  h.id  accompanied  the  captain  and  the 
consul  to  the  spot.  Knowing  that,  unlike 
themselves,  the  English  warriors  had  an  in- 
convenient habit  of  hitting  when  they  tired, 
the  Samoan  chiefs  acknowledged  them- 
selves conquered,  and  agreed  to  pay  the  in- 
demnity. 

Another  case,  much  more  petty,  was  a 
very  ludicrous  one,  the  Samoan  absolutely 


PLAINTIFF  DEFEATK.)  WITH  HIS  ^nVN  WEAPONS. 


1095 


Rrnntinff  hlfimelf  to  ne  defeated  by  the  logic 
of  his  oppoiiiiit, 

Thfre  wiiH  ;i  ccrtniri  Wi-f  Indian  negro, 
who  a.id  taken  up  his  rcsid.  jce  in  Hamoa, 
and  had  attained  in  n  JioiRhboring  tribe  the 
rank  of  chief,  toRetl  w.th  tl»e  nan»o  of 
I'aunga.  A  native  cliai  na>  r-dToo  M>ngata 
(railed,  for  brevity's  itako,  'I  oe^,  had  ^  dog, 
which  was  in  the  habi'  of  stealing  from 
Paunga'8  house.  The  latier  hiul  often  com- 
plained to  theow  lerof  the  auinia!,  but  with- 
out sacccHs,  and  if  last,  ;><  the  dog  continued 
to  steal,  Paunga  hot  it.  Sovf  in  Samoa  to 
insult  a  chief's  .1  :  is  to  insult  the  owner, 
and  so  Too  co.isitlcrcd  himself  to  have  been 
shot  by  I'aunga. 

The  case  wan  at  last  referred  to  tnt  p- 
tain  of  an  English  man-ol-war,  but  Pnuuga 
refused  to  ajjpear,  saying  that  ho  was  a 
Samoan  chief,  and  not  under  the  jurisdiction 


of  a  foreigner.  A  die  of  armed  naarlti^H  wa» 
at  onco  sent  for  Paunga,  who  ingi  lously 
took  advantage  of  the  proceeding,  |lailug 
himxi'lf  at  their  head, and  telling  the  people 
that  thev  iriight  now  see  that  he  was  a  ehiof 
among  the  white  people  as  well  aa  among 
natives,  and  'lad  his  guard  of  honor,  without 
which  he  wi  i!d  not  li.ivo  stirred  out  of  th« 
house. 

llotli  being  before  the  captain,  Too  made 
his  (on  int.  ai.d  watt  Instantly  crushed  by 
Pa,i  I  ply.    He  ndmilt*!d  that  the  prop- 

erty oi  a  (  lier  was  Identical  with  the  owner. 
Consequently,  when  Toe's  dog  ate  Paunga's 
food,  he.  Toe,  ate  Paunga.  Therefore,  when 
I  Paunga  shot  Toe  in  the,  person  of  hiw  dog, 
'  he  only  balanced  tiie  account,  and  neither 
party  had  grounds  of  complaint  against  tho 
I  other. 


ti  f! 


^»ii 


8HAKK-T00TH  OATTNTLET. 
(See  page  1019.) 


60 


iS. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


m^. 


1.0 


LI 


1.25 


'•-'  illM 


2.2 


1^  i^ 

l^  lis  liiio 


i.4 


1.6 


-^ 


m 


^f 


o^*    ■  :> 


<? 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.v.  14580 

(7:6)  872-4S03 


^^ 


^^Z'^> 


"<?) 


\ 


>> 


CHAPTER  OrV. 

SAMOA,  OR  THE  NA7IGAT0ES'  IBLASBS  -  Concluded. 


AMUSEMENTS  —  HABRIAOB  —  ABCHITECTTJRE. 


!^ 


BAMOAN  AMU8EMBNT3  — PIGEON  CATCHINO -THE  DECOY  BIBDS,  AIT)  MODE  OP  USINO  THEM-TRAW- 
INO  THE  BIRDS -fishing:  THE  NET  AND  THE  LIN«-DABIN,1  JIODE  OF  SHARK  CATCHING - 
A  BOLD  FISHERMAN  — CURIOUS  ACCIDENTS  TO  THE  DIVERS:  THE  SHARK  AND  THE  CORAL -THE 
BOAU  HUNT— A  DANGEROUS  FOE  — 8AM0AN  COOKERY- THE  PALOLO  -  ITS  CURIOUS  APPEAR- 
^  ANCB,  MODE  LN  CAPTURE,  AND  WAY  OF  COOKir'O  PT -MARRIAGE  IN  SAMOA  -  CEREMONIES  IN 
THE  MARRIAGE  OF  A  CHIEF -THE  WEDDING  FEAST  AND  DANCES  -  SAMO  AN  AHCIiITE(rrURE - 
DIVISION  OF  THE  HOUSE  BY  MOSQUITO  CURTAINS. 


i: 


The  amusements  of  tlie  Samoans  are  in 
many  respects  identical  with  those  of  other 
Polynesians,  and  therefore  only  those  will 
be  described  wherein  is  anytliing  character- 
istic of  these  islanders.  One  of  the  princi- 
pal sports  is  pigeon  shooting,  which  is 
carried  on  in  certain  parts  of  the  wood 
expressly  prepared  for  it.  The  principle  on 
which  the  sport  is  followed  much  resembles 
that  of  the  rat  shooting  practised  by  the 
Tongans.  Several  chiefs  agree  to  go  oflf  on 
a  pigeon-catching  expedition,  and  at  the 
appomted  time  the  fowling  ground  is  cleared 
of  bush,  a  large  circle  is  marked  out  by 
stones,  and  just  outside  the  circle  arc  made 
a  number  of  ambushes,  formed  from  leaves 
and  branches,  which  are  cut  fresh  daily. 

Tlie  sport  is  preluded  by  a  drink  of  kava, 
and  when  this  indispensable  preliminary  is 
over,  the  chiefs  repair  to  their  stations,  each 
having  a  net  and  a  trained  bird.  The  net  is 
small,  and  is  fixed  to  the  end  of  a  bamboo, 
thirty  or  even  forty  feet  in  length.  The  bird 
is  perched  on  a  stick  near  its  master,  and  is 
attached  to  its  perch  by  a  string  forty  or 
fifty  yards  in  length. 

At  a  given  signal,  the  birds  are  thrown 
into  the  air,  and,  following  the  instructions 
they  have  received,  wheel  round  and  round 
for  some  little  time.  The  wild  pigeons  see 
them  from  a  distance,  and  fancying  from 
their  movements  that  they  are  hoverin* 
over  food,  fly  to  join  them.  Ad  they  wheel 
to  and  fro  with  the  vkecoy  birds,  the  chiefs  amount  or 
raise  their  nets   and   dexterously  capture  I  their  sport 

(102(>) 


them.  He  who  takes  the  greatest  number 
of  pigeons  wins  the  game,  and  receives  from 
each  of  the  other  jjlaycrs  a  stake  which  has 
been  previously  fixed  upon.  Generally  the 
stakes  consist  of  food  or  kava  roots,  and  in 
such  cases  the  winner  practically  gains 
nothing  but  the  honor  of  winning  the  game, 
as  the  food  is  cooked  and  distributed  by  the 
winner  to  all  his  companions,  and  the  kava 
is  converted  into  drink. 

These  bird-catching  parties  last  for  a  very 
long  lime,  the  players  sometimes  remaining 
on  the  spot  for  a  month.  Huts  are  conse- 
quently run  up  around  the  open  space  on 
[  .vhich  the  birds  are  flown.  The  second 
engraving  on  the  next  pstge  illustrates  this 
sport  very  accurately. 

The  decoy  birds  are  most  carefully  trp.incd, 
the  object  of  the  trainer  hv'm<x  to  make  them 
rise  at  the  word  of  conimanct,  Hy  tc  the  end 
of  the  string,  wheel  round  in  graceful  cir- 
cles for  some  time,  and  then  return  to  the 
perch.  When  a  bird  will  remain  on  the 
wing  for  five  minutes  and  return  to  its 
perch  at  its  master's  call,  it  is  considered  as 
having  been  highly  trained,  and  is  held  in 
great  estimation.  The  natives  may  be  often 
seen  engaged  in  training  the  birds  in  the 
open  space  in  the  centre  of  the  village.  The 
birds  are  encouraged  in  their  flight  by  a 
peculiar  mode  of  jerking  the  string. 

Fishing   is   a  very  favorite    amusement 

with  the  Samoans,  who  display  a  wonderful 

amount  of  skill  and  often  of  courage  in 

The  latter  quality  is  chiefly 


(1.)  SAMOAN    WAIiKIOUS   KXrH ANOIN«   DKKIANCK.    iSiepiijfe  lOal.) 


(8.)   Plti^ON   CAH'lllMI    KY    SAMOANS.     (S.v  |uii;f  llOl.) 


i' 


& 


ii^ 


! 


"TV"-" 


DARING  METHOD  OF  SHARK  CATCHING. 


brought  into  play  when  the  natives  are 
occupied  in  sharlt  i\ehing.  Whenever  a 
great  fci  st  3  to  be  held,  the  fiHhcrmeu  go 
oir  in  searuu  of  sharks,  the  flesh  of  this  fish 
bein<?  one  of  the  principal  dainties  of  Samoa. 
Tlie  rtshermen  go  oft"  in  canoes,  each  canoe 
being  manned  by  two  or  three  fishermen, 
who  are  supplied  with  a  strong  rope,  having 
a  noose  at  one  end  and  a  quantity  of  animal 
oflal. 

Going  to  the  edge  of  the  lagoon,  where  the 
sharks  lie  under  'shelter  of  the  rocks,  the 
men  throw  the  oflal  overboard,  for  the 
double  purpose  of  attracting  and  gorging 
the  sharks.  They  then  peer  into  the  water, 
and  when  one  of  "the  fishermer  sees  a  shark 
lazily  strelchin"  itself  on  the  sand  that  lies 
under  the  overlianging  rocks,  he  lets  him- 
self very  quietly  into  the  sea,  dives  down 
with  the  rope  in  his  hand,  slips  the  noose 
over  the  shark's  tail,  and  rises  to  the  surface. 
As  soon  as  he  gets  into  the  boat,  the  men 
drag  the  shark  out  of  his  retreat,  and  haul 
away  until  the  creature's  tail  is  raised  out 
of  the  sea,  when  it  becomes  nearly  helpless. 
A  sudden  jerk  brings  it  into  the  canoe, 
where  it  is  instantly  killed. 

Sometimes  the  sliark  lies  in  a  deep  sub- 
marine cave,  with  only  its  head  out  of  the 
opening.  The  Samoan  fisherman,  however, 
IS  not  to  bo  baffled  by  this  attitude,  but 
d.ves  down  to  the  shark,  and  taps  it  gently 
on  the  head.  The  fish  replete,  with  food, 
feels  annoyed  at  the  interruption,  and  turns 
round,  exposing  as  it  does  so  its  tail  to  the 
daring  fisherman,  who  slips  the  noose  over 
it  in  a  moment 

One  young  man,  mentioned  by  Mr. 
Pritchard,  was  celebrated  for  his  daring  in 
this  si)ort.  He  disdained  r.ssistance,  and 
used  to  go  out  alone  in  a  little  canoe,  drop- 
ping bait  overboard  in  order  to  attract  the 
sliarks,  and  throwing  his  noosed  rope  over 
their  tails.  On  one  occasion  the  rope  broke, 
but  the  brave  fellow  had  no  idea  of  losing 
both  shark  and  rope.  He  leaped  overboard 
among  all  the  sharks,  seized  the  rope, 
scrambled  inio  his  canoe  again,  and,  after  a 
long  and  severe  struggle,  succeeded  in  kill- 
ing Ills  shark  and  towing  it  ashore. 

.Soinitimes  the  hook  is  used  in  shark  fish- 
ing. Tiie  fishermen  bait  a  liook,  carry  it 
out  in  a  canoe  in  twelve  feet  or  so  of  water, 
and  bring  the  line  back  to  land.  Before 
very  long  a  sliark  is  ncarlv  sure  to  seize  the 
bait;  and  when  the  fish"  is  fairly  hooked, 
several  men  ha'il  at  the  rope  and  drag  the 
shark  into  shallow  water,  where  it  ii?  allowed 
to  flounce  about  until  it  is  exhausted,  and  is 
then  killed  without  difficulty. 

Such  a  sport  as  this  is  neopssarily  at- 
tended with  much  danger,  but  the  Sahioan 
fisherman  is  nearly  as  much  at  home  in  the 
water  as  (he  shark  itself,  and  treats  his  dan- 
gerous game  with  the  same  caay  indiflference 
which  a  Spanish  matador  displays  toward  a 
furious  bull.    Accidents  certainly  do  happen 


102? 

in  both  cases,  but  they  are  the  exception, 
and  not  the  rule. 

Another  of  their  amusements  which  is 
dangerous  is  pig  hunting.  As  the  swine 
are  allowed  to  run  loose  in  the  woods,  they 
have  reverted  to  their  wild  modes  of  life, 
and  are  sly,  swift,  active,  and  ferocious.  It 
•8  thought  a  point  of  honor  for  a  chief  to 
challenge  a  wild  boar,  and  to  receive  no  as- 
sistance except  in  case  of  extreme  need. 
The  hunter  is  armed  with  his  knife  and 
tomahawk,  or  sometimes  with  a  whale 
spade,  which  makes  a  very  formidable 
weapon  if  the  ed^es  are  kept  sharp. 

To  kill  one  of  the  animals  is  no  easy  task. 
In  the  first  place,  a  wild  boar  is  so  quick 
that  nothing  but  the  greatest  activity  can 
save  the  hunter  from  its  tusks;  and  were 
the  fight  to  take  place  on  an  open  plain 
instead  of  among  trees,  behind  which  the 
hunter  can  jump  when  hard  pressed,  the 
beast  might  probably  get  the  better  of  the 
man.  Then  the  boar  is  wonderfully  tena- 
cious of  life,  and  has  a  skin  so  tough  that  a 
sharp  weapon  and  a  strong  arm  are  needed 
to  inflict  a  mortal  wound.  Even  when  the 
ar  i:;'.l  has  fallen,  and  is  apparently  dead, 
an  experienced  hunter  always  drives  his 
knife  into  its  throat,  as  boars  have  an  awk- 
wird  way  of  suddenly  reviving,  leaping  on 
r  -ir  logs,  and  dashing  through  their  foes 
lato  the  bush. 

The  sows  are  even  more  dangerous  antag- 
onists than  the  boars.  They  are,  as  a  rule, 
lighter,  thinner,  and  more  active,  and,  al- 
though they  have  no  long  tusks  wherewith 
to  rip  up  their  foes,  they  can  bite  as  shaMjly 
and  as  quickly  as  wolves.  Indeed,  were  it 
not  for  the  dogs  which  are  trained  to  boar- 
luinting,  and  are  wonderfully  courageous  and 
skilful,  though  very  ugly  and  most  unprom- 
ising to  the  eye,  they  would  seldom  be 
b. ought  to  bay. 

Mr.  Pritchard  gives  an  account  of  an  ad- 
venture of  his  own  with  a  boar,  which  gives 
an  excellent  ii.ea  of  the  ferocity,  cunninc 
and  activity  of  the  animals.  The  boar  ha'cl 
actually  received  two  rifle  bullets  in  his 
left  shoulder,  inflicting  wounds  which  would 
have  disabled,  if  not  killed,  most  animals, 
but  seemed  only  to  irritate  the  boar  by  the 
pain. 

"  The  fury  of  the  beast  was  intense,  with 
its  two  wounds  and  the  worrying  of  the 
dogs.  He  stood  grinding  his  teeth  and 
frothing  at  the  mouth,  looking  first  at  one 
and  then  at  another  of  us,  as  if  measuring 
an  antagonist  for  fight  The  chief  sug- 
gested that  one  of  us  should  tackle  him, 
while  the  others  looked  on  without  interfer- 
ing. Of  course  I  had  to  claim  the  privilege 
to, do  so  after  such  a  challenge;  though,  in 
truth,  this  being  the  first  boar  I  had  ever 
encountered,  I  felt  as  if  I  had  somewhat 
rashly  undertaken  the  combat,  for,  even 
with  his  two  wounds,  I  fancied  he  might 
possibly  hold  out  longer  than  myself,  and,  if 


1080 


SAMOA, 


I  failecl  to  kill  him,  the  failure  would  be  fine 
sport  lor  my  comnides,  and  not  soou  forgot- 
ten in  their  jokes. 

"  However,  I  stepped  out  in  front  of  the 
infuriated  beast,  and  no  sooner  was  I  there 
than  lie  was  there  too  —  quite  promptly 
enough,  I  thoujj;ht.  He  made  a  furious 
cli\ge  at  me,  which  I  received  with  the 
butt  end  of  my  ritle,  trying  to  throw  him 
over  on  his  wounded  side,  but  ineffectually. 
A  second  time  he  came  at  me,  and  a  second 
lime  I  checked  him.  As  he  drew  up  for  the 
liiird  charge,  his  long  bristles  standing  on 
end,  grinding  his  tusks  and  tossing  the  froth 
from  his  huge  mouth,  I  drew  my  tomahawk. 
On  he  came.,  swifter  than  ever;  the  toma- 
hawk fell  deep  into  the  thick  part  of  his 
neck,  and  mv  boy  Atamu  did  the  rest  with 
his  long  kuite. 

"  It  was  rather  hot  work,  for  these  boars 
have  immense  strength  and  no  little  dogged 
pluck,  and  their  skins  are  so  tough  that 
often  a  spear  will  break  short  off  without 
leaving  even  a  mark  where  it  struck." 

The  same  ooar  had  previously  forced  the 
writer  to  employ  rather  a  ludicrous  mauceu- 
vre.    He  had  flred  at  the  shoulder  of  the 
animal,  thinking  that,  if  the  bullet  did*not 
rcacli  the  heart,  it  would  at  all  events  dis- 
able him.   But  the  boar  made  at  him  almost 
as  it  received  the  shot,  and  sprang  on  him 
so  quickly  that  he  was  forced  to  jump  over 
its  head  upon  its  back,  and  roll  off  toward 
the  nearest  tree.     The  smaller   pigs    are 
killed  in  a  different  manner.    The  dogs  are 
trained  to  catch  them  by  the  ears,  shoul- 
de»6,  and  tail,  and  when  the  hunters  come 
up  they  place  a  stick  across  the  animal's 
throat,  and  press  it  down  until  the  pig  is  dead. 
As  to  the  cookery  of  the  Sanioans,  there 
is  little  to  distinguish  it  from  that  of  the 
Tongans  and  other  Polynesians  of  the  same 
race.  They  have  a  great  abundance  of  dishes, 
being  able  to  produce  almost  as  great  a  vari- 
ety in  that  respect  as  the  Fijians,  and  many 
of  their  dishes  are  extremely  palatable  to  an 
European.    Vegetables  form  the  staple  of 
the    Samoan's .  food,  and  of  those  he  has 
abundant  choice.    Putting  aside  those  veg- 
etables whicli  have  been  imported  from  Eu- 
rope, he  lias  yams,  taro,  bananas,  bread- 
fruit, cocoa-nuts,  and  plantains.    Sometimes 
these  are  cooked  separately  and  sometimes 
mixed,  in  order  to  produce  a   compound 
more  paliicable  to  native  taste.    As  a  rule, 
tlie  simpler  specimens  of  Samoan  cookery 
please  even  the  English  palate,  but  when 
the  native  cooks  dress  compound  dishes  the 
natives  are  generally  the  only  persons  who 
can  eat  them. 

For  instance,  there  is  nothing  better  in 
its  way  than  the  young  cocoa-nut,  which  is 
entirely  different  from  the  hard,  indigestible 
state  in  which  we  -ee  it  in  England.  But 
when  the  milk  is  poured  out,  its  place  is 
sunplied  with  salt  water,  and  the  contents 
allowed  to  become  putrid,  the  compound  is 


offensive  to  more  senses  than  one.  Some  of 
their  compounds  are,  however,  excelkut. 
Such  is  a  sort  of  pudding  made  by  pouri.ig 
the  juice  of  cocoa-nuts  over  bananas,  and 
baking  them  toirether.  Even  the  very 
young  kernel  of  the  cocoa-nut  makes  a  very 
rich  dish  when  baked. 

The  strangest  diet  of  the  Samonns  is  the 
annelid  called  the  Palolo  {Pahh  viridis). 
Mr.  Piitchard  gives  an  excellent  account  of 
this  curious  being  and  the  mode  of  cooking  it. 
It  appears  only  in  certain  strictly  defined 
and  very  limited  localities  in  each  group 
(f.  e.  in  Fiji,  Tonga,  and  Samoa);  a  month 
earlier,  about  the  first  week  in  November,  in 
Samoa  than  in  the  two  other  groups.  It 
rises  directly  from  the  bottom  of  the  sea 
to  the  surface,  ajjpearing  first  about  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  continuing  to 
increase  in  number,  until  about  half  an  hour 
after  sunrise,  when  it  begins  to  dissolve,  and 
gradually  disappears.  By  eight  o'clock  not 
a  trace  of  the  palolo  remains  in  the  sea. 
They  look  just  like  so  many  worms,  from  an 
inch  to  a  yard  in  length,  showing  every  con- 
ceivable color  as  they  wriggle  about,  and 
are  soil  to  the  touch. 

"  The  time  of  their  appearance  is  calcu- 
lated by  the  old  men  of  the  various  tribes, 
and  is  known  by  the  sun,  moon,  and  stars 
having  a  particular  bearing  t»  each  other. 
A  month  before  the  great  appearance,  a  few 
are  found  in  each  of  the  localities  where 
they  rise.  Parties  go  out  in  their  canoes  to 
watch  for  this  first  appearance,  for  by  it  the 
calculation  as  to  the  second  and  great  ap- 
pearance is  verified. 

"  When  tliat  time  comes,  whole  villages, 
men,  women,  and  children, crowd  the  scene; 
by  two  o'clock  the  h.  a  is  covered  with  canoes, 
the  outriggers  j^etting  foul  and  breaking 
adrift  without  distracting  the  attention,  as 
by  four  o'clock  all  are  busied  scooping  up 
the  palolos  and  pouring  them  into  baskets 
made  for  the  occasion.  The  noise  and  ex- 
citement from  four  to  six  o'ckck  is  some- 
thing astonishing,  ant'  the  scrambling  most 
amusing.  And  when,  th  canoes  landed, 
the  crowd  disperses,  >  j  next  thing  is  to 
prepare  the  ovens  to  cook  the  palolos,  which 
are  merely  wrapped  in  bread-fruit  leaves. 
They  are  sent  round  with  much  formality  to 
friends  at  a  distance,  and  sometimes  kept 
three  or  four  weeks  by  being  occasionally 
warmed  in  an  oven. 

"  I  never  could  muster  courage  to  do  more 
than  merely  taste  them,  so  repulsive  is  their 
very  appearance  as  they  roll  and  coil  to- 
gether, though  Englishmen  and  even  Eng- 
lish M'omen  there  are  who  eat  them,  and 
professedly  with  a  relish,  for  which  I  sup- 
pose one  cannot  but  accept  their  word.  One 
lady  in  particular  there  is,  as  described  by 
Dr.  Seeman,  a  '  strong-minded  individual,' 
who  eats  palolo  with  a  remarkable  gusto.  I 
think  she  will  not  be  deprived  of  her  fancy 
dish  by  many  of  her  visitors." 


A  CURIOUS  DISIL 


1031 


There  hna  been  much  discussion  about 
the  piUolo,  miiuy  persons  Imviiig  (loul)loil 
whotlier  it  was  iver  uu  uuuelid,  and  believ- 
ing the  worms  to  bo  lucre  strings  of  spawn. 
The  question  has,  liowcver,  been  settled, 
and  tliere  is  an  elaborate  paper  on  the  i)alolo 
in  tlie  "  Transactions  of  tlie  Linnojan  Soci- 
ety," vol.  xxii.  p.  237. 

The  worm  is  allied  to  the  well-known 
Nereids,  several  species  of  which  are  so 
plentiful  on  our  own  shores.  It  is  Hattish, 
about  the  sixth  of  an  inch  in  width,  and  con- 
sists of  a  vast  number  of  segments.  The 
entire  specimen  hiuj  never  been  secured,  bo 
delicate  and  fragile  is  the  creature,  and  it  is 
with  the  greatest  dilliculty  that  a  head  can 
be  discovered.  Among  the  specimens  iirst 
sent  to  the  British  Museum,  not  a  single 
head  could  be  found,  and  among  a  large 
bottle  full  of  palolo  collected  expressly  lor 
'     —  'ead  — "  ''■" 


scientitic  purposes,  only  one  head  was  dis 
covered.  The  head  is  a  little  narrower  than 
the  joints  which  compose  the  neck,  and  is 
furnished  -vith  two  little  eyes  on  the  unpcr 
surface,  between  which  are  placed  throe 
tentacles,  of  which  the  middle  is  the  longest. 
The  normal  color  of  the  annelid  is  green, 
and  it  is  remarkable  for  the  regularly  dotted 
appearance  of  the  back,  one  black  dot  being 
placed  on  the  middle  of  each  segment.  So 
rcguiarly  does  the  palolo  make  its  appear- 
ance, that  among  the  Fiji  group  the  months 
of  October  and  November  are  known  by 
the  names  of  the  Little  Palolo  and  Great 
Palolo,  the  former  being  the  month  in 
which  it  is  first  seen,  and  the  second  that  m 
which  it  makes  its  grand  appearance.  i 

Marriages  in  Samoa  are  conducted 
much  like  those  of  Tonga,  the  latter  group 
of  islands  having  borrowed  many  ot  the 
Samoan  customs.  It  is  thought  rather  be- 
low the  dignity  of  a  chief  to  court  a  wile 
for  himself,  and  that  office  is  genera  ly  un- 
dertaken by  his  friends,  who  praise  him  in 
the  most  unmeasured  terms,  and  do  -^11  in 
th-ir  power  to  induce  the  girl  to  yield. 
When  her  consent  has  been  given,  the  duet 
sends  property  to  her  father,  and  receives  in 
return  fine  mats  and  other  articles,  this  ex- 
change being  considered  as  the  betrothal. 

On  the  dav  of  marriage,  the  bride,  well 
anointed  with  oil,  colored  with  turmeric,  and 
dressed  in  large  quantities  of  the  finest  mats, 
is  placed  in  the  malae,  or  open  space  in  the 
centre  of  the  village,  attended  liy  her  young 
friends,  who  are  arraved  in  all  the  gorMous- 
ness  of  savage  flneryl  with  wreaths  of  flowers 
and  nautilus  .shells' on  their  heads.  She  is 
also  accompanied  by  the  two  duennas  who 
have  had  cliarge  of  her,  and  who  chant  her 
praises  and  extol  her  virtue.  The  object  of 
this  public  assembly  is  to  prove  whether  the 
girl  he  worthy  to  be  the  wife  of  a  chief. 
Should  the  verdict  be  in  her  favor,  she  is 
presented  to  the  people  as  the  chiefs  wife, 
and,  amid  their  acclamations,  is  taken  into 
the  house  by  her  duennas  and  attendanis. 


Should,  as  is  ve.y  seldom  the  case,  the  ver- 
dict be  adverse,  all  the  male  members  of  her 
family,  even  her  fathers  and  brothers,  rush 
on  her  with  their  clubs  and  kill  her  on  tho 
spot,  in  order  to  take  away  the  disgrace 
which  she  has  brought  on  her  house. 

Ailer  the  bride  has  been  led  away  there  is 
a  grand  dance.    This  difl'ers  somewhat  from 
the  dances  which  are  usually  seen  among 
the    Polynesians.     The    spectators    being 
seated  in  a  circle  round  a  cleared  space, 
and  keejiing  up  a  monotonous  chant,  the 
men  first  enter  the  circle,  led  by  a  voung_ 
chief,  and  clothed  merely  in  the  little  leat 
apron,  so  as  to  show  oft"  the  tattoo  to  the 
best  advantage.   Their  leader  goes  through  a 
vast  number  of  steps,  sometimes  leaping  high 
in  the  air,  and  sometimes  executing  move- 
ments of  a  slower  and  more  graceful  charac- 
ter, while  every  step  is  watched  and  criti- 
cised as  it  is  danced  by  the   leader  and 
imitated  bv  his  followers.    After  the  men 
have  dance'd  for  some  time  they  retire,  and 
a  number  of  girls  enter,  who  go  through 
evolutions  of  a  similar  character,  and  after- 
ward both  men  and  women  dance  together. 
The  houses  of  the  Samoans  are  all  built 
on  the  same  model.  ■  They  are  very  conser- 
vative in  some  of  their  ideas,  and  follow 
implicitly  the  plan  which  was  adopted  by 
the  chief  who,  according  to  their  traditions, 
first  built  a  dwelling.    At  a  distance,  the 
appearance  of  the  house  has  been  comi  aicd 
to  a  large  mushroom. 

'^he  first  process  is,  to  make  a  large  plat- 
form of  rough  stones,  covered  with  gravel, 
extending  some  twenty  feet  on  every  side 
beyond  the  walls  of  the  house..  In  the  een- 
1  tre  are  planted  three  posts,  standing  about 
twenty-five  feet  out  of  the  ground.  L  pon 
these  central  posts  are  supported  the  ratters 
of  the  roof,  one  end  of  eaeli  rafter  being  fixed 
to  them,  and  the  other  end  to  the  tojis  of 
short  posts  about  four  feet  high,  which  form, 
or  rather  which  do  duty  for.  the  walls  of  the 
house.    Real  walls  there  none,  but  at 

night  the  space  between  the  ,  .;st8  is  closed 
by  blinds  made  of  plaited  cocoa-nut  1(  ves. 
The  whole  framework  of  the  roof  is  ma.ie  in 
several  sections,  so  that  it  can  be  removed. 

The  thatch  is  made  of  the  leaves  of  the 
sugar-cane,  nailed  by  the  women  to  reeds 
with  spikes  made  of  the  ribs  of  the  cocoa- 
nut  leaves.  About  four  thousand  leaves  are 
are  required  for  thatching  a  house,  and  they 
are  lashed  careftiUy  with  cocoa-nut  fibre. 

The  floor  of  the  house  is  strewn  with  very 
fine  gravel  and  covered  with  mats.  There 
are  no  separate  chambers,  but  at  night  the 
house  is  divided  into  a  number  of  sleeping 
places  bv  means  ot  the  mosquito  curtains 
which  are  attached  to  the  central  post,  and  let 
down  when  required.  It  is  a  point  of  eti- 
quette that  all  guests  should  be  supplied 
with  clean  mats.  The  pillow  used  m  bamoa 
is  like  that  of  Fiji,  and  is  nothing  more  than 
a  stick  supported  on  a  foot  at  each  end. 


CHAPTER  CV. 

HERVEY  AND  KINGSMILL  ISLANDS. 

APPEARANCE  —  WEAPONS  —  GOVERNMENT. 


i 


POSITION  OF  THE  HKBVEY  ISLANDS  -  FIEBCB  AND  TREACHEHOna  NATtTRE  OF  CnE  INHABITANTS - 
THE  CIIIBF  MOUltOOA,  AND  HIS  VISIT  TO  TUB  HIIIl— HKILL  IN  CAUVINO  -  TIlKIll  HKAUTIKiri. 
PADDLKS  AND  CANOE8-THE  MANGAIAN  ADZE:  ITS  OABVED  HANDLE  AND  8T0NK  HKAD-THE 
MANV-HABBKU  SI-BAH-THE  CLUIl  AND  SLINO-TIIK  FOITU  HANKS  IN  UATTLE -KBUOCITV  OF  THE 
WOMEN  — FEUDS  AND  THEIB  C()N8EQUEN(;ES  — A  MANOAIAN  HOUSE —  FOOD— PHOOUBINU  AND 
COOKING  rr-A  IlATHUNT-roOLHOFTHE  MANOAIAN8-THB  KINOSMILL  IBLANDEUS- IX>CALITV 
AND  OENBBAL  DE8CBIPTI0N  OF  THE '  KINOSMILL  ISLANDS -AVl-BARANCE  OF  THE  NATIVES  — 
ABOHITECTUnE- DRESS  AND  TATTOOING-^  WARLIKE  NATURE -THE  TERHII.LE  WEAI-OHS  OF 
THESE  ISLANDS-TUB  SWORD  AND  SPEAB-MODB  OF  GOVERNMENT -BURIAL  OF  A  DEAD  CHIEF 


Eastward  of  Samoa,  and  rather  south- 
ward, Ho  tlie  Hervey,  or  Cook's  Islands, 
Tlie  groupincludeaacven  islands,  the  princi- 
pal of  which  is  RaiotoiiRa,  an  island  ho- 
tween  thn-ty  and  forty  miles  in  circumfer- 
ence. This  inland  is  remarkable  for  tlio 
lofty  mountains  of  the  interior,  and  round  it 
extends  a  large  reef  of  coral.  Some  of  the 
islands  i\re  entirely  coral,  and  all  of  them 
are  surrounded  by  the  dangerous  coral  reefs, 
at  which  the  coral  "  insects  "  arc  stilJ  work- 
ing. 

In  general  appearance  the  people  bear 
much  resemblance  to  theSamoans.butseem 
to  be  of  a  more  warlike  and  ferocious  char- 
acter. Indeed,  so  quarrelsome  and  blood- 
thirsty are  the  natives  of  this  group,  that 
when  Mr.  Williams  visited  Ilervey's  Island 
he  found  that  only  sixty  of  the  population 
survived,  and  a  few  years  later  they  were 
reduced  to  Ave  men,  tlireo  women,  and  some 
children,  and  these  were  on  the  point  of  flight- 
ing among  themselves,  in  order  to  ascertain 
which  should  be  king. 

One  of  thQ  principal  islands  of  this  group, 
namely,  Mangaia,  was  discovered  by  Cap- 
tain Cook  in  March  1777.  The  natives  were 
very  unwilling  to  come  on  board  the  vessel, 
but  at  last  two  men  put  off  in  a  canoe,  their 
curiosity  overcoming  their  terror.  The 
name  of  one  of  them  was  Mourooa,  and  he 
was  distinguishable  by  a  large  scar  on  his 


J<>rehead,  the  result  of  a  wound  received 


battle 


; 


"Mourooa,"  writes  Captain  Cook,  "was 
lusty  and  well-made,  but  not  very  tall.  His 
features  were  agreeable,  and  his"dispo8ition 
seemingly  no  less  so,  for  he  made  several 
droll  gesticulations,  which  indicated  both 
good  nature  and  a  sl-.are  t)f  humor.  lie  also 
made  others  which  seemed  of  a  serious  kind, 
and  reiieated  some  words  with  a  devout  air 
befi>r(^  he  ventured  to  lay  hold  of  the  rope  at 
the  ship's  stern;  which  was  probably  to  rec- 
ommend himself  to  the  protection  of  some 
divinity. 

'■  His  color  was  nearly  of  the  same  cast 
common  to  the  most  southern  Europeans. 
The  other  man  was  not  so  handsome.  Both 
of  them  had  strong,  straight  hair,  of  a  jet 
color,  tied  together  on  the  crown  of  the 
hea<l  with  a  bit  of  cloth.  They  wore  such 
girdles  as  we  perceived  about  those  on  shore, 
and  wo  found  they  wore  a  substance  made 
from  the  Moras  pupyrifera,  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  at  the  other  islands  of  this  ocean.  It 
was  glazed,  like  the  sort  used  by  the  natives 
of  the  Friendly  Islands,  but  the  cloth  on 
their  heads  was  white,  like  that  which  is 
found  at  Otaheite. 

"  They  had  on  a  kind  of  sandal  made  of  a 
grassy  substance  interwoven,  which  wo  also 
observed  were  worn  by  those  who  stood 
upon  the  beach,  and,  as  wo  supposed,  in- 
tended to  defend  their  feet  against  the  rough 
coral  rock.  Their  beards  were  long;  and 
in  j  the  inside  of  their  arms,  from  the  shoulder 
I  to  the  elbow,  and  some  other  parts,  were 


THE  CHIEF  MOUROOA. 


1033 


punctured  or  tattooed,  nflcr  the  manner  of 
the  inli!il)itfintM  of  uIiikiwI  nil  the  other  inliindn 
iu  the  Houlh  Sea.  'J  he  lobo  of  their  ears 
was  i)ierce<l,  or  rather  slit,  and  to  bucIi  n 
leiiL'th  that  one  of  them  sluek  there  a  knife 
ami  Home  headn  wliieh  ho  liad  received  front 
us;  and  the  name  piiHon  lia<l  two  polished 
noarl-shells  and  a  bunch  of  human  liair 
loosely  twisted  lumgiuf;  alxuit  Ids  neek.  which 
was  the  only  ornament  we  observed." 

After  sonu^  time,  Mourooa  ventured  on 
board  the  ship,  l)ut  seemed  very  uneasy 
at  his  position,  his  feeliii},'sof  curiosity  being 
overeome  by  those  of  alarm  at  llnding  him- 
Belf  in  so  «!>,">"'''<'  '^  vessel.  lie  showed  lit- 
tle curiosity  about  the  ship  and  the  various 
objects  which  it  contained,  but  the  sight  of 
a  goat  entirely  drove  out  of  his  mind  any 
emotion  excci)l  wonder,  ho  never  having 
seen  so  large  an  animal.  lie  wanted  to 
know  what  bird  it  could  be,  and,  as  soon  as 
lie  could  get  ashore,  he  was  seen  narrating 
to  the  peonle  the  wonders  which  ho  had  seen 
on  board  tne  great  canoe. 


All  the  llervey  Islanders  are  gifted  with 
a  natural  aj)pfeeuvtion  of  art,  and  the  inhab- 
itanta  of  Mangaia  seem  to  be  pre-eminent  in 
this  respect.  They  lavish  the  most  minute 
and  elaborate  carving  on  various  objects,  tlie 
handles  of  tools  and  the  paddles  seeming  to 
bo  their  favorite  subjects.  The  beautiful 
paddle  whicli  is  shown  on  the  1018th  page, 
IS  drawn  from  a  specimen  in  my  own  collec- 
tion. It  is  nearly  four  feet  in  length,  and 
the  blade  is  eleven  inches  wide  in  the 
broadest  part.  The  pailern  is  given  as  well 
as  can  be  done,  considering  the  minute  elab- 
oration of  the  original.  The  opposite  face 
of  the  blade  is  even  more  carefully  decorated, 
and  perhaps  with  a  more  artistic  design. 
The  squared  shaft  of  the  paddle  is  covered 
with  carving,  as  is  also  the  peculiarly  shaped 
handle.  •  . 

Another  paddle  is  made  in  a  similar  man- 
ner, except  that  the  shaft  is  rounded  in- 
stead of  sfpian.'d,  and  decorated  at  the  handle 
with  a  row  of  ornaments  which  seem  to  be 
conventional  imitations  of  the  human  face 
(see  lig.  2).  The  wood  of  which  these  pad- 
dles are  made  is  light,  though  strong  and 
clastic;  and,  as  the  implement  is  sometimes 
used  as  a  club,  both  these  last-mentioned 
characteristics  are  needed. 

Captain  Cook  noticed  the  peculiar  shape 
of  these  paddles,  though  he  does  not  ap- 
pear to  have  handled  them,  or  to  have  ex- 
amined them  carefully.  "  The  canoe  they 
came  in  (which  was  the  only  one  wo  saw) 
was  not  above  ten  feet  long  and  very  nar- 
row, but  both  strong  and  neatly  made.  The 
fore-part  had  a  Ixiard  fastened  over  it  and 
projecting  out,  so  as  to  prevent  the  sea  from 
getting  in  on  plunging  .  .  .  but  it  had  an 
H])right  stern  about  five  feet  high,  like  some 
in  New  Zealand,  and  the  upper  part  of  this 
stern-post  wa.s  forked.  The  lower  part  of 
Uio  cnnoo  was  of  white  wood,  but  the  upper 


was  black,  and  their  pmldles  made  of  wood 
of  the  same  color,  not  above  three  feet  long, 
broad  at  one  end  and  blunted." 

Another  pad<lle  was  brought  to  England 
by  the  lato  Admiral  Young,  and  presented 
to  me  by  his  daughter.     It  is  not  ho  large  as 
the  specimens   which   have   been  Just  de- 
scribed, but  is   the  most  delicately  carved 
specimen  1  have  ever  seen.    The  wood  of 
which  it  is  made  is  a  very  rich  dark  brown, 
and  takes  a  high  polish,  so  that  the  etl'ect  of 
the  carving  is  peculiarly  good.    The  blade 
is  covered  withavi\st  number  of  stars,  won- 
derfuUv  well  carved,  seeing  that  the  native 
makerliad  no  compasses  by  which  to  take  his 
ineasuremi'Ut,  ana  that  his  only  tools  were 
sharks'  teeth  and  bits  of  stone.    The  maker 
has  spared  no  pains  over  this  trophy  of  hi« 
skill,  and,  as  it  to  show  his  own  fertility  of 
invention,  be  has  not  covered  the  whole  of 
the  shaft  with  the  same  pattern,  as  is  the 
case  with   the  two  i)addle8  that  have  just 
been  described,  hut  has  changed  the  pattern 
every   few    inches.    I    have    also  a  much 
smaller  and  shorter  paddle,  not  (piito  three 
feet  in  length,  whicli   is  made  with  equal 
care,  but  which  is  not  intended  so  much  for 
use  in  i)ropelling  boats  us  for  ornament  in 

dancing.  .    ,.     ,       ,  • 

The  love  of  ornamentation  is  displayed  in 
all  their  manufactures,  which  are  decorated 
in  a  nuinner  equally  elaborate  and  artistic. 
Even  their  drinking  cups,  which  are  mado 
from  cocoa-nut  shells,  are  covered  with 
carved  patterns  of  a  nature  similar  to  those 
of  the  i)addles. 

The  reader  will  remark  that  many  Tolyne- 
sians  adorn  with  carving  the  handles  of  their 
tools  and  weapons,  examples  of  which  have 
been  given  in  the  preceding  pages.  The 
Ilervey  Islanders,  however,  leave  no  portion 
of  the  implement  without  carving,  and  in 
many  instances  saeriticc  utility  to  ornament. 
This  is  generally  the  case  with  the  adze 
handles,  many  of  which  are  so  extremely  or- 
nainenti\l  that  it  is  not  easy  to  sec  how  they 
can  be  useful. 

The  specimen  which  is  represented  on 
pa"C  H)1H  (adze  magnified),  is  a  good  ex- 
ample of  8U(!h  an  adze.    The  lower  part  of 
the  handle  is  completely  hollow,  the  native 
manufacturer  having  contrived  to  cut  away 
the  wood  through  the  intervals  between  the 
upright  pillars.    As  these  intervals  are  not 
quite  the  third  of  an  inch  in  width,  the  la- 
bor of  removing  the  interior  of  the  handle 
must  have  been  very  great,  and  the  work 
exceedingly  tedious.    Even  with  European 
tools  it  would  be  a  difficult  piece  of  work- 
manship, and  its  difficulty  is  greatly   en- 
hanced   by  the  fact  that   the   native  who 
carved  it  had  nothing  but  a  sharp  stone  or 
a  shark's  tooth  lashed  to  a  handle  by  way  ot 
a  knife.    This  particular  specimen  has  been 
iu  Enoland  for  many  years,  and  must  have 
been  made  before  the  introduction  of  Euro- 
pean tools  among  tlie  natives. 


1034 


THE  IIERVEY  ISLANDS. 


The  head  of  the  ndzo  is  inado  of  utono, 
and  i.s  lashi-d  to  tlio  handle  in  ix  way  exactly 
liko   tliHt  which   is   employed   by  the  New 
Zealanders,  exce|>t  thut  it  in  thv  inoro  eiiilx)- 
rato.    Ah  if  dcHiroiM  of  giving  hiniself  as 
much  troiilili!   ii«   po.tMJblc,  the   maker   has 
employed  the  (Inest  plaited  winnct,  not  wider 
than  packthread  and  (|uitu  Hat,  and  has  laid 
it  on  the  tool  in  a  manner  so  elaborate  that 
to  give  a  4)rc)j)or  idi^a  of  it  the  artist  mnst 
have  occnpied  an  entire  page  with  his  draw- 
ing.   SulHco   it  to  sav  that  the  illustration 
gives  a  good  general  idea  of  the  mode  in 
which  the  head  is  lashed  to  the  handle.  The 
einnet  is  laid  as  regularly  as  if  wound  by 
machinery,  and  the   native  artist  has  con- 
trived to  produce   the  most  extraordinary 
effects  with  it,  throwing  the  various  portions 
into  a  simulated   perspective,  and   making 
the  lashing  look  as  if  there  wore  four  dis- 
tinct layers,  one  above  another. 

Between  the  stone  of  the  adze  head  and 
the  wood  of  the  handle  is  placed  a  piece  of 
very  strong  tappa  cloth,  wliicli  seemr  to 
have  been  laid  on  while  wet,  so  that  ^lie 
bands  of  sinnet  have  i)ressed  it  well  to- 
gether, and  aided  in  strengthening  the  junc- 
tion. The  end  of  this  tappa  is  seen  project- 
ing on  the  upper  part  of  the  head,  just 
whore  it  is  joined  to  the  handle.  That  such 
an  implement  as  this  should  have  been  in- 
tended for  use  seems  most  unlikely,  and  I 
believe  that  it  has  oidy  been  constructed  as 
a  sample  of  the  maker's  skill.  Sometimes 
adzes  of  a  similar  character  are  made,  tlie 
handles  of  which  are  from  four  to  live  feet 
long,  and  carved  with  a  pierced  pattern 
throughout  their  entire  length,  so  that  they 
could  not  have  been  intended  for  hard  work. 
A  similar  elaborate  ornamentation  is 
found  upon  the  Hervey  Islanders'  spears 
one  of  which  is  shown  in  the  illustration 
entitled  "Spear,"  on  the  1018th  page. 

The  spear,  which  is  in  my  collecdon,  is 
rather  more  than  ten  feet  m  length,  and 
beautifully  made.  The  shaft  is  very  straight 
very  slender,  and  highly  polished,  but  with- 
out any  carving;  indeed,  it  is  so  slight  thivt 
It  could  not  bear  any  pattern  to  be  carved 
upon  it.  The  ornament  is  therefore  con- 
fined to  the  many-barbe(J  head,  which  is  a 
beautiful  specimen  of  savage  art. 

By  referring  to  the  illustration,  the  reader 
will  see  that  just  below  the  first  set  of  barb.s 
tlie  wood  of  the  spear  swells  into  a  sli-'litly 
oval  form.  This  portion  of  the  Imad  is  cov- 
ered with  carving,  necessarily  very  shallow, 
but  sufficient  for  ornament.  Between  the 
various  sets  of  barbs  the  spear  is  wrajiped 
with  very  narrow  strips  of  some  reed,  which 
18  highly  polished  and  of  a  bright  vellow 
color,  so  that  the  contrast  between  the  dark 
wood  of  the  barbs  and  the  shining  yellow  of 
the  wrapping  is  very  striking.  In  spite  of  the 
large  size  of  the  head,  the  spear  is  well  bal- 
anced, the  length  of  the  slender  and  elastic 
shaft  acting  as  a  counterpoise;   and  alto- 


gether the  weapon  is  as  formidable  as  it  is 
elegant. 

Their  c'-ths  arc  ornamented  in  a  similar 
manner,  i.ir.  Williams  describes  one  of  a 
very  curious  form.  It  was  carved  like  the 
club,  tig.  1,  on  i)age  l)l!t.  but  was  bent  nearly 
at  right  angles,  rather  beyond  the  iunction 
ot  the  handle  with  the  head,  and  w'as  orna- 
mented with  a  great  bunch  of  long  and 
slender  fiiathers.  .Slings  of  great  len"th 
and  power  are  used  by  these  people.     " 

According  to  the  accounts  of  this  mis- 
sionary, the  inhabilanls  of  Maiigaia  can  use 
their  weapons  with  gri'at  skill  and  courage. 
They  do  not  try  to  hide  behind  trc.;8  and 
bushes,  and  take  their  foes  by  surprise,  but 
boldly  meet  them  in  I  he  ()i)en  field.  When 
two  parties  meet,  they  form  themselves  into 
four  lines.  The  warriors  who  compose  the 
first  row  are  armed  with  the  loiig  spears 
which  havyjust  been  described,  the  second 
rank  carry  clubs,  the  third  are  furnislied 
with  slings,  and  the;  fourth  rank  is  composed 
of  the  women,  who  carry  additional  weapons, 
in  case  the  men  should  be  disarmed,  together 
with  a  supply  of  small  stones  for  the  slingers. 
This  arrangement  of  forces  is  represented 
in  the  battle  scene  given  on  the  opposite 
page. 

Sometimes  the  women  take  an  active  part 
m  the  fray.  One  young  chief  told  Mr. 
Williams  that  in  one  battle  he  was  fiercely 
assailed  l)y  the  wife  of  his  antagonist.  IIo 
told  her  to  desist,  as  ho  had  not  come  to 
fight  with  women.  However,  she  would 
not  listen  to  him,  and  exclaiming,  "  If  you 
kill  my  husband,  what  shall  1  doVfiung  a 
stone  at  him,  which  struck  him  to  the  ground. 
Had  it  not  been  for  the  prompt  assistance  of 
his  own  people,  who  came  to  the  rescue,  he 
would  assuredly  have  lost  his  life  through 
this  woman's  fury. 

The  people  are  apt  to  bo  ferocious  in  battle, 
and  Mr.  Williams  mentions  that  several  of 
his  converts  forgot  the  maxims  of  Chris- 
tianity in  the  excitement  of  battle,  and  killed 
their  vanquished  enemies  in  spite  of  their 
entreaties  for  mercy.  In  all  probability, 
these  people  were  carrying  out  some  feel- 
ing of  vengeance,  according  to  the  custom  of 
these  islands. 

Throughout  the  greater  part  of  Polynesia 
the  friends  orreliitives  of  the  murdered  man 
are  bound  to  avenge  his  death  by  killing  the 
murderer,  if  they  can  secure  him,  or  at  all 
events  by  killing  one  of  his  family.  The 
family  of  the  victim  then  retaliate  in  their 
turn,  so  that  when  a  man  goes  into  battle  he 
mostly  has  a  number  of  feuds  on  his  hands. 
Like  the  Corsican  Vendetta,  if  such  a  feud 
e.annot  be  carried  out  in  a  man's  lifetime,  he 
bequeaths  it  to  his  son, so  that  it  maybe 
carried  on  for  any  number  of  generations, 

This  savage  custom  has  stood  greatly  in 
the  way  of  the  missionaries.  They  found  no 
very  great  ditBculty  in  i)ersuading'the  people 
that  to  harbor  malice  against  another,  who 


■ 


I  k 


1 1 


If 


'  "■ ! 


VII.I..\(ii:    IN    TIIK    KlNCSMIl.l.    ISLANDS.     ^Soo  |iii;;(.  103S.) 


i 


!. 


IDOLS  OF  THE  MAN0AIAN8. 


1087 


Dtlffht  bo  totftlly  limocont,  was  cxciunllnjrly 
ivr<in((,  iiiiit  llitit  they  \n\\t  to  nliiinilon  tlio 
fuiiil.  Iliit  tlitt  ti('\>  vcrU  iirKUt'il  tliiit  it 
WiiM  viiry  miliiir  to  (Icinaiiil  timt  tlicy  whoiilil 
abaniloii  llicir  IoikIh  ii){iiiiml  oIIu'i-h  wliiln  tlio 
tewln  iigiiinst  tlicnmt'lvcf*  wen;  still  iii  op- 
crntlon. 

In  tluir  architecture  tlic  Mivnciilans  display 
tlio  HniiU"  lovo  of  ciirviii;;  wliicli  has  nln^iuly 
iMicn  mfiilloiNMJ.  Mr.  VVilliiuiiH  thus  tlc- 
BcriltcH  a  l)iiil<liiii^  wlilcli  lia<l  been  erected 
for  hlin,  and  which  was  lar^c  enough  to  hold 
Bixleeii  liiindri'd  iktsoiin: — 

"  It  wiiH  11  lliu!  liiiildinKi  "*  ""  "Vfvl  Hhape, 
nlmut  one  hiiiiilri'd  and  twenty  W'oX  in  length. 
The  livrg(!  posts  which  Huoported  the  root 
(eight  in  ninnher),  the  ri(lge-pole,  nnd  tin; 
rutlerH  weic  most  bciuitifnlly  carved,  and 
tiiHtefully  colored  with  various  native  prep- 
arations. 

"  It  is  impossible,  however,  ho  to  deocribo 
them  as  to  enalile  the  rtuider  to  form  n  correct 
idea  ol'their  appearance,  or  of  the  taste  and 
ingenuity  displiiyed  in  their  execution. 
Tliese  posts  weri'  twenty-five  feet  high,  nnd 
front  twelve  to  eigliteen  inches  s(|uare,  and 
when  we  considered  the  tools  with  which 


tiie  work  Wiis  done,  which  were  i)rincipally 
old  nails,  pieces  of  iron  hoop,  an<l  a  few 
chisels,  we  were  amazed  both  at  the  jtatience 
nnd  skill  of  the  carvers.  The  effect  on 'u- 
tering  the  jilace  was  very  striking." 

On  the  shores  of  this  island  fish  appear  to 
be  less  i)lentiful  than  is  generallv  the  case, 
and  tl>e  inliabilants  are  obligecl  to  have 
resort  to  various  modes  of  procuring  and 
preserving  food.  For  example,  when  they 
nave  caught  a  large  (piantity  of  flying  fish, 
they  do  liol  eat  them  at  once,  but  dry  them 
in  wood  smoke,  nuieb  as  herrings  arc  cured 
among  ourselves.  They  have  an  ingenious 
method  of  catching  these  hsh  by  night. 
Tiic  boatmen  go  out  in  their  double  canoes, 
8upi)lie(l  with  torches  and  large  ring  nets 
fivfitened  to  Ihe  end  of  handles  ten  or  twelve 
feet  long.  They  stamj)  on  their  canoes  so 
as  to  make  a  noise,  which  is  communicated 
to  the  water  and  al.'irma  the  fish,  and  at 
the  same  time  wave  their  torches  about. 
According  to  their  instinct,  the  flying  fish 
dart  out  of  the  water  toward  the  light,  and 
arc  easily  captured  in  the  nets. 

Bats  form  a  most  valued  portion  of  their 
diet.  When  the  missionaries  first  visited 
Mangaia,  the  natives  were  so  fond  of  this 
food  that  they  measured  all  other  kinds  of 
diet  by  comjiarison  with  rats'  flesh.  Indeed, 
the  flesh  of  these  animals  is  far  better  than 
is  generally  sujiposed.  Several  English  rat- 
catchers h"av(!  learneil  by  practical  experi- 
ence the  value  of  rat's  flesh,  which  is  said 
by  those  who  have  tried  it  to  be  equal  to 
tbat  of  the  scpiirrel  and  better  than  that  of 
the  rabbit.  The  Mangaians  caught  the  rats 
by  digging  a  hole  in  the  ground,  and  throw- 
ing bait  into  it.  When  a  sufHeient  number 
had  entered  the  hole,  a  net  was  thrown  over 


the  mouth  of  it,  and  the  inmatcii    ooiily 
secunid. 

In  llAnoTONOA,  another  Island  of  thin 
group,  the  ratu  nwarmed  in  hucIi  numberH 
that  they  were  not  "ulv  a  nuisance,  hut  an 
absolute  pest;  I'U.l,  if  ft  had  not  been  for 
the  pigs  which  were  introduced  by  Ihe  Kmo- 
peans,  and  allowed  to  run  wild,  the  rat« 
would  probably  have  driven  the  natives  out 
of  their  villages.  At  every  nual  one  or  two 
persons  were  detailed  for  Ihe  sole  purpose 
of  keeping  the  rats  frMn  the  provisionB. 
When  tlie  people  sat  down  in  their  houses 
the  rats  ran  over  them,  aiul  when  they  lay 
down  to  rest  the  rats  had  made  a  settlement 
in  tlieir  bed. 

At  last  warfare  was  declared  against  the 
rafs,  and  a  niunher  of  baskets  were  made  to 
contain  the  bodies  of  tlio  slain,  each  basket 
being  five  or  six  feet  in  length.  The  inhab- 
itants then  armed  themselves  with  slicks, 
and  in  an  horn-  no  less  than  thirty  of  Hupo 
great  baskets  were  filled  with  dead  rats. 
Even  then  no  diminution  seemed  to  have 
taken  place  among  these  pests.  Next,  the 
missionaries  trieil  the  introduction  of  cats, 
and  with  some  success,  but  the  rost  fortu- 
nate Introduction  that  was  made  ',  .is  that  of 
the  pig.  These  animals  were  brought  to 
Uarotonga  for  the  purpose  of  sunplying  the 
sailors  with   meat  which   should   su|icrsedo 


tiie  flesh  of  the  rat,  and  the  pigs  repaid  their 
introducers  by  eating  every  rat  which  came 
across  them. 

When  the  natives  were  converted  to 
CMuistianitv,  they  consulted  the  missiona- 
ries, wishing  to  know  whether  the  flesh  of 
rats  was  unlawful  food  for  Christians.  They 
evidently  asked  this  question  l)ecause  they 
saw  that  their  teachers  abstained  from  these 
animals.  The  missionaries  returned  a  very 
judicious  answer  to  this  question,  by  saying 
that  in  their  own  country  rats  were  lot 
eaten,  because  the  white  man  liad  a  reinig- 
nance  to  them,  but  that  there  was  nothing 
unlawful  in  eating  them,  and  that  the  Man- 
gaians might  do  as  they  pleased.  The  neojdo 
were  satisfied  wi'h  this  answer,  and  con- 
tented themselves  w  ith  passing  a  law  that  all 
Christians  should  catch  and  cook  their  rata 
on  Saturdays,  eo  as  to  avoid  working  on 
the  Sundav. 

The  idols  of  the  Ilervey  Islanders  are 
very  odd-looking  things,  ami  would  scarcely 
be  recognized  as  objects  of  worslnp.  It 
might  naturallv  be  imagined  that  if  thcoe 
people  bestow  such  pains  upon  their  weap- 
ons and  implements,  they  would  at  least 
take  equal  pains  with  their  gods.  \et 
the  gods  of  the  Ilcrvey  Islanders  are  the 
rudest  possible  specimens  of  native  work- 
manship. They  consist  principally  of  a 
staff  about  sixteen  or  seventeen  feet  in 
length,  the  upper  part  of  which  is  carved 
into  a  rude  representation  of  a  human  head. 
On  the  staff  are  laid  a  few  red  fsathers  and 


»•    ( 


I  lit  I 


i  i 


1038 


THE  KINGSMILL  ISLANDS. 


a  string  of  beads,  which  arc  called  the  soul 
of  tliG  ^0(1.  lloimd  the  stall"  and  tho  beads 
is  wrapp('("i  a  vast  quantity  of  native  cloth, 
80  as  to  fo.™  a  slightly  couical  roll  about  a 
yard  in  diameter,  and  tou  feet  in  length. 


One  of  these  idols  is  placed  at  tho  bow  of 
every  canoe,  and  whenever  the  natives  are 
oXit  on  a  lisliiuf^  excursion  they  always  make 
oHering?  to  this  strange  deity. 


THE  KINGSMILL  ISLANDS. 


Nonrn-WEST  of  the  Samoans  is  a  group 
known  by  the  name  of  Kingsmill  islands. 
It  consists  of  about  fifteen  islands,  all  of 
coral,  and  all  lying  very  low,  so  tlmt  they 
niiglU  easily  escape  tho  attention  of  voya- 
gers. As  is  always  the  case  with  coral  isl- 
ands, tho  navigation  anionjj  them  ir,  very 
dangerous.  They  are  mostly  very  long  in 
proportion  to  their  width,  the  l.ii-gest  of  the 
group, called  Tvjiuteonca  oi  Drummond  Isl- 
and, being  nearly  forty  miles  in  length,  and 
in  many  i)laces  not  a  mile  in  width. 

The  inhabitants  of  these  islands  have  a 
character  for  ferocity  which  is  aot  otlen  to 
be  found  among  this  race  of  Polynesians, 
and  are  said  to  be  lower  in  the  human  scale 
than  any  whom  wo  have  hitherto  described. 
Tiiosc  of  one  of  the  group,  called  Pitt  Isl- 
and, are  said  to  be  less  liable  to  this  charge 
than  any  other,  being  q"iiet,  peaceable,  and 
not  So  perpetually  at  war  ,as  is  t\u\  case  with 
the  inhabitants  of  tho  other  islands. 

Their  color  is  approaching  nearer  to  black 
than  that  of  the  inhabitants  of  Tonga  and 
Sr.mo.a,  au'l  the  piop'.e  are  of  laore  moder- 
ate staiiu-e  than  those  of  the  latter  group  ■ 
islands.  They  are  well  made  and  slender, 
ami  hn\e  black  and  glossy  thougli  rather 
lino  bair.  The  mouth  is  ifirge.  but  has  noth- 
ing of  the  negro  character  about  it  and  the 
te>'th  are  kept  vory  white.  The  nose  is 
mostly  aquiliiu",  and  the  hair  of  the  beard 
and  moustaelie  black,  and  by  no  means 
coarse. 

It  is  rathei'  rcmarkab'e  that  the  peojile  of 
Pitt  rsland  are  not  only  more  quiet  and 
ncioeab;.'  than  their  uvighhors,  but  are  also 
of  a  lighter  hue,  a|)proaehiiig  in  this  respc  ct 
the  nainrilly  peaceful  though  courageous 
inhabitants  of  Tonga.  Their  IV.ees  .are  oval 
and  neatly  rounded,  a  i  their  features  ;)<  ii- 
cate.  It  'ui<'  !)e  that  they  h.-ve  been  modi- 
fied bv  the  i.ixture  with  the  Samoans  or 
Tongans,  who  l.avo  been  blown  out  of  their 
course  by  gales,  landed  on  the  island,  and 
gradually  became  absorbed  in  the  commu- 
nity. 

Arrhitceture  nmong  tho  Kingsmill  Islands 
is  ratii,"r  distuuuished  fors'.rengthr.nd  mas- 
sivcness  thaii  f  )r  beauty,  the  natives  pn-fer- 
ring  to  employ  their "  artistic  po.vr.a  on 
smaller  objeetr.  such  a.s  swords,  spears,  and 
similar  .articles.  The  houses  vary  nuieh  in 
size  and  form  according  to  their  liscs.    For 


ing-house,  and  the  lower  entirely  open.  In 
iiict,  the  houses  of  tliL>  Kingsmill  Islauds  arc 
exactly  similar  in  iiriuciple  to  those  of  Nic- 
obar,  whicli  nave  been  described  on  page 
'j03. 

Some  of  the  house's  wherein  the  chiefs  sit 
and  talk  among  themselves  and  receive  vis- 
itors are  mere  sheds,  being  nothinjj  more 
than  roofs  supi)orl,ed  on  poles.  As  is  usu- 
ally tho  case  in  Polyu'^sia,  there  is  in  every 
village  a  central  council  house,  in  which  the 
people  assemble  on  stated  occasioas.  It  is 
of  enormous  dimension.-,  having  a  lofty  roof 
thatcIuMl  with  leaves  and  lined  with  matting. 
Several  examples  of  tlieir  houses  are  illus- 
trated on  the  lO.'loth  page,  and  tho  reader  will 
see.  that  the  lower  parl^  allbrds  a  complete 
and  yet  an  airy  refuge  irom  the  sun  in  tho 
heat  of  the  dayj  while  the  upper  jiart,  which 
is  too  hot  to  be  comfortable  during  the  day- 
time, foruis  comfortable  sleeping -rooms  at 
nig]  it. 

Dress  varies  much  according  to  the  par- 
ticular island.  Tattooing  is  practiseif  by 
both  sexes,  but  the  woineu  are  lar  less  deco- 
rated than  the  men,  tiie  '.lues  bijiiig  very 
tine  and  far  apart.  The  men  are  tattooed  at 
the  .".go  of  twi  iity,  the  process  being  always 
left  in  the  hands  of  professional  tattootrs, 
who,  as  in  other  islands  of  I'olynesi.a,  are 
paid  according  to  the  celebrity  which  tiiey 
have  attained,  in  .some  cases  obCaining  very 
large  fees.  They  dress  ciiiellv  in  iiiat.H  made 
of  the  pandanus  leaf  cut  into  narrow  strip.'!, 
and  dyed  brown  and  vellow.  Tiiese  strip.s 
are  plaited  together  In  a  ve'-y  ingenious 
tiishion  so  .as  to  form  diamend  or  sqi^aro 
jiatterns.  A  small  cape,  woni,  in  poncho 
fasiiion,  with  a  slit  in  the  middle,  through 
which  the  head  passes,  is  woi'ii  over  tho 
neck,  and  a  conical  cap  of  pandanus  leaf  is 
worn  on  the  he.ad. 

The  dress  of  the  women  consists  of  a  pet- 
ti(^oat  of  leaf-stri])s  n-jieliing  from  Hie  waist 
to  tile  knees,  and  fastened  liy  a  tli.ii  rojie, 
sometimes  live  or  ^ix  lnni!lre(i  feel  in  length, 
made  of  human  bair.  On  the  rope  ii''estrun<j 
at  intervals  beads  made  of  cocoa-nut  ana 
shells,  ground  so  .as  to  lit  closely  together, 
and  strung  alternalt:ly  so  as  to  Ibrm  a  con- 
trast between  the  white  shell  raid  the  dark 
cocoa.-nut. 


It  h.T-s  already  been  mentioned  that  tho 


example,    (he    ordinary  dvTfiling-hou.se  of  Xingsmill   Islii.itlers   are   a  warlike  peopk 
the  King.smill  Islanders  consists  of  two  sto-    vVar,  indeed,  seems  to  be  tiieirchitd' business, 
ries,  the  upper  part  being  usad  as  a  sleep-  \  and  indeed  their  whole  thoughts  appear  to 


FORMIDABL'^,  WEAPONS. 


1039 


be  given  to  fighting.    Even  tlieir  principal 
ninusoincnt  is  of   ii  combatant    chariuitci. 
Tlicro  is  nothing  which  deliglits  tlie  Kings- 
mill  Isliuulcrs 80  much  as  cock  lighting,  and 
large  groups  of  the  people  may  be  seen  seated 
in  a  circle,  eagerly  watching  the  ])rogress  of 
the  combat  which  is  taking  place   in  the 
midst.    Cock  lighting  is  largely  practised  in 
nymy  other  countries,  but  is  almost  invari- 
ably accompanied  by  betting.    The  Malays, 
for  example,  arc  passionately  fond  of  the 
rport,  and  wager  whoK-   fortunes  u^)on   it. 
JJetting,  however,  has   no  charms  lor  the 
Kingsmill   Islander,   whose  martial  .soul  is 
utterly  absorbed  in  the  light,  and  does  not 
require  the  additional   excitement  of  bet- 
ting. .    . 
This  being  the  nature  of  the  people,  it  is 
nntur.ll  that  their  weapons  shoulil  be  of  a 
fornrdable  character.    They  arc  indeed  ex- 
actly siiital>le  to  the  fierce  and  bloodthirsty 
pcoi)le  by  whom  they  arc  made,     liistead  of 
contenting  himself  with  a  club  or  a  spear, 
the  Kingsinill  Islander  must  needs  arm  his 
weapons  with  sharks'  teeth,  whicli  cut  like 
so  many  lancets. 

The  spears  and  swords  which  are  shown 
on  the  1041st  page  p.rc  drr.wn  from  speci- 
mens in  my  collection,  and  are  admirable 
examples  of  these  extraordinary  wcajions. 

For  want  of  a  better  word,  we  must  use 
the  name  of  sword  for  these  weapons,  as 
they  are  constructed  with  edges,  and  arc 
meant  more  for  striking  than  thrusting.  I 
have  often  wondered  that  in  none  of  these 
.  weapons  that  I  have  sceT,  is  the  point  tipped 
with  a  sharp  bone,  such  as  that  of  the  sting- 
ray, or  even  with  a  shark's  tooth.  Perhaps 
thev  are  formidable  enough  even  for  these 
ferocious  islanders,  as  the  reader  may  easily 
infer  i)v  looking  at  the  illustration.  By  the 
side  ot'  each  fiijure  is  a  specimen  of  the; 
shark's  tooth  drawn  on  an  enlarged  scale, 
partly  to  show  the  nature  of  the-  tooth  itself, 
p.nd  partlv  to  exhibit  the  principal  methods 
by  which"  it  is  fastened  in  its  place. 

On  referi;!!!!  to  these  illustrations,  the 
reader  will  see  that  the  teeth  are  not  merely 
fiharply  edged  and  pointed,  but  that  their 
edgi's  are  finely  and  regularly  .«.errated,  so 
that  their  cuttiiig  power  is  greatly  increased. 
Indeed. the  weapons  armed  with  these  teeth 
have  such  a  facility  of  inflicting  wounds  (hat 
thev  must  be  handled  with  the  greatest  cap- 
tion. T  have  cut  mv'self  more  than  once 
with  thorn,  and  visitors  who  insist  upon 
handling  thein  generally  sulfer  for  their  cu- 
riosity. * 

Although  these  teeth  are  fastened  to  the 
blad'.'  of  the  weapon  on  the  s.ime  priiiii])le, 
the  makers  vary  tlie  detail  according  to  their 
own  convenience.  In  the  weapon  re^re- 
pcnted  in  fig.  1.  a  slit  runs  aloin;  each  edge, 
into  which  the  bases  of  the  teeth  fit  rather 
tightly.  A  hole  is  borctl  tlu'oiigh  tne  tooth, 
and  ;{  corresponding  one  through  the  edge 
of  the  sword,  and  each  tooth  is  fixed  in  its 


place  by  a  piece  of  fine  sinnet  passed  rc- 
peatadly  through  the  hoks,  drawn  tight, 
and  neatly  finished  olf.  A  plaited  loop  of 
broad  sinnet  serves  to  suspeiui  the  weapon 
round  the  *vrist,  and  a  piece  of  the  hard, 
ivory-like  skate-skin  holds  it  in  its  place. 

The  next,  fig.  2,  shows  a  much  more  elab- 
orate weapon,  which,  instead  of  consisting 
of  a  single  piece,  has  one  central  blade  and 
three  auxiliary  blades.  Moreovt^r,  as  the 
reader  may  see  by  carefully  examining  the 
illustration,  there  are  four  rows  of  teeth  in- 
stead of  two  on  each  blade,  and  the  .ecth 
are  larger  and  more  deeply  serrated  than 
those  of  the  otlier  weapon.  In  this  case 
the  maker  has  most  ingeniously  contrived 
to  spare  himself  the  trouble  of  making  a 
fresh  tie  for  every  tooth,  which,  as  upwards 
of  two  hundred  teeth  are  employed,  would 
have  been  a  very  tedious  business. 

Firstly,  he  has  shaped  the  wooden  blades 
with  four  bold  ridges,  and  cut  a  slight  groove 
along  each  ridge,  so  as  to  keep  the  teeth 
straight.    Instead  of  troubling  hinisell    to 
bore  holes  in  the  sword  as  well  as  in  the 
tooth,  he  has  laid  along  the  edges  ol  each 
<»roovo  a  strip  of  elastic  wood  obtained  from 
the  rib  of  the  palm  leaf,  which  is  as  hard  and 
elastic  as  whalebone.    The  sinnet  has  then 
been  passed  through  the  holes  m  the  teeth, 
and  over  all  them  palm-loaf  strips,  so  that  one 
piece  of  sinnet  serves  to  fasten  four  teeth. 
As  in  the  other  case,  the  sinnet  is  excccd- 
iniilv  fine,  and  is  passed  several  times  rouud 
the  Bword.    It  is  observable   that  in   this 
weapon  the  teeth  have  been  most  careiuUy 
selected  and  graduated,  the  largest  and  long- 
est being  near  the  handle,  and  diminishing 
equally  to  the  point,  where  they  are  "oiu- 
iiaratively  small. 

The  auxiliary  blades  diverge  more  than  is 
shown  in  the  illustration,  and  it  is  hardly 
possible  to  imagine  a  more  formidable 
weapon,  especially  when  employed  against 
the  naked  skin  of  a  savage.  In  actual  warfare 
the  Kingsmill  Islander  has  a  mode  ol  pro- 
tecting himself,  which  will  be  pn  seiitly  men- 
tionoff;  but  in  a  .sudden  skirmish  or  a  quar- 
rel the  sword  would  be  used  wilh  terrible 
clVeet  As  may  be  inferrctl  from  its  shape, 
it  i;  not  merely  used  .is  a  striking  weapon, 
bui  is  driven  violently  backward  and  for- 
ward against  the  body  of  the  antagonist, 
one  or  more  of  the  blades  being  sure  to 
take  ellect  somewhoi-c. 

The  next  sword,  fig. :},  has  the  teeth  fixed 
exactly  in  the  same  manner  as  those  oi  the 
inanv-bladed  sword,  as  may  be  seen  by  ret- 
erenee  to  the  single  tooth,  where  is /een 
not  only  the  tooth  but  the  sljii.s  of  leaf 
stem  befwec^n  which  it  is  jilaced,  and  the 
mode  of  fastening  olf  the  sinnet.  Ihe 
wooden  blade  of  this  weapon  is  (|Uile  unliko 
that  of  the  others,  being  marked  with  a 
rich  black  uraini"!!,  to  which  the  glittering 
white  tectirtbrm  an  admiral>lc  contrast. 
The  last  of  these  swords,  fig.  i,  is  remark- 


i    J 


V  i 


.^9 

Ii 


i-,|! 


Ii*|' 


1H 


1040 


THE  KINGSMILL  ISLANDS. 


able  for  the  cross-guard.  I  cannot  but  think 
that  the  maker  must  have  seen  an  European 
sword  with  a  cross-guard,  and  made  his  own 
in  imitation  of  it.  Otherwise,  without  the 
least  idea  of  the  object  of  a  guard,  it  is 
not  easy  to  see  why  he  should  nave  armed 
the  guard  with  teeth,  especially  in  the  cen- 
tre, or  where  they  come  against  the  liandle, 
and  must  be  quite  ineffectual. 

The  Kingsmill  Islanders  do  not  restrict 
the  sharks'  teeth  to  the  swords,  but  also  use 
them  as  armature  to  their  spears.  One  of 
these  spears,  also  in  my  collection,  is  fifteen 
feet  in  length,  and  about  as  formidable  a 
weapon  as  can  well  bo  imagined.  It  is 
rhade  of  a  very  light  wood,  so  that  it  may 
be  wielded  more  easily,  and  at  the  butt  is 
nearly  as  thick  as  a  man's  wrist,  tapering 
gradually  to  the  point.  The  butt  is  un- 
armed, and  rounded  for  about  four  feet,  so 
as  to  act  as  a  handle,  but  from  this  point  to 
the  tip  it  is  rather  flattened,  like  the  sword 
blades,  for  the  more  convenient  reception 
of  the  teeth,  which  are  fixed  along  each 
edge  nearly  to  the  point  of  the  weapon. 
The  teeth  are  fastened  by  means  of  the  leaf 
ribs.  In  order  to  render  it  a  more  danger- 
ous, weapon,  it  is  furnished  with  three  pro- 
jections, also  armed  with  teeth,  and  made 
exactly  like  the  auxiliary  blades  of  the 
sword,  though  much  smaller. 

This  remarkable  spear  is  shown  in  the 
illustration  No.  2,  on  the  next  page,  accom- 
psnied  by  sections  and  a  portion  drawn  on 
a  larger  scale,  so  as  to  show  the  mode  of  its 
constniction.  Fig.  a  represents  the  method 
in  which  the  teeth  are  fastened  to  the 
weapon  by  the  sinnet  passing  through  the 
hole  in  the  teeth  and  bound  down  by  the 
cross  loop  under  the  little  strips  c*"  wood. 
At  fig.  h  is  a  section  of  the  spear,  showing 
the  oval  shape  of  the  weapon,  and  the  mode 
in  which  the  teeth  are  supported  by  the 
wooden  strips  at  each  side.  It  is  worthy  of 
notice,  that  if  the  jaw  of  a  saw-fish  were  to 
be  cut  through  the  section  would  present  a 
wonderfully  similar  appearance. 

In  order  to  show  more  clearly  the  source 
whence  the  n.-vtives  obtain  such  vast  num- 
bers of  sharks'  teeth,  I  have  introduced  a 
drawing  of  a  shaik's  mouth  on  same  page, 
taken  from  a  specimen  in  my  collection. 
The  reader  will  sec  that  the  Jaws  are  fur- 
nished with  row  after  row  of  teeth,  all  lyin<j 
upon  each  othe:  except  the  outer  teeth^ind 
constructed  so  that  when  one  tooth  is  broken 
or  falls  out  of  the  jaw,  another  takes  its 
pla(!e. 

In  the  jaw  which  is  here  figured,  the  teeth 
lie  in  five  rows,  and  altogether  there  are 
three  hundred  of  them  —  largest  toward  the 
middle  of  the  jaw,  and  becoming  gradually 
smaller  toward  the  angles  of  the  mouth. 
The  native,  therefore,  has  no  difficulty  either 
in  procuring  tlin  requisite  numl'er  of  teeth, 
or  in  selecting  them  of  the  requisite  shape 
and  dimensions. 


That  they  may  look  more  imposing  in 
battle,  the  chiefs  wear  a  cap  made  of  the 
skin  of  the  diodon,  or  porcupine  fish,  which, 
^fhen  inflated,  is  covered  with  sharp  spikes 
projecting  in  every  direction,  and  upon  this 
cap  is  fixed  a  bunch  of  feathers.  Both  sexes 
fi^ht  in  battle,  and  both  are  killed  indis- 
criminately, women  and  children  being 
slaughtered  as  well  as  the  wan'iors. 

The  chiefs,  of  whom  mention  has  just 
been  made,  are  the  principal  persons  in  the 
islands.  With  one  exception,  there  is  no 
chief  who  is  looked  upon  as  a  king,  ruling 
over  subordinate  chiefs,  each  being  inde- 
pendent of  the  other.  Government  is  car- 
i;cd  on  by  a  council  of  chiefs,  the  eldest 
taking  the  first  place,  and  the  others  being 
reckoned  by  seniority.  To  this  council  are 
referred  crimes  of  great  importance,  while 
those  of  lesser  moment  are  left  to  be  pun- 
ished by  the  oftended  person  and  the  rela- 
tives. The  solitary  exception  to  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  chiefs  is  in  the  three  islands 
Apamama,  Nanouki,  and  Koria,  which  are 
governed  by  the  chief  of  Apamama. 

Each  chief  has  a  mark  peculiar  to  him- 
self, and  when  a  stranger  arrives,  and  can 
Elace  himself  under  the  protection  of  a  chief, 
e  receives  the  mark  of  his  protector.  The 
symbol  is  a  very  simple  one,  and  consists  of  a 
patch  on  the  forehead,  made  of  some  colored 
paint,  and  a  stripe  drawn  down  the  middle 
of  the  face  as  far  as  the  chin.  Next  in  rank 
to  the  chiefs  come  the  land-holders,  aiid  the 
slaves  form  the  third  and  last  division  of  the 
people. 

In  order  to  accommodate  the  council  of 
chiefs  and  the  people  in  their  public  assem- 
blies, there  is  in  every  village  a  central 
town-house,  called  the  Mariapa.  It  is  built 
very  much  after  the  fashion  of  the  Samoan 
hoiisos,  having  an  enormous  carchcd  roofl 
and  the  walls  being  composed  of  posts  and 
matting.  It  might  be  thought  from  their 
warlike  and  ferocious  character  that  the 
Kingsmill  Islanders  are  cannibals.  Such, 
however,  is  not  the  case.  It  is  very  true 
that  in  some  instJincca  portions  of  a  human 
body  have  been  eaten.  For  e::ample,  if  a  cele- 
brated warrior  is  killed,  the  victors  some- 
times cook  the  body,  and  each  eats  a  small 
portion  of  it.  This  however  is  done,  not 
from  any  predilection  for  human  fiesh,  but 
from  a  feeling  of  revenge,  and  probably  from 
some  underlying  notion  that  those  who  p.-ir- 
take  of  such  food  also  add  to  themselves  a 
portion  of  the  courage  which  once  animated 
the  body.  Animated  by  tb,#  same  sjjirit, 
they  preserve  the  skulls  of  such  warriors, 
ami  use  them  as  drinkinst  vessels. 

The  skulls  of  the  dead  are  always  pre- 
served by  their  friends,  provided  that  they 
have  died  natural  deaths,  or  their  bodies 
been  recovered  in  battle.  The  body  is  first 
laid,  out  on  mats  for  eight  dnys,  being  every 
day  washed,  oiled,  and  laid  o'  in  the  suii- 
shine  at  noon,  while  the    .    iids   mourn, 


i 


(2.)  SHARK  TOOTH  SPEAR. 
(See  page  1040.) 


(3.)  SWOHDS  OF  KINU.SMII.L  ISLANDERS, 

iSoc  pnue  1030.) 

(.1041) 


danc 
bod} 
the 
stow 
skull 
brin; 
then 
Whc 
take 
In 
Pitt 
extr 
The 
and 
nftei 
mat 
mad 


EXTRAOKDINARY  FUNERAL  CEREMONY. 


1043 


dance,  and  sing  praises  of  the  dead.  Tlie 
body  is  tlien  buried  for  a  time,  and  lastly, 
the  skull  is  removed,  cleaned,  oiled,  and 
stowed  away.  Each  family  preserve  the 
skulls  of  their  ancestors,  and,  occasionally, 
bring  them  out,  oil  them  afresh,  wreathe 
them  with  llowers,  and  set  food  before  them. 
When  a  family  change  their  residence,  they 
take  the  skulls  with  them. 

In  one  portion  of  the  Kingsmill  group, 
Pitt  Island,  or  Makin,  there  exists  the  most 
extraordinary  funeral  ceremony  in  the  world. 
The  body  is  washed,  oiled,  exposed  to  the  sun, 
and  wailed  over,  as  already  related.  But, 
after  the  first  wailing,  it.  is  laid  on  a  new 
mat  spread  over  a  great  oblong  plate  or  tray 
made  of  tortoise-shell  sewed  together.    A 


number  of  persons  seat  themselves  opposite 
each  other  on  the  floor  of  the  house,  ami 
support  the  plate  on  their  knees  as  long  as 
they  are  able.  When  they  are  tired,  they 
are  relieved  by  others,  and  thus  the  body  is 
borne  by  friends  and  relations  for  two  years, 
the  bearers  relieving  each  other  at  intervals. 
During  this  time  a  fire  is  kept  burning  in 
the  house,  and  is  never  extinguished  night 
or  day. 

After  the  two  years  have  expired,  the 
head  is  removed,  and  the  skull  clear  A  and 
preserved,  as  has  been  already  mentioned, 
and  not  until  that  time  are  the  bones 
wrapped  up  in  mats  and  buried.  The  place 
where  the  warriors  have  been  interred  is 
marked  with  three  stones. 


i 


CHAPTER  CVI. 


THE  MARQUESAS  INLANDS, 


DBESS  —  AMUSEMENTS  —  WAR  —  BURIAL. 


ORIOm  OF  THE  NAME— APPEARANCE  OP  THE  NATIVES  — THEIR  DIIESS  — THE  ELABORATE  TATTOO  OF 
THE  MEN— DIFFERENCE  IN  STATURE  BETWEEN  THE  HEXES  — CARE  OF  COMPLEXION  — A  BLBACH- 
INO  PROCESS- A  MAN  IN  FULL  DRESS- MODES  OF  WEARING  THE  HAIR— THE  CHIEF'S  NECK- 
LACE—  CLOSE  BHAVINO  —  PECULIAR  HEADDRESS  —  METHOD  OF  OIITAININO  FEATHERS  —  ARCHI- 
TECTURE IN  THE  MARQUESAS  — A5IUSEMENT8— DANCING  AND  BTILT-WAI.KINO  — THE  AMPHI- 
THEATRE OR  PAHOOA  — WAR  — TROPHIES  OF  VICTORV  — MODE  OP  WARFARE  —  DESTRUCTION  OK 
PROPERTY  —  ETIQUETTE  OF  WAR  —  REPLACINO  A  PRISONER  —CANOES  AND  FISUINQ  —  FLY-FISniNQ 
IN  TUB  MiiBQUESAS— BURIAL  CUSTOMS. 


We  now  come  to  that  very  interesting  proiip 
of  islands  called  the  Mai!Qi;esa.s,  or  SIex- 
DANA  Islands,  lioth  these  names  derive 
their  origin  from  the  Spanish  navigator  Men- 
dana,  who  disco^'ered  them  nearly  two  hun- 
dred years  ago.  The  discoverer  named  them 
Los  Marquesas  dc  Mendo^a,  in  compliment 
to  the  then  Viceroy  of  Peru,  and  by  many 
succeeding  voj'agers  the  islands  liav"e  bCen 
called  by  the  iiame  of  (heir  discoverer. 

The  character  of  the  islands  is  ralher  pe- 
culiar, and  very  picturesque.  They  are 
craggy,  mountainous,  and  volcanic,  having 
exceedingly  lofty  peaks  in  the  centre,  which 
look  at  a  distance  as  if  they  were  the  ruins 
of  vast  I)uildiiigs.  Being  situated  near  the 
equator,  their  temperature  is  warm,  and,  as 
at  the  same  time  they  are  well  watered,  the 
vegetation  is  peculiarly  luxuriant.  Like 
most  of  the  Polynesian'  Islands,  the  Mar- 
quesas are  surrounded  with  coral  reefs;  but 
these  are  not  so  large  as  is  generally  the 
case,  so  thai,  although  the  navigation  among 
them  is  not  so  difiicult  as  in  many  islands, 
the  ships  do  not  find  tlmt  protection  from 
storms  wliith  is  nfforded  by  the  great  coral 
reefs  of  other  islands. 

The  inhabitants  are  splendid  specimens  of 
humanity,  the  men  being  remarkable  for 
their  gigantic  size,  gre.it  .".trengtb,  and  fine, 
shape,  which  emulates  those  of  the  an- 
cient Greek  statues.  One  of  the  chiefs  was 
measured  carefully,  and  was  found  to  be  six 


(lOH) 


feet  eight  inches  in  height,  and  said  that  he 
knew  another  chief  who  was  at  least  a  foot 
taller  than  himself. 

In  general  they  wear  but  little  raiment,  a 
slight  piece  of  bark  ('.oth  round  the  waist 
being  the  only  garment  which  they  think 
needful,  the  place  of  clothing  being  supjilied 
by  the  tattoo.  There  are  many  nations 
where  this  decoration  is  worn;  but  there  are 
no  people  on  the  face  of  the  earth  who  carry 
it  out  so  fully  as  do  the  Marque-sans,  every 
part  of  their  bodies,  even  to  the  crown  of 
the  head  and  the  fingers  and  toes,  being 
covered  with  the  pattern.  The  "Tattooed 
chiefs  "on  the  opposite  page  illustrate  the 
extent  to  which  the  Marquesnns  carry  this 
custom.  This  extreme  elaboration  is  only  to 
lie  found  in  the  men,  the  women  contenting 
themselves  with  a  bracelet  or  two  tattooed 
on  their  arms,  and  a  few  similar  ornaments 
here  and  there.  A  very  interesting  de- 
scription of  the  tattooing  of  the  Marquesans 
is  given  in  Langsdorft  's  "  Travels. '" — 

"  Sometimes  a  rich  islander  will,  either 
from  generosity,  ostentation,  or  love  to  his 
wife,  make  a  feast  in  lionor  of  her  when  she 
has  a  bracelet  tattooed  round  lier  arm,  or 
perhaps  her  ear  ornamented.  A  hog  is  then 
killed,  and  the  friends  of  both  sexes  are  in- 
vited to  partake  of  it,  the  cccasion  of  the 
feast  being  made  known  to  them.  It  is  ex- 
pected that  the  same  courtesy  should  be  re- 
turned in  case  of  the  wife  of  any  of  the  guests 


I 


IK 


ml 


i 


(■104GJ 


;.l 


ELABORATE  TATTOO  OF  THE  MEN. 


1047 


being  punctured.  This  is  one  of  the  few  oc-  ] 
Cttsions  on  wliich  women  are  allowed  to  eut 

hOff'S  flosll.  .  ,  r      14    t.„„. 

'"if  in  a  very  dry  year,  bread-fruit,  hogs, 
roots,' and  otlicr  provisions,  become  scarce, 

any  one  who  has  a  g""''  "t"'^''  "^  ^''F'"  ^'T^"';^ 
commonly  happooa  to  tlie  cluef),  in  order  to 
distribute  the  Blores,  keqis  open  table  for 
a  certain  time  to  an  appointed  number  ot 
poor  artists,  wlio  are  bouud  to  give  m  return 
some  strokes  of  the  tattoo  to  all  who  choose 
to  come  for  it.  By  virtue  of  a  tapu,  all  these 
brethren  are  engaged  to  support  each  other, 
if  in  tUturo  some  happen  to  bo  in  need  while 
the  others  are  iu  allliK'nce. 

"  The  same  person  may  bo  a  member  ot 
several  of  these  societies;  but,  according  to 
what  we  could  learn,  a  portion  must  always 
be  siven  to  the  priest,  or  magician,  as  he  is 
called,  even  if  he  be  not  a  member.  In  a 
time  of  sean-ily,  also,  mimy  of  the  people  who 
have  been  tattooed  in  this  way  unite  as  an 
absolute  troop  of  baudiUi,  and  share  equa  ly 
among  each  other  all  that  they  can  plunder 

"  The  (Inures  with  which  the  body  is 
tattooed  are  chosen  with  great  care,  mid  ap- 
nropriate  ornaments  ar(!  .selected  lor  the  dil- 
fin-cnt  Dirts.  Tlicy  consist  partly  ot  animals, 
partly  of  other  (ibjecls  which  have  some 
reference  to  the  manners  and  customs  ot  the 
islands;  and  every  figure  has  here,  as  in  the 
Friendly  Islands.'its  particular  name.  Upon 
an  accurate  examination,  curved  lines,  dia- 
monds, and  other  designs  are  olten  distiu- 
ciiishable  between  rows  of  punctures,  which 
resemble  very  nuich  the  ornaments  called  a 

la  Orcrque.  ...  i 

"  The  most  perfect  symmetry  is  observed 
over  the  whole  body.  Tli6  head  of  a  man  is 
tattooed  in  every  i)art;  the  breast  is  com- 
monly ornamented  with  a  li'niro  resembling 
a  shield;  on  the  arms  and  thighs  are  strips 
sometimes  broa<ler,  sometimes  narrower,  in 
such  directions  that  these  ))e.>i)le  miglil  be 
very  well  i)resumed  to  have  studied  anatomy, 
and  to  bo  ac(iuiiinted  with  the  course  and 
dimensions  of  the  miiseles.  _ 

"  Upon  the  bade  is  a  large  cross,  which 
bcins  at  tli.^  neck  and  ends  with  the  last 
vertebra.  In  the  trout  of  the  thigh  are  oiten 
fr'tires  which  seem  inleiuhMl  to  represent  the 
human  face.  ( )n  each  side  of  the  calf  of  the 
le<'  is  an  oval  ti^jurc,  which  produces  a  very 
KiH)d  elf.vt.  The  whole,  in  fact,  displays 
miirh  taste  and  discriiniiiation.  Some  ot  the 
tenderest  parts  of  the  boily— the  eyelids,  fur 
example— are  the  only  parts  not  tattooed. 
'Asmiybeseen  by  the  illustration  No.  2 
on  the  lOir.th  page,  even  the  hands  arc  tat- 
tooed with  the  same  minute  care  that  is  be- 
stowed on  the  body.  Each  linger  has  its  own 
pattern,  so  that  the  baud  looks  as  if  enclosed 
in  a  very  tight-litting  glove.  The  reader 
will  notice  tlie  gre.at  length  of  tlie  nails. 
Among  the  Marquesaiis,  is  among  the  Chi- 
nese, very  long  nails  are  eBteenvod  as  a  mark 


of  rank,  being  a  proof  that  the  wearer  is  not 
obliged  to  do  any  liurd  work. 

This  elaborate  ornamentation  onswers  tlie 
nurnose  of  dress,  and  la  considered  ivs  such, 
indeed,  it  would  bo  useless  to  undergo  so 
much  pain,  and  to  pay  the  operator  such 
costly  fees,  if  the  tattooing  were  to  be  hid- 
den by  clothing.  The  men,  thereloro,  wear 
nothing  but  a  slight  cloth  round  their  waiste, 
and  the  women  of  rank  a  similar  garment, 
with  the  addition  of  a  larger  piece  which 
they  throw  over  their  bodies  to  keep  oil  the 
darkening  rays  of  the  sun. 

Few  phenomena  struck  the  earlier  travel- 
lers more  than  the  difterenco  in  appear- 
ance and  stature  between  the  men  and  the 
women;  and  the  same  writer  who  has  just 
been  iiuoti^d  remarks  more  than  once  that  it 
was  ditnculi  to  believe  that  the  undersized, 
stunii>y,  awkward  women  could  have  been 
the  parents  of  the  magnillcent,  gigantic,  and 
Ki-aceful  men.  There  is,  however,  a  great 
distinction  between  the  women  of  rank  and 
those  of  the  lower  orders.  As  was  aller- 
ward  discovered,  the  better  class  of  woinen, 
who  for  some  time  kept  theinse  ves  aloof 
from  the  Htrangers,.bcing  well  developed, 
and  of  a  fair  complexion,  about  which  they 
were  very  careful,  enveloped  themselves  m 
their  baik  cloths,  and  never  ventured  into 
the  sunshine  without  holding  over  their 
heads  a  bunch  of  leaves  by  way  oi  parasol. 

So  careful  are  they  of  their  complexions, 
tluat  if  they  find  themselves  getting  sun- 
burnt  they  liave  a  mode  oi  b  caching  them- 
selves again,  which  they  adopt  belorc  all 
great  ceremonies,  though  at  the  cost  ot  much 
time  and  trouble.  They  tjike  the  sap  of 
three  trees,  with  which  they  anoint  the 
whole  body.  The  immediate  ell'ect  ot  the 
mixture  is  to  dye  the  skin  of  a  deep  black. 
The  pigment  is  allowed  to  remain  on  the 
skin  for  six  days,  during  which  time  the 
woman  renu.ins  witliin  the  house.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  she  bathos,  when  aU 
the  bla(!k  dye  comes  oif,  and  the  skin  is  left 
beautifully  "fair.  n  -^ 

A  woman  who  has  just  undergone  this 
process,  and  who  has  dressed  herselt  m  all 
lier  native  finery,  is  a  very  striking  obicct, 
her  body  being  gracefully  enveloped  in  bark 
eloth,her  hair  adorned  with  tlowers,  and  her 
fair  skin  almost  without  ornament  except 
upon  the  fei't,  hands,  and  arms,  which  ap- 
pear as  if  she  were  wearing  boots,  gloves, 

and  bracelets.  .        .      ,        ^         „n„ 

'  The  mode  of  tattooing  is  almost  exactly 
like  that  of  the  Samoan  islanders,  except 
that  the  "comb"  is  made  of  the  wing-bone 
of  the  tropic  bird.  The  operation  is  always 
conducted  in  certain  houses  belonging  to 
the  iirofessional  tattoocrs,  who  lay  on  these 
buildin"s  a  tapu,  which  renders  them  unap- 
Droachable  by  woinen.    As  is  the  case  in 


ijroaeimin'i    I'j     ..  v....x,... —     - 

^amoa,  the  best  tattooers  are  mon  of  great 
importance,  and  arc  pn^;  i-.s-j  J"?^  -'-'=" 
services,  a  Mai-quesan  thinking  that  ho  w 


!  m 


,  '■  I 


II 


1048 


THE-  MARQUESAS  ISLANDS. 


bound  to  bo  liberal  toward  n  nmn  to  whom 
lui  Ih  iudiibtod  lor  tlio  charms  which  he 
valuoa  so  hij^hly.  ThcNc  men  naiii  their 
sitill  by  practi.sin>{  on  the  lower  orders,  who 
are  too  poor  to  pay  for  beinK  tattooed,  and 
who  would  rather  wear  a  bad  tattoo  than 
none  at  all.  A  considerablo  amount  is  gen- 
erally exacted  at  each  operation,  which  lastt. 
from  three  to  six  months:  and  so  elaborate 
is  the  process,  that  a  really  complete  tattoo 
can  hardly  bo  llnished  until  the  nmn  is  thirty 
years  old. 

liy  the  time  that  the  last  piece  of  tattoo  is 
executed,  tlie  llrst  generally  begins  to  fade, 
and  if  the  man  is  rich  enough  he  has  the 
pattern  renewed.  Some  mcniiave  been  tat- 
tooed three  times,  and,  as  the  patterns  can- 
not bo  made  to  coincide  precisely  with  each 
other,  the  result  is  that  the  whole  skin  be- 
comes nearly  as  dark  as  that  of  a  negro.  In 
this  state  it  is  greatly  admired,  not  because 
the  effect  is  agreeable  to  the  eye,  but  because 
it  is  an  indubitable  mark  of  wealth.    Tlie 

1)igment  used  in  the  tattooing  is  the  well- 
cnown  ftleurita,  or  candle  nut,  burned  to  a 
fine  charcoal  and  mixed  with  water. 

The  ornaments  worn  by  the  men  are  more 
imposing  than  those  of  the  women.  In  the 
first  place,  they  allow  the  hair  to  grow  to  a 
considerable  length,  and  dispose  of  it  in  va- 
rious ways.  For  a  number  of  years  it  is  tied 
in  a  bunch  on  the  top  of  the  head;  but  when 
the  man  is  rich  enough  to  bo  entirely  tat- 
tooed, ho  shaves  all  the  head  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  patch  at  each  side,  in  order  to  allow 
the  pattern  of  the  tattoo  to  bo  extended  over 
his  head.  In  such  a  case,  the  tuft  of  hair  at 
each  side  is  still  suffered  to  grow  long,  but  is 
twisted  into  a  conical  form,  so  as  to  make  a 
sort  of  horn  projecting  outward  over  each 
temple.  Examples  of  this  curious  mode  of 
wearing  the  hair  may  be  seen  in  the  illus- 
tration No.  1,  on  p.ago  104(5. 

Sometimes  a  man  may  bo  seen  wearing 
the  whole  of  his  hair  in  curled  ringlets. 
Such  men  are  cultivating  a  crop  for  sale,  as 
the  Marfiuesans  are  very  fond  of  decorat- 
ing with  these  ringlets  the  handles  of  their 
spears  and  clubs,  and  of  making  them  into 
ornamental  figures  which  are  worn  on  the 
ankles.  Tlie  most  valued  of  these  decora- 
tions are  long  white  human  beards,  which 
are  grown  for  the  express  purpose,  and  sold 
at  a  very  high  price.  The  purchaser  uses 
them  either  as  plumes  for  his  head  or  as 
ornamental  appendages  to  his  conch-shell 
trumpet.  One  of  these  beards  is  now  al- 
ways reckoned  as  equivalent'  in  value  to  a 
miiskct,  and  before  fire-arms  were  intro- 
duced was  estimated  at  an  equally  high 
rate. 

The  ear  ornaments  of  the  Marquesan  men 
are  very  curious.  An  univalve  shell,  of  a 
dead-white  color,  is  cut  into  a  circular  shape, 
and  filled  with  a  sort  of  cement  made  of  the 
resin  and  wood  of  the  bread-fruit  tree.  Into 
this  cemeut  is  pressed  an  ivory  stem,  carved 


with  figures  in  relief,  so  that  the  whole  or- 
nament looks  like  a  very  large  white  headed 
nail.  The  stem  is  puHJuul  through  a  hole  in 
the  lobe  of  the  ear,  so  that  the  heail  of  tho 
nail  projects  forward,* as  seen  in  the  right- 
hand  figure  of  "  tattooed  chiefs "  on  pago 
104U.  The  name  of  the  ornament  is  "  taiana." 
Ornaments  made  of  wludes'  teeth  are  as 
fashionable  among  the  AluniucHiiiis  as  anions 
the  I'olynesians,  and  are  worn  by  the  cliiels 
susjiended  round  their  necks.  \Vooden  or- 
naments bleacht^d  white  are  also  used,  and 
others  are  cut  from  shells.  One  ornament 
of  which  they  are  very  fond  is  made  from 
wood,  wax,  and  bcciIh.  It  is  in  tho 
form  of  a  horseshoe,  the  fniiiiework  being 
made  of  wood,  which  is  tliiekly  covered  with 
wax.  Into  this  are  pressed  the  pretty  black 
and  scarlet  seeds  of  the  Ahrus  firccatorius, 
arranged  in  rows  radiating  to  Uw.  circumfer- 
ence. One  of  these  ornaments  is  shown  in 
the  illustration  No.  '1,  on  the  same  page  and 
is  drawn  from  a  specimen  in  my  collection. 
It  measures  eight  inches  in  diameter,  and  is 
slightly  concave  on  the  outside,  and  convex 
on  the  inside.  Very  great  jiains  have  been 
taken  in  arranging  the  seeds;  they  aro 
placed  in  a  regular  scries  of  double  rows, 
the  black  portion  of  each  seed  being  jiressed 
into  the  wax,  so  that  only  the  brilliant  scar- 
let portion  is  visible.  Ujiward  of  eight  hun- 
dred beads  have  been  used  in  making  this 
ornament,  so  that  tho  trouble  which  is  taken 
by  the  natives  is  very  great. 

Some  of  the  chiefs  wear  a  very  curious 
ornament,  which  seems  to  take  the  place  of 
the  hair  which  they  shave  from  their  own 
lie.ids,  and  is  nothing  more  than  a  large 
bunch  of  hair  cut  from  the  head  of  a  wife. 
As  a  rule,  the  Marquesan  removes  all  hair 
from  the  body,  except  from  the  head,  only 
one  or  two  of  the  very  old  men  allowing 
a  few  straggling  hairs  on  the  chin. 

In  LangsdorlFs  travels  an  amusing  inci- 
dent occurred,  illustrative  of  that  feeding. 
In  those  days  close  shaviii';  was  the  custom 
in  Europe,  so  that  when  the  ollicers  went 
on  shore  they  were  found  to  have  conformed 
to  the  fashion  of  the  islands.  They  were 
talking  very  amicably  togcither,  when  sud- 
donly  a  chief  stared  intently  into  the  face  of 
one  of  tho  officers,  and,  witli  horror  depicted 
in  his  features,  rushed  forward,  and  gr.asped 
him  tightly.  The  officer  naturally  Ihought 
that  he  was  going  to  be  murdered;  but  the 
fact  was,  that  the  Marquesan  had  actually 
discovered  a  hair  on  his  face,  and  was  going 
to  pull  it  out  with  his  shell  tweezers. 

When  they  wish  to  be  considered  r^s  wear- 
ing full  dress,  the  better  class  of  men  wear 
a  most  elaborate  cap,  made  of  fibre,  feathers, 
and  shells.  First,  a  broad  fillet  is  plaited 
from  cocoa-nut  fibre,  so  as  to  p.ass  round  tho 
forehead,  after  the  manner  of  a  cap  without 
a  crown.  On  the  centre  of  this  fillet  is 
fixed  a  large  plate  of  mother-o'-pcarl,  deco- 
rated with  carving.    In  tho  middle  of  this 


ABCIIITECTURE  IN  THE  MAHQUESAS. 


lU40 


plato  is  flxod  a,  amjUi-r  but  aiinilurly  shivdiMl 
j)iat«  of  turtoiHis-Hhcll,  and  in  tlm  inuldU!  of 
that  11  still  Hiuivllor  disc  of  pearl  hIicII.  Homo 
hoad(iri'H.'*(!«  luivu  throo  of  these  onianicnts, 
as  iH  till-  Ciwe  with  that  which  Ih  fl;,'iiri)d  in 
the  ManiiicHan  chief  on  the  lO-KUh  page. 

In  the  lUlet  are  also  fastened  a  nuniher  of 
feathers,  either  from  llie  tail  of  the  cock  or 
from  that  of  tlie  tropic  bird,  so  that  when 
the  fillet  is  bound  on  the  fordiead  the  feath- 
ers will  stand  upright.  The  feathers  of  the 
tropic  bird  are  greatly  {prized  by  tli(!  natives, 
wiio  use  them  for  various  ornaments,  and 
display  great  ingenuity  in  procuring  them. 
Instead  of  killing  the  birds,  and  so  stopping 
the  supply  of  featliera,  they  steal  upon  them 
when  llu'y  are  asleep,  and  dexterously  twitch 
out  the  two  long  tail-feathers.  In  process 
of  time  the  feathers  grow  again,  and  so  the 
Bupply  is  kept  up.  1  mention  the  custom 
because  it  is  contrary  to  the  recklessness 
respecting  the  future  which  is  usually  found 
among  savages. 

The  houses  of  the  Marqucsana  arc  rather 
peculiar,  espccnally  those  of  the  better  kind. 
The  native  builder  begins  with  making  a 
platform  of  large  stones,  many  of  them 
Deing  so  enormous  that  ten  or  twelve  men 
are  required  to  move  them.  This  platform 
is  from  ten  to  eleven  feet  high,  and  about 
thirty  feet  long  by  twelve  wide.  Upon  this 
is  erected  the  house,  which  is  built  with  the 
back  very  mwh  higher  than  the  front,  so 
that  the  roof  slopes  considerably,  the  back 
being  perhaps  twelve  or  more  feet  in  height, 
and  the  front  only  five  feet.  The  door  is 
naturally  small,  and  no  one  can  enter  with- 
out 8tod|)ing.  The  walls  at  the  end  are  no 
higher  than  that  of  the  front,  so  that  a  con- 
sitlerable  portion  of  each  end  is  left  open. 
As,  however,  the  climate  of  the  Marquesas 
is  so  equable,  this  is  rather  an  advantage 
than  otherwise. 

The  interior  of  the  houao  is  divided  into 
two  portions,  one  of  which  is  left  bare,  with 
no  covering  to  the  stony  floor,  while  the 
other  part  is  considered  as  the  dwelling- 
place,  and  the  floor  is  covered  with  mats. 
The  walls  arc  also  covered  with  matting. 
Near  the  back  wall  is  the  strangely  made 
family  bed.  Two  horizontal  poles  are  placed 
about  six  feet  apart,  and  a  foot  or  so  from 
the  ground,  and  the  space  between  them  is 
filled  with  drv  grass  covered  with  mats. 
The  sleepc'-s  "lie  on  the  mats,  resting  the 
back  of  their  head-*  on  one  pole,  and  their 
feet  on  the  other,  and  pass  the  night  in  this 
position,  which  seems  to  have  been  invented 
for  the  purjiose  of  making  the  sleepers  as 
uncomfort.ablc  as  possible.  Hound  the  walls 
arc  hung  the  weapons  and  implements  of 
the  owner,  such  as  spears,  clubs,  stilts, 
drums,  slings,  axe.^,  and  similar  articles. 
The  houses  are  always  placed  near  trees, 
so  that  they  may  have  the  advantage  of 
shade. 
The  Marqucsans  have  a  curious  custom  of 

61 


erecting  small  and  highly  decorated  build- 
ings in  luuior  of  t\w  children  of  great  chiefs. 
These  buildiu'jH  are  considered  as  aeknowU 
0(lgmenls  of  the  legitimacy  of  the  children; 
and  if  they  wen;  ondtted,  the  parents  would 
con.Hider  "themselves  insulted.  They  are 
protected  by  tapu,  and  alter  they  are  made 
are  not  repairoci,  but  allowed  to  decay.  Dr. 
IJennett,  in  his  "Whaling  Voyage  round 
the  (ilobe,"  thus  describes  those  edifices:  — 

"  This  compliment  had  been  jiaid  to 
Eutiti's  daughter  at  Vaitabii  a  few  weeks 
before  our  arrival.  It  consisted  of  two 
small  huts,  neatly  built,  with  jteeled  hibiscus 
rods,  which  were  covered  with  white  tapjia 
(liark  cloth)  and  stained  cocoa-nut  sinnet. 
The  interior  was  occupied  by  many  of  the 
same  rods  ranged  vertically,  graduated  in 
height,  and  entwined  with  b"iinehes  of  herbs. 
The  face  of  the  building  was  ornamented  by 
a  few  boards,  painted  with  mystic  figures  in 
black  and  red. 

"The  white  and  delicate  appearance  of 
the  hibiseiis  rods,  the  flutleriiig  ]i(  nnants 
of  fine  tappa,  and  the  various  gaudy  hues 
employed,  ^ave  the  entire  edifice  a  fantastic 
and  imposiii'j  ajjpearance.  A  low  stone 
wall  en(d()8e<r  the  two  huts,  and  within  its 
precincts  were  several  bundles  of  cocoa-nut 
leaves  jdaced  upright,  and  intended  to  rep- 
resent the  tutelary  deities  of  the  spot.  A 
striking  edifice  of  the  same  description  had 
been  erected  in  honor  of  Eutiti  s  son  at 
Anamaihai,  the  territory  of  his  guardian. 
It  difl'ered  fnmi  that  dedicated  to  his  sister 
in  being  placed  on  an  elevated  stone  plat- 
form, as  well  as  in  having  a  long  wicker 
basket  placed  at  the  entrance." 

In  every  village  there  is  a  sort  of  amphi- 
theatre, in  which  the  dancing  and  similar 
amusements  are  conducted.  Eor  this  pur- 
pose the  natives  choose  a  sheltered  and  level 
8[)ot,  surrounded  on  all  sides  with  rising 
banks.  The  middle  of  the  amphitheatre  is 
car(!fully  -imoothed  and  covered  with  mats, 
and  tlie  rising  banks  serve  as  seats  for  the 
spectators. 

When  a  dance  is  to  be  performed,  the  mats 
are  laid  afresh,  and  a  large  amount  of  food 
is  prepared.  The  spectators  take  the  food 
with  them,  and,  seated  on  the  banks,  remain 
there  throughout  thegreater  partof  the  day. 
The  dances  arc  not  very  graceful,  consist- 
ing principally  of  jumping,  without  moving 
from  the  same  spot.  Various  ornaments 
are  used  by  the  daueers,  the  most  curious 
of  which  are  the  finger-rings,  which  are 
made  of  plaited  fibre,  adorned  with  the  long 
tail-feathers  of  the  tropic  bird.  When 
women  dance  they  are  not  allowed  to  wear 
clothing  of  any  description,  and  this  for  a 
curious  reason.  None  dance  except  those 
whose  husbands  or  brothers  have  been 
killed  in  war  or  taken  prisoners,  and  the 
absence  of  clothing  is  accepted  as  an  expres- 
sion of  sorrow  on  their  part,  and  of  ven- 
geance on  the  part  of  the  spectators. 


1 

'1 


I 


loao 


THE   MAlKiUESAS  ISLANDfl. 


Thoy  have  ncvoral  other  amunemt'iiU, 
wlii(!h  iiro  coiuIiu'UmI  Iu  thift  IhiMUro,  or 
jxiluion,  UN  it  lit  cullfil.  'I'lio  ManiuoimiiH  urc 
iiuiHt  lut'omitliHluMl  Hlllt-WftlkcrH,  itml  «" 
through  |ii'iioniiimc('S  wlilili  would  cxrlto 
till)  oiivy  of  utiy  profrssloniil  ntrolml.  One 
of  tlio  niinics  in  whlcli  tliny  nnmt  ilcliKlil  Im 
ft  men  oil  HiiltM,  in  wliiolt  cucli  |)orfoiin«!r 
trii'H,  not  only  to  <li(ttiinoo  liin  opponi-nlB, 
but  to  iTosM  tlii'ir  coiUHd  and  upMit  tlu'iu. 
Tliiiy  urn  Hiicli  iidcptH  nt  this  imntinio  tliiit 
thoy  wiilk  ovi'r  tho  rou>{li  dtoncH  of  thu 
lioii.Hi!  plntforni  vvith  ciwo  iind  Hecurity. 

Ik  tlio  rciuh-r  will  refer  to  tho  jiortrult  of 
tho  Miir(|ii(tsiin  chief,  ho  will  huo  that  the 
hoiid  is  not  oidy  (loeonvte(l  with  the  feiither 
llllet,  hut  is  also  covered  with  ii  veil  that 
fulls  on  (>ither  side  of  tho  fnco.  This  is  a 
niiirk  of  war,  and  is  worn  v,hon  chiefs  (?o 
into  hattlo.  Tho  Mar(|ueHans  do  not  nso 
tho  how  and  arrow,  hut  thoy  throw  spears, 
slinf;;  stones,  and  use  clulm.  "Tho  slinks  aro 
niaifi'  of  plaited  f^vnsH,  and  are  very  power- 
ful, ol'ti  n  exceeding  live  foot  in  length,  and 
carry in;^  stonesof  aconsidorahlo  si/.o.  The 
("pears  aro  ti;enorally  about  ten  foot  lonjr, 
and  tho  clubs  aro  carved  out  of  hard  wood, 
which  is  made  harder  by  burying  tho  weap- 
ons tor  a  considerable  tinio  in  tho  mud. 

Thoy  aro  llerco  in  war,  and  aro  never  sat- 
islied  until  thoy  have  ^'uined  a  trophy  of 
victory.  When  a  Marrjuosan  kills  an  enemy, 
ho  cuts  olVthe  ho:ul  of  his  fallen  antagonist, 
tears  opi^n  tho  skull,  and  eats  tho  brain. 
lie  then  cleans  tho  skull  very  carefully, 
adorns  it  with  tulls  of  bristles,  and  slings  it 
by  ft  cord  to  his  ginlle.  When  ho  goes  to 
battle  again  ho  always  carries  this  trophy 
with  him,  partly  on  account  of  the  respect  in 
wiiich  it  is  held  by  his  comrades,  and  partly 
in  order  to  strike  awe  into  tho  enemy  by  tho 
sight  of  so  redoubtable  a  warrior. 

According  to  most  travellers,  the  Marquo- 
suns  aro  a  ciuarrelsoino  people  among  them- 
selves, and  miurh  addicted  to  making  raids 
in  each  other's  districts.  These  districts 
are  generally  divided  from  each  other  by 
natural  boundaries,  such  as  mountain-spurs 
and  ridges,  many  of  which  aro  of  enormous 
lieight,  au(l  .so  steep  and  precipitous  a.s  to 
1)0  almost  inaccessible.  The  wor.st  part  of 
their  mode  of  warfare  is  not  the  cruelty 
exercised  on  tho  vaniiuishcd  warriors,  but 
on  the  destruction  to  property,  and  tho 
distress    inllicted  on   non-combatanta. 

When  one  chief  intends  to  make  war 
upon  another,  ho  tries  to  steal  by  night  into 
the  district  of  his  enemy,  and  silently  dam- 
ages all  the  bread-fruit  and  cocoa-nut  trees 
ho  can  find.  Tho  former  are  stripped  of 
their  J>nrk,  and,  though  their  vitnlitv  is  so 
great  that  thoy  aro  not  absolutely  killed  by 
the  inj :;rv  tb'iv  bear  no  more  fruit  for  five 
years,9;  ,?  i.iii;  thewbolo  poj)ulation  aro  de- 
prived if  •-.:■  '>»sen';;il  article  of  diet,  and  for 
■  ji  ifjj^-*  ;»^*  :  .iVti  •.  :*?ico(l  to  *^r"nt  Atrfiitn  fVir 
want  o^'ft'ovi, 


Tho  cocoa-nut  trcra  ni«  killed  after  a  dif- 
ft'rent  manner.  Tho  destroyir  walks  u|)  tho 
true  after  tho  mode  eninloyed  by  the«o  iiil- 
ftnders;  nanndy,  by  applying  the  nalnw  of 
his  lumdH  toeillier  siilo  of  iho  trunk,  and  so 
iwcemling  thu  tree  in  nu)n!<ey  fiwbion.  Ho 
then  bruises  with  a  stone  the  central  shoot, 
or  "  cabbage  "  of  tho  |)alm,  and  ilescends  tho 
tree,  knowing  that  it  must  soon  die.  Tho 
reason  for  tho  futu'.  mituro  of  the  iijury  is, 
that  tho  tree  is  an  endogenous  one,  and  con- 
se(|.U(ntly  tho  destruction  of  the  central  bud 
involves  tho  death  of  the  tree.  Sometimes 
the  tree  is  killed  in  another  way,  a  sea-slug 
(^.V/ic-i/oHcr)  being  laid  at  the  root  of  tho 
"  cabbage,"  killing  the  tree  as  it  <lccay8. 

Quarrolsome  as  thoy  are  and  cruel  to  tho 
persons  and  property  of  tht^  vanquiHhed, 
they  havo  yet  some  slight  eliipictte  in  war, 
one  ruli!  of  wliieh  is  so  curious  that  it  nuist 
bo  given  in  the  relator's  own  words:  — 

",/i«nr  IH.  — (Japtain  Itiggs  of  the  Ocneml 
(hilix,  Just  arrived  IVom  the  Mar(|oesas,  in- 
forms lis  that  ho  has  had  a  niinow  escane  of 
his  life  there.  At  the  island  of  Nukaliivn, 
as  ho  was  attemplinj?  <<>  >?'•  <>"  "horo,  '*  na- 
tive chief,  assisted  by  u  posse  of  dependants, 
seized  and  carried  liim  oil",  slriiiped  him  of 
his  clothing,  and  then  presented  him  to  tho 
king,  an  inllrmohl  man,  who  look  him  under 
ills  protection.  That  protection,  however, 
could  havo  little  availed  him,  for  the  sov- 
ereign liad  not  j)owcr  to  set  tht^  prisoner  at 
liberty  unlo.ss  u  suitable  ransom  wcro  paid 
for  him. 

"  The  captors  (irst  demanded  live  muskets 
and  live  barrels  of  gunpowder,  which  being 
agreed  to,  they  rose  in  Ihcir  violent  extor- 
tion, and  re(|ulred  more;  and  this  also  being 
conceded,  they  still  refused  to  liberato  him 
unless  their  rapacity  was  still  finiher  grati- 
fied. Tho  captain  then  resolutely  stooil  out, 
and  insisted  on  being  set  at  liberty,  nt  the 
same  time  having  but  small  hopes  of  obtain- 
ing it,  or  any  other  issue  of  his  captivity  ex- 
cept to  bo  killed  and  eaten  by  these  cannibals, 
some  of  wlioin  had  conspired  to  spear  liim, 
but  the  king's  authority  restrained  their 
violence. 

"  At  length,  however,  the  terms  of  rnn- 
som  being  settled,  he  was  ordered  to  be  re- 
leased; but  here  an  unexpected  dilllculty 
arose.  The  law  of  tbi>  bind  requires  that 
whoever  cai)turea  uuoiliir  i:i>  board  of  a 
boat  must,  when  tl;(  ii;  i  lonci-  isatlibertv. 
carry  him  down  t  >  ''  .■  fi.  "  •  ;ain,  and  re- 
instate him  in  the  same  situation  as  he  was 
found.  This  tlio  cowardly  and  treacherous 
chief,  who  had  readily  acted  tho  part  of  kid- 
napiier,  was  unwilling  to  do,  lest  he  should 
be  shot  from  tho  ship.  The  obligation, 
however,  being  indisjit'iisable,  ho  obtaineil 
the  captain's  assurance  that  no  harm  should 
be  attempted  against  him.  and  then  per- 
formed tho  ungracious  ofilce.  When  Cap- 
(o.iji  Itif'STs  had  reached  his  vo'ssel,  tho  nft- 
tives  on  the  shore  gave  three  hideous  howls, 


nuniAL  CUSTOMS. 


loni 


wlili'li  wero  rrturn««l  by  thrro  hearty  chuors 
of  tlio  cniw." 


r. 


Finiliii^;  llmt  their  cn|)tlvp  l\uil  lM>t>n  bo 
rodliililit  to  tluMii,  tlu)  niitlvcH  tried  Ixililly 
o  t'kr  llii-Nliip,  (U)il  iliKiiliiyiHl  i'(|uiil  iiiKiMiii- 
ity  iinil  daring  in  their  iilU'inpt.  On  tlic 
Hiimc  cvfiiiiijj;  n  nativti  whs  (lelcetcd  in  try- 
ln((  to  cut  tlie  I'lilihi,  :'n(|  v^an  nhot  tor  hlH 
UMncrity.  Finding  tha.  uu  onen  aMwiuIt  of 
thin  kind  wiin  imeirMH,  tlie  imtiveH,  who  uri" 
Wondi'i'l'id  (livt'rN,  nwani  oil'  lo  llic  Mhi|i,  ciir- 
ryiii^' Willi  Ihcni  iv  ropfi,  onu  iiid  of  wliicli 
tlicy  I'liMtint'd  to  till*  milder,  well  inidcr  the 
w.iler,  the  other  end  hein^  enrried  Hidiore. 
FortuniUely  IIiIh  triek  wiih  iliHi'overed  in 
time  to  Niive  tlie  nhip,  and,  had  not  the  rnjie 
lieeii  seen,  the  nutiveH  would  have  wnit;il 
until  the  vi'HHi'l  weighed  anchor,  and  then 
liave  dra^i^ecl  her  (udiore. 

In  the  iiliove  narrativo  the  MarqueHmiH 
are  deserilu'd  as  cannilialH.  It  ix,  however, 
V(*ry  doulitl'ul  whether  they  can  he  ju.stly 
(•harmed  willi  tlUN  revolting  eusloni. 

'I'm-'  enioew  of  the  Marifiu'Hans  are  fin'- 
iiiHlieil  with  outrinK'''"*'i  alter  the  enntoin  of 
nil  I'olyni'Hia,  uiid  are  well-liuilt  and  Mwil'l 
veHsels.  'I'hey  have,  hcHideH  the  ouli'i;,'j^er, 
ii  cniidl  Btajje  projiriiu'^  over  ilie  stem,  on 
wiiieh  the  Hteertmian  HtaiulH  when  the  veHwel 
is  under  nail.  The  how  of  the  eanoe  is 
inueh  turned  up  in  front,  prolialdy  for  the 
purpose  of  aelin;,'  as  a  ilefenee  to  the  row- 
ers, when  nilvanein;^  against  an  enemy. 

'I'hey  are  very  Hkillul  in  the  tlshin},'  art, 
both  with  line  and  net.  They  have  dilTer- 
enl  modes  of  usin^;  both  these  implements. 
"When  Ihev  tish  with  the  line,  they  some- 
tinies  bait  "the  hook,  pass  the  line  over  the 
Hide,  and  an<;le  in  the  mode  adopted  in  this 
country.  Hut  w\wn  thev  (Isb  for  the  alba- 
rore.  tliey  employ  a  totally  dilVerent  method, 
whieh  bears  some  reNeinblanee  to  fly  llshinf;, 
cxeejit  that  the  bait  is  not  nuido  to  repre- 
sent an  insoet,  but  iv  fish. 

A  very  .insi'nious  imitation  of  a  tlying 
fish  is  made  by  ('uttin<;  the  shape  of  Die  lish 
out  of  a  motlier-of-pearl  shell,  and  insert- 
ini;  a  lonj^  tntl  of  bog's  bristles  at  cither 
side  to  represent  the  wing  tins,  and  another 
at  the  extremity  to  do  duty  lor  the  tail, 
''^his  is  armed  with  a  hook,  and  fastened  to 
one  end  of  a  line,  the  other  end  of  which  is 
attaebed  to  the  top  of  a  long  bamboo  rod 
planted  in  the  stern  of  the  canoe.  Sail  is 
hoisted,  and  the  vessel  is  driven  over  the 
waves  at  full  speed,  the  sham  flying-tish 
leaping  and  bounding  through  the  air  in  a 
manniT  that  wonderfully  resembles  the  ac- 
tion of  the  living  fish.  The  albacore  natu- 
rallv  takes  the  bait  for  a  real  fish,  leaps  at 
it,  and  is  caught  before  it  has  time  to  dis- 
cover the  imposition. 

Net  fishing  is  carried  on  in  several  modes, 
but  tne  most  curious  and  perhaps  the  most 
sportsmanlike  plan  is  that  which  compels 
thft  (ishennan  t"  pursue  bis  occiniation 
under  water,    itc  takes  with  him  a  liand- 


net  and  a  ntlek  about  two  feet  In  bnglh, 
JiunpH  into  the  water,  and  dives  among  the 
coial,  holding  his  net  over  the  nooks  ami 
crevices  with  one  hand,  while  with  thu 
slick  he  drives  the  IIhIi  out  uf  their  biding 
places  into  the  net. 

Hy  this  mode  of  fishing  great  numbers 
are  captmed,  but  the  fisherman  is  always 
expo.ied  to  two  dangers.  In  the  first  place, 
there  is  a  ehaiiie  that  a  slunk  may  come  up 


unolmervi'i',  and  carry  oil'  a  limb,  even  it  it 
does  not  kill  the  man.  The  Mari|Uesaim 
are  Hiieh  excellent  swimnierH  that  they  caro 
little  for  a  shark  as  long  as  tiiey  can  see 
liini,  and  it  is  only  when  the  leirible  ll-b 
darts  unexpectedly  out  of  a  hiding  place 
that  they  know  any  real  fear. 
Sonu'iimes  a  ralber  strange  circumstance 
the   death   of    the   diver.     II  has 


occasions 


alreaily  been  mentioned  that  up  to  the  time 
when  "a  man  can  nll'onl  (o  have  his  head  lat- 
looed  lie  wears  his  hair  ver^'  long,  (Hid  tied 
U|i  in  a  knot  on  the  ciown  ol  his  head.  Mc- 
I'ore  going  into  the  water,  the  natives  untie 
Ihe  fillet,  and  allow  the  hair  to  lloal  down 
tlieir  backs.  It  has  oecasionally  happened 
tliat  a  diver,  who  has  thus  preiia'red  himself,^ 
finds,  when  be  tries  to  rise  to  the  surface  ot" 
the  water,  that  his  long  fioiiling  hair  has  be- 
come entangled  in  the  branching  coral;  and, 
as  he  has  already  remained  under  water 
nearly  as  long  as  "bis  breath  will  last,  he  is 
sometimes  drowned  before  he  has  time  to 
extricate  himself. 

When  a  Marmiesan  dies  a  natural  death, 
his  relatives  iiiaKc  great  preparation  for  his 
funeral,  including  the  usual  uceoinpaniment 
of  feasting.  They  send  for  a  "tana,"  or 
priest,  who  makes  a  long  oration  over  the 
coqise,  which  is  then  delivered  lo  the  rela- 
tives, who  have  a  long  and  disagreeable  task 
before  them.  They  first  wash  the  body 
thoroughly,  and  then  rrb  it  with  cocoa-nut 
oil,  laying  it  in  the  sun,  and  turning  it  con- 
tinually. Several  times  daily  the  coriise  is 
newly  "anointed,  unlil  at  last  the  comliincd 
etVects  of  the  sun  and  oil  reduce  it  to  a 
mummy.  AVraiijied  in  cloth,  it  is  laid  on  a 
bier,  aiid  deposited  in  the  cemetery. 

Each  district  has  its  cemetery,  or  "morni."' 
which  is  adorned  with  gigantic  human  fig- 
ures carved  in  wood,  and  similar  decorations. 
It  issurrounileil  by  a  wall,  and  held  in  great 
respect  by  the  inhabitants  of  its  district. 
Unfortunately,  the  inhabitants  of  other  dis- 
tricts hold  it  'in  no  respect  at  all,  and,  when 
war  is  declared,  try  to  steal  out  of  the  morui 
the  bodv  of  aiiv  man  of  rank.  When, 
therefore,  war  seems  to  be  imminent,  the. 
bodies  ai»  carried  away  and  hidden,  or 
sometimes  buried.  A  siinilar  custom  pre- 
vails in  manv  parts  of  Polynesia,  and  ilr. 
VVilliams  mentions  an  instance  where  a  man 
climbed  an  ai)parently  inaccessible  nrecipico 
with  a  corpse  lashed  "to  his  back,  placed  the 
body  on  a  lofty  shelf,  and  descended  in 
salety. 


P 


'id] 


CHAPTER    Cyil. 


NIUE,  OB  SAVAGE -ISLAKD. 


ORIGIN  —  COSTUME  —  LAWS  —  BURIAL. 


BEASOV  FOR  THE  NAME  OP  THE  MLANn  —  81 VOITL AB  LEOFND  — THE  BAUMH  AMONO  THE  HAVAOKS  — 
APPEAnANCE  OF  THE  UATn'ES — A  SAVAOE  W Ml  DANCE  —  MODE  OF  DUKSHINd  THE  HAIK — COS- 
TUME OF  THE  MEN — A  CUHTOUS  WEAPON  —  PliESlTMED  OIIKIIN  OP  THE  SAVA(iE  ISLANDERS  — 
DEFEAr  OF  THE  TONQANS  —  CODE  OF  LAW'S  AND  PUNISHMENTS  —  CANOE  MAKING  — 8A1U NO — 
NIUA-*  AUCIIITECTUUE— DISPOSAL  OF  THE   DEAD. 


Betwkkn  the  Ilervey  and  the  Tonorun 
groups,  tiipro  licH  an  island  wliich  Was 
called  by  Captain  Cook  "  Savaok  Island, " 
on  account  of  the  beliavior  of  the  natives, 
who  not  only  dcclincHl  his  overtures  of 
pcaee.  hut  attacked  him  "  like  so  many  wild 
boars."  The  native  name  of  the  island  is 
Nine. 

Tills  ferocity  of  theirs  is  due  to  an  ancient 
custom  of  putting  to  death  nil  strangers 
who  land  on  their  shores,  a  fate  from  which 
even  their  own  ;,eo])le  do  uot  escape,  if  they 
have  been  absent  for  any  length  of  time. 
The  his-lory  of  this  strange  people  has  of 
late  years  become  better  known,  owing  to 
the  exertions  of  the  missionaries,  who  have 
discovered  that  fear  rather  than  ferocity 
was  the  cause  of  this  savage  custom.  They 
liad  an  idea  that  their  island  was  naturally 
free  from  disease,  and  that  all  ailments 
were  brought  by  foreigners,  and  they  in 
conseriuence  had'  a  law  that  all  foreigners 
should  be  killed  as  soon  as  they  could  bo  cap- 
turi'd. 

On  one  occasion  a  native  teacher  nar- 
rowly eseaiKid  death  in  consequence  of  his 
absence.  He  was  obliged  to  exert  all  his 
powers  of  eloquence  to  persu.ade  his  coun- 
trymen to  spare  him  for  a  time,  so  that  h(< 
miglit  keep  himself  far  away  from  th(>ir  resi- 
dence, and  purity  himself  by  thi^healtliy  air 
of  Xiue. 

When  Mr.  Williams  visited  the  island,  he 
contrived  to  induce  two  lads  to  go  off  with 
him  for  the  purpose  of  being  instructed. 
They  were  at  first  very  miser.■^^Ilc•  on  board, 
and  howled  ine"=iS5».r."tly  for  the  first  few 
days,  thinking  that  the  white  sailors  were 
caauibals  and  that  they  were  only  carried 


(1052) 


off  to  be  fattened  and  eaten.  Finding,  how- 
ever, that  the  sailors  were  eating  pork,  and 
not  human  Hesh,  they  became  reconciled  to 
their  lot,  and  were  even  pleasc-d  at  the  pros- 
pect of  seeing  new  lands.  These  lads  were 
taken  to  Ilaictca,  and,  having  been  educated 
for  their  task,  were  sent  home  again.  Un- 
fortunately, soon  after  their  arrival,  an  epi- 
demic disease  sjiread  over  the  island,  and  the 
imtives,  naturally  attributiu;,'  it  to  the  two 
travi'llers,  killed  them  both. 

The  first  white  man  who  landed  there 
since  the  time  of  Cook  met  witli  a  singular 
fate.  A  ship  was  lying  off  the  island,  and 
Ijartering  with  the  natives.  Just  as  the 
ship  got  under  weigh,  the  master  flung  one 
of  the  sailors  ovtu-hoard  among  flie  savages, 
who  took  him  on  .shore,  and  held  a  great  de- 
bate as  to  the  cour.se  to  be  pursued.  Some 
were  for  keeping  up  the  old  custom,  and 
killing  him,  hut  others  argued  that  the  man 
liad  not  landed  of  his  own  free  will,  aiul 
that  he  ought  not  to  be  li.'vble  to  the  usual 
pen.ilty,  even  though  salt  water  was  in  his 
eye —  tliis  being  the  mark  of  a  shipwreck. 

After  a  vast  amount  of  discussion  tlu'y 
agreed  to  a  compromise,  jnit  him  into  a 
canoe,  gave  him  a  quantit}-  of  bananas  and 
cocoa-nuts,  and  sent  him  out  to  sea.  The 
man  contrived  to  slip  on  shore  again  with- 
out being  seen,  and,  after  hiding  in  eaves 
for  some  days,  he  succeeded  in  getting  on 
board  a  whaler  that  was  passing  near  the 
island. 

The  appearance  of  the  natives  as  they  were 
before  the  missionaries  came  to  them  was 
anything  but  i)repossessing.  Mr.  Williams 
gives  a  graphic  account  of  an  old  chief  who 
was  induced,  after  much  trouble,  to  coiuo  on 


I!      ! 


I'!      i 


(I.)    rilK    WAK    DANCK   OF    llIK   XILA.NS.     (S..  Iiu-f  inM.J 


(li>:>i; 


A  SAVAGE  WAR  DANCE. 


1055 


board.  "  His  appearance  was  truly  terrific, 
lie  was  about  sixty  years  of  age,  his  person 
tall,  his  cheek-bones'  raised  and  prominent, 
and  his  countenance  most  forbidding.  His 
whole  body  was  smeared  with  charcoal,  his 
hair  and  beard  were  long  and  gray,  and  the 
latter,  plaited  and  twisted  together,  hung 
from  his  mouth  like  so  many  rat's  tails.  He 
wore  no  clothing  except  a  narrow  strip  of 
cloth  round  his  loins,  for  the  purpose  of 
passing  a  spear  through,  or  any  other  article 
he  might  wish  to  carry. 

"  On  reaching  the  deck  the  old  man  was 
most  frantic  in  his  gesticulations,  leaping 
about  from  place  to  place,  and  using  the 
most  vociferous  exclamations  at  everything 
he  saw.  All  attempts  at  conversation  with 
him  were  entirely  useless,  as  we  could  not 
persuade  him  to  stand  still  for  a  single  sec- 
ond. Our  natives  attempted  to  clothe  him, 
by  fastening  round  his  ])erson  a  piece  of  na- 
tive cloth,  but,  tearing  it  off  in  a  rage,  he 
threw  it  upon  deck,  and,  stamping  upon  it 
exclaimed,  '  Am  I  a  woman,  tiiat  I  should 
be  encumbered  with  that  stuff?' 

"He  then  proceeded  to  give  us  a  speci- 
men of  a  war  dance,  which  he  commenced 
by  poising  and  quivering  his  spear,  running 
to  and  fro,  leaping  and  vociferating,  as 
thougli  possosseil  by  the  spirit  of  wildness. 
Tlien  he  distorted  his  features  most  horribly 
by  extending  his  mouth,  gnashing  his  teeth, 
and  forcing  his  eyes  almost  out  of  their 
sockets.  At  length  he  concluded  this  exhi- 
bition by  thrusting  the  whole  of  his  long 
grey  beard  into  his  mouth,  and  gnawinj|  it 
with  the  most  sav.ige  vengeance.  During 
the  whole  of  the  performance  he  kept  up  a 
loud  and  hideous  howl.  On  the  preceding 
page  tlie  artist  has  given  the  reader  an  illus- 
tration of  this  singular  war  dance  of  the 
Kiuans. 

These  islanders  do  not  use  the  tattoo, 
though  they  are  fond  of  decorating  their 
bodies  with  paint.  Those  who  come  on 
board  European  vessels  are  delighted  to  be 
adorned  with  streaks  and  spots  of  red  and 
green  paint,  especially  the  latter,  which  is  a 
novelty  to  them,  and  for  whicli  tliey  are 
willing  to  jiav  highlv.  At  a  little  distance, 
they  look  much  as'  if  they  were  sull'ering 
from  some  cutaneous  disease,  but  a  closer 
ins])oction  shows  tliat  tiieir  appearance  is 
partly  due  to  the  salt  of  the  sea  cry.^tallizing 
nn  theif  oiled  bodies,  and  partly  to  the  mul- 
titudinous Hies  which  settle  upon  tliem. 

Tlic  liiiir  is  sometimes  seen  very  short 
and  sometimes  very  long,  and  this  is  the 
case  with  both  sexes.  Tiiey  allow  it  to 
grow  to  a  considerable  length,  and  when  it 
is  a  foot  or  eighteen  inches  lon^,  they  cut  it 
off,  and  plait  it  into  thin  liands  which  are 
worn  round  the  waist.  The  men  prize 
these  ornaments  highly,  and  Captain  Ilood 
tiunk?  that  the  l!ivi".=li!cks  ;ire  exchanged, 
and  are  valued  accordingly.  The  younger 
men  do  not  wear  their  beards,  but  the  elders 


suffer  them  to  grow  to  a  great  length,  plait 
them,  and  adorn  them  with  pieces  of  oyster 
or  clam  shell.  They  know  the  art  of  color- 
ing the  hair  a  yellowish  red  by  the  applica- 
tion of  lime. 

As  to  dress,  the  men  think  it  quite  need- 
less, and  wear  nothing  but  the  belt  round 
the  waist.  Some,  however,  wear  a  very 
small  apron,  only  ten  or  twelve  inches 
square,  and  this  is  considered  rather  in  the 
light  of  ornament  than  of  dress.  They  are 
of  moderate  stature,  rather  under  than  over 
the  middle  height,  thus  forming  a  strong 
contrast  to  the  gigantic  Marquesans  and 
Samoans.  The  natural  color  of  the  skin  is 
a  clear  brown,  and  their  limbs  are  round 
and  well  shaped. 

In  weapons,  they  use  the  spear,  the  club, 
and  the  bow,  all"  made  well  and  neatly. 
They  do  not  seem  to  invade  other  islands, 
and  their  warfare  is  therefore  waged  mostly 
among  themselves.  It  seems  rather  strange 
that  in  an  island  only  thirty  miles  in  circum- 
ference war  should  exist,  but  in  Nine,  the 
usual  Polynesian  custom  exists  of  dividing 
an  island  into  several  districts,  among  which 
is  perpetual  feud.    . 

They  use  a  very  curious  weapon.  On 
their  island  are  a  number  of  caves  in  the 
coral  limestone,  similar  in  ciuiracter  to  th.-it 
which  has  been  described  in  page  1006, 
though  not  approached  in  the  same  curious 
manner.  From  the  roof  hang  vast  niimlicrs 
of  stalactites,  from  which  water  continually 
drops.  Indeed,  the  natives  owe  their  fresh 
water  ahnost  entirely  to  these  caves,  and 
since  the  missionaries  came  to  reside  among 
them  have  learned  to  collect  it  ty  digging 
wells  in  the  caves,  into  which  the  water 
flows,  and  so  insuie  a  '■ortain  instead  of  a 
prec:iirious  supply.  The  tloor  of  the  caves  is 
I  overed  with  stalagmitic  masses,  and  fro. 
these  the  natives  niako  oval  balls  about  the 
size  of  cricket  balls,  which  they  hurl  from 
the  hand  with  wonderful  force  and  accuracy, 
not  using  the  sling,  as  is  the  case "  with 
so  many  Polynesian  tribes.  Specimens  of 
these  b.alls  are  in  the  Christy  collection. 

These  caves  are  evidently  due  to  the 
character  of  the  island,  which'is  partly  coral 
and  partly  volcanic,  the  coral  having  been 
upheaved  by  volcanic  force,  leaving  the 
surface  fissured  and  broken  by  the  sudden 
violence  of  the  shock.  The  native  legend 
respecting  the  origin  of  the  island  points  to 
the  same  ciuiclusion.  They  state  that  the 
island  was  raised  to  its  present  elevation  b5[ 
two  of  their  ancestors,  named  Hananaki 
and  Fao,  who  swam  there  from  Tonga,  and 
found  the  island  only  just  above  the  waves. 
They  stamped  twice' ujion  it,  the  fir.st  stamp 
elevating  the  island  to  its  present  height, 
and  the  second  clothing  it  with  trees  and 
plants.  They  made  wives  for  themselves 
.,)ut  of  tb.e  Ti  tree,  and  so  the  island  became 
peopled.  We  may  easily  see  in  this  tradi- 
tion a  record  of  the  two  facts  that  the  island 


{I 


1056 


THE  NIUANS. 


was  elevated  suddenly  from  the  sea,  and 
that  till!  inhabitants  are  not  aborijj;in(>.s,  but 
otnij^rants  from  some  other  jjart  of  Poly- 
nesia, probably  from  Tonya.  Though  they 
believe  themselves  to  be  derived  from  this 
orijjiu,  they  have  been  subject  to  invasion 
from  the  restless  and  daring' Tongans,  whom 
they  repulsed  by  an  ingenious  stratsigein. 
Tlie  Tongans,  possessed  of  far  better  weap- 
ons and  better  disci|)lined  than  the  Nine 
islanders,  and  being  equally  courageous, 
were  rapidly  comj)leting  the  conquest  of  tiie 
island,  when  the  natives  took  advantage  of 
the  peculiar  formation  of  their  country. 

The  reader  will  remember  that  Nine  is 
rocky,  and  covered  with  deep  and  narrow 
cletts,  the  result  of  the  upheaval  which  ele- 
vated the  Island  above  the  sea.    Across  one 
of  those  the  Niuans  laid  small  branches, 
which  Ihcy  covered  with  banana  and  cocoa- 
nut  leaves,  and  then  strewed  over  all  a  slight 
covering  of  earth,  which  llicy  arrangcHfso 
as  to  look  exactly  like  the  surrounding  soil. 
They  then  executed  a  sham   retreat,   and 
ahjiped  round  to   the  further  si<le   of   the 
chasm,  so  that  the   Tongans,  Hushed  with 
victory,  rushed  on  their  retreating  enemies 
with  yells  of  triumph,  and  a  great  number 
of    the    foremost    and    best   warriors   were 
hurled  down  to  the  bottom  of  the  cavern. 
Before   the  survivors    could    recover  from 
their  surprise,  an  attack  was  made  upon  tliem 
in  overwhelming  numbers,  and  of  the  whole 
Tongan  expedition  not  a  man  escaped  alive. 
It  was  formciiv  thought  that  the  Niuans 
were  cannibals,  but,  as  far  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained, the  natives  liave  never  eaten  human 
llesh.     They  do   not   even  care  for  animal 
food  of  any  kind;  and,  though  at  the  pres- 
ent time  they  have  pigs  in  abundance,  they 
use  them  almost  entirely  for  the  market  to 
European  ships,  contenting  themselves  with 
bananas,  yams,  taro,  and'  fish.     Strangely 
enough,  tliey  have  not  imi)ortcd  into  Nine 
the  custom  of  kava  drinking,  and  they  stand 
almost  a'o.ie  in  their  non-use  of  tobacco. 

Polygamy  is  still  i)ractised  among  the 
inhabitants  of  Nine,  though  it  is  fast  dying 
out  under  the  influence  of  the  missionaries^ 
who  have  further  conferred  a  vast  boon 
on  the  pcojjle  by  their  discouragement  of 
infanticide,  rtiiich  at  one  time  j)revailed  to 
a  terrible  extent.  The  mere  check  which 
they  have  i)Iaced  on  this  custom  has  already 
raised  the  number  of  the  iiopuiation  by 
inore  than  three  hundred— a  eoiisideiable 
inci-ea.se  when  the  small  size  of  the  island  is 
taken  into  consideration. 

Even  before  the  missionaries  came,  a  toler- 
n])ly  comprehensive  and  just  code  of  laws 
was  in  existence,  so  that  the  Niuans  were 
in  reality  much  less  sav.age  than  many  of 
their  neighbors,  and  the  missionari(!8  had  a 
•better  ground  to  work  on  than  in  other 
islands  of  more  promising  aspect.  Their 
eiandurd  of  morality  was  much  higher  than 
is  usually  the  case  among  savages,  iutidelity 


among  women  being  severely  punished.  So 
great  was  their  horror  of  'this  crime  that 
illegitimate  children  were  always  thrown 
into  the  sea  until  the  missionaries  taught 
the  people  that,  though  the  i)arent8  might 
be  liable  to  punishment,  the  innocent  chil- 
dren ought  not  to  sufl'er. 

Their  i)unishment  consisted  generally  in 
deprivation  of  food.  For  example,  for  some 
offences,  the  criminal  was  tied  to  a  jiost,  and 
allowed  no  food  excei)t  bitter  and  acrid 
fruits,  while  for  more  serious  ofl'ences  he  is 
lashed  hand  and  foot  to  a  bamboo  for  a  con- 
siderable length  of  time,  only  sufticient  food 
being  given  to  uwc  him  from  actually  dying 
of  starvation.  For  these  punishments  (ho 
missionaries  have  induced  the  natives  to 
substitute  forced  labor  in  well  sinking,  road 
making,  and  other  useful  works. 

The  Niuans  are  good  canoe-makers,  con- 
stiucting  their  vessels  very  neatly,  and  or- 
namenting tlicm  with  devices  in  shells  and 
mother-of-pearl.  They  manage  these  ca- 
noes well,  and  as  a  rule  are  excellent  swim- 
mers. There  are,  Im  aver,  some  liiuiilies 
living  in  the  interioi  '  the  island  who,  al- 
though they  can  be  barely  four  miles  from 
the  sea,  have  never  visited  it,  and  are 
greatly  despised  by  their  neighbors  because 
they  can  neither  swim  nor  sail  a  canoe, 

Ihe  native  architecture  is  not  i)articularly 
good,  but  it  has  been  much  improved  by  the 
instructions  of  the  .Samoan  teachers, "who 
have  instructed  the  Niuans  in  their  own 
mode  of  building  houses,  upon  which  the 
Niuans  have  engrafted  their  own  mode  of 
adornment,  so  that  altogether  the  effect  of 
a  modern  Niuan  house  is  quaint,  and  at  the 
same  time  artistic.  The  natives  seem  to  be 
wonderfully  quick  at  learning,  and  have  even 
acquired  the  use  of  the  pen,  so  that  a  Niiian 
can  now  be  scarcely  better  pleased  than  by 
the  gift  of  a  pencil  and  a  sui)ply  of  white 
pa])er. 

Nothing  shows  the  wonderful  advance 
that  the.se  people  have  made  more  than  the 
fact  that  they  have  not  only  utterly  discarded 
their  old  habit  of  murdering  foreigners,  but 
that  they  display  the  greatest  eagerness  to 
be  taken  as  sailors  on  board  £uroi)ean  shijis. 
They  contrive)  to  smuggle  themselves  on 
bcird  without  the  knowledge  of  (he  cai)(ain 
and  crew;  and  whereas  in  former  times  it 
was  scarcely  possible  to  induce  a  Niuaii  to 
venture  on  board  an  Euroiiean  ship,  (he  ilif- 
liculty  is  now,  to  find  a  mode  of  keeping  them 
out  of  the  vessels. 

The  method  ofdis])osingof  the  dead  is  two- 
fold. When  one  mode  i.s  followed,  the  body 
is  laid  on  a  bier  and  left  in  the  woods  until 
all  the  flesh  has  decayed,  when  the  bones 
are  removed  to  tlie  family  burying-placc;, 
which  is  usually  a  cave  in  the  limestone  rock. 
When  the  otlier  method  is  em])loved,  (he 
body  is  l.aicl  iuacauoe.  and  sent  .adrift  in  the 
sea  to  go  wherever  the  wiud  aud  tides  may 
carry  it. 


CIIAPTER    CYIII. 


THE  SOCIETY  ISLANDS. 


APPEABANCE,  DUKSS,  AND  SOCIAL  CUSTOMS. 
biscovEnr  of  the  islands,  and  ubasons  for  thkik  NA:rtE8-'ri7a  ki.and  of  XAnm  on  ota- 

,™rB-CONrOUMAri<,.;  and  CUMATK  ok  TAHiri-THEIH  EFKKOT  .TON  THE  INMAB.TANTS- 
Er^MlNAIK  AI-l-EAHANCE  OF  TMK  MEN,  AND  DEAUTY  OF  THE  WOMEN -SOCIAL  CON..I1ION  OF 
THE  HKXKH-..ENE«AL  MODE  OF  MFE  IN  TAHITI  -  SEl-AUATE  TAP...K»  KOU  THE  "««  AND 
WOMEN -rOMAUlVS  CKUCIAL  TEST,  AND  ITS  HESULTS  UPON  IIWLATUV -DUKHS  OF  THE  SOCIETY 
ISI-ANDEKS- MODES  OF  WEAIUNO  THE  HAIU- TATTOOING  IN  TAHITI-MEANS  EMri,..YKl.  UY  THE 
MISSION AU.ES  TO  AI.OLISH  THE  PllACTICE  -  HOSPITALITY  OF  THE  '^^'"^'^^^ -»'"■'•'  "'' 
MAK.N.,  PUESENTS -SOCIAL  USE  OF  PUESENTS-TUE  DAKED  PIO  AND  l"^' J  ''■'"- 2'. 
TINCTIONH  OF  RANK  -  UEA80NS  FOU  OMAl's  FAILUIIE-EXTBIINAL  INDICATIONS  OF  IIANK  -  LEI  OUT 
MFVr  OF  TVIIITANS  TOWAItD  THEIR  80VEUEI0N -AMUSEMENTS  OF  THE  TAHITANS-THEIll  80.N03 
AND  MLSICAL  IN8TUUMENT8  -  8UKF  KIDINQ - IIOXINQ  AND  WBESTLINO  MATCUEB. 


Tins  intoresting  group  of  islands  was  orig- 
inally (liscovcrcd  in  KiOo  by  Dc  Quiros,  and 
has  derived  the  name  of  the  Society  Islands 
from   the   liberality  of   the   Royal  Society, 
wliich,  in   17()7,  sent  an  expedition   undi.r 
Captain  Cook  for  the  purpose  of  observing 
the  transit  of  Venus  over  the  sun.    There 
are  many   islands  of  this  group,  the   best 
known  of  which  is  Tahiti,  or  Otaiikitk,  as 
the   word   was    given    in  Cook's    Voyages. 
Tliis  island  forins  one  of  a  portion  of  the 
grouj)  wliich  is  distinguished  by  the  name  of 
the  tiooriiiun  Istnnds,  in  honor  of  George  III. 
Tahiti    is    singularly   picturesque    when 
viewed  from  the  sea,  in  consequence  of  its 
inimntainoMs  character,  the  island  being  so 
lilled  with  lofty  jicaks  and  crags  that  the  only 
way  of  reaching  the  interior  is  by  following 
the  courses  oi  tlie  valleys.    Sometimes  the 
rocks  shoot  up    ii   o    sliarp   and   spire-like 
peaks,  soinetiines  they  run  for  miles  in  per- 
pendicular i)recii)iccs,  several  thousand  feet 
111  heii;ht;  sDiUi'times  they  are  scarped  and 
an>nilar  like  u'ii^^intit'  fortresses,  sometimes 
they  are  cleCl  into  ravines  of  terrible  depth, 
and  s(uiiitiines   tliev  are  scooped   out   into 
liollows  like  the  craters  of  extinct  volcanoes. 
Down  these  craggy  steeps  dash  torrents 
that  fertilize  the  soil,  and  so  equably  genial 
is  the  temperature  that  every  shelf  and  ledge 
is  covered  with  luxuriant  ioliage  and  gor- 
geous llow('rs.    Tahiti  indeed,  as  has  been 
well  said,  is  tlie  gem  of  the  J'acitic.    Our 


business,  however,  lies  not  so  much  with  the 
island  as  with  its  inhabitants  —  not  the  semi- 
civilized  people  of  the  i)resent  day,  but  the 
uncivilized  people  of  ITfii),  when  Captain 
Cook  visited  them.  In  the  following  de- 
scription, we  will  take  Tahiti  as  the  typical 
Lsland  of  the  Society  group,  merely  intro- 
ducing the  lesser  islands  by  way  of  illus- 
tration of  the  manners  and  customs  which 
pervaded  the  whole  group. 

In  consequence  of  the  superior  fertility  ot 
T.ahiti,  and  the  consequent  supidy  of  food 
without  the  need  of  labor,  the  Tahitans  arc 
more  plump  and  rounded  of  form  than  arc 
the  inhabitants  of  most  other  Polynesian 
islands.  In  the  case  of  the  men,  the  fair 
skin  and  plump  rounded  forms  give  them 
an  elfeminate  appearance,  and  the  earlier 
voyagers  have  all  noticed  the  strong  con- 
trast''betwcen  the  dark,  nervous,  and  mus- 
cular frames  of  the  Tongan  men,  and  the 
f^iir,  smooth  limbs  and  bodies  of  the  Tahi- 
tans. The  men,  too,  wear  their  hair  long, 
and,  if  it  were  not  that  they  permit  the 
beard  to  grow  to  some  length,  they  would 
well  deserve  the  epithet  of  ctfeminatc. 

Not  only  is  this  smoothness  and  fairness 
one  of  their  distiuKuishing  marks,  hut  they 
also  are  characterized  by  a  sort  of  languor 
in  their  inovcmenta  and  timidity  in  then 
,..^^^^„„,,  y(,rv  unlike  the  demeanor  of  the 
i)old  and  wa'rlike  Tonijans  and  Samoans. 
"This  observatiou,"  writes  Captain  Cook, 


(1057) 


Ml 


till 


Ii! 


1058 


THE  SOCIETY  ISLANDS. 


IS  fuly  verified  in  their  boxin<r  and  wrest- 
Jiug,  w  iieli  may  be  cullfd  lilLlo  better  tlinn 
t  le  leebli"  ellbrts  of  children,  if  cominired  to 
tlio  vigor  with  which  tiiose  exercises  are 
perlornied  at  tlie  Friendly  IsIancK.." 

They  are  so  careful  of  their  comiiloxion 
that  when  they  think  their  skins  are  becom- 
ing darker  •;!  by  exposure  to  the  sun,  (hey 
iiave  a  mode  of  bleaching  (hemselves.     Cap- 
tain Cook  merely  mentions  tliat  they  remain 
■vvitbm  doors  for  a  month  or  two,  wear  -'reat 
quanlities  of  clolliing,  ami  eat  nothing  but 
Dread-lrint,  this  diet  being  supposed  by  (hem 
to   have   .1  strong   hleaeliing   iiower/  It   is 
l)rol)able,  however,  (hat  besides  the  diet  and 
tlie  conhncment  within  (he  house,  they  also 
employ  some   preparation    similar   to'  that 
which   IS   used   I. y   the   Manpiesan  women 
under  similar  circum.stanees. 
„7^\^  I/'!'"'""*  V^-^^<--  «'il1i  reliance  on  the 
ellect  of  lood  on  complexion,  that  they  be- 
lieve themselves  (o  change  (he  hue  of  ■(heir 
skins  several  times  in  (he  year,  owing  to  the 
Kind  ot  food  on  which,  owing  to  the  chan.^e 
of  season,  they  are  obliged   to  liye.     They 
do  not,  howeyer,  like  many  nations,  think 
J»f.JjfjO''I'ulouce    is    u    mark  of   rank  and 

That  fairness   of   skin  and  roundness  of 
form  wlmh  detract  from  the  manly  beauty 
of  the  male  sex   only  add  to  the  feminine 
ciiarms  of  (he  women,  who   are   far  more 
leautilul  eyen  than  those  of  Tonga,  while 
they   inhiiHely   surpass   the  Khorl,  thickset 
women    of    tlie    Marquisans.    A    Tahilan 
.    woman   would   be   reckoned  bcauliful  even 
among  Eurojicans,   the    skin    being  fairer 
t  uih    that    of  many   a    Spanish    girl,  and 
the  large    full    eyes    and    rich    hair    hav- 
ing a  lasciualion  jieculiar  to  thcmselyes,  a 
charm  which  many  travellers  liave  endeav- 
ored to  describe,  and  all,  according  to  their 
own  statements,  have  failed  to  convev   in 
words.  •' 

Yet  the  lot  of  the  Tongan  women  is  far 
superior  to  that  of  the  Tahitan.  As  we 
have  already  seen,  the  woman  of  Ton.Ta  is 
by  no  means  the  mere  slave  of  the  despotic 
husband,  but  is  oflen  his  true  helpmeet  and 
best  adviser.  Among  the  Tahitans,  how- 
ever, we  find  that  the  cireminate,  smooth- 
Jimbed,  long-haired,  lair-skinned  man,  who 
would  not  abide  the  ch.irge  of  a  Ton-'an 
boy,  IS  a  very  tyrant  at  home,  haying^uo 
Idea  that  women  can  be  anylhing  but  chat- 
tels, and  beating  his  wives,  his  dogs,  or  his 
pigs  with  equal  disregard  of  their  feclin'^s 

The  women  are  not  allowed  to  cat  of  "va- 
rious kinds  of  food,  as  they  would  offend  the 
gods  by  so  doing,  and  it  is  a  remarkable 
coincidence  that  the  gods  do  not  permit  the 
women  to  cat  exactly  those  articles  of  food 
^vhlch  the  man  likes  best,  such,  for  example 
rfis  turtle,  and  certain  kinds  of  fish  aud  nlau- 
tain.  *^        1 

Neither  are   tlie   women  allowed   to  cat 
with  their  husbands,  but  take  their  meals  iu  I 


a  separate  part  of  the  house.  This  prohibi- 
lon  IS  the  more  galling  because,  in  a  well- 
to-do  lahitiins  family,  eadng  g,„,s  on  all 
day  with  very  short  inleryals.  The  family 
brciiklast  at  eight, and  have  a  lirsl  dinner  or 
luncheon  at  eleven.  Thus  inyigora(ed  they 
are  able  to  wait  until  two,  when  tiiey  take 
(heir  hrst  dinner.  This  is  followed  by  a 
second  dinner  at  live  and  supper  at  eil'ht 
alter  which  they  relire  to  resl.  Hn(  as  U  is 
mamlcstly  impossible  to  go  wilhout  (ood  for 
twelve  hours,  thev  awake  at  (wo  (ake 
another  meal,  or  "  rere-siipper,"  and  sleeu 
again  until  daybreak.  ' 

As  to  the  turtle,  a  certain  sort  of  sanctilv 
IS  attached  to  it.  When  one  of  these  relu- 
mes is  caughl,  it  is  always  sent  to  (he  kiii" 
who,  howeyer,  does  not  cook  so  sacred  li 
creature  in  his  own  house,  but  sends  it  to 
the  temj)le,  where  it  is  otlered  (o  (he  idol. 
It  IS  cooked  in  the  marae,  or  smred  enclo- 
sure, and,  after  a  j)oi1,ion  has  been  (aken  by 
(he  priest  fin-  the  idol,  (he  remainder  is  sent 
back  to  the  king.  Unless  (his  odering  were 
made,  the  ollender  would  immedia(el>"sull'er 
from  Uie  vengeance  of  the  ollemled  god. 

This  custom  was  exploded  by  romaru 
about  l,Si!().  The  king  had  long  believed 
Unit  the  idols  Avere  nothing  more  than 
images,  and  that  the  gods  were  but  human 
inventions,  and  determiiKHl  (o  try  (he  sub- 
ject by  a  crucial  test.  He  wailed  unlil  his 
subjects  had  caught  a  turtle,  and  sent  it  to 
him  according  to  the  cuslom  of  the  island. 
Instead  of  sending  it  to  the  maiae,  he  had 
(he  turtle  taken  to  his  own  kitelien  and 
cooked  there.  It  was  then  served  up,  and 
his  whole  household  sat  down  with  him  to 
partake  of  it.  is'o  one,  however,  except  tho 
king,  had  the  courage  to  eat  a  moiuhful,  and 
even  1  omare  himself  was  in  a  stale  of  ner- 
vous trepidation,  and  had  very  little  aiipe- 
'"""■' ' '    ••■  Ho 


titc  \yhen  he  came  to  aii])lv  his  ttst.  How- 
ever, he  was  a  man  of  great  moial  conra^o 
and  though  he  could  not  eat  much  of  the 
royal  dainty,  he  ate  enough  to  bringdown 
n|)0!!  1,1111  the  wrath  of  the  god. 

Finding  that  no  harm  hapjjened  to  him 
he  convened  an  assembly  of  the  chiefs  and 
narrated  the  whole  of  the  ciieiimsta'nce.s 
telling  them  they  were  free  to  ;ie(  :is  they 
liked,  but  that  for  his  part  he  abjured  idol- 
atry  from  that  time.  The  coiise(|uence  was 
that  of  their  own  .accord  the  people  volun- 
tarily abandoned  their  idols,  and  either  gave 
them  to  the  missionaries,  used  them  as  .seats 
or  put  them  in  the  fire  with  which  food  is 
cooked,  the  last  proceeding  being  the  very 
depth  of  degradalion.  ' 

One  of  these  r.'lids  on  the  idols  was  con- 
ducted after  a  very  curious  manner. 

When  the  converts  had  re.ach(>d  the  tem- 
ple in  which  were  deposited  the  idols  that 
they  had  so  long  worshipped,  their  hearts 
failed  them,  and  not  a  nmn  dared  to  "iifT 
the  house  and  lay  hi.',  hands  on  the  sacred 
linages.    They  bethought  themselves,  how- 


THE  CRUCIAL  TEST  OF  IDOLS. 


1059 


ever,  of  trying  the  effect  of  flrc-nrms,  with 
which  tiiey  wuro  iurniahcd,  and,  in  the  jjres- 
once  of  tlio  tcrrilicd  ])opulatioii,  niado  roady 
to  fire  upon  the  idols.  After  callin<r  ujion 
the  images,  warning  them  that  tliey  were 
about  to  be  lired  upon,  and  calling  u])()n 
them  to  avenge  themsidvos  if  they  coidd. 
tliey  lired  a  volli^y  into  the  house.  Finding 
that  no  harm  ensued,  they  advanced  more 
boldly,  and  burned  down  the  temple  to- 
gether with  its  occupants. 

A  curious  instance  of  courage  similar  to 
that  of  I'oniart)  occurred  at  tlio  island  of 
llurulu.  A  iiiitive  teacher  rccommcuuled  at 
a  public  assembly  that  a  feast  sboiild  be 
held,  and  that  the  king,  his  chiefs,  his 
l)Cople,  and  their  wives  should  together 
partake  of  turtle  and  i)ork,  both  thcso  arti- 
cles of  diet  being  prohibited  to  wonuui  in 
llurulu.  The  test  was  accepted,  and  the 
party  asscmblod,  having  by  a  curious  coinci- 
dence sell  ted  ii^norantly  a  ])iece  of  ground 
sacred  to  Oro,  the  vengeful  god  of  war. 
That  any  one  sliould  eat  on  so  sacred  a  spot 
would  have  Imou  sutlicient  to  draw  ujion  the 
deliuiiui'uls  llie  full  terrors  of  Oro's  auger; 
but  that  nicu  aud  women  should  cat  to- 
gether on  the  H|)ot,  and  that  Women  should 
ab:50lul('ly  eat  both  turtle  aud  pork,  were 
enornillies  almost  too  great  to  be  eouceivi^d. 

The  feast  look  place,  aud,  .as  writes  Mr. 
Bounetl,  "  wliun  the  llurutuans  s.iw  that, 
they  s;iid,  '  Xo  doubt  they  will  die  for  this 
trespass  on  the  sacred  ground,'  and  looked 
earnestly,  tixp.cilug  some  one  to  have  swol- 
len or  fallen  down  dead  suddenly;  but  after 
they  had  looked  for  a  considerable  time  and 
saw  no  oue  comi!,  they  changed  their  minds, 
•Tud  said,  '  Siu'cly  theirs  is  the  truth;  but. 
ptu'haps  the  god  will  come  in  the  night  aud 
kill  Iheui:   we  will  wait  aud  see.' 

"  ()u(!  man  actually  went  in  the  night  to 
tlie  wife  of  the  chief  Auiira,  who  also  ate  a 
part  of  a  hog  or  turtle  on  the  sacred  s[)ot, 
aud  said,  -Are  you  still  aliveV  When  the 
morning  arriveil,  aud  the  llurutuans  tbund 
that  no  liarm  had  happened  to  any  of  them, 
they  I)e,eanie  exceedingly  disgusted  at  their 
having  been  deceived  so  long  by  the  evil 
spirit." 

LiivE  many  other  Polynesians,  the  Tahi- 
tans  are  of  lidr  complexions,  aud  very  well 
made.  Moth  men  and  women  are  "good- 
looking,  and  many  of  the  latter  may  be 
called  beaulliul,  their  graceful  robe  of  bark 
cloth,  aud  the  llowers  with  which  they  love 
toentvi'iuir  their  hair  setting  olf  their  charms 
in  an  admirable  manner.  It  is  rather 
strange,  by  the  way,  that  the;  women  of 
Eimeo,  oue  of  this  group,  are  very  inferior 
to  those  of  the  other  islands,  being  darker, 
of  lower  stature,  and  not  so  graceful,  and,  as 
Ca|)tain  Cook  remarked,  if  a  handsome  wo- 
man were  seen  at  Eiraeo,  .she  was  sure  to 
have  come  from  another  island. 

The  men  dress  iu  rather  a  variable  man- 


ner. All  wear  the  primitive  garment  of 
Polynesia,  namely,  a  piece  of  bark  cloth 
passed  round  the  waist,  then  through  the 
legs,  and  the  end  tucked  into  the  girdle. 
Over  this  garment  many  wear  a  sort  of  man- 
tle nuule  of  liner  cloth,  gathered  neatly 
round  the  waist,  and  sometimes  (lowing 
over  their  shoulders;  while  otliers  wear  the 
Hputa,  or  lihiUit,i\  garment  made  iu  poncho 
fashion,  with  a  hole  in  the  middle  through 
which  the  head  passes,  and  hanging  down 
in  front  and  behind,  but  open  at  the  sides. 
This  garment  is  found  in  a  very  great  num- 
lieroi' Polynesian  islaiuls,  the  material  and 
the  form  varying  according  to  the  locality. 
The  bark  doth  is  made  exactly  after  the  fash- 
ion employed  in  Tonga  and  Samoa. 

Both  se.xcs  usuiUly  cut  their  hair  short, 
and  sometimes  crop  it  sf)  closely  at  the 
(trown  of  the  head  that  it  looks  its  if  shaven. 
They  anoint  (heir  locks  freely  with  sccsnted 
cocoa-nut  oil,  or  willi  a  resiuous  gum,  which 
gives  it  a  moist  and  glossy  np|iiarauce,  and 
causes  it  to  retain  tlu!  shape  into  which  it  is 
twisted.  Beside  the  llowers  woru  in  the 
hair  aud  ears,  and  the  garlands  twisted 
rcMind  the  head,  the  women  wear  a  vevy 
elegant  and  striking  ornament.  They  take 
the  very  young  stipe  of  tlu?  cocoa-nut  ))alm, 
peel  it  into  long  strips,  and  dry  it.  W'lieu 
properly  prepared,  it  is  of  a  glossy,  pure 
white,  looking  much  like  whiti^  satin  ribbon, 
and  is  worn  twisted  into  rosetti^s  and  similar  . 
ornaments.  The  noruuil  color  of  the  hair  is 
mostly  black,  but  in  some  cases  it  takes  a 
lighter  and  reddish  hue.  In  chiMren  it  is 
often  light,  but  assumes  a  <lark  hue  in  the 
course  of  a,  few  years. 

The  Tahilans  think  that  the  sliajie  oC  the 
head  is  much  imiiroved  by  being  (lattencdat 
the  back.  Accordingly,  the  moilurs  have  a 
way  of  sui)i)(n'ting  their  childi'cu  dui'ing  in- 
fancy by  the  heels  and  back  of  ( he  head,  and, 
as  they  think  that  the  sh.ipe  of  the  nose  can 
be  improved  by  .art,  they  eoulimially  squeeze 
and  press  it  with  the  hand  while  it  is  tender 
and  plastic. 

Tattooing  w.aa  once  much  esttu'iued,  and 
the  operation  was  pertbrmerl  by  means  of  a 
comb  and  mallet,  as  has  lu'en  deseribed 
when  treating  of  Samoa.  Professional  ar- 
tists executed  the  tadoo.  and  were  ai'cus- 
tomed  (o  tr.avel  about  the  islands,  remaining 
for  some  months  at  each  s])ot,  and  being 
liaid  highly  for  each  lad  whom  they  deco- 
rated. The  face  was  almost  invarialViy  left 
untouched;  the  ))ust,  legs,  arms,  and' even 
hands  being  covered  with  tin;  graceful  pat- 
terns. The  women  also  emi)loyed  the  same 
decoration,  but  in  a  Ics.",  degree,  wearing  the 
tattoo  mostly  on  the  arms,  ankles,  and  feet, 
the  latter  being  tattooed  nearly  half-way  to 
the  knees,  .so  that  at  a  little  distance  the 
woman  looked  as  if  she  were  wearing  boots 
or  socks  (itting  tightly  to  the  skin.  Tlie  mis- 
sionaries, however,  diseourngiHl  the  tattoo, 
which  by  degrees  came  to  be  accepted  as  a 


4  a 


ym 


ii 


■r  ' 


\d 


1060 


THE  SOCIETY  ISLANDS. 


mark  of  a  revolutionary  spirit,  and  rendered 
tike  oirender  liable  to  ])uui8limciit. 

Mr.  Jk'unctt  mentions  two  instances  where 
old  men  were  tattooed  on  the  face  as  well  as 
tlio  body,  one  of  them  boinc  a  man  who  had 
been  the  hif^li  priest  of  tlio  god  Oro,  the 
Polynesian  Mars,  who  was  worshipped  with 
every  accessory  of  bloodshed  and  cruelty. 
Tills  deity,  together  with  other  objects 
of  Tahitan  worship,  will  be  presently  de- 
scribed. 

The  means  that  wore  employed  to  i)ut  an 
end  to  the  practice  of  tattooing  were  of  a 
very  sevei-e  and  rather  despotic  character, 
It  was  found  that  ordinary  punishments 
were  of  little  avail  in  checking  a  practice  so 
much  in  consonance  with  the  feelings  and 
habits  of  the  natives.  Even  after  they  had 
submitted  themselves  to  the  laws  wliich 
the  wliite  colonists  introduced,  they  could 
scarcely  bring  tliemselves  to  obey  tlie  edict 
which  forbade  the  tattoo,  and  evaded  it  on 
every  jiossiblo  pretext.  They  would  even 
voyage  to  another  island,  nominally  on  mer- 
cantile allairs,  but  in  reality  for  the  purpose 
of  being  tattooed  while  out  of  the  reach  of 
the  while  men  and  their  laws. 

As  to  tlie  punishment  which  ensued,  the 
delinquents  eared  little  about  it — the  allotted 
task  of  road  making  or  well  digging  was 
completed  in  time,  whcreaa  the  decoration 
of  the  tattoo  lasted  throughout  life.  After 
trying  to  check  the  i)raetice  by  various 
penal  laws,  the  new  legislators  hit  upon  a 
j)lan  deserilied  by  them(?elves  as  merely  dis- 
iiguring  the  pattern  made  by  the  tattoo.  Dr. 
Bennett,  however,  uses  more  forcible  terms. 
"The  ancient  prnotiee  of  tattooing  the  skin 
is  gradually  declining  amongst  the  Society 
Islanders  generally.  The  missionaries  have 
been  much  opposed  to  the  custom,  and 
among  the  laws  I'ramed  tor  these  islands 
was  one  which  made  tattooing  criminal;  but 
this  has  since  been  repealed,  or  continues  in 
force  only  in  the  islands  of  Iluahine,  Raia- 
tca,  and  Tahaa, 

"  Wlien  viewed  in  connection  with  the 
habits  of  the  natives,  tattooing  is  not,  cer- 
tainly, so  innocent  a  display  of  savage  finery 
as  most  Enroiieans  imagine  it  to  be;  never- 
theless, we  felt  much  regret,  not  unmingled 
with  indignation,  when  we  beheld,  in  the 
house  of  tlie  royal  chief  of  Raiatea,  a  native 
woman  of  naturally  agreeable  features,  dis- 
figured bv  an  extensive  patch  of  charcoal 
embedded  in  her  cheek  —  a  punishment  in- 
flicted ujiou  lier  by  the  judges  for  having 
slightly  tattooed  herself  VVhile  we  were 
regarding  this  spectacle  a  second  female 
showed  us  her  liand,  wliich  aftbrded  a  similar 
instance  of  judicial  severity.' 

Th(!  various  figures  employed  by  the  Tahi- 
tans  havt;  eacli  a  S(!parate  name,  and  these 
figures  are  imprinted  not  only  upon  the 
skin,  but  ui)on  the  bark  cloth  garments  of 
both  sexes. 

Tlie  Taiiitans  are  naturally  a  hospitable 


people,  and  have  invented  a  complete  code 
of  etiquette  for  making  presents,  the  most 
curious  of  which  is  that  which  is  employed 
in  giving  bark  cloth.  Captain  Cook's  de- 
scription of  this  custom  is  very  interesting. 
It  is  also  illustrated  on  the  1054tli  page. 
"  I  went  with  Otoo  to  his  father's  house, 
where  I  found  some  people  emi)loved  in 
dressing  two  girls  with  a  prodigi(uis  quan- 
tity of  line  cloth,  after  a  very  singular  fash- 
ion. The  one  end  of  each  piece  of  cloth,  of 
which  there  were  a  good  many,  was  held  up 
over  the  heads  of  the  girls,  wliile  (lie  re- 
mainder was  wrapped  round  their  bodies, ' 
under  the  arm-pits.  Then  the  ui)per  ends 
were  let  fall,  and  hung  down  in  folds  to  the 
ground,  one  over  the  other,  so  as  to  bear 
some  resemblance  to  a  circular  hoop-petti- 
coat. 

"Afterward,  round  the  outside  of  .all  were 
wrapped  several  pieces  of  ditferently  co'orcd 
cloth,  which  considerably  inerease(l  thi^  size, 
so  that  it  was  not  less  than  five  or  six  yards 
in  circuit,  and  the  weiglit  of  this  singular 
attire  was  as  much  as  the  poor  girls  could 
support.  To  each  were  hung  two  Ummes  or 
breastplates,  by  way  of  enlivening  the  whole, 
and  giving  it  a  picturesque  ajjpearance. 
Thus  equipped,  they  were  conducted  on 
board  the  .ship,  together  with  several  hogs 
and  a  quantityof  fruit,  wliich,  with  the  cloth, 
was  a  present  to  me  from  Otoo's  lather. 

"  Persons  of  either  sex,  dressed  in  this 
manner,  are  called  utee,  but  I  believe  it  is 
never  practised  ejcept  when  large  presents 
of  cloth  are  to  be  made.  At  least,  I  never 
saw  it  practised  on  any  other  occasion;  nor, 
indeed(  had  I  ever  such  a  i)reseiit  before; 
but  both  Captain  Clarke  and  I  had  elolh 
given  to  us  afterward,  thus  wrapped  round 
the  bearers." 

These  cloths  are  mostly  put  on  the  bearers 
by  laying  the  end  of  the  cloth  on  the  ground. 
The  girl  then  lies  down  on  the  end  of  the 
jiiece,  holds  it  tightly  to  her  body,  and  rolls 
over  and  over,  until  she  has  wound  herself 
up  ill  all  the  cloth  that  she  is  intended  to 
present.  When  the  bearers  are  taken  into 
the  presence  of  the  chief  to  whom  the  olVer- 
ing  is  made,  they  reverse  the  process,  and 
unroll  themselves,  by  revolving  on  the  floor 
in  the  contrary  direction. 

Food  is  presented  in  another  way.  The 
donor  sends  his  servants  with  the  hogs, 
bread-fruit,  and  other  provisions,  to  the 
house  of  the  person  to  whom  the  present  is 
niiide.  They  do  not  enter  the  house,  but 
simply  spread  leaves  on  the  ground,  lay  the 
provisions  on  them,  and  then  return  to  their 
master.  The  donor  then  enters  the  house, 
and  calls  upon  his  friend  to  come  out  and 
look  at  the  present  that  has  been  brought 
for  him.  The  latter  signifies  his  acceptance 
by  ordering  his  servants  to  carry  the  food 
within  his  house,  but  utters  no  thanks. 

In  most  of  tliese  cases,  it  is  expected  that 
a  present  of  equal  value  should  be  returned, 


% 


PRESENTING  THE  PIG. 


loei 


and,  if  the  recipient  should  bo  a  wcnU\iy 
man,  lie  would  bo  thought  rathrr  shixl)l)y  if 
his  return  present  were  not  rather  more 
valuable.  In  conse(|uence  of  this  theory, 
Captain  Cook  found  that  when  he  jiurehased 
provisions  he  fj!ot  them  much  more  cheaply 
than  when  they  were  presented  to  him. 

In  these  islands  i.^  found  the  widely  spread 
practice  of  selecting  friauds  from  strangers. 
When  a  ship  arrives,  each  of  the  otllcers  and 
crow  is  selected  by  a  native  iva  his  ])articular 
friend,  and  diiving  the  time  of  the  vessel's 
stay  is  placed  under  hi.s  charge.  Every  day, 
tho"apoa"or  friend  will  come  on  board 
with  his  pres(!nt  of  corked  bread-fruit  and 
other  provision!.;  and  should  his  visitor  go 
on  shore,  he  takes  care  that  all  possible 
necessaries,  and  even  luxuries,  shall  bo  pro- 
vided for  him.  It  is  assumed  that  when  the 
visitor  departs  ho  will  in  his  turn  make  a 
present;  but  there  have  been  many  instances 
where  the  natives  have  been  so  grateful  for 
same  kindnei-.s  that  they  have  refused  to 
accept  anything  in  return  for  their  hos- 
pitiiUlv. 

One  Vfry  graceful  mode  of  giving  presents 
is  by  olleriug  them  in  the  name  of  a  child. 
In  tliia  case,  whenever  provisions  are  sent, 
they  are  always  accompanied  by  the  child, 
who  is  sui>posed  to  present  them,  and  to 
whom  all  returns  arc  made. 

There  is  a  custom  —  once  very  prevalent 
but  now  l)ecome  nearly  if  not  wholly  extinct 
— which  is  evidently  based  on  the  same  ]irin- 
ci])le.  ^y  hen  a  man  is  in  want  of  something 
wiiich  he  cnunot  obtain,  such  as  a  new  house, 
or  a  (piaiititv  of  cloth,  ho  biikes  a  pig,  and 
sends  it  by  liis  friends  to  all  the  population 
of  the  place.  The  bearers  olTer  the  pig,  and 
mention  at  the  same  time  the  needs  of  the 
owner.  All  those  who  partake  of  it,  even 
though  thev  cat  but  a  mouthful,  thereby 
bind  themselves  to  sh.are  in  assisting  the 
petitioner,  either  in  building  the  house  or 
in  makin'4  the  cloth. 

Mr.  Bennelt  mentions  one  instance,  where 
a  man  wanted  tliirty-six  yards  of  cloth,  and 
sent  a  pig  afier  the  usual  fashion.  No  one, 
bowcv crl  would  touch  it,  and  the  poor  man 
luld  have  gone  without  his  cloth  had  not 
the  (piecM  taken  compassion  on  him.  She 
ordered  tue  bearers  to  leave  the  pig  in  her 
ho>ise,  tberebv  assuming  to  herself  alone  the 
task  of  providing  the  cloth.  A  numt)er  of 
women  who  saw  the  proceeding,  felt  rather 
asliamed  tli.'it  the  queen  should  be  left  to 
perform  the  task  alone,  so  they  went  into 
the  house,  ate  the  pig,  and  made  the  desired 
cloth. 

Among  the  Society  Islands,  the  distinctions 
of  rank  are  jciilously  insisted  ajton,  and  no 
one  can  command  any  respect  unless  he  be 
in  the  possession  of  some  acknowledged  rank. 
Ignorance  of  this  eharactei-istie  was  the  real 
cause  of  Omai's  failure.  Most  of  my  readers 
are  aware  thai  this  man.  the  lir.'^l  Tolynesian 
who  had  ever  visited  England,  was  a  native 


of  Raictea,  one  of  the  Society  Islands,  uiid 
that  ho  was  brought  to  England  lor  the 
Durposc  of  being  educated,  so  that  he  might 
act  as  a  missionary  both  of  Christian ily  and 
civilization  in  his  native  couulry.  _ 

In  Cuptain  Cook's  third  voyage,  Omai  was 
taken  back  again,  after  ho  ha(l  been  loaded 
with  presents  of  various  kinds.  It  was 
found,  however,  that  all  that  he  really  cared 
tor  was  the  possession  of  weaiions,  especially 
lire-arms,  by  means  of  which  he  might  make 
himself  master  of  the  island.  He  hud  several 
muskets  and  pistols,  together  with  ammuni- 
tion, i)Ut  Cai)tain  Cook  remarked  in  Ijia 
journal  that  ho  fancied  Omai  would  be 
happier  without  the  tire-arms  than  with 
them,  and  expresses  a  doubt  whether  ho 
would  not  have  been  happier  still  it  he  liad 
never  been  removed  from  his  island. 

The   result  justified   these  anticipation.s. 


XIIU     iconic    jii. ,«.....« 111 

No  one,  excei)t  the  lower  orders,  would  liave 
anything  to  do  with  a  man  of  no  rank,  and 
the  nobles,  who  led  public  opinion,  would 
not  even  look  at  him  as  he  paraded  m  and 
down,  clad  in  the  suit  of  armor  which  had 
been  presented  to  him  with  more  generosity 
than  prudence.  In  fact,  they  felt  that  his 
possession  of  all  these  treasures  was  a  shght 
Iipon  themselves,  and  the  natural  result  was 
that  Omai  was  soon  lleeced  ot  all  his  property, 
and  speedily  sank  back  again  into  his  orig- 
inal barbarism  and  idolatry. 

Tenacious  as  they  arc  of  their  rank,  the 
T.ahitan  nobles  show  but  few  external  marks 
of  it.    Even   at  the   present  dajf,  although 
they  have  ol)tained  considerable  wealth  from 
trade,  and  though  implicit  deference  is  paid 
to  them  by  their  own  people,  the  chiefs,  as 
a  rule,  dress   and  fare   no  better   thijn   the 
generality  of  their   subjects.    The   fact  is, 
that  every  person's  rank  is  so  well  known, 
that  there  is  no  necessity  for  indicating  it  by 
outward  show  or  luxurious   habits,  which 
would  only  serve  to  bring  upon    them  the 
contemptuous  epithet  of  fithh'.  or  conceited. 
In  illustration  of  this  jM-inciple,  Mr;  Ben- 
nett   remarks    in    hi.s    '-Whaling    Voyage 
round  the  Globe,"  that  it  was  "  usual  to  see 
the   Queen   Aimata  clad  in  a  loose  cotton 
gown,  bare-headed  and  bare-footed,  ming- 
ling   with    natives    of    every    class.      Her 
me'als,  too,  arc  equally  unostentatious,  the 
bread-fruit,  poe,  cocoa-nuts,  and  baked  pig, 
intended  for  her  food,  being  placed  on  a 
layer  of  fresh  leaves  spread  on  the  ground; 
while  the  partaking  party  disjday,  by  tho 
use  of  their   lingers,  a   thorough  contempt 
for   the  modern  innovation  of  knives  and 
forks,  in  tho  use  of  which,  however,  they 
are   perfectly  well  versed."    This   visit  to 
Tahiti  was  made  in  1834. 

Nothing,  perhaps,  shows  the  innate  re- 
siiect  for  rank  more  than  the  conduct  of  tho 
Tahitans  toward  their  queen.  Personally 
she  was  not  in  the  least  resi)ected,  nor  in- 
deed did  she  de'-ervo  rcRpci^t.  Being  tho 
only  daughter  of  Pouiare  II.,  and  deriving 


1002 


THE  SOCIETY  ISLANDS. 


hi 


ft-om  her  birth  the  titlo  of  Pomard  Viihino, 
by  whic'li  slui  wiia  bettor  known  than  by  thi^ 
name  of  Ahuulit,  ahv  bocamo  queon  in  18'27, 
on  tb(!  (Iciith  ol  lior  inlimt  brother.  Her 
con(but  as  (jiieen  was  at  (Irst  of  the  most 
unqu('(  nly  kind.  She  resiatod  to  tliu  utnio.st 
tlie  atlt  ini)ls  tiiat  were  being  made  to  im- 
prove I  lie  mural  condition  of  tlie  peoi)le, 
and  did  lu'r  Ix'st,  l)otli  by  precept  and  exam- 
ple, to  brinj^  liack  the  state  of  unreHtrained 
licentioiinness  wliieh  had  reigned  tlirough 
the  land.  Yet,  In  unite  of  her  conduct,  the 
respect  for  licr  rank  was  in  no  way  dimin- 
ished, and,  as  lias  been  seen,  she  could  be 
on  familiar  terms  witli  the  lowest  of  her 
subjects  without  derogating  from  her  dig- 
nity. 

TiiK  amusements  of  the  Tahitnns  arc 
mucli  like  tliose  of  other  Polynesians,  and 
therefore  need  but  little  descrijition.  The 
TuhitaiiH  are  fond  of  singing,  and  possess 
good  voices  and  ears,  so  that  tliey  have  been 
apt  jiupiis  ill  European  music.  As  a  rule, 
liowever,  tliey  prefer  singing  the  air,  or  at 
most  a  first  and  second,  tlio  mon;  elaborate 
movements  of  concerted  music  scarcely 
pleasing  them.  They  excel  in  keeping 
lime,  and  exliiliit  this  capacity  not  only  in 
their  songs  but  in  tlieir  dances.  The  native 
mode  of  singing  is  not  pleasing  to  an  Eng- 
lish car,  being  of  a  monotonous  character, 
nasal  in  tone,  and  full  of  abrupt  transitions 
from  the  highest  to  the  lowest  notes. 

Tlie  native  songs  are  mostly  on  two  sub- 
jects, namely,  love  and  war,  th(^  former  pre- 
dominating, as  is  likely  to  be  the  case  from 
the  quii't  and  peaccible  character  of  the 
people.  Sometimes  their  songs  assume  a 
more  jialriolic  cast,  and  set  forth  the  praises 
of  their  island  home,  the  beauty  of  its  scen- 
ery, and  tlie  ferlility  of  its  soil.  Tlie  sing- 
ers are  usually  women,  whose  sweet  voices 
render  jileasiug  even  the  nasal  intonations. 
The  nu'ii  sing  )mt  seldom,  and  when  they 
do  exert  their  voices,  they  almost  invarialjly 
use  the  harsh  nalivc  mode  of  vocalization. 

Their  musical  instruments  arc  but  fi^w. 
They  have  of  course  the  drum,  with  which 
they  accom])any  their  songs  and  dances,  not 
by  beating  it  violently  after  the  African 
fifyle  of  drumming,  biit  gently  tapjiiug  it 
with  the  fingers.  The  drums  are  of  difTer- 
ent  sizes,  and  are  all  cylindrical,  and  very 
long  in  ])ro))orlion  to  their  diameter.  Like 
mail}'  t)tlier  uncivilized  people,  they  display 
a  great  fondness  for  the  Jews'  liarp,  partly 
because  it  is  easy  to  j)lay,  and  partly  because 
it  reproduces  to  some  extent  tho  peculiar 
intervals  of  savage  music. 

The  chief  native  instrument  that  is  capa- 
ble of  producing  ditt'erent  notes  is  a  sort  of 
flageolet  or  '•  hoe,"  which  produces  a  low, 
deep  tone,  something  like  the  "  drono  "  of 
the  bag -pipe.  The  native  musician  can 
tune  liis  instrument  in  a  very  simple  man- 
ner.    The  mouth-piece  is  split   longitudi- 


nally, HO  that  thfl  pieces  vibrate  like  those  of 
i:uy  "reiMl"  instrument.  Surrounding  tho 
mouth-piece  is  a  ring  of  solt  wood,  and  by 
pushing  this  forward,  or  driving  it  back,  tliu 
performer  can  tune  his  instrument  with 
some  nicety,  the  former  movement  produc- 
ing a  sharp,  and  the  latter  a  graver  tone. 

The  hoe  is  seldom  jilayed  alone,  and  is 
generally  used  as  an  acconqiauimeiit  tii  tho 
native  dances.  The  ix'rformcrs,  alter  Inning 
tludr  instruments,  sit  in  a  circle,  pressetl 
closely  together,  and,  bending  forward  so' 
that  their  neads  are  bowed  over  tlieir  knees, 
play  i'l  admirable  time,  though  as  nmch 
praise  I  all  scarcely  be  given  to  the  melody. 

Following  the  instincts  of  the  savage  na- 
ture, the  Tahita.is  are  passionately  fond  of 
cock-tlghting,  and  amusements  of  a  similar 
character.  Some  of  them  are  of  a  more 
harmless  character.  One  of  the  most  manly 
and  graceful  of  these  amiisemeuts  closelV 
resembles  the  surf  swimming  of  the  SaiKl- 
wich  Islanders,  and  is  thus  described  by 
Cajitain  Cook:  — 

"Neither  were  they  strangers  to  tho 
sootliing  ellects  jiroduced  by  particular  sorts 
of  motion,  which  in  sonu;  cases  seem  to 
allay  any  perturbation  of  mind  with  as 
much  success  as  music.  Of  this  I  met  with 
n  remarkable  instance.  For  on  walking  one 
day  about  Matavai  Point,  where  our  tents 
were  erected,  I  saw  a  man  paddling  in  a 
small  canoe  so  swiftly,  and  looking  about 
with  such  eagerness  on  each  side,  as  to  com- 
mand all  my  attention. 

"  At  first  1  imagined  that  be  had  stolen 
something  from  one  of  the  ships,  an<i  was 
pursued,  but  on  waiting  iintiently  saw  him 
repeat  his  amusement,  lie  went  out  from 
the  shore  till  he  was  near  the  jilace  wliere 
the  swell  begins  to  take  its  rise;  and  watch- 
ing its  first  motion  very  attentively,  paddled 
before  it  with  great  quickness  till  he  found 
that  it  overtook  him,  and  had  acejuired  siifll- 
cieiit  force  to  carry  his  caiKu^  before  it  with- 
out ])assing  underneath.  He  then  sat  mo- 
tionless, and  was  carried  along  at  the  same 
swift  rate  as  the  wave,  till  it  lauded  him 
upon  the  beach,  when  he  started  out,  emp- 
tied his  canoe,  and  went  in  search  of  another 
swell. 

"  I  could  not  help  concluding  that  tliis 
man  felt  the  most  supreme  pleasure  while 
he  was  driven  on  so  fast  and  so  smoothly  by 
the  sea,  especially  as,  though  the  tents  and 
shii)s  were  so  ne.'ir,  he  did  not  seem  in  the 
least  to  envv.  or  even  to  take  any  notice  of 
the  crowds  of  his  countrymen  collected  to 
view  them  as  objects  which  were  rare  and 
curious. 

"  During  my  stav,  two  or  three  of  the  na- 
tives came  up,  w"lio  seemed  to  share  his 
felicity,  and  alw.iys  ('ailed  out  when  there 
was  an  ajjpearance  of  a  favoiabli;  swell,  as 
he  sometimes  missed  it  by  his  back  being 
turned  and  looking  about  for  it.  JJj-  this  I 
understood  that  this  exercise,  which  is  called 


nOXINQ  AND  WRESTLING  MATCHES. 


1008 


chorooe,  wa«  frcnuent  amongst  thorn,  and 
tUcy  liavo  niobulilv  nvoro  iiinuHiMnt'nts  of 
this  Hort,  wlilch  iilronlcd  llifin  at  Iciint  m 
much  ploasun!  a«  Hkatiiig,  which  is  thti  only 
one  of  oui-s  with  whoso  ollVcts  I  could  com- 

Pfiri'  it."  ,   „  ,, 

Likt)  tho  Ton,fl[ana  and  Samoans,  thnso 
pcoplo  aro  fond  of  boxlni?  and  wrf«tlin^,' 
malchcs,  not  only  as  spectators,  bnl  actors, 
Thoy  do  not,  however,  enter  into  tlii'ni  with 
the  spirit  and  courage  displayed  by  the 
n»oro  hardy  islanders,  and  there  }«  "ttle 
doubt  that  a  boxer  or  wrestler  ot  longa 
would  searctdy  be  al)le  to  lliid  a  worthy  op- 
ponent iu  the  Society  Islands. 

Of  these!  two  sports,  the  Society  Islanders 
much  prefer  wrestling,  boxin},'beinj,'  thought 
rather  too  rough  an  amusement,  andbemg 
apt  to  leave  unpleasimt  marks  on  tlie  face  ot 
tlie  vaiKiuished  combataul.  Wrestling,  how- 
ever, is  much  more  common,  and  is  con- 
dueled  after  the  following  manner. 

Tlie  iuleiiding  combatants  lirst  went  to  the 
tcmi)l(!s  of  their  special  gods,  and  laid  olfer- 
ings  before  them,  asking  for  their  asslslauce 
In  the  approaching  struggle.  Th(!y  tlum 
procefidod  to  the  spot  selected  for  the  sports, 
which  had  always  a  smooth  surface,  some- 
times  covered  with  grass  and  sometimes 
with  sand.  A  circle  of  thirty  or  forty  feet 
in  diameter  was  left  clear  for  the  competi- 
tors, and  around  it  sat  the  spectators,  the 
inhabitants  of  the  island  or  district  on  one 
side,  and  the  visitors  on  tho  other.  All 
being  ready,  the  combatants  enter  the  arena, 
wearing  nothing  hut  the  simnle  girdle,  ami 


mostly'having  well  anointett  their  bodies 
and  limbs  with  cocoa-nut  oil.  The  mode  of 
challen"e  and  wrestling  has  been  so  well 
described  by  Mr.  Ellis  that  I  prefer  to  give 
ins  own  words:  — 

"  The  fame  of  a  celebrated  wrestler  was 
usually  8i)read  throughout  tho  islands,  and 
those  who  were  considered  good  wrestlers, 
priding  themselves  on  their  strengtli  or 
skill,  were  desirous  of  engaging  only  with 
those  they  regarded  as  their  equals.  Hence 
when  a  chief  was  expected  iu  whose  tram 
were  any  distinguished  wrestlers,  those 
ainon'^  the  adherents  of  the  chief  by  whom 
the  party  were  to  be  entertained  who  wished 
to  engage,  were  accustomed  to  send  a  chal- 
lenge^pi-evious  to  their  arrival. 

"  If  this,  which  was  called  tipaopao,  had 
been  the  case,  when  they  entered  the  ring 
thev  closed  at  once  without  ceremony.  But 
if  lio  such  arrangement  had  been  made,  t!ie 
wrestlers  of  one  partv,  or  perhaps  their 
champion,  walked  roun-  and  across  the  ring, 
having  the  letl  arm  bent  with  the  hand  on 
the  breast,  and,  striking  the  right  hand  vio- 
lently against  tho  left,  and  the  left  against 
the  side,  jirodncod  a  loud  hollow  sound, 
which  was  challenging  any  one  to  a  trial  of 
skill.  The  strokes  on  tho  arm  were  some- 
times 80  violent  as  not  only  to  bruise  the 
Uesh,  but  to  cause  the  blood  to  gush  ouU 


"When  the  challenge  was  accepted  tho 
antagonists  closed,  mid  the  most  ititeiisu 
interest  was  manifested  by  the  parties  to 
which  they  respectively  beloiigeil.  llicy 
irrasped  each  other  by  the  shoulders,  and 
exerted  all  (heir  strength  and  art  each  to 
throw  his  rival.  This  was  all  that  was  re- 
duisite;  and  although  they  geiieially  grap- 
pled with  each  other,  this  was  not  necessary 
according  to  the  rules  ..f  the  game. 

"  Mape,  a  stout  and  rather  active  though 
not  a  large  man,  who  was  often  in  niv  house 
at  Eimeo,  was  a  famous  wrestler,  lie  was 
seen  in  the  ring  once  with  a  remarkably  tall 
heavy  man,  who  was  his  antagoiii't;  they 
had  grapi)led  and  separated,  when  Mapo 
walked  carelessly  toward  bis  rival  and,  on 
approaching  him,  instead  of  stretching  out 
his  arms  as  was  expected,  he  ra'i  the  crown 
„f  his  head  with  all  bis  mi-hl  against  the 
lemplf!  of  his  antagonist,  and  laid  him  ilat  on 
the  I'artli.  ,  , 

"The  most  perfect  silence  was  observed 
during  the  struggle,  but  as  soon  as  one  was 
thrown  the  scene  was  instantly  changed;  tho 
vanquished  was  scarcely  stretched    on   tbc 
sanil  when  a  shout  of  exultation  arose  from 
the  victor's  friends.   Their  drums  struck  up; 
the  wouKMi  and  children  danced  m  triumph 
over  the  fallen  wrestler,  and  sung  in  derision 
of  the  opi)osito  party.    These  were  neither 
silent  nor  unmoved  spectators,  but  immeUi- 
ately  commenced  a  most  deafening  noise, 
partly  in  honor  of  their  own  clan  or  tribe, 
but  chiefly  to  neutralize  tho  triumnh  ot  ttio 
victors.   It  is  not  easy  to  imagine  tho  scenes 
that  must  often  have  been  presented  at  ono 
of  these  wrestling  matches,  when  not  less 
than  four  or  five  thousand  persons,  dressed 
in  their  beat  apparel,  and  exhibiting  every 
variety  of  costume  and  brilliancy  ot  color, 
were    under  the  inflnenco  of  excitement. 
One  party  were   drumming,  dancing,  and 
singing,  in  all  the  pride  of  victory  and  tho 
menace  of  defiance;  while,  to  increase  the 
din   and  confusion,  the  other  party  wero 
equally  vociferous  in  reciting  the  achieve- 
ments of  the  vanquished,  or  predicting  the 
shortness  of  his  rival's  triumph.     When  the 
contest  was  at  an  end,  victor  and  vanquished 
once  more  repaired  to  the  idcd  teiniile,  and 
renewed  their  offerings  of  young  plantam 

trees. 

"  Although  wrestling  was  practised  prin- 
cipally by  the  men,  it  was  not  confined  to 
them.  Often  when  they  had  done,  the 
women  contended,  sometimes  with  each 
other,  and  occasionally  with  men.  Persong 
of  the  highest  rank  often  engaged  m  this 
sport;  and  tho  sister  of  the  queen  has  been 
seen  wearing  nearly  the  same  clothing  the 
wrestlers  wore,  covered  all  over  with  sand, 
and  wrestling  with  a  young  chief  in  the 
midst   of    the    ring,   round   which    thou- 


sands  of  the  queen's  subjects  were  assem- 
1  bled." 


*■ 

k 


11  If 


r  ,■!  I'l 


14 


'■t 


CHAPTER  CIX. 


THE  SOCIETY  ISLANDS  —  ConMniwd. 


nELiaiuK. 


RKUOIOK  OK  TITB  SOCrHTY  I8LANT>B— THKIR  IDOI,S  —  PAUAM.FI,  BKTWKKN  THK  mor-ATHT  OP  MODCItN 
I'OLVNKHIA     AND      ANCIENT     HYIUA -- OHO,     Till?     (lOD     OF    WAIl— RXTKNT     OK     IMS     WOlmllll'— . 

i,E(;i;ni>  of  a  hiieli. — oiio's  mauak,  oh  temple  —  the  human  sAcniricR  —  iimo,  the  (ioD  on 

TIIIEVEH  —  IllH  WOUHIIIP  AN!)  APOTHEOSIS  —  TANE,  THE  CHIEF  (lOU  OF  IHIAIIINK  —  HIS  MAKAE  AND 
HIS  IIEIJ  — KIIESSINO  TANK — THE  TItEKH  AJtOtlNI)  HIS  JIAIIAK  — 1118  tTNFOUTl'NATE  TAIL— HIS  HHIH 
PKIEST — AN  INOENIOUS  EVASION  —  TANE's  IIALF-WAV  HOl'SR  —  TANE  AVEUSE  TO  IILOODSIIEII, 
BUT  NKEDINO  THE  8ACUIFICE  OF  LIFE  —  TANK'S  STONE  CANOK  —  THE  SIIAltK  <iOI>,  AND  HIS 
WATEIl  TEMPLE  — APOTlirOSm  or  A  LIVING  MAN  —  8IN0ULAU  PKKFOUMANCE  OF  THE  INSPIKED 
PIUGST8— MOVABLB  8HIIINB8.  * 


'  i 


Wk  now  come  to  the  somewhat  conipli- 
Cfttcd  subjc'cl  of  the  religious  belief  of  the 
Society  Islanders.  It  is  not  an  easy  subject, 
iuvo'vin;^',  as  it  does,  a  great  variety  ot  na- 
tional customs,  including  the  all-nervading 
tajJU,  the  ,l)urial  of  tlie  dead,  and  tlie  human 
sacrifices  which  accompany  a  funeral  or  are 
oflered  on  great  occasions.  We  will  begin 
with  a  brief  account  of  the  religious  system 
of  these  islanders,  as  far  as  it  is  i)0S8ible  to 
reduce  to  a  system  a  subject  so  obscure  in 
itself,  and  so  little  understood  by  the  first 
travellers,  who  alone  would  bo  likidy  to  wit- 
ness and  gain  information  about  the  various 
religions  ceremonies. 

As  might  be  expected  from  these  isl- 
anders, their  religion  is  pure  idolatry,  or 
rather,  it  consists  in  the  worship  of  certain 
iin;ig(!S  which  are  conventionally  accejited 
as  visible  representatives  of  tlie  invisible 
deities.  The  idols  ar(^  of  two  difl'erent  kinds, 
the  one  being  rude  imitations  of  the  Jiuman 
figure,  and  the  other,  certain  combinations 
of  cloth,  sinnet,  and  feather-,  rolled  round 
sticks,  not  having  the  slightest  similitude  to 
the  human  form,  or  being  recognizable  as 
idols  except  by  those  who  understand  their 
signification.  The  human  figures  are  held 
as  being  inferior  to  other  idols,  and  are  con- 
sidered in  much  the  same  light  as  the  Lares 
and  Penates  of  the  ancient  Romans.  They 
are  called  by  the  name  of  Tu,  and  are  sup- 
posed to  belong  to  some  particular  family 
which  is  taken  under  their  protection. 


The  other  gods  arc,  in  the  ideas  of  the  na- 
tives, i)os»es8ed  of  far  more  extensive  pow- 
ers, sometimes  being  supposed  to  watch 
over  particular  districts,  or  even  particu- 
lar islands.  There  are  gods  of  the  val- 
leys and  gods  of  the  hills,  exactly  as  we 
read  was  the  belief  of  the  (Syrians  nearly 
three  thousand  years  ago;  when  Ahab  had 
repulsed  JJeiiliadad,  "  (he  servants  of  the 
king  of  Syria  said  unto  him,  their  gods  nve 
gods  of  the  bills,  therefore  they  were 
stronger  tlian  we;  but  let  us  fight  against 
them  in  the  jilain,  and  surely  we  shall  be 
stronger  than  they."     (1  Kings  xx.  ii.*}.) 

Fully  believing  in  tlie  protection  which 
these  (leities  are  able  to  extend  over  their 
worshippers,  it  is  no  matter  of  wonder  that 
the  latter  consider  that  they  have  a  i  iglit  to 
tlie  good  ofiices  of  their  gods,  and  loniplain 
bitterly  when  anything  goes  wrong  with 
them. '  So,  if  a  god  has  been  worshipped  in 
some  locality,  and  the  ground  becomes  bar- 
ren, or  the  cocoa-nut  trees  do  not  produce 
their  full  amount  of  fruit,  or  the  district  is 
devastated  by  war,  the  peojile  think  that 
their  god  is  not  doing  his  duty  by  tliem,  and 
so  they  depose  him,  and  take  another  in  his 
place. 

Although  these  gods  are  in  a  manner  lim- 
ited in  th(  ir  scope,  m.-iny  of  them  arc  ac- 
knowledged throughout  the  wliole  of  the 
group  of  islands;  and  the  chief,  because  the 
most  dreaded,  of  them  is  Oro,  the  god  of 
war. 


(1064) 


wousirip  or  ORO  and  iimo. 


1065 


ThiH  torriblo  drity  is  held  In  the  Rrontniit 
nwo  l)v  liiH  woi-KliippcrH,  (iiiil  lit  onu  time  \vm 
f"iiri'((  tlin>ii'{li(ml  lliii  wlntlii  of  tlif  iHliiiidH. 
His  iiiniii!  WHS  iiMMociatcd  with  Riiiidrv  loi'iil- 
iticH,  and  witli  inuny  ()l>Jc('tH,  ho  t(mt  hin 
droudi'ii  iiiund  huh  coiitiniinlly  in  tiui  n\otith 
oC  tlu)  iii'oplc!.  Thcri^  wiix  iivcn  ii  small 
fipccios  of  sciiliop  sljell  whicii  was  held  in 
such  foar  that  not  a  natlvt;  would  darn  to 
touch  it.  It  was  called  tuiu!  (pronounced 
tooprli),  and  was  said  to  he  tiui  special  prop- 
erty of  Oro.  When  a  man  died,  and  was  to 
bo  converted  into  a  spirit,  the  body  had  to 
bo  entirely  consumed.  Tliis  was  done  by 
Oro,  who  scraped  the  llesli  from  tlu^  bones 
Avitli  a  tupe  shell,  and  thus  ivte  the  body. 

The  subsequent  career  of  the  spirit  was 
rather  peculiar.  After  issuing;  from  Oro  in 
its  new  form,  it  betook  itself  to  a  ifreat  lake 
iu  Haiatea,  round  whii'h  is  a  belt  of  trees, 
which  from  some  cause  an;  rpiite  flat  at  the 
top,  iiresenliu^  a  level  surface  like  n  leafy 
])latforni.  On  this  place  the  nc-wly  enfran- 
chised spirits  danced  aud  feasted,  and  after 
they  hail  passed  through  that  sta;^e  of  their 
existence,  they  were  transformed  into  cock- 
roa(!hes. 

In  Ilualiiui'  there  wa.s  an  enormous  marac, 
or  sacred  enclosure,  dedicated  to  Oro.  It 
was  a  hundred  and  tllly-six  feet  lonff  ))y 
cifrhteen  wide,  and  was  built  by  a  fence 
made  of  Hat  slabs  of  coral-rock  placed  on 
their  edj^es,  and  the  intervals  between  them 
filled  in  with  earth.  One  of  these  blocks  of 
stone  measured  nine  feet  by  ten,  so  that  the 
laborof  euttinj;  them  aud  conveying  them  to 
such  a  distance  from  the  sea  must  have  been 
enormous. 

On  this  i)latform  a  smaller  one  wa-s 
erected,  so  as  to  leave  a  space?  of  about  four 
feet  iu  width,  and  within  this  upper  story 
Were  laid  the  bones  of  the  many  victims  that 
had  been  slain  in  the  worshin  of  the  god. 
The  temple  itself,  called  Fare  no  Oro,  or  the 
House  of  Oro,  was  ipiite  a  small  building, 
eight  feet  long  by  six  wide,  and  a  little  be- 
yond this  Wits  the  square  stone  on  which  the 
jn-iest  stood  when  about  to  oH'ei;  a  sacritlce, 
a  higher  stone  behinil  ^t  answering  as  a  seat 
whereon  the  priest  might  rest  himself  when 
weariiMl. 

Small  us  was  this  house,  it  had  been  the 
scene  of  luauy  human  sacrilices,  aud  even 
its  erection  cost  a  nuinbor  of  lives,  every 
post  having  been  driven  into  Uw.  ground 
through  a  humau  body.  Jlesides  these  vic- 
tims, others  luul  been  sacrificeil  on  many 
occasions,  fourteen  of  whom  were  enumer- 
ated by  an  old  man  who  had  once  otliciated 
ns  the'jiriest  of  Oro.  When  the  chief  of  the 
island  became  converted  to  Christianitv,  this 
man  tried  to  conceal  the  idol  which  He  had 
80  long  worshipju'd,  and  to  save  it  from  de- 
struction, hid  it  iu  a  hole  in  the  rock.  The 
chief,  however,  very  rightly  feared  that  if  the 
idol  were  .'vlhnved  to  ret'iinin  its  worsbiji 
might  revive,  and  accordingly  insisted  ujjon 


Itii  destruction.  Besides  the  priest  who 
o'l'ered  the  wicrillce,  Oro  had  another  oflleer, 
whose  special  duty  it  was  to  kill  the  vlc- 
ti-ns.  lie  was  olllclally  termed  the  Muu- 
buiui,  or  I'Ig-owner,  a  human  body  killed 
for  sacrillce  being  nmied  a  "long  niff," 
When  the  victim  was  pointed  out  to  lilm, 
the  Mau-buna,  having  a  n.und  stone  con- 
cealed  in  his  hand,  found  an  opportunity,  of 
getting  behind  him,  and,  with  a  single  blow, 
struck  him  seiiscless  to  tin-  ground,  whero 
the  murder  was  completed.  He  then  packed 
the  body  in  a  basket  of  cocoa-nut  leaves,  and 
delivered  it  to  the  priest. 

Next  to  f)ro  was  Hiro,  the  Polynesian 
Mercury,  or  god  of  thieves.  He  was  origi- 
nally  n  man,  but  was  elevated  to  the  society 
of  the  gods  iu  consequence  of  his  \vonderful 
deeds  on  earth,  the  chief  of  which  seems  to 
have  been  his  ilaring  in  taking  the  image  of 
Oro  and  iHngiiig  it  to  the  ground  with  im- 
punity. 

The  worship  of  Hiro  extended  through  all 
ranks,  from  the  highest  chief  to  the  lowest 
cook,  and  his  votaries  always  askcMl  for  his 
lielp  when  they  went  on  a  plundering  expe- 
dition, and  promised  him  a  share  of  the 
spoil.  This  promise  they  always  performed, 
but  as  they  were  careful  not  to  define  the 
amount  of  booty  which  w.as  to  belong  to  the 
god,  they  contrived  practically  to  have  it  all 
to  themselves.  For  example,  a  thief  would 
go  out  pig  stealing,  and  promise  lliroashare 
of  the  stolen  pork.  Accordingly,  if  he  had 
been  successful,  he  would  take  home  his  ill- 
gotten  booty,  b.ake  it,  break  off  an  inch  of 
the  tail,  and' go  with  it  to  the  shrine  of  Hiro, 
where  lie  would  offer  it  with  ns  much  cere- 
mony as  if  it  had  been  half  the  i)ig,  and  at 
the  same  time  beg  the  goil  not  to  divulge 
the  theft  of  a  votary  who  had  kept  his  prom- 
ise. 

The  natives  arc  quite  dexterous  cnougli 
in  the  thieving  way  to  be  worthy  of  the 
protection  of  this  god,  having  the  most  in- 
genious modes  of  stealing  the  goods  of 
another.  For  example,  if  the  objects  are 
small,  a  hook  is  fastened  to  the  end  of  a  long 
bamboo,  and  the  coveted  article  is  slilv 
withdrawn  by  the  actual  thief  while  a  confed- 
erate directs 'the  attention  of  the  victim  else- 
where. Sometimes  the  hook  is  tied  to  a 
line,  and  the  thief  literally  angles  for  the 
property. 

The  apotheosis  of  Hiro  wns  a  very  re- 
markable one.  After  his  life  of  theft,  rapine, 
and  murder,  in  which  he  did  not  spare  even 
the  temples  of  the  gods,  and  had,  aswc  have 
seen,  the  hardihood  to  fling  Oro's  image  on 
the  floor,  and  roll  on  it  ns  if  he  ha<l  con- 
([uered  Oro  in  wrestling,  he  was  thought  to 
have  been  so  snperhumanly  wicked  that  he 
must  h.'ive  been  a  god.  Accordingly,  his 
skull  was  placed  in  a  luige  marae  which  he 
himself  had  erected,  while  his  hair  was  put 
into  an  image  nf  Oro.  and  both,  buried 
together,  this  act  constituting  the  apotheosis. 


W  1  'F' 


\l 


•'  •"  *j 


F         ; 

i^^Hj 

i!   -j/  t_ 

ffl 

■ 

^H 

■    '1 

I 

1066 


THE  SOCIETY  ISLAKDS. 


When  Messrs.  Bennett  and  Tycrman  were 
at  the  Society  Inlands,  this  sliull  was  still  in 
existence,  but  it  disappeared,  together  with 
the  idols  and  other  rehes  of  tlio  old  relig- 
ions. 

The  next  god  is  Tano  (pronounced  tah- 
ne/t),  who  w;is  worshipped  over  a  consider- 
able range  of  couutrv,  and  was  in  one  or 
two  islands  considered,  as  their  supreme  god. 
Such  was  the  case  with  Iluahine,  in  wliich 
Tano  had  a  niarae  or  malae  of  gigantic  di- 
mensions. I  may  here  remark  that  in  most 
Polynesian  dialects  the  letters  rand  I  are  in- 
terchangeable, so  that  marac  and  nialao  are, 
in  fact,  the  same  word. 

This  marae  is  a  hundred  and  twenty-four 
feet  in  length  by  sixteen  in  breadth,  and  is 


composed,  like  the  marae  of  Oro>  of  two 
stories,  the  last  being  nearly  ten  feet  in 
height,  and  built  of  coral  blocks,  some  of 
whicli  are  ten  feet  in  width,  and  correspond- 
ingly long  and  thick,  so  that  their  weight  is 
enormous.  As  the  marae  is  about  a  hun- 
dred yards  from  the  shore,  a  prodigious 
amount  of  labor  must  have  been  expended 
in  getting  these  luige  stones  out  of  the  sea 
and  fixing  them  in  their  places.  The  upper 
Btory  is  barely  a  yard  in  height,  and  has  at 
each  end  an  upright  stone  six  feet  high. 

In  the  middle  of  the  principal  part  is  the 
idol's  bed,  which  he  occupies  once  annually 
and  in  which  lie  ought  to  feel  comfortable, 
as  it  is  twenty-four  feet  long  by  thirteen 
wide.  It  is  built,  like  the  marae,  of  stone 
and  earth,  and  is  only  eighteen  inches  high. 
This  is  a  very  ancient  structure,  as  is 
shown  by  tlie  trees  that  surround  and 
spread  their  arms  over  it.  Near  the  bed  is 
a  small  house  about  twelve  feet  by  six,  in 
which  rests  the  god  Tane,  together  with  les- 
ser gods,  each  of  whom  is  set  over  a  dis- 
trict. 

Tane  himself  —  burned  in  1817  — was 
carved  out  of  a  great  block  of  wood,  and 
was  about  as  large  as  a  tall  man.  lie  was 
not  remarkable  for  an  elegant  shape,  having 
no  neck  and  no  legs,  the  body  terminating 
in  a  cone.  The  head  was  furnished  with 
apologies  for  eyes,  mouth,  nose,  and  ears, 
and  the  whole  was  covered  with  sinnet. 

Once  in  every  -^ear,  Tane  luid  a  new 
dress,  and  was  invested  with 'great  solem- 
nity. IIo  was  brought  out  of  Ins  house  by 
his  priest  -^nd  laid  on  his  bed,  liaving  four 
lesser  gods  on  either  side  of  him.  The 
chiefs  of  the  district  stood  each  in  front  of 
his  own  god,  and  the  priests  stood  round 
Tane  as  l)eing  the  groat  god  of  them  all. 
The  old  j^arments  were  then  removed,  and 
examination  made  into  the  interior  of  the 
idol,  which  was  hollow,  and  contained  vari- 
ous objects,  such  as  scarlet  feathers,  beads, 
bracelets,  and  other  valnrblcs.  Those  that 
began  to  look  .shabby  were  removed,  and 
others  inserted  to  L'lk'e  tb(>ir  place,  and  the 
tdols  were  then  invested  in  their  new  robes 
Meanwhile,  a  vast  amount  of  kava  was  pre 


pared— the  natives  saying  that  it  was  equal 
in    cubic    measure  to   tlu;    niara(!  —  and  a 
scene  of  drunken  debauch  took  place,  lasting 
for  several  days,  even  the  priests  being  so 
intoxicvted  that  they  were  unable  to  stand 
while  performing  their  duties,  but  had  to 
chant  their  incantations  while  lying  o    the 
ground.    This  stage  of  tho  idol-dressing  is 
represented   in    the  fine  engraving  on  the 
opposite  page.      At  the    expiration  of  the 
three  days  a  special  god  called  iloorai  was 
produced  and  stripped,  and,  as  soon  as  liis 
garments  were  removed,  violent  rain  show- 
ers fell,  as  a  signal  for  all  the  idols  to  be  rj. 
moved    to    their    respective,  houses.     The 
greatest  care  vt  as  taken  that  no  woman  should 
witness   this   ceremony,  and  if  a  female  of 
any  age  had  been  detected  coming  within  a 
certain  distance  of  the  marae,  she  would  be 
at  once  killed,  and  even  her  father,  husband, 
or  brother,  would  have  been  among  the  first 
to  strike  her  down. 

The  trees  which  decorated  this  marae  are 
the  banyans  (Ficus  Indka),  one  of  which 
is  described  by  Mr.  Bennett  as  being  seventy 
feet  in  girth  at  the  principal  stem,  and 
throwing  out  vast  horizontal  branches,  each 
of  which  is  supported  by  a  root  which  looks 
more  like  the  trunk  than  the  root  of  a  tree. 
"More  than  forty  of  these  we  counted, 
standing  like  a  family  of  earth-born  gianl.s 
about  their  enormous  parent.  A  circle 
drawn  round  all  these  auxiliary  stems  meas- 
ured a  hundred  and  thirty-two  feet  in  cir- 
cumference, while  a  circle  embracing  the 
utmost  verge  of  their  lateral  ramification 
was  not  less  than  four  hundred  and  twenty 
feet. 

"  The  upper  stories  (if  such  we  may  call 
them)  of  this  multiform  tree  ])resented  yet 
more  singular  combination  of  interesting 
and  intertwisting  boughs,  like  Gothic  arches, 
circles,  and  colonnades,  propped  as  by  magic 
in  mid-air.  These  were  occasionally  massy 
or  light,  and  everywhere  richly  embellished 
with  foliage,  tlirough  whi.ii  the  fiickering 
sunshine  gleamed  in  long  rays  that  lost 
themselves  in  the  imniensitv  ot  the  interior 
labyrinth,  "or  danced  in  bright  spots  upon 
the  ground  black  with  the  shadows  !)f  hun- 
dreds of  branches,  rising  tier  above  tier, 
and  sprc/iing  range  above  range,  aloft  and 
around." 

This  tree  was  one  of  the  places  in  which 
the  bodies  of  human  beings  were  oflTiaed, 
being  picked  in  leaf  baskets  and  hung  to 
the  branches.  One  branch,  which  was 
hugely  thick  and  strong,  and  ran  horizon- 
tiUly  at  a  small  height  from  the  ground, 
was  pointed  out  as  the  principal  gibbet,  on 
which  human  sacrifices,  thousands  in  num- 
ber, have  been  ottered  c(intury  after  century. 
Tane,  all  powerful  though  lie  was,  labored 
under  one  disadvantage.  He  had  a  very 
long  tail,  an<l  v.b.oiu-vcr  hf-  w!=b( d  to  lenve 
his  house,  rise  into  the  air,  and  dart  through 
the  sky  on  some  errand  of  mischief,  he  was 


Hn 


iff 

;#! 

li 
111 

1 1 


SOCIETY   ISLANUKKS    DUKSSINU   THE    IDOLS. 
(See  page  lUflU.) 


(1067) 


^^^^H 

T' 

rl 

^^^^^H 

'^■H 

' 

t 

SUfW 

toT 

tion 

tail 

leii'j; 

So 

whk 

mi!;! 

The 

to  cr 

"  Te 

task 

I 

thou 

near 

who 

dept 

bear 

coco 

tree 

ascB 

hisl 

rost 

first 

the 

be  ( 

wer 

A 

tail 

liy  t 

, 

the 

the 

islar 

a  in 

late 

the 

thci 

T 

sma 

^ 

hi^rl 

cxe( 

god 

dini 

woo 

1 

Ii 

• 

wc  s 

beai 

hoii 

ba(4 

waft 

TAKE'S  HALFWAY  HOUSE. 


loee 


restrained  by  his  long  tail,  which  was  sure 
to  become  entangled  in  some  object,  which 
from  that  time  became  sacred  to  the  god. 
For  example,  the  magnificent  tree  which 
has  just  been  described  was  several  times 
the  means  of  detaining  Tano  on  earth,  and 
the  several  branches  round  which  his  tail 
was  twisted  became  tapu  at  once.  On  one 
side  of  his  house  there  was  a  large  stone, 
which  had  become  sacred  in  consequence 
of  having  arrested  the  flight  of  the  god. 

Tills  idea  of  the  long  and  streaming  tail 
has  evidently  been  derived  from  meteors 
and  comets,  which  are  supposed  to  be  the 
gods  passing  through  the  air,  and  whenever 
a  native  saw  one  of  them,  he  always  threw 
oft'  his  upper  garments,  and  raised  a  shout 
in  honor  of  the  passing  god.  Mr.  Bennett 
suggests  that  the  permanent  tail  attached 
to  Tano  is  in  all  probability  a  commemora- 
tion of  some  very  magnificent  comet  with  a 
tail  measuring  eighty  or  ninety  degrees  in 
length. 

So  sacred  was  the  idol  that  everything 
which  was  touched  by  it  became  tapu,  and 
might  not  be  touched  by  profane  hands. 
There  was  only  one  man  who  was  allowed 
to  carry  it,  an'd  he  was  called  from  his  office, 
"  Te  amo  attua,"  i.  e.  the  god-bearer.  His 
task  was  not  an  ea.sy  one,  and  his  office, 
though  it  caused  him  to  be  viewed  with 
nearly  as  much  reverence  as  the  god  of 
whom  he  was  the  special  servant,  must  have 
deprived  liim  of  many  comforts.  Tlic  god- 
be:\rer  was  not  even  allowed  to  climb  a 
cocoa-nut  tree,  because,  if  he  did  so,  the 
tree  would  bo  so  sacred  that  no  one  might 
ascnud  it  after  him;  indeed,  every  action  of 
his  life  was  fenced  about  with  some  similar 
restriction.  Ho  could  not  marry,  as,  in  the 
first  place,  no  woman  could  be  deserving  of 
tiie  lionor,  and,  in  the  second  place,  he  would 
be  defiled  and  unfitted  for  his  ollice  if  he 
were  to  take  any  womtin  to  wife. 

A  celibate  life  does  not  seem  to  us  to  en- 
tail sucli  self-denial  as  seems  to  be  implied 
by  the  prominence  given  to  tlie  celibacy  of 
tlie  god-l)earer,  wlio  appears  to  liave  been 
the  only  l)a(!ludor  in  the  wliole  group  of 
islands.  Hut  among  most  savage  nations 
a  mini's  wealtli  and  conseijuence  are  regu- 
lated l)y  the  number  of  liis  wives,  wlio  do  all 
the  work  of  the  liousehold,  and  in  fact  keep 
tlii'ir  husband  in  idleness. 

The  house  in  which  tlie  god  lived  was  a 
small  hut  elevated  on  posts  twenty  feet 
high,  and  there  were  no  means  of  access 
except  by  climl)ing  one  of  these  posts.  The 
god-bearer,  therefore,  had  no  easy  task  in 
climbing  up  these  posts  with  the  great 
wooden   image   fastened    to  his  hack. 

In  the  illustration  on  the  lOHith  page 
we  see  the  chief  priest  nT  Tane  —  the  god- 
bearer —  asriMiding  the  ole  of  the  sacred 
house,  with  ihe  unwii  y  idol  slung  on  his 
back.  A  gust  of  wii  i  has  risen,  and  has 
wafted  Tune's  long  tail  into  the  air,  so  that 
62 


it  has  been  entangled  in  a  neighboring  tree. 
One  of  the  principal  priests  is  running  to 
aflcend  the  tree  and  free  the  god's  tail,  and 
from  that  time  the  tree  will  be  tapu,  and  no 
one  of  lower  rank  than  tlie  priest  who  freed 
the  tail  will  be  allowed  to  ascend  the  tree. 

Sometimes  Tane  paid  a  visit  to  a  niarae 
at  some  distance,  and  when  he  did  so,  his 
bearer  was  naturally  fatigued  with  the 
weight  of  his  burden.  It  was,  however, 
thought  derogatory  to  the  chiiracter  of  the 
god  to  say  that  his  boarer  could  by  any  pos- 
sibility be  tired  of  carrying  him,  and  so,  by 
an  ingenious  evasion,  the  god  himself  was  ' 
thought  to  be  fatigued  with  the  journey, 
and  was  laid  to  rest  for  a  while  on  a  flat 
stone  about  half  a  mile  from  the  sacred  tree. 
This  stone  was  tapu-  to  women,  and  if  a 
woman  had  sat  upon  it,  or  even  touched  it 
with  her  finger,  she  would  have  been  at 
once  killed. 

The  stone  was  not  a  large  one,  being  only 
four  feet  long,  one  foot  broad,  and  nine 
inches  thicli.  It  is  a  singular  fact  that  this 
sacred  stone,  which  had  so  often  been  the 
witness  of  idolatrous  rites,  should  also  have 
witnessed  the  destruction  of  the  idol  to 
whom  it  was  consecrated.  After  Christian- 
ity had  been  fairly  established  in  the  island, 
the  chief  men  wlio  adhered  to  the  worship 
of  Tane  made  war  upon  the  Christians,  who 
repelled  them,  so  that  they  were  obliged 
to  bring  out  their  idol  and  lay  him  on  the 
sacred  stone.  The  two  bodies  of  warriors 
met  face  to  face  ciose  to  the  idol,  and  the 
struggle  was  about  to  commence  when  the 
chief  of  the  Christians  made  a  speech  to  the 
enemy,  laying  before  them  the  distinctions 
between  idolatry  and  Cliristianity,  and  re- 
commended peace  instead  of  war. 

His  voice  prevailed,  and  those  who  came 
to  fight  against  the  Christians  renounced 
their  idols,  and,  as  a  proof  of  their  sincerity, 
tliey  built  a  large  fire  on  the  spot,  threw 
Tano  into  it,  and  then  held  a  great  feast,  at 
which  the  men  and  women  ate  together. 
They  then  proceeded  to  Tane's  house, 
burned  it  down,  and  dismantled  his  great 
marae. 

The  feathers  attached  to  these  idols  and 
placed  within  their  hollow  bodies  are  mistly 
the  two  long  tail-feathers  of  the  tropic  bl'-d. 
white  and  broad  toward  the  base,  and  nar- 
row and  scarlet  for  the  remainder  of  their 
length.  AVlion  the  gods  are  newly  dressed, 
it  is  considered  a  meritorious  act  for  any  one 
to  present  fresh  feathers  in  lieu  of  those 
wliicli  have  been  deteriorated  by  age.  After 
the  old  garments  are  unrolled,  the  feathers 
are  ])laced  inside  the  image,  and  a  corre- 
sponding numl)er  of  old  feathers  taken  out 
and  presented  to  the  devotee,  who  values 
tlieni  beyond  all  things,  as  ])artaking  of  the 
sanctity  which  surrounds  the  original  idol. 
Those  feathers  arc  then  carefully  wrapped 
with  sinnet,  so  as  to  cover  them,  with  the 
exception  of  a  little  portion  of  both  ends, 


m 

HI 


■ifi 


1070 


THE  SOCIETY  ISLANDS. 


I 


ti 


and  they  are  tlicn  laid  before  the  idol,  while 
tliu  priest  recites  a  piayer,  in  wliieh  he  be- 
seeches the  god  to  traiisCer  his  sanctity  to 
these  I'eatluTs,  >vhich  from  that  moment  be- 
come minor  gods. 

The  hai)j)y  dt^votee  has  already  provided 
himself  with  bamboo  tiil)es,  in  each  of  which 
he  jjlaees  one  of  the  feathers,  and  from  wliich 
ho  never  takes  them  except  to  ])ray  to  them. 
Sometimes  he  has  a  smaller  idol  inade,  and 
places  the  feathers  within  it;  but  in  this 
case,  he  has  to  take  the  new  idol  to  be  laid 
belbre  the  original  one,  so  that  the  transfer 
of  sanctity  n>ay  be  guaranteed  to  them. 
This  mode  of  honoring  the  sacred  feathers 
is  usually  employed  when  the  devotee  has 
enjoyed  some  piece  of  good  fortune  after 
he  hiis  received  them,  and  in  most  cases  he 
not  only  enc'loses  them  in  a  new  idol,  but 
builds  a  small  temple  in  which  that  idol 
lives. 

Formerly,  when  animals  were  brought  to 
be  sacriliced  to  Tane,  no  blood  was  shed, 
but  they  were  laid  ujjon  a  stone  and  stran- 
gled by  pressing  their  necks  between  two 
sticks.  Food  of  all  kinds  was  presented  to 
him,  part  of  which  he  was  supposed  to  con- 
sume liimsolf,  i)art  was  taken  by  the  priests, 
and  the  renuiinder  was  consumed  by  the 
worshippers.  All  lirst  fruits  went  to  Tane, 
a  peasant  being  supjiosed  to  ofl'er  him  two  of 
the  earliest  fruits,  while  a  raati)'  nr  gentle- 
man odered  ten,  and  the  chiefs  still  more 
according  to  their  rank  and  wealth.  ' 

Not  very  far  from  tlip  sacred  stone  was  a 
marae  containing  a  very  sacred  ol)j(;ct,  no 
less,  in  fact,  than  a  jnece  of  Tane's  own 
canoe.  According  to  the  people,  it  was  a 
very  miraculous  canoe,  for  it  was  made  of 
fitone,  and  yet  floated  as  well  as  if  it  were 
made  of  wood.  In  proof  of  this  statement. 
Ihey  placed  the  fragment  in  water,  where  it 
floated,  as  it  was  likely  to  do,  being  nothing 
more  tlian  a  piece  of  i)umice  stone.  No  one 
knew  where  the  stone  had  been  obtained, 
but  they  .said  that  there  were  more  pieces  in 
different  parts  of  the  island. 

Besides  the  idol  gods,  there  are  gods  which 
are  symbolized  by  living  creatures,  of  which 
the  shark  is  the  chief,  being  worshipped  for 
the  same  reason  that  crocjodiles  and  venom- 
ous serpents  are  worshipped  in  some  parts 
of  the  world,  viz.  on  account  of  its  destruc- 
tive powers.  Mr.  Uennett  saw  a  large  piarae 
which  hfvd  been  consecrated  to  a  si  irk  god 
on  account  of  a  miraculous  event  wnich  was 
said  to  have  happened  simie  time  previously. 
In  one  particular  spot  the  ground  begun  to 
shake  and  tremble,  and,  as  the  people  were 
flying  in  terror,  the  ground  ojiened,  and  a 
huge  shark  forced  his  head  through  the  cleft 
in  the  soil. 

The  formation  of  the  maracs  has  already 
been  mentioned.  Some  time  before  Mr.  lien- 
nett  arrivod  at  the  place,  a  shark  had  con- 
trived to  force  its  way  through  the  sand  into 
the  marae,  which  was  situated  ou  the  shore 


of  the  lagoon.  The  water  flowed  in  with  the 
fish,  and  the  natives,  feeling  deli<;hted  that 
their  god  had  aetuallv  come  to  take  posses- 
sion of  his  temple,  blocked  up  the  i)a.'sage 
by  which  he  had  entered,  cleared  out  the 
mai'ae,  and  ke])t  the  shark  in  it  for  the  r(!st 
of  his  life,  feeding  him  abundantly  with  fish 
and  meat. 

Indeed,  in  one  bay  the  sharks  were  reg- 
ularly fed  by  the  priests,  and  the  consefpiencc 
was  that  tli  y  became  quite  familiar,  and 
would  swim  to  the  beach  to  be  fed  wiih  fish 
and  j)ork.  They  would  also  aecomi)anv  the 
canoes,  knowing  well  that  the  natives  altvays 
threw  overboard  some  of  the  fish  which  they 
had  caught,  for  the  sake  of  ])ropitiating  the 
sliark  gods.  The  latter,  however,  were  so 
little  sensible  of  the  kindness  bestowed  ujion 
them,  that  had  one  of  their  wor.shi]ipers 
fallen  oveiboard  they  would  have  eaten  him, 
in  spite  of  all  his  jjropitiatory  offerings. 

Sometimes  a  living  man  lias  been  elected 
to  the  rank  of  a  god,  and  worshipped  as 
such  during  his  lifetime.  This  was  done  at 
liaiatea,  the  king,  Tamatoa,  h.'ving  been 
reckoned  among  the  gods  by  cans  of  a 
seri  !s  of  ceremonies  which  miglu  have  been 
very  appropriate  in  assigning  him  a  place 
among  tiir  very  worst  and  vilest  of  demons, 
but  were  singularly  unsuitable  to  an  apo- 
theosis. After  this  ceremony,  the  king  was 
consulted  as  an  oracle,  prayers  and  sacrifices 
were  offered  to  him,  and  he  was  treated  as 
reverently  as  if  he  had  been  Tane  himself. 
It  is  a  most  remarkable  fact  that  Tamatoa 
became  a  Christian  in  his  later  life,  and 
afforded  most  valuable  information  respecting 
the  religious  belief  of  the  Society  Islanders. 
He  corroborated,  s  having  been  an  eye-wit- 
ness, the  account-  hat  have  been  given  of  the 
astonishing  deeds  done  by  the  heathen  priests 
while  in  a  state  of  inspiration.  They  have 
been  seen  to  dash  their  hands  against  tho 
ground  with  such  violence  that  Ihey  im- 
bedded the  whole  arm  up  to  the  shoulder. 
Cajitain  Henry,  the  son  of  one  of  the  mis- 
sionaries, states  that  he  has  seen  one  of 
these  priests  plunge  his  arm  into  the  solid 
earth  as  if  it  were  water,  and  that  lie  would 
lierform  the  feat  on  any  ground  wherever  he 
chanced  to  be. 

"  The  infuriated  priest,  on  that  occasion, 
foamed  ai  the  mouth,  distorted  his  eyeballs, 
convulsed  his  limbs,  and  uttered  the  most 
hideous  shrieks  and  bowlings.  After  he  had 
8eemingl3:  buried  his  arm  like  a  spear  stuck 
suddenly  in  the  ground,  he  held  it  there  for  a 
considerable  time;  then,  drawing  it  out  im- 
injurcd,  ho  rushed  toward  the  shore,  and, 
laying  hold  upon  a  large  canoe,  which  or- 
dinarily required  three  or  four  men  to  launch, 
he  shoved  it  before  him  with  apparent  ease, 
and  sent  it  adrift. 

"  He  afterward  threw  liimself  into  the  sea, 
wallowed  about  in  it,  and  kept  his  head 
uuder  water  for  a  long  time.  When  this 
act  of  the  tragical  pantomime  was  finished, 


MOVABLE  SHRINES. 


1071 


he  sat  among  the  waves,  and  delivered  his 
prophecies  in  very  figurative  and  hyper- 
bofical  language,  at  the  same  time  sufflciontly 
ambiguous  to  bo  fulfilled  in  one  of  two  senses, 
whatever  might  happen." 

Portable  shrines  of  the  gods  were  once 
used  in  the  Society  Islands,  but  so  complete 
and  rapid  has  been  the  demolition  of  every- 
thing connected  with  idolatry,  that  Mr.  Ben- 
nett, who  was  eye-witness  of  many  idolatrous 
praciicos,was  only  able  to  procure  one  spec- 
imcr,  which  is  now  in  the  museum  of  the 
London  Missionary  Society. 

In  form  it  resembles  a  house,  with  sloping 
roof,  and  is  .about  a  yard  in  length.  It  is  sup- 
ported on  four  short  legs,  and  underneath 
there  is  a  round  hole  through  which  the  idol 


was  passed  into  its  shrine,  a  door  exactly  fit- 
ting and  closing  the  aperture.  The  idol 
which  was  in  this  shrine  represented  a 
female  god  greatly  venerated  by  the  people, 
because  she  was  so  very  mischievous,  and 
had  killed  thousands  of  people,  gaining  from 
her  bloodthirsty  propensities  the  name  of  Tii 
Vahine,  or  Queen  Tii.  The  idol  is  a  horribly 
repulsive  example  of  the  ugliness  with  which 
savages  invariably  invest  their  deities. 

The  shrine,  with  the  idol  within  it,  was 
hidden  in  a  rock  cave  by  priests  of  Tii  Vahine 
when  idolatry  was  overthrown  by  Chris- 
tianity, and  was  not  discovered  for  a  con- 
siderable time,  when  it  was  brought  from 
its  place  of  concealment  and  sold. 


I 


m 

I  m  I 


CILU'TEK   ex. 


THE  SOCIETY  I, 


—  Continued, 


niSTOUY  —  WAR  —  FUNERALS  —  LEGENDS. 


1^! 


! 


THE  PHIESTS  TnE  mSTOniANS  OF  TIIE  SOCIETV  WtANDS— TUB  MARO,  OR  KINO'S  HOPE,  AND  ITS 
IIISTOUICAL  VALUK  — THK  IlEUEDITAHY  TITLE  OF  THE  KINO— TUB  KINO'S  HEAHEUS  —  AKCIII- 
TECruilB  IN  THE  SOCIETY  ISLANDS  — TAHITAN  WAKFAIIE  —  HF.TENTIVE  MEMOUY,  AND  ITS  IIBE 
IN  WAIl— BKIIAVIon  OF  THE  VICTOIIS  TOWARD  THE  VANlJt'ISHED —NAVAL  IUTTLK8  AND 
MANtElIVRES— MILITARY  ETIQUKITE  — HUMAN  SACRIFICE  llEFOHB  UATTLES  — CAI'TAIN  COOK's 
ACCOUNT  OF  THE  CKHKMONY  — FUNERALS  AMONO  THE  TAIIITANS  —  EMIIALMINO  OF  A  CHIEF'S 
llODY— STRANOB  DRESS  OF  THE  CHIEF  MOURNER  — THE  AREOI  SOCIETY,  AND  TlIK  INFLUENCE 
WHICH  IT  EXr.RTED  ON  THIS  GROUP  OF  ISLANDS  —  LEGENDARY  TALES  OF  TIIE   AREOIS. 


The  priests  performed  the  oflice  of  historians 
as  well  as  of  hieroi)hants,  every  chief  of  con- 
sequence liavinj,'  in  his  houscliold  at  least  one 
of  these  men,  who  made  it  his  husiness  to 
chant  on  all  trreat  occasions  the  most  im- 
portant events  wh.ich  had  hapjioned  in  the 
country,  and  esp.ecially  those  which  atfected 
the  fiunily  of  his  patron.  Not  only  did  he 
relate  tliosc  events  of  which  lie  liad  ])cen  a 
witness,  but  he  alsosanj?  of  the  deeds  of  past 
days,  the  records  of  which  had  been  trans- 
mitted to  him  by  his  predecessors. 

Tlio  |)riesls  were,  tliereforo,  the  only  his- 
torians of  tlie  Society  Islands;  and,  iiuleed, 
there  was  no  other  mode  of  dcliverinij  to 
each  succeedinij;  ^jfenoration  tlie  traditions 
of  the  past.  As,  liowevcr,  much  of  tlu'ir  ac- 
curacy depended  on  the  memory  of  tin;  his- 
torian, and  as  that  memory  was  likely  to  fade 
by  a^e,  it  imturally  followed  that  the  liistory 
of  earlier  times  was  considerably  moditicil 
bv  each  succeeding  narrator.  Tamatoa  was 
himself  a  well-knoVn  chronicler,  and  could 
repeat  a  wondcM'ful  number  of  narratives,  in 
which  fact  and  liclion  were  mixed  torretlier 
in  a  manner  that  exactly  rcsemljled  the  semi- 
mythic  history  of  ancient  Greece  and  liome. 
These  chroniclcis,  tliough  they  were  un- 
able to  write,  were  not  without  some  means 
whereby  they  could  refresh  their  memories. 
Chief  of  these  was  theMin-o,  the  sacred  scarf 
of  royalty.  TIu;  word  "  Maro"  signifies  tlie 
simple  girdle  whicli  the  men  wear  by  w.iy 
of  clothing,  but  that  of  the  king  is  called,  by 
way  of  pre-eminence,  Tue  Mako;  and,  like 

(lo: 


the  crown  of  nn  emperor,  is  only  worn  when 
the  kingly  rank  is  conferred.  M'hcn  not  in 
use,  it  is  rolled  uj)  in  native  cloth  so  as  to 
make  a  large  bundle,  and  is  only  untied 
when  it  is  wanted.  AVhen  Captain  ( 'ook  saw 
it  he  described  it  as  being  fifteen  feet  long, 
but  when  Mr.  Bennett  was  in  the  Society 
Islands  it  measured  twenty-one  feel  in  length 
the  additional  measurement  being  due  to  the 
coronation  of  successive  kings.  It  is  only 
six  inches  in  width,  and  when  worn  is  ro'lcd 
round  the  body,  so  that  the  end  Hows  far 
behind  on  the  ground.  It  is  covered  with 
th('  piTcious  red  feathers,  and  to  it  is  at- 
tni  lithe  needle  with  which  it  is  worked. 
Si>  .sacred  is  the  maro  thought  to  be,  that,  ac- 
cording to  the  ideas  of  th(!  nntives,  when- 
ever a  new  stitch  was  <aken  the  event  was 
marked  by  peals  of  thuiuler. 

The  maro  was  never  intended  to  be 
finished,  but.  according  to  the  original  pro- 
jection, would  receive  an  addition  at  the  cor- 
onation of  every  new  king,  so  tlint  it  would 
contimie  to  increase  in  leiigth  as  long  as  the 
kingly  succession  \vas  kept  uj).  In  several 
respects  it  bears  a  great  resemblance  to  the 
15ayeu.x  tapestry.  It  is  very  long  in  pro- 
portion to  iis  width,  and  the  iiatterns  de- 
scribed upon  it  are  records  of  the  time  when 
the  maro  was  woven,  and  act  as  aids  to  the 
mcmorj'  of  the  ]irofessional  liistoria!is,  who 
celebrate  in  their  songs  the  deeds  of  past 
days. 

The  ifianufacture  of  the  maro  was  stopped 
in  a  very  curious  manner.  After  Tamatoa 
2) 


RETENTIVE  MEMORY  AND  ITS  U8E  IN  WAR. 


107a 


became  a  Cliristian,  he,  wns  so  horrifiod  at 
the  iiiisi)cak;il)lit  inuiiiity  of  tlio  ccromonios 
that  took  1)1:1(^0  at  ciwh  lengtlieninj;  of  the 
marc  that  ho  (Ictenuined  to  destroy  the 
inaro  Itself.  Fortunatfily,  instead  of  dostro);- 
Ing  it,  ho  gave  it  up  to  liis  teachers,  and  it 
was  sent,  together  with  many  specimens  of 
the  idolatrous  arts  of  Polynesia,  to  the 
museum  of  (ho  LoiuUui  Missionary  Society. 
I  may  here  mention  that  Tamatoa  is  the 
hereditary  name  of  tlie  king,  like  the  Pha- 
raoh of  I'igypt  and  the  Finow  of  Tonga.  _ 

All  the  kings,  or  ratiier  the  principal 
chiefs,  have  the  greatest  idea  of  their 
dignity,  and  are  regarded  by  their  subjec^ta 
almost  as  demigods.  Like  some  of  the 
African  royalties,  they  are  carried  on  men  s 
shoulders  when  they  travel  from  one  place 
to  another  by  land,  and  when  they  go  bv 
sea  they  arc  said  to  fly  and  not  to  sail. 
There  is  a  special  language  for  the  ki'.:", 
whose  canoe  is  called  the  Rainbow,  and 
whose  house  is  termed  the  Cloud  of  Heaven. 
No  one  is  allowed  to  stand  above  him:  and 
this  idea  is  so  strongly  impressed  ui)oa  him 
that  a  great  chief  dislikes  going  into  the 
cabin  of  an  European  ship,  lest  an  inferior 
should  tread  on  the  deck  over  his  head. 
The  king  even  claims  authority  over  the 
language.  We  speak  in  England  familiarly 
of  Uie' king  or  queen's  English.  In  the 
Society  Islands  the  lan;juage  really  doi^s 
belong  to  the  king,  who  invents  and  alter.s 
words  according  to  his  own  caprice,  and 
•  even  strikes  out  of  the  language  those  words 
which  he  does  not  happen  to  like. 

The  power  of  the  king  being  so  absolute, 
it  might  be  imagined  that  the  house  in 
whifih"  he  lived  would  bo  far  superior  to 
those  of  his  subjeets.  His  power  is,  how- 
ever, more  real  than  .apparent,  and  though 
ho  has  despotic  authority,  he  is  lodged, 
clothed,  and  fed,  scarcely  better  than  any  of 
his  subjects,  and  not  in  the  least  better  than 
the  chiefs.  His  house  is  built  in  the  same 
mann.-r  and  of  the  same  materials  as  those 
of  his  subjects.  It  is  certainly  larger,  be- 
cause it  has  to  accommodate  more  persons; 
but  in  other  respects  it  is  in  no  way  supe- 
rior. .        ,  ,     , 

The  houses  of  the  Society  Islands  are, 
indeed,  little  more  than  thatched  roofs  sup- 
ported on  pillars  about  seven  or  eight  feet 
In  height,  the  pillars  tapering  from  the  base 
to  the^op,  an(l  not  being  nuite  upright,  but 
sloping  a  little  inward,  The  tloor  is  gener- 
ally covered  with  grass  and  mats,  while  to 
the  rafters  of  the  roof  are  hung  baskets, 
bundles  of  cloth,  and  other  property. 

Wahfatie  among  the  Society  Islands  dif- 
fers little  from  the  mode  which  is  practised 
in  many  other  parts  of  Polynesia,  and  there- 
fore does  not  require  a  lengthened  notice. 

Formerly,  when  tlieir  weapons  were  the 
spear,  the  club,  and  the  sling,  the  wars  used 
to  be  very  protracted   and   caused    much 


bloodshed,  but  the  later  introduction  of  fire- 
arms has  had  its  usual  effect,  and  not  only 
reduced  the  number  of  wars  but  the  loss  of 
life  in  battle. 

Some  of  their  speara  were  dreadful  weap- 
ons the  worst  of  which  seems  to  have  beca 
a  sort  of  trident,  something  like  an  eel  spear. 
The  head  of  it  was  armed  with  three  bones 
from  the  tail  of  the  sting- ray.  They  were 
not  fastened  to  the  head  of  the  spear,  but 


only  slipped  into  sockets,  just  tightly  enough 
to  hold  them.  When  iin  enemy  was  struck 
with  either  of  these  points,  it  became  de- 
tached from  the  spear,  and,  in  consequence 
of  its  peculiarly  barbed  edges,  kept  working 
its  way  deeper  and  de<'p(!r  into  the  body,  so 
that  certain  death  was  the  result  of  a  wound 
with  one  of  these  spears.  ,  ,      ,       , 

The  natives  of  the  Society  Islands  also 
used  the  bone  of  the  sting-ray  for  secret 
assassination.  They  watched  the  intended 
victim  while  he  slept,  and,  by  gently  touch- 
in<'  him  with  a  feather,  made  him  turn  about 
until  he  was  in  a  favorable  position.  I  he 
fatal  dagger  was  then  struck  into  the  body, 
and  the  "assassin  made  his  escape  being 
sure  that  the  wound  must  sooner  or  later  bo 
mortal.  „    .,  , 

The    peculiar   character    of    the    people 
shows  itself  in  other  ways.    They  are  most 
tenacious  of  memory  in  everything  that  has 
a  personal  interest  to  them,  and  are  cqua  ly 
unwilling  to  forget  an  injury  or  a  bent^ht. 
They    wll    cherish    a  life-long   yengeanco 
a-'ainst  any  one  who  has  onended  them,  so 
that  one   man   has  been   known   to  fo  low 
another  from  year  to  year,  from  one  island 
to  another,  with  the  certainty  and  tenacity 
of  the  bloodhound,  and  never  to  cease  from 
his  quest  until  he  has  avenged  himself  upon 
his  enemy.    There  is,  however,  a  rcd(!eining 
point  in  this  trait  of  character,  namely,  that 
although  it  is  mostly  exercised  for  evil  pur- 
poses,   it    sometimes    takes    the     opposite 
course.    Mr.  Bennett  mentions  that  on  one 
occasion,  after  a  battle,  a  chief  of  the  victo- 
rious   side    knew   that    among    the    tying 
enemy  was  a  man  who  had  shown  a  kind- 
ness to  him  in  a  former  w.ar.    Knowing  the 
fate  (hat  would  befall  the  man  it  he  tell  into 
(ho  hands  of  the  victors,  he  followed  on  the 
track  of  the  fugitive,  and  after  seeking  his 
friend  from  cover  to  cover,  and  from  Inish 
to  bush,  he  at  last  discovered  him,  took  him 
(o  his  own  house,  kept  him  there  for  a  time, 
and  then  dismissed  him  in  safety. 

Cruelty  toward  the  vanquished  is  one  or 
the  invariable  accompaniments  of  savage 
warfare,  and  we  cannot  expect  to  hnd  that 
the  Society  Islanders  are  more  free  from  it 
than  others.  The  only  cannibalism  of  which 
they  are  guilty  is  in  connection  with  war, 
an(T  even  on  those  occasions  the  victorious 
party  only  eat  a  sm.all  portion  of  the  dead 
advcrsar/s  body,  in  accordance  ^>t»»  f^s- 
tom,  and  do  not  feast  upon  human  flesh,  as 
many  of  the  Polynesians  do. 


?'H 


PP 


li 


»  H' 

if  III 


y 


ill 


If 


(ii  II 


1074 


THE  SOCIETY  ISLANDS. 


They  are,  however,  on  some  occasions 
very  cruel  to  tlio  captured  or  wounded  ont- 
mies,  absolutely  tearing  them  to  pieces  by 
degrees,  and  taking  care  to  avoid  the  vital 
parts,  80  03  to  prolong  the  agony  of  the  suf- 
ferer as  much  as  possible.  Even  Pomare, 
before  ho  became  a  Christian,  was  guilty  of 
many  abominable  atrocities.  He  has  bucn 
known  to  take  the  children  j)f  vanquished 
chiefs,  run  sinnet  cords  through  the  backs 
of  their  necks,  and  drag  them  about  until 
thev  died  of  the  torture. 

Even  when  the  enemy  was  dead,  the  vic- 
tors could  not  he  content  without  insulting 
the  senseless  corpse.  "  When  a  combatant 
had  slain  a  distinguished  adversary,"  writes 
Mr.  Bennett,  "after  the  fray  was  over  the 
perishing  carcass  was  left  upon  tlie  field  for 
a  day  or  two.  It  was  then  dragged  to  the 
marac,  when  the  victor  and  his  friends 
would  stand  over  it,  and  exult  in  the  most 
savage  manner  over  the  corrupted  mass. 

"Each  taking  a  fibrous  wand  of  cocoa-nut 
leaf,  tough  as  whalebone,  in  his  hand,  to 
employ  as  a  drumstick,  they  would  beat  the 
body  with  these  till  they  were  weary;  say 

inir    iit    it      I  Alio  I      «.«    l,!... •'  '         •' 


mg  to  It,  'Aha!  we  have  you  now;  yoiir 
tongue  fills  your  mouth,  your  eyes  stand 
out  of  your  head,  and  your  fiice  is  swollen- 
so  would  it  have  been  with  us,  had  you  pre- 
vailed.' Then,  after  a  pause,  they  would  re- 
new their  impotent  stripes  and  not  less  im- 
potent taunts.  'Now  you  are  dead,  you 
will  no  more  plague  us.  We  are  revenged 
upon  you;  and  so  you  would  h.-ive  rpvengid 
yourself  on  us,  if  you  had  been  the  stronc- 
est  in  battle.'  Again:  'Aha!  you  will  drink 
no  more  kava;  you  will  kill  no  more  men- 
you  will  disembowel  no  more  of  our  wives 
and  daughters.  As  we  use  you,  you  would 
have  used  us;  but  we  are  the  conquerors 
and  we  have  our  vengeance.'  ' 

"When   they  had   tired  themselves,  and 
beaten  the  flesh  of  the  corpse  to  a  mummy 
they   broke   the    arms    above    the    elbows' 
placed  flowers  within  the  hands,  and,  fasten- 
ing a  rope  about  the  neck,  they  suspended 
the  mangled  remains  on  a  tree,  and  danced 
with  fiend-like  exultation  about  it,  laughing 
and  shouting  as  the  wind  blew  the  dislo- 
cated limbs  and  the  rent  muscles  to  and  fro." 
The  canoe  fights  show  some  skill  in  ma- 
noeuvres.   The  war  canoes  are  double,  with  a 
platform  laid  across  the  bars,  forming  a  sort 
of  stage,  on  which   the   warriors  stand  to 
hght.    The  movements  of  the  canoes  are 
directed  by  one  man,  who  tries  to  take  the 
adversary  at  a  disadvantage,  and  orders  the 
vessel   to  advance   or  retreat  as  he  thinks 
best  while  the  warriors  are  dancing  on  the 
platform,  and  exciting  themselves  to  rage 
by  frantic    shouts,    brandishing    club    and 
spear,  and  exchanging  defiances  with  the 
enemy  when  ne.ar  enough.    As  soon  as  one 
ot  them  can  take   the  other  favorably,  the 
canoes  close,  and  the  warriors  from  oiae  try 
to  board  the  other  and  kill  its  defenders. 


The  reserves  receive  and  take  care  of  the 
wounded,  laying  them  in  the  bottom  of  the 
canoe,  where  they  are  safe  from  the  weap- 
ons of  the  enemy,  and  in  their  turn  take 
the  place  of  tho.se  who  are  disabli-d,  so  that 
a  constant  succession  of  fresh  waiiiors  is 
continually  coming  to  the  front.  When  at 
last  one  i)arty  gets  the  better  of  the  oilier, 
those  of  the  vanquished  side  who  are  able  to 
use  tluiir  limbs  leap  overboard  niid  try  to 
save  themselves  by  swimming.  Tluy  have, 
indeed,  no  other  alternative,  for  no  quarter 
is  ever  given  or  expected,  and  if  tin-  lives 
of  the  vanquished  be  spared  at  the  lime,  it 
is  only  that  the  unfortunate  men  may  be 
tortured  to  death  n(!Xt  day. 

When  Cajitain  Cook  vi-sited  the  Society 
Islands,  he  found  that  all  the  decisive  bat- 
tles were  fought  by  water,  and  (hat  .such  a 
thing  as  a  great  battle  on  land  was  never 
thouglit  of.  Indeed,  the  chief  strength  of 
these  insular  people  lies  in  their  can(K:s,and 
in  a  sea  fight  a  great  number  of  them  were 
usually  engaged.  In  such  a  sea  fight,  when- 
ever one  party  found  themselves  being 
worsted,  they  immediately  made  for  the 
beach,  drew  their  canoes  ashore,  junii)ed 
out,  and  made  the  best  of  their  way  to  the 
hills,  where  they  concealed  themselves  dur- 
ing the  day,  and  at  night  slipped  off  to  their 
own  homes. 

When  a  pitched  battle  of  this  kind  is  de- 
termined upon,  it  is  fought  out  very  fairly, 
and  becomes  a  sort  of  general  tournament. 
The  two  opposing  chiefs  arrange  with  each  ■ 
other  as  to  the  time  and  jilaee  for  the  battle. 
The  whole  of  the  day  and  night  preceding 
the  battle  arc  occupied  by  both  parties  in 
feasting  and  dancing,  evidently  on  the  prin- 
ciple that,  if  they  arc  to  be  killed  on  the 
morrow,  they  may  as  well  enjoy  themselves 
while  they  can.  iJefore  daybreak  the  eanoes 
are  launched  and  made  ready  for  battle,  and 
with  the  dawn  the  fight  commences. 

After  the  engagement  is  over,  and  the 
vanquished  have  run  away,  the  victors  go  in 
great  triumph  to  the  maraes,  where  they  re- 
turn thanks  to  their  gods,  and  oiler  to  them 
the  dead,  the  wounded,  and  the  prisoners 
whom  they  have  taken.  The  chief  of  the 
conquered  party  then  opens  negotiations 
with  his  successful  opponent,  and  a  treaty 
is  arranged,  in  which  peace  is  restored  on 
certain  conditions.  These  are  often  very 
hard,  and  force  the  vanquished  to  give  up 
large  tracts  of  land  as  well  as  to  pay  heavy 
fines  in  property.  Sometimes  a  whole  dis- 
trict changes  masters,  and,  in  one  or  two 
cases,  an  entire  island  has  been  added  to  the 
conquerors. 

As  human  sacrifices  have  several  times 
been  mentioned,  it  will  bo  as  well  to  de- 
scribe the  circumstances  under  which  they 
f.^ke  pj.rice.  We  have  already  seen  tiiat  in 
times  of  war  the  captured  enemies  are  of- 
fered to  the  idols.    There  is  a  sort  of  excuse 


THE  HUMAN  SACllIFICE. 


lOT* 


fV-  •  this  act,  the  idea  beinf,  that,  as  the  cap- 
tt  OS  had  sought  the  lives  of  tho  worsliip- 
poV  of  tl»«  «•>'•».  t''^''"  •'"'"  ''^'"'  should  be. 
sacrirtoMl  to  thorn  as  au  atonemcut  lor  thoir 
presumption. 

There  arc,  however,  otlver  occasions  on 
which  such  sacritlces  are  oUered,  and  whcnj 
the  victim  is  selected  l)y  tlie  chief  and  kilh-d 
in  cold  blood.  If,  for  example,  the  kiiiK  or 
principal  chief  of  an  island  or  district  sliou  d 
project  a  war  against  another,  he  generally 
Ba(!'riHcos  a  man  to  his  Rod  in  order  to  bo- 
speak  his  aid  against  the  enemy.  One  ot 
those  sacrifices  was  seen  by  CJaptain  Cook  in 
1777.  He  did  not  witness  tho  actual  mur- 
der of  the  vi(-liin,  who  was  killed,  as  usual, 
unawares,  by  a  blow  from  a  stone,  hut  saw 
tho  body  as  it  was  prepared  for  olfenng,  anjl 
was  present  at  the  curious  ceremony  which 
accompanied  the  sacrifice.  ,.«/.,• 

It  appeared  that  Towha,  tho  chief  of  his 
district,  intended  to  make  war  against  tho 
islan.l  of  Eimeo,  and  sent  a  mcissage  to  his 
friend  and  relative  Otoo  that  he  had  sacri- 
fieeil  a  man,  and  wished  for  Otoo's  presence 
when  the  body  was  olfered  at  the  groat  ma- 
rae  of  Attahooroo.  Having  previously 
doubted  wliethor  the  usually  mild  and  gen- 
tle Tahitans  would  really  oiler  human  sacri- 
fices, Captain  Cook  asked  iiormission  to  ac- 
conipany  Otoo,  and  ace<n-dingly  went  with 
hiin  to  "the  marae.  The  party  accordingly 
embarked  in  their  canoes,  taking  with  them 
a  miserable,  lialf-starved  dog,  which  was  to 
form  iiart  of  the  sacrifice. 

When  they  arrived  at  the  landing-place, 
thev  found  the  body  of  tho  slain  man  al- 
ready there,  lying  in  a  canoo  which  was  halt 
in  and  half  out  of  tho  water,  just  in  front  ot 
the  marae.  Otoo,  his  visitors, and  tho  cluets 
lialled  about  ton  yards  from  the  body,  whilo 
tho  rest  of  the  people  looked  on  from  a  dis- 
tance, me 
'•The  ceremonies  now  began.  Uno  oi 
the  priests'  attendants  brought  a  young 
plmtain  tree,  an.l  laid  it  down  before  Otoo. 
Another  approached  with  a  small  tult  ot  red 
fealhers,  twisted  on  some,  fiV>res  of  the  cocoa- 
nut  husk,  with  which  he  touched  one,  of  the 
king's  feet,  and  then  retired  with  it  to  his 
companions. 

"  One  of  tho  priests,  seated  at  the  marae, 
facin'^  those  that  were  upon  the  beach,  now 
bcaii  a  long  i>raver;  and,  at  certain  times, 
sent  down  young  plantain  trees,  which  were 
laid  upon  the  sacrifice.  During  this  pr.aycr 
a  man,  who  stood  by  the  officiating  priest, 
h.dd  in  his  hand  two  bundles,  seemingly  of 
cloth.  In  one  of  them,  as  wo  afterw.ard 
found,  was  tho  royal  maro;  and  the  other,  it 
I  mav  ho  allowed  the  expression,  was  the 
ark  o'f  the  Eatooa  (i.  e.  the  Atua,  or  god). 
As  soon  as  the  prayer  was  ended,  the  priests 
at  tho  marae,  with  their  attendants,  went 
and  sal  down  with  those,  upon  the  b^ach, 
carrying  with  them  tho  two  bundles. 
"  Here  they  renewed  their  prayers;  dur- 


ina  which  tho  plantain  trees  were  taken, 
one  by  one,  at  (lillerc^nt  times,  from  off  tho 
sacrifice,  which  was  partly  wrapped  up  in 
cocoa  leaves  and  small  brnncbes.  It  was 
now  taken  out  of  the  canoo  and  laid  upon 
the  beach,  with  the  feet  to  tho  sea.  i'ho 
iirii'sts  iilaeed  themselves  around  it,  some 
sitting  and  others  standing;  and  one  or 
more  of  tlutm  reiieated  sentences  for  altout 
ten  minutes.  Tho  dead  body  was  now 
uncovered  by  removing  the  leaves  and 
branches,  anil  laid  in  a  parallel  direction  by 
the  soa-shoro. 

•'One  of  the  priests  then,  standing  at  the 
feet  of  it,  j)ronounccd  a  long  nrayor,  m  which 
he  was  at  times  joined  by  the  others;  each 
holding  in  his  hand  a  tuft  of  red  feathers. 
In  the  course  of  this  prayer  some  hair  was 
pulled  oir  the  head  of  tho  sacrifice,  and  the 
left  eye  taken  out;  both  which  were  pre- 
sented to  Otoo,  wrapped  up  in  a  green  leaf. 
He  did  not,  however,  touch  it,  but  gave  to 
the  man  who  presented  it  tlio  tuft  of  feathers 
which  he  had  received  from  Towha.  Tins, 
with  the  hair  and  eye,  was  carried  back  to 
the  priests. 

"  Soon  after,  Otoo  sent  to  them  another 
iiieco  of '"ealhers.  Which  he  liad  given  mo  in 
the  morning  to  keep  in  my  pocket.     During 
s(mie   part  of  this  last  ceremony,  a  king- 
fisher making  a   noise   in   the   trees,  Otoo 
turned  to  me,  saying,  '  That  is  tho  Latooa, 
and  schemed  to  look  upon  it  as  a  good  omen. 
'•  The  body  was  then  carried  a  littb;  wav, 
with  its  head  toward  the   marae,  and  laid 
under  a  tree,  near  which  were  lixed  three 
broad   thin  pieces  of  wood,  diirerentiy  but 
rudely  carved.     The  bundles  of  cloth  were 
laid  on  a  i)art  of  the  marae;  and  the  tufts  ot 
red  feathers  were  placed  at  the  feet  of  tho 
sacrifice,  round  which  the  priests  took  their 
stations;  and  we  were  now  allowed  to  go  as 
near  .as  we  pleased. 

"  He  who  seemed  to  be  the  chief  priest  sat 
at  a  small  distance,  and  spoke  tor  a  qearter 
of  an  hour,  but  with  ditTerent  tones  and  ges- 
tures; so  that  he  seemed  often  to  expostulate 
with   tho  dead   person  — to  whom  ho  con- 
stantly addressed  himself— and  sometimes 
asked  several  questiims,  seemingly  with  re- 
Rl)cct  to  the   propriety  of  his  having  been 
killed.     At  other  times  he  made  several  de- 
mands, as  if  the  deceased   either  now   had 
power  himself,  or  interest  with  the  divinity, 
to  engage  him  to  comply  with  sue,  requests. 
Amongst  which,  we  understood,  he  asked  him 
to  deliver  Eimeo,  Maheine  its  chief,  the  hogs, 
women,  and  other  things  of  the  island,  into 
th(rir  hands.— which  was  indeed  the  express 
intention  of  the  sacrifice.     He  then  chante  i 
a  prayer,  which  lasted  near  half  an  hour,  u 
a  whining,  melancholy  tone,  accornpanieU 
by  two  other  priests,  and  in  which  Potataii 
and  some  others  joined.    In  tho  course  of 
this  nraver  some  more  hair  was  plucked  by 
a  priest'from  the  head  of  the  corpse,  and  put 
upon  one  of  the  bundles. 


r 


i  tt; 


'i 


ail 


I    :ii 


I'f 


1076 


THE  SOCIETY  ISLANDS. 


V 


I' 


"  Afler  this,  the  chief  priest  prayefl  .-ilone, 
holdiiijr  in  lilij  hand  the  teathtrs  which  cnino 
from  Towhii.  When  ho  Iiad  (liuslmd,  he 
gave  tlicm  to  another,  wlio  prayecJ  in  like 
niiuiiier.  Tlion  aii  tlui  tufts  of  feathnrs  were 
laid  upon  the  bundles  of  elotli;  wliich  closed 
the  ceremony  at  this  place. 

"  The  corpse  was  then  carried  up  to  the 
most  conspicuous  part  of  the  marae,  witl>  the 
feathers,  tlie  two  bundles  of  cloth,  and  tho 
drums,  the  last  of  which  beat  slowly.  The 
featliers  and  bundles  were  laid  a<];ninst  the 
pile  of  stones,  and  the  corpse  at  the  foot  of 
them.  The  priests  having  apain  seated 
themselves  round  it,  renewed  their  prayisrs, 
while  some  of  the  atteiidanta  dug  a  'hole 
about  two  feet  deep,  into  which  they  threw 
the  unhappy  victim,  and  covered  it  over 
with  earth  "and  stones.  While  t!icy  were 
putting  him  into  tlio  grave  a  boy  squeaked 
aloud,  and  Omai  said  to  me  that  it  was  the 
Eatooa. 

"During  this  time,  a  fire  having  been 
made,  the  dog  before  mentioned  was  pro- 
duced, and  killed,-bv  twisting  his  neck,  and 
Huirocating  him.  The  hair  was  singed  off, 
and  the  entrails  taken  out  and  flirown  into 
the  lire,  where  they  were  left  to  consume. 
But  the  heart,  liver,  and  kidneys  were  only 
roasted,  by  being  laid  on  hot  stones  for  a  few 
minutes;  and  the  body  of  the  dog, alter  being 
besmeared  with  the  "blood,  which  had  been 
collected  in  a  cucoa-nut  shell,  and  dried  over 
the  lire,  was  with  the  liver,  &(-,.,  carried  and 
laid  down  before  the  priests,  who  sat  praying 
round  the  grave. 

"They  continued  their  ejaculations  over 
the  dog  for  some  time,  while  two  men  at  in- 
tervals beat  on  two  drums  very  loud,  and  a 
bf)y  screamed  as  before  in  a  loud  shrill  voice 
three  different  times.   This,  as  wc  were  told, 
was  to  invite  the  Eatooa  to  feast  on  the  ban- 
quet that  they  had   prepared  for   him.    As 
Boon  as  the  priests  had  ended  their  prayers, 
the  carcass  of  the  dog  with  what  belonged  to 
it  were  laid  on  a   whatta,  or  scaffold,  about 
six  feet  Jiigh,  that  stood  close  bv,  on  which 
lay  the  remains  of  two  other  (logs,  and  of 
two  pigs,  which  had  lately  been  sacrificed, 
and  at  this    time    omitted   an   intolerable 
fitench.    This  kept  us  at  a  greater  distance 
than  would   otherwise  have   been   required 
of  us;  for  after  the  victim  was  removed  from 
the  seaside   toward  the  marae  we  were  al- 
lowed to  approach   as  near  as  we   pleas(>d. 
Indeed,  after  that,  neither  seriousness  nor 
attention  were  much  observed  by  the  spec- 
tators.   When   the  dog  was  put  upon  the 
whatta,  the  priests  and   attendants   gave  a 
kind  of  shout,  which  closed  the  ceremonies 
for  the  present." 

The  scene  is  M'ell  represented  in  illustra- 
tion No.  1,  on  the  opposite  page.  In  the 
f  )reground  Is  the  canoe,  in  which  lies  the 
body  of  the  sl.iin  victim,  attended  hy  two 
priests;  while  Just  above  it  on  the  shore  is 
the  dog  that  is  intended  to  furnish  the  second 


i)ortion  of  the  offering.    Just  in  fl-ont  of  the 
house  are  two   plattorms,  on   the   taller  of 


which  lie  tho  dogs  and  pigs  that  have  .al- 
ready been  saerillced,  and  on  the  lower  Ties 
the  embalmed  bo<ly  of  tho  late  king,  wliiidi 
is  brought  out  for  inspection.  In  front  of 
tho_  bier  are  tho  drummers  ijcrforming  on 
their  elaborately  carved  instruments.  A 
portion  of  the  marae  is  seen  on  the  left 
hand  of  the  illustration,  and  on  it  lie  the 
skulls  of  the  human  sncrillces  that  have  been 
olfered  on  various  occasions. 

Next  day  tho  ceremonies  were  resumed; 
more  pigs  were  killed,  some  gifts  were  lai(l 
upon  tho  movable  house  in  which  the  Atua 
(or  god)  was  carried  about,  and  a  young 
plantain  tree  was  plucked  up  and  laid  at  tho 
feet  of  the  king. 

The  mvsterious  bundles  of  cloth  which  had 
b(!en  laid  on  the  marae  were  then  unrolled, 
and  out  of  one  of  them  was  taken  the  sacred 
maro,or  royal  girdle,  which  has  already  been 
described.  It  was  remarkable  for  the  fact 
that  a  portion  of  the  scarlet  feathers  with 
which  the  maro  is  decorated  were  sewed 
upon  an  English  pennant  which  had  been 
hoisted  by  Captain  Wallis  when  he  landed 
on  the  island,  and  left  flying  when  he  left  it. 
Tho  second  bundle  contained  the  idol  to 
whom  the  sacrifices  were  made. 

Another  hog  was  then  killed,  and  the  en- 
trails inspected,  exactly  after  tlie  manner 
employed  by  the  old  Itoman  augurs;  and  tho 
ceremony  ended  with  rolling  up  the  Atua, 
together  with  a  number  of  scarlet  feathers, 
in  th(!  bundle  of  cloth  from  which  it  had 
been  taken. 

At  the  funerals  of  very  great  men  human 
sacrifices  are  often  made,  and  near  the  large 
whattas,  or  platforms,  on  which  the  pigs  and 
other  provisions  are  offered,  there  are  num- 
bers of  human  skulls,  each  a  relic  of  a  hu- 
man sacrifice.  Tho  only  redeeming  point 
about  these  sacrifices  is,  that  the  victim  is 
quite  unconscious  of  his  fate.  He  is  struck 
to  the  ground  suddenly  by  an  assa-ssin  who 
comes  stealthily  upon  him,  and  never  feels 
the  real  bitterness  of  death,  namely,  tho 
dread  of  the  coming  fate. 

The  bodies  of  great  chiefs  undergo  a  pro- 
cess by  which  they  are  preserved  lor  a  con- 
siderable time.  Captain  Cook  saw  the  corpse 
of  a  chief  who  had  been  dead  for  several 
months,  and  whose  body  h.id  suffered  scarcely 
.iny  apparent  change.  There  wius  a  slight 
contraction  of  the  muscles  and  sinking  of 
tho  eyes,  but  the  body  was  otherwise  i)er- 
fect;  and  when  the  attendants  on  the  corjise 
unrolled  the  cloth  in  which  it  was  envel- 
oped, the  limbs  were  found  to  bo  neaily  as 
pliant  as  in  life. 

This  result  is  obtained  by  removing  the 
whole  of  tho  interior  of  the  body,  sujiplying 
its  place  with  cloth  soaked  in  cocoa-nut  oil, 
nnd  .innir.tjng  the  whnJp  body  repeatedly  with 
the  same  substance.  Tho  bodies  are  exposed 
to  public  view  for  some  time;  but  the  em- 


11! 


■  i-  It! 
.  *{• 

ii 


(^.)   COKl'SK   AND  ClllKF   MOl'KNKK.     (See  p«f;r  |i»r',>.) 

(1077) 


!   I 


THE  AUEOI  SOCIETY. 


low 


fcdimlnsj  only  postponon  tho  prorcM  of  decay, 
aiul,  HoDiiiir  or  Inter,  (lucinnponilidii  does  IIh 
work.  A t  (h'Ht  tin;  boily  in  exnoscd  for  m^veral 
hourHdiiily,  provided  tlmt  tli(!n!  Im  no  niiu; 
but  by  d«'a;ro(;M  it  is  only  ihowii  lU  iiittTvnls, 
and  at  la«t  is  8;:arcoly  ever  exhibited,  except 
by  ro(pie«t. 

There  is  a  special  building,  called  a  tupa- 
pnn,  ill  wliieh  the  bodloH  of  chiefs  are  exhib- 
ited when  lyiiiij  in  state.  First,  thero  is  a 
tolerably  l;in,'e  iionso,  with  a  palisade  around 
it,  and  wiHiln  this  house  m  tho  tupapau 
ilaolf  It  h  madt)  exactly  like  tho  little 
pent-liouses  that  arc  built  upon  tho  larj^or 
canoes,  and  is  profusely  (hicoratod  with  scar- 
let feiitluM-s,  doth,  itiid  other  precious  orna- 
ments. Two  men  arc  attached  to  tho  tupa- 
I)au,  who  watch  over  it  nif^ht  and  day,  attend 
to  the  proper  arrangement  of  the  cloth  and 
feathers,  receive  tho  olferinjjs  of  fruit  and 
provisions  that  are  constantly  made,  and 
prevent  iiitruder.s  from  venturing  within 
the  palisades. 

The  second  illustration  on  tho  1077th  pa,i?o 
exhil)ifsthe  manner  in  which  the  bodies  of 
ordiuiry  chiefs  are  laid  out  under  the  pro- 
tection of  a  covered  shed,  a.s  well  as  the 
extraonlinary  dress  worn  by  the  chief 
mourner.  The  dress  is  composed  in  the 
most  ingenious  manner  of  mother-of-pearl 
shell,  fealhors,  bark  cloth,  and  similar  ma- 
terials, and  has  a  peculiarly  startling  appcar- 
anro  from  tho  contrast  between  the  glitti^r- 
ing  while  of  tho  i)earl-shell  and  tho  dark 
feathers  with  which  the  shell  is  surroumled. 
Several  of  these  extraordinary  dresses  have 
been  brought  to  England,  anil  may  bo  seen 
in  diiferent  collections. 


Bkkore  leaving  tho  Society  Islands,  it 
will  bo  necessary  t  mention  an  extraordi- 
nary institution  that  in  former  times  pre- 
vailed among  them.  It  consisted  of  a  soci- 
ety called  the  "  Arcois."  They  were  wor- 
shippers of  tho  god  Oro;  and  though  they 
formeil  a  single  confraternity  throughout 
all  th(!  Society  group,  each  island  furnished 
its  own  inemt)er8. 

Some  writers  havo  likened  the  society  to 
that  of  Freemasonry;  but  no  two  institu- 
tions can  b(!  more  utterly  opposed  than  those 
of  the  Masonic  and  tho  Areoi  societies  — 
the  one  insisting  on  monotheism,  while  the 
Other  is  based  on  idolatry;  the  one  being  an 
universal,  and  the  other  a  local  society;  the 
one  inculcating  morality,  and  the  other 
being  formed  for  the  express  purpose  of 
throwing  aside  the  small  relics  of  morality 
possessed  by  a  native  Polynesian. 

It  is  not  improbable,  however,  that  on  its 
first  foundation  the  Areoi  society  pos.sessed 
something  of  a  religious  nature.  When 
Arcois  who  had  been  converted  to  Christi- 
anity managed  to  shako  off  tho  dread  with 
which  thev  conteinnlatGd  anv  reference  to  tho. 
mysteries" of  their  "society,  tlhey  all  agreed  in 
tho  main  points,  though  differing  in  details. 


In  tho  first  place,  tho  Arcois  believed  ia 
the  immortality  of  the  soul,  and  in  Ibn  ex- 
istence of  a  heaven  suited  to  tlieir  own  char- 
acters. Those  who  rose  to  high  rank  in 
the  Areoi  society  were  ludieved.  alter  their 
death,  to  hidd  corresponding  rank  in  their 
hi>aven,  which  they  called  by  the  name  of 
Hohutu-noa-noa,  or  Fragrant  I'aradist!.  All 
those  who  entered  wero  restored  to  tho 
vigor  and  bloom  of  youth,  no  matter  what 
might  be  their  age;  and  in  almost  every 
respect  the  resemblanci^  between  the  Poly- 
nesian Ilohutu  and  the  Mohammedan  Para- 
dise is  close  and  almost  startling. 

The  method  by  which  this  Paradise  wa« 
to  bo  gained  was  most  extraordinary.  Fa- 
nati(!S  of  an  ordinary  turn  of  mind  bolievo 
that  everlasting  happiness  hereatler  is  to 
be  gained  bv  self-denial  and  moriilica'ion  of 
the  body  during  tho  present  life.  Thi^  Arc- 
ois, with  an  almost  sul)lime  audacity,  held 
precisely  the  opposite  view,  ami  jiroclaimed 
both  by  words  and  deeds  that  a  life  of  eter- 
nal enjoyment  in  the  next  world  was  to  bo 
obtained  by  leading  a  life  of  unbridled 
license  in  the  present  world. 

In  order  to  carrv  out  this  theory  to  the 
fullest  extent,  tho  Areois  formed  th("mselve8 
into  a  society,  and  travelled  about  from  one 
island  to  another,  disseminating  their  pecu- 
liar opinions  wherever  they  went,  and  gain- 
ing fresh  recruits  to  their  number  in  each  isl- 
and. On  one  occasion  Captain  Cook  saw  sev- 
enty canoes  filled  with  Areois  set  olf  on  an 
expedition  to  the  different  islands.  Wherever 
they  landed,  they  proceeded  to  the  nearest 
marae,  and  offered  a  sacrifice  of  a  sucking; 
pig  to  the  god  who  presided  over  it,  this 
s.acriflce  being  in  the  first  jilace  a  thank- 
olfering  to  tho  god  for  their  safe  landing, 
and  in  tho  next  a  notification  that  they 
wanted  pigs  for  themselves. 

I'artly  on  account  of  the  terror  inspired 
by  their  numbers  and  unanimitv,  and  partly 
oil  account  of  the  spread  of  their  very  intel- 
ligible doctrines,  tho  inritivtion  ahv.ays  met 
with  an  immediate  response,  and  great 
numbers  of  pigs,  tocether  with  vegetable 
food,  cloth,  kava,  and  other  luxuries  were 
produced.  A  great  feast  was  then  held, 
(luring  which  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  the 
society  were  carried  out  to  the  full,  and  a 
.scene  ensued  such  as  cannot  be  described. 

Among  the  worst  of  their  doctrines  was 
that  which  declared  them  all  to  be  celibates, 
because  the  god  Oro  was  unmarried.  Con- 
sequently, the  existence  of  children  among 
them  could  not  be  recognized,  and  as  soon 
as  a  child  was  born,  it  w.as  murdered,  and 
the  fact  of  its  existence  ignored.  By  a  sim- 
ilarly convenient  fiction,  all  Arcois  wero 
presumed  to  be  in  the  ftiU  vigor  of  human 
life.  Consequently,  the  possibility  of  age 
and  debility  was  ignored,  and  in  order  to 
prove  tho  non-existence  of  either  senility  or 
sickness,  any  old  or  sick  person  was  quietly 
buried  alive.    The  victims  were  never  ap- 


J 

in 


m 


i 


it  r 


I 

I'i  I' 


1080 


THE  SOCIETY  ISLANDS. 


I 


!i: 


" 


Erized  of  their  fate,  as  is  the  case  in  Fiji, 
ut  a  grave  was  dug  surreptitiously,  the  sick 
person  was  decoyed  to  it  on  some  pretence 
or  other,  dropped  into  the  grave,  the  earth 
flung  on  him,  and  ctUmped  down  almost  be- 
fore he  had  time  for  a  remonstrance. 

Sometimes,  when  provisions  ran  short, 
the  Areois  had  a  very  strange  method  of 
supplying  themselves.  A  party  of  them,  led 
by  some  chief,  whose  rank  was  known  by 
tfie  marks  tattooed  on  his  body,  would  visit 
a  house  where  they  saw  evidences  of  pros- 
perity, and  look  about  until  they  came  on  a 
little  boy  —  an  easy  matter  enough  in  a 
country  where  polygamy  is  practised.  They 
would  then  take  the  child,  and  go  through 
various  ceremonies,  by  which  they  repre- 
sented him  as  naving  been  raised  to  kingly 
rank. 

They  would  then  simulate  the  utmost  def- 
erence to  the  new  king,  place  him  on  an 
elevated  seat,  prostrate  themselves  before 
him,  and  appeal  to  him  as  though  he  really 
held  the  kingly  rank.  "  We  are  come  to 
the  king's  house,  poor,  naked,  and  hungry. 
We  need  raiment — give  us  that  piece  of 
cloth.  We  need  food  —  give  us  that  pig." 
Accordingly,  the  father  of  the  child  was 
forced  to  fall  in  with  their  humor,  and,  in 
return  for  the  honor  conferred  upon  his 
house,  to  give  them  whatever  they  de- 
manded. 

The  only  redeeming  point  of  the  Areois 
was  their  value  in  keeping  up  the  old  his- 
torical records  of  the  islands.  The  food  and 
clothing  which  they  obtained  from  the  vari- 
ous peojile  were  repaid  by  the  dramatic  per- 
formances and  recitations  which  thoy  gave, 
and  which  debased  as  they  were  by  the  licen- 
tious element  which  permeated  every  section 
of  the  society,  performed  toward  their  local 
history  the  same  part  which  the  ancient 
mysteries  performed  tow.ird  the  Christian 
religion.  The  Polynesians  being  unal)le  to 
read  or  write,  and  having  no  mode  of  re- 
cording historical  events  except  by  tradi- 
tion, these  performances  rendered  as  it  were 
history  visible,  and  enacted  before  the  eyes 
of  the  illiterate  people  the  deeds  of  days  long 
gone  by. 

Sometimes  the  story  waa  that  of  a  cele- 
brated aur?stor,  mucli  on  a  par  with  the 
semi-mythical  legends  of  ancient  European 
and  Asiatic  history. and  sometimes  it  took  a 
graver  cast,  and  "narrated  the  deeds  and 


powers  of  the  native  gods.  For  example, 
the  legend  of  Taroa,  the  father  of  gods  and 
men,  was  somewhat  as  follows:  — 

In  ages  long  gone  by,  Taroa  existed  only 
in  the  form  of  a  vast  egg,  and  hung  high  in 
the  firmament,  inclosing  in  the  shell  the 
sun,  moon,  and  stars.  After  floating  in 
ether  for  ages,  he  thrust  his  hands  through 
the  shell,  so  that  the  light  of  the  sun  burst 
upon  the  universe  and  illumined  the  earth 
beneath  him.  And  the  earth  was  then  small 
as  it  lay  beneath  him.  Then  Taroa  saw  the 
sands  of  the  sea,  and  cried  to  them,  "  Sands, 
come  up  to  me,  and  be  my  companions." 
But  the  sands  replied,  "  We  belong  to  the 
earth  and  sea,  O  Taroa,  and  may  not  leave 
them.  Come  thou  down  to  us."  Then  he 
saw  the  rocks  and  cliffs,  and  cried  to  them, 
"  Hocks  come  up  to  me,  and  be  my  conijjan- 
ions."  But  the  rocks  replied,  "  We  are  rooted 
in  the  earth,  O  Taroa,  and  may  not  leave  it. 
Come  thou  to  us." 

Then  Taroa  descended,  and  cast  off  his 
shell,  which  immediately  added  itself  to  the 
ground,  and  the  earth  was  increased  to  its 
present  dimensions,  while  the  sun  and 
moon  shone  above.  Long  did  Taroa  live 
on  the  earih  which  he  peopled  with  men 
and  women;  and  at  last  the  time  came 
when  he  should  depart  from  it.  He  trans- 
formed himself  into  a  large  canoe,  which 
was  filled  with  islanders,  when  a  great 
storm  arose,  and  suddenly  the  canoe  was 
filled  with  blood.  The  islanders  with  their 
calaba.shes  baled  out  the  blood,  which  ran  to 
the  east  and  west  of  the  sea;  and  ever  after- 
ward the  blood  of  Taroa  is  seen  in  the 
clouds  which  accompany  the  rising  and  set- 
ting sun,  and,  as  of  old  tinges  the  waves  with 
red. 

When  the  canoe  came  to  land,  it  was  but 
the  skeleton  of  Taroa,  which  was  laid  on  the 
ground  with  its  face  downward,  and  from 
tliat  time  all  the  houses  of  the  gods  have 
lieen  built  on  the  model  of  Taroa's  ski-leton, 
tiie  thatched  roofs  representing  the  backbone 
and  the  posts  the  ribs. 

Legends  s'.cn  as  these  are  often  trans- 
mitted from  one  reciter  to  another,  and  re- 
cited verbatim,  being  merely  illustrated  and 
exemplified  by  such  poetical  digressions  as 
the  mind  of  the  narrator  may  suggest. 
With  others,  on  the  contrary,  the'orator  has 
only  the  mere  skeleton,  and  tells  the  story 
in  the  manner  that  seems  him  best. 


CHAPTER    CXI. 

THE  SANDWICH  ISLANDS. 

CLIMATE  —  DRESS  —  ORNAMEKTS  —  TVOHEN. 

lOCALITT  OF  THE  OHOUP  — CONFOHMATION  AND  CLmATB  OP  n  AW  An  —  APPEAR  ANOE  AND  DRESS  OP 
THE  MEN  — FEATHEB  MANTLES  AND  HELMETS— SINGULAR  KESEMHLANCE  TO  CLASSIC  MODELS  — 
AVPEARANCE  OF  THE  WOMEN -A  HAWAHAN  BEAUTV- DRESS  OF  THE  WOMEN -MODES  OF 
WEARING  THE  HAIR- BRACELETS  AND  OTHER  ORNAMENTS  —  FONDNESS  FOR  PICS  AND  DOGS  — 
OCCUPATIONS  OF  THE  WOMEN- HOSPITALITY  TO  STRANGERS- FISH  PONDS,  AND  MODE  OF  MAK- 
ING THEM— TREATMENT  OF  WOMEN  — SEMI-AMPHIBIOUS  NATURE  OF  THE  S.lNDWtCU  ISLANDERS 
— INGENIOUS  METHOD  OF  OBTAINtNG  SOUNDINGS. 


CONSTDKRAHLY  to  tlic  nortliward  of  the 
Socioty  Isl;iii(ls  lie  tlie  Sandwich  Islands, 
soiallpil  by  ('a|)taiu  Cook,  in  honor  of  the 
Earl  of  Saiiilvvicii.  The  entire  <:;roiip  con- 
sists of  cii^ht  inhabited  islands,  and  a  few 
which  are  too  barren  and  rocky  to  main- 
tain human  bcin.Ljs.  The  largest  and  most 
imjiortant  of  thcin  is  Hawaii,  or  Owhyhee, 
as  the  word  is  si)elt  in  Cook'.s  "  Voya<jes." 
It  was  on  the  shore  of  a  hay  on  the  western 
Ride  of  this  island  that  Caittain  Cook  was 
killed  in  177i>.  Owinjj  to  the  interchau'ie 
of  the  lettt"  s  I  and  r.  which  is  so  i)r(!valent 
anionu;  ihe  I'olym  sian  lansuases,  the  name 
of  this  bay  is  "somelimes  s])elt  as  Karaka- 
kooa,  and  sonu'linies  as  Kealakekna. 

The  e:ii>ilal  city  of  the  Sandwich  Islands 
is  nol  situated  in  Hawaii,  hut  in  Oalui.  or 
Wojihu,  one  of  tlu!  suialhM'  islaiuis,  and  is 
called  Honolulu.  It  rightly  deserves  the 
name  of  a  cily,  because  it  is  the  seat  of  a 
i)isho|)ric.  The  climate  of  the  Sandwich 
Islands  is  said  to  he  the  most  charmimjr  in 
tli(^  world.  The  variation  is  exceedin;j;ly 
tridini;;,  as  near  the  sea  the  tem|ieratuic,  is 
below  that  of  sultry  l']n;j;lish  summer-time, 
while  on  the  coldest  winter's  day  the  ther- 
mometer never  sinks  below  f>'2°  Fahr.  Ow- 
ing, however,  to  the  mountainous  nature  of 
these  islands,  any  one  m.'iy  live  throut;hout 
the  year  in  almost  exactly  the  same  temjier- 
aturc,  by  ascendinjf  into  a  cooler  atmosphere 
when  tb.e  weather  is  ton  hot,  and  des<'endinj:; 
into  the  wanner  strata  during  the  months  of 
winter. 


Adhering  to  the  principle  which  has  been 
followed  in  thi.s  work,  I  shall  say  hut  little 
of  the  present  Enropeanized  condition  of 
the  n.atives  of  these  islands,  and  coulinc  my- 
self as  liir  as  possible  to  the  manners  and 
customs  of  the  people  as  they  were  before 
the  white  men  had  introduced  their  own 
mode  of  civilization.  Even  at  the  present 
day,  however,  the  old  savage  character  con- 
tinually shows  itself,  and  among  the  very 
jieoplewlio  seem  to  be  most  completely  un- 
der the  inlluenco  of  civili/.ation  the  original 
old  heathenism  exhibits  itself  when  they  are 
off  their  guard,  or  when  they  think  them- 
selves out  of  the  ken  of  white  men.  It  will  he 
understood,  therefore,  that  althoiigh  the  pres- 
ent tense  may  be  used  in  the  following  pages, 
.all  descriptions  apjily  to  them  as  they  were 
originally,  and  not  to  them  as  they  are  at 
the  present  day. 

The  men  are  tall,  active  and  powerful, 
and  in  color  are  of  an  olive  brown,  the  pre- 
cise depth  of  tint  varying  much  according 
to  the  exiiosure  to  the' sun.  so  that  the  skins 
of  the  chiefs  are  much  lighter  than  those  of 
the  commonaltv.  The  hair  is  jet  black,  and 
not  in  the  least  woolly,  being  sometimes 
q\iite  straight,  and  sometimes  wavy.  The 
face  is  mostly  wide,  and  is  a  very  hand- 
some one,  the'  only  fault  in  it  being  a  ten- 
dency to  width  across  the  nostrils. 

The  men  all  wear  the  maro  or  malo,  i.  e. 
the  slight  girdle  of  cloth  whiih  has  already 
been  mentioned,  and  having  this,  they  con- 


HI 


m] 


(108J) 


1082 


THE  SANDWICH  ISLANDS. 


i; 


)h ; 


I 


aider  themselves  dressed  for  all  purposes  of 
decency.  Tliey  also  have  a  tappa,  or  bark- 
cloth  garment!  which  is  twisted  round  the 
waist,  and  falls  below  the  knees,  while  the 
better  class  wear  also  a  sort  of  mantle,  to 
shelter  their  skin  from  the  darkening  sun- 
beams. 

The  great  chiefs  have  also  mantles  made 
of  a  sort  of  network,  into  each  mesh  of 
which  arc  interwoven  the  feathers  of  vari- 
ous birds,  the  most  precious  of  them  being 
that  which  supplies  the  yellow  feathers. 
This  is  a  little  bird  called  l^elithreptcs  paci- 
fica.  It  is  one  of  the  honey-birds,  and  un- 
der each  wing  there  is  a  single  yellow 
feather,  one  inch  in  length.  The  late  king, 
Kamehanieha,  had  a  cloak  made  of  these 
feathers  alone.  It  was  four  feet  long,  and 
eleven  feet  wide  at  the  bottom.  No  less 
than  nine  successive  kings  died  before  this 
priceless  mantle  was  finished. 

The  headdress  of  the  chiefs  is  of  so  grace- 
ful and  cliiasical  a  form  as  absolutely  to  star- 
tle the  spectator.  It  is  a  helmet  made  of 
wicker-work  and  covered  with  feathers,  the 
shape  being  exactly  that  of  the  ancient 
Grecian  helmet  even  to  the  elevated  crest 
which  runs  over  the  top.  One  of  these 
beautiful  helmets  is  shown  on  the  1097th 
page.  It  is  not  intended  as  a  protection  for 
the  head,  the  material  being  too  fragile  for 
such  a  purpose,  but  is  simply  a  badge  of 
rank  and  woaltli.  Mostly  they  are  covered 
with  scarlet  and  j-ellow  feathers,  disposed  in 
bold  bands  or  belts,  and  the  wealth  of  the 
wearer  maj'  be  known  by  the  proportion 
which  the  yellow  and  scarlet  feathers  bear  to 
each  other. 

Examples  of  those  beautiful  ornaments 
may  be  seen  in  several  museums,  where  it  is 
to  tie  hoped  that  they  will  be  kept  from  the 
destructive  moths  and  beetles,  inasmuch  as 
they  form  the  sole  memorials  of  a  time  now 
passed  aw.av. 

The  birds  which  furnish  these  feathers 
are  eagerly  sought  by  the  SandAvich  Isl- 
anders, who  have  the  same  love  of  scarlet 
tliat  distinguishes  not  only  all  Polynesians 
but  all  savages  and  children.  The  birds  are 
usually  caught  by  menus  of  a  tenacious  sub- 
stance much  resembling  our  birdlime,  and 
used  in  a  similar  manner  by  being  smeared 
on  twigs  and  ]K)les,  to  which  the  birds  are 
attracted  by  means  of  baits. 

The  natural  ta.itc  in  color  is  as  good  as 
that  which  displays  itself  in  form,  and  al- 
though the  brightest  and  most  boldly  con- 
trasting colors  are  used  by  the  Randwicli  Isl- 
anders, they  are  used  with  such  admirable 
judgment  that  they  do  not  look  gaudy,  or 
even  obtrusive. 

The  women,  when  young,  are  singularly 
beautiful,  and  retain  tlielr  good  looks'longer 
than  is  usual  among  Polynesians.  Like  the 
other  SOX,  hrivvevcr.  they  gcrierally  attain  to 
great  size  in  their  latter  years,  those  of  the 
better  sort  being  remarkable  for  their  enor- 


mous corpulence.  This  development  is 
probably  owing,  like  that  of  the  Kaffir 
chiefs,  to  the  great  quantity  of  porridge 
which  they  are  continually  eating.  When 
young,  however,  they  are  exceedingly  beau- 
tiful, "their  features  having  a  peculiar  charm 
of  their  own,  and  their  forms  being  like  those 
of  the  ancient  Grecian  statues.  An  Ameri- 
can traveller,  writing  imder  the  nam  de 
plume  of  Hable,  i.  e.  foreigner,  gives  a  most 
animated  description  of  a  native  girl,  in  his 
intcrestinn;  work  on  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
showiuf^  that  the  partial  civilization  to  which 
the  natives  have  been  subjected  has  not  de- 
stroyed their  beauty  of  features  nor  sym- 
metry of  form. 

"In  truth  to  nature,  it  may  be  safely 
asserted  that  beauty  is  not  confined  merely 
to  the  saloon  of  the  monarch,  nor  to  the 
tapestried  chambers  of  the  jjatrician.  It  is 
more  frequently  found  amid  the  lowlier 
walks  of  life,  on  the  desert,  or  the  distant 
isle  of  the  ocean.  In  this  instance  I  wish 
to  be  understood  as  speaking  ^f  physical 
beauty  only.  On  leaving  the  shore-road  to 
ascend  the  mountiiins  for  Ilalawa,  I  met 
just  such  a  specimen  as  has  often  driven 
men  mad,  and  whose  possession  has  many  a 
time  paved  the  way  to  the  sul)version'of 
em]iire  on  the  part  of  monarchs. 

"She  was  rather  above  the  medium  size 
of  American  women.  Her  finely  chiselled 
chin,  nose,  and  forehead  were  singularly 
Grecian.  Her  beautifully  mouldeil  necK 
and  shoulders,  looked  as  though  they  might 
have  been  borrowed  from  Juno.  The  devel- 
opment of  her  entire  form  was  as  perfect  as 
nature  could  make  it.  She  was  arrayed  in  a 
single  loose  robe,  beneath  which  a  pretty 
little  nude  foot  was  just  peeping  out.  Her 
hair  and  eyebrows  were  as  glossy  as  a 
raven's  wing.  Around  her  hea(l  was  care- 
lessly twined  a  wreath  of  the  beautiful 
native  oheh  flowers  (GuaUhcria  pendulifio- 
nmi).  Her  lips  seemed  fragrant  with  the 
odor  of  countless  and  untiring  kisses.  Her 
complexion  was  much  fairer  tlian  the  fairest 
of  her  countrywomen,  and  I  was  forced  into 
the  conclusion  that  she  was  the  offshoot  of 
some  white  father  who  had  trampled  on  the 
seventh  precept  in  the  Decalogue,  or  taken 
to  his  embrace,  by  the  marriiige  relation, 
some  good-lookingllawaiian  woman. 

"  But  her  eyes!  I  never  sliall  forget  those 
eyes!  They  retained  something  that  spoko 
of  an  affection  so  deep,  a  spiritual  existence 
so  intense,  a  dreamy  enchantment  so  inex- 
pressibly beautiful,  that  they  reminded  one 
of  the  beautiful  Greek  girl  Myrrha,  in 
Byron's  tragedy  of  '  !Sardanai)ahis,'  whoso 
loVe  clung  to  the  old  monarch  wlien  the 
fiame  of  the  funeral  pile  formed  their  wind- 
ing sheet. 

"  In  no  former  period  of  my  life  had  I 
eVcf  faisetl  iVtV  liftt  in  ihf;  presence  of 
beaut}',  but  at  this  moment,  and  in  such  a 
presence,  I  took  it  off.    I  was  entirely  fasci- 


I»l 


S  :  ;   ! 


^i 


II 


no»i) 


S 

Q 

o 

Q 
S5 
■«) 

>J 
m 

n 

09 


a 

o 
a 

o 

M 

Ed 


A  HAWAIIAN  BEAUTY. 


108« 


nated,  charmed,  spell-bound  now.  I  stopped 
mv  horse:  and  there  I  sat,  to  take  a  fuller 
glance  at  the  fair  reality.  And  the  girl 
stopped,  and  returned  the  glance,  while  a 
smile  parted  her  lips,  and  partially  revealed  a 
set  of  teeth  as  white  as  snow,  and  of  match- 
less perfection.  I  felt  that  smile  to  be  an 
unsafe  atmosphere  for  the  nerves  of  a  bach- 
elor; so  I  bowed,  replaced  my  hat  and 
passed  on  my  way.  feeling  fully  assured  that 
nothing  but"  the  chisel  of  Praxiteles  could 
have  copied  her  exquisite  charms.  And  as 
I  gently  moved  past  her,  she  exclaimed,  in 
the  vocabulary  of  her  country  'Love   to 

^^The  same  writer  mentions  in  several 
other  places  the  beauty  of  the  young  girls 
whom  he  saw  in  Hawaii.  There  was  no 
reason  for  the  surmise  that  the  girl  who 
impressed  him  so  deeply  was  a  half-caste, 
because,  as  has  already  been  mentioned, 
people  of  the  better  class  are  much  fairer 
than  those  of  lower  rank,  and  are  scarcely 
so  dark  as    the   inhabitants   ot    Southern 

Europe.  ,.,-,,      , 

Tlie  dress  of  the  Sandwich  Islands  women 
is  much  like  that  of  the  Tongaus,  and  con- 
sists essenliiiUy  of  a  wrapper  of  bark  cloth 
paasiii"  round  the  waist  and  falling  below 
the  knees.  It  is  often  arranged  so  that  tlie 
end  mav  be  thrown  over  the  shoulders,  and 
many  of  the  better  class  of  women  have  a 
separate  piece  of  cloth  which  is  used  as  a 
mantle.  When  young  they  wear  no  cloth- 
ing at  all.  ,      ,    . 

The  methods  of  wearing  the  hair  are 
somewhat  various.  The  women  generally 
cut  it  behind,  but  allow  it  to  grow  to  its  lull 
length  on  the  rest  of  the  head.  The  men 
ponTctimos  divide  the  hair  into  a  number  oi 
locks,  and  plait  or  twist  each  lock  into  a  sort 
of  tail  about  the  thickness  of  a  man's  finger. 
These  tails  are  allowed  to  grow  to  their  lUU 
l(>n'Hh,  and  stream  for  some  distance  down 
the"  back.  The  length  of  tiil  seems  to  be 
much  valued  among  these  people,  who  are 
in  the  hal)it  of  adding  to  their  length  by 


supplementary  additions  of  hair  woven  into 
their  own  locks.  The  hair  is  often  stained 
of  a  reddish  color  by  the  use  of  lime,  as  is 
done  in  Fiji  and  ot'lier  parts  of  Polynesia. 
Sometimes'  the  men  shave  the  whole  of  the 
hair  on  cither  .side  of  the  head,  leaving  only 
one  crest  of  long  hair  to  run  from  the  fore- 
head to  the  nape  of  the  neck,  just  like  the 
crests  of  the  feather  helmets.  , 

Captain  Cook  remarks  that  the  Sandwich 
Islanders  stand  almost  alone  among  Polyne- 
sians in  refusing  to  perforate  their  cars,  and 
that  they  have  no  idea  of  wearing  orna- 
ments iu  them.  They  are  fond  of  orna- 
ments, some  of  which  are  Avorth  a  brief 
description.  Tliey  havo  a  sort  of  necklace 
made  of  black  cord,  doubled  Ibrty  or  fiftv 
times,  .and  p.upnortiiiii  a.  piece  of  wood,  shell, 


or  bono  cut  into  the^form  of  a  broad  hook. 
Necklaces  made  of  small  eholls  strung  to- 


gether are  also  common,  as  are  also  neck- 
laces of  dried  flowers. 

Bracelets  of  various  kinds  are  valued  by 
the  women.  Some  of  these  ornanunts  are 
made  of  hog's  teeth  placed  side  by  side 
with  the  concave  parts  outward,  and  joined 
by  a  string  running  through  the  middle. 
Some  of  these  bracelets  are  made  entirely 
of  the  long  curved  tusks  ol  boai's  and  are 
really  handsome  ornaments.  Others  are 
formed  from  pieces  of  black  wood,  fastened 
together  in  a  similar  manner,  and  being 
yarieeated  by  small  pieces  ol  hog's  teeth  let 
into  tnem.  .   ,  „„  .„ 

The  men  sometimes  wear  on  their  h^ds 
tufts  of  feathers  tied  to  slight  sticks.  Ihe 
most  valuable  of  these  plumes  are  those 
which  are  made  of  the  tail-feathers  of  the 
tropic  bird.  Others,  whicli  are  not  so  vahia- 
ble,  are  made  of  white  dog  s  hair.  The 
sticks  are  sometimes  two  feet  in  length. 

Tattooing  is  but  slightly  practised  among 
the  Sandwich  Islanders,  though  some  ot 
them  have  the  arms  and  chest  decorated 
with  lines  and  figures  tolerably  well  exe- 

'^"me  many  of  the  Polynesians,  the  Sand- 
wich Islanders  have  an  absurd  liking  for 
pigs  and  dogs,  carrying  them  about  and  feed- 
ing them  when  young,  as  if  they  had  been 
children.    Even  when  the  animals  attain 
their  full  growth,  they  are  i)etted  to  no  small 
extent.    The  "  Haolo  "  narrates  an  amusing 
example  of  the  extreme   tenderness  which 
the  Hawaiian  women  evince  for  these  ani- 
mals, and  the  artist  has  vepreKented  the  de- 
scription in  engraving  l^o  2,  on  the  pre- 
cedin<»  page.  He  was  travelling  throug;h  the 
island"  and  noticed  a  group  of  women  silting 
under  the  shade  of  a  pandanus  tree,  and  sur- 
rounding something  in  which  they  seemed 
to  be  greatly  interested.    On  coining  closer, 
he  6)uiid  that  the  object  of  their  attention 
1  was  an  enormous  hog. 
'     The  women  were  taking  it  to  market,  a 
task  which  usually  devolves  upon  them,  and 
had  to  drive  the  animal  for  a  considerable 
distance  over  lofty  mountains  a  task  which 
could  not  occupy  them  less  than  thirtj-six 
hours.    To  produce  the  hog  in  good  conch- 
tion  was  evidently  their  principal  ohject,  and 
thev  would  therefore  hurry  it  as  little  as  pos- 
sible, coax  it  along,  rather  than  drive  it,  by 
day,  and  sleep  by  its  side  at  night.    It  so 
happened  that  the  day  was  a  very  warm  one, 
and  the  hog,  which  was  in  very  good  condi- 
tion, was  oppressed  with  its  own  lat,  with 
the  heat  and  the  fatigue  of  the  journey. 
Accordingly,  the  women  had  led  their  charge 
to  a  shady  spot,  taken  off  their  only  gar- 
ments, soaked  them  in  water,  and  spread 
them  over  the  panting  aminal,  which  uttered 
occasional  grunts  of  satisfaction  at  the  cool- 
ness causeS  bv  the  wet  garments,  .and  the 
continual  fanning  which  the  women  kept  up 


with  leaves 


When  the  pig  is  of  smaller  size,  and  the 


I 


*»: 


I  I 

I  ] 


;  m 


ii 


I 


108« 


THE  SANDWICH  ISLANDS. 


II 


market  is  near  at  hand,  so  that  there  is  no 
danger  the  animal  may  get  out  of  condi- 
tion, a  much  simpler  plan  is  followed,  the 
legs  of  the  pig  being  tied  together,  and  a 
pole  run  between  them,  which  is  lifted  on 
the  shoulders  of  two  or  four  men,  according 
to  the  weight  of  the  animal. 

Although  the  Sandwich  Islanders  will  eat 
dogs,  pigs,  and  cats  too,  when  they  can  af- 
ford themselves  the  luxury,  they  are  so  fond 
of  them  while  living  that  a  man  will  sooner 
resent  an  injury  done  to  his  dog  or  pig  than 
to  his  child.  When  travelling,  accompanied 
by  their  dogs,  they  treat  the  animals  just 
like  children,  taking  them  in  their  arms, 
and  carrying  them  over  any  rough  or  muddy 
places,  lest  perchance  the  poor  animals 
should  hurt  or  soil  their  feet.  It  is  possible 
that  this  extraordinary  predilection  may 
arise  from  the  fact  that  none  of  these  ani- 
mals are  indigenous,  but  have  been  intro- 
duced by  Europeans. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  women  do  not 
spend  their  lives  in  idleness.  Indeed,  though 
they  are  not  treated  with  the  harshness  that 
too  often  falls  to  the  lot  of  women  in  un- 
civilized coimtries,  they  do  a  very  fair  share 
of  the  work.  The  cooking,  for  example,  is 
entirely  their  business,  and  they  are  as  great 
adepts  at  procuring  as  at  cooking  food.  For 
example,  if  a  stranger  should  call  at  the 
house  of  a  native,  tne  wife  is  sure  to  come 
out,  pass  her  hand  over  him,  and  inquire 
whether  he  is  hungry.  Should  he  reply  in 
the  affirmative,  she  or  another  girl  runs  out 
to  one  of  the  fish  ponds,  launches  a  small 
canoe,  and  in  a  very  short  space  of  time  she 
has  caught  some  fish,  broiled  them,  cooked 
some  taro,  and  laid  them  on  plantain  leaves 
before  the  guest 

These  fish  ponds  are  very  common  in 
Hawaii,  and  are  mostly  made  by  the  women. 
They  are  formed  by  taking  advantage  of  the 
corad  beach,  which  has  numerous  small  bays 
or  inlets  with  comparatively  narrow  mouths. 
Across  the  mouths  of  these  bays  the  natives 
pile  nieces  of  coral  rock  so  as  to  prevent  any 
fish  fi-om  escaping.  They  are  aeepened  as 
occasion  may  require,  and  it  is  not  an  un- 
common thing  to  see  a  number  of  women  up 
to  their  Waists  in  mud  and  water  busily  em- 
ployed in  cleaning  out  a  fish  pond,  and  ev- 
idently enjoying  the  work  rather  than  think- 
ing it  a  hanlship.  While  they  are  thus  at 
work  on  land,  their  husbands  and  brothers 
are  equally  hard  at  work  on  sea,  catching  the 
fish  which  are  to  be  transferred  to  the  pond. 

Tlie  natives  rely  much  for  their  supplies 
of  food  on  these  ponds,  as  fish  forms  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  their  diet,  pork  and  fowls 
being  too  expensive  to  be  considered  any- 
thing but  luxuries,  and  only  to  be  eaten  con- 
stantly by  the  rich.  The  ponds  vary  much 
in  size,  but  are  generally  of  considerable  di- 
mensionSi  Few  of  them  coyer  less  than  an 
acre  of  ground,  while  others  are  a  hundred 
times  as  large.    One  or  two  of  the  largest 


are  very  ancient,  and  may  be  considered  ns 
historical  monuments,  the  coral  blocks  which 
shut  them  oft'  tVom  the  sea  being  of  such 
enormous  size  as  to  tell  of  the  time  when  the 
kings  or  principal  chiefs  were  absolute,  and 
could  commandany  amount  of  human  labor. 

Even  at  the  present  time  the  natives  rely 
much  on  their  fish  ponds  for  their  sui)plie8 
of  food,  and  the  size  of  the  pond  is  an  in- 
variable test  of  the  rank  and  wealth  of  the 
owner.  They  are  watched  as  carefully  as 
game  preserves  in  our  own  country,  and 
suffer  as  much  from  poachers,  who,  however, 
seldom  escape  detection. 

While,  therefore,  the  women  do  their  share 
of  the  work,  their  life  is  by  no  means  a  la- 
borious one,  because  lliero  is  so  little  work 
to  be  done.  The  taro  patch  has  to  be  pre- 
pared and  cultivated,  but  this  is  not  a  very 
laborious  task;  the  fish  ponds  have  to  bo 
made  and  left  in  order,  tlie  cooking  has  to 
be  done,  and  the  bark  cloth  to  be  made. 
Of  all  these  tasks  the  second  is  the  hardest^ 
and  this  is  rather  considered  as  an  amuse- 
ment than  a  labor,  the  women  being  so  am- 
phibious in  their  habits  that  to  spend  half 
the  day  in  mud  and  water  is  no  hardship  to 
them,  as  is  seen  by  the  merry  talk  and 
laughter  that  accompany  the  work. 

Mr.  Bennett  mentions  one  instance  in 
which  a  woman  was  badly  troiited  by  her 
husband.  Being  in  a  state  of  intoxication, 
he  ordered  her  to  carry  him  on  her  back  up 
one  of  the  precipices  with  which  these  islands 
abound.  In  spite  of  the  almost  perpendicular 
rocks,  which  are  in  that  spot  so  steep  that 
the  white  visitors  could  barely  climb  up 
them  without  any  burden  at  all,  the  woman 
undertook  the  task,  and  succeeded  in  reach- 
ing the  summit  in  safety. 

The  semi-amphibious  nature  of  the  Sand- 
wich  Islanders  has  already  been  mentioned. 
The  mode  in  which  both  sexes  turn  their 
a(}uatic  powers  into  a  means  of  amusement 
will  be  presently  described,  but  wo  are  now 
dealing  with  the  work  done  by  the  women, 
and  not  with  their  amusements.  There  is  a 
salt-water  lake  6alled  Loki  Nomilu,  which 
was  said  by  the  natives  to  be  the  handiwork 
of  the  terrible  flre-^oddess  Pele,  who  dug 
deep  into  the  ground  in  search  of  fresh  water, 
but  was  baffled  by  the  sea  finding  a  subterra- 
nean entrance,  although  the  lake  is  many 
yards  fVom  the  shore.  Being  angry  with  the 
sea  for  its  misconduct  she  took  her  (leparture, 
and  took  up  her  abode  in  the  crater  of  the 
great  volcano  of  Hawaii,  w'  h  is  called  by 
her  name.  There  is  little  aoubt  that  the 
lake  in  question  is  itself  the  crater  of  an  ex- 
tinct volcano.  The  "  Haole  "  went  to  visit 
this  extraordinary  lake,  and  gives  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  the  mode  by  which  its 
actual  de,  h  was  ascertained: — 

"  Having  been  informed  that  this  lake  was 
fathomless.  I  felt  only  more  solicitous  to  test 
the  mystery.  There  were  no  means,  how- 
ever, on  the  premises;  and,  two  women  ex- 


INGENIOUS  WAY  OP  OBTAINING  SOUNDINGS. 


1067 


cepted,  the  little  village  was  temporarily  do- 
sertcd.  There  were  several  canoes  on  the 
shore,  but  the  lake  was  much  disturbed  by 
a  heavy  north  wind,  so  that  they  would  have 
been  rendered  nearly  useless.  But  I  felt 
as  tliough  I  could  not  abandon  the  expedi- 
tion. The  gentleman  who  accompanied  me 
thither  intbrmed  the  women  of  my  object  in 
coming,  and  assured  them  I  was  extremely 
anxious  to  know  the  depth  of  the  water  in 
that  lake,  and  that  wo  would  wait  until  some 
of  the  men  returned  from  their  fishing  ex- 
cursion. 

"  But  one  of  them  soon  provided  a  remedy. 
She  proposed  swimming  nito  the  lake  with 
a  sounding-line  to  make  the  required  meas- 
urement. Our  remonstrance  against  such 
a  measure  was  in  vain,  for  she  resolutely  as- 
sured us  it  would  be  not  only  an  easy  per- 
formance, but  afford  her  much  satisfaction 
to  have  an  opportunity  of  serving  me.  She 
procured  a  piece  of  wili-wili  wood,  exceed- 
ingly light,  about  six  feet  long,  and  as  many 
inches  in  diameter.  This  she  insisted  on 
carrying  to  the  north  end  of  the  lake,  where, 
under  the  lee  of  the  high  hills,  she  launched 
the  log  of  wood.  After  wading  in  until  it 
was  deep  enough  to  swim,  she  placed  the  log 
firmly  under  her  chest,  keeping  it  there  with 


one  hand,  and  retaining  the  sounding-line 
with  the  other.  In  this  position  she  struck 
down  the  lake,  stopping  at  abort  intervals  to 
let  down  the  line,  which  she  knotted  at  the 
surface  of  the  water  every  time  she  found 
the  bottom.  This  done,  she  would  gather  up 
her  line,  replace  her  log,  and  resume  her 
course.  And  she  pursued  this  plan  until  her 
task  was  done. 

"  It  would  bo  superfluous  to  say  that  this 
feat  excited  our  admiration,  or  that  we  com- 
pensated her  for  her  pains.  It  was  the  most 
novel  expedition  I  had  ever  seen;  nor  could 
I  fully  realize  it  until  I  remembered  that  in 
these  islands,  as  in  other  parts  of  Polynesia, 
and  in  the  Caribbean  Sea,  the  women  and 
girls  are  the  best  swimmers.  The  Ilawaiians 
are  almost  amphibious.  Volumes  might  be 
written  detailing  their  extraordinary  feats  in 
the  water.  It  is  owing  to  their  fremient 
bathing  that  many  of  the  women  of  Polyne- 
sia display  such  an  exquisite  contour." 

The  woman  who  performed  the  feat  was 
the  mother  of  nine  children,  all  of  whom 
were  living  —  an  extraordinary  evont  in  the 
life  of  an  Hawaiian  woman,  so  many  chil- 
dren perishing  either  by  neglect,  disease,  or 
intentional  violence. 


I 


: 

iSliB 

^9 

H 

.^H 

m 

1 

■ 

'■ 

1 

1 

fl 

i 

■1 

I  ill' 


i  r 


CHAPTER    CXn. 


THE  SANDWICH  ISLANDS  — Concluded. 


WAK  —  SPORT  —  B£LIQIOIT. 


WEAPONS  OF  THE  BAtuDWiCn  ISLANDERS  —  KAMBHAMERA  AND  THE  SPBABS— TWO  KINDS  OF  HLIN08-- 
THE  WOODEN  DAOOEB  OR  PAHOa  — TUB  KNIFE  FOR  CUTTING  VV  THE  BODIES  OF  SLAIN  ENE- 
MIES—THE  WAR  MAT  AND  ITS  USES  — THE  TOOTH  RREASTI'LATE  —  SUPPOSED  CANNIBAMSM  OF 
THE  SANDWICH  ISLANDERS -VARIOUS  GAMES  -  SURF  SWIMMING  —  CHILDREN  AND  THE  WATER- 
MASKED  PADDLERS- BALL  PLAY  — CUP  AND  BALL  — THE  HIDDEN  STONE  — A  BOXING  MATCH  IN 
THE  SANDWICH  ISLANDS  — SLEDGING  AND  ITS  DANGERS  —  RELIGION  OF  HAWAII--FEATHER  AND 
WOODEN  IDOLS. 


Some  of  the  weapons  used  by  the  Saadwich 
Islanders  are  rather  curious. 

In  tho  first  place  they  have  the  spear, 
whicii  is  made  of  a  chestnut  colored  wood, 
which  takes  a  hi<,'h  polish,  and  is  usually 
barbed  at  tiic  point  and  brought  to  a  flat- 
tened iK)int  at  tlie  butt.  They  are  exceed- 
ingly skilt'nl  in  the  use  of  this  weapon,  not 
only  in  tlirowing  it,  but  in  warding  otf  the 
weapons  that  are  Hung  at  them.  Kameha- 
meha,  tho  well-known  king  or  chief,  was 
celebrated  for  his  skill  with  the  spear.  He 
used  to  stand  with  a  spear  in  liis  riglit  hand 
in  front  of  six  men,  also  armed  with  spears. 
At  a  given  signal  they  flung  their  spears 
simultaneously  at  liini,  when  he  used  to 
strike  throe  aside  with  the  spear  in  his  right 
hand,  and  catch  the  other  three  in  his  left 
hand.  Illustration  Xo.  1,  on  the  next  page, 
shows  the  king  performing  this  dangerous 
and  remarkable  feat. 

These  spears,  which  are  intended  to  be 
,  thrown,  are  from  six  to  eight  feet  in  length, 
and  are  made  to  fly  straight  l)y  l)eing  tapered 
gradually  from  the  head  to  the  butt.  There 
is  another  kind  of  spear,  which  is  used  as  a 
pike.  Tliis  is  from  twelve  to  liftecn  feet  in 
length,  and  is  not  barbed. 

The  sling  is  another  of  tho  Sandwich 
weapons.  It  is  of  considerable  length,  and 
the  receptacle  for  the  stone  is  made  of 
plaited  matting.  The  stones  are  oval  in 
shape,  and  arc  ground  down  for  the  express 
purpose,  so  that  the  slingers  evidently  pos- 
sess much  accuracy  of'aim.  There  is  a 
modification  of  the  sling,  the  use  of  which 
seems  to  be  forgotten  at  the  present  day, 


and  even  in  Captain  Cook's  time  was  far 
from  universal.  The  stone  is  cut  of  an  oval 
shape,  with  a  groove  round  it,  nnudi  like  a 
lady's  tatting-needle,  and  the  cord  is  })assed 
round  the  groove  with  a  half-hitch,  so  that 
wlien  the  end  of  the  sling  is  lil)erated  the 
stone  flies  oil".  Some  of  these  stones  ol>tained 
by  Captain  Cook  were  made  of  liivniatito,  or 
blood-stone,  and  were  very  heavy,  weighing 
at  least  a  pound.  It  was  rather  curious  that, 
although  there  was  little  diflieuity  in  pur- 
chasing the  stones,  which  nuist  have  cost 
much  trouble  in  making,  it  was  not  ]ios8ible 
to  persuade  the  natives  to  part  with  the  cord 
by  which  thev  were  flung. 

Another  of"  their  weapons  is  tho  dagger, 
or  j)«/(»a,  as  the  natives  call  it.  The  mate- 
rial of  which  it  is  made  is  a  very  hard  wood, 
something  like  el)ony,  and  it  is  shaped  nuich 
like  the  ordinary  steel  dagger,  cxcejjt  that  it 
Jias  no  guard.  It  is  about  two  feet  in  length, 
and  is  secured  to  the  wrist  by  a  cord  passing 
through  a  hole  at  the  end  "of  the  handle. 
Some  of  those  daggers  are  still  larger,  ancl 
double-pointed,  being  held  in  the  middle  like 
the  antelope-horn  daggers  of  India.  Tliis 
weapon  has  a  mournful  interest  from  the 
fact  that  when  Caj)tain  Cook  was  nuirdered 
his  body  was  pu-rccd  with  iimumcrable 
wounds  mostly  made  by  Avooden  daggers, 
though  one  of  the  natives  had  a  dagger 
made  of  iron,  which  they  snatched  from  each 
other's  hands  in  their  "eagerness  to  inflict 
fresh  wounds. 

On  some  occasions  tho  Sandwich  Island- 
ers employ  a  weapon  which  much  resembles 
tho  merai  of  the  New  Zealanders.    It  is  a 


(1088) 


(2.)   MASKKD   KOWKKS.    (Si'o  imjjf  1095.) 
(1089) 


m\ 


I 


m 

If 
> 

i 


|:i 


i^ 


DEFENSIVE  ARMOll. 


1001 


batlli'floor-Miapod  piece  of  wood,  nrnwd  with 
■hark'jt  tuftli  rounil  the  cdKcs.  Its  primary 
use  is  that  of  a  Jviiifc  ami  it  is  fiinploycd  in 
cnttiii','  to  piucuH  tlu^  Itodii'S  of  foes  tliat  arc 
slain  I'l  battle.  8till,  though  it  was  origi- 
n  illy  iutfiidud  as  an  implcraont  and  not  aw 
a  woapiin,  it  is  of  so  forujidalde  a  character 
that  It  is  oftun  eniployed  in  the  latter  capae- 
ity.  As  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  thi=^  knife 
is  considered  to  he  especially  devoted  to  Ihe 
ono  ohject  of  cutting  up  human  bodies,  and 
is  U'  v'lir  eini)loyed  in  any  meaner  worl«. 

1-  i  to  clubs,  they  arc  of  various  shapes, 
th'  natives  having  r.o  speeial  form,  but  carv- 
iug  them  into  any  device  that  may  suit  them 
best,  and  using  different  kinds  of  wood  for 
the  purpose.  ,    .  ,  t  , 

The  (lefetisivo  armor  of  the  Sandwich  Isl- 


anders is  generally  a  thick  mat,  which  is 
worn  in  time  of  war,  and  is  8\illlciently 
strong  to  save  the  wearer  from  the  thrust  of  a 
epearor  the  stroke  of  a  dagger,  and  can  even 
greatly  deaden  the  blow  of  a  slinjj  stone. 

When  Cai)t;iiu  Cook  was  killed,  the  man 
who  precipitated  the  att^u'k  was  weariiifj;  his 
•war  mat,  and,  on  threatening  Captain  Cook 
with  a  dagger  in  one  hand  and  a  atone  in 
the  other,  the  captain  was  obliged  to  lire  at 
him  in  selt^defence.  Not  wishing  to  kill, 
hut  only  to  wound  and  terrify  his  adversary, 
he  (Ireil  a  charge  of  shot,  which  was  resisted 
by  the  war  mat,  so  that  the  man  escaped 
uidiurt,  his  impuuKy  encouraging  the  na- 
tives to  proceed  with  their  attack.  Had 
Captain  Cook  (Ired  the  other  barrel,  which 
was  loaded  with  ball,  against  which  the  war 
mat  would  have  been  no  protection,  it  is 
iirobable  that  the  natives  would  have  been 
deterred  from  their  attack,  and  that  Captain 
Cook  might  have  lived  to  complete  the 
vovagc  of  discovery. 

Ono  of  the  most  curious  examples  of  de- 
fensive armor  is  a  breastplate  made  entirely 
of  teeth,  so  arranged  that  they  overlap  each 
other  just  like  the  plates  ot  scale  armor. 
Ono  ot  tliese  curious  breast|)late8  is  in  the 
United  Service  Museum.  Teeth  hung  in  a 
similar  fashion  are  employed  as  castanets, 
and  are  hung  to  the  legs  of  dancers. 

Warfiire   as  orif^inally  practised  by  the 
Sandwich  Islanders  was  scarcely  deserving 
of  the  name,  being  little  more  than  a  scries 
of  dcsultorv  skirmishes.    They  usually  be- 
gan  by  practising  in   earnest  the   skill   in 
avoiding   spears  which    has    already  been 
mentioned  as  exhibited   in  sport.      When 
the  opposing  parlies  met,  ono  of  the  chiefs, 
clad   in   his  tealhor   helmet  and  cloak,  ad 
vanced  in  front  of  his  own  men,  totally  un- 
armed, having  nothing  in  his  hand  but  a 
fan,  and   challenging   the   enemy  to  throw 
their  spi'ars  at  him.     This  they  did,  and  by 
means  of  wonderful  agility  in  leaping,  stoop- 
ing, and  twisting  his  body,  when  the  weap- 
ons could  not,  he  strucb' aside  by  the  fan  or 
caught  in  the  left  liand,  he  olten  contrived 
to  escape  with  liis  life. 
63 


Tliouffh  It  was  a  piece  of  military  etl- 
quettis  tliat  ho  should  take  no  weniion  into 
the  lield,  he  was  at  lil)erty  to  hurl  lm>  k  at 
his  adversaries  any  of  the  spears  wliieli  ho 
could  »'atcli.  Should  one  of  the  enemy's 
spears  bring  him  to  the  ground,  or  f<li.nild 
ho  bo  successlhl  in  killing  an  adversary, 
there  was  an  immediate  struggle  for  the 
possession  of  the  dead  body,  which  is  looked 
upon  much  as  is  a  ll:ig  among  ourselves,  to 
be  defended  or  captured  at  all  risks,  oven  of 
life. 

This  statement  naturally  brings  us  to  the 
disposal  of  the  bodies  of  the  slain,  and  to 
the  practice  of  cannibalism.  That  tho  latter 
iiractico  existed  to  a  certain  dejjree  cannot 
bo  denii  d,  but  it  is  equally  certain  that  tho 
practice  was  always  exceptional,  and  that  it 
was  followed  rather  as  a  portion  of  luilita'-y 
etiquette  than  as  a  means  of  indulging  v  •; 
appetite.  As  may  be  imagined,  the  highoi 
the  rank  of  a  slaui  man  tho  p-eater  the.  de- 
sire to  eat  a  portion,  however  small,  of  his 
tlesh;  and  this  theory  will  account  for  tho 
fad  that  the  remains  of  Captain  Cook  which 
were  rescued  from  tho  natives  bore  evident 
marks  of  fire. 

It  has  often  happened  that  cannibalism 
has  been  thought  to  exist  on  the  strength  of 
native  eviilence,  which  has  afterward  been 
found  to  liavo  been  misunderstood.  A  re- 
markaltle  instance  of  such  an  error  occurs 
in  the  account  of  Captain  Cook's  voyages. 
In  vol.  ii.  p.  20!>,  there  is  an  account  of  a  na- 
tive who  was  observed  to  carry  with  him  a 
very  small  parcel  carefully  tied  up  with 
string.  After  resisting  many  solicitations, 
ho  allowed  it  to  be  opened,  when  lluu-e  ap- 
peared a  small  piece  of  llesh  about  two 
inches  long,  "which  to  all  appearatM-e  had 
b<'en  dried,  but  was  now  wet  with  salt  wa- 
ter." On  being  further  pressed  on  the  sub- 
ject, the  man  admitted  that  it  was  human 
"tlesh,  and,  i)ointing  to  his  own  stomach,  in- 
dicated the  iiortiou  of  the  body  from  which 
it  had  been  cut. 

Nothing  could  be  clearer  than  this  ac- 
count, but  in  vol.  iii.  p.  133,  tho  whole  of 
this  evidence  is  shown  to  be  utterly  un- 
trustworthy. Tt  seems  that  almost  every 
Sandwich  Islander  wis  in  the  habit  of  carry- 
ing about  with  him  a  small  piece  of  hog's 
flesh  very  highly  salted,  which  he  was  accus- 
tomed to  nibble  occasionally  as  a  delicacy, 
or  by  way  of  sauce  when  eating  vegetable 
food.  By  point-lng  to  his  stomach  the  man 
merely  used  the  conventional  sign  express- 
ing the  excellence  of  the  foo<i;  and  as  to  his 
statement  that  the  flesh  was  thatof  a  human 
being,  he  was  so  eag^  rly  and  closely  ques- 
tioned that,  being  a  uieie  lad  of  sixteen  or 
seventeen,  he  gave  an  affirmative  answer  to 
leading  questions.  As  far  as  we  can  see,  the 
Polynesian  race  is  not  given  to  cannibalism, 
while  the  Papuans  are  devoted  to  it. 


II 


Ml 


i 


!  t 


1     We  uow  come  to  the  various  games  with 


lOM 


THE  SANDWICH   ISLANDS. 


wliich  the  Snndwich  iKlandcrs  fttmino  tliom- 
Bi'lvcs.  C'liicf  mnon^;  tliuin  in  tlui  Hport  of 
Rui't'-Nvviiiiiniii^.  Thin  is  in-nctistMl  in  Hovcnil 
of  till!  iHliiiulH  od'olyiicHin,  hut  in  iionu  ia  it 
C(uri(^d  out  to  hucIi  luTft-ction  an  in  tlit^  Hand- 
wicli  Kroup.  Tlut  tollowinKHpii'Kud  account 
of  tliis  nport  Im  given  in  Captain  Cook's  Voy- 
ages:— 

"  Swimming  is  not  only  n  necessary  art, 
in  wliicli  both  the  nw.n  and  women  arc  n»orc 
export  than  any  people  we  iiadiiitliertoscen, 
but  a  favorite  diversion  amongut  (iieni.  Ono 
particular  mode  in  which  they  sonu'tinies 
onuised  themselves  with  this' exercise  in 
Kiirakakooa  Hay,  apjjenred  to  us  most  ()erll- 
0U8  and  extraordinary,  and  well  deserving  u 
distinct  relation. 

"  The  surf,  which  breaks  on  the  coast 
round  the  bay,  extends  to  the  dihitanco  of 
about  one  hundred  and  (Uty  yards  from  tlic 
shore,  within  which  space  the  surges  of  tlie 
F.ea,  accumulating  from  the  shallowness  of 
i.he  water,  are  da.Hhed  against  the  l)each  willi 
prodigious  vioK'ncc.  Whenever  from  stormy 
wealin-r,  or  any  extraordinary  swell  at  sea, 
the  im;)etuositv  of  the  surf  is  increased  to 
its  utnjost  heig"lU,  they  choose  that  time  for 
this  amusement,  whicn  is  performed  in  tlie 
following  manner:  — 

"Twenty  or  thirty  of  the  natives,  taking 
each  a  long  narrow  board,  rounded  at  the 
ends,  set  out  together  from  the  shore.  The 
first  wave  tliey  meet  they  plunge  under, 
and,  suffering  it  to  roll  over  them,  rise  again 
beyond  it,  and  make  the  best  of  tlieir  way 
by" 8  imming  out  into  the  sea.  The  second 
wave  is  encountered  in  the  satno  manner 
\vith  the  first;  the  great  diflicidty  consisting 
in  seizing  the  proiier  moment  of  diving 
under  it,  which,  if^  mis8e<l,  the  person  is 
caught  by  the  surf,  and  driven  l)ack  again 
witii  great  violence:  and  all  his  dexterity  is 
then  required  to  i)rcvont  liiniself  from  being 
dashed  against  tlie  rocks.  As  soon  as  they 
have  gained,  by  tlieso  repeated  efforts,  the 
smooth  water  beyond  the  surf,  tliey  lay 
tlicmselves  at  length  on  their  boartf,  and 
prepare  for  their  return.  As  the  surf  con- 
sists of  a  number  of  waves,  of  which  every 
third  is  remarked  to  bo  always  much  larger 
than  the  others,  and  to  flow  higher  on  the 
shore,  the  rest  breaking  in  the  intermediate 
space,  their  first  object  is  to  place  them- 
selves on  the  summit  of  the  largest  surge, 
by  which  they  are  driven  along  with  amaz- 
ing rapidity  toward  the  shore. 

"  If  by  mistake  they  should  place  them- 
selves on  one  of  the  smaller  waves,  which 
breaks  up  before  they  reach  the  land,  or 
should  not  be  able  to  keep  their  plank  in  a 
proper  direction  on  the  top  of  the  swell, 
they  are  lefl  exposed  to  the  fiiry  of  the  next, 
and,  to  avoid  it,  are  obliged  again  to  dive 
and  regain  the  place  from  which  they  set 
out. 

"•     "O*.    ?-.'._ '^rr'.t    111     ihtriT    u:j|eut    UI 

reaching  the  shore  have  still  the  greatest 


danger  to  encounter.  Tho  roast  Ining 
guarded  by  a  chain  of  rocks,  with  hero  and 
there  a  small  opening  beh\eeii  tliein,  they 
are  obliged  to  steer  their  Uiard  through  one 
of  tliise,  or,  in  case  of  failure,  to  (|uit  it  be- 
fore th(!y  reach  the  rocks,  and,  plunging 
under  the  wave,  make  the  best  of  their  way 
liack  again.  TIiIm  in  reckoned  very  disgrace- 
ful,  and  is  also  attemied  with  the  loxs  of  the 
board,  which  I  have  olteii  seen,  with  great 
terror,  dashed  to  pieces  at  the  verv  moment 
the  iHlaO'ler  quitted  it.  The  boldnens  and 
address  «ith  which  we  saw  them  perform 
those  dinicult  and  dangerous  inatHeuvres 
was  al'.ogether  astonishing,  and  is  scarcely 
to  be  credited." 

These  swimmers  iised  often  to  ])ass  nearly 
n  mile  seaward,  in  order  to  enjoy  the  rapid 
motion  of  their  return  iih  long  dm  possible. 
Doth  sexes  aixl  all  riiiikN  unile  in  il,  and 
even  the  very  chiefs  themselves,  who  have 
attained  to  the  corpulency  wbieb  they  so 
much  admire,  join  In  the  game  ofsur(-swim- 
luing  with  tlie  meanest  df  their  sulijects. 
Some  of  the  performers  attain  to  a  wonder- 
ful degree  of  skill,  and,  not  content  with 
lying  on  the  board,  sit,  kneel,  and  even  staml 
on  it  as  tliey  are  hurled  shoreward  by  tho 
giant  waves.  The  boards  are  of  various 
sizes,  according  to  the  age  and  stature  of 
the  owner.  For  adults  they  are  about  six 
feet  in  length.  They  are  slightly  convex  on 
both  sides,  and  are  kept  very  siuootb  —  all 
surf-swimmers  cherishing  a  i)ri(le  in  tlio 
condition  of  their  boards,  and  taking  cnre  to 
keen  them  well  polished  and  continually 
rubbed  with  cocoa-nut  oil.  The  artist  has 
finely  represented  on  thi'  following  iiage  the 
marvellous  conquest  of  the  S'a  by  these  isl- 
anders. 

Such  utter  mastery  of  the  waves  can  only 
be  obtained  by  familiarity  with  the  water 
from  earliest  cluldhood.  A  SaiKlwieh  Island 
child  can  swim  as  soon  as  it  can  walk,  if  not 
sooner,  tho  mothers  taking  them  from  tlie 
breast,  laving  tliem  on  the  surface  of  tlie 
water  and  encouraging  tliem  to  kick  about 
as  if  lying  on  their  mats  ashore.  One 
writer  mentions  his  encounter  with  an  ob- 
ject which  he  toi^V  to  be  a  verv  large  frog, 
but  which  turneci  ,nit  to  bo  a  kanaka  (».  e. 
Sandwich  Island)  baby,  which  was  lying  on 
its  back  and  disporting  itself  quite  at  its 
ease. 

Indeed,  in  the  mind  of  a  Sandwich  Isl- 
ander there  seems  to  bo  no  connection  be- 
tween the  ideas  of  water  and  danger,  neither 
does  it  enter  his  imagination  that  any  hu- 
man being  is  unable  to  swim.  Conse- 
quently, there  have  been  several  instances 
where  white  men  have  fallen  into  the  water 
and  have  been  almost  drowned,  though  in 
the  presence  of  the  natives,  simply  because 
the  idea  that  any  one  could  be  endangered 
by  falling  into  the  water  never  occurred  to 
them. 
They  are    equally  skilful   in  managing 


ti: 


ill  I 
w.\ 

i 
i 


SLKF  SWJMMINO   BY    SANDWH  U    ISl^MUEKS. 
(itee  page  MU.) 


(1098) 


•     I 


StLbW^'n'.'*"''  ^^^^.  ^  ^""«"«  mode  of 
extracting    amusement  out   of  them      A 

number  of  men  will  sometimes  paddle  a 

canoe  after  dressing  themselves  up  ?n  a  most 

ludicrous  fashion.     They  take  large  emntv 

goun's,  and  put  them  over  their  SsS^ 

cutting  holes  in  them  corresponding  wth 

2al?nnlik.    nT'f  'l""'  the^eflect'isno 
at  all  unlike  that  of  a  turnip  lantern.    To 

bund^^of';,''"'',*  °^  '^''  S""'-<^  ''  attached  a 
ft  Hml  1- ^.'""•^'"vF'^'^"  *^^'g»'  ''■^hich  look  at 
a  little  distance  like  a  plume  of  feathers,  and 
to  the  lower  part  are  suspended  a  number 
beard  Th'"P'  of  cloth,  looking  like  a?ong 
fr?f  •  x?*"^.""  appearance  is  shown  in  illus- 
tration 1^0.  2,  on  the  1089th  par^e. 

won,  T'^  "''''"  '^'''''■*'  "lese  masks  were 
woin  tlic  wearers  seemed  exceedingh- jovial 

of  fntl;  '^T'"'^^  "^'^  playing  ^aflSs 
miskf wn;.  ■  ^'^f,  s'iggested  that  these 
masks  were  in  fact  helmets,  used  to  protect 

their  .',1^''  "^'■'"'1'=  "'«  ^'°"««  «li"S  by 
of  thnt  ^r''*'""'  •{"'  "^"^  ^-'^ole  demelinor 
Sat  of  nT''°  "'''""  "'°'",^^''^^  "o  cornnletely 
theorvL  '°  masqueraders  that  the  Llmet 
tneory  soems  quite  untenable. 

S!nn^„•'?y/^"•  favorite  sport  with    the 


A  BOXING  MATCH. 


1095 


sS  fS"h-  ^^  ^'^  "'  ^^  ^^in«  a  large 
stake  from  his  opponent;  but  in  the  vorv 

S  to7h  °^™'««'"g  't  he  forfdts  a  sma^ 
taken  n  "^.'l  ^^^*^™ry.  Great  interest  i" 
taken  in  the  game  by  the  spectators  and 
heavy  bets  are  laid  on  the  two  players ' 

Ihey  have  many  athletic  amusements 
such  as  bowls,  spear  throwing,  stick  dartS 
and  similar  sports  and  occalionally  en^ 
in  the  rougher  sport  of  boxing.  As  mav  bo 
seen  from  Captain  Cook's  account,  this  sport 
IS  not  carried  on  with  such  fury  and  pertU 
nacity  as  m  Tonga,  the  victory  be  ncTgSd 
on  comparatively  easy  terms: -°  ^  ^ 
ti,„;       ^ve  had  not  yet  seen  auythin<»  of 

\tZ  ?f/'''  '''  ^"^'«"'=  exercises,  the°na. 
tives,  at  the  request  of  some  of  our  officers 

Scl  ''"Tho"^  ""^  ^^'^'""S  with'I  box  5 
match     Ihese  games  were  much  inferior 
as  well  in  jjoint  of  solemnity  and  1^211^.' 
ccnce  as  in  the  skill  and  powers  of  the^om 
atants,  to  what  we  had  seen  exhibiied^t 

some  particulars  it  may  not  be  improper  to 
gi  V    a  short  account  of  them.  ^ 

■  *\'e  found  a  vast  concourse  of  people  a-?- 
sembled  on  a  level  spot  of  groun.l  at  a  llttln 
distance  from  our  toi\ts._   I  long'silce  m^' 


greeii  leaves  rolled  toget''her,and"Sornd  with  ^f^^^^^^^      iew  small  birds,  and  bunches  of 


(i;,:«„    J     ,    ..      "'"'  "*e  judges,  under 

three  standards,  from  whicli  hung 'slips  of 
cloth  of  various  colors,  the  skins  of^two  wild 


They  have  a  modification  of  this  eame 
Thev?.l7 '""'^'''«'^•»''^'^^^ourcup  Lra 
Ihey  take  a  wooden  stick,  or  handle  abmn 

on'rend  o'l^S  '"'^'"^  ^°"-  and  thrtS 
one  ena  ot  it  they  pass  a  peg  of  hard  wonrl 

some  three  inches  in  leng[h,''so  tlSinTch 

or   more    projects  on  eitlier  side.      T  cv 

nnd'^tli"'?  "^J'-'  ?f  ">«  1'^^'  t«  a  sharp  p3, 
and  the  toy  is  then  reudv.  Throwimr  u. 
the  bal  witb  the  left  hanu,  they  catch  ft  on 

lerk  it  'nto^H?''*'  ends  of 'the  ,(eg,and  iL 
jerK  It  into  the  air,  and  catch  it  a^ain  ro- 
versmg  the  stick  so  us  to  calch  t  Spon  the 
other  end  of  the  peg.  This  game  t Ii ev  wi n 
b^Ke'"^  " '''''  ^°"°  "'""  without  mfsshlg 
Another  amusement  is  very  popular 
Two  players  sit  o|.posite  each  other  one 
havin.'  a  stone  and  a  piece  of  bark  cloth 

takes    the    bark    cloth,  spreads    it  on  thn 

up  into  tolds,  while  with  the  other  he  dc- 

posits  the  stone  under  the  doth     The  pec  d 

mi'd  wlSe^"  f  ""  'i'"^''  -uses  the'?ol 

woul  ri  e      !.  ."n  '"'r'""  ^"altered,  just  as 

would  he  the  case  if  a  piece  of  thin  paner 

were  treated  in  tlic  .same  way.    The  otl ler 

player  carefully  examines  the  clotl,,  ondeav- 1 

onng  to  discover  the  spot  under  wbi..h  tl.n  I  u^t-i-VifJ'U-'-nT  ""''■"'*''"  '"  ""ese  com- 

stonc  IS  concealed,  audi  when  he  has  mn,7«  I  fl„Cf  »  !,"F,^""=^  any  iwo  are  preparing  to 


feathers. 
"  AFhen  the  sports  were  ready  to  becin. 

mediately  two  combatants  ai)peSred.  Tliev 
came  forward  slowly,  lifting'up  their  feet 
verylu^h  behind,  and  drawing  their  hand 
along  the  soles.  As  they  app?oached  thev 
frequently  eyed  each  otfier  from  head  tJ 
toot  in  a  contemptuous  manner,  castin.'  sev- 
eral arch    ooks  at  the  spectators,  strainTn. 

iestur"ef '^"n'  •"'^  using  a  variety  of  afteetea 
gi.stures.  Being  advanced  within  reach 
of  each  other,  they   stood  with  both  arms 

at  an  t'Jf.S*^"'''"'''^  '^'''  *^^''-"^'  '^^  ^^S 
part  all  their  blows  were  aimed.      Thev 

struck.  111  what  appeared  to  our  eves  an  awk- 
ward manner,  wftti  a  full  swing  6f  the  arm- 
made  no  attempt  to  parry,  but'eluded  their 
adversarv's  attack  by  an  'inclination  of  the 
body  or  by  retreating. 

''  The  battle  was  quickly  decided;  for  if 
either  of  them  was  knocked  down,  or  even 
fell  by  accident,  he  was  considered  as  van- 
quished, and  the  victor  expressed  his  tri- 
umph by  a  variety  of  gestures,  which  usu- 
allj  excited,  as  was  intended,  a  loud  laugh 
among  the  spectators.  lie  then  waited  for 
a  second  antagonist,  and,  if  again  victorious, 
lor  a  thud,  till  he  was  at  last  iu  his  turn 
defeated. 


^  "A  Singular  rule  observed  in  these  com- 
.>.ira  IS,  that  w.ulst  any  two  are  preparing  to 
iiKht,  a  third  person  mav  «.fn.» .-.,  „„j  „i. "  _. 


n 


i» 


1096 


THE  SANDWICH  ISLANDS. 


other  is  obliged  to  witlidraw.  Sometimes 
tliree  or  four  followed  each  other  in  this 
manner  before  the  match  was  settled.  When 
the  combat  proved  longer  than  usual,  or 
appeared  too  unequal,  one  of  the  cliiefs 
stepped  in,  and  ended  it  by  putting  a  stick 
between  the  combatants.  The  same  good 
humor  was  preserved  throughout  which  we 
before  so  much  admired  in  the  Friendly 
Islanders.  As  these  games  were  given  at  our 
desire  wo  found  it  was  univer.sally  expected 
that  we  should  have  borne  our  part  in  them; 
but  our  people,  though  mucli  pressed  by 
the  natives,  turned  a  deaf  car  to  their  chal- 
lenge, remembering  full  well  the  blows  they 
got  at  the  Friendly  Islands." 

A  sport  which  was  formerly  in  great 
vogue  in  the  Sandwich  Islands  is  sledgisg, 
the  sloping  sides  of  the  mountain  ranges 
being  pressed  into  the  service  of  the  plaj-- 
ers.  Ihe  game  is  called  holua,  and  is 
played  in  the  following  manner:  — 

Each  player  is  furnished  with  a  sledge, 
made  of  two  narrow  runners,  varying  from 
seven  to  eighteen  feet  in  length,  three 
inches  deep,  and  rounded  off  at  one  end, 
just  like  the  steel  runner  of  a  skate.  These 
are  placed  side  by  side,  not  parallel,  but 
slightly  diverging,  the  space  between  the 
runners  being  about  two  inches  at  the  tips, 
and  five  inches  at  the  other  end.  They 
are  connected  together  with  cross-pieces  of 
wood,  and  mostly  covered  with  strong  mat- 
ting. The  native  name  for  the  sledge  is 
pa2m.  In  order  to  prepare  a  path  on  which 
the  sledge  can  travel,  the  natives  cut  a  nar- 
row and  shallow  trench  from  the  top  of  the 
mountain  to  the  base,  and  even  carry  it  for 
a  mile  or  more  on  level  ground.  Before  the 
sport  is  begun,  the  trench  is  laid  with  grass 
so  as  to  make  the  path  easier. 

When  the  players  have  assembled  at  the 
top  of  the  mountain,  one  of  them  takes  the 
sledge  in  his  hands,  holding  it  in  front  of 
him,  retreats  a  few  paces,  and  then  runs 
forward  with  all  his  speed,  flings  himself 
head  foremost  into  the  trench,  and  glides 
down  it  at  a  terrific  pace,  resting  on  his 
sledge.  The  rapidity  with  whicli  a  well- 
managed  sledge  will  dash  down  the  treneli, 
is  absolutely  fearful,  the  incline  being  often 
at  an  angle  of  forty-live  degrees,  the  art 
of  balancing  the  narrow  sledge  is  a  verv 
difficult  one,  and  if  a  player  should  chance 
to  lean  too  much  to  one  side,  or  should 
guide  his  sledge  out  of  the  trench,  it  is 
scarcely  possible  for  him  to  escape  with  his 
life.  The  sledge  tlies  to  pieces  in  a  moment, 
the  rider  is  hurled  high  in  the  air,  and  goes 
rolling  down  the  steep  hill,  witliout  any 
means  of  guiding  or  stopping  himself. 

The  winner  in  tins  game  is  the  player 
who  travels  tiie  farthest  along  the  trench, 
and  so  fascinating  is  the  sport,  that  tlie  na- 
tives have  been  known  to  stake  the  whole 
of  their  property  on,  their  ski!!.  Tliev  si.ak.-'d 
their  houses,  their  lauds,  their  fruit  trees 


and  their  crops.  Husbands  staked  their 
wives  and  children,  and  wives  staked  them- 
selves. And  after  Uiey  had  lost  all  that 
they  had,  or  were  likely  to  have,  they 
staked  their  very  bones,  to  be  used  after 
death  in  making  fish  hooks  and  arrow 
heads. 

The  religion  of  the  Sandwich  Islanders 
resembles  so  closely  that  of  the  Polynesians 
that  little  need  be  said  about  it.  What  wor- 
ship they  have  is  extorted  by  fear,  and,  in 
accordance  with  this  priuciple,  they  make 
their  idols  as  ugly  as  possible.  There  is  a 
certain  character  about  the  idols  of  the 
Sandwich  Islands  which,  like  the  carving  of 
New  Zealand,  cannot  be  mistaken. 

In  order  to  show  how  completely  this 
character  is  impressed  upon  the  workman- 
ship, I  introduce  upon  the  following  page 
two  specimens,  one  from  the  British  Muse- 
um, and  the  other  from  my  own  collection. 
The  former  of  these.  No.  1,  is  made,  like 
the  feather  helmets,  of  wicker-work,  and  is 
very  much  larger  than  anv  human  head  and 
neck.  It  is  covered  with  the  red  and  yellow 
feathers  which  have  already  been  mentioned, 
and,  from  the  mere  price  of  the  material, 
must  have  been,  in  the  days  in  which  it  was 
made,  a  most  costly  and  precious  object. 

The  eyes  are  made  of  mother-of-pearl, 
and  in  the  centre  of  each  is  set  a  black  bead 
by  Wily  of  pupil.  The  enormous  teeth  which 
beset  the  open  mouth  are  simply  the  fangs, 
or  canine  teeth,  of  dogs.  The  top  of  the 
head  is  furnished  with  a  crest,  just  like 
that  of  the  feather  helmet.  In  spite  of  the 
rudeness  of  form,  the  image  pos^sesses  a 
certain  force  and  vigor,  which  sliows  that 
the  native  who  made  it  had  some  moilicum 
of  artistic  power,  wliich  in  this  ease  ex- 
presses itself  in  outline,  just  as  in  the  case 
of  the  feather  cloak  it  is  exemplified  in 
color. 

By  way  of  contrast  with  this  idol  we  will 
now  look  at  another  siieeinien  (No.  2,  on 
same  page),  in  which  the  artist  has  been 
obliged  to  renounce  color,  and  trust  entirely 
to  outline;  and  it  cannot  be  .said  that  he  has 
been  unsuccessful.  The  head  and  body  of 
this  image  are  cut  out  of  a  white  and  very 
light  wood,  and  have  been  covered  with 
bark  cloth.  This  cloth  has  been  stained 
black,  and  the  native  artist  has  contrived  to 
apply  it  with  such  perfection  of  manipul.a- 
tion  that  it  fits  closely  to  all  the  in.eiiualities 
of  the  carving,  and  "^caniiot  even  be  seen 
until  sjieeially  pointed  out. 

The  head  and  neck  are  separate  from  the 
trunk,  and  carved  out  of  a  single  piece  of 
wood;  and  even  the  bold  crest  and  its  sup- 
porting  rays  are  cut  out  of  the  same  piece 
of  wood.  The  teeth  of  the  upper  jaw  are 
those  of  a  human  being;  but  those  of  the 
lower  jaw  iue  simply  a  row  of  the  palatine 
teeth  of  suuie  large  fiali,  and  are  sixteen  in 
number.    They  arc  flanked  at  each  angle  of 


Tofl  Human    teeth. 
Lower  .Fish    teeth. 
Mouth  larger. 


(2.)  WOODEN  IDOL.    (800  page  1096.) 


(I.)  FEATHER  IDOL.    (See  page  lottl.) 


(1087) 


;|  -p; 

JlTEt 

II 

1 

l.fti. 

if 

'111 


■n 


the  r 

teeth 

bark 

in  at 

Bcnt 

piece 

It 
cloth 
stain 
head 
and 
The 
the  I 
He  1 
soft 
stret 
over 
nose 
close 

•Tl 
wort 
than 
attac 
sequ 
of  t 
vari( 
arra 
Tl 


A  WOODEN  IDOL. 


1090 


the  mouth  by  a  human  tooth.  After  the 
teeth  have  been  inserted  into  the  wood,  the 
bark  clolh  has  been  applied,  and  is  turned 
in  at  the  roots  of  the  teeth,  so  as  to  repre- 
sent the  gums.  The  eyes  are  simply  oval 
pieces  of  niothcr-of-pearl. 

It  is  rather  remarkable  that  the  atrip  of 
cloth  which  runs  over  the  crest  has  not  been 
stained  black,  like  that  which  covers  the 
head,  fiicc,  and  neck,  but  is  nearly  white, 
and  of  much  stronger  and  coarser  texture. 
The  skill  with  which  the  maker  has  applied 
the  cloth  to  the  wood  is  really  admirable. 
He  has  evidently  soaked  it  until  it  Was  quite 
soft  and  tender,  and  by  means  of  careful 
stretching  and  pressing  has  "coaxed"  it 
over  the  various  irregularities — such  as  the 
nose,  eyes,  and  mouth  —  so  that  it  fits  as 
closely  as  if  it  were  the  real  skin. 

•The  neck  is  small,  narrow,  and  scarcely 
worthy  of  the  name,  being  in  fact  little  more 
than  a  large  peg,  by  wliich  the  head  may  be 
attached  to  the  body  when  needed.  In  con- 
sequence of  this  arrangement,  the  position 
of  the  head  can  be  altered  at  will,  and  the 
variety  of  expression  gained  by  so  simple  an 
arrangement  is  scarcely  credible. 
The  body  of  the  idol  is  made  of  the  same 


light  wood  £.8  the  head,  and  is  also  covered 
with  the  black  bark  cloth.    There  is  a  socket 
between  the  shoulders,  into  wliich  the  neck 
fits  loosely.    The  arms  are  nothing  more 
than  bundles  of  rushes  or  reeds,  tied  with 
cloth;  and  each  hand  is  furnished  with  six 
fingers,  probably  as  a  symbol  of  extraordinary 
power.    The  fingers  are  merely  dogs'  teeth, 
the  whiteness  of  which  presents  a  curious 
contrast  with  the  black    head   and    body. 
There  are  no  legs,  nor  even  any  indication 
of  legs,  the  body  being  little  more  than  a 
block  of  wood,  with  a  hole  at  the  top  for  the 
insertion  of  the  neck,  and  a  smaller  hole  at 
each  shoulder  for  the  insertion  of  the  arms. 
Whatever  artistic  power  the  maker  pos- 
sessed has  been  given  to  the  head,  and  it 
must  be  acknowledged  that  he  has  carried 
out  his  idea  most   vigorously.    The   long 
dress  worn  by  this  idol  is  not  stained  black, 
like  that  which  covers  the  face,  head,  and 
body,  but  is   white,  and  without  even   a 
pattern. 

For  this  interesting  specimen  I  am  in- 
debted to  E.  Randell,  Esq.,  who  has  furnished 
nic  with  many  of  the  objects  which  have 
been  figured  in  this  work. 


CHAPTEE    CXm. 


THE  CAROLINE  ARCHIPELAGO. 


DRESS  —  ARCIIITECTtTHE  —  ASfTTSEMENTS  —  WAR. 


DISCOVERY  AND  NAMINO  OP  THE  ISLANDS  -  TIIEIK  OEOORArmCAL  EXTRNT-TIIF;  MARSnALI,  AND 
GILUEHT  OnOUPS- INHABITANTS  OP  ROMANZOPF  ISLAND- THE  ISLAND  OK  UOltNAUI  AVD  ITS 
DrnAi-.iVXNTS-TATTOOINO  AND  HAIIl  DRESSING -A  MAN  OP  PA8HI0N  IN  liOnNAIil -ARCHITEC- 
TURE AND  ANCIENT  RUINS -LOVE  OP  COAST -THE  PELEW  ISLANDS -8HIPWUKCK  OP  CAITAIN 
WILSON -COMPLEXION  AND  GENERAL  APPEARANCE  OP  THE  NATIVES-THE  TATTOO-rURIOUS 
COMl.INATION  OP  NAKEDNESS  AND  MODESTY -USE  OP  THE  BETEL-NUT -THE  RUPACKS  AND  THE 
BONE  linAC,;i,Mi-MODB  OF  INVESTITURE  -  SPEAR  THROWING -MODE  OF  CONDtXTINO  SEA 
FI<!HTS- ARCHITECTURE  OF  THE  PELEW  ISLANDS -MANUFACTURE  OF  DOMESTIC  IMPLEMFNT8  — 
DANCE  OF  THE  WAHRIOHS  -  IDEA  OP  KELIGION -A  FUNERAL  IN  '  THE  PELEW  ISLANDS  -  8T0RV 
OF  LEE  BOO. 


Passing  in  a  south-westerly  direction  from 
the  Sandwich  Islands  we  come  to  a  very 
large  groujj  called  the  Caroline  Archipelago. 
These  islands  were  discovered  —  as  far  as  is 
known  —  in  lo20,  by  the  Portuguese,  who  in 
those  days  were  the  most  enterprising  navi- 
gators in  the  world.    About  fiftv  years  after- 
ward they  were  visited  by  Drake,  but  they 
did  not  receive  the  name  by  which  they 
are  known  until  more  than  a  hundred  years 
after  Drake's  voyage,  when  they  were  named 
by  the  Sjjanish  the  Carolines,  in  honor  of 
Charles  the  Second,  the  then  king  of  Spain. 
These  islands   extend  over  a  very  con- 
siderable geograi)hical    range,  a  space    of 
some  fifty  degrees  intervening  between  the 
most  easterly  and  westerly  of  them.    Owing 
to  the    extensive    range  of  these  islands, 
there  is    considerable    difference    between 
the    manners  and    customs    of  these    na- 
tives, and   even   between   their  form   and 
complexion.    We  will  therefore  take  as  ex- 
amples some  of  the  easterly,  central,  and 
western  islands. 

The  most  easterly  of  the  group  are  those 
which  are  called  the  Marshall  and  Gilbert 
Islands,  the  former  being  those  of  the  north 
and  the  latter  those  of  the  south.  They  are 
sometimes  divided  into  the  Eastern  and 
Western  Islands,  tli.  former  being  the 
Radick  and  the  latter  !,i«';  Ralick  chain,  each 
group  comprising  abo!>l.  fifteen  or  sixteen 
islands. 


(1100) 


These  islands  arc  all  low  in  the  water, 
being  mostly  of  coralline  structure,  so  that 
they  are  not  visible  from  any  great  distance. 
In  consequence  of  their  luwness,  they  seem 
to  have  escaped  the  observation  of  voyagers 
until  1788,  when  they  were  diseovcrod  by 
Marshall  and  Gilbert,  after  whom  they  were 
named.  As  is  usual  in  coral  islands,  the  soil 
is  but  shallow,  having  been  formed  by  the 
decomposition  of  vegetable  matter  thrown 
on  the  coral  reefs  by  the  waves.  The  vc- 
etation  is  therefore  scanty,  and  is  mostTy 
confined  to  bananas,  cocoa-nut  trees,  bread- 
fruit—all  of  which  thrive  best  on  a  low 
situation  near  water. 

As  a  sample  of  the  Marshall  Islanders,  I 
give  a  portrait  of  a  man  and  woman  of  Ro- 
manzoff  Island,  on  the  next  page.  They 
are  a  rather  fine  race,  taller  than  the  gen- 
erality of  the  Caroline  Islanders,  and  possess 
tolerably  good  features.  They  use  the  tattoo 
with  some  profusion,  both  sexes  appearing 
to  bo  equally  addicted  to  it.  They  arc  better 
clothed  than  many  Polynesians,  the  men 
wearing  a  short  mat  rouiid  their  waists,  and 
the  women  being  clad  in  a  very  fine  and 
neatly-made  mat,  falling  nearly  to  the  feet. 
The  hair  is  long  am]  naturally  curling,  and 
is  worn  long  by  !)o;',  sexes.  Earrings  are 
in  great  request,  :!ud  some  of  them,  as  may 
be  seen  I y  refenuce  to  the  illustration,  are 
enormouslv  larifi. 

From  th.  :.!!"!'  hire  of  the  {sland,  it  is  evi- 
dent that  the  jircscnt  inhabitants  are  Dot 


(1101) 


K        i 

I 


■  U 


•\\n 


w 


i » 


?  '1^ 


1  ' 


n  I 


TrI 


A  MAN  OF  FASHION  IN  30RNABI. 


1108 


aborijifines,  but  cnme  from  other  islands  at 
no  very  rumoto  period.  Tljciy  have  l^ept  up 
the  nauliciil  spirit  to  whicli  tlu>y  owe  tlieir 
presence  on  the  island,  and  make  long  voya- 
ges fVoin  one  island  to  another.  Their 
canoes  are  well  made,  and  are  built  of 
bread-fruit  wood. 

UouNAiii  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
important  of  these  islands,  being  about 
seventy  miles  in  circumference,  and  having 
a  sullk'iput  variety  of  soil  to  be  very  fertile. 
Instead  of  being  as  low-lying  as  some  of 
these  islands,  it  is  of  volcanic  origin,  shoot- 
ing up  to  a  considerable  height  in  the  mid- 
dle, and  surrounded  by  flat  coral  reefs. 

In  consequence  of  this  structure,  it  affords 
excellent  harl)orage,  and  has  become  a  great 
place  of  resort  for  whaling  vessels.  Like 
some  parts  of  America  within  the  .same 
zone,  and  having  a  somewhat  similar  con- 
tour, the  island  is  a  very  wet  one,  so  that 
the  combined  heat  and  moisture  produ<!0  a 
wonderful  fertility  of  vegetation.  Even  on 
the  higher  >parts  of  the  island,  the  fresh 
w.Tter  nourishes  various  trees  ami  shrubs, 
while  on  the  coast  the  mangrove,  which 
delights  in  salt  water,  absolutely  grows  into 
the  sea,  and,  by  its  interlacing  roots  and 
branches  forms  a  barrier  which  cannot  bo 
penetrated  except  through  the  apertures 
made  by  the  mouths  of  rivers  and  creeks. 

The  inhabitants  are  of  a  fair  average 
stature,  (he  men  being  about  five  feet  eight 
inclu's  high,  while  tlie  women  are  much 
Hhorter.  Tliey  are,  Jiowever,  well  propor- 
tioned, and  not  stumpy  or  clumsy,  as  is  too 
often  the  case  with  the  women  of  uncivil- 
ized races. 

liike  the  RomanzotT  Islanders,  they  tattoo 
themselves  liberally,  and  both  sexes  wear 
their  black  hair  very  Ion",  keeping  it  well 
oiled  and  carefully  dresseil,  and,  in  the  case 
of  people  of  rank,  adorning  it  with  Avreaths 
of  (lowers.  Thej'  have  the  same  odd  pa.ssion 
for  turmeric  which  is  found  in  the  Polyne- 
sian races  generally,  anointing  themselves 
profusely  with  it,  and  thereby  converting 
their  naturally  pleasing  copper  color  into  a 
repulsive  yellow. 

The  men  dress  themselves  very  carefully, 
a  Bornabi  man  of  fitshion  spending  a  vast 
amount  of  tinu^  on  his  costume.  lie  must 
not  exhibit  a  vestige  of  hair  on  his  face,  but 
must  painfully  pluck  out  each  individual 
hair  bv  means  of  forceps  made  of  a  couple 
of  cockle-shells,  or  a  piece  of  tortoise-shell 
bent  double.  He  must  wear  at  least  six 
aprons,  one  over  the  other.  These  aprons 
are  made  of  strips  of  the  cocoa-nut  leaf 
bleached  white  and  about  two  feet  in  length. 
He  must  hav(>  round  his  waist  a  belt  or  sa-sh 
made  of  banana  fibre,  and  dyed  scarlet  and 


vellow.  lie  must  have  his  necklaces,  his 
headband,  and  his  scarlet  tassels  in  his 
ears;  and  he  finishes  off  his  costume  by  a 
sort  of  imrasol  or  Bunshado  made  of  leaves, 
which  ho  ties  round  his  head  so  as  to  pre- 
serve the  face  from  the  sun. 

This  elaborate  toilet  must  be  made  sev- 
eral times  daily,  as  every  native  bathes,  oils, 
and  paints  his  skin  yellow  tit  least  three 
times  every  day.  The  dross  of  the  women 
bo.irs  some  resemblance  to  that  of  the  men, 
except  that,  in  lieu  of  the  series  of  apron 
fringes  they  wear  bark  cloth  fastened  round 
the  waist  and  reaching  to  the  knee. 

In  architecture  the  people  of  Bornabi  are 
sunerlor  to  the  generality  of  Polvuesians. 
Like  the  Manjuesans,  they  begin  by  build- 
ing a  platform  of  stones,  some  four  or  five 
feet  in  height,  and  upon  this  they  erect  tlio 
framework  of  the  ediUce.  The  spaces  be- 
tween the  upright  timbers  are  filled  in  with 
wicker-work,  in  which  are  left  certain  aper- 
tures that  answer  the  purpose  of  windows. 
The  floor  is  covered  with  the  same  kind  of 
wicker-work,  except  a  small  space  in  the 
Centre,  in  which  the  fireplace  is  made.  The 
roof  is  tliat(;hed  neatly  with  pandanus  leaves. 
In  all  these  particulars  there  is  little  distinc- 
tion between  the  architecture  of  Uornabi 
and  that  of  many  other  islands.  The  chief 
])()int  of  diflerence  lies,  however,  in  Ihe  fact 
that  the  timbers  are  squared,  and  that, 
instead  of  being  merely  lashed  together, 
they  iire  fastened  by  tenon  and  mortise. 

It  seems  prol)able  that  the  superiority  of 
their  architecture,  more  especially  in  tho 
sjiuaring  of  beams  and  the  use  of  "the  mor- 
tise, is  due  not  so  much  to  themselvea  as  to 
the  remembrance  of  buildings  erected  by 
white  men  several  centuries  ago.  Near  one 
of  the  harbors  are  somo  ruined  buildings, 
which  are  evidently  not  of  .savage  architec- 
ture. They  .are  built  of  cut  stones,  wliich 
have  been  imported  from  some  other  coun- 
try, and  are  arranged  in  streets,  looking  as 
if  they  hail  formed  a  portion  of  a  fortifica- 
tion. It  has  been  conjectured  tliat  these 
buildings  were  the  work  of  the  Spanish 
buccaneers,  who  used,  some  centuries  ago, 
to  range  these  seas,  and  would  have  found 
such  a  liarbor  and  fort  invaluable  to  them. 

As  far  as  is  known,  the  inhabitant^'  of 
Bornabi  keep  almost  entirely  to  the  coast, 
and  never  visit  the  interior.  It  is  certain 
that  tho  cultivated  grounds  only  extend  for 
a  very  little  distance  inland,  and,  as  all  the 
energy  of  these  islanders  naturally  takes  a 
seaward  direction,  it  is  very  probable  thivt 
tho  natives  speak  truth  when  they  say  that 
they  have  never  even  visited  the  centre  of 
their  island. 


ti 


^j' 


(.» 


m 


II  I' 


it 


!  ■ 


1104 


THE  1»ELEW  13LAHD3. 


THE  PELEW  ISLANDS. 


TliK  wostoriimost  i»roup  of  tho  Curolincs 
is  kiiouu  hy  thu  iiaiiKi  of  the  Peluvv  w  Pal- 
jtni  Ishiinls.  Tlicv  wonuliBcovoii'd, in  154:), 
li.V  VillnlxdoH,  but  hiivo  '  ■.  m  .mdc  known 
to  118  principnlly  hi  j,.,. ,:,..  y,  CMptain  II. 
uiison,  who  wiis  ■vvrocR.v' i  (Ikti.  in  ITH.'J. 
The  Ki-oup  ron-  i«  of  ;\lM,r.  i  ivi-ulv  xniali 
i'^tands,  which  :n-i'  Rmruimdoil  by  a  n-of. 

Tho  inhai>i(.iii(8  nro  of  udnik(oi)pcr color 
woll  iimde,  (all,  and  i-i'ni;iikabhi  for  thoir 
siuU'ly  t;ait.  They  oniph.y  the  tattoo  iu 
lalhora  ninous  inanufi-,  i)ii<kinj:  th,,  ,,at- 
U'rns  thickly  on  their  !,.««  (Voin  th«!  anklos 
t.)  a  lew  iiiclifs  al»ove  tho  kiu<us,so  tiiat  th 
nok  a.s  if  thi-ir  l(M,'s  wcro  (hiikor  ir  ,.oioi 
tliaii  till)  ivNt  of  tlu'ir  bodies.  Tli.v  are 
cK'nnly  in  their  habits,  bathiiij;  fr<M|U(">ntlv 
nnd  niltbing  theinsclvon  witii  cocoa-mit  oil' 
so  a.s  to  give  a  soft  and  gios.sy  app.iiVanco  to 
tiu'  skin. 

'llic  hair  of  f  hn  head  is  fine  and  black,  and 
IS  worn  ioiij,'  by  botii  .spxes,  l.eiiiK  rr)lle(l  tii) 
111  a  prciiliur  lii-liion  elosu  to  the  iiack  of  thl' 
hfiid.  'I'hatof  I  he  fare  and  chin  is  mostly 
iviiioved,  bciii^'  plucked  out  liv  tweezers 
only  a  few  men.  rem.arkid.le  for  the  mtreiiL'tii 
and  thickness  of  tlieir  l)eanls.allowiiijr  them 
to  .<;r()w.  The  men  wear  no  clotliim'  not 
oven  the  kin;,'  him.self  haviiii,'  the  least  yes- 1 
ti.i;e  of  raiment,  tile  tattoo  being  supposed  to 
answer  tiu^  i)uri)ose  of  dress. 

So  imacinainted  with  real  clothiiiR  were 
tiiey  when  Captain  Wilson  visited  them 
that  (hey  were  utterly  perplexed  at  the  yar- 
meiits  of  tlie  wlii(e  men,  lil'dni,'  up  the  Haps 
of  the  coats,  piiiehiiii;  the  sleeves,  and  then 
compariiii,'  them  with  their  own  naked  limb.s 
evidently  fancyinj,'  that  these  mysteriou.s 
objects  were  the  skin  peculiar  to  tlie  white 
man.  They  ai.so  took  the  blue  veins  on  the 
Hcamen's  wrists  for  lines  of  ta((ooiiijj,  and 
a.sked  to  be  allowed  to  se,  the  \\  hole  of  the 
arm,  in  order  to  lind  out  whether  tho  blue 
lines  were  continued  beyciid  tile  wrist. 

In  sjute,  however,  of  the  ab.senco  of  dross 
tho  deportment  of  the  Fexcs  toward  each 
Other  is  i)erfeelly  modest.  For  example 
th('  men  and  women  will  not  I)atlie  at  the" 
saiiK-  spot,  nor  even  go  near  n  bathin>j-i)lnce 
of  tho  opposite  sex  unless  it  bo  deserted.  If 
a  man  i.s  forced  to  pass  near  a  women's  bath- 
inQ:-plaee,  he  is  obliired  when  ho  comes 
within  a  stipulated  distance,  to  give  a  loud 
shout:  and,  if  it  be  answered  by  a  female 
voice,  he  must  either  pa.sa  by  a' circuitous 
route,  or  turn  b.-ick  and  wait  until  tho  women 
li.ive  left  the  spot. 

Their  features  are  tolerably  pood,  the  nose 
radh'r  prominent,  and  (ho  "month  mo.|ir- 
ately  lar^'e.  They  would  look  a  tolerably 
liandsome  iieople  but  for  their  custom  of 
chowinf,'  tho  botel-niit,  which  stains  tho 
mouth  red  and  tln!  teeth  black.  The  chiefs 
and  all  the  principal  mou  ai'S  ho  dcv.".:^'d  to  ! 


the  hotel  that  tlioy  always  carry  with  them 
ft  little  basket  co'ntainiiig  tho  nuts,  and  n 
small  bamboo  vessel  in  which  they  keei>  tho 
<|uickiimo  which  is  mixed  with  tho  hotel 
when  chewed, 

AI(houj,'h  they  cnro  nothing  for  dre«»,nn(l 
comparatively  little  for  ornaiiieut,  tiio  very 
Kreat  chiefs  wear  ono  deeoialion  which  is 
mized  by  them  much  as  is  (he  (iarler  in 
KiiKland,  or  tho  fJoldeii  Flee<:e  in  Spniu. 
This  is  a  bone  bracelet,  worn  on  the  left 
wrist  and  dc  not'iij,'  the  vory  highest  rank 
next  to  that  of  tlio  kiii^  hi  iiself.  Tho.so  who 
-••u  I  nyilej,'ed  to  wear  it  arc  called  I{iii)acks, 
and,  a;  will  i.reHontly  be  seen,  llio  rank  is 
not  necessarily  heroiiitary,  but  is  conferred 
nt  tho  pleasure  of  the  kiiij(. 

It  seems  siinn«o  to  us  (lint  distinctions  of 
rank  should  be  thus  shaii)lv  delinod  anioie- 
a  people  like  the  I'elew   Israuders,  and   thai 
"naked  Hava«iH  "  should  ha  vi.  (heir  various 
Ki'adations  of  social  i)ositioii.   That  a  deliuite 
scale  of  rank  should  exist  at  all   Is  an  evi- 
doiice  of  some  civilization,  and  that  so  com- 
plete a  syslom  should  bo  found  aiiionj,'  these 
IS  nnders  appears  a  i)erleet  eiiif^iua  to  tlioso 
Who    have    been    aeeustonied    to   associate 
clothing  and  civilization  as  inseiiarable  con- 
ditions.     Yet   here   we  have    the  singular 
[act  that  there  is  a  distinct  division  of  i  auks 
mlo  king,   nobles,   gentry,   and   jieasautry; 
and  (hal,  aKhoiigh  these  rtiiiks  are  iierfect'ly 
Well  deliiied  and  aeknowledged,  not  a  man, 
from  the  almost  despotic  king  to  tho  lowest 
.subject,  wears  the  slightest  article  of  cloth- 
ing. 

Kot  only  are  these  distinctions  jealously 
olKserved,  but  we  fmd  also  that  ib'e    noble's 
are  divided  into  several  ranks,  as  .,  the  ease 
in  civilized  lands,  and  that  the  highest  rank 
IS  denoted  by  a  symbolical  badge.  Thisbadr,. 
IS  conferred  only  by  the  so\,  reign   hiinsdf 
and  th.!  invesiUure  with  the  Kujiack's  bono' 
IS  conducted  with  a  ceremonious  solemnity 
(hat  denotes  the   estimation  in  which  ii  is 
held.     Sodee|.lyare  the  PMjiacks  attached 
to  thi.s  symbol  of  their  rank,  that  a  rebel 
Hupaek,   who  li.id   made   war    against  tlie 
king,  and  was   taken   alive,  resisted   every 
attempt  to  dejirive  him  of  his  bracelet,  anil 
did  not  part  with  it  until  ho  had  sacritlced 
us  hie  III  Us  defence.     In  shape  the  bono 
bears  a  curious   resemblance   to   tho   open 
.i.i  »vs  of  n  skate,  and  is  probably  made  ou 
that  model. 

Tho  mode  of  investiture  is  a  very  ceremo- 
nious one,  and  is  illustratod  mi  Uw  following 
page.  The  Unpacks  are  assembled  together 
III  a  sort  of  ciiuittcr  of  their  order,  and  the 
Ituiiack  elect  is  seated  at  a  little  dist.iiice 
from  them.  Tho  king,  or  a  I{u|)ack  ap- 
pointed by  him,  then  takes  the  bracelet,  and 
directs  tlie  cmdidate  to  throw  a  stone  as  far 
as  he  eaii.    This  is  dyiiu  ia  ovdei-  to  tisccr- 


(1.)  iwi.siirimK  oi'  niK  kupack.   (s,,.  imifi.  ikh.; 


h:  p 


■i\ 


.ti 


Ci.)  TUli   U      .  UIOUS'   DANCK.    (S«t«  pii(.'<-- U<**0 
(HOb) 


THE  llUrACK. 


1107 


Uxln  whl(!h  liuml  lie  lm))ilimlly  uhph,  bo  Umt 
if  lui  Iks  11  4-iKl»t-lmiiili;il  litiill  tlio  l^mnjlot 
gooH  on  thii  hilt  v/riHt,imd  it'll  Icft-humled 
111411  on  llic  right  wrJHt. 

A  HtriiiK  is  tlinu  tiiul  (0  oftcli  fln>?t'r  of  tlio 
hiin  i;  tilt!  Htrinn«  iiro  puHHud  tinouxh  tim 
briicclct,  which,  toKothcr  with  tim  liiiiitl,  in 
lili'iililiillv  iiiioinli'il  with  cocoii-niil  oil.  Tlu' 
prinripai  lliiiiiic'i<  liiiMi  i)iiu'i'«  hinisolf  heliiud 
llu-  nindidiilo,  iind  holds  him  llnnly  by  tim 
HhouldiTs,  while  imothor  hauls  nl  tho  HtrinK». 
The  kini,',  In  tins  nuMintinu',  Hiiuoii/.cn  to- 
j(othi>r  thii  lln.;iTs  of  tho  hund,  ami  by  dc- 
LTccM  driiwrtlhc  ItriKiidid  (Innlyon  Ihn  wrist. 
H(!  tlu'n  makes  ft  speech  to  the  new  lliipiiek, 
telliiii,'  him  to  polish  tlie.  l)nu:elet  daily,  und 
keep  it  bri;{ht;  never  to  siilVer  its  honor  to 
1)1)  tarnished,  and  never  to  part  from  it  but 
with  his  life, 

Caplaiii  Wilson,  who  was  himself  invested 
with  tile  Iliipaek's  bone,  writes  thus  of  the 
ceremony  and  its  objeet:  — "This  mark  of 
distinction  is  <^iven  and  received  in  these 
I'cgions  as  a  reward  of  valor  and  fidelity, 
and  held  out  us  th(!  |)ri/.e  of  merit. 

"  In  tills  li;;ht  such  iiublie  lionors  were 
originally  eoiisidered,  and  siill  ouiJiht  to  be 
so,  in  every  stale,  from  I'elew  to  IJrilain. 
And  while  tln^y  continue  to  he  thus  re- 
pmied  they  will  operate  on  the  human  pas- 
Bioiis  — excite  (iiuulatlon,  inspire  cour:ip>, 
jiromnle  virtue,  and  clialleiitje  respect.  The 
decoration,  Indiuid,  derives  all  its  snleiidor 
from  the  eoiubined  ideas  of  the  minit  whilst 
viewinj;  it;  and  the  ima;;^inalion  is  e(pially 
impressed  with  the  same  seiitinu^nt,  whether 
the  l)ad'.,'e  of  lionor  lie  a  strip  of  velvet  tied 
round  the  knee,  a  tull  of  riband  and  a  cross 
daiiiiliuii  at  the  bullon-hole,  a  star  eni- 
iiroidered  oil  tlic  coat,  or  a  bone  upon  the 
arm." 
•  He  iniu'lit  liave  added  that  the  intrinsui 
value  of  the  decoration  liears  no  eompaiisitn 
with  (he  honor  which  it  denotes,  and  that 
the  boiii'  of  the  naked  IVIew  Islander,  the 
lanri'l  or  parsUiy  crown  of  the  ancient  war- 
.rior,  or  the  Victoria  Cross  of  the  modern 
hero,  are  alike  valueless  and  priceless.  It  is 
remarkable  that  the  kiiiij;  does  not  wear  the 
bone,  so  that  he  has  no  external  si;;;n  to  dis- 
tintjuish  him  from  the  meanest  peasant. 

Tli(!  I'elew  Islanders  are  not  a  very  war- 
like jieiiple,  and  their  weapons  are,  there- 
fore, aini|)le  .and  few.  Tliey  have  two  kinds 
of  spears,  one  used  as  a  missile,  and  the 
olliiir  as  a  pike.  The  missih>  spear  is  thrown 
by  a  very  remarkable  instrument,  n^mind- 
iiii?  the  observer  of  the  Australian  wumnie- 
rah,  or  throw-stick. 

It  consists  of  a  piece  of  wood  about  two 
feet  in  length,  and  havinii  a  notch  at  one 
end.  When  tl  .1  warrior  wishes  to  throw  his 
spear,  lie  jjlaees  the  butt  in  the  notch  of  tlu! 
tlirowiiiu;-stick,  and  with  his  left  hand  bends 
the  elastic  bamboo  shaft  until  it  is  nearly 
douliled.  The  hold  of  the  left  hand  is  then 
loosed,  and  the  spear  projects  itself  to  a  cou- 


nlderahlo  distance  by  moan«  of  lU  own  oIm- 

tlcity.  To  an  European  nothliin  can  bo 
more  awkward  than  this  moile  of  ihrowiiig 
the  spear;  but  the  I'elew  IslanderH  can  deiiil 
tiie  weapon  to  a  coiiBiderablo  di.slniice,  und 
aim  it  well  beaidcH. 

Kveii  without  the  old  of  the  tlirowlng- 
Mtiek,  they  are  no  mean  ach'ptn  at  hurling 
the  spear.  When  Lee  Uoo,  the  son  of  tho 
king,  was  at  Canton,  Home  genllenieii  who 
were  skilled  ill  spear  throwing'  asked  him  to 
exhibit  the  manner  in  which  his  own  people, 
managed  the  weapon.  He  tiok  the  spear, 
and,  not  thinkii-r  that  it  wiw  to  be  thrown, 
merely  (piivereil  and  jioised  it  according  to 
the  usual  preliminaries.  He  was  then  re- 
(piested  to  throw  it  at  a  gauze  cage,  with  a 
bird  jiaiuled  on  it.  The  cage  was  at  such  a 
distance  that  tho  gentlemen  could  seldom 
strike  it.  J-eo  Uoo,  however,  took  up  the 
spear  carelessly,  poised  it  for  a  r.iomeiit, 
hurled  it,  and  not  only  hit  the  cage,  but 
struck  the  bir.l  through  the  head. 

The  Unpacks  mostly  carry  swords  and 
daggers.  The  former  arc  made  of  a  very 
heavy  wood,  and  nearly  three  feet  in  li'iigUi. 
They  are  inlaid  tyith  pieces  of  while  shell, 
and  are  strong  and  heavy  eiiou'di  to  kill  a 
man  with  a  single  blow.  The  daggers  are 
made  of  the  tail-bone  of  the  sting-ray,  ami, 
when  not  in  use,  are  carried  in  a  sheath 
made  of  a  single  joint  of  bamboo,  iust  as  la 
the  case  with  the  small  knives  of  Borneo. 

Land  battles  are  seldom  fought  in  these 
islands,  the  natives  trusting  chielly  to  their 
canoes,  which  are  of  large  size  and  well 
built.  Their  hulls  are  cut  out  of  tree 
trunks,  and  then  are  carved,  painted,  and 
inlaid  with  the  patient  care  which  distin- 
guishes savage  art.  When  the  king  goes 
out  in  state,  the  canoes  are  further  adorned 
with  bunches  of  shells,  strung  on  cords  and 
hung  to  the  bows  and  stern-posts.  Tho 
out-rigger  is  used,  aiiil  the  sails  are  of  tho 
'•  latine."  form.  Despite,  however,  of  tho 
care  bestowed  upon  their  vessels,  the  Pelew 
Islanders  arc  not  good  sailors,  and  seldom 
venture  outside  the  chain  of  reefs  which  en- 
circle their  group  of  islands.  Even  within  it 
when  the  sea  ran  at  all  high,  they  would  not 
venture  into  their  canoes. 

In  consequence  of  their  mode  of  fighting, 
the  capture  of  an  encmy'.s  canoe  is  thought 
of  mudi  more  consequence  than  the  slaugh- 
ter of  his  soldiers,  and  is  looked  upon  much 
in  the  same  light  as  we  consider  the  capture 
of  an  eiicmv's  gun  or  flag.  Therefore  when 
one  party  Vuids  that  the  battle  is  going 
a-'ainst  them,  they  turn  their  canoes  land- 
w^ird,  and  drive  them  ashore  with  all  their 
might,  and,  if  possible,  drag  them  so  high 
on  the  beach  that  they  cannot  bo  lloatcd 
without  exposing  tho  invaders  to  almost 
certain  death. 

The  principal  tool  used  in  m.iking  tho 
canoe  is  the  adze,  or  axe.  In  form  tho 
weapon  is  almost  idcutical  with  tho  Polync- 


1 


A 


1108 


THE  PELEW  ISLANDS. 


slnn  adzes  which  hnvo  boon  nlrcatly  de- 
scrihiMl  in  this  work.  Tlic  blade  is  nmdo  of 
tile  tliicl<  and  strong  gliell  of  (lie  giant  clam, 
and  tlie  most  curioiin  point  of  tlie  instru- 
ment is  that  the  head  revolves  in  a  groove, 
so  that  it  I'an  be.  us^ed  as  an  adze  or  an  axe 
at  pleasure.  The  Dyak  ))oat  builder  has  a 
precisely  similar  instrument,  as  will  be  seen 
in  the  course  of  a  few  pages. 

Tlu'ir  smaller  tools  and  implements  — 
such  as  stone  knives,  coml),  and  string  — 
diey  carry  in  the  basket  which  holds  their 
betel;  and  as  they  have  no  dress,  and  conse- 
quently no  ])ockcts,  a  man  never  walks  to 
any  distance  from  his  homo  without  carry- 
ing the  basket  wiDi  him. 

The  arehilecture  of  the  Pelew  Islanders 
is  verj-  good.  The  houses  are  raise(l  about 
throe  feet  from  the  ground  by  nu'iius  or' 
stone  posts,  U[)on  which  are  laid  the  beams 
which  su))i)(>rt  the  llooriug  and  side-posts. 
The  walls  are  made  of  thick  malting,  wliieh 
cxti'U.ls  from  ])ost  to  post,  and  the  tloors  arc 
generally  of  plank,  having  an  inch  or  .<<o  of 
.space  between  lh(>  boards.  Sometimes  they 
are  made  of  s]ilit  bamboos,  which  beconu' 
j;olishe(l  and  very  slippei'y  by  tlio  constant 
tread  of  naked  feet. 

Each  house  has  in  the  centre  its  flrejdace, 
sunk  lower  than  the  tlooring,  and  firmed  of 
stones  and  earth.  The;  lire  is  kejit  burniug 
all  night,  not  for  the  jnirpose  of  warnul;,  Itut 
that  the  smoke  may  till  the  liouse,  and  drive 
away  nios(piitoes.  When  the  house  is  a  very 
large  one.  and  eniployeil  for  the  general  use, 
there  are  (wo  (n-eplaces,  one  at  iiah  end. 
Along  the  sides  of  the  house  are  arranged 
oertaFn  apertures  which  answer  eipially  the 
pnriioses'of  windows  or  <loors,  and  are  fur- 
nished with  sliding  shutters,  by  which  (hey 
can  be  closed  at  pleasure.  Each  of  these 
apertures  is  furnished  with  stepping  stones, 
by  means  of  which  the  iidiabitaiils  can  en- 
ter or  leave  tlu'  house  without  having  to 
clamber  from  Ihc  gnnnid  (o  (he  raised  lloor. 
The  large  houses  are  employed  for  public 
uses,  the  coimeils  being  Indd  in  front  of 
them,  or  the  iieojile  assembling  in  them  for 
social  talk,  in  which  the  woini-n  be.ir  their 
full  share.  Some  of  these  iKUises  arc  from 
sixty  to  eighty  feet  in  Icnglh. 

Being  a  cleanly  people,  the  Pelew  Island- 
ers keep  their  houses  neatly  swept,  the 
broom  being  a  bundle  of  cocoa-nut  husks 
tied  together.  The  vessels  which  contain 
fresh  water  are  sim))ly  joints  of  the  bainboo, 
the  0])v\\  ends  of  which  are  furnished  with  a 
sort  of  s|iout  or  lij),  by  means  of  which  the 
water  can  bo  poured  without  danger  of 
being  sjiilt. 

The  cooking  vesseln  are  made  of  oarthen- 
ware,  and  are  mostly  of  an  oval  shape.  The.y 
arc  not,  however,  very  good  potters,  their 
pots  and  pans  being  ratlier  fragile,  and  so 
badly  burnt  that  the  natives  daro  not  put 
thein  at  onco  on  the  (iro,  hut  set  them 
first  at  a  little  distance,  and,  as  they  become 


warmer,  bring  them  nearer,  turning  thorn 
continually,  so  as  to  heat  each  part  eciually. 

When  Captain  Wilson  was  «t  the  Pelew 
Islands,  the  king  Imd  a  vessel  ff  whioh-  he 
was  very  proud,  rt  was  carved  out  of  a 
block  of  wood,  j)lentifidly  inlaid  with  ])iece8 
of  white  shell,  and,  when  the  cover  was 
upon  it,  formed  a  tolerably  fair  representa- 
tion of  a  bird.  This  vessel  held  about  nine 
gallons,  aiul  on  occasions  of  great  cere- 
mony, was  brought  out  and  filled  with  sweet 
drink  for  the  use  of  (he  king  and  his  Itu- 
packs. 

Of  the  lunusements  of  the  Pelew  Island- 
ers C.'apfaiu  Wilson  says  little,  and  gives  but 
a  bric'l  description  of  the  very  odd  dance  in 
which  (hey  delight.  This  descriiition  will 
bo  better  understood  by  reference  to  the 
illustrition  on  the  llO.'ith  page.  "  In  the 
evening  our  people  were  entertained  with  a 
dance  of  the  warriors,  who  were  just  then 
returned,  which  was  jierfornied  in  (he  fol- 
lowing miinner:  — 

"  'Jiie  (laueera  have  a  quantity  of  plantain 
leaves  brought  (o  (hem,  which  they  split 
and  shiver  into  the  form  of  ril)an(is.  Tliesu 
(hey  (wine  and  lix  nuind  (heir  beads,  wrists, 
waists,  aid<les,  and  knees;  and  (he  leaves 
being  of  ayelloviish  hue,  so  prepared,  have 
not  an  inell'gant  effect  when  apiilied  (o  their 
dark  copjier  skin.  They  make  also  bunches 
or  tassels  of  (he  same,"\>hich  (hey  hold  in 
(heir  hands. 

"  Wiien  drawn  out,  they  form  themselves 
in(o  circles  of  (wo  or  (hree  deen,  one 
widiin  another.  In  general,  an  elderly  man 
amongst  them  begins  in  a  very  solemn  tone 
something  like  a  song,  or  long  senlence  — 
fo"  our  coimtrymen  could  not  diseiiniimdo 
which  it  was' — and  when  he  conu's  (o  a 
]iause,  or  what  we  should  call  (he  end  of  a 
stanza,  a  chorus  is  stnu'k  up,  and  flic 
(lancers  all  join  in  concert,  s(ill  conliuuing 
their  figure. 

"  Their  dancing  does  not  so  inttch  consist 
in  capering  or  agility  as  in  a  jiartieular 
uu'thod  they  have  of  Imlaucing  themselves, 
and  this  fre'iuently  very  low  sideways,  sing- 
ing togefher  all  the  while;  during  which 
thev  will  llatten  their  circles,  .so  as  to  bring 
themselves  face  to  face  to  each  other,  lift- 
ing ni>  the  tassels  they  hold  in  their  hands, 
and  giving  thi'm  a  clashing  or  trenndous 
motion.  Af'(er  this  there  will  lu  a  sudden 
patise,  ami  an  exclamation  from  every  one 
of'  Wt'cl ! '  Then  a  new  sentence  or  stanza 
is  repeated,  and  danced  to  'if  before,  and  the 
same  ceremony  coidinucd  (ill  every  man 
who  is  engaged  in  (he  dance  has  in  his  tm-n 
had  his  rc-pefition  and  chorus." 

As  iV.r  as  was  ascertained  by  Capfain  Wil- 
son, the  Pelew  Islanders  have  some  notions 
of  religion,  and  eer(ainly  believed  in  a  life 
after  deafh.  They  had  several  supersd- 
tions,  one  of  which  was  (hat  (he  wood  of  a 
cer(ain  (ret  vvaa  unlucky,  and  always  brought 
harm  wherever  it  was  lised.    When  Captiun 


STORY  OF  LEE  BOO. 


1109 


"Wilson  wa»  buiUHtiK  hts  now  vcasol,ho  used 
some  planks  of  tliis  ivw,  much  to  tho  dis- 
may of  the  kinj,',  Abhii  'riuillo,  who  b(!!j;sed 
him  to  remove  Hum.  Captain  Wilnon  vk- 
plainod  to  liim  tiiat  as  in  his  own  conntry 
any  kind  of  sintiil)lo  wood  was  ortiploycd  for 
ship  hnildimj;  without  i)r()ducin«  disastrous 
results,  till!  same  impunity  was  to  be  ex- 
pected in  the  I'dew  Islands.  As  it  liappened, 
shortly  after  Hie  obnoxious  iilanks  had  been 
inserti'd,  one  of  the  carix'iiters  fell  from  tlii! 
side  of  the  vessel,  anil  hurt  himself  severely, 
thus  contirmiiii,'  tlie  natives  in  their  belief. 

Their  funeral  ceremonies  are  very  short 
and  siiniile,  and  even  in  one  instance  wit- 
nessed liv  (Japtnin  Wilson,  when  the  K(m  of 
the  priii(M|)al  chief  was  buried,  there  was 
scarec'ly  any  ceremony.  The  corpse  was 
wrapped  uii'iii  mats,  aiiil  borne  by  four  men 
on  a  i)ier,  no  men  except  the  actual  bearers 
attending.  A  mniilier  of  women  followed 
the  bier,  and  poured  out  loud  lamentations 
as  they  walked.  When  tliey  arrived  at  the 
place  of  Idiriiil,  tlie  body  was  laid  in  the 
f^rave,  and  tlui  c;uth  immediately  tilled  in 
by  the  four  bearers,  while  the  women  knelt 
round,  and  renewed  their  lamentations, 
marking;  as  if  they  would  tear  uj  the  body 
from  the  'ground. 

Next  clay,  however,  llaa  Kook,  the  father 
of  the  deceased,  went  to  the  burial-place, 
and  performed  a  cr.rious  ceremony.  He 
took  two  iihl  cocoa-nuts  (youn<j;  nuts  beinij; 
always  jjatlr-'red  for  consu'ni|)tion)  and  some 
red  ochre,  with  which  Ik;  <\ivvi  transverse 
stripes  across  the  nuts.  lie  then  lai<l  the 
painted  nuts  liy  his  side,  and  repeated,  in  an 
mnlertone,  si>ine  words  which  were  sup- 
posed to  bo  an  incantation  or  prayer  of  some 


kind.  A  bundle  of  betel  leaves  was  treated 
in  the  same  way,  and  the  whole  were  then 
delivered  to  an  old  woman,  who  went  with 
them  toward  the  <j;rave;  but  the  precise  ter- 
mination of  the  ceremony  was  not  ascer- 
tained. 

On  jmu'e  1 107  mention  was  made  of  Leo 
IJoo.  As  this  yomiK  man  was  the  lirst  I'elew 
Islander  who  ever  visitiid  Kii«land,  and  was 
besides  a  very  remarkable  character,  I  will 
conclude  this  account  with  a  short  memoir 
of  him,  ,  .         , , , 

lie  was  the  second  son  of  the  kiuf,',  Abba 
Tliulle,  who  was  no  common  man,  and  well 
deserving;  of  the  power  which  he  held,  lie 
possessed  f^'reat  ener<,'y,  wonderful  libi;rality 
of  mind,  and  an  intiate  nobility  of  disiiosi- 
tion.  The  visit  of  the  white  men  tau<,'lit 
him  tlieir  inlinite  superiority,  and  when 
f'ai)tain  Wilson  had  built  his  new  ship,  and 
was  about  to  start,  Abba  Thu'ilc  i)e<,'fi;ed  him 
to  lake  Lee  Hoo  to  En;,'Ian(l,  to  have  him 
instructed  in  the  arts  of  civilization,  and  to 
send  him  back  i.^'ain  so  that  he  iniKht  be  the 
teacher  of  his  future  peoiiU?.  The  reijuest 
was  }i;ranted,  and  Lee  JJoo  accompanied 
Captain  Wilson  to  Eiii^dand,  where  he  lived 
for  live  monllis,  winniiif^  the  esteem  and  af- 
fection of  all  whom  he  met,  by  hii'  intelli- 
<;(mt,  modest,  and  atl'cctionate  nature.  Un- 
fortunately for  his  father's  hopes,  he  was  at- 
tacked with  sm.'>.ll-pox,  of  which  be  died,  his 
last  wish  beiii^  that  all  liresents  that  been 
iriven  him  sliould  be  sent  to  his  father.  T 
died  on  Dec.  27,  17H4,  and  was  buried  i. 
Uotherbithc  Church,  where  a  tomb  was 
criicted  to  his  memory  by  the  India  Com- 
1  pany. 


II! 


i 


•II 


II 


1^ 


■!: 


'^%:    £ 


CHAPTER    CXIV. 


BORNEO. 


THE  DTAKS,  THEIR  APPEARANCE  AKD  DRESS. 

SUPPOSED  OnlOI.N  OF  TUB  DYAK8  —  NUMIiEB  OF  TRIIIES — THE  SEA  AND  LAND  DYAKS  —  GENERAI. 
APPEARANCE  OP  THE  NATIVES  —  TATTOOINO  MOST  PREVAI.KNT  AMONO  THE  1,EAST  CIVILIZED 
TRIUES — DUESS  AND  ORNAMENT  —  EXTUAORDINAUY  EARUIN<iS  —  FILING  AND  liLACKENINr,  THK 
TEETH — A  DVAK  WAHRIOU  IN  FI'LL  DliESH  —  A  DUSl'M  WAItKIOR  IN  ORDINAliY  COSTIMF,  —  THK 
ILLINOAN  PIRATES,  THEIR  ARMAMENTS  AND  FEROCITY — A  HAIiHAI  DVAK  AND  HIS  STItANdB 
HEADDRESS  —  STRENGTH  AND  ACTIVITY  OF  THE  DYAKS — "  It.lTANG  "  WALKING  —  AN  OP.LIGINa 
DYAK — THEIR  AUILITY  TO  PENETRATE  JUNGLES  —  THE  CHAWAT  AND  SARONG —  A  DVAK  DANDY  — 
DRESS  OP  THr.  WOMEN  — THE  liEDANG  ^VND  SLEEVELESS  JACKET  — THE  DEAUTIFIL  HAIR  OP 
DYAK  WOMEN  —  THE  METALLIC  BODICES  —  A  SAIBAS  OIUL  IN  FULL  DP.ESS — DYAK  BELLS  — 
TRE.VTMENT  OF  THE   WOMEN. 


WiTTi  the  exception  of  Australia,  wliidi  may 
tnkii  rank  us  a  continent,  IJonxKO  is  tlic 
ianjest  islnml  in  tlio  world.  It  is  situated  in 
the  trojiics,  the  etn'r-lor  passing  nearly 
tlirou:,d>  the  centre  of  it,  and  forms  the 
centre  of  the  Indira  Archi])elan;o. 

Until  late  ye-irs,  scarcely  anything  was 
known  of])orn(();  1  ml  since  the  late  Sir. fanus 
Brcokc!  accom])lis!icd  his  wonderful  series  of 
exploits  against  the  piratical  tribes  that  in- 
fested the  coast  for  more  than  a  thousand 
miies,  anil  destroyeil  all  commerce,  the 
country  has  been  tolerably  explored,  and 
the  manners  and  customs  of  its  inhabitants 
investigated.  Following  the  plan  on  which 
this  work  has  been  formed,  we  will  only 
concern  oiirstdves  about  the  natives  of  iJor- 
nco  who  live  to  a  degree  the  life  of  savages. 
and  only  possess  that  amount  of  civilization 
which  is  comp.-xtiblo  with  savage  existence. 

PrTTiva  aside  the  iMalay  Mahometans 
who  have  settled  in  Borneo,  W'c  may  rouglily 
divide  tlie  native  tribes  into  the  Land  and  ; 
Sea  Dyaks.  The  former  of  these  divisions  \ 
seldom  go  to  Sea,  either  for  piracy  or  Iraile, ' 
and  in  this  respect  are  very  ditVcrent  from  j 
the  Sea  Dyaks,  whoso  existence  is  essentially  | 
a  naval  one.  i 

Mr.  Brooke  believes  that  the  T.nnd  Dynks  ; 
have  emigrated  from  a  country  in  which  ( 
lliey  w-ould  be  brought  in  contact  with  Ilin-  i 
dooism,  inasmuch  as  they  possess  stmdry  j 
relics  of  that  religioa.    "The  remains  of  I 


Ilindooism  found  among  them,  such  as 
stone-shaped  bulls  and  other  stone  utensils, 
and  the  refusal  among  them  to  touch  the 
tlesh  of  cattle  or  deer  —  and  so  [larticular  arc 
they  that  they  will  fine  a  man  for  even 
s|)illing  the  blood  of  these  animals  on  their 
premises;  the  name  of  their  deity  Ixing.Iu- 
wata — these  testiiying  points  support  a  fair 
coujeitture  that  they  must  havi' gained  a  fair 
notion  of  Hindoo  worshij)  IVoin  p(>oplo 
coming  into  the  Kai)nas  Kiver  from  the 
island  of  .lava,  which  is  only  distant  from 
some  of  the  outstretching  points  of  Borneo 
two  hundred  miles,  and  fair  winds  generally 
prevail  between." 

In  conlirmation  oflhis  oiiinion,  IMr.  Brooke 
mentions  that  the  evpression,  '•  in  the  days 
of  the  Hindoos,"  was  formerly  employed 
when  any  ancient  dale  was  signified.  There 
ai'c  aboiit  nine  or  ten  brancln  s  of  the  Laud 
Dyaks,  each  of  which  branches  is  divided 
into  a  considenihlc  number  of  triljcs.  It  is 
impossii)le  to  give  the  names  and  des<ri])tion 
of  the  individual  tribes  on  account  of  their 
(hicluating  characlerl  The  people  are  con- 
tinually shifting  their  idaee  in  search  of  new 
lands  for  cultivation,  and  the  result  is  that 
they  (piarrel  with  each  other,  fight,  are  dis- 
persed, and  tlins  foi'ui  new  trilies  in  the  spots 
on  which  thW  settle. 

Itisthouglit  that  their  mmiber  docs  not 
exceed  forty  tli'msand.many  tribes  of  which 
h.avc  never  been  near  tlu'  sea. 

Next  come  the  Sea  Dyaks,  a  fairer,  a  finer, 


(UIO) 


DYAK  DBESS  AND  ORNAMENTS. 


1111 


and  a  more  interesting  people.  They  are 
about  three  times  as  numerous  as  the  Land 
Dyaks,  and  are  at  tlie  present  day  much 
whuttlie  old  sea-kings  were  in  days  gone  by 
They  arc  essentially  a  nation  of  rovers,  liv- 
ing i)y  piracy,  and  carrying  out  to  the. fullest 
extent  the  abominable  practice  of  head- 
hunting, of  whif  li  \vc  sliall  see  something  in 
the  course  of  a  few  pages. 

Tliey  are  taller  tlian  the  Land  Dyaks,  who 
seldom  exceed  five  feet  six  inches  in  height, 
and  much  fairer  in  complexion.  The  skin 
of  the  Land  Dvakis  brown.whereas  that  of  the 
Sea  Dyak  is 'many  shades  lighter,  and  has 
been  compared  to'tho  color  of  a  new  saddle 
—  a  hue  'which  admirably  suits  the  well- 
developed  forms  of  these  people.  They  arc 
very  proud  of  tlieir  complexion,  and  the 
women  are  fond  of  an  excuse  for  throwing 
olf  the  jackets  which  they  wear,  in  order  to 
exhiliit' their  smooth  satiny  skins,  polialied 
and  shining  as  if  of  new  bronze. 

Their  various  customs  in  peace  and  war 
will  be  described  in  their  proper  places,  and 
we  will  content  ourselves  at  present  with 
their  appearand!  and  dress. 

The  Dvaks,  as  a  rule,  are  nearly  beardless, 
and  have  a  cast  of  countenance  which  might 
.almost  be  called  elleminatc.  Occasionally, 
however,  a  man  does  p>)ssess  a  few  hairs  on 
his  upper  lip,  of  which  he  is  inordinately 
proud,  and  one  or  two  inst^tuces  have  becMi 
known  where  a  man  has  possessed  a  well- 
developed  bvMU'd. 

Tattooing  is  practised  among  many  of  the 
tribe-!,  aiid  prevails  in  inverse  r.atio  to  their 
civilization,  those   who   arc    furthest  from 
civilizatirn   being   most  profusely  tattooed, 
and  (hose  who  are  brouglit  in  cont.aet  with 
it   having   almost    entirely   abandoned   the 
practice."  The  men  of  some  tril)esare  nearly 
covered  with  tattooed  patterns,  while  those 
of  other  tri..es  have  stars  on  their  breasts 
and  armlets  and   bracelets  on  their  legs  and 
arms.    The  Kaiiowit  Dyaks,  who  belong  to 
the  gre.at  Malanau  tribe,  are  tattooed  from 
the  breast  to  the  knees  with  a  pattern  that 
has  the  effect  of  scale   armor,  and   many  of 
them  tattoo  their  chins  and  chests  so  as  to 
look  as  if  thev  had  real  beards  and  mous- 
taches.   The  tattoo  of  the  women  is  often 
more  elaborate  than  that  of  the  men,  as  we 
shall  presentlv  see. 

It  is  worthv  of  notice  that,  as  a  rule,  the 
Sea  Dyaks  d('>  not  use  the  tattoo.  They  have 
an  idea  that  it  is  a  sign  of  cowardice,  and  are 
very  much  surprised  that  English  sailors, 
whose  courage  they  can  but  respect,  will 
allow  themselves  to  be  t:iltooed  with  the 
anchors,  true  lovers'  knots,  ships  in  full  sail, 
entwined  initials,  and  other  figures  v,-ith 
which  a  liiitish  sailor  loves  to  disligine 
himself.  In  consequence  of  thisJecling  many 
verbal  skirmishes  h;ivebeen  waged  between 
the  Sea  Dyaks  .md  the  English  seamen. 
The  tribes  among  whom  tattooing  leaches 
its  greatest  development  are  mostly  Ihosc 


of  the  Malaccan  division,  such  as  the  Ka- 
nowits,  who  arc  mightily  despised  by  the 
regular  Land  and  Sea  Dyaks,  and  are  only 
toferated  by  them  as  being  the  means  of 
affording  a  constant  supply  of  heads. 

The  Dyaks  are  exceedingly  fertile  in  their 
invention  of  ear  ornaments.  Most  savages 
content  themselves  with  making  one  hole  in 
the  lobe  of  the  ear,  and  often  enlarge  it  so 
that  a  man's  hand  could  be  passed  through 
the  orifice.  But  the  Dyaks  go  much  further 
in  their  ideas  of  adornment. 

In  common  with  other  savages,  they  make 
an  enormous  hole  in  the  lobe  of  the  ear,  in- 
crease it  by  inserting  a  series  of  gradually 
enlarged  plugs,  and  "drag  it  down  as  far  as 
the  shoulder 'by  hanging  leadtn  weights  t.j 
it.  But  they  also  bore  a  series  of  holes  all 
round  the  eclgc  of  the  ear,  and  fill  them  with 
various  ornaments.  The  favorite  plan  is,  to 
have  a  series  of  brass  rings,  and  to  insert 
thctn  in  the  holes  of  the  ear,  the  smsdlcst 
being  at  the  top,  and  the  lowest,  which  is 
lar"-e  enough  to  be  a  bracelet,  at  the  bottom. 
Tins  decoration  prevails  chiefly  among  the 
Sea  Dyaks,  and  there  is  a  sort  of  proverb 
which' warns  the  hearer  to  beware  of  a  man 
wlio  wears  many  earrings. 

Often  the  Djaks  do  not  content  them- 
selves with  wearing  rings  in  their  ears, 
but  fill  the  apertures  with  such  a  miscellany 
of  objects  th.at  they  have  been  described  as 
"  chfi'telaincs,"  rather  than  earrings.  One 
young  man,  the  son  of  a  chief,  wore  only 
one  large  ring  in  each  ear,  but  from  this 
ring  depended  a  number  of  brass  chains,  to 
winch  were  suspended  various  ornaments. 
To  one  ear  were  thus  himg  two  boar's  tusks, 
one  alligator's  tooth,  part  of  a  hornbill's 
beak,  three  small  brass  rings,  and  two  little 
bells. 

Many  of  the  men  we:ir  one  large  earring 
in  the"  lobe,  and  bore  a  hole  in  the  top  of 
the  ear,  through  which  is  passed  a  canine 
tooth  of  the  tiger-cat. 

These  ornainents  are  only  worn  when 
the  Dvak  puts  on  his  dress  of  ceremony, 
and  at'other  times  the  holes  in  the  ears  are 
kept  from  closing  by  plugs  of  wood.  And, 
as  the  effect  of  the  brass  is  .always  to  cause 
ulcerating  sores,  the  ordinary  appearance  of 
a  Dvak's  ears  is  not  very  pleasing.  Some 
of  them  have  a  curious  fashion  of  boring 
one  hole  at  tlie  top  of  the  car  and  another 
at  the  bottom,  and  tying  to  it  a  brass  pl.ate, 
to  which  are  suspended  the  jinglin<'  orna- 
ments of  which  these  savages  are  so  fond. 

The  Dyaks  are  so  fully  impressed  with 
the  idea  that  nature  is  meant  to  lie  improved 
by  art,  that  they  cannot  even  allow  their 
teeth  to  retain  tlieir  natural  shape  and  color. 
As  a  general  rule,  the  men  file  their  front 
teeth  into  sharp  points,  while  others  im- 
prove upon  nature  still  farther  by  scooping 
out  the  front  face  of  each  tootli  and  render- 
ing it  concave. 
Having  thus  rendered  the  shape  of  the 


I 


'  f*  to 


*i, 


^1  U 


! 


' 


1112 


BOENEO. 


tooth  as  unlike  its  nfttural  form  as  possible, 
tlic  next  process  i§  evidently  to  change  the 
color  as  completely  as  the  shape,  and  to 
turn  them  from  white  to  black.  The  habit 
of  betel-ealing  has  much  to  do  with  the 
darkening  of  the  teeth,  but  besides,  tliere 
is  a  mode  by  which  the  Dyaks  deliberately 
stain  their  teeth  black.  The  method  by 
which  the  dye  is  produced  and  applied  is 
well  told  by  Mr.  Boyle,  in  his  "  Adventures 
among  the  Dyaks  ":  — 

"  We  m.ide  inquiries  about  the  means 
employed  for  blackening  the  teeth,  a  cus- 
tom which  is  universal  in  the  far  East.  The 
eld  medicine  man  was  linally  ])ersuaded  to 
show  us  the  process,  and  very  curious  it 
ajipeared. 

"  He  produced  from  his  stores  a  piece  of 
dry  wood  of  the  kind  called  sinka:  this  was 
set  on  lire,  and  held  over  the  blade  of  a 
parang  (or  sword),  on  which  a  few  drops 
of  water  had  been  pom'ed.  As  the  stick 
blazed,  a  black  sap  oozed  from  it,  and 
dropped  upon  the  metal,  where  it  mingled 
with  the  water,  and  in  a  few  moments 
formed  a  pool  of  thick,  jetty  li(;uid.  With 
this  the  teeth  are  stained  in  childhood,  and 
one  ai)plication,  we  are  told,  will  sutfice  to 
preserve  them  black  lor  ever,  nor  are  there 
any  means  of  removing  the  c-^lor. 

"  The  i)rocess  seems  peculiar,  because  the 
wood  from  wliich  exuded  the  sap  ap])ears  to 
bo  as  di-y  as  dust,  and  because  the  dye  will 
iiot  affect  any  substance  except  the  teeth, 
not  even  boiie  or  horn.  This  is  the  more 
curious  since  some  of  the  Malays  file  the 
enamel  carefully  from  their  teeth  before 
applying  the  sinka.  Many,  indeed,  file 
them  1(^  a  point  as  sharp  as"  a  needle,  as  do 
some  of  th(!  Dy^ik  tribes."  The  reader  will 
remember  that  several  of  the  West  African 
tribes  tile  their  teeth  in  like  manner. 

Illastration  Xo.  2,  on  the  1101st  page, 
represents  two  Dyak  warriors,  one  in  full 
costume,  and  tho  other  a  Dusum  Dyak  in 
ordinary  dr(  ss.  The  former  of  these  men 
carries  in  bis  right  hand  the  sum])itan,  with 
its  Sjiear  head,  and  (he  other  rests  on  his 
Wooden  .shield  covered  with  tufts  of  human 
hair.  His  parang-ihlaug  or  war  sword  is  on 
liis  left  side,  witli  its  tufts  of  human  hair 
depending  from  the  handle.  Ilis  ankles, 
legs,  and  arms  m-e  covered  with  multitudes 
Oi  bras.s  rings,  he  wears  a  sort  of  Jacket 
fornu'd  from  the  skin  of  the  orang-outan,an(l 
on  his  head  is  a  kind  of  corona!  made  from 
the  feathers  of  the  Argus  jdieasant.  This 
figure  is  taken  from  a  i)hotograph. 

The  next  (igure  represents  a  man  in  ordi- 
nary costume,  lie  belongs  to  the  tribe  of 
Dusums,  who  live  on  thenorthern  coast  of 
Uorneo,  and  who  wear  le.ss  clothing  than 
any  of  the  tribes  of  the  island,  their  whole 
dress  consisting  of  the;  chaw.at  and  a  num- 
ber of  large  metal  rings  round  tlieir  necks 
and  hips.  The  Dusum  warriors  wear  their 
hair  lonf,  merely  bound  with  a  piece  of 


cotton  cloth,  and  their  spears  are  as  simple 
as  their  clothing,  being  nothing  move  than  a 
mettil  head  lashed  to  a  shaft  of  bamboo. 

In  order  to  show  at  a  glance  the  appear- 
ance of  various  ti-ibes  of  Borneans,  two 
more  Dyaks  are  represented  in  the  engrav- 
ing No.  1  on  the  following  page.  The  left- 
hand  figure  represents  an  Illinoan  jiirate. 
These  men  are  found  at  Tami)a88ook  or 
Tampasuk  as  the  name  is  sometimes  spelt, 
a  place  on  the  north-western  coast  of  JJor- 
ncv,,  not  very  much  above  the  island  of 
Labuan. 

The  Illino.-ns  possess  man_,  'n-ge  and  for- 
midable war  b  >ats,  which  are  armed  in  the 
bows  with  a  very  long  gun,  and  have,  after 
the  fashion  of  Bornean  boats,  an  up])er 
deck,  which  serves  as  a  platform  for  the 
combatants  and  a  shelter  for  the  rowers, 
who  sit  beneath.  There  is  a  small  cabin 
iistern  for  the  cajitnin,  about  the  size  of  a 
dog  kennel,  but  the  boats  have  no  other 
sleeping  accommodation. 

Tlie  paddles  with  which  the  rowers  propel 
the  vessel  are  shaped  rather  curiously,  look- 
ing at  a  distance  like  mere  sticks  w'lth  Hat 
discs  of  wood  fastened  to  their  ends.  The 
boats  are  steered,  by  an  oar  rudder  at  the 
starboard  side  of  the  stern,  and  each  is 
furnished  with  a  mast  and  huge  sail,  wliich 
can  be  raised  in  a  few  minutes,  and  strucK 
in  almost  as  many  seconds.  Although  the 
Illinoans  are  weiiilihy  trilies,  and  possess 
quantities  of  fire-arms',  they  are  rather  afniid 
to  use  these  weapons,  ancl  trust  in  prefer- 
ence to  the  sjjear  and  p.'irang. 

The  Illinoans  were  instrumental  in  the 
murder  of  two  native  chiefs  who  were 
friendly  to  the  English,  and  who  had  been 
suspected  of  aiding  the  cession  of  Labuan. 
One  of  them,  named  liud-ruddeen,  a  man  of 
celebrity  as  a  Avarrior,did  not  fall  unavenged. 
When  the  enemy  ajjproaehed,  he  retired  to 
his  house,  togctlier  wiih  his  favorite  wife 
and  his  sister,  neither  of  whom  would  leave 
.lim.  By  the  aid  of  Ids  followers,  he  fought 
desi)erately  to  the  very  last,  until  nearly  all 
his  nn;a  were  killed,  and  he  himself  was 
dangerously  wounded. 

lie  then  retired  with  his  wife  and  sister 
into  an  inner  chamber,  while  the  enemy 
crowded  into  the  house  in  search  of  him, 
and  then,  firing  his  j)i.stol  into  a  barrel  of 
gunpowder  which  he  had  placed  there  in 
reatliness,  blew  to  jjiecos  himself,  bis  two 
relatives,  and  his  enemies. 

The  otlier  figure  represents  a  Saghai 
Dyak. 

This  tribe  lives  on  the  south-eastern  coast 
of  Borneo,  and  is  remarkable  for  the  superb 
costumes  of  the  men,  who  liave  about  them 
an  air  of  barbaric  splendor,  which  tliey  arc 
exceedingly  fond  of  displaying.  Wearing, 
in  common  with  all  Dyak.s",  the  ehawat  or 
waist  cloth,  they  take  li  pride  in  adorning 
themsclvcB  with  short  tunics  made  of  tiger 
or  leopard  skin,  or  rich  and  embroidered 


r.  ii 


o 

S5 


C 


-1 
> 
?! 


T.    J 


i  '. 


mi 


1"  I 


:U. 


Ciuaj 


STRENGTH  AND  ACTIVITY  OF  THE  DYAK9. 


1115 


cloth;  while  on  their  heads  thoy  wear  mag- 
nififi'iit  cups  iiiiulo  of  moukcy-skm,  ami 
dccorattid  with  the  heautilul  I'uather.s  of  the 
Ar^'iis  ijheasaut,  two  of  the  largest  feathers 
heiu"  placed  so  that  one  droops  over  each 
ear.  "All  these  Dyaks  have  a  very  singular 
prolile,  in  conseqiieneo  of  their  habit  ot  lihug 
the  teeth  and  so  reducing  their  bnlk,  those 
who  have  concave  teeth  presenting  the  most 
curious  outline.  ,    »    , ,  n 

Coiniiarativelv  ^liglit  and  fcohlo  as  the 
Dyaks  look  hy  iho  side  of  the  stalwart  and 
muscular  European,  their  strength  is  really 
wonderful,  and  enables  them  to  perform 
tasks  which  the  powerful  white  man  could 
not  bv  anv  possibility  achieve.  On  a  jour- 
nev,  wheii  an  Euroi)ean  has  fallen  trom 
sheer  fatii,nie,  a  Dvak  has  taken  the  burden 
with  which  the  fallen  man  was  laden,  and 
iidded  it  to  his  own,  without  seeming  to  dis- 
play any  particular  sense  of  having  increased 
iiis'  own  labor;  and  when  the  stranger,  in 
spite  of  the  relief,  has  lain  down  in  absolute 
iuabilitv  to  move,  a  little  wiry  Dyak  has 
picked  him  up,  put  him  on  his  back,  and 
proceeded   on    Iris    journey   with    pcrlect 

The  Dyaks  are  in  the  habit  of  crossing 
the  swanips  with  which  13orneo  abounds  by 
means  of  primitive  bridges,  called  batangs. 
These  are  the  very  simplest  form  in  whicli 
the  princi)ile  of  the  bridge  can  be  carried 
out.  If  the  reader  wishes  to  obtain  a  cor- 
rect idea  of  a  batang,  he  can  do  so  easi  y 
enough.  Two  bamboo  poles  are  driven  into 
the  cn-ound  so  as  to  cross  one  another  near 
the  toil,  like  an  X  with  the  lower  hmbs 
much  develoiied.  They  are  then  lashed  to- 
"•ether  at  the  intersection,  iust  like  the  sup- 
ports between  which  a  modiu-n  rope  dancer 
Htretches  his  cord.  At  about  thirty  ieet 
distance,  another  pair  of  i)oles  are  (ixed  in  a 
similar  way,  and  a  horizontid  bamboo  laid 
.   upon  them.  .       ... 

In  fact,  the  whole  apparatus  looks  just  like 
a  rope  dancer's  apparatus,  a  bamboo  taking 
the  iilacc  of  the  rope.  Beyond  uio  second 
supports  others  are  added  and  counc.  ted,  by 
horizontal  bamboos  as  far  as  the  uiursh  ex- 
tends; and  so  fond  are  the  natives  ot  these 
vcrv  primitive  bridges  that  they  will  make 
the'm  a  mile  or  more  in  length,  and  extend 
them  over  gorg(!s  of  terrible  depth. 

To  tread  these  extraordinary  bridges  is  a 
task  that  would  tax  the  powers  of  a  profes- 
sional rope  dancer,  and  yet  a  Dyak  has  been 
known  to  take  a  heavy  white  man  on  his 
h.ack,  and  carry  him  a  mile  or  more  over 
these  slippery  batangs,  when,  in  many 
places,  a  false 'step  would  he  certain  destruc- 
tion for  both.  Ho  does  not  seem  at  all  fa- 
tigued by  this  extraordinary  feat  of  muscu- 
lar power,  but  rather  has  a  sort  of  boyish 
exultation  in  his  strength,  and  a  decided 
deliglitthathoisable  at  all  events  n\  ouq 
respect  to  prove  himself  the  superior  of  the 
white  man,  whom  he  regards  with  the  most 


l)rofound  respect  as  a  being  of  supernatural 
wisdom  and  power.  . 

The  Dyaks  are  able,  in  some  astonishing 


manner,  to  penetrate  with  comnarativi;  ease 
throu"h  jungles  which  arc  absolutely  imper- 
vious''to  Europeans.     One  of  these   men, 
while  on  the  march  with  some  English  sol- 
diers, exhibited  his  strength  in  a  very  unex- 
pected manner.    The   path  was  a  terrible 
one  all   up   and  down  steen  and   slippery 
hills  so  that  the  Chinese  cooiies  who  accom- 
panied the  party  first  threw  away  their  rice, 
and  lastly  sat  down  and  wept  like  clnldren. 
The  Enjdish  sergeant,  a  veti:ran,  accustomed 
to  hard  marching  both  in  China  and  India, 
broke  down  at  the  first  hill,  and  declared  Ins 
inabilitv  to  move  another  step  undiT  the 
load   wliich  he  carried.    Mr.   Brooke,  who 
was  in  command  of  the  party,  asked  one  of 
the  Dyaks  to  carrv  the   sergeant's  hurden,_ 
and  promised  hini  an  additional  piece   of 

tobacco.  ,     .  ,   ,,  , 

The  man  was  delighted  with  the  proposal, 
and  accepted  it.  lie  was  already  cairyin-,' 
food  for  three  weeks,  his  whole  store  of 
clothes,  one  twelve-pound  shot,  two  twelve- 
pound  cartridges,  a  double-barrelled  gnn,  a 
hundred  rounds  of  ball  cartridge,  and  his 
own  heavy  swcrd  and  spear.  Such  a  load  as 
this,  which  would  be  almost  too  great  even 
for  a  man  walking  on  good  roads,  seemed  a 
more  trifle  to  tlie  agile  Dyak,  who  went 
li'ditly  and  easily  u))  and  down  paths  which 
tl7e  foreigners  could  hardly  traverse  even 
without  having  to  carry  anything  except 
their  own  weight.  ,    ,  n    t 

So  little,  indeed,  was  ho  incommoded,  tliat 
he  strapped  the  whole  of  the  sergeant  s  kit 
on  his  back,  and  walked  oil  as  easily  as  if 
the  whole  load  were  but  a  feather  weight. 
No  one  who  has  not  actually  traversed 
those  paths  can  form  an  idea  of  the  miseries 
attending  the  journey.  The  paths  them- 
selves arc  bad  enough,  hut,  in  addition  to 
the  terribly  severe  labor  of  walking,  tho 
traveller  has  to  endure  mosquitoes,  sand- 
flies, intense  heat  at  mid-day,  and  intense 
cold  at  night,  thirst,  wet,  and  every  imagin- 
able disiromfort.  . 

Yet  tl .'  native  seems  quite  easy  in  the 
ion  -nev,  and  gets  over  the  ground  in  a 
m.aine'r  that  is  absolutely  exasperating  to 
the  Europeans  who-accompany  him.  He  is 
able  to  push  his  way  through  i)nckly  thick- 
ets and  morasses  in  a  way  which  seems  al- 
most impenetrable.  Indeed,  he  says  him- 
self that  it  is  impenetrable,  and  that  lie 
achieves  these  feats  by  means  of  certain 
charms  which  he  carries  about  with  am.  Un 
one  occasion  it  happened  that  at  the  end  ot 
a  hard  five  hours'  journey,  a  number  ot 
.sketchiu"  materials  and  other  iifcessaries 
had  been  forgotten,  and  a  D\ak  was  sent  to 
the  boats  to  fetch  them,  being  promised  a 
pocket-knife  for  his  trouble.  He  started 
about  two  r.M.  and  arrived  with  the  par- 
cels before  sunset,  having  thus,  lu  addition 


ill 


'ri 


:.  f' 


•r  h 


h 


1110 


BORNEO. 


to  his  first  journey  with  fho  trnvpllors,  and 
tiio  lu'iivy  'parcels  wliicii  lio  Imd  to  carry, 
twice  traversed  tiio  distance  wiiieh  had  oc- 
ciinied  llieni  live  lioiirs  in  tlie  tnsnsit. 

Wlieii  qncstioned  aliout  tlio  manner  in 
whidi  he  perllirmed  the  Jonrney,  lie  said 
that  it  was  owiiij;  to  the  virtues  of  a  charm 
wliich  he  carried,  and  which  ho  prodiiocd. 
it  was  a  small  misshapen  horn,  which  lu,' 
said  thai  he  had  ent  from  the  head  of  an 
antelope,  and  thai  its  fellow  horn  was  hrass. 
He  furlher  oll'ered  lo  sell  it  fVn-  fifteen  dol- 
lars, averriiij;  that  its  powers  were  nnfail- 
in^'.  and  thai  even  any  one  who  horrowed  it 
was  able  to  traverse  the  counlrv  at  the 
sanu!  speed  which  he  had'oxhiliited. 

The  ordinary  dress  of  the  men  is  simjile 
cnoujili,  consistiii!:;  merely  of  the  "cliawat," 
or  sliijht  strip  of  cloth,  which  is  twisted 
roniul  the  loins  in  such  a  manner  that  oiu^ 
end  falls  in  front  and  the  oilier  ))eliin(l.  The 
chawat  Is  often  very  f^aily  c()lored.  Some- 
times the  Dyak  wears  a"  sarong,  or  short 
pelticoat  of  cotton  doth,  which  reaches  from 
the  waist  to  a  litth^  ahove  the  knees.  It  is 
8iin])ly  a  stri})  of  cloth,  witli  the  two  ends 
sewed  toi^'cther,  and  is  almost  lar;Lrc  enongli 
to  encircle  two  ordinary  men.  Wlien  it  is 
put  on  Ihe  wearer  stejis  into  il,  draws  it 
lip  to  his  waist,  pulls  it  out  in  front  as  far  as 
it  will  LTo  and  then  doubles  back  the  fold  and 
turns  llie  edires  inward,  in  such  a  manner 
that  it  is  hi'ld  tij^tht  in  its  place,  while  the 
folds  caused  by  its  large  diameter  allow 
the  limbs  full  jdav. 

One  of  these  chawals  in  my  collection  is 
woven  in  a  sort  of  plaid  jiattern,  the  gronnd 
hue  being  a  bright  and  rather  peculiar  red, 
and  llie  cross-lines  being  nearly  white.  The 
texture  is  rather  coarse,  and  the  whole  fab- 
ric has  a  slillhess  which  is  characteristic  of 
native  fabrics  made  of  this  materi.al. 

Those  young  men  who  are  proud  of  (heir 
personal  apjiearance,  and  are  able  to  afford 
the  exjiense  dr)  not  contenl  themselves  with 
the  jjlain  chaw.-it.  but  adorn  it  with  all 
kinds  of  strange  decorations.  One  of  these 
voting  damlies  is  well  described  by  Mr. 
!Hoylc:  —  "The  young  man  did  not  <lress  in 
Malay  trousers  like  his  father,  probably  be- 
cause <ine  jiair  alone  of  such  articles  existed 
in  the  house;  but  his  cjiawat  was  ]iarli-col- 
ored.  and  his  ornaments  numerous.  He 
was  about  live  feet  four  inches  in  height, 
very  fair  coni|)l<'xioiied.  and  his  face,  though 
Tartar  like  in  character,  had  a  pleasant  ex- 
pression. From  the  elbow  to  the  knuckles, 
both  his  arms  wi're  covered  with  rings  of 
hrass.  and  above  the  joint  were  two  broad 
armlets  of  snowy  shells,  which  contrasted 
admirably  with  his  yellow-brown  skin. 

"  I^ut  ihe  marvel  and  glory  of  his  arr.ay 
hung  behind.  To  the  end  of  his  chawat  was 
attached  a  long  network  of  .agate  beads  and 
bngles,  which  jingled  merrily  whenever  ho 
moved.  Round  his  neck  were  strings  of 
bright  beads,  and  his  knees  were  encircled 


by  lirazen  wire.  A  proftision  of  dried  scalps 
llultcrcd  from  tlie  jiarang  hy  his  side;  and  in 
walking  before  us  through  the  sunny  glndes 
of  till!  jungli',  his  brazen  gauntlet  (lashing  in 
the  light,  and  his  beadsof  agate  tinkling  be- 
hind, he  presented  the  very  ideal  of  a  bar- 
baric dandy." 

One  chief,  desirous  of  outdoing  his  fel- 
lows, had  taken  a  gong  and  beaten  it  out 
into  a  belt  of  solid  metal  jifoot  in  width.  In 
consefpienc(>  of  the  extraordinary  vahio 
which  the  Dyaks  set  upon  gongs,  ihis  belt 
was  a  maik  of  wealth  which  no  one  could 
venture  to  challenge.  Uesido  the  chawat, 
the  well-to-do  man  wears  a  S(n-t  of  shawl 
mantle,  much  like  a  Scotch  plaid,  and  capa- 
ble of  being  disposed  after  as  many  dlll'erent 
fashions.  Thev  display  great  taste  in  the 
graceful  folds  which  t'hey  give  to  it.  and 
si'em  lo  lake  a  iiride  in  "the  variety  which 
thev  can  jn'oduce  by  the  ditlerent  modes  of 
folding  this  simple  garment. 

Tin-;  women  dress  in  a  manner  somewhat 
like  that  of  the  men;  but,  in  lieu  of  the 
sarong,  they  mostly  weaf  a  rather  longer 
lielllenal,  cillled  a  bedang.  AVIien  obliged 
to  go  out  in  the  sun.  they  also  wear  a  jacket, 
wilhout  sleeves  and  open  in  front:  but  as 
this  iacket  hides  the  glossy  brown  skin  on 
which  (hey  ]iride  themselves,  they  generally 
lay  it  asldi'  when  in  (he  house. 

"In  youth  they  are  remarkable  for  their 
slender  and  graceful  forms:  but.  unt'oitu- 
nately,  after  n  woman  has  jiassed  theaije  of 
tw(Mily.  she  b(>gins  to  deteriorate,  and  at 
tliirlv  is  an  old  woman.  The  face  is  ))leas- 
iiig  in  expression,  despite  of  (lie  aillfu'lal 
means  wherebv  (he  women  do  their  best  to 
make  thenisel'ves  hiileons.  'I'he  eyes  arc 
black,  clear,  and  expressive,  and  the  lashes 
singularlv  long.  The  nose  is  rather  dls- 
])osed  totiini  upward  than  downward,  ami 
the  mouth  is  terribly  disdgured  with  the 
continual  chewing  of"  betel  and  the  mode  in 
which  llie  leeth  are  tiled  aifd  blackened. 

The  chief  point  in  a  J)yak  woman's  beauty 
is  her  hair,  which  is  "black,  wonderfully 
thick,  and  shining,  and  so  long  that  wlieii 
allowed  to  tlow  Over  the  back  it  nearly 
touches  the  ground.  Of  this  ornament  Ihe 
wome!i  are  inonlinately  vain,  and,  when  en- 
gaged in  conversatiim'.  are  fond  of  dinging 
(heir  shining  tresses  from  side  to  side  by 
coquettish  tossings  of  Ihe  heail.  Unfortii- 
nalelv,  (he  fever  which  is  so  prevalent  in 
manv  parts  of  Hornco  has  tin;  ed'ect  of 
bringing  olf  all  (he  hair,  so  that  many  a 
young  girl  is  thus  deprived  of  her  chief  or- 
nament, 

Tlie  women  belonging  to  some  of  the 
tribes  wear  a  most  singular  bodice,  com- 
posed of  bark  and  bamboo,  and  kept  together 
liv  successive  rings  of  brass  wire,  which  form 
a'  strong  and  weighty  bodice,  to  the  lower 
part  of  which  is  attiichod  the  bedang,  or  pet- 
ticoat. 


A  SAI13AS  GIRL  IN  FULL  DRESS. 


ni7 


Mr.  Roylc  sooms  to  hnvc  taken  n  strong 
aversion  to  those  liodiccs*.  "  WIumi  ii  Dyak 
lover  altem))tH  lo  [mn>i  a  tendia-  arm  round 
iiis  HWeetlieart'M  waist,  instead  of  the  soil 
llesh,  he  liuds  hiiiisels  elasnin,;;  a  cuirass  of 
solid  metal.  Nor  is  this"  nil;  lor  lashion  or- 
dains thai  the  Uvak  heiress  sliall  invest  her 
availahhi  means'  in  (he  purehaso  of  lonf,' 
RauntlelH  of  twisted  Itrass  wire,  n^achini; 
from  the  kiuiekles  to  the  elbow;  and  if,  m 
her  turu,she  enein'les  her  lover's  niu^k  with  a 
responsive  arm,  tii(!  wretehed  man  finds  him- 
self clasped  hy  a  horrilile  fetter,  whieh  draws  a 
little  hit  of'  his  llesh  between  each  of  its 
links,  and  pinehes  him  fearfully.  For  tlicse 
reasons,  caressi's  are  not  common  amon^ 
Dyak  lovers;  after  all,  perhaps,  they  are  only 
a  )ia1)it. 

"  iJut,  apart  from  their  inconvenience, 
these  brazen  ornaments  are  decidedly  tasteful 
and  prellv.  The  ordinary  color  of  a  Dyak 
girl,  wheii  she  do;'s  not  stain  her  body  with 
turmeric,  is  a  d\ill  brownish  yellow,  and 
the  sparklini^  brass  rin'j;s  are  a  >,'reat  relief 
to  this  complexion.  They  arc  not  removed 
at  ni,!,'ht,  nor,  in  fact,  duriiiL,'  the  wearer's 
lifetime,  unless  she  outgrow  them." 

More  than  once  tlic  possession  of  these 
stranire  ornaments  has  proved  fatal  to  the 
wearer,  the  woman  havini,'  fallen  overboard 
from  a  canoe,  and  drowned  by  the  enor- 
mous weight  of  her  brass  ornaments.  In 
some  parts  of  Unrneo  the  ;,'irls  are  not  con- 
tent witli  their  I'rass  bodices,  bracelets,  and 
anklets,  but  must  needs  encircle  their 
throats  with  the  same  material.  They  take 
a  loni;  piece  of  stout  brass  wire,  and  twist  it 
81)irally  nntnd  their  necks,  so  that  the  lower 
part  of  the  coil  re>.ls  on  the  shoulders,  and 
the  upper  part  comes  just  under  the  chin, 
cansin;;  the  wearer  to  h'old  her  head  upright, 
and  having  a  most  inelegant  and  awkward 

cllect.  V     ,    p     1 

The  Kayan  women  am  exeeedmgly  fond 
of  a  i)ecidiar  bead  which  is  of  sciveral  colors, 
looking  as  if  it  were  a  black  bead  into  which 
])ieces  of  green,  yellow,  blue,  and  gray  ma- 
terial had  been  carefully  let.  A  rich  woman 
will  sometimes  wear  several  strings  of  such 
beads  just  above  tin;  hips.  The  dilVercnt 
strintrs'iire  connected  with  each  other  so  as 
lo  Ibrm  a  sintrle  ornament,  Ftn-  one  such 
hip-lace  (as  Mr.  St.  .lohn  calls  it)  a  woman 
lias  ij;iven  property  cfiual  to  thirty-tive pounds 
of  our  money;  and  the  same  woman  had 
several  others  for  which  she  had  given 
scarcely  less,  together  with  a  great  nunil)er  of 
inferior  value. 

The  Kavan  women  carry  the  tattoo  to  a 
great  extent,  and  follow  e"xactly  the  same 
plan  as  the  Samoan  warriors,  i.  c.  being 
completely  tattooed  from  the  waist  to  the 
knees.  I'hey  arc  very  fond  of  this  orna- 
ment, and  are  apt  to  wear  their  dr(>ss  oi)en 
at  the  side  so  as  to  exhibit  it.  "When  the 
women  bathe,  they  think  that  the  tattoo  is 
quite  sufllcient  dress,  and  at  a  little  Uis- 
64 


tnnco    they   really  look    a»    if  they  were 
wearing  short  trousers. 


A  a  has  been  alreadv  mentioned,  the  Sea 
Dyaks  do  not,  as  a  rule,  care  for  the  tattoo, 
aiid  in  this  respect  the  women  follow  the  ex- 
ample of  the  men.  They  are.  however, 
e(|ually  fond  of  ornament  with  their  sisters 
of  tho  land,  and  adorn  themselves  with 
most  scrupulous  care  on  festive  occasions. 
Mr.  Hoyle  gives  an  animated  description  ot 
the  gala-dress  worn  by  the  Saibas  Dyak 
girls  anil  women  during  a  great  least  given 
by  the  chief. 

"Meanwhile   tho   female  portion   of   tho 
community   had   been   jjreparing  for   their 
l)art  in   the  proceedings.     At  thts  moment 
lh(!y  came  from  the  interior  of  the  house, 
and  the  stately  nuignilic-enee  of  their  appear- 
ance  showed  that  time   and  labor  had  not 
been  spared  in  arraying  themselves  (or  this 
great  occasion.     From  the  neck  to  the  hips 
they   were  covered  over  with  large   agate 
baads;  string  of  them  was  heaiicd  on  string, 
till  many  of  tho  women  were  cuirasscd  an 
inch  thick  in  solid  stone  before  and  b(  hind. 
"  Upon  their  heads  was  jilaced  a  jiiecc  of 
bead-einbroidi    id  cloth,  in  which  were  ar- 
ranged thin  skewers  of  painted  wood  about 
(ive^inches  long:  there  were  about  twenty 
of  these  hits  of  wood  disposed  about  their 
heails,  and  each  was  attached  to  the  other 
by  strings  of  brilliant  glass  beads.     Five  or 
six  of  these  many-colored  loops  hung  from 
each  skewer,  and  they  were  entwined   into 
a  "raceful   network.     The  efl'ect  was   very 
pretty,  though  barbarous,  and  the  solemnity 
of  the  ceremonies  was  much  enhanced  by 
the  stately   uprightness  Avhich    the  women 
were    compelled'  to  observe   in  inoving,  on 
peril    of  disarrangement    of   this   delicate 
structure." 

Thev  also  wear  conical  hats,  made  ol  split 
rattan."^  These  hats  are  very  light,  and  last 
for  a  wonderful  time.  A  specimen  was  pre- 
sented to  me  by  a  lady  who  had  worn  it 
for  four  years,  and  had  certainly  not  treated 
it  with  any  consideration.  Yet  it  is  as 
stron<'  and  good  as  ever,  and  the  colois  are 
as  fresh  and  bright  as  when  the  hat  was  first 
made.  The  rattan  has  been  split  into  very 
narrow  strips,  and  stained  red,  yellovv,  ami 
black,  while  some  of  the  strips  havo  nad  the 
natural  color  discharged,  so  as  tc  make  them 
nearly  while. 

The  hat  is  fixed  on  the  head  by  a  broad 
loop  of  idaited  palm  leaf,  which  is  fastened 
to  the  side.  Hats  made  on  this  pnncinlo 
are  i)revalent  throughout  the  whole  Archi- 
pelago. _  , 

Among  the  ornaments  which  are  worn  by 
the  Dyaks  arc  the  little  bells  which  have 
.alreadv  been  mentioned  as  forminj:'  part  o« 
the  appendages  of  an  earring.  These  or- 
nanients  called  "  garunongs,"  and  mostly 
worn  by  the  women  on  the  edges  of  the 
bedan<^  or  petticoat,  are  almost  exactly  like 
our  hawk-bells,  being  nothing  more  than 


\'   S 


P     i' 


ir 


1118 


BORNEO. 


littlo  hollow  HpluTcd  of  briwm  or  bron/.o 
alHiiit  Ihc  »i/,n  of  a  boy'M  iiluyini,'  iniirl>ln, 
with  ft  Miimll  miUil  I'ftll  in  tlio  interior  hy 
wiiv  of  ft  ilappiT,  ui()  a  moderaloly  widu 
slit  at  ilw  l)olt(>in.  To  soiim  of  tho  ImllH 
the  rcniarkalih^  boads  are  ftlla<lu'il.  Tlioncf 
bills  k(  cp  lip  a  iniiHical  eiiiine  or  jingle  as 
the  wearer  walks,  and  are  tbureforo  used  in 
danees  and  on  >;i'eal  oeeasiouH. 

The  general  treatment  of  tho  I  »yak  women 

is  n 1.    Tliey  <M'rlainly  liave  to  work  hard. 

but  HO  liavt!  llieir  husiiands,  and,  as  we  shall 
I)resenlly  wee,  they  are  not  the  ubjeet  slaves 
Hiicli  as  are  too  often  found  amon^;  Havaf;e 
nalions,  but  maintain  their  shan^  of  inllnenee 
in  the  family,  and  are  perfectly  capable  of 
ussistin;^  till  inselves  when  the  occasion  re- 
quires il.  They  ftre  ai'customed  to  work  in 
uie  fields,  and  (be  universal  cboppiiijj-knil'n 
or  paraui;  is  seldom  out  of  their  liands. 
The  constant  use  of  this  weapon  hardens 
their  hands  and  often  deforiuH  the  fingers. 

When  Ibey  conu'  liome  IVom  their  work  in 
tlic  Held,  they  have  the  heaviest  portion  of 
their  work  iJcforo  them,  their  evening  task 
biing  tlie  busking  and  winnowing  of  the 
rice  for  supper  and  fov  the  meaw  of  the 
following  day.  The  rice  is  llrst  jiounded  in 
large  trouglis  by  means  of  long  and  heavy 
wooden  poles,  which  are  held  iicriicndicu- 
larly,  lilHed  up,  and  then  ulloweil  to  fall  on 
the  grain,  and,  as  a  rule  eacli  troiigb  occn- 
pies  three  women,  who  work  for  about  half 
an  hour.  This  pounding  separates  the  busk 
from  the  grain,  and  the  next  jiroeess  is  to 
winiU)W  the  rice  by  means  of  n  shovel  and  a 
fan. 

'I'he  evening  nieal  is  then  cooked  and 
eaten,  the  children  fed,  the  bronze  dif'.es 
put  away,  and  then  the  women  can  sit 
(juietly  ill  the  veranda,  and  i^at  their  betel 
in  jieace.  Although  this  mode  of  life  seems 
ratlier  hard,  ;>id  the  husbands  appear  to  he. 
acting  harshly  toward  their  jiartners  in  let- 
ting tliem  work  ill  this  manner  wliihi  they 
sit  in  their  houses,  chew  betel,  and  talk 
over  tiic  gossip  of  tho  day,  thoro  in  really  a 


very  fiir  reciprocity  of  labor.  While  tho 
wives  have  been  working  in  the  tlelds,  tho 
husbands  have  been  llsbing.  and  in  no  <ltiiiiK 
have  repeatedly  exposed  !!,  ■  lives  I;  dan- 
ger, the  rollers  being  at  cerium  scaHous  of 
the  year  exceedingly  diuigerous.  At  Mukah, 
OH  ut  other  places,  the  wives  insist  upon 
being  furnished  with  llsh  by  Iheir  husbands, 
and,  in  case  the  men  should  i  <>ine  home  un- 
successful, the  women  fnsleii  their  doors 
and  bar  them  out.  Indeed,  so  long  as  tbu 
marriage  holds  good,  the  relation  of  hiis- 
liand  and  wife  seems  to  lie  conducted  in  ii 
manner  similar  (o  llait  which  is  so  grapbi- 
ciilly  depicted  by  Scott  in  his  "  Aniiipiary." 

In  order  to  show  the  n|)|iearaiice  of  tho 
Dyak  women  in  Ihci'  ordinary  and  gala 
costumes,  two  ligun  s  are  introduced  into 
illustration  No.  '.i  on  page  II  lit.  One  repre- 
sents a  Dyak  girl  belore  arraying  herself  In 
the  mass  of  ornaments  with  wliieh  she  lovcB 
to  ile(  rale  herself  on  festivals.  She  wears, 
as  usu.r  the  bedang,  or  jietticoat,  whi<li  If 
she  1)!'  of  ordinary  coiKlilion,  is  made  'f 
cotton,  but  if  she  be  rich,  of  silk,  Il  i« 
twisted  round  the  wiiisl  in  the  manner  jirac- 
lised  by  the  men,  but,  in  addition,  is  fas- 
tened to  the  brass  belts  which  surround  her 
waist.  Her  long  glossv  hair  is  tlowing  to 
tJ.e  full  extent,  before  the  owner  gatb(M>i  up 
its  massive  iresses  ])reparatory  to  adorning 
her  heail  with  the  complicated  decorations, 
of  full  dress. 

Tbo  other  ilgiire  represents  her  as  she 
appears  in  all  the  glory  of  full  gala  costume. 
As  liir  as  absolute  dress  goes,  shi^  wears  no 
more  than  she  did  before,  the  only  altera- 
tion being  that  her  bedang  is  the  best  which 
siie  baa,  and  is  sometimes  1  luitifully  em- 
broidered. On  her  arms  are  several  thick 
rings  of  brass,  and  the  Miigularly  uneom- 
fortablo  brass  gauntlet  extends  from  the 
wrist  to  the  elbow.  Her  neck  and  bust  are 
nearly  covered  with  the  heavy  agate  beads, 
ami  on  her  bead  is  the  complicated  cap, 
with  its  curious  arrangemeut  of  wooden 
spikes  and  glass  beads. 


CHAPTER  CXV. 


DOllNEO  —  Continued. 


WAH. 


DTAK  WKArONH—T'lB  mtMPITAN,  OR  III.OW  OlTK  —  COIfBTnl'mOK  OF  TlfK  WKAPOK— TIIK  INLAtD  OK 
MKTAI,  IIIITT  — TIIK  HI'KAH  IlKAK,  "11  llAVONKT  —  TIIK.  HIMIIT  AllllOW  — TIIK  lU'AH  IMHHON  AN» 
ITH  KKTOTH-ltK  '  HlfTION  OF  Till',  Till',!', —TIIK  (JlIVKIl- TIIK  l-AIIANU,  OK  MWOHI.,  AND  ITU 
VAUll'.TIHH— Till  UlANO-l.ATOK,     AND     ITH     (  rlUOIH      PI  \  NI.I.K  —  roWKK     OK     ITH     III.OW— TWO 

III.OWH  OK  AN  ,  M.>  ITK.NKIl-TIIB  PAHAN.l-IIII.AN.l  I  H»  CrlUOUNI.V  KOIIMKI.  III.ADK  — AN 
AWKWAllD  WKAION— K.WKIl  OK  TIIK  KAIIANll-IIII.ANO,  AND  ITH  VAI.UK  -TIIK  HIIKATII  AND  ITU 
ADl.n.oNAI,  KNIKK  -  I.oHMI.K-KDOKD  PAHA-'.),  WITH  IIIAILMH— A  HINOUhAll  OllNAMKNT  -  TIIK 
KHIH  AND  ITH  V  AlllKTIKH  —  ITB  WAVKD  AND  1.A.«1NATKU  IlLAUK  —  KKKKCX  OF  TUB  UMK  JUICM  — 
TUK   KXKC;iJTIONKlt'H   KIUM, 


\Vk  how  roiiio  to  tho  sulijoc'l  of  Wurfain, 
wliich  Coiins  pc'rlmps  tlid  iiio.st  iniportuiif, 
lirancli  of  Dysik  liintoi'v.  Wliullun  tlui  D.y- 
ak.s  b(!lonn  to  llii^  liiiiitl  or  HuiidiviHioii,  limy 
nrn  alwuy.H  winlikc,  Uiounti  tin-,  liittcr  iirc 
IhiiTor,  |i(trliiiiiH  Imivor,  unci  cuitiiiiily  inort' 
elll(•^pt•i.•^ill^!  Hmu  the.  toiini-r.  In  order  to 
uiidiTHtiUiil  the  svNli!in  iiy  wiiicli  they  wiij?ii 
war,  W(i  nnist  llrnt  exiuniiie  their  wiiiipoiiH. 
1  will  tiike  that  which  in  Ihe  ino,st  charaeter- 
iHtie;  uamelv,  the  Kiiinpitaii,  or  hlow  KUii. 

We  have  here  a  weapon,  the  like  of  which 
wo  have  not  Hceii  in  any  country  that  we 
liavo  hitherto  invcsti-aled;  namely,  an  iii- 
Htnnnent  by  means  "f  which  niis.siles  are 
l)roirct(^(l  hy  ineiins  of  (loinpres.sed  air.  Tlu! 
priiiciple  on  which  the  siunpitau  acts  is  pre- 
cisely similar  lo  that  of  lire-arm.s,  thouith 
the  propelling'  power  is  ohtaiiied  in  a  dill'er- 
cnt  and  niore  siin|)le  manner.  In  fact,  the 
snnjpitan  i.s  uothiiii,'  hut  llu!  "  jiea-shooter  " 
of  hoys,  very  much  cnlarj,'id,  and  carrying 
an  arrow  instead  of  a  pea  or  chiy  ball. 

This  curious  wcai«)n  is  about  eiuhc  feet  in 
lon-^th,  and  not  (putci  an  inch  in  diameter, 
and  is  bored  with  the  j,'reatost  accuracy,  a 
Uisk  that  occupies  a  very  lon<?  time,  the 
wood  heiii}?  very  hard,  and  the  ii\terior  of 
tho  sumpikvu  smooth  and  even  ]K)lished.  It 
is  not  always  made  of  the  same  wood,  the 
specimv'ns  in  my  own  collection  being  of  dif- 
ferent material,  one  of  very  dark  and  the 
other  of  very  light  wood.  The  surface  is  of 
equal  thickness  from  end  to  end,  and,  as  it 
generally  has  to  enact  the  part  of  a  spear  as 


well  as  of  a  sumpitan,  it  is  very  strong  and 
hi^avy.  ^ 

Oiie  of  these  weapons,  l)ronght  to  Kng- 
land  by  the  late  Admiral  Young,  is  of  a 
beaut ifill  coloriid  wood,  and  is  beautifully 
inlaid,  both  at  the  butt  and  the  point,  witli 
metal.  The  last  few  inches  of  llie  butt  aro 
entirely  made  of  metal,  the  weight  of  which 
causes  the  weapon  to  balance  itstdf  (Misily 
when  hold  lo  the  lii)S.  The  pattern  <if  the 
inlaying  may  be  seen  in  lig.  I,  of  the  illus- 
tration enlitled  ''Humpitans,"  on  the  U2-2nd 
l)ago. 

'I'ho  other  snmpitnn,  fig.  2,  is  of  a  very 
dark,  .-ilmosl  lilack  wood,  which  is  brightly 
polished  on  the  exterior  as  wc^ll  as  in  tho 
interior,  and  is  not  inlaid.  TIk^  butt,  how- 
ever, is  encased  with  brass  for  live  inches, 
the  bra.ss  being  very  thick  and  heavy  at  the 
cud,  and  dee|)ly  ridged,  so  as  to  look  at  a  lit- 
tle distance  as  if  it  were  a  spiral  brass  wire 
coiled  round  the  butt  of  the  sumiiilan. 

At  the  tip  of  this  weapon  is  a  si)ear  heiwl, 
very  thick,  broad,  and  strong,  sharply  edged 
and  pointed,  and  decorated  with  ingraved 
pattcuns  after  the  manner  employed  by 
Dyak  smiths.  It  is  tirmly  bound  to  tlio 
sumpitan  l)y  brass  wire  or  rattan,  and  is  an 
exact  analogue  of  tho  bayonet,  the  spear 
hea<l  being  fastened  to  the  side  of  tho 
weapon,  and  not  interfering  with  tlie  flight 
of  the  missile.  The  bore  of  the  weapon  is 
very  small,  not  quite  half  an  inch  in  diame- 
ter, and  it  is  really  wonderflil  that  the  maker 
could  contrive  to  hollow  it  with  the  perfect 


(1119) 


Lri 


il 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


u 


1.4 


—    6" 


Hi 


22 

,6       ^"^ 


1.6 


i 


^ 


^ 


Va 


^ 


/2 


/: 


M 

^A 


'/ 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

-WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  671-4503 


%' '  ^ 


(/J 


,T 


i 


1120 


BORNEO. 


precision  which  is  necessary  for  the  accurate 
flight  of  the  arrow. 

Wo  next  come  to  the  missile  which  is  pro- 
jected through  the  sumpitan.  This  is  a  very 
tiny  arrow,  made  of  the  thorn  of  tho  sago 
palm,  about  seven  or  eiglit  indies  long, 
equally  thick  from  hase  to  point,  and  not 
thicker  than  a  large  steel  knitting-needle. 
In  order  to  make  it  (it  the  hore  so  that  it 
can  he  ])ropelled  by  the  breath,  it  is  fur- 
nished at  tho  butt  with  a  conical  piece  of 
pith  or  soft  wood,  so  that  it  exactly  iits  the 
bore.  In  some  of  the  arrows,  the  cone  is 
hollow,  and  a  few  of  tlunn  arc  furnished 
with  wing-like  appendages  along  the  shaft. 
As  a  rule,  liowever,  the  solid  cone  is  in  most 
general  use. 

These  arrows  are  so  small  that  the  wound 
which  (hey  inflict  is  in  itself  insignificant, 
and  would  not  be  suflicient  to  kill  any  ani- 
mal larger  than  a  rat.  They  are,  however, 
converted  into  weapons  of  the  most  formi- 
dable character  by  JJeing  smeared  at  the  tip 
with  poison  obtained  from  the  upas-tree. 

The  reader  is  probably  aware  of  (he  many 
talcs  that  are  told  of  this  tree  —  how  that  it 

{)oisons  tho  country  for  a  mile  round,  and 
low  that  the  deadly  juice  can  only  be  ob- 
tained by  means  of  condemned  criminals, 
who  earn  their  pardon  in  case  they  can 
bring  off"  a  bottle  of  the  juice.  Even  in 
more  recent  days  (he  upas-tree  has  not  lost 
all  its  legends,  and  many  persons  still  be- 
lieve that  actual  contact  wifh  tho  tree  or  its 
leaves  produces  a  sensadon  of  faintness. 
This,  however,  is  not  the  case;  neither  is 
the  actual  juice  of  the  tree  so  deadly  as  is 
supposed. 

A  wound  made  by  an  arrow  poisoned  with 
upas  juice  is  sure  to  be  fatal,  provided  that 
tne  poison  be  *juite  fresh;  but  it  loses  its 
power  very  rapidly,  and  after  it  has  been 
exposed  to  (he  air  for  two  hours  it  is  use- 
less, and  must  be  renewe(l.  When  fresh,  it 
is  fatal  in  a  very  short  time,  as  was  found  by 
Mr.  Johnson,  wlio  led  an  attack  on  the  Kan- 
owit  Dyaks  in  18.59.  lie  lost  thirty  men  in 
the  attack,  every  one  of  them  being  killed 
by  the  tiny  sumpit  arrow,  and  not  one  hav- 
ing a  mark  on  him,  except  the  little  wound 
made  by  the  arrow's  point. 

Should  the  poison  have  been  exposed  to 
the  air,  (he  wounded  man  has  a  chance  of 
recovery;  and  it  has  been  found  that  a  large 
dose  of  spirits,  sucking  the  wound,  and 
keeping  the  sufferer  continually  in  motion 
will  generally  overcome  the  virulence  of  the 
poison.  Indeed,  the  sumpit  arrow  seems  to 
nave  much  the  same  eflect  as  the  bit«  of  the 
cobra,  and  the  treatment  which  is  efflcacious 
for  the  snake  bite  answers  equally  well  for 
the  arrow  wound. 

The  juice  of  the  upas-tree  is  procured 
simply  hy  boring  a  hole  in  the  trunk,  fVom 
which  the  juice  issues  in  a  white,  cream-like 
state.  It  is  received  in  little  flBsks  mado  of 
bamboo,  which  are  closed  in  the  most  care- 


ful manner,  in  order  to  exclude  the  air.  One 
of  these  flasks  in  my  possession  is  five 
inciies  in  length,  and  about  half  an  inch  in 
diameter.  One  end  is  naturally  closed  by  a 
knot,  and  the  other  is  sealed  wi(h  the  most 
scrupulous  care.  First,  a  plug  of  soft  wood 
has  been  inserted  into  the  end,  after  tho 
manner  of  a  cork.  Over  the  plug  a  lump  of 
beeswax  has  been  firmly  kneadi'd,  and  over 
the  wax  a  piece  of  membrane  has  been  tied 
when  wet.  Although  (he  njias  juice  is  white 
when  it  first  issues  I'rom  the  free,  it  speedily 
becomes  black  when  exjiosod  (o  (he  air. 

The  upas-tree  is  called  scieiUKically. 4flh'a- 
ris  tuxicaria,  and  it  belongs  to  the  natural 
order  Astocmyta,  (he  best  known  species  of 
whiclv  order  is  the  well-knoAvn  bread-fruit 
tree.  All  the  plants  of  (his  order  produce  a 
white  milky  juice,  which  is  ahvays  acrid  and 
deleterious,  and  in  many  instances  is  ex- 
ceedingly poisonous.  Yet  (hose  parts  of 
(he  plant,  such  as  (he  fruit,  in  which  the 
milk  is  replaced  by  sugar  in  the  process  of 
ripening,  are  not  only  harmless,  but  even 
nufriiious.  The  (ree  grows  to  a  consider- 
able size,  and  the  bark  of  the  trunk  has  a 
reddish  hue. 

The  reader  will  at  once  undc'stand  how 
formidable  is  this  weapon.  It  is  greatly  to 
be  dreaded  even  when  the  Dyak  warriors 
are  met  in  open  battle,  and  in  naval  engage- 
ments the  showers  of  )i(ii.«oiied  arrows  that 
are  continually  shot  through  (lie  port-holes 
render  the  gunners'  (a^k  a  most  unpleasant 
one.  But  (he  sunijiKan  is  much  more  to  be 
dreaded  by  land  (ban  by  sea;  and  when  it  is 
employed  in  bush  warlarc,  the  boldest  sol- 
dier shrinks  from  (he  encounler.  The  Dvak 
who  wields  it  lies  hidden  in  (he  (hick  ibli- 
age,  sure  that,  even  in  case  of  discovery,  he 
can  glide  through  the  tangled  (hickefs  into 
a  place  of  security.  The  suiupifan  makes 
no  report,  and  (.dves  out  no  smoke  as  an  in- 
dication of  its  position,  but  the  deadly  .irrow 
flies  silently  on  its  errand,  and  (he  only  inti- 
mation of  the  presen(  i;  of  an  adversai-y  is 
the  slight  tap  with  which  the  arrow  strikes 
its  mark. 

The  only  disadvantage  of  the  sumpitan  is 
that  its  range  is  a  short  one.  the  light  arrow 
being  seldom  used  at  a  dislance  exceeding 
forty  yards,  though  a  man  who  is  accustomed 
to  its  use  can  propel  an  arrow  for  seventy  or 
eighty  yards.  At  this  distance,  however,  it 
is  not  "to  be  dreaded,  as  its  force  is  so  ex- 
pended that  it  can  scarcely  break  the  human 
skin.  Some  of  these  arrows  have  their  heads 
made  of  the  barbed  bone  of  the  sting-ray, 
which  snaps  off  at  a  touch,  and  remains  in 
the  wound  if  the  man  tries  to  draw  out  the 
weapon.  Others  have  separate  heads  made 
of  wood,  which  become  detached  «s  soon  as 
the  shaft  is  pulled.  The  native  name  of  the 
head  mjowhig. 

The  Dyak  generally  carries  thirty  or  forty 
of  these  arrows  in  a  peculiar-shaped  quiver. 
It  is  made  of  the  ever  useful  bamboo,  and  is 


Pii     2 


PI! 


(3.)   PAKANG  IHLANG. 
(See  page  1124.) 


(10   PAIJANU    I.ATOK. 
(Soe  pai;e  1123.) 


(2.)    I)YAK   81JMPITANS. 
(Soepau-'  llltf.) 


(1122) 


THE  PARANG-LATOK. 


1133 


furnished  with  an  appendfige  by  which  it  can 
bfc  stuck  into  tho  bolt  and  carried  at  the  side, 
lliisappoiidagc  i3  uad.'  of  hard  wood,  and  is 
lashed  to  tho  quiver  „.  a  broad  l)oit  of  rattan, 
most  beautifully  plaited.  The  quiver  is 
c  osed  by  a  couioal  wooden  cover,  which  is 
always  secured  by  a  string  30  that  it  shall 
not  be  lost.  .Some  of  the  Dyak  quivers  are 
highly  polished,  covered  with  carvings,  and 
are  almost  to  bo  ranked  with  works  of  art. 
Many  of  these  quivers  have  an  inner  case 
or  linins;  of  dried  skin  or  membrane,  so  as 
to  exclude  tho  air,  and  preserve  tho  poison 
of  th(!  arrow  as  long  as  possible. 

When  the  Dyak  uses  the  sumpitnn,  he 
holds  the  moutlipi(!ce  to  his  lips  between 
the  two  first  lingers  of  his  left  hand,  while 
with  his  right  he  supports  and  aims  the 
heavy  we:.pon,  which  requires  a  strong  as 
well  as  a  practised  man  to  direct  it  steadily. 

The  weapon  wliich  comes  next  in  impor- 
tance to  the  sumpitan  is  the  parang  or 
sword,  of  which  there  are  several  varieties. 
Ihe  Dj'aks  pride  themselves  greatly  on 
their  swords,  and  the  excellence  of  their 
workmanshij)  is  so  great  that  they  have 
good  reason  for  pride.  Their  forges  are  of 
excellent  quality,  and  some  of  the  tribes  are 
able  not  only  to  forgo  their  own  weapons 
but  to  smi'lt  their  own  iron. 
,  The  comnouost  of  all  the  Dyak  weapons 
18  tlie  sword  c  died  paraug-latok,  which  is 
carried  by  every  man  and  nearly  every 
woman.  It  is  used  not  only  ais  a  sword,  but 
as  an  axe,  and  is  indifferently  employed  for 
cutting  fliroush  thejungl  or  cutting  down 
the  enemy.  The  shape  of  this  sword  is  very 
ncculuir,  !is  may  be  seen  from  illustnitioii 
^0.  1,  on  tlu!  preceding  page,  which  repre- 
sents a  speciiniiu  in  my  collection. 

The  blade  is  formed  after  a  verv  curious 
pattern.  Toward  the  hilt  it  is  squared,  .and 
IS  in  fact  nothing  but  a  square  bar  of  .steel 
nearly  half  tin  inch  in  thickness,  .and  three 
quarters  of  an  inch  in  width.  From  tho  hilt 
to  the  point  the  blade  becomes  gradually 
•wider  and  thinner,  so  that  tho  bro.ad  point 
two    inches    in    widtli,    contains    just    the 

same  amount  of  metal  .IS  the  half-inch  square 
hilt.  It  IS  evident  that  the  sword  is  first 
forged  into  a  square  bar  of  equable  size,  and 
IS  then  beaten  out  flatter  and  flatter  toward 
the  point. 

The  illustration  shows  that  tho  blade  of 
the  sword  is  bent  at  a  considerable  an-'le 
toward  tho  hilt.  This  cu'-ious  shape,  awk- 
ward as  It  IS  to  an  unaccustomed  hand,  forms 
the  prineq)al  value  of  the  sword.  When 
the  paraiiu'-latok  is  used  for  cuttin<;  down 
branches  or  chopping  a  path  through  the 
Jim<'le,  It  IS  grasped  at  the  squared  jjortion 
ot  the  l)lade,  and  is  used  just  as  we  uso  the 
common  bill-iiook  in  this  country.  But 
when  the  object  which  is  to  bo  chopped  lies 
on  tlie  ground,  tho  parang  is  held  by  the 
handle,  so  that  the  angular  shape  allows  the 


blade  to  be  used  with  full  force.  It  is  the 
habit  of  holding  tho  parang  l)y  the  squared 
portion  of  the  blade,  that  disfigures  and 
even  deforms  tho  fingers  of  the  women, 
as  has  already  been  mentioned  on  pa^e 
1118.  ° 

The  ordinary  parangs  have  no  attempt  at 
ornament  upon  them,  but  those  of  better 
construction  are  covered  with  patterns  en- 
graved upon  the  blade,  of  which  we  shall 
see  some  examples. 

In  war,  this  sword  is  a  most  formidable 
weapon.  It  is  so  heavy,  weighing  on  an 
average  two  pounds,  that  a  blow  from  it  is 
sufficient  to  crush  the  skull  or  break  the 
limb  of  a  man,  and,  even  if  it  had  no  edge,  it 
would  equal  in  eflicacy  the  merai  of  tho  New 
Zealander.  But  the  parang-latok  has  a  very- 
sharp  edge,  which  is  kept  in  the  best  order, 
and,  when  a  blow  is  delivered  with  it,  the 
very  form  of  the  weapon  causes  it  to  make 
the  terrible  "  drawing  cut,"  the  blade  being 
drawn  through  the  wound  nciirlv  from  hilt 
to  point.  In  consequence  of  this  pecuHarity, 
tho  wounds  made  by  the  parang-latok  are 
very  severe  and  the  natives  pride  them- 
selves grew  :n  the  depth  of  the  wound 
which  they  can  inflict. 

One  of  the  modes  by  which  they  try  their 
skill  is  killing  a  ))ig  with  a  single 'blow  of  a 
parang-la!  ..:  a  good  swordsmr.n  being  able 
to  sever  the  animal  completclv,  and  to  drive 
the  point  of  his  weapon  into  'the  earth.  If 
tho  reader  h.as  been  accustomed  to  use  the 
sword,  he  will  see  that  to  strike  downward 
at  an  object  so  near  the  ground  is  by  no 
means  an  easy  task. 

When  an  English  swordsman  performs 
the  feat  of  severing  a  sheep  at  a  single  blow, 
ho  has  several  advantages  which  are  denied 
to  the  Dyak.  In  the  first  pl.icc,  tho  sheep  is 
already  dead,  so  that  he  can  take  his  aim  in 
quiet,  whereas  the  pig  is  alive,  so  that  the 
Dyak  must  aim  his  blow  as  ho  can.  Then 
the  sheep  has  been  skinned  and  cleaned,  so 
that  the  s^vord  has  not  so  much  resistance 
to  overcome.  Lastly,  the  sheep  is  suspended, 
so  that  the  swordsinan  can  use  the  most  ef- 
fective blow,  namely,  "  Cut  0,"  i.  c.  a  sweep- 
ing, horizontal  cut  from  left  to  right,  which 
can  be  delivered  with  tho  full  swing  of  tho 
arm. 

Were  it  not  for  the  peculiar  form  of  tho 
parang-latok  the  feat  of  severing  a  pig  could 
not  bo  accomplished,  but  the  angular  shape 
of  the  blade  and  its  gradually^  increasing 
width  combine  the  power  of  "the  drawin<» 
cut  with  tho  chopping  force  g.ained  by  the 
weight  of  the  weapon. 

The  sheath  of  this  parang  is  neatly  made 
of  two  Hat  pieces  of  wood,  neatly  hollowed 
mside  to  receive  the  blade,  and  bound  to- 
gether in  the  most  elaborate  manner  by  a 
series  of  belts,  twelve  or  fourteen  in  num- 
ber. These  belts  are  made  of  very  narrow 
strips  of  dark  rattan,  and  are  twined  into  an 
endless  four-plait.    In  my  own  specimen, 


■*  m 


I     *  H 


I 


1124 


BORNEO. 


there  are  thirteen  of  these  belts.  Attached 
to  the  upper  end  of  the  sheath  is  the  cord 
by  which  tlie  weapon  is  hung  to  tlio  oidt 
This  cord  is  doubled,  is  made  of  scarlet 
and  yellow  cotton  iilaited  square,  and  is  or- 
namented at  the  ends  with  two  large  tassels, 
the  strings  of  which  are  yellow  tipped  with 
scarlet  tufts. 

The  parang-latok  is  more  a  Malayan  than 
a  Dyak  weapon,  but  it  is  in  favor  with  the 
Dyaks,  and,  as  has  been  mentioned,  has 
come  into  general  use. 

The  Malays  use  it  in  execution,  and  arc 
able  to  decapitate  a  man  at  a  fini^le  blow, 
the  executioner  standing  at  his  side  and  a 
little  behind  him.  On  one  occasion,  an  exe- 
cutioner, who  was  distinguished  for  the  skill 
witli  which  he  wielded  a  very  heavy  parang 
which  ho  possessed,  stood  between  two 
criminals  as  they  knelt  on  the  ground,  and 
with  a  right  and  left  hand  blow  struck  off" 
both  their  heads.  The  same  man,  who  was 
one  of  the  police,  being  annoyed  by  the 
howling  of  some  dogs  in  the  street,  rushed 
out  with  ids  parang,  and  with  one  blow  cut 
in  two  the  lirst  animal  which  lie  met. 

We  now  come  to  another  weapon,  the 
parang-ihlang.  which  is  one  of  the  most  ex- 
traordinary swords  in  the  world,  and  more 
troublesome  and  even  dangerous  to  stran- 
gers than  can  well  be  conceived.  This  is  a 
smaller,  sliortcr,  and  lighter  weapon  than 
the  parang-latok.  From  point  to  hilt  it 
measures  nitx^teeu  inches,  and  in  extreme 
breadtli  of  blade  is  rather  under  an  inch  and 
a  half.  It  weiglis  rather  less  than  one 
POUikI  six  ounces,  and  altogether  appears  to 
be  quite  insignificant  when  compared  with 
the  parang-latok.  We  shall  see,  however, 
tliat  in  the  hands  of  an  experienced  swords- 
man it  is  even  superior  to  that  weapon  on 
account  of  a  strange  peculiarity  in  construc- 
tion. The  general  shape  of  the  blade  of  the 
Sarang-ihlung  can  bo  seen  in  illustration 
To.  .3,0 n  page  lli!2.  It  is  very  thick  and 
heavy  toward  the  hilt,  where  it  is  nearly 
squared,  like  the  parang-latok,  but  becomes 
gradually  thinner  toward  the  point,  which 
18  tinished  ofl'  in  a  series  of  scooped  patterns 
that  look  at  a  little  distance  i)s  if  the  sword 
had  been  broken.  The  back  is  quite 
straight,  an<l  along  it  and  on  either  side  of 
the  blade  is  a  series  of  small  i)atterns  en- 
graved with  much  neatness  and  freedom  of 
execution. 

But  the  most  remarkable  thing  about  the 
blade  is,  tliat  instead  of  being  nearly  (lat  as 
arc  European  sword  l)lades,  it  is  convex  on 
one  side,  and  concave  on  the  other,  as  is 
shown  at  the  se(;tion,  fig.  5.  Owing  to  this 
form,  it  can  only  be  used  for  two  cuts,  one 
downward  and  one  upward;  and  if  used  in  the 
wrong  direction,  it  Hies  olf  at  an  angle,  and 
is  nearly  certain  to  inllicta  wouad  on  the  man 
who  wields  it.  These  swords  are  made  cither 
for  the  riglit  or  left  hand,  so  that  a  man  who 
ia  not  acquainted  with  the  peculiarities  of 


any  parang  Is  afVaid  to  use  it  without  a  care* 
ful  trial,  lest  he  should  make  the  wrong  cut 
with  it,  and  so  wound  liiinself. 

Small  and  insignilicant  as  this  weapon 
looks,  it  is  capable  of  inllicting  the  most 
dreadful  wounds,  the  peculiar  concavity  of 
the  blade  aiding  it  in  a  most  remiukablo 
manner.  Like  the  parang-latok,  it  is  used 
as  a  chopper  as  well  as  a  sword,  and  in  ex- 
perienced hands  is  a  most  eHeclivo  tool. 
One  man,  described  by  Mr.  JJrooke,  was  a 
celebrated  swordsman,  and  lias  been  known 
to  sever  at  a  single  blow  a  log  of  tolerably 
hard  wood  as  thick  as  a  man's  leg. 

Even  English  officers  have  been  so  much 
impressed  with  the  value  of  this  weapon, 
that  they  have  only  carried  llie  regulation 
sword  for  show,  pret'irring  the  piirang-ihlang 
for  use.  The  Sea  Dyaks,  who  have  been  al- 
ready mentioned  as  essentially  wnrriors, 
])refcr  this  sword  to  any  other  wcaiion, 
though  the  real  inventors  and  iirincipal 
makers  of  it  are  the  Kayans,  who  belong  to 
the  Malanau  division  oi'  Ibc  liand  Dyaks. 
As  a  rule,  the  ordinary  Land  Dvaks  use  the 
parang-lhlang  but  little,  and  when  they  do 
use  it  are  apt  to  hurt  themselves.  Mr. 
ISoyle  mentions  an  instance  where  the 
eldest  sou  of  a  chief  had  cut  himself  seriously 
on  both  shins  through  his  incautious  use  of 
this  weapon. 

"  The  finest  parangs,"  writes  Mr.  Boyle, 
"or  those  esteemed  so.  are  found  in  the 
graves  of  Kayan  wnrriors, Mhich  are  conse- 
quently rilled  liy  Dyaks  and  :Malays  on 
every  possible  occasion.  I  have  one.  pur- 
chased at  Kennowit,  which  I  was  told  had 
been  obtained  from  a  sepulchre,  three  hun- 
dred years  old  —  a  rather  i.-iprobable  as- 
sertion, though  I  believe  the  weapon  was 
really  found  "in  a  Kayan  grave,  for  it  was 
strangely  stained  and  rusted  when  1  bought 
it." 

The  Dyaks  are  very  jiroud  of  the  quality 
of  their  blades,  and  hold  even  the  best  Eu- 
ropean steel  in  utter  contempt.  It  is  said 
that  their  swords  are  made  o.'"  'd  tiles, 
which  are  imported  in  large  quar  os;  but, 
whatever  m.'iy  be  the  material,  the  tem|)er 
of  their  blades  is  marvellously  excellent. 
These  parangs  not  only  take  a  razor-like 
edge,  but  are  exc(KMling"ly  tough,  and  when 
used  for  bush-work  beat  the  very  best  Eng- 
lish implements.  Mr.  lloylc  remarks,  that 
whereas  his  own  hunting-knives,  which  pro- 
fessed to  be  the  finest  steel  possible,  broke  and 
ganped,  the  Dyak  parangs  were  not  in  the 
least  injured. 

Such  a  blade  a-s  has  been  described  is  ex- 
ceedingly valuable,  even  in  its  own  country, 
and  one  of  the  best  quality  cannot  be  pur- 
chased under  ten  pounds  sterling.  It  may 
be  easily  imagined  that  when  a  Dyak  is  for- 
tunate enough  io  possess  one  of  these  valu- 
able blades  he  will  not  be  content  with  an 
ordinary  handle  and  sheath,  but  will  lavish 
upon  Uia  weapon  all  tho  powers  of  his  na- 


D0U13LE-EDGED  PABANG  WITH  CHABMS. 


1126 


tjve  art.  The  handle,  instead  of  being  of 
Biinple  wood,  is  of  bone,  curved  deeply  and 
biildly  into  patterns,  and  Ih  always  bent  at 
right  angles  to  the  line  of  the  blade.  It  is 
further  ornamented  l)y  Hunilry  tufts  of  hu- 
man hair,  dyed  of  various  colors,  of  which 
deep  red,  yellow,  and  green  arc  the  favor- 
ites. The  liilt  is  generally  bound  with  brass 
Wire,  and,  for  a  sniall-handed  race  like  the 
Dyaks,  alfords  an  excellent  hold.  An  Eluro- 
pean  generally  tlnds  that  the  narrow  handle 
18  very  awkward  and  cramped,  and  is  not 
sufHcient  for  his  gra.sp. 

The  scabbard  of  this  weapon  is  covered 
with  ornamiMits.  Instead  of  being  a  plain 
ai.d  simple  sheath,  like  that  of  the  paran^- 
latok,  it  is  made  of  a  hard  wood,  of  a  dark, 
rich,  nvihogany  color,  which  takes  a  very 
high  polish.  'I* iiis  is  carved  in  elaborate  and 
really  artistic  patterns,  the  carving  being 
conli'ned  to  the  front  of  the  scabbard. 

In  the  middle,  just  under  the  carved  part, 
is  a  i)iece  of  fur,  and  below  the  fur  is  a  tuft 
of  human  hair  dyed  red.  In  most  cases  of 
swords  made  by  uncivilized  races,  there  is 
somr!  daui^er  to  the  hand  in  drawing  them, 
the  edge  of  the  sword  being  apt  to  project 
betwi'cn  the  two  Hat  pieces  of  which  the 
sheath  is  made.  In  order,  however,  to 
guard  against  such  an  accident,  the  maker 
of  the  parang-ililang  places  a  ijjece  of  rattan 
against  each  edge  of  the  scabbard,  so  that 
the  blade  cannot  by  any  possibility  cut  the 
fingers,  even  if  the  hand  sliould  grasp  the 
sheath.  The  various  parts  of  this  sheath 
arc  bound  together  by  six  belts  of  plaited 
rattan  and  three  belts  of  brass  wire,  plaited 
most  I)eantifully,  in  that  form  which  is 
known  to  sailors  as  the  Turk's  head. 

The  belt  by  which  the  sword  is  attached 
to  the  wearer  is  made  of  rattan,  cut  into 
very  narrow  strijis  and  plaited  into  tliongs, 
th've  of  which  thongs  are  again  plaited  to- 
gether to  form  the  belt.  On  the  ojiposite 
side  of  the  scabbard  is  a  second  sheath,  of 
the  sauK!  length  as  that  to  which  it  is  fas- 
tened, but  small  and  cylindrical.  This 
sheath  is  made  of  red  and  yellow  cloth,  is 
lined  with  bark,  and  is  intended  for  the  re- 
ception of  a  knife  which  is  peculiar  to  the 
Dyaks.  One  of  these  knives  maybe  seen  at 
fi<».  .'{,  in  the  illustration  of  the  jmrang  on 
pag«(  ll'2t).  The  handle  of  this  knife  is  made 
of  "the  same  hard  wood  as  that  of  which  the 
sheath  is  formed.  It  is  nearly  cylindrical, 
about  half  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  four- 
teen inches  in  length,  the  blade  being  short, 
pointed,  and  barely  two  inches  in  length. 
Tliis  curious  knife  is  used  by  the  Dyaks  for 
splitting  rattan,  and  similar  purposes,  the 
long  handle  being  held  under  the  left  arm, 
while  the  rattan  is  drawn  with  both  hands 
across  the  edge  of  the  blade. 

The  natives  are  singulafiy  averse  to  part- 
ing with  this  knife.  They  will  sell  the  sword, 
if  a  sullieient  price  be  oflered,  but  will  always 
endeavor  surreptitiously  to  withdraw  the 


knife,  bo  that,  out  of  many  parangs  which 
have  been  brought  to  Europe,  comparatively 
few  have  the  knifo  attached  to  them.  In  one 
specimen  in  my  collection,  the  weapon 
appears  to  be  quite  perfect,  but,  on  with- 
drawing the  knife  from  its  sheath,  it  is  seen 
that  the  Dyak  has  cleverly  substituted  a 
bladeless  handle  for  the  real  knife. 

Hoth  the  weapons  which  have  been  de- 
scribed were  presented  to  mo  by  C.  T.  C. 
Grant,  Esq. 

There  is  also  in  my  collection  a  third  kind 
of  parang,  which  at  first  sight  looks  almost 
exactly  like  the  old  Itoman  sword.  It  is 
thick,  massive,  weighty,  and  at  first  sight 
looks  more  like  an  ancient  than  a  modern 
weapon.  On  a  closer  examination,  however, 
tlie  peculiar  Dyak  workmanship  is  evident. 
Though  it  is  not  like  ihc  prcccnling  weapon, 
convex  on  ono  side,  and  concave  on  tho 
other,  the  two  sides  arc  entirely  distinct. 
The  blade  is  double-edged,  very  thick  in  the 
middle,  and  sloped  off  rather  abruptly  to  tho 
edge  on  eitlier  side. 

The  handle  is  only  made  of  wood,  but  is 
profusely  decorated  with  human  hair  of  dif- 
ferent colors  and  considerable  length,  and 
it  is  bound  with  a  broad  belt  of  plaited  r.attan. 
Tho  sheath  for  the  knife  is  entirely  made  of 
bark,  and  the  knifo  itself  is  shown  at  fig.  2. 
Like  the  scabbard  of  the  parang-ihlang  al- 
ready described,  that  of  this  weapon  is  richly 
carved,  and  adorned  with  fur  and  long  tufts 
of  human  hair. 

The  belt  by  which  it  is  suspended  is  made 
of  rattan  split  very  fine,  and  plaited  so  as  to 
form  a  strap  nearly  an  inch  in  width,  i'-.ul  the 
sixth  of  an  inch  in  thickness.  It  is  rounded 
at  the  edges,  and  at  the  upper  part  it  is  in- 
geniously separated  into  two  portions,  so  as 
to  form  a  loop. 

The  chief  peculiarity  of  this  weapon  lies 
in  the  number  of  charms  which  are  attached 
to  it.  First  come  two  teeth,  and  then  there 
is  a  ocautifully  plaited  little  case,  soir  .'  ng 
like  the  cocoon  of  an  insect,  coniii.  .ng 
several  little  pieces  of  wood.  Next  comes  a 
small  bag  of  netted  strinij,  about  an  inch  and 
a  half  in  length,  in  which  is  a  stone,  and 
then  come  three  little  flattish  baskets,  with 
covers,  which  are  emjity.  Fastened  to  the 
belt  by  several  thongs  is  a  curiously  shaped 
piece  of  wood  which  I  believe  to  be  used  for 
sharpening  the  edges  of  the  sword,  and  to 
the  end  of  the  sheath  is  hung  by  a  string 
of  beads  a  feather,  the  quill  of  which  has 
been  carefully  wrapped  with  red  and  black 
string. 

This  weapon  is  in  all  ways  a  most  formi- 
dable one,  and  to  European  travellers  is  by 
far  the  best  for  practical  purposes.  The 
handle  is  rather  larger  than  is  the  case  with 
either  of  the  preceding  weapons;  the  blade 
has  not  that  curvature  which  renders  it  so 
perilous  a  weapon  in  unpractised  hands; 
it  is  double-edged,  and  either  edge  can  be 
used  with  equal  facility;  and  lastly,  it  pos- 


.1  n 


'h  n 


r*l 


ill 


i 


Vm 


IISQ 


BORNEO. 


iiossej)  ft  point,  whioh  is  not  the  case  wllli 
tlio  other  fiirms  of  the  sword. 

Olio  Dyak  iliicflmtl  an  ornament  attftrhed 
to  his  sword  of  wliich  hn  wns  exceedingly 
nrond.  It  was  an  enornioii.s  tnft  of  half, 
bciiii,'  not  hi  11":  more  nor  lo.sa  than  the  iii^^tnila 
of  Un  CliincHc!  wliom  he  Iiad  killed,  and 
whose  hair  he  had  fastened  to  the  seabhard 
of  Iiis  sword.  This  oriminent  must  have 
been  sin_!j;ularly  inconvenient  to  him.  There 
i.s  in  my  collection  an  averajje  specimen  of 
a  Chinese  iiigtail.  It  wei{,'lis  nine  ounces,  so 
that  the  weijfht  of  the  ten  must  rather  exceed 
«ve  jiounds  and  a  half,  wliile  the  length  is 
Ave  leet,  so  that  ten  tufts  of  hair,  each  five 
fet;t  in  length,  must  have  given  the  wearer 
nn  infinity  of  trouble  as  he  walked. 


The  reader  will  already  have  noticed  how 
the  various  forms  of  sword  are  used  alike  by 
the  Malays  and  the  Dvak  tribes.  .There  is 
another  weapon,  which,  though  strictly  a 
Malay  invention,  is  used  by  the  Dyaks,  and 
indeed,  with  some  v:  nations,  throughout  the 
whole  of  the  Malay  ArJiioelago.  It  is  called 
the  kris,  sometimes,  but  wronglv,  spelt  creese 
and  is  so  common  that  any  oriliimry  collec- 
tion of  weapons  is  sure  to  contain  several 
.sjH'cimpiis  of  the  kris.  It  is  ren»nrkable  for 
three  points.  In  tlie  first  place,  tlie  handle 
is  not  set  in  a  line  with  the  blade,  as  in  or- 
dinary daggers,  but  is  bent  at  a  right  angle; 
next,  the  blade  is  almost  always  waved  in 
form,  like  the  llaming  sword  wi'th  which  the 
old  painters  armed  the  angels  who  kept  the 
gates  of  Paradise;  and  thirdly,  the  blade  is 
never  smooth,  but  dull,  rough,"  and  indented 
with  curved  grooves  much  resembling  in 
form  the  marks  on  a  "browned  "gun-barrel. 
By  referring  to  the  illustration  "  Kris"  on 
j)age  1129,  the  reader  will  bettor  understand 
Its  |)eculiarities. 

There  are  few  weapons  which  vary  more 
in  value,  or  in  which  the.i)rice  set  upon  them 
is  so  aiiparentlv  excessive.  A  llrst-iate 
blade,  even  without  (he  handle  and  sheath, 
will  cost  from  eighteen  to  twenty  pounds, 
and  an  ordinary  one  can  scarcely  be  pur- 
chased under  two  pounds.  They  have  by  no 
means  the  a])pearance  of  l)eing  valuable 
wcai)ons,  the  steel  of  tlie  blade  beiiig  not  only 
rough  and  corroded,  but  looking  as  if  it  were 
composed  of  successive  laminffi  which  are  on 
the  point  of  being  separated.  This  elTect  is 
produced  by  steeping  the  blade  in  lime  juice, 
thus  causing  a  jiartial  corrosion  of  the  metal, 
which  is  made  of  small  piecesof  steel  twisted 
and  welded  together  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
produce  exceeding  toughness. 

One  of  these  weapons  in  my  collection  is 
M'orn  away  almost  to  a  mere  ribbon  of  steel  by 
the  aotion  of  the  acid,  and,  strange  as  it 
may  seem,  weapons  of  this  kind,  which  look 
much  as  if  they  were  mere  pieces  of  rusty 
iron-hooping,  are  the  most  valued  by  con- 
noisseurs. The  length  of  grain  iii  this 
weapoB  is  wonderful,  the  corrosion  of  the 


lime  Juice  «howlnff  it  in  the  most  perfect 
manner.  The  long  grooves  can  bo  traced 
from  one  end  of  the  blade  to  the  other, 
following  the  waved  form  of  the  narrower 
portion,  and  curling  round  in  the  wider 
])art  near  the  hilt,  as  if  the  whole  of  Ihu 
blade  had  been  forgc^d  out  of  steel  wires 
laid  parallel  to  each  other  and  tlicn  welded 
together. 

The  limo  Juice  takes  oft'  from  the  edge 
that  razor-like  smoothness  which  is  so  much 
admired  in  Kuropcan  blades,  nml  gives  it  n 
ragged,  saw-like  ai)pe.aranee  that  is  i)eculiar 
to  tlie  instrument.  This  edge,  however,  is 
a  terrible  one  for  penetration  into  human 
flesh,  and  answers  the  purjiose  oven  better 
than  a  jdain  and  sharj)  edge  could  do. 

The  form  of  the  kris  is  suflicicnt  to  tell 
the  reader  the  mode  of  handling  it,  the 
weapon  beinjj  thrust  forward  Just  as  a  man 
l)oints  with  his  extended  forefinger,  and  not 
grasped  according  to  Ihe  conventional  ideas 
of  painters.  Spaniards,  who  are  prover- 
bially expert  in  the  use  of  their  long  knives, 
hold  and  use  them  in  nearly  the  same  man- 
ner, laying  the  extended  forefinger  along 
the  blade  as  a  guide,  and  thiusting  forward- 
instead  of  striking  downward.  The  aver- 
age length  of  a  kris  blade  is  about  a  loot, 
but  some  are  nearly  as  long  as  ordinary 
swords,  while  others"  are  only  six  or  seven 
inches  in  length. 

Very  great  pride  is  taken  in  an  old  family 
kris,  the  owner  reg-irdiug  it  with  a  venera- 
tion that  Is  almost  superstitious.  Generally, 
the  handle  is  quite  plain,  but  the  more 
wealthy  have  it  made  of  gold,  and  eiicrusled 
with  precious  stones.  Tliis  wcajion  is  sel- 
dom used  in  war.  It  is  carried  more  as  the 
symbol  of  a  gentleman  than  as  a  weapon  to 
be  used  in  actual  light,  and  plays  the  part 
that  the  sword  used  to  play  in  the  last  cen- 
tury. 

I'lie  kris  is  much  used  in  executions,  the 
weajion  being  one  made  cxi)ressly  for  the 
purpose,  quite  straight,  thin,  and  narrow. 
In  all  cases  it  is  used  in  the  same  manner, 
though  there  are  some  variations  in  detail. 
Generally,  the  man  who  is  to  suffer  walks 
quietly  and  unbound  to  a  chair,  in  wliii^li 
he  seats  himself,  mostly  solacing  his  la.st 
moments  by  chewing  the  betel-nut.  Ills 
arms  arc  then  extended,  and  held  by  two 
men,  while  the  executioner,  standing  behind 
him,  ])laces  the  point  of  the  kris  just  above 
the  left  collar-bone,  and  strikes  it  downward 
into  the  heart,  so  that  death  is  instanta- 
neous. 

In  some  places  the  execution  kris  is  very 
narrow,  thin,  and  sharp  on  both  edges,  like  n 
lancet.  The  executioner  takes  a  small  tuft 
of  cotton  wool,  and  twists  it  lightly  round 
the  blade  of  the  kris,  just  above  the  point 
He  then  holds  the  cotton  wool  between 
the  finger  and  thumb  of  his  left  hand,  so 
as  to  keep  the  kris  upright.  After  placing 
tlie  point  of  the  weapon  on  the  right  spot 


THE  EXECUTIONEll'S  KllIS. 


1137 


ftbove  the  left  coUftr-lmno,  lie  drives  It  down- 
wiml  into  tiio  heiirt  with  liiH  r\nM  Imiid,  iviid 
the  niivn  is  dead.  Still  holdiiij;  the  cotton 
wool  betvvoen  the.  lluKer  mid  tliiinib,  he 
dniwR  out  (lie  krin,  nnd,  iis  the  point  is  wit^U- 
drawn,  presses  tho  cotton  wool  into  the 
Riiiiill  wound  whieli  it  lius  iiiude,  so  tliiit  tlie 
weapon  is  (|nite  eleiin  iind  liriK'ht,  and  not  n 
drop  of  lilood  is  allowed  to  he  seen.  There 
is  no  doiiht  that  this  mode  of  execution  is 
ns  certain,  swift  nnd  merciful  as  any  that 
can  'oc  devised.  It  is  equal  in  these,  respects 
to  tlie  ffuilloline,  and  has  llic  ^reat  advan- 
tage of  heinj,'  ahsolutidy  bloodless,  and  re- 
qiuriii;^  no  sealfold  or  visible  apparatus.  A 
ti-iiveller  mi!,dit  pass  within  two  yards  ol  the 
fatal  spot,  and  not  know  that  anything  out 
of  the  ordiiiarv  way  was  beinj;  done. 

Some,  of  tlies(\  weapons  have  been  used 
for  many  sueeessivo  ^'eneratioiis,  and  lire 
hii'hlv  i)"rized,  some  bein;^  valued  at  sums 
which  to  JCuropeaiis  seem  almost  fabulous. 
Ouo  of  these  cxecutiou  kriscs  was  shown  at 


the  (Jreat  Exhibition  in  London,  but  wan 
lost,  togidher  with  many  other  weai)oii8  of 
ijreat  value.  , 

Tho  spear  is  a  weapon  much  favored  by 
many    Dyak    tribes,    but    little    employed 
by  olliers,  tho  spear  head  at  the  end  oi  tho 
sunipitau    ausweriuK  every   nraclieal    pur- 
p„HC.     In  fact  it  is  used,  like  the  club  oi  tho 
Fiji  Islander,  as  a  summons  to  battle,  and 
He'rves  the  same  i)urpose  ns  the  liery  ero.ss 
of  the   Scotch  lIiKhlaiids.     This  syinbol  m 
iiistaiitaiieously    obeyed,    nnd,    as    it    runs 
through    a   country    with    almost    marital 
speed,  ft  chief  can  raise  a  large  lorce  wilhia 
a  very  short  time.    On  one  occasion,  during 
the  r'aiahship  of  Sir  .lames  Urooke,  an  in- 
cipient rebellion  was  ingeniously  sl()pi)ed  by 
Ihidinf   the   "calling-out  spear'    as   it  lay 
bidden  in  a  canoe,  and  taking  po.ssessiou  of 
it     The  people  strenuously  denied  that  such 
an   article  ever  existed;  but  when   it  was 
taken  from  its  hidiiig-place,  the  projected 
rising  instantly  collapsed. 


< 


-  ri 


I 


CHAPTER    CXYI. 


BORNEO  —  Continued. 


WAlt  —  Concluded, 


THE  non.VEAN  SHIELD,  ITS  USUAL  SnAPB  AND  DECOIIATIONS  —  MODE  OP  TSINO  IT  — ACURIOrS  SHIELD 
IN  MV  COLI.KCTION  —  HKAI>  Ilt'NTINO  AND  ITH  AC  'MrANYINd  IIOIIIIOUH  —  OIUKCTS  OF  Hill  .lAMKS 
nUOOKE'H  MIHSION  — HIS  JKIIlE  or  HITPHEHHINC  TIIR  rilACTICE  —  "  OI'ENINfl  MOUIlNlNd  "  — THE 
FIHll  SrEAltINO  AND  THE  KEAHT — VAl.l'E  OK  HEADS  —  TUEACHEUY  AND  ITNNINO — THE  IIAKEI.ED 
HEAD  HU.NTKIW  — DYEINO  AND  I'llEaEllVINO  THE  HEADH  — THE  HEAD  IIOl'HES  — COHltAfJK  IN 
WAH  —  STOUMINO  A  NATIVE  rOllT  — A  NAVAL  UATTLE  —  TRAPS  AND  I'lTFALLS  — MAKING    I'EACE. 


By  way  of  defensive  weapons,  the  Dyaka 
use  tlu!  shield,  wliich  is  lUiule  of  wood,  and 
is  <;;enerall,v  of  an  oblong  form.  Like  tlic 
paniiig,  it  is  decorated  witli  various  orna- 
inenla,  the  ehief  of  wliieh  are  liair,  heads, 
and  featliers.  The  hair  is  made  into  Hat 
tufls,  and  fastened  at  rcjjular  intervals  all 
over  the  shield,  im  is  seen  in  an  ilhistialion 
at  the  foot  of  next  jiage,  whieli  represents  a 
fine  speeimen  in  the  niagnilieent  eoUection 
of  the  late  Mr.  Christy.  In  the  centre  of 
this  shield  there  is  a  rude  and  evidently 
conventional  representation  of  the  human 
face,  the  eye  hein"  circular,  of  very  great 
size,  and  painted  white  in  the  centre.  At 
the  top  and  bottom  of  the  shield  are  similar 
figures,  Init  of  smaller  size.  Some  shields, 
which  are  now  very  seldom  seen,  have  the 
entire  human  form  painted  on  them,  the 
legs  issuing  from  the  chest,  and  the  neck 
being  entirely  disi)ensed  with.  The  tufts  of 
hair  on  this  shield  are  black. 

The  mode  of  using  the  shield  and  sword 
is  shown  in  their  sword  dances,  and  Mi. 
Brooke,  who  h;ul  great  c.xnerience  in  the 
Dyak  weapons,  gives  the  following  opinion 
of  their  value:  — Sword  dances  with  shields 
were  going  on.  E.ach  tribe  has  a  peculiar 
step  and  code  of  its  own;  but  as  an  attack 
ana  defence  in  earnest  they  all  seemed  to  be 
equally  ridiculous. 

"  However,  in  the  event  of  an  opponent 
using  a  shield,  I  feel  convinced  that  an  Eu- 
ropean could  not  stand  against  them,  as 
they  are  able  to  crouch  their  bodies  entirely 
behind  it,  and  can  spring  immediately  from 
such  an  attitude  behind  it  without  losing 


their  balance.  But  without  a  shield  a  man 
with  a  rapier  would  be  more  than  a  match 
for  any  of  them,  unless,  as  is  jjossibie,  a 
heavy  Dyak  weapon  were  to  cut  a  liglit 
sworil  in  two.  This,  howin'er,  no  dexterous 
fencer  would  be  likely  to  allow,  and,  after 
the  first  blow  from  a  heavy  wcai)on  had 
fallen,  the  o])it()nent  would  be  at  the  mercy 
of  a  light  swordsman." 

With  due  rcspeet  to  the  opinion  of  so 
comi)ctent  an  authority,  I  cannot  but  think 
that,  even  when  furnished  with  this  shield, 
the  Dyak  ought  not  to  overcome  a  good 
fencer.  The  very  fiict  that  he  is  obliged  to 
hold  his  shield '  before  him,  and  conse- 
quently to  stand  either  with  his  left  side  or 
at  least  Ids  breast  fronting  his  adversary, 
shows  that  he  can  have  but  a  very  short 
reach  with  his  weaj)on,  while  his  opponent, 
armed  with  a  small  swonl,  and  using  only 
the  point,  can  remain  entirely  out  of  reach 
of  the  parang's  edge,  while  he  himself  is 
within  easy  distance  of  the  Dyak,  and  ready 
to  brill"'  in  the  fatal  point  of  his  weapon  at 
the  slightest  opening  matle  by  his  opiionont. 
The  reader  may  remember  that  the  iia- 
rang  described  on  page  1125  has  att.-ichcd  to 
it,  among  otheV  ornaments,  a  single  feather. 
This  feather  has  been  taken  from  the  rhi- 
noceros hornbill,  a  bird  which  the  Dyaks 
hold  in  much  respect,  and  which  they  will 
not  eat,  however  hungry  they  may  be.  The 
quill  feathers  of  the  wins?  and  tail  are  black, 
with  a  hand  of  white,  and  by  botli  Malays 
and  Djaks  they  are  thought  to  possess  cer- 
tain virtues,  and  are  used  as  talismans.  The 
bird  is  considered  to  be  an  emblem  of  war, 


(1128) 


I 


(I.)  DYAK   Kl{18,    (H.^.  imt't.  1!*).) 


^^m 


CCMFK         ONtMrMT 


(4...  noUNKsK   silJKi.U.    (SCO  p«({o  1131.)  (11.)   I'AKANU   WITH  CIIAKM8.  (See  pngc  im.) 


(4.)  SPEAR. 
(See  page  U38-) 


(5.)  DYAK  SHIELD.    (Sec  page  11280 


t 


HEAD  IIXTNTINO. 


Utl 


and   for    thU    rea-on    the    .wonl   •h-th^  I  t«m  In  n  f«w  nc^vo^^^^^^ 
M\»,  «n.l  <-l'.«k«  w..r„  in  war  ♦'">«*:;«   "'''.Y^'^^^  a.ul  H>.ril.n«  have 

,l.,c..rato.l  with  it.  tValluTH;  '"'^  '  "?  '^  f.^Vl  tri.  ^^^^^  .l^.miually  «ul,i.-|a  to 
horny  L.M.k  of  tho  Mnl ..  Hcrapo  .  .nln,  H"  'V'^'"  "  '  „f  Ku.-bin«  or  Uruni  nn.l  Sir 
l.he.r,  ni.l  n.u.l.  >nlo  ..arrin^s  J    !,'  ...^      ook«  i«  the  .Irnt  mn«l«r  ^H';'"  Uiey 

I  lumirt  al^o  "•>  !>!W   I  ril .  a  llRuro  01  a   ;'»'"' 2'..  n..  ..k^v»,J      Kv«rv  vt-nr  a  iloud  of 
«hl(!l.l  in  my  .•oll.'ction,  which  I  '"'ll."V«J''I 


bo  of  Horntiiii  nmkc,  t\w  material»  ami 
mode  of  cinplovinK  tl>''ni  being  «vid«nlly 
Hornoan.  In  M.ai.o  it  exactly  rc»cmblc«  tlje 
i,m;vll  «l>i..lils  useA  by  horm'm.sn  In  th<  larly 
a«o  of  Kn«iiHh  hiHlorv,und,  Hniall  ««  It  Ih  it 


;«o '^f  Kn«ii.h  hiHl..ry  and,  Hnnvll  an  iUn  it   .M^ut  '^^   -  ;;^;;- ,;;,;,,.,,  i„  the  .Ica.l  of 
form«  a  very  elllrient .  et.M.ee.  _  It  l«  twenty    '»  '•         V  ^^J  ^^1^,1^  .^.^  „„•.  the  women 


inehe^  in  lei.Lttb,  ami  thirteen  inches  in 
width,  an.i  it  i«  wieided  by  nieanH  .d  a  «epa. 
rate  Imndle,  llnnlv  lasti^nl  to  the  t)ody  ol  the 
Sh  el  1  V  Htrips  oC  rattan.  The  char!vctor..tu- 
feature  of  the  Hhiel.l  i«  the  manner  In  which 
It  is  built  un  of  a  number  ot  pieces,  the 
Whole,  thou^\i  merely  boun.l  together  by 
rattan,  being  as  llrui  as  if  it  wore  cut  out  «t 
one  niece  of  wood.  <,     1 1  1 

If  the  roa-l.T  will  look  at  fl-uro  2,  which 
Bbovs  the  back  of  the  shield,  ho  wdl  see 
that  it  is  made  of  four  Hat  pieces  ot  wood, 
S.  are  laid  si.le  by  side.  These  pieces 
arc  of  n  li.'htishcolored  wood,  and  are  Imt 
Slightly  p,n,7,„th.-d.  The  handle  is  cut  from 
a  separate  piece  of  woo,l,  which  runs  the 
whole  lengtli  of  the  shieUl.  As  s  usua  with 
nl!rm>an  weapoiis,  the  hamllo  is  much  too 
small  for  the  grasp  of  an  European.       _ 

The  front  o?  the  shield  is  made  of  a  single 
flat  piece  of  svood,  to  which  the  others  are 
lashe.l,  or  rather  sewed,  by  means  of  ra  tan 
passing  through  holes.     In  order  to  hold  all 
these  "irosy-oieees  more  firmly  together,  a 
dcen  groove  has  been  cut  in  a  thick  rattan,  1 
which  has  been  bound  roun.l  the  shield  so 
as  to  receive  the  edges  of  the  wood  m  the 
groove,  and  has  been  sewed  to  them  by  rat- 
tan at  regular  intervals.  ,  1  ,  „„ 
The  shield  is  furtlu'r  strengthonod  by  an 
upright  piece  of  wood,  which  runs  alon-  the 
frW,nud  to  which  the  hamlle  at  the  back 
8  lashed  bv  rattan,  so  that  the  hamllo  and 
the  cn-respondiug  piece   in  tront  actually 


t  e  Ight,  anTcvery  adult  cut  olf;  the  women 
ami  grow.1  girls  wore  tVe.iuently  slaugh- 
tirc.l  with  the  mcn,and  children  alone  were 
rSrvedto  be  the'shwesof  the  con.,nerors. 
'  "  Never  was  warfare  so  terrible  ««  this. 
IIea.1  hunting,  a  fashion  ot  C""H"^''\''^|"7 
modern  growth,  became  a  mama  w  Ich 
Hpread  like  a  horrible  disease  over  tb.e  wh  de 
land     N..  longer  were  the  tr..phies  regarded 


the  indiscriminate  property  ot  the  cl'"''?n'l 
wore  valued  for  th.dr  number  alone.  Mur- 
der l.uke.l  in  the  jungle  an.l  on  the  river; 
thl  aged  of  the  people  were  no  long.a-  safe 
ani.  ug  tlieir  own  kindred,  and  corpses  were 
secrotV  ili«interred  to  increase  the  grisly 

''"■■superstition  soon  added  its  ready  i^J 
pulse  to  the  general  moveinont.  \1«;  W« 
Warrior  couhf  not  rest  inl)'"  .K™^*^,,,^"  " 
rclat  oils  had  taken  a  head  in  his  name;  the 
lu,  n  .1  Udalned  the  weak-hearted  suitor 
whLt" U^  wttl  yet  stained  with  some 
powavdlv  murder.  • 

1  "iitterly  did  the  Malay  Pangcrans  of 
Kuchlng  regret  the  folly  which  had  dissemi- 
nated tliis  Ire  nzy.  They  themselves  had 
'  fostered  the  bloodthirsty  superstition  la 
furtherance  ot  their  political  ends,  but  it 
had  grown  beyond  their  control,  and  the 
country  was  one  red  field  of  battle  «»'!  '""r- 
der.  Pretexts  for  war  were  neither  sought 
nor  expected;  the  possession  ol  a  buman 
head,  no  matter  how  obtained,  was  the  sole 


he  corresponding  pece   in   f  on     a      ally     "^^^^•i„"«„"','^^^:  ,    t^;^^^  land." 

Btrengthen   the   shi.dd   instead  of  being  H '^'^fl' "^'"i,^'o\;,"r  to  stop  this  terrible  cus- 
strain  u,>on  it.    The   materials  •' V•^    Z  Lom   h^t  Si^  Tames  Irookc  undertook  his 
chosen  Ivith   the  eye  for  c.^or  ^vlnch  J^^   J^^  %„^'«\atr«niruni,  in  des^^^^ 
Dyak    usuallv    possesses.      Iho    thin    tiat   ruic.     i  o"  ,  ,  j    ^^  ^.I^pcIj 

woo,ien  plate  which  torms  the  fron    of  the    «tato  of  things,  and  utte^^^y^^^  ^^^^^,^^^ 
shield  is  nearly  black,  the  central  mcM  is       0   ncroasin™  ^^^^  ^ 

yellowish  white,  and  the  rattans  witd  whi.rh  '« t«"''°J^[th  hinnmll  f(7rces,  would  sue 
It  is  edg<'d  an<l  sewe.l  are  of  a  bright  yellow  l'«l»  """' J^/"!  hLsolf  with  all  bis  soldiers 
Tl  e  weight  of  the  shield  is  exactly  a  P"«»;^   cee|l  where  he  hrni^^ Ul^i^^^    ^^.^^^ 

and  a  half.  Besides  th.3  centre  ornament  on  '^^<^.  *X  his  siWects  they  never  thought 
the  front,  a  section  of  the  shield  is  also  given  •'«'";"^  ^y^^ltm  Xl  th^  sign  of  their 
so  as  to  'show  the  form  of  the  handle  and  of  obey mg  J^^- •'J^J  J«,Se  very  irregu- 
tho  slight  curvature  of  the  whole   imple- 1  subjection  was  a  mim^  ^^^^.^^^^  .^  ^^.^  ^^^^ 


The  perpetual  feuds  that  rage  among  the 
Dvak  tribes  are  mostly  caused  by  the  prac- 
tice of  "head  hunting,"  winch  is  exactly 
analogous  to  the  scalp  hunting  propensities 
of  the  North  American  tribes.  Mr.  Boyle 
has  sketched  the  outlines  of  this  horrid  cus- 


larlV  naid.  The  sultan  was  right  in  his  con- 
ccture  and  we  know  how  the  Englishman 
•  with  hVs^eadv,  unflinching  rule,  succeeded 
n  abolishing  head  hunting  as  an  "vckn^wl- 
edjcd  practrce,  and,  by  his  system  of  intlict- 
iS  he.\vy  fine;  on  anv  one  who  took  a  he^, 
gradually  and  stoadily  put  an  end  to  th9 


1132 


BORNEO, 


practice.     For   several    years    the  Dyaks 
could  not  uiulprstaiid  the  prohibilion,  and 
the  English  vajiih  :ind  his  orticers  were  cou- 
tinuiilly  pi.'Stored  with  requests  from  Dyaks 
to  be  allowed  to  go  and  take  heads.    An  old 
man,  lor  example,  had  lost  his   wile,  and 
begged  piteou.siy  to  bo  allowed  to  take  ^ust 
one  head,  so  that  she  might  rest  quietlV  i«i 
her  gravL.    Then  a  young  man  would  come, 
who  had  h  en  rejected  by  a  Dyak  damsel, 
lay  his  case  before  the  authorities,  and  be- 
seech them  10  permit  him  to  take  a  head, 
and  so  to  win   the  hand  of  the  disdainful 
lady.      One   man,  alter  meeting  with   the 
usual  refusal,  proposed  a  compromise,  and 
asked  whether  he  might  not  go  and   take 
the  head  of  a  Pakarran,  because  Pakarrans 
really  could  not  be  considered  as  men.    In 
fact,  as  Mr.  Brooke  well  remarks,  tne  Dyaks 
behnved    just    like    children    crving    after 
sugar-jjlunis.     Xo    plan    could  liave   been 
devised  which  was  more  efl'ective  than  that 
which  was  carried  out  by  the  Englisli  rajah. 
Whenever  M  party  of  Dyaks  started  surrep- 
titiously off  on  a  head  hunting  expedition,  a 
force  was  always  despatched  after  them,  in 
order  ,.o  cut    them  olf  and  bring   them  to 
justice,  wnen   ihey  were  lined   heavily.    If 
they  succeeded   in   procuring   heads,  their 
trophies  were  taken  away  from  them,  and 
they  were  lined  still  more  heavily.    Those 
who  refused  to  submit  to   the   i)unishment 
were  declared  to  be  enemies  to  the  govern- 
ment, and  their  houses  were  burnt  down. 
Dyaks  of  more  peaceful  tribes  were  always 
employed  in  su'/h  expeditions,  as,  owing  to 
the  feuds  w  hich  had  existed  for  so  long,  they 
had  been  exasperated  by  the  numerous  mur- 
ders   which    !iad   been   perpetr.ited  by   the 
more  warlike  tribes.     The  English  rule,  un- 
like that  of  the  Malay  .su!t;>.n.  was  irrespec- 
tive of  jiersons,  and  tlie  highest  chiefs  were 
punished  as  i^wiftly  and  surely  as  the  lowest 
of  the  peoj^le.     Oil  one  occasion,  a  quarrel 
arose  between  two  parties  of  Dyaks.  one  of 
which,  commanded  by  a  chief  named  Jannah, 
was  entirely  in  ilie  wrong,  having  first  tres- 
passed on  the  property  of  the  other  party, 
and  then  got  up  a.|uarre]  because   thev  hail 
hurt  themsel  e'i  i.sninst  the  spiked  bamboos, 
which  were,  planted  by  w.ay  i  "  fences.     In 
the  light  ihat  ensue '   Tnnn'ah  himseh'  shot 
the  other  duel;  but  Ik  gained  little  by  bis 
act.    As  soon  as  the  facts  were  knowni  Mr. 
Bro.ike  sent  a  large  force  against  him,  and 
he  was  lined  nearly  two  hund'-d  pounds. 
lie  rnd  his  party  took  to  !he  bush,  but  they 
w    e  soon  sturved  out,  inti  had  to  submit. 
The  oti'.or  chiets  -ver'    delighted  at  the  re- 
sult, and  wer(>  accustomed  ever  afterward  to 
cheel:  those  who  wislied  to  go  head  hunting 
by  telling  them  to  remember  Jannah  and 
his  two  hundred  jioun-'s.    It  is  rather  curi- 
ous that  this   high-handed   proceeding  in 


asserted  that  the  three  years  subsequent  to 
this  episode  in  his  life  had  been  marked 
by  very  much  bitter  harvests  than  he  had  be-i 
fore  obtained  from  his  land,  and  attributed 
his  prospei.'ty  to  his  friuudship  for  ;he  white 
man. 

One  ingenious  portion  of  the  system  was, 
that  a  large  share  of  the  lines  was  distributed 
r.mong  chiefs  who  had  abstained  from  head- 
hunting. This  plan  had  a  double  ellect;  it 
proved  to  the  Dyaks  tl::.;  they  were  not 
lined  for  the  benelit  of  the  English,  and  it 
induced  them  to  be  a'ways  on  the  look-out 
for  those  who  were  going  to  hunt  after 
heads. 


vrr-']  Jannrili  wMh  the  greatest  respect  and 
alfection  for  Mr.  Brooke,  for  whom  he  after- 
Ward  entertained  a  siuccie  friendship.    He 


It  has  been  mentioned  that  the  heads  are 
wanted  to  "  open  the  mourning  "  after  the 
death  of  any  person.  This  jihrase  requires 
some  little  explanation.  When  a  chief  loses 
a  relative,  he  closes  some  stream  during  the 
time  of  mourning.  This  is  done  by  driving 
spears  into  the  b.-ink,  on  either  side',  and  fas- 
tening bamboos  to  them  across  the  !;tream. 
No  one  is  allowed  to  pass  this  obstruction 
until  the  mourning  is  over,  an  event  which 
cannot  take  i)Iace,  according  to  D\  ak  cudtoni, 
until  a  head  had  been  obtained. " 

When  he  has  brought  home  the  required 
tro])liy,  he  leaves  it  at  the  head  house  to  be 
prepared,  while  he  makes  ready  for  the  feast 
wiJi  which  a  new  head  is  received.  Ho 
takes  some  plants,  the  juice  nf  which  has  a 
stupifying quality,  pounds  llicm,  and  tlirows 
them  ■  to  the  river.  The  tish  c<jme  tloatinj- 
to  th,  surface,  and  are  then  ciqitured  by 
means  of  barbed  sjiears,  which  are  Hung  at 
them  f'om  the  bank.  The  s])ears  are  very 
light,  their  shafts  being  made  of  bamboo, 
so  that  they  always  tloal.  and  enable  the 
thrower  to  recover"  both  the  s|)c:ir  and  the 
fish  which  it  has  struck.  The  siieaia  and 
poles  which  closed  tlu'  stream  are  removed 
i;i  order  to  allow  the  llshermen  to  use  their 
weapons,  and  thus,  by  the  arrival  of  the 
coveted  head,  the  stream  is  again  throwu 
open. 

One  of  these  fisli  spears  is  shown  on  i)age 
1129.  It  is  live  feet  in  length, and  the  shaft, 
which  is  three-quarteri  uf  an  inch  in  diam- 
etei,  is  made  of  hollow  bamboo,  and  is  ex- 
ceedingly light.  The  four  jirongs  are  made 
of  iron,  and  very  slightly  barbid.  Owing 
to  the  manner  in  which  "they  are  lashed  tx, 
the  shaft,  they  are  very  elastii'.  so  that  their 
slight  b.arbs  are  ))erfectly  capable  of  retain- 
ing the  fish.  With  the  natural  lov("  of  orna- 
ment which  distinguishes  the  Dyaks,  the 
owner  of  this  spear  has  decorated  it  with 
several  broad  belts  of  s|)lil  rattan,  plaited  in 
h  very'  artistic  manner.  One  was  ]ilaced 
just  lie'ow  the  head  of  ihe  spear,  another 
was  placed  at  the  ce'<(ie  of  gravity,  so  as  to 
guide  the  hand  at  once  to  the  '•  billance  "  of 


the  we.ii  ,jn,  ai>d  the  liiird  was  mnir  the  butU 
Of  the  threr,  however,  only  the  ,:cntral  belt 
lemainctl  when  the  speur  reached  nie. 


VALUE  OF  HEADS. 


1133 


Owiti"  to  the  enormous  (IcTnand  for  heads, 
fluantity  rather  than  quality  was.  the  chiet 
requisite,  so  that  at  the  time  when  Sir 
James  Urooke  undertook  the  task  of  puttnig 
down  tlie  practice  of  head  huiitins,  no  prac- 
tical distinction  was  made  ])ctween  tlie  head 
of  a  stalwart  warrior  and  that  ot  a  tender 
girl.  A  head  was  a  head;  the  body  to  which 
it  beloni;ca  was  of  no  consequence. 

The  ri'^e  for  heads  was  so  great  that  in 
one  head'house  an  Englishman,  who  hap- 
pened to  know  something  ot  comparative 
anatomv,  esp.ed  a  head  which  .eemed 
scarcely  human,  and  which,  on  examination, 
turned  out  to  he  that  of  an  orang-outan 
The  proprietors  of  the  head  house  at  lirst 
indio-n  iitly  vleiiic<l  that  any  imiosture  had 
been  -aciiscd,  and  adhered  to  the  human 
ori<Tin  of  the  head.  At  last,  however,  they 
were  obliged  to  yield  to  a  certain  degree, 
but  thev  oulv  said  that  the  head  in  question 
was  that  of  an  Autu  or  goblin,  which  had 
iufestcd  the  village  for  a  considerable  time, 
and  had  at  last  been  killed. 

One  evception  was  made  in  the  value  ot 
these  tronl.ies,  the  hc.id  of  a  white  man 
being  bevond  all  lirice,  and  being  so  valued 
that  a  I)vak  who  had  olitained  one  woul<l 
not  pla^'e  it  in  the  common  head  -lousc,  out 
would  build  a  special  house  to  contain  it. 
Ono.  of  fhese  Dvak  warriors  was  seen  ex- 
posing himself  to  great  danger  in  his  anxi- 
ety to  secniro  a  white  man's  head.  A  boat- 
nvm  had  been  kill(<l,  and  one  of  the  Uyak 
murderers  was  observed  dragging  up  the 
hill  the  body  of  the  slain  man,  hacking  with 
his  knife  ac  the  neck  so  as  to  secu.e  the 
head,  regardless  of  the  tact  that  ho  was 
likely  to'^be  shot  in  the  endeavor. 

\'.  the  possession  of  a  head  is  the  height 
of  a  Dvak's  ambition,  it  is  not  extraordinary 
that  the  natives  sliould  use  all  their  powers 
of  force  or  craft  to  secure  the  trophy.  One 
example  of  treachery  is  narrated  by  Mr. 
lirooke  (the  present  Rajah). 

"  Five  vears  ago  the  Saribas  Malays  were 
livin"  at  the  mouth  of  their  river,  and,  with 
verv^few  exceiitions,  were  hostile  to  us. 
Still  they  were  on  friendly  terms  so  far  as 
cainin--  trade,  and  making  use  of  the  mer- 
eh'indise  thev  coiil.l  only  get  by  communica- 
tion with  Sarawak.  A  i)arty  of  live  people, 
three  men  and  two  -.voineii,  left  Sakarrang 
to  fo  to  Saribas  lor  the  purpose  of  meeting 
some  of  their  relatives.  After  they  had 
been  absent  a  considerable  time,  the  news 
was  brought  back  that  they  had  been  be- 
headed bv  l>vaks  in  the  river. 

"It  happened  thus:  They  met  n  boat's 
crew  of  Dvaks  while  in  Saribas,  and  spoke 
together,  savins  thev  were  traders,  and  were 
also  seekin?  for  fish.  When  the  Malays 
we-e  leaviii"  Sr.-ibas  to  return,  the  Uyak 
boat  followed  in  their  wnke,  entered  this 
river  together,  and  on  the  following  day 
proceeded  to  carry  out  their  sly  and  mur- 
derous design. 


"In  the  morning  they  offered  their  swords 
for  sale,  and  sold  or  exchanged  one,  suller- 
ing  the  Malays  to  make  an  exceedingly  p. "ot- 
itablc  bargain.  They  then  proposed  hshing 
with  a  hand  net  on  the  mud  bank,  and  pel 
suaded  a  Malay  named  Limin  (who  was  well 
known,  and  considered  a  brave  man)  to  sra- 
arate  from  the  others  and  cast  the  net.  Ihis 
was  done,  and  for  some  time  they  were  suc- 
cessful in  bagging  flsh,  and  were  going  tur- 
ther  and  further  from  the  boats. 

"  At  len-nh  the  net  fouled  on  a  stump  at 
the  bottom,  nnd  one  of  the  Dyaks  immedi- 
ately to'.ik  olV  his  sword  and  dived  down,  as 
poor  Limin  thought,  to  clear  it,  but,  instead 
of  doing  so,  the  wily  rascal  twisted  it  firmly 
round  .and  round,  came  up  to  take  breath, 
and  then  again  dived,  and  again  twisted  it 
in  various  ways  round  the  stumps;  he  then 
rose  and  said  he  could  not  clear  it,  but 
asked  Limin  to  try.  Limin  unsuspectingly 
took  olf  his  sword",  dived,  and,  on  approach- 
inc  the  surface  breathless,  the  two  Dyaks 
stnick  and  decapitated  him  without  a  sound. 
They  then  took  his  head  and  returned  to 

their  boat.  . 

"  A  third  Malay  was  persuaded  to  admin- 
ister some  cure  to  a  Dyak's  foot,  which  was 
bleeding  slightly..  While  the  Malav  was 
leaniufr  over  and  lookhig  to  the  wound,  one 
of  them  chopped  off  his  head  from  behind. 
After  this,  the  woman  was  decapitated. 
Thev  lost  one  head,  which  tumbled  into  the 
water,  but  the  other  four,  with  all  the  prop- 
erty iiclonging  to  the  Malay  party,  were 
taken  and  carried  away  to  Si.dok.  _ 

On  another  occasion,  a  party  ot  Dyaks  in 
a  canoe  m(  t  a  boat  containing  a  man.  his 
wife,  and  their  voung  daughter.  They 
stopped  the  boat,  and  ofTered  betel-nut  tor 
sale.  As  soon  as  they  came  within  reach, 
they  drevr  their  swords,  itruck  off  the  wo- 
man's head,  and  took  the  girl  prisoner,  but 
the  father  had  just  time  to  jump  overboard 
and  swim  ashore. 

This  occurred  in  the  Saribas  Eiver,  and, 
strangelv    enough,    the    murderer,    whose 
name  w-as   Sadji,   nearly  came   in    contact 
with  Mr.   Brooke,  who  had   gone   out  ex- 
pressly to  check  his  head  hunting  propensi- 
ties.   "Mr.  Brooke  passed  him  on  the^river, 
but,  not  being  acquainted  with  him,  did  not 
arrest  him.    This,  as  was  afterward  learned, 
was  fortunate  for  Sadji  sat  in  the  boat  with 
his  sword  virawn,  and  if  the  captive  giH  had 
called  for  help,  or  if  the  English  had  shown 
anv  sir'ns  of  arresting  him,  he  would  have 
struck  oil"  her  head,  jumped  with  it  into  the 
river,  swum  ashore,  and  escaped  together 
with  his  followers  throunh  the  jungle. 

The  same  author  gives  another  ex.imple 
of  head  hunting,  which  is  a  curious  mixture 
of  the  terrible  and  the  ludicrous.  A  young 
man  named  Achang  was  brought  betore 
Mr.  Brooke  in  irons.  He  was  only  nine- 
teen vonrs  of  acre,  and  vet  he  had  gray  hair, 
the  natural  color  having  vanished  in  conse. 


M 

Fiiii 
lit 

i! 

1 

1 

-'■'  fe 

{ 

■    i 
•■[    1 

r 

11 

I  s. 


1134 


BORNEO. 


i 


quence  of  his  troubles.  Some  time  pre- 
viously, he  had  falleu  in  love  with  a  young 
Dyak  girl,  who  spurned  all  his  advances 
because  he  had  never  taken  a  head,  and  so 
proved  himself  to  be  a  warrior.  She  was 
evidently  a  girl  of  energy,  for  she  proposed 
that  he  should  go  to  the  Saribas  Ibrt,  and 
take  the  head  of  Bakir,  the  Dvak  chief,  or 
of  the  Tuan  Hassan,  i.  e.  Mr.  Watson. 

Being  thu.s  pressed,  Achang,with  another 
lad  of  his  own  age,  set  oft"  for  the  fort,  and 
on  the  way  suftered  the  usual  drawbacks  of 
bad  birds,  bad  dreams,  and  missing  the 
path,  so  that  when  they  came  within  sight 
of  the  fort  they  thought  they  had  better 
change  their  plans.  They  determined  on 
going  to  a  Chinaman's  house  under  pretext 
of  purchasing  his  goods,  and  taking  his 
head  while  he  was  off  his  guard.  When 
well  cooked  and  dried,  one  head  would  do 
as  well  as  another,  and  they  thought  that 
they  would  have  no  difficulty  in  passing  ofi" 
the  Chinauians  head  lor  that  of  the  white 
man. 

Accordingly,  they  went  to  a  Chinaman's 
house,  had  their  supper  with  him  very 
amicably,  antl  then  retired  to  rest,  after 
agreeing  that  at  midnight  they  would  strike 
the  Ifvtal  blow.  Now  it  happened  that 
Achang  overslejjt  himself,  and  his  friend 
thought  that  he  might  as  well  take  advan- 
tage of  his  drowsiness,  and  secure  the  head 
for  himself.  Accordingly,  at  midnight,  hid- 
eous yells  were  heard  from  the  Chinaman's 
house,  and  when  the  people  rushed  into  the 
room,  they  found  the  unfortunate  owner 
with  hi.,  face  gashed  all  down  one  side,  the 
Dyak  youth  having  missed  his  blow  in  his 
haste.  The  actual  perpetrator  escaped,  but 
Achang  was  found  still  fa.st  asleep,  and  was 
instantly  i)ut  in  irons. 

Next  day  he  was  brought  down  to  Sakar- 
rang,  with  a  chain  round  his  waist,  and  on 
the  way  he  was  followed  bv  a  body  of  Dyaks, 
who  were  trying  to  bribe  his  keepers  to  let 
them  take  his  head.  They  actually  held  an 
auction  for  his  head  as  they  went  aloni^ 
each  bidding  higher  than  the  other,  and  the 
horrors  of  that  iwelve-inile  march  were 
such  that  the  jioor  lad  became  gray  before 
the  next  morning. 

After  all,  Achang  was  really  a  most  gen- 
tle and  innocent  lad,  and  was  only  followin<T 
the  habits  of  his  eountrv  in  ol)eying  the  be" 
hests  of  his  mistress.  lie  was  kept  in  irons 
for  about  a  month,  ar-l  then  released,  alter 
which  he  attached  himself  to  the  service  of 
the  white  men,  worked  in  the  garden,  and,  as 
the  saying  is,  made  himself  generally  useful. 
_  The  heads  are  subjected  to  a  sort  of  dry- 
ing process,  called  •'  cooking,"  which  is  tol- 
erably cfTectual.  but  is  far  inferior  to  that 
which  18  employed  by  the  New  Zealanders, 
and,  for  a  considerable  time  after  the  hewls 
are  cooked,  they  are  very  offensive  to  Eu- 
ropean nostrils,  though  jbyaks  seem  to  be 
quite  uucotiscious  of  the  evil  odor.    They 


are  always  kept  in  the  pangarangs,  or  head 
houses,  which  are  very  unlike  the  ordinary 
dwelling-houses  of  the  Dyaks.  A  verv  good 
account  of  a  head  house  is  given  by  iMr.  F. 
S.  Marryat:  — 

"  We  were  escorted,  through  a  crowd  of 
wanderin"  Dyaks,  to  a  house  in  the  centre 
of  the  village,  which  was  very  different  in 
construction  from  the  others.  It  was  per- 
fectly round,  and  well  ventilated  by  nume- 
rous port-holes  in  the  roof,  which  was  pointed. 
We  ascended  to  the  room  above  by  means 
of  a  rough  ladder,  and  when  we  entered, 
we  were  rather  taken  aback  by  finding  that 
we  were  in  the  head  house,  as'  it  is  termed, 
and  that  the  beams  were  lined  with  human 
heads,  all  hanging  by  a  small  line  passed 
through  the  top  of  the  skull. 

"  They  were  painted  in  the  most  fantastic 
and  hideous  manner.  Pieces  of  wood  painted 
to  imitate  the  eyes  were  inserted  in  the 
sockets,  and  added  not  a  little  to  their 
ghastly,  grinning  appearance.  The  strang- 
est part  of  the  story,  and  which  added  very 
much  to  the  effect  of  the  scene,  was,  that 
these  skulls  were  perpetu-.lly  moving  to  and 
fro,  and  knocking  agaii.st  each  other.  This, 
1  presume,  was  occasioned  by  the  different 
currents  of  air  blowing  in  nt'the  port-holes 
cut  in  the  roof;  but  what  with  their  contin- 
ual motion,  their  nodding  their  chins  when 
they  hit  each  other,  and  their  grinning 
teeth,  they  really  ai>i)eared  to  be  endowed 
with  new  life,  and  to  be  a  very  merry  set  of 
fellows. 

"However,  whatever  might  be  the  first 
impression  occasioned  by  this  very  unusual 
sight,  it  very  soon  wore  oft",  and  we  amused 
ourselves  with  theirmotions,  which  were  not 
life,  as  Byron  says;  and  in  the  course  of  the 
day  wo  succeeded  in  making  a  very  excel- 
lent dinner  in  company  w  itii  these  gentle- 
men, although  we  were  none  of  us  suflS- 
ciently  Don  Giovannistic  to  invite  our 
friemfs  aliove  to  supper." 

These  head  houses  are,  as  we  have  just 
seen,  the  places  wherein  guests  are  received, 
and  we  can  therefore  understand  (hat  the 
natives  of  -my  village  wouhi  have  a  pride  in 
showing  to  their  visitors  the  liophii  s  won  by 
themselves.  One  of  these  houses  scantily 
Turnished  with  heads  would  be  held  as  a 
.scandal  to  the  village,  so  that  the  three  emo- 
tions of  pride,  love,  and  sorrow  have  all 
their  effect  in  aiding  the  custom  of  head 
hunting. 

In  these  head  houses,  the  unmarried  men 
of  the  village  sleej).  The  reason  for  this 
custom  is  two-fold.  In  the  first  place,  the 
bachelors  are  kept  out  of  mischief;  and  in 
the  next,  they  are  always  ready  with  their 
arms  at  hand  to  turn  out  in  d"fence  of  the 
village  should  it  be  attacked.  I.i  such  expe- 
ditions, the  head  house  is  always  the  central 
object  of  attack,  and  by  having  the  young 
warriors  at  hand  the'  Dyaks  onsurp  the 
security  of  thuir  cherished  trophie". 


niRM 


HEAD  HOUSES. 


1135 


I 


Some  of  the  horrora  of  the  head  hunting 
custom  are  well  deacribed  by  Mr.  St.  Jolm: 
—  "About  thirteen  years  ago,  1  heard  the 
Natuua  people  give  au  account  of  a  hornb  e 
transaction  that  took  place  in  one  of  their 
islands.  A  party  of  Saribas  Dyaks  were 
cruising  about  among  the  little  isles  near, 
and  hail  destroyed  aovcral  women  and  many 
fishermen,  when  they  were  observed,  tow- 
ard evening,  creeping  into  a  deep  anu 
narrow  inlet  to  remain  during  the  night. 

"The  islanders  quietly  assembled  antt 
surprised  their  enemies,  killing  all  hut 
seven,  who  were  taken  prisoners  — six  men 
and  one  lad.  The  former  they  roasted  over 
a  Iw  fire,  and  they  declared  that  the  bold 
fellows  died  without  uttering  a  cry  ot  pain, 
but  defying  them  to  the  last;  the  ad,  who 
stood  trembling  by,  uncertain  of  ais  fate, 
was  sent  back  to  the  coast,  with  a  message 
to  his  countrymen  that,  if  ever  they  came 
there  again,  they  would  all  be  treated  in  the 
same  w7xy.  This  fearful  warning  was  suffi- 
cient to  deter  their  seeking  heads  again  in 
that  direction. 

"  Parties  of  two  and  three  sometimes 
went  away  for  months  on  an  inland  incur- 
sion, taking  nothing  with  them  but  sat 
wrapped  up  in  their  waist-cloths,  with  which 
they  seasoned  the  youn^  shoots  and  leaves 
and  palm  cabbages  found  in  the  forests;  and 
when  they  returned  home,  they  were  as 
thin  as  scare-crows. 

"It  is  this  kind  of  cat-like  warfiire  which 
causes  them  to  be  formidable  enemies  both  to 
the  Chinese  and  the  Malays,  who  never  telt 
themselves  safe  from  a  Dyak  enemy,  i  hey 
have  been  known  to  keep  watch  m  a  vveii 
up  to  their  chins  in  water,  with  a  covering 
of  a  few  leaves  over  their  heads,  to  endeavor 
to  cut  off  the  first  person  who  might  come 
to  draw  water.  At  night  they  would  drill 
down  on  a  log,  and  cut  the  raUan  cable  of 
tradiu"  prahus,  while  others  of  their  party 
would"  keep  watch  on  the  bank,  knowing 
well  where  the  stream  would  take  the  boat 
ashore;  and  when  aground  they  kill  the  men 
and  plunder  the  goods." 

In  war  Dyaks  have  often  proved  them- 
selves to  be  valiant  soldiers.    Mr.  Brooke 
relates  that  when  ho  was  attacking  the  fort 
of  a  hostile  chief  having  with  him  a  mixed 
force  of  Malays  and  Dyaks,  the  latter  wel^e 
by  far  the  better  soldiers.    The  former  ad- 
vanced   to   thirty   or   forty    yards    of  the 
house,  t.  c  just   beyond  the    range  of  the 
Sumpitan  arrows,  which  were  being  blown 
from   the   fort,  and    ensconced  theinsclves 
behind  trees  and  stumps,  where  they  could 
fire  without    exposing    themselves   to   the 
deadly  darts.    The  Dyaks,  however,  dashed 
boldlv  at  the  housr ,  clambering  up  the  posts 
on  which  it  was  built,  carrying  their  wcup- 
ons  with  them,  hacking  at  the   breaches 
which  had  previously  been  made  with  shot, 
and  trying  to  force  their  way  into  the  fort 
At  last,  one  Dyak  succeeded  in  getting  mto 


the  house,  and  remained  there  for  about  five 
minutes,  when  he  was  obliged  to  retreat  and 
slide  to  the  ground  down  the  post.    Alter 
much  fighting,  the  Dyaks  managed  to  set  fire 
to  the  building  at  both  ends,  thus  forcing  the 
inmates  to  rush  out  among  their  enemies. 
Scarcely  any  of  them  escaped,  some  per- 
ishin"  'in  the  flames,  others    being  badly 
wounded,  and  the  rest  being  taken  prisoners. 
The  victorious  Dyaks  were  mad  with  ex- 
citement, and   rushed   about  with    lunous 
shouts,  carryinsj  heads  in  their  hands,  and 
insensible  to  the  wounds   which  many  of 
them  had  received.  One  lad  came  yelling  by, 
havin"  a  head  in  one  hand,  and  with  the 
other liolding  on  one  side  cf  his  face.    An 
enemy's  sword  had  nearly   sliced  ott  the 
whole  of  that  side  of  his  face,  but  he  was 
almost  unconscious  of  the  fact,  and  Ins  ex- 
citement prevented  him  from  feq^ing  any 
pain.    In  a  few  minutes,  however,  he  fainted 
from  loss  of  blood,  and,    in    spite    of  the 
terrible  wound  which  he  had  received,  event- 
ually recovered. 

Sometimes  the  Dyaks  are  exceedingly 
cruel  to  their  captives,  not  being  content 
with  merely  taking  their  heads,  but  killing 
them  slowly  by  torture.  Generally,  however, 
the  competition  for  heads  is  so  keen  that  a 
man  who  has  overcome  an  enemy  has  no  time 
for  torturing  him,  and  is  obliged  to  content 
himself  with  getting  ofl'tho  head  as  fast  as 

^''smne  of  these  forts  are  most  perilous 
places  to  attack.  The  approachefi  are  guarded 
with  "raniows,"  i.  e.  slips  of  bamboo  sharp- 
ened at  the  end  and  stuck  in  the  ground. 
Raniows  are  troublesome  enough  on  open 
ground,  but  when  they  are  stuck  among 
leaves,  grass,  and  herbage,  they  become 
1  terrible  weapons,  and  impede  very  effectually 
the  advance  of  the  attacking  force. 

Then  the  Dyaks  set  various  ingenious 
trans  They  place  bent  bows  near  the  path, 
so  constructed  that  as  soon  as  a  man  comes 
opposite  them,  the  «tring  is  liberated,  and  .-in 
arrow  is  tolerably  sure  to  transfix  both  his 
le^s.  Sometimes  they  bend  a  young  tree 
down  and  lav  a  javelin,  so  that  when  the 
tree^;  fteed,  it  strikes  the  end  of  the  javelin 
and  ur-es  it  onward  with  terrihc  violence 
iust  like  the  manc;onel  of  olden  times.  1  hey 
(li-  numberless  pitfalls  of  no  very  great  size 
n  depth,  but  oacli  having  a  sharp  bamboo 
stuck  upright  in  the  centre,  so  that  any  one 
X  falls  into  the  pit  must  inevitably  be  ira- 

'"'^Thc  forts  themselves  have  been  much 
modified  since  the  introduction  of  hre-arms, 
the  stockades  which  surround  them  being 
made  of  the  hardest  wood,  about  two  feet  m 
thickness,  and  capable  of  resisting  the  fire 
of  any  small  arms.  In  fact,  nothing  but  ar- 
tillery  is  of  much  use  against  ?ne  of  these 
forts.  Manv  of  them  are  ftirnished  with  a 
sally-port  through  which,  when  the  i^laco 
Womcs  untenable,  the  defenders  quieUy 


I 


1186 


BORNEO. 


escnpe,  lust  as  is  clone  with  tlie  pahs  of  New 
Zealand. 

The  Sea  Dyaks,  as  their  name  implies, 
arc  a  maritime  set  of  tribes,  and  liyht  chiefly 
in  canoes.  They  have  some  ideas  of  tactics, 
and  can  arrange  their  canoes  in  regular  array 
when  they  meet  with  an  enemy.  One  of 
their  favorite  tactics  is  to  conceal  some  of 
their  larger  boats,  and  then  to  send  some 
small  and  badly-manned  canoes  forward  to 
ottack  the  enemy.  They  are,  of  course,  soon 
repulsed,  and  obliged  to  retreat.  The  enemy, 
thinking  himself  victorious,  follows  them  ex- 
ultingly,  and,  as  soon  as  he  passes  the  spot 
whore  the  larger  canoes  are  hidden,  he  is  at- 
tiicked  by  them  in  the  rear,  while  the  smaller 
canoes,  which  have  acted  as  ilocoys,  turn  and 
join  in  tho  onslaught.  The  rivers  are  almost 
invariably  chosen  for  this  kind  of  attack,  the 
overhanging  branches  of  trees  and  tho  dense 
foliage  of  the  bank  affording  excellent  hiding- 
places  for  the  canoes.  An  illustration  of  a 
"Canoe  fight"  is  given  on  page  ll.'!9. 

When  peace  is  declared,  or  when  people 
desire  to  renew  friend.ihip  to  each  other,  they 
declare  themselves  'riends  by  a  ceremony 
Avhich  is  identical  in  principle  with  that 
which  is  practised  in  many  parts  of  Africa, 
each  of  the  contracting  parties  partaking  of 
the  blood  of  the  other.  Sometimes  the  blood 
is  actually  drunk,  but  generally  it  is  taken 
by  mixing  it  with  tobacco  and  smoking  it. 
Mr.  St.  John,  in  his  "Forests  of  the  Far 
East,"  describes  this  ceremony  with  much 
ibrce : — 

"  Sifiganding  sent  on  board  to  request  me 
to  become  his  brother  by  going  through  the 
sacred  custom  of  imbibing  each  other's  blood. 
I  say  imbibing,  because  it  is  either  mixed 
with  water  and  drunk,  or  else  it  is  placed 
within  a  native  cigar,  awl  drawn  in  with  the 
smoke.  I  agreed  to  do  so,  and  the  following 
day  was  fixed  for  the  ceremony,  which  is 
called  IJcrbiang  by  the  Kayans,  IJersabibah 
by  the  Borncans. 

"  I  landed  with  our  party  of  Malays,  and 
after  a  preliminary  tiilk,  to  give  time  "for  the 
population    to    assemble,    tho    affair    com- 


menced. We  sat  in  the  broad  veranda  of  a 
long  house,  surrounded  by  hundreds  of  men, 
women,  and  children,  all  "looking  eagerly  at 
the  white  stranger  who  was  about  to  enter 
their  tribe.  Stripping  my  left  arm,  Kum- 
Lia  took  a  small  piece  of  wood  shaped  like  a 
knife-blade,  and,  slightly  piercing  tho  skin, 
brought  the  blood  to  the  surface;  this  lie 
carefully  scraped  off.  Then  one  of  my  Ma- 
lays drew  blood  in  the  same  way  from  Sifi- 
ganding, and  a  small  cigarette  being  pro- 
duced, the  blood  on  the  wooden  blade  was 
spread  on  the  tobacco. 

"  A  chief  then  arose,  and,  walking  to  an 
open  place,  looked  forth  upon  the  river,  and 
invoked  their  god  and  all  the  spirits  of  good 
and  evil  to  be  witness  of  this  tie  of  brother- 
hood. The  cigarette  was  then  lighted,  and 
each  of  us  took  several  puffs,  and  the  cere- 
mony was  concluded.  I  was  glad  to  find 
that  they  had  chosen  the  form  of  inhaling 
the  blood  in  smoke,  as  to  have  swallowed 
even  a  drop  would  have  been  unj)leasant, 
though  the  disgust  would  only  arise  from 
the  imagination. 

"  They  sometimes  vary  the  custom,  though 
the  variation  may  be  confined  to  the  Kiniahs, 
who  live  further  up  the  river,  and  are  inter- 
married with  tlie  Kayans.  There  a  jjig  is 
brought  and  placed  between  the  two  who 
are  to  be  joined  in  brotherhood.  A  chief 
offers  an  invocation  to  the  gods,  and  marks 
with  a  lighted  brand  the  pig's  shoulder.  The 
beast  is  then  killed,  and,  after  an  exchange 
of  jackets,  a  sword  is  thrust  into  the  wound, 
and  the  two  are  marked  with  the  blood  of 
the  pig." 

The  stranger  thus  admitted  into  member- 
ship with  the  Kayans  is  called  Nian,  or 
friend,  and  in  some  cases  the  experiment 
proves  to  be  successful.  Generally,  how- 
ever, the  honor,  such  as  it  is,  is  greater  than 
the  profit,  the  Kayans  assuming  that  their 
newly-admitted  member  ought  to  make 
plenty  of  rich  presents  to  his  tribe,  in  order 
to  show  his  sense  of  the  privileges  that  have 
beeu  conferred  upon  him. 


CHAPTER  CXVn. 

BOENEO  —  Continued. 


*  60CIAL  LIFE. 

DIVORCE -JEALOUSY,    AND    1X8    »«=»"''"  ^  ;"';^„.^  awlNO-TKIALS  OF    8TBENOXH  AlfD  KQUI- 
BPOim   AN.,    OAMKS-UEB    «"^'^'''«-"'Y™        X.rE    SWO^DANCE-A  DYAK  WAB  DANCE 

ia.,uiuM-Tiu.K8  ^vn■H  bxhino-cock  ™'7^-;*;^„!!°,"^^a«  cookebv-xh.  dcrian 

CmCE-BXOUX  DUI.NKEB8  AND  BTRONO  HKAD8-XHB  FOBCE  OF  BIPICUI^. 


Passing  from  war  to  peace,  wo  will  begin 
with   marriage   as   practised    among    the 

In  some  parts  of  the  country  marriage  is 
a  very  simple  business,  the  two  parties  liv- 
ing together  a.s  long  as  they  like  each  other, 
ami  separating  if  either  feels  tlissat»stied. 
I  any  case,  a.s^we  shall  sec,  the  iacilities  for 
l"vo"^  are  extreme,  and  the  bonds  of  mat- 
rimony  are   woiu   with  marvellous    loose- 

"^^Tlie  reader  cannot  but  have  remembered 
the  sin<Tular  coincidence  that  often  exists 
between  customs  of  savage  and  of  civilized 

^''^Amon'^  the  Sinambau  Dyaks  there  is  a 
mode  of'courtship  which  still  prevails  m 
some  parts  of  Europe,  though  it  is  generally 
falling    into   disuse.    A   young   Sinambau 


throughout  the  greater  part  of  thg  night 
it  c'annot  be  expected  that  the  Pare"^  of^* J« 
crirl  who  sleep  in  the  same  room,  should  De 
?vholy  ignorant  of  the  proceeding,  but  they 
are  co^nvcntionally  supposed  ^  ^«  ^^^.f  ^'^ 
thev  aoorove  of  the  young  man  they  take  no 

Scef^vhile  if  the?  do  "oV^'^lpTto  dTs' 
influence  with  the  girl  to  induce  her  to  dis- 
miss him.  .      .    .     ,        .„„  _,ifU 

The  mode  of  rejection  is  in  keeping  with 
the  rest  of  the  proceedings.  Should  the  girl 
dislike  the  too  adventurous  suitor,  she  de- 
clines accepting  the  l^etel-nut  and  merely 
asks  him  to  blow  up  the  fire  or  light  the 
lamp,  a  request  which  is  tantamount  to  in- 
stant dismissal.  <•„(.:„ 

When  the  marriage  takes  place  a  least  is 
made,  and  then  the  parties  are  made  man 
and  wife  without  any  more  ceremony.     It 


some  wiiiL"  "I -^.liwj— ,  - — o-  '• „,u„,,  nnil    wife  witliout  anv  more  tcicm^^j- 

falling    into    disuse.     A    young   ^'«'i'"]'.'^^  ^^^..^^'V^iX,^^^^^^ 

Dyak^vhen  struck  with  the  charms  of  a  g^^^^^^  housKwn  their  own  account,  and,  as  a 

^.A...™  U!„    .,..„f,.i-i.iipi>    HI  various  WaVS,  SfUCn  nOUStKCtlUii„""  „„fora    the 


shows  his  preference  in  various  ways,  such 
OS  helnin-'  her  in  her  daily  labor,  carrying 
iiomc  her  loan  of  wood  for  her,  and  maK- 
ing  her  such  presents  as  aro  in  his  power  to 


is  verv  seuiom  ium  m.^  j"""o  — -r--  -  ^ 
housekeeping  on  their  own  account  and  i^a 
.reneral  rule,  the  bridegroom  enters  the 
household  of  his  father-in-law,  or,  at  all 
cvS,of  «ome  of  his  wife's  relations,  and  so 
becomes  one  of  the  family,  laboring  for 
U,e  common  stock,  and  taking  his  Jaro 
when  the  head  of  the  household  dies.    Ucca 


cccd  to  a  more   explicit    >..,- \'\^u,\ 

night,  when  the  f'^^ilv  is  supposed  to  be 
asfeei ,  he  quietly  slides  back  the  bolt  of  the 
door,  steals  to  the  spot  where  h.s  be  oved  is 
sleeiin-  umler  her  mosquito  c.-'au.?,  and 
genlly  awakes  her.  He  always  ;  >  ..^  with 
Elm  an  abundant  supply  of  betel-.uit  and 
^    L    ,..."  „„.l  tJ..^   i-.v=i  sU,  tllklU2   tozcther 


S!mi,  »J  Womes  part  of  his  ho»e- 
'' Tho  ctremony  of  matringe  amotig  llio 

.  ~  ./      j^        ,      in  TOrtpmv  OI   no- 


su'iii  leai,  and  the  tivo  nil  T4iiK.ii.a  "°  - 

55       •  ^"^' 


"^ 


1188 


BORNEO. 


tice.  Tho  artist  has  given  an  admirable 
representatioii  of  tliia  unique  ceremony  on 
tho  following  page.  Two  Iwrs  o''  iron  are  laid 
on  tho  ground  in  tlie  spot  iii)poiiite(l  for  tho 
ceremony,  and  the  young  couple  are  brought 
from  opposite  ends  of  the  village.  The  first 
part  of  the  ceremony  consists  in  souting 
ihem  on  tho  bars  of  iron,  as  tolten  tliat  tho 
blessings  of  their  married  life  are  to  be  as 
strong  as  iron.  Tho  priest  gives  to  each  of 
the  pair  a  ci^ar  and  some  betel-nut  and  sirih 
leaf,  which  they  hold  in  tlie'r  hand  until  the 
next  part  of  the  ceremony  is  completed. 
Taking  two  fowls  in  his  hands,  the  priest 
waves  thorn  over  the  heads  of  tlio  couple, 
and,  in  the  course  of  a  long  address,  invokes 
every  blessing  upon  them.  lie  tlien  sol- 
emnly knocks  their  heads  togetlier  throe 
times,  after  which  tlio  bridegroom  places 
the  betel-nut  in  tlio  mouth  of  his  bride,  and 
inserts  the  cheroot  between  her  lips,  she 
afterward  doing  the  same  by  him,  this  cere- 
mony being  the  public  acknowledgment 
of  accepting  each  other  as  husband  and 
wife. 

After  they  have  thus  declared  their  accept- 
ance of  each  other,  the  fowls  arc  killed,  and 
their  blood  received  in  two  cups,  tiie  color  of 
tlio  blood  being  carefully  inspected  by  the 
priest,  and  its  hue  being  lield  as  an  omen  of 
the  future  \vell-being  or  misery  of  the  newly 
married  pair.  One  of  the  feasts  which 
will  presently  bo  desci'ibed  closes  the  cere- 
monies. 

It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  in 
most  cases  the  ))ridegroom  enters  the  family 
of  his  wile.  But  in  any  case  he  is  bound  to 
honor  the  father  of  his  wife  even  above  his 
own  i'athcr.  The  young  husband  may  never 
even  pronounce  the  name  of  his  iathcr-in- 
law,  he  may  not  eat  from  the  same  dish, 
drink  from  the  bame  cup,  or  rest  on  the  same 
mat. 

Among  another  tribe  of  Dyaks,  the  I3alaus 
of  Lingga,  the  ceremonies  i.f  marriage  arc 
ratlier  different.  Hy  way  of  a  propitiatory 
offering,  tlie  mother  of  the  bridegroom  gives 
to  the  relatives  of  the  bride  some  domestic 
utensil,  such  as  a  plate  or  a  basin,  and  three 
days  at'tirward  the  very  simple  ceremony  is 
performed. 

The  bridegroom's  moliier  takes  a  quantity 
of  the  areca-nut  prepared  for  eliewing,  di- 
vides it  into  three  portions,  places  them  in 
a  basket,  and  sets  them  on  a  sort  of  altar  in 
front  of  the  bride's  house.  The  friends  of 
both  parties  then  assemble,  and  chew  the 
nuts  while  they  discuss  the  future  prospects 
of  the  young  couple,  and  they  decide  as  to 
the  amount  of  fine  whicii  the  husband  shall 
pay  to  his  wife  in  case  ho  separates  from 
her  after  she  is  a  mother,  or  when  she  is 
likely  to  be  so.  In  iiict,  in  their  own  rough- 
and-ready  way,  these  Dyaks  have  contrived 
to  organize  a  tolerably  complete  .code  of 
marriage  settlements,  which,  in  consequence 
of  the  very  eutty  Hysleiii  of  divorce,  is  abso- 


lutely necessary  for  tho  protection  of  the 
wonjon. 

These  Sea  Dyaks  of  Lingga  have,  in  com- 
mon with  all  the  sea  tribes,  tho  greatest 
pride  of  birth;  and  if  a  girl  were  to  listen  to 
the  addresses  of  a  mail  of  much  inferior 
rank,  lior  parents  would  proiiibit  the  match. 
In  one  such  case  tlio  two  lovers  fled  into  the 
jungle,  poisoned  tliemselves  with  the  juice 
of  tlie  tuba  plant,  and  were  found  dead  next 
morning  in  eacli  other's  arms.  So  full  are 
tliey  of  their  family  pride,  that  they  look 
upon  any  mixture  of  their  noble  blood  as  a 
dire  disgrace,  an-'  this  is  carried  to  so  gre.at 
an  extent  that,  although  within  their  own 
degree  thoir  morals  are  of  the  laxest  order, 
the  men  would  scorn  an  intrigue  with  a 
woman  of  low  condition. 

The  Dyaks  of  Kibuyan  ane  remarkable 
for  the  sujieriority  of  their  morals  when 
compared  willi  the  generality  of  the  Dyak 
tribes,  believing  that  immorality  is  an  of- 
fence against  the  higher  powers,  and  that,  if 
a  girl  becomes  a  mother  before  she  is  mar- 
ried, she  angers  the  deities  of  the  tribe,  Avho 
show  their  wrath  by  visitafions  upon  tho 
whole  of  the  tribe.  If,  thcri'fore,  such  a 
case  be  discovered,  both  tho  erring  lovers 
are  heavily  fined,  and  a  pig  is  sacrificed  in 
order  to  avert  tlie  anger  of  the  otfended 
deities.  Nov  do  tho  delinquenls  .always  es- 
cape the  line  even  after  the  sacrifice  of  tho 
pig,  for  every  one  who  was  smitten  with 
sickness,  or  mel  witli  an  accident,  within  a 
month  of  the  saerKicc,  has  a  elnim  on  them 
for  damages,  as  liaving  been  the  cuuse  of  the 
misfortune,  while,  if  any  one  has  died,  the 
survivors  clahn  compensation  for  the  loss  of 
their  relative. 

The  reader  will  remember  that  the  5'oung 
people  of  both  sexes  live  with  tlieir  i)arents, 
contributing  their  labor  to  the  common 
stock,  and  being  ilierefbre  in<'ai)alile  of  pos- 
.sessing  property  of  their  own.  In  conse- 
quence of  this  arrangement,  the  lines  which 
are  levied  upon  the  lovers  i)raeticaliy  fall 
upon  the  parents,  who  therelbrt^  take  care  to 
look  after  their  daiightei-n,  wliilo  tile  young 
men  tire  partly  kept  out  of  niisehi'ef  by 
being  obliged  to  slee"  together  at  the  head 
house. 

The  Dyaks  of  the  IJataiig  liUparare  more 
lax  in  their  notion  of  morality  than  the 
Sibuyans,and  it  is  seldom  tliat  a  girl  is  mar- 
ried until  she  is  likely  to  become  a  mother. 
When  this  is  the  (;a8e,  the  lover  marries  her 
as  a  matter  of  course,  but  in  tliose  cases 
where  a  man  denies  his  romplicity,  and  the 
girl  is  unal)le  to  ])rovo  it,  she  is  so  l)itterly 
scorned  and  repro.iclied  by  her  kindred  that 
she  generally  runs  aw.ay  from  the  village. 
Some  sucli  delinquenls  have  been  known  to 
take  poison  in  order  to  escape  the  contempt 
of  their  relatives  and  acquaintances.  They 
are  tliought  to  have  brought  such  a  disgrace 
on  their  family,  tliat  the  parents  sacrihce  a 
pig  to  the  iiigher  powers,  uud  wash  the  door 


yi.)  A  UYAK  WKDDINU.    (Soe  pafc  1138.) 
(1189) 


S' 


;-    8": 


«i   r 


» 


M 


",  ' 


si 

K 

B 

JEALOUSY  AND  ITS  RESULTS. 


1141 


of  the  house  with  its  Wood,  In  order  to  pro- 
pitiate the  offended  deitirs. 

When  the  pair  are  married,  tliey  almost 
invariably  remain  faitliful  to  eaeh  otlicr. 
There  is,  however,  small  credit  to  them  for 
it,  inasmuch  as  they  can  l)o  divorced  on  the 
8lia:litest  pretext.  An-  evil  omen  in  the 
nifiht,  such  as  a  "  had  bird,"  will  frighten 
both  parties  so  much  that  they  will  separate 
by  mtitual  consent  on  the  next  day.  Mr.  bt. 
John  mentions  that  many  men  and  women 
are  married  seven  or  eijjlit  times  before  they 
niially  flx  upon  a  partner  with  whom  tliey 
moan  to  spend  the  rest  of  their  lives,  and  as 
an  example  of  the  exceeding  facility  lor 
divorce  which  exists  among  the  Dyaks, 
states  that  ho  saw  a  young  girl  of  seventeen 
who  hnd  alreadv  had  three  husbands. 

Still,  it  is  very  seldom  that  married  couples 
part  after  they  arc  parents;  and  if  they  do  so, 
tlie  family  of  the  women  expect  a  heavy  fine 
from  the  "(ieklc  husband.  Now  and  then,  a 
married  pair  are  reallv  so  attached  to  each 
other  that  Ihev  do  not  like  to  part,  even  when 
they  hear  the  voice  of  a  "  l)ad  bird."  In 
such  a  case  they  avert  the  anger  of  the  su- 
perior powers  hy  sacrificing  a  pig,  and  are 
tlicn  ai)lo  to  remain  togetlier  without  fear. 
It  often  happens  that  a  man  and  wife  (piarrel, 
and  divorce  themselves.  After  a  while,  how- 
ever, thcv  begin  to  think  that  they  have 
made  a  mistake,  and  are  allowed  to  renc?w 
their  matrimonial  relations  without  any  cere- 
mony or  fresh  rites  of  marriage. 

Mr.  St.  John  mentions  a  curious  case  ot 
jealousv  aftera  divorce,  and  its  consequences. 
Tlie  "rangeran  Mumein  took  a  Murout 
girl,  and  paid  her  father  as  a  marriage  por- 
tion a  heavv  weight  of  brass  guns— -a  curi- 
ous sort  of  currency  which  is  much  valued 
by  the  Dyaks,  and  porfeetlv  useless  for  any 
prartical  purposes.  lie  left  her  for  some 
time,  and  then,  after  she  had  borne  him  a 
child,  repudiated  her,  telling  her  father  that 
he  did  not  want  her  any  more,  unless  she 
liked  to  follow  him  to  IJruuei.  This,  how- 
ever, the  girl  refused  to  do,  so  the  Pangcran 
made  her  lather  refund  the  brass  guns,  and 
besides  pay  a  fine  of  double  the  amount,  as 
a  penalty  ibr  not  allowing  the  girl  to  go  to 
IJrimei,  wliere  he  n.-ant  to  have  sold  her  as 
a  slave.  The  father  i)aid  the  flue,  and  was 
told  that  the  girl  iniglit  then  go  where  she 
liked,  and  marry  whom  she  chose,  as  was 
only  just  after  the  previous  event. 

Accordingly,  some  little  time  afterward, 
she  did  marry'onc  of  her  countrymen,  where- 
upon the  PaVigeran  tlew  into  a  fit  of  jealousy, 
and  ordered  the  head  man  or  Orang-Kaya 
of  the  village  to  seize  them  and  bring  tliem 
to  him.  The  Orang-Kaya  was  afraid,  and 
hid  himself,  so  that  the  Pangcran  had  to 
employ  the  Bisayas,  who  captured  tlnS 
husband  and  brought  him  to  their  employer. 
The  unfortunate  man  was  then  tied  up  to  the 
Orang-Kaya's  landing  place,  and  the  Paft- 
geran  cut  him  to  pieces  with  his  own  baud, 


finishing  by  making  npreBcnt  of  his  head  to 
the  tiadong  Murut  Dyaks.  Having  thua 
wreaked  his  vengeance  on  the  man  w'lo  ox- 
cited  his  jealousy,  ho  allowed  the  jjirl  and 
her  father  to  go  unharmed.  Dyak  history  is 
Ihll  of  similar  tales.  „     j  .     ,u 

Jealousy  is  by  no  means  confined  to  the 
men,  the  women  being  far  more  Jealous  of 
the  men  than  they  of  their  wives,  and  with 
good  reason.  There  is  a  tacit  law  that,  when- 
ever a  wife  detects  her  husband  in  Hirting, 
she  may  beat  her  rival  to  her  heart's  content, 
provided  that  she  use  nothing  except  a  stick, 
and,  if  the  woman  be  married,  her  husband 
may  beat  the  disturber  of  his  domestic  peace, 
if  he  can.  The  usual  result  of  discovery  in 
such  cases  is,  that  the  man  goes  olT  into  the 
bush  under  the  pretext  of  head  hunting,  and 
st.iys  there  until  he  thinks  his  wife's  anger 
lias  cooled  down.  If  he  is  fortunate  enough 
to  return  with  a  head,  his  success  ns  a 
warrior  ensures  a  condonation  for  his  short- 
comings as  a  husband. 

The  Dyaks  have  a  code  of  lorbidden 
de^rrees  for  marriages,  dillering  slijjhtly  in 
the  various  tribes,  but  tolerably  unitorm  on 
the  whole.  Marriage  with  first  cousins  is  not 
permitted,  they  being  looked  upon  as  brother 
and  sister;  neither,  as  a  general  rulcj^  is  an 
uncle  allowed  to  marry  his  niece.  To  this 
latter  rule,  however,  there  arc  exceptions. 
Marriage  with  a  deceased  wife's  sister  is 
almost  "universally  permitted,  and,  in  fact, 
encouraged,  provided  that  the  pareuti  of  the 
woman  .approve  of  the  match,  becaus.^  m 
that  case  all  the  children  belong  to  one 
family. 


Of  sport,  as  we  understand  the  word,  tho 
Dyaks  have  no  idea,  though  they  possess  all 
tho  capabilities  for  it,  being  active,  daring, 
and  quick  siglited.  All  these  characteristics 
are  sliown  in  the  mode  by  whieli  they  supply 
themselves  with  honey.  They  do  not  keep 
hives  in  or  near  their  houses,  but  seldom  fa.l 
to  see  a  bees'  nest  in  a  tree,  though  the  un- 
accustomed eyes  of  an  European  can  see 
nothing  of  the  bees  at  the  gre.it  height  at 
which  the  nests  are  usually  found. 

Sometimes  the  stem  of  the  tree  rises  for 
a  hundred  feet  without  a  branch,  and  is  from 
fifteen  to  twentv-fivc  feet  in  circumference. 
The  Dyaks,  however,  ascend  sueh  a  tree 
with  case.  They  bore  holes  in  the  trunk  of 
the  tree  as  high  "as  they  can  reach,  and  drive 
into  them  wooden  pegs  rather  more  than  a 
foot  in  length.  A  stout  rattan  or  a  bamboo 
is  then  driven  into  the  ground,  and  the  ends 
of  the  wooden  pegs  arc  la.shed  to  it  so  as  to 
form  a  sort  of  ladder,  of  which  the  bamboo 
forms  one  side,  and  the  trunk  of  the  tree  the 
other.  On  this  slender  ladder  they  ascend, 
drive  in  more  pegs,  and  lash  them  to  the 
bamboo,  adding  one  bamboo  after  another 
until  the  nest  is  reached.  . 

Nothing  looks  more  insecure  than  thir 
primitiveladder,  which  sways  fearfully  83  the 


i 


1142 


BORNEO. 


mnn  asccnda,  the  rattnn  lashings  cracking 
uiiil  cruultiDg  aH  if  the  whole  structure  w«ru 
coming  to  pieces.  It  is,  however,  perfectly 
adapted  for  its  purpose,  and,  armed  with  a 
flamins  torch,  the  almost  naked  Dj^ak 
ascou(is,  and  Icivrlessly  takes  the  nest,  which 
ho  lowers  down  by  means  of  a  rattan. 

The  nest  is  generally  attacked  nt  night, 
the  Dyaks  saying  the  bees  always  t\\  atler 
the  sparks  that  Jail  from  the  torch,  believing 
them  tc  be  the  enemy  that  is  disturbing  tlie 
nest,  the  man  himself  escaping  unhurt. 
Some  of  the  tribes  have  another  plan,  and 
before  they  ascend  the  tree  light  beneath  it 
a  large  fire  in  which  they  throw  a  quantity 
of  green  branches.  The  smoke  from  these 
bnihclics  drives  the  bees  out  of  their  nest, 
and  stuj)eties  them  for  a  time,  so  that  the 
combs  can  be  taken  without  danger. 

Of  games  which  are,  in  fact,  an  imita- 
tion of  war,  the  Dyaks  are  equally  ignorant, 
and,  although  so  wiirliko  a  peojjle,  they  do 
not  wrestle,  nor  box,  nor  race.  It  would  be 
expected  that  a  people  who  trust  so  much 
to  the  sword  would  exercise  with  sham 
weapons,  for  the  purpose  of  accustoming 
themselves  to  the  proper  management  of  the 
s.vonl  and  shield.  This, however,  they  never 
t'o,  thinking  that  all  such  exercises  are  un- 
lucky. 

They  have  one  game  which  somewhat  rc- 
sombJes  our  swing,  but  which  partakes  in 
S'lme  degree  of  the  niture  ol  a  religious  cere- 
mony. A  strong  derrick  is  erected  some 
forty  or  fifty  feet  high,  and  to  this  is  sus- 
p>nided  a  stout,  single  rattan,  which  rea(;lies 
vithin  a  few  feel  of  the  ground.  The  derrick 
ir  strcngtluMied  by  rattan  stays  lashed  to  a 
neighlioring  tree.  The  end  of  the  rattan  is 
formed  into  a  large  loop. 

At  some  distance  from  the  derrick, Just 
wliere  the  end  of  the  rattan  dcscril)es  its 
circle,  a  slight  bamboo  stage  is  crecte<l.  One 
of  the  swingers  mounts  on  the  stage,  draws 
the  rattan  to  him  by  means  ofa  string,  places 
his  foot  in  llic  loop,  and  swings  olf  with  as 
much  imi)etiis  as  lie  can  give  himself.  As 
he  returns,  another  leaps  on  the  swing,  and 
sometimes  two  at  a  time  will  do  so,  until 
t(-n  or  twelve  are  all  swinging  away  at  the 
same  time.  Of  conrse,  they  cannot  all  put 
their  feet  in  the  loop,  but  content  themselves 
with  dinging  to  the  arms  and  legs  of  those 
who  have  done  so.  As  they  swing,  they 
strike  up  a  monotonous  song,  which  sounds 
like  a  dirge.  It  is,  however,  merely  an  in- 
vocation to  the  deities  for  a  plentiful"  harvest 
and  a  good  tisliing  season.  As  may  be  im- 
agined, they  often  get  bad  falls  from  those 
swings. 

The  lioys  and  youths  have  a  game  which 
is  familiar  to  all  gymnasts.  The  two  com- 
petitors sit  opposite  each  other  on  the 
ground,  the  soles  of  their  Ceet  being  placed 
m  contact.  They  then  grasp  a  short  stick, 
and  each  tries  to  pull  the  other  on  his  face  or 
to  raise  him  off  the  grouncL    There  is  also  a 


samo  which  bean  acloso  resemblance  to  our 

"  prisoners'  base,"  twenty  or  thirty  players 
Joiniug  in  the  game;  and  there  is  another 
game,  which  is  very  much  like  the  "'cock 
Hahting"  of  English  schooi-boys.  The 
players  stand  on  one  foot,  holding  the  other 
foot  in  one  hand  and  try  to  upset  each  other, 
or  at  least  to  make  their  antagonista  put  both 
feet  to  the  ground. 

In  "  cat's  cradle  "  they  arc  wonderful  pro- 
ficients. Mr.  Wallace  thought  that  he  could 
instruct  them  in  the  game  but  found  that  they 
knew  much  more  about  it  than  he  did. 
They  were  acquainted  with  all  the  mysteriea 
of  the  English  modiflcaticm  of  the  game,  and 
produced  a  vast  number  of  additional 
changes  from  the  string.  Indeed,  the  Dyaks 
can  do  almost  anything  with  a  piece  of  string, 
and  they  could  well  instruct  our  own  con- 
jurors in  this  branch  of  legerdemain. 

Cock  fighting  is  an  amusement  of  which 
the  Dyaks  are  very  fond,  though  they  do  not 
indulge  in  that  amusement  with  the  reckless 
enthusiasm  of  the  Malays.  Mr.  St.  John 
writes  of  the  birds  used  for  this  purpose: 
"  We  did  not  see  more  than  a  few  of  these 
birds  in  Dyak  houses,  but  since  they  are 
usually  kept,  when  not  in  training  or  ex- 
ercise, closely  wrapped  in  linen  bands  and 
hung  on  nails  in  a  dry  place,  they  might 
easily  escape  our  notice. 

"  S^ot  having  the  fear  of  police  magistrates 
and  Humane  Society  prosecutions  beloro 
our  eyes,  we  assistecf  at  one  or  two  brief 
combats,  evidently  mere  trial  matches  to 
assist  the  calculations  of  the  '  bookmakers,' 
by  testing  each  bird's  pluck  and  skill. 
When  this  object  was  attained  by  a  few 
minutes'  struggle,  held  with  much  secrecy 
in  the  veranda  by  the  gray  light  of  rnrly 
morning,  the  cocks  were  picked  up  bef'oro 
any  injury  was  inllicted,  and  carL-fully 
swathed  in  their  bandages,  from  the  midst 
of  which  they  soothed  their  i  nllled  feelings 
with  an  occasional  crow  of  defiance." 

Allusion  has  already  been  made  to  the 
feasts  held  by  the  Dyaks  on  several  occa- 
sions, and  it  "is  only  on  such  festi\  ities  that 
the  men  ever  use'  their  weapons  in  slumi 
(h';ht.  Even  in  those  cases,  they  do  not  so 
employ  them  by  way  of  praetfsing  them- 
selvesi  but  merely  because  tliey  form  part 
of  the  movements  of  the  dance.  In  one  of 
these  dances,  described  by  Mr.  Kcppel,  two 
swords  are  laid  on  a  mat  in  the  middle  of 
the  room,  and  two  men  advance  toward 
them  from  opposite  sides,  waving  their 
arms,  revolving  on  tli'-ir  toes,  and  perform- 
ing various  manouvres  with  their  legs. 

As  soon  as  they  come  to  the  mat,  they 
suddenly  stoop,  seize  the  swords,  and  go 
through  the  movements  of  actual  comliat, 
crossing  swords,  advancing,  retiring,  cutting 
at  each  other,  kneeling  at  one  moment  as  if 
to  collect  force,  and  then  springing  up  with 
renewed  energy.  Both  dancers  have  pre- 
viously studied  and  practised  the  various 


THE  WAB  DANCE. 


1148 


movements,  ench  of  which  thoy  make  simul- 
taiKiously.  ,         ,         , 

Sometimes  the  sword  dunce  Is  performed 
with  the  shield  as  well  as  the  sword,  and  ol 
this  dance  Mr.  Marryat  has  written  so 
Kranhic  an  account  that  his  own  words  must 
be  used.  The  Rucsts  were  asked  if  they 
wished  for  a  specimen  of  the  war  dance. 

"  Having  expressed  our  wishes  in  the 
affirmative,  the  music  struck  up;  It  con- 
sisted of  gongs  and  tom-toms.  Ihe  Malav 
gong,  which  the  Dyaks  also  make  use  ot,  is 
fike  the  Javanese,  thick  with  a  broad  rim, 
and  very  different  from  the  gong  ot  the 
Chinese.  Inst.^id  of  the  clanging  noise  ot 
the  latter,  it  gives  out  a  muffled  sound  ot  a 
deep  t«ne.  The  gong  and  tom-tom  are  used 
by  the  Dyaks  and  Malays  in  war,  and  for 
signals  at  night,  an<l  the  Dyaks 


.j..„.,  procure 
tifemfroin  "the  Malays.  I  said  that  the 
music  struck  up,  for,  rude  as  the  instruments 
were,  they  modulate  the  sound,  and  keep 
time  so  admirably,  that  it  was  anything  but 

inharmonious.  ,  .     .v     ^»«„ 

"  A  space  was  now  cleared  in  the  centre 
of  the  house,  and  two  of  the  oldest  warriors 
stepped  into  it.  They  were  dressed  »»  tur- 
bans, long  loose  jackets,  sashes  round  their 
waists  descending  to  their  feet  and  small 
bells  were  attached  to  their  ankles,  ihfy 
commenced  by  Hist  shaking  hands  with  tlie 
rajah,  and  then  with  all  the  Europeans  pres- 
ent, thereby  giving  us  to  understand,  as  was 
explained  to  us,  that  the  dance  was  to  be 
considered  only  as  a  spectacle,  and  not  to  be 
taken  in  its  literal  sense,  as  preparatory  to 
an  attack  upon  us,  a  view  of  the  case  in 
which  we  flilly  coincided  with  them. 

"  This  ceremony  being  over,  they  rushed 
into  the  centre  and  gave  a  most  unearthly 
scream,  then  poising  themselves  on  one  foot 
thev  described  a  circle  with  the  other,  at 
the  same  time  extending  their  arms  like  the 
wings   of  a  bird,  and   then   meeting   their 
hands,  clapping  them    and    keeping    time 
vith  the  music.     After  a  little  while  the 
music  became  louder,  and  suddenly  our  ears 
were  pierced  with  the  whole  of  the  natives 
present  joining    in  the    hideous  war  cry. 
Then  the  motions  and  the  screams  of  the 
dancers  became  more  violent,  and  every- 
thing was  working  up  to  a  state  of  excite- 
ment bv  which  even  we  were  intluenced. 

"Suddenly  a  very  unpleasant  odor  per- 
vaded the  room,  already  too  warm  from  the 
numbers  It  contrined.  Involuntanlv  we 
held  our  noses,  wondering  what  might  be 
the  cause,  when  we  perceived  that  one  of 
the  warriors  had  stepped  Into  the  centre, 
and  suspended  round  the  shoulders  of  each 
dancer  a  human  head  in  a  wlde-meshed 
basket  of  rattan.  These  heads  ha<l  been 
taken  In  the  late  Sakarran  business,  and 
were  therefore  but  a  fortnight  old.  They 
were  encased  in  a  wide  network  of  rattan, 
and  were  ornamented  with  beads.  Their 
stench  waa  intolerable,  although,  as  we  dis- 


covered upon  after-examination,  when  they 
were  suspended  against  the  wall,  they  had 
been  partially  baked,  and  were  quUo  bliick. 
The  teeth  and  hair  were  (julto  perfect,  the     . 
features  somewhat  shrunk,  and  they  were 
altogether  very  fair  specimens  ot  pick  ed      • 
heads;   but  our  worthy  friends  requir.d  a 
lesson  from  the  New  Zealauders  in  the  art 
of  preserving,  .     .      , 

"The  appearance  of  the  heads  was  a  sign 
for  the  music  to  play  louder,  for  the  war  cry 
of  the  natives  to  bo  more  energetic,  and  tor 
the  screams  of  the  dancers  to  be  more  pierc- 
ing Their  motions  now  became  more 
rapid,  and  the  excitement  in  proportion. 
Their  eyes  glistened  with  unwonted  bright- 
ness the  perspiration  dropped  down  their 
faces;  ard  thus  did  yelling,  dancing,  gongs, 
and  tom-toms  become  more  rapid  and  more 
violent  every  minute,  till  the  dancing  war- 
riors were  ready  to  drop.  A  farewell  ycHl, 
with  emphasis,  was  given  by  the  surround- 
ing warriors;  immediately  the  music  ceased, 
the  dancers  disappeared,  and  the  tumultu- 
ous excitement  and  noise  were  succeeded  by 
a  dead  silence.  . 

"Such  was  the  excitement  communicated, 
that  when  It  was  all  over  we  ourselves 
remained  for  some  time  panting  to  recover 
our  breath.  Again  we  lighted  our  cheroots, 
and  smoked  for  awhile  the  pipe  of  peace. 

"  A  quarter  of  an  hour  elapsed,  and  the 
nreparations  were  made  for  another  martial 
dance.    This  was  performed  by  two  of  the 
Rajah's  sons,  the  same  young  men  I  imvo 
previously  made  mention  of.     They  came 
forward  each  having  on  his  arm  one  of  the 
large   Dyak  shields,  and  in  the   centre  ot 
the  cleared  space   were  two  long    swords 
Ivin"  on  the  floor.    The  ceremony  of  shak- 
ing Tiands,  as  described,  preparatory  to  the 
Ibrmer  dance,  was  gone  through;  the  music 
then  struck  up,  and  they  entered  the  arena. 
•'At  flrst  they  confined  themselves  to  evo- 
lutions of  defence,  springing  from  one  side 
to  the  other  wif.  wonderful  quickness,  keep- 
ing their  shields  in  front  of  fliem,  falling  on 
one  knee,  and  performing  various  feats  of 
agilltv.    After  a  short  time,  they  each  seized 
iTsword  and  then  the  display  was  very  re- 
markable, and  proved  what  ugly  customers 
thev  must  be  In  single  conflict.    Blows  m 
every  direction,  feints  of  eveij  description, 
were  made  by  both,  but  Invariably  received 
upon  the  shield.    Cumbrous  as  these  shields 
were,  no  opening  was  left;  retreating,  pursu- 
ing, dodging,  and  striking,  the  body  was 
never  exposed. 

"Occasionally,  during  this  performance, 
the  war  cry  was  given  by  the  surrounding 
warriors,  but  the  combatants  held  their 
peace;  in  fact,  they  could  not  afford  to  open 
their  mouths,  lest  an  opening  should  be 
made.  It  was  a  most  masterly  performance, 
and  we  were  de"'?hted  with  it' 

A  rather  curious  dance  was  witnessed  ny 
Mr  Boyle  at  a  feast  of  which  an  account  will 


",J 

MB 

1 

1 

■ 

1 

fl 

1 

1 

1 

k-\ 

'  1^1 

i 

j^^H 

1144 


DOIINEO, 


prcBontly  l»o  given.  First  two  cliloft  oacli 
ti)ok  a  swonl,  iiiul  bc^iiii  ii  mutiiitiul  Hoit  of 
diiiici',  whlcli  wa>(  liitrudt'd   to  Im  very  lin- 

fioslii;;,  l>ut  Diily  Hucceiidcil  iu  Iwina  very 
udicrotiH,  owiii;^  tu  the  fact  that  liotli  wcru 
too  iniu'li  intoxicated  tiiiiri'Hurvu  thuir  1ml- 
ntu'u,  mill,  hoiiig  ot'oppoMllu  tiiupcrH  iu  their 
cu|)H,  ouo  was  uicrry  aud  thu  other  was 
Bulky. 

Alter  this  iiorforiuaucc  was  over,  n  tall 
chief  ste|>|K(l  forward  with  a  whip,  uuich 
like  a  eat-o'-niue-tails,  another  (iroihu'ed  a 
human  Inntd,  aud  tUo  two  Ix'gau  to  chase 
each  other  round  tho  vermida  of  the  build- 
in)?.  Presently,  tho  chief  with  thu  head 
stopped,  and  with  ono  foot  in  tho  air  bej^an 
to  pirouette  slowly,  while  hoBWung  tho  lieaJ 
backwiird  and  forward,  tho  chief  with  tho 
Mliip  IaHbin;»  vigorously  at  tho  spectators, 
and  laughing  derisively  at  each  cut. 

After  a  wliilo  these  perfonners  became 
too  tired  to  proceed  without  refreshment, 
and  their  place  was  taken  by  four  or  (Ivc 
oth.^ra  carrying  blocks  of  wood  having  a 
feather  at  each  end.  Tho  foreign  guests 
took  these  objects  to  reiircsent  canoes,  but 
were  told  th.'lt  they  were  rhinoceros  horn- 
bills,  aud  were  thought  by  nil  competent 
judges  to  bo  lino  works  of  art.  Suddenly  a 
number  of  gongs  wcro  beaten,  and  over  "the 
mnffs  of  human  beings  arose  swords,  heads, 
rhinoceros  hornbills,  aud  cat-o'-nine-tails  in 
profusion,  tho  Dyaks  being  for  tho  time  half 
mad  with  cxciteiiient. 

It  was  remarkablo  that  in  this  wild  scene 
no  harm  was  done,  no  blow  w.ts  struck  in 
nnger,  and  no  cjuarrcl  took  i)lace.  De- 
corum was  maintained  throughout  tho  whole 
of  tho  festival,  though  not  ono  of  the  revellers 
was  sober,  and  then,  as  Mr.  iJoylo  remarks, 
"a  scene  which,  according  to  all  iirecedcnt, 
should  have  been  disgusting,  turned  out  to 
be  pleasantly  amusing.'' 

Ihis  feast  w.is  a  very  good  cxann)le  of  a 
Dyak  revel.  It  was  given  by  the  chief  Gas- 
ing,  who  was  gorgeously  attired  for  the  oc- 
casion in  an  old  consular  uniform  coat, 
covered  with  gohl  lace,  the  top  of  a  dragoon's 
helmet  tied  on  his  head  with  a  liandker- 
chief,  a  brass  regimental  breastplate  on  his 
forehead,  and  a  plated  tureen  cover  on  liis 
breast.  This  tureen  cover,  by  the  way,  was 
the  most  valued'  of  Gasing's  possessions, and 
one  which  was  madlv  <'nvied  by  all  the 
neighboring  chiefs,  lieiiig  a  tall,"thin  man, 
the  efTeet  of  his  naked,  lean,  yellow  legs,  ap- 
pearing from  beneath  all  this  splendor,  was 
remarkable. 

lie  had  prepared  his  long  house  carefully 
for  the  festival,  lie  had  erected  a  bamboo 
railing  on  the  edge  of  the  veranda,  as  a 
necessary  nrecauiion  against  accidents,  for 
the  veranda  wu^  I't  a  considerable  height 
from  the  ground,  s,':e  ♦!  >  guests  are  all  ex- 
pected to  be  Ver  iitiHtrudv  or:  their  feet, 
even  if  they  cin  sV  n-.;  . ,  a'!.  I'rom  the  top 
of  the  rail  to  ti. '-  oft  l-^  c*'  ^ae  veranda  he 


had  thrown  a  quantity  of  clotlm.HO  an  tonU 
liiW  thu  eliielH  who  sal  under  thuni  to  bo 
sheltered  from  tho  rnys  of  tho  sun. 

For  this  festival  Giutiiig  had  been  nink- 
ing  preparations  tor  months  past,  hulf-starv- 
iug  himself  in  order  to  collect  thu  re(|uiHitc 
amount  of  piovisions,  and  being  likely  to 
tind  himself  rather  deeply  in  debt  before  tho 
preparations  were  completed.  Unfortu- 
nately for  the  English  uuests,  the  smell  of 
Dyak  cookery  is  anything  liut  iigreeablo, 
aud  one  of  their  favorite  articles  of  food,  the 
fruit  called  the  durian,  exhales  a  most  intol- 
erable odor,  so  that,  if  they  had  not  been 
furnished  with  plenty  ol  tobacco,  they 
would  have  been  obliged  to  retire  tVoni  tho 
scene. 

The  Dyaks  roast  fowls  without  removing 
tho  featheis,  tear  them  joint  from  joint,  ana 
so  eat  them.  They  have  n  most  extraordi- 
nary liking  for  viands  iu  a  nearly  juitrid 
state,  such  as  fish  or  molluscs  in  a  verv  ad- 
vanced state  of  decomposition,  cggt  t)lack 
from  age,  and  rotten  fruit,  tho  chief  being 
the  durian,  which  smells  like  all  the  other 
dishes  put  together,  but  with  a  sort  of  pecul- 
iar fragrance  of  its  own.  Even  foreigners 
have  learned  to  like  the  durian,  but  they 
have  not  found  that  it  acclimati/es  them  to 
the  bad  eggs,  burnt  feathers,  aud  very  high 
llsh. 

This  very  remarkable  fruit  is  about  as 
large  as  u  cocoa-nut,  slightly  oval,  and  is 
covered  with  a  tliick,  tougn  skin,  armed  with 
sharp,  short,  and  stout  spines,  the  bases  of 
whit-li  touch  each  other.  The  skin  is  so 
strong,  that  even  when  it  falls,  as  it  always 
does  when  ripe,  from  a  considerable  height, 
it  does  not  break,  and  the  spines  are  so  sbarj) 
and  hard,  that,  if  n  durian  falls  on  a  man,  it 
inllicts  a  very  severe  wound,  aud  causes  great 
loss  of  blood. 

When  possible  it  is  eaten  fresh,  as  it  falls 
ripe  from  the  tree,  but  it  is  often  cooked 
wliile  still  green,  and,  when  especially  jilen- 
tiful,  is  preserved  in  jars  by  means  of  salt. 
In  this  state  its  natural  odor  is  very  greatly 
increased,  aud  the  very  ojjening  ot  a  jar  of 
preserved  durians  is  enough  to  drive  a 
stranger  to  the  country  out  of  the  room. 

Mr.  Wallace  gives  a  very  interesting  ac- 
count of  the  durian,  mentioning  that,  although 
for  some  lime  the  odor  of  the  fruit  com- 
j)letely  deterred  him  from  tasf  ■  ■■  if. 'le  once 
found  a  ripe  durian  just  fallen  Ovm  l*ie 
tree,  overcame  his  repugnan'.e  to  l..e  (';  iit. 
tried  it,  ate  it,  and  became  fr  r.i  ;hi't  Uiomeat 
a  confirmed  durian  eater.  The  following  pas- 
sago  contains  his  description  of  the  peculiar 
flavor  of  the  durian :  — 

"  The  five  cells  are  satiny  white  within,  and 
are  each  filled  with  an  oval  mass  of  rream- 
colored  pulp,  embedded  in  which  are  two  or 
three  seeds  about  the  size  of  chestnuts. 
This  pulp  is  the  eatable  part,  and  its  con- 
sistence and  flavor  are  indescribable.  A 
rich,   butter4ike   cu.^t,ard,   highly   fl.«ivored 


hm 


THE  NATIONAL  DTIINK. 


114S 


with  nlmondu,  kIvch  tho  1h'«1  «eneral  idea  of 
U  Imt  lut.r.uin;;l.-.l  ^viUl  It  <•"."«  waftn  o. 
Ilivor  ll.iit  .nil  t.,  iniii.l  creiim  cho««o, oiii  n 
Bivuco,  browu  Bhorry,  iiua  other  Incoiigrui- 

''""Tlion  i\u'A.  U  ft  rich  Khilinous  niuodlh- 
neiR  in  (I..-  (.ulp  whi.h  uotl.inj?  cUo  i)o«- 
Be«noi.,bul  wfii.h  ii'l.lH  to  .t«  <h'h.»fy.  It  b 
neither  lu'i.l,  nor  nwcca,  nor  ioi.  v,  .V  '  « 
feel,  tho  wivut  of  uono  of  l\m  9»»".^'^^' 
for  It  U  iM'rlo.'t  BH  it  in.  U  !)ro(UceH  no 
nuu"e.i  or  «>tl>or  Imd  ctlVct,  imd  tho  more 
^mi  eat  of  it  tho  Ion.  you  f,-«l  IncUncl  to 
flto  )  I"  f.Hct,  to  .^iit  .luri.uiH  iH  ti  now  «cnHft- 
tioniworlh  avoya«o  to  tho  E.u.t  to  experi- 

**  Mr.  WftUiico,  in  mimuiiiiK  up  tho  merit* 
«r  tlio  viiriouH  IVuitM  with  wl.ich  we  arc 
Jonuumt  1.  «<VVH  tluil  if  lu«  lm.l  to  fix  on  two 
SX  wlmh  wonia  rci.r...i-nt  tho  very  per- 
f,icti;.n  of  llavor  and  r.>fr..«h.n«  qmditicH,  ho 


Iiiction  <n  iiavor  iiiKi   i<  •>>  ■^■•■■•« -i" 

woul<l  chooHC  tho   .lurian   and  tho  oranRO, 

which  lie    terms   the    king  and  queen   of 

^^Tluir  national  drink,  called  "  tuak,"  U 
worthily  matched  with  the  viandH.    It  i»  in 
c^dor  like  thin  milk,  and  its  odor  has  been 
tbrcihlv  couM-arcd  to  that  "/Ive  hundred 
negroes  drunk  in  a  Hlave-iK^n.      The  Hunt 
travell.^r,   havin-   fortified   lus  P«l'»l«  „^\»|h 
die  Htr.n«e«t  tobacco,  <lrank   Homo   of  the 
liquid  in  honor  of  his  host,  ntul  Kjves  a  very 
v7vid  description  of  its  llavor.     When  flrst 
taken  into  tho  mouth,  it  gives  tho    dea  of 
coeoa-i.ut  milk  gone  very  «our  and  h  Iding 
in  solution  a  considerable  quantity  of  brown 
HUKnr  and  old  cheese.  When  it  is  sy-'allowed, 
the  victim  is  conscious  of  a  suffocating  sensa- 
tion, as  if  tho   li(iuid  were   thickened  with 
starch  and  a  great  (luanlity  of  tho  strongest 
^yc^^pvuvcT,  the  general  effcet  produced 
r/uKMiovice  being  comparable  to  nothing 
but  a  very  had  attack  of  si'a  sickness. 

Stran-e  to  say,  this  abominablo  liquid 
retains  the,  strongest  hold  on  three  mil- 
lions of  human  beings,  who  can  coiiceivo  nc 
creator  luxury  than  the  privilege  of  dr  nk- 
furit  without  stint.  At  their  icaste  it  is 
ke7,t  in  huge  bathing  jars,  and  is  handed 
about  in  allkiuds  of  vcsstds,  which  are  con- 
tinually emptied  and  sent  back  to  be  i-cplo  - 
ished,  so  that  a  continual  stream  of  full  and 
empty  vessels  passes  from  and  to  tho  large 

Even  if  the  warriors  who  are  invited  to 
tho  festival  were  to  feel  inclined  to  sobriety, 
thov  would  bo  forced  to  drink  by  the  wonrien, 
who  seem  to  think  themselves  bound  to 
make  evcrv  man  completely  intoxicated. 
"  No  Delilah  of  Europe  better  knows  her 
power  to  make  a  fool  of  a  strong  man  than 
one  of  these  Dyak  syrens,  nor  is  more  m- 
clined  to  exert  her  fascinations. 

"The  presence  of  the  female  clement  was 
soon  felt  in  tiie  noise  and  confusion,  which 
absolntt'ly  seemed  to  increase.  Several  ot 
the  ffirls  were  so  charming  as  to  excuse  tne 


Infutnatlon  of  their  victim*  and  I  ne«d 
Hcarcelv  •uy  that  tho  nrettiest  were  the 
S  culpafilc.  Hut  u«fy  or  beautiful,  old 
r  young  all  Instantly  employed  their  most 
eunliintf  artH  in  enticing  the  bravest  and 
nwlit  famous  warrior,  to  drink  and  drink 

■***"  We  saw  a  little  beauty  scat  hor-ejf  lov- 
ingly beside  a  tall  fellow  with  a  simple  tacfl 
iiid  honest  eyes,  whom  she  coaxed  to  toast 
her  f       »  a  large  Jar  which  she  oilere.l  to  his 
l,.,  until  ho  fairly  fell  backward  upon  the 
floor.    This  satisfactory  conclusion  attained, 
his  tormentor,  who,  we  heard  wa«  a  I lunccd 
to  him,  ran    screaming   with    laughter  to 
bring  seven  other  wretches  as  m  sc luevoiis 
ftH  lu-rf-elf  to  Jeer  at  the  vanquished  lover. 
Ua  i  ng  her  imes    to    sport  of   a  higher 
or  ler  she  shortly  after  brought  her  Jar  to 
the   spot  where   we  sat.   In   the   hope,  no 
diubt  of  beguiling  the  white  men  into  ho 
sameeondifmnas  her  other  ad.nirors;  but 
In  Kuroi)e  we  are   accustomed  to  run  the 
aauntlet  of  more    dangerous   fascinations, 
alTshe  relln.iuiBhod  tTio    attempt  in  de- 

"^Mn'st.  John  mentions  that  the  men  are 
in  no  way  behiml  tho  women  in  their  efforts 
to  seduce  their  Ruosts  to  intoxication   and 
it  is  their  greatest  iitido  to  have  as  much 
tuak  drunk  as  posslldo,  to  drink  their  own 
share    and    remain    comparativelv    sober 
while  all  their  guests  are  l^'l  I'V,™"  *"? 
usensible.    lnM%  if  wo  substitute  punch 
and  port  for  tuak,  and  an  open  veranda  for 
la  closed  dining-room,    here  »»  ",\  f^J;J„«': 
ence  b.^tween  the  hospitality  of  the  present 
Siyak  chief  and  that  of  the  average  fcn-ghsh 
snuire  of  the  last  century. 
^A  chief,  for  example,  who  prides  himself 
on  his  strong  head,  will  sit  before  a  huge 


on  his  sirousr   uu.m,  «in  o-"   > r, 

iar  of  tuak,  and  pledge  every  one  around 
For  every  one  wliom  he  serves  he  drinks 
one  cup  liimself,  and  it  is  his  ambition  to 
keep  his  seat  after  all  his  companions  are 
insensible.  Of  course,  it  is  impossible  that 
any  man  can  drink  an  etiual  amount  with 
ten  or  twelve  others,  and  it  is  most  likely 
that  he  forces  the  tuak  on  them  so  fast  that 
they  are  soon  rendered  incapable  of  seeing 
whether  their  host  drinks  or  no  .  They  are 
very  proud  of  being  fresh  on  the  folowing 
mornin-',  and  boast  that  although  their 
guests,  who  belonged  to  another  tribe  had 
severe  headaches,  they  themselves  suffered 
nothing  at  all.  ,  ,.      .„  ... 

It  is  partly  by  means  of  appealing  to  this 
prJde  tllat  tL  ^girls  are  flV'h"hSCn 
men  drink  to  tho  extent  which  has  been 
mentioned,  and  they  derive  so  m"«b  amuse- 
ment from  exercising  their  power  that  they 
lose  no  opportunity  that  falls  m  their  way, 
and  essay  thoir  blandishments  even  when 
there  is  no  definite  feast.  ,  ,  .  „  , 
Once,  when  Mr.  St.  John  had  travelled 
from  tlic  Sihuyan  Dyaks  to  the  Bukars  he 
and  his  guides  were  received,  as  usual,  m 


t 


I 


t 

I 


1146 


BOBNEO. 


the  head  house.  TVTiile  the  English  guests 
were  making  their  toilet,  t'vo  young  Dyak 
girls  came  very  gently  up  the  ladder  and 
slipped  into  the  chamber.  Now  the  head 
house  is,  as  the  reader  may  remember,  tho 
bachelors'  hall,  and  consequently  the  girls 
had  no  business  there.  So,  pretending  not 
to  sec  them,  the  white  men  proceeded  with 
their  toilets,  and  quietly  watched  their  pro- 
ceedings. 

The  two  girls,  after  ghnci^.g  cautiously  at 
the  strangers,  and  thinking  themselves  un- 
observed, made  their  way  to  the  Dyak 
guides,  each  having  in  her  liands  a  vast 
bowl  of  fresh  tuaL,  which  they  offered  to  the 
visitors.  Tho  young  men,  knowing  their 
object,  declined  to  drink,  and  thereby  drew 
on  themselves  a  battery  of  mixed  blandish- 
ments and  reproaches.  Above  all,  they 
were  entreated  nit  to  inflict  on  the  girls  the 
shame  of  refusing  their  gift,  and  making 
thera  take  it  bacK,  tn  be  laughed  at  by  all 
their  friends. 

Cajolery,  honied  words,  and  caruases  hav- 
ing been  resisted,  they  tried  the  effect  of 
ridicule,  and  their  taunts  succeeded  where 
their  coaxing ,  failed.  "  Whatl  "  said  they, 
"  are  the  Sibuyans  so  weak-headed  iw  to  be 
afraid  of  drinking  Bukar  tuak?"  This 
touched  the  visitors  on  a  very  tender  point 
The  Sibuyans  specially  pride  themselves  on 
the  strength  of  their  heads  and  of  their 
tuak,  and  a  refusal  to  drink  was  thus  made 
tantamount  to  a  confession  of  inferiority  in 
both  respects.  So  they  raised  tho  huge 
bowls  to  their  lips,  and  were  allowed  no 


peace  until  they  had  drained  the  last  drops, 
when  their  tempters  r»n  away  laughing, 
knov/ing  that  in  a  very  short  time  their  two 
victims  would  be  sensolestt. 

It  is  a  most  extraordinary  thing  that  the 
Dyak  women,  most  of  whom  do  not  drink  at 
all,  and  very  few  drink  even  moderately, 
take  such  a  delight  in  forcing  the  men  into 
intoxication.  The  young  girls  are  the  most 
successful  temptresses.  Tney  take  advau- 
t^e  of  their  vouth  and  beauty,  and  employ 
all  their  fascinations  to  inveigle  the  men 
into  drinking.    No  man  is  safe  from  them. 

Their  brothers,  friends,  and  even  their 
betrothed,  fall,  as  we  have  seen,  victims  to 
their  blandishments.  They  will  make  up  to 
perfect  strangers,  get  up  a  flirtation,  and 
lavish  sill  their  enchantments  upon  them 
like  Circe  of  old,  until  they  huve  reduced 
their  helpless  admirers  to  a  state  little  bet- 
ter than  that  of  the  mythological  swine. 
Even  after  the  men  have  sunk  on  the 
ground,  and  are  incapable  of  raising  the  cup 
to  their  lips,  the  women  think  their  task  not 
quite  completed,  and  jiour  the  tuak  down 
the  throats  of  the  helpless  men.  In  the 
"  Dyak  Feast,"  which  the  artist  has  so  finely 
drawn  on  the  opposite  i)age,  the  apjieal  and 
dresses  of  these  Eastern  syrens  are  illustra- 
ted. 

Yet,  although  on  such  occasions  they  give 
themselves  over  to  utter  drunkenness,  the 
Dyaks  are  a  sober  race,  and  except  at  these 
feasts,  or  when  beset  i)y  women,  they  are 
singularly  temperate,  the  betel-nut  supply- 
ing the  place  of  all  intoxicating  liquor. 


|%?SsiJBff2IVBGM^Swn^M4MMr^»-' 


i'    >J 


It 


f  t? 


A  DXAK  I'i  AST, 


(IHT) 


*   I- 


ABBI 


Tni 

culi 
repi 


on 

heif 
by  ( 

8WC 

dw< 
call 
wh 
On 
Jol 
thi 

fiVf 

•] 
hoi 
roc 
at 
(lif 
en 
on 
coi 
thi 
en 
ta( 
op 

nr 
th 
in 
lo 
ot 
cc 
le 


CHAPTER  CXVni. 

BORNEO.  —  Continiied. 


AKCniTECTirRK  —  MANUFACTTjnES. 

*  »   ™«.    >i>i>iwnRMieNTa  — THE    ORANO-KAT/'S  BOOM  — 8TRTJC- 

ABWAI.    HOnSES-THE    I/)NQ    HOUSE    AMD    ITfl    ^«*^<'^'**^ „J™    °      _ .-^^  ^^j,    PALM  AND  ITS 

TTOE  OF  THE    F.-OORINa  -  BEA80N8  FOB  THE  DYAK    AUCniTECTCRK  -  THE  «^^/^^       ^  ^^^. 

.SKS-THK   ATAPH-BA^T  A^  SUOAH  «---;';- -,^«™;^^^^^ 

-A;=r-~r:.rorT-:^^^^^ 
-^Er^—rMo-;-^^^^^^ 


represented  on  page  1153. 

In  the  flrsli  place,  the  houses  are  all  bunt 
on    posts*  some    of   them    twenty  feet    in 
height,  and  the  mode  of  access  to  them  is 
by  climbing  up  a  notched  pole,  which  an- 
swers the  purpose  of  a  ladder.    The  chief 
dwelling  in  evcrv  village,  and  indeed  practi- 
cally tlic  village  itself,  is  the  long  house, 
which  is  of  wonderfully  large  dimonsions. , 
One  of  these  houses,  measured  by  Mr.  bt. 
John,  was  more  than    Ave    hundred    and 
thirty  feet  long,  and  was  inhabited  by  nearly 
five  hundred  people.       .       ,       ^.        ,    .,.„ 
Throughout    the    entire    length    of    tne 
house  runs  the  broad  veranda  or  common 
room,  which  is  open  to  all  the  members,  and 
at  the  side  are  rooms  partitioned  oJl  tor  tne 
different  families,  as  many  as  sixty  or  sev- 
enty such  rooms  being  sometimes  seen  in 
one  long  house.    Although  the  vei^nda  is 
common  ground  to  all  the  tribe,  and  m  it 
the  members  go  througli  their  various  sed- 
entary occupations,  each  family  occupies  by 
tacit  consent  the   portion  of  the  veranda 
opposite  their  own  rooms. 

Theso  rooms  arc  strictly  private,  and 
none  except  the  members  of  the  family,  or 
their  intimate  friends,  would  think  of  enter- 
ing them.  The  chief  or  Orang-kaya  of  the 
long  house  has  a  much  larger  room  than  the 
others,  and  the  space  in  front  of  his  room  is 
considared  to  be  devoted  to  tiic  use  of  the 


of  known  courage.  .  ^  ,  .^  , .  .,  n™n<r 
One  of  the  rooms  inhabited  by  the  Orang- 
kava  was  visited  by  Mr.  Boyle,  and  was  not 
an  attractive  apartment.  On  each  side  of 
the  entrance  there  was  a  piece  of  furniture 
somewhat  resembling  an  old  English  plate- 
rack,  upon  the  lower  shelf  of  v^^ic^  WM 
placed  a  flat  stone.  In  spite  of  the  heat, 
which  was  terrific,  a  large  fire  was  burning 
the  stone,  and  on  the  range  above_were 


on 


wood,  rice,  pots,  and  other  utensils.  There 
was  Ao  chimney  to  the  house,  but  a  sort  of 
flap  in  the  roof  was  lifted  up,  and  kept  opea 
by  a  notched  stick.  This  flap  answered  both 
for  window  and  chimney,  and  when  it  was 
closed  the  room  was  in  total  darkness,  be- 
side being  at  once  filled  with  smoke. 

The  height  of  the  chamber  was  barely 
seven  feet,  and  the  space  was  rendered  still 
more  limited  by  the  weapons,  g'rdles,  mats, 
mosquito  curtains,  strings  of  boars    tusM., 
aprons,  and  other  property,  that  hung  from 
the  rafters.    The  sides  were  adorned  with  a 
quantity  of  English  and  D"tch  crockery 
each  piece  being  in  a  separate  rattan  basket 
a^d  suspended  ^from  the  wall.    The  house 
being  an  old  one,  the  smell  was  abominable, 
and  the  Orang-kaya's  chamber  was,  on  the 
whole,  a  singularly  uncomfortable  residence. 
A  number  of  fire-places,  varying  accord- 
ing to  the  population  of  the  house,  are  ar- 
*     A  oion">he  veranda,  and.  as  a  general 


SfcSfs^au'd^cSSuorraudr^^^^^^^^^^     ;u\eToae"of=the- primitive  ladders  aUeady 

(1149) 


iV  - 


1150 


BORNEO. 


mentioned  is  placed  at  either  end,  so  that 
when  a  visitor  enters  the  house,  ho  sees 
throughout  it.s  entire  length,  the  range  of  his 
eye  being  only  interrupted  by  the  posts, 
which  at  tor  supporting  the  floor  pass  upward 
and  serve  also  to  support  the  roof.  Outside 
this  veranda  extends  another,  called  the 
outer  verandn.  It  has  no  roof,  and  is  ex- 
posed to  tlu!  blazing  sunbeams.  It  is  used, 
not  as  a  habitation,  but  as  a  kind  of  store- 
house and  drying  ground. 

As  the  flooring  is  made  of  bamboo,  the 
Dyaks  can  easily,  if  they  choose,  keep  the 
interior  of  their  rooms  clean.  This,  liowever, 
they  seldom  choose  to  do,  limiting  their 
cleanliness  to  the  simple  process  of  sweeping 
any  ollal  through  the  floor  so  as  to  fall  under 
the  house.  Tliey  never  think  of  removing 
it  after  it  has  fallen,  so  that  by  degrees  the 
heaps  of  refuse  become  higher  and  higher, 
and  gradually  diminish  tlie  distance  be- 
tween the  floor  of  the  house  and  the  soil  be- 
neath. In  some  of  the  older  houses,  these 
heaps  of  rubbish  have  increased  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  when  the  pirn  ,are  grubbing  in  them 
their  backs  touch  tlio  bamboo  flooring  of 
the  house. 

The  reason  for  building  the  Dyak  houses 
on  piles  are  several,  the  chief  being  that 
such  a  house  acts  as  a  fort  in  case  of  attack. 
The  custom  of  building  on  piles  is  universal, 
but  only  those  tribes  "that  arc  liable  to  in- 
vasion employ  piles  of  the  height  which  have 
been  mentioned.  This  mode  of  architecture 
also  protects  the  inhabitants  from  floods  and 
from  the  intrusion  of  reptiles.  The  Dyaks 
do  not  use  the  bow  and  arrow,  and  before 
they  learned  the  use  of  fire-arms,  a  house 
built  on  piles  some  twenty  or  thirty  feet  in 
height  made  a  very  secure  fort,  which  could 
not  be  fired,  and  which  exposed  the  storm- 
ing i):u-ty  to  certain  and  heavy  loss.  Even 
since  the  English  have  taken  up  their  res- 
idence in  Borneo,  some  of  these  houses,  be- 
longing to  revolted  chiefs,  have  given  great 
trouble  before  tiicy  could  be  taken,  artillery 
appearing  to  be  the  only  weapon  to  which 
they  at  once  succumb. 

The  piles  arc  made  of  the  hardest  iron- 
wood,  and  are  very  thick,  much  thicker  than 
is  needed  for  the  .support  of  the  house.  The 
reason  for  this  streugth  and  thickness  is,  that 
in  case  of  attack,  the  assailing  party  d.ish 
under  the  house,  protecting  themselves  from 
missiles  by  a  canoe  which  they  turn  keel 
upward,  and  hold  over  their  heads  while  they 
chop  at  the  posts,  so  as  to  bring  the  house 
and  its  defenders  down  together.  If  the 
posts  are  but  moderately  stout,  they  will 
Bometimns  succeed;  but  if  they  are  very' thick 
and  strong,  the  defenders  can  remove  part  of 
the  floor,  and  throw  on  the  attacking  party 
weights  sufllciently' heavy  to  break  through 
their  roof  and  kill  them. 

It  is  iH-obable  that  the  custom  of  building  I 
hoii=--=  -n   piles  is   partly  derives!  from    the 
Malay  fashion  of  erecting  buildings  over  the  | 


water.  The  Dyaks  copied  this  plan,  and 
became  so  used  to  it  that  when  they  built 
inland  they  still  continued  the  practice.  The 
same  theory  accounts  for  the  habit  already 
mentioned  of  throwing  all  kinds  of  oflal 
through  the  open  bamboo  flooring.  This 
custom  was  cleanly  enough  when  the  houses 
were  built  over  the  water,  but  became  a 
source  of  utter  pollution  when  they  were 
erected  on  land,  and  the  ofl'id  was  allowed  to 
accumulate  below,  undisturbed  except  by  tho 
dogs  and  pigs. 

Most  of  these  houses  are  built  rather  high 
up  the  rivers,  especially  upon  the  tributaiy 
streams;  and  booms,  composed  of  bamboos 
and  rattans,  are  fastened  across  the  stream 
below  them,  so  as  to  hinder  the  advance  of 
the  enemy's  canoes.  The  thatch,  as  well  as 
a  considerable  portion  of  the  material,  is  ob- 
tained from  the  nipa  palm,  a  tree  which  to 
the  Bornrans  is  almost  a  necessity  of  exist- 
ence, and  supplies  a  vast  nunilier  of  their 
wants.  It  grows  in  large  numbers  at  th» 
waters  edge;  its  huge  leaves,  fifteen  or 
twenty  feet  in  length,  projec'^ing  like  the 
fronds  of  vast  ferns. 

When  dried,  the  leaves  are  woven  into  a 
sort  of  matted  fabric  called  "  alaps,  "  which 
is  used  sometimes  as  thatch,  sometimes  as 
the  indispensable  covering  of  boats,  and 
sometimes  even  as  walls  ofhouses,  the  mats 
being  fastened  from  post  to  post.  By  the 
use  of  these  ataps  certain  portions  of  the  roof 
can  he  raised  on  sticks  in  trap-door  fashion, 
so  as  to  answer  the  double  purpose  of  ad- 
mitting light  and  securing  ventilation. 

Various  other  mats  are  made  of  the  nipa 
palm  leaf,  and  so  are  hats  and  similar  articles. 
The  entire  leaf  is  often  used  in  canoes  as  an 
extemporized  sail,  the  leaf  being  fastened 
upright,  and  driving  the  boat  onward  at  a 
very  fair  pace.  Besides  these  uses  the  nipa 
leaves,  wnen  young,  are  dressed  as  vege- 
tables, and  are  both  agreeable  and  luitritious, 
and  the  fine  inner  leaves,  when  dried,  are 
rolled  round  toljacco  so  as  to  form  cigars. 

From  the  root  and  stem  a  coarse  sugar 
is  made,  which  is  used  for  all  general  pur- 
poses; for,  although  the  sugar-cane  grows 
magnificently  in  Borneo,  the  natives  only 
consider  it  in  the  light  of  a  sweetmeat,  it 
seems  rrther  strange  that  sugar  and  salt 
should  be  extracted  from  the  same  plant,  but 
such  is  really  the  case,  and  salt-making  is 
one  of  the  principal  occupations  of  some  of 
the  tribes. 

They  gather  great  quantities  of  the  nipa 
root,  and  burn  them.  The  ashes  are  then 
swept  together,  and  thrown  into  sliallow 
pans  half  filled  with  water,  so  that  the  salt 
is  dissolved  and  remains  in  the  water,  while 
the  charcoal  and  woody  i)article8  float  at  the 
surface,  andean  be  skimmed  off.  When  the 
water  is  clear,  the  pans  are  placed  over  the 
fire  and  the  water  driven  off  by  evaporation, 
after  which  the  salt,  which  remains  on  the 
bottom  and  sides  of  the  pans,  is  scraped  off. 


CONSTRUCTION  OF  A  DYAK  BRIDGE. 


1161 


It  is  of  a  coarse  and  decidedly  bitter  char- 1  one  «ide  ont^^^n^^^^^^^^^^ 

-^^,  but  it  is_„^  lU^d  by  U.  n^^  _ure  fire.he 


acter.  but   it  is  mucu  iiruu  "j  -"^  ;■- ' 

and  even  the  European  settlers  soon  become 
accustomed  to  it.  Salt  is  imported  largely 
from  Siam,  but  the  Uorneans  prefer  that  ol 
their  o\vn  manufacture  for  home  use,  re- 
serving   the  Siamese  salt    for   preserving 

^^The  nipa  and  the  mangrove  Srow  in 
similar  localities  and  on  the  «ame  stream  , 
a.ul  are  useful  to  those  who  are  e'  Sag«d  m 
ascoudiu"  rivers,  as  they  know  that  the  w  ater 
"s  ^dways'^shallow  where  the  mangrove^rows, 

and  deep  near  the  nipa.  

In  the  olden  times,  when  a  long  house  was 
nroiected,  the  ebection  of  the  first  post  was 
h'v'a's  accompanied  by  a  }}^"^'fj^''f^f: 
DrecHclv  as  has  been  mentioned  of  several 
^o  he^p  r  s  of  the  world.  Mr.  St.  ,Iohn  saw 
one  of  hese  houses  where  a  human  sacnlice 
"'";  V  '  i,„i,. -.t.-iQ /liirf  in  the 


)red  down  to  me  giui>v«. 

When  the  Dyak  wishes  to  procure  fire,  he 
places  t"iowooi-a  slab  on  the  ground  with 
the  Kroovo  undermost,  and  inserts  ha 
.ouit'ed  stick  in  the  little  f^  -"^^^J^,' ^t 
t  ranidly  between  his  hands.  The  revclu 
tion  of  tL  stick  soon  causes  a  current  of  air 
tomss  hroiU  the  groove,  and  m  conse- 
ouenco  the  fire  is  rapidly  blown  up  as  soon 

merely  cut  two  cross  grooves  on  .the  lower 
^iecc  of  wood,  and  insert  the  point  of  the 
irestick  at  their  intersection. 
The  Saribas  and  Sakarrang  Dyaks  have  a 
iin.  oaiiuu         .  ,„.  „„,„,,f  fn,.  ohlainina 


had  lieeii  made. 


louses  where  a  human  sacnlice    J^'^^'J';'^^^^^^        instrument  for  obtaining 

I,.    A  deep  hole  was  dug  in  the   ^cry    emark.vuie       ^^  ^     ■      ■^,.    ^  consists 

g;:^nd,-and  the   buge  post,  which^as   the   ^^  IJ^tiicS^t  .hrecUes  in  leng^i. 


rcadoV'mav  remember;  is  '  cut  from  the 
Irunk  of  the  hardest  and  fieav  est  wood  which 
can  be  found,  was  suspended  oyei  it  by 
rattan  lashings.  A  girl  was  laid  at  t  c 
bottom  of  the  hole,  and  ^t  a  given  s.gnal  the 
lashiu'^s  were  cut,  permitting  the  post  to 
dn'p  hito  the  hoi;,  and  crush  the  girl  to   ^^  ^^^  

■"^  The  same  traveller  saw  a  ceremony  among   two  %ticks 

the  Quop  Dyaks.  which  showed  tha     he   that  a  mac 

principle  of  sacrifice  still  remained  though 

the  victim  was  of  a  dillercnt  cl'f  "^^er.    rhe 

builder  wanted  to  raise  a  «ag-st';v<\noar  his 

house,  and  proceeded  on  exactly  the  same 

Dlan.    The  excavation  was  made,  the  pole 

was  suspended  by  a  rattan,  but  instead  ot  a 

human  being,  a  fowl  was  bound  and  laid  at 

the  bottom  of  the  hole,  so  as  to  be  crushed 

to  death  when  the  lashings  were  cut. 

These  houses  arc  often  approached  by 
brid-.'s,  which  arc  very  curious  structures, 
so  apparently  fragile  that  they  seem  unable 
to  sustain  the  weight  of  a  human  being,  and 
of  so  sli<'ht  a  character  that  to  traverse  them 
seems  to  iinnlv  the  skill  of  a  rope  dancer.  As 
these  houses  are  often  built  on  the  side  of  a 
sleeii  hill,  a  pole  is  laid  from  the  platlorm  to 
'the  hill,  and,  if  it  be  a  tolerably  long  one, 
supported  by  several  rattan  ropes  fastened 
to  tn-..s.  A  very  slight  bamboo  handrail  is 
fastened  a  little  above  it,  and  the  bridge  is 
considered  as  eomph^te.  _ 

One  of  these,  simple  brid;-  s  is  shown  in 
illustration  No.  '2,  on  the  lir...d  page,  which 
cives  a  iiood  idea  of  the  height  ot  tUe 
house  an.l  its  gen(>ral  style  of  architecture. 
Neirthe  foreground  is  a  man  engaged  in 
making  fire  by  means  of  twirling  one  stick 
upon  another,  precisely  as  is  done  by  the 
Katlirs  and  otlier  savage  tribes.  There  is 
however,  ono  improvement  on  the  usua 
mode.  Instead  of  merely  causing  a  pointed 
stick  to  revolve  upon  another  the  Dy.aks 
use  instead  of  the  lower  stick  a  thick  slab  ol 


very 


dry  wood,  with  a  deep  groove  cut  on .  suiu 


oTa'  .aetaltuie,  about  ^in-ec  indies  in  le.^ti 
with  a  piston  working  near.y  au-ti^ht  ui  it. 
A  I  iece  of  dry  stuff  by  way  of  tinder  is  in- 
troduced into  the  tube,  the  piston  rod  13 
s°m  el  smartly  down  and  withdrawn  with  a 
Srwhci    the^indcr  is  seen  to  be  on  fire. 
•Europe  uis  find  that  vo  manage  the  bcs.-api 
^  as  difficult  a  task  as  to  procure  hre  by 
two    stcks.     The    reader    may   remember 
hat  a  machine   of  simi'.ar  construction  is 
sow  at  Ihe  phUosophical  instrument  mak- 
rrsfaidthat^  piece  of  German  tinder  is 
^i^rhted  by  the  sudden  compression  of  the  air. 
"Another  form  of  the  besi-api  is  thus  de- 
seribed  byMr.  Boyle:-"  Among  some  ot 
the  Dyak  tribes  the-e  is  a  manner  of  strik- 
[nl  fire  much   more   extraordinary.     The 
^Strumentused  is  a  Blender  cube  of  lead 
which  fits  tightly  in  a  case  of  bamboo,     i  no 
top  o    the  cube^s  hollowed  into  a  cup,  and 
when  fire  is  required  this  cup  is  filled  wih 
tinder  the  leaden  piston  is  held  upright  m 
"left  hand,   the  bamboo  ease   i.s   thrust 
liar  ly  down  over  it,  as  quickly  withdrawn 
ind  the  tinder  is  found  to  be  lighted.    The 
naUves  sa?  Ihat  no  metal  but  le.ad  will  pro- 

'":i^if:a^S'traveller  gives  an.  account  of 
•inotber  mode  of  obtaining  tire:  — '  An- 
othei  Itches  ing  phenomenon  these  natives 
showe  I  whi"ch,  though  no  doubt  easuy 
explained  on  scientific  P^'^najdes  appealed 
very  remarkable.  Ai  we  sat  in  the  ^eian  a 
mv  cheroot  went  out,  and  I  asked  one  ot  the 
DV.aks  squatted  at  our  side  to  give   me   a 

''^.' lie  took  from  his  box  of  bamboo  a  piece 
of  pitcher  and  a  little  tinder;  1'"^  t  e  la  - 
ter  unon  the  pitcher  and  held  t  unilcr  nis 
thumb?  truck  sharply  agidnst  the  bamboo, 
and  instantly  ofl-ercd  mo  the  tmdcr  ligh  ed. 
Several  tinfes  subsequently  >ve  wa  died 
them  obtain  fire  by  this  means,  but  tailed 
to  make  out  a  reasonable  theory  for  the  ro- 


1!  Il 


11S2 


BORNEO. 


Even  rivers  are  bridged  over  in  the  same 
Bimpla,  but  really  efflcaciouB  manner,  as  the 
approaches  to  the  houses.  The  mountain 
streams  alternate  greatly  in  depth  and  rapio'- 
ity,  and  it  is  no  uncommon  occurrence  for  a 
heavy  rain  to  raise  a  river  some  forty  feet  in 
its  deep  and  rocky  channel,  and  even  after  a 
single  he.avy  sho\v3r  the  fords  are  rendered 
impassable.  In  consequence  of  this  uncer- 
tainty, the  Dyaks  throw  across  the  chasms 
such  bridges  as  are  described  by  Mr.  St. 
John: — 

"  How  light  and  elegant  do  these  suspen- 
sion-bridges look  1  One,  in  particular,  I  will 
attempt  to  describe.  It  was  a  broad  part  of 
the  stream,  and  two  fine  old  trees  hung  over 
the  water  opposite  to  each  other.  Long 
bamboos  lashed  together  formed  the  main 
portion,  and  were  fastened  by  smaller  ones 
to  the  branches  above;  railings  on  either 
side  were  added  to  give  greater  strength  and 
security,  yet  the  whole  affair  appeared  so 
flimsy,  and  was  so  far  above  the  stream,  that 
when  wo  saw  a  woman  and  child  pass  over 
it  we  drew  our  breath  until  they  were  safe 
on  the  other  side.  And  yet  we  knew  that 
they  were  secure. 

"  I  have  often  passed  over  them  myself; 
they  are  of  the  width  of  one  bamboo,  but 
the  side  railings  give  one  confidence.  Acci- 
dents do  happen  from  carelessly  allowing 
the  rattan  lashings  to  rot.  Once,  when 
pressed  for  time,  I  was  passing  rapidly 
across  with  many  men  following  close  be- 
hind me,  when  it  began  to  sway  most  un- 
pleasantly, and  crack!  crack!  was  heard  as 
several  of  the  supports  gave  way.  Most  of 
my  men  were  fortunately  not  near  the  cen- 
tre, and  relieved  the  bridge  of  their  weight 
by  clinging  to  the  branches,  otherwise  those 
who  were  with  me  in  the  middle  would  have 
been  precipitated  on  the  rocks  below.  After 
that,  we  always  passed  singly  over  such  neg- 
lected bridges." 

The  domestic  manufactures  of  the  Dyaks 
are  of  a  very  high  order,  and  display  a  won- 
derful amount  of  artistic  taste.  The  mode 
of  building  oanoos  has  already  })een  men- 
tioned, but  the  principal  tool  of  the  canoe 
maker  is  too  curious  to  be  passed  over.  The 
implement  in  question  is  singularly  ingen- 
ious, combining  within  itself  a  number  of 
<]ualification8.  The  general  appearance  of 
it  can  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  illustra- 
tion, which  is  drawn  from  a  specimen  pre- 
sented to  me  by  C.  T.  C.  Grant,  Esq. 

It  is  apparently  a  most  insignificant  tool, 
hardly  worthy  the  hands  of  a  child;  and 
yet,  when  wielded  by  a  Dyak,  it  produces 
the  most  remarkable  results.  The  handle  is 
only  ten  inches  in  length,  and  the  blade 
measures  barely  an  inch  and  a  quarter 
across  the  wicfest  part.  The  handle  is 
made  of  two  portions,  united  with  a  strong 
lashing  of  rattaHi  backed  u»^  by  cement 
The  lower  portion,  which  is  curved  exactly 


like  the  hilts  of  the  Dyak  swords,  is  made 
of  a  soft  and  li^ht  wood,  while  the  upper 

Eart,  which  carries  the  head,  is  made  of  a 
ard,  strong,  and  moderately  elastic  wood. 


AI>Z£-AX£. 


The  head  is  made  of  iron,  mostly  imported, 
and  is  in  all  probability  formed  on  the  model 
of  a  stone  implement  that  was  formerly  in 
use.  As  the  reader  may  see,  it  is  fastened 
to  the  wood  by  rattan,  exactly  as  the  stone 
heads  of  the  Polynesian  axes  are  held  in 
their  places  by  lashings  of  plaited  sinnet. 

But  here  the  resemblance  ends.  The  head 
of  the  Polynesian  axe  is  immovable,  whereas 
the  essence  of  the  Bornean  axe  is  that  the 
head  can  be  shifted  at  will,  by  taking  it  cut 
of  the  rattan  lashing,  reversing  and  replac- 
ing it,  so  that  it  forms  an  axe  or  an  adze, 
as  the  user  desires.  The  reader  may  re- 
member that  the  Banyai  tribe  of  Southern 
Africa  have  an  axe  made  on  a  similar 
principle,  though  in  their  case  the  reversal 
IS  accomplislipJ  by  cutting  holes  at  right 
angles  to  euch  other,  through  which  the 
shank  of  the  iron  head  can  be  passed.  (See 
p.  3<34,  figs.  4,  5.) 

With  this  tiny  instrument  the  Dyaks  not 
only  shape  their  planks,  but  cut  down  the 
largest  trees  with  a  rapidity  that  an  English 
workman  could  scarcely  equal,  in  spite  of  the 
superiority  of  his  axe.  They  have  a  very 
curious  method  of  clearing  away  timber 
from  a  space  of  ground.  They  first  cut 
away  all  the  underwood  with  their  parangs, 
or  choppers,  and  then,  with  their  little  axes, 
cut  the  larger  trees  rather  more  than  half 
through,  leaving  the  largest  to  the  last.  This 
tree  is  then  felled,  and,  as  all  the  trees  are 
bound  together  with  rattans  and  other 
creepers,  it  brings  down  all  the  others  in 
its  fall. 

Although  the  iron  which  the  Dyaks  use  is 
mostly  imported,  they  are  capable  of  srnBlt. 
ing  tHeir  own  metal  by  a  very  simple  proo- 


(10  A   DYAK  VILLAGE. 
(See  page  1149.) 


IL'.)   A   DYAK  UOUSB. 
(Uee  page  1161.) 


(UM) 


i  I 


I  I*  !^ 


III 


■'  I 


i 


BORNEAN  MANUFACTURES. 


11S6 


S^ 


egg.      By  way  of  a  crucible,  they  dig  a 
§mall  pit  in  the  ground,  and  porlorate  tl»o 
Bides  witli  liolos,  through  which  currents  of 
air  can  bo  passed  by  means  of  tlio  native 
bellows.    Charcoal  is  lirst  placed  In  the  pit, 
and  then  the  ore,  well  broken,  is  laid  on  the 
charcoid;  and  so  the  Dyak  worlimen  proceed 
to  nil  the  pit  with  alternate  layers  of  char- 
coal and  ore.     A  light  la  then  introduced  by 
incans  of  a  hole,  the  bellows  are  worked,  aiul 
in  a  Hhort  tiino  the   metal   is  smelted.    Al- 
though each  man  Is  gonerjiUv  capable  ot 
making  his  own  tools  on  a  nlnch,  there  is 
generally  a  man  in  each  village  who  is  a 
professional  blacksmith,  and  makes  his  liv- 
ing   by  forging    spear    heads  and  parang 
blades,  ns  well  as  by  keeping  the  weapons 
of  the  villagers  In  repair. 

The  basket  work  of  the  Dyaks  is  cxcocd- 
inglv  good,  color  as  well  as  form  being 
gtud'ied  in  the  manufacture.  The  basket 
called  tambok  Is  made  of  the  nlpn  pnlm  leat, 
cut  Into  strips  not  quite  the  twelfth  of  an 
inch  wide,  and  stained  alternatt^ly  yellow 
and  rod.  These  are  interwoven  so  as  topro- 
duec  a  considerable  variety  of  pattern,  some- 
what roseinl)ling  that  which  is  used  in  the 
sarongs  and  otlier  woven  fal)rics.  These 
patterns  .iro  nearly  all  combinations  of  tho 
square,  the  zigz.ag,  and  the  diamond;  the 
last  form,  however,  being  nothing  more  than 
the  sfiu.are  turned  diagonally. 

Although  made  in  cylindrical  form,  the 
tambok  is  slightiv  squared  by  means  ot  four 
strips  of  hard  rod  wood,  which  are  tightly 
fastened  to  the  basket  by  rattan  lashing. 
Thel)i)ttom  of  the  basket  is  sipiared  in  a 
similar  maimer,  so  as  to  flatten  it  and  enable 
it  to  stand  upright,  and  is  defended  by 
tllicker  strips  of  wood  than  those  which  run 
up  the  sides.  Tho  lid  is  guarded  by  two 
cross-strips  of  wood,  and  botii  the  lid  and 
the  U.p  of  the  basket  are   strengthened   by 


+  ,vo  similar  strips  bound  firmly  round  their 
cd<^es.     This  basket  is  exceedingly   light, 
elastic,  strong,  easily  carried,  and  fully  war- 
■    's  the   estimation  in   whicl-   it  is  held. 
.  oks  arc  made  of  almost  all  sizes,  and 
vtensively  used  by  the  Dyaks,  the  Ma- 
-•1  the  European  colonists. 
,s  if  various  kinds  are  made  by  this 
..,    iiious  people.    One  of  these  mats,  which 
is  in  inv  possession,  is  a  wonderful  specimen 
of  Dvak  work.     It  is  nine  feet  long  and  five 
wide,  and  is  made  of  r.attan,  cut  into  very 
narrow    strips  —  not    wider,    indeed,    than 
those  of  the  enlarged  patterns  of  the  tambok 
basket.    Tiiese  strips  are  interwoven  with 
such  skill  as  to  form  an  intricate  and  artistic 
pattern.    Tho  centre  of  tho  mat  is  occupied 
by  a  number  of  spiral  patterns,  two  inches 
in  diameter,  the  spiral  being  produced  by 
extensions    of    tho    zigzag    already   men- 
tioned. ,     .     .  , 

Around  the  spirals  arc  three  distinct  bor- 
ders, each  with  a  definite  pattern,  and  the 
whole  is  edged  by  a  sort  oi  selvage,  which 


olves  strength  to  tho  fabric,  and  prevonta  it 
From  iieing  torn.  This  kind  of  mat  is  ex- 
ceedingly durable,  tho  specimen  In  question 
having  been  long  used  in  Horneo,  then 
brought  over  to  England,  and  employed  as 
a  floor-cloth;  and,  although  cut  In  one  or  two 
places  by  chair-legs.  Is  on  the  whole  as  firm 
as  when  It  was  made.  As  tho  rattan  has  not 
been  dyed,  tho  color  of  the  mat  Is  a  pale  yel- 
low; but  the  pattern  comes  out  with  wonder- 
ful distinctness,  just  aa  Is  tho  case  with  good 
linglish  table  linen. 

Like  all  uncivilized  people,  the  Dyaks 
never  hurry  themselves  about  their  manu- 
factures. Time  Is  no  object  to  them;  there 
is  none  of  tho  competition  whlcli  hurries 
European  workmen  through  life.  The 
women,  who  make  these  beautiful  mats,  go 
about  their  work'  In  a  very  leisurely  way, 
intcrwcavingtthe  slender  ratlun  strips  with 
Infinite  care,  And  certainly  producing  work 
that  is  thorough  and  sound. 

The  rattan  is  sjilit  in  rather  a  curious 
manner.  On  account  of  the  direction  and 
length  of  its  fibre,  it  will  sidit  almost  cmI 
intinition  Into  perfectly  straiglit  strips  of 
very  great  length,  so  that  tlie  only  ditllculty 
is  to  cut  the  slips  of  precisely  the  samo 
width.  The  knives  with  wliicli  this  task  is 
performed  are  rather  peculiar.  One  of  them 
lias  already  been  described  on  page  1125.  as 
an  appendage  to  the  llornean  sword;  but 
there  is  another  which  is  so  remarkable  that 
It  deserves  a  separate  description. 

The  handle  is  bent  at  an  angle  like  tliat 
of  the  parang-latok,  described  and  figured 
on  the  page  to  which   lel'erencte  was  just 
made.    In  order  to  produce  this  efleet,  the 
handle  is  made  of  two  pieces  of  wood,  the 
ends  of  which  are  bevelled  off,  so  that  when 
they  are  placed  together  they  nrcxluce  tho 
an"ular  form   which   is  desired.    The  two 
pi(rces  arc  fitted  very  neatly  together,  and 
I  the  joint  is  strengthened  l)y  a  thick  coating 
of   cement.     Tlie  handle   is  furllier  orna- 
mented by  having  a  long  piece  of  br.oss  wire 
coiled  tightly  round  it,  and  is  finished  off  at 
the  cud  with  the  same  kind  of  cement  as 
that  which  is  used  at  the  joint. 

Not  only  does  the  handle  resemble  that  of 
the  parang,  but  there  is  a  groat  resemblance 
1.  'tween  the  blades  of  the  sword  and  tho 
knife.  The  blade  of  this  knife  has  been 
forged  out  of  a  sepiaro  bar  of  steel,  which 
has  been  first  flattened,  and  then  lieaten  out 
into  the  slightly  curved  form  which  is  so 
largely  used  throughout  tho  whole  of  this 
part  of  the  world. 

As  is  the  case  with  the  sword  knife  already 
described,  this  imidement  is  used  by  putting 
the  handle  under  the  left  arm  and  holding 
the  blade  firmly  in  front  of  the  body,  while 
both  hands  are  at  liberty  to  press  the  end  of 
the  rattan  against  the  edge  of  the  knife,  and 
so  to  split  it  into  as  many  strips  as  are  needed. 
In  spite  of  the  comparative  roughness  of  the 
manufacture,  which  dispenses  with  a  finish 


IIM 


BORNEO. 


Rnd  polish,  tho  knife  can  tBk<i  ft  vory  flno 
edge;  and  my  own  specimen,  alVr  hiwiiif^ 
aunorcd  mthtiir  rough  iisn>,'c,  is  h"  Himrp  Unit 
I  hftvoJURt  miMidid  a  pen  with  it,  nnd  cut  a 
picfc  of  note  pnp<!r  ctliircwisc.  The  l)la(li!  of 
tjis  knife  iH  etcviii  liiohes  in  h-ngtli. 

Ill  order  to  preserve  tlie  shari)ness  of  tli(! 
edge,  tlie  Dvnk  cnrries  the  knife  in  a  Hhealh 
made  sini)>fy  of  a  Kinall  joint  of  hanihoo, 
closed  at  llu"  lower  end  of  the  natural  knot, 
nnd  carefully  wrapfied  at  each  end  with  rat- 
Uin  to  prcvi'Ut  it  from  splitliui,'. 

The  cotton  faliries  an!  entirely  nlad(^  liy 
the  women,  from  tho  prenaralion  of  the 
thread  to  the  weavini^  of  tlio  hIuH'.  They 
heat  out  the  cotton  with  small  sticks,  and, 
hy  menus  of  a  rude  sort  of  wheel.  Hi)in  it  out 
into  thread  very  rapidly.  They  cannot 
comiiete  with  the  Kn!i;ll.'<h  manufactuier 
in  lineness  of  thread,  hut  in  durability  there 
is  no  comparison  hetween  the  two,  the  Dyak 
thread  licini;  ..Mlrou^er .  than  that  made  in 
Enjj;laud,  and  the.  dye  with  which  it  is 
stained  heiiii.;  so  jiermanent  that  no  ihhrie 
wears  so  well  as  that  which  i.s  of  native 
njanufaeture. 

Although  we  can  hardly  rank  the  Dyak 
jars  auuiii),'  native  manufactures,  they  |)hiy 
so  important  a  jiart  in  the  domestic  lite  of 
these  trihes  that  they  cannot  be  passed  over 
without  some  noticr*. 

The  Dyaks  have  no  real  currency,  and 
can  searc(^ly  he  mad(!  to  understand  it. 
They  jMrfectly  comprehend  direct  barter, 
but  thi^  secondary  barter  l)y  means  of  a  tar- 
culatiuf^  mediuin  is,  as  a  rule,  beyoud  an 
ordinary  Dyak.  lie  will  takc^  some  !j;oods 
to  the  liiarket  lor  the  jiurposeof  e.\eliau,!,Mni; 
them  for  sonu'  article  which  he  wants;  but 
he  has  no  idea  of  sellintr  his  goods  for  money, 
unci  buying  with  that  money  the  needed 
article. ' 

The  reader  may  remember  that  brass  fjuns 
have  already  ))eeii  mentioned  as  a  sort  of 
currency,  'i'luse  an;  nothing  more  or  less 
than  caimon  of  various  sizes,  whiiii  are  val- 
ued by  weiglit.  and  form  a  sort  of  standanl 
by  which  prices  are  measured,  like  the  Kng- 
lish  |HHUid  or  l]w  I''rench  franc.  They  are 
bored  to  carry  balls  from  one  to  two  pounds 
v/eight.  and.  though  regarded  cliiell\  in  the 
light  of  money, are  serviceable  weajjons,  and 
can  throw  a  ball  to  a  considerable  distance. 
Ther(^  is  an  advantage  about  this  kind  of 
currency.  It  is  not  easily  stolen,  and  out- 
side the  chiefs'  houses  may  bo  seen  rows  of 
brass  guns  lying  on  tho  ground  unmounted 
and  owing  their  safety  to  their  weight. 

There  is  also  a  second  standard  of  yahu! 
among  tho  Dyaks.    This  is  the  Jar,  an  in- 


stitution ^vhleh,  T  believe,  Is  unique.  Theno 
jars  are  of  earthenware,  and  as  tiir  as  can  bo 
judged  by  appearance,  nnist  have  bcten  of 
<  'hinese  nianuliu't\M-e.  They  are  of  dilVerent 
deseript  ions,  and  vary  greatly  in  value.  The 
commonest  jars,  called  Nagaor  Dragon  jars, 
are  worth  aliout  seven  or  eight  pounds,  and 
derive  tludr  name  from  llgures  of  dragons 
rudely  scrawlc<l  on  them.  They  are  nbont 
two  t'eet  in  height.  The  Uusa  jar,  which  is 
next  higher  in  value,  is  worth  from  ten  to 
lltteen  pounds,  according  to  its  (pialily,  and 
is  known  by  the  (Igiires  of  tho  Rusa  deer 
which  are  drawn  upon  it, 

Jhit  the  ni'  '  costly  is  the  Gusi,  wddch  Is 
worth  almost  any  sum"  that  the  owner  chooses 
to  demand  for  it.  The  Cusijarisneilherlargo 
nor  pretty.  It  is  of  adark  olive  green  e(dor, 
and  about  two  feet  in  height.  These  jars 
are  very  scarce,  and  are  considered  as  being 
worth  "on  an  averagt>  about  five  hundred 
pounds.  Seven  or  eight  hundred  pounds 
nave  bei^n  paid  for  a  f  Jusi  jar,  and  there  have 
been  one  yr  two  so  valuable  th.'it  many  Ihou- 
san<ls  potuids  have  been  ollorcd  and  refused 
for  them. 

Mr.  St.  John  mentions  a  jar  of  this  kind 
belonging  to  the  Sultan  of  ISrimci,  which 
derived  its  chief  value  from  the  fact  that  it 
spoke  on  eerl.'iin  great  occasions.  Vor  ex- 
ample, the  Sultan  declared  that  on  the  night 
before  his  wife  died  the  jar  uttered  liollow 
moaidng  sounds,  and  that  it  never  failed  to 
apprize  him  of  any  counng  misfortune  by 
wailing  ])itifully.  This  jar  is  kept  in  the 
wouu'u's  apartments,  and  is  always  eoyered 
with  gold  brocade,  except  when  wanted  for 
consultation,  or  to  exhibit  its  medicinal 
properties.  Watei-  ))oured  into  a  (iusi  jar  is 
thought  by  the  Dyaks  and  by  the  Malays  to 
be  the  best  ])ossilile  medicine  for  all  kinds  of 
diseases,  and,  when  sprinkled  over  tho 
fields,  to  be  a  certain  means  of  procuring  a 
good  crop.  As  the  ]ieoi)le  are  willing  to 
jiay  highly  fortius  inedicated  water,  there  is 
some  reason  for  the  enormous  cost  of  these 
jars. 

One  of  them  is  said  to  possess  a  quality 
which  belongs  to  itself.  It  increased  every- 
tliing  that  w'as  i)ut  into  it.  If,  for  exampio, 
it  were  half  tilled  with  rice  in  the  evening  it 
would  be  nearly  full  in  the  morning;  and 
if  water  W!is  ])i)urcd  into  it,  a  few  hours 
would  increase  the  de|ith  of  water  by  several 
inches.  It  is  remarkable  that  the  art  of 
making  these  jars  is  lost.  The  Chinese,  ad- 
mirable imitators  as  they  are,  have  always 
tailed  when  they  have  eiideavorcd  to  jialm 
off  upon  a  Dyak  ajar  manufiicturcd  by  them- 
selves. 


1-11 


CIIArTER    CXIX. 


BORNEO.  —  Concluded. 


BKLIOION  —  OMENS  —  FUNEKALS. 


FDNEBALS  — TUB  OFFICB  OK  BEXTOV. 


Tnr,  ivlifTiou  oftlio  Dyaks  is  a  very  dimcult 
8ul)jocl,iw  tho  peoplo,  tlicmselvos  soeiu  to 
have  ivn  c.xcrcdiii'Jilv  v.'i^nc  idi'n  of  it,an;l  to 
bo  nitlicr  unwilliii;^  to  impart  the  litllo 
knowleili,'o  wliu'h  llii'V  have.  It  is  tok-i'a- 
bly  clear  that  thoy  l»avo.  an  )(h'a  of  a  Sii- 
nri'ino  Ih'iii!,',  whcMii  they  call  l>y  (lith'iviit 
names,  acconliiii,'  to  their  lril)<'«;  the  !>eiv 
Dvak<<,  for  cxanipU",  calliiit;  him  Hadira,  and 
the  land  Dvaks  Tapa.  Next  to  the  Sti- 
prcnvc,  l)v  whr.m  mankind  was  rreate(  ,  were 
some  very  powerl'ul  tlioutjh  inferior  deities, 
siic-h  as  ten  d»i,  "ho  maile  the  earth  and  the 
lower  animals;  laii',',  who  (alight  religion  to 
the  Dvaks,  and  still  inspires  thein  with 
holiness;   and   J  iron,!,',  the  lord  of  life  and 

dcatli.  ..... 

Besides  thosn  chief  deities  there  are  in- 
numeraldc  Antus  or  minor  f,'ods,  which  cor- 
respond  in  some  dcs,'reo  to   the  faiiiis  and 
Ratvrs  of  the  ancinits.     They  arc  called  hy 
many  names,   and  as,  aceordiiiK   to    Dyak 
ideas,  there  is  scarcely  a  square  rod  of  for- 
est that  does  not  contain  its  Antn,  the  peo- 
ple live  as  it  were  in  a  worlil  j^ieopled  with 
supernatural   heini^'s.     Some  ot   them  even 
declare  that  they  have  seen  the  Antns,  the 
chief  distinction  of  whom  scians  to  he  that 
thev  have  no  heads,  the  neck  heing  termi- 
nated in  a  sharp  jioint.    They  are  capable  of 
nssumini;  the  form  of  a  human  beini;  or  of 
any   animal    at    will,  but    always    without 
heads,  so  that  they  can  bo  at  once  recog- 
nized. 

The  story  of  one  of  these  Antu-seers  is  a 
very  strange  one.  lie  declared  that  he  saw 
a  squirrel  lu  a  tree,  threw  a  spear  at  it,  and 


brought  it  to  tho  ground.  When  he  wont 
to  pick  it  ni),  it  suddenly  rose,  laced  him, 
and  chani!e(l  itself  into  a  dog.  1  he  dog 
walked   a  few  i.aces,  changed  again  into  a 

human   being,  and  »'''„':  "^V'"' ,''"TJi '"L- 
trunk  of  a  fallen  tree.     The  body  ol  the  spec- 
tre was  parti-colored,  and  instead  ot  a  hcaU 
it  had  a  pointed  neck. 

The  Dyak  ran  olV  in  terror,  and  was  im- 
mediatelv  smitten  with  a  violent  teAcr,  Ins 
soul  liaving  been  drawn  from   the  body  by 
the  AiRu,  anil  about  to  journey  toward  tho 
spirit  world.     The  doctor,  however,  w.mt  oil 
to  the  spot  where  the   Anlii  aiiiieared,  cap- 
tureil  the  fugitive  soul,  brought  it  ba'k,  and 
restored  it  to  the  bodv  by  means  ot  the  in- 
visible hole  ill  the  head  thromrh  which  tho 
Antn  had  siunuioned  it.    Next  moriinig  tho 
fever  was  gone,  and  the  man  wa*  ipnte  well. 
They  tell  another  story  of  one  of  tin  se  in- 
imical"  beings,  who  are  supposed  to  be  ghosts 
of  persons  killed  in  battle,  and  called  lUiaus. 
A   lUian   i)Ounccd   upon  a  woman    named 
Temunvan  during   her   husbaiuVs  absence, 
carried'  her  olf,  and  by  his  magic  arts  (ixed 
her  ai'ainst  a  rock  from  which  Hhc  could  not 
move?    When    the    husband    returned,   ho 
went   in   search  of    liis  wife,   and,  .having 
found  her,  concocted  a  scheme  by  which  tho 
Huaii  was  induced  to  release  her.     ]>y  .strat- 
agem the  husband  contrived  to  destroy  the 
Ikiau,  and  took  his  wife  home. 

She  had,  however,  sc.arcidy  reached  her 
home  when  she  gave  birth  to  .a  horriblo 
beinir,  of  which  the  Buau  was  the  lather. 
Hcr^'huaband  instantly  chopped  it  into  a 
thousand  pieces  with  his  parang,  and  flung 


<  II 


u 

','• 


(1137) 


:i 


ISM 


BORNEO. 


it  Into  tho  jnnulo,  when  each  fVttffmcnt  took 
lifu,  and  aHsunnd  lliu  1>I<'«<1  8i»'l<Ii»«  charat- 
tur  of  tln!  (l.nion  parent.  Ami  lliuii  the 
Uuau  waa  tho  original  parunt  of  land- 
IcochcR.  .         ,    ,  ., 

In  order  to  propitiate  thcBo  boincs,  tho 
Dyal<«  ar.i  in  llio  hal)it  of  niiilcinK  oircrMix« 
Ol'^food,  drhilc,  and  llowirn  to  tlu'm  iH-roro 
they  unricrliiko  any  jjrcat  tiwlt,  nioHtly  nnt- 
tin«  tho  food  into  diHli«i«  or  inudtots,  and  lay- 
Inir  it  in  tlicJunKl*'  for  tho  iwo  oltlio  AntuH. 

8atisllc(i  appaivntiy  witli  tlic  inultitudo  of 
tlii'ir  ticitios,  llio  J)yal{B  poHSOM  no  idols,  a 
fart  wliicli  in  really  ri'niarkal)lo,  m  Hliowinjr 
the  ciiaraotcr  of  (luur  minds.  Charms,  how- 
ever, tliey  liave  in  plenty,  and  pliico  the 
groatfst  relianex)  on  tluin.  Sonxi  charms 
are  credited  a.s  rendering  llio  wearer  invul- 
neralile,  and  it  is  likely  that  those  attaelied 
to  the  paruiiii  de8cril)ed  on  pasje  ll'J5  are  of 
that  character. 

Mr.  St.  Jolin  mentions  an  amusing  exam- 
pit!  of  tlie  vaino  set  upon  these  charms. 
There  was  a  chief  of  very  higli  rank,  who 
possessed  some  exceedini?lv  potent  charms, 
whidi  liad  Iteen  in  Ids  family  for  many  gen- 
cratioiiH,  and  liad  been  handed  down  from 
father  to  son.  They  onsistetl  of  two  round 
pel)l)le8,  one  (lat  ])el)hle,  a  little  stone  whieii 
had  been  found  in  a  banana,  and  some  stnid 


All  these  vainal)les  were  sewed  un  together 
and   fastened   to   a  string,   Ijy   wliich   they 


vved  un  to> 

...... n,  i>y  w"'';i» 

could  bn  attached  to  tho  waist  ai  times  ot 
peril. 

Unforlnnalelv,  the  chief  lent  these  charms 
to  a  ni;iM  wlio  "lost  them,  and  wa.s  sued  bv 
the  aggrieved  owner  Iwfore  tho  Kngiish 
court.  He  gained  liis  case,  hut  was  nearly 
as  much  (lissiilislied  with  the  court  as  witli 
the  defendant,  inasmuch  as  lie  estimated  the 
value,  oftlie  charms  at  a  Uusa.jar,  t.  f.  about 
thirty  dullars,  or  seven  poumls,  whiTt-as  the 
value  .set  on  them  by  the  court,  and  paid  by 
tlie  defenilant,  was  ll'vepence. 

Allusion  lias  been  already  made  to  the 
birds  on  which  the  Dvaks  so  much  rely  a.s 
om.ns.  These  are  three  in  numl)er,  the 
Kushah,  the  Kariak,  an<i  tho  Katupmig. 
AVheu  a  Dvak  is  al)out  to  start  on  an  "\[n;- 
dition,  he  L'oes  to  the  place  no.ar  tlu'  village 
where  the  feasting  sheds  are  built,  and  there 
waits  until  iu'  bears  the  cry  of  one  of  these 
birds.  Should  either  the  kushah  or  the  kat- 
upung  crv  in  tlie  front,  or  on  either  side, 
and  not  be  answered,  the  omen  is  bad,  and 
the  man  gives  up  his  expedition,  it  is  a 
good  Hii,Mi,  however,  if  tho  bird  should  first 
cry  cm  one  side  and  then  be  aii-wered  on 
the  otlier.  'I'bo  most  important  iiird  is  the 
kariak.  If  tho  cry  of  tho  kariak  be  heard 
on  the  riu'lit.tbo  omen  is  good;  if  on  the 
left,  it  is  (loubiful.  Hut  if  the  cry  t)o  heard 
behind  the  diviner,  the  omen  is  as  bad  as  it 
can  be,  and  portends  at  least  sickness,  if  not 
death. 

The  Dvaks  scarcely  engage  in  any  under- 
taking without  consulting  the  bird,?,  whom 


they  bolievo  to  be  half  Dyaks,  all  birds  hnv- 
i))<r  procoeded  from  thu  union  of  an  Antu 
wl"h  a  Dyak  woman. 

Mr.  Hrooke,  in  treating  of  this  sultject, 
has  tho  following  forcil)le  remarks:  --"  Somo 
of  our  party  of   Dyaks  Inwl   iiroceeded,  but 
most  wore  yet  behind,  and  will  bo  sweeping 
down  for  the  next  week  or  more.     Many  go 
through   tho   forms  of  their  forefathers  in 
listening  to  the  sounds  of  omens;  but  tho 
ceremony  U  now   very  curtailed,  compared 
with  what  it  was  a  few  years  ago,  when  I 
havo  known  a  chief  live  in  a  hut  for  six 
weeks,  partly  waiting  for  the   twittering  of 
birds  to  bo  in  a  proper  direction,  and  partly 
detained    by    his    followers.      IJesides,    tho 
whole  way  in  advancing,  their  dreams  are 
religiously  interpreted  and  adhered  to;  but, 
as  in  all  such   mattcirs,  interpretations  aro 
liable  to  a  double  construction.    Tho  llnalo 
is,  that  inclination,  or   often   fear,  is   most 
powerful.     A  learfut  heart  produces  a  disa- 
greeable dream,  or  a  bad  omen  in  imagined 
sounils  from  birds  or  deer,  and  this  always 
makes  a  force  return.     Hut  they  often  loiter 
about  so  long,  that  t\u'  enemy  gains  intelli- 
gence of  their  intended  attack,  and  is  on  tho 

alert.  ,      .  ,. 

"  However  absurdly  these  omens  lead  the 
human  race,  they  steadily  conlinuo  to  fol- 
low and  believe  in  such  praclices.  1-aith 
i)redominates,  and  hugs  hugt;  wonders,  and 
tenaciously  lives  in  the  minds  of  the  igno- 
rant. Homo  of  tho  Dvaks  are  somewhat 
shaken  in  the  belief  in  hereditary  omens, 
and  a  few  folU.w  the  Malay  custom  of  using 
a  particular  day,  which  has  a  stiiinge  cHect 
on  Kuropoan  imaginaiions.  The  white  man 
who  commands  the  force  is  supi'osed  to 
have  an  express  bird  and  lucky  cliarm  to 
LMiide  him  onward;  and  to  these  the  Dvaks 
trust  considerably.  '  Vou  aro  our  bird,  wo 
follow  you.'  1  well  know  .'he  names,  and 
can  distinguish  the  sounds  of  their  birds, 
and  tho  dilfercnl  hands  on  which  the  good 
and  bad  omens  aro  interpreted. 

"The  ellect  of  these  signs  on  myself  was 
often  very  marked,  and  no  Dyak  could  feci 
iin  adverse  omen  more  than  myself  when 
awav  in  the  jungle,  sunoundeil  by  these  su- 
iier.stitious  people.  Still,  I  could  sympathize 
with  the  inultitudo,  and  the  dillieulty  lay  in 
the  question,  whether  any  inlUienee  would 
bo  sulllcient  to  counteract  such  phantoms. 
It  must  not  be  thought  I  ever  attempted  to 
lead  tho  Dvaks  to  bi  lievo  that  I  was  tho 
owner  of  charms  and  such  absurdities, 
which  could  not  have  lasted  above  a  season, 
i-nil  could  never  bo  successful  for  a  length 
of  time.  A  maias'  (orang-outan  s)  h(;ad  was 
hanging  in  my  room,  and  this  they  thought 
to  be  my  director  to  successful  expeditions. 

The  cries  of  various  animals  aro  all  inter- 
preted by  the  I'y.aks,  those  which  have  evil 
significations  far  outnumbering  the  good- 
omened  cries.  The  worst  of  all  omens  is 
the  cry  of  a  deer,  which  will  make  a  Dyak 


ORDEALS. 


1150 


abandon  nnv  prnjuct  on  whirh  h«  \n  i^nnngcil, 
nu  iDiiKcr  liDW  (liu'ply  hU  hourt  iiiiiy  in;  Nitt 
on  it. 

On  ono  ocoaftloii,  a  Dynk  hwl  marrlocl  a 
youni(  Kill  I'lir  whom  \u'  had  n  very  Htroiif; 
attufiinciit,  which  wan  naiiriiiMi.  On  Ihi' 
third  tliiy  nfliu-  llm  inarriauc,  tho  KiiKli^li 
minnionaVy  {Mitorcd  tlui  hciid  hiiiisc  ami  waM 
umpriHiMl  to  Hft-  tho  younjr  huBhaiid  HitliiiK 
In  it  har.l  at  woik  on  lionui  liriiMH  wire,  Tliis 
wan  a  viiy  Nlroiii^  rirciiniHlaiicf,  an  thf  licuil 
lioiiMi'  is  tcn.inti'd  only  l»y  the  bachcloiH. 
Tliii  inisiHionarv  naturally  awkcd  him  what 
ho  WHS  (loiii!^  there,  and  what  had  lieeomo  of 
his  wile,  lo  which  ho  answered  soiTowt'iilly 
that  he  had  no  wile,  a  deer  having  eriod  on 
■  tho  iil-eeediii;,'  ni«hl,  m>  that  they  were 
olilined  to  dissolvo  tho  nmrriafjo  at  oneo. 

"  Uiit,"snid  his  intorrogalor,  "  nru  you  not 
sorry  lor  this?" 
"  Very  sorry! " 

"  What  arnyou  dolnp;  with  thp  wire?" 
"  Makinj;  ornaments  for  tho  girl  whom  I 
want  lor  my  ni^w  wilo." 

It  soeins  that  tho  heliof  in  tho  Antus  in  bo 
Ingrained  in  tho  minds  of  tho  Dyaks,  that 
whenever  any  oiui  moots  with  an  accident, 
some  Antu  or  other  is  presumed  to  have 
been  tho  author  of  tho  injury, and  to  require 
appoasal.  Mr.  IJrooko  mentions  that  ho  onco 
found  tho  loaf  of  a  palm  troo  foldod  in  a  no- 
culiar  manner,  lyiiij?  near  his  house.  This 
was  an  ollcrinRto  tho  Antu,  l)Coauso  a  man 
had  fallen  down  there  and  injured  himself. 

Tho  loaf  was  supposed  to  ho  jjosscssed  by 
tho  Antu,  who  would  avengo  himself  if  his 
h(af  were  disturbed  by  causing  tho  arm  of 
tho  olVender  to  swell.  Ilowcver,  Mr.  Hrooke 
picked  up  tho  loaf  and  throw  it  away,  and 
within  two  days  his  arm  bocamo  swollen 
and  intlamed,  and  remained  in  that  state  for 
nearly  a  forlniKlit  atlorward. 

In  connootion  with  this  Bubject  must  bo 
mentioned  the  ordeals  by  which  disputes  are 
ollon  settled.  Those  are  of  various  kinds, 
but  the  favorite  plan  is  the  ordeal  of  diviiif?. 
Tho  two  disputants  are  taken  to  tho  river 
and  wade  into  the  water  up  to  tho  chin.  At 
a  given  signal  they  plunge  beneath  tho  sur- 
face, and  tho  ono  who  can  remain  longest 
under  water  wins  tho  case.  There  was  a 
very  curious  instance  of  such  an  ordeal 
whore  the  honor  of  a  family  was  involved. 
The  daughter  of  a  chief  was  found  to  have 
disgraced  herself,  aud  laid  the  blame  upon  a 
young  man  of  rank.  lie,  liowcver,  utterly 
contradicted  her  story,  and  at  last  tho  dis- 
pute was  brought  to  an  end  V)y  the  ordeal  of 
diving.  Tho  young  chief  won  his  cause,  and 
tho  result  was  that  the  oiTonding  girl  had  to 
leave  tho  village,  and  her  father  was  deserted 
by  his  followers,  so  that  ho  was  also  obliged 
to  seek  another  home. 

Then  there  is  the  salt  ordeal.    Each  liti- 
gant is  provided  with  a  lump  of  salt  of  pre- 
cisely the  same  weight,  and  he  whose  salt 
retains  its  shape  longest  in  water  is  held  to 
60 


ho  tho  winnor.  Tliero  U  aUo  tho  bolllng- 
waler  lettl,  which  is  oxaclly  the  same  a«  that 
which  wa«  praelised  In  Kngland  In  fornier 
days,  the  hind  being  dipped  into  tho  hot 
liipiid,  anil  coming  out  uninjured  if  tho  up- 
pellant  be  innocent.  I-asllv,  there  is  tho 
snail  ordeal.  Kach  party  takes  a  snail  aud 
puts  it  on  a  plate,  anil  li'mo  juice  is  poured 
over  them,  when  the  snail  that  Ihsl  move* 
is  eouHidcretl  to  huvo  indicated  that  itt 
owner  is  in  the  wrong. 

'I'he  reader  n>ay  renienil»er  that  the  Dyaks 
are  in  the  habildf  purchasing  water  tlial  has 
been  iioureil  into  tho  sacred  jars,  and  sprink- 
ling it  over  their  llclds  by  way  of  ensuring 
f'erlilitv.  They  believe  that  water  which  has 
touched  the  inrson  of  a  white  man  will  have 
the  Bame  oll'ect,  especially  it  he  Im  a  man  of 
SOUK!  rank.  So  as  soon  as  Englidi  olllcers 
arrive  at  a  Dyak  village,  tho  natives  have  n 
oustimi  of  seizing  them,  i)ulling  olf  their 
shoes  and  stockings,  and  washing  their  feet, 
the  water  being  preserved  as  an  infalliblo 
charm  for  promoting  tho  growth  of  their 
crops. 

They  carry  this  principle  to  an  extent 
which  to  us  seems  exi'eeaingly  disgusting, 
liong  bamboos  lilled  with  dressed  rice  are 
hroiight  to  tho  visitors,  who  are  requested 
to  spit  in  them.  The.  rice  thus  medicated  is 
distributed  among  tho  assembled  crowd,  who 
press  eagerly  round,  each  attempting  to  se- 
cure a  porti(m  of  tho  health-giving  food. 
Some  of  tho  more  cunning  among  the  people 
try  to  Bocuro  a  Bcrond  and  some  a  third  sup- 
ply, and  Mr.  Ht.  .John  mentions  an  instance 
when  one  horrid  old  woman  managed  to  be 
helped  six  times. 

The  flame  traveller  mentions  that  the 
blood  of  fowls  is  thought  to  be  a  very  power- 
ful clmrm,  and  tho  Dyaks  have  a  ceremony 
connected  with  tho  shedding  of  blood  which 
is  almost  identical  with  tho  Jewish  I'asflover. 
(See  Kxod.  xii.  22.)  A  festival  had  been 
given  in  honor  of  the  visitors.  Their  feet 
had  been  washed,  and  tho  water  put  aside. 
Their  rice  had  been  duly  nu'dicatcd,  and  tho 
Orang-kaya  began  some  curious  ceremonies, 
Hinging  rice  out  of  the  windows,  and  accom- 
panying the  act  with  a  prayer  for  fertility 
to  tlie  tields  and  prosperity  to  tho  village. 
lie  wiis  evidently  repeating  a  well-learned 
lesson,  and  it  was  ascertained  that  tho  words 
which  he  used  were  not  understood  bv  him- 
self, so  that  we  lind  among  tho  Dyaks  tho 
relics  of  an  expired  language,  the  few  rem- 
nants of  which  are  preserved  by  religion, 
just  as  is  the  case  with  tho  inhabitants  ol 
New  Zealand  and  other  islands. 

This  portion  of  the  ceremony  being  ended 
a  sort  of  sacred  dance  was  performed,  the 
Orang-kaya  and  tho  ciders  goin^  succes- 
sively to  the  white  visitors,  passing  their 
hands  over  their  arms,  and  going  oflf  in  a 
slow,  measured  tread,  "  movin<»  their  arms 
and  hands  in  unison  with  their  feet  until 
they  reached  tho  end  of  the  house,  and  came 


1160 


BORNEO. 


II 


\>'> 


back  to  where  we  sat.  Then  came  another 
pressure  of  the  palm,  a  few  more  passes  to 
draw  virtue  out  of  us,  another  yell,  and  oil 
they  went  again  —  at  one  time  there  were 
at  least  a  hundred  dancing. 

"  For  three  nights  we  had  had  httlo  sleep, 
on  account  of  these  ceremonies,  but  at 
length,  notwithstanding  clash  of  gong  and 
beat  of  drum,  wo  sank  back  in  our  beds,  and 
were  soon  fast  a.sleep.  In  perhaps  a  couple 
of  hours  I  awoke,  my  companion  was  stul 
sleeping  uneasily,  the  din  was  deafening, 
and  I  sat  up  to  look  around. 

Unfortunate  momenti  I  was  instantly 
seized  by  the  hands  of  two  priests,  and  led 
up  to  the  Oranu;-kaya,  who  was  himself  cut- 
ting a  fowl's  throat.  lie  wanted  Captain 
Brooke  to  perform  the  following  ceremony, 
but  I  objected  to  his  being  awakened,  and 
offered  to  do  it  for  him.  1  was  taken  to  the 
very  end  of  the  house,  and  the  bleeding 
fowl  put  in  my  hands.  Holding  him  by  his 
lews  I  had  to  strike  the  lintel  of  the  doors, 
spnnkling  a  little  blood  over  each.  AVhen 
this  was  over,  I  had  to  wave  the  fowl  over 
the  heads  cf  the  women  and  wish  them  fer- 
tility; over  the  children,  and  wish  them 
heahh;  over  all  the  people,  and  wish  them 
prosperity;  out  of  the  window,  and  invoke 
good  crops  for  them." 


Funerals  among  the  Dyaks  differ 
slightly  in  the  various  tribes.  The  coni- 
mon  people  are  bui-ied  or  even  burned  with 
scarcely  any  ceremony,  but  the  bodies  of 
chiefs  and  their  relatives  are  treated  with  a 
whole  series  of  rites. 

As  soon  as  a  chief  dies,  the  corpse  is 
dressed  in  his  finest  clothes,  every  ornament 
that  he  possessed  is  hung  upon  him,  and  his 
favorite  swords  and  other  weapons  are  laid 
by  his  side.  The  body  is  then  jilaced  on  an 
elevated  platform,  and  is  watched  and  tended 
as  if  the  dead  man  were  Btill  alive,  food, 
drink,  tobacco,  and  sirih  being  continually 


offered  him.  and  the  air  kept  cool  by  constant 
fanning.  Tlie  men  assemble  on  one  side  of 
the  corpse,  and  the  women  on  the  other,  and 
romp  with  each  other  as  if  the  occasion  wore 
of  a  joyful  rather  than  a  sorrowful  character. 
These  games  are  continued  until  the  corpse 
is  far  gone  in  decomposition,  when  it  is 
placed  in  a  coffin  made  of  a  hollowed  tree 
trunk,  and  buried  in  a  grave  which  must  not 
be  more  than  five  feet  deep. 

Knowing  the  customs  of  the  people,  the 
Malays  are  apt  to  rifle  the  graves  of  dead 
chiefs,  for  the  sake  of  obtaining  the  swords 
and  other  valuables  that  are  buried  with 
them.  Formerly,  after  the  body  was  laid  in 
the  grave,  the  sword,  a  jar  or  two,  clothes, 
ornaments,  and  a  female  slave  were  placed 
in  a  canoe,  the  woman  being  firmly  chained 
to  it.  When  the  tide  was  ebbing  the  boat 
was  sent  adrift,  and  was  supposed  to  supply 
the  spirit  of  the  departed  with  all  the  goods 
that  were  on  board.  This  custom,  however, 
has  been  long  di.scontiiuied,  as  the  Dyaks 
found  that  the  canoe  and  its  contents  almost 
invariably  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Malays, 
who  thus  procured  slaves  without  paving  for 
them,  and  enriched  themselves  besides  with 
the  swords,  gold,  and  clothing. 

The  sexton's  office  is  hereditary,  and 
whenever  the  line  fails  the  Dyaks  have 
great  difficulty  in  finding  some  one  who 
will  not  only  take  the  office  upon  himself, 
but  must  also  entail  it  upon  his  descendants. 
The  office,  however,  if  a  very  lucrative  one, 
varying  from  a  rupee  to  two  dollars,  a  sum  of 
money  which  can  procure  for  a  Dyak  all  the 
necessaries  and  most  of  the  luxuries  of  lile 
for  several  weeks. 

The  Kayan  Dvaks  do  not  bury  their  dead, 
but  place'  the  body  in  a  very  stout  coffin 
made  of  a  hollowed  tree,  and  elevate  it  on 
two  stout  carved  posts,  with  woodwork  pro- 
jecting from  each  corner,  like  the  roofs  of 
Siamese  houses. 


»■ 


CHAPTER    CXX. 


TIERRA  DEL  FUEGO. 

APPEARANCE  —  AKCniTECTUKE  —  MANUFACTURES. 

POSITION  OF  THE  COUNTRY  AND  8IONIFICATION  OP  TlIK  NAME  -CONFOnMATION  OF  THB  LAND  AND 
m  ANIMAL  AND  VKGfiTAIlLE  MFK  -  AITEABANCB  OK  THB  FUEOIAN8-EKnqNKOU8  IDEAS  CON- 
CBKNING  THBM-COLOIl,  COSTUME,  AND  MODE  OF  WEAUING  THE  IIAIIl- INUIFFBBENCB  TO 
DKK98-PAINT  AND  OIINAMENTS- KUEGIAN   AHCIIITECTUUE-TIIB   POINTED  AND  HOUNDED  HUTS 

—  TUB  BPEAIl  AND  ITH  IIEAD-ISOWH  AND  AlUiOWS  -  STONE  THKOWINO- WONDERFUL  STUBNOTH 
OF  THE  KUE0IAN8- SKILL  WITH  THE  8LINQ- STUDY  OF  PARTICULAR  WEAPONS -FOOD  OF  TUB 
FUEOIANS  — ANOLINfl  WITHOUT  HOOKS— TUB  DOGS,  FI8HEH8  AND  liIRD  CATCIIKI18  —  THE  1)00 
UESPECTED  BY  THE  FUEOIANS —CANNIBALISM —  THE  TREE  FUNGUS  — CANOES  — THE  LARGE  AND 
SMALL  CANOES,    ANl)  THEIIl  USES -SHIFTING   QUABTEHS  AND  TRANSPORTING   CANOES  — COOKERY 

—  OBNEBAL  TEHPBRAMBX.T  OF  THE   FUE0IAN8  — JEMMY  BUTTON —  FUEOI AN  GOVERNMENT. 


J 

Mi 


At  the  extreme  southern  point  of  America 
is  (V  liin^e  i.sland,  or  rather  a  colleclitm  of  isl- 
ands scparatiMl  by  very  narrow  armlets  of 
the  sea.  It  is  separated  from  the  mainland 
by  the  strange  tortuous  Magellan's  Strait, 
which  is  in  no  place  wide  enough  to  permit 
a  ship  to  be  out  of  sight  of  land,  and  in  some 
points  is  exceedingly  narrow.  As  Magellan 
saile<l  through  this  channel  by  night,  he  saw 
that  the  southern  shore  was  studded  with 
innumerable  tires,  and  he  therefore  called 
the  country  Tikura  del  Fuego,  or  Land 
of  Fire.  These  fires  were  probably  beacons 
lighted  by  the  natives  in  order  to  warn  each 
oOier  of  the  approach  of  strangers,  to  whom 
the  Fuegians  have  at  times  evinced  the 
most  bitter  hostility,  while  at  others  they 
iiavc  been  kind  and  hospitable  in  their 
way. 

The  country  is  a  singularly  unpromising 
one,  and  Ticrra  del  Fuego  on  the  south  and 
the  Esquimaux  country  on  the  north  seem 
to  be  exactly  the  lands  in  which  human 
beings  could  not  live.  Yet  both  are  popu- 
lateif,  and  the  natives  of  both  extremities  of 
this  vast  continent  are  fully  impressed  with 
the  superiority  of  their  "country  over  all 
others. 

Tiorra  del  Fuego  is,  as  its  proximity  to 
tho  South  Polo  infers,  a  miserably  cold 
country,  and  even  in  the  summer  time  the 
place  is  so  cold  that  in  comparison  England 


would  seem  to  be  quite  a  tropical  island.  In 
consequence  of  this  extreme  cold  neither 
animal  nor  vegetable  life  can  be  luxuriant. 
The  forests  are  small,  and  the  trees  short, 
stumpy,  and  ceasing  to  exist  at  nil  at  some 
lifteen"  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea.  There  is  a  sort  of  evergreen  beech 
{Fagnu  betuloidcs). 

There  is  only  one  redeeming  point  in  the 
climate  of  Ticrra  del  P'uego.  TJie  mos- 
quito that  haunts  alike  the  hottest  and 
coldest  countries,  and  cfjually  a  terror  in 
tropical  and  Arctic  America,  cannot  live  in 
Tierra  del  Fuego,  the  damp,  as  well  as  tho 
cold,  being  fatal  to  it.  Indeed,  there  are 
very  few  insects  in  this  strange  land,  and 
reptiles  are  aUogether  absent. 

Absence  of  vegetable  life  naturally  results 
in  absence  of  animal  life,  the  herbivorous 
animals  being  starved  out  for  want  of  their 
proper  food,  and  theearnivora  being  equally 
unable  to  live,  as  finding  no  animals  on 
which  to  feed.  Man  being  omnivorous,  ha.s 
a  slightly  better  chance  of  livinp;,  but  even 
he  could  not  multiply  and  fill  the  country 
when  food  is  so  limited,  provided  he  were 
littiited  to  tho  land,  but,  as  he  is  master  of 
the  waters  as  well  as  of  the  earth,  he  can 
draw  his  living  from  the  sea  aiul  rivers  when 
the  land  retusea  to  8upi)ly  iiiiu  with  food. 
Such  is  the  case  with  the  Fuegians,  who  are 
essentially  people  of  the  sea  and  its  shore, 


4     : 


I 


(UOl) 


1162 


TIERRA  DEL  FUEGO. 


i 


and  who  draw  nearly  the  whole  of  their  sub- 
sistence from  its  waters,  as  we  shall  see  in  a 
futnre  page. 

Perhaps  in  consequence  of  the  scantiness, 
the  irregularity,  and  the  quality  of  their 
food,  the  Fuegians  are  a  very  short  race  of 
men,  often  shorter  than  the  average  Bosjes- 
man  of  Southern  Africa,  and  even  lower  in 
the  social  scale.  They  ought  not  to  be  called 
dwarfs,  as  is  too  often  the  case,  their  bodies 
being  tolerably  proportioned,  and  their  lig- 
ures  not  stunted,  but  simply  smaller  than 
the  average  of  Europeans,  while  the  muscu- 
lar development  of  the  upper  part  of  the  body 
is  really  wonderful.  As  a  rule,  the  average 
heightof  the  Fuegian  men  is  about  five  feet, 
and  that  of  the  women  four  feet  six  inches. 
In  some  parts  of  the  islands  there  are  na- 
tives of  much  larger  size,  but  these  are  evi- 
dently immigrants  from  the  adjacent  coun- 
try of  Patagonia,  where  the  stature  is  as 
much  above  the  average  of  Europeans  as  that 
of  the  Fuegians  is  below  it. 

The  color  of  the  natives  is  a  dark  coppery 
brown,  the  reddish  hue  being  only  percep- 
tible in  spots  where  they  hai)pen  accident- 
ally to  be  clean.  The  limbs  are  generally 
slight,  so  that  the  knees  and  elbows  seem  to 
be  disproportionately  large,  and  their  heads 
are  covered  with  masses  of  black  hair,  that 
possesses  no  curl,  and  falls  in  long,  wild 
tangled  locks  over  tlieir  shoulders.  The 
men  are  almost  entirely  beardless. 

An  illustration  on  the  opposite  i)ageofa 
Fuegian  man  and  woman  gives  a  correct  rep- 
resentation of  llie  ugliness  of  feature  and 
want  of  intelligence  which  characterize  this 
people. 

Bolh  sexes  allow  tlieir  hair  to  run  to  its  full 
length,  except  over  the  forehead,  where  it 
is  roughly  cut  with  a  shell  to  prevent  it  from 
falling  into  the  eyes.  The  people  have  a 
strange  superstitious  leverence  for  hair,  and 
that  portion  which  is  cut  off  is  deposited  in 
a  basket,  and  afterward  carefully  disposed 
of.  Once,  when  the  cai)tain  had  snipped  oft' 
a  little  hair  from  a  Fuegian's  head,  he  found 
that  he  had  given  great  offence,  and  was 
obliged  to  restore  the  severed  hair  and  put 
away  the  scLssors  before  the  angry  feel- 
ings of  the  native  could  be  smoothed.  On 
anotlier  occusion,  the  only  mode  of  pacify- 
ing the  offended  native  was  l)y  restoring  the 
lock  of  hair,  together  with  a  similar  lock 
from  the  head  of  the  white  man.  The  cut 
hair  is  generally  burned. 

Captain  King's  account  of  the  Fuegian 
women  is  not  attractive. 

*"  The  hair  of  the  women  is  longer,  less 
coarse,  and  certainly  cleaner  than  that  of 
the  men.  It  is  combed  with  the  jaw  of  a 
porpoise,  but  neither  plaited  nor  tied ;  and 
none  is  cut  away,  except  from  over  their 
eyes.  They  are  short,  with  bodies  largely 
out  of  proportion  to  tlieir  height;  th«^ir  fra- 
tures,  especially  those  of  the  old,  are  scarcely 
less  disagreeable  thau  the  repulsive  ones  of 


the  men.  About  four  feet  and  some  inches 
is  the  stature  of  these  sho-Fuegiaiis,  by 
courtesj'  called  women.  They  never  walk 
upright;  a  stooping  posture  and  awkwanl 
movement  is  their  natural  gait.  They  may 
be  tit  mates  for  such  uncouth  men;  but  tu 
civilized  people  their  appearance  is  disgust- 
ing.   Very  few  exceptions  were  noticed. 

"The  color  of  the  women  is  similar  to 
that  of  the  men.  As  they  are  just  as  much 
exposed,  and  do  harder  work,  this  is  a  natu- 
ral consequence.  Besides,  while  children 
they  run  about  quite  naked,  picking  up 
slie!i-fish,  carrying  wood,  or  bringing  water. 
In  the  color  of  the  older  people  there  is  a 
tiime  of  yellow,  which  is  not  noticed  in  the 
middle-aged  or  young." 

As  is  the  case  with  many  savage  tribes, 
the  teeth  of  the  Fuegians  are  ground  down 
to  an  almost  flat  surface.  This  is  most  con- 
spicuous in  the  front  teeth.  There  is  little 
apparent'distinction  between  the  canine  and 
the  incisor  teeth,  both  being  ground  down  to 
such  an  extent  that  the  only  remains  of  the 
enamel  are  on  the  sides,  and,  as  Captain 
King  graphically  remarks,  "  the  front  teeth 
are  solid,  and  often  flat-topped  like  those  of 
a  horse  eight  years  old.  .  .  .  the  interior 
substance  of  each  i(  ili  is  then  seen  as 
plainly  in  proportion  to  its  size  as  that  of  a 
horse." 

The  mouth  is  large,  and  very  coarsely 
formed,  and  as  there  is  not  a  vestige  of 
beard  its  full  ugliness  is  shown  to  the  best 
advantage. 

One  of  the  strangest  phenomena  con- 
nected with  the  Fuegians  is  their  lack  of 
clothing.  In  a  climate  so  cold  that  in  (ho 
middle  of  summer  people  have  been  frozen 
to  death  at  no  great  elevation  above  the 
level  of  the  sea,  it  might  well  be  imagined 
that  the  natives  would  follow  Ihe  same 
course  as  that  adopted  by  the  Esquimaux, 
and  make  for  themselves  garments  out  of 
the  thickest  and  warmest  mrs  that  can  be 
procured. 

They  might  do  so  if  they  chose.  In  some 
liarts  of  their  country  they  have  the  thick- 
woolled  guanaco  (probably  an  importation 
from  the  mainland),  and  in  others  are  deer 
and  foxes,  not  to  mention  the  dogs  which 
they  keep  in  a  domesticated  state.  Besides, 
there  are  few  ftirs  warmer  than  those  of  the 
seal,  and  seals  of  various  kinds  abound  on 
the  Fuegian  coasts,  some,  such  as  the  sea- 
lion,  being  of  very  large  size.  Then  there 
are  various  water  birds,  whose  skins  would 
make  dresses  equally  light  and  warm,  such 
as  the  penguin,  the  duck,  the  albatross,  and 
the  like. 

It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  if  the  Fue- 
gian is  not  warmly  and  thickly  clothed,  it  is 
not  from  want  of  material,  and  that  he  is 
naked  not  from  necessity  but  choice.  And 
!■,;■-  ,"}-,oo=e=  r."dity,  neither  sex  wearing  any 
description  of  clothes  except  a  piece  of  seal 
or  deer  skin  about  eighteen  inches  square 


(1.)   FUEGIANS. 
(Sec  pa;,'i' 1102.) 


U'i- 


(a.)    I»AT.\(i()NIANS. 
(Si'e  pu^L'  ll?:i.1 


(uca) 


HOUSES  OF  THE  FUEGIANS. 


1165 


huno;  over  one  shoulrler.  No  other  cover- 
ing IS  worn  except  this  patch  of  skin,  which 
is  shifted  about  from  one  side  of  the  body 
to  the  other  according  to  the  direction  of 
the  wind,  tlie  Fucgian  appearing  to  be 
fcetly  indifferent  to  frost,  rain,  or  snow, 


^' 


er- 
or 


example,  a  Fuegian  mother  has  been  seen 
with  her  child  in  her  arms,  wearing  notliing 
but  the  little  patch  of  seal-skin  on  the  wind- 
ward side,  anJ  yet  standing  unconcernedly 
in  the  snow,  which  not  only  fell  on  her  naked 
shoulder,  but  was  heaped  between  her  child 
and  her  breast,  neither  mother  nor  infant 
.seeming  to  be  more  than  ordinarily  cold. 
During  mild  weather,  or  when  the  Fuegian 
is  padilling  or  otherwise  engaged  in  work, 
he  thinks  that  even  the  piece  of  seal-skin  is 
too  much  for  him,  and  throws  it  off. 

Though  careless  about  clothing,  he  is  not 
indifferent  to  ornament,  and  decorates  bin 
copper-colored  body  in  various  ways.  He 
uses  paint  in  profusion,  generally  laying  on 
a  white  ground  made  of  a  chalky  clay,  and 
drawing  patterns  ui)on  it  of  black  or  dull 
brick-red.  The  black  is  simply  charcoal  re- 
duced to  powder.  He  likes  necklaces,  which 
are  mostly  white,  and  are  made  of  the  teeth 
of  fishes  and  seals,  or  of  pieces  of  bone. 
Ornaments  of  the  same  character  are  worn 
upon  the  wrists  and  ankles,  so  that,  althougli 
the  Fuegian  has  no  clothes,  he  has  plenty  of 
savage  jewelry. 

Both  sexes  keep  their  long,  straggling 
locks  out  of  their  eyes  by  means  of  a  small 
fillet  made  of  sinews,  or  the  hair  of  the 
guanaco,  twined  round  the  forehead.  Fea- 
thers and  similar  ornaments  are  stuck  into 
this  fillet;  but  if  they  be  white,  the  specta- 
tor must  be  on  his  guard,  for  white  down 
and  feathers  on  the  head  are  signs  of  war. 
Ked,  on  the  contrary,  denotes  peace ;  so  that 
those  people  entirely  reverse  the  symbolism 
tfot  color  which  is  accepted  almost  over  the 
entire  world.  Soni  limes  a  native  maybe 
spcu  so  covered  wiili  black  paint  that  the 
coi)pery  color  of  the  skin  is  entirely  lost,  and 
the  complexion  is  as  black  as  that  of  a  ne- 
gro. This  is  a  sign  of  mourning,  and  '- 
used  on  the  death  of  a  relation  or  friend. 

Tlie  houses  ,rthe  Fue>jians  are  as  simple 
as  their  dress,  and  practically  are  little  but 
rude  shelters  from  the  wind.  Any  boy  can 
make  a  Fuegian  house  in  half  an  hour.  He 
has  only  to  cut  a  number  of  long  branches, 
sharpen  the  thicker  ends,  and  stick  them 
into  the  ground,  so  as  to  occupy  seven- 
eighths  or  so  of  a  circle.  Let  him  then  tie 
the  sticks  together  at  the  top,  and  the  frame- 
work of  the  house  is  completed.  The  walls 
and  roof  are  made  by  twisting  smaller  boughs 
among  the  uprights  and  throwing  long  coarse 
grass  on  them,  and  the  entire  furniture  of  the 
hut  is  comprised  in  a  few  armfuls  of  the  same 
grass  thrown  on  the  ground. 

The  opening  at  the  side  is  alw.avs  made 
in  the  direction  opposite  the  wind,  and 
there  is  no  attempt  at  a  door;  so  that,  in 


fact,  as  has  been  said,  the  Fuegian's  only 
idea  of  a  house  is  a  shelter  from  the  wind,  so 
that  the  natives  have  no  idea  of  a  home  or 
even  of  a  dwelling-place.  This  is  the  form 
of  hut  used  by  the  Tekeenika  tribes  of 
south-eastern  Fuegia.  A  Fuegiiin  settle- 
ment, witii  houses  and  surrounding  scen- 
ery, is  well  represented  on  the  llGOth 
page. 

That  which  is  generally  employed  in  other 
parts  of  Fuegia  is  even  more  simple.  It  is 
barely  half  the  height  of  the  Tekeenika  hut, 
and  looks  something  like  a  large  bee-hive.  It 
seldom,  if  ever,  exceeds  five  feet  in  height, 
but,  as  the  earth  is  scraped  away  within, 
another  foot  in  height  is  given  to  the  in- 
terior. It  is  made  simply  by  digging  a  cir- 
cular hole  a  foot  or  so  in  depth,  planting 
green  boughs  around  the  excavation,  bend- 
ing them  over,  and  tying  their  tops  to- 
gether. Upon  this  rude  framework  are  fas- 
tened bunches  of  grass,  sheets  of  bark,  and 
skins;  so  that,  on  the  whole,  a  habitation  is 
formed  which  is  equal  in  point  of  accom- 
modation to  a  gipsy's  tent.  These  huts  vary 
much  in  diameter,  though  not  ia  height;  for, 
while  a  number  of  huts  are  from  four  to 
five  feet  in  height,  their  diameter  will  vary 
from  six  to  twenty  feet. 

The  Fuegians  are  a  quarrelsome  people, 
and  the  different  tribes  are  constantly  at 
war  with  each  other;  and,  although  they 
can  scarcely  be  divided  into  definite  tribes, 
the  spirit  of  local  jealousy  is  sufflcieutly 
strong  within  them  to  keep  the  inhabitants 
of  one  district  at  perpetual  feud  with  those 
of  another.  The  conformation  of  the  coun- 
try aids  this  feeling  of  jealousy,  the  land 
being  divided  by  numerous  ravines,  armlets 
of  the  sea,  and  precipitous  mountains;  but, 
fortunately  for  the  Fuegians,  this  very 
structure  prevents  destruction  in  war,  al- 
though it  encourages  the  ill-feeling  which 
leads  to  war;  and  the  battles  of  the  Fue- 
gians are,  at  the  best,  nothing  but  detached 
skirmishes,  without  producing  the  least 
political  effect. 

Their  weapons  are  the  bow  and  arrow, 
the  spear,  and  the  sling.  These  weapons 
are  primarily  intended  for  hunting,  ancl  are 
mucn  more  used  for  killing  seals,  guanacos, 
deer,  fish,  and  birds  than  in  slaying  men. 
In  the  use  of  them  the  Fuegians  are  won- 
derfully expert.  Capt.  Parker  Snow  men- 
tions a  case  where  a  number  of  Fuegians 
had  assembled  in  their  canoes  round  his 
vessel.  ^1.  large  fish  happened  to  pass, 
whereupon  the  natives  instantly  speared  it, 
and  pitched  it  on  board  the  ship. 

The  shafts  of  the  spears  sometimes  reach 
the  length  of  ten  feet,  and,  instead  of  being 
rounded,  as  is  mostly  the  case  with  spear 
shafts,  are  octagonal.  The  heads  are  matle 
of  bone,  about  seven  inches  in  length,  and 
b.ave  a  single  barb  about  four  inches  from 
the  point.  TUp  Patagonians  use  a  very 
siihilar  weapon,  as  we  shall  presently  see. 


■ 


1100 


TIKHUA   DIOJ.   l-'UKOO. 


Tlioro  is  nnollicr  kiiul  of  upoiir  linul,  whU'h 
has  a  wholo  row  of  .small  barbs  down  one 
sjilc.  Tbis  weapon  Is  ii.-^i'd  as  a  Javelin,  and 
is  tbrown  wilb  ^ri  iil  loici'  mid  accunic.v,  IIk" 
nativo  fiiaaplii;;  it.  near  Ibo  niidille,  poisinLj 
I'cr  a  inonienl,  ho  uh  to  look  along  it,  and 
tlien  bnrlin;^  it. 

'I'lie  bow  and  arrow  are  nuislly  \ised  for 
killing  birds,  Ibo  arrows  beini;  made  of  bard 
wood,  about  two  I'ei't  Ion;;.  'I'bev  ari'  beaded 
wilb  pieei's  of  llint  or  obsidian,  wlneb 
are  niendy  sinek  in  a  noteb  at  (be  end  of 
Ibe  arrow,  so  Ibat,  wbeii  tlii^  sliat't  is  wilb- 
drawn,  tlie  !>ead  remains  in  Ibe  wound. 
'I'lio  bow  is  .slrnni;  wilb  Iwi.^led  .sinews. 
IJirds  are  also  killed  \>\  s(ones,  some  tbrown 
b_v  band,  and  otbers  wilb  Ibe  slin;,',  Ibe  won- 
derful slreni;lb  of  Ibese  slran-je  peojile  en^ 
nblinfi  Ibem  to  u-so  tliuir  ini.-ssik's  wilb  terri- 
ble elleet. 

Altbou^h  uot  i!ill,  (lie  Fnefjians  are  very 
thiek-set  and  enormously  powerful.  One  of 
Ibem,  named  by  Ibe  sailors  York  Minster, 
was  a  nialeb  in  point  of  muscular  slreii^lb 
for  any  two  of  (be  men  belonf^ini;  to  (be 
sbip.  'I'be  women  are  as  slronj;  es  Ibe  meii. 
Ot\  one  oeeasion,  wben  (bree  Kuri;ians,  a 
man  and  two  women,  bad  (reaelierously 
adaekcd  a  wbite  sailor,  and  were  (ryin;.;  (o 
beat  out  bis  brains  wi'b  slones,  Ibey  w«'re 
inlerrupted,  and  Ow  sailor  resi'ue<l.  Tlu^ 
man  was  sbol.  One  of  Ibe  women  tried  lo 
eoneeal  bersidf  under  tlu^  bank,  and  Ibe 
olber  was  seized  by  (beeaplain  and  bis  eox- 
swain,  wbo  tried  lo  pinion  lu'r  arms.  Sbe 
.strujjirled  and  foU!,'bl  so  slonlly  Ibat  Ibey 
could  scarcely  aebieve  (In  ir  object,  and  bad 
no  idea  tbat  lln>y  were  conteudinL;  wilb  a 
woman  until  (bey  beard  some  one  announce 
tbe  sex  of  tlieir  caiitive.  .\s  (o  tbe  otber 
wom.an,  wbo  was  llie  obb'sl  of  (be  par(y, 
sbe  elunu  so  (iifblly  to  tbe  bank  Ibat  two  of 
(be  stron^^est  sailors  could  scarcely  remove 
ber. 

'I'be  fate  of  (be  man  was  very  cnrions, 
and  illus(ra(es  tbe  reckless,  not  to  say 
senseless,  eoura^'e  of  (liese  |)cople.  lie 
was  niorlally  woundeil,  and  felt  back 
for  a  luomenl,  allowiii;;  (be  mallrealed 
sailor  to  escape.  Howevi'r,  be  instantly 
recovered  bimstdf,  and,  snatebiuLC  .slones 
from  (be  bed  of  Ibe  stream  in  wbicb  In-  was 
.standiufj;,  bej,'an  to  Imrl  (bem  wi(b  aslound- 
inic  (orce  and  (piieknc'-s.  lie  used  bolli 
liands,  and  (binu;  stones  wilb  sucb  (ru(b 
of  aim  tbat  tbe  llrst  struck  tbe  master, 
smasbed  bis  powder-born  (o  pieci-s,  and 
nearly  knocked  bim  down.  Tbc^  two  next 
Were'  burled  at  tbe  beads  of  tbe  nearest 
seamen,  wbo  Just  escaped  by  sloopiu".;  as 
(be  missiles  were  tbrown.  All  tbis  passed 
in  a  second  or  two,  and  witli  an  attempt  to 
burl  a  fourtb  sloni!  tbe  man  fell  dead. 

Some  time  liefore  tbis  event  tbe  sailors 
bad  been  astonisbed  at  tbe  stone-tbrowinf; 
•uiwerH  of  t!u;  Fuegians.  wb.o  nearly  stru'.^k 
thorn  with  Btouc3  thrown  by  hand  whcu 


Ibey  (bou^'bt  tbemselvcH  even  beyond  mus- 
ket.'shot,  'riiey  K''"'''''dlv  carry  a  stoic  of 
nebblcs  ready  for  use  in  tlio  corner  of  their 
littb>  skin  mantles. 

Tbe  sliii);  is  mado  of  ii  eup  of  seal  or 
;j;u.'nuico  skin,  to  wbi(di  i\ni  at(acbe(|  two 
cords  similar  in  material  lo  (be  bow-slriii>,'s, 
(bus  coiidiinin^  apparent  delicacy  wilb  ^'I'eat 
striMij,'tb.  'I"be  cords  of  (be  sliiiK  are  more 
llian  three  feet  in  len;,'lb.  The  skill  wbicb 
Ibe  Knej;iaus  jjossess  with  (bis  wcaiain  is 
worthy  of  (be  repiilalion  allaim^d  by  the 
nalem'i<^  islandt^rs.  Oaplain  KinjL;  has  seen 
Ibem  strike  with  ii  sliii;;-slone  a  vtip  placi'd 
on  ,1  sl'-Mn>  lit  lll'lv  or  '.xly  yards'  dislauet-, 
aixi  ".  ■■  .'^'.casion  be  witnessed  a  really 
won.i!  ilay  of  dexterity.     lie  ask<'d  ii 

Kue;.;!,'  ..i>w  bim  tlie  u.'eof  (be  weapon. 

'I'Ik^  m,  .  .nnnedialel^  picked  up  a  stone 
about  as  larite  as  a  pii,'eon's  ei;^;,  placed  it  ill 
the  slin^',  and  poinUui  to  a  canoe  as  bis  mark. 
Il(^  then  turned  bis  liaek,aii<l  lliin^  Ibesloiu) 
in  exactly  Ibe  opposite  direction,  so  tb:d,  it 
struck  Ibe  tiunk  of  a  tree,  and  icdiounded  to 
tbe  canoe.  The  men  seem  to  tliink  tliu 
sling  a  iiectissitv  of  life,  anil  it  is  very  seldom 
Ibat  a  l''llenian  is  seen  without  it  either  bllllf^ 
over  bis  neck  or  (led  round  bis  waisl. 

I(  isradiera  curious  fact  (bat  Ibe  I'lie- 
giaus  always  devob'  Ibemselves  lo  one  par- 
ticular weapon.  One,  for  example,  will  bo 
pre-enuucut  in  ibe  use  of  tbe  bow,  anolber 
will  excel  in  Ibrowini;  stones  with  Ibe  band, 
and  a  third  will  ;;ive  all  bis  eiiergicH  (o  (bo 
sling,  ^'el,  although  each  man  sidects  soino 
particular  aim  in  Ibe  use  of  wbicb  he  excels, 
Ibey  all  aic^  tolerable  luaslers  of  tlie  other 
weapons,  and  it  sometimes  bap|iens  that  a 
I'^iegiiin  crosses  ovi'r  (o  (he  I'atagonian 
coast,  procures  the  singular  weapon  called 
tb((  "  bolas,"  of  which  (be  reader  will  learii 
imu'e  i)rescntly,  and  beconies  almost  us  ex- 
]iert  in  its  use  as  the  man  from  wliom  ho^ 
obUiined  it.  " 

As  f(U-  tbr  food  of  (he  I'^uegians,  it  is,  as  I 
have  all  i\  menlioned,  chielly  drawn  from 
the  sea.  lie  is  an  excidlcnt  lisberman,  and 
manages  to  eaplnre  his  prey  without  even  a 
hook.  II(^  lies  a  bait  on  'bi^  end  of  (ho 
line,  dangles  it  before^  the  iisb,and  gradually 
coaxes  it  toward  the  surfaces  of  (he  wa((!r. 
lie  then  allows  it  (o  bite,  and,  before  it  can 
detach  its  teeth  from  llie  bait.  Jerks  it  out  of 
th(!  water  with  bis  right  hand,  while  with 
Ibe  left  he  catches  or  strikes  it  into  the 
canoe.  It  is  evideni  (hat  by  this  niiinner  of 
angling  it  is  impossible  to  caleh  (isb  of  any 
great  size.  As  soon  as  he  h.as  caught  Iho 
llsh,  (he  Fuegian  opens  it  by  (be  simidi^  plan 
of  bidng  a  niece  out  of  its  under  suifaee, 
cleans  it,  and  hangs  it  on  a  slick. 

Molluscs,  especially  tlie  mussel.s  and  lim- 
pets which  ar(^  found  on  the  sea-shores,  form 
a  very  coiisidia-able  portion  of  tin-  Fiiegian's 
diet;  and  it  is  a  curious  f-.u-X  tliat  these  n.-i- 
tivca  ucver  throw  tho  empty  shells  about, 


AFFK(TH>N  FOR  DOOS. 


U67 


„„t  ™„.r,„>,  ,.,v ,.,.,,,  !„ ,».,.., ,  Ti...y ;,.  |  -;;« 'r;,'ia:'r:."V^»ni;' rz™^^ 


,.Mi..>.'-mllv  'wvlnl   not,  to  ll.row  ll.-'in' !m<'k 
Ink.,  wiirnin-  l.y  «.......«    ho  ;*'''•';"''' 

Kv    -v   woiuivn   in    rnn.Ulwd    w  U.   .»    Hhn.l 
mlnliMl  Hii.k  of  Imnl  wo.mI,  willi  wl.loh  hI>. 

T  ..-n  i«  ,t  '•.->■  lain.  H,.-....M  ,.i  n.uMoi  '"•;;' "'•\v;;;;;H;nM:r:;'iHv..:rv^rr.'ui..ii«ttv«M, 

iiH  IV  knii'o.    'riii'Hii  Ii.kIm  ani  iiimli^  in  JV  vj-V 


wl...,  iiR  thnv  ll.ink,  nro  worn  nul,  ""'.I  ••»  do 
IK.  «..(mI,  wlillc  llio  .lo««,  il  Mill.Tod  In  llvo, 
will  a.HlHl,  111  ciiloliliiK  1>'<I>  HiK   KiianiiroM. 

VVIicii  lln'V  hiivoilotcrmliiiil  on  kllliiiK  m\ 
,.l.l  w.mmn/tl.ry  |.ul.   u  .iimnlil.V  of  «inoii 

w I  ..n  ii"^i'-  '>'■".  •*"•  r  ';:  '•'*""' !'  ","''*j 

l,„l,|  |1„.  p.Hir  fn-uUiro'*  lirrnl  nnlll  h1».i  In 


„i,„,,l.  nianniT.     TU.  Kiu-^^ian  ^\J^^;^^ 
„iril.(i  ..vicinal   <'dK"  •'<   H"^  h  ..  11,  whi.      !« 
!i    I..  ,„„1  lulli.T  fni'.'il".  an.l,  by  «viim1  n« 

'vbl.U  is  Hl.iiii..mou«l.  lo  .•m.  W...K1  an.l  .iv.,n 

'"'il'v  nicaim  ..f  tl.o  Hpoiir  un.l   nrrowM.  Ih.j 
F„,.y,i,,u  n.nhivrM  ov.M.  I.,  nil'l/in.  H..;ilH  an.l 

Hn-oKrrs,   iMit,    M..^    I'"''Hnit   y.   wln.'l.    1"^ 
M   ,  VH  l.iM  ^Mval-sl   in-.M.uilv    «  Ili.Y'ai.lin-o 

lit   ,    lo'i-liUc   I.Hikin.j;  .l"f;«.  wlH.'l'   ;<P1"'^;'' 
:iyi,.^,lK,l,U...raidin-.tl..'i.;.na«^^^^ 
m    n.'.      Y-t  tli-V  an,   Hin.nilaily  int-  li- 
i..       in  ll.'•i.•'-^vnway,an.l  liav  l..arii.Mla 


„n.l  111.,   ni.-n   til.,   l.-wcr,  tin,   lnn>k   Ix'InK 
llirown  into  llii>  ''.'a-  ,  , 

H.'V.'ial  MiMM'i.'M  ..(•.•(•liiniiN,  or  himi  n^•llln^ 
iin,  .'iitrnlivtlw  riM>!(iaiiH.wli...llv.,loiUi.'m 


iiii.l  l.riiu'  tli.'in  (..tli.-mnlai'.',  in  (<iiII..m.I  (li.i 
Hlmip  i-rn'kl.K  wiU.  wl.i.'li  tlio  .,nl.(r.,  Miii'l.i.u, 

"  rlw  Fn.'Klan'M  L'r.'iil,  IViihI,  liow.w..r,  (akcm 
„|,„M,    wl..'!.   a    wlialo    IM  Htnin.l.-l   ..n    Uu> 

I,l,.,r.,.     All  ll..<  I pl.^  will-in  r-M.!.  Ilo.-k   . 

111.   M,...l,wliil.-llr..|M..r<Mnn.'«''nii' I.I  111' 

Him.Mlr.i  n.nnMl..r,nn.l    Hh  Im.ly  Im  .•..vr...! 
with  lilll.MM,,.,,..iMM,l.nT.liii..n.'arvinK  away 

U„.  l.iul.lMT  will.  Ili.'ir  mI'.H   IV'y^-  ,  '' "  ' 
,.„lHaMn.n..|ia«lw,.'anK..|jm.lwl..M.I..'l    H 

l„n.  iin.l<'arv.<l...iralait.M'l.l.'.o.'i    •I""'"''. 
„  U,.„,tl,.,l.nnU,..n.i.l.ll.v.M.I-l>'^l'-^^^^ 


iiicm  io  (li.'ir  miiHt.TN,  iin.l  nl|n-n  lor  iii..n', 
|';;,l' ,11  HOHiU-nllv  thai  th.,  hm\H  uroun.i  ar., 

""l-;I:i"l:;:in.al«  «,•.,  rn,ar,l.,,1   will.   v..ry 
,„.,,!,,„,   ,;.,.lin-H.      Tin,    l''u.'K'ian    n.'Kl..rl« 

l..i.i.|i(lid  on  111.,  ro."l  )J:"V<"  """"  ''V  Inir 

,",!       l,..vw...il.Ulavv.'.     ll..w.,v.MMl.-.r 

n  i  '      .mil.-  Kiv.'^  tli.Mn  tli.,  imw.^r  o 

J::  liin^  i.y  tii.'i.-  n.a.....-H, '  -v '-;;.;'S ' 

ilsh  ..11  lli.'ii-  own  a.'.'..iinl.  I  n 'Y  <"'  "•."  - 
ni  n  H-.l,  l.nsliy  tail.^d  uniina  «,  w.  h 
iS    ,oi„t...l,  i'vJ  ..arM,  an.l  i..u;dly  w. 

."k  r  ai^^l.  Iiuir,  tl.'.n«l.  a  t.;w  .unon«  th.-.  i 
ivo  11...  Tn,-  nearly  wliil...    Tli-y  .r.,  w.it  .h- 
f„l   and   laill.fnl    to   tli.-  r  niaKt.ns,  a.  .It 
fii.rl.l,  of  il  r^lran-.T,  inn.'h  ...on,  ol  a  d..tli.Mi 
Btnu.-.T,  H.'ls  I h.-ni  l.uikinK  I'lin.mHl v. 

Altlioii"!.  llw  Kn.'«ian  ...'kLuIh  I.Is  «!<■.«, 
he  has  a  L'l-.iit  .vsp.-..!.  iin.l  .,v.,n  .ifl.'<;li..n  <or 
SunniinM.  II  ..a.-n  hu,.i.<;ns  that  tlin  ,....«- 
mdVan.l  liiiil..'tH  tail,  I  hat  the  wiith.^r  .«  too 
J.  n,  .-.I. ions  roi-lisl.in-,and  thai  '"  7".«''; 

^f  Hturvalion.     It  .ni«lit    ..,  ,.r.'Hun....    tha 
mvin;;  th.-ir  .lo««  at  han.l,  th.-y  w.,ul.l  aval 
tl  <Tns7,lv.M  ..f  HO  ol)vi...m  a  H....rce  ..f  f.-od. 
Thi"  hn..v=v..r.  th.'V  n.v.T  do.  cx-'.^pt  when 


«o,„Hiin-H.    .I..i.hli.i«    th..H.,    '1'"' •'''•",'     t 

lonnHaniai.'Hti.-tr In  D.cr.i.lMr  it    hUh 

(■.„.||,  a  ...•orimi..n  of  l.losH'.niH,  will.  ai.lli.'.H 
„r  hii'?!.!,  pink,  lur«.,  and  pci.d.'i.l.  1Ii>h 
,.V(.P'n,<,..  iM'.-.h  rr.'.pi.nlly  ha.  roiin.l  i" 
,„,p,.r  i.art  of  tli.,  t.-i.iik,  ..r  on  som.,  o  lh<> 
1,!,K,.,-  l.n.n.d...s,  lart,'.,  .■ImmI.th  ..f  «lol.nlar 
Cnnt-i  uC  a  h.iL'ht  oranu.,  .■..l-.r.  I'-a.d.  Inn- 
prns  iH  ahouMii.'  hi/..' ol  a  small  ''I'l'"';;  !  JJ 
Holt,  pnlpv  naliin-,  will,  a  snioolli  y.dlow 
skin.  As  il  upi.roa.dK.s  nialiirily  il  l,..:om.m 
(..■llular  an.l  faUi.cd  ou  Hh  Hnrtac,  .... 
wh.n  it  .In.im  IVom  tin,  trio,  <1.1m,  and 
Kluiv.  1h  into  u  hi'.mu  nuwM  rcHcmbllng  a 

"^"Th.!  FiicKianH  cat  this  fiiLRns  with  ftvid- 
ilv  Th.,  L'.,laliiious  ...ass  is  pale,  w  llionl 
(a;.,,  „ro.ior;  at  th.,  part  in  <-onta.,t  w.th  tho 
tree  a.-.,  two  KC.ns  or  pro<,cH»..,H.  F  ron 
iw.i.tv  to  thirty  of  th.,«<,  L.nKi  '»••'•  ch.'.t.,..'' 
o.-.lh.r,  an.l  .■ncinlo  th„  tr.=o.  Th.,y  (orn. 
a  v.-ry  .-onsph-nonH  ol.|.,ct,  an.l  whcrov.T 
th.v  !*>■«•  atta.:!....!  they  prod.iro  ii  har.l  kn.it 
or  Woo.lv  inmor,  of  (•onHid<,rahl.,  denHity.  I 
did  not  ;.l,»i,rv(,  then,  on  anyothtr  tree  than 
the  cv('r''nM'n  Ix,.-.'!.." 

PaHwinK' so  inn.h  of  hi«  tlmo  on  tho  «ca, 


mluccl  l..  tlH,  last  extremity ,  and,  awicuU  ui .  the  i  lu  j^ian  ne-.U.  a 


Mm 


1108 


TIERRA  DEL  FUEGO. 


debased  as  ho  ia  in  many  points,  he  is  capa- 
ble of  constructing  a  vessel  that  answers 
every  purpose  he  recjuires.  There  are  sev- 
eral kinds  of  Fuej^ian  canoes.  Tlie  simplest 
form  is  made  ol'  tiie  barlt  of  a  sort  of  l)irch, 
and  is  ia  fact  formed  nuieh  hi<e  the  primi- 
tive canoes  of  the  Australians.  It  is  a 
single  sheet  of  hark  stripped  from  tlie  tree, 
and  tied  lirnily  together  at  each  end.  Sev- 
eral sticks  placed  crosswise  in  the  middle 
serve  to  keep  it  open;  and  if  any  part  has  a 
tendency  to  l)ulge  in  the  opposite  direction,  a 
skin  thong  is  i)assed  across  the  l)t)at  anil 
keeps  it  in  shape.  The  ends  of  the  canoe, 
as  well  as  any  cracks  or  holes  in  the  bark, 
arc  caulked  with  dry  rushes  and  a  pitchy 
r^ -in  procured  from  trees. 

Like  the  Australian,  the  Fuegian  carries 
fire  in  those  tiny  canoes,  placing  a  lump  of 
clay  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat,  building  the 
fire  on  it,  and  so  being  able  to  remain  at  sea 
for  a  considerable  time,  cooking  and  eating 
the  fish  as  fast  as  he  catches  them.  Such  a 
boat  as  this,  however,  is  too  frail  to  be  taken 
far  from  land,  or  inileed  to  be  used  at  all 
when  the  weather  is  tempestuous.  More- 
over, it  only  holds  one  or  two  persons,  and 
is  therefore  unfitted  lor  many  purjioses  for 
which  a  Fuegian  requires  a  canoe.  A  much 
hirger  and  better  kind  of  canoe  is  therefore 
made,  which  has  the  useful  property  of  being 
made  in  separate  parts,  so  that  the  canoe  can 
be  taken  to  pieces,  and  the  various  portions 
carried  overland  to  any  spot  where  the 
canoe  mav  be  wanted.  Such  a  vessel  as  this 
is  about  fifteen  feet  in  length  and  a  yard  in 
width,  and,  being  very  buoyant,  is  capable 
of  holding  a  whole  familyj  together  with 
their  house,  and  weapons,  and  utensils.  It 
is  considerably  raised  botli  at  the  bow  aiul 
the  stern,  and  the  various  pieces  of  which  it 
is  made  are  sewed  together  with  thongs  of 
raw  hide. 

The  very  character  of  a  Fuegian's  life 
shows  that  he  must,  to  a  certain  degree,  be 
a  nomad.  He  never  cultivates  the  soil,  he 
never  builds  a  real  house,  he  never  stores  up 
food  for  the  future,  and  so  it  necessarily 
follows  that  when  he  h.as  eaten  all  the  mus- 
sehs,  limpets,  oysters,  and  fungi  in  one  spot, 
ho  must  move  to  another.  And,  the  demands 
of  hunger  being  imperious,  he  cannot  wait, 
but,  even  if  tho  weather  be  too  stormy  to 
allow  him  to  take  his  canoe  from  one  part  of 
the  coast  to  another,  ho  is  still  forced  to  go, 
and  has  therefore  hit  upon  the  ingenious  plan 
of  taking  his  canoe  to  pieces,  and  making  the 
journey  by  land  and  not  by  sea.  An  illus- 
tration on  the  following  page  shows  liim 
:shifting  quarters. 

All  ho  has  to  do  in  this  case  is  to  unlace 
the  hide  thongs  that  lash  the  canoe  togctlier, 
take  it  to  pieces,  and  give  each  piece  to  some 
member  of  the  family  to  carry,  the  strongest 
taking  tho  most  cumbrous  pieces,  such  as 
the  side  and  hottrsm  planks,  whilp  the  smaller 


portions  are  borne  by  the  children.    When  1  laughter. 


the  snow  lies  deei),  tho  smaller  canoe  Is  gen- 
erally used  as  a  sledge,  on  which  the  heavier 
articles  are  placed.  As  to  tho  hut,  in  some 
cases  tho  Fuegians  carry  the  ui)right  rods 
with  them;  but  they  often  do  not  trouble 
themselves  with  the  burden,  but  leave  llie 
hut  to  perish,  and  cut  down  fresh  slicks  when 
they  arrive  at  the  spot  on  which  they  mean 
to  settle  for  a  time. 

The  Fuegians  are  good  fire  makers,  and  do 
not  go  through  the  troul)les()nie  jjrocess  of 
rubbing  two  sticks  upon  (,'aeh  otlxT.  They 
have  learned  the  value  of  iron  jiyrifcs  (the 
same  mineral  which  was  used  in  I  lie  "  wheel- 
loi'k"  lire-arm  of  Elizai)eth'8  time),  and 
obtain  it  from  the  mountaiiis  of  their  islands. 
TIk!  tinder  is  made  either  of  a  dried  fungus 
or  moss,  and  when  the  pyrites  and  a  pebble 
arc  struck  together  by  a. skilful  hand,  a  spark 
is  jirodueed  of  sutlleient  intensity  to  set  Are 
to  the  tinder.  As  soon  as  the  spark  has 
taken  hold  of  the  tinder,  the  Fuegiiin  blows 
it  until  it  spreads,  and  then  wraps  it  up  in  a 
ball  of  dry  grass,  lie  rapidly  whirls  the 
grass  ball  round  his  head,  w  hen  the  dry 
foliage  bursts  into  flames,  and  the  fire  is  com- 
plete. 

Still,  the  process  of  fire  making  is  not  a 
very  easy  one,  and  the  Fuegians  never  use 
their  jiyrites  except  when  forced  to  do  so, 
preferring  to  keej)  a  fire  always  lighted,  and 
to  carry  a  firestick  with  them  when  they 
travel.  Fire  is,  indeed,  a  necessary  of  life  to 
the  Fuegians,  not  so  niiieli  for  cooking  as  for 
warming  ])urposes.  Those  who  have  visited 
them  sjiy  that  the  natives  always  look  cold 
and  shivering,  as  indeed  they  are  likely  to 
do,  considering  that  they  weiir  no  clothes, 
and  that  even  in  their  houses  they  can  but 
obtain  a  very  partial  shelter  from  the  ele- 
ments. 

Their  cookery  is  of  the  rudest  description, 

and  generally  consists  in  luitting   the  food 

into  the  hot  ashes,  and  allowing  it  to  remain 

there  until  it  is  suniciently  done  for   their 

taste  —  or,  in  other  words,  until  it  is  fairly 

warmed  through.    Cooking  in  vessels  of  any 

kind   is   unknown   to   them,   and    the   first 

lessons  given  them  in  cooking  mussels  in  a 

tin  pan  were  scarcely  more  successful  than 

those  in  sewing,  when  the  women  invariably 

made  a  hole  in  the  stuff  with   the  needle, 

pulled  the  thread  out  of  the  eye,  and  then 

insinuated  it  through  the  hole  made  by  the 

needle.    They  were   repeatedly   taught   tho 

use  of  the  eye  in  carrying  the  thread,  but  to 

little  purpose,  as  they  invariably  returned  to 

tho  old  fashion  which  they  had  learned  with 

a  fish-bone  and  fibre  of  sinew. 

Though  80  constantly  in  the  water,  tho 
Fuegians  have  not  tlie  most  distant  idea  of 
washing  themselves.  Such  a  notion  never 
occurs  to  them,  and  when  Europeans  first 
came  among  them,  tho  sight  of  a  man  wash- 
ing his  face  seemed  to  them  so  irresistibly 
ludicrous  that  they  'nirst  into    sliouts   Oi 


couscquencu 


(1169) 


I 
!    P 


4 


111' 


LJa.d 


JEMMY   BUTTON. 


im 


npj;locl  of  plcftnllnons,  and  the  hiibit  of  ho- 
(lttiil)ii>>?  tht-niHulvcH  with  RroiiNn  iiml  clay, 
thuy  ftio  very  otfiinsivo  to  the  uostriln,  luid 
any  ono  wlio  wishoH  to  ciiUlvatfi  iin  iKwiuaiiit- 
MU'.fi  witli  them  must  inako  up  his  mind  to 
a  singular  variety  of  tsvil  odiirH.  Mori'ovcr, 
thuy  swarm  witii  parasites,  and,  ns  tlioy  will 
persist  ill  demonstrating  friendly  feeling's  by 
ombraeinj;  their  ),'ue8l  witli  a  sneeession  of 
violently  nlVectionale  Iuik's,  the  eautiouB 
visitor  provides  himself  either  with  an  oil- 
skin suit,  or  witli  some  very  old  elothes, 
whi(d»  he  can  Rive  away  to  tlio  natives  ns 
soon  as  he  regains  his  vessel. 

Although  the  Fuegians  are  often  lU-ilis- 
l)Osed   toward   strangers,  and    indeed   have 
murdered  many  lioiils'  crews,  ("aplain  ]'ar- 
ker  Snow  contrived   to  he  on  very  friendly 
terms  with  them,  going  on  sIku-c  and  visit- 
ing them  in  their  huts,  sons  to  idiiee  himself 
entirely  in  their  i)ower,  and  allowing  them 
to  come  on  hoard  his  ship.     He  was  fortunate 
in  obtaining  the  services  of  n  native,  called 
Jemmy    liultcm,  who    had    been    partially 
oducateil  in  England,  with  the  hope  that  he 
might  civili/.o  his  countrymen.     However, 
as  mostly  hai)iu>n('d  iu  such  cases,  he   was 
soon  stripped  of  all  his  goods;  and  when  Cap- 
tain Snow  visited  Tierra  del  Fuego,  twenty- 
three  years    afterward,  he   found    Jemmy 
Button  as  naked  ai'.d   dirty  as   any  of  his 
countrymen,  as  were  his  wife  and  daughter. 
The  man,  however,  retained  much  of  his 
knowledge  of  I'^uglish,  a  few  words  of  which 
ho  had  engrafted  upon  his  native  language. 
"When  llrst  he  arrived  on  board,  the  Knglish 
words  camo  with  dilllcuUv;  hut  ho  soon  re- 
orivered  his  lluoncy,  and  liad  liot  forgotten 
ills  manners,  touching   his  forehead  as  ho 
stepped  on  the  (piarter-deck,  and  making  i.ld 
bow  in  sailor  fashion  when  ho  addressed  the 
cajitaiu,  to  the   entire   consternation  of  tho 
sailors,  who  could  not  understand  an  abso- 
lutely naked  sav.ago  sjieaking  English,  and 
being  as  well-mannered  as  themselves. 

Tho  faculty  of  acquiring  language  Is  sin- 
gularly developed  in  the  Fuegian.  Gen- 
erally i^  the  inhabitants  of  one  country  find 
great  dilliciilty  in  mastering  the  pronuncia- 
tion, and  especially  the  intonation,  of  a  for- 
eign laud;  but  a  Fuegian  can  repeat  almost 


any  scntonco  after  hearing  It  onco,  tlioiigh 
of  course  ho  has  not  the  slightest  idea  of  its 

meaning.  -    .  , 

A   very  absurd   example  of  this  curious 
facility  oV  tongue  oc<^urred  to  some  sailors 
who  went  ashore,  and  taught  the  natives  to 
drink  colTee.     Ono    of  the    Fuegians,  after 
drinking  Uis  colVee,  contrived  to  conci^al  tho 
tin  pot,  with   the   inlention   of  stealing   it 
The  sailor  demanded  the  restoration  o«   his 
property,  and    was    greatly   annoyed    that 
every  word  which  he   nltereil  was  inslantly 
repeated  by  the  Fuegian.    Thinking  at  la«l, 
that   the   man  must  be  mocking  him,  and 
forgetting   for  tlu;   instant   that    he  diil    not 
undiM-staiid  oik;  word  of  Knglish,  the  sailor 
assumed  a  menacing    attitude,  and  bawled 
out,  "  Vou  coitper-colored   rascal,  where   is 
my  tin  pot?"    The  Fuegian,  nowise  discon- 
certed, assumed  pnu'isely  the  same  attitude, 
and  exclaimed  in  exae^lly  the  same  manner, 
"  Vou  copiier-colored  rascal,  where  is  my  tin 
pot?  "    As  it  turned  out,  "  the  copper-colored 
rascal "  had  tho  jiot  tucked  nndiu-  his  arm. 
Tlie   natives  evidently  seciined   to   think 
that  tlieir  while  visitors  were  very  foolish 
for  failing  to  comprehend  their  language,  and 
tried  to  make  them  understand  by  bawling 
at  the  top  of  their  voice.    On  one  or  two  oc- 
casions, when   a   number  of  them  came  on 
board,  they  much  annoyed  Ca])taiii  Snow  by 
the  noise  which  they  made,  I'li'il  a  bright 
thought    struck    him.    lie   snatched  up    a 
speaking    trumpet,    and    bellowed    at    his 
visitors  through   it  with   such  a  stunning 
eflect    tbat   their    voices   dropped  into   re- 
sijcctful  silence,  and  they  began  to  laugh  at 
tiie  manner  in  which  they  had  been  out- 
bawled  by  a  single  ip.an.  ,    ,     „ 
1     As  far  as  can  bo  ascertained,  the  Fuegians 
h.ive  no  form  of  government.    They  live  in 
small  communities,  not  worthy  of  the  name 
of  tribes,  and  having  no  particular  leader, 
except  that  the  oldest  man  among  thein,  so 
long  as  111  retains  his  strength,  is  looked  up 
to  as  a  s.       of  authority.    Their  ideas  of 
religion  :ippear  to  be  as  ill-defmed  as  those 
of  govt  ,  anient,  the  only  representative  of 
religion  l)eing  the  conjuror,  who,  however, 
exercises  but  very  slight  inlluenco  upon  his 
fellow  countrymen. 


11 


I 


I 


CHATTER    CXXL 

TIFE  PATAGONTANS. 

APPEAKANCK  —  WK  APONS  —  nonSEMANSIIIP. 

rOSITIOV    OF    PATAnONIA  — HTATt'RE    OV    TIIK    INItAllITANTS  —  HlflKIKIC'ATION    OF    TIIK     NAMB— IIOHBB 

Ki'KMTi'in;  — Tin;  htiuuiT   and  hoot— an  inokniouh  hi'I'k  — tiik  <iiirni  anii  us  ionstiii'i,- 

<riOK_l>l(IMITIVK  UIICKI.KS  — TIIK  IIUIDI.K  AND  IT.t  ACCOMI'ANYINO  Willi'  — TIIK.  I'ATAIiOMAN 
AND  HI'ANWII  HITS  — HIZK,  AND  NTIIKNOTII  OF  TIIKIH  IIOIIHI'M— IIOHMK-IIACINO  — TIIK  IIOl.AS, 
TIIEIK  CONSTIiri-TloN,  AND  IHKKKIIKNT  VAIMKTIKS  OK  KOllM  — WAIl  IN  I'ATAOONIA  —  TIIK  HI'AIIK 
IIOItMF.H  AND  I'llKIU  I'ttK- TIIK  KKTrllN  KlIOM  HATTI.K  — A  IHNTINO  KXTKIHTION  —  lllAHINd  TIIF, 
OUANACO  — A  TKIIUIKIKD  IIKIIH— TIIK  DIHADVANTAdK  OF  CIIIIOHITV— KKCOY  UUANACOU  — 
rAUTlllIHlK   lATCIII.NO — THE   I'OWEIl  OK   FASCINATION. 


Skpakatko  from  Tiorni  del  Fucgo  by  a 
strait  so  narrow  lliiil  iiiccrlain  spotH  luiiuan 
bciiijits  mif-'lit  coiivfrsd  acroHS  the  water,  iw 
tli(>  lain!  callcil  l'atai,'o!iia. 

It  (lirivi's  tliiH  now  faniiliar  title  from  a 
nii'kiiaino  ijivcii  to  tlio  iiiliabilants  l)y  Ma- 
gt'Uan's  sailor.-*.  As  we.  sliall  prcsoiilly  sec 
wlicn  troatiiiji  of  tlioir  rostiimi',  tlic  I'ataf^o- 
nian.s  wear  a  sort  of  "jailer  to  protect  tlieir 
ankles  a;j;ainst  thorns.  These  fjaiters  arc 
made  of  the  furry  kin  of  the  fjiianaco,  the 
lon/T  liair  sprcadiiin  out  on  either  side  of  the 
fool.  The  sail(M-s,  ever  re.'idy  to  ridicule  any 
custom  new  to  Ihein,  remarked  this  conspie- 
uous  part  of  I  ho  dress,  and  nicknamed  the 
natives  Patafjones,  i.  e.  dnck-feet,  a  name 
which  lias  ever  since  adhered  to  Ihem,  and 
even  been  ajiplicd  to  their  eountry. 

The  narrow  armlet  of  sea,  to  which  refer- 


such  an  absolute  plant,  a  repimeiil  of  Ku>;lish 
Lifef^'iianls  beiu},'  as  tall  as  an  enual  iiuinber 
of  r'ata^'oniaiis.  It  is  true  thai  if  a  I'atafjo- 
niaii  re^'iment  of  picked  men  were  raisod 
Ihey  would  overtoji  even  the  (iuardsmen, 
liul  the  old  tales  about  all  average  of  seven 
or  even  eifj;ht  feet  are  uiiw(ulby  of  en^dit. 
Some  of  the  older  voyaficrs  even  alhiluito 
to  the  I'ala^'oiiians  a  much  loftier  stature, 
s.avinK  that  some  of  Ihem  were  twelve  feet 
in'heiKht,  and  that  when  one  of  them  stood 
with  his  lej,'s  apart,  an  ordinary  man  could 
walk  between  llicm  wiihout  stoopiii;,'. 

nie  color  of  the  rala;,'onians  is  somewhat 
like  that  of  the  Fue^'iaiis,  bein-,'  a  dark 
eojiner  brown,  the  reddish  hue  comiiif;  out 


well  on  anv  part  of  the  skin  that  liappeiis  to 
be  less  dirty  than  others.  The  hair  is 
coarse,  loiij,' and  black,  and  is  allowed  to  hang. 


cnee  has  been  made,  divides  two  lands  utterly  |  loosely  about  their  faces,  luiiiK  merely  kept 


opposed  to  each  other,  and  inhabited  by 
jieople  tot.ally  distinct  in  ai)pearancc  and 
habits.  Tierra  del  Fuejio  has  scarci>ly  a  level 
spotiii  it,  but  is  composed  of  even  set  ravines 
clothed  with  trees,  and  precijjitous,  snow- 
clad  mountains.  l'ala<;onia,  on  the  contrary, 
abounds  in  vast  level  plains,  unfertile  and 
without  a  tree  on  them. 

The  human  inhabitants  of  these  countries 
Brc  as  dilVerent  as  the  lands  themselves,  the 
Fuegiarts  biding  below  the  avera<;o  liei^ht, 
and  th(!  Pataijonians  above  it.  Yet,  just  as 
the  Fucffian  is  not  sucli  an  absolute  dwarf,  as 


out  ot"  their  eyes  by  a  small  lillel  of  ^(Uanaeo 
hair.  There  "is  scarcely  any  eyebrow,  a  de- 
ficiency which  always  f^ives  an  unpleasant 
exi)ression  to  the  eyes,  and  indeed,  even  in 
the  olil  men,  the  face  is  almost  devoid  of 
hair.  The  face  is  roundi-sh,  the  width  being 
increased  by  the  great  projection  of  the 
cheek-bones,  and  the  chin  is  rather  broad 
and  ])rominent.  The  small,  restless  eyes, 
are  black,  as  is  the  hair,  and  rather  hidden 
under  the  iiromineut  brows.  The  nose  is 
narrow  between  the  eves,  but  the  nostrils 
ate  broad  and  fleshy.    The  mouth  is  large, 


has  ofteii  been  stated,  the  Patagonian  is  not  j  and  the  lips  rather  thick,  but  ttiluyethei-  U^ 

(1172) 


HOUSE   ACCOUTUF.MENTS. 


117S 


Tare  \n  nnt  n  Imd  nno.  Tho  illiHtrntion  on 
tho  \Uy,U\  paj{i<,  of  n  I'aliiKiiiiiitii  inuii  auil 
wiiinaii  hii'iiislii'H  n  Htrikiii^  riiiitriwit  with 
tli«   l''ii(';j;iaiiM,  llirlr  iiri^liboi'M. 

Till'  (li'i'MH  III'  I  hit  l'itlii;{iiiiiaiH  Ih  Kiin|iK), 
but  MUillrioiit,  ami  in  thit  rcNptM't  thry  liirni 
a  ^r^<.lt  colli iMHt  to  tint  iiliMoluti'ly  naki'ii 
F'udKiaiiM  III'  Mill  o|i|iimitii  HhortiH.  'I'lnt  chicr 
|iat'l  III'  llii>  I'osliiini!  ('(insists  of  ii  lar^'c 
inantli' niiiil^or  ^iianaco  .ikiiis,  'l'hi<  i;uan- 
Oco  is,  as  till'  rraiiiT  may  possilily  ho  aware, 
Olio  of  lliii  li.iiiia  ti'iiio,  ami  is  aliiiiil  Ihc  si/.ii 
of  a  ili'iT.  ll  is  I'liviTcil  Willi  IV  tliii'k  wiiolly 
coal,  Ihi'  lorn;  hair  of  wliii'ii  is  vahiahli',  mil 
only  III  till'  ralai;iiiiians,  lint  to  l']nro|i(:iins, 
liy  whom  il  is  inmli'  into  v:iriiiiis  I'alirics. 

It  is  vi'i'v  pli'iilil'iil  in  tills  ciMintry,  fortii- 
nalrly  for  I  ho  l'ala<;oniaiis,  In  whom  tho 
Unanii'o  is  llio  vrry  slalf  of  lifo,  llio  croaliiri' 
that  siip|ilics  him  willi  I'ooil,  (riolhos,  ami 
(Iwi'lliiiLj.  Somi'liini's  it  is  hcoii  in  threat 
(Irovi's  of  several  liiinilreils  in  iiiimher,  lint 
it  H''"*'i''i  assoeiates  in  siinller  lienls  of 
twenty  or  thirty  indiviilnals.  It  is  a  shy 
nniinal,  as  well  it  may  \n\  consiilerin;;  tho 
many  foes  that  are,  always  ri>aily  lo  fall  upon 
it;  ami  as  it  is  swill  as  well  as  shy,  i;real 
skill  is  rei|Mireil  in  caiiliiriiig  it, 'as  will 
presi'iitly  he  seen. 

'i'lie  ;^iiaii;ieii-skiii  maiitlo  is  very  large, 
anil  whin  folileil  round  the  liodyainl  clasped 
liy  till!  arms,  falls  as  low  as  iho  I'i'el ;  mid 
when  a  tall  l'ata;;oniaii  is  seen  in  this 
mantle,  which  adds  apparently  to  his  lieij,'hl, 
ho  presents  a  very  iinpo.siu;^  aiipearance, 
(ieiierally,  (he  mantle  is  coiilined  round  tiie 
waist  liy  a  licit,  so  that  when  the  wearer 
chooses,  he  can  throw  olf  the  Upper  [lart  of 
it,  his  liuiids  remaining'  at  lilierty  for  action, 
Ulldi'r  the  mantle  he  wears  a  Hiiiall  apron. 

Next  coiiu'  Iho  curious  trailers,  which  have 
lioeii  already  meiitioneil,  \t  llrst  si^lit 
they  look  like  hoots  reachinj;  from  llio 
knee  donnward,  liiit  wlieii  oxamiiieil  more 
closely,  they  are  seen  to  l)0  devoid  of  sole, 
having  only  a  strap  that  passes  umlor  the 
middle  of  the  foot,  so  that  the  heel  and  toes 
and  I'reat  part  of  tho  solo  are  lell  nnpro- 
tected.  The  reason  of  this  strnctnro  is,  that 
tho  I'ala^oniaii  is  nearly  always  on  horse- 
back, and  (he  toe  in  mado  to  projoi-t  heyond 
the  gaiter  in  order  lo  ho  placeil  in  the  stir- 
rup, which  is  very  .small  and  triangular. 

As  (he  I'atagonians  aro  ho  dovotod  to 
hor.semaiiship  no  8ket(!h  of  this  people 
would  lie  adeiiniite  without  .an  aooountof  their 
horse  accontrements.  I  have  a  coiupieto  set 
in  my  jiossession.  Tho  saddle  is  mado  of 
four  picce.s  of  wood,  lirnily  lashed  together 
with  raw-hido  thongs,  anil  holli  tho  front 
and  back  of  the  saddle  aro  alike.  From  tho 
sidos  depend  tho  stirrups,  which  aro  an- 
pcndod  to  leathern  thongs,  and  arc  mado  in 
a  very  simple  manner.  A  hole  is  made  at 
each  end  of  a  stout  leathern  strap,  and  a 
short  piece  of  stick  about  half  an  imdi  in  di 
amoter  is  thrust  through  them,  being  re 


lniin>d  in  its  plncn  by  a  groove  near  oneh 
riid.  The  Ntrap  being  atlached  by  its  iiiiddlo 
to  the  thongs  which  act  us  stirriip-lealherH, 
the  arti(do  is  comph  le. 

As  tho  space  between  lli»»  groovnn  In 
rather  less  than  Ihree  inches,  il  necessarily 
follows  llial  tho  I'atagonian  borseiiiMti  can 
only  insert  his  great  loe  in  llie  stirrup. 
This,  liowi^ver,  is  niilllcient  bold  for  him,  as 
lie  is  an  iwlliiinihle  llioiigh  careless  hmkilig 
rider,  till!  greatei;  part  of  his  life,  from  cliilii- 
liood  uiiward,  having  been  N|ieut  on  iior.<«u- 
hack. 

The  spur  is  as  nrimillve  as  Hie  slirrup, 
aiidexa(^tly  reseinbli'S  in  iii'iucipie  the  iiiick- 
Hpurs  of  tlie  ancient  kiiiglils.  It  coiisiHts  of 
two  pieces  of  slick,  exactly  like  those  em- 
ployed for  the  slirniiis,  and  two  uliort  sliaps 
of  cowhide.  ,\  boll  is  niaiU'  at  eaeli  end  of 
the  straji,  and  the  sticks  are  pushed  lliioiigh 
lliem,  being  hold  in  liieir  places,  like  Ibosc 
of  llie  stirrups,  by  a  groove  cut  half  an  inch 
from  (heir  eiidn,  mi  that  the  two  sticks  aro 
ludd  parallel  lo  e;ieli  oilier. 

To  the  iipiier  ends  of  each  .stick  a  leathern 
(bong  is  ap|ilied,aiiil  Ihese  thongs,  being  lied 
over  the  instep,  hold  llie  spur  in  its  pla(;e. 
At  the  other  ends  of  the  slicks  holes  uro 
bored,  into  each  of  which  a  sliarp  iron  spike 
is  inserted.  In  my  own  specimen,  the 
maker  has  been  econnmical  of  his  iron,  anil 
has  only  inserted  spikes  in  one  of  the  slii^ks, 
so  that  when  the  spurs  are  worn  with  tho 
sjiiked  slick  inward,  Ihey  are  ipiite  as  (direc- 
tive as  if  liolh  sticks  wore  armed.  Slill,  tho 
hole  for  (hi!  recepdon  of  the  s|iiki's  has  li(<(!ii 
bored  in  all  (ho  slicks,  and  thero  is  no  doubt 
(liat  the  I'alagoniaii  who  madi!  the  spurs 
would  have  inserled  the  spikis  at  wiine  iimo 
or  other. 

The  spur  Is  worn  as  follows  :  The,  armed 
sticks  come  on  either  side  of  tlie  fool,  tho 
strap  which  is  next  to  the  spiked  ends  goes 
round  Ihe  lieid,  the,  other  siraii  passes  under 
the  hollow  of  the  foot,  and  the  hide  thongs  aro 
tied  ov(!r  tho  instep.  Siu'li  asjinras  (his  is  not 
only  an  elVeetive  but  a  cruel  iii'<(iunient., 
really  iis  bad  as  the  huge  metal  sjiurs,  with 
rowels  four  inches  in  (liameter,  which  tho 
fJiiacbos  wear.  It  is  imjiossilile  to  see  this 
simjiU!  form  of  spur  without  recalling  tho 
old  story  of  "  .Saiidford  and  Arerlon,"  niul 
referring  to  the  adveiiluro  of  Tommy  Mor- 
ton, who,  on  being  forbidden  to  use  spurs, 
stuck  jiins  into  the  heels  of  bis  boots,  and 
was  run  aw.ay  with  in  eonsei^uenee. 

The  girth  "is  a  singularly  ingenious  pioco 
of  work.  The  strength  of  (bo  girdi  itsi'lf  is 
jirodigions.  At  llrst  sight  it  looks  :us  if  it  were 
a  single  broad  belt  of  leather,  but  a  nearer 
iiis|iection  shows  that  it  is  made  of  twenty- 
two  s('i)arate  cords,  each  about  the  eiglith  of 
an  iueli  in  thickness,  laid  side  by  side,  and 
united  at  intervals  by  several  rows  of  simi- 
lar cords  of  strings.  Each  of  these  cords  is 
made  of  two  strands  of  raw  hide,  prohahly 
that  of  iruauaco.  and  looks  as  stroni;  as  ordi- 


ill 


j   ' 


I 


lit 

Mil 


I 


':  m 


im 


THE  rATAGOXlANS. 


nnry  catgut.  Hucklca  aro  unknown  to  Iho 
Tiitafjioiiian,  whd  has  invonlod  in  tlioir  nlc-ad 
a  niodo  oC  tifjlitcnin;^  the  jj;'''"'  'O'  pa.ssiuf? 
strai  s  tlin)ii<;li  holes,  haulinj;  upon  thoin, 
aud  liustoning  od'  tlie  cuds. 

Till'  hit  aii'd  hridle  aro  equally  ingenious. 
It  consists  of  a  squared  bar  of  iron  lour  and 
a  hair  inches  long,  the  ends  of  which  aro 
pass(Hl  through  holes  in  douMed  i>ieces  of 
Iiide,  and  lianunercd  when  cold  into  i  sort 
of  rivet-like  shape,  so  as  to  retain  the  leath- 
er in  its  place.  To  the  lower  jiart  of  the 
leathers  arc  attached  a  couple  of  stout 
thongs,  which  are  jiassed  under  the  lower 
jaw  of  the  horse,  and  then  tied,  so  that  they 
keep  the  hit  in  its  place,  and  at  the  same 
time  act  as  a  sort  of  curb. 

To  the  ujipcr  part  of  the  leathers  arc 
fixed  the  long  plaited  thongs  whi<'h  are  used 
as  reins,  ami  which  seem  strong  enough  lo 
liold  an  elei)hanl,  nnich  more  a  horse.  The 
Patagonian  usi's  no  sejiai^ato  whip,  hut  has 
a  long  double  strap  of  stout  hide,  Mliieh  is 
fixed  lo  the  junction  of  the  reins,  so  that 
there  is  no  danger  of  losing  it. 

This  is  the  ordinary  bit  of  a  Patagonian 
hunter,  Init  tliose  who  can  obtain  it  like  to 
use  the  cruel  Spanish  bit,  which  they  fit  ui) 
In  their  own  way  with  thongs  of  plaited  hide. 
Oneof  these  bits  is  sliowTi  in  illustration  No. 
4  on  the  following  page.  The  principal  dis- 
tinguishing point  about  these  bits  is  the 
large  inm  ring,  which  passes  over  the  horse's 
jaw,  ami  gives  to  the  rider  a  leverage  so 
nowerful  that  he  could  break  the  jaw  of  any 
iiorse  without  making  any  very  great  exer- 
tion. 15y  the  use  of  this  bit,  'the  horse  is 
soon  taught  to  stop  almost  suddenly,  to 
wheel  in  a  very  limited  area,  and  to  perform 
tl)'.?  various  evolutions  which  are  needed  in 
carrying  out  the  pursuit  in  which  tiie  Pat- 
agonian depends  for  much  of  his  liveli- 
hood. 

The  reins  which  arc  attached  to  this  bit 
arc  of  enormous  strength,  and  are  plaited 
in  a  square  form,  so  that  no  amount  of 
pulling  which  any  horse  could  accom|)lish 
would  endanger  "them.  The  whip  is  at- 
tached to  these  reins  like  that  of  the  last 
mentioned  a])i)aratus,  but  is  more  severe, 
thicker,  aiul  heavier,  and  is  made  of  a  long 
and  broad  l)elt  of  hi<lc,  cut  into  four  strips, 
which  are  i)laited  together.  Hat  and  narrow 
strips  about  fi)ur  inches  long  answering  as 
the  lash.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  Patago- 
nian is  by  lu)  nu'ans  merciful  to  his  beast, 
but  that  he  uses  a  bit,  spur,  and  whip 
which  are,  though  so  simiile  in  aiipearancc, 
more  severe  in  practice  than  tliose  which 
Lave  a  far  nu)rc  formidable  asjicct. 

The  horses  which  he  rides  are  descended 
from  those  which  were  introduced  by  the 
Spaniards,  atul  whi('h  have  multiplied  so 
rapidly  as  ahnost  to  deserve  the  name  of  in- 
digenous animals.  They  are  of  no  gre.-it 
size,  being  under  fifteen  hands  high,  and  be- 
longing to  that  well-known  mustang  breed 


which  is  more  celebrated  for  strength  aiul 
endurance  than  tor  aspect,  (pialitics  which 
arc  indispensable  in  an  iuiinial  that  has  to 
carry  so  heavy  a  rider  after  creatures  so 
lleet  as  the  guanaco  or  the  rhea. 

The  I'atagonians  are  fond  of  racing,  but 
never  make  their  courses  longer  than  a 
ipiarter  of  a  mile.  The  reason  for  these 
short  races  is,  thai  their  horses  are  not  re- 
quired to  I'un  for  any  length  ol^linu'  at  full 
speed,  but  to  make  (piick  and  sudden  dashes, 
so  as  to  enaiile  the  rider  to  reach  bis  prey, 
and  hiM'l  the  singular  missiles  with  which 
he  is  armed. 

There  is  yet  an  article  needed  to  coin]ileto 
the  C(iuipnu'nt  of  a  Patagonian.  This  is  the 
celebrated  "  bolas,"  a  weapon  which  looks 
almost  coutenq)tilile,  but  in  jiraeliseil  hands 
is  cxceptionalily  formidable.  It  consists  of 
two  (U- sonu'times  three  balls  at  thi^  end  of 
hide  thongs.  The  form  most  in  use  is  that 
which  is  I'cpresenteil  in  illustration  No.  3 
on  the  lu'xt  page.  The  native  uanu'  for  the 
two-ball  bolas  is  Koimti,  and  that  for  the 
three-ball  weapon  is  (irhifo. 

The  first  point  in  making  the  bolas  is  to 
I)rocuri>  the  i)roper  balls,  and  the  second  to 
])repare  the  i)roi)er  roj)e  to  which  they  aro 
fastened.  The  ordinary  lialis  are  made  of 
stoiu',  and  ari'  nearly  as  large  as  cricket  balls. 
They  are  made  by  the  wonu'u,  who  jiass  nnu;h 
of  till  irtime  in  supplying  the  nn  ii  with  these 
ncei'ssaries  of  life.  To  cut  and  grind  one 
of  these  stones  is  a  good  day's  work,  eveu 
for  an  accom|>lishc(l  workwoman. 

A  still  nu)rc  valuable  ball  is  made  of  iron, 
which  has  the  advaut.ige  of  being  so  nuich 
heavier  than  stone  that  the  ball  is  consider 
ablv  smaller,  and  therefore  ex|)erieuci's  less 
resistance  from  the  air,  a  (pialily  which  is  of 
the  first  conse(]Ueiice  in  a  missile  weapon. 
The  most  valuable  are  those  which  an;  made 
of  copper,  as  is  the  case  with  the  specimen 
from  which  the  illustration  is  taken.  Each 
of  these  balls  weighs  eighteen  ouiic(!S,  in 
sjiite  of  its  small  size,  so  that  the  weapon  is 
a  very  l'ornii<lalilc  one. 

The  thong  to  A\iiich  the  balls  are  attached 
is  nine  feet  in  length,  and  is  made  in  the 
following  manner:  two  pairs  of  thongs  of 
raw  liid(!  are  cut,  and,  wliilc  they  are  still 
fresh  and  wet,  each  i)air  is  twisted  together 
so  as  to  form  a  two-stranded  rope.  These 
ropes  are  again  twisted  into  one,  so  that  the 
aggregate  strength  of  the  four  is  enormous. 
Pound  each  of  tlit^  balls  is  then  laid  a  cir- 
cular piece  of  giuinaco  hide,  with  holes 
bored  all  round  the  edge.  The  ends  of  the 
thongs  being  jiasscd  through  the  holes  and 
laced  tightly,  the  raw  hide  is  drawn  over 
the  balls,  and  encloses  them  in  a  sort  of 
pocket,  as  is  seen  by  the  enlarged  figure  in 
the  illustration.  This  specimen  is  one  of 
the  three-ball  weapons.  In  this  case  a  third 
thong  five  feet  six  inches  In  length  has  biK'n 
twisted,  one  end  fastened  to  a  ball,  and  the 
other  interlaced  with  the  strands  of  the  first 


(»'■ 


4,    hi 


(2.>    I.ASSdS. 
(Si'o  pngc  nil?.) 


(:i)   rAT.\(;(>NIAN   rioi.AS. 

iSw  iiiiyt'  iir4.) 

(117ft) 


(4)   SI'AMSII  HIT  AND  I'ATAOdMAN 
FITTINGS.     (Sec  pii^f  1174.) 


\il* 


tlionjj 
the  t 
8ueh 
griisi) 
D\o  li 
hand, 
thcin 
Th 
kriH 
A  list 
to  til 
lUlVIX 

riita; 
seoin 
onco, 
Ir  ,  /, 
uay.H, 
tassu 
It 
fluch 

loOHC 

tixcd 
mini 

ting 

scare 

fanii 

real 

tics  I 

ofsk 

to  d 

they 

bo  w 

prac 

F( 

foot, 

othc 

nuni 

whit 

of  <1 

own 

L( 

ans 

won 

coul 

are 

W 

cith 

chas 

l)eas 

fron 

i)oii 

intd 

and 

bolii 

niei 

A 

tan( 

the 

tun 

weti 

doe 

fore 

fly  I 

oxa 

8tr( 

to  t 


1 


TIIE  nOLAS. 


1177 


tlionj;  oxiicUy  nt  its  ccntni.  Wo  Imvo  now 
the  tlirco-biill  boluH,  which  Ih  inmlo  in 
BiU'li  ii  miiimor  that,  when  the,  thoii},'n  lire 
gniHped  lit.  their  pointH  of  jmietiim,  two  of 
the  ImllH  iiiiiiti  at  e(|iml  (leplhn  IVoin  the 
hand,  unci  tlie  lliird  ix  just  i\  loot  below 
thcin. 

Tiio  l)olnH  is  to  the  Patii^'oiiiiin  what  the 
kriH  is  lo  llie  Malay,  the  ImoineranK  to  the 
Australian,  the  lassd  to  the  (iaucho,  the  chil) 
to  the  Fijian,  and  the  l)ow  to  the  Anda- 
luancr.  Kn>:n  early  ehildhoo<l  ni)wanl  no 
ratatjoniiin  is  withe -t  this  weaiion,  whieli 
Heenis  to  him  an  absolute  necessity  ot  exist- 
ence, (lenerally  he  carries  it  twisted  round 
h' ,  ^v.iist,  like  ah  otllcer's  sash  of  the  olden 
(lays,  the  balls  dani,'ling  at  the  side  like  the 
tassels  of  the  sash. 

It  is,  however,  coiled  on  the  body  with 
Huch  consuinniato  skill  that  it  can  be  cast 
loose  with  a  turn  of  the  hand,  the  eyes  bein;,' 
llxcd  on  tlu!  ol)ie('t  of  attack,  and  in  a  mo- 
ment the  rata),'onian  is  fully  armed.  I'ut- 
tiuK  i>«iili'  warfare,  which  in  J'ata^'oiua  is 
Bctrcely  known,  (he  tribes,  or  ratlnu-  tiie 
families,  not  beint,'  strong'  enou},'h  to  wa^e 
real  war  upon  cacli  other,  the  so-called  bat- 
tles are  unworthy  of  any  name  c.xcu^pt  that 
of  skirniislics,  which  amonj;  themselves  seem 
to  do  no  fj;reat  harm,  however  formidable 
they  may  be  to  o|)ponents  who  haijpen  to 
bo  unaci'iuainted  with  the  mode  of  lighting 
practisiMl  by  the  I'atagonians 

For  exanipl(%  ii  dozen  trained  rinomen,on 
foot,  who  could  thoroughly  depend  on  each 
other,  would  overmatch  tt^n  tinu'H  their 
number  of  mounted  Patagonians,  who,  every 
wiiit  as  brave  as  thiMnselves,  arc  ignorant 
of  discipline,  and  fight  every  man  for  his 
own  hand. 

Let  tlie  riflemen  once  allow  the  Patagoni- 
ans to  come  within  thirty  yards,  and  they 
would  be  annihilatcul;  but  as  long  as  the  foe 
could  be  kept  out  of  throwing  distance,  tliey 
arc  comparatively  harmh^ss. 

Wlu!U  a  ratagonian  intends  to  attack 
cither  a  human  enemy,  or  some  animal  <)f 
cliase,  or  ev(!n,  as  often  happens,  some  wild 
l)cast  or  bird,  ho  slips  the  ever-rcmdy  bolas 
from  his  waist,  gniHiJfl  the  thongs  at  their 
noint  of  union,  drives  his  primitive  spurs 
into  the  flanks  of  his  rough-coated  steed, 
and  daslu's  otT  at  full  gallop,  wliirling  the 
bolas  round  his  head  by  a  dexterous  move- 
ment of  his  Ihixiblo  wrist. 

As  soon  as  lie  comes  within  tlirowing  dis- 
tance, which  materially  varies  according  to 
the  strengtli  of  the  thrower  and  the  struc- 
ture of  the  bohw,  he  liurls  his  singular 
weapon  with  unerring  skill.  No  sooner 
docs  it  leave  his  liand  than  the  centrifiigal 
ibrce  causes  the  balls  to  diverge,  and  they 
fly  round  and  round  in  the  air  with  a  molicn 
exactly  resembling  that  which  an  English 
street  acrobat  imparts  to  a  couole  of  padded 
halls  at  the  cwU  of  a  string,  wlsen  he  wants 
to  clear  the  ground. 


Urged  by  the  stalwart  arm  of  the  Tatngo- 
uian,  the  bolas  flies  straight  lo  its  mark,  and 
no  sooner  tloes  it  strike  it,  than  the  impetus 
communicated  to  the  balls  causes  the  thongs 
to  twist  round  the  unl'orlunat(i  victim,  and 
bring  him  at  once  to  a  ball.  Indeed,  should 
a  man  be  struck  by  the  bolas,  he  may  con- 
gratulate himself  ii"  in  three  minutes  after- 
wards he  flnds  himself  alive,  neilher  having 
been  Htraiigled  by  the  cords  twisting  round 
bis  n(Mk,  nor  brained  bv  the  heavy  balls 
coming  in  contact  with  nis  skull. 


iu;(l   bv 

,„„.,f^  -  with  hi:. 

The  skill  whi(di  the  ratagonians  attain  is 
really  marvellous.  At  any  distance  short  of 
llfty  yards  a  victim  marked  is  a  vi<;tim  slain. 
So"  terrillc  is  the  grille  of  the  bolas  thong, 
that  Kuropeans  who  nave  Ixum  struck  with 
it  have  been  found  to  sull'er  from  W(ni1s  as 
well  marked  as  if  they  had  been  made  by 
the  stroke  of  a  "cow-liidu"  whip  upon  tho 
ban^  flesh. 

An  excellent  description  of  the  varhftia 
kinds  of  bolas  is  givtMi  by  ('aptaiii  King:  — 
"Sometimes  two  balls,  each  of  which  has 
a  cord  about  a  yard  in  length,  are  lasttined 
to  the  thong  of  the  larger  set.  This  is  to 
entangle  the  victim  more  etlectually.  They 
do  not  try  to  strike  objects  with  these  balls, 
but  endeavor  to  throw  them  so  that  tho 
thong  shall  hit  a  orominent  part;  and  then, 
of  course,  the  balls  swing  round  in  dilferent 
(lire(aions,  and  the  thongs  become  so  'laid 
up  '  (or  twisted),  that  struggling  only  makes 
the  captive  more  secure. 

"  Th<!y  can  throw  them  so  dexterously  as 
lo  fasten  a  man  to  his  horse,  or  catch  a  , 
horse  witbcmt  harming  him.  If  an  animal 
is  lo  lie  caught  without  being  thrown  down 
suddenly  — an  inevitable  conseipicnce  of 
these  balls  swinging  round  his  legs  while  at 
full  speed— a  nomiii  is  thrown  upon  hl8 
neck.  The  two  balls  hang  down,  and  per- 
iilex  him  so  much  by  dangling  about  hm 
fore-legs  that  his  speed  is  much  checked, 
and  another  set  of  balls  or  a  lasso  may  bo 
used  lo  secure  without  throwing  him  down. 
The  lasso  is  not  much  used,  so  adroit  aro 
they  with  the  halls.  . 

"A  formidable  missile  weapon  is  tho 
single  hall,  called  by  the  Spaniards  '  bola 
perdida.'  This  is  similar  to  the  other  lu 
size  and  substance,  but  attached  to  a  slighter 
rope  about  a  yard  long.  Whirling  this  hall, 
about  a  pound  in  weight,  with  the  utmost 
swiftness  around  thiur  heads,  they  dash  it  at 
their  adversary  with  almost  the  force  of  a 
shot.  At  dose  quarters  it  is  used,  with  a 
shorter  scope  of  cord,  as  an  elllcient  liead- 
br('aker.  Several  of  these  original  and  not 
trifling  offi^nsive  weapons  aro  kept  in  readi- 
ness by  each  individual,  and  many  a  Span- 
iard, armed  with  steel  and  gunpowder,  has 
acknowleilged  their  elfect." 

Tho  raids  which  aro  dignifled  by  tho  namo 
of  warfare  are  more  for  plunder  than  con- 
nunsf  ii.nsmuch  as  tho  ratag<»nian  cares 
nothing   for   territory,   of    which   he   h»a 


|»   !, 


1  i 


m 


Si, 
i 


I 


u 

•IV 


i  !■ 


1178 


THE  PATAfiONIANS. 


enough  nml  to  spare,  finrl  almost  iiolliiufj; 
for  luililary  fanio.  Hoini'tinicH  ho  wuiils 
t)luii(Ui",  suimlinu's  ho  luoiiiis  to  nuiko  a 
hiinUii,^  o.x,]0(litioii  into  a  (lislrict  hold  by 
anolhoV  (ribo;  auil  soniotinu's  ho  proparos  a 
short  oampaijin  ajjainst  an  hiiniioal  tril)o  in 
rovons^o  tor  a  real  or  Ihnoioil  insult. 

WhVn  propariiiK  for  siioli  an  oxom-sion,  or 
whilo  cxpooiin-,'  Iho  atlaok  of  anolhor  triho, 
tho  rataijonians  kocp  thonisolvos  in  oon- 
stant  proparation  for  war.  They  put  on 
throe  of  thoir  thickest  niantlos  in  ordor  to 
doadon  tho  blow  of  tho  bolas,  or  withstand 
tho  point  of  the  Hi)oar  and  arrow.  Those 
niantlos  aro  not  wrappod  round  Ihoni  in  tho 
ordinary  fasliioii  of  poaoc,  l>iit  aro  worn  liko 
ponchos,  tho  head  boinj^  thrust  throii^'h  a 
hole  in  tho  middlo.  The  innorinost  mantle 
is  of  irnaiiaoo  skin,  with  tho  hairy  side  in- 
ward, while  tho  others  are  simple  leather, 
wllhoul  hair,  tho  jdaee  of  which  is  taken  by 
paint.  Their  lu-ads  are  jinardod  by  eonieal 
caps,  made  of  liide,  and  often  adorned  by  a 
tiili  of  feathers  fro\n  tho  rhea 


Those  who  arc  wealthy  enough  purchase 
a  sort  of  armor  coinjiosed  of  ii  thick  hide 
tunic,  with  a  hijih  collar  and  short  sleeves, 
ixnd  ii  hat  or  helmet  made  of  double  bull's 
hide.  This  jrarmeiit  is  very  heavy  and 
clumsy,  but  it  will  resist  every  weajion  ex- 
cept Indicts,  and  will  make  even  tho  blow  of 
tho  "bola  i)erdida"  tail  harmless.  Those 
who  are  too  poor  to  possess  a  horse,  and  aro 
obliged  toli;::ht  on  toot,  carry  shields  made  of 
several  layers  of  hide  sewed  together. 

Sometimes  they  come  unexneclodly  Ujion 
enemies,  and  a  skirmish  is  tlie  immediate, 
result.  In  this  case  they  mostly  tling  aside 
thoir  oumbrous  mantles,  iind  light  without 
miy  elolhiiig  except  the  girdle  and  thoir 
spurs.  When  thev  make  expeditions  against 
inimical  districts,  lluy  lake  spare  horses 
with  them,  one  of  which  is  intended  to  bear 
the  plunder  as  they  return,  and  to  take  its 
siiare  in  carrying  the  warrior  to  battle.  As 
soon  as  the  r'atagonian  linds  that  his  weight 
is  heginuin!;  to  tell  upon  the  horse  wliieh  ho 
rides,  ho  vaults  upon  tho  other  without 
cheeking  them  in  thoir  galloi),  and  thus 
makes  sure  of  a  fresh  and  unwearied  horse 
upon  going  into  action.  The  second  horse 
is  afterward  used  for  the  conveyance  of 
Blaves,  skins,  weapons,  and  other  booty. 

Aa  they  return,  they  lling  ofT  tho  cum- 
hrons  arnior  of  coats  ai'id  mantles,  and  ride, 
according  to  their  fashion,  naked  to  tho 
waist,  the  innermost  mantle  being  retained 
in  its  place  by  a  leathern  thong,  which  acts 
asn  holt.  In  some  of  these  exiieditions  a 
whole  troo])  of  loose  horses  is  driven  in  front 
of  tho  warriors,  and  when  a  man  feels  his 
own  horse  becoming  wearied,  ho  rides  along- 
side one  of  tho  loose  horses,  shifts  the  bit, 
and  leaps  on  the  frosli  animal,  not  troulding 
iumself  about  the  saddle. 

When  the  Patagoniun  goes  out  hunting, 
he  carries  no  weapon  except  the  bolus  and  a 


knife,  tho  latter  being  considered  rather  as  a 
tool  than  a  weapon.  Should  ho  see  a  herd  of 
guanacos,  ho  makes  silently  toward  them, 
imitating  the  cry  of  the  ycnmg  one  in  dis- 
tress, an'l  doing  all  in  his  jiower  to  attract 
the  aiii  s.  Anything  very  strange  is 
sure  to  aiiiact  them,  just  as  it  attracts  cows, 
which  aro  horribly  afraid  of  tho  now  object, 
but,  victims  of  a  .sort  of  fascination,  are  led 
nearer  and  nearer  by  a  spirit  of  curiosity,  for 
which  th(^y  pay  with  their  lives.  When  a 
small  herd  — say  six  or  eight  — of  guanaeoB 
is  soon,  they  caii  generallv  be  cuticed  withhi 
range  of  the  bolas  by  a  liunter  on  foot,  wlio 
steals  as  near  them  "as  ho  can  manage  to  do 
willKmt  alarming  them,  ami  then  i)lays  vari- 
ous antics,  such  as  Iving  on  bis  back  antl 
kicking  his  legs  in  the  air,  tying  a  strip  ot 
hide  or  a  bmich  of  feathers  to  a  stick,  and 
waving  it  about.  Tho  iiKiiiisitive  creatures 
.seem  unable  to  rcs'st  tho  promiitiiigs  ol  their 
curiosity,  and,  though  they  are  really  afraid 
of  the  strange  object,  c<mie  closer  and  closer, 
until  the  hunter'is  able  to  liurl  the  terrible 
bolas  at  them. 

When,  however,  the  herd  is  a  larg(>  (mo, 
the  guanacos  aro  much  more  timid,  and, 
niiti!  the  introduction  of  the  horse,  the 
I'atagcmians  could  seldom  do  much  with 
them.  Now,  however,  the  possession  of  the 
hor.se,  togi'ther  with  tlioir  knowledge  of  tho 
guanaco's  dispositicm,  enables  them  to  cap- 
ture and  kill  groat  niiinbers  of  the  animals. 

In  this  mode  of  chase  the  ralaj,;onians 
make  use  of  two  characteristics  which  bc- 
lon<'  to  the  guanaeo.  In  the  liist  iiiaeo,  it  is 
a  hill-loving  animal,  and  when  pursued,  or 
even  afraid  of  pursuit,  leaves  the  i>lains  and 
makes  for  some  on;::;enec.  Tvike  all  grcgari- 
(iiis  animals,  tho  guanacos  invar;ably  have 
.sentinels  posted  on  the  most  elevated  pomt.s, 
and  trust  their  safety  to  their  watchfulness 
tho  squeal  of  alarm  being  instantly  lollowed 
by  the  tl'ght  of  the  herd.  Knowing  this 
peculiarity,  the  hunters  are  sure  that  ii  a 
herd  of  guanacos  ho  in  tho  plain,  and  a  lull 
be  near  them,  tho  animals  will  be  almost 
certain  to  take  to  it.  ...,,,    „ 

Tho  second  characteristic  i.«,  that  tho 
•'uauaeos,  when  thrown  into  confusion,  en- 
Urely  lose  their  in-e.senco  of  mind,  running 
a  few  steps  in  one  way  and  then  a  lew  steps 
in  another,  being  quite  unable  to  fix  upon 
any  definite  iilaii  ol  escape. 

A  large  parly  of  hunters,  sometimes 
nearly  a  hnmlred  in  number,  arm  them- 
selves with  thoir  h)ng.  light,  cane-shafted 
spears,  called  chuzos,  siimmon  their  (logs, 
and  set  oil  toward  the  sj.ot  where  a  herd  o 
iruanacos  is  known  to  be.  llavinu'  fixed 
iiDon  some  grassy  hill,  half  of  the  hunters 
Dush  forward  and  take  up  a  posltioii  on  the 
further  side,  while  the  others  drive  the 
guanacos  gently  toward  their  well-kuowu 
crazing  iilaco.  , 

As  soon  as  the  animals  are  fairly  on  the 
hill,  the  hunters  spread  out  so  as  to  enclose 


IS 


lie 
th 
he 


P- 


118 

JC- 

iS) 

or 
nd 
ri- 
ivc 

ita, 


his 


lill 

ost 

:lic 

jps 
ion 


'111- 
tcd 


of 


I'lS 


)\VU 


the 
lose 


!     i 


r  ! 

I 


M 


l'Ar\<i<>MA.NS    lllMlNt.    i.AMK. 

iScf  |m>;i-  UBl.) 


CU80) 


CHASING  THE  GUANACO. 


1181 


tiicm  in  a  semicircle, ami  llicii  dash  forward, 
driving  tlie  licrd  np  Uic  liill.  Tijo  detaclied 
band  on  liio  otlier  Hide,  oa  soon  as  tliey  iiear 
tlie  sliouts,  spread  tliemselvcs  out  in  a  simi- 
lar manner,  tlio  two  bodies  completely  sur- 
rounding the  hill,  so  that  when  tlie  guanacos 
reach  the  .sumniil  they  llnd  themselves  envi- 
roned by  enemies. 

After  the  usual  custom  in  such  cases,  the 
guanacos  lose  all  presence  of  mind,  some 
running  one  way,  some  anotlicr,  mutually 
hindering  each  other's  escape,  so  that  the 
hunters  are  able  to  pierce  witn  their  long 
spears  the  finest  animals,  and  thus  secure  in 
a  very  short  space  of  time  so  great  a  num- 
ber, that  they  are  amply  supplied  with  slcins 
and  meat. 

Although  tiiey  carry  the  spear  on  these 
occasions,  they  are  not  without  the  bolas,  it 
being  used  for  capturing  the  young  guana- 
cos, which  are  kept  in  a  domcsticatecl  state 
like  sheep.  Now  and  then  a  guanaco,  which 
possesses  more  sense  than  its  comrades, 
takes  a  line  of  its  own,  and  dashes  through 
the  circle  of  its  enemies.  Still  it  has  but 
little  chance  of  escaping,  for  round  the  circle 
of  hoi'semcn  tlu;re  is  auDther  circle  of  men 
OH  foot,  accompanied  bv  dogs.  As  soon  as  a 
guanaco  breaks  through  the  lirst  circle,  it  is 
instantly  seized  by  the  dogs,  which  terrify 
it  to  such  an  extent  that  it  is  unable  to 
move,  and  neither  tries  to  escape  nor  resist. 

On  the  preceding  page  is  a  spiritfed 
engraving  which  represents  Patagonian 
scenery,  and  the  natives  in  their  favorite 
pursuit  of  hunting  game.  The  hot  chase, 
the  fl;ying  bolas,  the  bewildered  guanacos 
are  vividly  pictured. 

The  young  guanacos  which  have  been 
mentioned  as  being  domesticated  are  not 
solely  intended  to  furnish  food, or  even  bred 
merely  for  the  sake  of  their  skins.  They  are 
employed  for  the  sake  of  decoying  the  adult 
animals.  Taking  the  young  guanaco  to  the 
feeding  grounds,  the  hunter  ties  it  to  a  bush, 
and  then  conceals  himself  behind  it  By 
imitating  ilie  mother's  cry,  he  induces  the 
captive  to  utter  the  plaintive  bleating  sound 
by  which  a  young  one  calls  for  its  mother. 
This  is  a  sound  which  the  adult  guanacos 
cannot  resist,  and  as  soon  as  they  come 
within  twenty  yards  or  so  of  the  bush,  the 
bolas  is  launched,  and  the  animal  at  which 
it  is  aimed  falls  to  the  ground,  enveloped  in 
the  fatal  coils. 

The  power  of  the  bolas  is  eminently  shown 
in  the  chase  of  the  rhea,  or  American  ostrich. 
This  bird  is  as  swift  and  wary  as  the  true 
African  ostrich,  and,  but  for  the  bolas,  the 
hunters  would  scarcely  bo  able  to  secure  it. 
In  the  chase  of  this  i)ird  the  Patagonians 
employ  the  same  device  which  is  used  in 
capturing  the  guanacos.  They  know  that 
the  rhea  shares  with  the  guanaco  the  ten- 
dency to  become  confused  and  uncertain  in 
its  movements  when  it  is  pressed  simul- 
taneously from  opposite  direct' ous.    They 


therefore  try  to  surround  the  herd  and  con- 
verge upon  it,  or,  at  all  events,  two  or  three 
of  them  attack  it  from  oi)i)osite  quarters, 
driving  it  first  one  way  and  then  another, 
so  that  the  bird  becomes  so  periilexed  that 
it  cannot  make  up  its  mind  to  run  in  one 
direction,  and  escape  its  Joes  by  its  superior 
speed,  but  allows  them  to  come  within  range 
of  the  bolas,  when  its  fate  is  mntvxi. 

The  hunters  also  know  that,  in  common 
with  all  the  ostrich  tribe,  and,  indeed,  with 
many  wild  animal  of  chase,  the  rhea  always 
runs  against  the  wind.  It  is  therefore  easy 
for  them  to  ascertain  the  direction  which  the 
bird  will  take,  and  by  sending  two  or  three 
horsemen  several  miles  windward  the  retreat 
of  the  bird  is  easily  cut  oil".  The  Patagonian 
can  even  kill  the  little  cavies  with  the  bolas, 
so  accurate  is  his  aim. 

The  reader  may  easily  imagine  that  such 
a  weapon  as  this  would  be  serviceable  in 
warfare.    When  the  Patagonian  uses  it  in 
battle,  he  does  not  always  (ling  it,  apparently 
because  he  does  not  like  to  deprive  himself 
of  his  weapon.    Sometimes  ho  dashes  along- 
side of  a  foe,  and  throws  one  of  the  balls  at 
him.  Just  as  if  he  were  throwing  a  stone,  re- 
taining the  other  ball  in  his  hand,  so  as  to 
recover  the  weapon  after  the  blow  has  sped. 
When   the  Patajjonian   carries  the  three- 
ball  bolas,  which  has  already  been  described, 
he  uses  the  third  ball,  which,  as  may  be  re- 
membered, is  attached  to  the  longest  thong, 
as  an  English   robber   uses  his ,"  life-pre- 
server," or  an  American  his  "  slung-shot." 
Another  mode  of  procuring  game  is  prac- 
tised by  the  Patagonians,  and  is   identical 
with  that  which  is  used  by  the  North  Africans 
in  taking  the  partridge,  the  South  Africans 
in  killing  the  Dustard,  as  well  as  by  the  in- 
liabitants  of  other  narts  of  the  earth.    There 
is  a  sort  of  partringo  which  is  common  on 
the  plains,  and  is  called  the  Pampas  par- 
tridge.     Its    scientific    name    is    Nothuria 
major.    The  weapon,  or  rather  implement, 
required  for  this  sport  is  a  very  simple  one. 
It  IS  nothing  more  than  a  light  reed,  some 
eight  feet  in  length,  at  the  end  of  which  is 
a  noose  composed  of  a  strip  cut  from  the 
side  of  a  long    feather.     This    noose  has 
sufficient  pliability  to  be  drawn  tight  when 
pulled  and  sufBcieut  elasticity  to  keep  itself 
open. 

Furnished  with  this  implement,  the  Pata- 
gonian looks  out  for  a  partridge  on  the  ground 
and,  when  he  finds  one,  begins  riding  round 
and  round  it  in  an  ever  decreasing  circle. 
The  bird  is  much  perplexed  by  this  conduct, 
and,  instead  of  flying  away,  it  simply  crouches 
closely  to  the  ground.  By  degrees,  the 
young  hunter  —  this  sport  being  only  prac- 
tised by  boys  —  comes  so  dose  to  the  bird 
th.at  he  slips  the  noose  over  its  neck,  and, 
before  it  can  spread  its  wings  for  flight,  jerks 
it  into  the  air. 

An  expert  bird  catcher  will  secure  three  or 
four  birds  in  an  hour  by  this  curious  mode 


1182 


THE  PATAGONIAJTS. 


of  hunting,  which  may  be  pursued  ou  foot  as 
well  as  on  horseback.  The  onl_y  drawback 
to  it  lies  in  the  very  limited  time  during 
which  it  can  bo  attempted.  It  has  been 
found  that,  if  the  shnilow  of  the  hunter 
should  fall  upon  the  partridge,  the  bird  seems 
to  shake  oir  the  strange  feeling  which  par- 
alyzes its  energies,  and  Hies  away  before  it 
can  bo  captured.  Consetiuontly,  the  sport 
can  only  1)0  jjursued  so  long  as  the  sun  is 
toward  the  meridian;  and  as  soon  as  the 
sh.idows  lengthen  sufficiently  to  throw  them 
on  the  bird,  the  young  hunter  abandons  his 
B])ort.  All  practical  naturalists  are  aware  of 
the  alarm  caused  by  a  shadow  falling  on  some 
animal  which  they  are  watching  or  trying  to 
capture;  and  entomologists  in  particular 
have  learned  that,  to  approach  most  insects. 


it  is  necessary  to  keep  the  insect  between 
themselves  and  the  sun. 

As  to  the  strange  sort  of  fascination  which 
forces  the  bird  to  crouch  instead  of  flyin" 
away,  it  exists  in  very  many  birds,  of  which 
the  domestic  poultry  or  any  of  the  common 
cage-birds  are  familiar  examples.  Any  one 
who  is  accustomed  to  deal  with  these  birds 
can  take  one,  stand  it  or  lay  it  on  a  table,  go 
away,  and  return  after  an  absence  of  hours, 
knowing  that  the  bird  will  not  dare  to  move. 
During  the  time  that  I  kept  and  bred  cana- 
ries, I  used  to  free  them  from  the  dreaded 
red  mite  by  sprinkling  insect  powder  under 
their  feathers,  laying  them  on  a  piece  of  pa- 
per covered  with  insect  powder,  and  leavmg 
them  there  for  an  hour  or  two,  until  the 
powder  had  destroyed  all  the  parasites. 


1 


CHAPTER    CXXIII. 

THE  PATAGONIANS  —  Concluded. 


DOMESTIC  LIFE. 

PATAOONIAN  MARRIAflE- APPEAL  OF  A  SUITOR-  REJECTION  OF  THE  OFFER,  AND  RESULT  OF  THE  NEGO- 
TIATION—CUUIOU»  MODE  OFSMOKINO— PRESCRIITION  FOR  A  HICK  CHILD  -  PATAdONIANH  AT  HOME 
—NATIVE  COOKERY  — PATAfiONIAN  ABCIIITECTUHE  —  TREATMENT  OF  WOMEN,  CHILDREN,  AND 
SLAVES  —  MODE  OF  OOVEKNMENT  —  POWER  OF  THE  CACIQUE  —  NOTIONS  OP  RELIGION  —  OFFERLNaS 
AND  LIUATIONS  — FUNERALS  IN  PATAGONIA  —  SECLUSION  OF  WIDOWS  —  VISITS  OF  CONDOLENCE. 


We  will  now  glance  at  the  domestic  life  of 
the  Piitagonians,  if  the  word  "domestic" 
can  l)e  riglitly  applied  to  people  who  have 
no  settled  home  or  domti.i. 

IIow  marriage  is  conducted  among  them 
is  described  by  Captain  IJourne,  who  was 
kept  a  prisoner  for  a  considerable  time,  and 
had  every  opportunity,  of  studying  their 
maniu-rs  and  customs.  It  appeared  that  in 
the  house  of  the  chief  to  whom  he  belonged 
there  was  a  daughter  —  a  widow,  with  a 
young  child.  One  evening,  the  tramp  of 
many  feet  was  heard  on  the  outside  of  the 


many  leei  was  neani  on  ine  musiut;  ui  mu       -iv  v^unuu.-.  m.-in.  >.i  o...x^»...,, 
but,  together  with  the  mutterings  of  voices,    among  the   Patagonians,  which 
Presently,  one  voice  was  heard  louder  than   resembles  that  which  is  used  by 


the  rest,  evidently  addressed  to  some  one 
within  the  hut.  It  was  the  voice  of  a  suitor 
come  to  ask  the  hand  of  the  young  widow. 
The  chief  scornfully  refused  the  olfer,  saying 
that  he  wivs  not  worthy  to  be  her  husband, 
having  no  horses  or  other  property.  The 
man  admitted  that  at  the  present  time  he 
did  not  hainjcn  to  have  anj'  horses,  but  that 
lie  was  a  remarkably  good  thief,  and  that,  if 
the  Lady  would  only  accept  him,  he  would 
steal  horses,  catch  guanacos,  and  give  her 
plenty  of  grease. 

These  overtures  being  rejected  as  c<m- 
teniptuously  as  the  last,  the  suitor  atldresscd 
himself  to  the  lady,  who  was  very  willing  to 
liccept  him,  and  entirely  yielded  when  he 
repeatedly  promised  to  bring  home  plenty 
of  grease  for  her.  She  then  besought  her 
father  to  listen  to  the  suitor's  apnlication, 
but  was  angrily  refused.  Her  motner  then 
tried  to  pacify  the  angry  father,  saying  that 
the  young  man   might  fulfil  his  promises. 


catch  plenty  of  horses,  and  become  a  great 
chief. 

This  was  too  much  for  the  old  man.  He 
jumped  up  in  a  towering  passion,  seized  the 
cradle  in  which  his  little  grandchild  was  ly- 
ing, flung  it  out  of  the  hut,  snatched  up 
every  article  which  his  daughter  possessed, 
threw  them  after  the  cradle,  and  then  or- 
dered her  to  follow  her  goods.  This  \yas 
exactly  what  she  wanted;  so,  accompanied 
hy  her  mother,  she  left  the  hut,  and  was 
joined  by  her  intended  husband. 

iV  curious  mode  of  smoking  is  practised 

'  'ch  somewhat 
by  the  Dama- 
ras,  as  recorded  on  a  preceding  page. 

When  one  of  these  smoking  parties  is  or- 
ganized, the  guests  a.'>seml)le  together,  some- 
times in  a  hut,  and  sometimes  in  the  open 
air.  They  gravely  seat  themselves  in  a  cir- 
cle, round  a  vessel  of  water,— sometimes 
an  ox-horn  stuck  in  the  ground,  and  some- 
times a  sort  of  basin  made  of  raw  hide.  All 
being  assembled,  one  of  them  takes  a  stone 
pipe,  and  fills  it  with  a  mixture  of  tobacco 
and  the  shavings  of  some  yellow  wood. 

The  pipe  being  prepared,  all  the  company 
lie  flat  on  their  faces,  with  their  mantles 
drawn  up  to  the  top  of  their  heads.  The 
jiipe  is  then  lighted  and  passed  round,  each 
drawing  into  his  lungs  as  much  smoke  as 
he  can  'swallow,  and  retains  it  as  long  as  he 
can  exist  without  breathing.  As  soon  as 
the  smoke  is  expelled,  the  men  begin  a 
series  of  groanings  and  gruntings,  which 
become  louder  and  louder,  until  they  are 
absolutely  deafening.     By  degrees  they  die 


Hi  ; 

I 


*! 


(1183) 


1134 


THE  PATAGONIANS. 


nwav;  and  when  mik't  lins  bcpii  rontorpd. 
ciicli  liiki'H  a  ilriUi;,'ht  of  water,  niln  filt'iiliy 
I'or  u  Himce,  luul  thtii  slowly  lines  ami  inoveH 
nway. 

Ciiptaiii  Hounie  is  of  opinion  that  tliis 
ccrenionv  lias  in  It  Honietliinj;  of  a  iviiKionH 
element/  Tlie  ^'loanin^  anil  urnntln;,'  niij^lit 
be  dne  to  the  tulnieeo,  or  the  fml)ntanee 
which  \h  mixed  with  it,  hut  the  sounds 
seemed  In  hini  to  l)e  louder  and  more  em- 
jiliatie  than  they  would  have  heen  it'entiridy 
involnnlary;  aiiil  the  lireathin;,'s,  \vrilhint,'H, 
and  other"  aicompaininents,  the  i)rol'ound 
gravity,  and  the  abstinence  from  Sjieech,  all 
ujipeared  to  have  some  reliyioua  bii^nlUea- 
tion. 

The  same  traveller  gives  a  very  nmnsing 
account  of  a  visit  ])!iid  by  a  J'ala^'onian  phy- 
sician to  the  hut  of  a  chief.  The  jjarty  were 
jiisl  preparing  to  shift  their  quaricrH,  alter  tin 
J'atagonian  tiishion,  when  oni^  of  the  (laugh- 
ters canu'  in,  carrying  a  child  who  was  cry- 
ing loudly,  and  who  was  snpposeil  in  conse- 
rpiVnce  lb  bo  very  ill.  The  Journey  was 
stopped,  and  a  messenger  despatched  for 
the  wise  man,  who  soon  came,  and  brought 
with  him  his  magic  medicines,  i-olled  up  in 
two  pieces  of  skin. 

Tlies(!  were  laid  on  the  ground,  and  the 
doctor  squatled  by  the  side  of  them,  llxing 
ii  steady  ga/.e  on  tlu^  child,  \\  ho  presently 
ceased  crying,  i^neouraged  by  this  success, 
the  wise  man  orderi'd  a  clay  jilaster  to  be 
applied.  This  was  done.  Some  jycllow  clay 
was  brought,  moistened  until  it  was  like 
]iaint.  and  wilh  this  snbHtanc(!  the  child  was 
anointed  from  head  to  foot.  The  clay 
seemed  to  have  but  little  good  ctrecl,  for  the 
cliild  began  to  cry  as  badly  as  ever. 

The  two  mysterious  packages  were  now 
mitied,  and  out  of  one  the  doctor  took  a 
liuncli  of  rhca  sinews,  and  from  the  other  a 
lattle.  The  doctor  then  lingered  all  the 
sinews  successively,  nuitteiing  something 
in  a  very  low  tone  of  voice,  and  after  he 
li.id  muttered  for  some;  live  minutes  or  so, 
lie  St  i zed  his  ratlle  and  shook  it  violently. 
lie  mxt  sat  iu  front  of  the  jiatient,  aiid 
stared  at  him  as  he  had  done  before.  After 
an  inter\al  of  silent  staring,  he  turned  to 
the  chief  and  asked  whether  he  did  not 
think  that  the  child  was  better.  A  nod  and 
a  grunt  ex])ressed  assent,  and  the  mother  on 
being  asked  tl»e  game  question  gave  a  simi- 
lar response. 

The  same  process  was  then  repeated  — 
the  silent  stare,  the  painting  with  clay,  the 
fingering  of  the  sincnvs,  the  mntteriiig  of 
inaudible  words,  the  shaking  of  the  rattle, 
and  the  concluding  stare.  The  treatment 
of  the  jiatient  was  then  considered  to  lie 
complete.  Tie  chief  gave  the  doctor  two 
pipefuls  of  t(  baeco  by  way  of  fee.  This 
was  received  gratefully  by  the  man  of  skill, 
who  gave  his  rattle  a  final  shako  by  way  of 
expressing  his  a))preciation  of  the  chiefs 
lil>craiity,  ana  went  hia  way.    A:;  :;uuii  as  he 


had  gone,  the  child  resimied  its  crying,  but 
the  ]iarenl8  were  salislied  that  it  was  better, 
and,  as  (.'aptain  liourmMestilles,  it  soon  he- 
came  ([Uite  composed,  a,  il  throve  well  after- 
ward. 

The  general  mode  of  life  among  the  Pata- 
gonians  is  not  iiartieuluily  alluring  to  \)vr- 
sons  of  civilised  habits,  if  w(!  nuiy  Judge 
from  the  graphic  picture  drawn  by  Captain 
Hoiu'iie:  — 

"  A  few  dry  sticks  and  a  bunch  of  dry 
grass  were  brought;  mine  host  drew  from  a 
conveinent   repository   a    brass    tinder-box 
with  a  siruu'  and   a  piece  of  steel,  and  soon 
produced  a  bla/e  that  lnilliaidly  illuminated 
the  scene.     Ily   its   light    I   was  enabled   to 
survey    the   lirst    specimen    of  I'alagonian 
archit'eclure  (hat  had  blessed  my  vision.     It 
was  construct!  d  in  a  '  pointed  '  style,  though 
not    very   aspiring,  eousisiing  oi'  a  row  of 
stakes  about  eight  feet  high,  each  ternnnat- 
ing  in  a  crutch  or  fork,  with    a   ])ol(!   laid 
across  them;  two  ]iarallel  rows  of  stakes  on 
either  side  abiiut  two  feet  high,  with  similar 
terminations   and   a   similar  horizontal  (i.\- 
ture;  and  a  covering  eenqiosed  of  skins  of 
the  guanaco  sewed  together  wilh  the  sincMs 
of  Ihc   ostrich,  the  only  thread  used  by  the 
jieople.     This  i'o\ei'ing  is  thrown  o\(i' the 
franu>work  anrl    fastened   by  stakes   driven 
through  it  into  the  groinid.     l*'or  jmrposes 
of  ventilation,  some  interstices  are  left:  but 
these  again  are  half  closed  by  skins  attached 
to  the  outside,  so  that  the  air  fnni  without 
and   the   smoke  from  within  (in  default  of 
a    chimney)    must     insinuate     themselves 
through  tluse  aix'rlmes  in  great  (|iiaidiiies. 
"  In  truth,  my  first  survey  was  lalher  hur- 
ried; the  tirst  ibeeiful  gleam  had  scarcely 
set  my  eyes  on   the  look-out,  when  1   was 
fain   to  shut   them   against   an    inlolernble 
smoke.     In  no  long  time  1  felt  as  bacon,  if 
conscious,  ndght  be  supposed  to  feel  in  the 
jiroeess  of  curing.     Ko  l.-ipse  of  lime  was 
sullicient  to  reconcile  the  eyes,  nosiijls.  and 
lungs   to  the  nuisance,     oiten  have  1  been 
more  than    half  strangled    by  it,  and  com- 
pelled   to  lie  wilh  my  face  to  the  ground  as 
the  only  endurable  position.    'Talk  that  is 
worse   than  a  smoky  bouse' nnist  be  some- 
Ihing  out  of  date,  or  Shakespeare's    inuigi- 
nation    never    com])rehi'nded   anything    so 
deti-stahle     as     a    Talai-iinian     hut.      The 
chief   and    his    nnnu-rous   household,   how- 
ever, seemeil  to  enjoy  immense  satisfaction, 
and  jabbered  and  grimled  an<l  phiyed  their 
antics  and  exchangeil  grimaces  as  comjila- 
cently  as  if  they  breathed  a  highly  exhila- 
rating atmos])h<'re. 

"  My  meditations  and  observations  were 
shortly  interrujited  by  preparations  for  a 
meal.  The  chiefs  heller-Iialf— or  rather 
lifth-part,  for  he  had  four  wives — superin- 
tended the  culinary  operations,  wliich  were 
as  rude  and  simple  as  the  hut  where  they 
were  carried  on.     And  now  mv  fancy  began 


to  cunjure  up  visions  of  the  beef,  fowl.*,  and 


NATIVE  COOKKTIY. 


1186 


egp;«,  llio  promise  of  which  had  hired  my 
men  I'mm  l\w  Imat,  hiid  pioviid  stionger 
thaii  8Uf,':4iHlions  ol'prudciu'c,  niul  liml  lUiulc 
me  n  nrisimcr.  Hut  l\u'm',  (hilnties,  If  they 
cxisteu  anywhere  wi'thin  tlieeliicf's  jurisdic- 
tion, were  Just  at  present  reserved. 

"  Tile  r)l(l  iia;;  tlirew  down  fror.i  tlio  top  of 
one  of  tlie  slalies  tlmt  Hupported  tlie  tent 
the  quarter  of  some  aiiinial,  whether  doc  or 

Klic  slasncd 


fl'  ... 

guanaeo  w.'i.s  past  iinajiiiui 

rlglit  and  left  willi  an  old  eopper  knife  witli 
might  anil  main,  till  it  was  divided  into  scv- 
er.al  pie'  .•«.  Then  tiikin^?  a  number  of 
crotche,!  sticks  al)out  two  feet  long,  and 
sharper  -d  at  the  points,  she  inserted  the 
forkcf'  ends  into  pieces  of  the  meat;  and 
drov(-  the  opposite  points  into  the  ground 
near  the  lire,  which,  •liougli  sulHeient  to 
smoke  and  coinfortalily  warm  the  mess,  was 
too  i'eeble  to  ru;ist  it,  At  all  events,  time 
was  too  precious,  or  their  unsojihisticated 
appetites  were  too  craving,  to  wait  for  such 
an  operation,  and  the  raw  morsels  were 
quickly  snatelieil  from  the  smoke,  torn  into 
i)it9  hy  their  dirty  hands,  and  thrown  upon 
the  ground  before  us. 

"The  [ndiaus  seized  them  with  nviditv, 
and  tossed  a  bit  to  me;  but  what  could  I  do 
with  it'i*  I  should  have  no  appetite  lor  the 
dinner  of  an  alderman  at  such  a  time  and 
pia<'c,  but  as  for  tasting  meat  that  came  in 
such  a  (|Uesti(n:il>l(^  sliane,  there,  was  no 
bringing  my  t(>cl!i  or  resolution  to  it.  "While 
eyeing  it  with  ill-.suppressed  disgust,  I  ob- 
served the  savages,  like  a  horde  of  half- 
starved  dogs,  devouring  their  jiortions  with 
the  greatest  relishj  seizing  the  fragment 
with  their  line  wliito  teeth,  giving  every 
sign  of  enjoyment,  except  wliat  one  is  ac- 
customed t(i  see  in  luunan  beings. 

•'  The  old  chief  remarked  the  slight  1  was 
putting  upon  his  hospitality.  'Why  dim't 
you  eat,  man?  This  meat  very  good  to  eat 
—  very  good  to  eat.    Eat,  man,  eat' 

"  Seeing  him  so  much  excited,  and  not 
knowing  what  deeds  might  follow  his  words 
if  1  refused,  I  thought  it  expedient  to  try  to 
'  eat  what  was  set  beloic  me,  asking  no  ques- 
tions,'—  thinking,  moreover,  that  if  tliere 
were  any  evil  s|)irit  in  it  that  the  tire  had 
failed  to  expel,  it  could  not  i)Ossibly  have 
resisted  the  smoke.  So,  being  sorely  di- 
vided bet'veen  aversion  to  the  strange  th-sh 
and  fear  of  showing  it,  I  forced  a  morsel 
into  my  mouth.  Its  taste  was  l)y.no  means 
as  otfeiisive  as  its  appearance,  and  I  swal- 
h>wed  it  with  less  disgust  than  I  had  feared. 
Tlii.s  wa-i  my  first  meal  with  the  sav.iges, 
and  a  8anii)Ie  of  many  others,  though  better 
viands  -afterward  varied  their  monotony 
now  and  then." 

It  is  most  probable  ihat  the  meat  which 
was  so  rapidly  cooked  and  eaten  was  tliat  of 
the  guanaeo.  The  Patagonians  arc  in  no 
way  fii-stidious  as  to  their  diet,  and  oat  al- 
most every  animal  which  they  kill,  whether 
it  be  guanaeo,  rhen,  or  c^vy."^  They  have  a 


rcpugnaneo  to  the  flesh  of  dogs,  though 
lliey  cannot,  like  the  Fuegians,  bo  ne.'us..d 
of  eating  the  llesh  of  human  beings  rather 
than  that  of  dogs. 
Their  chief  dainty  Is  the  flesh  of  a  young 
I  it  is  rather  curious  that  tlu'se 
,ple   will    not,  if  they  can   help 

,  eat  that  of  a  horse,  unless  it  be. 

lisabled  by  an  accident.    They  are  fond  of 


an< 


mare, 
stranj 
tiiemselves,  i 


pe 


the  fat  ot  mares  an<l  rheas,  separating  it 
from  the  tlesh  by  boillii'',  and  pouring  it 
into  bladders,  much  as  lard  is  In  i led  in  this 
country.  Yet  the  fat  obtained  from  the  gua- 
naeo Is  not  stored  like  that  of  tlie  marc 
and  rhea,  but  is  eaten  raw.  As  is  the  case 
with  the  Fuegians,  the  I'atixgonians  obtain 
a  considerable  amount  of  food  from  tin;  sea- 
shore, great  (piantities  of  limpets,  mussels, 
and  similar  creatures  being  gathered  by  the 
women  and  ehildri'n. 

Uesides  animal  food,  vegetables  arc  con- 
sumed, Ihouirh  rather  sparingly,  by  the 
rata"onians.  Two  roo>v:  form  (lart  of  their 
ordinary  diet.  One  is  called  "  tus,"  and 
looks  soincthiiig  like  a  yam  or  potato.  It  is 
bull)ous,  and  when  cleaned  and  properly 
cooked  bears  ;t  strong  resemblance  to  a 
baked  potato.  The  second  root  is  called 
"  ehalas,"  and  is  a  long,  slender  root,  scarcely 
so  thick  as  an  ordinarv  i)eneil. 

It  is  rather  remarkable  that  the  Pata- 
gonians do  not  seem  to  have  invented  any 
intoxicatini,'  diink.  They  soon  learn  to  ap- 
preciate rum  and  other  spirits,  and  will 
intoxicate  themselves  whenever  they  can 
procure  the  means,  but  they  obtain  all  fer- 
mented and  distilled  liquors  from  the  ^vhite 
traders,  and  not  from  their  own  manufac- 
ture. Tbev  have  a  sort  of  cooling  drink 
made  of  tlie  juice  of  barberries  mixed  with 
water,  but  it  is  drunk  in  its  natural  st^Ue, 
and  is  not  fi'rinented. 

The  dwellinirs  of  the  Patagonians  arc 
wortliv  of  a  brief  description,  inasmuch  as 
they  --'how  the  distinction  between  the  Pata- 
goiiian  and  Fue:,'ian  idea.*  of  architecture. 
The  reader  will  remember  that  the  princi- 
pal portion  of  the  Fuegi.an  hut  cimsists  of 
sticks  and  branches,  whereas  the  Patagonian 
only  uses  the  sticks  and  poles  by  way  of  a 
framework  whereupon  he  can  sjiread  his 
tent  of  skins. 

Th(>se  huts,  called  by  the  Spanish  "  toldos," 
and  bv  the  Patagonians  "  c(nvs,"  are  of  vari- 
able dimensions.  Generally  they  arc  little 
more  than  sloping  shells,  six  or  seven  feet  high 
in  front,  and  only  two  feet  high  at  the  back. 
The  length  of  each  toldo  is  about  twelve 
feel,  and  its  width  about  nine  feet.  As 
east  winds  arc  hardly  ever  know  a  in  Pata- 
gonia, the  opening  of  the  hut  is  always  to 
the  east,  the  skin  covering  of  this  simple 
tent  being  impervious  to  wind  and  lain. 
A  Patagoiiian  village,  showing  the  form  of 
these  huts,  is    represented   on    the  llS7th 


pa 


This  is  the  ortliuary  kind  of  dwelling,  but 


m 


*   L 


*    ill 

',"      I 

*  4 


■  m 


U 


1186 


THE  PATAGONIANS. 


In  somo  placoR  a  much  larger  doscriptloii  of 
hut  is  crttetcd  for  the  cliier  or  thu  niwlKiiiu 
man.  ThoH.!  houmm  are  gn\)lw\.  being  tinht 
foet  or  BO  in  liolght  in  tlio  middlf,  and  slop- 
ing on  either  Hiile  to  the  wall,  whUh  is  live 
feet  or  mo  in  height.  IIuU  of  thlH  kind  are 
nearly  miuure,  their  depth  rather  exceeding 
tl»eir  length. 

The  sleeping  nccomniodation  ot  tliune 
hiibiUUionH  In  very  simple,  and  consiHts  of 
skins,  which  are  spread  on  the  lloor.  Other 
skins  rolled  up  are  laid  along  the  side  of 
Iho  hut,  and  servo  u»  pillows,  the  chil- 
dren lying  I"  ft  corner  by  themselves, 
and  the  dogs  sleeping  at  the  feet  of  their 
owners,  'riiosu  children  who  arc  unable 
to  walk  are  laid  in  simple  cradles  made  of 
square  p  eces  of  guanaco  skin,  hung  ham- 
mockwisc  Ly  four  ends  to  the  rafters  of  the 
hut. 

During  the  daytime  the  infants  are  kept, 
or  rathev  packed,  in  cradles  made  of  Hat 
pieces  of  board,  over  which  8<mio  pliable 
sticks  are  bent  in  a  semicircular  form.  The 
child  is  placed  between  two  pieces  of  gua- 
naco skin,  fasieiicd  in  the  cradle,  and  can 
then  be  carried  about  without  trouble.  Even 
wlien  the  family  is  shiftiu}'  quarters,  tlie 
cradle  can  be  hung  on  the  saddle-bow  of  the 
mother's  horse,  the  little  occupant  heiug 
perfectly  contented  with  its  situation. 

It  might  seem  from  this  statement  that 
children  are  treated  with  neglect.  Such, 
however,  is  not  the  case,  the  Patagonians 
being  remarkable  for  their  parental  alfec- 
tion,  and  bi  i  ig  much  more  inclined  to  spoil 
their  children  by  over-indulgence  than  to 
behave  unkindly  toward  tliem.  Indeed, 
when  a  I'atagonian  chief  wishes  to  change 
his  quarters,  and  the  people  do  not  wish  to 
part  with  him,  they  take  one  of  his  children, 
indulge  it  in  every  way,  and  declare  that  he 
must  leave  it  behind  him.  The  artectionatc 
parent  cannot  bring  himself  either  to  leave 
his  child,  or  to  deprive  it  of  the  society  of 
those  who  arc  kind  to  it,  and  in  couscquunce 
he  remains  with  his  people. 

The  condition  of  the  women  is  a  very 
tolerable  one.  They  certainly  have  to  work 
hard  all  their  lives  unless  their  husband  be 
rich  enough  to  purchase  slaves,  or  be  fortu- 
nate enough  to  procure  them  by  a  raid  on 
some  other  tribe.  Many  such  8lav(!8  are 
obtained  from  the  Fuegians,  who  do  not 
scruple  even  to  sell  their  own  relatives  when 
they  can  procure  a  good  price  for  them. 
Even  the  wives  of  the  chief  men  arc  not 
exempt  from  labor  unless  their  husbands 
liappen  to  possess  slaves. 

Generally  the  wives  are  faithful  to  their 
husbiinds,  but  there  are  cases  where  the 
woman  has  thought  herself  ill-treated,  and 
has  betaken  herself  to  another  protector. 
Should  he  be  an  inferior,  the  aggrieved  hus- 
band makes  him  pay  for  his  offence;  but  if 
a  superior,  ho  is  obliged  to  put  up  with  his 
loas.     Gcacriiiiy,  howcVcr,  tiiC 


wife  live  happily  together,  and  the  husbond 
Ihlnkii  It  li  point  of  honor  to  take  his  wllu  s 
part  if  she  should  fall  Into  a  dispute,  no 
matter  whether  she  he  right  or  wrong,  lie 
will  scold  her  severely  In  private,  and  even 
IntUct  corporal  punishnunt  on  her,  lor  in- 
volving him  In  such  a  dispute,  but  ho  will 


. 1 1 1 


make  a  point  of  upholiliug'her  in  public. 

The  mode  of  punishment  of  the  1  ata- 
gonians  is  rather  variable,  but  is  generally 
a  modillcation  of  the  patriarchal  system. 
Th(-  heads  of  families  or  tribes  nossess  he- 
reditary rank,  and  take  the  lead  In  "l'  im- 
portant events  of  peace  or  war.  I  heir 
power  is,  however,  not  very  great,  and  they 
are  not  able  to  raise  taxes,  nor  enlorco 
compulsory  labor  without  payment.  Iheso 
chiefs,  or  cacicpies,  as  they  are  termed,  can, 
If  they  choose,  refuse  the  rank,  and  many  do 
«o  preferring  to  lu^como  subjects  ot  some 
other  cacique  to  the  tnmble  and  responsibil- 
ity which  accompany  the  post. 

According  to  Falkncr,  "the  cacitpu)  has 
the  power  of  protecting  as  many  as  apply  to 
him;  of  composing  or  silencing  any  ditter- 
cnce;  or  delivering  over  the  oliending  party 
to  be  punished  with  death,  without  being 
accountable  for  it.  In  these  respects  his  will 
is  the  law.  lie  is  generally  too  apt  to  take 
bribes,  delivering  up  his  vassals,  and  oven 
his  relations,  when  well  paid  for  it. 

"According  to  his  orders  the  Indians  en- 
cnini),  march,  or  travel  tVom  one  place  to 
another  to  hunt  or  to  make  war.  He  lie- 
quontly  summons  them  to  his  ti  nt,  and  ha- 
rangues them  upon  their  behavior  tlm  exi- 
gencies of  the  time,  the  injuries  they  have 
received,  the  measures  to  be  taken,  I'tc.  Jn 
these  harangues  he  always  extols  his  own 
prowess  and  personal  merit.  Wlun  elo- 
quent he  is  greatly  csteenieil;  and  when  a 
cacique  is  not  endowed  with  that  aceoniphsh- 
ment,  he  generally  has  an  orator  who  sup- 
iilies  his  place."  .  , 

The  religion  of  the  Talagoniau  is  a  poly- 
theism, the  natives  believing  that  there  are 
great  numbers  of  deiliis,  some  good  and 
some  evil.  Each  family  is  under  the  guar- 
dianship of  one  of  the  good  tleities,  and  all  the 
members  of  that  family  join  him  when  they 
die.  Beside  these  god'  'here  are  subordi- 
nate demons,  good  to  their  own  frwuds  but 
bad  toward  all  others,  so  that  on  the  whole 
the  bad  predominates  in  them.  They  are 
called  by  the  name  of  Valiclui. 

Yet  among  some  of  the  Patagonian  tribes 
there  is  even  an  approach  to  personal  relig- 
ion. It  has  been  thought  that  the  Pata- 
gonians are  totally  destitute  of  such  religion. 
This,  however,  is  certainly  not  the  case,  as 
even  our  limited  knowledge  of  these  peonle, 
their  language,  and  their  habits  shows  that, 
even  though  they  may  not  possess  any  detl- 
nito  system  of  religion,  they  are  still  im- 
pressed wiUi  the  idea  of  some  Being  inll- 
nitcly  greater  than  themselves,  who  knows 
„„i.J,t^i.y^  th„t  thnv  do.    Thus  they  believo 


fill 


'i 


».it 


M 


ill 


^a.j  I'AiAuuMA.N  muiAi-  iiiiuOM;.   (.ate i.4i;u  lua.; 


li 


(1187) 


FUNERALS  IN  PATAGONIA. 


1189 


In  an  omniscient  Being;  and  such  a  belief  as 
this,  limited  and  imperfect  though  it  may 
be,  is  yet  a  step  toward  true  religion. 

To  this  unknown  Being  they  return 
thanks  when  they  have  obtained  a  supply  of 
food  after  long  famine,  so  that  we  find  them 
acknowledging  that  the  great  JJeing,  who 
knows  all  tlioir  deeds,  watches  over  them, 
and  is  the  Giver  of  all  good  things.  When, 
for  example,  they  have  i)rocurcd  a  seal  after 
having  boon  half-starved  for  months,  they 
assemble  round  a  fire,  and  the  oldest  man 
present  cuts  for  each  person  a  piece  of  the 
seal,  utterin"  over  each  portion  a  sort  of 
prayer,  and  looking  upward  in  devotion  to 
the  unseen  God,  who  had  sent  them  meat  in 
their  need.  Undisciplined  as  are  the  Pata- 
gonians,  totally  unaccustomed  to  self-denial, 
and  mad  with  hunger,  not  one  of  them  will 
touch  the  food  until  this  invocation  has  been 
repeated. 

The  mode  of  burial  among  the  Patago- 
nians  varies  in  detail  according  to  the  particu- 
lar tribe,  but  there  is  a  general  resemblance 
in  the  ceremonies  throughout  the  country. 
When  a  man  dies,  his  body  is  wrapped  in 
his  best  mantle,  placed  on  his  favorite  horse, 
and  conveyed  to  the  place  of  burial,  where  a 
square  pit  has  already  been  dug,  some  six 
feet  in  depth  and  two  or  three  feet  in  width. 
In  this  ])it  the  body  of  the  deceased  is  placed 
in  a  sitting  position,  his  bolas,  spears,  and 
other  property  laid  beside  him,  and  the  pit 
is  then  covered  with  branches,  on  which  a 
quantity  of  e.arth  is  thrown.  The  horse  is 
next  sacrificed.  It  is  held  at  the  grave  by 
one  man,  wiiilc  another  kills  it  by  a  blow  on 
the  head  from  the  bolas,  and  the  skin  is  then 
removed,  sturt'ed,  and  supported  at  the  grave 
on  four  posts.  At  the  grave  of  a  cacique 
four  horses  arc  sacrificed.  The  clothing 
which  is  not  buried  with  the  deceased  is 
burned,  and  a  feast  on  the  body  of  the  horse 
closes  th(!  proceedings.  On  page  1187  tho 
reader  may  lind  an  engraving  of  a  Patago- 
uian  burial  ground. 


Tho  widows  arc  obliged  to  remain  in  a 
state  of  the  strictest  privacy  for  an  entire 
year,  keeping  themselves  within  their  huts, 
never  mixing  in  society,  and  not  even  show- 
ing themselves  unless  absolutely  obliged  to 
do  80.  They  must  blacken  themselves  with 
soot,  and  not  eat  the  flesh  of  the  guanaco,  the 
mare,  or  the  rhea.  Should  a  woman  break 
the  rule  of  seclusion,  and  be  detected  in  an 
intrigue,  she  would  at  once  lose  her  life  at 
the  hands,  of  her  dead  husband's  relations. 

Among  some  of  the  tribes  the  tomb  is 
periodically  opened,  and  the  skeleton  of  tho 
deceased,  which  has  been  prepared  with  tho 
greatest  care,  is  washed  and  clothed  in  new 
"robes.  This  ofllce  belongs  to  an  old  matron, 
who  is  specially  selected  for  the  task,  which 
becomes  in  process  of  time  a  long  and  tedi- 
ous one,  as  the  warriors  are  placed  side  by 
side  in  the  grave,  each  year  gradually  adding 
to  the  number  of  those  who  have  to  bo 
washed  an(l  clothed  annually. 

Among  some  of  the  tribes  the  skeletons 
arc  prepared  by  laying  the  bodies  on  plat- 
forms woven  from  canes  and  twigs,  and  dur- 
ing the  time  that  is  occupied  in  cleaning 
and  bl(';i  ling  the  skeleton  the  platform  is 
guarded  i)y  the  friends  of  the  dead  man, 
draped  in  long  mantles,  and  bearing  spears 
or  staves  with  which  they  strike  the  ground, 
while  they  sing  inournfu!  strains  in  order  to 
drive  away  the  Valichus  or  spirits,  who  may 
po.ssibly  bo  ./ell  disposed  toward  the  dead 
man,  but  are  more  likely  to  be  unfriendly. 

Should  the  deceased  have  been  a  wealthy 
man,  many  visits  of  condolence  are  paid  to 
the  relatives,  tho  mourners  weening  loudly, 
and  pricking  their  arms  and  legs  with  thorns 
in  order  to  prove  their  affection  by  the  elTu- 
sion  of  their  blood.  For  these  tokens  of  re- 
spect they  arc  rewarded  with  beads,  brass 
ornaments,  and  other  presents;  and  it  need 
scarcely  be  said  that  the  sorrow  felt  for  tho 
deceased  and  the  sympathy  excited  for  his 
friends  drpeiul  very  mudi  on  the  amount  of 
I  property  at  the  disposal  of  the  relatives. 


V 

1          ■; 
i          i 

ii 

: 

1 

CHiVPTER    CXXIV. 

THE  ARAUCANIANS. 

DKESS  —  ETIQUETTE  —  GOVERNMENT. 

DIVISION  OF  TnE  NATION  INTO  TRIBES  —  THE  MAPVCnliS — PECITLIAII  BTRUCTCBE  OF  THE  HEAD  —  THB 
CHEUIPA,  rONCHO,  AND  BOOTS  —  MODE  OF  SHAVING  — DUESSINGTIIE  llAIll  — THE  "  I'l'LLINO  HAUl" 
FIGHT  —  DRESS  OP  THE  WOMEN  —  THE  ENORMOUS  BREASTriN  — SINCrLAR  USE  OP  TllIMliLES  — 
EI^VBOUATE  HEADDRESS— PAINT  —  EXHIllITION  OF  FEJIAI.E  VANITY— DRESS  OK  THE  CHILDREN  — 
ARCHITECTirRE  OF  THE  ARAUCANIANS  —  TUB  CHIEF'S  HOUSE  AND  ITS  FURNITURE  —  LONO  HOUSE  CF 
THE  MAPUCH^S  — NUMBER  OF  FIRES  — CODE  OF  ETIQUETTE  —  THE  SPEECH  OF  CEREMONT  — VALUE 
OF  ORATORS'  —  DEMAND  OF  TRIBUTE  —  MODE  OF  GOVERNMENT  —  THE  GRAND  TCQUI  —  THE  COUNCILS 
OF  PEACE  AND  WAB. 


Passing  northward  from  Patagonia,  and 
taking  a  westerly  direction,  we  come  to  the 
Araucanian  nation.  Tliis  title  Wiis  given 
to  them  by  the  Spaniards,  just  as  was  the 
name  of  Pntagonians  to '  their  southern 
neighbors,  and,  although  it  is  an  incorrect 
one,  it  has  been  accepted  for  so  manv  years 
that  it  cannot  be  conveniently  exchanged 
for  the  more  correct  designation. 

Tlie  aborigines  of  Chili  and  a  part  of  the 
territory  now  occupied  by  the  Argentine 
Republic  were  formerly  one  great  peojile, 
extending  over  a  very  considerable  portion 
of  the  land,  and  necessarily  modified  in 
manners  and  customs  by  the  intlueiice  of  cli- 
mate and  geographical  position.  Their  gene- 
ral title  was  Alapu-chc,  or  People  of  the  Laud, 
but  they  were  separated  into  three  great 
divisions,  namely,  Pehucn-ehd,  or  People  of 
the  East;  Mara-ehd,  or  IVoplo  of  the  West; 
and  Iluill-chc),  or  Far-off  People,  being  those 
nearest  to  the  Patagonians.  Passing  over 
the  wars  with  the  Spaniards,  as  fbreign  to 
the  object  of  this  work,  we  will  describe  the 
Mapuches,  or  People  of  the  Country,  as  they 
call  thernsolvcB. 

These  people  arc  rather  below  the  middle 
height,  strong,  tliick-set,  broad-chested,  and 
much  inferior  in  point  of  form  to  the  North 
American  tribes.  The  head  is  narrow,  and 
low  in  front,  broad  and  high  behind,  and  the 
hr„-k  of  !br-  head  fall?  in  almr.r-t  n  slirect  line 
with  the  napo  of  the  neck,  a  peculiarity  by 


wliich  an  Araucanian  may  almost  invariably 
be  distinguished.  The  foot  is  as  remarkable 
as  tlic  head.  It  is  very  short  and  broad,  and 
rises  straight  from  the  toes  to  the  ankle 
with  scarcely  any  curve,  so  as  to  ])vodiico 
a  very  high  but  very  clumsy  looking  in- 
step. 

The  ordinary  dress  of  the  Mapuche  men 
is  mostly  composed  of  two  garments,  namely, 
the  "  clieripa  "  (pronounced  cMrccpuh)  and 
the  poncho.  The  cheriiia  is  a  sort  of  com- 
promise between  a  kilt  and  trousers.  It  is 
a  piece  of  stulf,  mostly  cotton,  which  is  fas- 
tened to  the  back  of  a  girdle,  jiassed  be- 
tween the  legs,  drawn  up  in  front  there,  and 
tucked  then  into  the  girdle.  The  jioncho 
is  nothing  but  a  large  circular  piece  of  stulf, 
with  a  hole  in  the  centre,  through  which 
the  head  passes.  It  is  exactly  similar  in 
principle  to  the  I'loak  of  Polynesia,  and 
IS  at  once  a  primitivej  ellicient,  and  graec- 
ftil  robe,  assuming  with  every  change  of 
attitude  fblds  which  delight  the  eye  of  an 
artist. 

Reside  the  poncho  and  choripa,  the  Ma- 
puch<5  generally  wears  a  pair  of  i)oots,  similar 
to  those  of  the  Patagonians,  and  made  of 
similar  materials,  the  skin  fi-oin  the  hind 
legs  of  ft  horso  being  drawn  over  the  foot 
while  still  f^-esh,  so  tliat  it  moulds  itself  to 
the  leg  of  the  wearer.  As  with  tlie  Patago- 
niann,  itis  open  in  front,  so  as  to  allow  tho 
two  first  toes  to  nas»  t.liroiiLdi  and  grasii  the 
small   triangular   stirrup.     Tiio   elaborate 


(UUO) 


THE  "PULL-x^G  HAIR"  FIGHT. 


1191 


{; 


horflc-accoutrcments  in  which  the  Mapu- 
chc-s  delight  will  be  (lescnbca  when  ^^c 
come  to  tl.e  manners  and  customs  of  the 
Dconlc.  Men  of  rank  wear  woollen  brace- 
lets and  anklets  as  marks  of  then-  superior 

^1!iko  most  of  the  Araucanian  tribes,  the 
Mapnches  have  but  little  beard,  and  wha 
the-  have  they  eradicate  ^"er  the  usiial 
fashion  of  savages,  i.luckuij;  out  the  inch- 
vidual  hairs  instead  of  shaving.  Mi.  K.  1- 
Smith  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  he 
oi.eration  performed  :  -  "  At  one  house 
where  we  s  opped  I  saw  an  Indian,  who  at 
first  si-ht  seemed  to  be  a  white  man  trom 
the  facl  that  his  beard  was  grown  as  though 
imsbaveu  for  a  week.  He  looked  red  and 
b  tched,  and  was  continually  raising  h  s 
h  d  t..  some  part  of  his  face,  wearing  all 
«;«  while  an  expression  of  if  ^ej^f  «»^  "f; 
ance.  A  close  scrutiny  showed  that  he  was 
eni'afed  in  shaving.  .        _  ,, 

"Tlu-se  Indians  pull  out  or  nip  off  the 
beard  with  small  steel  tweezers.  This  in- 
Sment  was  originally  .as  the  Ma,mehe 
name  signifies,  a  clam  shell,  but,  by  inte  - 
course  with  the  whites,  they  '>aye  been  aide 
to  procure  a  more  elegant  article.  E\cij 
dandy  carries  his  tweezers  hanging  from  Ins 
neck;  and  at  l.usurc  moments  aimises  hiin- 
solf  I  y  smoothing  ins  face  to  the  tas  c  of  his 
puinti^dmistressr  The  arguments  they  use 
n  defence  of  their  treatment  of  the  beaid 
arc  iirecisely  those  used  by  shavelings  the 

^^Tlfev^do    not   content    themselves  with 
merely  removing  the  hair  from  the   chin, 
cheeks,  and  upper  lip,  but  y>u\\  out  the  cve- 
h"  hes  and  eyebrows,  substituting  ^^f^^f^l 
the  latter  a  slender   curved  line   oi  \Mck 
, mint.    They  sav  that  the  presence  of  the 
?  dashes  hinders  them   in   the  pursu.    of 
hee  huntin",  a  sport  of  which  they  are  very 
1  ml     1      on  which  they  pride  themselves 
grea  ly.    Some  of  the  younger  warriors  have 
fllowed  a  very  slight  fringe  of  hair  to  rc- 
n    in  on  the  vipper  lip,  but  the  o  der  chielj 
think  that  it  is  an  innovation  on  the  ancient 
c  IS  oins,  and  discountenance  it  as  far  a.s  they 


and  the  struggle  begins.  Each  tries  to  twist 
the  head  of  his  opponent  so  as  to  bring  him 
to  the  "-round,  and  when  he  has  once  {alien, 


The  hair  of  the  head  is  cut  short  at  the  I 
top,  but  is  aUowed  to  grow  long  at  the  sides 
in  order  that  it  may  bo  easdy  grasped,  lust 
as  the  North  American  tribes  leave  <)no  long 
lock  on  the  crown  of  the  head  so  as  to  assist 
the  enemy  who  slays  tliem  in  getting  oil  the 

^Wiien  two  lads  quarrel,  they  settle  the 
dispute  with  a  fight,  which  is  conducted,  not 
hv  blows  with  the  fist  or  with  a  weapon,  but 
by  pulling  the  hair.  "Lot  us  p»  1  lin"",  if 
you  arc  not  afraid,"  cries  one  oi  the  dispu- 
timts  to  the  other.  The  challenge  is  never 
refused.  Off  goes  the  poncho,  if  they  happen 
to  bo  wearing^t,  the  cheripa  is  tucked  tightly 
into  the  beU,  tlie  comb^^tantj  allow  e«rh 
other  to  take  i  fair  grasp  of  the  long  locks, 


they  loosen  their  grasp,  rub  the  backs  of 
their  heads,  take  a  fres^li  grasp,  and  repeat 
the  struggle  until  one  of  them  yields.  Ihe 
combat  over,  all  animosity  vanishes,  and 
they  are  good  friends  again. 

The  dress  .f  the  women  is,  like  that  of  tlie 
men,  composed  of  two   garments,   though 
they  are  differently  put  on.    One  is  an  en- 
larged cheripa,  and  made  of  the  same  matc- 
riaT.    It  is  first  wrapped  round   the  body 
close  under  the  arms,  and  then  pinned  to- 
gether over  each  shoulder,  so  that  the  arms 
arc  left  bare.    It  is  confined  at  the  waist  by 
a  very  broad  belt,  and  falls  nearly  to   tlie 
ankle:    This  alone  is  a  very  sufficient  dress 
t-^  aver  it  is  thrown  a  second  piece  ot  sUilf 
which  acts  as  a  shawl  or  mantle,  being  fas- 
tened in  front  with  a  pin  having  a  most 
enormously  Hat  head,  about  the  size  of  a 
cheese  plate.     Sometimes  the  head  is  globu- 
lar, but  the  flat  form  is  the  favorite,  and  it 
is  adorned  with  engraved  figures.    Ihc  cloth 
is    mostly  of   native    manufacture,  and  is 
either  black  or  a  very  dark  indigo  blue 

Like   that  of  the   men,  the   hair  ot  the^ 
women  is  divided  into  tNVO  long  tails  one  of 
which  hangs  over  each  shoulder.     The    ails 
arc  wound  round  with  spiral  strings  ot  blue 
beads,  and  their  ends  are  coniiecf.ed  by  a 
string  of  twelve  or  fourteen  brass  thiinbles 
whicfi  h    .g  side  by  side,  like  a  peal  ot  bells. 
Besides  ..lese  ornaments,  the  women  wear  a 
sort  of  cap,  made  cutiiT.ly  of  beads  and  f^i  1- 
ing  over  the  back  of  the  head  as  far  as  the 
shoulders.    Its  lower  edge  is  decorated  with 
a  row  of  brass  thimbles,  like  that  which  con- 
nects the   two   queues  of  the  hair.      This 
elaborate  headdress  is  only  worn  on  great 
occasions,  while   ordinarily  the  queues  are 
wound  round  the  head,  the  two  ends  pro- 
ieclingin  front  like  horns,  a  fillet,  usually 
studded  with  beads,  being  employed  to  keep 
the  hair  in  its  place.    Tliese  pocuharities  of 
dress  are  shown  in  the  illustration  of  a  Ma- 
puch(5  family  on  page  1201. 

Ornaments  are  worn  according  to  tho 
wealth  of  the  owners.  Strings  oi  beads, 
silver  dollars,  and  brass  thimbles  are  hung 
in  profusion  round  the  neck,  which  is  tur- 
the-  decorated  with  a  collar  made  of  leather 
ami  inlaid  with  silver.  Wide  bracelets  and 
anklets  are  also  worn,  similar  to  those  ot  ttie 
men,  but  made  of  variously  colored  beads 

instead  of  wool.  ,    i.    ,  •  a  . 

Paint  is  worn  by  both  sexes,  but  chiefly 
by  the  women,  and  is  anything  but  ornn- 
mentid.  It  is  invariably  of  two  colors,  red 
and  black,  which  are  mixed  with  grease,  so 
that  they  can  be  anphed  and  removed  at 
nleasure.  Tho  nsual.plan  is  to  have  a  broad 
red  belt  from  ear  to  ear,  taking  in  tlic^ 
checks,  eyelids,  and  nose,  the  lvw;er  edge  ot 
the  belt  being  sometimes  edged  and  scal- 
loped with  black.    The  eyeuds  and  Insnes 


1193 


THE  ABAUCANIAN9. 


are  also  edged  with  black,  and  a  thin  line 
of  the  same  hue  takes  the  place  of  the 
eyebrows,  whicli  are  all  removed  except  a 
very  fine  row  of  hairs  in  the  centre.  Some 
of  the  women  further  decorate  their  faces 
by  spots  of  black  paint.  The  women  arc 
exceedingly  proud  of  these  ornaments;  and 
an  amusing  instance  of  their  vanity  is  re- 
lated by  Mr.  Smith:— "Our  conversation 
turned  upon  female  dress  ;  and,  without  in- 
tending any  disparagement  to  our  fair  en- 
tertainers, we  compared  them  to  the  women 
whom  we  had  seen  at  the  house  of  Chancay. 
Tlic  women,  who  were  at  work  near  by,  did 
not  understand  half-a-dozen  words  of  Span- 
ish ;  but,  with  that  intuitive  perception 
wliich  belongs  to  the  sex,  they  were  not 
long  in  discovering  that  our  conversation 
related  to  themselves  and  their  dresses. 

"  Immediately  they  held  a  council  of  war  ; 
and,  entering  the  house,  they  presently  re- 
turned, each  with  a  bag  of  trmkets.  There 
were  coverings  for  the  head  and  breast, 
composed  of  strings  of  beads  of  all  colors 
and  designs,  with  brass  thimbles  and  silver 
coins.  There  were  rings  and  pendants  for 
ears  and  nose  ;  bracelets  and  anklets,  col- 
lars and  breastpins  of  colossal  proportions. 
Tiiesr'  were  held  up  for  our  admiration  ; 
and  lliat  we  might  more  fully  realize  their 
wealth,  the  ladi  ■  proceeded  to  deck  them- 
selves with  all  tlieir  finery.  Tl»ey  were 
at  the  same  time  jabbering  at  the  top  of 
their  lungs,  praising  their  own  superiority 
to  all  other  women,  and  appealing  to  us  for 
a  confirmation  of  their  own  good  opinions. 

"Finally,  the  belle  of  the  lot,  having  orna- 
mented her  head,  breast,  '^nd  arms  to  their 
fullest  capacity,  stepped  in  advance  of  the 
others,  and,  raising  her  dress  as  hi^jh  as  the 
knee,  di'^played  to  our  astonished  gaze  a 
remarkably  well-rounded  i)iece  of  flesh  and 
blood.  Patting  the  calf  Avitli  honest  pride, 
and  turning  it  about  for  our  inspection,  she 
hung  it  round  witli  beads,  adjusted  the  many- 
colored  anklets,  and,  snapping  her  fingers 
contemptuou.sly,  poured  out  a  perfect  tor- 
rent of  Mapuenc. 

"  Unfortunately,  there  was  no  one  near 
to  interpret  this  language  ;  but  from  her 
action,  and  tlie  frequent  repetition  of  the 
n.ame  '  Chancay,'  we  gathered  her  moaning 
to  be  pretty  much  that,  in  whatever  else  the 
wives  of  Chancay  might  excel,  she  would 
defy  tliem  or  any  one  else  to  produce  a  finer 
leg  than  the  one  in  question." 

Tlie  dre.ss  of  the  children  is  simple  enough. 
As  long  as  they  are  infants,  and  not  able  to 
walk,  they  are  tightly  rolled  up  in  bandages, 
so  as  to  be  inial>le  to'niove.  In  this  helidcss 
condition  they  are  put  into  bamboo  cradles 
and  liung  ",p  on  pegs  driven  int«  the  walls 
of  the  house,  or  laid  in  baskets  suspended 
from  the  roof,  so  that  they  can  be  swung 
abiHit  by  It  ikCi  tltid  to  the  cradle.  The  in- 
fants are  perfect  models  of  behavior,  never 
crying,  and  allowing  themselves  to  bo  hung 


on  pegs  without  betraying  any  signs  of  life, 
except  the  movement  of  the  eyes.  As  soon 
as  they  can  walk,  they  are  allowed  to  run 
about  without  the  incumbrance  of  any 
clothing,  which  is  not  worn  until  they  be- 
come boys  and  girls  of  seven  or  eight  years 
old. 

The  architecture  of  the  Araucanians  is 
very  simple,  but  differs  slightly  according  to 
the  district,  and  tlie  position  of  the  owner  of 
the  house.  The  ordinary  house  of  a  common 
man  is  a  mere  hut,  built  of  wicker-work,  about 
twelve  feet  by  ten,  carelessly  made,  and  ill 
calculated  to  withstand  the  elements.  On  a 
wet  day  the  rain  pours  into  the  hut  on  all 
sides,  a  eireumstance  which  has  its  adv.an- 
tagcs  to  counterbalance  its  discomforts.^  On 
rainy  days  all  cooking  has  to  be  done  within 
the  "house,  whicli  would  be  absolutely  un- 
bearable if  the  apertures  ^^hich  let  the  rain  in 
did  not  let  the  smoke  out.  At  night,  more- 
over, these  huts  are  overcrowded  with 
sleepers. 

In  one  of  these  huts  there  were  three 
rude  bedsteads,  for  the  accommodation  of 
two  married  couples  and  a  jiair  of  grown-up 
girls,  while  on  the  ground  lay  sixteen  or 
seventeen  young  men  and  children,  packed 
together  like  herrings  in  a  barrel.  More- 
over, a  whole  troop  of  dogs  came  sneaking  into 
the  house  as  soon  as  the  inmates  closed  their 
eyes  ;  so  that  within  this  limited  space  some 
thirty  living  beings  were  contained  during 
the  liight.  It  is  evident  that,  if  the  hut  had 
been  weather-proof,  tlie  whole  party  would 
have  been  sutlbcated  before  the  morning. 

A  better  kind  of  liabitation,  visited  by  Mr. 
Smith,  deserved  the  name  of  house.  It  was 
rectangular  instead  of  rounded,  and  meas- 
ured thirty  feet  in  length  by  fifteen  in 
breadth.  In  the  middle  of  the  roof  was  a 
hole,  by  way  of  chimney,  tlie  fire  being 
made  directly  beneath  it"  There  was  no 
window,  the  hole  and  the  door  being  the 
only  apertures  for  the  admission  of  liglit 
ancl  air. 

There  was  only  one  room,  though  a  sort 
of  loft  was  m.ade  in  the  roof.  This  was  used 
as  a  storehouse,  where  sacks  of  beans  and 
similar  luxuries  were  kept.  As  might  bo 
supposed,  the  whole  upper  part  of  the  house 
'vas  tlii<  kly  encrusted  with  soot.  One  of 
the  corners  was  partitioned  off  with  a  sort 
of  wicker-work  wall,  and  served  as  a  gran- 
ary, in  which  the  wheat  was  stored. 

From  the  sooty,  cobwebbed  rafters  hung 
bunches  of  maize,  pumpkins,  joints  of  meat, 
nets  ftill  of  potatoes,  strings  of  capsicum  jiods, 
and  similar  articles;  while  earthen\yare  pots, 
dishes,  and  spears  were  scattered  in  prof\i- 
sion  over  the  floor.  In  the  middle  of  all 
these  articles  hung  two  long  lances,  with 
their  points  toward  the  door;  but,  although 
their  heads  were  protected  by  being   stuck 

evidently  been  long  out  of  use. 
Two  of  the  corners  were  occupied  with  the 


SOCIAL  ETIQUETTE. 


1193 


ordinary  bedstead  of  the  country  i.  e.  a 
framework  of  cane,  With  a  bulls  mae 
Shod  tightly  over  it;  and  near  the  be.  s 
hung  tlio  stock  of  finery  belonging  to  the 
owner  namely,  spurs,  stirrups,  and  bits,  all 
o' soUd  silve^r  belonging  to  the  men  and 
breastpins,  necklaces,  earrings,  strings  ot 
thimb  es  and  other  adornments  ot  the 
wo  c  1  The  usual  basket  cradle,  containing 
TsSed  baby,  was  suspended  from  one  of 

"^Thf  house  of  a  cacique,  or  chief,  is  very 
much  lar  "er  than  either  of  those  which  have 
Ten  described,  and  somewhat  resembles^^^^^^ 

"Ion.'  house  "of  Borneo.  One  o*  "  f^c 
Imnsps  belonging  to  a  cacique  named  Ayllal, 
Skel'  afa  Sistance  something  between  a 
very  long  boat  and  a  haystack.  Its  height 
w'-is^  about  fifteen  feet,  its  w  dlh  tlur  y,  and 
its  len<nh  about  one  hundred  and  torty. 

Th^middlcof  the  house  was  common  to 
all  the  inhabitants,  but  the  sides  were  par- 
titioned off  so  as  to  form  a  scries  of  chambeis 
each  of  which  ))elonged  to  a  married  son  of 
te  proprietor,  or  to^onc  of  his  own  wives, 
in  caJes^vhere  tlie  fivmily  is  not  a  very  Inrge 
cue  each   wife  has  her  own   fireplace;  but 
when  the  number  of  families  under  one  root 
is  considerable,  one  fire  is  common  to  two  or 
Ihree  of  them.    lu  Ayllal's  house  there  were 
BiK  fireplaces,  and  over  each  was  a  hole  in 
the  roof.    The  lireplaccs  arc  nothin-  more 
than  a  few  stones,  so  arranged  that  the  pots 
can  be  kept  clear  of  the  burning  wood;  and, 
as   the    ashes  are    allowed   to    accumulate 
where   they  Ml,  or  to  be  ^  "^n  'ab""^  J'y 
every  current  of  air,  it  is  evident  tliat  the  in- 
terior of  such  a  house  is  not  a  model  ot  clean- 

^"lifconsequence  of  the  custom  of  appro- 
priivting  a  separate  ilro  to  each  w.te,  the  one 
is  convTMitionally  accepted  as  a  metaphor  lor 
the  other.  It  is'  not  considered  polite  to  ask 
a  mail  how  many  wives  he  has,  but  etiquette 
nerinits  any  one  to  ask  another  how  many 
res  he  burns.  In  front  of  the  door  hangs  a 
cross-bar,  beyond  which  no  one  ventures  to 
pass  without  a  special  invitation,  unless  he 
1)0  an  inmate  of  the  house,  or  an  intimate 
friend  t)f  the  family.  , 

Tlie  Mapuiihes  exhibit  in  perfection  that 
curious  mixture  of  the  savage  and  the 
eentleman  that  is  so  often  found  among  un- 
civilized people.  Tlioy  have  a  most  elaborate 
code  of  etiquette,  whic-li  to  a  stranger  is  often 
irksome,  on  account  of  the  time  which  is  con- 
sumed ill  going  through  the  requisite  for- 
malities.  WluMi  two  persons  meet,  it  is  nec- 


Thereupon  the  stranger  mentions  his  own 
name  and  residence,  and  -oes  on  to  ask  the 
host  about  himself,  his  health,  and  that  o^^  Is 
father,  mother,  wives,  and  children;  about 
his  lands,  crops,  cattle,  and  flocks:  the  cliiets 
of  the  district,'  the  neighbors,  thar  wives 
children,  crops,  &c.,  are  next  inquired  about; 
and  whether  there'  have  been  any  disturb- 
ances, diseases,  deaths,  or  accidents. 

"  If  the  responses  given  are  favoiable,  tne 
questioner  goes  on  to  express  his  liapmncss, 
and    moralizes   to    the   etfect    that   health, 


and  moraiJ'.eo  t"  ^'^^  «'— " —  --  , , 
wealth  and  friendship  are  great  blossinLrs, 
for  wh  ch  God  should  fee  thanked.  If,  on  tlie 
contrary,  the  answers  should  coiivev  bad 
news  fto  condoles  with  the  afflicted,  and 
philosophizes  that  misfortunes  should  bo 
Lrne  with  cquanimitv,  since  men  cannot 
.Xays  avoid  evil.  Tfic  guest  H'tving  tin- 
ished,  the  host  commences  m  turn  to  ask  all 
the  same  questions,  making  such  comments 
as  the  answers  received  may  dem^^n^'-.p.  ^„ 
"This  formality  occupies  ten  or  fattecn 
minutes.  The  questions  and  answers  arc 
•ocited  (h\  rote)  in  a  low  monotonous  voice, 
wU  a  sing-Bong  tone,  not  unlike  the  say- 
Kof  thcrosaryor   the  chanting  ot   Iriars. 

At  the  end  of  each  sentence,  if  the  last  Am-d 
fiamiiiesunueru..ciwu.    Atthccna  is  raised  to  a 

ouefireiscommoutotwoor|eidwith^a^^^^^^^  final  letter  be  a  con- 

sonant, it  is  rounded  off  with  a  nasa  grunt. 
Tl  rustener   expresses  his  satisfaction  oc- 
casionally by  a  sound  between  a  "runt  and  a 
'  n.an  or  inclicatcs  surprise  by  a  Tong-drawa 
"  Hue!     AVith  these  exceptions,  he  nevei  in- 
terrupts until  the  speaker  has  given  notice, 
bv  a  peculiar  cadence  of  the  voice  that  ho 
has  said  his  say.     During   this  palaver,  tho 
speakers  often  do  not  look  at  each  other,  and 
frequently  even  sit  with  their  backs  turned 
to  one  another."  ,  , 

As  soon  as  etiquette  has  been  satisfied  bjr 
these  formalities,  the  speakers  assume  their 
ordinary  tone  of  voice,  and  converse  fri>e ly 
on  subjects  respecting  which  they  really 
take  an  interest.  ,     ,  ,      ^      m-„„„ 

Oratory  is  liighly  valued  by  the    Mapu- 
chds,  and  should  a  young  man  have  some 
power  of  speech,  and  train  it  into  eloquence 
lie  is  on  tlie  high  road  to  distinction  and  will 
probably  end  by  becoming  a  chief,  though 
originally  of  Inferior  rank.    Such  young  men 
are^always  eagerly  sought  by  the  chiefs^ 
their  mcisengers,  inasmuch  as  ctique  to  re- 
quires that  such  messengers  should  not  only 
possess  a  retentive  memory,  so  as  to  insuro 
the  transmission  of  the  messa-c  correctly, 
but  should  also  be  fluent  of  speech  and  choi^^ 


malities.   Wlien  two  persons  meet,  it  is  nee-    ''"tf^o"'" 'V''""^ '',?,"  in^  A  point  in  which 


unpardonable  offence.     Let  us  take  Mr.  L. 
R  Smith's  account  of  the  ceremonial:  — 

'•If  the  guest  be  a  stranger,  the  host  begins 
bv  addressing  him  wlUi '  1  do  not  know  ynn, 
brother,'  or  '  I  have  never  seen  you  before.' 


proncieni  lu  uie:»e  li.ivv.  .v.^,----  ._„„..„,,i. 
be  taken  into  the  service  of  au  ''"PO^t.;^"' 
chief,  and  indeed  he  knows  his  own  value  too 
well  to  damagi.  his  prospects  by  "crung  ^'^^ 
„vn^,>k  a  r,^an  of  vcrv  hiffh  rank.  Actiiif,  as 
messenger,  ho  practically  becomes  «  sort  oJ 


"•HI 


Wl 


-J« 


1194 


THE  ARAUCANIANS. 


ambassador,  on  whom  the  reputation  of  his 
principal  is  rcHcuted,  and  by  associating  with 
the  chief  men,  aiul  spcaliing  at  their  assem- 
blies, he  soon  gains  ibr  himself  that  impor- 
tance which  was  Ibrnierly  only  accorded  to 
his  official  capacity.  Men  of  this  stamp  have 
frequently  become  the  masters  of  those 
•whom  the}'  formerly  served,  their  abilities 
having  raised  them  to  their  appropriate 
station. 

To  a  stranger  the  eloquence  of  these  men 
Is  utterly  unintelligible.  They  deliver  their 
messajje  in  a  sort  of  monotone,  varied  with 
inflections,  but  without  the  least  spirit  or 
action.  In  fact,  they  very  much  resemble 
schoolboys  reciting  a  piece  of  poetrv  which 
they  have  learned  by  rote  without  taking  the 
ti-oublc  to  understand  it.  Yet  the  Mapuches 
are  held  entranced  during  the  delivery  of 
such  a  discourse  by  an  accomplished  orator, 
the  purity  of  whose  diction  excites  the  re- 
spectful admiration  of  his  hearers. 

Etiquette  is  so  highly  valued  among  the 
Araucanians  that  on  one  occasion  an  English 
gentleman  nearly  i^  .'.  his  life  by  neglecting 
a  ceremonial.  It  seems  that  every  chief,  no 
matter  how  petty  may  be  his  domain,  expects 
that  every  stranger  who  jiasses  through  his 
territory  shall  pay  h'v)\  .t,  tribute.  The 
amounlof  the  trilnite  isoi  iii  tie  consequence, 
80  that  something  is  given  as  an  acknowl- 
edgment of  rank. 

Being  new  to  the  country,  the  pcntlcinan 
in  question  was  passing  flirough  the  ter- 
ritory of  a  chief,  when  he  was  stopped  and 
asked  for  tribute,  a  demand  which  he  re- 
fused to  jiay,  on  llie  ground  that  he  was  only 
a  traveller  'and  not  a  trader.  Thereupon  a 
young  man  leaped  into  a  cabin, brought  out 
a  truinpet  made  of  a  horn,  and  blew  a  blast 
ujion  it.  The  signal  was  answered  in  all 
directions,  and  from  every  side  there  poured 
in  a  number  of  mounted  and  armed  warriors. 
The  traveller  was  not  daunted,  in  spite  of 
the  miirtial  arrav,  cocked  his  pistols,  and 
awaited  the  attaelk,  when  his  guide  ran  up  to 
him,  and  begged  him  to  give  them  some- 
thing, if  it  were  onJij  a  jmrkrt-handkcrcMef. 

The  traveller  saw  at  once,  from  the  small- 
ness  of  the  suggested  pre»ent,  that  it  was  a 
mere  question  of  etiquette,  and  munifi- 
cently presented  the  chief  with  a  Jack-knife. 
Enmity  at  once  gave  way  to  enthusiastic 
friend.ship.  The  old  chief  was  quite  over- 
come by  the  splendor  of  the  gift,  swore 
eternal  friendship  with  the  traveller,  and 
sent  a  guard  of  honor  to  accompany  liim  for 
several  miles  on  his  way. 

We  naturally  come  to  the  mode  of  gov- 
ernment employed  by  the  Araucanians. 

The  four  great  divisions  are  subdivided 
into  provinces,  and  these  into  smaller  dis- 
tricts, each  of  which  is  presided  over  by  a 
chief,  who  exercises  a  kind  of  patriarchal 
authority  over  his  ciansnii  ri.  ilc  is  the 
judge  aud  arbiter  of  tlie  clau,  and  there  is 


no  appeal  from  his  decision.  Yet  he  levies 
no  taxes,  and  cannot  force  even  the  lowest 
of  his  people  to  work  for  him.  Ilo  can 
require  the  services  of  the  men  for  war  or 
for  business  of  state,  but  there  his  authority 
ends.  No  land  can  be  sold  except  by  the 
chief,  to  whom  it  is  by  a  sort  of  legal  tietion 
supposed  to  belong,  and  even  he  cannot  sell 
it  to  any  except  a  native  Araucanian,  under 
penalty  of  death. 

All  these  chiefs,  or  caciques,  as  they  are 
often  called,  are  considered  to  be  equals  in 
point  of  rank,  and  independent  of  each 
othei',  though  one  is  chosen  on  account  of 
his  personal  abilities  to  be  the  head  chief  of 
the  district,  but  merely  as^x-muis  inter  pares. 
The  otiicc  of  chief  is  generally  but  not  al- 
ways hereditary.  It  mostly  descends  to  the 
eldest  sou,  but  the  actual  holder  of  the  office 
may  bequeath  it  even  to  one  who  belonjjs  to 
another  family.  Should  a  chief  die  without 
sons,  brother,  or  a  recognized  successor,  the 
people  have  the  power  of  electing  a  chief 
ibr  them.selves,  and  it  is  on  such  occasions 
as  these  that  the  eloquent  messengers  lately 
described  find  their  opjiortunity  of  being 
raised  to  the  rank  of  cacique. 

Up  to  this  point  the  details  of  the  govern- 
ment are  simple  enough.  "\Vc  now  have  to 
consider  a  most  singular  arrangement,  unlike 
that  of  any  other  known  nation.  From  the 
head  chiefs  of  the  various  districts  one  is 
chosen  as  the  Toqui,  or  head  of  the  province, 
and  these  Toquis  form  the  sujjreme  council 
by  whom  the  afi'airs  of  the  nation  are  man- 
aged. Erom  among  them  one  is  selected  as 
president  of  the  council,  and  is  called  by  a 
title  which  signifies  the  Grand  Toqui.  He 
is  the  highest  personage  in  the  state.  He 
can  summon  councils  whenever  he  sees  oc- 
casion, he  watches  over  the  welfare  of  the 
slate,  lays  before  his  colleagues  any  informa- 
tion that  he  considers  important,  and  on 
special  occasions  he  can  act  on  his  own  au- 
tboritv. 

AVhen  Mr.  E.  11.  Smith  travelled  in  Arau- 
cania,  the  tJrand  Toqui  was  an  old  chief 
named  Mafiiu,  who  seems  to  have  been 
worthy  of  the  position  which  he  held.  Manin 
Iliieno  ("  the  (irass  of  Heaven  "),  as  he  was 
called  by  his  comjialriots,  or  Manin  liuc- 
no  ("  Mafiin  the  Good '"),  as  the  Chilenos 
termed  him,  was  a  very  old  man,  his  age  be- 
ing estimated  as  falling  little  short  of  a  cen- 
tury, though  his  general  bearing  was  such 
that  he  might  have  been  taken  for  little 
more  than  sixty.  His  long  black  hair  was 
but  slightly  sjirinkled  with  silver,  his  eye 
retained  its  brightness,  and  his  mien  its  up- 
riglitness  ;  and  though  his  many  years  had 
diminished  his  strength,  they  had  not  afl'ected 
his  intellect. 

He  was  held  in  the  \evy  highest  respect, 
as  indeed  was  duo  to  h'^  acknowledged  wis- 
dom, by  means  of  whioh  war  had  many  a 
time  been  uvcrtc'',  Vi-t  he  was  not  a  rich 
man,  aud  ia  poi;it  uL'  wealth  the  greater 


THE  COUNCILS  OF  PEACE  AND  WAR. 


1105 


number  of  the  lesser  chiefs  were  far  richer 
than  Manin  Hucno.  His  only  marks  of 
wealth  were  the  solid  silver  horse  accoutre- 
ments —  but  even  these  were  not  worth  htty 
pounds  of  our  money  ;  while  his  apparel 
was  of  the  simplest  kind,  a  red  and  yellow 
handkerchief  tied  round  his  head  being  the 
most  costly  article  of  his  apjwrel. 

When  a  council  of  Toquis  is  assembled, 
the  members  generally  endeavor  to  outshine 
each  other  in  the  magnificence  of  their  aii- 
pointmcnts  ;  and  after  the  day's  labor  is 
over,  they  join  in  a  gcnieral  debauch,  wIncU 
sometimes"  lasts  for  the  whole  of  the  next 
dav  and  prevents  the  councillors  from  re- 
suming their  business  until  they  have  become 
sufficiently  sober. 

Now  comes  the  curious  part  of  Arauca- 


nlan  government.     The  Supremo  Council 
treate  only  of  the  internal  management  of 
the   nation,  and  is  technically   called    the 
Council  of  Peace.    As  soon  a.s  war  is  de- 
clared, the  Council  of  Peace  tails  into  abey- 
ance,  md  its  place  is  taken  by  the  Council 
of  War.    This  is  headed  by  the  loqui  of 
War  who,  as  long  as  the  war  lasts,  has  un- 
limited power,  except  over  life.    He  appoints 
the  officers,  settles  the  number  oi  warriors 
renuired,  orders  a  conscription  to  be  set  in 
operation  in  each  district,  and  lays  upon 
each  cacique  the  duty  of  levying  a  certain 
number    of    men,    and    raising    a    certain 
amount  of  supplies.    As  soon   as  peace  is 
concluded,  he  and  all  his  council  retire  Irom 
office,  and  Uio  Council  of  Peace  reassumes 
its  sway. 


ill 


i 


I 


!i«^ 


CHAPTER   CXXV. 


THE  ARAUCANIANS  — Contumed. 


DOMKSTIC  LIFE. 


LOVR  OP  THE  TionsK— Tin?  sTiimrr,  hit,  ani>  Hrim  of  tub  xnAiTCANiANB  — mope  of  FASTEnnja 

TUB  Hl-l'Il  ON  TIIK  1IKK.L  — TUAINlNd  Of  TIIIC  IIOUHKH  -  VAMIIC  OK  TIIK  IIOUSK  A<XOllTKKMKNT9 
—  11ATUKI»  OF  HllAMSt— I.OVK  KOIl  MII.VKU  AND  CAIlia.KSHNKSS  OF  <I()M>  —  HOW  TIIK  AllAUrANlANH 
Illl>r,— TIIK  IIOI.AH  Olt  LAljri,  AND  TMK  I.ASSO  -  MOOK  OK  MAKINIl  AND  TllUOWINtl  Till!  l.\HHO 
-I'AI-TIHK  OK  AHAVA.MO  luH.I.-COlMUdK  OK  TIIR  AUAUCANtANH  -  THKlll  HI  .  .KHHKII.  HTlllKKlUS 
l-OK  I.IIIKKTY  — rAlli:KK  OK  A  YOIINO  IIKUO— MAIlUlAdK  AMONd  Till!  AllAllANlANH  —  AIU.IICTION 
OK  Till',  IIUIDK— UK(!ONlU.lATION  WITH  TIIK  PAUKNT8— AUAUCANIAN  COOKKUY  —  nmi-AlUNO 
NACIll,   I'llICA,   AND  MUDAI  — TllUESllINU  COllN. 


Wt;  now  come  to  the  ordinary  life  of  tlic 
Anuu'unians. 

Like  tlio  Amoricnn  tribes  in  Ronoral,  they 
have  bt'c'onio  wondi-rful  n(l^'l)t^^  in  the  use 
of  tho  liorso,  thu  cliniale,  tlu'  natives,  ami 
tlic  horse  seeming  to  ajj^reo  witli  each  other 
in  a  way  wliieli  is  really  remarkal)le,consi(l- 
ering  that  the  animal  is  of  eomiiaratively 
late  introiluetion  into  Ameriea.  Unlike  the 
I'atafjoniiMis,  they  pride  themselves  on  the 
massive  solidity  of  the  aeeonlrements  with 
whi>h  they  bedizen  their  horses  ;  and,  nl- 
thonj^h  they  care  little  aliont  the  individual 
animals,  aiid  are  rather  liard  masters  to 
them,  they  bedeek  the  horses  in  the  most 
lavish  manner. 

Their  saddles  arc  made  very  much  after 
the  fashion  employed  by  tlio  Patagonians, 
being  little  more  tlian  rudo  wooden  frames. 
A  few  skins  are  laid  on  the  back  of  the 
horse,  the  saddle  is  i)laccd  on  them,  a  saddle 
cloth  of  thick  leather  is  thrown  over  it,  and 
the  whole  apparatus  is  complete.  The  bri- 
dle is  made,  like  that  of  the  Patagonians,  of 
twisted  hide,  or  sometimes  of  a  number  of 
strips  of  horse-skin  plaited  together,  a  few 
threads  of  silver  being  mingled  with  them. 
The  bit  is  generally  the  ordinary  Spanish 
bit,  with  its  cruelly  powerful  arrangement 
of  curb  and  ring. 

Tlie  stirrups  are  gencrallv  nothing  more 
than   a  piece  of  cane  twisted  into  a  triangu- 
lar forn.i.  and  biinnr  to  the  saddj.o  by   leath 
orn  cords 


i)ride  themselves  in  having  these  articles  of 
solid  silver.  The  shape  of  these  sUrrups 
varies  in  some  degree,  the  usual  tbrm  resem- 
bliu"  that  of  the  Knglish  stirrui),  but  very 
much  kirger  and  heavier,  the  sides  being 
from  one  to  two  inches  wide,  and  pierced  in 
ornnmental  iiatterns,  while  the  cross-bar  ou 
which  the  foot  rests  is  fully  two  inches  m 

width.  ,  .  ,    ., 

The  form  of  stirrui)  to  whuh  they  are 
most  partial  resembles  the  other,  as  l.nr  as 
the  side  pieces  are  concerned  ;  but  the  fool- 
bar  is  developed  into  a  large  ),l  \<e  ol  silver, 
which  comes  over  the  front  ,.f  the  stirrup, 
and  protects  the  toes  and  instep  from  the 
thorns  which  arc  iilentiful  in  the  country. 
The  back  of  this  jilate  jirojeets  behind  in  a 
sharp  point,  which  is  used  as  a  spur. 

About  the  spui-8  themselves  the  Arauca- 
n'av,  is  very  fastidious.  They  are  of  enor- 
m., IS  size,  and  armed  with  rowels  measur- 
ing from  two  to  three  inches  in  diameter, 
aiul  sometimes  even  exceeding  that  meas- 
nrement.  It  may  bo  imagined  that  spurs 
of  this  size,  which  are  exceedingly  weighty, 
must  bo  buckled  <m  the  feel  very  tightly,  bo 
as  to  keep  them  in  their  places. 

This,  however,  is  not  the  case.  On  the 
contrary,  the  strap  by  which  they  arc  fast- 
ened is  quite  loose,  so  that  when  the  wearer 
walks  tho  rowels  trail  on  tho  ground,  and 
when  he  is  mounted  they  hang  nearly  per- 


niin<r  m  inn  snooin  nv   leain-    pcndicuiarly  from  his  heels.    The  Arauca 
but  tho  wealthy  Araucauians  '  nian  cares  little  for  the  impeaiinont  m  waiK- 

(1196) 


THE  LAQUr. 


1107 


when  ).c  iH  iii«»iii1.m1  Ih  a  rwil  nec.;H»it;f.     A 
lUuHtralioii  of  HliiTups  ami  spurs  la  given  on 
tho  1175111  piiKi!.  ,        ,    ,f 

Tlui    liorH.m  aro   never   more  than  UaU 
trained.    'I'liey  are  tauKlil  to  wheel  w.lhin  a 
v"rl    Hnv.ll   nrrle,  to  hIoi.    Hiuldenly  ami 
tl  row  t  .Mns..lv..H  ..n  tlu.ir  ^.aunolieM,  aii.l  to 
,X.!i'al  full  «allo,.;  l...t  11"}*  in  the  exten 
of  thiiir  iicconM.liMhincnlH.     Many  of  then 
are  vo  M.K,  Hphi' -'.I,  'vn-l  nervo.m  Htee.K ami 
?f  in  the  ro.  rse  of  the  HlnigKleH  for  victory 
wl  i eh    h  'V  o<-easionally  attempt,  the  HpurH 
wet..    ..mo  i.«aiiiHt  tii.'ir  Hi.leH,  they  woul.l 
he    sreatly    aliunw^l,   a.i.l    their    HtruKgleH 
wou^[.,./vhcin.r..aHc..l.    «"^  «C,^',"  T.4 
hanL'  .l..wn   alm..Ht  I.elow  the   r"'f »  '\  ,; 
Vhev  HwinK  c!...r  ..f  the  ''"'•"f «'''";.''«;;'     ; 
atiiiiv  tim'>,   f  t  >'V  ">«  nee.le.l  loi  ub(,,  uit 
w,.anT   has  only  i..,l.en.l    his  feet,  which 
hriii'M  tht'in  inl.i  p.>«iti.)ii.  ,    , 

The  Ara.ieanians  have  a  very  wholcHoinc 
c.uit."npt  to.-  shaniH,  a.i.l  will  ^^;iJ^;^;:ii 
that  has  any  pret.'U.'o  ah.xit  it.  I  he  po.ucHi 
neasa  t,  vl  ..'ii-'  <"'ly  '^"'"•'»'^»  iron  spur,.. r 
So  sU  y  m.l  .^v.^n  a  spur  ..f  any  k.n.l  wonl. 
seorn  to  w.'ar  ..ilh.'r  spur  ..r  Hlirnips  ..f  plate. 
nieLu,  or  of  any  imitation  of  silver,  however 

%\ey  are  «..  fasli.lioUH  in  thin  matter  that 
th.-v  will  m.t  use  arlich^s  that  have  been 
a.i  Il.r...-l;  an,l  .^ven  if  a  "l-Uf '«  "'.f "  *{ 
fl„li,l  silver  in  in.itadon  of  tluur  own  at- 
terns  they  will  he  nearly  certain  t.)  rej.^ct ., 
Su,  Work,fianship  l.ein«  sure  to  -tray  '^« 
to  their  experi.Mice.l  ey.=8.  A  '«»  I'  "'^'^ 
always  cxcil.s  their  susi.icions    nas  nuth  as 

tle^Live  ar.ill.-.MS  are  i»<-«l''^''»« ''  .''"n!; 
i„,'  it.  All  lh.H.>,  arti.-les  are  ma.lo  from  o 
Bi^lver  curron.^v  of  the  country,  and  the 
wSuiy  Aruu.'auian  always  carries  with 
in  a  pair  ..f  halan.-.^s,  and  a  num  ,er  of  dol- 
lars whi.h  srrve  as  .lan.lar.l  wei-hts. 

It  n  V  t.c  ima-iii.Hl  that  the  purchaflo  of 
ft  miroi- spurs  ..r  stirrups  is  a  matter  of  im- 
nonane^  with  t hese  p.M.'pl.^  The  buyer  sits 
Fn  slonl,  on  tl.'  Rn.und,  takes  the. spurs 
and  examines  ev.ry  part  will,  the  mumtest 
attention,  seruliui/.iu-  every  .i.nnt,  smelling 
the  meta    lastiii-  it,  and  ringing  it,m  or.kr 

mixture  .if  any  iiilVrior  material.  Not  only 
Sirs  an.  stiirui>s,  hut  pen.lant^  for  tluj 
Se,  an.1  oruanuM.ts  f..r  the  hea.lsta  sand 
ScV,  arc  ina.le  of  silver;  so  that  the  ac- 
S  rcments  of  a  wealthy  Araucanian  will 
Bom.'limes  he  worth  a  hundred  an.l  ntty 
poun.ls,  merely  as  silver,  without  regard  to 
the  value  of  the  workmanship. 

The  men  who  make  these  highly  prize, 
ornaments  use  tho  very  ru.lest  of  t.>ols  ami 
their  workshops  arc  hut  rough  hovels,  quite 
out  of  keeping  with  the  barbaric  inagn  fl- 
ceice  of  thIJir  wares.  Sometimes  the  artifi- 
cer  makes  tho,  ornaments  for  sale;  but  m 
tho  case  ui  iarg.^  ..r" ,  — 


•M-ninii  which  wciKh  Bcvcral  pounds,  and 
conSe  a  grearnumber  of  .lobars,  he  pre- 
f.?^.  to  wait  for  the  or.ler,  and  make  the  e- 
SrccUrtlcle  outof  the'hagof  dollars  with 

"'ff'\;';en:arkal!iru:at  Uie   Araucanians, 

foil  I  as  til.  rar"  of  silver,  will  hav.;.  nothing 

t...  with  gold.     UcBi.les  these  horse  ac- 

^u  rements'  they  wear    ->-  "^Hj^  -'Hi; 

C  reason  f..r  the  rej.>cti..n  «  ^ol-l  «  ^^^J 

wish  t..<,onceal  Its  P'"''";'"^::  ".' '    y.u.     r.f- 
Jr<m»   the   knowle.lge  of  the  »"r"^•"  _;-  .V' 
nei nb..,rii.g  that  it  was  the  .ause  o    the  lis. 
a«t  •  us  war  with  the  Hpunish  invadi^r.     I  ho 
r^.ul  ^.1^  is  l.r..bably,  that  itcanii..t  he  pro- 

llTi^utrient.;.«ntiti.^^ 
labor  than  they  cho..se  to  bestow,  an.l  that, 
they  have  not  learned  to  work  gold  as  they 

"'"'ril.rAraucanians   are  admirable   riders, 

lu.ld   bv  any  gr  P  ot    the  knee.     '."'"''  '• 
H  Sig  •^-  to  the  Country  always  thn.ks    ha 
a    Araucanian  ri.ler  is  ..n  lluj  P'"'';       '^    « 
thrown, so  l..ose  is  l'i««''''t,whei.Mis  1  ^  v.^ry 

m„n  .villi  ll.uir  x.iiChctii  iuib1iI»'I.«.  "  ■  '  •  • 

J  tl.ei'r  waists.'  Home  of  th.im  have  a  way 
Stiviil^  one  of  the.  balls  witlioutiUc^^ 

but  the  bare  bolas  when  they  light  with  an 

"They  also  use    the   lasso,  that   terrible 
weapon  which  extends  oyer  «"  vas  a  te  r  - 
tory,  an.l  which  sunerscdcs  the  bolas  as 
^^St";S";;^apon  is  simple  enough  in 

rt^heen<f^As:owUcr,^hc;  construction 

fs  rathc^  ingeni.,\,«,  1  have  given  «"  ;^>"«  ;^. 
tion  on  the  ll7.'-.th  jiage,  t^^  "  "-rom  spec 
imens  in  my  possession.    Fig.  1  snows  ino 


i 

•  m 


i 


nod 


THE  AKAUCANIANS. 


scarcely  break  it    This  part  of  the  rope  is 
show  11  at  flg.  5. 

For  tlic  last  ton  foot  of  its  lengtli  tlie  ropo 
is  muc!)  thicker,  is  composed  of  luoro  strips 
of  liide,  and  is  i)laitf<l  Into  a  sqnaro  form. 
At  the  extreme  end  the  various  strands  are 

?iaited  round  an  iron  ring,  as  seen  it  !)'/  4. 
'Iiroiigli  tliis  ring  llie  lasso  ).as;.e'>  no  (.n  ." 
form  a  rinniing  noose.  Th-  chru.f'e  fvnn 
the  round  lo  the  square  jiiail.  m  sec  :  :  ig. 
3,  and  lig  -  shows  the  peculiar  Ivnot  which 
keeps  tiie  lasso  from  slipping  from  the 
saddle. 

Fig.  0  shows  the  end  of  anotiier  sort  of 
lasso,  made  of  (he  silk-grass  fibre,  i.  f.  the 
long  tibres  from  the  leaves  of  a  species  of 
agave.  These  fibres  are  wonderftilly  strong, 
and  the  Insso  is  remarkable,  not  only  for 
.its  strength,  but  its  elasticity,  Inste.id  of  an 
iron  ring  being  placed  at  tlie  end,  the  rone 
is  brought  round  so  as  to  form  a  loop,  the 
interior  of  which  is  lined  with  stout  leather, 
and  the  exterior  adorned  with  colored 
wools. 

When  the  lasso  is  to  be  used,  the  thrower 
takes  the  ring  in  his  left  hand,  and  the  lasso 
in  the  ri>;ht.and  separates  his  arms  so  as  to 
make  a  running  noose  nearly  six  feet  in 
length.  Graspiu!'  the  ring  and  the  cord 
with  his  left  hand,  he  slips  his  right  hand 
along  the  ropi-  so  as  to  double  it,  and  there 
holds  it.  When  he  throws  it,  he  whirls  it 
round  his  head  until  the  noose  becomes 
f(uite  circular,  and  then  hurls  it  at  the  ob- 
iect,  throwing  alter  it  the  remainder  of  the 
rope,  which  has  hung  in  coils  on  his  left 
arm.  As  it  jiasses  through  the  air,  the 
noose  becomes  gradually  smaller,  so  that 
the  thrower  can  always  graduate  the  di- 
ameter of  the  noose  to  the  object  which  it 
is  intended  to  secure. 

The  skill  with  which  they  fling  this  noose 
is  wonderful,  as  may  be  seen  from  Air. 
Smith's  account  of  a  struggle  with  an  in- 
furiated bull-  — 

"  The  capture  of  a  particular  animal  from 
a  herd,  within  a  range  of  pasture  utterly 
imi>ounderl  ("xoept  bv  "mountains  and  rivers, 
isoftendifficult,  and'i'ives  rise  to  many  ex- 
citing cases  and  ludicrous  scenes.  Even 
when  taken,  the  captives  are  not  easy  of 
management,  their  attachment  for  old  asso- 
ciates manifesting  itself  in  frequent  attempts 
to  return. 

"  One  particular  bull  gave  great  trouble. 
He  was  a  noble  fellow,  of  spotless  white. 
—  such  an  one  as  bore  the  beautiful  Europa 
through  the  waters  of  the  Phrenician  deep, 
or  such  an  one  as  might  be  worshipped  on 
the  shores  of  the  Ganges. 

"After  along  time  ho  was  lassoed,  and 
the  horsi  man,  who  had  literally  taken  the 
bull  bv  the  horns,  started  off  complacently 
to  lead  him  to  th»;  place  of  gathering.  But 
his  bnllship  did  not  take  the  going  as  a  mat 


formidable  pair  of  horns  dashlnc  townrtl 
him,  started  at  full  gallop,  still  holding  fast 
the  lasso,  which  ho  in  vuin  tried  to  keep 
taut.  The  horse  was  jiided,  and  old  Whitey 
was  fsist  gaining.  Another  Indian  boundeu 
forward,  and,  dexterously  throwing  his 
Id-sso,  caught   the  nnoc<uipied   horn,  bring- 


ig  up  the  prisoner  with  a  i 
"  The  bull  was  not  yet  con 


ounil  turn. 


ter 


-•1    v^.'ti  t  "x:  , 


t-or 


th 


i\       \-\ix\\t\W         \\£% 


charged  upon  his  captor,  who,  eeeing  a  very 


yet  conquered.  After 
plunging,  pawing,  bellowing,  and  tossing 
for  a  while,  he  changed  his  tiiclics.  Making 
a  rush  and  a  feint  at  one  of  his  annoyers, 
ho  wheeled  about  snddenlv,  and  nearly  suc- 
ceeded in  catching  thfl  otiu  r  on  his  norns. 
Things  were  becoming  more  complicated 
than  ever,  when,  as  the  inluriiilcd  animal 
stood  bend  ^own,  with  his  tail  tuck  out 
.'i'  ail  .ii.git  o)  fiftv-tivo  degrees,  a  third 
horseman  came  to  the  attack,  and,  whirling 
his  lasso  with  a  jerk,  caught  the  caudal  cx- 
tremitv  in  a  running  knot. 

"  Thus  the  two  men  at  the  sides  were  safe, 
provided  that  the  mini  behind  kent  his  lasso 
strained.  Ihit  a  (|Uestion  in  the  rule  of 
three  now  arose.  If  three  nun  catch  ahull, 
one  by  each  horn,  and  one  by  the  tail,  and 
all  piill  in  diflerent  directions,  which  way 
can  the  bull  go? 

"No  one  seemed  able  to  work  out  the 
answer;  but  Katrilas  was  a  man  ready 
for  all  emergencies,  and,  dismounting,  ho 
started  to  the  assistance  of  his  companions, 
armed  with  a  long  lance  and  an  old  poncho. 
Running  before  the  bull,  be  threw  the  pon- 
cho on  the  ground,  a  few  jaces  in  fiiiit,  the 
man  behind  slackened  a  little,  ain!  the  bel- 
lowing captive  made  a  desperate  plunge  at 
the  red  cloth.  .  A  jerk  on  the  tail  stopped 
further  progress,  till  Katrilas,  picking  up 
the  ponclio  on  the  tip  of  the  lance,  tossed 
it  several  yards  in  advance.  There  was 
another  slackening,  another  plunge,  another 
jerk,  and  so  on,  until  the  'critter'  was 
brought  to  the  desired  spot. 

"  The  next  trouble  was  to  loo.se  the  cap- 
tive. Sundry  ecientilie  pulls  brought  him 
to  the  ground,  and  Katrilas,  sprinf;ing  for- 
ward, stripped  the  lassos  from  his  horns. 
Hut  another  remained  on  the  tail.  That  no 
one  would  venture  to  untie,  for  the  bull  liad 
risen,  and  stood  glaring  fiantieally  around. 
An  Indian,  unsheathing  his  long  knife,  ran 
full  tilt  at  the  extended  tni  and  with  one 
blow  severed  the  greater  part  of  that  use- 
ful member  from  the  body. 

"The  last  was  literally  the  'unkindcst 
cut  of  all.'  The  poor  brute  was  fairly  con- 
quered. He  stood  with  head  hanging,  eyes 
glaring,  the  tongue  lolling  from  his  frothing 
mouth,  his  once  spotless  coat  defiled  with 
foam  and  dirt,  while  the  drip,  drip,  drip,  of 
the  warm  blood  upon  his  heels  rendered  the 
abjcctness  of  his  misery  complete." 

That  the  Arancanians  are  a  courageous 
race  is  evident  from  tlnir  struggles  with 
the  SnaniardS:  Thonsrh  vainiuished  again 
and  again  by  the  superior  arms  and  disci- 


M.vnRlAGE  OKREMONII^S. 


1100 


v.llno  of  tho  Spaniards,  thpy  were  ncvor  con- 
ouon-il,  ami  wlu'ii  vcpnl^'''!,  only  iretir(;(U() 
Bftthcr  fresh  forces.  To(|»ii  after  1  oil>u  lei 
fn   tho   Ntrug«l«,  tho    nu.it    reniarkuhle   o 


thcRO  warriors  beiiif?  a  inero  youll>  named 
Lnutaro,  who  wus  uniiiiimoiwly  el.ete(l  to 
the  post  ill  (•oiise(iuciice  of  his  conduct  when 
th(^  Aiiiuciiuiiins  attacked  tho  Snauiards  at 
Tucai.el.    lie  wan  a  captive  and  a  servant 
in  the  family  of  Valdivia,  when  the  p  ace 
vnn  attn.-ked.    The  Si)auish  nmskelrv  told 
HO  terrildv  "pon  >•»>"  Araneanians  tliat  thry 
W.  :f  on  the  point  of  retrealinL,',  when  I.au- 
tarodivshed  forward,  rallied  his  countrymen, 
an,l  led  Hum  to  the  attack  with  such  spirit 
thai  the  whoir  Spanish  force  \yas  destroyed 
with  tho  exception  of  two,  who  escamul  to 
Ooncopcion  with   the   news    of  the    deteat. 
Vahilvia  himself  was  captured,  and  it  m  saul 
that   liautaro  desired  to  save  the  lite;  ol  nis 
former  master,  when  an  old  chief  seized  an 
axe  and  dashed  out  the  brain    of  the  captive 

;'eueral,  .  _  ,    ,..,,    ,, 

Foreseeing  that  General  F.  de  Villa  Gran, 
who  was  at  Conccpcion,  wouliV  march  at 
once  to  aveuj^'c  the  destruction  of  lucapel, 
r.autaro  assemt'led  the  troops,  pushed  t()r- 
war.l,  and  con.-ealed  half  of  them  in  the 
sides  of  a  delilc  throujili  which  the  road  led, 
while  the  other  half  were  also  coucealed  at 
th.'  siunmit  of  tho  luountiiin.  The  battle  he- 
can  in  tlie  dellle,  and,  after  causing  great  de- 
structii-n  anionij;  tho  cuomy,  the  Arauca- 
iiians  had  to  retire. 

Fancying  that  the  enemy  wero  beaten, 
tho  Spaniards  prcsse.i  on,  and  arrivin" 
wearied  at  tho  summit,  found  a  second  and 
fresh  arniv  opposed  to  them.  They  fought 
with  the  utmost  courage,  and  their  artillery 
nearly  turned  tho  day  in  their  favor,  wlien 
Lautaro  told  otV  one  of  his  bravest  ofliccrs 
with  orders  to  capture  the  cannon,  while  he 
attacked  Villa  Gran  on  tho  flank.  So  fu- 
riously was  til.  charge  made,  tiiat  tiie  guns 
were  "taken,  and  the  Si)aniards  had  to  re- 
treat, Villa  Gran  barely  escaping  with  his 
life.  ,      ,  .,  . 

Wiien  they  entered  tho  pass  tlirough 
which  they  had  come,  they  found  the  outlet 
blocked  with  fallen  trees,  and  tho  sides  filled 
with  warriors,  whom  the  far-seeing  T-autaro 
had  despatched  for  that  purpose  at  the  ho- 
ginnini;  of  the  conflict.  Tlie  slaughter  was 
terrific?  and  only  a  few  of  the  Spaniards 
escaped,  led  by  Villa  Gran,  who  at  last 
forced  hi--  way  through  the  barriers. 

Lautn  showed  his  splendid  generalship, 
by  pushing  on  at  once  to  the  headquarters 
at  Conccpcion,  which  he  took,  pilliiged,  and 
burned.  Orders  were  received  from  Lima 
to  rebuild  Conccpcion,  and  no  sDoner  was  it 
done  than  Lautaro  c.iptured  and  burned  it 
again.  He  then  conceived  the  bold  project 
of  attacking  Santiago  itself,  and  in  a  won- 
derfully short  time  appeared  before  the 
place. 
Here  he  committed  his  only  error  in  gen- 


eralship, lie  had  to  pftM  through  tho  terrl- 
Inry  ot  tlie  I'urumanciaiis.  who  had  liocomo 
allies  of  the  (Spaniards,  ttiiiiking  Ihein  In- 
vincible. Lautaro  should  have  reineiiil  .ered 
that  the  late  defeats  must  have  altered  tho 
opinions  of  tho  Purumanciaiis,  wlio  could 
have  been  easily  induced  to  act  against  their 
lonner  alllca.  Jhit  his  iiidignatitm  at  their 
treachery  was  so  great,  that  he  stopped  to 
ravage  their  territory  and  destroy  their 
crops.  ,        ,,  , 

Villa  Gran,  who  was  then  tho  governor  ol 
Santiago,  knew  his  enemy  well,  an  .  "m- 
nloyed  tho  time  in  fortifying  tho  city,  wi.ich 
would  have  fallen  at  once  had  Lautaro 
pushed  on  without  stopping  to  punish  his 
traitorous  countrymen.  Three  times  Villa 
Gran  sent  a  force  against  the  Araucanians, 
the  last  b(  ing  commanded  by  his  own  son, 
but  all  wore  routed  and  driven  back. 

At  last  Villa  (»ran,  stung  by  those  re- 
iicated  defeat.s,  detciniined  himself  to  con- 
Iluct  an  expedition  against  his  foes,  and  with 
a  mixed  force  of  Spaniards  and  I'urumaii- 
cians  came  stealthily  upon  tho  Araucanian 
camp.  Horn  general  though  he  was,  Lautaro 
did  not  know  tho  use  of  outposts,  and  the 
conse(iuence  was,' that  Villa  Grnii  Biirpriscd 
his  camp,  and  as  he  rushed  to  tlic  Iront  to 
rally  his  followers,  he  was  pierced  by  a  dart 
fluii"  by  one  of  the  Purumaucians,  and  tell 


dead  oii  the  spot. 

Thus  fell  Lautaro,  a  youth  worthy  to  be 
named  with  the  gn  ..test  heroes  of  antiquity. 
Chosen  commander  at  the  age  of  seventeen, 
ho  opposed  for  two  years  the  best  soldiers 
of  Europe,  armed  with  infinitely  superior 
weapons,  and  accustomed  to  military  disci- 
nlinc  Though  a  mere  boy,  ho  displayetl  a 
military  skill  an<l  a  fertility  of  resource 
worthy  of  the  most  accomplished  generals, 
and  by  sheer  force  of  intellect  and  courngo 
won  every  battle  except  that  in  which  ho 

'  A  nation  which  could  produce  men  such 
as  Lautaro,  or  tho  troops  who  fought  and 
conquered  under  his  command,  is  cAidently 
capable  of  great  things,  and  at  "» /vents, 
worth'  of  the  liberty  which  it  won  fro  ,i  the 
Span  ii-ds,  and  which  has  never  again  been 
thvia    nod. 

M.MtRtAOK  among  the  Araucanians  is  an 
odd  mixture  of  ceremonies  Theore  iciU ly 
tho  bridegroom  is  supposed  to  steal  his  wifo 
against  her  own  will  and  in  opposition  to  tho 
Welshes  of  her  parents;  Practically,  he  buys 
her  from  her  parents,  who  ^'^ve  long  o  ked 
upon  their  daughter  as  a  valuable  "rt»  1' ;  *» 
be  sold  to  the  first  purchaser  who  will  give 
a  suflicient  pric(%  , 

Sometimes  tho  match  is  one  of  affection, 
the  two  VouiiK  people  nnders-  oiding  each 
other  perfectly  well.  Music  is  the  usual 
mode  by  which  an  Araucanian  expresses  his 
feel  n.»s,  and  the  usual  instrument  is  tho 
je  v8-h"arp.     The  Mapuch^  lover  is  never 


l!  ltL_ 

■"  P1I! 


1 1 


Im 


I 


TIIK  ARAUCANIAN8. 


1200 

BPcn  without  his  J.^ws-hiirn  hniiKini?  from 
hinncck,  liwi  upon  ft  Itttlo  block  ..1  woixl  to 
i.revcnt  It  Irom  boin«lniurf.l,  iiiul  (U'coratcd 
with  strinn-t  of  iniuiy-<.>l"rc(  bemU.  I- ur- 
iiislu.l  with  this  iiKllsp.iiiHublo  iiwtrumpiit, 
tho  lovor  B.utH  hlniHcir  nt  a  llttlo  Mittimv 
from  tho  oljrot  of  his  choice,  nnd  prcMhiccs 
a  HoricH  of  moHt  dolorouB  w)uii|iH,hi«  glances 
nnd  K.'8tur..H  dcnotiuR  tho  Individual  for 
whom  tlifv  aro  meant. 

After  ft  littl.s  while,  tho  lover  thinks  that 
he  had  butter  proceed  to  the  niarriak'c 
Should  he  bo  n  wealthy  mun,  ho  has  no 
trouble  in  the  matter;  but  if  not,  he  goes 
amoUK  his   frii-nds  and  nskH  contributions 


from   them.    One   gives  an 


ox, 


another  a 


horso.  iinnther  a  pair  of  silver  spurw,  anrl  so 
on.  It  i-i  a  point  of  honor  to  make  these 
contributions,  and  equally  so  to  return  thoni 
at  some  time  or  other,  even  if  tho  intending 
bridefjroom  has  to  wait  until  In  his  turn  he 
can  sell  his  eldest  girl.      _,     ,  ,      ,      ,,, 

Tho  next  process  is,  that  the  friends  of  tlie 
youug  miiM  assemble,  all  mounted  on  their 
best  horsiH,  und  proceed  in  a  body  to  the 
house  of  the  girl's  father.  Five  or  six  of  the 
best  speakers  dismount  and  ask  permission 
for  tho  marriage  extolling  to  the  utmost  the 
merits  of  the  bridegrormi,  nnd  cxp.itiating 
on  the  happiness  of  his  daughter  iu  being 
married  to  such  a  man.  The  father,  treating 
the  matter  as  gravely  as  if  he  had  not  done 
exactly  the  same  tiling  himself,  makes  a 
speech  in  his  turn. 

All  this  ceremony  is  intended  to  give  time 
to  the  young  man  to  hunt  for  his  intended 
bride,  and,  until  he  has  found  her,  they  will 
go  on  with  their  speeches.  As  .soon  as  the 
young  man  discovers  the  girl,  he  seizes  her 
ami  drags  her  to  tho  door,  while  on  her  part 
she  screams  and  shrieks  for  protection,  .^t 
the  sound  of  her  voice  all  tho  women  turn 
out,  armed  with  8ticks,8tone8,and  any  other 
weaiious  wliieh  come  to  hand,  and  rush  to 
her  help.  Tho  friends  of  tho  bridegroom  in 
their  turn  run  to  help  their  friend,  and  for 
some  time  there  is  a  furious  combat,  none 
of  the  men  escaping  without  some  sharp 
bruises,  and  the  girl  screaming  at  tho  top  of 
her  voice.  .  , 

At  last  the  bridegroom  dashes  .it  the  gin, 
-cizes  her  as  he  can,  by  the  hand,  the  hair, 
or  Che  h.  ;ls.  as  the  ca'so  may  be.  drags  her 
to  his  'ooisi.  leaps  on  its  back,  nulls  her  up 
after  hiri,  and  dashes  off  at  full  speed,  fol- 
lowed bj  his  friends.  The  relatives  of  tho 
girl  go  off  'n  pursuit,  but  are  constantly 
checked  bv  the  friends  of  the  bridegroom, 
who  keep  them  back  until  ho  has  dashed 
into  the  forest  with  his  bride.  They  halt  at 
the  skirts  of  tho  forest,  wait  until  the  Bounds 
of  the  girl's  screams  and  the  galloping  of  the 
horse  have  died  away,  and  then  disperse. 
This  Araucanian  ceremony  of  marriage  is 
represented  on  the  following  page. 

Tlie  j'oung  couple  are  now  left  nlono  until 
thcj  cmergo  frum  ilic  wood  oa  tuu  secOR- 


day  after  tho  abduction,  whrn  they  are  sup- 
posed to  be  man  nnd  wife.  Thiit  all  tho 
lighting  and  screaming  aro  a  mere  farce  is 
evident  fiom  the  fact  that,  if  a  man  should 
olTer  himself  who  is  not  acceptable  to  tho 
paronU  of  the  girl,  and  should  proceed  to 
carry  her  off,  one  of  her  relatives  blows  tho 
horn  of  alarm,  as  has  already  been  men- 
tioned, nnd  all  the  male  relations  turn  out 
and  drive  off  the  intruder.  Sometimes,  bow- 
ever,  ho  suc<;ec(ls  in  gaining  the  bush  before 
ho  is  caught,  and  In  that  case  tlie  marriage 
holds  good.  «.        .  ,  „ 

Homo  few  days  after  tho  murringe,  tho 
Mends  call  on  tho  newly-married  eoimle. 
and  brliiL'  tho  contributions  which  they  liad 


ana  hrliig  mo  couinimuiMin  «ii"ii  i"<j  ••">• 
promised.  The  whole  party  then  proceed  to 
tho  house  of  the  girl's  father,  and  oiler  him 
theso  goods,  which  are  taken  as  if  they  were 
merely  otl'eriiigs,  and  not  the  price  for  which 
the  girl  was  sold.  Ikin^'  siitlslled  with  the 
presents,  he  expresses  himself  pleased  with 
the  man  iage,  and  congratulates  the  young 
couple  and  their  frieiuls. 

I3ut  the  mother  is  not  so  easily  to  be  entis- 
fled.  With  her  it  is  a  point  of  honor  that  she 
Is  jiot  satisfied, but, on  the  contrary.  Is  highly 
outraged  at  the  abduction  of  her  child.  So 
she  win  neither  spciik  to  nor  look  at  tho 
bridegroom,  but  sits  down  with  her  back 
turnetl  to  him.  . 

Now  conies  a  difflcult  point.  Mic  is 
bound.  In  acc(U(lance  with  the  laws  of  hos- 
iiitality,  to  entertain  the  trucsts,  and  as  the 
olTV'iiding  son-in-law  is  the  most  impoitaiit 
pi  rson,  he  must  be  consulted  first.  So  she 
addresses  the  bride,  '•  My  daughter, ask  your 
busbaiid  if  ho  is  hungry."'  The  conyei>a- 
tiou  thus  begun  is  carried  on  in  a  similar 
manner,  and  ends  with  an  entertainment  on 
which  the  mother  of  the  bride  exhausts  all 
her  culinary  knowledge.  Sometimes  the 
husband  never  addresses  his  mother-in-law 
for  years,  except  with  her  back  turned  to 
him  or  with  a  fence  intervening  between 
them.  Tlic  reader  may  remember  that  n 
similar  custom  is  followed  by  the  Kaffir 
tribes  of  Southern  Africa.    See  page  88. 

TiiK  cookery  of  the  Araucanians  is  at  first 
anything  but  agreeable  to  European  taste. 

Mutton  is  largely  consumed  in  the  coun- 
try and  is  killed,  dressed,  and  cooked  in  a 
speedy  and  simple  manner.  The  sheep 
being  hung  by  its  hind  lej^s  to  a  tree,  its 
throat  is  cut,  and  the  blood  is  received  Into 
a  bowl  and  mixed  with  salt,  in  which  state 
it  is  thought  to  be  a  very  great  delicacy. 
Tho  sheep  is  then  opened,  and  the  whole  of 
the  interior  removed  to  be  cleaned  and 
cooked,  this  being  held  as  the  best  part  of 
the  animal.  The  skin  is  then  removed,  the 
body  is  split  along  the  spine  from  head  to 
tail,  and  each  half  is  transfixed  with  a  stick, 
and  set  over  the  fire. 

The  greatest  delicacy,  however,  that  can 
be  "laced  before  a  guest  is  called  "  nachi." 


(1.)   AU.VUCANIAN    MAUIIIAUK.    (Mci- puBC  1200.) 


a;;on 


i 


i 


CIIICA  AND  MUDAI. 


1203 


The  mode  of  preparing  this  dish  is  a  good  ex- 
ample of  the  total  disregard  of  inflicting  pain 
which  is  coniniou  to  all  uncivilized  people. 

A  sheep  is  hung  up  by  the  fore-legs,  a 
nuantitv  of  cayenne  pepper  and  salt  is  mixecl 
in  a  bowl,  and  the  throat  of  the  sheep  is  ciit 
80  as  to  open  tho  windpipe,  down  whicU  the 


exactly  the  kava  of  Polynesia,  and  is  pre- 
nared  in  the  same  manner,  meal  being  sub- 
stituted for  the  kava  root.  A  busliel  or  so 
of  wheat  is  slowly  boiled  for  several  hours, 
after  which  the  decoction  is  strained  off  and 
set  to  cool.  In  order  to  hasten  fermenta- 
tion, a  quantity  of  meal  is  masticated  and 


80  as  to  open  tho  ivindpipe  down  -.nicn  ^n«   Tl '    to'the     nu       T  le  eff.ct  is  very  rapid, 
operator  stuffs  tl.... it  and  pepper  as  fas   a.    -' J   ,*«  i'-J/^'ntation  has  fairly  beg\n,5ho 


ho  can.  He  then  draws  out  the  mgular 
vein,  cuts  it,  and  turns  the  end  into  the  sev- 
ered windpipe,  down  which  the  hlood  flows 
80  as  to  mix  with  the  pepp^'  and  salt,  and 
carry  them  into  the  lungs.  The  unfortunate 
sheep  swells  w  and  dies  in  horrible  agony, 
which  is  totally  disregarded  bv  the  specta- 
tors, not  from  intentional  cruelty,  but  uttei 
want  of  lluMight.  The  sheen  is  then  opened, 
and  the  lungs  are.  found  distended  with  a 
mixture  of  salt,  pepper,  and  blood.  This  is 
the  naehi,  which  is  served  up  by  being  cut  in 
slices  and  handed  to  the  guests  while  still 

warm.  ,•,.■■  i . 

There   arc  two  national  drinks,  namely, 
chica  and  mudai.    The  former  is  a  sort  of 
cider,  and  prepared  as  follows.    A  sheepskin 
is  laid  on  the  ground,  with  the  woolly  side 
downward,  and  a  poncholiil  of  green  apples 
is  cm|)ticd  on   it.    Two  or   three  men  sit 
round  it  aniu'd  with  switches,  wit.i  which 
they  \nvAt  the  apples,  and   in  a  short  time 
convert  them  into  a  pulp.    Water  is  next 
poured  ui)on  them,  and  the  chica  is  ready  for 
use.    The  men  take  up  large  handfu's  ot  the 
pulp,  and  squeeze  them  into  jars,  this  being 
all  the  preparation  which  the  chica  receives. 
This  drink  is  at  lirst  hated  by  foreigners, 
and  afterward  liked  by  them.    See,  for  ex- 
ample, two  extracts  from  the  journal  ot  the 
saine  traveller.    "  After  riding  for  a  long 
time   in  the  hot  sun  without  meeting  any 
running  stream,  we  spied  a  farmhouse  in 
the  distance,  and,  going  to  it  asked  lor  a 
glass  of  water.  . 

"'There  is  not  a  drop  of  water  within  a 
mile  of  th(^  house,'  waid  an  old  woman  who 
came  to  the  door,  'but  wo  can  give  you 
some  chiai  ih  iiunizfows  (eider)  that  is  very 
nice,'  producing  at  the  word  a  huge  glass  ot 
a  green,  muddv  liquid.  To  call  it  vinegar 
would  b(!  too  high  a  compliment,  and  to  add 
that  it  was  flavored  with  gall  would  convey 
no  adequate  idea  of  this  ahominable  stuff, 
which  had  been  made  from  tiie  vcrv 
greenest  of  green  apples.  One  mouthful 
suttieed  for  i'«e,  and  my  first  impressions  of 
cluca  de  maiizanos  were  not  favorable;  but 
our  Kiiid.!  tossed  =t  off  with  infinite  relish." 

This  description  was  written  immediately 
after  entering  tlii;  countrv  for  the  first  time. 
Here  is  another  di'scription  of  tho  sarnc 
liquid.  After  describing  the  mode  of  its 
manufacture,  he  proceeds  to  say:  "Such 
cider  is  somewhat  coffee  coloredj  and  rather 
sour,  but  I  soon  became  fond  of  it,  esnecially 
with  the  addition  of  a  little  toasted  meal, 
which  makes  it  much  more  palatable." 
Mudai  is  a  drink  which  resembles  almost 
88 


;uun;u  uu  mc  iini.ii>...  .»..-  ---  .  ,  ,  "  *,,  • 
and  when  fermentation  has  fairly  begun,  the 
mudai  is  fit  for  use,  and  is  strained  oft  into 
jars  It  has  a  mu<ldy  look,  but  possesses  a 
pleasant  and  slightly  acid  flavor  which  la 
very  agreeable  in  a  hot  country  if  the  mode 
of  preparation  be  not  known. 

Wheat  is  prepared  in  a  rather  peculiar, 
not  to  say  poetical  and  romantic,  manner. 
The  sickle  is  not  employed,  but  the  ears  arc 
plucked  bv  hand.    The  wheat  gatherers  sep- 
arate themselves  into  pairs,  a  young  man 
and  a  girl   taking  a  basket  between  them, 
and  walking  slowly  through  the   cornfield. 
As  they  pass  along,  they  gather  the  ears, 
rubbin<^  them  on  the  back  of  their  compan- 
ion's hand,  so  that  the  ripe  grains  fall  into 
the  basket.    They  accompany  the,  light  toil 
with  songs,  which  mostly  treat  of  love,  and 
as  the  teiideney  of  each  pair  is  naturally  to 
diver"c  from  the  others,  it  happens  that  in 
this  way  is  ovitrinated  many  a  love-match, 
which  afterward  finds  its  issue  in  tho  mar- 
ria<'e  ceremonies  above  described. 

This  plan  is,  however,  only  emploved 
when  corn  has  to  be  gathered  and  threshed 
on  a  small  scale.  When  a  large  quantity  is 
nrepared  the  horse  is  brought  into  requisi- 
tion, the  ears  being  thrown  into  a  circular 
shallow  pit,  roun.l  and  round  w  uch  six  or 
seven  horsemen  urge  their  steeds  shouting 
and  yelling  as  if  mad..  When  they  think 
that  the  grain  is  sufficiently  released  liora 
the  ears,  they  leap  out  of  the  ring,  and  a 
number  of  women  and  cluldren  enter,  who 


sweep  up  the  corn  and  chaff  to  the  edge  of 
the  ring  with  bunches  of  twigs  which  servo 


impor- 
taken 


as  brooms. 

This  operation,  however,  is  a  very 
feet  one,  and  before  the  corn  can  be 
to  the  mill  a  further  husking  has  to  be  per- 
formed. This  is  done  by  placing  the  wheat 
in  shallow  wooden  dishes,  getting  into  them 
barefooted,  and  keeping  up  a  sort  pf  shut- 
flintr  dance,  throwing  up  the  grain  with  each 
foof  alternately,  and  rubbing  it  wit'i  the 

"  The  winnowing  is  simply  accompHshed  by 
flinging  the  wheat  into  tlv  air,  so  that  tho 
chaff  is^blown  away  by  the  .vim.    As  to  tho 
crinding,  it  is  exactly  similar  to  that  modo 
whkh  is'  practised  by  the  Kaffirs,  tne  worn- 
en  placing  the  corn  on  the  top  of  a  flat, 
sjng  stone,  and  rubbing  't.^vith  another 
stone  shaped  like  a  lolhng-pin.    The  mil 
being  placed  on  a  sheepskin,  the  meal  falls 
pon  t\ie  skin  as  it  is  ground.    This  is  very 
hard  work    indeed,  and    even  the    skilled 
Araucani-ins  ai'o  bathed  in  perspiration  be- 
fore they  have  ground  enough  corn  for  ameaL 


'^»  S 


JP! 


CHAPTEB    CXXVI. 

THE  ARA.UCANIANS  —  ConcZuded. 

QAX  -o  AND  SOCIAL  CUSTO&S. 

THB  GAMB  OF  PEr,lCAN,  AND  ITS  CLOSE  RESEMBLANCE  TO  HOCKEY  -  AVAK,  OH  THE  KIOHT  BEA*B 
GAME  — MANUKACTIIIIK9  — MAKING  HKOTHBUH00D,  AND  EXCHANGINC.  NAMES— AN  IIIUUITION  OF 
NEW  RELATIVES -STATE  OF  THE  HEALINU  ART -THE  MACHI8  OR  DOCTORS -THEIR  MODE  OF 
TVORKIN(iCURE8-A  WEIUD-LIKE  8CENE-THE  FEMALE  DOCTOR  AT  HEK  INCANTATL^N-FKAK 
OF  ALLOWING  THE  NAME  TO  BE  KNOWN  — BELIEF  IN  0MEN8— THE  LUCKY  BIRDS  — HUMAN 
SACRIFICE  —  FUNERAL  OF  A  CHIEF. 


TnE  games  of  the  Arancanians  arc  toler- 
ably numerous,  and  one  or  two  of  them 
resemble  some  of  our  own  games.  There 
is  one,  for  example,  called  Pelican,  which  is 
almost  identical  with  the  well-known  same 
of  hockey.  An  animated  description  of  this 
game  is  given  by  Mr.  K.  R.  Smith:  — 

"  Early  in  the"  morning  wo  saw  a  number 
of  boys  engaged  upon  tlie  line  lawn  in  front 
of  the  house"  in  planting  out  twigs  at  short 
intervals,  thus  forming  (in  alley  about  forty 
feet  wide,  and  some'  tliree  hundred  long. 
They  were  preparing  fur  a  game  of  Pelican. 
Others  were  blowing  a  long  horn  (formed 
by  the  insertion  of  a  cow's  horn  in  a  hollow 
cane),  to  the  tones  of  which  came  back  an- 
swering notes,  as  though  a  rival  band  were 
approaching  over  the  hills.  The  night  be- 
fore, we  had  heard  the  same  challenge  to 
the  neighboring  youths,  and  the  same  echo- 
in"  reply,  but  niore  faint  and  distant.  At 
last,  the  enemy  were  seen  emerging  from 
the  woods;  a  shout  of  welcome  arose;  there 
were  many  salutations,  a  'big  talk,'  and  all 
put  themselves  in  readiness  for  the  great 
trial  of  skill. 

"The  game  ofPeliran  .  .  .  is  played  with 
a  small  wooden  ball,  propelled  along  the 
ground  by  sticks  curv('d  at  the  lower  end. 
The  two  sides  have  their  bases  at  opposite 
extremities  of  tlu!  alley.  The  ball  is  placed 
in  a  hole  half-way  between  the  bases,  and 
over  it  two  boys  are  stationed,  while  the  other 
players  are  scattered  along  the  alley,  each 
armed  with  a  stick.  When  all  is  ready,  the 
two  boys  strike  their  sticks  together  in  the 
air»  and  commencQ  a  strugi/lc  for  the  ball, 


each  striving  to  knock  it  toward  the  oppo- 
site i.^xrty.  _         ,  .      ., 

"  The  object  of  every  one  is  to  dnvo  the 
ball  through  his  oppoiieutV  base,  or,  in  de- 
fence of  his  own,  to  knock  it  sideways 
beyond  the  bordering  line  of  twigs,  in 
wliich  case  the  trial  is  put  down  as  drawn, 
and  recommences.  Each  game  is  duly 
notched  on  a  stick,  and  the  parly  lirst  tally- 
ing a  certain  number  gains  the  victory. 

"There  was  much  shouting  and  sliulWing, 
many  a  cracked  shin  and  an  occasional 
tumble,  but  the  greatest  goodwill  reigned 
throughout.  Some  thirly  players  were  en- 
gaged in  the  game,  mostly  naked,  with  the 
exception  of  a  iioncbo  about  the  loins.  I 
was  much  disapi)ointcd  with  tlu  ir  physical 
development,  which  was  not  iis  1  expected 
to  see.  Th"y  struck  me  as  inferior  to  tlio 
laboring  classes  in  Chili,  both  in  muscle  and 
symmetry,  though  nossessiug  lb.  same  gen- 
eral features.  Neither  was  their  playing 
remarkable  either  for  skill  or  activity;  and 
if  they  were  a  fair  sample,  it  would  be  an 
easy  matter  to  select  from  many  of  our 
schools  or  colleges  a  jmrty  of  young  men 
more  than  a  match  lb'-  the  same  number 
of  nicked  Araucanians,  even  at  their  own 
national  game  of  Pelican. 

When  the  sun  is  too  high  to  allow  this 
game  to  proceed,  the  players  generally 
abandon  it  in  favor  wf  another  game  called 
Avas.  This  is  puicly  a  game  of  chance.  It 
is  played  with  eight  beans,  each  liaving  a 
mark  on  one  side,  and  ten  sticks,  whi(;h  are 
used  in  reckoning  the  game.  Spreading  a 
poncho  on  the  ground,  the  players  ait  at 


(1204) 


THE  CEREMONY  OF  LACU. 


1205 


opposite  side*,  and  cnch  ii  turn  takes  the 
beans,  shakes  tlioin  in  his  liands,  and  flings 
tlicm  on  the.  poncho.    For  each  bean  tliat 
falls  witli  tlie  marked  side  upward  one  point 
is  scored,  a  hundred  complelin!?  tlie  jjaine. 
The  interest  displayed  in  this  game  is  ex- 
traordinary.   Tlie  players  shout  to  the  beans, 
talk  to  tliem,  kiss  them,  press  them  to  their 
breasts,  and   rub   them  on   the  L'round,  iin- 
plorinj;  them  to   send  good   luck  to  them- 
selves, and  evil  fortune  to  their  antagonists, 
and  treating   them   exactly  as  if  Ihey  were 
liviii"  creatures.     At  this  game  they  stake 
all  the   property  that  they  can   muster,  and 
ponchos,  bolas,   lassos,   knives,  ornaments, 
anil  dollars  when   they  can   he  got,  change 
hands  with  great   rapidity  amid  the  <^\cited 
yells  of  the  |)layers  and  spectators.  .  At  this 
came  the  Araucaniaiis  frequently  lose  every 
article  of  property  wl.ich   they  possess,  and 
it  is   not  at  all  uncommon   to  see   a  well- 
dressed  and  well-armed   player  go  discon- 
solately home  without  his  weapons,  his  or- 
naments, and  his  clothes,  except  a  ragged 
clicriiia. 

The  fate  of  prisoners  of  war  often  depends 
on  the  turn  of  a  heau,  and  sometimes,  when 
the  national  conncil  have  been  unable  to 
decide  on  a  suhjeel,  they  have  settled  the 
l)oint  by  the  resiilt  of  a  game  at  avas.  Even 
the  pelican  ganic^  has  sometimes  been  en- 
trusted with  tlu\  decision  of  a  knotty  point 
of  jiolicy. 

The  manufactures  of  the  Araucanians  arc 
but  few.  The  art  of  the  silversmith  has 
already  bci-r.  described,  as  has  also  that  of 
tlie  b()l.as  maker,  while  tlii>  manufacture  of 
the  lasso  will  Jh'  <lescril)cd  in  another  place. 
Thi!  native  cloths  are  made  orcott(m  or  wool, 
and  are  woven  in  very  rude  looms.  The 
principal  dve  emiiloyed'by  the  Araucanians 
is  iniligo,  and  the  "bright  scarlet  iiatteriis 
which  areintrodi.  •;•:!  into  the  best  clotiis  are 
obtained  by  interweaving  threads  unravelled 
from  European  manulaetures. 

Among  their  social  customs,  the  mode  of 
making  brotherhood  ought  to  be  mentioned, 
inasmuch  as  it  resemlili'S  in  some  respects 
that  which  has  alrendv  been  described  as 
practised  in  the  Malav  Archipelago  and  in 
i\friea,  and  in  ntiiers.  The  .ceremony  is 
called  l.acii,  and  is  performed  ailer  the  fol- 
lowing matii.iir. 

Oni!  individual  is  selected  from  the  family 
into  which  the  lionored  guest  is  to  be  re- 
ceived, and  to  him  a  present  is  mad(>.  lie 
then  fetches  a  lamb,  kills  it,  cuts  it  into 
two  pieces,  and  boils  one-half  of  the  animal. 
The  meat  is  then  placcil  in  a  huge  wooden 
bowl,  and  brought  to  the  new  brotiicr  in 
l.acu,  who  is  snpnoscd  to  eat  the  whole  of  it, 
and  if  he  shonUi  leave  a  single  mouthful 
would  grievously  insult  the  family  into  which 
he  was  to  bo  received. 

Fortunatelv,  he  is  allowed  by  the  laws  of 
etiquette  to  take  advantage  of  tlie  adage,  oni 
fimtperalium  facitpersc:  and  though  he 


cannot  by  any  possibility  consume  half  a 
lamb,  he  is  allowed  to  eat  as  much  as  he  can 
manage  and  to  distribute  the  remainder 
among  the  family,  who  are  only  too  hapi)y 
to  Uikc  their  share  in  fuliilling  the  recpured 
conditions.  From  that  time  the  two  J.acus 
exchange  names. 

Mr.  E.  K.  Smith  went  through  the  cere- 
mony of  Lacu,  and  became  a  member  of  the 
Mapuchu  tribe,  under  the  name  of  Nam- 
cnlan,  an  abbreviation  of  Namcu-Lamiuen, 
i.  e.  Eaglet  of  the  Sea.  Sometime  afterward 
he  found  that  Ids  relations  were  strangely 
numerous. 

"After  tho  usual  meal,  the  usual  dis- 
tribution of  presents  was  made,  and  as  the 
family  was  small  we  were  just  congratulating 
ourselves  on  escaping  cheaply,  when  in 
sauntered  a  neighbor,  who  was  presented  as 
my  brother.  He  had  hardly  settled  down  to 
the  enjoyment  of  his  share  of  the  booty,  when 
in  driipped  a  blear-eyed  old  ^^•oman,  who 
proved  to  be  my  aunt.  Next  followed  a 
stately  dowager,  "fair,  fat,  and  forty,  radiant 
with  paint  and  silver  (U-namenls,  looking  as 
innocent  as  though  she  had  droiiped  in  by 
the  merest  a  •eideiit  in  the  world.  She  was 
my  sister,  and  so  it  went  on  until  we  began 
to"  think  that  our  host's  relations  were  in- 
numerable." 


The  Araucanians  know  a  little  alioulmial- 
iciue,  and  much  more  about  surgery,  though 
the  mixture  of  superstition  with  practice 
lessens  the  former,  and  the  absence  <d  a 
written  language  hinders  the  latter.  Their 
medicines  are  almost  entirely  vegetable,  1  ho 
chief  of  which  is  the  well-known  sarsaparilla 
root.  ]Jle(:ding  is  performed  by  means  of 
sharp  flakes  of  obsidian,  which  are  sharper 
than  any  knife  of  native  manntaeture,  and 
blisters  are  in  great  favor.  _ 

The  Maiiuehd  mode  of  blistering  is  the 
very  simiile  one  of  the  actual  cautery,  an(l  is 
performed  by  means  ofamoxa  iiiadt^  of  dried 
iiitb.  This  "material  is  rolled  up  in  htllo 
halls  and  applied  to  the  skin,  wlure  it  is.  al- 
lowed to  remain  until  entirely  consumed, 
being  pressed  down  so  as  to  ensure  its  lull 
ellect.  This  is  horrililv  painful,  but  in  spite 
of  that  drawback— pcrl'-.ips  in  consecpieuee 
of  it  — is  very  much  in  favor  with  the  jieople. 
Heside  tlie"se  material  medicines  they  have 
othen.  of  a  ditferent  character,  which  aie,  ein- 
ploved  when  the  disease  is  beyond  the  reach 
of  their  simple  mediciii(-s.  The  wise  men 
who  practise  this  advanced  system  ot  healing 
are  but  few  in  number,  and  are  called  by  the 
title  of  Maehi,  their  mode  of  practice  re- 
ceiving the  name  of  mnchilmi. 

Going  on  the  principle  that  a  disea.se  which 
cannot  he  expelled  by  medicine  must  be 
caused  by  an  evil  spirit,  tlie  Maclii  proceeds 
to  drive  It  out  after  his  own  fashion.  Ihe 
hut  is  cleared  of  inhabitants,  and  the  patient 
laid  on  his  back  in  the  middle  of  the  floor. 
The  Machi,  having  in  the  meanwhile  re- 


lif! 


4 


1 

1 

1 

1 

'"' 

^^n 

H 

i 

■ 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1206 


THE  ABAUCANIANS. 


moved  nearly  the  whole  of  his  clothes,  and 
made  himself  as  liorriblc  as  he  can  by  paint, 
enters  the  dwelling,  taking  with  him  his 
magic  drum,  i.  e.  a  wooden  bowl  with  a  cover 
of  slieepskin  strained  tightly  over  it.  After 
examining  the  jjatient,  the  Machi  begins 
a  long-drawn  monotonous  incantation,  ac- 
companied by  continual  beating  of  the  drum, 
until  he  has  worked  himself  up  to  a  pitch  of 
frenzy,  and  falls  backward  on  the  ground, 
with  "breast  jerking  convulsively,  eyes  roll- 
ing, and  mouth  foaming. 

As  hoon  as  he  falls,  a  number  of  young 
men,  who  have  been  waiting  ciose  to  the 
hut,  leap  on  their  horses,  and  dash  at  full 
speed  round  the  house,  yelling  defiantly, 
waving  lighted  torches  over  their  heads,  and 
brandishing  their  long  lances  by  way  of 
frightening  the  evil  spirit,  and  warning  him 
not  to  come  near  the  place  again.  Like  the 
Machi,  they  are  all  nearly  naked,  and  painted 
in  tlie  most  hideous  fashion,  so  as  to  strike 
terror,  not  only  into  the  spirit  that  has  pos- 
session of  the  man,  but  into  those  who  are 
hovering  round  tlie  house,  and  trying  to  gain 
admission.  In  the  first  en"raving  on  the 
next  page  the  artist  has  furnished  a  strange, 
weird  scene,  ilhistrating  the  Mapuchd  mode 
of  healing  the  sick. 

After  a  while  the  Machi  recovei-s  from  his 
trance,  and  then  announces  the  sea',,  and 
immediate  cause  of  the  malady.  For  the 
latter  he  carcfullv  searches  the  patient,  and 
after  a  time  produces  it  in  the  .shape  of  a 
sjiider,  a  toad,  a  stone,  an  arrow  head,  or 
similar  object.  Were  he  to  do  more  than 
this, no  harm  would  accrue, and  if  the  patient 
should  recover  no  harm  is  done. 

Kut,  should  he  die,  the  Machi  is  forced  hy 
pul)lic  opinion  to  deelare  that  the  evil  8j)int 
has  i)een  sent  to  the  dead  man  by  means  of 
witcttcrafl. 

The  body  is  opened,  the  gnll  removed,  and 
placed  in  the  wooden  bowl  of  the  magic 
di'uni,  where  it  undergoes  a  series  of  incan- 
tations. After  they  are  over,  it  is  put  into 
a  closely  covered  i)ot  and  placed  on  the  fire 
until  it  is  dried  up.  The  sign  of  witchcraft 
ie  a  stone  tound  attheliottom  of  the  pot,  and 
it  is  needless  to  sav  that  such  a  stone  is 
never  wanting.  By  means  of  this  proof  of 
witchcraft,  the  Machi  again  throws  himself 
into  a  trance,  in  the  course  of  which  he 
designates  the  culprit  who  has  caused  the 
illness  of  the  deceased. 

No  one  evei'  disbelieves  a  Machi,  and  the 
rclatrves  of  tlie  deav!  man  seek  out  the  ac- 
cused and  murder  him.  It  naturally  follows 
that  the  Machis  are  too  prone  to  abuse  this 
terrible  power  of  thoir  position  by  accusing 
persons  against  whom  tnev  have  enmity,  or 
whom  they  have  been  bribed  to  condemn. 
No  counter  proof  is  admitted  in  the  face  of 
a  Machi's  accusation;  and  if  the  alleged 
culprit  should  be  in  another  district,  the  ca- 
cique is  requested  to  deliver  him  up  to  justice. 
Tho  unfortunate  wretch  la  sure  to  suffer  tor- 


ture for  the  sake  of  extracting  a  confession 
of  his  guilt,  and,  whether  he  confess  or  not, 
he  is  sure  to  bo  killed;  so  that  a  wise  man 
admits  his  guilt  at  once,  and  thereby  escapes 
the  tortures  which  he  would  otherwise  have 
suflFered. 

Sometimes,  though  rarely,  the  Machi  is 
a  woman.  In  this  case  she  assumes  the 
male  dress,  mimics  as  far  as  she  can  the 
masculine  lone  of  voice  and  mode  of  walk- 
inj^,  and  is  always  a  very  disagreeable  indi- 
vidual, being  mostly  crabbed,  ill-tempered, 
petulant,  uuvl  nritable. 

As  the  Maci."  always  operate  ''t  night, 
the  scene  is  mosi.  wild  and  picturesque,  as 
may  be  seen  from  the  account  of  Mr.  E.  K. 
Smith,  who  witnessed  (at  a  distance)  the 
operations  of  a  female  Machi. 

"  One  of  the  neighbors  was  dangerously 
ill,  and  during  the  night  there  was  a  grand 
nmchilun  performed  by  the  grand  exorcist, 
the  medicine  woman  of  Boroa  herself.  1 
wished  to  be  present,  but  Sancho  would  not 
listen  to  the  proposal,  insisting  that  wo 
might  expose  ourselves  to  violence  by  ap- 
pearing to  interfere  with  this  witch,  whoso 
hatred  of  the  whites  and  influence  over  the 
natives  wei'e  alike  unbounded. 

"The  night  was  black  and  threatening, 
well  suited  to  her  machinations.  "VVe  could 
l)lainly  hear  the  monotonous  tap  of  the  In- 
dian drum,  and  the  discordant  song  occa- 
sionally rising  with  the  frenzy  of  the  mo- 
ment into  a  shrill  scream,  then  sinking  to  a 
low,  guttural  cadence,  while  all  else  was 
huslied  for  very  dread  of  the  unhallowed 
rites.  Suddenly  the  singing  stoijjjcd,  and 
there  was  a  long  silence,  broken  by  the 
eruption  of  a  troop  of  naked  savages  rush- 
ing round  the  house  on  horse  and  afoot, 
brundishing  fiercely  lance,  and  sword,  and 
buruin.c  f'ngot  and  blazing  torch,  and  mak- 
ing nignt  hideous  with  their  demoniac  cries. 
Th(!  frightened  dogs  howled  in  disniiil  eon- 
cert,  and  again  all  was  still.  The  evil  spirit 
had  bi'cn  cast  out  and  driven  away.  It  only 
remained  for  the  sick  man  to  recover  or 
die." 

The  witch  who  presided  over  this  extra- 
ordinary scene  was  a  tnvstizo,  i.  e.  a  hall- 
breed  between  the  negro  and  the  nutivo. 
She  was  a  singularly  unprepossessing  per- 
sonage, hideously  ugly,  and  turning  her  ug- 
liness of  features  to  account  by  her  shrewd- 
nea."3  of  intellect.  Ugliness  is  not,  however, 
a  necessary  accompaninient  of  this  particu- 
lar caste.  There  is  now  before  me  a  plioto- 
graph  of  a  young  mestizo  woman,  whoso 
features,  although  they  partake  somewhat 
of  the  negro  character,  are  good  and  intelli- 
gent, her  color  is  comparatively  pale,  and 
her  hair  rct^iins  the  length  and  thiekncs  of 
the  Araucanian,  together  with  a  cri8])ness 
which  has  been  inherited  ftrom  the  negro 
race. 

Like  many  other  uncivilized  nations,  Iho 
Araucanians  have  a  great  objection  to  allow 


ill 


if? 


H' 


M^ 


1 


i      » 


BELIEF  m  OMENS. 


1809 


a  strnnger  to  learn  their  names,  thinking 
that  by  means  of  such  knowledge  the  wiz- 
ards may  be  able  to  practise  upon  them. 
When  they  are  brought  into  contact  with 
the  white  man,  and  arc  asked  their  names, 
the  Araucanians  flatly  deny  that  they  have 
any.  They  will  take  service  under  him,  and 
allow  him  to  cull  them  by  any  name  that  he 
likes,  but  their  own  name  they  will  never 
t<>ll,  nor  do  they  like  even  to  invent  one  on 
the  spur  of  the  moment.  The  reader  will 
doubtless  recall  many  similar  instances  that 
have  been  recorded'  in  the  course  of  this 
work.  They  have  a  similar  objection  to 
their  portraits  being  taken,  thinking  that 
the  possessor  will  be  able  to  exercise  maHi- 
cal  inlhience  upon  them  by  means  of  the 
simulated  features. 

This  terror  has  been  increased  by  tl^c  use 
of  books  by  the  white  travellers.  Nothing 
is  more  inexplicable  to  an  Araucanian  than 
to  see  a  white  man,  evidently  ignorant  of 
the  language,  refer  to  a  book  and  then  say 
the  word  which  he  wants.  How  such  a 
mystery  can  be  achieved  is  beyond  his  com- 
prehension, and  he  regards  the  book  and  its 
owner  as  equally  supernatural  beings. 

In  one  case,  an  Indian  of  more  than  usu- 
ally inquisitive  mind  pointed  to  various  ob- 
jects, in  order  to  see  whether  his  white  vis- 
itor could  llnd  out  their  names  by  looking 
at  a  book.     Being  convinced  that  the  feat 
really  was  perfiirmed,  he  peered  into   the 
book,  vainly  trying  to  detect  some  resem- 
blance   between   the   word  and  the   object 
which  it  signified.   As  he  did  not  gain  much 
information  from  his  eyes,  his  white  friend 
pointed  out  the  word,  on  which  he  laid  his 
hand  as  if  to  feel  it.     Just  at  that  moment, 
a  slight   breeze   ruffled   the  leaves  of   the 
book.    The  man  drew  back  as  if  a  snake 
had  bitten  him.     The  mysterious  voice  of 
the  white  man's  oracle  had  spoken  to  him, 
and,  what  was  worse,  upon  his  left  hand. 
H(!  said  nothing,  but  silently  withdrew,  and,  I 
wrapping  his  poncho  round  his    head,  sat 
for  several  hours  without  speaking  a  word.    ! 
In    consequence    of   this  super8titio:i,   a' 
traveller  dares  not  use  his  note  bookopcnir. 
He  is  obliged  to  write  his  remarks  surrepti- 
tiously, and,  so  great  is  the  fear  inspired  by 
the  very  fact  of  writing,  that  even  if  the 
traveller  be  out  of  sight  for  any  lengthened 
time,  the  people  are  nervous  and  suspicious. 
The   Araucanians  have  a  firm  belief  in 
omens,  and  will  address  prayers  after  their 
own  fashion  to  any  of  the  creatures  th.at  are 
supposed  to  have  supernatural  power.    On 
one  .)ccasion,  when   Mr.  E.   R.  Smith  was 
travelling  wiih  his  native  friends,  one  of  the 
mules  fell  and  broke  its  back.    This  was  a 
sinister  omen,  and  the  Araucanians  were  cor- 
respondingly depressed  at  it.     Fortunatelv, 
an   omen  so  good    iollowed   it  that    their 
fears  were  dispelled  and  t  onfldence  restored. 
The  reader  may  remember  that  Mr.  Smith 
had  just  exchanged  names  with  a  Mapnch^ 


lad,  and  was  called  Namcu-lanquen,  t.  e.  Eag- 
let of  the  Sea.  Just  after  the  unlucky  miue 
had  injured  itself,  a  sea  eagle  rose  suddenly 
fVom  its  perch,  circled  around  the  party,  smd 
sailed  off  southward.  This  was  indeed  a  fortu- 
nate omen.  In  the  first  place,  the  bird  was  the 
emblem  of  the  white  man  who  had  recently 
become  a  Maj)uche,  and  in  the  next,  the  eagle 
was  on  the  right  hand  of  the  travellers. 

The  native  guide  Trauque  put  spurs  to 
his  horse,  tlashed  forward  at  full  gallop, 
shouting  and  yelling  with  excitement  at  the' 
piece  of  good  fortune  that  had  befallen  them. 
Presently  he  halted,  and  addressed  a  prayer 
to  the  eagle:  "O  Namcu!  Great  being! 
Look  not  upon  us  with  thy  left  but  with  thy 
right  eye,  for  thou  knowest  that  we  are 
poor!  Watch  over  our  children  and  broth- 
ers; and  gnmt  us  happiness,  and  allow  us  to 
return  in  safety  from  our  journc}'." 

Every  circumstance  combined  to  make 
the  omen  propitious.  The  Namcu  is  tlie 
being  most  venerated  by  the  Araucanians, 
who  think  that  it  is  a  sort  of  heavenly  mes- 
senger in  direct  communication  with  the 
Superior  Being.  •  The  reader  will  doubtless 
be  struck  with  the  coincidence  between  the 
bird  divinations  of  the  Araucanians  and 
those  of  the  Dyaks  of  Borneo,  as  well  as  bv 
their  identity  with  the  auguries  of  ancient 
G"eece  and  ilon^e. 

With  the  exceptionof  the  wise  men  above 
mentioned,  the  .\raucanians  have  no  priests, 
and  as  a  necessary  consequence  they  have 
no  temples  and  no  religious  cerernonies. 
There  is  a  general  though  vague  belief  in  a 
good  and  evil  principle, which  maybe  mani- 
fested by  a  host  of  inferior  deities  or  demons. 
They  have  not  even  an  idol,  nor  is  there  any 
definite  system  of  worship,  the  only  prayers 
which  a  native  makes  being  invocations  such 
as  that  which  has  just  been  described  a,s 
I  made  to  the  eagle. 

Sacrifices  are  made  at  their  great  national 
I  councils.  An  animal  is  killed,  its  blood  is 
poured  on  the  ground  as  a  libation,  and  the 
heart,  laid  on  a  green  branch,  is  borne  round 
the  assembly,  accompanied  with  dances  and 
song.?.  The  fli"!i  is  then  cooked  and  eaten, 
and  the  bones  collected  and  thrown  into 
the  nearest  river,  so  that  they  shall  not 
be  polluted  by  being  eaten  by  the  dogs. 

Sometimes  in  war  time,  a  prisoner  is  sac- 
rificed. He  is  placed  on  a  horse  whose  tail 
and  ears  have  been  cropped  by  way  of  derid- 
ing the  rider,  and  is  thus  taken  to  the  place 
of  execution.  Here  he  dismounts,  and  is 
forced  to  dig  a  hole,  into  which  he  throws  a 
number  of  sticks,  calling  each  after  the  name 
of  some  celebrated  warrior  of  his  tribe.  He 
is  then  made  to  fill  up  the  hole,  thus  symbol- 
ically burying  the  fame  of  his  countrymen, 
and  as  soon  as  he  has  done  so,  his  brains  arc 
dashed  out  with  a  club,  care  being  taken  to 
inflict  as  little  damage  aa  possible  on  the 
skull. 
As  800D  as  he  falls,  the  heart  is  torn  from 


mn 


1210 


THE  ARAUCANIANS. 


i! 


!l 


the  brcftst  and  handnd  to  the  Toqui,  who 
sucks  ii  few  drops  of  the  blood,  and  passes  it 
to  his  olflcers,  who  follow  his  example.  The 
large  bones  of  the  arms  and  legs  are  made 
into  (lutes,  the  head  is  placed  on  a  spear  and 
carried  round  in  triun»i)h,  and  the  skull  is 
made  into  a  drinking-cup  to  be  used  at  the 
principal  feasts.  Such  a  sacrifice,  however, 
IS  not  to  be  considered  as  an  act  of  worship, 
but  merely  as  a  mode  of  propitiating  the 
maiK's  of  deceased  warriors. 

The  similitude  between  the  bird  omens  of 
the  ancient  Greeks  and  Romans  and  those  of 
modern  Araucanians  has  already  been  men- 
tioned. There  is  another  semi-religious  prac- 
tice which  also  recalls  the  customs  of  classic 
times,  namely,  the  making  of  libations  and 
oH'irings  of  food  at  every  meal.  When  the 
Araucanian  takes  his  broth  or  wine,  he  pours 
a  few  drops  ujion  the  ground  as  a  thank  ofTer- 
ing  to  the  higher  powers,  and  with  the  same 
motive  he  scatters  around  a  few  morsels  of 
food. 

TiiK  mode  of  burial  difTers  slightly  accord- 
ing to  the  locality  and  the  tribe. 

When  a  Mapuchu  chief  dies,  the  body  is 
exposed  on  an  open  bier  for  several  days, 
during  which  time  the  friends  and  neighbors 
pay  their  respects  and  olYer  their  condolence 
to  "the  tamilv.  On  the  day  of  the  funeral  a 
procession  is  formed,  led  "by  a  company  of 
young  men  on  horsi'back,  who  dash  forward 
at  full  speed  to  the  place  of  interment. 
After  them  the  body,  borne  by  the  prineii)al 
relatives,  and  behind  them  come  the  women, 
who  Avail  aloud  and  fill  the  air  with  their 
cries  of  .sorrow.    Last  of  all  comes  a  woman 


who  scatters  ashes  on  the  ground,  so  that 
the  deceased  may  not  return  by  the  path 
along  which  ho  was  borne.  The  illustration 
No.  2,  on  page  1207,  represents  this  part,  of 
a  Mnpuche  funeral. 

Thf  body  is  then  bound  with  the  knees  to 
the  breast,  and  lowered  into  the  grave,  wiU» 
tlie  face  toward  the  west,  the  direction  of 
the  Mapuche  spirit-land.  The  saddle,  bit, 
spur.s,  and  stirrups  of  the  deceased  arc  laid 
by  his  side,  together  with  some  provisions 
for  the  Journey,  a  few  beads,  and  a  piece  of 
money,  and  tlie  grave  is  then  fdled  up.  As, 
however,  the  horse  accoutrements  of  a  chief 
are  of  silver,  and  exceedingly  valuable,  they 
are  represented  by  wooden  copies,  which 
are  supposed  to  serve  the  purposes  of  the 
(ieepa^:ed  as  well  as  the  more  costly  articles, 
which  become  the  property  of  his  suc- 
cessors. 

At  the  head  of  the  grave  is  planted  the 
de.ail  man's  lance,  the  steel  head  of  which  is 
replaced  by  a  wooden  imitation.  It  is  also 
neces^sary  that  a  horse  shoulil  be  provided 
for  the  dead  chief,  and  this  is  done  by  sacri- 
ficing his  favorite  steed,  and  hanging  its  skin 
over  the  grave  by  means  of  a  pole  placed 
aci'oss  two  forked  props.  Mr.  E.  R.  Smith 
shrewdly  remarks  that  in  all  probability  the 


deceased  would  bo  put  off  with  a  wooden 
horse  to  ride,  were  it  not  that  the  Mapuch^a 
are  exceedingly  fond  of  horsetlesh,  and  take 
the  opportunity  of  holding  a  great  banquet 
on  the  flesh  of  the  slaut-htered  animal,  the 
skin  and  spirit  going  to  the  share  of  the  dead 
man. 

Such  ceremonies  as  these  are  only  for  a 
chief,  a  common  man  not  being  supposed  to 
need  a  horse,  and  consequently  being  buried 
with  slight  and  simple  ceremonies.  For  the 
funerals  of  women  the  rites  are  of  a  similar 
character,  the  chief  distinction  being  that, 
instead  of  the  saddle  and  weapons,  some 
cooking  vessels,  a  distafl",  and  similar  objects 
are  l.aid  in  the  grave. 

Some  travellers  have  asserted  that  when 
a  poweHVil  chief  dies,  his  favorite  wife  is 
also  killed  and  placed  in  the  tomb  with  him. 
This  statement  is,  however,  very  doubtlnl, 
and  was  flatly  contradicted  by  every  one 
of  whom  Mr.  Smith  inquired.  The  Mapu- 
ches  seem  to  have  a  vague  notion  that  the 
dead  are  able  to  return  to  earth  and  watch 
over  the  living;  and  when  the  dark  thunder- 
clouds lower  over  the  distant  Cordilleras, 
thev  imagine  that  the  deceased  warriors  of 
their  tribe  are  chasing  away  the  invisible 
foes  of  their  country,  and  utter  loud  shouts 
of  encouragement  to  the  supernatural  war- 
riors. 

In  some  parts  of  the  Mapuchd  territory 
the  graves  are  siirrounded^with  a  rude  fence 
of  upright  boards,  from  the  midst  of  which 
rises  the  long  quivering  lance  with  its  slight 
pennon  fluttering  in  the  wind.  (See  back- 
ground of  illustration). 

The  Iluilyichc:;,  however,  have  a  much 
mora  elaborate  mode  of  decorating  the 
graves  of  their  chiefs,  resembling  in  some 
degree  that  which  is  employed  by  the 
New  Zealanders.  Figures  siipi)osed  to  ic])- 
rescnt  the  deceased  chief  and  his  wives  arc 
set  round  the  grave,  just  as  the  New  Zea- 
landers plant  thur  "  tikis  "round  the  graves 
of  their  friends.     (See  page  8(U.) 

One  such  memorial,  .seen  by  Mr.  Smith, 

had  a  very  singular,  not  to  say  ludicrous, 

Each  figure  was  cut  out  of  a 


a  very 
appearance.  „  ,      ..    < 

huge  log  of  wood,  some  ten  or  twelve  leet 
in  height.  In  the  middle  stood  the  chief 
himseli;  wearing  no  clothing,  but  having  a 
hat  on  his  head  and  a  sword  in  his  hand. 
Round  him  were  stationed  his  wives,  equally 
without  clothing,  the  great  ol)ject  ol  the 
artist  being  to  leave  no  doubt  which  is  the 
chief  and  which  arc  his  wives,  without 
troubling  himself  as  to  details  of  drapery. 
Rude  as  these  ligures  are.  only  very  few  na- 
tives can  carve  them,  and  these  sculptors 
make  a  largo  income  by  the  exercise  of 
their  skill.  Each  figure  is  purchased  with  a 
fat  ox,  or  even  at  a  higher  price,  according 
to  its  size  and  the  amount  of  labor  bestowed 
upon  it,  and  no  grandee  can  be  considered 
.as  buried  respectably  u.iless  the  grave 
decorated  with  a  figure  of  the  deceased. 


bo 


hi' 
It  t 


CHAPTER    CXXVn. 

THE  GRAN  CIIACO. 

APPEARANCE  —  WEAPONS  —  Cn  ARACTEB. 

-„,  „»AW  CTArO  AND  ITS  INHABITANTS-XnEm  LOVE  OF  mEBDOM -CONTBART  OF  THE  TWO  BACM 
TLurL^MCA -The  VARIOUS  TBIUES  in  the  COUNTUV-A..-EAUANCB  OF  T„E  .«HA»I- 
^VN^-FrI.™  of  the  EVEBROWB  and  EVELAanES-HAin  DREHR.no -COSTUME  OF  THE 
™s-K:"f:STR:AN  nA„.T.-T„E  NAKED  MAN  ON  THE  X-Zlu^r-Tr  To^L^ 
MA.AVA  CtUB  AND  MODE  OF  U8IS(0  IT-THK  LONG  HPEAIl -CURIOl'S  AUMOR-THE  •'OOT  BOW 
I^TTACKINO  A  V..LA0E-HUT8  OF  THE  OKA^  CHACO  INDIANS  -  CR08S.NO  A  lUVER-CHAB- 
ACTEU  OF  THE  PEOPLE. 


To  the  east  of  the  Araucanian  territory, 
and  oxteiuling  to  tho  raragua^-  and  Panama 
rivers,  lies  a  tract  of  mountani  country,  ot 
indeterminate  norlliern  and  southern  bound- 
aries, called  tho  Gran  Chaco.  This  great 
district  is  inhal)ited  by  a  series  of  tribes  who 
deserve  a  short  notice.  . 

Not  the  least  remarkable  point  in  their 
history  is  the  manner  in  whicn  they  have 
preserved  the  freedom  of  their  own  land, 
Scsnite  Uic  attacks  of  various  white  nations. 
Both  the  Spaniards  and  tho  Portuguese 
have,  at  diirercnt  times,  seized  on  a  tew  po- 
sitions in  the  Gran  Chaco,  but  have  not  bcMi 
able  to  retain  them  except  on  the  indclluite 
western  frontier  line.  On  the  east,  whore 
the  great  Paraguay  River  forms  the  natural 
boundary,  the  native  is  left  unmolested  in 
his  freeiiom.  „  „     ^  .    ^r 

In  tho  eloquent  words  of  Captain  Maync 
Reid  :  "  On  its  eastern  side,  coinciding  al- 
most with  a  meridian  of  longitude,  the  In- 
dian of  the  Gran  Chaco  does  not  roam  ;  the 
well-settled  provinces  of  Corrientcs,  and 
tho  dictatorial  government  of  Paraguay, 
presenting  a  firmer  front  of  resistance. 
But  neither  does  the  colonist  of  these  coun- 
tries think  of  crossing  to  the  western  bank 
of  the  boundary  rivor  to  form  an  establish- 
ment there.  .  .    „    ,  ^i. 

"  He  dares  not  even  set  his  foot  upon  the 
Chaco.  For  a  thousand  miles,  up  and  down, 
the  two  races,  European  and  American, 
hold  the  opposite  banks  of  this  great  stream. 
They  gaze  across  at  each  other  —  the  one 


from  the  portico  of  his  well-built  mansion, 
or  perhaps  from  the  street  "(.h's  town  — 
the  other  standing  by  his  humble  '  toldo,  or 
mat-covered  tent,  more  probably  on  the 
back  of  his  half-wild  horse,  reined  up  lor  a 
moment  on  some  projecting  promontory 
that  commands  a  view  of  tho  river.  And 
thus  have  these  two  races  gazed  at  each 
other  for  three  centuries,  with  little  other 
intercourse  passing  between  them  than  that 
of  a  deadly  hostility." 

As  the  territory  of  tho  Gran  Chaco  is  very 
extensive,  being  about  three  times  as  largo 
as  that  of  Great  Britain,  and  extends  north 
and  south  through  eleven  degrees  of  lati- 
tude, it  naturally  follows  that  tho  tribes 
which  inhabit  it  ditfcr  from  each  other  m 
many  detnils,  those  of  the  warm  north  and 
coid  south  being  in  many  points  strongly 
contrasted  with  each  other.  Still,  t.iere  are 
many  points  of  similarity,  au'l  these  we 
will  select  in  tho  following  brief  account  of 
the  Gran  Chaco  tribe,  omitting,  from  want 
of   space,  those  wherein  they  dilTer  from 

each  other.  ,      .  .  v  *.%. 

In  the  first  place,  the  aborigines  of  the 
Gran  Chaco  are  of  a  much  paler  complexion 
than  those  of  the  more  northern  tribes, 
known  from  their  color  by  tho  name  of  Red 
Men,  and  more  nearly  resemble  the  rich 
olive  of  tho  inhabitants  of  Southern  Europe. 
Tho  nose  is  rather  aquiline,  the  mouth  well 
formed,  the  cheek-bones  high,  and  the  eyes 
and  hair  jetty  black.  The  latter  is  singu- 
larly abundant,  and  though  coarse  andwitU- 


J 

u 

m 

'■' 

^1 

1 

1 

'1^ 

1 

1 

•jr^ 

9 

u 

I 

ffi 

UH 

|; 

1 

iil:, 

£hh 

!-''» 

SMMH 

:.if 

jMS 

-•« 

HI 

i'f' 

1 

1212 


THE  GRAN  CIIACO. 


B 


out  curl  18  smooth  and  glossy  when  properly 
dressed.  ,         ,        ,   ^, 

The  men  have  but  llttlo  IkmvI,  find  the 
scanty  hairs  whieh  ^row  upon  ihc  thin  and 
face  they  completely  erudieato.  usinp;  lor 
that  purpose  a  iiair  of  sliells  until  Ihcy  are 
rich  cn()u;;h  to  purchase  iron  tweezers.  Ii-ven 
tho  eyebrows  and  lashes  are  pulled  out,  the 
natives  saying  tliat  they  only  huider  tlu> 
siL'ht,  and  eoni|)arins  tliose  who  wear  iliem 
to  the  ostrich  — i.  e.  the  rliea,  or  American 
ostrich,  wliicli  w  plentiful  in  their  country. 

To  an  European,  the  loss  of  these  append- 
nces  to  the  eyes  li.as  a  very  uiisifj;htly  ell'oct; 
but  the  native  takes  a  very  dillerent  view  ot 
the  case,  and  looks  uiion  a  countenance 
wherein  tlic  eyebrows  and  lashes  arc  per- 
mitted to  grow  much  as  a  gentleman  of 
George  tho  Second's  time  would  havo  re- 
garded a  head  which  was  decorated  by  its 
own  hair,  and  a  face  from  which  the  beard 
and  moustache  had  not  been  removed. 

The  masculine  mode  of  dressing  the  hair 
has  some  resemblance  to  that  which  is  prac- 
tised by  the  warlike  tribes  of  Northern 
America.  The  hair  is  shaved  from  the  fore- 
head, as  well  as  from  a  baud  extending  be- 
hind tho  head  from  one  ear  to  the  other. 
Tho  remaimler  is  allowed  to  grow  to  its  full 
length,  and  carefully  eberishcd  and  tended. 
The  Gran  Chaeo"  Indians  only  use  paint 
upon  great  occasions,  when  they  decorate 
themselves  as  fantastic.illy  as  any  savage 
tribe  can  do;  but,  as  a  rule,  their  faces  and 
bodies  are  allowed  to  retain  their  normal 
olive  hue.  Neither  do  the  men  use  the  tat- 
too, this  being  restricted  to  the  women,  who 
mark  themselves  with  a  variety  of  patterns 
upon  their  arms,  cheeks,  and  breasts,  each 
having  a  line  of  blue  dots  extending  from 
the  corner  of  each  eye  to  the  ears,  and  a  pat- 
tern of  some  kind  ujion  her  forehead. 

The  dress  of  tlics'  people  is  very  simple. 
In  warm  and  fine  weather,  it  consists 
merely  of  a  i)icee  of  cotton  or  woollen  lab- 
ric,  woven  in  the  brightest  hues  of  red, 
white,  and  blue.  It  is  little  more  than  a 
mere  strip  of  cloth,  and  in  this  respect  the 
dress  of  the  women  scarcely  diflers  Irom 
that  of  the  men.  In  cold  and  stormy 
weather,  both  sexes  wear  a  warm  cloak 
made  of  the  skin  of  the  jaguar,  or,  if  so  yal- 
nable  a  material  cannot  be  obtained,  ot  that 
of  the  nutria,  or  South  American  otter. 
Earrings  are  worn  by  both  sexes;  but  the 
liideous  ornaments  which  so  many  savage 
tribes  wear  in  their  lips  and  noses  arc  utterly 
unknown  to  them.  , 

The  Gran  Chaeo  Indian  is  csscntiaUy  a 
horseman,  and  no  inhabitants  of  America 
have  made  more  use  of  the  horse  than  he 
has.  He  diflers,  however,  from  those  which 
have  been  already  mentioned  in  one  impor- 
tant particular.  He  utterly  despises  the 
costly  spurs,  stirrups,  and  headstalls  which 
have  been  described  in  the  account  of  the 
i^fj^.,(^o  pjans,  and,  almost  naked  himself,  he 


rides  upon  an  entirely  naket'  horse.  Tfo 
UHCM  no  saddle,  no  stirrups,  and  no  bit,  •guid- 
ing his  steed  by  voice  and  touch,  r.nd  not  by 
the  power  of  the  inm  curb.  Tin  ly  rep- 
resentative of  a  bridle  is  a  slight  iu|)e  of 
jilaitcd  hide  passed  round  the  lower  Jaw  ol 
the  horse.  ^,  ^    ,, 

Tiie  weapons  of  'ho  (J ran  Chaeo  Indian 
are  very  few.  He  carries  the  bol.s  and 
lasso,  but  cares  little  for  lliem  in  war,  pre- 
ferring, as  his  most  etticiint  weapon,  his 
spear.  This  inslrumont  is  sometimes  lifteen 
feet  in  length,  and  in  the  bands  of  a  skillul 
rider,mounted upon  ap-ilVrtly  trained  steed, 
is  a  most  formidable  instrument  ol  war.  The 
warrior  uses  his  siiear,  in't  only  lor  baitic, 
but  as  a  means  for  mounting  his  horse,  lie 
stands  on  the  right  hand  i.t  the  anima  , 
places  the  bnttof  the  spear  ii|ioii  the  ground, 
and,  using  the  shaft  ."s  a  leaping  iiolo,  swings 
himself  upon   tho   back  ol   Die  horse  with 


scarcely  an  i  'ort.  ,    .      ,  j  , 

A  rather  ,  'culiar  club  is  also  used  by 
these  people.  This  wi  apou  is  called  "  mac- 
ana,"  and  exists  throughout  a  very  argo 
portion  of  Southern  America.  It  seldom 
exceeds  two  feet  in  length,  and  m  form 
somewhat  u  sembles  a  srpiare  dice  box,  being 
smaller  in  the  middle,  and  increasing  m  di- 
ameter to  each  end.  It  is  used  lioth  as  a 
missile,  and  as  a  hand  weapon,  and  when 
used  is  held  bv  the  middle.  The  yoiinj^ 
warriors  pride  't'-..miselves  on  tlu;  force  and 
accuracy  with  which  they  hurl  this  instru- 
ment, and  during  their  leisure  time  vie  with 
each  other  in  throwing  It  at  a  mark,  llie 
specimen  which  is  shown  in  the  illustration 
was  presented  to  me  by  H.  Uernau,  J.-:q.,  to- 
gether with  several  other  weapons  and  im- 
plements of  South  America. 


THE  MACANA. 


NOMAD  HABITS. 


iai3 


Soniotlincs  tho  mnoana  i^*  nrmed  with  a 
evlitulricivl  piece  of  liird  Ht«>no,  which  pro- 
jects from  Olio  .  nd  like  llie  blado  ot  iiu  uxe. 
It  id  Cii^leDed  iula  tho  wood  hy  ft  viry  in- 
;/eniou«  process.  Uavinx  llxcdui-ouft  yo"n« 
biauch  wlitch  he  Uiinl'H  will  nuiku  a  Ko"d 
clul),  the  Indian  hores  u  hole  lu  it,und  ham- 
mers Into  llio  hole  the  ston  ■  cylin.lor  whi.'h 
has  been  previously  i-iepur.  I.  "" /''ou  al- 
lows it  to  reni.in  lor  two  or  three  years,  by 

which  time  th'  wood  »'f  .«"'" 'V'^Lt  it 
8tou(S  and  become  so  (<  ly  nnludded  that  it 
will  brciik  to  pieces  i  .  r  than  bo  loosened 
bv  any  amount  of  violence. 
■^Another  of  iliese  weapons  i,'\  my^c«»«;C- 


ious  man.ior.    TTsiwlly  he  fl«h'.  oxcluslyely 
on   horHihack,  being   so  adnuraole  a  rider 
that  h.   can  even  stand  on  the  withers  of  h  s 
horse  when  ut  l\iH  speed,  and  l^elms  himn., 
out  of  his  element  when  dismoiiuted.    Hut 
when  he  l.ius  to  attack  so  fonnid.  o  1  e  an  en- 
emy as  t\w  white  man,  he  be.nns  alter  a  dit- 
fcrent  fashion.     He  takes  w.di   '"»  «»  «"»f- 
nious  l)ow,(,.r    too  strong  t     he  draxMi  i 
tho  nuial  manner   and  a  ..  anber  <      lon« 
arrowH.  Dismounting  at  som    distam.;liom 
the  village,  ho  creeps  to  some  spot  within 
ranga  of  his  arrows,  and  then  prcrarcs  for 

"'^li'J'bcgins  by  wrapjiing  a  quantity  of  cot> 


ing  onh       Muall  space  iu  the  centre  devoid 


of  ornmu  Hi.  Tho  palt  -ns  are  «cra  chwl 
rather  than  cut.  so  that  ihey  caunot  prop- 
erly be  seen  unless  tho  weapon  is  turned 
from  side  to  si.le,  so  as  x)  cnsuro  the  light 
falling  properly  upon  it;  but  the  extreme 
Sm.ss  of  the  wood  makes  them  rehin 
their  integrity  in  spite  of  rough  usa-e.  The 
trci>  from  which  these  ci  '^  are  '"-"l^ /»  "f 
Of  those  which  are  po,  .rly  ealled  iion- 
wood,  on  account  of  V'«  l';"-^l"C«;'^  7, 
wei.'ht  of  the  timber.  It  1  .•longs  to  the 
KuaTacums.  The  Spaniards  .all  the  tree  hy 
a  name  which  signilies  >•  axe-brcakcr. 

Tho  strangest  pr.rt  of  w.ir  as  wajjed  by 
these  natives  is,  that  when  they  Ight  wi  h 
each  other  they  a.lopt  an  elaborate  system  , 
or  defensiv.>  armor*  while  tliey  nscaid 
everything  of  th.;  kind  when  thoy  ma  ch 
theniselves  against  tha  fire-arms  of  tho 
whites,  knowing  that  the  shield  and  costume 
which  will  guard  them  against  tho  club  and 
tho  spear  ar.3  useless  against  a  bullet. 

The  avivor  is  of  a  most  eumbersomo  de- 
scription, and  looks  nearly  as  awkward  as 
tuat  which  is  worn  by  the  soldiers  of  Beg- 
harmi.     (Si'c  iiagc  iVM.) 

First  of  all,  th.".  warrior  puts  on  a  coat 
ma.le  from  the  ^-itinof  tlu' jaguar,  dressed  so 
as  to  remai.i  soft  even    .Iter  being  wotted. 


tins  way,  »>e  ^f'keH  'i  »'«''l  'l-"' ,*"*n!rM«« 
(he  cotton  wool  on  "1"^,  »»  /l'^',  ^^.^ 
Lviu«on  his  back,  he    wl<l«.  »''«. ''"^  wi  h 

tlie  toes  of  both  feet,  and,  laying  '!'« ''''''-'"f 
urrow  in  its  place,  he  is  able  to  use  both  his 
hands  to  draw  the  powerful  weapon.  Ho 
shoots  with  a  wonderfully  good  aim  and  great 
rapidity,  so  tliat  when  a  number  o  Indians 
surround  a  village,  and  pour  tlieir  (lery  mis- 
siles into  it  i  I  ..m  all  directions,  the  houses 
are  sure  to  take  tire.  , . 

In  tho  midst  of  tlie  confusion  caused  hy 
th  tlnmes  that  arise  on  all  sides  tlie  war- 
riorsleapon  tiieir  horses,  dash  at  tho  \il- 
la.'c  kill  idl  wliora  they  can  reach,  carry  off 
as^much  plunder  as  possihlo.and  then  gal- 
lop  back   to  their  own  districts,  whoro  no 

""uSdl^ti^'t n^vor  feared,  as  tho  Gran 
Chaco  I  -llans  have  no  (jxe.l  luddtaUon,  and 
uothin.'  that  can  be  called  even  a  village.  1  he 
S  or"rnthor  tent  of  themM^cople  is  a  very 
simple  aftair.  Two  upright  posts  are  drn en 
rtrn  Iv  into  tho  earth,  and  another  is  laid 
horuUally  across  them.  0..rXhc^^on^ 
zontal  p<do  is  hunn;  a  large  mat,  ^\\l^^]^l 
which  are  pegged  to  the  ground,  and  tho 
rentisthen\Hnnplete.  The  mat  is  made  of 
tho  epidermis  ot  young  palm  leaves.  In 
order  to  prevent  water  from   floodmg  the 


as  to  remai.i  soft  even    .uer  p«'"S  "^Vt^':;-  '.nnrin"  rainv"wcather,  a    trench    is    dug 
Over  this  .hvs.  1'^^"',^  \,"^":"!'^t'/^';.f  .^^  '«  ^''° 'T"- 

armor,  made  W-^vi  the  th>ek  aud  .  '"^Vclrl^ui '  Zck  in  which  the  inhabitant  sleeps,  and  in 
ofthetapir.     ^^  only  U.  bod,  ™.^ 


the  helin.'l  and  .^i..v  ,^  ....  ..-..--  .- 

terial,  which  is  capable  of  reswtmg  tlu 
stroke  of  the  lance  or  the  point  of  the  arrow. 
It  int<>rferes,  li..wever,  with  tho  right  man- 
a<remeiit  of  the  horse,  and  it  "s  very  doubt- 
ful whether  its  defensive  powiTS  compen- 
sate for  its  exceeding;  clumsiness,  btill,  it 
inavhavea  moral  ellect  upon  the  enemy, 
and  there  is  no  donving  that  it  gives  the 
warrior  a  more  formidable  appearance  than 
he  would  possess  if  he  rode  without  armor. 
To  add  to  the  ferocity  of  his  aspect,  he  em- 
nlovs  paint  on  these  occasions,  and  with  scar- 
let and  black  pigment  makes  himselt  abso- 
lutely hideous.  .  ,  ,  •*  i 
When  he  goes  to  attack  a  village  inhabited 
by  white  men,  he  does  so  in  a  very  ingcn- 


r^en  i;^::  P^hn  t;^^  tlun^^wc^^^ 
upright  posts  of  the  tent.  In  fact,  the  on  y 
use  of  the  tent  i£  as  a  shelter  m  rainy 
weather,  tlio  whole  of  ^,hc  life  being  passed 

'"i'°,X"l^"lniagined  from  this  mode  of 
life  the  Gran  Ghaco  Indian  is  essentially  a 
rover  pa^  ing  from  one  part  of  the  country 
to  an  nW  when  game  begins  to  be  scarce 
n"hat  district  Uich  he  tcmporardy  in- 
habits. Illustration  No.  1,  on  the  1218tli 
Sage  shows  the  manner  in  which  a  com- 
munity of  these  natives  cross  rivers.  Sxvim- 
min-  with  perfect  case  themselves,  they 
merely  with  one  liand  guide  their  horses  in 
tiie  water  without  caring  to  get  on  their 


■•'fi 


k 


*^>. 


lAAAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


.^O 


^y  % 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


It   Iti    112.0 


1.4 


1.6 


'/] 


t 


>^ 


'>'   ^^ 


op. 


/A 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

vri^BSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  873-4503 


i/.J 


m 


:<> 


1214 


THE  GEAK  CHACO. 


ARROWS  AN©  ARROW-CAP. 

(Sec  page  1229.) 


backs,  while  with  the  other  hand  they  pad- 
dle themselves  across  the  stream,  or  hold 
the  spear  with  its  light  burden  of  orna- 
ments. 

The  children  and  household  goods  are 
conveyed  easily  enough.  Square  boats  or 
tubs  made  of  bull's  hide  are  launched,  and  in 
them  are  placed  the  children,  the  puppies, 
of  which  there  are  always  plenty,  ancf  the 
heavier  goods,  such  as  the  kettles  and  cook- 
ing vessels.  A  rope  is  tied  to  tlie  "  pelota," 
,  is  this  primitive  boat  is  called,  and  the  cargo 
is  towed  across  the  stream  either  by  beiiig 
attached  to  the  tail  of  a  horse,  or  held  in 
the  mouth  of  a  good  swimmer.  The  lighter 
articles,  such  as  dresb  and  ornaments,  are 
fastened  to  the  head  of  the  spear,  which  is 
held  upright,  so  as  to  keep  them  out  of  the 
water. 

The  dogs  which  1  •  vc  just  been  mentioned 
are  extremely  usefi  to  "the  Gran  Chaco  In- 
dians, who  employ  them  in  the  chase.  They 
give  but  little  trouble  to  their  masters,  liv- 
ing for  the  most  part  in  holes  which  they 
scratch  in  the  ground,  and  feeding  content- 
edlj'  on  the  offal  and  scraps  of  food,  which 
in  an  uncivilized  community  are  more  than 
scanty.  Without  the  dogs  the  hunter  could 
scarcely  bring  to  bay  the  jaguar,  the  pec- 
cary, and  similar  animals,  which  are  so 
annoyed  by  tlie  perpetual  and  noisy  attacks 
of  the  little  curs  that  they  stop  in  their 
flight  in  order  to  revenge  themselves,  and 
so  give  the  hunter  time  to  come  up  with 
them.  • 

Although  so  essentially  a  warrior,  and 
living  much  upon  the  jiroceeda  of  his  plun- 
der, the  Gran  Chaco  Indian  is  in  one  respect 
far  superior  to  the  North  American  tribes. 
lie  docs  not  torture  the  prisoners  whom  ho 
takes  in  war,  and  the  women  and  children 
he  treats  kindly,  and  adopts  into  his  own 
tribe. 


CHAPTER  CXXVm. 


THE  MUNDUEUCtS. 


MANUFACTURES  — SOCIAL  CUSTOMS. 


POSITION  AND  NTTMBEB  OF  THE  MUNDURtTCO  TniBE  —  THEIR  OEKERAL  APPEARANCE — MODE  OF  TAT- 
TOOINO  —  SKILL  IN  FEATIIBB  WORKINO  —  FBATHER  SCEPTRES  AND  APRONS  —  HEAD  PRE8EBVINO 
—  THE  TRIUMPHAL  FEAST  AND  WARRIOR'S  PRIDE  —  TR/UNINO  OF  THE  WARRIOR  —  THE  ORDEAL 
OF  THE  "OLOVES" — INTELLIOENCE  OF  THF  MUNDURUCOs  —  THE  HEALING  ART  —  ENCHANTED 
CIGARS — COLLECTINQ  S.UJSAPARILLA  — THE  OUARANA  TEA  —  THE  PARICA  SNUFF  AND  ITS  OPB- 
KATION  — THE  SNUFF  TUBE  — COOKERY  AMONO  THE  MUNDUHUCOS, 


ii 


The  largest,  most  warlike,  and  most  power- 
ful of  the  Amazonian  tribes  is  that  which  is 
known  by  the  name  of  MuNDUuucif. 

Formerly,  they  used  to  inhabit  the  country 
on  the  southern  bank  of  the  great  Amazon 
Eivcr;  but  since  their  long  and  valiant 
struggle  with  the  Portuguese,  they  have 
moved  considerably  southward,  having  con- 
ceded to  tlieir  new  allies  the  more  northern 
portion  of  tiieir  territory.  Since  that  time, 
they  have  been  on  very  good  terms  with 
Europeans,  and  a  white  man  of  any  nation 
is  sure  to  find  a  welcome  when  he  comes 
among  the  Mundurueiis.  This  feeling  does 
not  extend  to  the  negroes  and  mulattoes, 
the  dark  skin  arousing  the  anger  of  the 
Muudurueii  as  a  wiiito  skin  excites  his 
friendship. 

The  color  of  the  Mundurueiis  is  warm 
coppery  brown;  their  hair  is  thick,  black, 
and  straight,  and  with  the  men  is  cut 
short,  except  a  long  fringe,  which  is  allowed 
to  hang  over  the  forehead.  Their  features 
arc  good,  the  lips  being  thin,  the  forehead 
tolerably  high  and  arched,  and  the  general 
contour  of  tljo  face  oval.  Unfortunately, 
they  disligure  tliemselves  by  a  tattoo  which 
is  Just  .as  elal)orate  as  that  of  the  Marque- 
sans,  but  without  its  elegance. 

The  Muudurueii  seems  to  Iiavo  no  idea  of 
a  curved  or  scroll-like  pattern,  and  rontents 
himself  with  tracing  straiglit  lines  and 
angles.  One  favorite  plan  is,  to  cover  the 
whole  body  with  a  sort  of  trellis-like  pat- 
tern, the  lines  crossing  each  other  diago- 
nally in  some,  and  at  right  angles  in  others. 
One  man,  seen  by  Mr.  Hates,  had  a  largo 
black  patch  on  the  centre  of  his  fftce,  cover- 


ing the  bottom  of  the  nose  and  mouth,  while 
his  body  was  decorated  with  a  blue  checkered 
pattern,  and  his  arms  and  legs  with  stripes. 

At  lirst  it  seems  strange  how  the  people 
can  draw  the  lines  with  such  regularity.  It 
is  managed,  however,  easily  enougli  by 
means  of  the  peculiar  form  of  the  tattooing 
instrument.  This,  instead  of  bein^  very 
small  and  made  of  bone,  is  of  considerable 
size,  and  is  in  fact  a  comb  made  of  the  sharp 
thorns  of  the  pupunha  palm  set  side  by  side. 
AVith  this  instrument  there  is  no  difflculty  in 
producing  straight  lines,  as  all  that  the  ope- 
rator has  to  do  is  to  lay  the  points  of  the 
comb  on  the  skin,  tap  it  sharply  until  a  row 
of  little  holes  is  made,  and  then  rub  into  the 
wounds  the  charcoal  pigment. 

Besides  the  tattoo,  they  use  paint  in  profu- 
sion, and  adorn  themselves  with  lovely  or- 
naments madii  of  the  feathers  of  the  macaw, 
the  toucan,  and  other  native  birds.  There 
are  other  tribes  which  use  similar  decora- 
tions, specimens  of  which  we  shall  presently 
see.  They  are  perhaps  the  best  savage 
feather  workers  in  the  world,  displaying  an 
amount  of  artistic  taste  which  is  really  as- 
tonishing. Their  feather  sceptres  are  beau- 
tiful specimens  of  native  art.  They  are 
about  three  feet  in  length  and  three  inches 
in  diameter,  and  are  made  by  fastening  on  a 
w-ooden  rod  the  beautiful  white  and  yellow 
feathers  from  the  breast  of  the  toucan.  At 
the  top,  the  sceptre  expands  into  a  wide 
plume,  composed  of  the  long  tail-feathers  of 
the  trogons,  macaws,  and  other  birds.  In 
order  to  nrcservo  these  sceptres  in  their  full 
beauty,  tliey  arc  kept  in  cylindrical  bamboo 
cases  until  they  are  wanted.    These  decora- 


(1216) 


1216 


THE  MUNDURUCtiS. 


tions  are  only  used  on  festival  days,  wliich 
are  rieterniiiied  by  the  will  of  the  Tushaiia 
or  chief  of  the  tribe.  On  these  occasions 
the  women  prepare  great  quantities  of"  tar- 
obit,"  which  is  exactly  the  same  as  the  mu- 
dai  of  the  Araucanians,  and  they  go  on 
drinking,  singing,  and  dancing  until  all  the 
liquor  is  exiiausted. 

Tile  illustration  No.  7  on  page  1231,  gives 
some  idea  of  the  mode  of  feather  working, 
and  the  kind  of  pattern  employed  by  the 
Amazonian  aborigines,  though  the  plain 
black  an<l  white  can  give  no  idea  of  the  gor- 
geous coloring  and  artistic  arrangement  of 
the  hues.  For  this  reason,  I  have  been 
obliged  to  limit  the  illustrations  of  the  elab- 
orate feather  work  of  these  natives,  and 
only  to  give  a  few  examples,  where  form, 
as  well  as  color,  is  exemplified. 

The  body  of  this  apron  is  made  of  cotton 
strings,  plaited  mto  a  netting,  so  close  that 
it  resembles  a  woven  fabric,  while  tbcy  are 
allowed  at  the  upper  part  to  be  loose,  and 
parallel  to  each  other.  Eeginning  at  the 
bottom  of  the  apron,  we  have  first  a  row  of 
jetty  black  feathers,  upon  which  is  a  toler- 
ably broad  band  of  bright  yellow.  The 
ground-work  of  the  rest  of  the  apron  as  far 
as  the  base  strings  is  made  of  scarlet  feath- 
ers, crossed  by  two  narrow  yellow  bands, 
and  the  curious  double  pattern  in  the  mid- 
dle is  yellow  above  and  blue  below.  Tlie 
sides  and  top  are  edged  by  a  belt  of  black 
monkey  fur. 

Among  the  upper  edge  of  the  base  strings 
are  a  number  of  the  elytra  or  wing  cases  of 
the  gorgeous  Buprcstis  beetle.  They  are 
loosely  strung  in  a  row  by  their  bases,  and 
not  only  look  splendid  when  the  light  of  (he 
sun  shines  on  them,  but  rattle  at  every 
movement,  so  as  to  keep  time  to  the  steps 
of  the  dancers,  for  whom  such  ornaments 
are  chicdy  made.  These  wing  cases  are 
used  also  for  children's  rattles. 

LiKK  n.any  other  warlike  sivages,  the 
Munduruciis  perpetuate  the  me  nory  of  val- 
iant deeds  by  preserving  a  trophy  of  the 
slain  enemy,  indeed,  this  is  the  only  way 
in  which  it  is  possible  to  preserve  the  ac- 
counts of  their  valor,  and  the  Munduruciis 
follow  in  this  respect  the  example  of  the 
Dyaks,  by  cutting  off  and  preserving  the 
head  of  the  dead  man.  When  a  Mundu- 
rueii  has  l)een  fortunate  enough  to  kill  an 
enemy,  he  cuts  off  the  head  with  his  bam- 
boo knife,  removes  the  brain,  soaks  the 
whole  head  in  a  bitter  vegetable  oil,  called 
"  andiroba,"  and  dries  it  over  a  fire  or  in  the 
sun.  When  it  is  quite  dry,  he  puts  false 
eyes  into  the  empty  orbits,  combs,  parts,  and 
plaits  the  hair,  and  decorates  it  with  brilliant 
feathers,  and  lastly  passes  a  string  through 
the  tongue,  by  means  of  which  it  can  be  sus- 
pended to  the  beams  of  the  malocca  or  coun- 
cil-house, where  it  remains  except  on  festi- 
val days.    When,  however,  the  chief  gives 


orders  for  a  feast,  the  proud  owner  of  the 
head  arrrys  himself  in  his  most  magnificent 
suit  of  feathers,  fetches  his  prize  from  the 
malocca,  fixes  it  upon  the  point  of  his  speai-, 
and  parades  himself  before  his  companions 
iu  all  the  glory  of  an  acknowledged  brave. 

One  of  these  preserved  heads  is  shown  on 
page  203,  drawn  from  a  specimen  in  the 
possession  of  A.  Franks,  Esq.,  of  the  British 
Museum.  In  order  to  show  the  ordinary 
kind  of  feather  headdress  which  is  worn  by 
the  Munduruciis,  a  portrait  of  a  chief  is  also 
given  on  the  same  page,  so  that  the  contrast 
betv.een  the  living  and  preserved  head  is 
well  marked. 

The  value  which  a  Mundurucii  attaches  to 
this  trophy  is  sim|)ly  inestimable.  As  none 
except  acknowleged  warriors  are  allowed  to 
contend  against  the  enemy,  the  fact  of  pos- 
sessing a  head  proves  that  the  owner  has 
passed  triumphantly  through  the  dreadful 
ordeal  of  Ihe  gloves.  It  is  very  remarkable 
that  we  find  two  totally  distinct  races  of 
men,  the  Malay  and  the  Mongol,  possessing 
exactly  the  same  custom,  and  reckoning  the 
possession  of  a  head  as  the  chief  object  in 
life. 

It  is  quite  impossible  that  the  Dyak  of 
Borneo  and  the  Mundurucii  of  Central 
Southern  America  could  have  been  geo- 
graphically connected,  and  we  must  infer 
that  the  custom  took  its  rise  from  the  love 
of  approbation  inherent  in  human  nature. 
In  all  countries,  whether  civilized  or  not, 
renown  as  a  warrior  is  one  of  the  chief  ob- 
jects of  ambition.  In  civilized  countries, 
where  a  literature  exists,  lliis  renown  is 
spread  and  conserved  by  means  of  the  pen; 
but  in  uncivilized  lands,  some  tangible  proof 
of  success  in  war  must  be  required.  In  this 
head  the  necessary  proof  is  obtained,  for  its 
existence  shows  that  (he  owner  has  killed 
some  man  or  other,  and  the  form  or  absence 
of  the  (attoo  is  a  proof  that  the  slain  man 
was  an  enemy  and  not  a  friend. 

The  successful  warriors  are  so  proud  of 
their  heads  that  they  will  often  remove  them 
temporarily  from  the  malocca,  and  place 
them  on  the  fence  which  surrounds  their 
crops,  so  (hat  the  women,  who  are  working 
in  the  field,  may  be  cheered  by  the  sight  of 
their  relative's  trojihies.  Of  late  years, 
either  this  custom  has  fallen  into  abeyance, 
or  the  people  are  unwilling  to  exhibit  their 
trophies  to  a  white  man,  fo.-  Mr.  Bates,  who 
spent  so  much  time  with  them,  never  even 
saw  a  preserved  head  or  could  hear  of  one 
being  used. 

Like  many  other  natives,  the  Munduruciis 
have  to  pass  through  a  horribly  painful 
ordeal  before  they  can  be  admitted  into  the 
rank  of  men.  There  is  a  strange,  weird- 
like character  about  the  whole  proceeding. 

The  reader  must  know  that  South  America 
possesses  a  great  number  of  ants,  many  of 
which  sting  most  horrib'y.  There  is,  for 
example,  the  muniri  ant,  a  great  black  in- 


v2.:    IHK    'il.OVr.    PANCK   Ol'    Tlir.    MlNnrurct^.S.     (Scr  png.'  U'U».) 


THE  ORDEAL  OF  THE  GLOVES. 


1219 


sect,  OS  large  as  a  wasp  anil  with  ua  venom- 
ous a  stin«.  Tlieii  there  is  the  Are  aiit, 
whose  bite  IS  just  like  a  rctUiot  neeillu  pierc- 
iiii;  the  flesh,  togctlier  witli  many  others. 
These  ants  arc  made  the  instruments  by 
whieh  tlic  couraj^e  ol'  the  lad  is  tested. 

On  the  appointed  day,  the  candidiilo  for 
manhood  ami  the  privilege  of  a  warrior,  goes 
to  the  council-house,  accompanied  by  his 
friencls,  who  sing  and  beat  drums  to  encour- 
age him.  The  old  men  then  proceed  to  the 
test.  Tlicy  take  two  bamboo  tubes,  closed 
at  one  end  and  open  at  Iho  other,  and  ^)lacc 
in  each  tube  or  "  glove  "  a  number  ot  the 
fiercest  ants  of  the  country.  Into  these 
tubes  the  wretched  lad  thrusts  his  arms,  and 
has  them  tied,  so  that  they  cannot  fall  olf. 
Tiiu  drummers  and  singers  then  strike  up, 
and  the  candidate  joins  in  the  sonjj. 

Accompanied  1)V  the  band  and  his  friends, 
he  is  taken  rouiuf  the  village,  and  made  to 
execute  a  dance  and  a  song  m  front  of  every 
house,  the  least  symptom  of  suffering  being 
fatal  to  his  admission  among  the  men.  In 
ppite  of  the  agony  which  he  endures  — an 
agony  which  increases  continually  as  the 
veno'm  from  the  stings  circulates  through 
his  frame  —  the  lad  sings  and  dances  as  if  he 
were  doing  so  from  sheer  joy,  and  so  makes 
the  round' of  the  village.  At  last  he  comes 
in  front  of  the  cliiet  s  tent,  where  he  sings 
his  song  for  the  last  time,  and  is  admitted 
by  acclamation  to  be  a  man.  Ilis  friends 
crowd  rt)und  to  olfcr  their  congratulations, 
but  he  dashes  through  them  all,  tears  otV  the 
gloves  of  torture,  and  plunges  into  the  near- 
est stream,  to  cool  his  throbbing  arms. 

This  fearful  test  of  manhood,  called  "  The 
glove  dance,"  is  represented  on  page  1218. 

The  Mundurueiis  seem  to  be  an  intelli- 
gent race  of  savages,  as  maj;  be  seen  from 
Sir.  Bates's  account  of  the  interest  which 
they  disnlaycd  in  a  book  of  illustrations. 

"  To  amuse  the  Tushaiia,  I  fetched  from 
the  canoo  the  two  volumes  of  Knight's '  Pic- 
torial Museum  of  Animated  Nature.'  The 
engravings  quite  took  his  fancy,  and  he 
called  his  wives,  of  whom,  as  I  afterward 
heard  from  Aracii,  ho  had  three  or  four,  to 
look  at  them  :  one  of  them  was  a  handsome 
girl,  decorated  with  necklace  and  bracelets 
of  blue  beads.  In  a  short  lime  others  left 
their  work,  and  I  then  had  a  crowd  of 
women  and  children  around  me,  who  all 
displayed  unusual  curiosity  for  Indians. 

"  It  was  no  light  task  to  go  through  the 
whole  of  the  illustrations,  Imt  they  would 
not  allow  mo  to  miss  a  page,  making  me 
turn  back  when  I  tried  to  skip.  The  pic- 
tures of  the  elephants,  camels,  orang-outangs, 
and  tigers  seemed  mo.st  to  astonish  them, 
))ut  they  were  interested  in  almost  every- 
thing, down  even  to  the  shells  and  insects. 
They  recognized  the  porti-aits  of  the  most 
striking  birds  and  mammals  which  are  found 
in  their  own  country  ;  the  jaguar,  howling 
monkey,  parrots,  trogons,  and  toucans. 


"The  elephant  was  settled  t(  be  a  large  kind 
of  tapir;  but  they  made  but  few  remarks,  and 
those  in  the  Mundurucu  language,' of  which 
I  understood  only  two  or  three  words.  Their 
way  of  expressing  surprise  was  a  clicking 
sound  made  with  the  teeJi,  similar  to  the 
one  wo  ourselves  use,  or  a  subdued  excla- 
mation, Ilm!  llm!  „^  .  •  ,  ,  , 
"  Before  I  finished,  from  fiflv  to  sixty  had 
assembled  ;  there  was  no  pushing,  or  rude- 
ness, the  grown-up  women  letting  the  younj? 
girls  and  children  stand  before  tliiMU,  and  all 
behaved  in  the  most  quiet  and  orderly  man- 
ner possible."  ,     , ,      , 

Like  other  savage  tribes  the  Mundurucus 
place  great  faith  in  their  medicine  men,  or 
"pajes,"  as  they  arc  termed.  These  men 
are  "supposed  to  exercise  a  power  over  evil 
spirits,  especially  those  which  cause  sick- 
ness, and  which  take  the  visible  form  of  a 
worm  or  some  such  creature. 

"When  a  Mundurucu  is  ill,  he  sends  for 
the  paje,  who  goes  through  the  gesticula- 
tions common  to  all  the  tribe  of  meaicino 
men,  until  he  has  fixed  upon  some  spot 
wherein  the  evil  spirit  has  located  itself. 
He  then  makes  a  huge  cigar,  by  wrapping 
tobacco  in  folds  of  tanari,  i.  c.  the  inner  bark 
of  a  tree,  which  is  separated  into  layers  and 
then  beaten  out  like  the  bark  cloth  ot  Poly- 
nesia. Several  trees,  especially  the  monkey- 
root  tree  {Leci/thLi  ollaria),  furnish  the  tan- 
ari, the  best  being  able  to  furnish  a  hundred 
lavers  from  one  piece  of  bark. 

"The  smoke  from  the  cigar  is  blown  for 
some  time  upon  the  seat  of  the  malady, 
and  after  a  while  the  paje  applies  his  lips  to 
the  spot,  and  sucks  violently,  producing  out 
of  his  mouth  the  worm  which  has  done  the 
mischief.  On  one  occasion,  when  a  paje  had 
operated  on  a  child  for  a  headache,  a  white 
man  contrived  to  get  possession  of  the 
"  worm,"  whieh  turned  out  to  be  nothing 
but  a  long  white  air-root  of  some  plant. 

These  jjcoplo  have,  however,'some  gem- 
ine  meuicines.  In  the  first  place,  fhcy  1..  ^ 
the  use  of  sarsaparilla  root,  and  gather  it  u. 
large  quantities  for  the  market.  The  root, 
or  rather  the  rhizome,  of  a  species  of  Smilax 
is  the  v,'ell-known  sarsaparilla  of  commerce, 
""'le  natives  collect  it  during  the  rainy 
season,  when  the  roots  can  be  easily  torn 
out  of  the  wot  earth.  After  washing  the 
roots  carefully,  the  gatherers  store  theni 
under  shelter  until  they  are  quite  dry,  and 
then  make  them  up  into  bundles  of  uniform 
size,  for  the  convenience  of  packing.  These 
bundles  are  rather  more  than  three  feet  m 
length,  and  about  five  inches  in  diameter. 
They  are  tied  up  very  tightly  with  tlu^  sipo, 
a  kind  of  creeper,  and  sold  to  the  traders. 

Another  medicine  known  to  them  is  the 
•niarana.  It  is  raaile  from  the  seeds  of  a 
climbing  plant  belonging  to  the  genus  Paul- 
linia.  The  seeds  are  roasted  in  their  en- 
velopes, and  then  Uken  out  and  pounded 
between  two  stones.    The  powder  is  mixed 


A 


I 


12*J0 


THE  MUNDURTTCCS. 


ill 


with  wnhT  80  a«  to  form  a  stiff  pnulo,  wliich 
in  luonldfd  Into  wimircs  uikI  MX  to  dry. 
Wlu'n  UNi'd,  I  lid  vcRi'lnldo  briok  is  Hcrivpi'd 
intti  wilier,  nliout  a,  tciisnonnftil  ti"\i\g  to  tlie 
l)i»t,  nud  the  nu'diii  110  18  complete.  It  tins 
n  HiimuliUiiij?  ciri'ct  on  llic  sjHtom.  MIto 
stroiij^  tea,  it  ropels  sleep,  but  Is  so  viiluivblc 
in  the  intermittent  fever  of  tlio  eountry  tlmt 
in  the  Hriiziliun  settlements  it  obtains  ii  very 
lii^h  priee. 

There  is  another  very  remarkable  medi- 
cine, which,  though  not  used  by  the  pure 
Mundurueii  Irilie,  is  in  ^I'eitt  favor  with  the 
(hiimris,  a  sub-tribe  of  the  same  nation. 
This  is  a  sort  of  smitV,  called  i)arieii.  which 
is  prepared  and  used  after  the  following 
mann(>r.  'I'he  seeds  of  a  species  of  ingil  (a 
plant  belonging  to  the  licguminons  Order) 
are  dried  in  the  son,  pounded  in  wooden 
mortnrs,  ami  tlu-  dust  jiut  into  bamboo  tubes. 

When  the  people  determine  to  have  a 
bout  of  snulf  taking,  they  assemble  together 
and  drink  various  fermented  lujuors  until 
they  am  half  intoxicated.  They  then  sejia- 
rate  into  jiairs,  each  having  a  liollow  reed 
iUled  with  the  paricil  snulf.  Alter  dancing 
about  for  some  time,  they  l)low  the  snulV 
into  the  nostrils  of  their  partners  so  as  to 
make  it  produce  it«  ftill  olfect. 

The  action  of  tho  paricA  is  very  singular. 
Sometimes  it  is  so  violent,  that  the  taker 
«lrops  on  the  ground  as  if  shot,  and  lies  in- 
sensible for  some  time.  On  those  who  are 
more  used  to  it  the  effect  is  dilVerent.  It 
causes  for  a  time  the  highest  excitement, 
driving  olV  the  lieaviness  of  intoxication, 
and  impartiuga lightness  and  exhilaration  of 
spirits,  causing  the  taker  to  dance  and  sing 
BS  if  mad,  which  indeed  ho  is  for  a  time. 
Th(^  elfcct  soon  subsides,  and  the  men  drink 
themselves  anew  into  intoxication. 

The  Moras,  a  quarrelsome  and  savage 
tribe,  with  whom  the  Mundurnciis  are  at 
perpetual  femU  arc  the  most  conllrmed  par- 
icil takers.  The  Mauht's,  a  neighboring 
tribe,  nsc  it  as  n  means  of  rcpolling  ague  in 
the  months  between  the  wet  and  dry  sea- 
sons, when  miasma  always  abounds. 

They  keep  the  jjowdcr  in  the  state  of 
dried  paste,  and  when  they  wish  to  use  it, 
scrape  it  into  a  tlat  shell,  sprcadin<?  it  very 
caref\illy  with  a  little  brush  ma<le  trom  the 
Imir  of  the  great  ant-cater.  They  then  pro- 
duce thi^  suulf-taking  apparatus.  This  is 
made  of  two  eagle  quills  tic^d  side  by  side 
for  part  of  their  length,  and  div(!r"ing  at 
one  end  to  such  a  distance  fVom  each  other 
that  the  estremetics  will  go  easily  into  the 
possessor's  nostrils.  The  snap"  of  the  instni- 
ment  is  veiy  much  like  that  of  the  letter  Y. 

Inserting"  the  diverging  ends  into  his  nos- 
trils, the  Mauhd  places  the  other  end  on  the 
powder,  and  draws  it  through  tho  quills,  tho 
end  tmvclling  over  the  shell  until  every 
particle  of  the  powder  has  been  taken. 
Sometimes  the  snuff  laker  employs,  instead 
of  the  quills,  thj  bone  of  a  plover's  leg. 


This  instrument,  however.  Is  very  rare,  and 
cannot  easily  bo  procnre<l,  the  posxcNMor 
etiteeining  it  to  be  a  most  valuable  plet-e  of 
property.  It  Is  remarkable  that  the  naricil, 
uiiiler  (titferent  names,  is  used  in  |)Iaces  a 
thousand  miles  apart. 

TiiK  cookery  of  tho  Mundnruciis  Is  very 
simple.  They  make  cassava  bread  and  laii- 
loca,  alter  a  fashion  which  will  be  |)rescntly 
described,  and  feed  on  yams,  plantains,  and 
similar  vegetables.  Animal  food  Is  obtained 
by  hunting,  and  chletly  consists  of  Ihe  mon- 
keys with  which  the  South  American  forests 
abound.  When  a  monkey  Is  to  be  eaten. 
It  Is  cooked  in  one  of  two  ways.  Slioiild 
there  be  time,  a  large  lire  is  made  and  al- 
lowed to  burn  nea:ly  down,  so  that  Ihcre  Is 
little  or  no  smoke."  Over  the  re<l  embers  a 
number  of  green  slicks  are  laid  parallel  to 
each  other,  just  like  the  bars  of  a  gridiron, 
and  on  these  bars  the  monkfy  is  placed  Just 
as  it  is  killed,  the  >ikiu  never  being  removed, 
and  the  intericu*  seldom  clenne<l. 

There  is  even  a  simpler  plan  than  this, 
which  is  employed  when  the  Mnndurucil 
has  no  lime  to  biiild  a  large  fire.  He  makes 
up  as  large  a  lire  as  he  <an  numage,  impales 
the  monkey  on  a  stick  sharpened  at  each  end, 
and  fixes  Oie  stick  diagonally  In  the  ground, 
so  that  the  body  of  the  monkey  hangs  over 
tho  fire,  just  as  a  soldier  cooks  or  rather 
burns  his  rations  by  impaling  the  piece  of 
meat  on  his  ramrod.  A^ry  little  cooking  is 
rc(|uired  by  these  people,  who  iwv.  content 
If  the  skin  IB  well  calcined  and  the  fiosh  not 
(luite  raw. 

The  Mnndurucil  can  also  proiuire  fVuils 
that  are  callable  of  preservation,  so  that  bo 
need  be  in  no  fear  as  to  suffering  from  lack 
of  jirovisions.  The  chief  fruits  are  tho 
"nuts"  of  the  liccytbis  and  thi!  Merlholelia. 
The  fruit  of  the  "former  trei!  Is  popularly 
known  as  "monkey-cup,"  because  the  hard 
envelope  which  encloses  the  seeds  has  a 
movable  lid,  that  falls  off  when  tb(^  fruit  Is 
rlpi>,  and  enables  the  monkeys  to  draw  tho 
seeds  out  of  their  case. 

The  fruit  of  the  lierlholelia  is  familiarly 
known  as  the  IJra/.il  nut.  A  number  of 
th(!S(\  nuts  are  enclosed  within  a  very  thick 
and  hard  pericarp,  which  has  no  lid,  though 
there  is  a  little  hole  at  the  ton  through  whi('h 
tho  seeds  can  be  seen.  When  the  fVuit  Is 
ripe,  it  falls  to  tho  cround  with  such  force 
that  if  it  were  to  strike  a  man  on  tho  \wau\ 
it  would  instantly  kill  him.  One  of  these 
fruits  in  my  collection  mcmsures  exactly  a 
foot  in  circumference,  and,  though  very 
dry,  weighs  nine  ounces.  The  reader  may 
imagine  tho  force  with  which  such  a  fruit 
would  fall  from  tho  height  of  a  hundred 
feet  or  so. 

To  guard  themselves  against  accidents, 
tho  Mundnruciis  always  wear  thick  wooden 
caps  when  they  go  after  the  Brazil  nuts,  and 
are  car«'ful  to  walk  very  upright,  no  as  not  to 
be  struck  on  tlio  back  or  tho  nape  of  tho  neck. 


'    I 


CIIAPTEU    CXXIX. 


THE  TllIUIW  OK  (lUIANA. 


wiaroNH. 

OIIANOICH  01'  l,AN(MI,V(llt  — INVICUMION  oir  WOIIKH  ANK  HKNTICNflKH  —  TIIK  TAI,KIN«  I'AnlUIT --  TIIW  riVII 
OIIIKI'THlllKH  (lir  (lUIANA  — n'.<lll,IAIlirV..lf  <;i,IMATK,  ANI.  .!<.NKK(illKN  T  KKKKCT  (IN  VK.IK  lAI.I.U 
ANI>  ANIMAL  I,l|f|1— TIIK  HAMMOCK  OK  OIHANA  -  Till':  WIIAIONP*  IK.IIIH.IAIl  TO  IIIK  IIOIINTHV — 
TIIK  TWO  lUNlm  0|f  11I.OW  (IIIN--TIIB  /.AltAIIATANA,  ANII  MOI.K  OK  I  ONHTIIIH  TION  -  WKIOMT  0|f 
TIIIC  W  KA  111  N  -  Till'.  rll(IINA--ITH  imVUl.K  TUIIK— TIIK  OIIKAII  ANK  HAMOKUAII  -  TIIR  Klliir- 
MANNI  WAX~TIII1  INdltNIOIH  KOIIK  ANK  HACK  HIOHTH  —  Till'.  III.OW  (IIIN  AllllOWH-  Tlirlll  CON- 
HTIIKTION- MOI.K  OK  HIIAIll-KNINO-  Till!  I'lllAI  KIMII  -  INOKNIOIIH  MOIIK  OK  I'ACKINIl  TIIK 
AIIIIOWH-  MODK  OK  VKO.'Kl.Umi  TIIK.  AIUIOWH-TIIIC  WIN.llCl.  AllltOW  -  Till'.  (4I.IVICU  ANI)  OCKf 
YON    IIAMKKT. 


Tt  i«  cviilon).  Ilial.  tlin  innumpriiMo  IrUx'H 
wliu'h  inlmliit.  tlio  iici^,'liliorlio(Ml  of  the 
f^niit  Aniiizoii  Hivcr  iiii!  inriiiliiirh  of  tlic! 
HiuiHi  family,  iliOi'iin;;  mom  in  liui|J!nn},'«' 
(liiiii  in  iipiiciiriincc,  or  IiiiIiIIh,  It  \h  niiUj- 
lai  Ilial  fivmilicM  wlicn  llicy  ln'conio  lai<,'c 
Hlionl(l  Hcpiiriilc  (liciiiMcJvi'H,  and  ko  bi'conm 
foiindcrH  or  IicmIi  tiilnH,  wiiifli  Kprcad  liii'tn- 
KclvoH  over  llic  counlry,  HclllinK  dowii  in 
IlioHu  KliolH  wliicli  «nit,  tlu'in  ln'Mf.  Tiiry 
n^ain  tlio  (,'i'ni'ral  cliaraclcr  of  llu'ir  nian- 
iinfH  and  cuMloins,  hut,  owinj,'  to  the  total 
want  ol' a  lilciulni-c,  llii'ir  language  in  con- 
tinually (;liant,'ing. 

This  ftllcration  in  tlu'ir  laii^ungo  Ih  iiIho 
du(i  to  tlio  nalivo  fondncHH  for  Inverting 
words  and  NcntonccH  during  tlicir  i-onvcrMii- 
tion  wlMi  fiicli  oilier,  a  (■ustoin  which  ImarH 
KomorcHciniMaiiits  lolhat  of  punning amoiiK 
onrsolvcs.  When  (Ikkc  invt^rtcd  wordHlmp- 
piMi  to  plcaH"  th(!  pcophi'H  fancy,  they  arc 
retained  in  the  lan),'iiaf{e,  ho  that  in  a  few 
years  aftfr  a  family  haM  Hc])arfttcd  itwdf 
horn  th(!  parent  trilM!  the  two  diale(;tM  will 
iiav(!  receded  wt  far  from  ea<h  other  that  the 
l)(^f)i)ln  can  hardly  undcrHtand  em-h  other. 

To  tlie  i)hilolot;inl  thin  fluctuation  of  lan- 
guage would  he  (!xcc('din<;ly  inlerentinj?,  hut, 
aH  we  are  eonciuiied  with  inannern  and  ctiH- 
toms  rather  than  with  huiKuape,  wc  will 
nasH  northward  and  cMHtwanl  U)  (Juiana. 
Sir  R.  Hchomhurgk  mcntionB  a  fact  which  in 


a  HhiKular  corrohoratlon  of  the  rnpiility  with 
wliicn  lanKua^;e  chaiiL'i'H  anions  IhcKt!  trll.cM. 
'riiere  waM  a  parrot  liviiiK  In  1H(M»,  which 
Mpoke  well,  hut  many  of  wlioHe  wordft  rould 
not  he  umleiMlood,  hecau«e  It  Mpoke  (he  lan- 
K'ua^e  of  the  Alur<H,  a  trilie  which  had 
iiaNHi'il  entirely  out.  of  rccollccllon  nfler  it 
lia<i  Im'cii  mMMtcrcfl  liy  the  warlike^  (.'ariliM. 

'i'hlM  conipMialivcly  Minall  counlry  Ih  enpe- 
clally  inlercMtiiiK  to'  (dlinolojjiMU,  in  conHo- 
(|uence  of  the  piutect  manner  In  which  the 
nativeH  have  j^iiarded  tludr  indlviduiilily. 
Kvlrli;ntly  Mprunj?  from  one  houicc,  they 
have  Hcillcd  down  In  dllfcrcnt  dintrictH 
and,  though  alike  In  color  ami  grjiieiid  con- 
formation, are  a«  widely  rliderent  in  lan- 
Kiuige.  and  often  In  inannerM,  an  If  they  bo- 
long^ui  to  H('parat(!  fpiarteiH  of  the  worhl. 

Five  priiicl[ml  nationn  inhabit  (iiilaiia, 
and  are  Hul)divld<\d  into  a  vaHt  number  of 
Hinall  tribcM.  TlieH<!  are  tlie  Macoimhled, 
tliu  Arawftkn,  tiio  Aeeawalow,  tlie  (/'arlliM, 
and  thi!  WarauH.  The  two  (IrHt  of  thimn 
will  h(!  taken  oh  reprcHentativen  of  tlie 
tribcH  in  (Julana.  thouRli  Uie  otluini  will  bfl 
m(!ntioned  in  <-a«eH  wliero  they  prcftent  any 
niarkM  of  dirt'erenco. 

Taking  broiwlly  the  chief  pointu  of  diHtlnc- 
tion  l)(!tw(en  tliette  triiioii,  wo  may  ttimjily 
deflnn  them  an  follows. 

Tht!  MacounhicB  arc  the  largest  and  mont 
ingtiuloua  triljo.    They  excel  In  the  rnanu- 


(ixn) 


1222 


OITIANA. 


factmo  of  Ihi'  ti-rriblo  woiirali  poison,  which 
tlioy  fxcliiuif^i?  tor  canoes  and  otlicr  ntM'cMxii- 
ricM  IVoiu  otluT  tril)on.  Tlicy  also  nmliii  llin 
hi>«t  liiow  },'nn.i.  Tlnir  IhiIm  iiri;  cloHcd,  ami 
coninii  'ii<c  Hn«iir  ioavcs.  Tiicir  niunl)ur  is 
sonii^vlioro  altoul  tluvL'  tlionsand. 

The  Aiawillis  aro  nillu^r  tailcr  than  tlic 
Mai'oiiwiru'n,  licin«,  on  an  iivcra^i!,  live  reel 
Hjx  ini'lics  in  lu'i;,'lit.  Tlii-ir  laces  arc  iiiuiked 
Willi  till"  tattoo,  and,  as  llioy  are  much 
broiiKlit  into  contact  with  white  men,  they 
approach  civiii/alion  nearer  than  do  the 
other  trilii'M. 

The  Ac(  awaios  nnd  Carihs  wear  no  cloth- 
Ini?  except  on  occasions  of  ceroniony.  Tlie 
forntcr  are  dislini;nislied  i)y  a  wooden  orna- 
ment in  the  cartila.ije  of  the  nos(<,  and  the 
latter  Ity  wearinu;  ornaments  in  the  nnder 
lip,  ami  liy  a  lump  of  annatto  fastened  to  the 
hair  of  tlii'  forehead.  Tlie  Waransare  darker 
than  tlio  others, and  ai'i^  acknowlcdfjed  to  l)o 
th(!  hest  I'anoe  makers  in  Oniana.  Some  of 
their  vessels  will  carry  ninety  or  a  hnndred 
men,  and  tliey  sell  th'es(!  canoes  .to  tlie  Ala- 
cousiiies  for  tlie  excellent  wonrali  poison  for 
which  that  tribe  is  celebrated. 

Owixo  to  the  pecnliarllies  of  tho  climato, 
nil  these  tribes  have  many  cnsloni»  in  i:om- 
mon.  The  climate  is  a  very  remarkabh^ 
one,  beini:  cxceedinjily  hot  and  excecdin','ly 
wet.  The  heat  is  owini,'  to  the  <;eoi;raphical 
position  of  (riiiaiia,  which  is  clos(>  to  the 
equator,  and  the  wet  is  due  to  the  trade 
winds  and  the  c(mli>?iiration  of  the  country, 
mowing'  across  the  .Vtlaiilic  they  absorb  a 
vast  (luantity  of  moistun!  from  the  ocean, 
and  discliarj,'e  the  greater  portion  of  it  be- 
fore tlu^y  can  reach  any  distance  inland,  the 
moisture  bein^  conilensed  by  the  secondary 
mountain  chains,  which  are  from  live  to  soveu 
tlionsanil  feet  in  hei.!j;lit. 

In  conseipience  of  this  perpetual  hcit  act- 
Int;  on  perpiUual  moisture,  vegetation  nour- 
ishes with  a  hixuriousness  scarcely  to  be 
seen  in  any  other  part  of  tho  W(n-ld;  and  so 
completelv  is  the  ground  covered  with  tree 
nnd  bush,' that  many  trees  are  unable  tolind 
a  liabitatiou  upon  the  ground,  and  are  forced 
to  live  upon  eath  other.  Thus,  ujion  a  lolly 
mora  tree  a  tig  tree  will  grow,  and  upon  the 
ilgan  enormous  creeper  will  fasten  itself,  its 
loiig  shoots  dangling  loosely  from  the  enor- 
mous height  at  which  they  grow,  or  drooping 
in  graceful  anil  tlowcr-clad  festoons  from  one 
tree  to  another.  Such  a  forest  iis  this  is  often 
ankle-deep  in  water  for  miles  together,  and 
the  vegetation  is  so  thick  that  the  only  way 
of  passing  through  the  tangled  ma.ss  of  vege- 
tation is  to  cut  a  path  with  the  axe.  And 
even  th(!n,  after  a  week  or  two  lias  elapsed, 
the  path  will  have  vanished,  so  rapid  is  the 
growth  of  vegetable  life. 

It  follows  nom  this  descrintion  that  tho 
animals  which  inhabit  Gufana  must  be 
chioily  of  two  kinds,  those  which  inhabit  the 
trees  and  those  which  live  in  the  water. 


Acccu-dingly,  wo  (liul  that  the  country  it 
tenanted  by  a  great  variety  of  the  monkey 
trilte,  that  the  arlioreal  puma  and  Jaguar 
fake  the  idace  of  the  terre^  iai  lion  and 
tiger,  and  that  the  aipialic  cupyiiaru  and 
tapir  flourish  where  beasts  of  eipial  si/.o 
would  perish  if  they  had  to  live  on  the  land. 
Minis  of  the  most  lovely  iilumage  abound  ill 
(iuiana,  which  is  also  livia-y  panuliso  of  in- 
sects. 

It  is  evident  that  any  human  beings  that 
live  in  such  a  country  as  Ibis  nnist  liavo 
many  charaetcristies  '  in  coimnoii.  They 
need  no  flothes,  no  houses,  and  (he  woods 
supply  them  with  foml  without  the  troublo 
of  cul'tivalion,  so  that  (heir  chief  iiicenlivcs 
to  labor  are  (akiMi  away.  (.'ousiMiueully,  they 
may  bo  called  an  idle  jieople,  though  the  in- 
doreiice  is  rather  appMi-eiit  than  real.  They 
will  work  as  long  as  there  is  a  ne<'essity for 
it;  but,  as  a  man  can  support  ('xiM(cnce  with- 
out doing  a  real  day's  work  in  his  life,  it  is 
evident  that  the  necessity  for  work  docs  not 
otleii  arise. 

One  habit  wliicli  (hey  have  in  common  is 
that  of  sleeping  in  the  liammoek.  This  arti- 
cle is  made  by  the  nativi's  from  various 
vegetable  libres,  and  is  woven  in  ditfcrent 
ways,  according  to  tin-  character  of  tho  tribe 
wh'icli  makes  it.  Some  of  tliese  are  made 
simply  by  laying  a  number  (»f  strings  iiaralhd 
to  each  other,  and  knotting  others  a(!ro.ss  at 
right  angles;  but  the  best  have  no  knots  at 
all,  the  strings  inlerlai'iiig  with  each  other 
diagonally,  so  as  to  yield  in  every  direction 
to  the  boJiy  of  the  occu|)ier.  When  a  native 
has  made  a  particularly  llm'  Npeciiiuui,  ho 
iidorns  it  with  feathers,  and  other  brilliantly 
colored  objtx'Is. 

These  hammocks  are  of  various  sizes,  some 
being  small  and  used  for  children,  and  others 
large  enough  to  contain  an  entire  family. 
The  specimen  in  niv  collection  will  hold  two 
(Juianan  natives,  biit  not  two  Kuglishmeii. 
It  is  rather  more  than  sixteen  feet  in  length, 
and  six  feet  in  width. 

Tho  hammock  is  exactly  adapted  to  Iho 
wants  of  tho  native.  It  is  so  light  that  ho 
can  roll  it  uj)  and  tie  it  nuind  his  body,  so  as 
to  carry  it  on  a  journey;  so  slight  in  texture 
as  to  keep  him  cool  when  lyini'  in  it;  and  so 
yielding  in  its  strucluic  that  the  bare  cords 
"do  not  hurt  his  miked  skin.  On  a  journey 
ho  always  carries  his  hammock  with  him, 
and  if  he  wants  to  rest,he  does  notsitdown, 
bnt  slings  tho  hammock  between  two  trees 
and  lies  in  it.  Several  ])uri)oses  are  fulfilled 
by  this  arrangiMiient.  In  the  lirst  jilace,  the 
ground  is  usually  wet,  so  that  the  man  is 
kept  dry  in  the  hammock;  in  the  next  place, 
he  is  safe  from  the  snakes  and  other  un- 
pleasant reptiles  that  swarm  in  the  forests; 
and  lastly,  lie  would  always  rather  lie  down 
than  sit. 

Another  point  which  they  have  in  com- 
mon is  the  mode  in  which  they  diistroy  tho 
aoiiuuls  on  which  they  live.  The  reader  will 


TIIK   IJLOW   CiirXM. 


12*23 


rotnomlicr  llmt,  tho  density  of  the  Jungle  in 
Hit  Ki-iiit,  tliiil  il  nil  iiniiiml  wtirti  ulilc,  iit'trr  It 
wiiH  wdiiiicUmI,  to  niii  I'or  a  liiiiiili'ril  yitnlH  or 
HO,  or  II  liiril  to  tly  l.hi^  muiih'  diMtikiici'.il  woiihl 
(ill  IonI,  III  llir  l)ii!4li  wlliioni  III)'  clmiu-t!  ol' re- 
covery. It  JH  (ivitlelll,  llierel'ore,  tliitl  tile 
MiUM'essthI  Imiiter  imiMt  iiohmcmm  Moine  meiiim 
of  (leMlroyin^  iiiotinii,  it'  not  IH'e,  iiiniost  iii- 
NtiiittaiiioiiiNJy,  mill  IIiIh  he  IIiiiIm  in  llie  terri- 
hle  wcniriili  poison,  wliieli  Iiiim  the  eU'ei-t  of 
I'liUHln;;  iiiMliint  Htiijior  wlieii  It  mixes  witii 
llie  Itlood.  The  inoile  of  niiinnliicturiii);  tliis 
poison  will  presently  ho  tleseiihed,  iind  ill 
present  it  is  Miitlleieiit  to  siiy  tliiit  nearly  nil 
the  missiles  used  liy  tile  Oiiiaiiaii  ahori^ines, 
whether  propelled  hy  the  how  or  hy  the 
biDftth,  are  armed  with  this  poison. 


VVk  will  llrflt  lake  thoso  mlssiltm  which  are 
propelled  hy  the  hreiilh,  anil  examine  the 
iiiMtriiineiit  throiii^h  which  they  are  sent. 
In  principle  this  Is  exactly  like  the  siim)iilaii 
of  llorneo,  descrihcd  on  pane  llli»,  hnl  the 
inoiht  orconstriicriiiii  is  ditVcreiit,  and  in  llii^ 
liest  Hpeeinieiis  the  (iiiiiinaii  work  in  far  hii- 
perior  to  that  of  lloriico. 

Of  this  HiiiL^iilMr  wea|ii>ii  lliere  arc  several 
varieties,  the  two  principal  of  which  are 
sliowii  over  the  title  "  Mlow  nuns"  on  thi^ 
l'J2r)tli  piif,'e,  hoth  heiiii,'  taken  from  spec- 
inu^iiH  in  my  iiosschsIoii.  On  th(!ri<;ht  is  the 
zarahatnna.  This  is  found  tliron^fhont  ii 
very  lar;,'e  tract  of  country  south  ward  of 
(Jniaiiii,  when  it  takes  a  somuwhat  modilled 
and  improved  form. 

It  is  made  of  two  sei)arale  |)ii>cea  of  wood, 
in  each  of  which  is  i  at  a  Heinicin'ular  ;,'roove, 
po  thai,  when  they  a'"''  plai'i^d  in  mtact  with 
each  oilier  they' form  a  lon^'  wooden  rod, 
pierced  with  a  cireuliir  hore.  As  tlie  natives 
nse  notliini,'  hut  the  incisor  teeth  of  rodent 
imimnls  hy  way  of  tools,  it  may  he  seen  that 
the  iahorof  miikin>,'onc  of  these  iiistrnmcnts 
is  vory  ffmni.  The  hore  heiiii  carefully 
Hinootl'ied,  the  two  halves  are  laid  to<,'i;ther, 
nnd  hound  hy  means  of  loiijj,  llat  Htrips  of 
jacltara  wood' wound  spirally  round  Ihcin. 

To  the  lower  end  of  thii  weapon  is  tiw- 
tPiied  a  larut'  mouth|)iece,  with  n  conical 
openini;  like  the  mouthpiece  of  a  trumpet, 
go  as  to  colleitt  the  hreath  for  the  jiro- 
pnlsioii  of  till!  arrow.  A  ipiani  ity  of  ■.•cment, 
composed  of  a  hlack  wax  made  hy  a  wild  hee 
mixed  with  a  jiitciiy  Huhstanee  ohtaiiied  from 
Hcvc-ral  trees,  is  tliiui  riihhed  ovi^r  the  wliole 
weapon,  which  is  considered  comph-to.  The 
zarahatanaisexcceilin^rly  heavy, and  requires 
not  only  a  Htroufi  hut  iv  praiitised  arm  to  hold 
it  steaily.  'i'hc  specimen  in  my  collection, 
which  is  several  f(M?t  in  len;^th,  weighs  three 
poundH  twelv(!  ounces. 

A  far  Huperior  weapon,  called  tho"pu- 
cuna,"  larf^cT,  lighter,  and  more  easily 
handled,  is  made  hy  the  natives  of  many 
jiarts  of  (ruiana,  that  used  hy  the  Mncoushie 
tribe  heinf»  the  best.  The  'Hpecinieii  which 
is  shown  on  the  left  of  the  zarabatana  was 
6a 


brought    from    (liiiana    by    the    late     Mr. 
VValcrton,  who    presenteil    II  to  lue  Hhortly 
before  the  accident  which  citiised    his  death. 
The  Weapon    in  ipiestiou  (called  puciinii) 
is  double,    liiinn    made    of   two    portions 
called   oiirah  and  Nauiourah.     'I'he  csNcntiaf 
portion  of  the  blow  Kuu  l)^  111"  oui'idi.     'i'hiit 
IS   a  Hin^'ular    reed    (Ariiiiilinnrin    iSV/iom- 
liiinikii),   which,  as    far    as    Is  known,  only 
urows  on  the  sandsioiie  rldnc  of  the  Upper 
Orinoco  between  the    rivers  Vcntnari,  I'lir- 
amii,  and    Maviica.      Mke    the    bamboo,    it 
i^rows  in  clusters,  and,  thoiiKli  not  exceeding 
half  an  imdi  in  diaiueler,  the  llrst  Iburleeii 
or  sixteen   feet  me   without    a  kool.     From 
this  point  spread  the  loni,',  slender  branches, 
meiiHiirinj.;  from  thirty  .o  forty  feet  in  leiiKlh. 
and  waviiij;  in  i^rairi'ful  curves  when  niovcu 
hy  the  wind. 
" 'i'lic  iMirtion  used  for  the  blowpipe  Is  the 
first  Joint,  which    is   iiniform    in   diiinu^er 
lliioui.;hout,and  is  naturally  polished  wlthiu, 
Hut  it   is  so  thin,  the  walls"  lieiiij^  not  twi(^o 
the  thickni^s  of  a  |(layiii^[  card,  that  it  would 
be  toofliiuilc  to  be  llsr'il  witholllsouie  protl'C- 
tioii.     Accordingly,  the  unlive  has  recourso 
to  a  sort  of  palm,  called  by  him  saniourah,  its 
sclelilillc  title  bcillK   li'Kirlin  ititiijini. 

'I'liis  is  chosen  of  u  proper  size,  cut  down, 
and  steeped  in  water,  for  tlii^  imrpose  of  ex- 
tnictiuK  the  jiulp  which  lllls  tlie  interior. 
When  it  is  (piitc  dry,  tlie  reed  in  inserted 
into  this  tube,  the  native  nunmaker  having 
a  wonderful  talent  in  KcttiiiK  the  uleuder 
reed  exactly  in  the  centre  of  the  palin-Ht(  in, 
and  llxiiiK  it  in  its  plaie  with  the  black  wax 
already  mentioned.  This  wax  is  <'alled  kuru- 
maniii  bv  the  Macoiishies,  and  is  used  by 
them  as  freely  im  is  the  "  hlack-lioy  "  wax  by 
the  Australian  aboriKines.  The  samourah 
is  then  serjiped  down  to  the  proper  thieknesH, 
well  polished,  and  the  weapon  Ih  ready  lor 
tlii^  acccHsories  which  complete  it. 

One  etui  is  chosen  to  servi!  as  a  mouth- 
piece, and  is  bound  with  a  siring;  made  of 
silk-^'rasH  and  the  other  is  tipped  witli  the 
half  of  the  aciiero  nut,  which  Ih  v.ry  liard 
and  prevents  the  end  of  the  weapon  from 
beiiif,'  injured  by  accidental  blows  iif,'aiuHt  u 
treeortl'u!  k'"'>""<'-  This  acm;ro  need  acts 
as  a  f(M(-si;;ht,  by  which  the  native  hunter 
can  direct  his  weapon;  but,  in  order  to»H(K;uro 
a  more  certain  aim,  lie  adds  a  sintjularly  in- 
KcniouM  back-.si<,dit.  Taking  a  lumixif  kuru- 
manni  wax,  lie   presscH  it  on  the   blowiiipo 

about  eiulitc'cn  inches  from  the  mouthpiece, 
1  .  1..1      .1 ..  .1...  4..i.» 


and  hy  means  of  the  wax  llxes  upon  tlie  tube 
the  two  lower  incisor  teeth  of  II  -  '' 

one  of  tlu!  cavicH. 


Figure  I  shows  the  weapon  Itself,  and  fig. 
'2  the  front  view  of  the  tip,  guanhid  with  its 
ring  of  acuero  see«l,  whicli  forms  tlio  fore- 
sidht.  Fig.  3  gives  an  enlarged  representa- 
tion of  tiie  bac-k-siglit,  nuwie  of  tlic  teeth  of 
the  aeouchi  {Dumiproi'la  Ai-(mih%\  fixed  in 
their  place  by  the  black  kurumanni  wax.  Fig. 
4  is  a  section  taken  through  the  middle  of 


1234 


GUIANA. 


Iho  haok-nlRht,  no  rn  to  show  tho  way  In 
wliic'li  th«  tooth  nn.l.H't  from  the  nhart.  f  «• 
liU  n  front  view  of  llie  butt,  hIiowImk  tho 
way  In  which  tho  ouruli  recti  Is  ciiclotKui 
witltln  tho  samoiiruh  i)ii'n».  ,    ,,  , , 

Such  u  weapon  m  this  i«  excoedinnly  WifM 
and  ea«y  to  handU-,  prcNi-nthj^a  HlnuiK  .ou- 
\rMt  to  the  heavy  an.l  iiiml.rouH  ziualmlniia. 
The  weluht  of  the  out-  in  my  lol  wllon  l)aivly 
excocdHa  pound  and  a  lialf.  a  lhou«»i  it  in 
eleven  feet  in  len«tli.  It  is  held  in  ratluir  a 
curious  manner.  The  l.ft  hand  Ih  tuiiie<l 
with  the  palm  upward,  and  the  elbow  nK'aiiml 
tho  hip.  The  hand  then  ^,'ra«ll8  the  Itlow  K\in 
within  a  hands-lirendth  <>f  the  mouthpie('o, 
and  tlu!ri«!ithand8elzeH  it,  palm  downward, 
in  the  «piu!0  left  by  the  other  hand.  In  lael, 
this  nio«lo  of  holdiiiR  the  weapon  In  exactly 
similar  ill  principle  to  that  which  in  employed 
by  ritlcmiMi.  The  blowpipe  Ih  tlien  ralHod, 
not  by  the  arms,  bui  by  bending  back  tho 
body,  and  it  is  astonisliing  to  see  how  stciMly 
it  can  be  held  for  a  lengthened  time  — a 
stoadinesH  which  can  never  bo  «ained  it  ttl>e 
held  by  Btrotchin«  out  the  ri«ht  arm  and 
ffraspin"  it  at  some  distance  from  tho  moutn. 

Tlio  natives  are  most  careful  respocllnR 
tho  8trni«htneHH  of  their  blov/  guns,  and 
never  allow  them  to  lean  oKainst  anytldng 
lest  they  should  be  warpetl.  When  thev  go 
hunting,  they  carry  the  l)low  Kun  unright, 
like  a  soldh^r,"  shouldering  arms,"  and  when 
thev  return  io  their  huts,  they  suspend  the 
weapon  by  a  Uwp  to  tho  top  of  the  house. 
Mr.  Waterton  repeatedly  draws  attention  to 
this  point  in  his  '*  Wandi^rinjfs,"  and  when 
he  presented  mo  with  the  pucuna  wliich 
he  brought  from  Guiana,  tl»e  gilt  was  ac- 
companied by  a  condition  that  it  should 
never  l)e  allowed  to  lean  against  a  wall,  but 
should  bo  either  laid  on  the  grouud  or  sus- 
pended by  its  loop. 

We  now  come  to  tho  arrows  which  are 
propelled  through  the  pucuna.  They  very 
much  resemble  In  shape  and  size  those 
which  arc  employed  l)y  tho  Dyaks,  but,  in- 
stead of  being  made  to  fit  tho  bore  of  the 
pucuna  liy  a  piece  of  pith  or  soft  wood  at 
tho  butt^  a  small  (luantity  of  wild  cotton, 
taken  from  the  Bomhax  cetba,  la  wound 
upon  it,  and  fastened  with  a  fibre  of  silk 
grass.  Cultivated  cotton  is  too  heavy  to 
servo  tho  purpose,  and  nothing  arswcrs  so 
well  as  the  yellow,  stout-fibred  cottt-n  of  "tho 
Bombax.  Very  great  art  is  required  in  put- 
ting on  the  cotton  properly.  It  must  exactly 
fit  the  bore,  l)e  porfectlv  regular,  so  as  not  to 
disturb  tho  accuracy  of^  tho  flight,  and  must 
taper  gradually  iu  front,  so  as  to  ofTer  the 
least  possible  resistance  to  tho  air.  See  il- 
lustration No.  1,  on  the  next  page.  ,  ,     ,    , 

Tlie  shaft  of  the  arrow  is  made  of  the  leaf 
ribs  of  the  coucourite  palm,  a  species  of 
areca.  It  is  about  ten  Inches  in  length,  no 
thicker  than  a  crow  quill,  and  at  one  end  Is 
brought  to  a  point  as  sharp  as  a  needle  by 


scraping  It  between  the  teeth  of  the  j»lrftl 
fish  (.S<mc«a/»(ii«  ]>'><••/'«)■  The  teeth  of  this 
llsh  are  flat,  pointed,  and  double-edged,  much 
like  those  «if  the  sluirk  —  and.  Indeed,  the 
plrai  is  a  veritable  IVcsli-walcr  shark,  biting 
whole  mouthfuls  from  tbi^  luidics  of  lUilnuili 
that  enter  the  water,  an<l  even  atUicklng  Uio 
alligator  itself— and  when  the  arrow  is 
drawn  between  them,  delicate  "h'lviugs 
art!  taken  off.  Just  as  is  the  case  with  tlio 
double  knife-sbarpcners  of  the  present  day. 
One  half  of  a  plrai  law  Is  always  Huspendod 
to  the  (luiver  of  a  Macousbie. 

Of  tlie  poison  with  which  tho  arrow  Is 
armed  we  will  presently  treat:  we  ure  now 
only  coiKHiriu'd  with  the  mauutacture  of  tho 
weapon.  In  order  to  save  space,  the  eo  Um 
is  not  put  upon  the  arrows  until  lust  bcloro 
thev  are  wanted,  six  or  seven  lliiislie<l  ar- 
rows Ijclng  left  in  the  <|ulver  for  luimcdiato 
use,  and  the  rest  tied  in  a  bundle  until 
needed.  Tho  formation  of  this  bundle  is 
singularly  ingenious,  the  native_  being  able 
to  remove  any  of  the  arrows  without  untv- 


1 


ing  It,  and  to  add  as  many  as  be  likes  with- 
out disturbing  those  whicii  already  are  tle( 

togetlier.  ,    „,      ,  in. 

The  native  takes  a  rod  of  hard  wood,a  Jlt- 
tlo  longer  than  tho  arrows,  ami  at  one  end 
lie  fixes  a  little  wheel,  rather  more  than  two 
inches  in  diameter.  At  two  inches  from  the 
wheel,  and  the  sumo  distance  Iroiii  the  end 
of  the  rod,  two  holes  are  bored,  through 
each  of  which  are  passed  two  slnngs  made 
of  cotU.n.  Wlien  the  man  wishes  to  tie  up 
a  number  of  arrows,  ho  lays  tli.in  succes- 
sively between  tlio  strings,  winch  he  twists 
between  each  arrow.  When  tlio  last  arrow 
is  laid  in  its  plaie,  the  whole  arc  kept  tlrm 
l)y  a  couple  of  sliding  knots,  wliicli  can  bo 
slipped  along  the  strings.  ,      ,  „      , 

iriustration  No.  7  on  tho  following  page, 
will  explain  the  method  of  Htringiii«  the  ar- 
rows better  than  can  be  done  by  words 
alone.  Two  of  the  arrows  are  shown  as 
prepared  ft)r  use,  tlie  cotton  being  on  their 
butts  and  the  poison  on  their  tiiis.  A  num- 
ber moro  are  shown  as  they  appear  on  the 
double  strings,  poisoned,  but  witliout  tlin 
cotton.  A  hunter  will  sometimes  have  as 
many  as  five  hundred  arrows  at  onco  upon  a 

string.  . 

In  order  to  keep  the  weopone  eompnct,  so 
that  they  can  lie  easily  slipped  into  the 
(juiver,  they  are  rolled  round  the  little  rod. 
and  bound  firmly  together  in  a  cylindrical 
form,  tlie  poisoned  pointe  Iteing  directed  to 
tho  wheel,  of  which  the  reader  will  now  sec 
the  use.  It  serves  as  a  sort  of  shield  to  the 
hand,  so  that  wlnu  the  hunter  wislies  to  take 
tho  arrows  out  of  the  quiver,  lie  can  do  so 
without  the  least  danger;  and  when  he  de- 
sires to  remove  some  arrows  to  i>e  mounted 
with  cotton,  ho  can  push  them  llirough  the 
spokes  of  tho  wheel,  and  take  them  out  with- 
out having  to  untie  tlio  bundle.  See  lUua- 
tration  No.  6. 


\ 


B 


(I)     lll.OW  lilN  (.■)  WINfiKli      I  )  fillVKK    AM> 
AltltliWS.  AKItnW  XII  \I1I'|;NKI1 

(Hrr  |lll«.'  IWI.)    (-•••■  \y>H>-  \i-i7.  •'*'"•  I'"-"  '-"-'"•' 


INIM' 


^ll.;  AllllOWH  IUHNU 

MUCK. 

(8eop»!f«  IW4.) 


f5.)  BLOW  GirNS. 
(See  pago  1223.) 


(7.)    AKItOWS   HTUrNU. 
(Soo  pBjfi-  1221.) 


M 


i! 


(1225) 


I  i 


THE  PUCUNA. 


1227 


Wheu  properly  made  and  mounted,  these 
arrows  can  bo  propelled  with  wonderftil 
force.  I  have  sent  one  for  a  distance  of  a 
hundred  yards,  and  the  natives  can  propel 
tbeni  to  a  still  greater  distance.  Thcro  is  a 
certjiin  art  in  using  the  pucuna,  the  arrow 
not  being  urged  by  a  lengthened  brcatb,  but 
by  collecting  all  the  air  that  the  lungs  will 
hold,  and  giving  a  short  expiration,  as  if  the 
object  were  to  empty  the  lungs  at  one  puff. 
The  force  coinis  entirely  fron»  the  lungs,  the 
cheeks  having  notliing  to  do  with  it.  Wlien 
an  arrow  is  rightly  propelled,  it  flies  from 
the  tube  with  a  slight  pop,  like  that  which  is 
produced  by  quickly  drawing  the  cork  of  a 
small  bottle.  It  is  quite  invisible  for  some 
little  time,  f  j  rapid  is  the  motion;  and  even 
when  littf:  ;  with  white  instead  of  yellow 
cotton  the  eye  can  scarcely  follow  its  course. 
Such  an  instrument  as  tliis  is  sin\pl^ 
invaluable  iVn-  the  purposes  to  which  it  is 
devoted.  It  is  intended  to  be  used  almost 
exclusively  for  killing  birds  and  small  mon- 
keys, both  of  wliich  creatures  live  on  trees. 
Now,  as  the  tro-s  of  Guiana  run  to  an  enor- 
mous height,  some  of  them  at iaining  at  least 
a  hundred  feet  before  they  throw  out  a 
branch,  it  will  bo  seen  that  the  iiirds  are  be- 
yond the  reach  of  shot-guns.  Tl>e  foliage  is 
80  thick  that  it  does  not  permit  more  than 
one  or  two  shots  to  reach  the  bird,  and  the 
heigh  I,  is  so  great  that,  even  if  they  did 
strike,  they  would  produce  but  little  e'^ect. 
But  die  pucuna  can  throw  an  arrow  higher 
than  a  gun  can  propel  a  shot,  and  if  the 
needlj-likc  point  enters  any  part  of  the  bird 
the  effect  is  fatal. 

There  is  another  adv.intage  which  the 
pucuna  possossiis  over  iire-avms.  The  re- 
port of  the  gun  frightens  away  every  ])ird 
within  sound,  where.is  the  pucuna  is  practi- 
cally noiseless.  The  slight  "pop"  with 
which  the  arrow  is  expelled  does  not  alarm 
the  birds,  and  an  expert  hunter  can  kill 
twenty  or  thirty  birds  from  one  tree  without 
alanniuf  the  others.  The  pucuna  is  partic- 
ularly usefiil  in  ihe  chase  o«'  the  toucan. 
Tlie  feathers  of  this  bird  are  much  used  in 
the  m.nuufacture  of  the  beautiful  jjala dresses 
which  the  natives  wear  on  grand  occasions, 
and  are  much  prized  by  them.  Now,  the 
toucan  has  a  way  of  sitting  on  the  topmost 
boughs  of  the  tallest  trees,  and  were  it  not 
for  the  deadly  arrow  of  his  p  jcuna,  the  na- 
tive could  seldom  obtain  a  specimen. 

Just  before  the  arrow  is  put  into  the  blow- 
gun,  the  hunter  places  it  between  two  of  the 
pirai-tfictli  already  mentioned,  and  turns  it 
round  between  his  fingers.  lie  thus  cuts  it 
through  Just  above  the  poisoned  portion^  so 
as  to  It  ave  a  mere  thread  of  woo4  attaching 
the  head  to  the  shaft.  If,  therefore,  the  bird  or 
monkjy,  on  feeling  the  smart,  should  seize 
the  arrow  and  withdraw  it,  the  poisoned 
head  snaps  off  and  is  left  in  the  wound. 

Ill  80IUC  parts  of  Uio  country  a  very  in- 
genious form  of  arrow  is  used.    Instead  of 


being  made  to  fit  the  bore  by  means  of  cot- 
ton tied  on  the  butt,  a  tlat  piece  of  bark  is 
twisted  round  the  arrow  so  as  to  cause  it  to 
terminate  in  a  hollow  cone.  A  larger  pieco 
of  the  same  material  is  fixed  along  the  shaft 
of  tiio  arrow,  and  slightly  twisted  so  as  t<t 
cause  it  to  revolve  when  projected  through 
the  air.  The  arrow  is  tipped  with  a  slight 
iron  blade,  instead  of  being  merely  sharp- 
ened wood.  (See  illustration  No.  '2.)  Tiiis 
form  of  hollow  base  is  admirably  a.lajited  for 


i 


ts  purpose,  and  has  been  copied  Ijy  Messrs. 
Lang,  the  well-known  gunmakers  of  Cock- 
spur  Strcetj  in  their  blow  gun  darts  for  kill- 
ing small  birds  and  animals  without  noise. 

Next  comes  the  quiver  in  which  the  ar- 
rows are  kept.  This  is  shown  in  illustration 
No.  4,  on  page  122.5.  The  framework  of  tho 
quiver  iri  made  of  the  ittiritti-reed,  and  tlio 
bottom  is  closed  by  a  circular  iilato  of  wood. 
In  order  to  k(!ep  the  jpoisoned  arrows  from 
the  damp,  which  would  eilectually  spoil  tlicm, 
the  whole  of  the  quiver  is  covered  with  a 
thick  coat  of  kurumanni  wax,  which  is 
pressed  (irmly  into  the  interstices  of  tho 
wicker-work,  and  into  the  Junction  between 
the  bottom  and  the  sides  of  the  quiver. 

Lest  the  rough  basketwork  should  injure 
the  delicate  arrows,  the  quiver-  is  lined  with 
beautifully  made  mat-work,  of  much  finer 
material,  and  quite  smooth  to  the  hand.  Tho 
cover  is  made  of  a  piece  of  skin,  .sometimes 
of  tho  tapir,  but  mostly  of  the  neccary. 
While  fresh  and  wet  it  is  moulded  over  a 
wooden  block  of  the  proper  size,  just  as  hat- 
ters mould  their  felt  into  its  form.  The 
hairy  side  is  kept  inward,  and  when  it  is 
pressed  on  the  top  of  the  quiver,  and  twisted 
with  a  turn  of  the  hand,  it  holds  itself  firmly 
in  its  place.  When  the  cover  is  on  tho 
quiver,  no  water  can  enter,  and  even  if  the 
hunter  were  to  drop  it  into  the  river,  the  ar- 
rows would  be  preserved  quite  dry  in  their 
floating  receptacle. 

Before  the  kurumanni  wax  which  covers 
the  quiver  is  quite  dry,  a  flat  plaited  belt 
made  of  silk  grass  is  secured  to  it  by  means 
of  a  long  string,  which  encircles  the  quiver 
several  times.  In  this  -cincture  is  also  so- 
cured  by  strings  a  coil  of  silk  grass,  from, 
which  can  be  drawn  the  fibres  by  which  the 
cotton  is  attached  to  the  arrow,  together  with 
the  hall  jaw-bone  of  ihc  plrai,  with  which 
the  arrows  are  sharpened.  In  my  specimen 
this  jaw-bone  is  two  inches  in  length. 

The  last  article  which  completes  tho  equip- 
ment of  the  bird  hunter  is  the  basket  of 
wild  cotton.  This,  an  may  be  seen  from  illus- 
tration No.  .3,  h.'is  a  narrow  neck,  and  bulg- 
ing body,  so  that  the  cotton  does  not  fall 
out  of  the  basket,  though  carried  with  tho 
opening  downward.  The  quantity  which  it 
will  hold  is  astonishing.  From  one  of  them 
Mr.  Waterton  took  handftil  after  handful 
until  a  b.rgo  heap  was  on  tho  tabje,  just  as 
a  conjuror  iakcs  Vfist  quantities  of  feathers 
GUI  of  an  apparently  empty  hat. 


CHAPTER  CXXX. 

THE  TRIBES  OF  GUIANA— Continued. 
WEAPONS  —  Concluded. 

EFFECT  OF  THK   WOmiAI.1 -DEATn  OP  THF.   AV-TltK   LAU..KU   AHUOW« -TtrKTEP   AUU0W3  -  A  RTVOn- 

W01IN1.BO  INDIAN  -  now  TlIK  AUUOWS  AUK  KKATllKKKI,— .UK  NAT.VB  LOW  -  1.  -.1  .-K  A«- 
Lws-  lANVFACTUUE  OF  THK  WOn.AM -T-K  QI-AKK  AN,,  .TH  r.KS-THK  WOIM...;...  V.NK.  AND 
OT  K„  V  rKTAULK  CONST. TUF.NT.  -  THK  ..VA,a«  .-...ON,  AND  rrS  t.S,,S-ANT«  AND  HNAKF, 
Fl"or-.«.....NOTnK  WOI..U.,,-K.  ■-.,,.■.■.  OF  T...,  P.tO.K.H  ON  T1.K  MA..KH -Br.I.F-1-OISO.M.U 
AHUOWS-VAttlOfS  AlUiOW   l.liAUS  OF  OU.ANA  -TIIK   W.II8T1,IN(1   AHllOW. 


The  offcct  of  the  poison  is  inst.intanoous, 
providod  th;vt  it  be  of  f,'oo<l  quality  and  kt-pl 
dry.  Tlierc  aro  manv  varictii's  of  tlio  wo.i- 
rali,  but  the  l-.st,  which  is  made  by  tho 
Micousliics,  is  so  i)o\verful  that  one  of  i\w 
tinv  arrows  brought  by  Mr.  Watorton  fi-oiu 
Guiana  liillcd  a  lie!'.>j;eho;j;  at  once,  tliou'j;ii 
fifty  years  iiad  elapsed  since  the  poison  was 
made.  Death  was  not  instantaneous,  for  the 
animal,  which  was  very  sli^ditly  wounded 
in  the  hind  lej;,  breathed  for  some  seconds; 
but  the  hed;j;eho),'  was  (piite  insensible,  and, 
ns  soon  as  it  had  been  pricked  by  the  dart, 
it  allowed  me  to  lay  it  on  its  back,  and 
place  my  finder  on  the  ball  of  its  eye,  with- 
out shrinkin},'.  . 

Itlany  experimeiUs  have  been  made  in 
En<'-land  with  the  \vourali  poison,  most  of 
wluch  have  tended  to  prove  tbat  its  power 
has  been  cxa<r:,'eratc(l,  and  that  a  man  could 
not  be  killed  by  the  small  quantity  tbat 
could  be  conveyed  into  a  wound  on  the 
point  of  an  arrow.  I  feel  certain,  however, 
that  in  such  cases  either  the  poison  has  not 
been  of  good  quality,  or  that  it  has  been 
carelessly  kept,  anil  allowed  to  become 
clamp,  in  which  case  it  loses  the  greater 
part  of  its  strength.  It  is  very  difllcult  to 
procure  the  strongest  wourali  poison  from 
the  natives,  who  are  very  nnwilling  to  jjart 
with  it,  and  will  always  try  to  substitute  an 
inferior  kind.  The  only  mode  of  procuring 
the  best  wourali  is  to  do  as  Mr.  Waterton 
did,  I.  c.  live  aiiiong  them,  and  indnco  them 
to  part  with  the  little  wourali-pots  from 


which  they  have  poisoned  their  own  arrows. 
Moreover;  he  must  imitate  their  exanqile  in 
keepin"  the  poison  in  a  perfectly  dry  place. 
Tlie  natives  are  so  careful  on  this  i)oint  that 
tliey  freqiientlv  remove  the  covei-s  of  theii 
i)oison  ))ots  anil  put  them  near  the  lire. 

There  is  no  misUike  about  the  potency  of 
such  noison  as  this.  Its  etVect  npon  a  hedge- 
hog nas  already  been  mentioned,  but  Mr. 
Waterton  tried  it  on  several  animals.  For 
example,  he  had  an  Ai  sloth  that  lie  want(<il 
to  kill  i.ainlessly,  and  without  damaging  tho 
skin.  How  he  "did  it  is  best  told  in  hi.s  own 
words: —  ,      ,      ,        , 

"  Of  all  animals,  not  even  tho  toad  and 
the  tortoise  excepted,  this  poor  animal  i;* 
the  most  tenacioi.s  of  life.  It  exists  h)ng 
after  it  has  received  wounds  which  woiiM 
have  destroy.!.!  any  other  animal,  and  it 
may  be  said,"  on  seeing  a  mortally  wonnded 
sloth,  that  life  disputes  with  death  every 
in("h  of  flesh  in  its  body. 

"The  Ai  was  wonnded  in  the  leg,  and  put 
down  npon  the  floor,  almost  two  fi.ct  from 
the  table.  It  contrived  to  reach  the  leg  of 
the  table,  and  fastened  itself  ujjon  it  as  if 
wishful  to  ascend.  But  this  was  its  last  ad- 
vancing step;  life  was  ebbing  fast,  though 
iiniierceptilily;  n.ir  could  this  singular  jiro- 
duction  of  nature,  which  has  lieen  formed 
of  a  texture  to  resist  death  in  a  tho;  sand 
shapes,  make  any  stand  against  the  wourali. 
"  First  one  fore-leg  let  go  its  hold,  and 
dropped  down  motionless  by  its  Bide;  tho 
other  gradually  did  tho  same.    Tho  lor- 


tl^JS) 


POISONED  AIUIOWS. 


1229 


Iocs  liiivitif?  now  lost  thi-ir  fltrciiKlli,  the 
Blolli  slowly  (loulilc.l  Uh  i>o(ly,  and  i)liuuM 
its  lu«i(l  betwixt  its  hiud-l.'ns,  which  slill 
ndlici-fd  to  the  tiilihv,  but  wix-u  tho  poison 
Imd  ii(l\',cli!il  these  also,  it  sunk  to  the  t,'nmii(l, 
but  sank  so  gently  that  you  could  not  dm- 
lin<'uish  the  movement  from  an  ordinary 
jniiTion;  and  had  you  b.  .u  ignorant  that  it 
was  wounded  witU  a  lu.isoned  arrow,  yon 
would  iKWer  have  suspected  that  it  was  ily- 
iiiu'.  Its  mouth  was  shut,  nor  had  any 
froth  or  saliva  collected  there. 

"  There  was   no  tiuliHnllun   tnunnum,   nor 


smallcHt  and  soflest  feathers  nro  used,  and 
they  are  worked  into  the  wraiiping  in  a 
manner  which  produces  the  most  artistic 
conil)inatioiis  of  color. 

Tho  natives  have  a  marvellous  eye  for 
color,  most  likely  from  having  continually 
Ijclbre  their  eyes  the  gorgeous  insects  and 
birds  of  their  luxuriant  country,  and  it  is 
V  Mideri'ul  to  see  the  boldness  with  wliich_ 
they  .achiev(!  harmony  from  a  ninnher  of 
hues  that  scarcely  aiiy  oni!  would  dare  to 
idiice  in  oiiposition  with  each  other.  Scarlet, 
yellow,  pink,  blue,  green,  and  snowy  white 


"'I'hi'i-e  was   no  xulj.snuun    icvatniim,    luu    >.ii..„,  ,,....,,  ;■■••■'  n         '  „,„i  ,.,.,.  .n- 


the  minute  after  life's  last  spark  went  (.ul. 
From  the  timii  the  poison  liegaii  to  operate. 
v(,u  woul.l  have  conjectured  that  sleep  was 
overpowering  it,  and  you  would  have  ex- 
claimed— 

M'n'H.-iil(|iii\i;in'iiti'iii 
DulcisctaUaquii;,splaci.lu'qiu!siinillimiimoiti."' 

The  reader  will  see  that  this  iiecouiit 
n'Mves  exactly  with  my  own  experiment. 
In  neither  case  was  death  iuslaiitaueous, 
but  ill  both  cases  the  power  or  wish  to  move 
Hcemed  to  be  iiumediately  taken  trom  Ibc^ 
animal,  though  wounded  in  a.  limb  and  not 
in  a  mortal  spot.  _      . 

Of  eourse.  the  <inaiitity  ot  iioison  must  )e 
prop(U-tiomMl  to  the  size  of  the  animal.  1  he 
tides  that  are  told  of  a  merc^  scratch  pro- 
duciii"  death  are  maiiifist  exaggerations. 
jt  has' been  mentioned  tliat  in  (iuiana  no 
verv  lar"e  animals  an^  found,  the  lajar  and 
the'  iiigimr  being  thi^  largest  of  the  mam- 
malia.' For  the  purpose  of  killing  these,  or 
coin"  to  battle  where  man  is  to  be  <le- 
KtroNHMl,  the  natives  employ  a  very  dillereiit 
weapon,  an<l  usi'  a  bow  and  arrow  ot  rather 
peculiar  construction.  , 

Tliey  are  extreimdv  long,  some  ol  them 
beiiic  six  feet  in  total  length.  The  shall  is 
made  of  a  cvlindrical,  hollow,  and  yerv 
Ftroii"  reed  ((lilixriiim  H:irrl,>inni(in)  wliicU 
runs  ?o  s(mie  length  wilbia.t  a  knot  or  Joint. 
In  one  end  is  lixed  a  long  spiKe  ol  a  very 
iKird  aiKl  hciivy  wood,  <alled  letter  wood, 
bcennse  it  is  covered  with  red  marlis 
like  rude  attempts  at  writing,  very  nuicli 
like  the  s;:Tibbled  marks  on  a  yellow-ham- 
mer's e"".  Ill  onler  to  guard  it  from  siilit- 
tiu"  thTrshaa  of  the  arrow  is  Ixiuiid  for 
soine  inches  with  cott<m  thread.  The  com- 
moner kinds  of  arrow  are  mercdy  wrai)i)ed 
with  this  thread,  but  in  the  better  sorts  th.' 
thread  is  woven  in  patterns  idmost  jjs  nciit 


Sometimes  a  cap  is  made  for  the  arrows, 
iuid  decorated  with  feathers  in  the  same 
lirilliaiit  style.  Such  arrows  as  these  re(|Uiro 
much  can'  on  ilw  jiart  of  the  owner,  who  is 
iiotconteiit  with  an  ordinary  (juiver,  wlu^rein 

Ihev  might  be  jolted  about  and  their  lovely 
feiit'lierss|ioiled,biitcoiistriielsaspi'eialaiid 
iieculiar  (iiiiver  for  their  reception.  Jo 
takes  a  number  of  bamboos,  abiait  the  thick- 
ness of  a  man's  finger,  and  cuts  tliein  into 
nieces  soiiii;  eiirhleeli  illcbl^s  in  Icligtll. 
These  he  lashes'  lirmlv  together,  and  then 
ties  over  them  a  bark  coveiyncatly  wrapped 
with  cotton  string. 

Kii(di  of  these  tubes  ctmtams  one  arrow,, 
which    fits   with    moderate    tightness,    Uio 
,l„wnv  feathers  keeiiing  it  in  its  place.     I  hey 
are  lixed  so  perfectly,  that  when  the  arrow 
is  imsbed    into    its   tube   lh<^  leathers  are 
„ressed   tightly  against  the  shall,  and  \vhen 
It   is   withdrawn,  they  Hiu'ing  out   by  Iheir 
own  elasticity,  and  form  an  elegant  colored 
tuft.     As  the   long  arrow  sbalts  are  apt  to 
vibrate    bv  their    own  weight,   and   might 
dama-'e  the  feather  tufts  in  the  tubes,  a  cap 
is    usually    slipped    over    them  —  in   some 
eaf^es  plain,  like  the  covi^ring  of  the  (|iiiver, 
but  in  others  g.u-geoiisly  made  ol   leathers. 
Thrse    arrows  are   lipiied*witli  the  barlied 
lail-boue  of  tlu!  sliug-ray  or  are  pointed  with 
i,„ii,aiid  not  with  bone.   These  arrrows  and 
one  of  ilw  tubes  are  illustrated  on  p.  1214. 

The  heads  of  the  arrows  are  made  in  vari- 
ous wavs.  Sometimes  they  are  simply  cov- 
ered with  a  Serbs  <.f  rather  blunt  barbs,  but 
the  generality  ofvthem  arc  constructed  utter 
a  verv  elaborate  fashion.  . 

The  barb  of  one  kind  of  arrow  reminds 
the  observer  of  the  weaj.on  of  the  liosjes- 
man,  though  the  arrow  is  '^l'""«^  !J  ^i;:'-}'' '^ 
cr.miKirisou  with  the  tiny  weapon  of  the  Afi  i- 
eaii  savage.  The  point  is  tiuped  withap  eco 
of  iron  e.lt  into  a  single  bart),  and  projecting 


thread  is  w.-vn  in  patterns  almost  as  neat   o.  '"^ "' ,^  ", ''Vmi  iH  w?  in       e'<.pp>mite  direc 
us  those  employed  by. lH,oym.suvn.san.l.ro 


ers.  When  tlic  native  wants  to  make  a 
peculiarly  beautiful  a  row,  lu^  ornaments  it 
in  a  mosi  singular  maimer.  Into  the  thread 
which  wraps  the  shaft  arc  iiiserte<l  a  (luaii- 
tity  of  brilliantly  colored  feathers,  mostly 
th(")S(!  of  the  variouH  parrots  which  are  so 
ploiitiiUi  iu  bouthcrn  Amcriciu    Only  the- 


tion  a  curve.l  iron  spike  is  slightly  lashed  to 
the  shaft  with  cotton.  .        •    i  •  i  „„ 

A  thick  layer  of  wourali  poison  is  laid  on 
the  arrow  for  about  three  inches,  aiding  to 
fasten  the  iron  spike  to  th..  shaft.  Now,  the 
wourali  poison  mixes  instai't-anemisly  with 
tjjy  {iiood  so  that  when  tho  arro.v  peuotrates 


ii 


ti 


1 


1280 


GUIAXA. 


m 


nn  animal,  the  poison  dissolves,  and  allows 
the  spike  to  escape  into  1!^  wound, carrying 
with  it  a  sufficient  amount  of  the  poison  to 
cause  deatli,  even  if  in  its  struggles  the  ani- 
mal should  succeed  in  shaking  out  the  ar- 
row itself.  If  the  reader  will  refer  to  illus- 
tration No.  4,  on  page  247,  he  will  see  in  the 
illustration  (fig.  4)  the  Bosjesman  arrow, 
which  is  made  on  the  same  principle. 

Some  of  these  arrows  appear  to  have  been 
rnuch  prised  by  the  owners  who  have  cov- 
ered them  with  an  elaborate  ornamentation 
of  cotton  thread  for  a  considerable  portion  of 
tlieir  length  —  an  example  of  which,  drawn 
from  one  of  my  own  specimens,  may  be 
seen  in  the  iUustration.  Some  of  the  arrows 
liave  long  ends  of  cotton  strings  hanging 
from  them  in  lieu  of  the  feather  tufts. 
These  danghng  cords  are  often  used  as  orna- 
ments by  the  natives,  who  decorate  witli 
them  their  clubs  in  such  a  manner  that  two 
or  three  blows  must  destroy  the  whole  of  the 
work.  We  shall  presently  see  examples  of 
these  clubs. 

The  arrow  head  which  is  -uost  in  vogue 
among  the  Macoushies,  whom  we  take  as  the 
typical  tribe  of  this  part  of  the  world,  is  made 
in  a  difterent  fashion.  A  square  groove,  about 
an  inch  in  depth,  is  cut  in  the  extremity  of 
the  letter  wood  spike  which  terminates  the 
arrow,  and  a  slight  sliver  of  bamboo  is 
lashed  so  as  to  press  against  the  opening 
along  the  side.  A  barbed  spika  of  coucou- 
rite  wood  is  then  cut.  It  is  about  tluce 
inches  in  Icngtli,  flat  toward  tlie  point,  and 
squared  at  the  base,  so  as  to  slip  easily  iuio 
the  groove  at  the  head  of  the  arrow,  where 
it  is  slightlv  held  by  means  of  tlie  little 
bamboo  spring.  This  spring  enables  the 
head  to  remain  in  its  place  while  the  archer 
is  fitting  the  arrow  to  his  bow  and  taking 
aim;  but  as  soon  as  the  missile  has  struck 
its  object,  and  the  animal  bounds  forward, 
the  poisoned  head  remains  in  the  wound, 
and  the  shaft  falta  on  the  ground. 

There  is  considerable  art  in  putting  the 
wourali  '>n  this  kind  of  arrow  liead.  It  is 
done  in  overal  layers,  one  being  allowed  to 
dry  before  the  other  is  applied,  and  being 
managed  so  as  to  cause  an  edge  of  tlie 
pitch-Tike  wourali  to  run  along  each  side  of 
the  head.  In  consequence  of  the  movabil- 
ity  of  the  head  the  native'  aicher  does  not 
trouble  himself  to  carry  more  than  one  or 
two  shafts,  though  he  has  by  him  a  store  of 
ready-poisoned  neads.  Tlicse  are  kept  in  a 
little  quiver  made  of  a  joint  of  bamboo  fitted 
with  a  cover,  in  order  to  keep  the  poison 
from  moisture,  and  with  a  cotton  belt  by 
which  it  can  be  slung  over  the  shoulders. 

One  of  these  auivers  in  my  collection, 
(see  illustration  No.  8,  page  1231,)  brought 
from  Guiana  by  Sir.  R.  Schomburgk,  is  only 
seven  inches  long  by  an  inch  and  a  half 
wide,  and  is  capable  of  containing  twelve  to 
fourteen  poisoned  heads.  The  native  hunter 
does  not  require  more  ihau  this  number,  m 


he  rarely  shoots  without  hitting,  and  when 
he  has  struck  one  anima!  large  enougli  to 
require- this  kind  of  arrow,  he  seldom  wants 
more  than  one  specimen.  lu  the  course  of 
this  account  of  the  Guiana  natives  tlio 
reader  will  notice  the  many  trouble  saving 
expedients  employed  by  them. 

Owing  to  the  generous  nature  of  the  coun- 
try, which  supplies  food  without  requiring 
labor,  and  tlie  warm,  moist  character  of  tlie 
climate,  the  natives  are  very  apathetic,  and 
have  the  strongest  objection  to  carrying  one 
ounce  more  weight,  or  doing  ode  stroke  more 
work,  tliau  is  absolutely  needful.  So,  in- 
stead of  carrying  a  large  bundle  of  arrows, 
the  hunter  has  one,  or  at  the  most  two  arrows, 
and  a  quantity  of  small  poisoned  heads,  the 
whole  equipment  being  so  light  that  a  child 
just  able  to  walk  could  carry  the  bOw,  ar- 
rows, and  quiver  without  being  much  incon- 
venienced. 

Knowing  the  power  of  this  poison,  the 
natives  are  exceedingly  cautious  in  handling 
it,  and  never  carry  the  ^rrow  with  its  head 
bare.  They  always  slip  over  the  head  a 
small  tube  of  bamboo,  just  large  enough  to 
be  held  in  its  place  by  the  cotton  wrapping 
that  passes  round  the  junction  of  the  head 
and  the  shaft.  This  is  never  removed  except 
when  the  arrpw  is  to  be  used,  and  it  is 
scarcely  possible  to  frighten  a  native  more 
than  by  tak'ng  olV  the  ^uard  of  an  arrow  and 
holding  the  point  to  him.  It  is  of  this  kind 
of  arrow  that  the  following  story  is  told  in 
Mr.  Waterton's  "  Wanderings." 

"  One  day ....  an  Arawuk  Indian  told  an 
affecting  story  of  what  happened  to  a  comrade 
of  his.  lie  was  present  at  his  death.  As  it 
did  not  interest  the  Indian  in  any  point  to 
tell  a  falsehood,  it  is  very  probable  that  his 
account  was  a  true  one.  If  so,  it  appears 
that  there  is  no  certain  antidote,  or  at  least 
an  antidote  that  could  bo  resorted  to  in  a 
case  of  urgent  need;  for  the  Indian  gave  up 
all  thoughts  of  life  as  soon  as  he  was  wounded. 

"  The  Arawdk  Indian  said  it  was  but  four 
years  ago  that  ho  and  his  companion  were 
ranging  in  the  forest  in  quest  of  game.  His 
companion  took  a  poisoned  arrow,  and  sent 
it  at  a  red  monkey  in  a  tree  above  him.  It 
was  nearly  a  perpendicular  shot.  The  an'ow 
missed  the  monkey,  and  in  the  descent 
struck  him  in  the  arm,  a  little  above  the 
elbow.  He  was  convinced  it  was  all  over 
with  him.  'I  shall  never,' said  he  to  his 
companion,  in  a  faltering  voice, '  bend  this 
bow  again.'  And  having  said  that,  he  took 
off  his  little  bamboo  poison  box  which  hung 
across  his  shoulder,  and  putting  it,  together 
with  his  bow  aod  arrows,  on  the  ground, 
he  laid  himself  down  close  by  them,  bade 
liis  companion  fai'ewell,  and  never  spoke 
more." 

Mr.  Watcrton  then  proceeds  to  mention 
the  different  antidotes,  in  none  of  which  does 
he  place  tlie  least  reliance,  and  in  another 
piiico  remuikt*  that  If  the  aativi^s  knew  of 


(2 


,)  CASSAVA    DISH.    (See  piiffi- mK.) 


(1.)    \VI\(ii;i>    AISHOWS, 

(Sou  piise  ItiW.) 


'•4.) 


AltnnW    HKADS.      Sp..pwl.™.>     (flOWIVKR       ..     TlRTl-E  ARROW 

rhi-itty  CIMio,,.  r<om  my  roUe-tion.   (Sec  p.  I'^SO.i  So-  pug.'  v:V..) 


iF.ATHER  APRON. 
(See  \tngti  ISlfl.) 


(1381) 


POTENCY  OP  WOURALI  POISON. 


1988 


any  remedy  for  the  poison,  they  would  nerer 

be  without  it.  ,    x         r  *!,«. 

Before  passing  to  the  manufacture  of  this 
dreaded  poison,  we  will  finish  the  description 
of  the  arrows.  .  ,    ^.    ,      ,        a 

The  very  long  arrows,  with  their  plumea 
shafts,  need  no  feathers,  their  great  length 
sufficing  to  keep  them  straight  during  their 
flight     Were  the  Guianan  native  to  attempt 
a  "  long  shot,"  he  would  fail.    He  is  not  used 
to  long  ranges,  which  for  the  most  part  are 
rendered  needless  by  the  conformation  of  the 
country  and  the  density  of  the  fohage.    Ho 
does  not  expect  to  shoot  at  an  object  distant 
more  than  tliirty  or  forty  yards,  and  likes  to 
cet  much  closer  if  possible.    At  these  shoit 
ranges,  the  great  length  of  the  arrow  keens 
it  straight,  and  is  eflfectual  in  enabling  the 
hunter  to  strike  an  animal,  such  as  a  tapir, 
a  capybara,  or  a  monkey,  through  the  masses 
of  vegetation  by  which  it  is  concealed  from 
mostlyes  except  those  of  a  native. 

Most  of  the  arrows,  however,  are  feathered, 
and  there  is  such  ingenuity  iu  the  way  ol 
putting  on  the    feathers  that  it   deserves 
mention.    In  the  arrows  to  which  we  are 
accustomed  there  are  three  feathers,  but 
in  the  Guianan  arrow  there  are  only  two. 
These  are   taken  from  the    corresponding 
feathers  of  the  opposite  wings  of  the  bird,  so 
that  when  they  are  fixed  on  the  end  ot   tlic 
shaft  they  curve  in  different  directions,  like 
two  blades  of  a  steamer's  screw,  and  so  com- 
municate a  revolving  motion  to  the   arrow 
as  it  flies  through  the  air.    So  if  a  native 
has  two  or  three  arrows  before  him  to  which 
he  wishes  to  add  the  feathers,  he  procures 
a  bird,  and  for  the  first  arrow  takes,  we  will 
say,  tile  second  primary  feather  from  the 
rii'ht  and   left  wings  of  the  bird  cuts  otf  a 
portion  of  the  upper  part,  about  three  inches 
in  length,  strips  away  the  inner  hall  of  the 
feather,  and  fastens  the  remainder  on  the 
weapon.    The  next  arrow  is  feathered  from 
the  third  priu.ary  of  each  win",  and  so  on. 
See  illustration  No.  1,  pa";e  1231. 

The  feathers  are  lashed  to  the  arrow  with 
cotton  thread,  and  so  rudely  put  on,  that 
they  would  sadly  cut  an  English  archer  s 
hand  when  the  arrow  was  shot.  In  order  to 
preserve  the  nock  of  the  arrow  from  being 
split  by  the  liow-string,  it  is  not  made  in  the 
reed  shaft  of  the  arrow  itself,  but  ma  piece 
of  letter  wood,  which  is  lashed  to  the  butt 

of  the  arrow. 

The  bow  is  often  shorter  than  the  arrows, 
and  is  of  no  great  strength,  a  long  range 
bein",  as  has  already  been  stated,  not  re- 
ouired.  Many  kinds  of  wood  furnish  the 
Guianan  bow,  but  those  weapons  which  are 
most  in  favor  are  made  ot  a  species  ot 
Lecythis.  Thev  are  strung  with  the  silk 
grass  wliich  has"  been  already  mentioned. 

Besides  the  ordinary  mode  of  using  their 
bows  and  arrows,  the  Guianan  natives  have 
another,  which  exactly  resembles  that  sport 
of  the  old  English  archers,  when  a  garland 


was  laid  on  the  ground,  and  the  archers, 
standing  in  a  circle  round  it    shot  their 
arrows  high  into  the  air,  so  that  they  should 
fall  into  the  garland.    It  sometimes  happens 
that  a  turtle  is  lying  In  the  water  in  such  a 
manner  that  an  arrow,  shotat  it  in  theusual 
manner,  would  only  glance  off  ite  hard  coat 
without   doing    any   injury.    The   hunter, 
therefore,  shwts    upward,  calculating  the 
course  of  the  descending  missile  so  accurate  y 
that  it  falls  upon  the  turtle's  back,  and  pen- 
etrates the  shell.  .  , 

These  arrows  are  heavier  than  the  or- 
1  dinary  kinds,  and  are  furnished  with  a  sharp 
'  ron  point,  mkde  in  a  very  ingenious  manner. 
As  may  be  seen  by  reference  to  illustration 
No.  5,  page  1231,  the  iron  point  is  doubly 
barbed     Its  neck,  at  first  flat,  is  soon  divided 
into  two  portions,  which  diverge  fvom  each 
other,  and  have  their  ends  shaq.ly  pointed 
so  as  to  constitute  a  secondary  pair  of  barbs. 
A    stout   double    string    oi  fl»^.  g™»»    f 
then   fixed   to  the  neck,  and  cotton  cord 
strengthened  with  kurumanni  wax,  i*  coded 
rountT  the  diverging  points,  so  as  ^  form  a 
tube.    The  end  of  the  piece  of  hard  wood 
which  terminates  the  arrow  is  scraped  clown 
Ta  conical  point,  so  that  it  can  easily  be 
slipped  into   the  tube.    Lastly,  the  double 
CO  ffastened  to  the  head  is  carried  for  a  foot 
or  so  along  the  arrow,  and  made  fast  by  a 
couple  of  belts  of  silk  grass. 

Xs  soon  as  this  arrow  strikes  the  turtle,  it 
dashes  off,  shaking  the  shaft  out  of  the  tube 
and  so  preventing   the  arrow  from  be  ng 
worked  out  of  the  wound  by  dragging  the 
up  ightshaft  throughthe  water     ^^7;e'lcvcr 
tl^e  reptile  comes  near  tlie.^U'^fff '^^^  W 
reed  s*liaft  of  the  arrow  rises  so  as  to  indi- 
cate   its    presence,   and,    aided    by    this 
mSk,  the  hunter  is'soon  able  to  secure  the 
reptile.    The    arrow,  a    part   ot    >^nich  is 
shown  in  the  illustration,  is  rather  more  than 
five  feet  in  length.    It  is  represented  with 
the  shaft  separated  from  the  tube.  .The  iron 
point  is  thick  and  solid,  «"<!  .«»  t^^^J^^! 
wood  spike  is  fourteen  inches  in  length,  the 
front  part  of  the  missile  is  comparatively 
heavy,  causing  it  to  descend  with  great  force. 


We  now  come  to  the  manufacture  of  the 
dreaded  poison  which  produces  such  fatal 
Ss     The  natives  arejrery  cl-ry  of  giving 

information  on  the  sn^J^*^*;  ^^J.  *  If  Jthe 
difficult  to  learn  the  precise  ingredients,  the 

JVtionatequantiUe^^^^^^^^^ 

Sec!  Sly  from  Mr'Xerton's  book 
partly  from  Information  given  by  himself 
and  partly  from  the  words  and  worts  of  other 

'Tgood  manyTS  a.e  employed,  or 

about  to  makewourah  sets  »]lo"t 'ns  task  m 
a  verv  deliberate  ntanner.  He  sets  oft  into 
the  woods  alone,  taking  on  his  back  a  pecul- 


it 
1   )| 


1234 


GUIANA. 


called  a   "qunko"  or 
[V  very  ini;eiiiou8  kind 


iar   kind  of   basket 

"habl)ali."     This   is 

of  basket,  coinbinin;,'   the  two  reiiuisitcs  of 

lightness  and  streujjlii.    It  is  generally  used 

when  the  native  wants  to  carry  objects  that 

arc  not  very  heavy,  and  are  large   enough 

not  to  slip  tiirough  the  interstices. 

It  is  made  from  tlie  itliritti  reed,  split  into 
slii)s  about  the  tliird  of  an  ineli  in  width. 
As  when  lilled  it  swells  out  toward  the  bot- 
tom and  is  narrow  at  the  mouth,  ti>e  objects 
that  are  placed  in  it  have  no  tendency  to  fall 
out,  wiiieli  might  easily  be  the  ease  with  an 
ordinary  basket,  as  tlie  bearer  is  obliged  to 
clamber  over  fallen  trees,  to  force  his  \yay 
tlirougli  the  dense  underwood  of  a  troi)ical 
forest,  and  to  subject  the  ((uake  to  such 
rough  treatment  tliat  its  qualities  of  form 
and  elasticity  are  continually  brought  into 
oijeiatvon. 

The  quake  will  hold  a  Avonderfid  amoimt 
of  goods,  being  as  dilatable  as  an  English 
carpet-bag.  My  own  specimen  (see  illustra- 
tion No.  3,  p.  1:^31,)  measures  twenty  inches 
in  widtli,  and  tliis  is  the  usual  average. 

The  llrst  tiling  to  be  souglit  is  the  wourali 
vine  (slri/chnos  toxifera).  It  is  closely  allied 
to  the  tree  whicii  furnishes  the  well-known 
strychnine,  in  its  coarser  stages  of  prepara- 
tion called  tiux  vo)ii'u:a,  or  ratsbane.  The 
upas  tree,  wliicii  furnishes  the  poison  for 
the  Dyak  sunipitan  arrows,  belongs  to  the 
same  genus.  The  wourali  (spelt  sometimes 
"oorara"  or  "purari"),  though  not  verv 
rare,  is  very  local,  and  not  easily  discovered. 
It  has  a  vine-like  appearance,  with  a  woody 
stem  about  three  inches  in  diameter,  cov- 
ered with  rough  gray  bark.  The  loaves  are 
dark  green,  placed  opposite  each  other,  and 
of  an  oval  form.  The  fruit  is  nearly  .is 
large  as  an  apple,  roiuid,  and  smooth,  with 
seeds  imliedded  in  a  bitter  gummy  pulp, 

When  the  poison  maker  has  found  the 
wourali,  he  looks  after  two  bulbous  planU, 
containing  a  green  and  glutinous  juice,  and 
puts  some  of  their  stems  into  the  quake. 
The  third  vegetable  is  a  bitter  root,  which  I 
believe  to  be  the  hyarri,  a  papilionaceous 
plant,  which  is  largcdy  used  by  the  natives 
in  poisoning  the  water  when  eatehing  fish 
on  a  large  scale.  All  parts  of  the  hyarri  are 
poisonous,  but  the  root  is  the  most  powerful 
part  of  it.  The  natives  take  some  of  the 
root  in  their  canoes,  bale  water  over  it,  and 
pound  it  with  tlieir  clubs.  After  allowing 
tiie  water  time  to  mix  with  the  exi)ressed 
juice,  the  .fisherman  throws  it  overboard,  and 
"in  a  few  minutes  every  fish  within  a  consid- 
,erable  distance  comes  floating  to  the  surface 
•perfectly  helpless.  One  cubic  foot  of  the 
hyarri  will  poison  an  acre  of  water,  even 
an^ong  rapids,  while  a  much  loss  quantity  is 
nt-ded  for  creeks  and  still  water.  The 
poison  has  no  efl'ect  on  the  flesh  of  the  fish, 
which  is  perfectly  wholesome. 

The  wourali  and  the  hyarri  arc,  in  my 
opiaioD,  the  cascatial  parts  of  the  puisuii, 


tho  bulbous  plants  probably  supplying  the 
glutinous  matter  needed  to  make  it  auhcro 
to  tho  i)oint  of  the  weapon.  IJut  the  poison 
maker  is  not  content  with  vegetable!  sub- 
stances, but  presses  the  animal  kingdom  into' 
his  service. 

lie  procures  two  kinds  of  ant,  one  tho 
rauniri  (romra  iivaniUs),  a  huge,  black  crea- 
ture, sometimes'an  inch  in  length,  with  a 
sting  HO  venonious  that  it  often  produces  a 
fever.  One  of  these  ants  is  in  my  collection, 
and  its  very  look  is  venomous  enough  to 
warn  any  one  against  it.  The  other  is  the 
tire-ant  (Mi/ymica  nwvissima),  a  tiny  red  in- 
sect, whoso' sting  is  just  like  the  thrust  of  a 
redhot  needle.  JJesides  these  he  takes  the 
poison  fangs  of  the  labarri  and  counucouchi 
snakes,  two  of  the  most  venomous  serpents 
of  tlie  country.  These  fangs  are  ki'pt  in 
store,  as  the  native  always  kills  these  rep- 
tiles whenever  he  sees  them,  and  extracts 
their  poison  fangs. 

That  these  latter  ingredients  can  have  no 
efl'ect  in  increasing  the  power  of  the  poison 
I  never  doubted,  and  some  years  ago  I  ex- 
pressed my  opinion  that  they  were  not  used 
at  all,  but  merely  collected  .is  a  blind,  to  pre- 
vent the  secret  of  the  poison  being  known. 
This  opinion  is  corroborated  by  the  re- 
searches of  Dr.  Herman  Beigel,  wlio  ana- 
lyzed some  wourali  poison  taken  from  the 
same  arrow  with  which  the  hedgcdiog  was 
killed,  and  who  ascertained  tliat  there  was 
not  a  i)article  of  bony  or  animal  matter  in 
the  poison,  but  that  it  was  wholly  of  a  vege- 
table character.  Moreover,  there  was  no 
trace  of  red  pepi)cr,  which  is  said  to  be  one 
of  the  ingredients. 

As  far'as  the  sense  of  taste  goes,  my  own 
experience  coincides  with  that  of  Dr.  IJeigel. 
I  liave  tasted  the  poison,  which  is  innocuous 
uifless  mixed  directly  with  the  blood,  and 
found  it  to  be  intensely  bitter,  and  rather 
aromatic.  These  two  qualities  are  doubtless 
due  to  the  strychnine  of  the  woiH-.ali  and  to 
tlu:  hyarri.  I'liero  was  not  the  least  liavor 
of  red  pepper. 

All  these  ingredients  being  procured,  the 
poison  maker  sets  to  work  in  a  very  sys- 
tematic manner.  He  will  not  prei)are  tho 
wourali  in,  or  even  near,  his  own  house,  but 
makes  his  preparations  in  the  depth  of  tho 
forest,  where  he  builds  a. little  hut  especially 
for  the  purpose.  His  first  care  is  to  l)uild  a 
fire,  and  while  it  is  l)urniiig  up,  he  scrapes 
into  a  perfectly  new  pot  a  snillicient  quantity? 
of  the  wourali  wood,  adding  to  it  the  hyarri 
in  proper  proportion,  and  placing  them  in  a 
sort  of  colander.  Holding  the  colander  and 
its  contents  over  tho  pot,  the  Indian  pours 
boiling  water  over  them,  and  allows  the  de- 
coction to  dr.ain  into  the  vessel,  wher  it 
looks  something  like  coUee.  "When  a  sufll- 
cient  quantity  has  been  obtained,  the  bulbous 
roots  arc  bruised  and  their  juice  squeezed 
into  the  pot,  and,  lastly,  the  snakes' fangs  and 
auts  are  pouaded  and  thrown  into  tho  pot. 


MANUFACTURE  OF   WOURALI. 


1238 


The  vessel  Is  now  placed  on  tlio  fire,  which 
is   kept   up  viTV  gently,  so  iw   to  allow  the, 
contuiits  to   sininier,   rather   thuti   boil,  and 
more  wourali  Jnico  is  added  to  supply  the 
waste  bv  evaiioration.   A  scum  is  thrown  uj) 
durinj;  'the  ijroee.ss,  and  eari'tuUy  skiniin'Ml 
•with  a  leaf,  the  boiling  beini;  contnnied  until 
the  poison  is  reduced  to  a  thick  dark  brown 
fiyrup,  about  the  consistence  of  treacle.    Ae- 
cordinjj;  to  some  nccountH,  the  Heeds  of  the 
red  i)tppcr  are  used,  not  as  adding  to   the 
Btren,i,'tli  of  the  poison,  but  as  a  test  of  its 
preparation  bciufj;  complete.     When  the  na- 
tive thinks  that  the  poison  ia  nearly  ready, 
he  throws  into  it  a  sin!,'lc  seed   of  red  pep- 
per, which  iininediately  begins  to   ri^volve. 
lie  then   allows  the   i)oiling  to  proceed  a 
little   loni^'cr,  and   tln-ows  in   another  seed, 
which   pcrliaps   revolves,  but  more  slowly, 
and  lie  re|)eats   this   experiment   until    the 
seed  remains  stationary,  whicth  is  accepted 
as    a  proof   that   the   preparation  is  com- 
plctc. 

The  Indian  then  takes  a  few  arrows,  dips 
them  in  the  prison,  and  tries  their  ellect 
upon  some  animal  or  bird,  and,  if  satisfied 
with  the  ctiect,  ])onrs  the  poison  into  a  new 
earthenware  pot,  lies  a  couple  of  leaves  over 
the  mouth,  and  a  piece  of  wet  hide  over  the 
leaves,  so  as  to  exclude  both  air  and  mois- 
ture, especiallv  the  latter.  The  litlle  pots 
which  ar(!  uscil  for  liolding  the  wourali  arc 
nearly  sidierical,  and  about  as  large  as  an 
ordiiiarv  orange. 

The  .-ibove  account  of  preparing  the  wou- 
rali poisiin  is  that  which  is  furnished  by  the 
natives,  but,  as  they  have  a  definite  object  in 
keeping  the  mode  of  prejiaration  secret,  it 
cannoL  be  absolutely  relied  upon.  That 
there  is  a  secret  connected  with  its  manufac- 
ture is  evident  from  the  fact  that  the  Ma- 
cousliie  ])oison  is  acknowledged  to  be  better 
and  stronger  than  that  which  is  manufac- 
tured bv  anv  other  tribe,  and  that  all  the 
Guiaiiuii  tribes  are  glad  to  purchase  wourali 
from  the  ilacoushics. 

It  is  not  every  native  who  knows  how  to 
make  this  wonderful  poison.  The  knowl- 
edge is  reslricled  to  the  conjurers,  who  keep 
it  in  llieir  families  and  hand  it  down  from 
father  to  son.  They  arc  so  careful  to  pre- 
serve their  secret,  that  not  only  do  they 
make  the  wourali  at  a  distance  from  their 
houses,  but  when  thcv  have  completed  the 
mauuiacture  they  burn  down  the  huts,  so  as 
to  ol)literate  every  trace  of  the  means  which 
have  been  employed. 

They  have  a  .sort  of  superstitions  rever- 
ence for  the  wourali.  The  ostensible  reason 
which  is  given  for  burning  down  the  hut  is, 
that  it  is  polluted  by  the  fumes  of  the  poison, 
and  may  never  again  bo  inhabited,  so  that  it 
is  better  to  burn  it  down  at  once.  They  al- 
lege that  during  its  preparation  the  Yaba- 
hou,  or  evil  spirit,  is  hovering  over,  ready  to 
seize  upon  those  who  are  uninitiated  in  the 
mysteries,  and  so  by  the  aid  of  superstition 


cfTectually  prevent  their  proceedings  from 
beiii}?  wutcned. 


In  order  to  carry  out  this  lear  of  the  weu- 
rali  to  its  full  extent,  the  professors  of  poison- 
manufacture  will  refuse  to  make  it  except 
when  they  please,  alleging  any  excuse  that 
may  suggest  itself.    Mr.  Wiilerton  narrates 
an  instance  where  a  man  who  liad  promised 
to  make  some  wourali  poison  declined  to  do 
so  at  the  last  moment,  on  the  ground  that  ho 
expected  an  increase   to   his   family.    The 
maker  is  always  pleased  to  consider  himself 
ill  after  he  has  comiileted  his  work,  which, 
in  spite  of  the  repeated  washing  of  his  face 
and  hands,  renders  him  sntllcieiilly  liable  to 
the   attacks    of   the   invisible   Yabahou  to 
cause   indisi)osition.     The  manufacturer  is 
not  altogether  an  impostor  in  this  case,  but 
acts  from  a  sort  of  belief  in  the  mysterious 
gloom  which  always  surrounds  the  wourali. 
Nothing,  for  example^  would  induce  him  to 
eat  while  the  iioison  is  being  prepared,  and, 
however  hungry  he  may  be,  he   will   last 
until  the  comideted  wourali  has  been  poured 
into  its  receptacle. 

Although  the  chief  poison  in  fiuiana,  the 
wourali  is  not  the  only  one,  tlu'  natives  hav- 
ing discovered  a  sort  of  wood  which  is  sufll- 
ciently  poisonous  in  itself  to  need  no  other 
appliance.  The  wood  is  that  of  some  endog- 
enous tree,  of  a  pale  yellow  color.     Froin 
this  wood  the  natives  cut  long  blade-shaped 
heads,  much  resembling  those  of  the  Kalnr 
assagais  in  form.    The  peculiar  shape  of  the 
head  mav  bo  seen  in  figures  4  and  5  ol  illus- 
tration 'iio.  4,  on  page  1231,  which  represents 
two  views  of  the  same  arrow  head,     home- 
times   the  head  is  left  quite  plain,  but  in 
some  specimens  a  pattern  is  rudely  8crib))le(l 
on  the  outer  surface  of  the  blade.    Annatto 
is  the  coloring  matter  used,  leaving  a  dusky 
red  dye  behind  it.     I  possess  specimens  of 
these  arrows,  both  plain  and  colored. 

These  flat  hetids  are  lashed  to  the  hard- 
wood spike  that  terminates  the  arrow  by  a 
complicated  arrangement  of  cotton  threads, 
which,  though  they  do  not  possess  the  artis- 
tic elegance  of  the  Polynesian  wrapping, 
yet  are  crossed  and  recrossed  so  as  to  pro- 
'duce  a  series  of  diamond  shaped  patterns. 
Mr.  "VVatcrton  first  called  my  attention  to 
the  venomous  properties  of  this  arrow  head. 
The  young  men  practise  diligently  with 
these  weapons.  The  largest,  which  are  in- 
tended for  the  slaughter  of  tapirs,  jaj'uars, 
and  such  like  animals,  are  tested  by  being 
shot  perpendicularly  into  the  air,  each  archer 
trying  to  send  his  arrow  above  that  oi  his 
competitor.  n  n   • 

Mr.  Brett,  in  his  "Indian  Tribes  of  Gui- 
ana," gives  an  interesting  account  of  the 
skill  ot  the  natives  as  marksmen,  and  relates 
one  little  episode  of  the  shooting,  which 
shows  that  the  "inevitable  dog  'accompa- 
nies sports  in  Guiana,  just  as  he  does  m 
Enghand.  , 

I     "  After  Boveral  rounds  from  each  man  ana 


ii 


u 


1236 


GUIANA. 


boy,  the  archery  contest  clo«od  by  a  simul- 
taneoiia  diachiirgo  of  arrows  from  every  bow. 
More  than  two  hundred  shafU)  dying  through 
the  air  together  presented  a  novel  spectacU;, 
and  In  an  instant  demolished  the  target  amid 
loud  shouts  fr'tni  all.  A  dog  which,  unheeded, 
had  wandered  behind  it,  was  surrounded  by 
the  crop  of  arrows  which  suddenly  stuck  in 
the  sand,  some  even  beneath  him.  He  was 
n  lucky  dog,  however,  for  with  marvellous 
fortune  he  escaped  unhurt,  though  bewil- 
dered by  the  adventure  and  the  roar  of 
applause  which  followed  his  somewhat 
hasty  retirement,  with  deprecating  look  and 
drooping  tail." 

Spears  arc  also  used  by  some  of  the  tribes. 
The  same  writer  describes  the  mode  in  which 
n  Warau  had  practised  with  the  spoar.  His 
weapon  was  made  of  the  same  material  as 
the  arrow,  but  of  greater  size,  the  shaft 
being  of  rcod,  and  tlie  head  of  hard  wootl. 
The  young  spearman  had  flxcd  a  mark  on 
the  soft  stem  of  a  plantain  tree.  As  the 
missile  struck  the  mark,  the  hard-wood  head 
remained  sticking  in  the  tree,  while  the 
elastic  shaft  bounded  back  toward  the 
thrower. 

The  lad  said  that  this  javelin  was  used  for 
killing  sundry  large  fishes,  which  are  in- 
duced to  rise  to  the  surface  of  the  water  by 
means  of  scattering  seeds  and  other  food  of 
which  they  arc  fond,  and  are  then  killed  by 
means  of  this  weapon. 

Some  of  the  arrows  arc  unpoisoncd,  and, 
as  an  example  of  the  great  variety  assumed, 
of  the  arrow  heads  of  the  different  tribes 
three  more  specimens  are  given  in  the  three 
left-hand  figures  of  illustration  No.  4,  on 
page  1-231,  taken  from  the  "  Christy  "  collec- 
tion. These  heads  are  something  of  the 
8aj»e  form  as  those  which  have  just  been 
described,  but,  instead  of  being  fiat,  they  are 
curved.  The  reader  may  remember  that  a 
similar  form  of  arrow  prevails  in  New 
Guinea.  The  reason  is  simple  enough. 
The  bamboo  is  covered  with  a  coating  of 
pure  rtint,  which  forms  a  natural  ed^e  so 
sharp,  that  when  the  bamboo  is  split,  it  can 
be  used  as  a  knife. 

Indeed,  until  the  introduction  of  iron,  the 
bamboo  furnished  the  kaifc  in  ordinary  use 
throughout  all  Polynesia  and  many  other 
countries  where  it  grew.  It  is  evident, 
therefore,  that  an  arrow  head  merely  made 
from  a  hollow  bamboo  stem,  and  retaining 
the  hollow  shape,  must  be  a  most  formidable 
weapon,  and  infli«t  a  very  dangerous  wound. 
It  is  brittle,  fragile,  and  would  shiver  to 
pieces  against  a  shield  or  defensive  armor  of 
even  moderate  strength,  but  against  the 
naked  bodies  of  the  Indians  it  is  a  most  ef- 
fective weapon. 

Great  pams  have  been  taken  with  these 
arrows,  all  of  which  have  been  ornamented 
in  some  peculiar  manner.  One  of  them  is 
covered  on  the  convex  side  with  colored 
patterna,  just  as  is  the  case  with  the  poison- 


wood  arrow  Just  described.  Another  Is  not 
»)uly  ornamented,  but  cut  into  barbs.  The 
third,  wliich  is  plain,  is  distlnguinhed  by  a 
hollow  ball,  placed  )ust  below  the  head.  The 
ball  is  pierced  with  a  hole,  so  that  when  the 
arrow  is  sent  from  the  bow  a  whistling 
sound  will  bo  produced.  The  Chinese  use 
whistling  arrows  at  the  present  time,  and  so 
did  our  archers  in  the  day"  when  the  long- 
bow was  the  pride  of  England.  In  all  these 
cases,  the  whistle  could  be  used  for  amuse- 
ment in  time  pf  peace,  but  for  signals  in 
time  of  war. 

As  the  thoughtful  reader  might  gather 
from  the  elaborate  care  exercised  in  orna- 
menting these  weapons,  the  natives  would 
rather  exhibit  than  use  them.  It  is  almost 
invariably  found  to  bo  the  case,  that  really 
warlike  people  keep  their  weapons  In  the 
highest  state  of  cfflciencv,  but  trouble  thcm- 
seFves  comparatively  little  about  ornament- 
inf  them,  whereas  those  wlio  want  a  repu- 
tation for  valor,  without  the  trouble  and 
danger  of  earning  it,  try  to  gain  their  end 
by  having  their  weapons  covered  with  orna- 
ment, and  themselves  assuming  as  martial 
an  aspect  as  possible.  If  the  reader  will 
remember  the  various  peoples  that  have 
been  described  in  the  course  of  this  work, 
he  will  sec  how  completely  this  rule  holds 
good.  _, ..  , 

Take,  by  way  of  example,  the  Fijian  and 
the  Tongan.  The  one  is  celebrated  through- 
out the  world  for  the  variety,  tlie  beauty, 
the  finish,  and  the  artistic  ornamentation  of 
his  weapons.  He  always  moves  armed,  feel- 
inf  himself  at  a  loss  without  his  club  on  his 
shoulder  ;  he  bedizens  himself  in  the  most 
extravagant  manner  for  the  war  dance,  and 
before  joining  in  actual  battle  he  consumes 
a  vast  amount  of  time  in  boasting  of  his 
prowess,  and  of  the  use  to  which  he  will  put 
the  body  of  his  foe. 

But  the  Tongan,  Ivho  never  thinks  of 
boasting  before  or  after  battle,  whoso  wea- 
pons are  simple  and  unadorned,  is  so  com- 
pletely the  superior  of  the  Fijian  that  ho 
could,  if  he  chose,  make  himself  the  mafter 
of  the  whole  Fiji  territory.  "\Vc  sec  tho 
same  c',aractcrist[c  in  several  Eastern  lands, 
in  which  the  men  are  walking  arsenals  of 
weapons  inlaid  with  gold,  silver,  and  pre- 
cious stones,  and  yet  will  take  the  first  op- 
portunity of  running  away  when  there  is 
a  probability  that  their  ornamental  weapons 
will  be  used  in  earnest. 

So  the  experienced  anthropologist,  as 
soon  as  lie  sees  these  berutifully  carved 
arms,  decorated  with  the  most  delicate  plu- 
mage, and  painted  with  all  the  colors  which 
native  art  can  supply,  at  once  makes  up  his 
mind  that  such  weapons  are  more  for  show 
than  use,  and  that  the  makei-s  would  not 
have  expended  such  time  and  trouble 
upon  them,  if  they  had  intended  them  to 
undergo  the  rough  usage  of  actual  war- 


■  Is  not 
.  The 
(1  by  a 
(I.  The 
an  tho 
lintling 
;flo  ufto 
nnd  HO 

0  loiig- 
II  thcso 
nmusc- 
nals  iu 

gntlier 

1  orna- 
would 
almost 

t  roally 
In  the 
B  them- 
lament- 
a  repu- 
ile  and 
loir  end 
:h  orna- 
niarlial 
kr  will 
it  have 
.9  work, 
lo  holds 

ian  and 
hrough- 

beauty, 
ation  of 
led,  fcel- 
b  on  his 
lie  most 
nee,  and 
insiimes 
r  of  his 

will  put 

links  of 
)so  wca- 
Ho  com- 

that  ho 
!  maftiT 

sec  tho 
rn  lands, 
senals  of 
ivnd  pre- 

first  op- 
thorc  is 
weapons 

ogist,  as 
r  carved 
^ato  plu- 
rs  which 
IS  up  his 
for  show 
nuld  not 
trouble 
them  to 
ual  war- 


>li 


I   ih 


h  ■ 


(3,)  GUIAXAN    CLL'IIS.    (See  t)*i-^  11289.) 


(4.)   UUIANAN    (;KAU1-K.     (See  putfu  1;.'47.) 


(1238) 


!  M 


h 


CIIArTER  CXXXI. 

THE  TKIDES  OF  (iUIANA  — Contunted. 


WAIt  —  SUPEIISTITION. 

„.«  CONrK.NrH-H.H«   AN,,   KA....  ...  '^"«  '  •*"       ,    "''^"/J^^       r.  ^\vAU   ^VTH    T..«     AUA«Ak«- 

END  OK  TlIK   WAU. 

WKwU.»ow,.u««  to  their  clu,.,  In  -'"'J' |  ,  At^Ill^J^-^^^clS;':^^^^ 

as  W..11  us  in  tl.c  arrows,  .-an  be  rtiul  I'''  j ''f^"'    S.^i^n,^^^^^^^^^^^^^  nutivc  weapons, 

olumu'teriHlics  of  tl.eir    nmicers  :    «onu!   «''''•.';;;',   '-..^X  a  llmu-'li  llu>v  m'^  «li»l  ">'»"- 

I'en.  are  won.l..rfnl  exanipleH  of  J^vaue  |U'  •   -!,  X\l   '  ~£'Cl^>^.,  Jui  not  for  u«o. 
Till'  speeinuns  wliieli  are  B»»own  in  an  illus-   nUi  UiiLii,aii  """  ,  ,    ..,,,,,  ,„  „^,„,  ,,v  tl,o 
tralioii  on  ti.e  i.reeeilinK  pft«e  are  all  drawn 
from  examples  in  the  "Chnnty  "  eollectu.  i. 
Tlios..  on  the  riuht  are  examples  oJ  the 
kiiul  of  iluh  which  is  culled  Sa|iakana.    1  luv 
are  ma.le  of  the  heaviest  ami  hardest  wood 
whicli  the  native  can  find,  and  some  of  tluiu 

are  so  larjje  and  heavy  that  tliey  rj.qu.re  a 


N'..xt  c(mies  a  club  which  is  used  i)y  tho 
Caribs  carries  out   fully  thq  pnncn.lo 

.hich  has  Just  been  '"^"^-•^'^^f^.i;,*'^^  ?. 
the  ratio  between  the  ornament  ot  tlio  w<  li- 
on a  tlu,  warlike  spirit  of  the  user.  Tins 
'ehl,  Is  c'lmparativcd}  plain,  ^-"'S  '-'"^ 
for  use  an.l  not  f..r  show.    The  makers  t.iU 


are  so   lar^e   in"i   •.V"'.;   -      .-     1  r.,,1., 

stronsUKU.  to.  wield  them._^llu.  bade 


K^JImeUdtl^hkcUlatoftheNewZ.. 
hind  merai,  being  slightly  convt>x  u  1  e 
middle  and  comint;  to  an  edfje  on  eitlier 
side,  so  that  it  is  as  formidablo  a  weapon  as 
can  well  he  imaRined.  i,„„,ii,. 

In  order  to  «ive  a  tlrm  ^rasp,  the  handle 
is  covered  with  cotton  strius,'  wound  upon  it 
very   neatly,  afterward   heinR  ornamented 
with  feathers  and  similar  decorations.    As 
the  heads  of   those  clubs   "'•«.v«>-.V  "»";;» 
alike,  I  have  only  civeu  one  entire,  ami  t  c 
handles  of  two  otfiers.    The  '-V^tral  is  the 
most  hlKhly   ornamented,  having'  Uitls    oi 
brilliant  K'reen  feathers  just  at  the  .lunction 
of  the  head  and  tho  handle,  and  below  the 
f.-athcrs  a  scries  of  white  balls  made  of  cot- 1 
ton-wool.    Tho  reader  will  doubtless  admire 
the  elaborate  pattern  in  which  the  cotton 
string  is  wound  upon  tho  handle.    One  ol 
these  weapons  in  my  own  coUoction  very 
much  resembles  that  which  has  been  already 
described,  except  that,  instead  of  the  feathers 
and  cotton-wool  balls,  it  is  ornamented  with 
a  series  of  long  trailing  tufts  made  of  cotton 
fibre. 


a   for  use  and  noi  i"i  ku""-     ■  •  -■  .       :,i,i.,„iiu 

i^  i  it  by  the  name  of  Potu,  and  it  „'«  /^^Y  J."  ^ 

•^  ...I     .•   „  ,,i'  i\,..  fck  •«.»(«nn!x  ^   (Mill)  Ol  ine 


a  inodiil~cation  of  the  "  macana  "  club  of  the 

Gmn  Chio   Indians.    To  the  eve  it  ~ 

„o  very  ..owerlul   ^vc-apo^^  biit   its  wnglit, 

d  bf 


form  and  balance  render  it  capab  e  ot  .lash. 
!;;«  out  the  brains  of  a, man  «'dh_a^s,nj,de 


bli.w  There  Is  generally  a  wrappinj?  of 
'-..Hon  string  round  the  middle,  so  ««  to  af- 
for<l  a  llrm  grip,  and  a  loop  made  ot  tlie 
same  material,  whi.di  psisscs  oyer  the  wrist. 
AnuHhiicationof  tho  potu  is  shown  m  tho 

'"  tJo t;:f  "S^of  tho  notus  proves  that 
tl  Jv  are  nLant\o  bo  use-i  by  a  emirageous 
an.f  warlike  people.    As  a  rule    l''^.   ^f  ^;<=,» 

.;^^^:^;c;:^hrn«^"-"i.o 
:i^.SJ^iStrtii;?^--S 

nuiot  while  Others  are  just  the  reverse.  The 
most  waXko  tribe  amon- them  is  "n;»"u»>t. 
e  llv  the  Carib,  of  which  Baleigh  wr.;  e  that 
they  "ere  a  naked  people,  but  as  valiaut  aa 
1  any  under  the  sky. 
(123D) 


I 


I 


-\v 


1 ; 

' 

1 

, 

|! 

■    1 

, 

1 

i   I    ' 

''i 


fe|U 


ii 


i        i! 


1240 


GUIANA. 


Tho  Caii1)3  were  at  Uiat  time  the,  most 
important,  of  tlic  Gniauiiu  tribcn,  l>aviii>,' 
carnc.il  t-lioir  iironiiueiico  by  tluur  \v('ai>(>i>»<. 
If  thev  (luari-i'lliMl  with  auoliicr  tnlio,  tlu^y 
WPi-o  acTiistonu'd  to  make  an  fxiuulitiou  into 
the  onwuv'H  laud  by  ni.ul.t,  surrouiK  m  suc- 
ceshioii  tlu'ir  soatU'iH^d  villaii.-H,  kill  all  the 
men,  and  t.ikc  the  w,.!ncn  and  children  pns- 
onors.  Scnic  of  tlu'so  taptivi's  wt-ro  oin- 
i)l(.vcd  a.s  slaves  amo-i!,'  tlioins.dyos  and  by 
(li-nvi-s  bi'Ciiiiio  incorporatiHi  with  lb'  tribe 
of"t)ieir  oaptors,  wbilo  others  wore  ri'sorvc. 
for  s;ilf.  Thev  did  not.  howovor,  restrict 
tlu'inst'lvvs  to  this  kmdof  si'(M-('.t  cxiu-dition, 
biitopi'iilv  in;idi'  war  with  other  tribe!.,  and 
boast.'d  ll'iat  thev  would  pad.Ue  their  caiii)es 
n^'ain.-l-  the  sln';iin,so  that  the  enemy  ini,s,'lit 
hear  them  eomiujj;  and  not  be  taken  by  sur- 

Th'eve  .fcem^  to  bo  littl-  doubt  that  the 
Carib.s  were  at  one  time  eaiiiiil>als,  Ibouiili 
nl  tho  pres.'iit  dav  there  is  ,u;reat  ditlieulty  lu 
wtliii"  them  to  ae,knovie<l,Lfo  the  laet.  ine 
fori.iereauuibalisin  of  these  tribes  was  easily 
coutirnied  bv  some  discoveries  which  were 
made  in  a  laru;e  nionud  situated  on  a  sand 
reef,  some  ten  or  twcl.e  miles  from  the  sea. 
Tliiukimr  that  tiiis  mound  mi;4ht  be  a 
kifeheii  nuddeii  similar  to  (hose  which  are 
fouml  in  manv  parts  of  tho  Old  World,  Mr. 
IJrett  instiiul'ed  a  search,  and  toiind  lliat, 
like  these  mounds,  the  heap  consisted  chielly 
of  .shells,  luostlv  those  of  nuissids  and  ner'- 
winkles.  toireih'er  with  the  claws  and  shells 
of  crabs,  and  some  bones  of  tisbes  and  land 
vorteliratcs.  At  no  very  «reat  depth  trom 
tho  .surface,  the  excavators  came  upon  a  vast 
quant  it  V  of  human  bones,  the  skulls  sliat- 
tcrod  to  i)ieei'S,  and  the  bones  of  tho  arms 
and  leL,'s  split  loivjjitudinalh'. 

To  an  esperieiieed  evo  this  siato  of  the 
bones  told  ils  own  storv.  The  bones  were 
not  laid  reirularlv.  as  they  would  liavo  been 
if  they  had  been  the  remains  of  bodies  rej;- 
iilarly  interred,  but  were  tossed  about  in 
confusion,  the  frav'nuMits  of  skulls,  verlebra". 
and  limbs  lieimj  scattered  hero  and  there 
Witl-.oilt  the  least  order.  The  story  which 
these  r>'m;iilis  tell  is  simple  en:)U!j;h.  1  hey 
human  beiiiuts  who  have 
ir  fcUow-men.whieb,  alter 
the  sake  of  the  marrow, 

„ ^    aside,  together  with   the 

pheUs  of  molluscs  and  other  refuse.  That 
this  horrid  custom  was  common  to  all  the 
tribes  at  one  time  seems  very  probable,  l)ut 
the  Caribs  are  tho  last  to  whom  caniiibali.sm 
lias  been  aliriliiited. 

Like  the  Mundiirucus.  tho  Caribs  had  an 
ordeal  eonsislinn  in  endurini,'  thf  bites  of 
nnts.  Thev  had  no  hereditary  chief.  tboui,di 
the  son  of  a  chief  would  succeed  his  lather 
if  ho  were  considered  to  possess  suflicient 
ahilitv  ami  courau'e.  Kven  in  such  a  case, 
tho  candidate  for  chieftainship  hiid  to  prove 
his  superioriiv  over  his  fellows  bv  his  eupa- 
bility  of  bearing  privations  as  well  as  tor- 


aro  the  bones  of 
been  eaten  by  the 
beiiis?  cracked  for 
have    been   thim 


luro.  IIo  was  required  to  show  that  he  wns 
aiMpiainted  with  all  tho  stratai-oms  of  war, 
that  be  could  oi»luro  lon^'  liislin<j;,  that  ho 
was  of  uutlinchinK  conraj^e,  and  that  ho 
could  resist  oven  tho  terrible  ordeal  <il  tho 
ants,  and  not  until  ho  had  .satisfactorily  passed 
throii^'h  all  those  trials  did  tlu!  Iriljo  lay 
Ibeir  weapons  at  bis  feet  in  loKeiiol  their 
submission  to  him.  . 

We  mav  naturally  feci  some  sur|)iise  that 
a  people  who  exhibit  such  an  indomitablo 
spirit,  and  such  a  love  of  freedom,  who  have 
overrun  vast  tracts  of  territory  mid  siiccess- 
luUy  r.'sisted  even  tho  well-aimed  and  di.sci- 
nlined  troops  of  LOiirope,  slioii'  1  n-t  have  ad- 
vanced in  tho  .scale  of  civili/alion,  but  havo 
n'maincd  as  savage  at  lb.'  presciu-  day  a.s  wu 
know  them  to  have  been  three  himdrod 
years  aj^o.  Mr.  JJrett,  whose  personal  kiiowl- 
cd"o  of  them  cnal)les  him  to  speak  with  au- 
thority, «ive8  Ilia  .solution  of  tho  (piosaon  as 
follows: —  ,  ,   _ 

"  There  arose  amons  tbem  no  master 
spirit,  who,  combiniuf,'  tho  wisdom  ol  the 
liMrislator  with  the  bravery  of  the  .warrior, 
mhiht  havo  ostablislied  humane  and  civili/.m;^ 
insTitutions  amonu;  his  ])eo))le,  and  perina- 
neiittv  united  theirscattered  hordes.  In.ure.at 
emer^'eneics  the  necessity  for  iiiule<l  actum 
led  tln'mace.;rdim;lv  to  follow, and  •mpbcitly 
obev,  some  one  of  their  chiefs,  invested  by 
th.'iiisclves  with  superior  autliorily,  like  n 
dictator  of  ancient  Homo.  lUit  at  oilier 
times  each  peitv  head  of  a  clan  or  lamily 
moved  and  acted  in  a  .i,M-eat  measure  as  he 
pleased,  there  luiii!,'  no  actual  power  nor 
bereditarv  authority  sutlicieiitly  respected  to 
command  till- obedience,  of  all. 

"  Ilavim;  thus  no  i>eriiiaiieiil  band  ol_  co- 
hesion, thAr  wild  honb's  could  only  li!,dil, 
overrun,  oi)pres,s,  and  destroy,  and  in  their 
hi'diest  prosperity  were  incMiiable  ot  aceom- 
pirshiii"  anv  ^nviit  and  useful  work  wliicli 
miL,'lit  have"  remained  as  their  memorial  to 
future  atjes." 

In  consequence  of  the  want  of  leadership, 
the  Caril)  tribe,  once  the  tjveatest,  and  jier- 
hajis  the  <iriL;in  of  all  tho  ({uiauaii  tnlies,  is 
steadily  decreasin,!,',  and,  valiant  as  they  may 
be.  they  are  no  loiit^er  tho  ti'rror  ot  the 
other  tribes,  as  they  used  to  be.  Indeed, 
duriiiLr  their  feud  with  the  Acawaios.  in 
wbi<'b  thev  have  been  en.i,'at;ed  for  a  lon^' time, 
the  Caribs  have  by  no  means  been  the  win- 
ners. They  have  even  been  obliited  to  quit 
Iheirown  district, and  settle  themselves  near 
the  missioiiarv  stations  for  in-otcction. 

The  same  author  who  has  just  been  quo- 
ted mentions  several  instances  which  show 
the  failim,'  jmwer  of  the  Caribs.  On  ono 
occasion  a  Carib  chief  came  to  live  at  tho 
mission  station  hecau.s(?  he  had  found  that 
a  partv  of  Acawaios,  painted  and  (-(pupped 
for  wivr,  were  lurking'  near  liis  home  in  tlio 
forest.  Kven  in  his  place  of  refiii;e  he  was 
not  Kafe  from  his  eneuiiea.  One  evening 
the  village  was  disturbed  by  loud  outcries, 


THE  KANAIMA. 


1241 


and  it  was  found  timt  a  son-in-law  of  the 
ciiicflmd  l)e('U  ncriouwly  luirt,  and  was  lymp; 
ill  hiH  liiiinmock,  wrilhing  with  Uu!  muii  ol 
a  blow  which  he.  liud  recoivcd.  llu  liad 
waiKh^rcd  to  Honio  litUc  distance  from  tlic 
houm!,  wiinn  ho  eau«lit  Hif,'lit  of  an  Acawaio 
hcliind  Itini.  lie  Uinii-d  round,  HpranH  ui)on 
the  onimiv,  and  throw  his  arms  round  hnn; 
hut  tlic  nmu  was  too  strong,  hurled  him  to  the 
ground,  and,  as  he  fell,  struck  the  blow  which 
had  causcul  him  to  take  to  his  hammock. 

The  wiiole  Carib  party  was  in  great  con- 
fusion and  terror  for  some  time,  but  at  last 
it  turned  out  that  the  attack  was  in  c<mse- 
(luencc  of  a  iierscmal  feud  with  the  wounded 
man.    Two  years  before,  his  father  had  been 
assussinatiid"  l)y  tlie  Acawaios,  and  he  very 
naturally  used'his  i)ow  and  arrows  in  a  vain 
attempt  to  save  his  lather's  life.    This  act 
drew  upon  him  the  vengeance  ot  the  Aca- 
waios. who  marl    I  him  for  death  whe  ..|yer 
thev  could  lind   an  opportunity  ol    killing 
him.     He  hiid  lied  from  th.    F  sequilio    to 
Pomt^roon,  but  uselessly,  ami  was  advisee 
hy  the  missiouary  to  go   to  the   coast  and 
procure  employnu^nt  on  one  of  the  sugjir 
estates,   where   hia  enemies  would   not  be 
likely   to  follow. 

So'metimes  a  blood  feuc]  is  caused  by  a  su- 
perstitious i)ractice  called  Kanaim;.      A  per- 
Bou  dies,  and  the  medicine  man  decides  that 
the  death  has  been  can  <cd  hy  some  one  who  | 
has  used  sorcerv  for  'he  pnr])(ise  of  taking 
away  his  life.     I'he  supposed  wizard  is  then 
doomed  to  die,  and  a  nciir  relative  of  the 
deceased  is  set  apart  for  the  purpose  of  car- 
rying out  the  sentence.     He  is  supposed  to 
1)1!  iiossessed  Ify  a  wandering  spirit  calle(l 
Kanaima,  tmd  is  called  by  that  name  until 
the    deed    of   vengeance    's    accomplished. 
During  the  time  of  posses  .on,  the  Kanaima 
lias  to  sutler  many  privations,  so  th.at  the 
mere  wish  to  be  restored  to  his  ordinary  lite 
acts  as  an  inccutive  to  the  fullllment  oi  his 

otlic.e.  .  T       1 

The  mode  of  killing  a  victim  according  to 
the   Kanaima  superstition   is  a  very  cruel 
one.     Ho    is  apiiroached   from  behind   (as 
wa«  the  case  with  the  young  Carili  above- 
mentioned);    and   if   the   slayer  can   come 
within  reach,  the  victim  is  struck  down  witli 
a  blow  on  the  back  of  his  neck.    This  blow 
is  not  meant  to  be  fatal,  and  is  only  hard 
enough   to  cause   insensibility  for   a   time. 
The  Kanaima  then  forces  open  his  victim  s 
mouth,  and  presses  through  his  tongue  the 
fan"S  of  a  venomous  se';ient.    The  tongue 
immediately  swells  to  such  an  extent  as  U< 
previiit  the  unfortunate  wret.di  from  speak- 
111".  and  in  the  course  of  a  <lay  or  two  t(i 
Olid   hia  life.    Sometimes   the  Kanaima  is 
said  to  fubstitut(!  for  the  serpent's  fangs  a 
poisonous    powder,  made   for  the   ernrcas 
purpose,  and  kept  in  a  little  tube  niade  ol 
the  wing-bone  of  a  bird.    The  preparation 
of  this  iiowder  is  a  secret,  handed  down 
from  father  to  sou. 


The  task  of  the  Kanaima  is  not  vet  cndc  1. 
Three  days  after  the  burial  of  the  victim, 
the  murderer  must  visit  the.  grave  and  {>o 
through  some  ceremony,  before  the  Kani,- 
ima  spirit  departs  and  allows  the  man  to 
return  to  his  friends.  The  natives  are  very 
chary  of  their  knowledge  on  this  siibjeel, 
but  "as  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  the  Kana- 
ima' presses  a  pointed  slick  through  tlui 
body,  tastes  the  b!<>c'',  and  by  that  act  is  re- 
lieved from  the  spirit  of  murder. 

The  friends  of  the  victim,  therefore,  al- 
ways endeavor  to  conceal  the  place;  of  bur- 
ial, and  it  is  the  duty  of  the  murderer  to 
hover  about  the  place  so  tb;il  they  shall  not 
abh;  to  inter  the  body  without  his  knowl- 


.'dge.  Should  the;  friends  be  succcsstul,  the 
vengeance  is  reve^raed,  for  the  unfortunato 
Kanaima  is  obliged  to  wander  through  the 
woods  until  he  is  alllictcd  with  madness,  or 
some  other  form  of  vengeance  whend.y  the 
spirit  of  murder  i)unishes  those  who  have 
not  (tarried  out  his  wishes. 

Mr.   Ihett  witnessed  severnl  instances  ot 
this  dreadful  mode  of  punishmen*,  and  m 
one  case  had  little  doubt  that  he  nad  como      ■ 
upon  a  Kanaima  who  had  been  miab'e  to 
find  the  body  of  his  victim.    "An  Indian, 
reduced  almost  to  a  skeleton,  and  in  a  dreacl- 
ful  state  of  exhaustiem,  was  nicked  up  in  tho 
forest  by  some  Arawuk,  and  l)roughl  to  the 
r.mieroon  mission.    He  had  lost  a  i>ortion 
of  his  scalp,  and  had  his  lower  lip  torn  down 
at  each  corner.     This  he  said  had  be.'U  .lone 
by  a  small  '  tiger,'  which  had  sprung  on  him 
whih;  lying  in  the  forest.  .  -  -  .    . 

"The  Acawaios  at  the  mission,  whose 
lnn<'uage  he  spoke,  took  much  care  ol  him 
at  first,  but  afterward  jud-'cd.  from  his  relus- 
in.'  certain  kinds  of  food  and  other  signs, 
that  he  was  a  devotee  and  vieiim  ol  imap- 
peased  Kanaima,  and  the  murderer  ot  a  man 
killed  some  time  be.ore.  From  this,  and  his 
savage,  ungrateful  demeanor  (theiigh  Mr. 
M-Ciinl">  k  aided  by  myself,  cleansed  and 
dressed  l:iss(n-es  to  encourage  tbeni)'We 'ia« 
some  diilieulty  in  getting  him  nursed  till  hia 
stren"th  had  returned,  as  they  leared  lest 
they  shiivdd  become  his  future  victims. 

It"  the  friends  of  the  murdered  man  fear 
that  thev  will  not  be  able  to  con.'eal  the 
body  cllectually,  they  remove  the  Uver,  and 
i.ut'in  its  place  a  redhot  axe-head, under  the 
belief  that  when  the  Kar.aima  ti.stea  ho 
blood  of  his  victim,  the  heat  which  was  in  the 
axe-head  will  pa«s  into  his  body  and  consume 

""'ultiiig  aside  private  feud,  the  Caribs 
have  of  late  been  beaten  by  the  other  tribes 
ill  open  war.  They  had  been  partially  sue- 
eessful  against  the  Arawaks,  who  had  been 
driven  into  the  swampy  district  near  the 
Waini.  Here,  however,  the  fugitives  made 
a  stand,  and  placed  themselves  ""'l^  y'« 
auiirem  ;  commandof  awell-knowrt  and  tried 
warrior.  Exi.eeting  tl';^t  the  ('aribs  w-ould 
soon  follow  them  into  their  place  of  reluge, 


l( 


ll    ' 


n 


:i 


1242 


GUIANA. 


rheir  leader  placed  his  men  in  ambush  among 
the  islands,  and  awaited  the  coming  of  the 
enemy. 

On  came  the  Caribs  in  their  great  war 
canoes,  following  each  other  in  single  file 
through  the  narrow  creeks  which  separate 
the  "wet  savannah"  into  islands.  They 
were  allowed  to  pass  unhurt,  until  they 
rounded  one  of  the  islands,  when  a  deadly 
sliower  of  arrows  from  both  banks  disabled 
or  killed  every  man  on  board.  The  second 
canoe  pushed  on,  only  to  meet  the  same  fate, 
while  the  others,  not  being  able  to  see  the 
carnage  that  was  taking  place,  hurried  on- 
ward toward  the  spot  whence  the  cries  pro- 
ceeded, and  were  in  their  turn  overwhelmed 
with  the  deadly  shower.  The  victorious 
Arawftks  thou  jumped  into  the  water,  seized 
the  canoes,  and  killed  every  one  of  the  war- 
riors with  the  exception  of  two.  These  were 
Bent  home  by  the  victors  on  the  promise  of 
a  largo  ransom,  to  be  paid  in  the  cotton 
hammocks  for  the  manufacture  of  which  the 
Caribs  are  so  famous;  and  an  insulting  mes- 
sage was  also  sent  by  them,  requesting  the 
Caribs  to  send  another  expedition. 

On  land  the  Caribs  fared  as  badly  against 
the  same  foes  as  they  had  done  by  sea. 
Being  determined  to  resist  the  continual  at- 
tacks of  the  Caribs,  the  Arawftks  made  up 
their  minds  to  fly  no  more  to  the  swamps  for 
safety,  but  to  boldly  face  their  enemies. 
They  therefore  built  a  large  house  on  the 
banks  of  a  rivulet,  surrounded  it  with  trees 
laid  with  their  branches  outward  —  in  fact, 
the  abattis  of  modern  engineering  —  and 
stored  the  house  with  as  many  arrows  as 
they  could  make.  Moreover,  they  made 
broad  wooden  shields,  which  were  used  on 
this  occasion  for  the  first  and  probably  for 
the  last  time. 

As  had  been  anticipated,  the  Caribs  were 
not  very  long  in  making  their  attack.  See- 
ing a  small  party  of  men  among  the  trees, 
they  gave  chase  and  pursued  them  as  far  as 
the  house,  which  they  immediately  attacked. 
The  defenders  did  not  return  the  fire  of  the 
Caribs,  but  contented  themselves  with  receiv- 
ing on  their  shields  the  aiTows  of  the  enemy. 
When  they  judged  that  the  arrows  of  the 
foe  were  nearly  exhausted,  they  made  use  of 
their  own  stores,  and  poured  volley  after 


volley  on  the  invjiders,  being  supplied  by 
the  women  and  boys  with  arrows  as  fast  as 
they  could  shoot.  The  Caribs  were  unable 
to  withstand  such  an  attack,  and  were 
obliged  to  beat  a  retreat,  during  which  they 
lost  many  more  of  their  number  by  the  pur- 
suing Arawftks. 

The  two  last  decisive  battles  between  these 
great  tribes  ended  again  in  favor  of  the 
Aravvftks.  The  latter  established  themselves 
on  the  banks  of  a  branch  of  the  river 
Moruca,  a  stream  which  is  thickly  wooded 
on  both  sides.  The  name  of  this  branch  is 
Haimara-Cabura.  Across  this  stream  the 
Arawftks  sank  a  tree  trunk  at  such  a  depth 
that  it  would  allow  small  canoes  to  pass  over 
it,  \  hile  the  large  and  heavily-laden  war- 
canoes  must  inevitably  strike  upon  it. 

The  invaders  came,  as  had  been  expected^ 
but  found  nothing  except  empty  houses. 
They  then  descended  the  Moruca,  looking 
about  for  their  prey,  and  at  last  caught 
sight  of  several  canoes  and  gave  chase.  The 
fugitive  canoes,  on  reaching  the  mouth  of 
the  Ilaimara-Cabura,  darted  into  it  as  if  for 
shelter,  and  were  followed  by  the  invaders, 
yelling  and  shouting  with  excitement.  Sud- 
denly, their  canoes  struck  violently  against 
the  sunken  boom,  jerked  the  paddles  from 
their  places,  became  entangled  with  each 
other,  and  caused  inextricable  conftision. 
In  the  midst  of  their  perplexity,  showers  of 
arrows  were  hurled  upon  them,  and  very 
few  of  the  invading  force  escaped. 

Among  them,  however,  was  the  Carib 
chief  Manarrawa,  who  was  incensed  at  the 
repulse  with  wliich  he  had  met,  returned  to 
the  Orinoco,  organized  another  force,  and 
again  attacked  the  Arawftks.  This  time  he 
was  less  fortunate,  being  wounded  and  taken 
prisoner.  On  being  brought  before  the 
council  of  chiefs,  Manarrawa  promised  that, 
if  his  life  was  spared,  he  would  cause  his 
people  to  cease  from  further  attacks.  The 
Arawftks,  more  lenient  than  the  Caybs, 
granted  his  request,  gave  him  a  canoe,  and 
sent  him  homo.  lie,  on  his  part,  performed 
his  promise,  and  from  that  time  there  has 
been  no  regular  war  between  the  Caribs  and 
Arawftks,  although  there  have  been  private 
blood  feuds  of  the  kind  described. 


m 


M ! 


II J I 


CHAPTER    CXXXII. 

THE  TIllBES  OF  GUIANA— Con(mi(«d. 

AIlCniTECTUnE  AND  SOCIAL  CUSTOMS. 


THK  H.TE-MArU,MON.AI.  ^''''^^'''^^■'•^^«- ™  '""^  *^,",;,^;  "^M...        T„K    AUAWXKS-THK 
MAQUAHRI  I,A.NC..-C0N8TUUCT,ON   OK  THE   WHIPS- KNI.UUANCK  OK  VAl^. 

We  will  now  examine  the  'l«mc«tic  hfc  of  the  m^y ^j^^^^^^^^^^^  ^^^^    ^^^^^^i    ,^^^.,,,;,,„ 

tlu' (iuiiiuiin  niilivcs.  L,„.kM  tho  ^)int«  creak,  and  the  houne  seems 

„sr  t,?'ii;rs*M^^^^^^^^^^^^^  "'■  ""■'"■■-■  *■"■■'■  '"" """ 

mat,..,  iH  HO  warm  tliat  houses  are  but  hit  c 
needed,  all  that  is  required  beint;  ii/iin'P'c 
".of  ahov  the  head.  The  ordinary  kind  o 
hut  is  nothiuf,'  more,  than  rv  mere  «lii'«>,  ^ 
sort  of  ham  without  the  walls,  ^ui.p"rt«l  on 
posts  and  (hatched  with  leaves  I  rom  he 
,osts  and  rafters  are  hun-  he  personal 
Lods  <.f  the  natives,  such  as  fans,  paid  s, 
clubs,  blow  s,'uns,b..ws  and  arrows,  and  sim- 
ilar art i.aes,  while  from  one  or  two  ot  IUl 
cross-beams  is  sure  to  he  hanf,Mn-  the  sin- 
LMilar  cassava  press,  which  will  be  presf-ntly 
(lescribed.     Such  a  h<mso  is  represented  on 

^''i5!:[:;:;"n"ii.l'u5ri,htposts,andsometi.vu>s 
from  the  transverse  beams,  are  suspemled  the 
hammocks,  soine  of  which  are  almost  inva- 
riablv  occupied,  as  the  ir.aster  has  i.  natural 
.Tcniiis  for  Ivin;?  in  his  hammock  when  He 
Ts  not  absol'uloly  oblifj;ed  to  be  on  his  feet. 
The  number  of  hammocks  under  a  RinRle  root 
is  almost  incredible.  They  arc  hun|i  in  tiers 
one  above  another,  like  the  berths  on  board 
a  passensjcr  ship,  and  when  thirty  or  torty 
of  th.mi  are  occupied  at  once  it  .^etmis 
rather  womh'rful  that  the  building  should 
be  able  to  withstand  such  a  strain. 

As  the  inhahit^ints  move  about,  or  gel 
into  and  out  of  their  hammocks  while  re- 
plenishing the  nightly  fires,  whose  smoke  is 


Uinctions  of  the  beams'  and  posts  are  so 
S;  ed  that  they  are  far  stronger  than 
leyl,  k,an.l  however  fragile  the  shed  may 
seem,  it  is  quite  cpial  to  any  strain  they 
may  have,  to  endure. 

In   the  interior,  however,   the  bus    are 
more  of  a  compli<ated  charaetfjr,  and  have 
walls  as  w.-ll  as'a  roof.    Th.-ir  form  is  inva- 
riably round,  aiul  their  roofs  pointed  m  the 
centre.     Some  are  shaixnl    almost    exactly 
like  single-pol«'<l  tents,  Iiaving  a  circular  up- 
right wall,  some  five  or  six  feet  in  height 
i^d  from  that  wall  a  tolerably  h^J^tiT"  en 
roof  eiidin2  in  a  sharp  point.     1  heir  gen- 
era[  shape 'much  resem'hlJ-s  th.it  of  tlu,  iS^k- 
ololo  h.luse,  seen  on  page  ^•^»-   .^? '>^if '^Z' 
however,  is  neater,  and  the  central  polt  l)V 
which  it  is  supported,  rises  to  some  height 
nbovc  the  top,  looking  like  the  ornameuta 
*snrk 's  iluh  which  English  buiUlers  are  fond 
of  decorating  some  of  their  villas. 

Other  houses,  though  built  on  the  same 
principle,  are  not  quite  conical.  They  have 
no  distinction  between  the  wall  ami  roof, 
and,  instead  of  being  circular  are  octagonal 
They  may  be  very  well  imitated  by  cutting 
out  eight  isosceles  triangles  from  canlhoar<^ 
the  larger  sides  being  about  four  times  the 
length  of  the  shortest,  and  sewin<r  them  to- 
gcthcf.    A  knitting  needle  througTi  the  ccnr 


ii 


laM 


GIJIANA. 


!! 


tre  will  act  as  a  support,  and  look  very  much 
like  the  centre  pole  of  the  edifice.  . 

These  huts  are  used  hy  the  Macoushies, 
the  makers  of  the  very  long  blow  guns 
which  have  already  been  described,  and 
from  projections  in  the  upright  poles  the 
weapons  are  suspended  ^vVii  not  m  use 
It  need  scarcely  be  said  that  the  task  ot 
house  building  belongs  to  the  women  inas- 
much as  it  pertains  to  the  category  ot  heavy 
work,  which  is  beneath  the  character  of  a 
man  to  undertake.  Indeed,  with  these  peo- 
ple as  witii  many  other  uncivdized  nations, 
the' rooted  disinclination  of  the  men  to  la- 
bor, and  the  consequent  falling  of  all  the 
work  upon  the  women,  is  one  of  the  most 
serious  obstacles  to  their  progress  in  civiliza- 
tion; and  even  polygamy  is  not  so  much  a 
drawback  as  the  inferior  condition  ot  the 

women.  ,  -.r     x.    ii 

Treating  of  the  native  houses,  Mr.  Mrett 
remarks  that  the  builders,  simple  as  may  be 
the  house  itself,  carefully  select  a  site  which 
must  combine  several  requirements.  In  the 
first  place,  it  must  be  near  a  stream,  so  that 
the  women  may  not  have  more  trouble  than 
needful  in  fetching  water  for  the  use  of  the 
household,  and  that  the  canoe  may  be  withm 
easy  reach  of  the  house  when  the  owner 
wishes  to  set  out  upon  one  of  the  frequent 
migrations  which  take  place  among  these 

tribes.  ....        „  ^    c 

It  must  be  a  spot  which  is  rather  out  ot 
the  way.  The  native  Guianan  likes  peace 
and  quietness,  and  has  a  strong  objection  to 
belli"  disturbed,  the  apathy  of  his  nature 
beiuf'  supnlcmented  by  an  inveterate  shy- 
nessr  which  makes  him  keep  aloof  from 
strangers.  It  must  also  be  a  spot  where  the 
ground  is  light  and  sandy,  and  where  the 
very  slight  cultivation  needed  in  this  land 
can  be  easily  carried  on. 

The  house  being  built,  the  next  business  is 
to  prepare  a  field  for  the  cultivation  of  yams 
and  cassava,  and  this  is  the  only  hard  work 
which  the  men  will  condescend  to  do.  The 
ground  is  alreadv  occupied  by  trees,  but  this  is 
of  no  consequence  to  the  native  agriculturist. 
Having  selected  a  convenient  spot,  he  cuts 
down  the  trees,  ingeniously  contriving  that 
the  fall  of  one  shall  bring  down  several 
others.  This  is  done  at  the  beginning  of  the 
hot  season,  t.  e.  somewhere  in  August  The 
tropical  sun  soon  dries  the  fallen  trees,  "and 
when  they  are  sufficiently  narched  for  the 
purpose,  the  Indian  sets  tliem  on  fire,  a 
process  which  rapidly  consumes  all  but  the 
trunks  and  the  largest  branches.  He  ha» 
now  done  his  share  of  the  work,  and  leaves 
the  rest  to  the  women,  who  have  to  clear 
away  the  ddbris  as  far  as  they  can,  and  to 
do  all  the  digging,  planting,  and  weeding 
that  is  needed. 

Among  these  people  polygamy,  thouch 
not  always  the  rule,  is  often  the  case,  and  a 
man's  great  i  «»  is  partly  estiiiialed  by  th« 
number  of  hm  wives.    It  is  not,  however, 


carried  out  to  such  an  excess  as  is  the  case 
with  many  other  peoples,  inasmuch  as  one 
chief  was  looked  upon  with  the  greatest 
respect  because  he  had  the  unusual  number 
of  nine  wives.  This  chief,  a  Warau,  was 
very  jealous  of  his  establishment,  and  wiis 
said  to  have  shot  one  of  his  wives,  and 
severely  wounded  another  with  his  cutlass. 
As  a  rule,  however,  a  man  has  one  wife  only, 
the  exceptions  being  rarer  in  proportion  to 
the  number  of  wives. 

The  Caribs  appear  to  carry  out  the  princi- 
ple of  proprietorship  in  their  women  to  the 
fullest  degree,  as  is  exemplified  by  an  amus- 
iu"  anecdote  related  by  Mr.  Brett.  It  must 
be  premised  that,  as  is  usual  among  nearly 
all  uncivilized  natives,  the  wife  is  purchased 
from  her  father  or  oldest  male  relative,  who 
has  absolute  power  over  and  can  sell  her  as 
he  would  sell  his  bow,  and  with  as  much 
regard  for  the  feehngs  of  one  article  ot 
property  as  the  other.  .  .   .    ,.         .    . 

"A  high-spirited  Caribi  girl,  indignant  at 
being  given  in  marriage  to  an  elderly  man, 
who  had  already  other  wives  (one  being  her 
own  sister),  ran  away  from  him,  and  be- 
stowed her  hand  on  one  of  thd  Esscquibo 
Caribs,  a  younger  man  whom  she  liked  bet- 
ter. After  a  while,  the  old  man  visited  that 
quarter  —  not,  however,  to  exercise  his  un- 
doubted right  to  bring  her  back  and  beat 
her,  but  to  claim  compensation  lor  her  ser- 
vices. It  was  willingly  allowed,  and  lor  a 
gun,  a  barrel  of  salt,  or  some  article  ot  like 
value,  the  woman  was  left  with  the  man  ot 
her  dhoice,  who  perhaps  thought  himselt 
secure,  and  the  business  ended. 

"  But  the  next  year  the  old  man,  who  vrell 
knew  what  he  was  doing,  paid  thein  another 
visit,  still,  as  he  said,  in  quest  of  compensa- 
tion.   On  being  reminded  by  the  husband 
that  he  had  already  been  paid  for  the  woman, 
he  replied, '  Yes  —  for  the  wbman;  but  she 
has  since  borne  you  a  child  — you  must  now 
pay  me  for  that.'    The  unwritten  law  of 
Caribi  usage  was  decidedly  in  the  old  man  9 
favor,  and  he    recf^ived  compensation  for 
that  child.    For  each  succeeding  birth  ho 
could,  if  he  chose,  reappear,  like  an  unquiet 
spirit,  make  a  similar  demand,  and  be  sup- 
ported therein  by  the  custom  of  his  na- 
tion." '      .  ,       J 
Sometimes  the  second  wife  is  purchased 
while  still  a  child,  and  brought  up  together 
with  the  family  of  the  first  wife,  and  a  pru- 
dent chief  will  thus  provide  himscjlf  with  a 
succession  of  wives,  each    attaining  mar- 
riageable years  as  her  predecessors  become 
too  old  to  suit  the  taste  of  their  proprietor. 
Now  and  then,  the  first  wife  successfully 
resists  the  introduction  of  a  sharer  of  her 
household.    In  one  such  case,  the  first  wife, 
after  trying  to  commit  suicide,  and  being 
prevented,  took   a   more    sensible  course. 
She  was  an  Arawftk,  one  of  three  sisters,  M 
living  with  their  respective  husbands  f**.""- 
aettlement.    One  day,  the  husband  of  tuo 


A  SINGULAR  CUSTOM. 


1247 


eldest  sister,  having  been  on  a  visit  to  some  I  treatment  is  that  they  have  scarcely  any 
fSs  brought  homo  auotbor  wife,  a  full-  control  over  the  children,  though,  when  they 
grown  youns"  woman.  The  first  wife,  after  grow  up,  the  respect  sliown  by  sons  and 
Cnavailiug  attempt  at  suicide,  made  an  daughters  to  their  parents  of  either  sex  is 
onslau-'ht  upon  the  intruder,  aided  by  her  wortliy  of  all  praise.  , .  ,  .,  ^. 
?wo  sis  ers,  whoso  husbands'  stood  quietly  Connected  with  this  subject,  the  Gu.anan 
irkin-  on  The  end  of  the  business  was,  natives  have  a  very  singular  custom,  wh  ch, 
that    tie  woman    was    sent    back    to    her   according  to  our  _ideas  at  the  present  day 


friends,  and  the  first  wife  was  left  in  the  un- 
disturbed rule  of  her  household. 

The  Arawftks  have  a  curious  and  praise- 
worthy regulation  concerning  marriage. 
Their  tribe  is  divided  into  a  number  of 
families,  each  descending  in  the  female  line, 
and  being  known  by  its  own  name.    No  one 


entircl v  reverses  the  order  of  things.  W  ilh 
us,  when  a  wife  expects  to  be  a  mother,  she 
often  thinks  it  necessary  to  abstain  from 
certain  articles  of  food,  and  from  too  much 
exertion.  With  the  Guianan  Indians,  the 
wife  eats  exactly  what  she  chooses,  and 
works  as  hard  as  ever,  while   the  hufiband 


nnd  hein"' Known  DV  lis  own  ii.iuii;.    a-<u  u"c    yh^.  no  ..^  ..«.«....    ~-~-i     ;    ,    .  ,    .^ . 

fs  allowed  to  marry  into  the  family  bearing   thinks  himself  bound  to  abstain  and    o  res  . 
the  same  name  as  himself  or  herself,  aii3  l^^or  example,  the  Acawaios  and  Canbs  will 

tne     same    lUUlll.    «a     ^ii.iov.  „„i.l,„„'  ,,_;        --i 4^  tl...  rtod,  r.f  tlin  ncrnilli    Ipst  till'  future 

this  principle  is  earned  out  m  a  ratlier  curi- 
ous manner.         .       „  „     .     „  , 
As  the  succession  falls  in  the  woman  s 


lino  her  sons  and  daughters,  and  the  chil- 
dren of  her  daughters,  bear  the  same  name 
as  herself,  but  not  so  the  children  of  her 
sons  who  will  take  the  iiiines  of  their  re- 
spective mothers.  The  Arawaks  are  very 
tenacious  of  this  rule,  and  think  an  infrac- 
.  tion  of  it  to  be  a  great  crime. 

As  is  the  case  with  most  uncivilized  na- 
tions, the  Guianan  mothers  think  but  little 
of  the  event  which  lays  a  civilized  European 
woman  on  the  bed  of  sickness  for  weeks. 
Mr.  Hrett  saw  one  Warau  woman,  only  two 
hours  after  the  birth  of  her  child,  tic  up  her 
hammock,  and  carry  it,  together  with  her 
newly  born  infant,  from  one  house  to 
another.  When  the  child  is  very  young:, 
it  is  laid  in  a  small  hammock,  but  when  it 
gains  a  little  strength,  a  rather  curious  cra- 
dle is  provided  for  it. 

The  body  of  the  cradle  is  made  of  the 
ever-useful  itirritti  reed,  which  is  split  into 
slips  about  the  tenth  of  an  inch  in  width, 
and  then  woven  so  as  to  make  a  kind  of 
basket,  open  at  one  end  and  down  one  side. 
The  edges  are  strengthened  by  a  rod  ot 
flexible  wood  lashed  firmly  to  them,  and  the 
cradle  is  brought  into  shape  by  means  of  a 
framework  consisting  of  tolerably  strong 
sticks.  The  opening  in  front  is  much  nar- 
rower than  the  body  of  the  cradle,  so  that 
the  child  can  be  easily  secured  in  it.  The 
length  of  my  specimen,  drawn  on  page 
1238,  is  exactly  twenty  inches,  and  width 
at  the  back  thirteen  inches,  while  that  of 
the  opening  is  only  seven  inches.  This 
cradle  is  very  strong,  very  elastic,  and  very 


not  eat  the  flesh  of  the  agouti,  lest  the  future 
ofispring  should  be  thin  and  meagre;  the 
baimara  fish,  lest  it  should  be  dim-sighted; 
or  the  raaroudi,  lest  it  should  l)e  still-born, 
the  cry  of  this  bird  being  held  as  an  omen  of 
death.  The  reader  may  remember  that  a 
Macoushie  excused  himself  from  making 
wourali  by  reference  to  this  custom.  This 
custom  does  not  stop  with  the  child's  birth, 
but  extends  to  several  weeks  afterward. 

As  soon  as  her  child  is  born,  the  Indian 
wife  washes  the  bnby,  rolls  it  in  the  cratUe 
hammock,  and  goes  about  her  business  as 
usual.    But  the  Indian  husband  is  pleased  to 
consider  himself  very  ill,  and  straightway 
takes  to  his  hammock,  where  he  is  waited 
upon  by  the  women  with  the  most  solicitous 
attention.    In  some  districts  the  sick  hus- 
band has  not  a  very  pleasant  part  to  play, 
being  obliged  to  take  nauseous  drinks,  and 
to  go  through  a  course  of  very  unpleasant 
medicine.      Generally,    however,    he    does 
nothin"  but  lie  in  his  hammock  for  a  week 
or  two,  during  which  time  he  is  kept  amply 
supplied  with  the  daintiest  food,  and  petted 
as  if  he  were  recovering  from  a  dangerous 

sickness.  .    j  .    *!, 

This  custom  has  gradually  expired  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  mission  stations,  but  it  occa- 
sionally revives.  Mr.  Brett  mentions  an 
instance  where  a  large  influx  of  strangers 
reintroduced  it  into  the  station.  It  so 
happened  that  a  young  Christian  Indian 
had  become  a  father,  and  was  violently  im- 
portuned by  his  female  relatives  to  take  to 
his  hammock  according  to  ancient  custom. 
He  resisted  for  some  time,  but  was  so  perse- 
cuted that  he  fairly  ran  away,  and  went 
to  work  at  a  distance  for  three  weeks,  at 


cradle  is  very  strong,  very  elastic,  ana  very   10  wuiiv  "•;."  ""-.' ""r-  r".;^.  i,„  thought 
light -thre/ great  -quisites  in  such  an     -  expu;at^n  of  w h  ch  timejiejiou^it 


he  might  be  considered  as  convalescent. 
Strange  as  this  custom  may  seem  to  be,  it  is 
one  which  has  prevailed  through  a  very  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  globe,  and  even  in 
Europe  has  not  been  extinct  until  compara- 
tively late  years. 

Not  only  is  polygamy  practised    :mong 

these  tribes,  but  the  strange  custom  ofpoly- 

tnem,  except  in  a  sucuien  ut  u.  andry  exists.    On  one  occasion  when  a  m.s- 

The  natural  consequence  of  this  I  sionary  was  arguing  with  a  native  againal 

60 


article.  When  the  mother  wishes  to  carry 
her  child,  she  only  takes  a  broad  plaited 
belt,  the  two  ends  of  which  are  united, 
passes  it  over  the  crossbars  at  the  top  of 
the  cr.idle,  and  then  brings  the  belt  across 
her  forehead. 

The  parents  are  very  kind  to  their  chil- 
dren, and  can  seldom  bring  themselves  to 
chastise  them,  except  in  a  sudden  fit  of 
anger. 


1248 

tlio  practice  of  polygamy,  he  usctl  an  argu- 
mentuin  ad  homincm,  uml  with  the  bail  re- 
sults tliat  usually  follow  such  an  '*«-S"m«"l- 
FinUiuL'  that  ho  could  not  prove  to  Ins  lu- 
tn rlocutor  that  a  nmn  ought  not  to  have  wo 
wives,  the  missionary  aske.  u,w  it  wouKIh 
liked  i.y  the  men  if  one  wife  V^i""  ,»  1"'^ 
two  husbands.  To  his  astonishment,  the 
man  replied  that  the  plan  answered  veiy 
well,  and  that  he  knew  a  woman  who  at  that 
time  had  three  husbands. 


GUIANA. 


It  has  been  already  mentioned  that  the 
natives  of  Guiana  depend  chietly  for  then- 
food  upon  the  beasts,  birds,  and  fishes  which 
they  capture.  Veget^djle  food  is  not  so  iin- 
portant  to  them  as  it  is  generally  to  inhabi- 
tants of  warmer  climates,  probably  because 
the  almost  per-ietual  moisture  of  the  country 
forces  the  inliabitants  to  partake  of  a  com- 
paratively generous  diet. 

The  staple  vegetable  food  is  tlic  cassava, 
which  is  prepared  in  rather  a  curious  man- 
ner Strange  to  say,  it  is  obtained  Irom  a 
plant  belonging  to  the  natural  order  Euplior- 
biacciv.  plants  which  are  celebrated  lor  con- 
taining most  poisonous  juices.  _ 

Some  of  them  are  trees  of  the  largest  size 
while  others  are  little  herbs  that  only  exist 
for  a  few  weeks.  All  of  them,  however,  se- 
crete an  acrid  juice,  more  or  loss  poisonous. 
A  familiar  example  of  those  plants  may  be 
found  in  the  common  spurge,  or  wart-wort  ot 
our  gardens  (Eiqjhorhia  Mioscopa),  tlve 
white,  acrid,  milky  juice  of  which  is  em- 
ployed in  destroying  warts.  Several  of  these 
feuphorbiaccffi  produce,  beside  the  poisonous 
iuice,  a  farinaceous  substance,  from  wlueli 
the  poison  can  be  separated,  and  which  is 
then  useful  as  human  food. 

The  chief  plant  which  produces  the  cas- 
sava is  the  Jutropha  manihot,  though  there 
are  others  from  which  the  fanna  can  be 
obtained.  Tho  juice  of  this  plant  is  so 
noisonous  that  a  very  small  dose  will  pro- 
Jluce  death.  Fortunately,  the  venomous 
nrinciple  is  exceedingly  volatile,  and  can 
le  driven  ofT  by  heat,  so  that  the  very  sub- 
stance which  in  its  raw  state  is  a  deadly 
poison  becomes,  when  cooked,  a  wholesome 
urlirlc  of  food. 

The  mode  of  preparing  the  cassava  is  as 
follows:  Taking  on  her  back  the  quake, 
which  has  already  been  described,  the 
Guianan  woman  digs  up  a  quantity  of  the 
cassava  root,  puts  it  into  the  quake,  ami 
hrin-'s  it  to  her  hut.  She  next  pcel.s  it  by 
faring  off  the  outer  covering  with  her 
teeth,  and  then  proceeds  to  scrape  it  uit« 
very  fine  shavings.  This  is  done  by  means 
of  the  native  grater,  which,  rude  as  it  looks 
is  a  very  effective  machine.  It  consists  of 
a  thick  board  about  a  vard  in  length  and 
lialf  as  much  in  width.  Into  the  upper  aur- 
fece  of  this  hoard  are  driven  in  regular  rows 
a  numV»«r  of  fragments  of  sharp  stones,  whicli 
are  further  secured  in  their  places  by  a  sort 


of  vegetable  gluo  obtained  from  the  juice  of 

By  being  drawn  over  this  surface,  tho 
cassava  roots  are  soon  reduced  to  thin 
shavings,  much  like  those  of  tho  horse  ra.lish, 
which  arc  collected  into  a  basket.  One  ot 
these  baskets  is  shown  in  fig.  2,  on  pa^e  12.U. 
It  is  made  much  like  the  cradle  already  men- 
tioned, but  is  of  closer  texture,  and  the  struis 
of  cane  are  wider.  It  is  about  two  feet  in 
1  diameter,  and  is  capable  of  containing  a  con- 
'  siderable  (piantity  of  tho  grated  root. 

When  the  native  cassa-va  maker  does  not 
possess  one  of  these  graters,  she  uses  as  a 
substitute  the  acrid  root  of  a  specica  ot 
Ireartia  palm,  which  is  covered  with  hard 
nrotuberances,  and  answers  the  purpose  tol- 


erably  well,  though  it  does  not    work  so 
smoothly  or  neatly  as  the  regular  grater. 

Sometimes  a  further  process  of  grinding  is 
employed,  though  not  a1  vays.  I"/"*^!' cases 
the  grated  root  is  placed  on  a  flat,  sloping 
stone,  and  rubbed  with  another,  just  as  is 
done  by  the  Araucanians.     Sec  page  U(U. 

The  next  process  is  to  nd  it  of  its  poi- 
sonous juices,  and  in  this  part  of  the  ope- 
ration there  is  also  considerable  variation. 
Among  some  tribes,  the  scraped  cassava  is 
taken  out  of  the  dish  and  pressed  tightly  into 
a  sieve  or  colander.  This  instrument  is  very 
iuKoniouslv  made.  It  is  of  biwket  w-ork,  but 
instead  oflxung  made  of  Hat  strips  of  cane  or 
reed,  round  twigs  are  used,  about  as  thick  as 
ordiiiarv  .hawing  pencils.  The  natives  have 
an  ingenious  mode  in  which  the  shape  ot  the 
vcssefis  preserved  while  the  inter^^tices  are 
not  allowed  to  .liminish  or  increase  in  size. 
This  is  done  by  beginning  with  a  com- 
paratively iVw  twigs  at  thcai)exot  the^  col- 
ander, and  inserting  fresh  twigs  at  regular 
intervals  as  the  vessel  increases  m  size. 

Into  this  colander  the  cassava  is  pressed 
and  knead(Hlwith  water,  until  a  considorable 
amount  of  the  juice  is  expressed.  It  is  then 
left  in  the  sieve  to  undergo  a  partial  drying, 
and  is  soon  ready  for  another  process,  that 
of  the  press;  and  it  is  remarkable  that, 
thou'di  Dresses  of  various  descriptions  have 
beeirseiit  from  Europe,  none  of  them  seem 
to  answer  so  well  as  the  native  Guianan  nress 
called  IhCtiphi."  This  press  is  a  long, 
cvlindricrd  basket,  from  six  to  seven  feet  in 
len-'th  and  about  four  inches  m  diameter, 
nuvde  of  the  bark  of  the  Jucitara  palm,  ^ 
species  of  Desnwncus.  The  lower  i)art  of  the 
tipiti  is  closed,  and  brought  nearly  to  a  point, 
while  the  upper  part  is  left  open,  each  end 
terminating  in  a  very  strong  loop.  Owing 
to  the  mode  in  which  the  tipiti  is  made,  the 
central  portion  is  highly  elastic  while  the 
mouth  and  tip  are  comparatively  st ill.  ( )n(i  ot 
these  is  represented  on  the  following  pace. 

Several  of  these  tipities  generally  hang  to 
the  roof  or  the  cross-beam  of  tlu;  hut  so  as 
to  be  ready  for  use  when  w'anted.  One  of 
them  is  then  filled  with  grate,  ctussava,  which 
is  thrust,  into  tiic  euiaiic  «' i-   -o — j  ■■ 


,.)  TWIN    BOTTLE.    (Sec  ,.»«o  1«1.)  (3.) -8HATUK.     (See  p.ge  1288.) 


(4.)   KKATIIKK   ATUON.    (See  imtff  rjaJ-) 


\ 


r'  )f  1 


HEAD   Al'ilON.     (Sw  i)ilgc  li66.) 


n  ^    W      r' 


(1249) 


MAKING  CASSAVA. 


1251 


noMiblo  «o  M  to  cauiie  It  to  become  very  1  saroep  «iiucc,  the  mouth  of  the  nlmtigcr  h 
mm'  .  M.orl"  an.rv"ry  mud.  thicker  In  tlie    oxcorialed  bv  the  nuunUly  of  caps ioum. 
je       Und.XiVlhc   tiniti   iH  phiccl       If  the  r.«u<1er  w.fl  reler  l»  the  ill"«lra  ion 
■  rthoi.m^^^^^  to  rocLe  the  Juice.    rei.r."H«ntiuK  a  Wamu  hou«o,  on  pan.  1244. 

VoMMrlHHu.ha8  11  ■HI  are  n.a.li.  by  the  na-  he  will  Bce  the  vanouB  i.roceHficH  ol  c.t«miva- 
tTvor  u.a  allhouL  t lu y  arc  very  ftanile,  aH  n»akinK.  On  the  right  fuuul ..  Hccn  a  won.an 
to  Claris     evrih.>rm.«hly   knemlod,  iud    knecliuK  before  the  ^ruler.,  and  «cra,un«   he 


«hlv   I 

tile  ImkiiiK  is  inHUlllcienl,  tlie^  can  eiulure 
the  lire  well  enounh  for  cookinj,'  i)in|i(mea. 
The  vcHHcl  which  is  reprenented  in  the  iIIuh- 
tration  in  of  a  deep  brown  color,  Htriiied  and 
Bpottcd  with  black.  ,  ^      .,     ,      ,     „ 

HesidcH  these  soft  and  fra«do  bowls,  the 
nativ(!H  make  bottles  for  the  jmrpose  of 
C'lrrying  water.  Some  of  thcHc  clay  bottloH 
arc  really  ele^'ant  in  form,  and  hIiow  evi- 
dences of  artistic  foelint,'  on  the  part  of  the 
potter.  A  ll^ure  of  a  double  water  bottle, 
with  its  earthenware  Htoppcrs,  is  given  on 
paiie  1^240. 

A  heavy  weight  is   then   fastened  to   the 
bottom  of  the  lipiti,  which  is  conse(iuently 
elongated  and   narrowed,  so  as  to  compress 
the  contents  forcibly,  and  s(iueeze  out   tlu; 
juice  that  remains   in  the  cassava.     Alter  a 
while  a  still  stronger  pressure  is  obtained  by 
means  of  the  lever.     A  pole  is  passed  through 
the  loop  at  the  bottom  of  the  lipid,  and  the 
shorter  end   of  it   is   lashed   to  one  of  the 
upii"lil    posts    of   the   house.     The    heavy 
wei"lit  — usually  a  large  stone  — is  then  hung 
to  the  longer  end  of  the  pole,  so  as  to  pro- 
duce a  powerful   leverage  on  the   tii)iti,  and 
com|U-ess  the  cassava  still  furlher. 

When  the  process  has  arrived  at  this  slate, 
the  cassava  maker  often  adds  her  ow'ii  weight 
to  that  of  the  stone,  by  sitting  on  the  ertd  of 
llie  lever,  and  with  lior  baby  slung  in  its 
cradle  on  her  back,  occupies  herself  in  some 
of  the  lighter  feminine  occupations. 

The  cassava  is  now  fit  for  Ijaking,  tor 
which  pm-pose  it  is  placed  on  circular  iron 
iilates,  which  arc  laid  over  the  tire  like  the 
"iiirdles"   on  which  oat  cakes  are  bakcil 


cassava  into  the  disli  or  basket,  ilanglng 
to  the  cross-lHiams  of  the  hut  are  two  ol  the 
tipitl  presses,  one  tilled  ready  for  the  weiijht 
iind  the  lever,  and  the  other  stretched 
nearly  to  its  full  extent.  A  woman  is  silling 
on  the  lever,  and  so  expressing  the  last 
drops  from  the  cassava  into  the  bowl.  I  he 
baking  of  the  civssava  cake  is  shown  in  the 
background  on  tlio  right  liaiid. 

A  few  Utile  episodes  of  Ouiannn  life  are 
shown  in  tlie  same  illustration.  On  the  lelt 
hand  is  seen  a  man  armed  with  his  bow  and 
long  arrows,  and  having  slung  on  his  shoul- 
deiB  the  littlt!  bag  which  serves  as  a  pocket. 
Another  man  is  lying  asleep  in  his  ham- 
mock, and  nearly  in  the  middle  is  shown  a 
mother  with  her  two  children,  one  of  them 
dragging  a  huge  spider  tied  to  a  string. 
The  spiders  of  this  country  are  sometimes 
as  large  as  a  man's  outspread  hand,  ami,  un- 
pleasant playfellows  as  they  appear  to  us, 
they  are  nsJd  in  this  light  by  the  cluldren, 
ns  was  seen  by  Mr.  IJates. 

The- natives  can  also  make  sugar,  thouuh 
of  a  rather  coarse  character.    Some  of  the 
tribes  employ  a  machine  with  snudl  wooden 
rollers,  for  tlie  purpose  of  crushing  the  su- 
gar-cane and  expressing  the  juice,  but  the 
plan  followed  by  the  Caribs  is  the  most  sim- 
f,  e,  and  at  the  same  time  the  most  romnrk- 
U,le.    They  carve  the  upner  part  oJ  a  sU 
post  into  the  rude  semblance  of  a  hum.m 
1  lust,  the  post  being  as  nearly  as  possible  as 
'  large  as  a  man.    The  )mrt  tfiat  answers  to 
the  collar-bone  projects  considerably,  and  a 
hole  is  bored  through  the  middle  of  the  neck 
under  the  chin.  . 

When  the  Caribs  wish  to  make  their  su- 


Although  little  known  In  this  country  under  „  JV''*-  /;'™ircud  of  a  long  and  stout 
its  proper  name,  cassava  is  largely  used  un-  f";'i»^>>  J'  ,Xde  n  the  neck,  and  lay  the 
der  the  name  of  semolina,  which  is  noth  ng   lever,  »  «     «.     f", ,,    ^,^^,    collar-bones. 


more  than  the  the  cassava  roughly  ground 
to  a  coarse  sort  of  grain.  _ 

Clothing  of  this  useful  plant  is  thrown 
away.  We  have  seen  that  the  farinaceous 
matter  can  be  rendered  wholesome  by  being 
deprived  of  its  i)oisoiious  Juice,  and  we 
shall  now  see  that  even  this  juice  lUselt  can 
be  rendered  useful.  If  man  or  beast  were 
to  drink  it  as  it  pours  from  between  the  m 


cane  horizontally  upon  the  collar-bones. 
One  man  then  takes  the  end  oi  t he  levei^ 
and  by  pressing  it  down  crushes  the  cane 
so  that  the  jiiice  Hows  down  the  breast 
of  the  image  into  the  vessel,  w lule  another 
man  shiftsShe  cane  so  as  to  bring  every 
portion  successively  under  the  levi^. 

As  for  drink,  the  Guianan  natives  have 
from  time  immemorial  tnade  an  i"toxic.  ; 


to  drink  it  as  it  pours  from  between  the  m-  !™'"  ."•^.  "X.iwarr  which  is  almost 
terstices  of  the  tipiti,  lliey  would  swel  and  , '"«  ''/f  "J/^  '"  „  ^'^"'of'  the  Araucanians. 
die  in  great  agony.  But  by  means  of  boil- ,  \''«'^,  ^y,  'l;*^ 'J'"  '^V  c^sava  bread  are 
ing    the  poisonous  juinciple   is  ;>r'^''-'>\P"  I  ^  """''?"  °n  thrown  a  large  vessel, 

and  the  ji.ice  changes  to  a  deep  by  wn  hq- ;  ^^^f ted  Wn    hro^^^^^^  ,^^„,    t,j., 

uld,wl.i;h  is  well  known  under  the  name  |  an.l  boiling  vNatcr  1^^^"^^  n,„3ticated  and 
of  cassarecp,  and    extensively  used    a.s   =^1  rf-|n»"«l«[.  «'^,^^'^,:jr,  jn  the  vessd^    Fcr- 
sauee.     It  is  the  foundation  of  the  -  pepncr-  j  '"'^^^^y'th  the  others  m  in 
pot"  of  the  West  Indies,  and  when  used  by  j  men  ation  t»u>n    akcs  place        y       i|^.^^j^, 
natives  is  so  highly  impregnated  with  ''^'l  1  «f  >"  "^Hves  aJrimS^^  of  this 

pepper,  that  when  they  hospitably  serve  a  The  ""'^^''"^'^'XT  and  often  brew  and 
white  stranger  with  caasava  bread  and  cas- 1  disgusting  preparation,  ana  o  «. 


1961 


GUIANA. 


m<\  .Irink  Kroat  quantities  nt  a  time.  A  ranoe 
in  nil  uncommon  vt^stcl  to  I"!  Illli-ii  witli  pi- 
warrl,  and  iivory  one  who  JohiH  In  tlio  rcvul 
is  iiri«iimf(l  to  biM-omo  intoxicatiid  iw  soon 
UH  poxHil.le.  Mr.  Hr.-tt  m.nlions  an  anum- 
inj:  innlanccof  imtivo  f.>olin«on  thU  buI.  .'cl. 
Tho  Araw.\k«  of  tho  Miiliaiconi  dsliift 
havinL'  b<'i:«f<l  that  a  miH^iormry  nll^;llt  in- 
«„i.t  to  thorn,  tho  I'iHliop  iktcrmin.;;!  on  vih- 
itinL'  tlu-m  porHonally.  In  honor  ot  his  ar- 
riviil.  tlio  ArawAks  had  fiot  np  a  great  Irsti- 
val,  incliiilin),'  a  cauoi!  lull  of  pnvarri,  anil 
tho  ciirioiis  Maipiarri  ilani-o,  ot  whtoh  wo 
dhall  prosontly  loarn.  Most  of  thoni  woro 
intoxicated,  hut  they  a|)olo«i/.cd  to  the 
bishop  for  their  !<horlconun'^s  in  iioliteucsH, 
and  said  that  if  thoy  hud  known  sooner  ol 
his  visit,  they  would  have  had  two  canoes 
full  of  piwarri  instead  of  one. 

I'iwarri  feasts  vary  in  detail  according  to 
the  tribe  which  holds  them.  They  are, 
however,  always  accompanied  by  a  dance, 
anil  by  some  ceremonies  practised  by  tlie 
piamah  or  conjurer.  An  intereatinj?  ac- 
count of  a  niwaVri  feast  is  f^'iven  by  Messrs. 
Hpix  and  Martins,  in  their  "Travels  m  IJra- 

zil ;  "  — 

"  Hy  degrees,  those  residing  at  a  greater 
distanc  arrived  in  sinifle  troops,  each  with 
his  whole  family,  and  with  bag  and  liagirage, 
lis  if  they  were"  going  to  migrate;  tho  men 
who  h.ad  not  yetsecn^ted  their  bows  and  ar- 
rows In  the  neighboring  woods  hid  thiiu 
here;  tho  women  put  down  their  baskets 
took  the  children  on  their  shoulders  and 
looked  for  the  driukin-'-cup  (ruja).  With- 
out conversing  with  each  other,  each  ine.m- 
her  of  the  family  examine'.!  the  surrounding 
company  with  an  unsteady  look;  the  men 
npproa'died  each  other,  and  saluted  their 
neighbors,  at  most,  b;*'  pouting  out  their 
lips,  and  a  scarcely  audible  nasal  tone. 

"In    the    niidtile   of    the    assembly,  and 
nearest  to  the  pot,  stood  tho  chief,  who,  by 
his  strength,  cunning,  and  courage,  had  ob- 
tvinod  some  command  over  them,  and  had 
received  the   title  of  captain.     In  his  right 
•hand  he  held  tho  maracii,  the  above-men- 
tioned Castanet,  which  they  call  (inunrnm, 
and  ratth'd  with  It,  beating  time  with  his  right 
foot.     We  did  not  find  any  traces  among  the 
Indi.ans  of  the  oracles  of  the  maracd,  men- 
tioncil  in  the  accounts  of  earlier  travellers, 
llalher  walking  than  dancing,  he  advanced 
slowly,  with  his   hody  bent  forward,  round 
tho   pot,  toward  which   his  eyes  wore   con- 
stantly turned.    Tho  dance,  the  measure  ot 
which  was  in  triiile  time,  was  accompanied 
by   him  with   a  low  monotonous    singing, 
which  was  more  strongly  marked  when  he 
stamped  with  his   foot.     The   oftener   the 
song  wius  repeated,  the  more  solemn  and  an- 
imaTed  waa  the  expression  of  his  voice  and 
features.      All   the    rest    stood    motionless 
round  the  pot,  stared  at  him  without  spe.ak- 
in",  and  only  now  and  then,  when  the  words 
of  "the  dancer,  which  seemed  to  be  extempore, 


moved  thorn,  thoy  broke  out  Into  Immodcr- 

iite  cries.  .     ,       .       ,  i 

"  After  this  measured  circular  dance,  by 
which,  probably,  it  was  intended  to  coiijuro 
and  keep  olf  evil  spirits,  the  leader  ap- 
proached tho  pot,  took  from  the  hand  ol  l.is 
iieighbor  the  driiikiiig-vessel  which  he  held 
ready,  gravely  dipi)eil  it  into  the  jiot,  mid  look 
a  sip.  The  rattling  of  the  griiigcnna  am 
the  monotonous  music  became  general,  and 
more  and  more  noisy  the  longer  the  cup 
went  round.  We.  too.  had  a  full  eiija  pre- 
sented  to  us,  and  though  lllled  with  disgust, 
we  were  obliged  to  follow  the  advice  ot  our 
guide  to  empty  it,  in  onler  not  to  give  tho 
Indians  any  reasons  for  distrust. 

"The  beverage  resembles  in  taste  our 
malt  liiiuor,  and  when  taken  in  a  large 
(inantitv  is  intoxicating,  an  elVect  wbicli  was 
but  too"manircsl  toward  tbeiyid  ol  thi;  least, 
by  their  leaping  and  noisy  singing  ol, '  //i< 
h'd!  /i<(/'  Ilopes  had  been  given  us  Ihiit  wo 
should  see  on  this  occasion  the  dances  ol  the 
Coroadiis;  but  toward  evening,  alter  their 
.stomachs  and  heads  were  full,  one_  l)arty 
slipi)ed  away  after  tho  other,  M  if  by  pre- 
vious agreement." 

The  same  authors  give  an  account  ot  a 
melancholy  sort  of  dance  performed  by 
another  tribe  of  natives,  the  Puns  :  — 

"  When  they  had  been  made  familiar,  nnrt 
treated  with  plentiful  draughts  of  brandy,  of 
which,  like  all  Indians,  they  are  passionately 
fond,  they  began  their  dance  by  nigbt,on  an 
open  spot  not  far  from  the  fazeiula  ol  (.iinl- 
owald.     If    the    comjiact    low   stature,   tho 
brown-red  color,  the  Jet-black  hair  hanging 
down  in  disorder,  tho  disagreeable  lorm  ot 
their  broad  angular  countenances,  the  small, 
obliipie,  unsteady,  blinking  eyes,  and,  lastly, 
the  tripping,  short,  light  step  of  these  sav- 
ages had  excited  in  lis  the  most  sorrowtiU 
fei'lings  at   tho  debasement  of  humamly  in 
them,  these  were  further  increased   by  tho 
melancholy  exjjre.ssion  of  their  le>-tivity  in 
the  darkness  of  the  night.     The  men  placed 
themselves  close  together  in  a  line,  and  be- 
hind them  the  women,  also  in  a  line.     I  bo 
nia'c  children,  sometimes  two  or  three,  took 
hold  of  each  other  and  of  the  fathers  round 
the  waist,  as  tho  female  children  did  their 
mothers.     In  this  position  they  begin  their 
melancholy  '  i/<(it  —jo  —  '"' —  '"i  —  ','"•,     "■ 
is  remarkable  that  the  melodies  which  Lery 
noted  above  two  hundred  years  ago  among 
tho    Indians   in   the   neighborhood  ot    Kio 
Janeiro  very  much  resemble  those  observed 
by  us.  .    , 

■ "  The  song  and  the  dance  were  repeated 
several  times,  and  the  two  rows  moved  slowiy 
forward  in  a  measured  triph;  time.  In  tho 
first  three  steps  thev  put  the  left  foot  forward, 
and  bent  the  left  side;  at  the  (Irst  and  thin 
step  they  stamped  with  the  left  foot,  and 
at  the  second  with  the  right;  in  tho  following 
three  steps  they  advanced  the  right  foot  at 
the  first  and  last,  bending  on  the  right  side. 


TlIK  MAQUARRI  DANCB. 


ViKS 


In  thin  manner  thoy  ailvnmcd  n  llttlo  alter- 
nutily  in  •'li'^t  HtiijiH.  Ah  mhoii  iih  the  hh»k 
WUH  co'iicIu.UmI,  llii'.v  run  back  in  diMonliir, 
un  if  ill  lliKlit  — tlrxt  the.  wonion  willi  Ui.ir 
dmiKiil.iN,  1111(1  tlu-n  the  iiuii  with  lluir  h.hih. 
Al'(tr  tliiii  llii'y  lilaciMl  llii'iiinflvt'H  III  tlm 
mimt'  "nil  r  aa  bi'forf.  and  tlx'  Hcriio  wiw  r«- 
p<iiliMl.  A  nt'jJtro,  wlio  Imd  lived  u  long  tiiiif 
aiiiiiiik'  tilt'  I'liriH,  fxiilaiiitd  to  iih  llm  woids 
this  daiui'   ii»  a   laini'iitiiliiin,  tlic 


Buro  to  cut  dooply  into  the  nkln  and  to  draw 
l)l()()d  by  th"  Hlroki';  but  tbo  receiver  doc* 
not  Hiiniik  from  llic  blow,  kIv«-.  no  sign  of 
imin  and  only  miiiliH  (MinlciiiptuouHly  an  ho 
l.xccutfH  the  daiic«.  rrcMOiitiy  hit*  oppoiirnt 
liiddH  out  his  U^^^  .11  turn  to  l)«  «lru(k,  and 
alter  a  lev  lawlics  liavn  bi-eii  rxcbaiiKtd, 
tiu-y  rcliri)  to  the  nlwarii  ve«»el,  drink  wimo 
of  its  eoiitenlH,  and  return  to  their  plaein  in 
the  raiikH.  ,,     ,     , 

The  KfenteHt  good  humor  prevails  during 


mlbiieU.f'Sdeh  «^«,  timt  Vhey  had  ^|;'«;!l>|;;;l  I  ^^V^^^;;;Z'Zu^:i  VhmM^i'«^.;n  a  enu,.l« 

walk  from  the  severity  of  the  blows  wliu-li 
they  have  received.  Soinelimes,  after  a  bard 
dav'^s  dancing'  an<l  <iriiikin«.  when  their  le^s 
are  stilVand  sore  from  the  Idows  whieh  they 
liave  received,  and  their  heads  are  acbiii« 
from  (he  li(Hiid  they  have  drunk,  they  de- 
elaro  that  they  will  abandon  the  dance  lor 
ever.  Hut,  as  soon  as  tlieir  le«s  ^jet  W(MI  an 
(heir  heads  are  clear  UKaiu,  they  forget  al 
their  promises,  and  join  in  the  next  maiiuarrl 
daiict^  with  unabated  zest. 

Duriii"  one   of  these  dances,  which  was 
lormed  ill  Mr.  Hrctl's  presence,  a  stout 


turn  II.       i.^  w  »nfc»  -  !'•  ■  —" 

scene  could  have  appeared  tons  more  appro- 
iiriale  than  thai  of  the  lossol  I'lirmlise. 

The  most  curious  ofall  the  (iinanan  dances 
is  that  which    is  called  tiie   Matpiarri  dance, 
from  the   implement   which  forms  its  priii- 
cinal  element.     The  Maiiuarri  is  a  whii),  and 
the  object  of  the  dance    is   Kivin-?   and    re- 
ceivinj,'  blows  from  the  nuupiarri.      1  he  lorm 
ofthis  whip  varies  in  dilVeient  districts.     The 
form  usuallv  employe.l,  is  made  of  silk  -jrass 
Ubie  hounil  together  so  as  to  form  a  still  and 
clastic  whip.     The   handle  is   slrenf,'tiieiie(l 
by  heiiif,'  bouiul  8tronj;ly  with  a  strip  of  dark 
ciiiio   wound   spirally  around  it,  and  is  or- 
namented by  a   tull  of  fibres,  which   haii),' 
from  the  butt.     Several  liiflsof  white  cotton 
wool  adorn  the  transition  between  the  handle 
and  the  lash,  the  latter  of  which  tapers  (grad- 
ually to  a  point.     The  whole  whip  includiiiK 
the  lash,  is  nearlv  live  feet   in  length,  and  is 
a  most  forniidablo   instrument  ol  torture, 
capable  of  cutting  into  tlio  bare  skin  like  a 
knife,  and  causing   the  blood  to  sjiirt  liom 
the  wound  which  it  makes.     The  other  form 
is  scarcely  so  terrible   a  whip  to    the   eye, 
thou'di  it  may  inllict  quite    as  much    pain 
when  skilfully  handled.     It  is  entirely  cov- 
ered with  caiii',  and,  as  it  is  swung  about,  it 
Cives  a  crackling   sound  with  every  curve. 
The  length  of  this  whip  is  Inree  feet  lour 

The  maquarri  dance  is  conducted  in  the 
following  manner.  The  young  num  and 
boys  decorated  with  all  the  fantastic  leather 
work  whieli  native  art  can  supply,  ranf,'e 
themselves  in  two  rows  oiiposite  each  other, 
the  dancers  being  all  armed  with  their  ma- 
quarri whips,  which  they  wave  in  the  air. 
uttering  at  the  same  time  cries  which  are  in- 
tended to  imitate  the  notes  of  birds. 

rresently  two  of  the  dancers  from  opposite 
sides  challenge  each  otlur,  leave  the  ranks, 
and  dance  ojjposite  each  other  in  the  open 
space  between  the  ranks.  After  dancing  for 
a  while,  one  of  tlicin  stops,  and  stands  lirmly 
on  one  leg,  thrusting  the  other  forward,  and 
remaining  perfectly  firm  and  steady.  Sec 
illustration  on  page  1'28(>. 

Ilis  opjionent,  or  partner,  whichever  he 
m.ay  be  called,  stoops  down,  takes  deliberate 
aim  at  some  part  of  the  projecting  leg,  and 
then  leaping  into  the  air,  in  order  to  give  force 
to  his  stroke,  delivers  a  blow  with  all  his 
Btren-jth.    A  practised  maquarri  dancer  is 


i)erlornieii    m    i'n.  •»■>•'■■   r-- ■  . 

little  Waraii  came  to  the  encampment,  wIk  n 
the  dance  was  nearly  over,  evidently  wii 
the  idea  of  getting  some  luwarn  wi  lio  t 
undergoing  the  jirevious  salutation  ol   tlio 

a quarri  whi]..  The  young  men  at  onco 
ined  his  intention:  and  qu  ctly  passed 
the  word  among  themselves  to  «"'««';;^'^ '','« 
design.  Accordingly,  he  was  challenged  m 
rapid  succcssirm  by  the  young  men,  a  "l 
su\.jeeted  to  more  than  ontinary  ™;;  ;«'^':  ° 
tulore  he  obtained  any  piwarri.     How' Y,'! 

,e  bore  his   punishment  mantully,  and  did 

lis  bl  St  to  lo'ok  P'V='--t'/.'l\''r*^1l  dVllen 
nerceived  the  trap  into  which  he  had  fallen. 
On  that  occasion  the  dance  was  given  in 
honorofaw(mian  who  had  been  buried  in 
the   house.     A   broad  plank   lay  upon  her 
crave,  and  on  it,  among  other  articles,  was  a 
bundle  of  silk  grass  being  the  remainder  ot 
the  material  from  which  tlie  maquarri  whips 
had  been  made,  these  articles  haying  some- 
what of  the   sacr.Ml   character  about  them 
After  going  through  a  few  ceremonies,  two 
or   three    men,  armed    with    long    knivc^s 
dashed   in    among    the    'l''"^^:.  «"£; ' 
,he  whips   from   them,  cut   otf  the   lash.s 
•md  lluu"  them  into  the  grave.    Ihe  owners 
of  tl     whips  pretended  to  be  very  savage 
^rromhViiil,    the  whips,  I'^^PJ'^R;,  J''^;^,] 
in«    somcTsaults,   and   going    ,\'';"»«'Vrca 
kinds  of  evolutions,   so  that    it  was  great 
maier  of  surprise  that  any  of  them  escape<l 

"'Another  occasion,  when  the  rnaquam 

j?r<^p\l  s:\Se;:^hV^o;ne;'went 

I'^S^larg"  house,  laid  their  whips  on  a 

board  which  had  been  placed  there  expressiy 

for  their  reception.  „    ..       g 

With  regard  to  this  dance,  Mr.  Brett  was 


I 


nu" 


m 


,i 


B;   . 


1254 


GUIANA. 


much  struck  with  the  apparent  'ndiflforencc 
to  pain  manifested  by  the  natives,  and  asked 
them  how  they  could  endure  such  tortures 
without  seeming  to  feel  them.  The  Indians 
replied  lliat  their  insensibility  to  pain  was 
partly  produced  by  the  piwarri,  and  was 
partly  owing  to  the  presence  of  the  women, 
who  would  scoft'at  any  one  who  showed  the 
least  symptom  of  suifuring. 

Giving  both  these  reasons  their  full  value, 
there  arc  two  others  of  much  greater  imi)or- 
tance.  One  is  the  natural  apathy  of  the  na- 
tive, who  requires  a  very  strong  stimulus  for 
exertion.  This  apathy  extends  to  the  nerves 
of  sensation  as  well  as  to  those  of  volition, 
and  the  real  fact  is,  that  a  blow  which  would 
cause  the  most  horrible  agony  to  a  white 
man  is  scarcely  felt  by  the  native  Guinnan. 
The  other  is  the  effect  of  exposure  and  per- 
fect health  of  body.  All  those  who  have 
gone  into  training  for  any  athletic  contest 
will  remember  how  dilVerent  is  the  pain- 
bearing  capacity  of  the  trained  and  untrained 
mar.,  the  former  scarcely  seeming  to  bo 
aw  -e  of  an  injury  which  would  have  jn-os- 
trated  him  for  weeks  had  ho  been  untrained. 
Now  these  natives  are  always  in  the  state 
of  body  to  which  the  civilized  athlete  occa- 
sionally brings  himself,  and  the  result  is, 
that  external  injuries  have  but  little  elfect 
on  them. 

Another  and  a  rather  picturesque  dance  is 
described  by  Mr.  Brett,  This  is  an  Ara^yak 
dance,  and  is  performed  in  the  following 
manner: — Twelve  young  men  step  forward, 
and  arrange  themselves  in  parallel  rows;  but 


instead  of  carrying  maquarri  whips,  they 
bear  slender  rods,  al)out  twelve  feet  in  length, 
decorated  with  strips  of  silk  grass  stained 
red,  and  having  at  the  tips  little  gourds  with 
stones  in  them.  They  dance  backward  and 
forward,  striking  the  ends  of  tlieir  rods 
;igainst  the  ground,  and  keeping  lime  with 
the  measure.  From  time  to  time  the  young 
women  go  up  to  the  dancers,  sei^^e  t'leir 
arms,  and  dance  with  them,  and  then,  as  the 
men  clash  the  rattling  ornaments  of  beetles' 
wing  cases  with  which  their  wrists  and  legs 
are  'ciecorated,  the  women  loose  their  hold, 
and  run  back  to  their  companions  like 
frightened  deer. 

A,  Warau  dance  is  described  by  the  same 
missionary  who  witnessed  the  miiquarri 
dance.  "It  was  little  more  than  a  meas- 
ured series  of  steps,  accompanied  with  stamp- 
ing, while  the  persons  advanced  or  receded, 
sometimes  in  single  rank,  sometimes  in  two 
ranks  facing  each  other,  throwing  their 
right  arms  over  their  right-hand  nei^hlior's 
shoulders,  and  their  left  arms  round  their 
left-hand  neighbor's  waist,  swaying  their 
bodies  to  and  fro.  Occasionally  the  women 
would  run,  and,  inserting  themselves  be- 
tween the  men,  join  in  the  dance. 

"  The  effect  was  somewhat  heightened  by 
a  monotonous  chant  sung  in  unison,  and  by 
the  clatter  of  beads  and  anklets  made  of 
hard  seeds  and  the  wings  of  beetles.  The 
dance  was  intended  to  represent  the  antics 
of  a  herd  of  kairounies,  or  bunh  hogs,  and 
the  chant  was  a  succession  of  mocking  or 
jeering  expressions." 


11     ■ 


l^m» 


DRESS  —  A5IUSEMENT8. 


4 


CHAPTEK    CXXXIII. 

THE  TRIBES  OF  GUIANA  —  Continued. 


THE  KIMIS.V   AND  Q^'EVU-MOLfc  OF  MANUFAO  1 1  b  cAUIBS-PAINT  AND  TATTOO  -  TUB 

_A  StMaU,AH  r.UC„ASK-T„K  ^'-''^^  ""^''^^S  -  SK"^^^^^^^^  '^«HINO   AND   CAVMAN   CATCH- 

-^!:::,r';;:^«rn^:;:r:^r  ^--  —-oa^..  a.d  s..o«T.-....n 

OTTMNG-CANOl!  MAIUNO -NAVKiATINO  THE   FALLS. 


DtmiNa  their  dances  the  natives  ^I'^rJ'^A  "  . 
their  l.est  tcatluT  ornaments.  Two  «t  tlie  i 
headdresses  are  shown  on  pap;e  U.ii-.  ilie 
foundation  of  these  is  a_  circlet  made  of 
thin  .lark  eane,  cut  into  strips.  One  o  hen 
rtur  2^  is  nia.le  of  parrots'  feathers,  beauti- 

M'r>-  "/  '  ,     ,  ..  i_'.i.  i.i..„f„l„.ilHnnt  fi-pcn. 


smaller  figure  at  the  side,'  the  feathers  are 
?Sned  on  the  string  that  hinds  the  apron 
on  tile  waist  by  doubling  over  the.quill,  and 


.        -nhmle  of  F-vrots'  feathers,  beanti-   ami    y,"!:"^  j^"  \  ^'  ast    ehapter,  that^  the 

ily  1 'ukd  from  daVk  blue  to  brilliant  grcK^^^^^^  ^oni^n  1  n>d.^e  «-ir"best  nilparel.    Gener- 

am^.eingto,,p.>dwdh   three    og>U^^^^   ^^^^  \ong  as  none  but  tUr  o,--^ -^""-" 


mill  heini'  louin'n  »ni>  n"--"  ■"••r> 
scarlet  lv"illKMS  from  the  tail  of  the  maeaw. 
The  general  eifeet  of  this  beautiful  head- 
dress is  heightened  by  a  row  of  win  e 
J;;wny  iea.h;;-s  by  which  t^sumumde^ 
This  specimen  was  made  by  the  Macousmc 

^'Thc  other  headdress  (fig.  1)  i?  called 
An.l<!and,  though  very  ban.Tso.nc  in  po m 
of  .■olor,  does  not  possess  be  bean  of  fo  n 
which  cbarncterizcs  the  other.  The  gieat  r 
.  r  f  Ih".  headdress  is  bright  yellow,  bu 
u't  on  either  side  of  the  top  are  two  broad 

"^^      "    ,.  ,     .        mi..  .•.>„f),.„.a  in  this  SneCl- 


i: 


women  pronuee  iiiv;ii   u^ou  ..,.,.. 

alh  as  long  as  none  but  tlie.r  own  people 
^rei^rsishltheyare  not  particular  about 
^^^aring  eh,thes  oV  any  kind,  but  s  nee  they 
ave  mixed  with  the  white  people  they  have 
Icrn-ned  to  be  more  fostidious.  Wl.en  a 
white  stranger  comes  to  a  native  settlement 
the  men  an3  women  are  mostly  independent 
of  clothing,  but  the  latter,  as  soon  as  they 
d  stinmiish  the  color  of  their  visitor,  run  off 
to  then-  homes  to  put  on  their  dresses. 

Those  settlements  that  arc  tolerably  near 
civilization    usually  employ  the  "  kimisa. 


an  oi   iiu:  IK  .vi'"^'-  •-  ---r>   „ -j_,.  i,_,,„,i    civilization    usiiau.v   nnr-^j    —      •         .- > 

,st  on  either  side  of  the  top  are  tsN  o  br  a     cu  nua  ^^^^^^^^  ,,n<,«ing  round  the  waist, 

uands  of  scarlet.    The  feathers  lu  this  speci-   '-^^f  ■^;;;^      Ij^a  ,,y  a  string  over  one  shoul- 

nien  are  arranged  four  deep.  ,         ^j",        dresses  are  considered  merely 

The  rea.ler  may  remember  that,  m  many   'J^*;  ^"\      ^o  the  peculiar  notions  of  the 

•  '■'■ i=-n,n,t  world,  anrons  are   «  [^«'^<'^«^^;^ '^^^      tllough   worn   while    he 

s  present,  arc  taken  off  as  soon  as  he  de- 
parts, and  carcftilly  put  away  until  the  next 
white  visitor  cornea.  . 

The  native  dress  of  ceremony  is.  however, 
the  little  apron  called  the  quevu,  or  kou. 
un.  1111,^     1  mn.in  of  beads. 


i  lie  re  Kier  may  iiiii>^"""  •    ••■•--i 
portions  of  the  uncivilized  world,  aprons  are 
made  of  thongs  depending  from    .he  waist 
This  principle  is  carried  out  by  many  of  the 
Africui  tril.'s,  who  use  thongs  or  strips  of 
leather!  as  well  as  in  several  of  the  islands 

of  Polynrsia.  where  vegetable  materials  arc  ^^^_^^.^^   ^^^^  m--^---    -,- 

used.  AVe  have  at  fig.  4,  on  page  W  ^^n  "\«  the  present  time  it  is  made  of  beads, 
example  of  the  same  principle  carried  o"t  At  t^i«  P^**,^  ,  ^^^^  procurable  it  was 
Trop^,dAmeri.i,teat^vs_lH.ing,emvd^^ 

ties'  wings,  np/Ll''"''!'5J'™J!.T  i"  tv  Pnllec- 


i^;^  :ad.;kin,gniss,orbark.  The  length 
of  th  s  apron  is  one  foot  nine  inches,  and  its 
ae'th  one  foot  three  inches.  It  is  made  of 
f.'Jillcrs.blue  at  the  base  and  tip.  and  scai^let 

*■ ;■      ■     .  .  ..  1  _     _ iwk     a.-.i-in     hv     Lilt; 


Slh:^e^d="ap™r;j';einniyeone. 
tion.    The  best  and  most  elaborate^of  them 


;;:>;;.'blue  at  the  base  and  tip.  and  scat-let     l""-    /;^^P4»^:";V•■-enVed  at   fig.  5,  on 
iuUie  middle.    As  may  bo  seen  by  the  h,s  that  ^v.-ua  u      i 


I 


lit 


1250 


GUIANA. 


page  12-19,  and  was  presented  to  me  by  II. 

Boriuui,  Esq. 

Tiiia  l)c;uiliM  spociinen  of  native  art_  Is 
e!ght  inclios  in  Icnglh  luiil  four  in  deplli,  in- 
cludiii'T  tlio  lar£;c  bi^-vls  tliat  serve  as  a 
frin"(>r  It  is  made  entindy  of  '•  seed  "  beads, 
tlireaded  on  silk  grass  in  such  a  mauiier 
tiiat  the  tliread  is  scarcely  vis<ble.  I  lie 
principle  on  wliica  the  maker  has  gone;  is 
tliat  she  has  woven  a  sort  of  framework  of 
pcrprn  licular  threads  or  strings,  set  exactly 
wide  eiiounh  apart  to  allow  two  beads  to  be 
placed  between  them.  By  this  plan  she  has 
regulated  the  arrangement  of  tlu;  beads 
reipusite  to  form  the  pattern,  while  the 
beads  themselves  are  strung  upon  lino  silk- 
grass  threads  that  run  at  right  angles  to  the 
others. 

The  colors  arc  blue,  yellow,  green,  and 
carmine,  in  triuispareiit  beads,  and  chalk- 
white  and  vermilion  i.u  opaque  beads,  not 
counting  the  larger  beads  used  to  form  the 
fringe.  ^The  princiiilo  of  the  pattern  is  that 
of  tile  square  standing  on  an  angle,  or  the 
"  diamond,"'  as  it  is  more  familiarly  termed. 
First,  tliree  diamonds  have  been  worked  in 
yellow  beads,  a  line  of  green  beads  running 
down  the  centre  of  the  yellow,  and  a  rather 
broad  line  of  carmine  beads  passing  along 
the  inner  and  outer  edge  of  each  diamond. 

The  dark  pattern  in  the  centre  of  each 
diamond  is  made  of  blue  beads,  and  the 
square  patterns  in  each  angle  of  the  dia- 
mond are  mavle  of  chalk-white  beads  with  a 
centre  of  veriniUon.  The  entire  apron  is 
edged  with  the  chalk-white  beads  The 
fringe  at  the  bottom  is  made  of  a  treble  row 
of  much  larger  beads,  one  of  which  is  repre- 
sented of  the  full  size,  and  at  either  end  of 
each  bead  is  a  small  scarlet  cylinder,  like 
coral. 

On  looking  at  the  form  of  the  apron,  the 
reader  will  notice  that  it  is  much  wider  at 
the  bottom  than  at  the  top.  This  is  inten- 
tional. The  thick  perpeiulicnlar  striiiLjs 
only  extend  as  far  as  the  ui)iier  corners,  the 
others  being  thin  threads.  The  conse- 
(pience  of  this  structure  is,  that  when  the 
apron  is  held  up  by  two  loops,  the  middle  of 
it  is  nearly  Hat,  wiiile  the  two  ends  fall  into 
heavy  folds. 

There  is  a  ])ositivelv  startling  boldness 
about  the  colorini;:  of  this  apron;  such,  for 
ex  imple,  as  the  placing  green  beads  next  to 
the  yellow.  .Still,  the  whole  arrangement  of 
.the  colors  is  so  udinir.able,  that  in  spite 
.of  the  brilliant  hues  of  the  beads,  which  are 
■of  the  brighti-.-t  possible  blue,  yellow,  car- 
jniue,  and  vermilion,  they  are  so  well  har- 
jnonized,  that  in  no  case  does  one  hue  seem 
,io  predominate  over  another,  or  to  interfere 
with  another. 

Some  few  years  ago,  I  was  discussing  the 
coloring  of  'this  v('ry  apron  with  Mr.  T. 
jiaines,  the  ecltbrated  traveller,  and  asking 
if  he  had  anv  theory  by  which  he  could  ac- 
count for  the  "artistic  harmony  of  color  which 


is  invariably  displayed  in  the  aprons.  He 
said  that  he  had  long  thought  that  the  na- 
tives unconsciously  imitated  the  coloring  on 
the  wings  of  the  gorgi-ons  butlerllies  which 
are  so  i)lentifid  in  that  land,  and,  from  spec- 
imens in  his  collection,  showed  that  the  very 
collocation  of  hues  which  jn'oduced  harmony 
of  coloring  in  the  l)ead  apron  was  also  to  be 
found  in  the  wings  of  (riiiaiian  butterthes. 
Perhaps  the  splendid  idumage  of  many 
Ouiauan  birds  may  also  alford  hints  for  tlio 
native  artist. 

Another  qneyu  in  mv  colleelion  is  made 
of  similar  materials,  and  on  the  same  priuei- 
ple,  but  is  of  a  totally  difr.'i'ent  iialtern.  In 
this  case,  the  maker'has  evidently  possessed 
a  preponderance  of  the  chalk-while  beads, 
and  comparatively  few  of  the  red.  blue,  and 
yellow  beads.  She  has  aceordingly  made 
the  body  of  the  apron  of  the  while  beads, 
and  enfivened  it  l>y  two  jiatterns.  of  red, 
blue,  and  yellow,  formed  much  like  tliose 
which  occupy  the  centre  of  the  ( 
the  .apron  which  has  been  jus 
III  shape  the  t>vo  aprons  arc 
the  latter  is  very  much 


liamoud  in 
t    described, 
deiitii'al,  but 
m:il1er  in  size, being 


only  four    iuelics    in    length  and   two    iu 
depth. 

The  third  specimen  of  the  quevu  m  my 
collection  is  much  larger,  bein  ,  made  of 
large  beads,  and  really  may  take  rank  as  an 
article  of  dress  and  not  a  mere  oiiiament. 
It  is  thirteen  inches  in  leiiglh  by  nine  in 
depth,  and,  though  not  possessing  the  biul- 
iant  colors  of  the  two  qui'yus  wliii;h  have 
been  described,  is  yet  a  handsome  arlicle  of 
costume.  The  wliito  beads  of  which  the 
gr()uiidw<n-k  of  this  apron  is  made  arc  aa 
large  a.s  ordinary  peas,  so  that  the  whole 
work  is  of  a  miach  coarser  character  than 
that  whi>'h  distinguishes  the  two  other 
aprons.  Those  wliich  form  the  jiattern  are 
deei)  uarnet  color,  so  dark  that  except  in 
particular  lights  it  looks  black.  The  woiufin 
who  niatio  this  apron  has  ingeniously  se- 
lected the  beads  of  such  a  size,  that  two  of 
the  garnet  beads  occupy  exactly  the  same 
s])iice  as  one  white,  bead,  and  exactly  till  the 
interval  between  the  perpeudiculiu-  strings 
of  llie  fl-amework. 

The  most  remarkable  point  in  this  apron 
is  the  pattern,  wdiuh  is  exactly  like  that 
which  IS  found  on  (dd  patterns,  and  which 
has  come  into  modern  usi;  under  the  name 
of  the  Greek  fret.  I  have  seen  several 
(jueyus  of  dilferent  sizes  and  colors  made 
with  this  pattern.  The  lower  edge  of  the 
apron  is  made  of  six  rows  of  topaz  colored 
beads,  as  large  as  the  white  beads,  and  it  ia 
further  decorated  with  a  fringe  made  of 
tiit'ts  of  cotton  strings,  one  sucli  tiilt  being 
llxed  to  every  alternate'  bead. 

As  may  be'  imagined  from  the  description, 
the  beads  employed  in  making  the  aprou  are 
very  Iieavv,  (lie  wlude  article  wt'ighiug 
neaVly  a  pound  and  a  half,  so  that  in  tliia 
case  the  ownrft  has  good    reivsou  fbr  uot 


■• 


THE  CARIB   SAPARU. 


1257 


weariiif  it  pxcppt  on  occasions  of  ceremony. 
Owinu'lu  llu'  miiterial  of  which  Uiese  aprons 
are  nKide,  none  of  them  pnt  fortii  their  full 
beautleH  nnless  they  arc  held  between  the 
speetiitor  and  the  light. 

One  (if  these  aprons  was  procured  by  a 
friend  of  mine  in  a  manner  which  shows  tnat 
they  are  e.nisidered  rather  as  ornaments 
than  dress.  lie  happened  to  be  in  one  ol 
the  eivilized  coast  towns,  and  met  a  woman 
wc'iiin"  a  (pievu  of  remarkable  beauty.  He 
stopped  lier  and  tried  to  induce  her  to  sell 
the  apron;  Init  all  his  exertions  were  n\  vain, 
and  for  no  amount  of  money  could  he  pur- 
chase it.  At  last  a  brilliant  thoUi,'ht  slrucU 
him  He  had  in  liis  pocket  one  of  the  com- 
mon printed  handkerchiefs  containing,'  the 
fluos  of  all  nations,  and,  as  a  last  resource, 
lio"ollered  the  kerchief  in  e.\cliango  lor  the 

^"tIic  woman  could  not  withstand  such  a 


temi)lalion.  The  gorgeous  patterns  on  the 
handkerchief  were  far  superior  to  the  best 
cxampk's  of  native  art,  and  ini.:j;ht  afford 
new  ideas  for  the  future.  Accordingly,  she 
then  and  there  took  olT  the  qiieyu,  handed  it 
to  the  purchaser,  and  received  in  exchange 
the  kerchief,  which  she  tied  round  her  head, 
and  then  pursued  her  walk  in  all  the  dignity 
of  the  besl-dressed  woman  in  Guiana. 

The  slraii'est  article  of  dress  to  be  found 
in  Ciuiaiia  is  undoubtedly  the  Ciirib  sapuru, 
or  farter,  an  ornament  which  can  compete 
with    the    compressed   foot    of    a  Chinese 
beauty,  or  the  wasp-like  waistof  an  European 
belle  'both  for  inconvenience  and  ugliness. 
While  the  t'arib  girl  is  young  a  band  of  rat- 
tan  is   l)ouud  tightly  under  the  knee   and 
another  above  the  ankle.     To  give  them  an 
ornameiilal    appearance    they   arc    stained 
with  a  red  dye,  but  in  fact  they  are  instru- 
ments of  toVturc,  wliieh  entirely  alter  the 
form  of  the  hum;uiliiub  and  convert  it  into  a  , 
mere  spindle  thicker  in  the  middle  than  at 
each  end.  „  ,        ^^ 

Tliere  are  now  Tjcfore  me  a  number  o 
nhoto-rapbic  portraits  of  Carib  women,  ami 
It  is  .searcilv  possible  to  imagine  anvthmg 
mori'  hidi'oiislv  ludicrous  than  the  elleet  ot 
tbo  sapuru.  Deprived  of  its  natural  powers 
of  extension,  the  limb  has  to  expand  itselt 
as  it  ean,  and  the  consequence  is,  that  it  is 
obli"ed  to  develop  itself  in  the  compara- 
tiveTy  narrow  space  between  the  two  band- 

if  the  reader  should  wish  to  obtain  an  ac- 
curate  idea  of  a  Carib  belle's  leg  from  the 
ankle  to  tbo  knee,  he  ean  easily  <lo  so.  Let 
liim  take  an  ordinary  broomstick,  eighteen 
iiidus  in  length,  and  push  it  through  the 
middle  of  a  rather  small  Stilton  cheese ;  then 
let  him  wrap  the  stick  above  and  below  the 
cheese  with  a  red  bandage,  ailorn  the  cheese 
with  a  number  of  blue  spots,  and  he  will  have 
a  very  good  idea  of  the  extraordinary  caj^ic 
which  ia  usauiucd  by  tlio  leg  pf  a  ■  rib  ic- 
Eoale. 


The  women  arc  inordinately  fond  of  tlic 
sapuru,  and  arc  as  scornful  respecting  those 
of  their  own  sex  who  do  not  wear  it  as  arc 
the  Chinese  women  respecting  those  who 
do  not  wear  the  "  golden  lilies." 

These   women  have  a  variety,  of   orna- 
ments, but  little  clothes.    Necklaces  of  va- 
rious   kinds    are    highly  esteemed    among 
them,  especially  when  they  are  made  of  the 
teeth  of  the  jaguar  and  alligator,  inasmuch 
as  such  ornaments  indicate  the  prowess  of 
tlielr  admirers.    The  appearance  of  a  Carib 
woman  in  full  dress  is  not  very  attractive. 
These  people  are  short,  thick  necked,  and 
awkward  looking,  and  in  those  respects  the 
women  are  much  worse  than  the  men.     Ot 
the  ten  portraits  there  is  not  one  that  can 
liear    comparison   with    the   feiu:ilo   inhab- 
itants of  Southern  Africa,  such  as  have  been 
fl.rured  in  the  first  part  of  this  work.    Then- 
short  necks  are  cumbered  \vilh  row  upon 
row  of  necklaces,  their  only  dress  is  a  narrow 
strip   of   blue   i:loth,  and   they   have   done 
their    best    to    mak(!    themselves    entirely 
hideous  by  the  al)o;.iinable  sapuru. 

Then,  by  way  of  adding  to  their  attrac- 
tions, they  perforate  the  under  lip,  and  wear 
in  it  one  or  several  pins,  the  hiads  being 
within  the  mouth  and  the  ijoiuts  projecting 
outward.    Some  of  the  women  smear  their 
whole  bodies  and  limbs   with   the   aunatto 
dye,  which  gives  them  the  api)carance   as 
it  blood  were  exuding  from  every  pore;  and 
the  reader  may  well  imagine  the  appearance 
of  such  women,  with  pins  sticking  through 
their  lips,  their   bosoms   cover.'d  with  row 
upon  row  of  necklaces,  their  re<ldened  limbs 
varicated  Avith  blue  spots,  and  their  legs 
swollen  and  distorted  by  the  effects  ol  the 
sapuru.  .  ,       „  , 

The  Carib  men  wear  an  article  of  dress 
which  is  almost  exactly  like  that  which  is 
worn  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  Xicobar 
Islands.  It  is  a  narrow  but  very  long  scarf, 
woven  from  cotton  lihre.  After  passing 
round  the  waist  and  between  the  legs,  it  is 
tucked  into  the  girdle,  and  then  is  so  long 
that  it  can  be  hung  over  the  shoulder  like  a 
Highlander's  iilaid.  The  men  are  very 
proud  of  a  good  u'irdle,  and  adorn  it  plenti- 
fully with  cotton  tassels,  beetles'  wings,  and 
siinilar  ornaments. 

Of  all  the  (Juianan  tribes,  the  Warans  are 
least  careful  respecting  dress.  Even  the 
women  wear  nothing  but  a  triangular  piece 
of  bark,  or  a  similarly  shaped  article  ol  ap- 
parel formed  from  the  spathe  of  the  young 
palm  leaf.  This  spathe  is  also  used  for  a  head 
dresB  by  several  tribes.  In  order  to  under- 
stand the  structure  of  this  article  the  reader 
must  remember  that  the  palm  tree  is  an 
endogenous  plant,  and  that  all  the  leaves 
spring  fi-om  a  central  shoot.  I'l-oni  this 
same  spot  there  also  starts  a  conical  shoot, 
which  contains  the  Uowers.  In  its  earlier 
sta-'cs  of  dovelnpment  this  shoot  is  covered 
witJi   a   membraaous    envelope,  caUed    a 


II 


I 


^    i 


1258 


GUIANA. 


spathe,  which  bursts  in  order  to  allow  the 
enclosed  flower-stalk  to  develop  itself.  Be- 
fore it  has  attained  its  ftill  development,  the 
spathe  is  drawn  off  the  flower-stalk  and 
soaked  in  water  for  a  time,  until  all  the 
green  substance  becomes  decomposed,  and 
can  be  waslicd  away  from  the  tibrous  frame- 
work. The  well-known  skeleton  leaves  arc 
prejiared  in  exactly  the  same  manner. 

Wiion  decomposition  is  complete,  the 
spathe  is  carefully  washed  in  running  wa- 
ter, so  that  the  whole  of  the  green  matter  is 
removed  and  nothing  is  left  but  the  tougher 
fibres.  These  are  tangled  together  in  a 
very  remarkable  manner,  so  as  to  be  very 
elastic,  and  to  allow  the  fabric  to  be  stretched 
in  difterent  directions  without  causing  any 
interstices  to  appear  between  them. 

In  this  state  the  sjiathe  is  conical,  of  a  yel- 
low-brown color,  and  extraordinarily  light. 
A  specimen  in  my  possession,  though  meas- 
uring twenty-seven  inches  in  length,  weighs 
barely  half  an  ounce. 

When  the  native  wishes  to  convert  the 
spathe  into  a  cap,  he  doubles  the  open  end 
twice,  and  then  makes  a  deep  fold  within 
eight  or  nine  inches  of  the  tip,  thus  causing 
it  to  assume  the  shape  which  is  seen  in  the 
illustration  on  page  1249.  Slight  as  is  the 
texture  of  this  odd  cap,  it  forms  an  excellent 
defence  against  tlie  rays  of  the  sun,  which 
is  the  only  object  of  the  headdress  in  such 
a  climate. 

The  reader  will  see  that  the  shape,  as 
well  as  the  lightness  of  the  spathe,  con- 
duces to  its  usefulness  as  an  apron  as  well 
aa  a  headdress.  Such  at  all  events  is  the 
only  dress  for  which  the  Waraus  care:  and 
whether  on  account  of  the  perpetual  ex- 
posure of  their  skins,  or  whether  from  other 
causes,  the  short,  stout,  sturdy  Waraus  are 
much  darker  than  the  other  tribes  —  so  dark, 
indeed,  that  they  have  been  said  to  approach 
the  blackness  of'^the  negro.  Mr.  Brett  thinks 
their  want  of  cleanliness  is  one  cause  of 
this  deeper  hue.  They  are  the  best  native 
laborers  that  can  be  tound,  and,  when  they 
can  be  induced  to  shake  off  their  national 
apathy  and  fairly  begin  work,  they  will  do 
more  tlian  any  other  tribe.  Neither  do 
they  want  so  much  wages  as  are  required 
by  the  otlier  natives,  preferring  liberal  ra- 
tions of  rum  to  actual  wages. 

Living  as  do  the  Guianan  natives  in  the 
fore>?ts,  amid  all  the  wealth  of  animal  life 
whicli  is  found  in  them,  and  depending 
chiefly  for  their  subsistence  on  their  success 
in  hunting,  they  attain  an  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  the  habits  of  the  various  animals, 
and  display  considerable  skill  in  taking 
them.  They  capture  birds,  monkeys,  ana 
other  creatures,  not  for  the  sake  of  killing 
them,  but  of  domesticating  them  as  pets, 
and  almost  every  hut  has  a  parrot  or  two,  a 
monkey,  or  saiiie  such  pet  at!:«;hed  to  it. 

The  women  are  especially  fond  of  the 
little  monkeya,  and  generally  carry  them  on 


their  heads,  so  that  at  a  little  distance  they 
look  as  if  they  were  wearing  a  red  or  a 
black  headdress,  according  to  the  species 
and  color  of  the  monkey.  *rhey  carry  their 
fondness  for  their  animals  to  such  an  extent 
that  they  treat  them  in  every  respect  as  if 
tliey  were  their  children,  even  allow''".g 
them  to  suck  at  their  breasts  in  turn  .  icn 
their  own  offspring. 

Dreading  the  venomous  snnlces  most  thor- 
oughly, they  have  no  fear  t..  the  non-poi- 
sonous kinds,  and  capture  them  without 
difficulty.  Mr.  Brett  saw  one  of  them  catch 
a  young  coulacanara  snake  by  dropjmig  a 
noose  over  its  head  by  means  of  a  forked 
stick,  and  then  hauling  it  out  and  allowing 
it  to  coil  round  his  arm.  Although  a  very 
young  specimen,  only  five  feet  or  so  in 
length,  the  reptile  was  so  strong  that  the 
man  was  soon  obliged  to  ask  some  one  to 
release  his  arm. 

Sometimes  this  snake  grows  to  a  great 
length,  and,  as  it  is  extremely  thick-bodied, 
is  a  very  dangerous  reptile  to  deal  with. 
Mr.  Waterton  succeeded  in  taking  a  coula- 
eanarr.  fourteen  feet  long,  after  a  fierce 
strtigglc,  which  is  anuisingly  told  in  his 
"  Wanderings,"  I  have  seen  the  skin  of 
this  snake  in  the  collection  which  then 
adorned  Walton  Hall. 

The  skill  of  these  natives  is  well  shown 
by  iheir  success  in  capturing  a  cayman  with 
a  hook.  Mr.  Waterton  had  tried  to  catch 
the  reptile  with  a  shark  hook,  but  his  efforts 
were  unavailing,  the  reptile  declining  to 
swallow  the  bait,  and  at  last  contriving 
to  get  it  off  the  hook,  though  it  was  tied 
on  with  string.  After  more  than  one 
failure,  he  showed  the  hook  (  a  native, 
who  sliook  his  head  at  it,  auu  said  that 
it  would  not  answer  the  purpose,  but  that 
he  would  make  a  hook  that  would  hold  the 
cayman. 

Accordingly,  on  the  following  day  he  re- 
turned with  a  very  remarkable  hook.  It 
consisted  of  four  pieces  of  hard  wood  about 
a  foot  in  length,  cinwed,  and  sharpened  at 
the  ends,  Avhich  were  sli<'htlv  barbed.  These 
barbs,  if  we  may  so  call  them,  were  tied 
back  to  back  round  the  lower  end  of  a  rope, 
a  knot  in  the  rope  preventing  it  from  drop- 
ping through  the  barbs,  which  were  forced 
to  diverge  from  each  other  by  four  pegs 
driven  between  them  and  the  rope.  The 
so-er,  ed  hook,  indeed,  was  very  like  a  four- 
pronged  Fijian  spear,  supposing  the  shaft  to 
he  cut  off  below  the  prongs,  a  hole  bored 
through  the  centre  of  the  cut  shaft,  and  a 
rope  passed  through  the  hole  and  knotted 
below  the  prongs.  It  is  evident  that  if  such 
an  instrument  as  this  were  taken  into  a  cay- 
man's throat,  the  diverging  prongs  would 
prevent  it  from  coming  out  ag.ain,  and  aa 
long  as  they  rem.ained  unbroken,  so  long 

-Tl.i    it.-    -- 1 —  U^l.l 

This  cnriouB  hook  was  then  taken  to  the 
river  side,  and  baited  with  an  agouti.    The 


o  !i  great 
ck-boilic(l, 
leal  with. 
g  a  coula- 
•  a  liorce 
1(1  in  his 
0  skin  of 
lich    then 


.i 


: 


i 


liii 


(1.)    TUK   MAQIIARKI    DANCE.    (Sec  page  IMS.) 


(12G0; 


SHIELD  WRESTLING. 


1281 


end  of  the  rope  was  made  fast  to  a  tree,  and 
the  l)arl)i'(l  hook  wUHpondod  al.out  a  oot 
from  the  water  by  means  ot  a  short  stick 
driven  into  tlie  hank.  The  native  then  took 
the  en.i)! y  shell  of  a  tortoise,  and  struck  it 
several  blows  with  an  axe,  by  way  ot  telling 
the  cavnian  that  its  meal  was  ready,     ihc 


of  his  adversary.  Tlic  contest  is  (Tcncrally 
one  of  mere  strength,  the  shield  being 
Diished  forward  by  the  whole  toree  ot  Iho 
jjodv,  and  snpnorted  by  one  knee,  while  the 
other  le"  is  extended  behind.    Sometimes 


one  of  the 


olf  the  g 


le  players  is  able  to  push  the  other 
;round,  or,  by  a  dexterous  slip  and 


tlie  cayman  that  its  "V^«' ^^'V^,!'  iiW«   t  rust  oTrtho  riank,  to  send  him  rolling  on 
result  of  the  operation  justified   he  /"IJ'^^^M  "  ^'^^j     More  frequentlv  they  remain 


wliile'the  resistance  oHered  by  the  stick 
caused  the  projecting  barbs  to  be  driven 
into  the  reptile's  throat  as  it  fell  back  into 

the  water.  ,  ,       i     <•  tu^ 

How  the  cavman  was  draprgcd  out  ot  tnc 
water,  and  how  Mr.  AVaterton  jumped  upon 
its  shoulders,  and  disabk^d  it  by  seizing  its 
forc-naws  and  twisting  them  on  its  back  is 
matter  of  historv.  The  talc  was  generally 
disbelieved  at  th6  time,  and  ^^ive  rise  to  no 
small  amount  of  banter;  but  it  is  a  perfccll} 
true  one,  and  the  objections  to  it  I'^ivc  long 
died  away.  lu.lce.l,  one  of  Mr  Watcrton  s 
men,  who  was  then  little  more  than  a  mere 
lad,  was,  as  an  old  man,  in  the  service  of 
one  of  my  friends,  and  corroborated  every 
word  of  the  story. 

As  nii'dit  be  inferred  from  the  natural 
ai.atbv  and  indolence  of  the  natives,  they 
liave  "but  few  -aines.    They  only  work  by 
fits  and  starts,  and  spend  a  very  large  pro- 
portion of  theit  time  in  their  I'^imno^-k", 
carin-'  little  for  those  contests  of  skill  ami 
stren"th  which  are  so  absor1)ingly  mterest- 
in.'  to  the  inhabitants  of  cooler  and  more 
bnicing   elimates.      Tlun-e   is,  '"^vever  one 
such  game  which   is  played   by   the  Wai- 
aiis,    who    have    alrea.ly    been    men  loned 
as  the  stoutest  and  «t>:o"Ke«t  of  the  tribes. 
This  game  is  well  described  by  Mr.  1  rett  .— 
"TVicrc  is  also   a  kind  of  wrestling,  or 
trial  ot-  strength,  practised  by  the  Warai^ 
at  their  drinking-bouts,  in  which  each  ot 
t^fie  antagonists  is  furnished  ^vi  h  a  «ort  of 
shield,  (see  illustration  on  page  1'2G0),  made 
of  the   li'dit  branches  of    the  ita,  cut  into 
eiual   len.'lhs,and   firmly   lashed   across  u 
fr  me  tl  r'ee  or  four  feet  in  height    some- 
wimt  less  in  width,  and  slightly  bending 

*'""llie"  front  of  each  shield  is  painted  in 
various  colors,  and  with  some  peculiar  de- 
vice, according  to  the  tancy  of  the  owner. 
From  its  upper  odge  arise  elastic  steins 
generally  three  in  number,  adorned  ^vith 
colored  tassels,  and  surmounted  with  stream- 
ers made  of  the  same  material  asthema- 
nuarri  whips,  and  not  much  unlike  them. 
It   has  altogether    a  picturosciuo    appear- 

*""  Each  champion  grasps  the  edges  of  his 
shield  firmly  with  both  hands,  and,  after  va- 
rious feints  and  grimaces  to  throw  his  oppo- 
nent oiF  his  guard,  a  dash  is  b.eard.  as  one 
springs  forward,  and  his  shield  strikes  mat 


""it  is  then  a  point  of  Warau  etiquette  to 
shake  the  shielils  at  each  other  in  a  .icenng 
manner,  with  a  tremulous  motion  ot  their 
elastic  ornamentF,  and  to  utter  a  very  pecul- 
iar and  ridiculously  defying  sound,  some- 
thing like  the  whinnying  of  a  young  horse. 
This  is  generally  followed  by  a  hearty,  good- 
humored  laugh,  in  which  the  ;y«tan.  ers 
join.    Another  couple  then  step  lorwaid  to 

1     flKMta  palm,  of  which  the  Waran  shields 

are  made,  will  be  briellv  '''"«V>-'H?'  /^'VV",,?'!; 
come-  to  that  singular  branch  ot  the  W  aiau 
tribe  which  lives  in  dwellings  riiised  al)ovo 
the   surface   of  the  water     It  has  already 
been  mentioned  that  the  Waraus  are  cele- 
brated for  the  excellence  of  tjn'ir  canoes 
Thev  arc  universally  recognized  as  the  timt 
canoe  builders  of  the  whole  c'ountry,   and 
to  them  the  other  tribes  resort  from  consid- 
erable distances.     Some  of  these  ''^'''''f^  fj;" 
large  enough  to  hold  fifty  men,  so  that,  y  i> 
considerabTc   skill    is    needed    in    building 
them  without  the  instruments  and  measures 
by  which  our  own  boat  builders  ensure  the 
re<'ularitv  of  their  craft. 

There  are  Bcvcral  forms  of  these  canoes. 
The  most  important  is  that  whiih  has  lust 
been  mentioned.    It  is  hollowed  out  ot  the 
trunk  of  a  tree,  and  is  forced  into  the  proper 
shape  partly  by  means  of  fire  and  partly  by 
wedges  and  cross  planks.    The   largest  of 
the  canoes  have  the  sides  made  higher  t)y  a 
narrow  plank  of  soft  wood,  which  is  laced 
upon    the    gunwale,    and    the    r>eain    well 
caulked.    The  canoe  is  alike  at  both  ends, 
the  stem  and  stern  being  pointed,  curved, 
and  rising  well  out  of  the  water.    Iherc  is 
no  keel,  and  it  draws  but  a  few  inches  of 
water.    This  formation  would  be  very  aw k- 
w.ard  in  our  own  rivers;  but  in  those  ot  bui- 
una,  such   as  the  Esseciuibo,  there   are  so 
many  falls  and  rapids,  that  the  canoe  must 
be  especially  adapted  for  them.    Ihis  kind 
of  canoe  is  called  a  curial,  or  c  v.al. 

The  perils  of  the  rapids  have  been  well 
told  by  Mr.  Brett :  —"Advantage  is  taken 
of  the  eddies  which  are  found  at  the  base  ot 
the  huge  rocks  that  interrupt  the  stream. 
The  Indians  pass  from  rock  to  rock  by  wad- 
in-',  leaping,  or  swimming,  and  l)y  means  ot 
a  Imwser  haul  the  boat  through  the  rushing 
water  from  one  resting  point  to  another,  tlio 
steersman  meantime  keeping  his  sea  ,  ana 
;  sometimes  lashed  to  it,  Mnving  wuh  IiiS 


M 


1962 


GUIANA. 


largo  paddle  to  guide  in  some  degree  her 
course.  The  waters  dashing  and  toaming 
amidst  tlio  surrounding  rocks  render  tins 
operation  as  exciting  as  it  is  difficult.  btiU 
more  exciting  and  dangerous  is  the  task  o 
descemliwj  tliese  rapids.  The  saletjr  of  all 
then  depends  on  the  perfect  steadiness  o 
those  in  the  canoe,  and  on  the  bowman  and 
steersman  acting  in  concert  and  with  instant 
decision.  .  i        <• 

"  The  canoe  is  kept  in  the  very  centre  ol 
the  current,  one  of  her  best  hands  kneeling, 
with  quick  eye  and  ready  paddle,  in  the 
bow,  and  the  rest  of  the  men  exerting  their 
strength  to  give  her  headway.  Darting 
8\viftly  along,  she  arrives  at  the  edge  of  the 
fall,  and,  pointing  downward,  shoots  into  the 
surf  below  it,  divshing  it  up  on  cither  side, 
and  leaving  her  crew  alone  visible.  If  all  bo 
well,  rising  above  the  fall,  she  obeys  the 
guiding  paddles  in  stem  and  stern,  and 
dances  over  the  tumbling  waves,  while  her 
excited  crew  with  a  triumphant  cry  exult  at 
their  success." 


Sometimes  even  the  skill  of  the  natives 
fails  to  overcome  all  the  dilllcultics,  and  the 
canoe  is  upset,  the  crew  barely  estaping 
with  their  lives.  It  was  in  (lesceuding  one 
of  these  liills  that  Mr.  Waterton's  canoe  was 
upset,  and  thing  into  the  Essequibo  tlie  pre- 
cious store  of  materials  from  which  the 
wourali  is  made.  „   ,  ,     .1 

The  simplest  kind  of  boat,  called  by  the 
colonists  a  "woodskin,"  is  nothing  more 
than  the  Hexible  bark  of  the  purple-heart 
trees  stripped  oiV  in  one  piece,  iorced  open 
in  the  middle,  tied  together  at  the  ends  and 
so  left  until  dry.  In  order  to  prevent  these 
bark  canoes  from  taking  in  water  at  tlic  ends, 
a  large  lump  of  clay  is  pressed  lirmly  into  the 
end  so  as  to  make  a  barriei  against  tlie 
water.  This  mode  of  caulking  is  uecessarily 
but  temporary,  and  the  "  back-dam,  as  it  is 
called  by  the 'colonists,  is  sure  to  be  washed 
away  sooner  or  later,  according  to  the  state 
of  the  river.  Tlie  reader  will  remember  that 
a  similar  appliance  of  clay  is  found  among 
the  Australian  savages. 


CHAPTER  CXXXIV. 

THE  TRIBES  OF  QUIAN A— Concluded. 


REIilOlON — BURIAL. 

^„„,  „„na_TH1t   BORCEREH  OR  PIAI-MAN,  AND  HIS  TUAnnNO 

BEUEF  .N  ONE  CHtEF  DKITV  AND  MANT  ""^-'-^O^J  "^^  0^8^  P.AI-MAN  -  CUIUm.  UWEASB  AND 
-THB  BACKED  UATTLV,- UUT.F.B  ^''^  J^^^'V/J.^!  J,«  WATKU-MAMMA  -  THE  OUIOIN 
mUV.NO  OUT  THB  EVn.  «"''"-™;„"J^f,™,''™,  ,„K  DEAD-THK  LAKK-D,VKU..N« 
OK  THE  CAB.B  BACE-A  WILD  ^«««''»-7;''XlAL  HOUSE -THE  1,AKE-1.WELLEB8  OF 
WAKAU8-THE     ITA      PALM     AND     ITS     USES -AN     AKIUAL     UiJVBr. 

MAUACAIEO. 


We  will  concUulo  this  history  of  the  Gui- 1 
anivn  tribes  with  a  few  remarks  on  their  re- 

^'"A^'far  as  is  known  of  their  religious  ideas 
as  thevwere  before  they  became  intermixea 
with  those  taught  to  them  by  the  white  man, 
the  Guianan  natives  believe  in  one  supreme 
Deity,  and  a  vast  number  of  inferior  divini- 
ties, mostly  of  the  evil  kind.  All  Pa;n  issaid 
to  be  caused  by  an  evil  Bpirit  called  Yau- 
hahu,  and  is  said  to  be  the  Yauhahu's  ar- 

"^"as  it  is  necessary  that  these  evil  beings 
should  be  propitiated  when  any  calamity  is 
fowled,  a  bidy  of  sorcerers,  called  piai  men, 
arc  set  apart  in  order  to  communicate  be- 
tween   Uieir  fellow   men  and   th.  unseen 
world.    In  order  to  qualify  themselves  for 
the  task,  the  piai  men  are  obliged    to  go 
through  sundry  strange  ceremonies,  under 
the  cSarge  of  some  venerable  professor  ot 
the  art.    The  neophyte  is  take"  to  a  soli- 
tary hut,  and  there  compelled  to  fast  lor 
several  Jays  before  his  spirit  is  fit  to  leave 
his  body  and  receive  the  commands  of  tne 
Yauliahu.  . 

For  this  purpose  a  quantity  of  tobacco  is 
boiled,  and  the  infusion  drunk  by  the  aspi- 
rant to  priestly  honors.  The  natural  eifect 
of  this  dose  is  to  exhaust  the  already  weak- 
ened body,  and  to  throw  the  recipient  into  a 
state  of  fainting,  during  which  his  spirit  is 
supposed  to  leave  his  body,  and  receive  a 
commission  fVom  the  Yauhahu.  Indeed,  he 
undergoes  a  civil  death,  he  is  proclaimea 
as  dead,  and  his  corpse  is  exposed  to  public 


He  recovers  very  slowly  from  the  terrible 
state  of  prostration  into  which  he  has  been 
thrown,  and  when  at  last  he  leaves  his  hut, 
he  is  worn  almost  to  a  skeleton.    As  a  mark 
of  office,  he  is  solemnly  presented  with  the 
marakka,  or  sacred  rattle.    Tins  is  nothing 
more  than  a  hollow  calabash,  some  eight 
inches   in    diameter,  having   a   stick   run 
through  it,  and  a  few  white  stones  within  it, 
BO  as  to  make  a  rattling  sound  when  shaken. 
The  calabash  is   painted   red,  and  a  tew 
feathers  arc  generally  hung  to  the  sticks. 
It  is  two  feet  in  length,  and  adorned  with 
scarlet  and  blue  feathers.    These  rattles  are 
held  in  the  greatest  veneration  by  the  un- 
initiated, who  will  not  venture  to  touch  them, 
and  are  chary  even  of  entering  a  house  m 
which  a  marakka  is  hung.    In  consequence 
of  the  value  set  upon  these  instruments,  the 
natives  can  scarcely  be  induced  to  part  with 
them,  and  the  few  which  have  been  sent  to 
England  have  in  nearly  every  case  been 
procured  from    sorcerers  who    have   been 
converted  to  Christianity,  »"'!.  f  ^  P"^""!  °! 
their  sincerity,  have  given  up  the  emblems 

"^Thc  p?ai  man  is  called  in  on  almost  every 
occasion  oHife,  so  that  his  magic  rattle  has 
butlittlo  rest.'  He  is  present  at  every  )i- 
warri  feast,  when  he  decorates  »™8«lf  Y.»«» 
feather  plumes,  the  skins  of  snakes,  and  sim- 
iiS  oroamente',  and  shakes  his  rattle  over 
the  bowl  before  the  contents  are  «»-".°^ 

Chleflv  is  he  needed  in  times  of  sickness, 
when,  by  virtue  of  his  rattle,  he  is  supposed 
To  bo  capable  of  driving  away  the  evil  spirit 
whose  cur«c  has  caused  the  malady.    When 


(1263) 


12C4 


GUIANA. 


IF"' 


a  iiiai  man  is  rnllcd  to  ft  raso  of  sickness,  ho 
Bi'ml^  all  (111)  women  awiiy,  luul  eviii  WotpH 
tlurnicii  at  ft  rcspecUuI  diHtatico.  lIis  ox- 
orcisi's  tlicn  bogin,  and  aro  continued  lor 
hours,  cliants  to  ilio  evil  spirit  beiu},'  iiccom- 
iiaiijiMl  with  Hundrv  rattlinjis,  untd  m  tlit! 
depth  of  ni«lit  the  Vauluiliu  manilcsts 
himself  to  the  sorcerer,  ftiid  tells  him  how  to 
extract  tlu!  "  arrow  "  which  he  has  aimed  at 
the  sick  man.  Of  course  it  is  incumbent  on 
the  sorcerer  to  nroihico  the  arrow  in  (|uus- 
tiou,  which  is  tlono  by  sucking  tho  alfected 
part,  and  iirochicing  from  th(!  mouth  ii  little 
pebble,  u  bird's  claw,  a  snake's  fang,  or  Bome- 
lliiii'^  of  tho  kind. 

If  the  reader  will  refer  to  illustration  No. 
5,  on  pane  l'2(i.">,  he  will  see  a  very  complicated 
and  ratlier  dcijantly  formed  rattle.  The  hol- 
low !,'i)iird  I'orins  part  of  the.  rattle,  but  it  is 
very  small,  and  deticnds  from .  series  of  three 
hoops,  which  are  struu,<?  with  beetle  wind's. 
The  noise  which  this  simple  instrumiMit 
makes  is  really  wonderful,  ami  the  slightest 
movement  of  the  striuK  by  which  it  is  held 
sets  all  tlie  wings  clattering  against  each 
otlier.  This  interesling  object  was  brought 
from  Guiana  1)y  11.  BiTuau,  Ksii- 

Kvcn  acci'pting  tlie  marakaand  the  beetle 
wing  rattle  as  musical  instrunients,  wo  tind 
that^  the  Guiana  natives  have  but  little 
variety  in  music.  Tlie  only  instruments 
which  are  really  wortlu'  of  tho  name  are 
pipes  or  llutes  made  ot  dilfercnt  materials. 
One  of  these  instruments  is  in  my  collection. 
It  is  made  of  (he  ever-useful  bamboo,  and  in- 
cludes one  internode,  i.  c.  the  space  betweeh 
two  knots. 

The  mouthpiece  is  narrow  and  oblong,  and 
tho  maker  has  possesseil  siitUcient  knowledge 
of  sound  to  cut  out  a  largt^  scooped  piece 
from  the  middle  of  the  instrument.  The 
owner  seems  to  have  jirized  this  thito  ex- 
ceedingly, as  he  has  covered  it  with  elaborate 
patterns.  It  is  blown  likt;  our  own  (lute, 
and  the  sound  which  it  produces  is  loud,  full, 
but,  if  musical,  is  melaucboly  also,  and  much 
resembles  tho  wailing  sound  produced  'oy 
blowing  into  the  mouth  of  a  soda-water 
bottle.  The  length  of  tliis  llutc  is  fourteen 
inches.  ,  „     , 

The  natives  also  make  a  flute  of  tho  leg 
bone  of  the  jaguar,  which  is  very  much 
prized,  the  spoils  of  the  jaguar  having  a  very 
Iiigh  value  among  them.  One  of  these  is 
shown  on  the  next  page.  The  Caribs  once 
used  Iinman  bones  for  this  purpose,  but  at  the 
present  time  are  content  with  jaguar  bones, 
as  e(iually  indicative  of  courage  and  skill. 

To  return  to  tho  superstition  of  the 
Guianan  natives.  One  of  the  beings  which 
they  most  dread  is  the  water  mamma,  or 
Orehu.  This  is  an  unfortunate  being  who 
inhabits  the  water,  and  occasionally  shows 
hf.'solf,  though  in  difTerent  forms,  sometimes 
even  assuming  that  of  the  horse,  but  often 
<aktng  that  of  the  manati.  The  Orehu  is  a 
female  spirit,  aud  is  generally,  though  uot 


ftlwftys,  mnlidouB,  ftnd,  when  she  is  in  a  bad 
temper,  is  apt  to  rise  close  to  the  canoes,  and 
drag  them  and  their  crews  under  water. 

'IMie  legends  told  by  the  various  tribes  re- 
specting their  origin  are  very  curious,  ns 
Hhowiug  ft  great  similarity  with  those  of 
other  parts  of  tho  world  with  whom  there 
could  have  been  no  geographical  connexion. 
For  example,  the  legend  of  Hie  earth  sub- 
merged under  water,  through  tbt)  dlsobo- 
dicuce  of  s(mie  of  its  inbabitaiils,  and  re- 
peopled  by  a  few  who  were  placed  in  a  safe 
spot  until'  the  waters  subsided. 

One  of  the  strangest  of  their  legends  is 
told  by  Mr.  llrett.  It  concerns  the  origin 
of  the  Warau  ami  Carib  tribes. 

Ori-'inally  the  Waruus  lived  in  a  country 
above''the  sky,  where  they  hiul  .ill  tiiey  could 
desire.  One  day  a  young  huuUT  shot  an 
arrow  into  the  air,  and  when  be  came  to 
search  for  it,  found  a  deep  hole  through 
which  it  had  fallen.  Looking  down  through 
the  aperture,  ho  saw  anotlier  world  opened 
out  beneath  him,  and  was  seized  with  curi- 
osity to  visit  it.  Accordingly,  he  made 
himself  a  sort  of  ladder  of  rattan,  which  grows 
abundantly  in  the  upper  world  where  ho 
lived,  and  descended  to  the  worlil  below. 

Here  li(>  remained  for  some  time,  revel- 
ling on  the  tlesh  of  animals  hitherto  unknown 
to  him.  After  a  while,  ho  climbed  no  the 
ladder  with  great  trouble,  and  told  his 
friends  the  wonders  which  he  had  seen. 
Struck  with  surprise  at  his  narrative,  and 
ea"or  to  partake  of  the  luxuries  which  he 
described,  the  whole  of  his  friends  deter- 
mined on  paviiif'  a  visit  to  thesis  wondrous 
rc'ions.  Aec'ordinglv,  tliev  descended  the 
huTder  in  safetv,  excei'it  the  last  of  their  iium- 
ber,ft  vervfat  inaii,who,in  trying  lo  s(pieeze 
himself  tlirough  the  ai)erture,  became  fl.xed 
ill  it,  and  could  not  escape,  thus  shutting  olf 
all  communication  between  the  two  worlds. 

Nothing  was  left  for  them  but  to  make 
the  best  of  a  bad  business,  and  first  of  all  to 
beseech  the  Great  Spirit  to  send  them  some 
water.  He  listened  to  their  entreaties,  cre- 
ated the  Esseouibo,  the  Hemerara,  and 
other  rivers,  ami  made  for  the  special  use  of 


the  Waraus  a  small  lake  of  the  purest  water, 
of  which  thev  were  to  drink,  but  in  which 
thev  were  forbidden  to  bathe. 

ijow  it  happened  that  there  was  a  Warau 
family  of  four  brothers  and  two  sisters,  the 
latter  beautiful,  but  wilful  maidens.  They 
rebelled  against  the  prohibition,  |)hii)ged 
into  the  lake,  swam  to  a  oole  that  w.is 
planted  in  its  midst,  and  shook  it.  The  pre- 
siding genius  of  the  lake  was  a  m.ile  spirit, 
who  was  kept  prisoner  as  long  as  the  polo 
was  untouched,  but  as  soon  as  it  w;is  sh.iken 
tho  spell  was  broken,  and  the  spirit  of  the 
lake  pounced  on  the  offending  maiden  and 
carried  her  oil".  After  a  while  he  allowed 
her  to  rejoin  her  friends,  but  the  indignation 
of  her  b'rothers  was  very  great  wh(>n  they 
found  that  their  sister  was  about  to  become 


i> 


i.» 


(:).)   JAfil'Alt  miNK  PI.UTK 

(See  piini;  l-'iH.) 


(4.)   Sllll'.I.n    AM>   CI.IJBS. 

^St'f  piiKi'  l*'*'-^-) 

(12C6) 


(5.)    KAITl'*'. 
(Si'i-  |w;,"'  l-''''^-' 


i 


n< 


CAUin  LEGENDS. 


ma 


Ab  ho  grew  to  nmnliooil,  Aliord  Ixcame 
tho  •luvf  of  hlu  rmilor,  wli.mi  lui  lliouL-Ut  to 
1„.  hl«  HK'llM^r,  until  hu  wun  iiiidi  it  ivcd  \>y  a 
Iriiiuily  Hpirit  who  nu't  liiin  in  Uin  toreiit. 
AlbT  tiyiiiK  HcviTiil  phmH  for  .■M'lip.Mintl 
liiilinK  in  tli.'in  ull,lio  hit  nnon  ll.f  <U;iti«n  of 
i.mkiiiK  iKiiiuMi  of  wax.     II''  wiis  in«lr,il  in 


iiKin  Ihi'  <tt'Hi|{n 
lie  wiis  iiiilr.d 
Uiia  UiHk  by  Uu!  Ibnau.-rH  ol  NVowli  for 
honey,  in  H«'iuch  of  whiili  tho  unloilnimlc 
Abo/c  I)U^>H.■(l  marly  Ihf  wlu.h;  of  his  unc. 
;.,       w' ! 1   u ,,t.ilw  u  111  crnakH  of 


ft  mother,  an.l  they  duUirtninod  to  kill  tho 
chilli  when  it  wim  born,  llowovor,  it  wim  ex- 
actly liki!  any  other  Wuruu  diilU.and  iiothuy 
allowtiil  it  to  live.  ,  ,      i    ,i 

Thoui^h  livinu  among  herownfric«nil(i,lli<| 
KJrl  could  not  lorijet  hur  Blran},'u  lover,  and 
wunlolluKain  tohim.  A  second  child  wum 
born,  but  tlUH  time  the  "IH'ur  parts  of  the 
body  were  thone  of  n  child,  and  tho  lower 
mrt;  were   dev.loned   iuto   a  water  "»''''';  UVTrtd'nMvi;o;rii;e  :.;;n.im' with  croakH  of 

iriTW  to   a  formidable   size.     Ihe   brothers  Mi   V''""*   "•  '_^  r.-'alo  herself  on  tho 

tl.ldaeon.ultation  and  at  last  ''"^rounded   .rn^^^^  ,,,..  ,,,fi 

it,  translixed  it  with  showerH  of  arrows,  and,  luney    anU   ^  "^  '    '      ^,     ^.J^r^  m  that 
ft  nmke  sure  of  its  death  ...t  it  to  mcccs  Ab"    ;  ^Ih,  fas        d     >  tbc^a,  ^     ^^^^^^^^^ 

-The  unhappy   Kon.bona  car.'fullv  ^V'-  P''"  ,^ '^ .'\  '^,..  ,,i,i,,,,„  n,„Uei  <  iV  for  a  land 
l,,.te.l   the  r.n.ains  into  a  heap,  wlmh  «''<•   '""""  ^  Z^'^' ^  ^  2,"^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
,.,,.  c....i..uaUj;c..vered  w.n.J.vsh  '--^   ;^-^«;.;,;^:.:i;;l:^^:; Ue  iL  people  were 

eivili/.ation,  showed  them  how  l<.  i'-rKe  iron, 
ad  iniliatJd  them  into  the  arts  and  sciences, 
for  which  the  white  man  was  now  so  distin- 

""in'that  far  land  he  still  lives,  and,  remem- 
bering the  wants  of  his  felh.w  ';o''i'f.vmen, 

ho  continually  sends  '^•'"  ^^''V  "Ht,?.  .n 
things  which  they  most  need.     Ihit  in  const- 
,nce  of  the  bad  faith  of  those  to  whom  hey 
Z  ^^i vered,  the,,;oor  ^Varaus  are^^.bl^^ed 


ftiid  mianle<l  with  ider  nssiduily 
l„n«  watchiiiK,  her  p.iiience  was  rewarded 
The  vc<'etable  covering'  began  to  heave  nnil 
■how  sFgns  of  life.  From  it  th.re  slowly 
arcse  an  Imlian  warrior  of  miijestKraiul  ter- 
rible ai.lH'araiice.  His  color  was  ot  a  bril- 
li'uit  red,  \n',  held  bow  and  arrows  in  Ins 
hand,  and  was  otherwise  equii>i)ed  lor  in- 

'•  That  warrior  was  the  first  CAmn,  the 
great  fatbi'r  of  a  powcrfiil  race.  n<:  h)rth- 
Vvilh  .ommcnccd  the  task  ol  revenge  for  the 
wrongs  sulVered  in  his  former  existence. 
Neither  his  uncles,  nor  the  whole  Warau 
race  whom  they  summoned,  could  »  '>'•«'"'- 
fore  him.  lie  drove  them  hither  ami  thi  her 
like  deer,  took  i)Ossession  of  such  ot  tlieir 
women  as  pleased  him,  and  bv  them  becanie 
the  father  of  brave  and  terrible  warriors  like 
himself.  From  their  presence  tho  un- 
-etired,  till  they  rea.  iied  the 


,,'ni?  which  is  derived  ';'"-.  \l";,'»{r"^„^«^ 
that  all  the  wh  te  men  who  visit  the  »  ai«u« 
ougb  o  make  im  for  the  dishonesty  o  tlieir 
ccuntrymen,  aiuf  give  them  as  many  beads, 


knives,  and  guns  as  they  can  proem  c. 
Whc'n  Mr?  IJrett  tirst  heard  thiH  hdc,  he 


iiaiiDV  Wnraus  rcv. .>-.., --...    -   ,       , . 

Bwlunpv  shores  of  the  Atlantic,  or*;<.^.ng 
those  lilcasant  hunting  grounds  which  thcj 
bad   occupied   on   their   llrst  descent  from 

'"The"'AVarnua  arc  wonderfully   inventive 
with  regard  to  legends;  an^  have  one  wliich 
is  worlbv  of  m)tice,  if  only  for  tl»e /"^t  that 
it  attriiilit.'s  all  the  leurmng  ot    the  white 
nen  to  a  Warau  origin.    T  us  is  the  legend 
of  Abore.    "  Once  upon  a  tune,"  there  was  a 
very    ill-conditioned   female    spirit,  named 
W()wta,  who  usu.-dly  preferred  the  iorm  of  a 
frog,  but  who  changed  herself  into  a  woman 
for  the  piiriiose  of  stealing  a  very  beautilul 
little  bov  called  Abore.     In  the  Iorm  of  a 
woman  ihc  obtained  access  to  the  house  ot 
Abore 's  mother,  whom  she  induced  to  leave 
the  child  under  her  care.    No  sooner  was 
she  alone  with  Abore  than  she  pulled  amt 
stretched  him  to  such  a  degree  that  in  a  tew 
hours  he  grew  ivs  much  as  he  would  have 
done  ill  several  years,  so  that  his  mother  re- 
pudiated him  on  her  return. 


thought  that  it  was  simply  an  iiigeiuoua  m- 
ventl^.n  framed  for  the  puri.ose  ol  u"l"nit«:d 
beuL'ing,  especially  as  the  narrator  asked  lor 
a  sfi^i  t  as  soinas  he  had  li.iishe.l  the  storj;.  and 
then  proceeded  to  rcciuesl  a  whole  series  ol 
other  articles,  lie  found,  however,  by  (lues- 
Sg  diirereiil  natives,  that  the  legemfwas 
really  a  national  one,  and  not  a  mere  invcu- 
lion  of  an  ingenious  native. 

There  is  evidently  a  distinction  to  he 
drtiwu  between  the  two  portions  ol  the  leg- 
end. The  first  part,  containing  the  ad\  cn- 
tures  of  AborcsSs  evidently  ancieiiwhlc 
the  second  part  is  as  evi.lently  ".""l^^rn,  a  d 
hxs  boon  introduced  since  the  coming  of  white 

"Tt^Um-hspSofthodead  there  is  some 
little  variation.  The  mode  wliiclj  Y'^"  '"»f 
prevalent  before  the  missionaries  i"l  ,»;  "^'1 
fchristian  burial  among  *hem  was  aslollmvs. 
The  body  was  placed  in  a  «*\fV,i.!ih Us 
tho  river,  where  tho  who  o  of  the  f^^™ 
(luicklv  eaten  from  the  bones  by  the  puai 
S  Xr  voracious  fish.    If  the  dead  man 


12G8 


GUIANA. 


were  a  person  of  distinction,  the  skeleton 
was  then  removed  from  the  water,  dried, 
painted  red,  and  suspended  under  the  root  ot 
the  house. 


'I 


!  I 


In  the  fifth  book  of  Herodotus,  chap,  xv., 
occurs  tlie  following  passage,  which  was 
lon-T  thought  to  he  a  mere  invention  on  the 
part  of  tlie  historian.  After  enumeration  of 
the  various  nations  that  Megabazes  subdued, 
he  moiitions  that  the  Persian  monarch  also 
cndoavorod  to  conquer  "  those  who  live  upon 
the  Lake  Prasias  in  dwellings  contrived  after 
this  manner.  . 

"  Planks  ntted  on  lofty  piles  are  placed  in 
the  middle  of  the  lake,  with  a  narrow  en- 
trance IVom  the  mainland  by  a  single  bridM. 
These  piles  that  support  the  planks  all  the 
citizens  anciently  placed  there  at  the  common 
charge;  but  afterward  they  established  a  law 
to  the  following  elVect :  ^Whenever  a  man 
marries,  for  each  wife  he  sinks  three  piles, 
bringing  wood  from  a  mountain  called  Orbe- 
lus,' but  every  man  has  several  wives. 

"They  live  in  the  following  manner. 
Every  man  has  a  hut  on  the  planks,  in 
which  he  dwells,  with  a  trap-door  closely 
fitted  in  the  planks,  and  leadiiif;  down  to  the 
lake.  They  tie  the  young  children  with  a 
cord  round  the  feet,  fearing  lest  they  should 
fall  into  the  lake  beneath.  To  their  horses 
and  beasts  of  burden  they  give  fish  for  fod- 
der, of  which  there  is  such  abundance, 
that  when  a  man  has  opened  his  trap-door, 
he  lets  down  an  empty  basket  by  a  cord  into 
the  lake,  and,  after  waiting  a  short  time, 
draws  it  «p  full  of  fish." 

In  these  words  the  old  historian  describes 
with  curious   exactitude   the  mode   of  life 
adopted  by  some  branches  of  the  Waraus 
and  Caribs.     These  have  been  described  at 
some  length  by  Humboldt,  in  his  "  Personal 
Narrative."    The  large  tract  of  land  which 
forms  the   delta  of  the   Orinoco  possesses 
some  very  remarkable  characteristics.     It  is 
always  wet,  but  during  several  months  in 
the  year  it  is  comi)letely  inundated,  the  river 
rising  to  .an  astonishing  heifjht,  and  covering 
with  water  a  tract  nearly  half  as   large  as 
England.    This  seems  to  be  as  unpropitious 
a  spot  as  could  be  adopted  for  human  habita- 
tions, and  yet  the  Waraus  (or  Gu.aniiios,  as 
Humboldt  spells  the  word)  have  established 
themselves  there,  and  prefer  it  to  any  other 
locality,  probably  because  their  strange  mode 
of  life  enables  them  to  pass  an  existence  of 
freedom.  .  .  .    .* 

Varying  much  in  the  height  to  which  it 
rises,  in  some  places  exceeding  fifty  feet,  the 
Orinoco  hiis  the  quality  of  rising  year  after 
year  to  the  same  height  in  the  same  place,  so 
that  when  a  mark  is  made  to  designate  the 
height  to  which  the  water  rose  in  one  year, 
the  same  mark  will  answer  year  after  year 
with  scareely  the  slightest  deviation.  It  is 
cvidcn',  that  in  such  a  spot,  where  the  soil  is 
in  the  dry  seaaon  nothing  but  mud,  and  in 


the  wet  season  is  forty  or  fifty  feet  under 
water,  only  a  very  peculiar  vegetation  can 
live.  This  is  the  ltd  (pronounciHl  Eetuh) 
palm,  belonging  to  the  genus  Mtnu-ilia,  a 
plant  which,  like  the  mangrove  of  Africa, 
requires  plenty  of  heat  and  moisture  to  en- 
able it  to  develop  itself  fully.  The  native 
name  for  this  tree  is  Murichi. 

A  brief  description  of  the  itii  palm  must 
be  given  before  we  proceed  further,  or  the 
reader  will  not  understand  the  peculiar  con- 
ditions under  which  these  wati'r  (Iwellers 
live.  When  full  grown,  it  reseiiibU  ^  a  tall, 
cylindrical  pillar,  with  a  fan  of  ten  or  twelve 
vast  leaves  spreading  from  its  extreme  top. 
Each  leaf  is  some  ten  feet  in  width,  and  is 
supported  upon  a  huge  stem  about  twelve 
feet  in  length,  looking  more  like  a  branch 
than  a  leaf-stem.  Indeed,  a  complete  leal  is 
a  heavy  load  for  a  man.  At  regular  intervals 
the  whole  fan  of  leaves  falls  olf,  and  is  re- 
placed by  another,  the  tree  ad(lin||  to  its 
height  at  every  change  of  leaf,  until  the  stem 
is  nearly  a  hundred  feet  high,  and  til  teen  in 
circumference. 

Myriads  upon  myriads  of  these  marvellous 
trees  rise  amid  the  waters  of  the  Orinoco 
delta,  sometimes  clustered  into  solid  masses 
of  veget.ation, sometimes  scattered, and  some- 
times drawn  up  in  devious  avenues,  accord- 
ing to  the  windings  of  the  muddy  channels 
that  even  in  the   dry  seasons   traverse  the 
country.   Whether  grouped  or  scattered,  the 
itA  nourishes  in  this  delta  to  such  an  extent 
that  only  the  experienced  can;)e  men  ot  the 
place  can  navigate  their  barks  among  the 
tall  stems,  the" narrow  and  wiiuling  chan- 
nels which  form  the  natural   patlis  being 
completely    obliterated    by    the    waste    ol 
water.   Any  stranger  who  tried  to  thread  this 
aquatic  forest  without  the  aid  of  a  native  guide 
would  soon  lose  himself  among  the  armies  ol 
itit  palm,  and  perish   miserably  ot'  hunger. 
Yet  this  very  tree  supplies  to  the  \\  aiaus  ot 
the  Orinoco  not  only  all  the  necessaries,  but 
the  luxuries  of  life,  and  were  the  whole  tribe 
to  be  cut  off  from  the  mainland,  they  could 
support  themselves  without  the   least  dilh- 
cultv,  the  ilii  palm  suiiplylng  house,  food, 
driiik,  clothing,  and  furniture. 

First,  as  to  the  house.  The  Waraii  re- 
quires tor  a  hou.se  nothing  but  a  fioor  and  a 
roof.  In  the  example  seen  on  uage  IM, 
the  floor  is  supplied  by  the  earUi,  but  it  is 
evident  that  in  a  house  built  in  a  locality 
where  the  ground  is  for  many  nioiuhs  to- 
gether thirty  or  forty  feet  beneath  the  sur- 
fhce  of  the  water,  an  artificial  flouring  is 
needed.  The  Warau  architect,  therefore, 
proceeds  to  construct  his  house  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner. 

Selecting  four  ltd  trees  that  grow  near 
each  other  in  the  form  of  a  scpiare,  and,  cut- 
ting away,anyof  the  intervening  trees, ho 
makes  use  of  these  four  as  the  corner  posts 
of  his  house.  He  knows  by. marks  hit  on 
the  trunks  the  precise  height  to  which  the 


LAKE  DWELLINGS. 


1269 


water  will  rise,  and  some  three  feet  or  so 
above  tliis  mark  he  builds  his  lloor,  cutting 
deep  uolclics  in  the  trunk.  In  these  notches 
are  laid  beams  made  from  the  stems  ot  the 
felled  ild  palms,  and  lashed  tightly  m  their 
places  by  ropes  made  of  itit  tibre. 

Ou  these   beams  are  laid  a  number  of 
cross-nieces,  Kometimcs  made  from  the  split 
trunks,  but  usually  being  nothing  more  than 
the  gigantic  leaf-stems  which  have  been  al- 
ready lueutioned,  and  which  are  wli(;ri  dry 
verv  li"ht,  very  tough,  and    very   clastic. 
These  W)ss-piecc8  are  tied  firmly  together, 
nnd  constitute  the  essential  part  of  tlie  floor. 
On  them  is  i.laced  a  layer  of  palm  leaves, 
and  upon  the  leaves  is  a  thick  coating  of  mud, 
ivhicli  soon  dries  under   the   tropical  sun, 
and  forms  a  smooth,  hard,  and  firm  flooring, 
which  will  bear  a  fire  without  risk  of  dam- 
age to  the  wooden  structure  below.    Ten  or 
twelve  feet  above  the  floor  the  Warau  con- 
structs a  roof  of  palm  leaves,  the  corners  of 
which    are    sunported  by  the  same    trees 
which  uphold  tVe  house,  and  then  the  chief 
labors  of  the  native  .irchitcct  arc  over.    An 
illustration  on  page  1244  shows  the  scenery 
of  the  Orinoco  delta  and  the  architecture  of 
these  lake  dwellers.    So  much  lor  the  house 
furnished  by  the  ita  palm.  . 

Food  is  supplied  by  it  in  various  forms. 
First,  there  is  the  fruit,  which,  when  ripe,  is 
as  large  as  an  ordiuaiy  apple,  many  hun- 
dreds of  which  are  developed  on  the  s.ng  e 
branch  produced  by  this  tree.  Next  there 
is  the  trunk  of  the  tree  and  its  contents,  it 
it  be  split  longitudinally  at  the  time  when 
the  flower  branch  is  just  .about  to  burst  liom 
the  enveloping  spathe,  a  large  q»|in  f  f 
soft,  pith-like  substance  is  found  withm  it. 
Tliis  is  treated  like  the  cassava,  and  fur- 
nishes a  sort  of  bread  called  ynriima. 

Drink  is  also  obtained  from  the  ltd  palm. 
From  the  trunk  is  drawn  a  sap,  wlueli, 
like  that  of  the  maguey  or  great  American 
aloe,  can  be  fermented,  and  then  it  becomes 
..'!__.:..„   :„   „.,oiiHr      Another   kind   of 


more  extraordinary,  because  in  former  days 
the  "Warau  had  no  iron  tools,  and  it  is  not 
easy  to  find  a  tree  that  will  at  the  same  time 
furnish  all  the  necessaries  of  his  life,  and  bo 
of  such  a  cluu-acter  that  it  can  he  ^yorked  by 
the  rude  stone  implements  which  the  Warau 
had  to  use  before  ho  obtaiued  iron  from  the 

white  men.  .        .      ,.,..,     itt„ 

It  may  readily  be  imagined  that  the  Wa- 
raus  wlio  inhabit  this  strange  region  are 
lower  in  the  scale  of  civilization  than  those 
who  live  (m  dry  land,  and,  to  use  the  words  of 
Humboldt,  "  in  the  lowest  gr.ades  of  man  s 
development  we  find  the  existence  of  an  en- 
tire race  dependent  upon  almost  a  single 
tree,  like  certain  insects  which  are  confined 
to  p'arlieular  portions  of  a  flower." 


The  Waraus  are  not  the  only  lake  dwellers 
of  Southern  America.  At  the  extreme  north 
of  this  half  of  the  continent  there  is  a  prov- 
ince which  derives  its  name  from  the  mode 
of  life  adopted  by  the  savage   tribe  which 
dwells  upon  the  waters  of  a  lake.    On  the 
north-western  coast  of  Venezuela  there  is  a 
large  gulf,  called  the  Gulf  of  Maracaibo,  the 
nameliaving  been  given  to  Uby  the  Sp.in.sh 
discoverers  in  honor  of  a  native  chief  whom 
they  met  on  its  shores.    Close  to  the  fiult, 
ami  only  separated  from  it  by. a  narrow,  is  a 
vast  frc-sh-water  lake,  fed  by  the  s  reams 
that  pour  from  the  mountains  which  sur- 
round it.    The  shape  of  this  lake  has  been 
well  compared  to  that  of  a  .fws-li'^rP;  ^itU 
a  rather  elongated  neck,  and  the  'lepth  ot 
its  water  varies  in  a  most  remarkable  nian- 

"^From  the  sides  the  bottom  of  the  lake 
shelves  almost  imperceptibly  for  a  g»-'-at  \"8- 
tance,  so  that  at  a  distance  of  two  or  thiee 
miles  from  the  shore,  a  man  would  be  able 
to  walk  with  his  head  above  the  surface. 
Suddenly,  and  without  the  least  warning, 
the  bed  of  the  lake  dips  into  almost  un- 
fathomable depths,  so  that,  though  a  man 


]^o,  can  be  fermented,  and  then  it  iK^onios   ---'-'^,-,^,;a,;,erged  above  his  waist, 
iiitoxicating  in  qmUjty.    Ano  hen    kmd  o     m^^^  ^^,^^^^  .  ^.^  -to,  w^^ter  so 


imoxicaiing  lu  .1.K...V',  --,■.-  .  ,  .,, 
drink  is  procured  from  tlie  iriiit  of  the  it.l 
whicli  is  bruised,  thrown  i.^*o  -yater  and 
allowed  to  ferment  for  a  while.  W  hen  ftr- 
montation  has  proceeded  to  a  suflcieut  ex- 
tent, the  liquor  isstr.ained  throu^rh  a  sieve 
made  of  ltd  fibre,  and  is  thus  ready  for  con- 

''"tK' small  amount  of  clothing  required 
bv  the  Warau  is  .also  obtained  from  Uie 
ltd  the  membrane  of  the  young  leat  being 
stripped  olf  and  woven  into  a  simple  lao- 

From  fhe  same  tree  the  Warau  obtains  all 
his  furniture.  Bows,  arrows,  and  sircars  are 
made  from  its  leaf-stems,  the  canoe  in  which 


a  single  steV  will  plunge  him  into  water  so 
deep  that  the  tallest  spire  ever  built  would 
be  plunged  far  below  the  surface. 

Over  the  surface  of  this  lake  dwell  nu- 
merous human  beings,  and,   even  at    the 
nrc-ent  diiv,  when  the  number  of  the  inhab- 
tants  has-been  much  decreased,  upon  its 
waters  are  no  less  than  four  large  villages 
beside  numerous  detached  dwelhugs  f<)rmed 
'  in  the  various  hays  which  indent  Us  shores. 
The  reason  for  thus  .abandoning  the  dry 
land  and  taking  to  the  water  is  «  v"J  .3- 
ous  one  and  m.ay  be  summed  up  in  a  single 
X  '- nmsquitoes.     These  tiny  but  mos 
annoving  insects  are  found  in  clouds  around 


icn   annoviiig  mai-v;"--'  "'^  ■"" n,.:„„  k«. 

,.goesfi;diingis  made  fVom  a  ^^'X^l^l^^^i^^X^^^oS'^Cl^ 
trmik,  and  the  lines  and  nets  are  both  fr-  ^'f^J^i'J^^j^^S  respite  from  their  .atUieks. 
uished  from  the  same  tree,  as  is  ,«'%  '"^   '^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

string  of  which  his  hammoek  •«  'Jiade.  T  at ,  f  "^^^j^'f^,;  ^ion  that  fdnges  the  shore 
the  one  single  tree  should  be  able  to  supply  |  '"^^^'^'^^  ^„j  ^^t  being  very  enduring  of 
all  the  wants  of  au  eniirc  populatiuc  10  tnc  ■.  01  uie  iius..,  «  _       ./ 

6t 


1270 


GUIANA. 


wing,  are  obliged  to  rest  nt  intervals  in  their 
flight.  Tlicy  therefore  keep  to  the  shore, 
ami  do  not  vimtiiro  to  any  great  distance 
over  the  water.  Knowing  this  characteris- 
tic of  tlie  insect,  the  natives  manage  to  evade 
them  by  malcing  their  dwellings  behind  the 
range  of  the  mosquito's  llight. 

In  building  these  curious  habitations,  the 
lake  dweller  of  Maracaibo  is  forced  to  em- 
ploy a  greater  skill  in  architecture  than  is 
needed  by  the  Waraus  of  the  Orinoco  delta. 
In  that  muddy  delta,  formed  by  the  alluvium 
washed  down  by  the  river,  the  itd  palm 
abounds,  and  forms  natural  pillars  for  the 
liouse;  but  the  Lake  Maracaibo  furnishes 
no  such  assistance,  and  the  native  archi- 
tect is  therefore  obliged  to  drive  piles  into 
the  bed  of  the  lake  in  order  to  raise  his 
floor  above  the  level  of  the  water. 

It  is  evidently  needful  that  these  piles 
should  be  made  of  wood  which  will  not  per- 
ish by  tlie  action  of  the  water,  and  upon  the 
shores  of  the  lake  grows  a  tree  which  sup- 
plies precisely  the  kind  of  timber  that  is 
required.  It  is  one  of  the  numerous  iron- 
wood  trees,  and  its  scientific  name  is  Guia- 
cum  arboreum.  It  is  a  splendid  tree,  rising 
to  the  height  of  a  hundred  feet  or  so,  and 
having  wood  so  hard  that  it  will  turn  the 
edge  of  an  axe.  Tlie  natives,  however, 
manage  to  fell  these  trees,  to  cut  them  into 
proper  lengths,  and  to  drive  them  firmly 
into  the  bed  of  the  lake,  where  they  become 
even  stronger  by  submersion,  being  covered 
in  course  of  years  with  an  incrustation  of 
lime,  which  makes  them  look  as  if  they  had 
been  actually  converted  into  stone. 

On  these  piles  arc  laid  cross-beams  and 
plnnks  of  lighter  wood,  and  when  a  strong 
roof  and  light  walls  have  been  added,  the 
house  is  complete.     All  the   parts  of   the 


house  are  lashed  together  with  green  sipo, 
which  contracts  when  dry,  and  binds  the 
various  portions  as  with  bands  of  iron. 

As  has  been  already  mentioned,  numbers 
of  these  houses  are  gathered  together  into 
villages.  When  the  Spaniards  first  entered 
the  Gulf  of  Maracaibo,  and  came  within 
view  of  the  lake,  they  were  struck  with 
amazement,  at  these  habitations,  and  called 
the  place  Venezuela—  i.  e.  Little  Venice  — 
a  name  which  has  since  been  extended  to 
the  whole  of  the  lar^e  province  which  is 
now  known  by  that  title. 

It  is  on  this  lake  that  the  gourd  system 
of  duck  catching  is  carried  to  the  greatest 
perfection.  Great  quantities  of  ducks  fre- 
quent its  waters,  but  they  are  shy  of  man, 
and  will  not  allow  him  to  come  near  them. 
The  natives,  however,  manage  to  catch 
them  by  hand,  without  even  employing  a 
snare.  They  take  a  number  of  large  gourds, 
scrape  out  the  inside,  and  set  them  floating 
on  the  lake.  At  first  the  timid  birds  arc 
afraid  of  the  gourds  and  avoid  tlum,  but 
after  a  while  they  become  accustomed  to 
them,  and  allow  them  to  float  freely  among 
their  ranks. 

The  Indian  then  takes  a  similar  gourd 
and  puts  it  over  his  head,  having  previously 
cut  a  couple  of  holes  through  which  ho  can 
see.  He  slips  quietly  into  the  water,  and 
makes  his  way  toward  the  duck,  taking  care 
to  keep  the  whole  of  his  body  submerged. 
As  soon  as  he  gets  among  them,  he  gra-sps 
the  nearest  duck  by  the  legs,  jerks  it  under 
water,  and  ties  it  to  his  girdle,  where  it  is 
soon  drowned.  He  then  makes  his  way  to 
another  duck,  and,  if  an  ex])eriencod  hand, 
will  capture  as  many  as  he  can  carry,  and 
yet  not  alaxm  th«  survivors. 


CHAPTER  CXXXV. 


MEXICO. 


'  I 


HISTORY  —  BELIGIOK —  ART. 


—  CAPABILITIES  OF  THK  COUNTUY. 


Bkfore  passing  to  the  North  American 
tribes,  a  brief  notice  must  be  taken  of  Mex- 

At  tlic  present  day  this  land  is  possessed 
of  a  sort  of  civilization  which  presents  no 
features  of  interest.  It  is  inliabited  chiefly 
by  a  mixed  people,  the  descendants  of  the 
Siianish  conquerors  having  contraetea  ain- 
ances  with  the  natives,  and  so  produced  a 
hybrid  race,  which  is  continually  retro- 
ci-adins  from  the  white  parentage,  and  as- 
suinin-,'  more  of  the  aboriginal  type. 

The  failure  in  establishin<;  a  Mexican  em- 
pire was  entirely  due  to  the  question  of  race. 
Those   inhabitants   who   were   either   pure 
whiles,  or  in  whom   the  white  blood  pre- 
dominated, were  naturally  desirous  to  have 
a  ruler  of  their  own  kind,  thinking  that  an 
empire  was  the  only  mode  of  civilizing  the 
land,  and  of  nutting  an  end  to  the  constant 
civilwars  and  repeated  changes  of  dynasty 
which  kept  back  their  most  prolific  and  fer- 
tile land  from  developin";  its  full  capabilities. 
But  in  the  great  bulk  of  the  people  the  Indian 
blood  predominated,  and  in  consequence  an 
empire  founded  on  the  principles  of  -Lu- 
ronean  civilization  was  as  irreconci  able  to 
them  as  would  bo  tin;  rule  of    an  Indian  ca- 
cique in  Europe.    Such  an  empire  could  only 
be  held  by  force  of  arms,  and  as  soon  as  the 
bavonet  was  withdrawn  the  empire  fell.    We 
miist,  however,  confine  ourselves  to  Mex- 
ico as  it  was  before  the  Spaniard  crushed 
out  her  civilization  and  destroyed  her  history. 
TiiK  accounts  of  ancient  Mexico  are  most 
nerniexing.    If  the  narratives  of  tb.o,  Span- 
ish conquerors  could  be  implicitly  trusted. 


nothing  would  be  simpler  than  to  condense 
them  into  a  consecutive  history.  But  it  is 
quite  certain  that  these  accounts  were  very 
much  exaggerated,  and  that  the  reality  fell 
very  far  short  of  the  romantic  tales  ol  the 
Spanish  conquerors. 

The  following  is  an  abstract  of  the  nar- 
ratives put   forth  by  the  Spaniards.    The 
capital  was  situated  on  an  island  m  the  midst 
of  a  arge  lake.    It  contained  twenty  thou- 
sand houses,  which  were  of  great  magnifi- 
cence.   In  'the  midst    was  the   emperors 
palace,  built  of  marble  and  jasper,  and  of 
rodigious  extent.  It  was  adorned  with  foun- 
larns,^baths,  and  statues,  «"<!  |.'^«;vallsw^re 
covered  with  pictures  made  of  leatheis.    Not 
only  the  palace,  but  the  houses  of  the  ca- 
c    lies,  possessed  menageries  filled  with  all 
the  animals  of  the  countrv,  togel^her  with 
museums  of  various  natura  curiosities. 

One  of  the  greatest  beauties  of  Mexico  was 

a  large  square,  daily  filled  with  merchants 

who  came  to  buy  and  sell  the  various  works 

of  art  in  gold,  silver,  and  feathers  for  wh  ch 

the   Mexicans  were  famous.    Between  the 

city  and  the   borders  ol  the  lake  a  hundred 

Kusand  canoes  were  eontinually  passing 

besides  which  mode  of   transit    hree  v  s t 

causeways   were  built  on    the  lake.    The 

capital  was  not  the  only  city  of  the  waters, 

for  more  than  fifty  large  cities  and  a  n    Iti- 

tilde  of  villages  were  built  on  the  same  lake. 

The  dress  of  the  nobles  was  mostgorgeous 

and  their  persons  were  adorned  with  gol'l  n"'! 

jewels  in  profusion.    Their  treasuries  were 

■flllcd  with  the  precious  metals,  and  gold  was 

as  plentiful  in  Mexico  a«  copper  m  Europe. 


(1271) 


1272 


MEXICO. 


Ilii 


a  II 


That  these  statements  were  much  ex- 
aggerated is  not  to  bt" doubted,  liutllii'y  wure 
uotpure  luventioiis,imd  hud  all  some  fbun- 
(lulion  in  fact.  For  fxnmiilc,  the  archi- 
tecture of  Ihe  ancient  Alcxicaiis  was  ol  a 
Cyclopean  vastness.as  in  i)rovcd  by  the  ruins 
w'lueh  are  now  almost  the  sole  memorials  of 
a  vanished  system  of  civilization.  Them  is 
a  strong  resemblance  la'twceii  the  archi- 
tecture \)f  Mexico  and  that  of  Egypt,  not 
only  in  its  massiveness,  but  in  the  frequent 
use  of  the  pyramid. 

One  of  these  pyramids  has  the  sides  ex- 
actly twice  as  hnig  as  those  of  the  large 
pyramid  of  Kgvpt.  This  is  the  great  py  raniid 
tower  of  Cholula,  which  had  eight  stories, 
each  forming  aplaltbrm  on  whicli  rested  the 
one  above  it,  so  that  it  closely  resembled  the 
Temple  of  Helusas  described  by  Herodotus. 
The  interior  of  these  jiyriunidal  structures 
was  pierced  with  chambers,  galleries,  and 
flights  of  stairs,  i)robalily  the  habitations  of 
the  priests  who  served  the  temples  and  [ler- 
fornicd  those  terril)ie  human  s;icrilices  which 
formed  an  important  |)art  of  their  religious 
system.  Viaducts  which  crossed  din^p  val- 
leys, bridges,  and  roads,  remains  of  which 
aj-e  still  in  existence,  testily  to  the  vanished 
civilization  of  the  ^Mexican's,  or,  as  some  eth- 
nologists think,  of  a  race  that  preceded 
tliem. 

Specimens  of  the  artistic  skill  of  the  ancient 
Mexicans  miiy  be  seen  in  the  magnilicenl 
Christy  Collection.  There  is,  for  example, 
one  of  the  sacrificial  knives  with  which  (he 
l)riests  laid  open  the  breast  of  tlie  human 
victim  in  order  to  tear  out  the  heart  and 
ofl'er  it  to  the  bh)od-loving  deity  oflhe  temple. 
The  blade  of  this  instrument  is  obsidian,  and 
its  handle  is  i-  marvellous  piece  of  mosaic 
work,  made  of  lapis  lazuli,  ruby,  and  other 
precious stt)nes.  Then  there  are  masks  made 
of  similar  materials,  one  being  a  most  ghastly 
imitation  of  a  human  sknll. 

The  skill  in  feather  working  still  survives, 
and  even  at  tlie  present  day  pictures  are 
lu.ule  so  exquisitely  from  humming-birds' 
f.!atlier8  that  they  seem,  at  a  little  distance, 
to  be  admirahle  sp(Himens  of  enamel. 

The  courage  of  the  ancient  Mexicans  was 
very  great.  Tliey  opposed  their  naked 
breasts  to  the  mail-dad  invaders,  and  their 
comparativelv  feeble  weapons  to  the  dreaded 
lire-arms.  liven  the  liorse,  which  at  lirst 
struck  terror  into  them  as  a  supernatural 
being,  soon  ceased  to  be  an  object  of  dread, 
and  there  is  a  story  that  they  captured  a 
horse  in  battle,  stabled  it  in  a  temple,  and 
treated  it  as  a  god,  feeding  it  with  daintily 
dressed  chickens  and  similar  dishes,  until  the 
poor  beast  was  starved  in  the  midst  of  plenty. 

The  conduct  of  the  Aztecs  in  destroying 
their  once  venerated  Emperor  Montezuma, 
because  he  yielded  to  the  Spaniards,  and  the 
calm  endurance  of  his  warlike  successor 
Gnatemozin,  when  stretched  on  the  tiery 
rack,  aro  sullicient  iustanccs  of  the  courage 


possessed  by  the  Mexicans  when  Cortez  camo 
into  the  coimlry. 

Tlu^  real  pros"periiy  of  ]M(^xico  is  to  come. 
There  is  every  capal)ilily  in  the  country, 
which  is  fertile  in  many  valuable  pro- 
ductions,—  eattle  and  liorses,  for  exiiinplo, 
both  of  which,  im  latioiis  from  Europe, 
have  miiltii)lied  in  .^i  aslonishing  manner, 
and  may  at  solium  time  supply  half  lOuroiio 
withche;!))  food,  hides,  and  beasts  of  biM'den._ 

Insect  lif(^  is  idmost  as  valuable  as  that  of 
the  higher  and  larger  animals.  The  co- 
chineal insect  reproduces  itself  in  vast 
numbers,  and,  large  as  is  the  trade  in  this 
valuable  insect,  it  could  be  extended  almost 
indelinitely.  There  is  no  trouble  in  breed- 
ing the  insect,  no  risk,  and  scarcity  any 
capiliil  required.  It  feeds  upon  the  prickly 
pear,  a  )ilaiil  u  liich  springs  up  luxuiiaully 
if  but  a  leaf  Ik'  stuck  in  the  grouiKl. 

It  is  indeed  so  luxuriant,  lliat  riders  aro 
Ibrced  to  employ  a  peculiar  kind  of  stirrup, 
in  order  to  prevent  their  feet  from  being 
riddled  with  the  needle-like  thorns  with 
which  the  plant,  the  leaf,  and  fruit  an;  cov- 
ered. One  of  these  curious  stirrups  is  shown 
in  illustration,  Is'o.  1,  page  I'itio,  (Irawii  from 
my  own  specinu'iis,  which  was  brought  from 
Mexico  by  Sir  F.  Wellu'rell. 

It  is  cut  from  a  solid  block  of  wood,  and 
is  therefore  exceedingly  lieavy.  A  hole  is 
cut  in  the  back  of  the  stirrii]),  into  which 
the  foot  can  be  thrust  nearly  half  way. 
Owing  lo  the  size  and  weight  ol'this  curious 
implement,  ihe  prickly  jicars  are  pushed 
aside  as  {hv  rider  passes  among  them,  and 
thus  the  foot  and  ankle  are  protected  from 
the  slender  but  formidable  thorns  wilh  which 
they  are  armed.  The  stirrup  is  sometimes 
put  to  another  use,  and  emiiloyed  as  a  rough 
and  ready  drinking  ciqi.  The  front,  of  the 
implement  is  covered  with  bold  and  grace- 
ful patterns,  the  ('Ifect  of  wliich  is  often 
lieightened  by  means  of  color.  In  my  own 
specimen  they  ».re  colored  with  blue,  acar- 
Ict,  and  black. 

As  to  the  veg(!tahle  produc'ts  of  Mexico, 
they  are  too  numerous  to  mention,  but  the 
lirincipal  are  the  indigo,  the  chocolate,  and 
the  vanilliu 

Then  it  is  as  prolific  in  mineral  as  in  ani- 
mal wealth,  and  in  the  hands  of  an  energetic 
and  industrious  peojjle,  the  yield  of  co|)j)er, 
iron,  gold,  silver,  and  other  metals  might  be 
almost  indelinitely  extended.  In  all  these 
productions  comparatively  little  labor  is  re- 
quired. Nature  gives  alniost  gnituitously 
tliose  privileges  which  in  other  lands  cannot 
be  obtained  without  the  expenditure  of  time, 
labor,  and  money. 

The  past  civilization  of  Mexico  has  van- 
ished never  to  return.  Its  present  is  a 
comparative  failure.  The  future  is  yet  to 
be  seen,  but  it  may  even  eclinse  the  van- 
ished jjlories  of  the  past  if  guided  by  tlioso 
who  understand  the  epoch,  the  country,  and 
the  race. 


11^ 


CHAPTER  cxxxn. 

THE  NOHTU  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 

GOV  EIINMENT  —  C;iTHT0M9. 

„a       f.ATI  IN'S  PBSClUrTION  OF   A  OKOW 

I-AINTiai  UAFFLED  — DUES9    OJ-     »" 
CATIOM. 


inhal.itod  from  tlu.  extr..,ne  south  to  ex 

nv.uix  <>'  y\'.  "7^  :^„"ni.ui  of  tl.e  extreme 
''SHolovof  the  .kin  is  doop  coivpcr  mU 

atmosphere  of  the    uts.xne 
ilS^'^ir'lilSnJc'^rc^^I^ef^^lyeraai- 
^,td  wHh  twcLers.    Sometimes  an  old  man 


:;;:::iS':^y--'^'''^"'-'^-^«"^"'=^"'' 

any  «rciit  leni^th.  fontrasts  strongly 

rem;irkiil>le  for  tlie  eNu.j  j       ^  ^,^j. 

,nent  of  tho^r    !=^^«-'   ^j^^^i^/'^,,'  ground  hh 
wiuriors  aetimlly    tr;nl«  "  ^  "      *-  ^i^ 

tl„.y  walk,     n-n^^;     t"^^«  U,oir  chief 

on  tills  I'''*'"  ''V  '^'  ,„'  ,,f  T  on"hair  and  \m 

rcTcivd  hotl;  h>s  ';^;"* ,  \J  "s"ri  *  Tlie  hair 

;::;;^,tm.veninei>r«ml.n,b^_^^         ^^^^ 

ITo,  did  "<"'  »1"^;;^\,    „^^F  eeremony 
Icnsth  except  on  "' caMO"'^  ^^^^^ 

,„,t  kept  it  caret.dly  wonnd  w  Ui  a^^^^^^^^^ 

h.ath.u-  strap,  ^^^l^V^^^  '^  ,  ^lny  this  bun- 
weighing  several  P  jf  "j^A' ^./or  in  the 
,llo   was  carruHl  nnuer   i  occasions 

bosom  of  his  r"b<-.  l;"*;  "'^  f^^  length,  and 
the  hair  was  l*^*  /  "f  V^^  ^  ,,  S  grelse  and 
carefully  «"^"'.f  »„^' ;;„  „rou  id  fTevoral  feet 
SSnirown^rt"  ^proudly  stalked 

^'<k"e^era|  other  ^^^-^^^'S^^^ 


i  I 


(1273) 


1274 


THE  Noirrri  amkkkjan  Indians. 


thoy  nro  cxoccdinfrly  proud,  nnd  those  Indi- 
viduiils  whose  locks  "do  nol  rmcli  tho  Htiiiid- 
lu-d  of  lu'iuily  iiri!  in  (lie  liabit  of  Hiilifiii); 
falso  Imir  to  thoir  own  tri'sscH. 

Tlio  Mimdiins,  of  wlioiii  wo  shiill  hoar 
imich  ill  llio  ooiirso  of  this  imrrivtivo,  Ihu 
Moiix,  and  (ho  Miimlaroos,  aro  ail  distin- 
jriiishod  Ity  this  poouliarity,  thoiij,'ti  iioiu^  of 
thoin  pcsso8H  it  ho  ahiindantlv  as  llio  (!rowH. 
Wlifii  Mr.  ("atlin  was  stayinf^  aiiu)ii>j;  th(! 
MiiuUaroi'S,  a  party  of  Crows  <'aiiio  to  visit 
tiicin.  and  oxcitod  tho  adiiiiralioii  of  thoir 
hosts  by  thoir  ina<;iu(lcoiit  liair.  Ono  of 
them  pos.sossod  so  pi(;liir('H(|Uo  an  appoar- 
aiu'o  (liat  tlio  artist  travollor  traiislorrcd 
)iin»  at  oiu'o  to  canvas,  and  tlu;  onf,'raver  has 
roprodiicod  tho  skoloh  for  tho  reader  on  the 
iL'Hlth  pa«e.  The  lollowinj,'  is  Mr.  C'atlin's 
account  of  thi.s  .splendid  si)ocinicn  of  the 
Norlli  American  Indian:  — 

"  I  think  I  have  said  that  no  jmrt  of  llio 
luinian  race  could  present  a  more  ])ietii- 
re.<(pio  and  tlirillin<j;  ai)pearance  on  horse- 
I)aeii  than  a  party  of  ('rows  riujijeil  out  in 
all  their  i)liimes  and  trappin^js  — pdlopiiif,' 
al)Out  and  yelling'  in  what  they  call  a  war 
parade,  i.  r.  in  a  .sort  of  toiiriiani'eiit  or  nhain 
lij;ht, pasaiii),'  rapidly  throii-^'h  tho  evolutions 
of  battle,  and  vauntiii;,'  forth  the  wonderful 
character  of  tlieir  military  exploits.  This  is 
nil  amusemont  of  whieli  they  aro  exces- 
sively fond;  and  jjreat  preparations  aro  in- 
Vrtrial)ly  made  for  these  oi'caKional  show.s. 

"  No  tribe  of  Indians  on  tho  continent  are 
bettor  abl.i  to  produce  a  pleasiiij,'  and  thrill- 
u\<i  odbct  In  those  scenes,  not  any  more  vain, 
and  eonsecpiently  better  prepared  to  draw 
pleasure  and  satislhction  from  them,  than 
the  Crows.  They  may  be  justly  said  to  be 
(he  most  beautifully  clad  ot'  all  "the  Indians 
in  these  rosions,  and,  brin,<,'ing  from  the 
l)ase  of  tlio  Rocky  IMountains  a  line  and 
spirited  breed  of  the  wild  horses,  have  been 
able  to  create  a  jj;reat  sensation  amoiifi;  the 
Miiiatarecs,  who  have  been  payini,'  them  all 
attention  and  all  honors  for  so'im?  days  jiiist. 
"From  amoni;;st  these  sliowy  follows  wlio 
have  been  oiitertaiiiing  us.  and  jdeasiiiiir 
themselves  with  their  (,'xtniordinary  feats 
of  horsemanship,  I  liave  selected  one  of  the 
most  eonsj)ieuous,  and  transferred  him  and 
his  liorse,  with  arms  and  trappin>,'s,  as  faith- 
fully as  I  could  to  the  canvas,  for  tho  infor- 
niaiion  of  tho  world,  who  will  learn  vastly 
more  from  lines  and  colors  than  they  coulll 
from  oral  or  written  delineations. 

'■  I  havo  painted  him  a.s  he  sat  for  me, 
balanced  on  his  leapiu}?  wild  horse,  witli  his 
shield  and  quiver  shin),'  on  his  back,  and  liis 
long  lance,  decorated  with  the  eagle's  (piills, 
trained  in  his  right  hand.  His  shirt  and  his 
loijgings,  and  moccasins  were  of  the  moun- 
tiiu-goat  skins,  beautifully  dressed;  and 
their  seams  everywhere  fringed  witli  a  pro- 
fusion of  scalp-locks  taken  from  tlie  lumds  of 
Ilia  enemies  slain  in  battle.  Ilis  long  liair, 
whicli  reached  almost  to  the  grouud  wuiiu 


he  was  standing  on  his  feet,  was  now  lifted 
in  the  air,  and  lloating  in  black  waves  ov4'r 
thehipsof  his  lca|iiiigehnrger.  On  his  bead, 
and  over  his  sliining  black  locks,  h(<  wore  a 
magnitlceiit  cnssi,  or  headdress,  made  of  tho 
((iiills  of  the  war  eaghi  and  ermiiKi  skins,  ami 
on  his  Ikh-mc's  head  was  anolher  of  e(|iial 
beauty,  and  precisely  (ho  same  in  pattern 
and  material. 

"  Added  to  thesct  ornaments  (hero  wcro 
yet  many  others  which  contributed  to  his 
pictures(iuo  appearance,  and  amongst  them 
a  beautiful  m-tting  of  various  colors,  that 
completely  covered  and  almost  obscured  llio 
horse's  head  and  neck,  and  extended  ovi'r  il.s 
back  and  its  hips,  termiiialiiig  in  a  most  ex- 
travagant and  niagnillirent  crupper,  em- 
bossed and  fringed  with  rows  ol  bcauliftil 
shells  and  porcupine  riiiillsof  various  colors. 
"With  all  these  picturesiiuo  ornaiiiciils 
and  trappings  upon  and  about  him,  wilii  a 
noble  (iguri%  and  the  bold  stamp  of  a  wild 
ijinthman  on  his  face,  added  to  the  rage  and 
spirit  of  his  wild  horse,  in  tiiiii!  with  whoso 
lea|)s  li(!  issued  his  startling  though  ainolli- 
ered  yeljis,  as  he  gracefully  leaiutd  to  and 
Iro,  leaving  his  plume  and  Ids  phimage,  his 
long  locks  and  his  fringes,  to  lloal  in  tho 
wind,  he  galloped  about;  and  felt  (ixceeding 
lileasure  in  displaying  the  extraordinary  skill 
which  a  lifetime  of  practice  and  expernnciit 
had  furnished  him  in  the  b(>autiful  art  of  rid- 
ing and  managing  his  horse,  as  Well  as  in  dis- 
idaying  (o  advantago  his  weaiions  and  orna- 
ments of  dress,  by  giving  them  the  grace  of 
motion,  as  they  were  brandished  in  tlie  air 
and  lloating  in  the  wind." 

Althougii  the  hair  is  generally  black,  it 
someliiiu^s  takes  various  colors,  the  Mandaii 
tribe  being  tho  most  remarkabli^  for  this  pc;- 
culiarity.  Sonu^  of  them,  even  though  (|uilo 
young,  have  the  hair  of  a  bright  silver  gray, 
or  oven  while.  The  iiu'ii  dislike  this  kind  of 
hair  in  their  own  sex,  and  when  it  occurs  try 
to  disguise  it  by  a  plentiful  use  of  red  or  black 
earth  mixed  with  glue.  Tho  women,  on  the 
contrary,  aro  vbiy  proud  of  such  hair,  and 
lake  every  opportunity  of  displaying  its 
beauties,  (ieiierally  a  woman  wears  (ho 
hair  in  two  plails,  "which  are  aUowed  to  fall 
down  tlu!  back  over  on  each  side  of  tho 
lioad;  but  when  tli(!y  wish  to  appear  to  the 
best  advantage,  they  rapidly  unplait  it,  ))iiK3 
their  lingers  through  it  in  tlu;  manner  of  a 
comb,  and  S])read  it  as  widely  as  possible 
over  the  shoulders.  They  always  part  it  in 
the  middle  and  fill  tho  lino  of  parting  with 
red  iiaint. 

Tlio  silver  gray  hair  Is  rcmnrkaLlc  for  ita 
coarseness,  in  which  respect  it  seems  like  a 
horse's  mano,  while  th(!  dark  colored  hair  is 
quite  soft.  Among  tho  Mandans  almost 
every  shade  of  hair  is  found  between  white, 
brown,  and  black,  but  there  is  never  tlio 
least  tinge  of  red  in  it. 

Tho  Mandan  men  have  a  curious  habit  of 
dividing  their  long  hair  iato  iiat  trosses,  two 


OOVKHNMKNT  OF  TIIK  TIUUES. 


lars 


virtiio  on.iH  oin.^fl,  ii«  i>«H  'i  >'»•«•"; ''"""""' 


Tfii-  L'ovornmont  of  thoHO  tribos  Ih  of  a 

nuviiiio.i  for  ii.o  post  lu,  ^  "\!' v'':;:' ^  J  [.Lr,  nty .I.vh«  "'«"••'  I'l^''^''^^'^':!'''"'  Vj;  l 


HU 
1 


It 


nil 


of   .•.ii.;il   pow.u-    iH'iiiK    ii|M«".">I'mI.  <.ii<i  <'n 


t\V    (Mllllll     lowrr     iMiiiK     ..ri- >        ,   ,, 

whom  mil  a''>>«  ivll  miitlorH  of  war,  .lu.l  I" 
SluTc-S^^^       aaminislrallou  of  clo.ncHlic 

i"'ln;a.a  happens  that,  '^''i-;;«!vi;-;';:i;;! 

chi.^f  of  111"  trihi",  U  noinmail.v  111"  i^'  ',^; '" 
liVl.W  Iho  IhHt  plaiuNlhc  rnil  power  iicH  in 
t  1  m..-  n.l    r  t.ir.l  chiof,  wlu.  paVH  to  h.s 
HI.;.' -^  re  very  <l«f.,rouco  wl.i.-h  i«  due  to  h.s 
3tion,  1ml  '«  praclieully   I  lie   leader  am 
;  m!na;;.ler  of  td  trihe.    ^H-  « --     -^ 
Hmmp'ihe  Mamliiiiswhen  Mr.  (-atliu  visiu  (i 
tl  em      Tl.e   h.«a.l   ehief.   tliou^^h    a   nmu  o 
ftWl  I  eB  iiml  oonni«e,  uiul  Iherelore,  respeete-l 
SS;.lhyiUe^.eople,wasl.y.....-a- 

au.l  overl..M.rin«  'l';'""'""" ;, ,/ '  V  ,  ,f ' ;,'  , , 
of  llie  trihe  WM  the  seeoiul  «^liiet,  nam.  o 
lil  '„  ,  1  .vi  i  c  th.',  Ko'ir  MeiirH,  a  name 
SKif^t'VonIanes..|aniali..n..ftUe 

::,l;;;i;,^h^ai..  U...,  he  e..m,  .M  le^^ 


S,:/hre.;.:;in..;i...«yir.a^:;;-;-;;:;;^^ 


;::;;.:J!rw;i..  liiue. ...... iuon;n-. - 

!:-l;:r:rn:hr\v!n;!es7;f  .oon.u^^^ 

„m."H  with  luft^of  hair  Uik.M  Ironi  the  heml 
"''HSmXM'i..o«e<-oat.leHe..n.linKtotho 
kn  .  s    m.  'n-nu.n.mt...l  In  a  Kin.i.ar  miu.n.'r 
w    1     .■alli<-''H  or  H<-alp-lo.'kH,  an.l.,  wh.Mi  U 
w   er    an  p.^rforn...!  any  .■onHp.|M....m  l^it 
rvalor,  h.    niak.'.H  a   ru.l..  painting'  of  Ihh 
v.mt     TI,iHansw..r«  the  Han...  pm-po«e  as 
1^     Vieloi-ia  (!r..HH   an.on«   onrm'  veH.     Al- 
,„):      I  in  ••..nfer.-e.l  hy  tl...  ma.,  l""'*;;'    ''J 
■^  n„  viin-ihlc      No   man  would  <lar.!  to 

';:3"S^^t'S.;.m;a-i''<vai..rwi.i.i 

;;£lm.l,.e.-ior,n....,ush.;wonl.lh.^olua- 
the 


he 


:;;".;;iet; ..«  .;anm.t  -"M-|  a -•;«  ;;X>^i^   -  p^l, ;;:  J  who,,  a  .liun  han  mu.ceeded  hi 

follow  ..im  to  hattle,  V'/JiV?...'',?..'"'"' A„v  of  I  ki.llnu'  aV'ri/./ty 

of 


i  ' 


'-  i 


'"'rhVSefs  have,  as  a  n.l.-.  no  a.lyant.iR.^ 
ovS   he  other  ......nbers. .f  the  ti^^'-P-;; 

of  walth.  A  ehl.'f  would  Hoon  ..>«<)  th.^ 
IpulS  on  which  hiH  intlnenee  .lep.M.d. 
If  ho  woria  to  uniii 


n  niH  iniiii<.">>'  "•>'■'•■• 
,  wcailh  for  hiiusoif.    ii> 


:ith.:;eknim,U«iHJ"HHlej.d.     iM^^ 

i'"!!:!i^,rr?:':;:;Z^nr;S  much  prized 


1276 


THE  NORTH  AMEllICAN  INDIANS. 


scalp.  Some  of  tho  most  vftliant  hunters 
have  killed  several  of  these  animals,  and  it  is 
a  point  of  honor  with  tlum  to  appear  on 
great  occasions  with  all  their  spoils,  so  that 
thoy  have  to  exereiso  considerable  ingenu- 
ity, and  display  some  forty  huge  claws  about 
their  persons  in  a  sutflciently  conspicuous 
manner. 

All  the  dro«B  of  a  North  American  Indian 
is  made  of  skin,  mostly  that  of  the  deer,  and 
in  dressing  it  the  natives  are  unrivalled,  con- 
triving to  make  a  leather  which  is  aa  soft  .as 
s'lk,  i.s  nearly  white,  and  which  may  be  wet- 
tod  and  drieJl  any  number  of  times  without 
becoming  harsh. 

The  skin  is  first  washed  in  gtrong  lye, 
made  of  wood-ashes  and  water,  so  as  to 
loosen  the  hair,  which  is  then  scraped  oft'. 
The  hide  is  next  stretched  tightly  upon  the 
ground  upon  a  frame,  or  by  means  of  a 
number  of  wooden  pegs  driven  llnnly  into 
the  ground.  Jn  this  position  it  remains  for 
several  days,  tho  brains  of  the  animal  being 
ppread  thickly  upon  it,  and  rubbed  into  it. 
The  next  process  is  to  scrape  it  carefully 
with  a  blunt  knifo  made  of  the  shoulder- 
blade  of  the  bison,  the  native  tanner  press- 
ing heavily  upon  it,  and  scraping  every  por- 
tion of  tho  hide.  • 

The  process  by  which  it  is  made  capable  of 
resisting  tho  effects  of  water  haa  yet  to  be 
undergone.  A  hole  is  made  in  the  ground, 
and  a  quantity  of  rotten  wood  is  piled  in  it, 
so  that  when  lighted  it  will  continue  to 
smoulder  for  a  long  time,  and  produce 
smoke,  but  no  flame.  Around  the  hole 
are  stuck  a  number  of  sticks,  which  are 
then  tied  together  at  the  top,  so  as  to  make 
the  framework  of  a  sort  of  tent.  The,  wood 
is  then  set  on  lire,  the  hides  are  placed 
within  the  tent,  and  over  the  sticks  are 
wrapped  other  hides  carefully  fastened  to- 
gether, 80  as  to  prevent  the  smoke  ft'om 
escaping.  For  several  days  the  hides  arc 
left  in  the  smoke,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
that  time  they  have  assumed  tho  peculiar 
quality  which  has  been  described.  The 
whole  of  the  processes  arc  conducted  by 
women,  manual  labor  being  beneath  the  dig- 
nity of  a  man  and  a  warrior. 

Tho  headdress  of  a  North  American  In- 
dian deserves  some  attention.  Variable  as 
are  the  modes  of  dressing  the  hair,  no  war- 
rior, ever  wears  his  hair  short.  By  so  doing 
he  would  be  taking  an  unfair  advantage  of 
an  adversary.  When  a  warrior  is  killed,  or 
pven  totally  disabled,  the  successful  adver- 
sary has  a  right  to  take  his  scalp,  in  which 
he  would  bo  much  impeded  if  tho  hair 
was  short.  Moreover,  he  would  lose  the 
honorable  trophy  with  which  he  Is  entitled 
to  fringe  his  garments.  So  for  a  warrior  to 
wear  his  hair  short  would  bo  a  tacit  ac- 
knowledgment that  he  was  afraid  of  losing 
his  scalp,  and  all  the  men  thoreftiro  always 
icavo  at  least  one  lock  of  hair  attacfaeiJ  to  the 
«rowa  of  the  bead. 


The  process  of  scalping  will  bo  presently 
described,  when  we  treat  of  war. 

A  great  chief  always  wears,  in  addition  to 
the  ordinary  headdress  of  the  warrior,  a 
plume  of  eagle  feathers,  by  which  he  is  made 
as  consi)icuous  as  possible,  so  that  tho 
enemy  shall  have  no  difticulty  in  recog- 
nising him.  The  form  of  i)liune  varies  ac- 
cording to  the  different  tribes.  That  of  the 
Crows  may  be  seen  in  an  illustration  on 
page  1284.  That  of  the  Mandans  is  repre- 
sented on  the  following  page.  It  is  made 
of  a  long  strip  of  ermine,  to  which  are 
fastened  the  quill  feathers  of  the  war  eagle, 
so  aa  to  form  a  crest  beginning  at  the  back 
of  the  head  and  descending  to  the  feet. 
These  quills  are  so  valuable  that  a  perfect 
tail  of  tho  war  eagle  is  considered  to  be 
worth  a  first-rate  horse. 

In  the  present  instance  two  horns  may  nc 
seen  projecting  from  the  headdref^s.  This 
is  a  decoration  very  rarely  seen,  and  only 
conferred  by  the  chief  and  council  upon  tho 
most  distinguished  warriors.  Even  the 
head  chief  will  not  be  able  to  assume  them 
unless  by  the  general  vote  of  the  council, 
and  in  tlie  case  of  the  Mandans  the  second 
chief  wore  them,  while  tho  head  chief  was 
not  privileged  to  do  so. 

Even  a  bravo  may  wear  them,  though  ho 
bo  below  the  rank  of  chief. 

Thev  are  made  from  the  horns  of  the  bi- 
son bull,  divided  longitudinally,  scraped 
nearly  as  thin  as  paper,  and  highly  polished. 
They  are  loosely  attached  at  the  base,  so 
that"  thev  can  be  flung  backward  or  forward 
by  the  movement  of  the  head,  and  give  a 
wonderful  animation  to  tho  action  of  the 
wearer  when  he  is  speaking. 

This  elaliorate  headdress  is  veryficldom 
worn,  and  is  only  assumed  on  occasions  of 
special  state,  such  as  public  festivals,  war  pa- 
rados, or  the  visits  ot  other  chiefs.  In  battle 
the  wearer  always  assumes  the  headdress 
by  way  of  challenge  to  the  enemy.  There 
is  good  reason  for  not  always  wearing  this 
dress.  I  have;  worn  the  dress  formerly  used 
by  Mah-to-toh-pa,  and  found  it  to  bo  hot, 
heavy,  and  inconvenient. 

As  a  contrast  to  the  dress  of  a  noted  war- 
rior, we  may  take  that  of  a  mere  dandy,  a  few 
of  whom  are  sure  to  be  found  in  every  tribe. 
They  are  always  remarkable  for  elegance  of 
person  and  effeminacy  of  nature,  having  the 
greatest  horror  of  exposing  themselves  to 
danger,  and  avoiding  equally  the  bear,  the 
bison,  and  the  armed  enemy.  Consequently 
they  mav  not  deck  themselves  with  the  plu- 
mage of  the  war  eagle,  every  feather  of  which 
signiflos  a  warrior  slain  by  the  warrior's  own 
hand.  Neither  may  they  adorn  their  necks 
with  the  claws  of  tho  grizzly  bear,  their  robes 
with  scalp-locks  and  paintings,  nor  their 
bodies  with  the  scarlet  streaks  that  tell  of 
honorable  wounds  received  in  battle. 

Such  ornaments  would  at  onee  be  tr-rn 
irom  them  by  the  indignant  warriors  of  tho 


I 


TlIK  MANDAN   C\U¥.l-    MAU-TO  TOIU'A    ANU   WIFE. 

(Sec  pagfB  Vi76, 1280, 1287.) 


(1277) 


AN  INDIAN  DANDY. 


1979 


the  Hoinl)ro  eu!,'le  nuill«,  »>cai»   tlaws,  ami 
Bcalii-loi'ks  that  nmrk  the  brave. 

T  ...v  sn.-nd  tlicir  whole  hven  hi  IdlcnosH, 
„ni  0^,7^  even  Join  the  athUHic  Kamen  ot 
whlcli  th.'  AmerieanH  are  <"'«•''■''•'  "fy;"!,; 
ff  a.vol.    theh;    whole    eu.;r«.Ht      He 

aa..rnnirnl  ..f  the  r  IH^'r"**;, .  f,     {J"  t  oi- 
Piiiw  four  of  live  hour»  in  niakin>;  im  ir  i"' 

by  the  mirror  tlie  d  ect  ot  various  expriB- 

Bionn  of  i  ouuleuanc  ,  „!„.,  hi  this 

Haviii"  sDcnl  th    whole  morning    n  this 

nltiln,l.» In  rn.iil  nf  my  .loot, ■V>l>'"  °",' , '" 

dresses  and  best  attitudes,  as  if  "  hoP^« 
tl  at  rwould  select  th.nn  '»>* '"fde  «  for  my 
Sanval  It  was  natural  that  I  «ho;Jf^;|«J^^^^^ 
for  their  cosliunc  and  personal  appearance 
were  entirely  more  beautiful  than  anything 
rise  to  be  seen  In  the  village. 

"  Mv  nlau«  were  laid,  and  one  day,  when 
I  hftdi  t   hrough  Willi  all  of  the  head  me. 
wo  were  willing  to  sit  to  be  painted,  and 
Sere  were  two  or  three  of  the  chiefs  loung- 
in^/hi  mv  room,  t  stepped  to  the  door  and 
tarn  ed  mie  of  tliese  fellows  on  the  shoulder 
who  took  the  hint,  evidently  well  pleased 
an    d eli'dited  with  the  signal  and  honor.able 
notice  I  ha.l  at  length  taken  of  bun  and  his 
Se^t^ful  dress.     Readers,  you  cannot  iinag- 
hie  what  was  the  expression  of  gra   tvule 
which  beamed  forth  in  this  poor  fellows 
£  and  how  high  his  heart  beat  with  joy 
„'?,?'  J;l  „i  the^leaof  my  selecting  him  to 


wortblen  whoBC  portraits  hfl  flaw  ranged 
rroii  d  the  room-,  and  by  which  honor  heuii- 
iou  Icdly  conshiered  himself  w.-ll  ,,>.i.l  for 
two  r  hree  *veeks  of  regu  ar  painting,  and 
Sewing  an.l  dressing,  and  "tandmg  alter- 
natdy ...  one  log  and  the  other  at  the  door  of 


face  andhowhignms  neari  uc«.;  "»"■  j-j 
aiidprde  at  theldeaof  my  selecting  him  to 
?"  :L„l;„i  «ion,rRide   of  tho  chicfs  aud 


and  pride  at  the  ideaoi  my  seiuv;""^  ""-  - 
be  immortal  alongside   of  tho  chiefs  and 


"Well  I  placed  him  before  me,  and  a 
canvas  oil  nw  easel,  and  chalkedhi,,.  out  at 
fXu-ngh.  'He  was  truly  a  beHul.tu  sub- 
ll.,.t  ft.r  the  brush,  and  1  was  lllled  w.th  eu- 

^''"tinress  fVom  head  to  foot  was  made  of 
the  skins  of  tho  niountain  goat,  <l"^««;-<\  «o 
eatlv  that  they  were  almost  as  sot t  and 
wltea^  Canton  crape.  Around  the  bottom 
mth  shies  it  was  trimmed  wU  h  .rmi  n.;,  and 
r^^^^^^^^^^^^  of  beautiful  .ly.'s  garnished 

t    n  a  hun.\red  parts.    His  ha  r,  which  was 
,n.'    am"spre.uf  over  his  imck  aud  shoul- 
rs   c"t(  ndlr.g  nearly  to  th.-  ground,  was 
1  ^miibe     back,  an<i  parted  on  his  fore- 
h  ad  like  that  of  a  woman.    He  was  a  tall 
nd  tine  n.  .  ns  with  ease  and  grace  in  his 
,"  mniei  t'^  that  were  worthy  of  "'ttc  v.  casto. 
his  left  hand  he  held  a  beanliful  pipe  m 
,U  -hrht  haii'l  He  plied  bis  fan,  and  on  his 
i    ''wL  at    ched  his  whin  of  ell<:horu  and 
is  Krush,   made  of   ttie    l.ulalos   tail. 
The,-c\vas  no  'ght  about  him  of  the  ternb  c 
S  iiouljht  to  shock  the  Ihtcst  and  chastest 

'"iSrtmiately,  tho  portrait  ;va«  |}0V« 
i.ik,.n  for  the  chiefs  w(>re  so  exeeetling  y 
o'm  1  lie  that  so  contemptible  a  being  should 
oiii  nut  "  """'  ,    '  I     g  themselves  by 

;::i};::\^StahSi^fttiu,hutin.mgr^ 

silence  and  sent  a  message  to  tlie  elkct 
t  a  U-' Mr.  Catli.i  painted  the  portrai  of  so 
Si  ess  a  man,  io  must  destroy  all   the 

,  itinits  of  the  chiefs  and  warriors.  Tbo 
!s  a^^vas  also  given  to  tHo  obnoxious  m- 

ivi.livil  who  at  once  yielded  the  point, 
w£d  consequentially  out  of  the  hut,  a.id 

ook  1  P  bis  old  station  at  the  door  as  .1  ...oth- 
',  g  hafl  happened  to  disturb  his  ..pia^^^^^ 

On  their  feet  the  ^'"'^'^\''''V  an  Xr 
moccasins,  i.  e.  shoes  made  of  soil  li  .^tlier, 
tirsole  of  which  is  no  thicker  than  the 
I  nncr  part.  To  an  Eurojiean  walking  in 
TccX  is  at  first  very  fntigmnj^  on  ac- 
count of  the  habit  of  turning  out  the  toes. 
WhV.n  however,  the  white  man  learns  to  walk 
S  tl  e  nS  clo,  with  his  toes  rather  turned 
1^,  t  soon  finds  that  the  mocca.n  .a  better 

^^^  £f  aU'almost  Intlc^ible 

"'^Thc  dress  of  the  women  is  made  of  the 
same  matevials  as  that  of  «-  "i.m,  and  M^ 
fers  chiefly  lu  >ts  Rreatei    en|    •  .^  „„". 

porcupine  q"j"«.  «^«  J^  ^refon.rof  tattoo- 


1980 


THE  NORTH  AMKUICAN  INDIANS. 


111.1 


ill 


Ion  rubbed  into  tho  puncturoH.  Hoth  doxoii 
mo  f\inii«bc(l  with  largo  rolii'S  nmilc  of  biHon 
skins,  nnd  tlic  innttr  Mdc  of  Uumo  robes  Ih 
often  painted  in  cnrioiiH  piittorns.  Ono  of 
those  rolieH  in  Mr.  Catlin's  colloction.  had  a 
njost  eliU)()i!Ue  IlL'nre  of  tho  nun  in  tho  cen- 
tre, around  u  liich  were  (inures  of  men  and 
ftniinalx,  sbDwiuK  tho  prowess  of  tlio  owner 
botli  in  war  and  Innitinjj;. 

Heads  and  sueli  lilto  ornaments,  obtained 
from  tlie  wliite  men,  aro  much  in  fasliion; 
Imt,  liiiif,'  Ix'font  a  ^lass  or  porcelain  beail 
was  introduced  into  America,  tlio  natives 
h;id  an  ornuint^nt  of  their  own  in.vnnfacture. 
This  is  the  cclebrate<l  wampum,  an  article 
which  is  now  almost  extinct.  It  is  made  of 
fresh  water  sliells,  wliicli  arc  found  on  tho 
borders  of  the  lakes  and  streams.  Thn  tliick 
part  of  the  shell  is  cut  into  cylinders  an  inch 
or  so  in  lengtli,  and  t'.ien  bored  longitudi- 
nally, like  tlie  "  l)U|;lef  "  that  aro  worn  ny  Ku- 
ropean  ladies.  Inde.id,  when  the  shell  is,  lus 
is  mostly  Uio  case,  u  wliitc  one,  the  piece  of 
wampum  looks  aln  ost  exactly  like  a  frag- 
ment of  clay  tobacco-p'pc  stem. 

Tho  wampum  is  cither  strung  liko  beads 


and  worn  round  tho  nock,  or  is  formed  into 
war  belts  lor  the  waist.  It  answers  several 
purjjoses.  In  the  llrsl  place,  it  acts,  like  tho 
cowries  of  Africa,  as  a  subslituto  lor  money, 
a  certain  number  of  hand  brcadllm  being 
tlu!  tlxed  value  of  a  horse,  a  gun,  or  a  robe. 
It  is  also  the  emblem  of  peace  when  pre- 
sented by  ono  chief  to  another,  and,  when 
war  has  ceased  between  two  hostile  tribes,  a 
wampum  bolt  is  presented  ns  a  token  that 
tlie  two  tribes  are  at  peace. 

There  is  no  particidar  beauty  about  tho 
wampum.  If  Ino  reader  will  .break  a  to- 
bacco-pipo  stem  into  pieces  iu>  inch  in 
length  and  string  them  on  a  thread,  be  will 
produce  a  very  good  imitation  of  a  wampum 
necklace.  Its  only  value  lies  in  the  labor 
n  presented  by  it;  and,  as  the  while  men 
have  introduced  tons  of  imitation  wampum 
made  of  porcelain,  which  looks  rather  better 
than  tho  real  article,  and  is  scarcely  one-him- 
dredth  part  of  the  value,  the  veritable  wam- 
pum is  so  completely  extinct  among  many  of 
tho  tribes  that,  if  one  of  tho  natives  should 
wish  to  see  a  string  v/."  wampum,  he  must  go 
to  a  museum  for  that  purpose. 


CIIAPTEH   CXXXVII. 

THE  NORTH  AMEHICAN  INDIANS  -  Continued. 


W  All  — WEAPONS. 
L,7oW  iuH  CAMA^CHKKS  K.O..T  -  BMOKiNO  H0B8EH. 


'•  Kw  "rr.Un".S  nm„...„vrc.  .r«  known 

hilt  Uiev  lead  to  nothing  more   than  sKir 
Sh  S  L  chief  being^nel;oly  .the  leader 


Xndancn"  up  to  the  reddened  p...    and 

t  on  of  his  inomisc.  As  ha«  been  men- 
tioned the  leader  always  wears  every  deco- 
rat"on  to  which  he  is  entitled  so  as  to  make 
Eeif  as  conspicuous  a  mark  as  possible 
vie  he  braves  and  warriors  wear  scarcely 
u  V  CO  bin"  and  have  their  faces  so  dis- 
ced w  1  black  and  red  paint  that  even 
Seir  most    intimate    friends  can  scarcely 

''^A^'amonjus:  white  and  red  arc  the  signs 
of  peace  and  war  and  each  eadcv  carnes 
wit'lihim  two  small  flags  ""f,  «f  l^.^^* 
son's  hide,  an^  the  other  of  n.d     .K^  J  |ther. 


SK  t^chl;fb;ln«^n;nd>.tho  leader  -^^SS  t^"ll^--<l  ti-  st^n;  like  a 

™'  S^^rJ^leSr^rS;  Si;^a;pgnal,  and  only  produced  when 

o;'Vn«f-.I!'ri.„...l,narative safety   rc^^  ,^^  ^^'^f^'^^ZSn 

scded  the  original  weapons  of  t'?'- ^\  "^[^'^"^"f 

^Twarfare  of  these,  tribes  as  it  was  con- 
ducted  before  the  introduction  •  t  these 
Spoasrwhen  the  bow,  the  club,  the  axe,^ 


of  danger,     inemeivui  «  f^i.-v..... r, 

the  battle  from  a  place  of  comparative  safety 
is  unknown  to  them.  .  ,, 

Declaration  of  war  is  made  in  the  tyil 
conmST  of  chiefs  and  doctors  the  majority 
decidiu"  the  question.  The  chief  who  is  to 
ead  the  expeiition  then  asks  for  volunteers 
bv  sending  his  reddened  war  pipe  through 
Ketr"be  Sy  means  of  his  messengers,  and 


(1281) 


138a 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


!        I 


114 


the  spear,  and  in  some  districts  the  lasso, 
Vicm  th«  only  weapons  employed. 

in  illustration  No.  4,  on  page  1205,  are 
8ccn  examples  of  the  clubs  and  shield, 
drawn  froni  specimens  in  tho  Christy  Col- 
lection. The  clubs  are  short,  seldom  cx- 
ccediuKavard  in  lengtli,  and  mostly  eight 
or  nine  inches  shorter.  They  arc  almost 
inviiriiibly  mnde  ui)on  one  or  other  c  two 
models,  c'xaniples  of  which  are  seen  in  the 
illuslration.  The  primitive  idea  of  a  club 
is  evidently  derived  from  a  stick  with  a 
knob  at  the  end,  and  that  is  the  form  which 
is  most  i:i  vogue.  In  the  common  kind  of 
club  tlie  whoie  of  the  weapon  is  quite  plain, 
but  in  many  specimens  the  native  has  im- 
bcddfd  a  piece  of  bono  or  spike  of  iron  in 
the  ball  or  bulb  at  the  end  of  ihc  club,  and 
hius  dec(n-ated  tho  liandlc  with  feathers,  bits 
of  cloth,  scalps,  and  similar  ornaments. 

The  second  kind  of  club  is  shaped  some- 
thing like  the  stock  of  a  gun,  and  has  al- 
wavs  a  sjnikc  projectiiif;  from  the  angle.  In 
most  cases  this  spike  is  nothing  more  than 
a  pointed  piece  of  iron  or  the  head  of  a 
spear,  but  in  some  highly  valued  weanons 
a  very  broad  steel  blade  is  employed,  its 
e-lges' lying  parallel  with  the  length  of  the 
weajion.  Such  a  club  as  this  is  often  deco- 
rated with  some  hundreds  of  brass  headed 
nails  driven  into  it  so  as  to  form  patterns, 
and  is  besides  ornamented  bo  profusely  with 
strings  and  feathers,  and  long  trailing  scalp- 
locks  live  or  six  feet  in  length,  that  the  efli- 
cacy  of  tho  weapon  must  be  seriously  ini- 
pecfed  by  them.  ,       „    ,  ,  , 

I  have  hanilled  both  kinds  of  clubs,  and 
found  this  latter  weapon  to  be  most  awk- 
ward and  unwieldy,  its  thick,  squared,  slop- 
ing handle  giving  scarcely  any  power  to  the 
grasp,  while  the  abundant  ornaments  are 
liable  to  entanglement  in  the  other  weapons 
that  are  carried  about  the  person. 

The  shield  is  made  bv  a  very  ingenious 
process  from  the  thick  hide  which  covers 
tl'.e  siioulders  of  the  bull  bison.  Making  a 
shield  is  a  very  serious,  not  to  .say  solemn, 
business,  and  is  conducted  after  the  follow- 
ing manner.  -  ,  . ,  ^ 
The  warrior  selects  a  piece  of  hide  M 
least  twice  as  large  as  the  intended  shield, 
and  from  the  hoof  and  joints  of  the  bison 
prepares  a  strong  glue.  lie  then  digs  in 
the  "round  a  hole  the  exact  size  of  the 
shield,  and  almost  two  feet  in  diameter,  and 
makes  in  it  a  smouldering  lire  of  decayed 
wood.  These  arrangeaients  being  com- 
pleted, his  jiarticiilar  friends  ass(>mble  for 
the  purpose  of  dancing,  singing,  and  sriok- 
iug  round  the  shield  maker,  and  invoking 
the  Great  Fpirit  to  render  the  weapon  proof 
against  sjicirs  and  arrows. 

The  fire  being  lighted  and  the  glue  heated, 
the  skin  is  stretched  above  the  hole  by  means 
of  numerous  pegs  round  the  edge,  which 
keep  it  a  few  iiudies  al)ove  the  gi'ound.  as 
Boon  08  the  skin  is  thoroughly  heated,  the 


glue  is  spread  over  it  and  rubbed  carefully 
into  the  lil)res.  This  operation  causes  the 
skin  to  contract  forcibly,  and  at  the  same 
time  to  become  thicker.  As  it  contracts, 
the  family  of  the  shield  maker  busy  them- 
selves in  loosening  the  pegs,  and  shifliiig 
them  inward,  so  as  to  yield  with  the  con- 
traction of  the  skin,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
keep  it  on  the,  full  stretch.  This  goes  on 
until  the  skin  has  absorbed  all  the  glue 
which  it  is  capable  of  receiving,  and  has 
contr.acted  to  the  very  utmost.  By  this 
time  it  is  only  half  as  wide,  though  twice  as 
thick,  as  it  was  when  first  jdaceil  on  the  lire, 
and  is  allowed  to  cool  slowly,  after  which  it 
is  ctn-efuUy  trimmed  into  shape,  furnished 
with  a  strap,  painted  with  the  totem"  or 
symbol  of  the  owner,  and  decorated  with 
the  usual  ornaments. 
The   completed  shield   is  rather  flexible, 


but  is  so  strong  that  it  will  resist  the  (tirect 
blow  of  a  spear  or  arrow,  and  if  turned  a 
little  obliquely  will  throw  olV  even  a  ijistol 
bullat.  Thespeeinun  shown  in  the  illus- 
tration is  painted  light  green  with  a  white 
pattern.  Above  it  is  a  cover  made  of  very 
thin  and  soft  leather,  which  is  thrown  over 
it  in  case  of  rain.  •  The  long  stra))  is  for  the 
purpose  of  throwing  the  shield  when  not  in 
use  (..ver  the  shoulders,  where  it  hangs, 
to'Tcther  with  the  bow  and  quiver. 

The  spear  presents  nothing  es])cci.ally 
worthy  of  remark,  except  that  the  blade  is 
leaf-shaped,  long,  and  narrow,  and  the  shall 
is  often  so  covered  wiMi  feathers  ud  scalp- 
locks  that  there  is  barely  enough  space  for 
the  haiMl  of  Ihc  wielder.  It  sometimes 
measures  fourteen  or  fifteen  feot  in   length. 

Next  come  the  bows  and  arrows,  ihc 
bow  is  .always  a  very  short  and  ajiparently 
iii';i.'iiificant  weapon,  being  mostly  used  on 
horseback.  It  scarcely  ever  exceeds  three 
feet  in  length,  an.l  is  mostly  six  inches 
shorter,  so  that  it  looks  more  like  a  child  s 
toy  than  a  weapon  fit  for  a  warrior  s  hand. 
Yet,  with  this  api)arently  feeble  bow,  the 
American  Indian  can  drive  an  arrow  com- 
pletely through  a  man,  and  some  of  their 
best  hunters  are  known  to  have  sent  their 
arrows  fairly  through  the  body  of  a  bison,  so 
that  the  missile  fell  on  the  ground  after  pass- 
in"  through  the  huge  .animal. 

These  bows  are  made  of  wood,  horn,  or 
bono.  Ash  is  consid"red  tho  best  wood  for 
bows,  and  it  is  strengthened  enormously  by 
having  the  wet  sinews  of  the  bison  or  deer 
fasteiuHl  along  the  back,  and  so  worked  and 
kneaded  into  it  that  thev  appear  to  lie  of  one 
substance  with  the  wood.  Several  layers  ot 
sinews  arc  often  used,  so  that,  in  spite  ol  its 
small  size,  the  bow  is  a  very  iiowerlul  one. 
Some  of  them  are  made  of  the  horn  of  the 
mount.ain  or  big  horn  sheep,  and  a  few  which 
are  the  most  valu.ablc  are  made  of  bone, 
nrobably  obtained  on  the   Pacific  coast  from 

Inu  Miiriiiiacrii   ., ri.vnj.i.i -■■=-  - 

tho  traders.    Tiie  owners  of  these  bows  do 


III! 


'(1  rarefiilly 
ciiusi'S  the 
t  tlu",  siuno 
t  contracts, 
busy  tliein- 
nd  "shifliiig 
Lli  the  con- 
lunc  time  to 
his  goes  on 
11  the  slue 
ig,  and  has 
t.  ]iy  this 
igh  twice  as 
I  on  the  lire, 
'ler  which  it 
B,  fnrinshcd 
totem  "  or 
orated  with 

icr  llexiblp, 
t  the  direct 
if  turned  a 
ven  a  jiistol 
n  the  illus- 
with  a  white 
uide  of  very 
thrown  over 
■aj)  is  for  the 
when  not  in 
re  it  hangs, 
er. 

g  os]iecially 
the  Made  is 
ind  the  shaft 
TP  iud  scalp- 
Th  siuK'o  for 
t  sometinu'S 
ot  in  length, 
irrows.  The 
d  aiijiareiitly 
istly  used  on 
xce'eds  three 
{  six  inches 
like  a  cliild's 
irrior"s  hand. 
1)1.'  how,  the 
1  arrow  coni- 
>me  of  their 
,ve  sent  their 
of  a  hison,so 
ud  after  pass- 

ood,  horn,  or 
hest  wood  for 
iiormously  by 
bison  or  deer 
)  worked  and 
ir  to  he  of  one 
eral  layers  fif 
in  spite  of  its 
lowerful  one. 
5  horn  of  the 
d  a  few  which 
nade  of  bone, 
(Ic  coast  from 
lit  inland,  liy 
hesc  bows  do 


ill 


(a.)  AMililiCAN   INDIANS  SCALPING.      (See  pagr  1288.) 
(1284) 


MODE  OF  SCALPING. 


1285 


not  like  to  have  the  '".'vtf  «\3^f  ^^^^^^^ 
check   the  interrogatwn  with  a  luna 

"Hush!  that  i«  l"'r*l;^"A^:iiect^on.    I  have 

The  arrow  is  hea^ita  ^  usually 

and  when  UBcd  ».8*  "f  ***^e^Uen  from  the 
poisoned.    The  feathers  are  Uken  I 

P  ing  of  the  w  Id  turkey.    if^J^f^  ,,,^   i 
When  a  warrior  18  luuydri., 

hundred  -  -  of  «ie,«  ^^^^^^/^uia,  and 
rtS;^tcofater^^^^^^^  patte^-ns  woven  m 

may  see  the  usual  ^°«^^™^  The    ortrait  is 

when  cq»'PP«fl  ;«'^^,°f^^^^^.:i,c  rod  thunder) 
that  of  ^'^-r'^il'""']lt;f  of  the  Minatarees. 
son  of  Black  Mpccamnot  the  m^^^^  ^^^1 

Ho  was  at  this  time  one  ot  "»«  "^  jj^  He 
most  desperate  ;^'»"i"''/'n,''L  ver  slui  g,  and 
has  on  his  war-cU;e^B,  -^^M^^l^^light,^  -y« 
■     -11 ,.„  o«ii«  robe,  and 


cumbrance,  — with  "» .  ""\V      j  ^ud  black 
and  profusely  ^edaube   wi^h  \ea  ai        ^^._^_ 

paint,  so  as  to  f""^^^:  ...^T  sal^v  forth  to 

enemy.      _  .  „„i,>urated  for  their 

The  Indians  are  n?*,<^^^^V-'^^ii   indeed  is 

BkiU   h:   nia'-ksmanshipj    which   in^^^^^  ^^ 

scarce!)  required  as  thc|nev  ^^^^^^^ 
long  ranges,  hke  tl^«X,,^"f^iiied  in  dis- 
But  they  are  ^""'^jSws  in  rapid  sue 
charging  a  number  ot  a.  i  ows  in  r  p         ^^ 

cession,  a  P'*^*'f ^^^1' in  a  m  nute  while 
throw   twenty  or  more  m  a 

calloping  at  full  speed.        „_„H9ed  hy  the 
^  Tliero  is  a  game  much  practis^u    y 

various  tribes,  ^Y  •'^"J^^V^n^^^^^ 
culiar  modiftcation    «f  , f  "The  young  men 

^'^-'^^'^!;'".iWhertows  Z^oA  and 
assemble  with  ">'''/^  ""  .:„i.,8  of  property 
each  brings  several  arhcl.s  o  p  |  j^ 
which  he  is  willing  to  stake  on  n 
throws  one  of  them  on  «  «  g'«»«^t^  t^e 
cver\'  on«  n*^  *"'^*      -Vi    i.i.  l.nw  and  ton 

simultaneously  in  the  a\r  wins  u 

Tl,a  two    HffUreS    lU    lliuo""-,  ^         _^  „^ii,_ 

rios/aflfotd"  oxccUeut  eiampios  ox  t.^-  r-  - 


•  „i  *nrms  of  this  weapon;  namely,  that 
cinal  ^?^Jl  entirely  by  themselves,  and 
wtich  18  made  entirely    y  ^^^ 

''^''^^''i'\'^he£ves     The  most  pAmitive 
finished  by  themsuvts.  ^^  ^  ^^^^^ 

tomahawk  is  t»at/^^"\r  yW.  2,  on  the  above 
fixed  to  a  wooden  handle   *^^^^'         j^^  j^ 

mentioned  Pf f«',,f  "^'^actly  as  a  blacksmith 
fixed  to  the  handle,  cxa"iy  a        axe-heads 
fixes  -his  ^""'^^tn^bSantlyasrelicsof  a 
which  are  found  s«Xned  on  their  handles- 
bygone  a^e  we'^^/^f^^^^^^^^^^^  ^  Vis  kind  of 
raponifno!fsrre  that  it  is  scarcelypos- 

^'^ilfsSu^dertoSawk  has  in  most 
tnIes^?;|sUedthatwhichUm^^^^^^^^^ 

SerSil^ra^soldatavery 

biing  formed  "^'^  f  P\P^:S  wW       is  plen- 
drawn  through  the  handle  wm     ^^^^^^  ^^^ 

tifully  decorated  with  R^Ff  "^ ' ,  ^  x>s  tho 
feathirs.  Tl"?.  ^^ ^orause  it  saves^hem 
^"f  "?:i:Je  of  crying  a  feparate  pipe,  and 
the  trouble  oi  cariyiuo  .^paJ^on  and  in  time 
is  most  f?i-m^'l'^^^«.^tVxe^r  chopping  fire- 
of  peace  is  »» .«*'''t,'i„,'^^eV   The  tomSiawk 

pomard  of  ''^'^'y  fjSnje.tic  pwrposca.    Al- 
they  could  use.    Onooi^my^^  ,ii,p„'rdcd  al' 


like  a  razor.  „  ^^    custom  of 

an  American  I?J>an  slaj  s  an  y^. 

moves  the  Bcalp.asa  Prooi  ^^^ 

The  scalp  i^  »  P^«^°f^„m  the'  very  crown  of 
attached  to  it,  t|J«^^SS  portion  of  tho 
thehead,8oa3toexlv^tui     1       ^  ^^^,^^^ 

skin  where  the  hair  Kidiau^s  importance, 
^oliTd  UiaUt  o^y'c-tain  this  Indispen- 

-SSSy,thomece^f^Bjj^^^^^^^ 
irtfS^kSnn^clSuS^inS  manner.    The 


1!'^ 


1280 


THE  NOBTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


cnomy  being  fnllcn,  Iho  victor  sits  behind 
him  on  tl»e  ground,  seizes  the  scalp-lock 
with  his  It'll  hand,  iind  with  the  knifo  makes 
two  senilcireulur  ineisioiis  in  the  skin,  eiil- 
ting  it  coniiiletely  down  to  the  bone,  lie 
then  twists  the  sealp-loek  rouTid  both  his 
hands,  puts  his  feet  on  the  vietim's  shoul- 
ders, and  with  a  violent  null  drags  off  the 
circular  piece  of  skin  with  the  hair  adher- 
ing to  it. 

This  whole  scene  (illnstrnted  on  page 
1281)  is  enacted  in  much  less  time  than  it 
has  taken  to  write,  tlio  Indians  b(!ing  well 
practised  in  their  simm  fights  before  they 
come  to  laking  sealj^is  in  actual  battle. 
Jlrandishing  the  scalp  in  one  hand  and  the 
knife  in  the  other,  tlie  exultant  conqueror 
utters  the  terrible  "  scalping  yell,"  which 
even  when  given  in  a  mock  battle  seems  as  if 
it  were  uttered  by  a  demon  rather  than  a  man. 

Tl)e  sealjted  man  is  always  supposed  to  bo 
dead  or  dying,  and,  as  the  scalp  is  always 
accepted  as  a  proof  of  de.ith,  the  native 
warrior  would  never  scalp  a  man  whom  he 
thought  likely  to  recover.  There  have, 
liowever,  been  many  instances,  where  in  the 
heat  of  battle  a  man  has  been  scalped  while 
stunned,  though  without  a  mortal  wound, 
and  bus  ntlerwurd  recovered  and  lived  for 
nianv  years. 

V'^lien  the  ])attlo  is  over  and  the  warrior 
returjis  to  his  home,  he  dresses  the  scalp 
for  preservation.  This  is  usually  done  by 
stretching  It  in  a  sort  of  battledore,  niudo 
by  bending  a  llexible  stick  and  lashing  the 
eiids  togetlKT,  and  it  is  then  solemnly 
"danced"  before  it  takes  its  place  with  the 
other  valuables  of  the  owner.  Some  of  the 
scalps   are   quite  small,  not  larger  than   a 

ttcnny,  and  are  hung  on  the  bridler,  )f  the 
lorse's,  or  the  handles  of  clubs. 

Generally,  however,  they  are,  when  quite 
drv,  painted  on  tb  insid(!  so  as  to  resemble 
n  human  face,  and  hung  to  the  end  of  a 
long,  slight  pole.  On  a  tine  day,  the  head 
chief  of  an  encampment  mostly  orders  that 
the  scalps  should  be  hungout,and  seta  the  ex- 
ample, by  protruding  from  the  top  of  his  own 
hut  the  pole  on  which  are  hung  the  scalps 
which  he  has  taken.  All  the  warriors  at  once 
follow  his  example,  so  that  by  walking  round 
the  villasre  and  counting  the  scalps,  a  stran- 
ger can  learn  the  standing  of  every  war- 
rior. 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  many  of  the 
scalps  are  very  small.  Their  limited  size  is 
thus  accounted  for.  If  a  warrior  bo  hur- 
ried, as  is  mostly  the  case  when  scalping  a 
fallen  man  in  the  heat  of  battle,  he  contents 
himself  with  the  scalp  alone.  Hut,  if  ho 
should  have  leisure,  he  removes  the  whole 
of  the  hair-bearing  portion  of  the  skin,  and 
treats  it  as  follows.  He  first  cuts  out  n 
small  circular  piece  containing  the  crown  of 
the  head,  this  being  the  actual  scalp.  The 
remainder  of  tl»e  hair  he  divides  into  iittio 
locks,  and  with  them  he  fringes  the  scams 


of  his  leggings,  the  arms  and  edges  of  hl« 
coat,  the  sliatl  of  his  spear,  the  liaudle  of 
his  club,  etc.,  etc.  The  whole  of  Mah-to- 
toh-pa's  dress  was  covered  with  fringes 
mad(f  iVoni  the  hair  of  those  whom  he  slew 
in  battle. 

A  dress  thus  ornamented  is  valued  be- 
yond all  price,  and  there  is  scarcely  any 
price  sutlleiently  high  to  tennit  a  warrior  to 
I)art  with  these  trojjhies  of  his  valor. 

The  "  scalp  dance  "  is  a  ceremony  quite 
in  keeping  with  the  custom  of  securing  the 
trophy.  A  scalp  dance  of  tlui  Sioux  is  thus 
described  by  Mr.  (.'atlin  :  —  "Among  this 
tribe,  as  1  learned  whilst  residing  with 
them,  it  is  danced  in  the  night  by  the  light  of 
their  torches.  Just  before  going  to  b(!(I. 
When  a  war  party  returns  fVoni  a  war  ex- 
cursion, bringing  home  with  them  the  scalps 
of  their  enemies,  they  g(m(M'ally  dance  them 
for  flfKeen  nights  in  succession,  vaunting 
forth  the  most  extravagant  boasts  of  their 
wonderful  j)rowes8  in  warj  whilst  they 
bran<liah  tlieir  war  weapons  in  their  liands. 

"  A  number  of  young  women  are  selected 
to  aid  (though  they  do  not  actually  join  in) 
the  dance,  by  stepping  into  tlu^  centre  of 
the  ring  and  holding  uji  (he  seali)S  that  have 
been  recently  taken,  while  the  warriors 
dance,  or  rather  jump,  around  in  a  circle, 
brandishing  their  weajjons,  and  barking  and 
yelping  in  the  most  IVightful  niiinner,  all 
jumping  on  both  feet  at  a  time,  with  a  si- 
multaneous staniji,  and  blow,  and  thrust  of 
their  weapons,  with  which  it  would  seem  as 
if  they  were  actually  cutting  and  carviitg 
each  other  to  pieces.  During  these  frantic 
leaj)s  and  yells,  every  man  ilistorts  bis  face 
to  (be  utmost  jiower  of  his  muscles,  darting 
about  his  glaring  eyeballs,  and  snaijping  his 
teeth  as  it  he  were  in  the  heat  —  and  actu- 
ally breathing  thnnigh  his  nostrils  the  very 
hissing  death  —  of  battle. 

"  No  description  that  can  be  written  could 
ever  convey  more  than  a  feeble  outline  of  the 
fVighttnl  ettects  of  these  scenes  eiuuted  in  the 
dead  and  darkness  of  night,  under  the  glaring 
light  of  their  blazing  tiambeaux;  nor  eouhl 
all  the  years  all()((ed  to  mortal  man  in  the 
least  obliterate  or  deface  (he  vivi<l  impres- 
sion that  one  scene  of  this  kind  would  leave 
upon  his  memory." 

Mr.  ('atlin  suggests,  with  much  reason, 
that  these  dances  are  propitiatory  of  the 
siiirits  of  the  slain  men,  showing  how  highly 
tneir  valor  was  jirized  by  the  conquerors, 
and  the  great  respect  and  estimation  in 
which  (hey  were  held,  though  the  fortune  of 
war  had  gone  against  them. 

A  good  example  of  the  war  career  of  an 
American  Indian  chief  may  be  gained  by 
the  exploKs  of  Mah-to-toh-pa,  as  displavcd 
on  his  robe,  and  explained  by  him  to  Mr, 
Catlin.  It  was  covered  with  twelve  groups 
of  figures,  which  will  bo  briefly  described. 

His  flrst  exploit  was  killing  a  Sioux  chief, 
who   had   already  killed   throe  Kiccarccs. 


EXPLOITS  OF  MAII-TO-TOII-PA. 


1287 


Thi«  foal  onlitlod  him  to  wear  eagles  quil  s 
on  hm  lunce,  unci  in  the  ««o.ud  Kro^P.  J.«    » 

r hl.st-  wli()  (•liivllcng.ul  him  to  hiiikIo  comhiit. 

M  h-t  l<.h-I)!V  wai  foiHsiken l).v  hm  iiarlj;, lui.l 
S  I  o  d  .a.lly  woiui.lcd,  kill.Kl  a  Hhumne 
^vlmlm  t;,  the  prcHcucc  of  Homo  thirty  oi 

^''TS''rourth  Bceno  «how8  n  great  chief  of 
the  Hhi.XH  killed  hy  thi«  warrior  whoRO 
H  .mV(  ih..a.iare«s  was  asHuin.^l  hy  hm 
^li;o;;'Thonf.h,.i.U.rorepres.^^^^^^^ 


enisode  in  "a  hallle.  Mnh-i<i-toh-pa  was 
?rvSn«  with  a  party  «'''  •^''''-'^.'-^'^-'J.'.Y, 'I";:' 
Hu-v  vi>ru  llr.'d  upon  by  a  war  i)arly  ol  Soux. 
te  U  rn  M-s  1  .d,  leaving  Mah-to-toh-pa, 
wh  H  ran"  from  his'horse,  fa-uul  the  Hioux  on 
ff,  k  m  done  of  the.in,  and  secured  hm  scalp. 
^"tIu  sWlh  drawing  'ilhrntrates  a  most  re- 
fifirk'vhle  nieei!  of  personalhmtory.  A  '^  '' 
^  ..  lave,  nanu'.l  Won-ga-tap,  shot  the 
br  -tier  of  Mah-to-toh-piv  with  ^au  arrow 
d rov  his  vell-known  spear  nto  the  ho-  Y  <  I 
U  fallen  man,  an-U.^il  it  U.ere,  as  a  c     1- 

b  -oh  -with  the  same  weapon.    1  ''"ry^.  " 

he   returned  vlctorioua  with    the  scalp  ot 
^^vWl'l'lheawe-struek  silence  of  his  people 

KlTv  stran-er.     Ho  ki»ow  the  position  o 

for   the   fullUment  of  ^'»  ,^'*^'^- ,  t'" ^r  V,,^ 
aecordin.'  to  the  liospitablo  custom  of  the 
ArS-m  liidians.    If  a  man  bo  hungry, 
h"no  .    not  ask  for  food  hut  has  only  to 
,io  to  the  nearest  hut  and  help  himsell. 
«"Tho  repas't  being  ended    Mah^o-toh-pa 
to.,k  the  still  warm  pipe,  f  ^'^ , '\,;i'\\\>' 
Lpeo  and  began   to  smoke   it,  breauiins,, 
wTthcv"r%ur%  prayer  for  snc- 

iiiiiSsI 

himself.  .    . , j^  jyyi   ftg. 

When     U»6     I'TS'i     siuuat;-Tirr.^».4i    _K-     - 


cended,  Mah-to-Uih-na  turned  toward  the 
bed  and  with  his  fool  push.ul  an  cinber  on 
th   'lire  so  w.  to  make  a  bla/.e  by  which  ho     . 

ig     see  the  exa.=t  position  of    •'«  v'« '"j" 
In  an  instant  he   leaped   toward   the  bed, 
Vrnv  ;  the  snear  through  the  heart  ot  Won- 
fa-ta )    oro'oir his  scalp,  snat.hed  the  spear 
?nS;is  heart,  an.l  <lartcd  out  of  the  hut 
w ilh     e  Sj,  of  his  victim  in  one  h.md  and 
n  the  other  the  fatal  spear,  with  the  blood 
of  Won-gartap  already' drying  "ver  that  of 
1 10  «  an  lu»  lla.1  killed  four  years  before. 
The  whole  vlllago  was  in  an  'ipr^mr,  hut 
Mahlo-t^  h-pa  su<-ceede,l  in  making  hm  es- 
SS,  and  J  the  sixth  day  a  ler  eav^.n|?  the 
Man'dan  village,  ho  r.;;-ente  «  J'  JJ,' 

H(uvlp  of  his  enemy.    A  I'V' ^'  !'',,,'"  ^ 
brited  chief  is  g  vcn  on  the  l'2<7tl  page. 

Another  of  these  pictur..s  records  a  single 
combaril.nglit  withUhienne  ij'-*  ''j.l'Xt 
Piwn  of  both  war  parties,  i  hey  lou',ni, 
r  horseback,  unti/  M>di4o4.Ws  ,,ow- 
dcr-horn  was  shattered  by  a  bullet,  ino 
i  icnne  chief  flung  away ,''««"  "^'.^^'"^ 
and  bullet  pouch,  and  <•'{ J.f'  iJ^'^^^S 
with  bow  and  arrow.  Holn  piiins  wiio 
womuEun  "he  limbs,  but  kept  their  bodies 
covered  with  their  shields. 


PnmMtly  M^i-t^-toh-pa'H  horse  fell  with 

an  arrow  n  Us  heart.    Huie  Shieiino  chief 

hnmeUrtey    dismounted,    nnd    l"-o«'f«l'^J 

V       the  ll^ht  until  he  had  exhausted  his 

inced  in  the  hands,  but  "^  'ast  wreste 

The  knife  from  his  -v-Wersary,  drov^^ 

his  heart,  and  In  silence  claimed  the  scaip  oi 

''on"  nofher  occasion  he  alone  faced  sixty 
Ass  nebolns,  drove  them  back,  and  killed 
one  oft  cm     It  was  In  this  battle  that  ho 
c  rned     e  name  of  "  Four  Bears,"  by  wh  ch 
must  be  understood  the  b'"'-'';X  ^«  [;,£ 
most  terrible  quadruped  ot  Nort  i  America. 
Tlds  is^rsample  of  the  mode  in  which  warfai  e 
Conducted \,y  the  North  Ame"can  Imh^^^^^^^ 
-ft  strange  mixture  of  l«^y,'*"  *,.*''"7;  'i-^t 
nobility  with  cunning  and  deceit.    In  tact, 
fc  Semplatlng  these  interesting     nbeH 
we  are  thrown  back  to  the    imc  "f  J/  y??^"; 
whose  crcat  fame  was  equally  derived  from 
S  prowess  in  battle  ani  his  «W  •n^^'-;;^; 
ing  his  foes,  or.  In  other  words,  of  being  a 
most  accomplished  liar. 

The  men  are  taught  the  operations  of  wai 
from  a  very  early  ago.  Every  morning  a 
Sacls  who  are  above  seven  years  o^^^^^^^^^^ 
iinward  and  have  not  been  admitted  am<»'K 
trmen,  are  taken  to  «omo  distance  from 
the  vlllago,  where  they  are  divided  >n^  two 
oppoBing  bodies,  each  uador  the  command 


1288 


THE  NOBTH    AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


of  an  experienced  warrior.  They  arc  armed 
witli  little  bows,  arrows  nuulo  of  grass  stems, 
and  wooden  knives  stuck  in  ttieir  belts.  In 
their  heads  they  slightly  weave  a  plaited 
tuft  of  grass  to  represent  the  scalp-lock. 

The  two  parties  then  join  in  sham  combat, 
which  is  made  to  resemble  a  real  light  as 
much  as  possible.  When  any  of  the  com- 
batants is  struck  in  a  vital  part,  he  is  obliged 
to  fall  as  if  denil,  when  his  antiigonist  goes 
through  Ihe  operation  of  scalping  with  his 
wooden  kiiil'e,  places  the  scalp  in  his  belt, 
utters  the  wild  yell,  and  again  joins  in  the 
battle.  As  no  one  may  tight  w  ithout  a  scalp- 
lock,  the  fallen  adversary  is  obliged  to  with- 
draw from  the  light.  This  goes  on  for  an 
hour  or  so,  when  the  mock  fight  is  stopped, 
and  the  lads  are  praised  or  rebuked  accord- 
ing to  the  skill  and  courage  which  they  have 
shown,  the  number  of  scalps  at  the  belt 
being  the  surest  criterion  of  merit. 

It  is  well  known  that  after  a  battle  the 
American  Indians  torture  their  jjrisoners, 
and  that  they  display  the  most  diabolical 
ingenuity  in  ■devising  the  most  excruciating 
torments.  Still,  there  has  beeu  ..inch  exag- 
geration in  the  accounts  of  this  custom. 
Thev  d<i  not  torture  all  their  prisoners,  se- 
lecting only  a  few  for  this  purpose,  the 
others  beiiig  absorbed  into  the  t  i'  »',  by 
marriage  with  the  widows  whose  huaitands 
have  been  killed  in  battle,  and  enjoying 
equal  rights  with  the  original  members  of 
the  tribe.  . 

Neither  is  the  torture  practised  with  the 
idea  of  revenge,  though  it  is  likely  that 
vengeful  feelings  will  aiise  when  the  victim 
is  bound  to  the  stake.  Superstition  seems 
to  be  at  the  root  of  the  torture,  which  is  in- 
tended to  propitiate  the  spirit  of  those  mem- 
bers of  their  own  tribe  who  have  suffered 
the  like  treatnu  nt  at  the  hands  of  their 
adversaries.  The  doomed  warrior  accepts 
his  fate  with  the  imperturbable  demeanor 
which  is  an  essential  part  of  a  North  Ameri- 
can Indian's  character,  and,  lor  the  honor 
of  his  tribe,  mattdies  his  endurance  jigainst 
the  pain  which  his  enemies  can  inflict. 

Tortures  too  terrible  even  to  be  men- 
tioned are  tried  in  succession;  for  when  the 
victim  is  once  bound  to  the  stake,  the  Indian 
never  has  been  known  to  relent  in  his  pur- 
pose, which  is  to  extort  acknowledgments  of 
suffering  from  the  captured  warrior,  and 
thereby  to  disgrace  not  only  himself  but  the 
tribe  to  which  he  belongs.  He,  in  the  mean- 
while, prides  himself  on  showing  his  enemies 
how  a  warrior  can  die.  He  chants  the  praises 
of  his  tribe  and  their  deeds,  boasta  of  all  the 
harm  that  he  has  done  to  the  tribe  into 
whose  power  he  has  fallen,  ridicules  their 
best  warriors,  and  endeavors  to  anger  them 
to  such  an  extent  that  they  may  dash  out 
his  brains,  and  so  spare  him  further  torture, 
lie  will  even  laugh  at  their  attempts  to  rx- 
tort  cries  of  pain  from  a  warrior,  auii  UM 
them  that  they  do  not  know  bow  to  tortmo 


One  remarkable  instance  of  endurance  iff 
a  captured  Creek  warrior  is  told  by  Mr. 
Adair.  The  man  had  been  captured  by  the 
Shawnees,  and  forced  to  run  thi^  gauntlet 
naked  through  all  the  tribe;  he  had  been 
tied  to  the  stake,  and  was  horribly  tortured 
with  gun-barrels  heated  redhot.  All  the 
efforts  of  his  enemies  only  drew  from  him 
taunts  and  Jeers,  to  the  effect  that  the  Shaw- 
nees were  so  ignorant  that  they  did  not 
even  know  how  to  torture  a  bound  prisoner. 
Great  warrior  though  he  was,  he  bad  fallen 
into  their  hanils  through  some  fault  in  ad- 
dressing the  Great  Spirit,  but  that  he  had 
enough  virtue  left  to  show  them  the  differ- 
ence between  a  Creek  and  a  Shawnee.  Let 
tbein  only  unbind  him,  and  allow  bim  to 
take  a  redhot  gun-barrel  out  of  the  In-e,  and 
he  would  show  them  a  much  better  way  of 
torturing  than  any  which  they  knew. 

His  demeanor  bad  excited  the  respect  of 
the  Sbawnees,  and  they  unbound  bim  and 
took  him  to  the  lire,  m  which  were;  lying 
the  redhot  tubes.  Unhesitatingly,  be  picked 
up  one  of  them  with  his  bare  hands,  sjjraiig 
at  the  surrounding  crowd,  striking  right<ind 
left  with  this  fearful  weapon,  cleared  a  pas- 
sage through  the  astonished  warriors,  and 
leajied  down  a  precipice  into  the  river.  IIo 
swam  the  river  amid  a  shower  of  bullets, 
gained  a  little  island  in  its  midst,  and,  though 
instantly  followed  by  numbers  of  his  discon- 
certed enemies,  actually  succeeded  in  get- 
ting away.  In  spite  ol  the  injuries  which 
he  had  suffered,  and  which  would  have  killed 
an  ordinary  European,  he  recovered,  and 
lived  for  many  years,  the  implacable  foe  of 
the  Shawnees. 

A  somewhat  similar  adventure  occurred 
to  a  Katahba  warrior,  who  was  iiursiied  by 
a  band  of  Seiiecas,  and  at  last  capturtid, 
though  not  until  he  had  contrived  to  kill 
seven  of  them.  A  warrior  of  such  prowess 
was  guarded  with  double  vigilance,  and  he 
was  brought  to  the  Seneca  village  for  the 
torture,  alter  having  been  beaten  at  every 
encampment  through  which  the  party  had 
passed. 

As  the  torturers  were  taking  liim  to  the 
stake,  he,  like  the  Creek  warrior,  burst  from 
his  captors,  and  flung  himself  into  the 
river,  swimming  across  in  safety.  He 
paused  for  a  moment  on  the  opposite  bank 
to  express  emphatically  his  contempt  for  the 
pursuers  who  were  crowding  down  the  bank 
and  into  the  river,  and  then  dashed  forward 
so  fast  that  he  gained  nearly  a  day's  journey 
upon  the  foremost  of  the  pursuers. 

Five  of  the  enemy  pressed  upon  him,  and, 
though  naked  and  unarmed,  ho  deliber- 
ately waited  for  them.  At  night,  when  they 
were  all  asleep,  not  having  thought  r.  si-ntry 
needful,  he  crept  up  to  the  party,  v.i  vi  bed 
one  of  their  tomahawks,  and  killed  iimn  all 
before  they  could  wake.  He  scalii 'd  them, 
clothed  and  armed  hiiiiseif,  iK"-'^urated  his 
wasted  frame  with  food,  an!  ?ct  off  to  tho 


HORSEMANSHIP  OF  CAMANCHEES, 


1289 


%"",Sl?r':X„SS-.o  notice  U,cb™. 

i"f  ''r;E\\r  Sir*"  "'* '»"''  '* 

lontless  foos   1«'i^^';  "^,^1  l.is   slain  eiiomies 


^"i^j;^^" than  one  occa.i.r.aw|m.^who 

S!:th%n:riH..niUA|^hisvictcmons^to^^ 

*'"'•  of  s  X.^^  '  He  mus '^"Tr.s  scalp  at 
^a^rfteTtd  he-  might  possibly  contrwe  to 
save  bis  life.  remarkable  for 

,„.,«  ccklJialiil  tnbo    "  "  " '.X'l.o.o  life 

"'I  ,:£  "'«,"SXa,iii  V'  &o«t  of  i>i» 

wmm 

«    lop,  he  will  suddenly  'l'-«P  "^^[i^'^^iatb lo 


T„  tViia  attitude  ho  caw  ride  for 
P"''*'r;..m-e  u  d  more  vcr  can  use  with 
dcildlyltS  ciu^iv  his  bow  or  his  fourteen- 

'""n,!o'l?f*'iheir  favorite  modes  of  attack  is  to 
()ne  )1  liiLir  i  ly  ^  f „  j  speed,  and 

gallop   07{;J„  !f    Cy  Lme  within  range, 

then,  .lust  ^t^'"'*;,  „  "-y  ,,osite  side  of  their 
they  dron  upon  tho   op  ositc  s.u    ^^^ 

'""•^"'''  ytr  I!f  arrows  ir'ected  Ander  their 
him  a  shower  ot  •"'^"^,^,  !  ,.3  even  thrown 
horses' necks  and  ^'''''''Xlhc  i\mo  it  is 
,„ulcr  the  r    be  hes.      All    th«    t^^^?.^^  ^^,^ 

i^^^K^S'l^'tlrKjl^pr^^ectin, 

ovxr  the  animal's  back.  ._ 

"^To  enable  ^lu-  to  Pf  om  th.s^cuu^ 
ous  manieuvre,  ('''"^'•raieu  ou 
l'^'^^)  1''^.^.'"  sT  luJf  This 'halter  is 
"'"'"T  nn  e  le  m^e's  neck,  and  the  ends 
passed  umlei  uic  '.'",„,.„  ,„„,',„  Uist  above 
!u-e  firmly  phnted  "J  f  |!^'"^'\o'op  hanging 
Ihe  withers,  so  as  t"J^'^'?„\,  this  looi? the 

SiXt^lio^t  fX  re..»r.o  to  M. 
"tomc.i»o.  .h.  Cpanchc"  tr,  t»  'i^ 

troopof  Wild  norses«ii  gui.ic, 

,j„ie\,  eye  is   Xbetmed  by  the  fact  that 

which  13  g^«}°'^"^V,^„  tfie  same  side  toward 
the  liorses  always  keep  the  samc^^  ^^ 

S^  :^!;::^e'^e;^wiI^S  unstrained  ia 

'^"rvrn'Snchee  has  one  favorite  horse 
which  L  never  mounts  except  for  war  or 
;^l::^li]sUMnganinn^^anun.^^^^^^ 

/or  no  pncc  ^^o"  f„,  '^'m^'^S  '  ople,  he  treats 

r^'irofnlU  ham\s  over  his  valued  animal  to 

°'inS''£,rce1,  be  .d,lc,l  }!.»' f'.^^;; 

=-rt!Mf^Se» 
Sr  "Ur  :Cd '»?c:m.ochee.  .e.. 


62 


:l 


1909 


THE  NORTH  AMEKICAN  INDIANS. 


out  on  a  horse  stealing  expetlition,  the  war- 
riors who  compose  it  are  bound  in  honor  not 


to  return  until  they  liave  achieved  their  ob 
li-ct.  Sometimes  they  are  absent  lor  more 
than  two  years  before  they  can  succeed  in 
surprising  the  settlement  which  contains 
the  horses  on  which  they  have  set  their 
hearts,  and  they  will  he  in  ambush  lor 
months,  a..aiting  a  favorable  opportunity. 
The  value  set  upon  horses  by  the  eques- 
trian tribes  cannot  be  better  illustrated  than 
by  the  singular  custom  of  "  smoking  horses, 
which  prevails  in  some  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. The  reader  will  find  thi-'  illustrated  on 
the  following  page.  .^       ,  , 

When  one  of  these  tribes  determine  on 
making  war,  and  find  on  muptering  their 
lorccH  that  thcv  have  not  sufiiclent  horses, 
they  scud  a  messenger  to  a  friendly  tribe  to 
Bay  that  on  a  cortain  day  they  will  come  to 
"  smoke  "  a  certain  number  of  horses,  and 
expect  the  animals  to  be  ready  for  them. 
This  is  a  challenge  which  is  never  refused, 
invo'-in"  as  it  does  the  honor  of  the  tribe. 

On  the  appointed  day,  the  young  warriors 
who  have  no  horses  go  to  the  friendly  vil- 
lage, stripped  and  painted  as  if  for  war,  and 
swit  themselves  in  a  circle,  all  facing  inward. 
They  light  their  pipes  and  smoke  in  silence, 
the  people  of  the  village  forming  a  large  circle 
around  them,  leaving  a  wide  space  between 
themselves  and  their  visitors. 

Presently  in  the  distance  there  appears 
an  equal    number    of   younjj   warriors  on 
horseback,  dashing  along  at  full  gallop,  and 
in  "  Indian  lile,"  according  to  their  custom. 
They  gallop  round  the  ring,  and  the  fore- 
most   rider,  selecting    one    of   the    seated 
voung  men,  stoops  from  his  saddle  as  he 
passes,  and  delivers  a  terrible  blow  at  his 
naked  shoulders  with  his  cruel  whip.    Each 
of  his  followers  does  the  same,  and  they 
gallop  round  and  round   the  smokers,  at 
each  circuit  repeating  the  blow  until  the 
shoulders  of  the    men    are    covered  with 
blood.    It  is  incumbent  upon  the  sufferers 
to  smoke  on  in  perfect  calmness,  and  not  to 
vrive  the  slightest  intimation  that  they  are 
ware  of  the  blows  which  are  inflicted  on 
them.    When  the  requisite  number  of  cir- 
cuits have  been  made,  the  leader  springs  off 
Ins  horse,  and  places  the  bridle  and  whip  in 
the  hands  of  the  young  man  whom  he  has 
selected,  saying  at  the  same  time,  "  Yon  arc 
abetrgar;  I  present  you  with  a  horse:  but 
vou'will  always  carry  my  mark  on  your 
t)ack."    The  rest  follow  his  example. 

Every  one  is  pleased  with  this  remark- 
able custom.  The  young  men  arc  pleased 
because  they  get  a  horse  apiece;  and  as  to 
the  flogging,  in  the  first  place  they  really 
rare  very  little  for  pain,  and  in  the  next  place 
they  have  enjoyed  an  opportunity  of  show- 
in<»  publicly  their  cap.ibihty  of  endurance. 

^K/vse.  who  "Iyo  the  borses  arc  pleased 

"because  they  have  been  able  to  show  their 

liberality,  a  trait  which  is  held  in  great  esti- 


mation by  these  people,  and  they  have  also 
the  peculiar  satisfy -^tion  of  flogging  a  war- 
r-^r  with  impunity.  Both  tribes  are  also 
pi.ased,  the  one  because  they  have  gained 
the  horses  without  which  they  couFd  not 
have  made  up  their  forces,  and  the  other 
because  they  have  shown  themsolyes  pos- 
sessed of  superior  wealth.  . 


■A 


FuU  Sill* 


Fl-INT-HEADED  AWnnWr 

(See  page  1285.) 


\a.)  SMOKING   IKMJSKS.    (See  page  1290.) 

(1891) 


CHAPTER    CXXXVII. 

THE  NORTH  AMERICAN   INDIANS  —  CoH««««d. 


irCNTINQ  -      \MUSEMENT8. 
KOBTH    AMBRICVV    nrNTRTlS-BWON    OB  nUKKALO    HUNTIK0-T.1K    CIIA8E    ON  HORBKBACK  -  FSK  OF 

rnKmT-:Z7umyif.r.~ni^  sno«-  shok,  an.,  .th  vsk  in  bihon  hunt,no-thr  d.bou«e 

I"wOL.  SK  r-H0,»K  CAr..nNa-MO,.K.H  or  U8.N«  THE  LAB«0  ,U,W  HO.U.E«  AR«  TAMED - 
•UrA.,Na"  .0,,SKB-T,..  ..UFrA..O  DANCE -OHK....T  OF  THE  BrFKA.O  DANOE  BESToUED-A 
8m.rArMAKK-.NVAU.AnLE  SUCCESS  OK  THE  DANCE-HOW  THE  DANCEBS  AKE  EEX^IEVED- 
AN  IN0EKI0C8  DECEPTION. 


As  mi^l^t  bo  expected  from  ft  migratory 
people  like  the  North  American  Indians,  all 
the  tribes  excel  in  hunting,  thoufili  some 
are  notable  above  the  otliers.  Next  .d  Af- 
rii:a,  this  conntry  presents  the  finest  hunt- 
in"  "rounds  in  the  world,  the  game  varying 
according  to  the  locality,  and  giving  the 
hunter  an  almost  unrivalled  scope  of  ac- 

First  and  most  important  of  the  North 
American  game  is  the  bison,  popularly  but 
erroneously  called  the  bufVal  .  This  animal 
exists  in  countless  myriads,  and  in  spite  ol 
the  continual  persecutions  to  which  it  has 
been  8ul)iected,  anil  the  utterly  reckless 
manner  in  which  it  has  been  destroyed. 
it  Ktill  blackens  the  plains  with  its  raulti- 

Heforo  the  horse  came  into  use,  the  North 
AmcM-ican  Indians  were  obliged  to  chase 
the  bison  on  loot,  and  even  at  the  present 
day  there  are  n\any  celebrated  hunters  who 
are  able  to  run  down  a  bison  on  foot  and  kill 
it  with  the  lance.  The  '  ode, however,  which 
is  "enerallv  adopted  i  le  chase  by  mounted 
hunters,  a  chase  which  olfers  the  greatest  re- 
sults, and  exhibits  the  wildest  (enthusiasm 
and  excitement.  Armed  merely  with  his 
tiny  bow  and  flint-headed  arrows,  the  native 
hunter  mounts  his  horse,  and  goes  oiT  in 
chase  of  the  bison. 

When  he  comes  up  with  the  animals,  he 
Belects  one,  usuall'  a  fat  and  weir-condi- 
^jf^j^Pfj  p«,,.  iiresscs  115^  horse  to  her  and  pre- 
pares his  bow  and  airow.    The  well-trained 


horse  needs  no  guiding,  but  keeps  close  to 
the  riglit  shoulder  of  the  bison,  and  a  little 
behind  it,  so  that  it  may  not  run  upon  the 
horns  of  the  animal  if  it  should  happen  to 
stop  suddenly  and  turn  its  head.  This  plan, 
moreover,  just  brings  the  rider  into  the 
proper  position  to  deliver  his  arrow  in  the 
most  deadly  manner,  i.  e.  directing  it  just 
behind  the  shoulder.  When  an  arrow  is  dis- 
charged by  a  practised  hand,  the  bison  falls 
morUlly  wounded,  and,  tenacious  of  life  as 
the  animal  is,  soon  breathes  its  last.  Leaving 
the  arrow  in  the  wound  in  order  to  mark  the 
owner  of  the  dead  animal,  the  successful 
archer  dashes  on  in  pursuit  of  another  ani- 
mal, and  does  not  cease  until  he  has  ex- 
j  pended  all  his  store  of  arrows.    An  illustra- 


tion on  page  1299  hows  a  herd  of  bisons, 
and  the  Indians  o  horseback  engaged  in 
the  exciting  sport.  ,.       .      x      * 

It  is  the  pride  of  the  native  hunter  to 
kill  a  bison  with  every  arrow,  and  not  to 
shoot  twice  at  the  same  animal.  Ihe 
voun"er  hunters  are  fierce  and  anxious  ri- 
vals Tn  this  sport,  knowing  that  the  result 
of  the  dav's  hunt  will  bo  the  talk  of  the 
wb.  le  villa'ge,  and  that  on  their  success  or 
'  failure  will  much  depend  the  estimation  m 
^vhich  they  are  held.  So  each  successive 
hunt  produc-s  its  eager  competitors  for 
honor,  some  being  desirous  of  wiping  olj 
past  disgrace  by  present  success,  and  others 
equally  anxious  to  maintain  the  reputation 
which  they  have  gained  on  tormer  occa- 
sions. 


(1293) 


19M 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


Even  in  those  parts  of  tin-  rountry  where 
the  bow  1ms  Immii  iiliiiost  <>ntin>lv  HiiP'/f'-J"" 
J»v  tln-iuins,  it  is  (Mjimiiy  »  I"'!"'  "»  ""'";•■ 
to  itill  llio  liisoii  Willi  «  "ii'K'^'  Nl'ot.  '"'"  I" 
diiim  u  s^liiiu  bison  for  fv..ry  I'll  lot.  In 
midi  .'imos,  tlu'  liiinlei-  taki-s  litllo  imms 
in  loading  his  Rim.  H"  nirncs  the  pow.hv 
loose  in  his  pocket  or  Imi,',  h<'oo1)S  hastily  ■>■ 
random  qimnlity  into  the  k'ui.,  .Irops  up..!, 
it  without  any  wnil.hn«,  a  l.tillel  wetteo 
in'  the  mouth,  and  the  loadiiiK  is  <'oni|>lele. 
Th(^  imiz/,le  of  the  Kun  is  kent  uppermost 
until  the  moment  for  firini,',  when  the  niin 
is  dropi"''!-  !>iin<Ml,  and  lire<l  simultaneously, 
without  l)ein«  l)ron«ht  to  the  shoulder. 

The  skill  displayed  in  manuninj?  tlie  horse 
is  the  more  remarkable,  as  thf-Hii  Indians 
UBe  no  bit  by  which  the  animal  can  be 
L'l.ide.l.  They  have  n<>lhin{,'  but  a  slight 
hide  halter  tied  round  the  lower  jaw  ol  the 
horse,  the  only  u-e  of  which  is  to  c.iiise  it  to 
halt  when  rc(piired.  This  is  popularly 
called  the  "  lariat,"  a  corruption  trom  tlie 
French  word,  r<irrt.  ,  .       , 

The  exeilement  caused  by  this  chase  is 
indescribable,  Ihouffh  Mr.  C'atliii  ^'ives  a  very 
graphic  idea  in  u  few  words  :  — "  I  have  al- 
ways counted  myself  a  prudent  man,  yet  I 
have  often  waked,  as  it  were,  out  ot  the  de- 
lirium of  the  chase,  into  which  1  had  lalleii 
aa  into  an  a},'itated  slecj),  and  throutih  whicii 
I  had  passed  as  throiisjh  a  delifihtlul  dream 
—  where  to  have  died  would  have  been  to 
have  remained,  riding  on,  without  a  strug- 
gle or  a  panj;."  .      ,    ,         ,    . 

Sometimes  the  bison  is  destroyed  in  :i 
much  less  sportiuf,'  manner,  the  precipice 
and  the  poun.l  hiing  the  two  modes  which 
are  usually  followed.  The  reader  may  pro  >- 
ably  b(!  aware  that,  in  those  parts  ot  Nortli 
Ainerica  i'diabited  by  the  bison,  the  surtace 
of  the  plain  is  freipiently  interrupted  by  ra- 
vines with  precii)itous  sides  and  of  tremen- 
dous depth.  AVlieii  a  huntinj,'  party;  see  a 
herd  of  bisons  within  several  miles  of  one  ot 
these  ravines,  they  quietly  separate,  and  steal 
round  the  herd,  so  as  to  place  the  bisons  be- 
tween them8"'ves  and  the  ravine. 

They  then  gently  move  forward,  and  tne 
bisons,  retreating  from  them,  draw  nearer 
and  nearer  to  the  ravine,  at  the  same  time 
becomitr'  r"-.oked  ci;!"cr  and  closer  together. 
Suddenly  the  huiitei^  r.aisi  a  shout,  and 
da.sh  forward  at  the  hisors.  The  afVrighted 
anima.s  take  to  flight  at  the  r  best  speed, 
and  run  on  until  they  rea:h  tlie  edge  ot  the 
ravine.  Here  the  foremost  bisons  try  to 
check  themselves,  but  to  u.)  avail,  as  they 
are  pressed  forward  by  their  companions 
behind,  and  thus  almost  tho  whole  of  the 


the  pound.  Into  which  the  bUouB  are  driven 
by  llie  hunters.    The  pound  is  an  endoHiirt) 
niaile  of  felled  trees  and  branches,  with  an 
opening  which  gradually  widens.    The  bi- 
sons an;  driven  toward  the  enclosure,  a  task 
which  often    occupies   several    weeks,  iind, 
when  they  arrive  within  the  fatal   arum  of 
the  enliaiice,  are  urged   forward   by  means 
of  little  llres,  which  are  lighted   on   either 
side.     Instinct  urges  the  animals  to  escape 
from   an  (denu^nt  which  sweeps   over   vast 
districts  of  country,  and  kills   every  living 
thing   in   it,  and   hi   their  hasli!   they    run 
ti.wiwd  the    iioiiiid,   in    which    they   nie   at 
once  slnil  up.     It  ih  fortunnte  for  tlm  hunt- 
ers that  the  bisons  do  not  know  their  own 
Htren<'th.     They  could  .asiiy  break  through 
the  wills  of  the  pound. but  they  mosllv  con- 
tent   themselves  with   turning   round   iinil 
round,  and  passively  await  the  arrival  ol  the 
destroyer.     .So  foolish   are    they  in    this  re- 
siiect.  anil  in  such  numbers  are  they  killed, 
that  pounds  have  been  built  of  the  bones  of 
slaughtered  bisons.  . 

In  the  winter  anolber  ^)lall  ot  huiilmg  tlio 
ison  is  followed.     At  this  time  of  the  year 


herd  are  forced  over  tho  precipice,  and 
killed  by  the  fall.  Even  those  in  the  rear, 
which  at  last  see  their  danger,  and  try  to 
escape,  have  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  their 
enemies,  who  allow  but  very  few  of  them  to 
escape.  .      ,     ^   ,     ... 

A  somewhat  similar  plan  is  adopted  with 


lt|:*wil    in   ivMiwi.«i».        ..  - .    -  .   ■   'i         A, 

the  fur  or  "  peil  "  of  the  bison  is  the  thickest 
and  warmest,  and  the  skin  is  of  the  most 
value.  It  is  from  these  skins  that  tho 
••  biitValo  "  rugs  and  ndies  are  made,  witli- 
(Uil  'vliich  out-of-door  life  would  he  scarcely 
endurable  in  the  more  northern  iiarts  ot  this 
vast  continent.  .  . 

Dining  the  winter  months  the  prairies 
assuiiK^  a  new  aspect.  They  are  not  only 
covered  with  snow,  so  that  tho  ordinary 
landmarks  are  obliterated,  but  the  snow  is 
blown  by  the  wind  into  the  most  fantastic 
shapes,  raised  in  some  places  into  long  and 
sharply  scarped  hills  wlii're  no  hills  were, 
forniim'  level  plains  where  the  ground  is 
really  cut  ni)  bv  hollows,  and  leaving  only 
the  tops  of  eminences  bare,  whence  tho 
snow  is  l)lown  away  by  the  tempestuous 
winds  that  sweep  across  the  vast  expan.se. 
On  thi^se  hills  the  bison  congregate  for  tho 
purpose  of  grazing,  shovelling  away  with 
their  broad  noses  tho  snow  wliich  still  clings 
to  the  herbage.  .     ,     ^  ,  r 

The  animals  instinctively  keep  clear  ot 
the  small  but  treacherous  plains  and  valleys, 
knowing  that  the  hidden  crevices  may  at 
any  time  swallow  them  up.  Into  these  val- 
leys the  lumters  try  to  drive  them,  so  that 
they  may  be  helplesslv  entangled  in  the 
snow,  and  fall  easy  victims  to  the  spear. 
Were  it  not  for  some  invention  whereby  the 
hunters  arc  enabled  to  skim  over  the  surface 
of  the  snow,  the  bisons  would  ho  in  perfect 
safety,  but  the  snow  shoe  lays  the  poor  ani- 
mals at  the  mercy  of  their  pursuers.  It  is 
necessary  first  to  describe  this  ingenious 
implement.  . 

The  best  form  of  snow  shoe  is  seen  on  ttie 

next  page.    The  shane  is  that  of  a  fish,  anil 

j  its  framework  is  mr«Ie  of  a^'i-woof.,  .:eiu  lu 

1  form  by  two  cross-bars,  one  in  front  and  one 


BISON  IIUNTINO. 


1290 


ft  chlkl  wc.Ul  HiuL  ir  only  mii-iwrtoJ  on  it« 
feet. 


The  mo«t  \nK'cnlo..«  part  ..f  tlx'  snow  nhoc 
IM  tho  m<.(l«  l-y  wl.icU  it  i«  lllicl  to  a.n  oot. 
It  H  cvi.ln.t  t!>:vt  if  it  won.  ta.l..m..  tlnuly  t. 
ut..    lilt.'  the  m.lc  of  a  nhoc     I...  w.ar.T 
«",uia  .V  imal.U,-  to  Htlr  a  .t.p.    Tl.c  movi,- 
mo     of  a  «iKnv.«l.oo  winriT  i«  >;on..;wh at 
,    ,.    UH  to  ll.at  of  a  Hkalrr,  tl>.  h ho.  hoi  ig 
v.T  tho  Himw,  a.ul  not  nun...    an.l  .U|. 
ul.:.l  lik.'  HhocH  in  onlinaiy  wall<n>K.     If 

.\';,r:;at  llu"nUl.  unatowanlth^^ 
f nroinrt  of  ho  nhoo  th.-rc  Ih  a  «quar.  opon- 
K'.:ll|Sc'.l  hy  thongs,  very  much  Btruugcr 
tium  the  others. 


BNOW   HUOK. 

(From  my  colle<;tion.) 


:Cs'ix\;:^rlh!^!»;.i4J-;:lx•;r 
^•'•t;^\.:;nt;o'';;fu;:..;:urs;;ii.;i:;:n.y 

nndllo  ifnliL  o  "  lnmil<il)i- 

(111.   thick  crosH-tnopi:;,  i-oi   "" 

'•kii^^B"n;o^;»p^^^ 

'•"^!:' IhlLvli:;',  the  wearer  moves  alon^, 

llH  r^et    .  :.V  tV.'elV  on  the   hinukihison,    u- 

•Is   ••oil'   .lown   at   ea.li    step   on   the 

•  ,11. 1    1    n-s,  while  the  toes  move  up  anjl 

p;ll,lll(     inon  „  wliieh 

^'•",?. D^'ver  tl--'-vhy  the  instep 
:;.:  .'Tie  ■•  strap  hein,'  only  nselul 
II;  k.;'l!ing  the  foot  from  slipping  out  back- 

'''Tfter  some  rmctiee,  the  wearer  is  al.lo  to 
«kn  over  the  snow  with  astonishin-  speed, 
bu  .  a  O'  vie  the  llrst  attempt  is  not  .mlv 
ft;U;,^d,hnteansesexcrueuU.n^pa.ml    el 

i,uuenston\e(l  movement  ot  t  le  toot,  lo 
U  .  •  wi      the  pr(>ssure  of  the  instep  strap, 

f;  le  V  1  ..  pe.-uliur  to  the  snow  shoe^ 
,         l.v  tl  e   Canadians  'Mm.!  <?«  rnquet. 

Nonhroes  blood    stain    the  snow    as 

n,^excnnated  foot  drags  the  heavy  shoe 

Ksshisss;^:ie« 


It  often  happens  that  heavy  snow  storiTis 

ZTm.\.r  ll.»..  II...  .■.;S>"»'  """;:,'':  "'  I ., 

..  .n,.,l    hv  a   name    which   si^'Uilles     "i-ar » 
; 'w  "  s  o.  s.    Sonte  of  the  prairie  tnbes  use 
"V  long  a.ul  comparatively  narrow  ska  e^^, 

(iirlicd   ill)   in  front,  and  precisely   us( m 
•m,   II  e   "skidor"  of   Northern  Europe. 

""r?.,.  .e  o^'lt  snow  shoe,  the  Amene^n 
Indian  has  the  bison  at  his  mercy.  IIo 
1     'cithe  h..nl  from  the  emin.'nces  ntto     c 

"'S  :ffii.«.  the  miiv.  1.-'™  »v;E 

an  easy  victim. 


1206 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


if 


Auothor  mode  of  bison  huntinn;  presents  a 
curious  analogy  witli  tlio  ingenious  nietJiod 
of  ostrich  hunting  whieli  is  ])ractised  by  the 
Bosjosui.'uis  of  Soutlu'rn  AlVieii. 

lipon  llie  vast  nlains  of  Nortlj  America 
the  so-called  wolves  prowl  in  numbers. 
They  will  follow  the  hunter  for  weeks  to- 
gether for  the  '^akc  of  the  olfal  of  the  beasts 
which  he  kills.  They  will  not  venture  to 
liarni  him,  but  follow  him  by  day  at  a  distance 
of  half  a  mile  or  so,  and  at  night,  when  lie 
lies  down  to  sleep,  they  will  couch  also  at  a 
respectful  distance. 

Should  he  wound  a  bison  and  not  be  able 
to  secure  it,  the  wolves  are  sure  to  have  that 
animal  sooner  or  later,  and  if  tliey  manage 
to  detach  a  single  bison  from  the  herd,  they 
will  fiiirly  persecute  the  wretched  animal  to 
death,  lint  they  will  never  venture  to  attack 
a  herd  of  bisons,  and,  being  instinctively 
aware  of  the  protection  attbrded  hy  mutual 
i^iijiport,  the  bisons  allow  the  wolves  to  .ap- 
proach (luite  close  to  them,  aud,  indeed,  to 
wander  freely  among  the  herd.  Of  (his  fact 
the  liuntersiake  adv.i.ntaije  in  the  following 
manner.  Tiny  remove  tlie  skin  of  a. large 
wolf,  and  put  it  upon  themselves,  so  that 
when  they  go  on  all  fours  the  head  of  the 
wolf  })rojccts  just  above  their  own  head, 
and  their  arms  and  legs  arc  partly  covered 
by  the  skin  belonging  to  the  corresponding 
members  of  the  wolf. 

Thus  disguised,  they  creej)  slowly  and 
(•aulii)usly  toward  the  herd,  bearing"  their 
i)ow  and  ai'rows  in  their  left  hands.  The 
bisons,  whose  eyes  are  none  of  the  best, 
being  overshadoweil  by  the  masses  of  black 
hair  that  overlap  them,  think  nothing  of  the 
supposed  wolves,  and  allow  them  t.>  c>)me 
•piile  close.  Even  if  an  fmimal  moio  wary 
than  his  comrades  does  suspect  the  ruse,  the 
disguised  hunter  has  merely  to  turn  in 
another  direction,  as  if  the  creature  he  rep- 
resents has  no  business  with  the  herd.  l$y 
degrees,  he  contrives  to  creej)  close  to  the 
bison  which  he  ju-efers,  and  drives  the  (lint- 
headed  arrow  to  its  heai't.  No  report  at- 
tending the  discharge  of  the  arrow,  the 
wouniled  bison  runs  for  a  few  paces,  iind 
sinks  on  the  ground,  mostly  without 
alarming  anv  of  its  companions.  The  hun- 
ter leaves  liis  dying  prey,  goes  otf  after 
another  victim,  aiui  slays  it  in  a  similar 
fashion.  Thus  a  skilful  hunter  will  manage 
to  exhaust  the  whoh;  of  his  stock  of  arrows, 
killing  a  bison  with  each  arrow,  and  yet  not 
alarm  the  rest  of  the  herd. 

IJoth  in  hunting  and  in  warfare  tlie  eques- 
trian warriors  always  carrv  the  lasso  attached 
to  tilt!  saddles  of  "their  horses.  It  is  !U)t, 
liowever,  kept  coiled,  as  is  the  ease  in  Mexico, 
hut  is  allowed  to  trail  on  the  grotmd  beliind 
(heir  horse.  The  object  of  this  custom  is 
easily  understood,  it  often  hui)pens  that, 
whetlier  in  the  luuit  or  warfare,  the  rider  is 
thrown  from  his  horse.  In  such  a  ease.  a.s 
800U  us  he  touches  the  ground,  he  seizes  the 


lasso,  stops  his  wcdl-trained  Iiorsc  with  a 
jerk,  leaps  on  its  back,  and  is  at  once  ready 
to  renew  the  eomltat  or  the  chase. 

The  mode  in  which  the  natives  supply 
themselves  with  horses  is  worth  a  brief  de- 
scription. In  various  parts  of  the  country 
the  horses  have  comidetely  acclimatized 
themselves,  and  have  run  free  for  many 
years,  so  that  they  Itavo  lost  all  traces  oi 
domestication,  and  liave  become  as  truly 
wild  as  th(;  l)ison  and  the  antelope,  assem- 
bling in  large  herds,  headed  by  the  strongest 
and  swiftest  animals.  It  is  from  these  herds 
that  the  natives  supjjly  ihemselves  with  tho 
horses  which  of  late  years  have  become  ab- 
solutely- necessary  to  Ihem;  and  in  most  cases 
the  annuals  are  cai)tured  in  fair  chase  after 
the  following  manner: — 

When  an  American  Indian  —  say  a  Ca- 
manchee  —  wislx's  to  catch  a  fresh  horse, 
he  mounts  his  be^t  steed,  and  goes  in  search 
of  the  nearest  herd.  "When  he  has  come  as 
near  as  lie  can  without  being  discovered, 
ho  dashes  at  (he  herd  at  full  speed,  and, 
singling  out  one  of  the  horses,  as  it  gallops 
along,  liampered  by  the  multitude  of  its 
conii)anions,  (lings  his  lasso  over  its  neck. 

As  soon  as  the  noose  has  tiinily  settled, 
the  hunter  leaps  olf  liis  ov.n  steed  (which  in 
(rained  to  remain  sianding  on  tlie  same 
sjiot  until  it  is  wanted),  and  allows  himself 
to  be  dragg'jd  along  by  (he  aftViglited  ani- 
mal, whicli  soon  falls,  in  consequence  of 
being  choked  i'y  the  leathern  cord. 

When  the  1  orse  has  fallen,  the  hunter 
comes  caudoi'.sly  up,  keejiiiig  (he  lasso  tight 
enough  (o  prevent  the  animal  from  fairly 
I'ecovering  its  breath,  iind  loose  enough  to 
guard  against  its  entire  strangulation,  and 
at  last  is  able  to  place  one  hand  over  its 
eyes  and  the  otbev  on  its  nostrils. 

The  animal  is  now  at  his  mtrcy.  He 
breathes  strongly  into  its  nostrils,  and 
from  that  moment  the  hitherto  Avild  luu'se 
is  his  slave.  In  order  to  impress  ujion 
the  animal  the  fact  of  his  servitude,  ho 
hobbles  (ogether  ils  (bre-fee(  for  a  time,  and 
casts  a  noose  over  its  lower  jaw;  but  within 
a  wonderfidlv  short  jieriod  lie  is  able  to  re- 
move (he  hobbles,  and  to  ride  ti:e  coiKpiered 
animal  into  camp.  During  the  tinn^  (jccu- 
pied  in  laming  (he  horse,  it  iilunges  and 
struggles  in  the  wildest  manner;  but  after 
(his  oiK^  struggle  it  yields  the  point,  and  be- 
comes the  willing  slave  of  its  eoiKiueior. 
Those  who  have  seen  the  late  Mr.  Harey 
o])erat(H)n  a  savage  horse  can  easily  imagine 
the  scene  that  takes  jilace  on  the  jirairie. 

The  rapidity  with  wjiich  this  operation  is 
completed  is  really  wonderful.  An  experi- 
enced hunter  is  able  to  chase,  capture,  and 
break  a  wild  horse  within  an  hour,  and  to 
do  his  work  so  elfectually  (hat  almost  luforo 
its  companions  are  out  of  sight  the  hitherto 
wild  animal  is  being  ridden  as  if  it  liad  been 
born  in  servitude. 

The  native  hunter,  cruel  ni.".jter  though 


Ca- 


"CllEASING"  HORSES. 


1297 


1.  i„  ,  wV.icli  case  tho  whole  herd  duBhcs  off,  and 

he   qencmlly   is,  lakes  spo'^''^^'^^,  °t,n     Se^i^^^^^^        dumces  to  the  hunle.-,  or  of 

..up  the  spirit  "V"'*''r"""'"";Vwwl     l^   SiiS^  loo  low,  in  which  case  tlxo  liorse  is 

«elfou  the  hounds  and  curvets  wlueli   II  c   «^  '^'  -    ^i.^  spot.      ... 


crl^ulr;  make;  when  it  receives  its  master 

"Tl'iJe  i'iv  one  drawback  to  tlvis  mode 
•  hu  til  -     It  is  impossible  to  capture  w.tli 


of 


?^;;^:o1he   be^taiulswiftcst^^eehnc^ 
They  se"m  to  assume  the,  respousibihty  as 


^'^fai:" '^n^e'with  tA.eir  usual  eustou. 
some  of  the  tribes  perform  iv  sacred  dance  as 
a  means  of  hringius  the  b  sou  w.t  uu  their 
re"eh  Tlie  most  cliaracteristicot  these  per- 
formances is  tlie  Buiralo  Dance  as  practised 

^^^;;;^;SWnsuiattiiesi^p^ 


his  been  invente<l  since  the  introduc  ion 

?c-avms    This  is  terhuically  named  "creas- 

<r"a  dis  done   in  the  following   manner. 

'■fkiu"    i    ri  le  with  him,  the  hunter  creeps 

i.uau    mo  J   watches 

"^all  1^    xe    o   Vholse  that  he  thinks  will 

s,  it  him.    Waiting  till  the  animal  is  stand- 

u!'wth  its  side  toward  him,  he  amis   care- 


^'''ItTerfain  seasons  of  the  year  however, 
the  aiii  nals  are  sure,  to  withdraw  themse  ves 
further  and  further  from  the  villages,  so  t  t 
he  uinters,  in  order  to  pn.eure  meat,  aie 
blind  to  venture  so  far  from  heir  own 
grS  that  they  ain.  in  <l'U>J,:er  ^    nieeting 

in.' wiui  itssuic  iu".">'  ■ ',-,,  iiMiu.  Iwith  war  parties  of    an  imuucal   tuljc.    Jii 

f    U  at  the  top  of  the  neck  and  l.res.    It  .'st , lie  huile.-s  report  to  the  council  otch.els 

S,^  ho   correl-t,  the  bullet  ^nst  gn«es_  the  |  .  s t  0^^^^        I  „^^^^  ^te::!;t':::>e  ^^S 

'■"li^-lLAl^t^claJTJV^St'wahhlg: 
duii  '''which  every  adult  \hroughout  the 
!om"runlty  is  reduf.ed  to  a  ^f^.f.^^^ 
starvation,  no  bisons   are  found,  the  batlalo 

animals  to  them, 


neck 'ami'tbe  horse  tails  as  if  dead,  stunned 
rke  moment  by  the  shock.  It  recovers 
within  a  very  sh(U-t  time;  but  beloio  it  luus 
cl  ed  its  teet  the  hunter  is  able  to  con  e 
un  to  the  prostrate  animal,  place  his  hands 
oleiils  eyes,  breathe  into  its   nostrils,  and    ^^^ _^ ^ 

thus  to  subdue  it.  „  j  sort  of  homage  to  the  Great 

This  is  a  very  ctTeetual  mode   ot   ""^^^M     j.,;      ^lat  He  can  send  he  t 

it   IS  not   in  favor  with  .»   ""^    "'-T    ",•„.,  that  He  will  do 


Piltcllill'''*.  but  It    in  ii"i,     .1.  ..*.--  . 

'  ho    ^^nt    horses    for    their    own    ndin 
because  it  always  breaks   the  s,nnt  o     the 
animal,  and  deprives  it  of  th'        «  ;»»J  '^•^^^ 
iiailion  which  the  nalive  warrioi  pu/.es   so 
i'  Iv     In.leed,  so  careful  is  tlie  Camanel  ee 
f^ll    steed,  ihat    he  will  not  inount  his 
vo  •  te  war  liorse  except  in  actual  warfare 
r  i    the  hunt.     Wiieii  he  is  sunmoiied  hy 
s  cliu-  atten.l.  muster,  mounted  on  a 
second  horse,  ..r  hack,  ami  leading  his  war 
luirse  1)V  the  liridle. 

The  wild  horses  of  Xorth  America  are  a 
.,uill  and  neat-limbed,  though  powerlul, 
h  :  1  'f  animal.  Mr.  Catliii  says  that  their 
val.    has  been  much  overrated  as  even  ho  c 

Ihich  belong  to   the  V^'^'^f  rAX  r« s 
thought  to  be  e(iual  to  the l)est  Arab  horsts 
r.^;;;tlu.averageworths-melweatypound^^^ 

■leh  The  ciiiefs  have  generally  one  or  two 
;.:.::;Jf  very  superior  HU;dit,,  but- far^as 


and  nraviu"  that  He  will  do  s(y,  and  as  we 
shall  preseStly  see,  it  is  a  remedy  that  never 

"^^  Among  the  Mandans  every  man  i«  obliged 
by  law  t5  have  a  butlalo  mask, ..  e  the  sk  n 
of  the   head,   with    the  horns   added   to  it. 


Usually  to   the    head_  is   added    .a  strip 


of 

kin    mie  four  ov  five  inches  wide,  extending 

„U,n.'  thewliole  lent'th  of  the  annual,  and  ii- 

ulTn  '  the  tail.    When  the  wear.u'  inits  on 

i^     a"k  the  stri,.  of  skin  extends  down  hi.s 

;,a..k,  and  the  tufted  tail  drags  ou  the  ground 

"1'tVe'worn  one  of  these  strange  ma-sks 
nud  found  it  much  less  inconyement  than 
n"  h  b.ave  been  sup,iosed.  It  is  not  nearly 
"oe  m  Irons  as  the  ehiefs  dress  of  state,  de- 
..iiw.  „T,  i^i.'c  l->70  The  butlalo  mask  is 
5 '  bV  enirat  the  head  of  his  bed  a 
Snistanee  which  gives  a  Btrange  wddn 


.:..;.  of  v.:^f  sui,erior  Hualit^r;  but  as  far  as  c-um  -;-■-'};- ^  ,,  !„;,,,,  ,,  u  u 

,ho  average  goes,  tl.e  t'=|'"='"'^''^'^,    "'';/' "'u     "l  ed,  especially  if  several  young  warriors 
worth  more  than  the  =t'">vc -ne  i   on       mv.       llul,^^  1^^^  ^J^  


live  meniioneii  »i'"'.    >"'"'"' -"1" .'    ,    ■, 

als.    Creasing  is,  moreover,  liable  to  two 


imal 


disauvautages. 
daiige'  of  missiii;. 


The    hunter    is    equally  in 


ins  mark  altogether,  in 


for  tlio  bufTalo 
dince  is  given,  tlio  men  repair  to  their 
Imes  and  bring  out  their  musks,  together 
with  the  weapons  which  they  are  neeustomed 
te  in  the'  hunt.  Ten  or.  n«een  o  ttu.n 
arrange  themselves  iu  a  circle,  whilo  the 


iA 


1298 


THE  NORTH  AMEBICAN  INDIANS. 


medicine  men  seat  tliemsclves  on  the 
ground,  betiting  their  sacred  drums  and 
siialiing  their  rattled  to  a  rliythniical  sort  of 
movement  which  guides  tlie  steps  of  the 
dancers. 

Tliese  move  continually  in  a  circle,  stamp- 
ing, yelping,  grunting,  bellowing,  and  uui- 
tatin<T  in  various  ways  the  movements  of  the 
bison.  The  dance  goes  on  day  and  night 
without  cessation,  and  as  it  never  ceases  until 
bisons  are  seen,  the  reader  will  understand 
that  it  is  absolutely  effective  in  bringing 
tlieni.  A  spirited  sketch  of  such  a  dance  is 
given  on  the  follow  ina  page. 

The  mode  in  which"  it  is  kept  up  is  rather 
amusing.  The  medicine  men  who  beat  the 
drums  and  encourage  the  dancei-s  are  re- 
lieved from  time  to  time  by  their  compan- 
ions. But  for  the  dancers  there  is  supposed 
to  be  no  relief  but  death.  This  difficulty, 
however,  is  surmounted  by  a  sort  of  legal 
tlcli'ni.  When  one  of  the  performers  has 
yelped,  stamped,  bellowed,  and  leapcnl  until 
ho  can  dance  no  longer,  he  stoops  down  and 
places  his  hands  on  the  ground.  Another 
dancer,  who  is  armed  with  a  very  weak  bow 
and  arrows  with  large  blunt  heads,  tits  an 
arrow  to  his  bow,  and  shoots  him.  Tin; 
wounded  dancer  falls  to  the  ground,  and  is 
seized  by  the  bystanders,  who  drag  him  out 
of  the  iing,  go  through  the  movements  of 
skinning  him  and  cutting  him  u]),  when  he 
is  allowed  to  retire  and  r.'st  from  his  labors. 
As  soon  as  he  is  dragged  out  of  the  ring, 
another  dancer  leajis  into  his  phice,  and  in 
this  way  the  dance  may  go  on  for  weeks  with- 
out cessation. 

Jleanwhile  scouts  are  posted  on  all  the 
hills  within  range,  and  as  soon  as  one  of 
them  sees  the  bisons,  he  gives  the  signal  by 
to8.sing  his  rope  in  tlie  air  in  the  direction  of 
the  game.  Mr.  C'atlin  relates  a  remarkable 
instance  of  the  buffalo  dance  and  its  sequel. 

Game  had  been  scarce,  the  dance  had  been 
going  on  for  days,  and  the  vilhige  was  in  a 
state  of  increasing  distress,  when  the  wel- 
come signal  wa.s  seen  from  the  hills.  The 
dance  cea-sed,  tiie  young  nnm  flew  to  tbeir 
arms,  sprang  on  their  horses,  and  dashed  off' 
into  the  prairie  toward  the  signal. 

"  In  the  village,  where  iiung<T  reigned 
and  starvation  was  almost  ready  to  look 
them  in  the  face,  all  was  instantly  turned 
to  jov  and  gladness.  The  ehit^f  and  doc- 
tors, who  had  been  for  seven  days  dealing  out 
minimum  rations  to  the  community  from  tlie 
pul>lic  crib,  now  spread  before  their  subjects 
the  contents  of  their  own  private  cachen  (i.  e. 


hidden  stores),  and  the  last  of  everything 
that  could  bo  mustered,  that  they  might  eat 
a  thanksgiving  to  the  Great  Spirit  for  His 
goodness  in  sending  them  a  supply  of  butTalo 
meat. 

"  A  genera]  carouse  of  banqueting  ensued, 
which  occupied  the  greater  part  of  the  day, 
and  their  hidden  stores,  which  might  have 
fed  them  on  an  emergency  for  several 
weeks,  were  pretty  nearly  used  up  on  the 
occasion.  Bones  w  half  picked,  dishes 
half  emptied,  and  tnen  handed  to  the  dogs. 
I  was  not  forgotten  in  the  general  surfeit. 
Several  large  and  generous  v/ooden  bowls  of 
pemmican  and  other  palatable  food  were 
sent  to  my  painting  room,  and  I  received 
them  in  this  time  of  scarcity  with  great  plea- 
sure." 

When  the  feast  -I'as  over,  songs  and 
dances  set  in,  ami  the  whole  village  was 
filled  with  sounds  of  revelry.  Suddenly,  in 
the  midst  of  th(!ir  mirh,  two  or  three  of  the 
hunters  dashed  in  among  the  feasters,  one 
having  in  his  hands  a  still  bleeding  scalp, 
another  sitting  wounded  on  his  liorse,  whose 
white  coat  was  crimsoned  with  tlie  fast-flow- 
ing blood  of  the  rider,  while  another  was, 
though  unwoiinded,  totally  unarmed,  having 
flung  away  his  weapons"  in  the  hurry  of 
flight. 

Their  fatal  story  was  soon  told.  The 
bisons,  after  whom  the  hunters  had  gone 
were  notliing  more  than  pnii>ty  skins, 
within  which  a  jiarty  of  Sioux  warriors  had 
bidden  themselves,  "and  were  imitating  the 
action  of  the  animals  which  they  personated. 
Inveterate  enemies  of  the  Mandaiis,  they 
had  reconnoitred  their  village  by  night,  and 
ascertained  that  tliev  were  executing  the 
buffalo  dance.  Several  of  them  procured 
bis(m  .skins,  and  enacted  the  jiart  of  the  ani- 
mals, while  their  comrades  were  concealed 
behind  the  bluffs. 

Fortunatelv  for  the  Mandans,  their  leader 
became  suspicious  of  the  supposed  bisons, 
and  halted  his  troop  before  they  had  quite 
fallen  into  tin,'  trap,  and,  when  some  eighty 
or  ninety  mounted  Sioux  dashed  at  them 
from  behind  the  bluff",  they  were  just  start- 
ing homeward.  As  it  was,  however,  eight 
of  them  fell,  a  loss  which  was  but  ill  com- 
pensated by  one  or  two  Sioux  scalps  se.-ured 
by  the  Mandans  in  the  hurry  of  flight.  Even 
under  such  untoward  circuinstanees,  the  buf- 
falo dance  did  not  lose  ita  reputation,  for 
within  two  days  a  large  herd  of  bisons 
passed  near  the  "village,  and  aflbrded  an  abun- 
dant supply  of  meat. 


(1.)   BISON   UL'NTINti.    (Sec  pasje  12U:t.) 


^■i.)  UUFKAIA)   OANCK.     (See  piitft  I'^W.) 


.  1 


ij"!  1 


> 


i 


CHAPTER    CXXXYin. 

THE  NOKTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS  -  Oonto'^. 

KELialON  —  SUPEKSTITION. 

„       .i.Tivjnjrn  OP  THE  FIBST  MAN— ■ 

T„B    OKKAT    MKIMCN.^    I.O.KIE,    AND    '"  •;"\™^'^  ,,.„,„  oANOE -- APPUOACM  OF  THE   EVIL 

rAHTrUE  OF  THE   E.UST   ^^^>■  "  "•''''■"'^';:  ,  ^^^^^^..^.^TeNT  OF  INinAT.ON  -TU.AI,    HV   BVSPEN- 

srn»T-rowEU  or  the  '■"''"^''./"■'^-'.'^'^''rx^  co.i.m.eous   ,^„,ate.-i.oo>uxc>  at 

piiiiiiipliiP 

l!:;;.^?nto\ho  .iKule  an  *]- -^^ ;;!  Sb       the  M.ul-Uus  there  -X''^S.'lu""lVom 
?!;np:uva  with  the  horror,  of  the  M.uul.n    »h;c    ^^^  >^^^  centre  ofU^o  v.  age   h..^ 


"'ril'll'l^te  vear«thiB  ceremony  wa.  qui'c 


oniV  one  mini  unv,..!-^"     •  c 

HOC  Tu  'he  centre  of  the  village  there  t s  a 
"u-^'c  oi  -n  snaec.  in  which  is  a  conventional 
:;rrescJntuti!.n  of  the  "  big  cauoc,"  m.wha^h 
,hl-  First  or  Only  Man  f  ^;;i;^J-  j,^  ,,  ^,  ?„"„ 

nioru  ui.ii'  "  _..;,<,  „.„,,,i,,ii  iwiniia.  and 


;.  betraycJ  until  Mr.  ^^^^J^^U   M^uHh  surti.cc 


ill  in  i.ainuu^;,  "".^  '  r  ,: \  -iwi  so 
,;nwent  It  in  most  fortunate  that  h.^  'lul  so, 
I  ,   lhcSlau,lan  tribe  h.is  utterly  iicrishca, 

of  it 


'JiS'cSil^iy  only  tal^s.place  once  in 
(iw  v.-ir  the  time  heim;  designated  >>j  tr.i. 


cf  the  olive,     ine  oiru  .u......  ,   -V  ,"  y\,fje„ 

SiiSEvSS™;  f^  «j,.j  -i-b  "'t;„,.n  -.— M-."C'IS^ 


f       ' 


If'li 


1302 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


:; 


soon  Jis  he  is  seen,  the  whole  village  be- 
onics  a  scene  of  confusion,  ns  if  the  enemy 
were  attneking  it.  The  dogs  are  caught 
iind  muzzled,  llic  horses  that  ftie  fee(ling 
on  the  surrounding  pastures  are  driv«>n  into 
the  village,  the  warriors  paint  tlieir  faces  for 
battle,  seize  their  spears,  string  their  bows, 
and  proiiare  ilieir  arrows. 

In  the  midst  of  the  confusion  the  First 
Man,  or  Nu-mohk-muck-a-nah,  as  he  is 
called  in  the  Maiidan  tongue,  stalks  into  the 
central  space,  where,  the  chief  and  principal 
warriors  receive  him  and  shake  liauds.  He 
is  a  strnnge  object  to  the  eye.  His  nearly 
naked  body  is  pairtcd  while,  a  white  wolf- 
skin mantle  is  thrown  over  his  shoulder?, 
his  hea(l  is  decorated  with  plumes  of  ravens 
feathers,  and  in  his  left  hand  he  bears  his 
mystery  pipe,  which  he  treats  with  the 
greatest  veneration. 

After  greeting  the  chief,  he  proceeds  to 
the  great  medicine  lodge,  which  is  kept 
closed  during  the  year,  and  has  it  swept  and 
the  lloor  strewn  with  fresh  green  boughs 
and  aromatic  herbs.  Sever.il  skulls  of  men 
and  bisons  arc  laid  on  the  (1  r,  a  number 
of  new  ropes  are  thrown  over  tin;  beams,  a 
quantity  of  strong  wooden  skewers  are 
p'aced  under  them,  and  in  the  centre  is 
built  a  slight  jilatform,  on  the  lop  of  which 
is  laiii  iho  chief  medicine  or  mystery  of 
the  tribe.  This  is  so  saered  that  no  one 
is  allowed  to  ajiproach  it  except  the  con- 
ductor of  the  ceremony,  and  none  but  he 
ever  knows  what  it  is. 

lie  next  goes  to  every  hut  in  succession, 
stands  before  the  gate,  and  weeps  loudly. 
When  the  owner  comes  out,  the  First  Man 
narrates  the  circumstances  of  the  flood  and 
of  his  own  escape,  and  demands  an  axe  or  a 
knife  as  a  sacriticf!  to  the  Great  Spirit.  Ev- 
ery hut  furnish(  3  an  edited  tool  of  some 
kind;  and  whc-.i  the  tale  is  comoleted,  they 
are  carried  into  the  medicine  lodge.  There 
they  rest  until  the  last  d.iy  of  the  cer.-monics 
when  thev  are  thrown  into  a  (ieep  pool  in 
tlic  river. '  No  one  is  allowed  to  touch  them, 
and  there  they  lie  until  at  some  future  day 
they  will  be  discovered,  to  the  great  bewil- 
derment of  antiquarians. 

Fron.  the  moment  that  the  First  Man  en- 
ters the  village  a  dead  silence  reigns,  a  cir- 
cumstance quite  in  opposition  to  the  usu.al 
noisy  habits  of  a  native  village.  Where  he 
sleeps  no  one  knows,  but  at  dawn  of  the  fol- 
lowing morning  he  again  enters  the  village, 
a.s  he  had  done  before,  and  walks  to  the 
nifidi'.'ine  lodge,  whither  he  is  followed  by 
the  candidates  for  initiation  walkinj'  in  In- 
dian file,  and  each  painted  fantastically,  and 
carrying  his  bow  and  arrows,  his  diield  aiul 
"medicine  bag."  Of  this  article  we  shall 
learn  more  in  a  future  page.  In  silence  they 
scat  themselves  round  the  lodge,  each  hay- 
ing his  weapons  hung  over  his  liead. 

Here  they  have  to  sit  for  four  days,  dur- 
ing wlijch  time  they  may  not  com  aunicate 


with  those  on  the  outside  of  the  hut,  and 
are  not  allowed  to  eat,  drink,  or  sleep.  W  hen 
they  have  taken  their  places,  the  1  irst  Man 
lights  his  pipe  from  the  lire  that  is  kept 
burning  in  the  centre  of  the  lodge,  and 
makes  an  oration  to  the  candidates,  exhort- 
ing them  to  be  courageous  and  enduring, 
and  praying  that  the  Great  Spirit  may  give 
them  strength  to  pass  satisfactorily  through 
the  ordcah  . 

He  then  calls  to  him  an  old  medicine 
man,  and  appoints  him  to  be  master  of  the 
ceremonies,  handing  him  the  niyslerv  pipe 
as  a  symbol  of  ollice.  Addressing  the  as- 
sembled comjiany,  lie  takes  leave  of  the 
chiefs,  saying  that  he  will  return  in  another 
y*  ar  to  re-open  the  lodge,  and  stalks  slowly 
out  of  the  village,  disappearing  over  the 
bluflfs  whence  he  came.  The  master  of  the 
ceremonies  then  takes  his  jdace  in  the  cen- 
tre of  the  lodge,  and  relights  the  pijie,  utter- 
ing with  every  whiff  of  smoke  a  petition  to 
.he  Great  Spirit  in  behalf  of  the  candidates. 
lor  three  full  days  they  sit  silently  round 
the  lodge,  but  outside  it  a  strange  scries  of 
ceremonies  takes  place. 

Chief  among  them  is  the  buff.do  dance,  in 
which  the  eight  actors  wear  the  entire  sl;iii3 
of  bisons,  and  carrv  on  their  backs  a  large 
bundle  of   slight  twigs.    They  also  carry  a 

'     nd  a  slender 


mystery  rattle  in  one  hand,  and 
staff  in  the  other.  They  arrange  them- 
selves in  lour  pairs  round  the.  Big  Canoe, 
each  pair  corresponding  with  one  of  the 
cardinal  pointp  of  the  compass.  Between 
each  group  dances  a  young  man,  two  of 
them  painted  black  and  covered  with  white 
stars,  so  as  to  represent  the  night,  and  the 
other  two  painted  red,  to  represent  the  day. 

Beside  the  Big  Canoe  sit  two  medicine 
men,  wearing  the  skins  of  grizzly  bears,  and 
tlireatening  to  devour  the  whole  village.  I  u 
order  to  appease  their  hunger,  the  women 
bring  continual  relays  of  meat  in  dishes, 
whidi  are  at  once  carried  off  to  the  prairie 
by  men  painted  entirely  black,  excejit  their 
heads,  which  are  white.  They  are  thus 
colored  in  imitation  of  the  bald-bi-aded  e.-igle. 
As  they  run  to  the  prairie  they  are  pursued 
by  a  host  of  little  bovs  jiainted  yellow,  with 
white  heads,  and  called  antelojies.  Alter  a 
severe  chase  they  catch  the  eagle-men,  seize 
the  food,  and  devouv  .t. 

These  dances  occur  several  times  daily, 
the  performers  being  summoned  I)y  the 
master  of  the  ceremonies,  who  comes  out  of 
the  medicine  lodge,  followed  by  his  itnniedi- 
ate  assistants,  and  proceeds  to  the  Big  Canoe, 
against  ^^  liieli  he  leans,  and  weeps  aloud  as  if 
in  dire  distress.  The  dance  takes  i)lace  four 
times  on  the  (irst  day,  eight  times  on  tho 
sec  nd,  twelve  times  on  the  third,  and  six- 
teen times  on  the  fourth;  the  sound  of  the 
old  man's  wailing  cry  being  the  signal  for 
the  dancers  to  issue  iVom  the  hut  in  which 
they  dress. 

l)uring  each  performance,  the  old  medi- 


THE  ORDEAL  OF  SUSPENSION. 


1303 


1  I  Thn  women  then  begin  in  their  turn  to  aa- 
clnc  men  who  arc  boatin?;  tlieir  drums  »''"  WYt^^^ir  persecutor  with  jeers  ami  laughter, 
dress  the  bystanders,  telhn«  them  tl  t  the  ^'^  '^«»[^Pt  „„„  „f  them  snatches  up  a  Imnd- 
Great  Spirit  is  pleased  %yilh  their   '"vota     unui  a^^^  .^ 

Uons.and  that  he  has  given  th';™   I^f''^^^'   J^/o^^^^^^^^^^ 

that  even   thdr   women  and  ^'"l^'"^  "  '^.'^^'M  S  weep  pit^^^^^^^      E^nboldened  l^y  tins  eon- 
hold  the  mouths  of  Rri/./.ly  bears;  '"It'^Mf^.^-o'i^oFweakness,  another  woman  snatchy 

the  evil  spirit  who  is  cljallenged  ^y  ,^*^ '^^^   '^^^^ "^  mi^^^^^ 

rites  has  not  dared  to  make  h.s  appearance    away  n.s  m  ^  ^^.^  ^^.     -^  by  the  sur- 

Thirty-two  times  durin-  the  tour  days  ^'"M  ^""rf '^iii  '^-onien,  who  break  them  to  pieces 
vaunt  is  made,  and  no  evil  '^P''''S=^l'f  ^."^^r'  ^"7  i  ^/ hem  at  the  head  of  the  demon, 
but  after  ll.e  last  day  he  come.,  and  a  horn-  'j^^J^']'  7,;'^  ,,ived  of  all  ^^^frV^'t^^Z 
ble-loukins  object  be  is.  .  „(  •  acToss  the  prairie,  followed  for  ball  a  mdp 

On  a  .listanl  blutf  the  evi   spi^t  n  akcs  his     11  auoss         i^^^^^^^^ 
„pp.u.ance,  ruslnn,  toward^je  V    ag.  m_a 


wild  and  devious  course.    Pj-''«';"/\v>?;:;;: 

»,.,  s  the  circle  nerfectly  naked,  with  his  body 

mint  ul  black  and  covered  with  white  rin^s, 

ioith  decorated  with  white  i»'l'3n  a Uons 

kc  <'reat  teeth,  and  holding  in  Ins  hand  a 

on'-Mnagic  slalVtipped  with  a  red  ball.    As 

c  nmsTdoug,  he  slides  this  ball  before  him 

on  t  e  Kround,  and  suddenly  makes  a  rush 

at  tie  ffS"  of  women  who  are  witnessing 

the  ceremony.  ,        ,      t„--„r 

Tbev  fall  back  on  each  other  in  terror, 
and  slfriek  for  aid,  which  ie  given  by  tie 
n"  ster  of  the  ceremonies.  As  soon  as  he 
ears  their  cries,  be  runs  from  the  Bi- 
p.  noe  where  he  has  been  weeping,  and 
ar  bir^i^c  pipe  in  <^.nt  of  the  injuder 
The  demon  is  instantly  checked  by  >ts  w^^'  " 
drous  intlucnccand  he  stands  ijf.i  petnf  ed 
oachliml.  remainin;^  in  the  atti  ude  wind, 
it  had  taken  when  the  pipe  was  held  betoic 

'"'"This  check  gave  the  females  an  opportu- 
nity to  get  out  of  reach,  and  when  they  were 
free  fr.mi   their  danger,  though   all   hear  Is 
beat  vet  with  the  intensest  excitement,  their 
alarm  was  cooled  down  into  the  most  exor- 
Itant  huK'hter  and  shouts  of  applause  at  his 
s  idden  de^^^      ^nd  the  awkward  and  ridicu- 
i*po.tm-e  in  which  ho   was  f  «P1-    -^/^  ^-^j 
held     The  old  man  was  braced  still  b\  I  i«        *v  m 
S  with  his  eyeballs  glaring  h'-"   »?  the 
face    whilst  the   medieme  pipe  held  in  it3 
!:  V  Vic  chain  his   satanic  majesty,  annulling 
:  i  the  powers  of  his  magical  wand,  and  also 
depriving  him  of  the  power  ot  locomotion. 

SiireTv  no  two  human  beings  ever  pre- 
8,.nted  a  more  striking  group  than  these  two   depend 
i  1    V  dua    di<l  for  a  few  moments,  with  their  I  will 
evela  s  set  in  direst  mutual   hatred  upon 
eich  other;  both  struggling  for  the  suprem- 
-icv  reiving  on  the  potency  of  their  med i- 
;.,\e  or' mystery;  the  one  held  in  check,  with 
1,^    body  pai.ited    black,  ivpresenting    or 
■a  her    ssu.ning  to  be,  O-kee-hee-de   (the 
Evil  Spirit),  frowning  everlastin-^  ^^Jlf  f "^^ 
on  the  other,  who  sternly  gazed  him  back 
w  tl,  a  look  of  exultation  and  contempt,  as  he 
hold  him  in  check  and  disarmed  under  the 
charm  of  his  sacred  myslery-pipe. 

This  scene  is  repeatedly  enacted,  unti  the 
powers  of  the  magic  pipe  are  P^^'^l  **£•  '"f 
the  assaults  of  the  evil  one,  and  ^l»c  P^';?P' 


or  so  by  the  "women,   who  pelt  him   with 
sticks  stones,  and  mud,  until  at.  last  he  et- 
£shfs  escape,  and  the  village  is  nd  ol  the 
pvil  snirit  for  another  year. 
Now  the  remainder  of  the  initiation  may 

'"'The'little  scaffold  with  its  mystic  burden 
is  r  miovc  1  from-  the  centre  of  the   grea 

Idiiefs  and  braves  of  the  tribe,  re-enlei  the 
lod^e,  and  take  up  their  positions. 

flic  first  candidate   is  now   ca  led,  and, 

waited  by  four  days  "V-^^^^HV^'n  ti  ,nt  ot  Iw.; 

drink  or  sleep, places  himself  in   lontot  two 

f  the  operato  s.  One  of  these,  who  is  arme 

with  aJouble  edged  kuife4;«rP-ely  bit.  te^ 

and  notched,  pinches  "P,''"\";'';„,f  ,,,'^hes 

ii,>sh  of  the  shoulder  or  breast,  and  pusiics 

h.  knife   hrou-h  it,  between  his  linger  and 

iimb  an  the  body  of  the  candidate  The 
kn  f  is  then  withdrawn,  and  one  of  tha 
wooden  skewers  forced  through   the   apcr- 

u-c  This  operation  is  repeated  on  the  o  her 
shoulder  or  breast,  on  each  arm  iu.t  below 
? Ic  shouldev  and  below  the  elbow  uf^on 
each   high,  and  upon  each  leg  ust  below  the 


While  this  operation  is  being  performed, 
the  candidates  do  not  ^Uow  the  s lighU^ 
symptom  of  pain  to  escape  them,  .and  they 
even  invite  the  spectators  to  watch  their 
cou  tenances,so  as  to  ascerhun  that  thoy 
betray  no  s^gus  of  suffering.  They  may  w  ell 
do  s()  fb,- mT>n  the  verdict  of  these  chefs 
t^:£  IS.  -.sidenvMon  in  vd|-h  they 
wi  1  be  belli  in  after  life,  and  -o  man  has  a 
dance  of  being  appointed  the  l-^rof  a 
war  narty  if  he  has  been  seen  to  flinch  dur- 

'"ihom?-? these  preparations  are  com- 
ulcted  two  of  the  hide  ropes  are  loweied 
From  the  roof,  and  bitched  ro«i;u^^the  sk.>we 
on  the  breast  or  shoulders.  To  the  otncis 
are  hum'  the  weapons  of  the  c.andulato, 
while  I  "those  of  the  lower  arm  and  leg  .are 
suspended  the  skulls  of  bisons  A  sign  is 
then  given,  and  the  poor  wretdi  is  ban  ed 
un  nto  tlie  air,  when  he  swings  suspen.led 
onlv  by  to  two  skewers,  and  austa.mug  not 
::Sl!LW-i.htJ>"tthatofthe    u^ 


have 


^£^&t  ^^y^Sl^^^!^^ '»-  "-'*"^" 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


i<  y. 


1304 

from  the  ground.  In  this  terrible  position 
ho  has  to  remain  until  nature  flnally  gives 
way.  ami  he  faints.  The  artist  has  rcpre- 
Bcutod  this  stage  of  the  fearful  ordeal  on  the 
following  page.  ,,       _  ...       „ .  „ 

"Surrounded"  writes    Mr.    Catlin,   "  by 
imps  and  demons,  as  they  appear,  a  dozen 
or  more,  who  seem  to  be  concocting  and  dc- 
visin.r  means  for  bis  exquisite  agony,  gather 
around   him,  wlien  one  of  the  number  ad- 
vanics  toward  him  in  a  sneering  manner, 
and  commences  turning  him  round  with  a 
pole  which  be  brings  in  his  hand  tor  that 
puriiose.    This  is  done  in  a  gentle  manner 
at  llrst,  hut  gradually  increased,  until  the 
poor  fellow,  whose  i)roud  spirit  can  control 
Its  a"ony  no  longer,  bursts  out  in  the  most 
lamentable  and  heart-rending  cries  that  the 
hum;in  voice  is  capable  of  producing,  crying 
fortli  a  i)rayor  to  tlie  Great  Spirit  to  support 
and  protect  him  in  this  dreadful  trial,  and 
continually  repeating  his  confideuce  in  Ins 
protection.  ■■  .    i 

"  In  this  condition  he  is  continued  to  be 
turned  faster  and  faster,  and  there  is  no  hone 
of  escape  for  him,  nor  the  chance  for  the 
ali.rbtest  relief,  until,  by  fainting,  his  voice 
falters,  and  his  strugglings  cease,  and  be 
hangs  a  Still  and  apparently  lifeless  col•p^;<^ 
When  he  is  by  turning  gradually  brought 
to  this  condition,  which  is  generally  done 
within  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  there  is  a  close 
scrutiny  passed  upon  him  among  his  tor- 
mentors, who  are  eheckint;  and  holding  each 
other  back  as  long  as  the  least  struggling  or 
tremor  can  be  discovered;  lest  he  should  be 
removed  before  he  is,  as  they  term  it,  eii- 

tirelv  dead."  .... 

When  they  .are  s.atisfied,  a  signal  is  given 
to  the  rope-liolders,  and  the  senseless  man 
is  lowered  to  the  ground,  the  skewers  which 
passed  through  bis  bre.ast  are  removed,  and 
the  ropes  attached  to  another  candidate. 
Just  as  lie  falls,  he  is  allowed  to  lie,  no  one 
daring  to  touch  bim,  for  lie  has  put  hinisel 
under  the  jiroteetion  of  the  (Jreat  Spirit,  and 
to  help  him  would  be  a  sacrilege. 

When  he  recovers  a  little  strength,  he 
crawls  to  another  part  of  the  lodge,  where 
eits  a  medicine  man  with  a  .bison  skull  be- 
fore him,  and  an  axe  in  his  hand.  Holding 
up  the  little  finger  of  bis  left  hand  as  a  sac- 
rifice to  the  Great  Spirit,  the  initiate  lays  it 
upon  the  skull,  when  it  is  severed  by  a  blow 
from  the  axe.  Sometimes  the  fore-finger  ot 
the  same  hand  is  also  offered,  so  that  thwu; 
are  only  left  the  tliiimb  and  the  two  middle 
fingers,  which  are  all  that  are  needed  to  hold 

the  bow.  .  ,    ,     .....      i 

It  is  a  point  of  honor  with  the  initiates  to 
recover  as  quickly  as  possible  from  their 
8W00n,and  the  chief  warriors  all  wat<-h  them 
narrowlv  on  this  point,  in.asmuch  as  rapidity 
of  recovery  is  a  proof  that  the  individual  is 
strong,  and  capable  of  enduring  the  hard- 
ships which  every  war  party  is  nearly  cer- 
tain to  undergo  before  their  return. 


The  final  scene  of  the  initiation  is  called 
the  Last  Race,  and  is.  if  possible,  even  a 
more  dreadful  trial  llian  any  winch  the 
candidates  have  yet  undergone.  An  ilbiH- 
tration  of  it  is  also  given  the  reader  on  the 

"^Themuler  will  remember  that,  although 
the  skewers  by  which  the  young  men  were 
suspended  are  removed  as  soon  as  they  art 
lowered  to  the  ground  there  yet  re  na 
eight  more,  two  in  each  arm,  and  two  in 
each  leg.    To  each  of  these   is  at  ached  a 

heavy  w^isl^^ ''-•^  ^V^'',  '''"'''  ^^Thev 
none  of  them   may  be  drawn   out.     Ih  y 

must  absolutely  be  torn  out  through  the 
rtesh  by  main  force,  and  that  this  object  may 
be  accomplished  the  Last  «•«'«  ,y;,,  ,""• 
Hitherto  the  ordeal  '^i^^  ^^^^7' i^"'!"",,  " 
the  interior  of  the  me. heme  Iw^fj"-'- '"']  " 
Last  Rac(!  is  run  in  the  open  air,  and  the 
whole  of  the  inhabitants  are  sjiectatois. 

Thema.stcr  of  the  ceremonies  leaves  ic 
medicine  lodge,  goes  to  the  Rig  Canoe,  ka  8 
his  he.ad  against  it,  and  sets  up  his  wa  1  g 
cry.  At  the  sound  of  his  voce  tvventy 
voun-'  men  issue  from  the  dressing  lint,  all 
?7u;^  same  height,  luul  all  wear  ngbeaiiU^ 
ful  war  dresses  of  eagle  quills.  Lach  .  M  i  es 
n  one  hand  a  wreath  of  willow  boughs,  and 
on  rc'ieliin"  the  Rig  Canoe  they  arrange 
Zi!i^elIxs^oundit>acircle,lH.l.nghc 

wreaths  as  connecting  links  /l  >'  " 
run  round  the  canoe,  from  left  t"  '  «  f' 
screamin-  and  y.'lping  at  the  t.'T  "'  "  '^ 
voices,  and  going  as  fast  as  their  legs  can 

"''Tile  candidates  are  now  brought  out  of  the 
med  ciiK.  lodge,  each  trailing  the  luavv 
weights  atta  'bed  to  bis  limbs,  and  are  placed 
at  edual  intervals  outside  the  ring.ol  um- 
m.rs  As  each  takes  his  place  he  is  given 
i,  to  th.>  char-e  of  two  powerful  young  in.-n 
who  ass  round  each  of  his  wrUts  a  broad 
leathern  strap,  which  they  grasp  firmly  wilh- 

""i's- s.\on  as  all  arc  ready,  a  signal  is  given 
un.l  the  candi.lates  are  set  running  round 
the  Rig  Canoe,  outside  the  inner  circle,  each 
nan  being  dragged  along  by  his  «"Pporter  , 
until  the  skulls  and  other  weights  te"/^  ""' 
the  skewers  to  which  they  are  lasteiied. 
The  bvstanders  yell  and  applaud  at  the  tops 
of  tlu^ir  voices,  so  as  to  drown  the  groans  ol 
the  sulferers.  sh.mld  tb.e  foive  ol   nature  ex- 

?a'ct  a  sound  from  them,  and  ».;  encourage 
them  to  endure  this  last  trial.  It  ot  en 
haimens   that  the  flesh  is  so  tough  that  the 

kewers  cannot  be  .Iragge.l  om,  and  in  such 

Ls  the  friends  "«\|l''-"^7'-«  J"7d '^ 
the  skulls  as  they  trail  along  the  ground  so 
qs  to  add  their  weight  to  them. 

The  eai  .lidates  mostly  faint  before  they 
Irvve  run  verv  far,  but  tliev  are  still  dragged 
nil  .1  . lie  cirVle,  and  not  Veleased  urml  be 
last  weight  h.as  been  torn  away.  As  soon 
^aTth  ^occurs,  the  two  men  who  have 
[dragged  their  senseless  charge  loosen  their 


is  calk'd 

i,   CVIMI   <■» 

hith  llu! 
An  illiis- 
er  on  tlie 

ftUhough 
men  were 
,  they  are 
■t  reinsiia 
1(1  two  ii» 
iltacluMl  a 
skull,  and 
lit.    Tlicy 
■oui!;h   tho 
(liject  may 
•c"  is   run. 
untined  to 
;e,  but  tho 
r,  and  the 
tators. 
leaves  the 
anoe,  leans 
Ills  wailing 
iee   twenty 
n>i  hut,  all 
inu  beauli- 
liu'h  tarries 
Kiu^hs,  !ind 
ev  arrange 
hiildini,'  the 

They  <1"» 
't  to"  vif,'ht, 
d])  ol'  their 
ir  legH  ean 

it  out  of  the 
tho  heavy 
d  are  plaeed 
■iiifi;  of  run- 
he  is  given 
yoinig  men. 
'ists  a"  hmad 
firmly  with- 

nnl  is  given, 
ining  round 
r  cirele,  eaeli 
!  supporters, 
Ills  tear  out 
re  fasteiu'd. 
d  at  the  tops 
he  groans  of 
if  nature  ex- 
o  encourage 
il.  It  often 
imh  tiiat  the 
,  and  in  such 
ers  jump  on 
le  ground  so 

hoforo  they 
still  dragged 
sed  until  the 
ay.  As  soon 
n  who  have 
!  loosen  their 


00    MA^^i^^XT^^^AI-  OK  Sl-SPKNSL.N.     (S.-opm^^M^ 


,j.)   •niK   LA6\    HACK.    (Sec  l.ui;o  law.) 


a306) 


DACOTAII  INITIATION, 


1307 


hol.lH,.n.l  run  awnv  a«  ^  ",  J ,  ,  ''^I'^L 

Simit.  Ailer  .i  !•  \;"'"^\,, rough  the  .rowd 
"'^T"''  ■■  n  hut  wheK  S,^  moot  hi.n, 
I"  '7';r" '''  Jlo  Huccor  him. 
ouil  do  111;  »i^«  ;"  „  ,t  ii,„  man  may 
Tho  rule  .  '  -  ;"  ,,/,u.werHhuveh<-.u 
not  he  ielea»»M  >t'    "  [      ''^   ,      Tyjr.  Cullln 

throw  th<'l"«^'lv;^«',^'^,e*"i,„.lators  ,,l  up 

hung  to  hmi.    At  i.vsi  uic    i 

a  ..ry  of  aiHtn..s,  am    U.      /^^  ^^  i..,,i„,, 

ccrcmonloH  «1<'1>1"''  ,  J.V,^„  '  ,.  the'  sjrouu.l. 
Proscntly  f'>e  lau  i<«>'«  ,       ,1,  ^^ 

at  the  cau.c  of  l''-;,  'j"  ,f  i;,''     n.ls  uud 

thr.H,  days  »"'\«''^:^'^*''  Hepau  enal.kd 
until  «ui)inin.ti..n  took  pl;U.n    '» 

1-"  ^"  ^'iircr-Xd  on  i^  »-"!>«  «'- 
iSo  li!:'h:Mno,  au.Un  Jl^tc  «^ '"«  «"^ 
feriuss,  recovered  in  ^  lew  '  •v>h.  ^^_ 

In  the  other  case,  ^^ ';  «  ['*\,;  reuioved. 
tnch.'d  to  the  fm.  ^j'  »  ,.,  t.^to  the  prc- 
Thu  unfortunate  ^  ;'  ^J'^  ',\^ ,  '."^rove  a  stake 
cii.ltous  hank  of  % ' 'N^;' '  "Ji,,!,,,  ho  fastened 

into  the  gro"|"l\  ^  *'";,'  n  I  let  himself 
the  weights  hy  two  rinH,  "";"^,  .  ^,,„1- 
downhMf-wayto    howa^^  ^^^^^^   ^^^„ 

bio   nosilion   ho   hung     'i     »  ^  j    j 

.lays!  until  tlH',  t-,.;\»S^', to  tllo  water. 

-^^t:tirr^---nj 

means  o    proving'      •"^'•,,^  ,^'  Jerfome  then 
?rKinScon:!:i:>-UoubyU.erest.f 

i"«--^l..!"'' ":;^'  W  iai^I>.^  h^c^indor- 


\     «omewhnt    tdmilar    (»y«tcm    prcvalld 

.   Mw.   Uacotah   or  Sioux  In-lmns,  oa 

"    -""«    ^''^.  "-1  ..Med.     ■n.is.  hmv.Vor, 


man 


^.    '"^^  "'TT  J  wa       r;  h^o  undor- 
.lan,  several  of  l'^';^.^.".,, ,,  Mr  Catlin  saw 

^y  "'"JX  d  c"f  M  "dan^braves  had  sub- 
^"•'r.  ?  in  he  r  ure  no  less  than  Ave  tunes, 
mitted  to  ""■/,  "  \  '  „,ion  in  wh  ch  such 
^"""  ^"[.Uns\nVm  '^th  beUef  of  the  Man- 
men  are  held  is  owin„ j' '  of  Kigons  depends 
dans  that  the  "^  ;  "j^    ^1^0  cerenionies, 

on  the  proP'^y  J"\f4  fr     is  cratlHed  in  pro- 
aud  that  the  «vcat  bpu  t    ^  K^;^  ,^^;itcs 

portion  to  the  numbcM^  of  Umcstn  ^^^^  ^^^_ 

are  P«'^f«\*"^'*VoSed  v  are  benefactors  to 
S^^'^bf  L™iral>  a.  such  recotvo 

their  gratitude. 


A  tall  and  «'  "'\  '  ^f  it  i^  ftvUened  one 
f^round,  and  to  the    JU'  ^\  .       ,„,„ic  into  ft 

r\ ''  Ti7*c'.u  a    fo^  ^r''"  'T'' 

|,  ,p.     iii(.    taiK"  ,     (    I  „,p  dawn, 

^=''Ttef.a};fund  houlinS  bi«  medUine  ba^ 
painted  gaily,  u  •  ^,.,,,,,^1^0  sun  nsirs,  two 
i„  h.K  hand.  J»7i7  ,,,^,„u  his  breast,  as  m 

^.irS'lu'w'sllInds' opposite  the   spot 

llie    man    "      .,,     .        (iv..u  liis  eves  UDoII 

Where  the  sun  will  rise,  t Ix.s  h  «  ^      1^,^^ 

it,  and  l«."\'Vonrbody  on  the  rope,  his 
whole  wei^'ht  ot  »'"  '^\"'-?  ,^,  than  sustaiu 
feet  serving  •"»  "  ,^^,^,^f  ^'^^r  e  heavens, 
,,i,„.     Asthesun     .i>  <^^^^^^^^  speaking 

he  moves  gradually  '"j  J'^^.i  -J  ho  can 

„„r  I  akin-  his  f  y«%  "'"  '^l^r  "e  to  sunset 
,„dure  this  torture  »  ^'"V  '  "'',u  t"  wbich 
without  «•'»•'''"«;';,;;;'  ^h  11  i«  valuaWe 
he  a»l»'i^**;  >';«'-"'"^„T.i  at  the  foot  of  tho 
.)re8ents  which  are  laid  at  uu-  >oy 

'"^AS;,!  w  gSS  attending  this  prnj^tic^ 
Llieie  IS  t,'^'"  .  ,  .  ,nii,.  uf  tlio  shouts 
Sht.uld  the  man  faint  "  .,*P  fV  " ,,,  ^nQ  tho 
and  cheering  ''•'««  ^.^yeSe  men  who 
prayers  and  songs  o     |-  ^g  and  beating 

sit  around  ";,^.,  1' f '^^i^   n,pvrtati..n  is  lost, 
the  r  magic  ih   ms    Ins   .   I    ^^^  j^^^^^, 

and  ho  vmU  ''\''   ^\"^  ^hc  presumption  to 
'■"?,"  Sanl",»^  ;'SS;„,«<lc  of  Ob- 

calamity,  and  "^"f^.,,*^"",^,",  the  women. 
When  such  '"^,'=,\'^"\nrthe  ground,  come 

to  that  rank.  fifteen  \oung 

There  arc  generally    en  or  Hce,  ^^^^^ 

men  who  prize  t^^-'^.W^'Hsk  of  failure,  ami  to 
are  willing  to  run  t>f  ."f  "^i'l^Hf  Aiey  fail 
lose  all  reputation  '»  *7^^.,f  {^„-'  tho  sVy. 

SUc  tbeir  position  on    he  ro^.f,^«hen 

-^-^f -Hirsts  ^s 

r^i^Ss:sy7wie^^-e.dis. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


/ 


O 


V.s 


1.0 


I.I 


'-Hi" 

150         ^ 

t  1^ 


12.5 
2.0 

1.8 


1.25      1.4      1  h 

6"     

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


s. 


^ 


^^ 


\\ 


»^ 


^v 


6^ 


''o^ 


^ 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14530 

(716)  873-4503 


^ 


"% 


^^ 


6fj 


*% 


1308 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


gracod,  and  debarred  from  all  hope  of  being 
ndniitted  into  the  Council  of  the  tribe. 
Should,  however,  the  rain  descend,  the 
reputation  of  the  rain  malvcr  is  assured, 
and  he  is  at  once  admitted  into  the  council 
among  the  chiefs  and  greatest  braves. 

Mr.  Catlin  relates  a  curious  account  of 
rain  making  of  which  he  was  a  witness. 
Tliere  had  been  a  drought  for  some  time  in 
the  land,  and  the  rain  makers  had  been  at 
work  for  three  days.  On  the  first  day  a 
man  named  Wah-kee,  or  the  Shield,  essayed 
his  fortune,  and  failed.  The  same  fate  befell 
Om-pah,  or  the  Elk,  in  spite  of  liis  head- 
dress made  of  the  skin  of  the  raven,  the 
bird  that  soars  amid  the  storm.  Wa-rah-pa, 
or  the  Beaver,  also  tried  and  failed;  and  on 
the  fourth  day  Wak-a-dah-ha-hee,  the  White 
Buflalo  Hair,  took  his  stand  on  the  lodge. 
Ho  placed  his  chief  reliance  on  the  red 
lightnings  with  which  lie  had  painted  his 
shield,  and  the  single  arrow  which  he  car- 
ried in  his  hand. 

He  made  an  oration  to  the  people,  saying 
that  he  was  willing  to  sacrifice  himself  for 
the  good  of  the  tribe,  and  either  to  bring 
rain  or  live  with  the  dogs  and  old  women  all 
his  life.  He  explained  that  one  candidate 
had  failed  because  the  shield  warded  ofl'  the 
rain  clouds;  that  the  sei und  failed  because 
the  raven  was  a  bird  that  soared  above  the 
storm,  and  so  did  not  care  whether  it  rained 
or  not;  and  the  third  failed  because  the 
beaver  was  always  wet,  and  did  not  require 
rain.  But  as  for  himself,  the  red  lightnings 
on  his  shield  should  bring  the  black  thun- 
der-cloud, and  his  arrow  "should  pierce  the 
cloud  and  pour  the  water  on  the  fu'lds. 

Now  it  happened  that  just  at  that  time  a 
steamboat  the  first  that  had  ever  been  up 
the  Missouri  fired  a  salute  from  a  twelve- 
pounder  gun,  as  she  came  in  sight  of  the 
Mandan  village.  The  sound  of  the  gun  was 
naturally  taken  for  thunder,  and  the  village 
was  filled  with  joy.  Valuable  gifts  were  pre- 
sented on  ail  sides  to  the  successful  can- 
didate, mothers  were  bringing  their  daugh- 
ters to  offer  them  as  his  wives,  and  the 
medicine  men  were  issuing  from  their  lodge 
in  order  to  admit  him  formally  among  them- 
selves. 

Suddenly,  from  his  elevated  post,  Wak-a- 
dah-ha-hee  saw  the  steamboat  ploughing 
her  way  up  the  riv(?r,  and  emitting  the 
thunder  from  her  sides.  He  turned  to  the 
chiefs  and  the  ass(>mbled  multitude,  and 
told  them  that,  though  the  sounds  were 
not  those  of  thunder,  his  medicine  w.as 
strong,  and  had  brought  a  thimder-boat  to 
the  village.  The  whole  jiopulation  thronged 
to  the  bank  in  silent  woiKler,  and  in  the  <!X- 
pitement  of  the  time  even  the  rain  maker 
was  forgotten.  The  passr'ngers  landed 
among  the  Mandans,  and  for  the  rest  of 
the  day  all  was  turmoil  and  confusion.  Just 
before  sunset  the  White  Buflalo  Hair  spied 
a  black  cloud  creeping  up  from  the  horizon, 


unnoticed  by  the  excited  crowd.  In  a  mo- 
ment he  was  on  the  roof  of  the  council- 
house  again,  his  bow  strung  and  the  arrow 
brandished  in  his  hand.  He  renewed  his 
boastings  and  adjurations,  and  as  the  cloud 
came  over  the  village,  be  bent  his  bow  and 
shot  his  arrow  into  the  sky.  Down  canui 
the  rain  in  torrents,  drenching  the  fortunate 
rain  maker  as  he  stood  on  the  roof,  still 
brandishing  his  thunder  shield  and  vaunting 
its  power. 

Ihe  storm  continued  during  the  night, 
but  unfortunately  a  fiash  of  lightning  en- 
tered a  lodge,  and  killed  a  young  ",\r].  Con- 
sternation reigned  throughout  the  village, 
and  no  one  was  more  frightened  than  the 
ncwly-mado  medicine  man,  who  feared  that 
the  Council  would  hold  him  responsible  for 
the  girl's  fate,  and  condemn  him  to  a  cruel 
death.  Mov(!Over,  he  really  considered  that 
ho  was  in  some  way  responsible,  as  he  had 
left  the  top  of  the  council-house  before  lie 
had  brought  rain. 

So,  early  in  the  morning,  he  sent  his 
friends  to  bring  him  his  three  horses,  and, 
as  the  sun  rose,  he  again  mounted  the  lodge 
and  addressed  the  people.  His  medicine 
was  tno  strong,  he  said.  "  I  am  young,  and 
I  was  too  fast.  1  knew  not  where  to  stoj). 
The  wigwam  of  Mah-sish  is  laid  low,  and 
many  are  the  eyes  that  weep  for  Ko-ka  (the 
Antelope).  Wak-a-dah-ha-hee  gives  three 
horses  to  gladden  the  hearts  of  those  that 
weep  for  Ko-ka.  His  medicine  is  great. 
His  arrow  pierced  the  black  cloud,  and  the 
lightning  came,  and  tlie  thunder  boat  also. 
Wb')says  that  the  medicine  of  Wak-a-dah-ha- 
hee  is  not  strong?  "  This  ingenious  address 
was  received  with  shouts  of  apjilause,  and 
from  that  time  to  his  death  A\'ak-a-dah-lia- 
hee  was  known  by  the  honorable  title  of  tlie 
"  Big  Double  Medicine." 

We  will  now  glance  at  the  medicine  bag, 
which  plays  so  important  a  part  among  all 
the  tribes  of  North  America. 

When  a  boy  is  fourteen  or  fifteen  years 
old,  he  is  sent  into  the  woods  to  find  his 
medicine.  He  makes  a  couch  of  bouglis,  and 
then  lies  without  food  or  drink  for  several 
days,  the  power  of  his  medicine  being  in 
proportion  to  the  length  of  his  fast.  So 
severe  is  this  disciplinethat  instances  have 
been  known  when  the  lad  has  died  from  the 
long  abstinence  to  which  he  subjected  him- 
self. When  he  has  endured  to  the  utn^ost, 
he  vields  himself  to  sleep,  and  the  first  beast, 
bird,  or  reptile  of  which  he  dreams  becomes 
his  "  medicine." 

He  then  returns  home,  and  as  soon  as  he 
has  recovered  a  little  strength,  he  goes  out 
in  search  of  his  medicine,  and,  having  killed 
it.  preserves  the  skin  in  any  shape  which  his 
fancy  may  dictate.  It  is  mostly  sewed  up  in 
Ihe  form  of  a  bag,  and  contains  one  or  two 
other  charms.  The  reader  will  see  that  the 
sii?e  of  the  medicine  bag  is  exceedingly  vari- 
able, according  to  the  size  of  the  creature 


THE  MEDICINE  BAG. 


1309 


from  whose  skin  it  is  formed.  Sometimes  it 
is  lliree  feet  or  more  in  lengtli,  and  often  it 
is  so  small  that  it  can  be  coneealed  under 
the  garments  of  the  owner. 

From  the  medicine  bag  the  Indian  never 
parts.  lie  considers  its  presence  absolutely 
indispensable  to  ensure  success  in  any  un- 
dertaking, and  even  carries  it  into  battle, 
where  he  trusts  to  it  for  protection.  Should 
he  lose  it  in  battle,  ho  is  utterly  disgraced, 
and  there  is  only  one  way  of  restoring  him- 
self to  reputation.  An  Indian  can  only 
"  make  his  medicine  "  once,  so  that  ho  may 
not  restore  it  by  another  probation  of  fast- 
in-r  and  dreaming.  But  if  he  can  slaj'  an 
enemy  in  open  battle,  and  take  his  medicine 
bag,  his  status  in  the  tribe  is  restored,  and 
he  thenceforth  assumes  the  medicine  of  the 
slain  man  in  exchange  for  his  own.  If  a 
m.in  who  lias  not  lost  his  own  medicine 
succeeds  in  capturing  one  fron  an  enemy 
in  fair  battle,  he  is  entitled  to  assume  a 
"  double-medicine,"  and  never  loses  an  op- 
portunity of  displaying  both  the  medicine 
bags  as  trophies  of  his  prowess.  Taking  a 
medicine  bag  is  as  honorable  as  taking  a 
scalp,  and  the  successful  warrior  has  the 
further  advantage  of  being  doubly  protected 
by  the  two  charms. 

Very  few  instances  have  been  known 
where  an  Indian  has  voluntarily  parted  with 
his  medicine  bag,  and  in  such  cases  scarcely 
any  display  of  valor  will  reinstate  him  in 
the  opinion  of  his  tribe.  Sometimes  he  can 
be  iuauced  by  the  solicitation  of  white  men 
to  bury  it,  but  he  treats  the  {jravo  as  if  it 
were  that  of  a  revered  relation,  hovering 
about  it  as  much  as  possible,  lying  over  the 
sacred  spot,  and  talking  to  the  bag  as  if  it 
were  alive.  Sometimes-  he  offers  sacriflces 
to  it;  and,  if  he  be  a  wealtliy  man,  he  will 
offer  a  horse. 

Such  a  sacrifice  as  this  takes  rank  a.s  a  pub- 
lic eeremouv.  A  long  procession  goes  to  the 
prairie,  the  lead  being  taken  by  the  owner  of 
the  medicine  bag,  driving  before  him  the 
horse,  which  must  always  be  the  best  he  pos- 
sesses. Tlie  animal  is  curiously  painted  .and 
branded,  and  is  held  by  a  long  lasso.  When 
the  procession  arrives  at  the  appointed  spot, 
the  sacrificer  makes  a,  long  prayer  to  the 
Great  Spirit,  and  then  slips  the  la«so  from 
the  animal,  which  from  that  time  takes  its 
iilace  among  the  wild  horses  of  the  pr.aine, 
and  if  at  any  time  caught  by  the  lasso,  is  at 
once  recognized  bv  the  brand,  and  set  free 
a"ain.  Such  a  s.acrifice  as  this  is  appreciated 
very  hi.'hly  by  the  tribe,  and  gives  the  man 
t  lie  privilege  of  recording  the  circumstance 
on  his  mantle  and  tent.  One  Mandan  chief 
sacrificed  in  this  way  no  less  than  seventeen 
horses.  ,.  .       , 

In  connection  with  the  medicine  bag  mav 
be  mentioned  the  "  totem,"  or  mark  by  which 
e-ich  family  is  known.  This  is  mostly  an 
animal,  such  as  a  wolf,  a  bear,  a  dog,  a  tor- 


toise,  &c.    If  a  chief  wishes  to  show  that  he 


and  his  party  have  passed  a  given  spot,  he 
strikes  with  "his  axe  a  chip  olf  a  tree  and 
draws  on  the  white  surface  his  totem.  Or, 
if  he  sends  an  order  to  a  distance,  he  draws 
his  totem  on  a  piece  of  bark,  and  gives  it  to 
his  messenger  as  a  token. 

To  return  to  the  medicine  man.  He  is 
best  seen  to  advantage  when  exercising  his 
.rt  upon  a  sick  person.  lie  wears  for  this 
purpose  one  of  the  most  extraordinary 
dresses  which  the  mind  of  man  ever  con- 
ceived. No  two  medicine  men  wear  a  simi- 
lar costume,  but  in  all  it  is  absolutely  essen- 
tial that  every  article  shall  be  abnormal. 
Mr.  Catlin  saw  one  of  these  men  called  in  to 
practise  on  a  Blackfoot  Indian,  who  had 
been  shot  through  the  body  with  two  bullets. 
There  was  not  the  least  chance  of  his  re- 
covery, but  still  the  medicine  man  must  be 
summoned.  His  strange,  grotesque  appear- 
ance, and  the  wild  ceremony  over  the  aick 
man  are  vividly  represented  on  page 
1311. 

A  ring  was  formed  round  the  dying  man, 
and  a  lane  was  preserved  through  them,  by 
which  the  mystery  man  would  make  his  ap- 
pearance. In  a  few  minutes  a  general  hush- 
h-h  ran  through  the  assembly  as  the  tinkling 
and  rattling  of  his  ornaments  heralded  the 
approach  of  the  wise  man.  As  he  entered 
the  ring,  nothing  could  surpass,  the  wild 
grotesqueness  of  his  costume.  By  way  of  a 
coat,  he  wore  the  skin  of  a  yellow  bear— an 
article  exceedingly  rare  in  North  America, 
and  therefore  in  itself  a  powerful  medicine. 
The  skin  of  the  head  was  formed  into  a 
mask,  which  entirely  hid  the  features  of  the 
enchanter.  The  skins  of  various  animals 
d.<ingled  from  his  dress,  and  in  one  hand  he 
held  his  magic  wand,  and  in  the  other  the 
mystery  drum,  which  contained  the  arcana 
of  his  order. 

His  actions  were  worthy  of  his  appear- 
ance. He  came  in  with  a  series  of  wild 
jumps  and  yells,  accompanied  with  the  rat- 
"tling  and  beating  of  his  ina";ic  drum  .is  he 
approached  the  dying  man.  Having  reached 
his  patient,  he  began  to  dance  round  him  to 
the  accompaniment  of  his  drum,  to  leap  over 
him,  to  roll  him  from  side  to  side,  and  in 
every  imaginable  way  to  render  his  last 
hours  unendurable.  In  fact,  the  man  might 
well  die,  if  onlv  to  be  rid  of  his  physician. 
In  a  short  time"  he  did  die;  but  the  man,  not 
in  the  least  disconcerted  at  the  failure  of  his 
efforts,  danced  out  of  the  circle  as  he  had 
entered  it,  and  went  off  to  his  lodge  to  take 
0(1  and  pack  up  his  official  dress. 

A  somewhat  similar  scene  was  witnessed 
1)V  ^[r.  P.  Kane,  in  which  the  mode  of  ma- 
nipulation was  almost  identical,  though  the 
I  medicine  man,  instead  of  disguising  himself 
'  in  a  strange  dress,  went  just  to  the  opposite 
extreme.  The  story  is  narrated  in  Mr. 
Kane's  *'  "Wanderings  of  an  Artist,"  being  as 

follows: —  .  ,  .  »  ,    „   ,  .  ^ 

"  About  ton  o'clock  at  night  I  strolled  into 


1% 


i     S 


■f'ii 


MA  ;| 


1310 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


the  village,  and  on  hearing  a  great  noise  m 
one  of  Uio  lo(lf,'e8,  I  entered  it,  andtouna  ai 
old  woman  supporting  one  ot  the  hanu- 
Bomest  Indian  girls  I  had  ever  seen.  bJie 
was  in  a  state  of  nudity.  Cross-leggecl  ami 
naked,  in  the  niid(ile  of  the  room,  .sat  the 
medicine  man,  with  a  wooden  dish  ot  water 
before  him;  twelve  or  hfteen  other  men 
M-el-e  sitting  round  the  lodge.  The  object  in 
view  was  to  cure  the  girl  ot  a  disease  atlect- 
in"  her  side.  As  soon  as  my  presence  was 
nolieed,  a  space  was  cleared  for  me  to  sit 

down.  .  ,.  .  1 

"The  officiating  medicine  man  appeared 
ill  a  state  of  profuse  perspiration,  from  the 
exertions  he  liiul  used,  and  soon  took  his 
seat  among  the  rest,  as  if  quite  exhausted;  a 
younger  medicine  man  then  took  his  place 
in  i'ront  of  the  bowl,  and  close  beside  the 
patient.  Throwing  off  his  blanket,  he  com- 
menced singing  and  gesticulatiii"  in  the 
most  violent  manner,  whilst  the  others  kept 
time  by  beating  with  little  sti"ks  on  hollow 
wooden  bowls  and  drums,  singing  coiitin- 
uoMy.  A'ler  exercising  himself  in  this  man- 
nerYor  about  half  an  hour,  until  the  perspi- 
ration ran  down  his  body,  he  darted  suddenly 
upon  the  young  woman,  catching  hold  of  her 
side  with  his  teeth,  and  shaking  her  for  a 
few  minutes,  while  the  patient  seemed  to 
suffer  great  agony.  He  then  relinquished 
his  hold,  and  cried  out  he  had  got  it,  at  the 
same  time  holding  his  hands  to  his  mouth; 
after  which  he  plunged  them  in  the  water, 
and  pretended  to  hold  down  with  great  diffi- 
culty the  disease  which  he  had  extracted, 
lest  it  might  spring  out  and  return  to  its  vic- 
tim. 

"  At  length,  having  obtained  the  mastery 
over  it,  ho  turned  round  to  me  in  an  exult- 
ing manner,  and  held  something  up  between 
the  finger  and  thumb  of  each  hand,  which 
had  the  appearance  of  a  piece  of  cartilage ; 
whereupon  one  of  the  Indians  sharpened  his 
knife,  and  divided  it  in  two,  leaving  one  in 
each  hand.  One  of  the  'jicces  he  threw  into 
the  water  and  the  othc  into  the  fire,  accom- 
panying the  action  v  ith  a  diabolical  noise, 
which  none  but  a  medicine  man  can  make. 
After  which  he  got  up  perfectly  satisfied 
with  himself,  although  the  poor  patient 
seemed  to  me  anything  but  relieved  by  the 
violent  treatment  she  had  undergone." 

Mr.  Mulhausen  relates  an  amusing  anec- 
dote of  a  native  doctor's  practice  upon  him- 
self. He  had  suffered  so  much  in  a  long 
march  that  he  was  at  last  compelled  to  ask 
for  a  day's  rest.  One  of  his  companions,  a 
medicine  man,  immediately  tried  the  effect 
of  his  art.  First  he  kneaded  the  body,  and 
especially  the  stomach,  of  the  prostrated 
traveller  with  all  his  force.  This  was  to 
drive  out  the  evil  spirit;  and,  in  order  to  ef- 
fectually exorcise  him,  he  procured  his 
drum,  and  seated  himself  on  the  ground. 

Placing  the  drum  close  to  the  ear  of  his 
patient,  he  kept  up  a  continual  rub-a-dub  for 


two  whole  hours,  singing  the  magic  chant 
the  while,  until,  in  spite  of  bis  wounded  ieet, 
Mr.  Mulhausen  crawled  out  of  the  tent 
in  sheer  despair.  The  triumphant  doctor 
wiped  his  streaming  brows,  aud,  (leclariug 
that  no  evil  spirit  fould  withstand  such  a 
medicine  as  that,  gave  the  signal  for  resum- 
ing the  march.  . 

Among  tlie  Ojibbeways  there  is  a  remark- 
able ceremony  by  which  an  infant  is  received 
into  the  order  of  the  Mid<;s,  a  society  in 
some  degree  resembling  the  Freemasons, 
the  members  of  which  consider  themselves 
as  related  to  each  other,  and  addressing  each 
other  by  the  names  of  uncle,  aunt,  brother, 
sister,  cousin,  «&c. 

A  temple,  forty  feet  in  length,  was  con- 
structed for  the  express  purpose,  ami  built 
of  boughs,  like  the  bowers  of  the  Feast  ot 
Tabernacles.  It  was  built  east  and  west, 
and  had  the  entrance  door  at  the  eastern 
end,  and  the  exit  door  at  the  western.  In 
the  middle  sit  the  great  Midcs,  each  with  his 
mvstery  bag,  and  opposite  th^m  sits  the 
falhoiof  th  "child,  dressed  m  his  lull  para- 
phernalia, of  feathers,  furs,  and  scalp-locks, 
and  holding  in  his  arms  the  child,  l:,ing  tied 
on  its  board  after  the  manner  ol  Indian 
b.-ibies.  On  either  side  of  him  are  the  wit- 
nesses of  the  reception,  and  eastward  of  the 
chief  Midds  lies  a  large  rough  stone,  which 
prevents  the  evil  spirit. 

The  ceremony  begins  with  an  addres.sTit 
the  principal  Mide,  and  then  the  chiefs  rise, 
and  after  walking  in  procession,  each  of 
them  runs  at  one  of  the  guests,  presenting 
his  medicine  bag  at  him.  and  yelling  in 
quickening  accents,  "  Ho!  ho!  hohohoho! 
O!  O!  O!  01  O!"  As  he  presents  the  bag, 
the  breath  proceeding  from  it  is  supposed  to 
overcome  the  person  to  whom  it  is  pre- 
sented, who  falls  down  and  lies  there  mo- 
tionless. Having  struck  one  person  down, 
the  Mide  runs  round  the  temple,  to  allow 
the  medicine  bag  to  recover  its  .strength, 
and  then  presents  it  to  another  victim.  Ihis 
process  is  repeated  until  all  the  inmates  of 
the  hut,  with  the  exception  of  the  officiating 
Mides,  are  lying  prostrate  on  the  ground, 
where  they  lie  until  a  touch  from  the  same 
ba"  restores  them  to  life  and  activity.  This 
ceremony  is  repeated  several  times  during 
the  day,  and  is  intended  to  show  the  virtue 
of  the  medicine  b.ag.  ,  ., ,  *    ,i 

The  father  then  presents  his  child  to  the 
Mides,  after  which  there  is  another  speech 
from  the  chief  Mide,  and  then  follows  a  curi- 
ous dance,  consisting  of  two  leaps  to  the 
right  and  two  to  the  left  alternately.  After 
this,  every  one  produces  his  medicine  bag, 
and  tries  to  blow  down  everybody  else. 
And,  as  the  bags  are  covered  with  tinkling 
bells,  bits  of  metal,  and  shells,  and  the  prin- 
cipal Midds  are  beating  their  drums  and 
shaking  their  rattles  with  all  their  might,  it 
may  bo  imagined  that  the  noise  is  deafen- 
ing. 


'a?! 


(1.)   TlIK    INDIAN    HAM.   PI-AV.    (S.-r  pii',"- 1S«.) 


^■,.)   niL    MKDICINK    MAN    AT    WOKlv.    (S.v  pa^"  l^"'^'-' 


v.i811) 


.yjiiai 


11  i 


THE  CALUMET. 


1818 


This  completed  tho  first  part  of  the  cero- 
mony.  In  the  next  act,  a  pile  of  l)0iigh8 
covered  with  a  cloth  lay  in  front  of  the  evil 
stone,  aud  tiio  chief  Mide  suinnioned  all  the 
initiated.  Tliey  formed  a  procession  of  men, 
women,  and  children,  iind  walked  ronnd  the 
lodjie,  (iach  stoopini?  over  tho  cloth  as  lie 
passed,  and  looking  at  it.  The  second  time 
tliey  stooped  closer,  and  the  third  time  they 
were  seized  with  convulsive  movements  as 
they  approached  the  clolh,  ami  each  ejected 
from  the  mouth  a  little  yellow  siiell  upon  the 
clodi.  Hy  tlio  ejection  of  tlie  shell  (which 
typifies  the  sinful  nature  of  man)  the  convul- 
sions are  healed,  and,  after  going  once  more 
round  the  lodge,  each  performer  takes  one  of 
the  shells  and  places  it  in  the  medicine  b.ag. 

The  last  scene  was  a  giMieral  feast,  and 
gifts  of  amulets  and  cliarms  presented  by  the 
chief  Mides  to  the  child. 

One  of  tho  most  pleasing  traits  in  the 
chiiraeter  of  these  tribes  is  the  strong  relig- 
ious I'eeliiig  which  pervades  the  general 
tenor  of  their  lives,  .iiid  which  has'  raised 
them  above  the  rank  of  mere  savjigcs.  How- 
ever im|)erfect  may  be  their  ideas  on  this 
siibj.iet,  they  are  not  idolaters,  and  give  all 
their  worship,  either  directly  or  indirectly, 
to  one  (Jreat  Spirit,  whose  aid  and  protec- 
tion they  continually  invoke. 

They  believe  in  future  existence  and  a 
future  recompense  aceoi<ling  to  t;.>eir  char- 
acter in  this  life.  Whatever  thei.  super- 
stitious and  ignorance,  the  mysteries  envel- 
oping their  belief,  there  is  r'uuning  clearly 
through  them  all,  these  great  doctrines  ac- 
<;ejiLe(l  by  the  civili/.ed  Cliristiaii  races. 

To  the  (ir(!at  Sjiirit  thev  ast  ril)e  the  pos- 
session of  all  the  necessaries  aud  pleasures 
of  lite,  and  to  him  they  offer  tlieir  prayers  and 
return  their  thanks  oh  almost  every  occasion. 
For  example,  the  bisons,  on  which  many  of 
the  tribes  depend  for  food,  clothing,  and  hidg- 
iiig,  are  held  to  be  direct  gifts  of  tlie  Great 
Si)irit  to  the  red  men,  and  asked  for  acconl- 
inglv.  Tlu!  sam(!  is  tlie  case  with  the  mai/'.e, 
or  Indian  corn,  and  religious  ceremonies  are 
held  both  at  the  planting  and  at  the  harvest 
time. 

Tobacco  is  placed  in  the  same  category, 
and  the  smoke  of  the  plant  is  considered  to 
be  a  sort  of  incense,  which  is  otlered  to  the 
Great  Spirit  whenever  a  [lipe  is  lighted,  one 
wreath  of  smoke  being  lilown  silently  to 
each  quarter  of  the  heavens,  and  to  the  sun, 
as  an  acknowledgment  tliat  the  tobacco  is  a 
gift  of  the  Great  Si)irit.  Indeed,  to  the  In- 
dian ininil  there  is  something  peculiarly 
sacred  about  tobacco  smoke,  probablv  on  ac- 
count of  the  soothing,  and  at  the  same  time 
exhilarating,  properties  which  have  caused 
its  use  to  extend  to  every  portion  of  the 
globe. 

Every  religious  ceremony  is  begun  and 
ended  with  the  pipe;  war  is  declared,  volun- 
teers enlisted,  negotiations  conducted,  and 
peace  couclmlcd,  by  its  means.    The  cluir- 

88 


acter  of  the  pipe  varies  with  the  occasion, 
the  most  valueif  beinjr  the  sacred  calumet,  or 
medicine  pipe,  by  which  v  "o  cettled  the  great 
questions  ol  war  and  peace. 

Among  the  Cree  Indians  the  calumet  is 
borne  by  a  man  who  is  solemnly  elected  to 
the  ollice,  and  who  has  to  pay  rather  dearly 
for  the  honor,  from  lift  mn  to  twenty  horses 
being  the  usual  fee  wliicli  each  pipe  bearer 
presents  to  his  predecessor  on  receiving 
the  insignia  of  oflicc.  These,  howi^ver,  are 
of  considerable  intrinsic  value.  They  in- 
clude a  l)car  skin,  on  which  he  lays  the  pipe- 
stem  when  uncovered,  a  beautifully  painted 
skin  tent,  in  whicli  he  is  expected  to  reside, 
a  medicine  rattle  of  singular  virtue,  a  foo(l 
bowl,  and  other  articles  so  numerous  tliat 
two  horses  are  needed  to  carry  them. 

During  his  term  of  otlicc,  the  pipe  hearer 
is  as  sacred  as  the  calumet  itself.  He  alw.ays 
sits  on  the  right  side  of  the  lodge,  and  no 
one  may  pass  between  him  and  the  fire.  He 
is  not  (iveii  allowi'd  to  cut  his  own  food,  but 
this  is  done  by  his  wives,  and  the  food  placed 
in  the  ofHcial  bowl  which  has  just  been  men- 
tioned. The  pijie,  with  its  innumerable 
wrappers,  hangs  outside  the  lodge,  and  is 
finally  enclosed  in  a  large  l)ag,  embroidered 
with  the  most  brilliant  colors  wdiich  native 
art  can  furnish. 

When  it  is  uncovered,  great  ceremony  is 
shown.  No  matter  how  severe  may  tie  tho 
weather,  —  sometimes  far  below  zero, —  the 
bearer  begins  his  operations  by  removing  all 
his  garments  with  the  exception  of  his  cloth, 
and  then  pours  upon  a  burning  coal  some 
fragrant  gum,  whicli  fills  the  place  with 
smoke.  He  tlien  carefully  removes  the  dif- 
ferent wrappers,  fills  the  bowl  with  tobneco, 
and  blows  the  smoke  to  the  four  points  ,)f  the 
compass,  to  tlic  sky,  and  to  the  earth,  at  each 
puff  uttering  a  prayer  to  the  Great  Spirit  for 
assistance  in  war  against  all  enemies,  and 
for  bison  and  corn  from  all  quarters.  Tlie 
jiipo  is  replaced  with  similar  ceremonies. 
No  woman  is  allowed  to  sec  it,  and  if  during 
the  begining  of  the  ceremony  a  single  '."ord 
is  sp  iken,  it  is  looked  upon  as  a  \.  >ad 
omen,  and  all  the  ceremonj'  has  to  be  begun 
again. 

The  bowl  of  the  calumet  is  made  of  a  pe- 
culiar stone,  found,  I  believe,  only  in  one 
place  in  the  world,  namely,  in  tlie  Groat 
Pipe-stone  Quarry.  This  is  situated  in  tho 
Coteau  des  Prairies,  about  three  hundred 
miles  west  of  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  on 
the  southern  summit  of  the  dividing  ridge 
between  the  Minnesota  and  Missouri  rivers, 
in  the  very  middle  of  tho  Sioux  territory. 
On  this  sacred  spot  the  Great  Spirit  is 
said  to  have  stood  in  the  ancient  times, 
and  to  have  called  together  all  tho  Indian 
nations.  He  broke  from  the  rock  a  piece 
of  stone,  moulded  it  in  his  hands  into  a 
huge  pipe  bowl,  and  smoked  it  toward  the 
four  quarters  of  the  compass.  Then  he  told 
them  tliat  the  ground  vfos  sacred,  aud  that 


* 


t-':fl 


1314 


THE  NORTH   AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


I 


i; 


no  weapon  of  wnr  shoukl  bo  raised  in  it,  for 
tile  red  wtone  was  tlieir  tlesli,  and  belonged 
equally  to  tliem  all.  At  the  last  whill'of  the 
l)il)e  the  Great  Spirit  disappeared  in  the 
cloud,  and  the  whole  grouml  was  melted,  and 
bet  inne  polished  as  at  the  present  time. 

In  eonsecpienco  of  this  lej,'cnd,  the  Indians 
have  the  greatest  reverence  for  this  place. 
They  will  not  allow  any  white  man  to  touch 
the  stone,  or  even  to  approach  the  nlace,  if 
they  can  keej)  him  away,  saying  that  the 
8t()ri(!  is  their  tlesli,  and  that  if  a  white  man 
takes  the  red  men's  llenb,  "a  hole  will  be 
made  in  their  tlesh,  and  the  blooU  will  never 
stoi)  running." 

Even  the  natives  themselves  never  take  a 
piece  without  asking  permission  of  the  Great 
Spirit,  depositing  tobacco  in  the  hole  whence 
they  dug  it,  and  promising  that  it  shall  be 
made  iiito  a  pipe.  When  Mr.  Catlin  suc;- 
cecded  in  reaching  tliis  sacred  spot,  one  of 
the  chief  obstacles  lay  in  the  fact  that  a  na- 
tive had  onco  given  apiece  of  the  red  stone 
to  a  white  man  in  onler  to  be  made  into  a 
pipe,  and  lie  had  made  it  into  a  dish,  tlien;- 
by  olfending  the  Great  Spirit,  and  "making 
tfie  heart  of  the  Indians  sick." 

Mr.  Catlin's  opinion  is,  that  the  rod  pipes, 
found  among  almost  every  tribe  of  Indians 
on  the  coiitinont,wercobtainedat  this  place. 
His  reasons  are  that  every  tribe  ho  visited 
alleged  this  as  their  sonrcc;  and  further- 
more, the  stone  from  which  they  arc  made 
is  (lilfercnt  from  any  mineral  yet  discovered 
in  America  or  Europe.  He  expresses  the 
conviction  substantiated  by  striking  proof 
that  the  various  tribes  had  for  centuries 
visited  this  quarry,  laying  aside  the  war 
club  and  scali)ing  knife,  and  smoking  to- 
gether in  amity  upon  this  neutral  ground 
by  command,  as  thoy  thought,  of  the  Great 
Sjiirit. 

This  stone  is  of  a  soft,  creamy  red  color, 
rather  variable  in  point  of  tint,  and  takinj' 
a  peculiar  polish.  It  has  been  an.alyzed,  and 
is  said  to  be  a  kind  of  steatite.  It  is  cut  into 
various  fanciful  shapes,  those  shown  in  the 
illustration  on  the  next  page  being  ordinary 
exampli^s,  though  in  some  cases  the  bowls 
are  adorned  with  fi;jures  of  men  and  various 
animals.  Some  ot  these  pipe  heads  have 
two  bowls,  :)ne  in  front  of  the  other. 

These  bowls  are  fitted  with  stems  worthy 
of  their  sacred  character.  They  are  gener- 
ally made  of  the  stalk  of  the  j'oung  !ish,  and 
are  often  adorned  in  the  most  elaborate  man- 
ner. They  are  mostly  flat,  and  sometimes 
are  twisted  spirally  and  perforated  with  open 
patterns  in  such  a  way  that  the  observer 
cannot  but  marvel  how  the  aperture  for  the 
smoke  is  made.  After  all,  the  mode  of  bor- 
ing is  simple  enough.  As  every  one  knows 
who  has  cut  a  young  ash  sapling,  the  centre 
is  occupied  with  pith.  This  is  easily  burned 
out  with  a  hot  wire,  or  bored  out  with  a 
piece  of  hard  wood,  and  the  aperture  is  com- 
pleted. 


Afterward  the  wood  is  cut  away  on  two 
sides,  so  as  to  leave  only  a  tlift  Hteiii,  with 
the  bore  occupying  the  centre.  The  per- 
forated patterns  are  next  cut  at  either  side 
of  the  bore,  being  carefully  k<!pt  clear  of  it; 
and  if  the  stem  be  then  wofteiKHl  in  boiling 
water,  it  can  be  made  to  assume  almost  any 
shape.  One  valued  but  rather  rare  form  is  a 
screw,  or  sjiiral  and  several  of  the  pipes  in 
Mr.  (;atlin's  collection  have  this  form. 

The  stems  are  very  seldom  left  bare,  but 
are  almost  invariably  "decorated  with  colored 
porcupine  quills,  woven  into  various  patterns, 
sometimes  representing  the  forms  of  men 
and  animals.  The  calumet  is  always  dec- 
orated with  a  row  of  eagle  feathers,  some- 
times stained  scarlet,  and  being  tutted  at 
their  ends  with  slight  iilumcs  of  hair. 
Indeed,  th's  portion  of  theciilumet  is  formed 
on  exactly  the  same  i)rinciple  as  the  head- 
dress of  the  chief,  of  which  a  drawing  is 
given  on  page  1277.  An  example  of  this 
kind  of  iiipe  IS  shown  in  the  ujiper  figure,  on 
page  V.Ur,.  Many  pipes,  instead  of  feathers, 
h.ave  long  tufts  of  hair  ilyed  scarlet.  This 
hair  is  taken  either  from  the  fail  of  a  while 
horse  or  that  of  a  white  bi.son,  as  in  the 
lower  figure  of  the  same  illustration.  .The 
woodpecker  furnishes  many  oriiiimeiits  for 
these  pipes,  and  sometinus  the  stem  passes 
through  the  jjreserved  skin  of  a  bird,  or 
through  that  of  a  i)articularly  beautiful  er- 
mine. But  whatever  may  be  (he  ornament 
of  a  medicine  pipe,  it  is  always  the  very  besk 
and  most  valualile  that  can  be  procured. 
The  stem  of  the  pipe  varies  from  two  to  four 
feet. 

The  natives  do  not  restrict  themselves  to 
tobacco,  but  smoke  many  narcotic  vegetables, 
whether  leaves,  roots,  or  bark.  These  are 
gener.ally  mixed  with  tobacco,  and  go  by  the 
general  name  of  k'nerk-Fncrk. 

The  custom  of  sacrifice  obtains  among  all 
Indian  tribes  and  is  i)erformed  in  various 
ways  and  upon  many  occasions.  Cruel  as 
the  Indian  is  reputed  to  be,  none  of  the 
tribes,  except  the  Pawnees,  have  ever  m.'xle 
human  sacrifices;  and  these  many  years 
since  abandoned  the  inhuman  custom. 

Their  offerings  to  the  (Jreat  Sjiirit  must 
consist  of  the  best  of  their  possessions:  the 
choicest  piece  of  buffalo  meat,  the  finest 
arrow,  the  most  costly  piece  of  cloth,  the 
favorite  horse  or  dog,  and  sometimes  their 
own  fingers.  Such  oflerings  are  erected 
over  the  great  medicine  lodge  in  the  centre 
of  the  village.  Wlu^n  Mr.  Catlin  was  among 
the  Mandans  there  was  placed  there  be- 
side other  gifts  a  beautiful  skin  of  a  buffalo, 
the  history  of  which  he  gives  as  follow.«^^:  — 
"  A  few  weeks  since  a  party  of  Mandans 
returned  from  the  mouth  of  the  Yellow 
Stone  with  information  that  a  party  of 
Blackfeet  were  there  on  business  with  the 
American  Fur  Company,  and  that  they  had 
with  them  a  white  bufl^ilo  robe.  Such  a 
robe  is  a  great  curiosity,  even  in  the  coun- 


THE  CALUMET. 


1316 


try  of  bnfraloos,  and  will  always  command  i 
ail  iiuTCHJildo  i)rico.  Hi-iii)^  the  most  costly 
nrticlu  in  the  rcj^ion  it  in  usually  converle<l 
into  a  Hacrillcc,  Ix'iuf^  otlcrod  to  the  (treat 
Spirit  ius  the  rarest  and  most  acceptable  gift 
that  can  he  procurc'd.  Among  the  vast 
herds  of  huHaloes  there  is  not  one  in  a 
hundred  thousand,  jjcrhaps,  that  is  white; 
und  when  hikIi  is  olitaiiied  it  is  considered 
a  great  medicini!  or  mystery. 

"Keceivinj'  the  intelligence  above  men- 
tioned the  eliiefs  convened  in  council  and 
deliberatiul  on  the  propriety  of  procuring 
this  valuable  robe.  At  the  close  of  their 
deliberation  eight  men  were  (Itted  out  on 
eight  of  their  l)est  horses,  who  took  from 
the  Fur  Company's  store,  on  the  credit  of 


the  chief,  goods  exceeding  the  value  of  the 
horses.    They   arrived   in  duM   lime,  inaclo 
the  purchase,  and  leaving  thidr  horses  and 
all   tlu!    goods   carried,    returned   on    foot, 
bringing  the   coveted   robe,  which  was  re- 
garded as  vastly  curious  and  containing  (aa 
they   express   it)   something   of  the  (Treat 
Hpirit.    This  wonderful  anomaly  lay  several 
days  in  the  chief's  lodge,  till  public  curiosity 
was  gratilled;   hen  it  was  talvcu  by  the  high 
priests,  and  with  a  great  deal  of  ceremony 
consecrated  and  raised  on  tht!  top  of  a  long 
polo    over    the  medicine    lodge,  whoro   it 
stands  and  will  stand  as  an  olfering  to  the 
Great  Nnirit,  until  it  decays  and  falis  to  the 
ground." 


INDTAN  PIPES.     (From  my  collection.) 
(&aposrc»  1313, 1314.) 


CIIAI'TER  CXXXIX. 

THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS— Continiwd 


SOCIAL  LIFK. 


MAIUHAOR-AN  EOTEnPmSINn  nRIDKOnoOM,  AND  III9  St'DDK!*  Kt-KVATION  TO  RANK -THKATMRNT  UT 
WOMKV— TllKAl'MKNTOIMIIlI-DllKN— l-onniAITOF  I'HM  AN-HIIAW  -  OK  INl.IAN  lloy-TIIK  CHADI.K 
—  TllK  KI.AT-lir.AnlCI)  TIIIMK.S  —  AKFI'.rTION  OF  T  '  MOTllKIW  — IIIK  IMIUCII  OK  MOIIlMNd  — 
AllANUONlNd  TIIK  HICK  AND  OI,I>  —  I.  VNCKK  OK  TllK  TIIIIIK8  —  OA.MKrt  —  THK  Sfl.AIl  AND  IIINO 
GAME-1'A<1BH»AN,  OB  TIIK  I.OWI,  OAMR-TIIB  HAIX  PLAY-TIIK  HAM,  I.AN.^K- HTAUTINO  TIIW 
OAMK,  AM)  KXOmNO  SCKNKS-Tlllt  WOMRN'H  HAM,  PLAY  -  IK.KSK-UACINd  -  CANOK-MAKINO - 
THE  OANOi:  IIACE— nUMITIVK  BAILS— NWIMMINO  — TUB  LKAIMNO  llOCK  —  QI'IM.  OllNAMINTg  — 
nAllK-liniNd— WIOWAMS  — Ml'SIO  — IM.KDOK  OK  KIOKMVV— I.ISI'O.SAL  OK  THK  DKAD— HUlilAL 
OF  lILACKlllllU— UKFLKCT10N8    UPON   CIIAIUOTKB    AJIU    DK8T1NY    OK    TIIK    lNl)IAN8. 


TiiK  ordinary  social  life  of  these  intrrcstins 
tribes  now  comes  lioforo  us.  As  to  iimi- 
riii;,a-,  tlu're  is  little  to  distinguish  it  from 
the  saine  ceremony  amonp;  other  uncivilized 
tribes,  the  fjirl  heing  in  fact  inirchiined  from 
her  father,  iiiid  her  alleotious  not  necessarily, 
though  generally,  considered.  A  man  may 
have  ns  miiny  wives  as  he  can  allbrd  to  ].w\). 
and  when  lie  can  luirchaso  four  or  live,  their 
labor  in  the  field  is  worth  even  more  to  the 
household  thuii  his  exertions  iu  the  hnulinf; 
field, 

Mr.  Catlia  relates  one  rather  amusing 
wedding. 

There  was  a  young  lad,  the  son  of  a  chief, 
whom  his  father  started  in  life  with  a  hand- 
some wigwam,  or  tent,  nine  horses,  and 
many  other  valuable  presents.  On  receiv- 
ing these  presents,  the  young  man  immedi- 
ately conceived  a  i)lan  by  which  ho  could 
perform  an  act  which  woulil  be  unique.  lie 
went  to  one  of  the  chiefs,  and  asked  for  the 
hand  of  his  daughter,  promising  in  return 
two  horses,  a  gun,  and  several  pounds  of 
tobacco.  The  marriage  wa.s  fixe.l  for  a  cer- 
tain day,  hut  the  transaction  was  to  be  Itept 
a  profound  secret  until  the  proper  time. 
Having  settled  the  business,  he  went  to 
three  other  chiefs,  and  made  exactly  the 
same  bargain  with  each  of  them,  and  im- 
posed silence  equally  upon  all. 

On  the  appointed  dav,  he  announced  to 
the  tribe  that  he  was  to  "be  married  at  a  cer- 
tain hour.    The  people  assembled,  but  no 


one  knew  who  was  to  be  the  bride,  while 
each  of  the  four  fathers  stood  proudly  by  his 
daughter,  inwardly  exulting  I  bat  be  alone 
was  iu  the  secret.  I'resentlv  ibe  young 
bridegroom  advanced  to  Ibe  eiiief  to  wliom 
be  had  made  the  first  oiler,  and  ^ave  liini, 
according  to  his  promise,  tbe  two  horses, 
the  gun,  and  the  tobacco.  'i'li('  other  three 
falhers  immediately  sjirang  forward,  each 
deiiouuein'.'  the  whole  allair,  and  saymgthat 
the  oiler  was  maile  to  his  dmighler,  and  to 
his  alone.  In  the  midst  ofj;iial  c.inl'iision, 
which  was  jiarlially  quelled  by  the  chiefs 
an(V  doctors,  the  young  bridegroom  adihesscd 
the  a.sscmhly,  saying  that  be  bad  promised 
each  of  the  claimants  two  horses,  n  gim,  and 
a  certain  amount  of  tobacco  in  exchange  for 
his  daughter,  and  that  he  ex]iecle<l  tbem  to 
fulfil  their  part  of  the  contract.  'I'liere  was 
nogainsaving  the  argument,  and  iu  the  ^ight 
of  the  admiring  spectators,  he  ddivcred  the 
stipulated  price,  into  the  hands  of  the  pa- 
rentJ?.  and  led  olf  his  four  brides,  two  in 
each  hand,  to  his  wigwam. 

The  action  was  so  bold,  and  so  iicrfectly 
unique,  that  the  doctors  immediately  dtter- 
mined  that  a  lad  of  nineteen  who  could  act 
in  this  manner  must  have  a  very  strong 
medicine,  and  was  worthy  to  he  ranked 
among  tiiemselves.  So  -thev  iit  o'"-'-  '"• 
stalled  him  a  member  of  their  mystery, 
thereby  placing  him  on  a  level  with  the 
greatest  of  the  tribe,  and  by  that  hoM  coup 
the  Ixl  raised  himself  from  a  mere  untried 


(13Ui> 


T  0» 

M)i.n 

S'd  — 
IIINO 

Tiin 

N(l  — 
iTg  — 
UIAL 


vliilo 
v  liis 
ilonu 
iimig 
lioiu 
liiin, 
irsi'H, 
llirec 
oach 
,'lliat 

1(1   to 

isidi), 
•liiclH 

I'MSCll 

iiiseil 
,  niid 
;('  for 
m  to 
'.  wns 
!>i<;lit 
(1  the 
lo  \)n- 
vo  in 

fectly 
kter- 
(1  act 
troiiff 
iiikeu 
0  iii- 
stcry, 
\\  the 
coup 
titried 


(1816; 


L 


THE  INDIAN  GIRTi  PSIIAN-SIIAW. 


1819 


I 


It 

■< 

33 
'A 

a 


i 


I 
I 


V 


warrior  to  the  lictu;1it  of  nativn  Rinbitlon, 
tiuturl.v,  li  fit'iil  ill  liio  (V3uiuil,  anil  a  vutco  In 
thu  iKiiicy  of  tlic  trilu!, 

TIk^  liKiinti  woiiii'ii  nro  the  '"  veil  of  thi^lr 
liUHlmiid.H.  'I'l.cy  Imvi!  to  i  •  irm  nil  tlic 
doincNlii^  ilutit'H  iiiiil  ilniii^oriun  of  thn  trilic, 
anil  iirii  iitn'tT  iiltowcti  to  iinito  in  thuir 
rciiuloiis  I'lM'i'iiionlitM  or  iiiniiNcmi'iitfl. 

Thill  tlir  riiiult^r  iniiy  I'orni  ii  li(>ttcr  iiloa  of 
tlio  ii|i|)i'iii'iiiii'i'  mill  liroiiM  of  the  women,  L 
hiivo  Kivi'ii  1)11  llio  prroi'dlii;^  ]wg(^  the  |)or- 
trail   i>l'  a   licniiliriil  (;irl  of  tlu)  Hiocnri'cs 
(n  tmrl  of  tlm  rawni'ii  trilHi),  wIioho  nnmo 
i«  Phliiiii-Hliiiw  (llic  K\v'iu'l-Hi;oiiti!il  (»niss). 
"Tho  inner  nanimiit,  wliicli  in  lil<e  n  IVock, 
in  i-nliro  in  one  jiiece,  niul  tuHlufnlly  orno- 
munleil  wilh    eniliroiiiury  ami  lieaun.      A 
row  of  ell<'n  (oetli  imMwes  iici'ohh  tlie  brooat, 
nnil  II  icilio  of  yoinig  liiitfiilo'H  Hkin,  oliibo- 
riiltily   eiiiliroidered,  is    j^riicefully  thrown 
ovnr  lier  sliuiililers,  nnd  lmnji;9  down  to  tho 
ground  l)(diiiid  lier."' 

On  tlie  same  )tii;,'i'.  tlie  readur  may  find,  aa 
lllusliMlive  of  liiiliaii  cliildliood,  n  portrait 
of  the  m-andHoiHifa  eliiif  of  tlio  IMacl«feot,  a 
1  oy  of  six  years  of  ai^e.  llo  is  roiiresonti'tl 
ntfiill  leiijjtli,  Willi  l)o\v  ami  ((uiver  Hlnnjj, 
and  liis  rol)e  of  raecoon  skin  tiirown  over 
iiis  H'liiiilder.  This  yoiinjj;  chief,  his  father 
dyiiii^',  was  twice  stolon  by  tho  Crows,  and 
twice  nH'tiptnrinl  liy  tlie  U  lack  feet,  and  then 
idacid  in  the  eani  of  a  Mr.  M'Kenzio  uf.til 
lie  sliould  ))(!  old  enoii;»li  to  assiiiiio  the 
chiefiainsliip  of  his  trilie.  or  bo  ablo  to  de- 
fend himself  against  his  foes. 

Tile  liuliait  molheii  do  not  Imvo  many 
children,  possibly  owiii^j  to  the  early  age  at 
which  they  marry.  For  example,  tho  ogcB 
of  the  four  brides  just  miuilioned  ranged 
iVom  Iwelvi'  to  lilte.'ii.  Two  or  three  is  the 
ftVeiMj?e,  and  a  family  of  llvo  is  considered 
quite  a  lar^e  one. 

The  children  are  carried  about  much  in 
the  same  way  as  those  of  tho  Araiicanians. 
A  sort  of  cnidle  is  made  by  bandatjiiiK  the 
infant  to  a  llal  board,  the  feet  restiui?  on  ii 
iiroad  hoop  tli{it  |iasses  over  the  end  of  the 
cnulle.  Another  hoop  passes  over  tho  face 
of  the  child,  and  to  it  are  luinj?  sundry  little 
toys  and  cliarms  ;  the  one  for  the  amuse- 
ment of  Ihe  inl'aiit,  and  the  other  for  its 
preservaliou  throiiL(h  the  many  perils  of 
iiifantiie  life.  Wlieii  the  mothercarries  tho 
child,  sh(!  banjos  the  cradle  on  her  back  by 
means  of  a  broad  straj)  that  piisses  over  licr 
forehead.  IJoth  the  cradle  and  band  are 
ornamented  with  the  most  brilliant  colors 
which  native  art,  ciin  furnish,  and  arc  em- 
broidered inv.irious  patterns  with  dyed  por- 
.  cupine  (^uill^. 

Ainonfj  the  tribes  which  inhabit  the  banks 
of  the  Colimibi.'i  Hiver,  and  a  considerable 
trnel  thai  lies  contiguous  to  it,  the  cradle  is 
put  to  a  singular  use,  which  has  earned  for 
the  tribes  the  general  title  of  Flat-heads. 
To  the  upper  pari  of  tho  cradle  is  fastened 
a  piece  of  board,  which  lies  on  tho  child's 


forehead.  To  tho  olhorcnd  of  thn  hoard  are 
fiLsteiied  two  utrlngs,  which  pass  rouml  tho 
foot  or  sides  of  tlu^  craillc.  As  noon  as  tho 
Infant  is  laid  on  its  back,  tho  upper  board  li 
brought  over  Its  forehcail,  ami  fastened  down 
by  tho  strings.  Kvcry  day  the  iiressiire  Is 
increaHi'd,  until  at  last  tho  hea<f  is  so  llat- 
tenod  thai  a  straight  lino  can  be  drawn  fn  ni 
tho  crown  of  the  hcail  to  tlm  nose.  One  of 
these  crailles  with  a  child  undergoing  this 
process  of  head  tlattonlng,  is  illustrated 
below.  Tho  mother's  hood  is  n  typo  of  its 
perinnnont  oQ'eut. 


WOMAN. 

This  is  Tierhapa  tho  most  extraordinary  of 
all  the  fasnionalile  distortions  of  the  human 
body,  and  the  wasp  waist  of  an  European 
belle,  the  distorted  leg  of  the  female  Carib, 
and  even  the  crampoil  foot  of  tho  Chinese 
beauty,  ajipear  insignitleant  when  compared 
with  "the  llattcned  head  of  a  Chinnook  or 
Klick-a-tack  Indian.  Mr.  Catlin  states  that 
this  custom  was  one  far  more  extended  than 
is  the  case  at  present,  a.  id  that  even  tho 
Choctaw  and  Chickasaw  tribes  of  Mississippi 
and  Alabama  were  accustomed  to  flatten 
their  heads,  their  burial-places  atfording  in- 
controvertible evidence  that  such  must 
have  been  tho  case,  and  at  no  very  distant 
date. 

Tho  reader,  especially  if  ho  dabble  in  phre- 
nologv,  might  well  iinagino  that  such  a 
practice  must  act  injuriously  upon  the  men- 
tal capacities  of  those  who  arc  subjected  to 
it.  Let  us,  for  example,  fancy  a  skull  which 
has  boon  so  ruthlessly  compressed  that  it 
only  measures  an  inch  and  a  lialf,  or  at  tho 
most  two  inches,  in  depth,  at  the  back  ;  that 
it  is  in  consequence  much  elongated,  and 
forced  outward  at  the  aides,  so  that  it  is 


1320 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


nearly  half  as  wide  again  as  it  would 
been  if  it  had  been  permitted  to  assun 


have  1 

„  permitted  to  assume  its 

normal  form.  The  hair,  combed  down  m 
jone  place,  (snd  expanding  m  others,  would 
seem  to  have  its  natural  capabilities  raucn 
.altered,  even  if  not  in  many  cases  destroyed. 
Yet  those  who  have  mixed  with  the  1  lat- 
hoaded  tribes  say  that  the  intellect  is  m  no 
way  disturbed,  much  less  injured,  and  that 
those  members  of  the  tribe  wlio  have  es- 
caped the  f^..ttening  process  arc  in  no  way 
intellectually  superior  to  those  who  have 
undergone  'it.  Indeed,  as  Mr,  P.  Kane 
observes,  in  his  "  Wanderings  ot  an  Artist," 
the  Chin'uooks  despise  those  who  retain  the 
original  shape  of  their  heads.  They  always 
select  their  slaves  from  the  round-headed 
tribes,  the  flattened  head  being  the  sign  of 
freedom.  ,        ,,„,•, 

There  is  another  point  about  the  head 
flattf.uing  which  deserves  attention.  Seeing 
that  it  is  begun  almost  in  the  same  hour 
that  the  infant  is  born,  aud  is  continued  for 
eight  months  to  a  year  or  more,  it  might 
naturally  bs  imagined  that  it  would  cause 
considerable  pain  to  the  child,  and  in  many 
cases  be  dang",rous  to  life.  This,  however, 
is  not  the  case:  and  that  i>-  should  not  be  so 
is  one  of  the  riany  proofs  of  the  extent  to 
which  the  human  frame  may  be  distorted 
without  pei^^^inent  injury.  Mr.  Kane's  re- 
marks are  as  toUows  :  — 

"It  might  bo  sunposed,  from  the  extent 
to  which  this  is  carried,  that  the  operation 
would  be  attended  with  great  suflering  to 
the  infant,  but  I  have  never  heard  tlie  in- 
fants crying  or  moaning,  although  I  have 
seen  the  eyes  seemingly  starting  out  of  the 
socket3  from  the  great  pressure.  But  on  the 
.  contrary,  when  the  lashings  were  removed, 
I  have  noiiced  them  cry  until  they  were  re- 
placed. From  the  apparent  dulness  of  the 
children  while  under  pressure,  I  should  im- 
agine that  a  state  of  torpor  or  inseneibihty 
is  induced,  and  that  the  return  to  conscious- 
ness occasioned  by  its  removal  must  be  nat- 
urally followed  by  the  sense  of  pf'n." 

Should  a  child  die  before  it  ua  old  enough 
to  be  released  from  the  cradle,  the  mother 
is  not  relepscd  from  her  maternal  duties, 
but,  on  tb'j  contrary,  continues  to  perform 
them  as  assiduously  as  if  tl  ,  little  creature 
were  living. 

After  the  child  io  buried,  she  makes  a 
"  inourniiig-crftdly,"  t.  e.  in  the  place  which 
the  child  had  formerly  occupied  she  places 
a  large  bundle  nf  black  featl'  rs,  by  way  of 
rc.iresentative  of  the  deceased  Infant,  and 
.reats  it  in  all  resp'.cis  as  if  the  little  one 
still  occupied  the  rr.dle,  She  crtiricB  it  on 
her  back  whcrevei  she  goes,  and  when  she 
rests,  stands  it  upright  .igainst  a  tree  or  th.; 
side  of  the  hut,  and  talks  to  it  as  if  to  a  liv- 
ing child.  This  ci-stom  is  continued  lor  at 
least  a  year,  and  in  manv  cases  is  extended 
oven  beyond  tliat  period.  And,  though  a 
bereaved  mother  may  be  so  pogr  aii  scarcely 


to  have  sufficient  clothing  for  herself,  sho 
will  contrive  to  decorate  the  cradle  ot  her 
lost  child  with  the  appropriate  ornaments. 

As  a  rule,  the  North  American  Indians 
are  aflfectionate  ;)arent8.  Mr.  Catlin  men- 
tions an  instanct  where  he  had  painted  a 
portrait  of  a  'nar  led  woman,  the  daughter 
of  a  chief.  Some  time  afterward  she  died, 
and  the  father,  happening  to  see  and  recog- 
nize the  portrait  of  his  lost  daughter,  offerea 
ten  horses  — an  enormous  price  for  an 
American  Indian  to  pay.  Of  course  the 
portrait  was  presented  to  nuo  at  once. 

Parental  affection  is  fully  reciprocated 
by  the  children,  and  ihe  greatest  respect 
paid  by  the  younger  to  the  elder  men.  Yet 
we  find  even  among  thi-in,  as  among  so 
r^any  tribes  which  lead  a  senii-nomad  ex- 
istence, the  custom  of  abandoning  the  sick 
and  aged  when  they  are  obliged  to  make  a 
forced  march  of  any  distnnce. 

This  is  generally  done  at  the  instance  or 
the  victims  themselves,  who  say  that  they 
arc  old  and  useless,  and  can  be  only  an  en- 
cumbrance to  the  rest  of  the  t.ibe.  Accord- 
ingly, a  rude  shelter  is  formed  ot  a  bison 
hiae  stretched  over  four  upright  rods,  un- 
der which  the  sick  man  is  laid;  a  basin  ot 
water  and  some  food  are  placed  by  his  side; 
and  he  is  left  to  perish,  if  not  by  privation 
or  disease,  by  the  ranging  tlocks  of  wolves 
that  roam  the  prairies. 


We  will  now  pass  to  a  more  agreeable 
phase  in  the  life  of  these  tribes,  and  lake  a 
glano-  at  their  dances  and  games. 

It     IS  been  the  prevalent  impre-sion  lliut 
the  Indian  is  taciturn,  unsocial,  and  morose. 
Mr.  Catlin,  whose  testimony  cannot  be  im- 
peached, takes  considerable  j-ams  to  correct 
this  opinion;  and  states  as  the  result  of  his 
travels  among  the  Indian  tribes,  that     they 
are  a  far  more  talkativt  and  conversaliona 
race  than  can  easily  be  seen  in  the  civilized 
world.  No  one  can  look  into  the  wigwams  of 
these  people,  or  into  any  little  nionicntarv 
croup  of  them,  without  being  at  once  suuck 
with  the  conviction  that  small  talk,g.Mrulity, 
story-telling  and   amusements,  are  leading 
passions  with  Iheni."  To  watch  their  games, 
and  hear  their  shouts  of  exultation,  m  any 
o'"  their  villages,  to  sit  down  in  their  lodges 
and  listen  to  their  jokes,  repartee,  anecdote 
and  laughter,  would  effectually  banish  this 
erroneous  opinion  so  generally  held  in  re- 
gard to  the  Red  Men.    Wivh  no  anxieties  i  ;r 
the  future  ~  no  necessities  goading  then.,  it 
is  natural  that  they  should  be  a  merry  peo- 
ple, and  most  of  their  life  be  spent  in  sports 
and  games.  ,  .  . 

The  Indian  fondness  for  amusement  is 
shown  in  the  great  variety  of  Uieir  dances, 
mos',  of  which  are  very  fanciful  and  pictu- 
resque, thr  igh  somo  of  them  have  a  relig- 
ious Bigniflcance.  There  are  the  ball-play 
danc;  pipe  darxc,  baifulo  and  scalp  diincf  s 
(already  described),  beggar's,  bear,  and  dog 


sho 
her 

8. 

ans 
len- 
3d  a 
iter 
ied, 
:og- 
?reu 
an 
the 

ated 
pect 
Yet 
"  so 
cx- 
sick 
,kc  a 

:e  of 
they 
1  on- 
lord- 
jison 
,  un- 
in  of 
side; 
ixtion 
d1v§8 


eable 
ike  a 

I  thut 
)rose. 
e  im- 
)rrect 
jf  his 
they 
vional 
ilizei' 
nis  of 
ntary 
liruck 
rulity, 
ading 
nmes, 
1  any 
odgcs 
;cdoto 
li  this 
in  re- 
ies  i.iT 
en.,  it 
y  j)CO- 
gports 

ent  is 
anccs, 
pictu- 
relig- 
n-plny 
liincfg 
id  dog 


1.)   BlltCII   HAltK   CANOK.     (Siv  pncrP  IKfi.) 


(2.)   PANCE  TO  THK  MEDICiNK  OF  TIIK   RUWE.     (Soo  put?.-  VMX) 


(:i.)   THK  SNOW    SIKIK    MAM  K      i.Sw  im«.  .til.) 
(1322) 


INDIAN  DANCES. 


1828 


dances.  But  the  most  pleasing  of  all  are  the 
eaglo  (lance,  dance  of  the  braves  which  is 
peculiarly  attractive,  and  the  ^reen  corn«nd 
snow-shoe  dances.  The  latter  is  exceedingly 
pictmesquo,  and  tlie  artist  has  represented 
It  on  the  precudinj^  pafje. 

Hoforo  the  first  snow  shoe  hunt,  the 
Indians  always  perform  a  dance  by  way  of 
thanksgivinj;  to  the  (..-eat  Spirit  for  sendinr^ 
the  snow  wliich  will  enable  them  to  live  in 
plenty  so  long  as  it  lasts.  Several  speara  are 
stuck  upright  in  the  snow  covered  ground, 
on  one  of  wliich  are  tied  a  pair  of  snow  shoes, 
and  on  the  others  sundry  sacred  feathers  and 
similar  objects.  The  dancers,  clfid  in  hunt- 
ing dress,  and  wearing  snow  shoes,  go  round 
and  round  the  spears,  imitating  the  while 
all  the  movements  of  the  chase,  and  singing 
a  song  of  tlianksgiving. 

Nearly  all  the  tribes,  however  remote 
from  each  other,  have  a  season  of  festivity 
annually,  when  the  cars  of  corn  are  large 
enough  for  eating.  Green  corn  is  regarded 
a  great  luxury,  and  is  dealt  out  with  most 
improvident  profusion  —  the  festivities  last- 
ing ciglit  or  ten  days.  The  whole  tribe  feast 
aiid  surfcit  upon  it" so  long  as  it  lasts,  mak- 
ing sacrifices,  singing  songs  of  thanksgiving 
to  the  Great  Spirit,  and  celebrating  the  green 
corn  dance.  Every  occupation  is  suspended 
during  these  festivities,  and  all  unite  in  the 


carnival  of  gluttonv  and  merriment.     Mr. 
Catlin  thus  describes  this  dance:  —  "  At  the 
tim!!  when  the  corn  is  thought  to  be  nearly 
ready  for  use,  several  of  the  old  women,  who 
have"  fields  or  patches  of  corn  (the  men  dis- 
dain such  degrading  occupations  as  cultivat- 
ing tlie  field  or  garden),  are  appointed  by 
the  medicine  men  to  examine  the  cornfields 
at  sumise  every  day, and  bring  to  the  coun- 
cil house  several  ears  of  corn,  which  they 
must  on  no  account  break  open  or  look  into. 
When  the  doctors,  from  their  examination, 
decide  that  the  corn  is  suitable,  they  send 
criers  to  proclaim  to  every  part  of  the  village 
or  tribe  that  the  Great  Spirit  has  been  kind, 
and   they  must  meet  next  day  to  return 
thanks  to  Him.     In  the  midst  of  the  assem- 
bled tribe,  a  kettle  filled  with  corn  is  hung 
over  a  fire.    'VVhilo  this  corn  is  being  boiled, 
four  medicine  men,  each  with  a  stalk  of  corn 
in  one  hand  and  a  rattle  in  the  otl»er,  their 
bodies  painted  with  white  clay, dance  around 
it  chanting   a  thanksgiving   to  the   Great 
Spirit,  to  whom  the  corn  is  to  be  offered.  In 
a  more  extended  circle  around  them,  a  num- 
ber of  warriors  dance,  joining  in  the  same 
pong.    During  this  scene,  wooden  bowls  are 
laid  upon  the  ground,  in  which  the  feast  is 
to  be  dealt  out." 

When  the  doctors  decide  that  the  corn 
is  sufficiently  boiled,  the  danco  assumes 
a  different  form,  and  a  new  song  is  sung, 
the  doctors  in  the  meantime  placing  the 
corn  on  a  scaffold  of  sticks  built  over  the 
fire,  where  it  is  consumed.  This  fire  is  then 
removed,  the  ashes  are  ail  buried,  and  »  aew 


fire  is  originated  on  the  same  spot,  and  in 
tlie  same  way  as  by  the  Hottentots,  de- 
scribed on  page  100.    Then  corn  is  boiled 
for  the  feast,  at  which  the  doctors  and  war- 
riors are  seated.    An  unlimited  license  is 
given  to  the  whole  tribe,  who  mingle  excess 
and  amusement  until  the  fields  of  corn  are 
stripped,  or  it  has  become  too  hard  for  eating. 
Tlie  dance  of  the  braves  is  beautiful  and 
exciting  in  the  highest  degree:  — "At  in- 
tervals the  dancers  stop,  and  one  of  them 
steps  into  the  ring  and  vociferates  as  loudly 
as  possible  the  feats  of  bravery  which  he  bus 
performed  during  his  life.  ...  He  boasts  of 
the  scalps  he  has  taken,  and  reproduces  the 
motions  and  actions  of  the  scenes  in  which 
his  exploits  were  performed.     When  his 
boasting  is  concluded,  all  assent  to  the  truth 
of  his  story,  and  express  their  approval  by 
the  guttural   '■waughP      Then  the  dance 
commences  again.     At  the   next  interval 
another  makes  his  boast,  and  so  another 
and  another,  till  all  have  given  a  narrative 
of  their   heroic  deeds,  and   proved    their 
right  to  be  associated  with  the  braves  of  the 
nation." 

The  dog  dance,  thouj^h  a  favorite  with  the 
Sioux,  is  not  an  attractive  one. 

The  hearts  and  livers  of  two  or  more  slain 
dogs  are  placed  entire  and  uncooked  upon 
two  crotches,  about  as  high  as  a  man's  head, 
and  are  cut  into  strips  so  as  to  hang  down. 
The  dance  then  commences,  which  consists 
in  each  one  proclaiming  his  exploits  in  loud, 
almost  deafening  gutturals  and  yells.    At 
the  same  time  the  dancers,  two  at  a  time, 
move  up  to  the  stake,  and  bite  off  a  piece  of 
the  heart  and  swallow  it.    All  this  is  done 
without  losing  step  or  interrupting  the  har- 
mony of  their  voices.    The  significance  of 
the  tlance  is  that  none  can  share  in  it  but 
the  braves  who  can  boast  that  they  have 
killed  their  foe  in  battle  and  swallowed  a 
piece  of  his  heart, 
jimong  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  there  are  sev- 


eral singular  dances,  besides  some  already 
mentioned,  viz:  the  slave  dance  (a  very  curi- 
ous one),  dance  to  the  Berdashe,  which  is  an 
amusing  scene,  and  dance  to  the  medicine  of 
the  brave.  There  is  a  tender  and  beautiful  les- 
son conveyed  in  this  latter  dance.  In  the 
illustration  of  it  on  page  1322,  a  party  of  Sac 
warriors  are  represented  as  returned  victo- 
rious from  battle,  with  the  scalps  they  have 
taken  as  trophies.  Having  lost  one  of  their 
party,  they  appear  and  dance  in  front  of  his 
wigwam  fifteen  days  in  succession,  about  an 
hoiir  each  dav,  the  widow  having  hung  his 
medicine  bag'  on  a  green  bush,  which  she 
erects  before  her  door,  and  under  which  she 
sits  and  cries  whilst  the  warriors  dance  and 
brandish  the  scalps  they  have  taken.  At 
the  san.e  time  they  recount  the  heroic  ex- 
ploits of  their  fallen  comrade,  to  solace  the 
grief  of  his  widow,  and  they  throw  her  pres- 
ents as  they  danco  before  her,  that  she  may 

**ii  L-«-^*-  fr'>?*^  •^j^^rort"  on/1  QiiflRnriniy- 
UC  ncpv  itvixi  i"'T\'**'j   ^— — rs- 


1824 


THE  NOBTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS. 


'  I 


There  is  little  in  these  dancefl  that  resem- 
bles the  "  light  fautastic  toe "  and  giUUy 
maze  of  the  dance  among  the  civilized,  l  ne 
former  consist  very  much  of  jumps  anu 
starts  — oftentimes  the  most  grotesque,  ana 
even  violent  exertions— united  with  son^s 
and  yells,  sometimes  doafomng  by  tlieir 
sound  or  fearful  by  the  wildness  and  m- 
tense  excitement  that  are  manitestea. 

To  a  looker  on  not  familiar  with  the  pe- 
culiar siguilicivnce  of  these  displays,  they 
seem  only  a  series  of  uncouth  and  meaning- 
less motions  and  distortions,  accompanied 
with  harsh  sounds,  all  forming  a  strange, 
almost  frightful  medley.    Yet  Mr.  Catlin 
says  "  every  dance  has  its  peculiar  step  and 
every  stop  has  its  meaning.    Every  dance 
has  also  its  peculiar  song,  which  is  so  intri-  i 
cate  and  mysterious  oftentimes,  that  not 
one  in  ten  of  the  young  men  who  are  sing- 
ing know  the  meaning  of  the  songs.    JSone 
bu"   medicine  men  are  allowed  to  under- 
stand them."    There  are  dances  and  songs, 
however,  not  so  int.icato,  which  are  under- 
stood and  participated  in  by  all  the  tribe. 

The  beating  of  drums,  the  yells,  stamp- 
ing, and  bellowing,  the  noisy  demonstra- 
tions forming  so  great  a  part  of  Indian 
amusements,  will  remind  the  reader  of  sim- 
ilar manifestations  among  some  of  the  Afri- 
can tribes,  recorded  in  the  first  part  of  this 
work. 

The  game  which  is  perhaps  the  most  pop- 
ular and  widely  spread  is  almost  unintelli- 
gil)le  to  an  uniustructed  bystamlvr.  Its  title 
is  Tchung-chee,  that  being  the  name  of  the 
spear  which  will  be  presently  described.  It- 
is  played  with  a  ring  about  three  inches  in 
diameter,  made  of  bone  or  wood  wrapped 
with  cord,  and  a  slight  spear,  on  which  are 
several  little  projections  of  leather.  Ihc 
plavers  roll  the  ring  along  the  ground,  and 
'  as  "it  is  about  to  fall,  project  the  spear  so 
that,  .as  the  ring  falls,  it  may  receive  within 
it  one  of  the  pieces  of  leather.  II  it 
does  so,  the  player  scores  one  or  more 
points,  according  to  the  particular  projec- 
tion wliich  is  caught  in  the  ring,  and  the 
mode  in  which  it  flies. 

Another  variation  of  this  game,  called 
Al-kol-lock,  has  the  spear  without  the  leath- 
ern projections,  but  in  their  stead  six  col- 
ored beads  are  lixed  inside  the  ring.  At 
each  end  of  the  smooth  clay  course,  which 
is  about  fifty  feet  in  length,  a  slir;ht  barrier 
is  erected.  The  players  bowl  the  ring  trom 
one  end  of  the  course,  run  after  it,  and  as  it 
falls  after  striking  the  barrier,  throw  their 
8i)ears  as  described  above,  the  points  being 
reckound  according  to  the  color  of  the  bead 
which  lies  on  them. 

The  absorption  of  the  players  in  this 
game  is  beyond  description.  They  will  play 
at  it  all  day,  gamble  away  their  horses,  their 
ter.ta.  their  clothes.  and>  when  they  have  lost 
all  iiieir  property,  will  stake  them'selves,  the 
loser  becoming  the  slave  of  the  winner. 


Another  game,  called  Pagessau,  or   the 
bowl  gamc'^is  very  popular,  though  it  is  a 
sedentary  one,  and  lacks  the  gracelul  action 
that  gives  so  great  a  charm  to  the  preced- 
ing game.    It  is  played  with  a  wooden  bowl. 
coTitaining  a  number    of  pieces  of  wood 
carved  into  various  forms;  some,  which  we 
may  call  the  pieces,  having  round  pedestals 
on  which  to  stand  and  others,  which  we  will 
term  the  pawns,  being  round,  and  painted 
on  one  side  and  plain  on  the  other.     1  he 
players  take  the  bowl  alternately,  give  it  a 
shake,  and  set  it  in  a  hole  in  the  gro«"«- 
The  contents   are  then  examined,  and  the 
points  are  scored  according  to  the  n""»"er 
of  pieces  which  stand  on  their  pedestals.   It 
the  pawn  has  its  colored  side  upward,  the 
player  scores  one  point;  if  it  has  the  plain 
side  uppermost,  he  deducts  a  point  from  his 
score.    The  position  of  the  pawns  is  en- 
tirely a  question  of  chance,  but  considerable 
skill  is  exerted  in  getting  the  pieces  to  stand 
on  their  pedestals.  ^    .  ..       4> 

The  game  which  is  most  characteristic  of 
the  American  Indians  is  the  celebrated  ball 
came,  a  modification  of  which  has  been  in- 
troduced into  England  under  the  name  of 
La  Crosse.    The  principle  on   which  it  is 
plaved  is  exactly  that  of  foot-ball  and  hockey, 
namely,  the  driving  of  a  ball  througa  a  goa 
defended  bv  the  opposite  party.    We  will 
first  take  the  game  as  it  is  played  by  the 
Choctaws.     The  reader  will  find  it  illus- 
trated on  page  1311.  ,     ,  .^      ■„  „ 
A  ball  is  carefullv  made  of  white  willow 
wood,  and  ornamented  with  curious  designs 
drawn  upon  it  with  a  hot  iron.    The  ball- 
sticks,  or  racquets,  are  much  like  our  own 
racquets,  but  with  larger  and  more  slender 
handles,  and    with    a  very   much    smaller 
hoop.     Each  player  carries  two  of   these 
sticks,  one  in  each  hand.    The  dress  of  the 
players  is  very  simple,  being    reduced  to 
the  waist-cloth,  a  t.iil  made  of  white  horse- 
hair or  quills,  and  a  mane  of  dyed  horsehair 
round  the  neck.    The  belt  by  which  the  tail 
is  sustained  may  be  as  highly  ornamented  as 
possible,  and  the  player  may  paint  himself 
as  brilliantly  as  he  likes,  but  no  other  arti- 
cle of  clothing  is  allowed,  not  even  mocca- 
sins on  the  feet  .       ,   i       ,i. 

On  the  evening  of  the  appointed  day,  the 
two  parlies  repair  to  the  ground  where  the 
goals  have  been  already  set  up,  some  two 
hundred  vards  ajiart,  and  there  perform  the 
ball-play  "dance  by  torchlight.  Exactly  in 
the  middle  between  the  goals,  where  the 
ball  is  to  be  started,  sit  four  old  medicine 
men,  singing  and  beating  their  drums,  while 
the  plixyers  are  clustered  round  their  re- 
.spective  goals,  singing  at  the  top  of  their 
voices,  and  rattling  their  ball-sticks  to- 
gether. This  dance  goes  on  during  the 
whole  of  the  night,  so  that  the  plavers  are 
totally  deprived  of  rest  — a  very  bad  prepa- 
j  ration,  as  one  would  think,  for  the  Kt  yi.re 
I  exertion  of  the  eosuiug  day.    AU  the  bets 


THE  BALL-PLAT. 


1325 


are  made  on  this  night,  the  article  staked, 
such  as  knives,  bluukots,  guns,  cooking 
utensils,  tobacco,  and  even  horses  and  dogs, 
being  placed  in  tlie  custody  of  the  stake- 
holders, who  sit  by  them  and  watch  them  all 

!kbout  nine  o'clock  on  the  next  morning 
the  play  begins.    The  four  medicine  men, 
witli  the  ball  in  their  custody,  seat  them- 
selves as  before,  midway  between  the  goals, 
wliile  the  players  arrange  themselves  for  the 
attack  and  defence.    At  a  given  signal,  the 
ball  is  Hung  high  in  the  air,  and  as  it  falls, 
the  two  opposing  sets  of  players  converge 
upon  it.     As  there  are  often  several  hun- 
dred players  on  each  side,  it  may  be  imag- 
ined that  the  scene  is  a  most  animated  one.^_ 
"  In  these  desperate  struggles  tor  the  ball, 
writes  Mr.  Catlin  "  where  hundreds  are  run- 
ning together,  and  leaping  actually  oyer  each 
other's  heads,  and  darting  between  their  atl- 
versarios'  legs,  tripping',  and  throwing,  and 
foiliii"  each  other  in  every  possible  manner, 
and  every  voice  raised  to  its  highest  key,  in 
shrill  yelps  ami  barks,  there  are  rapid  suc- 
cessions of  feats  and  incidents  that  astonish 
and  amuse  far  beyond  tlie  conception  of  any 
one   who  has  not  had  the  singular   gooil 
luck  to  witness  them.  . 

"  In  those  struggles,  every  mode  is  used 
that  can  be  devised  to  oppose  the  progress  ot 
the  foremost,  who  is  likely  to  get  the   ball; 
and  those  obstructions  often  meet  desperate 
individual  resistance,  which  terminates  in  a 
violent  soulfle.  and  sometimes  in   listicutls. 
Then    their    sticks   are    dropped,  and  the 
parties  are  unmolested,  whilst  they  are  set- 
tliii"  it  between    themselves,  except  by  a 
f'(>neial  stampeao,io  which  those  are  subject 
who  are  down,  if  the  ball  happen  to  pass  in 
their  direction.    Every  weapon,  by  a  rule  ot 
all  Ijall  players,  is  laid  by  in  the  respective 
encampments,  and  no  man  is  al  owed  to  go 
for  one;  so  that  the  sudden  broils  that  take 


about  one  minute;  when  the  ball  was  again 
started  by  the  judges  of  the  play,  and  a 
similar  struggle  ensued;  and  so  on  until 
the  successful  party  arrived  at  100,  which 
was  the  limit  of  the  play,  and.  accomplished 
at   an    hour's    sun,  when    they   took   the 

In  this  game  the  players  are  not  allowed 
to  strike  the  ball  with  their  sticks,  or  catch 
it  in  their  hands;  though  to  do  so  between 
the  netted  ends  of  the  sticks,  and  then  to  run 
away  with  it,  is  a  feat  which  each  player 
tries  his  best  to  accomplish.  Ball-play 
among  the  Sioux  is  exactly  the  same  in 
principle  as  that  of  the  Choctaws,  but  the 
players  only  carry  one  stick,  which  is  wielded 
with  both  hands. 

Sometimes  the  men  are  kind  enough  to 
induWo  the  women  with  a  hall-play,  and  to 
present  a  quantity  of  goods  as  prizes,  hang- 
ing  them  across  a  horizontal  pole,  in  order 
to  stimulate  the  players  by  the  sight,    bucli 
inferior  beings  as  women  are  not,  however, 
allowed  to  use  the  ball  and  racquet  of  their 
superiors,  the  men,  but  play  with  a  couple 
of  small  bags  filled  with  sand,  and  attached 
to  each  other  by  means  of  a  string  about 
eighteen    inches  in  length.      Each  of  the 
players  is  furnished  with  two  slight  st  cks, 
about  two  feet  in  length,  and  with  these 
sticks  they  dexterously  catch  the  sand  baj's, 
and  lling    them   toward   the    goals.     Ihe 
women  play  with  quite  as  much  enthusiasm 
as  the  men,  and  the  game  otten  af  umes  the 
appearance  of  a  general  battle  rather  than  of 

"'sTuc™*^tho  introduction  of  horses,  the 
American  Indians*  have  become  very  iond 
of  horso  racing,  and  bet  so  recklessly  on  the 
speed  of  their  animals  that  they  often  lose 
everything  which  they  possess.  In  these 
races  neither  the  horso  nor  the  ruler  arc 
allowed  to  be  costumed  in  any  way,  not  even 
a  saddle  or  a  girth  being  allowed.    Ihcy 


ii^^iiHili 


to  interfere  in  any  way  with  the  contentious 

individuals,  ^..,11  „„f„  t,v 

'•  There  are  times  when  tno  ball  gets  to 
the  "round,  and  such  a  confused  mass  is 
rnshmg  together  around  it,  and  knocking 
their  sticks  together,  without  a  possibi.ity 
any  one  getting  or  seeing  it  tor  the  dust 


canoes' are  mostly  propelled  by  one  man 

Tlie  canoes  are  of  various  forms  and  ma- 
terials, according  to  the  tribe  to  which  they 
helon'T.  for  example,  the  Mandans  have 
an  od'cl,  circular  vessel,  made  from  a  bison 
hide  stretched  over  a  wooden  framework. 


often  sculUiug  for  several  minutes  after  it  has 
been  lh»<)wn  off  and  played  ov.)r  another 


part  of  the  ground. 

"For  each  time  tliat  the  ba*'  ■>  -  passed 
between  the  goals  of  either  pany,  one  was 
counted  for  their  game,  and  Ihcy  halted  tor 


can  reach,  draws' "it  smartly  toward  her 
and  Mms  propels  the  boat  with  considerable 

'^ 'on'one  occasion, Mr,  Catlin  and  two  com- 
panions were  desirous  of  crossing  he  river 
knd  were  packed  into  one  of  these  bull  hoata 
by  the  wi'o  nf  .1  chief.    She  then  went  into 


ml 


THE  NOBTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS 


1328 

the  water,  and  swum  across  the  river,  towinz 
the  boat  after  her.  As,  hojvever,  she  neare  J 
the  opposite  banlc,  a  number  of  youn?  girls 
surrounded  the  canoe,  took  'V^'o  thmr  own 
management,  and  kept  it  in  mif-f/f^™'"""^ 
the  pSssengeVs,  utterly  powerless  n  such  u 
craft,  ransolned  themse  ves  ^vith  bead  n^ck 
laces'  and  other  decorations.    Then  there  is 

another  kind  of  <=r"''' i  ^hinh  is  3ii- 
hollowed  tree-trunk,  and  ^^h  f h  is  gravbi 
rallv  called  a  "  dug-out."    No  very  parTitu 
?ar  care  is  taken  about  the  shaping  of  this 
8?mplo  boat!  which  is  more  like  a  punt  than 

'^  Tho  best  and  most  characteristic  form  of 
native  canoe  is  that  which  is  made  of  the 
Kkof  tlie  birch  tree.  The  mode  of  making 
these  canoes  is  briefly  as  follows,     OanocI 
building  s  a  work  in  Which  both  sexes  take 
a  nart     The  men  first  select  the  largest  and 
fin^cst  birch  trees,  with  the  smoothe^  skins, 
nnrl  ttrin  off  large  pieces  of  the  baiK.     in 
^"  men^then  tale  chavge  of  the  bark,  and 
while  it  is  still  fresh  and   moist  clean  and 
Tc  ape  it  as  if  it  were  leather,  and  the^n  sew 
the  pieces  together,  so  as  to  make  the    cloak 
of  the  future  canoe. 

While  the  women  are  at  this  work,  the 
men  are  busily  preparing  tlie  skeleton  ot 
the  canoe.    Tliis  is  made  of  the  white  cedar 

"  .,       .      !.,_    ..,,1.    „„A     onrnnpri     until     tlieV 


the  canoe,     iius  i»  lu.vvic  w.  w.v- ,..-.{-;, 

the  ribs  being  cut  and  scraped  un  il  thej 
arc  quite  thin  and  light,  and  held  in  their 
places  by  smaller  cross-pieces,  and  a  long 
thin  piece  of  wood,  which  runs  round  tl  e 
entire  edge  of  the  boat,  and  is,  m  fact  the 
chief  support  of  the  canoe.  This  is  echni- 
calTy  '^allc<l  the  "  maitrc."  .No  nails  are 
used,  the  whole  of  tho  junctions  bcmg  ef- 
fected by  means  of  thongs  ot  bivss,  obtained 
from  the  inn-^r  bark  of  the  white  cedar. 

The  skeleton  being  completed    it  is  laid 
upon  the  cloak,  which  is  brought  over  the 
ribs  firmly  lashed  to  the  "  maitre,"  and  then 
bv  d?g"ee's  brought,  into  its  proper  shape^ 
£  strengthening  piece,  called    the      laiix 
maitre  "is  next  tied  along  the  whole  of  the 
rmvae  in  order  to  protect  it  from  injury, 
She  interior  is  lined  with  cedar  boanls 
Bcarcelv  thicker  than  pasteboard.     A\  hen 
ihe  canoe  is  finished  and  dry,  the  hoi  s 
through  which  the  lashings  have  passed  .s 
well  as  all  the  iunctions  of  the  .1)ark    aie 
rarcfnllv  stopped  with  pitch  chained  from 
the  pine  or  fir-tree,  and  the  we^teT  parts  of 
the  lark  are  also  strengthened  with  a  coat 

''^fif  i.aik  canoe  of  the  Chipp«waj-s  is 
unquestionably,  tho  most  beautiful  model  of 
all  the  water  cr.afls  ever  invented.  It  is 
usually  made  complete,  from  he  rind  of  one 
birch  tree,  and  so  ingeniously  formed  an 
put  together,  that  it  is  water-tight,  and  «ill 
ride  uF)on  the  water  with  singular  grace  and 

swiflness.  ,  .  .        . 

These  canoes  are  wondcrfull}  ngnr,  a-  •"  , 
deed  is  necessary  for  t^e  navigation  of  the 
rivers.    The  many  rapids  would  effectually  1 


nrevent  a  boat  from  passing  up  the  river, 
Fvc-rlu  not  for  the  p  an  fl^^J  "f^^ff '^ 
When  the  canoe  arrives  at  the  loot  oi  a 
rapid  it  is  taken  ashore,  the  crew  land,  take 
an  tic  goods  out  of  the  canoe,  and  carry 
them  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  rapid.  They 
thpniTO  back  Vor  the  canoe  itself,  launch  i 
£'?hl  smooth  water  above  the  rapid,  and 
oad  it,  and  proceed  on  the>Uouney.  I  e 
figure  at  the  head  of  page  1322  ^jl  g'^e  t  e 
reader  a  good  idea  of  the  form  of  the  birch 

1  icspeetiveV  in  tlfe  bow  --1  ^Jern,  whom  w 

rZJ^^TtTr^^S  o?the  fbow  "  to 
look  carefully  ahead  for  any  rocks  or  any 
o  Sr  obstactes,  and,  bv  .movements  w-ell 
understood,  to  indicate  tt^eir  presence  to  he 
"  stroke  "  who,  w  th  a  sweep  ot  tlie  pauuie, 
brings  the  canoe  round  in  the  direction  indi- 

'^^Se'LtesSih  are  used  in  races  are 
nvule  of  birch  bark,  and  are  almost  always 
of  small  sS- so  s^all,  indeed  that  a  niai. 
Pnn  onsilv  carry  h  s  canoe  on  his  hca  I  from 
'l^h^lSAo^ho  watei;s  odge    and   then 
niinrh  it  witliout    assistance.    Mr.    Tallin 
lives  a  very  animated  description  of  a  canoe 
rTce  thrcompctitors  being  accompanied  by 
Hr°c  canoes,  ?ull  of  their  respective  friends, 
v[w  veil  encouragements  to  the  antagonists 
10  Lnms  in  the  air,  and  render  the  scene  a 
iinanl.  riv  exciting  one,  even  to  a  stranger. 
''Tward  the  iSft  hand  of  the  mnBt-tion 
which  depicts  the  canoe  ra.e,  on  the  follow- 
n"  pa"e,  tlie  reader  may  see  a  curious  mode 
hirone  lin^  canoes,  which  is  often  adop  ed 
vhon   here Yh  no  necessity  for  speed  and  the 
wind  is  favorable.     The  man  w-ho  a.^ts  as 
"  "  w  "  stands  up  in  the  front  of  the  canoe 
extends  a  robe  or  a  blanket  inhis  twohaids^ 
and  then  he  presses  the  two  other  cornei-s 
at  the  bottom  of  the  boat  with  his  feet 
The  robe  thus   i.ccomes  an  extemporized 
sal  of  which  the  man  is  the  mast.    In  this 
manner  a  canoe  is  often  carried  f?r  a  eon- 
Sable  dist^ance,  to  the  great  relief  of  the 

^'^An'^European- would  instantly  upset  the 
fraaUecanoe  if  he  tried  to  stand  erect  in  it ; 
Kthe  mitivesare  absolutely  perfect  mas- 
ters of  their  little  vessels,  and  seem  to  n  o^e 
n.bout  in  them  as  easily  and  firmly  as    t  on 
drv  land     They  will  load  a  canoe  within  an 
nJh  and  ft  half  of  tho  water's  edge,  and 
of^  die  U  for  a  whole  day,  without  dreaming 
Klang  r     And  an  accompl  shed  canoe  man 
wi  1  take  a  fish  spear  in  his  hand,  p  ace  a 
SI  on  each  gmnlale  of  the  boat,,  and,  pro- 
II  A  u,r  a  friend  in  the  stem  oi  tue  Doar, 
ff  dow'n'riprdt  spearing  fish  as  he  shoots 


m 


(I.)  CANOE  RACK.    (Seepage  13M.) 


SI    ■  " 


(2.)   ESQUIMAUX    l)WEl.l,lN(iS.     (See  page  1335.) 


II 

1  ^' 

\ 

wM 

jl 

T'Stt 

■1 

m 

1 

ill  1 

1 

II 

alonff,  ha' 
wivltir,  an 
hind  him. 

ing  for  tin 

reiiiiinMl  I 

the  [H's'ini 

to  ilH  fori 

highly  vn 

no  sintill 

mucli  mo 

off  only  1 

afWictiini 

Thero 

of  ft'rclig 

Groat   V 

ris(!S  froi 

pillar,   1)1 

uu)ii;»!i  I 

in  »itii:iti 

oil;j!0  of 

coino  to 

oiluii  tr 

Tho  miii 

eas^y,  l)i 

whicli    I 

pkco,  tl 

polishi'.il 

should  f 

oir,  and 

Should 

dilUcult 

111!  Hprn 

Hlipixir^ 

Hlii^llt    ( 

Hprin-^. 

Hcfoi 

ho  olft! 

Spirit  f 

all  cvoi 

if  ho  h1 

tho   Ha 

who  »u 

rock,  i\ 

puhlio 

to  spiMi 

this  ft-.; 

would 

Leapii 

If  tl 

the  ca 

Bidi's  n 

made 

tho   si 

quills 

and,  I 

pui)ori 

oralin 

tivos. 

Thi 

thO!«(' 

are  ni 
easily 
Bort.(!( 
the  In 
Icngt 
like, 


BARK-DITINO. 


1320 


alonff,  hatiling  tho  (.truRRlInR  fl«h  out  of  the 
wilier,  au.l  Hliukin«  tlu-iii  uilo  tho   Iwat  bc- 

'''AmIIn"«  ino«t  In.Uan  tribes  when  mourn- 
In-' f.»r  the  .l.^atli  <.r  rolatlvcH,  tl..^  womrn  are 
require  I  to  out  Uu'ir  hair  entir.^v  off,  an<l 
Ihe    erio.1  of  uv.urnin«  i«  .nilil  it  fum  gn.wn 
to  iti,  for.n.r  l.-u^'h.     Ah  long  lrc«HeH  arc  so 
hiirhly  valued  by  most  ot  tlu,  tri bim  tbm  m 
nl,  mnnll  sacriftco.     Hut   iou^  hair  b.-lu«  o 
m...-limoro  importaiuu,  to  the  ui<:n    'J/V  ^ 
off  only  11  lo(;k  or  two,  (,o  in-h'jvt"  B"«f  ""^ 
affliction  for  tlieir  .l.'iarle.l  kiu'\7'<';         ,    , 
Ther.>  i«  a  Ram.,  wliirl.  l>as  iii  it  «<"n«w  at 
of  a-reliKiouH^.iHM-t.    Ou  tlu,  ''<>!'.;  ''^''^  J  V^ 
Groat    rip<-.-slon(>.   (iuarry   a    ro  ilary    ro(lc 
dHos  fron    the  plain      It  r.-.-unbles  a  lur^e 
pilU  r    l^in«  only  a  tVvr  tm-t  in  (liium'tor 
ihou-  li  o-.oro  tl.i.n  thirty  IVet  in  hei-lit.     It 
iS  itr.l  within  a  short  .lislan.-n.  from  t\u'. 
0,1  re  of  tho  pr.-'ipio..,  ai.a  the  Indivns  who 
iVio  piJMn-e\..l  HtoiuMor  their  1^^^^^^^^^^^ 

Tho  mure  Icai)  vo  tho  rock  is  comparatively 
ei  V  but  there  are  two  terrible  .lauijer» 
whicli  threiilen  the  loaper.  n  the  Irat 
nl  CO  tl  0,  HiniiU,  Hat  surfaee  of  the  rock  is  so 
ISell  au.l  invoth  that  if  t''''  '■-l-'; 
Hhoul.l  ex.-rt  t...,  mne,  pow.^r,  h.,  '»-  «  P 
oir,  an.l  be  killed  on  the  sharp  rooks  bel  w. 
Hhoul.l  h...  retain  his  fo,.t,-h..l.l  he  has  still  a 
.lilUcult  task  in  re.^ainiuj,'  the  ^'''t  wh«n';'' 
he  snrau'',  iis  \w  ran  take  no  run,  an  I  the 
Hhppery  Hurlivo  <.f  th.>  ro.^k  aH"r.  8  bu  a 
Hlilrkt  fulcrum  from  which  ho  can  take  hia 

"^ 'ileforo  an  Tu.lian  essays  this  terrible  leap 
ho  off.irii  up   many   prayers   to   llio   Ureal 
Spirit  for  h.llp  au.l  proteelion   an.l  ho  has  at 
a    events  the  salisfa.rtion  of  knowin:^  that, 
S  he  should  i-ail,  his  bo.ly  will  be  buried  in 
the   sa  rod  R-oun-l  of  tL.-.   nation.    Those 
vho  sueoeed  leave  an  arrow  Htickin-  in  the 
roek  •  nd  have  a  ri-ht  to  boast  of  it  at  every 
[    bli<     nceHn.'  wh.'U  they  are  called  upon 
rspeal"     N. )".uan  woul.l  .laro  to  boast  of 
thiVfeat  with..ut  bavin-  perlormed  it,  as  hc 
V  uld  at  once    b.,  challenged  to   visit   the 
Le    .  n«  Hock  an.l  t.,  point  ou    his  arrow 
if'  the  rea.ler  will   r.-IVr  to  tho  tlKurc  of 
the  canoe  on  pa^-e  V.Vli,  In,  will  «ce  that ,  s 
s  b-s  are  de.orate.l  w.th  a  pattern.    This    s 
made  by  fast.-niu-  dyed  ,,orc,unine  quills  to 
U.e   si.les  of   th.7  little    vessef.     Torcupine 
nuills  are  used  very  lar-.dy  lor  ornament^, 
S        .,vou  thou^'h   th.,y   have.    bc«'V  i:**,^"/ 
P  merse.lo.l  by  beads,  are  still  in  use  for  doe- 
oS  tho  (Lssos  an.l  utensils  of  tho  na- 

^' These  nuills  are  novor  so  lonp;  or  thick  as ' 
th.' e  of  tL  porcupine  of  tho  Old  W..rld  and 
ftre  iriturallv  wh  to  or  Rrav,  so  that  they  ean 
e^si  V  t  ke  Ly  desired"  dye.  They  are  lirst 
BoS  very  carefully  into  lh.-ir  ditVercnt  sizes, 

tKr.'est  rarely  oxceedin-  three  inches  in 

lenJth  while  the  smaller  are  quite  thread- 

ko,  and  ca    bo  pa««cd  through  the  eye  of  an 


ordinary  neodlo.  Hoth  ends  arc  sharp. 
When  the  native  artist  dcBiri-s  to  pro.hice  a 
pattern,  the  design  is  llrst  drawn  <m  the  riKht 
side  of  tho  bark  or  leather;  the  two  en.  s  of 
lb.,  quill  ar.,  then  pushed  through  the  fabric, 
.mrtaslencd  on  the  wro«K  side,  the  qudl 
actio"  both  as  lu-.odlo  and  thread. 

I'eHiaps  the  „„.st  iuKoniousniode  of  niak- 
i„«  ornaments  Is  that  which  is  1";«;  •>"■'  ''Y 
the  Ojibbeway  women,  and.  «'•.'";■''  '"g" 
bitin".  Tho  lollowinf,'  des-  riplion  ol  this 
e„ri.,7.s  art  is    Riven   by  Mr.    Kohl   m  hi. 

''^Tilis1s\"n  art  which  the  «q"^;vs  chlelly 

practise  in  sprinK.in  l''^'' «;'«''i;  V/'*."'';  ^ 
kill,  they  do  not  all  understand  it,  '"  "'Y 
a  few  are  really  tahmted.  I  heard  la  a 
very  cclebrat.d  bark-bllor  r.si.  ed  a  the 
other  side  of  Ht.  Mary's  llivr,  m  Ca  ada, 
hat  another,  of  tho  name  o  An^.duiuo 
Marte,  lived  in  our  cataract  vila^e.Nalu- 
rallv   I  set  <nitiit  once  to  visit  the  latter. 

"Kxtraonlinary  geniuses  n"'«t  usually  bo 
sou-htlu!re,  as  in  Pans,  on  the  "f^''  I  or.  or 
\n  some  ren  oto  faubourR.  .O''!' r'>'«l  I'  ^n- 
^'  lique  Marte  led  us  past  the  I'lt.'-;  "«  f,«f 
houses  r.Tres.!ntim,'  our  village  «'"^  >"'"  "  ° 

"ert  We  came  to  morasses,  and  had  to 
£,:;'^from  stone   to  ston.,..    Between     a.^0 

m-isses  of  scattered  Rranito  block,  tue  ri,- 
;  US  ..the  nussilos  which  the  }n.\y.m.j^y 
Menab..iu  and  his  father  hurle.l  at  '^-^^h  c.  >ier 
i,,  th.,  battle  they  fouRht  here,  we  at  kuRU* 
found  tho  halt-decayed  birch-l  ut  ot  our 
Sn  artiste,  who  herself  was  Uv.nR  m   it 

" 'i^SioundiuR  landseape  seemed  beUer 
adapl.^.1  for  a  renrcrsi  than  for  an  tU;^^.  r 
When  wo  preferro.l  our  request  for  soma 
1  cimen  of'  her  tooth  carv  nj:  "»;o   told  us 

lliat  all  her  hopes  '^s  «••■? '^'"'''^iVle  ,sSho  Ind 
cncentrated  in  ono  tooth.  At  »«'•«•;  »*^f''"/i 
only  one  in  her  nppoT  jaw  P'"!'^','^,  "«^  » 
for    this   operation.     She    began,   however, 


n 


for  tins  operaii..".  .^■"'  "^f^.  '  „  ,^f  v.nrlt 
immediately  s.^lecting  m;op"r  V";'''  f.  "\,7' "i' 
iieelin.'  off  the  thin  sltin,  and  d.mblint,'  up 
the   pi^cces,  which  sho   thrust  between  her 

^''' '  As  she  took  up  one  piece  after  t^o  other, 

and  wentthrouRh  the  0P«7J^'""  ^.'^yy,  "^"^efl 
one  artistic  production  afci   tl'O  o  her    el 
from  h(T  lips.    We  unfolded  tho  ba.k,  and 
[oZdonon'o   the  flguro  of  -v  y<;""«  Pj    ;j«° 
anoth.T  a  bouquet  of  llowcrs,  '"  "^   .l>'rd  » 
tomahawk,  with  all  its  ^f  css..r.es  vor.y  cor 
roctlv  dosi.rued,  as  well    as   soveial  otlior 
obiects     Tho  bark  is  not  bitten  into  holes, 
I  ut  only  pressed  with  the  teeth,  so  that  when 
X:&s  are  held  up  they   rese^b^^^^^^^^^ 
some  extent,  those  pretty  porcclam  tiaas 
parimcies  mado  as  llfrht-screens.  . 

^  The  mode  of  constructing  t^c  wi(,™  9 
very  much  tho  same  among  the  ^'irous 
Ss     Generally  it  is  made  of  dressed  buf- 

So  skins  sewedVgether  <»"'  "'-fj^^  Vof 
the  form  of  a  tent,  with  a  scorcher  morooi 
poles  about  tweW-five  feet  iu  height,  a8  a 


I 


If' 


II 


'   i 


1330 


THE  NORTH  AMElUCAN  INDIANS. 


support,  and  with  an  opening  ",,  ,^ '°.  ^f  ""o",- 
for  Ih.  escape  of  «moke  o'/""  [J"  .^  era 
light.  Tlie  Grows,  liowevor,  cxu.1  ixHj 
in  U..  stylo  of  tlicir  odge  ^  ^.^y^Xni^^h 
BWim  iil.noHt  an  white  »  ''^  ,'„  i  t  Ih.iu 
them  whh  l'"rc'>.pi»o  qu  »«;!^^^1'    „ir  ^^^^^ 

exco...lingly  l.eu.itilul  ""'l  I'f  ".^  ^^'^^J^a  i„  a 

j"-;:;:;r  SQS^wr  ana^  t. 

'"•^iu.  Indian  tviboB  judging  J-m  their  mn- 
SrnUti.-XXf|;>^ter^,;^'Si%h^ 

;i;^^s.;;nl/S£iSaiil^Xnuuie 

o   .ho  bo.u.  of  tl>e  <leer-H  or  turkey's  leg,  wj  h 

i:i:-rc;rs'ti:!:;na;iiJ^=rfdf;. 

5t    ,18  only  two  notes -one,  produeed  by 
towin.'      to  one  end  of  it,  is  ^  V'"' ""^IN 
thH  mnu.nH  tohallle;  and  the  <>  »'»'i;  f""^'^  ,^, 
n  r..l le  t     Even  in  the   noise  ol  battle  and  | 
i.iw. Tics  and  veils  of  their  llereo  con- 
ll'liSs  UUle  inluulnent  can  be  distinctly 

'"So  chief   pledge   of   friendship  nmong 
we  ca    \u.delstand  the  '*'fr'>"."^:""f ,,"'    'V' 

nn)st 


eives  way  and  falls,  when  the  relations  ol  the 
j,MVc8wavuu  ,  ^^^^  iiinuina, 

iXhe  Stion  o    .he  skull,  ^^hi.•h  they 
1  ieon  the  g  ound,  fonning  circles  ol  a  hnn- 


vvigwani,  and  ouei  ii.  ^ 

pitalilv  and  atfcclion.       .     ,   ,  .      ^^.^ 
^  The^e  Icasti  are  conducted  m  the 

•  ,   .1  tiihur     Those  were  tender  \aouIs 

'^*''•?r^  U       iv"es  at  the  conclusion  of  an 
whichCaluignf'S  ai  I  ^^j^^.^. 

S^.iS^U.SSil  a  least  had  been 

Hin^ri^-^i^-fMii 

is-i'UR^oSisr  ?-"  - 

more  to  say." 

Wo  come  now  to  consider  the  custoras  of 
th^lnS  Ci  regard  to  death  and  the  d.B- 

^'°SeManitkethcbodyofthedeceased,l 


a  mule  ana  lemnie  7^''"' ",,.,;  ,,,,i;  sundry 
iu  Tilniiled  a  lonu  pole,  on  Willi  11  n.in^  '""""'J 
:^S  ine^'  art^cls,  which  "'•^■  ,»^"[;1','J'^  ^*> 
ni^h! guarding  the  runamsol  the  d..d. 

n.srrtdi:::;sihc^a  ^b-h.^ 

mmm 

IvillTa^l^nhchS-iilrcn  to  their  l.uks.and 

attended  willi  mjury  to  Uic  chcbi,  oi 
fatigue. 

Tl,o   relatives  constantly  visit  the   skull 


The  mostsingular  mnt  ai  u. ..  ...V...  - 

•"CrKS  oTKuVo'uri,.-.!  in  the 


rUNERA-L  OF  BLACKHIRD. 


1331 


district  ovor  which  ho  rulc.l,  t'l"" '»  <» '""/t 
bluff,  the  to,,  of  >vl'l<^!Y'^"  J°  f««"£  Xf 

Si  c  1  -r...Ai;^  of  ».i»  fHVontc 
war  10  mN  "n.1  huri.a  ....  Iho  top  <>  the  bluff. 
Tho  red  ie«t  w;vb  .■.iiriod  out  to  the  li'ttcr. 
On  ho  %.„,iut«a  <hvy,  tho  whole  tnbo 
toacthor  w  t\i  a  viistcoueourso  of  «poctutorH, 
S  •'  a  to  Iho  t.h.ff,  leavins  nn  open  «pnco 
Bo  mi.hllo,wlu>ro  tUo  chiet  was  to  be 

^"presontlv,  tho  ho.1v  of  tho  .lead  chief  WM 

was  lod  his  war  horse,  a  nolt  o   nulk-wlut , 
Ttee.!    wlieli    ho    hiul    valued  oxcee.l.n|?y. 
When  the  funeral  proeessiou  reached  the 
of  ho  bluff,  tl».  deulehiofwas  clothed  hi  lull 


nanoplv  of  war,  the  feather  plumes  on  Is 
rid    he  strun-  bow,  (,uiver,  arrows, shiold, 
S  m  die  no   bat?   Rlun-  on  his  back    Ins 
B^  n     v    ch  nootber.na".  mi«ht  take,hun« 
oZ  horse's  bridle  and  to  his  we..p.v.,s  an- 
his  favorite  spear  in  lus  hand,     lie  was  also 
f  ru  she.l  with  food  and  drink  to  «"«  "J'" 'V'  ' 
,    his  passau'e  to  the  spirit  laud,  au'l  with 
9    ipe  and  lilled  lohaeeo   pouch,  Ihu  .  and 
Sel  so  that  he   luiobt  solace  hnnselt  with 
tho  luxury  of  siniikiii'i.  .,     i     i   „r 

Tl  s  <lone,  he  was  nu.unted  on  ho  back  of 
his  horse,  and  all   the  chiefs  ndvauced  in 
"heir  turn  to  make  their  farewell  speeehes   o 
t  e  r      ead  leader.    Each,  after   deliveriUK 
h  s  ad.  ress,  rubbed  his  ri«bt  hand  wuh  ver- 
lioii  preyed  it  against   tho  whitoeoat  o 
he  hoV'e,  and  left  there  tl>o  scar  e   luii.rmt 
of  his  hand.    Tiien  be<,'an  tho  burial,     llie^ 
wAir^.n^^  brou'.,'ht  in  their  hands  pieces  of 
lurf  a  dwilh  llu-m  be«au  to  raise  a  huKo 
mo  ml  iu  tho  middle  of  which  the  chief  and 
orsewereio  be  enclosed.    O'-l^y"'-. 
tlicv  placed  their  turves  around  the  feet  ot 
te  devoted  horse,  and  so,  by  degrees,  they 
buUt  the  mound  o^er  tho  animal  while  yet 

*^  The  mound,  when  completed,  rose  hipjh 
aho  4  tlu"  load  of  the  ..hief  thus  strangely 
bur  ed    n  its  centre,  and  there  he  and  lus 
horse  were  lef^,  to  decay  together.    On  the 
ton  of  the  mound  a  cedar  post  was  erected; 
Si  this  mound  has  been,  ever  ^ce  it  wa 
hnilt    a  familiar    andmark  to  all  the  sur- 
roundiu-  country.    This  green  ftower  spot- 
tc     momid  is  visited  by  great  nu-^b^  s  of 
travellers,  both  white  and  red.    The  former 
ascend   be  IjUiff  partlv  out  of  curiosity  to  see 
B ,  ^an  -e  a  tomb,  and  partly  for  the  sake  of 
c  "  .'7  ilh-enl  view  from  its  summ.t,w  u  c 
t  e  Iter  visit  it  f..r  tlie  sake  of  payiu"   heir 
Sesnect    at  the  buri..l-plaee  of  one  of  their 
most  renowned  chiefs  and  greatest  medi- 

''ThT'cus^om  of  burying  wives  and  other 
Vict  ms  with  tho  deceased  •--^^-.if^-fj^^ 
now  to  be  extinct  among  the  North  Amen 
caTtribes,  init  such  an  event  has  happened 
Within  comparatively  late  years.    There  waa 


a  NachoT!  chief,  called  the  Stuns  Serpent,    . 
whoilled;  and  as  he  was  the  h.adcliiet  ot  tho 
Irihe  a  considerable  numb.u-ol  vieUms  were 
devoted   for  sacrillco.    The    trench,   how- 
over,  roinonstrate<l,  and  in<lueed  the  Iriends 
of  the  dead  chief  to  limit   the  >»»"'•;•'•     o 
eight  or  ten.     Among  them  vvas  a  beauti  ul 
«rl,  who,  though  uotdiis  wile  had  loved  him 
«reatlv,  and  desired  to  share  lus  grave. 
^  On  the  <lav  appointed  a  procession  was 
formed    in  which  the  victims  were   Unl  in 
Sl'tae,  accompanied  by  eight  relative, 
of  the  d  ce'«.sed,  wlio  were  to  mt  as  exocu- 
ti.ue rs  and  who  bore  tho  fatal  cord,  tin  deer- 
skill  whi.^h  was  thrown  over    be  head  ot  the 
victim,  the  tobacco  piUs  wliu'li  were    o  he 
taken   before  the  ceremony,  and  the  other 
m,  lements  required.     When  tiny  wore  all 
I       cTat  tho  invve,  the  chief  wile  made  a 
Cecil,  in  which  she  took  leave  ot  her  c  iil- 
dreu-  and  the  victims,  after  being  strangled, 
were' deposited  iu  the  grave. 


As  the  object  of  this  work  is  to  present  the 

manners  and  customs  of  tribes  aiul  races 

nth(dr  primitive  state,  and  not  those  semi. 

c  V ilized  it  will  bo  enough  to  men;  y  mtro- 

ducetheVauiesoftheOherokeesChocaws 

(Jreeks,  Cliickasaws,  Hcnecas,  Dela «  ares,  etc. 
Xo"-  is  it  necessary  to  consider  those,  now 
extinct,  that  occupied  the  c.umtry  when  first 
settled  by  white  nlen.    For  the  Ba.ue  genera 
characteristics,  now  presented,  1'^,     "'I     .^" 
the   North    American   r.aees.     Ibe    Ind  an 
tribes  arc   rapidly  retreating  or  vaiiis  imp 
h'onn  e  the  steady, 'irresistible  ">arcli  ot  civih- 
/.ation,  and  tho    growing    K'-»»'»''"'    "  ,>J 
Ki-eat  Republic  in  North  Amenea.     rie  line, 
where  the  echoes  of  the  Indiau-s  yell  l)lenda 
with  the  shout  of  advancing  pioneers  and 
the  sound  of  the  wood-chopper  s  axe,  is  con- 
luallv  moving  westward.    In  a  tew  years 
we  1    vo  seen  ft  pass  from  the  .Ms.iHs.ppi 
mvei-,  to  the  base  of  the  Ilocky  Mountains. 
The  settler's  cabin  is  ""ceasiiigly  encroach- 
ii,L'    upon   the  wigwams   of  the  Red  Men. 
Willi  'adness,  havi  g  smoothed  the  graves 
ol     eii  tllthe^s,  au.l  tiken  a  last  look  of  their 
hunting  grounds,  they  retreat  before  a  power 
Sih  ll^ey  vainly  st'rive  to  ^ist    Pressed 
b.ackward  In  two  centuries  and  a  halt,  across 
three-quarters  of  the  continent,  from  Massa- 
chuset  s  Hay  .almost  to  the  Pacific    except 
afewdecaving  remnants  of  tribes,  their  his- 
torv  and  doom  cannot  but  awaken  syinpathy 
for"  an  unfortunate   and  overpowered  raco^ 
Even  though  we  do  not  form  our  estimate 
of  the  Indian  from  the  romantic  creations 
f  Cooner  every  right-thinking  person  will 
aLoiTthenVthe  tribute  of  many  qualities 
that  constitute  a  real  grandeur  ot  *;l^araeter. 
Their  marvellous  bravery,  th.ur  a.'*^';"^  1;'^.^' 
their  steadfast,  fiery  enthusiasm  in  t  le  fg  t 
or  in  the   chase,  their  manly  «P«''«'        / 
crave  philosophic  demeanor  in  the  coined, 
fhek  stern,  stoical  endur.ance  in  m  stortuue 
their  disdain  of  death,  are  traits  that  have 


'in.ij 


1 

III 

;| 

II 

III 

■   .     L 

1 

si  n 

;<l 

IPI 

'  T 

ffi  i  1 

'   !■ 

P  k  1 

;1 

S  lit 

1333 


THE  NOllTII  AMRUinAN  INDIANfl. 


given  to  Uu-  In.Jlftn  a  character  im h""  •  '' 
an nalUt,    ,»..t,  .u,.l    novclUt,   ""V"    l^^^'^" 

l.avo  l>.a.l  Willi  »'»«''^ /''"^'"'''vrJ  'rvi.' 

vo  b  -  n  ^w.-i.l  IVo.n  llu>  luce  of  ll.o  oartl., 

ulHuvau'.-  iH-t.  Kv.n  ll.cn,  onr  humanity 
revo  U  V^  11  >li"  trnvlnumt  to  which  u,  haH 
Wii  HU  io  -U-a  l.y  thu  whito  nuin."    Tiack.Hl 

hi  n      L  Krou.i.lH  an.1  the  tcrriU.ry  o»    heir 
L\  S tois  i>''l..ul.Ml  by  drink,  '»-"'"^  -  ""; 

£    I  whUo    uivn,  Iho   l.o<.r  Imlian-j   vainly 
Bt    iilii  K  to  avert  their  doom  ..f  ..xfnn.na- 

tim T^i .avu  cii-iied  tin,  7"'i'';'»'y,  ">;;,;;  ':  i 

miH..nai,.n  of  tlu.,civili.e.l  world.  /     '  ^»'^,  ';y 
ndvocaU'.l  in  Iho  (.reoidin^  part  of  this  worK, 
ric      i"c7!.()).in  r.-ard   to  the  d'^fav  an 
nxHn  •   oil  of  savasc  racc«,  doM  not  forbid 
oT^;;u:!u«uH.a,7.«o,lcshouldhav«Buno^^^ 
so\n-i.-voi.«lv  at  Iho   han<l«  ot  tho    Vmiea 
States   (iovornmont,  by   tho   R'"'"/.  "'     S 
nionts    tlw  frauds  of  trader);  and    '»^ J"^*^! 
SviVion  of  the  vicoB  <^f\'ZTiSi^ 
What  with  Anicr  ran  rifles  and  -'^">'''^''_*, 
whi^kev.  their  extinction  has  been  rapid, 

'^'Vt,;S';;Kc^";";::iln«inan.ost,nnenual 

S;^en'S.;n'a;^n:Un«the^vir;.esare 
nititled  to  tho  .just  <<>"«'<'^„^^''""  "^^^  ,iT,m 

their  soil  and  their  homes. 

u  ia  irratifvinc   o  know  that  n  more  nu 
mlie   PoUrv    s  ahont  beinR   inau«nra  e.l 


reeoKnixe.1  and  .nahitalned.    M,^^^^^^^^^ 

uE>nt,s»ys,  in  respeet  to  an  "•;t»»';";:' 
io  <T-bU)o.  cd,  unprovoked,  nnpunisbed  .«it- 
rauo  upon  an  In.Uan  boy  (it  is  Klvei,  only 
M  a  r. DruHontative  luet  of  many  i'"'7'  »"' 
Wtt^.r  vronirs) :-"  I  "ee  no  better  way  than  to 
SK;::i^l{  Authority  ..verUie  lm.i-;;«n. 

enable  them  t..  appear  as  «;"?„"„,";; 
case.  aireelin«   their  own   «>: ,  ",  '  ^''/ i*^? 
of  tho  whiles  toward  theiii.        '''«  is  a    air 
;Ul:ncooftheeauso.4[belndum 

,^„,1    until    while    '''''•;'V'''V'J    .!/f  m  of 
of  the  Indians  are  l'''''''*'V''';    „\'  'f  p.a'.d  j 

C«";   Hl^nmm;  i"  whose  Vl""':"".  ll!» 


,  Hherman,  m  «">""•     i      .„.,,,„ 

Here  wc  hnve  I  le  seeret  td  maiiv  »'i  iiio 

,bar    u-ltres  of  the  l"'''i''J  ''•''"\^,  ','  X^r 

'  „,ul  imbruted  by  the  wbiskev  «"  '   >"J    I^^'^^'f 

iKiioranee   imposed   u|.on  l.y  ''     .^V^",  "' 

t^u.lersand  even  Rov.rnment  "«  "  «•    \Y.ei, 

imic  or  no  chance  for  seeunjK  jus  i.  «  "     ■;  ' 

of  tL  wronRs  of  th-J  Hed  Men,  but  1  cannot 
«„   noble  and   «"f  J^'^yd  ,«  att      "ame 

innnl   fcivaiiu    raCeS,  01    lC<oroiliK    '"' '■  ... 

';rira?i.K-cter  of  the  NortluAmerU 
can  Indians.*  ^ 

tho  work  by  tho  American  editor. 


CIIArTEE  CXL. 

THK   KS(ilJIMAUX. 


APPKAUANCK—  DUr.SH-  I)WKM-1N09, 


.    „      .«n  nirirli'I'ITY  OF  iFFINO    IT— AN   KHQITIMAOX 

;;':":':;:s::::<;::-^-  n:;.:.':::MMK..  ..w.,....n..-fo«u  or  ..b  k«..-.«a.x-a 

WIHR  TUAVKLLKll. 


1,1,.  (Mllcd  l.y  F,ui-op.-iuiH  tlic   hsitiiMArx 
hi.h'  ow..  ..••m..  l..Mn«  I.."..il),  who.  pliic... 

t hoM,.  rl.-n  .^nlH  to  th..ii-  own  purponcs,  and 

Irvu"  .lo  li.e  appim-ntly  m-ro  .lavor..  - 
.il.itant.  of  lh«  tro,.i..«  ami.  lluMf  l>"n"'|>'«> 
V  ..•.)...•.•.  In.l.-(1,  t\w  K«.piiinaux  f.nH  a  i  or- 
f. ,  v.-a...ini,'  nr  liin  l«"»<'V'"l  ^'HuUry 
»  .nil  1.       0  away  fVom  it.    Captain  Mall 

"...  tl.  of  Kn.lla-o,  ft  Hi.i^ularlv  mt..ll.«.(nt 

n  an  wh.  ha.  vIhU.;.!  tho  \MU'a\  Stat.-«  a.ul 

\nv    •    n-.l   to  appr.M=i..t..  tl,.-  a.lvanta-,M-8 

•  Y».       iih  riviiizalion  wl.i.:l.  ho  Haw  th...... 

In  1  l.iH  wi.h.'H  w..n-.  for  h.>.n..  .u.<l  ho 
V  H  Ik..."  l)a.-k.  Ah  lh<-  Hhir.  n.^ar.Ml  h.«  nij- 
V  ianUcf.^ll  ill  an.ldi.f  hi«la«twor.ls 
Ki,.«th.;«a«..r  u.q"iry,  'l^o  you  hco  ico^ 
Do  you  sec  icei"" 


In  nppparanco,  thfl  E«qui.naux  aro  a  po- 
cuUar  )  •<.ph'.  Tl...ir  Htaturc  .h  short,  wh..n 
•Ilmpa^cl  U.  that  ..f  a.|  or.Unary  ;;"vop-  ; 
th..  avi.raL'c  hciii}?  ah.mt  live  f.-t>t  tlm  ( 
[;u;h..H  for  the,  nu-n,  au.l  two  or  three  .nches 
less  for  tl»e  women.  , 

Tlu!  complexion  in  in  some  ca«c«  rather 
.lark  hut,  as  a  rule,  Is  not  .nuch  darker  than 
t Sof  the  inhahitints  of  ^-^^^^^^^^^ 
It  looks  however,  many  shades  dark.-r,  in 
o.iS.iUfthc;habil^.>niu,Ej^n™^ 
who  never  wash  from  their  birth  lo.tlipir 
do%th  It  is  not  that  they  negleet  their  ah- 
luUon«,  bui  the  very  idea  of  washing  never 


ontrrs  tho  mind  of  an  Es.ininiaux,  who 
unless  he  has  ni.-t  with  whit.,  .n...,  has  not 
,,ven  heard  ..f  such  an  operat.ou.  When, 
howev..r,an  Kmp.iniaux  hasi.eeii  m.  ue..<  to 
now  his  skin  t.',  1...  .•leanse.l,  he  !«-"'"'' l« 
l.,so  many  «ha.l..s  of  his  <"•'«!""  /'»V,r"i 
There  is  an  amusing  paHsii|j;e  in  the  .i:>>"-nal 

of  Captain  Hall,  Kiv«"  in  l'i.«  '  V'"  .?'  1  S 

Ks.ii.i.na>ix,"  a  work  t.)  whu^h  l.-...iuent  rcf- 

crenee  will  be  made  in  the  next  i.nv  pa«es. 

"  Kininaloo  has  just  b.^.n  Anien.-anize.l. 

C!aptai.i  » 'H  «"'>'!  .W'lVs  ha'>  "'a.''"  ""<• 

sent  t.,  her  a  pretty  red  dress,  ft  iiucktie,  mit- 
tens, belt,  &e.  ,   ,     .  ,.       p„„_ 
"Mr    KoRers  and  I,  nt  a  suKRestion  from 
me,  th.>iiK'ht  it  best  to  commen.H!  lb.,  ••banp 
oC  nati..nality  with  soap  nn.l  walt.r.      J  he 
proeesH  was  slow,  that  of  arrivms   at  the 
Leautiful    little    Rirl,  whom   we  at   lenirth 
Ib.md,  thonRh  deeply  imbed.le.    layer  after 
Inver  in  dirt.    Then  came  tho  task  of  mak- 
iiiu'  her  toilet.    With  a  very  coarse  comb  1 
',.„mmen<-ed  to  disentanKleh..r  hair.     She 
had  but  little,  the  back  part  from  behind  her 
ears  having  been  cut  short  olT  on  a.cHin   of 
severe   pains  in  her  hea.l.     How  patiently 
she  submitted  to  the  w..rse  than  ^''rrV-'^oml 
pr..cess   I  had  to  use!    This  was   the  list 
ime  in  her  life  that  a  comb  bad  be.-n  put  to 
er  head.    Her  hair  was  lill.-.l  with  moss 
Val  and   rein.hn.r  hairs,  a"<l  '"any  other 
thincs,  to.>  nnnuTous  to  call  the  u    all    by 
name     Poor  little  thin«!     Yet  she  was  fat 
nd   beautiftil,  tho  v.^ry  picture  of  health. 
Her  cheeks  were  as  red  as  the  blown  ro8o; 
Nature's  vermilion  was  upon  them. 


tiiL.ijI 


'iiy 


(1333) 


1334 


THE  ESQUIMAUX. 


skin  is  sn^ootl,  Boft  auf  ycf.^^l^S',  1  Se 
n,gh,  with  a  sort  of  utv^tuouf /"^„„„^ 


The  soles  are  made  of  thicker  material  than 
The  skin  is  sniooth,  sotl,  aim  yc.^ -;— -^  ,  t,,,  rest  of  the  gaiwnt  and  it  is  ^^J^^ 

'"Mitta,,  «rc  ma.lo  of  v.™».  *1m,  *» 
of  watertight  seal-skin.  AJunn„  ui»-j'»  .^^  j, 


Ibllv  tough,  with  a  sort  oi  "h'-'^"""  ;;- ^^nt 

proLably'^.ccasioued  by  the  enormous  amoun 

l^f  oil  and   t«t  which  tbrms  the  Prmcip^^ 

part  of  their  diet.    The.  ff  ["^^^  ^^d  the 

?ery  pleasing,  «»?  <^^««  j^^Jfn.Xkvses,  if  a 

cheek-boues  so  h."h  that  m  many    ^^^^,     .^ 

flat  ruler  were  laid  from  cucck     .     , 

.vouldnot  touch  the  nr^-ic.    AS  isino  ^^^^^^^^^.^^^^^^^  „Y^ae"o1'th"e7kins  of 


the  «yM,  »ioi>c  '»"'",,s"„  ,k  ..toawou- 
cular  powers,     [f  1  '^1"  4;^^  burdens  that 

Avearin-r  trouser-s,  and  jacket?  w>th  a    "o^ 
i;.^::.!,  which  -n  elUier  bo  draw»  ove.^t^^^^^ 

tf'iUd-taiiod  ^[-^  "-;^^!;!i^!:?ia^S 

himl  as  far  as  the  middle  c(  the  ^«'  '  *"^'^  ;' 

ssmmm 


;S?.,rga;=m^V^-  ^llcstines 
°'^li:jS^t;wornhythewovncii^iav.ji 

msmsm 

f,  Imw over  111"  l»»te.  "M« '  T'"  'T.T. 
h!. XZSiv  buckoM  tlran  boo  »,  »ml  arc 
stolS'tM  to  11.0  ginlloby  J  broaJ  ..;» 

as  tTicv  walk,  to  swing  one  foot  louiiu  tic 
other"  nath.u-  than  to  Sso  the  ordmary  mode 

''''Th^  Esnuiinanx  women  use  the  tattoo, 
ine  ,i^«l"''"    ,,_   i,„i.^„,,    and   in   some 


called  bv  t  icm  me   kcumji^.., .-- 

p^^i  cJver  their  limbs  and  a  ^onsiWe 
portion  of  their  persons  }Vit '  vai  lous  pat 
tprn'i     There  arc  some  who  maik  tm,  lorc 
hScheeks,  and  chin,  these  behig  mos J 
proof  that  the  womttn  is  marned    t^w  v, 
hey   are    sometimes    worn    by  uuin.  u  ta 
Sales.    The.  mode    n  w  ur h  the  kakm 
is  ncrlormed  is  amusingly  to'd  by^apiam 
Lj.on,  who  courageously  submitted  to  the 

"^"Mv^curiosity  determined  me  on  seeing 

'?u;in;;:;d:^  istiu.  case  ^^-^^^^::^^ri:^fSi^- 

:P^^yj>}^f^X^:^  1  l^tUefl^li^^  I -had  adopted  as  my  amama, 

'•'■'"navhig  furnished  her  with  a  fine  n.cdlo 
she  tore  with  her  teeth  f  «;y^"i;;f„'h  ;^  ,! 

i)t  ine  3WV c  pt-h  .    toirether  with 


IS  couirasi'  I"   ..■•" -5. 

iace  Within  it.    The  edge  of  the  coat  is  g^v 

^'uS'tl.Js'^Srtanother  of  similar 

shJ^"''but  of  H^'^»t- .«>'^^'^f''TlSle "all 
the  furrv  side  turned  inward,    ^'^c  legs  a  e 

£  otheHKis  the  fur  inward,  as  is  the  case 


«  kn?^  -  nmt  Iheloinris^,;^^!  iVost-bit- 
e,  biU  notSg  can  induce  the  Esquimaux 
to  outrUe  fashfon  by  adding  a  couple  ot 
'"S::;:^olrrm^eoftlu,samcmaten^s 

oots^l^hthcl  fur  inward  then  sipp^ro 

-'^j^-'-!^!!- j:^^';^n?Ct?aid,r!uJ 


onolak ';f  bootris  s^cbuV  protection,  i  good  lUixturc,  aad  «^ng . 


SNOW  HOUSES. 


1335 


whalebone  well  blackened,  she  then  drew  a 
vSy  of  figures  about  my  arm  clifferin-,  as 
leusily  saw,  from  those  with  which  she^icr- 
selfwL  marked;  and,  calling  her  hoiw:- 
m  ates  they  all  e.joyed'a  goo^  laugh  at  the 
flexures,  ^vhich  perhaps  conveyed  some  mean- 
in"  that  I  could  not  fathom. 

"  I  had  however,  only  detcrmmed  on  a  few 
strokes   so  t^at  her   trouble  was  in  some 
mSure  thrown  away    She  commenced  her 
work  by  blackening  the  thread  with  scot 
am  takfng  a  pretty  deep.butshor  stitch  i 
my  skin,  carefully  pressing  '^^."^  *  "^  '  "i" 
thi  wouAd  as  the  thread  passed  t      "gh  it 
and   beginning    each  ^^Uch  at   the    place 
•where  the  last  had  ceased.     M>  ncsn  uciu^ 
ToS,  she  got  on  but  slowly,  and,  having 
brok    1   one"  nce.Ue  in    trying   to Jorc^  it 
throu-h,  I  thought  fit,  when  she  had  coni- 
petcif  forty  stitches,  or  about  two  inches,  to 
Slow  her  to  .U'sist;  then,  rubbing    he  par 
w hh  o  1  in  order  to  stanch  the  attic  b  ood 
which  appeared,  she  finished  the  operation 
I  ciuld  now  form  an  ide.  ot'  the  price  paid 
bv  the  Esquimau.K  femah'S  for  their  enibcl-  , 
lishments,  which  for  a  time  occasion  a  sli-ht 
Xnimation  and  some  degree  of  pain.   The 
color  which  the  kakeen  assumes  when  the 
skin  beals  is  of  the  same  light  blue  as  we  sec 
on  the  marked  arms  of  scanie;i.'         _ 

The  dress  of  the  children  v.;  ahke  in  both 
sexes!    None  at  aU  is  worn  until  the  in.an 
is  nearly  three  years  old,  up  to  ^^dllch  age  it 
«  kont  naked  i.:  .is  mothers  hood.    A  dress 
Xrm^e'of   fawn   ^-^  ^'VS   »'- 
iacket,  trousers,  boots,  and   !>""<  .  »\,^";^^" 
piece,  the  only  open  n-  be.n,!^  t,  '\'^Jwhe 
luto  this  odd  dress  the  cbild  is  put,  anil  tuc 
o  ening  being   tied  up. with   ^^'-'^S^^J" 
'    ....fi^^n   nf   dressin"  is  completed,     int] 
Z     or  can  is  "c'n    "llv  ma<le'in  the  shape 
nieSshead,so  that  the  little  Esqui- 
mau" has  the  strangest  appearance  imagi- 
^b  e  and  scarcely  lo.^ks  like  a  Inunan  being. 
As  to  the  hair,  the  men  cut    t '^'"^^'t  ^^^ 
the  forehead,  and  allow  the   side   locks  to 
Sow  to  their  full  length,  tying  thom,  when 
?  V  -loniover  the  lop  of  the  h-ad  m  a  lar^e 
kmit   Dniecting  over    the  forehead.    Ihe 
t-omefiirt  the  hair  in  the  nnd.he    an. 
mike  it   into  two  large  tails.    A  piece  oi 
bom    or  WOO.I    is    introduced  into  each  of 
he  tails    by  way  of  a  stiffener,  and   the} 
e  t h  n  bo^nd  Jpirallv  with  a  "aynnv  s^^rip 
f  (leer-hide,  with  the  fur  outward.    Those 
Imen  V  0  can  attbrd  such  a  luxury  pass 
hTha  r  throush  two  brass  rings,  which  are 
theii  pressed  as  closely  as  possible   to  the 
head 


other  times  plain,  like  blunt  knives.  The 
skins  are  then  rubbed  and  kneaded,  and  are 
dried  by  being  stretched  by  pegs  to  the 
■rround  in  sUmi'ner,  and  laced  over  a  hoop  in 
o  .    .         „.i  „ ,„„,!  in  tlu>  hoat  of  the  laino. 


■rrouna  m  summer,  a.unn^j."  "^v.  ..  ..v...,. ... 
winter  and  exposed  to  the  heat  of  the  lamp, 
which  constitutes  the  only  hre  of  the  1.S- 

"^"S  skins  are  prepared  in  a  somewhat 
similar  fashion,  and  arc  stripped  from  the 
Imdiesof  the  birds  in  a  marvellously  expe- 
dUious  ma..u.=i.  With  their  knife  winch  ex- 
Sly  resembles  a  cheese  cutter  they  make 
an  incision  round  the  head  and  round  the 
outer  joint  of  each  wing.  The  cut  part  is 
dieii  seized  between  the  teeth,  and  with  a 

pull  and  a  jerk  the  ?V'"  T"  Thle"C 
piece,  and  turned  mside  out.  Thefc  f^"^^""^ 
arc  considered  a  great  luxury  bv  the  Es qu  - 
maux,  who  bite  and  suck  off  the  iat  .vhich 
adheres  liberally  to  them. 


The  whole  of  the  on.-rations  of  preparing 
the  skin  and  making  Aie  clothes  are^lone  by; 


thesk  n  ami  manrng  nu; y^"-  ",  .  ,  tiw.ir 
iL  women,  the  men  having  coinp  etc  their 
tn*k  when  they  have  killed  the  aiiimai. . 
Tie  tU  Wood,  and  oil  are  first  s..o,ked  from 
the  sk  IS,  and  the  women  then  scrape  the 
ner  sirkce  with  an  ingenious  instrument 
"Simes    furnished   with   teeth,  and    at 

04 


In  a  country  where  the  thermometer  re- 
mSs  many  degrees  below  zero  tor  many 
monUis  tog^ethe?,  and  in ^.hich  ice  and  snow 
nre  the  prevailing  features,  it  is  evident  th.it 
houses  'cannot  be  built  after  .he  ^^-^^^ 
ihose  in  most  countries.  No  tiees  can 
Irow  there  so  that  wooden'  houses  are  out 
Sf  the  r  uestion,  and  in  a  land  where  i.'c  has 
been  known  to' choke  up  the  »on  I  ue  of  a 
"tove  always  kept  burning  neither  clay 
coidd  be  made  into  bricks,  tior  stoni'S  ce- 

mitori-d  These  snow  houses,  called  i;'ioo.., 
are  made  in  a  d.mic-like  shape,  an<l  are 
,^^,t^h  a  rapidity  that  •«  J^"  £ ^^ 
'  ;ei,intT  The  reader  will  find  the  loim  ami 
;Sf  of^iUhng  these  houses  illustrated 

*"X"2eSral  ippearance  of  these  strange 
house's^s"thus  c?Lribed  ,by .^'}P;"-,  ^ 
in  his  "Private  Journal."    "t)ui  aslonisn 
me      was  unbonnded,  when,.atler  creepn.g 
thr  ii-h  some  long  passages  of   snow      o 

'nter  the  diiferent  dwellings,  wc  hninj  om- 
solv4in  acluste-  of  dome  shaped  ed. lices 
'ntircly  constructed  of  snow    which,  Irom 

lur  recent  erection,  had  not  been  sul     d 

wo  and  others  three  domes,  in  which  thii - 

1    'on  fami  es  lived,  each  oceuny  ng  a  don  e 

'    r  onS le  of  it.  acconling  to  t\ieir  sU-eng  i. 

Th.  whole  number  of  people  ^^  ^^^ 

one  men,  twenty-five  women  and  eighteen 

^''!SeC?srt?s;;:ifJw^;>u 

IbSth  for  two  to  pass  in  a  stooping  pos- 


laao 


THE  ESQUIMAUX. 


tur.N  and  about  sixteen  foet  m  l^"'/?!'  | 
iuu)t))ur  holo  then  piuscntod  itacH, '»""  ^*''' 
throuKh  a  Miinilarly  shapcil  but  w''"""^, '','.'!!; 


saji^S  having  at  lUs  tcrnunatiun  '|  ™"'"; 
oiK'nmjr  about    two    feel  ivcross.     ^P   """ 

in  a  .lonio  about  sown  iW^  m  l>'''«  '"',." 
many  in  .iiani.t.-r,  'V<.n.  >v  uuuhj  the  t  u  x 
chv..ilin-,.la.H.«  with  a.Th.'.l  >-  '«  we.o  u 

deseription  of  a  larf,'o  htit;  ^^  »"'  ^ . 
ones,  •outainin-  oiui  or  two    anulieH    li.ive 

-Eaeh  .Iwellin-  might  be  '^^ 'tag  'I  at 
fourteen  or  sixteen  feet  in  diameter,  l)y  mx 
or  sc.ven  in  height;  !)ut  as  snow  alone  was 
used  in  liieir  construction,  and  WiW  ah  '.i)» 
at  ii.uid,  it  inigljt  bo  supposed  that  there 
was  uo  particular  size,  that  being  ol  «:oui'se 
lit  the  option  of  tin.  buil.ler.  The  hiyuig  ol 
the  areh  Wiis  perfoniUMl  in  such  a  manner 
,is  would  have  satisllod  the  most  regulai' 
lutist,  the  key  pieces  on  the  top  being  ahirge 
siinare  slab.  Tiie  blocks  of  snow  ns.^d  in 
the  builtUngs  were  from  four  to  si.k  luehes 
in  thii^kuess,  aiul  about  a  couple  of  h;et  m 
l..ie'th,  carefully  pared  with  a  large  knde. 
AVlu're  two  famlriiis  0(H;upicd  a  dome,  a  seat 
was  raised  on  either  side  two  feet  in  height. 
Thesi!  raised  places  were  used  as  beds,  ami 
covered,  in  the  lirst  place,  with  whalebone, 
ai)ri"s  of  Andromeda,  or  pieces  ot  sc^al- 
skiu-  over  these  were  spread  deer-pelts  and 
,le,M-skln  .•lolbes,  wbicli  had  a  very  warm 
iiuiiearaiiee.  The  pelts  were  used  as  blank- 
eU    and    many   of  them    had   ornamental 


friii'es  of  leallier  sewed  round  their  edges 

"  Haih  dwelling-place  was  illuminate<l  by 
n  broad  pii^ee  of  transparent  fre.sh-water 
ii'e,  .)f  ivbout  two  feet  in  diameter,  which 
formed  part  of  the  roof,  and  was  place, 
over  llu>  door.  These  windows  gave  a  most 
i.l.'asiiig  light,,  free  from  glare,  and  some- 
ll.iiig  iik.i' that  which  is  thrown  through 
■nouiid  glass.  We  soon  learned  that  the 
fi;iildiiig  of  a  byuse  was  but  the  work  ol  an 
hour  or  two,  and  that  a  coiiiilo  ol  men  — 
one  to  cut  the  slalis  and  another  to  lay  them 
—  werti  sulllfient  laborers. 

"  For  the  support  of  the  lamps  and  cook- 
iii.r  apparatus  a  mound  of  snow  is  erected 
for  each  family;  and  when  the  master  has 
two  wives  or  a  mother,  both  have  aii  m- 
(b^pendent  place,  one   at  each   end  of  the 

bench."  .    .      .    ^   .  ,1 

III  the  midille  of  the  hut  is  erected  n 
sli'dil  scallbld,  which  supports  a  rudely 
made  net,  ami  under  the  net  is  placed  the 
one  essential  piece  of  fiirniliire  of  the  house, 
namely,  the  lamp.  This  is  a  v.-rv  siniple 
contrivance.  It  is  merely  an  oval  shaped 
dish  of  stone,  round  the  edge  of  which  is 
arranged  a  long  wick  made  of  moss.  Oil  is 
poured  into  it,  and  a  iiuantity  of  blubber  is 
heaped  in  the  centre  of  the  lamp,  so  as  to 
keep  iin  the  suunlv.  Over  the  lamp  is  hung 
the  cooking  pol,  ific  size  of  each  being  iiio- 


Dorlioned  to  the  rank  of  the  possosflor.  It 
.soineli.ntrt  hapi.eiis  that  two  wives  o.jcupy 
the  same  hut.  In  this  case,  the  chi.d  or 
"  iitloo-wife"  has  the  large  lami)  and  the 
Hupi...rtiiig  scalVold,  while  the  otiier  has  to 
content  herself  with  a  little  lamp  and  a 
small  pot,  which  she   nuisl  support  as  sho 

"""^The  value  of  the  lamp  is  simply  incalcu- 
lable, not  so  mmdi  for  its  use  in  cooking,  as 
the  iiwiuimaux  like  meat  raw  quite  as  well 
as  cooked,  but  for  its  sujiply  o    warmth,  l;>r 
the    water   which   is  obtained  by   melting 
snow  over   it,  and    for    its   use    in  drying 
clothes.    All  garm.uits,  the  sm.w  u'lng  list 
beaten  olV  them,  are   placed  on   the      (liy- 
net  •'  over  the  lamp,  wh.M-e  they  ar.j  gradu- 
ally dried,  and,  after  being  ch.;wed  by  the 
wo.ium,  are  lit'  for   wear  again:   ot  lerwis., 
they  become  IVo/...n  .lUile  hard,  and  aie  ol 
n„  im.re  use  than  if  they  were  ma.le  ol   ice. 
Oil  is  supplied  ))y  chewing  blublur,  ami  the 
woin<:n,  who  always  perform  the  task,  have 
the   curious    knack   of   exi)ressing   the    <;il 
without  allowing  a  drop  of  moisture  to  mix 
with  it.     In  one  minute  a  woman  can   oh- 
tain  enough  oil  to  till  a  laiiii.  t-.vo  leet   in 

length.  .  i,     •  1 

Sometimes,  when  snow  is  scarce,  the  ig  «>o 
is  made  ..f  ice.  The  walls  are  lornied  ol  this 
,nat.u-ial,  and  ar.;  generally  of  an  octagonal 
form,  the  ice  slabs  being  cemented  togelber 
wiilin-ow.  The  domed  roof  IS  usually  made 
of  snow,  but  the  tunnel,  or  passage  to  tbe.m- 
terior,  is  of  ice.  Such  a  house  is,  when  liisl 
inad.s  so  iranspari'iit  that,  even  at  the  dis- 
tance of  HoliK!  paces,  those  who  are  witliili  it 
can  be  recognized  through  its  walls. 

Itmay  sctem  slraug.^  that  such  inalerials 
as  snow  ami  ice  should  be  euudoyed  in  the 
i  coustruclioii  of  man's  dweltii.g-pla.  e,  as 
nothing  seems  more  opjiosed  to  com Ort;  yet 
these  hoiis(ss,  instead  of  beiiik'  ('old,  an'  «<> 
warm  that  the  inhabitants  thit)W  oil  the 
gn^aler  part,  and  sometimes  the  whole,  ot 
their  clothes  when  within  them;  ami  the 
bed  of  snow  on  which  they  reclin.!  is,  when 
covered  with  the  proper  aiii<mnt  ot  skins, 
even  warmer  than  an  European  leatlu-r 
bed.  In  the  summer  time  the  Esquimaux 
prefer  the  skin  hut,  or  "  tuple.  This  is  a 
mere  lent  maile  of  deer-skins  thrown  over 
a  few  sticks,  though  the  siqiiMirls  are  soiiie- 
tinics  formed  from  the  bones  oi  whales. 


TilK  food  of  the  Esquimaux  is  almost 
wholly  of  an  animal  character.  In  the  lust 
place,  the  c.mntry  supplies  scarcely  any 
vcetation;  and,  in  the  next  idace,  an  abun- 
dant suiiplv  of  animal  food  is  required  in  or- 
der to  enable  the  inhabitants  to  withstand 
the  intense  cobl.  The  seal  and  the  rein- 
<leer  form  their  favorite  lood,  and  in  bo  h 
cases  the  fat  is  the  part  that  is  most  highly 

^"in  the  reindeer,  the  fat  of  iho  hinder  quar- 
ters, called  by  the  Esquim.iux  "  toodno..,    is 


A  WISE  TBAVKLLEU. 


1337 


.1     .,,..;„„  fl.nf   U   inoHt  vnluod.    (.'iintnin  i  sort  of  iilliirHliiincr  (lelicticy.    Rut  fiudinf; 
tho  loilion  Unit  iH    »<»»Vvnim,(.    V.  lum  i,'«„„i„,!uix  consuU-red  them  ))olh 


Half  vvlio  very  wiHcly  lived  u»  the  EHquI 
nmux  wliil(!  Hlnyiiif,'  with  lluiu,  says  that  it 
iH  iiH  imieii  Hupei'ior  to  l)Ulter  iis  ik  the  best 
bullfi-  to  lard;  and  wli«ii  the  deer  i»  in  good 
coiiilition,  tlie  meal  i>i  bo  ttMidcr  that  a  steak 
ahiioKt  fallH  to  \nvA:i'.H  if  litU'd  by  itH  edge. 
AnotluT  part  of  the  nMiidcer  is  almost  iiH 
vaiual)le  an  tlic  I'at.  Tiiis  is  the  coiiteiils  of 
tlie  deer's  pauiieli,  eaten  raw  witli  slices  ol 
raw  venison,  it  has  a  slightly  acid  flavor, 
like  that  ofsorro!,  and  if  the  eonsumer  were 
not  to  know  what  he.  was  eating,  lie  would 
be  delighted  with  it.  ,    „  „     , ,, 

This  was  the  east!  willi  Captain  Hall,  while 
partaking  of  a  dwr  feast  in  an  igloo,     lie 
tried  tlie  deer  llesli,  anil  found  it  exe'dlent; 
he  then  took  a  morsel  of  the  nnknown  swh- 
stance,  and  d(!serili('s  it  as  ambrosial.     A  fter 
eatiii"  the  greater  part  of  it,  Ik;  took  it  to  the 
light Tand  wuh  horrified  to  find  the  nature  of 
the  fi'asl.     However,  he   so(m  canio   to  the 
wise  conclusion  lliat  ei)icuriHin  of  any  kind 
was  nothing  hut  the  ellcet  of  education,  and 
that,  in   conHefiuenccs  h(!   would   ignore  hm 
previous  iirejudices  on  the  subject,  and  eat 
whatever  the  Ks.pnniau.K  ate,  and  as  they  ato 
H.    As  to  tlie  quantity  eoiisumed,  neither  ho 
nor  aiiv  other  while  man  would  l)e  a  match 
for  an  '  Ks(|iilmanx,  who  will  eoiisume  nine 
or  ten  pounds  of  meat  at   a  silting,  and  lie 
leisurely  on  his  ba(;k,  being  fed  by  his  wi  e 
with  piiees  of  bluhbiu-  when  he  is   utterly 
unable  to  help  himself.   An  Es(iuiinaux  finds 
asorlof  intoxicating  etl'eet  in  utter  repletion, 
which  stands  him  iu  the  stead  of  Icrmentcd 
liquors. 

Putting  aside  the  gourmand i/.lng  pror«n- 
Bity  of  the  Es(iuimaux,  (.'aptain  Ilall  found 
that  if  he  were  to  live  with  them,  as  be  in- 
tended to  do,  he  must  HooiKU-  or  later  come 
to  the  Siime  diet.    He  determined  in  making 
II  bold  plunge,  and  eating  whatever  he  saw 
them  eat.     At  first  it  was  rather  repugnant 
to  his  feelings  to  eat  a  piece  of  raw   meat 
that  had  been  carefully  licked  by  a  woman, 
in  order  to  free  it  from  hairs  and  other  ex- 
traneous matters.     Hut   he  reflected  that,  i 
he  ha<l  not  known  of  tbc'  licking,  ho  would 
not  bav(!  discovered  it  from  the  flavor  of  ttie 
meal,  and  he  v.tv  wisely  ignored  the  mojle 
in  which  it   had   been   cleaned.     Similarly, 
fresh  seal's  blood    just  drawn  from  the  ani- 
mal seemed  rather  a  strange  kind  of  soim, 
and  the  sliU  warm  eutruils  a  remarkable 


that  the  Ks(iuimaux  considered  them  botli 
as  very  great  dainties,  he  tried  them,  and  ])ro- 
nounced  that  the  Es(iuimaux  were  jierfectly 
right,  and  that  his  preconceived  ideas  were 
entirely  wrong. 


iiAUi'OON  HEAD.     (From  my  coUectiou.) 
(Sec  page  1340.) 


l%i 


CHAPTER    CXLI. 


'         THE  ESQUIMAUX— Con«m«c(J. 

HTTNTINa-nEUGION-BUKIAL. 

^t™    IVFANT    PECOr-THE    HEAi;«    MI.OO-AH 

™^n       SEAL  nTTNTINO  m  THE    BNOW-TIIB    ""^*7    '  ^,„j,„    THE  WALUrS-THK 

MODES  OF  BtrnnNO-SEAI^nTT.  ^^_^^^^^  HABPOONB    ANT.    ^''^^"^-f ' ''^/^'f _oroUHK   SHOOTINO- 

DKPKNmKC  wholly  upon  thep^^^^^^ 

chouse  for  «»^:tmitcr    aK  heir  peculiar 
accomphshpa  hun  crs,anu  in  ^^i    ^^^^^^^ 

way  are  simp  v  ^^^^^^f^^  J^^,^,^,  their 

a?  oT  S'caSfe     The    rUder    is 


Bcal  ^vill  not  be  struck,  ami  the  man^s  often 

^riea  with  waiting ';^i,--;?E^^aux 

The  patience  ;  f  V^^'j.^'j^^  far  surpasses 

doubtless  awa™«'«'"'«"«5v"'-,\^^  that  in   •»    ''"'^ '''^'""iiIk  ■  si '    "  f""''-    »«>• 
ma^  b'ealto  i't™"!'''?"   "  !i,,    very   Ions   nisWs  willioul  ,";.""„.,,,  'umai  „,  sudi  a 


itself  certain  1»-c^""""„ ""',  .^e  than  an 
These  are  very  «';^=^^1  '^,^f  J[,vo  inches, 
inch  and  a  ^^=^''^;  %, ''n.  tnenetrate  throu-h 
in  diameter,  ^fJ^J^'ltSn^lon  the  ice. 
^•^VhrSte  's"rg,"whicr  is  specinnv 
The  1  "'"  '  ,H,rno°e,  detects  the  h.eatli- 
'•'"r  ?:.!^  Ifn  asteV  then  reverses  hi> 


S^^&  to^deJe|£^£t ^^ 
,o„,  .bout  t,vc  v..     .  h"  m  ;;--,„;,l  „i ,, 


^i".\_.  r  K.  iLnrs  the  hlowins  sonnd  of  the 


^^l?'S;e?hed,.v.the^^^^^^ 

r^^l^rd&.-<vs:iftiJB2ej;^ 

wrong  by  even  a  quarter  of  an  inch,  the_^^ 


thread.    AVhen  tUe  sea.  c        -^  ^^  ,,^,^ 

takes  no  notice  o  /o  Sj  -m  a^    ^^^^  ^^^^ 

rises  as  usual  for  «'r< .f"^^  ^"^"^^      ,,,es  the 
before  it.    As  soon  as  t1u,J>unU^^^^^^^^^^^j 

^t\^^^£^^ni^.ol.olc.     Even  a 


SEAL  HUNTING. 


1339 


»  „„ii  if      mir»>i«-innwpr  of  their  sons.     In  seal  bunting  from 

larger  A"'^*  -  ^  ^%'^;^y '\'^  .^j  "tSe  rS^^  ,  ifVerent  liind  of  harpoon  Tb  cm- 
ba  un.scon  by  the  seal  but  '^  would  inteitere    ana  ^         ^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^ 

with  the  passage  oi  ^1'"  «l'«'J''-   .  .  .„„  ,„,,  U^llh  is  used  fo?  ice  huuting,  and  is  fur- 
Thcic  (h  another  n.o  U>  ot  f  j  "8.^°'*  ^^ '^^  ,„^  with  a  tloat  made  of  a  leathern  bag 
in  which  the  young  acis  as  a  f^^jj^j  \„  f 'h  ,    d\vith  air.    This  is  fastened  to  the 
mother.    The  sea!,  when  she   is  '*';»"*  *^   ~ '  l'^^^^  cud  of  the  har- 

producc  her  young  scratches  ,TO J'»«  '^f  I  f^^  ^j'^'J  ^i^^Vm^^^^^  the  other  end  being 
iintil  she  comes  to  the  snow,  wluch  les    ecp   po  on  1  nc  is  ««-i         -  ^^^ 

u.,0.1  it.  She  then  ^cn|t dies  aw.ay  a  a^^^^^^^^^  "^uen  tl  e  seal  is  struck,  the  shaft  is  shaken 
o\  the  snow  unlil  she  has  ^;,^'.''',,  ^  'J  ^'^^'^'t  from  head,  so  that  there  is  no  danger  of 
chamber,  in  ionn  exactly  like  tlie  snow  iiui  ;""'  , I  ;,.„  ,i '  weapon  out  of  the  seal  by  its 
of  the  Esquimaux.    The  tunnel  tl»-ough  the     f  ;"  ,J"f  J^^^^^  ,irag,  impeding  tho 

ice  is  just  la.W^  enough  to  allow  tluum^^^^^^^^ 

of  tlic  seal,  while  the.  chamber  s  about  hv  t  ""\^™^"''' ";'  ..^,,  jt  ;„  his  boat,  and  to 
feet  in  dhuneter,  -  that  a  to  o,^b  y  Jn  g^^  ,^',^,^  ,,^^ 

platform  of  ice  is  left,  on  \\  huh  »'P  ^' ^f '"^^   1'';;^^  ^^^,]  ,,,0  lloat  serves  another  purpose. 

kn  rest.    Here  '^«  .{""''.^./.^l'!  'J",^^^^  s"Sl«'h'n  killed  in  the  water,almist  inva. 

here  it  remains  until  the  suii  mens  aw.iy  mi- 
snow  covering  of  the  chamlier,  or  Jgloo,  as  it 
is  calliul,  bv  wliich  time  the  young  animal  is 
able  to  take  care  of  itself. ,     _       .  ^. 

At  the  proper  season,  the.  Esquimaux  set 

offiu  search  of  these  seal  igloos,  and  when 

they  arc  detected  by  the  dogs  the  hunter 

llin.'s  himself  on  tlic  snow,   thus  beating 

down  the  roof  of  the  igloo,    lie  then  thrusts 

his  seahng  hook  into  the   igloo,  and  dr.^gs 

out  tlie  voung  seal.    It  is  remarkable,  by  the 

way,  that  the  polar  bear  acts  in  precisely  the 


Seals,  when  killed  in  the  water,  almost  inva- 
riably sink  so  rapidly  that  they  cannot  be 
secured.    The  float,  however,  remains  at  the 
suriace,  so  that  the   successful  hunter  has 
only  to  paddle  to  it,  take  it  into  the  canoe, 
andh..al  the  seal  on  board.    Terhaps  the 
most  curious  part  of  the  business  lies  m  tho 
skill  with  which  the  hunter  carries  the  seal 
home     The  boat  in  which  he  sits  is  entirely 
covered  with"  skin,  except  a  small  ijpo-ture 
which  admits  his  body,  and  yet  he  lays  to 
body  of  the  seal  upon  this  slight  platform, 
and  manages  to  balance  it  as  he  paddles 


same  manner,  cn.shiug  <l<>ivn/l>o  ^valls  of  l"-»;:-;:f^-,;;„iie--f  the  waves  upon 
the  igloo,^aiid  dragging  out  the  young  «"«  l;,'];];:,^!,  jigi't"  llulc  cane,  trembles  like  a 
'""whSi^'tlur"  Esquimaux  has   secured  the   cork. 


youn-j;  seal,  he  ties  a  long  hue  to  one  ot  the 
hind  nippers,  and  allows  it  to  slip  into  the 
sea  through  tlie  tunnel,  while  he  creeps  into 
tlie  i-'loo  with  his  hook,  in  hopes  ot  catching 
the  mother  as  she  c(unes  to  help  her  young 
one.  The  Esquimaux  always  kill  young 
seals  bv  putting  the  foot  on  their  shouldeTS 
a.id  pressim-  lirmly  down,  so  as  to  suHocatc 
it.    This  isd(me  for  the  purpose  of  pre8er\- 

in"  the  blood.  ^     ,,      ,  ,,  „ 

Sometimes  the  seal  lujntcr  actually  stalks 
the  warv  animal  on  the  ice.    The  seal  has  a 
sVi-ai  -e  wav  «f  sU'cping  when  lying  on  the 
ice       it    takes  short  naps   of   only  a   few 
seconds'  duration,  and  Ix-tween  them  raises 
its  head  and  looks  round  to  s.-e  >f  anv  *>nomv 
be  approaching.    The  Esquimaux  takes  ad- 
vanta're  of  this  habit,  and,  lying  down  on  tht 
ice  he  waits  for  these  short  naps,  and  hitcht^ 
himself  aloim   the  i<'e   toward   the  animal, 
lookin"  hims.Jf  very  tniiob  like  a  seal  as  lie 
lies  on  the  ice,  covered  with  '  -al  skm  gar- 
ments.    Whofiever  the  seal  n..ses  its  head, 
the  hunter  stops,  begins  to  paw  with    Ins 
hands,  and  utters  a  curious  droning  mono- 
logue, which  is  called  "  seal  talk,'  and  is 
supiiosed  to  act  as  a  charm.     Certain  it  is, 
that  the  seal  appears  to  be  <|uite  gratified  by 
the  talk,  is  put  olT  its  guard,  and  allows  the 
hunter  to  approach  near  enough  to  make  the 

^'^The'same  kind  of  "talk "is  used  when 
the  sealer  goes  out  in  his  boat,  and  some  o 
the  hunters  are  cclchr.ated  for  the  magical 


Of  these  boats  we  shall  presently  sec 
something,  and  will  now  mere  y  look  at  the 
weapons  which  arc  employed  by  the  Esqui- 
maux in  hunting.  .     .   .  „ 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  war  is  totally 

unknown  am.mg  the  ^^«')"''"""^'„'"','f  X 
nerhaps  the  only  people  in  the  world  v>\\o 
no'^sess  no  war  weapons,  and  have  no  desire 
\o  do  so.    CJenerally,  when  a  savage  obtains 
for  the  tirst  time  possession  of  fire-arms,  lie 
uses  them  in  warfare,  and  by  the  superiority 
of  his  weapons  raises  liimseif  to  eminence. 
The    Esniumaux   cares   for  none    ot    tliese 
tbin<'s.    lie  is  essentially  a  family  man,  and 
when  he  is  fortunate  enough  to  procure  a 
musket,  he  simply  uses  it  for  hunting  pur- 
oses,  never  wasting  the   precious  powder 
and  lead  upon  the  bodies  of  his  tcllow-men 
Of  fame  he  is  totally  ignorant,  cx<;cpt  that 
«ort  of  local  fame  which  is  earned  by  skill  in 
'  h  iitin".    He  finds  that  all  his  energies  are 
nZ  m  to  procure  food  and  clothing  for  his 
household,  and  therefore  he  does  not  expend 
ttipm  noon  anv  other  object. 

Tt T^pon  which  is  to  the  Esquimaux 

whatthe  vitleis  to  the  backwoodsman,  the 

oomeiw'      the  Australian,  the  sword  to 

the  A''.^"l"er,  the  lasso  to  the  Smith  Amci- 

an  and^tiielsumpitan  to  the  Dyak,  is  the 

bnrn         a  weapci  which  undergoes  various 

no  1  flcatL  s  ac<-ording  to  the  use  to  which 

It  is  put,  but  is  essentially  the  same  in  prin- 

^^''SirffS^plc  is  the  typical  harpoon. 


.n. 


1840 


THE  ESQUIMAUX. 


Ik  consists  of  a  long  wooden  shaft,  witli  n 
float  attached  to  it,  as  has  already  been  Uc- 
dcribed  on  page  13:{0.  Owinj;  to  the  ^re^t 
scarcity  of  wood  in  Esquimaux  lund,  the 
greater  part  being  obtained  from  tlie  casual 
drift-wood  that  floats  asliorc  from  wrecks, 
sucli  a  weapon  is  exceedingly  valuable,  ine 
shaft  is  generally  made  of  a  number  ot  pieces 
of  wood  lashed  together  in  a  most  lugeinous 

fashion.  ,        ,    r.,i    i  * 

The  barbed  head  is  but  loosely  fitted  to 
the  shaft,  a  hole   in  the  base  of  the  head  re- 
ceiving a  point  at  the  end  of  the  shalt.    It  is 
held  in  its  place  by  leathern  thong^s,  so  ar- 
ranged that,  as  soon  as  the  wounded  ammal 
darts  away,  the  shaft  is  shaken  from  the  head. 
The  arrangement   of   the  leathern  thongs 
varies  according    to  the   kind   of  weapon. 
The  illustration   on   page    i;J37,  shows  the 
head  of  the  harpoon  which  is  used  for  spear- 
ing the  walrus.  ,       „         ,   • 
It  is  about  nine  inches  ui  length,  and  is 
made  of  ivory,  eitlier  that  of  the  walrus  or 
the  narwlial,  probably  the  former,  as  it  par- 
takes of  the  curve  ot  the  walrus  tooth.     It 
consists  of  two  pieces,  which  wo  call,  for 
convenience'  sake  the   body  and  the  head. 
The  upper    part  of   the   body    is   slightly 
iiointed  and  rounded,  and  is  meant  to  lie  lixed 
to  the  shiift  of  the  harnoon.    About  an  inch 
and  a  half  from  the  end  two  holes  are  bored, 
through  which  is  passed  a  double  thong  of 
leather  about  as  thick  as  a  goose  (pull.     Next 
comes  the  he.ad,  which  is  a  triangular  and 
deeplv  barbed  piece  of  ivory,  armed  with  a 
thin,  "tlat  jilate  of   iron,  almost  exactly  like 
the  armature  of  the  Hosjesman's  war  arrow. 
Through  this   head   is   bored  a  hole,   and 
through  the  hole  passes  the  loop  of  the  doul>le 
thong  already  mentioned.    At  the    bujt  ot 
the  liead  there  is  a  hole,  into  whicli  is  Utted 
the  conical  termination  of  the  body. 

Uy  reference  to  the  illustration,  the  reader 
will  easily  comprehend  the  arran-'enient. 
Fi".  1  shows  the  entire  instrument,  the  head 
fitted  on  the  body,  and  held  in  its  \)\aw.  bv 
the  double  thong.  Fig.  2  shows  the  head 
disjointed  from  the  bodv.  The  reader  will 
now  see  what  a  perfect  barb  this  instrument 
forms.  When  the  harpoon  is  hurled  at  the 
walrus,  the  head  penetrates  through  the 
touhh  skin,  and,  becoming  disjointed  from 
the  body,  sots  at  right  angles  across  the  little 
wound  which  it  made  on  entering,  and 
cITeetually  prevents  the  weapon  from  being 
withdrawn.  Fig.  3  shows  the  upiior  view  of 
the  head,  and  (Ig.  4  shows  the  hole  at  its 
base,  into  which  the  conical  end  of  the  body 
is  loosely  fitted. 

The  lino  attached  to  the  shaft  of  this 
liarpoon  is  very  long  and  of  great  strength, 
and,  when  the  hunter  goes  out  to  catch 
walrus,  is  coiled  round  and  round  his  nock  in 
many  folds,  very  slightly  tied  together  so  as 
to  prevent  the  successive  coils  from  beiu^  en- 
tang' -'  v/ith  one  another.  AVhen  the  hun- 
ter launches  bis  harpoon  witli  the  right  hand, 


he  with  the  loft  hand  simultaneously  jerks 
tlio  coils  of  rope  off  his  neck,  and  throws 
them  after  the  harpoon.  The  Jerk  snaps  the 
slight  ligatures,  and  the  animal  is  "  played  " 
;ike  a  salmon  by  an  angler,  until  it  is  utterly 
wearied  with  pain,  loss  of  blood,  and  its 
struggles  to  escape,  and  can  be  brought  near 
enough  to  receive  the  fatal  wound  froin  a 

spear.  .  ,,■       ■  i. 

Casting  off  the  rope  m  exact  time  is  a  most 
important  business,  as  several  hunters  who 
have  failed  to  do  so  have  been  caught  m  the 
coils  of  the  rope,  tlragged  under  the  ice,  and 
there  drowueil.  On  the  end  of  the  harpcion 
line  is  worked  a  loop,  and,  as  soon  as  Die 
weapon  is  hurled,  tbi;  hunter  drives  a  spear 
deeply  into  the  ice, slips  the  loop  over  it,  and 
allows  the  walrus  to  struggle  against  the 
elastic  rope  until  it  is  finite  tired,  lie  then 
hauls  up  the  line  until  he  has  brought  the 
animal  to  the  ice,  snatches  up  his  spear,  and 
with  it  inflicts  a  mortal  wound.  On  the  next 
pa-'c  the  reader  may  find  an  illustvation 
showing  the  Esquimaux  in  his  usual  dress, 
and  engaged  in  walrus  hunting. 

One  mode  of  employing  this  harpoon 
ngainst  the  walrus  is  singularly  ingenious. 
A?hen  the  Esquimaux  hunters  see  a  lumibcr 
of  the  animals  sleeping  on  a  sheet  of  ice, 
they  look  out  for  an  ice  fragment  sinall 
enough  to  be  moved,  and  yet  large  enough 
to  sui)port  several  men.  Paddling  to  the 
ice,  they  lift  their  canoes  ujion  it,  bore  holes 
in  it,  and  make  their  liariioon  lines  last  to 
the  holes.  They  then  gently  jiaddle  the  whole 
piece  of  ice,  men,  canoes,  and  all,  to  the  spot 
where  are  lying  the  drowsy  animals,  who  do 
not  suspect"  any  danger  from  a  piece  of  ice 
floating  by. 

Having  made  their  selection,  the  hunters 
tell  off  two  men  to  ea-jli  walrus,  and.  at  a 
"iven  signal,  all  the  harpoons  are  hurled. 
The  whole  herd  instantly  roll  themselves 
into  the  sea,  the  wounded  animals  being  at- 
tached to  the  piece  of  ice  by  the  harjioon 
lines.  The  hunters  allow  them  to  tow  their 
ice  craft  about  iintil  they  are  exhausted,  when 
they  launch  their  canoes,  and  kill  the  ani- 
mals with  their  sjiears.  As  soon  as  tlie  wal- 
rus is  dead,  the  hunters  plug  up  the  holes  with 
little  pegs  of  ivorv,  for  the  jiinpose  of  i)re- 
serving  the  blood,  which  is  so  highly  valued 
by  the  Esquimaux.  ,  .    ,     ,. 

The  Esquimaux  have  another  kind  of 
spear.  Tlie  shaft  is  made  of  wood,  but  the 
iioint  and  the  barbed  i)ro.jection>j  are  of  ivory. 
This  spear  is  chietly  used  for  catching  llsh, 
and  is  flung  by  means  of  a  throwing  sliek,_ 
almost  in  the  same  manner  as  the  spears  ot 
the  Australians.  The  throwing  stick  is  made 
of  wood,  flattish,  and  near  one  end  has  a  hol,>, 
into  which  the  butt  of  the  spear  is  jiasscd. 
This  is  altogether  ainueli  slighter  and  lighter 
weapon  than  that  which  has  been  descnbecl. 
Hows  and  arrows  are  also  employed  bv 
the  Esquimaux.  The  former  are  m.nde  of 
horn,  bone,  of  wood,  and  are  uluiost  always 


(.1341J 


On 


•■;vci 


WEAPONS. 


1343 


1 


composed  of  Rfivcml  piccpH  lashed  firmly  to- 
Kctlii'!-.  As  in  the  en.Ho  with  tlic  hows  oi"  the 
North  Amei'ienn  trihes,  the  eliief'  streiij^th 
is  olttniiied,  not  no  iiiiieh  t'roin  the  iiiiitc'- 
riiil  of  tlu!  how,  as  IVoiii  ii  vast  luiinher 
of  sinew  slrinj^s  wliieh  run  down  it«  l)aek. 
Tlien;  are  often  a  hundred  or  nior(!  of 
thes(!  sinews,  whieli  are  put  on  sutlieiently 
tijiht  to  ]i;ive  the  how  a  hli;?ht  eurvatnre 
n^'iiinst  the  strinj^.  The  shape  of  the  how 
is  miller  peculiar.  And  thouijh  the  weajion 
is  so  ]>owerful,  il  is  seldom  used  at  a  fjreater 
distance  than  twelve,  or  at  most  twenty 
yards.  The  len.ulh  of  the  how  is  on  aii 
svverajje  three  feet  six  inches. 

The  arrows  are  extremely  varialile.  Rome 
liave  wooden  sliatls  ti])ped  with  hone,  l)iit 
the  shafts  of  llie  hest  s]ieeimens  are  half  hone 
and  iialf  wctod,  and  lh('  points  are  armed 
■with  a  little  j)ie(^e  of  iron.  The  arrows  are 
contained  in  a  qinver,  and  the  how  is  kept 
in  a  case.  This  quiver  and  how-case  are 
<;enerally  made  of  seal  skin,  as  heinjj  im- 
pervious to  wet,  thoujj;h  they  are  freqiu'ntly 
made  of  other  materials.  AFv  own  speci- 
men is  formed  from  the  hide  ot  the  reindeer. 
AVhen  the  Es(|uimaux  shoots,  hu  always 
holds  his  how  horizontally.  The  how-striuii; 
is  made  of  som<i  fifteen  or  twenty  sinew 
string's,  which  arc  loosely  twisted,  but  not 
made  into  a  cord. 

The  l)ow  and  arrows  are  chiefly  used  in 
the  caiitnre  of  the  reindeer  and  in  shootinj; 
rabbits,  l)irds,  and  other  small  gfi'ii''-  'I'he 
mode  of  deer  hunting  is  very  ingenious. 
"When  the  liunter  sees  some  deer  feeding  on 
the  level  jilain,  he  takes  his  how  and  arrows, 
draws  Ids  hood  well  over  his  head,  aiul 
creeps  as  close  as  he  can  to  the  spot  where 
the  deer  are  reposing,  llen^  he  hegins  to 
bellow  in  imitation  of  the  cry  with  which 
the  deer  call  each  other,  and  thus  attracts 
the  anin^r's  within  the  short  distance  at 
■which  .m  Esquimaux  archer  shoots. 

'■^ven  if  he  should  not  use  the  bellowing 
lias  only  to  lie  patiently  on  the 
♦o  he  sure  that,  sooner  c;-  later. 
.  J  deer  will  come  and  look  at  him. 
•■lOst  iiKuiisitive  animals,  and  when 
'•  strange  otiject,  they  cannot  re- 
;i,  their  curiosity  hy  inspecting 
ding  the  object  of"  their  curiosity 
does  not  move  after  them,  they  approach  in  a 
series  of  circles  which  they  gradually  nar- 
row, capering  and  tossing  their  heads  capri- 
ciously, and  at  last  will  come  within  a  yard 
or  two  of  the  motionless  luinter,  and  so  fall 
a  victim  to  the  arrow  which  he  has  already 
fitted  to  his  !)ow. 

Sometimes  th('  deer  hunters  adopt  an  in- 
genious nise.  Two  of  them  walk  near  the 
deer,  and  jiurposely  show  themselves.  When 
the  animals'  attention  is  fixed  upon  them, 
they  walk  slowly  away,  knowing  that  the 
innate  curiosity  of  the  deer  will  induce 
them  to  follow.    They  direct  their  course 


of  them  quickly  steps  behind  It,  while  the 
other  walks  onward  as  before.  The  deer  (lo 
not  notice  that  one  of  the  men  has  disap- 
peared, and  so  follow  the  other,  thus  coming 
within  a  yard  or  two  of  the  dcidly  arrow. 

The  arrow  is  also  used  for  shooting  birds, 
which  are  always  killed  when  sitting.  The 
arctic;  grouse  are  killed  in  great  numbers 
by  the  arrow.  They  pack  closely  together, 
si)  tliat  an  arrow  shot  at  random  among 
them  can  scarcely  avoid  hitting  one  of  tlum; 
and  the  birds  are  so  apathetic  that,  when 
tlie  missile  falls  among  them,  they  only 
fly  a  few  yards  further  and  then  seitle,  so 
that  the  hunter  can  pick  up  his  arrow  and 
shoot  it  at  them  a^ain,  until  he  has  shot  the 
greater  number  ot  the  covey. 

In  order  to  save  the  wrist  from  Hh;  recoil 
of  the  how-string,  the  Esquimaux  wears  a 
very  ingenious  guard,  conqiosed  of  several 
])ieces  of  bone  tied  together  and  fastened  on 
the  wrist  by  a  bone  Ijutton  and  loop.  The 
pieces  of  hone  arc  about  four  inches  in 
length.  Below  the  wrist-guard,  which  is 
shown  on  the  V.i'M  page,  some  curiously 
formed  hooks  are  represented.  No  bait  is 
re((uired  with  them.  They  are  simply  moved 
up  .and  down  in  the  water  so  as  to  attract 
the  attention  of  the  fisli,  and  then  are  Jerked 
sharply  upward,  so  ns  to  catch  the  fish  on 
one  of  the  projectin;^  points.  There  are 
many  varieties  of  this  curious  hook,  but 
those  which  arc  illustrated  are  the  most 
characteristic. 

There  is  also  an  instrument  called  th.e 
kakeeway,  or  little  nippers,  which  is  used 
in  a  simi'lar  manner  hy  tlic  Esquimaux  hoys. 
They  take  a  model  of  a  fish  made  of  ivory, 
tic  a  string  to  it,  and  troll  it  about  in  tlie 
water  in  order  lo  attract  the  fish,  when  they 
are  si  ruck  with  the  kakeeway.  and  hauled 
out  of  the  water.  The  artiiicial  fish  are 
about  three  inches  long,  and  are  very  neatly 
made,  with  eyes  of  iron  pyrites.  This  is  a 
very  slow  process  of  fish  catching,  but  the 
boys,  to  whom  time  is  of  no  object,  are  very 
fbiid  of  it,  and  will  sit  on  their' heels  all  day 
for  the  chance  of  catching  two  or  three  little 
fish. 

The  foxes  and  wolves  arc  generally  taken 
in  traps.  There  are  several  kinds  of  traps, 
but  they  are  mostly  made  on  one  or  the 
other  of"  two  principles.  The  usual  trap  is 
very  like  a  common  mouse  trap,  except 
that  it  is  made  of  ice  instead  of  wood.  It 
is  so  long  and  narrow  that  a  wolf  cannot 
turn  himself  in  it,  but,  if  ho  wishes  to  re- 
treat, must  do  so  backward.  The  door  is  a 
heavy  slab  of  ice,  which  moves  up  and  down 
in  two  grooves.  The  door  being  raised,  it 
is  held  in  position  by  n  line  which  passes 
over  the  top  of  the  trap,  through  a  hole  at 
the  end,  and  is  then  slightly  hitched  over  a 
]w<r.  A  bait  is  then  attached  to  the  end  of 
the  line,  and  when  the  wolf  pulls  it,  the 

.„„.     ^,.,  ,  ,„.,,„  ,.., ^  door  is  relea.scd,  and  effectually  secures  the 

pa.st  some  stone  or  similar  object,  when  one  1  animal  in  the  icy  prison.    A  hole  is  then 


0 


.T.il. 

he 

-,i 

tl,' 

sisi. 

it. 

1  . 

f  ;9 


l-F; 


1314 


THE   ESQUIMAUX. 


niiuio  in  tlui  sitlo  of  the  trap,  and  the  woll" 
is  HiiL'arud  whiTi)  hu  Hum. 

FoxcH  ivi'o  ivlso  tiikcii  in  thuso  trnps,  I>ut 
Ihii  usual  kind  of  fox  tni[»  is  uiuilo  ou  a  (lit- 
fi'ivul  pbii.  It  is  i)uill  in  a  form  Bonutwhiit 
rc./.'inhlin,,'  ii  liim:-kilu,  and  tin-  ui.crluro  ih 
coviu-i'd  Willi  11  pici'n  of  whidfhoni',  ulonj{ 
which  tliii  animid  must  walk  to  h'l't  lit  the 
h.iit.  As  it  slops  on  the.  wlialolHUU',  tlio 
eiastio  nulcrial  ^ivos  way,  lots  Uu-  fox  nito 
tlui  trap,  and  then  rusuuu'S  its  It. riiu'r  posi- 
tion, n-adv  for  anotlu'r  vii;liin. 

It  has  a'lruady  liccn  inuntioni'd  that  binlH 
arc  often  shot  with  arrows  as  they  are  sit- 
tinj^.  The  Esiiuiniaux  have  u  sinijular  in- 
Mtruinenthy  which  they  can  cai)turc  birds  on 
the  win?,',  provided  that  they  do  not  lly  at  any 
great  hei,i,'Iit  from  the  j^'rouiid.  It  consists 
of  seven  or  ei'^ht  pieces  of  bone  or  ivory, 
or  shine,  tlie  latter  beini,'  |)referrcil  on  ac- 
count of  its  wei;,'ht.  To  each  of  the  weii,'hts 
is  attached  a  sini^v  cord  about  two  feet  six 
inches  in  leiiLCth,  and  ail  the  ends  of  the  cords 
are  tied  to;,'ethcr,  their  junction  beiiif,' usually 
ornauicnted  l)y  a  tuft  of  feathers.  When 
the  Ksfiuiuiaux  sees  a  bird  (lyiu,t,'  so  that  it 
will  iiass  tolerably  near  hiu'i,  he  whirls  the 
slini,'  round  his  liead  and  lliuu's  it  at  the 
bird.  As  it  leaves  his  hand,  all  the  wcii,'hts 
llv  apart,  ou  account  of  the  rotatory  motion 
w'hieh  has  been  communicated  to  them,  so 
tiiat  the  weapon  covers  a  space  of  live  feet. 
Siiiiuhl  oiu^  of  the  wei^dits  or  strin,s,'s  strike 
liu!  bird,  the  whole  of  the  slinu;  becomes 
wrapped  round  it,  and  the  l)ird  I'alls  helpless 
to  the  ijround.  The  reader  will  iloubtless 
sec  that  this  slin;^  is  in  fact  a  nu)dilicatioii  of 
the  l'ata;;oiiiaii  bolas. 

In  b,arhuulin;.iilic  Esquimaux  use  either 
tin;  walrus  iiarpt)on  or  tlie  spear,  and  often 
both.  They  set  their  do.i;s  at  llie  bear,  and 
while  lie  is  en^ja^'ed  i"  repelliiif^  I  heir  al- 
taek-i,  which  are  always  made  at  liis  back 
and  hind-ipiarters,  the  hunter  drives  tlie 
Iiarpoon  at  him,  and  liisteiis  the  end  of  the 
line  to  the  ice,  so  as  to  pnivent  the  bear 
fioin  I'seaping.  He  then  atlack.s  the  animal 
with  another  harpoon  and  with  his  laucc, 
an  I.  avoiding,'  skilfully  the  repeated  attacks 
which  I  he  bear  makes  upon  him,  drives  tlie 
sh;irp  weapon  into  the  aiiimal's  heart. 

TIk-  Es(|uimaux  are  always  very  careful 
iiol  to  kill  a  younj;  bear  without  jirtniously 
killini;  its  ii'i(?tli-'r.  Should  oiu'  of  them, 
])ressrd  by  huu,i,'er,  commit  so  rash  an  act, 
the'  wlioU'  party  to  which  he  belou.!,'s  are 
olilim'd  to  take  (he  strictest  jireeautions  lest 
tliey  should  be  assailed  by  the  mother,  who 
will  assuredly  follow  on  their  track.  Tlicy 
therefore  proceed  for  some  live  (U-  six  mill's 
in  a  strai^lit  line,  and  tiieii  suddenly  turn 
otf  at  ri,<;ht  anj^les,  ;io  that  the  bear  m.iy 
overrun  their  track  as  slie  presses  eagerly 
forward.  This  manu  uvre  is  several  times 
reiieated.  When  the  houses  ar-j  reached, 
the  weapons  are  laid  ready  for  use  by  the 
bedside,  and  the  sledges  arc  stuck  upright 


outside  tho  house.  Tliifl  in  intcndfid  I>y  way 
of  n  warning;  lo  the  sleepiu-s.  The  bear  i>t 
suspicious  about  the  erect  sledKc,  and  al- 
ways knocks  it  down  before  alliM;kin;<  llio 
house,  HO  that  the  noise  of  tho  fallinu  slcd;,'e 
awakens  the  8leepers,aml  pulstheuuui  their 
guard. 

TnK  two  means  of  transport  used  by  tho 
Esquimaux  are  the  boat  and  tho  sledge,  lioth 
of  which  (leservo  description. 

Tliire  are  two  kinds  of  boats,  those  of  tho 
men  and  those  used  by  women.  The  man's 
boiit  is  called  kajak  or  kia,  according  lo 
the  dialect  of  Hie  people,  and  is  a  very  re- 
markable ])ien  ..f  workmanship,  llissluit- 
lle  shaped,  botli  ends  being  shar|>ly  pointed. 
It  is  made  of  a  very  slight  framework  of 
wood  and  whali'bone,"over  which  is  stretched 
a  coverinj,'  of  skin.  In  the  middle  there  is  a 
hole  just  largi^  enough  to  admit  the  body  of 
the  rower,  anil  when  he  lakes  his  seal,  he 
gathers  his  skin  together  and  ties  it  round 
his  waist,  so  that  the  boat  is  absolutely  im- 
pervious lo  wati'r.  The  average  length  is 
twentv-live  fi'el.and  so  liglit  are  the  mate- 
rials of  which  it  is  made,  that  a  man  can 
carry  his  kia  on  his  head  from  tho  house  to 
the  water. 

These  slight  canoes  have  no  keel,  and  nt 
so  linhtlv  on  the  water  that  they  can  be  pro- 
pelled over,  rather  than  through,  it  \vi',h 
wonderful  speed.  The  jiaddle  is  a  doulilo 
one,  held  in  the  middle,  and  used  lu  a  niau- 
iier  which  is  now  reiidi'icd  familiar  to  us 
by  the  canoes  which  have  so  largely  taken 
the  place  of  skill's.  It  is  between  nine  and 
ten  feet  in  liuiglh,  small  in  the  middle, 
which  serves  as  a  handle,  and  gradually 
widening  to  the  blades,  which  are  about 
four  inches  in  width,  and  edged  with  ivory, 
not  only  for  ornanienl  but  for  strength. 

The  'paddle  ads  much  the  same  part  as 
the  balance  pole  to  the  rope-dancer,  and  by 
its  aid  the  Es((uimaux  canoe  man  can  per- 
form really  astonishing  feats.  Fiu-  eximqile, 
if  two  kias  are  out  together,  one  of  llieni 
will  remain  still,  the  canoe  man  kee|iiug  his 
boat  exactly  in  llie  same  place,  liy  delicalo 
inanaLjement  of  his  paddle.  The  other  goes 
lo  a  distance  at  right  anu'les  to  him,  and 
then,  urging  his  kia  to  llie  utmost  spei d, 
drives  it  fairly  over  that  of  his  friend.  In 
lierl'oiining  ihis  reniarkai)le  feat,  the  skill  of 
l)oth  is  ein'ially  tried,  for  it  istpiite  as  dilUcult 
to  preserve  tin;  balance  of  the  stationary  kia 
as  to  (lri\  e  tin;  other  over  it. 

There  is  one  feat  which  is  sonu'timcs  ])er- 
formed  in  order  to  show  the  woiuli'rful  com- 
mand whicli  an  Esquimaux  has  over  his  lit- 
tle vessel,  lie  does  not,  however,  altemi)t 
it  unless  another  kia  is  close  ai  hand.  Alter 
seeing  that  the  skin  cover  is  lirmly  tu'( 
round  his  waist,  and  thai  his  neck  and 
wrists  are  well  secured,  the  man  suddenly 
llini,'s  himsedf  violently  lo  one  side,  thus  cap- 
sizing tlie  kia.  and  burying  hiiUbeU'  under 


KAJAK  AND  OOMIAK. 


1845 


water.  With  n  powerful  stroke  of  hin  pnd- 
(lli>  lu!  turns  lilin.iclt'  iind  ciiuoo  (;()iiii)li!lL'ly 
over,  ami  briu<,'s  liiiiiH('lt'ni>ri,i,'lit  iiLCuiii.  A 
nkilllil  cuiioo  iiiiii)  Hill  tUw  turn  over  and 
ovi'r  Hoinn  twenty  tlnu's  or  ho,  almost  as 
iiiMt  as  till'  eve  can  follow  lihn,  and  yet  only 
his  I'ace  will  lie  in  tli(3  leawt  wet. 

In  the  illustration  on  pago  1317  both  theuu 
feats  am  shown. 

'V\n\  paddler  is  so  tightly  tied  to  tlic.  kla, 
that  lu^  is  uuahlu  to  ehani,'()  his  position 
without  assistance,  or  even  to  lift  a  hoavy 
weight,  such  as  a  seal.  Ju  such  a  case,  he 
asks  assistanet!  from  a  companion.  Tiie 
two  kias  arc!  placed  near  each  other,  and 
I)ad(lles  ar(!  laid  tVom  one  to  the  oilier,  so 
that  for  the  time  they  are  formed  into  a 
douhhi  canoe,  which  cannot  he  upset.  Small 
lines  of  whalclione  are  stretcluMl  across  the 
end  of  (he  kia,  and  under  them  are  thrust 
the  points  of  the  spears  and  harpoons,  so 
that  they  cannot  roll  olf  Iho  boat,  anil  ycl 
are  always  ready  to  hand.  An  inllated 
seal's  bladder  is  always  attached  to  the 
canoo.  When  Iho  kia  is  not  in  use,  it  is 
taken  out  of  the  water,  and  rested  in  a  n>- 
versed  |)osition  upon  the  snow  houses,  as  is 
seen  on  \y^ii^'  V.i'Ii. 

The  second  kind  of  boat  is  that  which 
is  called  the  ooniiak,  and  is  used  by  the 
women.  It  is  evident  that  the  sli^^lit  and 
fra,i,'ile  kia.  usefid  as  it  is  for  huntini,'  pur- 
poses, cannot  he  emjiloyed  lor  the  convey- 
ance of  ba;i;j;a,i,'e,  or  for  the  transport  of 
more  persons  than  one,  and  that  tliereforo 
somu  other  kind  of  boat  must  be  made. 
1'his  is  a  larj^e,  clumsy,  sti'ai,i,dit  sided, 
square  ended,  flat  bottoiued  vessel,  more 
like  a  skin  trough  than  a  canoe,  to  which 
it  bears  about  the  same  analogy  as  a  pun! 
does  to  a  racing  skilf.  The  framework  of 
the  oondak  is  made  of  wood  and  whalebone, 
and  the  covering  is  of  seal  skill,  from  which 
the  hair  has  been  removed.  When  wet, 
these  skins  arc;  ueaily  Iranspan  ut,  so  that 
the  forms  of  the  iiersoiis  sitting  in  the  boat 
call  lie  iiidisliiictly  seen. 

The  sides  of  ilie  boat  are  about  thri>e  feet 
■  ill  heiu'ht.  and  the  weight  which  a  well- 
iiiailc!  oomiak  will  carry  is  really  wonderl'ul. 
Captain  I<yoii  meiilions  that  in  one  of  tlies(! 
boats,  measuring  tweiity-livi!  feet  in  length 
by  eight  in  width  and  three  in  depth,  more 
than  twenty  hnmaii  beings  were  conveyed. 
There  are  two  very  clumsy  paddles  by  wliich 
the  boat  is  slowly  jiropelled,  and  it  is  steered 
by  anolher  paddle  in  the  stern.  Thi^  post 
of  steerer  is  usually  oecui)ied  by  an  old  man, 
who  is  unable  any  more  to  manage  the  kia, 
but  is  still  capable  of  guiding  the  oomiak, 
and  of  tinis^ing  a  knife,  a  harpoon,  a  seal 
hook,  or  anything  that  may  come  to  hand, 
at  the  women,  if  they  neglect  their  pad- 
dling. 

To  each  oomiak  there  can  be  attached  a 
very  primitive  mast,  with  its  sail.  '^I'lie  mast 
ib  but  a  short  one,  and  is  stepped  in  tho  fore- 


part of  tho  boat.  Toward  tho  top  it  is 
pierced,  anil  in  tho  hoWow  is  iilaced  a 
sheave,  or  deeply  grooved  wheel  of  ivory,  on 
which  the  halyards  run.  The  sail  is  that 
simidest  of  all  sails,  the  lug,  and  is  niaile  of 
the  intestines  of  the  walrus,  split  open  so  as 
to  form  strips  of  some  four  inches  in  width. 
These  strips  art!  sewed  together,  and  pro- 
(luce  a  sail  which  is  remarkable  both  for  its 
strength  and  its  extreme  lightness.  Tho 
leader  will  doubtless  have  noticed  ilie  sin- 
gular contrast  between  tlu!  canoes  of  (he  hot 
and  cold  parts  of  the  world.  In  the  former, 
the  cano(!  and  sails  are  entirely  of  vigetablu 
materials,  wilhout  a  particle  of  hide,  sinew, 
or  any  animal  produet;  while,  in  the  hitter, 
the  animal  world  furnishes  all! 


of  the  materials. 


Iniost  the  w  ho'.o 


We,  now  come  to  the  sledge,  which  Is  quite 
as  iiniiorlanl  to  the  Kscinimaiix  as  the  ca- 
noe. The  mati'rials  and  form  of  tlu!  sledge 
dill'er  exceedingly,  so  that  in  thesi!  respects 
notwo  sledges  are  alike,  while  the  principle 
is  Idi.'iitieal  in  all.  A  sledge  isuolhiiig  more 
than  two  runners, connected  with  each  other 
by  a  iiuiiiber  of  cross-pieces,  on  which  the 
driver  can  sit  and  Ihi!  goods  be  packed. 

Till!  best  sledges  are  tliosi!  in  which  the 
rtium^rs  are  made  from  the  jaw-bone  of  a 
whale,  sawn  into  narrow  planks  and  cut  into 
the  proper  shape.  They  are  always  shod 
with  a  strip  of  the  saiiU!'  material.  '  (Jthers 
are  made  of  wood,  shod  with  bone,  and  in 
these  cases  the  wooden  part  is  usually  in 
several  pieces,  which  are  lashed  together 
with  hide  thongs.  In  the  winter,  the  hide  of 
the  walrus  is  often  used  for  runners.  It  is 
fully  an  inch  in  thickness,  and,  when  frozen, 
is  Very  niueh  stronger  than  a  boartl  of  the 
same  thickness. 

I      When  neither  wood,  bone,  nor  walrus  skin 
i  can  be  procured,  the  Esiiuimaux  is  still  at 
no  loss  for  runners.     lie  cuts  long  strips  of 
I  se!il  skin,  and  sews  the  edges  of  each  strip 
1  together,  so  as  to  make  two  long  tubes.     The 
I  tubes  are  next  tilled  with  moss  and  earth, 
land  water  is  then  jioured  into  them.     In  a 
'■  ininute  or  two  they  are  frozen  as  hard  as 
i  stone,  and  are  then  ready  to  form  the  riin- 
'  ners  of  a  sledge.     The    lower  edge  of  the 
I  runner,  whether  it  be  of  bone,  wood,  or  skin, 
!  is  always  shod  with  a  coating  of  ici!,  which 
I  is  renewed  as  soon  as  It  is  worn  olf  by  fric- 
j  tioii,  which   not   only  causes  the  sledge  to 
i  glide  taster  over  the  "frozen  surface,  but  pre- 
serves the  valuable  material  ol  the  runners 
from  being  rubbed  to  pieces. 
j     The  cross-bars  of  the  sledge  are  generally 
of  bone.     They  i)rqject  a  little  beyond  tho 
I  runners  on  cither  side,  and  are  so  arranged 
(hat  the  sledge  is  narrower  in  front  than  he- 
!  hind.    They  are  not  lashed  too  tightly,  as  they 
are  rcipiired  to  yield  to  the  jerks  and  contin- 
ual strain  wliich  the  sledge  undergoes  in  its 
travels. 

Tlu!  sledge  is  drawn  hy  a  team  of  dogs, 
varying  from  seven  to  ten,  or  even  morc,ac- 


l:ii 


lifM 


ISM 


THE  ESQUIMAUX. 


turning  to  tlui  sliins,  tlic  8!\'j;iv<'ious  lUjiiniUs 
broufjlil  him  iiiul  his  cimipiuiions  natcly  to 
-'  '^  WHS   pitchy 


cordini?  to  tho  wcicht  to  bo  rnrrlcfl.  Thoy 
are  vcrv  siniply  hftnu'usiMl  to  it  l)y  i»  Htronj; 
cord,  of  tiiico,  mailo  of  hi-uI  hldf,  llu'  trmo 
oftho  Iciviliiiifdo;^  bclii^froiiHidoriilily  IciiKor 
thiiii  tiiut  ..r  iiiiy  of  tlie  othern.  Hid"),'  luuiis- 
toiniMl  to  tlu)  work  of  t\w  sIcdfJ!"',  n»  "<»•»  "'" 
they  can  walk,  their  triiiniii!,'  i«  very  com- 
nliitc,  (uid  II  «(>od  tcnrn  will  do  iihnoHt  iiiiy- 
Ihincr  hut  sni-ak.  .  ,    , 

A  tctim  of  si-v.Mi  doRs  drovv  a  heavy  HlcdKc, 
f\ill  of  mim,  !i  mile  iu  four  minutes   and  i\ 
half;  and  Captain  Lyon  mentions  that  three 
doM  drew  him   the   same   distance   m   mk 
minutes  the  weight  of  the  sled,!,'e  heini,'  one 
hundred  pounds.     Heveral  times,  when  re- 
the,  sliiiv 
im  and  li 
the    vessels,  thoUL^Ii    the  niu'ht 
dark  and  the   snow-drift  hlowini;  about  in 
clouds.   Th(^v  kept  their  noses  to  the  ground, 
ftnd  uiilloped  on  at  full   speed,  in  absolute 
certaintv  of  their  proper  line. 

The  ((o;,M  are  guided,  not  by  reins,  but  by 
R  whip,  the  lash  of  wliich  is  from  ei.,'hteen 
to  thirty  feet  in  length,  and  the  handle  only 
one  foot  in  Ieii!,'tli,much  like  tlu!  stock-whip 
of  Australia.      A  skilful  driver  makes  but 
little  use  of  the  whin  when  he    has  a  good 
team  of  dogs,  but  guides  the  animals  partly 
by  his  voice,  and  |)artly  by  Hinging  the  lash 
oif  the  whip  on   one   side  or  other  of  the 
leader,  who  perfectly  understands  the  signal. 
When  Ihev  iii-e  reipiired  to  sto|<,  the  driver 
gives  a  cry  almost  exactly  like  tlie  "  Woa!"  of 
our  own  country.    He  then  throws  the  lash 
gently  over  their  backs,  when  they  all  lie 
down,  and  will  remain  couched  in  the  snow 
for  hours  even,  during  their  master's  absence. 
The  worst  of  these  doga  is  that  th((y  are 
very  quarrelsome,  and  are  apt  to  snap  and 
snarl   at  each   other  as   tht^v  gallop  along. 
Bometimes  a  dog  will  be  exasperated  with  a 
bite,  and   turn  furiously   on   his  assailant, 
when  a  gener.il  light  takes  place,  the  whole 
of  the  dogs  tumbling  over  each  other,  and 
cnlaiigliug  the  traces  iu  a  manner  that  none 
but  an  Esipiimaux  could  hope  to  disentan- 
gle.    A  nlenliful  apidicatioii  of  whip  is  Mien 
made,  wliich  is  always  resented  by  the  dog 
that  receives   the   stroke.      He   chooses   to 
think  that  hi?  next  neighbor  has  hurt  him, 
and  so  bites  his  ear.     Sometimes  a  dog  is  so 
unruly  that  the  driver  is  obliged  to  use  his 
last  argument.     Making  a  little  liolo  in  the 
snow  with  the  toe  of  his  boot,  he   presses 
the  dog's  snout  into  it,  and  nouuN  nwav  at 
it  with  the  ivory  handle  of  his  whip.     The 
dog  never  howls,  nor  tries  to  release  him- 
self, but  only  utters  a  low  whine.     Such  a 
nnnishment  never  has  to  lie  rejioated,  and 
the  dog  always  goes  quietly  for  the  rest  of 
the  day. 

The"  endurance  of  these  animals  is  won- 
derful. They  are  kept  in  the  open  air^vhen 
the  temperature  is  from  thirty  tc  forty  de- 
grees below  zero.  They  are  very  ill  fed, 
bein<T    forced  to  content  taemselves  with 


the  bones  of  flsh  and  seals,  scraps  of  lilde, 
and  sucli  very  few  fragments  aa  tl-.eir  inasi- 
ters  cannot  di^vour.  Conse(|uently  they  are 
always  hungry,  ami  can  eat  almost  any- 
thing. C'aplain  Hall  mentions  that  in  one 
nighl  they  ate  a  whiplash  thirty  feet  long, 
and  that  (in  one  occasion  a  single  dog  utc 
in  seven  seconds  a  piece  of  walrus  hide  and 
blubber  six  feet  long  and  an  inch  and  a  hull 
s(nmre. 

Vet,  In  spite  of  all  the  hardships  which 
they  nniiergo,  they  can  endure  almost  any 
amount  of  fatigue  without  apiieariiig  to  bo 
the  worse  for  it,  and  a  team  has  been  known 
to  eat  nothing  for  at  least  forty-eight  hours, 
to  traverse  some  seventy  miles  of  ground, 
and  yet  to  return  to  their  homes  apparently 
as  tV'esh  as  when  tlu-y  set  mit. 

Many  of  them  are  jiosseHsed  of  siugn- 
lar  intl'lligenee,  especially  those  which  are 
traineil  to  cliase  the  seal,  the  bear,  or  the 
deer.  One  of  these  dogs,  named  Uailiekark, 
belonging  to  Captain  llall,  actually  killed  a 
deer  himself,  took  one  morsel  from  the  neck, 
and  then  w(Uit  home  and  fetched  his  muster 
to  the  spot  where  he  had  left  the  dead  deer. 
lie  had  a  brother  that  eciually  distinguished 
himself  in  seal  catching.  lie  was  the  lead- 
ing dog  in  the  team,  and  oiu'c,  while  draw- 
in'^r  11  sledge,  he  caught  sight  of  a  seal  ou  the 
ice.     He  immediately  dashed  forwanl  at  full 


speed,  and  just  as  llu^  seal  was  plunging  into 
the  water, caught  it  by  the  hind  llippi'i's.  The, 
seal  struggled  frantically  to  escape,  but  the 
dog  retaini'd  h\s  hold,  and,  aided  liy  his  fel- 
lows, dragged  the  seal  firmly  on  the  ice, 
when  it  was  secured  by  his  master. 

A  very  amusing  example  of  the  iiitelii.r,.iico 
of  these  dogs  is  related  by  Captain  Hall. 
He  fed  the  ih)gs  on  "eapeliiis,"  a  small  dried 
tlsh,  and  used  to  make  them  stand  in  a  cir- 
cle round  him,  so  that  each  n  ceived  a  caiie- 
lin  in  turn.  "Now  Harbekark,  a  young  and 
shrewd  dog,  took  it  into  his  head  that  ho 
would  i)lay  a  white  man's  trick.  So  every 
time  he  received  h\y  lish  he  would  back 
stpiare  out,  move  a  distance  of  three  or  four 
dogs,  and  force  himself  in  line  again,  thus  re- 
ceiving double  the  share  of  any  other  dog. 
Hut  this  joke  of  Harbekark's  bespoke  too 
much  of  tl'ie  game  many  men  play  ni)on  their 
fellow-beinsrs,  and,  as  I  noticed  it,  I  deter- 
mined to  Vdieck  his  doggish  i)ropcnsities. 
Still,  the  amusing  and  the  singular  way  in 
which  he  evidently  watched  me  induced  a 
moment's  pause  ininv  intention. 

"  Each  dog  thankfully  took  his  capelin  as 
his  turn  came  round,  but  Harbekark,  finding 
his  share  cnm(!  twice  as  often  as  his  compan- 
ions, appeared  to  shake  his  tail  twice  as  thank- 
fully as  the  others.  A  twinkle  in  his  eyes  as 
they  caught  mine  seemed  to  say, '  Keep  dark; 
these  ignorant  fiilows  don't  know  the  game 
I'm  playing.  I  am  confoundedly  hungry.' 
Seeing  my  face  smiling  at  his  trick,  he  now 
commenced  making  another  change,  thus 
getting  three  portions  to  each  of  the  ntb.crs' 


crs 


(1847) 


on^.  This 
for  me  to 
game  by  p 
"  Accon 
he  got  no 
position  tl 
Now,  if  cv 
pointed  j)!; 
and  sorrov 
found  in 
watched  h 
lowance. 
by  any  clu 
from  iho  c 
me,  crowd 
looked  il)] 
been  a  vei 
bekark  wi 
Please,  si 
I  vfant  till 
him  have 
so  sagacio 
prodigal  tl 

MAllRIi 

the  very .' 
ally  arran: 
bridegroo 
with  tlic  ( 
mony,  tlu 
same  igloi 
several  w 
takes  the 
and  is  su[ 
tlie  large 
provision 
agenn'utc 
food,  and 
This  is  b; 
her  to  rif 
purpose 
them  0(ji 
hoots  are 
After  n 

to  COIirUK 

months, ! 
pi  red,  sIk 
she  has 
She  tiicn 
of  clotiu^ 
habita!'.tsi 
child  1)0  1 
for  the  111 
the  birtii 
mains  nti 
and  she 
The  il 
vcrv  <'arl 
die 'the  k 
igloos;  ) 
women's 
lamp,  lo 
tasks  Iha 
£s(|uinia 
They  nii 
imitntici 
animals, 


MARKIAGE  AND  RELIGION. 


1349 


one.  This  wae  enough,  and  it  was  now  time 
for  me  to  reverse  the  order  of  IJarbekark's 
game  by  playing  a  trick  upon  him. 

"  Accor(lingly,  every  time  I  came  to  him 
he  cot  no  lisli,  and  tiiough  he  changed  his 
position  three  times,  yet  he  got  nothing. 
Now,  if  ever  there  was  a  picture  of  disap- 
pointed plans  —  of  envy  at  others'  fortunes, 
and  sorrow  at  a  sad  misfortune  —  it  was  )  o  be 
found  in  that  dog's  countenance  as  he 
watched  his  companions  receiving  their  al- 
lowance. Finding  that  he  could  not  succeed 
by  anv  cliangc  of  his  position,  he  withdrew 
from  ihe  circle  to  where  I  was,  and  came  to 
me,  crowding  his  way  between  my  legs,  and 
looked  U))  in  my  face  as  if  to  say, 'I  have 
been  a  very  Ijad  dog.  Forgive  me,  and  Bar- 
bekark  will  che.it  his  brother  dogs  no  more. 
Please,  sir,  give  me  my  share  of  capelins.' 
I  Wfjnt  the  niunds  three' times  more,  and  let 
him  hiive  Ihe  lish,  as  he  had  shown  himself 
so  sagacious,  and  so  much  like  a  repentant 
prodigal  dog." 


Makriaok  among  the  Esquimaux  is  of 
the  very  simplest  description,  and  is  gener- 
ally arranged  by  the  parents  of  the  bride  and 
bridegroom,  the  latter  having  nothing  to  do 
with  the  affair.  There  is  no  marriage  cere- 
mony, the  ])arlies  merely  goin^  to  live  in  the 
same  igloo.  A  man  may,  and  often  does,  have 
several  wives,  and  in  this  case  one  of  them 
takes  the  position  of  the  chief,  or  igloo  wife, 
and  is  supreme  under  her  husband.  She  has 
the  largest  lamp,  the  best  bed,  and  the  best 
provision.  Hnl  she  also  has  Ihe  entire  man- 
agement of  the  household,  such  as  cooking  the 
food,  and  drying  the  clothes  on  the"  dry-net." 
This  is  by  no  nseans  a  sinecure,  as  it  forces 
her  to  rise  many  times  in  the  night  for  the 
purpose  of  turning  the  clothes  and  drying 
them  ecpially.  She  also  has  to  see  that  the 
boots  are  |)roperly  '•  milled." 

After  aebild  isborn,  the  mother  is  obliged 
to  conline  herself  to  her  own  igloo  for  some 
months,  and  when  the  allotted  time  has  ex- 
pired, she  throws  of  all  the  clothing  which 
she  has   worn,  and    never  wears   it   again. 
She  then  dresses  herself  in  a  totally  new  suit 
of  clothes,  and  visits  in    succession  the  in- 
habitants of  eveiy  igloo.     If  a  second  or  third 
child  be  born,  a  separate  igloo  is  always  built 
for  the  mother,  to  which  she  repairs"  before 
the  birth  of  the  child,  and  in  which  she  re- 
mains until  the  customary  time  has  elapsed 
and  she  is  al>le  to  call  u]>on  her  neighbors. 
The  children   begin  their  education  at  a 
very  earl v  age ;  the  boys  being  taught  to  pad- 
dlethe  kia,  to  hunt  aiidto  lish,  and  to  build 
igloos;   while    the    girls    learn   to   row  the 
women's  boat,  to  dress  skins,  to  mana";e  the 
lan\p,  to  cook,  and  ju'rlorm  the  multitudinous 
tasks  that  fall  to  their  lot.     The  carving  of  the 
Escpiimanx    women    is    wonderfully   good. 
They  make    Hjjirited,  though   conventional, 
imitntioiH  ."f  ri-4\,  :!!i<-V2,  jjags,  ^rA  v.wiouR 
animals,  from  ivory,  using  in  the  manufac- 


ture nothing  but  a  knife.    In  the  earlier  days, 
before  white  men  visited  them,  the  Esqui- 
maux were  obliged  to  rely  entirely  upon  flint 
as  a  material  for  their  knives,  which  were 
exactly  like  those  of  the  ancient  and  perished 
races.    In  chopping  the  Hakes  olf  the  flint, 
the  Esquimaux  employed  a  very  simple  in- 
strument, the  use  of  which  showed  an  exact 
knowledge  of  the  fi-aeture-line  of  tlint.    It  is 
made  of  bone  and  ivory,  and  is  about  six 
inches  in  length.    Iron,  indeed,  is  of  so  late 
introduction,  that  when  Captain  Lyon  vis- 
ited the  natives,  in  1821,  he  could  purchase  a 
complete  harpoon,  with  its  ivoi-y  head,  float, 
and  line,  for  a  nail;  while  a  knife  woidd  pur- 
chase a  kia,  or  indeed  anything  that  was  asked 
in  exchange  for  it. 

As  may  be  inferred  from  tlie  climate,  the 
games  of  the  Esquimaux  are  but  few.  They 
are  wonderful  experts  at  a  sort  of  "  cat's- 
eradle,"  producing  with  a  piece  of  string  imi- 
tations of  seals,  reindeer,  ducks,  canoes,  and 
other  objects.  The  little  ivory  models  of 
ducks  and  other  animals,  which  have  already 
been  mentioned,  are  used  in  several  of  the 
native  games. 

Their  dances  are  remarkable  for  their 
simplicity,  the  dancer  inventing  the  steps 
according  to  his  own  taste.  There  is  a 
dance  in  which  a  number  of  women  stand  in 
a  ring,  with  their  liands  under  the  front 
flaps  of  their  jackets,  and  sing,  with  half- 
closed  eyes,  the  inevitable  Amna-aya  song: 
these  are  the  band.  The  dancers  are  repre- 
sented by  one  man,  wlio  takes  his  place  in 
the  middle  of  the  ring,  swings  his  head  and 
arms  from  side  to  side,  his  long,  lank  hair 
flapping  in  the  wind,  while  he  utters  sharp 
yells  at  intervals,  and  occasionally  fling.s  one 
leg  as  high  .as  his  thick  garments  permit. 

The  women  have  a  special  dance  of  their 
own,  which  consists  in  kneeling  on  the 
ground,  leaping  to  their  feet  as  fast  as  they 
can.  This  is  really  a  dilHcult  task  when  the 
heavy  and  clumsy  boots  are  taken  into  con- 
sideration. Sometimes  the  men  challenge 
each  other  to  dance,  and  in  that  case  the 
challenge  is  accepted  by  employing  the 
"koonik,"  or  national  salut.ation,  which  is 
given  by  rubbing  the  noses  together,  and 
inh.aling  strongly  through  the  nostrils. 

AVith  regard  to  religion,  the  Esquimaux 
seem  to  have  no  very  definite  idea  of  the 
subject,  except  that  they  believe  in  a  future 
existence,  in  a  heaven  and  a  hell  — the  lat- 
ter being,  according  to  their  ideas,  dark,  full 
of  ice,  with  snow-storms  always  blowing, 
and  no  seals.  They  have  also  a  hazy  de- 
scription of  a  Supreme  Being,  and  a  second- 
ary female  divinity,  the  special  protector  of 
the  Esquimaux. 

Jiy  way  of  worship,  they  have  sundry 
medicine  men,  or  "  angekos,"  as  they  are 
called,  who  go  through  a  series  of  strange 
ceremonies  on  various  occasions,  such  as  lU- 
ness.  or  when  a  party  is  setting  out  on  a 
imnting  expedition.    I'hey  make  the  people 


1350 


THE  ESQUIMAUX. 


pay  heavily  for  their  services,  and  rule  with 
a  rod  of  iron,  so  tliat  no  Esquimaux  is  lilicly 
to  rcUiin  possession  of  any  valuable  i)ie.;e  ot 
property  if  an  angeko  should  liappen  to  bo 
in  the  neighborhood.  They  act  upon  a  very 
simple  and  intelligent  principle,  nainely, 
that  the  amount  of  success  in  "ankootnig, 
or  divining,  is  in  exact  ratio  with  the  amount 
of  pay. 

Sometimes,  in  order  to  impress  awe  upon 
their  victims,  the  angckos  go  through  a  se- 
ries of  imjjosing  ceremonies,  the  rertorm- 
ancc  of  which  ii'ifers  a  vast  amounc  o  prac- 
tice. By  the  present  of  a  knlie  and  some 
beads.  Captain  Lyon  induced  a  celebrated 
angeko,  named  Toolemak,  to  have  an  inter- 
view with  a  Tornga,  or  familiar  spirit,  in 
the  cabin  of  the  ship. 

"All  light  excluded,  our  sorcerer  bcain 
bv  chanting  to  his  wife  with  great  vehe- 
mence, and  she,  in  return,  answered  by 
singing  the  Amna-ava  (the  favorite  song  of 
the  Esquimaux),  wfiich  was  not  discontin- 
ued during  the  whole  ceremony.  As  far  as 
I  could  learn,  he  afterward  began  turning 
himself  rapidlv  round,  and,  in  a  loud,  pow- 
erful voice,  vociferated  for  Tornga  with 
great  impatience,  at  the  same  time  blow- 
ing and  snorting  like  a  Walrus.  His  noise, 
impatience,  and  agitation  increased  every 
moment,  and  ho  at  length  seated  himself  on 
the  deck,  varying  his  tones,  and  making  a 
rustliim  withhis  clothes. 

'•  Suddenly  the  voice  seemed  smothered, 
and  was  so  managed  as  to  sound  as  if  re- 
treating Ijcneath  the  deck,  each  moment  be- 
coming more  distant,  and  ullimati'ly  giving 
the  idea  of  bi  iug  many  feet  below  the  cabin, 
where  it  ceased  entirely,  llis  wife,  now,  in 
answer  toniv  (pieries,  informed  me  very  seri- 
ously tliat  lic!  bad  dived,  mid  that  he  would 
seiul  up  Tornga. 

'■  Accordiiiglv,  in  about  h.ilf  a  minute,  a 
distant  blowing  was  beard  very  slowly  ap- 
proacbiiig,  and  a  voice  which  dill'ered  from 
that  whicii  we  at  first  had  heard  was 
at  times  mixed  with  blowing,  until  at 
length  both  sounds  became  distinct,  and  the 
old  woman  informed  me  that  Tornga  was 
come  to  auswer  my  (piesiions.  I  accord- 
ingly asked  several"  questions  of  tlio  sag;i- 
cious  spirit,  to  each  of  which  in(iuirips  I 
received  an  answer  by  two  loud  slaps  on 
the  deck,  wbich  I  was  given  to  understand 
was  favi)rai)le. 

"A  verv  liollow  yet  powerful  voice,  cer- 
tainly niu'ch  dill'crent  Inun  the  tones  of 
Tooleiii  ik,  now  chanted  for  some  time,  and 
a  strain,'!'  Jumble  of  hisses,  groans,  shouts, 
and  gabi (lings  like  a  turkey  succeeded  in 
rapid  succession.  Tlie  old  woman  sang  with 
increased  energy,  and,  as  1  took  it  for  granted 
that  lliis  was  all  intended  to  astonish  the 
Kabloona,  I  cried  repeatedly  that  I  whs  very 
much  afraid.  Tliis.  as  I  expected,  added 
fuel  to  th(!  lire,  until  the  form  immortal,  ex- 
hausted by  its  own  might,  asked  leave  to 


retire.  The  voice  gradually  sanlc  from  our 
hearing,  as  at  first,  and  a  very  indistinct  his- 
siiisr  succeeded.  In  its  advance,  it  sounded 
like  the  tone  produced  by  the  wind  upon 
the  bass-cord  of  an  yEolian  harp;  this  was 
soon  changed  to  a  rapid  hiss,  like  that  of  a 
rocket,  and  Toolemak,  with  a  yell,  announced 
his  return.  I  held  my  breath  at  the  first  dis- 
tant hissing,  and  twice  exhausted  myself; 
yet  our  conjuror  did  not  once  respire,  and 
even  his  returning  and  powerful  yell  wiia 
uttered  without  a  previous  slop  or  inspira- 
tion of  air. 

"  Light  being  admitted,  our  wizard,  as 
might  be  expected,  was  in  a  profuse  perspi- 
ratTon,  and  certainly  much  exhausted  by  his 
exertions,  which  had  continued  for  at  least 
half  an  hour.  We  now  ol)served  a  couple 
of  bunches,  each  ccnisisting  of  two  strips  of 


white  deer-skin  and  a  long  piece  of  sinew, 
attaclicd  to  the  back  of  his  coat.    These  wo 
had  not  seen  before,  and  were  informed  that 
they  had  been  sewed  on  by  Tin'uga  while 
he  was  below."    A  similar  exhibition  has 
been  seen  by  several   travellers,  and   they 
have  expressed  their  aslonishment  at  the 
length  of  time  during  which  an  angeko  can 
howl,  hiss,  and  gabble  without  taking  breath. 
While  he  is  below  the  earth,  the  .angeko 
is  supposed  to  visit  the  Imbilation  of  the 
particular    spirit  whom      i-   is   .addressing, 
and  sometimes    gives   a    detailed    account 
of  the  places  in  which  he  has  been,  and  of 
their  inhabitants.     One   female   spirit,  for 
example,  is  called  Avwilliayoo.    Slie  com- 
mands all  the  bears,  whales,  seals,  and  wal- 
ruses by  means  of  her  riglit  hand.    So,  when 
there  is  a  scarcety  of  provisions,  the  angeko 
makes  a  visit  to  Aywilliavoo  and  attacks  her 
hand.    If  he  can  cut  off  lier  nails,  the  bears 
imniediatelv  are  set  free,  the  loss    of  one 
fim-er  joint"liberales  the  small  seals,  the  sec- 
ond joint  sends  the  larg(>  seals,  the  knuekles 
free' the  whole  herds  of  walrus,  while  the 
entire  hand  liberates  the  whale. 

In  figure  this  spirit  is  very  tall,  and  has 
only  one  eye  and  one  pigtail,  but  this  is  as 
large  as  a"  man's  leg,  and  ileseeiuls  to  her 
knee.  Her  hou.se  is  a  very  line  one,  but 
Toolemak  did  not  ventun;  to  enter  it,  be- 
cause it  was  guarded  by  a  huge  dog  with 
black  hind-quarters  and  no  tail.  Her  father 
is  no  larger  than  a  bov  "f  ten  years  old,  and 
he  has  i)Ut  one  arm,  which  is  always  cov- 
ered with  a  large  bearVskiu  nutteii.  His 
house  is  also  liandsome,  but  its  entrance  is 
guardi'd  by  troops  of  bears  and  walruses, 
who  keep  up  a  continual  growling. 

Unfortunately  for  bis  own  credit,  Toole- 
mak got  drunk  one  evening,  as  he  might 
well  be,  having  consinned  in  succession 
nearly  ten  glasses  of  rum.  or  "hot  water, 
as  he  was  i)le.ased  to  call  it.  Dining  Ins  in- 
toxication he  became  very  good-nalured, 
and  betrayed  the  secrets  of  his  magic  art, 
showing  how  ho  altered  hi:;  Voice  by  cr-vcr- 
ing  his  face  with  his  hatuls  and  then  with 


DISPOSAL  OF  THE  DEAD. 


1361 


his  jacket,  so  as  to  make  tho  voice  appear 
as  if  it  came  from  a  continually  increasing 
deptli.  He  linislied  this  sinjjular  exhibition 
by  drinking  in  succession  cloven  pints  and 
one  gill  of  water,  and  within  a  few  minutes 
became  sober  enougli  to  leave  tho  ship  and 
walk  to  his  sledge. 

Sometimes  tlio  Esquimaux  say  that  they 
are  annoyed  by  spirits.  On  one  occasion 
when  a  man  nicknamed  Kettle  was  eat- 
ing in  Captain  Lyon's  cabin,  he  became  un- 
easy, and  frequently  ceased  eating,  a  very 
remarkable  circumstance  in  a  hungry  Es- 
quimaux. Presently  he  said  tliat  there  was 
a  spirit  sitting  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
civbin,  making  grimaces  at  liim,  iind  prevent- 
ing him  from  eating.  He  asked  leave  to 
drive  liis  tormentor  away,  which  he  did  by 

then 


raising  a  long,  l)ellowing  sound,  and 
blowing  sharply  on  tlie  ends  of  his  fin^cr.s. 
He  resumed  his  meal  quietly,  and  nothing 
would  induce  him  to  blow  oh  his  fingers  or 
raise  the  exorcising  yell  again,  on  the  ground 
that  the  spirit  was  no  longer  to  lie  seen. 

The  Esquimaux  possess  wonderful  powers 
of  drawing.  They  know  scarcely  anything 
of  perspective,  but  tlicv  can  make  their 
sketches  tell  their  own  talc;  wliile  in  drawing 
from  memory  a  chart  of  a  coast,  their  skill  is 
really  admirable.  In  Captain  Hall's  l)0ok 
tliere  are  fac-similes  of  several  native  charts 
and  skelches,  the  most  curious  of  which  is 
one  which  was  not  only  drawn  but  engraved 
on  wood  by  the  native  draughtsman.  It 
represents  a  woman  with  a  child  nestling  in 
tlie  liood  behind  Iht  back,  and  is  quite  equal 
in  execution  to  wood-cutting  in  tlie  earlier 
stages  of  the  art.  The  point  about  it  wliieh 
most  strikes  a  jiractised  eye  is  tlie  force  and 
lidelity  with  whieh  the  artist  has  marked  the 
texture  of  the  dilVerent  parts  of  the  dress; 
the  fur  coat  and  trowsers  edg(>d  with  leather, 
and  thi^  wliite-edged,  fur-lined  liood,are  most 
admirably  miuiaged. 

Ofmiisie  and  nuisicd  instruments  the  Es- 
quimaux know  little.  Tliey  liave  tlie  Amna- 
ayasoiig,  which  has  already  been  mentioned, 
and  they  possess  one  national  music.il  instru- 
ment, called  the  "  keeloun."'  This  is  some- 
tliing  like  a  tambourine,  being  formed  of  a 
very  thin  deer  skin,  or  the  envelope  of  the 
whale's  liver,  strelclied  over  one  side  of  a 
wooden  hoop.  A  liaiidle  is  attached  to  the 
lioop,  and  the  instrument  is  struck,  not  upon 
tlio  membrani\  but  ujiun  the  hoop. 

As  a  nation  they  are  remarkable  for  two 
good  qualities,  lioiiesty  and  hospitality. 
Theroare,ofeours(>,  exceptions  to  (>veryriile, 
and  such  is  the  case  with  tlie  Esquimaux, 
iiuttlie  early  voyagers  found  tliat  Ihey  might 
leave  their  knives  and  axes  on  sliore,  and 
that  not  one  nf  them  would  be  touched. 
Now,  to  an  Esquimaux  a  steel  knife  or  axe 
is  more  valuable  than  a  box  full  of  sovereijjns 
would  be  to  us,  and  the  honesty  of  the  Es- 
nuimaux  was  as  inueli  tried  by  the  ;■  -ht  of 
tneso  articles  as  would  be  tiiatof  our  Luiidoa 


poor  if  a  heap  of  sovereigns  were  left  lying 
on  the  pavement. 

As  to  hospitality,  their  food  is  considered 
to  be  merely  common  property,  so  that  if  one 
of  the  Esquimaux  should  kill  a  seal,  all  his 
friends  and  neiglibors  assemble  as  a  matter 
of  course  to  assist  in  eating  it;  and  even 
though  the  family  of  the  successful  hunter 
.should  be  starving,  he  will  nevertheless  in- 
vite all  his  friends  to  partake  of  the  food.  In 
this  way,  it  often  happens  that  an  entire  seal 
barely  atlbrds  a  single  meal  to  all  who  come 
.to  share  it. 

FuNKHALS  among  the  Esquimaux  are 
rather  variable  in  their  forms.  Generallv, 
when  a  sick  person  is  on  the  point  of  death, 
a  new  igloo  is  built,  and  carefully  fitted  with 
lamp,  provisions,  and  other  furniture.  The 
dyin<;  person  is  carried  in  —  not  through  the 
regular  doorway,  but  through  a  breach  in 
the  wall  —  placed  on  the  couch,  the  lamp 
lighted,  and  the  provisions  laid  ready  to  hand. 
The  attendants  then  leave  the  igloo,  build 
up  the  openings,  and  never  trouble  them- 
selves again  about  the  sick  person.  Tlio 
principal  reason  why  the  djing  are  left  alone 
is,  that  if  the  relatives  are  in  the  igloo  at  the 
moment  of  death,  they  are  obliged  to  throw 


away  the  dresses  which  they  were  wearing, 
and  never  to  wear  tiiem  again.  None  of  them 
can  tell  the  reason  for  this  strange  belief, 
but  it  is  so  strongly  ingrained  tliat  no  argu- 
ment can  induce  them  to  abandon  it. 

Sometimes  the  body  of  a  dead  person  is 
simply  i)uried  in  a  hole  scooped  in  the  snow, 
and  sometimes  it  is  laid  upon  a  ledge'of  rock, 
aeeompaiiied  l)y  the  lamp,  kettle,  knives, 
spears,  and  dresses  which  the  deceased  used 
while  in  life.  Wlien  a  child  dies,  all  its  toys 
are  placed  with  it  in  the  grave,  that  it  may 
be  supplied  with  them  in  the  next  world. 

The  demeanor  of  the  Esquimaux  with 
regard  to  tlieirdead  is  a  most  extraordinary 
mixture  of  atleetion  and  unconeeni.  After 
liaviugburied  the  body,  whetlieralive  ordead 
does  hot  matter,  they  care  nothing  about  it, 
and  this  strange  insensibility  is  even  dis- 
played before  tlie  burial.  For  example,  a 
man's  wife  had  died,  leaving  a  cliild  of  a  few 
weeks  old,  which  in  a  short  time  followed  its 
mother.  The  father  was  very  sorrowful  for 
his  dying  child,  and  was  seen  in  the  night 
lifting  the  curtains  of  its  bed  as  it  lay  ill  on 
board  ship,  and  sighing  deeply.  Hut,  on  the 
next  day,  when  he  came  to  the  sliip,  he  made 
no  scruple  of  laying  his  meat  on  the  body  of 
the  child,  and  using  it  as  a  table  at  breaklast. 

Once,  wIku  Captain  Lyon  visited  tlie 
grave  where  an  Esquimaux  named  Pekooya 
liad  been  laid,  he  found  that  the  wolves  and 
dogs  liad  uncovered  the  body,  and  had  eaten  a 
considerable  portion  of  it.  He  was  naturally 
shocked  at  the  scene,  but  the  natives  treated 
it  with  absolute  indifference,  and  though  the 
father  and  a  brother  of  Pekooya  were  wit- 
nesses of  the  desecration,  they  would  not 
cover  up  the  mangled  body,  and  only  laughed 


-!'=!(  |^'|. I 


HBH' 


1352 


THE  ESQUIMAUX. 


when  Captain  Lyon  remonstrated  with 
them.  Moreover,  when  the  body  was  bunetl, 
it  was  covered  so  slightly  with  snow  that  the 
first  day's  thaw  would  molt  off  all  the  snow, 
and  leave  it  to  the  mercy  of  the  dogs.      , 

Judging  from  such  a  fact  as  this,  it  might 
be  thought  that  the  Esquimaux  have  bin 
little  natural  affection,  and  that  they  «rt  in- 
different to  the  loss  of  their  nearest  relatives. 
Such,  however,  U  not  the  case.  ^"J;^^"  " 
maux  never  passes  the  grave.of  an  acquaint 
ance  without  depositing  a  piece  ot  meat  as 
an  offering,  and  tt.e  ^"rvivmg.relatives  often 
visit  the  burylng-place  of  their  dead,  an  sit 
there  for  hoursr talking  to  them  as  if  they 
were  still  alive.  On  comparing  all  t  f  cori- 
flieting  accounts  respecting  he  Esqu  maux 
and  their  dead,  it  seems  likely  that  they 
consider  the  d.^ad  body  as  something  that 
the  deceased  once  possessed  but  cast  away 
at  death,  and  that,  as  their  departed  friend 
abandoned  the  body,  they  need  take  no 
trouble  about  so  worthless  an  article. 

If  the  reader  will  refer  to  the  illustration 
on  page  l.'HT,  he  will  see  that  the  horizon  is 
illuminated  by  strange  and  wild-looking 
flashes  of  light.  These  represent  the  Aurora 
Borealis,  as  it  often  appears  in  those  parts, 
_  not  pale  and  flickering  as  we  see  it  in  these 
comnarativclv  southern  regions,  but  blazing 
with  all  ima"<,'inable  hues,  and  giving  out  a 
li<rht  that  stands  the  natives  in  stead  ot  the 
sun,  which  in  those  latitudes  is  absent  ti  ■ 
months  at  a  lime.  The  glory  and  magnu.- 
cence  of  these  displays  can  only  be  described 
by  those  who  have  seen  them,  and  very  in- 
adequately even  by  such. 

There  is  an  account  given  by  Captain  Hall 
of  one  of  these  marvellous  exhibitions:—  I 
had  gone  on  deck  several  times  to  look  at  the 
beauteous  scene,  and  at  nine  o  clock  was 
below  in  mv  cabin,  wh.>n  the  captain  hailed 
mo  with  tliese  words,  '  Come  ithove,  Ilalt, 
come  at  once!     TilK  WOULD  is  ON  fire. 

"I  knew  his  meaning,  and  quick  as  thought 
I  re-dressed  mvself,  scrambled  over  severa 
Bleeping  Iiinuits  close  to  my  berth,  and 
rushed  to  the  companion  stairs.  In  another 
moment  I  reached  the  deck,  and  as  the  cabin 
door  swung  open,  a  dazzling  and  overpower- 
in"  li"ht,  as  if  the  world  were  really  ablaze 
umleiMhe  agency  of  some  gorgeously  colored 
flres.  burst  upon  mv  startled  senses.  How 
can  I  describes  it?  Again  I  say,  A  o  mortal 
hand  can  tnUhfuUy  do  so.  Let  me  however, 
in  feeble,  broken  words,  put  down  my 
thoughts  at  the  time,  and  try  to  give  soniv. 
faint  idea  of  what  I  saw. 

"  My  first  thought  was,  'Among  the  gods 
there  is  none  like  unto  Thee,  O  Lord;  neither 
arc  any  works  like  unto  Thy  works!'  rheu 
I  tried  to  picture  the  scene  before  me.  Piles 
of  golden  light  and  rainbow  light,  scattered 
along  the  azure  vault,  extended  Irom  behmd 
the  western  horizon  to  the  zenith;  the  cc 
down  to  the  eastern,  -.vitliin  a  belt  of  space, 
20°  in  width,  were  the  fouutama  of  beams, 


like  fire-threads,  that  shot  with  the  rapidity 
of  lightning  hither  and  thither,  upward  and 
athwlirt  the  great  pathway^  indicated.  No 
sun  no  moon,  yet  the  heavens  were  a  glorious 
si^lit,  flooded  with  light.  Even  ordinary 
print  could  ea.sdy  have  been  read  on  deck. 

"  Flooded  with  riv(!rs  of  light!  Yes,  flooded 
with  light;  and  such  light!  Light  all  but  in- 
conceivable. The  golden  hues  iiredominated, 
but  in  rapid  succession  pnsmutic  co'  d  leaped 
forth.  We  looked,  we  saw,  and  trembled; 
■for  as  we  gazed,  the  whole  belt  of  aurora 
bean  to  be  alive  with  lashes.  Then  each 
pile  or  bank  of  light  became  myriads;  some 
were  dropping  down  the  great  pathway  or 
belt;  others  springing  up,  others  leaping 
with  lightning  llasli  from  one  side,  while 
more  as^quickly  passed  i  nto  the  vacated  space ; 
some  twisting  themselves  into  folds,  en- 
twining with  others  like  enormous  serpents, 
and  all  these  movements  as  quick  as  the  eyo 
could  follow. 

"  It  seemed  as  if  there  were  a  struggle 
with  these  blazing  lights  to  reach  and  oc- 
cupy the  dome  above  our  heads.  Then  the 
whole  arch  above  became  crowded.  Down, 
down  it  came;  nearer  and  nearer  it  ap- 
proached us.  Sheets  of  golden  flame,  corn  ■ 
eating  while  leaping  from  the  auroral  belt, 
seemed  as  if  met  in  their  course  by  some 
mighty  agency  that  turned  them  into  the 
colors  of  the  rainbow,  each  of  the  seven  pri- 
mary colors  3°  in  width,  sheeted  out  to  21°. 
"  While  the  auroral  fires  seemed  to  be 
descending  upon  us,  one  of  our  number 
could  not  help  exclaiming,  — 

"'Hark!  hark!  such  a  dispiay!  almost  as 
if  a  warfare  were  going  on  among  the 
beauteous  lights  above  — so  palpable  — so 
near  --  it  seems  impossible  without  noise. 

"  Bat  no  noise  acconii  uied  this  won- 
drous display.    All  was  si.  nee.    .    .    .    . 

"  I  would  here  make  the  remark  that  the 
finest  displavs  of  the  aurora  only  last  a  few 
moments,  'rhough  it  may  be  playing  all 
ni"ht,  yet  it  is  only  now  and  then  that  its 
grandest  displays  are  made.  As  if  mar- 
shalling forces,  gaining  strength, compound- 
ing material,  it  continues  on  its  silent  work- 
ings. At  length  it  begins  its  trembUng 
throes;  beauty  anon  shoots  out  here  and 
there,  when  .all  at  once  the  aurora  fl.oshes 
into  living  hosts  of  jiotofZcrff?  coruscating 
rainbows,  belting  to  the  heavenly  dome 
with  such  gorgeous  grandeur  that  mortals 
sometimes  tremble  to  behold." 

These  wonderful  aerial  phenomena  are 
characteristic  of  the  Arctic  regions.  One  of 
the  most  extraordinary  appearances  in  the 
sky  is  called  the  rarhelion,  or  Mock  bun. 
It  assumes  various  and  most  astounding 
forms,  the  sun  appearing  in  the  middle,  and 
being  surrounded  with  dimmer  mutations  of 
itself,  round  which  run  circular  bands  of 
light.  There  seems,  indeed,  to  be  no  end 
to  the  extraordinary  modifications  of  aerial 
effects  which  take  place  m  these  rcgiuus. 


WONDERFUL  AERIAL  PHENOMENA. 


J  353 


aud    the 


Captain  Hall  described  many  of  them, 
anuing  which  may  bo  mentioned  a  moon 
distorted  beyond  all  recognition,  its  lower 
limb  all  crushed  and  shapeless,  and  the 
whole  appearance  of  the  planet  like  that  of 
a  man  under  the  intURiice  of  liquor. 

Then  the  refractive  powers  of  the  atmos- 
phere! produce  most  wonderl'nl  effects,  de- 
stroying all  perspective,  and  bringing  into 
sight  all  kinds  of  objects  which,  by  the  ordi- 
nary laws  of  optics,  are  far  out  of  siglit.  All 
sailors  are  familiar  with  the  appearance  of  a 
vessel  high  in  the  air,  sailin<j,  as  it  were, 
throngli  the  sky  with  her  keel  \n  the  clouds, 
and  the  tops  of  her  masts  pointing  down- 
ward. In  these  regions  the  refractive  pow- 
ers are  even  terrible  to  accustomed  eyes,  so 
wonderful  arc  the  sights  presented  to  them. 

In  one  of  these  strange  exhibitions,  wit- 
nessed by  Captain  Hall,  a  vast  wl-.itc  in- 
verted pyramid  seemed  to  form  in  the  sky, 
and  at  every  roll  of  the  vessel  to  dip  into 
the  sea.  Presently  "  some  land  that  was 
Beventy-five  miles  distant, 
of  it  only  barely  seen  in 
an  ordinary  way,  had  its 
rocky  base  brought  full 
in  view.  The  whole 
length  of  this  land  in 
sight  was  the  very  syniljol 
of  distortion. 

"  l\'n<lant  from  an  even 
line  that  stretched  across 
the  heavens  was  «  j-io'ye  of 
itiountums.  Life  hangs 
upon  a  little  thread,  but 
what  think  you  of  moun- 
tains hanging  upon  a 
thread?  In  my  fancy  I 
said, '  If  Fate  had  decreed 
one  of  the  Sisters  to  cut 
that  thread  while  I  wit- 
nessed the  singular  sj)ec- 
tacle,    what    convulsions 

upon   the   land    and    sea 

about  us  might  not  have 

followed!'      But  Natui'^ 

had  an  adnurable  way  oi 

taking  down  these  rock- 
giants,  hanging  between 

tlie     heavens     and     the 

earth.     Arch   after  arch 

was  at   length  ni:  ..e    iu 

wondrous  grandeur  from 

the  rugged  and  distorted 

atmosplieric  lir.id;  and,  if 

ever    man's    eye    rested 

upon  the  sublime,  in  an 

act     of    God's     creative 

power,  it  was  when  He 

arcuated      the      heavens 

with  such  a  line  of  stu- 
pendous mountains. 
"Between  those  several 

mountain   arches  in  tho 

sky  were  hung  icebergs, 

nlan       invnrtcd.       lUOViUl! 


silently  and  majestically  about  as  the  sea- 
currents  shifted  those  along  of  which  they 
were  the  images.     In  addition  to  all  this 
there  was  a  wall  of  ivater,  so  it  appeared, 
far  beyond  the  apparent  horizon.    Tliis  wall 
seemed   alive   with  merry  dancers  of  the 
most  fantastic  figures  tliat  the  imagination 
could   conceive,  and   its  perpendicular  col- 
umns were  ever  playfully   changing.    Oh, 
how    exquisitely  beautiful   was    this  God- 
made,  living  wall!     A   thousand  youthful 
forms  of  tho  fairest  outline  seemed  to  be 
dancing  to  and  fro,  their  white  arms  inter- 
twined, bodies  incessantly   v.vr;  ing,  inter- 
mixing, falling,  rising,  jumping,  skipping, 
hopping,  wliirling,  waltzing,   resting,  and 
again   rushing  to  the  mazy  dance  —  never 
tired  —  ever  playful  —  ever  light  and  airy, 
graceful,  and  soil  to  the  eye." 

Such,  then,  is  a  brief  account  of  the  re- 
markable aud  interesting  Innuit  people  — 
a  people  which,  according  to  tlie  oi)servation 
of  t'aptain  Hall,  are  gradually  dying  out, 
and  in  a  few  more  years  will  cease  to  exist 


WlUST-QUARD  AND  HoOKS.     (Ses  pago  1343.) 


:li< 


';■  '  i. 


Hi- 


ii 


CHAPTER    CXLH. 


VANCOUVER'S  ISj 


THE  AHTS  AND  NEIGIIBOBING    aUlBES. 

.V  n^  THF   AHT  TRIUF.S  -  APPKARANCE  OF  THE  NATIVES  -  BTRENOTH   OF  GRASP  -  rECUT-IAR. 

PEFTXmON  0^™%*J_™„^  ^,„,  WOMEN-SPEEn  OF  THE    MEN -DANCE -THE  MP  OUNAMKKT 

"^M^/^MFV-C,0^".NI--T„B  ..OAT  CLOAK    AND  HAT-WEAPONS-THE    BOW    AND  ARHOW 

OF  THE   WOMEN -CLOlHl?,U  „nw-1TS   MACKINO    OF    ELASTIC    BTRINCS-THE    ARH0W9 

-'^"'^  :::::T::zz^r:^r.r:z:i.:  „aupoon  aruows-the  ha^rux 

h:;:K-V    morlD™    HUNT.NO-B.U.MON     SPEAR.Va     HV    TORCHUOHT -THE    HEHR.NO 
^?KE  -HOW  TO  KEEP  THE  BOAT  FROM  SINKINO-THE  WHAI-E  KISHERV. 


Befotie  leaving  this  part  of  tlio  world,  we 
Sfil  cast  a  brief  glance  at  the  tribes  which 
inhabit  Vancouver's  Island.  They  are  sni- 
Kularlv  intQresting,  inasmuch  as  they  com- 
Sne  some  of  the"  habits  which  distuigms 
the  Esquimaux  with  others  of  the  N..rtl> 
Anu.rioau  tribes,  and  add  to  them  several  of 
the  ou^touw  which  have  been  already  no- 
ticed among  the  Polynesians,  their  insular 
position  and  peculiar  climate  no  doubt 
ktVording  the  cause  for  this  curious  mixture. 


As  a  type  of  these  tribes,  we  will  take  the 
AiiTP,  though  other  trilies  will  be  casually 
mentioned. 'The  Ahts  may  rather  be  called 
a  nation  than  a  tribe,  being  divided  into 
some  twenty  tribes,  the  names  of  «;l;jfJ>J^'/ 
end  in  "alit,"  as,  for  ^^xample,  Olijah  , 
MuehUiht,  Avhuttisaht,  Toiiuaht,  etc.  Al- 
to.Tethcr  thcv  number  about  seventeen  hun- 
dred Tbev  do  not,  however,  act  together 
as  a  nation." and  each  trilie  is  perfectly  Uis- 
tiuct  and  often  at  war  with  auotlier. 

Ttiev  are  not  a  tall  people,  the  men  ayor- 
a^rin-  a  little  less  than  five  feet  six  inches, 
anil  "the  women  being  just  above  hve  tee  . 
Vo'^sibly,  from  the  continual  paddling  which 
thev  nraetisr.  almost  from  childliood,  the  up- 
ner  limbs  of  an  Aht  are  exceedingly  strong, 
so  strong,  indeed,  that  a  slight-looking  na- 
tive can  carrv  with  case  on  his  extendea 
fin-'ers  a  weight  which  a  white  man  can 
sca^rcelv  lift.  Their  power,  of  sra«P.  pro';; 
•iblv  fioni  the  sftKic  cause,  is  more  like  tlie 
grip  of  a  machine  than  the  gr.asp  of  a  man; 
and  those  who  have  had  to  light  with  them 


have  found  that  if  once  an  Aht  be  allowed 
to  seize  either  the  clothing  or  the  hair,  the 
only  way  to  loosen  bis  grasp  is  to  knock 
him  down  with  a  blow  in  the  throat  or  in 
tl,p  rih,,  — he  cares  nothing  for  a  blow  on 

tlie  bead.  ,     ,  ,        . 

W  lion  he  comes  to  such  close  quarters  m 
a  quarrel,  he  has  an  awkward  habit  of 
arasDing  the  enemy  with  one  hand,  and 
usin-  with  the  other  a  knife  which  he  has 
kept  concealed  in  his  long  hair,  lortu- 
natelv  for  his  white  opponent,  so  extraonh- 
narv  a  proceeding  as  a  blow  irom  the  fist, 
which  deprives  him  for  a  time  of  breath, 
bewilders  and  alarms  him  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  1     sildom  risks  its  repetition. 

The  le  ^  of  the  Aht  tribes  are,  as  a  rule, 
short,  ill-made,  bowed,  and  apparently  de- 
ficient in  power.  This  peeuhatity  is  espe- 
cially noticeable  in  the  women,  whose  legs 
arc  so  bowed,  and  whose  toes  are  so  turned 
inward,  that  they  waddle  rather  than  walk, 
and  at  everv  stdp  they  are  obliged  to  cross 
their  feet  as  a  parrot  floes.  The  legs  of  the 
inland  tribes  are.  as  a  rule,  better  developed 
than  those  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  coast. 
Yet  these  unsightly  limbs  arc  by  no  means 
.lertcient  in  power.  An  Aht,  powerfully 
built  above,  will  step  out  of  his  canoe,  and 
exhibit  a  pair  of  legs  scarcely  as  thick  as  his 
arms  and  vet  he  will  walk  in  the  woods  for 
a  whole  day  without  showing  any  signs  ot 

'^*\'fwi''ng  to  this  form  of  limb,  the  natives, 
though  enduring  enough,  are  not  sv.'^'-  "J 
foot,  and  can  be  easily  overtaken  by  a  white 


(laai) 


LIP  ORNAMENT. 


1365 


man  on  the  open  ground,  notwithstaniling 
the  impediments  of  clotliiug,  and  especially 
oi'  shoes,  which  hinder  the  proLTCss  of  the 
pursuer,  the  pursued  usually  throwing  off 
tlie  onlv  garment  that  ho  wears,  bhould 
he  once'  reach  the  woods,  pursuit  is  useless, 
as  no  white  man  can  follow  a  naked  native 

in  them.  ,  „  ,    ^      i. 

The  color  of  tho  Alits  is  a  dull,  but  not 
dark  brown.    Their  face  is  broad  and  flac, 
the  noae  tolerably  well  formed  when  it  is 
not  drasrged  out  of  shape  by  rings  and  other 
ornaments,  and  the  check-bones  are  strongly 
marked  and  broad,  but  not  high.    There  is 
very  little  hair  on  the  faces  of  tho  men,  but 
that  of  the  head  is  long,  straight,  and  is  gen- 
erally  allowed    to    hnng   loosely  over   tbe 
shoulders,  though  it  is  sometimes  gathered 
into  a  knot  at  the  back  of  the  head,  merely 
covered  by  a  cap  or  a  wreath  of  grass.  They 
are  very  proud  of  their  hair,  so  that  when 
an  Aht  lias  been  guilty   of  some   offenco 
whicli  is  not  very  serious,  the  best  punish- 
nient  is  to  cut  off  his  hair,  inasmuch  as  he 
will  be  an  object  of  constant  ridicule  until  it 
has  grown  again.    The  women  divide  their 
hair  in  the  middle,  and  tie  it  in  two  plaits, 
one  of  which  hangs  at  each  side  ot  the  lace, 
nnd  often  has  a  piece  of  lead  susTcnded  to 
the  end  to  keep  it  straight.      Mr.   bproat 
thinks  that  the  physical  characteristics  oi 
the  Ahts  have  been  modified  by  means  of  a 
lar<'C   importation   of  Chinese,  which  took 
place  about  the  end  of  the  last  century,  and 
remarks  that   the   peculiar  Chinese   eye  is 
Bomelimes  seen  among  these  natives.     htiU, 
even  if  this  be  the  fact,  the  modification  can 
be  but  slight,  as  both  people  arc  undoubl- 
cdlv  members  of  the  same  great  race,  though 
altered   by   the   conditions   in  wlucli   they 
have  respectively  been  placed. 

Some  of  the  women  have  a  hideously  ugly 
ornament  which  they  wear  in  their  under 
lin    iust  as  do  the  liotocudos  of  Tropical 
Anierica.    This  practice  exists  only  among 
the  northern  tribes,  where  it  is  carried  out 
t„  an  enormous  extent.    As  the  size  of  the 
ornnment  is  gradually  increased  from  chi  d- 
h.,.)d,  the  lip  of  an  old  woman  will  cvontun 
an  oval  ornament  three  inches  long  by  tw  o 
wide.    There  is  a  shallow  groove  round  the 
,.,lgc  so  as  to  keep  it  in  its  place,  and  both 
sides  are  slightly  concave.    Sometimes  it  is 
«l  as  a  sp7.on  the  woman  putting  on  it  a 
iece  of  meat  tliat  is  too  hot,  and,  when  it 
is  cool,  turning  it  into  her  mouth  by  a  con- 
traction  of  the  li"i.  ,  .     ,        .1 , 

The  value  that  is  set  upon  this  horrible 
disfigurement  is  almost  ludicrous,  a  woman  s 
rink  being  due  to  the  siw  of  her  lip  orna- 
ment Possibly,  on  account  of  the  long  time 
which  must  be  occupied  in  stre  chmg  the 
orifice  in  the  lip  to  the  required  size,  the 
oSon  of  a  woman  with  a  largo  lip  is  always 
h'e  dTn  respect ;  and,  if  she  /hould  be  op- 
posed bv  a  voungor  person  of  her  own  sex 
she  will  contemptuously  dccimc  w  cE.cr 
66 


into  argument  with  a  woman  who  has  so 
small  a  lip.  Some  of  them  wear  a  shell  or- 
nament, like  the  stem  of  a  clay  tobacco-pipe, 
one  or  two  inches  long,  stucli  through  the 
lip  and  projecting  forward  at  a  consideiablo 
angle  with  the  chin.  This  ornament  is 
called  the  hai-qua. 

As  for  clothing,  tho  men  wear  a  sort  of 
robe  made  by  themselves,  for  which  they 
have  in  later  days  substituted  an  European 
blanket.      They  arc  not  at  all  particular  as 
to  the  disposal  of  this  robe,  and  even  if  it 
should  fall  off  do   not  trouble  themselves. 
The  women  also  wear  the  blanket,  but  al- 
ways have  a  small  apron  in  addition  to  it. 
In  their  canoes  they  wear  a  cape.    It  is 
made  of  cedar-bark  string,  and  is  woven  in 
nearly  the  same  manner  as  tne  mat  of  the 
New   Zealander,  which   has   already  been 
described;  namely,  by  stretching  the  warp 
threads  parallel  to  each  other  on  a  trame, 
and  tying  them  together  at  intervals  with  a 
cross-thread  which  represents  the  woof.    A 
specimen  in  my  collection  has  the  cross- 
threads  at  intervals  of  h.ilf  an  inch. 

It  is  shaped  exactly  like  the  cross  section 
of  a  boat,  straight  above,  and  rounded  below. 
It  measures  Ave  feet  three  inches  in  width, 
and  three  feet  six  inches  in   depth  in   the 
centre.    As  is  usual  with   such   robes,  the 
upper  edge  is  adorned  with  a  strip  of  marten 
fur  a  quarter  of  an  inch  wide,  wound  spirally 
round  the  selvage  so  as  to  form  quite  a  thick 
rope  of  fur.    These  capes  are  the  work  of 
the  women,  who  have  the  nmnufacture  of  all 
the  clothing.    Fur  bags  are   made  by  the 
simple  process  of  skinning  the  marten,  the 
body  being  then  extricated  through  a  cut 
macle  across  the  abdomen  just  below  the  tail. 
As  the  skin  comes  off  it  is  reversed,  and  when 
dry  and  properly  dressed  it  is  turned  with  the 
fur  outward,  and  the  bag  is  complete,  the  tail 
serving  as  a  handle.    One  of  these  bags  in 
my  cofiection  was  presented  to  me  by  Lieut. 

Th6  woof  thread  is  also  made  of  the  white 
nine  bark,  and  the  needle  is  nothing  more 
than  a  sharpened  twig.  The  same  useful 
materials  arc  also  employed  for  the  curious 
hats  which  the  natives  wear  in  their  canoes. 
These  hats  are  made  on  the  principle  of  the 
sailors' "  sou'-westers,"  and  are  fashioned  so 
•IS  to  shoot  rain  off  the  shoulders.  The  outside 
Of  the  hat  is  made  of  cedar  bark,  and  the  in- 
.sido  of  white  pine  bark. 


Depending  largely  upon  animal  food  for 
their  nourishment,  the  Aht  tribes  are  expert 
hunters,  and  make  very  ingenious  weapons 
some  of  which  are  shown  in  the  illustrations 
on  pa<^c  13.57,  drawn  from  my  own  specimens. 

Vhe°bow  and  arrows  used  by  these  people 
are  worthy  of  a  briet;  descrijption.  The  bow 
is  an  admirable  specimen  of  savage  art,  and 
must  be  the  result  of  long  experience.  It  is 
Eert  three  inches  in  length  and  made  of 
T„  H--"  "f  wood.    In  general  shape  it  re- 


.'   1 


\h 


1356 


THE  AHT8  AND  NEIGHBORING  TRIBES. 


Even  the«o  have  not  sufficed  the  maker, 
who  has  added  six  more  layers  starting  liom 
the  widest  and  liattest  part  of  the  bow,  so  tliat 
nearly  three  feet  of  the  centre  of  the  weapon 
are  strengthened  by  no  less  than  twelve 
layers  of  sinew  strings.  By  referring  to  the 
illustration,  the  reader  will  perceive  the  «  x- 
trenic  ingenuity  with  which  the  strings  arc 
laid  on  the  bow,  so  that  whether  the  weapon 
be  bent  or  unstrung,  they  all  keen  tluir 
places.  So  flrnily  are  they  lashed  to  tne  bow, 
that  even  when  it  is  unstrung  they  are  all  as 
tight  as  harp  strings. 

The  string  of  the  bow  is  made  of  the  »ai>ie 
material  as  those  which  strengthen  the  back, 
and  in  consequence  of  the  very  great  strengtli 
of  the  material,  it  is  much  thinner  thau  tlie 
string  of  an  ordinary  archer's  bow.  It  is 
made  of  two  strands,  each  strand  being  about 
as  large  as  the  back  strings. 

By  referring  to  illustration  No.  3,  on  the 
next  page,  a  good  idea  can  be  gained  of  this 
singular.y  ingenious  weapon.  At  first  the 
bow  is  seen  as  it  appears  when  strung,  fig.  3 
giving  a  section  of  the  wood.  At  fig.  2  is  an 
enlarged  representation  of  one  end  of  the  bow, 
so  as  to  show  the  manner  in  which  the  vari- 
ous sets  of  strings  are  fastened.  At  the  up- 
per part  are  seen  the  strings  which  form 
the  first  layer,  passing  over  the  end  of  the 
bow,  and  filling  up  the  notch  in  which  they 
lie.  Just  below  tne  tip  come  the  second  and 
third  sets,  which  pass  down  the  bow,  where 
they  are  met  by,  and  interwoven  with,  the 
remainder  of  the  strings,  the  whole  of  thcni 
being  gathered  in  the  rope  with  its  spiral 
building.  This  beautiful  weapon  was  added 
to  my  collection  by  Lieut.  Puscy,  II.  N. 

The  arrows  are  of  various  kinds,  according 
to  the  object  for  which  they  are  intended. 
That  which  is  used  for  ordinary  occasions  is 


sembles  the  bow  of  the  Andamans,  though 
it  is  not  of  such  gigantic  dimensions.  In  the 
middle  the  wood  is.  rounded,  so  as  to  form  a 
handle  which  is  nearly  four  inches  in  cir- 
cumference. From  the  handle  to  the  tips, 
the  wood  is  gradually  flattened  and  widened 
for  about  fourteen  inches,  where  it  is  Just 
two  inches  wide.  From  this  point  it  grad- 
ually lessens  acrain  to  the  tip,  which  is 
rounded  and  thickened,  so  as  to  receive  the 
notch  for  the  string.  . 

Wore  no  addition  made  to  the  bow  it  would 
still  bo  a  very  powerful  weapon,  but  the 
maker  has  not  been  satisfied  with  the  simple 
wood,  and  has  strengthened  it  with  a  wondcr- 
fiiUy  complex  arrangement  of  strings  made 
of  twistecl  sinews.  In  my  specimen  there 
are  rather  more  than  fifty  of  these  strings, 
which  are  laid  on  the  bow  and  interwoven 
with  each  other  in  a  manner  so  strong  and 
neat,  that  the  most  skilful  sailor  mignt  be 
envious  of  such  a  piece  of  handiwork.  Each 
of  these  strings  is  double,  the  two  strands 
being  about  as  large  as  thin  whipcord,  and 
when  seen  against  the  light  they  are  quite 
translucent. 

They  are  put  on  in  the  following  manner. 
Two  deep  notches,  parallel  to  the  line  of  the 
bow,  are  made  at  each  tip,  these  notches 
serving  two  pui*poses :  first,  the  reception  of 
the  bow-strings,  and  next  the  support  of  the 
strengthening  strings.  Eight  of  the  strings, 
measuring  about  eleven  feet  in  length,  have 
been  doubled,  the  loop  passed  over  the  tip  of 
tlie  bow,  and  the  strings  led  along  the  back 
over  the  corresponding  notch  at  the  other 
tip,  and  brought  back  to  the  middle.  These 
strings  lie  parallel  to  each  other,  and  form 
a  flat  belt  from  one  end  of  the  bow  to  the 
other.    About  an  inch  below  the  tip,  three 

other  sets  of  strings  are  fastened  in  a  some-    »      -     p   .      i 

what  similar  manner,  so  that  four  distinct  shown  in  the  uppermost  figure  of  the  illus- 
layers  of  strings  run  throughout  the  length  tration.  It  is  two  feet  three  inches  in  length, 
of  the  weapon.  I  and  is  headed  with  bono. 


ARROWS. 


There  is  a  peculiarity  about  these  arrows 
which  is  worthy  of  notice.  Some  time  ago 
an  arrow  was  patented  in  England,  which 
had  the  feathers  placed  spirally  upon  the  end 
of  the  shaft,  so  as  to  give  it  a  rapidly  revolv- 
ing movement  when  discharged  from  tlio 
bow.  The  principle  v.os  exactly  tJiat  of  the 
•crew  which  is  applied  to  steam  vessels;  and 
those  who  used  the  arrow  acknowledged  that 
thn  <*piral  setting  of  the  fenthers  not  only 
increased  the  power  of  flight,  but  enabled 
the  archer  to  drive  his  arrow  through  the 


wind  with  greater  ease  and  certainty  than 
could  be  obtained  with  the  ordinarily  feath- 
ered arrow.  There  is  a  very  old  saying  that 
there  is  nothing  new  under  the  sun,  and  this 
is  the  case  with  the  arrow  in  question,  the 
savages  of  Northern  America  having  adopted 
the  same  principle  long  ago.  In  their  arrows 
the  feathers  are  set  spir.ally,  with  a  bold  curve, 
and  there  is  really  no  difterence  between  tlie 
weanon  of  the  savage  and  the  toy  of  civiliza- 
tioni  than  the  greater  neatness  and  lualicr 
finish  of  the  latter. 


(3.)  BOW  OK  THE   AUTS. 

(8ttv  pane  l.m.) 


(5.)    IlKADDUKSS. 
(Spc  pii|{e  13fl5.) 


(6.)  PADDLES. 
(See  page  1S9S.) 


(1867) 


The  low« 

whicli  Ih  tiM 

on  tliu  poin 

nuich  longoi 

(livi>rgin){(;(i 

bfin^  barbe 

llrinly  liitthu( 

geiicc!  Ib  givi 

uro  driven  1 

portions  of  ( 

this  iii<;i!iii( 

csciiijo,  the 

Icntly  and  h 

It  is  wortl 

niiidu  L'xacll 

by  the  Miila 

seven  feet  U 

ject  two  di' 

of  oacb  poir 

sharp  barbs, 

arc  often  us 

criniinid  try 

only  to  tlirii 

the  man's  n 

oner,  the  l>i 

in;?  him  iVoi 

cer  drop  bin 

will  remein 

and  of  man 

are  set  on  e 

In    some 

loosely  on  t 

by  nii'ans  ( 

rally  round 

the  head   i 

serves  both 

fish,  and  ai 

may  be  indi 

I'ho  mos 

used  for  wh 

and  is  very 

ures  about 

deserving  o 

arrow. 

The  shafl 
is  about  as 
butt-en<l  it 
and  at  the  c 
shaped  pioc 
the  tliiekesl 
is  bored  a  8 
the  head, 
is  very  sma 
and  is  furni 
As  is  the  c 
the  head  is 
line,  l)ut  in 
about  »he  li 
Instead   i 
strins;.  it  is 
ranged  in 
twisted  tog 
which  posf 
bined  with 

the  methoi 
double  one, 


INGENIOUS  PlSn  ARROW. 


13S9 


The  lower  flRuro  rcpresentB  the  nrrow 
whicli  U  iihiHl  tor  killiii}^  lisli.  in  tliis  weitp- 
011  tlio  point  in  iil«o  of  Ijoiio,  but  in  very 
much  longer,  iinil  is  double,  tlie  two  hulves 
(liverginKcoiiMidernbly  IVoni  eaih  other,  and 
being  barbed  on  tite  inner  Rurfaco.  It  itt 
llrinly  limbed  to  tlie  Hliat't,  and  tlieir  diver- 
gence; is  given  l>y  nieiins  of  tNVo  peg«.  wliieli 
uro  driven  betWv'en  tlie  whaft  and  tlie  two 
portionB  of  tlu;  point.  If  a  UhIi  be  struck  by 
this  ingeniouH  weapon,  it  cannot  possibly 
escape,  tlie  eluHlie  points  contracting  vio- 
lently and  holding  tlie  llsli  between  them. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  a  jiolice  spear 
made  exactly  on  the  same  jirinciple  is  used 
by  the  Malays.  It  consists  of  a  handle  some 
seven  feet  long,  from  the  end  of  which  pro- 
ject two  diverging  |)oints.  The  inner  side 
of  eiKtli  point  is  armed  with  a  row  of  Verj' 
sharp  barbs,  all  directed  backward.  Thorns 
arc  often  used  for  this  purpose.  Should  a 
criminal  try  to  escape,  the  police  offlcer  has 
only  to  thrust  his  s|)ear  against  the  back  of 
the  man's  neck,  when  he  is  at  onco  a  pris- 
oner, the  barbed  points  cirectually  prevent- 
ing him  from  escaping,  even  should  the  ofll- 
cer  drop  his  weapon.  The  zoological  reader 
will  remember  tiiat  the  teeth  of  the  snake 
and  of  many  lisli  —  the  pike,  for  example  — 
are  set  on  exactly  th(!  same  jirinciple. 

In  some  spec^imens  the  head  is  llttcd 
loosely  on  the  shaft,  and  connected  with  it 
liy  nu'ans  of  a  siring,  which  is  wound  spi- 
nally  round  it,  and  when  the  lish  is  struck 
the  head  is  shaken  off  the  shall,  which 
serves  both  as  a  drag  to  aid  in  tiring  the 
fish,  and  as  a  lloat  by  which  its  presence 
may  be  indicated. 

'the  most  ingenious  of  these  arrows  is 
used  for  shooting  seals  and  the  larger  Ush, 
and  is  very  elaborately  constructed.  It  meas- 
ures about  four  feet  in  length,  and  is  almost 
deserving  of  the  name  of  harpoon  rather  than 
arrow. 

The  shaft  is  made  of  very  light  wood,  and 
is  about  as  thick  as  a  man's  linger.  At  the 
butt-en<l  it  is  feaMiered  in  th(^  usual  manner, 
and  at  tlu;  other  it  is  terminated  by  a  pear- 
shaped  piece  of  bone  an  inch  in  diameter  at 
the  tiiickest  part.  Into  the  end  of  tliis  bone 
is  bored  a  small  conical  hole,  which  receives 
the  head.  This  is  also  made  of  bone,  and 
is  very  small  in  comparison  with  the  arrow, 
and  is  furnished  with  two  deeply  cut  barbs. 
As  is  the  case  with  all  harpoon  weapons, 
the  head  is  connected  witJi  the  shaft  by  a 
line,  l)ut  in  this  case  there  is  a  peculiarity 
about  »he  line  and  its  mode  of  attachment. 
Instead  of  being  a  mere  double-strand 
string,  it  is  made  of  a  number  pf  fibres  ar- 
ranged in  tiiree  s'.raiids,  and  plaited,  not 
twisted  together,  so  as  to  form  a  tlat  lino, 
which  possesses  enormous  strength  com- 
bined with  great  elasticity  and  small  size. 
The  mode  of  :!ttachmeat  is  as  ingrenions  a» 
the  methoil  of  manufacture.  The  line  is  a 
double  one,  measviring  twelve  feet  in  length. 


The  lino  is  first  doubled,  the  loop  is  put 
through  a  hole  in  the  jioint  and  over  the 
head,  so  as  to  secure  it,  and  the  two  halves 
of  tlu!  lino  are  then  lashed  together  about 
eighteen  inches  tVoni  the  point.  One  cud  is 
then  fastened  to  the  arrow  Just  below  the 
feathers,  and  the  other  to  the  shaft  Just 
above  the  bone  tip.  The  object  of  this  ar- 
rangement is  evident.  As  soon  as  a  seal  is 
struck,  it  dashes  oil',  shaking  the  shaft  from 
the  barbed  head,  which  remains  in  its  body. 
Wore  the  lino  simply  tied  to  the  end  of  the 
shaft,  the  wounded  creature  would  easily  drag 
it  through  the  water.  Hut,  as  the  line  is  fas- 
tened to  each  end  of  the  shaft  and  to  tho 
head  besides,  when  the  latter  transfixes 
a  seal  it  is  scjiarated  from  the  shaft,  and 
the  shaft  is  drawn  crosswise  through  tho 
water,  presenting  so  great  a  resistance  that 
the  seal  becomes  exhausted  with  ite  una- 
vailing struggles,  and  comes  to  the  surface, 
where  it  is  despatched  with  a  second  or  third 
weapon. 

U(!sides  the  harpoon  and  fish  arrow,  these 
people  also  use  the  hook  (see  page  1357), 
which  is  quite  as  ingenious  in  its  wajr  aa 
the  implements  which  have  been  described. 
The  body  of  the  hook  is  of  wood,  and  is  ex- 
actly in  the  shape  of  the  capital  It'tter  U. 
The  point  bends  slightly  outward,  and  is 
charred  at  the  tip  to  render  it  harder.  Tt  is 
also  defended  and  strengthened  by  a  band 
of  very  tough  vegetable  fibre,  whicli  covers 
it  for  about  three  inches.  The  barb  is  a 
l)iece  of  bone,  about  five  inches  in  length, 
sharpened  like  a  needle  at  tho  point.  Ihis 
barb  is  not  attached  to  the  point,  as  is  the 
case  with  the  generality  of  hooks,  but  is 
fastoi.»;1  to  the  shank,  and  is  so  long  that 
its  tij)  reaches  to  the  middle  of  the  hook. 

At  firs;  sight  this  seems  a  very  inadequate 
arrang'.  inent  for  securing  fish,  and  looks  as 
if  the  creature  could  easily  slip  ofl"  the  un- 
guarded point.  If,  1  "iwever,  the  hook,  whick 
is  a  very  large  one,  i  tested,  it  will  be  found 
astonishingly  efticacii  ms.  If  the  point  be  in- 
serted between  tl.f  lingers,  as  it  would  be 
inserted  into  the  jaws  of  a  fish,  and  then 
brought  upward,  it  will  be  found  that  the 
sharp  barb  ellectually  prevents  the  hook 
from  being  withdrawn. 

There  is  one  effect  of  this  mode  of  fixing 
the  barb  which  may  or  may  not  have  beeu 
intended.  Should,  by  any  accident,  the  line 
become  entangled  with  the  hook,  aid  re- 
verse it,  the  fish  is  quite  as  secure,  the  long, 
straight  barb  forming  a  second  hook,  to  whicK 
it  is  transferred.  The  body  of  this  book  is 
made  of  the  Douglas  pine,  and  it  is  brought 
into  shape  by  steaming.  The  hook  is  chiefly 
used  for  catching  the  halibut,  as,  for  some 
reason,  the  Ahts  will  not  use  a  steel  hook  in 
the  capture  of  this  fish. 

There  is  plenty  of  game,  both  large  and 
small,  in  these  regions,  though  the  cnnse  is 
in  all  cases  a  severe  one,  and  tests  not  only 
the  skill  but  the  endurance  of  the  hunter. 


THE  AIIT8  AND  NK.GHmmiNG  TU.BES 


1860 

There  In,  for  oxamplc,  tho  black  »'<^n';-  jji;;!; 
in  a  lUoHt  vul.ial.Ui  ummal,  Uh  fur  l""'«  '«    ' 

f„r  clothing,  nn.l  il^'''••^''"T,  'i'n  .'h  ..f      ' 
hunting  in  not,  curri.'d  on  at  «''''",,      ,, 

year,  but  is  K-".'-''y,':' ^^        r*^    '^'''' 
end  of  aiitmnn.  whrn  the  b<    "  "r" 
about  toeuler  their  wu.U:r.mr«.Nm 

tinu.«  the  AhtH  wall  .  7,  „  :\;"i,,   ts  wi..- 

i"t''-'tiren;entan    .-nm-u,^in^^^^^^^^^^, 

tcrhome.    /  "M'«  ""^  ';,fi„,    Thev  arc  very 
they  do  not  ''I'"^  .,      j^J  J  of  a  tn-e  trunk 

Er'Kt.rb;:i^^raU^bin« 

%;|:ni:ra;:fo;::.<:rto  deer,  the  lar. 
gci    of  whi^-h  i«  the  wapiti    co.nmon  y   .u 
crroneouHlv    called    the   elk.     Ihe   luutei 
Kcnenv  S  t^ikes  it  by  following  iU  traek,  and 

TuMn/\t  a«  it  »-'t^:'r"J '" 'f  he  Tk 
bow  drives  an  arrow  to  it.  heart.     1  , «  «^' 
of  the  hunter  is  shown  as  inueh  -v  t«  the 
dP,.r    is  dead   as  during  the  aetual  chase. 
O-M.tain  M  V.ie  mention^  that  he  has  seen  a 

has  een  skinned,  the  wlu.le  ot  the  t  esh  re- 
moved IVo.n  tho  bones,  P.nd  tho  skin  eon- 
^crle  .to  n.oecasins.  The_  natives  have 
rather  a  strange  wav  of  carrying  ho  meat. 
At  theh-  -irst  halt  after  killing  a  deer,  they 
cut  the  meat  into  pie.-es  two  or  three  mehes 
Bnuarc  transftx  them  with  a  lou"  stick,  and 
Xy  the  stick  upon  their  shoulder,  ex-ery 
now  and  then  pulling  oiV  a  meee  ^^^l^'f^ 
it  as  they  go  along.  In  tlus  niannei  i\u- 
flesh  of  a  .leer  vanishes  in  a  w.mderlullv 
short  t  n  e.  V-ry  little  meat  is  preserve.l, 
Se  Ihis  gene:.aiyoatingitas  soon  as  tho 

""i^st'theS:  there  are  so  many  that  only 
one  oi  two  can  be  n.entionod     The  sahnon 
"s  the  fish  that  s,.oms  to  be  the  most  vahied 
bv  these  lish-caling  tribes,  and  it  is  (.aught, 
S^  with  us,  in  a  variety  of  ways.    Sometnnes 
the  natives  use  a  rather  curious  tish  spear, 
abouUifteen  feet  b.ng  in  the  sl.a tt,  and  ^v,th 
a  double  head,  made  ot  wapiti  bone.     He 
head  is  only  slightly  fixed  in  the  shaft,  to 
which  it  is  attaclied  bv  a  line,  as  in  the  harpoon 
Trow  already  described.    Should  the  l.sh  be 
a  very  heavy  one,  the  hunter  merely  ties  to 
the  line  a  number  of  inflated  blad(fers,  and 
iiuses  it  to  tire  itself  by  useless  struggles 
before  he  risks  the  fracture  of  the  line  or  loss 
of  the  barbed  head,  one  or  both  of  which 
events  would  probably  happen  if  he  were  to 
try  to  secure  a  fresh  and  powertul  hsh. 

^Sometimes,   when  the  t\sh  are  plentiful, 
they  arc  caugia  vy  aiOj-i-i",^  -  .■ 

rtick  armed  with  barbed  PO'"t»- f  "'Vfish  oS 
it  upward  sharply,  until  ic  impales  a  fash  on 
one  or  other  of  these  points. 


"Buriilnff  tho  water"  Is  employed  In 
Pitching  salmon,  uiul  i|<  carru-d  on  l.y  two 
nniiv.-s.one  of  who...  i.ad.  Us  tho  canoe,  while 

0  other  stands  in  the  bow    where  a  torch 
"kept  burning,  and  strikes   ho  llsb  as  they 

glide  through  I  he  water.      M  r.  Si.roal  men- 

fioi.s  that  a  single  canoe  has  '"'7'  k.'ow,. 

t.)  bring  back  forty  line  salinoi.  as  th(.  les  lit 

•  a  .lav's    tlshing.      Haln.on  traps  are  also 

!n?.l  Ved.     These  are  made  ,,11.  r  a  la.h.on 

:  Zly  .•cseniblingthat  ..f  the_  .e  -Irnps  us.d 

..   il.is  country.    They  are  doubh'  liaskets, 

xte    .«  I      V  in.lri.al,aiid  are  s.-t  with  their 

uu  1  1  s     ,  .    eled  .lown  Ihe  stream.     When 

.1...  tub  irv  to  pass  up  the  Hlrcam  thev  enter 

la^^^^^^^^^  tfH-,  inner  ba.k.t  is  very 

1  ui  shorter  than  the  „th.;r,  shai.e.l.like  . 
Hucr,r-loaf,the  Balni,..i  IliKlsHsrlf  ...ipnsoued 
Keen  them.   Son..'  of  llies..  basket,  meas- 

re  as  much  as  twenty  IV.t  in  1.  ..gib,  and 
live  feet  in  diameter,  so  that  they  ^v.ll  con- 
tain  a  consideralde  nmnlier  ot  tisli- 

One  of  the  o.ldest  tlshing  .nstnmients  is 
that  l.y  which  the  h.rring  is  ..11.-1.1.     This 
.  u  l,(.lo  about  ten  fe.'t  in  Lngtb,  llattene. 
at  one  end   like  the   blade  ..I    an  ..ar,  and 
arm.^d  along  the  edge  with  i.roj.  elmg  spikes 
W   on  the  tlsherman  f,'ets  among  a  shoal  of 
herrings,  he  plunges  iHs  polr  ...to  the  mass 
f  lish?.  raws  it  through  thu..  with  a  pe.;  .1- 
ivr  movement  of  th.!  arms,  so  as  to  tiaiisli.K 
thodVngs  on  the  spik.-s,  and  then  sl.ak..s 
e.     1   toT.isboal.    nylhismo.eofl,sl.ing, 
whieli  is  called"  herrii.g-.-ak.ng. '  grea   num- 
bers of  flsh  are  taken,  as  vyell  as  bv   1..=  net, 
whieh  Is  ingeniously  made  Iron.   Iilire  ob- 
taK  IVomlv  native  nettle,  which  reaches 
oii'ht  or  ten  feet  in  height. 
^  The  Ahts  are  su.'h    keen  nshermen    ha 
they  will  orten  en.lang.'r  th(>  safety  ..1  their 
.■a  10.^  by  the  quantity  of  f  sh   with  wh.rli 
I'ey  wiin'eap  tlu-m,  s-,  that  tb.'  f^-^^^^^ 
sunk   within  an   inch  ..r   .so  ot  tl.e\\ater8 
e  l"e.     In   .'aim  w.'alb.f  th.^y  ca.i  manage 
woU  en.m.'h,  ev, u  with  su.li   a  b.ir.lcn  as 
hi      but  Tf  the  wind  should  g.t  up  h.Toro 
they  can  reach  tli.'  shore,  lh.>  .anger  is  very 
.rr.'at.     Sh.>nld  sn.'l.  an  ev.nt  l.ai>p.i..  these 
onterTrising  lish..rn,..n  will  not  |  «';-  il^'-^j 
••argo  overboard  to  save  the  boat,  bt  w.ll 
flisten  all  the  the  spare  lloats  round  the  cv 
not  so  as  to  keep'it  from  sinking  even  it 

^^SrHSSc^b^-y  end  to  the  us.,  whieli 
is   made   by  the  Ahts  ..f  these  tloi.ts.  and 
with  their  fud  they  -HI  j'ttack  ^ui.l  cra^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
even  tho  g  santic  whale.     The   1'""^^'  V; 
aceount  of^f,eir  mode^..f  -  hale  t.sh.ng 
written  bv  Mr.  G.  M.  Sp.oat:-     l'''%f 
chase   is 'an  affair  of  some  '"""Jf"  •  J'^^ 
kind  of  whale  commonly  seen  on  the  eo.isi 
w,?9  described  by  an  ohl  -I'l^li""'  •''';.;i'l'^^{^ 
'  nnner,'  in  which  there  is  not  much  oil.    The 
sSn  for  fishing  whales  coinm..nees  abou 
the  end  of  May  or  m  .nme.   ^^'^'''IJ.,^''?" 
are  killed  every  season  by  ♦'>«  ^  .  "^[.J' 
who  live  principally  on  the  seaboard  near 


WHALE  F181IINO. 


1301 


narclny  or  Nltlniilit'H  Sound.  Thin  trlbt! 
Ii;w  a  I'UMtuin,  whii  !i  I  l>iivii  not  olmc'rvod 
tUfwlicn-,  of  Mc|iiiialinK  iluring  Hprinx  nnd 
Hunmicr  iiil<»  hiiiiiH  imrlii'H,  ciich  under  u 
M'luimli^  liciid,  l)Ul  all  Mlill  continuiu),'  uu<li'r 
tlu>  i-hii;ltiiin<7  of  Uiu  priucliHil  chiuf  oltlie 

"Months  hi'foiclmnd  prt'imriinons  are 
uiiidc^  for  I  III-  wludu  tlHJiinj?,  wlufh  Im  consiil- 
chmI  ahnosl  ;i  Macn'd  hciw)n.  J  particuliirly 
uotic<'<l  tills  fiiciiiUHliiniH'  IVoni  luiviuK,  in 
niv  lio.yhooil,  hcivid  of  tin'  Manx  cusloin,  in 
wliirh'iill  llic  (Tc^WH  of  tlu!  hcrrinj;  ll(!i)t  in- 
voke a  lilcMshij,'  before  'uliootinn'  their  luir- 
riuK-iiets.  'I'lie  honor  of  uhIuk  Hie  harpoon  in 
nn  Aht  trilie  in  enjoyed  hut  hy  few,— ahout 
a  dozen  III  the  tiihe,  —  wholiilierlt  Ihisprlyi- 
\v^i\,  lustaiieeH,  however,  are  known  of  tho 
pnvile^'e  hav  iiiK  hicii  aeipilred  by  merit. 

"  Elu'lit  or  nine  men,  Heleeled  by  the  har- 


pooner,  lorin  the  erew  of  hlx  eanoo.      tor 

Bcveral   niooim   before    the    lislilns   hesinn, 

these  men  are   cnnipelleil   to  aliHtain   troin 

their  usual  food.    'k^V  livo  away  from  their 

wives,  wash  (heir  liodles  morning,  noon,  and 

niclit'and  rub  their  Hkinn  with  twI^H  or  a 

roiu'h  stone.     If  a  ennoe  Is  damaKod  or  eaii- 

fti/.ed  by  a  whale,  or  any  aeeidenl  happens 

diiriu"'lbe  llshlii^'  season,  it  i«  assumed  that 

some'of  the  erew  have  failed  in   their  pre- 

imratorv  ollices,  and  a  very  strict  imiuiry  is 

instituted   by    the  ehief  men  of  the   tribe. 

AVitnesses  arc  examined. and  .'III  Inveslijjiation 

made  into  the  (lomeslicallUirs  of  the  aeeused 

persons.    Should   any   ineuliiatory   circuin- 

Btnnc!   ai.|H-ar.  the   delimiuent^  is  severely 

dealt   with,   and    Is   often   deprived    .)f  his 

rank  ami  idaeed  under  a  ban  for  months. 

"  Wlu  n  the  whales  approach  the  coast, 
the  Hsbeiiiuii  are  out  all  day,  let  the  wind 
blow  hi','h  or  not.  The  canoes  have  dil- 
forent  (•rnlsin^'  j^nainds,  some  lUtle  dis- 
tance apart.  'I'he  Indian  ^vhabn  '  -ear  con- 
sists of  harpoons,  lines,  intlated  seal-skins, 
and  wooden  or  bone  spears.  The  harpoon 
is  often  made  of  a  piece,  of  the  iron  hoop  ot 
an  ale  cask,  cut  with  a  chisel  into  he  shape 
of  a  harpoon  blade,  two  barbs  lashioned 
from  th.^  tips  of  deer-horns  beini;  allixed  to 
this  blade  with  -urn.  Close  to  the  harpoon 
the  line,  is  of  .i-er  sinews.  To  thia  the  mam 
line  is  atlaehed,  which  is  K«'"''i-ijlly  made  of 
cedar  twin's  laid  t..i,'ether  as  thick  as  a  three- 
inch  rope.  I  ,arf;o  inllated  skins  are  fastene.l 
to    this    Hue    about  twelve   feet  from  tho 


harpoon.     Tlie  weapon  llstlf  I«  then  tlod 
sliulitly  to  a  yew  handle  ten  feet  lon^. 

''On  K'''l'"K  cloHc,  tho  hlu■^looller,  from 
the  bow  of  his  canoe,  throws  Ins  hariioon  at 
ll\e  whale  with  full  force.     As  soon  hm  the 
barb   enters,  the    fasteliinn   of   the    wooden 
handle,   being   but   hHkIiI,   breaks,  and   be- 
comcH  (htached  from  tlie  line.     The  natives 
raise  a  yell,  ami  the  whale  dives  (pilckly,  hut 
the  seal-skins  Impede  hi«  movements.    Very 
loiiK  lengths  of  line  are  kept  In  the  canoes, 
and  somelimeH  the  lines  from  several  canoes 
are  Joined.     On   the  re-appearame  of  tho 
whale  ou  tho  snrliwe.  he  is  attacked  from 
I  the  nearest  cuiioe;  and  tluis,  llnally,  I'orty  or 
1  titly  larRe  buoys  are  atlaehe<l  to  his  body. 
'  He  strn^'gles  violently  for  a  time,  and  beats 
and  lashes  tho  water  in  all  directions,  until, 
weakened  by  loss  of  blood,  and  faligiied  hy 
his  exertions,  ho  ceases  to  strufrgle,  and  the. 
natives  despatch  him  with  tin  ir  short  sjiears. 
The  whale  IS  then  taken  in  tow  by  the  whole 
fleet  of  canoes,  the  crews  yelling  and  sing- 
inp;,  and  keeiiiug  time  with  their  paddles. 

"Hometimes,  after  beiuR  harpooned,  tho 
whale   escapes,  and   takes  ropes,  harpoons, 
seal-skins,  and  evorythiiiK  with  him.    bhould 
he  (lit!  from  his  wounds,  and  be  found  by 
another  trilie  at  sea,  or  ou  shore  within  the 
territorial  liniits  of  the  llndors,  the  instru- 
ments are  returned  to  the  losers,  with  a  larpc 
piece  of  the  llsh  as  a  present.     Many  dis- 
miles  arise  between  tribes  on  the  liiidmg  ot 
(lead  whales  near  the  undelined  boundaries 
of  the  tribal  territories.    If  the  fiuarrel   is 
serious,  all  intercourse  ceases,  trade  is  tor- 
bidden,  and  war  is  threatened.    By  i"."»  ^:(> 
when  the  loss  of  trade  is  felt,  negotiation  is 
tried.     An  envoy  is  selected  who  !s  ol  high 


rank  in  his  owii  tribe,  and,  if  potsilde,  con- 
nected with  the  other  tribe  hy  marriage. 
He  is  usually  a  quiet  man  of  fluent  speecli. 
Wearing  wllito  eagle  feathers  m  hii;  head- 
dress a.s  a  mark  of  peace,  he  departs  m  a 
small  canoe.  Only  one  female  attendant, 
.'eiierally  an  old  slr.vc.  acccmipames  him,  to 
assist  in  paddling,  as  the  natives  never  risk 
two  men  on  suc^i  occasions.  The  envoy  a 
r.aurn  is  anxiously  awaited.  As  a  ceneral 
rule,  the  first  proposition  is  rejected.  Ob- 
ieetions,  references,  counter  proposals,  fre- 
quently make  three  or  four  cm^jassies  neces- 
sary before  tho  question  can  he  settled.  IJy 
that  time  tho  blubber  must  be  very  ran- 
cid." 


CANOE  OF  TUE  Aum    (See  page  1302.) 


CHAPTER  CXLin. 


I  u 


VANCOUVER'S  ISLAND -Con6tnu«L 

THE  AHTS  AND  NEIGIIBOIIINQ  TRIBES  -  Continued. 

_  ......^ro  nrtiTowns matebiaij  and  shape  of  thb 

MANO,ACT.«K  OK  CANOES -COHBKCT  '^f  ]=  «'  ^^J^^^'^^^f^^T"  UKCoLrKU  -  "  CU^.NO  "  THB 
PADDLB-MODEOF  U8INO  IT -I-ATTEIO.  ^"^«  J^"'*^"  ,  __  „^  ^  KATIVE-FEASTS  AMONG 
WAVES-8K.M.  AND    B^•DVBA^CB  OF    ^"'^J^^^'^^;^;^^^  «.ONES  -  HOW  "  THE 

BOOr  DAIiCB. 


The  canoes  in  which  the  Aht  tribes  make 
their  expeditions  are  carved  out  of  solul 
wood.  The  tree  which  is  employed  for  this 
purpose  is  a  kind  of  cedar  (Thuja  gigantm), 
Which  flourishes  by  the  sea.  When  a  native 
wishes  to  make  a  canoe,  he  looks  out  for  a 
good  tree  as  near  as  possible  to  the  water, 
ana  with  the  assistance  of  a  comrade,  cuts 
it  down.  Now  that  he  has  European  tools, 
he  can  fell  a  tree  with  some  rapidity,  but  in 
the  olden  times,  when  his  sole  tool  was  a 
sort  of  chisel  made  of  wapiti  horn  it  was  a 
very  slow  process  indeed.  The  only  way  of 
usin<^  this  primitive  instrument  was  by  plac- 
ing tlie  ecK'e  of  the  chisel  against  the  tree, 
and  striking  the  butt  with  a  heavy  stone, 
shaped  8omethin<;  like  a  dumb-bell. 

The  tree  being  felled,  the  bark  is  stripped 
off,  and  the  trunk  split  len";thwisc  by  wed!j;es. 
The  next  process  is  to  hollow  out  the  inside, 
which  is  done  entirely  by  hand,  flre  not 
being  employed,  as  is  the  case  with  many 
sava^'c  tribes.  The  outside  is  then  dubbed 
down  to  the  proper  thickness  by  means  of 
an  adze  formed  of  a  large  mussel-shell  tlxod 
in  a  handle.  In  this  work  the  natives  use 
no  measuring  tools,  but  trust  entirely  to  the 
eye-  yet  their  work  is  so  true  that,  when  the 
boat  18  completed,  it  si'^i  lightly  on  the  water, 
and  is  well  balanced.  Any  of  my  readers 
who  have  made  even  a  toy  boat  will  appre- 
ciate the  difficulty  of  this  task. 

T_  -v-.-i  fu-»^*  ».,.-./>Vo  nr  go  the  CBnoa  is   -. — 

toueblvhewa'and  hollowed,  and  then  comes  i  are  red  and  blue. 
^    '  (1382) 


a  more  difficult  business,  namely,  the  bring- 
ing it  into  the  peculiar  shape  which  the 
Ahts  think  to  be  the  best.  Ihisisdouoby 
flllin"  the  canoe  with  wntcr,  and  throwing 
redhot  stones  into  it  till  the  water  boils. 
This  part  of  the  process  is  continued  tor  a 
considerable  time,  until  the  wood  is  quite 
soft,  and  then  a  number  of  crosspiectes  are 
driven  into  the  interior,  so  as  to  lorce  the 
canoe  into  its  proper  sh.apc,  which  it  retains 
ever  afterward. 

While  the  canoe  is  still  soft  and  compara- 
tively pliant,  several  sli.i,'bt  crosspicees  are 
inserted,  so  as  to  counternct  any  tendency 
toward  warping.  The  outside  of  the  vessel 
is  next  hardened  bv^'-e.so  as  to  enal>le  it  to 
resist  the  attacks  o'l  insoels,  and  also  to  pre- 
vent it  from  cracking  when  exposed  to  tlie 
sun.  Lastlv,  the  bi>w  and  stem  pieces  are 
fixed  to  theVanoe,and  the  interior  is  painted 
of  some  brilliimt  color,  usually  red.  llie 
outside  is  generallv  quite  black  and  high  y 
polished,  this  etlect  Deiug  produced  by  nil)- 
bing  it  plentifullv  with  oil  aftiT  the  tiro  has 
done  its  work.  "Lastly,  a  pattern  ol  some 
kind  is  generally  painted  on  the  bow  and 

^  The  fln-ure  on  page  1^01  will  give  the  reader 
a  good  idea  of  the  form  of  this  ranoe  It  is 
drawn  from  a  large  model  brought  from 
Vancouver's  Island  by  Lieut.  Puf-v,  aiul 
added  by  him  to  my  collection.  In  this 
gnecimen  the  patterns  at  the  bow  and  sU-m 
Asia  uio.stlyiao  c:u)C\Yun 


SKILL  or  THE  PADDLERS. 


1868 


canoes  made  by  savages,  there  is  no  keel  to 
the  boat. 

The  paddle  by  which  the  canoe  is  pro- 
pelled is  a  singularly  ingenious  one,  combin- 
ing the  three  qualities  of  lightness,  elastic- 
ity, and  strength  to  a  really  remarkable 
extent.  The  paddle  represented  in  fig.  1  of 
illustration  No.  G,  on  page  1357,  is  one  of  the 
specimens  in  my  collection.  It  is  four  feet 
six  inches  in  length,  and  the  blade  is  about 
six  inches  wide  at  the  broadest  part.  It  is 
shaped  with  the  greatest  accuracy,  the  part 
where  it  is  grasped  by  the  left  hand  being 
nearly  cylindrical,  and  then  widening  grad- 
ually until  it  forms  the  blade.  At  this  part 
it  is  very  thin  —  so  thin,  in  fact,  tliat  it 
seems  scarcely  al)le  to  bear  the  strain  that 
is  put  upon  it  when  the  paddler  urges  his 
canoe  swiftly  over  the  water. 

The  lightness  of  such  a  paddle  is  wonder- 
ful. The  specimen  which  is  figured  in  the 
illustration  only  weighs  eighteen  ounces, 
being  hardly  half  Ihe  weight  of  a  similarly 
sizecfNcw  IZJealand  paddle.  The  reader  will 
notice  the  peculiar  handle.  This  is  made  in 
order  to  suit  the  mode  of  paddling.  Wiien 
the  Aht  gels  into  his  canoe,  he  grasps  the 
paddle  with  his  left  liand  about  eighteen 
inches  from  the  end,  and  places  Ids  right 
hand  upon  the  crcsspiece  that  serves  as  a 
handle.  The  left  hand  thus  acts  as  a  ful- 
crum ;  upon  the  right  hand  works  the  lev- 
erage of  the  paddle.  Beside  this  paddle  is 
lii'iu-ed  another  from  the  Solomon  Islands, 
in  order  to  .show  how  two  totally  distinct 
races  of  mankind  have  hit  upon  tlie  same 
invention.  There  is  even  a  similarity  in 
the  form  of  their  canoes,  as  well  as  in  the 
shape  of  their  paddles. 

The  reader  wdl  observe  that  the  blade  ot 
the  iiaddic  is  covered  with  sf  pattern  wliieh 
extends  some  way  up  the  handle..  This  is 
the  work  of  the  women,  wlio  take  upon 
tl>emselves  the  decoration  of  the  paddles 
after  their  husbands  have  shaped  them. 
The  colors  employed  are  .(generally  black  and 
red  the  latter  hue  being  obtained  by  a  prep- 
aration of  annatto.  In  this  purtieuliir  spec- 
imen, red  is  the  chief  color,  the  large  oval 
mirks  on  the  side  of  the  blade  and  on  the 
liauille  being  red,  while  the  more  mtricate 
Piittern  on  the  l)lade  is  drawn  in  black. 

No  matter  wluvt  may  be  the  color  of  the 
pnd.lle,  the  pattern  is  .always  of  the  same 
chanocter.  I  have  no  doubt  in  my  mind 
that  it  is  really  a  conventional  mode  of  de- 
pii'tin"  the  human  face,  such  as  is  seen  upon 
the  work  of  manv  extinct  races  of  mankind  ; 
and  although  at  a  first  glance  the  semblance 
may  not  be  seen,  it  is  evident  to  a  practised 
observer,  and  is,  moreover,  quite  in  charac- 
ter with  other  works  of  art  found  of  these 


The  broad,  flat,  sharp-edged  blade  of  the 
naddlc  is  often  used  for  other  purposes  be- 
ii.li;«  nrom-llim?  the  canoe.  It  has  already 
been  mentioned  that  the  Ahts  will  uotllnow 


overboard  their  cargo  offish,  no  matter  how 
high  the  waves  may  roll,  or  how  deeply  the 
canoe  may  be  loaded.  They  watch  carefully 
for  the  waves,  and  if  one  of  them  comes  in 
such  a  manner  that  it  would  dash  inboard, 
they  have  the  art  of  cutting  it  in  two  with  a 
blow  from  the  edge  of  the  paddlCj  and  caus- 
ing it  to  fly  harmlessly  over  the  little  vessel. 
Both  in  making  canoes  and  in  other  work 
where   holes  have  to  be  bored,   the  Ahts 
make  use  of  a  simple  drill,  formed  from  the 
bone  of  a  bird,  fixed  in  a  wooden  handle. 
"When  it  is  used,  the  shaft  is  taken  between 
the  two  hands,  the  point  placed  on  the  ob- 
ject to  be  bored,  and  the  hands  moved  swift- 
ly backward  and  forward  until  the  hole  is 
made.    In  the  same  manner,  by  using  a 
stick  instead  of  a  drill,  fire  is  produced,  pre- 
cisely as  is  done  by  the  Kaffirs. 

The  skill  of  the  paddlers  is  wonderful.  Mr. 
Sproat  mentions  the  escape  of  an  Aht  In- 
dian who  had  committed  several  murders, 
and  had  contrived  to  escape  from  custody. 
Finding  the  place  where  he  had  concealed 
himself,  a  party  set  out  to  recapture  him, 
and  discovered  him  running  across  the  snow 
to  gain  the  shelter  of  a,  wood.  Had  he 
reached  it  he  would  have  been  safe,  so  one 
of  the  pursuers  chased  him,  and,  notwith- 
standing the  disadvantage  of  wearing  shoes, 
wiiich  soon  became  clogged  by  the  snow, 
succeeded  in  gaining  on  nim,  the  Ahts  be- 
ing, .as  has  already  been  remarked,  very  poor 
runners. 

The  man  soon  perceived  that  he  was  no 
match  for  his  pursuer  in  running,  and  so, 
abandoning  his  intention  of  reaching  the 
wood,  he  turned  sharply  otf  toward  the  river, 
dung  ofl'  his  blanket,  and  leaped  into  the 
stream.  Presently  he  was  seen  making  his 
way  toward  a  canoe  which  was  made  fast  to 
adrifl  tree  in  the  river,  and  in  a  short  time 
he  reached  it,  looked  e.agerly  into  it  to  see 
if  there  were  a  paddle,  scrambled  into  the 
boat,  cast  it  oil",  and  paddled  away.  Mean- 
while two  of  his  pursuers  had  got  into  a 
canoe,  and  were  paddling  after  him,  so  that 
when  he  cast  the  boat  loose  tliey  were  not 
more  than  twenty  yards  from  him.  It  was, 
however,  quite  enousjli  for  the  fujjitive,  who 
forced  his  canoe  up  the  stream  with  a  power 
ai.  1  rapidity  whi(;h  soon  increased  the  dis- 
tance between  the  two  boats,  and,  in  spite 
of  all  the  ellbrts  of  his  pursuers,  lie  made 
liis  way  to  the  bank  nearly  fifty  yards  aliead 
of  them.  A  s  soon  as  he  reached  the  sliore, 
he  jumped  ontof  the  caiioe,and  dashed  into 
the  wood,  where  it  was  useless  to  follow 

him.  ,        ^        ,      nr 

Several  times  during  the  struggle  Mr. 
Sproat  had  the  man  covered  with  ins  revol- 
ver, but  the  skill,  gnvce,  and  strength  of  the 
fugitive  were  so  admirable,  that,  much  to  the 
discontent  of  his  companions,  he  would  not 
fire.  He  remarks  that  in  such  a  chase  as 
tliis  a  white  man  has  no  chance  with  an  Aht, 
but  that  in  a  long  race  on  the  sea  the  wliite 


1364 


THE  AHT8  AND  NEIGHBORING  TRIBES. 


I 


man  will  win,  his  powers  of  endurance  ex- 
ceeding those  of  the  savage.  ^  „ 
The  possession  of  a  canoe  is  an  <>".  ^ci  oi 
much  ambition  among  the  Ahts  as  it  con- 
fers nnon  them  a  sort  »* ,'>'«l'"^^'"'^' '^'"f  a 
looke.  upon  much  as  is  the  !>"«««««""  J  /^ 
carriage  among  ourselves,  ^ach  canoe  is 
furnished  with^a  Imling  instrume  t,  >vhich 
is  always  made  of  wood..  It  f '  '"  :^'=^'„,'^ 
large  spoon,  the  bowl  being  f ng"'f,'  ^"'' 
shaped  something  like  the  gable  of  a  house. 

THE  domestic  manners  of  11^°  AW«  fire 
ft-om  Mr.  Sproat's  account,  very  '"^  ■icst.ng, 

and,  as  he 'remarks,  if  '^«y  ,?"«  „7Ymd  the 
their  strange   language  well,  and  \md  the 

stomach  and  the  nose  to  live  --v"  "  S  ^'^^ 
durin-'  the  winter  montiis,  ho  would  ojtain 
copious  information  respecting  ^'jo"?; 

Winter  is  the  time  mentioned,  because 
duriii"  the  summer  the  men  are  genera  y 
disi  ei^sed  in  their  pursuit  of  game,  e«PC«^"y 
of  sahnon,  which  thoy  dry  an<l  preserve  for 
winter  use.  But  about  N^ovember  they  le- 
turn  to  their  homes,  and  a  time  ot  gonera 
feasting  and  enjoyment  sets  in.  Cooking 
go(;s  on  all  day,  and  the  revellers  arc  perpet- 
nally  feasting,  while  durmg  times  of  woik 


tloned  each  other  as  to  their  h  ale,  whether 
any  were  dead,  and  what  each  had  ielt. 

"The  whites  then  made  signs  tor  a  firo 
to  be   lighted.     The  Indians  proceeded  at 
once  according  to  their  tedious  practice  ot 
rubbin-  two  sticks  together.   The  strangers 
Iftu.'hed,  and  one  of  them,  snatching  up  u 
handful  of  dry  grass,  struck  a  spark  into  a 
little   powder  placed  under  it.      Ins  ton  y 
another  'poo'   and  a  blaze!     The  Indians 
died!     After  this,  the  new-comers  wanted 
some  fish  boiled.   The  Indians  therelore  put 
the  tlsh  and  some  water  into  one  of  their 
smare  wooden  l)uckets,  and  set  some  ston.^s 
i    the  fire,  intending,  when  they  were  hot 
to  cast  them  into  the  vessel,  ai.d  thus  bod 
fh     food       The  whites  were  not  satisfied 
i^Ui  t'as  way.     One  of  them  fetched  a  Im 
kettle  out  of  the  boat,  put  the  iish  and  some 
water  into  it,  and  then,  strange  to  say,  set  it 
m    the    fire     The  Indians   looked  on  with 
a  iv^shment.     Howe^'er,  the  ketlle  did  not 
consume,  the  water  did  notruiiir^o  the  fire. 
Then  a^ain  the  Indians  died  I 

Sometimes  a  man  of  consequence  issues 

invitations  for  a  solemn  feast,  and  on  such 

an  occasion   he   seizes   the  opportunity  ot 

showing  his  wealth  by  the  liberal  distribuliou 

individual  present  reieiv- 

•ty.     (Jonseinieiilly, 

■enc  of  destruction. 


nally  feasting,  wiiue  <  un  ig  '''"^•^,  '.':{•■  "f  presents  every  individa 

they  only  eat  twice  in  the  day.  "am  ly,  e  ^\^^^  ^^  ^    ,       ,tj 

moi-ning  and  evening,  and  even  then  do  not  '"b  ,^^'^'f  ;-       ^nv,rds  a  s.'e...  - 

cat  mucli  at  eaeli  m.al.    Fish  is  tl  e  pri  ei-  ^    -^^^  ™ '^  g     tain  Mavne  mentions  that 

pal  article  of  their  .liet  and  dried  ^^"^']^^l  S  one  S  Nvd  ich  he  witnessed,  he  recog- 

he  food  whieh  is  most  plent,  ul,^  though  they  ^    "   «    ';a«t  j.^^.  ^^^^^  ^^^ 


also  eat  the  llesh  of  the  seal  and  the  whaU. 
when  they  can  get  it.  Of  late  years  the 
Alits  have  obtaimul  rice  and  molasses  and 
apparently    with  a  bad  eftect    upon   their 

**'^Tho"  pots  in  which  the  food  is  cooked  are 
made  of  wood,  the  water  being  boiled  not 
bv  placing  the  pots  on  the  lire,  l)uc  by  hcat- 
incr  stones  red  hot  and  throwing  them  into 
it.''  Rude  as  this  mode  of  boiling  ^yatea•  inav 
seem,  it  is  much  more  rapid  and  elfectual 


ai;  one  leiino  mut..  ..v,  • -    -   ,  ,, 

ni/.ed  three  sea-otter  skins,  for  one  of  winch 
thirty  blankets  had  been  ollered  and  rebised. 
Yet  valuable  as  they  were,  they  were  cut 
un'into  little  pieces  about  tlire.!  inches  by  one, 
so  that  every  guest  might  have  a  piece.  Vs 
each  blanket  is  to  the  Aht  the  e(piivalon 
of  a  sovereign  ;>mong  ourselves,  the  amount 
of  waste  may  he  imagined.  Mr.  Duncan,  t be 
snccessful  missionary  among  these  people, 
relates  several  instances  of  the  waste  of  prop- 
erty which   takes  place  both  on   these  and 


seem,  it  is  mucn  nV'''^-''M'''S'V.rinT,.'pm'i"nt   other  occasions,     l^n-  example,  a  chiefliad 
tha«  might  »>cii"agnied,wi.ch  V  1    accoun^   o^^^^^^^^  \^  invilati.n.s  fov 

for  the  wide  spreading  of  the  ""^om.      V      "s^'n^^^  feasting.  I  heard  he 

more    than    one    place,   when    the    white    ,.g.  cat    ea^^^^^^ 

man  visited  the  "Stives  for     ;« ,«  ;^;^'Xe      mr   n.n^^^^^^^^^^  of  ^vhi.h 

nothing  impressed  them  so  f'"^"  ^'X  as  i  c        »' ,'     ,     j  j,„,i  ^.-^rMy  were  his  own  prop- 

SiJi^^S  :-  S:f:ii3ll\ly  of'^aklllg  :X^^^  hundred  wereto  he  sub- 

r'vessel  that  woul.l  en.lure  such  treatment  |  scribed  by  Ins^P^/M*"; 


had,  in  their  eyes,  something  of  the  super- 
natural. ,  „  ,,  ^  .  u 
An  old  native  illustrated  well  the  astonish- 
jnrnt  which  thev  themselves  felt  when  they 
saw  a  kettle  placed  on  the  fire  for  the  first 
time.  He  narrated  the  story  to  Mr.  Duncan 
in  the  following  quaint  but  forcible  lan- 
„„jx.„.;  _••  The  strangers  landed,  .and  beck- 
oned the  Indians  to  com(>  to  them  and  bring 
them  some  fish.     One  of  them  had  over  Ins 

shoulder  what  was   supposed  to  h»" />»ly   'M  ^'""^  '"  ""'^''j  "'"  ^j;^  eoitonwhich  had  be.-n 
stick.    Presently  he  pointed  it  at  a  bird  that  |  Onjhe  n.  xtMKi>    uic  (    ^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^^^^^^  ^^ 

was  Hying  past  -  a  violent  '  pOO'  went  forih  ;  hu,.^-  V^,    "r',  froiii  tlu'""chii'rs  house,  n.id 
-down  7-ame  the  bird  to  the  groun.l.    The   a  good  dista     e     om  tu.  c^ 
Indians  died!     As  they  revived,  they  qucs- 1  there  run  out  at  full  leu^tn,  an 


•ioe<i  iiy  iHf«  |n  w|,..  •      .       „       .  , 

■'On  tlie  first  day  of  the  feast,  as  much  us 
possibl.^  of  the  proi)erty  to  be  given  to  In  in 
was  exhibited  in  the  camp.  Hun.lreds  of 
vards  of  cotton  were;  fiapping  in  the  breeze 
hun"  from  house  to  house,  or  on  hues  put 
np  for  the  occasion.  Furs,  too,  jvere  nmled 
np  on  the  fronts  of  houses  Phose  ^^ho 
were  "oin"  to  give  awav  blankets  or  elK- 
skins  nnmat'cd  to  get  a  bearer  for  every  one, 
S^SC.1  them  by  inaking  the  persons 
walk  in  single  tile  to  the  house  of  the  chut. 


ilEMABKABLS  HEAD-DRESSES  OF  THE  CHIEFS. 


13G5 


of  bearers,  about  three  yards  apart,  bore  it 
trimnphautly  away  from  the  giver  to  tlie 
receivers.  I  suppose  that  about  six  to  eight 
hundred  yards  were  thus  disposed  of. 

"After  all  the  property  the  chief  is  to  re- 
ceive has  been  thus  openly  handed  to  him, 
a  day  or  two  is  t.iken.  up  in  apportioning  it 
for  fresli  owners.  When  this  is  done,  nil  the 
chiels  and  their  families  are  called  together, 
and  each  receives  according  to  liis  or  her 
position.  If,  however,  a  chiefs  wife  is  not 
(iescended  from  a  chief,  she  has  no  share  in 
this  distribution,  nor  is  she  ever  invited  to 
the  same  feasts  as  her  Imsband.  Tluis  do  the 
chiefs  and  theirpeoplegoon  reducing  them- 
selvesto  poverty.  In  Uie  case  of  the  chiefs, 
however,  this  poverty  lasts  but  a  short  time; 
they  are  soon  rci)lenished  from  the  next 
giving  away,  but  the  people  only  grow  rich 
again  according  to  their  industry.  One  can- 
not but  pity  tliem,  while  one  laments  their 
folly. 

"  All  tlic  pleasure  these  poor  Indians  seem 
to  have  in  their  property  is  in  hoarding  it 
up  for  such  an  occasion  as  I  have  described. 
They   never   think  of  appropriating   what 


they  can  gather  to  enliance  their  comforts 
but  arc  satisfied  if  they  can  make  a  display 
like  this  now  and  then;  so  that  the  man  pos- 
sessing but  one  blanket  seems  to  be  as  well 
olf  as  the  one  who  possesses  twenty ;  and 
thus  it  is  that  there  is  avast  amount  of  dead 
stock  ac(Uimulated  in  the  camp,  doomed 
never  to  ))e  used,  but  only  now  and  then  to 
be  transferred  from  baud  to  hand  for  the 
mere  vanily  of  tlu;  thing. 

"Tluic  IS  another  way,  however,  in  which 
property  is  disiiosed  of  even  more  fool- 
ishly, if  a  person  be  insulted,  or  meet 
with  an  accident,  or  in  any  way  sulfers  an  in- 
jury, real  or  supposed,  either  of  mind  or  bodv, 
pniperty  must  at  once  be  sacrificed  to  avoid 
disgrace.  A  number  of  Idankets,  shirts,  or 
cotton,  according  to  tlic!  rank  of  the  person, 
is  torn  into  small  pieces,  ami  carried  otf." 

Sometimes  a  feast  assumes  a  sacred  char- 
acter, and  such  festivals  are  held  during  the 
Intter  half  of  the  last  month  in  the  year,  their 
object  being  to  induce  the  demons  who  have 
charge  of  tlie  weallier  to  give  thein  rain 
instead  of  snow.  In  one  of  these  feasts, 
witnessed  by  Mr.  Garrett,  the  principal  part 
was  i)erf()rmed  by  a  female  chief,  wlio  lay  on 
her  back  in  the  middle  of  the  house  as  if 
dead,  while  all  tiie  people  assembled  were 
making  a  hideous  noise,  howling,  wailing, 
and  beating  with  sticks  the  bencli  on  which 
thev  sat,wliile  a  young  man  added  to  the 
hiibbid)  by  dnimming  upon  a  wooden  box. 
After  a  wiiile  tin'  prostrate  woman  began  to 
show  signs  of  life,  and  gr.adu;dly  assumed  a 
sitting  i)osture.  In  this  attitude  slie  con- 
trived tojump  round  the  room,  and  exhibited 
some  extraordinary  vagaries,  the  other  occu- 
pants of  the  room'  alternating  dead  sili-nee 
with  deafening  uproar  at  signals  from  her 
hand. 


The  costumes  that  are  worn  at  such  feasts 
arc  very  remarkable  articles,  especially  the 
heiul-dresses  that  are  worn  by  tlie  chiefs. 
They  take  the  form  of  masks,  and  are  cutout 
of  solid  wood,  generally  imitating  the  heads 
of  various   birds  and  beasts,  though   they 
sometimes  are  carved  in  the  semblance  of  a 
grotesque  human  face.  The  specimens  which 
are  shown  in  the  illustrations  on  jiage  11557 
will  give  a  good  idea  of  these  strange  head- 
dresses.   One  of  them,  which  was  presented 
to  me  by  Lieut.  Pusey,  is  carved  in  imitation 
of  a  beaver's  head,  and  is  tied  on  the  wearer's 
head  with  strings.    There  are  holes  bored 
through  the  eyes,  by  means  of  which  the 
wearer  is  enal)led  to  see,  and   these  holes 
are  cleverly  bored  in  a  slanting  direction,  so 
as   to  coincide  with  tlie  pupil   of  the  eye. 
Some  of  these  masks  are  made  with  great 
goggle  Cyes  and  large  jaws.      Both  the  eyes 
and  the  jaws  are  movable,  and  are  worked 
by  strings  that  pass  down  the  back,  so  that 
the  wearer  can  make  the  eyes  roll  and  the 
jaws  open  and  close  without  any  apparent, 
cause. 

Sometimes  the  masks  are  made  in  the 
tbrm  of  birds,  and  by  a  similar  arrangement 
of  cords,  the  birds  can  be  made  to  turn  their 
heads  from  side  to  side,  and  to,  tlap  their 
wings  while  the  wearer  speaks.  There  is  a 
very  remarkable  specimen  of  these  masks  in 
the  museum  at  Maidstone.  It  is  double,  one 
mask  within  another.  The  outer  mask  is 
divided  by  lines  drawn  from  forehead  to  chin, 
dovn  the  centre  of  the  nose,  and  across 
the  face,  so  that  it  is  in  four  distinct  pieces. 
The  pieces  all  work  on  hinges,  and  are  so 
well  litted  to  each  other  that  a  spectator 
could  not  suspect  that  they  were  not  one 
solid  piece.  Suddenly,  while  the  wearer  is 
dancing,  he  will  tling  all  the  pieces  ojien,  and 
discover  a  second  and  more  hideous  mask 
beneath. 

AVlu'ii  the  chief  wishes  to  pay  an  extraor- 
dinary compliment  to  a  visitor,  he  puts  on  a 
mask'lhat  is  fitted  with  a  number  of  porcu- 
pine (piills.  Uiion  this  head-dress  he  heaps 
a  vast  (piantity  of  swan's  down,  which  is  re- 
tained in  its  iiosition  by  the  quills.    He  then 


dances  up  to  the  visitor,  and,  as  he  retreats 
b.ackward  in  the  dance,  gives  a  jerk  with  his 
lu!ad,  and  sends  the  down  Hying  over  him. 
It  is  a  point  of  honor  that  the  visitor  should 
be  kept  enveloped  in  a  shower  of  down,  as 
if  h»;  were  in  a  snow-storm,  and  this  can  only 
be  done  by  iierpetually  dancing  and  nocl- 
ding  the  head,  which  is  kept  well  supplied 
with  <lown  bv  attendants. 

While  feathers  and  down  always  signify 
peace,  and  hence,  when  a  man  sets  olV  on  a 
mission  of  peace  to  a  neighboring  tribe  with 
whom  there  has  been  a  quarrel,  he  puts 
white  down  on  his  heiMl,  and  knows  tJiat 
his  person  will  be  as  sacred  as  that  of  the 
l)earer  of  a  Hag  of  truce  in  civilized  war- 
far(^ 

One  of  the  dauces  practised  by  the  Ahtg 


511 


i8oe 


THE  AHTS  AND  NEIGHBORING  TRIBES. 


displays  a  really  wonderful  amount  of  inge- 
nuity, and  must  take  no  little  time  to  prac- 
tise. It  was  witnessed  by  Mr.  Sproat,  who 
describes  it  in  the  following  terms.  Ihe 
different  nances  are  called  Nooks  m  Aht 
langua-^o.  This  might  be  called  the  '  Uoc- 
tor*s  (Ooshtukyu)  Nook."  A  lino  represen- 
tation of  it  by  the  artist  is  given  on  the 
following  page.  ,  u-  i,   „f 

"  Durmg  the  song  and  dance,  which  at 
first  seemed  to  present  nothing  peculiar,  a 
well-known  slave  (one,  however,  who  was  in 
a  comparatively  independent  position  Deing 
employed  as  a  sailor  on  board  the  steamer 
Thames),  suddenly  ceased  dancing,  niiil  lell 
down  on  the  ground  apparently  in  a  iiymg 
state,  and  having  his  face  covered  'vith 
blood.  He  did  not  move  or  speak,  his  Head 
fell  on  one  side,  his  limbs  were  drawn  up, 
and  he  certainly  presented  a  ghastly  spec- 
tacle. While  the  dance  raged  turiously 
around  the  fallen  man,  the  doctor,  with  some 
•others,  seized  and  drasiged  him  to  the  other 
side  of  the  lire  round  which  they  were  dan- 
cing, placing  his  naked  feet  very  near  the 
flames. 

"  After  this  a  pail  of  water  was  brought 
in,  and  the  doctor,  who  supported  the  dying 
man  on  his  arm,  washed  the  blood  trom  his 
face;  the  people  beat  drums,  danced,  and 
saiK',  and  suddenly  the  patient  sprang  to  his 
feet  and  joined  in  the  dance,  none  the  worse 
for  tiie  apparently  hopeless  CJ)iidition  ot  the 
moment  before.  While  all  this  was  going 
I  asked  the  giver  of  the  feast  whether  it 


was  real  blood  iipon  the  miin's  f;ice,  and  it 
he  were  really  wounded,  lie  told  me  so 
seriously  that  it  was,  that  1  was  at  lirst  in- 
clined ti)  believe  him,  until  be  began  to  ex- 
plain that  the  blooil  which  came  from  the 
nose  and  mouth  was  owing  to  the  incanta- 
tions ot'  the  m 'dicine  man,  and  that  all  the 
people  would  bo  very  angry  if  he  did  not 
at'tiuward  restore  him. 

"  I  then  recalled  to  mind  that  in  the  early 
part  of  the  dav,  before  the  feast,  I  had  seen 
the  doctor  andthe  slave  holding  very  frieiidl;y 
conferences;   and  the  former  had  used  his 
inlluence  to  get  a  pass  for  the  latter  to  be 
present  at  the  entertainment,  to  which,  prob- 
ablv,  he  bad  no  right  to  come.     I  feel  sure 
that  many  of  the  Indians  really  believed  in 
this  exIiilVilion  of  the  doctor's  power.    When 
the   aifair  was  over,   many  of  the  natives 
asked  me  what  I  thought  of  it,  and  referred 
to  it  as  if  it  must  set  at  rest  for  ever  any 
possible  doubts  with  regard  to  the  abilities 
of  their  native  doctors.    The  Indian,  who 
explained  this  and  other  performances  to 
me,  said  that  the  cure  was  not  entirely  ow- 
ing to  the  doctor,  but  to  the  large  body  of 
dancers  and  singers,  who  all  '  exerted  their 
hearts '  to  desire  the  recovery  of  the  sick 
man,  and  so  procured  the  desired  effect." 


This  simulated  production  of  blood  formfi 
an  element  in  several  of  the  Aht  dances.  In 
one  of  them  a  man,  stripped  even  ot  his 
blanket,  is  bound  with  his  hands  behind 
him,  and  driven  about  at  the  end  ot  long 
cords  ^v1,ile  the  spectators  yell,  shout,  and 
hamiu  vith  sticks  upon  wooden  dishes 
and  drums  made  of  bear-skin. 

Suddenly  the  chief  dashes  among  the  peo- 
ple, brandishing  a  knife,  and,  on  seeing  the 
boilnd  man,  gives  chase  to  him,  and  to  all 
appearance  drives  the  knife  deeply  into  his 
back  Blood  pours  abundantly  from  the 
wouiid,  and  the  man  rushes  wildly  about  in 
search  of  shelter,  followed  by  the  cluet,  who 
niun^es  his  bloody  weapon  repeatedly  into 
the  man's  back.  Exhausted  by  his  wounds 
and  loss  of  blood,  the  victim  staggers,  falls 
and  dies.  His  friends  gather  round  the  dead 
body  and  carry  it  outside  the  house,  when 
it  washes  itself,  and  puts  on  its  blanket. 

Mr  Sproat  remarks  of  this  dance  that  the 
illusion  IS  absolutely  perfect,  and  the  acting 
so  lifelike,  that  the  performers  would  make 
the  fortune  of  a  minor  theatre  in  London. 
The  red  liquid  which  simulates  blood  is  a 
mixture  of  red  gum,  resiii,  oil,  and  water; 
•md  is  indeed,  the  material  which  is  used  for 
painting  the  inside  of  the  canoes. 

AnotTier  of  these  "  nooks  "  is  called  the 
seal  dance.  The  performers  take  off  their 
blankets,  and,  tboufjh  in  the  depMi  of  winter, 
"o  into  the  sea,  and  crawl  unon  the  shore, 
Fniitatin"  the  movements  of  the  seals  as  they 
tlouuder°along  the  ground.  They  proceed  in 
the  same  manner  until  they  reach  the  houses, 
which  they  enter,  and  crawl  about  the  fires. 


wiiicii  are"  i)urposely  kept  brightly  jjliis^ing 
bv  being  fed  with  oil.  The  dance  is  finished 
liy  jiiniping  up  a..>l  dancing  round  the  house 
until  the  pfrformers  are  tired. 

There  is  one  dance  which  belongs  specially 
to  the  Sesaht  tribe,  and,  absurd  as  it  may 
seem,  appears  to  have  in  it  something  of  a 
rellL'ious  n.^ture.  It  is  peculi.ar  to  lluit  tribe, 
and  may  not  be  omitted.  While  the  people 
are  sin;'ing  and  dancing  within  the  house,  a 
luimber  of  the  performers  clamber  up  the 
iwsts,  push  some  of  the  roof-boards  aside, 
trot  on  the  roof,  and  dance  there,  making 
a  noise  like  thunder.  As  the  dancers  be- 
come fatigued,  thev  descend  from  the  roof 
and  others  take  their  places,  so  that  there  is 
a  constant  stream  of  men  ascending  and  de- 
scending the  roof. 

After  the  dance  is  over,  an  old  man  makes 
a  speech  to  the  owner  of  the  house,  saying 
that  he  is  aware  that  the  roof-boards  are  dam- 
aged by  the  dance,  but  at  the  same  time  the 
ceremonv  mav  not  be  omit'.ed.  A  number  of 
nuMi  then  coiiv;  forward,  and  each  presents 
the  owner  of  the  house  with  a  small  stick, 
I  which  is  a  token  that  the  owner  will  redeem 
1  it  with  a  new  roof-board  as  soon  as  possible. 


ABCHITECTtTRH 

woiiK,  a: 

OBJECT  A 
MANTKAC 

"allikd 
bevoltii 
heoicinb 


FuOM  the  no 
i)i-ece(ling  cli 
houses  lire  bt 
uot  be  iil)le  ti 
and  jiiinpiiirj 
ehanns  of  tli 
Ahts  are  con 
inaiincr,  the  ] 
tionary,  and 
The  eileet  of 
the  peoph;  to 
At  each  of  th 
they  find  the  f 
for  "them,  and 
carry  with  th 
mode  of  iiii<: 
scribed. 

The  frame 
stontpost.salii 
twelve  feet  o 
tances  of  twc 
to])  of  the  ])oi 
the  cross  jiie 
h(nisc  is  soiiv 
ridgepole  whi 
a  sinjile  tn-i 
i;ahled-Rlm])e( 
i)aek  to  tlie  fn 
oft"  the  rain, 
five  feet  ii)ii!» 
The  walls  are 
to  small  uprit; 

Just  below 
extended,  on 
liiuir  ttlurcH  u 


CHAPTER   CXI.IV. 


■VANCOUVER'S  ISLAND— ConcZutZed 


THE  AHT8  AND  NEiGiTBORiNO  THTBES—  Concluded. 


ARCHTTECTCRE  OP  THK  AIITS —  SESn- NOMADIC  CHARACTER  OP  THE  TEOPLP,  —  THK  PERMANENT  FRAME- 
WORK, AND  MOVAHLH  WALLS  AND  HOOF  — DIVISION  OP  THE  HOUSE  -  RANK  OF  TIIK  OCCUPANTS  — 
OBJECT  AND  MODE  OP  MIORATION —PIPES  OF  THE  AMT  TRIIIE8— LAIIOR  EXPENDED  IN  THEIB 
MANUPACTL'RE  —  HELIOIOrS  8VHTEM  OF  THE  TRI11E8  — AN  AIIT  PROMETHEUS  —  SOCIETV  OP  THE 
"allied"  — THE  MEDICINE  MEN  AND  THEIR  EDUCATION  — THE  CANNIBALS  AND  DOG-EATERS  — 
REVOLTING  SCENES  —  THE  TWO  CAXNIItALS  —  SACRED  RATTLES  —  TERROR  INSPIRED  BY  THH 
MEDICINE   MEN— DISPOSAL  OF  THE   DEAD— RESPECT  POH  THE  CEMETERY. 


FuoM  the  account  of  the  Roof-dancc  in  the 
m-cceding  chapter,  it  is  evident  that  the 
houses  are  built  very  strongly,  or  they  would 
uot  be  at)le  to  endure  the  violent  stamping 
andjunipin,2r  which  constitute  the  prineipal 
charms  of  the  diince.  The  houses  of  the 
Alits  are  constructed  after  a  very  peculiar 
manner,  the  posts  iuid  framework  being  sta- 
tionary, and  the  roof  and  sides  movable. 
The  etiect  of  (his  arrangement  is  to  enable 
the  people  to  shilt  from  one  place  to  another. 
At  each  of  the  sjiots  to  which  they  migrate 
they  find  the  framework  of  their  houses  ready 
for  "them,  and  all  (hat  they  have  to  do  is  to 
carry  with  them  the  roofs  and  walls.  The 
mode  of  migi-ating  will  be  presently  de- 
scribed. 

The  framework  of  (he  houses  consists  of 
stoutposts  about  twelve  feet  in  diameter,  and 
twelve  feet  or  so  in  heij;ht,  jilaecd  at  dis- 
tances of  twenty  feet  from  each  other.  The 
to])  of  the  jjost  is  hollowed  so  as  to  receive 
the  cross  jiieces  which  connect  them.  A 
h(nisc  is  some  eighty  feet  in  length,  and  the 
ridgepole  which  supjiorts  thereof  is  made  of 
,1  single  tree  trunk.  The  roof,  which  is 
i,':ihled-sha])ed,  but  slopes  gently  from  the 
buck  to  the  front  of  the  house,  so  as  to  throw 
oft"  the  rain,  is  made  of  cedar  boards,  about 
five  feet  loui;  and  nearly  two  inches  thick. 
The  w;dls  are  made  of  similar  boards  lashed 
to  small  upriii;ht  i)osts  driven  into  the  ground. 

Just  below  tlu!  roof  a  rude  framework  is 
extended,  on   which   the  inhabitants  keep 


ilar  articles.  About  six  feet  from  the  walls, 
a  strong  stockade  is  erected,  so  that  each 
house  becomes  a  sort  of  fortress.  There  are 
no  windows,  and  the  only  chimney  is  formed 
by  removing  one  of  the  roof-boards  above 
the  fireplace.  In  many  of  these  houses,  the 
Large  inside  posts  arc  ornamented  by  having 
trreat  faces  carved  upon  them,  fuee-carving 
being  an  art  in  which  these  trilies  excel,  just 
as  is  the  case  with  the  New  Zealnuders.  Mr. 
Sproat  mentions,  that  he  has  seen  a  row  of 
such  houses  exteiuling  for  the  third  of  a  niilo 
along  a  river's  bank,  and  Ihat  the  depth  of 
th(!  houses  varied  from  twenty-five  to  forty 
feet. 

Inside  the  house,  the  eiirth  is  dug  away 
for  a  foot  or  so  in  depth,  in  order  to  give 
additional  heijiht  to  the  interior.  Every 
house  is  partitioned  off  into  several  divisions, 
each  of  which  is  occupied  by  a  family,  which 
is  thus  separated  from  the  other  inhabitants 
by  a  sort  of  bulkhead  about  four  feet  high. 
These  partitions  are  movable,  so  that  on  occa- 
sion of  a  great  festival  they  can  be  taken 
away,  and  the  whole  of  the  space  kept  clear. 
There  is  a  fire  in  the  middle  of  each  division, 
and  around  it  arc  placed  wooden  couches, 
about  nine  inches  from  the  floor,  and  covered 
with  a  whole  series  of  mats  by  way  of  bed- 
ding. 

There  is  to  each  building  one  main  en- 
trance, and  other  small  doors,  which  are  al- 
ways in  a  corner  of  one  of  the  divisions.  The 
rank  of  the  different  occupants  is  marked  by 


liieir  titores  ui°  food,  their  weapons,  uud  sini- 1  the  position  vvhicli  Iticy  occupy  in  the  iiouse. 

(1309) 


laro 


THE  AHTS  AND  KEIGHBOBING  TRIBES, 


For  example,  tho  chief  of  the  house  oc^ 
cupies  the  extreme  end  on  the  k^ll  ol  u  >^_ 
buil.liu-,  the  next  in  rank  lives  m  h..  i  o 
respoudini;  place  at  the  other  end,  ^^  ^'^^"\j 
coinnu.n  people  oecupy  tho  space  between 
the  two  n;reiit  men.  o.,rccablc  to 

These  houses  arc  much  mme  ^h\^^^^,,  „o 

the  eye  than  to  the    nos  rd^^  .Slisl'ran.l 
windows,  and  all  the  stous  "I 
other  provisions  ^e  u-  kept  m   t  nm, 
interior  atmosphere  i«V  f ' '  £^,'1  ,o  to    he 
pun^^ent,  tl.e  IpiJ^^l^^l^/  ^f  'Seil.er  is 
W00.1  smoke  ot  L'\  ;f.   .^", .  „  that  of  the  in- 

iliiii 

'"a'he'ownership  of  these  houses  is  rather  a 
coi'di^cd  quJ^stion      The   fnvm.MV.,rk  o 

the  house  is  generally  p<'»«"  f^  ^'^f,,"^  ^'  r, 
in  several  div  sions,  eacli  division  DliU:-, 
called  al'r  the  name  of  the  owner,  whi  e 
thl!  planks  are  the  eoininoa  property  of  the 

'"'^i^SSeAhtswishtomovetoaii^jer 
Hnot  which  is  done  for  the  purpose  of  eh.in- 
'in!;    o   heUer  lishi.i.^,  hunting',  and    nut 
l-ounds.  aeeordiu^'  to  the  tune  '>' .W/\Vo 
niwivs  migrate  by  water.    They  place  l\\< 
L     ;•'    a  oes  about  five  .u-  siK  feet  apart,  am  . 
r  mneet  them  tog.ither  with  the  pl.inks  <  t 
the    oof     ud  walll,  whieh  thus  form  a  plat- 
form on  whieh  can  be  placed  the  ^^^^^  ^^ 
household  -'oods.     Mr.  Sproat  remarks  that 
he  1  as  en  this  platform  heaped  to  ahcs  I 
Of  fourteen  feet,  only  just  enou-h  «1>'V^'  ' '^- 
hU  left  for  the  passeu-ers.     As  soon  as     u 
a  Hve   at  their   d.-sti^uati»,i,     he     rav.d  ;  ;^ 
unpack  the  boats,  and,  assisted  by  the  sl.nes 
w      have  been   sent  forward  i}^y'^^^^^'^ 
fiK  the  boards  on  the  already  existm- iiame- 
S^S,  so  that  in  a  very  short  time  the  house 
is  readv  for  the  oeeupants. 

These  mi-rations  have  one  henefic  ale  Te 
While   the'  iieople  have  deserted   then   yV 
1,.' cs,  the  birds    aided  by  the  elements,  tl 
onlV  scavengers  of  Vancouvr  s  Island,  cleat' 
a    av  a  considerable  portion  of  the  heaps  .>f 
pu  i-efvin-  rubbish,  whieh  wouhl  otherwise 
Cniie  too  much  even  for  native   cndui- 

'"'in  the  mcetin-s  which  arc  held  within 
tliese  hous(-s  the  pipe  naturally  plays  an  im- 
portant  part;  and,  as   the  p.p.'jj   '";!' "theV 
these  tribes  ditfer  from  tb"-^"  .  ^"-V  "/' 1' 
part  of  the  world,  a  short  description  is     er 
liv.n  of  Ihem.     Both  in  shape  and  n.ate  lal 
these   pipes   are   most   remarkable.       llu\ 
s  em  tl.  have  beeti  made  for  the  express  o- 
Jcet   of    expending    1  u,    gn^-t^  po.sd.k 
amount  of  labor  upon  the  ea  m^  <  «   l"',,;;'-^^ 
pipe.    I  have  sceu  and  tried  many  ot  these 


•     a  nnd  oxcept  that  they  draw  the  sraoko 
l^Ji-y  '^vell:  tlm-ri«  not  a'redeeming  point 

"''in^heXist  place,  they  are  carved- stem 
jn  nil.  II       1       ,'   ,.  ,  „t,,,,,,   n  u„,.t  ol  very 


the  t  rst  place,  uivy  mv,  v....  .v...      

an.l  boNvl  -  out  of  Holhl  stone,  a  sort  ol  very 
d  rk   s  ate.    The   upi.er   figure   in  illustra- 


■iiiper    llgl--    

'.'■"""  TsilT'I  on  iwe  i;557,  which  repiesunts 
^'"  .?  hes  P  "s  '"  '"V  collection,  shows 
ribdiesra.ldkasteun.).roustbrmofi.ipo 

Ai.i.l7,..»l,   onlv   ei<dit    ludies  in   hnglh,  it 

s^„t  mi.  As  is  usually  the  case  with 
these      pes,  it  is  adorned  with  a  huinan  l.g- 

e  m  a  hum'vn  head.  The  tigure  evidently 
rcmrcsents  a  man  scate.l  m  a  caiio.^  ,On 
recount  of  the  details  of  dress,  it  seems 
Uk.  iv   tlmt  it  is  intended    to    represent  a 

a  ive-- possibly  the  earviu-  himsell-in 
Vn-opean  costume,  the  features  being  ot  a 
So  iSnarked  Indian  type,  while  the  dress 
is  European.  This  pipe  was  presented  to  mo 

^^"slmieJiinenim  natives  absolutely  rmi  riot 
Mmiiuiiu  .,,,,1  exuend  m  mite  labor 

!"  ^''uiu'"'nS  wl  eh  U.»k  utterly  unlike 

;;i;:::;2Se:>l-ot  be  smoked  wijjout 

lu  vcrv  .rreatestineonvemenee.    Ihe  \mun 

'edm^isrepresenttw..viewsola,upe^^ 

:ie  o     rvi".'hX  many  heads  of  men  and 
nls  eoS    be   compressed    into   a  eertaui 

::t^!:::i\!;:^:;:^blat;eetoU.eaJoftheane^ 
-Mi-xicans,  so  strong,  indeed,  that  it  m  giit 
almost  be' passed  olf  as  a  specimen  ot  that 

"'"la   total  length  it  is   a  very  little  more 
Unn   ei-lit   inches,   but  from  bowl   to  the 
outh-piece  it   oulv  measures  f^^ve  inches, 
thrrem  lining  three    inches  being   sunplv 
'tend  riant   material.     The   un-'l-v;/ 
he  ds  that  the  carver  has  contrived  to  lit  lo- 
co into   this  piiie  is  r(>ally  wondevhd,  the 
i     eidty   of   eo'mbination     t<.ge(her    with 
!^■<^>f^^eet,l.eill.wm•thy.da     pnuse 

esoeciallv  when  the  rud.'iiess  of  the  \noiK- 
naiV^  ip  is  consi,lered.     Taken  as  a  work  of 
it  i's  admirabh-.  taken  as  a  pipe,  it  is 
let  .stable.     1 1  is  so  heavy  1  hat  the  me  e  ex- 
ion  of  holding  it  is  f•atiguln.^  and  it  s  s 
,l\ok  and  clumsy  that  .1  .loes  no    a    al 
If  it  ,.if  to  the  lips.     And,  m  so  cold  a 
elS  t       i^"S^  or  ti;  put  to  the  li,^  su..h  a 
;iece  of  hanl,  cold  stone,  must  involve  very 
great  ineonvenieiiee. 

TiTK  reli-ious  ideas  of  the  .\ht  tribes  .are 
■is  n  ly  be  rx,..eted.  exceedingly  vague,  and 
'•re  retidere.1  still  more  so  by  the  retM^eii  e 
whiel  asava-ealwavs  .•shibits  on  such  si  1- 

.  s  Mr.  Sproat  remarks  that  he  lived  h). 
iw,  years  ailiong  the  Ahls.  with  us  m  d 
Sns^uitly  .iirecte.1  toward  this  ^  ;^-  ; '  - 
fore  he  could  discover  wluthe,  tup  oe 
believed  iu  any  overruling  po«  ei,  ot  luMl  any 


MEDICINE  MEN. 


1371 


idea  of  a  future  oxistcnco.  Ho  then  pro- 
cecils  to  Miiy  thiit  "  ii  traveller  must  have 
lived  for  iiiauy  years  aim  :  savages,  really 
as  one  of  tlu'inselvea,  befoi.  liif^  opinion  as 
to  their  mental  and  spiritual  >  udition  is  of 
any  value  at  all."  How  true  llh  ^  statement 
is,  none  know  better  than  the  missionaries, 
who  lind  that  own  their  most  promising; 
converts  are  almost  as  unwilling  to  j^ive  in- 
formal imi  on  sucli  sulijects  as  they  were  dur- 
ing their  state  of  heathenism. 

It  is,  however,  aseertained  Ihnt  the  Ahls 
really  liave  a  belief  in  a  deity  and  in  a  future 
stale,  and  that  Ihey  jjossess  several  legends 
on  these  subjects.     Some  of  those  lej^ends 
treat  of  a  eui'tuiu  (,[uawteaht,  who  macle  the 
earth  i\iid   the  animals,  but  would  not  give 
them  tire,  this  being  coneealed  in  the  body 
of  tile  eultle-tish.  In  those  days  they  needed 
lire,  beeause  the   Indians,  who  were  aller- 
ward  to  p('0[)le   the  cjirth,  were  hidden   in 
their  bodies.     At  last  Ihc  deer  succeeded  in 
discovering  the  lire,  and  carried  away  some 
of  it  in  tli(^  Joint  ol  his  hind  leg.  The  reiidii' 
will  doubtless  perceive  the  siniilaiity  of  this 
legend  to  the  old  myth  of  J'rometheus. 

As  far  lis  ciin  be  \mderst(iod,  this  Quaw- 
leaht  is  the  cliiel  of  their  deities,  but  they 
have  a  whole  host  of  minor  divinities,  who 
preside  over  the  sen,  the  woods,  and  their 
mmates,  as  well  as  rule  the  elements.  So, 
if  a  native  sees  a  sudden  breeze  ('Uil  the  sur- 
face of  the.  sea,  he  thinks  it  signilies  the 
iipi)roval  i>f  some  sijiril;  and  if  he  should 
hear  a  rustling  in  the  woods  for  which  Jie 
cannot  account,  or  a  .sound  which  lu'  does 
noL  recognize,  he  inn-uediiitcly  puts  it  down 
to  the  presence  of  soinc!  demoiior  other. 

As  miiiht   tie  exiiec  led,  there  are  jdenty 
of  mcdichie  men,  who  hav(^  great  power  over 
the   i)eo)de,   and   an^   implicitly  trusted  by 
them.     Tbev  have  to  go  through  a  long  and 
nnidcasant  ordeal  befon!  they  can  be  admit- 
ted iiilo  the  order  of  the  '-Allied,"'  as  the 
medi<-ine  men  call  themselves.     When  their 
educntiou   !-<  nenrlv   tiuished,  Ihey  go  into 
tlie  bush  nbme,  i'liil  remain  therefor  sevend 
diiys,  fjisliu'j  \mtil  tliev  have  received  the 
spiritual  irilts.     The  society  of  the  Allied  is 
cncour:iLr<'d  bv  the  chiefs,  not  from  religious 
motives,  but  jieeiiuse  tbev  become  enriched 
by  it.     Xo  one  e;in  become  an  Allied  unless 
ho  pos'icsses  considirable  wealth,  the  whole 
of  which  he  must   give  away  before  he  can 
he  ndmitt.'d  into  the  society.     The  act  of 
giviui:  jnvav  his  jiroperty  is  done  as  osten- 
Fatiously  as'  jioMsible,  the  ciindidate  being  es- 
corted bv  a  l;u\'e  bodv  of  uien,  who  shout 
and  mnke  ns  grciit  a  lioise  as  Ihey  can.     In 
front  of  them  goes  the  can<lidate,  with  one 
end  of  a  bii-L'e  rone  round  his  waist,  the  oth- 
er end  beini;  held  bv  fifteen  or  twenty  men. 
who  i.ret.'ud   that  all  their  strength  is  re- 
quired ;..  irder  to  hold  him  back. 

Captain  Mavne  relates  a  curious  anecdote 
respect!!!?   tlie   doinirs    of   these   medicine 


moon  on  the  beach.  On  arriving  at  the 
spot  he  found  that  the  men  Inul  made  a  Hat 
disk  of  wax  to  represent  the  moon,  and  had 
iiaiuted  a  man  upon  it, —  they  having  the 
belief,  which  is  still  prevalent  among  tlio 
illiterate  of  our  own  country,  respecting 
a  man  who  lives  in  the  moon.  They  had 
lightiMl  a  torch  ar.d  placed  ;t  behind  tlic  ar- 
tificial moon,  so  as  to  illuminnle  it,  and 
were  supposed  to  be  holding  converse  with 
its  inhabitant,  much  to  the  awe  of  the  sur- 
rounding crowd. 

These  medicine  men  seem  to  be  divided 
into  three  parties,  or  sects.     One  of  them 


spi 
men. 


does  not  appear  to  he  particularly  distin- 
guished, but  the  other  two  gradually  rise  in 
circumstiiuccs  of  horror.  The  former  sect 
is  called  the  Dog-caters,  a  portion  of  whose 
initiation  is  described  by  Mr.  Duncan,  and 
is  illustrated  on  page  VMVl. 

"  Early  in  th".  morning  the  pupils  would 
be  out  on  the  beach  or  on-  the  rocks,  in  a 
state  of  nudity.  Each  had  a  place  in  front 
of  his  own  tribe,  nor  did  intense  cold  inter- 
fere in  the  slightest  degree.  After  the  poor 
creature  had  crept  about,  jerking  his  head 
and  screaming  for  some  time,  a  party  of 
men  would  rush  out,  and,  after  surrounuing 
him,  would  commence  singing..  The  dog- 
eating  party  occasionally  carried  a  dead  dog 
to  their  pupil,  who  forthwith  comnKiUced  to 
tear  it  in  the  most  dog-like  manner.  The 
party  of  attendants  kept  up  a  low,  growling 
noise,  or  a  whoop,  which  was  sccoiuUhI  by  a 
screeching  noise  made  from  an  instrument 
which  they  believe  to  be  the  abode  of  a 
spirit. 

'•In  a  little  time  tho  naked  youth  would 
start  np  agiiin,  and  proceed  a  few  more 
yards  in  a  crouching  jiosturc,  with  his  arms 
pushed  out  behind  liim,  and  tossing  his  llow- 
ing  lilack  hiiir.  All  the  while  he  is  ear- 
nestly watched  by  the  grou])  about  him, 
and  when  he  ploa.«es  to  sit  down,  they  again 
surr^nd  him  and  commence  singing.  This 
kind  of  thing  goes  on,  with  several  little 
additions,  for  a  time. 

'•  Before  the  prodigy  finally  retires,  he 
takes  a  run  into  every  house  belonging  to 
ills  tribe,  and  is  followed  by  his  train. 
AVhen  this  is  done,  in  some  cases  he  lias  a 
iambic  on  the  tops  of  the  same  houses,  dur- 
ing which  he  is  anxiously  watched  by  his 
attendants,  as  if  they  expected  his  tlight. 
Ity  and  bv  he  condescends  to  cmne  down, 
and  thev  then  follow  him  to  his  dtn,  which 
is  siirni'lied  by  a  rope  made  of  red  bark 
beiiii;  hung  over  the  doorway,  so  as  to  i)re- 
vent^any  'pcr.'on  from  i'gnorantly  violating 
its  precincts.  None  arc  allowed  to  enter 
that  house  but  those  connected  with  the  art: 
all  I  know,  therefore,  of  their  further  pro- 
ceedings is,  that  they  keep  up  a  furious 
hammering,  singing,  and  screeching,  for 
hours  during  the  day. 

Even  this  mode  of  initiation  cannot  be 

"     '        the 


lie  wa8  called  one  evening  to  sec  a  i  very    pleiusanl,   involving,   as  it   ctocs, 


i.t-T 


.ull 


r- 


1, 

! 


\  I 


i 


1879 


THE  AIITS  AND  NEIGHBORING  TttlBES. 


devouriiiK  of  raw  dog-flosh;  but  It  Ib  notliln!| 
III  (umipiiiisDU  to  that  of  tho  laoHt  pDWuruu 
mid  divuik'd  of  tli(^  •'ir.e  «a(t«,  iininoly,  Hit 
nuiiiil.als.  Mr.  Duncan  wu«  also  '\;^'  »;:7 
to  nai-l  of  tlie  initiutiiMi  of  ft  cauiiiliiil  Ai- 

"in  order  to  sive  Mn  assistance  to  the  cor- 
cnionv,  a  ohi"f  ordered  one  ot    "^J'' \   f" 
an  ..lil  woman,  to  be  killed,  and  '    ^  b     y 
Ann.,'  int..   the'  sea.     As  «?""."„/','     i^' 
d..ne,  the  whole  of  the  "''V'';"'  ,;,,,>'• 
tion   lefr   their  houses    »'"'    '  ^'"'1,"  , i.,. 
selves  into   "roups  at  a  dista.ee  Ironi  the 
fata   sno      esl  tl.eV  should  also  i.ee.-n.e  v.e- 
ti^u?'  a  fear  for  wliieh  there  wa.'   vervt,'oo<l 
Soil.      'resenlly  two  bands  of  ..  bed  men 
came   rushi..,'   alon,,^   nrodueinj,       le    mos 
hideous   sounds,  eaeh   beiiiK  beadei>   by   a 
caii(li<late  for  inenibership. 
The  two  candidates  advanced  with  a  101  K 

croeniu-'  step,  waviui?  tlieir  arms,  and  jerk- 
in-' IheiT-  lieads  backward  and  torward.  ho  as 
tolnake  their  Ion-  hair  w.'ive  in  th.i  breeze. 
Thev  pretended  for  some  time  to  be  seekin-,' 
for  the  body,  .and  at  last  they  discovered  it, 
Biiil  mad.^  a  siiiiullaiieous  rush  at  it.  In  a 
iiK.ineiil  thev  were  closely  surrounded  by 
their  icsi.ective  bands,  but  in  a  few  minutes 
tlie  crowd  opened,  and  out  passed  the  two 
men,  each  bearin-  half  the  body  o  the 
murdered  woman,  wldch  they  had  actually 
torn  in  two  with  their  hands  and  teeth  alone. 
Thev  then  bc^an  devourin^'  the  body,  when 
the  spectator  was  unable  to  endure  the  sight 
any  Ioniser,  and  left  the  sjiol. 

'rhese    cannil>al    medicine    men   arc   tlie 
dread  of  their  country.     At  the  cost  of  such 
revoltiiiu'  pr.iclices,  as  have  been  but  very 
li-ditlv  touched,  they  ^'ain  such  .1  complete 
intlue"iu;e  over  tli(!  people,  that  they  can  do 
oxaellv   as  they  choose,  no  man  daring  to 
cimtradicl   them.     Sometimes  at  a  feast  one 
of  them  will  be  taken  with  a  lit  of  .lu^pi'ii- 
tion,  and  dash  amon;,'  the  people,  biting  like 
a  mad  do;;  at  every  one  whom  he  meetii,     t  )ii 
su(  h  occasions  it  is  thought  very  manly  and 
praiseworthv  of  the  guests  to  welcome  in- 
stead of  repeilin-j:  his  attacks,  and   to  oiler 
their  arms  or  sIioiiUUts  for  him  to  bite.     1  he 
Allii'd  cannib.al  responds  to  the  iiivitati'.n 
by  bitiii"  at  and   swallowing  a  piece  ot  the 
rtcsh  and  the  man  who  offers  it  thinks  liim- 
Bcif  ii.nored  in  proporti.m  to  the  size  of  tlw 
piece  that   is   removed.     The  wound  thus 
made  is  not  only  iirodiictivo  of  excruciating 
pain  but  is  also'  (lang<Tous,  many  men  iiav- 
in<'  (ii'-d  from  the  etfects  of  it.     Yet  they  are 
willing  to  have  both  tho  pain  and  the  dan- 
ger for  tho  sake  of  the  honor  which  is  con- 
ferred upon  tliein. 

The  goi  eral  public  have  very  good  reason 
for  "ettin"  lut  of  the  way  when  one  of  these 
cannibals"choose8  to  make  an  ex<'ursiou  in 
search  of  a  human  body.  Should  not  one 
bnfonnd- the  cannibal  Allied  who  escort  their 
companions  would  think  themselves  oouiid 
to  provide  a  corpse  for  his  eatiug,  niid  would 


Hcize  and  kill 


the  first  person  whom  they 
might  meet.  Therefore,  when  the  sound  of 
the  horrid  cannibal  songs  is  heard  in  the  dis- 
tance, the  whole  popu  lion  of  a  village  will 
desert  their  houses,  take  to  their  canoes,  and 
remain  at  a  distaiiei'  troin  the  shore  until 
the  danger  is  over  fi>r  the  time. 

Tlu'se  mudicine  iiu  n  are  considered  all- 
powerful  in  the  cure  lA'  the  sick,  and  are 
always  called  in  when  any  one  is  ill.  Thev 
almost  invariably  sny  lliat  tho  malady  f» 
local,  and  that  it  is  due  to  some  object  oi 
other,  which  they  can  extract  by  their  in- 
cantations. In  tlu^  ceremonies  whiidi  they 
employ,  they  make  iinudi  use  of  a  rattle,  tho 
material  of  which  docs  not  seem  to  be  ot 
much  consetpii^iice,  orovided  that  it  can 
only  make  a  noise.  J- or  example,  a  favorite 
form  is  a  ludlow  wooden  case,  carved  like  a 
birti  or  a  frog,  and  containing  a  few  stones. 
Some  rattles,  however,  are  made  on  totally 
different  jirinciples,  and  resi'inble  the  beelle- 
sliell  rattle  of  Guiana  that  is  figured  on 
page  1'2(55.  Captain  ^layiie  saw  one  which 
was  made  of  three  or  "four  dozen  puflln- 
beaks  strung  loosely  together. 

Incisions  arc  often  made  over  tho  part 
afrected,or  the  doctor  uses  the  actual  cautery 
by  means  of  a  moxa,  made  of  a  jdedget  of 
dried  flax.  These  remedies  often  do  have 
the  effect  of  relieving  jiain,  and  when  that 
is  the  case,  thii  jiatient  ami  his  friends  pre- 
sent the  doctor  with  liberal  gills,  all  which, 
however,  he  is  bound  to  return  should  a 
relapse  come  on  and  the  imlinit  die.  They 
even  sav  that,  when  they  are  violently  ex- 
cited bv"  their  incantatioiW.  they  can  see  tho 
soul  of' the  patient,  which  they  say  is  in  tho 
shape  of  a  fly,  with  a  long  ciirvi-d  proboscis. 
One  man,  who  had  recovered  from  a  dan- 
gerous illness,  said  that  he  had  seen  his  own 
soul,  which  the  medicine  man  had  caught  as 
it  was  escaping  from  the  body,  ami  had  put 
back  again. 

Tho  noise  wdiieh  these  medicine  men 
make  at  their  iiH'antalions  is  alninst  inde- 
scrib.able.  Mr.  Sproai  describes  their  howl- 
ing as  being  [lerfeetly  demoniacal,  and  says 
that  no  wild  beast  coiilil  utter  .sounds  so  cal- 
culated to  strike  sudden  honor  into  tho 
heart.  Even  himself,  though  a  white  man, 
and  in  perfect  seeuritv,  has  otteii  shuddered 
at  the  savage  veils  f  the  mystery  men. 
Indeed,  their  object  is  to  keep  lip  the  dread 
in  which  they  are  held,  and,  in  order  to  do 
this,  they  must  ever  be  doing  something  to 
keep  themselves  before  the  eyes  of  the  peo- 
ple. 

Sometimes  thi  v  will  assemble  together  on 
the  outskirts  of  the  village,  set  iij)  a  furious 
howling,  and  then  rush  like  a  jiaek  of  wolves 
through  the  village,  the  caimihals  and  dog- 
caters  tearing  to  jiieces  with  their  teeth  any 
corpses  or  (higs  that  tin  y  may  find.  Some- 
times a  single  man  will  leave  the  jilace  and 
bury  hini.si  "if  in  the  woods,  wheiiee  he  will 
suddenly  rush,  quite  nuked,  reduced  to  a 


DISPOSAL  OF  THE  DEAD. 


1373 


nkclcton  through  hJH  long  fast,  with  his  hody 
and  liinl)H  covered  witli  womidn  inlllcted  by 
hhiiHcir  in  liiH  mad  violence,  and  witli  loam 
Hying  I'roni  lii.x  lips,  wliile  he  titters  wild 
velUand  lieats  t'urioUHljr  hiN  druni  or  whukes 
niM  magic  rattle.  An  in  the  case  in  AlVica, 
wonuii  an  well  as  nun  can  enter  thin  sacred 
order,  and  exerciwe  (juite  as  powerful  an  in- 
tlueiice  over  the  pi  ople  as  do  their  male  col- 
leagues. 

Sometimes  a  man  will  leap  up  In  the  night 
lerrilled.  and  crying  that  he  sees  n  spirit. 
All  within  till'  house  are  at  once  in  motion. 
The  women  he  in  to  sing,  while  this  vision- 
ary tears  his  idanket  to  pieces,  snatches 
feat  hers  fron'  his  pilhnv,  eating  some  ot 
tlitin,  and  f  .uttering  the  others  over  his 
head.  His  nearest  relation  then  makes  in- 
cisions in  his  legs  and  arms,  receives  the 
hlood  in  a  dish,  and  scatters  it  over  the  jdace 
where  the  spirit  is  .supjiosed  to  be  standing, 
Should  the  si)irit  withstand  this  e.Korcism,  it 
is  evident  that  he  wants  property.  Accord- 
ingly the  trie  lids  of  the  visionary  tiirow  Ills 
jiroijcrlyon  the  lire;  his  clothes,  his  mats, 
and  even  the  v<'ry  boxes  in  which  thev  were 
kepi,  go  to  make  up  the  demands  of  the 
spirit,  which  will  not  take  Ha  leave  until  all 
the  property  has  been  destroyed. 

TiiK  mode  of  disposal  of  the  dead  varies 
extremely  among  the  dilfcrcnt  tribes,  and 
even  in  the  same  tribe  is  not  always  uni- 
form. The  bodies  of  slaves  and  people  of  no 
consequence  are  simply  taken  to  the  burial- 
ground— which  is  usually  a  small  island  — 
wrapped  in  mats,  and  merely  laid  on  the 
ground,  covered  with  sticks  ami  stones.  The 
bodies  of  chiefs  and  voung  girls  of  rank 
are  placed  in  boxes,  and  hoisted  into  the 
branches  of  trees,  where  Ihey  are  allowed  to 
remain.  The  rank  of  the  person  is  indicated 
by  the  height  to  which  the  body  is  raised, 
that  of  n  great  chiefor  of  his  daughter  being 
nearly  at  the  top  of  the  tree,  while  that  of 
an  inferior  chief  will  be  on  one  of  the  lowest 
branches. 

Over  the  coffin  are  thrown  blankets  and 
mats,  and  similar  articles  are  hung  on  the 
boughs  of  neighboring    trees.     They  we 


always  torn  into  strips,  partly  perhaps  as  a 
sign  nf  m.niruing,  and  j.-arlly  to  guaid  them 
Irom  being  stolen.  W  iih  tlu;  dead  man  is 
deposited  all  the  pro^ierty  which  he  has  not 
given  away  befoi  c  his  death,  except  his  best 
canoe,  his  share  of  tlu!  roof  and  wall  boards 
his  weapons,  and  his  slaves,  nil  of  which  be- 
long by  rij.'ht  to  his  cddcst  sou.  In  yumo 
cases  even  his  hoiisi-  is  burii(<|,and  in  others 
the  posts  are  dug  uii,  and  the  whole  house 
traifjiorted  to  another  |io.xitioii. 

Near  the  bodies  id  chiefs  arc  placed  I  iCgo 
wooden  images  intended  to  represent  the 
dead  man.  ( hvi  of  lliein,  seen  by  Mr.  Sproat 
held  a  skull  in  its  hand,  which  it  was  grimly 
<'ontem|)lating;  anotlu'r,  which  n  iireseiiled 
a  deceiLsetl  orator,  had  its  hand  outstretched 
as  in  the  act  of  8|)eaking;  and  a  third  was 
shown  as  if  grasping  a  wolf.  The  relntives 
olten  visit  their  burial-ijlaces.  They  come 
about  dark,  light  a  great  lire,  and  feed'it  with 
oil  and  other  intlamniable  materials,  while 
they  wail  loudly  at  interval.s. 

lo  the  honor  of  the.-o  tribes,  it  may  bo 
said  that  they  never  disturb  the  relics  of"' the 
de]>arted,  even  if  they  occupy  the  burial- 
ground  of  a  hostile  tribe.  In  conse(|iience 
of  the  mode  of  burial,  nothing  can  have 
a  more  dreary  or  forlorn  look  than  an  isl- 
and which  has  been  selected  as  a  burial- 
ground.  On  the  branches  of  the  trees  are 
the  mouldering  bodies  of  the  <lead,  and  on 
their  boujjhs  flutter  the  tattered  remains 
of  their  clothing.  And  on  the  ground  the 
scene  is  no  better,  for  it  is  occupied  with 
decaying  boards,  broken  boxes,  shattered 
canoes,  rotten  paddles,  and  other  emblems 
of  decay. 

"When  the  dead  chief  has  been  a  man  of 
very  great  importance,  his  emblem  or  crest 
IS  either  painted  or  carved.  In  tlie  former 
case  it  is  painted  on  the  coflin,  but  in  the 
latter  it  is  generally  placed  on  a  jiostor  a 
tree  near  the  body.  According  to  Mr.  Dun- 
can, if  the  crest  should  happen  to  W.  an 
eagle  or  a  raven,  it  is  carved  as  if  in  the  act 
of  tlying,  and  fixed  to  the  edge  of  liic  coffin 
with  Its  wingis  spread,  as  if  it  were  typical 
of  thi!  escaping  and  aspiring  spirit  of  the 
dead  chief. 


CIIArTER  CXLV. 


ALASKA. 


EMtJTES  -  INGKLKTE8  -  CO-YrKON9. 


MALI' 

DAVCK-^  <■■'="   A..r.UVANl.K-IN..K..B    K.»        1  ^„  ,„  _  ^^pEAUA-NCK   OF  TIIK   WOMEN  -  AKKEC- 

,N.-    .'Oil    r-.K,   nKAO-WAKK-DIHI-OSAI,  OF    '^"«       " 

TU  s    K    «  C..l..m.KN-COMMUNITV  Or  000U8  -  C.ABA.TKU. 


ml  uilvi...n'l.aHc.l  tlio.  turn  ory  «[  A  '«k. ; 
t,U  work  willlx!  incivivsc.l  in  v:iUio  to  tin 
Am,    rm  u  l)H'-.  I'V  iiu'liulin^'  some  accoun 
of  tl/e  um.'ivUi/..a  Iril.es  which  arc  its  most 

"Tr^'Sint-ITnalnchleotllivori. 

n,     m  si    .'.rtlu-rn  s.-tUomcnt  on  the  coast 

l"     ■  n      :  'lio'-J  post.     To  Ih.  northwest 

Si:;^;;^\.;\i:;nu;.nanjon,.hom.i..vct,n 

""'^oS       a.     rn:.!n' !1  .-alUnl  tho  To-took. 

1,  ,1  Vmi  eilhl-r  8uU'  of  the,  face  just  helow 

h!  m     tl.     The  ornnmcntM  of  th.^  women, 

1         •     ;t..ut  and    .roo.l-humon-d.  are    a 

7i:\rm    £    chin.'l.ca.ls   han-in«  from 

.;£;K:;^ulu.solcaac.M.riron|n;acele;.. 


Mr  \Vl>vmncr'?ivcstho  foUowUw^  account 
of^i  .'lance  to  which  ho  and  his  party  were 

'"-'(in  aTi^ivlnj,'  at  the  doorway,  we  found  a 
suht.-rrancan  passa-e,  two  and  a  hal     .-.■ 
hi.'  1,  crawltuu'   throu-h  whi.di  we   at   last 
"ached  the  n.om,-.li>"l.y  h«l"«'l  '•>'  ''  >' - 
,cr  lamps.     The   In.Uans  who  were  to  take 
mrtin     he  dan.-e,  chi.'Hy  y.mn- men,  were 
ude  U.  the  waiHt,  and  w.u-e  mjal,  .  eerskm 
"cotton  pantal..ons,  with   tails  ot  wolves 
r. .  -    1  an«in-  b.dund,  and  f.-athers  .-..uiul 
the ir^heads?    The   ciders  sat  on  a  hen.h  ..r 
s  lelf  runnin- round  the  entire  huildin..',  an. 
Sd.>na,,j;r..vin,ly,wdnletheyc^^^^ 
their  own  smoke,  like  the    lei  uKltiiis,  i>y 
Slowing' it,  an.l  ^-eltinf,'  partially  mloxi- 


;,,„.,  ,,„ed  the  To-t„ok     «;™^-'j;.^,  "'.  "'^.c  wl.u^i'hrou^h^t  in  l.et- 
-«  V»:.»""-„>:"!!.A"i:::;^±   rwiinll  Is^^in  largc'contogs>r  wo.,aen 

''""Vho  performance  commen.-cd  hy  the 
actors  ranL'ins  themselves  in  a  wniaiv,  and 
rvS'Xse,Tish..s  of  provisions  to  the  four 
rais   i„  i'"_.  ^,_^  „ui„,.lv  nnd  once  to  the 


tlu•w^nenh^^in«ti.es,.ksat._^hK^^^ 


„u.ce      "TVir^haldarres"  of   these  na- 
^■'  similar  to  the  Ksquimaux   kajak,  are 
The     frami'? 


one 

'';'%'r'mX""'T^'o'" frames  are  light 
Si"  1  (•'  he  ^kiu  covering  being  bcw.'^ 
wllh  sinew,  and    the   seams  made  watcr- 

^'Htt5S.S'^^l'^!;^^"u.ulorground^ 
anVluwe'tunnat^rougliwh^ch^ouc,^^ 

„..„,,„,i  —lots  out  the  smoke.  >V  hen  mere 
fs "no" (ire,'  this  apcilure  is  cio«fcly  covcrca 
with  a  skin. 


in.)nolonous  eiioi  un,  >i  ■>■•  • ,      a  ., 

f  "o  gs,^vas  starle.1.  The  wonlsol  the  s..  g 
eommenced, '  Yungi  ya,  iya,  i  va!  an.  In- 
tinued  throughout,'  Yung  i  ya  1    .n."'"  'Y' 'y 
s  ranu  out  ..n  the  floor  ;  he  was  join.'.l  hy  a 
sec  nl  then  a  third,  till  a  c.rcUM.l.twe    y 
was  formed.    Now  they  appeared  v.o  .'ntly 
rttract.>d  together,  an.l   now  as  much  re- 
Vi^^i     now  thev  Were  horrified  at  one  aii- 
iSk  ZduS^'a  J  held,  np  their  arms  in 
warning  gestures,  and  a-ain  all  were  irienls 
am  madcrpantomim.  of  their  Ui^PP'^f, ;,,; 
V,":"  '   >vf-'ru'"Pce  there  was  nearly  as  mi't" 
donJby  arms  and  bodies,  as  with  feer.  ^V  hen 


(1374) 


Tirn  CO-YUKON8. 


1878 


Hunt  wiiH  II  lull  ill  (he  ('iitcrtaliitni'iit,  miiimII 

|l|-('Hl!lltN  Wl'I'l!  J{iVUIl    to  111!  lln^    HlrallKrl'M    ill- 

viti'd." 

Tlhi  Miiliiniitc.M  ami  Kiivcak!*,  tli()ii)^i> 
iiiUMiniiiKliiiK,  and  liavliiK  Hiinilar  h»l)ilH, 
iiiaiiiicix,  ami  ciisloiiiM,  yet  Npi'ak  dilU'rciil 
(lialceU  ami  iiiluibil  diUlruiit  ^mla  of  tliu 


territory.  Tliey  arti  connldortMl  n*  Mipcrior 
to  till:  other  iiidiiui  irilii'H  ot'  that  ii'<;'iiiti. 
Tin;  Mali^iniitc  chief  "  Ah^iiyamik,"  wlioin 
Mr.  Wliym|)i'r  Naw,  "  wax  a  lliu-locjkiiiK  old 
man,  crttci  and  Holdicrly,  and,  u'larhi^  ii 
niimtuelu!  and  iin]i)'rial,  ITih  niaiimiH  woiiiil 
not  luivo  diMgruccd  u  civilized  iiMMcmbiy." 


INIJKLETES. 


Till".  ln;,'i'l('t('H  speak  a  dialect  entirely  dif- 
ferent Iroiii  that  of  the  .MMJeinules,  —  one 
nearly  allied  to  the  (.'o-yiikon.  They  iiro  u 
hloiil,  iiohle-lookiiiK  race,  Kood-nalured,  and 
has  in;^  coiiHideralile   intelligence. 

j'oh^'ainy,  thou),'h  allowed,  i."<  ni>t  very 
coninion,  and  iiiarriaj,'e  is  a  permanent  rela- 
tion, e.\c<'i)t  occa.-ionaliy,  when  the  will!  in 
liiirren  or  has  too  many  ilauj,'htcrH,  Female 
cliil(lr<n  not  liein^'  prized  ko  highly  an  hous, 
in  mich  inslances  lh<'  w  il'e  is  soiiielimeH  dis- 
mi.ss('d.  They  live  in  undernronnd  houses, 
Buuh  U.S  havu  beuu  dcacribud,  iiiul  in  mild, 


wet  weather,  the  pn^npe-wny  Is  nolliinji 
but  a  sewer,  'i'he  entrance  bein^»  covered 
with  a  skin,  the  mixture  of  foul  smells  in- 
sidi!,  urisiii<^  troni  stale  llsh  and  meal,  old. 
Kkins,  doKs,  dirt  and  smoke,  is  sickening'  and 
iniendurable  by  any  but  an  liKliaii.  Mr. 
Whyinper  testifies  to  the  ;;ood  temper  of 
the  (hildrcn  and  the  lionesty  of  the  people. 
"At  their  villa;;es  our  ^oods  lay  unguarded 
in  our  absence,  and  I  cannot  recall  a  sin^rle 
case  of  proved  dishonesty  ainon^'  them, 
althoujih  we  liaind  them  beenniiii^'  nioru 
greedy  in  their  demands  lor  j)ayinent." 


THE  CO-YUKONS. 


TiiK  (Jo-yukons  are  an  interior  tribe, and 
the  lai'ijesl  on  the  Yukon,  which  is  the  },'reat 
river  of  the  north,  beiiiL;  -',(10(1  miles  loii},', 
and  navigable  l,(i(lll  miles.  They  may  be 
Ibund  on  the  banks  of  the  Co-yukuk,  ami 
other  interior  rivers.  These  Indians  resem- 
ble the  Injieletes,  already  mentioned,  but 
ha  "c  a  more  ferocious  countenance.  Their 
dress  is  a  double-taileil  coat,  one  tail  before, 
the  oilier  behind,  and  this  style,  with  some 
iiiodillcalions,  prevails  for  a  thousand  miles 
on  the  Yukon. 

The  dress  of  the  women  is  cut  more 
nqunicly,  and  they  wear  an  ornament  of 
lly-a-iiiia  shells  on  the  nose,  which  runs 
tliVoiiu'h  a  hole  made  in  th(!  carlilaije  be- 
tween the  nostrils.  It  is  a  siiiijular  fact  that 
hifjher  up  the  river  it  h  the  men  only  who 
wear  this  oiiiamenl. 

Amonij  these  tribes  the  period  of  inourn- 
iiiL'  for  tiiedead  is  one  year,  the  women  dur- 
iie^'  this  time  often  ^iitheriii^  to  t.ilk  and 
crv  over  the  deceased.  At  the  end  of  the 
ve'ar,  they  have  a  feast  or  "  wake."  which  is 
p'uerallv  a  (jiieer  compound  of  Jollity  and 
^rrief  ('ill"  such  scene,  to  conMUemoralo  the 
death  ofa  child,  was  witnessed  by  Mr.  Why m- 
peratNiilato.  "The  poor  old  inolber  and 
some  of  her  friends  wejit  bitterly,  while  the 
quests  were  },'ayly  danciuf;  mund  a  painted 
pole,  on  which  strings  of  beads  and  some 
ma^nilicent  wolf  nkins  were  hunt:.  Th<-y 
kepi  up  sinjjinf;  and  daiicin;,'  to  afashiimable 
hour  of  the  morniuf;,  and  one  little  savafje, 
who  had  been  shoutin-;  at  the  top  of  his 
luni,'s  for  hours, got  up  the  next  day  without 
auy^voice  ut  uU,  a  case  of  righteous  rutribu- 


tioii.  The  decorations  of  the  pole  were  di- 
vided ainouK  those  who  took  part  in  the 
'wake.'" 

Their  methoil  of  disposin-j;  of  the  dead  is 
not  interment,  but  enclosure  in  (d)lonj;  boxi  s, 
raised  on  posts.  These  are  sometimes  oriia- 
luen  ted  wit  list  lips  of  skin, and  the  iiosses^ioiis 
of  the  deceased,  as  the  canoe,  paddles,  iVc.,  arc 
placed  on  the  toj)  of  the  box.  Smaller  arti- 
cles are  i)laeed  within  the  box.  'J'liis  fmir- 
post  colUn  is  a  cusloiii  also  amon;:;  the  coast 
tribes  already  described.  The  wdiiien  mo 
(piite  prepossessiiijjiii  appearance,  are  all'ec- 
tioiiale  toward  their  children,  an<l  especiirily 
fond  of  their  fnst-born.  They  arc  good-natured 
and  playful,  snowballing  and  rolling  each 
othei  intlie  snow,  sliding  down  hill  on  sled- 
ges or  snow-shoes,  with  the  enthusiasm  of 
children. 

There  are  other  tribes,  the  names  of  w  hieh 
need  only  be  mentioned,  viz:  the  Koleh-a- 
Kutchins"  (or  lowland  peoiile),  the  An  Kut- 
cbins,  the  Tatauchok  Kutchins,  liircli  River 
and  Kat  Uivir  Indians.  The  Zaiiaiia  In- 
dians (or  knoll  people),  Mr.  AVhymper  thinks 
are  tlu;  most  unsophisticated  of  all  the  In- 


dian tribes  of  the  present  dav.  Those  he 
saw  "  were  gay  with  painted  faces,  feathers 
in  their  lout?  liair,  patches  of  red  elay  at  the 
back  of  their  heads,  covered  with  small  Ihilfy 
feathers,  double-tailed  coats  and  nautaloons 
of  buckskin,  much  adorned  with  fringes  and 
beads,  and  elaborately  worked  fire-hags  and 
belts."  Many  of  them,  as  in  other  Indinn 
tribes,  wore  through  the  nose  the  Hy-a-qim 
shell  as  an  ornament.  The  women  of  the 
upper  tribes  wear  less  ornament  than  the 


1376 


ALASKA. 


men,  ana  arc  compelled  to  do  more  dru'^Sf  ^^1 
than  those  of  the  lower  Yukon  and  coast  ot 

^  Amons  the  coast  tribes,  and  especially 

S  Sity  s  expected  as  a  matter  ot  course. 
•fi'onVan  woman,  or  child  among  them  goes 
unr"  ,  «n  oused   or  unw.'xrmed    if  there  be 
food    1  veiling,  or  fire  in  the  settlement." 

Auou'   the  tribes  of  Alaska  a  system  of 
slavery  c'xi^ts  that  can  hardly  be  surpassed 
f     un,.i,n rUi  1    Thev  all  buy  and  sell  slaves. 
'  pSnU  V  1  sell  their  chifdren  for  three  or 
fon     b  ankets  or  a  few  dollars,  and  have  no 
SmpuncUonof  conscience  for  the  use  they 
may  be  put  to  in  the  future.      When  one 
tribe  "oes  to  war  with  another,  all  the  pris- 
oner Uken  by  either  tribe   aic  called  and 
?,s,nl    arslaves.      When   a    chief   or   any 
of     i.  famuj  dies,  it  is  the  custom  to  kill 
one    r  more  of  these  slaves,  so  that  the  chief 
o-hs  deceased  relative  may  hnve  a  .servant 
in  the  other  world  to  wait  on  bun.     I"  18(,8 
an  old  chief  of  the  Si'ka  tribe  died,  and  a 
few  days  before  his  death,  when  his  relatives 
were  satisfied  that  he  could  live  but  a  short 
1-ne  they  selected  as  a  victim,  for  sacrilice 
V   you  ?  healthy,    good-look  ng    w.arnor, 
whom  the  Sitka  'tribe  had  taken  prisoner 
w    le  a   war  with  one  of  the  tribes  down 
near  Queen  Charlotte-s  Sound.    The  slave 
All  ecu  ti.Ml  up  two  days  about  the  time 
ho  old  chief  died,  and  by  some  means  some 
S^fiSrs  were  apprised  of  his  coiidition 

and  immediately  "<>'i'i«'  ,^^':"-,^Ynl.l  a 
the  Indian  slave  was  liable  to  be  killed  at 
nnv  1  oment.  Gen.  Davis  had  one  of  the 
c  lets  brought  before  him,  and  after  a  long 
conversation  about  the  foolishness  of  such 
s.^ciiices  he  agreed  to  let  the  slave  go  free; 
nrTle'stJhey  might  attempt  to  put  into  ex- 
ec tiont'ir  original  idea  of  killing  hi.n,  the 
Go. S  l.ennitU.d  the  Indian  to  reinain  m 
Uie  city,  where  he  would  be  protected. 
"  lieccutly  one  of  the  chiefs  tried  hard  to 


cct  hold  of  a  half-breed,  named  Evanoff,  to 
saeriticc  him.    For  the  two  preceding  weeks 
this  chief  would  go  up  every  day  to  Gen. 
Davis,  stating  that  he  had  a  slave  ui  the 
city  and  wanting  to  know  if  he  could  net  get 
him  into  Indiantown.     The  General,  sup- 
posiu'T  the  chief  wanted  one  of  his  Indians, 
told  him  to  go  and  get  him,  but  it  was  not 
until  the  day  in  question  that  the  eftort  was 
made  to  get  this  man.    It  seems  that  Evati- 
off's  mother  was  an  Indian  woman,  but  his 
ftither  was  a  llussian.  and  when  he  was  but 
three  years  of   age  a  lady  ii.-imed   Ikiige- 
man  adopted   and  brought  him  up.      Ihe 
chief  who  claimed  him  had  a  child  that  was 
expected  to  die,  and  afterward  did  die.    Ilay- 
in"^  no  slave  but  his  claim  on  E  vanoll,  he  made 
tins  eflbrt  to  s.icriflce  him  that  he  might  l)e 
a  servant  for  his  child  in  the  spirit  world. 
When    the    general   saw    whom    the   cliief 
claimed,  in  a  very  few  well-timed  words  lie 
tauf  ht  him  and  several  of  his  warriors  more 
about  civilization  than  ever  they  knew  before. 
He  asked  the  chief  what  he  wanted  with  this 
man.    Pointing  to  EvauolV,  the  Indian  told 
him  his  child  w.as  siek,  and  ho  only  wanted 
him  for  three  hours,  and  then  he  would  let 
him  go  free.    The  General  told  him  that  the 
best  thing  he  could  do  was  to  look  on  EvaiiolT 
as  a  free  man  already,  and  warned  the  huliau 
if  in  the  future  he  should  ever  attempt  to 
trouble  E->  anoir  again,  lu>  would  init  liini  in 
the  guiird-house  and  kr-p  him  tliere.    The 
Indian  went  off  well  pleased,  and  stated  that 
lie  would  be  a  good  Indian  thereaUer. 

"  The  slaves  are  put  to  death  as  <ollows; 
As  soon  as  a  chief  dies,  the  slave  is  com- 
nelled  to  wash  the  body  of  the  corpse;  and 
is  then  taken  out  and  thrown  Hat  on  his 
back  and  held  there,  when  a  stiek  of  wood  is 
nl.aced  across  his  throat,  and  two  Indians  sit 
down  on  e.ach  end  of  it,  and  in  this  way 
strangle  him  to  death.  His  body  is  then 
placed  inside  a  large  pile  of  wood  and  buriied 
to  ashes.  It  is  customary  when  a  big  eluot 
dies  to  put  to  death  two  or  more  slaves.  All 
slaves  taken  in  war  have  to  act  as  servants 
for  the  chiefs  who  own  them."  —  {Sitka  Times 
o/A^or.  27,18(51).)  ^  ^,        ,    ,    .      ■ 

The  Indian  jxipulation  of  the  whole  terri- 
tory of  Alaska  is  estimated  at  about  ;!(l.OiXt. 
They  are  peaceful  and  quite  capable,  learn- 
ing quickly,  and  exhil)iting  considerable 
skill  in  their  utensils  and  weapons. 


CHAPTEK    CXLVI. 


SIBEEIA. 


THE  TCHUKTCHI  —  JAKUTS  —  TUNQUSl. 


BOMB  OF  THE  TCmjKTCHI  —  INDEPENDENCE  —  DISTRICT  OF  THE  RUSSIANS  —  C.VRAVANS  —  INTOXT- 
<;ATI0N  by  tobacco  —  fair  of  OSTROWNOJE  —  GRAVITY  OF  THE  TCUUKTCIII — TIIEIB  TENT 
—  MADAME  LEUTT  —  HOSPITALITY  —  SHAMANISM  —  HUMAN  l-aCRIFICE  —  POLYGAMY  —  MITRDEP 
OF  THE  AGED  —  JAKUTS  —  THEIR  ENDURANCE  —  RESERVE  —  SUPERSTITION  —  THE  TUNGUSI  — 
DIFFERENT  TRIBES  —  CANNIBALISM  — ORNAMENTS  —  BRAVERY  —  DIET  —  SHAMANISM  —  DISPOSAL 
OF  THE  DEAD  — A  NIGIIt'S  HALT  WITH    THE  TUNOUSI  IN  THE   FOREST  —  SPORTS  —  FAIRS. 


CitossiNO  IJelirinf^'s  Straits  into  Asia,  we 
fnul  in  Northorn  Siberia  several  peoples 
whose  condition  and  eiiaractcr  bring  them 
witliin  tin;  seojic  of  this  worlf. 

Tlic  home  oftlie  TcitUKTCiii  is  at  the  ex- 
treme north-eastern  point  of  Asia;  bonnded 
by  the  Polar  Ocean  on  one  side,  and  by 
IJehring  Sea  on  the  other.  It  is,  as  the  few 
travellers  who  have  visited  it  say,  one  of  the 
dreariest  regions  of  the  earth.  There  is  no 
indication  of  snmnier  before  Jnly  20th,  and 
winter  begins  about  tlie  '20th  of  Augnst. 
The  sea  coasts  alioiind  with  seal".  ."ea-Iions, 
and  walruses;  while  the  wolf,  reindeer,  and 
Arctic  fox  aliound  in  tiie  interior.  In  this 
cold,  desolate  region  dwell  the  only  al)origi- 
nal  race  of  Northern  Asia  that  has  resisted 
all  attein])ts  of  the  Russian  government  to 
tai\e  away  its  independence.  Dr.  Hartwig, 
in  his  sketch  of  this  trilie,  says:  "  The 
rulers  of  Silieria  have  confined  them  within 
narrower  limits,  but  they  obey  no  foreign 
leader,  and  wander  unmolested,  with  their 
numerous  reindeer  herds,  over  the  naked 
tundras. 

A  natural  distrust  of  their  powerful  ncigli- 
hors  has  rendered  them  long  unwilling  to 
enter  into  any  commercial  intercourse  with 
the  Russians,  and  to  meet  them  at  the  fair 
of  Ostrownoje,  a  small  town,  situatetl  not 
far  from  their  frontiers,  on  a  suiall  island  of 
the  Aninj,  in  (iH"  N.  lat. 

From  the  East  Cajie  of  Asia,  where,  cross-' 
ing  JJchring's  Strait  i«  boiita  covesed  with 


skins,  they  barter  furs  and  walrus  teeth 
with  the  natives  of  America,  the  Tehuktelii 
come  with  tlieir  goods  and  tents  drawn  on 
sledges  to  the  fair  of  Ostrownoje.  One  of 
these  caravans  generally  consists  of  fifty  or 
sixty  families,  and  one  fair  is  scarcely  nt  an 
end  when  they  set  olf  to  make  their  arrange- 
ments for  the  next. 

Tobacco  is  the  pn'niujji  moMe  of  the  trade 
which  centres  in  Ostrownoje.  Their  pipes 
are  of  a  peculiar  character,  larger  at  tho 
stem  than  the  bowl,  which  holds  a  very  small 
quantity  of  tobacco.  In  smoking,  they  swal- 
low the  fumes  of  the  tobacco,  and  often,  after 
six  or  eight  whilfs,  fall  back,  completely  in- 
toxicated tor  the  time. 

]Jiit  Ostrownoje  attracts  not  only  Tchuk-^ 
tchi  and  Russians;  a  great  number  of  the* 
Siberian  tribes,  from  a  vast  circuit  of  1,000 
or  1,500  versts,  —  Jukahiri,  Lainutes,  Tun- 
gusi,  Tschuwanzi,  Koriacks,  —  also  come 
flocking  in  their  sledges,  drawn  partly  by 
dogs,  jjartly  by  horses,  for  the  purpose  of 
bartering  their  commodities  against  the 
goods  of  the  Tchuktchi.  Fancy  tliis  bar- 
l)arou8.  assembly  meeting  every  year  during 
the  intense  cokl  and  short  days  of  the  be- 
ginning of  March.  Picture  to  yourself  the 
fantastic  illumination  of  their  red  wateh- 
ftres  blazing  under  the  starry  firmament,  or 
mingling  their  luddy  glare  with  the  aurora 
nickering  through  the  skies,  and  add  to  the 
strange  si<:ht  the  hollow  sound  of  the  Sha- 
maa's  drum,  and  the  howling  of  sevtsral 


A  1 


tt3ZI> 


1878 


SIBERIA. 


hunilreds  of  hun<:;rv  dogs,  and  you  will  siirclj 
confess  thai  no  tUir  has  a  more  original  cuai- 
actcr  than  that  of  Ostrownoje.  .  ,„  ,  ,  ,  ,, 
The  imperturbable  gravity  of  t he  •TclmUcn 
forms  a  remarkable  contrast  with  "le  «';-';  7 
ca-erness  of  the  Russian  traael^  A U  ou„ii 
the  Teluiktchi  have  no  s(^alcH.  ^vi  h  t^iem  it 

ary   inhabilants   uu  eed  (as  i'.  \ '  ?^,  ^'  . 
monlioiie.l  in  statistical  f  ^po""^^' ^^'"^  ,,*^,\\: 
towns  ofseventeen  sonls)   i?  «^'>»  f  ^  /^J^^^, 
doned  for  many  mouths  to  its  ultia-Sibciian 

^°S^bofbre  wo  allow  the  Tch.jkt<;lu  to 
rotii-o  to  tlieir  deserts,  we  may  learn  some- 
[h  .r  ,  ",  -e  of  their  halnts  Ivy^  aceompany.ng 
M  "•  Matiuschkiu  AVrangeirs  eomnanio.    on 

Tvisit  to  the  ladies  of  one  of  their  lust 
chiefs.  "We  enter  the  outer  tent  oi 
^wamet,'  consisting  of  tanned  reindeer 
skins  supported  on"  a  slender  framework. 
An  opening  at  the  top  to  let  out  the  smoke 
and  a  kettle  in  the  centre,  announce  th.at 

?,^ous iv  1  lended  into  one.  But  where,  are 
the  inmatesV    Most. probably  "^    ha    large 

sack  made  of  the  1  nest  ^l^'"?  «f  -^  "'tw 
calves,  which  occupies,  near  the  kettle,  tie 
cent'e  of  the  '  walnet.'    To  renotn,  c  mto 


I 


centre  of  the  '  wa.net.'     1     P''"' „,,.„,. 
this    mnHnm  saurtonan    o     ^^e    Ichnk 
houschol.l,  we   raise   the   loose  llaiyNbich 
ser  es  as  a  door,  creep  on  all-fours  through 
the  one  liu",  cautiously  re-fasten  the  flap  by 
uek    g    it'under    the  lloo.-skin    and  l.nd 
ourselves  in  the  recepti.m  or  w.thd.-awing- 
rooni  -  the  '  polog.'    A  snug  box,  no  doubt, 
foracold  climate,  but  rather  low,  as  we  can- 
not stand  ui.right    in  il,  and  lu.t  quite  so 
we  1  veiUilat  Hi  as  a  sanitary  com.n.ssioner 
would  approve   of,  as   it.  has  l'o^'t',y>'ly,'';: 
opening   for  light    or  air,      Asulocat.^ 
smoke  meets  us  on  e»^"i-"V^'-    ^^, '^^  "^     " 
eves,  and   when   they  have   at    length  got 
accustomed    to  the  biting.  'iV'^P'';';;^:;/^;^; 
perceive,  by  the  gloomy  light  of  a  tiain-oU 
hunp,  the  worthy  family  squatting  on  the 
floor  in  a  state  of  almost  complete  nudity. 
AVithout  being   in   the    least  einbarrasscnl, 
Madame  Leiitt  and  her  daughter  receive  us 
hi  Uieir  primitive  costume.    But,  to  show  us 
that   the  Tchuktehi  know  how   to  receivi 
company;  and   to  do  honor  to  their  guests 
they   immediately   insert    strings   of    glass 
beaJls  in  their  greasy  hair,  /''cir  hosp  lal- 
ity  equals  tUcir  politeuess;  for,  instead  of  u 


cold  reception,  a  hot  dish  of  boiled  reindeer 
tlesh,  copiously  irrigated  \vith  raiuid  train- 
oil  by  the  experienced  hand  of  the  mistiess 
of   the  household,   is    soon    after  smoking 
before  us.      Unfortunately,  our  ellemiuato 
taste  is  not  up  to  the  haul  i/nnl  of  her  culi- 
nary art,  and  while   Mr.  J.eiitt  does  ample 
justice  to  the  artistic  talent  of  his  spouse, 
"by  rapidly  bolting  down  pieces  as  large  as  a 
list  we  are  hardly  able  to  swallow  a  moiaei. ' 
Though  most  of  the  Reindeer  or  nomadic 
Tchuktehi  luivebeen  baptized,  yet  Wrangell 
supposes  the  ceremony  to  have  been  a  mere 
linaneial  speculation  on  their  iiart,  and  is 
convinced  that  the  power  of  the  ^^hanians  is 
still  as  "i-eat  as  ever.    An  epidenne  had  car- 
ried oifa  great  number  of  persims,  and  also 
whole  herds  of  rciudet'r.     In  vain  the  Sliam- 
ans  had  recourse  to  their  usual  coniuratious. 
The  i)la<Tue  eoiitimied.     They  consulted  to- 
cether  and  directed  that  one  of  their  intst 
Respected  chiefs,  named  Kotschen.  must  be 
sacrificed,  to  apiiease  the   irritated  spirits. 
Kotschen  was  willing  to  submit  to  the  sen- 
tence but  none  could  be  found  to  execute  it, 
until  his  own  son,  prevailed  on  by  his  latiier's 
exhortations,  and  terrilied  l)y  his  threatened 
curse,  plunged  a  knife  into  his  heart,  and 
.rave  his  body  to  the  Shamans. 

rolyrfamy  is  general  among  the   leluik- 
t(!hi,  and  they  chanjj;c  their  wives  as  often  as 
they  please.     Still,"  though  the  women  are 
eeriainly  .slaves,  tluiy  are  allowed  mor(^  ui- 
tUience,  and  are  subjected  to  less  labor,  than 
among  many  savages.    Aiixnig  other  heath- 
enish   and  'detestable    customs,   is   that  of 
killiug  all  deftu-med  children,  and  idl  old  peo- 
i)le  as  soon  as   they  become  unfit  lor  the 
hardships   and    fatigues  of   a   nomad    life. 
They  do  not  indulge  in  any  neeilless  erii- 
eltv,  but  stupefy  the  aged  vielim.by  putting 
some  substance  up  the  nostrils  betoiv  opiMi- 
in<^  a  vein.     Two  years   behnc   W  raiigell  s 
arrival   at   Kolyma"  there  was   an  instance 
of  this  in  tbe'caseof  one  of  then-  richest 
chiefs.     Waletka's  father  became  uilinn  and 
tired  of  life, and  was  put  to  death  at  liis  own 
express  desire,  by  some  of  his  nearest  rela- 

'*The  number  of  the  Tchuktehi  is  greater 
than  one  might  expect  to  lind  iii  so  sterile  a 
country.  Acconling  to  the  Russian  mis- 
sionaries, there  were,  some  year-;  back,  ;.- 
ulusses  or  villages  of  the  Oiikilou  (or  sta^ 
tionary  Tchuktehi),  with  U-WH  tents  ami 
10,000  inhabitants,  and  Wnuigc  !  id  is  us 
that  the  Tenuvgk  (or  Reindeer  IcluiUtclii), 
are  at  least  twice  as  nmnerous,  so  tlut  the 
entire  population  of  the  land  of  the  Ichuk- 
tchi  may  possibly  amount  to  30,000. 


THE  TUKf.USI. 


JAKUT8. 


1379 


The  Jakxtts  are  the  most  energetic  of 
tliese  races,  having  reached  a  hijjher  civiliza- 
tion tlian  tlie  others  in  tho  same  latitude, 
with  the  exception  of  Iceland,  Finland,  and 
Norway.  They  arc  a  pastoral  people,  hospi- 
table, possess  considerable  mechanical  skill, 
and  are  so  sluewd  and  cunning  that  no 
Russian  can  compete  with  them. 

"Even  in  Siberia,"  AVningell  saya,  "they 
are  called  •  men  of  iron.'  Often  have  I  seen 
them  sleeping;  at  a  temperature  of  4°  in 
the  open  air,  and  with  a  thick  ice  rind  cover- 
ing their  almost  unprotected  bodies." 


Though  reserved  and  unsocial,  they  are 
kind  to  strangers  that  need  assistance. 
They  are  the  universal  carriers  to  the  east 
of  the  Lena.  Bidding  deiiance  to  the  cold 
and  the  storm,  fearing  neither  tho  gloom 
of  the  forest  nor  tlii  dangers  of  the  icy 
strciim,  yet  they  are  imt  cmancii)ated  froih 
the  old  belief  in  Schamanism  —  the  dread 
of  evil  spirits.  They  number  about  200,- 
000,  and  form  the  principal  part  of  the 
population  of  the  vast  and  dreary  province 
of  Jakutsk. 


THE  TUNGUSI. 


This  race  havmg  spread  over  East  Siberia, 
driving  i)cfore  tliem  the  .Jakuts,  Jukahiri, 
Tchuktclii.  and  otlier  aboriginal  tribes.  Were 
conquered  by  tiie  Russians,  and  are  now  ns 
ignorant  and  uncivilized  as  they  were  two 
imndred  and  fifty  years  ago.  Dr.  Hartwig, 
deriving  his  information  from  AV^rangell, 
the  Arctic  explorer,  thus  sketches  the  trails 
of  this  pi'0])le:  — 

"  Aceording  to  their  occupations,  and  the 
various  domesru-  animals  employed  by  them, 
they  are  {li>lingni«heil  by  the  names  of  Eein- 
deer,  Horse,  Dog,  Fori'st,  and  River  Tun- 
gusi;  but,  although  they  are  found  from  the 
basins  of  the  Uiiper,  "Middle,  and  Lower 
'J'unguska,  to  the  western  shore  of  the  seaof 
Oeliotsk.and  from  the  Chinese  frontiers  and 
the  I5;iikal  to  the  Polar  Ocean,  their  whole 
luimln  T  <l(>es  not  amount  to  more  than  30,0(10, 
and  diminishes  from  year  to  year,  in  conse- 
(luenee  of  the  ravMLr<'s  of  the"  small-pox  and 
other  epi<lemic  disorders  transmitted  to  them 
by  the  Russians.  Only  a  few  rear  Iiorses  and 
cattle,  the  reindeer  lieing  generally  their  do- 
nieslie  animal;  and  the  imiioverished  Tun- 
guse,  who  has  l)een  de|irived  of  his  herd  In 
sonu>  contagious  disoider,  or  the  ravages  of 
the  wolves,  lives  as  a  llsherman  on  the  borders 
of  a  river,  assisted  liy  his  dog,  or  retires  into 
the  forests  as  a  proniysrldeniU,  or  hunter." 

Of  the  miseries  v.hieh  here  await  him. 
Wraii'^'eli  relates  a  pn'laneholy  instai\ce.  In 
a  solitary  hut,  in  one,  of  the  dreariest  wilder- 
nesses ii'niiginable,  he  found  a  Tuiignsc  and 
his  dai'u'hler.  While  tlie  father,  with  his 
long  snow-'^hoes,  was  ])ursuing  a  reindeer 
lor  several  days  to<_reliier,  this  unfortunate 
1,'irl  remained  alone  and  helpU'ss  in  the  hut, 

—  which  even  in  sun\mer  afforded  but  an 
:m|)erl'eet  shelter  against  the  rain  and  wind, 

—  exposed  to  the  cold,  and  frequently  to 
hunger,  and  without  tlie  least  oeenpation. 
No  wond<-r  that  the  impoverished  Tuiigusi 
not  seldom  sink  into  cannibalisiu.  Neither 
the  reindeer  nor  the  dogs,  nor  the  wives 
and  children  of  their  inoi'c  fortunate  coun- 


trymen, are  soctn-e  from  the  attacks  and 
Voracityof  these  outcasts,  who,  in  their  turn, 
are  treated  like  wild  beasts,  and  destroyed 
without  mercy.  A  bartering  trade  is,  how- 
ever, carried  on  with  them,  but  only  at  a 
distance,  and  by  signs;  each  party  dejiosit- 
ing  its  goods,  and  following  every  "motion  of 
the  other  with  a  suspicious  eye. 

The  Russian  government,  anxious  to  re- 
lieve the  misery  of  the  imi)overished  nom- 
ads, has  given  orders  to  settle  fhem  along 
the  river  lianks,  and  to  provide  them  with 
the  necessary  lishinij  implements;  but  only 
extreme  wre'tchcd.-.     s  can  induce  the  Tun- 
gnse  to  relinquish  his  free  life  of  the  forest. 
Ilis    careless  temper,  his    ready   wit,  and 
sprightly  manner,  distinguish  him  from  the 
other  Siberian  tribes, — the  gloomy  Samoicde, 
the  uncouth  Ostiak,  the  reserved  Jaknt,  — 
but  he  is  said  to  be  full  of  deceit  and  malice. 
His  vanity  shows  itsidf  in  the   quantity  of 
glass   beads   with   which   he   decorates   his 
dress  of  reindeer  leather,   from   his   small 
Tartar  cap  to  the  tips  of  his  shoes.     When 
chasing  or  travelling  on  his  reindeer  through 
the  woods,  he  of  course  lays  aside  most  of 
his  finery,  and   puts  on   largo   water-tight 
boots,  or  "sari,  well  greased  with  fat,  to  keep 
olf  the  wet  of  the  morass.     His  hunting  ap- 
paratus is  extremely  sin»ple.    A  small  axe, 
a   kettle,  a   leathern   bag  containing  some 
(tried  tish,  a  dog,  a  short  gun,  or  merely  a 
bow  and  a  sling,  is  all  he  requires  for  his 
expeditions  inti)  the  forest.     With  the  as- 
sistance of  his  long  and  narrow  snow-shoes, 
he  flies  over  the  'dazzling  jilains,  and  pro- 
tects his   eyes,  like   the   Jakut,  with  a  net 
made  of  blaik  horse-hair.    He  never  hesi- 
tates to  attack  the  bear  single-handed,  and 
irenerallv  masters  him.    The  nomad  Tun- 
mise  naturally  requires  a  movable  dwelling. 
His  tent  is  covered  with   leather,  or  large 
l)ieces  of  pliable  bark,  which  arc  easily  rolled 
up  and  transported  from  place  to  place.  The 
yonrt  of  the  sedentary  Tunguse  resembles 
'■  "that  of  the  Jakut,  ;".nd"is  so  small  that  it  can 


1380 


SIBEUIA. 


be  very  quickly  and  thoroughly  wvrmcd  by 
a  (iro  kindled  on  the  stone  hearth  m  tnc 
centre.  la  his  food  tho  Tunguse  i8  by  no 
means  dainty.  One  of  us  I'^vo.i  e  di«  u,s 
consists  of  the  contents  of  a  rmdctrs 
stomach  mixed  with  wild  '^,»'"'^^«;  ,f7f 
spread  out  in  tlui.  cakes  ««'"«['"';  J, 
trees,  to  be  dried  in  the  '^»;/''^  '''  7"  j" 
Those  who  have  ««"led  on  the  Wilu  and  m 

the  neighborliood  f  N«';J«^    "^''^Jj'';S 
consume  large  (^»'vntlt.cs  of  buck  tca.w    en 

^*«at"(bw  of  the  Tungusi  have  been  con- 
veSd  T  Christianity:  the  "-fe^|  ^  J^i;:!- 
still  nddii'ted  to  Shamanism.     lUeyuonoi 
ike  to' tty  thdr  dead,  but  V^^J^^^ 
tlieir  lioliday  dresses,  in  largo  i'  "^'«' ^iil^'* 
tlifv   banf'  up  between    two    trees,      inc 
luntiu.' apparatus  of  the  deceased  .s  bunod 
5en    til  ll\e  ehest.     No  eeremo.ues  lu^  u  e 
on   tiie   occasion,   except  ^yl^cn  f^,'^"?""" 
hapilnstobe  in.  the  neig  d.orhood,  whe^^  a 
reindeer  is  saerilicod,on  whose  lUish  lUe  soi- 
ccrerandtho  relatives  re-ale   themselvos, 
wide  the  spirits  to  whom  tFio  animal  is  sup- 
posed    o  be  olVercd  are  obliged  to  content 
[h^mUves  with  the  smell  of  lh«  burn     a  . 
As  ainonc  tl'o    Samoiedes  or  the   Osli.iKs, 
woman   is  a  marketable  ware   among  the 
Tui  -usi.    The  father  gives  his  daughter  in 
Sa"e  for  twenty  or  a  hundred  reindeer 
SJ-  the  bridegroom  is  obliged  to  earn  her 
Imnd  bv  a  long  period  of  service. 
InS,  Siberia  the  Tungusi  divide  with 


the  Jakutfl  the  task  of  conveying  goods  or 
travellers  through  the  forests,  and  allord  the 
stranger  frequent  opportunities  lor  adiiunng 
their  agility  and  good  humor.  On  halting 
aftera  di^s  journey,  the  reindeer  are  u.i- 
packed  in  an  instant,  the  saddles  and  the 
goods  ranged  orderly  on  the  ground,  and  the 
bridlcB  collected   are  huiig   on  branches  of 

^Comfortably  seated  on  bis  reindeer  saddle, 
the  traveller  may  now  amuse  liimsi!!!  with 
the  dances,  which  the  Tungusi  accompany 
with  an  agreeable  song;  or,  il  he  cb()OHe  t« 
witness  their  agility  in  athletic  excrciHcs,  it 
only  costs  him  a  word  ot    eucoiirag.mient 
and  a  small  donation  oi  brandy.     Iwooflho 
Tungusi  hold  a  rope,  and  swing  it  with  fill 
their  might,  80  that  it  does  not  touch  the 
cround.    Meanwhile  a  third  Timguse  skips 
over  the  rope,  pi(^ks  up  a  Ikhv  and  arrow, 
spans  the  bow  and  shoots  the  arrow,  with- 
out once  touching  the  rope.     Some  partie- 
ularly  bold  and  exixirt  Tungun  will  uaiu'O 
over  a  sword  wliicV  a  person  lying  <m  his 
hick  on  the  ground  is  swinging  about  with 
Sogmvtel^tUMity.    ^}^-^M  our  travel  er 
be  a  friend  of  cIhsh, the  TiingUHi  are  e-iujiliy 
at  his  service,  as  they  are  passionately  loiul 
of  this  noblest  of  games,  especially  in  the 
Kolymsk  district.  . 

like  all  other  Siberian  nomads  they  visi  , 
at  least  once  a  year,  the  various  airs  w  ndi 
tu-e  held  in  the  small  towns  scattered  lino 
aivl  there  over  their  immense  territory,  such 
iw  Kirensk,01ekmiiisk,  IJargnsiii  and  Odi- 
otsk  which,before  the  opening  ol  Amoorto 
trade,  was  the  chief  port  of  East  biberiu. 


-t-Tl 


r 

I 


.1  ''t 


CHAPTER   CXLVn. 


SIBERIA  —  Conduded. 


TOE  8AMOIEDE8  AND   OBTIAKS. 


THEin  UAnilAniSM  — Vtll,  on  .nunEAMBAEUT.IK— BHAMANI8M— HAMOIEDE  IPOLH  —  SJAD^l  —  HAHB 
—  TIIK  TADKIITSIOH,  OK  BI'IIIIT»— TlIK  TADIIIKS,  OB  HOnCKBKIU)  —  TlIKIIl  DUKSS— TIIKIR  INVO- 
,,^.f„,,VH_TIIKIll  CONJintlNO  TUICKH  —  HRVKIIENCE  TAII)  TO  TIIK  DKAl)— A  SAMOIKKIC  OATH  — 
Al-l-i;AUANf;iS  OK  THE  HAMo'IkOKB  —  THKIIl  IHIK.SS— A  HAMoiKDK  IIKIXK  —  ClIAUACTKll  OK  nil', 
BAMlJIKllUrt  — TlIKIIl  DECUKAHINONIIMllKHH  — TIlAimiONSOF  ANCIKNT  HEnOKH  —  OSTIAKS— WHAT 
IH  TIIK  out?— A  SUMMKIl  YOUItT  —  1-OVBUTY  OF  OHTIAK  KISHKU.MF,N  —  A  WINTKll  YOlItT— AT- 
TACIIMKNT  <HM)STIAK8  TO  TUEIH  ANCIENT  CUHTOMB  — AUCUJSBY  — AITEAHANCE  AND  CUAUAtTKIl 
OF  THE  08TIA118. 


Thk  Snnloic(ll^'^,  tlic  ncif^hbors  of  the  I.ap- 
liUidi'.rH,  arc    still    further    rcninvotl     from 
civilized    Hoeiety,    ami     i)lun{,'ed     in    even 
dceixu-     biuharism.      The    wildest    tundras 
and  woods  of  Nortluan  KusHia  and  West- 
ern Siberia  arc  the  home  of  the  Samoiede. 
With  his   reindeer  herds  Jic  wanders  over 
the  naked  w^astes,  from    tlie  eastern  eoasts 
of  tlie    White    Sea    to     tlic    banks    of    tlic 
ChalaiP'a,  or  hunts  in  the  boundless  lorests 
between    the    Obi    and    tlie    Jeniftsei.     Ills 
intercourse  witli  the  Itiissiaiis  is  eonfined  to 
his  annual  visit  at  the  fairs  of  such  niiserab  e 
settlements  as    Obdorsk    and    Pustosersk, 
whi'i-e,  far  from   iiii))rovinf,'   by  their  com- 
i)aiiv,  he  but  too  often  Ix'eonies  the  iirey  ot 
their   avarice,  and    learns    to   know   them 
nierelv   as    clients    and    oppressors.      Prot- 
est;int  missionaries  have  Unv^  since  brought 
in>trneti()ii  to  Ihi!  Lapla;i(lerV  hut,  but  the 
niajority   of    the   less   fortunate  Sanioiedes 
still    adhere    to   the   gross   superstitions  of 
their  fathers.    They  believe  in  a  Supreme 
Ueiii",  —  Niim,  or  "  .Tilibeambaertje,  —  who 
resides  in  the  air,  and,  like   the  .Tnpiter  of 
old,  sends  down  thunder  and  li^ditniiii,',  rain 
and  snow;  and  as  a  proof  that  something,'  of 
a  poetic  fancy  is  to  U;  found   even   auiong 
the  most  savage,  nations,  they  call  the  rain- 
how  "  th(!  hem  of  his  garnu'iit."     As  this 
(leitv    however,   is  too   far   ri'inoved    from 
them  to  leave  them  any  hope  of  gaining  his 
favor,    they   never  think   of   offering    him 
either    prayer    or    sacriliee.    Jlut,  besides 
Nuin,    there    are    a    great    manv    inlerior 
spirits,  or  idols 


human  concerns,  — capricious  beings,  who 
allow  themselves  to  be  influenced  by  ofl'er- 
jngs,  or  yield  to  magical  incaiitatioiis;  and 
to  these,  therefore,  the  Samoiede  has 
recourse  when  he  feels  the  necessity  of 
invoking  the  aid  or  averting  the  wrath  of  a 
higher  power.  .     . 

The  chief  of  all  Samoiede  idols  is  in  the 
island  of  Waygatz,— acold  and  melancholy 
D,.lo8,—  where  it  was  already  found  by  okl 
Barentz.  This  idol  is  a  mere  block  of  stone, 
with  its  head  tapering  to  a  point.  It  has 
thus  been  fashioned,  not  by  a  mortal  artiRt, 
but  by  a  i)lay  of  nature.  After  tliis  original 
the  Sanioiedes  have  formed  iiiaiiy  idolst^of 
stone  or  wood  of  various  sizes,  wliieh  they 
call  "  Sjadrci,"  from  their  possessing  a  human 
physiognomy  (sja).  These  idols  they  dress 
in  reindeer  skins,  and  ornament  them  with 
all  sorts  of  colored  rags.  But  a  resemblance 
to  the  human  form  is  not  the  ni'.'essniy  attri- 
bute of  a  Samoiede  idol;  any  irregularly 
shaped  stone  or  tree  may  be  thus  distin- 
guished. 

If  the  object  is  small,  the  savage  carries 
it  cvervwliere  about  with  him,  caret uUy 
wrapped  up;  if  too  cumbersome  to  be  trans- 
ported, it  IS  reserved  as  a  kind  of  national 
(leitv.  As  with  the  Ostiaks,  each  Samoiejle 
tribe  has  in  its  train  a  peculiar  sledge.-  tlic 
Ilahengan,- in  which  the  househ(;l(l  P^r^s 
(or  Ilahe)  are  placed.  One  of  these  Pciia^es 
protects  the  reindeer,  another  waiches  ..ver 
the  health  of  hi3  worshippers,  a  third  is  the 
guardian  of  their  connubial  'ij'I'P'.n'-'ss,  i 


.ho  ll^tt^CLS  in   IZr^-^lom  their  nets  With  fish 
(1381) 


MS  ill 


1382 


SIliERlA. 


Whenever  liis  services  arc  required,  tiic 
llalin  ia  taken  IVoin  liis  repository,  mm 
erected  in  tlie  tent  or  on  tlie  pixHturc  ground, 
in  tlio  wood  or  on  llie  river's  banlv. 

His  moutli  is  tlien  sniearud  with  oil  or 
blood,  and  a  dish  witli  lish  or  llesh  is  set 
belbre  him,  in  liie  full  expectation  that  Ins 
good  odices  will  amply  repay  the  savory  re- 
past. When  his  aid  is  no  longer  ""'essa  ) , 
le  is  put  aside  without  any  ;»•"'':,  ,^,\^: 
mouv,  and  as  little  noticed  as  he  Majm  a 
of  the  Neapolitan  lisherinan  alter  the  stoim 

''' Tlir  na'he,  or  idols,  arc  very  convenient 
objects  of  reverence  to  the  Samoiedc,  as  he 
cn'li  consult  them,  or  ask  their  ^^^^^^^^ 
without  being  initiated  in  the   seciets   ot 
m I'ic    while^hc  Tadeblsios,  or  invisible 
spiHts    which  everywhere  hover  about  n 
the  air,  and  arc  more  inclined  to  injure  than 
to  benefit  man,  can  only  be  '"V^ko'l    ^J  a 
Tadibe,  or  sorcerer,  who,  like  the  CuuDean 
sibvl.  works  himself  into  a  state  of  ecstatic 
iVeiizv.      When   hU  services  are  required, 
the  liVst  care  of  the  fadibe  is  to  invest  him- 
self with   his  magical  mantle, —  a  kind  o 
sliirt  made  of  reindeer  leather,  and  hemmed 
with  red  cloth.      The  s>'nms  arc  covered  in 
a  similar  manner,and  li'.    boulders  arc  dec- 
orated with   epaulettes  of  the  same  gaudy 
niiterinl.     A  piece  of  red  cloth  veils  th(!  eyes 
.^,,,1  i;,i.e  —tor  the  Tadihe  requires  no  cx- 
teriiiil  organs  of  sight  to  penetrat-e  ml;)  the 
world  of  spirits,  — and  a  plate  of  polished 
nii't-.d  shines  upon  his  breast. 

'L'hus  accoutred,  the  Tadibo  seizes  his 
ma<'ical  drum,  whose  sounds  summon  the 
snirits  to  his  will.  Its  form  is  round,  it  has 
but  one  bottom,  made  of  reindeer  skin,  and 
is  m  )ro  or  less  decorated  with  brass  rings, 
and  other  ornaments,  according  to  the  wealth 
or  poverty  of  its  possessor.  During  the  eere- 
niouv  of  invoeation,  the  Tadil)e  is  generally 
■i^si-^'led  by  a  disciple,  more  or  less  initiated 
in  the  UKcne  art.  Tliev  either  sit  down,  or 
walk  aboul  in  a  circle.'  The  chief  sorcerer 
beats  the  drum,  at  tirst  slowly,  then  with 
increasing  violence,  singing  at  the  saine 
time  a  few  words  to  a  mystic  melody.  Ihe 
disciple  immediately  falls  in,  and  both  re- 
peat the  same  monotonous  chant. 

At  length  the  spirits  appear,  and  the  con- 
sultalion  is  supposed  to  begin;  the    Jadibe 
from  time  to   tTino  remaining  silent,  as   it 
lisieiiiii.r  to  their  answers,  and  but  gently 
beatiiv  his  drum,  while  the  assistant  con- 
tinueslo  sing.    Finally,  this  mute  conversa- 
tion ce;ises,  the  song  changes   into   a  wild 
howliu",  the  drum  is  violently  struck,  the 
eye  of  the  Tadibe  glows  with  a  strange  fire, 
loam  issues  from  his  lips,  when  suddenly  the 
uproar  ceases,  and  the  oracular  sentence  is 
p'-onoiuieed.   The  Tadibes  are  consulted,  not 
only  for  the  purpose  of  ri  i-  cring  a  strange 
reindeer,  or  to  iireservc  the  herd  from  aeon- 
ta'MOUs  disorder,  or  to  obtni;.  uieeess  lit  llsh- 
ing.    The  Samoiedc,  when  a  prey  to  illness, 


seeks  no  other  medical  advice;  and  the  sor- 
cerer's drum  either  scares  away  the  malevo- 
lent spirits  that  cause  the  malady,  or  sum- 
mons other  to  the  assistance  of  his  patient. 

IJesides  dealing  with  the  invisible  world, 
the  Tadibe  does  not  neglect  the  usual  arts  of 
an  expert  conjurer,  and  knows  by  this  means 
how  to  increase  his  intluence  over  his  simi)le- 
minded  countrymen.  One  of  his  commoni.'st 
tricks  is  similar  to  that  which  has  been  prac- 
tised with  so  nuudi  success  by  the  brothers 
Davenport.  He  sits  down,  with  his  hands 
and  feet  bound,  on  a  reindeer  skin  stretclied 
out  upon  the  lloor,  and,  the  light  being  re- 
moved, begins  to  summon  the  ministering 
spirits  to  his  aid.  Strange,  unearthly  noises 
now  begin  to  be  h(!ard;  bears  "rowl,  snakes 
hiss  squirrels  rustle  about  the  hut.  At 
lcn<'th  the  tumult  ceases,  the  audience  anx- 
iously awaits  the  end  of  tlu!  spectacl(!,  Avlien 
suddenly  the  Tadibe,  freed  from  his  bonds, 
steps  into  the  hut,  no  one  doubting  that  the 
spirits  have  set  him  free. 

As  barbarous  as  the  poor  wretrhes  who 
submit  to  his  guidance,  the  Tadibe  is  inca- 
pable of  improving  their  moral  condition, 
and  has  no  wish  to  do  so.  Under  various 
„^„,(.s,  — Schamaiis  among  the  Tuiigiisi, 
An-'ckoks  among  the  Esquimaux,  mcdiciiio- 
meii  among  the  North  American  Indians,— 
we  find  similar  magicians  or  mqiostors 
■is-uinin"  a  siiiritual  dictatorship  over  all 
tin  Vrctic  nations  of  the  Old  and  the  New 
World,  whenever  their  authority  has  not 
been  broken  by  Christianity  or  Huddli'Mii. 
This  dreary  fai'th  still  exteiuls  its  inllueiue 
over  at  least  half  a  million  of  souls,  tioin 
(he  White  Sea  to  the  extremity  of  Asia,  and 
from  the  Pacific  to  Hudson's  I5ay. 

Like    the    Ostiaks     and     other    Siberian 
tribes,  the  Samoiedcs  honor  the  memory  of 
the  dead  by  sacriliees  and  other  ceremcHiHS. 
They    believe  that    their   deceased   Iricuds 
have  still  the  same  wants  and  iiiirsue  the 
same  occupations  as  when  in  the  laud  ot  the 
iiyiii"-  and  thus  they  Jilace  in  or  about  their 
-rravCs  a  sledge,  a  spear,  a  cooking-pot,  a 
knife,  an  axe,  etc.,  to  assist  them  in  proeiii- 
in"    and    preparing    their    lood.      At    tlie 
funeral,   and  for  wveral    years  afterw.iid, 
the    relations   .sacrilice    reindeer  over  tlio 
<rrave       When  a  person  of  note,  a  prince, 
a  Stars<diina,  the   nropriidor   of   numerous 
luM-ds  of  reinde(-r,  dies  (for  even  among  the 
miserable    Sanioiedes    we    find    the    socia 
distim'tions  of  ri(di   and   poor)- the  nearest 
relations  make  an  image,  which  is  placed  in 
the  tent  of  the   .leceased,   and   enjoys  the 
respect  paid  to  him  during  his  lilctmie.     At 
every  mVal  the  image  is  pla.red  in  his  former 
seat "^ and  every  evcnin-T  it  is  undressed  and 
iaid'down  in  "his  bed.     Pairing  three  years 
the  ima"e  is  thus  hoiH-r.l,  and  then  Iniried; 
for  by  this  time  the  1  ody  is  supposed   to  lio 
decayed,  and   to  bave  lost  all  «';"^''V';,",  "I 
jjjp  ,^^,,^f      Thr  K"uN  of  th(^  Tadibes,  and  ot 
those  who  have  died  a  violent  doulh,  uiouu 


THE   SAMOlEDES. 


1888 


ciijoy  the  privilege  of  immortality,  and  after 
their  tem^slrial  life  hover  about  in  the  air 
us  iinsubstaittial  Hpirits. 

Like  tlie  Owtiaks,  the  SamoiedeH  eonsider 
the  taking  of  an  oatli  as  an  aetion  of  the 
liiglii'sl  religious  iniportanee.  AVIien  a  crime 
has  been  steretly  eonnnitted  against  a  Sam- 
oiede,  he  haa  the  right  to  demand  an  oath 
from  tlio  HU.spected  person. 

If  no  wooden  or  stone  Ilahe  is  at  hand,  he 
maiuiliietiires  one  of  earth  or  snow,  leads 
his  opponent  to  the  image,  sacriliees  a  dog, 
l)real<s  th(>,  image,  and  then  addresses  him 
with  the  following  words;  "  If  thou  hast  eom- 
mitled  this  erime,  then  must  thou  perish 
like  this  dog."  The  ill  consequenees  of  per- 
jury are  so  much  drc^aded  by  the  Samoiedes, 
—  who,  though  they  have  but  very  faint  ideas 
of  a  future  state,  tirinly  believe  that  crime 
will  be  punished  in  this  life:  murdc'r  with 
violent  death,  or  rolibery  by  losses  of  rein- 
deer,—  that  the  true  criminal,  when  called 
upon  to  swear,  hardly  ever  s-'ibmits  to  the 
cer(!n)ony,  but  ratlu^r  at  one*,  confesses  liis 
guilt,  and  pays  the  jienalty. 

The  most  ell'ectual  security  for  an  oath  is 
that  it  should  be  solemnized  over  the  snout 
(if  a  bear,  —  an  animal  which  is  liighly  re- 
vered by  all  the  Siberian  tribes,  fro)ii  the 
Kamsehatkans  to  tlu;  SamoiinUs,  as  will  as 
liy  the  Lajjlanders.  Like  the  Laplanders, 
they  believe  that  the  bear  conceals  und(  r 
his  shaggy  coat  a- human  shape  with  niorc^ 
than  human  wisdom,  and  s[)eak  of  him  in 
tiTuis  of  the  highest  reverence.  JJke  the 
I/ipp",  also,  tlu'v  will  drive  an  arrow  or  a 
bullet  thi-ough  ids  skin;  but  they  preface 
the  attack  with  so  many  compliments  that 
they  feel  sure  t)f  disarnung  his  anger. 

The  a|)i)earane(!  of  the  Samoiedes   is  as 
wild  lis  t  lu!  country  which  they  inhabit.    The 
(Iwarlish  stature  of  the  Ostiak  or  the  Lapp, 
tiiiek  liiis,  small  eyes,  a  low  forehead, a  broad 
nose,   so    nuicli   Ihitteneil    that    the   end   is 
nearly  upon  a  level  with  the  bonc^  of  the  u])])er 
j,\w  (which  is  strong  and  greatly  elevated), 
raven-black,  siiaggy  hair,  a  ihin  beard,  and 
a  yellow-brown  comi)ltixion,  are  their  char- 
acteristic feat(n-es,  anil  in  general   they  do 
iiolhing  to  improve  a  form  wliich  has  but 
lit  tie  natural  beauty  to  boast  of.     The  Sani- 
oicilc  is  satisfied  if' his  heavy  reindeer  dress 
alVords  him  protection  against  the  cold  and 
ruin,  and  cares  little  if  it  be  dirty  or  ill-cut; 
some  dandies,  however,  wear  furs  trimmed 
with  cloth  of  a  gauily  color.      The  women,  as 
long  as  they  are  unmarried,  take  some  jiains 
with  their  persons;   and  when  a  Samoiede 
girl,  with  her  small  and  livt'ly  black  eyes, 
appears  in  her  reindeer  jacket  tiirhtly  lilting 
roinid  the  waist. and  trimmed  with  dog-skin, 
in  her  scarlet  moccasins,  and  her  long,  black 
ticsses,  ornamented  with  ])ieces  of  brass  or 
till,  slie  may  well  tempt  sonn^  rich  admirer 
to  oiler  a  whole   herd  of  reindeer  for  her 
hand.     For  among  the  Samoiedes  no  father 
ever  thinks  of  bestowing  a  poniou  on  his 


daughter;  on  the  contrary,  ho  expects  from 
the  bridegrcjom  an  e(|uivalent  for  the  ser- 
vic(;s  which  he  is  about  to  lose  by  her  mar- 
riage. The  consequence  of  this  degrading 
custom  is  that  the  husband  treats  his  consoi-l 
like  a  slave,  or  as  au  inferior  being.  A 
Samoiede,  who  had  murdered  his  wile,  was 
quite  surjirised  at  being  Bummoned  before 
a  court  of  justice,  for  what  ho  considered  a 
trifling  ollence;  "he  had  honestly  paid  for 
her,"  ho  said,  "  and  could  surely  do  what  ho 
liked  with  his  own." 

The  senses  and  faculties  of  the  Samoiedes 
correspond  to  their  mode  of  life  as  nomads 
and  hunters.  They  have  a  piercing  eye.  del- 
icate hearing,  and  "a  steady  hand;  they  shoot 
an  arrow  with  great  accuracy,  and  are  swift 
runners. 

The  Samoiede  is  good-natured,  melan- 
choly, and  jihlegmatie.  He  has.  indeed,  but 
indistinct  notions  of  right  and  wrong,  of 
good  and  evil;  but  he  jiossessisa  grateful 
heart,  and  is  ready  to  divide  his  last  morsel 
with  his  friend.  Cruelty,  revenge,  Iho 
darker  crimes  that  pollute  so  many  of  Iho 
savage  tribes  of  the  tropical  zone,  are  for- 
eign to  his  character.  Constantly  at  war 
with  a  dreadful  climate,  a  jirey  to  ignorance 
and  jioverty,  ho  regards  most  of  the  things 
of  this  life  with  supreme  indill'ereiUH!. 

A  <!oniinon  trait  in  the  character  of  all 
Samoiedes  is  the  gloomy  view  vhich  they 
tak(^  of  life  ami  its  concerns;  tlnvr  internal 
woild  is  as  cheerless  as  that  which  .airrounds 
them.  True  men  of  ice  and  snow,  they  re- 
liiupiish,  without  a  murmur,  a  life  which 
they  can  hardly  love,  as  it  inqios  s  n))on 
tluun  many  j>rivalions,  and  affords  them  but 
few  pleasures  in  ri^lurn. 

The  entire  number  of  the  European  and 
Asiatic  Samoiedes  is  estimated  at  no  inoro 
than  about  10,001),  and  this  number,  small  as 
it  is  when  conqiared  to  the  vast  territory 
over  which  they  roam,  is  still  decreasing 
from  year  to  year.  IJefore  their  subjugation 
by  the  Kussians,  the  Samoiedes  were  fre- 
(|iiently  at  war  with  their  neighbors,  the 
Ostiaks,  the  Woguls,  and  the  Tartars,  and 
the  rude  poems  which  celebrate  the  deeds  of 
the  heroes  of  old  are  still  sung  in  the  tents 
of  their  peaceful  descendants.  The  riiiiistrcl, 
or  irouhdiliiur,  —  if  1  may  be  allowed  to  use 
tiiese  names  while  speaking  of  the  rudest  of 
mankind,  —  is  seated  in  the  centre  of  the  hut, 
while  the  audience  squat  around.  His  ges- 
ticulations endeavor  to  express  his  .sympathy 
with  his  hero.  His  body  trembles,  his  voice 
quivers,  and  during  the  more  pathetic  jiarts 
of  Ids  story,  tears  start  to  his  eyes,  and  ho 
covers  his" lace  with  his  left  hand,  while  the 
right,  holding  an  arrow,  directs  its  i)oint  to 
the  ground.  The  audience  generally  keep 
silence,  but  their  groans  accom])any  the 
hero's  death;  or  when  he  soars  upon  an 
eagle  to  the  clouds,  and  thus  escapes  the 
malice  of  his  enemies,  they  express  tlieic 
delight  by  a  triumphaul  shuut. 


I  t'i 


!l 


9u\ 


1384 


SIBEHIA. 


THE  0STIAK8. 

,  11.     ^n«t  1  niul  birds  of  passage,  there  are  other  Osilaks 
WHAT   is  tho  Obi?   "One  of  the  m«  J  "i^^^^^^^^^^^ 

melancholy  rivers  on  earth,"  say  t"^  ;^;;  \  Z„»uLr  to  tho  border  of  the  Polar  Sea, 
Kiiropean  travellers  who  have  ever  sei  u 


Ylussiaus  who  nave  settled  «u  lt«  ;«;'^;^^ 
answers,  with  a  devout  |"'V,''  ,k    le 

mother":  hut  if  you  as.:  \  f/'*^  ;^J;,.  '^. 
bursts  forth  n  n  laconic  but  eiiergciit 
Shrase,  "  t)l.i  is  the  god  whom  we  honor 
P.liove  all  other  Rocls." 

To  hi.n  the  Obi  is  a  source  of  hfc.     \V  U  i 
its  salmon  and  sturgeon  lie  pays  his  taxts 
ami  debts,  aiul  buys  his  few  l''-^"';;;;  .,;^''' 
the    n^hes  of    inferior  quality   wh  till    Ret 
cnta.l'led  in  his  net  he  keeps  for  his  own 
cousumi.tion  an<l  that  of  his  failhUil  do-, 
catiu!'  them  mostly  raw,  so  that  the  perch 
not  seldom  feels  his  teeth  as  soon  as  it  is 
milled   out  of  the  water.     In  spring, 
the  Obi  and  its  tributaries  burst  then-  bonds 
of  ice,  an<l  the  tloods  sweep  over  the  plains, 
the   Ostiak   is  fremiently  driven    into   tl.e 
woods,  where  he  l^iids  but  little  to  appease 
liis  huuL'cr.  At  leiiRth,  however,  the  waters 
Bi.bside,  the  (lat  banks  of  the  river  appear 
above   their  surface,  and  the  sava-e  ere.' s 
bis  summer  hut  close  to  its  stream.      H  is 
iK.vel  has  >,n'nerally  a  quadrangular   fomi 
low  walls,  and  a  hinh-p"inled  rool,  nia<le  ot 
willow  branches  covered  with  large  pieces 
of  bark.    These,  having  first  been  soltened 
bv  boiling,  are  sewed  together,  so  as  to  loriu 
firgo  mats  or  carpets,  easily  rolled  up  and 
transported.    The  hearth,  a  mere  hole  .  - 
closed  by  a  few  stones,  is  in  the  centre,  ami 
the  smoke  escapes  through  an  aperture  at   he 
top     Close  to  tlie  hut  there  is  also,  j,'eiu;i  ally. 


a  small  store-house  erected  on  high  poles,  as 
in  hapland;  for  the  provisions  must  be 
fiocured  against  the  atta<-ks  of  the  glutton, 
the  wolf,  or  the  owner's  dogs.  „  ..  , 

At  the  beginning  of  winter  the  Ostiaks 
retire  into  the  woods,  where   they  find,  at 
le.ast,  some   protection   against   the   Arctic 
blasts,  and  are  busy  hunting   the  sable  or 
Bquirrel:  but  as  lishing  affords  them  at  all 
times  thVir  chief  food,  they  take  care  to  es- 
tablish their  winter  huts  on  some  eminence 
above  llio  reach  of  the  fP.ri"'4  'n"""*"''"f' 
near  some  small  river,  which,  through  holes 
made  in  the  ice,  affords  their  nets  and  ang- 
lers a  precarious  supply.   Their  winter  ymirt 
is  somewhat  more  solidly  constructed  than 
their   summer  residence,  as  it  is   not  re- 
moved every  year.    It  is  low  and  small,  ami 


livelihood  as  carriers. 

In  general,  however,  the  Ostiak,  like  tho 
Samoiede,  obstinately  withstands  all  inm'- 
vfttions,  and  remains  true  to  the  customs 
of  his  foreihthers.    He  has  been  so  i;  ten 
deceived  by  the  Uussiaiis  that  he  is  lo  h  to 
receive  the  gifts  of  civilization  from    heir 
bands.    He  ftiars  that  if  his  children  learn 
to  read  and  write,  they  will  no  longer  be 
.satisfied  to  live  like  their  parents,  and  tha 
the  school  will  deprive  hiui  ol  the  support  o 
his  a.^e.    He  is  no  less  obstinately  ailiuhed 
,,.,..1    to  tlm  religion  <.f  his  fathers  which  m  all 
=  i    i«    .««..iili-d  iwints  is  identical  with  that  ot  the 
^"""  "''w^c^n  fc^  edci::    In  some  of  the  southern  dis- 
tricts, along  the  Irtysch,  at  Surgut,  he  has 
indeed  be.m   bapti/.ed,  and  hangs  up  ibc 
mage  of  a  saint  in  his  hut  as  his  ]  uss.i,,, 
nope  or  priest  has  instructed  bun  to  d(.;  bat 
Lis  Christianity  extends  no  l^i.rllier     Along 
t   0     ributaries    of    the -Obi,  and    IkIow 
Obdorsk,  he  is  still  plunged  in  Schanian- 

'"Like  tho  Samo.edes,  the  psliaks  wbose 
entire  number  amounts  to  about  2.,,(«Mi  aie 
subdivided  into  tribes,  reminding  one  ot  he 
Hi-'hland  clans.  Each  tribe  consists  ol  a 
number  of  families,  of  a  common  descent 
and  sometimes  comprising  many  hun.  red 
indivi.luals,  who,  however  dis  ant  y  related, 
consider  itii  duty  to  assist  each  other  m  d.s- 

^' The  Ostiaks  arc  excelled  I  archers  and, 
like  ail  the  other  hunting  tiibesof  S'bena, 
use  variously  constructed  arrows  lor  the  dit- 
ferent  objects  of  their  chase. 

They  are  generally  of  a  small  staturo,  and 
most  of  them  are  (fark-compl.xione.l,  with 
naven-black  hair  like  the  Saino-edes;  sonic 
'  them,  however,  have  a  fairer  skin  and 
li,rbt-colored  hair.  They  "P.'^K^'f"'^' "'"'■;': 
ndolent.hom'Btraco;  and  though  hey  are 
ex  rcine  V  dirty,  yet  their  smoky  huts  are 
not  more  filthv  than  those  of  the  Norwegian 
or  Icelandic  fishermen. 

As  among  the  Samo.edes,  the  women  arc 
in  a  verr<kgni'l<'<l  condition,  the  father  al- 
wavs  glvingl.is  daughter  in-n'^rmg^, ^  '"^ 
bi4est  bidder.  The  price  is  very  dil  eient, 
w  rises  or  falls  according  to  the  circm.i- 

!       r=,.f  tlie  narent-   for  while  the   rich 
stances  of  the  P^rt-iii,   u  r 


....,v........  ,^.. ,  ;'\»ir'   iTuZu  fifty  rendeer  for  his  child,  the 

it^  walls  arc -plastered  with  clay..    I^j^!']  Z;^  r "»  "^X^^^  to  part  with     us 

;«lmitte,l  through  a  piece  of  ice  inserted  in  !|;;;;^ ,  ;;:J'™^7fcw  Jliuirrel-skins  and  dried 

*'"BSer those  X  live  solely  upon  llshe,  I  sturgeon. 


CHAPTER   CXLYin. 


INDIA. 

THE  SOTVnAIIS  AND  KHONDS. 

LOCALITV  OP  THE  HOWIIAH  TnillK  —  flKNERAL  AWEAUANCK  — THE  TARTAR  CIlAIlACTEn  OP  THE  FJ5A- 
Tl'llKH  — IHIKHS  OK  TIIH  MKN,  THKIll  HC.'ANTV  OOHTUME  AN1>  ri.ENTIKUL  OKNAMENTS  —  OlIHIOrS 
KAU-llINdH—  DIir.XH  OF  THE  WOMEN— MODE  OF  OlITAININd  OLOTIIEH  FOU  WlNTKIl  USE  — WEAI'ONS 
OK  TlIK,  HOWIIAIIH  — TIIKIll  l.OUUAOK,  AND  THE  AI'I'IIEIIKNHION  WHICH  THEY  EXCITE  —  A  BOWIUH 
WKDDINCl—  HKI.KlIOlItl  HVHTEM  OP  THE  HOWUAHH  —  THKIH  TKUTIIKULNEHS  — TUB  K1I0ND8 — 
DKKHM  AND  AI'l'EAKANCE  — TUB  KHOND  I'OOKBT  —  FEATUIIKS  OK  TIIB  WOMEN— THE  MEItlAII 
HACUIKIIT,   AND   ITM  OH.IKCT— I'UOCriHNO  OF  THE    VICTIM— VAUIOUH  MODBH  OK  I'EItKOUMINd  THE 

BAciiiricK  —  HUiisTrniTE    roil"  the   mehiah  — htman(;b  uhe   op    ihiacei.eth  — the    mkuiahs' 

INDIKKKItr.NCK  TO  TIIEIll  FATE— INFANTICIDE —WEAI'ONS  OF  THE  KIIONDH — DEAfll  OK  A  IlEAIt 
—  I'llIDB  OF  THE  KHONDS— BITEBSTITION  — r.ELIEP  IN  THE  rOWEB  OF  TnANSFOUMATION  —  A 
KHOND   MAKHIAIIE, 


The  reader  may  rnniomber  that  the  Anda- 
man IwlaixlH  trench  closely  upon  the  shores 
of  Fiidla,  tliiis  l)iiiijj;ln^  closely  together  the 
two  phiises  of  litter  savaj^ery  that  never  has 
advanced  in  the  scahf  of  humanity,  and  of  a 
civilization  which  has  advanced  to  the  ut- 
most limits  of  wliich  it  is  capable.  In  the 
followiiiL,'  pai^es  I  propose  to  f^iva  a  brief 
account  of  various  phases  of  Tiidian  lifi;, 
throwiiii;  most  einnhasis  u])on  those  which 
trench  least  upim  civilization,  as  being  most 
akin  to  tht^  olijects  of  this  work. 

Fnmi  the  li'^'ures  which  illustrate  this 
country,  and  which  arc  all  taken  from  ])ho- 
tographs,  the  reader  will  notice  tlie  very 
distinct  type  of  man  which  is  exhibited 
throiiijhout  India ;  and  tliough  in  some  of 
tiie  tribes  there  is  a  facial  resemblance  to  the 
Australian  type,  an  1  in  others  to  the  Mon- 
golian, it  is  impossiMe  to  mistake  an  entire 
llgure  In  either  instance.  Wo  will  begin 
with  those  parts  of  India  which  are  the  least 
civilized,  anil  in  which  the  inhabitants  retain 
most  of  their  aboriginal  manners  and  cus- 
toms. 

TiiEUE  Is  a  remarkable  hill  tribe  of  India 
which  deserves  a  short  description,  as  the 
people  seem  to  have  preserved  the  origi- 
nal characteristics  of  their  race  better  than 
any  other  inlmliitauts  of  the  country.  They 
Jirc  called  yowrahs,  luid  live  in  »  t 


country  about  lat.  18°  30'  N.,  and  long.  72° 
80'  K. 

The  Sowrahs  are  a  tolerably  good-looking 
tribe,  some  of  the  girls  being  even  hand- 
some, were  not  their  faces  disiigurc'd  by  the 
nose  rings,  of  which  one  woman  will  often 
wear  three.  The  men,  as  is  the  case  with 
all  the  Indian  tribes,  are  slenderly  built,  and 
appear  to  lie  devoid  of  muscles,  especially  in 
the  legs.  This  apparent  slightncss,  however, 
conceals  great  muscular  power,  as  has  often 
been  shown  in  the  skirmishes  which  their 
predatory  habits  constantly  entail  upon  them. 
In  one  ot' these  skirmishes,  a  Sowrah  who  had 
been  taken  prisoner  suddenly  snatched  a 
biiyonet  out  of  the  hands  of  his  captor,  and 
lient  the  blade  double. 

There  is  about  the  features  of  the  Sow- 
rahs a  decidedly  Tartar  hiok,  which  in- 
creases with  age,  and  is  marke<l  most 
strongly  in  the  men.  Some  photographs 
of  them  now  before  me  exhibit  this  charac- 
teristic very  distinctly  marked,  and  in  one 
case  BO  strongly  that, "but  for  color  and  the 
mode  of  dressing  the  hair,  the  face  might 
easily  be  mistaken  for  those  of  a  genuine 
Tartar.  Indeed,  Mr.  Hooper,  from  whoso 
paper  this  account  is  condensed,  thinks  that 
they  may  have  a  Tartar  origin. 

One  remarkable  point  about  the  Sowrahs 
is,  that  they  have  no  distinction  of  caste, 
dividod  iulo  nvo  distinct 


t'  ii 


(1386) 


liough  they 


1380 


INDIA. 


cJnsscs,  the  Ilin  SowrnbH  and  the  SowmliH 
of  tli(^  IMuin.  Tlic  latter  lire  coinimiutivej 
i',ivili/t(l,  iukI  li\ .'  ill  villiiKi's,  uiul  it  m  »»»'> 
of  the  foniifr  tliiil  thiH  work  will  treat. 

The  dress  of  the  Sowrahs  is  priiniuve 
en()U!,'h.  The  men  wear  iiolhliiK  »"t  the 
"  liiiiKiiti,"  1.  .;.  11  narrow  Htrii>  -  '  •  ;  ''  l'''';; 
in«  roimd  the  waist,  through  thu  .  ^^  •*">■ 
tneked  into  tl.(^  .vaistlmiui  1  aey  af,  lj<.  - 
over,very  lbn.l  of  ornaments    n,..i«hlh.^ 


Hlomnch  and  h^gs,  f.o  that  the  wounds  nro 
nlwiiyH  (hin«eroiis,  and  generally  mortal. 

Tliey  also  eiirry  a  kind  of  liaHU-axe.  Tli'-y 
are  n  brave  aH  w'ell  as  a  warlike  peoide,  and 
are  the  tenor  of  the  inhaliitaiits  of  the 
plains.  Even  the  Klionds,  who  will  ho  pres- 
ently described,  ready  a«  they  are  to  (Ifjlit 
iinonK  each  otiier,  and  skilled  a^  they  are  In 
the  use  of  the  bow  and  the  battli^-axe.  stand  in 
awe  of  the  Sowrahs,  and  do  not  like  to  bo 


very  lbn.lut-ornamens    n,.a^^  They  am 

so  little  about  dii-is,  ana   "">>;    "^ i    ,..,>....i„iiv   ulVaid  of  these  enemies,  be(•all^u 


"^;h,adedwitl.bcad.,amnheir..u-H^^^^^^^^ 
nostrils  tilled  with  rin,i;s.     A  nhoto-raph  ot 

le  o'f  these  m<M.  shows  that  lj';/«  -;•;';";« 
no  h'ss  than  twenty-seven  bea.l  '  '^'l^'f  f  |  « 
well  as  a  broa.l  brass  collar.  JJesideit  the 
ordinary  ear-rin«s,  he  wears  an  onmmen 
whieh  seems  rather  no,... lar  "";'>"N'  ^  « 
Sowrahs.  A  hole  is  bo.ed  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  ear,  and  tln-ounb  it  is  l«««f<  <""' 
•nd  of  a  strin-  almost  four  inches  in  lenntl, 
to  the  other  en.l  of  wbi.^h  is  attaehc^l  a  «.  - 
tcriuL'  bead  about  as  la.-p  as  a  walnut. 
Soni.rof  the  SowraliB  ai^o  thread  small  beads 

"^Tbe  hair  of  the  men  is  allowed  to  prow  to 
a  considerable  len.uth,  and  on  festival  days 
it  is  Kath.Tc.l  into  a  knot  at  the  back  of  tin; 
head,  and  adorned  with  feathers,  mostly 
tho.e  of  the  peaem'k.  This  mo.leol  dress- 
in-  the  hair-ivesa  Vcl\V  elleniiiv.ite  h.ok  to 
the  .(ainteiianee,  and  on  seen..;;  iv  photo- 
cranh  of  the  face  alone,  esi.eeially  H  it  le 
tbat  of  a  voun-  man.  it  is  not  very  ^f  {' '1  .'' 
liasty  fjlanee  lo  discover  whelher  it  is  the 
portrait  Ola  man  «ir  woman. 

The  div^s  of  the  women  consists  of  a  cloth 
wrapped  na.n.l  the  waist.  Those  wome.i 
who  hav  been  photog.'apbed  wear  loin, 
calico  cloths  wrai.ped  nmnd  them  tron 
shoulder  to  knee  alter  the  ordinary  Indian 
fashion:  but  it  is  evident  thai  they  have 
borrowe.l  these  cloths  lor  the  '.c(;as.on,  and 
HO,after  the  .•usb.m  of  all  unnv.bzed  neo- 
plchave  contrived,  throu-h  anxiety  to  look 
their  best,  to  I'allle  the  r.'al  object  ..1  the 
jdiotosraidier,.-.  f.  to  .-epresc-nt  them  as  the.v 

leallv  a|,  a.ar.     I.ik.  ibe  '»<;"' '''^•^.^'ad 
abu.idan^;  of  necklae,  s,  and  a  so  ."i"'  '' 
simple  braeehts.  consislin-'  ol  l"-'/^''  '"'; ' 
bands  w.nm.l  spirally  nmnd  l-he  wrists.    1  he 
hair  is  pari.d  .lown  the  middle,  but  no  par- 
ticular care,  is  expended  .ipon  it. 

AVhenthe  colder  weather  -'.mes  on,  ami 
the  Sowrahs  want  moi-e  cU.ihins.  they  (  " 
not  make  it,  but  have  .•e.ou.-se  t^' tj'''/'l»l' ;" 
plan  of  waylaying'  travellers  k.ll....i,'  t  om, 
Lnd  takin-  their  -arments.    In  thcBc  robber 


(iraw.i  uuo  II  <ni.iiii  1  .,1.1. -..-J  — 

especially  afraid  of  these  enemies,  beca.l^o 
the  favo."ite  mode  r)f  attack  with  the  Sow.ahs 
is  to  make  a  raid  under  cover  of  nii;ht,  and, 
after  securin^!  all  the  plunder  they  can  seize, 
and  doinLMdlthe  harm  in  their  jiow  r,  to  re- 
tinn  I  ■ir>  iripll  fastnesses  iiH  rapidly  as  they 

1   .lied  Irom  thein.  ,    ,  ,,    .  , 

(S.neral  Campbell  thinks  that  Ihi^.r  mode 
of  life  may  have  somethinfj;  to  do  w.th  this 
superiority,  and  that  their  more  absieiniouB 
•ind  less  dissipated  life  renders  them  si  roiiKcr 
and  more  cndurin<;than  their  sidf-indulgent 
nei'dibors.  In  some  places,  Sowrahs  and 
Khonds  dwell  to<,'etber  in  tolerable  amity, 
but  both  of  the  tribes,  altbouizh  they  may 
derive  their  orifiin  from  the  same  source, 
and  both  assert  themselves  to  be  IlieaboriK. 
inal  inhabitants  of  the  land,  ami  to  havi'  a 
ri"ht  toils  possession,  preserve  Ibeir  (n\n 
characteristic  dilVen^nces  so  ri-idly  that  there 
is  no  ditlicullA'  in  distinguish iiif,'  a  .Suwrali 
from  a  Kl.ontl. 


ies,  ar»  well  as  i.i 


th.! 


les.  as   "I'll  ii^  I"  i>"    •■" ■  .    1  11 

Ihi'v  often  tend,  the  Sowrah.s  chndly  use  the 
how  an.l  ariow.  The  bow  is  a  compara- 
tively weak  on.',  only  bcinR  a  yard  or  so  i.i 
len-ilu  and  liavin«  a  striuc  made  ot  the  outei 
coaUn.'  of  the  bamboo.  The  arro^ys  aro  of 
reed,  armed  with  a  flat,  many-barbed  iron 
heail.    The   Sowralis  aln.ns  nc  in  waa  :  :f 


Thk  cereinonv  of  maniajre  amon;?  the 
Sowrahs, ilhiHtraied  on  the  lb  louin«  pajje, 
is  ihus  described  by  >li'.  II'xM'or  :  A 
young  man,  or  his  frien.ls  for  him.  havm« 
selected  a  b.-ide.  messeii.iicrs  are  sent  to  her 
parents,and  finally  the  ym.n-  man  ^^oes  hear- 
imfapotoftoddy,orotherpres..nl.  It  tl.o 
eonsent  of  the  parents  is  .d.lained,  the  CM,. - 

,„onv  is  commenced  by  lixm-    hree  pasts  .. 
1  e  ground,  between  which  the   bnde  a.id 
lirido-room.  with  tin  ir   respectne     r.ends 
assemble,  an.l  afeast  iscommeiieed  at  wl  icli 
nearlv  cverv  person  gets  drunk  iipoii  toddy. 
"Thebriile  and  bridegroom  s't  togeher, 
while   turmei-ie   water    is  poured   (ui   their 
bemls.    Presents  of  clo.h  beads. , ,  ugs  etc 
are  exchanged,  lowls,  and  it  posnlde  sheep 
are  sacriliccd  to  proi-iliate  'lie  deim.ns  am 
llu  llesh  is  then  cooked,  made  up  into  balls 
with   some  8«rt  of  grain,  and   d.M nbi.led 
among  the  party.    On  th.se  oeca.s.ons  tluy 
M   join  ...  !.  dance,  which  seems  to  consist 
pri.".cipally  in  hopping  tVon.  one  h.K  to  the 


intervals  the   whole   of    the   dancers  come 
bumpiii"  togethei-.  and  then  separate. 

"Tthe  parents  of  the  bride  refuse  to  con- 
sent to  the  marriage,  it  fivqie  ally  happens 
that  the  friends  of  the  bnd.groom   «.     1 

t  eir  oppoi-tunily,  and  if  ""'«'';''•;;.'"" 
.j!,.,„f,    jjicv  seize  and  carry   her  on.     -1 1><J 


headl    The  Sowrahs  alH,.,>s  i''- 'P  "''"",'' ;;;fi '*;;^"^'      oU  then  pursue  and  atUick 

their  victims,  and  direct  lUcir  turn  ul  the  1 1  eUtivcs  oi  i»t  t, 


r 


ii 


ClBo 


IJit: 


the  oppositn 
fill  in  rv.Uiki 
their  cii.iloii 
to  any  '>iu! 
nl,tciii|)tt(l,  I 

out    ill    II    III 

mill  arrows, 
Tlui  rcail 
Rimilarity  i 
wiiicii  arc  J) 
parts  of  (lid 
111  lUc  nvx 
tiatioii  of  t 
Is  till!  ki'y  t( 
it  is,  and  ca 
of  caste.  T 
to  liavi!  a  r.'i 
tliat  of  tiic 
atry.  TIkm 
of  worship, 
lioi'ii  oi)s('r\ 
AVIiin  till! 
ors  set  sma 
ciiiliiciiis  ol 
lii'fore  (lu'ii 
till'  ollV'i'iii}. 
littic!  time, 
wliidi  tlio  I 
reiivtivcs  uii 


Is  the  now 

tli(i  n'iiiarl\ 
liiic  till-  So 

(il'Hl'('!lci('(i 

aii(i  toliavc 
iiiDilllicci  foi 
savaiji'  ford 
lirii'lly  (Ic^c 

Tliu  Klin 
(larlvcr  con 
till'  plains, 
selves  imicl 
a  few  yani 
waists,  a  si 
(lownbeliin 
toi'row  Id  i 
iiii(l  roiinil 
in  front,  in 
few  ci;;iira  : 
leaf,  lie  ^ 
witli  ft  p'.ec 

Till!  woni 
their  loins 
vastqiianli 
among  whi 
heavy  hrat 
thick  brass 
Among  SOI 
are  put  to 
presently  s 
sidcred  vci 
Khond  woi 
copper  coil 


THE  KIIONDS. 


1888 


thooppodito  pnrty,  but,  oven  though  huccchh- 
fiil  in  itilivkinx  liiT,  tin  y  iirc  i)r<»liil)il«:tl  by 
thuir  ciiHtoiiiH  t'roiii  giving  \wr  in  iniirriaKi^ 
to  liny  oiu!  t'Isc.  .Siioiilil  hiicIi  a  lltiii)^  l)t< 
iil.tcni|)t('(l,  till'  piii'llci  would  Imvd  to  llglit  it 
out  in  II  nioru  hoiIouh  luunnt't'  with  bowx 
nnil  arrows." 

Tlio  r('!iil(!r  will  doubtlo^H  reconnlzo  tlu) 
Himiliirity  of  tlicHii  niurriiigo  ritcH  to  tlioao 
which  aio  practisi'd  by  Havago  tribes  in  many 
parts  of  (lio  world. 

Jn  the  accoiiiil  of  llio  wtuldini?,  tho  propi- 
tiation of  tint  (li'moMM  In  inuiitioncd.  lliis 
U  the  ki'y  to  their  rclij{ioiis  syHtcin,  sui'h  as 
it  is,  and  ca  ins  thu  reason  tor  tlio  alisenci- 
of  caste.  The  Sowrahs  of  tho  I'lains  Hcein 
to  liave  a  rather  better  relij^ious  system,  but 
that  of  the  Hill  Sowrahs  is  simply  dcnionol- 
alry.  'J'hey  seem  to  have  but  little  notion 
of  worship,  ttie  only  <'eremonies  whicli  Imvo 
been  observed  takin;,'  pliiee.  at  harvest  time. 
"When  the  crops  reach  niaturity,  the  own- 
ers set  small  stones  upri).;ht  in  llie  earth  us 
emblems  of  the  presiilinj,'  demons,  and  lay 
before  lliem  lillle  heaps  of  each  cro]).  Alter 
the  olleriii;,'s  have  remained  tliert!  for  some 
little  time,  they  are  consumed  at  a  feast  to 
which  the  proprietor  of  tho  crops  invites  his 
relutivcii  and  friends. 


Wlien  ft  Howrali  dies,  bin  body  is  burnml, 
tho  »!ihcH  Imried,  and  a  small  building 
erected  over  the  Knot.  Five  days  alter  tho 
burial  u  i)ot  of  toddy  is  laid  on  the  i^rave, 
rounil  which  nrc^  plii(;ed  ii  nund>er  of  leaves 
represeiitinjj  tho  ivncestorM  of  llie  deceaK(Ml. 
A  little  toddy  is  pouri^l  upon  eaeii  leaf,  and 
tho  nnnuindur  is  drunk  liy  th(«  peo|)lc 
who  liave  assisted  at  tli(!  ceremony.  A 
somewhat  similar  rite,  but  aoeomixinieii  with 
feasting;,  is  celttbrated  at  the  end  uf  llie  tirst 
and  fourth  years  idler  burial, 

Accorilin;^  to  (Jeiieral  Campbell,  tliey  do 
not  destroy  their  female  infants,  as  in  done 
by  too  many  of  the  Indian  I.  Ibes,  neither  do 
they  praeliso  human  H(U'rilie(\  Yet  tli(!V  will 
sometimes  )inrticipato  in  tho  remarkablo 
Meriah  sacrilice,  which  will  ])resenlly  bo 
described,  and  will  travel  some  distance  to 
doso.  Tlii'y  donot,  howeV(!r, seen>  toattach 
V(!ry  Kri-'id  importanoo  to  IIk!  rite,  anil  when 
(fciieral  Campbell  remonstrated  with  them 
on  tho  subjecl,  they  at  oneii  promised  to 
abandon  it,  ami  not  even  to  bo  present  aa 
spectators. 

I'lU-liaps  the  most  clmrncteristic  trait  of  tho 
Sowrahs  is  their  absolute  truthfulness,  which, 
accordinj,'  to  Mr.  IFooper,  is  tho  result  from 
their  want  of  capacity  to  inveilt  u  lie. 


TIIK  KiroNDS. 


I«T  the  now  renowned  district  of  Orissa  live 

the  retnarkable  tril)es  called  Khonds,  who, 
like  the  Sowrahs,  appi^ar  to  bo  immediately 
deHceiided  from  the  aboriginal  inhal)itants, 
and  to  have  retained,  thiiui;'hin  a  somewhat^ 
niodilled  form,  several  of  ihe  customs  of  their 
savage  forcfalliers,  the  chief  of  which  will  bo 
brielly  de--ci  ibed. 

The  Kb  Mills  are  nctivo,  wiry,  and  of  much 
darker  cmiiplexinn  than  the  inhabitants  of 
the  plains,  and  neither  se.x  trouble  them- 
selves much  about  clothing.  Tho  men  wear 
a  few  yards  of  coarse  ct)tton  round  their 
waists,  a  seiiaralo  piece  dyed  rod  hanging 
down  behind  like  a  tail.  Their  hair  is  allowed 
to  grow  to  its  full  length,  and  is  twisted  round 
and  round  the  head,  and  fastened  in  a  knot 
in  front,  in  wliich  the  Khoinl  always  keops  a 
few  cigiws  made  of  tobacco  rolled  in  a  green 
leaf,  lie  generallv  decorates  this  top-knot 
with  ft  i)'.ece  of  rod  cloth  and  feathers, 

Tlic  women  weara  rather  larg((  cloth  round 
their  loins,  and  decorate  themselves  with 
vast  quantities  of  beads  and  other  ornaments, 
among  which  tho  most  conspicuous  are  some 
heavy  bracelets,  wliich  arc  little  more  than 
thick  brass  bands  twined  round  their  wrists. 
Among  some  of  the  tribes,  these  ornaments 
are  put  to  a  very  tragical  use,  its  wc  shall 
presently  sec.  Slips  of  rod  cloth  arc  con- 
sidered very  fashionable  ornaments  by  the 
Khond  women,  and  in  some  cases  strings  of 
copper  coin.'*  arc  worn  by  way  of  necklaces. 


These,  however,  arc  mostly  reserved  for  the 
children.  There  is  some  excuse  for  the 
anxiety  of  the  Khond  women  to  make  tho 
best  of  themselves,  as  they  are  very  inferior 
to  the  men  in  appearance,  beiiig  short, 
stumpy,  and  so  plain  in  features,  that  they 
are  pronounced  by(rcneral  Campbell  to  bo 
absolutely  repulsive.  Some  photographs, 
however,  which  are  now  before  me,  do  not 
give  this  imiiression.  Perhaps  these  women 
were  selected  for  their  good  looks. 

They  are  divided  into  manv'  tribes,  and  na 
a  rule  live  in  villages  varying  in  population 
from  forty  to  ten  times  the  number.  We 
will  now  proceed  to  the  manners  and  customs 
of  tho  Khond  tribes. 

TnnouoiiouT  the  whole  of  Khondistan 
there  is  a  system  of  human  sacritlce,  varying 
exceedingly  in  detail  according  to  the  locality, 
but  agreeing  in  all  principal  points.  There 
is  one  point  especially  which  seems  to  be  the 
very  essence  of  the  sacritlce,  and  which  is 
coinmon  to  all  the  tribes.  The  victim,  or 
Meriah,  must  be  bought  with  a  price.  Should 
a  captive  be  taken  in  war,  ho  may  not  be 
olfered  as  a  Meriah  by  his  captor,  but  he  may 
be  sold  for  that  purpose,  and  will  then  be 
accepted  by  the  priests. 

There  is  no  restriction  of  age,  sex,  or  caste, 
but  adults  are  thought  more  acceptable 
because  they  are  more  costly,  and  the  healthy 
more  likely  to  propitiate  the  gods  than  tho 


m 

1390 


INDIA. 


sick  ov  feeble.  That  the  Meriah  should  be 
saoriticcd  is  thought  an  absolutely  necessary 
condition  for  the  jjrosperity  of  every  uiulcr- 
takiuij;,  but  especiallv  for  the  growth  ot  the 
crops',  and  the  Khonds  therefore  use  every 
ondcavor  to  secure  a  succession  of  victims. 
Sometimes  thev  purchase  children  from  their 
parents  or  relations  when  they  have  lal  en 
into  povcrtv,  but,  as  a  rule,  they  arc  stolen 
bv  a  sec  of  robber  tribes  called  Pannoos, 
who  decov  them  into  the  hills,  seize  them, 
and  sell  them  to  the  Khon.ls.  It  is  rather 
remarkable  that  although  the  Khonds  avail 
themselves  of  the  services  ot  the  Pannoos, 
and  are  verv  glad  to  purchase  victims,  they 
bear  an  intense  liatred  imd  contempt  toward 
them,  and,  except  in  the  way  of  business, 
will  have  no  dealings  with  them. 

The  Meriah  victims  have  no  veason  to  com- 
plain of  their  lot,  with  the  one  exception 
that  it  must  soon  come  to  an  end.  Ihey  are 
well  fed  and  kindlv  treated,  and,  with  the 
ruiin"  fatalism  of  the  Oriental  character 
generallv  resign  themselves  to  their  fate,  and 
make  no"  elTorts  to  escape.  Often  a  Meriah 
"irl  is  married  to  a  Khond  man,  and  allowed 
to  live  until  she  has  borne  children.  These, 
as  well  as  herself,  arc  liable  to  be  sacrideed, 
but  must  never  be  offered  in  the  village 
wherein  thev  were  born.  In  order  to  avoid 
this  (liirieuliv,  the  various  towns  agree  to 
exchange  iheir  Meriah  children. 

Tlie  inodc  of  saerilieiiig  the  Meriah  is  so 
cxceeiliugly  variable  that  it  will  be  necessary 
to  "ive  ashortal)stract  (jf  the  various  modes, 
fn  the  lirsl  i)lace,  the  Meriah  must  idways 
be  sacrilieed  openlv  in  the  siglit  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  this  rule  is  ••bsolute  throughout  al! 

the  land.  ,       .       „       i  ,    .1 

In  (ioomsur.  the  sacrihce  is  offered  to  the 
Eartli-god,  Tado  Peiinor,  who  is  represented 
bv  llie"  emblem  of  a  peacock.  When  the 
ti'me  isiiNiMl.the  victim  is  selected,  and  tora 
mouth  theiv  is  much  rejoieing.  feasting,  iind 
daiuiii"  iMiiiul  the  Meriah,  w!io  is  abundantly 
supplied  with  food  and  druik,  and  is  111  all  ap- 
pearanee  as  merrv  and  uiuoncerued  as  any  <>1 
the  i)eoiile.  On  the  dav  previous  to  the  sacri- 
fice n  stout  poU'  is  set  ill),  l>i>viiig  on  its  top  the 
peacock  emblem  of  Tailo  Peniior,  anil  to  it 
IS  bound  the  .Meriah.  The  people  then  daiici! 
round  liim.saviu!.'.  in  their  eliants.  that  they 
do  not  murder  the  victim,  but  sacnliee  one 
who  was  bouiiht  with  a  price,  and  that  there- 
fore no  sin  rests  with  them.  As  the  Meriali 
is  previouslv  intoxicated  with  toddy,  he  can 
give  no  answer,  and  his  silence  is  Uiken  as 
consent  to  his  sacrifice. 

Next  dav  he  is  anointed  with  oil.  and  car- 
ried round  the  village,  after  which  he  is 
brought  to  the  peacock  post,  at  the  foot  ot 
which  is  a  small  pit.  A  hog  is  then  killed, 
and  the  blood  iioifcd  into  the  pit  and  "nxed 
with  the  soil,  so  as  to  form  a  thiek  mud.  The 
Meriah.  who  has  been  jireviously  made  sense- 
less from  inioxicatioU:  is  thrown  into  the 
pit,  with  his  face  pressed  into  the  luirc  until 


he  is  dead.  The  officiating  nriest  or  zam 
then  cuts  off  a  small  piece  of  the  llesh  of  the 
victim  and  buries  it  near  the  pit,  as  an  offer- 
In''  to  the  earth,  ond.  as  soon  as  he  has  done 
so?  all  the  spectators  rush  ui>on  the  body, 
hack  it  to  pieces,  and  carry  off  the  fragments 
to  bury  them  in  their  fields  as  a  proiutiation 
tothe'eartli  deities  who  produce  flic  crops. 
Itevolting  as  this  custom  is,  it  is  mucli  more 
merciful  than  most  modes  of  Meriah  sacrifice, 
inasmuch  as  suffocation  is  not  a  death  in- 
volving much  phvsical  pain,  and  the  victim 
has  been  previously  deprived  of  his  senses. 

In  Boad,  the  Meriah  is  taken  round  the 
villat'C  when  every  one  tries  to  procure  one 
of  ins  hairs,  or  to  touch  his  lips  with  their 
finders  so  that  they  may  anoint  their  heads 
wiUi  the  sacred  moisture.  After  being 
,i,u<Trrcd  into  insensibility,  he  is  taken  to  the 
fataHpot,  where  he  is  strangled  by  placing 
his  neck  between  the  two  halves  of  a  split 
bamboo,  the  ends  of  which  are  then  brought 
to'Tcther  by  the  priests.  The  head  iniest 
next  breaks  the  bones  of  the  arms  and  legs 
with  his  axe,  and  when  he  has  done  so,  the 
bodv  is  cut  to  pieces  as  in  Gooinsur. 

In  Chiisiia  Kimetlay  a  grotes(iuely  cruel 
mode  of  sacrifice  is  employed.  In  lieu  of 
the  peacock  which  is  used  at  (Jooinsur,  a 
larce  wooden  tigure  of  an  elephant  is  placed 
on"the  post,  and  revolves  on  a  pivot.  The 
Meriah  is  tied  to  the  exteiiued  prohoscis  of 
the  elephant,  and,  amid  ilie  yellsof  the  spec- 
lators,  is  whirled  round  as  fast  as  the  figure 
can  be  turned.  In  this  case  the  Meriah  is 
not  druirgcd.  At  a  signal  from  (he  (itlK'iatmg 
zaiii  tluP  crowd  rush  on  the  Meviah  with 
their  knives,  and  in  a  few  moments  hack  Iiiin 
to  ]i=,eces  as  he  is  tied,  still  living,  on  the 
tiei)liant.  ,  .,  ^.        , . 

General  Campbell,  while  executing  his 
mission  of  mercv  iu  Kliondistan,  saw  as 
inanv  as  fourteen  of  tlnar  elephant  imiigcs, 
all  of  which  he  causc'd  to  be  pulled  down 
and  destroyed  bv  the  baggage  elephants 
att.ached  to  his  force,  so  that  t.  "  Khonds 
might  see  tliat  those  venerated  einbleins  of 
a  tTuel  worship  vere  jjowerless  even  against 
the  animals  wl'iivh  thev  simulated.  His  task 
was  iialnrallv  ti  dillicult  one.  as  it  involved 
the  abolition  of  a  rite  which  had  existed 
from  time  immemorial,  an<l  which  110  amount 
of  reasoning  could  persii.ade  them  to  he 
wron<',  much  less  criminal.  So  deei>ly  was 
it  in-'niined  in  their  iiatiu-.  that  their  only 
idea"of  his  object  in  setting  tree  so  many 
hundred  Meriiihs  was,  that  he  might  sacri- 
fice them  on  his  own  account,  in  order  to 
bring  back  water  into  a  large  tank  which  lie 
was  Thought  to  have  constructed  for  the  uso 
of  his  eleiihants. 

In  this  verv  i)lacc,a  most  singular  circuin- 
siance  occurred.  Ilu^  English  ollicer  was 
told  that  a  sacrifice!  was  being  actually  per- 
formed, the  victim  being  a  young  and  haiul- 
some  girl,  o-.-.iv  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  old, 
lie  instantly  started  off  with  an  ariued  party, 


MERIAII  SACRIFICE. 


1301 


and  found  the  offering  of  the  Meriah  already 
complete,  and  nothing  wanting  but  the  ac- 
tual sacriticc.  The  aged  priest  was  ready 
'  to  give  the  signal,  and  the  surrounding  peo- 
ple were  mad  with  excitement,  when  the 
armed  party  caiae  to  tlic  rescue,  and  de- 
manded the  girl.  Tho  Khonds,  furious  as 
they  were,  found  that  tliv  y  dared  not  risk  a 
collision,  and  so  the  party  retired  with  the 
rescued  victim. 

The  remainder  of  the  story  has  yet  to  be 
told.  Scarcely  were  the  English  soldiers 
out  of  sight  tiian  the  assembled  Khonds 
broke  out'into  loud  murmurings  at  their  dis- 
appointminit.  At  last  one  of  tliem  hit  upon 
a  happy  thought.  '■  Why,"  .said  he,  "  should 
we  be  debarred  from  our  sacrilice?  See  our 
aged  priest.  Seventy  sinnmers  have  passed 
over  liis  head— wliat  furtlier  use  is  he? 
Let  us  sacrilice  him."''  And  forthwith  the 
old  man  was  tied  on  the  elephant,  spun 
rounil,  and  cut  to  pieces. 

In  Miiji  Deso  another  mode  of  sacrifice  is 
emploved.  Tiicv  do  not  keep  a  large  supply 
of  Meriahs,  as  do  most  of  the  tribes,  but  buy 
them  immediately  before  the  s:icrilicc.  Tiie 
conseriuence  is,  that  it  is  very  ditlicult  to 
detect  them,  except  in  the  very  act  of  offer- 
ing tho  victim.  Their  mode  of  killing  the 
Meriiili  is  as  follows.  Tlio  Khonds  surround 
the  victim,  and  beat  him  on  the  head  with 
the  iie.ivv  metal  bracelets,  which  they  are  in 
the  habit' of  wearing.  Mostly  they  kill  him 
in  this  way,  but  if  they  fail  in  doing  so,  they 
strangle  liim  with  a  split  bamboo,  as  has  al- 
ready been  described.  The  llesh  of  the  back 
is  then  cut  into  long  and  narrow  strips,  and 
each  p(>rson  carries  otVa  siriji  and  suspends 
it  ou  a  pole,  which  he  thrusts  into  tho  bed 
of  the  stream  which  waters  his  lields. 

In  Palna,  tho  mode  of  sacrilice  varies  cx- 
cecilinglv.  In  some  cases  the  victim  is 
stoned,  in  others  beati  n  to  death  with  bam- 
boos, together  with  other  barbarous  modes 
of  putting  to  death,  (leneial  Campbell  re- 
in;u-ks,  that  in  this  di-trict  there  are  places 
where  sacriliring  and  non-sacrilicing  tribes 
iuhatit  tho  sanie  village.  They  live  har- 
moniously together  until  the  tiuie  of  sacri- 
liic,  when  the  nou-sncrilicing  tribes  retire;  to 
thoir  houses,  and  never  (lass  through  the 
front  door  of  their  dwelliags  until  seven 
(lavs  are  over,  and  tlio  remains  of  the  Meriah 
buried,  .\ftcr  that  time,  all  goes  on  a.s  usu- 
al, until  the  next  sac.ilice  takes  place. 

Hiu-.dari  ajipf^ars  to  be  the  place  where 
the  people  adhere  most  liiinly  to  the  Meriah 
svsteui.  When  General  Campbell  visited 
this  district,  tliey  refused  to  give  up  the 
Meriah,  ami  on  "the  near  approach  of  his 
f.iree,  lied  to  their  hiding-places  in  t!u!  nioun- 
tiiins.  As  he  approached  Hundari,  he  tinind 
that  the  people  had  been  actually  otVering  a 
sacrilice,  and  that  thcv  had  gone  off  in  such 
Iraste  that  they  had  left  behind  then\  the 
spcrificial  post  witli   the   liead  of  a  victim 


suspended  beside  it.    The  mode  of  sacrifico 
employed  in  this  district  is  thus  described :  — 
"  The  sacrilice  which  had  taken  place,  and 
which  is  called  Junnah,  is  performed  as  fol- 
lows, and  is  always  succeeded  by  the  sacri- 
fice of  three  other  human  victims,  two  to 
the  bun  to  the  east  and  west,  and  one  in  the 
centre,  with  the  usual  barbarities.    A  stout 
wooden  post  is  lirmly  fixed  in  the  ground. 
At  the  foot  of  it  a  narrow  grave  is  dug,  and 
to  tlie  top  of  the  post  the  victim  is  lirmly 
liistened  by  the  long  hair  of  his  head.    Four 
assistants  hold   his  outstretched  arms  and 
legs,  the  body  being  suspended  horizontally 
over  the   grave,  with  the  lace   toward  the 
earth.    The  olliciating  zani,  or  priest,  stand- 
ing on  the  riglit  side,  repeats  the  following 
invocation,  at  intervals  liacking  with  his  sac- 
riticing  knife  the  back  part  of  the  shrieking 
victim's  neck:  — 

" '  O  mighty  Manicksoro,  this  is  j-our  fes- 
tal day  (to  tlicKhonds  the  sacrifice  is  Meriah, 
to  the  liajahs,  Junnah).  On  account  of  this 
sacrilice  you  have  given  to  Rajahs  countries, 
guns,  and  swords.  The  sacrifice  we  now 
offer,  you  must  eat;  end  we  i)ray  that  our 
battle-axes  may  be  turned  into  swords,  and 
our  bows  and  arrows  into  guni)Owder  and 
balls,  and  if  we  have  any  quarrelSs  with  other 
tribes,  give  us  the  victory,  and  preserve  us 
from  the  tyranny  of  Rajiilis,  and  other  ofli- 
cers.' 

"  Then,  addressing  the  victim,  ho  added, 
'  that  we  may  enjoy  prosperity,  we  offer  you 
a  sacrifice  to  our  god  Manicksoro,  who  will 
immediately  cat  you,  so  be  not  grieved  at 
our  slaying  you.  "Your  parents  were  aware 
when  we  purchased  you  from  them  for  sixty 
gunties  (articles)  tliat  we  did  it  with  intent 
to  sacrilice  you;  there  is,  therefore,  no  sin 
on  our  heads,  but  on  those  of  your  parents. 
.Vfter  you  are  dead,  we  shall  perforin  your 
obscfpiies.'" 

This  speech  I)eing  concluded,  the  head  of 
tho  victim  is  severed  from  the  body,  and 
allowed  to  hang  from  the  post  until  it  is 
eaten  by  wild  beasts.  The  knife  is  also  su.s- 
pended'from  the  post,  and  allowed  to  remain 
there  until  the  three  additional  sacrifices 
have  been  otlered,  when  it  is  removed  with 
mir.iv  cereuKmics.  Eight  of  these  posts 
wcic  found  in  the  village,  and  were  all  de- 
stroy _m1. 

It  is  this  mode  of  sacrifice  which  is  shown 
in  the  illustration  on  i)age  KtHT.  In  the 
centre  is  seen  the  acred  priest  in  i'  ■  act  of 
sacrificing  the  Meriah,  which  in  this  case  is 
a  youm;  girl.  Iler  head  is  supported  by  her 
long  hair,  which  is  tied  to  the  toj)  of  the 
liost,  and  her  body  is  held  horizontally  by 
the  four  assistants,  who  eacii  grasp  a  hand 
ora  foot.  On  the  risjlit  hand  is  sh;)wn  a  post, 
to  which  han'j;s  the  head  of  the  first  sacri- 
ficed Meriah,"and  on  the  other  side  is  an- 
otlier  victim  bound  bv  the  hair  to  the  post, 
waiting  until  the  priest  had  completed  the 


hangng  to  it  by  the  hair,  and  the  fatal  kmte  !  sacrifice  in  which  he  is  cngageU 


1392 


INDIA. 


One  circumstance  connectetl  with  the  Mc- 
riaik  sacrilicc  is  i-atlier  rcinarkablo,  namely, 
tlie  imliirurence  to  thoir  fate  that  sooins  to 
possess   the    victims.     One  voun;^  man,  a 
Meriah,  said  tliat  it  was  better  to  be  sacri- 
licod  among  liis  own  people,  and   to   give 
tlKiu  pleasure,  than  to  live  upon  the  plains. 
The  natives  believe  that  this  indillerence  la 
caused  by  the  Meriah  ibod,  a  mixture  ot  ri(;e, 
turineriJ,  and   otiier  iu,u;redieiits,  prcpaied 
with  certain  mai,'ieal  eeremomes.    l^yy"  V"* 
Meriahs   ihemselves  have  this  belief,     lo- 
oxami)le,  three  yoimg  women  were  hireil  b\ 
a  seller  of  salt  lisii  to  carry  his  goods  among 
the  Ivhoiuls.  and  when   he  got  them  there, 
the  treacherous  dealer  sold  not  only  the  lisli 
but  the  women.  Twice  the  victims  attemn  ed 
to  escape.  l)ut  were  recaptured,  and  alter  tlie 
secoiKl   attempt,  the   Khonds  fed  them  on 
Meriah  food,  when  they  became  reconcile.l 
to  their  fate,  and  made  no  further  ellorts  to 

escape.  ,,    ■      «■    ^        ,^ 

Other  ties  seem  to  have  their  eftect  on  the 
Meriahs.  Sometimes  a  man  wishes  to  buy 
a  Meriah,  that  being  a  very  meritorious  act; 
but  tiic  cost  is  so  great,  amounting  on  an 
average  to  sixt  v-live  rupees,  that  the  Khoiid 
is  aluC)st  reduced  to  poverty.  Under  such 
cireumsiances,  he  is  unable  to  marry,  inas- 
much as  he  cannot  jiay  the  lieavy  price 
which  is  demanded  of  a  bridegroom.  Ae- 
cordinglv,  he  buvs  a  Meriah  girl,  and  takes 
her  as  his  wife  until  the  time  when  she  may 
be  required  for  sacrilicc. 

It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  chil- 
dren are  sold  by  their  parents  as  Meriahs. 
This  s  ■ems  so  cruel  and  heartless  a  system, 
that  some  explanation  ought  to  be  otlere/1. 
It  is  very  seldom  that  such  a  purchase  is 
made,  un'less  the  parents  be  very  poor,  and 
fear  tliat  thev  shall  not  be  able  to  provide 
their  child  nil  wi/h  food.  In  such  cases  they 
arx-uelhiit  it  is  better  for  th<' child  to  be  nour- 
ished and  kimllv  tnaled,  and  tiien  to  (he  as 
a  saerilice  to  the  deities,  than  to  perisii  by 
dcirrees  of  starvation.  Moreover,  it  is  con- 
siifered  rather  a  meritorious  action  for  a 
parrnt  to  devote  a  child  to  the  gods,  and, 
when  it  is  <lone,  the  jiarents  are  very  jiroud 
of  such  ciiildreii.  and  regard  tlieiii  with  re- 
spect and  almir;.tion  as  belonging  to  the 
deities.  . 

Annihir  reason  for  the  continuance  ot  the 
Meriali  sa(a-ilice  is  the  sliiiht  regard  in  which 
tlie  Khonds  hold  human  life,  sacriticing  that 
whieli  we  consider  as  jiriceless  because  they 
are  indillVnut  to  it,  not  only  with  regard  to 
others,  but  with  regard  to  tiiemselves. 

Tliat  thi'  eustoui  of  propitiating  the  deities 
of  aL'rirultiire  with  living  sacritices  should 
be  eiitirelv  abolished  could  not  be  expected, 
and  (iene'ral  Campbell  found  that  the  best 
mode  of  extinttuishing  human  sa<a  iticc  was 
to  induce  the  Klionds  to  substitute  that  of  a 
beast.  This  was  done  in  many  cases,  the 
Baerilicers  apologizing  to  the  god  for  the  sub- 
siitution,  and  begging  him,  if  he  should  be 


angry,  to  vent  his  •  ith,  not  upon  them,  but 
upon  the  foreigner  who  had  suggested  the 
alteration.  He  had  no  objection  to  this  ar- 
rangement, and  as  the  crops  turned  out  well 
aftenvard,  it  was  to  be  aipposed  that  all 
parties,  the  gods  included,  were  satisfied. 

A  very  similar  custom  was  once  prevalent 
among  certain  tribes  of  the  Lower  Amazon. 
The  name  of  these  tribes  was  Tapuyos,  but 
this  title  has  now  been  given  to  all  the  in- 
habitants  of   the   Lower   Amazon   district. 
Trisoners  taken  in  war  by  them  were  re- 
!  served  for  sacrifice.     They  were  treated  with 
I'xtreme   kindness,  fed   in  the  im.st  lil)eial 
manner,  so  that  they  might  be  plump  and 
lilt,  and  were  provided  with  wives.    They 
were  generally  allowed  to  live  for  several 
vears  until  their  wives  had  borne  children, 
'riiev'were  then  taken  to  the  place  of  sairi- 
'  fu'e.'and  killed  with  a  single  blow  ol  a  club; 
their  children  being  carefully  reared,  for  the 
purpose  of  undergoing  a  similar  fate  after 
thev  had  grown  up. 

Even  without  reference  to  the  Meriah  sys- 
tem, the  Khonds  are  in  the  habit  of  killuig 
i  (heir    female    children.     This    caistom    has 
1  arisen  partly  fit  in  the  fear  of  poverty,  and 
I  ])artly  from  the  system  on  which  marriages 
I  are  conducted.     The  Khonds  dislike  niairy- 
I  ing  among  themselves,  and  seek  their  wives 
'  ainong  distant  trilies,  alleging  as  a  reason 
that  they  can  juirchase  them  at  a  cheaper 
rate.     15ut  (Uiieial  Campbell  tried  to  show 
j  them  that  if  thev  were  to  rear  their  own  fe- 
■  male  children,  tliey  would  lind   them  murh 
!  chea]ier  as  wives,  and  recommended  llioiii, 
i  as  a  beginning,  to  marry  tlu!ir  Meriali  wo- 
'  men,  for  whom  a   high 'price   had   already 
been  paid. 

!      In  some  of  the  hills  of  Cnuina  Kunedy, 

'  children  of  both  sexes  are  put  to  death.    As 

'  soon  as  a  child  is  born,  a  priest  is  called  to 

i  ascertain  whether  il   is  to  live  or  die.    To 

':  etfeet  this  purpose,  he  emiiloys  a  plan  very 

:  like  the  "Sorles  Virgiliame."     lie  produces 

;i  book.  and.  after  some  prayers,  thrusts  an 

iron  stvle  at  raiKhim  among  the  leaves,    lie 

then  reads  the  jiassage  to  which  the  style 

points,  ar.d  if  it  be  uiiiavorable,  the   child 

:  must  die,  or  the  lields  wouhl  bear  no  nioro 

'.  crops. 

The  fatal  edict  having  been  pronounced, 

'  the  child  is  placed  in  a  new  earthen  vessel 
(which  has  been  paintetl  in  red  ami  black 
striiii's),  the  cover  is  fastened  down,  and  the 
jar  is  buried.  Some  (lowers  and  rice  are  laid 
"on  tile  cover,  and,  after  the  earth  is  lilled  hi, 
a  fowl  is  sacriticed  upon  the  poor  little  vic- 
tim'.s  grave. 


Bffoiik  leaving  these  remarkable  tribes, 
,  we  will  glance  slightly  at  one  or  two  of  their 
i  most  characteristic  cimtoms. 
I  Their  weapons  are  very  simple,  consisting 
1  of  a  curious  sword  fi.xed  to  a  gauntlet,  the 
i  bow  and  arrow,  and  the  axe.  The  last  is  the 
!  national  weapon  of  the  Khonds,  and  ui  its 


SUPERSTITIONS. 


1393 


use  they  arc  wonderfully  ndroit.  General 
CiinipboU  mentions  that  a  British  oflicerwas 
out  in  the  evening  for  the  purpose  of  shoot- 
ing a  boar,  hut  only  wounded  the  animal 
slightly,  instead  of  killing  it  outright.  The 
hear  started  for  the  hills,  hut  was  pursued  by 
several  Khonds,  who  overtook  it,  got  biv 
tween  the  hill  and  the  bear,  and  then,  armed 
only  with  their  axes,  attaeked  and  haeked 
the  animal  to  pieces.  Tliesc  axes  are  a))()ut 
foiu-  feet  long  in  the  handle,  and  have  but 
pinall  heads.  These,  however,  are  made  of 
good  steel,  and  in  the  jiractised  hand  of  a 
Ivhonil  the  axe  is  a  weai)on  much  mon;  ler- 
midabli;  than  it  looks.  This  exhibition  of 
courage  is  the  more  remarkable,  because  *^l>e 
actors  in  it  were  Meriah  men  who  had  l)een 
rescued  from  sacrifice.  The  sword  tliat  has 
been  nieiuioned  is  a  comparatively  la'-e 
weapon,  and  belongs  rather  to  the  Ooryahs 
tii:ui  to  the  Khonds  proi)er. 

Tue  Khond  tribes  seem  to  be  rather  fond 
of  fjuiirrelliiig  among  each  otiier,  and  carry 
on  a  kind  of  desult(U-y  or  guerilla  v.'arfare. 
I'itched  battles  they  (tislike,  i)referri'ig  to 
•steal  cattle  from  their  ()ppon(>nts,  and  to  kill 
theiu  by  stealth,  to  meeting  them  in  open 
light,  indeed,  they  pride  themselves  on  do- 
ing as  much  injury  as  jiossiblo  to  their  an- 
taiionists,  while  receiving  tl\e  least  possible 
harm  themselves.  Accordingly,  when  the 
delegates  of  two  inimical  tribes  meet  for  the 
puri)osc  of  restoring  jieace,  some  very  ab- 
surd scenes  take  place.  The  umpires  call  U])on 
the  repres(>ntatives  of  the  tribes  to  declare 
the  number  of  cattle  stolen  and  men  killed: 
and  it  is  generally  found  that  the  latter  item 
is  equally  balanced,  neither  ])arty  caring  to 
acknowledge  that  a  man  of  their  own  tribe 
has  been  killed,  unless  the  adversaiies  can 
prove  it.  Tiiey  cannot  but  admit  that  the 
man  was  killed,  but  aitribulo  his  death  to 
accident,  such  as  being  carried  off  by  a  tiger, 
or  bitten  by  a  snake. 

Pride  forms  a  great  (dement  in  the  Khond 
character.  The  people  are  fond  of  their 
luid,  and  nothing  can  induce  a  Khond  to 
Sell  one  yard  i>f  ground  to  a  foreigner,  n(U' 
even  to  part  with  a  single  tree  that  grows 
on  that  soil,  (ienei'ally,  they  are  too  proud 
to  barter,  but  leave  that  business  to  the 
I'annoo  tribes,  by  whom,  as  may  he  re- 
nieinbin-ed.  the  Meriah  victims  are  gener- 
ally furnished.  Among  the  Khonds  there 
are  hut  two  employments  worthy  of  their 
(ligiiily,  I.  e.  warfare  and  agriculture,  and  all 
pi'Tsoiis  are  des]iiscd  who  carry  on  any  other 
lirofessioii  or  business,  even  though  they 
iiiiiy  profit  by  it  themselves.  Yet  there  is 
iiDsvsti'Ui  of  caste  among  them,  such  as  we 
findainong  the  Hindoos,  neither  have  they 
any  prejudice  in  regard  of  diet,  except  per- 
liajis  a  (lislike  to  milk. 

As  to  the  ridigion  of  the  Khonds,  it  is  of 
the  simplest  descripfioo,  and  their  worship 
is  practicallj  comprijn'd  in  the  Meriah  sacri- 
fice.   There  arc  certain  very  barbarous  sa- 
il 


cred  images  to  he  found  in  the  hill  districts 
but  no  one  seems  to  care  or  even  to  know 
much  about  them,  and  the  priests,  or  modi- 
cine  men,  arc  as  ignorant  or  careless  on  the 
subject  as  the  people  in  general.  It  ought 
to  be  mentioned  that  very  elaborate  accounts 
have  been  pu))lished  respecting  the  religion 
of  the  Khonds,  th  .'ir  vast  .army  of  deities,''and 
their  quadruple  souls.  Ihit  there  is  now  no 
doubt  that  the  information  upon  which  those 
accounts  wore  based  was  simply  invented 
by  the  narrators  in  order  to  suit  their  own 
pui'i)oses. 

Putting  aside  the  Meriah  system,  Iho 
Khonds  liavo  several  superstitions  in  which 
they  tirndy  believe,  and  the  strangest  of 
them  is  their  idea  that  certain  human  beings 
can  transform  themselves  into  tigers.  These 
l)ersons  are  called  "  Pulta  Hags,"  and  arc 
very  nuu'h  dreaded  by  the  people,  upon 
whose  fears  they  inteiifionally  play  for  the 
purpose  of  extortion.  Knowing  (hat  the 
ignorant  people  believe  (hem  to  he  possessed 
of  such  a  pou-cr,  they  extort  food,  {•lothing, 
and  other  jSroperty  from  them  at  intervals, 
saying  that  they  "are  jioor,  and  unless  sup- 
|)licd  with  the  necessaries  of  life,  they  will 
b(>  forced  to  transform  themselves  into  tigers, 
and  to  carry  off  (he  cattle. 

General  Camjibell  mentions  an  •nstanco 
where  he  was  brcnight  in  contact  with,  or 
rather  in  opposidon  to,  this  sujicrstititm. 
AnexcKcd  crowd  can. e  to  him,accomi)anied 
by  several  armed  men,  who  guarded  two 
women.  One  of  the  men  then  said  that  he 
aTid  his  son  were  in  the  Jungle  cutting  fire- 
wood, whe;<  a  tiger  sprang  upon  (he  lad  and 
carried  him  off.  The  tafher  pursued  the 
animal,  shouting  after  it  until  i(  turned  the 
corner  of  the  rock,  when  it  disjqipeared,  and 
on  tlie  top  of  the  rock  were  then  seen  the 
two  women.  The  case  was  clear.  These  two 
women  were  Pulta  Bags.  AVhile  in  the 
tiger  form  they  had  carried  off  his  son,  but, 
alarmed  by  his  .shouts,  had  hidden  the  body 
of  the  lad  and  resumed  their  hum.an  shapes. 

On  being  questioned,  (he  women  acknowl- 
edged (hat  the  story  was  true,  and  that  they 
did  possess  (he  ])ower  attribu(ed  to  them. 
General  Cam])bell  then  offered  to  release 
them,  provid(!(l  that  they  wouUl  transform 
themselves  into  tigers  in  Ids  presence.  This, 
to  his  astonishment,  they  agreed  (o  do,  jiro- 
vided  (hat  he  accompanied  them  to  a  neigh- 
boring Jungle.  Finding,  however,  that  the 
English  general  was  not  so  easily  frightened 
as  a  Kliond  warrior,  and  that  they  would 
he  taken  at  Iheir  word,  they  threw  them- 
selves at  his  feet,  and  acknowledged  their 
imposture. 

A  remarkable  instance  of  (his  belief  is 
narrated  by  the  same  writer.  A  brave  little 
Khond,  belonging  to  the  irregular  force,  was 
engaged  in  a  conflict  when  several  of  the 
enemy  were  killed,  among  whom  was  one 
who  was  shot  Ity  liis  own  hand.  Instead  of 
being  proud  of"  his  exploit,  hb  was  seized 


1!   >> 


\     *i 


1394 


INDIA. 


with  terror,  declaring  that  the  man  whom 
h^  had  kille'a  was  a  Pulta  Bag,  and  that  c 
would    ansumo,   the   shape   ot    a  tifjcr   aim 

over,  ho  obtained  leave  w/'f'' ,  brou"ht 
and/previous  to  l^^.^.^PJ^^^^.'^iJ, the  taken 

ot  It,  as  he  lelt  sur.  uu  ^^^j,     ^„,i 

wear  it  again.  ^^^  J",X,veeks,  when,  as 
lived  with  them  tor  s"'^^  '^^^j^'^r  sprang 
he  was  watching  his  "^  \"lCj^.i  ^^^o'-  , - 

on  him,  and  ^voum  o      'm  8<^^e  ue  Y^^^^^  ,^.,^^ 

Swl^tlf Uicfl^perSn^^-u  the  na- 
^' M^l^rlage  is  generally  celehrated  at  «ie 


;;j;^tomofeaj^ing;jrthc,bnde     Iheh^ 

wh,;^  Vr^n'^teh  her  from  him,. or  at  leas 
pSenS  to  ^^  so.     "c,however,is  p rolc^te 

stones,  and  other  wis^''^\vhon  he  reaches 
own  dwclhugs. 


B0W9  AND  Qcmnt.    (From  my  Collection.) 

(Sec  pi»ge  1<*1') 


4  ■•'■ 


CHAPTER    CXLIX. 


INDIA  -  ■  Continued, 


WEAPONS. 


THE  GHOOUKA  TllinE  AND  THEin  FAVOHITE  WEAPON  —  ni.ADE  AND  Cl'IlVED  HANDLE  OF  THE  "  ROOK- 
ERY "—JIODE  OF  smiKlNG  Wml  IT  — TIE  ADDITIONAL  KNIVES  —  MAKINd  "WOOTZ"  STEKL  — 
FIOIITINO  A  TIOEB— THE  HUNTKIl's  NECKLACE  —  l!lll'.I!E«8  OF  INDIA  —  THE  BUKdLAI!,  THE  lUU- 
ROWEll  —  THE  rCIiSE  CUTTEH — AN  INO.NIOUS  THEFT  —  BTKANCii;  MODE  OF  F.SOAriNC.  OliSEHVA- 
TION— VAIUOIH  liOWS  — THE  I'ELLET  HOW  AND  ITS  UOf  'LE  STllINH  —  THE  UEVERSED  HOW  AND 
MODB  OF  rSINO  IT  —  STniNflING  THE  HOW — THE  V'AniOrS  AHliOWS — AHMOH  AND  CHAIN  MAIL  — 
BIR  HOPE  chant's  Hl'ElIMEN  —  INDIAN  81VOUD3  AND  MODE  OF  USING  THEM— VAKIOUS  DAG- 
GERS—  THE   "cHAKUA"    Oil  QUOIT   WEAPON. 


OXE  of  tho  hill  tribos,  called  thn  filioorka 
tril)(!,  is  wortiiy  of  notii^c,  if  only  fur  tiu'  re- 
markable weapon  wiiieh  they  use  in  jircfer- 
ent'i!  to  any  other.  It  is  called  tho  '•  kook- 
ery,"'  and  is  of  a  very  peculiar  shape.  One 
of  tho  knives,  drawn  from  a  specimen  in 
my  collection,  is  given  in  illustration  No.  '2, 
oil  page  140."i.  Asmayl)e  seen  l)y  reference 
to  the  drawing,  botli  the  bjadr  and  liilt  are 
curved.  The  blade  is  very  (liiek  at  the  l)ack, 
my  own  specimen,  whicii  is  rather  a  small 
oi'ie,  measuring  a  httle  more  (liana  quarter 
of  an  inch  in  thickness.  From  the  back  it 
is  thinned  off  gradually  to  the  edge,  which 
has  a  curve  of  its  own,  iiuite  dilferent  to 
that  of  tiie  back,  so  that  the  blade  is  widest 
as  well  as  thickest  in  the  middle,  and  tajiers 
at  one  end  toward  the  liilt,  and  at  the  other 
toward  the  point.  The  steel  of  which  the  | 
■d  is  of  admirable  tern 


ordinary  English  soldier.  Aly  own  hand  is 
a  smallOne,  but  it  is  too  large  even  for  the 
heavy  sabre  or  "  tulwar,"  while  tho  handle, 
of  the  kiiiikery  looks  as  if  tho  ^Ycapon  were 
intend  1 1  for  a  boy  of  si:i  or  seven  years  old. 
Indeed,  the  (ihoorkaa  are  so  small,  that  their 
!;ands,  like  those  of  all  Indian  races,  are 
v,  ;-y  delicate,  about  the  same  size  as  thos(> 
of  an  Eiiglisli  boy  of  seven.  The  jioint  of 
tho  kookery  is  as  sharp  as  a  needle,  so  that 
the  weapon  answers  equally  well  for  cutting 
or  staDbing.  In  conscqueuce  of  the  great 
thickness  of  tiie  metal,  the  blade  is  exceed- 
ingly heavy,  and  it  is  a  matter  of  much  won- 
der how  such  tiny  hands  as  those  of  the 
(Jhoorkas  can  manage  so  weighty  a  weapon, 
wdiich  seems  almost  as  much  beyond  their 
strength  as  does  the  Andanuuvr's  gigantic 
bow  to  the  dwarfish  man  who  wields  it.  It 
maybe  imagined  that  a   blow  from  such  a 


Made  IS  forniefl  is  ot  ailinirame  lem^ier,  as  is  , 

shown  by  the  fact  that  my  specimen,  which,  ]  weapon  as  this  must  be  a  very  Im'rible  one. 
to  iii\  kiiowleilge,  lias  not  been  cleaned  for  \  Tho  very  weight  of  the  i)lade  would  drive  it 
thirty  years,  but  has  been  hung  upon  tli(>  wall  !  half  through  a  man's  arm,  if  it  were  only 
air.ruig  other  weapons,  is  scarcely  touched    allowed  to  fall  from  a  little  height.     Hut  the 

Glioorkas  have  a  mod-  of  striking  which  re- 
sembles the  "drawing"  cut  of  the  brond- 
sv;ord,  and  which  urges  tho  sharp  edge 
ihrough  flesh  and  bone  alike. 

Hefore  ppssing  to  the  mode  in  which  tlio 
kookery  is  used,  I  may  iiuiuion  tlinl  it,  is  not 
em|)loyed  for  domestic  jmrposcs,  being  too 
liighly  valued  by  the  owner.  For  such  pur- 
poses two  smaller  knivs  are  used,  of  very 
similar  form,  but  appareutiy  of  inferior  metal. 


with  rust,  and  for  f 
face  is  burnisheil  lik 
turning  it  about,  I  _ 
polislu'd,  surface  tl- 
room.     The  handle 


gv'iater  part  of  its  sur- 
c  ;,  nii-ior.  Indeed.,  on 
in  i-  '1;  n  llected  upon  its 

V:\:'  1US  objects  of  the 
i-  iiiadc  after  a  verv  re- 


markable fashion,  and  the  jiortioii  which, 
forms  the  hilt  is  so  small  that  it  shows  the 
size  of  the  hand  for  which  it  was  intended. 
This  smallness  of  hilt  is  commoi:  to  .all  In- 
dian .swords,  which  cannot  be  grasped  by  an 


I'll 


(13'J6) 


1396 


INDIA. 


These  arc  kept  in  little  cases  attached  to  the 
M.le  of  tlu-  kookery-slwath,  just  as  is  t'";  j;'^^^' 
with  tlu- knive.s  attarhed  t.o  a  "l^'l'l;\'  J^' f 
dirk,  or  the  .'.rrangemeut  of  the  YpIn^^ 
^vhiehha8  already  I.eoii  desenbed  i"  I',  ;'[,^ 
clc  upon  I5orneo._  T'^re  is  also  hUk  J. 
leathern  ])urse,  with  a  dmiUe  "  'I'-     ^"^  '."^ 

''!rVi^^;;SfTi?iKs^;\:;:^^T 

S   Kid    as  tlu"'  project  IVmn  the  sheaths.  I 
•"vt  ri'  Tthe  koM<ery  itself  in ;hu.yu  s<.  as  , 
::,  M.  nv  ilie  peculia-  curve  of  the  blade  and 
uJrv  snail  handle.    Tif,'.  3  represents 
;    in.rseasit   appears   when  dosed    and  , 
I'prs  4  and  5  are  the  supplementary  k    v e*^ 
MV  own  specimen,  which,  as  I  I'^ve  a    ead 
,  ^.utloned,  is  a  small  one,  measures    it  en 
c  es  from  hilt  to  point  ni  a  stra;- Id    u.e, 
nnd   tw ciitv-one   inches   if  measured  along 
U>o  cur  oof  the  1  ...k.     lis  weight  is  exac   y 
twMve  ounces.    The  knife  is   a  v.vy  plain 
on      no     niament  of  any  kind  being  used, 
°dtemnk>rhase>.ulenlly  contented  hmi-; 

M f  wiih  expending  all  h-  care  upon    he 
IdadeVwhicli  is  forged  ^v.^>^.   'he  celebrated  ^ 

"  Thi!fsbJr'is  made  by  the  nativ.s  in   a 

vcrv    simple   but   etfectnal   manner.     Attei 

'u'-lti.''    he  iron  out  of  ma^m  tie  ore.  the 

1    li       smith  puts  small   pieces  of  it  m  a 

■n  ■  lie.   and     mix.s    little    bits   of    wood 

w    h     hem.     He   then   covers  the  crucible 

ir^i^.  loaves  aiid  plenty  od^^^^ 

,M,i«7in  his  s  mple  turnaee.     ibe  Uiinacc 
i::::;;;ii;.l!i::d..  a!  constant _  blast ^_o,    a.  ^s 


keys,  and   fierce  as   tigers,  the   lithe,  wiry 
little  men  came  leaping  over  the  ground  to 
the  attack,  moving  so  (pnckly,  and  keeping 
so  f'iir  apart  from  each  other,  that  musketry 
was  no  use  against  them.     VVlien  tliey  cauio 
near  the  S(ddiers,  thev  suddenly  crouchi'd  to 
the  ta'ound,  dived  under  the  bayonets,  struck 
upward  at  the   men   with    their   kookenes, 
rippiu'^  them' open  with  a  single  blow,  and 
then  alter  having  done  all  the  mischiei  in 
their  power,  ilarting  oil"  as  rapidly  as  ihey 
hid    come.     Until    our    men    learned    tins 
mode  of  attack,  thev  wiu'e  greatly  discom- 
fited bv  their  little  opponents,  who  got   uu- 
1  der  their  weapons,  cutting  or  slashing   w  uii 
'  knives  as  .sharp  as  razors,  and  oilen  eseap- 
ill"   unhurt    from    the    midst   of   bayonets. 
I  They  would  also  dash  under  the  bellies  ot 
i  the  I.tlieers'  liorses,  rip  Iheiii   open  witli  one 
i  liluw  of  the   kookery,  aial    aim   another  at 
'  the  leg  of  the  otllcer  as  he  and  his  horse  ieil 

tou'elher.  r.  i        •  p 

IV'rbaps  no  better  proof  can  be  given  ot 
the  iiower  of  the  weaptm,  and  the  dextt:nty 
of  the  user,  than  the  fact  that   a  (n'o'"'^,'^. 
will   not    hesitate   to   meet   a  tiger,  hunsflt 
beiti"  armed   willi  nothing  but  ins  kook.iy. 
'.  He  <Tands  in  front  of  the  animal  (see  the  next 
'  iM-e)   and  as  it  springs  he  leaps  to  tlu'  lett, 
lu.riveriu"  as  he  does  so  a  blow  toward  the 
I  ti-'cr.     a"s  the  reader  is  aware,  all  animals  ot 
the  cat  tribes  attack  by  nuaiis  ot  the  paw; 
;  and  so  the  tiger,  in  passing    the  Gliourka, 
:  mechauicailv  strikes  al  bun.  , 

Tile  man  is  well  out  of  reach  ot  die  tiger  s 
P'lw  b"t  it  just  comes  witbni  the  sweep  of 
tlie  kookerv,  and,  what  with  I'ae  fiu'ce  ol  the 
li.n.r-s  stroke,  what  with  the  blow  deliv- 
tn-.d  bv  the  ma.;,  the  paw  is  always  uis- 
aliled,  and  often  fairir  severed  Iroin  the  unb. 
Furious  with  pain  and  rag.    the  tigi'r  leai.s 


d^ll'^t '  ti^^ough"  't^i^^v  ajl-t  i;;r- J-;;^;  |  j;Zd:andmai;;:;";.noUn:i- spring  at  bis  li... 
at  the  expiration  ot  ^^  »;/  "">^  found  in  enemy.  But  the  (ilio..rka  is  as  active  as  t  e 
now  converted  "ito  cas -s  uh  ^^J"'^,^.,,,,  tiger,  and  has  sprung  round  as  ";;'•"•>«  If 
the   form    of   a   small    cake  at  t  c    u  j,?iivcred  his  blow,  so  as  to  be  on  the  sale  ot 

of  the   crncilde.     Wootz   st^e    w.      at^c^^^^^^  Again  the  tiger  alta.^s, 

time    much    used    ni    ^'^''-'ff '   '    .Id  but  this   time  his   blow  is  useless,  and  the 

mimbers  of  these  cakes  ^3';^,  .  ";i  .'^i' '  ^  ^.j^er    (Mioorka  steps  in  ami  delivers  at  he  neck  or 
In  the  hands  of  an  5^1'^:\'X  v  veanon    throat  of  the  tiger  a  stroke  whidi  generally 
tins  knilc  is  about  a.s  fonnid  lie  .M^^^^ 
as  can  be  conceived.    Like  all  rcaU\  ^"  «  ,  I  .^^,  ,,,„^y  j^  ..ne  upon  the  l>ack  of 


and  the 


iipon   uie   sMii    t.u...    ^    ^,    ,i,„  link- ti"er  rolls  on  thegroundahlefss mass,     i  or 

Jielder,  and  thus  it  happens   that  th,  intK  ,  u„tn  -    _^^      ^.b      ,_^  f„,.v.  that.  uule> 


"^^' •'•  ^-„;rihns  it  happens  UiaMhe  nttie  ;,;f;;---;;i,-\f^;,-;-  ju,.  that,  unless  the 
(Jhoorka.  a  mere  boy  ''V.l''"'"^"',^^^  animal  is  rendered  absolutely  powerless  rage 
will  cut  to  i>i.-c,.s  a  gur.ant.c  «<  ^^•^_;^;y  ^^  ^  I  ^"'Xs  for  a  few  moments  the  place  ot  the 
,],,esnot  understand  Ins  mode  ot    '''^^t    "lUe    su  ^,^^,^,^,^,^  .^  ^„  ,„^ke  a  last  ex- 

<i,,„„,ka  generally  .inkes  "l'"^!"  J^^f  ,,^  |  pu'  ^dlbrt.  AH  experienced  hunters  know 
kook.rv,  possibly  in  order  to  avoid    v-miU     pi   .  ^.^piriug  charge  ol  a  wouiide.l 

i„^  himself  should  his  blow  f'"  ;  f  ^'''^^'^  ^  or  tiger,  and!  if  l-ossible,  hide  themselves 
blv  because  an  np«vard     ut  is  just  tin,  one  o  ...      .    „,  ^  ,.. .  ,,.,„„.  „.,„„„r     u 


that  can  be  least  guarded  again-t. 
Years  ago,  when  we  w.'re  en-airod 


lion  or  iiiiei ,  i'">'' "  1'""  '     ,'     ,  1      i.' 

as  soon  as  they  inlUct  the  death  wound, 
thev  can  do  so,  the  animal  looks  round  tor 


^'',^:;;;;ngo,whniwe;wereeng>u2  m  tie     -^  ^  ,^.;- ^ t  s^e  him,  and  at  onee 
many  Indian  wars  which  led  at  last  t  i    "^  '^'';  ,;     vl  ureas,  if  it  cm  espy  its  enemy, 

riental  empire,  the  (Ihoorkas  proved  th  -  "".^  ^'^^^'^  ,  ,tr,  ,.th  into  one  i  llbrt,  the 
;..lves  most  formidable  ';'->"''^^,'^-,fi„*;X  re  t  U  of  hidi  ...  fm,uently  tnat^  the  man 
"^S  S.^XSc^urUoi:'acrU"-u- :  ^:i  the  tigor  a.c  ibuud  lyin,  dead  together. 


(1.)    INOKMOUS   KLSi;   OF   BUKKL    KOliBEUS. 
(Spppnfrc  1400.) 


{■:.)  A    (illoOKKA    ATTACKED  BY    A   TIUKlt. 
(See  page  1396.) 


(1307:) 


Many  of  t 

with   nuoklai 

claws  of  tin; 

of  tliisne  nee 

fli^uriMl  ill  il 

U  is  tnvld  of 

arrani^oil  Iti  I 

Hiiil   most   |)i 

iippor  c:iuiu(i 

Well  1)1!  jii-ou 

Hpcciia'ii,  iiu 

in  Iou!j;lli,  am 

ciiinfi'riMiw!. 

At  Fi;,'.  I  is  a 

evidiiuily  tin; 

claw  of'tho  1 

dllfni-(!nHv  aiz 

I>s.  4  and  0  i 

tile  slotli-bcai 

that  in  all  nn 

aro  of  tli(!  hiL 

part   with    re 

doc^orations  (l( 

Ci)ns(iquuntly 

euro  such  orii 

strong?  ol)jec.t 

holilor  of  tho 

rosif^n  at  tho  s 

to  woar  it. 

Amovo  mn 

h'tlf-sava;,'!!  i^x 

Jiinit(Hl    to  till! 

liki'ly  that  a  si 

prcn'ail.     Wo 

ono  pxistiiig 

miinlcr,  inster 

ital  oH'cui'i',  is 

may  thurcforo 

some  cases  he 

tain  it  is  that  tl 

thii'ves  in  the 

The  natives 

woiiilerl'iil   ])()' 

{•oujurini;.  auil 

tlh-y  tni'ij  thos 

must  he  most  i 

a  most  valuahl( 

Inspecti)r-(ffii 

tlii(>vos  of  Lo\' 

whii'h  it  is  im| 

wonderfully  in 

thiines,  and  so 

which  tlit^y  arc 

For  exain|)li 

lars,  who  com| 

lion  of  the  Se 

tho  wall  and  st 

lars  work  tof,'e 

while  the  otliet 

the  wall,  larj^e 

of  his  person. 

breach,  ho  pus} 

piece  of  grass 

look  like  a  hu 

ascertain  whetl 

for  it  sometime 


ADROIT  THIEVES. 


1300 


Many  of  these  little  hunters  are  decornted 
witii   niu;kla(;(!»    nimlo   from    the    totali  and 
elawi  of  thi^  animuls  which  they  kill.    (Jne 
of  tJKsso  nccklacL's  is  in  n»y  collection,  and  is 
fli^iiriMl  in  illustration  No.  ],  on  page  1  lU.'J. 
U  is  mi  li!  of  the  .spoils  of  various  animals, 
arr.anijiNi  in  the  folio wintf  way.     Theccuitral 
and   most   prominent    ol)ject    is   one  of  tlie 
upper  canine  teeth  of  a  tiger.     The  man  may 
Well  he  proud  ol    this,  for  it  is  a  very  line 
speciini'u,  measurini;  live   inches  and  a  halt 
in  lens»lii,  and  more  than  three  inches  in  cir- 
cumference.   This  tooth  is  shown  at  Fig.  5. 
At  Fig.  I  is  a  claw  from  a  fore-foot  of  a  tiger, 
evidenily  the  same  animal;  and  at  Fig.  i)  is  a 
claw  of  the  hind-foot.     Figs.  2,  ;},  7,  H  are 
dilFereutly  sized  teeth  of  the  crocoilile;  and 
Fgs.  4  and  0  represent  claws  from  tin;  toot  of 
the  sloth-hear.     The  rea.h'r  may  remember 
that  in  all  imcivilized  countries  such  spoils 
aro  of  the  highest  value,  and  play  the  same 
part   with   regard  to  tluiui,  that'  titles  and 
d(!eorationsdo  among  more  civilized  nations. 
C'ous(!quently,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  pro- 
cure such  ornaments,  the  natives  having  as 
strong  objection   to   part    with   them   als   a 
hold(;r  of  the  Victoria  Cross  would  have  to 
resign  at  the  same  time  his  badge  and  a  ri"ht 
to  wear  it.  ° 


Amovo  men  of  such  a  stairtp,  loading  a 
hdt-savage  existence,  with  ideas  necessarily 
limited  to  their  own  range  of  thought,  it  is 
likely  that  a  strange  sort  of  moralitv  should 
prevail.  We  have  already  seen  that  there  is 
one  existing  system  in  'which  treaclierous 
inurder,  instead  of  being  regarded  as  a  cap- 
ital olfeuee,  is  exalted  into  a  religion,  and  we 
may  therefore  exi)eet  tiial  rol)l)erv  may  in 
some  cases  he  considered  as  a  virtiie.  Cer- 
tain it  is  that  there  are  no  more  accomplished 
thieves  in  the  world  than  tliose  of   India. 

The  natives  are  justly  celebrateil  for  their 
wouderfid  powers  of  posMn-e  makiuir  and 
coujuring.  and  it  is  lobe  expected  that,  when 
they  tin-ij  those  powers  to  an  evil  use,  tlu'v 
must  he  most  dangerous  op|)onents.  Latel'v 
a  most  valuable  report  has  been  issued  by  tlie 
Inspector-ttcneral  of  Prisons,  relating  to  tlie 
thieves  of  Lowt'r  Uombay.  in  the  perusal  of 
which  it  is  impossible  to  restrain  a  smile,  so 
wonderfully  ingenious  are  the  devices  of  "the 
thieves,  and  so  astonishing  is  the  skill  with 
which  they  are  employed. 

For  example,  there'  arc  the  regular  hurrr- 
lars,  who  completely  carrv  out  the  descrip- 
tion of  the  .Sia-iptunvs,  -breaking  through 
the  wall  .and  stealing."  Two  of  these  hur^'- 
lars  work  together.  One  acts  as  s.Mitimd, 
winle  the  other  gently  bores  a  hole  through 
the  wall,  large  enough  to  .admit  the  passa'"'e 
of  his  person.  When  he  has  completed  tlie 
breach,  ho  pushes  through  it  a  stick,  with  a 
piece  of  grass  wrapped  round  it,  so  as  to 
I<iok  like  a  human  head.  This  is  done  to 
ascertain  whether  the  inmates  aro  alarmed, 
for  it  somutimos  happens  that  the  owner  of 


the  houao  hoars  the  miner  at  work  and 
•luictly  stands  by  the  side  of  the  hole,  uVuicl 
with  a  sword  or  cu.lgel,  with  which  ho 
strikes  at  the  head  of  the  robber,  as  soon  as 
U  appears  through  the  wall.  i^W.oul.l  tho 
sliain  head  be  smashed  by  a  blow  from  the 
inside,  the  thieves  escape  as  fast  as  thev  can 
It  not,  one  of  them  crawls  througli  the 
breach,  steals  all  the  property  on  which  ho 
can  lay  his  hands,  and  returns  to  his  com- 
rade, vyho  has  been  keeping  careful  watch, 
and  will  alarm  him,  should  danger  appear. 

Other  thieves  appear  to  be  more  harmless 
though  they  probably  steal  as  nnicb  money 
as  the  burglars.  They  carry  in  their  iniailli's 
a  tmy  knife,  with  a  blade  as  sharp  as  that  of 
a  razor.  They  freiiueiit  the  bazaars,  mix 
with  the  crowd,  and  contrive  to  feel  Ibr  the 
moiii.y  which  is  wrapped  up  in  the  girdle. 
VV  ith  their  little  knives,  they  gentiv  cut  the 
cloth,  noiselessly  extnict  tho  nionev,  and 
shuk  oir  into  the  midst  of  the  crowd,'whero 
lliey  can  scarcely  be  detected.  In  short, 
Uiey  act  precisely  after  the  manner  of  our 
European  cut-purses. 

The  most  ingenious  of  all  tho  thieves  aro 
those  who  get  into  the  zenanas,  or  women's 
apartments,  and  steal  their  jewelry.  As  Iho 
reailer  is  probably  aware,  the  women's  aj)art- 
meiils  aro  in  Iho'most  central  portion  of  tlij 
house,  and  are  so  car.'fully  guarded  that  lit- 
tle i)recaution  is  taken  with  res|)ect  to  tho 
costly  jewels  with  which  the  women  (hek 
themselves  so  abundantlv.  The  Indian 
burglar  knows  of  this  we.alth,  and  somr- 
tiiiies  manages  to  steal  it.  He  digs  a  hole 
in  the  ground  outside  the  w.alls  of  the  house, 
and  burrows  under  the  found.ation  until  ho 
comes  beneath  the  lloor  of  the  zenana.  Ho 
then  cautiously  works  his  way  upward,  and 
so  obtains  admission  into  the  apartment. 
But  even  when  there  his  task  is  not  com- 
pleted, as  a  large  portion  of  tho  jewelrvcon- 
sists  of  nose  rings  and  bangle's,  or  brace- 
lets. The  skill  of  these  thieves  is  now 
shown,  for  they  will  contrive  to  cut  tho 
rings  and  bangles,  remove  tliem  from  tho 
wearers,  and  make  good  their  escape  with- 
out (listurbing  the  .sleeping  women. 

These  adroit  Imrgl.ars  often  commit   tho 
most  daring  robberies  in   the  verv  midst  ot 
an   army.      Knowing    tho   position  of   tho 
tents,  they  mark  out  that  wliich  is  the  resi- 
dence of  a  great   man,  and   creep  .silently 
to\yard  it.    Arrived  at   the  tent,  their  sharp 
knife  cuts  a  hole  anrl   they  glide  into  the  in- 
terior without  making  the   slightest  noise. 
Indeed,  so  wonderfully  adroit  are  they,  th.at 
even    the  very  watch-dogs  do  not  discover 
them,  and  a  thief  has  been  known  actually 
to  step  over  the  body  of  a  dog  without  dis- 
turbing the  animal.  "They  Lake  an  extraor- 
dinary iiride  in  their  skill",  and  have  not  the 
least  objection  to  boasting  of  it.    Once,  an 
English  ofli('er,  who  h.ad  been  robbed  of  all 
his  valuables,  his  clothing  included,  in  tho 
course  of  a  uight,  was  talking  to  a  robber, 


I] 


fi| 


laumoi 


1100 


iNDUi. 


who  mailo  vory  lij,'lit  of  the  exploit,  and 
boiistid  that  if  In;  cliosu  lu;  coiilil  sti-'nl  the 
liluiiki't  IVoiu  iiiulor  him  ii«  ho  ult'i.t.  p  h' > 
II  cli:illrili:o  as  liii.s  could  not  hii'  lu-  acwpUtd, 
and  tlic  "illc.r  laid  a  wa^^'i-  witli  '-'"'■'"'" 
lliat  his  blaul^ft  could  uot  bu  Htoluii  wtUioui 
arousiiij;  hiui.  ,, 

A.ronlingl V,  one  moruiiif?,  whni  the  oim  •  r 
awoivo,  he  louud  his  hiaiil«'l  niissmj,'.  uu^ 
thief  can..-  openly  with  ll>e  blanket,  f'^  <'  J 
it,  and  told  hin.  how  he  had  ■■"•.'"'■.V'  ^^. 
theft.  II  wa.  done  by  S'".tly  "'•'^''"-,  ' 
face  and  hands  ,•;  the  Hleipiin;  man,  >^o  tl, 
ho  involuntarily  turned  on  his  hed  As  1. 
moved,  the  thief  «ave  the  blanke  a  s  .£.t 
pull,  and  so  by  decrees  "  coaxed  "  it  a«uy 
v»  ilhout  fairly  awakinj;  the  slei^per. 

When  these  thieves  set  about  their  task  o 
robliery  they  remove  all  their  clothes,  and 
rub  themselves  with  oil.  Kom.d  U.eir  neek 
is  a  sli^dit  Htrin-,  which  holds  the.r  razor- 
bla.Ud  Ivnife,  so  that,  i.  they  shmid  ))e  de- 
tected the  pursuer  has  no  hold  ot  them;  and 
even  shotdd  he  suecved  in  {,'ra-jun-  them 
the  readv  knife  is  used  to  sever  his  wrist  and 
to  deal  a  fatal  stab. 

Then  there  are  other  thieves  of  alto<i;elher 
a  siieakini,'  and  despicable  charaeter.  The 
bur-lars  have,  at  all  events,  the  nMUemiiig 
Doints  of  audacitv  and  iiiu'enuity.  I'le 
kooehes  exhibit  luither  of  thes,.  (ijialities, 
but  act  in  a  way  that  exactly  reseinldes  the 
Droceedinsjs  of  the  t,'ipsy  thieves  as  dcscnbed 
bv  ^[r.  Borrow.  They  lay  poison  on  plan- 
tain leaves,  and  drop  them  about  at  ni-ht 
anion-  the  cattle.  The  bait  is  sure  to  !»■ 
takenTan.l  the  dead  cattle  are  thrown  away 
nest  morning.  This  is  cxac  y  jv  ja  be 
Mooches  have  expected,  and  they  llay  the 
dead  cattle  and  sell  their  skins.  _  _ 

Sometimes  a  band  of  these  thieves  is  pnr- 
sned,  and  then  the  robbers  are  often  driven 
to  use  all  their  ingenuity  m  evading  then 
pursuers.  One  stratau'ein  is  marvellously 
clever.  Should  a  eoiniiany  of  these  men 
succeed  ill  iva.'bin-  '•"■ /""-^'V- "W^";.,"'; 
hoi.e  of  capturing  them:  but  when  thej  bml 
that  tliev  must  be  overtaken  on  a  level  i)Iain, 
thev  are  not  without  a  mode  ol  avoiding  df- 
teetion.  As  is  the  ease  in  many  hot  coun- 
tries the  ground  is  often  cleareil  1>V  Hi'''. 
whic:h  destrovs  all  the  coarse,  dry  rank  herb- 
ag.N  and  leaVes  it  free  for  the  Iresb  green 
blades  that  at  the  first  rams  shoot  through 
the  surface.  In  those  spots  wh.;re  the  grass 
is  short,  the  fire  do.'s  but  little  damage;  bu 
where  it  is  long,  the  tiames  are  i>owerful 
cnou'di  to  desirov  the  small  trees  which 
.rrow  upon  them,  and  to  leave  nothing  but  a 
number  of  blackened  stumps. 

If  the  thieves  think  that  they  cannot  pass 
the  plain  without  being  observed,  they  pnt 
in  iiraclice  a  ruse  which  thev  may  have  bor- 
rowed from  the  habits  of  many  insn-ets. 
Thev  strip  olf  all  their  clothes,  place  them 
and'lhcir  we.iponsnn.ler  their  little  round 
shields,  whicii   they  disperse  so  a.s  to  look 


like  stones,  and  then  dispose  theni.Hclves  in 
.such  strange  atlitudt^s  Hint  their  slender  and 
nearly  lleslib  s  limbs  bear  the  most  exact 
resemblance  to  the  blackened  bralieli.s  \,{ 
which  their  bodies  represent  the  tr\iiiks.  In 
thrse  attitudes  they  will  remain  i,  d  until 
the  enemy  has  |)assed  them,  when  tbey  slip 
off  as  fast  as  they  I'aii  to  the  nearest  jun!,'le. 
An  illustration  on  page  l:!i)7  shows  with 
what  rare  ingenuity, even  artistic  veri>ihiili- 
tude  these  rascals  simulate  thecharn  I  trunks 
and  branches  of  the  trees. 

IJefore   the    Knglish  had  become  used  to 
these  maiKeiivres,  a  very  ludicrous  incident 


occurred.    An  otliecr,  with  a  narty  ol  horse, 
was  chasing  a  small  body  of  Hheel  robli.rs, 
and  was  fast  overtaking   them.     Suddenly 
llie  robbers  ran  behind  a  rock  or  s<.me  siicii 
obstacle,  which  hid  them  for   >  moment,  and, 
when   the  soldiers  came   iii',  the  men   had 
niysterionsly   disappeared.      After   an    nn- 
availinf  search,  the  ottieer  ordered  his  men 
to  disinount  'uside  a  clump  of  scorched  and 
withered  tr     s,  and,  the  day  being  Very  hot, 
betook   oil    1    -   helmet   and   hung  it  on  a 
branch   by  which   he   was  standing.     The 
branch  iirtpiestion  turned  out  to  be  the  leg 
of    a   IMund,  who   burst  into   a   scream   of 
lau'diter  and  Hung  tin;  astonished  ollieer  to 
the""round.    The  clump  of  scorched  trees 
suddeiilv  beciime  nietaniorpbosed  into  men, 
and  tb('  whole  party  dispersed  in  dilleieiU. 
directions  before   the  soldiers  could  recover 
from  their  surprise,  carrying  with  them  the 
ollicer's  helmet  by  way  of  a  trophy. 

This  stratagem  is  not  conliiied  to  ono 
tribe  oreveiroiie  race,  but  is  practised  in 
many  parts  of  the  world  where  the  country 
is  cleared  by  means  of  lire. 

■\Vi-  will  now  examine  some  of  the  weapons 
used  bv  the  Indians.  I  intentionally  omit 
any  description  of  their  fire-arms  as  such 
weapons  are  of  a  modern  date,  and  the  use 
of.'unpowder  has  been  imiiorled  iroiii  other 
countries.  In  the  following  pages  will  b.^ 
described  some  of  the  most  characteristic 
weaiioiis  of  India.  _ 

'J'lie  reader  will  probably  notice  that  what- 
ever may  be  their  lorm,  there  is  a  nameless 
something  which  designates  the  country  m 
which  thev  were  produced.  No  matter 
whether  tlie  weapon  has  belonged  to  a  rich 
or  a  poor  man,  wlu^tber  it  be  plain  woo.l 
and  iron,  or  studded  with  jewels  and  inlau 
with  "old,  the  form  remains  the  same,  and 
therels  about  that  form  a  graceful  elegance 
which  is  i)eculiar  to  India.  Take,  tor  ex- 
amiile,  that  simplest  of  weapons,  the  kookery, 
and  s.'e  how  beautiful  are  the  curves  ol  the 
blade  and  handle,  .and  how  completely  tbey 
satistV  the  eve.  In  the  same  manner  we 
shall  "find  thiit,  with  all  the  weapons  that 
will  be  figured,  there  is  always  a  grac(!tul 
curve   or  a  well-balanced  arrangement  ot 

"wu  will  begin  with  tho  bow  and  arrows. 


noWS   AND  ARROWS. 


1401 


Many  klii  Iji  of  hows  are  used  I  y  the  Hin- 
doos, tl»o  most  8iinpU^  of  wliit-h  is  w.vh-  from 
a  plt>ci'  of  ni.'ile  Uamlwo.  Kveii  I  his  simple 
wcaiumis  not  coniplttn  in  tlui  eyes  of  nn 
Inil  n  without  sonu;  orn;imi'iit.  iiiul  acconl- 
inglv  U.  is  bovuiil  at  intf-vairt  by  holts  of  split 
riM'l  drawn  tightly  round  it,  and  tiod  up  at 
tho  hack  nf  thu  how  In  a  sort  of  ro'^ottc  form. 
i'lljs  kind  of  how  is  olUin  used  11.:  shooting' 
1)ulU-,ts  or  stones.  For  this  rtuiposo  two 
.sErinijt  aril  placed  side  hy  side,  and  kept 
apart  hv  a  little  piece  of  wood  near  on  ■  end, 
so  that  in  the  middle  there  i  i  Inttrval  i>f 
a  ouple.  of  inches  hetwecii  uh  >ttrin),'S.  A 
stijp  of  leather  rather  more  than  an  inch 
in  ividth  is  then  sewed  to  thoslrings,  so  that 
wheuth(!  howisht-nt  the  leather  is  stretched 
tightly  l)etwe( in. 

The  how  is  I.  in  tho  following  manner. 
A  bullet  or  slon.;  '\i  placed  on  the  leather, 
and  tlio  Iwostrinijs  are  .(»rasped  hy  tho  fore- 
tinji^ir  and  tlininh  of  the  ri',' I  it  hand,  so  as  to 
enclose  the  bullet  in  the  leather.  The  how 
is  then  (Ira-vvii  and  ainieil,  and  when  the 
8lrinL,M  are  released  from  the  jinHsure  of  tho 
fiir^'iis,  they  (ly  asunder  and  permit  the 
bullet  to  escape.  The  ()rei'i.-iiii;  it  may  be 
ohtaininl  hy  this  weajion  is  really  wonderf\il, 
and  even  "Europeans  sooi\  learn  (•>  jiride 
thcm-'elves  on  their  skill  with  thi  -pellet- 
bow."     Sipiirrcd  sliootini;  with  this  how  is  a 


favorite  aiinisement  witli  many  persons,  and 
som  !  of  the  natives  of  rank  occasionally 
amuse  Ih.Miiselvt's  wilh.shooiinL,'  attheearth- 
enwiro  jars  carrii'd  on  tln^  beads  of  the 
women,  a  suecessl'iil  shot  sinasliini^  the  jar 
to  pieces,  and  delu^jing  the  women  \yith  tho 
water  which  had  been  contained  in  it. 

There  is  auolher  kind  ol'  bow  \yhicli  is 
much  used  in  diiferenl  parts  of  Asia,  vary- 
\w^  somewhat  in  form  and  material,  but 
sinailer  m  principle.  The  bow  is  so  formed 
that  when  it  is  nnstruu'^'  it  curves  in  ex.aelly 
the  opposite  direction  to  the  striufj;.  The 
amount  of  curvature  varies  cousiderahly  in 
diirerenl  bows,  the  most  iierl'ect  hcin^  that 
ill  whiih  the  two  ends  almost  touch  each 
other.  The  specimen  which  is  ^liown  in  Fij;. 
1  of  the  illustration  on  pai;.'  VM\,  and 
which  is  drawn  from  a  bow  in  my  collection, 
i.H  a  siiiL^ularly  perlect  example  of  this  kind 
of  weapon,  "it  is  made  in  the  foUowimg 
nnnner: —  . 

A  horn  of  tho  buffalo  is  sawn  longitudi- 
nallv,  so  as  to  produce  two  taiierinu'  pieces 
of  exactly  the  same  size.  These  are  then 
llatteiKid  bv  beat  and  pressure,  and  are 
trimm.d  until  when  bent  they  give  exactly 
the  same  amount  of  curvature.  The  handle 
and  the  tips  are  made  of  v.-ry  bard  wood, 
and  are  tilted  to  the  born  with  the  greatest 
care,  the  wood  which  forms  the  tips  running 
for  some  dist.'ince  along  the  underside  of  the 
horn.  After  the  handle  and  tips  are  fitted 
in  their  places,  a  great  number  of  sinews  are 
laid  w.'l  over  the  back  of  the  bow,  and 
kneaded   so    carefully   that   the  wood,   tho 


ilnowd.  and  the  horn  deem  to  bo  nllogcthor 
one  siibdlance,     .\fter  this  part  of  the  work 
is  llnisiiod,  lb''  whole  of  the  how  is  covered 
with  repeated  hiyers  of  a  kind  of  glue,  which 
is  very   carofnlly   smoothed   and   polWhed. 
Tlie  bow   is   practictdly  comjdele,   Imo    the 
maker  is  not  salislled  unless  he  adds  plenty 
of  ornament.    Tlii^  is  always  a  sorf  of  con- 
veiitionid  llower  pai  icrn,  gill  on  a  1  ;  /lliantly 
colored  background.     1  possess  «e\'  v.il  sucli 
hows,  in  eaeji  of  which  there  is  a  dissimi- 
larity of  color  and  imltern.     In  the  how  now 
before  us,  tho   gronmlwork  is   vivid   gre(  ti 
and  scarlet,  oi'.  which  are  drawn  the   most 
eliihoratt)   patterns   of  tlowers,  leaves,  and 
arabesques   in   gold.     It  is   iie  .ossible,  dti 
looking  at  the  «urlacc,  not  to  admire  i)oth 
the  beauty  of  the  ])!itleriis  an(l  the  excel- 
lence of  the  paint  and  varnish,  which  can  bo 
subjected   to   such  violent   trealiiient  as  is 
caused  bythe  bending  of  the  bow  and  shoot- 
ing the  arrow,  and  yet  not  bo  cracked  to 
pieces. 

The  clasticitv  of  this  bow  is  wonderful. 
I  hiivc  often  tried  to  string  it.  but  without 
elTect,  and  indeed  I  never  saw  but  one  man, 
the  late  ("oloiud  ilulchinson,  of  the  Indian 
Army,  who  lould  do  so.  It  is  strung  bv 
passing  it  under  one  leg,  bending  it  back 
sharjdy  over  the  other  Ic'',  at  the  sauK^  tinu-. 
slijiping  the  loop  of  the  string  into  its  notch. 
A  groove  oasses  along  the  ha<'k  of  the  bow, 
so  as  to  guide  the  string.  AVhen  strung  it 
assunii  s  (piile  a  dithreut  shape,  and  looks 
-something  like  the  how  which  the  ancient 
-I'ulptors  ]ilaeed  in  the  hands  of  Cupid.  I 
regret  that  the  bow  cf)uld  not  be  strung,  so 
as  to  give  two  illustrations  of  the  same  bow 
in  its  ditVerent  aspects. 

The  classical  reader  may  perhaps  remem- 
ber that  this  weap(Ui  is  exactly  similar  to  the 
iwu'ient  Scythian  bow.  Heterence  is  made 
to  this  shape  by  AtheiiM'iis  (book  x.)  when 
an  unlearned  shepherd,  trying  to  describe 
the  letters  which  formed  a  name,  s;ud  that 
•Mhe  third  (■/.  c.  c)  was  like  a  Scythian  bow." 
This  kind  of  bow  was  of  born,  as  indeed  were 
most  of  the  ancient  hows, 

The  length  of  the  bow  .above  mentioned, 
measured  along  the  hack,  is  a  little  more 
than  four  feeti  whereas  tho  measm-ement 
across  it  as  it  appears  when  unbent  is  only 
nineteen  inches.  The  reader  will  see  how 
useful  a  bow  of  this  description  would  be  to 
a  horseman,  its  peculiar  eurvalnre  rendering 
it  easy  of  carriage.  It  could  even  bo  carried 
along" on  the  bridle  arm,  if  required,  so  as  to 
leave  the  sword  hand  at  liberty,  and  in  a 
moment  could  be  .itrung  when  needed,  by 
passing  it  under  the  leg  as  the  rider  sits  on 
horseb.ick.  Small  .as  this  bow  seems,  almost 
indeed  insignificant  In  appearance  as  a  weap- 
on, its  per'form.anccs  in  skilfiil  hands  are 
something  marvellous.  With  one  of  these 
bows  an  .arrow  h.as  been  shot  to  a  distance 
whicii  was  said  to  bo  six  hundred  yards,  and 
was  actually  not  much  short  of  that  mcaa- 


in  I 


M  !'| 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT^3) 


# 


'^O 


// 


#/- 


€  V"  '« 


%' 


C/j 


y. 


I 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


m 

M  11.6 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


.«>, 


^ 


f\ 


:\ 


\ 


^ 


1^, 


-4^ 


A^   ^S 


:<> 


w^- 


r^ 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTEP,N.Y.  145S0 

(716)  872-4503 


140S 


INDIA, 


urement.  And,  although  so  powerful,  it  is 
wonderfully  manageable.  Colonel  Hutchin- 
son told  me  that  he  once  saw  an  archer  shoot 
an  arrow  along  a  corridor,  and  send  the  mis- 
sile through  a  hole  which  a  bullet  had  made 
in  a  pane  of  glass  at  the  end  of  the  cor- 
ridor. 

Next  comes  a  form  of  how  which  is  much 
more  common  than  the  preceding.  In  this 
bow  the  reflex  curvature  is  strongly  marked, 
though  not  so  s*rongly  as  in  the  ca,e  of  the 
weapon  just  described. 

Several  of  thceo  bows  are  in  my  collection, 
the  handsomest  of  which  was  presented  to 
me  by  J.  Allen,  Eiq.  This  bow,  with  its  case, 
its  quiver,  and  scon  of  arrows,  is  shown  in 
Fig.  2  of  illustration  0,  on  page  000.  Measur- 
ing along  the  back,  the  bow  is  four  feet  five 
inches  in  length,  whereas  tho  space  between 
the  two  tips  is  only  twenty-eight  inches. 
The  color  with  which  the  bi<w  is  painted  is 
bright  scarlet,  profusely  covered  with  gilt 
flowers  and  arabesques,  so  that  it  is  a  more 
showy  weapon  at  a  distance  than  the  previous 
specimen,  though  itis  not  nearly  so  handsome 
when  closely  examined,  the.  patterns  being 
larger  and  more  roughly  executed.  The 
bow-string  is  made  of  some  vegetable  fibre,— 
I  think  that  of  some  species  of  aloe,— and  is 
very  thick,  being  aomposed  of  nine  strands 
twisted  very  closely  together. 

The  case,  quiver,  and  straps  by  which  thcv 
are  held  have  been  once  very  splendid, 
being  crimson  velvet,  so  covered  with  gold 
embroidery  that  scarcely  any  part  of  the  vel- 
vet is  visible.  The  arrows  are  two  feet  three 
inclics  in  length,  and  are  very  carefully 
made.  The  shaft  is  of  reed,  and  to  either 
end  is  fixed  a  piece  of  hard  wood  four  inches 
in  length.  On  one  end  of  the  shaft  is  fixed 
the  point,  which  is  a  heavy  and  solid  quad- 
rangular piece  of  steel  brought  to  a  sharp 
point.  The  hard  wood  at  the  end  receives 
the  feathers,  and  is  enlarged  at  the  extreme 
end,  so  as  to  allow  space  for  tlienockor  notch 
in  which  the  thick  bow-string  is  received. 
Both  tho  i)ieces  of  hard  wood  are  colored, 
that  in  which  the  point  is  fixed  being  simply 
green,  but  that  at  the  other  end  being  gilt, 
and    covered   with   patterns   in  blue  and 

This  is  the  most  common  kind  of  arrow, 
but  there  are  many  varieties,  of  which  I 
possess  specimens.  Several  varieties  are  ifi 
many  collections,  the  chief  distinction  being 
in  the  shape  of  the  point.  In  most  of  them 
it  is  more  or  less  quadrangular;  though  in 
some  it  is  leaf-shaped,  like  a  spear  head,  in 
others  it  is  conical,  and  in  others  round  and 
blunt.  In  one  of  the  arrows  tho  place  of 
the  lower  piece  of  hard  wood  is  taken  by  a 
solid  piece  of  steel  nearly  four  inches  in 
length,  and  weighing  about  three  oimces, 
looking  something  like  a  rather  elongated 
Whitworth  bullet. 

The  most  primitive  form  of  Indian  arrow 
is  that  which  is  made  by  the  hill  tribes. 


The  shaft  is  of  wood,  not  of  reed,  and  tho 
head  is  deeply  barbed,  and  tied  to  the  shaft 
with  flbro,  exactly  as  is  done  with  the  (lliit- 
headed  arrows,  which  this  weapon  almost 
precisely  resembles  in  form,  though  not  in 
material.  Instead  of  feathers,  dry  leaves  are 
substituted,  cut  into  the  required  aliape,  and 
passed  through  slits  in  the  shaft  of  tho 
arrow,  these  slits  being  afterward  bound  up. 
In  one  arrow  the  nock  has  been  formed  in  a 
very  strange  manner,  a  piece  of  wood  biting 
lashed  to  each  side  of  the  shaft,  and  project- 
ing a  little  beyond  it. 

Some  very  beautiful  examples  of  the  bet 
kinds  of  weapons  are  shown  in  the  ilhistia- 
tion  on  page  1400.  They  belong  to  Gmie- 
ral  Sir  Hope  Grant,  G.C.B.  etc.,  who  kindly 
allowed  thciu  to  be  drawn  for  the  use  (n'this 
work.  They  are  splendid  instancs  of 
Indian  art,  one  or  two  of  them  displaying  a 
most  elaborate  ornamentation. 

The  first  of  the  illustrations  shows  a  suit  of 
armor  and  weapons,  which  is  m.ade  of  steel 
most  elaborately  engraved  and  inlaid  with 
gold,  the  patterns  resembling  those  on  tlio 
bow,  and  looking  much  as  if  they  had  In  en 
taken  from  tho  bow  and  sunk  into  'ho  sleel, 
the  freedom  and  grace  of  the  lines  being 
quite  as  remarkable  as  the  elaborate  mi- 
nuteness of  the  jiattern. 

In  the  centre  (Fig.  1)  is  seen  the  martial 
looking  helmet,  with  its  slight  feather  plume. 
There  are  often  several  of  these  plumes  in  a 
helmet,  their  shafts  being  adorned  witli  gold 
and  jewels,  and  placed  in  sockets  projecting 
from  the  helmet.  In  ft-ontis-seen  the  Hat 
bar  which  protects  the  nose  and  upper  p;irt 
of  tlie  face  from  a  sword  cut.  This  bar  slides 
up  and  down  through  a  groove  for  the  ccm- 
veniencc  of  the  wearer.  From  the  helmet 
depends  a  piece  of  very  slight  but  very 
strong  chain -mail,  which  falls  behind  and 
on  either  side  of  the  face,  and  hangs 
as  low  as  the  shoulders,  so  that,  however 
abruptly  the  wearer  may  move  his  head,  the 
folds  of  the  chain-mail  protect  his  neck.  In 
several  of  these  helmets  the  links  of  tlie  mail 
are  gilt,  and  arranged  so  as  to  form  patterns, 
mostly  of  a  diamond  shajie. 

By  the  side  of  the  helmet  (Fig.  3)  is  the 
curious  gauntlet,  which  extends  far  u])  the 
ai'm,  anil  lias  no  joint  at  the  wrist.  The  ab- 
sence of  the  joint,  unpleasant  as  it  wouid  be 
to  an  European  swordsman,  is  no  obstacle  to 
the  proper  use  of  the  sword  by  the  Oriental 
warrior.  If  the  reader  will  refer  to  the  fig- 
ure of  the  sword  (Fig.  6),  ho  will  sec  that  the 
hilt  is  terminated  by  a  large  circular  plate 
of  steel.  In  a  specimen  in  my  own  collec- 
tion, this  plate  is  three  inches  in  diameter, 
so  that  when  the  sword  is  grasped  after  the 
European  fashion,  the  plate  comes  against 
tho  wrist,  and  acts  as  a  fulcrum  by  which, 
when  a  blow  is  struck,  the  leverage  of  the 
blade  forces  the  sword  out  of  the  grasp. 

But  the  whole  s}'stcm  of  swordsmanship 
in  India  difTers  caseutially  from  that  which 


(1)    NECKLACE.    (Seepage  1399,) 


(3.)  THE  CHAKRA.  Or  QUOIT  WEAPOW. 
(See  page  1406.) 


(2.)  KOOEEBY.    (See  page  1395.) 

s 


A 


(♦.)    INDIAN  ARMS   AND  AUMOR.    (Set- page  1406.) 
(1408) 


1 

111 

^BK 

is  employed  i 
generally,  sti 
as  dexterity, 
its  curved  fo: 
the  sword  is 
more  than  I 
curved  ed^o  ( 
over  the  objc 
The  mode i 
was  illustrati 
IIiitchinsoH  1 
nieiilioned. 

lie  took  ,1 1 

it  on  a  table. 

of  the  sword 

could  be  deal  I 

of  tlie  wrist,] 

and  the  rootf 

In  the  same  i 

root  into  slic 

that  I  tried  ii 

of  cultiiis  it 

glided  off  it  as 

r;laHs,  and  jar 

However,  aile 

tolerably  easy 

The  same  e 

pusliing  the  1 

stead  of  drawi 

delicate,  draw 

owes  its  eflieie 

beiui,'  nearly  v 

our  common  d 

cnpMble  of  taki 

buttle  an  Indi; 

an  encmj',  he 

the  whole  pov 

our  swordsme 

weapon  again: 

with  a  (urn  oi 

head  from  tne 

In  the  same 

lar  shield  or  ta 

nifasining  abc 

tcr,  and  someti 

tlie   hide   of   t 

properly  dress( 

Lie  tiiiekness,  i 

so  brittle,  and 

The  shield  is 

circular  plates 

imry  specimen 

peculiarly  han( 

lacquered  gildi 

less  see  the  all 

tweeu  the  Indi 

the  8roteh  Hig 

of  the  armor  a 

lug,  like  tlioso 

scribed. 

Illustraiion  ] 
several  articles 
are  drawn  fro 
Grant's  collect! 
coat  of  mail.  1 
tiful  pieces  of  a 
of  the  links  bea 


WEAPONS. 


1406 


IS  employed  in  England,  or  indeed  in  Europe 
generally,  strength  not  being  used  so  much 
as  dexterity.  For  the  object  of  this  weapon 
its  curved  form  is  essential.  The  stroke  of 
the  sword  is  done  by  a  turn  of  the  wrist 
more  than  by  a  direct  blow,  so  that  the 
curved  cd^o  of  the  weapon  is  drawn  rapidly 
over  the  object  of  attack. 

The  mode  of  employing  the  Indian  sword 
was  illustrated  to  me  by  the  same  Colonel 
Hutchinson  whose  name  has  already  been 
mentioned. 

He  took  a  largo  mangold-wurzel,  and  laid 
it  on  a  table.  He  then  jjlaeod  the  flat  side 
of  the  sword  upon  the  root,  so  that  no  blow 
could  bo  dealt,  and  then,  with  a  slight  turn 
of  the  wrist,  he  drew  the  blade  toward  him, 
and  the  root  fell  apart,  severed  in  two  pieces. 
In  the  same  manner  he  cut  the  whole  of  the 
root  into  slices.  The  feat  looked  so  easy 
that  I  tried  it  on  another  root,  but,  instead 
of  cutting  it  in  two,  the  edge  of  the  sword 
glided  off  it  aa  if  it  had  been  a  solid  piece  of 
(Tlass,  and  jarred  my  arm  to  the  .shoulder. 
However,  after  a  few  lessons,  the  feat  became 
toloinbly  easy. 

The  same  eftect  can  also  be  produced  by 
pushing  the  blade  from  (lijc  swordsman  in- 
stead of  drawing  it  toward  liim.  It  is  to  this 
dL'hcate,  drawing  cut  that  the  Indian  sword 
owes  Its  eflieiency,  the  steel  of  the  blade  not 
bi-iiig  nearly  uf  so  good  a  quality  as  that  of 
our  common  dragoon  swords,  an(l  not  bein<' 
cnp;ible  of  taking  so  fine  an  edge.  ]$ut  if  in 
buttle  an  Indian  warrior  meets  or  overtakes 
an  eiicmj',  he  does  not  strike  at  him  with 
the  whole  power  of  .he  arm,  as  is  d.  le  by 
our  swordsmen,  bu',  places  the  edge  of  his 
weiipon  against  tlu  neck  of  the  enemy,  and 
with  a  turn  of  his  wrist  nearly  severs  the 
head  from  toe  body. 

In  (he  same  illustration  is  seen  the  circu- 
lar shield  or  target.  This  is  of  no  great  size, 
nil asming  about  eighteen  inches  in  diame- 
ter, and  sometimes  even  less.  It  is  made  of 
tlie  hide  of  the  rhinoceros,  which,  when 
mopcrly  dressed  and  dried,  is  of  considera- 
ble tiiickness,  as  hard  as  horn,  though  not 
so  brittle,  and  alnu)st  equally  translucent. 
The  shield  is  generally  adorned  with  four 
eiiciilar  plates  of  metal,  which  in  an  ordi- 
iiary  specimen  arc  merely  of  iron,  but  in  a 
IK'ciiliarly  handsome  one  arc  covered  with 
laeqiured  gilding.  The  reader  will  doubt- 
less see  the  almost  exact  resemblance  be- 
tween the  Indian  shield  and  the  target  of 
the  Scotch  Highlander.  The  other  portions 
of  the  armor  are  adorned  with  gold  inlay- 
ing, like  those  parts  which  have  been  de- 
scribed. 

Ilhistraiion  No.  4.  on  page  1403,  contains 
several  articles  used  in  wartiire,  all  of  which 
are  drawn  from  specimens  in  Sir  Hjpe 
Grant's  collection.  In  the  centre  is  seen  a 
coat  of  mail.  This  is  one  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful pieces  of  armor  I  have  ever  seen,  each 
of  the  links  bearing  upon  it  a  sentence  from 


the  Koran.  Three  of  the  links  are  shown 
underneath  the  coat  of  mail,  drawn  of  the 
size  of  the  originals.  If  the  reader  will 
reflect  upon  the  vast  number  of  such  links 
which  are  required  to  form  a  coat  of  mail  ho 
will  appreciate  the  amount  of  labor  that 
must  have  been  expended  on  it,  the  letters 
having  to  be  formed  after  the  links  arc  put 
together,  so  that  they  may  not  be  obliterated 
in  the  forging.  The  helmet  belonging  to 
this  suit  IS  seen  by  its  side  at  Fig.  2. 

Uetween  the  helmet  and  the  coat  of  mail 
IS  a  Coorg  knife  or  dagger,  and  its  sheath, 
lliis  weapon  is  sometimes  very  plain  and 
sometimes  blazes  with  gold  and  jewels  on 
the  hilt  and  sheath.  A  specimen  in  my  col- 
ection  IS  of  the  former  kind,  and,  thouo-h  the 
blade  is  of  good  quality,  the  handle  is  of 
wood,  and  is  secured  to  the  bladt^  by  a  stout 
brass  rivet  which  passes  through  the  tanT. 
A  bold  ridge  runs  along  either'  side  of  tlie 
blade. 

Two  more  characteristic  forms  of  the  In- 
dian dagger  are  shown  at  Figs.  7  and  i)  in  the 
dlustration.  One,  Fig.  7,  with  its  sheath  at 
.'?•  "  '■'' .'"  '^'-  -'*  *''^vor,  especially  with  the 
rich.  It  IS  luade  entirely  of  steel,  the  two 
cross-bars  constituting  the  handle.  The 
form  of  the  blade  varies  somewhat  in  differ- 
ent specimens,  but  the  general  form  is  the 
same  in  ai.  A  good  specimen  in  my 
collection  is  altogether  twenty  inches  in 
length,  and  weighs  exactly  a  pound,  so  that 
it  must  be  rather  an  awkward  weapon  for 
the  girdle.  The  blade,  if  it  can  be  so  called 
IS  nearly  a  foot  in  length,  tlat  toward  the' 
handle,  and  within  five  inches  of  the  tips 
welling  suddenly  into  a  sort  of  quadraii'^ular 
bayonet,  rather  more  than  half  an  inch  in 
thickness. 

The  reader  will  see  that  when  this  daf"»er 
is  grasped,  tbe  steel  continuations  ofTho 
handle  project  on  either  side  of  the  wrist 
and  effectually  guard  it  and  the  lower  part 
ot  the  arm  from  a  sword-blade.  The  weio-ht 
of  this  instrument,  as  well  .as  the  force  -,\lth 
which  a  thrust  can  be  delivered  by  a  straight 
blow  as  in  boxing,  render  the  weapon  well 
calculated  to  drive  its  way  through  the  folds 
of  dress,  or  even  between  the  joints  of  armor. 
Next  comes  a  weapon  (Fig.  9)  whieli 
would  scarcely  be  recognized  as  a  dii-Tfcr 
It  is,  however  a  dagger,  made  from  the  two 
horns  of  the  Indian  antelope.  In  the  sim- 
plest form  of  this  curious  weapon,  the  horns 
are  arranged  with  their  bases  crossing  e.ach 
other  for  about  six  inches.  The  curvature  • 
of  the  bases  thus  furnishes  a  sort  of  handle, 
which  can  be  grasped  in  such  a  way  that 
the  holder  of  tlie  weapon  can  strike  ri"lit 
and  left  with  it,  and,  among  a  number" of 
people,  could  do  a  vast  amount  of  dama"e  in 
a  very  short  time.  ° 

A  dagger  such  as  has  been  described 
could  be  made  in  half  an  hour,  and,  indeed, 
a  temporary  weapon  might  be  made  in  a 
few  minutes  by  lashing  the  horns  together. 


1406 


INDIA. 


I3iit  tho  Indians  prefer  to  add  ornament  to 
the  wc!i|)ou,  iiud  so  thoy  often  make  a  liol- 
low  steel  hilt  in  the  form  of  a  cup,  with  the 
curved  side  outward.  The  hand  passes  into 
this  cup  as  into  the  basket-hilt  of  a  single- 
stick, and  is  ellectually  jruarded  from  injury. 
The  da^'ger  shown  in  the  illustration  has 
one  of  these  steel  hilts.  In  some  places  this 
weaijon  is  in  such  favor  that,  instead  ot  mak- 
ing it  of  antelope  horns,  with  a  steel  hilt,  the 
entire  dagger  is  of  steel,  the  points  made  in 
imitation  of  the  horns.  . 

Tlic  last  weapon  (Fig.  10)  is  one  which  is 
used  by  the  Afghans,  iuid  is  a  sort  of  com- 
promise between  a  sword  and  a  dagger.  A 
weapon  of  a  similar  form  and  character  is 
carried  by  the  Moors. 

There  is  one  kind  of  sword  which  ought 
not  to  be  ])assed  without  some  notice.  It  is 
a  most  murderous  looking  weapon,  and  is 
made  on  precisely  the  opposite  principle  to 
that  of  the  sword  which  has  already  been 
described.  In  that  form  of  sword,  the  edge 
is  on  the  outer  curve  of  the  blade,  which 
narrows  toward  the  point.  In  the  other 
sword,  tho  edge  is  on  the  inside  curve,  and 
the  blade  widens  greatly  at  the  tip,  which  is 
curved  like  a  bill-hook.  Indeed,  the  weapon 
bears  some  resemblance  to  a  bill-hook  with 
a  "rcatly  elongated  blade.  In  a  specimen  in 
my  collection  the  blade  is  very  little  more 
than  an  inch  wide  bv  the  hilt,  hut  at  the 
point  (or  rather  the  tip,  for  this  part  of  the 
blade  is  squared)  it  is  Just  four  inches  in 
width.  The  weight  of  this  sword  is  rather 
more  than  two  pounds. 

There  is  also  the  quoit,  or  chakra,  a  raissUe 


weapon,  that  bears  some  resemblance  to  the 
boomerang  of  Australia  or  the  castlng-knifo 
of  the  Fan  tribe,  it  being  intended  to  cut 
and  not  to  pierce,  as  is  generally  the  case 
with  missiles.  It  is  made  of  thin  steel,  and 
is  sharpened  to  a  razor-like  edge  on  the  out- 
side. The  mode  of  casting  it  is  to  spin  it  on 
the  forefinger  and  then  to  hurl  it.  The 
reader  may  imagine  that  such  a  nii-ssile, 
which  not  only  strikes  an  object,  but  re- 
volves rapidly  at  the  time,  must  be  a  very 
formidable  one.  It  is  generally  aimed  at 
the  face  of  the  adversary,  and  a  sikillnl 
warrior  will  hurl  four  or  five  in  such  nipid 
succession  that  it  is  scarcely  possible  to 
avoid  being  struck  by  one  of  them,  and 
having  the  face  laid  open,  or  the  nose  or  lip 
absolutely  cut  off.  These  (pioit-like  articles 
aro  carried  upon  a  tall,  conical  hcad-ilress 
worn  by  the  natives,  into  the  tolds  of  which 
they  also  put  several  small  knives,  as  Irish 
laborers -stick  tlieir  pipes  in  their  hats.  See 
illustration  No.  3,  on  page  140.'{. 

A  similar  weapon,  made  of  brass  instead 
of  steel,  is  used  by  the  cattle-poisoiiiii" 
Mioches,  who  have  already  been  described. 
They  call  it  l)y  the  name  of  ".tiull." 

The  chakra  is  tho  special  weapon  of 
Vishnu,  and  may  be  seen  in  the  Vi>ri()ii«i 
representations  of  that  deity,  ban  iiig  in 
one  of  the  hands.  Keft-rence  is  fnade  to 
this  by  Southey  in  the  "  Curse  of  Kehnina.'' 
Other  deities  also  hold  the  chakra  in  tlie 
many-armed  images  by  which  the  Indiiiii 
artists  clumsily  attempt  to  depict  oniuipO' 
tcnce.  This  takes  113  to  ftuother  branch  of 
the  subjcgt, 


Suit  of  Abmor  iNiiAio  with  Gold. 

(See  pago  1402.) 


CHAPTER   CL. 


INDIA  —  Continued. 


SACRIFICIAL  BELIGION. 

PHINCIPI.B  or  HUMAN  SACniFICB -THE   BCTTEB,   OB  WIDOW  DrRNINO-Ttrn   .,.-„„ 

THE  WFE  or  A  WIFE  AND  A  WIDOW  OF  HI.  J  CASTE  -  001^  ,  ^^.  -7 '"''™''''  "^^''"'^^ 
HONOH  IN  WHICH.  THE  B.XXEE  IB  HKU.  -  MODE  rcONDrns;  T  IK  S.CHincC  """"'"'^- 
OFTHE  l-ILE-COUBAOEOUH  CONDUCT  OF  TH..;  VICTIM -ATT  MPTV^.  '^''''""  "^"^  "  «''■«'■'-•'■««« 
BEUNIKU-S  DE8CBI..TI0N-.aADi;A.  AIK.UTION  ol  l^E  SUTTFF  i  ^HK  T'lT  "  ^  "'"'"- 
WOUH„II.I.E,.S-THE   THU.;H    AND   THHU,    CO.,-ST.TCT  ON -TrBvTl.r  '   ZmT,  "'"  "'""  """ 

r:  -  r  r -=— --r-NOFr'T™--- ^^ 

DOOUOA  OU  KAU  -  FAKIU.S  OU  "^S  -".En    vlr^"  Dtr^^;:^^^^  '^"'""^^ 

INO  FESTIVAL  -  THE  MOTIONLESS   FAK.lt.  SLLl-rOBIUBE  -  THE  SWUNG- 


liiKRE  IS  no  part  of  the  world,  not  even 
Africa  itsult,  wlioie  the  iJi-iiieipIc  of  human 
saunlice  is  so  widely  spread,  aiul  is  doveloDcd 
so  variously,  as  in  India.  Several  forms  of 
human  saenllce,  such  as  the  Meriah,  wliieh 
liasMhx'iidy  oeen  described,  belong  to  definite 
(hstiRls,  and  even  in  tliem  are  carried  out 
witii  eert.iin  limitations.  Some  forms  of 
the  staine  principle,  such  as  the  murders  by 
Thiif,'s  or  Phansi,i,Mrs  in  their  worship  of  the 
dread  goddess  Kali,  are  restricted  to  certain 
societies  of  men.  Again,  the  victims  an- 
nually crushed  nnder  the  wheels  of  Jn^n-er- 
nauts  car  .are  comparatively  few,  ancTran 
only  be  sacnfled  in  a  certain  locality,  and  at 
ctrtain  times. 

There  is,  however,  one  mode  of  human 
saenllce  which  at  no  distant  period  prevailed 
over  the  whole  of  India,  and  has  only  been 


0  may  not  find  himself  wifeless  when  ho 
•  eachcs  the  .spirit  land.  But  it  is  remark- 
able that  even  .among  the  lowest  of  the 
say.ages,  whos-^  indilferenco  to  inflictin- 
pam  is  well  Imown,  there  are  none  who 
exercise  such  horrible  cruelty  toward  the 
Mdow  as  do  the  highly  civiliLl  Hindoos 
On  refernnc:  to  the  former  portions  of  tl 

ork,  the  1  .ader  ,vill  see  that  in  .some  ..lacca 
the  widows  are  st.-angled  an.l  lahl  in  the 
pnavo,  in  others  they  are  buried  alive,  and 
in  others  hey  are  killed  by  a  blow  of  .a  club 
(perhaps  the  most  merciful  death  that  can 
be  inflicted),  but  that  in  no  instance  is  the 

with  s;i;;to:"""'  ""^'^'  "^  '^  ^'-  -- 

At  the  first  glance,  it  seems  strange  that 
not  only  should  the  relatives  of  the  miser- 
able  wife  de.sire  her  to  be  burned,  but  th.at 


clieckcd  by  the  intluei  c7  of  F,;^  lanrl  i  c  .  ''''%'^^t'''^  T"'  *«  ^"^  ^nxvnvA,  but  th.at 
those  parts^  of  the  com  try  which  Ti^lee  o  he.-!w  Jrf  °"'r  '"'''>  '*'  ■'*"''  ""'^""^^  "'l'''^™ 
subject  to  J3ritish  dominion  l]v  en  fn  those  .  iv  o  w"""'"'"  '?  '^  I"  of  every  oppor- 
districts  the  task  has  been  a  verv  diffi  "fu       "  'L° '  fS"-'^  ■''"/''•'''"'("l  "  ''•^'^H'-     Vet 

tiie  ealiii,  dispassionate  cruelty  of  the  Hindoo 


districts  the  task  has  been  a  very  dilHcnlt 
one,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  if  the  strong 
hand  ol  Liigland  were  ever  lifted,  the  prac> 
tice  \youhl  again  prevail  as  it  did  before. 

Ihis  form  of  human  sacrifice  is  the  dread- 
ful Suttee,  or  the  death  of  the  widow  on  the 
tiraeral  pyre  of  her  dead  husband.  Both 
in  Africa  and  Polynesia  we  have  seen  sev- 
eral instances  where  the  widow  is  sacrificed 
OU  the   grave  of    hor    husband,    so    that 


(U07) 


nature  is  shown  by  the  fact  that,  painful  as 
IS  a  death  by  burning,  the  life  of  a  widow 
who  survives  her  husband  is  made  so  miser- 
able that  the  short  though  sharp  agony  of 
the  lunera  pyre  is  infinitely  preferable  to 
life.  She  loses  .all  caste,  and  a  Brahmin 
widow  who  reftises  to  be  burned  is  loathed 
and  despised  even  by  the  very  Pariahs 
whose  shadow  would  have  been  a  coiitami- 


1408 


INDIA. 


nntion  to  her  durinf!  (ho  lift^timc  oflii-r  luis- 
bauil.  'I'lie  horror  of.siicli  ii  liln  civu  Hcurcfly 
be  concuiveil  by  an  European,  evi-n  mippos- 
ing  :v  delifiitc  girl,  bred  in  Uie  inidnt  of  all 
luxury  and  rcliiU'nu'nt,  to  be  suddenly  caHt 
ninoug  the  uioHt  debased  of  savages  wilhout 
possihiliLy  ol'niseue,  ai\d  to  be  made,  an  ob- 
ject ol'  scorn  and  eontenii)t  even  to  tbeni. 

To  realize  the  deiiiha  of  utter  degradation 
which  a  high-caste  widow  incurs,  we  must 
first  see  what  is  her  opinion  of  her  own  sta- 
tus.    The  reader  is  douiitless  aware  that  the 
Hindoos  are  divided  into  a  number  of  dis- 
tincL  castes,  the  peculiarity  of  which  is,  that 
IK)  one  can  ascend  b)  a  superior  caste,  though 
ho  may  tidl  into  a  lower.    Now,  of  all  the 
casti's,  the  Urahmins  are  immeasurably  the 
Idghesl,  and  the  reverence  which  is  jiaid  b> 
them  hy  their  counlryiiun  is  almost  incred- 
ible.    Wealth  or  secular  rank  have  nothing 
to  do  with  this  reverential  feeling.     A  Hin- 
doo of  inferior  caste  niity  be,  anil  often  is,  a 
man  of  aliuo.st  imbounded  wealth,  may  poH- 
Bcss  almost  unbounded  power,  and,  in  his 
own  way,  uiiboiuuhd  jiride.     Jiut  the  very 
poorest  of  Mrabinins  is  inlinitely  his  superior, 
and  should   he   meet   one  of  "these  exalted 
beings,  he  bows  before  him,  and  pays  divine 
lionors  to  him.    And,  accordiiii,'  to  his  be- 
lief, he  is  right  in   so  doing,  the  IJrahmin 
being  .an  incarnation  of  Deity,  sprung  from 
the  mouth  of  Vislinn,  the  Saviour  (iod  him- 
self,   lie  m.av  be  mounted  on  a  iiuigniliceiit 
elephant,  covered  with  glittering  tiai)pings, 
he   m,iy  bo  clothed   in   gorgeous  robes  and 
ejiarkle  with  cosllv  gems,  but  before  a  IJrah- 
min.  with  a,  single!  doth  round  his  waist,  iuid 
bearing  the  solitary  sign  of  his  c:isle,— the 
Blight    cord    bung   over   one    slxiulder   and 
under   the    other,— ho    is   an   abject   slave. 
Even  if,  as  sometimes   hai)|)ens.  he  should 
emjdoy  a  IJrahmin  as  his   cook,  that  IJr.ab- 
min  letiiins  his  rank,  and  rei!eives  the  wor- 
fihip  of  till  man  by  whom  he  is  ]):M. 

According  to  their  sacred  books,  "  when 
a  Brahmin  springs  to  light,  he  is  born  above 
the  world;  the  chief  of  all  creatures;  as- 
signed to  guard  the  treasury  of  duties,  reli- 
gions and  civil."  According  to  the  same 
books,  the  very  existence  of  mankind,  and 
even  of  the  world  itself,  depends  ujion  the 
forbearance  of  tin;  Urahiuiim  whose  j)ower 
even  exeeeds  that  of  the  gods  themselves. 
Should  there  be  one  who  cannot  be  slain 
by  the  great  god  Indra,  by  Kali,  the  goddess 
of  destruction,  or  even  by  Visbnii  himself, 
he  would  I'le  destroyed  if  a  Brahmin  were  to 
curs(;  him,  .is  if  he  were  consumed  by  fire. 
In  tlu!  same  .spirit,  princes  were  wariu'd  not 
to  take  the  property  of  the  Brahmins,  how- 
ever much  in  want  of  money,  for  that  if 
these  holy  men  wore  once  enraged,  they 
could  by  a  word  destroy  them,  their  armies, 
elephants,  and  horses. 

Hy  them,  nniler  Brahma,  were  originally 
made  the  earth,  the  sun,  the  moon,  and  the 
fire,  and  by  them  they  could  be  destroyed. 


"  What  prince  couM  gain  we:ibh  by  opjiress- 
ing  those  who,  if  angry,  could  frame  iillur 
worlds,  and  legions  of  worlds,  ctmlil  ijirc 
Ininij  to  iii'W  <iiiilx  and  mortals'i"'  dust  as 
these  tremendous  jirivilcges  are  indt  |ieii(l- 
ent  of  the  external  cireuinstances  of  wealili 
and  rank,  so  are  they  inde)i(iiid(  lit  of  iudi- 
vidiial  characbr.  The  pure  soul  of  a  Ibali- 
mill  is  l)cyond  all  moral  elevation,  and  aliovo 
all  moral  j)ollulion.  He  may  be  a  man  ef 
the  ]iurest  life  and  loftiest  molality,  hut  he, 
is  none  the,  better  Brahmin  for  thai;  he.  niiiy 
be  one  of  the  vilest  of  debauchees,  and  hu 
none  the  worse  Ib'ahiiiin  for  that,  pruvidcil 
h(^  does  not  commit  any  act  which  would 
forfeit  his  caste,-  such,  lor  example,  as  kill- 
ing a  cow,  or  eating  food  that  had  limi 
cooked  by  an  inferior. 

To  fall  from  such  an  estate  .as  this,  ahovo 
humanity  and  ('(pial  to  divinity,  must  lie 
something  almost,  too  terrilih^  to  eoueiivc, 
and  we  <'an  easily  imagine  that  iniy  ilealh 
would  be  iireferable  lo  such  a  life.  I>ul  imt 
even  the  horror  of  a  iife  like  tliis  would  liu 
eciuivaleiit  to  tin;  sun'i;rings  of  the  ludiaa 
widow,  who  believes  that  her  very  soul  is 
contaminated  beyond  hope  by  the  loss  ullur 
caste,  and  who  feels  herstdf  degraded  1m  low 
the  level  of  those  <ui  whom  she  had  lonkcd 
with  an  utter  loathing  that  is  almost  iiicem- 
l)relieiisitj(!  to  the  Western  mind.  Slu'  lias 
lo  cut  olV  her  hair,  she  has  to  live  ou  tlui 
coarsest  of  food,  she  has  to  clothe  heriell'  in 
the  coarsest  of  r!Uiiienl,an(l  allogetlu  rtn  hail 
a  life  utterly  and  hopelessly  luiserahle  in 
every  bardsliii)  that  can  alUict  the  body,  and 
every  reiiroacli  that  can  torture  the  luiiid. 

On  the  other  side  comes  the  heliel',  thai  if 
she  follows  tlie  dictates  of  her  reiigioii,  and 
sulVers  herself  to  be  burned  on  the  funeral 
pile  of  her  husband,  she  (pialities  Iiersidf  lor 
everlasting  hai)]diuss.  From  the  nioincnt 
that  the  ceremonies  of  the  sacriliee  are 
hegun,  she  becomes  an  abs(dul(ly  sacred 
being,  whose  very  touch  saiictili(  s  the  ob- 
jects on  which  she  lays  her  hands;  siu'  rcn- 
"ders  liers(df  a  niodel  lo  be  imitaled  hy  all 
her  sex,  and  her  memory  is  Ion  ver  vener- 
ated by  her  family.  It  is'  therefore  no  wim- 
(ler  tli'at,  swayed  by  studi  eoiisideralions,  the 
Indian  widow  prelers  death  lo  lite,  and  tliat 
the  sacrifice  of  the  Suttee  has  taken  .such 
liold  npon  the  pcoide. 

Varying  slightly  in  details  nccording  to 
the  raiik  of  the  individual  and  the  parliciilar 
district  in  which  the   sacriliee  taki  s 
the  ceremony  is  conducted  after  the 
ing  manner.  .  , 

A  hole  is  dug  in  the  ground,  over  wliicli 
the  funeral  pile  is  raised.  The  olijcct  ot  llie 
liole  is  to  .suppljf  a  current  of 

the  fire  may  be  fed.     Sticks 

round  the  edge  of  the  hoh^  to  support  tlic 
materials  of  the  pile,  which  are  dry  wood, 
rushes,  and  hemp.  These  are  heaped  care- 
fully to  a  height  of  four  feet  or  so,  and  n'-in 
and  ghee  (t.  e.  liquid  butter)  are  thrown 


lace, 

ildW- 


lii-  liy  which 
ire  then  driven 


THE  SUTTEE. 


1409 


on  tlio  jiilo,  so  sit  to  iiicroaso  Uio  vcliomnncc 
of  th(3  (l.uacs.  Tho  Ix.dy  m  then  tukcn  to 
till!  river,  on  wIiohci  Imiik  IIki  pyn;  is  alwnyM 
f-roctcd,;!!!!!  iH  then;  vvuhIkhI  by'the  ndativuH, 
iind  afli'rw.ird  wnipiiod  in  ii  new  clotli  and 
laifl  on  llu!  pile. 

Duriri;;  tliis  tiino  llic  widow  Hfjinds  on  tlm 
bank,  iiltorinj,'  pniyiirs,  and  waving  in  licr 
liaiid  a  lirancli  of  nian;,'o.  Alter  tlio  corpse 
is  ri'inovcd  from  (Ik;  water,  Hlie  de.scendH 
into  it  lierMcir,  and,  liavinf,'  wa.slied,  dislrili- 
utes  to  her  friends  all  lier  ornaments,  which 
fire  ea^'erly  8onj,'ht,  as  liein;,'  sanelilled  hy 
li;ivin<,'  been  touehed  hy  tlut  Ha<'re(l  liand  (if 
a  sntlee.  She  is  then  d'resscd  in  a  new  rohe, 
rind  jdaees  herself  hy  the  side  of  the  body,  to 
wliirli  sli(!  is  nsiiallv,  t!ioii;,'Ii  not  always, 
lashed.  Dry  rushes  and  ^v■ood  are  next 
lnaped  over  her,  only  her  /lead  beinj,'  suf- 
fiifil  to  he,  iineovered,  so  (hat  sIk;  may 
breathe  for  the  short  time  she  has  to  live. 
Two  Ion;,'  bamboos  arc  then  laid  across  the 
jiile,  the  ends  bein^'  held  by  the  relations, so 
lis  to  press  her  down  shoid'd  she  8trn"i,'le  to 
escape  when  the  tl.-imes  reach  her.  'flu'  fire 
is  lii'hied  by  her  nearest  relation,  and,  if  the 
jjije  has  been  properly  const ruclefl,  the  sut- 
tee is  soon  di'ad,  bein;,'  killed  rather  by 
Milfocatioa  from  tho  smoke  than  by  the 
Dames. 

Sonielimos,  however,  when  the  buildin" 
of  the  oile  h.is  been  entrusted  to  incxiieri^ 
(•need  hands,  a  terrible  scene  tiikes  place 
the  wretched  victim  trying  to  escape  from' 
the  llaines  that  tortun;  her,  and  beinj,'  ruth- 
lessly held  down  by  the  bamboo  p(des"across 
her  body.  Dr.  Massie  relates  several  in- 
stances of  attempted  escajie.  In  one  case 
the  modeof  pn^paringthe  iiile  was  cvidc'ntly 
the  cause  ot  the  poor  victim's  sufl'erini's. 
At  each  corner  a  stout  poht  was  erected,  and 
from  this  pole  was  suspended  a  second  pile, 
like  a  canopy,  elevated  three  or  four  feet 
above  the  surface  of  (he  principal  pile.  This 
canopy  was  chiefly  ma(le  of  logs  of  wood, 
and  was  exceedingly  heavy. 

After  the  suttee  had  bi"cn  laid  iipon  the 
pile,  and  covered  with  straw  saturated  with 
ghee,  the  fire  was  kindled,  and  the  smoke 
rolled  in  tliick  volumes  over  thi!  head  of  tlie 
victim.  The  (lames  began  to  blaze  fiercely, 
and  if  they  had  been  allowcid  to  burn  in  their 
own  way,  the  death  of  the  jioor  woman  would 
have  been  almost  immediate.  Hut  just  at 
this  time  four  a.ssisfants  severed  wltli  their 
swords  the  ropes  whicdi  upheld  the  oanoi)y, 
so  that  it  fell  with  its  whole  weight  upon' 
her. 

Possibly  it  was  intended  as  an  act  of  mercy, 
lint  its  eflect  was  anything  but  mercifiil. 
For  the  niomcmt  she  was  stunned  by  the 
blow,  but  tho  mass  of  billetH  diecked  the 
action  of  tiie  lire,  and  caused  it  to  burn 
slowly  instead  of  rai)ldly.  The  creeping 
flames  soon  restored  her'  to  consciousness 
through  the  agony  wliich  they  inflicted  upon 
her,  and  she  shrieked  pitifully  for  the  liclp 


that  none  would  give  Iut,  until  death  at  last 
Jiut  an  end  to  her  siitrerings. 

The  same  author  rjiiol("s  an  account  of  a 
HUttec  who  actually  <lid  succeed  In  eHcaitint: 
from  the  llames,  in  spile  of  tbe  rcsisi'mco 
ofbircid  l)y  tiie  olllciating  Urahtnins  and  her 
relatives:  — 

"  Another  well-authenticated  and  brutal 
instance  of  this  sacrifice  occurred  about  the 
tame  time  in  a  more  northern  iiroviiice  of 
India:  'The  unfortunate  Hrahmiuee.of  her 
own  acconi,  had  ascf^ided  tlut  funeral  pile  of 
her  husband's  bones,  but  finding  IIk^  torture 
of  the  fire  more  than  she  could  bi  ar  by  a 
vMobuit  struggle  she  threw  herself  from  the 
(lames,  and,  tottering  to  a  ■  hort  dislance,  fell 
down.  Some  gentb'men,  who  wen^  s|)ec- 
tators,  iminediatidy  jilunged  her  into  tho 
river,  which  was  close  by,  ami  thereby  saved 
her  from  being  miicli  burnt.  She  retained 
her  senses  comph't.  ly,  and  comiilaiiie.l  of 
the  badness  ot  the  pile,  which,  she  said  con- 
sumed her  HO  slowlythat  she  could  not!  bear 
It;  but('xpressed  her  willingness  a"ain  to  try 
It  if  they  would  im])rove  it.  They  would  not 
do  so,  and  the  poor  creature!  slirimk  with 
dread  from  the  (lames,  which  were  now 
burning  iiilf'usely,  and  refused  to  gr)  on. 

'  'AVIien  the  inhuman  relations  s.aw  tliia 
they  took  lier  l)y  the  head  and  heels,  anil 
Ibrc'W  her  into  (he  firi!,  and  held  her  there  till 
they  were  driven  away  by  flu^  heat;  (hey  also 
took  up  large  blocks  of  wood,  with  which 
they  struck  her,  in  order  to  deprive  her  of 
her  senses;  but  she  again  made  her  escape, 
and,  without  any  ludp,  ran  directly  into  tho 
river.  The  people  of  Ikt  house  fol'lowed  her 
here,  and  triced  to  drown  her  bviiressing  her 
under  the  water,  but  an  Euroj)ean  gentleman 
rescued  her  from  tbcm,  and  she  inunediately 
ran  nito  his  arms  and  cried  to  liim  to  save 
her. 

'"I  arrived  at  the  ground  as  they  wcro 
bniiging  lier  the  second'time  from  the  river, 
anrl  I  cannot  describe  to  you  the  horror  I  felt 
on  seeing  the  mangled  condition  slie  was  in: 
almost  every  inch  of  skin  on  her  body  had 
been  burnt  ofl';  her  legs  and  thighs,  her  arm-i 
and  hack,  were  complcti  ly  raw,  her  brea.'  ts 
were  dreadfully  torn,  and  the  skin  hanging 
Irom  them  in  threads;  tho  skin  and  nails  of 
her  lingers  had  peeled  wholly  ofi".  and  were 
hanging  to  the  back  of  her  l"iands.  In  fact, 
I  never  saw  and  never  read  of  so  entire  a 
picture  of  misery  a.s  this  poor  woman  dis- 
played. She  seemed  to  (irifad  Ixdng  again 
taken  to  tlic  fire, and  called  out  to  "  the  Ocha 
Sahib"  to  save  her.  Her  friends  seemed  no 
longer  inclined  to  force,  and  one  of  her  rv.- 
lations,  at  our  instigation,  sat  down  beside 
her,  and  gave  her  some  clothes,  and  told  her 
they  would  not.  We  h.ad  her  sent  to  tlie 
hospit.il,  where  every  medical  assistance  was 
immediately  given  her,  but  without  hope 
of  recovery.  She  lingered  in  the  most  ex- 
cniciiiting  pain  for  about  twenty  hours,  and 
thendiecL"^ 


1410 


INDIA. 


Tt  Is  often  said  that  tho  woman  Is  stupefied 
Willi  ()|iiiiMi  or  Indian  hemp  l)er()re  NJie  is 
hr()U,i,'lil  to  the  jjile,  and  tiiat  tiie  l)vstanders 
heat  driiiUN  and  shout  in  order  to  (frown  her 
sliriel<s.  Tliis,  however,  is  not  tho  case,  the 
woman  retpiiritif^  tho  use  of  all  )ier  senses  to 
enahie  her  to  >;(>  throii'^'h  the  various  cere- 
monies whieh  preeede  the  actual  huruiufj, 
and  the  pile  heini,'  generally  made  so  care- 
fully that  death  is  so  rapid  (hat  ti»o  victim 
scarcely  utters  a  cry  or  makes  a  single  stnig- 
glc  to  escape. 

Additions  to  the  mere  hurning  of  the 
widow  have  hecn  mentioned  hy  various  trav- 
ellers. Hernier,  for  exami)le,  says  that,  while 
travellinj,'  near  Agra,  he  heard  that  a  Suttee 
was  ahoiit  to  take  place.  He  went  to  the 
spot,  and  there  saw  a  great  pit,  in  the  midst 
of  which  was  a  large  pile  of  wood.  On  tlio 
pile  lay  (he  hody  of  a  man,  an<l  beside  it  sat 
a  youilg  and  handsome  woman,  whose  dress 
was  almost  saturated  with  oil,  as  was  the 
wood  of  the  jiile.  The  (Ire  heing  lighted,  she 
sat  on  the  pile,  and  as  tin;  (lames  wrapped 
her  hody,  she  exclaimed  with  a  loud  voice 
that,  according  to  the  Indian  belief  in  the 
transmigration  of  souls,  this  was  tho  fifth 
lime  that  she  had  become  a  suttee,  and  (hat 
iho  would  have  to  do  so  twice  more  iu  order 
lo  attain  perfection. 

Round  the  edge  of  the  pit  danced  five 
Tvomen,  holding  each  other  by  the  hand,  and 
;!])l)earing  regardless  of  (he  lire.  Presently 
the  tlanu's  seized  unon  the  dress  of  one  of 
them:  whereu])on  slie  detached  herself  from 
her  coinpaiuons,  and  (lung  herself  headlong 
inlo  the  burning  pit,  Tlie  rt^niaining  four 
coi:tinued  their  dance,  and,  as  the  (ire  caught 
their  garments,  (hey  one  l)y  one  leaped  into 
the  (laining  pit.  These  women,  it  appeared, 
had  hoen  slaves  of  (he  su(tee.  They  were 
greatly  attadnnl  to  their  mistress,  and  when 
they  hciird  her  oiler  the  vow  to  die  on  the 
funeral  iijle,thev  determined  to  die  with  her. 

The  sajjie  traveller  relates  a  very  curious 
anecdote  of  a  suttee  who  employed  the  dread- 
ful c<'remouy  for  a  strange  purpose. 

She  was  n  widow  by  her  own  act,  having 
poisoned  lici*  husband  in  order  to  carrj'  on 
an  intrigue  with  a  young  tailor,  a  Moliam- 
niedau,  who  was  celebrated  for  his  skill  in 
playing  the  d»um.  lie,  however,  was  alarmed 
at  her  crime,  hnd  declined  her  society.  On 
account  of  the  caste  to  whicdi  she  belonged, 
the  death  by  burning  was  not  a  necessity,  but 
on  her  lover's  refusal  she  went  to  her  re- 
lations, reported  the  sudden  death  of  her 
husbaml,  and  declared  that  she  would  he 
burned  with  him. 

"  Her  kindred,  well  satisfied  with  so  gen- 
erous a  resolution,  and  the  great  honor  that 
slie  did  to  the  whole  family,  presently  had  a 
pit  made  and  filled  with  wood,  exposing  the 
corpse  upon  it,  and  kindling  the  fire.  All 
being  prepared,  the  woman  goes  to  embrace 
and  bid  farewell  to  all  her  kindred  that  were 
there  about  the  pit,  amOi,g  whom  was  also 


tho  tailor,  who  had  been  Invited  (o  play  upon 
the  (abor  that  (  y,  with  m;iny  others  of  lliut 
sort  of  men,  ac(u)rding  to  the  custom  of  tliu 
country.  This  fury  of  a  wonum,  l>ein{j  also 
come  to  this  yotnig  man,  made  sign  as  if  slio 
would  bid  bun  farewell  with  the  rest,  but, 
instead  of  gently  embracing  him,  she  taketh 
him  with  all  her  force  about  his  collar,  pull 
him  to  the  pit,  and  tumbles  him,  together 
with  herself,  into  (lie  ditch,  where  they  both 
were  soon  despatched." 

The  date  at  which  the  Sutteo  was  in.stituted 
is  not  known,  but  it  was  in  operation  at  the 
time  of  Alexander  the  (Jreat,  and  nnist  have 
hvvn  established  long  I.efore.  Under  tiio 
British  rule  the  Suttee  system  has  gradually 
been  abolish('d,and  we  liiavhope  that  never 
again  will  the  dread  scene  oo  repeated. 

Hkference  has  already  been  made  to 
several  other  modifications  of  human  sacri- 
■  -e,  and  we  will  give  a  few  pages  to  a  descrip- 
vion  of  tliem. 

There  is  in  the  Indian  mythology  a  certain 
dreadful  goddess  of  destruction,  named  Kiili. 
Her  statues  show  her  attributes,  hei  many 
hands  being  tilled  with  all  kinds  of  weapons, 
and  her  person  decorated  with  a  huge  neck- 
lace of  human  skulls.  In  order  to  projiitiate 
this  terrible  divinity,  a  system  h.as  been  de- 
veloped which  is  perhaps  the  nmst  remark- 
able, illogical,  and  best  regulated  system  that 
is  to  be  found  upon  the  face  of  the  eartli. 
It  is  simply  niunler  raised  to  the  rank  of  a 
religious  rite,  and  ditVers  from  all  other  human 
sacrifices  in  that  blood  is  not  shed,  that  (he 
victim  is  always  killed  by  stralageni,  and 
that  the  worshippers  need  neither  temple 
nor  altar. 

The  members  of  the  society  call  them- 
selves Tiiios,  from  a  Hindoo  word  which 
signifies  "deci'ption,"  and  which  is  given  to 
them  in  consequence,  of  the  mode  in  which 
the  victims  are  entrapped.  In  some  parts 
of  India  they  ari'  called  Piiaxsioars,  from 
a  Sanscrit  word  whi(di  signifies  "  a  noose.'' 
Perhaps  the  strangest  ;)oiut,  in  this  country 
of  strict  and  sejiarate  caste,  is  (hat  (lie 
Thugs  do  not  belong  to  one  caste,  nor  even 
to  one  rcligioji.  They  all  agree  in  woisliip- 
jiing  Kali,  but  in  other  respects  they  admit 
among  their  numbers  men  and  wonu'ii  of 
all  castes,  ami  a  large  number  of  them  arc 
Mahommedans,  who  have  no  caste  at  all. 
Indeed,  the  Mahommedan  Thugs  claim  for 
themselves  the  orijjin  of  the  system,  though 
the  Hindoos  say  tliat  it  was  in  existence 
long  before  the  time  of  Alahommcd. 

They  always  go  in  companies,  a  complete 
band  often  consisting  of  several  hundred 
persona  of  all  ages  and  both  sexes.  As  the 
very  essence  of  the  sacrifice  is  secrec}-,  (hey 
assume  all  kinds  of  disguises,  the  usual 
being  that  of  travelling  merchants.  In  this 
capacity  they  act  their  part  to  perfection, 
and  endeavor  to  eutico  travellers  into  their 
clutches. 


THE  THUGS. 


For   thiH    purpono   they  havn   a  regular 
or^iiiiiznlion.     At  thulr  head   tlicy  Imvo  u 
c hiol  or  Sirdur,  wlio  din'oln  tlio  onoriitioHH 
(.1    tho   band.      Thou    an   old   exneriuncod 
lliii;,'  ai-tH   as   instructor,  and   tumdics  thci 
ymingrr  incHi  how  to  \m-  theM.'icrtid  nooso  hv 
whK'h   tho   victims  aro   Htran^led.    This  ht 
not  a  cord  with  a  runninj,'  knot,  but  a  Hort 
ot   Miindkurchiuf,  which   is  i\\m<r  round  the 
nock  of  tho  un.susi)ectiii),'  man,  and  Huddenlv 
drawn  liirht.    This  noose, or  handkerchief,  is 
called  Ihe'Toomal."    Then   com.)  the  men 
who  are  entrusted  with  tho  noose.     These 
aro  called  Uluittotes,  or  stran^'hiis,  and  are 
generally  men  possessinj,'  both  strenKth  and 
activity.   Next  aro  tho  entrappers,  or  (Sotliaa 
namely,  those  whoso  business  it  is  to  entrap 
tho  victim  into  a  convenient  spot  for  his 
nssassmation,  and   to  eiiRaKe  his   attention 
while  preparations  aro  beinL'  made  for  his 
death.    Lastly  come  the  Jiiij^haoos,orKrave- 
digijers,   who  prepare    tho    grave  for    tho 
reception  of  the  body. 

The  method  in  which  tlie  Thugs  perform 
th.ir  sacrifices  is  almost  exactly  I'ko  that 
which  18  employed  by  the  modern  garrotiirs, 
cxcejit  that  a  noose  is  used  instead  of  the 
aim,  and  that  the  victim  is  always  killed  in- 
stead of  being  only  made  insensible  fora  ti'me. 

Jlavin!,'  pitcheil  upon  a  person  wlumi  thev 
think  will  be  a  lit  olTerins  for  Kali  the 
fsVthas  manage  to  induce  him  to  come  to 
the  fatal  snot.  Several  days  are  often  spent 
111  this  endeavor;  for,  unless  there  is  every 
l)r()bability  that  tho  murder  will  not  be 
i-xccuted  before  any  except  .  .embers  of 
tlu-ir  own  society,  the  Thugs  will  not  at- 
t-'iiipt  tho  traveller's  life.  The  women  and 
chiMren  attached  to  the  band  aro  usually 
eini)loyed  as  Sothas,  inasmuch  as  they  would 
excite  less  suspicion  than  if  they  were 
men.  If  the  women  be  young  and  hand- 
Boiiie,  they  are  the  more  valuable  as  decoys- 
and,  horrible  to  »ay,  even  young  girls  fci'ke 
till'  greatest  interest  in  decoying  travellers 
within  the  fatal  noose. 

When  the  party  have  arrived  at  the  ap- 
pfiiiited  spot,  the  attention  of  tho  traveller  is 
adroitly  directed  to  some  object  in  ♦'ront  of 
him,  while  tho  Bhuttoto  wlio  acts  the  part 
of  executioner  steals  quietly  behind  him. 
Siuldcnly  the  noose  is  flung  rouiid  the 
victim's  neck,  the  knee  of  the  murderer  is 
pressed  into  his  back,  and  in  a  short  time  he 
ceases  to  live.  Generally  the  executioner  is 
80  adroit  at  his  dread  oirice  that  tho  nuir- 
tlt'ied  man  makes  no  resistance,  but  dies 
a  inost  without  a  struggle,  the  first  pressure 
ot  tlie  noose  causing  insensibility. 

The  body  of  the  murdered  man  is  then 
Gripped,  and  his  i)roperty  falls  to  the  band, 
boiuetimes  a  whole  party  of  travellers  is 
entrapped  by  a  band  of  Thugs,  and  all  are 
simultaneously  murdered.  This  is  generally 
the  case  when  several  wealthy  men  travel 
together,  in  which  case  they  and  their  ser- 
vant* are  all  murdered  in  honor  of  Kalij 


1411 


who  on  her  part,  yields  to  her  servants  tho 
goods  ol  tho  miinlered  men,  by  way  of  rec- 
ompense for  their  piety.  •'        •' 

The  sacridco  over,  the  body  is  pierced  in 
several  iilaccs  to  prevent  it  from  swellimr 
an,l  is  tl.ci.  laid  in  the  grave.  The  soil  Vs 
carefully  (llled  in,  and  levelled  with  such 
ingenious  care  that  scarcely  any  excent 
those   who  dug  tho  grave   can  discover  it 

i'  ,V'*;  ''"•'"'•  ^"  •'"•'  *'"«*'.  when  an 
Knglish  force  was  in  chaso  after  a  band  of 

.•  i.""!l'u'",7  ^""•'"'•1  "^'•■•"  K''"""(l  which  was 
tull  ol  bodies,  and  never  suspected  it  until 
ono  of  the  Thug  prisoners  exultingly 
pointed  out  grave  after  grave  as  proofs  ol" 
their  success. 

After  the  body  is  buried,  and  all  si^ns  of 
tho  murder  removed,  the  Thugs  go  tlnough 
a  sort  of  religious  ceremony,  sitting  rouiuFa 
whito  cloth,  on  which  are  laid  the  sacred 
pickaxes  with  which  the  graves  arc  duir  a 
piece  of  silver,  and  some  sugar.  The  Sirdar 
then  sits  on  the  sheet,  facing  westward  with 
the  most  accomnlished  stranglers  on  either 
side  of  hiin,  and  distributes  the  sugar  to  all 
present,  who  cat  it  in  solemn  silence  Tho 
sheet  IS  tlicn  put  away,  and  to  all  appear- 
anco  the  Thugs  aro  nothing  more  tlian  a 
party  of  harmless  travellers. 

So  secretly  is  the  wliolo  business  con- 
ducted, that  tho  system  has  only  been  dis- 
covered within  lato  years.  Numbers  of 
pei-sons  liad  mystiiriously  disappeared;  but 
m  India  the  natives  are  singularly  apathetic 
and  it  is  always  easy  to  account  for  the  dis- 
ai)l)earaiice  of  a  traveller  by  saying  that  ho 
has  been  carried  ofl'by  a  tiger.  The  Thugs 
take  tho  greatest  priile  in  their  iirofession 
and,  wlicn  captured,  do  not  attempt  to  dis- 
guise it,  but  openly  l)oast  of  the  number  of 
victims  whom  they  have  slain,  and  describe 
with  glee  tho  method  in  which  they  de- 
stroyed them;  and,  when  themselves  fed  to 
the  gallows,  they  treat  the  whole  business 
with  calm  contempt,  haying  no  more  care 
lor  their  own  lives  than  for  those  of  their 
victims. 


Wk  now  come  to  another  ceremony  in 
which  human  life  ia  sacrificed,  though  as  an 
adiunct,  and  not  as  its  essential  'feature. 
Ihis  is  the  celebrated  procession  of  Jug- 
gernaut, or  Jaganatha.  The  ceremonies 
connected  with  this  idol,  and  indeed  the  in- 
vention of  the  idol  itself,  seem  to  be  of  com- 
paratively modern  fdato,  and,  except  for  the 
groat  annual  procession  of  tho  car,  are  of 
little  interest. 

The  great  temple  of  the  idol  is  situated 
in  Oriss.i,  rather  more  than  three  hundred 
miles  southwest  from  Calcutta.  It  is  a  tall 
pyramidal  tower,  some  two  hundred  feet  in 
height,  built  of  a  Avarm  red  sandstone, 
covered  with  the  lime-cement  called  "chu- 
nain."  Being  on  the  sea-coast,  this  tower  is 
a  most  useful  landmark  to  navigators  in  the 
Bay  of  Bengal. 


UV2 


INDIA. 


Oiii'u  ill  every  year  tho  oroftt  festival  "f 
Ju^'«.Timut  liik.'s  itliice,  md  tlio  luiKo  1_<^<>I- 
car  is  Id'iiu^lit,  out  tor  this  proci'SHioii.  ii>e 
car  is  (VII  (•iiormouM  oilitli'c  of  wooil,  morn 
than  forty  fret  lii),'li,  ami  thirly-llvo  tret 
squar.!.  TIiIh  iuhhm  of  tliiibc'r  is  Hupnorli-a 
on  sixldin  \vli(>(:U,  nich  more  tlmn  mIx  li'el 
in  (liiinu'lcr,  miw  of  tho  wlici'lsln'jni,' »•"<•••'■ 
tlu'  liodv  of  tlu!  car.  Tliu  car  ilscit  ih  iilcnti- 
fullv  adorned  with  «(iili)tiircs  of  tin^  nsua 
character,  and  it  i»  convcnlionaliv  snnposcd 
to  111!  (h'awn  l>v  two  «rcat  wooden  h<>iHi;», 
Wliich  arc  atlac'lied  toil  in  readiness  for  t he 
processi'in,  and  kept  inside  it  duriiij;  the 
rest  of  the  year. 

(In  tlie  appointed  (lay  tlireo  Idols  are 
pliiced  in  tliu  car.  Tlie  central ll'^ure  repre- 
seiits  Krislma,  and  tlie  olliors  are  his  brother 
Uala  Kama  and  his  sister  Suhhadra.  They 
nre  iiothiiif,'  hut  three  enormous  and  hideous 
busts,  n  t  nearly  so  well  carved  as  tho  tikis 
of  New  Zealand,  and,  in  fact,  much  rcseiii- 
blo  the  human  tljj'ures  acrihhled  on  walls  hy 
little  hoys,  Stout  and  Ion;,'  cables  arc  at- 
tached to  tlio  car,  by  means  of  which  the 
worshii)i)ers  of  the  i(fol  drai;  it  along.  The 
scene  that  takes  place  at  the  procession  is 
most  vividly  descrihed  by  Hrulon:  — 

'•  In  this  chariot,  on  their  greai  festal  days, 
at  ni!,'hl  they  place  their  wicked  god,  Jtuj- 
guriHil;  and  all  llie  Br<ni>it)8,  being  in  num- 
ber nine  tlior.Hand,  attend  this  greut  idol, 
besides  of  (tshincn  and  farkecrcs  (fakirs) 
some  tlioiisaiids,  or  more  than  a  good  many. 

"The  chariot  is  most  richly  adorned  with 
most  rich  and  costly  ornaments;  and  the 
aforesaid  wheels  are  placed  very  complete 
in  a  roimil  circle,  so  arti(iciallv  that  every 
wheel  doth  its  proper  olllce  without  any  im- 
pediment; for  the  chariot  is  aloft,  and  in  the 
centre  betwixt  the  wheels:  they  have  also 
more  than  two  thousand  lights  witli  them. 
An,l  this  chariot,  with  the  idol,  is  also  drawn 
with  the  greatest  and  best  men  of  tho  town; 
aii(l  they  imi  so  greedy  and  eager  to  draw  it, 
that  wliosoever,  by  shouldering,  crowding, 
•  shoving,  lieaving,  thrusting,  or  in  ar.y  inso- 
lent way,  can  Imt  lay  a  hand  upon  tho  rope, 
thcv  think  themselves  blessed  and  hanpy; 
nntlwhen  it  is  going  along  the  city,  there 
are  many  that  will  otrer  tliemselvca  as  a  sac- 
rilkc  to  tliis  idol,  and  desperately  lie  down 
on  the  ground,  that  the  chariot-wheels  may 
run  over  them,  whereby  they  are  killed  out- 
right; some  get  broke.!  arms,  some  broken 
legs,  as  that  many  of  them  arc  so  destroyed; 
and  by  this  means  tlicy  think  to  merit 
heavcii." 

Another  of  the  earlier  writers  on  this  snb- 
jnct  states  that  many  persons  lie  down  in  the 
track  of  the  car  a  few  hours  before  it  starts, 
and,  taking  a  powerful  dose  of  opium,  or 
"bhang,"  t.  e.  Indian  hemp,  meet  death 
while  still  unconscious. 

In  former  days  the  annual  assemblage  at 
the  temple  of  Juggernaut,  which  is  to  the 
Hindoos  what  Mecca  is  to  the  Mahomme- 


dans,  was  astonlsliliiK,  a  million  and  a  ludf 
of  pilgrims  having  been  consider  1  as  tliu 
average  number.  I'ntling  aside  the  eoiii- 
parative  tew  who  perished  under  the  wlneU 
of  the  great  car  (for,  indeed,  had  the  whnlfl 
road  been  paved  with  human  bodies,  Ihcy 
would  have  tieen  hut  a  few^,  (he  nutnliiT 
that  died  from  privation  and  hutleriiig  wns 
dreadful. 

We  know  bv  many  a  sad  cxperieiiro  lunv 
ditUcult  it  Is  to  toed  a  large  army,  even  wiih 
tho  great  advantage  of  disciiiliue  on  tlio 
p;irt  of  the  coniniissariat  and  tlie  recipients. 
It  is  tlierefore  easy  to  see  how  terrible  mint 
bo  the  iirivatioii  when  a  vast  nudlltiidr, 
qn.adruple  the  number  of  any  army  tlmt  ever 
took  tho  Held,  arrives  simultaneously  I'mni 
all  direetioiis  at  a  place  where  no  iirraii;:c. 
iiients  have  been  made  to  supply  them  wiili 
])rovisioiis,  and  where,  even  if  the  lucnlity 
could  furnish  the  recjiiisite  food,  the  grendr 
number  of  the  pilgrims  are  totally  wilheut 
iiKUiey.and  therefore  unable  to  nay  for  foD.l. 
In  those  days  the  pilfjrinis  perished  by  tlieu- 
s.iuds,  as  much  victims  to  Jiiggeniiuit  an 
those  wild  were  crushed  under  his  eliaijnt 
wheels,  and,  indeed,  sutlering  a  I'lU-  mure 
lingering  and  painful  death.  Still, nceenliiig 
to  their  belief,  they  died  in  the  performaiui! 
of  their  duty,  and'by  that  death  had  ennuil 
a  high  place  in  the  paradi.se  of  tho  Hin- 
doos. 

Such  was  the  case  before  the  English  rnj 
was  established  in  India.  Since  that  lime  a 
gradual  but  steady  diminution  has  lnken 
place  in  the  number  of  the  jiilgiiiiis  to  Jul;. 


gernaut's  temiile;  and  we  have  lately  sctii  a 
most  astonishing  and  portentous  event. 
Forr.M'rly,  tho  vast  crowd  of  woisliiiiiurs 
pressed  and  crowded  round  the  ciililes  liy 
which  the  car  was  drawn,  trying  to  lay  biit 
a  hand  upon  the  sacred  rope.  Of  late  years 
the  Brahmins  have  found  fewer  and  lewer 
devotees  for  this  purpose,  and  on  one  ncca- 
sion,  in  spite  of  all  their  elVorts,  tho  ropes 
were  deserted,  and  the  car  lell  stationary,  to 
get  along  as  it  could. 

As  to  tho  idol  Jiingernaut  itself,  Bniton 
gives  a  curious  descrii)tion  of  it,  saying  that 
It  is  in  shape  like  a  serpent  with  seven  heads, 
and  that  on  the  chc-eks  of  each  head  I  litre 
are  wings  which  open  and  shut  and  llap 
about  as  the  car  moves  along. 

An  idol  in  the  form  of  afivc-hcadcd  rohra 
is  mentioned  by  Messrs.  Tyermaii  and  IJcn- 
iiett  in  their  "Missionary  Voyages  ":  "  AVo 
happened  to  be  visiting  a  very  handsomely 
built  stone  temple  (at  Allahabad^,  covered 
with  well  executed  sculptures  of  tlieir  idols, 
holy  persons,  etc.,  in  stone  of  the  highest  re- 
lief; In  the  temple  were  several  stone  idols 
representing  the  serpent  —  tho r«'"a ra;)W/a, 
or  hooded  snake.  The  largest,  which  repre- 
sents a  serpent  twelve  feet  long,  with  five 
heads,  and  tho  heads  all  expanded,  coiled 
into  a  sort  of  Gordian  knot,  is  the  principal 
object  of  worship  iu  this  temple. . 


8ELF-SACIIIFICE   IN   TIIF',  OANfJES. 


1418 


"Whilii  wfl  wero  lonklnR  at  thin  dtono 
«imkc,  n  hoirid-lookinj,'  iiiiui,  ■>,  •lothcd, 
rushed  ill  (lu)  wiis  aliiiiit  twenty  '  i>,  vimum 
old),  iK'in^'  cdvcfi'd  with  iihIich.  mid  hinhiij/i^ 
(iiiaiilily  of  liiiir  malted  willi  iimd  duxl. 
IliH  eyes  uppeiired  iiithiiiied;  lit;  Injwed  \w,- 
fore  the  serpent,  tiieii  prostrated  liiiiiNeil', 
fdlerward  reMpeelCiilly  toiirhed  hin  Iiead, 
looked  (ixedly  upon  the  serpent,  prostriited' 
IiiiiHeirai;aiii,  then  touched  ;i  and  rushed  out, 
lis  if  ill  a  paroxysm  of  deli),'lit  at  the  lli()u«lit  of 
liaviiig  worshipped  this  thiiiy.  When  lie  got 
oiitof  the  temple,  ho  walked  all  round  within 
the  verandah,  and,  haviii','  once  more  bowed 
ut  the  door  of  the  tt-mpie.  he  departed  with  a 
hurried  step.  We  cannot  conceive  of  any 
liiiinaii  heini?  haviiij?  more  the  appearance 
of  a  demoniac  than  this  miserahle  creature, 
who,  nevertheless,  is  re«ardcd  hy  the  poor 
Hindoos  118  one  of  the  holiest  of  luoii." 

AvoTitKii  form  of  hiimnn  Raeritico  wns 
intended,  like  the  iirostiation  under  Jii;^'- 
Kcrna-it's  car,  to  take  the  devotee  to  Para- 
dise, lho(i;:;h  liy  a  less  painful  and  less  re- 
Vollin;^  process. 

Tin  (tar.'^'cs  has  always  heen  reckoned  as 
n  most  sacred  s(ream,"w)ios(!  waters  wash 
from  the  soul  all  taint  of  sin.  There  is,  how- 
ever, one  siiot,  namelv,  the  contlueiicc  of  the 
Jumna  witli  the  (Jain,'es,  which  is  so  very 
sacred,  that  any  <uie  who  dies  there  must  of 
necessity  p)  straij^ht  to  I'aradise.  It  is  evi- 
dent, therefore,  that  the  simplest  plan  of  en- 
leriii!,'  I'aradise  is  to  ensure  deiith  at  tlu^ 
jimctioiiof  the  rivers.  For  this  purpose  the 
devotee  entered  a  lioat.  and  tiecl  to  e.icli  of 
his  feet  a  chalty  or  earthenware  jar  tilled 
Willi  sand.  The  Imak  was  rowed  into  niid- 
slrc  im,  and  the  devotee  dropped  overboard 
into  the  river.  The  boats  used  for  this  jmr- 
l)ose  were  kept  by  nrahmins,  who  eharjjed 
a  fee  for  oUleiatim:  at  the  sacritice. 

Siinietim(!s  he  devotees  inaiiaf,'ed  to  sacri- 
fice themstdves  without  the  assistance  of  the 
Hr.ihinins  and  their  boat.  Thev  tied  an 
pinpty  chatty  to  their  waists  in  I'ront  tiiid 
lieliind,  and,  buoyed  up  by  the  i  iiipty  ves- 
sils.  padtUed  tlu'mscdvcs  with  their  'liands 
iiiilil  they  reached  the  (h'sired  spot.  Thev 
thin  scooped  water  into  the  chatties,  until 
they  were  tilled,  and  so  sank,  tiio  weight  of 
the  vessels  bejiij'  siiHieieiit  to  take  them  to 
tin-  bottom.  Ill  lik(!  manner  are  corpses 
entrusted  to  the  keei)ini,'  of  the  licdy  river, 
when  the  relatives  of  the  deceased  are  not 
ahie  to  afford  the  jjreat  exiieiise  of  a  fune- 
ral pile.  The  body  is  surrounded  by  Ii<?hted 
straw,  so  that  it  "is  scorched,  and  therefore 
considered  to  be  puritted  by  tire.  Two  chat- 
ties arc  then  fastened  to  it,"  the  relatives  tow 
the  body  into  mid-stream,  fill  the  chatties 
with  water,  and  allow  the  body  to  sink. 
What  becomes  of  it  afterward  they  care 
nothing,  and  though  it  be  devoured  by  the 
many  creatures  of  prey  which  haunt  the  riv- 
ers ill  search  of  their  loathsome  food,  they 

08 


am  perfectly  natisfled  with  their  shnro  hi  ila 
disposal. 

In  many  cases  beasts  are  Hiibslitnted  for 
human  sacrillces.  A  short,  stout  post  is 
tlxed  in  the  ground.  an<l  on  its  top  Is  cut  n 
deep  notch,  in  which  is  reeeivi  1  the  neck  of 
the  animal,  the  size  of  the  notch  and  hei'dit 
of  the  ])ost  being  suited  to  the  size  of  iho 
victim.  Sacrillces  are  thnsollered  to  Doorga 
the  goddess  of  nature,  and  it  is  of  the  utmost 
importance  that  the  head  of  the  viclim 
should  bo  severiid  at  a  single  blow.  This  is 
easy  enough  with  a  lainl),  or  even  a  goal,  but 
when  a  bull'alo  is  to  be  Macrillccd,  the  hiic- 
cess  of  the  blow  is  so  doubtful  that  innny 
ceremonies  are  employed  to  ensure  its  ri"h't 
Iierformaneo.  The  silcrillcial  knife  is  a  fre- 
ineiidous  weapon,  shaped  souK'thing  like  ii 
bill-hook,  very  broad,  very  heavy,  and  kept 
as  sharp  as  a  razor.  When  the'sacriliei.  is 
to  take  nlace,  the  butfalo  is  brought  to  the 
post,  which  stands  before  the  ten-armed 
image  of  Divorga,  its  horns  an^  painted  red, 
turmeric  is  jiotired  over  its  head,  water  from 
the  (Jaiiges  is  sprinkled  over  it,  and  gnr- 
land.'i  of  flowers  ar(!  liiiiig  about  its  neck. 

The  animal  is  then  iilaced  so  that  its  neck 
rests  in  the  fork  of  llie  post,  to  which  it  is 
(irmly  secured  by  an  iron  bar  whicli  jiasses 
tlirough  holes  in  the  fork,  and  presses  its 
head  downward.  Thi^  body  is  supported  on 
a  mound  of  earth  in  front' of  th,-  post,  and 
the  legs  are  drawn  apart  and  held  by  ropes 
so  that  a  moyemeiit  is  impossible.  'J'lie  sac- 
rillcer,  always  a  man  of  great  miiseular 
power,  then  comes  tbrwanl  and  takis  the 
sacrilicial  knife  from  the  altar  before 
Doorga's  statue,  and,  together  with  I  he 
assembled  multitude,  prays  tliat  strength 
may  be  given  to  enable  "him  to  fuKll  his 
office. 

Amid  the  breathless  silence  of  the  assem- 
bled worshippers,  he  raises  the  heavy  blade, 
and  with  one  blow  drives  it  through  the 
neck  of  the  helpless  yictini.  As  the  head 
falls  to  the  ground,  it  is  snatched  uj)  by  the 
officiating  Hrahmins,  whooll'er  it  to  the' god- 
dess, while  the  people,  in  a  frenzy  of  delisjlit, 
dance  round  the  sacrilicer,  embrace  liim, 
chant  songs  in  his  honor,  and  crown  hiiii 
with  garlands  of  Howers.  The  body  of  the 
biilfalo  becomes  the  property  of  the  specta- 
tors, who  strugjjle  for  it  liiilil  one  party 
gains  the  superiority  over  the  other,  anil 
carries  olf  the  prize.  Around  the  blood, 
that  lies  in  pools  on  the  ground,  the  multi- 
tude crowd,  dip  their  fingers  in  it,  and  daub 
it  on  their  bodies  and  on  the  walls  of  the 
temple. 

The  goddess  Doorga,  to  whom  these  sac- 
rifices are  made,  is  in  fact  Kali  under 
another  title;  the  former  name  nie.iiiiiig  the 
Inaccessible,  and  the  latter  the  Black  One. 
She  is  represented  as  the  wife  of  the  De- 
stroying God,  Shiva,  and  as  the  mother  of 
the  God  of  "War,  Kartikeya.  As  Doorga, 
her  inany-armcd  figure  is'  carved  of  wood, 


1414 


INDIA. 


or  motler.ec]  in  pasteboartl,  and  pnintcd  rose 
color.  She  is  s"ate(l  cross-legged  on  a  pea- 
cock, r.nd  surrounded  by  many  otlier  dei- 
ties of  the  multitudinous  IliJidoo  mythol- 
ogy. Heforc  her  is  represented  a  man  being 
devoured  b^'  a  nondescript  beast,  something 
liko  the  lieraldic  grillin.  As  socii  as  the 
sacrilicn  is  over,  the  goddess  is  supposed  to 
depart  IVom  hor  image,  which  is  then  taken 
in  i)ro;A,ssion  to  tlie  Ganges,  and  amid  the 
(leatbnin_'  shouts  of  the  people,  the  blr-S!  of 
trumpets,  and  the  beating  of  kettle-drums,  is 
cast  into  the  stream. 

The  reader  may  remember  that  on  page 
141,1  was  given  a  short  description  of  a  holy 
man  who  came  to  worship  the  many-headed 
snake-god.  He  was  one  of  the  lakirs,  or 
Jogis,  i.  e.  ascetics,  who  in  India  are  won- 
uerfnlly  numerous,  and  submit  themselves 
to  thj  most  dreadful  tortures  in  honor  of 
tlieir  deities.  By  riglits  the  Fakirs  are  Mo- 
hammedans, though  the  English  have  been 
accustomed  to  call  both  the  Mohammedan 
and  Hindoo  ascetics  by  the  common  title  of 
T  iikir.  "  Jogi "  is  the  usual  title  for  the 
IIiiidi>o  devotees,  thG:'gh  they  are  divided 
into  a  number  of  sects,  such  as  Bairages, 
iSangases,  Gosiirds,  &c. 

In  all  "res  and  in  almost  all  countries, 
there  have  be(!n  religious  enthusiasts,  who 
have  sought  to  gain  \iic  favor  or  i)ropitiate 
the  anger  of  the  diity  by  voluntary  suller- 
ing,  l)Ut  there  is  periiAps  no  country  where 
-,ve  lind  so  ;j;rcat  a  vaiitty  of  this  principle 
as  we  do  in  India.  There  are  Mohammedan 
as  well  as  Hindoo  ascetics,  and  the  latter 
have  this  ad  vintage,  that  they  need  not  be- 
long to  any  particular  caste.  To  describe 
fully  the  extraordinary  iiroceedings  of  these 
men  would  occupy  nuioh  more  space  than 
can  be  airordc<l,  and  we  will  therefore  only 
take  a  few  of  the  most  characteristic  exam- 

Jlll'S. 

One  of  the  commonest,  as  well  as  one  of 
Ib.e  lightest,  of  these  tortures  k,  to  have  the 
tongue  bored  with  a  rcd-iiot  iron.  This 
practice  ivsi-d  to  prevail  largely  at  Chln- 
surah,  at  the  temple  of  the  IJull-god. 
Under  u  clmnp  of  bauy-Mi  trees  :he  devo- 
tees assem!)le<l  in  ordiT  to  inllict  various 
tortures  iipo:>.  v'n  inselves,  and  hy  far  the 
most  common  w:i.i  that  of  tongue  boring. 
The  operation  was  performed  i)y  a  native 
smith,  wlic  v,as  reckoned  very  skilful  at  it, 
and  at  certain  seasons  he  nas  completely 
bes(^t  by  .Mpplieants.  donijly  clamorous  in  the 
ilrst  plat  p  to  I'.avc  tlieir  tonguos  bored,  and 
in  the  next  to  'ifi.ve  it  done  as  cheaply  as 
])ossiblc.  At  these  seasons  heuse'i  toran;;e 
thoa])plicants  in  rigular  lines,  and  t;iko  them 
in  their  turn,  varying  liis  fee  acc(>rding  to 
their  number,  ra.ik,  and  impatience. 

A  strange  instance  of  self-torturo  is  de- 
srrihoi]  l)y  (  olnn<'!  rampbell.  At  Oolar,  th(^ 
birthplace  of  Tipj)')()  Sultan,  a  man  was 
seen  marching  up  and  down  before  a  mostiuc, 


chanting  a  hymn.  He  was  shod  with  a  pair 
of  wooden  sandals,  not  tied  but  nailed  to 
his  feet  by  1  mg  iron  spikes  that  had  been 
driven  throuith  the  sole  and  projected  above 
the  insi'^p.  Yet  he  walked  wit'i  a  linn,  un- 
concerned Sv»^Pi  ''"'I  chanted  his  measured 
tunc  as  if  utterly  unconscious  of  the  horri- 
ble toi'ture  which  each  step  must  have  cost 
him> 

Sometimes  these  devotees  sliow  their 
piety  ijy  long  pilgri"^ngcs  to  certain  sa- 
crecf  spots,  making  the  journey  as  dillicult 
and  fanciful  as  possible.  Some  vt'ill  lie  on 
the  ground  and  roll  the  whole  distance, 
while  others  measure  the  track  by  prostra- 
ting themselves  on  their  faces,  marking  the 
spot  where  their  heads  lay,  getting  up, 
placing  their  feet  on  the  marked  sjioLaud 
then  prostrating  themselves  again.  .Some- 
times they  will  lie  oii  their  backs  and  push 
themselves  along  the  road  by  their  licdls, 
thus  cutting  and  bruising  their  backs  ter- 
ribly against  the  rough  ground.  Some  of 
these  men  practise  a  most  extraordinary 
penance  in  honor  of  the  goddess  Doorga, 
a  penance  which  in  some  resjiects  resembles 
the  initiation  of  the  Mandans.  A  stout 
pole,  .some  twenty  feet  high,  is  lixed  in  the 
ground,  and  a  loiig  bamboo  is  placed  lieri- 
zontally  over  the  top,  on  which  it  revcjlvcs 
by  means  of  a  jiivot.  Sometimes  two  or 
even  three  poles  cross  eacli  other  on  the  top 
of  the  post.  Rojies  hang  from  each  end  of 
the  bamboos,  and  to  half  of  ilieni  arc 
fi^  '-jned  lai'ge  unbarbed  hooks  of  i>olished 
i..  ii.  The  devotees  having  jiiaced  tliem- 
selves  undia-  the  bamboo,  the  hooks  are  nui 
into  their  backs,  and  by  persons  hauling  on 
the  rope  at  the  other  end  of  the  bamboo 
they  are  raised  into  the  air.  The  men  who 
hold  the  roi)es  then  run  in  a  circle,  so  an  to 
swing  tlie  devotees  round  at  a  great  pac  j, 
the  whole  weight  of  their  bodies  biim; 
borne  by  the  hooks.  While  swinging  tliey 
scatter  tlowcrs  and  other  gilts  among  llie 
spectator!;.,  who  eagerly  scrandde  lor  them, 
thinking  they  possess  very  great  .iriues, 

IJoth  menand  women  submit  to  this  icr- 
ril)le  torture,  and  do  so  for  a  variety  of  n  a- 
sons.  Some  permit  themselves  to  be  swung 
in  ])nrc  honor  of  tlu^  goddess,  some  do  it  in 
full'lmeiit  of  a  vow,  while  nuuiy  submit  to 
the  operation  ibr  pay,  acting  as  sulistituleii 
of  persons  who  haveinade  the  vow  an  '  ■ire 
afraid  to  fullil  it  personally,  or  who  prefer 
honoring  the  goddes.-:  by  deputy  ratht  r  than 
in  their  own  i)erson.  From  one  to  two 
rupees,  i.  t.  from  two  to  four  shilliugs,  is 
considered  a   fair  price  to  the  substitute. 

Sometimes  the  ujtright  post  is  fastened 
upon  an  ordinary  bullock  wagon,  and  is 
shorter  than  when  'L  is  lixed  in  the  ground. 
After  the  hoo'-.i  liavo  been  inserted,  tiie 
opposite  end  of  the  bamboo  is  drawn  down, 
s(!  ,}s  to  -.ilcvale  the  devotee  sonic  thirty 
feet  in  the  air,  and  made  !''.st  to  the  wagon. 
The  curt  ia  iheu  drawn  as  fast  as  possible 


JOGIS. 


1415 


round  the  cucloaure  by  s,ix  or  sight  bullocks, 
which  are  liiuMiessed  to  it  for  the  occasion, 
ami  selected  I'or  their  speed. 

In  many  instances,  tlie  Jorjis  (pronounced 
YfH^ees)  perl'orni  tlieii  penance  by  keeping 
one  or  more  of  their  limbs  in  one  attitude", 
until  after  a  time  it  becomes  incapable  of 
motion,  and  the  muscles  almost  entirely 
waste  awav.  Some  of  these  men  will  hold 
one  arm  stretched  upward  to  its  fullest 
extent.  This  is  done  by  supporting  the  arm 
by  a  cord  when  the  wearied  muscles  refuse 
to  uphold  tlie  limb,  any  longer.  In  some 
instances,  where  the  Jogi  has  clenched  his 
hand,  the  nails  have  grown  fairly  through 
the  hand,  forced  their  way  through  'ho  back, 
and  bun'    nearly  to  the  wrist. 

A  very  common  jjractiee  is  to  sit  com- 
pletely motionless,  iu  wliich  case  the  legs 
become  in  time  totally  incapable  of  movin*', 
so  that  the  man  could  not  change  his  posi- 
tion even  if  he  desired  to  do  so.  In  some 
instances  they  even  go  beyond  this,  and 
manage  to  stand  instead  of  sit,  with  scarcely 
any  support  for  their  l)0(l=es  during  sleep. 
One  of  these  men  is  described  by  Mr. 
Williamson:  "Wiiliin  a  fe-.v  vards  of  the 
river  on  our  left  stood  ()n(!  of  those  horrid 
figures  called  a  t/m/ce,  ov  Indian  saint,  — a 
gentleman  beggar,  who  had  placed  himself 
in  a  certain  attitude,  from  which  he  had 
vo'wed  never  to  swerve  during  the  remain- 
der of  his  life,  but  to  spend  his  life  in  mental 
abs. Taction. 

"He  appeared  on  a  platform  of  carta 
raised  about  eightc^'u  inches  from  'jie 
ground.  At  one  end  of  this  mound  (which 
might  be  seven  I'eet  long  by  jive  broad) 
wore  erected  two  hnmlxxis,  seven  or  eight 
feet  higlj,  and  huffieientlv  apart  for  hira"to 
stand  !)elweeu  them.  "At  elbow  height  a 
broad  board  was  placed  from  one  bamboo  to 
the  other,  and  upon  the  middle  of  this  an- 
other piece  of  plank,  two  feet  long  bv  five 
inches  wide,  was  iixed,  sloping  upward" from 
him.  lie  therefore,  standing'  on  the  plat- 
form, and  resting  his  arms  ui)on  the  cross- 
bar, lu'ld  with  bis  iiauds  on  each  side 
of  tiip  u[n-i^ht  slopinu  ixiard.  He  seemed 
to  press  equally  on  eiJu'r  loot,  leaning  a 
Utile  forward,  with  his  lace  turned  rather 
aside,  and  raised  lowind  the  sun. 

"  Ills  personal  appearanc!  was  squaliil 
and  niiseralile.  Ills  body  was  daubed  all 
over  with  hluenuid;  his'iiair — long,  mat- 
ted, diseoloied  to  a  yellowish  brown  with 
expiiMire— dani,'led  in  uH  directions,  llis 
bciii.l  was  busby  and  black,  and  the  rest  of 
his  face  so  dislijiured  with  iiair,  that  it  misht 
be  toil!  to  be  all  beard. 

'•i\'i  the  slight.  St  motion  in  one  of  his 
rnnli>  nor  In  a  museh  of  his  countenance, 
was  pereeptible.  He  was  altogether  without 
clothmir,  except  a  slip  of  brown  stuff  about 
the  1(11  us,  Uc  wore  the-j>oita,'  or  sacred 
thread,  indicating  tb.ut  he  was  a  Brahmin. 


Night  and  day  it  is  understood,  the  wretched 
sullei^r  (If  indeed  his  state  can  be  called  one 
ot  suffering)  maintains  witliout  any  varia- 
tion this  paralyzing  position." 

Mr.  ]}ennett  then  expresses  some  disbe- 
uet  in  the  constant  immobility  of  the  devo- 
tee, and  evidently  suspects  him  to  be  an 
inipostor,  who,  under  cover  of  night,  leaves 
his  post,  and  refreshes  himself  with  sleep  in 
1  recumbent  j)osi4ion.  This,  however  was 
certainly  not  the  case,  and  indeed  thc'verv 
language  of  the  account  shows  that  it  could 
not  be  so.  A  very  long  period  must  have 
elapsed  before  the  devotee  in  question  could 
have  trained  his  body  to  remain,  as  Mr 
Bennett  admits  was  the  case,  without  the 
movement  of  a  muscle  during  the  whole 
tim  that  his  proceedings  were  watched. 
And,  before  such  a  consummation  could 
have  been  attained,  the  limbs  of  the  man 
must  have  been  so  entirely  stilTened  Ity 
non-usage,  that  they  would  be  as  inllexible 
as  if  they  had  been  cut  out  of  wood  or 
stone,  and  whether  he  stood  or  lay  would 
have  been  a  matter  of  perfect  indifference 
As  to  sitting,  or  assuming  any  attitude;  that 
involved  the  flexion  of  a  limb,  it  would  have 
been  utterly  impossible. 

We  may  see  a  similar  phenomenon,  if  it 
may  be  so  called,  among  ourselves.  There 
is  not  one  man  iu  a  thousand  who  preserves 
the  normal  llcxibility  of  liis  limbs,  unless  he 
be  a  professional  athlete.  Naturally,  the 
limbs  of  every  man  and  woman  are  as  flexi- 
ble as  those  of  the  posture-masters,  who  can 
cross  their  feet  over  the  back  of  their  necks, 
pick  up  a  coin  ,vith  their  mouths  from  the 
ground  between  their  heels,  or  sit  on  the 
ground  with  their  legs  stretched  straight  at 
either  side  of  their  bodies.  But,  unless  men 
preserve  this  flexibility  by  constant  use,  the 
hmbs  become  stiff,  and  it'is  quite  as  difficult, 
not  to  say  impossible,  for  an  ordinary  Eng- 
lishman to  perform  the  feats  of  the  profes- 
sional acrobat,  as  it  is  for  the  Jogi  to  bend 
the  knees  or  ankles  that  have  been  unbent 
for  a  series  of  years. 

Moreover,  the  spectators  wjio  assemble 
round  such  devotees,  and  who  never  leave 
him  unwatclu'd  by  day  or  night,  would  be 
very  ready  to  detect  any  attempt  at  impos- 
ture, and  would  be  excited  by  it  to  such  a 
pitch  of  religious  iury,  that  the  man  would 
be  torn  to  pieces  by  the  excited  crowd. 
And  the  very  fact  that  the  man  was  a 
Brahmin  was  proof  enough  that  he  was  no 
imi)oslor.  By  virtue  of  his  Brabminieal 
rank,  he  was  at  the  summit  of  humanity. 
Had  he  been  a  low-caste  man,  he  might 
with  rea.sou  have  been  suspected  of  impos- 
ture, in  order  to  obtain  respect  from  his 
countrymen.  But,  as  the  man  was  already 
a  Brahmin,  such  imposture  was  totally 
needless,  and  his  devotion,  superstilioUs 
and  fanatical  as  it  might  bo,  Wiis  undoubtedly 
I  sincere. 


i.^- 


CHAPTEE    CLI. 


INDIA—  Concluded. 


THK  INDIANS  WITH  REIiATION  TO  ANIMALS. 


FALCONBT  — THB  MINA  BIRD  AND  ITO  FEATS  —  8NAKK  CHARMERS  —  8C8PJCION  OF  IMPOSTURE —GEN- 
ERAL CAMPBELL'S  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  COBRA  AND  THE  CHARMFB  — DKAfH  OF  THE  MAN  —  DIFFI- 
CULTY OF  THE  TASK— THE  POISON  FANOS  NOT  REMOVED  —  INITIATION  OF  A  NOVICE  —  ELKPIIANT 
HUNTING — CATCHINO  ELEPHANTS  WITH  KOOMKIES  — TAMINO  THE  OAPTUllKD  ANIMAL  — AN  EN- 
THUSIASTIC KOOMKIE  —  nUNTINO  IN  NEPAL  —  JUNO  BAHADUR  AND  THE  ELEPHANTS  — IILNTING 
WITH  TOAINED  STAGS  AND  ANTELOPES  —  THE  CIIBTAHS  OR  HUNTING   LEOPARDS. 


"We  will  end  this  description  of  India  with 
a  few  remarks  on  one  of  the  chief  peculi- 
aritic  of  native  character,  namely,  the  won- 
derful capacity  of  the  Indians  in  taming  and 
training  animals.  This  capacity  df>velop8 
itself  in  various  ways,  some  partaking  of  a 
religious  character,  and  being  considered  as 
in  some  sense  miraculous,  and  some  only 
illustrative  of  the  natural  ascendancy  which 
these  men  exert  over  beasts,  birds,  and 
reptiles. 

The  Indians  are,  for  example,  unsurpassed 
in  their  powers  of  training  falcons,  which 
they  teach  to  attack,  not  only  birds,  but 
antelopes  and  other  game.  These  falcons  are 
of  course  unaldc  of  themselves  to  kill  an  an- 
telope, but  they  will  mark  out  any  one  that 
has  been  designated  by  their  master,  and  will 
swoop  down  upon  its  head,  clinging  firmly 
with  their  talons,  and  bufteting  the  poor  beast 
about  the  eyes  with  their  wings,  so  that  it 
runs  wildly  hither  and  thither,  and  thus 
allows  itself  to  be  captured  by  the  dogs,  from 
which  it  could  have  escaped  had  it  been  able 
to  proceed  in  a  straight  line.  A  thoroughly 
trained  falcon  is  held  in  very  great  esteem, 
and  many  a  petty  war,  in  which  many  lives 
were  lost,  has  been  occasioned  by  the  desire 
of  one  ri^jah  to  possess  a  falcon  owned  by 
another. 

Then  there  is  a  little  bird  called  the  Mina, 
belonging  to  the  Grakles.  It  is  a  pretty  bird, 
about  as  lar"e  as  a  starllns^  with  plnmnge 
of  velvety  black,  except  a  white  patch  on  the 
wing.    From  cither  side  of  the  liead  pro- 


ceeds a  bright  yellow  wattle.  This  bird  cm 
be  taught  to  talk  as  well  as  any  parrot,  and 
it  is  said  that,  as  a  rule,  the  inina's  toiios 
more  closely  resemble  those  of  the  human 
voice  than  do  those  of  any  parrot.  It  is  very 
intelligent  besides,  and  can  be  taught  to 
perform  many  pretty  tricks. 

One  trick,  which  is  very  commonly  taught 
to  the  bird,  is  to  dart  down  upon  the  women, 
snatch  away  the  ornaments  which  tlu  y  wear 
on  their  heads,  and  carry  them  f  o  its  master. 
This  is  a  little  trick  that  is  sonictinics  played 
by  a  young  man  ujion  the  ()l)joct  of  liis  afi'ec- 
tions,  and  is  intended  to  make  her  grant  an 
interview  in  order  to  have  her  properly  re- 
stored. 

As  to  reptiles,  the  cobra  seems  to  be  as 
unlikely  a  creature  to  be  tamed  as  any  on  the 
face  of  the  earth.  Yet  even  this  "terrible 
serpent,  whose  bite  in  nearly  certain  death, 
is  tamed  by  the  Indians,  and  taught  to  go 
through  certain  performances.  For  cxiimiile, 
a  couple  of  serpent  char.v.cvs  will  couu',  with 
their  flat  baskets  and  their  musical  instru- 
ments, and  begin  to  give  a  pertbrmance. 
One  of  them  plays  on  a  rude  native  pipe, 
while  the  other  removes  the  cover  of  one  of 
the  baskets.  Out  comes  the  hooded  head  of 
the  cobra,  which  seems  as  'f  it  were  about 
to  glide  among  the  sijcctwtors,  when  a  gesture 
ana  a  few  notes  from  the  jiiper  chock  its 
progress,  and  it  begins  to^rise  and  fall,  and 
swav  its  head  fVom  side  to  side,  n"  if  in  time 
to  tfio  music.  The  men  will  '  '  take  up 
the  veaomous  reptile,  allow  it      jrawl  ove? 


their  bodies, 
take  all  kinds 
appearing  to 
ci nation,  and 
use  its  fangs. 
Some  porsi 
innocuous,  tl 
extracted.  1 
stances,  but  i 
the  genuine 
there  arc  sov 
the  other,  so 
or  extracted, 
forward. 

That  the  g( 
upon  such  i 
evident  from 
pents  have  b 
and  after  the 
found  to  be 
such  instance 
bell  in  his  "Ii 
viously  been  \ 
fangs  were  ahi 
but  the  follo\ 
him  tiiat  the  < 
tricks  with  si 
feet: — 

"AVhenIwi 
at  Trichiuopo 
garden  whicl 
snakes,  and  it 
morning  I  disc 
tiie  botiom  of 
but  while  I  ra 
native  servantj 
and  drove  hi 
brickwork.  I 
cliarinors  to  < 
worthies  havii 
into  the  well  1 
them,  after  pe 
and  sprinkling 
with  ashes  ji 
sacred  cow,  be<j 
ditty  upon  a  \ 
brass  rings,  am 
on  one  side  of  ( 
furnished  at  oi 
"  At  first  the 
crably  bullied 
hole,  was  deaf  t 
after  half  an  lio 
l)et;an  to  open 
to  move.  In  n 
out  his  head,  t 
terously  sli])peci 
we  hoisted  up  I 
in  triumph. 

"Having  car 
ground,  Ihoy  n 
The  enraged  su 
at  the  by-stand( 
of  native  servi 
witness  the  spo 
mug  him  on  th 
liim  to  turn  u|j 


(141G) 


SERPENT  CHARMING. 


1417 


their  bodies,  tie  it  round  their  necks,  and 
take  all  kinds  of  liberties  with  it,  the  serpent 
appeariiijj  to  labor  under  some  strange  fas- 
cination, and  to  be  unable  or  unwilling  to 
use  its  fan<i;s. 

Some  persons  think  that  the  serpents  are 
Innocuous,  their  poison  ihrigs  having  been 
extracted.  This  may  be  the  case  in  some  in- 
stances, but  In  them  the  performers  are  not 
the  genuine  snake  charmers.  Moreover 
there  are  several  sets  of  langs,  one  behind 
the  other,  so  that  when  one  pair  is  broken 
or  extracted,  another  pair  speedily  comes 
forward.  • 

That  the  genuine  charmers  do  not  depend 
upon  such  imposture  for  their  success  is 
evident  from  many  cases  in  wWch  the  ser- 
pents have  been  carefully  examined  before 
and  after  the  performance,  and  their  fangs 
found  to  be  perfect  in  every  respect.  One 
such  instance  is  narrated  by  General  Camp- 
bell in  his  "Indian  Journal."  He  had  pre- 
viously been  under  the  impression  that  the 
fangs  were  ahvuys  removed  from  the  serpents, 
but  the  following  circumstance  convinced 
him  tiiat  the  charmers  could  perform  their 
tricks  with  snakes  whose  fangs  were  per- 
fect:— 

"  AVhou  I  was  on  General  Dalrymple's  staff 
at  Trichinopoly.  there  was  a  dry  well  in  the  ' 
garden  which  was  the  favorite  haunt  of 
snakes,  and  in  which  I  shot  several.  One 
morning  I  discovered  a  large  cobra-capella  at 
tiie  bottom  of  this  well,  basking  in  the  sun- 
but  while  I  ran  to  fetch  mv  gun  some  of  the 
native  servants  began  to  pelt  him  with  stones, 
and  drove  liim  into  his  hole  among  the 
brickwork.  I  therefore  sent  for  the  snake 
cliarinors  to  get  him  out.  Two  of  these 
worthies  having  arrived,  we  lowered  them 
into  the  well  by  means  of  a  rope.  Om  of 
them,  after  performing  sundry  incantations, 
and  sprinkling  himself  and  his  companion 
with  ashes  i)rei)ared  from  the  dung  of  a 
sacred  cow,  began  to  play  a.shrill,  monotonous 
ditty  upon  a  pipe  ornamented  with  shells, 
brass  rings,  and  beads,  while  the  other  stood 
on  one  side  of  the  snakeV  hole,  holding  a  rod 
furnisiii'd  at  one  cud  with  a  slip-noose. 

"  At  first  the  snake,  who  had  been  consid- 
erably bullied  before  he  took  refuge  in  his 
hole,  was  deaf  to  the  notes  of  the  charmer,  but 
after  half  an  hour's  constant  playing  the  spell 
lje!,'an  to  operate,  and  the  snake  was  heard 
to  move.  In  a  few  minutes  more  he  thrust 
nut  his  he.ad,  the  horse-hair  nooso  was  dex- 
terously si  ijjpod  over  it  and  drawn  tight,  and 
we  hoisted  up  the  men  dangling  thoir  snake 
in  triuinpli. 

"Having  carried  him  to  an  open  space  of 
ground,  Ihey  nli'iised  him  from  the  nooso. 
The  enraged  snake  immediately  made  a  rush 
at  the  by-standers,  putting  to  ifight  a  crowd 
of  native  servants  who  had  assembled  to 
witness  the  sport.  The  snako  charmer,  tap- 
mug  him  on  thu  tail  with  u  switch,  induced 
Iiim  to  turn  upou  liimseif,  uud  at  the  same 


moment  sounding  liis  pipe.  The  snako 
coiled  himself  up,  raised  hia  head,  expanded 
nis  hood,  and  appeared  about  to  strike  but 
instead  of  doing  so,  he  remained  in  the  same' 
position  as  if  lascinated  by  the  music  dart- 
ing out  his  slender  forked  tongue,  and  loUow- 
jP(?  with  his  head  the  motion  of  the  man's 
knee,  which  he  kept  moving  from  side  to 
side  within  a  few  inches  of  him,  as  if  temnt- 
ing  him  to  bite.  * 

"  No  sooner  did  the  music  cease,  than  the 
snake  darted  forward  with  such  fury  that  it 
required  great  agility  on  the  part  of  the  man 
to  avoid  him,  and  immediately  made  off  as 
fast  as  he  could  go.  The  sound  of  the  pipe 
ho\yeyer,  invariably  made  him  stop,  an(i 
obliged  him  to  remain  in  an  upright  position 
as  long  as  the  man  continued  to  plav. 

"  After  repeating  this  experiment  several 
times,  he  placed  a  fowl  within  his  reach 
which  he  instantly  darted  at  and  bit.  The' 
fowl  screamed  out  the  moment  he  was 
struck,  but  ran  off,  and  began  nicking  amou'r 
his  companions  as  if  nothing  had  happenecf 
I  pulled  out  my  watch  to  see  how  long  the 
venom  took  to  operate. 

"  In  about  half  a  minute  the  comb  and 
wattles  of  the  fowl  began  to  change  from  a 
red  to  a  livid  hue,  and  were  soon  nearly 
black,  but  no  other  symptom  was  apparent. 
In  two  minutes  it  began  to  stagger,  was 
seized  with  strong  convulsions,  fell  to  the 
ground,  and  continued  to  struggle  violently 
till  It  expired,  exactly  three  minutes  and  a 
half  after  it  had  been  bitten.  On  plucking 
the  fowl,  we  found  that  he  had  merely  been 
touched  on  the  extreme  point  of  the  pinion. 
The  wound,  not  larger  than  the  puncture  of 
a  needle,  was  surrounded  by  a  livid  spot,  but 
the  remainder  of  the  body,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  comb  and  wattles  (which  were  of 
a  dark  livid  hue),  was  of  Ihc  natural  color, 
and  I  afterward  learned  that  the  coachman, 
a  half-caste,  had  eaten  it. 

"  Tlie  charmer  now  offered  to  show  us  his 
method  of  catching  snakes,  and  seizinT  the 
reptile  (about  five  feet  long)  by  the  point  of 
the  tail  with  his  left  hand,  he  slipped  the 
right  hand  along  the  body  with  the  swiftness 
of  lightning, and  grasping  him  by  the  throat 
with  his  finger  and  thumb,  held  liim  fast, 
and  forced  him  to  open  his  jaws  and  display 
his  poisonous  fangs. 

"  Having  now  gratified  my  curiosity,  I  pro-  • 
posed  th.1t  the  snake  should  be  destroyed,  or 
at  least  that  his  fangs  might  be  extracted,  an 
operation  easily  performed  with  a  pair  of 
forceps.  But,  the  siuakc  being  a  remarkably 
fine  one,  the  charmer  was  unwilling  to  ex- 
tract his  teeth,  as  he  said  the  operation 
someiimes  i>roved  fatal,  and  begged  so  hard 
to  be  allowed  to  keep  him  as  he  was,  that  I 
at  last  suffered  him  to  put  him  in  a  basket 
and  carry  him  off.  After  this  he  frequently 
brought  the  snake  to  the  honsn  to  exhibit 
him,  and  still  with  his  fangs  entire,  as  I  as- 
certained  by  personal   inspection,  but  bo 


1418 


INDIA. 


tame  that  he  hnndled  him  freely,  and  appar- 
ently without  fear  or  danger." 

The  best  proof  that  the  snake's  fangs  were 
not  extracted  is,  that  some  weeks  afterwards 
the  rpptile  bit  the  charmer,  and  killed  hnn. 

It  seems  strange  that  serpents  should  be 
thus  subject  to  man.  It  is  comparatively 
easy  to  tame  a  bird  or  a  beast,  as  hunger  can 
be  employed  in  the  process,  and  really  is 
the  chief  power,  the  creature  learning  to  be 
fond  of  the  person  who  furnishes  it  with 
food.  Or,  in  extreme  cases,  the  power  of  in- 
llicting  pain  is  employed,  so  that  the  animal 
is  ruled  by  fear,  if  not  by  love. 

But,  in  the  case  of  a  rnake,  the  tamer  is 
deprived  of  both  of  these  adjuncts.  As  a 
serpent  only  feeds  at  very  long  intervals,  and 
possesses  an  almost  inexhaustible  power  of 
fasting,  hunger  cannot  be  employed;  audits 
peculiar  constitution  would  render  the  in- 
llietion  of  pain  useless.  The  charmer  has, 
therefore,  to  fall  back  upon  some  other  mode 
of  working  upon  his  pupil,  and  finds  it  in 
music,  to  which  the  cobra  seems  peculiarly 
accessible.  That  it  is  powerfully  influenced 
by  music  was  known  many  centuries  ago,  as 
we  may  see  by  the  references  to  serpent 
charming  in  the  Scriptures.  Any  music 
seems  to  affect  the  creature,  and,  if  it  can  be 
rendered  docile  by  the  harsh  sounds  that 
proceed  from  the  charmer's  flute,  wo  may 
conjecture  that  more  melodious  sounds 
would  have  alike  effect.  Mr.  Williams,  who 
was  very  much  inclined  to  l>i  sceptical  on 
the  subject  of  serpent  charming,  and  thought 
that  the  poison  fangs  were  always  removed, 
mentions  that  a  gentleman  at  Chinsurah, 
who  was  a  very  excellent  violinist,  was 
forced  to  lay  aside  his  instrument  because 
the  sounds  of  the  violin  attracted  so  many 
serpents  to  his  house. 

Serpent  charmin"  is  thought  to  bo  a  semi- 
sacred  calling,  and  is  one  of  tliose  cases 
where  the  process  of  taming  partakes  of  the 
religious  character.  The  charmers  are  reg- 
ularly initiated  into  their  duties,  and  un- 
dergo certain  ceremonies  before  they  are 
thought  to  be  impervious  to  the  serpent's 
teeth.  Sometimes  an  European  has  been 
initiated  into  these  mysteries,  as  happened 
to  Lady  Duff  Gordon,  to  whom  a  snake 
charmer  took  a  fancy,  and  otTered  to  initiate 
her.  lie  and  his  pupil  sat  opposite  each 
other,  and  joined  their  hands.  The  charmer 
then  twisted  a  cobra  round  their  joined 
hands,  and  repeated  some  invocation.  Both 
of  them  afterward  spat  on  the  snake,  and 
the  novice  was  pronounced  to  be  safe,  and 
cnveloned  in  snakes  as  a  proof  of  the  success 
of  the  incantation. 

There  is  perhaps  no  better  instance  of 
the  mastery  of  the  Indians  over  animals 
than  the  manner  in  which  they  catch  and 
insfriict  elephnnts. 

The  reader  will  doubtless  remember  that, 
though  the  elephant  iz  abundant  both  in 


AfHca  and  India,  the  inhabitants  of  the  for. 
mer  country  never  attempt  to  domesticate 
it.  It  has  been  thought  that  the  African 
elephant  is  not  trained,  because  it  is  fiercer 
than  the  Asiatic  species  or  variety,  and  lacks 
the  intelligence  which  distinguishes  that 
animal.  This,  however,  is  not  the  case. 
The  African  elephant  is  as  docile  and  intcl- 
ligent  as  that  of  Asia,  and  quite  as  capable 
ofbeing  trained.  The  elephants  which  were 
used  in  the  time  of  the  ancient  Romans 
were  brought  from  Africa,  and  yet  we  read 
of  the  most  wonderful  feats  which  they 
could  perform.  Moreover,  the  African  ele- 
phants which  have  been  in  the  Zoological 
Gardens  for  some  years  are  quite  as  tract- 
able as  the  Aisiatic  animals.  The  real  cause 
for  the  non-use  of  the  African  elephant  is, 
not  its  incapacity  for  domestication,  but  the 
lack  of  capacity  "in  the  Africans  to  domesti- 
cate it. 

In  almost  all  cases  of  domesticated  ani- 
mals, the  creatures  are  born  in  captivity,  so 
that  they  have  never  been  accustomed  to  a 
wild  life.  The  Indian,  however,  docs  not 
trouble  himself  by  breeding  elephants,  but 
prefers  to  capture  them  when  sufticicntly 
grown  to  suit  his  purposes.  There  are  two 
modes  of  catching  the  elephant,  one  of 
which  is  so  ingenious  that  it  deserves  some 
description,  however  l)ricf  A  common  way 
is  by  making  a  large  enclosure,  called  a 
'•  keddah,"  antl  driving  the  elephants  into  it. 
The  keddah  is  so  made,  that  when  the  ele- 
phants have  fairly  entered  it  they  cannot  get 
out  agfiin,  and  are  kept  there  until  subdued 
by  hunger  and  thirst. 

By  tliis  mode  of  elephant  catching,  the 
animals  are  taken  in  considernble  iiunil)ers, 
and  of  all  sizes.  The  genuine  eleiiliant 
hunter,  however,  cares  little  for  this  inc  thod, 
and  prefers  to  pick  out  for  himself  the  best 
animals,  the  Indians  being  exceedingly  par- 
ticular about  their  elephants,  and  an  elephant 
haviniT  as  many  "  points  "  as  a  prize  pigeon 
or  ramjit. 

In  every  herd  of  elephants  the  males  are 
given  to  fighting  with  each  other  for  the 
possession  of  the  foniales.  and  it  often  haiipens 
that  a  male,  who  for  some  time  has  reigned 
supreme  in  the  herd,  is  beaten  at  last. 
Furious  with  rage  and  disappointment,  lie 
leaves  the  herd,  and  ranges  about  by  him- 
self, destroying  in  his  rage  everything  ^vhich 
opposes  him.  In  this  state  he  is  called  a 
"rogue"  elephant  by  the  English,  and  mun 
by  the  natives.  Now,  furious  and  diinirer- 
ouS  as  is  the  saun,  lie  is  always  a  splcmlid 
animal,  scarcely  inferior  indeed  to  the  mas- 
ter elephant  of  the  lierd.  The  elephant 
hunters,  therefore,  are  always  glad  to  bear 
of  a  saun,  and  take  measures  to  capliire  so 
valuable  a  prize. 

They  possess  several  female  elephants, 
called  "koomkies,"  which  are  used  as  de- 
coys, and,  strangely  enough,  take  the  great- 
est Interest  in  capturing  the  saun.    When 


ELEPHANT  HUNTING. 


1419 


the  hunter  goes  out  on  his  expedition,  he 
takes  \\rith  him  at  least  two  koomkiea,  and 
Bometiines  three,  if  tlie  saun  sliould  happen 
to  bo  a  very  large  one;  and  in  rtll  cases  he 
takes  care  that  the  koomkies  shall  not  be 
much  smaller  than  the  saun. 

The  hunters,  furnished  with  ropes  and  the 
other  apparatus  for  securiug  the  saun,  lie 
flat  on  the  koomkies'  backs,  cover  themselves 
with  a  large  dark  cloth,  and  proceed  toward 
the  place  where  the  saun  was  seen.  Often 
the  koomkies  carry,  in  their  trunks  branches 
of  trees,  which  they  hold  in  such  a  manner 
fts  to*  prevent  their  intended  captive  from 
seeing  that  they  carrjr  anything  on  their 
backs.  The  saun,  seeinjj  them  approach, 
loses  some  of  his  fury,  and  thinks  that  he  is 
in  great  good-fortune  to  meet  with  females 
over  whom  he  can  rule  ris  he  had  done  be- 
fore. He  is  so  delighted  with  this  idea  that 
ho  fails  to  perceive  the  hunters,  who  usually 
slip  ort'  behind  a  tree  as  thev  near, him,  but 
sometimes  boldly  retain  their  post. 

The  koomkies  then  go  up  to  the  saun  and 
begin  to  caress  him,  one  ou  each  side,  and 
sometimes  another  in  front  of  him,  wlien 
three  decoys  are  employed.  They  caress 
him,  make  much  of  him,  and  gradually  bring 
him  near  a  stout  tree,  where  they  detain 
him.  The  hunters  then  creep  under  the 
huge  animal,  and  pass  stout  ropes  round  his 
forelegs,  binding  them  tightly  together,  bein<' 
aided  in  this  by  the  decoys,' who  place  their 
trunks  so  tiiat  their  masters  cannot  be  seen, 
and  soniL'tiinos  even  assist  him  by  passiu" 
the  rope  when  he  cannot  conveniently  reacti 
it.  The  forelegs  being  secured,  the  hunter 
jiiaces  round  the  elephant's  hindlegs  a  pair 
of  strong  fetters.  Tiiese  are  niade  of  wood, 
and  open  with  a  hinge  of  rope.  They  arc 
studded  inside  with  sharp  iron  spikes,  and, 
when  clasped  round  the  feet  of  the  clephantl 
are  fastened  to  the  trunk  of  the  tree  with 
strong  ropes. 

The  elephant  being  now  made  fast,  the 
htmters  creep  away,  and  are  followed  by  the 
koomkies,  who  receive  their  masters  oh  their 
necks,  and  go  olT,  leaving  the  unfortunate 
saun  to  his  fate.  If  he  was  furious  before, 
he  is  tenfold  more  so  when  he  has  to  add 
to  disappointment  Iho  sense  of  confinement, 
and  the  knowledge  that  he  has  been  tricked! 
lie  screams  -vith  rag< ,  tears  branches ofl' the 
tr(^e,  pulls  up  the  grass  by  the  roots  and 
flings  it  about,  and  even  tries  to  break  the 
rope  which  holds  liim  to  the  tree,  or  to  pull 
up  the  tree  itself  by  the  roots.  The  spikes 
with  wliich  the  wooden  fetters  are  lined 
pive  him  such  pain,  that  he  is  soon  forced  to 
desist,  and  vearied  out  with  pain  and  exer- 
tion, he  becomes  more  quiet.  On  the  fol- 
lowing day  the  same  men  and  elopli:>  da 
come  to  him,  and  bring  him  a  little  f  -. 
and  so  they  go  on  until  he  has  learned  tlrt,^ 
to  endure,  and  atterward  to  desire  their  pres- 
ence. When  they  judge  him  to  be  sufficiently 
tamed,  strong  ropes  ui-o  fastened  to  his  legs, 


and  attached  to  the  koomkies,  and,  the  liga- 
tures round  hia  feet  being  removed,  he' is 
marched  oflf  to  his  new  quarters. 

Sometimes  he  resists,  on  finding  his  limbs 
at  liberty.  In  such  a  case  the  koomkies 
drag  him  along  by  the  ropes,  while  a  Uuf  e 
male  pushes  him  on  from  behind,  sometimes 
usin^  his  tusks  by  way  of  spurs.  When  he 
has  been  taken  to  his  abode,  he  is  treated 
with  firm  but  kind  discipline,  and  is  so 
effectually  tamed,  that  in  a  few  montlr, 
after  he  was  ranging  wild  about  the  fores: 
he  may  be  seen  assisting  to  convey  i 
refractory  brother  to  his  new  home. 

The  intelligence  of  the  koomkies  is  realiy 
wonderful,  and  they  take  quite  as  much  in- 
terest in  the  pursuit  as  their  masters.  Cap- 
tain Williams  mentions  an  instance  where 
a  gentleman  had  purchased  a  koomkie,  not 
knowing  her  to  be  such.  The  mahout  or 
driver  would  not  mention  lier  capacity,  be- 
cause he  very  much  preferred  the  ease  and 
comfort  of  a  gentleman's  establishment  to 
the  dangers  and  hardships  of  a  hunter's  life. 
The  wealthy  natives  of  the  neighborhood 
would  not  mention  it,  because  eacli  of  them 
hoped  to  buy  the  animal  for  himself  at  a  less 
price  than  would  be  asked  for  a  koomkie. 

One  day  the  animal  was  missing,  and  did 
not  return  for  several  days.  However,  slie 
came  back,  and  was  harnessed  as  usual  for 
a  walk.  When  she  came  to  a  certain  spot, 
she  became  restive,  and  at  last  dashed  into 
the  jungle,  where  she  brought  her  master  to 
a  fine  saun,  whom  she  had  crippled  by  fas- 
tening a  chain  round  his  ibrelegs. 

In  Nepal  the  natives  adopt  a  very  dan- 
gerous mode  of  elephant  hunting.  They  <ro 
to  the  hunt  on  elephants,  and  furnish  tliein- 
selves  with  very  strong  ropes,  one  end  of 
which  is  made  fast  to  the  body  of  the  ridin" 
elephant,  and  the  other  furnished  with  a 
shp-knot,  to  which  is  attached  a  line,  by 
which  the  noose  can  bo  relaxed.  They  give 
chase  to  the  herd,  and,  selecting  a  suitable 
animal,  the  hunter  dexterously  flings  the 
noose  upon  the  head  of  the  animal  just  be- 
hind its  ears  and  on  its  brows.  The  ele- 
phant instinctively  curls  up  its  trunk,  where- 
upon the  noose  slips  fairly  over  its  head. 

The  hunter  then  checks  the  pace  of  hU 
animal,  so  that  the  noose  is  drawn  tightly 
round  the  neck  of  the  captured  elephant, 
and  causes  a  partial  choking.  His  speed 
being  checked,  another  hunter  comes  up 
and  flings  a  second  noose,  so  that  by  their 
united  force  the  captive  can  be  strangled  if 
necessary.  Sometimes,  when  he  is  very 
furious,  the  hunters  are  obliged  to  render 
him  insensible  over  and  over  again,  before 
he  can  be  induced  to  obey  his  new  masteis. 
The  well-known  Nepaiese  ambassador,  Jung 
Bahadur,  was  celebrated  for  his  skill  and 
daring  in  this  dangerous  sport. 

As  an  example  of  the  perfect  command 
which  the  Indian  mahouts  have  over  their 
animals,    Captain  Williums  mentions    an 


1420 


IKDIA. 


adventure  which  took  place  at  Ohitt*goug. 
Billing  a  stormy  night,  an  elephant  .s;ot 
loose,  and  escaped  into  the  forest.  Four 
years  allorward,  when  a  herd  of  elephants 
was  driven  into  a  keddali,  the  mahout,  who 
had  elimbed  the  palisades  to  view  tlie  en- 
closed animals,  thought  that  he  recogoized 
among  them  his  missin;'  elephant.  His 
comrades  ridiculed  him,  hut  he  persisted 
in  his  idea,  and  called  ilie  animal  by  name. 
Tiie  elephant  recognize  1  the  voice  of  its 
driver,  and  came  toward  him.  The  man  was 
so  overjoyed  at  this,  that,  regardless  of  the 
danger  which  he  ran,  he  climbed  over  the 
palisades,  and  called  to  the  elephant  to 
kneel  down,  Tiie  animal  obeyed  him,  ho 
mounted  on  its  neck,  and  triumphantly  rode 
it  out  of  the  keddah. 

Elephants  arc  sometimes  taken  in  pits,  at 
the  bottom  of  which  are  laid  bundles  of 
grass  in  order  to  break  the  fall  of  the  heavy 
anini.'il.  The  elephants  are  generally  de- 
coyed into  these  pits  by  a  tame  animal  which 
is  guided  close  to  the  pit  by  the  mahout,  who 
has  pl.iced  certain  marks  by  which  he  knows 
its  exact  locality.  Sometimes  they  are 
merely  dug  in  the  paths  of  the  elephants, 
which  fall  into  them  in  their  nightly  ram- 
bles, and  by  tiieir  moanings  inform  the  hun- 
ters of  their  proceedings. 

In  these  pits  they  are  forced  to  remain 
until  they  have  been  tamed  by  hunger,  just 
as  is  the  case  with  those  animals  that  are 
tied  to  the  trees.  AVhen  they  are  sufficiently 
tame,  the  hunter  throws  into  the  pit  succes- 
sive bundles  of  jungle  grass.  These  the 
f-iigacious  animal  arranges  under  his  feet 
in  sucli  a  way  that  he  soon  raises  himself 
sufliciently  high  to  step  upon  the  level 
eartlv,  where  he  is  received  by  the  hunters 
and  his  tame  elephants.  These  "  pitted " 
elephants,  as  they  are  called,  are  not  held  in 
liigii  estimation,  "as  there  is  always  danger 
tliat  they  may  have  suflered  some  injury  by 
the  fall. 

Just  as  tame  elephants  arc  brought  to 
capture  tiie  wild  animals,  so  are  tame  stags 
taught  to  capture  those  of  their  own  species. 
An  account  of  the  sjiort  is  given  in  the 
"  Private  Life  of  an  Eastern  King":  — 

"  I  have  never  heard  of  trained  stags 
being  employed  elswhere  as  I  saw  them 
employed  in  Oude.  .  .  .In  our  rides  in 
tlie  niighborliood  of  the  lake,  near  which 
wo  encamped,  we  lighted  upon  a- fine  open 
country  adjoining  a  forest,  which  would 
answer  admirably  for  the  purpose.  The 
adjoining  wood  was  full  of  the  sm.aller  game 
of  Oude,  or,  if  not  smaller,  at  all  events  the 
more  harmless,  among  which  the  wild  deer 
must  be  clas.«cd  as  one.  Skilful  beaters 
were  sent  off  into  the  forest  to  drive  the 
deer,  as  if  unintentionally,— that  is,  with- 
out violence,  or  making  much  noise,  — 
tow.ard  the  point  of  the  forest  cadjoiuing 
the  open  space  which  I  have  just  mentioned. 
Here,  protected  by  its  watching  guardians, 


the  moat  warlike  and  powerful  of  Its  males, 
the  herd  was  congregated  in  apparent  sut'ety. 

"  Wo  had  about  a  dozen  trained  stags,  all 
males,  with  us.  These,  well  Jicquaintcd 
with  the  object  for  wliich  they  were  sent 
forward,  advanced  at  a  gcaitlo  trot  over  the 
open  ground  toward  the  skirt  of  the  wood. 
They  were  observed  at  once  by  the  watchers 
of  the  herd,  and  the  boldest  of  the  wild  ani- 
mals advanced  to  meet  them.  AVhcther  tlie 
intention  was  to  welcome  them  peaceably, or 
to  do  battle  for  their  pasturage,  I  cannot 
tell,  but  in  n  few  minutes  the  parties  were 
engaged  in  a  furious  contest.  Head  to  head, 
antlers  to  antlers,  the  tame  deer  and  tlie 
wild  fought  with  great  fury.  Each  of  ijio 
tame  animals,  every  one  of  them  large  and 
formidable,  was  closely  contested  with  a 
wild  adversary,  standing  cliiefly  on  the  de- 
fensive, not  in  any  feigned  battle  or  mimicry 
of  war,  but  in  a  hard-fought  combat.  AVe 
now  made  our  appearance  in  the  open 
ground  on  horseback,  advancing  toward  the 
scene  of  conflict.  The  deer  on  the  skirts  of 
tlie  wood,  seeing  us,  took  to  (light,  but  those 
actually  engaged  maintained  their  ground, 
and  continued  the  contest, 

"  In  the  meantime  a  party  of  native  hunts- 
men, sent  for  the  purpose,  gradually  drew 
near  to  the  wild  stags,  getting  in  between 
thein  and  the  forest.  What  their  object 
was  we  were  not  at  the  time  aware;  ind(!ed, 
it  was  not  one  that  we  could  have  approved 
or  encouraged.  They  made  their  way  to  the 
rear  of  the  wild  stags,  which  were  still  com- 
bating too  fiercely  to  mind  them;  they  ap- 
proached the  animals,  and,  with  a  skilful  cut 
of  their  long  knives,  the  poor  warriors  fell 
hamstrung.  We  felt  pity  for  tlie  noble 
animals  as  we  saw  them  fill  heli)lpssly  on 
the  ground,  unable  longer  to  continue  tlie 
contest,  and  pushed  down  by  the  tame 
stags.  Once  down,  they  were  unable  to 
rise  again. 

"  The  tame  ones  were  called  off  in  a  mo- 
ment; not  one  of  them  pursued  his  victory. 
Their  work  was  done;  they  obeyed  the  cull 
of  their  keepers  almost  at  once,  and  were 
led  off  iike  nound.s,  some  of  tlieni  bearing 
evidence  in  their  gored  chests  that  the  con- 
test in  which  they  had  been  engaged  was  no 
sham,  but  a  reality.  As  we  rode  up  we 
saw  them  led  oft',  triumphantly  capering 
over  the  ground  as  if.  proud  of  their  exploits, 
tossing  tlieir  fine  spreading  antlers  about 
joyously,  and  sometimes  looking  as  if  they 
would  enjoy  a  little  more  fighting,  —  this 
time  with  each  other." 

The  antelope  is  sometimes  used  in  a  simi- 
lar maimer.  The  largest  and  most  powerful 
male  antelopes  arc  trained  for  the  purpose, 
and  are  sent  toward  the  herd  with  nooses 
fastened  on  their  horns.  The  wild  ante- 
lopes soon  come  out  to  fight  the  intruders, 
and  are  caught  by  the  nooses. 

Therb   is  aoothcr  sport  of  which  the 


THE  CIIETAHS. 


Indians  arc  very  fond,  namely,  the  chnso  of 
the  deer  by  means  of  the  ohetah,  or  hunting 
leopard.  This  animal  is  by  no  means  the 
same  species  as  tJie  common  leopard,  from 
which  It  ia  easily  diatiiiKuished  by  its  much 
larger  legs,  its  ooinnaratively  bushy  tail,  and 
a  crest  or  ridge  of  hair  along  the  neck.  It 
IS  not  so  much  of  a  tree-climber  as  the  com- 
mon leopard,  and  though  it  can  ascend  a 
tree,  very  seldom  does  so.  Whether  the 
common  leopard  could  be  trained  to  catch 
doer  18  rather  doubtful.  The  experiment 
has  not  been  tried,  probably  owing  to  the 
Jact  that  the  chetah  perforins  its  part  so 
well  that  there  ia  no  object  in  trying  an- 
ollier  animal. 

Chet.'vhs  are  very  docile  creatures,  and, 
when  tame,  seem  to  be  as  fond  of  notice  as 
cats.  This  I  can  personally  testify,  haviuf 
been  in  the  same  cage  with  the  animals  at 
the  Zoological  Gardens,  and  found  them 
very  compaiiiouable,  oven  allowing  me 
tliou^h  alter  some  protest  in  tlio  way  of 
gro\yIing  and  spitting,  to  take  their  paws  in 
iiy  hand,  and  push  out  the  talons. 

rhoso  wliich  are  used  for  the  sport  are  led 
about  by  their  attendants,  merely  havin<T  a 
cord  round  their  necks,  and  are  so  gentle 
that  no  one  is  afraid  to  bo  near  them.  Lest, 
Iiowever,  they  might  be  irritated,  and  in  a 
moment  of  passion  do  mischief,  they  wear 
on  their  heads  a  sort  of  hood,  shaped  some- 
thing like  the  beaver  of  an  ancient  helmet. 
I  his  liood  IS  generally  worn  on  the  back  of 
the  lie.id,  but  if  the  keeper  should  think  that 
Ins  charge  is  likely  to  be  mischievous,  he  has 
only  to  slip  the  hood  over  the  eyes,  and  the 
animal  is  at  once  rendered  harmless. 

When  the  hunters  go  out  in  searcli  of  deer 
tlie  chetahs  are  taken  on  little  llat-topped 
carts,  not  unlike  tlie  costermongers'  barrows 
of  our  streets.  Eacii  chetah  is  accompanied 
I)y  Its  keeper,  and  is  kejit  hooded  during  the 
jmirncy.  When  they  have  arrived  wTthin 
f igat  of  deer,  the  keeper  unhoods  the  anim.al 
iiiul  points  out  the  prey.  The  chetali  in- 
stantly slips  oir  the  cart,  and  makes  its  way 
toward  the  deer,  gliding  along  on  its  belly 
like  a  serpent,  ,ind  availing  itself  of  every 
bush  and  stone  by  which  it   can  bide  its 


1491 


advance.  ^;hen  it  can  crawl  no  closer  it 
marks  out  one  deer,  and  springs  toward  it'in 
a  series  of  mighty  bounds,  fhe  horsemen 
tlien  put  their  steeds  to  the  gallop  and  a 
most  exciting  scene  ensues. 

The  chase  is  never  a  very  long  one  for 
the  chetah,  though  of  wonderful  swiftness  for 
.1  short  distance,  does  not  possess  the  con- 
formation needful  for  a  long  chase.  Some- 
times a  chetah  of  peculiar  excellence  will 
continue  the  chase  tor  some  little  timr-,  but 
as  a  rule,  a  dozen  mighty  bounds  bring  tiie  an- 
imal to  its  prey.  We  all  know  the  nature  of 
the  cat  tribe,  and  their  great  dislike  to  be  in- 
terrupted while  their  prey  is  in  their  grasp 
ii-ven  a  common  cat  has  a  strong  objection 
to  be  touched  while  she  has  a  mouse  in  lier 
mouth,  and  we  may  therefore  wonder  how 
the  keepers  contrive  to  make  the  chetah  re- 
linquish its  prey.  This  is  done  either  bv 
cutting  off  part  of  the  leg  and  givin<'  it  to 
the  chetah,  or  filling  a  ladle  with  its"  blood 
and  allowing  the  leopard  to  lap  it.  The  hood 
is  then  slipped  over  the  eyes,  and  the  chetah 
allows  Itself  to  be  replaced  in  its  cart. 

Sometimes  it  is  necessary  to  leave  the  cart 
and  lead  the  animal  by  its  chain  toward  the' 
place  where  the  animals  are  known  to  be 
This  is  always  a  difflcuU  business,  because 
the  animal  becomes  so  excited  that  the  least 
noise,  or  the  scent  left  by  apassin<^  deer  will 
cause  it  to  raise  its  head  aloft,and  slare  round 
tor  the  deer.  In  a  few  moments  it  would 
become  unmanageable,  and  dash  away  from 
Its  keeper,  were  not  he  jirepared  for  such  an 
event.  He  carries  with  him  a  kind  of  ladle 
made  ot  a  hollowed  cocoa-nut  shell  at  the' 
end  of  a  handle.  This  is  sprinkled  on  the 
mside  witli  salt,  and  as  soon  as  the  man  per- 
ceives a  change  of  demeaaor  on  the  part  of 
his  cjiargc,  he  puts  the  ladle  over  the  muzzle 
of  the  chetJih.  The  animal  licks  the  salt 
torgetstho  cause  of  excitement,  and  walks 
on  quietly  as  before. 

Some  of  the  great  men  in  India  take  con- 
siderable pride  in  their  chetahs,  and  have 
them  paraded  daily,  covered  with  m.intles 
of  Bilk  heavily  embroidered  with  ("old 
and  wearing  hoods  of  simUarly  rich  mate- 
rials. 


CHAPTER    CLH. 


TARTAEY. 

THE  MANTCnXT  TAKTAHS. 

BIUTnAL  nfFLTJUNCE  OP  THE  TARTAK8  ANB  CHINESE  UPON  BACH  OTHER  — A  CHINESE  BATTLE  — DASH 
AND  COURAOE  OK  TARTAR  HORSEMEN  -  TARTAR  GUNNERS  — "  OATCHINO  A  TARTAR"  -  THE  HOW, 
AND  MODE  OF  STRINGINQ  IT  —  SYSTEMATIC  TRAININO  OF  THE  .UJCHER- THE  TARTAR  ARROW - 
ATHLETIC  EXERCISES- BLOODLESS  CONQUEST  OF  THE  TARTARS  BY  THE  CHINESE. 


"We  now  proccwl  to  the  more  civilized  por- 
tions of  the  vast  Mongolian  race,  namely 
the  Tartars,  the  Chinese,  and  the  Japanese. 
It  will  of  course  be  impossible  to  give  even 
the  briefest  account  of  the  numerous  nations 
which  have  been  called  Tartars,  and  we  will 
therefore  confine  ourselves  to  the  Mantchu 
Tartars,  who  have  exercised  so  remarkable 
an  inliuence  on  the  empire  of  China. 

It  has  been  well  said,  that  when  a  strong 
pcoi)lo  invade  and  conquer  the  territory  of 
a  weaker,  their  conquest  has  a  double  eflect. 
The  victors  impose  certain  habits  and  modes 
of  life  upon  the  vanquislied,  and,  in  so  doing, 
generally  strengthen  them  in  tho>  points 
where  they  are  weak.  But,  in  return,  the 
vanquished  exert  an  influence  upon  their  con- 
querors which  has  precisely  the  opposite 
effect,  and  tends  to  diminish  rather  th.an  to 
increase  their  strength.  So  it  has  been  with 
the  Tartars  and  the  Chinese,  whose  liistory 
during  the  last  few  centuries  has  been  most 
instructive  to  the  ethnologist,  — I  should 
rather  sav,  to  the  anthropologist. 

Just  as  in  one  family  we  invariably  find 
that  there  are  members  of  very  dillerent 
powers,  and  that  the  possessor  of  the  stronger 
intellect  invariably  obtains  dominion  over 
the  others,  so  it  has  been  with  the  two  great 
divisions  of  the  Asiatic  Mongols.  The  Tartar 
is  in  many  points  superior  to  the  Chinese, 
and, as  a  rule,  is  easily  distinguished  even  h\ 
his  appearance.  He  possesses  more  decided 
features,  is  more  alert  in  his  movements, 
and  -certainly  possesses  more  courage.  The 
Chinese  will  light  wonderfully  well  behind 
-walls,  or  uu  board  ship,  and  even  in  the  iiclu 
display  great  courage  of  a  quiet  nature  if  they 


are  led  by  European  officers.  But,  when 
left  to  themselves,  they  are  not  good  soklicra 
in  the  field,  unless  opposed  to  euemius  nuich 
inferior.  Mr.  Scarth,  who  had  the  oppor- 
tunity of  witnessing  a  battle,  describes  it  as 
an  alJsolute  farce. 

"One  day,  when  "a  great  many  soldiers 
were  out,  I  saw  more  of  the  contest  tlinn  was 
pleasant.  Having  got  into  the  line  of  fire, 
1  was  forced  to  take  shelter  behind  a  grave, 
the  bullets  striking  the  grave  from  each  side 
cvcrv  second.  Whv  they  came  my  wny  it 
was  "difficult  to  discover,  for  they  ought  to 
have  passed  on  the  other  side  of  a  creek, 
about  twenty  yards  distant,  to  the  people 
they  were  intended  for;  but  to  see  the 
doclging  of  the  soldiers,  then  of  the  rebels, 
each  trying  to  evade  the  other,  was  almost 
amusing.  ,  ,     ,  , 

"One  fellow,  ready  primed  and  loaded. 
would  rush  up  the  side  of  a  grave-hillock, 
drop  his  matclilock  over  the  top,  and,  -with- 
out taking  aim,  blaze  away.  There  is  no 
ramrod  required  for  the  .shot  (hey  use;  the 
bullet,  or  bar  of  iron,  is  merely  dropped  ii- 
loose  upon  the  powder. 
-  "  There  was  a  fine  scene  on  an  occasion 
when  the  Shanghai  rebels  made  a  sortie. 
One  of  tlie  men  was  cut  off  by  an  mipcrwl 
skirmisher,  who  had  his  piece  loaded.  Ihc 
rebel  had  no  time  to  charge  his;  so  he  ran 
round  and  round  a  grave,  which  was  luf,'!' 
enough  to  keep  his  enemy  from  shooting 
him  when  on  the  opposite  side.  Hare  niinl- 
ing  was  nothing  to  it.  Red-cup  desenbccl 
hosts  of  circles,  and  the  royalist  was  fast 
getting  blown,  when  the.  gods  took  pity  on 
his  wind,  for,  by  some  unlucky  chance,  the 


(1422) 


rebel  trippec 

him  in  a  mo 

prize,  nut  tli< 

to  Rea-cap's 

heels  as  fast  i 

say  who   wai 

Red  cap  did 

that  dropped 

fell  out  as  c 

pressed.     Tl 

singeing  of  h 

The  Tarta 

men  in  batt 

during  our   ' 

they  wore  coi 

of  war,  and 

that  were  me 

arms  to   wlii 

showed  them 

antagonists. 

played  an  ami 

would  make  t 

they  be  traine 

bolclly  charge 

of  Armstrong 

burst    among 

rision,  thoy  c 

manner. 

Indeed,  a  B 
to  them,  said 
airy  Avouhl  ha 
a  (ire,  deHver( 
guns.  Of  coil 
superior  disci 
vailed  against 
Proliyn'and  ] 
disciplined  rar 
and  command 
led  tlie  Sikh  ci 
of  (he  fight  m 
They  serve- 
courage,  and  i 
to  pieces  by  tin 
leave  tliein. 
times  bo  seer 
after  iiis  comr; 
expected  the  f 
it  therefore  h; 
(hat  war  by  f; 
Tartars.  Thej 
(he  Chinese;,  ai 
steeds  are  lian 
isting  on  very 
culiarities  is  "th 
the  sword.  Ii; 
waist,  and  lelti 
Bide,  they  jiasi 
where  it  is  heh 
log.  They  thu 
of  the  EuVoper 
free  from  (he  d 
the  waist  of  th( 
Of  the  coura 
under  adverse 
stance  is  given 
of  the  charges 
tar  cavalry,  iu  e 


"CATCHING  A  TARTAR." 


rebel  tripped  and  fell.  Tho  soldier  was  at 
him  in  a  moment,  and,  to  make  sure  of  IUm 
prize,  mit  tlii;  muzzle  of  \m  mntchlock  close 
to  Red-eap  s  head,  fired,  and  took  to  his 
heels  as  fast  as  he  could  go.  It  is  difficult  to 
say  who  was  mos(  astonished,  when  Mr 
Redcap  did  exactly  tho  same!  Tho  bullet 
that  dropped  down  readily  on  tho  powder 
tell  out  as  easily  when  the  barrel  was  de- 
pressed. The  rebel  got  off  with  a  uood 
sin^einrr  of  his  long  hair."  " 

The  Tartars,  however,  are  very  different 
men  lu  battle,  as  was  frequently  proved 
during  our  wars  In  China;  and  though 
they  wore  comparatively  ignor.ant  of  the  art 
of  war,  and  were  furnished  with  weapons 
that  were  niere  toys  in  e()mi)arison  with  the 
arms  to  wliich  they  were  opposed,  they 
showed  themselves  to  be  really  formidable 
antagonists.  As  irregular  cavalry,  they  dis- 
played an  amount  of  dash  and  courage  which 
would  make  them  most  valuable  allies,  could 
they  be  trained  l,y  lOuropean  officers.  They 
boldly  charged  in  the  face  of  field-batteries 
of  Armstrong  guns,  and,  though  tho  shells 
burst  among  them  with  murderous  pre- 
cision, they  came  on  in  tho  most  gallant 
manner.  ° 

Indeed,  a  British  officer,  who  was  opposed 
to  them,  said  that  scarcely  any  regular  cav- 
alry would  have  advanced"in  the  face  of  such 
a  (ire,  delivered  from  fifteen  breech-loadin" 
guns.  Of  course,  when  they  did  close,  the 
superior  (lis<ii)line  of  their  opponents  prc- 
yaded  against  diem,  and  the  Sikh  cavalry  of 
Troliyn  and  Fane  at  once  routed  their  un- 
disciplined ranks.  But,  had  they  been  drilled 
and  commanded  by  such  men  as  those  who 
led  the  Sikh  cavalry  against  them,  the  issue 
of  the  light  might  have  been  very  different. 
They  served  their  guns  with  dauntless 
courage,  and  allowed  themselves  to  be  cut 
to  pieces  by  the  Armstrong  shell  rather  than 
leave  tlicin.     A  single  man  would  some- 


1438 


times  bo  seen  working  a  gun  by  himself 
after  his  comrades  had  been  killed,  and  be 
expected  the  same  fate  every  moment;  and 
it  therefore  hapjjcned,  that  of  the  slain  in 
that  war  by  far  the  greatest  number  were 
Tartars.  They  are  better  horsemen  than 
the  Chiues(!,  and  both  themselves  and  their 
steeds  are  hardy,  active,  and  capable  of  ex- 
isting on  very  little  food.  One  of  their  pc- 
ouliarities  is  the  method  in  which  they  carry 
the  sword.  Instead  of  hanging  it  'to  the 
waist,  and  letting  it  bang  .against  the  horse's 
Bide,  they  jiass  it  under  the  saddle-flap 
where  it  is  held  liglit  by  the  pressure  of  the 
log.  They  thus  .avoid  the  jingle  and  swinf 
of  the  European  s.abro,  .and  moreover  are 
free  from  the  drag  of  a  heavy  weapon  upon 
tho  waist  of  tho  rider. 

Of  the  courage  displayed  by  the  Tartars 
under  .adverse  circumstances,  a  curious  in- 
stance is  given  by  Mr.  M'Ghee.  After  r  ae 
of  the  eliaiij'es  of  Pnibyn's  horse,  the  Tar- 
tar cavalry,  iu  spite  of  their  skill  in  cvadio" 


tho  thrust  of  a  lanco  or  tho  stroke  of  a 
Hword,  had  suffered  severe  loss,  and  many 
were  stretch..d  on  the  groim'd.  Amo  g 
hem  was  tho  body  of  a  very  i)owerful  man, 
who  had  carried  a  handsome  fance.  As  Mr 
M  Ghee  found  himself  without  arms  in  li 
rather  danprous  position,  he  thougfit  ho 
would  arm  himself  with  tho  lance,  and  be.'au 
to  dismount.  " 

As  he  took  his  foot  from  the  stirrup  tho 
supposed  dead  man  sprang  to  his  feet,  lanco 
in  hand,  and  showed  fight.  An  offlcJr  just 
then  rode  to  tho  rescue  with  his  revolver 
and  shot  tho  Tartar  in  the  b.ack.  The  nrii 
jell,  but  rose  again,  charged  the  officer  with 
his  lance,  unhorsed  him,  and  made  off,  but 
was  killed  by  a  lanco  thrust  from  a  Sikh 
horseman.  The  fact  was,  bis  horse  had  been 
killed  in  battle  and  he  meant  to  feign  death 
until  he  could  find  an  opportunity  of  slin- 
ping  away.  Even  tho  wounded  men,  know- 
ing nothing  of  the  amenities  of  civilized 
war  and  expecfing  no  quarter,  used  to  fire 
at  the  enemy  when  they  lay  writhincr  with 
pain  on  the  ground.  °      ^ 

These  Tartar  soldiers  are  commanded  by 
a  general  belonging  to  their  own  people,  aii 
his  immwhatc  subordinate  is  al  nost  inva- 
riably .a  T.artar  also.  The  office  of  Tartar 
general  IS  one  of  great  importance,  because, 
ff  iJ  ti  '"''f!:°!'u'^  always  of  a  Tartar  family 
It  IS  thought  that  tho  safety  of  his  person 
and  dyn.asty  ought  to  bo  confided  not  to  a 
Chinese,  but  to  a  Tartar.  The  lieutenant- 
general,  who  serves  under  him,  though  his 
post  is  perhaps  the  least  lucrative  in  tho 
nZV^'^1  I'O'isehold  is  glad  to  hold  the  ap- 
pointment,  because  he  s  usually  selected  to 
succeed  to  the  generalship.        ^  ^^^CLttU  to 

The  chief  weapons  of  these  soldiers  are 
the  bow  and  the  spear,  the  sword  and  flre- 

mrt'  ^lT^%  '^  ^TP^'■•'*"''•-''J'  subordinate 
tak,.  J\T^  good  riders,  they  naturally 
t.ake  to  the  spear,  the  true  weapon  of  a 
horseman,  and  are  drilled  in  thu  various 
modes  of  delivering  a  thrust,  and  of  avoid! 

v^h^'n^  r  -'/""T  ^''''''  ''«'"?  performed 
with  a  dexterity  almost  equalling  that  of  a 
Camanchee  Indian.  Although  they  carry 
tire-arms  with  them,  they  really  place  little 
de  eudoncc  on  the  heavy,  clunisy  weapons 
which  they  use,  that  require  two  men  to 
ire  them,  and  generally  knock  down  the 
n  ?M  I  the  recoil.  Nor  do  they  care  very 
much  tor  the  improved  fire-arms  of  Eu- 
ropeans, for,  as  one  warrior  said,  guns  get 
o"^of  order,  spears  and  swords  do  not. 

Ihe  bow  of  the  Tartar  (which  has  spread 
throughout  all  China)  is  much  on  the  prin- 
ciple of  the  reversed  bows  which  have  al- 
ready been  described,  though  the  curve  is 
not  so  continuous.  The  bow  is  nearly 
straight  for  the  greater  part  of  its  length 
and  then  takes  an  abrupt  curve  within  a  foot 
or  Ro  of  each  end.  One  of  these  bo«-s,  in 
my  collection,  is  nearly  six  feet  in  len<»th 
and  measures  two  inches  in  width.    About 


un 


TARTAR  Y. 


Bovon  inches  from  each  oncl,  r  l)roml  piece 
of  1)0110  lu'nrly  nn  inch  in  lt\nj;th  is  llxcd  to 
ti»o  bow,  so  that  thu  string  passes  over  it, 
and  does  not  slriite  against  the  wood. 

Th(!  strength  of  tlicso  bows  is  enormous, 
varying,  according  to  onr  mode  of  reckon- 
ing, from  sixty  to  ninety  pounds.  Tlie 
weapon  is  strung  in  manner  somewliat  re- 
somhling  tliat  whicli  lias  already  been  de- 
scribud  in  connection  with  Indian  bows. 
It  must  be  done  in  a  moment,  or  not  at  all, 
and  the  only  method  of  doing  so  is,  by  plac- 
ing it  behind  the  right  thigh  and  in  front  of 
the  left,  and  then  bending  it  with  a  sudden 
Btoon  of  the  body,  at  the  same  time  slipping 
the  loop  of  the  string  into  its  notch.  My 
own  weapon  is  so  |)owerftil  that  I  can 
scarcely  make  any  impression  upon  it, 
though  I  have  used  my  best  efforts. 

The  soldiers  undergo  a  vast  amount  of 
pr.actieo  in  the  use  of  this  weapon,  of  which 
they  are  as  proud  as  were  the  English  arch- 
ers of  tlieir  long-bow  and  cloth-yard  arrow. 
They  have  a  saying,  that  the  tlrst  and  most 
important  duty  of  a  soldier  is  to  be  a  good 
archer,  and  that  a  man  ought  even  to  sleep 
with  a  bow  in  his  hands.  In  order  to  in- 
struct them  in  the  proper  attitude  of  an 
archer,  they  have  invented  a  simple  piece  of 
machinery,  liy  means  of  wliich  the  soldier 
undergoos  a  vast  amount  of  "  position  drill," 
80  that  he  may  learn  to  keep  his  body 
straight  and  firm,  his  shoidders  immovable, 
and  his  hands  in  the  right  position. 

From  !i  beam  or  branch  arc  suspended  two 
rings,  wliich  can  be  moved  up  and  down,  to 
suit  the  height  of  the  learner.  The  young 
archer  jilai^es  his  hands  in  the  rings  as  far  as 
the  wrists,  and  then  goes  through  the  vari- 
ous movements  of  tlio  weapon.  'WIk'h  he 
can  satisf^v  his  iiistruelor,  a  bow  is  jjlacod 
in  his  haiids,  and  ho  then  ^n-actises  the  art 
of  drawing  tlie  string  to  its  proper  ten- 
sion. Lastly,  he  has  an  arrow  besides,  and 
shoots  it  repeatedly.  The  head  of  the 
arrow  is  blunted,  and  t'.ic  target  is  a  piece 
of  stout  leather,  hung  loosely  at  a  little 
distance,  so  that  it  partially  yields  to  the 
arrow,  and  .allows  the  missile  to  fall  to  tne 
ground. 

The  arrow  corresponds  to  the  bow.  One 
of  these  missiles  in  my  collection  is  three 
feet  three  inches  in  length.  It  is  made  of 
some  light  wood,  and  is  terminated  by  a  flat, 
spear-siiap.;d  head,  two  inches  long  and  one 
inch  wide.  The  other  end  of  the  arrow  is 
expanded,  so  as  to  allow  a  large  "  nock  "  for 
the  reception  of  the  thick  string,  and  is 
bound  with  fish-skin  as  far  as  the  feathers, 
which  are  exactly  a  foot  in  length.  The 
shaft  is  extremely  alight  in  comparison  with 
the  length  of  the  arrow. 

These  men  train  their  muscular  powers  to 
a  great  extent,  and  have  several  exercises 
for  this  purpose.  One  of  them  is  called 
Suay-taiJ,  or  tlirowing  the  woight.  They 
have  a  nearly  square  stone,  weighing  rather 


more  than  fifty  pounds,  and  havin>j  a  handle 
in  a  hollow  cut  in  its  upper  surtace. 

The  men  mark  out  a  simare  on  tho 
ground,  and  the  players  stand  at  some  dis- 
tance apart.  One  of  them  takes  the  stone, 
swings  It  once  or  twice,  and  hurls  it  in  tlio 
air  toward  the  next  player.  It  is  thrown 
with  such  skill  that  the  hollow  always  comes 
uppermost,  and  the  stone  desceiidH"  into  the 
hand  with  a  shock  that  makes  the  man  sjiin 
round  on  his  heels.  The  same  movement, 
however,  is  utilized  to  give  force  to  the 
stone;  and  so  the  players  pass  this  heavy 
weight  from  one  to  tlu;  other  with  "appan-nt 
ease,  and  with  the  ngulnrity  of  a  macliiiic. 
A  similar  exerelEo  is  conducted  with  a 
heavy  sand-bag. 

It  may  easily  be  imagined  liow  such  men 
would  vanmiish  in  battle  the  coinpiuatively 
sluggish  Cliinese,  anil  how  they  would  im- 
pose upon  them  many  of  their  manners  and 
customs.  Ihit,  though  they  succeeded  in 
their  coiupicst,  though  they  changed  tho 
dress  of  the  Chinese,  though  they  placed  a 
Tartar  mon.arch  on  the  throne,  and  though 
they  have  been  the  chief  military  I'.owor  in 
China,  they  have  themselves  sutlered  a  far 
severer,  though  slower,  coiupiest  at  tho 
hands  of  the  vanquisliod. 

Tho  Chinese,  being  essentially  a  contem- 
plative and  intellectual  nation,  cnic,  very 
little  for  military  ability,  so  that  tlii^  lowest 
civil  mandarin  feels  a  thorough  contempt 
for  tho  highest  military  mandnrin,  lieciuiso 
the  active  life  of  the  latter  jireeliides  liiin 
from  following  up  those  jiecnlinr  studies 
wliich  can  raise  a  Chhiesc-  fnnn  the  state  of 
a  peasant  to  that  of  tlie  highest  in  the  land. 
Especially  do  tho  (Cliinese  des]iis(^  their  in- 
tellectual cajiacities,  though  they  may  appre- 
ciate and  utilize!  their  bodily  Hti'eii!i;th  and 
military  prowess.  "Tin'  Tartars,"  said  a 
Chinese  shopkeeiier,  '•  are  cows." 

Tho  extraordinary  reaction  of  tho  van- 
qui:  l.vd  upon  their  conquerors  is  admirably 
put  by  Mr,  Fleming,  in  Iiis  "  Travels  on 
Horseback  in  Mantciiu  Tartary." 

"  liy  dint  of  their  extraordinary  industry, 
thrifty  habits,  uii  unceasing  desire  to  accu- 
mulate wealth  by  any  amount  of  ])lod(ling, 
cunning,  or  hardship,  .the  Chinaman  has 
wormed  himself  beyond  the  Great  Wall, 
built  towns  and  villages,  cultivated  every 
rood  of  land,  and  is  at  once  the  thrnier  and 
the  trader  everywhere.  He  claims  the  best 
part  of  Mantchuiia  as  his  own,  and  dares 
even  to  scandalize  the  Tartar  rac(>  in  tlieir 
own  capital,  though  it  is  barelv  two  centu- 
ries since  that  race  filed  in  long  cavalry 
troops  through  those  gates  at  Sliiui-kis- 
Kwan,  and  were  introduced  by  an  indiscre(!t 
Chinese  general  to  the  vast  empire  which 
they  soon  conquered  and  .sternly  governed. 

"Now  tho  Chinese  sei'in  the  coiK|nerors, 
for  they  liavc  not  only  ol)tained  ])ossession 
of  the  Land,  and  cnnverlcd  it  into  a  region 
thoroughly  Chinese,  but  they  have  imposed 


A  IJLOODLESS  CONQUEST. 


l425 


thnir  lani,'U!»<;(i,  their  haldts  nnd  cuntoms, 
aiK  ovoiy  trait  bcioiifrinjj  to  tiidin,  on  tlioso 
ot  th(!  onj^MtKil  occii|»:uitH  wlio  cliooso  to  mix 
with  thiiiu,  (111(1  ousUid  out  ovcry  ^riiu  old 
baiiiusr-iimii  who  wmihl  not  condchcciid  to 
Bhopkoopiiij,',  or  hmidliiig  tho  simdo  or 
plouL'h.  ' 

"  Thuro  i.s  not  tlio  most  trilling  Mantchu 
word  to  (IuHii,Miiitu  town,  hamlet,  mountain, 
or  river,  in  use  anioii«  Hm  jk-oiiIo  riowadnvH, 
and  anything  thiit  nii^'ht  at  nil  tell  of  t1io 
character  and  power  of  (ho  original  proiiri- 
ctorH  IS  entirely  elfaeed.  If  tho  ManteiiU8 
olJtaiiKMl  poMsession  of  the  Dragon  Throne 
at  l  ekin,  partly  hy  fono  of  arms  in  military 
prowess,  and  partly  l,y  perlldy,  aided  by 
rebellions  anions  (ho  Chinese  themselves; 
if  they  compelled  the  hundreds  of  millions 
over  whom  they  found  cause  to  rule  to  alter 
tlieir  dross,  wear  tails,  and  perhaps  Hiuoko 


tol)acco,-thopooplothii«  subjugated  have 
made  amnio  retaliation  by  wiping  out  every 
trace  of  their  inviulors  in  their  own  eountrv 
and  leaving  tho  existence  of  tim  usurpers  all 
but  traditionary  in  the  metropolis  where 
two  hundred  years  ago,  they  held  their 
court,  and  where  ono  of  their  kings  boldly 
yowoil  vengeance  for  seven  great  grievances 
that  ho  imagined  had  been  brouL'ht  ou 
him  by  tlio  Cliineso  Emperor. 

"Nothing  prevents  tho  invasion  of  tho 
Corea  by  these  wonderful  Chinese  but  tho 
high  palisade  that  keeps  them  within  tho 
limits  of  Mantchuria,  For,  if  onoe  they  irot 
a  footing  in  that  country,  tho  Coreans 
would  suffer  tho  samo  (ate  as  the  Mant- 
ehus,  and  there  is  no  telling  when  these 
sons  of  Ilain  would  stoj)  in  their  bloodless 
aggrandizemeut  and  territorial  acouisitivo- 
ness."  ' 


<I»i<h<')« 


REPEATING  CROSSBOW.     (From  my  Collectiop.) 
(Scopngo  1431.) 


CHAPTER  CLin. 


CHINA. 

APPK  AHANCE  —  DUKSS  —  FOOD. 

ArPBAHANCKOr  TIIR  cmJfESE -MODB  OF  PI-AITINO  TITK  "  TAIl" -TnK  CTIINMK  I.AI.nKn-Tnn 
nKFlHF.  IIA.U  ANI.  IT«  UaF.* -Cr.nBMON.OU*  r,MVI,OYMKNT  OF  TI.K  TAIt,  -  MIMMNU  THK  IIAIH 
OK  nlK  WOMEN -MUTUAL  A88ISTANCK  -  POWLBR  FOU  THE  SKIN,  ANII  MODF.  OF  Airi.YIN.l  IT- 
HMMI  'mltr  OF  TUB  rl.INBHE  WOMEN -OUUIIN  AND  DATE  OF  THE  CUBTOM  OF  fOMVUEHSlNO 
TlIK  FEKT-l.I.ESS  OF  THE  WOMEN  -  imESH  OF  THE  MEN-TIIK  "  nUTTON  "  OF  RANK  -  SYSTEM 
OF  FXAM1NATION-1N0F.NI0U8  MODES  OF  EVASION -EXtEPTION  IN  FAVOIl  OK  OU.  AdE-TIlK 
FAN  AND  ITH  VAUIOUS  USES- CIIINKKE  LANTBRSi-TIIB  "  BTAI.KINn-lIORHE  LANTERN  "- FEAST 
OF  1,VNTEUN«-T1IE  ORF.AT  DIlAdON  -OlIOl'HTICKi,  AND  THE  MODE  OF  UHINO  TUEM-TIIE 
CASE  OF  .  IlorHTllK^-FOOD  OF  THE  CIIINKHE -UVUIO  CBAM  -  nUU>9'-NE8T  SOUI'-TBA,  AND 
MODE  OF    I'REI'ARATION. 


We  now  come  to  China,  a  country  of  such 
extent,  so  tliicklv  populatiMl,  ami  c-ontaininp 
BO  in;inv  mattiTS  of  interest,  that  justice 
could  nut  be  fully  dono  if  an  entire  volume 
were  (liivotiul  to  it.  We  will  therefore  re- 
strict ourselves  to  a  selection  of  those  par- 
ticulars in  which  the  Chineso  appear  to 
olVer  the  trreatest  contrast  to  Europeans. 

Th('  appearance  of  the  Chinese  pi)ssess 
mnuvof  the  characteristics  of  the  Tartar, 
both"  nations  beiiif,'  dilVerent  branches  of  the 
same  sreat  familv.  The  Chinese,  however, 
are.  as  a  rule,  of  a  less  dctorminert  and 
manly  cast  than  the  Tartars,  and  liavc  about 
them  a  sort  of  elfc  ininacv  which  accounts 
for  the  conquest  sutlered  at  their  hands. 

One  of  the  chief  i)cculiaritie»  in  a  China- 
man's appearance  is  his  "  tail."  This  mode 
of  dressing  the  hair  was  imposed  upon  the 
Chinese  by  the  Tartars,  and  lias  remained 
in  fidl  force  ever  since.  The  Tae-ping 
rebels,  however,  viewinj;  the  "tail  "as  an 
i'Miominious  sijin  of  conquest,  refuse  to 
wear  it,  and  allow  the  whole  of  their  hair  to 

crow.  ,  „     i  ., 

With  the  loval  Chinese,  however,  the  tail 
has  l)ecomr  quite  .".n  institution,  and  they 
regard  itwi:li  'k.  iame  sort  of  reverence 
which  is  fc'i  b%  in  Arab,  v  Turk,  or  a  Per- 
sian for  hi?  b.  Ar:  I>  .scarcely  possible  to 
,,„f,ij.),  <|  (.I'injv  .i;vA  liiore  severely  than  by 
cutting  off  his  tail,  and,  though  he  may 


supply  its  place  with  an  artificial  tail  curi- 
ously woven  into  the  hair,  he  feels  the 
indignity  very  keenly.  Sometimes,  when 
two  men  are  to  bo  punished  severely,  they 
arc  tied  together  by  their  tails,  and  exposed 
to  the  derision  of  tlie  public. 

The  tail  bears  some  resemblance  to  the 
scalp-lock  of  the  American  Imliiiu,  but  it 
includes  very  much  more  hair  than  is  com- 
prehended in  the  scalp-lock.  The  Cliina- 
nian  shaves  the  hair  from  his  forcluiid  and 
round  the  temnles,  but  leaves  a  circular 
patch  of  tolerable  size,  the  hair  of  which  is 
allowed  to  grow  to  its  full  length,  Some- 
times, if  the  i)ateh  be  not  large  enough  to 
nourish  a  suHicient  quantity  of  hair  to  i)ro- 
ducc  a  good  tail,  it  is  eulnrged  by  allowing 
more  and  more  hair  to  ri'  w  it  each  suc- 
cessive shaving.  On  an  n\r-ai.'c,  I'lc  head 
is  shaved  once  in  ten  t<:i>s  aiijl  iio  one 
would  venture  to  go  in  ;  on,|  .oe.;.,;,- unless 
the  hair  of  his  head  were  clean  .shav('U.  As 
for  his  face,  he  has  so  few  hairs  upon  it,  that 
he  does  not  trouble  tlic  barber  very  much 
with  his  countenance. 

Owing  to  the  position  of  the  tail,  a  man 
cannot  dress  it  properly  without  aid,  and, 
chiefly  for  this  purpose,  the  peripatetic 
barber  has  become  quite  an  institution  in 
China.  All  the  materials  of  his  trade  are 
carried  at  the  ends  of  a  bamboo  pole, 
wiiich  the  barber  carries  iu  yoke  fashion 


(1426) 


THE  CIIINKSE  BAIIIIER. 


1497 


?;;;i;.';i:.^;;;;!r:i„;r's  'i;:r'2;»ss.,,rte^"..^ «.'. .  w„., ,, 


n'i|tijr.>(|  hu  piiii  down  liis  loud,  arnmuoH 
lii-i  simiilt!  nppiiriitiw  In  nlnw  nionuiiU,  und 
B.-U  li.  work  upon  the  t!icri«liua  tnil  of  Ids 
ciiitoiiicr. 

y.TyllttIo  capital  In  required  to  sot  up  n 
l):iil.cr  ni  Inido.  TIuto  Ih  tlio  rn/.or,  :x  ui'mt 
jn'iuiitiv.i  t-iiiUKlo  of  Nleul,  two  lueh  Ioul' 
)y  OIK!  iucli  wld.s  whicli  (•(>Ht,porlmp«,lliri'o 
ijill-pi-nci',  or  twop«iH!o  If  It  lui  of  tho  bout 
klud.  Tlusri!  Itt  tlio  Ihuiri  strop,  widcli  conts 
n  penny,  imd  n  hiuuboo  Hfiit  nnd  table,  wliicli 
co.-d,  piM-lmi)M,  twopeni-o  ciu-h.  Tburo  Ih  one 
cxpiMHivo  iirljcii.,  nmuidv,  tho  brass  buMlu, 
but,  !W  a  ruin,  a  (Jlduusc!  Ijarbor  can  bo  widl 
Bui,  up  iu  liado  at  tho  oxncnditino  of  about 
Mx  or  9aveit  sliillln^.s,  and  can  luako  a  irood 
livi.i^'  by  his  businos.i.  Tills  sum  includes  a 
supply  of  biacit  «ill{,  whorowith  I.,  supple- 
uiont  dio  tails  of  bis  custoniors,  and  a  low 
locks  of  roal  hair,  with  wbii^li  ho  can  HUpply 
arlillcal  tails  iu  cases  where  thoy  nro  denied 
by  nature. 

The  custonior  alwayn  holds  a  sort  of  basin 
in  wluch  to  catch  the  ciii)piinj;s  of  hair, 
llu'.-lo  aro  presurvod,  not  troin'any  Huper- 
Mitious  ideas,  as  is  tho  case  In  many  imrts  of 
tho  world,  but  aro  put  aside  for  the  hair 
collector,  who  makes  his  daily  rounds  with 
lis  basket  on  his  back.  The  contents  of  tho 
li.isket  are  carefully  utilized.  Tlu)  loni^  hair 
combed  Irom  women's  heads  is  separated 
and  i.iade  into  false  tails  for  the  men,  while 
the  short  pieces  shaven  from  men's  heads 
aro  used  as  manure,  a  tiny  pinch  of  hair 
inserted  into  tho  groun!  with  each 
or  plantlet.    In  conse(pienco  of  the 


bein 

seed 

universal  practice  of  shavin;,'  the  head  and 

wearitii,'  a  tail,  tho   number  of  barbers   is 

very  i,'reat,  and   in    1S,-)H  they  were  said  to 

exceed  seven  thousand  in  Canton  alone. 

The  rlj;ht  nvina!,'ement  of  the  tail  is 
aiuoii;,'  th.i  Chinese,  what  the  management 
of  the  hat  is  anion jr  onrnelvcs.  For  example 
it  IS  a   mark  of  respect  to  allow  ' 

the  tail  to  hall^'  at  full  leuj^th,  nnd 
any  one  who  ventured  to  address 
an  e(|nal  without  having  his  tail 
lian;,'in;,'  down  his  back  would 
bo  tbou^jlit  as  boorish  as  would 
fill  Kii;,'lishman  who  went  into  a 
Iiuly's  (lrawin^'-l•oom  without  re- 
inoviii  r  his  hat.  When  the  jicoplo 
lire  at  work,  they  always  coil  tho 
eherished  tail  round  tlieir  heads, 
so  as  to  get  it  out  of  the  way;  but 
It  a  man  of  superior  rank  shoulil 
Iiiimien  to  jiaas,  down  go  nil  tho 
tails  at  once. 

During  the  lati!  war  In  China, 
tie  common  peoi)lo  soon  found 
that  the  Englisli,  in  their  ignor- 
ance of  Chinese  ciiston.s,  did  not 
troubles  themselves  whether  tho 
tails  hung  down  their  backs  or 
Were  twisted  round  thei.-  bca,']- 
Accordiugij-,    Oriental-like,   they 


though  thev  woul.l  lower  their  tails  li.r  the' 
meanest  otticiul  who  Imnpei.ed  to  pass  near 
them  they  made  no  slgu  even  when  an 
hnKllsh  general  carno  by.  However,  ono 
of  the  hnglish  olllcers  rliseoveivd  this  rase 
and  every  now  ami  theu  ouo  of  thein  uso.j 
U>  go  through  tho  streets  and  compel  everv 
Chinaman  to  let  down  his  »ail.  ' 

Tho  tail  is  never  entirely  composed  of  tho 
hair  of  the  wearer.  Somotimcs  it  is  almost 
who  ly  artificial  a  completely  new  tail  beinsr 
fixed  to  a  worn-out  stump,  and,  as  a  general 
rule,  tho  last  eighteen  inches  are  almost  en- 
tircdv  nude  of  l)laek  silk.  Uenides  beln«  t% 
mark  of  fashion,  tho  tail  is  often  utilized. 
A  sailor  for  example,  will  tie  his  hat  to  bis 
head  w  th  his  tail  wlwii  tho  win.!  rises,  and 
a  schoolmiwter  sometiiaes  uses  his  tiiil  iu 
lion  of  a  cane. 

Absurd  as  tlio  tall  looks  when  worn  by 
any  exce|)t  a  Chiueso  or  Tartar,  it  rcrtainly 
does  seem  aiijiropriato  to  their  cast  of  coua- 
tenanco.and  it  is  to  be  doubted  wholber  tho 
tartar  conquerors  did  not  confer  a  beiiefll 
instead  of  inili.ting  an  injury  on  the  Chines* 
by  tho  enforcement  of  tlus  tail. 

The  hair  of  the  women  is  not  shavr.n,  but 
?",  f'«.,'''"»""''»'T."«l«litions  are  made  io  it 
While  the_y  are  unmarried,  it  hangs  dowi* 
tho  back  in  a  long  queue,  like  tliat  of  tluJ 
nii'ii;  but  when  they  marrv,  it  is  dressed  in 
various  fantastic  forms.  I'hcro  is  a  very 
f^^vshionablo  ornament  in  China,  called  tho 
butterfjy  s  wings."  This  is  a  quantily  of 
also  hair  made  in  fanciful  imitation  i.f  a 
huge  buttcrlly,  and  fastened  to  the  back  of 
a  woman  s  Iiead.  Fashions,  however,  vnrv 
in  didorcnt  parts  of  China,  and  even  in  tho 
s.amo  locality  the  women  are  not  tied  to  Iho 
absolute  uniformitv  which  distinguishes  the 
luiir  of  tho  men.  One  mu.le  of  hair-dressinsr 
which  IS  very  prevalent  makes  tho  hair  lo'.k 
very  inucli    like  a  teapot,  tho  long  tresuvi 


MDT17AL  AS3ISTAKCE. 


1428 


CHINA. 


being  held  in  their  place  by  a  strong  cement 
made  from  wood  shavings.  Another  mode 
of  hair-dressing  which  prevails  in  Northern 
Cniina  is  tlms  described  by  Mr.  Fleming: 
"Here  it  is  dressed  and  gummed  in  the 
form  of  .i.n  ingot  of  sycec  silver,  which  is 
something  in  shape  like  a  cream-jug,  or  an 
oval  eup,'wide  at  the  top  and  narrow  at  the 
bottom,  with  a  piece  seo  ped  out  of  the  edge 
at  each  side,  and  with  bright-colored  flowers 
fastened  b",  or  stuck  aboiil  with  skewers 
ind  pins,  \hat  stand  out  like  porcupine 
(luills,  Tlioi.gh  their  necks  be  ever  so 
diity,  and  Mioir  faces  not  much  better,  yet 
the  hair  must  l)e  as  exquisitely  trimmed  and 
plastered,  acc(n-ding  to  the  local  rage,  as  that 
in  a  wax  model  seen  in  .a  Loudon  barber's 
shop-win<low" 

In  the  accompanying  illustration  two 
women  are  shown,  who  render  aid  to  each 
other  in  ."rranging  their  hair  after  the  "  tea- 
pot "  fashion.  In  the  housclu  Ids  of  Chinese 
women,  dressing-cases  are  considered  almost 
the  chief  requiMtes  of  life.  In  the  drawers 
arc  the  c  ,ml>«.  i)ins,  and  paint  for  the  cheeks 
and  lips,  and  the  white  jjowder  which  is 
rubbed  into  the  skin.  This  powder  is  made 
from  white  marble,  which  is  broken  small 
with  a  liamnur,  and  then  thrown  into  a  tub 
in  which  revolve  two  stones  turned  by  a 
bulfalo,  just  like  the  who  jls  which  are  used 
in  miikint:  gunpowder.  The  coarsely  ground 
mass  is  then  transferred,  together  with  water, 
to  a  second  mill,  in  which  it  is  reduced  to  a 
mixture  liki;  creaui.  Tbiscroamy  substance 
is  then  levigated  in  a  succession  of  tubs,  the 
sediment  of  which  is  taken  out  and  returned 
to  the  mill,  and  the  remainder  is  allowed  to 
settle,  the  supertlrous  water  drawn  off,  and 
the  sediment  pressed,  while  still  moist,  into 

"When  used  it  is  not  only  rubbed  on  the 
skin,  but  actually  worked  into  it  with  string, 
which  is  placed  on  the  hands  in  a  sort  of  cat's- 
cradle,  anil  worked  l)aekward  and  forward 
until  the  required  eflV'ct  is  produced.  This 
powder  is  also  us:'d  to  give  rice  a  fai'titious 
whiteness.  The  coarser  portions  are  em- 
ployed for  making  w  hitewash  and  whitening 
mortar. 

Many  of  the  Chinese  of  both  sexes  are  re- 
markable for  the  great  length  to  which  they 
allow  their  nails  to  grow.  This  is  supposed 
to  be  a  sign  of  rank  or  literary  occupation, 
inasmnch  as  the  nails  would  be  broken  by 
any  laborious  work.  For  this  purpose,  they 
are  kept  carefully  oiled  to  prevent  them  from 
being  brittle,  aiid  are  further  preserved  by 
being  enclosed  in  tubes  which  slip  over  the 
end  of  tlie  finger.  These  tubes  are  some- 
times of  bamboo,  sometimes  of  silver,  and  a 
few  of  the  most  precious  minerals. 

The  feet  of  the  Chinese  women  are  often 
more  strangely  decorated,  than  their  heads. 
\  v.".Rt  number  of  the  women  have  their  feet 


which  to  walk,  or  rather  totter.  It  is  not 
only  the  rich  who  are  thus  dcform(!d,bul  the 
poorest  often  have  their  feet  cramped.  The 
operation  is  begun  at  a  very  early  age,  so 
that  the  fee*  of  the  full-grown  woman  may  not 
exceed  in  size  that  of  a  child  of  five  or  six. 
Bandages  are  bound  firmly  round  the  foot  in 
such  a  way  as  to  force  it  into  an  arclnd 
shape,  the  heel  being  pressed  forward  and 
the  ball  of  the  foot  backward,  while  the  four 
middle  toes  arc  bent  under  the  foot,  and  so 
completely  squeezed  into  its  substance  that 
they  almost  lose  their  identity.  In  fact,  the 
member  is  made  artiflcially  into  a  club-foot, 
which,  repugnant  as  it  may  be  to  Euioppnn 
eyes,  is  the  delight  of  the  'Chinese,  who  call 
it  metaphorically  by  the  name  of  "golden 
lily." 


CHINESE  WOMAN'S   FOOT  AND  MODEL  OF 
A   SHOE. 

(From  njy  collection.) 


Clay  models  of  these  "golden  lilies"  arc 
sold  at  many  of  the  shops;  and  as  tlicy  are 
very  accurate  imitations  of  the  foot,  iiikI  it 
is  almost  impossible  to  induce  a  Chinese 
woman  to  remove  the  bandages  an<l  exhi- 
bit the  member,  a  rejjresentation  of  one  of 
these  models  is  here  given.  The  gait  of  the 
woman  is  necessarily  reduced  to  an  awk- 
ward waddle.  There'is  no  play  of  the  beau- 
tiful machinery  of  the  human  foot,  and  the 
wearer  of  the" ''golden  lily"  w.ilks  exactly 
as  she  would  do  if  she  had  no  feet  at  ail. 
Indeed,  her  gait  is  even  more  awkward,  in- 
asmuch as  the  weight  of  the  body  is  thrown 
forward  upon  the  great  toe,  than  which 
nothin"  can  be  imagined  more  ojjpo.sed  to 
the  real  intention  of  the  foot. 

Fast  walking  is  impossible  with  these  feet, 
and  running  is  out  of  the  question,  the  women 
beinc  obliged  to  support  themselves  byliold- 


cramned    by  bandages  into  a   state  which  i  ing  to  walls  or  other  objects,  or  to  balance 
renders  thein  linic  better  than  mere  pegs  on  1  themselves  by   holding  out  their  arms  at 


THE  "GOLDEN  LILY." 


right  angles  to  their  bodies.    Indeed  even  I 
wKeu   walking  quietly   in   the    house    Ih" 
woman  generally  leans  on  the  various  articles 
of  furnuure  as  she  passes  them,  the  acap- 
pearuig    o  be  instinctive,  and  one  of  whicL 
8  le  ,8  not  conscious.    Stairs  are  of  course  a 
hlhcul  ty  ni  tiio  way  of  "  golden  lilies."    For 
tunuteiy    there   are  not   many   stairs   in  a 
Chinese  dwellinj^-house,  the  living  rooms  of 
vh  eh  are  n.ostly  on  the  ground  floor     I 
have  noticed  that  a  small-footed  China,woinau 
can  ascend  stiurs  c^asily  enough,  but  that  she 
dSnds   '"'  ^^  '^'  banisters  or  wall  L  she 

w!H!'M'^''f''7"^yA  'n,  question  does  not  end 
witli  tiie  toot.  As  the  toes  and  ankles  are 
deprived  of  motion,  the  muscles  which  work 
thum,  .and  whidv  form  the  calf  of  t'.e  le^ 

that  Iroin  he  ankle  to  the  k^oe  the  leg  is 
scarcely  thicker  than  a  broomstick.        ^ 

Utterly  hideous  as  is  this  deformity,  it  is 
coveted  by  all  and  those  who  do  not  possess 
1     try  to    look   as  if  they  did.    This   tluvy 
aUiie\  e  by  making  an  artificial  '■  golden  lilv"" 
of  wood,  putting  it  into  a  fashionable  shoe 
and  fastening  the  contrivance  on  i'le  sole  of 
tlh^  real  and   serviceable  foot.    Mr.  Milne 
roniarks  that  a  nurse,  if  called  up  suddoilv 
i"  the  "isht,  will  make  her  appeamnce  3- 
1.  g  hnn  y  on  her  fui;-.,..ed  bare  fef.t,  instead 
o    hobblmg  along  with  the  <-ashionable  wad 
die  which  she  has  been  exiiibiting  by  1  v 
By  a  similar  rase,  the  boys  who  enact  f^m  fe 
«  tso„  the  stage  imitate  not  only  the  f^t 
lilt  the  peculiar  walk  of  the  women, and  do 
w.  h  such  perfection  that  no  one  who  was 
lot  in  the  secret  would  ha.  o  the  least  idea 
th;.t  . hey  are  not  what  they  pretend  to  I,  . 

Of  the  ongm  or  date  of  the  custom  nolhin- 
IB  known,  though   there  are  various  Icen  Is 
which    attempt    to  account  for   bolh.'one 
iL-end,  for  example,  attributes  it  to  an  em- 
press of  China   naiiKul  Tan-kev,  who  lived 
some  three   thousand  years    ago,  and  who 
having   c  ub   feet   by  nature,  "induced    h^,: 
iiisban.l  lomii.ose  the  same  deforinitvon  all 
h.s  female  subjects.     Another  legend  states 
u.,..  a  cerium  empress  was  discovered  in  the 
(■liamberof  a  courtier  and  laid  the  fault  on 
lirkH't,  winch  earned  her  against  her  will 
r;e  emperor  aecepled  the  excuse,  but  cut 
oil     he    ore-part   of  her   feet    in  ortler   to 

\n" ii!"  i"'"  ""."■*'  ,'l''>"!-<li":'f  ■  for  the  future. 
An.)  her  legend,  which  is  a  very  popular  one 
atlnbu.es  the  custom  to  a  cerVvIn  Jr  nc^ 
iiain,..l  Le-ynh,  who  in  consequenci  wa^ 
CO..,  ..mned  to  seven  hundred  years'  torture 
the   infermil  regions,  and  to  make  with 

Ivli^n"  "  '*"''  '"'"'""  '''°''  '"'•  <''■ 
The  dress  of  the  Chinese  varies  grcatlv 
•iccordiug  to  the  rank  of  the  individual  ad 
he  season  of  the  year.  Without  going  into 
detail,  which  would  occnnv  ton  i^voh^im'' 
itusuiiic.ent,  tosay  that  the  principle  of  the 
dress  is  similar,  not  only  among  diflerent 
6» 


1429 

classes,  but  with  the  two  sexes  the  emf  ^..a 
trousers  being  the  principal  Articles  mod 
ihed  in  material  ancf  form' accord  n"  to  dr-" 
cumstances.  The  dress  of  a  maiuTarin  or 
noble,  and  of  his  wife,  may  be  seen  [i  tbi 
Illustration  on  (h-^  14a7th  liage.  'Ae  d  I 
ness  of  material  and  beauty  of  work  diilaved" 
n  some  of  these  dresses  are  really  u?.x... 
ve  lous.  They  are  generally  of  the  it 
delicate  silks,  and  are  cov/red  wth  em- 
broidery ot  such  harmonious  colorin-  and 
exquisite  workmanship  as  no  counti^  can 

It  is  not,  however,  the  richness  of  dre«s 
which  denotes  rank  among  the  Chi lestf 
11  e  symbol  of  social  status  is  sin,  Iv  a 
spherical  "  button,"  about  as  large  as     boVs 

S''"!h^  dS'' P'ri  •''^  the-apex  of  iL 
c.ip.  Ihe  difierent  colors  ai.d  materials  of 
the  bu  tons  desi-niato  the  rank;  the  'bluj 
ribbon  "  being  a  plain  red  coral  bu) ,  on.  Tl  e 
possession  of  these  buttons  is  an  object  of 
high  ambition  for  the  Ciiinese,  and  itrvalue 
IS  increased  by  the  fact  that  there  Ts  no 
hereditarv  rank  in  China,  and  that  the 
coveted  button  must  be  eltrnec,  and  can 
neither  be  purchased  nor  given  b^  favor 

It  can  only  be  gained  by  p.-issing  tfu-ou^h 
a  series  of  examinations,  e.ich  inc reasin""ln 
severity,  and  no  candidi.te  for  high  rank  b'ein< 
permitted  to  compete  unless  he  ca,    slmv 
he  certihcate  that  he  has  gained  the  rank 
nnmediately  below  it.    The  e'xami.  a  ion   are 
conducted  in  a  buihling  expressly  n.-S!  for 
U.e  purpose.    It  has  double'  wall!,  bet™ 
which  sentinels  arccontinually  pacin"     The 
gates  are  watched  in  the  strictest  manner 
and  cjach  candidate  is  'ocked  into  a  tiny  ceTl' 
after  having  undergone  the  strictest  search' 
n  order  to  ascertain  that  he  has  not  carrie 

ihJ'Si;;.;;;*z^'^'"°^'^^*'"'^''^«'i''"-i« 

The  examiners  themselves  are  conveved 
from  a  distance,  and  sur-ounded  by  troX 
so  tha  no  .ne  can  approach  themf  anZso 
carefu  are  the  ofHcers  who  conduct  the  ex-  ' 
ainination  that  the  examiners  are  noi  alK 
;...•]  V  '  ?"«'»='    passages  written  bv  the 

SI  iDls.  W  hen  they  have  passed  a  paper  as 
satisfactory,  the  original  is  produced  tie  wo 
a  e  compared,  and  not  until  then  does  anv 
one  know  the  name  of  the  writer,  which  has 
been  pasted  between  two  leaves 

Ihe  precautions  are  most  stringent,  but 
he   ingenuity  exercised  in   evasion  some- 
imes  con.piers  all  the  barriers  set  up  be- 
tween a  candid.ato  and  external  assistance 
bometimes  a  man,  already  a  graduate  will 
manage  to  substitute  himself  For      e  cind 
date,  write  uU   the  essays,  and  contHve  a 
b™i'''"°",- ,°^  '•^''^'"S  the  place,  so  that 
the  real  candidate  takes  up  the  substituted 
essays.     Sometimes   a    friend  within    the 
..mkiii.f;  vvililcarn  tiio  subject  of  the  essavs, 
write  them  m  tiny  characters  on  very  thin 
paper,  enclose  the  paper  in  wax,  and  drop  it 


^■■'1! 


1430 


CHINA. 


into  tho  w.atcr  which  is  supplied  to  tho  cnn- 
didates.  One  man  of  peculiar  daring  hit  on 
the  plan  of  gcttins;  a  friend  to  tunnel  under 
the  walls  of  the  college,  and  push  the  re- 
quired documents  through  the  floor  ot  tlie 
co'l.  Sliould  any  such  attempt  bo  dis- 
covered, the  candidate  is  at  once  ejected, 
und  disqualified  from  a  second  attempt. 

The  Chinese  have  srood  reason  to  bo  am- 
bitious of  the  honors  of  a  button,  as  even 
the  very  lowest  button  exempts  the  wearer 
from  military  service  and  from  arrest  by  the 
police.  Thebearor  of  this  coveted  symbo 
once   one   of   the    privileged 


')eeomes    at 


classes-' he  wears  an  official  costume  when 
h(!  likes,  and  is  qualified  to  enter  as  candi- 
date for  still  higher  honors.  Such  privileges 
are  worth  much  trouble  to  obtain,  and  ac- 
cordin"ly  the  rejected  candidates  will  enter 
the  examination  year  after  year,  even  until 
they  are  .rray-headed.  With  the  respect  tor 
old  a-^o  A\1uch  is  one  of  the  most  pleasing 
characteristics  of  the  Chinese,  there  is  a  law 
that  if  a  man  should  attend  the  examina- 
tions annually  until  he  is  eighty  years  of  age 
and  still  be  unable  to  pass,  he  is  invested 
with  an  honorary  degree,  and  may  wear  the 
button  and  official  dress  honoris  causii. 
The  same  rule  holds  good  with  the  higher 
degrees. 

The  vei*y  highest  posts  in  the  kingdom  arc 
denoted  by  a  peacock's  feather,  which  falls 
down  the  side  of  tho  cap.  The  gradations 
in  rank  of  the  feather  wearers  are  marked 
by  the  number  of  "  eyes  "  in  the  ornament, 
the  summit  of  a  Chinaman's  ambition  being 
to  wear  a  feather  with  three  eyes,  denoting 
a  rank  only  inferior  to  that  of  the  Emperor. 
There  is  one  article  common  to  all  rankj 
and  both  sexes,  and  equally  indispensable 
to  all.  This  is  the  fan,  an  article  without 
which  a  Chinaman  is  never  seen.  The 
richer  people  carry  the  fan  in  a  beautifully 
embroidered  case  hung  to  their  girdles;  but 
the  poorer  class  content  themselves  with 
sticking  it  between  the  collar  of  the  jacket 
and  the  back  of  the  neck.  Whenever  the 
hand  is  not  actually  at  work  on  some  task, 
the  fan  is  in  it,  and  "in  motion,  not  violently 
agitated,  as  is  mostly  the  case  in  Europe, 
but  kept  playing  with  a  gentle,  constant, 
and  almost  inlptu-ccpftble  movement  of  the 
wrist,  BO  as  to  maintain  a  continuous  though 
slight  current  of  air. 

Sometimes,  in  very  hot  weather,  a  stout 
mandarin  will  quietly  lift  up  the  skirts  of 
hLs  jacket,  pl.'ice  his  fan  under  the  garment, 
and  send  a  current  of  cool  air  round  his 
Ijody;  and  this  done,  he  drops  the  skirts 
afresh  into  their  i)laee,  and  directs  the 
refreshing  breeze  over  his  countenance. 
Sometimes  it  is  used  by  way  of  a  parasol,  the 
m:m  holding  it  over  liis  head  as  ho  walks 
along.  SometimcB  the  schoolmaster  uses  it 
by  way  of  a  ferule,  and  raps  his  pupils  un- 
mercifully on  th"  knuikles;  and  so  ixiYcte- 
ratc  is  the  use  of  the  fan,  that  soldiers,  while 


serving  their  guns,  have  been  observed 
quietly  fanning' themselves  in  the  midst  of 
a  brisk  fire  of  shot,  shell,  and  bullets. 

The  materials  and  patterns  of  Chinese  fans 
are  innumerable.  They  are  made  of  paiier, 
silk,  satin,  palm-leaf,  wood,  feathers,  hoin, 
or  ivory.  Some  of  them  arc  made  so  liiut 
when  they  are  opened  from  left  to  right  they 
form  very  good  fans,  but  when  spread  froiii 
right  to  left  all  the  sticks  fall  apart,  ainl  look 
as  if  they  never  could  be  united  iigiiiii. 
Those  which  arc  made  of  jiaper  have  viui- 
ous  patterns  painted  or  printed  on  tlu'in, 
and  thousands  are  annually  sold  on  wliidi 
are  complete  maps  of  the  larger  Cliincse 
cities,  having  every  street  and  lane  marked. 
Those  which  are  made  of  silk  or  satin  me 
covered  with  the  most  exquisite  embroidery; 
while  the  horn  and  ivory  fans  are  cut  into 
patterns  so  slight  and  so  delicate  that  tliey 
look  more  like  lace  than  the  material  of 
which  they  really  arc  composed.  The 
wooden  fans  are  made  in  much  the  same 
way,  though  the  workmanship  is  necessarily 
coarser:  the  material  of  these  fans  is  samlal- 
wood,  the  aromatic  odor  of  which  is  inucli 
prized  by  the  Chinese. 

Choice  sentences  and  aphorisms  from  cele- 
brated authors  are  often  written  on  tlu;  fan; 
and  it  is  the  custom  for  Chinese  gentleinon 
to  exchange  autographs  written  on  c:ich 
other's  fans.  The  pvice  of  these  fans  varies 
according  to  the  material  and  workmanship, 
common  ones  bein'j;  v.orth  about  four  or  live 
for  a  penny,  while  a  iirst-class  fan  will  cost 
several  pounds. 

The  lantern  is  cimor.t  rr  characteristic  of 
the  Chinese  as  the  faa,  inasmuch  as  e\(iy 
one  who  goes  a)- road  alter  dark  is  obliged  by 
law  to  carry  a  lantern,  whereas  he  need  iidt 
carry  a  fan  urlcis  I?e  chooses.  These  lan- 
terns liave  of  \Uo  years  become  very  eom- 
nion  in  Engl-.iid,  the  subdued  light  which 
they  give  throng))  their  colored  en\  clones 
h.aving  a  Vf.ry  p.-etty  efTect  at  night,  es- 
pecially in  conservatories.  There  is  a 
wonilerful  v^M'icty  of  these  lanterns,  some  of 
tliem  bein^most  complicated  in  st.iicture, 
enormous  iu  size,  and  hung  round  witii  an 
intricate  trrangement  of  scarlet  tassels. 
Others  are  made  of  a  balloon-like  sha|>o,  the 
framcworlr  being  a  delicate  net  of  baiiilxio, 
over  Avjiich  is  spread  a  sheet  of  very  Ihiii 
paper  saturated  with  varnish,  so  that  it  is 
nearly  as  transjiareut  as  glass.  Figuros  of 
various  kinds  are  painted  upon  the  lantern, 
and  so  great  is  the  sale  of  these  artiehs, 
that  many  artists  make  a  good  living  by 
painting  them.  Generally,  when  a  man 
liuys  a  lantern,  ho  purchases  a  plain  one, 
anil  then  takes  it  to  (he  painter  to  he 
decorated.  The  name  of  tho  owner  is  often 
l)lace(\  u"on  his  lantern,  together  with  his 
address,  and  sometimes  t!<e  lantern  is  used 
as  a  representative  of  himself. 

Many  of  the  lanterns  shut  up  flat,  on  the 
principle  of  the  I'au;  eoiue  of  ihem  open  out 


THE  CUOPSTICKS. 


1431 


into  cylinders,  and  some  into  spherical  and 
ov.il  slinpuH. 

One  of  tiic  most  ingenious  of  these  articles 
is  the  "  stiiliting-horse  lantern,"  which  is 
only  used  for  festivals.  It  is  of  large  size, 
and  contains  several  tapers.  Above  the 
tapers  is  a  horizontal  paddle-wheel,  which  is 
set  revolving  by  the  current  of  air  caused  by 
the  (lame,  and  from  the  wheel  silk  threads 
arc  led  to  a  series  of  little  automaton  figures 
of  men,  women,  birds,  beasts,  etc.,  all  of 
which  move  their  arms,  legs,  .and  wings  as 
the  wheel  runs  round.  A  good  specimen  of 
this  lantern  is  really  a  wonderful  piece  of 
work,  the  threads  crossing  each  other  in  the 
most  complicated  style,  but  never  getting  out 
of  order. 

So  completely  is  the  Chinaman  a  lantern- 
carrying  i)eing,  Miat,  during  our  war  in 
China,  when  a  battery  had  been  silenced  by 
our  fire  in  a  night  attack,  and  the  garrison 
driven  out,  the  men  were  seen  runninir 
away  in  all  directions,  each  with  a  lighted 
lantern  in  his  hand,  as  if  to  direct  the  aim 
of  the  enemy's  musketry. 

In  connection  with  this  subject,  the  cele- 
brated Feast  of  Lanterns  must  not  be  omit- 
ted. In  this  remarkable  ceremony,  every 
lantern  that  can  be  lighted  seems  to  he 
used,  and  the  Chinese  on  this  occusion 
bring  out  the  complicated  "stalking-horse 
lantern"  which  has  just  been  described. 
The  chief  object,  however,  is  the  Great 
Dragon.  Tlie  body  of  the  Dragon  is  made 
of  a  number  of  lanterns,  each  as  large  as  a 
beer  barrel,  and  having  large  candles  fastened 
within  it.  Nearly  a  hundred  of  these  joints 
are  sometimes  used  in  the  construction  of  a 
single  Dragon,  each  joint  being  tied  to  its 
neighbor,  so  as  to  keep  them  at  the  same 
disiance  from  each  other.  At  one  end  is  an 
enormous  head  with  gaping  jaws,  and  at 
the  other  is  a  tail  of  proportionate  dimen- 
sions. 

This  Dragon  is  carried  through  the  streets 
and  villages,  and  has  a  most  j)ictnres(iue  ef- 
fect as  it  goes  winding  along  its  course,  the 
jjcarcrs  contriving  to  give  it  an  undulating 
nioveniciU  by  means  of  the  sticks  to  which  the 
diirercnt  joints  are  attached.  A  similar  fes- 
tival is  held  in  tluiautunm.  Accom[)anying 
the  Dragon  are  a  number  of  men  dressed  in 
various  faiilastie  ways,  as  representations  of 
(he  attendants  of  the  gods.  Some  of  them 
liave  heads  like  oxen,  others  like  horses,  and 
they  are  all  armed  with  curious  pronged 
weiii)ons.  Then  there  are  simulated  gianfl 
and  dwarfs,  tin;  former  being  carried  on  the 
slioulders  of  men  whose  legs  are  concealed 
by  the  rolies  of  the  image,  and  the  latter  by 
boys  whoso  heads  .are  received  into  the  hats 
wlileii  the  images  wear.  In  neither  instance 
do  the  bearers  trouble  themselves  to  conceal 
their  faces. 

Various  ceremonies  of  a  like  nature  are 
enacted,  of  which  no  description  cau  be 
given  tor  want  of  space. 


Of  the  Chinaman's  social  habits  none  has 
been  more  widely  known  than  the  use  of  the 
"  chopsticks,"  or  the  two  little  rods  by  means 
of  which  the  solid  food  is  eaten.  This  is  not 
the  Chinese  name,  but  is  one  invented  by 
foreigners,  who  have  employed  the  term  as 
a  sort  of  equivalent  for  the  "  kwai-tsze,"  or 
nimble-lads,  as  they  are  very  appropriately 
termed  by  the  Chinese.  Originally  they 
were  simply  two  slips  of  bamboo,  but  now 
they  are  of  wood,  bone,  ivory,  or  sometimes 
silver.  Two  pairs  of  chopsticks  in  my  col- 
lection are  nearly  ten  inches  in  length,  and 
about  as  thick  at  the  base  as  a  small  goose- 
quill,  tapering  gradually  to  half  the  thick- 
ness at  the  tip. 

Much  misunderstanding  prevails  as  to  the 
use  of  the  chopsticks,  many  persons  sup- 
posing that  they  are  iield  one  in  each  hand, 
after  the  manner  of  knives  and  forks  in 
Europe.  These  curious  implements  are  botli 
held  in  the  right  hand  after  the  following 
manner:  One  of  them  is  taken  much  as  a 
pen  is  held,  except  that,  instead  of  being 
held  by  the  thumb  and  forelinger,  it  passes 
between  the  tij)s  of  the  second  and  third  fin- 
gers. This  chopstickis  always  kei)t  station- 
ary. The  second  chopstick  is  held  lightly 
between  the  thumb  and  forefinger,  and  can 
be  worked  so  as  to  press  with  its  tip  against 
the  point  of  the  other,  and  act  after  the  man- 
ner of  pincers. 

The  adroitness  displayed  by  the  Chinese 
in  the  use  of  these  implements  is  worthy  of 
all  admiration.  I  h.^ve  seen  them  pick  up 
single  grains  of  rice  with  the  chopsticks,  dip 
them  in  soy,  and  carry  them  to  the  mouth 
with  perfect  precision;  and,  indeed,  after 
some  few  lessons,  I  could  do  it  tolcrablv  well 
myself.  In  eating  rice  after  the  usual  man- 
ner, tiie  tips  of  the  chopsticks  are  crossed, 
and  the  rice  lifted  with  them  as  if  on  a 
spoon.  If,  however,  the  man  be  very  hun- 
gry, he  does  not  trouble  himself  .about  such 
reiincment,  but  holds  the  bowl  to  his  lips, 
and  scoops  the  rice  into  his  mouth  with  a 
celerity  that  must  be  seen  to  be  believed. 
In  point  of  speed  a  spoon  would  be  nothing 
compared  with  the  chopstick. 

The  reader  must  understand  that  the  Chi- 
nese never  carve  at  table,  thinking  that  to 
do  so  is  an  utterly  barbarous  and  disgusting 
custom.  The  meat  is  brought  to  table  ready 
cut  up  into  small  morsels,  which  can  be 
taken  up  with  the  chopsticks.  The  only 
use  made  of  a  knife  at  table  is  to  separate 
any  small  i)ieces  of  meat  that  may  adhere 
together;  and  for  this  pnri)ose,  a  narrow, 
long-bladed  knife  is  generally  kept  in  the 
same  sheath  with  the  chopstick, 

As  a  rule,  every  Chinaman  who  can  afford 
so  cheap  a  luxury  has  his  chopslick-ca.so 
hanging  fi'om  his  girdle.  The  case  is  niado 
of  different  m.aterials,  such  as  shagreen,  tor- 
toise shell,  and  Ivory.  Specimens  of  the  two 
latter  kinds  of  case  are  in  my  collection. 
The  oidlu&ry  case  couiaios  the  two  Chop- 


in,    li  I 


1432 


CHINA. 


sticks,  the  knife,  and  a  flat  Ivory  toothpick. 
Sometiuios,  however,  a  wealthy  man  will 
carry  a  nuicl>  more  coniplicalud  set  of  table 
apparatus.  Besides  the  usual  chopsticks, 
the  kuile,and  the  toothpick,  there  is  a  spoon 
for  catiiij;  soup,  a  uc  t  little  quatretoil  sau- 
cer for  soy,  and  a  peculiar  two-pronged  lork, 
with  its  prongs  united  in  the  middle  by  a 
floriated  ornament. 

As  to  the  food  of  the  Chinese,  it  varies 
according  to  tlie  wealth  of  the  indivu  luil,  so 
tliat  a  man  of  property  would  not  think  ot 
eating  the  food  which  the  poor  man  thinks 
luxurious.  In  fact,  it  is  much  the  same  as 
with  ourselves,  so  that  it  is  impossible  to 
make  the  dietary  of  one  station  the  sample 
for  that  of  the  nation  in  geiun-al.  ihcre 
are,  perhaps,  one  or  two  articles  ot  lood 
which  ought  to  be  casually  mentioned.  One, 
wliich  is  not  generally  known,  is  rather 
graphically  described  by  Mr.  Milne:  "Like 
other  Chinese,  he "  (i.  c.  a  Chinese  ofhccr 
named  Le)  "invited  me  to  dine  with  him  on 
an  early  day  after  our  acquaintance  was 
formed.  On  this  occasion  1  met  at  his  tabic 
with  a  peculiar  dish,  which  I  had  never  seen 
under  the  roof  of  any  other  host,  though  I 
was  informed  that  it  was  not  a  monopoly  of 
Mr.  Le's  tiiste. 

"  When  our  party  of  six  had  seated  them- 
selves at  the  centre  table,  my  attention  was 
attracted  by  a  covered  dish,  something  un- 
usual at  a  Chinese  meal.  On  a  certain  sig- 
nal, the  cover  was  removed,  and  presently 
the  face  of  the  table  was  covered  with  juve- 
nile cral)8,  which  made  their  exodus  from 
the  dish  with  all  possible  rapidity.  The 
crablets  had  been  tlirown  into  a  plate  of 
vinegar  just  as  tlie  company  sat  down,  such 
an  iininersion  making  them  more  brisk  and 
lively  than  usual.  But  the  sprightly  sport 
of  tlie  iniimt  crabs  was  soon  chocked  by 
each  guest  seizing  'vhich  he  could,  dashing 
it  into  his  monthi  and  swallowing  the  whole 
morsel  withoi','  ceremony. 

"  Determined  to  do  as  the  Cliinose  did,  I 
tried  this  noveltv  also  with  owe.  With  two 
1  succeeded,  finding  the  shell  soft  and  gela- 
tinous, for  they  were  tiny  creatures,  not 
more  than  a  day  or  two  old.  But  I  was 
compelled  to  give  in  to  the  third,  who  had  re- 
solved to  take  vengeance,  and  gave  my  lower 
lip  a  nip  so  sharp  and  severe  as  to  make  me 
relinquish  my  hold,  and  likewise  desist  from 
any  further  exi)eriment  of  this  nature." 

The   celebrated   birds'-nests,  which   the 


Chinese  convert  into  soup,  are  not,  as  some 
persons  seem  to  think,  made  of  slieks,  and 
straws,  and  wool,  but  arc  formed  fmni  he 
gelatinous  substance  obtained  by  mastieuting 
a  sort  of  seaweed.  The  nests  are  transpar- 
ent, as  if  made  of  gelatine,  and  when  placed 
in  hot  water  they  dissolve  as  readily.  The 
nest,  when  dissolved,  is  very  much  like  the 
well-known  "  Irish  moss,"  or  carrageen;  and 
I  fully  believe  that,  if  the  Chinese  wore  to 
obtain  the  seaweed  itself,  and  prejiare  it  like 
the  nests,  it  would  answer  every  purpose. 
I  possess  specimens  both  of  the  seaweed 
and  tiio  nest,  and,  after  tasting  bolii,  have 
found  them  to  bo  identical  in  tlavoraiul  eon- 
sistenco.  And,  as  the  seaweed  might  be  ob- 
tained for  alioiit  ten  sbilliugs  per  hundred- 
weight, and  the  finest  kind  of  nest  costs 
ei'dit  hunilred  pounds  for  the  same  ninouiit, 
'mportation  of  the  seaweed   iiisload  of 


tiie  nests  from  Java  might  be  a  good  .spec- 
ulation. 

With  regard  to  the  great  staple  of  the 
country,  namely  tea,  very  little  can  be  said 
here.  In  the  ilrst  place,  the  public  is  very 
well  informed  on  the  subject,  and,  in  the 
next,  the  tea  question  is  so  large  that  it 
would  occnjiy  far  too  great  space.  The 
mode  of  preparing  tea  dilVers  imich  from 
that  practised  by  ourselves.  Instead  of 
allowing  the  tea  to  be  made  and  then  to  stand 
tor  a  considerable  time,  the  Chinaman  jiuts 
a  little  tea  into  a  cup,  pours  boiling  ruin- 
water  on  it,  inverts  the  saucer  over  it,  so  as 
to  prevent  the  aroma  from  escaping,  and 
drinks  it  immediately,  using  the  saucer  as  a 
strainer  whereby  to  keep  the  tea-leaves  out 
of  his  mouth.  As  to  adulterating  the  tea 
with  such  abominations  as  cream  and  sugar, 
be  would  be  horrified  at  the  idea.  The  Chi- 
nese never  use  milk  for  thcmscilves,  lliough 
of  late  years  they  have  learned  to  milk  their 
bufl'iiloes  for  the  service  of  the  loreigner, 
and  they  consume  sugar  in  almost  every 
shape  except  in  tea. 

We  who  use  either  of  these  accessories 
cannot  understand  the  true  flavor  of  tea,  the 
aroma  of  which  is  as  mueh  -lestroyed  by 
such  admixture  as  would  bo  that  of  the  chni- 
cest  wine.  Even  those  who  do  not  siioil  their 
tea  in  the  usual  manner  can  scldtun  know 
what  the  best  tea  is,  because  it  is  never  sent 
to  this  country.  Not  in  China  can  a  for- 
eigner purchase  it,  as  it  is  not  made  for  gen- 
eral sale,  but  ia  reserved  for  "  cumshaws," 
gr  pre8en*^s. 


;•  \ 


>• 


-■^  i 


CHAPTER  CLIV. 


CUINA  —  Continued. 


WARFARE. 


WBAPONa  OP  THR  CHTNE8K  —  BRRECn-IX>ADINO  CANNON  — VABIOUS  FORMS  OP  THE  JINOALL  —  CniNKSB 
AltTILLEKYMEN  AND  THKIU  MAGAZINE— DOWB  AND  ARROWS  —  TUB  REPEATING  CK088-HOW  AND 
ITH  MKOHANISM  —  CONSTRUCTION  OP  THE  ARROWS  —  CHINESE  SWORDS  — THE  DOUIII.K  SWORD 
AND  MODE  OP  USING  IT— TWO-IIANDED  BWOIIDS—  CRUELTY  OP  THE  VICTORS  —  VARIOUS  MODES 
OP  TORTURE  —  KNEELING  ON  THE  CHAIN  — THE  CANGUB  — FINGER  AND  ANKLE  SQUKEZINO  — 
USE  OP  TORTURE   IN  MONEYKIETTINO  —  THE   LARGE  AND  SMALL  BAMBOO  — MODE  OP  EVADING  IT 

—  EXPQSURK   IN   A  CAGE- THE  HOT-WATER  SNAKE  — CAPITAL  PUNISHMENTS- SUICIDE  BY  ORDER 

—  STRWGLINO— CRlVCmXION  PREFERRED  TO  BEHEADING  — EXECUTION  OP  A  THIEF  — SAWING 
ASUNDER  —  CONDUCT  OK  THE  MANDARINS —THE  "UMBRELLA  OF  A  THOUSAND  PEOPLE;'— THK 
ROUE  OF  HONOR — TRANSFKB  OF    RANK. 


WiTiioTTT  going  into  the  question  of  war- 
fare in  China,  we  will  mention  one  or  two 
of  the  characteristic  weapons. 

Fire-arms  liave  apparently  been  known  to 
them  for  ages,  but  in  all  the  years  that  we 
have  been  acquainted  with  China,  no  im- 
provement has  been  made  in  these  weapons, 
the  cannon,  the  jingall,  and  tlie  hand-gun 
being  na  rude  and  inelTective  as  they  were 
two  centuries  ago.  The  cannon  are  little 
more  than  tliick  tubes  of  iron,  mostly  hooped 
to  strengthen  them,  and  of  various  lengths 
and  bon^s.  As  to  preserving  any  exactness 
of  size  in  the  bores,  the  Chinese  care  little 
for  it,  and  if  the  ball  is  too  small  to  fit  the 
Cimnon,  they  wrap  it  up  in  cotton  and  then 
jnish  it  upon  the  powder.  Wadding  is 
thought  to  be  needless  in  fire-arms.  It  is 
rather  remarkable,  however,  *"iat  the 
(Chinese  have  used  breech-loading  cannon 
from  time  immemorial.  Each  of  these  guns 
is  sumjlied  with  several  separate  chambers, 
whicli  can  be  kept  loaded,  and  dropped  one 
by  one  into  the  aperture  of  the  gun  as  fast 
as  they  can  be  fired. 

Clumsy  as  may  be  the  jingall,  it  appears 
to  be  the  most  elTlcient  of  the  Chinese  fire- 
arms. It  looks  something  like  a  duck-gun, 
and  is  supposed  to  carry  an  ounce  ball, 
though  the  nii.ssiles  sent  from  it  arc  gener- 
ally of  a  very  miscellaneous  cliaratiter. 
Some  of  these  guns  are  pivoted  and  fixed 
stands,  while  others  arc  ci 


tripod 


•  sup- 1 


ported  on  the  shoulder  of  an  assistant  gun- 
ner while  the  firer  takes  aim,  or  rest  upon 
two  supports  wliich  are  pivoted  to  the  stock 
not  very  far  from  the  muzzle  of  the  gun. 
Of  the  manner  in  which  the  jingall  is  fired, 
Captain  Blakiston  gives  a  very  amusing  ac- 
count, the  whole  proceeding  having  a  very 
ludicrous  aspect  to  an  English  artillery 
officer. 

"  We  explained  to  them  that  we  should 
like  to  see  some  practice  with  their  artillery, 
on  which  the  bombardier,  as  he  seemed  to 
be,  went  to  the  powder  magazine,  which 
was  an  old  sack  carefully  tied  up  and  lying 
under  a  bed  in  the  hut,  and  brought  forth 
the  charge  in  a  tea-cup.  Then  he  mounted 
on  a  stool,  and  poured  the  powder  in  at  the 
muzzle;  the  jingall  was  thumped  on  the 
ground,  and  with  a  long  bamboo,  which 
served  as  a  ramrod,  they  rammed  tlie  pow- 
der home.  A  little  of  the  already  soft  pow- 
der was  then  mealed,  and  the  touch-hole 
filled  with  it. 

"  One  man  then  held  on  tight  to  the  butt, 
while  another,  coming  out  witlv  a  hot  poker, 
discharged  the  weapon,  the  effect  of  which 
in  noise  and  smoke  was  marvellous;  but  the 
poor  fellow  who  was  doing  the  marksman 
was  knocked  heels  over  head  backward. 
Ho  seemed,  however,  quite  accustomed  to 
that  sort  of  thing,  for,  picking  himself  up  in 
a  minute,  he  performed  what  I  certainly 
took  for  the  coup  d'etat  of  the  whole  prd- 


(1433) 


1434 


CHINA. 


I 


cceding.  Suddenly  swinging  round  tlic  Jin- 
call  on  its  pivot,  ho  applied  liis  inoutli  to 
the  muzzle,  and  blow  violently  down  it, 
which  eiMit  the  remaining  sparks  flying  out 
of  the  vent,  and  then  swung  it  back  into  lis 
former  position,  by  which  mana'^vrc  lie 
nearly  knocked  my  companion  oil  Ins  legs. 
"The  piece  was  the'i  left  with  its  muzzle 
inclined  well  upwfiid,  *<?  t''''*^  ^"y /'"" 
which  might  f.ill  would  trickle  nicely  down 
tlie  barrel  and  accumulate  at  the  brcexili. 
The  picket  seemed  t«  be  without  any  shot 
for  their  jingall,  for  we  tried  to  get  them  to 
)ut  one  in,  so  that  we  might  lire  across  the 
i)ows  of  our  junks,  in  order  to  test  the  cour- 
a<'e  of  the  boat  coolies.  Probably  shot  are 
not  used  in  the  warfare  of  the  interior:  our 
after  experience  was  favorable  to  this  sup- 

^'"cailtain  Blakiaton  rather  maUciously  adds, 
that  the  picket  was  placed  there  for  the  pur- 
pose of  giving  an  alarm  by  running  away  as 
soon  as  any  body  of  rebels  might  como  in 

sight.  „   ,      ..       11      Tt  • 

I  possess  a  specimen  of  the  jingall.  it  is 
exactly  seven  feet  in  length,  and  is,  in  fact, 
nothing  more  than  a  heavy  iron  tube 
mounted  on  a  stock,  and  supiihed  with  the 
rudest  imaginable  arrangement  for  the 
match.  Altogether,  1  think  that  the  nsk  of 
liring  it  would  be  rather  greater  than  that  ot 
being  fired  at  with  it. 

As  for  the  bow  and  .arrow,  they  are  sul)- 
Btantially  the  same  as  that  which  has  been 
described  when  treating  of  the  Tartars  the 
weapon  having  been  taken  up  by  the  CJu- 
nese,  and  its  use  carefully  learned  after  the 
same  ftushion  as  has  been  mentioned. 

The  most  characteristic  Chinese  weapon 
with  which  I  am  acquainted  is  tlio  repeating 
crossbow  (shown  on  page  1425),  which, 
by  simply  working  a  lever  backward  and 
forward,  drops  the  arrows  in  succession  in 
frontof  the  string,  draws  the  bow,  shoots  the 
missile,  and  supplies  its  place  with  another. 
The  particuliir  weapon  Irom  which  the 
drawings  are  taken  was  said  to  have  been 
one  of  the  many  arms  wliich  were  captured 
in  the  Teiho  foit.  ,        .,     „  , 

It  is  not  at  all  easy  to  describe  the  work- 
ing of  this  curious  bow,  but,  with  the  aid  of 
the  illustration,  I  will  try  to  make  it  iutelh- 

^'The  bow  itself  is  made  of  three  stronf', 
separate  pieces  of  bamboo,  overlapping  each 
other  like  tin;  plates  of  a  carnage-spring, 
which  ind(!ed  it  exactly  resembles,  ibis  is 
mounted  on  a  stoctk,  and,  sis  the  bow  is  in- 
tended for  wall  defence,  it  is  supported  in 
the  middle  by  a  pivot.  So  far,  we  haves  a 
simple  crossbow;  we  li.ave  now  to  see  how 
the  repeating  machinery  is  coastructed. 
Upon  the  upper  surface  of  the  stock  lies  an 
ol)long  box,  which  we  will  call  the  "slide. 
li,  is  just  wide  and  long  enough  to  contain 
the  arrows,  and  is  ontn  al)ovo,  so  ;is  to  allow 
them  to  be  dropped  into  it.    When  in  the 


slide,  the  arrows  necessarily  lie  one  .above 
the  other,  and,  in  order  to  prevent  them 
from  being  jerked  out  of  the  slide  by  the 
shock  of  the  bowstring,  the  opening  can  be 
closed  by  a  little  wooden  shutter  which 
slides  over  it.  „,,,., 

Through  the  lower  part  of  the  slide  a 
tranverae  slit  is  cut,  and  the  bowstring  if 
led  through  this  cut,  so  that  the  string 
presses  the  slide  upon  the  nUwk.  Now  v/e 
come  to  the  lever.  It  isshapedlike  the  (Jreek 
letter  ir  the  cross-piece  forming  the  handle. 
The  lever  is  jointed  to  the  stock  by  an  iron 
pin  or  bolt,  and  to  the  slide  by  another  bolt. 
Now.  if  the  lever  be  worked  to  and  fro,  the 
slide  is  pushed  backward  and  Ibrward  along 
the  stock,  but  without  any  other  result. 

Supposing  that  we  wish  to  make  the 
lever  draw  the  bow,  we  have  only  to  cnt  a 
notch  in  the  under  part  of  the  slit  through 
which  the  string  is  led.  As  the  slide;  passes 
along  the  stock,  the  string  by  its  own  pres- 
sure falls  into  the  notch,  and  is  drawn  back, 
together  with  the  slide,  thus  bending  the 
bow.  Still,  however  much  we  may  work 
the  lever,   the    string  will  remain  in  the 


notch,  and  must  therefore  be  thrown  out  by 
a  kind  of  trigger.  This  is  self-acting,  and  is 
equally  shnple  and  ingenious.  Anniediately 
under  the  notch  which  holds  the  string,  a 
wooden  peg  plays  loosely  through  a  hole. 
When  the  slide  is  thrust  forward  and  the 
string  falls  into  the  notch,  it  pushes  tlie  peg 
out  of  the  hole.  But  when  the  lever  and 
slide  are  drawn  backw.ard  to  theU-  full  ex- 
tent, the  lower  end  of  the  peg  strikes  arainst 
the  stock,  so  that  it  is  forced  violeully 
through  the  hole,  and  pushes  the  string  out 
of  the  notch. 

We  will  now  refer  to  the  illustration. 
Fig.  1  represents  the  bow  as  it  appears  after 
the  lever  and  slide  have  been  thrust  for- 
ward,  and  the  string  has  fallen  into  the 
notch.  Fis;-.  2  represents  it  as  it  ajipears 
when  the  lever  has  been  brought  back,  ami 
the  string  released. 

A  is  the  bow,  made  of  three  layers  of  male 
bamboo,  the  two  outer  being  the  longest,  it 
is  the  string.  This  is  made  of  very  thick  cat- 
gut, as  is  needed  to  withstand  the  amount 
of  friction  which  it  has  to  undergo,  and  the 
violent  shock  of  the  bow.  It  is  fastened  in  ti 
wondc^rfully  ingenious  manner,  by  a  "  hitch" 
rather  than  a  knot,  so  that  it  is  drawn  lighter 
in  proportion  to  the  tension.  It  passes  round 
the  end  of  the  bow,  through  a  hole,  and 
then  presses  upon  itself. 

0  o  show  the  stock,  and  i>  is  the  slide.  ). 
is  the  opening  of  the  slide,  through  which  tin' 
arrows  are  introduced  into  it,  and  it  is 
shown  as  partially  closed  by  the  little  shut- 
ter F.  The  lever'is  seen  at  (»,  together  with 
the  two  pins  which  connect  it  with  the  sloek 
and  the  slide.  II  shows  th<s  notch  in  the  slide 
which  receives  the  string.  I  is  the  jiivot  on 
which  the-  weapon  rcHts,  k  i.s  the  hi!ndli\:"ul 
L  the  place  whence  the  arrows  issue. 


CHINESE  SWORDS. 


1435 


If  the  reader  should  have  followed  this 
descripliou  ciirufully,  he  will  sec  that  the 
only  limit  to  the  rapidity  ot'fliu  is  thequick- 
lU'Hn  with  which  the  lever  can  be  worked  to 
and  I'ro.  As  it  is  thrust  forward,  the  string 
dro|)s  into  its  notch,  the  tiigger-pefj  is  set, 
anil  an  arrow  falls  with  its  butt  Just  in  front 
of  the  string.  When  it  is  drawn  sharply 
back,  the  string  is  released  by  the  trij;ccr- 
pejr,  tlio  arrow  is  propelled,  and  another 
falls  into  its  place.  W,  therefore,  a  boy  be 
k(fpt  at  work  supplying  the  slide  with  ar- 
rows, a  constant  stream  of  missiles  can  be 
poured  from  this  weajwn. 

The  arrows  are  very  much  like  the  "  bolts  " 
of  the  old  English  cross-bow.  They  are 
armed  with  heavy  and  solid  steel  heads,  and 
are  feathered  in  a  very. ingenious  manner. 
The  feathers  are  so  sliglit,  that  at  first  sight 
they  appear  as  if  they  were  mere  black 
scratciios  on  the  shiii't.  They  are,  however, 
feathers,  pr<)j(;cting  larely  the  fiftieth  of  an 
ineli  from  the  shalt,  but  being  arranj^edina 
slightly  spiral  form  so  as  to  catch  the  air, 
and  impart  a  rotatory  motion  to  the  .arrow. 
Jiy  the  side  of  the  cross-bow  on  Fig.  2  is 
set' n  a  bundle  of  the  arrows 


The  strength  of  this  bow  is  very  great, 

;  Id.    It 
possesses'  l)Ut"  little    powers  of   aim,  and 


though  ngt  so  great  as  1  have  been  told 


against  a  single  and  moving  adversary 
would  bo  useless.  IJut  for  the  purpose  for 
which  it  is  designed,  namely,  a  wall-piece 
which  will  pour  a  series  of  missiles  upon  a 
body  of  men,  it  is  a  very  eflicient  weapon, 
and  can  make  itself  felt  even  ar;ainst  the 
modern  ride.  The  range  of  this  bow  is 
said  to  be  four  hundred  yards,  but  I  should 
think  that  its  extreme  effective  range  is  at 
the  most  from  sixty  to  eighty  yards,  and  that 
even  in  that  ease  it  would  be  almost  useless, 
except  against  large  bodies  of  soldiers. 

Of  swords  the  Chinese  have  an  abundant 
variety.  Some  are  single-handed  swords, 
and  there  is  one  device  by  which  two  swords 
are  carried  in  the  same  sheath,  and  are 
used  one  in  each  hand.  I  have  seen  the 
two-sword  exercise  performed,  and  can 
understand  that,  when  opposed  to  any  per- 
son not  acquainted  with  the  weapon,  the 
Chinese  swordsman  would  be  irresistible. 
Hut  in  spite  of  the  two  swords,  which  lly 
about  the  wielder's  head  like  the  sails  of  a 
mill,  and  the  agility  with  which  the  Chinese 
fencer  leaps  about  and  presents  first  one 
si(l(!  and  tlu'U  the  other  to  his  antagonist,  I 
cannot  but  thinlv  that  any  ordinary  fencer 
would  be  able  to  keep  himself  out  of  reach, 
and  also  to  get  in  his  point,  in  spite  of  the 
whirling  blades  of  his  adversary. 

Two-handed  swords  are  much  used.  One 
of  these  weapons  in  my  collection  is  five 
feet  six  inches  in  length,  and  weighs  rather 
more  th.an  four  pounds  and  a  quarter.  The 
blade  is  three  feet  in  length  and  two  inches 
in  width=  The  thickness  of  metal  at  the 
back  is  a  quarter  of  an  inch  near  the  hilt, 


diminishing  slightly  toward  the  point.  The 
whole  of  the  blade  has  a  very  slight  curve. 
The  handle  is  beautifully  wrapped  with 
narrow  braid,  so  as  to  form  an  intricate 
pattern. 

There  is  another  weapon,  the  blade  of 
which  exactly  resembles  that  of  the  two- 
handed  sword,  but  it  is  set  at  the  end  of  a 
Ion"  handle  some  six  or  seven  feet  in  length, 
so  Uiat.  although  it  will  inllict  a  fatal  wound 
when  it  docs  strike  an  enemy,  it  is  a  most 
unmanageable  implement,  and  must  take 
so  long  for  the  bearer  to  recover  himself,  in 
case  he  misses  his  blow,  that  he  would  bo 
quite  at  the  mercy  of  an  active  antagonist. 

Should  they  be  victorious  in  battle,  the 
Chinese  are  cruel  conquerors,  and  are  apt  to 
intlict  horrible  tortures,  not  only  upon  their 
prisoners  of  war,  but  even  upon  the  un- 
offending inhabitants  of  the  vanquished 
land.  Thejj  carry  this  love  for  torture  even 
into  civil  life,  and  display  a  horrible  ingenu- 
ity in  producing  the  greatest  possible  sufTer- 
iiig  with  the  least  apparent  means  of  inflict- 
ing it.  For  example,  one  of  the  ordinary 
punishments  in  China  is  the  compulsory 
kneeling  b;uc  legged  on  a  coiled  chaiii. 
This  does  not  sound  particularlv  dreadful, 
but  the  agony  that  is  caused  iH  indescribable, 
especially  as  two  officers  stand  by  the  sufl'erer 
and  prevent  him  from  seeking  even  a  tran- 
sient relief  by  shifting  his  posture,  Broken 
crockery  is  sometimes  substituted  for  the 
chain. 

The  most  common  punishment  in  China 
is  that  of  the  cangue,  a  sort  of  moveable 
pillory.  A  piece  of  wood,  some  four  feet 
square  and  nearly  four  inches  in  thickness, 
has  a  hole  in  the  middle,  through  which  the 
culprit's  head  is  n.assed.  The  machine  opens 
with  a  hinge,  ana  when  closed  is  locked,  and 
a  placard  designating  the  olfence  is  pasted 
on  it.  As  long  as  the  cangue  is  worn,  the 
unhappy  delinquent  cannot  feed  himself,  so 
that  he  would  be  starved  to  death  were  he 
not  fed  by  casual  contributions.  Fortu- 
nately, it  is  considered  a  meritorious  action 
to  feed  a  prisoner  in  the  cangue,  so  that 
little  risk  of  actual  starvation  is  run,  and 
the  principal  terror  of  the  cauguelies  in  the 
pain  caused  by  carrying  such  a  weight  upon 
the  neck  and  shoulders.  This  instrument  is 
often  worn  for  weeks  and  sometimes  for 
three  mouths,  which  is  the  extent  of  its 
legal  use. 

Finger  squeezing  is  another  torture  which 
is  frequently  used.  Four  pieces  of  bamboo 
are  tied  loosely  together  at  one  end,  and  a 
string  passes  through  the  other  ends,  so  ar- 
ranged that  by  drawing  it  they  can  be  pulled 
closely  together.  The  fingers  are  introduced 
between  tlie  bamboos,  and  by  pulling  at  the 
string  they  can  be  crushed  almost  to  pieces. 
This  torture  is  often  employed  by  the  man- 
darins, when  endeavoring  to  extort  money 
from  persons  whom  they  suspect  of  con- 
cealing their  wealth.  The  ankles  are  squeezed 


^  ■  1 1 


1430 


CHINA. 


after  a  similar  fashion,  only  in  this  case  the 
bamboos  are  much  larger.  Hoth  those  modes 
of  tortiiic  are  shown  in  the  illustration  on 
tht!  next  page. 

Most  of  the  so-called  minor  tortures,  i.  e. 
those  which  are  not  directly  ainieil  at  life,  are 
employed  for  the  purpose  of  extorting  money. 
The  fac:l  in,  the  niandarins  who  are  set  over 
districts  only  have  a  limited  term  of  office, 
and  may,  indeed,  be  transferred  at  any  time. 
As  during  their  term  of  ofllco  they  have 
to  mnke  up  a  certain  sum  demanded  by  their 
Bupciiors,  and  have  also  to  keep  up  cou- 
.«ii(lerable  state  on  a  nominal  salary,  it  follows 
that  they  oppress  the  people  to  the  utmost  of 
their  power,  looking  upon  them  merely  in 
the  light  of  tax-nroducing  animals.  It  is, 
therefore,  no  wonder  that  a  Chinaman  of  any 
ability  strives  for  literary  rank,  and  the  priv- 
ilege of  wearing  the  button,  which  exempts 
him  from  arrest  except  by  imperial  order. 

Beating  with  the  bamboo  is  another  com- 
mon punishment.  There  are  two  kinds  of 
bamboo  for  this  purpose,  the  small  and  the 
large;  the  latter  being  capable  of  producing 
death  if  used  with  severity.  Indeed,  even 
the  lesser  bamboo,  if  the  blows  be  struck 
with  the  edge,  instead  of  the  flat, bruises  the 
flesh  so  completely  aa  to  bring  on  mortill- 
c^xtion,  of  wli*ch  the  sufferer  is  sure  to  die  in 
a  few  days.  This  punishment  is  chiefly  used 
by  the  peculativc  mandarins,  in  order  to 
(  xtort  money,  and  is  cmpU)yed  for  men  and 
women  alike';  the  only  difVcrenee  being  that 
tile  man  is  thrown  prostrate  on  the  ground, 
wliile  the  woman  suffers  in  a  kneeling 
posture. 

A  man  of  forethought,  however,  never 
suffers  much  from  the  bamboo,  and,  if  pos- 
sible, nothing  at  all.  In  the  former  case,  he 
bribes  the  executioner,  who  strikes  so  as  to 
produce  a  very  effective  sounding  blow,  but 
in  reality  inflicts  very  little  injury,  in  the 
latter  case,  ho  bribes  a  man  to  act  as  a  sub- 
stitute, and,  just  as  the  first  blow  is  about  to 
be  struck,  some  of  the  officers,  who  are  also 
bribed,  get  between  the  judge  and  the  culprit, 
while  the  latter  rolls  out  of  the  way,  ami  the 
substitute  takes  his  place.  A  similar  ruse  is 
enacted  at  the  completion  of  the  punishment. 
It  may  seem  strange  that  any  one  should  act 
as  a  substitute  in  such  a  business;  but  in 
China  men  care  little  for  their  skins,  or  even 
for  their  lives,  and  it  is  jiossible  to  purchase 
a  substitute  even  for  capital  punishment,  the 
chief  difficulty  being  not  to  bribe  the  sub- 
stitute, but  to  find  enough  money  to  bribe 
all  the  officials,  who  must  act  in  concert. 

Powerful  as  they  may  be,  the  mandarins 
have  not  all  the  power  of  life  and  death, 
though  they  can  inflict  punishments  which 
practically  lead  to  the  same  result  Mr. 
Milne  mentions  a  ca.se  of  this  kind.  Two 
men  had  been  arrested  in  the  act  of  robbing 
a  house  during  a  fire.  This  is  rightly  held 
to  be  the  most  heinous  kind  of  theft,  and  is 
generally  punished  with  decapitation.    The 


mandarin  of  tha  dlslrict  had  not  the  power 
to  inflict  deatli,  but  contrived  to  manage  ilial 
the  men  should  die.  Accordingly,  lie  lind 
two  tall  bamboo  cages  made,  pliu  ed  a  inim 
inside  each,  and  tied  him  by  his  tail  to  tlu; 
top  bars  of  the  cage.  The  cages  were  pladjd 
in  the  open  air,  In  charge  of  offucrs,  wlio 
wouhl  not  allow  any  communication  with  the 
offenilers.  The  natural  consequence  was, 
that  privation  of  food,  drink,  sleep,  and  usi 
of  any  kind,  together  with  exposure  to  tlie 
elements,  killed  the  men  as  ctt'ectually  as  tlie 
sword  of  the  executioner. 

A  modification  of  this  mode  of  punislinir nt 
is  by  covering  the  top  of  the  cage  with  a 
lioard  through  a  hole  in  which  the  luiui  of 
the  sufferer  passes.  It  is,  in  fact,  a  fixed 
cangue.  The  top  of  the  cage  is  adjusted  so 
that  the  man  is  forced  to  stand  on  tiptoe  ns 
he  Is  suspei.rled  by  the  neck.  His  hands 
being  bound  behind  him,  relief  is  inipossihie. 
This  mode  of  punishment  is  shown  in  llie 
lust  figure  but  one,  on  the  right-hand  side. 

The  other  figures  speak  for  themselves, 
except  that  of  the  kneeling  figure  with  siiaki  9 
coiled  round  his  body.  These  snakes  arc 
tul)es  of  soft  metal,  fashioned  in  the  s-liiipe 
of  snakes  with  open  mouths.  They  are  c()He<l 
round  the  naked  limbs  and  body  of  ilio 
sufi'erer,  and  boiling  water  is  then^joured  into 
them,  jnoducing  the  most  horrible  torture. 

As  to  cajiitaT  punishments,  they  are  in- 
flicted in  various  way.'*.  The  niolle  that  is 
tliought  to  be  the  least  terrible  is  the  coin- 
niand  to  commit  suicide,  because  in  thatcui'e 
they  ciiii  avoid  the  mangling  of  the  body,  and 
so  make  theiV  appearance  in  the  spirit  world 
whole  and  entire.  This  is  a  jirivilege  only 
accorded  to  officers  of  very  high  rank,  and  is 
conferred  upon  them  by  sending  the  "silken 
cord."  No  cord  is  really  sent,  but  the  man- 
date implies  the  instrument  of  death.  When 
it  is  received,  the  doomed  man  lakes  some  of 
Ids  nearest  relatives  and  most  valued  friends 
to  his  house,  fastens  the  silken  cord  to  a 
beam,  places  himself  on  a  stool,  pas^sep  the 
noose  round  his  neck,  and  then  leaps  off  the 
stool,  and  so  dies.  Officers  of  lower  rank, 
when  they  sec  that  they  will  probably  he  con- 
demned to  death,  generally  anticipate  their 
sentence  by  hanging  themselves  on  their 
own  responsibility. 

For  criminals  of  no  etatns,  stiangulntion 
is  the  mode  of  death  most  preferred.  It  is 
accomplished  in  a  manner  exactly  resembling 
the  Spanish  garrote.  Tlie  criminal  stands 
with  his  back  to  a  post,  through  Mliieh  a  hole 
is  bored  at  the  level  of  his  neck.  The  two 
ends  of  a  cord  are  passed  through  the  hole, 
the  lotip  embracing  the  man's  neck.  The 
ends  are  then  twisted  round  a  stick,  and.  by 
a  few  rapid  turns  of  flic  stick,  the  man  is 
killed.  The  rapidity  of  the  process  is  such 
that  Mr.  Lockhart  mentions  an  instance 
where  he  and  a  friend  saw  a  file  of  soldiers 
coining  along,  carrying  a  pole  and  a  pinioned 
man  in  a  basket    They  stopped,  lashed  the 


^ 


m 


^i 


(1.)    MANDAUIN   AND  WIKK.    (See  paRC  H20.) 


(i)    MODES  OF  TOKTUllK.    (Sec  p*uu  U36.) 
(1487) 


::  I 


11 -J 


■l\\\ 


i 

Is 
It 


li .- 


VARIOUS  PUNISHMENTS. 


1488 


polo  to  an  unrijjht  post,  took  tite  man  out  of 
tho  bimkot,  titnl  liiin  to  tho  polo,  and  ntranglod 
him  bcfoio  tho  foreigners couUI  tliidout  what 
thoy  wcro  doinj,'.  The  utrnngo  part  of  the 
busliieHS  WHii  that  tho  officials  had  bribed  tho 
ap|)aront  culprit  and  his  friends,  as  they 
wanted  to  make  tho  foreigners  beliovo  that 
ho  was  an  opium  smuggler,  and  tiiat  they 
were  doing  their  best  to  stop  tlio  trade. 
Truly  it  is  a  strange  country. 

To  beheading  tlio  Chinese  have  the 
strongest  aversion,  because  thoy  shrink  from 
tho  idea  of  appearing  headless  in  tho  next 
■  world,  and  thoy  will  therefore  do  all  in  their 
power  to  avoid  it.  A  most  remarkable  In- 
stance of  the  extent  to  which  a  Chinaman 
will  go  to  avoid  decapitation  is  given  In  the 
following  extract  from  a  letter  to  an  Indian 
newspaper.  Tho  man  was  a  woll-kuown 
and  most  abandoned  criminal,  who  with  his 
wife  had  been  arrested. 

"  On  his  trial  before  his  Judge  he  reftised 
to  criminate  himself,  although  repeatedly 
scourged  until  his  bock  was  raw.  If  a 
female  witness  falls  In  giving  satisfactory 
evidence  In  a  court  of  justice,  she  is  beaten 
with  a  leather  ttrap  across  the  mouth.  His 
wife,  desirous  of  sparing  her  husband,  re- 
ftised to  give  evidence,  but  afler  two  or  three 
applications  of  strap  her  courage  gave  way 
She  confessed  his  guilt.  Tho  prisoner  was 
then  sentenced  to  decapitation,  — deemed  by 
the  t!hincse  to  be  the  most  severe  of  pun- 
ishments, because  they  imagine  that  If  a 
man  leaves  this  world  minus  any  of  his 
members,  he  appears  In  the  same  condition 
m  tho  next.  The  culprit,  therefore,  prayed 
to  be  cruciiled  Instead  of  being  beheaded. 

"  Tho  cross  was  of  the  Latin  form,  the 
foot  bemg  inserted  in  a  stout  plank,  and  the 
crimmal,  standing  on  a  board,  had  nails 
driven  through  his  feet,  and  his  hands 
stretched  and  nailed  to  the  cross-beam.  Ills 
legs  were  fastened  to  the  cross  with  an  iron 
chain,  and  his  arms  bound  with  cords,  and 
on  the  cord  round  his  waist  was  inserted  a 
piece  of  wood  on  which  was  written  his 
name  and  offence;  a  siniilar  piece  on  his 
right  arm  contained  his  sentence,  namely, 
to  remain  on  tho  cro8s  night  and  day  until 
ho  died;  another  on  his  left  arm  had  the 
name  of  tho  judge,  with  his  titles  and 
offlces. 

"  Tho  criminal  was  nailed  to  tho  cross  in- 
side tho.Yamun  in  the  presence  of  tho  mag- 
istrate, and  then  carried  by  four  coolies  to 
one  of  the  principal  thoroughfares  leading 
from  the  city,  where  he  was  left  urlng  the 
(lay,  but  removed  at  night  inside  the  prison 
for  fear  of  his  friends  attempting  to  rescue 


I  tho  jail  compound.  No  ono  was  allowed  to 
I  supply  him  with  food  or  drink,  and  durina 
the  day  there  was  quite  a  fair  in  IVont  of  the 
cross,  people  being  attracted  from  a  dis- 
tance,  and  tho  sweetmeat  venders  drivinir  a 
large  trodc.  * 

"On  S.iturday  he  was  still  alive,  when  tho 
Taotal  was  appealed  to  by  a  forcigntr  to  put 
an  end  to  the  wretch's  suileriiiKs,  and  ho 
immediately  gave  orders  that  tho  vinegar 
should  be  administered,  which  ho  expected 
would  produce  Immediate  death;  but  tho 
result  was  otherwise,  and  at  sunset,  when 
the  cross  was  taken  within  the  jail,  two  sol- 
diers with  stout  bamboos  broke  both  his 
leas,  and  then  strangled  him." 

It  is  no  matter  of  wonder  that  tho  woman 
confessed  her  husband's  guilt,  for  the  face  is 
sometimes  beaten  with  a  hard  leather  strap 
until  the  jaws  are  broken,  and  the  whole  of 
the  iips  fall  from  them.  In  all  probability 
she  was  quite  as  guilty  n«  her  husband,  so 
that  she  was  not  altogether  deserving  of 


'% 


lum,  and  ogain  carried  forth  at  daylight  in 
charge  of  two  soldiers.  He  was  crucified  at 
noon  on  the  Wednesday,  and  Mr.  Jones  con- 
versed with  him  at  five  in  the  evening.  He 
complained  of  a  pain  in  tho  chest,  and 
thirst.  On  Thursday  he  slept  for  some 
hours,  when  the  cross  was  laid  down  within 


ecapltatlon  is  always  conducted  with 
much  judicial  solemnity,  and,  as  a  rule,  is 
restricted  to  certain  seasons  of  tho  year 

A  ^°i^^^  batclies  of  criminals  are  exe- 
cuted. There  are,  however,  occasional  ex- 
ceptions to  the  rule.  The  instrument  em- 
ployed is  a  sword  made  expressly  for  tho 
purpose.  It  is  a  two-handed  weapon,  very 
heavy,  and  with  a  very  broad  blade.  Tho 
executioners  pride  themselves  on  their  skill 
in  Its  management,  and.  In  order  to  show 
thelf  powers,  will  draw  a  black-ink  lino 
round  a  turnip,  and  sever  it  at  a  blow,  the 
cut  never  passing  on  either  side  of  the  line. 
Before  a  man  is  admitted  to  be  an  execu- 
tioner, he  is  obliged  to  prove  his  ability  bv 
this  test  "' 

The  criminal  is  carried  to  the  place  of 
execution  in  a  bamboo  cage,  and  by  his  side 
IS  tho  basket  in  which  his  head  will  be  re- 
moved. Ho  is  pinioned  in  a  very  effective 
manner.  Tho  middle  of  a  long  and  thin  rope 
Is  passed  across  the  back  of  his  neck,  and  the 
ends  are  crossed  on  the  chest,  and  brought 
under  the  arms.  They  are  then  twisted 
round  tho  arms,  tho  wrists  tied  togetlicr  be- 
hind the  back,  and  the  ends  fastened  to  the 
portion  of  rope  upon  the  neck.  A  slip  of 
paper  containing  his  name,  crime,  and  sen- 
tence is  fixed  to  a  reed,  and  stuck  at  the 
back  of  his  head.  See  illustration  No.  I, 
on  page  1451. 

On  arriving  at  tho  place  of  execution,  the 
officials  remove  the  paper,  and  take  it  to  the 
presiding  mandarin,  who  writes  on  it  in  red 
ink  the  warrant  for  execution.  The  paper 
is  then  replaced,  a  rope  loop  is  passed  over 
the  head  of  the  culprit,  and  tho  end  given  to 
an  assistant,  who  draws  the  head  forward  so 
as  to  stretch  tho  neck,  while  a  second  assis- 
tant holds  the  bodjr  from  behind;  and  in  a 
moment  the  head  is  severed  from  the  bo(ly. 
The  head  is  taken  away,  and  generally  buns 


ik 


m 


1440 


cniNA. 


lip  In  ft  bnmltoo  cdjrn  ncnr  thfl  nccne  of  the 
rrlmc,  with  a  Inln-l  announ<in«  the  nanio 
1111(1  ()IU'tu<i  of  the  (Timiiinl,  and  the  niinie 
of  till!  iiii'Hidiiig  nmiidarin  by  wlioso  or- 
der \w  wim  oxticutcMl.  In  »"«"<'  1""'^^''' 
tlifso  liciidd  nro  uiipK'nwiiitly  niimi;rou«. 
In  ninny  <aHc»  the  ropo  mid  oHsiHtants  uro 
not  cnni'loyfd.  .      .     ,.  ,         i 

Tluiv  js  ovon  alowff  depth  ol  doRrada- 
tion  llwin  inero  beheadinff.  TIiih  Ih  ealled 
"cuttin.'  into  Hir.nll  pieees."  Uetore  strikin),' 
the  liilnl  Idow,  the  exeentioner  ninken  long 
bill  not  deep  ruts  on  the  ineo  and  In  all  tlic 
llcHby  partH  of  tlie  l)ody,  takinc  care  to  avoit] 
the  eiiicf  blood-veHftelB,  BO  that  wlicn  the 
culprit  is  released  by  the  Iorh  of  his  head, 
ho  niav  enter  the  next  world  not  only  with- 
out a  head,  but  with  Bcarcely  any  llcBh  on 

liiH  bonea.  ,  ^       ,  ,  .       -n 

The  last  of  the  pnnishmcnta  wliich  will 
be  mentioned  in  this  work  is  lliat  of  sawing 
asunder,  a  punishnient  which  of  lato  years 
hfis  been  but  rarely  iutlictod,  and  wo  may 
hope  is  dyinj^  out,  tliouKh  in  reality  it  does 
not  eause  nearly  as  much  pain  to  the  Bufferer 
as  many  of  the  minor  punishments.  The 
mode  ill  which  it  is  performed  may  be  seen 
from  an  anecdote  related  by  Mr.  Fleming, 
in  the  work  which  has  been  already  quoted. 
There  was  a  distinguished  Imperial  ofllcer 
named  Sun-kwei  who  was  taken  prisoner  by 
the  rebel  leader  Kih-yung.  Knowing  the 
ftbilitv  of  his  prisoner,  the  rebel  leader 
olTere'd  to  spare  his  life  on  the  condition 
thill  he  would  accept  a  command  in  his  arniy. 
Sun-kwei  flatly  retused 


,jui|-n...    . t"  t^"  ""'  ^''3'"?  *''"' 

as  ho  was  defeated  he  must  die,  for  that  to 
take  service  against  his  emperor  was  imi)08- 
sible  Bribes,  threats,  and  promises  were  of 
no  avail,  and  at  last  Kih-yung  ordered  his 
prisoner  to  be  sawn  asunder.  _ 

The  executioners  began  to  exorcise  their 
dreadful  office,  but  with  all  their  endeavors 
could  not  make  the  saw  enter  the  body  of 
their  victim,  who  only  jeered  at  them  for 
their  i<'norancc  in  not  knowing  how  to  saw 
a  man  asunder.  At  last  Sun-kwei  was  good 
eiiou'di  to  instruct  them  in  their  Insincss. 
"  You  dead  dogs  and  .slaves,"  said  he, "  if  you 
would  saw  a  man  asunder,  you  should  com- 
nress  his  body  between  two  planks;  but  how 
could  you  know  it?"  The  men  followed  lii.s 
advice  and  sawed  him  and  the  planks  asun- 
der at 'the  same  time,  he  never  relenting, 
but  scoffing  at  them  to  the  last  moment. 

It  is  with  some  reluctance  tb  it  1  describe, 
however  briellv,  these  liorrible  scenes,  but 
to  pass  over  them  would  be  to  omit  some  ol 
the  most  characteristic  traits  of  this  strange 
people.  Those  who  know  the  Chinese  na- 
tion will  be  aware  that  I  have  touched  the 
subject  very  lightly,  and  that  the  most  rc- 
voliiiig  modes  of  punishment  have  not  been, 


and  for  obvious  rcnions  cannot  be  mentioned 
tttall.  ,    , 

Although  the  nndidnrin*  nro  gcnernllv 
bated  by  those  over  whom  they  nre  iilivced, 
there  are  exceptloim  to  the  usual  rule,  and 
men  are  found  who  resist  the  temptation  of 
extorting  money  from  the  people,  —  a  temp, 
tatlon  wliich  is  rendered  the  stronger  lie- 
cause  a  mandarin  who  can  reiiort  that  his 
district  has  paid  a  very  largi-  sum  into  the 
Imnerial  treasury  is  sure  of  promotion,  and 
if  he  has  "  scpieezed  "  a  large  tribute  out  of 
a  district  that  previously  had  paid  but  a 
small  sum, ho  may  almost  re<koii  on  iibtain- 
ing  the  coveted  peacock's  feather,  with  nil 
its  privileges.  ,  , .    ,  ,       .   , 

When  an  honest  and  kind-honrtcd  man- 
darin vacates  his  post  at  the  expiration  of 
his  term  of  office,  the  iieoplc  snbseiilie  to 
present  him  with  an  umbrella  of  state,  called 
"The  Umbrella  of  Ten  Tliousand  of  lh(. 
People."  It  is  made  of  red  silk  niid  satin, 
with  three  rows  of  flounces,  and  bears  upon 
it  the  names  of  the  chief  donors  written  in 
golden  characters.  Wlien  he  takes  his  for- 
mal  leave  of  office,  the  umbrella  is  carried  in 
procession  by  his  attendants,  and  he  is  fol- 
lowed for  a  certain  distance  by  those  who 
presented  it. 

The  highest  honorary  reward  of  this  kind 
that  can  he  given  is  an  outer  garmcnl  ninde 
of  the  same  material  as  the  iinibrelln,  niul 
also  decorated  with  the  names  of  the  priiiei- 
pid  donors.  This  robe  of  honor  is  carried  in 
procession,  hung  within  a  kind  of  jiavilioii 
that  all  may  see  it,  and  accompanied  by  a 
band  of  music.  Such  a  robe  is  very  seldom 
presented,  and  tlic  recipient  natu:  '.ly  values 
It  very  highly. 

AVhile  treating  of  lionorary  rewards,  one 

particular  kind  must  be  mentioned.     If  ii 

man  distinguishes  liimseli' greatly,  and  feels 

that  he  is   under  great  obligation  to  some 

person  who  has  no  real  claim   on   bini,  he 

will  solicit  some  high  title  from  the  emperor, 

and   then   ask  pe.mission  to   tiansler  it  to 

his    benefactor.      Thus    it    has    frequently 

happened  that  a  man,  without  any  r:nik  lA 

ids  own,  has  taken  upon  himself  the  edncii- 

tion  of  a  young  lad   of  promising  abilities 

and  has  been  afterward  rewarded  by  lindiii;,' 

himself  raised  even  to  a  higher  nink  thiiii 

that  of  his  jirotnic.    Sometimes,  when  a  mini 

who  lias  been  thus  educated  is  presented  tu 

a  higher  title,  the  emperor  bestows  on  his 

benolactor   the  lower  rank  from  wliieh  lie 

liaa  been  raised.    Thus  it  will  be  sein  tliiit 

in  this  country  every  incentive  is  employei 

to  promote  education  among  the  proiilo,iiii(l 

that  not  only  the  educated  man  obtains  tlie 

reward  which  his  powers  liave  earned  but 

that  those  by  whom  he  was  educated  have 

their  share  iii  his  honors. 


CHAPTER  CLV. 

CHINA  —  Continued. 
■OCTAL  CnAnACTEniSTICS. 

OPTOM  HtOK  wo- HtNODLAB  RESULT  OF  THE  IIAniT-.IOD«  OF  rdlNfl  TOU  OPIITM  Pn-K  -  TOO  AC  O 
»M.)KIN..-T1I1C  WATKU  I-II-B  -  WEKil.TS  AND  MICAHUKRH  -  TUB  »TKK1,YAI11)  A.M.  ITS  tgK«- 
lU.AT-I.IKR  IN  CIIINA-COIIMOHANT  FWIIINO -FIHII  HVKAHINd  -  CATCHING  HHII  WITH  THE  KKKT 
-Tin;  IWV.K  nOAT8-A<ll.I(MM,T..nE-M,.I.E  OF  IBKKlATI,>N-clilNKHEMlBIOANl.INHTm-MEVrH 
-A  HK.I.Kl.L  VIOLINrnT-CHINKHR  SIN.ilNO-ART  IN  CIIWA- POHCKLAIW-CABVI.VO  IN  IVOHY 
ANI)  JAKE  — MAdIC   MlUltUila  —  IlKSi'KCT  TO  A(1K. 


Wk  will  ronchido  this  subject  with  n  short 
account  of  tiio  miHcuUivncous  mauucra  and 
cusldins  of  tile  Chinese. 

Ainon^'  the  chief  of  their  charnclcristic 
customs  is  opium  smoltinj?,  a  vice  whicii  is 
tcnihiy  iircvalcut,  hut  which  is  not  so  uni- 
vcrsiiily  injurious  na  is  often  slated.  Of 
course,  tliose  wlio  have  allowed  themselves 
to  he  enslaved  by  it  l)ccome  gradually  de- 
hascil,  init  the  proportion  of  those  who  "do  so 
is  very  small,  though,  by  the  terril)le  sijjht 
whicli  they  present,  they  are  brought  promi- 
nently into  notice.  It  seems,  mor<!over,  that 
the  (|u;nitily  c(msumed  at  a  time  is  not  of  so 
nnu'h  importiuicc  as  the  regularity  of  the 
habit. 

JiCt  a  man  once  fall  into  (ho  way  of  smok- 
ing opium,  though  it  be  but  one  pipe,  at  a 
certain  hour  of  the  day,  that  pipe  will  bo  an 
absolute  necessity,  aiid  ho  takes  it.  not  so 
nuich  to  procure  pleasure,  as  to  allay  the 
horribly  painful  craving  from  which  he  suf- 
fers, in  lact,  a  man  <  estroys  his  health  by 
opium  smoking  in  (>hina,  niuch  ns  a  drunk- 
ard doi  s  in  England,  not  so  much  by  taking 
iinmodcralc  doses  occasionally,  but  by  nuik- 
ing  a  Iiahit  of  taking  small  doses  repeatedly. 
From  such  a  habit  us  this  very  few  have  tlie 
courage  to  break  themselves,' the  powers  of 
their  mind  being  shuttered  as  well  as  those 
of  the  body. 

A  confirmed  opium  smoker  really  cannot 
exist  beyond  a  certain  time  without  the 
deadly  drug,  and  those  who  are  forced  to 
exert  themselves  are  generally  j)rovided 
with  Bome  opium  jiills,  which  they  take  in 
order  to  give  them  atreugth  untirthey  v.iw 


obtain  the  deoired  pipe.  An  anecdote  iihis- 
trative  of  this  practice  is  narrated  l)v  Mr. 
Cobbold  in  his  "  Pictures  of  the  Chinese  ":— 

"  A  small  s.alesman,  or  jiedler,  was  seen 
t<iiling  along  with  great  ditliculty  through 
the  gates  of  Ningpo,  as  if  straining  every 
nerve  to  reach  some  desinid  i)oiut.  He  was 
seen  to  stagger  and  fall,  and  his  luindle  flew 
from  him  out  of  his  reach.  Whilij  many 
pass  by,  some  good  Samaritan  cnnies  to  him, 
lifts  up  his  head,  and  asks  w  hat  is  the  matter, 
and  what  he  can  do  for  him.  lie  has  just 
strength  to  whisper,  '  My  good  friend, 
please  to  untie  that  bundle;  you  will  find 
a  small  box  in  the  centre;  give  me  two  or 
three  of  the  pills  which  are  in  it,  and  I  shall 
be  all  right.'  It  was  soon  done;  the  opium 
j)illa  had  tlieir  desired  etVect,  and  ho  was 
soon  al)le  to  rise  and  pursue  his  journey  to 
his  inn." 

This  most  graphically  describes  the  ex- 
treme state  of  exhaustion  which  conu-s  on  if 
the  usual  period  of  taking  the  pipe  has 
passt'd  by.  The  pedler  thoughi,  no  doubt, 
lie  had  strength  lust  to  re.acb  his  inn,  where 
he  would  have  thrown  himself  upon  a  bed 
and  called  tor  the  opium  pipe;  but  he  mis- 
calculated by  n  few  minutes  his  power  of 
endurance,  and  the  pills  (often  resorted  to 
in  like  cases  of  extremity),  when  supplied 
him  by  his  friend,  perhaps  saved  him  from 
an  untimely  end.  "Very  similar  scenes  have 
happened  to  foreigners  travelling  in  sedan 
chairs  through  the  country,  the  bearers  hav- 
ing been  obliged  to  stop  and  lake  a  little  of 
the  opimn,  in  order  to  prevent  complete 
esb.av.stio!!.    A   long  hour  or  more,  in  the 


(l«l) 


1442 


CHINA. 


micWle  of  the  dny,  has  frequently  to  be  al- 
h)wed.  nominally  for  the  sake  of  dinner  and 
rest,  but  really,'  in  some  instances,  for  the 
opium  pipe. 

The  pipe  which  is  used  for  smoking  opium 
is  not  in  the  least  like  that  which  is  em- 
ployed for  tobacco.  The  stem  is  about  as 
large  as  an  ordinary  otlice-niUr,  and  it  has 
a  hole  near  one.  >n\d.  into  which  the  shank  ot 
the  howl  is  (ixed.  The  bowl  itself  is  about 
as  larrre  as  a  Ribstone  pippin,  and  nearly  ol 
the  sVuni)  shape,  the  bud  representing  the 
tiny  aperture  in  which  the  opium  is  placed, 
and  the  stalk  representing  the  shank  which 
fits  into  the  stem.    These  pipes  are  made  ot 


various  materials,  some 


beinii  mere  bamboo 


and  wood,  while  others  have  bowls  of  the 
finest  porcelain,  and  the  stem  richly  en- 
amelk-d.  Mv  own  specimen  has  the  stem 
twenty  inches  in  length,  and  an  inch  and  a 
half  in  diameter,  the  bore  not  being  largo 
enough  to  .admit  an  ordinary  crowquill. 
The  bowl  is  of  some  light-colored  wood, 
well  varnished,  and  covered  with  land- 
scape scenes  in  bliick  lines.  Although  it 
has  not  been  in  use  for  many  years,  it  still 
smells  strongly  of  opium,  showing  that  it 
had  been  salu'rated  with  the  fumes  of  the 
drug  before  it  came  into  my  possc-ssiou. 

The  mode  of  using  it  is  as  follows;  The 
.smoker  has  a  couch  prepared,  together  with 
a  little  lamp,  and  his  usual  sujiply  of  the  pre- 
pared opium.  lie  l.avs  his  head  on  tlio  pil- 
low, with  a  long,  needle-like  implement 
places  over  the  aperture  of  the  bowl  a  little 
piece  of  the  opium,  about  as  large  as  a  mus- 
tard seed,  holds  it  to  the  fianie  of  the  lamp, 
and,  with  a  long  and  steady  inspiration,  the 
whole  of  the  oi)ium  is  drawn  into  the  lungs 
in  tliQ  state  of  vapor.  The  smoke  is  re- 
tained for  a  few  seconds,  and  then  expelled. 
The  generality  of  opium  smokers  are  con- 
tent with  one  i>ipe,  but  the  votai-y  of  the 
drug  will  sometimes  take  as  many  as  twelve 
in  succession  before  he  is  completely  under 
the  iutluence  of  the  opium.  As  he  finislies 
the  last  morsel  of  o])ium,  the  pipe  falls  from 
liis  hand,  and  he  p.osses  into  that  dreamland 
I'or  which  he  has  bart-^red  everything  that 
makes  life  precious. 

The  terrible  scenes  which  have  so  often 
been  related  take  place  for  the  most  part  at 
the  opium  shops,  places  wliich  are  nomi- 
nally ill<;'.*l,  but  which  carry  on  their  trade 
by  payment  of  periodical  bribes  to  the  rul- 
ing ollici.il  of  the  place.  In  Tien-tsin  alone 
tliere  were  upwards  of  three  hundred  of 
these  shops,  in  which  opium  could  he  pur- 
chased or  sold  wholesale,  or  could  be  refined 
for  smoking,  and  consumed  on  the  promises. 

There  is  only  one  redeeming  iioint  in 
opium  smoking,  namely,  that  it  does  not 
produce  the  brutal  scenes  which  too  often 
take  place  iu  the  gin  palaces  of  this  country^ 
Mr.  Flemin-'  remarks  of  this  vice:  "if 
opium  cmoking  's  a  great  evil  among  the 
C'liinese  peoi)lo,  as  it  is  no  doubt,  yet  they 


endeavcr  to  hide  it,  they  arc  ash.amcd  of  it, 
and  it  offends  neither  the  eyes  nor  the  hear- 
ing by  olfensive  publicity.  It  is  not  ma<le  a 
parade  of  by  night  and  by  day,  neither  does 
it  give  rise  to  mad  revcds  and  munlerous 
riots.  Its  ellects  on  the  health  r.iuy  be 
more  prejudicial  than  our  habits  of  ahho- 
hol  drinking,  but  yet  it  is  hard  to  see  any  of 
those  broken-down  creatures  that  one  reads 
about." 

Indeed,  the  Chinese  themselves,  who  are 
apt  to  drink  more  than  they  onglit  of  a  fiery 
liquid  called  samshu,  say  that  the  spirit  is  far 
more  injurious  than  the  drug 

AVe  will  now  see  how  the  Chinese  smoke 
tobacco.  The  pipe  which  is  ordinarily  used 
has  a  very  little  bowl  of  brass,  at  the  end  of 
a  slight  stem  about  as  large  as  a  drawing 
pencil.  The  bowl  is  .scircely  large  enough 
to  hold  the  half  of  a  boy's  playing  marble, 
and  is  almost  exactly  like  the  Jaiianesopipe, 
which  will  be  presently  descrilxMl.    • 

A  pipe  that  is  very  much  in  fashion,  espec- 
ially with  the  women,  is  a  kind  of  water-jupc 
made  of  brass,  and  enlarged  at  the  bottom 
so  as  to  stand  upright.  The  enlai-ged  por- 
tion is  filled  with  water,  through  which  the 
smoke  passes,  as  in  a  liookah.  The  little 
brass  tube  which  serves  the  purjiose  of  a 
bowl  can  be  drawn  out  of  the  body  of  the 
pipe,  so  as  to  be  charged  afresh;  and  iu  most 
cases  each  pipe  is  supplied  with  several 
bowls,  80  that  they  can  be  used  successively 
as  wanted.  Only  three  whilfs  are  taken  at 
a  time;  and  indeed  the  quantity  of  tobacco 
used  is  so  small,  that  more  would  lie  almost 
out  of  the  question.  For  this  pipe,  tobacco 
is  prepared  in  a  peculiar  manner,  a  minute 
quantity  of  arsenic  being  mixed  with  it. 

One  peculiarity  about  the  Chinese  is  their 
almost  universal  employment  of  weight  as 
a  measure.  With  the  exception  of  objects 
of  art,  nearly  everything  is  bought  by 
weight,  and  the  consequence  is,  that  the 
most  ab.surd  modes  of  inereasing  the  weight 
are  often  employed.  Fowls  and  ducks,  for 
example,  are  sold  alive  by  weight,  so  th.at 
the  dishonest  vendor  has  a  habit  of  cram- 
ming with  stones  before  he  brings  them  to 
market.  Fish  are  also  tMkeii  to  market 
while  still  livl.ig,  and  are  imprnved  in  ap- 
pearance by  being  blown  u\)  with  bellows, 
and  in  weight  by  being  crammed  with 
stones.  Through  the  lips  of  each  lish  a  ring 
is  passed,  so  that  it  may  be  at  once  taken 
from  the  water  and  huiig  ui)on  the  hook  of 
the  balance.  Nor  is  the  fish  dealer  particu- 
lar aa  to  the  sufferings  of  the  creatures  which 
he  sells,  and  he  has  not  the  least  hesitation 
iu  cutting  off  a  pound  or  two  in  ca^c!  his  cus- 
tomer does  not  wish  to  purchase  an  entire 
fish. 

In  these  transactions  Ihc  Chinese  do 
not  use  scales,  but  enqiloy  a  "steelyard" 
balance,  made  of  various  matt-rials  and 
various  sizes,  according  to  tlie  oltjcet  for 
which    it    was    intended.     That  which  is 


CHINESE  BOAT  LIFE. 


1448 


meant  for  ordiimry  market  use  is  made 
ot  wood,  and  is  marked  at  regular  dia- 
tanccs  by  small  brass  studs,  so  as  to  desig- 
nate the  exnet  places  on  whieli  the  weight 
should  bo  luius.  Those  which  arc  inten^'ed 
lor  hner  woik  arc  of  ivory. 

It  is  kept  in  a  case,  which  looks  aomethinf 
like  two  wooden  s|.oons  laid  upon  cacli 
other,  so  that  their  bowls  enclose  any  object 
place.l  l)(itw(.,.n  tiiem.  They  are  united  by 
a  rivet  or  pjvot,  which  passes  throuL'h  the 
ends  ot  the  handles,  enabling  them  to  be 
separalcd  at  will  by  drawing  them  sideways. 
In  onkr  to  prevent  them  from  coming  apart 
need  (ssly,  a  ring  of  bamboo  is  plaited 
locsily  round  the  stem,  so  that  when  it  is 
slipj)ed  toward  the  bowl,  the  two  halves 
of  the  case  are  kei)t  together,  and  when 
it  IS  r.hd  to  the  end  of  the  stem,  they  can  be 
separated.  In  one  of  the  halves  of  the  bowl 
a,  large  hole  is  scooped,  in  which  the  pan  of 
the  balance  hes.and  a  smaller  hole  is  cut  for 
the  mcijtion  of  the  weight.  The  steelyard 
itselt  lies  in  a  groove  cjit  along  the  inside  of 
the  stem.  The  reader  will  see  that  when 
the  ai)paratus  is  closed,  it  lies  very  coinpactl v 
and  can  be  stuck  into  the  girdle  ready  for 
use  at  any  moment. 

The  "  yard  "'  of  this  balance  is  of  ivory 
and  IS  longer  and  more  slender  than  tlie 
chopsticks  whieh  have  already  been  de- 
scribed. In  my  specimen  it  is  eleven  inches 
in  length,  and  (he  sixth  of  an  inch  in  diame-- 
terin  the  thickest  part.  Three  distinct  sets  of 
marks  are  made  upon  it,  and  there  are  three 
8ep;irate  Uilera.si)  that  when  the  weight  ex- 
ceeds the  ainoiint  which  can  be  measured 
wan  one  fulcrum,  the  second  or  third  ful- 
cium  can  be  used  with  its  own  set  of  marks. 
Ihe  anangenient  of  these  marks  is  a  fer- 
tile som-ce  of  (li.si)ute  among  the  Chinese. 
There  is  ik)  standard  by  which  all  the  bal- 
ances can  Ii(^  n'gulaled, "but  each  dealer  has 
his  own  l)al,inee,  and  his  own  arrangement 
of  the  gradations  upon  it.  The  natural  eon- 
sccpieiice  is,  that  cpiarrels  take  i)lace  with 
every  purchase.  A  vast  amount  of  time  is 
wasted  upon  disputes  which  might  easily  be 
avoided,  were  the  government  (o  establish 
a  slaiidaid  balance,  liy  which  all  others 
niiglil  be  grailuati'd.  Time,  however,  is  not 
ol  the  least  imporlauce  to  a  Chinese,  and  as 
a  prolonged  baru'aiii  has  a  positive  fascina- 
tion Ihv  him.  it  is  probable  that  such  a  regu- 
lation would  not  be  popular,  ai.d  would  in- 
deed he  evaded  in  every  mode  which  Chi- 
nese inwiiuity  could  invent.  The  larger 
steelyards  have  a  hook  whereon  to  hang  the 
article  to  bo  weighed,  but  those  which  are 
intended  for  weighing  small  and  valuable 
obp;cts  are  I'urnished  with  a  shallow  brass 
pan,  attached  to  the  end  of  the  balance  by 
four  silken  threads.  •' 

The   extraordinary   economy   which  dis- 

"""•"■■•.•■ •,  iiiiu'ac  i.T  ciKjracuTisticaiiy 

shown  in  the  poinilation  which  crowds  the 
nverH  ucur  the  principal  towua.    A  vivid 


picture  of  Chinese  boat-life  is  given  by  Mr 
Tiffany,  in  his  "American's  Sojourn  in  the 
Celestial  Empire."  After  deseribin"  the 
various  kinds  of  boats  that  he  has  seen  ho 
proceeds  as  follows:  —  ' 

"We  have  passed  through  several  miles 
of  boats,  and  have  not  seen  the  quarter  of 
them.  It  is,  indeed,  impossible  to  give  an 
idea  of  their  number.  Some  say  that  there 
are  ns  many  as  seventy  thousand  of  them  at 
the  city  of  Canton  alone.  Ihit  let  us  be 
content  with  fort;y^  thousand.  Then  fancy 
forty  thousand  wild  swans,  closely  packed 
together,  ticating  on  some  Avide  pond,  and 
mostly  restless,  and  you  would  say  that  they 
would  cover  many  acres  of  their  element. 
Now,  by  the  enchantment  of  imagination 
convert  the  pond  into  the  roaring  rekian<i 
Iliver,  the  swans  into  boats  of  every  shape 
and  size,  the  notes  of  the  birds  into  the  yells 
the  shrieks,  the  piercing  voices  of  the  river 
peoi)le,  and  you  may  have  the  actual  scene 
bef(M-e  you. 

"And  all  those  boats,  miles  upon  miles, 
from  border  to  border,  are  densely  packed 
with  human  beings  in  every  stage  of  life,  in 
almost  every  occupation  tluit  exists  ujion  the 
shore  that  they  seldom  tresjiass  upon;  and 
there  they  are  born  and  earn  their  scanty 
bread,  and  there  they  die.  The  boats  arc 
moored  side  by  side,  in  long-reaching  thou- 
sands, so  that  the  can.-xl  which  they  form 
siretehes  to  a  point  in  the  distance,  "in  the 
Shaneem  quarter,  above  the  foreign  facto, 
rics,  they  form  large  squares  and  avenues. 
Forty  thousand  lloating  tenements  would, 
under  any  circumstances,  be  considered  a 
singular  sight,  but  here  the  swarming  occu- 
pants give  them  the  appearance  of  a  mighty 
metropolis." 

It  seems  strange  that  so  vast  a  population 
should  live  on  the  river,  within  pistol  shot 
of  the  land,  and  yet  that  the  greater  number 
of  them,  from  their  birth  to  their  death,  have 
never  known  what  it  is  to  put  a  foot  on  the 
shore.  When  one  of  the  older  boatmen 
does  so  for  the  first  time,  he  can  hardly 
walk,  tlie  linn  land  being  as  dillicult  for 
him  to  tread  as  the  deck  of  a  tossing  vessel 
is  to  a  landsman. 

Though  the  smallest  of  .all  the  vessels  that 
traverse  a  Chinese  river,  the  sampans  are 
lierhajis  the  most  consjucuous.  They  are 
rather  small  boats,  drawing  but  little  water, 
and  for  the  most  part  ])ro])elled  by  two 
women,  one  sitting  in  the  bow  with  her  oar, 
and  the  other  stationed  in  the  stern,  work- 
ing the  huge  implement,  half  oar,  half  rud- 
der, by  which  the  boat  is  at  once  propelled 
and  guided.  Many  of  the  boat-steerers  are 
quite  young  girls,  but  they  manage  their 
craft  wicL  wonderful  skill  and  power,  hardly 
ever  touching  another  boat,  no  matter  how 
many  may  be  darting  about  the  river,  and, 
with  one  mighty  nweep  of  tiie  huge  scull, 
sending  the  boat  clear  of  the  obstacle  from 
which  escape  seemed  impossible  but  a  second 


i.ii 


1444 


oniNA. 


before.  To  tlie  eye  of  a  foreigner,  the  boat- 
women  are  more  pleasing  iu  appearance  tlian 
their  sist(U-.s  of  the  land,  inasmuch  as  their 
feet  are  allowed  to  assume  their  proper 
shape,  and  exposure  to  the  air  and  exercise 
take  away  the  sickly,  pasty  complexion 
which  often  distinguishes  the  better-class 
women  on  shore,  and  is  heightened  by  tlie 
white  powder  with  which  they  persist  lu 
disft'iiriii''  themselves. 

Sonie  of  the  mandarin  boats  present  the 
greatest  possible  contrast  to  the  little  sam- 
pans. Tlu'v  are,  in  fact,  floating  palaces 
decorated  "in  the  most  picturesque  and 
sumptuous  manner,  and  furnished  wUli 
every  luxurv  that  a  wealthy  Chinaman  can 
command.  'They  often  have  thirty  or  forty 
oars  of  a  side,  are  gaily  bedecked  with  Hags 
and  brilliant  lanterns,  and  mostly  carry  sev- 
eral cannon,  together  with  abundance  ot 
fire-arms,  in  order  to  deter  the  pirates,  who 
would  bo  likelv  to  swoop  down  upon  an  un- 
armed vessel,  kill  the  passengers,  and  seize 
the  boat  for  their  own  purposes. 

In  connection  with  the  river  life  of  the 
Chinese  may  be  mentioned  the  various 
modes  of  fishing.  The  most  celebrated 
method  is  that  in  which  the  fish  are  caught 
by  cormorants.  The  fisherman  has  several 
of  these  birds,  which  are  trained  to  the 
sport,  and  indeed  are  bred  from  the  egg  for 
the  purpose,  ami  sold  at  high  prices  when 
fully  trained.  The  man  goes  out  in  a  boat 
or  on  a  raft,  aeeompanied  by  his  birds,  and 
when  he  corn/s  to  a  favorable  spot,  sends 
them  iii'o  the  water.  They  immediately 
dive,  and  dart  upon  the  fish,  which  Ihey  are 
taught  to  bring  to  the  boat. 

Should  the  fish  be  too  large,  the  man  gen- 
erally takes  both  fish  and  bird  into  his  boat 
by  means  of  a  us-t  at  the  end  of  a  handle; 
and  often  when  a  bird  ha-s  captured  a  very 
largo  fish,  and  is  likely  to  lose  it,  one  or  two 
of  its  companions  will  come  to  its  assistance, 
and  by  their  united  eiforts  hold  the  fish 
until  their  master  can  come  up.  A  ring  is 
put  loos(dv  round  the  throats  of  the  birds,  so 
that  they  cannot  swallow  the  fish  even  if 
they  desire  to  do  so;  but  a  well-trained  cor- 
morant will  no  more  eat  a  fish  than  a  well- 
trained  pointer  will  eat  a  partridge.  Each 
time  that  the  cormor.ant  brings  a  fish  to  the 
boat,  it  is  rewarded  with  a  mouthful  of  food, 
generallv  a  mouthful  of  eel,  its  master  rais- 
in,' tlie  ring  to  allow  it  to  swallow. 

Fishing  with  cormorants  is  almost  inva- 
rialdy  carried  on  at  high  tide,  and  near 
bridges,  as  fish  always  love  to  congregate 
under  shelter.  At  such  times  the  bridges 
are  always  crowded  with  spectators  watching 
the  feats  of  the  cormorants. 

The  raft  on  which  the  fisherman  stands  is 
made  of  five  or  six  bamboos,  about  twenty 
feet  in  length.  Now  and  then  a  cormorant 
which  has  not  completed  its  course  of  train- 
ing is  so  delighted  when  it  catches  a  fish, 
that  it  swims  away  from  its  master  as  fast  as 


it  can.  The  fisherman,  however,  can  propel 
his  light  raft  faster  than  the  cormoruut  can 
swim,  and  soon  brings  the  truant  to 
reason.  This  sport  has  recently  been  in- 
troduced into  England,  and  bids  fair  to  bo 
successful. 

Though  caring  little  for  sport,  and  pursu- 
ing  game  merely  for  the  "  pot,"  the  Chinese 
employ  one  or  two  methods  of  fishing  which 
have  the  sporting  clement  in  them,  —  i.e. 
which  give  the  quarry  a  fair  chance  of  es- 
cape. Such,  for  example,  is  fish  spearing, 
which  is  practised  after  rather  a  curious 
manner.  The  fisherman  generally  takes  his 
stand  upon  a  low  bridge,  and  is  furnished 
with  a  trident  spear  and  a  decoy  fish.  The 
decoy  iish  is  prepared  by  lacing  a  strip  of 
wood  to  either  side  of  its  dorsal  fin,  and  to 
these  sticks  a  slight  line  is  fastened. 

All  being  prepared,  the  fisherman  takes 
his  plsice  on  the  bridge,  drops  the  decoy  into 
the  water,  and  ties  the  end  of  the  line 
to  a  stick  like  a  fishing-rod,  while  he  holds 
the  three-pronged  spear  iu  his  right  hand. 
As  large  a  fish  as  the  sportsman  can  procure 
is  used  for  the  decoy;  and  as  it  swims  iibout, 
its  fellows  come  up  to  it,  apparently  attracted 
by  its  peculiar  movements.  As  they  come 
within  reach,  they  aie  struck  with  the  tri- 
dent, and  deposited  in  the  fisherman's 
basket. 

A  very  inferior  kind  of  fishing  is  carriefl 
t)n  in  places  where  the  bed  of  the  river  is 
muddy.  The  fisherman  wades  iiitu  the 
river  up  to  his  knees  or  deeper,  and  every 
now  and  then  strikes  the  surface  of  the 
water  violently.  As  he  docs  so,  the  fish 
which  love  such  localities  dive  under  the 
mud,  where  they  are  felt  and  held  down  by 
the  bare  feet  of  the  man.  As  soon  as  he 
feels  the  wriggling  of  a  fish  under  his  loot, 
he  stoops  down,  often  having  to  i)luiige  en- 
tirely under  water,  draws  the  fish  IVom  under 
his  foot,  and  drops  it  into  his  basket.  It  is 
evident  that  only  small  fish  can  be  caught 
by  this  method.  I  have  tried  it  nivsell'.  and 
found  that  after  a  little  trouble  it  was  easy 
to  catch  any  qu.antity  of  smsjU  fiounders  and 
similar  fish,  —  too  small,  indeed,  to  be  of  any 
use,  except  to  the  thrifty  Chinese,  two  of 
whom  will  buy  a  duck's  head  and  divide  it 
for  their  dinner. 

Among  other  river  industries  may  be 
mentioned  tlie  system  of  duck  feediiii;  that 
is  there  carried  on.  Vast  quantiiies  of 
ducks'  eggs  are  batched  by  arlifleial  heat, 
and  are  purchased,  when  only  a  day  or  two 
old,  by  the  persons  who  make  their  living 
by  feeding  and  selling  the  birds.  One  favor- 
ite mode  of  duck  feeding  is  to  keep  the  birds 
in  a  boat  fitted  up  for  the  purpose,  and  to 
take  the  boiit  along  the  banks  of  the  river. 
At  low  water  the  keeper  lets  out  the  ducks, 
which  find  abundance  of  food  in  (ho  nmlti- 
tudiiiDus  creatures  that  swarm  in  the  i..ud, 
and  when  he  thinks  fit,  he  recalls  them  by  a 
signal.    As  soon  as  they  hear  the  signal, 


MUSIC. 


1445 


they  hurry  to  the  boat  with  an  alacrity  that 
sooms  rather  ludicrous,  ualcss  the  spectator 
kuovvH  tiiat  tho  last  duck  always  gets  a  sharp 
blow  from  a  .switch. 

Tlio  characteristic  thrift  of  the  Chinese  is 
well  shown  iu  their  various  agricultural 
operations,  which  are  marvellously  success- 
ful, not  only  on  account  of  the  real  skill  and 
knowloduie  possessed  by  the  Chinese,  but  by 
reason  of  tliu  systematic  and  ceaseless  labor 
bestowed  upon  tlie  various  crops.  Not  a 
weed  is  allowed  to  absorb  the  nutriment 
which  ought  to  go  to  the  rice,  and  between 
the  rows  of  plants  the  laborer  creeps  on  his 
hands  auil  knees,  searching  for  every  weed, 
and  working  with  his  fingers  the  earth  round 
every  root.  Taken  alone,  this  is  hard  and 
disagreeable  work,  but,  as  the  rice  is  planted 
in  mu  1,  as  sharp  stones  are  often  liidden 
under  the  mud,  and  as  leeches  abound  in  it, 
the  h;ird.ships  of  a  rice-weeder's  life  may  be 
conceived. 

The  water  which  is  so  necessary  for  the 
crop  is  mostly  supplied  by  mechanical 
means.  If  the  agriculturist  is  fortunate 
enough  to  have  land  near  the  river  or  canal, 
his  task  is  comparatively  easy.  He  has  only 
to  erect  a  certain  number  ot  water-engines. 
These  are  ahni)st  all  on  tlie  same  principle, 
—  i.  e.  an  endless  chain  passing  over  two 
wheels,  and  drawing  the  water  through  an 
inclini'il  trough,  The  wheels  are  generally 
worked  by  men,  who  turn  them  with  their 
feet,  supporting  them-selves  on  a  horizontal 
baml)oo.  A  larger  and  more  complicated 
ai)paratus  is  worked  by  a  butl'ilo. 

At  the  smaller  wheels  all  lal)or,  as  Mr. 
MihK^  observes:  "In  working  them  the 
energies  of  every  household  appeared  taxed 
to  the  utmost  vigor,  as  if  each  individual  felt 
conviiu'i'd  of  the  necessity  of  his  personal  aid 
iu  securing  a  good  and  plentiful  crop.  1  saw 
both  young  and  old  leaning  on  the  same 
frame,  treading  the  same  wheel,  and  hum- 
iniiig  together  their  rustic  song  as  they  trod. 
Hoys  six  years  of  ago  kept  the  step  very 
well  with  men  of  fifty,  and  if  too  small  to 
mount  the  wheel,  they  were  placed  on  the 
";round  to  work  the  paddles  with  their  little 
hands;  and  women,  too,  whose  tiny  and 
conipr(!sseil  foot  disable  them  from  treading 
the  mill,  stood  at  the  feet  of  the  men,  keep- 
ing time  with  thoir  hands.  .  ,  .  None 
wore  indolent.  There  was  no  cessation,  nor 
was  there  exiimption  from  labor;  and,  while 
they  fought  among  tho  thorns  and  thistles 
with  which  tlie  ground  had  been  cursed, 
and  with  tho  sweat  of  the  brow  under  a 
blazing  sun  sowed,  weeded,  and  watered  the 
earth,  no  murmurs  were  heard,  save  the 
undulating  sound  of  tho  husbandman's  song 
as  it  waved  over  the  field."  TIiohc  women 
who  are  fortunate  enouu'h  to  posse  feet  of 
tlio  natural  size  work  ii«  hard  ■  the  Ueld 
Hi  the  men  do,  and  arc  thcr,  ,;hnost  a."? 
Hcantily  attired,  a  wide  and  short  pair  of 
trousers,  and  a  wide  hat  to  shelter  them 


from  tho  sun,  being  all  the  clothing  they 
care  for. 

Though  the  earth  be  poor,  the  Chincso 
agriculturist  forces  it  to  bear,  for  every  sub- 
stance which  can  serve  as  manure  is  care- 
fully saved  for  that  purpose.  Not  only  do 
the  Chinese  dispose  of  all  the  refuse  of  t]heir 
houses  and  streets  iu  the  fields,  but,  as  wo 
have  seen,  even  the  little  scraps  of  hair  that 
are  shaved  from  the  head  are  saved  and  used 
as  manure.  Indeed,  it  is  only  by  means  of 
this  exceeding  economy  that  the  inhabitants 
of  so  densely  populated  a  country  can  sus- 
tain life. 

Our  concluding  notes  on  Chinese  life 
must  be  few  and  short. 

According  to  their  own  ideas,  they  arc  as 
much  adepts  in  music  as  in  the  other  arts 
and  sciences,  which,  as  they  believe,  have 
placed  them  at  the  very  summit  of  human- 
ity. They  have  a  tolerable  variety  of  mu- 
sical instruments,  the  most  common  of  which 
is  the  San-hien,  a  sort  of  three-stringed  gui- 
tar, with  a  very  long  neck  and  a  veiy  ifttle 
cylindrical  body.  The  strings  are  of  silk, 
and  are  struck  with  a  thin  slip  of  baml)oo  at 
tho  end  of  tho  finger.  Then,  as  a  tvpo  of 
stringed  instruments  played  with  a'  bow, 
may  be  mentioned  tho  IJrh-lu^en,  or  two- 
stringed  fiddles,  the  sounds  of  which  are 
generally  very  disagreeable,—  that  is,  when 
produced  for  Chinese  cars;  but  when  the 
player  desires  to  imitate  the  characteristics 
of  European  music,  ho  can  do  so  very  per- 
fectly, as  is  shown  by  Mr.  Fleming:  — 

"  In  one  of  the  most  thronged  streets  I 
was,  on  one  afternoon,  elbowing  mv  way 
along,  exploring  the  '  Heavenly  Ford,'"  when 
the  sound  of  a  violin  jilay- 
ing  a  well-known  w.altz 
fixed  my  attention  in  a  bj-- 
lane;  and  there,  instead  of 
a  hairy  Briton  flourishing 
a  bow  over  a  Cremona,  was 
a  blind  beggar  eliciting 
those  pleasant  notes  with 
as  great  precision  aiul  tone 
from  the  rude  and  weighty 
inallet-shaped  urh-heen,  as 
if  he  had  been  all  his  pub- 
lic life  first  violin  at  tho 
opera." 

The  same  traveller  re- 
marks of  the  vocal  music 
of  the  Chinese,  that  "a 
Chinaman  rehearsing  a 
song  looks  and  gives  nt- 
teranco  to  such  goat-like 
bleats,  that  it  is  impossible 
to  avoid  the  conclusion  that 
he  is  laboring  under  a 
violent  attack  of  chronic 
whooping-cough,  combined 
with  intermittent  seizures 
of  hiccouijh,  -  the  '  dying 
falls'  of  the  inhumau  fal- 


MOUTH  ORGAN. 


sutto   at   the  end  of  each 


H 

1 

'    1 

1    1 

!•'  1 

i 

; 
( 

1^ 

!p. 


!f 


II 


1440 


CHINA. 


despite  their  cxngf^eration  of  s''"*"'"'',  nnd 
their  ahnoat  ludicrous  perspcelivo,  tliut  llie 
best  English  artists  have  admired  llieiu  .sin- 
cerely. 

Of  their  porcelain,  in  which  they  simply 
stand  alone,  it  is  inipossihle  t'>  treat  fully  in 
such  a  work  as  this,  as  iV  sulijcc't  would 
demand  a  volume  to  itself.  1'licir  cnrvcd 
work  in  ivory  is  fumiliarly  known  llirouLjliout 
tlie  greater  part  >  i  the  civilized  world.  Tn 
many  of  these  carvings  the  object  of  iho. 
artist  seems  to  have;  been,  not  to  (levclop  any 
beauties  of  form,  but  to  show  bis  ]io\v(U'  of 
achieving  seeming  impossibilities,  Anioiig 
the  best-known  forms  of  Chinese  enrvinsj; 
maybe  reckoned  the  sets  of  eoneentric  luills, 
which  are  cut  out  of  solid  ivory,  or  at  least 
arc  said  to  be  so  made. 

There  is  quite  a  controversy  about  ttic 
mode  of  cutting  these  balls,  and  ev(>n  tlione 
who  have  spent  much  time  in  Cbiiia.  and  are 
thoroughly  ac(]iiaiiit(!d  with  the  arts  and 
manufactures  of  the  country,  disjigrce  on 
this  subject,  some  saying  that  the  1  'Is  are 
really  ciit  from  solid  ivory,  and  otli  tliat 
cacirbah  is  made  of  two  sejiarate  i  .niioiis, 
which  are  joined  very  artilicially  by  (eiiuiit, 
and  can  be  siiiarated  by  steeiiing  in  boilini,' 
water.  Of  the  two  explanations  I  .'im  rallier 
inclined  to  believe  the  former,  as  none  of 
those  who  say  that  the  balls  can  be  separaled 
seem  to  have  tried  the  experiment  lor  tin  in- 
selvcs.    Tha  mode  of  cutting  these  eurioiis 


verse    finishing  in    the   most    confounding 
hysterical  perturbations  of  the  vocal  chords." 

There  are  several  Chinese  wind  instru- 
ments. For  instance,  there  is  a  clarionet, 
called  Sbu-teh,  an  instrumeut  with  a  very 
loud  and  jjiercing  note,  and  a  peculiar 
"  mouth-organ,"  in  which  are  u  number  of 
pipes.  One  of  these  instruments,  drawn 
from  a  specimen  in  my  collection,  is  shown 
on  page  1445.  It  contains  sixteen  pipes,  of 
dilfereiit  lengths,  arranged  in  pairs.  Some 
of  the  i)ipes,  however,  are  "dummies,  and 
arc  only  inserted  to  give  the  instrument  an 
appearance  of  regularity.  The  length  of  the 
pipes  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  pitch  ot 
the  note,  as  they  speak  by  means  of  brass 
vibrators  inserted  into  the  lower  end,  exactly 
like  those  of  harmoniums.  The  pipes  are 
bound  together  by  means  of  a  horn  band 
that  passes  around  them.  When  it  is  used, 
the  player  blows  into  the  projecting  mouth- 
piece, and  with  his  fingers  stops  or  opens  the 
apertures  in  the  pipes.  The  tone  of  this  in- 
strument is  not  ]i!easing  to  European  ears. 

Strange  as  Chinese  music  seems  to  us,  and 
unpleasant  as  are  the  odd  and  unexpected 
intervals  of  their  melodies,  the   art  is  ev- 
idently cultivated   among  the    people,  and 
there  'is  scarcely  a  house  without  its  musical 
instrument  of  some  kind.    In  the  e^    ning, 
according   to    Mr.    Fleming,  "in    p.issing 
through  the   narrow  streets,  one  is  sure  to 
hear   IVom    the  dimly  lighted    houses    the 
squealing,  incoherent,  and  dis- 
torted vibrations  tumbling  out 
on  the  night  air  with  a  spaa- 
niodie   reality  and  a  foreigu- 
ncss  of  style  that  at  once  re- 
mind the'listener  of  the  out- 
landish   country    he    is    in."    . 
The  i)reference  of  the  Chinese 
for  the   strange,  wild,  abrujit 
intervals  of  their  own  music 
is  not,  as  the  reader  may  see, 
merely   occasioned    by   igno- 
rance'of  a  more  perfect  scale, 
but  is  the  rnsiilt  of  deliberate 
choice    on   their    part.     They 
have  no  objection  to  European 
music.    <  )n  the  contrary,  they 
are  jileased    to  express  their 
approl)ation    of  it,   but  willi 
the  jnviviso   that  it  is   decid- 
edly inferior  to  their  own. 

From  Jilusie  we  turn  to 
Art.  In  theirown  line  of  art 
the  Cliinese  are  unsurpassed, 
not  to  say  inimitable.  Igno- 
rant of  perspective  as  they 
may    be,  there    i«    <\n"aint  cuiNESE  ART.    (From  Sir  Hope  Grant's 

force   and    vigor  about    their  °'^^'^"""°  v/iiix^^  ,:„,,  \ 

lines    that    is    worthy  of   all  Collection.; 

praise,  while  their  rich  soft-  ,        .  i      i      i     • 

noss  of  color  can  scnrcely  1)0  equallei  From  i  specimens  of  art  is  said  to  be  by  boniig 
time  immemorial  tiiey  have  been  acquainted  I  conical  holes  from  the  circumference  of  (lie 
with  the  art  of  color  printing  from  wooden  hall  to  its  centre  with  a  sjiberical  jiiin-e  oi 
blocks,  and  some  of  their  oldest  examples  of 'ivory,  and  the  detaching  each  ball  in  .siit- 
color  printing  are  so  full  of  life  and  sj)irit. )  cession  with  curved  tools. 


FILIAL  HESPECT. 


Thejado  carving  of  Cliina  is  also  celebrated. 
I  lis  niatoriiil  i.«  icinarkablo  for  the  beau- 
tilu.ly  soft  polish  wliich  can  bo  given  to  it 
ami,  as  it  iH  a  rare  miui-ral  and  exceedinrdy 
hard,  cominj,'  next  in  tliat  respect  to  the  ru1]y 
articles  made  of  jade  arc  valued  very  highly 
by  the  Clniiese.  In  the  aecompanyin"  iTlus- 
tration  arc  sliown  a  number  of  jadcciu-vin-'s 
bolon-ing  to  Sir  lloije  (Jrant,  who  kindTy 
allowed  mo  to  liavo  them  enj^'raved  for  this 
work.  The  howl  in  the  front  is  carved  in 
imitation  of  a  water-lily,  the  handle  bein" 
lorined  from  tlic  llovver-stem.  The  rin" 
whicli  han-s  from  the  handle  is  cut  from  the 
same  piece  of  Jade.  .Just  behind  it  is  ajar 
ot  the  same  material,  which  is  a  wonderful 
sneciiiK-n  of  carviii;,',  and  admirably  shows 
llie  patient  industry  of  iho  Chinese  worker. 
Iho  second  small  howl  in  the  front,  and  the 
jar  behind  it,  are  also  of  Jade. 

The  ele^'aiit  Jar  which  occupies  the  centre 
of  Ibe  group  is  a  splendid  specimen  of  enamel 
and  hesid..  it  is  a  iar<,'e  piece  of  hpis  lazuli 
on  which  IS  cii,!,'raved  a  poem  written  by  the 
empia-or  himsi.;f.  •' 

Th(!  celi'l)iated  Summei  Palace  or  Yuon- 
inins-yuen,  which  was  sacked  and  burned 
by  the  Knuhsh  ,,nd  French  forces,  was 
filled  with  splciuh,!  sjH'cimens  of  jade  carv- 
m,-,'.  some  of  which  are  shown  in  the  pre- 
ceding il  ustralion.  There  are  three  kinds 
of.ia.b,',  he  civiim-eolored,  (he  clear  white, 
and  th.;  bri-!il  -reeii.  'i'bis  last  is  the  most 
esteemed,  and  is  so  valuable  (hat  a  .sin-le 
bead,  lint  so  lal•,^,^;  as  a  Imv's  iilayini,'  inarlde 
IS  worlh  ji  pound, oreven  more.  Sonu;  neck- 
laces made  ot  these  be.uls  wcrcsold  after  the 
(lestruedon  of  the  Summer  Palacr,  and 
thouiiii  they  only  e.,ntaiiie(l  about  a  hundred 
and  nity  beads,  a  hundred  and  twenty  pounds 
wore  given  fur  Hum,  the  Chinese  commis- 
sioners Ihiiikiiig  that  thyy  were  sold  at  a 
very  cheiip  rate.  The  Cliiiiese  name  for  this 
jade  IS  ••  !eh-tsui." 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  instances  of 
Uimese  art  IS  the  magic  mirror.  This  article 
IS  a  circular  plate  of  metal  rather  more  than 
a  (luarter  of  an  inch  thick,  having  its  face 
smooth  and  highl  nolished,  and  its  back 
dark  and  ornameiued  with  various  patterns 
among  which  four  Chinese  characters  are 
consjiicuous.  These  characters  are  in  lien- 
or (.t  literature,  iiiid  seem  to  be  generally 
employed  for  the  decoration  of  these  mir- 
rors. 

When  used  simply  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
1.  iling  the  face,  the  mirrors  present  nothing 
orihy  of  notice,  but  when  they  are  held  to 
tlie  sun,  .and  the  beams  thrown  upon  a  white 
Rur lace,  the  whole  of  the  characters  on  the 
Itackare  shown  in  tlie  reflection.  The  mirror 
will  even  show  Us  powers  when  used  with  a 
amp  but  the  sun  is  retpiired  to  bring  out 
the  characters  clearly.  A  small  hut  excellent 
pmmen  of  fb,s  mirror  was  presented  to  me 
Dyi)r.  IMaxman  K])urr(dl,aiid  always  excites 
great  admiration  wherever  it  is  shown.    JSTot 

ro 


1447 


the  least  trace  of  any  figure  is  to  be  found  in 
tlK!  f^^u:e  ot  the  mirror,  and  the  higher  the 
polish  given  to  the  face,  the  clearer  is  the  ren- 
reseiitaiion  of  the  figures  on  the  back 

Several  theories  have  been  promuiaated 
respecting  the  mode  of  making  tiiese  extra- 
ordinary mirrors,  the  most  i.robable  one 
Doing  that  the  characters  and  patterns  on  the 
back  .are  made  of  a  harder  and  more  con- 
densed metal  than  that  of  tiie  rest  of  the 
mirror  and  that,  when  a  high  p(,li.sh  is  given 
to  the  face,  the  dinerence  of  the  niel.al  is  not 
perceptible,  except  by  the  mode  in  which  it 
reflects  light. 

There  is  much  to  say  respecliuff  the 
customs  of  the  Chinese.  -^I'lie  .small  space, 
however,  which  remains  will  not  permit  us 
to  treat  fully  Of  such  wide  subjects  as  reli"ion 
marriage,  and  disposal  of  the  dead,  and°that 
they  should  be  cursorily  treated  is  impos- 
sible. AV^e  will  therefore  conclude  with  one 
of  the  most  pleasing  traits  in  the  Chinese 
character,  namely,  the  rest)ect  pa:d  to  old 
age. 

According  to  Mr.  Milne,  "The  sacred 
regard  which  Chinese  pay  to  the  claims  of 
kindred  secures  to  the  patriarchs  of  re- 
sjiectable  families  ample  support  in  the 
advanced  and  helpless  stage  of  their  pil- 
grimage; and  charity  often  relieves  poor  s.-). 
tuagenariaiis  whose  relations  maybe  unable 
to  sujiply  them  with  comforts  or  necessaries 
at  their  mature  age.  In  China  one's  feelin.'s 
are  not  harrowed  with  the  sad  spectacle  of 
an  aged  parent  discarded  by  his  children,  and 
left  to  jierish,  unattended  and  unnursed, 
under  a  scorching  sun,  or  on  the  banks  of  a 
rolling  river.  ]5ut  you  will  see  the  totterin.' 
senior,  man  or  woman,  who  has  not  the 
means  to  hire  a  sedan, led  through  the  alleys 
and  streets  by  a  son  or  a  grandchild,  com- 
manding the  spontaneous  respect  of  each 
passer-by,  (he  homage  of  every  junior. 

"  The  deference  of  Ww.poUoi  to'the  extreme 
.sections  of  old  age  is  manifest  likewise  from 
the  tablets  and  monuments  you  may  any  day 
st-mble  upon,  that  have  Ijccn  erected  by 
iniolic  subscription  to  the  memory  of  octo- 
genarians, nonagenarians,  and  centenarians. 
Nor  is  the  government  backward  in  en- 
couraging this,  but  the  reverse.  Hence  I 
have  often  seen  very  aged  men  and  women 
in  the  streets,  arrayed  in  yellow,  t.  c.  imperial, 
robes,  the  gift  of  the  emperor,  in  mark  of 
honor,  and  out  of  respect  to  their  gray  hairs." 
1'he  reader  wili  remember  that  an  honorary 
degree  is  given  to  competitors  who  have 
reached  an  advanced  age. 

On  one  occ-asion,  the  emperor  called 
together  about  four  thousand  old  men  at  liis 
palace,  entertained  them  with  a  banciuct,  at 
which  they  were  serveu  by  his  own  children 
and  grandchildren,  presented  each  of  them 
with  money  and  a  yellow  robe,  and  conferred 
Upon  tlie  ohlest  of  the  assembly,  a  man  aged 
one  hundred  and  eleven  years,"  the  rank  and 
dress  of  a  mandarin. 


!'      I  M  i  t 


it' 


1448 


CHINA. 


Family  festivals  are  heW,  something  like 
the  silver  and  golden  wedding  of  the  l^cr- 
mans,  to  celebrate  each  decade  of  lile;  and 
so  important  do  the  Chinese  coiisuler  tliesc 
festivals  that  they  are  often  held  by  children 
even  after  the  death  of  their  parents,  the 
only  ditference  being  that  they  have  some- 
what of  a  funeral  cast,  white,  the  color  ol 
mourning,  being  nubstituted  for  i^d,  the  color 
of  joy.    &n  those  occasions  the  children  otter 
gifts,  and  no  present  is  thought  to  be  more 
grateful  to  the  recipient  than  a  very  hand- 
iome  coflin.    All  Chinese  who  can  aftord  it 
purchase   during   their  lifetime  a  coffin  as 
handsome  as  their  mcana  will  permit,  and  so, 
should  they  not  have  been  able  to  purcliase 
this  their  "last  resting-place,  their  c  iildren 
think  themselves  honored  by  taking  the  pur- 
chase into  their  own  hands.    These  coffins 
are  nearly  square,  arc    made   of   immense 
thickness,  and  are  so  carefully  cemented  that 
the  body  may  be  kept  in  them  without  uecd- 
in<T  burial. 

Sllial  respect  is  inculcated  into  the  Chinese 
with  their  earliest  breath,  and  their  youthful 
minds  are  filled  with  legends  of  pious  chil- 
dren. For  example:  Wu  M.ang  was  the  son 
of  parents  who  wjrc  too  poor  to  possess 
mosquito  curtains.  So  at  night  Wu  Mang 
used  to  allow  the  mosquitoes  to  feed  upon 


him,  hoping  that  they  would  prefer  a  young 
boy  to  aged  peoi)le.  Wanj,'  Liang  lost  his 
mother,  and  had  a  step-mother  who  disliked 
him.  Still  he  behaved  to  her  as  though  she 
had  been  his  own  mother,  and  once,  when  she 
wished  for  some  fresh  llsh  and  the  river  was 
frozen,  Wang  Liang  went  to  the  river,  took 
off  his  clothes,  and  lay  on  the  ice,  hoping  to 
melt  it.  Suddenly,  in  reward  lor  his  lilial 
conduct,  the  ice  opened,  and  out  leaped  two 
line  carp,  which  he  took  to  his  slep-niolher. 
Again,  Lao,  when  ho  was  seventy  j;ears  of 
aFP  'Ho»se'l  and  bcl>  wed  like  a  child,  in  order 
\\  ■'  '  ,  "•  cuts  sliould  not  be  troubled,  v/hen 
v.,  ,  him,  with  the  idea  of  their  own 

li^  .  <  cry  town  or  -'illi'ge,  the  oldest  persons 
arc  treated  with  the  greatest  eousiileration, 
not  on  account  of  their  rank  or  weaUl\,but 
of  their  age.  Every  one  gives  way  to  (hum, 
they  have  the  best  places  in  the  tlieatres,  are 
brought  forward  at  every  public  spectacle, 
and  are  indulged  in  every  possible  way.  Such 
has  been  the  custom  from  time  immeniori.il 
in  this  great  nation,  which  was  civilized  when 
the  inhabitants  of  England  were  naked 
savages.  The  oldest  civilized  nation  in  the 
world,  they  have  honored  their  fathers  and 
their  mothers,  and  their  days  have  been  long 
in  the  laud. 


, 


CHAPTER   CLYI. 


JAPAN. 


DRESS  —  ART  —  AMUSEMENTS 


POStnON  AND  NAME  OF  JAPAN  —  ArPKABANCE  OP  THK  JAPANESE  —  »HE99  OF  THE  MEN  — USE  OP 
SLEEVES  —  I1AIR-DKE9SINC1 — COURT  DHES8— TUB  TATTOO  AND  ITS  USES — A  STREET  SCENE  IN 
JAPAN  —  DRESS  OF  THE  WOMEN — ARRANOEMENT  OF  THE  HAIR  —  THE  ANCIENT  HAIR-PINS  —  USB 
OF  PAINT— BLACKENING  TEBTII  AND  PULLING  OUT  EYEBROWS — MR.  OLIPHANT'S  OPINION  UPON 
THE  CUSTOM  —  DISRF.OAUD  OF  CLOTHING — THE  PUIILIC  BATHS— HOMEUIC  SIMPLICITY  —  JAPAM'SE 
DRAWlN(iS  — THAVKLLINO  IN  JAI'AIf- A  LADY  ON  HORSEBACK  —  JAPANESE  RIDERS  —  THE  (i.VMK 
OF  MALL  —  HORSE  ACCOUTREMENTS  — A  SINGULAR  HORSESHOE — THE  NORIMON,  OR  PALANQUIN 
—  FASHION  OF  THE  POLK — THE  CANOO,  OR  CUAIR  —  A  NOBLE  IN  HIS  NORIMON  —  ATI! LKTIC 
POWBRS    OF    THE    JAPANESE  —  THE  LADDER    BALANCINO,    TOP    SPINNING,  AND  BUTTERFLY  TRICK. 


The  Empire  of  Japan  extends  over  a  vast 
cluster  of  Islands,  of  dillerent  sizes,  situated 
on  the  north  eastern  coast  of  Asia.  There 
arc  ne.irly  four  thousand  of  these  islands, 
l)ut  the  kinf];dom  practically  consists  of  three 
chief  Islands,  Niphon,  Kiou-siou,  or  Kcw- 
sew,  and  Sikok,  or  Sitkokf.  The  first  of 
these  islands  gives  its  name  to  the  entire 
empire,  our  word  Japan  not  having  even  a 
Japanese  origin,  but  beinj'  a  corruption  of 
the  Chinese  rendering  of  the  word  Niphon, 
t.  c.  Land  of  the  Suin-ise.  As  might  be  in- 
ferred, it  is  within  the  island  of  Niphon  that 
the  capital,  Jeddo  or  Yedo,  is  placed. 

The  complexion  of  the  Japanese  is  yel- 
lowish, with  a  little  brown,  and  in  many 
cases  is  no  darker  than  that  of  a  Portuguese 
or  southern  Italian.  The  eyes  arc  small, 
and  not  so  much  sunk  in  the  head  as  those 
of  the  Chinese;  the  hair  is  black,  straight, 
and  coarse,  and  the  nose,  though  thick,  is 
well  forme  1.  Their  stature  is  about  equal 
to  that  of  ordinary  Europeans,  and  their 
limbs,  though  not  large,  are  often  very  pow- 
erful, a  sliglitly-made  Japanese  being  able 
to  lift  easily  a  weight  which  a  stilwart  Eng- 
lishman would  find  a  heavy  burden. 

The  dress  of  the  Japanese  is  very  peculiar, 
and  well  suited  to  their  features  and  complex- 
ion. Although  it  has  about  it  something  of  a 
Chinese  aspect,  it  is  as  distinct  from  the 
Chinese  as  is  the  character  of  the  two  pco- 
jile.  As  in  China,  the  dress  consists  of  much 
the  same  articles  with  both  sexes,  that  of  tlic 


women  differing  from  male  apparel  chiefly 
in  the  comparative  length  of  the  robes  and 
the  mode  of  dressing  the  hair.  A  male 
Japanese  may  or  may  not  wear  trousers, 
his  liberty  in  this  point  being  absolute, 
sometimes  amounting  to  a  practical  dispen- 
sation with  all  dress  whatever. 

The  chief  articles  of  male  dress  are  robes 
of  dilTering  lengths,  one  being  worn  upon 
the  other,  until  a  man  will  sometimes  carry 
four  or  five  robes  at  once.  They  are  f'irt 
round  the  waist  with  a  broad  sasli,  so  that 
if  the  wearer  wishes  to  remove  his  dress,  he 
has  only  to  loosen  the  sash,  and  draw  his 
arms  out  of  the  sleeves,  when  all  the  gar- 
ments fall  to  the  ground  together.  The 
sleeves  are  very  large,  and,  neing  partly 
closed  at  the  ends,  are  used  as  pockets,  in 
which  are  carried  various  little  articles  of 
portable  property.  In  the  sleeves,  for  exam- 
ple, are  carried  the  squares  of  white  paper 
which  serve  as  pocket  handkerchiefs,  and 
which  are  always  thrown  away  when  used; 
and  in  the  same  convenient  receptacle  the 
Japanese  guest  will  carry  off  the  remains  of 
the  feast  to  which  he  has  been  invited,  such 
being  the  custom  of  this  strange  country. 

The  materi.al  of  these  robes  differs  accord- 
ing to  the  wealth  and  quality  of  the  wearer, 
some  being  of  simple  cotton,  while  those  of 
the  higher  classes  are  made  of  the  finest 
silks,  and  ornamented  with  the  device  or 
arms  of  the  family,  omhroidored  on  *'-" 
breast  and  back  of  the  outer  robe. 


the 


(1449) 


uoo 


JAPAN. 


Tlio  hiiir  of  the  men  ia  drcssod  in  a  very 
Biiigular  manner.  Tliu  front  iiud  temples  of 
the  head  are  shaved,  as  in  Ciiina,  and  the 
remaining  Iwir  is  made  into  a  tail,  ivs  ia  tlie 
case  witli  tiie  Ciunese.  Tlie  liair,  howeviir, 
is  not  allowed  to  grow  to  its  utmost  length, 
and  to  hang  down  the  back,  but  is  made  into 
a  short  queue,  about  three  inches  in  length, 
and  as  thick  as  the  fmger,  and  is  turned  up 
over  the  top  of  the  head.  Generally  the 
liead  is  bare,  but  it  is  sometimes  covered 
with  a  hat.  The  hats  did'or  much  in  shape. 
That  which  is  in  general  use  is  nearly  Hat, 
and  is  fastened  to  tlie  head  by  six  strings, 
two  of  which  pass  under  the  chin,  two  are 
crossed  at  the  back  of  the  head,  and  two 
more  arc  passed  under  the  nose.  A  hat  thus 
fastened  gives  to  the  head  a  very  singular 
aspect,  making  the  face  look  as  if  it  had 
sulfered  from  a  severe  accident,  and  was 
covered  with  bandages.  Some  hats  look 
like  beehives,  and  entirely  conceal  the  fea- 
tures, and  are  worn  by  outlaws,  or  "  lonins," 
and  disgraced  nobles.  Sometimes  the  men 
pass  a  piece  of  stuff  over  their  heads  in  such 
a  way  as  to  hide  the  forehead  and  chin,  and 
only  to  leave  the  eyes,  nose,  and  mouth  ex- 
posed ;  and  in  winter  they  throw  over  the 
liat  a  piece  of  cloth,  whicli  is  tied  over  the 
nose  so  as  to  shield  that  member  from  the 
cold  blasts. 

'Mrn  of  consideration  also  wear  a  scarf 
over  llie  shoulders,  its  length  being  regulated 
by  the  rank  of  the  wearer,  and  tiuis  serving 
to  indicate  the  amount  of  courtesy  which  is 
due  from  one  man  to  another.  When  two 
Jai)an('se  gentlemen  meet,  they  bow  until 
the  ends  of  the  scarf  touch  the  ground.  It 
is  evidfiut.  therefore,  that  the  man  who,  in 
virtue  of  his  rank,  wears  the  longest  scarf, 
has  the  less  distance  to  bow. 

In  addition  to  the  ordinary  costume,  the 
dre«3  of  ceremony  has  two  extraordinary 
addiiions.  The  hrst  is  the  "  kami-samo,'' 
respecting  which  the  Japanese  are  exceed- 
ingly ])anctiliou8.  It  consists  of  a  piece  of 
stutf  which  is  folded  back  over  the  shoul- 
ders in  a  fan-like  form,  and  gives  a  most  ex- 
traordinary and  awkward  look  to  the  wearer. 
Courtiers  wear  another  article  of  dress 
which  is  exactly  opimsed  to  our  customs. 

In  Euroi)eau  courts  the  nether  garments 
arc  abbreviated,  and  only  come  to  the  knee; 
in  Japan  the  custom  is  reversed.  When  the 
nobles  appear  before  the  emperor,  they  wear 
a  pair  of  trousers  with  legs  fully  twice  as 
long  as  those  of  the  wearer,  so  that  in  walk- 
ing they  trail  a  yard  or  so  on  the  ground. 
"Walking  in  such  garments  is  an  art  which 
can  only  bo  attained  by  long  practice,  and 
which,  even  wiien  learned,  is  nothing  more 
than  an  ungainly  shuffle,  threatening  every 
moment  to  throw  the  courtier  on  his  face. 
The  attitudes  which  are  assinned  by  fashiona- 
ble courtiers  are  so  absurd  that  the  Japanese 
pictur'i  books  abound  in  caricatures  of  noble- 
men at  court.    The  object  of  this  curious 


custom  is  probably  to  give  the  wearer  of  tho 
court  dress  an  aspect  aa  if  ho  were  kneeling 
instead  of  standing. 

Men  of  tho  better  clasucs  alwayB  a))pear 
in  public  carefully  dressed,  but  th<r-,o  of 
the  lower  orders  consider  themselves  sulH- 
ciently  clotlied  if  they  have  a  mere  strip  of 
cloth  like  the  "  languti "  of  India.  Coolies, 
for  exami)le,  laborers  of  various  kinds,  post- 
runners,  etc.,  wear  nothing  but  the  cloth  strip 
while  at  work. 

Mr.  Oliphantj  in  his  "Narrative,"  men- 
tions this  fact  in  connection  with  the  cus- 
tom of  tattooing,  which  is  carried  out  in 
Japan  to  as  much  perfection  as  in  Polynesia. 
"Some,  however,  denied  themselves  tho 
benefit  of  dress,  apparently  for  the  purpose 
of  exhibiting  the  brilliant  patterns  in  which 
their  skins  were  tattooed.  One  man  had  a 
monster  crab  on  the  small  of  his  back,  and  a 
pretty  cottage  on  his  chest.  It  is  rather  fash- 
ionable to  have  scarlet  tish  playing  sport- 
ively between  your  shoulders.  The  scarlet 
tattooing  presents  a  very  disgusting  aiipoar- 
ance.  The  skin  looks  as  if  it  had  been  care- 
fully peeled  ofl'into  the  required  pattern. 

""On  a  really  well-tattooed  man  there  is 
not  an  inch  of  the  body  which  does  not  form 
part  of  a  pictorial  representation.  If  liic 
general  cft'cct  is  not  agreeable,  it  is  perfectly 
decent,  for  tho  skin  ceases  to  look  bare,  or 
like  skin  at  all;  it  rather  resembles  a  harle- 
quin's costume.  It  must  be  dreadful  to  feel 
that  one  can  never  undress  again.  Yet 
what  anguish  does  not  the  victiin  undergo, 
in  order  to  put  himself  into  a  permanent 
suit  of  red  dye  and  gunpowder! "  Tlie 
Japanese  are  very  fond  of  their  children, 
and  in  summer  time  a  man  may  often  be 
seen  in  the  streets,  weai'iiig  nothing  but  the 
cloth  strip,  and  carrying  in  his  arms  Ids  in- 
fant child,  who  has  no  clothing  whatever. 

Sometimes  a  man  will  appear  in  a  cos- 
tume which  even  seems  more  absurd  tJian 
tho  almost  entire  nudity  which  has  just 
been  mentioned,  •\nd  will  walk  about  in  a 
hat,  a  short  jacket,  and  nothing  else  but  tlie 
cloth. 

In  an  illustration  on  tho  next  page,  the 
artist  has  shown  a  number  of  the  ordinary 
costumes  as  they  appear  when  the  wcarirs 
are  gathered  round  a  ballad-singer.  Tlie 
most  conspicuous  figure  is  that  of  a  Sani- 
ourai  or  Yaconin,  an  armed  retainer  of  a 
nobleman,  swaggering  along  with  the  two 
swords  emblematic  of  his  ofHce,  and  his  fea- 
tures nearly  hidden  under  his  hat.  Tiio 
men  wearing  the  extraordinary  piebr.ld 
dresses  are  a  sort  of  street  constable,  who 
accompany  a  man  of  rank  on  his  journey, 
and  who  jingle  an  iron  rod  laden  with  rings, 
in  order  to  warn  people  to  get  out  of  tlio 
way  of  the  great  man.  The  other  figures  of 
men  arc  arranged  so  as  to  show  the  mode  of 
dressing  the  hair,  and  one  or  two  va-icties 
of  costume. 
The  general  appearance  of  tho  women's 


5 


(1.)   UECAIMTATION  OP  CIIINKSK  CKIMINAL.     {Sec  pngf  IHO.) 


(2.)  TUK   STKKKT   liAl-I,AD-8INGKR.    (Sio  imfjf  HJO.) 


(1451) 


«lross  iq  w< 
that  of  Hut 
cxiiclly  liki 
liiiitcriiilis  I 
wliicli  colli 
very  l)roa<l 
aii(l  pcculi 
"|)aiiii.T"  t 
wi'iir  HtoL'k 
iiif^  II  Ni'pfir 
pi'<!iit  toe. 
W(n;l(l  not 
dills  and  ( 
held  on  111 
J'ork  ol'wiil 
tlio  8(h:()I1(1 
Hid  woniL'ii 
MuliWH  ill 
llicy  look, 11 
practice,  i 
vatc  thd  fo( 
tlicf^roiind, 
ratlKu-Klnill 
The  Chi 
liiK!  and  f( 
Whereas  t 
oC  the  heai 
Rrow,  and  < 

llOSSCHSt  a  HI 

cxtraonliiiii 
(hi'ir  locks, 
in;,'  prevail 
1)111  in  all 
dinaiyv  i)ain 
hair  into  c 
which  scar 
cdiild  eijiial 

Ifair-piiii 
much  for  tl 
ill  their  pla 
plus  are  ol 
iiiehes  in  le 
are  iii:ide  ( 
tortoise  sli 
Some  of  tl 
are  made  ( 
nearly  lillei 
that  at  ever 
bnhblo  run 
oilier.  Son 
dozen  or  iik 
that  at  a  lit 
bundle  of  ti 
into  it. 

Having  ] 
may  be  exi 
best  to  dish; 
brown  of  tli 
and  hidcoui 
face,   neck, 
The  natural 
Rusting  by 
teeth  are  bl 
pulled  out. 
only  to  the 
pretty  rjirl  w 
self  into  a  n 


1 


JAPANESE  WOMEN. 


1403 


dross  in  well  Kliown  l>y  a  flijiire  oppoHito  to 
tliiit  <)»'  tlu!  Siiiiiounii.  Till!  (Irew)  Ih  iiliiiost 
oxiictly  like  timl  of  tln!  im)ii,i'X((!i>t  that  tlu! 
iiiiiti'.niilM  1110  K'iii'inUl.v  liiior,  rind  llu!  hiihIi 
wliicli  ('oiilliu'.H  the  KiiniiciilH  to  tho  wiiiHt  in 
vi'i-y  liniad,  mid  ijiillicrcd  up  into  ft  lurxi; 
1111(1  pcciiliiir  knot,  aliimst  oxacily  like  iIk' 
"lianior  "  of  Kiinipcaii  fashion.  Hoiii  hoxl'h 
wear  stock:ni,'s  mado  liko  niiltons,  and  iiav- 
irif,'  a  Mi'paralo  i)iac.c  for  llio  reception  of  tin" 
fireat  toe.  Willioiit  this  pnjvi.iion  lliey 
woiiid  not  l)oal»lo  (o  wear  tiic  peculiar  Haii- 
dals  iind  elo«s  of  the  eountry,  which  are 
iield  on  the  foot  l)y  a  Y-.shap'cd  strap,  the 
fork  of  whleli  pasMuM  between  tho  ^reut  and 
the  8(H:ond  toe.  The  c1o<,'m  that  are  worn  by 
(he  women  very  mucth  reseniblo  those  of  the 
MalavH  In  jj;eneral  slmpe.^md,  awkward  an 
they  look, are  oaHilynianafj;eal)le  after  a  little 
practice.  Home  cl()j,',s  in  my  collection  eh;- 
vate  the  foot  of  the  wearer  hIx  inches  above 
the  f,'roiind,  but  I  have  found  that  walking;,  or 
rather  Kluilllinj;,  in  t hem  iii  not  at  all  ditllcult. 

The  chief  distinction  between  mnfcu- 
line  and  feminine  altiro  liea  in  tho  hair. 
Whereas  the  men  shave  nearly  tho  whole 
of  tho  head,  tho  women  allow  their  h.-iir  to 
grow,  and  even  add  to  it  when  they  do  not 
possess  a  sutHcicnt  amoinit  to  protfuco  the 
extraordinary  forms  intf,  which  they  twist 
tlndr  locks.  Various  liishions  of  liair-dress- 
in;,'  prevail  in  dilfenrnt  parts  of  tho  country, 
but  in  all  cases  tlus  women  take  cxtr.ior- 
diuar^V  piiins  with  their  heads, and  twist  their 
hair  into  el.iborato  and  fantastic  patterns, 
which  scarcely  any.Ei^ropean  hairdresser 
could  e(iual. 

Hair-pins  are  very  fashionable,  not  so 
mu<'h  for  the  pnrjjose  of  conlininf?  tho  locks 
in  their  places,  as  of  mere  adornment.  Tho 
|)ins  are  of  enormous  size,  seven  or  eij,'ht 
inches  in  Icn-^ih,  and  half  an  inch  wide,  and 
are  nuide  of  various  substances,  snch  as 
tortoise  shell,  carved  wood,  and  ivory. 
Some  of  the  most  characterislic  hair-pins 
are  made  of  ^lass.  They  arc  hollow,  and 
nearly  lillcd  with  some  colored  liquid,  so 
that  at  every  movoment  of  lh(\  wearer  an  air 
bubble  runs  from  one  end  of  the  pin  to  the 
other.  Sometimes  a  woman  will  wear  a 
dozen  or  moro  of  these  pins  in  her  hair,  so 
that  at  a  little  distance  her  head  looks  as  if  a 
bundlo  of  flrewood  had  been  stuck  loosely 
into  it. 

Having  pleasing  features  by  nature,  it 
may  be  expected  that  tho  women  do  their 
best  to  disfigure  them  by  art.  The  soft  pale 
brown  of  their  complexions  is  made  ghastly 
and  hideous  by  white  paint,  -.viih  which  the 
face,  neck,  and  bust  are  thickly  covered. 
The  natural  pink  of  the  lips  is  rendered  dis- 
gusting by  a  layer  of  red  paint,  the  white 
teeth  are  blackened,  and  tho  eyebrows  are 
pulled  out.  This  style  of  adornment  belongs 
only  to  the  marriedf' women,  so  that  a  really 
pretty  rjirl  will  in  a  few  bours  transform  her- 
self into  a  repulsive  hag. 


Mr.  Oliphant,  in  the  work  wliich  has  ol- 
rcmly  been  mentioned,  gives  rather  a  hu- 
morous reason  for  this  strange  custom. 
"The  /Irst  impression  of  the  fair  sex  which 
tho  traveller  receives  in  a  Japanese  crowd 
is  in  the  highest  degree  unlavorable;  the 
ghastly  appearance  of  the  faces  and  bosoms 
thickly  coated  with  powder,  the  abseiiec  ot 
(7cbr;)ws,  and  the  blackened  teeth,  produce 
a  most  jiaiuful  and  disagreeable  ell'ect. 
Were  it  not  for  this  abominable  custom' 
.lapanose  women  would  jirobably  rank  hich 
among  Eastern  beauties, certainly  far  belmo 
iJhiiiese. 

"  All  .lapaiiese  writers  whom  I  liavc  read 
upon  the  8ui)Jeet  alllrm  that  to  have  no  eye- 
brows and  black  teeth  is  considered  a  beauty 
111  .Japan,  and  that  the  object  of  the  iiioeess 
IS  to  add  to  the  charms  of  the  fair  one.  Tho 
result  of  my  inquiry  an<l  observation,  how- 
ever, rjither  led  me  to  form  an  opiiosile  con- 
clusion. 

"  In  the  first  place,  young  ladies  do  not, 
as  a  rul(!,  neglect  any  opjiortunity  of  im|)rov- 
ing  their  looks;  but  no  Japanese  young 
ladies,  even  after  they  are  '  out,'  think  of  tak- 
ing this  method  of  increasing  their  powers 
of  fascination;  they  color  their  lips  and 
cheeks,  and  deck  their  hair,  but  it  i;i  rfot 
until  they  have  made  a  conquest  vi'  snnio 
lucky  swain,  (hat,  to  prove  their  devotion  to 
bun,  they  begin  to  blacken  their  teeth  and 
pu;l  out  their  eye))rows. 

"  He,  privileged  being,  is  fcalind  upon  to 
exhibit  no  such  test  of  his  alfection:  on  tho 
contrary,  his  lawful  wife  having  so  far  dis- 
(igured  hcrsr^lf  as  to  render  it  iiniios- 
sible  that  she  should  be  iiUractive  to  any 
one  else,  seems  to  lose  her  charms  for 
her  husband  as  well.  So  he  jilaces  her  at 
tho  head  of  bis  establishment;  and  adds  to 
It  an  indefinite  number  of  liandmaidens,  who 
neith:jr  pull  out  their  eyebrows  nor  lilackcn 
their  teeth.  1  'ice  it  seems  not  dillicult  lo 
account  for  (ht  |ihenomenon  which  vs  uni- 
versally admit  led,  that  while  .lapaneso  wives 
arc  celebrated  for  their  virtue,  their  hus- 
bands are  no  less  notorious  fur  their  licen- 
tiousness." 

AVhile  upon  the  subject  of  dross,  we  must 
not  pass  unnoticed  tl:o  extraordinary  ideas 
which  the  Jaiianese  have  on  the  subject. 
Possessed  as  thoy  are  of  much  tnste  in  dress, 
and  having  certain  complete  cc  )tumes  for 
various  ranks,  it  seems  very  remarkable  that 
thoy  are  utterly  indifterent  to  clothing  con- 
sidered in  the  light  of  covering.  They  at- 
tach no  sense  of  indelicacy  to  exposure  of 
tho  person,  and  men,  women,  and  children 
may  bo  seen  bathing  exposed  to  tho  sight  of 
every  passer-by. 

Even  their  public  baths,  though  some  of 
them  have  two  doors,  one  for  men  and  one 
for  women,  are  common  to  both  sexes,  and 
in  those  baths  which  are  specially  set  apart 

■■ ••  '■  '"^-  Hitvuuant-  13  oiicn   a  man. 

Sometimes  there  is  a  partition,  about  breast 


I      |i 


1454 


JAPAN. 


h\n\\,  fo  nopnmto  the  fpxon.  l>ut  tho  unun\ 
liiitlin  have  lu)  mikIi  rcdiuincnt.  Tlio  Imllm 
nrd  miM'cly  nlmllow  pans  or  (li-nrcMJ^ionx  '•» 

tin-  11 ■,  ill  uliich  lli(.  Itnlh.Tn  ml  while  they 

pour  over  tlu-iiisi'lvt's  iiliiiiiciiuit  Miipplit's  ol 
hot  mill  lold  wilier.  Hutlm  ol'  llii«  nnture 
nr.'  iiltiu'hiMl  to  all  the  "  tea-housen,"  mi 
that  Inivi'llei-H  can  reliesh  Ihetiiselves  with 
IV  hath,  in  Irno  llomerii^  Htyle,  heltiro  they 
take  tlii'ir  iiieaU.  And,  1"  Homerio  Htylt! 
nl><o,  the  attendants  are  women,  'liie  hiitliH 
an'  known  hy  ii  dark  l>lne  Hlrip  ol  eloth 
wliieli  haii;,'H  like  IX  haiuier  over  the  door- 
way. Kuropcans,  when  they  lirsl  visit  tim 
coiinlry,  are  rather  surprised  when  tliey 
pass  iil'onu;  th('  streets  to  see  a  whole  I'linilly 
'"  Inlihinic"'"  in  front  ol' their  houses,  or,  when 
they  jiass  a  |)iil)lie  hath,  to  see  the  inmates 
run' out,  to  look  at  the  striuv!,'ers;  hut  they 
verv  soon  heeoiue  used  to  sueli  speetaeles, 
nmi  think  no  iiioro  of  them  than  ilo  the 
Japanese   theliixelves. 

Sir  Hutherford  Alcock,  in  deallnjf  with 
this  sultject,  and  illi'stratiii),'  it  hy  a  .fapaii- 
tise  drawini,'  representing,'  a  l>atli  teiianied 
hy  a  man,  a  hoy,  and  live  women,  makes 
tlie  followiiij;  remarks:  "Men  ami  women 
steamiiiL,'  in  the  lialliing-houses  raiso  theiii- 
sNves  to  the  open  liars  of  the  latliee  fronts 
to  look  out,  the  interior  lieliind  them  pre- 
sentini,'  a  view  very  faithl'iilly  represented 
Ui  tlie  liiliowiiiij;  ske'teli  hy  a  native  artist. 

"In  refireiiee  to  which,  I  cannot  help 
I'oeliiii,'  there  "is  some  d!in;,'erof  (h)iii;;  iiijns- 
tice  to  the  womanliood  of  .lapaii  if  we  JiidLte 
tiiem  hy  "!(/■  rules  of  decency  and  modesty. 
Where'  there  hi  no  xrimr  "of  immodestly, 
111)  couseiotisness  of  wron<;-iloin^,  there  is, 
or  may  he,  a  like  ahseiici^  of  any  sinful  or 
deiiraviii-,'  feeiiti;,'.  It  is  a  custom  of  the 
country.  Fathers,  hrothers,  and  hushaiids 
all  san'(;tioii  it;  and  from  childhood  the  feel- 
ini;  must  i,'ro\v  up  as  cll'eelually  shieldins,' 
them  from  ll'-reproacli  or  shame,  as  their 
sisters  in  Kuiope  in  adoptinjr  low  dresses  in 
the  hall-room, or  anv  other  ■generally  ndonted 
fashion  of  j,'armeiits  or  aninsenusnts.  Tliero 
is  iniieh  in  the  usual  api)earanee  and  cxprea- 
sii>n  of  .lapanese  wonu'ii  to  lead  to  this  con- 
clusion. Any  one  of  the  real  performera  in 
the  ahove  scene,  —  a  hathing  saturnalia  aa  it 
may  appear  to  us.  —  when  all  is  over,  and 
tlur  toilet  completed,  will  leave  tho  hath- 
door  a  very  picture  of  womanly  leacrvc  and 
moilesty." 

Ci  rtainlv,no  women  can  be  more  decently 
clad  tliaii  those  of  Jaiiaii,  as  we  may  see  hy 
any  of  the  multitudinous  native  drawings; 
anil  that  they  should  attach  no  sense  of 
decency  to  the  dress,  or  indecency  to  its  ab- 
sance,  is  one  of  the  many  strange  charac- 
teristics of  this  remarkable  and  euignmtic 
couiitry. 

Tiio  travelling  dress  of  the  women  is  little 
more  than  their  ordinary  costume,  i)lu8  a 
largo  Hat  hat,  which  serves  as  a  iiaraflol. 
Japanese  picture  books  abound  wiili  illualru- 


tlons  of  women  travelling,  nml,  muUllndl- 
nous  as  they  ari%  eaih  has  always  muiic  char- 
acteristic! iioinl,  and  no  two  iirt^  ixiurtiy  alil^o. 
Sonielimi's  \\i'  see  the  women  sauntering 
miietly  alonx  the  river  hank,  siuiietiiniH 
they  are  being  carried  across  the  river  on 
the  Hhoulders  of  men,  or,  if  they  he  of  iin- 
portiiiice.  III  "  norimiins  "  or  chairs  hoinchy 
six  or  cMghl  coolies.  Some  of  the  draw- 
ings depict  women  as  Hilling  in  boats,  as 
being  caught  in  a  heavy  snow  or  rain  storm 
(see  illustration),  as  walking  by  moonlight, 
and  a.'  they  apiiear  when  riiling. 


Tho  atlilude  and  general  appearaiici^  of  a 
female  cipiestrian  in  .lajian  dillcr  coiisiiier- 
altly  from  those  of  an  Knroiiean.  Side-sad- 
(lles  are  unknown,  tlu^  fair  rider  iieicliiiii^ 
herself  upon  a  saddle  which  lifts  her  hii;li 
above  the  hack  of  the  animal,  conceiiling 
her  body  downward,  holding  on  tightly  by 
the  front  part  of  the  saildle,  and,  in  tiict.giv- 
ins;  herself  a  look  very  much  resemhiiiii; 
that  of  a  gayly  attired  monkey  on  horse- 
back, as  shown  on  tin;  next  iiagc.  This  nioili! 
of  riding  is  even  followeil  by  the  opjiosile 
sex,  the  retainers  of  the  high  nobles  sitting 
in  their  lofty  sa<ldles  in  very  nnich  the  same 
attitude  as  thai  employed  by  the  women, 
and  being  in  consequence  absolutely  use- 
less, except  in  looks,  as  cavalry. 

Yet,  when  they  choose,  the  Japanese  can 
ride  tolerably,  as  is  shown  by  the  fad  of  a 
game  which  is  played  among  them,  in  which 
the  competitors  are  all  mounted.  In  this 
game  the  j)layers  have  to  contend  against 
very  great  disadvantages.  In  the  llrst  jilace, 
the  horses  which  they  bestride  are  wretched 
animals,  mere  rough  ponies,  and  the  uccou- 
ticuiciit.s  are  ,so  clumsy,  thai  it  is  a  woudur 


TII/VVKLLING   IN   .lAl'AN. 


1405 


how  Iho  liorso  call  lir'  Kiiiilcd  iil  nil.  Ai- 
ccinllii;?  to  our  iili'iiH,  ii  liorHi'  in  guided  liy 
till*  prcHsiirc  ol'  llic  li';^  mill  llio  toiKtIi  of  th<! 
rein,  liul  the  ,l!i|iiiiii'N(f  hiuIiIIl'h  rvudcr  hucIi 
guidaiK'i'  itii|ioHHilil('. 

Till'  roiiiicr  iiiodn  Ih  provcntcd  by  thr 
hIiuiic  ol'  tiio  Miiddli',  vvlili'li  Iiuh  Inr^**  UnpH  ol' 
tiliti  haliiiT  liiuij^'iit;;  ho  low  Unit  tint  liocl  or 
kiicc  ot'llir  rldi'i'  lias  no  cH't'cl  upon  tln^  iiiii- 
innl;  and  Mm  latter  imidd  JHiifarly  ns  ini|ioH- 
hI'/Ic  itH  till'  rorniri',  liy  reason  of  tin;  lilt  and 
the  I'aMliion  f>r  riiliii^;.  'I'ln^  lilt  Ih  a  tnere 
li^lit  hiiallle  plaeed  loosely  in  the  nioulh, 
und  till'  I'eiiiH  are  Used,  not  HO  iiuicli  till'  the 
lllirpose  of  f,'uii|ili;;  llie  horse,  as  of  keepilif^ 
the  rider  in  his  Heal.  'I'lie  liorHeiiieii  j;ra»p 
a  ruin  liKhlly  in  eaih  hand,  and  ho  hnni^  to 
the  hit.  The  iialnral  coiisiuiueiico  1h,  that  the 
moutliH  of  the  lioi'Ni's  are,  n  arly  uh  touj^li  an 
the  leather  Haddle-tlaps,  and  the  nninitilH 
always  go  with  their  iiosis  in  the  air,  ho  as  to 
couiitcrait  the  perjieliial  haul  on  the  bridle. 

The  n,  le  wliieli  in  played  under  these 
iintonard  conditions  is  a  sort  of  mall.  A 
large  Hpnce  Ik  marked  out.  and  at  eueb  end 
is  a  (Uirtaiii.     At   sonie    few  feet   from  thi^ 

f  round  a  eircnlar  hole  is  eut  in  the  curtain. 
Inch  ]ilayer  in  fmnished  with  a  long-han- 
dled, snrill-heiided  raekel,  ftlmo.st  exactly 
reseiiibliii^'  that  whicli  is  einnloyed  by  tlii^ 
Mortli  Aim  riian  IndiaiiH  in  tlieir  ball  play. 
dcKcribed  on  pniiv  III'JI.  The  object  of  the 
game  is  to  pick  up  the  ball  from  the  ground 
with  the  raekel,  and  to  tlirow  it  through  the 
hole.  In  order  that  there  may  be  no  doubt 
wlu'ther  the  ball  Iiuh  really  piis.sed  through 
the  hole,  a  net  is  hung  loosely  on  the  onpo- 
HJte  side  of  the  hole,  and  receives  the  ball. 
The  players  arrange  tbemseives  in  two 
parties,  distinguished  by  colors,  niid  tli(\ 
chief  point  of  the  game  "is  to  jmrsue  the 
opponent  iis  be  is  galloping  triuiniibantly 
toward  the  goal,  and  kiuu  k  the  ball  out  of 
the  racket  Just  uh  he  is  going  to  throw  it 
through  the  hole. 


The  Htirru^iH  uned  by  (be  JiipanoHe  nre 
Vi'TS  curioUM  III  Bhiipe,iiii(l  not  ivl  all  like  the 
ordliiHry  models,  l  heir  general  outline  re- 
Hi'inbli'H  (hat  of  the  letter  S,  the  foot  being 
thrust  into  the  oiiening  as  tiir  as  it  will  go. 
The  coniparativoly  Hiiiall  HlirrupH  used  uy 
KliropeaiiH  are  iw  troublesome  to  the  .Japan- 
ese as  would  be  the  tiny  triangular  stirruim 
of  L'atagonia  to  an  Knglish  rider. 

The  strangi'Ht  part  of  horsi-  e(|iupnirnt  iu 
.Japan  is,  however,  the  shoe.  Our  idea  of  ti 
horseshoe  is  a  metallic  plate  to  protect  the 
horse  against  hard  ground,  The  .lananeso 
shoe  is  ni,iile  of  plaited  straw,  and  is,  in  fad, 
nothing  more  than  a  straw  sandal  lied  to  the 
foot,  giving  it  a  very  clumsy  appearance. 
Ah  may  be  iinagined,  their  sIioch  never  last 
very  long,  and  on  a  stony  mad  are  soon  cut 
to  pieces.  'J'he  riilei'.  thi'rel'ore,  lakes  a  HUii- 
ply  of  shoes  with  him,  and  renews  them  as 
fast  as  they  are  worn  out.  Indeed,  a  journey 
is  often  roiighly  calculated  as  a  distance  of  so 
many  shocks. 

lliider  such  circumstancCH,  it  is  not  sur- 

l)risiiig   (hat  the   horse   is  sehlom  used   in 

I  travelling.     None  but  a  poor  noble  will  con- 

I  descend  to  ride  from  oiu'  jilace  to  another, 

as  it  might  be  Mipposed  (bat   he  could  not 

1  all'ord  the  retinue  which  is  required  to  carry 

him.    Sometimes  a  nobU man   will   coiidt- 

iceiid   to  ride  in  public,  but  then  his  horse 

I  must  be  held  by  t  ,\o  grooms,  who  lug  con- 

tiniiiilly  at    (he   poor   aiiiniars   nioulli,  and 

shout  coiitiiiually,  "('hail  ehai!"  i.  i\  gently, 

for  haste  is  always   llioiiglit  undignitied  by 

I  be  .laiiaiiese,  and  a  person  of  consideration 

would  suH'er  a  great  inl'ra''tion  of  dignity  if 

he  allowed  hiniself  lo  hurry  over  the  road. 

I■^>r  those  who  can  atl'ord  so  expensive  a 
luxury,  (he  usual  mode  of  conveyance  is  a 
sort  of  iialaiuiiiin  called  a  Korimon,  It  is  a 
Hijuaro  cage,  hung  from  a  liole,  and  carried 
b^V  tour  men,  two  in  front  and  two  behind, 
lor  Japanese  travellers  this  is  a  very  com- 
fortable conveyance,  but  for  KiiropeaiiH, 
who  nre  not  necustoiiied  to  the 
crouching  attitude  so  characteris- 
tic of  the  Jaimnese,  even  u  short 
journey  in  a  norinioii  is  a  source 
of  torture,  (he  untbrtuiiale  )iassen- 
ger  finding  great  ditlieulty  in  gel- 
ting  into  tile  machine,  and,  when 
the  journey  is  over,  almost  ns 
luucli  ditlieulty  in  gettinij;  out 
ngnin,  liis  limbs  being  stitf  niul 
ernnipcdby  (be  jiosKion  into  which 
they  hnve  been  forced. 

The  pole  of  the  norimon  is  stout, 
and  very  long;  and  it  is  a  matter 
of  rivnlrV  between  young  and  fash- 
ionabb",  men  to  have  their  norimon 
poles  ns  long  and  as  iirofu.sely 
decorated  as  possible.  AVIien  the 
coolies  carry  the  norimon,  they 
hoist  it  on  their  shonlders  at  a  sig- 
nal from  their  master,  and  step 
;a  along  aksomu  three  miles  an  hour* 


I 


% 


s      % 


im 


JAPAN. 


In  many  parts  tlio  coolies  much  resemble 
the  palanquin  bearers  of  India,  but  are  in 
tliis  respect  superior,  that  they  travel  in 
silence,  and  do  not  weary  the  soul  of  their 
m  ister  by  the  perpetual  grunts  and  moans 
Willi  which  the  Indian  bearers  are  accus- 
tomed to  lighten  their  journey. 

Uncomfortable  as  is  the  norimon,  there  is 
a  popular  conveyance  which  is  even  more 
painful  to  European  limbs.  This  is  called 
the  Cango,  and  it  bears  about  the  same  re- 
lationship to  the  norimon  as  a  wheelbarrow 
does  to  a  carriage.  Indeed,  if  the  reader  can 
imagine  the  wheel,  the  legs,  and  handle  of 
a  wheelbarrow  to  be  removed,  and  the  body 
of  the  machine  to  be  hung  from  a  pole,  he 
can  form  some  idea  of  a  cango.  In  the  nori- 
mon the  inmate  has  to  crouch,  in  the  cango 
he  has  almost  to  tie  himself  in  a  knot.  Yet 
the  Japanese  limbs  arc  so  supple,  that  cango 
employers  travel  for  many  successive  hours 
without  bein"  in  the  least  oppressed  by  the 
attitude  which  they  are  compelled  to  assume. 
Cangos  are  largely  used  in  Japan,  and  are 
indeed  what  cabs  are  to  Londoners,  the  nori- 
mons  supplying  the  place  of  carriages. 

When  a  great  noble  or  Daimio  travels,  he 
always  uses  the  norimon,  partly  because 
it  is  the  most  luxurious  conveyance  which 
he  knows,  and  partly  because  it  gives  him 
an  excuse  for  displaying  the  strength  of  his 
retinue,  which  is  ahout  the  only  mode  of 
ostentation  known  to  the  Japanese.  The 
norimon  is  preceded  by  some  of  the  men 
called  Samourais,  or  Yaconins,  i.  e.  men  who 
are  permitted  to  attach  themselves  to  his 
service,  and  thereby  to  gain  the  privilege  of 
wearing  two  swords.  As  their  master  passes 
along,  they  continually  utter  the  word 
"Shitaniriol"  i.e.  kneel  down,  whereupon 
every  one  that  hears  it  must  at  once  pros- 
trate himself  on  the  ground,  or  remain  erect 
at  his  peril.  The  most  serious  quarrels 
that  have  arisen  between  strangers  and  the 
natives  in  Japan  have  originated  in  this 
custom,  the  strangers  either  not  knowing 
the  custom,  or  refusing  to  comply  with  it 
lest  they  should  compromise  the  dignity  of 
their  nation.  Refusing  to  obey  such  an 
order  is  sure  to  cause  a  quarrel,  and  ii  .likely 
to  end  in  loss  of  life,  as  the  Yaconins  who 
give  the  order  to  kneel  are  always  ready  to 
enforce  obedience  with  their  swords. 

Around  the  norimon  is  a  crowd  of  ser- 
vants, each  wearing  his  master's  badge  on 
his  back,  and  each  armed  according  to  his 
rank.  Some  led  horses  generally  accompany 
the  procession,  so  that  the  great  man  may 
ride  when  he  is  tired  of  the  norimon,  and  a 
number  of  coolies  bear  umbrellas  covered 
with  waterproof  cases,  and  large  boxes  on 
poles.  These  boxes  are  almost  invariably 
empty,  but  are  conventionally  supposed  to 
contain  the  stores  of  baggage  without  which 
80  great  a  man  could  not  be  expected  to 
stir.  Superior  officers  in  norimons,  and  in- 
ferior officers  on  horseback,  accompany  the 


procession,  for  which  a  passage  is  kept  by  a 
number  of  men  fantastically  dressed  in  harle- 
quin-like suits  of  various  colors.  Each  of 
tliem  carries  a  long  iron  rod,  to  which  are 
attached  a  number  of  rings  made  of  the  same 
metal.  As  they  walk  they  strike  the  end  of 
the  rod  against  the  ground  at  each  step,  so 
that  a  clashing  sort  of  jingle  is  produced, 
and  strikes  awe  into  the  people. 

That  the  Japanese  should  be  such  poor 
horsemen  is  very  singular,  considering  the 
marvellous  perfection  to  which  they  have 
brought  other  athletic  exercises.  As  ''acro- 
bats" the  performers  are  fur  superior  to 
those  of  any  other  nation,  performing  tlic 
most  audacious  and  apparently  im])ossibie 
feats  with  an  absolute  precision  which  quite 
removes  any  idea  of  danger. 

Until  the  Japanese  gymnasts  came  to  this 
country,  we  were  inclined  to  treat  the  ac- 
counts of  travellers  as  exaggerated,  but  they 
proved  to  be  capable  of  performing  any 
feats  which  our  professional  athletes  could 
achieve,  and  many  others  which  they  never 
even  dreamt  of  attempting.  For  example, 
nothing  seems  much  more  diiricult  than  for 
a  man  to  lie  on  his  back  and  balance  on  the 
soles  of  his  feet  a  ladder  thirty  feet  high. 
But  when  wo  add  that  to  the  top  of  the  lad- 
der a  second  ladder  was  attached  at  right 
angles,  like  the  top  of  the  letter  F,  and  that 
a  boy  went  up  and  down  tlie  ladder,  and 
even  crawled  to  the  end  of  the  cross  piece 
and  there  hung  by  his  instep,  while  tlie  lad- 
der was  balanced  on  the  soles  of  the  reclin- 
ing man's  feet,  we  appear  to  be  romanciu" 
rather  than  relating  a  fact.  Yet  this  aston" 
ishing  performance  was  repeated  day  after 
day,  and  nothing  was  more  woiulerrul  than 
the  elaborate  perfection  and  finish  of  the 
performance.  The  heavy  ladder  was  placed 
on  the  upturned  feet,  and  in  a  nioinent  it 
was  as  steady  as  if  it  had  been  planted  in 
the  ground.  Though,  owing  to  the  cross- 
piece,  it  was  considerably  inclined,  its  stead- 
iness was  not  impaired,  and  even  when  the 
boy  ascended  and  descended  it,  causing  the 
centre  of  gravitv  to  be  continually  altered," 
there  was  not  the  slightest  wavering  per- 
ceptible. 

So  with  the  other  feats  achieved  by  these 
remarkable  performers.  Everything  was 
done  with  the  deliberation  wliich  forms  an 
essential  part  of  the  Japanese  nature,  but 
there  were  no  needless  delays,  and  whether 
the  man  was  balancing  tlie  ladder  on  his 
feet,  or  whether  he  was  spinning  tops  and 
making  tliem  act  as  if  they  were  rational 
beinge.or  whether  he  was  making  two  paper 
butterflies  flutter  about  as  if  they  were  real 
insects,  the  same  quiet  perfection  character- 
ized the  whole  of  the  performance,  and 
every  feat  was  done  with  such  consummate 
ease  that  itloolftd  as  if  it  really  required  no 
skill  at  all.  The  cxtraordinarv  life  which 
the  Japanese  performers  contrive  to  infuse 
into  inanimate  objects  is  almost  incredible. 


MARVELLOUS  FEATS  OF  THE  JAPANESE. 


Had  not  the  feat  been  actually  seen,  it  would 
be  scarcely  possible  to  believe  that  a  top 
could  be  spun,  and  then  launched  oflf  to  per- 
form the  following  feats  without  being  even 
touched :  — 

It  ascended  an  inclined  plane  to  a  temple, 
the  doors  of  which  were  closed.  It  knocked 
open  one  of  the  doors,  entered  the  temple, 
waited  inside  some  time,  and  then  knocked 
open  another  door  at  right  angles  to  the 
former,  and  emerged.  It  then  went  over  an 
inclined  bridge,  entered  another  temple,  and 
went  up  stairs,  emerging  at  an  upper  story. 
It  then  proceeded  along  an  inclined  plane 
standing  at  right  angles  to  the  temple,  and 
passed  over  a  drawbridge,  which  was  imme- 
diately lifted,  leaving  a  gap  over  which  the 
top  had  to  pass  in  order  to  get  back  again. 
However,  by  the  loosing  of  a  catch,  the  top 
was  flung  over  the  ;jap,  and  went  on  as  gayly 
ps  ever,  finishing  with  entering  a  third  tem- 
olc,  rinuring  a  bell  inside,  coming  out  again, 
and  running  over  two  more  bridges  into 
the  hands  of  the  spinner,  having  traversed 
some  forty  feet,  besides  the  work  in  the  tem- 
ples. 

The  same  man  spun  a  top  upon  the  edge 
of  a  sword,  making  it  pass  from  one  end  of 
the  blade  to  the  other.  He  flung  the  top  in 
the  air  and  threw  the  string  at  it:  the  top 
caught  the  middle  of  the  string  by  the  peg, 
wound  itself  up,  and  was  again  flung  into 
the  air,  spinning  faster  than  before.  It  was 
then  caught  on  the  slender  stem  of  a  pipe, 


1457 

along  which  it  ran  as  if  alive,  was  passed 
behind  the  back,  and  caught  again  in  front 
and  lastly,  was  received  upon  the  hem  of 
the  sleeve,  made  to  spin  up  the  garment 
over  the  neck  and  shoulders,  and  down  the' 
sleeve  of  the  opposite  side.  It  was  also 
made  to  spin  upon  a  slight  string  stretched 
from  the  wall,  and  to  pass  backward  and 
forward  as  long  as  the  spinner  chose. 

Some  of  these  tops  required  no  strin<T  but 
were  merely  spun  with  the  hand;  "they 
could  be  taken  up  and  put  down  again,  still 
spinning,  or  they  could  be  stood  on  their 
heads  and  still  spin,  or  they  could  be  built 
into  a  perfect  edifice  of  tops,  three  or  four 
spinning  upon  each  other,  sometimes  each 
leaninjr  in  a  different  direction,  and  then 
being  brought  upright  by  a  touch  of  the 
ever-ready  fan.  The  concluding  feat  was  u 
very  curious  one.  Some  thirty  feet  above 
the  heads  of  the  spectators  was  hung  a  model 
of  a  temple,  from  which  depended  a  string. 
The  chief  top-spinner  then  took  a  small  but 
very  heavy  top,  wound  up  its  string,  and 
flung  the  top  in  the  air,  drawing  back  the 
arm  so  that  the  top  came  flying  into  his 
hand.  He  went  under  the  temple,  gave  the 
pendent  string  a  half  -turn  round  the  peg 
and  away  went  the  top  into  the  temple' 
bursting  open  its  doors,  and  flinging  out  a 
(lutvntity  of  rose  leaves,  which  came  flutter- 
ing down  round  the  top  as  it  descended 
the  string,  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
performer. 


f! 


CHAPTER    CLVn. 

JAPAN  —  Concluded. 

MISCELLANEOXTS  CUSTOMS. 


StTMPTUABTI,AW9- SYSTEM  OF  ESWOWAOB  -  T™  DUPUCATS  EMPIRE  -  POWERS  OF  THE  TYCOON 
AND  MIKADO  -  THE  DAIMI08  AND  THEIR  RETAINERS  -  THE  TWO  SWOBDB  -  L0NIN8,  OB  OUTLAWS 
-JAPANESE  FENCERS -DEFENSIVE  ARMOR -ARCHERY -THE  HAPPY  DESPATCH  -  PUBLIC  EXE- 
CUTIONS-ARCHITECTURE -REASONS  FOR  ITS  FRAGIMTY- PRECAUTIONS  AGAINST  FIRE -SIMPLE 
HABITS  OF  THE  JAPANESE  -  AJTOSEMENTS  AND  OAME8- WRESTLERS  -  THEATRES  IN  JAPAN- 
CURIOUS  ARRANGEMENT  OF  PLAYS  -  THE  TEA-HOUSES  AND  THEIR  ATTENDANTS  -  JAPANESE  ART 
-THE  PORTABLE  INK8TAND-THB  CBANB,  HERON,  AND  8T0KK-THE  SNOW-CLOAK  -  8U.B;  MADE 
BY   NOBLES. 


In  Japan  there  is  a  tolerably  strict  code  of 
sumptuary  laws,  certain  modes  of  dress  and 
the  power  of  carryiug  certain  weapons  being 
denied  to  all  except  the  privileged  classes. 
We  will,  therefore,  take  a  hasty  glance  at 
the  dill'ercnt  ranks  in  Japan. 

"With  regard  to  all  official  ranks  a  duplicate 
system  exists  throughout  the  kingdom.  At 
the  head  of  the  government  there  are  two 
emperors,  —  the  civil  emperor,  or  Tycoon, 
and  the  spiritual  emperor,  or  Mikado.  The 
former  of  these  potentates  (whose  title  is 
sometimes  spelled  as  Siogoon)  is  the  real 
administrator  of  the  empire,  although  he  is 
nominallv  inferior  to  the  Mikado,  an  inferi- 
ority which  is  carefully  marked  by  certain 
visits  of  ceremony  paid  to  the  Mikatlo,  but 
is  not  allowed  to  proceed  beyond  mere  eti- 

Indeed,  the  powers  of  the  Tycoon  himself 
are  praoticallv  limited-,  though  Iheorctically 
unbounded,  and  the  government  is  in  fact 
exercised  by  the  nobles,  through  a  double 
council,  one  of  which  is  chosen  by  the  em- 
peror, and  the  other  selected  by  the  nobles 
from  themselves.  Every  man  who  is  cm- 
ployed  in  the  duties  of  government  has  his 
duplicate,  or  "  shadow,"  as  he  is  called;  he 
is  subject  to  espionage  on  every  side,  and  is 
himself  a  spy  on  others. 

This  system,  uncomfortable  as  it  may  ap- 
pear, has  its  advantages.  According  to  Mr. 
Oliphant:  "  One  most  beneficial  result  aris- 
ing from  this  universal  system  of  espionage 
—for  it  extends  through  sU  cla-sscs  of  societ- 


—  is  the  entire  probity  of  every  government 
employe.  So  ft^r  as  we  could  learn  or  see, 
they  were  incorruptible.  When  men  can 
neither  offer  nor  receive  bribes;  when  it  is 
almost  impossible,  even  indirectly,  to  exer- 
cise corrupt  influences,  there  is  little  fear  of 
the  demoralization  of  public  departments  of 
the  state.  In  this  respect  Japan  aflbrds  a 
Ijrilliant  contrast  to  China,  and  even  to  some 
European  countries.  So  long  as  this  purity 
exists,  even  though  purchivsed  at  the  cost  of 
secret  espial,  there  can  be  little  cause  to  fear 
the  decadence  of  Japan." 

It  is  as  well  to  mention  in  this  place  that  the 
word  Tycoon,  or  Tai-kil,  is  not  of  Japanese 
but  of  Chinese  origin,  and  that  it  came  into 
use  through  its  insertion  in  an  otficial  docu- 
ment, the  unlucky  minister  who  employed  it 
having  in  consequence  fallen  into  disgrace 
and  poverty.  The  name  of  Tycoon  is  never 
applied  to  him  by  the  Japanese,  who  use 
instead  the  title  which  has  been  conferred 
upon    him    by  his  nominal   superior,  the 

Mikado.  .    .   ,, 

The  Mikado,  or  spiritual  emperor,  is  held 
in  the  greatest  veneration,  and  many  of  tiie 
honors  paid  to  him  are  almost  identical  with 
those  which  are  rendered  to  the  Grand 
Lama  of  Thibet.  He  is  too  sacred  to  touch 
the  earth  with  his  feet,  and  is  carried  on 
men's  shoulders  on  the  rare  occasions  when 
he  moves  from  one  ])art  of  the  palace  to 
another.  Outside  it  he  never  goes.  He  is 
too  holy  to  wear  any  garment  twice,  or  to 
use  anv  article  a  second  time,  and,  should 


(1408) 


DAIMIOS  AND  THEIR  RETAINERS. 


1459 


any  one  venture  to  wear  or  use  a  garment 
or  utensil  sanctified  by  his  touch,  he  would 
bring  down  on  himself  the  vengeance  of 
heaven.  Consequently,  every  garment  that 
he  has  worn  or  every  wooden  utensil  which 
he  has  employed  is  burned,  and  those  whicli 
are  made  of  earthenware  are  broken. 

A  similar  rule  extends  to  his  wives,  of 
whom  he  has  twelve,  one  of  them  being  the 
head  wife  or  queen.  A  curious  piece  of  eti- 
quette is  practised  by  the  wives  of  the 
Slikado.  All  other  women  dress  their  hair 
into  fantastic  shapes,  but  the  Mikado's 
wives  are  obliged  to  allow  their  hair  to  flow 
at  length  down  their  backs.  In  consequence 
of  the  innumerable  restrictions  to  which  he 
is  subjected,  the  Mikado  generally  becomes 
tired  of  his  comfortless  rank,  and  resigns  in 
favor  of  his  heir. 

Next  come  the  Daimios  or  nobles,  who,  as 
among  ourselves,  arc  of  different  ranks,  and 
who  arc  the  real  rulers  of  the  country.  The 
difficulties  which  foreigners  have  experi- 
enced in  Japan  have  almost  invariably  been 
caused  by  the  Daimios,  who  fear  tliat  their 
position  as  feudal  nobles  may  be  endangered 
by  the  introduction  of  foreigners  into  the 
country.  The  greater  Daimios  are  as  for- 
midable as  were  the  great  barons  of  early 
English  history,  and  in  like  manner  keep 
vast  numbers  of  armed  retainers.  There  is 
a  general  idea  that  in  Jaiian  every  man 
wears  a  pair  of  swords.  This  is  far  from 
being  the  case,  as  none  are  permitted  to  wear 
even  one  sword  unless  he  be  in  the  service 
of  (lie  State.  Even  the  wealthiest  merchant 
may  not  wear  a  sword  unless  he  is  enrolled 
amoni,'  the  retainers  of  a  Daimio,  and,  as  the 
privilege  is  a  great  one,  it  is  purchased  for 
a  certain  annual  sum.  This  indirect  tribute 
is  a  lucrative  source  of  income  to  the  Dai- 
mios, and  enables  them  to  maintain  the 
enormous  retinue  with  which  they  are  sur- 
rounded. 

The  higher  cla.sses  in  Japan  are  privileged 
to  wear  a  garment  called  the  '•  hakkama." 
This  is  mucli  like  the  huge  petticoat  trou- 
sers of  the  French  Zouave,  and  is  indeed  a 
very  full  and  abundantly  plaited  petticoat, 
sewed  together  in  the  mulilie,  and  gathered 
in  at  the  knees.  The  wearers  *ro  inordi- 
nately proud  of  this  garment,  and,  though 
one  of  the  uni)rivilegea  classes  may  purchase 
the  right  to  carry  a  sword,  no  expenditure 
of  money  will  enable  a  man  to  wear  the 
hakkama. 

The  most  troublesome  of  the  retainers  are 
the  Yaconins  or  Samourais,  men  who  have 
been  admirably  described  by  Sir  Rutiierford 
Alcock  in  his  "  Capital  of  the  Tycoon  ":  — 

I' All  of  a  certain  rank  arc  armed  with 
this  formidable  weanou  projecting  from 
their  belt;  swords,  like  everything  else  in 
Ja])an,  to  our  worse  confusion,  being  double, 
without  much  or  any  obvious  distinction  be- 
tween military  and  civil,  or  between  Ty- 1 
Coou's  oiliccrs  and  Daimios"  retainers.  These 


are  the  classes  which  furnish  suitable  speci- 
mens of  that  extinct  species  of  the  race  in 
Europe  still  remembered  as  Swashbucklers 
—  swaggering,  blustering  bullies;  many 
cowardly  enough  to  strike  an  enemy  in  the 
back,  or  cut  down  an  unarmed  and  inoffen- 
sive man;  but  also  supplying  numbers  ever 
ready  to  fling  their  own  lives  away  in  ac- 
complishing a  revenge,  or  carrying  out  the 
orders  of  their  chief. 

"They  are  all  entitled  to  the  privilege  of 
two  swords,  rank  and  file,  and  are  saluted 
by  the  unprivileged  (professional,  mercan- 
tile, and  agricultural  classes)  as  Sama,  or 
Lord.  With  a  rolling  straddle  in  his  gait, 
reminding  one  of  Mr.  Kinglake's  graphic 
description  of  the  Janissary,  and  duo  to  tlie 
same  cause, —  the  heavy,  projecting  blades 
at  his  waist,  and  the  swaddling  clothes  round 
his  body,— the  Japanese  Samourai  or  Ya- 
conin  moves  on  in  a  very  ungainly  fashion, 
the  hilts  of  his  two  swords  at  least  a  foot  in 
advance  of  his  person,  very  handy,  to  all 
appearance,  for  an  enemy's  grasp.  One  is 
a  heavy,  two-handled  weapon,  pointed  and 
sharp  as  a  razor;  the  other  short,  like  a  Ro- 
man sword,  and  religiously  kept  in  tlie  same 
serviceable  state. 

"In  the  use  of  these  he  is  no  mean  adept. 
He  seldom  requires  a  second  thrust  with  the 
shorter  weapon,  but  strikes  home  at  a  single 
thrust,  as  was  fatally  proved  at  a  later  period ; 
while  with  the  longer  weapon  he  severs  a 
limb  at  a  blow.  Such  a  fellow  is  a  man  to 
whom  all  peace-loving  subjects  and  prudent 
people  habitually  give  as  wide  a  bcith  as  they 
can.  Often  drunk,  and  always  insolent,  he 
is  to  be  met  with  in  the  quarters  of  the  town 
where  the  tea-houses  most  abound;  or  re- 
turning about  dusk  from  his  day's  debauch, 
with  a  red  and  bloated  face,  and  not  over- 
steady  on  his  legs,  the  terror  of  all  the  un- 
armed population  and  street  dogs.  Ilapijy 
for  the  former,  when  he  is  content  with  try- 
ing the  edge  of  a  new  sword  on  the  quadru- 
peds; and  many  a  poor  crippled  ammal  is 
to  be  seen  limping  about,  slashed  over  the 
baok,  or  with  more  hideous  evidences  of 
brutality.  But,  at  other  times,  it  is  some 
coolie  or  Inoffensive  shopkeeper,  who,  com- 
in;j;  unadvisedly  between  '  the  wind  and  his 
noMlity,'  is  just  as  mercilessly  cut  down  at 
a  blow.'' 

In  some  sort  of  a  wajr,  each  noble  is  re- 
sponsible for  the  acts  of  his  retainers.  Tliere- 
fore,  if  any  of  these  men  determine  upon 
sonic  act  which  they  know  will  compromise 
their  master, — say  the  assassination  of  some 
one  whom  he  dislikes,  —  they  formally  divest 
themselves  of  his  protection,  and  become 
"  lonin.s,"  or  outlaws,  or  almost  exactly  the 
same  as  the  "  masterless-men  "  of  the  teudal 
Englisli  days.  Each  of  them  carries  with 
him  a  paper  on  which  his  renunciation  is 
written,  and  to  perform  such  an  act  is  thought 
extremely  honorable.  Nearly  all  the  men 
who  murdered  Europeans  were  lonins. 


1460 


JAPAN. 


The  swords  which  these  men  wear  in  virtue 
of  tlieir  rank  are  most  forraidnble  weapons, 
the  temper  of  the  steel,  the  balance  of  the 
weapon,  and  the  slight  curve  of  the  edgCj 
bel..^'  all  that  can  be  desired.  They  are  tin- 
ishecf  with  the  utmost  care,  and  every  part 
receives  the  minutest  attention.  A  very 
beautiful  specimen  of  the  shorter  sword  was 
presented  to  me  by  C.  Allen,  Esq.,  of  «lack- 
heath.  It  measures  two  feet  four  inches  in 
total  length,  of  which  the  handle  occupies 
nearly  nine  inches.  This  roomy  handle  ot 
the  Jap;inesc  sword  presents  a  remarkable 
contrast  with  the  small  and  cramped  hilts  of 
the  Indian  weapons.  It  alfords  an  admirable 
grasp  for  the  band,  being  covered  with  dia- 
mond-shaped patterns  of  silken  cord  twist- 
ed over  a  basis  of  rough  skate-skin.  The 
blade  is  a  little  more  thiin  an  inch  in  width, 
and  even  after  a  stay  of  many  years  in  this 
country,  is  as  bright  as  a  mirror  and  sharp 
as  a  razor. 

Indeed,  for  a  hand-to-hand  encounter,  it 
would  be  (litHcult  to  find  a  more  formidable 
weajion,  even  the  kookcry  of  India  being  in- 
ferior to  it,  as  being  heavier  and  less  man- 
ageable. It  is  equally  adapted  for  thrusting 
or  cutting,  and  is  so  effective  for  the  former 
purpose  that  one  of  these  swords  has  been 
driven  completely  through  a  maft's  body  by 
a  single  thrust.  "The  balance  of  the  weapon 
is  admirable,  and,  though  it  is  somewhat 
unsightly,  it  can  be  managed  with  perfect 
ease. 

The  amount  of  labor  that  has  been  be- 
stowed on  this  particular  weapon  is  ically 
astonishing.  The  effect  is  not  in  the  least 
obtrusive,  and  it  is  only  by  close  examina- 
tion that  its  beauties  can  bo  seen.  The 
blade  is  left  entirely  without  ornament,  its 
excelleuce  being  shown  by  its  high  polish 
and  sliarp  edge.  But,  with  the  exception  of 
the  blade,  every  portion  of  the  weapon  has 
its  ornament.  On  the  guard  is  represented 
a  buff.ilo  grazing  under  a  tree,  the  ground- 
work l)eing  of  bronze,  and  the  leaves  of  the 
tree  and  the  herbage  being  gold.  Between 
the  silkencordsof  the  hilt  and  the  skate-skin 
are  inserted  two  beautifully  executed  models, 
in  bronze,  of  a  bow  and  arrows,  the  feathers 
of  tlie  arrows  and  wrappings  of  the  head 
being  gilt.  One  of  these  models  is  inserted 
on  citiu-r  side  of  the  hilt,  wliich  is  termi- 
nated by  a  richly  engraved  bronze  orna- 
ment. 

In  the  upper  part  of  the  sheath  is  kept  a 
small  knife,  somewhat  similar  in  shape  to 
that  which  is  kept  in  the  chopstick-case  of 
the  Chinese.  The  handle  of  the  knife  is 
bronze,  and  is  adorned  with  the  figure  of  a 
crayfish,  beautifully  wrought  in  gold,  to- 
gether with  a  banner  and  one  or  two  other 
devices.  The  sheath  itaolf  is  a  wonderful 
piece  of  workmanship.  At  a  little  distance 
it  looks  as  if  it  were  covered  with  dark- 
bfowii  leather;  but  a  closer  iisspectioii  shows 
that  it  is  entirely  covered  with  a  minute  and 


delicate  pattern  that  looks  as  if  it  had  been 
traced  with  a  needle's  point,  and  must  have 
cost  the  artist  a  very  considerable  expendi- 
ture of  labor. 

The  larger  sword  is  made  after  precisely 
*''  '  same  pattern,  except  that  it  is  four  feet 
length,  and  must  be  used  with  both 
bunds.  AVith  one  of  these  swords  a  Jap- 
anese will  strike  off  a  limb  at  a  single  blow; 
and  so  sharp  are  they,  that  an  executioner, 
in  beheading  a  criminal,  scarcely  raises  the 
sword  a  foot  for  his  stroke.  The  Japanese 
swordsmen  practise  the  use  of  their  weapon 
by  means  of^  sham  swords,  with  which  they 
fence,  the  combatants  padding  their  liinbs 
and  sides,  and  covering  their  faces  with  wire 
masks.  They  have  a  very  dangerous  cut, 
which  is  made  by  the  mere  motion  of  un- 
sheathing the  sword,  and  takes  oll'ect  at  a 
distance  where  an  inexperienced  person 
would  think  himself  safe. 

So  good  is  the  temper  of  these  weapons, 
that  a  Japanese  has  been  known  to  sever  a 
thick  iron  bolt  with  a  single  blow,  the  edge 
of  the  sword  not  showing  the  slightest  indi- 
cation of  the  severe  test  to  which  it  had 
been  put.  The  Japanese  name  for  the  large 
sword  is  "ken";  that  of  the  shorter,  "  kat- 
tan." 

Defensive  armor  was  at  one  time  much 
worn  by  the  Jiipanese,  though  at  the  pres- 
ent day  the  introduction  of  improved  fire- 
arms has  caused  them  to  abandon  armor, 
except  for  purposes  of  show.  A  complete 
suit  of  Japanese  armor  is  shown  on  page 
1469.  It  IS  made  of  multitudinous  plates 
hung  upon  cloth,  and  profusely  ornamented 
by  gilding.  Though  very  light,  it  is  strong 
enough  to  resist  the  blow  of  the  long  sword, 
though  it  is  worse  than  useless  against  rifled 
fire-arms.  Indeed,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
recent  disuse  of  protective  armor,  we  should 
scarcely  have  been  able  to  procure  a  suit; 
but,  finding  their  suits  of  mail  to  be  practi- 
cally useless,  the  Japanese  nobles  very  gen- 
erously presented  many  of  them  to  their 
foreign  guests,  and  allowed  others  to  be 
sold. 

The  oddest  part  of  the  suit  is  the  helmet, 
with  its  aiipendages.  The  fantastic  crest  is 
very  liglu,  being  made  of  exceedingly  thin 
material,  covered  with  gilding;  and  is  so 
slight  that  a  blow  with  a  stick  would  crush 
it^  Perhajis  the  reader  may  wonder  at  the 
Iw-ards  which  ai)parcntly  depend  I'roni  the 
chins  of  the  soldiers.  The  fact  is,  the  hel- 
met is  furnished  with  a  very  complete  visor, 
shaped  like  a  mask,  which  covers  the  whole 
of  the  face,  and  is  decorated  with  a  huge 
gray  beard  and  mustache,  in  order  to  strike 
terror  into  the  beholders. 

The  bow  is  a  favorite  weapon  with  the 
Japanese,  Avho  expend  nearly  as  much  la- 
bor upon  it  as  they  do  upon  the  sword.  It 
is  mostly  japanned  in  black,  and  adorned 

*rit'l     TtliiOu:;     ,,.■.••*.*(-. ' -     —     ..i-~- 

bows  are  very  |>owcrruI,  and  arc  strung  in 


THE  HAPPY  DESPATCH. 


I 


rather  a  peculiar  manner,  the  archer  plac- 
ing the  lower  end  of  the  bow  on  the  ground, 
and  grasping  the  upper  end  with  his  right 
hand.  He  plants  his  right  foot  on  the  mid- 
dle of  the  bow,  bends  it  with  the  united 
powers  of  his  foot  and  right  hand,  and  with 
his  left  slips  the  string  into  its  place.  The 
arrows  are  made  like  those  of  China,  but,  in 
accordance  with  the  national  character  of 
the  people,  are  more  highly  finished. 

One  of  the  strangest  weapons  used  by  the 
.Japanese  is  the  war  fan.  Like  the  Chinese, 
the  Japanese  are  never  without  the  fan 
and  are  obiiOTd,  by  force  of  long  habit,  to 
take  It  into  battle.  The  fan  which  is  kept 
tor  tins  purpose  has  its  sheath  made  of  iron, 
and  IS  of  very  large  size,  so  that  if  the  war- 
rior be  surprised  without  his  sword,  ho  is 
sure  to  have  his  fan  ready  by  way  of  a  club. 
These  fans  are  decorated  with  the  national 
einbkm, a  red  sun  on  a  black  ground. 

In  connection  with  the  Japanese  weapons 
must  be  mentioned  some  of  their  modes  of 
minisbment.  The  lirst  is  the  celebrated 
ilara-kin,  or  Happy  Despatch,  and  consists 
ol  siucKJe  by  rii)])iiig  open  the  abdomen 
wilh  two  cuts  in  the  form  of  a  cross.  Only 
the  ui)per  classes  are  privileged  to  perform 
the  nap[)y  Despatch  and  to  them  it  is  in 
reality  iii,nvilege.  If  a  Japanese  official 
has  tailed  m  some  duty,  or  committed  some 
act  which  IS  likely  to  call  upon  him  the  an"cv 
of  his  superiors,  he  applies  fov  permiss'Fon 
to  perlbrm  the  Hara-kiri.  At  the  a,)- 
pointod  time,  he  assembles  his  friends 
drosses  himself  in  white,  as  a  token  of  iimo- 
n-nce,  gives  an  entertainment,  and  makes  a 
t-poech  upon  the  |)osilion  in  which  he  is 
placed,  lie  then  tnkes  the  fatal  knife,  and 
as  he  raises  his  clothing  for  the  purpose  of 
inllicting  the  wounds,  a  good  swordsman 
comes  bchinfl  him,  bearing  a  two-lmnded 
sword  or  "ken."  The  victim  begins  the 
Iliira-kiri,  but,  as  soon  as  he  has  made  a 
slight  incision,  his  head  is  swept  off,  so  that 
death  is  not  the  rj^^ult  of  the  horrid  wounds 
in  the  iibdonien. 

Sometimes,  however,  when  time  presses, 
the  victim  is  obliged  to  j)erform  tin;  Hara- 
kiri  as  Ii(!  can,  and  in  that  case  dies  from 
the  self-intllcted  wounds.  For  example,  in 
several  cases  where  assassination  has  been 
attempted,  and  notably  in  the  celebrated 
attack  on  the  British  Legation,  when  the 
would-be  assassins  were  cliased  on  the  suc- 
ceeding day,  it  was  found  that  three  of  them 
h.ad  committed  the  Hara-kiri,  two  of  whom 
were  already  dead,  butone  was  still  livingand 
wiis  captured.  In  these  cases  the  weaiion 
used  for  the  purpose  is  the  shorter  sword,  or 
'■  kattan." 

When  a  man  has  committed  the  Hara- 
kiri,  he  is  supnosed  to  have  died  an  honor- 
able death,  and  so  to  have  earned  for  himself 
a  reputation  as  a  brave  man.  His  family 
■an-  proud  of  hiiii,  and  his  meniory  is  rever- 
enced.   But  should  ho  lose  his  life  by  the 


1461 

hand  of  the  executioner,  his  whole  property 
18  confiscated,  his  family  falls  under  ban 
and  Jus  name  is  held  as  infamous.  It  will 
b<-  -.-en,  therefore,  that  the  Hara-kiri  is 
really  a  very  great  privilege,  especially 
among  a  people  so  entiiely  indifferent  to  life 
as  the  Japanese. 

Public  executions  are  very  simply  carried 
out.  The  criminal  is  taken  to  the  siiot  on  a 
horse,  and  when  he  arrives,  is  bound  and 
made  to  kneel  on  the  ground  over  a 'hole 
which  is  to  receive  his  head.  The  execu- 
tioner, who  uses  the  "  ken  "  above  named 
arranges  the  culprit's  head  in  the  proper 
position,  and,  apparentlv  without  any  eflbrt 
decapitates  the  man  with  a  blow.  The  old' 
traveller  Purchas  very  neatly  expresses 
tne  mode  of  execution  by  a  single  word. 
Alter  narrating  the  preliminaries,  he  states 
that  the  criminal  "  holds  out  his  head,  iires- 
ently  wiped  off."  ' 

Crucifixion  is  employed  by  the  Japanese 
as  well  as  by  the  Chinese,  and  is  mostly 
reserved  for  high  treason.  Minor  punish- 
ments are  not  much  in  vogue,  inasmuch  as 
a  theft  above  a  certain  sum  entails  the  pen- 
alty of  death,  and  so  does.a  theft  of  a  smaller 
sum  if  repeated.  Flogging  and  banishment 
are  sometimes  employed  as  punishments, 
llie  dreadlul  tortures  to  which  the  earlier 
Christian  missionaries  and  their  converts 
were  subjected  appear  to  be  reserved  for 
political  and  religious  otlenders. 

The  architecture  of  the  Japanese  is  rather 
peculiar.  Owing  to  the  physical  condition 
of  the  country,  and  its  lial)ility  to  earth- 
quakes, the  houses  are  not  reniarkablc  for 
size  or  beauty.  Private  houses  are  never  of 
any  great  height,  a  little  exceeding  forty 
feet  being  the  utmost  limit.  They  are  built 
of  wood,  and,  wherever  possible,  are  only 
one  story  in  height.  They  have  a  very  in- 
genious mode  of  dividing  their  houses"into 
rooms.  Instead  of  using  permanent  walls 
tor  that  purpose,  they  ])reler  folding  screens 
made  of  wood  and  paper,  so  that  they  can 
alter  at  will  the  size  and  shape  of  the 
rooms. 

The  floors  are  covered  with  mats,  which 
serve  also  as  measurements.  They  are  beau- 
tifully made  of  straw  and  rushes,  are  several 
inches  in  thickness,  and  by  law  obliged  to  be 
exactly  of  the  same  dimensions,  t.  e.  one 
"  kin,"  or  seven  feet  four  and  a  half  inches 
in  length,  and  half  as  much  in  breadth 
The  window  frames  are  movable,  and,  in- 
stead of  glass,  are  tilled  with  oiled  paper, 
mica,  and  the  translucent  shell  of  the  great 
pearl  oyster.  The  partitions  of  the  houses 
and  all  the  posts  are  curiously  varnished 
and  painted,  and  the  Japanese,  esseiitiallv  a 
cleanly  people,  are  very  careful  in  keeping 
the  interior  of  their  houses  in  the  best  pos- 
sible order.  Like  many  Orientals,  they  al- 
ways remove  their  santlals  before  entering 
a  house,  and  no  one  even  enters  a  shop 
without  slipping  olf  his  shoes. 


1402 


JAPAN. 


Tho  roof  is  also  of  wood,  and  is  generally 
composed  of  thick  boards,  which  are  kept  in 
their  places  by  wooden  pegs,  or  by  heavy 
stones  laid  upon  them.  The  ends  of  the 
roof  project  considerably  beyond  the  wans, 
so  that  they  protect  the  doorways  Irom  the 
sun.  On  the  roof  of  each  house  is  kept  a 
tub  full  of  water,  and  near  at  "and  is  a 
broom,  so  that,  in  case  of  a  Are,  all  the  wooden 
roofs  arc  at  once  drenched  with  water.  1  he 
extremely  inllammable  nature  of  the  mate- 
rials renders  this  precaution  ncedtul;  ami,  m 
addition,  there  arc  cisterns  and  tubs  kept  in 
the  streets,  together  with  tolerably  oflective 
fire-engines.  .        ^, 

The  furniture  of  the  houses  is  on  the  same 
simple  plan  as  the  edifices  themselves.  A 
Japanese,  no  matter  what  his  rank  or 
wealth,  has  but  little  furniture.  From  the 
highest  Daimio  to  the  ordinary  workman, 
the  furniture  of  the  houses  is  much  the 
same.  Tlie  room  is  bare,  and  floored  by 
mats;  a  few  shelves  hold  some  cups  and 
saucers,  and  there  are  generally  several 
small  trays  on  stands.  This,  with  a  few  cov- 
erlids and  a  small  pillow,  made  of  wood  and 
having  a  padding  on  the  top,  constitutes  the 
furniture  of  the  livin"-room.  As  to  the 
kitchen,  one  or  two  small  movable  stoves,  a 
few  pans  of  metal,  and  some  brooms,  are  all 
that  are  needed.  ,     ,      ^        i 

The  Japanese  cannot  in  the  least  under- 
stand why  their  Western  visitors  should  en- 
cuml)er  themselves  with  such  quantities  of 
furniture,  which,  to  them,  are  not  only  use- 
less, but  absolutely  in  their  way.  They  need 
neitlier  tables,  chairs,  sideboards,  nor  bed- 
steads, and  care  nothing  for  large  and  hand- 
some rooms. 

Some  years  ago,  when  preparations  were 
made  for  the  reception  of  a  British  Consu 
in  IIak(xladi,  it  was  almost  impossible  to  find 
any  place  that  could  accommodate  him.  How- 
ever, after  much  trouble,  a  locality  was  found. 
Alter  the  arrangements  had  been  made,  the 
Japanese  Governor  rose,  took  Sir  R.  Alcock 
by  the  hand,  and  led  him  through  a  corridor 
to  a  little  room,  or  rather  closet,  nine  feet  by 
six,  and  quietly  remarked  that  in  that  room 
his  successor  would  be  installed. 

Sir  11.  Alcock  has  some  very  pertinent 
remarks  on  this  subject:  "As  we  slowly 
wended  our  way  through  the  streets,  I  had 
full  opportunity  of  observing  the  absence 
of  all  the  things  we  deem  so  essential  to 
comfort,  and  wliich  crowd  our  rooms  almost 
to  the  exclusion,  and  certainly  to  the  great 
inconvenience,  of  tho  people  who  arc  in- 
tended to  occupy  them,  as  well  as  to  the  detri- 
ment of  the  proprietor's  purse. 

"  If  European  joints  could  only  bo  made 
supple  enough  to  enable  their  owners  to  dis- 
pense with  sofas  and  chairs,  and,  par  conse- 
quence, with  tables;  and  we  were  hardy 
enousn  t^  li"  on  «( raw  mats,  six  feet  by  three, 
stuffed  with  fine  straw,  and  beautifully  made 
with  a  silk  border,  so  as  to  form  a  sort  of 


reticulated  carpet  for  rooms  of  any  size;  the 
solution  of  that  much-debated  question,  the 
possibility  of  marrying  on  4001.  a  year,  mi)j;ht 
certainly  be  predicted  with  something  like 
unanimity  in  favor  of  matrimony.  The  up- 
linlatornr's  hill  can  never  offer  an 


holsterer's  bill  can  never  offer  any  impedi- 
ment to  a  young  couple  in  Japan. 

"  Their  future  house  is  taken,  containing 
generally  three  or  four  little  rooms,  in  which 
clean  mats  are  put.  Each  then  brings  to  the 
housekeeping  a  cotton  stuffed  quilt,  and  a  box 
of  wearing  apparel  for  their  own  personal 
use;  a  pan  to  cook  the  rice,  half-a-dozen 
larger  cups  and  trays  to  eat  off,  a  large  tub 
to  bathe  and  wash  in  are  added,  on  the 
general  account:  and  these  complete  tho 
establishment."  _    .      . 

Such  being  the  simplicity  of  the  house 
and  furniture,  it  is  evident  that  loss  by  fire 
—  an  event  by  no  means  uncommon —  is  not 
nearly  so  severe  as  is  the  case  with  us.  The 
Japanese  have,  however,  a  very  sincere 
dread  of  fire,  and  at  the  end  of  every  princi- 
pal street  there  is  an  elevated  station,  fur- 
nished with  a  bell,  by  means  of  which  in- 
formation can  be  given  as  to  the  part  of  the 
city  in  which  the  fire  rages,  so  that  all  can 
go  to  assist  in  extinguishing  it.  Fires  are 
of  almost  daily  occurrence,  and  whole  streets 
are  levelled  at  a  time.  The  Jaiiaueso  take 
these  fires  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  look 
on  the  destruction  of  an  entire  quarter  with 
characteristic  equanimity.  Indeed,  they  cal- 
culate that,  taking  one  part  with  another, 
Yeddo  is  burned  down  once  in  every  seven 
years;  and  so  they  build  their  houses  with 
tho  least  possible  expense,  considering  them 
to  be  sooner  or  later  food  for  fire. 

Of  tho  amusements  of  the  Japanese  only 
a  very  short  account  can  be  given.  First 
among  them  must  be  placed  the  calm  and 
contemplative  amusement  of  the  pipe,  in 
which  the  Japanese  indulge  largely.  Tho 
pipe  which  they  use  is  very  small,  tho  bowl 
being  scarcely  large  enough  to  contain  a 
moderately  sized  pea.  T|m)  tobacco  is  very 
mild,  something  like  Turkish  tobacco,  and  it 
is  smoked  by  drawing  the  vapor  into  the 
lungs,  so  that  the  whole  of  the  tobacco  is 
consumed  at  one  inhalation.  The  ashes  arc 
then  turned  out  of  the  pipe,  which  is  re- 
placed in  its  case,  and  the  smoke  is  leisurely 
exhaled.  A  Japanese  will  smoke  thirty  or 
forty  such  pipes  in  a  morning. 

Games  for  children  are  almost  identical 
with  tliose  used  in  Englaiv^  the  ball,  the 
shuttlecock,  the  stilt,  the  kit,  aid  the  hoop, 
being  all  common  toys.  As  for  adults,  they 
have  dice,  the  theatre,  the  wrestling  matches. 
The  dice  are  prohibited  by  law,  and  there- 
fore they  are  made  so  minute  as  to  be  easily 
concealed.  ^  pair  of  dice  and  their  box  arc  so 
small  tliat  vhey  can  be  concealed  between 
the  tips  of  two  fingers,  the  dice  being  barely 
the  tenth  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  the 
box  jusl  large  enough  to  hold  theifi. 
The  wrestling  matches  are  very  singular 


AMUSEMENTS  AND  GAMES. 


1463 


perrormanccs.  The  wrestlers  are  the  stran- 
gest ima^^inablc  beings,  being  fattened  to  the 
last  possible  degree,  so  that  they  seem  in- 
capable of  any  feats  of  activity.  Yet  one 
of  tliese  elephantine  men  took  m  his  arms  a 
sack  of  rice  weighing  a  hundred  and  twenty- 
live  pounds,  and  turned  repeated  somersaults 
with  as  much  ease  as  any  light  and  un- 
encumbered gymnast  could  do.  The  wres- 
tlers are  kept  by  the  Daimios,  who  are  very 
proud  of  them,  and  fond  of  exhibiting  their 
powers.  Each  wrestler  is  supplied  with 
several  attendants,  and  clad  in  magnificent 
garments,  the  privilege  of  wearing  two 
swords  being  also  accorded  to  them,  when 
they  perform,  all  their  robes  are  removed, 
leaving  them  in  the  wrestler's  garb,  a  fringed 
apron,  embroidered  with  the  cognizance  of 
their  patron. 

In  wrestling,  they  try,  not  only  to  throw 
their  antagonist,  1)ut  to  push  him  out  of  the 
arena,  a  man  who  is  forced  beyond  the 
boundary  being  held  as  vanquished.  One 
of  those  encounters  is  vividly  described  by 
an  American  traveller. 

"  They  were,  in  fact,  like  a  pair  of  fierce 
bulls,  whose  nature  they  had  not  only  ac- 
quired, but  even  their  look  and  movements. 
As  they  continued  to  eye  eacii  other,  they 
stamped  the  ground  heavily,  pawing  as  it 
were  witli  impatience,  and  then,  stooping 
their  huge  bodies,  they  grasped  handftils  of 
the  earth,  and  (lung  it  with  an  angry  toss 
over  their  backs,  or  rubbed  it  impatiently 
between  their  massive  palms,  or  under  thefr 
stalwart  shoulders.  They  now  crouched 
down  low,  still  keeping  their  eyes  fixed 
upon  one  another,  and  watching  each  move- 
ment, when,  in  a  moment,  they  had  both 
simultaneonsly  heaved  their  massive  frames 
in  opposing  force,  body  to  body,  with  a  shock 
that  might  have  stunned  an  ox. 

"The  equilibrium  of  their  monstrous 
persons  was  hardly  disturbed  by  the  encoun- 
ter, the  eflect  of  which  was  barely  visible  in 
the  quiver  of  the  hanging  flesh  of  their 
bodies.  As  they  came  together,  they  had 
flung  their  brawny  arms  !U)out  each  other, 
and  were  now  entwined  in  a  desperate 
struggle,  witli  all  their  strength,  to  throw 
their  antagonist.  Their  great  muscles  rose 
with  the  distinct  outline  of  the  sculptured 
form  of  a  colossal  Hercules,  their  bloated 
faces  swelled  up  with  gushes  of  red  blood, 
wliich  seemed  almost  to  burst  through  the 
skin,  and  their  bodies  palpitated  with  savage 
emotion  as  the  struggle  continued.  At  last 
one  of  the  antagonists  fell  with  his  immense 
weight  upon  the  ground,  and,  being  declared 
vanquished,  he  was  assisted  to  his  feet  and 
conducted  out  of  the  ring." 

The  theatres  much  resemble  those  of  the 
Chinese,  the  building  being  a  mere  tempo- 
rary shed,  and  tlie  parts  of  the  women  taken 
by  yountr  Inds.  Thn  plays  last  for  some  two 
hours,  and  the  .Japanese  have  a  very  odd  plan 
of  arranging  them.    Suppose  that  five  plays 


are  to  bo  acted  in  a  day:  the  performers  go 
through  the  first  act  of  the  first  play,  then 
the  first  act  of  the  second  play,  and  so  on 
until  they  have  taken  in  succession  tlie  first 
act  of  every  play.  They  then  take  the  second 
act  of  each  play,  and  so  on  until  the  whole 
are  concluded.  The  object  of  this  custom  is 
to  enable  spectators  to  see  one  act,  go  away' 
and  come  again  in  time  for  the  next  act! 
Otlen,  however,  the  spectators  remain 
throughout  the  entire  day,  and  in  that  case 
refrcslinienls  are  openly  consumed.  It  is 
also  thought  correct  for  ladies  to  change 
their  dress  as  often  as  possible  during  the 
day,  so  that  there  is  as  much  change  of  cos- 
tume in  front  of  the  stage  as  upon  it.  In 
these  plays  there  is  generally  a  considerable 
amount  of  love-making,  and  a  still  greater 
amount  of  fighting,  the  "terrific  combat" 
being  an  acknowledged  essential  of  the  Jap- 
anese stage. 

Perhaps  the  most  characteristic  and  most 
perplexing  institution  of  Japan  is  that  of  the 
Tea-house.  In  many  points  the  whole  tone 
of  thought  difters  so  mucli  in  Japan  from 
anything  that  we  Westerns  have  learned, 
that  it  is  scarcely  possible  for  two  so  diverse 
people  to  judge  each  other  fairly.  We  have 
already  seen  that  nudity  conveys  no  ideiis  of 
indecency  to  a  Japanese,  the  people  having 
been  accustomed  to  it  from  infancy,  and 
thinking  no  more  of  it  than  do  infants.  In 
the  tea-houses  we  find  a  state  of  things 
which  in  Europe  would  be,  and  rightly, 
stigmatized  as  national  immorality :  in  Japan 
it  is  taken  as  a  matter  of  course.  These  tea- 
houses are  situated  in  the  most  picturesque 
sijots,  and  are  furnished  with  every  luxurj'. 
The  extraordinary  part  of  them  is,  that  the 
attendants  are  young  women,  who  are  sold 
for  a  term  of  years  to  a  life  of  vice.  They 
are  purchased  by  the  proprietors  of  the  tea- 
houses, and  instructed  m  various  accomphsh- 
ments,  so  as  to  make  them  agreeable  com- 
panions. No  sort  of  infamy  attaches  to 
them,  men  of  high  rank  taking  their  wives 
and  families  to  the  tea-houses,  so  that  they 
may  benefit  by  the  many  accomplishments 
of  the  attendants. 

When  the  term  of  servitude  is  over,  the 
girls  retire  f\om  their  business,  and  may  re- 
enter their  families  without  losing  the  regard 
of  their  relatives.  Many  enter  a  Buddhist 
order  of  mendicant  nuns,  but  the  greater 
number  find  husbands.  It  is  one  of  the 
most  startling  characteristics  of  this  strange 
people  that  institutions  such  as  this  should 
existj  and  yet  that  female  virtue  should  be 
so  highly  valued.  No  sooner  does  one  of 
these  girls  maiTV,  than  she  is  supposed  to 
begin  her  life  afresh,  and,  no  matter  what 
may  have  been  their  previous  lives,  no  wives 
are  more  faithful  than  those  of  the  Japanese. 
The  only  resting-point  in  this  mass  of  con- 
tradiction is,  that,  thoush  the  ""iris  incur  no 
shame  for  the  course  of  life  into  which  they 
have  been  sold,  the  keepers  of  the  tea-houses 


1464 


JAPAN. 


nro  looked  upon  as  utterly  lufammia,  nnd  no 
one  of  iTHpcetiibiliiy  will  nsaoi-i'ito  witli 
them.  ,     , 

That  the  men  should  resort  to  such  places 
ii  no  mutter  of  surprino,  but  that  they  should 
bo  accompauiod  by  their  wives  is  rather  re- 
markable. „     .  ... 

Sometimes  the  husbands  preter  to  go  with- 
out their  wives,  and  in  that  case  the  ladies  arc 
ai)t  to  resent  the  ne-leet.  The  aceompany- 
iii"  illustration  is  copied  from  a  Japanese 
book  in  my  eoUection,  and  is  a  good  exam- 
nle  of  th(!  Immorous  power  whieh  a  Japanese 
artist  can  put  into  his  work.  Tlie  engraving 
tells  its  own  story.  Two  husbands  are  going 
oil  tog(^lhcr,  aiKl  are  caught  by  their  wives. 
The  dilVci-ent  exi)ression3  thrown  into  tlie 
faces  and  action  of  the  truants  are  admirably 
•riven  —the  surprise  and  horror  of  the  one, 
who  has  evidently  allowed  his  wife  to  be 
ruler  in  the  house,  and  the  dogged  determi- 
nation of  the  other  to  get  away,  are  rcndensd 
with  such  force  that  no  European  artist 
could  surpass  tho  efl'ect. 


a  squaro  bowl  closed  by  a  lid.  The  howl  con- 
tains India  ink,  and  into  the  hollow  stem 
the  pen  is  passi^d.  AVheii  not  in  use  the  pen 
is  slipped  into  the  stem,  and  the  lid  is  closed 
and  kept  down  by  twisting  over  it  the  string 
which  hangs  from  the  end  of  the  case, 
and    which    is    decorated    with    a   ball    of 

fig'ite.  „  „    - 

One  reason  for  the  cxcellenco  ot  Jap- 
anese art  is,  that  the  artists,  instead  of  copy- 
ing from  each  other,  invariably  go  to  nature 
for  their  models.  They  have  teachers  just 
as  wo  do,  but  the  great  object  of  these  pro- 
fessors ia  to  teaeh  their  ijujiils  how  to  pro- 
duce the  greatest  elfect  with  the  fewest  lines. 
Hook  after  book  mav  be  seen  entirely  tilled 
with  studies  for  tlie'  guidance  of  the  young 
artists,  in  which  the  master  hiw  depicted 
various  scenes  with  as  few  lines  as  possible. 
One  of  these  hooks  is  entirely  tilled  with 
studies  of  falling  rain,  and,  monotonous  as 
tho  subject  may  seem,  no  two  drawings  are 
in  the  least  alike,  and  a  8e]»arat(!  and  forci- 
I  bio  character  is  given  to  each  sketch.    An- 


CAI'XUIUii  OF  TUE  TUUANTS. 


Wo  cannot  take  leave  of  this  remarkable , 
people  without  a  fow  remarks  upon  the 
state  of  art  among  them.  The  Japanese  are 
cviilcntly  an  art-loving  people.  Fond  as 
they  are  of  tho  grotesque  in  art,  they  are 
capable  of  appreciating  its  highest  quali- 
ties; and,  ind'jod,  a  Jaiianose  workman  can 
scarcely  make  any  article  of  ordinary  use 
without  producing  some  agreeable  combina- 
tion of  lines  in  color. 

Even  the  pen,  or  rather  tho  brush,  with 
vrhich  th<v write.  isencloHiul  in  an  ingenious 
and  deeidedlv  artistic  case.  The  case  is  m.ide 
of  bronze,  and  consists  of  a  hollow  stem  and 


other  book  has  nothing  but  outlines  of 
landscape  sccnerv,  while  s<jnie  are  entirely 
tilled  with  grass-blades,  some  bending  m  the 
wind, others  beaten  down  by  rain,  and  others 
flourishing  boldly  ui)right.  The  bamboo  is 
another  favorite  subject;  and  bo  highly  do 
the  Japanese  pri/(!  tlu;  skill  displayed  by  a 
master,  that  they  will  often  purelmse  at  a 
liigh  price  a  jiit'ce  of  paper  with  nothing  on 
it  but  a  few  strokes  of  the  brush,  tho  har- 
mony of  the  composition  and  the  balance  of 
the  diflerent  lines  of  beauty  being  thor- 
oughly appreciated  by  an  artistic  eye. 
Studying  as  the  Japanese  do  in  the  school 


■"~1 


JAPANESE  ART. 


of  nature,  they  aro  i  rvellounly  apt  at  ox- 
Dro«aing  attitude,  whcu,  of  ,nL.'l„,„8t,  or 
Dim.  iiiuy  nover  huv.i  my  difflcultv  in 
if  tlielr   "  -  • 


146ft 


diHp()8in«  of  the  armH  of  tl.efr  flirures  and" 
no  .natter  what  may  be  the  action,  ti^irTi^ 

«ZT  7  "T'  "'•""'.  '^  ^'"«'>  '>«trayH  tl  e 
arUHt'8  imnd  even  in  the  rudcflt  ffcuros 
Among  livrnp  objects  the  erano  appears  to 
bo  the  BpeeiaT  favorite  of  (he  Japanese  iS 
popularity  being  shared,  tliough  not  cWled 
by  the  Htorit  and  the  lioron.  ^q^'aueU, 


Tliese  birds  aro  protected  both  by  Jaw  and 
lame  that  tlie  native  artists  have  abundant 

XhZ'J'",  "'\?^"''y'"'^  "'«•'  St"u£ 

wniui  they  do  M'lth  n  pat  ent  love  for  the 
mibject  that  is  almost  Uyond  praise  No 
llguro  .8  so  frequently  infroduced  fn  jS 
nnese  art  as  ihe  crane,  and  so  tiioroughly  is 
tlic  bird  understood,  that  it  is  scarcclv  possi- 
bio  to  And  in  all  the  figures  of  ^cranes 
whether  cast  in  bronze,drawn  on  paper  or 
embossed  and  , minted  on  articles  KVni' 

exacflv7.,'""""''"\^/'  .^'"'=''  ^'>''  attitude  is 
exmtly  the  same.    With  us,  even  tlie  pro- 

R^  »  ,  f?  ""''  '""^  5="Py  them  over  and  over 
^  nV?i  ",  m''??^'"^'  «'•'•«'•«  as  well  as  ex- 
tellences,  while  the  Jiipanese  artist  has  too 
genuine  a  love  for  his  subjc.ct  to  descend  to 
any  such  course.  Day  by  day  lie  studies  hU 
iving  models,  fills  hi^  Cook^^th  sketches 
taken  rapidly,  but  truly,  and  so  has  alwSys 

f Mi  :!l!!!i  "  r'f''''^  "'■  «•'"'"■"«  ^^'i  original 
u.    tudes.    In  oi(}er  to  show  how  admirably 

th  Japanese  artist  can  represent  the  crane, 
I  ha  e  introduced  below  drawings  of  some 
coSl^^'^^''"^-    -8-l4eGrS 


The  reader  cannot  fail   to  perceive  (hn 
conHummato  knowle.lge  of  the  1  rd  wh^l  iS 

isplayed  in  these  Hgures,  while  tlu  ,»  r  .. 

ion  o(-  the  work  an.^the  delicate ','','=,: 
the  detail  are  almost  beyond  praise  N  ,tl,i  L 
can  be  more  true  to  nature  tliath,'* 
attitudes  there  shown.  In  one  e  l"  ,  fe 
sands  upright  and  cont<5mplative  o  ij 
leg,  after  the  manner  of  its  kind.  In  ho 
second  instance,  the  bird  is  standing  on  a 
tortoise  and  as  the  neck  is  thrown  i  to 
action,  both  legs  are  used  for  sup,,ort.  Then 
in  the  flving  ^ird,  whose  body  m-rves  „  ' 
censer,  tf.o  attitude  of  the  oulipread  w Zs 
and  outstretched  legs  is  just'  as  rue  ?o 
nature  as  the  others,  5l  the'attitu.les  Imvir  J 
been  undoubtedly  taken  from  nature.  ^ 

hon,r<f  ?'■''*''",'"  "^  *'^''  Japanese  is  singularly 
beautirtil  and  sometimes  is  adorn.^ll  ysiil 
ornaments  which  may  be  reckone.l  under 
the  head  of  "  conceits.'^  For  instance,  a  cup 
w  1  be  adorned  with  a  representation  of 
pleasure  boats  on  the  river.  With  a  needle 
tlie  tiny  windows  of  the  boats  can  be  raised 
when  aparty  of  ladies  and  gentlemen 'hS 
ing  tea  are  discovered  inside  thr^  boat 
Hometimes    a  little  tortoise    may  be  seen 

iZT:i^  rl'fy  ^^ "'°  '"'^'«">  "'■  ^^^^  ''il 

unti  the  hot  tea  is  poured  into  it,  when  tl  e 
creature  rises  to  t/ie  surface,  shaking  « 
head  and  kicking  with  its  legs  as  if  in  ,,ain 
from  the  hot  liquid.  "' pam 

In  Japanese  pictures  certain  curious 
flgures  may  be  seen,  looking  as  if  human 
rni^t^f     '^1  •''*";"  W"PPc<>  in  ft  bundle  of 

rustles.      ThiH  atr<in>T.A  .^»uf.. !,.    XL      -_ 


rustles.    This  strange  costume  is  the  snow 
the  ordinary  .Japanese.    For  men 

JaiinnARn    >r<>nni-n1l..  ...»..„  „     ^     _/ 


^i?S  ♦!-  i""  """nary  .iapanese.  For  mere 
rain  the  Japanese  generally  wear  a  sort  of 
overcoat  made  of  oUed  paper,  very  thin, 


CANDLESTICK  AND  CEN8ER8.    (Prom  Sir  Hope  Grant's  Collection.) 
71 


1460 


JAPAN. 


noarly  transparent,  and  vory  offlcioiil,  though 
it  is  easily  torn  But  when  a  Buow-titoriu 
comoB  on,  the  Ja.^ano80  endues  auotljer  gar- 
ment,  wiiich  is  mwde  In  a  way  equally  sim- 
plo  and  olFectivo.  .,     ,       ... 

A  sort  of  skeleton  i8raa<lo  ot  network,  the 
meMios  being  about  two  inches  in  diameter. 
Upon  each  point  of  the  mesh  is  tied  a  bunch 
of  vogetablo  fibre,  like  very  lino  grass,  the 
bundfes  being  about  as  tlfck  as  an  ordinary 
pencil  where  they  arc  tit  1,  and  spreading 
toward  the  ends.  The  ga,  .nent  thus  made 
is  exceedingly  light,  awran;  wore  iU purpose 
in  the  most  admirable  mann>  r.  The  bunches 
of  fibres  overlapping  each  otlier  like  the 
tiles  of  a  house,  keep  the  snow  far  from  the 
body,  while  sny  snow  that  may  -nclt  simply 
runs  along  the  fibres  and  drops  to  iho  ground. 
To  wet  this  snow  cloak  through  Is  almost 
impossible,  oven  the  jet  of  a  garden  ongiuo 
having  little  effect  upon  it  except  when 
nuite  close,  while  no  amount  of  snow  would 
be  able  to  force  a  drop  of  water  through  the 
loose  texture  of  the  material 


The  Japanese  silks  have  long  boon  cele- 
brated, but  there  is  one  kind  of  which 
scarcely  anythin,  is  known  in  England. 
During  Lord  Elg,  I's  mission  to  Japan,  a 
number  of  rolls  of  silk  were  presented  to 
the  luembors  of  the  embassy.  They  were  all 
in  Btrii)B  about  tliree  yards  long  and  one  wide, 
so  that  they  seemed  to  bo  useless.  They  ha[)- 
pencd,  however,  to  be  exceedingly  valuable; 
in  fact,  absolutely  priceless,  as  no  money 
could  buy  them.  Thoy  were  made  by  ex- 
ited nobles,  who  were  punished  by  boiug 
sent  to  the  island  of  Fatsizio,  where  they 
spend  their  tini<:  in  making  these  iioculiar 
Bilks.  No  one  below  a  certain  rank  is  al- 
lowed to  wear  the  silk  which  has  been 
woven  by  noble  fingers,  or  oven  to  have  the 
fabric  in  the  house,  and  in  consequence  not 
a  piece    over  oven  found  its    way  to  the 

•nio  subject  of  Japanese  art  is  most  in- 
teresting, but  wo  must  now  close  our  no- 
tice, anu  proceed  to  the  next  people  on  oar 
list 


CHAPTER  CLVIII. 

SIAM. 
OOVERNKENT  —  CRESS  —  REUOION. 

ACCOMPUHJIMKNTS-API-EAJlANCe  OFTHK    ...-„!?     ''"'*' ""^     »-*»«     "IWT     KINO     AND     ma 
..U«HH  or  BOTH   HKXEH-rHtrK.T,T«r     An7.r»"    '"""'  "'    ^''«^'*""'"    ■^••«     '-A.« - 

TH«  ..„«,>„,  THAT  AHK   rMr^ro  ^-TL  0^    """""'""''  *^''"-"^''^-  ^'*»  "-"o^or 


In  the  cmi)ire  of  Siam,  and  its  dependent 
kingdoms,  Laos  .uul  Cambodia,  wxXd  the 
princ.pic  of  the  duplex  rule  which  we  have 
a  ready  seen  existing  in  Japan,  though  in 
these  cases  the  distinction  between  the  two 
kings  is  merely  one  of  dignity  and  lias  noth- 
ing to  do  witli  the  secular  anfi  spiritual  ele- 
ment,  as  in  Japan.  In  Siam,  the  two  kings 
are  mostly  near  relations,  and  often  broth- 
ers;  and  soinetimes,  though  by  no  means  as 
a  rule,  the  .Second  King  becomes  First  King 
on  the  death  of  his  8ui)orior.  Practically, 
the  whole  of  the  royal  power  is  vested  in 
1.1  1  ^'""'  '''°  secondary  ruler  being, 
although  enjoying  royal  rank,  nothing  more 
than  the  first  subject  in  the  land. 

In  Chma  and  Japan,  the  personal  charac- 
ter or  the  king  seems  to  exercise  but  little 
influence  over  the  people.  This  is  not  the 
ease  with  Siam,  in  which  country  the  in- 
luence  of  the  king  pervades  the  whole  of 
the  realm,  and  is  of  infinite  importance  for 
goo<l  or  ovil.  The  Siamese  have  been  very 
vf}T^i  '"  the  king  who  lately  held  the 
Jirst  ihrone.  As  is  the  custom  with  the 
Siamese  kings,  ho  spent  a  series  of  years  in 
abuddhistmonastery.seeludinghimselffrom 
all  society,  even  ft-om  that  of  liis  own  chil- 
Uren.  During  twenty-seven  years  he  de- 
voted himself  to  the  studies  which  he 
thought  would  fit  him  for  his  future  office ; 
and  when  he  mounted  the  throne  in  1861, 
being  then  abfiut  forty-seven  years  of  age, 
lie  astonished  every  one  by  his  learning.  He 
Had  made  himself  mngt-r  of  the  hsHtnrv  ami 
geography  ofhis  own  country7ho  was'good 


nm) 


enough  astronomer  to  calculate  eclipses,  and 
determine  the    alitude  and  U„><^iiL\o  of  a 

well,  that  he  was  a  valued  contributor  to  iho 
scientific  journals  of  Hong  Kons,  and  on 
account  of  his  writings,  was  eLcted  a  m'em- 

T  „H„  f  T^'""*','^  «V^''«ly-  "«  was  a  fair 
i.atin  and  I- nneh  scholar,  was  thorouchlv 
^quainted  with  all  the  various  dialects  o7 
Siam  and  Indo-Cluna,  and  was  also  learned 
fond    **^''  '  *  ''"'^""S*^  ^^'  w^'i'^l"  he  was  very 

He  wa.s  always  desirous  of  nttracUng  to  him 
any  English  people  who  could  give  him  in- 

r!:"ffTw  "•"''.  '*•'"*"''  '"''  preference  for 
Great  Britain  by  invariably  wearing  a  Glen- 
gary  cap,  except  on  occasions  of  ceremony 
when  he  had  to  wear  the  heavy  nallonal 
crown:  and  strange  to  say,  to  judge  from 
several  photograpliic  portraits  of.  the  Kinir 
in  various  costumes,  the  Glengary  cap  suite 
his  countenance  better  than  any  other  head- 
dress. The  full  Siamese  name  of  the  Kinij 
was  Phra  Chomklau  cliau  yu  hua;  but  the 
Sanscrit  form,  which  he  always  us.  d,  was 
Soni.Ief .-h PhraParamendra  Maha M.  ngkut. 
lie  generally  signed  his  name  as  S.  1>.  P  M 
Mongkut  His  name  before  h.  came  to  the 
throne  was  Chau  Fa  Yai.  The  death  of  this 
wliio  ruler  and  accomplished  gentleman 
waa  a  very  severe  loss  to  Siam,  and  was  felt 
evenamong  the  scientific  societies  of  Europe. 
A  nortraitof  this  remarkable  man  is  giveu 
on  the  ^1469th  page,  dressed  in^  the  co»- 
•■•ijr.e  ~:jkh  he  ;:=uaiiy  Tvore.  xhv  Glen- 
gary  cap  gives  a  curiously  Europeanized 


ff 


1408 


8IAM. 


i 


look  to  Jtirt  foco ;  but  aa,  contrary  to  the  hn|>lt 
of  Uio  Ijiire-huftilocl  SinmoMo,  ho  couHtftutiv 
wore  it,  lui  Is  drawn  with  it  U|)on  hi«  ""««• 
I  possess  i)ortralt»or  hliu  in  Hcversil  ilroMes. 
but  that  wliicli  Ive  generully  wore  '»  ?"'"«;^** 
as  being  llie  most  cliaracterlstic  of  the  man. 

HiH  ifrotlnu-,  Clmu  Fa  Noi  was  by  uiiiver- 
gal  co!is-nt  luado  the  Second  King,  or  Wan- 
W.  When  he  received  the  "•'«".  ^oto"' 
tlio  name  of  Somdotch  I  m  Klau  Chan  yu 
huft.  Tiio  choice  wan  in  botli  cMes  an  ox- 
coUent  one,  the  brothers  resembling  own 
other  in  their  love  of  literature,  and  t  e  r 
anxiety  to  promote  the  welfare  of  thoir 
people  by  the  arts  of  peace,  and  not  ot  war. 

Wi)  will   now  turn  to  the  general  appear- 
ance «;f  tlie  Siamese. 

They  are  ratlior  small,  but  well  propor- 
tioned, and  their  color  is  a  warm  olive,  rho 
hair  of  tlie  nu'U  is  shaved,  except  a  tuft 
upc  n  tliii  toi)  of  tlie  head,  wluch  l»  kept 
ratlier  short;  and  the  hair  being  block  and 
coarbc  the  tuft  looks  as  if  a  short  brush 
had  bijcn  stuck  on  the  head.  According 
to  Siamese  i.ieus,  the  tuft  resembles  the 
closed  lotus  lb)wer.  This  tuft  is  held  in  the 
highest  esteem;  and  for  anv  one  oven  to 
rive  indications  of  npproocliing  the  hoad- 
vuft  of  ft  great  man,  is  considoredi  either  as 
a  deadly  insult  or  a  mark  of  utter  ignorance 
of  manners.  VVIu'n  a  young  Siamese  comes 
of  age,  the  hoad-tuft  is  shaved  with  creat 
ceromonles,  tho  relations  being  called  to- 
gether, iriests  being  invited  to  recite  pray- 
ers and  vash  tho  head  of  tho  young  man, 
and  all  the  family  resources  being  drawn 
upon  for  thg  feast.  Tho  exact  momont  of  tho 
shaving  is  announcol  by  n  musket  shot. 
After  the  tuft  is  removed,  tho  lad  is  sent  to 
tho  pagodas  to  bo  taught  by  tho  priests,  and 
many  of  them  never  l-javo  those  quiet  re- 
treats, but  enter  the  ranks  of  tho  regular 

priesthood.  ,    ,    ^  *i  i    t 

Even  tho  women  wear  tho  halr-tufl,  but 
in  their  case  tho  hair  is  allowed  to  crow  to 
a  greater  length,  and  is  carefullv  oiled  and 
tended.  Tho  woman's  head-tuft  is  saidto 
represent  tho  lotus  flower  opened.  Tho 
head  is  seldom  covered,  the  cap  worn  by 
King  S.  riira  Mongkut  being  quite  an  ex- 
ceptional instance.  As  for  clothing,  the 
Siamese  care  but  little  for  It,  though  the 
great  people  wear  tho  most  costly  rol)C8  on 
state  occasions.  But  oven  the  highest  man- 
darins content  themselves  during  tho  warmer 
months  of  tho  year  with  the  single  garment 
called  the  Pa-nung.  This  is  a  wldo  strip  of 
strong  Indian  chintz,  generally  havlnc  a 
pattern  of  stars  upon  a  ground  of  dark  blue, 
green,  rod  or  chocolate.  When  worn,  "  tho 
Siamese  place  the  middle  of  this,  when 
opened,  to  the  small  of  tho  back,  bringing 
the  two  ends  round  tho  body  before,  and 
tho  upper  edges,  being  twisted  together,  are 
tucked  in  between  the  body  and  the  cloth. 

passed  botweea  the  legs,  and  tucked  m  be- 


hind OS  before."    (See  Dowring's  "  Kingdom 
and  People  ot  Slam.") 

Homctlmi'H  the  men  have  a  white  cloth 
houglng  kHMiely  over  their  shouldiirs,  and  oc- 
casionally throw  It  over  their  heads.  W  lien 
walking  in  the  open  air,  a  brood  paim-leat 
hat  Is  used  to  keep  olf  the  siiiiljeftins,  and  is 
worn  by  both  sexes  alike. 

There  Is  very  little  (lifferciico  in  the  drew 
of  tho  sexes.  W  hen  very  young,  girls  wear 
a  light  and  airy  eostiimo  of  turmeric  pow- 
der, which  gives  them  a  rich  yellow  hue, 
aiMl  Imparts  its  color  to  everything  with 
which  they  come  In  contact.  Up  to  the  ago 
of  ten  or  eleven,  they  generally  wear  a 
slight  gold  or  silver  string  round  the  waist, 
fVoiu  the  centre  of  which  depends  a  heart- 
shaped  piece  of  tho  same  metal,  and,  when 
they  reach  adult  years,  they  assunio  the  jeg- 
ular  woman's  dres.s.  This  consists  of  tho 
chintz  or  flgured  silk  wrapper,  which,  how- 
over,  falls  liltlo  below  tho  knees,  and  a  piece 
of  lighter  stuU'  thrown  over  one  shoulder 
and  under  the  other.  This  latter  article  of 
dress  is,  however,  of  little  importance,  and, 
oven  when  used,  it  often  falls' ofl'  the  shoul- 
der, and  is  not  replaced.  Even  the  Queen 
of  Slam,  when  in  state  dress,  wears  notliing 
but  these  two  garments.  As  a  rule,  the  feet 
are  bare,  embroidered  slippers  being  only 
occasionally  used  by  great  people. 

Tho  appearance  of  tho  king  in  his  royal 
robes  may  bo  seen  fioin  tiie  portrait  ot  a  cel- 
ebrated actress  on  the  next  page.    In  Siain, 
as  in  China,  tho  actors  are  dressed  in  the 
most  magniflccnt  style,  and  wear  costumes 
made  on  tho  i)atteni  of  those  worn  by  roy- 
alty.   To  all  ajipearance,  thev  are  (^uite  as 
splendid  as  the  n^al  dresses,  for  gilding  can 
bo  made  to  look  quite  as  well  as  solid  gold, 
and  sham  jewels  can  bo  made  larger  and 
more  gorgeous  than  real  gcins.    The  reader 
will  notice  that  upon  tho  ttngcrs  the  actress 
wears    inordinately    long    nail-preservers, 
which  ore  considered  as  indicating  that  tho 
nails  beneath  are  of  a  proportionate  length. 
The  actors  in  the  king's  theatre  are  all  his 
own  women,  of  whom  he  has  some  six  or 
seven  hundred,  together  with  an  average  of 
llvo  attendants  to  i.    h  woman.    No  male  is 
allowed  to  enter  this  denartment  of  tho 
palace,  which  is  presided  over  by  ladies 
chosen  IVom   tho    noblest  families  in  tho 
land.    These  plays  arc  all  in  dumb  show, 
accompanied  by  music,  wbi(;h  in  Siara  is  of 
a  much  sweeter  character  than  is  usual  in 
that  part  of  tho  world.    Besides  tlie  chief 
actors,  at  least  a  hundred  attendants  assist 


in  the  play,  all  being  mngniflcently  attired. 
Tho  play  is  continued  ad  ir^nitwn.  When 
any  of  tho  spectators  become  wearied,  they 
retire  for  a  while,  and  then  return,  and  it  is 
thought  a  compliment  to  tho  principal  guest 
to  ask  him  the  hour  at  which  ho  would  like 
the  play  to  be  stopped. 

The  verltAbln  crown  is  shaped  much  like 
the  mock  ornaments  of  the"  actress.    Tho 


i 


(HU'JJ 


HONORS  TO  THE    WHITE  ELEPHANT. 


King  brought  for  the  inspection  of  Sir  J. 
Bowring  the  crown  used  at  liis  coronation. 
It  18  very  heavy,  weighing  about  four 
pounds,  and  is  of  enormous  value,  being 
covered  witli  valuable  diamonds,  that  which 


1471 


terminates  the  peak  being  of  very  great 
size  and  splendor.  The  King  also  exhibited 
the  sword  of  state,  with  iu  golden  scabbard 
covered  with  jewels.  When  the  sword  is 
drawn,  it  is  seen  to  be  double,  one  blade  be- 
ing inserted  into  the  other,  as  into  a  second 
sheath.  The  inner  blado  is  of  steel,  and  the 
outer  of  a  softer  metal.  The  handle  is  of 
wood,  and,  like  the  sheath,  is  profusely 
adorned  with  jewels. 

The  Siamese  are  among  the  most  cere- 
monious people,  and  in  this  respect  equal, 
oven  if  they  do  not  surpass,  the  Chinese 
and  Japanese.  Their  very  language  is  a 
series  of  forms,  by  which  persons  of  diffcr- 
cnt  rank  address  each  other;  and,  although 
there  may  bo  no  distinction  of  dress  be- 
tween a  nobleman  and  a  pciwant,  the  differ- 
ence of  rank  is  marked  far  more  strongly 
than  could  bo  done  by  mere  dress.  It  is 
an  cssoutial  point  of  etiquette,  for  example, 
that  the  person  of  inferior  rank  should  al- 
ways keep  his  head  below  that  of  his  supe- 
rior. ^ 

Should  a  man  of  low  degree  meet  a  noble- 
man, tlie  former  will  stoop  at  the  distance  of 
thirty  or  forty  yards,  sink  on  his  knees  as 
his  superior   approaches,  and   flnpUy  pros- 
trate himself  on  his  face.    Should  he  wish 
to  present  anything  to  his  superior,  he  must 
do   so  by  pushing    it    along   the    ground, 
and,  indeed,  must  carry  out  in  appearance 
the  formal  mode  of  address  in  which  he 
likens   himself   to  a  worm.      Just  as  the 
peasants  grovel  before  the  nobles,  so  do  the 
nobles  bdbrc  the  king;  and  if  cither  of  them 
has  a  petition  to  oiler,  he  must  put  it  in  a  jar 
and  so  crawl  and  push  it  along  the  ground 
as  humbly  as  if  he  were  :,  mere  peasant. 
Siamese  artists  are  fond  of  depicting  the  vari- 
ous modes  of  approaching  a  superior,  and 
never  forget  to  indicate  the  great  man  by 
two  points.    In  the  first  place,  ho  sits  erect, 
while  the  others  crouch;  and,  in  tiie  second, 
he  leans  on  iiis  left  arm,  and  bends  the  left 
elbow  inward.    Tiiis  most  strange  and  un- 
graceful attitude  i.s  a  mark  of  iiigh  birth  and 
bree<]ing,  liio  children  of  l)oth  sexes  being 
trained  to  reverse  the  elbow-joint  at  a  very 
early  age. 

As  may  be  expected  from  the  progress  of 
civilization,  the  Siamese  have  a  t<')lerably 
complete  code  of  laws,  which  are  adminis- 
tered by  regularly  appointed  oll.ccrs.  Tiie 
laws  aro  rather  severe,  though  not  mucli 
more  so  than  were  our  own  a  century  ago. 
Murder,  for  example,  is  punished  with  death; 
and  in  every  case  of  murder  or  suicide,  the 
houses  within  a  circle  of  eighty  yards  from 
the  spot  on  which  the  crime  was  committed 
are  considered  responsible,  and  fined  heavily. 
This  curious  law  forces  the  people  to  bo  verv 


cautious  with  regard  to  quarrels,  and  to  check 
them  before  tho  two  antagonists  become 
mifllciently  irritated  to  seek  each  other's  life 
1  us  respect  ibr  human  life  contrasts  stronzl v 
with  the  utter  inditference  with  which  it  is 
regarded  in  China  and  Japan. 

Noblesof  very  high  rank  arc  exempt  from 
capital  punishment  m  one  way,  i.  e.  their 
blood  may  not  be  shed;  but,  if  guilty  of  a 
capital  oftence,  they  are  put  into  sacks,  and 
beaten  to  death  with  clubs  made  of  sandal 
wood.  Some  punishments  are  meant  to 
inflict  ignominy.  Such,  for  example,  is  that 
of  a  bonze,  or  priest,  who  is  detected  in 
breaking  his  vow  of  chastity.  Ho  is  taken 
to  a  public  place,  stripped  of  his  sacred  yellow 
robe,  flogged  until  the  blood  streams  down 
his  back,  and  then  kept  in  the  king's  stables 
for  the  rest  of  his  lile,  employed  in  cuttins 
grass  for  the  elephants.  * 

Another  similar  punishment  is  inflicted  on 
layiyen.  A  cangue  is  fastened  round  his 
neck,  his  hands  and  wrists  are  chained,  and 
he  IS  taken  round  the  city,  preceded  by  drums 
and .  ubals.  The  worst  part  of  the  punish- 
ment IS,  that  he  is  compelled  to  proclaim  his 
crime  aloud  as  he  passes  through  the  sheets- 
and  if  he  ceases  to  do  so,  or  drops  his  voice' 
he  is  beaten  severely  with  the  flat  of  a  sword! 
Prisoners  are  mostly  employed  on  public 
works,  and  at  night  they  are  all  fastened 
together  with  one  long  chain. 

Of  the  religion  of  the  Siamese  it  is  im- 
possible to  treat,  because  Buddhism  is  far 
too  wide  and  intricate  a  subject  to  be  dis- 
cussed in  a  few  pages.  There  is,  however 
one  modiflcation  of  this  religion  which  must 
be  mentioned;  namely,  the  divine  honors 
paid  to  the  White  Elephant. 

By  the  Siamese,  these  animals  are  thought 
to  be  the  incarnations  of  some  futule  Buddlia 
and  are  accordingly  viewed  with  the  deepest 
respects    Tho  fortunate  man  who  captures  a 
white  elephant  sends  the  news  to  the  capital 
and  in  return  for  the   auspicious   news  is' 
thenceforth  freed,  with  his  posterity,  from 
all  taxation  and  liability  to  military  service. 
A  road  is  cut  through  the  forest,  and  a  mag- 
nificent raft  is  built  on  the  Meinam  Eiver 
for  the  reception  of  the  sacred  animal.   When 
the  elephant  reaches  the  raft,  he  is  taken  on 
board  under  a  splendid  canopy,  and  kept  in 
good  temper  by  jjilts  of  cakes  and  sweet- 
moats.    Meanwhile,  a  noble  of  the  highest 
[  rank,  sometimes  even  the  First  King  him- 
self, goes  in  a  state  barge  to  meet  the  elephant, 
accompanied  by  a  host  of  boats  with  flags 
and  music,  and  escorts  the  sacred  anii  >'il  to 
the  capital,  each  boat  trying  to  attach  a  io]m 
to  tho   raft.    When  arrived,  the  animal  is 
taken  to  the  palace,  when  he  receives  some 
lofty  title,  and  is  then  led  to  the  magnificent 
house  prepared  for  him,  wlierc,  to  the  end 
of  his  life,  lie  is  petted  and  pampered  and  has 
everything  his  own  wav,  the  king  himself 
deeming  it  an  honor  if  the  sacred  beast  will 
coudfip.ce'.i!!  to  feed  out  of  his  hand.    On  the 


i 


1472 


SIAM. 


head  of  the  elephant  is  placed  a  royal  crown, 
his  tuslcs  are  encircled  with  precious  rings, 
and  a  royal  umbrella  is  carried  over  him  when 
he  goes  to  bathe. 

When  the  animal  dies,  tlie  hairs  of  the 
tail  are  reserved  as  relics  of  a  divino  incar- 
nation, and  the  body  is  buried  with  royal 
honors.  The  hairs  of  the  tail  are  set  in 
golden  handles,  urofusely  adorned  with  pre- 
cious stones;  and  the  reader  may  possibly 
remember  that  the  First  King,  bomdetch 
Phra  Mongkut,  sent  one  of  tliese  tutts  to 
Queen  Victoria,  as  a  priceless  proof  ot  the 
estimation  in  whicli  he  held  her.  The  King 
also  gave  the  ambassador,  Sir  J.  liowring 
a  few  hairs  from  the  tail,  as  a  gift  about  equal 
to  that  of  the  Garter  in  England,  and  wlieii, 
to  the  great  grief  of  the  nation,  the  elephant 
died  in  1855,  the  Kinsi  sen^jSir  J.  Bowring, 
as  a  furtber  mark  of  his  favor,  a  small  piece 
of  the  skin  preserved  in  spirits  of  wine. 

The  color  of  tlic  elephant  is  not  really 
white,  but  a  sort  of  pale,  brick-dust  red. 
Albino  animals  of  all  kinds  are  venerated  by 
the  Siamese,  llio  white  monkey  being  in  rank 
next  to  the  white  elephant.  Tliis  veneration 
is  so' marked  that  a  talapoin— a  sort  of 
preaching  fakir  — who  will  not  condescend 
to  salute  the  King  himself,  bows  humbly  if 
he  should  sec  even  a  white  cock,  much  more 
a  white  monkey. 

The  architecture  of  Siam  deserves  a  brief 
notice.  It  possesses  some  of  the  character- 
istics of  Cliinese,  Japanese,  and  Burmese, 
but  has  an  aspect  that  belongs  peculiarly  to 
itself.  Ordinary  houses  are  of  comparatively 
small  dimensions,  but  the  temples  are  often 
of  enormous  size,  and  in  their  way  are  ex- 
ceedingly beautiful.  They  are  full  of  lofty 
and  gabled  roofs,  five  or  six  of  which  often 
rise  above  each  other,  in  fantastic  beauty,  so 
as  to  lead  the  eye  upward  to  the  central 
towel-.  This  is  always  a  sort  of  spire  or  pin- 
nacle, which  is  made  of  a  succession  of  stories, 
and  is  rcrmiuatcd  by  the  slender  emblem  of 
sovereignty,  namelv,  an  ornament  that  looks 
like  a  series  of  8i)ioad  umbrellas  placed  over 
each  other,  and  become  less  and  less  as  they 
approach  th(!  summit.  The  whole  of  the 
tower  is  profusely  adorned  with  grotesque 


statues  in  strange  attitudes,  and  there  is 
scarcely  a  square  foot  which  is  undecorated 
in  some  way  or  other. 

The  palaces  are  built  on  much  the  same 
model,  and  their  gates  are  often  guarded  by 
gigantic  figures  carved  in  stone.  At  the 
door  of  the  Hall  of  Audience  at  Bangkok 
are  two  figures  made  of  granite.  They 
are  sixty  feet  in  height,  and  represent  men 
with  the  tails  of  fish  projecting  from  the 
spine.  In  fact,  they  are  almost  exact  repro- 
ductions of  the  Assyrian  Dagon,  as  it  is 
represented  on  the  Nineveh  sculptures. 

The  funeral  pile  on  (or  rather  in)  winch 
is  burned  tlie  body  of  a  king  or  any  ot  the 
royal  family,  is  built  on  the  same  princii)le 
as  the  temples,  and  is  in  fact  a  temple,  tliough 
made  of  combustible  materials.  Thi-re  is 
before  me  a  pliotograph  of  the  funeral  pile 
which  was  made  for  the  body  of  the  First 
King's  son,  and  another  of  a  pile  eroeli'd  for 
the  purpose  of  consuming  the  body  of  liis 
wife.  They  are  very  similar  in  appearance, 
being  temples  made  of  wood  and  canvas, 
covered  with  gilt  paper.  Tliey  are  alioiit  a 
hundred  and  twenty  feet  in  hciglit,  and  on 
(jie  photograph,  where  the  nature  of  the 
material  is  not  shown,  look  like  magnilicent 
specimens  of  Siamese  architecture. 

Tlie  central  spire,  terminated  with  its 
royal  emblem,  rises  in  the  centre,  and 
round  it  are  clustered  gables,  rools,  pinna- 
cles, and  pillars,  in  bewildering  profusion. 

The  door  is  guarded  by  two  gigantic  stat- 
ues, and  the  body  lies  in  the  centre  of  the 
building,  hidden  by  curtains.  On  account 
of  the  llimsiness  of  the  materials,  to  all  the 
pinnacles  are  attached  slight  ropes,  which 
are  fastened  firmly  to  the  ground,  so  tliut 
they  act  like  the  '"'  stays  "  of  a  ship's  m.ast. 
Intlammable  as  are  the  wood,  paper,  and 
canvas  of  which  the  edifice  is  made,  they  are 
rendered  still  more  so  by  being  saturated 
with  oil,  tar,  and  similarly  combustible  sub- 
stances. Vast,  therefore,  as  is  the  building, 
a  very  short  time  suffices  to  consume  it,  and 
the  intense  heat  reduces  the  corjiso  to  a  mere 
heap  of  a.she.s,  which  are  gathered  together, 
and  solemnly  placed  in  the  temple  dedicated 
to  that  purpose. 


CHAPTER   CLIX. 


ANCIENT  EUEOPE. 


THE   SWISS  LAKE-DWELLERS. 


DISCO VEBT  OF  THE  DWELLTNOS  AND  BEMCA — MODE  OF  BCIIJ>IXa  THE  HOUSES- 
LAKES— OENEBAL  CHABACTEB  OF  THE  BBUCB. 


-POPULATION  OF  THB 


Many  of  my  readers  may  be  aware  of  the 
remarkable  discovery  that  was  made  in  1853- 
4,  showing  that  oven  in  Europe  there  lived, 
at  one  time,  a  race  of  men  having  exactly  the 
same  habits  as  the  swamp-dwellers  of  New. 
Guinea,  or  the  lake-dwellers  of  Maracaibo 
on  the  Amazon.  During  the  winter  months 
of  those  two  years,  the  weather  in  Switzer- 
land was  very  dry  and  very  cold,  so  that  the 
rivers  did  not  receive  their  usual  supplies  of 
water.  Consequently,  the  water  in  the  lakes 
fell  far  below  its  usual  level,  and  this  dis- 
closed the  remarkable  fact  that  in  those  lakes 
had  once  been  assemblages  of  human  habi- 
tations, built  upon  piles  driven  into  the  bed 
of  the  lake. 

These  houses,  appropriately  called  "Pfahl- 
bautcuj"  or  Pile-buildings,  were,  as  their 
name  implies,  built  upon  piles;  and  it  is  a 
most  interesting  fact,  that  not  only  have  the 
piles  been  discovered,  on  which  the  houses 
were  built,  but  also  fragments  of  the  walls 
of  those  houses;  many  specimens  of  the 
weapons  and  implements  of  the  inhabitants, 
their  ornaments,  and  even  their  food,  have 
been  brought  to  light,  after  having  been 
buried  for  centuries  beneath  the  water. 

The  resemblance,  not  to  say  the  identity, 
between  many  articles  found  under  the 
waters  of  the  Swiss  lakes  and  those  which 
arc  still  use<l  by  savage  tribes  of  tlie  Western 
hemisphere  is  absolutely  startling;  and  not 
the  least  remarkable  point  about  the  relics 
which  have  Just  been  discovered  is,  that 
several  of  them  are  identical  with  inven- 
tions which  wc  fondly  deem  to  bo  modern. 

The  chief  part  of  these  lake-dwellings 
was  constructed  during  the  Stone  jieriod, 
"■   "   a  period  when  axes,  spear-heads,  etc., 


were  made  of  stone,  the  use  of  fire  being 
unknown.    This  is  proved  by  the  quantity 


I  of  stone  weapons  and  implements  which 
have  been  found  in  the  lakes.  That  various 
improvements  have  been  made  in  the  archi- 
tecture is  also  shown  by  the  difl'erence  in 
details  of  construction. 

From  the  relics  that  have  been  discovered, 
it  is  ea^;;  o  see  what  these  lake-dwellings 
must  have  been.  They  were  built  on"a 
scaffolding  made  of  piles  driven  into  the  bed 
of  the  lake,  and  connected  with  cross-beams, 
so  as  to  make  the  foundation  for  a  platform. 
Upon  this  platform  the  huts  themselves  were 
built.  They  were  mostly  circular,  and  the 
walls  were  made  of  wattle,  rendered  weather- 
tight  by  the  clay  which  could  be  obtained  in 
anv  quantity  from  the  bed  of  the  lake. 

The  reason  for  building  these  edifices  is 
analogous  to  the  feeling  which  induces 
military  engineers  to  surround  their  forts 
with  moats  filled  with  water.  In  those 
primitive  times,  man  waged  an  unequal 
war  against  the  wild  animals,  such  as  the 
bear,  the  wolf,  and  the  boar,  and  in  conse- 
quence, these  lacustrine  habitations  proved 
to  be  strongholds  which  such  enemies  could 
not  assault.  It  is  natural,  also,  that  persons 
thus  threatened  should  congregate  together, 
and  in  consequence  we  find  that  in  one  lake 
alone,  that  of  Neufchfttel,  a  population  of 
some  five  thousand  had  congregated. 

A  vast  number  of  relics  of  this  bygone 
age  have  been  recovered  from  the  lakes, 
and  are  of  absorbing  interest  to  the  anthro- 
pologist In  the  first  place,  the  original 
piles  have  "been  discovered,  still  standing, 
and  several  have  been  drawn,  in  order  to 
ascertain  the  depth  to  which  they  were 
driven.  Portions  of  the  wattled  walls  of 
the  huts  have  also  been  found,  together 
with  great  numbers  of  stone  implements, 
denoting  a  very  early  age.    Great  quantities 


I   f  I 

i 


1473 


1474 


THE  SWISS  LAKE-DWELLERS. 


of  pottery  have  also  been  found,  the  crescent 
being  a  favorite  ornament,  and  several 
utensils  of  a  crescentic  shape  having  been 
discoverefl. 

Then,  as  time  went  on,  men  improved 
upon  their  earlier  works,  and  took  to  metal 
instead  of  stone,  as  examples  of  which  may 
be  mentioned  the  wonderful  series  of  metallic 
objects  that  have  been  found  in  the  lakes. 
There  are  axes,  spears  and  arrow-heads, 
necklaces,  bracelets,  and  hair-pins,  and  — 
most  remarkable— there  is  the  very  article 
that  was  patented  some  years  wace  as  the 
"  Safety  Pin  "  for  nurseries. 

As  to  the  food  which  these  people  ate,  vre 
have  abundant  evidence  in  the  way  of  bones 


belonging  to  various  animals,  and  —  stran- 

fest  of  all — specimens  of  bread  have  been 
iscovered.  As  may  be  supposed,  the  bread 
in  question  was  of  the  coarsest  possible 
character,  the  grains  of  corn  being  roasted, 
slightly  gi'ound,  and  then  pressed  into 
lumps,  which  may  by  courtesy  be  termed 
cakes.  Even  fruits  have  been  found  ready 
cut  and  prepared  for  consumption,  the  apple 
being  the  most  plentiful  of  these  fruitd. 
Seeds  of  different  fruits,  such  as  the  plum, 
the  raspberry,  and  the  blackberry,  have 
been  found,  together  with  the  shells  of 
hazel  and  beech-nuts,  showing  that  all  these 
different  fruits  were  used  for  food  in  the 
olden  times  now  so  long  passed  away. 


INDEX. 


Abjssinia,  CAl. 

Aocawaios,  So.  America,  1222. 
Admiralty  Islanders,  970. 
Adoption  of  Parents,  Namaquaa, 

AouinnLTirRB  among  the 
Badoiiia,  3(>T.  Bakalai,  492. 
Batoka,  350.  Bayeye,  338. 
Bouka,  971.  Dinka,  470.  Djour, 
448.  Fuegians,  11G8.  Gaiii.  430. 
Ouianans,  1248.  Hebrides,  Now, 
972.  Hottentots,  231.  Ifafflr.f, 
138,  139-144.  Manganjas,  aw! 
Ovambos,  319.  Shekiani,  622. 
\Va.siiMra,  407.    Watiisi,  409. 

Ahit.is  Philippine  Islands,  920. 

Alits,  Vancouver's  Island,  13rA. 

Aiitits,  Philippine  Islands,  920. 

Alapii-cht'S,  Chili,  8.  A.,  1190. 

Alfoern,  New  Guinea,  905. 

Alfouras,  Now  Guinea,  905. 

Am;itmra«,  Africa,  6«7. 

Aiii;il:i)sa,  Africa,  12. 

Aniapouda,  Africa,  12. 

Amasw.azi,  Africa,  12. 

Amaton;;a,  Africa,  12. 

Amazoitians,  So.  Am.,  1215. 

Amnzous,  Africa,  .'5ft7. 

Aiuazulu,  Africa,  13. 

Amulets,  see  Charms. 

Amusemknts  among  the 
Aht't,  13(ifl.  Apono,  487. 
Araiicaiiians,  1204.  Austra- 
liani,  7W-T53.  Bayeyo,  ,^39. 
Beclinana.s,  296,  297.  Boghar- 
mis,  <>,'i9.  Bo.ijesnian.s,  2fl2-t. 
Cainnia,  509.  Co-yiikons,  l,'{7,'i. 
Damarai,     313.  Dory,    917. 

Dyaks,  lHI-1144.  K.squiniaux, 
1349.  Fanti,  653.  Fijiau-s,  9."^. 
Oalia.'i,  (i71.  Ghoorkas,  1424 
Ouianans,  1 252-1 2.-).'5.  Hotten- 
tots, 234-23fi.  Indians,  N.  A., 
1285-1298,  i:>.20-1325.  Ishogo 
479.  .lapaiies,),  14M,  1402.  Kaf- 
firs, 144-147.  Korannas,  270. 
Ma(li,433.  Makololo,  33,5.  Male- 
mutes,  1374.  Maories,  845.  Alar- 
quesaiis,  1049.  Namaquas,  278 
Ovambos,  320.  IVlow  Islanders 
1108.  Samoans,  1020.  Sandwich 
Islan.iers,  1092- lOlW.  Shooas 
629.  Tahitans,  1062,  l(Xi3. 
Tasmanians,  75.T  Tibboos,  (i3.'{. 
Tongaus,  99.">,  Oini,  1(H)4.  Tub- 
rioks,  034.  Tungusi,  1380. 
Wanyoro,  426.  Wanyamuezi, 
390-393.  Waraua,  1261.  Watuai, 
409.     Zcalauders,  Now,  81,8--622. 


Ancient  Europe,  1473. 

Andamaners,  888. 

Anecdote  of  Korannas,  269. 

Anecdotes  of  Bo.sie8mans,  267. 

Aneiteum,  New  Hebrides,  976. 

Angolese,  Africa,  380. 

Animals  of 
Australia,  701.  Guiana,  1222. 
Fondness  for  in  Guiana,  12.58. 
Dogs  of  Esquimaux,  l.Tie.  Of 
Africa,  126.  Of  Kaffirs,  127, 
140.    Of  India,  1416-1421. 

Apingi,  Africa,  488. 

Apono,  Africa,  484. 

Aprons  of  Kaffirs,  Aft'ica,  48. 

Arabs,  Africa,  fi87. 

Araucanians,  S.  A.,  1190. 

Arawaks,  Guiana,  1222. 

AnOHITECTURE  of 

Abyssinia,  667.  Ahts,  1369. 
Ancient  Kuropo,  1473.  Anda- 
maners, 892.  Apono,  487.  Au- 
stralians, 784-78(i.  Bakalai,  491. 
Balonda,  378.  Bari,  464  Bay- 
eyo,  .3.39.  Bechuanas,  297,  299. 
Bedouins,  682.  Begharmis,  6.'«). 
Bonny,  001.  Borti.-ibi,  1103. 
Bornuc.se,  020.  Bosjesmans, 
251.  Britain,  New,  970.  Cal- 
edonians, New,  884.  Dii- 
liome,  562.  Damaras,  310- 
.^11.  Dor,  447.  Dory,  914. 
Dyaks,  1149-11.50.  Egbas,  692. 
Kiquimaux,  13.33.  Fijians,  <)5ii. 
JucgiauH,  1105.  Gani,  429. 
Guianans,   124.5-1270.      Guinea 


Ashangos,  Africa,  480. 

Ashanti,  Africa,  564. 

Ashira,  Africa,  490. 

Assagais,  Kaffir,  Africa,  94,  100. 

Aurora,  description  of,  1,362. 

Australia,  Polynesia,  094. 

Ayhuttisahta,  Vancouver's  Island. 
1354. 

B. 

Badema,  Africa,  367. 
Baenda-pczi,  or  Go-Nakeds,  Ba- 
toka, 349. 
Bahurotsi,  Africa,  280. 
Bakalai,  Africa,  491. 
Bakoba,  Africa,  337. 
Bakwains,  Africa,  280. 
Balonda,  Africa,  369. 
Balondo,  Africa,  »i9. 
Bamairis,  Africa,  286. 
Hanmngwato,  Africa,  296. 
Uantus,  Africa,  11. 
Banyai,  Africa,  3(>1. 
Barber,  Chinese,  1427. 
Barea,  Africa,  008. 
Bari,  Africa.  402. 
Harolongs  Africa,  280. 
Bathiiip,  Japanese,  1433, 1434. 
natlapi,s,  Africa,  280. 
Batlares,  Africa,  280. 
Batoanas,  Africa,  337. 
Batoka,  Africa,  318. 
Batonga,  Africa,  348. 
Bayeye,  Africa,  337. 


iNew,      912.       Has.saniycli,    68(!.  Beauty,  see  AVomcn 
Hervov  Islanders.  10.37    1l..tfn».  Tt»nliiini,i.o    ac: . 


Hervoy  Islanders,  1037."  Ilottcn 
tots,  227,  228.  Hovas,  OSK).  In- 
dian.s,  N.  A.,  1.329.  Ingeletes, 
1.375.  Ireland,  New,  970.  Isho- 
gos,  470.  Ja))anese,  1461.  Kaf- 
firs, .56,  02,  207.  Kanemboos,  027. 
Ivingsmill  Islanders,  1038.  Ma- 
di,    43,3.     Jlakololo,  »2H.     Mala- 

fasy,  090.  Malomut«"S,  1,374. 
faiiries,  860.  Mapuches,  1192. 
Marquesans,  1049.  Mexicans, 
1272.  Nicobarians,  896.  Niuuns 
10,50.  Nubians,  074.  Obongjjs, 
482.  Ostiaks,  1.384.  Outanatas, 
901.  Ovanilios,310.  Patagonians, 
US.5.  Pelew  Islanders,  1108. 
Samoans,  1031.  Shekiani,  322. 
Shillooks,  472.  Shooas,  02i).  Si- 
amese. 1472.  Societv  IWand- 
ers,  1073.  Tungtisi,  1.379.  Wa- 
ganda,  419.  Wanyamuezi.  889 
Waraus,  1208.    Wazaramo,  406. 

Armor  of  .lapanose,  1460. 

Art  of  Japanese,  1403. 


Bechuanas,  Africa,  280. 

Bedouins,  A  frica,  681. 

Begharmis,  Africa,  (i33. 

Betrothal,  see  Miirriage 

Blackfeet,  North  America,  1273. 

Bonny,  Africa,  tiOO. 

Bornabi,  Caroline  Islands,  1103. 

Borniiese,  Africa,  620. 

Bosjesnnm,  Africa,  242. 

Bouka,  I'olynesia,  971. 

Brahmins,  India,  1408. 

Britain,  New,  Polynesia,  909. 

Brumer's  Island,  Australasia,  907. 

Bu1h>s,  Africa,  610. 

BiTRi.\r.  of  tlie  dead  nn^nng 
Abyssinians,  6.59.  .Vliitas,  921. 
Ahts,  1.373.  A.jitas,  yi'l.  Al- 
f..ers,  90(!.  Angolese,  328-383. 
Apingi,  490.  AjMino,  488.  Ar- 
aucanians, 1210.  Ashira,  MX 
Australians,  772-7n.  Italonda, 
380.  Bari,  4(J4.  Bechuanaa,  30C. 
Camma,  520.  Co-ynkons,  1375. 
Dahome,   688.     Damaras,  314. 


1476 

Burial  of  tuf,  Dead— continued. 
Dory,  917.     Uyaka,    IKiO.      E»- 

?uiiuaiix,  13S1.  Fiiiiti,  I3.W. 
'yiaiis,  l»(Ki-yii7.  Of  Fijian  chid", 
mr>.  Hottoutots,  a4l.  ln<llaii.s, 
N.  A.,  ISaO.  KatUr,  ^00-2(15. 
KaraKUO,  403.  Kliissmill  Isl- 
anders, 1M3.  Krunit^i,  (HH. 
liatookivs,  45!».  Makololo,  iWti. 
Mangaiijas,  300.  Marqucsana, 
1051.  Minoopica,  81)5.  iMpon- 
gwiS  527.  Nicobarian.s,  897. 
Niiian!),  1050.  Obonffos,  483. 
Patasonians,  1189.  Pelew  I»l- 
anders,  1109.  Samoledes,  1382. 
Siamese,  1472.  Sioux,  13.30. 
Sticiiity  Islanders,  1070.  Sow- 
rain,  1.389.  Toncans,  1004. 
Waganda,  421.  Wanyamuozi, 
39!).  Wanyoro,  428.  Wazara- 
nii),  400.  Zealand,  New,  809-874. 

Bu'iliinan,  Africa,  242. 

Button,  Chinese,  1429. 

O. 

O.-iledonians,  Now,  883. 

Ciiin;uiL'Uee.s,  N.  y\  ,  1289. 

Cam  ma,  Africa,  o.'l. 

Ca.nnibalism  among 
Ahts,  1372.  Andamanor.?,  891. 
Australians,  747.  In  Britain, 
New,  970.  Bonny, (>02.  <  ■  iledonia, 
No w,  883.  Amonj;  C-n  ':'<  ■  i,  1240. 
Fans,  530-5.V).  Fij  iant.,  m2-94(i. 
FuoKians,  1107.  In  Ireland, 
New,  9'0.  Among  Islo  of  I'inos 
M.'M,  8S7.  Kingsmill  I.slander.s, 
1040.  Maories,  834-837.  Marquo- 
sans,  10,-)1.  Niuans,  1050.  Papu- 
ans, 900.  Samoans,  1022-1023. 
Sandwich  lalandors,  1091.  8oci- 
etv  [slanders,  1073.  Solomon 
Islanders,  968.  Tanna,  972.  Tun- 
gnsi,  1,379. 

Canohs,  making  and  skill  in  man- 
agement of,  among 
Admiralty  Islanders,  971.  Ahts, 
13(i2.  Australians,  701-717.  Ba- 
toka,  349.  Bayeye,  338.  Bouka, 
971.  Brumer  Islanders,  il08-911. 
Caledonians,  New,  829.  Dyak.s, 
113().  Esquimaux,  l.'i44.  Fanti, 
CtVX  Fijlan9,932.  Fuegians,  1108. 
InOuinea,  New,  913.  Among 
Indians,  N.  A.,  1325.  Kruinen, 
64t.  Mak.)ba,  .340.  Makololo.  327. 
Maories,  823.  Marquesans,  lO.")!. 
Mincopies,  890.  Nicobarians,  897 
Niuans,  10,50.  Outanatas,  902, 
I'apuans,  900.  Pelew  Islanders, 
1107.  Sainoans,  1020.  In  San 
Cbristoval,  970.  Among  Society 
Islanders,  1074,  Solomon  Island- 
ers, 909.      NVaraus,    1222,   1202. 

Caribs,  Guiana,  S.  A.,  1222. 

Candirie  Islands,  1100. 

Castk,  among 
Damaras,  312.      Karagne,  399. 
Khonds,   1393.     Sowrahs,   1385. 
Ze.Manders,  Now,  792. 

Catlin'»  portrait  of  Indian  dan- 
dy, 1279, 


INDEX. 


Cattle  of  the 

Balonda,  .376. 

Pamaras,  310, 

Kaffirs,  60-71 

tookas,    454. 

Namaquaa,  277 

Watusi,  409. 
Ceukmokies,  connected  with 


Bosjcumans,  S.'i-t 
Hottentots.  2:«. 

Kvtch,  4.'j!t. 

Malagasy, 

Shooas, 


La- 

;)<to. 
o';9. 


of    son,    DainftraS; 


314.    Battle,  before  and  after, 
Now    Zealand,    851.       Becom- 
ing men,   Australians,  701-704. 
Birth,    Abyssinians,    iw8.     Fi- 
jiana,     954,    New    Zealanders, 
81(ii       Burial     of    King,    F\ji- 
ans,  907.    Cementing  Iriendship, 
Balondos,    378.     Cooking    war 
dish,   Ashangos,  480.    Corona- 
tion,     Congoese,     010,     Mpon- 
gwfi,  627.     Customs,  Dahomans, 
573.    Deatli  of   King,  Tongans, 
993-(»94.    Death  and  Mourning, 
Camma»  620.    Drinking   kava, 
TongauB,     98.'>-;i90.       Entering 
boyhood,   Kaffirs,   18.       Fallen 
in  war,  Caledonians,  New,  880. 
Fe.ast  of  First  Fruits,  Tongans, 
i>90-993.       Funeral    of   Finow, 
Tongans,  998.     Going   to  War, 
Beebu.anas,  292.   Head-worship, 
Dahomans,    587.      Homage    to 
Maiiono,  Samoans,  1022.   Initia- 
tion  of   Cannibal,   Malemutes, 
1372.     Kangaroo,  Australians, 
702.      King,    appearing    before, 
Dahomans,  674.    JIaking  broth- 
erhood, Australians,  707.    Arau- 
canians,         1205.         Marriage. 
Kaffirs,   80,       Samoans,     1031, 
Sowrahs,     1380.       M'naza,     or 
twin,  Ishogos,  479.     Moon.ftill, 
Camma,       510,        Fans,       6.39. 
Moon,    New,     Karagne,     401, 
Mincopies,      89.5.        Mourning, 
Australians,    772.      Ox   of    the 
Girl,    Kaffirs,   80.      Ox  of   th 
Surplus,  Kaffirs,  80.    llecoiving 
Guests,  Waganda,  419       Kecep- 
tion  into  "  glides,"  N.  A.  Indi- 
ans, 1310.     lleligious,  Abyssini- 
ans,    058,      Esquimaux,     13.50. 
"  Unpack,"     Pelew     Islanders, 
1104.     Sacrificial,    K.afflrs,   172, 
Society    Islanders,    1075.     Set- 
ting apart  "  piai"  men,  Guiana, 
1203.     Sheddnig   of  blood,   Dy- 
aks,    11.59.     Sickness,   Tongans, 
998.      Society   of   hunters,    Ati- 
gtralians,  703.     Sprinkling  wa- 
ter,  Dahomans,  588,  New  Zita- 
land,   817.    Tow-tow,   Tongans 
!»i>4-993.     ViBiting,  Fijians,  940. 
Chaums  among 

AbyssinianSj  ^MVi,  000.  Angolege, 
,3Hl'  Apingi,  490.  Australians, 
771.  Beehuanas,  292.  Dyaks, 
1158.  Fans,  .5;«>.  Indians,  N. 
A.,      1313.  Kaffir,      181-18,3. 

Kar.ague,  402.    Namaqnas,  277. 
Nubians,   074.      Waganda,  419. 
Wan,voro,  428. 
Charming  serpents,  India,  1410. 
Cherokees,  No.  America,  l.'i^il. 
Chick.isaws,  No,  America,  1319. 
CnirnKEN,  treatment  of  among 
Aiidamaners,    8<»2,       Arawaks, 
1247.  Australians,  7.57, 758.  Bnk- 
alai,     492.       ro-yHk<ms,     1.375. 
Esquimaux,  1.349.     Fijians,  9.54. 
Flat-heads,  1319,1320.    Indians, 
GranChaco,  1214.    Indians,  N. 
A.,  1319.   Ingeletes,  1375.    Ish- 
ogo,  479.     Kaffir,   10-18.     Madi, 
4;i,3.     Mapuches,  1192.     Outan- 
ataii,  901.       Patagonians,   1180. 
Samoans,    lOOiJ.    Wanyamn.-.'.i. 
393.    Zealanders,  New,  810,  817. 
Chinese,  China,  1420. 
Chinnooks,  No.  America,  1.319. 
Cboctaws,  No.  America,  1319. 
Chonsticks,  Chiuese.  143].  * 


Christie's  sketch,  Bogjesman,  260. 
Chuanas,  Africa,  280. 
Cleanlinkhs  among 
Abyssinians,  (XI7.     Bakalai,  492, 
493.     Esquimaux,  1333.     Fuegi- 
ans, 1108.   Kaffirs,  45.  Madi,  4«0. 
Manganjas,  ;<59.    Ostiaks,  1384. 
Wanyamuozi,    393.      Wanyoro, 
422-420.      Waraus,   1268.      Wa- 
tusi, 40)). 
Commi,  Africa,  604. 
Complexion  of 
Abyssinians,  642.    Ahitas,  290. 
Ah'ts,       i;i55.      AngoU'se,    380. 
Apingi,    488.    Australians,  094. 
Bakalai,     492.     Balondo,    370. 
Batoka,     348.     Begharniis,  630. 
Bosjesmans,  243.      Bonka,  971. 
Caledonians,  New,    883.     Cam- 
ma, 505.    Djibbas,  404.     Dyaks, 
1111.     Egbas,  »H).    Esquimaux, 
1,3;«.     Fans,    629.      Fanti,  549. 
Fijians,    922,      Fuegians,   1102. 
Gallas,    071.      Hebrides,  New, 
<»72.     Hervey   Islanders,    1032. 
Hottentots,  217.  Hovas,  690.  In- 
dians, Gran  Chaco,  1211.     Indi- 
ans, N.  Am.  1273.   Isle  of  Pines 
Men,     887.      Japancs«!,      1449. 
Karaguo,   ;t99.     Kingsmill  Isl- 
anders,   1038.       Krunicn,    645. 
Makololo,      327.      Marquesans, 
1047.         MunduruciLs,         1215. 
Neam-Nain,  442.     Nicobarians, 
890.    Nubians,   673.     Obongos, 
482.     Outanatas,  900.    I'apuans, 
898.    Patagonians,  1172.    Pelew 
Islanders,  1104.    Samoans,  1008. 
Sandwich  Islanders,  1081.   Slie- 
kiani,  622.    Siamese,  1408.  Solo- 
mon  Islanders,  iHiS.     Tahitaiis, 
10.58     Tanna     Islanders,     972. 
Tongans,  977.     Vat<^   Islanders, 
972.   Waraus,  1222.   Zeulauders, 
New,  792. 
Congoese,  Africa,  014. 
Cooking,  see  Food. 
Cook's  Islanders,  Polynesia,  1032. 
Co-yukims,  Alaska,  1375. 
Cre'e  tribe,  North  America.  1313. 
Creeks,  North  America,  1.331. 
Crow  tribe.  North  Ani(?rica,  1273. 
"Crowing"  of  Damaras,  310. 
Crucifixion,  Chinese,  1439. 

"  Japanese,  14»il. 

Cruelty  to  aged  among 
Fijians,    904.       Indians,    1320. 
Namaquus,  278.    To  prisoners, 
Fijians,  964. 
C'istoms,  Dahome,  673. 
CuHTOMS,  curious,  of 
Alfoiirs,  900.  Arancanians,  120,5. 
Ashanti,    Yam  and    Adai,  659. 
Caledonians,  New,  887.    Djaks, 
1136.      Fijians,  Loloku  ol   the 
sail,  907.    Guianans,  1247.    Her- 
vey   Islanders,   10;J4.      Kaneui- 
boos,  027.  Kingsmill    Islanders, 
1040.    Marquesans,  1049.    Obon- 
gos, domestic,  482.   Ovanibos,  at 
meals,     322.       Tahitans,   1001. 
Tchuktchi,  1378.    Tongans,  982. 


D. 

Dajcrahg,  North  America,  1307 

Dn>i(iinan8,  Africa,  661. 

I)!:mara8,  Africa,  304. 

i/Mncing,  see  AinuscmentB. 

Dancer  of  .        , 

AhtB,  doctor's  nook,  1.306,  roof, 
Ism.    Apono,  giaut,  487.   Ara- 


INDEX. 


1477 


Uanord  of — conHnued. 

waks,  puris,  I'Zrti.    Australmni, 

tiri,  74H,  pulti,  75J,  IciuiBaroo, 
te  ptnlitkti,  751,  friiu,  7ol, 
co^IiIhjioi!,  752.  Uocliuatias, 
297.  Uosjc.iiiKvii.s,  2(')2.  Oaiuma, 
corilla,  fl()l».  iJaiiiaraH,  31.'J. 
IJyalcH,  sword.  114.J,  war,  1143, 
head,  IM.'f.  K.siiulinaux,  VMi). 
FaiiH,  full  moDii,  ,'i.ti).  l'"giaii.s, 
'X)5.  OiiiaiiauM,  iiiaiiiiarri,  1255. 
IIottGiitDts,  iiu^lon,  235.  ludiaiin, 
N.  A.,  Hcalp,  128(!  Imll'alo,  12U7, 
ball-play,  I.IJO,  i)lpo,  l.fJO,  l)C({- 
Kar's  l)(!ar,  1320,  ilo;;,  1320,  ea!<l(), 
1323,  liravtis,  1323,  {jroeii  CDrn, 
1323,  .iiiow-ahoo,  1323,  .slave,  1323. 
Kaffir,  woddiiis,  55.  Koraniian, 
270.  Latookas,  fuiioral,  45!l. 
MadI,  4;Kt.  Mal.iiiiiit«.s,  1374. 
ManiiK'sain,  1041J.  Now  (Juiuea, 
war,  !»17.  New  Zi^alaud,  war, 
845.  Niitans,  war,  lO.W.  Pclew 
I.slaudiir-),  llOH.  Sanioan.*!,  wtid- 
din^',  11131.  ejiMiu,  im.  Tas- 
niaiiians,  7fi.%  *»yunj,"i:(i,  1,380. 
Waiiv.iiuuczi.SSO.    W  .i'.iisi,40'J. 

Dank.illi.s,  AlVioa,  ()7I. 

Delawari's,  Ncirdi  Aiiif -ica,  l.'i31. 

I)iii,i;aii,  KiifHr  iliief,  vi.iit  to,  Ul. 

Diiiijaii  at  home,  207. 

Diiika.'),  Afri(;a,  4(i;). 

DJibba,  Africa,  liH. 

Djour,  Africa,  448. 

Do^oater,  initiation  of,  Aht3,1371. 

Dor,  Afriea,  444. 

Dory,  Africa,  'J14. 

DHK.ts  anions 
Abys.siiiiau.s,  r>42-r.t7.  Acea- 
waio.s,  1222.  Admiralty  I.ilaiid- 
crs,  U70.  Alit,s,  l;i-)5.  Aiida- 
luauerH,  Sii>.  Apinjji,  tSi).  Apo- 
no,  484.  AHliaii','.),  480.  Ash- 
aiiti,  ,5.^)4.  Ashira,  4Ufi.  Aiis- 
traliaii^J,  CW  -  70."),  IJakalai,  402. 
Baloiida,  ;!70.  IJari,  4(i.3,4iU.  Ha 
t()kii,34S.  Hayeye,  ,3.30.  Itecliu- 
anas,  281.  Itedoiiius,  tWl.  Itoiiuy, 
60.3.  l!oriiaI)i,  1103.  Itorinios'e, 
021.  Ho.sje.smaiis,24(>.  M  )iika,071. 
Britain,  New,  »,;!».  IJrumer's 
Islaiider,s,;K)7.  Hiil)e,M,  010.  Calo- 
doniain,  New,  8,8.3,  (Jaribs, 
1222.  Chine^te,  I42it.  Oon^joe.so, 
610,  CoyakoMH,  l:!75.  D.vlio- 
iiiaii,^,  .')08,  Dnmaras,  ;t(''i,  l)in- 
kas,  400  Djibba.s,  407.  Dor,  447. 
Dory,  014.  Dyak.s,  1112-1110- 
1118.  KLjbas,  ,">01.  K.s(|i'.imaiix, 
13:U.  Kaiis,  ,-c'O.  l''auti,54U.  Fij- 
iain,  020-028  Kui'tjiaus,  1102. 
fialbM,  071.  (rani,  430.  (iuian- 
0!is,  12.')()-1258.  llebridi'S,  New, 
i)72,  Hervev  Islanders,  10.32.  Hot- 
tentots, 222.  Ilova.s,  000.  Jri- 
diaii.s,  (Iran  (Jhaeo,  12V2.  In 
dian.s,  N'orlh  Anieriea,  127.'> 
1270.  Ireland,  New,  000.  Islio 
Kos,  470.  Isle  of  I'ines  M,.n 
887.  .lapanese,  kami-samo. 
144!)- 14,53  Kaffirs,  28-51,  ,')3. 
clianjfo  of  on  betrothal,  Kaf- 
fir, 51,  ICaneinboos,  0^7,  Kara- 
(jne,  40.5.  Khonds,  1380.  Kinj;s- 
luill  Islanders,  lO.'W.  K^iranna.s, 
270.  Krumeu,  .U"..  Kyteb,  4;M1. 
Latookas,  45:!.  Madi,  4;!0-4.33. 
Makoba,  330.  JIakololo,  327. 
Malagasy,  (KtO.  Maloiimtfis,  1374. 
Mannanja,  350.  Mapuoliivi, 
1190-1 101.  Maniiicsaiis,  1044. 
Mpongw^,  524.    Mii8|;uc8C,  639, 


Namanuas,  275.  Neam-Nam, 
442.  NluobarianH,  8116.  Nlu- 
aiis,  1063.  Nubians,  673. 
Nuohr,  4ti8.  Obbo,  434.  Obon- 
poa,  482.  OutanatuH,  WK),  Ovam- 
bos,  316.  Papuans,  900.  I'ata 
goniang,  1173.  Puloir  Islanders, 
1104.  lioniunzoli'Isiandors,  1100, 
Sanioana,  1009, 1013, 1014.  Sam 
oiodes,  1383.  Bandwieh  Island- 
erM,  1081.  8Uillot)ks,  472.  Shir, 
461.  Bhooas,  6,30.  Siamese 
1468.  Holoinon  Islanders,  iXio: 
Houmauiis,  672.  Sowralis,  1;186. 
Tahitans,  1059.  Tibboos,  630. 
Tonguns,  (»natoo,  977.  Tuarieks 
634.  Vate  Islanders,  972.  Wa- 
Kogo,  385.  Wanyaniuezi,  380. 
VVaraus,  1269.  Wasagara,  407. 
Watusi,  408.  Wazaramo,  406. 
Zealanders,  Now,  807-813. 

DiUNKS,  intoxicating,  of 
Abyssinia,  657.  A))ingi,  490. 
Apono,  484.  Asbira,  408.  Ar- 
auai||tn8,  1203.  Italonda,  377. 
(vhllWBo,  1429.  Congoese,  010. 
Dyaks,  1145.  Fans,  5.39.  (iuia- 
nans,  1251.  KalHr,  152.  Kara- 
gue,  400,401.  Krumen,  540, 
Xlangaiija,  359.  Wanvarauezi 
393,  SW,     Waraus,  1209. 

Dust  signals  of  Outanatas,  902. 

Dutulii,  adventures  of,  69, 

I  )yakH,  Land,  Horueo,  1110. 

Dyaks,  Sua,  1110. 


Eastern  Islands,  1100, 

lOconomy  of  Chinese,  1443. 

ICgbas,  Africa,  590, 

lOlephaiit  catching,  Bayeye,  338. 

Klenbant,  white,  Siain,  1471. 

limlurance,  see  Strength, 

lOvrumauga,  New  Hebrides,  975. 

Ksiiuimaux,  N,  America,  1333. 

Ktkjuettk  among 
Abyssinians,  057.  Ashiras,  498. 
Araucauians,  120,5,  Ilalonda, 
.377.  Batokas,  ,350.  Bonny,  601, 
Gammas,  60,5-509.  Daho'mans, 
.5i>ti,  585.  Fijians,  940, 941.  .lap. 
ane.so,  1459.  '  Kaffir,  87,  148,  100, 
Makololo,  326.  Maories,  824, 
851.  Mapuches,  1193.  Samoans, 
1(K)9.  Siamese,  1471.  Tahitans, 
1060.  Waganda,  410.  Wanyan- 
inuozi,  389.  Waraus,  1261. 
Watusi,   408. 

Kuropo,  Ancient,  1473. 


F. 

I'-ans,  Africa,  529. 

Fans,  Chinese,  1430. 

Fans,  war,  Japanese,  1461. 

Kaiiti,  Africa,  548. 

Ki;ast8  of 
Abyssinians,  raw  flcb,  650. 
Abyssinians,  wedding,  058. 
Ahta,  1.304,  Arawaks,  piwarri, 
12,52,  Chinese,  of  lanterns,  1431, 
Fans,  marriage,  536.  Fijians, 
given  to  gods,  942.  Fuegians, 
1107.  Indians,  N.  A.,  dog,  i;!,30. 
Kaffir,  first  fruits,  172.  Male- 
niutes.  1374.  Samoans,  wed- 
ding, 1031.    Waikato,  hni,  827. 

Keet  of  women,  Chinese,  1428. 

Female  soldiers,   Dnbumaus,  507, 

KetLshes,  Ashanli,  &59. 

Fijiaus,  Australia,  922. 


Fibk-Maktno  among 
Australians,  780.      Dyaks,  1181. 
Fuegiaus,  1108.     Kaffir,  100. 

KiSHiNU  among 
Ahts,  1356-i;«31.  Australlang, 
710,  728.  Badema,  with  nets, 
»!7.  Balonda,  377.  Uayeyo, 
388.  Chinese,  with  eornuir'ants, 
1444.  Dyaks,  1118,  1132.  Esqui- 
maux, 1343.  Fijians,  turtle,  931. 
Fuegians,  1160.  (Jninca,  New, 
913,  Hcrvey  Islanders,  1037, 
Kanemboos,  627,  Slalcnintes, 
whale,  1361,  salnnni,  1300. 
Maories,  830-833.  Jlaniuesans, 
1051.  Ostiaks,  ];i84.  Ovambo, 
320.  Samoans,  1020.  Sandwich 
Islanders,  10H(i.     Sbillooks,  472. 

Flat  Heads,  N.  America,  1319. 

Food  of,  and  muucs  of  eating 
amon^ 
Abyssinians,  656.  Alits,  1364. 
Andamancrs,  891.  Angolese, 
manioc,  381,  Arancanians,  1200, 
Aahira,  497.  Australians,  tur- 
tle and  snakes,  702-714.  Baka- 
lai.  402.  Balonda,  manioc,  ,376. 
Banyni,  3<!0.  Bcdiuanas,  296 
Bedouins,  684.  Bosjesmans,  263 
Caledonians,  New,  "85.  Chinese, 
bird-nests,  1432.  Dnmaras,  313. 
Dyaks,  1118-1144.  Es(iuimaux, 
13;i6,-  special  dainties,  1337. 
Fans,  634.  Fijians,  941,  942. 
Fuegians,  1100,  11G8.  Guian- 
ans,  12-.'8,  1249.    llervey  Island- 

,  ers,  103V.  Hottentots,  232,  233. 
Kaffir,  ;31,  132,  147-151,  167. 
Kytch,  ..^39.  JIakololo,  820. 
Mandingo '8,  608.  Maories,  827- 
834.  Mpoi  gwe,  524.  Mnnduru- 
ciis,  1220.  Neam-Nam,  442. 
Ovambo,  322.  Batagonians, 
1185.  Samoans,  palolo,  1030, 
1031.  Sandwich  Islanders,  1086. 
Shir  tribe,  402.  Slioas,  008.  Swiss 
Lake-dwellers,  1474.  Tungusi, 
1380.  Wauyamuezi,  394.  Wan- 
yoro,  420.    Waraus,  1209. 

Fox  tribe,  N.  Anu'rica,  1323. 

Form  of  women,  Hottentots,  218. 

Fuegians,  Tierra  del  Fuego,  1161. 

Funerals,  see  Burial, 

FlTRNirURE, 

Japanese,  1402.   Kaffir,  206.  See 
Architecture. 


G.iUaa,  Afi-ica,  671. 

Games  of 
Abyssinians,  the  ladles,  653. 
Araucanians,  pelican,  1204. 
Avas,  1204,  Dvaks,  1141-114^ 
Fyians,  9.54.  Indians,  N.  A., 
archery,  128,5,  chung-chee,  1324, 
al-kol-lock,  1324,  pagessan,  or 
bowl,  1324,  ball,  1,324,  leap- 
ing rock,  1 ,329,  .lapanese,  chil- 
dren's, 14(i2,  Japanese  mall, 
1454,  ladder  balancing,  1456, 
top  spinning,  liMi,  butterfly 
trick,  1456,  Makololo,  children's, 
3,32.  New  Zealand  children's, 
818.  Society  Islanders,  chil- 
dren's, 1095,  Wanyamuczi,  chil- 
dren's, .39,3. 

Oani,  Africa,  429. 

Gbou  Damiip,  Africa,  304. 

Ghoorkaa,  Indi.a,  iWS. 

Gilbert  Islands,  1100, 

Gold  washing.  Ashanti.  BBS. 


1478 


INDEX. 


Oonnqnoji,  AfVIca,  274. 

Uoiira,  iiiiiHic.iil  Instrument,  Bo!t- 
.joNiiiaiiH,  'Jrt. 

ObvKUMMKNT,  mixle  of  amonj; 
Abyssiiiiuiis,  (MU.  Ajitiis,  'J20.  Al 
fours, '.KW.  Ant^'olfHc,  ;W0.  Httloii- 
(lii,  MVX  liiiiiyai,  ;M!1.  Itm-hiinimH, 
28(i.  HorniU!.4o,  (iJl.  C'aniimi,  WM- 
800.  Dory,  !)14  Kijiiiiis.im.  Fui- 
giiiiiH,  1171.  IiKliaii.i,  N.  A.,  VJ7!i 
lCiii«Hmill  IsluiKlor.i,  1(»40.  Kni- 
men.nHi.  Mukololo,  ,'i;(l.  Maii- 
gaujiv,  S.W.  Mapii(!lii'.^,  Hdi. 
Slpoii>{WiS  52-1.  Oviiiiilx),  .'121. 
Shi'kiaiii,  njl.  Shillookfl,  47;i. 
Ta.siiianians,  754.  Toiigaiis,  U81. 
Wanyoro,  422. 

Qoza's 
Portrait,  X>.    Young  Warriors, 
35.     And  liU  Wives,  75. 

Orapplo  pliv.it,  214. 

(Jriqiias,  Africa,  274. 

Guiana,  So.  America,  1221. 

Guinea,  Xcw,  Africa,  8U8. 

H. 

HAm'DRP..ssiVO,  niotlo  of  among 
Aby.ssinians,(i42Hi4«.  Alits,  135,5. 
Au.straliauH,  70').  Ualomla,  370. 
Batoka,  ;(4rt.  Dornue.w.  620. 
nrunicr'.s  Islanders,  !H)7.  Chineso 
142i>.  Kitbas,  .VJO.  EHiiuiMiau.t, 
13,T..  Faiiti,  rA'X  Fijian.'),  022, 
925.  FiU'«ians,  lllii.  (iallas, 
(171.  Oaiii,  queue,  430.  Ilovas, 
fiOO.  Iniliaus,  (rran("hao(i,  1212 
Indians  N.  A.,  1273,  1274.  UU- 
opo.t,  475.  .lapane.so,  1450-1453, 
Khond.s,  1.3Si).  Kruinen,  Mr>. 
Manilans,  1274,  127.<.  MapucIiiJ.s, 
1101.  Mn.SKUc.se,  630.  Niu- 
ans,  1055.  Nubians,  674.  Pap- 
uan.s,  808.  Sanioans,  1014.  Sand- 
wich I.slanders,  1085.  Siamese, 
1468.  .Soumaulis,  (i72.  Sowrah.s, 
1386.  I'aliitans,  1050.  Zealand- 
ors,  New,  814. 

Haraoa,  Navigator's  Island,  1008. 

llaniran  Arabs,  Africa,  •>75. 

Harafonis,  Ni'W  Guinea,  tHJ3. 

Ilara-kiri,  .lapan,  1461. 

Hareui  of  Kafflr,  76. 

Ilas.saniyelis,  Africa,  686. 

He.vd-dkksses  of 
Ahts,  KttM.  I'ijians,  waterproof, 
92li.  (luianaus,  feather,  12.">."i. 
Indians,  N.  A.,  1276.  lslio;;os, 
475.  KntHr,  41.  Mapuche.s, 
1101.  Marquesans,  1043.  Sa- 
nioans,  101.3. 

Head  huutini;,  Dvaks,  11,15. 

Hebrides,  New,  iS.Jynesia,  071. 

Ilervey  Islands,  P(dyue.sia,  1032. 

Hindoo's,  Inilia,  l.'i!»3. 

HoNKsrv  of  the 
Apono,  484.  Asliira,  407.  Au- 
stralians, 605,  Citfi.  Barea,  6lW. 
Itaveye,  ;t:i7.  ISeehuanaa,  284. 
28.'».  Caledonians,  New,  886. 
Esquimaux,  Kril.  Indians, Kast, 
1,30!>,  1400.  Kruuien,  ,'V46.  La- 
tookas,  4.'i0.  Makoba,  Xi'X  M;ik- 
nlolo,  326.  Outiiuatas,  902. 
Ovainbos,  SI.").  Samoans,  UK>a. 
Shillooks,  473.  Soojetv  Islaud- 
ers,  106,5.     Tnari.'ks,  6.34. 

Hopo,  the  elephant  trap,  893. 

HORSE.S  of 

Indi.vns,  N.  A.,  1296,  1297. 

HORSRMANSHir  of      • 

Araucuuiuus,  1I9G.  Camanchccs, 


1289,1290,  Crows,  1274.  Hani 
r»nAra.fiS.  076.  Indians,  (Iran 
(/liaco,  1212.  Indians,  North 
Amuricu,  1323.  .Japanoso,  1484, 
14.55.     I'atagcmiaus,  1174. 

HOHI-ITAI.ITY  of 
Abyssiniaui,  ft55.  Ajit.is,  920. 
ApliiKl,  490.  Hatuktt,  3.53.  Es- 
quimaux, 1351.  Fuegians,  1171. 
OanI,  429.  Isliogo*,  480.  ,1a- 
kuts,  1370.  Kuttlr,  10.  Mako- 
lolo,  .326.  ManK'vui't,  'Wi.  Mao- 
ries,  827.  Samoans,  KMW.  Shons, 
007.  Shooa»,029.  Tahitans,  1060. 
Tchuktclii,  1.378.  Wazaramo, 
406.     Zealand,  New,  826. 

Hottentots,  Africa,  217. 

Ilovas,  "      600. 

Iluili-cht'a,  South   America,  1190. 

IliiNTi.vo  among 
Ahts,   deer,  13.55.   Araucanians, 
1108.  Ashira,   S02.    Anslraliaus, 
717-725.      Badeuia,    with     nets, 
3(i7.     Uatoka,  .383.     Bnnyai,  hip 
popotamus   and    c1cph!Ui|k362 
30.5.    Bayeye,  3.38.     liosPWians, 
ostrich,   2,52-20.1.     Canima,   800. 
Dahomans,  671.       Dinkas,  470. 
Dor,  444-446.    Dyak.s,  11.31-1  i;i;t 
Ksquinmux,  seal,  deer,  fox,  wolf, 
l)oar,  l,i;W-1344.  Fans,  elephant, 
Rorilla,  5;«-542.  Ghoorkas,  130<i. 
Guiatums,   122.'{-1270.     ilamrnn 
Arabs,  ehqdiant,  lion,  hijqxqmt 
annus,  buffalo,  675-677.    HotUMi 
tots,  231.    Indians,  Ninth  Anier 
ica,  buffalo,  12<>3-12!Hi.    Indians, 
Asia,      elephant,      deer,     1418, 
KatHr,   antelope,     giraile,     ele- 
phant, rhinoceros,  lion,  buflalo, 
126-I;t8.    KanembooH,  627.     Ma- 
koba,  341.  Neam-Nam,  elephant 
44,3.      Ostiaks,    1384.        l'ata-,'0- 
nians,  1178-1182.  Samoans,  Krjil. 
8amoledes,  i;i8.3.      Sliooas,   buf- 
falo, ebqdiant,  62,8.  Tasmauians, 
753.     Tuntnis  .  1379. 


753.   .Tungusi,  1379. 


Illinoans,  Borneo,  1112. 

Inilia,  Asia,  1393. 

Indians,  Gran  Chnco,  1211. 

Indians,  North  American,  J273. 

Imdustuy  of 
Bubes,    610.        ConRoi^sc,     CIO 
Dyaks,  1118.  Fanti,5-»8.    Guian- 
ans,      1222.  JManganja,  :i.5.5. 

Ostiaks,  1,\S4.  Ovamlio,  310. 
AVatusi,  409.  Zoalauders,  JJew, 
826. 

InKelotes,  Alaska,  N.  A.,  1.174. 

Ireland,  New,  A.-.  ■    aLlsia,  969. 

Ishoffos,  Africa.  •*(.5. 

Isi-haya,  of  Kafflr,  60. 

Isle  of  I'incs  Men,  887. 

Issikoko,  or  head  ring,  Kafflr,  41. 

J. 

.lapanesp,  .Japan,  1449. 
.Takuts,  Silieria,  Asia,  1379. 
.lukahiri,  Siberia,  Asia,  1377. 

K. 

Kaffir,  Africa,  11. 
Chivalry  of,  42.  Picturesque 
as[)ect  of,  42.  Perfume  of,  42, 
Gallantry,  83.  Ostentation,  80. 
Harem,  inmates,  etc.,  62.  I>read 
of  death,  76.      Law  of  inburi- 


LoviU|f 
cfllriOfll 


tance,  78,  Courtship,  79.  Nnmei, 
mode  of  idioosiuK,  88,  89. 
Boaster,  fate  of,  80.  Lovi 
■lustioo,  140.  Love  of 
134.  Fondness  for  tobac(^ 
Torture  for  bewitrhing,  188, 
Bleepiuf{    aeeommodatious,  200. 

Kuncniboos,  Africa,  627. 

KaraKue,  399. 

KATCIiniA, 

Chief  of  Obbo,  414.  His  family, 
4.'J,5.  His  character,  438.  His 
palace,  435.  'J'reatincut  of 
guests,  435. 

Katem.a,  the  Bahuida  Chief,  370. 

Kaveaks,  Siberia,  1376. 

KiiiKsmill  Islanders,  Polynesia, 
io;<8. 

Knoblterry  of  Kafflr,  100. 
Kona's  Illness  and  its  results,  185. 
ICora,  Africa,  260. 
Korannas,  Africa,  269. 
Koriiqiias,  AlVicii,  269. 
Kraal  of  Kiitllr,  54. 
Krumen.  Africa,  fl4t. 
Kytch,  Africa,  n>, 


LANorAOE  of 
A.jitas,      921.  Bosjcsmans, 

''(•licks,"  '24'J.  Fijians,  court, 
9.10.  I'ueuiuns,  1171.  Hotton- 
tols,  "clicks,"  234.  Inf;elctes, 
137.5.  Kaveaks,  1375.  Male- 
mutes,  137.5.  Mandinjjoes,  607. 
New  Zeidand,  sacred,  887, 
Siamese,  1471. 

Lanterns,  Chinese,  14.10. 

Lasso,  .Araucanians,  1107. 

La.sso.  North  Am.  Indians,  1206. 

IjUtoeUas,  Africa,  4.5.1. 

Laws,  lode  of  among 
Aby.ssinians,  6.5.'!.  Alfiiiirs,  OOfl. 
Australians,  747.  In  Britain, 
New,  WiO.  Fiji,  0;t5.  Ireland, 
New,  060.  KaraK'ue,  .  405. 
Among  Makololo,  331.  Ninnns, 
10.56.  Siimoans.  1016  -  1024. 
Siamese,  1471.  WaK»nda,  410. 
Zealanders,   New,   708. 

Leok.nds  of 
AiKino,  488  Areois,  1080.  B»- 
londa,  379.  J!,ibes,  010.  Chi- 
nese,  1429.  x'anli,  .540.  Fijians, 
iVM.  Guianans,  1264-1267.  In- 
dians, N.  A.,  I.'il3.  Kadirs,  141, 
169.  Mandaus,  1.101.  Maorics, 
8,58.  Namaquas,  276.  New  Zea- 
landers, 820.  Niuans,  1003. 
Society  Islanders,  10l'>.5. 

LiKK,  human,  value  of,  among 
Bechuanas,    285.       Dahomans, 
567, 570.      Fans,    8.10.    Tenacity 
of  anionjr  Hottentots,  240.    Wa- 
Kiinda,  413. 

Lloyd's  account  of  Australians, 
780. 

M. 

Maconshies,  Guiana,  8.  A.,  1221. 
Madagascar,  Africa,  600. 
Madi,  Africa,  430. 
.Mah-to-toh-])a,  exploits  of,    1286, 

1287. 
Makoba,  Africa,  339. 
Makidolo,  Africa,  .124. 
Malagasv,  Africa,  600. 
Malays,  ISL'ilaisia,  O'.'O. 
Malolnutes,  Alaska,  N.  A.,  1374. 
Malicolu,  New  Hebrides,  978. 


INDEX. 


1470 


Manclanfl,  X.  Ainerlon,  1301. 

MuiidtiiKoitx,  At'riuu,  (i<)7. 

Maiionko  in  uuuiiaaiid,   iialondo 
373. 

MaiiKai^jiiH,  At'rioii,  'MD. 

MuutatuitM,  Al'ricii,  'Mi, 

Maiitclm  Tartiirj),  Turtiiry,  1123. 

MANirii'AcrtiltK.'t,  Hkill  in  iiiiiouK 
Alits,  V.iM.  ApiiiKi,  4H().  Aran 
caiiiaiis,  I'MX  Ariiwiiks,  VSXi- 
123.5.  AiiHtraliidiH,  T2li.  Uan- 
yai,  3(ilt,  :iil7.  llecliiiaiiaH,  280- 
28.».  Uiimr,  Wl.  Dyaks,  llfd- 
1136.  KH(iiiiiii;vux,  i;t4!).  Fans, 
532.  Fiiiaus,  !>j;)-il31.  (iiiinca, 
Niiw,  !IU.  Ilorvi'y  IslaiiilcrM, 
1033.  llcittoiilotH,  22(i,  228.  Kaf- 
Hr.i,  4.-)-H,  iri-'.lit,  148-l-)4,  2(l(i- 
212.  liiitiiiikas,  45.').  MiicouHliioN, 
1221.  Maiiii.'H,  8H().  MjiimfiwiJ, 
B28.  H;i!iii.aiis,  lOl.'i.  8liir,4(12. 
SwisH  liaUc-dwollerH,  1474.  Tou- 
RaiH,  !I77. 

M  lorins,  Ndvv  Zoalaiid,  824. 

Jl.ipii-elii's,  Hi).  AuK^rica,  lllK). 

ftl  ira-('li(^^,  .So.  Aiiii'iii'a,  lliK). 

Mirksiuru  of  ArawakH,  12;W>. 

M,in|iU's;is  Islandfi,  1014. 

MAitlii.\<ii':  aiiioiiK 
AUyH^tiniaiin,  (i.'jS.  /Vi'tas,  921. 
Alt'diJM,  OlMi.  AmlamaiuMS,  888, 
H'.)2.  Amj;i)1(i.<c,  3.SJ.  Apiii;;!, 
48!).  Araucaiiia-n,  alxluctioii 
of  bride,  11(111,  1200.  Ai.iwak.M, 
1217.  A iistraliaiir),  ".■).">.  IViuyai, 
303.  B  iiinu'.sc,  ('i2(>.  liiwji'.s- 
iiiaiiM,  241.  Biilii'M,  (il.'l.  l)a- 
liMiiiaiis,  .WO.  I>aiuaias,  313. 
I)(ii-y,  017.  Dyak.M,  1137-1141. 
KH(jiiiniaiix,  l.'UO.  Fans,  .13(i 
FtjiaiiH,  O.Vi.  Tli(>  Fijian  luido, 
iWII.  Auicin;?  (iliiH)rkas,  carry- 
ing oil'  lirido,  1.31)4.  liasriaiii- 
yoh,  (iSil.  HotttMitiit.^,233.  In- 
dians, N.  A.,  l;>Ui.  ln;,'('li'to,s, 
1375.  Kain -s,  liridoxi'ooni  on  ap- 
proval, 77-H7  In  IvaraKOi',  402. 
Ainoni;  Krnuicn,  i^arniuK  wiveM, 
51(1,  .')47.  Kytcli,  4:!;».  Ala- 
kololo,  .328.  Man.lingoe.s,  (i08. 
Namaipias,  277.  Oijonj^on,  482. 
OHtiak.^,  13Hr>.  Ovanili..,^,  322. 
Putagonian-i,  1183.  Sainiians, 
1031.  Sam  .•; 'di'.i,  i:'8,t.  .Siw- 
rahs,  1381).  Timgiisi,  1380.  NVa- 
ganda,  413,  414.  Zealandt!r.s, 
New,  818. 

Jlarshall  Islamlcrs,  1100. 

MliDndi'ini),  Africa,  521. 

Mhicho,  "         321. 

Mbou.slia,  "        521. 

Mudicino,  sco  Troatinisnt  of  Sick. 

Mudioino  l)a',',  N.  A.  Indians,  1308. 

MKDinXE  .^t^.'U,  of 
AhU,  1.371.    NT.  A.  Indiana,  l;i07- 
1300.     Katli  ■,-:(,  17. 

MiMidana  Islau.l:^,  1044. 

Mi'xifo,  Nordi  America,  1271. 

Minatarocs,  Nuitli  Aniorica,  1274. 

Mincopii"  f;irl.s,  8'.),'). 

Miiicopics,  Andaman  Tsland.s,  8S0. 

Mirage,    notions    of  llassanivoh, 
(!88. 

Mirror  Ink  of  IfiVisaniycli,  (!8(). 

Mnandc'.^  burial,  202. 

Mohoonda,  Afrina,  a')0. 

Monnoliau'*,  Asia,  1422. 

Monkey  .M«n,  Kcw  Guinea,  900. 

Moi'iiNiNd  among 
Abygsinians,  (i.'ii).     Anstr.alians, 
772.    Australians,  widow's  cap, 
777.       Bakalai,     "keuu,"    493. 


Canima,  520.  Damaraa,  314. 
Dyaks,  IIUU.  Esquiniaux,  1331. 
Fi,jians,  UU7.  Flat  -  IiuimIh, 
inourninK  uradlu,  l;t20.  Indians, 
N.  A.,  1,329.  Mpougwu,  624. 
Mew  Zealand,  taugl,  V0J. 

Mpongwe,  Africa,  324. 

Muclilahts,    Vaucouvur'8    Island, 
UM. 

Mnn)bo  .luuibo,  of  Bonny,  003. 

.Munduruuiis,  H.  America,  1215. 

.Mnagneso,  Africa,  (139. 

.Musio  of 
lialonda,  375.     BoHJOBman,  203- 
205.     Cliinese,  144<r.     Dauiaras, 
313.  Kamrs,208.  Korannim,  273. 

.MuHiOAi.  InstrumeutH  of 
Abyssinians,  UiO.  lialonda,  37.''). 
Datoka,  333.  Bccliuanas,  297. 
Boi^iesmana,  f;oura,Kuitar,drum, 
2<(4-203.  Oaiiinui,  309.  Chinese, 
1443.  Dor,  448.  Dory,  917. 
Escjuimaux,  1331.  Fans,  340. 
(iiiianans,  1204.  Indians,  N.  A., 
l.'KiO.  Kattlrs,  3.1,  208-211.  In 
Karaguo,  40.5.  Among  I^atook- 
UH,  4.59-400.  Madi,4.'):i.  Malaga- 
sy, 003.  Shillooks,  474.  Taliit- 
ans,  1U(>2.    Zealanders,  New,  822. 

N. 

Nuniiiquas,  Africa,  274. 

Xamu:h  among 
Araucanians,  exchanging  of, 
1209.  Uo.MJi>smans,  ■i44.  Kaffirs, 
mode  of  choosing,  88,  prai.-<t 
and  birth,  80.  Krumen,  340. 
Maganjas,  ehanping,  3<iO.  New 
Zealandors,  signilication  of,  and 
changing,  817. 

Neam-Nam,  Africa,  440. 

Xecklace,  tali.snumic,  Kaffir,  109. 

Nogrito.M,  i'hilippiiut   Islands,  920. 

New  Britain,  Australasia,  909. 

New  Caleilonia,   Australasia,  883. 

Xew  riuinea,  Africa,  898. 

Mew  Hebrides,  Polynesia,  971. 

New  Ireland,  Australasia,  !)()9. 

New  Zealand,  Australasia,  792. 

Nga-te-kahiihuna,  New  Zealand, 
7!H). 

Nicobarians,  Nicobar  Islands,  890, 

Niui',  Polynesia,  10.52. 

North  American  Indians,  1273. 

N  ubia,  Africa,  073. 

Nuchr  tribe,  Africa,  468. 

O. 

Obbo,  Africa,  4.34. 

Obongos,  Africa,  482. 

Oerlams,  Africa,  274. 

Ohvahts,  Vanv'.ouver'sLsland,  1351. 

()ii\)bi>ways,  North  America,  1329, 

( )inens,  see  Superstitions. 

UllDHALS  of  tho 
Ang(dese,  382.  Ashira,  the  ring, 
.502  Batoka,  ;I3;).  liechuauas, 
bo^vs,  292,  for  girls,  293.  Camma. 
drinking  m'boundou,  31,5.  Ca- 
ribs,  1240.  Conguose,  drinking 
l)i)i.son,  01.5.  Dacotabs,  medicine 
men,  l.'!07.  Dvaks,  diving,  1139, 
boiling  water,"  11,59,  salt,  11.59, 
snails,  11.59.  Mandans,  on  reach 
ing  manhood,  1.301,  suspension, 
1.303,  last  rai!e,  1304.  Muuduru- 
ci'is,  of  gloves,  1210. 

Order  of  tho  Scar,  Bechuanas,280, 

Obnamknts  of 
Abyssinians,  (>46,  &17.  Admiral  - 


ty.  Islanders,  970.  Ahts,  lip 
1303.  Araucanians,  1197.  Ash- 
aogo,  481.  Ashanti,  35,5.  Aus- 
tralians, dibbi-dibbi  nose-bone, 
turtle  scar,  703,  701.  lialonda, 
373.  Uayeye,  339.  BecbuanaH,  284. 
Bedouins,  083.  Uoruabi,  1103. 
Uoi^esmans,  249.  Caledonians, 
New,883.  Co-yukons,  nose,  1375. 
Daniaras,  'MHi.  Dinkas,  470. 
DJibba,  scalp-lock,  407.  Djour, 
461.  Dor,  lip,  447.  Dyaks,  ear- 
rings, etc.,  111,-1,17.  Kgbas,  691. 
FantI,  .549.  FiJIans,  920.  Fuegi- 
ans,  1103.  (iani,  4:iO.  Uhoorkas, 
1309.  Hebrides,  New,  972.  Her- 
vey  Islanders,  1033.  Hottentots, 
22.5.  Indians,  N.  A.,  wampum, 
1280, 1329.  Isleof  I'inesMen,  887. 
Japanese,  hair-pins,  1433.  Kaf- 
(Irs,  ;!;i-.5.5, 108.  Kaneniboos,  027. 
Kaveak,  1374.  Khonds,  1389.  La- 
tookas,  lips,  433,  4.54.  Madi,  433. 
Makohdo,  327.  Malcniutes,  to- 
took,  1.374.  Manganjas,  ;i,50.  Ma- 
puches,  breast-pin,  1191.  Mar- 
quesans,  1018.  Mpongwi',  524. 
5lusgnese,  lip,  039.  Naniatjuns, 
273.  Neam-Nam, 442.  Nubians, 
074.  Nu(dir,  408.  Obbo,  4;M. 
Outanatas,  901.  Ovambos,  31C. 
Pelew  Islanders,  bone  bracelet, 
1104.  Koinan/ofl'Islanders,  1100. 
Sandwich  Islanders,  1082.  Shil- 
looks, 472.  Shir,  402.  Solomon 
Islanders,  909.  Sowrahs,  neck- 
laces,1380.  Swiss  I.ake-dwellers, 
1474.  Tongans,  whales'  teeth, 
978.  Tutignsi,  1379.  Vatti  Isl- 
ander*, 972.  Wagogo,  .'(83.  Wa- 
nyaniue/.i,  "sambo"  rings,  380. 
Watiisi,  409.  Wazaramo,  400. 
Zealanders,  New,  813,  814. 

Ostiaks,  Siberia,  Asia,  1384. 

Otaheitaiis,  Society    Islands,  1058. 

Outanatas,  New  (iiiinea,  900. 

Ovaherero,  Africa,  315. 

Ovambos,  Africa,  315. 

Ovamjios,  Africa,  .'115. 

Ovaqtiangiiri,  Africa,  320. 

Ovat-jumba,  Africa,  305. 

Oyos,  Africa,  3(i0. 

Ox  of  the  girl,  Kafllr.<,  86. 

Ox  of  tlie  surplus,  Kaffirs,  86. 


Pain,  indifference  to  of  the 
IJosjesmans,250.    Damaras,  300. 
Quianans,  12.54. 

Panda,  song  in  honor  of,  89. 

Papuans,  New  Guinea,  898. 

Pasiien,  Africa,  829. 

Patagonians,  South  America,  1172. 

Patagoniaus,  life  among,  11S4. 

Pehuen-chi's,  So.  America,  1190, 

Pelcle,  or  lip  ring,  JIanganja.s,  339. 

Pelew  I.slands,  1104. 

Penalties  or  Punishments 
among 
Caribs,  1241.  Chinese,  cangne, 
14;!<),  finger  -  squeezing,  1430, 
Ih'atlng  with  bamboo,  143<>, 
strangulation,  1439,  crucifixion, 
U;!,"),  decapitation,  1440,  cutting 
into  pieces,  1440,  .sawn  asunder, 
1440.  .lapane.se,  crucifixion,  14C1, 
hara-kiri,  1401.  Patagonians, 
1180.  Niu.ws,  10,50.  Samo.tns, 
iK'atiitg  iu  sacks,  1023.  Siamese, 
1471. 


1480 


INDEX. 


PIPII8  of 

AuHtralliiiiA,   701.    no^Jesmann, 
244.     Chitie^tn,  1442.    Oo-yiikons 
ia77.     (Jicrs,  culuiiu't,  lOia.    Jii-j 
uaiiuai*,    liiJj.      Kiilllm,    Ui3-iri(i-| 
Miilumutuj,  137U.   Uuu  BmiikiiiKJ 
Powo>f 
upon   arrowH    of     A,|Uiiri 
Araucuuiuiia,  Vil'J-liM.    ' 


I  Islniiilcri,  luwii.  oinint! 
.  Hocli'ty  iHliHiJorH.  HX 
,1    Ti.iiKaiis,    IWH.     Tuiih'U 


niaiin,  2iiO.  Mumluriiods,  ■'•''•" 
In  wells,  IloMJOHiir.uiH,^''  i'  '"■'j 
by  Mr.  MoHUt,  2U1,  i;-'i'>,  *M 
N'Kwa,  lijH,  hyarrl,  Mmuliiraou't, 
12:»,  uniw,  PynkH,  11 .!»,  wourall, 
1228. 
I'oUdu  L'liib,  the  N'gwn,  258. 
Wouruli,  1228. 

I'OMCICNESS  of 

BaU)kiw,  ;«0.  Boilouiiia,  fi*'' 
In  ICaiagui',  ;iii;i.  df  Tohuktchl, 
1378.     Wiitusi,  4()!>. 

I'OLVllAMY  illnoII^C 

AustrulliUis,  7."i3.  Bornueso, 
(i2tl.  E.;l)aM,  r>l»;i.  Fijiiiuit,  U3J. 
Uiiiaiiain,  I24(i,  1247.  Hotton- 
tot.'*,  23.J.  IiiBclctct,  i:i7.1.  ICaf- 
flr.H,  7i",  V<>.  Sliikulolo,  .'128. 
nu.'i,  liKMi.  Sliilluukx, 
Tchiiktilii,  1,178. 

Ponila,  Africa,  12. 

Porcfliiiii,  .).ipaiu>»o,  14rt.'5. 

Pritc'hanl'.s  ailvoutnro  with 
boar,  102!). 

Proplu'tc^s),  Kafflr,  189. 

Puoi'iiKTu,  anuiii;; 
Kamr.t,  17.^-l;(0.  180-189,   103, 
Proparatlou  of,  170.      (Jonsulta- 
tioii  of,  180.     Curin;;  Ht(!knosH, 
BcchuanaH,  2i)2.     FaUe,  I'JO, 


Slainflii<>,  1471. 

10(11  -  1071. 

uiti,    1U80. 

WuBanilu,  420.      Waiiyainuozl, 

»«.    Waiiyoro,  43T.  Wrt'.araum, 

400. 

UowardN,  honorary,  Cliino»e,  1441. 

,     920.'lf'  '■'i"<''"<.  N.  Anicrlcft,  lUlU. 

ll.  ;,.,     .../„  ,.!.,    .1  Kalllr,  0!) 


)iiianr.ori   Ulaud,  IIUO. 
8. 


Niu- 
4715. 


Willi 


II. 


Races,  causes  of,  and  refloction.s 
upon  decay  and  extinotiou  tif 
Austral ian.s,  790, 7»1.  Ksqui- 
maux,  l.'J.).'».  Xinv  i!ealat)deM, 
880.     N.  Am.  Indians,  1331,  1332 

K.vin-.Makinii  among 

KalHri,    120,   l;)2-l!)4.     Nama- 
((uas,  277. 

Ean;{itani,  Xow  Zoaland,  790. 

Kavk,  di.stinction  of  among 
IJosjosniaiH,    244.         JapanoS"', 
14.".<j.      Polow    Islanders,     1101. 
Tahitans,  KMil. 

JlEI.IlilON  of 
Abyssinuun,  000-004.  AhK, 
1370.  Aiita.1,  921.  Ansoles.-, 
383.  Apin;;!,  4!tO,  Anono,  4H-i. 
Araucaiiiuii.s,  VAf.K  A.sliangos, 
481.  Asbanti,  ."i3'J.  Asbira,  501. 
Australians,  778.  Bakalai,  491. 
Balonda,  379.  Banyai,  307.  Ba- 
tiikas,  :«3.  Bi'cliaunas,  291. 
BeilouiiiM,  08.-).  Britain,  N<'W, 
970.  I'.ornueso,  025,  Oamm  is, 
510.  Congoeso,  015.  Dabonim:*, 
502,  .WO.  Uamaras,  314.  Dyaks, 
1110,1157.  E«l):is,  S91.  Ksqui- 
inanx,  1349.  Fans,  .'5.'I9.  Fanti, 
5.W.  Fijians,  9(iO-904.  Fuc- 
gia.is,  1171.  (iiilanans,  1203. 
Hervny  Islanders,  1037.  Hotten- 
tots, 234.  Indians,  E.ist,  1407 
Indians,  N.  A.,  l.Wl,  1313.  Ire 
land,  New,  970.  Kaflftrs,  109-171. 
Ifrunion,  .'it7.  Malasasy,  li!t3, 
Mandiiijroes,  007.  Mansatust" 
300.  Maori.'S,  S.Vi-S.W.  Nania 
quas,  270.  OvamlM>s,322.  Pata 
gonians,  1180.  Polnw  Islanders, 
1108.  Eamoledes,  1381.  Sandwich 


Sachifioks  among 
Araucanians,  1209.  Ashanti,  in- 
strumunU  of,  569.  Oo-ynkons 
1370.  Uahonnins,  078-682.  In 
India,  suttee,  1407-1410,  Hiicred 
noose,  1411,  Jviggenniut,  Hll, 
drowning  in  Uanges,  14i;i, 
beasts    sub^''fi;.'  b    ■  lan, 

1413.  Indl.iu.^.  N.A.,1301»,  l.il4, 
Katnrs,  animal,  171,172.  Kboinls, 
"nieriab,"  1389-1392.  Banioledes, 
l;t82.  Hiiciety  Islander~i,  1074. 
Sowrabs,  i;)89.  Taliitans,  107.'>. 
Tongans,  997-1001.  Waganda. 
420. 

Sac*.  N.  America,  1.123. 

SAi.i'T.vno.v,  mode  of,  among 
A.sliira,49H.  Balonda,  373.  Brn- 
mcr's  Islanders,  907.  Kgbas,  691. 
Es(|niiiianx,  i;»49.  Uani,  429. 
Ha.ssaniveli,  (i80.  In  Karagne, 
3!>9.  Among  Makob)lo,  320, 
Maogaigas,  ■X'Hl  Nuebr,  409. 
Ovaml)o,  322.  Wanyaniuezi,  ;189. 
Watnsi,  409.  Zcalauders,  New, 
823. 

Samuans,  Polynesia,  1008. 

.Samoled.'S,  Siberia,  1381.  [970. 

S.m  (^liristoval,   .Solomon  Islands, 

Sandal  wood,  Aneiti'um,  975. 

Han.hvieb  Islands,  1081. 

Sacuni,  Africa,  2;">l. 

Savage  Island,  ia-i3. 

Scali.ing,  mode  of.  128.5,  1286. 

Sea  Dyaks,  Borneo,  1110. 

Se^^ll  lianas,  Africa,  280. 

Senecas,  N.  America,  1288. 

Sbekianl,  Africa,  .321. 

Shi.dds  of  Kaffirs,  108. 

.Sliillooks,  Afiii^i,  472. 

Shir.  Alriea,  401. 

Shoiis,  Africa,  007. 

Slii«>as,  Africa^tl28. 

Siam,  Asia,  14(i7. 

Sick,  treatment  of  amonR 
Angi>le.se,  ;W1.  Araucanians, 
12»t5.  Ashira,  501.  Australians, 
70!)-771.  Uamaras,  205.  Hot- 
tentots, 2:i;t-240.  Kaffirs,  ia3,  184, 
l!iO.  Korannas,  274.  Makolia, 
;«7.  Makololo,  XiCt.  M.aories, 
802.  Muudurucus,  1219.  Nama- 
iiuas,  277.  Patagonians,  1184- 
Tongans,  'on.    Tuaricks,  6.14. 

Sickness,  theory  of  AugoloHO,  382. 

Silksof  Japanese,  14(i(i, 

.Singing,  see  Amusements. 

Sioux,  N.  Anierioa,  1274. 


1441.  Creog,  ralumct,  1S18. 
Uamaras,  hemp  or  diigba,  105. 
l»or,  •' bark  i|Uiils,"  452.  Djours, 
452.  Indians,  N.  A.,  I  13.  .la- 
naii.se,  1402.  KulUrs,  ir.3-l«0. 
Makololo,  ;W«1.  Mundurnciis, 
"enchanted"  cigars,  1219.  I'at- 
aiioiiians,  UH3.  'I'cbutkchl,  1377. 
Svanyaniiu«i,  3!»3. 

"Smoking  bors.  M,"  Indianii,  1290. 

Snakk  NViuwnii',  I )abonu»n»,  505. 

Snuko  cooking   and   eating,  Aus- 
tralians, 717. 

Snake  chiuniliig,  India,  1410. 

Snow-sluH's   of    N.    A.  ludittui, 
1294,  1295. 

Snnlf  boxes,  Kaffir,  101. 

Snnir  taking,  Knlllr,  109. 

Society  Islands,  l(i."i7. 

Solomon  Islands,  !i«>8. 

MoMis. 
Iv-iiiilnmux,  nnina-ayn.  1849. 
Katlir,  war,  90, 147,  208.  Makan- 
nil's  gathering,  197.  New  Zca- 
limil,  canoe,  853.  New  Zealand, 
tattoo,  802.     See  .VninsementU. 

Soumanlis,  Abyssinia,  071. 

Sowrabs,  India,  i;s«.">. 

SruKNiiiu  of 

DyaliS,  1115.     Ksiiiilinnux,  l.TV*. 
Fiiegians,  IliiO.     NVarans,  1201. 


.SrroKSHio.N,  law  of,  innong 
AngolcHc,  .'WO.  Avawalis,  1247. 
A.ibanti,  :M.  I'i.jiinis.  IKB.  In- 
dians, N.  A.,  1275.  In  Karagne, 
4(H).  Anunig  (Jvaml«)S,  322.  Wu- 
ganda,  410. 

.Sui'intHTiTioN  among 
Ahts,  1372.  Angolone,  T82. 
Ai)iiigi,  41H).  Aviibs,  0«7-(iW>. 
Araucanians,  120.'>.  Ashaii„'o*, 
481.  .\Hhirrt,  502.  Australi- 
ans, 74.-1,  778-783  Bakalai,  493. 
Banyai,  3(Wi.  lledonins,  (i«3. 
IJoniiv,  004.  Canuoa,  510-515. 
(;arilw,  1241.  Danniras,  314. 
DyiiUs,  1131,  ll.W-ll.V.).  Kgbas, 
6!il.  K,s<iuinianx,  l.'iiW.  Fiin.s, 
5.19.  Fanti,  ,Vi0.  Fi.jians,  !KK)- 
!Mm.  (iuianaiiK,  12l'4.  Kafflr.s, 
88,  172,  1!H),  191.  Mali  La,  ;«(!. 
Malagasy,  (;93.  Mau.lingoi'S, 
000.  Maories,  8.-)(>-8iJ'<,  8(i4.  I'c- 
lew  Islanders,  1 108.  SanmTedes, 
1:18.3.  Shekiani,  ,"p23.  Society 
Islanders,  1079, 1080.  Taliitans, 
1058.  Tongans,  l(Xi7.  Wagamln, 
419.  NVaiiyamuezi,  30,').  Wan- 
yoro,  427.     W'a/.aramo,  400. 

Swazi,  Africa,  12. 

SwiMMiNfi  among 
Alfoeis,  'HI.  Bosiesinans,  2.'>5. 
inilians.  North  Ameriia,  l.'illO. 
Marqnesius,  ID.^il.  Sandwich 
Islander.-,  1U80,  KWT,  1(192.  Ton- 
gans, 1000. 

Swiss  Laku-dwellors,  1473. 


.Slavkby  among 

Ashira,  .Wl.     l>ory,  014.  O.iUas, 


071.  Malagasy,  093.     Musgues" 
(•>;«».    Zealanders,  Ni-w,  797. 

Sledges,  of    Ksqnimaux,  1.34.1. 

Sleep,  jHiwer  of,  Hottentot,  2.'}3. 

SMOKlvn  among 
Ahts,  1.370.     Ashira,  001.     An 
stralian.'.    701.      BatokaH,    .'WO. 
Baveyc.    hemp,    XVX       Bosjes- 
nia'na,  244,  262.  Chinese,  opium, 


Talioo  of  Banyai,  367. 
Taboo,  see  Taim. 
Taliitans,  Society  Islands,  WA. 
Tanna  f.'land.  New  Hebrides,  972. 
TaranaVis,  New  Zealand,  860. 
Tapu  of  .Maorie-,  8<kt-8«W. 
Tartars,  Mantdiu,  Asia.  1422. 
Tasmaniaus,  Van  Dieuitm's  Land, 

Tattooino  among  . 

Abvssiiiians,  CvW.     Apingi,  489. 
Arawak^,    1222.      Auatraliann, 


INDEX. 


14fll 


7M.  nodnuinit,  (m.  liiirnabi, 
110.').  KoriiiiiMti,  ll'JU.  Itrumor'M 
I)tliill<l<!rr<,  INI7.  Ouhoiilillirt,  AHI). 
DyiikM,  nil,  1117.  KbIjiw,  8!)1. 
K!*<iiii>iiaiix,  l;i:U.  I'iiiih,  MU 
Fijiikii.'*,  <.l:jll.  Ill  (}iiiiii!U,  New, 
1)11.  Aiiiiiii|i  .liiiiiuiitHo,  140O. 
Kiii;,'miiill  IhIiiiiI.'M,  lOIW.  Mnii 
i{iiii|;in,  .WX  Miirmii'Maiis,  Km, 
MuiiiliirilciU,  1JI8.  Nluuiis,  lOM. 
I'i'li'\y  Iitlaiiilorrt,  Itm.  1C4III1UU' 
zotr  iHlamlrn*,  lllMI.  Hatiiuaii't, 
l()U)-li)l:t.  Saiiilwii'.li  I^laiiilor.'', 
1(H\  Si)iiiiiaiilU,  IIT'J.  Tahlt'.iiis, 
imi  VVaiiyamiU!/,i,;W0.  Wntiisl, 
mi     ZcalaiiilorH,  NfW,  H(X),  80(1 

Ti;li:ika,  HiisjK'otiMl  of  death  »( 
iiiiitlicr,  lit. 

Tfiliaka'H  vUion,  Kafflr  chief,  170, 

Tdhika  at  I'liiit^ral  of  iiiother,  201 

Tdhiiktchi,  Hilwria,  1,177. 

ToaofChltii'Mo,  U.li. 

Ti'a  hou^i'H,  .lapaiuwd,  14(i4. 

To  Oliic,  a  iiativo  priont,  KYI. 

Thiiatros  of  .lapaiinHi',  \HV\. 

ThinvttH  of  (HioorktM,  VM),  1400. 

TliiiKi  of  Iiiilin,  1410. 

Tihbotw,  Africa,  ItW. 

Ti«ro,  Africa,  (ii>7. 

TIKIh,  Nnw  ZiMhuid,  861. 

Toii.Mx.'o  amoiiit 
Kafflrg,  l.-i!*  •  1(1'2,  100.    Miindu- 
riioiM,  Hiiiitr,  pariou,  1220.    New 
ZcalaiidiTH,  H,W. 

Tools,  He«  Manufa(>tureH, 

Toii>;aii.i,  I'olyin'sia,  !)7<i. 

Toi|iialitH,  Vuiicuiivor'H  Island, 
M'lt. 

TimTuiiK,  modes  of  anionj; 

ChliuMo  14M.  Kiiiiloos,  1414.  N. 
A.  Indians,  12H8. 

TRAlNiyii  by  Kast  Iiidi  ms  of 
Antelopes,  1420,  elepli.ints,  1418, 
faleons,  1410,  Ht,i},'s,  1420. 

TuANSMKHiATioN,  iH^liiif  ill  by 
Australians,  780.    Mukoba,  !H<i 
Shekiani,  623. 

Thavki.i.ino,  mode  of,  Japan, 
1 1.M  -  ur>t). 

Trkks  of  Africa,  thorns,  21.'t, 
crapple  pbmt,  214,  wait-a-bit, 
nook  anil  irii^k,  ami  iinnikey 
ropes,  21.1,  Aneiteiini,  sandal 
W(M)d,  !)7.1,  Australia,  ({rass,  720, 
Borneo,  nipa  palm,  ILTO.  Upas, 
Horneo,  1120.  (luiana,  ita  pain, 
12t>8.  Hova,  travellers,  (>!»:(, 
Tierra  del  Fiiego,  Antartie 
beech,  1107. 

Tuaricks,  Africa,  631. 

Tuugudi,  Siberia,  Asia,  1379. 

U. 

TTBararao,  Africi»,  406. 
Uzintu.  adventures  of,  80. 

V. 

Vancouver's  Island,  X.  A.,  1354. 
Vat6,  New  Hebrides,  972. 


W. 

Waitanda,  Afrli'a,  410. 

Wauo«o,  Africa,  ;(H4. 

Wahuma,  Africa,  ItlW. 

WMkatos,  New  /I'aland,  8fi0. 

\Van),'an|a,  Africa,  :Wi. 

WanyamlMi,  Afrii'a,  'Ml 

Waiiyamue7.i,  Afrl(,'a,  ;t8«i. 

Waiiyoro,  Africa,  422 

War,  wosiicritice,  HongH, Warfare. 

\V;»rau-    (liiiaiia,  8.  A.,  1222. 

\\'.\lil'.\iii'.  aiiiiniK 
Araucaiiiaiis,  1190.  AshnngoH, 
48<l.  AnHfaliaim,  744,  743.  Ba 
londa,  :I7K.  Barea,  071,  Barl, 
4(12.  Batoka,  Xii,  KcchuanuH, 
280.  Itcdoiiiiis,  (Ml,  (184.  Bck- 
hariiiis,  0:1.1.  BoniiicHc,  (i22 
BosjcsmaiiH,  2,1-1.  Cal'dolilaliN, 
New,  88,1.  (lamina,  WHi  Ouribs, 
12.«»,  1242.  Chinese,  14;!,l.  Con 
ijocse,  (il,1.  Dahomans,  067 
Diiikas,  Ilii).  Djilibas,  4(>7.  I>or, 
44.1.  Dory,  914.  Uvaks,  HIP, 
ll.ll-lllW.  Ktjbas,  i19:i.  Fans 
Ml.  Fillans,  !tft2, 9.1.3.  Fiu'KiaiiM, 
11(>.1.  (ialla.s,  (>71.  (Ihourkas, 
l:i!Ni.  Ilervcy  Islanders,  10,'<4. 
Hottentots,  2;(!>.  lllinoaiis,  111: 
Indians,  (trail  Cli  11  o,  12IM.  In 
dians,  N.  A,,  1-281.  Kaftiis,  l!i 
92,  113-12.1,  l!Kl-19H.  Kiiij;snilll 
Islanders,  10,'t*).  I.al<HikaH,  4.1.1, 
4.K!.  Mautchu  Tartars,  1422 
1423.  Maories,  8;«,  846-8,K) 
Mar<|ucsaiis,  10.10.  AIiiSKUCHe, 
(WO.  Ncaui-Nam.  413.  N  tibialis 
674.  I'elew  Islanders,  1107 
Samoans,  1016-1(120.  Sandwich 
Islanders,  10{)1.  Soiicty  Island 
ers,  107.3.  Soiiniaiilis,  (171.  Tib- 
boos,  63,'J.  ToiiKans,  !I84,  H8.1, 
\Va«anda,  414.41.1.  W  aaoRo,  ;i8.1 
Wa/.aramo,  40(i.    .See  fiances. 

Watertou'sstor^of  Arawaks,  12;!0, 

\Vasai;ara,  Africa,  407. 

Watusi,  Afrii'a.  408. 

Watuta  triU'S,  Africa,  402. 

Wazaramo,  Africa,  406. 

WHAfONH  of 
Abvssiiiians,  6Ki-647.  Ahts,  1.355 
A.jitas,  020.  Andamaners,  889, 
Apono,  487.  Araucanians,  1k>' 
hks,  1107.  Ashaugos,  480.  Asb- 
aiiti,  ,1.1ii.  Australians,  throw 
sti,  k,  kauKaroo  rat,  boomerang, 
710-724,  728-74,l.  I  don.la,  378 
Banyai,  axe,  ;Hi6.  Bari,  4C4 
Bi'cliiianait,  280.  I  doiiins,  (t81. 
Iti  a:harmis,  63,5.  It,  iiue.se,  62;' 
;5osjesmans,  2.17,  '.'-  '.  Bouka, 
i>7l.'  Britain,  New,  il70.  Cale 
donians,  New,  884.  Chinese, 
jiuijall,  cross-lxiw,  143.'t-143(!, 
Coii>;oe.s<(,  615.  Daboniaiis,  Wil 
071.  Daniaras,  312,  Dinka.s,  469, 
DJibbas,  464.  Dor,  444  Dyaks 
siiinpitan,  or  Ulowgiiii,  parang- 
iMaiig.  kri.s,  111<»-1131.  Ea«iui 
luauz,  harpoon,  1339.  l<'auii,  031 


FUlanii,  948-982.  FuPKlaim,  THIS. 
(Hiourkas,  kookery,  1;10.1.  (iui- 
anaiis.  122;l-12;)6.  tiolnca,  New, 
013.  Haniraii  Arabs,  (170.  Ileb- 
rides.  New,  072.  llerviy  Islnnd- 
em,  KKU.  tlolU'iitots,  232.  llli- 
noaiis, 1U2.  Indians,  Kast,  14(10- 
lUHl.  Iiidiaiis,  (Iran  Chaco,  ar- 
mor, 1212.  liidiuiiK,  N.  A.,  tom- 
ahawk, 1282.  Jrclaiul,  New,  070. 
Ishogos,  476.  .Iapiine..<e,  sword, 
1459.  Kafllrs,  llll,  !I4,  100-113. 
Karaunc,  JlOtl.  K!"iids,  nxe, 
13!I2.  Kiiigsniill  Islai,  !rrN,  Ki.-tO. 
Latookas,  4.13,  MHdi,4,t;!  Maut- 
chu Tartars,  bows,  14.':t.  Mao- 
ries, 8;!8-844.  Alaripi,  SHI  1050. 
Milicopics,  bow,  8!KI.  Mii>^  ,iese, 
630.  Ncani-Nam,  44.3,  Nicobar- 
ians,  H!Mi.  Niiians,  105.1.  Nu- 
bians, peculiar  sword,  (173. 
Dutaliatas,  tlOl.  Ovainlios,  :il{l. 
I'apiians,  INIO.  I'litagoiiiaiis,  bo- 
lus, 1174-1178.  J'dcw  liiliiiKlcrH, 
1107.  SamoaiiN,  1010.  Haiahvich 
Jslaiid,s,  1088.  Hhekiani,  521. 
Shir,  461.  Hociety  Islamlcrs, 
107,3.  Mouniaiilis,  (171.  Kownihs, 
l;W(I.  Swis,<  Lake-ihvcllcrs,  1474. 
Tibboos,(i:i3.  Vatc,  072.  WaruiiH, 
12110. 

Wedding,  see  Dances,  Marriage. 

Wei'zecs,  Africa,  386. 

Wesli'rii  Islands,  1100. 

WlTlIICKAKT  lllllollg 

Araucanians,  1206.  AHhanli, 
,1110.  Bakalai,  493,  Camnia,  515- 
,120,  Caribs,  1241.  KM|Uimaux, 
13.10.  Funs,  5;«).  Katlirs,  184, 
188.  Ma,. lies,  861,  t^lickiuni, 
522,  Wagaiida,  410.  Manyain- 
uczi,  305. 
WoMKN,  condition  of  among 
Angol.M',  :!81.  Asbira,  406. 
Australians,  605,  7.16.  Banyai, 
362.  llonny.  603.  Ilriimer's  Is- 
landers, 008.  Coligocse,  616. 
Dahomans,  580.  Diiniaras,  sin- 
giihtr  I'aps  of  married,  31">. 
I)yaks.lll8.  Fi.jians,O.Ki.  (iaiii, 
4,'S().  Ouiaiians,  1246.  Iiidianu, 
(Iran  Cbaco,  1214.  Indians, 
North  America,  1319.  I.-le  of 
Pines  Men,  887.  Kaffirs,  24-27, 
00.  In  Karague,  402.  Among 
I^atookas,  4.15.  Makololo,  .327. 
Musgucs»s  (i3!l.  (>sli  iks,  l.'lSJj. 
I'atagouians,  1186.  -^anioans, 
1014.  Sanioledcs,  I;;,  i.  Hand- 
wich  Islanders,  1082  - 1086. 
Sbooas,  630.  Tahitans,  1058. 
Tongans,  983.  "Wagaiida,  413. 
Waiivoro.  426.  Wanyoro,  fat- 
tening of,  420. 


Z. 

Zealanders,  New,  Au.strala8ia,792. 
Zingian  Tribes,  Africa,  12. 
Zulus,  Africa,  12. 


